Readers' Favorite

June 27, 2014

Giveaway: The Book of Life by @DebHarkness


We are just weeks away from the release of The Book of Life, book 3 in the All Souls Trilogy. I have already read my advance copy, but I'm not allowed to share my review until July 15. However, I will say I don't think fans will be disappointed.

Did you miss the giveaway I did a few weeks ago for the holographic buttons and Diana's commonplace book? Well, here is your second chance and the publisher has sweetened the pot to include a hardcover copy of The Book of Life. That's right, you have a chance to win a prize pack that include the buttons, Diana's commonplace book and a hardcover copy of The Book of Life.

I'll have a few more goodies to share in the lead up to the July 15 release including a Q&A with Deborah Harkness herself. And if you haven't started this series, what are you waiting for? Pick up The Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night today.



The

Pre-order at Amazon


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the links above. The giveaway is sponsored by the publisher who will ship only to US addresses (no PO Boxes).

June 26, 2014

New Service for Authors Needs Bloggers

by Donna Huber

So this isn't really a tips post this week, but it is a way for authors and bloggers to work together. I'm offering a new publicity service for authors. I have said it many times that authors need to have on going publicity through blogs, not just the one time blog tour. Blog tours are time intensive and not something you want to be doing every month. However, contacting individual blogs every week for reviews and guest spots is also time consuming. I know authors would rather be writing.

Starting in July, I'm offering a monthly service where authors will have me pitch their books to my mailing list of bloggers. It is an economical (both financially and time-wise) alternative to tours or hourly PR services.

Some FAQs (Well, they aren't necessarily frequent since I'm just starting the service, but I think they might be questions you have. After the July test run, I will create an official FAQ regarding the service.)

What does the author have to do? The author will provide a packet which will include review copies, a media quick sheet, book cover, author photo, and 5 "extras". These "extras" will be a combination of guest posts, interviews, top ten lists, excerpts, etc. It's the content that bloggers can post in addition to or instead of a review.

As a blogger, why should I participate? It is an easy way to have content to post on your own schedule. I know there are times that writing a review or making arrangements on your own for guest posts and interviews can be difficult. This will provide content and books to review right to your inbox each month. Unlike a tour, there is no set date or time you have to post - some time during the month is all I ask. While there are no sign up forms, you will want to join my mailing list to be notified of the available content each month. Subscribe here. You may also want to join the Facebook Group. You will be able to share your links to the posts in the group for everyone to share. Plus we provide help and tips of other events that are going on around the book blogging world.

As an extra incentive to post reviews and other content from the authors, there will be monthly drawings for gift cards and other great prizes.

What will the blogger have to do? It's up to the blogger. You can post a review or one of the "extras". If you post a review and an "extra" as separate posts, preferably on separate days, you will get 2 entries into the giveaway.

When do I have to post? You can post any time you would like. However, to be included in the monthly giveaway you must post during the month. For July, you can post anytime between July 1 and July 31.

Are the "extras" original content? To make content quickly available and provide a time-savings to authors the content is syndicated. Not sure about posting syndicated content? Check out the benefits of syndication.

How are the files accessed? If you are on the mailing list you will receive an email with a short description of the authors and books available that month. The "extras", media sheet, and graphics will be in a Dropbox folder that I will give bloggers access to. If a blogger is interested in reviewing one (or more) of the titles, s/he can reply to the email requesting a review copy.

How can I have my book included in this service? You can contact me at donna (at) girl-who-reads.com to be put on the "interested" list. After the July test run, I will contact you with details about pricing and availability.


Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour. She reads most genres (NO horror or erotica), but her favorite books are psychological thrillers and stories that highlight the survival of the human spirit against unbelievable circumstances.

June 25, 2014

Video Interview with Victoria Bylin

Victoria talks about her new contemporary romance novel Until I Found You in this video interview from Bethany House.






Buy Until I Found You at Amazon


Until I Found You

Contemporary Romance to Make You Laugh, Cry, and Fall in Love 

When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life: "God, if you're real, I want to know you." 

It's Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate's rescue. Nick is handsome, confident, and seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She's not planning to fall in love with one of the locals. 

Nick Sheridan is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn't expect to be swept off his feet by the car's occupant. He's made a vow: no dating for a year. And it's a vow he intends to keep in spite of his attraction to Kate Darby...



Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the links above. Cover and summary are from Goodreads.com and video is from Bethany House YouTube channel.

June 24, 2014

Review: The Paris Lawyer by Sylvie Granotier

by Donna Huber

The
May 2014; Le French Book; 978-1939474681
audio, print (280 pages); suspense
One of my goals for the year was to read more translated literature. I have worked with Le French Book in the past by hosting a number of their authors. So when they offered a few of their titles on Netgalley in advance of the print releases, I decided to give them a try. The first one was The Paris Lawyer by Sylvie Granotier.

It is a crime novel with an intriguing plot. Catherine is a Parisian lawyer that grew up motherless. Her father, in hopes of shielding her, refused to discuss any details of her mother. Her mother was brutally murder while on a stroll with her. She was only about four at the time. However, that which we keep hidden often have a funny way of becoming revealed. Wanting to make a name for herself, Catherine takes on a client in an outlying area - the woman is accused of murdering her husband. The town is near where Catherine lived at as a child. This is only one of the many coincidences when her past and present intersects. Not all are mere acts of fate, some are orchestrated by those in the present seeking to rectify the past, perhaps.

Buy The Paris Lawyer at Amazon

While the plot was intriguing, I found the main character annoying. Though I tried, I just couldn't make a connection with her. It may have been because the character herself is emotionally closed off. However, she felt to full of herself, too self absorbed for me to empathize with her. Though towards the end of the book I did find that I had some sympathy for her and did understand some of why she was the way she was.

The book is also a dense read. It took me quite a while to read the story (nearly a month). It was not a quick tale of suspense. And sometimes I felt that the story had lost its way. There were a lot of details, but at the same time, it felt that the true mysteries - Catherine's mother's murder and who killed her client's husband - were limited in detail. I kept having flashbacks to Mrs. Dalloway. I don't think it was truly stream-of-consciousness, but there was a bit of that or at the least abrupt transitions. Also, when characters were relaying information it was not kept as dialogue. The first couple of times it happened I thought I missed something. After the third or so time it happened it started to feel like the television shows where they fade away from the present conversation and do the action in the flashback (do you know what I'm talking about?) But even then it was just prose. The large blocks of text read more like a news story than a novel.

Once I got used to the writing style, the readability picked up some and I got more into the story.

The combination of not connecting with character and the writing style left me just feeling so-so about The Paris Lawyer. I think it had some strong points, but not enough to wow me. Will I try more books from Le French Book? Yes. I want to see if it some nuance of French writing that I don't like or maybe I need to become comfortable with it to fully enjoy the stories.

Should you read The Paris Lawyer? Yes. It was interesting to see some of the French legal system. And I feel a little more cultured having read translated fiction. Most of the stories I read are set in the US or UK, or historical Europe and even then it usually eastern Europe. If you like 3rd person stories that mostly follow the thoughts of the characters, then this book may be just your thing.


Book Info:
Format: paperback
Published: May 2014 by Le French Book
ISBN13: 9781939474018
Source: Netgalley
Read: May-June 2014



Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour. She reads most genres (NO horror or erotica), but her favorite books are psychological thrillers and stories that highlight the survival of the human spirit against unbelievable circumstances.

Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the links above. A free e-galley was provided for this review.



June 23, 2014

Meet Sandra Love

by Heather Kirchhoff

What made you decide to start writing? Was this something you always thought you’d do?

I was reading a book last year, Bitter Fruits by Sarah Daltry and I said hey I want to do this. So I talked to my now Editor Genevieve and she told me to do it. So I laid in bed at night and the idea for Broken popped into my head. I always wanted to write a book, but I was too hard on myself. I am so glad I decided to write I love doing it

How do you come up with your characters or story ideas?

For my Broken Wings Series, at the time I was writing it I was getting bullied online and I wanted to write about a girl being bullied. But as I was writing, I wanted it to be different so my love for paranormal came into play. So I decided to incorporate falling angels, angels and witches. I love angels and witches so I wanted to do a different spin on them. For the main character Cordelia, I’ve always loved that name so that is why I chose that name.

How do you get inspired to write?

Indie authors inspired me. I love and support them all and I wanted to work alongside them. And my friends on Facebook have inspired me also

What do you do while having writer's block?

I usually take a break, watch T.V. or maybe read. I try not to force writing when I have writer's block.

What kind of stories do you write?

Broken Hearts
The Broken Wings Series is a YA Paranormal, To Love Again (Repaired Hearts) is a New Adult Romance. So I write YA, Paranormal, and New Adult Romance.

Who’s your favorite author(s)?

Genevieve Scholl, Heather Kirchoff, Julia Mills, EJ Shortall, Maryann Jordan, Jen Andrews, Sandra Shrewsbury, ML Steinbrunn, Andrea Michelle, LL Collins, A.d. Ellis, Andie Long, Samantha Jacobey, Dina Redmond, Kristine Raymond, Aleya Michelle, Michelle Abbott, Krissy V, Chelle Craze, Cindy Smith, , Joan Duszynski, Caissy Boudreau, Sarah Robinson, Sarah Elizabeth, S. Moose, T.H. Snyder, CM Wright, Kelly Erickson, AR Von, L. Chapman, Andrea Wood, Becca Vincenza, Vanessa Marie, Kate Benson, Komali da Silva, , Victoria Brock, EJ Shortall, , Chelle C Craze, Neil Orr, Julia Mills, Darlene Kuncytes, Sandra Shrewsbury, Samantha Long, Sarah Elizabeth, Renea Portor, , LU Ann, Kelly Elliott, Rachel Van Dyken, Jennifer Benson, Krissy V, Danielle Wright, Jacqui Melville, Jennifer Ryder, Susan Arden, Melissa Collins, Melissa Mayberry, Trista Jaszczak, Rain Murphy, Margaret Taylor, and so many

Buy Broken Hearts: Kaleigh's Revenge at Amazon

How long have you been writing?

I started to write last summer and just been writing ever since. I love writing it is a stress reliever. lol

What are your stories about? 

I just have the 3 books out right now. But I am working on a new book.

What are you currently working on? 

It is called Summer in Dallas. It is a YA Romance book. I am just a little into it but I do have a release date!! August 2nd 2014!!!

What do you do when not writing? 

I hang out with my family, or play with my cats, read, or even watch TV. I also love to walk. I am trying to walk 2 miles a day. J I also talk to my readers and fans. I love them so much.

Connect with Sandra Love on Facebook,  Goodreads, Pinterest, Twitter, Blog


Heather Kirchhoff lives in a small town in Missouri. She became a bookworm back in sixth grade when her teacher suggested the Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley and instantly fell in love. She loves reading paranormal stories, plus some love ones here and there. Writing is her passion-it helps her escape the world for a while, as well as reading-she doesn’t know what she’d do without it. She just loves it. When she isn’t writing, Heather is doing odd jobs, reading, taking walks, or spending time with her boyfriend and animals/family. Richelle Mead, Alyson Noel, and Stephenie Meyer inspired her to write. Connect with Heather on Facebook and Twitter.

Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the link above. The beliefs, opinions, and views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Girl Who Reads.

Shareahollic