Readers' Favorite

October 13, 2012

Great Story: Kiss

Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy
audiobook, Narrated by Pam Turlow
Published January 2009 by Oasis Audio
ISBN13: 9781598595130
Listened October 2012
Goodreads, IndieBound, Amazon

I saw this book listed at the digital library maybe a year ago. Though I'm a huge Ted Dekker fan, I hadn't hear of this one. It sounded so different from the books he writes now I wondered if it was the same Ted Dekker. I finally decided to put Kiss on my holds list and got it last week.

It is totally different than the books Ted Dekker is writing these days. So different that I'm not quite convinced they are the same person. 

Kiss reminded me a lot of Before I Go To Sleep (see my review). Shauna awakens from a six week coma with no memory of the last four or five months. Was it the result of the car accident, though she sustained no brain injury? And was the car accident an accident or a carefully orchestrated attempt to keep her from exposing what she knows? Oh and while we are on questions - what are those experimental meds she has been taking?

While a couple of characters are definitely not who they claim to be. There are a few characters that who won't be so sure about. What is their role in the whole plot? Who can Shauna trust? The entire story is a game of cat and mouse and Shauna is determined to become the cat.

From the opening lines, Kiss captivated me. A little more straightforward in its Christian overtones than Dekker's later work, it is not preachy. God and faith is mentioned more as a means of peace for the main character - remembering a saying from her mother when in particularly stressful situations. The suspense/thrill ride is definitely center stage.

There is mention of human trafficking, though not really a major plot theme in the book. I have to wonder if this was the beginning of the awareness being raised. Now there are number of authors who have taken up human trafficking as a main plot device.

If you haven't read Kiss I recommend picking it up. It was a quick listen full of suspense with a few moments of thrill. If have tried Dekker's later works and find yourself confused or drowning in the multi-layers of meaning, don't worry Kiss is as straight forward as any suspenseful mystery can be. 


Girl Who Reads is an advertising affiliate with Amazon and IndieBound; a small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above links.
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Sayings & Quotes #2


October 12, 2012

FlashFiveFriday: Dog


Charlie - who is terrified of cameras
I'm the featured "Flasher" over at The Indie Exchange today where I introduce you to my precious Charlie.

I have been wracking my brain all week to think of books about dogs. But as I mentioned in my World Animal Day post, I tend to shy away from books about animals. I came up with three books that I've read since I started blogging that a dog played an important role.

I read the children's book Buddy's Tail by K. Anne Russell (see my review). It wasn't too sad. There is a bit of saddness - my niece tried to read it and thought it was too sad.

Schatz - my Jack Russell Terror
The other two is part of a series: Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman (see my review) and Further Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman (see my review), both books are by J. B. Lynn. I talked a lot about the second book on World Animal Day because the dog has a much bigger role in the second book.

So those are my dog books. But when trying to think of titles, mostly I came up with TV or movies. I loved watching Lassie and have watched some Clifford the Big Red Dog. Old Yeller was very sad, but I think I watched it every time it came on TV (Benji movies were the same way - I wanted a Benji dog). Maybe I just don't become as attached to animals that I see on the screen as I do on the page.

What dog books have you read/enjoyed?


#FlashFiveFriday is a weekly flash fiction / flash blogging prompt

The rules are very simple if you’d like to take part:
1) Write for no longer than five minutes
2) No upper or lower word limits
3) You must write something new
4) You can prepare your post ahead of time but the 5 minute limit still applies
5) If you add your blog post to the weekly linky you must visit five other blogs that week too to show your support
 See more Flash Five Friday posts here.

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Friday Fun with Karen Pokras Toz




Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Leave a comment with which character you got!
 
Check out the rest of the Millicent Marie Tour with Karen Pokras Toz: full schedule.

Also, enter to win the Grand Prize of a Millicent Marie Swag Bag, tote bag, mug & $20 Amazon Gift Card.

  
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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October 11, 2012

Now Showing: Puppies for Sale: $25



Find Puppies for Sale: $25 by Rosalie A. Pope at Goodreads, IndieBound, and Amazon.

Watch more videos here.


Book Trailers are a free feature. All videos are provided by the author who has granted Girl Who Reads permission to feature them on this blog. Girl Who Reads is an advertising affiliate with Amazon and IndieBound; a small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above links.

Tips on Thursday: Online Platform by S. R. Johannes (guest post)

An online platform is necessary for authors and bloggers as a way to establish our brand on the internet. I've asked author and marketer S. R. Johannes to share some tips on getting started. She is currently on tour for the launch of her young adult thriller Uncontrollable.

A platform is an identity - how you present yourself to the world. Kind of like an online business card. Everything that goes out represents you in a cohesive way – your blog, web site etc. It should be concise and connected.

From a marketing perspective, make sure you project the right image and can be found easily. The worst thing is creating a platform that is not you. People will see right through it. So get to know yourself and identify what you want to project and what kind of writer you are – before you start creating a platform.

Building a platform is really just the art of getting known, liked and trusted, in the hopes of inspiring action.  There’s a few ways to do this:

  • Get a web presence.
  • Network – which means build long lasting and trust worthy relationships not spamming.
  • Start now – before you get published – so people start to learn about who you are and what you do.
  • Be clear - Identify your brand - what kind of writer you want to be and how you want to be seen by others
  • Get a PROFESSIONAL web site!
  • Get a professional-looking business card made – it’s worth the money. Now you can get them done online for a great price.
  • Join the social networks that work for you and that help you reach the audience you want to reach
  • Comment on other blogs, especially ones that you like or new ones.
  • Always include your blog in signatures and on business cards.

Don’t forget to have fun!

  • Play with your web site – don’t be afraid of it.
  • Make connections in a genuine way
  • Only do things you like to do (blog, twitter etc) – It’s not fun if you hate it.
  • Building a platform takes time. It does not happen overnight. So don’t pressure yourself. Start now and it will grow over time.


S.R. Johannes is the author of Amazon bestselling Untraceable (a teen wilderness thriller) and new tween paranormal, On The Bright Side. She has published short novelettes as well as a teen romance anthology with 16 other authors titled, In His Eyes. Uncontrollable, the sequel to Untraceable, is scheduled for Fall 2012.
S.R. Johannes was recently nominated in the YA category as Georgia Author of the Year. She is also the 2012 winner of the IndieReader Discovery Awards for young adult.

She lives in Atlanta Georgia with her dog, British-­‐accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes-­‐someday-­‐ will
change the world.

After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-­‐flops, and her love of writing.
Connect with the Author:

Website: http://www.srjohannes.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/srjohannes
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/srjohannes/
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/srjohannesauthor
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes 

The views, beliefs, and opinions expressed by guest post authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs, or opinions of Girl Who Reads.

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October 10, 2012

Millicent Marie Tour with Karen Pokras Toz

Millicent Marie is Not My Name

Twelve-year-old Millicent Marie does not like her name. After all, she was named for a woman who died more than fifty years ago and was not the most loveable member of the Harris family. Her friends call her Millie, but when she writes in her diary she refers to herself as Amanda – the name she always wished she had.

When Millie’s younger brother finds her diary on her computer, he decides to publish it as a blog for the entire world to see, including the boy Millie has a crush on. In the midst of all the mayhem, Millie/Amanda discovers she is suddenly Springside Elementary’s most sought after sixth-grade mystery gossip and advice columnist.

But not all is fun and games, as Millie quickly learns, once she realizes feelings are at stake. Nobody, least of all Millie, expects things to turn out as they do in this tale of friendship and respect.
Paperback & ebook
Published October 11, 2012 by Grand Daisy Press
ISBN13: 9780984860852 (paperback) 


Which Character Are You?

Take the quiz to discover if you are Millie, Doogle, Natalie, Haylee, or Jordan. 

Join the Twitter Party!

Chat with award winning children's author Karen Pokras Toz throughout the day on OCT 11. 30 minute chats will start at 10 am, 11 am, and noon EST and then again at 10 pm, 11 pm, midnight EST. Twitter chats are easy to follow using TweetChat.com. Just sign in with your Twitter account, enter #MillicentMarie as the hashtag and you are in! 




Tour Schedule:

Oct. 11 Loves 2 Reads - Review, Character Guest Post & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 12 Alchemy of Scrawl - Author Interview, Review, & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 13 Living, Learning, and Loving Life - Review & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 14 Double the Fun Day
Book Him Danno - Review
Lindsay and Jane's Views and Reviews - Author Interview
Oct. 15 So I'm Fifty - Character Guest Post, Review, & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 16 Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave - Author Guest Post
Oct. 17 Geo Librarian - Character Guest Post, Review, & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 18 Rumor Has It - Character Guest Post & Swag Giveaway, Review 

Oct. 19 Book Lovers Paradise - Character Guest Post, Review, & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 19 Kids'n'Books - Review 
Oct. 20 Fairday's Blog! Review & Feature
Oct. 21 Vixie's Stories - Character Guest Post & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 22 Ali's Bookshelf - Author Guest Post & Swag Giveaway, Review
Oct. 23 The Bunny's Review - Character Interview, Review, & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 24 Larkin's Book Bloggers - Author Guest Post, Review, & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 25 Mrs. Mommy Booknerd's Book Reviews - Author Interview & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 26 Someday, When I'm Famous... Author Interview, Review, & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 27 It's About Time Mamaw - Author Interview, Review & Swag Giveaway
Oct. 28  Double the Fun!

Kid Who Reads - Review
Q&A with Karen Pokras Toz at Goodreads.com 
Oct. 29 Mom Does Reviews - Character Interview
Oct. 30 Kid Lit Reviews - Character Guest Post & Swag Giveaway & Review 
Oct. 31 Italian Brat's Obsessions - Character Guest Post & Review



Live Events:

Oct. 11 Twitter Chats
Oct. 22 Ali Talks at 8 pm EST. Call in to chat with Karen Pokras Toz - (724) 444-7444
Oct. 28 Karen will be available to answer fan questions throughout day at Goodreads 

  
Pin it!

Follow the tour on Pinterest and get exclusive tour graphics.


Praise for Millicent Marie is Not my Name:

"Young readers will relate to Millie's struggles to be liked, and will find her journey entertaining..." ~ Kimberly Kinrade, Goodreads

"I loved this book! ...will definitely be buying it for my niece..." ~ Melissa Ringsted, Goodreads

"highly recommend it for daughters, granddaughters, nieces…and girls in your life." ~ Kristy James, Goodreads


Find Millicent Marie is Not my Name:

Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

 
About Karen Pokras Toz:

Karen Pokras Toz is a writer, wife and mom. Karen grew up in Connecticut and currently lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and three children. In June 2011, Karen published her first middle grade children’s novel for 7-12 year olds called Nate Rocks the World, which won First Place for Children’s Chapter Books and the Grand Prize Overall in the 2012 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, as well as placing first for a Global E-Book Award for Pre-Teen Literature. In 2012, Karen published the second in the Nate Rocks series, Nate Rocks the Boat, followed by middle grade novel, Millicent Marie Is Not My Name. Karen is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).

Connect:

Website:  www.karentoz.com
Blog: http://kptoz.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/karenptoz
Twitter: www.twitter.com/karentoz
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5009570.Karen_Pokras_Toz
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/karentoz


Enter the Giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway

  

This paid advertisement is part of the GWR Publicity tour package purchased by Karen Pokras Toz.  
Girl Who Reads is an advertising affiliate with Amazon and IndieBound; a small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above links.


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Janice Lane Palko: The New Road that Led to St. Anne's Day

Still round the corner there may wait, A new road or a secret gate. J. R. R. Tolkien


We all know Robert Frost’s line about taking the road “less traveled by” and how that made all the difference. Well, it wasn’t the less-traveled road that made all the difference for my romantic comedy St. Anne’s Day, but a brand spanking new road that brought it into publication.

I wrote St. Anne’s Day all the way back in 1998. Yes, 1998—when people were just starting to get” Jiggy Wit’ It,” the first triple-blade razor appeared, and this new book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone hit the shelves.

The inspiration for the novel came from three things. At that time, I was watching repeats of Pride and Prejudice, and writing my grandfather’s memoir when an incident from high school popped into my head. I attended an all-girls school, and when prom time came, several of my classmates were without dates. One day before class, we were trying to come up with dates for these girls when our teacher, Sister Jane Frances, came in and heard our conversation. She recommended we start saying the St. Anne prayer. We’d never heard of it. This is what she taught us:


Dear St. Anne, get me a man as fast as you can.


We all thought it was pretty funny, but we said it every day before class. Well, don’t you know, every girl got a date for the prom!

Those three things swirled around in the blender that is my mind and the concoction that resulted was St. Anne’s Day. For many years, I sent the manuscript to agents and publishers and even personally pitched it at the RWA conference in NYC in 2003. Several expressed interested in it over the years, but each time it was ultimately rejected because it wasn’t your typical romance and didn’t fit neatly into any one genre. It was too edgy for the inspirational romance category, and it was too spiritual to fit neatly in the romantic comedy genre. In effect, the novel was a misfit, and like Hermey the Dentist in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on the Island of Misfit toys, St. Anne’s Day was exiled to the Island of Misfit Books. I put it away and wrote another novel—a Christmas romance, A Shepherd’s Song, which will be released in November. But every now and then I’d send St. Anne’s Day out to new agents or publishers. Fortunately, the other aspects of my writing career flourished. I was hired as a columnist for a newspaper, and then offered the position as executive editor for a local magazine.

Two years ago on a lark, I posted several chapters of St. Anne’s Day on my website with the hope that an editor would stumble upon them, fall in love with St. Anne’s Day, and offer a lucrative, multi-book deal.

But something entirely different happened. A number of Facebook friends found the chapters and began asking where they could buy my book. Also at that time, a friend asked me if I would look at his novel before he independently published it. The year leading up to that time had been very busy, and while I wasn’t paying attention to the publishing world, it all changed. It appeared that indie publishing was not the same as in years previous. To my surprise, I discovered that there was another road, a new road to publication. When I found myself hoping that the queries I had out to agents and publisher would reject St. Anne’s Day, I knew independent publishing was where I needed to head.

It has taken me more than a year to familiarize myself with the world of indie publishing, learn all the technology associated with it, and to whip St. Anne’s Day into shape.

Finally, after 14 years, St. Anne’s Day was published in August and has been getting stellar reviews since. I invite you to read St. Anne’s Day, and I hope you find my long journey to publication encouraging for anyone considering the new road of indie publishing. It is available at Amazon, in the Kindle store, at Barnes & Noble Nook store, IndieBound and Smashwords.

About the Author:

Janice grew up in Pittsburgh and is the author of the romantic comedy St. Anne’s Day. A writer for more than 15 years, she is currently the executive editor of Northern Connection and Pittsburgh 55+ magazines, where she also pens a column and contributes regularly to the magazines’ content.

Her work has also appeared in publications such as The Reader’s Digest, Guideposts for Teens, Woman’s World, The Christian Science Monitor, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In addition, her essays have been featured in the books A Cup of Comfort for Inspiration, A Cup of Comfort for Expectant Mothers, and Chicken Soup for the Single’s Soul.

Janice has won several awards for her writing including the prestigious Amy Foundation Award of Merit, and she has a bachelor’s degree in Writing & Literature from Union Institute & University.

Her second book, a Christmas novel entitled, A Shepherd’s Song, which will be released in November 2012.
Connect with Janice Lane Palko:

Amazon Author Central
Blog
Website
Twitter: @janicelanepalko
Facebook
Goodreads

The views, beliefs, and opinions expressed by guest post authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs, or opinions of Girl Who Reads. Girl Who Reads is an advertising affiliate with Amazon and IndieBound; a small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above links.

 

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October 9, 2012

Now Showing: Finding Monsters



Find Finding Monsters by Liss Thomas at Amazon

Watch more videos here.

Girl Who Reads is an advertising affiliate with Amazon and IndieBound; a small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above links. Book Trailers are featured for free. All videos are provided by the author who has granted Girl Who Reads permission to feature them on this blog.

Makes you think: Mortal

Mortal (The Book of Mortals #2) by Ted Dekker & Tosca Lee
hardcover, 418 pages
Published June 2012 by FaithWords
ISBN13: 9781599953588
Source: Library
Read Sept/Oct. 2012
Goodreads, IndieBound, Amazon

You may remember that I was super excited to read Forbidden (see my review), the first book in the series. While I looked for an advance copy of Mortal, I was okay with waiting to read it. It took several months to find a copy at a library that would let me check it out (my system didn't have a copy). And I have to say, I had a very hard time getting into the story.

I was 200 pages in and I still wasn't hooked. I just couldn't see a point to the story. There was a lot of stuff going on, but it didn't seem like anything was happening. Mortal takes place 9 years after the end of Forbidden. It is weeks away from the plan that was put into motion at the end of Forbidden. Rom, the boy Jonathan, and the other Keepers have banned together with the Nomads who have always lived outside of Order.

You might wonder why I kept reading when I wasn't hooked by the halfway point. I've read enough of Dekker's books to know that there is always a payoff in the end. Whether it is the end of the book I'm currently reading or story arc a book or two later. By the end of Mortal I was glad to have mustered through it and I'm looking forward to the third book, which is due out next year.

As always, the story made me examine my own perspective on my beliefs. I wonder how non-believers view Dekker's books. As a Christ-follower, I can't help but see the parallels to the Gospel. Mortal even gave me a new understanding as we looked at the Crucifixion on Sunday. 

There are several instances reminiscent of the Circle series - Jonathan as the savior figure, nomadic tribe, the Gathering. I imagine Dekker's walls to be littered with post-it notes to keep the intricate web he has woven through and amongst his stories straight.

If you are looking for a story that makes you think, one that doesn't give you all the pieces, then you should try Mortal, but you will need to read Forbidden first.
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October 8, 2012

Meet the Author: Vickie Johnstone

Hi, my name is Vickie and I like to write books. That sounds like an introduction at a Writers Anonymous Help meeting (WAH for short) and I kind of feel a bit like that in realising that I’m not meant to be writing about a book, but about me! Me! Me? Mmm. Now I feel like I’m at a new school, standing up, imagining I’m in one of those strange dreams where I’m naked with nothing to hide behind. I guess I normally hide behind my books or there are questions to answer, but thinking on my feet about me... mmm... help!

So what is there to say about me? My favourite colour is blue; I drink too much tea (trying to cut down); I rather like white chocolate (esp Milky Bar), baileys and ale; I love travelling and waking up to something new every day, liking change; I love the smell of the rain (it smells green), baking bread, freshly cut lemons and vanilla; I really enjoyed The Waking Dead, Buffy, Red Dwarf and Downton Abbey (opposites!); my fave books include Pride & Prejudice, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Tales of Hans Christian Anderson, Keat’s poetry and The Magic Toyshop; I love the sea; the music I like meanders between rock, blues and hippy stuff with the odd squeal of metal; I love rainbows, nature, daffodils, birdsong... and animals.

Animals are my big love. The longest relationship I’ve ever had with an animal is with my cat, Mogsy, who is now 13. I guess she couldn’t escape my quirks and oddball-ness! I grew up with furry creatures everywhere. We always had pets in our house when I was young, to the point that I think we could have charged an entry fee as a petting zoo. You name it, we had it, and I talked about all of my pets recently in a blog piece for World Animal Day. My furry friends have inspired my writing.

My first dog was called Glen, but I was really young and I don’t remember much about him, except that he covered me with dirty water whenever he went for a swim, but I immortalised him in a book called 3 Heads & A Tail, which I wrote for NaNoWriMo. I think every writer should try this at least once – it’s very freeing. My attempt was a seat-of-the-pants job and I wasn’t sure if the story would make sense to anyone, never mind make them laugh, for it’s a comedy romance and the hero is a dog called Glen. Okay, Glen turned from a Border Collie into a Labrador because I love those yellow dogs so much. Guide dogs for the blind are just amazing. In the book, the dog is the central character, around whom everyone else revolves. He’s emotional, intelligent, a bit eccentric and in love – with the cutest dog in the park, Mimi.

I am also writing a series for young readers starring a cat. She’s magical and surprised her two young owners, Amy and James, by talking one day. The cat got bored of never communicating, you see, and just decided to go for it. Shock over, they all go on adventures to animal-inhabited worlds, where the creatures live as humans. I think this goes back to my love of any animal story when I was a child. I wolfed them down. From The Ugly Duckling to the Three Little Pigs, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Incredible Journey and Watership Down to Pigling Bland and Animal Farm, human characters just didn’t get a look in. To me, they weren’t as interesting as animals, especially ones that could speak. When I was a little girl I thought I could communicate to birds by winking! Honest! And nope, they never answered back, or at least, I could never decipher their chirps.

But, back to my animal series... It is based on a cat, but no ordinary kitty. That cat was called Kiwi and I shared my life with her for six years. She was black with yellow eyes, a bit podgy, very fluffy, quite cheeky, a great hunter (alas) and pretty intelligent. When she wasn’t trying to swipe the dinner off your plate when you weren’t looking or jumping in the air to catch a moth in mid-flight, she’d be curling up on the bed or pouncing out at you from behind furniture. She also loved to follow me... everywhere. I couldn’t let her out in the morning because she’d just pad along behind me to the station. I’m sure she’d have hopped on the train and taken a trip to work if she could. I often wondered if she was a dog in cat’s clothing as she’d have been great to take for walkies. One
day she followed me to the supermarket, waited patiently outside on a wall, and then came back home with me. Now she’s the heroine of Kiwi in Cat City, and never a finer heroine could there be.


About the Author:


Vickie Johnstone lives in London, where she works as a freelance sub-editor on business magazines and editor/proofreader on books. She has a thing about fluffy cats and also loves reading, writing, films, the sea, art, nature, white chocolate and travelling.


In 2011, Vickie self-published the following books:
Kaleidoscope (March) – a gathering of 119 poems, divided by chapter themes; Travelling Light – a small, free book of poetry; Kiwi in Cat City – the first in a series about a magical cat and her human pals (April); Kiwi and the Missing Magic (June); Kiwi and the Living Nightmare (October).


In October 2011, Vickie signed with Inknbeans Press, who are now publishing her books. The Kiwi books now have illustrations by Nikki McBroom.

Books published in 2012, so far:
Day of the Living Pizza – a comedy horror for ages 10 up; all profits to charity (May); Life’s Rhythms – a collection of 316 haiku (June); 3 Heads and a Tail – a romantic comedy with walkies, written for NaNoWriMo (June);
Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle (August).
Connect with the Author:

Amazon US author page
Amazon UK book page

Blog: http://vickiejohnstone.blogspot.com
Twitter: @vickiejohnstone
Website: Kiwiincatcity.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorVickieJohnstone
http://www.facebook.com/KiwiinCatCity
http://www.facebook.com/KaleidoscopePoetry
http://www.facebook.com/VickieJohnstoneEditing


Girl Who Reads is an advertising affiliate with Amazon and IndieBound; a small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above links. The views, beliefs, and opinions expressed by guest post authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs, or opinions of Girl Who Reads.
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Finished a Book!





News:

I forgot to mention that I blogged a few weeks ago at Bad Redhead Media about tips for using StumbleUpon in your marketing. 

My column at The Indie Exchange posted today. It's about writing reviews - if my niece can do anyone can!

The Bunny's Review is hosting a fundraiser for the House Rabbit Society. All you need to do is make a donation to HRS and then you get to choose an ebook as a thank you gift. For more info, check out Books for Bunnies.

My fellow blogger, Library Girl, has a great interview with author Terri Clark and a giveaway of Hollyweird.

Award winning children's author Karen Pokras Toz kicks off her Millicent Marie Tour with a Twitter Party! Chat live with Karen at 10 am, 11am and noon EST and then again at 10 pm, 11 pm, and midnight EST on Thursday, Oct. 11. Use the hashtag #MillicentMarie. *author has paid for a publicity package from GWR Publicity.

Giveaways:

Paperback copy of The Recruit by Monica McCarty
Complete Harry Potter series on Blu-ray
Have It Your Way $200
$100 Paypal Cash
Keurig Vue V700

This week I was Girl Who Does Everything But Read. I'm just glad I was able to finish my library book before it was due back today.

Finished:



Centuries have passed since civilization's brush with apocalypse. The world's greatest threats have all been silenced. There is no anger, no hatred, no war. There is only perfect peace...and fear. A terrible secret was closely guarded for centuries: every single soul walking the earth, though in appearance totally normal, is actually dead, long ago genetically stripped of true humanity.

Nine years have gone by since an unlikely hero named Rom Sebastian first discovered a secret and consumed an ancient potion of blood to bring himself back to life in Forbidden. Surviving against impossible odds, Rom has gathered a secret faction of followers who have also taken the blood-the first Mortals in a world that is dead.

But The Order has raised an elite army to hunt and crush the living. Division and betrayal threaten to destroy the Mortals from within. The final surviving hope for humanity teeters on the brink of annihilation and no one knows the path to survival.

On the heels of Forbidden comes MORTAL, the second novel in The Books of Mortals saga penned by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee. Set in a terrifying, medieval future, where grim pageantry masks death, this tale of dark desires and staggering stakes peels back the layers of the heart for all who dare take the journey.

The Books of Mortals are three novels, each of which stands on its own, yet all are seamlessly woven into one epic thriller. From Goodreads.com
 Read my review of Book 1. Find Mortal at Goodreads, IndieBound, and Amazon.

Reading:


As Grace recovers from tragedy, her science class is chosen by Agent Sweeney at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help with research on the new "Red Wolf Reintroduction Program".

While she’s excited about helping with the conservation of the endangered wolves, Grace knows this means being outdoors in the worst winter recorded, in a place she no longer feels comfortable. It also means working closely with Wyn (her ex) and his annoying girlfriend (Skyler), a girl whose idea of getting close to nature is picking silk plants and growing fake plants.

After a couple of wolves show up dead, Grace almost quits. However, when a fellow project team member goes missing, Grace continues the assignment under a renewed suspicion that someone might be sabotaging the conservation program. She quietly begins to hunt for clues.

Little does she know, she is being hunted too. From Goodreads.com
 Reads my review of Book 1. Find Uncontrollable at Goodreads and Amazon.

Mick "Scorcher" Kennedy, the brash cop from Tana French’s bestselling Faithful Place, plays by the book and plays hard. That’s what’s made him the Murder squad’s top detective—and that’s what puts the biggest case of the year into his hands.

On one of the half-built, half-abandoned "luxury" developments that litter Ireland, Patrick Spain and his two young children are dead. His wife, Jenny, is in intensive care.

At first, Scorcher and his rookie partner, Richie, think it’s going to be an easy solve. But too many small things can’t be explained. The half dozen baby monitors, their cameras pointing at holes smashed in the Spains’ walls. The files erased from the Spains’ computer. The story Jenny told her sister about a shadowy intruder who was slipping past all the locks.

And Broken Harbor holds memories for Scorcher. Seeing the case on the news sends his sister Dina off the rails again, and she’s resurrecting something that Scorcher thought he had tightly under control: what happened to their family one summer at Broken Harbor, back when they were children. From Goodreads.com

Find Broken Harbor at Goodreads, IndieBound, and Amazon.

Listening:

Let me tell you all I know for sure. "My name. Shauna."

I woke up in a hospital bed missing six months of my memory. In the room was my loving boyfriend-how could I have forgotten him?-my uncle and my abusive stepmother. Everyone blames me for the tragic car accident that left me near death and my dear brother brain damaged. But what they say can't be true-can it?

I believe the medicine is doing strange things to my memory. I'm unsure who I can trust and who I should run from. And I'm starting to remember things I've never known. Things not about me. I think I'm going crazy.

"And even worse, I think they want to kill me."

But who? And for what? Is dying for the truth really better than living with a lie? From Goodreads.com
 Find Kiss at Goodreads, IndieBound, and Amazon.

Mailbox Finds:

My niece received a couple of books to review for her Kid Who Reads column.

11-year-old Maya Papaya has a couple of problems. Not only does she have a name like a deranged fruit salad and a four-foot tail with a mind of its own…but her tail is a big secret, so she has to wear these itchy tail pants and can’t have sleepovers or go swimming with the other kids. She still lives a fairly normal life with her guardian, Mr. Norbert...until Mr. Norbert’s computer tells her she’s not really a little girl at all, but something it calls a ‘humanimal.’ Before Maya can determine what that means, a knock on the door puts events in motion that send Maya all the way across the world, without even Mr. Norbert to protect her. After a long voyage to India, Maya discovers the truth about where she’s from, and realizes that she’s not the only child who’s been created with a few extra abilities… From Goodreads.com
Find Maya Papaya at Goodreads, IndieBound and Amazon.

The Indians and the Crackedskulls are locked in the turmoil of war. Neiko--a warrior with the glistening title of "the Chosen One"--finds herself facing a collection of enemies. Her archenemies, Raven and Bloodhawk, have come up with a scheme to destroy her reputation with the help of a phony Indian chieftain.

However, during the unfolding of their plan, Neiko finds out that a land she thought she had only imagined is actually real--and more terrifying than she ever imagined. It turns out that Ramses--the arch-villain of her collection--has sinister plans of his own for Neiko, whom he eventually traps in Qari.

Neiko must find her way back home and turn the tables on her enemies, but what she finds out during her travels in Qari will change her entire existence for all eternity. From Goodreads.com
Find Neiko's Five Land Adventure at Goodreads, IndieBound, and Amazon.

So what are YOU reading this week?

Keurig Vue V700 Giveaway

  What a great gift for book lovers! Nothing goes better with a great book than a hot beverage.

Mom Powered Media presents a Keurig Vue V700 Giveaway!

Prize Sponsored by American Family

The perfect way to warm you up just in time for the cold weather to come!

US Only - Ends October 29, 2012 @ 11:59pm EST
 

It’s free to join American Family and if you sign up to join them through this event you will also receive a free e-book filled with Fall Harvest recipes to complement your coffee with your new Keurig!

EARN BONUS POINTS FOR THE GIVEAWAY just for signing up for the the awesome e-book!

About the Keurig Vue V700 {$229 Retail Value}

The Keurig® Vue® V700 Brewing System gives you total control to brew your way: stronger, bigger, hotter and with more choices than ever before. With an interactive Touchscreen and revolutionary new Custom Brew Technology™ Vue® ensures every beverage is brewed to perfection, giving you perfect results – every cup, every time. 8 brew sizes, removable 74oz water reservoir and your choices are nearly limitless. In addition to coffee, tea, hot cocoa and iced beverages, Vue® brews delicious café and specialty beverages as well. This product is BPA free. Now you can fully customize your cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa, iced beverage, specialty or café beverage to brew what you love, the way you love it – every time! Now for the fun go and enter the giveaway on the rafflecopter below for this awesome Keurig Vue V700 brewing system for the chance to enjoy some warm and toasty moments compliments of this prize. Remember you can earn more points if you sign up for the American Family Harvest Recipes E-book! Please remember to only claim the entries you’ve actually followed through on as we will verify entries. Anyone who claims entries they did not follow through on will have all entries disqualified and may be disqualified from future events. Thanks for keeping it fair for everyone! Open to US residents 18 years of age and over only.

Now go & enter and GOOD LUCK!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

October 7, 2012

Now Playing: My Familiar Stranger



Find My Familiar Stranger (The Order of the Black Swan #1) by Victoria Danann at Goodreads and Amazon.

Watch more videos here.

Girl Who Reads is an advertising affiliate with Amazon and IndieBound; a small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above links. Book Trailers are featured for free. All videos are provided by the author who has granted Girl Who Reads permission to feature them on this blog.

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