Sunday 29 July 2012

Blogger Book Fair Reader's Choice Awards WINNERS

1st annual Blogger Book Fair

All’s Fair in Blogs and More!

Hosted by Paranormal Lounge

Thank you to all who participated in the Reader's Choice Awards! This has been a lot of fun, and I am definitely looking forward to participating again next year!




Here is the winner this for this year's awards:
Young Adult
What Kills Me by Wynne Channing

New Adult
The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton

Fantasy - TIE!
Flight of Blue: Keys Chronicles by A.E. Howard
Lichgates: Book One of the Grimoire Trilogy by S.M. Boyce

 Urban Fantasy
Vaempires: Revolution by Thomas Winship

Thriller
Underneath by Michael Cargill

PNR – TIE!
Five: Book One of the Elemental Enmity Series by Christie Rich
Sweet Blood of Mine: Book One of the Overworld Chronicles by John Corwin

 Horror
The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar by Steven Katriel

 Short Story
Not the Norm by Becca J. Campbell

Humor
Into You by Riley J. Ford

Sci-Fi
Foreign Identity by Becca J. Campbell

Romance
The Heaven I Found in Hell by Ashley Andrews

Paranormal
The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton


 

Friday 27 July 2012

Author Interview with Amanda Nuri

I'd like to welcome Amanda Nuri to our blog today! 

Read on to find out more about Amanda's debut book, Emerald Butterfly.


Title:  Emerald Butterfly

Author:  Amanda Nuri

Length:  278 pages

Published:  July 2012

Genre:  YA

Available:  Lulu

Samantha Clearwater is just fitting into her new life in Del Mar, California. After the numerous times she’d moved in the past, all she wants is a normal senior year…until she meets Nathan West. Samantha can’t help but fall for him the moment she lays her eyes on his. But Nathan isn’t everything he seems. When unexplainable incidents creep into Samantha’s life, nearly taking it, Nathan admits the scary truth. Samantha is a Universal, someone with incredibly amazing, supernatural powers. As she discovers and learns to control them, Samantha becomes aware of two opposing forces, the Dark and the Light. They each want her on their side, and they’ll do whatever it takes for her to join. When she refuses, she’s kidnapped, tortured, and brain washed until she’s forced to take sides. Now, Samantha must fight to save herself and humanity.

Emerald Butterfly is a gripping tale where romance meets the supernatural, leaving readers of all ages falling in love with the Universal world and its passionate characters.

Click HERE to add Emerald Butterfly to your Goodreads shelf!






How old were you when you began writing? What inspired you?
I started writing when I was 9 years old; so writing has been a passionate part of my life for a good 7 years now. As for my inspirations, there is no doubt that it all comes from God.

Is there someone in your life who inspired you to write? Was there another author or a teacher who encouraged you?
My 3rd grade teacher inspired me to write and in turn I dedicated my book to her! She just had this love for reading that she shared and a way of narrating books aloud to us that has stuck with me over all these years. She read books like Inkheart by Cornelia Funke and the Overlander Chronicles by Suzanne Collins, one of many authors who have inspired me.

Tell us a little about Emerald Butterfly.
Emerald Butterfly is the first in a trilogy about a girl who holds promise to a dying world. As Samantha Clearwater discovers her true identity and purpose, her ordinary life reveals the spiritual warfare that undermines humanity. Chaos unfolds in her life as the forces of good and evil fight to possess her and her powers.


What is your main character, Samantha, like?
Samantha (AKA Sam) is living on her own during her senior year of high school. She’s pure-hearted, smart, and attractive but her flaws of being somewhat oversensitive and curious can be her own stumbling block. Although Sam is confident in what she wants; she is not easily swayed when it comes to standing up for her beliefs.

Where do you hope to see yourself in the next five years?
Oh, dear. I hope to see myself…being well-known and having a successful writing and acting career!

Do you have any hidden talents?
Um…yeah! I play basketball, guitar & piano. I paint, bake cakes, sew, sing, dance, and act. I love the arts!

What's on your iPod? 
Paper Route, Gotye, and Ellie Goulding! I enjoy discovering new artists and, at times, just listening to good, old-fashioned tunes.

What book are you reading now?
I’m bouncing back and forth between my brand new copies of Vampirates: The Immortal War by Justin Somper and Beautiful Creatures.


Thanks for stopping by today Amanda!  You can find out more about Amanda and her book at any of these places:
Author Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/AmandaNuri

Book Facebook page:  
https://www.facebook.com/emeraldbutterflybook

Twitter Page: 
https://twitter.com/#!/Emeraldbuterfly

Website: https://www.sites.google.com/site/emeraldbutterflybook/

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Blogger Book Fair Reader's Choice Awards

1st annual Blogger Book Fair

All’s Fair in Blogs and More!

July 26th through July 29th

Hosted by
Paranormal Lounge




Welcome to the Reader's Choice Awards!  This is where anyone can vote on their favorite book in a genre category.   All participating authors have been entered in at least one category, provided their work had already been published, and each category has at least 3 books and two authors competing.   The winning author/book in each category will receive a web badge and will be featured on the new Blogger Book Fair site once it's up and running.  The voting goes throughout the July 28, and winners will be announced the last day of the fair, July 29. 

____________________

Here's how it works:
There are 12 categories of genres. 
Vote for your favorite book from each genre, one vote per category. 
The more the merrier, so invite your friends!


Young Adult

New Adult


Fantasy

Correction:  Lichgates: Book One of the Grimoire Trilogy by S.M. Boyce is spelled wrong in the poll...this is the correct spelling!
Urban Fantasy


Thriller


Paranormal


Romance


Sci-Fi


Humor


Short Story


Horror


Paranormal Romance

Polls created by: http://pollwidget.org/

Thanks for stopping by and voting!
____________________

Here is the complete list of Book Fair participating blogs:

http://aehowardwrites.com/blog
http://wayfaringartist.com
http://darkobsessionchronicles.blogspot.com/
www.anaccidentaldad.com
http://www.ashleyandrewsblog.com
http://brandonrluffman.wordpress.com/
http://www.christigoddard.com/
http://christierich.blogspot.com
www.dhr2believe.net
http://www.djkirk.net/particular-stones-blog.html
http://jennifermbarry.com/
www.katelutter.blogspot.com
http://melissadouthit.com/
http://lit-dark-prince.blogspot.com/
www.beccahamiltonbooks.com/blog
http://alifeamongthepages.wordpress.com/
http://blog.smboyce.com/
www.vaempires.com/blog
http://valeriekingbooks.com/
http://wendysrusso.com
http://wynnechanning.wordpress.com/
www.brooklynjamesblog.blogspot.com
http://cindyyoungturner.com/blog/
http://louanncarrollbooks.weebly.com/blog.html
http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #2: Seduced in the Dark by C.J. Roberts



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



My next eagerly anticipated book is:





 Seduced in the Dark (The Dark Duet #2)

Author: CJ Roberts

Publication Date: September 1, 2012

 Genre: Adult Fiction, Erotica


I read the first book in The Dark Duet in June and have been very impatiently awaiting the sequel. You can find my review for
Captive in the Dark (The Dark Duet #1) on Goodreads.



What's your "waiting on" pick this week? Find out how you can participate HERE!

Teaser Tuesday #2


Title: The Scorpio Races

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: YA Fantasy

Published: October 2011

Available From:  Amazon and Barnes & Noble











"There are too many people on horseback today trying to prove themselves, trying to prepare, trying to get faster. They haven't discovered yet that it's not the fastest who make it to race day.
You only have to be the fastest of those who are left."


Location 1501-1503 (Kindle edition), page 101





Teaser Tuesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Should Be Reading where you share two (2) “teaser” sentences from your current read to try to entice others to want to seek it out.  Find out how you can participate Here!

Monday 23 July 2012

Book Fair Contest Instructions

Blogger Book Fair 2012

July 26th through July 29th

All’s Fair in Blogs and More!


Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Welcome to the Shut Up & Read blog!

We are proud to be hosting the book category contest. 
Here's how it will work:

1. Each book will be listed by categories according to the information given by the author.

2. Anyone and everyone can stop by the Shut Up & Read blog between July 26 and July 28 and vote via blog poll for their favorite book. You can vote for one book from each of the 12 categories.

3. Votes will be tallied and winner for each category announced on the last day of the book fair, July 29.

4. Category winners will receive a book fair winner web badge to proudly display on their blog.

Here are the book categories:
Young Adult
New Adult
Fantasy
Urban Fantasy
Thriller
Paranormal
Paranormal Romance
Romance
Sci-Fi
Humor
Short Story
Horror

So stop back by our blog on the 26th to vote! And don't forget to tell your friends!












Think Out Loud #2


What is Think Out Loud?

Think Out Loud is a weekly meme created by
Thinks Books to break out of the blogging bubble. Consider your Think Out Loud posts a time to do WHATEVER YOU WANT!

You can find more information and how to participate on your blog
HERE!

So, here is my Think Out Loud for this week!


 
Tulips are one of my favorite flowers.

Sunday 22 July 2012

Determinant by A.M. Hargrove Blog Tour

Welcome to our stop on the Determinant blog tour!

Have we got a treat for you today...you're going to be glad you stopped by!

Oh, and don't forget to enter the wondrously fabulously awesome giveaway from A.M.!

Rafflecopter below for a chance to win an ebook of Resurrection or Determinant, or a Kindle Touch!


But first, the book
January St. Davis, on her own since the age of sixteen and struggling to stay in college, thinks she’s scored in a major way when she lands a paid summer internship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. One evening, after working an especially long shift, a chance encounter with a group of mysterious men alters the course of her life.

Rykerian Yarrister, a Guardian of Vesturon with unearthly powers and impossibly gorgeous looks, finds himself at odds over the human female he recently saved from certain death. When it seems he is on the verge of winning her over, she is ripped from his hands by a strange and powerful being, threatening to destroy her if his demands are not met.

Do Rykerian and the Guardians have the ability to meet this fierce barbarian’s ultimatums, or will January suffer a horrid demise?

NOTE:  Although Determinant is book 3 in the series, it can be read as a stand alone.  The same characters we loved from Survival and Resurrection are back, but the story is done so you won't be completely lost if you haven't read them first.  However, I recommend that you do!


And now, the fun
Let me introduce you to the Guardians of Vesuron! 

Now remember, these are MY versions/pictures of what I think they look like.  But, I think I did a pretty good job of picking them out, if I do say so myself...

I'd love to hear what you think, so leave a comment letting me know what you think of my choices!

RYKERIAN

Since Rykerian is one of the MCs in Determinant, we'll meet him first. Rykerian is, in the words of A.M. Hargrove, elegant sophistication. His look is always polished, no matter the circumstances, like a model from the pages of GQ. Rykerian never has a hair out of place, and his hair is incomparable. It is a rainbow of hues of bronze, red, blonde, and every color in between. It is truly magnificent and never fails to escape anyone's attention. Add to that his vivid blue eyes, and he summons instant female attraction. Rykerian is comparable to his mother in looks. I also heard he has a soft spot for chocolate chip cookies.




RAYN

Next up is Rayn,  MC of Survival and Resurrection.  Where Rykerian is comparable to their mother, Rayne is comparable to their father in looks.  He is the oldest of the siblings (four younger brothers, one younger sister), and set to be next in line as leader of the Guardians.  Rayn is described as having green eyes and black wavy hair. 



THERRON

Therron stands about six feet four, has shaggy brown hair and green eyes, and an overall rough-around-the edges look.  He has impeccable manners and is exceedingly easy going, but when he enters a room, the sheer size of him turns heads – he commands attention.  His shabbiness makes you want to take him and straighten up everything about him.  Therron is second in command, so to speak, and would take over if Rayn were ever unable to perform his duties as leader.



TESSLAR

Tesslar is dark haired and blue eyed.  He is slimmer than the other Guardians, not as muscular, but don't let that fool you.  He has a devilish appearance to him, as if any moment he would spring a trick on you.  Tesslar is the motorcycle lover in the family. 


XARRID
Xarrid is the youngest brother.  He is tall, dark and handsome.  He has blue eyes, and his long wavy hair gives him a wild, unkempt look. Unlike the rest of the family, Xarrid doesn't care for sports cars much, so he usually drives a Range Rover or Escalade. 



SHARRA

Sharra , the lone sister, has an attraction for vampires.  She is five feet nine, slender, with straight black hair and blue eyes.  She is beauty of the family but has an unusual knack for slaughtering American slang.  She has a commanding personality. 



And last but not least, I figured we'd better introduce the leading ladies as well.  I don't want the Guardians think I'm playing favorites...


MADDIE



JANUARY



Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you feel like you got to know the Guardians just a little better.  After all, they are here on Earth to protect regular people like you and me!

 

Book Links
The Guardians of Vesturon is available from the following retailers:
Amazon ebook:
http://amzn.to/I5RCcQ
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/JwH3yf

Stalk A.M. and tell her how much you love her books!
Blog:
http://www.amhargrove.blogspot.com