Monday, July 30, 2012

The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King (Review)

Genre:Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Western
Publication.Date  April 24th 2012
Pages:352
Published By:  Hodder & Stoughton (UK) | 
WebsiteStephen King 

The Wind Through The Keyhole - Goodreads
My review copy:A copy of the book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Where to get:



In "The Wind Through the Keyhole," Stephen King returns to the rich landscape of Mid-World, the spectacular territory of the Dark Tower fantasy saga that stands as his most beguiling achievement. Roland Deschain and his ka-tet"--"Jake, Susannah, Eddie, and Oy, the billy-bumbler--encounter a ferocious storm just after crossing the River Whye on their way to the Outer Baronies. As they shelter from the howling gale, Roland tells his friends not just one strange story but two . . . and in so doing, casts new light on his own troubled past.

In his early days as a gunslinger, in the guilt-ridden year following his mother's death, Roland is sent by his father to investigate evidence of a murderous shape-shifter, a "skin-man" preying upon the population around Debaria. Roland takes charge of Bill Streeter, the brave but terrified boy who is the sole surviving witness to the beast's most recent slaughter. Only a teenager himself, Roland calms the boy and prepares him for the following day's trials by reciting a story from the "Magic Tales of the Eld "that his mother often read to him at bedtime. "A person's never too old for stories," Roland says to Bill. "Man and boy, girl and woman, never too old. We live for them." And indeed, the tale that Roland unfolds, the legend of Tim Stoutheart, is a timeless treasure for all ages, a story that lives for us.

King began the Dark Tower series in 1974; it gained momentum in the 1980s; and he brought it to a thrilling conclusion when the last three novels were published in 2003 and 2004. "The Wind Through the Keyhole "is sure to fascinate avid fans of the Dark Tower epic. But this novel also stands on its own for all readers, an enchanting and haunting journey to Roland's world and testimony to the power of Stephen King's storytelling magic.
(Goodreads)



“A person’s never too old for stories. Man and boy, girl and woman, we live for them.”
“It was not fair, it was not fair, it was not fair. So cried his child's heart, and then his child's heart died a little. For that is also the way of the world.”
“In the end, the wind takes everything, doesn't it? And why not? Why other? If the sweetness of our lives did not depart, there would be no sweetness at all.” 
“Time is a keyhole, he thought as he looked up at the stars. Yes, I think so. We sometimes bend and peer through it. And the wind we feel on our cheeks when we do - the wind that blows through the keyhole- is the breath of all the living universe.” 





     While officially it's considered to be the eighth book in Dark Tower series, in his foreword Stephen King calls The Wind Through The Keyhole book 4.5, and advices his long-time readers to shelve it between Wizard and Glass and Wolves of Calla. And indeed, the events described in this book take place shortly after our tet leaves the Emerald City at the end of volume four of Dark Tower, and before they reach Calla Bryn Sturgis, where the story of Rolland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake and Oy continues. But, although this book is clearly a fantastic new addition to the well-known and well-loved epic fantasy masterpiece, it's also a story that is perfectly capable of standing on its own. So if you're wondering if you could pick it up and enjoy it without having to read the other books in Dark Tower series, I'd say: Yes, you can, but just because you can, doesn't mean you should. See, Dark Tower series is in my opinion one of the best and most unique (not to mention totally bad-ass) series out there, and one that absolutely should not be missed, regardless if you're a fan of epic fantasy, science fantasy, horror or western. If you appreciate stories that take your breath away and leave you shattered to pieces, stories that both scare the living soul out of you and inspire you, amaze you, consume you, and become your whole world (even if just for a little while) - this series is a must-read for you. 

     But! We're here today to take a closer look at The Wind Through The Keyhole, so let us focus on that first. 

     Roland and his ka-tet are on their way to Calla Bryn Sturgis when they're caught in the middle of a ferocious ice storm, called Starkblast. They're forced to find a place where they can safely wait it out. As they shelter inside a meeting hall in a deserted village, with the Starkblast wreaking havoc outside, Jake asks Roland to tell a story about the old days, and Roland agrees. He starts by telling them about one of his adventures in his younger days, when he and his tet-mate Jamie were sent to Debaria to capture a shape-changer who was killing people. While the two young gunslingers are investigating the case, another attack occurs, only this time there is one survivor - a young boy named Bill. Bill is also the only person who saw the skin-man in his human form, and to protect him Roland keeps the boy locked up in a jail cell. The young boy lost his father in the attack, he's devastated, lonely and terrified. To keep his mind of the horrific events he witnessed, young Roland tells yet another story. A story within the story, called A Wind Through The Keyhole; a magical and sinister fairytale his mother used to tell him when he was a boy. Woven together in the utmost skilful way, the three stories create one phenomenal and incredibly absorbing tale of remarkable bravery, destiny, and sacrifice. 

     This gorgeous new addition to Dark Tower series is yet another testament to Stephen King's skill as a master of the written word. Every passage of it pulls you deeper into the magnificently imagined post-apocalyptic Mid-World. Its addictive, crisp and humane prose and totally absorbing, complex plot line guarantee a one-of-a-kind reading experience. It's a special treat for all fans of Roland and his awesome tet, but also just a really great book that can be read outside of the series and enjoyed by just about anyone who appreciates a good read. It's a fairly quick, but certainly very memorable read, with characters that you won't be able to forget, as they really grow on you and quickly become your friends. The plot itself is fascinating enough, but combined with King's unique writing style and unforgettable, haunting narrative voice, it creates a monumental tour-de-force that stays with you long after you turn the last page. 

     Now, I'm a huge Stephen King fan, I grew up reading his books, and his Dark Tower series is a work of fiction that made a huge impression on me and influenced me in many ways. I guess you could say that my judgement might be a tiny bit biased here, but I honestly couldn't have loved The Wind Through The Keyhole more. I devoured it in just one afternoon, and was absolutely heartbroken when the story came to an end. Unlike King and many of his fans, I did not think that there was a big gap between book four and five in the series, though I must say I'm thrilled to be able to read more about the events between these two volumes. It's a true gift, as I never thought I'd be able to meet Roland and his friends again, and learn more about them and their adventures. I am very grateful for this short but greatly appreciated glimpse at Mid-World and Roland's teenage years - it was priceless, enriching and mesmerizing. And I'm so happy I could meet my beloved characters again, even if only briefly. This meeting reminded me how much I love Dark Tower cycle, how much I missed hanging out in the Mid-World and following all the heart-stopping adventures of the last living gunslinger of the line of "Arthur Eld". I will definitely be taking the time to re-read the whole series before the highly-anticipated movie and TV-series adaptations come out. 

     I can't recommend this series, and this particular book, enough. If you haven't read it yet, please do so. You won't regret. It's not your typical creepy Stephen King telling stories about monsters hiding in your closet or under your bed, it's a more graceful, sinister, magical Stephen King, and one that everyone - and I mean EVERYONE - should get acquainted with. This Stephen King will take you on a quest of epic proportions, filled with cataclysmic events, philosophical questions, existentialism, moments of absolute heartbreak and uplifting victories. He will introduce you to one of the most gorgeously rendered worlds you could ever imagine, and trust me, once you take a look around and meet all the great characters, you will not want to leave.






❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

BLOG TOUR: Circle of Silence by Carol M. Tanzman (Review + Giveaway)

Genre:Young Adult, Contemporary,  Thriller, Mystery, Romance
Publication.Date  July 24th 2012
Pages:304
Published By:  Harlequin Teen| 
WebsiteCarol M. Tanzman 

Circle Of Silence - Goodreads
My review copy:ARC received from netGalley via Kismet Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review
Where to get:



THE BIGGEST STORY OF MY LIFE COULD BE HOW IT ENDS It's my turn to run a "Campus News" crew, and I've put together a team that can break stories wide open. And Washington Irving High has a truly great one to cover, if only we can find a lead.

A secret society has formed in our school. It announced its presence with pranks: underwear on the flagpole, a toilet in the hallway, cryptic notes. A circle of silence keeps the society a mystery. No one knows its members, agenda or initiation secrets-until a student lands in the hospital under "strange" circumstances.

I "will" blow this story wide open and stop others from being hurt...or worse. And while my ex, Jagger, might want to help, I don't trust him yet. (And, no, not because of our past together. That is "not" important to this story.)

But whether you find me, Valerie Gaines, reporting in front of the camera, or a victim in the top story of the newscast...be sure to watch "Campus News" at 9:00 a.m. this Friday.
(Goodreads)



"The mysteries of WiHi are.. mysterious, Marci."
MP is power. The kind of power that sneaks up on people, smacks them in the face and makes them regret their sorry existence. 
Moment of truth. Whatever I choose changes lives. Good or bad, I'll never be able to say I didn't know what I was doing. Because if there's one thing I learned over the last few weeks, watching tubes and machines keep Jagger alive, is that there are consequences to every choice we make.



     Circle of Silence is a fantastic addition to the WiHi series. It's not by any means a continuation of the story from dancergirl, it's more of a companion novel that stands on its own and can be enjoyed by just about anyone, even if they haven't read the previous book (although I highly recommend you do). Part mystery and part romance, it's a thrilling and exciting story full of relatable characters and interesting plot developments. An unputdownable and entirely captivating tale that explores many themes, such as cheating and forgiveness, violence, revenge, and family drama. 

     The story starts seemingly innocent. It's Valerie Gaines' senior year and she is starting to feel the pressure. Soon enough high school will be over and everyone will go their own ways. To get into the top school of her choice, she has to show everyone what she's made of. When she's picked to be the producer of Team B Campus News crew, she knows that this is her chance to impress the teachers, all she needs is a great story. And what's a better story than a secret society that just announced its presence with a series of pranks? Valerie's determined to solve the mystery and expose the pranksters. What she doesn't yet realize, though, is just how dangerous a mission she's about to embark on. There's way more to the mysterious MP group than what everyone originally assumed, and Valerie is about to get a taste of real journalism with all its risks and challenges. 

     I really enjoyed this book, even though I thought it started off a little bit slow. At the beginning MP's pranks are rather childish and seemingly harmless. There are a few notes left in people's lockers, underwear hanging from a flag pole and a toilet with the school's flag in it left in the hallway - nothing particularly alarming. It isn't until the second half of the book that things are starting to get more serious. I loved the steadily increasing tension and how things got darker and creepier with every page. The atmosphere was thick with suspense and I just couldn't stop reading, I wanted to find out how this story ends. The ending itself didn't surprise me at all. I knew all along where the author was going with the story, but that didn't take away from the pleasure of reading. The only thing that really disappointed me was how sweet and cheerful the conclusion of the story was - to me it felt a little bit unrealistic. Usually that doesn't bother me at all - I love happy endings - but in this particular case I was hoping for a slightly different outcome. 

     I liked Valerie. She was strong, clever, very determined and passionate about journalism. She possessed many admirable qualities and it was fun to see her fully immersed in work and doing her best to crack the MP's case. I liked that she didn't instantly forgive and forget that Jagger cheated on her. I didn't like Jagger, he didn't seem trustworthy, there was something very off about him and I didn't really like the fact that Valerie was still under his charm. Overall, though, I thought the dynamics of their relationship were very interesting. It isn't often that we get to read about couples overcoming obstacles, working out compromises, and getting over heartbreaks - especially not in YA novels. I thought it was a fresh and delicious new take on YA romance. 

     I absolutely loved Mrs. Tanzman's writing style. Her plotting was solid and she crafted all the characters and high school settings with exceptional care for details, which resulted in a very bone-chilling, convincing and emotionally engaging read. I liked that she included MP logs throughout the novel. That gave us an interesting insight into the mind of the culprit, and instantly increased the level of creepy. Being able to see the story from the MP leader's perspective was both disturbing and intriguing at the same time

     Overall, this book was really great and I had a fantastic time reading it. It was a quick and intensely gripping read, and one that send many shivers down my spine. If you enjoyed Mrs. Tanzman's dancergil, you'll love Circle Of Silence. Don't hesitate to pick it!






And here's a short, but very entertaining Guest Post by Carol M. Tanzman, the author of this fabulous YA  novel!


Dueling Playlists: Val vs. Jagger 

Today is the Circle of Silence book birthday (so exciting)! Of course, singing the birthday song is way too lame. Instead, I’m giving you: Dueling Playlists! 

The main character in the book, Valerie Gaines, and her ex-boyfriend, Jagger Voorham, end up on the same Campus News TV crew. They’re at odds over most things, including their playlist. Here are the Top Five songs for each of them, along with a Spotify playlist that combines them both. 

Valerie’s Playlist 

1. Cruel - St. Vincent
2. Crew Love – Drake 
3. Boyfriend - Best Coast
4. We Found Love - Rihanna
5. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 

Jagger’s Playlist 

1. Sixteen Saltines - Jack White
2. Hold On - Alabama Shakes
3. Wiped Out - OFF!
4. Float - Aesop Rock
5. Paint it, Black - Rolling Stones 

Here’s the Spotify playlist for both sets of songs. 

So, readers, whose list do you like better?






About Carol M. Tanzmann


Carol M. Tanzman is an award-winning theatre director and nationally recognized arts educator. Her first YA novel, The Shadow Place, was on YALSA's Quick Pick List of Recommended Books, the National Council of Teachers of English ALAN List of Best Books, and the CA Collection for Middle & Senior High Schools. In addition to the current Harlequin Teen books dancergirl and Circle of Silence she is a contributing poet to the upcoming Dare to Dream…Change the World anthology.



GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the Kismet Blog tours and Harlequin Teen each of the tour hosts gets a chance to host two amazing giveaways! 

Here's what you can win:

The first giveaway is for the chance to win a physical copy of Circle Of Silence! To enter the daily give-away, please enter via Rafflecopter below!
Open to US/Canada only


a Rafflecopter giveaway



The second giveaway is for a brand new Nook GlowLight skinned with the beautiful Circle of Silence Cover Art! To enter: You MUST answer the special question found in the Rafflecopter Giveaway!:




Entries in the daily give-away also count toward the grand prize give-away.
Open to US/Canada only

This review, giveaway and guest post are posted as part of the Temptation blog tour organized by Heather and Danny from Kismet Blog Tours & Harlequin Teen!


Full schedule here:


Monday, July 23rd – Alice Marvel’s - Q&A with Carol! 
Tuesday, July 24th Book Birthday – Evie Bookish
Wednesday, July 25th – The Book Cellar 
Friday, July 27th – Kindle Fever
Monday, July 30th – Xpresso Reads
Wednesday, August 1st – Reading Angel
Friday, August 3rd – Harlequin Blog
Monday, August 6th- Letter’s Inside Out
Wednesday, August 8th – Chapter by Chapter
Friday, August 10th – I Just wanna Sit here and Read 
 ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Friday, July 20, 2012

The After Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer (Review)

Genre:Adult, Drama, Romance, Comedy, Chick Lit
Publication.Date  July 10th 2012
Pages:320
Published By:  Ballantine Books | 
WebsiteGigi Levangie Grazer 

The After Wife - Goodreads
My review copy:An e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Where to get:



Gigi Levangie Grazer, the New York Times bestselling author of The Starter Wife, returns with a hilarious and spirited tale of love—both lost and found.

L.A. is no place for widows. This is what forty-four-year-old Hannah Bernal quickly discovers after the tragic death of her handsome and loving husband, John. Misery and red-rimmed eyes are little tolerated in the land of the beautiful. But life stumbles on: Hannah’s sweet three-year-old daughter, Ellie, needs to be dropped off at her overpriced preschool, while Hannah herself must get back to work in order to pay the bills on “Casa Sugar,” the charming Spanish-styled bungalow they call home.

Fortunately, Hannah has her “Grief Team” for emotional support: earth mother and fanatical animal lover Chloe, who finds a potential blog post in every moment; aspiring actress Aimee, who has her cosmetic surgeon on speed dial; and Jay, Hannah’s TV producing partner, who has a penchant for Mr. Wrong. But after a series of mishaps and bizarre occurrences, one of which finds Hannah in a posh Santa Monica jail cell, her friends start to fear for her sanity. To make matters worse, John left their financial affairs in a disastrous state. And when Hannah is dramatically fired from her latest producing gig, she finds herself in danger of losing her house, her daughter, and her mind.

One night, standing in her backyard under a majestic avocado tree, in the throes of grief, Hannah breaks down and asks, “Why?” The answer that comes back—Why not?—begins an astounding journey of discovery and transformation that leads Hannah to her own truly extraordinary life after death. (Goodreads)



"Before I was widowed," I say, "I was born. Then I had boobs. Then I had relationships. My relationships were all in L.A., a magical place where the men have less body hair than the women. Then, I fell in love. Then I was pregnant. Then I was married. I do things backward, it's my way."
I pulled the veil over my face. I understood why widows wore veils. Grief changes a face. You're unrecognizable, even to yourself. Your facial geography is redrawn, as though gravity has struck, suddenly and indelibly. 
“I love you, Hannah Banana,” he said, his eyes wide, as though making a discovery. I knew exactly what he was thinking. I thought the same thing. “How did I wind up here? How did I wind up with this person who makes me so happy? How did I get this beautiful life? This beautiful daughter?” And I would add: “How am I the best fed woman on the planet?” Sometimes, I thought, just sometimes . . . good things happen to good people, or at least people who don’t engage in road rage.




     The After Wife is a chick lit novel, and an exceptional one at that. While I didn't exactly step out of my comfort zone to read it, I also can't say that women's fiction is a genre that I delve into on regular basis. I decided to pick it up based on some great Goodreads reviews, and was absolutely amazed at just how much I ended up loving it. This book was fantastic. I laughed, I cried a bit, I got really attached to the great lead character and her three-year-old daughter, and I came out of reading it with a curious mix of sadness, hopefulness, and satisfaction. It's a heartfelt and poignant story of death, grief, healing power of friendship and the parenting challenges faced by widows. Meaningful and moving, but also very funny and uplifting, it's not only a prefect summer read, but a story that can be enjoyed any time, anywhere and by anyone. 

     The story line centres around forty-four-year-old Hannah Bernal and her three-year-old daughter, Ellie. Hannah wakes up one day to a phone call from Santa Monica Hospital. The caller, Dr. Rogan, informs her that her husband, John, was in a car accident, and he died in the ambulance on his way to the hospital. Hannah's world crumbles to pieces. First there's shock and denial, then an overwhelming wave of grief, and, finally, the realization that she is now all on her own. She now has to take on a role of both mother and father, and learn how to do things that John was responsible for until now. She's heartbroken and lonely, and there's nothing - not even the "grief team" formed by her three best friends - that could ever fill the void left by her husband's death. And like that's not enough to deal with, she then learns that John failed to keep their finances in order, leaving her with a huge debt. When she's fired from her latest production gig, she finds herself one step away from loosing everything: her lovely Spanish-style bungalow, her daughter, and herself. 

     I really enjoyed reading this book. It's an insightful, touching and thoroughly captivating read. The lightness and humour with which Gigi Levangie Grazer approaches the difficult subject of death of a family member is rare and impressive. Her characters (especially Hannah) are very sympathetic, likeable and funny, giving the novel a lot of charm. I was a little bit afraid that the novel will turn out to be really serious, dark, and depressing (considering the heavy subject matter), but thankfully, it was nothing of the sort. There are, of course, many scenes in this book that will tug at your heart, many passages that will invoke some powerful emotions - but that's only to be expected, it is, after all, a book about a woman learning how to live her life after her husband's death. But the overall atmosphere is a rather positive one. Sure, Hannah finds herself in a very sad and difficult place, she's facing many obstacles, and, at times, she feels scared, lost and overwhelmed, but at the same time she's exceptionally brave, strong and optimistic. You won't see her withdrawing from life, crying herself to sleep, nor letting grief take over her whole existence (at least not very often, you won't). You'll see her struggle. You'll see her fight. You'll see her coming out of this experience even stronger and braver than she already was. And that's remarkable, considering she herself did not realize just how strong and brave she was to begin with. To me, the way she handled things - with grace and humour - was very inspirational, and I admired her as a person. 

     Grazer's prose is rich, luminous, and deeply personal, it allows you to completely lose yourself in the plot. Her writing is sexy, honest, and convincing, and while some people might not appreciate her humorous approach to the story, I really loved all the jokes and hilarious situations. I also loved the vibrant narrative voice. It was snarky, edgy, and totally wonderful. It's Hannah's colorful and energetic personality that kept the novel perfectly balanced - not too dramatic, and not too funny. 

     Overall, The After Wife is an extremely clever, heart-warming and uplifting read. It's a balm for the soul, as it shows you that no matter how difficult a situation you find yourself in, your life doesn't end unless you decide so. Surviving the loss of a family member might be the hardest thing you'll ever do, but it can be done. Even the deepest wounds heal with time, and, as long as you give yourself time and allow yourself to hope, you can - and will - get through it. I think that's a fantastic message - powerful and oh-so-true. A message to remember.






❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Blog Re-Design: Doodle's Book Blog + Giveaway (INT)

Hello lovelies! :) Today I have another blog re-design news to share with you! I finally got around to finish the layout design for Emily's book blog: DOODLE'S BOOK BLOG. Emily is awesome, she's practically rocking my face off ever since I first talked to her! She's sweet, cheerful, naughty (YES!), and very talented. I love her blog, all her wicked awesome vids and her lovely reviews. You SHOULD be following her by now and if you still don't, well.. GET ON IT! :)

Here's Doodle's old look (I forgot to take a screen shot AGAIN, but Emily knows me so well, she KNEW I would forget and took it herself! <3):



Here's Doodle's new look:


This design is SO Emily - colorful, vibrant and just a tiny bit crazy :P

How do you like it? :) I designed the slider myself, as well as all the graphics.

And again, to celebrate Emily's new design I have a giveaway for you!

It's open to INTERNATIONALS
Ends: August 22nd (my B-DAY!)
And you can win one of the books from Emily's READ LIST

Enter via Raffl below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As you can see, I am working really hard catching up on all the blog designs that I've been planning to do for a while now! Next on my list is a blog design for Justin from Justin's Book Blog, and then one for Kathy from A Glass Of Wine, and Stephanie from Little Red Reads (another three of my bestest bookish friends!). I am also working on some graphics for the wonderful Michele from Just A Lil Lost and you should be able to see them within the next day or two! Woooohooo for some free time! :) 

Gift Hulk AMAZON $20 Gift Card Giveaway!


I've been contact but the wonderful Victor from Gift Hulk and asked to host this wicked awesome giveaway for you guys! You can win a $20 dollar gift card from Amazon (we can also substitute it with $20 via PayPal), and it's open to everyone!

All we're asking is for you to get familiar with Gift Hulk, a fabulous and fun service that allows you to earn points just by browsing internet, sharing contents via social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) and by filling out daily surveys! Then you can exchange the points for Amazon gift cards! Easy?

If you want to know how it works, click here!

Important: Apparently this service only allows to register within US and Canada. I'm not sure about UK, though, so feel free to try. I'm sorry about that - I was not aware of this when signing up to host the giveaway! 

Here's another giveaway for $20 from Book Depository (this could be substituted for Amazon Gift card if needed!) 
a Rafflecopter giveaway


What is GiftHulk?

At GiftHulk users can earn gift cards, electronics and other rewards the EZ Way, by doing things they already do online – searching, answering surveys and more!
We listen to our users and constantly improve the program and introduce new ways for our users to earn!
We have not one unique feature, but many - Treasure BoxSearch&Win, Bonus Bar and more! You can read more about these features here: How it Works,FAQ



Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Blog Re-Design: Escaping... One Book @ A Time + Giveaway

Hello lovelies!

Today I had the pleasure of working on a new blog design for Tiffany from Escaping... One Book @ A Time! Tiffany is just the kindest, sweetest and most awesome gal ever! I adore her and I'm just so happy I got to work on her blog layout! If you're not a follower of her blog, you are seriously missing out! She's not only charming and adorable, but also super positive and energetic, and her reviews are thoughtful, thorough and eloquent! Do yourself a favour and go visit her blog ASAP - she is going to rock your world!

Here is a screen shot of the new design (I'm so bad.. I didn't take a screen shot of the old one! *face-palm*)


You can visit Tiffany's blog by clicking HERE.

I also designed some graphics for the memes Tiffany is participating in, as well as her blog button and social icons. 

To celebrate Tiffany's new blog design, I'm hosting a giveaway! (Don't ask me why, I just feel like it, LOL)


You can win up to $20 dollars worth of books from Book Depository. 
Open: WORLD WIDE
Ends: August 15th 

Enter via Rafflecopter below!

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter (Review)

Genre:Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology
Publication.Date  July 31st 2012
Pages:400
Published By:  Harlequin Teen  | 
WebsiteAimee Carter 

Goddess Legacy - Goodreads
My review copy:eCopy received for review via netGalley
Where to get:



For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aimé e Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.

Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness....

Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal....

Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another....

James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before....

Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope....

Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages.(Goodreads)



“If humanity was depending on us to get it right, they were in for several eons of disappointment." 
“Love is not always enough, as much as we may want it to be”
“I buried my face in my hands, and without any thought to dignity, I cried. For myself, for the life I would never have, for the eons that would never end. For the hope that had been stolen from me time and time again, until it dwindled into nothing.”
“Zeus has gone to great lengths to prove he's changed for you. But people don't change like that, Hera -- they change because they want to, not because someone demands they do. And I worry that as soon as the wedding's over and the pair of you settle into marriage, he's going to revert back to the person you hate”




     The Goddess Legacy is hands down my favourite book in The Goddess Test series so far. Not only is it just as entertaining and captivating as all the previous parts, but it also profoundly enriches the series as a whole. Technically, it's an in-between story, featuring events leading up to The Goddess Test, but unlike other in-between stories out there, The Goddess Legacy is a full-blown, 400 pages long novel, filled with stories that will change the way you look at all the characters forever. Thanks to this book you'll get a better understanding of the Olympians, their past, personalities, motives behind their actions, and how everything that happened since the imprisonment of the Titans led to Kate's arrival in the Underworld. I am so glad I have read this book, as it offered all the information and intriguing details that I've been missing in The Goddess Test and Goddess Interrupted. In short, The Goddess Legacy is like a missing puzzle, now that its been found, we finally get the whole picture. And let me just tell you, it's an absolutely fabulous one!

     Consisting of five seemingly unrelated novellas, The Goddess Legacy takes us back in time to shortly after the war between the Olympians and the Titans. We start with Hera/Calliope and her story, followed by the stories of Aphrodite/Ava, Persephone, Hermes/James, and ending with Hades/Henry. Although each of the novellas weaves a spellbinding tale that could easily stand on its own, they're all told in  chronological order, intertwining with each other and completing one another, resulting in a perfectly satisfying, cleverly executed read. I must say, I was deeply impressed by how well-thought-out it was. Everything from the choice of characters to offering their first-person perspectives on all the events to the spot-on arrangement of all the segments was great. I wouldn't have it any other way. 

     I found all the stories to be entertaining, fun to read and very compelling, ultimately though, it's the insights they provided into the minds of all the lead protagonists that truly made this book for me. I loved poking around their heads and getting to know them inside and out. I feel that I understand them and their motives so much better now, and - most importantly - I finally fully understand Kate and Henry's story. I enjoyed reading The Goddess Test and Goddess Interrupted immensely, but while I appreciated the swiftly moving action, abundance of characters and the drama between them, I didn't understand some of the decisions they made, and was left with many burning questions. That proved to be especially damaging to my opinion of Hades/Henry, because I just couldn't figure him out. The Goddess Legacy puts everything into perspective. In this book, Aimee Carter addresses all those things that made you frown / got you confused while reading the previous two. She starts from the beginning and weaves the story all the way to the moment when Hades/Henry meets Kate for the first time. You'll learn how difficult a life Hera/Calliope had, how many hardships and betrayals she faced, how much pain she endured, and what pushed her to turn on her own family. You'll get a glimpse of Aphrodite/Ava's passionate nature and how being the goddess of love and sex affected her relationships. Next, you'll listen to Persephone telling her story, and you'll find out why she decided to give up eternity to be with Adonis. You'll also get to spend some time on Earth together with Hermes/James, following his adventures among the mortals. And finally, you'll also meet Hades/Henry, and you'll get an interesting insight into his broken heart and tormented soul, and it will really (REALLY) help you understand his attitude towards Kate and how he really felt about her

     What can I say? I loved this book. I'm extremely happy to have read it, as it really made this series for me. Without it, I would be just as clueless and confused as I was at the beginning, wondering why Henry couldn't just accept Calliope as his wife, how Persephone could be so heartless and cruel to Henry, and why James was such a troublemaker. Well, now I know, and although I'm still very much disgusted by Persephone's selfishness and Aphrodite's infidelity, I can at least say that I know where they're coming from. And that really makes a difference. I'm really thankful to Aimee Carter for giving this story the depth and meaningfulness it deserved.






❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...