Book Feature of the Week: Ties to the Blood Moon

  Hi everyone. Every week for now on I am going to have a Book Feature of The Week and  the one this week is Robin P Waldrop's Ties to the Blood Moon.  This week here is the schedule:

Sunday, February 12th - Giveaway that will run til the 18th
Monday, February 13th- Review
Tuesday, February 14th- Excerpt
Wednesday, February 15th- Guest Post
Thursday, February 16th- Interview
Friday, February 17th-  Quote Mania

Jr Beta Essay

Hi, everyone. If you had been stalking me or know me you know that I have been writing an essay for Jr Beta. So tell me what you think? It is the work of a 7th grader named Courtney. :)

     One foot soon preceded the other, we slowly descended into the cockpit of our car, our own thoughts drifted to the race. We have just committed to start and finish. Our breathing is heavy as if we  ran a hundred laps around a track ,but it is just anticipation  that is making the intake of air a struggle for us . We, as Betas, already know the goals we will strive for and hopefully

 achieve in this race: leadership, good character for all to see, and academic excellence. This grand prix is the race of life, and we are the pace car.

   When we start our engines, we hear the roaring of our competitor’s engines and are reminded they are the competition; however, as Betas, we are thinking about displaying a strong leadership which will cause people to think of us as being admirable leaders.  Betas are the pace makers in this race toward greatness. The race of life will consist of winners and losers.  Some may have trouble during the race, and some may not finish at all.  However, we Betas strive to use our leadership skills to guide them back on track and encourage them to finish the race.

   As we make the beginning pace laps, we feel the rumble of our engines combined with others engines; we realize that others will race dirty. Though they may race dishonestly, we will not be affected because of our integrity.   As a leader everyone will witness what we do.  Bad behavior is infectious, and we must strive to erase it whenever possible.

  How can we erase bad behavior?  We will display good behavior.  Good behavior, like bad behavior is also contagious.  Our character is our fuel.  It pushes us .  Better fuel means better results –our car runs better on high grade fuel.  Bad fuel, that is bad behavior, will bog down our car, slowing us down at the worst possible times.

  

                                                                         2

    Now we have our foot on the pedal and our eyes set on the track before us. This race will depend on our academics more than anything else.  We have checked our fuel gauge to make sure it has enough fuel to power us through the race. 

   When the race starts, the first bend in the road for Betas is going to be academic achievement which we are expected to grasp and maintain.  We have already started a foundation for the academic part before the race. Now, we are about to start the race Beta is preparing us for, a harder race than the other ones we have run before. Good grades are something all true Betas strive for in this race. Beta supplies a support crew for our willpower; this willpower fuels our educational success. It is the foundation that will boost us forward into the race of life where we will seek a job with a good pay and good working conditions. So, our education is very important, and it will most definitely be a great part of this race of life.

 “Betas Start Your Engines!” a deep voice commands from the stands above.  The checkered flag is thrown down, and we launch off the line. We speed down the track; our hearts set on letting the on lookers observing our race see academic excellence, desirable character, and incomparable leadership. The race has begun, and it will soon show that it is not to be an easy feat to complete. Furthermore, this isn’t just a race with no importance. It is the race of life, one that we will reflect back on and, yes, continue forever.

Word count: 604

Review: Hope's Daughter

Title: Hope's Daughter
 Series: Ambrosia Sequence
Author: Melanie Cusick-Jones 
Publisher: Indie- Melanie Cusick- Jones 
Published: December 8, 2011
Source: Review Copy 
Rating: 4/5 

Life should be simple for Cassie.

For the small population of Earth survivors who live on the Space Station Hope everything they do is planned and scheduled, down to the cyclical food menus, their roles in the station, even how many children they have.

Despite rigid controls directing her life, Cassie feels more out of synch than ever and worries she won’t find a place for herself within the station community. Perhaps that’s because she’s hearing things inside her head that can’t possibly be real. Or maybe it’s the regular elopements of her peers, heading off to a romantic future in the Married Quarter of the space station, whilst she’s never even been attracted to a boy – no matter how hard her best friend Ami pushes them at her. Then there are the odd questions her work placement partner Balik keeps raising. His questions are just as troubling for her as his distracting smiles and eyes that seem to see inside her.

As Cassie draws closer to Balik she finds that everything else in her life begins to shift. He tells her things that call into question the system they live within. She can't believe he is right, but at the same time she finds it hard to deny the sincerity of his ideas. Could there be a connection between Cassie’s problems and Balik’s questions? The truth will drag them both to a terrifying and deadly conclusion beyond anything they could have imagined.

     
  I was a big sucker for this cover. It was the cover that made me decide to review the book. I remember talking to my dad and saying that this was the prettiest cover I have seen in a long while- other  than Whither. With that cover I pretty much went into rapture. That was probably my drool over cover of the year. This book definitely has a cover that will draw people in.Melanie has a beautiful cover for her magnificent book.

    As you all know I am not one for Dystopian books - with a few exception. Same with Sci Fi. This one,though, I really enjoyed. I didn't get bored like I did in Matched. So this one is defiantly a Dystopian that i enjoyed. 

  The author's style was well-written and I enjoyed. Though I didn't read it through one sitting I managed it in about 3 days. Though I was a little slow at reading this one, I did enjoy. I read a little of it during history, another at night time in the bathtub, and finally after I finished writing an essay for English Class about a very special day. ((PS mine was about this guy I met when I was at Lake Tiak O'Khata and I am SO glad Mrs. French did not make us read it allowed because I over exaggerated on everything that happened that day. It had a ton of romance- that kinda didn't happen.))  The plot was intresting and I really enjoy  the characters who were very diverse.

  

 So with the perfect amount of Romance, this book really did open my eyes and I may try other dystopians  because I have came across 3 books I have enjoyed. So if you are a dystopian lover than you must get this book immediately- but if you are kinda hesitant like me about dystopian- buy it when you have some extra change in your bank account. 
  Find Melanie at: Website Blog
Buy Hope's Daughter at: Amazon   Barnes and Noble
 
  

Nook Lend Me

Okay so I have Lend me books and no one to share them with... Here are the ones I have that are lendable on the NOOK. So if you want to borrow one just send a request to programmer.py@gmail.com

A Little Less Girl by Tess Oliver 

Airborne by Constance Sharper

Beach Potato  by Sarah Riley 

Before by Cambria Hebert

Bitterroot Crossing by Tess Oliver

For the Love of a Vampire ( Blood Like Poison #1) by M Leighton

To Kill an Angel (Blood Like Poison #3) by M Leighton 

Cross my Heart by Katie Klein

Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole 

Fair Maiden by Cheri Schmidt

Forever by Cheri Schmidt

Grounded by Constance Sharper

Heart of a Huntress (Camille #2) by Tess Oliver 

Heart on a Chain by Cindy C Bennett

Heaven is for Heroes by PJ Sharon 

His Eyes by Renee Carter 

In Dreams by J Stering 

Indigo Blues by Danielle Joseph 

Intuition by J Meyer 

Jessica's Guide to Dating the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

On Thin Ice by PJ Sharon  *recommend - one of my faves

Raven by Suzy Turner 

Rebel Summer by Linda Palmer 

Reckless Magic by Rachel Higginson

Safe Landing by Tess Oliver 

Scary Mary by S A Hunter 

The Deepest Cut by J A Templeton

The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos 

The Pearl Savage by Tamara Rose Blodgett

The Stillburrow Crush by Linda Kage *Recommend 

Unfinished by Carol Oates 

Wisdom (My Blood Approves #4) by Amanda Hocking 

Zombies Dont Cry: A Living Dead Love Story by Rusty Fisher 

Reviews in General

Lately I have been stressed out over school and book blogging but now it is February 4th and I am making a commitment to you authors who have given me books to review and I have procrastinated to read them. This is your month. From February 4 2012 - March 15 2012, will be my reviewing month. I will be reading the books authors have asked me to read instead of the ones I have bought. If I have agreed to review your book, I PROMISE the review will be up  soon in that time period. If you want to also want to add your book to my  to review pile - please go to my review policy page found on the  right hand side and drop me an email if it meets my requirements. So here is the books I am going to read, in no particular order. 

  

Review: Falling In Between

Title: Falling in Between 
 Series: Falling #1
Author: Devon Ashley 
Publisher: Devon Ashely - indie-
Published: Febuary 14, 2012 
Source: Devon Ashley Physical ARC 

Finally! A private conversation. And all I had to do was throw myself off a cliff, drown in a pond in my undies and let him put his hands on my breasts to bring me back to life. Yay me! (yeah, that’s sarcasm)

Yep, that pretty much sums up the most craptastic night of Jenna Baker’s life. She drowns after jumping off a cliff, meets a hotty named Chance in the pearlescent in-between and is brought back to life by her soon-to-be boyfriend Robert.

Just when things start to move forward with Robert, the guy she'd been crushing on for a year now, in walks the man of her dreams – literally. Chance suddenly appears in her dream every time she closes her eyes. So it's Robert by day and Chance by night. One in the real world and one in the dream world. What could possibly go wrong?

Absolutely nothing – until she comes face to face with the guy she met in the in-between, and realizes her romantic rendezvous with Chance may be more than just her imagination. 

  I really, really love this cover and it is the reason I asked to be on the blog tour itself. So I love the dress. It is so frilly and pink- so unlike something I would wear. I am more of brown or black in my wardrobe but I wish I could own that dress. :) 

 Another thing I really like about this book, which is only available to see with the  the physical copy. I love how that pink dress continues onto the back of it. That is what I  really enjoy about the copy I received. My favorite dress ever continues on the back. So I absolutely love that part of the cover. 

   The words - I Love Robert. Yes I had a thing with all the boys in these books yet I was stuck on Robert from the beginning. This is the first Devon Ashley book  I have tried and the results on it? I was amazed by both love stories. The stories along with Devon Ashley's well-written style led to a very happy Courtney. :) 

   So I loved going from Chance and Jenna's romance and then Robert and Jenna's romance. It kept the story fresh and fun for me and I hope it will for you too. If you are one who is looking for your not typical girl-likes-boy-and-they-fall-in-love-the-end., this book is the one for you. 

  The main thing that captured me from the beginning was the drop dead funniness of this story. Yes, I laughed like a kid who got a terrible joke book for Christmas. When this popped on the page I started to laugh like a hyena. The humor is continued through out the book but I think that is the only one where I laughed aloud and literally rolled on the floor with laughter.

  Find the Amazing Devon Ashley at : Goodreads , Blog , Dark Horse Books .

Cover Love

Title: The Boyfriend Theif
Author: Shana Norris
Publisher: Shana Norris - Indie
Published: April 30, 2011

  Avery James has her life planned out: this summer she'll work with a humanitarian program in Costa Rica, next year she'll graduate at the top of her class, and after that, college and medical school. Perfect, planned, total order.
  The only problem: getting the rest of the money she needs for the trip before the deadline. Hannah Cohen, her biggest competition for the valedictorian title, makes an unexpected offer: If Avery can win over Zac Greeley and make him break up with Hannah before the end of the school year, a check for five hundred dollars is all hers. Faced with the prospect of spending yet another summer working as a giant hot dog, it's an offer Avery can't refuse.

 Zac is nothing like Avery expected. Within his chaotic world of midnight slushie runs and spontaneous dance parties, her total order is quickly falling apart while Hannah seems poised to get everything she wants. But just how much is Avery willing to give up for the perfect, planned life?

I love the cover of this one for several different reasons. It isnt just drop dead gourgeous but I still really like the looks. I love the converses and the flats the cover models are wearing.
  So a main reason I like the cover is the shoes the girl cover model is wearing because I , Courtney, own a pair of shoes just like it...
  Mine are identical and are American Eagle although I bought them on one of my local thrift store adventures. I paid a dime for my pair of slightly scuffed shoes. I washed and scrubbed them and then they looked wearible.
   Then I was surfing my Nook Tablet for a book to read and then came across this book. I clicked on the book to get a better look and then BAM!, it hit me. I owned the same shoes. So ever since then I have been debating whether or not to buy the ebook.
   * Quick update- I am currently grounded from the computer. I am grounded til December 2012. I will try to keep the blog updated at school but it may be dificult. I just thought you people should know.  I am really looking for someone to help me manage the blog. If you are intrested please send me an email at cwyant3497@gmail.com so I can get back with you. First come , First serve.