Last Ten Books That Came Into My Possession ( Physical copies)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original/weekly meme hosted by The broke and the bookish.


Topic: Last Ten Books That Came Into My Possession ( Physical copies) 



Crow Mountain by Lucy Inglis and Darkmere by Helen Maslin are ARCs I received recently. Darkmere is an August release & Crow Mountain is a September release.


LOL I brought because I enjoyed The Duff a few months back so wanted to check out the companion novel. Velvet I didn't know was out in the UK but am really excited to read.



The longest Ride is going to be my first Nicholas Spark read and Gyspy Girl sounded interesting when I read the blurb.



I read the Vampire Academy series last month and loved it so am excited to pick up the companion series. Playlist for the dead I have been wanting to read from its release and just brought it recently.



The last summer of Us sounds like a great summer road trip read so I picked it up and Grey I just had to read. I finished it recently and really enjoyed it

What reason books have you picked up?


If you have time, please check out my current event, my U.S. Virtual Road Trip around all 50 states "meeting" loads of authors and bloggers. There is some great posts along with some giveaways. You can check it out here


The Espionage Effect by Kat and Stone Bastion Release Day & #Giveaway

The Espionage Effect Banner

Today is the release day of The Espionage Effect by Kat and Stone Bastion.

The Espionage Effect cover

About The Espionage Effect:

When desire sets you free…control is a matter of perception.
I'm Devin Hill.
Darkness taints my soul.
I'm suffocating. Drowning.
The sweet promise of air? Pure illusion.
Tested as a genius at age seven, I hide my emotions, become what they expect...bury my secrets. At nineteen, I trudge toward a predestined path, blinders on, heart safeguarded.
Until I dare to be wild.
Until Alec Marquez crashes into my world.
Until all that follows redefines everything I've ever known.
What happens when you stumble into a world of spies...and discover you belong there?

Buy Links:
Amazon * KOBO * iBooks * B&N


 Excerpt

When I woke, the remnants of an exhausting dream kept a sticky hold on me. Heavy eyelids prevented me from taking in my surroundings too quickly. After several minutes of opening then shutting my eyes, two slow yawns, and one lazy stretch, awareness of someone else in the room pricked at my senses, and I finally pushed myself upright.

Alec. I inhaled his scent before I spotted his silhouette across the room.

At some point, he’d turned off the bathroom lights, swathing the room in darkness once again. Only a dim blue-white glow that emanated from beside him cast light into the suite.

He sat at the large desk. His features, focused in concentration, were bathed in the soft illumination from a penlight affixed in some way to the top corner of an open laptop. As I couldn’t recall any baggage thrown over the balcony with his unorthodox means of arrival, the laptop had to be Anna’s.

Curious, I pushed off the bed. My bare feet landed toe first onto the cool floor tiles. I padded closer in silence, not wanting to distract him.

“You slept like the dead.” His comment came without inflection of judgment, merely statement of fact. And he didn’t move from his studious position. Nor did he attempt to hide what he was looking at.

My pulse accelerated as I smoothed my hands down the thin cotton tank top and boxer shorts I still wore, my thoughts drifting over the reasons I’d slept so soundly. “I suppose orgasmic endorphins followed by a meal heavy in carbs and fat will do it.”

At that, he swung his gaze my way, arching one of his brows. “Orgasmic endorphins?”

I paused. The toes of my right foot slid just over the edge of the first step that led down to the sitting area. I curled them down over, rooting myself as I swayed under his sudden scrutiny.

Even in the dim light, I could see the heat in his gaze. I certainly felt it, my skin beginning to warm from the second his attention had shifted toward me. “Well, actually, many chemicals accompany orgasm: endorphins, dopamine, testosterone, norepinephrine, serotonin...oxytocin.”

The muscles at one corner of his mouth twitched, tugging his lips into a sinful smirk as his gaze drifted a few inches lower. “That sexy mouth of yours keeps spouting intellectual factoids. I keep wondering what it’ll take to render you speechless.”

My mind froze. “Speechless?”

A full smile now played at his lips. “Oh, yes. I’m taking it as a personal challenge to blow your mind to the point you cannot describe an event that happens between us with mere words.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know what to say. Couldn’t fathom it. Then, I began to want it…

“See. You get the idea. We’ll leave it there for a while.”

Why? To let the anticipation build? Already, my heart rate quickened, my breath shallowed, my…mind analyzing the possibilities of orgasmic chemicals once again.

He turned back toward the desk with an unaffected expression, carefully smoothing his hands over a large, thin paper he’d spread across the surface—as if he hadn’t just dropped a nuclear bomb between us and set the timer for detonation.




About Kat & Stone Bastion:

Shoe and Boot Photo

Kat Bastion won several awards for her bestselling debut novel Forged in Dreams and Magick.

Kat and Stone Bastion’s bestselling first novel No Weddings and the No Weddings series were named Best of 2014 by multiple romance review blogs.

When not defining love and redemption through scribed words, they enjoy spending their time mountain biking and hiking in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona.
Be sure to follow Kat & Stone's social media pages to keep informed:



P.S. ~ Have you joined their new-release list?

One lucky subscriber will win an eBook of their choice from their backlist AND a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card each time they send out a preorder or new-release announcement.

Sign up for their Email Subscription list here: http://www.katbastion.com/email-subscription/

(They solemnly promise to email only a handful of times a year to announce preorders and new releases.)

Enter Kat & Stone's Giveaway!

Virtual U.S. Road Trip- Day 13- Illinois & #Giveaway


Day 13 and we are Illinois with author Julie Cross. Enjoy Julie's post all about Illinois and enter the giveaway at the end. Let's see what awaits us in Illinois.

You can check out yesterday's stop in Idaho with author Coutney J Pearson here

    Places to visit in Illinois




  •  Chicago, obviously



  • Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois



  • Lots of historical Abe Lincoln sites in the capitol, Springfield



  • If you are a book store geek and visiting my town, Champaign, IL definitely give yourself a couple hours to stroll through the many pockets of the Jane Addams bookstore



  •  Ebert film fest happens every year in my town to honor Champaign Illinois native and renown film critic, Roger Ebert


  • Places to eat in Illinois

     In Chicago there are too many great places to eat to name them all however  in Champaign, IL where I live, Golden Harbor is not only amazing Chinese food but also an experience. They have over 1000 items on their Chinese menu, pasted all over the walls in Chinese. If you’re daring, you can pick a random number and enjoy the surprise

    Quirky things about Illinois

    Not quirky but super important: Illinois was the first state to abolish slavery.
    • Twinkies were invented in Illinois
    •  Illinois is home to the 3rd largest US city (Chicago) but 80% of the state is farmland, so basically there’s Chicago and…I live in the…part of the state


    Famous people from Illinois

    • Abraham Lincoln
    •  President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
    • Hillary Clinton
    •   John Hughes, most of his films were set and filmed in Chicago suburbs (Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink…)
    • Jane Addams, Nobel Peace Prize winner
    • Roger Ebert
    • Bonnie Blair, Olympic Speed skater (from my home town)
    • John and James Belushi (actors Blue’s Brothers, SNL…)
    Authors or books set in your state

    Ray Bradbury,  Simone Elkeles (many of her books are set in the Chicago area) and Veronica Roth


    Thanks Julie :) Illinois sounds awesome. I didn't realise so many politicians came from Illinois especially past, present and future Presidents. 

    Check out Day 14's stop in Indiana with author Mike Mullin here

    Follow all the road trip posts here

    Giveaway

    Giveaway is sponsored by author Julie Cross. One winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift card and is open to anyone who can receive Amazon Gift cards. Ends August 10th 2015.


    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    At the heart of the deep by Carrie L. Wells Blitz & #Giveaway


    At the Heart of the Deep by Carrie L. Wells 
    (A Falling in Deep Collection Novella) 
    Publication date: June 23rd 2015
    Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance



    Synopsis:

    Oceanographer Luke McAllister races to figure out why the ocean depth is changing off Florida’s Treasure Coast. But before he and his crew discover what’s transforming the deep, he stumbles upon an even greater mystery. Leagues below the waves, he swear he sees…a mermaid.

    Anya isn’t allowed to get close to humans. But when a golden-haired researcher gets too close to her island, she can’t afford to stay away.


    Together, this unlikely pair will seek to discover what’s causing shifts in ocean floor. While their new alliance is forbidden, Anya will risk everything to save her beloved ocean. The only problem is, she’s not sure what’s really luring her in, her love of the sea or the tempest Luke has stirred in her heart. Either way, Anya knows that the dangers facing the sea are nothing compared to what will happen to her when her father learns she’s broken the merfolks’ most sacred law.


    Can Anya and Luke discover what lurks at the heart of the deep before it’s too late?


    AUTHOR BIO


    Carrie L. Wells crosses genres, writing everything from newspaper editorials and textbooks to paranormal romance novellas. Her first fiction publication, The Heart of the Deep, will release in June 2015, followed by Playing with Magic in October 2015. A New England native, she spent her childhood on the beach and inland, fishing and dancing, before moving to Florida. And while she doesn’t tan, nothing keeps her from a walk on the beach.

    Carrie earned her Master's degree in English with a minor in Psychology from Hardin-Simmons University and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida. With a love of chocolate, books, and her family, Carrie braves the world and chaos only children can bring. She currently lives in Florida with her fire-medic hubby and three children. She is an English instructor at Eastern Florida State College.

    Blog / Facebook / Pinterest

    Giveaway (International)
    • Signed Copy of "At the Heart of the Deep"; Aqua striped storage tote; Mermaid Spoken Here picture; Lei Away Bath Soak; Aqua Sequin zip case; Cloth notebook; Mermaid's Tale nailpolish; Mermaid decal; Starfish barrettes; Mermaid Keychain; Palm tree socks


    a Rafflecopter giveaway


    a Rafflecopter giveaway



    Virtual U.S. Road trip- Day 12- Idaho


    This road trip is flying in and am having fun. Today we are in Idaho with author Cortney  J Pearson. Idaho is a place I want to visit, so am excited to see what might be in store for me when I eventually get there. Over to Cortney.

    Idaho is so beautiful! It has lava rock and extinct volcanoes, lush farmland and mountains, it’s replete with history! (Even as I’m writing this the songs from my 4th grade Idaho History Program are playing in my head…)



    Awesome Places in Idaho!

    Craters of the Moon

    This is actually pretty close to where I live, and is well worth the trip! Miles of rolling lava flow to hike across, there are also volcanoes to check out AND some awesome caves.

    Sun Valley Resort

    Also not that far from me! Sun Valley is known for being posh and a place of luxury, a respite for Hollywood actors who own homes there and come for a weekend getaway. I’ve heard Harrison Ford has a home there, as well as Bruce Willis. Here’s a list of other celebrities associated with Sun Valley!

    Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mark Zuckerberg,
    Mats Wilander, Warren Buffett, Walter Annenberg,Adam West, Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Miller, Demi Moore, Peter etera, Clint Eastwood, Bruce Willis, Ashton Kutcher, Richard Dreyfuss, Jamie Lee Curtis, Steve Wynn, Justin Timberlake.



    Ernest Hemingway also finished For Whom the Bell Tolls while staying at

    the Lodge in Sun Valley in 1939!

    Shoshone Falls

    A stunning set of waterfalls over 200 feet tall, and it’s actually taller than Niagara Falls!

    Hunting, Camping, Fishing Galore!

    Idaho is America’s backyard. There are so many beautiful places to go explore, to hike, hunt, camp, just enjoy nature.

    City of Rocks National Reserve

    Also incredibly awesome. It is literally a city of massive boulders and rocks as tall as buildings! They are HUGE! Here’s a pic of hubby and me on the big rocks. This is a huge appeal for rock climbers, campers, hikers, etc. We also took a four-wheeler ride through the nearby trails and it was absolutely beautiful.






    Places to Eat in Idaho

    You definitely HAVE to go to Big Jud’s. They have pretty good food, but the biggest thing is to see if you can complete the BURGER CHALLENGE. Can you eat a 1 lb. burger and thereby get the reknown of having an incredible stomach and get your picture taken and hung on their wall? I could barely eat a quarter of it, though my hubby mastered the challenge! These burgers are MASSIVE.



    Hubby’s and my personal fave restaurant includes Goodwood BBQ in Boise. The last time we ate there I had a turkey sandwich where they smoked the bun. Yu-uh-uh-um!

    Quirky things about Idaho

    -Idaho is known for its potatoes! (But everyone knows that!) I for one have never been a big potato fan, actually, which is ironic that I live here, ha.

    -Idaho has 3,100 miles of river—more than any other state.

    - State Motto: "Esto Perpetua" meaning "It is forever"

    - The first alpine chairlift was used in Sun Valley. In 1936 the fee was 25 cents per ride.

    -Idaho is known as the Gem State. Idaho produces 72 types of precious and semi-precious stones.

    -Twin Falls was the sight of Evil Knievel’s jump in 1974.

    - The Great Seal of Idaho was designed in 1890 by Mrs. Emma Edwards Green. It is the only Great Seal in the 50 states to be
    designed by a woman.

    Famous People from Idaho

    Chief Joseph – Nez Perce leader
    Sarah Palin – politician
    Sacajawea – Lewis and Clark’s famous guide
    Picabo Street – world and Olympic champion skier
    Joe Albertson – founder of the Albertson’s stores
    Jerry Kramer – football star

    Authors from Idaho
    Ernest Hemingway had a home in Ketchum, Idaho. Jessica Day George was born in Boise, Idaho. Edgar Rice Burroughs – wrote Tarzan (spent half a year in Idaho, so I guess he’s not technically “from” Idaho…). Me! :D




    Cortney Pearson is a book nerd who studied literature at BYU-Idaho, a music nerd who plays clarinet in her local community orchestra, and a writing nerd who creates stories for young adults. She lives with her husband and three sons in a small Idaho farm town. 

    Find Cortney on: 


    Thanks Cortney. I am even more excited to visit Idaho one day. I would love to Craters of the moon. What do you guys think of Idaho? Could you do the 1lb burger challenge? Leave me a common below.


    Check out Day 13 in Illinois with author Julie Cross and Giveaway here


    You can follow all the road trip posts here

    Sources:


    http://www.attractionsofamerica.com/attractions/idaho.php 


    http://www.visitidaho.org/press/about/famous_idahoans.htm


    http://www.inidaho.com/fun_facts_list.asp


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Valley,_Idaho

    U.S. Virtual Road Trip- Day 10- Georgia


    Yesterday we where in Florida with author Michelle Madow, which you can check out here

    Today we are in Georgia on day 10 of our U.S. Road Trip and we are with author S.R. Johannes. Let's see what awaits us in Georgia.

    Places to visit in Georgia

    • Savannah
    • Cumberland Island
    • North Georgia
    • Callaway Gardens
    • Lake Lanier Islands
    • Atlanta - Atlanta Zoo, Georgia Aquarium, Coca Cola HQ, City Ferris Wheel, Centennial Park, Stone Mountain, Kennesaw Battlefield, Virginia HIghlands, Six Flags, White Water
     Places to eat

    Nakato Japanese, Las Margaritas, The Highland Tap, Rathburn's

    Quirky things about Georgia
    • Georgia's nicknames include "The Empire State of the South," "The Goober State," and "The Peach State."
    • Georgia is the nations number one producer of the three Ps--peanuts, pecans, and peaches.
    • In Gainesville, the Chicken Capital of the World it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork. It has to be eaten two-handed.
    • In 1828 Auraria, near the city of Dahlongea, was the site of the first Gold Rush in America.
    • Vidalia onions are only successfully grown in the areas of Vidalia and Glennville, Georgia.
    • in the elate 1700s the Pirate House restaurant in Savannah was actually a favored destination for Caribbean pirates
    • Atlanta used to be called Terminus and Marthaville
    • Walking Dead and Hunger Games are filmed in Georgia
    • Savannah has been declared the most haunted city in America by the American Institute of Parapsychology.
    • In the town of Acworth, you are practically forbidden to leave your leaves afloat on the ground. Every citizen of this town must own a rake by law.
    • in Georgia since it is illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or street lamp.
    Famous people from Georgia

    Ray Charles, Martin Luther King, Julia Roberts, Usher, Ceelo Green, Dakota fanning, Luke Bryan, Ryan Seacrest, Kanye West

    Authors or books set in Georgia

    Margaret Mitchell, Terry Kay, Anne Rivers Siddons, Sue Monk Kidd, Iris Johannsen
    Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Driving Ms. Daisy, Gone with the Wind, The Walking Dead.

    Thank you :) Savannah sounds awesome. I love that it's illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or street lamp. What do you think of Georgia? Leave me your thoughts in then comments?

    TWITTER - @srjohannes
    FACEBOOK - srjohannesauthor

    Tomorrow we are in Hawaii with me :)

    You can follow all the road trip stops here

    Virtual U.S. Road Trip- Day 9- Florida


    Check out yesterday's stop in Delaware with booktuber Samantha @ thoughts on tomes & giveaway here

    Today's stop is in sunny Florida with author Michelle Madow. Over to Michelle.

    Places to visit in your state.

    There are so many places to visit in Florida! My personal favorites are Disney World and Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure. That’s where Harry Potter world is, and it’s always such a blast to go there. Miami is also a can’t miss it city, and the Keys are great for a relaxing island vacation. Florida has a huge variety of beaches, so there are so many to choose from! I live closest to Delray Beach, so that’s where I go most often with my friends. 

    Places to eat

    The Around the World showcase at Epcot in Disney World is well known for featuring cuisine from all around the world. Every fall, Epcot has their “Food and Wine Festival” where you can try foods and wines from various countries. It’s so much fun! 

     Quirky things about your state.

    Florida is known for having extremely strange news stories. If you see something REALLY strange in the headlines, it’s likely that it happened in Florida! 

    Famous people from your state

    Ariana Grande is from Boca Raton, which is the town where I live! Bailee Madison is also from Florida (I sat in front of her at a Taylor Swift concert once and got a picture with her), as is Peyton List. (Fun fact: Peyton List’s aunt is my dental hygienist!) 

     Authors or books set in your state

    The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings takes place in Florida!




    THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS : Three sisters. One billionaire father. What could go wrong?

    THE TRANSCEND TIME SAGA : Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from 1815, England ... but she doesn't realize it until she meets her soul mate from the past and he triggers her memories to gradually return.


    Thanks Michelle. I really want to go to Florida to go to Harry Potter World. What do you think.of Florida leave a comment below.

    Check out Day 10's stop in Georgia with author Shelly Johannes here

    Follow all the tour stops here