I'm Taking a Break!

Hey my lovely readers!  I unfortunately have to go on a teeny hiatus as university is kicking my butt, and I am super behind in reviews!  But don't despair, I will be back in two weeks with (hopefully ; )) more content for all of you!

Thanks for sticking around and making my blog better!  Don't forget to be awesome!

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Past. Present. Future. (3)

There are a a lot of these "What're you reading?" features around, so I figured, hey why not start one too?  Basically, here's where I highlight the books I've read, the books I'm reading, and the books I'm going to read.  Fun, right?  Please join in if you want!

PAST:

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

Intangible by J. Meyers

My Vampire Summer by Elle Casey

12 Things to Do Before You Crash and Burn by James Proimos











PRESENT:

Ripper by Stefan Petrucha

The Finnish Line by Linda Gerber












FUTURE:

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

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Recommend A... (2)

Welcome to the first installment of "Recommend A...", a fun new meme created by Shanyn over at Chick Loves Lit. Shanyn will post a new prompt each week, and anyone interested in participating will post a book recommendation that follows the prompt.  A different way to get recommendations!

This week's prompt is: Recommend a Book with a Green Cover!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Another Greek gods book, but such a great one!  The Percy Jackson series has 5 books in it, with The Lightning Thief being the first in the series.  I really love the idea of a camp for half-bloods, children of gods and humans, where they learn how to use their abilities to defend themselves against the monsters wanting to kill them.  This is a really great middle-grade series, and has a follow-up series, Heroes of Olympus,  as well!

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Giveaway of Intangible

I just read Intangible by J. Meyers and loved it so much.

(Go check out my review and my author interview!)

It was a really great book, and I want to share it with you all!

I figured a good way to do that is to give some copies away, so that's what I'm doing!

Enter to win a ebook copy of Intangible.

There will be two winners, and the ebooks can be from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

This giveaway is also INTERNATIONAL; exciting!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Intangible: Review and Interview with J. Meyer

Title: Intangible

Author(s): J. Meyers

Edition: eBook, 264 pages

Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: January 31, 2012

Source: Received from author for review

Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, From Author Site

GIVEAWAY: Enter to win an e-book copy of Intangible!  Giveaway is OVER

The Summary

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Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift. 

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

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I was lucky to be contacted by J to review her wonderful book Intangible. I'm often hesitant to read self-published books due to the lack of editing that often happens.  But the premise sounded really good, and I love a story with siblings who actually love each other.  After finishing Intangible, I can add it to my "Good Books" list!

For me, it is all about the characters, and while their are many we meet throughout the relatively short book, each stands out.  Sera and Luke are my favorites, 1) because they are the protagonists, 2) they're siblings who love each other, and 3) they are really well written! I love that they share this connection which each other, one that isn't just supernatural in nature but familial as well.  My next favorite would be Marc.  He is a great character because you can really see the conflict he goes through.  At first you think he's just a villain, but the way his character is crafted, you learn there is much more to him.  He also loves coffee A LOT just like me!

The world J crafted is very realistic, even with all the supernatural elements.  I love that it is set in Vermont, a state that doesn't get a lot of love.  Then there are all the references to coffee shops!  I find coffee shops to be a great vehicle in stories: they can be meeting places, hang outs, a stop during transit; so many options!  And of course, with the realistic side, there is great mix of the supernatural.  And not just one supernatural creature is in this book, but vampires, elves, and gifted humans.  There are also these nasty shadows, but that's all I'm saying there.  A really fun, realistic, and dangerous world is found within the pages.

Overall, this was a good read!  There is a hinting at the end to where the story is going in the next book, and I am really excited to read it!  Please check out the short story Intuition, and my giveaway to win an ebook copy of Intangible (link above).  You won't regret it!

Extras

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Don't forget to check out the short story Intuition, a prequel to Intangible!

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Smashwords

It's free!

Final Rating

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Book Cover: 4/5
Book Title: 4/5
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 44/50: B+

Author Interview with J. Meyer

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What inspired the story of Intangible?

The idea of a girl who could heal with a touch of her hand was inspired by Reiki, a hands-on alternative healing method I'm very familiar with. And one night I was flipping through a superhero encyclopedia, marveling at all the cool powers they have, and I thought "What if there were teens cropping up all over the world with special abilities? That would be SO cool!"

Oh I'm not familiar with Reiki, but after reading the book, healing by touch is definitely very cool!

There is a great mix of supernatural creatures in Intangible. What made you bring in so many?

Well, I knew I wanted vampires in it because Sera heals a vampire and transforms it back to human. But I also didn't want this to be just another vampire book. So the idea grew and expanded to include all sorts of supernatural beings--since the Realm is home to them all. I love having that whole other world to imagine and play with.

Well I loved the mix of supernatural creatures for sure!

With all the mention of coffee in the book, are coffee shops one of your favorite places?

I love coffee shops. I love the cozy, warm feel they (almost) always have--the sweet and slightly bitter smell of all sorts of coffees and concoctions as well as the baked goods that often accompany them. There's something really homey, safe, and secure about a coffee shop no matter where you are in the world. And I find it's one place you can go by yourself without feeling conspicuously BY YOURSELF, you know? I've never been terribly comfortable going to a restaurant by myself, but totally fine going solo to a coffee shop.

Coffee is probably one of my favorite vices; I drink too much of it!

Do you have any plans on writing a second book?

Yes! I'm actually working on the second book right now and have all my fingers and toes crossed that it'll be out by the end of the year.

Awesome!  I can't wait to read it!

Besides fantasy, what other genres would you be interested in writing?

I don't know, maybe contemporary, but I honestly don't know if I could pull it off. I love fantasy. I love bending the rules of real life and making things happen that really can't. I love imagining magic, love the endless possibilities of the supernatural. I believe all my book ideas at the moment are fantasy, so I'm not sure I will ever write in another genre . . . but never say never. ;-)

I would look forward to any genre you want to dabble in ; )

What are some of your favorite authors and books?

The Dreamdark series by Laini Taylor
The Attolia series by Megan Whalen Turner
Chime by Frannie Billingsley
This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers
Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore
Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
The Magic Thief series by Sarah Prineas

Some of these I haven't read; I'll have to check them out.

Besides writing, what are some other things you do?

Spend time with my family--that's my favorite thing to do. I also bake (too much), sew (a little), and knit (not enough). I read a lot (almost exclusively YA lit) and love spending time outside going for walks, hikes, skipping rocks at the lake, and taking in the splendor of nature. (Also? I love putting things in parentheses.) (I know it's hard to tell.) ;-)

Thanks so much for the interview, J! I really appreciate it!

Thank YOU, Eli! It's been fun. :-)

J. Meyers grew up in Vermont and now lives in Central New York. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s chasing her four kids around, exploring the outdoors with them, relishing the few quiet moments she gets with her husband, baking sweet treats, and forgetting to make dinner. Though she cannot actually see the future nor heal with a touch of her hand, she likes to think her children believe she can. Intangible is her first novel.  Check out her website, add her on Twitter, and like her on Facebook!

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My Vampire Summer Blog Tour

I'm excited to share My Vampire Summer by Elle Casey, the first novella in a 4 part series, with all of you!  

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-Summery-

Reserved bookworm Iona Candella and her best friend, wildchild Cheri Blake, are spending the summer before college in a small medieval town in France. Iona plans to spend the time reading 100 books on her Kindle, and Cheri plans to spend it finding gorgeous French boyfriends to help them pass the time instead. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, Iona does find herself a gorgeous French boy. Except… there’s something off about him. Besides the fact that’s he’s a snooty, sexy French guy, of course. Iona demands answers, and that’s when her whole world is turned upside down. Both girls get more than they bargained for or even imagined. Ancient curses, haunted castle ruins, and some serious language barrier issues. Food isn’t the only thing that’s yummy in France… 

(Goodreads) 

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-Review-

4 Stars

I was definitely intrigued by the premise (I mean, come on, who wouldn't be?), and I figured it was short, so even if I didn't like it, I didn't waste my time.  But after finishing the novella, yes it was short, but it was also fun, flirty, and a great read!  All the qualities you need in a summer book!

The characters are what really drew me in.  The friendship between Iona (love the name) and Cheri was awesome, and so authentic.  I could hear their conversations in my head sounding exactly like me and my friends in high school.  The dynamics are perfect, a great mix of snarky and sweet topped with a whole lot of love!  Great best friends are one in a million, and this relationship made the story that much more fun.

The writing was really spot on as well.  Like I mentioned, I could hear the conversations in my head, and no matter if the scene dealt with the normal or paranormal, I felt it was real.  The descriptions were great; being that the author lives in France gave the atmosphere that needed, dare I say, je nais se quoi.  There were many modern references, such as the Kindle you read about in the description, but that didn't feel out of place.  Everything just flowed really well together in a way that kept me engaged.

Overall, I think My Vampire Summer is a great summer quick read, and I can't wait to read the next three novellas that go along with the rest of the seasons.  In fact, I liked it enough to want to give you all a chance to read it.  Check down below for the giveaway details!

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-Author-

Website - Twitter - Facebook

Elle Casey is an American author living in southern France with her husband and three children. She writes in a variety of genre including Young Adult Action/Adventure, Young Adult Fantasy, Adult Thriller, and Adult Contemporary Romance. Check out the rest of her books on Amazon! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-Giveaway- 

This is a giveaway for 2 ebooks of My Vampire Summer.

This is an INTERNATIONAL giveaway!

Note, the ebook is Kindle format.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Waiting on Wednesday (40)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we seriously can’t wait for.

 Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait for (a little late this week, sorry!):

Fangirl 

by Laurie Boyle Crompton

Publication Date: January 2013

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When comic-obsessed Blaze stands up to her evil ex, he posts a racy picture of her online and a battle of epic proportions ensues. Before she knows it, Zap! Thwack! Pow! Blaze becomes the target of intense bullying. She must learn to channel her inner-superhero if she hopes to gain the ultimate victory: rescuing herself.

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I love the premise of this, and that it is about channeling your inner superhero!  I love going to science-fiction/comic conventions, so I definitely relate to the fangirl thing!  I think comics are a great vehicle for teens to gain confidence because they can read stories about their favorite superhero overcoming obstacles (maybe even some of the same ones the teens go through) and being stronger for it.  I'm really excited to see how Fangirl turns out!

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Teaser Tuesday (41)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following!

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share a few teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.
• MAKE SURE NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (you don't want to give too much away and ruin the book for other readers)

Share the title and author too, so that other readers can add your book to their TBR list if they like your teaser!

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Ripper 
by Stefan Petrucha

Publication Date: March 1, 2012

         A glint turned her head down to his side.  His hand now held a long, sharp knife, its silver mixing with the gaslight's yellow.  By the time Elizabeth B. Rowley looked back up, his right hand was at her throat.  Any sound she might've made, any objection she might have raised, was stifled by his grip.

(Pg. 5)

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It's a little confusing, reading two books titled Ripper, but the stories couldn't be more different!  I love re-tellings (as I've said so many times), and especially when it's about Jack the Ripper.  I must admit to a slight fascination, and there have been some great books out about him lately.  This one is set in New york, and the Pinkerton Detective Agency is on the case.  So not only does this have the Ripper but the Pinkertons, another fascinating piece of history!  I'm so excited to finish this!

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Top Ten Tuesday (19)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of their bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

The topic this week is: Top Ten Sites/Blogs/Vlogs You Read/Watch That Aren't About Books

I adore this week's topic, and I have some good blogs/vlogs to share with you all!

BLOGS:
A Beautiful Mess - A mix between fashion/lifestyle/diy, Elsie always inspires me!
Color Me Katie - Full of fun and bright photographs and craft projects, Katie turns each day into an adventure, and always brings a smile!
Oh Hey, What's Up? - A great lifestyle/general life blog that makes me laugh out loud; Corrin is also a larger girl like me, and I get so many fashion tips from her site!
All Lacquered Up - Did I ever mention I'm obsessed with nail polish? No? Well I am, and Michelle is the queen of nail polish!
Tumblr/Pinterest - Now I know these aren't a blog, but I literally spend most of day on these two sites; it's an addiction I want EVERYONE to get into!

VLOGS:
Crash Course - Not only is John Green an amazing author, he also really likes history.  Here he teaches you all about different historical periods in a fun and engaging way! (now Hank Green is talking biology too!)
Sci Show - Speaking of Hank Green, he teaches us not only on Crash Course, but on Sci Show, the best show about science ever!! No seriously, he makes ME interested in science!
Improv Everywhere - This is a New York based prank/improv group founded by Charlie Todd.  They are responsible for such classics as The No Pants Subway Ride & Frozen Gand Central Stations.  Very entertaining, and makes me wish I could do it too!
Charlieissocoollike - Yes that is all one word, and it is about a 20-something English dude named Charlie who makes videos about whatever he wants.  Sometimes tea, sometimes Doctor Who, but always fun!
Miss Glamorazzi - As much as I love nail polish, I also really like make-up, and Ingrid is one of my favorite "make-up gurus".  She is so sweet, explains tutorials really well, and just so darn cute!

See I do have interests beyond books!  How exciting!  And I hope you found some fun new blogs/vlogs to check out!  Leave links to some of your favorite non-book blogs/vlogs in the comments so I can check those out!  DFTBA!

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Recommend A... (1)

Welcome to the first installment of "Recommend A...", a fun new meme created by Shanyn over at Chick Loves Lit. Shanyn will post a new prompt each week, and anyone interested in participating will post a book recommendation that follows the prompt.  A different way to get recommendations!

This week's prompt is: Recommend a Book with Three Words in the Title!

Oh. My. Gods. & Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs

This is a great series about the Greek Gods!  As you all know I love re-tellings of myths and fairy tales, and Tera Lynn Childs take on the gods & goddesses of Greece is awesome!  Full of teenage drama, first loves, and the occasional power mishap, this is one set of books you don't want to miss!

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Poetry Sunday (13)

This is a fabulous blog feature here at Eli to the nth!  Poetry is one of my passions, but I often don't have an opportunity to share that passion.  This feature gives me the perfect opportunity to do so!  Thanks to Genna from Reading, Writing, and the World of Words, who created this awesome feature and gave me the permission to host it here, as well as, use her cute graphic!

Anonymous Lyric
By Connie Voisine

It was the summer of 1976 when I saw the moon fall down.

It broke like a hen’s egg on the sidewalk.

The garden roiled with weeds, hummed with gnats who settled clouds on my

oblivious siblings.

A great hunger insatiate to find / A dulcet ill, an evil sweetness blind.

A gush of yolk and then darker.

Somewhere a streetlamp disclosed the insides of a Chevy Impala—vinyl seats, the rear- view,

headrests and you, your hand through your hair.

An indistinguishable burning, failing bliss.

Because the earth’s core was cooling, all animals felt the urge to wander.

Wash down this whisper of you, the terrible must.

Maybe the core wasn’t cooling, but I felt a coolness in my mother.

That girl was shining me on.

In blue crayon, the bug-bitten siblings printed lyrics on the walls of my room.

I wrote the word LAVA on my jeans.

It must be the Night Fever, I sang with the 8-track.

But the moon had not broken on the sidewalk, the moon

was hot, bright as a teakettle whistling outside my door,

tied up in sorrow, lost in my song, if you don’t come back . . .

and that serious night cooled, settling like sugar on our lawn.

I wrote the word SUGAR on my palms.

I shall say what inordinate love is.

The moon rose itself up on its elbows and shook out its long hair.

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Waiting on Wednesday (39)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we seriously can’t wait for.

 Here's my pick for the week, that I seriously can't wait for (a little late this week, sorry!):

The Program 
by Suzanne Young

Publication Date: April 2013

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SLOANE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO CRY IN FRONT OF ANYONE. 

With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories. 

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. 

AND THE PROGRAM IS COMING FOR THEM.

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I love the premise of this, and how current the topic of the plot is.  Teen suicide is becoming an epidemic in this country, and this "program" feels very real, like something that could be put into place.  Along the same lines as Delirium, I think The Program is going to be so good, and I can't wait until next year to read it!

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Top Ten Tuesday (18)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of their bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

The topic this week is: Top Ten Genre Recommendations - GLBT

Books Mentioned:
The Difference Between You and Me
Hard Love
Parrotfish
Will Grayson, Will Grayson
How Beautiful the Ordinary
Witch Eyes
The Full Spectrum
Luna
Ash
Rainbow Boys

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Teaser Tuesday (40)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following!

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share a few teaser sentences from somewhere on that page.
• MAKE SURE NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (you don't want to give too much away and ruin the book for other readers)

Share the title and author too, so that other readers can add your book to their TBR list if they like your teaser!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Difference Between You and Me 
by Madeleine George

Publication Date: March 15, 2012

         Jesse hears the squeal of the bathroom door swinging wide on its hinges, feels the rush of air around her that is suddenly sucked through the room when it opens.
         And then, Snediker's high, mirthless whine:
         "Busted."

(Pg. 16)

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This book is hilarious and heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time.  Definitely a great edition to any contemporary YA collection.  This looks at a GLBT relationship in a refreshingly realistic way.  The writing is really interesting, as it switches perspectives and style with each chapter.  Some people may find that distracting, but I love this kind of detail; it's really giving me a clear view of each main character!  I really suggest everyone check this out!

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Past. Present. Future. (2)

There are a a lot of these "What're you reading?" features around, so I figured, hey why not start one too?  Basically, here's where I highlight the books I've read, the books I'm reading, and the books I'm going to read.  Fun, right?  Please join in if you want!

PAST:

The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts











PRESENT:

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

Ripper by Stefan Petrucha











FUTURE:

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

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Past. Present. Future. (1)

There are a a lot of these "What're you reading?" features around, so I figured, hey why not start one too?  Basically, here's where I highlight the books I've read, the books I'm reading, and the books I'm going to read.  Fun, right?  Please join in if you want!


PAST:

Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies by Brent Hartinger

Intangible by J. Meyers











PRESENT:

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George











FUTURE:

Ripper by Stefan Petrucha

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

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