Saturday, April 30, 2011

In My Mailbox (Meme #3)



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Bloggers who participate in this meme take the opportunity to feature a book they have borrowed, have been gifted as a blog award, received for review, checked out of the library, etc... on their blog. The idea is to get the word out about as many books as possible.


Heaven Sent by Xavier Leret
I received this read from Evie Bookish as a part of a giveaway. If I had not won this book I would have eventually bought it myself. It was already on my wish list, so thank you so much Evie and Xavier for saving me some cash. Love it!

Description:
Sixteen year old Carlo has no experience of the world. He desperately wants eternity to provide an alternative to the strict moral imperative of his Catholic parents. When Daizee Byatt, a girl from the other side of the tracks, crashes into Carlo's life, the course of his future veers off the road. This is the story of what Heaven Sent.


Chameleon of Colors by Aubrie Dionne

I received this book along with a few others from the author when she asked for a review. A chose a different book to review but look forward to reading this one eventually. I'm such a sucker for beautiful cover art. Ms. Dionne's reads are unique and well written. I really enjoyed the book I reviewed for her, Nebula's Music.

Description:
Ever since she stumbled into her father’s lab and drank a cocktail of his experiments, Kaylee has had the ability to change color, blending into her environment like a chameleon. Named a freak at school, she runs away and joins the Masquerade Carnival. Her life takes on a routine and she enjoys performing in the shows until she falls for a young man hired to run the rides. Coincidentally, an old, roving gypsy offers a potion to restore her body to the way it once was to win his heart. Now she must choose between her unique powers or a chance at love.

What's in your Mailbox?

The Spring Blog Carnival is here! Step right up!


Spring Blog Carnival is a Blog Hop Giveaway Hosted by Pure Imagination. Head on over to the Haunted House and pick up your free (ebook) copy of Soul Quest beginning May 1 - 8, 2011!

Just enter this code (QU72S) at check out to receive your free copy and enjoy! I hope you won't get too scared.

Haunted House

Oooh, a favor? If you wouldn't mind taking the poll (top, right of page) about which book you look forward to reading the most I would be most appreciative. I am going to do a giveaway in June for the book my followers most desire to read. So start voting!

YA Blogger Show and Tell #4



The YA Blogger Show and Tell is a weekly meme hosted by this blog. The purpose of this meme is to brag about cool information and ideas you discover when you visit other book blogs. Do you want to participate? Here is how it works.

1 - Paste The YA Book Blogger Show and Tell widget on your blog or website.
2 - Post about something interesting you've seen on another book bloggers blog or website.
3 - Invite someone to join the group.




This weeks YA Blogger Show and Tell features Rhiannon Paille, Thought Provoking and Absurd.

The link above will take you to a really terrific review of Cassandra Clare's latest work of genius, City of Fallen Angels. ...and no, I did not feature Rhiannon just because she loves Cassandra Clare (although, this could be reason enough, right?). Seriously, she has a really terrific blog filled with terribly interesting information about books and writing.

Rhionnon is the author of Integrated Intuition.
Integrated Intuition
A Comprehensive Guide to Psychic Development


Book Description:
You will save lives. Integrated Intuition is the core component course booklet for the Bachelor of Metaphysical Therapy Program, offered by the Canadian College of Metaphysics.


Take your first step to becoming a Metaphysical Therapist today!

Follow these links to read a great interview and review of Integrated Intuition with Evie at Evie Bookish.


Please visit Rhiannon Paille's blog today and become one of her followers. You won't be disappointed.

Do you have something special happening on your blog? Let us know about it and post a link here.

I am currently trying to figure out how to set up a linky service for this. If anyone has a clue about how to do this please feel free to educated moi! In the mean time I am copying and pasting them into to post.

YA Book Blogger Links
Evie Bookish

Friday, April 29, 2011

Just for fun!



One of my friends posted this on FB and I thought it was cute.








...In honor of the big wedding on Friday...Use your royal wedding guest name. Start with either Lord or Lady. Your first name is one of your grandparents' names. Your surname is the name of your first pet, double-barreled with the name of the street you grew up on. Post yours here.

I am henceforth: Lady Isabel Caroline - Rockburn

Follow Friday! (Meme #3)


Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee. It's purpose is to promote support and friendship among bloggers.

This week's question is by Marla at Starting the Next Chapter.

Keeping with the dystopian and apocalypse theme that seems to be running rampant on parajunkee.com, I have one very hard question for you: If you were stocking your bomb shelter, what books would you HAVE to include if you only had space for ten?


Wow, this is a really tough one! So many choices, so little space... I don't suppose we could get a signal for our Kindles, lol!

OK, well first I would have to take ALL of my Mortal Instrument Series books. That ticks off four of them, yikes! I would have to take at least one Percy Jackson book, probably the first one, The Lightning Thief. I also love The Hunger Games, Vampire Academy and Shiver. Now I only have 2 choices left... Twilight definitely has to go with me and... Prophecy of the Sisters! I did it! That was hard, whew!

Recap:
1 - 4 Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare
5 - Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
6 - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
7 - Vampire Academy by Richelle Meade
8 - Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
9 - Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
10 - Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink


I created a new look for my blog!

What do you think of my new look? I'm pretty excited about the art work I found for the header. Let me know what you think!

I also added a poll. You can find it on the left hand column. Please vote for the book you would like to read the most. I would like to host a book giveaway to draw some new attention here so I need to choose a really great book to promote.


Thursday, April 28, 2011

Guest Post at Evie Bookish!


Thanks so much to Evie Bookish for so graciously hosting me for a guest post on her blog. Evie is one of my dearest blogging friends, always supporting AmyJonesYaff and my book Soul Quest. If you haven't done so yet please head over to her blog and see what she has going on. Her blog is exploding with all kinds of great commentary and goodies. She has wonderful reviews, interviews, and guest posts. She often is hosting some type of giveaway. She participates in many fun and entertaining book memes. Please explore her blog, you won't be disappointed. While you are there you can read my guest post about Ebooks in the Classroom.

This or That Thursday!



seafood or pizza?
puppies or kittens?
lazy, rainy mornings or... Oh heck, nothing competes with this! Lets just stick to the first two.

My preferences:
seafood
puppies


What do you prefer?

100 Followers!


I finally reached my goal of 100 followers. Now I just need to figure out a way to celebrate. What did you do on your blog when you reached 100 followers?

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Another poem for Poetry Month!




Mrs. Peter's Death by Madeline Lessing

She won't speak to me
She won't look at me
And still she remains here

Her skin is cold
She'll need my warmth, eventually
But she still remains here

She sleeps all day
She sleeps all night
She eats when I'm not looking
Eventually she will crack
I know she loves my cooking
Yet she still remains here

How long has it been since I heard her voice
How long has it been since we've spoken
I try to stay up to see her
But when I pass out she has woken

When she forgives me, we will be rich
We'll go down in history
She'll be the first alive human
With a rotting body

My bride, my lady
By the time we talk I'll be a corpse
And you thought you'd die first, ha
You will feel remorse

Monday, April 25, 2011

Spring Blog Carnival


Spring Blog Carnival is a Blog Hop Giveaway Hosted by Pure Imagination. Head on over to the Haunted House and pick up your free (ebook) copy of Soul Quest beginning May 1 - 8, 2011!

Just enter this code (QU72S) at check out to receive your free copy and enjoy! I hope you won't get too scared.

Haunted House

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Another 5 star review for Soul Quest!


... or a 5 ship review would be more accurate!

Thanks to Books Ahoy! for their outstanding review of Soul Quest. Once again I am deeply flattered and heartened by the support of my fellow book lovers. To read this fantastic review head on over to Books Ahoy!


My Wishlist

Books, books, books... What am I wishing for? If you haven't noticed I love everything young adult science fiction and fantasy, paranormal romance, urban fantasy... I've left a list of books below (with links to Amazon) that I look forward to reading soon.



Divergent by Veronica Roth



Enclave by Ann Aguirre


The Angel Experiment by James Patterson



Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter



The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter



Wither by Lauren DeStephano



Lifethread by L. j. Charles




Heaven Sent by Xavier Leret
Yay! I just won this book over at Evie Bookish! Thank you Evie and Mr. Leret! You've made my day! - 4/28/11



Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

I prefer ebooks compatible for Kindle.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

YA Blogger Show and Tell #3


Hello everyone! This week's YA Blogger Show and Tell is going to feature more than one blogger. Each blogger featured in this week's post is a teenager. I have been blog hopping and I have stumbled across some really terrific teen blogs. If you scroll down my page you can find a whole list of them. I am featuring three in this post because I was extremely impressed with their reviews, but each blog is fantastic and I hope all of you will visit and follow them. It warms my heart to see young people with a passion for reading and writing!


Gina @ The Bucket List
Hi! I love writing, reading, and talking. Basically, I'll read and review the books here. I read mostly young-adult fiction, but I can venture into the adult section of my library once in a while. Welcome to my blog!



Lauren @ Books From a Shelf Young Adult Reviews and News
I'm just a 16-year-old girl who loves reading and obsessing over good books.





Kreag @ I Devour Books
I'm Kreag. I'm a highschooler in the USA. I Started this blog so that I could review and recommend my favorite books, or, well, any book I read. People told me I have a lot to say about books so... here I am. Oh, and I love to write to.




If you know a terrific blog that you feel needs to be checked out and followed please drop the link here.


Review for Ethereal by Addison Moore



Do Angels Walk the Earth?
Do angels walk the Earth? They do on Paragon Island. For two years Skyla Messenger has believed she lost her father to a horrible car accident. Now she’s not so sure.

Her mother has remarried to a man Skyla is not all that crazy about. She and her sister and new step siblings are being uprooted and relocated from sunny LA, California to dreary Paragon Island. Skyla finds she doesn’t mind the constant rain and fog of the island, it better reflects her mood since her father died.

When she arrives at her new home in Paragon she is greeted by Brielle, the girl next store, who just so happens to be the best friend of the dead girl who used to live in her new home. This is when Skyla’s life begins to turn upside down. Life as she knew it is not what she once believed. Brielle introduces Skyla to Logan and Gage. Skyla is instantly drawn to the boys, especially Logan and as time passes she learns the connection she feels to them may be more than just feelings. Logan and Gage are angels and they believe Skyla is one of them. There are different types of angels with different blood lines, so to speak. Each type of angel possesses different powers and abilities. It would seem that some angels are nicer than others and Skyla suddenly finds herself in danger. She begins to wonder whether her father’s death was really an accident.

As the days pass Skyla finds herself falling in love with Logan, wanted by Gage, haunted by the dead girl who used to sleep in her bedroom and being stalked by angels who prefer she’d go away… for good.

Addison Moore is a genius. Once I picked up this book I could barely put it down. When I had to put it down I found myself contemplating the plot. What would Skyla do next? When would Logan tell her the whole story? The suspense builds as the story progresses. It draws you in and captures your attention completely making difficult to focus on anything else. The characters in this book are as different as the teenagers and parents we all know. Some are beautiful. Some are strong. Some are quirky. They are all unique and propelled by their own desires. The language is simple and to the point while still being very descriptive of environment, action and emotion. I loved this book and can’t wait until the next installment. It’s one of the best stories I’ve read recently and I would place it on the bestseller shelf with out hesitation.

I give Ethereal by Addison Moore 5 stars!


To purchase Ethereal click here.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Don't Forget to sign up for the Mother's Day Giveaway!


Would you like a free hard back copy of the incredible Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer? Well, you're in the right place. This blog is hosting a giveaway in honor of this lovely read.

How do I enter to win?

It's easy! You can post your name and email address here or email it to me at:
amj@columbus.k12.nc.us

On Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8th, I will place each entrant's name into a hat and pull the name of the winner.

The first place winner will receive the free hardback copy of Eclipse.
The second and third place winners will receive a free copy of my book Soul Quest in ebook format.


If you win I will contact you via email. I will announce the winners in a post on Mother's Day!

It will be a Happy Mother's Day for someone! (You don't have to be a mother to enter, but you should let your Mom read your prize if you win, tee hee.)

Good luck to everyone!

I have 4 entries so far! Don't miss out on your chance to win!

Yay! We have another poem to post for Poetry Month!

Hanging Up Clothes by Valerie Nieman


Out in the last fine rain,

the light red in the west,

after the storm.

A delight for the eye

and tomorrow.



A deer comes from the wood line

and stands deep in daisies,

watching.

My white-flag work

does not frighten her.

The red light glows

in her summer coat.



The light is red.

The deer grazes.

I move from line to line.

Valerie is the author of Blood Clay. To learn more about Valerie, Blood Clay and other written works visit her website.



Description from Amazon:
Blood Clay tells the story of Tracey Gaines, who has moved to rural Saul County, North Carolina, to escape the wreckage of a divorce and becomes a teacher at an alternative school. She devotes herself to renovating an old farmhouse but finds she can't as easily build connections in this new place. When the community splits, she finds an ally in Dave Fordham, a native son who struck out for new opportunities, only to face his own trauma and a forced return home. Elizabeth Stuckey-French says, "Val Nieman has written what is destined to become a classic novel of Southern life."

Click here to purchase Blood Clay.

Follow Friday! (Meme #2)



Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee.

This week's post is by The Cait Files.

Q. What is on your current playlist right now?
Michael Jackson (everything, always!)
Black Violin
Glee soundtracks
Eclipse (The Twilight Saga) soundtrack
Enya

I like a variety of music. I listen just about anything.


What do you like to listen to? Leave me a link to your answers or post them here.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Book Trivia!

How well do you know your favorite fantasy books and characters?

What book/author is this excerpt from and who is talking to whom?
*character's names removed from excerpts.

"It's your call," he said softly, "but whatever you decide, I'll help you." He placed a soft, warm hand at the back of her neck and xxxxx's breath caught in her chest. "Whatever you need, I'll be. If you need the science geek to give you answers from a textbook, I'm your guy; if you just want a friend to sit by you in bio and help you feel better when you're sad, I'm still your guy." His thumb slowly stroked across her earlobe and down her cheek. "And if you need someone to hold you and protect you from anyone in the world who might want to hurt you, then I am definitely your guy." His pale-blue eyes bore into hers, and for a second she couldn't breath. "But it's all up to you," he whispered."

Post your answer!


Hint: This author has another installation in this series being released in May.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

WWW Wednessday! (Meme #2)



WWW Wednesday is a weekly event sponsored by Should Be Reading.

So, what do the three W's stand for?

1. What are you currently reading?

Ethereal by Addison Moore

Description taken from Goodreads:
Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking.

When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds.

Skyla discovers Logan holds the answers to the questions she’s been looking for, but Logan’s reluctance to give her the knowledge she desires leaves her believing Logan has a few secrets of his own.

Skyla’s bloodlines may just be connected to the most powerful angelic beings that roam the earth, and the more she knows, the more danger she seems to be in.

Suddenly an entire faction of earthbound angels wants her dead, at least she still has Logan, or does she?


2. What did you recently finish reading?
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
(see older post for review)



Description taken from Goodreads:
City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

3. What do you think you'll read next?
Catalyst: The Passage of Hellsfire by Marc Johnson

Description taken from Goodreads:
For centuries, the kingdom of Alexandria has protected Northern Shala from the monstrous creatures lurking in the Wastelands. Now, a dark force threatens that fragile peace.

Far from home, Alexandria's princess is abducted. When a young villager named Hellsfire stumbles upon her and her captors, he rushes in to rescue her, alone and unarmed. His fear and fury unleash an uncontrollable magical force that grants him the power to save the princess-and change the world.

Hellsfire has never craved nor dreamed of power. But such magic as he now possesses has not been seen in Northern Shala for a thousand years, since the devastation of the War of the Wizards and the creation of the Wastelands.

Now Hellsfire must leave all he's ever known, and make a dangerous journey to learn to master this wild, ferocious power-power he knows he is not ready to wield. More difficult still, he needs to master his emotions. If he can't, the power will consume him, Alexandria will fall, and darkness will eclipse the land, destroying everyone he loves.

In the dead of cold, the spark shall burn...

Review for Dread of Night by Joshua D. Boeringa



Dread of Night is a series of ghostly tales guaranteed to make your skin crawl and your heart race. Your fingers will fly through the pages with this read. Mr. Boeringa encompasses everything from mythical monsters, creepy neighbors, serial killer hermits and witchy decapitators. His writing style is powerfully descriptive. His clever use of imagery left me nail biting and tensed to spring through out his work. Every squeaky floor board and creaky door in my house left me unhinged while I read this book. I also found this read rather nostalgic. It reminded me of years passed, of camping trips with friends gathered around a blazing fire sharing scary stories into the wee hours of the morning. I definitely loved this read and recommend it to anyone who loves a good inspiration for a nightmare. My only disappointment was that it wasn’t longer.



I give Dread of Night 5 stars!