Waiting On Wednesdays (13)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Devine Intervention

Author: Martha Brockenbrough

Published Date: June 1st 2012

Published By: Arthur A. Levine Books

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Summary from Goodreads:

Heavenly writing, earthy characters, and humor that is wicked as hell.

Heidi is sixteen. Insecure. Unkissed. Unremarkable, she thinks, in every way but one: She has a guardian angel, Jerome, who whispers in her ear all day long, amusing her, confusing her, but hardly ever saying anything that might help her discover who she's meant to be.

Jerome is seventeen (for the seventeenth year in a row.) There is only one thing he needs to do to graduate from heaven's soul rehabilitation program for wayward teenagers: Follow the 10 Commandments for the Dead, and in doing so, keep Heidi safe.

Instead, he accidentally lets her drown.

Plucked from her body before she ever truly lives, Heidi wants more than anything to say goodbye to her family and best friend. Jerome, afraid he's going to be sent to the lowest level of Hell, wants to sneak her into heaven before he gets caught.

Neither realizes that Heidi has only 24 hours before her soul dissolves forever. And that might not be enough time for them to figure out how they were meant to live.

I saw this book last week and I immediately added it to my TBR pile (good luck to my growing list). I love love the cover! Look at the arrow in the guy's head! Lol! I want this book already!

What's on your WOW post today?

Book Review: WANDERLOVE by Kirsten Hubbard

Wanderlove

Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Published Date: March 13th 2012
Published By: Random House
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Summary from Goodreads:

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry into this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.

This book is provided in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House, and Author Kirsten Hubbard for the e-copy of this wonderful book.

My Thoughts:

"Wanderlove is about forgetting the bad things and focusing on the good. Out with the old and in with the new... The only thing to escape the past is to keep moving forward."

I don't know how to explain the feelings I have for this book. I enjoyed it so much that it kept me awake until 3 am. When I'm done, I still keep on thinking about it (and I still am). The story is not something that will get you hooked instantly but it will keep you reading until you realize that you're loving this book more than you think you would. The detailed writing, the beautiful setting, the admirable drawings, the likable and realistic characters, and the whole story itself is remarkable and inspiring.

When I first met Bria Sandoval, I immediately liked her. I understand how she tries to escape her past and be somebody that she thought she wanted to be. I understand her feelings though I wasn't actually in her shoes. When I read about her, a part of me wanted to join her in her journey and somehow find some pieces of me which I believe are still somewhere waiting to be found. Her story and her trip with Rowan are both exciting and sad at the same time. Bit by bit I get to know Rowan and Bria, it's a slow pace but very meaningful to me. It occurred that both of them are trying to run from their past: Rowan, from being a bad boy, and Bria from being good. It was not rushed and the romance is not something like "love at first sight". I get to see how their relationship improved and changed into something that both of them were trying to avoid. The story is believable. It's real. It's beautiful. I love the snarky comments, the witty and the meaningful conversations, and the funny moments that lightens the mood of the story.

"We're going to be spending a week there," I complain, "and I know nothing about it."
"Google it," Rowan retorts. "You know how, right?"
Asshole. I guess I should have known better.

"You'd be hurry, before the water cools completely."
"But I don't even know what to do. Do I splash water on myself? Dump it on my head?"
"Whatever works." He grins wickedly. "I can help, if you like."

The author made me feel like I was traveling along with the characters she created. The places they visited were so real and detailed and the author made them beautiful through the characters' eyes. It made me want to go backpacking and travel the world. 

"...you got to find your own places. The places you get, girl, the ones that stick in your heart. And if you're lucky, you find people to share them with."

Wanderlove is one of the most meaningful and remarkable book I ever read this year. It captured my heart in a special way that I can't even described. Beneath in what seems to be a light and fun adventure lies a deep story of self-recovery. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a really good contemporary novel that is blended with refreshing adventures and romance.

Sometimes what you love the most is what you have to fight the hardest to keep.

My Rating:

Teaser Tuesdays (17)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
Anyone can play along. You just have to:
Grab your current read.
Open to a random page.
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhereon that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!). Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

If you had visited my site in the last couple of days, you've probably noticed that I'm S-T-I-L-L reading Wanderlove. It was a busy and stressful week for me, and obviously, I wasn't productive with regards to my reading. So yeah, again... here is my teaser from the same book I featured last week on my Teaser Tuesdays. (But hey, I'm halfway through already! it's something you know ;)

My Teaser:

“Bria, I found this for you.”

My expression must betray my disgust. The backpack looks like it’s been through a war. A war in a swamp. A war in a swamp involving fireballs and monsters with fangs…

“We can sew straps on your garbage bag if you prefer,” Rowan says.

20% on Kindle, Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

So, what's your teaser? Don't forget to leave a comment and your link so I can visit in return. Have an amazing Tuesday!

Support Four Debut Authors and Snag $125!

Hello everyone! November 28th and 29th are so exciting, because we have not just one but 4 Debut Authors and 4 Books in this awesome promo! Everyone can participate and you can win up to $125 Amazon Gift Card!

Four books

Two Days

Great Prizes

With this contest, there is something for everyone and it’s SO simple to be in on the winning!

On November 28 and/or 29, purchase 1 or all 4 of the debut author’s books listed here. Then forward proof of purchase (the receipt Amazon sends you will do just fine) to : motionsrider@yahoo.ca and get up to 4 entries into a draw for a $100 Amazon gift card!

It’s that easy, no reviews, no hoops to jump through. Just a great .99 book or two. Or three or four. AND, if the person who wins the $100 Amazon Gift Card has purchased all 4 books, an additional $25 Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to the winner!

On top of that, 2 random commenter’s picked from 2 of our participating blogs will receive $5 gift Amazon gift cards . So, be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think of the promo, the books, or the authors.

Winners will be chosen randomly, one entry per person, per book.

All winners will be announced on December 7^th on Wringing Out Words 

“Between” 
by Cyndi Tefft
Buy: Between (ebook)

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile, and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.

“Until Dawn: Last Light” 
by Jennifer Simas 
Buy: Until Dawn: Last Light (ebook)

When darkness falls, whose side will you be on?

For the past six years, Zoë has been anything but “normal.” Struggling to accept her immortality and thrown into a war that’s been waging in the shadows for over a thousand years, Zoë must now become who she was meant to be, joining the other Chosen to save what’s left of humanity. When the endless night falls over the Earth, will she be able to save the one man who reminds her of what it is to be human, or will it be too late?

Until Dawn: Last Light is a story of death and despair, love and longing, hope and hopelessness, and the ability to survive and keep going even when it seems impossible – when you want nothing more than to give up.

“The Kayson Cycle” 
by Jonathan D. Allen
Buy: The Kayson Cycle (ebook)

A stranger enters a dying town and makes a desperate plea…

The Kayson Cycle introduces the Kayson Brothers, a pair of faith healers who once wowed crowds in a traveling show but went their separate ways after a night in which a healing took a dark turn. Jeffrey Kayson disappeared into the wilderness and William Kayson, wracked by guilt, moved to the failing mining town of Calico Hills to build a nice, quiet life – one that has lasted for over ten years.

His quiet, predictable life crumbles when a mysterious stranger walks into his tavern bearing a proposal to find his long-lost brother and do the one thing that William has sworn to never do again - have his brother heal a woman. William soon learns that he can’t escape his family – or his destiny.

Includes an exclusive sample chapter of The Corridors of the Dead. Please note that this is a Kindle Single, and around 6,000 words in length.

“Sundered”
by Shannon Mayer 
Buy: Sundered (Nevermore Trilogy ebook)

A miracle drug, Nevermore, spreads like wildfire throughout the world allowing people to eat what they want, and still lose weight. It is everything the human population has ever dreamed of and Mara is no different. Only a simple twist of fate stops her from taking Nevermore.

As the weeks roll by, it becomes apparent that Nevermore is not the miracle it claimed. A true to life nightmare, the drug steals the very essence that makes up humanity and unleashes a new and deadly species on the world that is bent on filling its belly. Locked down within their small farm home, Mara and her husband Sebastian struggle against increasingly bad odds, fighting off marauders and monsters alike.

But Sebastian carries a dark secret, one that more than threatens to tear them apart, it threatens to destroy them both and the love they have for each other.

Now Mara must make the ultimate choice. Will she live for love, or will she live to survive?

Don't forget to leave a comment on this post so you won't miss out the opportunity to enter in $5 Amazon Gift Card. Include your valid email address so we can contact you if you win.

Let's support these four amazing Debut Authors! Be sure to check out also the rest of the participating blogs and increase your chances of winning. Good luck and have fun!

Here are the rest of the participating blogs to hop through:
The Immortal words of Doctor Fab
The Beauty Brat
A Novel’s Journey
Haley Whitehall
Call Sign: Wrecking Crew on the Run
Romance by Catherine
Believe
Carmen Desousa
AE Marling
RS Guthrie
Ev Bishop
Labotomy of a Writer
Must Inks
The Romanceaholic
Care Caffrey
Chicklets Lit
Nathan Everett
Rants of a Wolf
Letters inside Out
Can’t Put it Down book Reviews
Unabridged Bookshelf
Indiscriminate Writes
Illusions
Angie West
Micheal Young: The Canticle
Brianna Soloski
Wendy Carmell
Heather McCorkle
Sheri Larsen
Vanessa Barger Writes
J Keller Ford: Dreamweaver’s Cottage
Doc Dave’s Voice
Kim Cormack
Twin Dragon’s Knowledge
What’s Beyond Forks?
Scott Bury: Jambalian
Raven Corinn Carluk
Madeline Rex
What the Cat Read
Chazz Writes
Venture Galleries
Far Manor
Blame it on the Full Moon
Kelly Hitchcock
My Imaginary Beings
Louise Wise
My Eclectic Bookshelf
Benjamin Jones Writes
Alchemy of Scrawl
Reena Jacobs
Sleepless in Samoa
Bluebells Trilogy
Nyx Book Reviews
Wicked Readings by Tawania
Live to Read
Cici’s Theories
Hannah Downing
My Inner Muse
Book Flame
Dreaming Dreams no Mortal ever Dared
Coldfire Writer
Passing the Open Windows
Ren’s Blogging About
Tibby Armstrong
A Diary of a Book Addict
Andrew Carlson
SS Book Fanatics
Lady Techies Book Musings
Jillian Brookes-Ward
Horror. Punk. Buddhism.
Writers Alley
Lost in Believing
Melissa Bunnell
Books Make me Happy
Between the Pages Reviews
Word Spelunking
The Violet Hour
New England Muse
Live by the Pen, Die by the Pen
Glowy Mushrooms
Fictional Distraction Book Reviews
Breila McValan
Lakisha Spletzer

TBR Intervention Challenge (7)

TBR Intervention is a weekly challenge hosted by 

Dani@RefractedLight , Ayanami@Whatever you Can Still Betray,

 and April@Books4Juliet 

The goal of this challenge is to help each other (fellow readers and bloggers) manage our enormous and constantly growing TBR (To-Be-Read) List. The rules are simple and everyone is encouraged to participate. It does not force you to commit to more than what you can manage to read in a week or so, but participants are encouraged to read at least one book within a week. You are free to choose the book you want to read and commit to this challenge. You may post your entry every Saturday, at the frequency of your choice--EVERY WEEK or EVERY TWO WEEKS. However, we will sponsor this event regularly every Saturday. 

Here are the rules:

1. Post the book(s) you committed to read in your last TBR Intervention post and tell us something about it. Did you finish it? Did you enjoy it or not? Post the link to your review (if you have one). 

2. Post a book that you want to read and already own. Pick something that has been sitting on your shelf for too long now (6 months or longer). Commit to read the book in the next couple of days or week.

3. Grab the TBR Intervention Button and post it on your blog sidebar so you will be constantly reminded of the challenge, making it easier for you to commit. This will also encourage other readers/bloggers/visitors to join the challenge.

4. Add the link to your post in the Linky below and make sure to visit the other blogs. Comment, encourage, and spread the love to our fellow readers. 

MY LAST WEEK'S TBRIC:

Wanderlove
Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Published Date: March 13th 2012
Published By: Delacorte Books
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary 
Click here to read the summary in my last TBRIC post.

This time, it's my turn to use Dani's words last week: 

"Don't kick me out, please?"

I'm sorry girls, I don't have any reviews to share. I just finished THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater, which took me two(?!) weeks to finish. I'm planning to post the review some time soon (I just hope that it won't take me another two weeks to write the review, arrrgh...).

So obviously, I wasn't so productive in the last couple of days. I've been in a personal desert (that's a term I used whenever I feel down or seeking solitude) and I didn't read much during those times. We were always out of the house, and during my free time (which is scarce) I was just lying in bed. Hopefully I'll be able to gain momentum next week and get back to happy reading again. 

How's your TBR pile last week? Did you finish your book(s)? 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love Lots (",)

>>You can grab the linky code here: get the InLinkz code

Follow Friday (12)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel @Parajunkee and Alison @Alison CanRead. If you want to join and see how this meme works, be sure to click the image above. Happy Follow Friday!

Check out this week's Feature Blogs:

Books and Beyond

The Book Addict

This Friday's Question:
It's Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. so we want to know what you are Thankful for - blogging related of course! Who has helped you out along the way? What books are you thankful for reading?  

My Answer: 

I wish we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the Philippines, nevertheless, I am still happy to be part of this celebration even here in the blog-o-sphere.

First of all, I am thankful for my Hubby, for being so supportive with regards to my BOOK OBSESSION and BOOK SHOPPING GALORE (which is frequent!). I am thankful for my little son Tristan, who love love love to pose in the camera with my books, and who also loves to go to the bookstore with me =). I LOVE YOU BOTH!

I am so  thankful for the book blogging community especially to those bloggers and readers who welcome me with open arms. I am thankful to my AMAZING FOLLOWERS who take time to visit and read my reviews and whatever crazy things I tend to post, to my fellow BOOK BLOGGERS who are always there to encourage and support me, to the AUTHORS who visit and trusted me for book reviews, special thanks to Author Jeri Smith-Ready for being so nice and friendly and for taking time (no matter how busy she is) to talk to her fans, to my lovely TBRIC co-hosts: Dani (Refracted Lights Reviews) & Ayanami (Whatever You Can Still Betray), to my awesome Starbooks FBBFFs: Angela (Reading Angel), Bailey (IB Book Blogging), Brittani (Hope, Faith & Books), Heather, Jenny, Kelly, Kim, Kristin (Better Read Than Dead), Lis (Nox-Invictus), Mariam, Natalia (Dazzling Reads), and to the rest of Starbooks who accepted me for who I am, who never judge me for my craziness, who read, like, and love my reviews, who go crazy with me over fictional boys, who made me a kick-ass (",) and who listen to my blabbing even if it's not about books. You all make my life fuller and happier everyday!

Also, I am thankful for this meme FOLLOW FRIDAY and to it's lovely hosts Alison @Alison Can Read & Rachel @Parajunkee. Because of this event, I get to meet more readers, followers, and most of all FRIENDS. 

Now, among all the books I love and treasure, I am most and forever be thankful to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga. Because of these books, I became an avid reader and fan of YA fictions. Because of Bella, I became young again. And if not for Twilight, I don't think there would be Books4Juliet.

In random, here are SEVEN of my most favorite books (I read & reviewed in 2011), which I am very much thankful for:

#1 DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth (Review)

#2 FORBIDDEN by Tabitha Suzuma (Review)

#3 ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins (Review)

#4 SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready (Review) 

#5 BLOOD RED ROAD by Moira Young (Review)

#6 LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins (Review)

#7 TEN THINGS WE DID (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski (Review) 

TO ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY U.S. FELLOW BLOGGERS, READERS & FRIENDS! GOD BLESS US ALL! XO!

Waiting On Wednesdays (12)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Shine (Shade #3)

Author: Jeri Smith-Ready

Published Date: May 1st 2012

Published By: 

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Summary from Goodreads:

Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced that she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.

Shade and Shift are both heart-breakingly beautiful and I can't wait to read the third book Shine. I love love love this series and I know that Author Jeri Smith-Ready is working so hard on it. I'm sure that this book is worth waiting for!

Teaser Tuesdays (16)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
Anyone can play along. You just have to:
Grab your current read.
Open to a random page.
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhereon that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!). Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser: 

"I've found it's the best way to travel. Heading to whatever place intrigues me, you know? If I feel like sunbathing, I go to the beach. If I'm hungry, I hike a Mayan ruin..."

1% on kindle, Wanderlove by Kristin Hubbard

Click here to read the summary in Goodreads.

TBR Intervention Challenge (6)

TBR Intervention is a weekly challenge hosted by 

Dani@RefractedLight , Ayanami@Whatever you Can Still Betray,

 and April@Books4Juliet 

The goal of this challenge is to help each other (fellow readers and bloggers) manage our enormous and constantly growing TBR (To-Be-Read) List. The rules are simple and everyone is encouraged to participate. It does not force you to commit to more than what you can manage to read in a week or so, but participants are encouraged to read at least one book within a week. You are free to choose the book you want to read and commit to this challenge. You may post your entry every Saturday, at the frequency of your choice--EVERY WEEK or EVERY TWO WEEKS. However, we will sponsor this event regularly every Saturday. 

Here are the rules:

1. Post the book(s) you committed to read in your last TBR Intervention post and tell us something about it. Did you finish it? Did you enjoy it or not? Post the link to your review (if you have one). 

2. Post a book that you want to read and already own. Pick something that has been sitting on your shelf for too long now (6 months or longer). Commit to read the book in the next couple of days or week.

3. Grab the TBR Intervention Button and post it on your blog sidebar so you will be constantly reminded of the challenge, making it easier for you to commit. This will also encourage other readers/bloggers/visitors to join the challenge.

4. Add the link to your post in the Linky below and make sure to visit the other blogs. Comment, encourage, and spread the love to our fellow readers. 

MY LAST WEEK'S TBRIC:

Addison Blakely: Confessions of A PK
Author: Betsy St. Amant

Publication Date: January 1, 2012

Published By: Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Genre/Category: Young Adult, Religious/Inspirational

Ok, so I finally finished it, yay for me! Anyway, I enjoyed this book and gave it 3 coffee cups rating. If you want to check it out, here's my review of this book:

Review: Addison Blakely: Confessions of A PK





THE BOOK I COMMIT TO READ THIS WEEK:

Wanderlove
Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Published Date: March 13th 2012
Published By: Delacorte Books
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Summary from Goodreads:

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?
No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.
Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.
Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry into this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.

ON MY SHELF SINCE: September 2011

WHY I CHOOSE THIS BOOK: I want to finish my review requests by the end of the year (I hope). I receive emails from authors asking me to review their books, unfortunately I can't say 'yes' at the moment since I have remaining books to finish. I hope that by the end of the year I'd be able to finish them so I can accept new books for review and at the same time request for new titles at NetGalley.

How abut you? How's your TBR pile last week? I'm sure you've added a few more titles to your list. There are lots of new books coming out, and my TBR list is getting crazier everyday... Good luck to us! Now it's time to link up your post. I'm excited to see your progress this week :)

-->>You may also get the linky code here: get the InLinkz code