Blog Tour: Tens List with Vickie Hall

Today, Ed and I are happy to be a part of the Secrets of the Red Box Blog Tour hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

Secrets of the Red Box by Vickie Hall

Release Date: September 15, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
404 Pages

Bonnie has secrets to keep - secrets with the potential to destroy lives, including her own. Running from her destructive and pain filled past, she recreates herself, believing she has escaped the damning evidence hidden in the red box. When her former life is revealed by a cruel twist of fate, Bonnie faces losing everything, including Glen, the only man she’s ever loved. But is Bonnie the woman he thinks she is? Set against the backdrop of the 1940s, Secrets of the Red Box is filled with intrigue and suspense - sure to keep you guessing to the very end!

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads.Amazon

Vickie Hall has stopped by and filled in a tens list for us!

TEN REASONS READING IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL AGES

1. Reading strengthens and exercises the mind - very important during developmental stages but also for helping to keep a sharp mind as we age

2. Reading is one of the few activities that stimulates the imagination in a way few other mediums can

3. Reading can be fun...

4. informative...

5. entertaining...

6. Reading provides avenues for exploring new places,  and experiencing vicarious lives

7. For children, reading unlocks a universe of possiblities

8. Reading strengthens all other forms of communication

9. Reading is time well spent

10. Reading give authors a reason to write!

Big thanks to Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for setting up this tour and to Vickie Hall for stopping by! And check out the rest of the tour stops HERE.

Top Ten Tuesday (35)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

This week's theme is: 

Top Ten FREEBIE - Top Ten Childhood Favorites

1. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie











2. The Sneetches and Other Stories






3. Go, Dog. Go!











4. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales








5. Where the Wild Things Are












6. Love You Forever









7. Clifford the Big Red Dog
(I share the same name as the main character. I was obsessed.)









8. Madeline







9. Eloise











10. Goodnight Moon

What are your top ten this Tuesday?

Teaser Tuesday: The Enemy (The Enemy #1) by Charlie Higson

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!) 

 Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

--------------------------

"'There's just us kids. And we can do what we like.'"
Chapter 9, Page 70
The Enemy (The Enemy #1) by Charlie Higson

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Book Blast: Secrets of the Red Box by Vickie Hall

Today, Ed and I are happy to be a part of the Secrets of the Red Box Book Blast hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

Secrets of the Red Box by Vickie Hall

Release Date: September 15, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
404 Pages

Bonnie has secrets to keep - secrets with the potential to destroy lives, including her own. Running from her destructive and pain filled past, she recreates herself, believing she has escaped the damning evidence hidden in the red box. When her former life is revealed by a cruel twist of fate, Bonnie faces losing everything, including Glen, the only man she’s ever loved. But is Bonnie the woman he thinks she is? Set against the backdrop of the 1940s, Secrets of the Red Box is filled with intrigue and suspense - sure to keep you guessing to the very end!

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads.Amazon

Giveaway Details:
- $50 Amazon Giftcard or $50 Paypal Cash will be given to one winner
- Open to those who can LEGALLY enter
- Must be 18 or older, or have parents' permission
- Cheating results in immediate disqualification
- Ends 11/25/2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review + Giveaway: The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy (Colebrook Confessions #1) by CC Dalton

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: October 30, 2012
Publisher: Twist Literary

Even though he safeguards the secrets of his classmates, Markham wouldn't be caught dead sharing his own, and he never lets romantic entanglements get the best of him. But when Piper Harrington marches into his life, he’s forced to give her something in exchange for her cooperation in his schemes--his very own Colebrook Confession. And that's not the only time Piper brings out an unexpected side of himself. 

Will the dirty secrets of Markham Savoy be his crowning glory...or his undoing?

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads

Review:
The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is an interesting novella that begins what I'm sure will be another gripping series brought up by Twist Literary. The first book is written by C.C. Dalton, who writes the point-of-view of our beloved, Markham Savoy. (I almost typed in "Savory" - this ironic because Markham is immensely attractive, in a way that should keep girls locked in their rooms.)

Markham Savoy is not to be trifled with. He may not meet the standards of his family, but everyone at Colebrook Academy knows who is really in charge. You can either use his help to your advantage or burn him and have him use his power to make you miserable. Everyone knows this. Everyone follows this. Except Piper.

The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy is one story that I would've liked to see this in an omnibus because it was too short for my liking. It was really interesting and just as sexy as the first series that Twist released, the Alibi series, but I wanted more! It wasn't able to leave the a huge impression on me because it took me half an hour to read. I like the characters and I definitely would like to see more of them, but I wish Markham's story had been longer. We get to know him, but there is so much more we could've seen. It doesn't feel like I know him as well as I should. Though I love him all the same.

Going into this, I knew I was going to love the characters. Twist's last series had me loving to hate and hating to love the characters and I knew the Colebrook Confessions series would follow in its footsteps. Markham is your stereotypical bad boy. He has his way with almost any girl he wants. He's in charge and all of his classmates and many of the faculty know this. He's extremely smart and he does what he wants when he wants. This shouldn't really be attractive, but it so is! And though he's this playboy jerk, I really want him to be happy. There is a certain young woman I have in mind that would be perfect for him - other readers will probably agree with my choice. Markham's roommate and friend, Dane is super attractive in my head. You don't even know. As soon as we were introduced to him and he spoke, I fanned myself (ya know… in my head). His perspective of his friendship with Markham will be really interesting to see. The other minor characters like Piper, Hadley and Vivianne only intrigued me more. Their interactions seemed so real for teens in their situation (rich, spoiled, high and mighty, proud, a bit wild).

I don't even know how to describe the plot, because it didn't really feel like a plot. It moved at a steady pace and went through life like a student in private school's life probably goes… you know… without the flirting with teachers, taking advantage of other students, and bossing everyone around. It really just goes through Markham's life at the moment and shows you a bit about his background. It made me sigh a bit because of how much he cares for his sister. Guys who care about their families are hot. Just sayin'.

Up next is Dane's story and I can honestly say that I'm very excited to see where his perspective takes us! His past has me curious and his accent has me blushing - I'm a sucker for a boy with an accent. 

Giveaway Details:
- 5 winners will recieve an e-copy of The Dirty Secrets of Markham Savoy by CC Dalton
- Open internationally
- Cheating results in immediate disqualification
- Ends 11/15/2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest review.

Cover Reveal: Pieces (The Breakaway #2) by Michelle Davidson Argyle

Pieces (The Breakaway #2) by Michelle Davidson Argyle

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: February 14, 2013
Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing

Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her … until she discovers he's out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie—in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.

Pieces is a companion to The Breakaway and can be read independently, if desired.

And now for the trailer, check out the video below:

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads

We really like this cover for Pieces. The coloring is beautiful and it matches the first book's cover!

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing 

303 Pages

When Naomi Jensen is kidnapped, it takes her parents two days to realize she's missing. Escape isn't high on her list of priorities when all she has to return to is an abusive boyfriend and parents who never paid much attention to her. For the first time in her life she's part of a family-even if it is a family of criminals. But she's still a captive. In a desperate attempt to regain some control in her life, Naomi embarks on a dangerous plan to make one of her kidnappers think she's falling in love with him. The plan works too well, and when faced with the chance to escape, Naomi isn't sure she wants to take it.

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads.Amazon.Barnes & Noble

What do you think of the cover?

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE BLOG TOUR FOR PIECES?

SIGN UP HERE AT XPRESSO BOOK TOURS!

Follow Friday (38)

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.

Q. What is a deal breaker for you in a book? For example, do you abhor love triangles? Or can't deal with bad editing?

A. I try to always finish books that I start. It doesn't always happen, but I try. There is a deal breaker for me, though: Unhappy Endings. Maybe it is a bit childish, but I am a firm believer in Happily-Ever-Afters so it's hard to read a book that doesn't have one. I avoid them at all costs. I do hate love triangles, just because they are so over done. But insta-love is worse. Insta-love should be banned forever. Bad spelling, grammar and punctuation are annoying, but so long as I'm not constantly distracted by the issues, I can deal.

Do you have a deal breaker?

And check out the two giveaways we've got going right now:

The Dystopian Giveaway Hop (INT)

Six Signed Fall Fierce Reads Novels (US/CAN)

Cover Reveal: Rouge by Leigh Talbot Moore

Rouge by Leigh Talbert Moore

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: November 11, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published

Mature YA/New Adult

Trapped in the underground theater world of 1890s New Orleans, Hale Ferrer has only one goal: escape. But not without Teeny, the orphan-girl she rescued from the streets and promised to protect.

Freddie Lovel, Hale's wealthy Parisian suitor, seems to be the easy solution. If only his touch could arouse her interest like Beau's, the penniless stagehand who captures her heart.

Denying her fears, Hale is poised to choose love until an evil lurking in their cabaret-home launches a chain of events that could cost her everything.

Light historical/theater romance

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads

Ed and I love the coloring and the background photo, but we aren't fans of the font styles.

What do you think of this cover?

And check out the BLOG TOUR going on later this month hosted by YA Bound!