Showing posts with label Best of 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best of 2011. Show all posts

Friday, December 30, 2011

Top 10 Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2012 - Actually a lot more than 10!



Confessions of a Bookaholic, A Life Bound by Books, Fiktshun & Two Chicks on Books have put together a year end Top 10 of 2011 event.

Today's Top 10 is "Top 10 Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2012"!



I'm not going to even try to narrow it down to just 10!


Instead I'll do some categories of book I'm looking forward to and try to keep them below 10!


2012 Sequels  I'm looking forward to:
First off I just read the 2012 release Pandemonium so here is hoping I get an ARC of Requim in 2012!


The yet titled book that is next in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2 by Laini Taylor


Hex Hall #3 - Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins


The yet to be title Matched #3 by Ally Condie


Wings #4 - Destined by Aprilynne Pike


The Dark Divine #3 - The Savage Grace by Bree Despain


I'm in the middle of Divergent and loving it! So I'm sure Insurgent by Veronica Roth needs to be on this list.


Graceling #3 - Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore


Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side #2 - Jessica Rules the Darkside by Beth Fantaskey



Series I need to start ASAP:

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand


Haven by Kristi Cook


Nightshade by Andrea Cremer


Across the Universe by Beth Revis


Firelight by Sophie Jordan


The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter


Inside Out by Maria Snyder


Storm Glass by Maria Snyder




Series I have started and plan to keep reading in 2012:
The Caster Chronicle Series by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stoll


Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick


Fallen by Lauren Kate


Paranormalcy by Kiersten White



2011 Releases I plan to read in 2012:

Touch of Power by Maria Snyder


Entwinded by Heather Dixon


Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi



The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin


Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake


Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins


A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies


Where She Went by Gayle Forman


Hourglass by Myra McEntire


The Girl of Fire and Thorn by Rae Carson


Between the Sea and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore


Blood Red Road by Moira Young




2012 Debuts that have Caught my Eye:

Everneath by Brodi Ashton


Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi


The Selection by Kiera Cass


Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan


Cinder by Marissa Meyer


Incarnate by Jodi Meadows


And finally I know Marcia Lynn McClure is planning to release at least 2 new books - Untethered & Midnight Masquerade - Both of which I can not wait to read!

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Top 10 Book Covers of 2011



Confessions of a Bookaholic, A Life Bound by Books, Fiktshun & Two Chicks on Books have put together a year end Top 10 of 2011 event.

Today's Top 10 is "Top 10 Books Covers of 2011"!




Hmmm... Apparently my taste in book covers is quite limited.... these are all fairly similar.

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Best of 2011 - 6 Great Book Giveaways

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Welcome to The Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop.  This hop runs from December 27th to 31st and features the Best Books of 2011!

100 Blogs are each hosting a giveaway for their favorite reads of 2011.

Currently I have 12 great Best of 2011 giveaways running that were part of the BIR2011 event.  Be sure you have entered all of these great giveaways!
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini TaylorFOREVER by Maggie StiefvaterSHATTERED SOULS by Mary LindseyTEMPESTOUS by Lesley LivingstonBETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta SepetysPRIDE & POPULARITY by Jenni JamesTHE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern WITCH SONG by Amber ArgyleMINOR ADJUSTMENTS by Rachael Renee AndersonTHE BREAKUP ARTIST by Shannen Crane CampCROSSED by Ally CondieTROVE OF THE PASSION ROOM, THE HAUNTING OF AUTUMN LAKE & THE CHIMNEY SWEEP CHARM by Marcia Lynn McClure


As part of this BEST of 2011 GIVEAWAY HOP I have 6 separate GIVEAWAY.  There will be 6 winners.

You must visit the individual post to be entered for that giveaway: 

#1 - Crossed by Ally Condie + Poster & Buttons


#2 - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern


#3 - Open Internationally - Your choice of ANY of Marcia Lynn McClure's currently available Titles - 36 Books to Choose From!


#4 - Open Internationally - Reader's Choice Giveaway - Divergent by Veronica Roth - The Book Depository must ship to your country.


#5 - Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor


#6 - Open Internationally - Book of Your Choice - Choose any title from the books I read this year & all the books that were featured on BIR2011.  Up to $15 - The Book Depository must ship to your country.

I also have lots of other great giveaways going on.  So be sure to enter all of them!



It's not too late to join us in the Hop!  Just read the rules below and put up a post.

Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop Rules
  • Your giveaway should be for at least one of your favorite reads of 2011.  It can be a book that was released in 2011 or a book your read in 2011.  Alternately you may include a list of your favorite 2011 reads for the winner to choose from.  You may provide a gift card for them to purchase the book.
  • You must include the hop image and linky in your post.
  • Your giveaway must be specifically for this hop and run from Dec. 27th to 31st.
  • No restrictions on the number of entries but please try to keep it simple. Long lists of things to do discourages people from entering.  Only 1 mandatory entry.  The others must be optional.
  • Only family friendly sites & books (no erotica, etc.)

It's not too late to join.  Just put up a post that meets these requirements and add your blog to the linky.



Sign Up to Join Me In An Upcoming Hop!
Click the Hop Image to Sign Up











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Best of 2011 - Part 6 Book of Your Choice Giveaway

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Book of Choice - Best of 2011 Giveaway

For this giveaway you my choose from any of the following books.  (The book must be available for $15 or less though the Book Depository).

One of the Books I Read in 2011



Inspired Kathy's read-in-2011 book montage


The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating with More Than 75 Recipes
The Help
Wondrous Strange
Darklight
The Last Olympian
Forever
Spells
The Iron Daughter
Illusions
Torment
Incarceron
Beautiful Darkness
The Road Show
The Pirate Ruse
The Lost Saint
Demonglass
Delirium
Secret Sisters
The Peasant Queen



Inspired Kathy's favorite books »


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Or One of the books featured as part of BIR2011 


BLOOD RED ROAD by Moira Young
CROSSED by Ally Condie
DARK GODDESS by Sarwat Chadda
EONA by Alison Goodman
GLOW by Amy Kathleen Ryan 
LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins
MINOR ADJUSTMENTS by Rachael Renee Anderson
PRIDE & POPULARITY by Jenni James
RAVEN by Suzy Turner
TEMPESTOUS by Lesley Livingston
THE CHILDE by C.A. Kunz
THE CHIMNEY SWEEP CHARM by Marcia Lynn McClure
THE HAUNTING OF AUTUMN LAKE by Marcia Lynn McClure 
THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater
THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin
WILDEFIRE by Karsten Knight
WITCH SONG by Amber Argyle

Giveaway Details
Your choice of any of the above mentioned books as long as it is currently available from The Book Depository for $15 or less.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Be sure to enter all the Best of 2011 Giveaways. Links to all participating sites can be found HERE:

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Best of 2011 Part 5 - The Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

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The Daughter of Smoke and Bone was definitely one of my favorite reads of 2011. I've got a copy of the book for giveaway!

Title: The Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Series: Book 1 of 3
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Released: September 27, 2011

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?





Giveaway Details:
1 copy of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
Open to US only
Ends 12/31/11

This is a second giveaway for The Daughter of Smoke & Bone. The BIR2011 giveaway is still running and is another chance for you to win this great book.

To enter just follow this blog any way you like.
For an extra entry (+1)- Share this giveaway on twitter, facebook, or your blog, etc.

Winner:
Amy Stafford

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Best of 2011 Part 4 - Reader's Choice Book Giveaway - Divergent by Veronica Roth

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Apparently I've been missing out and know which book I need to bump to the top of my To-Read Pile.  I polled my readers asking what their favorite books of 2011 were.  One book stood out far above the rest.

Divergent by Veronica Roth topped the list of my blog reader's favorite books of 2011. It has a rating of 4.42 on goodreads & 4.6 Stars on Amazon.com and I have not read it!

I just downloaded it from Audible.com and will start it as soon as I finish up the book I'm currently listening to.

Title: Divergent
Author: Vernonica Roth
Series: Divergent Book 1 of 3
Publisher: Harper Collins
Released: May 3, 2011

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.




To Enter Just Follow this Blog at least 1 way.

Giveaway Details
1 copy of Divergent
I will ship the book through the Book Depository so open Internationally as long as the Book Depository ships to your country.
Ends 12/31/11

Optional Extra Entry
+1 If you have a confirmed Email Subscription to this blog

Winner:
Ester da Silva Almeida

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Best of 2011 Part 3 - Your choice of any of Marcia Lynn McClure's Books!

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It is no surprise to anyone who has been a follower of my blog that I love Marcia Lynn McClure.  I adore her and her books.  I love to escape into her clean romances!  


I have a treat for you!  As a special end of the year giveaway one person will receive their choice of any of her books!


Bio:
Marcia Lynn McClure’s intoxicating succession of novels, novellas, and e-books, has established her as one of the most favored and engaging authors of true romance. Her unprecedented forte in weaving captivating stories of western, medieval, regency, and contemporary amour void of brusque intimacy has earned her the title “The Queen of Kissing.”

Marcia, who was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has spent her life intrigued with people, history, love, and romance. A wife, mother, grandmother, family historian, poet, and author, Marcia Lynn McClure spins her tales of splendor for the sake of offering respite through the beauty, mirth, and delight of a worthwhile and wonderful story.

In 2011 Marcia released 3 new books.

Title: The Chimney Sweep Charm
Author: Marcia Lynn McClure
Publisher: Distractions Ink
Released: December 7, 2011
“There was the muffled sound of audience members standing up, and Baylee and Candice turned to look behind them.
“Holy smokes!” Baylee breathed.
“It’s like a Navy SEAL convention or something,” Candice added.
And it was! Baylee couldn’t believe that over twenty-five of the people in the orientation audience were tall, dark, handsome, buff guys dressed all in black. Each man stood with his feet apart and hands held at his back—similar if not exactly like a military “at ease” stance.
“They’re all packing heat too,” Baylee whispered to Candice as she noted all the holstered sidearms.
“I guess Mr. O’Sullivan wants to be prepared,” Candice said.
“I suppose you girls are all wowed now, right?” Tate said from the front row.
“Let’s see,” Candice began, looking to Tate and feigning an expression of thoughtfulness. “Let’s say I’m being assaulted by some weirdo in street…and who am I going to look to for protection? One of these guys?” she said, nodding toward the security staff. “Or you, Tate? You…who freaked out in June when we were in New York and you thought some guy was looking at you funny. You freaked out and slammed Megan’s finger in the door and cut it off! Who do you think I’m going to trust?”
“It was an accident, and you know it,” Tate grumbled.
Baylee did know it. Still, she found her eyes glancing down the row of chairs in front of her to Megan—to the missing first joint and fingertip on her right hand.
“Yeah, it was,” Candice admitted. “But you still cared more about yourself than Megan. The guy was stalking Megan…not you. Real heroic, Tate. Way to go to instilling a sense of confidence in me that you would have my back.”
“Whatever,” Tate grumbled, turning around in his seat to pout.”




Title: The Haunting of Autumn Lake
Author: Marcia Lynn McClure
Release Date: October 26, 2011
Publisher: Distractions Ink
Tags: Clean Romance

Autumn Lake stopped cold in her tracks. She puffed a breath of summoning courage as she gazed at the old covered bridge before her. Ever since she was a child and Sawyer had read to her the fascinating yet thoroughly haunting story of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Mr. Washington Irving, Autumn had secreted a fear of bridges. Each time she was meant to cross a bridge (especially the old covered bridge on the far side of the orchards), she expected the ghostly headless horseman to appear and attempt to decapitate her. Oh, certainly the tale of the Specter did nothing to soothe her either, for it was said that this was to be a year of the Specter. As the story went, the local phantom, the Specter, only appeared once every ten years—but this was to be the year of the Specter, and Autumn did not like crossing bridges even when it was not a year of the Specter.
Gulping down her fear, however, Autumn glanced behind her, assuring herself that there was no headless horseman riding up behind her intent on stealing her head.
“He wouldn’t want a woman’s head anyway,” she mumbled to herself, even as rising fear caused her heart to pound in her chest. “And besides,” she said, looking back to the old bridge, “I’m eighteen years old…nineteen in less than a month. Surely I can cross the bridge without runnin’.”
Pulling her sketchbook to her chest and tightly folding her arms across it, she spoke aloud to the cattails. “Wish me luck, my darlings…for I do prefer to keep my head attached to the rest of me.”
As Autumn stepped onto the bridge, the roof blocked the warm sunshine, making the space inside the bridge dark and gloomy. Yet she’d expected this. What else would one expect of a covered bridge? After all, its very purpose was protection from the elements, and that included the heat of the summer sun. Naturally, Autumn preferred to think of its purpose as being made for something else—the seclusion necessary for the romance of lovers’ trysts.
She sighed with disenchantment for a moment—disappointment at never having had a lover of her own. She thought how different it would be to cross the old bridge if her arm were linked to that of a strong and handsome lover. Still, she had no lover, and the fact remained that she must indeed cross the bridge.






Title: The Trove of the Passion Room
Author: Marcia Lynn McClure
Released: August 10, 2011
Publisher: Distractions Ink
The Trove of the Passion Room is not simply a story. Nor is it only a fable, a legend or mere nonsensical superstition. It exists. There is a trove hidden in The Passion Room…a trove that has never before in its fullness been found—for it is hidden by the spell of passion that lingers within the room itself. The passion inspired of the room cannot be denied. It cannot be controlled or resisted. And as the influence of The Passion Room cannot be evaded, neither can the trove be revealed without absolute and consummate surrender to...” She paused as her eyes widened. “What?” she breathed. “No way!”





As you can see I loved all of the books she released this year but that is just a drop in the bucket compared to the number of books you can choose from for this giveaway.

Below is a list of all of Marcia's books that are currently available.  Click on the title to be taken to a description of the book.

OR
See all of Marcia's Books on Amazon.com

A Better Reason to Fall in Love
A Crimson Frost
An Old-Fashioned Romance
Beneath the Honeysuckle Vine
Born for Thorton’s Sake
Daydreams
Desert Fire
Divine Deception
Dusty Britches
Kiss in the Dark
Kissing Cousins
Love Me
Romantic Vignettes
Saphyre Snow
Shackles of Honor
Sudden Storms
Sweet Cherry Ray
Take a Walk With Me
The Chimney Sweep Charm (New!)
The Fragrance of Her Name
The Haunting of Autumn Lake (New!)
The Heavenly Surrender
The Highwayman of Tanglewood
The Light of the Lovers’ Moon
The Pirate Ruse
The Prairie Prince
The Rogue Knight
The Tide of the Mermaid Tears
The Time of Aspen Falls
The Touch of Sage
The Trove of the Passion Room
The Visions of Ransom Lake
The Whispered Kiss
The Windswept Flame
To Echo the Past
Weathered Too Young



GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
1 winner will receive their choice of any of Marcia's available books.
Paperback available to US only or Ebook available Internationally
Ends 12/31/11

Optional Extra Entries
+1 Sign up to receive Marcia's Newsletter.  By doing so you also get a free ebook copy of The Rogue Knight: http://distractionsink.com/join-mailing-list/
+1 Follow Marcia on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MarciaLMcClure

WINNER:
Sariah Walters

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