Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Official Splintered Blog Tour hosted by Mod Podge Blog Tours

12:00 AM  Crossroad Reviews  9 comments





My Review: 5 Stars
Ok first off FAN GIRL SCREAM!!  I LOVE IT!  Second I was lucky enough to not only get one signed copy of this book in print.  But also another copy!  So that means that you guys get to win one.  Just comment and share this post.  Dont forget your email so I can contact you. And please be in the USA!  Ok on to the review this book blew me away! It was awesome and amazing!  It had me from the beginning page! 
"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

Release Date: January 1, 2013
Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  • Hardcover: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Amulet Books (January 1, 2013)
This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Praise for Splintered:
"Attention to costume and setting render this a visually rich read..."
--Kirkus Reviews

› Visit Amazon's A. G. Howard Page

A. G. Howard

Biography

A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.

When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.

"Thanks to the publisher or author for sending me this copy!"
Twelfth stop: Visiting Hour at the Asylum

On the twelfth day of Splintered, we tiptoe into the local asylum for a peek at their Christmas décor. The nurses are dressed like candy canes, and a garland of empty syringes drapes the tree. Nurse Jenkins believes in recycling—although some of us suspect she just likes to taunt the patients. The walls and floors are dingy and echo every sound, as unnerving and cold as a ghost-filled mausoleum.



 

Or maybe that sense of unease originates from the screams upstairs in the padded cells. Inside of one sits a woman who has spent her life fighting her destiny. And now, her daughter will have to face it for her.

If there is a moral to this story, it is this: don’t leave your messes for other people to attend, because you might not like the way they go about cleaning them up.

The tour may be ended, but you have one more stop to make! Hop over to A.G. Howard’s website for the *Frabjous Giveaway* with prizes of MAD proportions…

Visit the rest of the tour!

12/3 Mr. Dodo's House @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
12/4 Ivory Queen's Castle @ Reading Angel 
12/5 The Red Queen's Castle @ Krazy Book Lady
12/6 Christmas Tea Party @ Katie's Book Blog
12/7 Gifts in Wonderland @ Icey Books
12/10 Wonderland Fashion @ ReadingTeen
12/11 The Ocean of Tears & The Zombie Flower Forrest @ The Mod Podge Bookshelf
12/12 Wonderland's Historic Library @ Book Hounds YA
 12/13 Wonderland's Secrets @ Mundie Moms
12/14 The Spritelings @ Pages From My Thoughts
12/17 Butterfly Threads @ Jennifer Daiker
12/18 Visting Hour at the Asylum @ Crossroad Reviews





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Sunday, December 16, 2012

Event #2: Santa's Letter

12:00 AM  Crossroad Reviews  1 comment







 "Today Crossroad Reviews and Tours is excited to join the WinterHaven Sleigh Tour hosted by WinterHaven Books. 

This week, instead of my writing a letter to santa my daughter will be writing one and I will be posting it here. I am also adding a link to Go Fund Me so you may donate money to my daughters so they may have a happy Christmas.


To see who else has written to Santa, go to WinterHaven Sleigh Tour for a list of participating blogs."
NOTE: typos and such have been fixed.  I was just going to scan in a pic but its messed up so I had to type it poo:
Dear Santa,

 Hello! My name is En'Darine but I'm sure you know that already.  I am writing this letter for me and my sister Anarece. We have not been super good but, we hope that you still bring us stuff and don't give us coal. We promise that we will try to be better next year.   We love books (Anarece more than me).  Below are the two books each that we really want. (I PUT IT DOWN TO TWO AS SHE HAD A LIST OF LIKE 20)
En'Darine






Anarece

In case you are wondering here are mine lol














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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Review: Embrace

12:00 AM  Crossroad Reviews  1 comment

Cherie Colyer  

 My Review: 4 stars


This book was a really quick read that I enjoyed!  It was paced perfectly and I couldn't put it down!  
"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

Publication Date: December 18, 2011
  • Print Length: 220 pages
  • Publisher: Omnific Publishing; 1st edition (December 18, 2011)
“One thing true about this book is that once you start reading it, you can’t stop until the last page.” – WovenMyst Young Adult Magazine

“I loved this book!” – Kaitlin of Books to the Sky

”5 HEARTS! Embrace definitely embraced me with the most captivating, magical storyline, terrific characters, and a dreamy romance.” – Debbie of I Heart YA Books

“This book started with a zap and tugged me in quickly.” – Valerie of Stuck In Books.

“Embrace is a thrilling, whirlwind of an adventure. With an intriguing, unique plot line, engaging characters, abounding danger, and a lovely, well-written romance, it is a story that had me reading on the edge of my seat.” – Andrea of The Bookish Babes

Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve.

Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him.

Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own.

Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.

Dangerous, intoxicating, and darkly romantic, Embrace is a thriller that will leave you spellbound.


› Visit Amazon's Cherie Colyer Page

Cherie Colyer

Biography

Cherie's imagination extends far beyond her Illinois roots through her love of books and reading. The discipline of her career as a Network Technician provides an opposing mindset for her fictional stories. Cherie combines her fascination of all things mythical with her passion for writing to weave together middle grade and young adult stories. Her young adult paranormal romance/thriller, EMBRACE, is now available.

She enjoys spending time with family and friends, meeting new people, writing, reading, and loves a challenge. While she has had many great experiences, her most satisfying experience is seeing her children and stories grow into their own exciting and distinct entities.


"Thanks to the publisher or author for sending me this copy!"




December 10

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December 12

December 13

December 14

December 15

Friday, December 14, 2012

Review: Victoria Rebels

12:00 AM  Crossroad Reviews  No comments

My Review: 5 Stars
LOVED IT!  It gave a very interesting story of the queen and an intriguing romance.  Cant wait to see what else this author has cooked up!
"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

Release Date: January 1, 2013
Queen Victoria’s personal journals inform this captivating first-person novel about of one of history’s most prominent female leaders.Queen Victoria most certainly left a legacy—under her rule as the longest reigning female monarch in history, the British Empire was greatly expanded and significant industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military changes occurred within the United Kingdom. To be a young woman in a time when few other females held positions of power was to lead in a remarkable age—and because Queen Victoria kept personal journals, this historical novel from award-winning author Carolyn Meyer shares authentic emotional insight along with accurate information, weaving a true story of intrigue and romance.

"Thanks to the publisher or author for sending me this copy!"

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Review: Then You Were Gone

12:00 AM  Crossroad Reviews  2 comments

Buy Me: Amazon

 My Review: 4 Stars
After reading Empty by K.M. Walton this one was really hard to get through.  But I made it. It was so good.  So much goes into one of these books. Was it my fault? Could I have done something to stop it?  These are the questions survivors of those who committed suicide ask themselves. The truth is always no. That there was nothing you could really do. Even if you see the signs and know what to look for.  If someone wants to die they will find a way to do it.  This one was such a good book. It was really big on grief and how it can effect you.  
"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

Release Date: January 8, 2013
  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Simon Pulse (January 8, 2013)
In the tradition of 13 Reasons Why, a suspenseful and heart-wrenching novel from the author of Nothing Like You and Her and Me and You.Two years ago, Adrienne’s best friend walked out of her life. One week ago, she left Adrienne a desperate, muffled voicemail. Adrienne never called back.

Now Dakota is missing. She left behind a string of broken hearts, a flurry of rumors, and a suicide note.

Adrienne can’t stop obsessing over what might have happened if she’d answered Dakota’s call. And she’s increasingly convinced that Dakota must still be alive.

Maybe finding and saving Dakota is the only way Adrienne can save herself.

Or maybe it’s too late for them both.

"Thanks to the publisher or author for sending me this copy!"

Monday, December 10, 2012

Review: Bluff

12:00 AM  Crossroad Reviews  5 comments

Click for Tour Page
My Review: 4 Stars
This book is complex, compelling, and very intriguing!  Although this book is not all flowers and bunnies.  It was a very good book!  It will be one that will stay on my shelves for me to read again in the future.  It was deep, dark, and very well written!  Like a lot of books today this again touches on many hard and serious issues.  This book will make you take a step away from life and think about about different things. It may not be a must read for 2012 but it will be something that will make you think and will make you want to find out what happens.  
"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

About the book:
To the medical world, I was a host body, surviving only to bring a new life into the world. And while I wanted to die more than anything in the world, I never wanted this. No, I never wanted to cease to exist. This was the worst death of all.”
Jude Black lives in that in-between, twilight place teetering on death but clinging to life in order to bring her baby into this world. Only she knows the circumstances surrounding her mysterious fall off the bluff that landed her in the hospital being kept alive by medical intervention. Only she knows who the father of her baby is. In this poignantly crafted literary novel, the mystery unfolds and the suspense builds as the consequences of Jude’s decisions threaten to reveal everyone’s deceptions, even her own.
BLUFF offers a sensitive look at essential questions such as the value of human life, the consciousness of those in a coma and the morality of terminating life support. At the core is the story of a tragically misunderstood woman who finds peace, acceptance, understanding and even love on her deathbed.
Buy the book
About the Author:

Lenore Skomal wants you to eat her books. Her passionate desire is to touch your heart, inspire you, and luxuriate in the world of the written word. She is an award-winning author with the single goal of resonating with others. Winner of multiple awards for blogging, literature, biography and humor, her catalogue spans many genres. With 30 years of writing experience, 18 books published, a daily blog and weekly newspaper column, the consistent themes in her work are the big issues of the human experience and adding depth and voice to the intricacies involved in living a multi-dimensional existence. She has won many Society of Professional Journalist awards, the Whidbey Island Writer’s Conference honorable mention for best fiction, Writer’s Digest 73rd Annual Fiction Contest, New York Public Library’s Best Books for Teens 2003, and most recently, the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award for humor for “Burnt Toast.,” her first anthology of her award winning humor columns. From journalism, to literary fiction, to humor and biography, her writing is consistent, if not in genre, then in message.
Connect with Lenore on her website,  Facebook, GoodReads, or Twitter.


Excerpt: All rights reserved! 
“We do not technically characterize your sister’s condition as a coma. We believe that she is in a persistent vegetative state, which we sometimes call a wakeful coma, and PVS for short, like I just told you. Physiologically, her brain has been severely damaged. The function of the cerebrum or the upper part of the brain has been impaired, as has the cortex or the outer layer of the cerebrum. This outer part is believed to be responsible for our conscious activity. Damage to both most likely was caused by the trauma to her head caused by the fall,” he explained, trying not to sound patronizing.
It worked. April’s face loosened.
“However, your sister’s brain stem, the lower part connected to her spine, is still functioning. Coma patients often have brain stem damage, which renders them unconscious and without the same physical functions that your sister has because the brain stem controls involuntary functions like breathing, digestion and reaction to pain. Even blinking and sleep-wake cycles. You know, that type of thing,” he continued. “As a result, PVS patients like your sister have periods of sleep and wakefulness. They flinch from pain and may react to noise or follow movement with their eyes. But their responses are of limited duration and seem to lack purpose.”
“So, she’s not brain dead,” April asked flatly, as if somehow disappointed.
“No, she is far from brain dead. She has partial brain function. Right now, she is in a wake cycle. Notice how her eyes are open and her mouth is moving,” he said pointing to me, as if on display—the poster child for PVS. I didn’t realize my mouth was moving. Learn something new every time this guy talks.
“Watch this. She can respond to certain stimulus. She will grasp my hand when touched and it will appear that this is a voluntary response.”
With that, he walked over to my bed and said, “Hi there, Jude” and then placed his thick hand in mine.
A sensation shot through my arm. Nothing replaced the human touch. Oh, did it feel wonderful. The feel of flesh upon flesh was one of the things I missed the most. Even though I was not a touchy person by nature, Frances was. She was forever hugging me and grabbing my arm when we walked together. I guess not having that skin-on-skin feeling underscored its importance. Elated, I felt I could jump up and run around the room.
Personal touch had become so unfamiliar to me in the short time I was there. When I was touched, it was  merely the function of cleaning my body and adjusting my limbs for physical therapy. Seems as time has gone by, people rarely just touch me, stroke my head or hold my hand. I wanted them to want to feel close to me. Frances had been the only one to consistently hold my hand since I’d been admitted. While Jeffries and some of the nurses were good about talking to me as if I were mute, and once in a while, patting my hand or rubbing my arm, there was no prolonged touching.
But this was a demonstration. I had forgotten. As he slid his hand into mine, I watched as my hand reflexively folded around his, without any effort on my part. I seemed to have vacated my own body right after the fall. Now it belonged to this automaton that responded mindlessly to stimuli and reacted instinctively. I was reminded I was no longer in control.
I longed for him to keep it there, but he abruptly pulled away.
Demonstration over.
The tears welled up inside me, but of course nothing emerged. It had been a long time since I felt like crying, and now, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. April stood absorbed in the moment, consciously taking it all in.
There you have it, April. Now you know. I could have explained it much better myself if I could have actually talked. To my way of thinking, it was a simple matter of being fully cognitive and aware but simply not being able to move. It’s like I’m paralyzed all over, including on the inside, I wanted to tell her. It’s like being frozen, yet hearing everything, seeing everything, and at the same time being completely ignored. Sometimes I am here, connected to this cumbersome flesh; other times, I drift in an unknown place, my sense of self slowly vanishing—no, no, merging into nothingness. Hard to describe, but so very natural to accept.


"Thanks to the publisher or author for sending me this copy!"


Novel Publicity Blog Tour Notes

Wanna win a $50 gift card or an autographed copy of Bluff?
  1. Leave a comment on my blog. One random commenter during this tour will win a $50 gift card. For the full list of participating blogs, visit the officialBluff tour page.
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest! I’ve posted the contest form below. 
  3. Dont forget to check out the tour!  Click the book with the bird above! 





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