Wednesday, August 14, 2013

August New Release Giveaway Hop (INT)


The new release giveaway hop is hosted by Book Twirps and Refracted Light Reviews.


Hello, guys! How are you all?

I'm kinda a bit lazy to start this month since it means I have to go back to campus life. But well, better starts sooner so I can get over it sooner, too. But still, I get excited too because there are great books coming up. What about you guys? What's so great about August?

So let's start the giveaway. You all know the rules. It won't be different than the previous. 
ONE winner gets to choose any AUGUST RELEASE book(s)  worth up to $15 from The Book Depository. So yes, this is INTERNATIONAL as long as The Book Depository ships to your country (you can check it here). If you're US resident, I might order it from Amazon. ^^

Thanks for stopping by and entering. Good luck to you all. And have a wonderful month!

a Rafflecopter giveaway   Remember to hop to another awesome blogs! ^^

Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire Book Blast

hyperion
Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire (Heroes in Training Book 4) The action heats up for Zeus and his fellow Olympians in this blazing Heroes in Training tale. 

Phew, it’s hot! Under the titan Hyperion’s rule, the sun is burning even brighter than normal and scorching everything in northern Greece—including the villagers! The Olympians are forced to play a sizzling “game” of Dodge the Sunbursts as Hyperion hurls giant fireballs that could fry them to pieces! Armed with some clues, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades set out to figure out why in the world Hyperion has been making things so hot. They also need to rescue Hera, who is still missing. Battling the extreme heat—and some fantastical and scary creatures, courtesy of their old foe Cronus—the boys are off on another epic adventure…and Zeus is one step closer to discovering his destiny.


Heroes in Training by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams deliver fun, adventures, and a few surprises as ten-year-old Olympians go on a journey of a lifetime to discover their true identities and defeat their Titan enemies. Praise for Heroes in Training "Readers will gobble this down and look for more, make no mythtake." ~ Kirkus “This is a fun read, casting Zeus in the role of relatable kid, and there is a nice balance between his primary goal of survival and his sense of destiny and adventure. . . Share this title, and likely more to come, with those still too young for Percy Jackson’s adventures.” ~ School Library Journal The Series #1 Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom #2 Poseidon and the Sea of Fury #3 Hades and the Helm of Darkness #4 Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire Aladdin Paperbacks (ages 6-9) http://series.simonandschuster.com/Heroes-in-training   


Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Book 1) 
After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series! The terrible Titans--merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans--have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe.... Ten-year-old Zeus is mystified (and super-annoyed) by the fact that he keeps getting hit by lightening. Every. Single. Year. He also longs for adventure, as he has never been far from the cave where he grew up. Zeus gets his wish--and a lot more than he bargained for--when he is kidnapped by dangerous, giant Titans! In self-defense, he grabs the first thing he sees--an actual thunderbolt he pulls from a stone that is covered in mysterious markings. Zeus is the only one who can decipher the markings, and sets off on a quest to rescue his youthful fellow Olympians from the evil Cronus. Armed with his trusty thunderbolt (named Bolt, of course), Zeus is on an adventure of a lifetime--and a journey to fulfill his destiny as King of the Gods.   


 
Poseidon and the Sea of Fury (Book 2) 
A young Poseidon must triumph over aquatic terrors in this Heroes in Training adventure. The merciless Cronus and his Titan buddies are in hot pursuit of Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, who plan to travel across the treacherous boiling sea in order to save a fellow Olympian. They have a boat, but they also have a problem: Poseidon can’t swim and is terrified of the water (well, really of the creatures that lurk in its depths). The group faces danger after danger as they battle singing sirens, a fishy and ferocious Titan named Oceanus, and people-eating monsters sent by Cronus himself. Can Poseidon overcome his fears and help his fellow heroes escape Cronus and his cronies?





Hades and the Helm of Darkness (Heroes in Training Book 3)
The Heroes in Training are entering the Underworld—if Hades can conquer his canine fears, that is. The Underworld usually isn’t really meant to be a fun place—but tell that to Hades! He loves the dark and the stinky smell of sulfur. However, there is one thing that Hades is not a fan of: dogs. And when Zeus and his fellow Olympians encounter Cerberus—a snarling, three-headed dog—Hades must conquer his fears and tame the hound so everyone can continue into the Underworld and deposit their Titan prisoner, Oceanus, back where he belongs! But with magical water that causes forgetfulness, hot beds of lava, and another epic battle with two more Titans standing in their way, will Zeus and his heroes make it out of the Underworld with everyone intact?   



Author Suzanne Williams Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children's choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 - 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 - 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.  
 

Author Joan Holub I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children's books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job. I illustrated my first published children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts -- Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee! Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children's books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.  
    

Book Blast Giveaway 
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/29/13 
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 
Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. 
You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. 
The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. 
This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. 
Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. 
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

Midnight Masquerade Book Blast + Giveaway

midnight mas

Midnight Masquerade

Stavos Voronin was not as blind-eyed as many nobles and royals. Evony’s physical gestures—even the simplest movement of her hands—revealed that she had not always been destitute. The same was true of the children—of their polished manners and the boy’s knowledge of horses and tendency to be bold and fearless of strangers. 

Ah yes, Stavos enjoyed a good mystery. After all, interest in the inexplicable circumstances surrounding the royals of Abawyth was the very thing that had lured him to the kingdom—the enigma of Abawyth’s twelve sleepy princesses. And yet now—now his mind was all the more intrigued. Not only was the obscurity of what had caused the profound and baffling torpidity of Abawyth’s princesses laid out before him, but also he found his curiosity intensely piqued over the riddle surrounding the very lovely Evony and her siblings. 

As Stavos strode through the village resting on the outskirts of Abawyth Castle, his mind reeled with possibilities. His musings were drawn back to why he had come to Abawyth at all—to solve the conundrum surrounding the twelve beautiful princesses of Abawyth kingdom—to solve the seemingly impenetrable crux and thereby win the hand of one of Abawyth’s princesses, as his father, King Letholdus of Ethiarien, had commanded.


marciaAuthor Marcia Lynn McClure 

Marcia Lynn McClure’s intoxicating succession of novels, novellas, and e-books, has established her as one of the most favored and engaging authors of true romance. Her unprecedented forte in weaving captivating stories of western, medieval, regency, and contemporary amour void of brusque intimacy has earned her the title “The Queen of Kissing.” 
Marcia, who was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has spent her life intrigued with people, history, love, and romance. A wife, mother, grandmother, family historian, poet, and author, Marcia Lynn McClure spins her tales of splendor for the sake of offering respite through the beauty, mirth, and delight of a worthwhile and wonderful story.



    
Book Blast Giveaway 
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/13/13 

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Persephone the Daring $100 Book Blast


persephone
Persephone the Daring (Goddess Girls #11)
Mortal rock star Orpheus steals the spotlight in this Goddess Girls tale of love and lyres!

Orpheus is a mortal rock god, and the girls at Mount Olympus Academy are wild about him! With his lyre and singing voice, Orpheus can charm pretty much anything—even things like stones and trees. But Hades and the other MOA boys aren’t charmed. In fact, they are less than thrilled that the girls are so gaga over this guy. His fans are especially excited about his latest song about the girl he loved and lost, Eurydice. Orpheus was devastated when he lost Eurydice to the Underworld, so he asks Persephone to help get her back. Though it means breaking some very serious Underworld rules, Persephone pushes Hades to return Eurydice to the living world. But restoring Orpheus’s one true love might jeopardize Persephone’s own chances with her biggest crush...  


Praise for The Goddess Girls
“…a clever take on Greek deities…” ~ Booklist 
"Readers familiar with Greek myths should get a kick out of this plucky restaging." ~Publisher's Weekly 
“…an enchanting mythological world with middle-school woes compounded by life as a deity…” ~ School Library Journal

The Goddess Girls Series
The Goddess Girls series, by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams puts a modern spin on classic Greek myths. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.
  • Athena the Brain Finding out she’s a goddess and being sent to Mount Olympus brings Athena new friends, a weird dad, and the meanest girl in mythology—Medusa!
  • Persephone the Phony Hiding her feelings works fine for Persephone until she meets a guy she can be herself with—Hades, the bad-boy of the Underworld.
  • Aphrodite the Beauty Sure Aphrodite is beautiful, but it’s not always easy being the goddessgirl of love.
  • Artemis the Brave She may be the goddess of the hunt, but that doesn’t mean Artemis always feels brave.
  • Athena the Wise Zeus says Heracles has to do twelve tasks or he'll get kicked out of MOA! Although she's not sure it's wise, Athena agrees to help out.
  • Aphrodite the Diva Isis claims she's the goddess of love? Ha! But to keep the title all to herself, Aphrodite has to find the perfect match for Pygmalion, the most annoying boy ever.
  • Artemis the Loyal It’s time for the annual Olympic Games, and Artemis and her friends are not happy. It’s boys only. Not fair!
  • Medusa the Mean Medusa wants to be more like her two sisters and the other kids at Mount Olympus Academy -- immortal. Is that too much to ask?
  • The Girl Games (Goddess Girls Super Special) Listen in on what all four goddess girls are thinking as Mount Olympus Academy hosts visitors from many lands--including an adorable kitten!The first-ever standalone superspecial in the Goddess Girls series!
  • Pandora the Curious Pandora is one of the few mortals at Mount Olympus Academy—and probably the most curious of all the students in school.
  • Pheme the Gossip As the goddess girl of rumor and gossip, Pheme prides herself on being “in the know” and having the most up-to-date info on anyone and everyone at Mount Olympus Academy.

Author Suzanne Williams 


Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children's choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 - 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 - 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.

Author Joan Holub 

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children's books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job. I illustrated my first published children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts -- Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee! Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children's books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.

 

Book Blast Giveaway 
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/22/13 
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 
Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. 
You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. 
The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. 
This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. 
Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. 
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

Monday, August 5, 2013

Review: The Baby Deal by Kat Cantrell

In this Billionaires & Babies novel, award-winning author Kat Cantrell presents an offer that can't be refused... 
When billionaire entrepreneur Michael "Shay" Shaylen becomes guardian to a baby boy, he knows there's only one woman who can teach him how to be a father-his ex-lover, child psychologist Juliana Cane. So he makes her a deal: if she gives him two months, he'll give her a boost in her career. 
She says yes. Suddenly, Juliana has everything she's ever wanted: a home, a child-Shay. But she knows this seductive situation is only temporary. Because even as desire burns between them-so do the reasons Juliana has to say goodbye....
You can check it out on GOODREADS or
You can buy it on Book Depository
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 06 August 2013
Format: Paperback 192 pages
Categories: Adult & Contemporary Romance
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My very first of Kat Cantrell.
I must say it's very hard for me to finish reading this book. Not because the book's so hard to like, but because there were parts in this book that reminded me to my fears. To the unwillingness to sacrifice something I desperately wanted to hold on to, to get something that in the end could be so much better. Not for the others, but for myself. For me to be something or someone better.
I loved the way Kat Cantrell tried to tell us that (true) love is about commitment, compromise, effort and sacrifice without losing ourselves. 
I can see that when things didn't work out between Juliana and her ex-husband was not merely because he was not Shay. But mostly because Juliana closed herself because she's too absorbed with her situations/conditions.  She did almost the same thing to Shay back then: walking away, taking distance. All because she didn't brave enough to face the truth and held on to something she desperately want: a baby and a safe-steady life. I loved the thought (from Shay) that whenever you start feeling scared, it's about time to move forward. 
Reading the last Juliana sentences reminded me to the song Raise It Up from August Rush soundtrack:
Sometimes it takes a different kind of dream to make you smile. Sometimes we need another helping hand to show the way
Both Juliana and Shay learned to let go, and both needed another person to make them realize that they had to let go.
It's a wonderful story about love and life. About taking risk and letting go. About sacrifice which in the end would give you something better and make you (and your partner or people around you, too, hopefully) a better person.
Many thanks to Harlequin who provided the ARC via Net Galley.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Summer Romance Book Blog Hop (INT)

Welcome to Summer Romance Book Blog Hop
hosted by Literaryaddicts.com

My giveaway would be:
$10 Amazon GC

or
Book of Choice (up to $10) from The Book Depository 
(as long as they ship to your country for free. You can check it HERE)

So come and enter the Rafflecopter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hop on to the other blogs who will be hosting a giveaway as part of the hop. ^^