Book Blast + Giveaway : Siding With Plato by Michelle Manning

Siding with Plato: A Romantic Comedy Chick Lit About College Life, Love, and Chaos 

Siding With Plato is a romantic laugh-out-loud chick lit novel about Being Young, Beautiful, and a Seriously Hot Mess! Brooke Aarons can't get to college fast enough. Leaving behind her small town life, she intends to transform herself into a brilliant psychologist at the University of Texas, with no distractions to slow her down. But when a twist in her plans lands her on double date with the school's star jock - and worse, enjoying it - Brooke has to wonder if she's the one who needs her head examined. James Cartwright's easy life, endless bucks, and long line of willing girls should make him a non-starter for Brooke, but as she learns, the psychology behind a bad crush is a whole lot messier of a subject.  

Praise for the Book

"This book hit home! Very funny and fast and fun read! I hope she makes this a series! LOVED IT!!!" "I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an escape back into the best years of your life! A MUST READ."

"Buy 2 copies of this relatable book - one for yourself and one for your best friend." 

"Siding With Plato is a must read for every girl who has gone away to college! It reminded me of my college years and the relationships between different boys, but most importantly the amazing friendships that were created. I could relate to all of the characters at one time or another. Siding With Plato is well written, funny, witty, and full of emotion. I definitely recommend reading this book!!"

Author Michelle Manning

Michelle Manning is a Southern California native who ventured over to Arizona State University in 2005, where she majored in journalism and met the friends who would later inspire her book series. After receiving her degree, she worked in the entertainment industry as an editor and red carpet reporter for a news outlet in Los Angeles until she moved to New York - shortly after releasing her debut novel, Siding With Plato!   

$100 BookBlast Giveaway $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/26/13 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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jawbreaker by Jolene Stockman : Book Blast + Giveaway

Jawbreaker 

You have created yourself every second since the day you were born. Bit by bit, layer by layer. You are a million moments. You are your gift to the world. You are a jawbreaker. This exciting new non-fiction book for young adults is a guide to exploring who you are, and deciding who you want to be. Get ready to: - Find and fuel your fizzing center spark. - Tune in to personal guidance techniques. - Unleash your absolute uniqueness. - Develop a cutting edge brand from scratch. - And so much more! Packed with tools and jewels to navigate the new world, Jawbreaker: Unlock the (U)niverse (17,000 words) will let you build on your strengths, and show you your story in a whole new way. It’s time to uncover the world’s best kept secret: You.

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***Book Blast Special 1 Get your Kindle copy of Jawbreaker: Unlock the (U)niverse for 99c!

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***Book Blast Special 2 Jolene’s YA non-fiction, Total Blueprint for World Domination shows you how to design your dream world and make it happen! And it’s free for a limited time:

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***Blogger Special 

Fill in the form to get free e-copies of Jolene’s books to review!   Parents, educators, and teen readers have called Jolene’s books inspiring, empowering, powerful, and life-changing. If you’re looking to get motivated, love your life, and explore who you are, Jawbreaker: Unlock the (U)niverse is for you!   

Author Jolene Stockman 

Jolene Stockman is an award winning writer, speaker, and an expert for Girlfriend Magazine Australia. She is a Master of Neuro Linguistic Programming, and one of the youngest in the world to achieve the Distinguished Toastmaster Award. Jolene lives in New Zealand, and is the author of motivational non-fiction Total Blueprint for World Domination, and contemporary fiction The Jelly Bean Crisis. Jawbreaker: Unlock the (U)niverse is her latest book.

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$100 BookBlast Giveaway 

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/24/13 

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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review : The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins

What if the perfect match is a perfect surprise? 

Honor Holland has just been unceremoniously rejected by her lifelong crush. And now—a mere three weeks later—Mr. Perfect is engaged to her best friend. But resilient, reliable Honor is going to pick herself up, dust herself off and get back out there…or she would if dating in Manningsport, New York, population 715, wasn't easier said than done. 

Charming, handsome British professor Tom Barlow just wants to do right by his unofficial stepson, Charlie, but his visa is about to expire. Now Tom must either get a green card or leave the States—and leave Charlie behind. 

In a moment of impulsiveness, Honor agrees to help Tom with a marriage of convenience—and make her ex jealous in the process. But juggling a fiancé, hiding out from her former best friend and managing her job at the family vineyard isn't easy. And as sparks start to fly between Honor and Tom, they might discover that their pretend relationship is far too perfect to be anything but true love….

Paperback, 448 pages

Published October 29th 2013 by Harlequin HQN

ISBN 0373778198 (ISBN13: 9780373778195)

Blue Heron #2 series

Add to GOODREADS or Buy it From BOOK DEPOSITORY or AMAZON

* * * * *

Okay, where do I start?
This was my very first of Kristan Higgins. First, I'd like to apologize to one of my best friends, Vita, who had recommended me Higgins books many times but I was just like, yeah, they have high ratings, but well, maybe some other time, and then I forget it.
I have no idea why I pick this one. Totally random. 

As you all know, it's an arranged relationship. Benefit. Mutual. Whatever. It's one of my favorite theme, and a bit reminded me of The Proposal (Sandra Brown and Ryan Reynolds), one of my all-time-favorite movie. The heroine, Honor, had a crush on her best friend for 17 years. They had sex casually, on and off. But while Honor's thinking about marriage, Bra--- what's his name? Brandon? Bradon? Bro--... Hmm, now I totally understand why Tom always said the wrong name (although I believe he did it on purpose! God, I loved him!). *checking on the ARC. Ah! It's Brogan. 
Okay, it turned out Brogan saw Honor (or On) as a friend only. God! I really wanted to kick him. And shake Honor a little to open her eyes. But well, I don't need to. Brogan made it clear. And even clearer after a few weeks when he invited Honor to Rourke's bar, along with Dana.

A cat fight. I, myself, didn't expect to see Honor doing it. But she did. And certainly became the latest/hottest gossip because it's Honor! The boring one of all Holland girls. But I loved her! 

And Tom. While Honor despised him (at first) the moment he opened his mouth, I just fell in love hard with him. Yes, he's a bit twitting with sarcasm, but wait, what's not to love about him? The British accent? Well, it's just one of the reasons. A professor with bad boy appearance? Broad shoulders, tattoo ... along with great sense of humor? Can I have one, please? Well, he's flirty. But he's friendly, easy to get along with, and cared about people a lot. And ... since I'm a sucker for the 'darling' endearment, Tom's certainly won my heart. *sigh...

Anyway, I loved almost all characters in this book. The Hollands family. The friends. Even Dana, for being bitchy and selfish. I loved the relationship, good and bad, built between characters. Especially Honor and Tom, and Tom with Charlie, his unofficial stepson.

At first, I stopped reading after prologue for couple days not because it's not great, but it's because of my mood. But once I rolled into Chapter 1 , I couldn't put it down. The story line was pretty simple and easy to follow, but deep enough with intense emotions. The sex scene was not overwhelming so I don't really have to skip/skim it.
I cried twice (or was it three?) while reading this book. I smiled and grinned often (thank God I was home alone). I sighed and melted while dreamily imagining Tom. 

I really loved this book! It's simple yet entertaining. It's certainly a must have and now I'm officially a fan of Kristan Higgins.

*This is an e-ARC I received from Harlequin via Net Galley for an honest review. And I honestly love it! A lot!

**My review could do no justice to the book. If you happened to not like it, please don't feel the same way toward the book. :)

Add to GOODREADS or Buy it From BOOK DEPOSITORY or AMAZON

A Light in Dark Places by Jennifer Graves & Emily Clawson : Book Blast + Giveaway

A Light in Dark Places

In December, 2009, Susan Cox Powell was reported missing from her home in West Valley City, Utah. As law enforcement tried to piece together what had happened to Susan, her husband, Josh Powell, became the only person of interest in the case. For Jennifer Graves, Josh’s sister, the nightmare started long before Susan’s disappearance. From her experiences growing up in the Powell family to the terrifying moment when she first started to believe her brother was a killer, she relied on her faith to stay strong. She devoted herself to the safety of Susan’s boys, Charlie and Braden, whom she hoped to be able to raise as her own. When the boys were murdered by their father in February, 2012, Jennifer was more than devastated, but she had to believe there was a reason for it all—including the deaths of her beloved nephews. In A Light In Dark Places, Jennifer shares her struggles and her triumphs. In coming to terms with such tragedy she finally was able to embrace the truth that we all have the power to choose our own path—and there is always hope, no matter how dark things may seem.

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Praise for A Light in Dark Places

I just finished reading "A Light in Dark Places" By Jennifer Graves and Emily Gray Clawson. I was impressed with how well written the book was. The descriptions are such that I felt I was part of the story. I was grateful that the message was one of hope and peace in tragedy. The book does tell the tale of Susan Powell, her boys and their demise but doesn't dwell on it. It was nice to see inside the life experiences of someone so close to them and to see things from Jennifer's perspective rather than what you see on the media. I highly recommend this book. It doesn't disappoint! – T. Hyde

I love true accounts of people overcoming challenges and helping others with the lessons learned from them. This story of Jennifer's experiences throughout her abusive childhood, and later the disappearance of Susan and the murder of her two sweet nephews is just that. She shares how she felt God's hand in her life, guiding her to make better choices than the rest of her family did. Though the book had so many sad details, it ended with hope, courage and love. ~D. Raymond

I had followed the story of Susan Powell very closely so I wasn't sure if the book was going to tell me something I didn't already know...but it sure did. Jennifer was very brave in writing this book and all she had done in support for Susan. I highly recommend the book it sheds a light on the whole situation that helps make things more clear. ~ Carolyn

This was a very informative read. I lived in Utah at the time of Susan's disappearance and followed the news every day. This book answered many questions that the news did not. Although it was very sad and I already knew the outcome it was a good read. I admire Jennifer for her part in the whole story and I am glad she had the fortitude to write this book to honor her sister in law. ~Katie O.

To finally read about details that were never shared brought closure for me about this insidious crime. While the book was an easy read, the message shared about breaking the cycle of abusive relationships is invaluable. It truly does take someone removing themselves from their abusive family's presence to stop the cycle. Praises to the author for sharing her perspectives. ~Arlene

    

Jennifer Graves is the mother of 5 beautiful children, 2 girls and 3 boys. She and her husband have been happily married for 19 years and together have been active in their community and church. Jennifer is the sister of Josh Powell who killed his 2 sons, Charlie and Braden, as well as himself in February of 2012, and is also believed to have killed his wife, Susan Cox Powell, in December of 2009. She is the recipient of the 2013 ChainBreaker of the year Award, given for breaking the chain of abuse and violence in her family. She enjoys homeschooling their children and mentoring in classes for the commonwealth school they attend. She also loves reading, playing card and board games, and learning new things. Most of all she loves to spend time with her husband and children. They currently reside in West Jordan, UT.

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♦ ♦ ♦

Emily Clawson is an author, a mother and a mentor. She traditionally writes inspirational fiction. This book has been a life changing experience for her and she is grateful to have been a part of telling this story. She resides in Taylorsville with her husband and four children where they run their leadership mentoring programs for youth.

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Tour Schedule

BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/15/13 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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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The Battle for Arcanon Major by Alexandra May : Book Blast + Giveaway

The Battle for Arcanon Major 

“As daughter of our ruler I grew up in the crossfire of an ongoing war... All I’d ever wanted to be was a great warrior and ultimately lead my people into victorious battles." With only a small army at her command Halíka Dacomé, a skilled warrior and daughter of the Elemental King, is ready to lead one final battle to save her planet. A battle against the savage, bloodthirsty Primords who want to extinguish the diminished race of Elementals once and for all. But before battle commences her father is given an ultimatum from the enemy leader, Arfron Uhnok. If the king agrees, Halíka Dacomé must marry Arfron Uhnok to prevent further bloodshed. If the king disagrees they, as a race, will all perish. Horrified by her fathers decision Halíka Dacomé leads her army onward regardless of the consequences. Because her heart belongs to another. A love that blossomed many years ago. A love that her father has forbidden. Halíka faces her toughest battle yet and learns that not all battles are those fought with a sword... The Battle for Arcanon Major is an epic love story set against the backdrop of war and is the first Prequel to Elemental: The First.

Excerpt 

“When you’re out there on the battlefield with your captains and your soldiers, when you fight, you are the strongest, toughest, fiercest woman I know. Sometimes you scare me at how hardened you are.” 

“But that’s just—”

“No, I know what you’re going to say. I know it’s who you really are and I love that person. She’s someone I admire so much.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying that I feel honoured that I get to see the real you. When you’re with me, you turn into this soft, beautiful, lighthearted woman whom I adore. That woman who stirs something inside me to a point that I can’t bear to be without her. I never see that woman with anyone else. Not Cary, not her brother, no one. Halíka, I think I know how you feel about me but—” He looked down at our hands, somewhat crestfallen. 

“But what?”

“You never say it, Hal. I’ve never, ever heard you say the word. Not even with those closest to you.” 

“What word?”

“Love,” he sighed and rested his hand on my cheek, cupping my face. “The word is love. Is Halíka Dacomé capable of such a thing?”   

Praise: 

"Excellent story. Plot line is great, definitely 2 thumbs up. Couldn't put it down, easy read, excellent prequel to the elemental. Would definitely recommend Alexandra May!!" "Amazing story had my attention the entire story it is hard to find a book like this, I definitely give it 5 stars." "Excellent short story. Plot line is great, definitely 2 thumbs up. Couldn't put it down, an easy read. Would definitely recommend Alexandra May!!" 

Alexandra May
Alexandra May is an English author of three books, bringing together the epic saga of Halíka Dacomé and her modern day equivalent, Rose Frost. Elemental: The First, Elemental: Origin and The Battle for Arcanon Major draw in Alexandra's love of strong women characters, sci-fi, history, romance and a little warmongering on the side!   

 

Tour Schedule

 
BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/8/13 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. a Rafflecopter giveaway