Cover Madness Giveaway Hop

Have you had to listen to some bookish person rant and rant about the awesomeness of a book's cover? Well, if you lived near me, you'd have to listen to me rant as well.  Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), you only get to read about my rants and enter an awesome giveaway.  Which books do you agree have total hotness?

 

For my giveaway stop, you can choose one of the above books or any book (under $15 USD).  So you get to decide what you win from me.

How it works:

1. This contest is open to open to everyone (international included - as long as The Book Depository/Amazon ship to you). 
2. Entrant must be 13 years of age or older. 
3. Giveaway ends on Sunday, July 14. 
4. You can enter via the Rafflecopter form below. You can enter by doing one of the following: 
1. Follow blog. Leave how you follow and your user in the Rafflecopter comments section. 
2. Tweet about the giveaway. Leave a link to your tweet in the Rafflecopter comments section.
3. Add button to website.  Leave a link to your website in the Rafflecopter comments section.
5.  Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond with logistics.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

manda-rae's Haul

Stacking the Shelves consists of books we received in the last week, hosted by Tynga's reviews.

Alas, it's Saturday.  And I'm working today.  So not a whole lot of reading will occur this weekend for me.  I've got to say I've been really slacking this week with my book stuff.  There are some moments where I wish all I had to do was read a book and not take care of a blog.  (Or maybe I'd rather quit my daytime job and just spend my time reading and blogging.)  Hope everyone else had a good book week!

From the Library:

• Rush by Eve Silver
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• This book caught my eyes a while back.  The cover is awesome.  And I saw a horrible review and some really good reviews.  After seeing multiple people add it to their favorites of the year list, I thought I'd pick it up and see what all the hype is about.

For Review (e-edition):

Fevered Souls Season I by SK Falls

Amazon | Goodreads

I admit, covers get me every time.  And I technically don't read just romance; it's paranormal romance.  There, I'm not as geeky as you think I am, just a paranormal geek.  Anyways, I'm looking forward to this one.  Thanks goes to Xpresso Book Tours (if you're new to the blogging world and looking for some good tours, check her website).  Note: the first episode is free on Amazon.

Glass Frost by Liz DeJesus

Goodreads

This cover looks so much more sinister than the first one.  This fairy tale world tends to wrap all of the fairy tales together making for a fun journey.  And it's all from Bianca, a descendent of Snow White's, point of view.  Thanks goes to Liz DeJesus.

Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis

Amazon | Goodreads

I'm a sucker when it comes to mythology.  Actually, I pretty much any story that's been passed down through the ages and turning it into something modernized.  You've pretty much seen my taste in books this week.  Thanks goes to Kaitlin Bevis.

manda-rae's Past Week

Reviews:

• Hidden by Sophie Jordan
• First Frost by Liz DeJesus

Cover Reveal:

• Golden Dunes of Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen

Memes:

• Waiting on Wednesday: Omens by Kelley Armstrong

Giveaways:

• Snow White Sorrow by Cameron Jace (ends 7/6)
• The Athena Effect and The Mackenzie Legacy by Derrolyn Anderson and Bracelet (ends 7/6)

Cover Reveal: Golden Dunes of Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen

Are you ready for the sequel?

Golden Dunes of Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen

Genre:  Adult Fantasy

Renhala Series, Book 2

Amy Joy Lutchen's website

Expected publication date:  TBD

Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads:

How do you live with a secret so dark and so deeply woven into your being that it threatens to smother your very existence, with no known way out? Use it to your advantage.
Kailey Rooke, karmelean, and now a possibly unethical karma-for-hire, has spent the past year jumping from project to project, without any real hope for salvation. With repercussions from her actions at every turn, she discovers that as time goes on, she loses a bit more of herself to that which feeds on her anguish, that which is thriving inside her own body.

When a new contract to find a missing girl arises, Kailey attempts to put her past and its associated problems on the back burner, but she soon finds out that treachery and deceit lie shortly ahead in Golden Dunes, only giving face to new problems, with one leading right back to her childhood past.

She struggles to complete her contract as her own life teeters on a fulcrum, constantly tipping according to karma’s whim. How long will she keep her balance? Which way will she fall?

The first book in this series was a fun read that took you on an interesting journey from our world to the world of Renhala.  I recommend it for fantasy-lovers.

To see my review of Renhala, the first book in the series, click here.

First Frost by Liz DeJesus

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Liz DeJesus' website

Amazon | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Fairytales aren’t real…yeah…that’s exactly what Bianca thought. She was wrong.

For generations, the Frost family has run the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, handing down guardianship from mother to daughter, always keeping their secrets to “family only.”

Gathered within museum’s walls is a collection dedicated to the Grimm fairy tales and to the rare items the family has acquired: Cinderella’s glass slipper, Snow White’s poisoned apple, the evil queen’s magic mirror, Sleeping Beauty’s enchanted spinning wheel…

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Frost wants none of it, dreaming instead of a career in art or photography or…well, anything except working in the family’s museum. She knows the items in the glass display cases are fakes because, of course, magic doesn’t really exist.

She’s about to find out how wrong she is.

Bianca, your average coming-of-age teenager living the normal life.  That is until someone from Everafter comes into her world and wreaks havoc.  Her mother is forced to give her a crash course in fairy tales and their family history.  But is this enough to prepare her for what will happen in Everafter?

This book was a cute read.  I can honestly see Bianca being my friend while in high school.  Once her mom is kidnapped, she brings in reinforcements by asking her friend, Ming, to help her find her mom and, in essence, save the day.  Once in Everafter, we meet some new characters while seeing fairy tales come alive.  There's some romance, a journey, evil witches, the big bad wolf, and a lot of magic.

The dialogue, to me, was well-written and perfect.  But the narration that explained the emotions going on was not the vibe I was getting from the conversations.  So, I felt like some parts weren't necessary.  After saying this, I have to give a big disclaimer: I like dialogue, that's my favorite part of a book; so descriptions and narrations will sometimes bog me down.

Overall, a happy read about growing up with fairy tale relatives.  Also, the ending slightly looks like it sets up for a sequel.  But we'll see...