SYNC Free YA Audiobooks All Summer ~ Week 5

I am so in love with audiobooks, and this is an absolutely amazing offer!! Sync is offering 2 free audiobooks every week for 10 weeks, and this is Week 5! One book will be a popular Young Adult book and the other will be a Classic that is related to or parallels the first title. And the best part is they're good books!! And, they're yours to keep! 20 free audiobooks...AMAZING!! Click here to see a list of the 20 books and the dates they will be available. I'll be updating here every week with the books that are currently free. I highly, highly recommend everyone go grab these audiobooks while they're available!! Best. Deal. Ever. Go Now!!

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Week 5!

Click on the Title to be taken to the download page.

Guys Read: Funny Business

Guys Read: Funny BusinessBy Jon Scieszka [Ed.] et al.
Read by Michael Boatman, Kate DiCamillo, John Keating, Jon Scieszka, Bronson Pinchot
Published by Harper Audio
Description:
Ten stories guaranteed to delight, amuse, and possibly make you spit your milk in your friend’s face, from the following esteemed writers: Mac Barnett, 
Eoin Colfer, 
Christopher Paul Curtis, 
Kate DiCamillo, Jon Scieszka, 
Paul Feig, 
Jack Gantos, 
Jeff Kinney, 
David Lubar, 
Adam Rex, and 
David Yoo.

The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and Other StoriesBy Mark Twain
Read by Norman Dietz
Published by Recorded Books
Description:
“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” is a wild yarn involving a case of mistaken identity, a gambler who’d bet on anything, and a very unusual frog named Daniel Webster. First published in The Saturday Press in 1865, the tale was immensely popular, and in 1867 an expanded version was published with 26 additional short stories, told as only Mark Twain could tell them.

Wish List Wednesday (8)

Every Wednesday I highlight a book that I've recently added to my ever growing to-be-read pile. I know that I'll never get through them all, but it's nice to have a Wish List in place! So what's on your Wish List?!  Comment here with your Wish List Wednesday link so everyone can check it out!

This week I would  like to highlight All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen.  This book sounds amazing!!  Now you know I have to mention the cover.  Isn't this just the neatest picture ever!  I wonder which one is the real one!  Unfortunately we're going to have to wait awhile for this one.  It's not set to release until December 11th.  It's definitely going on the top of my Wish List!

What if your life wasn’t your own?

Liv comes out of a coma with no memory of her past and two distinct, warring voices inside her head. Nothing, not even her reflection, seems familiar. As she stumbles through her junior year, the voices get louder, insisting she please the popular group while simultaneously despising them. But when Liv starts hanging around with Spencer, whose own mysterious past also has him on the fringe, life feels complete for the first time in, well, as long as she can remember.

Liv knows the details of the car accident that put her in the coma, but as the voices invade her dreams, and her dreams start feeling like memories, she and Spencer seek out answers. Yet the deeper they dig, the less things make sense. Can Liv rebuild the pieces of her broken past, when it means questioning not just who she is, but what she is?

Summer Lovin' Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Summer Lovin Giveaway Hop!!  This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer & Tifferz Book Review. 

I've been looking forward to this hop because I have read so many amazing romance novels lately.  The problem is, I love them all so much that I can't pick just one.  So, I decided not to!  This giveaway will be for THREE amazing books, my favorite romances of the year so far!  One winner will win an ebook of Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire (my review), Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park (my review) and On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves (just finished it today--uh-may-zing!)   

This giveaway is open internationally to anyone that can receive an ebook from Amazon or B&N.  Please be sure you can receive the books before you enter.  I will email the winner and they will have 48 hours to respond or I will draw a new name.  Winner must be at least 18 years of age.  After you've entered MY giveaway be sure to hop on along to the next stop!

You should also be sure to enter to win an ARC copy of Wake by going HERE!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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UPCOMING: Wake Book Tour and Giveaway

I am extremely excited to officially announce that Flying on Silver Wings will be a part of Amanda Hocking's Wake Blog Tour!!  Amanda has been working very hard to put together a ton of fun and exciting things for her readers, and as soon as a schedule of events is available I will have a link posted for everyone.  As of right now my stop on the tour is scheduled for July 23rd, and FoSW will be doing a review, Q&A and giving away an ARC copy of Wake.  Instead of a typical author interview we are going to have you, the readers, ask the questions!  If you would like to ask Amanda a question post it in the comments section.  Everyone that posts a question will be entered into the giveaway for an ARC copy of Wake! 

Find Amanda and her books:

Amanda's Blog 

Amanda's Goodreads Page

Add Wake to your GR TBR!

Wake @ Amazon OR Wake @ B&N

Depending how much participation we have Amanda may not be able to answer all questions, but anyone that comments WILL be entered into the giveaway.  Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you!  The giveaway is open to US only. The deadline for commenting is July 15th at Midnight. So come on everyone!! Ask away!

REVIEW: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Title: Goddess Interrupted
Author:  Aimee Carter
Series:  Goddess Test (#2)
Pages:  296
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Date Published:  March 27, 2012
Format:  Paperback
Source:  Borrowed
Buy It:  Amazon & B&N

KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.  Henry's first wife, Persephone.

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Fave Quote:

"Am I doing the right thing, then?" I said. "Fighting for you." He circled his arms around my waist, and he was so close I could feel his breath against my cheek. "No," he said, and the word made my stomach contract. But before I could panic, he continued, his voice smooth and meant only for me. "You never had to fight for me to begin with. I am yours and have been from the moment I saw you."

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Goddess Interrupted begins with Kate and James returning from her six months of off time, which they spent in Greece.  Kate is looking forward to returning to Henry, but when she gets home things aren't exactly how she'd hoped.  Not only are they under attack from the King of the Titans, but Henry is distant and subdued.  When Henry and the other six original siblings are abducted Kate is determined to save them, or die trying.  Unfortunately there is only one person who knows how to get to them...Persephone.  The thought of meeting the Goddess that still holds Henry's heart is scarier to Kate than the thought of facing a Titan.    

I enjoyed Goddess Interrupted so much more than Goddess Test.  Kate has grown so much.  She knows what she wants and she's not afraid to do what it takes to get it.  Even when she begins to doubt herself she never waivers.  I love how steadfast she has become, and I love the way she puts the gods and goddesses in their place.  She's beginning to see them for who they really are, and she doesn't mind calling them out on their faults.  Henry has a lot of soul searching to do.  It's time for him to come to terms with his past and figure out what he wants for his future.  He has never been one of those sweep-you-off-your-feet characters, but he's definitely working on it.  I enjoyed watching him squirm in Goddess Interrupted.  We get lots of character growth, we get insight into the past, and we get more love and betrayal.  We also get a cliff hanger that will have you begging for the next book!  For a series that started out just OK for me it has grown considerably with Goddess Interrupted, and I cannot wait for the next in this great series.

4 Stars * * * *

REVIEW: The Goddess Hunt by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Hunt Novella
Author: Aimee Carter
Series: Goddess Test (#1.5)
Pages:  92
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format:  eBook
Source:  Kindle

A vacation in Greece sounds like the perfect way for Kate Winters to spend her first sabbatical away from the Underworld...until she gets caught up in an immortal feud going back millennia. Castor and Pollux have been on the run from Zeus and Hades' wrath for centuries, hiding from the gods who hunt them. The last person they trust is Kate, the new Queen of the Underworld. Nevertheless, she is determined to help their cause. But when it comes to dealing with immortals, Kate still has a lot to learn.

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Favorite Quote:

"You can either be an asset to the council, or you can be a hindrance.  It is up to you to decide which", said Walter.  "If being an asset means swallowing whatever bullshit you're feeding me without thinking for myself, I'd rather be a hindrance, thank you," she said, and Henry had to press his lips together to keep himself from chuckling."

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I enjoyed The Goddess Hunt even more than The Goddess Test!  It takes place as soon as Kate leaves the Underworld for her six months of off time.  She goes to Greece with her friend, James, and meets Castor and Pollux who just happen to be on the run from Hades.  While Kate and James are trying to help them Zeus (Walter) and Henry are trying to capture them.  Henry is put to the test in this book, and I love how he handles himself.  Kate seems much stronger and self assured in this novella, and I hope to see more of her spunk in the next novel.  My only complaint is that it's too short!

4 Stars * * * *

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

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This has GOT to be the most exciting day since I started blogging, and I just couldn't wait to share my excitement!  So here ya go...my pile for this week.  Do you see anything exciting?!

Ok, taking it from the top, I got Torment from pbs.com, and it has been on my wish list FOREVER....seriously, like over a year!  Fallen was on my last IMM so I'm going to have to get these books read right away!  Next up, The Childe and Dark Days, which I bought at Me, My Shelf & I during their Christian Hurt Charity sale.  It came with tons of swag and the next three books, Gulliver Takes Manhattan, Into the Black: Odyssey One and Delirium.  Nice, right?!!  I have another box on it's way, and it promises to be just as amazing.  Now we get to the REALLY good stuff, and I had to take a close up for you because I'm just excited as hell!

First up I received a package today from the amazing and totally sweet Amanda Hocking with an ARC of her new book, Wake!  I've been a fan of Amanda's since way back when she was an Indie author trying (and succeeding!) to sell her My Blood Approves Series on Amazon, and then I fell in love with her Trylle Series.  I am extremely excited to be a part of her upcoming Wake Blog Tour, especially since I'm her first official fan. (Her words, not mine!)  Keep an eye out for more information and a chance to have Amanda answer your questions!  And of course, there will be a giveaway!

Next, I got an extremely late (seriously, do these drivers ever get to go home?!) delivery from UPS with a package from Sterling Publishing (my very first package from a publisher)!!  The UPS driver got to hear my fan-girl squeal because I knew what was inside!!  I got an ARC of Betrayal, and although I haven't read the first book yet, this series sounds amazing!  Oh yeah, and I got an ARC of Tiger's Destiny!  There's that fan-girl squeal again...I promise to try to contain myself!  Swoon!!  I know what I'll be reading tonight!! 

Best. Day. EVER. 

REVIEW: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Series:  Goddess Test (#1)
Pages:  293
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Format:  Paperback
Source:  Borrowed

EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.

NOW IT'S KATE'S TURN.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she suceeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

IF SHE FAILS...

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Favorite Quote:

“Maybe you'll win when hell freezes over."

He raised an eyebrow.

"That could be easily arranged.”

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I've always enjoyed Greek Mythology so when I read the blurb for this series I was intrigued.  Kate is a mortal, her mother is dying of cancer, she's moved to a new town and she starts a new school.  When she meets Henry and he claims to be Hades she thinks he's obviously nuts.  But when a friend dies and Henry bring her back to life she realizes he may be telling the truth.  He tells her that he wants her to take a test and if she passes she'll become a goddess and his wife.  In exchange he agrees to keep her mother alive long enough for Kate tell her good-bye properly.

Kate is a character that is a little hard to get a good grasp on.  She seems like such a strong person, but then suddenly she's crying her eyes out.  I never quite connected with her the way I wanted to.  She's been through a lot watching her mother battle cancer, and she's extremely lonely.  She's put her entire life on hold, even quiting school her senior year to take care of her mother, and she's unsure what she'll do with her life when her mother's gone.  When Henry gives her a chance at a life and a home, she can't help but be drawn to it, and to him.  Henry is a tragic soul and that makes him a complicated character.  He's lived thousands of years alone since his first wife, Persephone, left him for a mortal man.  He's still in love with her and it has nearly driven him mad.  He needs a new wife to help him rule the Underworld, but he doesn't believe he will ever love another woman and he's perfectly happy to hand over his realm to someone else so he can fade away.  Even though a part of me wanted to scream at him to "Get over it, already!", I also can't help but sympathize with him.  Watching Kate try to tear down his defenses should be a sweet and loving process, but instead I get a "tough love" feeling that didn't quite fit.  While I enjoyed the modern take on Greek Mythology, Henry manages to completely destroy my picture of the evil and terrifying Hades, and he replaces him with someone sincere and romantic.  I'm not sure yet whether I like that or not.  I really wanted to love this book, and while it wasn't amazing, it was good enough that I immediately began the next in the series.

3 * * *

SYNC Free YA Audiobooks All Summer ~ Week 4

I am so in love with audiobooks, and this is an absolutely amazing offer!! Sync is offering 2 free audiobooks every week for 10 weeks, and this is Week 4! One book will be a popular Young Adult book and the other will be a Classic that is related to or parallels the first title. And the best part is they're good books!! And, they're yours to keep! 20 free audiobooks...AMAZING!! Click here to see a list of the 20 books and the dates they will be available. I'll be updating here every week with the books that are currently free. I highly, highly recommend everyone go grab these audiobooks while they're available!! Best. Deal. Ever. Go Now!!

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Week 4!

Click on the Title to be taken to the download page.

Anna Dressed In Blood

Anna Dressed in Blood
By Kendare Blake
Read by August Ross
Published by AudioGO
Available to download 07/05/12 – 07/11/12.
 
Description:
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home. But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas’s life.:

The Woman In White

The Woman in White
By Wilkie Collins
Read by Ian Holm
Published by AudioGO
Available to download 07/05/12 – 07/11/12

Description:
One night on the road to London, a young drawing master, Walter Hartright, meets a mysterious woman dressed all in white and answers her pleas for help. But who is she and why is she being followed by two men? And what is her connection with his pupil Laura Fairlie, the woman he secretly loves? Wilkie Collins’ masterpiece of terrible secrets, concealed identities, abductions, fraud, cruel aristocrats and sinister foreigners is a mesmerising read.

 

COVER REVEAL: ReAwakened by Ada Adams & GIVEAWAY

Welcome to my stop on the ReAwakened Cover Reveal Blog Tour!  ReAwakened is Book #2 in the Angel Creek series by Ada Adams.  ReAwakened will be released Fall 2012.  Isn't it gorgeous!!? 

Ada Adams is also giving away an ARC copy!  Every reader that comments on this Cover Reveal blog post will have their name entered into a drawing to win an autographed ARC of ReAwakened.

Ada will also be doing an hour-long live Tweet-chat about anything and everything related to her writing, Angel Creek, characters, non-spoilery parts of the story, etc. on July 5th @ 5 p.m. EST .  Come by and hang out! :) [Use hashtag #ReVampedChat]. Since we’re all on different time-zones, please feel free to leave questions at any other time that day, and Ada will make sure to get to them eventually.


ReVamped website: http://www.revampedbook.com/

ReVamped Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/revampedbook

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13495198-revamped

Ada Adam's Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Ada_Adams

ReVamped on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/ReVamped-Ada-Adams/dp/1470068982/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1?tag=vglnk-c498-20

ReVamped on B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/revamped-ada-adams/1109594714?ean=9781620953105

Cover Designer: Juliana Kolesova @ www.julianakolesova.com

“ReAwakened” Theme: Blood (hence the cover color).

If you want to be entered to win the ARC copy of ReAwakened be sure to comment ON THIS POST!!  Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you.  Deadline for entering is Midnight July 8th!  Good Luck!

Wish List Wednesday (7)

Every Wednesday I highlight a book that I've recently added to my ever growing to-be-read pile. I know that I'll never get through them all, but it's nice to have a Wish List in place! So what's on your Wish List?! 

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I can't wait to get my hands on Throne of Glass!  I love how tough the girl on the cover looks, and I can't resist a book with a good strong heroine.  This one looks so good!  Top of my TBR list!!

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 kings 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.

REVIEW: Never to Sleep by Rachel Vincent

Title: Never to Sleep
Author:   Rachel Vincent
Series:  Soul Screamers Novella (#5.5)
Pages:  56
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Format:  eBook
Source:  Bought

Don't Close Your Eyes.  Sophie Cavanaugh is not going to let her freak of a cousin's strange psychiatric condition ruin high school for them both. Not after all the work she's put into cultivating the right look, and friends, and reputation. But then, Sophie sees something so frightening she lets out a blood-curdling scream—and finds herself stuck in a bizarre parallel world where nothing is safe and deadly creatures lurk just out of sight, waiting for her to close her eyes and sleep...forever.  Could this world be real? Or does insanity run in the family...?

Favorite Quote:

"You want me to walk into a dark hole in the wall, where some horrible Netherworld creature is probably waiting to eat me alive.  Obviously you've mistaken me for Lora Croft."

"Apologies, Your Highness, I meant to mistake you for someone who wants to survive."

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As a huge fan of the Soul Screamers Series I was excited to see another novella released.  Since I knew a short story would only make me crave more I put off reading it until Before I Wake was released.  I love how Rachel Vincent uses her novellas to tell a story from a different character's point-of-view.  In Never to Sleep we get to see a little more of the person Sofie really is.  I've always wondered if she really was as vapid and hateful as Kaylee sees her to be, and this novella shows us that a lot of her personality may just be a front.  When Sophie sees a soulless Reaper in the school hallway she runs away screaming and ends up in the Netherworld with the new guy at school, Luca.  At first she thinks she's gone crazy like Kaylee, but Luca finally convinces her that everything she sees is real...and they are real danger.  This was a really great addition to the Soul Screamers Series.  Sophie is definitely a character that is hard to like, but in Never to Sleep we get to see that she's not necessarily as hard as she makes herself out to be.  I really like Luca!  He takes Sophie's snark in stride and even bounces it back to her.  This novella sets up what I hope will be Sophie's introduction to her family heritage in Before I Wake.  I recommend this story to any and all Soul Screamers fans, but be sure you don't read it before If I Die or you'll have some serious spoilers.

5 Stars * * * * *

In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I've been so busy with Audiobook Week that I've skipped my usual memes!  But I've gotten so many great books lately that I thought I'd get an In My Mailbox posted before the pile gets any higher. 

Snagged Free:
These are the audiobooks I've gotten free from SYNC!  Lots more of these to come later!


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Won:

Not so lucky this time :(  I do have some that should be IMM very soon!

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Recieved for Review:

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Bought:




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Borrowed:
Big thanks to Amy at Read to My Heart's Content!


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Pretty good haul, right!?  Now I just have to figure out which one to read first!  So, what's In Your Mailbox?!