To all my lovely readers,
I know this time of year is super busy for all of us, so I thought I'd send out a quick reminder that there are only a few days left until my current giveaway is over!! This is a BIG giveaway, with FOUR chances to win. :) Entries are easy, and the items are all NEW and USEFUL! :)
Good luck!
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Damn Vampires: Mosquito Creek 1865 by Will Bevis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I think this might have been really interesting if there had been actual story development. Instead, it felt like jumping into the middle of a conversation and not having any context to put it in. I love the idea of mixing historical ideas with vampires, but this just fell short of my expectations.
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We Don't Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore by M. David Blake
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This story was ok and highlighted how people have different priorities and that it is not just about wealth or material things. However, it felt jargony and didn't maintain my attention very well, especially considering how short it was. It was just plain vanilla in a world full of exciting flavors.
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Echo: A Mirror Warrior Short by Chani Lynn Feener
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This story kept my attention but I felt that there could have been a lot more done to develop it rather than keep it as a short story. There was quite a bit of adult sexual content, and there was never an explanation of what a mirror warrior even was. Overall this was ok but it needs some improvement and development.
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Prometheus 60 by Jamie Kirkland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Despite a few spelling/grammatical errors, this was an enjoyable little story about dealing with vices and how easily we can become corrupted if given the right impetus. The character development was actually fairly complex given the shortness of this work, and I think with some editing help this author has a great future in writing!
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My trip around the blogosphere this week led to me some truly fantastic book reviews - no surprise there, since I would say approximately 95% of the blogs I follow are book blogs! ;) But reading book reviews from my fellow book bloggers helps me to find some great reads and to know what books to avoid - well, sometimes helps me know what books to avoid, since some book bloggers only post reviews on books they like because they don't want to post negative reviews. That's definitely their perogative, though I'm a firm believer that a book reviewer should be able to post honest reviews regardless of whether they enjoyed the book because an author needs to realize if one of their books isn't very good. I'm an occasional author myself, and I'd rather understand via reviews why one of my books isn't doing well than have to sit around guessing at why my books aren't getting reviews. Just my opionion, though.
Anyway, it was great to finally get to catch up with my fellow book bloggers, and here's books that I've decided I'd Adore or Avoid:
---Adore:
- I Am Legend, reviewed by The Scarlet Letter . Because I like dystopian, darker novels with elements of "otherbeasts" (in this case, zombie/vampire types). I also enjoyed the movie.
- Fractured Light, reviewed by Megan Likes Books. I'm into the whole fantasy thing - and I could win a copy via her post! Free is always good.
- Something Strange and Deadly, reviewed by Tynga's Reviews. It has great elements: steampunk, check. cool cover, check. zombies, check. I'm definitely intrigued!
- Hollowed, reviewed by Book Whales. Vampires are kinda a "thing" of mine, if they are done well, and this sounds like it is done well.
- The Raven Boys, reviewed by Fall Into Books. There's a nice dark feel to it (as ravens have traditionally been considered an omen of death) and the characters seem interesting (though according to the reviewer, poorly named lol).
- Daughter of the Flames, reviewed by A Backwards Story. I love that this doesn't follow the typical fantasy mold and contains a strong, bi-racial leading lady with a new type of storyline.
---Avoid:
- Beautiful Disaster, reviewed by Reading by Kindle Fire. Frankly, it sounds like your typical, overdone bad boy tries to convert good girl thing. I like that the reviewer was honest about why she didn't like it, and that did factor into my consideration somewhat as well. I think I probably wouldn't have gone for it in the first place, but her review clinched it for me. Check it out for the funny gifs!
- Meant to Be, reviewed by Buffy's Ramblings. Again, a little cliche and a little too "teen romance-y" for me... I REALLY have to be in the mood for it to read stories like this.
- Frozen Heart, reviewed by Cover2Cover. While the idea of a strong female heroine always attracts me, everything else about this book turns me off. But if you're into it, there's a giveaway for it on the post!
- Over the Edge, reviewed by Live to Read. Romance is blah, but Western Romance really bores me. It all seems so hokey and... pokey. ;)
- A Lighter Shade of Gray, reviewed by Big Al's Books and Pals. First of all, I don't like it when the author and the lead character have the same name, because it makes you wonder throughout which parts are biographical. It also sounds a little too mental for me.
So, which of these books would YOU adore/avoid? I know we all have different tastes, so don't be afraid to speak your mind. Also, don't forget about my amazing Business Goods Giveaway, and that there is still space available to join in on my Bookish Babes in the Bahamas cruise next spring!
The Orphan and the Shapeshifter by Ashley Edwards
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was quite a bit cliche in parts, especially with how quickly a romance developed and progressed. There were a couple of grammatical errors as well which really slowed me down. It just sort of ended - not sure if this is the first book in a series or if the author just got bored with it. It definitely needs more development before it can be considered a really great read, but wasn't terrible.
View all my reviews
I love doing giveaways - if I had the money, I'd do several big giveaways per month! :) That's not the case right now, but this month I am doing a really big giveaway of a variety of promotional item gift cards!!
In honor of that, here's some additional great items you can find on Etsy to promote your business or book:
- Sweeten the deal by offering candy with your business cards with these edible business cards.
- Wear your business on your sleeve with a promotional tshirt.
- Be the name on their lips with your own custom chapsticks. ** Mention "Booksy" in the message to seller on any custom/personalized order when you checkout, and she'll give you 15% off your order until the end of September!! **
- Give them something to watch with a promotional video.
- Provide extra incentive with a pull off coupon on the end of your ticket business cards.
- Keep them hydrated and keep yourself with them on the go with personalized water bottle labels.
- Finally, these are just plain cool - Laser Engraved Wooden Magnets.
Promote away, and don't forget to enter my giveaway here!!
Underdogs: The First Stories by Geonn Cannon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
These stories drew me in right away, but then I was a bit disappointed by all the overt eroticism. I like subtlety and "friendly" lovemaking, not in-your-face and violent eroticism. I would have also liked it more if it was one fluid story and not a bunch of short stories jumbled together - each of the short stories could easily be transformed into individual books! The characters are fun and different, and I think with a little development this could easily rival the Sookie Stackhouse series!
View all my reviews
Redwall by Brian Jacques
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first of an amazing series that has been a favorite of mine since I was a young child. It lays the foundation for an amazing land filled with personified woodland creatures. There are interesting characters, a unique plot, and enough action to keep the reader involved. The descriptions are rich and bring to mind highly detailed and colorful images. This is a true masterpiece and a personal favorite that I have reread many times!
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An Atmosphere Of Angels by H.C. Turk
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
While I like intelligent writing, this story had some words and phrases that seemed more like showing off than as a tool for comprehension and enjoyment. I had a hard time following along in the story. It switches perspectives sometimes which was a little frustrating. The story was very strange and I just didn't get it.
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I figured it's about time for another great giveaway - and boy do I have a doozy for you all! :) I was recently approached by a wonderful guy named Nathan that noticed I like to purchase business promotional products, and he asked if I would give his companies a try. Since I'm always on the lookout for a good deal, I didn't hesitate to say yes!
His companies include Magnets on the Cheap, Signs on the Cheap, and Easy Canvas Prints. I ordered two car magnets, two yard signs, and a canvas from him, and here's what I thought of the products:
Magnets on the Cheap Car Magnets
I loved how the site was easy to use, though I felt a bit limited by their templates. I didn't have time to play around with the features much, but I think that if you are a creative type you could probably just create your own design and it would be great. The prices seemed very reasonable and comparable to who I usually purchase through. When they arrived, I was impressed by how sturdy they were - usually the magnets I order tend to be a bit on the flimsy side.
Signs on the Cheap Cheap Signs
Once again, the site was straightforward and easy to use. I had a little more time when I ordered these, so I played around and actually used their clipart and some designing to create my own sign templates that were fun and colorful. The pricing once again seemed to be at the industry average - but when I received them, I realized one important thing: through this site, you have to order the sign stands separately! I had assumed the signs would just automatically come with stands (as they do with my current sign supplier) so now I have two gorgeous signs and no way to display them until I get in there to order the stands for them. :( You live, you learn! So if you want to order signs, make sure to order the stands as well.
Easy Canvas Prints Photos On Canvas
I loved the various options and sizes to choose from - even within sizes there are options for wrapping the image on the sides of the canvas or having it painted or blank... just lots of options! The site was easy to use, and it was hard to narrow it down to just one picture. That being said, I had a whole TON of problems finding an image that worked for them! I put my order in, and got a message letting me know the image wasn't the right quality. So I sent another; that also got rejected. This happened two more times - even with pictures that were the best quality I had available! I'm someone who mostly uses the camera on my phone (which, by the way, is better quality than the older digital camera we own) so I ran into a lot of problems. I finally just ended up going to Flickr and finding an incredible image by a great artist and using it (and yes, it's legal because I'm not selling it and I'm giving the artist full credit for it). So I will say that it's a little bit of a pain if you don't own what they would consider to be "high quality" images! However, the site was the best out of the three - it was even integrated with Facebook and Twitter, and had options for winning a giveaway with them. I plan on doing a giveaway in the future to allow one of my lucky readers the chance to win this fun canvas print!
Now that you've read about my experiences, it's time for YOU to get the chance to try out these great businesses! :) There will be a whopping FOUR winners for this giveaway: one will win a $50 gift card to Magnets on the Cheap; one will win a $30 gift card to Signs on the Cheap; one will win a FREE 8x10 Canvas with an image of their choice on it; and one will win a $40 gift card to Banners on the Cheap (who I didn't review, but I'm sure they have great items!) Banners.
Enter away! You have until August 31 to enter, and several of these entries can be done daily. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Telling of My Marching Band Story by Will Todd
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
There was a yucky grammatical start in the prologue - in fact, the prologues almost turned me off of the entire book before it began! I don't mind a more conversational style of writing, but this was too messy and disjointed for me. I wish I could say that it got better, but for me it didn't.
In the chapters, the sentences were either too long with too many commas, or short sentence fragments.
I think that the poor writing was an attempt to be funny, but it was lost on me and just felt like nails on a chalkboard.
The only thing that kept me reading was the fact that I had been in marching band in high school, and the author had approached me for review and seemed incredibly likeable.
Perhaps this will be a better read for others, but for me it just wasn't very good.
View all my reviews
Trouble with Angels by S E Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I loved the funny hijinx that occurred in this unique blend of Greek Mythology with angels. The characters were interesting, the situations were unique, and I loved the twists and turns. Honestly, even though there were many grammatical errors, I would definitely be interested in reading the next book of the series!
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The Monster Magnet by Sion Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
It's always difficult to form a solid opinion when eBooks are this short, but it seemed like a solid premise for a book and was interesting. Too short for my liking and could be extended to a full novel, but still a fun little read.
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You Take It From Here by Pamela Ribon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It took me a while to get used to the strange narrative style, a mixture of personal letter, journal entry, and episodes. But the story resonates and is such a beautiful expression of friendship that it won me over once I got the knack of reading the different style. The characters had a ton of depth, so much that you can practically hold conversations with them. Just a beautiful piece of work overall and it is much recommended for any gal who has a best friend.
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So tell me what's normal by Sally Panayiotou
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a really interesting and fun little story that is fresh and original. I loved the characters, and aside form a few grammatical errors, this was a great read with an interesting twist at the end! This is a promising author that has a lot of potential.
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This was a book club read; otherwise, I don't think I would have ever picked it up. It was a really bizarre book, from the point of view of an autistic young adult. I'm not sure that I liked it, but it was like driving past an accident where you know you should just look away but you just can't seem to do it.
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As the cooler weather lately can attest to, we are already at fall! For me, this means that I have one more term left of school before I finish up my Master's degree!! :) I have a couple of weeks off before that term starts, so I'm finally able to do another Booksy - I know you all have been missing it!
This week theme is bunnies - more specifically, it's in honor of our recent adoption of a bondmate for our current Holland Lop bunny Hufflepuff - a little Holland Lop dubbed Cinna. It's also to recognize a recent fundraiser called Books for Bunnies. Books for Bunnies was sponsored by two great pals of mine (who are both attending this great book cruise in May, by the way) and helped to raise money for the House Rabbit Society. Even though you can no longer participate in the event, you can always make a donation to the House Rabbit Society!
So for my bookish bunny lovers, here's some great items:
- First, comfy tees are always nice when reading, so check out this great bunny love tee.
- You can decorate with upcycled books using this festive rabbits garland.
- Slip a paperback into this darling bunny purse and you can take your read on the go.
- Or if you prefer reading on your iPhone, why not cover it with this adorable bunny tail iPhone case?
- Wear your bunny close to your heart and showcase your love of books at the same time with this antique brass bunny book locket.
- We all have books that exceed our bookshelves, so why not hold them between these blue bunny bookends, or maybe with this cute wooden bunny bookend?
- Brighten up your nights with this Good Night Moon nightlight, featuring the lead bunny himself.
- Finally, a little Buffy the Vampire Slayer reference because I'm a dork - an "It could be bunnies" bracelet!
Enjoy, and if you are consider getting a bunny please always check your local House Rabbit Society chapter or rescue group first! :)
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Stunningly rich in detail and beautifully written, this story takes the reader back to Pearl Harbor and the anti-Japanese sentiments that ruled the American landscape afterward. It was almost impossible to put down and created a stunning story of love, life and death. I loved the characters and the setting so much that it was as if I was present watching the events unfold. This is a truly wonderful book and I highly recommend it to any reader!
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Her Honor's Bodyguard by Johnny Ray
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
There were some things right off the bat that almost made me stop reading and move on to something else. First, the formatting for this story was weird on my Nook - but that happens sometimes, so that by itself wouldn't have been a problem. But then I hated that the story description is right up front, which kind-of takes away from the mystery of starting reading a new book. I prefer not having that description in my mind before I start reading.
It got worse though - there was also an unnecessarily long copyright statement AND an author bio in the beginning! It felt like the author was too full of himself and just wanted to brag. That kind of stuff needs to be in the back, after I read the story itself to determine whether or not that sort of accolade is earned.
It was like someone told me what a gift was before I got to unwrap it - I was very turned off and just wanted to dive into the book, not wade through those pages before finding the story.
Sadly, the story itself didn't make up for it's rocky start. Some of the phrasing was very awkward, and there were a whole lot of spelling and grammatical errors. The story didn't draw me in and had some really awkward bad porno moments in it.
It was too predictable, and too sexual, for my tastes. Perhaps if you like overly sexual stories you might like this.
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The Damned: The Damnation Chronicles Book One by Joseph P. Sweet
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This tale was strange and yet intriguing. It didn't necessarily pull me in, but it wasn't specifically repelling either - it was just bizarrely brilliant and unlike anything I have read before. I think I might actually read the next book in the series at some point because I'd like to see what happens, regardless of the fact that I can't particularly rant and rave over this story.
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Flicker by Kaye Thornbrugh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really loved the characters and the story! The idea of being whisked away as a plaything for the Fae, only to find the world has passed you by, is very intriguing.
There were a few grammatical/spelling errors, and there were spots where the story changed perspectives without it being clearly marked so it got a bit confusing figuring out who was the one speaking/thinking. It would be nice to have some sort of marker between perspectives just to help the readers follow along a little better.
The only thing holding this back from getting 5 stars is that it needs that little bit of editing!
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The Blue Witch by Kevis Hendrickson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The language this tale is written in hearkens back to an older writing style, which actually was a bit of a turnoff - it felt pretentious. However, the story was interesting and there weren't any glaring grammatical or spelling errors. The story felt un-original - beautiful maiden gets captured, handsome prince rescues her - and really the characters didn't interest me very much. But it wasn't the worst book I've ever read, so I still think it was worthwhile.
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Can you believe it is August already? Time seems to be flying for me right now as I get closer and closer to graduating with my Master's degree... just one more term after this one left!
Anyway, I wanted to take a moment and ask all of you to consider joining in this fantastic cruise: http://www.operationrelax.com/2013-bookish-babes-in-the-bahamas.html
It's open to everyone, not just ladies, and is a great way to celebrate authors and books in general! If you can get back to me by August 7th you only need to put $25 down per person to reserve a spot on this great cruise, and then you can pay the rest over time.
Come join me! :)
The Duchess of the Shallows by Neil McGarry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Other than a couple of editing errors this was a great read! The characters and situations were unique and interesting which I appreciated. There were a couple of slow moments but most of it was fast and action-packed. I loved the mystery surrounding Duchess and the relatable yet completely different world in which she lived. I look forward to the next book in the series!
View all my reviews
Not only was this book a great read, but it's going to be FREE on Amazon on August 9th and 10th! Just go here on August 9-10 to download it for free! :)
