The Cozy Reader

Armchair BEA | Day 1 | Introduction

The Cozy Reader — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:00:51 +0000

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads.

Welcome to Armchair BEA! The feature created for Book Bloggers who are unable to attend Book Expo America (BEA) in New York City.

Today is opening day aka introduction day! Here are the five questions I have selected to answer to introduce myself. Please link me to your introduction if you comment here! I’ll be visiting from the Mr. Linky on the main post but don’t want to miss anyone who has visited me here directly!

Don’t forget to check out the guest post from Lindsey Rudnickas at NetGalley and details about a promotion!

All About Jess (The Cozy Reader)

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

Hi! I’m Jess, The Cozy Reader! I’m a mother of two, wife of one (hehe). We have a nearly 8 year old daughter, Madison, and a 13 month old son, Riley. We’ve been married 10 years this June.

I’ve been blogging for…(sneaks a peek at Blogoversary ticker)… four years now. I started my blog first as a sort of online journal but then it quickly became my outlet to express my thoughts on the books I had read. I never had the intention of book blogging or rather reviewing books, let alone reviewing pre-published books by some of my favorite authors. I consider myself blessed because not only do I love reading but I enjoy reading and then sharing some amazing books with my readers.

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

I am a gamer. Right now I am playing Diablo III as a Demon Hunter, who I have named Buffy. She’s level 53 and doing pretty awesome DPS. I play with my husband and a few of our good friends. I have also played my fair share of World of Warcraft and Counter Strike: Source.

I also just donated 12 inches of my hair to Locks of Love! See my blog post about the donation with before and after pictures!

Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?

Can I pick a few? My favorite discussion topic was one I had on spoilers and whether they really spoil (YES! They do!). One of my most favorite books that I reviewed was Graffit Moon by Cath Crowley.

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

I would love to have dinner, or possibly cake, with Jerico Z. Barrons from Karen Marie Monings Fever series. Why? Why wouldn’t I? Also, I plead the fifth. :P

Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?

I would say my reading tastes haven’t really changed. I am a paranormal fan in both adult and young adult. I enjoy a good contemporary every now and again. I seem to crave contemporaries more than I do paranormals though, which wasn’t the case a few years ago.

Thanks for stopping by! Don’t forget to link me to your introduction post!

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Donation | Locks of Love!

The Cozy Reader — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 15:58:36 +0000

Today I went and got 10+ inches of my hair cut off!

I’m super excited that I get to donate my hair to Locks of Love though!

Here’s a super short video slide show of before, during and after photos!

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Cover Art | Level 2 (The Memory Chronicles, #1) by Lenore Appelhans

The Cozy Reader — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:56:04 +0000

I’ve been waiting for a long time to see this cover! A fellow book blogger of Presenting Lenore has revealed her amazing cover for Level 2 due out January 15, 2013.

She didn’t have a normal revealing though. She posted an awesome video of the making of the cover. Head over to Presenting Lenore to see the video!

Level 2 (The Memory Chronicles, #1) by Lenore Appelhans

Simon & Schuster (January 15, 2013) | $9.99 (Kindle)

Summary (Goodreads)

Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow prisoners, Felicia passes the endless hours downloading memories and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and the boy she loved, Neil.

Then a girl in a neighboring chamber disappears, and nobody but Felicia seems to recall she existed in the first place. Something is obviously very wrong. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, she learns the truth: a rebellion is brewing to overthrow the Morati, the guardians of Level 2.

Felicia is reluctant to trust Julian, but then he promises what she wants the most—to be with Neil again—if only she’ll join the rebels. Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself in the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.

I can’t wait to get my hands on this!

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Cover Art | Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

The Cozy Reader — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:26:42 +0000

I just HAD to share this gorgeous cover art with you!

Shannon Messenger revealed it just today!

Let the Sky Fall (untitle series, #1) by Shannon Messenger

March 2013 by Simon Pulse

Summary (Goodreads)

Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston is the only survivor of the category five tornado that killed his parents. Every night since the storm, a beautiful, dark-haired girl has swept through his dreams. She’s the only clue to his past, and he clings to the hope that she’s real.

Audra is real, but she’s also a sylph. An air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even twist it into a weapon. She’s also a guardian–Vane’s guardian–and has sworn an oath to protect him at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra must help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim–the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock a memory Audra wishes could be erased. And as the storm bears down on them she starts to realize the greatest danger might not be the warriors coming to destroy them, but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

Set amongst the desert airstreams of Coachella Valley in California, and alive with wonderful wind-swept prose, LET THE SKY FALL is about two teenagers broken by their pasts, divided by their futures, and bound by love.

You can follow LET THE SKY FALL on Facebook too!

Shannon is also running a giveaway, ends Friday, June 1st!

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Review | Of Poseidon (#1) by Anna Banks

The Cozy Reader — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:42:56 +0000

Of Posideon (#1) by Anna Banks

Feiwel & Friends (May 22, 2012) | 336 pages

$12.23 (Amazon, Hardcover) | $9.99 (Kindle)

Procurement

eARC from Feiwel & Friends via NetGalley.

My Grade

Plot: 5

Setting: 5

Writing: 5

Originality: 5

Characters: 5

Romance: 5

Overall: 30/30! Hilariously perfect!

Title/Cover Bonus: 5

Overall

A mermaid mythology love story at it’s best with very loveable characters, a plot that keeps you guessing and an ending that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the next book!

Summary (Goodreads)

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he’s heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen’s not fully convinced that Emma’s the one he’s been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help–no matter what the risk.

Trailer

First Line

I smack into him as if shoved from behind.

Most Memorable Scene

I just loved the opening scene of when Emma runs into Galen. And the ending! I’ll get to that later!

Plot

Galen is a Prince mermaid looking for a few things to save his kingdom. He finds Emma and has to figure out if she’s the one he’s been looking for. It’s very much a mystery with a huge chunk of teenaged hormones and a ton of humor thrown in. The plot doesn’t get boring and something new is always popping up. I enjoyed the plot line immensely.

Setting

The story starts in Florida while Emma is on vacation. She returns home to New Jersey (if I remember correctly). Lots of time in the ocean. Both Emma and Galen’s houses are presented beautifully.

Writing

Gah! I couldn’t get enough! Anna writes with unnatural ease to combine informative information with emotion as well as humor. I loved the tone of voice she gave Emma. And Galen was presented very nicely too. I enjoyed the alternating points of views. Emma’s is first person and Galen’s is third person, which was a tad odd but it worked.

Originality

Mermaids! And not just any mermaids, there is a ton of mythology to them too. I really enjoyed Anna’s spin on the mermaids. I haven’t read very many mermaid books and I found this one to be excellent.

Characters

Emma is hilarious. I couldn’t get enough of her! Mix in Galen and his sister and then later his best friend and you get an odd ball mix of teenage hormones and rivalry at it’s best.

I adored Galen. He was super sweet and endearing at first sight. The amount of concern and attention he gives Emma warmed my heart. I loved the scene where Emma is getting a physical by Galen’s doctor. His reaction to some of the news was hilarious yet oh so sweet!

Romance

Deep down inside this story is one sweet love story. Galen and Emma have an instant connection and attraction. It was fun and romantic to see them carry their friendship to the next level.

Title/Cover Bonus

I love the title and the cover! The cover actually seems kind of dark and gloomy. The story is such a funny read that some might be expecting something darker.

Ending

Oh what an ending! Talk about cliffhanger! I was totally floored by this ending. I didn’t see it coming! I am super excited to read the next book to find out what the heck is going to happen! I didn’t know this was going to be a series but I’m super happy it is one. I just loved these characters and this world so much I am happy to read more!

Series

Book two will probably be out this time next year. No details of it yet though.

I found a prequel, LEGACY LOST, on TOR.com! :) You should read it.

Legacy Lost (Of Posideon, #0.5) Prequel available at TOR.com

Summary (Goodreads)

Grom is a mer-prince, pledged to marry the mermaid princess of an opposing kingdom in an effort to unite the lands under the waters. He dreads this arrangement until meets the princess Nalia – both beautiful and smart, she’s everything he ever wanted. But just when their connection grows deeper, tragedy strikes.

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Quick Review | The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles, #2) by Kady Cross

The Cozy Reader — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:26:45 +0000

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles, #2) by Kady Cross

Harlequin Teen (May 29, 2012) | 416 pages

$12.23 (Amazon, Hardcover) | $9.99 (Kindle)

Procurement

eARC from Harlequin Teen via NetGalley.

Overall

A fabulous follow up to a great first installment of a unique YA steampunk paranormal romance with amazing secondary characters.

If you read and enjoyed the first book of this series then you’ll surely love this follow up. While I wasn’t a fan of the actual girl that was in the clockwork collar, Mei, I just loved the plot and the advancements that happened between the main characters of Finley, Jasper and Griffin.

I can’t wait to see what book three has in store of us!

Series

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Steampunk Chronicles, #0.5)

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles, #1)

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Blog Tour | Soul Savers by Kristie Cook

The Cozy Reader — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:43:52 +0000

Welcome to The Soul Savers Book Tour! Be sure to check out the rest of the blogs participating in the Tour. Today’s other post is over at Reading Angel.

Today, I have Sophia answering a question!

What attributes do you concentrate on for your child to master?

Sophia: Loyalty and devotion is definitely something Alexis needs to master before it comes time for her to lead the Amadis. Unfortunately, she’s not exactly trustful of anyone. If she can get over her past betrayals, she’ll learn to trust the right people and to be devoted to her own people. I’ve done what I can to be an example of devotion, especially to the Amadis – I kept secrets from her even when I wanted nothing more than to tell her everything! She’ll come around. I believe in her.

Series

Promise by Kristie Cook

Published: 2011-08-26 by Ang’dora Productions, LLC

Pages: 368 | $15.99

Purpose by Kristie Cook

Published: 2011-08-26 by Ang’dora Productions, LLC

Pages: 354 | $15.99

Devotion by Kristie Cook

Published: 2012-01-31 by Ang’dora Productions, LLC

Pages: 388 | $15.99

Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella by Kristie Cook

Published: 2011-10-26 by Ang’dora Productions, LLC

Pages: 200 | $8.99

About Kristie Cook

Kristie Cook is a lifelong writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at www.KristieCook.com.

Connect with Kristie

Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway

Kristie is hosting some great prizes!

To be entered all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

One comment per person, please.

Comment qualifies you for Kristie’s prizes as listed below PLUS one commenter will win an eBook of DEVOTION!

Prizes!!!

Grand Prize – Nook Simple Touch (US only)
1st Prize — Paperbacks of all 4 of my books signed (US only)
2nd Prize — Soul Savers Swag bag (US only)
International Prize — All 4 books as ebooks

Simply leave a comment (with your email address in the comment form!) on each of the tour stops to be entered. The more stops you visit and leave a comment, the more entries you get!

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I am Attending BEA 2012!

The Cozy Reader — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:39:52 +0000

That’s right! I have decided to attend BEA 2012 on Thursday, June 7th!

I am not attending as a “Blogger” though. Why? Because I just can’t afford the blogger rate this time and I also can’t attend more than one day.

So, how am I attending then? Well, for the first time ever, BEA has opened the show to Power Readers! For $45 and only Thursday, the show is open to a select, invitation only Power Readers!

I may be a Blogger but I certainly qualify as a Power Reader!

I got my invite via BookPerk. Aren’t a member? You should be! It’s FREE and they have some pretty cool perks.

BookPerk is currently holding a raffle for 2 free Power Reader tickets. But if you don’t want to wait to see if you could win they have an invitation code you can use to register for your ticket now!

In addition to attending on Thursday, I will also be participating in Armchair BEA 2012 again this year! Keep an eye out for my daily posts.

Are you attending BEA or Armchair BEA? Let me know! I’d be interested in possibly bunking on Wednesday night if anyone has an extra bed in their hotel room or home! :) Email me directly if you do!

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Book Related Cool Stuff Volume 2.0

The Cozy Reader — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:01:41 +0000

Haven’t done one of these in forever!

Saw this very cool shower curtain and just had to share!

Dave Eggers Shower Curtain by Dave Eggers

$40.00 at Fab.com (ends Friday morning!) Origially $65.

THE THING Quarterly is a different kind of periodical: Instead of sending out a publication, it issues useful everyday objects with cultural significance. This special issue 16 comes from American author Dave Eggers, of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius fame. It’s a shower curtain which features a monologue written by Eggers from the perspective of his own shower curtain—how appropriately meta, right?

If you like this HURRY! It ends Friday morning! Grab it at Fab.com for $40.

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Review | Shadow Bound (Unbound, #2) by Rachel Vincent

The Cozy Reader — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:55:58 +0000

Shadow Bound (Unbound, #2) by Rachel Vincent

Mira (May 22, 2012) | $7.99 (Mass Market, Amazon) | $6.79 (Kindle, Amazon)

Procurement

eARC via NetGalley from Harlequin UK (my request should have been declined because it was the UK publisher but I was so excited it was approved!).

My Grade

Plot: 5

Setting: 4

Writing: 4

Originality: 5

Characters: 4

Romance: 4

Overall: 26/30 86%

Title/Cover Bonus: 5

Overall

A nice addition to the Unbound series with a likeable hero and a broken woman with a sailor’s mouth who cares more about her loved ones than she does about herself.

Summary (Goodreads)

If you live in the dark long enough, you begin to forget the light…

KORI DANIELS is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she’s ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if that means taking it from someone else…

The job? Recruit Ian Holt—or kill him.

Ian’s ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he’s on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower’s top Binder: Kori’s little sister.

Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they’ll have to choose between love and liberty….

Trailer

None as of yet.

First Line

If you live in the dark long enough, you start to forget what light looks like.

(UK eARC edition)

Most Memorable Scene

I liked the scene when Ian finished his shower and is clad in a towel and water specs. ;) Also, I enjoyed the wine cellar scene too.

Plot

While I enjoyed the overall plot of the story I wasn’t a fan of how long it took to find out exactly what the hell Ian was up to. His character was a bit sketchy at first, although he seemed likeable, I wasn’t sure if he was “real” enough to the reader or even to Kori.

Setting

This book is set on the other side of town than Blood Bound with the rival thug Jake Tower as the ring leader. Nothing spectacular setting wise except maybe the wine cellar scene and the scene in the alley after they grab dinner. Rachel tends to give details to emotions rather than setting in most cases.

Writing

I miss Faythe and the rest of the Shifters series characters. I think Rachel is doing an awesome job of the first person, alternate point of views for this Unbound series. However, I did find myself wishing that some of the chapters were told from the other characters point of view. Specifically, Chapter 20, which was told from Ian’s PoV and should totally have been from Kori’s PoV (IMHO, of course).

On a side note, I did find an error in Chapter 16 and let Rachel know about it via Twitter. It’s a pretty big error and she was not happy to hear about it. Of course errors are excepted and do happen in just about every book. However, I really feel sorry for Rachel on this one. It’s a pretty bad error to be missed! I told her I was available for hire as editor. ;)

Originality

This whole Unbound series is turning out to be pretty original. Shadow walkers, however, are not a new thing to me. I did read a Jacquelyn Frank series that had them as well and I enjoyed them very much.

Characters

Here is where things get tricky.

Kori. Kori is broken. In Blood Bound she was asked to help Olivia and since she’s bound to Olivia and her other childhood friends she had to obey. To obey Olivia’s request she had to disobey Jake Tower’s binding as his protector. He gets shot and gets super pissed about Kori’s breech of contract. Hence, the torture and now the new Kori who breaks down just as much as she beats the shit out of things or people. I found Kori’s break downs, eh. They weren’t spectacular break downs and really didn’t make me feel sorry for her. They made me want to slap the shit out of her honestly.

Then there’s Ian. He has a hidden agenda that doesn’t get reveiled until at least 1/3 of the way into the book. I found this quite confusing at times because I felt like I didn’t get to know him as quickly as I should, or fully understand where the plot was going. Also, the entire story takes place over two days so not very much gets reveiled very fast or in great detail. Anyways, I liked Ian.

Kenley is Kori’s younger sitter. She’s a super strong Binder and the root of all problems for Kori and Ian. I liked her display of back bone when she’s alone with Ian. If she’s in the next book I hope she continues to have back bone.

Romance

Eh, I felt like the romance was a little cheesy and expected and not given enough time in the spot light. As I mentioned before a few chapters should have had the point of views switched between Ian and Kori. I wanted to know what the other one was thinking when the other one was speaking and vice versa. I didn’t get that so I didn’t fully connect with the emotions.

Title/Cover Bonus

Awesome title and an amazing cover. I also like the UK cover too, maybe even a bit more than the US.

Ending

Oh boy. I HATED the ending. Why? Because there really isn’t one. It just….ends. There was no wrap up, no promise of what’s to come, no letting the reader know how the characters pulled through after the ordeal they were put through.

SPOILERS! Highlight to see text

What the hell happened to Steven and Meghan? Are they both okay? And Vanessa?

Ok, rant done. Well, not really. I was highly disappointed in this ending. Let’s just hope that Oath Bound picks up right where Shadown Bound left off. Otherwsie, I’m going be highly upset!

Series

Blood Bound (08/23/11)

Shadow Bound (05/22/12)

NO COVER IMAGE YET!

Oath Bound (2013)

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Happy Mother’s Day 2012

The Cozy Reader — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:03:55 +0000

To all the mother’s out there, Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you had a great day spending it as you wished. Hopefully that was with your children surrounding you if they’re at home or at least spending some quality time with them.

Today I had a great day with my two beautiful children and my amazing husband of almost 10 years! I couldn’t have asked for a better day.

I stopped by my parents house and spent a couple hours with my mom just catching up. We live in the same town and you’d think we saw each other a lot more than we actually do. We both live very busy lives working full-time and taking care of our families. I’m just glad to be able to take the time to visit when it’s most important.

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Stacking the Shelves | Week 19

The Cozy Reader — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:39:06 +0000

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews.

Here are the books I received this week.

Review

The Golden Lily: A Bloodlines Novel by Richelle Mead
Published: 2012-06-12 by Razorbill
Pages: 423 | $18.99

The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando
Published: 2012-07-05 by Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 304 | $16.99

Pretty Little Liars #11: Stunning by Sara Shepard
Published: 2012-06-05 by HarperTeen
Pages: 320 | $17.99

Free Kindle Editions

Daire Meets Ever by Alyson Noël
Published: 2012-05-03 by St. Martin’s Griffin
Pages: 43 | FREE

I hope you got some great books this week!

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Feature and Follow #96

The Cozy Reader — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:39:50 +0000

Join me in the fun! Hosts are Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read.

This weeks Featured Blogs are The Fake Steph Dot Com and Books Galore.

Hello New Followers!

If you’re new to my blog, welcome!

All follow links can also be found in the right hand sidebar.

Please feel free to follow via RSS, Email, and or Google+.

I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.

Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to following new book blogs too!

Note: First time comments are moderated.

I have a giveaway running that ends tonight! Feel free to enter HERE!

Q: This Sunday in the U.S. is Mother’s Day, in celebration, what are some of your favorite books with strong mother/child relationships?

Hmm, I read a lot of YA fantasy where usually the parents are not major characters. I’m going to say that The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter had one of the strongest mother / child relationships I’ve ever read, even though she wasn’t even in the book until the very end! It’s a Middle Grade book, which I don’t find myself reading much of but this book was phenomenal. Check out my review.

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New Release News | Destroy Me (Shatter Me, #1.5) by Tahereh Mafi

The Cozy Reader — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:10:44 +0000

I listed Shatter Me as one of my favorite reads of 2011, however, I never did review it. Boo hiss! I will have to remedy that!

Anywho, the incredibly cute author, Tahereh Mafi posted a short video on her blog letting us know that in October a novella will be released from Warner’s point of view that joins the gap at the end of Shatter Me to the beginning of Unravel Me, coming in February 2013.

I’ve already pre-ordered my copy! For only $2.99 you should too! Links to Amazon.com are below.

Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

Published: 2012-10-16 | HarperCollins

$2.99 (Amazon.com)

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Published: 2011-11-15 | HarperCollins

357 pages | $13.99 (Amazon.com)

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Children’s Book Week | May 07 – 13

The Cozy Reader — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:43:27 +0000

Find out more on Book Week Online, including how to order free copies of the above poster as well as print off a unique bookmark.

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Cover Art | Asunder (Newsoul, #2) by Jodi Meadows

The Cozy Reader — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:53:00 +0000

Asunder (Newsouls, #2) by Jodi Meadows releases sometime in 2013.

I read and really loved Incarnate a while ago. I owe you a review but just believe me when I say it was REALLY good.

Incarnate (Newsoul, #1) by Jodi Meadows

Published: 2012-01-31 | Katherine Tegen Books

384 pages | $13.99 (Amazon.com)

Summary (Goodreads)

New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
No soul
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
Heart
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

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Cover Art | Prodigy (Legend, #2) by Marie Lu

The Cozy Reader — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:20:30 +0000

Prodigy: A Legend Novel by Marie Lu

Published: 2013-01-29 | Putnam Juvenile

384 pages | Price: $17.99 (Amazon.com)

This is book two of Marie Lu’s Legend Series. I LOVED the first book (my review). So I won’t post the summary but you can check it out on Goodreads!

Also, you can read the first chapter on USA Today.

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Kindle Freebie | Daire Meets Ever by Alyson Noël

The Cozy Reader — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:25:28 +0000

Did you know Alyson Noël is releasing a new series? I didn’t. But then again, I’m not a fan of her writing so I probably wouldn’t have cared either way. Except when a free “bonus scene” is released. That gets my attention!

Daire Meets Ever by Alyson Noël

Published: (2012-05-03) | St. Martin’s Griffin

pages | Price: FREE (Amazon.com)

Summary (Amazon)

What happens when an immortal meets a soul seeker? Find out in this bonus scene as Ever Bloom and Daire Santos cross paths!

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Immortals, Alyson Noël, comes Fated—a breathtaking novel brimming with magic, mystery, and an intoxicating love story that will steal your heart away. Meet The Soul Seekers.

Experience the enchantment of Fated and the new The Soul Seekers series with this special release featuring: the bonus scene, a note from Alyson Noël and selections from Fated.

Fated is coming May 2012.

Fated (Soul Seekers) by Alyson Noël

Published: (2012-05-22) | St. Martin’s Griffin

368 pages | Price: $18.99 (Amazon.com)

Summary (Goodreads)

The first book in a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël.

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before…but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with…or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy.

Pre-order Promotion

Also, if you’ve pre-ordered FATED you can grab a free pair of feather earrings!

Just go HERE to find out the details!

Have you read the bonus scene yet? Let me know what you think if you have!

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Kindle Deal | Soulless (Parasol Protectorate, #1) by Gail Carriger

The Cozy Reader — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:08:12 +0000

Just had to share this Kindle deal!

One of my most favorite fantasy/historical fiction/paranormal series.

Check out my review and then go get yourself a copy! for only $0.99, why not!?

Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger
Published: 2009-09-04 by Orbit

Pages: 388 | Price: $7.99 | Kindle: $0.99

Summary (Goodreads)

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she’s a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire — and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London’s high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?
SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

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Giveaway | The Humming Room, Life is but a Dream and After the Snow

The Cozy Reader — Sat, 05 May 2012 15:25:45 +0000

Happy Cinco de Mayo to you!

I thought I’d host a random giveaway. I received the following ARCs a while back and then I also received them via NetGalley so I thought I’d share these with my readers!

I have started all 3 but never did finish any of them. I’ll give you a brief explanation of why I didn’t finish them and whether I plan to finish them eventually.

Books

The Humming Roomby Ellen Potter192 pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2012-02-28)

$16.99 (Amazon.com)

Summary (Goodreads)

Hiding is Roo Fanshaw’s special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment’s notice. When her parents are murdered, it’s her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life.
As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn’t believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing? And who is that strange wild boy who lives on the river? People are lying to her, and Roo becomes determined to find the truth.
Despite the best efforts of her uncle’s assistants, Roo discovers the house’s hidden room–a garden with a tragic secret.
Inspired by The Secret Garden, this tale full of unusual characters and mysterious secrets is a story that only Ellen Potter could write.

Why I Didn’t Finish

I didn’t finish this one because I really didn’t get hooked at first. I LOVED Ellen’s The Kneebone Boy (my review) so I know I’ll eventually pick this one back up. Since it’s a middle grade book, it’s hard for me to feel the urge to read this. Maybe I’ll read it to my nearly 8 year old daughter instead.

Life Is But a Dreamby Brian James240 pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2012-03-27)

$17.99 (Amazon.com)

Summary (Goodreads)

Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it’s the world that’s crazy, not the two of them. They are meant to be together; they are special. But when Alec starts to convince Sabrina that her treatment will wipe out everything that makes her creative, she worries that she’ll lose hold of her dreams and herself. Should she listen to her doctor? her decision may have fatal consequences.
Brian James calls Life is But a Dream “the most intense book I’ve written. Bringing this unique character to life and seeing the world through her eyes, with all its beauty and confusion, was an immense challenge that I hope is just as rewarding to read as it was to write.” Intense–yes. Unforgettable–definitely.

Why I Didn’t Finish

I got very far into this one. It’s a very HEAVY book. Two young kids in a mental institution. I was afraid to keep reading. I just couldn’t see it ending well. I don’t usually enjoy reading things that have such sadness in them. I ‘d rather read a paranormal or a happy contemporary.

After the Snowby S. D. Crockett304 pages, Feiwel & Friends, (2012-03-27)

$16.99 (Amazon.com)

Summary (Goodreads)

Fifteen-year-old Willo was out hunting when the trucks came and took his family away. Left alone in the snow, Willo becomes determined to find and rescue his family, and he knows just who to talk with to learn where they are. He plans to head across the mountains and make Farmer Geraint tell him where his family has gone.
But on the way across the mountain, he finds Mary, a refugee from the city, whose father is lost and who is starving to death. The smart thing to do would be to leave her alone — he doesn’t have enough supplies for two or the time to take care of a girl — but Willo just can’t do it. However, with the world trapped in an ice age, the odds of them surviving on their own are not good. And even if he does manage to keep Mary safe, what about finding his family?

Why I Didn’t Finish

I barely started this one. I actually laughed and then decided to read it out loud to my husband. This would make an excellent audio book. I might just do that instead of reading it. But after reading Blood Red Road I might be able to handle this one. Maybe. The twang was just too much for me.

Giveaway

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