tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50956983371381377652024-02-21T01:42:46.596-06:00Juliababyjen's Reading Roomjuliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.comBlogger536125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-343309803133837012016-02-16T18:58:00.002-06:002016-02-16T18:58:10.298-06:00Strings by David Estes Blog Tour<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">"A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down."</span> </b>
<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b>Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND</b></span></div>
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Strings
Written by David Estes
Add Strings to Goodreads
Purchase Strings
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Strings-David-Estes-ebook/dp/B0182SJ8S6">eBook</a>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Strings-David-Estes/dp/1523246006">Paperback</a>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Strings/dp/B01BG3SL6Y">Audiobook</a>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">Sometimes the strings that tie us down are the same strings that set us free.</span>
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</span> <span style="color: #674ea7;">Sixteen-year-old Pia has always lived in a mysterious facility where mechanical strings control her existence. She plays apprentice to her father, Gio, in performing nanotech designs for the Company, and she soon suspects there are diabolical human forces behind the manufactured reality of her world.</span>
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</span> <span style="color: #674ea7;">Though her childhood memories and the origins of the strings remain strangely elusive, she begins to find solace with the introduction of two unlikely friends: daring, irrational Sofia, and calm, tender Marco.</span>
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</span> <span style="color: #674ea7;">As the truths of the past and present unravel together, Pia must find a way to free herself from her strings and escape the facility before facing the wrath of the unstable head of security, Mr. Davis. But to gain her freedom, she must navigate the dangers posed by Davis and by her suspicious new friends to find the real identity of the puppeteer.</span>
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</span> <span style="color: #674ea7;">If Pia can succeed in revealing the secrets of the Company, she may very well find the independence she so desperately seeks. But in her controlled world nothing is as it seems, and the closer she gets to the truth, the graver the consequences.</span></blockquote>
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Giveaway</h4>
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="242d15d483" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/242d15d483/" id="rcwidget_8iccuidw" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
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About the author</h4>
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David Estes is the author of more than 20 science fiction and fantasy novels that have received hundreds of thousands of downloads worldwide, including The Moon Dwellers, Fire Country, Slip, Brew, and his new SciFi Pinocchio retelling, Strings. He lives in Hawaii with his inspiring Aussie wife, Adele, rambunctious son, Beau, and naughty cat, Bailey. When he's not writing, you'll likely find him at the beach swimming, snorkeling, or reading under an umbrella. </div>
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Find David via <a href="http://www.twitter.com/davidestesbooks">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Davidestesbooks">Facebook</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167424.David_Estes">Goodreads</a> <a href="http://www.davidestesbooks.blogspot.com.au/">Website</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/70863-david-estes-fans-and-ya-book-lovers-unite">Official Fan Group</a> <a href="https://instagram.com/davidestesbooks/">Instagram</a> <a href="http://davidestesbooks.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a></div>
juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-88887332501077176992016-02-11T04:39:00.001-06:002016-02-11T04:39:11.073-06:00Get Real--Strings by David Estes Launch Party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwCXi31k1IKGzrPXKD_DJ3YVx98OvCg0W-kUoVV_WRXyZF1j3x_NtH2Fjg2qMPoT7kOHTP64LagC-ILI0XCuSaq8-gq8X2QfD4SSQDJ1s-PFJ4mxx2HkM-ZPuAQK2ddFYhu4eMLrpkPw/s1600/FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwCXi31k1IKGzrPXKD_DJ3YVx98OvCg0W-kUoVV_WRXyZF1j3x_NtH2Fjg2qMPoT7kOHTP64LagC-ILI0XCuSaq8-gq8X2QfD4SSQDJ1s-PFJ4mxx2HkM-ZPuAQK2ddFYhu4eMLrpkPw/s640/FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Monday, February 15th, I am throwing a party to celebrate the launch of David Estes's new YA SciFi Pinocchio Retelling, STRINGS! Join ton of awesome authors, including bestsellers Rysa Walker and Caragh O'Brien, for a night of giveaways, games and fun! The party runs from 6pm-Midnight EST time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the prizes given away will be this handmade Pinocchio themed Mini Album! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope you can join us! See you at the party :)</span></div>
<br />juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-51803215433492457832016-02-09T15:39:00.000-06:002016-02-09T15:39:02.852-06:00Instagram Pics and Updates--Week of February 8th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love sharing my Instagram pics with you all! So fun. You can also follow me on Instagram, my user name is @juliababyjen</span></div>
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<br />juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-88252225134705386732016-02-07T19:15:00.000-06:002016-02-07T19:15:15.998-06:00The Lunar Chronicles Readalong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXf9-7QmgMgWd-rm0BKJwXZloGL0fsaEXkoIC-Z7G9ck-jjBSW7SBIXqU-yGV2rth9i2Z6f_BAB6ByZxpG2oYi9SrydvOgeuZuZGu4rL5eIA6mgiecyBqgc5XjqK3zAbp1wCUk96lOSM/s1600/tumblr_o1wbkvlzoU1rt31uwo1_540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXf9-7QmgMgWd-rm0BKJwXZloGL0fsaEXkoIC-Z7G9ck-jjBSW7SBIXqU-yGV2rth9i2Z6f_BAB6ByZxpG2oYi9SrydvOgeuZuZGu4rL5eIA6mgiecyBqgc5XjqK3zAbp1wCUk96lOSM/s640/tumblr_o1wbkvlzoU1rt31uwo1_540.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of my goals this year is to work on finishing series I've already started. I've decided to focus on a series a month and do a readalong to reread the first books in the series, and finish up with the remaining books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">February is <b>The Lunar Chronicles! </b>I'm doing a fun readalong on my Instagram, feel free to join me if you want, using hashtag <b>#TheLunarChroniclesReadalong </b>My Instagram is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliababyjen/" target="_blank">@Juliababyjen</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've just finished Cinder, it was wonderful to reread it! Next week I'll be rereading Scarlet. I'm so excited to finally get to Winter!</span>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-85863455080357370442016-02-06T04:41:00.000-06:002016-02-06T04:42:14.225-06:00The Girl Who Never Was by Skylar Dorset<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17708622-the-girl-who-never-was?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">GoodReads</a><br />
YA Paranormal<br />
Otherworld #1<br />
My Rating: 4 stars<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Synopsis</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span id="freeText121915259418576496" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; line-height: 21px;">THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is the story of Selkie Stewart, who thinks she’s a totally normal teenager growing up in Boston. Sure, her father is in an insane asylum, her mother left her on his doorstep—literally—when she was a baby, and she’s being raised by two ancient aunts who spend their time hunting gnomes in their Beacon Hill townhouse. But other than that her life is totally normal! She’s got an adventurous best friend who’s always got her back and an unrequited crush on an older boy named Ben. Just like any other teenager, right?<br /><br />When Selkie goes in search of the mother she’s never known, she gets more than she bargained for. It turns out that her mother is faerie royalty, which would make Selkie a faerie princess—except for the part where her father is an ogre, which makes her only half of anything. Even more confusing, there’s a prophecy that Selkie is going to destroy the tyrannical Seelie Court, which is why her mother actually wants to kill her. Selkie has been kept hidden all her life by her adoring aunts, with the help of a Salem wizard named Will. And Ben. Because the boy she thinks she’s in love with turns out to be a faerie whose enchantment has kept her alive, but also kept her in the dark about her own life.<br /><br />Now, with enchantments dissolved and prophecies swinging into action, Selkie finds herself on a series of mad quests to save the people she’s always loved and a life she’s learning to love. But in a supernatural world of increasingly complex alliances and distressingly complicated deceptions, it’s so hard to know who to trust. Does her mother really wish to kill her? Would Will sacrifice her for the sake of the prophecy? And does Ben really love her or is it all an elaborate ruse? In order to survive, Selkie realizes that the key is learning—and accepting—who she really is.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; line-height: 21px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">My Quickie Thoughts</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I love fairy stories in general, and I just loved this one! This was a nice, quick, fun read. It reminded me a bit of the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Very strange world within our own, and very interesting characters!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Worst Thing About the Book: The hinted at romance was not that believable</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Best Thing About the Book: Originality of the plot and world</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Books It Reminded Me Of: The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare</span></span></span></span>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-41072491158259725652016-02-05T09:13:00.000-06:002016-02-05T09:13:00.024-06:00Quick update on 2016!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey everyone! Its been a really long time since I've done a blog post! I've sort of been doing most of my "blogging" on my Facebook Page and my Instragram...honestly its a lot faster, and I like the picture format. But, I don't want to let my blog die, so I'm going to try to get a post up at least once a week for 2016!<br />
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I also haven't been writing too many full book reviews, mainly because of time issues. I've really gotten back into my art over the last 2 years, and that takes up a lot of my free time. What's left is reading time, and I actually want to use that time for reading! You'll see lots of artsy things in the picture above--that's what my favorite bookshelf looked like at Christmas! I lot of those are papercrafts I received from other artists. Fun!<br />
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Anyways, I thought I'd do a quick update on what I read in January. I read a total of 18 books: 12 YA books, 2 nonfiction, 3 adult, and 1 children's book.<br />
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<b>The Opal by Jennifer L Armentrout 4 stars</b><br />
<b>The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin 5 stars</b><br />
<b>Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray 4 stars</b><br />
<b>Erased by Jennifer Rush 4 stars</b><br />
<b>The Human by Keary Taylor (reread) 4 stars</b><br />
<b>The Sketchbook Project 4 stars</b><br />
<b>Rogue by Julie Kagawa 4 stars</b><br />
<b>Nikki Powergloves and the Power Trappers by David Estes 4 stars</b><br />
<b>Wildflower by Drew Barrymore 4 stars</b><br />
<b>The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa 4 stars</b><br />
<b>Erebos by Ursula Poznaski 4 stars</b><br />
<b>House of Pawns by Keary Taylor 4 stars</b><br />
<b>After Alice by Gregory Maguire 3.5 stars</b><br />
<b>Origin by Jennifer L Armentrout 4 stars</b><br />
<b>Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young 4 stars</b><br />
<b>The Conjurer's Riddle by Andrea Cremer 4 stars</b><br />
<b>The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) 5 stars</b><br />
<b>Soulless by Gail Carriger 4 stars</b><br />
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Not bad for January! These are my yearly goals, and my progress so far:<br />
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<b>Read 20 adult books</b><br />
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1. After Alice<br />
2. The Cuckoo's Calling<br />
3. Soulless<br />
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<b>Read 10 Nonfiction reads</b><br />
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1. The Sketchbook Project<br />
2. Wildflower<br />
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<b>Finish 30 series I've already started</b><br />
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1. Mara Dyer<br />
2. The Iron Fey<br />
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<b>Read 80 books off my bookshelves</b><br />
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1. The Retribution of Mara Dyer<br />
2. Ten Thousand Skies Above You<br />
3. Erebos<br />
4. Origin<br />
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<b>My yearly goal is 200 books total read</b><br />
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So as you can see, not doing too bad so far! Wish me luck the rest of the year :)<br />
<b> </b>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-46152524655666679062015-03-03T14:23:00.001-06:002015-03-03T14:23:52.708-06:00Flip by David Estes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpStGW3Gqz45zxPTB2rRLlJg4ejwVlQ-S7jU5CGIHZ9LLRzvDDqt0QsCZmnizOiuMbCr_kQmnQCZ6AmLkw1955ZnCPNSQ_sRDwC_Wk5Wc2hyNkwaCE93gCL-VFYsmnla22nz2D3uY_a7s/s1600/23733149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpStGW3Gqz45zxPTB2rRLlJg4ejwVlQ-S7jU5CGIHZ9LLRzvDDqt0QsCZmnizOiuMbCr_kQmnQCZ6AmLkw1955ZnCPNSQ_sRDwC_Wk5Wc2hyNkwaCE93gCL-VFYsmnla22nz2D3uY_a7s/s1600/23733149.jpg" height="640" width="412" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23733149-flip?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
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<b>YA Sci-Fi/Dystopian</b></div>
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<b>Slip #3</b></div>
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<b>My Rating: 5 stars</b></div>
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<b>Synopsis</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">In a scared and broken world where someone must die before another can be born, one family has been torn apart by fate and a ruthless government, only to find themselves suddenly thrust back together with one chance to save their struggling nation.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Benson and Harrison Kelly and their newfound allies within the rebel consortium are finally fighting back, but the Department of Population Control and its ultimate weapon, known as the Destroyer, won't rest until they're all dead. The task will take them into the belly of the beast and force them to face a secret about their past that will change everything.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Meanwhile, the leader of the Lifers, Jarrod, has a new weapon, in the form of an angry, desperate twelve-year-old boy, and he won't hesitate to use him to destroy an entire city as part of a hidden agenda only just starting to be revealed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The fate of humanity hinges on a series of impossible choices made by those with nothing to lose. One family. One chance to flip everything they know on its head. One action-packed finale that will leave you breathless.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b>My 2 cents</b></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened." --Dr. Suess</strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And that's exactly how I feel as I am now at the end of this fantastic story. The Kelly family's journey through this trilogy was just amazing, moving from one extreme to the other. Although I'm sad its over, I'm thrilled I got to experience it!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Flip was all I wanted and then some. Everything that was good about the first two books continues here in the finale. The stakes have been upped, and the read was even more intense, with even better action sequences. But Flip stays true to the basic story of a family trying to be together and free in a terrible world.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">**I should mention now that there might be spoilers for Slip and Grip, but none for Flip. **</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Things I love about Flip:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Kelly Family</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> My absolute favorite thing about this trilogy, from beginning to end has been the theme throughout about family. This is such an important theme, and one that is missing a lot in YA. My family is the most important thing in the world to me, and I'm sure is the same with most people. How great to see a series touching on this in such a relevant and realistic way. This family is not perfect. They love each other and drive each other crazy at times. But in the end, it is their loyalty to each other that makes all the difference. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"“Family doesn’t go one way. It goes every way. We help each other, we protect each other, and we die for each other, if that’s what it takes.” </em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Characters</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> I'm not going to touch on each one, as they are all really good in this book. I feel that any character development that was lacking in the previous books (especially the first one) all comes together here. These characters are all complex, with moments of both highs and lows. And all of the main characters had a complete story arc that made sense and fit into the story perfectly.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The World Building</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> One of my absolute favorite things in any series is when the world building just builds and builds with each book. The world building in Flip jumps leaps and bounds from the first two books. We get to see a lot more of this crazy world, and most of it is done through the ads and articles in between each chapter. Like before, it really gives us an insight to the public's viewpoint, as most of our characters are in hiding and almost in the dark themselves. Just really brilliantly done.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Comedy Hour</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> Despite this being a very dark, intense story, I was LOLing through a lot of it! I love the humor throughout, and think its a perfect balance with action and suspense. A few of my favorite lines:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"Eventually, Simon shifts his position, grunting lightly, and then says, “Nice makeover.”<br />“Are you hitting on me?” Harrison jokes.<br />“All I want is to be your frienemy,” Simon jokes back.<br />“I’m not ready for commitment,” Harrison says. “Too young for that. "<br /><br />"Minda says, “Yeah. Just do what Janice does and you’ll be fine.”<br />“You want us to all wear tiger-striped dresses?” Harrison asks.<br />“Sure. So long as you laser your legs first,” Minda says." </em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Twists</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> Again, lots more of them happening in the finale! I'm not sure I've ever seen a twist written as well as the big one in Slip, but the ones in here I think have topped it! MIND BLOWN!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Writing</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> Loved it. Just beautiful writing. I'll give you a few examples:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"“Words can split logs and start fires and break stones, but they can also hug you and warm you and fight the wars you don’t have the strength to fight.”<br /><br />"But then I realized that life is a gift that can’t be replaced. Life is the purpose. Life is always worth it, no matter how terrible you feel, no matter what mistakes you've made, or others have made. This world isn’t for running. It’s for standing. It’s for fighting."</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Need I say more?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Action</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> I mentioned it before, but these were AWESOME action scenes! They went on for pages, were very detailed, and the pacing was perfect. Really made the pages fly!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Ending</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> One of the best endings to a trilogy EVER. Everything tied together nicely, it all made sense, and we got a wonderful epilogue that tells us what's up with our favorite characters a year after the story. Really loved that! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Flip was an EPIC finale and I loved every minute of this book! After the last page, I was in a book fog, and it took me a bit to come back to the real world. These characters were just so real to me. Slip is one of the best trilogies I have ever read. I will be thinking about it for a long while.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And I'll leave you with another favorite quote:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"It’s not the power of the universe rallying against him, but humans. Just men and women full of hate and evil and ignorance. Nothing more, nothing less. And humans can be defeated, no matter the odds. In the end, good has a chance to prevail if those who wield its mighty sword do not lose hope."</em></div>
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<b>You can buy Flip here:</b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flip-Slip-Trilogy-Book-3-ebook/dp/B00U0C8VKO/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b><br />
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<b>And don't miss the first two books in the series!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jj5U4TWAIIv2BuEcaimMTJKNmbc-ypUjEB-nOTH6CFQoj-k5iV45CrRICNmoLrFtI6VsSp249Se9xJe__6DYrGq_B7HAyCmX5ybiOTZkPU_8VOMvEbUZz5r82Zo0uMJp2tdF-epNwLE/s1600/10374525_713386168757263_6421205469789390607_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jj5U4TWAIIv2BuEcaimMTJKNmbc-ypUjEB-nOTH6CFQoj-k5iV45CrRICNmoLrFtI6VsSp249Se9xJe__6DYrGq_B7HAyCmX5ybiOTZkPU_8VOMvEbUZz5r82Zo0uMJp2tdF-epNwLE/s1600/10374525_713386168757263_6421205469789390607_n.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi4B06dNGZeXfNyJ4J0eTy3XndafyC_qe7DKKxteNfD94wQiKwtDlmwoKM4HfjCQwHPuSekYVgqnA5hiialNQyZZBzFrwz7UL6E9ihyiQeROKQ5XeDXLQ_DZiHkrqK06NZk3qq_MgUFo/s1600/23302521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi4B06dNGZeXfNyJ4J0eTy3XndafyC_qe7DKKxteNfD94wQiKwtDlmwoKM4HfjCQwHPuSekYVgqnA5hiialNQyZZBzFrwz7UL6E9ihyiQeROKQ5XeDXLQ_DZiHkrqK06NZk3qq_MgUFo/s1600/23302521.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-by-david-estes/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Author Photo - David Estes" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1107" src="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Author-Photo-David-Estes-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></a></b></div>
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<b>About the Author:</b><br />
Author of popular YA dystopian series, the Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.<br />
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Join 2,700+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:<br />
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/70863-david-estes-fans-and-ya-book-lovers-unite <br />
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David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. David grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. They now live together in their dream location, Hawaii. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and started writing full time in June 2012. Now he travels the world writing with his wife, Adele. David's a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.<br />
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You can find and contact David here:<br />
- <a href="http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> <br />
- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Davidestesbooks" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <br />
- <a href="https://twitter.com/davidestesbooks" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <br />
- <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167424.David_Estes" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> <br />
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<br />juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-8060776971000054102015-01-27T21:57:00.000-06:002015-01-27T21:57:53.794-06:00Burn by David Estes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3s9InIUXXohkVSkTf9JpRWs6eTTdY6eXRlZO3YRY0G6A5Qi9guChRAa5zObytfXQEAcfytxKl7d1RTfWAZKrt2GvXoXOFS9esfHFWfA2puj3ZWVJn9-Y5Evle746fYqAD_k32saKbQI/s1600/23356841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3s9InIUXXohkVSkTf9JpRWs6eTTdY6eXRlZO3YRY0G6A5Qi9guChRAa5zObytfXQEAcfytxKl7d1RTfWAZKrt2GvXoXOFS9esfHFWfA2puj3ZWVJn9-Y5Evle746fYqAD_k32saKbQI/s1600/23356841.jpg" height="640" width="412" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23356841-burn?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></div>
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<b>YA Sci-Fi/Apocalyptic, Paranormal</b></div>
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<b>Brew #3</b></div>
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<b>My Rating: 5 stars</b></div>
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<b>Synopsis</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">When Rhett Carter finally manages to communicate with his cursed father, he wants nothing more than to discover a way to save him. The only problem: The closer he gets to Martin Carter, the faster he'll die. To help, Laney secretly seeks out Rhett's father, embarking on a dangerous mission. Unbeknownst to her, she's followed by Bil Nez, Hex, and Grogg. Separated from Rhett, their lives sit on a knife's edge.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Meanwhile, with bloodthirsty packs of Shifters prowling around New Washington, the only hope for survival is Rhett's ability to unite the humans and magic-born. A tenuous alliance is formed: the Reaper and his Necros; the Clairvoyants; Floss and her witch hunters; and the humans. But will it be enough to defeat their enemies and restore order to a world in chaos? And will Rhett and Laney ever have the chance for a normal life, a life they both desperately want?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Or will the world BURN?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b>My 2 cents</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-size: large;">**There will be spoilers for both Brew and Boil in this review, but none for Burn**</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"A nightmare awakens,<br />Opening one bruised eye.<br />Although they scream, it doesn’t listen,<br />Doesn’t care,<br />Doesn’t feel,<br />Doesn’t hate nor love.<br />Only takes.<br />And because it breathes fire, the world will burn.<br /><br />Burn, Rhett Carter"</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And so starts the conclusion to this epic trilogy! The Necros and the Clares have joined in with the few remaining humans to defeat Flora and the Shifters. But neither humans nor the magic born in their camp are happy with the truce, forcing Rhett to choose sides. Meanwhile, Flora is planning the attack of the century.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I absolutely LOVED this book! It was an epic conclusion and I loved every minute of it! I also thought the story had a perfect balance of action and suspense, comedy and silliness, snarkiness, and tear-jerker moments. The story flowed so easily, with never a dull moment, and I was completely hooked from beginning to end.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The thing I love the most, though, is the characters. This is an insane cast of dynamic characters, and made the story very entertaining. This really is a dark story with lots of horrible things happening and death everywhere, but it still has these moments of complete hilarity that had me laughing out loud while I was reading!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">First of all: </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Tillman Huckle</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> The underground arms dealer and fanatic gamer who always tells Rhett like it is. I especially loved this exchange between them:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"He makes a good point, even if changing the name of New Washington seems like the least of our worries. Even still, we need something to give the people hope. Something to help us start over. Something to make us all feel connected to each other. A new name might just do that.<br />“How about Unity?” I say.<br />Huckle laughs, and at first I think it’s because he’s just used a grenade launcher to blow up a pocket of the walking dead. “What about Peaceville? Or Harmonytown? Or did you consider The Land of Butterflies and Kittens?” Huckle says. "</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">LOL</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Then there's Mr. Jackson, </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">THE REAPER</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> as he's known by almost everyone. A very creepy dude, with lots of secrets, even more than we thought. Something about him just intrigues me. Rhett wonders about him a lot as well. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"Is he seriously joking with me? The master of the dark art of raising the dead has become a standup comedian? Surely this is the end of the world."</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">XAVE!</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> He grew and grew on me all through the series, and the final book gave him a few well deserved highlights. Xave is incredibly smart, brave, and wise.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"“Everyone deserves help when they need it,” Xave says, “even if they think they don’t want it.”</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And then there's </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Grogg</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">, the huge troll made of mud, and </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Hex</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">, the wonderdog! Their adventures throughout the story are PRICELESS! We even get several chapters from their POV! These were huge highlights of the book for me!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"As his legs once more gain hold on the earth, Hex tries to remember why he’s here, what he’s doing.<br />Protect…um…protect someone…protect…<br />Chipmunk!<br /><br />Flowers are sniffable.<br />Weeds are scratchable.<br />Grass is munchable and usually full of lots of curious creatures.<br />And yet, despite the abundance of all three of these plants in his immediately vicinity, Hex finds himself on the roof, chasing after Grogg, who’s more fun than all three put together. "</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And then we have </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Bil.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> Bil really grew on me in this book. In the previous one, I was really not happy with his character, but he really redeems himself in this installment! Even better are his exchanges with Laney!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"“Life is but a random echo,” Bil Nez says. Apparently I woke him up when I was trying to calm myself down.<br />“Thanks for that,” I say, desperately wishing Normal Bil was back. I might not like Normal Bil that much, but compared to Crazy Bil, Normal Bil feels like an old friend.<br />He ignores my sarcasm. “Life reverberates off the walls of a cave, searching for a way out, but it always fades away.”<br />“You should write these things down and publish a coffee table book,” I say."</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">LANEY!!</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> My fave character of the story still had me laughing and chuckling throughout the adventure! I just love Laney, her sarcasm, snarky, bravery, and fierceness. She. is. AWESOME!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"Laney practically chokes on her laugh. “Woo her? You couldn’t woo a cocker spaniel. Just the thought of you ‘wooing’ anyone makes me want to woo my pants.” </em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And finally, there's </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Rhett,</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> our MC full of contradictions. He seems like a simple character, but there's a lot more going on to him underneath. Definitely one of the most interesting MCs ever!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"All I know is that my life feels like a giant April Fool’s Joke most of the time. Either that or a mysterious box that has something different in it every time you open it."</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The twists in this book...I can't even! HOLY CRAP BEANS, the twists were completely surprising, and they just kept on coming! (Although I will admit I did figure out a smallish one near the end ;) ) David Estes is quickly becoming the master of twists, and is magic at pulling them out of his hat!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The last thing I want to talk about is the ending. This ending was one of the best endings I've ever read, for a book, and a trilogy. I LOVED every single word on that last page. It tied everything up neatly and had definite feels. It made perfect sense and gave me what I wanted as a reader.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">This trilogy is truly a gem, and I am sad to say goodbye to these amazing characters. Maybe the author will surprise us with some more stories about them in the future (hint, hint).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And now I'll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"Double negative,” Rhett says.<br />“Doesn’t that make a positive?”<br />“Damn,” Rhett says. “I thought I was being clever."<br /><br />“Don’t kill the humans, the zombies, the guys in the dark cloaks or the girls that glow like the sun. Oh, or the crazy old woman with the fingernails growing out of her head.”<br /><br />"Time is the great devourer, taking days, months, and eventually years from us all. It doesn’t discriminate, doesn’t differentiate, shows no mercy."</em></span></div>
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<b>You can buy Burn here:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Burn-Salems-Revenge-Book-3-ebook/dp/B00SK0XKYA/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
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<b>And don't miss the first two books in the series!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4RzuyYOOYhuFuLAs2lvONT0KjxoomNPVGDBJ-yo0ma6yuH1qVrI9tLpDoGpdHyM795xyncR_NAaQeVJFMkYT8ptdoh2SrXxwzphxcATaT7ys9VziGaioEDMBGG3LY0WEzwUkSGYvOwI/s1600/10644909_724007811024936_1510598175137080649_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4RzuyYOOYhuFuLAs2lvONT0KjxoomNPVGDBJ-yo0ma6yuH1qVrI9tLpDoGpdHyM795xyncR_NAaQeVJFMkYT8ptdoh2SrXxwzphxcATaT7ys9VziGaioEDMBGG3LY0WEzwUkSGYvOwI/s1600/10644909_724007811024936_1510598175137080649_n.jpg" height="200" width="125" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brew-Salems-Revenge-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00NE7DUQM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18050390-brew" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
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<a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/10/brew-and-boil-release-by-david-estes.html" target="_blank">My Review</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Salem’s Revenge strikes without warning or mercy, ravaging the powerless human race under the forces of united gangs of witches, wizards, and warlocks. During the slaughter, Rhett Carter's foster parents and sister are killed, and his best friend and girlfriend are abducted by a gang of witches calling themselves the Necromancers, who deal in the dark magic of raising the dead. Rhett’s sword-wielding neighbor with a mysterious past saves Rhett from becoming another casualty of the massacre and teaches him the skills he needs to survive in this new world.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Rhett is broken, his normal high school life of book blogging and football playing shoved in a witch-apocalyptic blender. The only thing he has left is his burning desire for revenge. Armed with his new witch hunting skills and a loyal, magic powered dog named Hex, he sets out into the unknown with one mission: hunt and destroy those who took away everyone he ever loved. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">But Rhett isn’t just a witch hunter; he has secrets of his own that he has yet to discover, secrets that his enemies will stop at nothing to keep him from.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And discovering the truth about himself is the human race’s only hope.</span><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4uAiyi0x_bNnghiXHA_m2hLMonZdy9hgUd_e8yxO7-GMVngoCnNYLbatH9SGVZaUnUCTwvNP7vONIwQ62EhWHwASDUYfnbjl_npIvYmSO9Tlq8XViFDEMPlpS7klwlFBPd0hN1Zslx4/s1600/22960811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4uAiyi0x_bNnghiXHA_m2hLMonZdy9hgUd_e8yxO7-GMVngoCnNYLbatH9SGVZaUnUCTwvNP7vONIwQ62EhWHwASDUYfnbjl_npIvYmSO9Tlq8XViFDEMPlpS7klwlFBPd0hN1Zslx4/s1600/22960811.jpg" height="200" width="124" /></a><b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boil-Salems-Revenge-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00NXFPMPC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22960811-boil" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/10/boil-by-david-estes-review-giveaway.html" target="_blank">My Review</a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span id="freeText16491431726515778494" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Revenge. That’s all that’s left for witch hunter Rhett Carter. The magic-born have stripped everything from him—killed his friends, cursed his warlock father, shattered his future—leaving him bare and broken, but not dead. Their mistake.<br /><br />When Rhett and Laney are suddenly thrust in different directions, Rhett must decide who to trust and who to kill. Backed by his trusty canine sidekick Hex, Rhett will embark on his deadliest mission yet, one that will lead him directly toward those who want him dead, pushing his unique resistance to magic to the edge and back again as he tries to remove his father’s curse.<br /><br />Separated from Rhett, Laney seeks to understand the strange changes to her sister, Trish, who’s believed to be the last living Clairvoyant, and what role she’s destined to play in the future of humankind.<br /><br />Wrapped around everything are four major groups: the Necromancers, the Changelings, the witch hunters, and New America, the remnants of humanity. When the major forces are brought together for an epic battle, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-by-david-estes/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Author Photo - David Estes" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1107" src="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Author-Photo-David-Estes-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></a></b></div>
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<b>About the Author:</b><br />
Author of popular YA dystopian series, the Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.<br />
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Join 2,700+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:<br />
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/70863-david-estes-fans-and-ya-book-lovers-unite <br />
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David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. David grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. They now live together in their dream location, Hawaii. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and started writing full time in June 2012. Now he travels the world writing with his wife, Adele. David's a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.<br />
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You can find and contact David here:<br />
- <a href="http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> <br />
- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Davidestesbooks" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <br />
- <a href="https://twitter.com/davidestesbooks" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <br />
- <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167424.David_Estes" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> <br />
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<br />juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-46628951048510557122015-01-08T21:12:00.001-06:002015-01-08T21:12:23.367-06:00Falls the Shadow by Stephanie Gaither<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhLfqd_dfy2UjTy3M2GYyJ1t716jszM_sbdqkLEHodHYdcgPaGLanWM0snOsw1qX0KiitPCM8nZcy6EdztYyTzHqsMQAWSrHmeBBRMWXWBtPtXFToU0cUqYFh2VHhIqGPrA4goSD6JZo/s1600/20384954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhLfqd_dfy2UjTy3M2GYyJ1t716jszM_sbdqkLEHodHYdcgPaGLanWM0snOsw1qX0KiitPCM8nZcy6EdztYyTzHqsMQAWSrHmeBBRMWXWBtPtXFToU0cUqYFh2VHhIqGPrA4goSD6JZo/s1600/20384954.jpg" height="640" width="420" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20384954-falls-the-shadow?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">352 pages, YA Sci-Fi</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Falls the Shadow #1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My Rating: 5 stars</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span id="freeText7081854300197944668" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">When Cate Benson was a kid, her sister, Violet, died. Two hours after the funeral, Cate’s family picked up Violet’s replacement. Like nothing had happened. Because Cate’s parents are among those who decided to give their children a sort of immortality—by cloning them at birth—which means this new Violet has the same smile. The same perfect face. Thanks to advancements in mind-uploading technology, she even has all of the same memories as the girl she replaced.<br /><br />She also might have murdered the most popular girl in school.<br /><br />At least, that’s what the paparazzi and the anti-cloning protestors want everyone to think: that clones are violent, unpredictable monsters. Cate is used to hearing all that. She’s used to defending her sister, too. But Violet has vanished, and when Cate sets out to find her, she ends up in the line of fire instead. Because Cate is getting dangerously close to secrets that will rock the foundation of everything she thought was true.<br /><br />In a thrilling debut, Stefanie Gaither takes readers on a nail-biting ride through a future that looks frighteningly similar to our own time and asks: how far are you willing to go to keep your family together?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My 2 cents:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Wow, this story had me hooked!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The basic premise: In a futuristic world, they have figured out a technology to create perfect clones. Parents can elect to have this procedure done to their children, and then the "clones" are stored in a facility, and regularly updated (their brains are like computers) with all the memories of the original. The idea being, that if a child dies, you can have them "replaced." </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The MC, Catelyn's older sister, Violet dies of a disease. Their parents are rich (her dad's the mayor) and they have cloned their kids, so Violet is replaced. Catelyn is 12 at the time, and tries to go along with it, but she knows it not really her sister. Everything goes on as normal.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">4 years later, and Violet's best friend, Samantha Voss is found dead in the woods and Violet's the prime suspect. The clones have their critics in society, and this proves that the cloning process isn't perfect. Catelyn gets in the middle of a conspiracy with a government agency, and has to find her sister before they do and terminate Violet.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The story was quick moving, I couldn't put it down. What I really appreciated was that it didn't get too in depth with the technology and world building, it was easy to understand. This world was much like our own, except greater tech. The characters were good, although not too well developed, except the two sisters.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The thing I liked best was their relationship, it was so well done. Because in both their heads, they recognized that this new Violet was not really Violet, but an imitation, but they had to both pretend otherwise. So lots of complexity there, plus things get pretty crazy, making them both have to make hard choices.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The next best thing was the conspiracy and all the twists that happened throughout. It wasn't really clear who was the "bad guy" until the end, and even then, it was really the lesser of two evils. Loved that aspect.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Overall, I LOVED this, so my type of book, 5 stars!</span></span>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-38416917851990829912015-01-02T10:08:00.000-06:002015-01-08T21:04:52.760-06:00The Reread Challenge 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5NepXsLPTal3lUaNICsA9jVfcUcQTg6AXVSFv9-k6mQtHU220C6xPSnhKTLToKhOcYx_RlCDOlwxXBxapTBOXYJnR8FA8BLUKPMtw-iceSXElLyR8nbVDKDr5TZc4KGKT7QVOiy1P44/s1600/Re-Read+Challenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5NepXsLPTal3lUaNICsA9jVfcUcQTg6AXVSFv9-k6mQtHU220C6xPSnhKTLToKhOcYx_RlCDOlwxXBxapTBOXYJnR8FA8BLUKPMtw-iceSXElLyR8nbVDKDr5TZc4KGKT7QVOiy1P44/s1600/Re-Read+Challenge.png" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This year I've decided not to sign up for many challenges. I'm just doing a few personal ones and a few on Goodreads. But I saw this one, and knew I had to do it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the first Reread Challenge! Hosted by <a href="http://belleoftheliterati.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Belle of the Literati</a> and <a href="http://www.soobsessedwith.com/" target="_blank">So Obsessed With</a>. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Re-Read Challenge Details</span></b></div>
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<li>This challenge will run from January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015. The sign-up linky will remain open until the end of January, but join at any time by adding your intro post to any monthly re-read recap linky.</li>
<li>Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it's a re-read.</li>
<li>We will have two giveaways - one at the six-month point and one at the end of the year. Giveaway details posted closer to the halfway point!</li>
<li>You don't have to follow our blogs to participate or be entered in the giveaways.</li>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">How You Sign Up</span></b></div>
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<li>Write a post about joining The 2015 Re-Read Challenge on your blog. In the post, include the banner, a link back to our sign-up page, the number of books you'd like to re-read and list some books you're hoping to re-read for the challenge.</li>
<li>Add the direct link to your sign-up post in the linky below.</li>
<li><i>Optional:</i> Put the challenge button in your sidebar (grab link available at the bottom of the post).</li>
<li>DONE. It's as easy as that to get started.</li>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">How You Participate</span></b></div>
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<ol>
<li>Re-read some books!</li>
<li>In the first week of each month, we will post a re-read recap on <b><a href="http://belleoftheliterati.blogspot.com/" style="color: #8fc5aa; text-decoration: none;">Belle of the Literati</a></b> and <b><a href="http://soobsessedwith.com/" style="color: #8fc5aa; text-decoration: none;">So Obsessed With</a></b> that includes a linky that will be open all month. Write a post detailing what you re-read the last month, and add the direct link to our linky to be entered in our giveaways.</li>
<li>If you write any re-read reviews (it's totally optional!), add those to the monthly linky for additional entries (one per post) in our giveways.</li>
<li>If you miss a monthly post, just link up your reviews and/or recap in the linky during the next month.</li>
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<a href="http://www.soobsessedwith.com/2014/12/the-re-read-challenge-details-sign-up.html" target="_blank">SIGN UP HERE</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Why am I signing up? First of all, I LOVE rereading my favorite books. I always reread books. In 2014 I reread 22 books. They are great when you are in a reading slump and can't figure out what to read--just pick a favorite book you love! Also, sometimes when the last book comes out in a trilogy or series, I like to read the whole series at once. Its so fun!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Most of my rereads I have planned have that purpose in mind--I need to get caught up on or finish a series, and I need a refresher.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Here's some of the books I'm hoping to reread:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">My Goal is to reread 20 books this year.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Progress:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">2.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">5.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">6.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">7.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">8.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">9.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">10.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">11.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">12.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">13.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">14.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">15.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">16.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">17.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">19.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">20.</span></span></div>
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juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-7024687397015480042014-12-23T18:56:00.001-06:002014-12-23T18:56:10.154-06:004 Year Blogoversary Interview!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o4MdLnp5WepbNDOzOhfiFSckH2mkS_XM1AQLra8HQRrwvWvasjQRfalkNmr2YNTsf_SirZFFaLvd9TNLlI8BzXXPiEvTdUHhAdt5l1rFdK75J1JE9dkQUdfyhjkA2FBD7kP3mFCM3qE/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o4MdLnp5WepbNDOzOhfiFSckH2mkS_XM1AQLra8HQRrwvWvasjQRfalkNmr2YNTsf_SirZFFaLvd9TNLlI8BzXXPiEvTdUHhAdt5l1rFdK75J1JE9dkQUdfyhjkA2FBD7kP3mFCM3qE/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" height="400" width="287" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here it is! My 4 year Blogoversary Interview, where I answer the questions you all asked me! This was really fun to do! Enjoy :)</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/h06CsZ4j9q0" width="560"></iframe>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-66932045714061666032014-12-21T22:08:00.000-06:002014-12-21T22:08:24.010-06:00What Are You Reading Monday 12/22<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9hX4a1ouGRweDqi7JicdXzMS-LMFe0OSWQOjVjQzIcXBpJNaZuYfYGElvayz5bi_woimY4h01K7s4AeMQ6VbSF42yZC2scHe6eeJjwYb3v3u3nb4OW1M3WZaawTc2-CZREkNQgTvu6k/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9hX4a1ouGRweDqi7JicdXzMS-LMFe0OSWQOjVjQzIcXBpJNaZuYfYGElvayz5bi_woimY4h01K7s4AeMQ6VbSF42yZC2scHe6eeJjwYb3v3u3nb4OW1M3WZaawTc2-CZREkNQgTvu6k/s1600/31.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! This is a meme done by </span><a href="http://bookjourney.net/2012/08/12/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-151/" style="background-color: white; color: #507c17; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Book Journey</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">. This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>What I've Read the Last 2 Weeks</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lips Touch by Laini Taylor--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey--5 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski--5 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let's Get Lost by Ali Alsaid--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday--3 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jackaby by William Ritter--5 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some great reads this last week! </span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">What I Am Reading Next Week</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">I have a huge December TBR pile I'm working on at the moment!</span></div>
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<b style="font-size: large; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">Currently Reading</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am super excited to read this book! I loved In the Shadow of Blackbirds, and I've been anticipating this one for awhile!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">Have a great week everyone!</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b><br /></b></span>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-14196662757760996682014-12-07T23:07:00.000-06:002014-12-07T23:07:25.892-06:00What Are You Reading Monday 12/8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXR1_nvfXZV0ws9UMv0ttlpsRw7agu-N0T4bnORNEeEJp_32iH2NpF1hHtdDdtTVvP9UKyOnqweXyRbkKHBxS9SdkBVQ8o-qo2zDwZ5kF7YES8zmlTyKnJhpZjec-Q4RJJ9Sf_ldeMaMo/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXR1_nvfXZV0ws9UMv0ttlpsRw7agu-N0T4bnORNEeEJp_32iH2NpF1hHtdDdtTVvP9UKyOnqweXyRbkKHBxS9SdkBVQ8o-qo2zDwZ5kF7YES8zmlTyKnJhpZjec-Q4RJJ9Sf_ldeMaMo/s1600/31.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! This is a meme done by </span><a href="http://bookjourney.net/2012/08/12/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-151/" style="background-color: white; color: #507c17; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Book Journey</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">. This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>What I've Read the Last 2 Weeks</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After the End by Amy Plum--3.5 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken-- 5 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fractured by Sarah Fine--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Timestorm by Julie Cross--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Museum of Intangible Things by Wendy Wunder--3 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Four by Veronica Roth--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Cabinet of Curiosities--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My True Love Gave to Me by Stephanie Perkins--4.5 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This Night so Dark by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner--5 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Captive by Leigh Talbert Moore--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Learning to Spy by Leigh Talbert Moore--4 stars</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">What I Am Reading Next Week</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have a huge December TBR pile I'm working on at the moment!</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">Currently Reading</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b><br /></b></span>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-21966503475154823822014-12-03T03:00:00.000-06:002014-12-03T03:00:07.508-06:00Grip by David Estes + Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-by-david-estes/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="slip banner" class="aligncenter" height="185" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7494/15673658429_a2edc71059.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is my stop during the book blitz for Slip (Slip #1) and Grip (Slip #2) by David Estes. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 1 till 5 December, you can view the complete blitz schedule on the website of <a href="http://lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-and-grip-by-david-estes/" target="_blank">Lola’s Blog Tours</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b>Grip</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">By David Estes </span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Dystopia</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Age category:</b> Young Adult</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Release Date:</b> 1 December, 2014</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Blurb:</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOON0WzzmNwVE09Dx8u9ch65eoJOp0opzfkWjMO5JbSr3iVD65qFbfHok1Lc3er1zPIWlv0ckB5tkErb9zmmo2RUhgraMvt05NWQlDBpwpHbxW5S7wEoNenJAFboEy2HTb4UoQEcL8RwE/s1600/Grip+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOON0WzzmNwVE09Dx8u9ch65eoJOp0opzfkWjMO5JbSr3iVD65qFbfHok1Lc3er1zPIWlv0ckB5tkErb9zmmo2RUhgraMvt05NWQlDBpwpHbxW5S7wEoNenJAFboEy2HTb4UoQEcL8RwE/s1600/Grip+cover.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">In a tumultuous world of population control, one illegal child has slipped through the cracks. Now, as a teenager, Benson Kelly has escaped certain deaths at the hands of the Department of Population Control, only to find himself the symbol of a rebellion, something he never intended.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While trying to survive one day at a time, Benson seeks to unravel the tangled knot of secrets left behind when his father died, the key to which has something to do with his mother, Janice Kelly, recently escaped from the insane asylum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the rebel group known as the Lifers continue to use brute force to send a message to the government, Benson's twin, Harrison Kelly, seeks to exploit a loophole that could be the key to freedom for his brother. All that's required is a simple act of murder.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, Population Control's attack dog, a sadistic cyborg known as The Destroyer, closes in on Benson and his family. His directive: Kill them all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Faith, family and love will be pushed to the limits in the GRIPping sequel to Slip. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can find Grip on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23302521-grip" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can buy Grip here:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grip-Slip-Trilogy-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00Q9LYF1Y/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My Rating: 5 EPIC stars!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My Review:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Holy Guacamole Batman! </strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Grip is the gripping (pardon the pun) sequel to Slip, my former favorite book by David Estes. Grip has now taken that honor! This book just STUNNED me! Sequels in general have a top job living up to their predecessors, but Grip achieved this with flying colors!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">**I should mention at this point that there will be spoilers for Slip in this review, but none for Grip.**</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I was so looking forward to this book! I actually read Slip for the first time as an ARC last June, so I couldn't wait to see Benson and Harrison together in action! What I love so much about this book is it didn't play out like I thought it would have at all. Grip, if possible, is even darker than Slip, with higher stakes and even more twists! It completely exceeded my expectations!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Things I loved about Grip:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Harrison</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> In Slip, Harrison really came across as a brat to me, but in this one, he really steps up to the plate. I didn't agree with all his decisions and choices, but I am loving his evolution. He does remind me a lot of his father, Michael Kelly, but so much smarter in so many ways.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">A Family Back Together</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> I really loved seeing Harrison and Benson together for the first time. I myself have identical twin boys that are teens, and the bond between them is so strong. Even though Harrison and Benson have been apart their whole lives, they still have this bond. The scenes with them together were my favorites! Then there's Janice--she has her boys back again. She actually shines in parts of this book, and the scenes with this broken family were done so very well. It was easy to relate to Janice in these! I really got the mom factor here. And her craziness is starting to make more and more sense to me. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Destiny</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> We get a new character in this one, a Slip the same age as our heroes who is also a Slip herself. Destiny takes the cake for creativity and survival technique. One of my favorite characters ever!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Ads and Articles Throughout the Book </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">As in Slip, Grip is filled with these, and they really help the reader gauge the reaction of the public. There's a lot of brainwashing going on here, and its interesting to me to see the people who get sucked in, and then the ones who don't, whose comments have been deleted. This was my favorite example in this book:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"Do you love dogs but not all the responsibility?<br />BotPetsTM new line of BotDogs 6.0 is more advanced than ever!<br />Programmed to perform more than thirty tricks, your pet will keep you<br />entertained for hours, without ever requiring feeding or exercise.<br />And like all of our species of BotDogs, there‟s no waste pickup required!<br />BotPets, we take the poo out of poodle.<br />Important Disclosures: BotDogs 6.0 were modified from the original design of AttackDogs 6.0<br />used by Crows in law enforcement endeavors. The “bite” and “attack” commands have been<br />removed, however, in less than one percent of cases, larger models have been found to be defective. It’s advised that children be supervised around BotDogs 6.0 at all times. BotPets is not<br />liable for any injury or death resulting from defective products."</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The World Building </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Its again excellent in this book, and we get a much broader scope as well. We learn more about the government, the resistance, and the general public.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Writing Itself</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> Again, beautiful writing done here! I love seeing a writer grow. One of my favorite quotes:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"Happy moments are like stars. They seem so close you think you can<br />touch them, but really they’re fleeting and a million miles away. Enjoy them from afar and don’t come to expect them. In your life there will be more cloudy nights than clear ones."</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Twists</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> In Slip, there was one big twist at the end that was MIND BLOWING. In Grip, there are several twists that will blow your mind to a far off galaxy on the other side of the universe! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Feels</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> Of course. And the best thing about a David Estes book! You will feel EVERYTHING. The anger, the sadness, the despair, the love, the fear, the hope...everything.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Final verdict for this book: 5 very EPIC stars! This sequel is a stunner. If you're going to take the ride that is this series, make sure you hold on tight, don't lose your </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">grip</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">! (I'm sorry, couldn't help it)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an HONEST review**</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-by-david-estes/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Author Photo - David Estes" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1107" src="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Author-Photo-David-Estes-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></span></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Author of popular YA dystopian series, the Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Join 2,400+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/70863-david-estes-fans-and-ya-book-lovers-unite </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. David grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. They now live together in their dream location, Hawaii. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and started writing full time in June 2012. Now he travels the world writing with his wife, Adele. David's a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can find and contact David here:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Davidestesbooks" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="https://twitter.com/davidestesbooks" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167424.David_Estes" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Slip. These are the prizes you can win: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- Winners choice of book to the value of $15.00 U.S. from The Book Depository</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- A signed copy of SLIP plus bonus swag- U.S. entrants only</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- A signed copy of BREW plus bonus swag- U.S. entrants only</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- 3 ebook packs with three David Estes ebooks of your choice</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- 4 signed packs of bookmarks</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can enter the blitz wide giveaway here:</span><br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1000e466/" id="rc-1000e466" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: large;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>
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juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-27244571215293135262014-12-02T03:00:00.000-06:002014-12-02T03:00:07.280-06:00Giving Back and Paying It Forward-- Guest Post by David Estes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-by-david-estes/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="slip banner" class="aligncenter" height="185" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7494/15673658429_a2edc71059.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is my stop during the book blitz for Slip (Slip #1) and Grip (Slip #2) by David Estes. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 1 till 5 December, you can view the complete blitz schedule on the website of <a href="http://lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-and-grip-by-david-estes/" target="_blank">Lola’s Blog Tours</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22095243-slip" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Slip cover" class="alignleft" height="320" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8595/15710249230_2835b3905c_n.jpg" width="207" /></span></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Slip (Slip #1)<br />
By David Estes</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Dystopia</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Age category:</b> Young Adult</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Release Date:</b> 1 December, 2014</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Blurb:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Someone must die before another can be born...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As sea levels rise and livable landmasses shrink, the Reorganized United States of America has instituted population control measures to ensure there are sufficient resources and food to sustain the growing population. Birth authorization must be paid for and obtained prior to having a child. Someone must die before another can be born, keeping the country in a population neutral position at what experts consider to be the optimal population. The new laws are enforced by a ruthless government organization known as Pop Con, responsible for terminating any children resulting from unauthorized births, and any illegals who manage to survive past their second birthday, at which point they are designated a national security threat and given the name Slip.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But what if one child slipped through the cracks? What if someone knew all the loopholes and how to exploit them? Would it change anything? Would the delicate resource balance be thrown into a tailspin, threatening the lives of everyone? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And how far would the government go to find and terminate the Slip?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In a gripping story of a family torn apart by a single choice, Slip is a reminder of the sanctity of a single life and the value of the lives we so often take for granted.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You can find Slip on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22095243-slip" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You can buy Slip here:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Slip-Trilogy-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00Q7P21ZE/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23302521-grip" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Grip cover" class="alignright" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7562/15711786067_8db3144b50_n.jpg" width="206" /></span></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Grip (Slip #2)<br />
By David Estes</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Genre:</b> Dystopia</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Age category:</b> Young Adult</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Release Date:</b> 1 December, 2014</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<blockquote>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Blurb:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In a tumultuous world of population control, one illegal child has slipped through the cracks. Now, as a teenager, Benson Kelly has escaped certain deaths at the hands of the Department of Population Control, only to find himself the symbol of a rebellion, something he never intended.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While trying to survive one day at a time, Benson seeks to unravel the tangled knot of secrets left behind when his father died, the key to which has something to do with his mother, Janice Kelly, recently escaped from the insane asylum.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As the rebel group known as the Lifers continue to use brute force to send a message to the government, Benson's twin, Harrison Kelly, seeks to exploit a loophole that could be the key to freedom for his brother. All that's required is a simple act of murder.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, Population Control's attack dog, a sadistic cyborg known as The Destroyer, closes in on Benson and his family. His directive: Kill them all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Faith, family and love will be pushed to the limits in the GRIPping sequel to Slip. </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You can find Grip on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23302521-grip" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You can buy Grip here:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grip-Slip-Trilogy-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00Q9LYF1Y/" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span> <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
_________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Giving Back and Paying it Forward by
David Estes</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks so much for having me on your
awesome blog, Jenny! And thanks for this extremely important topic
for my guest post. <b>Giving back</b> is something that’s near and
dear to my heart, as is <b>paying it forward</b>. I know that many of
my readers feel the exact same way.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As an author with a growing platform
that allows me to reach thousands of readers, I feel a powerful
responsibility to give back, both to my readers and to those in need.
I’ve noticed many other authors donating a portion of their
royalties to charities, as well as publicly supporting causes they
feel are important. Those authors inspire me to do more, too.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One thing I want to point out for
anyone who’s hesitant to get involved with local charities because
of how much time it might take, is that it’s usually a lot less
time than you think. For example, I recently participated as a Shavee
for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises money for kids’
cancer research. At first, I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to
squeeze this responsibility in with all my professional deadlines,
but I quickly realized I was able to do it. Now that everything’s
online, I could raise money via the internet quickly and easily. And
the actual head-shaving part of it? All I had to do was show up and
they shaved my head for me, that easy! I’m not saying you’ve got
to shave your head, but pick a charitable event that fits your style
<span style="font-family: Wingdings, serif;"></span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another thing I want to share is how
much you’ll get out of whatever event you choose. This is something
I didn’t expect at all. I was thinking I would feel good about
myself because I raised money for a good cause, and I did, but it was
SO MUCH MORE than that. The event included people who were getting
their heads shaved while holding up pictures of kids with cancer that
they had some sort of connection with. The kids were laughing and
enjoying their lives, like kids should. A band was playing music in
the background, creating the perfect atmosphere of hope for the
event. I felt like together we could change the world. That’s what
giving back is all about: making this world a better place, one act
and person at a time.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The second topic I wanted to focus on
is paying it forward. Ever since I became an author, this is
something I’ve really begun to embrace. <i>Everyone</i> needs help
sometimes, right? Of course. We’re not invincible, we don’t have
super powers, we’re not perfect. We need help, support, and advice.
I know I’ve needed plenty of all of that over the last four years
as I’ve gone from being an accountant to writing full time. I’ve
been lucky. Blessed even. The right people have come into my life at
the exact right times, almost like they were meant to be. Like fate.
They’ve helped me in ways I can <i>never</i> fully pay back. Nor
would they expect me to. People supported me because they wanted to,
because they’re good people, because they were paying forward the
same support that they’d received. So I vowed to do the exact same
thing. That’s why when I get a question from an aspiring author, I
never ignore it. I answer it to the best of my ability and I try to
help them. I’ve had plenty of authors far more capable than me
answer my questions and give me a few minutes of their scarce time.
The least I can do is pay a little of that time forward to someone
else in need.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I feel we can all do more of this.
Paying it forward can come in so many forms, from something as simple
as giving someone who’s had a hard day a smile (remember that smile
someone gave you when you needed it most?), to something more
complex, like helping someone repair their broken-down vehicle when
they’re desperate on the highway. The possibilities are as endless
as your imagination. It’s almost like Jim Carrey in <i>Yes Man</i>
although probably not quite that extreme. Just say yes <i>more</i>,
and to people you know deserve a break. You’ll make someone’s day
and it won’t cost you a thing, except your time.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks so much for listening, everyone,
and a special thanks to Jenny for having me on her blog and
suggesting this incredibly important topic! I hope you all enjoy my
latest YA dystopian novel, SLIP! Happy reading!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">David Estes</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-by-david-estes/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Author Photo - David Estes" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1107" src="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Author-Photo-David-Estes-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Author of popular YA dystopian series, the Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Join 2,400+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/70863-david-estes-fans-and-ya-book-lovers-unite </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. David grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. They now live together in their dream location, Hawaii. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and started writing full time in June 2012. Now he travels the world writing with his wife, Adele. David's a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You can find and contact David here:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Davidestesbooks" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="https://twitter.com/davidestesbooks" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167424.David_Estes" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Slip. These are the prizes you can win: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- Winners choice of book to the value of $15.00 U.S. from The Book Depository</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- A signed copy of SLIP plus bonus swag- U.S. entrants only</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- A signed copy of BREW plus bonus swag- U.S. entrants only</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- 3 ebook packs with three David Estes ebooks of your choice</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- 4 signed packs of bookmarks</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You can enter the blitz wide giveaway here:</span><br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1000e466/" id="rc-1000e466" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: large;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank">
<img alt="Lola's Blog Tours" border="0" class="aligncenter" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3816/12353631454_711d752e43_o.jpg" /></a></div>
juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-89518798669539971522014-12-01T00:00:00.000-06:002014-12-01T00:00:00.334-06:00Slip by David Estes Blog Tour + Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-by-david-estes/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="slip banner" class="aligncenter" height="185" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7494/15673658429_a2edc71059.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
This is my stop during the book blitz for Slip (Slip #1) and Grip (Slip #2) by David Estes. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 1 till 5 December, you can view the complete blitz schedule on the website of <a href="http://lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-and-grip-by-david-estes/" target="_blank">Lola’s Blog Tours</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22095243-slip" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Slip cover" class="alignleft" height="320" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8595/15710249230_2835b3905c_n.jpg" width="207" /></a><b>Slip (Slip #1)<br />
By David Estes</b><br />
<b>Genre:</b> Dystopia<br />
<b>Age category:</b> Young Adult<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> 1 December, 2014<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<b>Blurb:</b><br />
Someone must die before another can be born...<br />
<br />
As sea levels rise and livable landmasses shrink, the Reorganized United States of America has instituted population control measures to ensure there are sufficient resources and food to sustain the growing population. Birth authorization must be paid for and obtained prior to having a child. Someone must die before another can be born, keeping the country in a population neutral position at what experts consider to be the optimal population. The new laws are enforced by a ruthless government organization known as Pop Con, responsible for terminating any children resulting from unauthorized births, and any illegals who manage to survive past their second birthday, at which point they are designated a national security threat and given the name Slip.<br />
<br />
But what if one child slipped through the cracks? What if someone knew all the loopholes and how to exploit them? Would it change anything? Would the delicate resource balance be thrown into a tailspin, threatening the lives of everyone? <br />
<br />
And how far would the government go to find and terminate the Slip?<br />
<br />
In a gripping story of a family torn apart by a single choice, Slip is a reminder of the sanctity of a single life and the value of the lives we so often take for granted.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
____________________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My Rating: 5 EPIC stars!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My Review: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">What happens when the government has the authority to choose who can have children? What happens to the value of human life?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Welcome to the future United States of America, now called RUSA (Reorganized United States of America). Rising sea levels have shrunk down our land mass, and there is now a finite number of resources for its citizens. The government solves this problem by controlling the population. To get pregnant (legally), each couple receives what's called a "Death Match", and when that aging or sick person dies, they are allowed to procreate. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">To enforce this law, a new government agency called Population Control (Pop Con) was created to round up any UnBees (unregistered children under the age of 2) and Slips (unregistered children over the age of 2)and their parents and terminate them.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">While this book is about a futuristic society that values population and government control as its priority, its also mainly a story about a torn apart family.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Michael Kelly is the head of Pop Con. He and his wife have a secret: their son, Benson is actually a Slip. He's been raised separate from his legal brother, Harrison, and neither boy knows about the other. Michael does everything he can to protect Benson, but he knows time is running out. Before long, he must send Benson out on his own or risk him getting caught and killed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The first part of the book is mainly told from 5 to 8 year old Benson's POV. It does jump around a little to include two other children's POV who become very important to the story: Harrison and Domino Destovan. This part of the book leaves you more questions than answers, but it also provides a much needed understanding of Michael Kelly. I also love how well we get into Benson's head. His descriptions are right in line with a little boy who doesn't understand his world, but trying so hard to make sense of things. Then we jump ahead eight years later, and the story really takes off! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">This story was an amazing read! I read it straight through in one day. I was totally sucked in from beginning to end! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Things I loved about Slip:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Benson and Lucy.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> The main love interests in this story are so cute together, but also very real and relatable, too. I can't wait to read more about their budding relationship in the next book!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Check, Rod, and Gonzo. </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Benson's best friends and gang for survival, along with Lucy and her younger brother. These three characters were loyal friends, but also a much needed comic relief at times.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Janice.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> What can I say about Benson and Harrison's eccentric (okay, crazy) mother? I loved her! She provided quite a bit of comic relief, but at the same time, it was a kind of sad feeling, watching her struggle through their family's situation. It really brought to life some of the horrors of this kind of society.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Ads and new articles that ended each chapter. </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">These usually related directly to what was currently going on in the story, and were filled with irony and sarcastic dark humor. Some examples:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Ready to start a family? Apply for an instant Death Match today! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Simply speak “Yeah Baby” into your holo-screen to get started. Do pregnancy the right way, the legal way. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Now available, reserve a Death Match up to ten years in advance! Simply speak „early Death Match‟ into your holo-screen, and prepare for your future.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">This advertisement paid for by U-Bank, where it’s YOU that matters. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The World Building.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> The futuristic technology is awesome, and completely believable. This whole future is easy to believe as being our own. Chilling.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Writing Itself.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> Really beautiful writing. It paints a picture and makes the story come alive. One quote I especially loved:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">"...her lips like an artist's brush on canvas as they caress his own."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Terminology</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> The words "Life" and "Death" are used quite a bit. "Death Match" is the legal procedure for procreating, while "Lifecard" is what you use to pay with (like a debit card). All the terminology made sense, while poking fun at itself at the same time.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Well fleshed out characters.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> With so many characters, this was pulled off really well. Mostly. I'll explain more below.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Pacing.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> This was a very INTENSE read. There was always something going on, with not much time to breathe. A real page-turner!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Twist.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> Totally did not see it coming. I'm betting you won't either! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">--</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The Feels.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> This book was constantly bringing out some kind of reaction in me, whether it was heart pounding suspense, laughter, chills, and tears. A very emotional read, something that's hard to pull off in a sci-fi dystopian!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The only thing that I found lacking was the character development of two very important characters: Michael Kelly and Harrison Kelly. It was really hard to like Harrison, although I wanted to! Its easier to like Benson in the story, because he's the one who got shafted, and at times you almost feel like telling Harrison, "Oh, grow up!" But that isn't fair, as he's almost completely in the dark to what's really going on. Michael Kelly was just plain elusive at times. I was glad we get a view of him from Benson in the beginning of the book, which really helped that along. I'm hoping we get more in the sequel.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">This did not affect the enjoyment of the read at all for me, though. And I can understand the choices the author made, as too much character development on such complex characters may have bogged things down and slowed down the pacing quite a bit. And I really like the pacing the way it is!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Slip is a complete full novel, but there is plenty of story left for its sequel. I can't wait to read it! The very last scene in this book gave me major goosebumps and chills! This was a 5 star read for me, and anyone who is into dystopians and sci-fi thrillers will love this one!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">One last quote to leave you with:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">“This life is too hard,” he (Benson) says.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Harrison would normally laugh at a comment like that, but he can't manage it because of everything they've been through in the last day and a half. “And made harder because of all the damn idiots running around with guns,” he says. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can find Slip on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22095243-slip" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You can buy Slip here:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Slip-Trilogy-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00Q7P21ZE/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23302521-grip" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Grip cover" class="alignright" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7562/15711786067_8db3144b50_n.jpg" width="206" /></a><b>Grip (Slip #2)<br />
By David Estes</b><br />
<b>Genre:</b> Dystopia<br />
<b>Age category:</b> Young Adult<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> 1 December, 2014<br />
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<blockquote>
<b>Blurb:</b><br />
In a tumultuous world of population control, one illegal child has slipped through the cracks. Now, as a teenager, Benson Kelly has escaped certain deaths at the hands of the Department of Population Control, only to find himself the symbol of a rebellion, something he never intended.<br />
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While trying to survive one day at a time, Benson seeks to unravel the tangled knot of secrets left behind when his father died, the key to which has something to do with his mother, Janice Kelly, recently escaped from the insane asylum.<br />
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As the rebel group known as the Lifers continue to use brute force to send a message to the government, Benson's twin, Harrison Kelly, seeks to exploit a loophole that could be the key to freedom for his brother. All that's required is a simple act of murder.<br />
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Meanwhile, Population Control's attack dog, a sadistic cyborg known as The Destroyer, closes in on Benson and his family. His directive: Kill them all.<br />
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Faith, family and love will be pushed to the limits in the GRIPping sequel to Slip. </blockquote>
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You can find Grip on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23302521-grip" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> <br />
<br />
You can buy Grip here:<br />
- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grip-Slip-Trilogy-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00Q9LYF1Y/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-slip-by-david-estes/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Author Photo - David Estes" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1107" src="http://www.lolasblogtours.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Author-Photo-David-Estes-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></a><b>About the Author:</b><br />
Author of popular YA dystopian series, the Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.<br />
<br />
Join 2,400+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:<br />
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/70863-david-estes-fans-and-ya-book-lovers-unite <br />
<br />
David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. David grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. They now live together in their dream location, Hawaii. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and started writing full time in June 2012. Now he travels the world writing with his wife, Adele. David's a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.<br />
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You can find and contact David here:<br />
- <a href="http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> <br />
- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Davidestesbooks" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <br />
- <a href="https://twitter.com/davidestesbooks" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <br />
- <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3167424.David_Estes" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> <br />
<br />
There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Slip. These are the prizes you can win: <br />
- Winners choice of book to the value of $15.00 U.S. from The Book Depository<br />
- A signed copy of SLIP plus bonus swag- U.S. entrants only<br />
- A signed copy of BREW plus bonus swag- U.S. entrants only<br />
- 3 ebook packs with three David Estes ebooks of your choice<br />
- 4 signed packs of bookmarks<br />
<br />
You can enter the blitz wide giveaway here:<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1000e466/" id="rc-1000e466" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>
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juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-65626221880835146772014-11-24T20:03:00.003-06:002014-11-24T20:09:05.191-06:00Captive by Leigh Talbert Moore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U9pbkad0xQtqp9qIBKTIIM9PPLnYi9LO7WaiqUOLCJ7CIpqueD_xe_PH9qppK2jajWPc9n2e_rx_x4PFcFvgwzio633Kj5p_pp16rPoOygnj-skHPuLZQUvX3VIqTRjNZw94VY_3OhY/s1600/23401356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U9pbkad0xQtqp9qIBKTIIM9PPLnYi9LO7WaiqUOLCJ7CIpqueD_xe_PH9qppK2jajWPc9n2e_rx_x4PFcFvgwzio633Kj5p_pp16rPoOygnj-skHPuLZQUvX3VIqTRjNZw94VY_3OhY/s1600/23401356.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23401356-captive" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">YA Fantasy</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Behind the Stars #1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My Rating: 4 stars</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Right now you can download this for FREE on Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Captive-Behind-Stars-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00OYWMZ7G/ref=sr_1_3_twi_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416881302&sr=8-3&keywords=Captive" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Synopsis</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Prentiss Puckett is certain of three things:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">-Graduation is two weeks away.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">-Summer only gets hotter in south Mississippi.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">-She’s getting a job with air-conditioning.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">She did not expect to be kidnapped walking to work. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And she never expected to become a hero.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My 2 Cents</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Captive is the first installment of a serial, Behind the Stars. I didn't know too much about it going in, which was probably a good thing, because that's really helped the suspense!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In this first part, Captive, Prentiss is a fairly ordinary hick type girl. She has a boyfriend, Jackson, knows all about farming (Jackson's supposed to inherit his Dad's farm eventually, so all their plans include that) and also works part time with the town vet. Its these skills that become very important later on.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On a normal routine day, Prentiss is kidnapped and wakes up to a "farming concentration camp" is the best way to describe it. Its full of kids from her town, including her brother and some other friends, but Jackson is not there. No one knows what's going on, but they are assigned work shifts in the dairy barn, potato fields, and corn fields. They also appear to have been drugged as most kids seem almost zombie like.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Prentiss is not one of these kids. She spends most of this installment trying to figure out how to bust out of the camp. But what she learns just creates more questions...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So far I'm liking this story. The mystery element really has me hooked, and I really like Prentiss as a character. We also get flashbacks of her and Jackson, whom I like as well. I have a few theories as to what's going to happen next, but nothing concrete. I can't wait to find out!</span>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-43009094295595833812014-11-23T04:00:00.000-06:002014-11-23T04:00:05.989-06:004 year Blogoversary Celebration--All Our Yesterdays Spotlight and Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDBqseUGec0hgpIQQeVNEXHMbkKQVE5O2NN2XMRG7fcyzXMDXV5-G-2CK45o1vFBPxG8zjZgYwFqNEK0cMOklJ5k9vSH9RZ0kuWDmwuS-dxOBlPPB54gHlIHlW9c6z8ddh64YiEq7C58/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDBqseUGec0hgpIQQeVNEXHMbkKQVE5O2NN2XMRG7fcyzXMDXV5-G-2CK45o1vFBPxG8zjZgYwFqNEK0cMOklJ5k9vSH9RZ0kuWDmwuS-dxOBlPPB54gHlIHlW9c6z8ddh64YiEq7C58/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Don't forget to enter the other giveaways going on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 1</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_16.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 2</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_17.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 3</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_18.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 4</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_20.html?showComment=1416504386750#c9078173439398812760" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 5</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_21.html" target="_blank">Day 6</a></span></div>
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Today I want to talk about one of my favorite books of 2013. All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill. Why you may ask? Because I've recently joined Cristin's Street Team, and have nothing but love to share about this book! Seriously, if you want me to recommend you a original amazing YA book, this one is it! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kruG_FnAeoWru6Ysy05DD9avRHQGJSUMftlndFoL6LgS_QEILmwqbMlMrgq59m2llXZRMjacVHgb7zX_E7asksbPvXs5f-oA3QTWS70tGS9CmDVtT3XT8e2l472VdxUjghyphenhyphen9jSWmz7g/s1600/13514612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kruG_FnAeoWru6Ysy05DD9avRHQGJSUMftlndFoL6LgS_QEILmwqbMlMrgq59m2llXZRMjacVHgb7zX_E7asksbPvXs5f-oA3QTWS70tGS9CmDVtT3XT8e2l472VdxUjghyphenhyphen9jSWmz7g/s1600/13514612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">What would you change?</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Marina has loved her best friend, James, since they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it... at least, not as the girl she once was. Em and Marina are in a race against time that only one of them can win.</span><br />
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<em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">All Our Yesterdays</em><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Sounds amazing, right? It really is! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">One of the best reviews I've ever read was about this book, and no, it wasn't mine! My good friend, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3SEhxe_neQ7fuWAiY-PS4g" target="_blank">Jen @ Today In Jen's Library</a> wrote the most amazing review, and I am going to share it now! By the way, make sure you click on her name to check out her BookTube Channel!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Jen's Review:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Time travel done right. Finally! Thank you, Cristin Terrill! The cover flap of this book says ""All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice." Having just closed the cover, I couldn't agree more.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Time travel inevitably involves a complicated story that is difficult to follow. That is, unless an author sets simple rules and sticks to them. In this story, Terrill has done it expertly. One of her laws - the idea that time has a sentient quality - fixes many of the mistakes made by many storytellers. I also loved the idea that time is not linear as we understand it. What if it's really not? The way she explains paradoxes is brilliant. The bottom line is simply this: when we as readers know the rules the author has created and she doesn't break those rules, we can finally enjoy a great story that makes sense.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The tale is told from the viewpoints of Em and Marina. By alternating perspectives with each chapter, it is far more easy to keep track of what is present and what is past. Even when it starts to get really complicated - and it does near the end - it is not difficult to understand. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The plot is fairly straightforward. Isn't every time travel story about going back to fix things in the past? The thing that's unique about this particular story is that it's been done 14 times previously by the protagonist. Will she get it right this time? Well, that's the story. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Em is a gritty main character. She's been through torture, she's been on the run from authorities, she's been part of a rebel/terrorist organization and she's both escaped and been caught. She's been betrayed. She is determined and focused, and yet never seems to have lost her true heart or humanity. She is fiercely protective of Marina. She is somewhat of a study in contradiction, and that's what I liked about her. Every time I thought she was tough and heartless, she was overcome by her love and compassion.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Marina, on the other hand, is a spoiled rich girl who is shallow and a bit silly. These negative qualities can be attributed to her insecurity, though. She is at the same time loyal and loving, devoted to James. Mostly she is simply immature. But even at that, she is not unlikable. So much of today's society is full of teenagers just like her. On a list of the best of them, I'd at least put her at the top.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">James is a brilliant character, both in his personality and in the way he is written. Finn is charming and funny, practical and humble. The lesser characters (Richter, Nate, the Shaw family, Marina's parents and Finn's mother) are really just highlights. They serve the plot and are each distinct without drawing attention from the main points we really care about.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The action doesn't stop for a minute. The suspense kept me riveted enough to read the book in one sitting. The climax of the story is terrifying, shocking and complicated at the same time. I found myself shaking my head at the end, wondering exactly what happened, having to think it all through again to make sense of the paradoxical aspect of the events. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">This book is smart, and I like that. It's also not pretentious. It is heart-wrenching, scary and romantic. It may even be possible, and I think that is what may be, for me, its most attractive quality. I do love a story that just might happen. This isn't just a great story for time-travel lovers. Fans of dystopia and apocalypse will also enjoy those elements that it offers. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And the ultimate irony here is that virtually every novelist goes back and rewrites their book. Isn't that some version of time travel, rewriting the past? Well done, Cristin Terrill. Could you do it again please?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And NOW, let's give this puppy away!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">One winner will win a ebook of All Our Yesterdays from Amazon. 5 runner up winners will win some awesome All Our Yesterdays swag! This giveaway is international. Good Luck!</span></span></div>
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<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-88847589054205103202014-11-21T04:00:00.000-06:002014-11-21T04:00:06.386-06:004 year Blogoversary Celebration--Interview with Leigh Talbert Moore + Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget to enter the other giveaways going on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 1</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_16.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 2</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_17.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 3</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_18.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 4</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_20.html?showComment=1416504386750#c9078173439398812760" target="_blank">Day 5</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today on the blog I have one of my favorite Indie writers, Leigh Talbert Moore! Leigh is the author of one of my favorite contemporary series, Dragonfly!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>Welcome
to the blog Leigh! So happy you are here! To start off, why don't
you tell us about your latest project.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Hey,
girl! Thanks for having me here! My current project is BEHIND THE
STARS. It’s an action-adventure/paranormal romance set in the woods
of south Mississippi. I’m saying it’s like “Red Dawn” meets
“LOST” because of how it’s set up and what happens… or what
the characters think is happening. I finished it in 2011, and it went
to my literary agent at that time. After I became an indie author in
2012, I took it back, but I was in the middle of putting out the
Dragonfly series. So I held it until MOSAIC, the last book in that
series, was released in June. Now BEHIND THE STARS is ready to shine!
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Release
date for the novel is Dec. 31. I serialized it, so readers can start
reading it now if they want. The complete novel and all episodes are
currently available for pre-order, and “Captive,” (episode #1) is
FREE! So you can get a little taste and see if you like it. Yay!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>There's
been a lot of discussion in the book community the last few weeks
about negative reviews and how authors handle them. What are your
thoughts on this?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Negative
reviews are part of the process, even when authors think they’re
unfair or unfounded. When it happens to me, I vent to a trusted
friend and then go read the 1-star reviews on Harry Potter or one of
my most favorite books of all time. You can’t please everybody!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>What's
a typical day look like for you?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Get
up, get kids to school, sit down, check email, check Facebook, try
not to waste too much time on either. Write. Get kids, finish day,
write some more, sleep. Repeat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>What
made you decide to become a writer?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Well,
I’ve been a published writer since I was in my 20s. I started out
as a journalist. Then in 2009, I decided to try my hand at books, and
I wrote the Dragonfly series. The rest is history!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>What
books have you read in the past that were inspiring to you?
Especially when you were a kid?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
read inspiring books all the time, honestly. Some of my favorite
books as a kid were the Judy Blume books. When I was in college, I
was a huge Barbara Kingsolver fan. When I started writing books, I
really fell in love with Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti. Now that I’m
Indie, I get amazing books from FAB indie authors all the time. Too
many to name!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>I
just love all your book covers, especially your latest! How involved
are you on the creation of your book covers?</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Hey,
thanks so much! When I first started out, my super-talented
author-friend Jolene Perry did all my covers. She and I would chat
and look at stock art and put something together—usually she had
read the book as a beta reader, so that helped. Steven Novak did the
cover for BEHIND THE STARS, and honestly, the process was very
similar, except he hasn’t read the book. I described what the story
was about, and he came back with that amazing design. Steven’s
really great. (www.novakillustration.com).</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>Do
you have any unique talents or hobbies?</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Hmmm….
I don’t think so! LOL!</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>What
book have your read do you think should get more hype and
recognition than it does?</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">So
many great books sort of cruise by until they find the right
audience. I’m currently beta-reading the second season of the Debt
Collector series by Susan Kaye Quinn. It’s an amazing Urban Fantasy
series that everyone should read. Susan has the greatest imagination,
and she’s a fantastic writer.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>What
is your favorite “fan” moment?</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
met the Monkees once! It was very anti-climactic… >.<</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>What is one tip you could pass along to beginning writers?</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Just
keep writing. I used to say “just keep swimming,” which is
basically the same thing. Writing is an extraordinarily difficult
career path, but if you’re in it because you love to tell stories
and can’t imagine doing anything else, keep that goal in the front
of your mind.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i>What is the most important thing you've learned so far on your own
journey?</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Things
never happen in the time or in the way you think they should. Just
keep swimming. (LOL!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;"><i> Thanks so much for visiting us today Leigh! To wrap things up,
share one random fact about yourself.</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Hey,
you’re welcome! Random fact… I can cross my little toes without
touching them. Tah daah!!!!</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzOkM_WdvI2Ewa1CVXPKTyCJUdV6V0nn15TaSzkzeMF0DQJZ4Kr1X04fhQ0chMxy2TEM0TFPChs-z3MNbywKHNZXfuqiIa2CT63_bZlCQM7hzuHMHsZfvy11GD31ZKRtvkDJWTwxxp8A/s1600/6452152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzOkM_WdvI2Ewa1CVXPKTyCJUdV6V0nn15TaSzkzeMF0DQJZ4Kr1X04fhQ0chMxy2TEM0TFPChs-z3MNbywKHNZXfuqiIa2CT63_bZlCQM7hzuHMHsZfvy11GD31ZKRtvkDJWTwxxp8A/s1600/6452152.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>Leigh Talbert Moore</b> wrote her first graphic novel at the age of nine--about a lady scientist burned by acid. Sadly, the text of "Fury Woman" was lost, and Leigh's novelist aspirations went on hiatus. </span><br />
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">After working more than a decade in journalism, editing, marketing, and public relations, she began writing books again, and in 2009 completed <i>Dragonfly</i>. Today, Leigh is the author of several popular young adult and new adult novels, all with a strong romantic slant. </span><br />
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">She lives with her husband and two young children in the middle of the country, where she conjures new worlds, characters, and situations while playing chauffeur, chaperone, group activity leader, and referee. </span><br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And she's still trying to remember the plot of "Fury Woman"...</span></div>
<div style="color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; line-height: 33.5999984741211px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">And NOW, for the Giveaway!!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">One lucky winner will win a signed collector's copy of "Captive" the first serial in Behind the Stars! (US only)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9b6a37ee37/" id="rc-9b6a37ee37" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-82660088976069242762014-11-20T04:00:00.000-06:002014-11-20T04:00:06.009-06:004 year Blogoversary Celebration--Interview with Jodi Meadows + Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxU-Yl2vIqVx7rOXDMzvHJMKfXBGBZxmug9zifbQEHlrbILqmw6eRGozyYOFeXZ1pBaDQWxr79aoL7fyTtm0fuYocEIoGLX085S-zDAp8pBCzdeAaasK3gGmTliZ3bk_7J7eZEHGqgR0/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxU-Yl2vIqVx7rOXDMzvHJMKfXBGBZxmug9zifbQEHlrbILqmw6eRGozyYOFeXZ1pBaDQWxr79aoL7fyTtm0fuYocEIoGLX085S-zDAp8pBCzdeAaasK3gGmTliZ3bk_7J7eZEHGqgR0/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Don't forget to enter the other giveaways going on!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 1</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_16.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 2</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_17.html" style="color: #507c17; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Day 3</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_18.html" target="_blank">Day 4</a></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;">
Today on the blog I have Jodi Meadows, author of one of my favorite fantasy/dystopian series, The NewSoul Series, and author of soon to be coming The Orphan Queen! </div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33.5999984741211px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Welcome
to the blog Jodi! So happy you are here! To start off, why don't you
tell us about your latest project.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">My
next book coming out -- and the latest book that's <i>finished</i>
finished, as opposed to the books that are finished and being revised
until I get new gray hairs -- is THE ORPHAN QUEEN. It's the first in
a duology. Think YA Batman meets Game of Thrones, about an orphaned
princess fighting to reclaim her kingdom, set in a world where magic
isn't just illegal, but destroying everything. And the fact that she
has magic means she has to work extra hard to avoid the masked
vigilante who looooves to capture people like her.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>I
absolutely LOVED your New Soul Series, and fell in love with Ana and
Sam. Who is your favorite character that you've written?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Oh
gosh, I don't have a favorite at all! I love them all equally and I'm
proud of them all equally!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>What's
a typical day look like for you?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
don't really have typical days, I think. There's always a lot of
email (which sometimes I put off), maintenance of my social media
accounts (fun!), and of course writing. I used to write until I
crashed, but I've been trying to do better about stopping after a
reasonable amount of work has been completed.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>What
made you decide to become a writer?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I've
always been a storyteller and loved making things up. It wasn't until
seventh grade, though, that I realized writing could be a legitimate
job. My teacher read WAIT TILL HELEN COMES by Mary Downing Hahn to
the class. I don't know what it was about that book that switched my
brain like that, but it sure did it.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>What
books have you read in the past that were inspiring to you?
Especially when you were a kid?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Oh
tons of books! WAIT TILL HELEN COMES, as I mentioned, THE BLUE SWORD
and THE HERO AND THE CROWN by Robin McKinley. SABRIEL by Garth Nix.
WINTER OF FIRE by Sheryl Jordan. Others I will think of immediately
after sending this email.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>What
is your favorite thing about being a writer? What is your least
favorite?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">All
the things are my favorite. Except taxes. Taxes is my least favorite.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Do
you have any unique talents or hobbies?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">They're
certainly not unique, but I think they're interesting: I knit and
crochet, and I can spin my own yarn on both a spinning wheel and drop
spindles. I've also recently learned how to do calligraphy (for THE
ORPHAN QUEEN), so that's been fun!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>What
book have your read do you think should get more hype and
recognition than it does?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">One
of my favorites is DEFIANCE by C.J. Redwine. And lots of others. But
off the top of my head, that's it.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>If
you woke up to your house on fire, what is the one thing you would
grab and save if you had time? (And assuming all people and animals
were safe already)</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">My
computer. It has my books on it!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>What is one tip you could pass along to beginning writers?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Keep
writing. You're going to get rejections, and that's okay. Keep
writing anyway.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> <i>What is the most important thing you've learned so far on your own
journey?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Eyes
on your own paper.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i> Thanks so much for visiting us today Jodi! To wrap things up, share
one random fact about yourself.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Once
I knit a stuffed hedgehog. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 21px;"><i>Oh, I'd love to see that!</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 21px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Jodi Meadows lives and writes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, with her husband, a Kippy*, and an alarming number of ferrets. She is a confessed book addict, and has wanted to be a writer ever since she decided against becoming an astronaut. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy and the forthcoming ORPHAN QUEEN Duology (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen). Visit her at www.jodimeadows.com</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">*A Kippy is a cat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now, on to the Giveaway!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today's prize--a paperback copy of Asunder! (US only)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-58887647217711197222014-11-18T06:00:00.000-06:002014-11-18T08:09:32.966-06:004 Year Blogoversary Celebration + Interview with Rysa Walker + Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget to enter the other giveaways going on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_16.html" target="_blank">Day 2</a> <a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_17.html" target="_blank">Day 3</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today on the blog I have Rysa Walker, a very lovely lady that I had the pleasure of meeting at UtopYA in Nashville this last summer! Rysa is the author of the Chronos Files, with her latest release being Time's Edge (which I wholeheartedly recommend!)</span><br />
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">Welcome
to the blog Rysa! So happy you are here! To start off, why don't you
tell us about your latest project.</b><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.51in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.51in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I'm
currently working on the final book in the CHRONOS Files series,
still untitled. It's due out in September, so I need to be finishing
up the draft fairly soon. And I'm simultaneously hashing through the
plot for the second novella, which comes out in May, but because of
publishing schedules for the full-length books, that will actually be
written last. It will be from Prudence's perspective, and I have a
feeling it's going to be…shall we say </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>interesting</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">…to
write.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.51in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.51in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">What
do you think is the hardest part about writing time travel?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.51in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Keeping
everything straight is probably the hardest part. A close second
would be trying to explain things to people who take it rather
literally—or perhaps I should say linearly. I need to just point
them toward the little clip of the 10</span><sup><span style="font-size: 16pt;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
Doctor Who (played by David Tenant) where he describes the nature of
time. I remember watching that episode when I revising the first
version of </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Timebound</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">—back
when it was still </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Time's
Twisted Arrow</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">—and
screaming, "Yes! Yes! That's it. What he said!!!" I
wanted to reach into the TV and hug him, although admittedly that
wasn't the first time. #10 is definitely my favorite Doctor.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">What's
a typical day look like for you?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Get
up far too early and drive the kids off to school. Come back and
handle correspondence and social media until my brain is sufficiently
caffeinated to write. On a good day, I get in a few hours of writing
before the kids come in. Put on the headphones after they get home
and try to write a bit more before dinner or chauffeur duties to
soccer, piano, etc. Exercise. Maybe get another hour of writing in
before bedtime.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">In
my ideal universe, kids would go to school at night. I'm much more
creative in the wee hours of the morning. My kids are also
night-owls, so this whole up-before-dawn thing was clearly invented
by someone from a different species. I consider it an act of war,
but haven't been able to pinpoint who's behind it, so I'm reduced to
just shaking my fist feebly. Or home-schooling, but every time I
even think about that, I decide that the fist-shaking is a much wiser
response.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">What
made you decide to become a writer?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
don't think you decide to become a writer, or at least I didn't.
It's something you do because it's part of who you are. It's kind of
like being a reader. I never decided that—once I had the tools, it
was just part of my personality. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
did, however, make a decision to write </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>professionally</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">.
That was helped along tremendously by winning the Amazon
Breakthrough Novel Award. The grand prize was almost exactly what I
made in a year of teaching, so that was my cue to take a leave of
absence…which morphed into a leave of (hopefully) permanence.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>What
books have you read in the past that were inspiring to you?
</b></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>Especially when you
were a kid?</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">This
would be a very, very long list. When I was a kid, I literally read
whatever I got my hands on. My parents weren't really readers, so I
got a lot of books from one of my grandmothers—everything from
Louis L'Amour westerns to Barbara Cartland romances. I was always
drawn more toward speculative fiction, even as a kid, but I didn't
find most of the children's books in that genre until I was much
older due to an understocked library and the fact that my grandmother
wasn't into ghosts, demons, space aliens, and so forth. There were a
few exceptions—she did have a couple of romance books that included
time travel and those stick out in my memory. And the library had a
book called </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Bid Time
Return</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> by Richard
Matheson (repackaged later as Somewhere in Time). No one else got a
crack at that book for a very long time, because I kept rechecking it
until I got my own copy.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
encountered Tolkien's work as a teen, </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Watership
Down</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">, by Richard
Adams, and also Stephen King, Robert Heinlein, Madeleine L'Engle,
Douglas Adams.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">What
is your favorite moment in history?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">It's
more of an era than a moment. I geek out over pretty much anything
dealing with the Progressive Era, and also the Gilded Age. Things
were changing very rapidly—technology, social customs, politics—and
women were beginning to step into the public sphere in larger
numbers.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">Do
you have any unique talents or hobbies?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
play a mean game of Galaga and also Scrabble. I enjoy cooking, as
long as it's creative—let's just say that my creations can be hit
or miss. ;) I also know just enough Photoshop to be dangerous.
Family members don't trust me with their photos because I've been
known to be…creative. <insert evil="" grin=""></insert></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">What
book have you read that you think should get more hype and
recognition than it does?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">It's
definitely </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>not</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
YA, so I often avoid mentioning it in interviews, but Frank
Bardessono's </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>The
Kindness of Ravens</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
was excellent. On the YA front, I think Marie Lu's </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Legend</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
series is much better than many of the other dystopian series out
there, but it never quite reached the same height. And in terms of
indie authors, there are many, many that I'd love to see get a wider
audience. David Estes is one. I also just read the first book in an
excellent series by John Corwin, </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Sweet
Blood of Mine</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">, and
have added more of them to my Kindle. And there are others, but I'm
blanking right now. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">If
you were able to time travel yourself, where and when would you
visit?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">It's
no coincidence that Kate travels to the 1893 World's Fair and, in
this last book, to New York in the 1870s. Those are the first places
I'd go if I had a CHRONOS key.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">What
is one tip you could pass along to beginning writers?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Read
where you write. You can also flip that around: write where you
read. If you are going to write YA, you need to know the field.
I've spoken to two writers in the past year who read only literary
fiction. One is currently writing a paranormal romance and the other
is writing a YA sci-fi, because they feel that they'll stand a better
chance of "making it" than with literary fiction. That's
probably true—but if you don't enjoy the genre in which you're
writing, if you're just "slumming" in order to make a buck,
the readers can usually tell. If you only read literary fiction,
you probably need to stick to writing lit-fic. And if you don't read
YA by choice, you probably need to write for adults.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;">What
is the most important thing you've learned so far on your own
journey?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<b style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Trust
that little voice inside that pushes you forward. It's usually more
insightful than the dozens of voices pushing you back.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b> Thanks so much for visiting us today Rysa! To wrap things up, share
one random fact about yourself.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
am addicted to Inner Peas.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">People
look at me very strangely when I sweep my arm across the shelf and
pull *all the bags* into my cart. (In my defense, my two teen boys
will eat an entire bag in one sitting.) </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I'm
also addicted to chocolate and coffee, but I have multiple suppliers
for those addictions that fortunately do not necessitate a special
trip across town to Trader Joe's.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">RYSA WALKER grew up on a cattle ranch in the South. Her options for entertainment were talking to cows and reading books. On the rare occasion that she gained control of the television, she watched Star Trek and imagined living in the future, on distant planets, or at least in a town big enough to have a stop light.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Timebound, the first book in the CHRONOS Files series, was the Young Adult and Grand Prize winner in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. A CHRONOS Files novella, Time's Echo, is now available exclusively on Kindle, with an Audible version scheduled for release in early June. Time's Edge, the second book in the series, is scheduled for release in October of 2014.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">For updates, check her website: </span><a href="http://www.rysa.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">www.rysa.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">.</span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And NOW, for the giveaway!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">One lucky winner will win a signed copy of Timebound, Time's Edge, and an ecopy or audiobook of Time's Echo! (US only)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enter below and GOOD LUCK!</span></span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9b6a37ee35/" id="rc-9b6a37ee35" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-35173105172883183062014-11-17T07:00:00.000-06:002014-11-17T07:00:01.356-06:00What Are You Reading Monday 11/17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvKfu575L3r-oSR_W97cAHH-cuz7u4rXOETVNUqpWsl2V7PS_VtiD4Nnf7pFMAxEUBR1pE5pZHNS4b_fo3sHjQE9uwpovYp6XuSQMLwUm1pXFi5WCYlP3TYhTrm6vv9a-Fei8169fWQI/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvKfu575L3r-oSR_W97cAHH-cuz7u4rXOETVNUqpWsl2V7PS_VtiD4Nnf7pFMAxEUBR1pE5pZHNS4b_fo3sHjQE9uwpovYp6XuSQMLwUm1pXFi5WCYlP3TYhTrm6vv9a-Fei8169fWQI/s1600/31.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! This is a meme done by </span><a href="http://bookjourney.net/2012/08/12/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-151/" style="background-color: white; color: #507c17; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Book Journey</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">. This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b>What I Read Last Week</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5Hb0K-eZIVWxDKzgbdDasMXMvWBLBFbeMD4vM1ynWWCGrt-q5BsURegDC-uG_YzlGoTZRaTfk02IwvatoG_faYi5yw8qIbK3EY57yg8a3ApY5w6ke2AJkfb4FGR3MnRgZPPd4b99iVs/s1600/11408650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5Hb0K-eZIVWxDKzgbdDasMXMvWBLBFbeMD4vM1ynWWCGrt-q5BsURegDC-uG_YzlGoTZRaTfk02IwvatoG_faYi5yw8qIbK3EY57yg8a3ApY5w6ke2AJkfb4FGR3MnRgZPPd4b99iVs/s1600/11408650.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RMcLF5b6Ds5sL6zj0cEIoJ6rYdsOeXPKHkuZM29vj-J34v3TW_IwKCprq7H_iFGTyxu0bAN75DEOosg-CLfRyRDOZa6KOatWIpLfe0YbMjGkJTRzI6dPChV1jSaAOejOFCe2mGxCQok/s1600/12029129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RMcLF5b6Ds5sL6zj0cEIoJ6rYdsOeXPKHkuZM29vj-J34v3TW_IwKCprq7H_iFGTyxu0bAN75DEOosg-CLfRyRDOZa6KOatWIpLfe0YbMjGkJTRzI6dPChV1jSaAOejOFCe2mGxCQok/s1600/12029129.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsQqDP-6hjTZct_iG_T-r5kwED-er5eHZmWZarT2s4jNzH-CiKmdGir2xopyJMb0YexXP9iJ13WCKiSj1EdMax4NpAPiYt5U3iLuWZf0HYfKM7yvZTSpC5HEMzNYHflePOzFLABo9jy0/s1600/12246929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsQqDP-6hjTZct_iG_T-r5kwED-er5eHZmWZarT2s4jNzH-CiKmdGir2xopyJMb0YexXP9iJ13WCKiSj1EdMax4NpAPiYt5U3iLuWZf0HYfKM7yvZTSpC5HEMzNYHflePOzFLABo9jy0/s1600/12246929.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvxr4ma3B38szBgzPriSpXT2vBFpZ-hvPTaVXTZIcC224cV1TpA7b4axDAWjaSgaSajh0NCbUSRNaWY36pMkhrWGoMGoR3ZiMCyUGnibQF82SAu6U5cFdsnotHJ307jbnMbVWaCXNbv8/s1600/23016659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvxr4ma3B38szBgzPriSpXT2vBFpZ-hvPTaVXTZIcC224cV1TpA7b4axDAWjaSgaSajh0NCbUSRNaWY36pMkhrWGoMGoR3ZiMCyUGnibQF82SAu6U5cFdsnotHJ307jbnMbVWaCXNbv8/s1600/23016659.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Sea of Monters (The Graphic Novel) by Rick Riordan--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sparks Rise by Alexandra Bracken--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White--4 stars</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What I Am Reading Next Week</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPBWN-5t-qjVmKp_22ZUWMxoyNUmDJhRRC8mg2yAYvsc7XLBLVdhwpKdYvdpS3wGHJmm7iZt7JPPgycFkNIVIBm4_oicrxyTbXiCTh7MGJ1ihop-qUk7R_ehi0RC-9yhyphenhyphenROc93-DYJWI/s1600/tumblr_neizrht73N1rt31uwo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPBWN-5t-qjVmKp_22ZUWMxoyNUmDJhRRC8mg2yAYvsc7XLBLVdhwpKdYvdpS3wGHJmm7iZt7JPPgycFkNIVIBm4_oicrxyTbXiCTh7MGJ1ihop-qUk7R_ehi0RC-9yhyphenhyphenROc93-DYJWI/s1600/tumblr_neizrht73N1rt31uwo1_500.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'll keep planning on reading my TBR, although I might have an extra library book thrown in. I think I will be reading:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the Afterlight</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Born Wicked</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Timestorm</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sapphire Blue</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Behind the Stars</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Currently Reading</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBbIYbc-a056rFzd3htRZEIP4URWsTM4CzOj8AIEfAacyHgOnj7T8JW6tSZzPBwzKj4O2l4DS0EqL1C0lN__KGssA3vqyZbFDFdeJG1sqDoMqyyj8ZMNv3UUCxgH5FOW7yLsMeYzBLBs/s1600/16150831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBbIYbc-a056rFzd3htRZEIP4URWsTM4CzOj8AIEfAacyHgOnj7T8JW6tSZzPBwzKj4O2l4DS0EqL1C0lN__KGssA3vqyZbFDFdeJG1sqDoMqyyj8ZMNv3UUCxgH5FOW7yLsMeYzBLBs/s1600/16150831.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: Philosopher; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">Have a great week everyone!</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: museo-1, museo-2, 'Myriad Pro', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-81522489863258534332014-11-17T04:00:00.000-06:002014-11-17T04:00:11.234-06:004 Year Blogoversary Celebration--November Book Haul on BookTube + HUGE UtopYA 2014 Swag Pack Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-83Q9AheSF5pGwRt9z-nxWX7fxpYnkUFcErWCcbLvALieefwE9LIOLCRhdPSEs-WmqUd3jp6zqR22GXJVoAnV3w8RcQQXfhmMVUk8A7iMlwEzXS1CfiO7qoR_xPodt8iT9RVsHpL_Oc/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-83Q9AheSF5pGwRt9z-nxWX7fxpYnkUFcErWCcbLvALieefwE9LIOLCRhdPSEs-WmqUd3jp6zqR22GXJVoAnV3w8RcQQXfhmMVUk8A7iMlwEzXS1CfiO7qoR_xPodt8iT9RVsHpL_Oc/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have learned so much over the past 4 years, but one of the biggest and most challenging things is making and editing videos. I'm not really that tech saavy, although I do have a very techie hubby who helps me a lot! When I learned about BookTube, I had to get on board....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I started my own BookTube channel, Juliababyjen! Its been a lot of fun, and is a constant learning process! I love just sitting in front of the camera and talking about books, and watching everyone else's videos too! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've extended the channel over the last year to also include some of my artwork and art updates as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is my latest video, my November Book Haul! Enjoy! Don't forget to enter the giveaway below!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wtXeoAFo_Vc" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And NOW, for the GIVEAWAY!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today's prize: A HUGE swap pack from UTopYA 2014! This Giveaway is US only, but I do have a compensation prize of signed bookmarks if you win and you are International.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoNmWaNL40fAtf8P85l3C0_8YV5Mzr4tyb1eYzpfyCr8BmuuQMjVNkQOh5eW4lHe0P4Ba5pObS1JNXY396ODHsNfqmMFiDPUjjzuJDc-IFB6-STIwkTOUYCfmtKkHUO1dwUGVAF-2XYg/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoNmWaNL40fAtf8P85l3C0_8YV5Mzr4tyb1eYzpfyCr8BmuuQMjVNkQOh5eW4lHe0P4Ba5pObS1JNXY396ODHsNfqmMFiDPUjjzuJDc-IFB6-STIwkTOUYCfmtKkHUO1dwUGVAF-2XYg/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9b6a37ee34/" id="rc-9b6a37ee34" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't miss the other giveaways going on now!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration.html" target="_blank">Day 1 of Blogoversary Celebration--$20 Amazon GC Giveaway</a></span><br />
<a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration_16.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Day 2 of Blogoversary Celebration--David Estes Interview + Win A Signed Copy of Brew!</span></a>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-38666748891657451472014-11-16T01:00:00.000-06:002014-11-16T01:00:00.670-06:004 year Blogoversary Celebration--Interview with David Estes + GIVEAWAY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eM7X-qrEfxHS-KyuHlF8mIY1UZijW6Qu0MjYlPpP4c6cQWhPsTGKWN4CjBZGgvqDcWPxo5bjg0bS5LbXhvIqVop_ycOwHmmBoj8JqWEBmJovfU-TkZGuef9N2mqjNA0i4bERL39xDo4/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eM7X-qrEfxHS-KyuHlF8mIY1UZijW6Qu0MjYlPpP4c6cQWhPsTGKWN4CjBZGgvqDcWPxo5bjg0bS5LbXhvIqVop_ycOwHmmBoj8JqWEBmJovfU-TkZGuef9N2mqjNA0i4bERL39xDo4/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today I have David Estes, amazing YA author, on the blog! I can't imagine a celebration on my blog without David, one of my very good friends, AND one of my favorite writers! His newest book, <i>Brew, </i>recently released and it is brilliant!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Welcome to the blog, David! Tell us more about Brew!</i></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Thanks
so much for having me on your awesome blog, Jenny, and congrats on
your 4 year blogoversary, that’s a HUGE accomplishment!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">In
three words, I’d describe Brew as a book about </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>the
witch apocalypse</b></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">!
Basically, the history from the Salem Witch Trials repeats itself on
a much broader scale, leading to accused “witches” being executed
in modern times. As it turns out, some real witches are killed in the
process and they don’t like that too much, leading to a major
response that comes to be known as Salem’s Revenge, as the
magic-born (witches, warlocks, and wizards) take over the world. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">With
millions of humans killed off in less than 24 hours, the surviving
humans must attempt to survive in any way they can. One of them, a
teenaged book-blogging football player named Rhett Carter, becomes a
witch hunter under the masterful training of his neighbor, an ex-CIA
badass. Rhett’s ultimate goal is to become strong and tough enough
to kill the gang of witches he suspects murdered his best friend and
girlfriend.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Although
Brew is about survival, at the heart of the book is a message of
friendship and love, and the sacrifices we will make for those we
care the most about.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>If
you were a warlock and could choose a witch gang in Brew to join,
which one would you choose and why?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Awesome
question! As you point out, Brew is a little different than other
witch books as there are still groups of magic-born, but they’re
called gangs rather than covens. They are generally grouped together
based on magical specialty. For example, the group of corpse-raising
magic-born are called the Necromancer, or Necros. There are many
other gangs, from Changelings to Pyros to Sirens. However, if I had
to choose just one gang, I’d want to be a Clairvoyant. Their powers
are extremely powerful and they have an almost elf-like quality to
them. Also, they have the gift of eternal life in the form of
reincarnating after death, something that would be incredible! My
biggest fear about dying is not being able to see what will come
</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>AFTER</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
I’m gone. Reincarnating would allow me to see the world change over
the course of centuries!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>The cover of Brew is STUNNING. I know you had some input into it. How
did this cover come to be?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Thank
you so much, I’m so pleased you like it! My wife, Adele, and I come
up with the concepts for all of my covers, and then we rely on the
expert skill of my various cover artists to bring them to life.
Something I enjoy doing is portraying a scene from the book on the
cover, so that when readers get to that particular part they have an
“Aha!” moment and appreciate the cover even more. In this case,
there’s a scene with dead sunflowers, but then Rhett’s magical
dog, Hex, begins to bring the sunflowers back to life, one at a time.
That’s what the cover portrays. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The
cool thing is that I was inspired to write this scene when my wife
and I were traveling in Italy. We were near Siena and driving past
beautiful fields of sunflowers. It was late in the season, so many of
the fields were dead. We stopped at one to take pictures, and found a
single living sunflower amidst thousands of dead ones. The dead ones
looked like old men with sore backs, bending over, while the living
one was vibrant and full of energy, craning toward the sun. That true
life scene inspired me to write my fictional scene in Brew, which
later inspired the cover for the book.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>You
are given a magic wand that has 3 spells “built in” to it. What
3 things would you “fix” in our world to make it a better place?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Gah!
Why only three? It’s like the 3 wishes thing where you always want
to use your last wish for 3 more wishes. But I won’t cheat…much.
OK, first I’d want the wand to be able to create food from thin
air. That way I could use it to feed the hungry. It would still be a
major task to supply the food everywhere it’s needed, but I’d do
it. NO ONE should have to go hungry. A full belly would hopefully
inspire more people to turn their lives around and pull themselves
out of whatever rut they’re in. Oh, and this might be cheating, but
this would include pet food! There are way too many starving stray
animals around the world too, it’s heartbreaking!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Next
I would use my wand to remove all weapons from the world. Yeah,
angry, violent people would still try to hurt each other, but it
would make it a lot harder. Our world is way too violent. Although we
see it in the U.S., in other countries it’s far worse. People
shouldn’t be scared to go to sleep at night. People shouldn’t be
scared to walk down the road or go to vote. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Finally,
I’d use my last spell to cure all children’s diseases. This might
sound unfair to the adults, but children would be my priority. Every
child deserves the chance at a childhood. They should be out playing,
laughing, making up games, having fun, learning. Not stuck in a
hospital. Everyone should live to be at least eighteen. Although I’d
like to use my spell to cure all disease, I think that might be
pushing it a little!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>What
is the best compliment you've received? Ever?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Whoa,
this one is really tough. I’ll start with a close second place,
which is when a major editor at one of the big publishing imprints
said one of my books was really high quality and my best writing yet.
That meant a lot coming from someone with a high standard. It’s
been my goal from when I started writing to truly become a good
writer, not just an average one. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">However,
that compliment couldn’t top the compliment of my wife’s love.
She’s someone I respect more than anyone, and the fact that she
would love ME, is the best compliment in the world. She has high
standards and to think that I met them is unbelievable sometimes.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>I
know you love your readers and fans, and are a rock star when it
comes to how you interact with them. What has been your favorite fan
moment?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Aww
thanks! I’m not sure about the rock star part, I can barely carry a
tune and have been known to make instruments sound like dying
animals! But thank you for saying that! Hmm, my favorite fan
moment…this is also really hard! I’ve had a couple of my readers
send me videos, and even one who created a soundtrack to one of my
books, which was really cool. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">However,
I think my favorite moment of all was when one of my readers who was
unfortunately in the hospital with cancer, messaged me to tell me
that my books helped her get through her treatment. Gosh, I’m
tearing up just thinking about it. I can’t cure her cancer. I can’t
even be there to hold her hand and give her strength. But knowing
that my humble words and stories made even a small difference in her
ability to cope with an impossible situation? That’s success. That
makes all the hard work and self-doubt worthwhile.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Brew
is overall a very dark read, but has some great LOL moments! My
favorite line from Brew is one of them. What is your favorite quote
from Brew?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Ha!
I’m naturally the type of person who likes to laugh a lot. For me,
laughter is what makes life the best. So even though I do love drama
and horror and dark themes, I always have to infuse them with a bit
of humor. Although I’d say Rhett’s friend, Laney, has some of the
funniest lines, I’ll pull a scene from where Rhett and Laney come
across an old friend of Rhett’s a video-game playing, magical
weapons dealer named Tillman Huckle:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Password?”
a voice says from the right, where there’s a largish couch, a
loveseat, and a giant, plush recliner. There’s a flat screen TV on
in the corner. A soldier that looks at least part cyborg is blasting
away at what appear to be aliens with long, rubbery tentacles as feet
and arms. Tufts of unkempt brown hair sprout like grass over the top
of the recliner, and the sound of controls being mashed fills my
ears. </i></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>You
know it’s me, Huckle,” I say.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Password,”
he repeats, snorting out a laugh.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>I
lower my voice, hoping Laney and her sister won’t hear, and say, “I
like big butts and I cannot lie.”</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Tillman
doesn’t hold back, letting out a loud guffaw. </i></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Really?”
Laney says. “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">This
is one example of how I try to add laugh-out-loud humor into a dark
story filled with death and horror.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>What
has been your most extreme experience?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I’ve
been skydiving, which was definitely extreme. But that was nothing
compared to when my wife and I were attacked by monkeys in Thailand.
Let me tell you, it was freaking scary. A girl we didn’t know was
bitten on the arm, Adele had one of the monkeys smash her head into a
metal pole, another girl had her shoe break as we flew down steep
steps trying to escape. Somehow I escaped unscathed, but it was still
the most extreme experience I’ve ever had. Despite Adele’s
massive goose egg, she refused to let the monkeys stop us from trying
again, climbing the 1,000 steps to the top of the Tiger Temple. The
view was worth it!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>You
are an amazing author that basically came from nowhere to become a
very successful full time writer. What is the secret to your
success?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">*blushing*
You are too kind! I truly believe my journey is two parts hard work
and one part luck. There are no secrets to success as a writer.
Despite working a full time job and having very little free time, I
managed to write six books in 18 months, using my lunch break and
commute to churn out 2,000+ words per day. I wrote almost every day.
That’s how I got my start. The first five books haven’t really
sold many copies, but the sixth has sold ten thousand copies and the
subsequent sequels have done extremely well. Despite having spent
thousands of hours on the first five books only to watch them wallow
in the land of the unsold, I never gave up. I keep believing that
each new book I write will be my best book yet, and then I do my best
to make that belief true. I practice, practice, practice writing,
learning from my mistakes, taking on criticism without getting angry
(or at least as best as I can), and being inspired by the authors I
love. I respect each and every new reader (and old reader) that takes
a chance on one of my books, and I never take them for granted.
Without my readers, my dream of being a full time author could
disappear in an instant!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>What
is one thing you want your readers to take away from your books?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Feels!
I want my readers to feel things as they read. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Strong</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
feelings. Sadness when a favorite character doesn’t make it
through. Happiness when they do. Giddiness when characters reunite.
Spine-tingling suspense in the throes of the action. Laughter at the
humor. All of that. In essence, I want my readers to feel </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>life</i></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
coming through the pages of my books.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>You
are always working on some project or another. What's next?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Ha!
You know me too well. I don’t really take breaks, and when I finish
one project I immediately feel the itch to start the next one. Well,
firstly I have to finish writing/publishing the two new trilogies
that are in various stages of completeness. My witch apocalypse
series (Salem’s Revenge) has two books out (Brew and Boil) and I’ve
written the third and final book, Burn, which I’ll release in
January 2015. I’m also in the midst of my new YA SciFi dystopian
series, the Slip trilogy. The first two books, Slip and Grip, will be
released on December 1</span><sup><span style="font-size: 16pt;">st</span></sup><span style="font-size: 16pt;">
of this year. I still need to write the final book, Flip, which I
plan to release in the first quarter of 2015. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">After
that…well, I might just have another awesome project planned, which
will be a SciFi retelling of a fairytale. Sorry, that’s all I can
say at this point!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>It
has been awesome to have you on the blog again, David! To wrap this
up, share with us a random fact about you.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Thanks
so much! I’ve loved all your questions and I hope you and your
readers enjoyed my responses!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I’ll
leave you with this random fact: I’m so obsessed with Angry Birds
that every time one of them gets an update with new levels I have
trouble concentrating on anything else until I’ve managed to
achieve 3 stars on all the levels. *hangs head in shame* I think I
really need to go to the next ABAA (Angry Birds Addicts Anonymous)
meeting!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>LOL</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. David grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. They now live together in their dream location, Hawaii. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and started writing full time in June 2012. Now he travels the world writing with his wife, Adele. David's a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://juliababyjenreadingroom.blogspot.com/2014/11/4-year-blogoversary-celebration.html" target="_blank">Day 1--$20 Amazon GC Giveaway!</a></span>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095698337138137765.post-82814404491894129942014-11-15T00:54:00.001-06:002014-11-15T00:56:40.635-06:004 Year Blogoversary Celebration + $20 Amazon GC Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLn4Jyw5QxmIfl6fc87lUx1IEOrFVe6qTR787lE90PBKJE9cZESUSAC8x54RFOb0jLu2g3WX8ZzsdHjk5ZzTm2L_m4Wx2vnS9M8aH1Rlqn9WoY-TFzVvVWULNX2d6YCigEx9M4koeqOoo/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLn4Jyw5QxmIfl6fc87lUx1IEOrFVe6qTR787lE90PBKJE9cZESUSAC8x54RFOb0jLu2g3WX8ZzsdHjk5ZzTm2L_m4Wx2vnS9M8aH1Rlqn9WoY-TFzVvVWULNX2d6YCigEx9M4koeqOoo/s1600/5c28557df6a229e6041752ff977c88e4.jpg" height="400" width="287" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can't believe its been 4 years that I've been doing this blog! It really doesn't feel that long! I still learn stuff all the time, and am still improving (I hope!) as I go along!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I started my blog, I really just wanted to talk about books. I was brimming with thoughts and ideas whenever I'd finish a book, and really had no one to talk with about it! I thought this would be a good outlet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had absolutely no idea what I was doing when I started. My first blog design was pretty Plain Jane, and my first book review was pretty rough! Over the years, I've improved both. I've also added so many things to the experience! I've learned about blog blasts and blog tours, learned how to do author interviews, learned a ton about social media, learned how to make and edit videos, attended a book convention and am now on 3 different author street teams! I've made some amazing friends, hosted a few readathons, and had margaritas with a famous author! If you would have told me 4 years ago that I'd be doing these things I wouldn't believe you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To celebrate 4 fantastical years, I'm doing a week's worth of features and giveaways! Make sure you check back every day this week to be entered in them all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To start with, I thought I'd give away something we all want--a gift card! I thought it would be fun to give you all the chance to get to know me better. So, to be entered in this giveaway you have to ask me a question below. Whatever you want (within reason!) At the end of the week, I'll answer all your questions! Or try to anyways! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have fun and good luck!</span><br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9b6a37ee32/" id="rc-9b6a37ee32" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>juliababyjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637576108745217125noreply@blogger.com19