What I'm Waiting For - Spell Bound

Spell Bound  (A Hex Hound Novel) by Rachel Hawkins

Release date March 13, 2012

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

 

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?


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

Utah Author Events : Ilsa J Bick author of ASHES, book signing and reading @ The Kings English Bookshop

The Kings English Bookshop

1511 South 1500 East

Salt Lake City, Utah 84105

United States

Ilsa J Bick will be reading from and signing her new release Ashes, the first book in her dystopian trilogy, at The Kings English Bookshop on September 13, @ 7:00 P.M.

My thoughts: Ashes is an epic story that woke me up at night infiltrating my dreams. I don't know whom I feared more, the changed or the humans.
{Read more of my review here...}

How to order your own autographed copy of Ashes from

The Kings English Bookshop:

Can't make it? No worries, you can order an autographed copy from The Kings English Bookshop!  I really like collecting autographed copies of my favorite books and don't have the time or means to travel the world and get my books signed. So I emailed the fab Rachel who organizes these author events to find out how you can order your own autographed copy and have it shipped to you from The Kings English Bookshop. It is a very easy process, one that I have had to take advantage of in the past.

"There are several ways to go about pre-orders/orders. First, if they want to pre-pay for the book with the intention of either picking it up at the front desk the evening of the event or sometime after, they can call the front desk (801) 484-9100 and pay over the phone, or they can e-mail me rachel at kingsenglish dot com. If they e-mail me they need to give their credit card info via e-mail or list a phone number for me to call them at.

If they want a book signed and shipped they need to e-mail onlineorders at kingsenglish dot com and they can describe in detail to whom they want it signed etc."

 ~Rachel     

Ashes by Ilsa J Bick

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushed her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom — a young soldier — and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Ashes ARC Review by Ilsa J Bick

ASHES by ILSA J BICK

WILL BE RELEASED ON 9/6/11

It could happen tomorrow...

A cataclysmic event. An army of "The Changed."

Can one teen really survive on her own?

An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky, destroying every electronic device and killing billions. For those spared, it's a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human...

Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the Changed, Alex meets up with Tom---a young army veteran---and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse.

This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to survive. 

 

My Thoughts:

Have you ever been channel surfing and a movie that has already started catches your interest? You end up staying on the channel, getting sucked into the movie and wondering what you missed in the first ten minutes? Then you make a mental note to watch the movie again because it is so good and you are sure you missed something.

That is how I felt on page one of Ashes by Ilsa J Bick. It was like I was eavesdropping on a strangers intriguing and very private conversation that left me thirsting for more.

In Ashes a major event, “the zap” as Alex the main character calls it, kills the majority of the world population. Of those that survive, half of them “change” and the other half must learn to survive and who to trust. Along the way Alex meets Ellie and Tom. Together, they form a makeshift family and set out to find others that have survived.

Ashes is an epic story that woke me up at night infiltrating my dreams. I couldn't stop thinking about Ashes and how hauntingly accurate Ilsa J Bick portrayed scared people and what they are capable of doing to each other. I don't know whom I feared more, the changed or the humans.

What I didn't like: I was not expecting gore, consider yourself warned. I actually gagged a little and you should know, blood doesn't nauseate me.

In typical Young Adult fashion, the story goes on longer that I like with the - and then this happened, and then this happened and then this happened. I was ready to be at the next stage of the book and wasn't there yet. That may be because I was actually having anxiety for Alex, I don't know.

Would I buy this book? Absolutely, it will even be put on my red shelf, reserved only for elite books. The dialogue is well written and the non verbal communication is excellent. There were several moments that were “awww” moments. Sweet and tender, well written innocent moments that melt your heart. There were guns and better yet, a girl that could shoot them.

Would I let my teen read this book? When I first started reading Ashes I would have said no way. About half way through and after finishing it I concluded that I would encourage my kid to read it. (If they are mature enough to handle blood) In Ashes there are many valuable lessons that can be learned and potential for conversational topics with your teen.

Why? Well human nature is a scary thing. I often say that I would rather read a book about mythical scary creatures than a crime novel – because the monsters in crime novels are real. They live, breath and work in a productive society hiding their murderous secrets. What kept me awake at night while reading Ashes is that Ilsa J Bick portrayed human reaction and anger so accurately that I know it would happen. I can see Ashes becoming one of the books on a controversial school book list that teachers love because it forces students to think. To dissect a story, to ponder what is being written and the potential for the story to actually play out in reality. I think parents may have a problem with the book for the violence, blood, guns and survival instincts. For these reasons I believe Ashes would interest young men to read. A book that appeals to both male and female is a rarity and must be treasured.

Ilsa J Bick will be at The Kings English in Salt Lake City Utah for a book signing and reading on September 13, 2011 at 7:00  PM. Learn more about this event and how to order an autographed copy from The Kings English Bookshop on this post.



***I recieved Ashes from The Kings English Bookshop in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***

Recycled bookshelves = happy books

A couple of weeks ago my neighbor, Mr. Wilson  told me he was headed out to go to yard sales. I told him I had been watching the classifieds and Craig's list for book shelves and if he saw any let me know. Then he ask what kind I wanted.. I told him solid wood, something I could paint and rough up. He told me to give him a minute and then he came out of his house with this beauty. I love it. It was in the other neighbors back yard being used as a gardening shelf. The old widow that lived there passed away and her children were getting rid of everything - so he ended up with the shelf. Mr. Wilson thought he could use it for his kids toys but decided it didn't really go with anything in his house. Lucky for me it goes with my decor perfectly  - I didn't even have to paint it! It's sturdy and unfortunately - not big enough! (I am sure you ALL know that feeling) Oh well I found the perfect spot for it to hold my favorite book treasures. ♥ So now I am still on the lookout for bookshelves to paint and rough up. I suppose searching for bookshelves is something I will always be doing. :)

Happy Reading,
Jen

What I'm Waiting For - Eternal Starling

Eternal Starling, Emblem of Eternity Book 1

Pendrell Publishing

Release Date: December 6, 2011

A love so strong, even eternity can’t separate them. 

Evie Starling has lived a relatively uneventful life hanging out

with friends, gossiping about boys, and driving her 1966

Mustang. All of that changes when she moves to Gunnison,
Colorado, to start college and meets two mysterious men.

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for

Evie—but they each have their own reasons for wanting to be with her. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was. Soon, Evie finds herself in the middle of an age-old battle between the Amaranthine Society—the soul protectors, and the Daevos Resistance—the soul destroyers. With a past she doesn’t understand, and a future rife with danger, Evie has to decide who she can trust. But Alex and Emil aren’t the only ones who want Evie, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.

Want to learn more about Angela Corbett and Eternal Starling? Go to Angela's website here.

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



G, Mr. Jones and Me - Tune in Tuesdays

Tune in Tuesdays is a super fun meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. Head on over to her blog and find a bunch of book blogging 90's music lovers.

Mr. Jones takes me back to 1994 when I would set the CD to repeat and we would drag main. Yes I am from a small town and yes we really did drive up and down main street for hours just kicking it with friends. I can't help but dance and sing when I hear Mr Jones by Counting Crows, it still makes me happy.

Hopfollogi - Blog hop, Follow Friday & tgif

hopfollogi - (pronounced  hop - Follow- G) the study of blog hops. Pertaining to Book Blogger Hop, Follow Friday and tgif.

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Allison Can Read. This weeks Feature is Belle Books. You can sign up to participate in Follow Friday at Parajunkee's website.

This week's Q. If you could write yourself a part in a book, what book would it be and what role would you play in that book?

A. Holy Hannah Harry Potter! I would love to live at Hogwarts and learn magic. :) (I would even take Hex Hall - magic school anywhere would be fun.)

What I'm Reading & L♥ving

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

Sixteen-year-old Yara Silva has always known that ghosts walk alongside the living. Her grandma, like the other females in her family, is a Waker, someone who can see and communicate with ghosts. Yara grew up watching her grandmother taunted and scorned for this unusual ability and doesn't want that to be her future. She has been dreading the day when she too would see ghosts, and is relieved that the usually dominant Waker gene seems to have skipped her, letting her live a normal teenage life. However, all that changes for Yara on her first day at her elite boarding school when she discovers the gene was only lying dormant. She witnesses a dark mist attack Brent, a handsome fellow student, and rushes to his rescue. Her act of heroism draws the mist's attention, and the dark spirit begins stalking her. Yara finds herself entrenched in a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening not only her life, but the lives of her closest friends as well. Yara soon realizes that the past she was trying to put behind her isn't going to go quietly.

What I'm Reading & L♥ving is My Life With Books weekly meme created by Jennifer K Jovus.

Would anyone be interested in joining this meme?

 If so I will start a linky for it. Just leave me a comment and we will get it started.

Happy Reading!

Jen

What I'm Waiting for

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

Release date August 30, 2011

Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.

Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

ARC Review & Give Away - Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger, ARC review
Release date September 5, 2011

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other Schools. At Hamilton High, it’s a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight or haze a freshman. And on three separate occasions Randy’s car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend’s attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players’ girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won’t get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don’t count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming. In this hilarious and romantic reimagining of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, the battle of boys against girls is on.

My Thoughts:
Shut out tackles tough issues that seem to be a hot topic in YA literature these days, sex and teens. I was a little skeptical when I started reading it because I do not believe in promoting teen sex. Especially the idea that sex is a tool to manipulate someone to get what you want. If you feel similar apprehensions set them aside and read Shut Out, it is both entertaining and socially educational.

High school girls haven't changed much since I was a teen. They are still mean and honestly after reading Shut Out it occurs to me that boys locker room talk happens with girls too. Those horrible reputations girls get are as much from other girls as they are boys. Kody Keplinger also discusses stereotypes and sexism in this book. Exposing the double standard's for young men and women and why we all accept it. Shut Out makes you think! And any book that makes you think about your own personal belief is a good book.

I recommend Shut Out to any young adult (Age 16 and up) that feels sexual peer pressure from both her friends and sexual partner. So I guess that means every woman should read it! I believe that Shut Out will be an outlet for a young women to evaluate her personal opinion on sexual relationships as well as why or why she may not be having sex. I also believe that upon finishing this book, the reader will feel more confident in her decision about sexual activity as well as patience and understanding for those that do not share her sexual beliefs.

There is only one thing that kind of bugged me about Shut Out and that was the ever present teen syndrome of I love him! I hate him! Does he like me?

What I like about Shut Out is Sex positive. I cannot explain sex positive as well as Kody Keplinger, so after you finish reading this review, go to Kody's Sex Positive post and read it. I liked that the girls put prejudiced and preconceived opinions about each other aside to reach a common goal. Through it they discover that they are not that different from each other and learn to accept who they are as individuals and a group. Most importantly, to accept themselves. Having sex may be right for one girl and it may not for another. It doesn't matter, we are all just trying to get through adolescence and its easier with friends than with enemies.

I've followed Kody Keplinger's blog for the last six months and know that she is a strong, intelligent young woman whom I have come to respect and admire. Shut Out is not a typical book I would pick up to read. But because I have learned a little about Kody and her personal character through her blog, I had faith that I would enjoy it. I am glad I took the chance on this book, because Shut Out is worth reading. Aside from being entertaining and funny with a side dish of heartache and a sweet, good looking boy, Shut Out is 100% relatable for woman of any age. My 17 year old self would have loved Shut Out, I wish I could have read it when I was a teen.

Giveaway Time: (US ONLY)
I won this ARC from the Elliot Review and  because I enjoyed this book and appreciate the opportunity to review it before it releases I want to pay it forward and let someone else have a turn. To enter to win this ARC of Shut Out by Kody Keplinger fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

win 8 autographed books at ash to nash - last day!

Today is the last day to enter the Ash to Nash autographed book giveaway. Tis awesome! Eight books I would love to own and they are signed. A girl can dream can't she? Check it out at the Ash to Nash website.  Scroll down to see the eight books that will be given away.

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Hopfollogi -

hopfollogi - (pronounced  hop - Follow- G) the study of blog hops. Pertaining to Book Blogger Hop, Follow Friday and tgif.

Yes I love science. ;) And I bet you can't tell I just made that word up can you? ( I was up WAY too late )


Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy-For-Books - check out the hop post to find lots of other book bloggers hoppin' today.

Q: “What is the one ARC you would love to get your hands on right now?”

A: I would call this the dream ARC, it would have to be Wolfsbane and Bloodrose. Mostly because Nightshade is the first ARC I received and it has tremendous sentimental value. It would mean a lot to have all of them in ARC's.

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and this week's feature blogger is http://www.handsandhome.ca/

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

A. I loved To Kill a Mockingbird when I was younger. As an adult the passion I have for books was ignited by The Hunger Games and Nightshade.

tgif is hosted by GReads.


Taking it Personal: Which books have effected you on a personal level and lingered in your mind long after you closed the pages?


A: Mockingjay haunted me for many nights. Really made me think about life and government. And the most frightening thing for me was the realization that something similar could really happen.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Be sure to leave a comment so I can check out your blog and follow you. I love meeting new bloggers.

Until next time,
Happy Reading.
Jen!

COVER REVEAL: FLAME OF SURRENDER by Rhiannon Paille

Today is a special day here at My Life With Books. Rhiannon Paille is here as my first guest blogger ever! She has exciting news to share today and I am honored that she has let me be a part of this momentus occasion in her life and career.

Welcome Rhiannon Paille!

You might have noticed that I have a book coming out. I have no official news, but I do have a date when it'll be available everywhere you can get books.

And this is the pretty cover for it . . .

And this is what the book is about . . .

The boy who follows death meets the girl who could destroy the world.

Krishani thinks he’s doomed until he meets Kaliel, the one girl on the island of Avristar who isn’t afraid of him. She’s unlike the other girls, she swims with merfolk, talks to trees and blooms flowers with her touch. What he doesn’t know is that she’s a flame, one of nine individually hand crafted weapons, hidden in the body of a seemingly harmless girl.

Nobody has fallen in love with a flame until now. She becomes Krishani’s refuge from the dreams of death and the weather abilities he can’t control. Striking down thousand year old trees with lightning isn’t something he tries to do, it just happens. When the Ferryman dies, Krishani knows that he’s the next and that a lifetime of following death is his destiny.

And Kaliel can’t come with him. The Valtanyana are hunting the flames, the safest place for her is Avristar. Krishani can’t bear to leave her, and one innocent mistake grants the Valtanyana access to their mystical island. They’re coming for Kaliel, and they won’t stop until every last living creature on Avristar is dead. She has to choose, hide, face them, or awaken the flame and potentially destroy herself.

And you should consider reading it when it comes out on November 1st, 2011. Until then you can add it to your tbr pile on goodreads.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11841693-flame-of-surrender

Coincidentally, you can read an excerpt of the book there too, I was pretty generous with it too . . .

There are some ARCs available, and if you're a reviewer, I might be inclined to let you read the book before it comes out, just need to e-mail me at rhiannonpaille at gmail dot com.

Hope you're having a good one and thanks Jennifer for letting me crash your blog like this, it was a lot of fun!

Namaste,
Rhi

 

 

Thanks for guest posting on My Life With Books today and congratulations on the publication of your book, Flame Of Surrender. It was fun having you!

 

Readers, if you haven't been to Rhiannon's blog yet, you should check it out. She keeps me laughing on a regular basis while providing excellent book reviews and insight on life.

 

Happy Reading.

Jennifer

Kiersten White @ The Kings English & how to order your own autographed copy of Supernaturally

The Kings English Bookshop

1511 South 1500 East

Salt Lake City, Utah 84105

United States

Kiersten White author of Paranormalcy will be reading from and signing Supernaturally at The Kings English Bookshop on Saturday August 6th @ 2:00 P.M.

Can't make it? No worries, you can order an autographed copy from The Kings English Bookshop!  I really like collecting autographed copies of my favorite books and don't have the time or means to travel the world and get my books signed. So I emailed the fab Rachel who organizes these author events to find out how you can order your own autographed copy and have it shipped to you from The Kings English Bookshop.

"There are several ways to go about pre-orders/orders. First, if they want to pre-pay for the book with the intention of either picking it up at the front desk the evening of the event or sometime after, they can call the front desk (801) 484-9100 and pay over the phone, or they can e-mail me rachel at kingsenglish dot com. If they e-mail me they need to give their credit card info via e-mail or list a phone number for me to call them at.

If they want a book signed and shipped they need to e-mail onlineorders at kingsenglish dot com and they can describe in detail to whom they want it signed etc."

 ~Rachel     

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

Supernaturally By Kiersten White

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal.

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Summer Giveaway Hop - Win a pre order of Hunted by DJ DeSmyter

Welcome to the Summer Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Bookhounds.

US residents can win a pre order (book release on August 9th) of Hunted by DJ Desmyter. DJ is the author of DJ's Life In Fiction, the first book blog I started following. He is publishing his first book this month! Learn more about : Hunted by DJ Desmyter at his website DJ's Life In Fiction.

International residents will win a Hunted bookmark signed by DJ Desmyter.

****I just checked the bookmarks I have from DJ and I actually have three to giveaway. One that is signed and two that are not. So there will be 4 total winners. One book, one autographed Hunted bookmark and two Hunted bookmarks.

To enter fill out the rafflecopter form below. You must be a follower to enter. Bonus entry for tweeting the giveaway and following me (@jenniferkjovus) on twitter.

There are over 300 participating blogs in this weeks Summer Giveaway Hop - you can find the links for all these awesome blogs at the bottom of this post. GOOD LUCK! :)

Hunted by DJ DeSmyter

Seventeen-year-old Lily Atwater has always kept to herself, living a lonely life with her workaholic dad. Not the most thrilling life, but it’s quiet and ordinary, two things she’s come to expect from living in Victor Hills, Michigan.

When kind and mysterious Alex takes refuge in her home, she is suddenly thrown into his world of werewolves, a world he wants to keep her safe from. But while the two of them grow closer, a relentless hunter continues his search, stalking the woods with hopes of catching the wolf that got away...