The 31 Day Blogging Challenge

Accepted Followers,

In an attempt to motivate myself to start blogging more, I've decided to join the 31 Day Blogging Challenge. I found out about this awesome event from a Facebook group called Karma Bloggers. The moment I saw it, I knew it would be perfect for me! I've always enjoyed a good challenge. (I blame it on my inner Scorpio)

I would love to invite all of you to join me in this challenge, the more people who participate the better! Get off your blogging behind this October! We can do it, we can do it! Join Here

What Is It?

The Goal: 

Publish 31 posts in 31 days. 

The posts can be about anything you want and do not have to be posted by a certain time each day.

For each day of the challenge you should:

1. Write a post
2. Publish a post
3. Tweet a link to your post on Twitter with the hashtag #31dbc
4. Comment on 1-2 blog posts

 Added Bonus #1: 

Once you sign up for the event (registration is free), you receive daily emails filled with tips and support to get your creative juices flowing. A little motivation can go a long way!

Added Bonus #2: 

The chance to connect with other bloggers! We all could use more followers right?

Added Bonus #3: 

A chance to win a $50 gift card if you publish 31 posts. 

This is just my basic run-down of the event. 
Information used from: http://conversation2sales.com/

Check out the: FAQ.  

Sign up

Goodbyes

I'm looking forward to this challenge and hope that you guys will enjoy it! If you do decide to join, please leave comment below telling me you did! I can't wait to see the posts from everyone else participating! I'll see ya guys... TOMORROW :)

Twisted Book Release Blast

Twisted

By: N.L. Greene

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Expected Release Date: September 13th, 2013 

Growing up isn’t always easy.  But for most teenage girls, they can rely on their best friend to help them get through the process.  A BFF is something that is truly treasured and completely irreplaceable.  You share all of your secrets, and are loyal and honest with each other, even when you’re acting just a little bit crazy.  You have each other’s backs no matter what and you form a bond that is virtually unbreakable. 

At least that’s what normal teenage girls experience. 

Nat and Mel have been bestie’s since childhood and Nat has followed her blindly ever since.  But as Nat’s friendship with Mel begins to lead her down the wrong path, she starts to question the sincerity of their relationship.  Nat starts to see Mel’s manipulative, deceitful ways become more focused on her.  Will Natalie hold on tight to the friendship she’s had her entire life, no matter what it cost her?  Or will she let her heart lead her to a relationship that’s not so twisted.

*REVIEW* Deadly Crush by Ashley Stoyanoff

Title: Deadly Crush
Author: Ashley Stoyanoff
Series: Deadly Trilogy #1
Pages: 165 (PDF version)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal
Release Date: August 23, 2013
Source Of Copy/Format: Author/ARC
My Rating: 5/5

Dog Mountain is just like any other small town — peaceful and uneventful. Well, that is if peaceful means wolves howling all night, and uneventful means it’s overrun by pesky werewolves, then yes, Dog Mountain is just your average small town.

Jade Shaw has spent the last two years avoiding the pack. But when Aidan Collins moves to town, avoiding the dogs doesn’t seem possible. The pack wants him just as much as she does.

Determined to keep him out of the pack’s grasp, Jade does everything she can to gain his attention. Little does she know, Aidan is in deeper with the pack than she could have imagined, and competing for his attention is a deadly game, one she may not want to win.

MY REVIEW

Short Story Weekly #1: Forged by Magic: Origins by Angela Orlowski Peart

Greetings Accepted Readers,

I am so excited to start this new weekly feature! Short Story Weekly will consist of mini reviews of books that be read in less time then it takes to wash and dry a load of laundry! So come back every Saturday to see another mini review! =-P

The same star rating scale I've been using will also apply to these reviews.

THE BOOK

Title: Forged by Magic: Origins
Author: Angela Orlowski Peart
Series: Forged (0.5 The Companion Book)
Number of pages: 38
Buy Links: | Amazon |  B&N | Smashwords |

Forged by Magic: Origins is a collection of FIVE short stories, featuring the characters from the Forged series. This is the first of two prequels/companion books to the series.

Each story is told from a different character's point-of-view. Find out how the Amulet and Dasht-e Kavir have been created, and how the powers of the Universe opened the gates to other dimensions, inadvertently releasing unworldly supernatural creatures into the Human World. 

MY REVIEW

I LOVE this collection of short stories! The author Angela Orlowski Peart has some of the best world building skills I've ever read! I seriously wish I could jump into her books and stay there forever! So magical, so beautiful, just so amazing!
 
I feel that all of the stories are an appropriate length and would make sense to everyone, including those who haven't read anything from the Forged series. All the stories intertwine together perfectly and compliment each other well. Each story provides alternate character's point-of-views and sheds some light on important situations that take place in the first book of this series. This book would be excellent to read directly after or at the same time as the first book in the series.

Those who have read Forged by Greed will enjoy this collection because it will help them understand why certain situations played out the way they did in the book. The magical elements and various creatures caught my attention right away. Had I not already read Forged By Greed, this short story collection would make me want to do so, ASAP!

My review of Forged By Greed can be found here

My Delinquent Apology + Updates + New Features

Hello Accepted Readers,

It's been quite a long time since you have heard from me hasn't? I think it's time that I explain the sudden disappearance and apologize for being gone so long. I think many updates are in order to let me get started....

Quick note to authors waiting for my review: 

I feel ashamed that I am behind on my reviews.  To all the authors that have contacted me to review their book, I owe you my greatest apology. I can promise each of you that the review for your book will be coming ASAP. At this time I'm not sure of exact dates the reviews will go live, just please bare with me. I have some ideas to make it up to each of you, but I will share those details at a later time.

Why I Was Gone

I want to start off by saying that I had no intention to be gone so long from blogging. I honestly love sharing my opinions and receiving feedback from you guys! I feel so lucky to have so many of you following my blog and sticking by me even when I wasn't posting! Thank you... you guys no idea how much I appreciate that!

So many things have happened in my life during these last few months...difficult and stressful things. 

Prior to my last post, I felt myself falling into a depression spiral. Everything I used to love to do, failed to gain my attention, I could not focus on anything. I thought I was having  a few bad days, but later it turned into a bad month that never seemed to get any better. In my childhood I battled depression, bi-polar disorder, and even panic attacks but I thought I had it all under control. All these aliments came rushing back with such a vengeance that they hindered me helpless. I think a buildup of stress caused the bulk of my problems and I'm slowly regaining control of my life.

The stress I've been under has mostly came from family related issues. My grandmother is still very ill and from the looks of things she won't be getting better any time soon. To make matters worst my mother is struggling with blood clots in her lungs, my uncle's MS is acting up, and I have another uncle who kidneys are failing. To be frank, I'm scared, absolutely terrified of what the future may hold. As time passes I'm trying to brace myself for the worst, but even that is proving to be a challenge. All I can do is pray and hope for the best and that's exactly what I intend to do.  

It was hard for me to share these intimate details about myself to you guys, but I felt you guys needed to know the truth and I've never been one to sugar-coat my feelings. I can assure you, I will be okay. I did not share this information to gain sympathy or anything of that nature, I just wanted to let you see the real me. I feel so much better getting all of that off my chest! :)

Other less serious reasons for my disappearance:  

*I had to lighten the mood*

1. My laptop is breaking down. The darn thing has a short in the charge cord or something and it takes a skill to get it to charge. 

2. My Nook is Mal-functioning. while reading various books, randomly the text will disappear or the screen will lock up. I have no idea what is causing it but it has been driving me nuts. The good news, I recently got a Kindle and couldn't be happier with it!

3. I had the flu. Yep you read that right. I got the flu late in the season and I felt like death for two weeks. I'm a huge baby when I'm sick... so eh it wasn't one of my better moments. =-X

UPDATES & CATCHING UP

Updates... Lots of things to look forward to! 

Giveaways: 

My 100+ Follower Giveaway: 

Will include possible book swag, physical books from The Book Depository, and a few other surprises. You won't wanna miss out on this one! *More details coming soon*

Mini Giveaways: 

I will be having a few e-book giveaways. Chances to win e-book copies of some of the books I will be reviewing. Gifting through: Smashwords or Amazon 

  

Here are the books that I will be reviewing within the next few months:

 (in no particular order)

Weekly + Monthly Features

Starting In August: 

Short Story Weekly:

Every Saturday, I'll be posting a quick review on books with 100 or less pages.  

Every Month: 

Book Hauls: 

Including books I personally buy & receive as gifts or win.

Book Related Surveys/Tags: 

I'm always seeing tag videos/posts related to bookish things so every month I'll find at least one to complete and invite you to do them also!

My Bookish Lists:

Twice a month I will make a various book related list such as: My Top 5 Favorite Authors or 5 Books I Will Never Read.

I hope with all these new features that I can find out more about you guys! I'm open to any other suggestions, just leave me a comment below! :) 

To Be Maria Promo Blast!

 KDP BLITZ! 

Enjoy this amazing book for free at AMAZON!

Only from May 10 to 14th!

 Get to know it!

TO BE MARIA

by Deanna Proach

Quick Facts                                        

Release Date: May 3, 2013                                      
Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction (Coming of Age)
Formats: Kindle. 

Seventeen-year-old Anya Preschnikov dreams of one day becoming a famous actor, but she is faced with two problems: her one-parent, dysfunctional family neglects her and has no money to support her and at school, she is the target for her peers' contempt. Anya believes that, in order to gain her stepping stone to stardom, she must dress like the rich girls and be surrounded by a large network of friends. All of this changes when Maria Hernandez--an immigrant from Spain-- comes to Peach Valley Senior High.

Maria knows what it takes to fit in. She is bold, confident and she dresses suggestively, characteristics that all of the popular kids admire. Yet, she sees in Anya what everyone else does not see: Anya's outer beauty and her immense talent.

Maria is everything Anya wants to be: popular, sexy and confident. So, when Maria extends her hand of friendship, Anya is elated. Her lifelong dream is about to become a reality, but it falls short one Saturday night at a party when a boy's rude comment sends her into a rage.

Desperate to belong somewhere, Anya and Maria set out to find new friends outside of school. They meet Alex and Marissa, a young couple who eagerly welcomes them into their world of parties and drugs. Anya and Maria soon find out that Alex is a drug dealer, but they are so lured by his wealth, good looks and aggressive confidence that they cannot resist his friendship. They don't know that Alex's gang is at war with a rival gang--one that is run by Anya's older brother, Adrik--until one incident puts their lives in danger's path. To make matters worse, Alex will not let Anya and Maria out of his sight.
 
Anya and Maria must find away out of this situation before it's too late.

Amazon
GoodReads

Oxford Shadows by Marion Croslydon *Tour+Review+Giveaway*

Words can not begin to describe how excited I am to be a part of this tour! I loved the first book in this series entitled Oxford Whispers a link to my review can be found here. Keep in mind that this is the second book in the series, so if you haven't read book one... hurry and pick yourself up a copy because your missing out!

Book Details

Title: Oxford Shadows
Author: Marion Croslydon
Series: The Oxford Trilogy
Pages: 300 (paperback)
Release Date: May 6th, 2013
Event organized by: AToMR Tours
Source Of Copy/Format: the tour- ARC (e-book format)
Buy Links: | Amazon | Smashwords |
My Rating: 4/5

When death is a new beginning and love an old curse.

Still recovering from her last tango with the afterlife, Louisiana-born Madison LeBon struggles not only with her life as an Oxford postgrad but also with her budding love for Rupert Vance, aristocrat extraordinaire. One thing is certain, though: she won’t run away from her powers anymore. From now on she’ll face the music …

… literally!

When a sixteenth-century ghost makes an appearance during a classical concert Madison attends and threatens her boyfriend’s family, she sets out to explore the dark mysteries of the Tudors, even if that means confronting their most royal and homicidal character.

Her plans take an unexpected turn when her voodoo heritage catches up with her. With horror, she understands what her fate was always meant to be.

The question now is: Can Rupert be part of it? 

Day After By Emi Gayle *TOUR: GIVEAWAY+INTERVIEW+MORE*

Hello Accepted Followers!

Today I have something special to share with you guys...

A sneak peak at the newest book in the 19th Year series (Day After) by author Emi Gayle!
If that isn't awesome enough she has also answered some questions I was dying to ask along with providing a special giveaway! 

So without further delay let the excitement begin! :)

About the book

Title: Day After
Author: Emi Gayle
Series: The 19th Year (#2)
Release Date: May 6th, 2013
Publisher: J. Taylor Publishing
Buy Links:| Amazon | B&N |

Demon crypts. Vampire lairs. Glowing angels. Sexy sirens. The stuff of fiction.

Or so Winn Thomas always thought.

Since being accepted into the fold of the supernatural, he knows better. None of what he imagined is true, but everything he feared is, and binding himself to his Changeling girlfriend until her nineteenth birthday will give him an education far beyond what he’d get at his human high school.

Luckily, Winn’s not giving up, he won’t back down, and he definitely isn’t going to run away with his tail between his legs. After all, only werewolves have tails. Right?

In this, the second of the 19th Year trilogy, Winn’s facing the challenge of one lifetime. If he doesn’t learn the truth about mythological creatures, his girlfriend Mac Thorne won’t either. That means, in six months, when she chooses her final form, she won’t know what to pick.

Winn, though, has his own ideas about Mac’s final selection—plans she knows nothing of.

He intends to have her pick human.

Whether she can or not.

*TOUR+GIVEAWAY* The Women Gather by Katalin Kennedy

Title: The Women Gather
Author: Katalin Kennedy
Pages: 215
Release Date: August 13, 2012
Publisher: Baico Publishing Inc.
Event organized by: Book Marketing Services
Source Of Copy/Format: author/ paperback
Buy Links: Chapters Indigo | Baico Publishing Inc. Contact at: baico@bellnet.ca
My Rating: 4/5

Nora’s mission had been demanding. She wanted to find a way for women to rediscover their true selves, denied to them throughout the centuries ‒ and to make the world a better place. When the young girl Aideen asks Tunde if she may come to Lemuria, Ontario and learn about the beginnings of the Norean Order founded in 1998, she agrees. Tunde’s preoccupation, however, is with the smooth flow of the ‘Gathering’ symposium of 2066. Women from all the Sanctuaries throughout the world are in attendance and await the momentous event: the opening of the Portal to the Outerworld. She has little time to spend with Aideen who unravels layers and layers of stories found in letters, articles, diaries, newspaper clippings and videos about the struggles and triumphs faced by Nora’s family and by the Order itself. What Aideen also detects is something she considers to be mystical ‒ that no one wants to acknowledge.

My Review

Innovative and positively inspirational, a must read for every woman! The underlying messages within the pages of The Women Gather will entice you to keep reading. You will find yourself lost within the sanctuary of the Norean Order. You will crave to find out the truth behind the mysteries. You will learn that with joy, sorrow is soon to follow. You will also realize that you must take your own path in life to discover who you are meant to be.

Writing Style:

The Women Gather may be Katalin Kennedy’s first book, but her writing skills are on par with a veteran novelist. This story is a work of fiction but reads like non-fiction in some parts.  The emotionally charged passages throughout the novel really drew me in. The present time in the story reads much like any novel, but the way the past is presented is truly unique. The past is told by means of letters, diaries, interviews, newspaper clippings, and videos. This allows you to identify with each of the characters on an intimate level. An absolute stunning debut!

My Opinion:

I would like to say that this book was way out of my usual comfort zone. The synopsis caught my attention right away and I am so pleased I had the chance to read this wonderful novel!

The Women Gather is a book intended for women of all ages and ethnic groups. It is an enlightening tale about women coming together through knowledge, respect, and understanding to prosper and gain equality. Their journey is proved to be a difficult one, but they work together towards common goals: To make the world a better place and to be treated as equals. Aimed with their knowledge about their past, The Norean Order is an unstoppable force!

I agree with the idea of the right of equality for women. Sadly, in our society women tend to be regarded as the weaker sex and normally placed below their male counterparts. This notion has always infuriated me. I believe women to be strong and courageous and I love that this book portrays that message. It’s refreshing to realize that other women feel it’s important to fight for our rights! Can someone say girl power?! (Sorry…I couldn’t resist!)

Besides women’s rights, this book also touches on many other topics such as: religion, death, infanticide, the occult, education, and environmental matters. (Just to name a few) Many of these are pressing issues even still today! I also enjoyed the many different cultures that were represented in this novel. I found it rather interesting to look up many of the topics and plan on researching more on some of the subjects. Like the book implies, knowledge is power!

My advice to you… if you’re a women you need to read The Women Gather. It will spark something deep inside you that you may have never realized you had. It will empower you to stride for something greater, to be everything you can be, and to chase your dreams.

A Giveaway

What you can win:

1 of 3 Autographed Copies of The Women Gather

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Direct Link:  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/89f9ce0/

About the Author

On Christmas Eve, 1956, Katalin (Kennedy) and her parents escaped from Hungary, their homeland. The following April, they arrived as refugees in Saint John, New Brunswick. She spent most of her adult life in Ottawa, Ontario. Katalin graduated from Carleton University and joined Health Canada. She managed major national projects as Program Consultant on Seniors’ and Women’s Issues. Katalin is involved in various community activities including writing her monthly Kindness column for Cornwall’s Seaway News. Her first novel “The Women Gather” has been published by Baico Publishing Inc.

Contact Links:

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