Revealing the Entice book Cover

I am so excited to have been asked by Sourcebooks Fire to take part in this unvealing for Jessica Shrivington second book Entice.

I am super excited because I got to take part in the first one,  Embrace. I read the book and loved it so I can't wait for this to come out very soon.

So lets reveal the cover.

I am so excited that the incredible cover of ENTICE by Jessica Shirvington is here and beyond thrilled to catch a glimpse at what lies ahead for Violet:

“Two tutors and three students from the Grigori training center in New York were arriving in two days and I couldn’t be happier.  I was going to be able to learn from the experts and have people my own age to train with, something I really needed.  I was sure with their help I would be able to get over whatever it was that had been holding me back. 

Griffin had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the two senior Grigori –the intelligence, resources and backup they could provide was much needed.  The Scripture that can decipher the identity of all Grigori, even those who have not yet embraced and are therefore defenseless, was at stake. 

I would not stand by and watch it fall into the hands of exiles.  If they found they key to destroying all Grigori and gained the upper hand, the slaughter would not stop until all the humans knelt before them, worshipping them as gods.”

OK, I have chills now.  Plus, new characters!!  I can’t wait to meet the crew from New York.

Here’s the scoop!

Seventeen-year-old Violet Eden’s is back! With a destiny is to protect humans from the vengeance of exiled angels it becomes clear that it won’t be easy as even her partner, Lincoln, is hiding something.  And now she has to learn to live with her feelings for him while they work together to stay alive and stop the exiles from discovering the key to destroy all Grigori.  It isn’t easy. Especially when the electricity between her and  Phoenix ignites and she discovers his hold over her has become more dangerous than ever.  Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme with a race halfway across the world to find the one artifact that could tilt the balance of power between Angels and Exiles.  And the ultimate betrayal will be exposed.

Check out Jessica’s brand new video blog post where she sits down with a cup of coffee and invites us into her home.  From her favorite chair to her love of befriending characters in a series, Jessica chats with us about her perfect setting for a good read! 

(Doesn't that just look so comfy? I love the X's  & O's on the wall.)
Exciting News!!  Jessica Shirvington will be traveling to the U.S for a two-week national book tour for ENTICE starting September 18.  Keep an eye on www.embracetheseries.com for more details.

If you have read the first one and can't wait for this I have a sneak peek for you. I have been given a special opportunity that will allow you my readers to read the first two chapters. Isn't that exciting?

Entice Sneak Peek Click on This

Loose Button/Luxe Box May Edition

Its that time in the month again when I get to unbox my Loose Button/Luxe Box. For some reason I am finding the time frame between the boxes long. Not sure why that is.

I try to avoid looking at the spoiler's because I always want to be surprised when I open them. So I was super excited when I got my notification saying that the box was shipped and on it ways thankfully Canada Post said that my delivery date was today and it actually came today.

I was hoping it would come this week since I won't be home next week.

When the mailman rang the bell I automatically noticed that bigger box and was super excited because this only means one thing and that is we are getting two boxes this month. *Insert dance of joy here*

As you can see I was right, its two boxes. The top box is the standard monthly Luxe Box and the pearly white one is the special box containing something that is Bath & Body related. Oh I wonder what it could be.

I wasn't sure what to open first so I went with what was on top. I noticed that this months box was super light and honestly that is never a good sign in my opinion.

Sliding the box open I noticed that the May Edition card is still the same and it contains a list of the products in this months box. Along with a postcard from P&G (thank you post card?) and a card with a $20 discount off your purchase at http://pantybypost.com/ .

Panty By Post  is basically a monthly subscription service that you pay for to get a pair of panties each month for a fee of  $18 and up per month. It depends on what you choose. So I guess depending on what you choose you could get a free pair in the first month.

I love that they make this box feel as though it was picked for you.

Once the sticker was lifted and the tissue paper opened this is what I saw. Hmm, interesting.

What did you think of your box?

So the first thing I took out was the Paco Rabanne XS L'Exces for him and her. This is a brand new fragrance. The scent is a woody scent for him and for her its a floral woody oriental.  I have to say its a nice smell and I could possibly see me using it when I want something a little different.

Now I have to say I have some issues with this and the first thing is that they said that the one for him was a bonus item. I think had they put in a large sample I would have said okay yea but the sample was only labelled as 1.2ml and when you take them out of the packaging you can clearly see that this is not a 1.2ml sample. Both bottles were half filled and I know this for a fact because I compared it with my other 1.2 ml samples and they were full.

Full size for him is 50ml for $74 - sample size is 0.6ml (since its only half full) $0.88
Full size for her is 50ml for $78 - sample size is 0.6ml (since its only half full) $0.94

Next was Orlane Absolute skin recovery repairing night cream.  This is suppose to  erase the signs of aging and fatigue. I wish this would have been a bigger size too because honestly I will be lucky if I can get two uses out of this and honestly you need to try it out more before actually buying the product. I have to say with a price tag of $225 for 50ml I won't be buying this anytime soon. Plus the tube isn't filled its about half filled.

Full size is 50ml for $225 and the sample size was roughly 1.75ml  $7.88

This is something that is new to me its the Kerastase Masque Chroma Riche. I liked the smell of it and I could see me using this and there is enough of a sample that I could use this for a while. Plus its meant for my hair time color treated.

Full size is 200ml for $57 and the sample is 30ml for $8.55

One that I am excited about is the Essie nail polish. This is a great summer shade.

Its sort of like a minty green.

It came in the shade Navigate Her. How fitting for my trip next week eh? This is a full size product at 15ml and it sells for $8 + depending on where you buy it. I have seen Essie polishes selling for as much as $10.

So lets add up the box so far shall we:
Essie Nail Polish $8
Kerastase $8.55
Orlane $7.88
Black Xs (both) $1.82

Total: $26.25 + $20 off the pantie by post if I was to use it and honestly not sure.

Yea the box paid for itself but feeling wise, I'm not sure. I mean there is great samples but really why send a sample of perfume if they are half filled and if you want someone to try you skin care products you really need to send more of a sample. I feel as though some of these sample beauty boxes are going back on what they promise to send. I am sorry but these aren't 4-5 deluxe sample sizes.

Please before you complain, I paid for this monthly service and I just think that they should send what they promised.

Now for the bonus box.

Olay Regenerist Wrinkle revolution complex I looked this up online at walmartOlay is that its filled to the max and I will get several uses out of it. One nice thing is that you may have noticed I have gotten quite a few in the last little while so I can actually find out if its something I like and would use.

I went looking online for the Venus and Olay razor and all I could find is one that has this but with a shower hook for $14.99 and when I look at mine I don't have the shower hook so even at that price this is a pretty good item. I love trying new things and this is new so I am looking forward to using this.

So the bonus items $ 19.66

Overall the box did pay for itself. What did you think of your box? Do you agree or disagree with me on my comments? 

(Review) Summer Fit Learning Third to Fourth Grade

I am super excited to have been asked to be a part of the blog tour for another Summer Fit Learning book. We took part in this last year and Michael, my son loved it. So thanks to Media Guest for contacting me about this.

About the book:

Summer Fit Learning’s series of educational bridge workbooks aims to prepare children mentally, physically and socially. Fitness is key to the process.

Research shows that students score lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer than at the end of the school year, and are more likely to gain weight while on break. Many exercise experts believe children today are too sedentary, which is contributing to the excess weight in one-third of children in the United States. This has created a groundswell of interest in implementing a whole body approach to education in general while specifically getting kids more active during the summer.

The SUMMER FIT workbook series aims to create fun learning experiences to help children retain and carry over knowledge from the previous school year. Additionally, by presenting a “whole body” approach with lessons and activities that focus on the body and the brain, Summer Fit helps parents and children capitalize on the mental and social benefits of physical exercise. “Summer should be a time for children to step away from their computers and televisions and exercise their brains and bodies naturally,” says series creator George Starks. “Kids should reconnect with themselves, their families and their friends on a personal level. They should be outside playing, but also brushing up on academic skills from the previous year, or those that they may find more challenging than others. They should also read and apply other classroom skills in enjoyable and entertaining ways.”

As I mentioned above we reviewed for Summer Fit Learning last year. We recieved Second to Third grade. Michael had so much fun doing that book last year because over the course of the summer he was refreshed on what he learned in grade two and he was able to get a sneak peak at would he could learn in grade three.

I didn't tell him until I got this in the mail and he was excited because he had so much fun doing the work last year. He thought at first that it was the same book but quickly noticed that it wasn't the same one and he is already asking when he can start doing this.

This activity book is fantastic for kids because not only does it include academics but also physical acitivites which is key in the summer when we sometimes tend to get a little lazy and have no real structure in our days. One thing I love about it is that it  teaches values.

The activity book is divided up into three sections (mind, body and values) in the daily activities. Which is nice because you can spend roughly 15 - 30 minutes a day letting your child do the work. For me in the summer its nice to have a little recap and prepare yourself for when school starts in the fall.

I know as a parent and thankfully that is due to the fact that I am a stay at home mom, Michael is very involved with library activities and thats because we have a fantastic summer reading program so this motivates Michael to want to read and one of the great things about this book is that there is a reading list which Michael always checks out to see what he would like to read.

One thing about the book is that they make it fun with games etc so it doesn't feel like school work. Another benefit of this book is the website http://summerfitlearning.com/ which provides additional content and since I am Canadian I am able to get additional content.

If you are on facebook be sure to like their page http://www.facebook.com/summerfitlearning where you can get updates, promotions, activities, and fun facts.

Other books that are available are: Kindergarten to First, First to Second, Second to Third, Third to Fourth, and Fourth to Fifth.

Do you have any BEA related posts to share?

I'm not sure if its just me, but for some reason this time around there doesn't seem to be alot of BEA related posts compared to other years. I have also noticed that several bloggers are saying the same thing.

So, what I thought about was making this post and if any bloggers have any BEA posts for this year or past years that you would like to share I would invite you to leave your link.

Thanks for leaving a link if you do and please leave me a comment if you think that this is helpful.

See you at BEA

An Afternoon with Sarah Mlynowski

Today was the day I got to meet a local author (although she currently lives in NYC with her husband, adorable little girl and a baby on the way, would you still consider that a local author? ), Sarah Mlynowski.

If you remember I recently posted that I would be attending this signing & reading. I was super excited to go and was counting the days because before hand I was going to be meeting up with Lucy (that is a post to come).

When we got to Chapters they were still sort of setting up so we walked around and I managed to buy the Manhattan Magic series of Sarah's. I had her other books.

It was a small turn out but nice just the same. Sarah spoke about her newest book Whatever After. She read a section of the book and it sounds super cute. I think this will be a hit with the younger kids. So far this series is only four books with a new one coming out every 6 months.

After she read Whatever After, Sarah took questions from the audience and she answered all kinds of questions from all her books. She mainly talked about her young adult books and I guess you could call the others middle grade books. She spoke briefly on her adult titles.

One thing I loved about the discussion was when she was talking about what was behind Whatever After. When she was little her mom would tell her stories about "Once a upon a time...." and she said that her mother would write it out and she would illustrate it and she actually had two of them with her and they are too cute. She has tons of stuff like that in her apartment in NY and she said whenever she needs inspiration she opens a box.

I have to admit Michael is a big fan of making books and I have kept them all because you never know and honestly after hearing Sarah speak about it now I know I have to keep Michael's.

So as we were sitting waiting for the event to start I had to take this picture of all her books. I was happy to see that Chapter had so many of her books and I was super excited to find out that I was the first person who had the Magic in Manhattan book signed. Its a bind up of the first two books Bras & Broomsticks and  Frogs & French Kisses.

I love the book marks that Sarah was giving out and I actually owned Gimme a Call and Whatever After so I brought them to get signed and ended up buying Magic in Manhattan, Spells & Sleeping Bags and Parties & Potions. Sarah graciously signed a label for me because I have her book Ten things but I think I packed it away so when I unbox it I will put it in.

These are the signed books. I love that she signed one of the books about having fun in Manhattan.

I have included both pics of Sarah and myself cause I like them both. She was gracious enough to pose for numerous pictures with us.

I was also happy to see Laura who is another blogger from Montreal. She came with her two kids who I think enjoyed the event.

I want to thank Sarah for coming to Montreal, especially Pointe Claire (which is so much easier to get to for me considering all that is going on in the city with construction and student protests) and thanks to Scholastic books for arranging this. Also I want to thank Nikole for letting us know Sarah would be coming.
 

Going to BEA 2012 (Tips)

Its hard to believe its that time of the year again for Book Expo America. Its happening again in New York City at the Jacob Javitis Center. Running from June 5 to 7th. I am not quite sure yet how many days I will be attending BEA although looking at the schedule with author signings I could be there all three days.

Are you going to BEA this year? Please leave me a comment so I know if you are going or not.

Is this your first time or have you been before? For me this will be my second time going. I went in 2010 and it was a blast. Although I wish I had known then what I know now because it would have been so helpful.

If your a first time goer I thought I would share some info with you and by no means am I an expert its just stuff that I have seen or has happened to me. Please share any tips you have or may want to know.

1) Comfortable shoes. This is going to be repeated over and over but trust me you will do a lot of walking around NYC and Javitis. I had shoes that I thought were comfy but my first day in NYC I ended up getting blisters which meant I had to rush out and buy sneakers. Funny enough it seemed like I could not get my size anywhere.

2) Pack lightly. This is something I did right I packed enough for the week only and one or two extra tops just in case I went out. I admit I have a bad habit of over packing because really you never know what is going to happen, right?

3) Business cards. You will be handing out cards to all kinds of publishers and reps plus a few bloggers perhaps. This year I got new cards made up because of the new look I got last year.

4) Shuttle buses. Every year shuttle bus are provided to BEA attendees. Take advantage of them if you can. Just check where the nearest one is from your hotel. I took them in the morning and they were pretty quick but leaving at the end of the day is another story because you will be in rush hour. Also you should know that there is no shuttle buses running during the day so basically its the morning and afternoon.

5) Getting into BEA. I heard this has been a problem the first year I went. You don't have to push, shove or cut to get in the show floor. Be patient and wait. Some people have been there way before you. I didn't see anything because I was attending an author breakfast when the doors opened but I did hear alot of people complaining about this.

6) Snacks and water. Just a heads up eating at Javitis is expensive. You honestly could buy three water bottles for the price you will pay inside plus lunch was super expensive inside as well. I bought a bottle with me and just refilled it and I made sure I had some snacks to tie me over. If your hotel provides breakfast you can grab an apple or banana. I am guilty of doing that. Plan ahead. I heard that there was a food cart outside selling hotdogs so that could be a cheaper alternative to eating inside.

7) Another alternative to shipping. Suitcases aren't allowed on the floor but you can check it in for a small daily fee (under $5 a day). The section is downstairs. (As you walk in from getting off the shuttle buses) There is always someone there to watch over the suitcases. I didn't have a problem with leaving my books in the suitcase. It helped when my arms were getting sore. The only thing that confused me at first was because I shared a suitcase with my roommate and was confused by the books at first and wondering if I had the right suitcase.

8) Shipping. There is shipping on site to ship your books home (which I think I will be doing this time but it all depends on my budget) or you can walk to the nearest post office and use them. The only thing with shipping is I heard that some people take it upon themselves to raid other peoples boxes. I know this for a fact because it happened to a blog I follow. So anything that is of value keep it with you. I just think for people to do that is just wrong. Its basically stealing in my eyes. So if you want your books to be save and sound I suggest the suitcase on wheels. Just remember there is no suitcases etc on the show room floor.

9) Be polite and professional. I know this is easier said then done but really what you do will reflect on you and all book bloggers. It takes just two seconds to say "Excuse Me" "Sorry" Thank You" you will be surprised at how far those words can go and mean to someone. Just remember your actions are going to be reflected on us as bloggers. Always say thank you to some who hands you a book or swag.

10) Common sense and courtesy. If you are standing in line please don't be saving spots for ten of your friends, other people behind you have been waiting just as long as you or cutting into the line for that same reason. Personally I don't mind one or two but when you text or call them to say the line is moving and the next thing you know 10 additional people are ahead of you. (This has happened to me quite a few times my first year there.) Also if you see one person talking to another (in a line) and one person moves to talk don't get all in there face and yell them out for line jumping that isn't cool especially when they say they have no interest in the book. (I witnessed that and sadly I know the blogger that did that) and once I got home I ended up unfollowing that blog.

11) The displays, booths or other peoples boxes in shipping. This one might get me into trouble but just because your at BEA that doesn't entitle you to just take something from a display or box (either a fellow attendees or in a booth or conference room)without permission. Always ask someone before you take something from a booth. Those boxes are sealed for a reason. As for the shipping area I really think that is wrong for you to go into someone's box and take what ever you want. Its not your box, that person you are stealing from probably went through alot of trouble to get those books. How would it feel if someone did that to you? Pretty crumby right?

12)Keep the flow of traffic going. Don't stop in the middle of the isle to chit chat with friends and start pulling out your books to show what you got. Move to the side if you want to do that. I don't know how many people I bumped into because of that. The isle's aren't that big and you have to remember that there is alot of people walking around with bags full of books.

13) Getting around NYC. The best way to see the city is really to walk but if you can't I have to suggest the subway. Its not as scary as it sounds although I wish the people who worked inside the booths were a little more friendlier and approachable. The subway system can be a little complicated so you should know where you are going. This was the most I ever walked around a city and I enjoyed it. Except when I got lost and no one seemed to know where anything was.

14) Sight seeing. Don't go to NYC just for BEA get out and do some sight seeing. There is so much to see and do. This year I am hoping to get more sight seeing down and as its looking I know Monday and Friday will be those days for me possibly more.

So if your going have fun and remember going to BEA is a privilege, not a right. Don't walk in there with entitlement thinking that you deserve to do whatever you want just because you are a book blogger.

(Meme) The Mailbox Post (May21st to 26th)

Can you believe its time for another IMM post? Where is the time going? Its hard to believe that its almost the end of May. Well actually this is the last weekend of May  and its a long weekend for my Us friends. Happy Memorial Day to you.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Mailbox Monday is originally hosted by Marcia from A girl and her books and The Printed Page. In the summer of 2010 Marcia decided she needed a change in hosting and didn't want to rely on one blogger alone to do it because its a lot of work so she decided to put Mailbox Monday on tour and so far with great success it has made monthly stops at more then a dozen blogs and this year is booked until the end. I will actually be hosting Mailbox Monday in April.

The host for May is Martha from Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf a blogger that I have been following for the longest time now. Be sure to check her out.

The host for June will be Sassy Brit who blogs over at Alternative Read's .

Quite a few bloggers have started there own mailbox features and one of them is Tynga's Reviews. She is a local blogger and a super sweet person. If you haven't checked out Tynga's blog you really should. (Before you leave a comment about me supporting this please be sure to read official launch )

Here is what I bought and got for review this past week.

This was the second to last scholastic order for this school year so I wanted to take advantage of some sales they had and I ordered:
-Usborne 100 science experiments (thought this would be perfect to do on those rainy summer days)
- Wish & Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen (this was packaged together for $9.99)
- Cloaked in  REd by Vivian Vande Velde
- Phineas and FErb Thrill o Rama
- Big Nate Boredom buster by Lincoln Peirce
- Big Nate Goes for Broke #4 by Lincoln Peirce
- Pokemon Challenge by Tracey West
- Pokemon Black & White three book set with Stickers Sandile in Trouble/Ash's Triple Threat/ Emolga Makes Mischief

And then we went to this little indie bookstore and Michael bought 100 paper airplaces to fly and we nabbed some bookmarks.

Also not pictured as I forgot about them until I was picking up the books to write this post. I went to Costco last week and picked up: Cassandra Clare's City of Lost Souls for $14 hardcover compared to the full price. While I was there I also had to pick up Fifty Shades,book 2 and 3 because of http://parajunkee.com/ read a long. I have been reading her read a long daily posts and when I saw the first book at the book sale I went to,  I had to pick it up and pretty much devoured it within a day and a half and I needed to finish the series and they had them for $9.99 so I thought it was a pretty good deal considering that they are regular $18 in a bookstore. Is anyone else reading them?

Here are the books I got for review:

- Don't Laugh at Giraffe (super cute story that I can't wait to read when I go back to the library in the fall)
- Dark Side of Valor by Alicia Singleton (I am on a blog tour for this)
- One Perfect Summer by Paige Toon just showed up for review from S&S UK (thank you S&S UK)

Then from Thomas Allen & Son I got a lovely package and it contained finished copies of Pilgrims Don't wear Pink and Mister Death's Blue Eyed Girls. Thanks so much Thomas Allen for this surprise package.
Freebies: (not pictured)
- I am part of the Metro & Moi program and I got a $36 gift certificate for the past three months of shopping there. I love getting these because its an added bonus when I grocery shop along with the bonus point coupons.

I hope you had a good week and happy reading. See you next week.

(Music Review) Two CDs Kutless & Adam Cappa

I was recently contacted by Merge Pr to see if I would be interested in listening to and reviewing some cds and of course I jumped at the chance because one of the things you might not know about me is that I love Christian Music.

I was first introduced to Christian music by my cousin in high school. He was a big fan of certain bands and whenever I went over to his house he was always playing it. There is just something about it that I really enjoy. So when I got asked to review these two cds I quickly went to YouTube to check them out and from what I heard I knew I wanted to review them.

Thanks to Merge PR for allowing me to do this.

Kutless, "Believer"

After a successful 2009 release that spawned the mega-hit single “What Faith Can Do,” Kutless has released a new studio album titled "Believer" (BEC Recordings). The album is produced by Grammy-nominated Chris Stevens as well as David Garcia (TobyMac, Mandisa, Carrie Underwood) and Dave Lubben (worship leader, Kutless). With over two million albums sold, a RIAA Gold-selling album, AC Song of the Year in 2010, and 11 No. 1 radio singles, Kutless has transformed from that new rock band from Oregon to the one new bands look up to, the band whose music is all over the radio in multiple formats and on major tours. "Believer" finds Kutless using a decade of growth to deliver an expertly crafted set of songs with as much diversity in the music as there is consistency in the message. This album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart during street week as well as No. 1 on iTunes Christian Albums.

I have never heard of Kutless before getting this email from Merge PR. Kutless is very much a rock band and I really enjoyed their CD and since getting it I have been listening to it pretty much non stop. This cd was released February 2012.  This is their nineth cd.

Upon reading about Kutless I discovered that they were once a hard rock band and decided to go this way. You can still hear some of the hard rock in the music which I loved and their ballads were touching. Love the music and the lyrics to the songs.

The guys in the band are Jeff Gilbert, James Mead, Dave Luetkenhoelter, Jin Micah Sumrall and Nick DePartee

There is thirteen songs on the cd and I have to say some of my favorites on this are: Even If, Hero, Identity, Come Back Home, This is Love, and Believer. I have been listening to it pretty much non stop since getting it and I have to say that even Michael )who is 9 years old) likes listening to it when I am playing it. This is one of those cds that you can play and not worry about the lyrics when kids are around.

I will definitely have to check out their other cds.

You can click this to discover Kutless

Here is something I found on YouTube. Its one of my favorite songs.

Photo of the Band

The second cd I recieved from Merge PR is Adam Cappa's The Rescue.

Adam Cappa, "The Rescue"

BEC Recordings’ is thrilled to announce the release of the LP from freshman artist Adam Cappa. He released his this full-length label debut, "The Rescue." This budding artist can be seen touring with his label-mate, mentor and co-producer Jeremy Camp on the “We Cry Out” tour currently on the road. "The Rescue" is his label debut, but his third career album. Cappa enlisted producer Andy Dodd as well as the aftermentioned Camp, who has been involved in Cappa’s career from the beginning. A vocalist, guitarist, performer, young songwriter and communicator through and through, Adam Cappa is ready to share his heart. It all started when Adam got involved with Young Life after accepting Christ as a sophomore in high school. Fast-forward a few years and two independent records later, Cappa is focused on his passion for ministry.

The Rescue just came out in March (2012). This is his debut CD (on a label) but technically his third cd.

This is another cd that I am constantly listening to as well. I loved all the songs on this cd. There is ten songs on this cd. I really can't say that I have a favorite off this cd because I literally love all the songs on it. I loved the lyrics on this cd. Its a fantastic cd and I think if you like Christian music then you really should check this one out. I think you would enjoy it just as much as I do.

The songs that are on this cd are:
The Rescue (I have included the offical video for this below), All I Really Want, Washed Over Me, The Only One, Sail Away, Perfect, From The Inside, Only A Glimpse, What's At Stake and How Worthy.

I will definitely keep my eye out for further cds that Adam puts out. Michael really enjoyed this one too.

You can click on this to discover Adam Cappa



What do you think? Isn't this a great song? I love the video for it.

Once again Merge PR for sending me these two cds to review. I loved them and I love discovering this band and singer. I will be looking out for them in the future. I do know that Kutless is currently touring with some Canada dates and US dates. Adam is currently touring as well in the US.

BEA Buzz Books 2012

We are literally two weeks away from BEA. I honestly feel as though this will be the longest two weeks ever.

This past weekend I heard about the BEA Buzz Books and I was curious so I went to NetGalley to check it out. I signed in and downloaded it.

This is apparently the first time that such a book has been compiled and thanks to Publisher's Lunch for coming up with this idea and I really hope you will continue to do this yearly.

The book has excerpts from over 30 of the top Fall titles. Granted there are merely a chapter only but still it gives you the feel of the book and what it could be like.

First thing I noticed when I opened the book was how well it was laid out and what the book contained. The books contained are not only adult but a mix of everything. Also included after the brief snippet was info on the book (publisher, about the author, pub date, contact info etc) which comes in handy.

So for me I thought I would share some of the titles that have interested me and I am hoping to get while I am at BEA.



Publication Date: August 21, 2012
This stunning debut novel—drawn from the author's own life experience—tells the moving story of a family of eleven in the American Midwest, bound together and torn apart by their faith

The Rovaniemis and their nine children belong to a deeply traditional church (no drinking, no dancing, no TV) in modern-day Michigan. A normal family in many ways, the Rovaniemis struggle with sibling rivalry, parental expectations, and forming their own unique identities in such a large family. But when two of the children venture from the faith, the family fragments and a haunting question emerges: Do we believe for ourselves, or for each other? Each chapter is told from the distinctive point of view of a different Rovaniemi, drawing a nuanced, kaleidoscopic portrait of this unconventional family. The children who reject the church learn that freedom comes at the almost unbearable price of their close family ties, and those who stay struggle daily with the challenges of resisting the temptations of modern culture. With precision and potent detail, We Sinners follows each character on their journey of doubt, self-knowledge, acceptance, and, ultimately, survival.

Publication Date: August 7, 2012

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.



Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.



Publication Date: September 4, 2012

"ORIGIN is a startling mystery played out in the vivid and lush Amazon jungle. In this deadly clash of science and nature, a heroine emerges. Pia clawed her way through the pages and left her mark on the landscape of my imagination as the almost tangible danger left me breathless."--Colleen Houck, New York Times bestselling author of Tiger's Curse

"I loved Origin's action, romance, and mystery--and I couldn't stop thinking about the questions it raised." --Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of Across the Universe
An electrifying action-romance that's as thoughtful as it is tragic

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost.



Publication Date: September 11, 2012

Seventeen-year-old Tony Antioch lives in Pleasant Meadows, a trailer park where questions aren't asked since everyone already knows the answers from their own experience. He dreams of rescuing his mother from her constant stream of abusive boyfriends but in reality can barely duck the punches that are aimed at himself.

When Tony is coerced into joining his friend Rob's Mixed Martial Arts class, he is surprised to find that he has a talent that he actually wants to develop. But with a meth-dealing biker gang that is hungry for recruits and a vicious cycle of poverty and violence that precedes him, Tony is going to need a lot more than blood and guts to find a way out.

Gritty, powerful, and unapologetic, Tap Out explores what it takes to stay true to oneself and the consequences of the choices made along the way in order to do so.



Publication Date: September 18, 2012
Payback is paradise in this start to a trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian.

Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.

KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.

LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.

MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.

None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible.

With an unlikely alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.



Publication Date: September 18, 2012 | Series: The Diviners
Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.



Publication Date: October 1, 2012
Samantha didn't mean to hurt anyone. She just wanted to make Zee a little jealous after he completely ditched her for another girl at the party. So she ate a salty party snack and she kissed Trey. And then he died—right in her arms. Was she really the only person in the entire school who didn't know about his peanut allergy? Overnight Sammy turns into the school pariah and a media sensation explodes. Consumed with guilt, abandoned by her friends, and in jeopardy of losing her swimming scholarship, she'll have to find a way to forgive herself before anyone else will.

The above books sound really interesting. What are your most anticipated books this fall?

(Meme) Top Ten Tuesday

 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme that the lovely bloggers over at The Broke and the Bookish came up with.

Each week a new Top Ten lists is posted so  everyone is welcome to join! All you have to do is link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check it out and you can check out other bloggers lists! This is a great way to interact with other bloggers and perhaps find something new.

This week's topic is Top Ten Blogs/Sites That AREN'T About Books.

I'm not sure I will be able to list ten but I will try.

1. Facebook. This is always the first place I head to win I log online in the morning. Honestly I think I spend way too much time on it.

2. Twitter. I have been logging on alot more but not really commenting.

3. Local hockey website. Not so much since hockey is done but I would constantly check the site out to see what news there was and Michael's team stats and rankings.

4. Yahoo Canada. Well this is actually my home page so I tend to read the news feeds and check my yahoo email.

5. Google. I love to use this in search of images and getting into my gmail account.

6. YouTube. This is my go to to check for videos on beauty boxes, mailbox posts etc

7. A few beauty blogs such as http://www.spiffykerms.com/ (Nancy is a fantastic Canadian blogger who I discovered on youtube) another Canadian blogger I discovered on youtube is Ashley and she blogs at http://romanianbutterfly206.blogspot.ca/ .

8. Several Canadian mom bloggers that I discovered through a Canadian blog network. Through this I found some local bloggers that hopefully I will meet one day soon.

9. PicMonkey. I use this to edit my photos for free. Its a fairly new site but they seem to be adding constantly to it.

10. Canadian magazines such as Canadian Living and Chatelaine. I love reading their magazines and their online content is fantastic.

So this is my top ten list. Did you find something new that you might not have before this? I have checked out others list and found a bunch of sites I have never heard of.

Guest Posting today is Audrey from Bibliosaurus Text...

Today, I am super excited to have Audrey, who blogs at Bibliosaurus Text stop by for a guest post.

I just recently discovered Audrey and her blog Bibliosaurus Text through my hosting Mailbox Monday's last month. If you haven't checked Audrey's blog you should hop on over and check it out.

Audrey will be attending BEA this year and I am excited to meet her there. She was willing to do a guest post for me today about BEA and the Top 5 Things she learned from attending.

So, please help me welcome Audrey to Cindy's Love of Books.

I’m so thrilled that Cindy’s allowed me to write a guest post about BEA! Can you believe that BEA is in just a couple weeks!? I know I can’t.



This will be my second year attending, even though I’m only going to be there for a day and a half this year. I remember getting ready for it last year, and feeling the pangs of nervousness and anticipation in my tummy. I really had no idea what to expect. Luckily, awesome bloggers took the time to post tips and past experiences online, which really helped me to prepare.

In order to do my part to help this year’s new attendees, here are five things I learned at BEA last year:

1) Go with some books in mind that you absolutely want to get, but also be open to everything else.

This is a made up list of books.

Last year, I spent a lot of time planning all of the signings and talks I wanted to attend. There were certain books I’d heard of, and I was convinced I knew what ARCs I’d be coming home with. I did manage to snag some of my most coveted, like Scott Westerfeld’s Goliath; however, there were some that just didn’t happen. For example, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. This book was HYPED. I went to see Michelle Hodkin interviewed, and she looked at the small box of ARCs, and then at the audience, and there were at least three times more people patiently waiting than she had ARCs for. I didn’t get one. (I did get an awesome Mara Dyer shirt, though, and it actually fits great!)

However, I wound up picking up a ton of great books at BEA that I had never before heard of, and didn’t expect. Don’t get me wrong--I don’t think you should get everything offered to you. In fact, don’t do that. A lot of books won’t be a good fit for you, and should go to somebody who will potentially appreciate and promote them. But we know what kinds of books we generally like, right? And those are marketed a certain way. Check out the blurb, talk to the author or the publisher representative, and you may be very pleasantly surprised.


2) For the sake of all that is good, MAIL YOUR BOOKS!

Last year, I was there for all three days. I thought I was smart. I had a small rolling suitcase to leave at the Javitz during the day for drop-offs, and a really big rolling one to help me get everything home. Since I was taking the train, I had far less luggage restrictions than those who fly. At the end of day 3, though, I had a lot of books. It was about 80 books all together. Which is a lot of books. I was determined to mail the books. I nearly did not make it to the post office. No joke. I’m not the world’s strongest girl, and I’m only about 5’2”. To compound things, BEA last year coincided with a period when I was undergoing physical therapy for problems with my neck and shoulders (cataloger strain, or something like that). Carrying those books probably put me back weeks’ worth of physical therapy sessions.

I struggled like an idiot to get those books and suitcases into the post office. Multiple bums offered to help me along the way. A man who had also attended BEA actually did help me at the post office. It was embarrassing, physically damaging, and something I never want to go through again. Moral of the story: mail some books after each day if you can. Media rate is the cheapest, and actually quite affordable. Don’t injure your body and your pride like I did!

3) Make some friends, preferably before you go.

I had only been blogging for five months when I went to BEA last year. I didn’t really know anybody, although I knew who people were. I was a lone girl in New York for only the second time in my life. All around me, other bloggers had friends. I’d see people texting back and forth when there was a publisher putting out new ARCs, or hanging out together in lines and having a great time. While I’m not the world’s shyest person, it took a lot to put myself out there. I felt kind of left out, and was scheming about how much more fun I’d have been having if I were there with a pal.

(Most recent photograph of me, at work)

This year, I’m ready. I’ve been blogging longer, and tweeting back and forth with people, so I can put names to faces and feel like we have enough of an online rapport that I won’t feel like an internet stalker when I say hi. I’m especially excited to finally meet, in person, Hannah from The Irish Banana Review , Christina from A Reader of Fictions, and Julia from Rex Robot Reviews!

And by all means, if you see me and recognize me, come introduce yourself! I’m nice, I promise :-)


4) Come prepared to Javitz.

Okay, so that sounds really generic. But that’s the best way I can put it. You’re going to be on your feet all day, carrying heavy books. The time will fly by, to be sure, but don’t exhaust yourself to the point that you can’t go do fun things after hours. Keep in mind, food at the Javitz is absurdly expensive. It’s like airport food prices combined with Disneyland prices. I think a cheap ice cream was around $7 or $8 last year. You don’t even want to know about the water or real food. The best option for me was to pack some Cliff bars and a bottle of water. Also, hunt around for food! Sometimes publishers will have treats to promote books. I even got a beer at one point last year from a publisher promoting a book about beer. Just have some stuff in your bag to get you through the main part of the day, then feast on the foods of New York City afterward.

Also, comfy shoes are an absolute must. Don’t wear brand new shoes that are not broken in. Don’t wear heels! When you’re weighed down with 20+ lbs of books, it’s all too easy to fall. Trust me, I did it at ALA in New Orleans last year on my way to the post office with all of my books. I was a bloody mess, partly because I was wearing the wrong shoes.

(The result of carrying too many books while wearing strappy sandals)


Also, I thinking checking in a rolling bag each day is a must. It was for me. Books hurt when you’re schleping them all day, and it was such a relief to have somewhere to unload them. I don’t recommend leaving them in a box in the FedEx or UPS, or whatever it was, room downstairs. You can’t trust people. One girl had ALL of her books stolen from there. Better to have a bag that is tagged as yours.


5) It’s always better to be early than late.

You’re going to be competing with a lot of people for author signings. If you want to go to a ticketed event, you need to arrive quite early to get your tickets. If it’s high demand (and if it has a ticket, it is), plan on trying to get your ticket at least an hour or hour and a half before the daily exhibits open.

For author signings in the signing area, I quickly realized that it’s best to get in line around 45 minutes or so before the signing for the popular ones. That way, you can be toward the front of the line, and you’ll have a chance to either go to a second, less popular signing afterward, or get into another line. Also, you want to get a good spot in line because they can run out of books. This happened to me a few times last year. Not fun, and a waste of your valuable time!

I hope these tips are helpful, and don’t repeat too much of what is already out there, although I suspect they might. These were honestly the biggest take-aways I had from going to BEA last year.

The final thing: have a great time! Not everybody gets to experience this, and it’s absolutely invigorating and inspiring.

May the odds be ever in your favor (when going for the coveted books!).

(Books from BEA!)

-Audrey
www.bibliosaurustext.com
contact@bibliosaurustext.com
@bibliosaurustxt


Thanks so much Audrey for taking the time out to do this for me and I have to agree with everything she wrote. You did a fine job and hit the nail on the head with the tips.

Are you going to be at BEA? Please let me know and I will look for you around BEA. See you soon :)