Leap Into Books GIVEAWAY HOP

Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop

February 28th to March 7th

Co-hosted by Jinky is Reading

UPDATE:- I am just few short of reaching 900 GFC followers. Get me through there and i increase the number of winners from 1 to 2

Here are the selections to select from

RULES : 

1. There will be only One Winner (subjected to change). 

2. Winner will be informed via email and *must* reply within 48 hours else I won't have a choice but to select another winner. 

3. All entries would be verified. 

4. Just fill in the rafflecopter below :

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Owl Post #6 [February, 2013]

Guys, today I'm doing something new on my blog....been coming on for a long time. This meme, called Owl Post is created by Brodie of Eleusinian Mysteries inspired by In My Mailbox by The Story Siren. Been meaning to do this since forever and I just love this idea. I'm being a Ravenclaw since at the age of eleven and couldn't seem to remember to do this....kudos to Brodie for thinking about this!

Before you all proceed further, let me make something clear:-

1. Just like my IMM posts, this will not be done every Sunday but on the last Sunday of each month... the reason why you'll see a lot more books in here than normal.

2. This first Owl Post will have all the books that I received in February, 2013.

3. Also it will feature a list of recap link at the bottom of the page, which enlists all the review, interviews and tour posts I have done that particular month. Now I expect you all to visit each link and give out a comment here and there(would very much appreciate it) and you all can link your reviews too, i'd love to comment.

4. You are all welcome to share what you all got in the comment section below....i'd love to visit....

For Review

Netgalley

Weather Witch - Shannon Delany

The Inner City - Karen Heuler

The Sweetest Dark #1 The Sweetest Dark - Shana Abe
Blood of Eden #2 The Eternity Cure - Julie Kagawa

Edelweiss

Towering - Alex Flinn

Born of Illusion - Teri Brown

Parallel - Lauren Miller

Night School #1 Night School - C.J. Daugherty

From Publisher

I Kissed A Frog - Rupa Gulab

Bought

Soul Screamers #1 My Soul to Take - Rachel Vincent

Across The Universe #3 Shades of Earth - Beth Revis

The Land of Stories #1 The Wishing Well - Chris Colfer

Under The Never Sky #2 Through The Ever Night - Veronica Rossi

Annex #1 Beta - Rachel Cohn

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #6 The Enchantress - Michael Scott

Newsoul #2 Asunder - Jodi Meadows

Everneath #1.5 Neverfall - Brodi Ashton

Everneath #2 Everbound - Brodi Ashton

Bloodlines #3 The Indigo Spell - Richelle Mead

Splintered - A.G. Howard

Recap Links

Young Adult GIVEAWAY HOP

Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1 Daughter of Smoke & Bone - Laini Taylor

YA Bound Tour: Indigo Awakening by JORDAN DANE

Follower Love GIVEAWAY HOP

'Till The World Ends - Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre, Karen Duvall

Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter - Richard Parks

Earth Thirst - Mark Teppo

For the Love of Swoon GIVEAWAY HOP
The Iron Druid Chronicles #5 Trapped - Kevin Hearne
Random Act of Kindness GIVEAWAY HOP
The Best of All Possible Worlds - Karen Lord
YA Paranormal GIVEAWAY HOP
Losing It: Making Weight Loss Simple - Dhruv Gupta & Prachi Gupta

Losing It: Making Weight Loss Simple

Presenting Losing It: Making Weight Loss Simple by Dhruv Gupta & Prachi Gupta.

Here is the summary of the book:

You have probably tried losing weight at some point in your life, or at least thought about it. Well-meaning and well-intentioned articles, websites and ‘experts’ give out advice on losing weight through the latest research, ‘super’ foods or following ‘magical’ weight-loss techniques. This complicates the process and gives out conflicting information. Losing It is a coherent how-to that provides you with the pros and cons of healthy foods and foods which have ‘healthy’ claims attached to them, beverages and exercise. It gives you tips that are easy to tie into your daily life, resulting in long-term weight loss while helping you gain in nutrition and fitness. Faced with stores full of choices and the demands of a busy life, how can you put together a balanced meal? What foods have empty calories and which ones really help you? Is brown bread good for you? Is banana fattening? What are the healthy choices you can opt for when eating out? Does going to the gym help? What’s holding back your weight loss? Losing It addresses your everyday burning queries and concerns simply, and is chock-full of tips and suggestions for you to lose weight effectively. Informative and user-friendly, this is a book that can accompany you in your bag or purse as easily as it rests on the bookshelf.

I don't read weight loss books and neither do I review them on my blog....let me be clear. But Pan Macmillan India sent this to me....so I am honor bound to do the job as a book reviewer. I don't read much weight loss books because most of the knowledge about the subject I have already read and learned from in school, biology texts and the internet and virtually all of them are the same.

Well same is the case with this book as well. Going into the matter as simply as possible this book lays out some cheap tricks and advice and simple diet plans that anyone can follow to stay in shape and maintain it. The exercises, the food plans, what to eat and what not to eat and some success stories; a short index to the book and helpful too.

"Diet-plan made simple" 

Genre :      Non-fiction, Self-Help


Publisher: Pan Macmillan India


My Copy:  Publisher


Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

YA Paranormal GIVEAWAY HOP

Young Adult Paranormal Giveaway Hop

February 21st - 27th

Co - hosted by YA Between the Lines

Featuring Young Adult Books with Paranormal elements.

RULES : 

1. There will be only One Winner (subjected to change). 

2. Winner will be informed via email and *must* reply within 48 hours else I won't have a choice but to select another winner. 

3. All entries would be verified. 

4. Just fill in the rafflecopter below :

a Rafflecopter giveaway Linky Code:

The Best of All Possible Worlds

Sci-fi....purely sci-fi but heavy on the side. Presenting The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord.

Here is the summary of the book:

A proud and reserved alien society finds its homeland destroyed in an unprovoked act of aggression, and the survivors have no choice but to reach out to the indigenous humanoids of their adopted world, to whom they are distantly related. They wish to preserve their cherished way of life but come to discover that in order to preserve their culture, they may have to change it forever. Now a man and a woman from these two clashing societies must work together to save this vanishing race—and end up uncovering ancient mysteries with far-reaching ramifications. As their mission hangs in the balance, this unlikely team—one cool and cerebral, the other fiery and impulsive—just may find in each other their own destinies . . . and a force that transcends all. “This fascinating and thoughtful science fiction novel breaks out of the typical conflict-centered narrative paradigm to examine adaptation, social change, and human relationships. I’ve not read anything quite like it, which it makes that rare beast: a true original.”—Kate Elliott, author of the Crown of Stars series and the Spiritwalker Trilogy

A beautiful prose, some heavy off-world sci-fi scenarios and the cross-species romance platform. As I write this review on this valentine's day....well i'm writing this review on valentine's day ....i have no idea when I could post it so just go with the flow guys....

Well I will say this that I could not finish this. I liked the cover alright....the original reason for my attraction to request it on netgalley but i couldn't finish it. Maybe I had too much pressure on me of work and assignments that are approaching deadline but the way it droned on and on bored me as soon as I reached the middle of the book. As far as the sci-fi factor is considered.....aside from the weird off-world alien names I wasn't able to envision the futuristic world the author penned in her book.

I'd quote, Ms. Lord, I think spent more time in world building and not much in making the characters believable though at all.

"Sorry....I was expecting much more"

Genre :      Sci-fi, Speculative Fiction


Publisher: Del Ray


My Copy:  Netgalley and Publisher


Rate:              2/5 (It was Ok)

Random Act of Kindess GIVEAWAY HOP

February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day. 

Join Read for Your Future & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer in the kind act of giving away books.

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop.

February 17th to 24th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here is the code for the linky:

The Iron Druid Chronicles #5 Trapped

Atticus and the brood are back. Presenting The Iron Druid Chronicles #5 Trapped by Kevin Hearne.

Here is the summary of the book:

After twelve years of secret training, Atticus O’Sullivan is finally ready to bind his apprentice, Granuaile, to the earth and double the number of Druids in the world. But on the eve of the ritual, the world that thought he was dead abruptly discovers that he’s still alive, and they would much rather he return to the grave. Having no other choice, Atticus, his trusted Irish wolfhound, Oberon, and Granuaile travel to the base of Mount Olympus, where the Roman god Bacchus is anxious to take his sworn revenge—but he’ll have to get in line behind an ancient vampire, a band of dark elves, and an old god of mischief, who all seem to have KILL THE DRUID at the top of their to-do lists.

The Iron Druid Chronicles is one series that mixes mythologies and believers around the world beautifully and intricately in the world in here but when I heard this book fast forwards 12 years escapes the duration of the time when Atticus & Granuaile went into hiding to complete her druid training. 

Trapped is all about Granuaile coming into her character. While it was totally awesome. The ever complexing mythologies and pantheons in the mix and their own agendas that they want fulfilling. But somehow it didn't really sit well with me. I got confused a little. Trapped had a bit of change in the plot structure but Hearne's journey with the series with each book is sure to leave us all wanting more.

I feel a bit off put with the Atticus and Granuaile relationship. Because it felt a bit fast forwarded there. The paranormal part sure kept us on our toes. The Olympians and the Norse....and the Slavic....and the ever present Tuatha Dé Danann. Threr's a bit of vengeance and an age old end of the world norse prophecy at hand and all the players are getting lined up in the domino.....gearing up for a (hopeful) big explosion....I liked this book even with its shortcomings. Although I'm hoping the next one, Hunted is going to be far better.

"Snarky Trivia, Mystical Mythology and the old armaggedon prophecies.....adn Atticus and Granuaile and Oberon....totally a mixture for epic goodness"

Genre :      Urban Fantasy, Paranormal


Publisher: Del Ray


My Copy:  Netgalley and Publisher


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

For the love of Swoon GIVEAWAY HOP

February 14th - 20th

Who needs a real Valentine when there are so many charming fictional swoonalicious dudes heroes to sweep you off your feet?

The one that makes your heart flutter or race and your stomach fill with butterflies- whether that be because of a hero/heroine, a relationship, and/or the book in its entirety.

Who needs valentines when you have swoon worthy dudes like Ash, Henry, Cole and Lincoln.......*swoons*

RULES : 

1. There will be only One Winner (subjected to change). 

2. Winner will be informed via email and *must* reply within 48 hours else I won't have a choice but to select another winner. 

3. All entries would be verified. 

4. Just fill in the rafflecopter below :

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Earth Thirst

Another dystopia....a bit on the heavy side though. Presenting Earth Thirst by Mark Teppo.

Here is the summary of the book:

The Earth is dying. Humanity—over-breeding, over-consuming—is destroying the very planet they call home. Multinational corporations despoil the environment, market genetically modified crops to control the food supply, and use their wealth and influence and private armies to crush anything, and anyone, that gets in the way of their profits. Nothing human can stop them. But something unhuman might. Once they did not fear the sun. Once they could breathe the air and sleep where they chose. But now they can rest only within the uncontaminated soil of Mother Earth—and the time has come for them to fight back against the ruthless corporations that threaten their immortal existence. They are the last guardians of paradise, more than human but less than angels. They call themselves the Arcadians.

So, vampires are protectors of a green Earth.......now that is interesting. Filled with thrillers analogies and scenarios. So, Silas & his group of vampires are the super spies here. Tracking and putting a stop to billionaire project that can somehow the planet. The action was pretty interesting too......quite thrilling but still I got bored just at the start.

Every element in this book felt over the top. The back story with Arcadia. The different form of vampires, who can walk in the sun, possess untold amount of money in the bank and are armed to the teeth with military style advanced weapons system. With such over the top things it actually became impossible to make a connection with Silas & the group and that is saying something. Good thriller though!

"Vampires as the eco-activists.......wouldn't recommend but you can check it if you want. Quite thrilling though"

Genre :      Dystopia, Paranormal


Publisher: Night Shade Books


My Copy:  Netgalley and Publisher


Rate:              2/5 (It was Ok)

Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter

An easy to follow Japanese tale.....Presenting Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter by Richard Parks.

Here is the summary of the book:

In an ancient Japan where the incursions of gods, ghosts, and demons into the living world is an everyday event, an impoverished nobleman named Yamada no Goji makes his living as a demon hunter for hire. With the occasional assistance of the reprobate exorcist Kenji, whatever the difficulty — ogres, demons, fox-spirits — for a price Yamada will do what needs to be done, even and especially if the solution to the problem isn’t as simple as the edge of a sword. Yet, no matter how many monsters he has to face, or how powerful and terrible they may be, the demons Yamada fears the most are his own!

Monogatari by the dictionary definition is the literal form of Japanese literature, which is almost always fictional even when retelling a historical event, an extended form of prose narrative tale comparable to the epic.

So, now literal meaning aside, Yamada Monogatari is an episodic tale into the life of Yamada no Goji, an ex-Japanese royal courtier, now adapted to the ways of a demon hunter.....a thumpin' good one too. Each episode (while they are seperate stories but we'll treat them as episodes) points to a different face of and different adventure of Yamada no Goji's demon hunting life style with his side-kick monk, Kenji.

Searilized in a chronological order as they occur, Yamada Monogatari is a bit of a nostalgia for me, as it draws parallels from the famous manga/anime series Inu Yasha set in pre-historic feudal Japan. This was also one Japanese literature that we could easily digest. There are all forms of youkai, demons, ghosts, monsters and all things that go bump in the night. It was quite refreshing to read into such myths of the Japanese.

Each chapter showcases and lays out the person that is Yamada no Goji. He is determined, he is compassionate, he is understanding and whats more he may be a sake addict but with his line of profession and all things considered, he knows when to stop and what his limits are. Give it a try folks you'll like it.

"Youkai-Ghosts-Trolls-Kitsune...and such. This is an interesting and action-packed easy to follow Japanese tale that you will easily be able to follow and enjoy"

Genre :      Paranormal, Historical Fiction, High Fantasy


Publisher: Harlequin Luna


My Copy:  Netgalley and Publisher


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

'Till the World Ends

Julie Kagawa......Ann Aguirre......Karen Duvall.....nice combo. Presenting 'Till the World Ends by Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre, Karen Duvall.

Here is the summary of the book:

Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa

Before The Immortal Rules, there was the Red Lung, a relentless virus determined to take out all in its path. For Kylie, the miracle of her survival is also her burden-as a doctor at one of the clinics for the infected, she is forced to witness endless suffering. What's worse, strange things are happening to the remains of the dead, and by the time she befriends Ben Archer, she's beginning to wonder if a global pandemic is the least of her problems....

Thistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre

After a catastrophic spill turns the country into a vast chemical wasteland, those who could afford it retreated to fortresses, self-contained communities run by powerful corporations. But for Mari Thistle, life on the outside-in the Red Zone-is a constant struggle. To protect her family, Mari teams up with the mysterious Thorne Goodman. Together, they'll face an evil plot in both the underworld of the Red Zone and the society inside the fortresses that could destroy those on the outside...for good.

Sun Storm by Karen Duvall

Sarah Daggot has been chasing storms since she was a child. But after the biggest solar flares in history nearly destroy the planet, she becomes a Kinetic, endowed by her exposure to extreme radiation with the power to sense coming storms-in the cosmos and beyond. And she's not the only one. Sarah believes the Kinetics are destined to join forces and halt the final onslaught of the sun. She'll vow to keep trying to convince the one missing link in their chain of defense, the enigmatic Ian Matthews, up until the world ends.

Without going inti specifics, this is an anthology of three novellas by renouned authors Julie Kagawa (Dawn of Eden), Ann Aguirre (Thistle & Thorn) and Karen Duvall (Sun Storm). One is a prequel to Kagawa's new series Blood of Eden, Ann Aguirre's is like a side story to her Razorland series and Duvall's is an independent tale. Each had its own plot, each had its own quirks and the twists and turns oh my God were brilliant.

Truth be told I only read this because I was interested in reading Dawn of Eden and it was truly brilliant, I definitely liked Ben Archer and Kylie. Julie Kagawa ....truly brilliant, she gives hope to the true vampires and not the trash sparkly ones out there (don't flame me I used to like them in my teen year because well RPatz is quite good looking......but no more)....and the mysterious 'K'....oh I think I know who he is (not telling though!!).

"Thistle & Thorn" & "Sun Storm" while pretty interesting reads, didn't really interest me much but quite good reads they were. Of Ann Aguirre and Karen Duvall I have only read Enclave(Aguirre) and none for Duvall. Thistle & Thorn delves into the scene that leads to the setting of Enclave and might I say, pretty nicely explained. But I was kinda disappointed with Sun Storm,....... while pretty interesting with the paranormal and sci-fi quota (I liked it) but still not on par with the first two novellas.

"Myriad, paranormal and a dystopic future brought by three great authors....Kagawa, Aguirre and Duvall, 'Till the World Ends will transport you to the end of the world as seen by these brilliant minds"

Genre :      Anthology, Paranormal Romance, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic


Publisher: Harlequin Luna


My Copy:  Netgalley and Publisher


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Follower Love Giveaway HOP

Follower Love Giveaway Hop

February 5th - 11th

Co-hosted by The Reader's Antidote

And Since this is about something my followers might enjoy so, i'm setting some ebook choices below, you can select one of them.....i so want to put Harry Potter but it will be so tacky....so i decided on these alternatives

UPDATE:- I have reached 800 GFC followers........YAYYYYYY.................As a treat now there will be 2 winners instead.....and there's a task for you guys....get me 900 throughout the course of this giveaway and i'll increase the number from 2 to 3 then.......so get on with it folks!

RULES : 

1. There will be only One Winner (subjected to change). 

2. Winner will be informed via email and *must* reply within 48 hours else I won't have a choice but to select another winner. 

3. All entries would be verified. 

4. Just fill in the rafflecopter below :

a Rafflecopter giveaway