99 Followers Giveaway!

 I have reached 99 GFC followers! So I decided to celebrate by hosting my first giveaway!

The winner can pick one of these two prizes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules: 

.US only, sorry! But the shipping anywhere 

else is just too expensive for now. 

.You must be over 13

. No cheating please

Newbie Blogger Diaries #3

This post will be about books-for-review. I will explain my methods (which aren't exactly the work of a mastermind, but, oh well) and then I will explain other ways!

Since I am not exactly famously renown in the book blogosphere, I don't get a lot of books and ARCS flying through my bedroom window every night.

So, I get my books-to-review mostly from

1. Self published authors
2. Goodreads

A couple times a month I have a some self published authors find me. Still not sure how, but they do. And I am always happy when the book they are asking me to review looks like it will be my type of read. Of course, normally I get them in a e-book style. Only the top bloggers will get the certain book as a print ARC or finished copy. I am always happy when I find a self published novel I love. (Thank you all the authors that have contacted me!)

Goodreads is another place I get books to review. Sometimes I join groups that can sign up for e-arcs or  e-books. In these cases sometimes you actually get to contact the author! Also, First Reads (giveaways) is on Goodreads. All you do is enter the giveaway and see if win!

Other ways (that I don't normally do) to get books for review

1. Netgalley and Edelweiss 
2. Publishers
3. Blog Tours

Netgalley and Edelweiss are sites where you can sign up for e-arcs to review. I don't know why this never appealed to me, it just didn't. However, I know they 99% of the book blogoshere loves the sites. I don't know much except that 1) you can get lot of books, if some of the Stacking the Shelves I've seen are indicators. 2) You request the e-arcs and sometimes you get rejecected, and other time you don't. If anyone with more expertise has anything more to add please do in the comments! Thanks. 

Publishers. Well, blogs with happy statistics can get paperback ARCs from publishers. Maybe one day I will try contacting a publisher, but I am at least waiting a couple more months. ARCs are expensive to print so publishers give them only to people with blogs that are sure to be seen!

Blog tours. So far I have only participated in one. Basically, you post a review or promotional post on your assigned day. Sometimes you get the book to review and sometimes you don't.

And Remember

1. You don't need to get review books to have an awesome blog!!!
2. Be patient and BE HAPPY :)

Newbie book blogger vocab quickie:

ARCs- Advanced Reader Copies. Normally handed out to well known bookish people before the release date of final copy

Blog Tours- A book that is posted about on a schedule. They are scheduled by a blog tour site

How do you feel about books-for-review? Do you get them or are happy without? If you do receive them, what method do you use/prefer?

Stacking the Shelves #3

Visit Tynga's Reviews!

Well, I didn't get a bunch this week. But I did get some really exciting books!

Bought

For Review

I am looking forward to reading each of these books. In fact, I have already read Cry Devil. I loved the Selection, so I am especially looking forward to the Elite. And The Samantha Project just looks really interesting!

So what did you get this week? Leave me a link!!!

My first giveaway! *squee*

And don't forget to check out:



Newbie Blogger Diaries #1
Newbie Blogger Diaries #2
Newbie Blogger Diaries #3

Feature and Follow Friday

Q: Is there a song that reminds you of a book? Or vice versa? What is the song & the book?

Song: I'm Coming After You
Book: Poison by Bridget Zinn

I don't know why I think of these two together, some lyrics match up but most doesn't. I just felt like the tune and beat fit this funny, fast read perfectly! I will never listen to this song without thinking "Poison"! Also, both girls are on the run. And sound very feisty.

Now, tell me what you think. Link me up!

Little note: I am now on Bloglovin!

Review: Also Known As

Also Known As

 by Robin Benway

Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.


Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.

Robin Benway certainly does not disappoint in this laugh-out-loud adventure! I believe I loved Audrey, Wait! a tiny smidgen more, but then again I didn't expect AKA to outshine one of my favorite contemporaries.

This book is slightly similar to the Gallagher Girls series, although not really. Okay, maybe I'll back myself up and make more sense. The "spies" and tone are very similiar. Except the plot is totally different and a little more sophisticated. I think I may have liked it more than Gallagher Girls... and that is saying something. (Little Note: If you haven't read Gallagher Girls, you should!)

The characters are really sweet. And super funny. Not just Maggie (Who was amazing) but also her friends and family. I loved how each character had such a memoable personality.

This book was ridiculous. I mean this in a good way. Maggie is just plain quirky! I am so happy she wasn't another predictable, overused YA character. Also, some of the past spy expeditions Maggie mentions are pretty funny/ridiculous.

The synopsis mentions a lot about "Private School". I think this is bringing the focus off what most of the book is about. I mean I LOVED Maggie's experiences there. But, mostly, AKA is about making friends, afore mentioned ridiculous conversations, and learning what it means to be a spy!

Such a funny read!
4/5 bookcases

Waiting on Wednesday #6

hosted by Breaking the Spine

This Week I am Waiting On... 

Gated by Amy Christine Parker

Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?

In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:

Pioneer is her leader.

Will is her Intended.

The end of the world is near.

Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.


Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands

Doesn't this sound so interesting? I need it now...
What are you waiting on this week?

Review: Cry Devil

Cry Devil by V.S. Ware

You are one half of a set of twins, identical from the crystal blue of your eyes right down to the deep black ink of the dream catcher tattoos at the nape of your necks. That is, until you move with your sister to the idyllic and lavish island of Vitoria. Your sister is swiftly swept up in the destructive behavior of a wild and charismatic tight-knit group of teens on the island- wading neck deep into the dark end of the popular pool. She changes over night, her blonde hair dyed lilac and lungs freshly filled with the sweet poison of cigarette smoke.

And before you know it, you’re swept up too.

There is a book without a name. . A girl burns alive and a secret binds the six of you in silence. That’s only the beginning.

But before all of that, you wake from a coma induced by a life-shattering car accident that took your father’s life and almost took yours. You know when you wake that your life will never be the same, that the darkness of the coma will hardly compare to the darkness that now surrounds your broken family. But you’ll never guess just how dark it will get… or how deadly.

So before supper, say your Grace. It might be your last.

Wow. I just finished Cry Devil (like literally 30 seconds ago)... and wow. This book was amazingly written. Although I am pretty sure not a single good thing happened throughout the whole novel... And it is not my normal type of genre. It is very addicting though!

The characters all seemed very broken, and a couple I still don't what's going on with them. I am pretty sure there is a lot happening that we don't know about yet. *cough*magic or something*cough*

This is a really hard review to write. It has been a while since a book has made my heart pound like this. Really. This book will definitely evoke feeling. Also there is that killer cliffhanger ending. There better be a second book...

The poor main character! She just does not get a break. I mean at the beginning her dad dies and it just goes from there. Another great aspect of this book was the narration. Instead of "I" or "Grace", the author uses "you". This type of unique narration really sucked me into Graces world.

The dialogue between characters flows incredibly well. In fact, the writing is flawless. Grace is very believable and the world she is in is vivid.

In this book there is the subject of Christianity. I do not know how it will come into play in the second book. It did add layers of suspense to the book.

All in all, this book was startling different and haunting. A total killer of a read! I would recommend it to older teens searching for a heart gripping read.

I do not know if the description does justice to the book. I think this book is more focused on Grace and the accident with her Dad than anything else.

Wow, this has been the hardest book to rate. It was so unique though!

4.8/5 bookcases
I'm still not sure on this rating! So conflicted... this is a really high rating for me.

*Received for free in exchange for an honest review*