SYNC Summer Audiobook 2018 week 2

I just wanted to take a quick moment to remind you about SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for young adults but you can do this to.  From April 26th to July 25th, SYNC gives away two complete audiobook downloads a week –pairs of high interest titles, based on weekly themes. Sign up for email or text alerts and be first to know when new titles are available to download at www.audiobooksync.com.

I have always wanted to give audio books another chance and what better way then through SYNC Audio Books. These are actually both books I have never read so I am excited to give them a try.

The audiobooks this week are:

by Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess | Read byKwame Alexander

Published by Blink

New York Times bestseller! Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he’d give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy, including the loss of his mother. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming Blade will become just like his father. In reality, the only thing Blade and Rutherford have in common is the music that lives inside them. And songwriting is all Blade has left after Rutherford, while drunk, crashes his high school graduation speech and effectively rips Chapel away forever. But when a long-held family secret comes to light, the music disappears. In its place is a letter, one that could bring Blade the freedom and love he’s been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.

by Luis Alberto Urrea | Read by Luis Alberto Urrea

Published by Hachette Audio

The author of “Across the Wire” offers brilliant investigative reporting of what went wrong when, in May 2001, a group of 26 men attempted to cross the Mexican border into the desert of southern Arizona. Only 12 men came back out. “Superb . . . Nothing less than a saga on the scale of the Exodus and an ordeal as heartbreaking as the Passion . . . The book comes vividly alive with a richness of language and a mastery of narrative detail that only the most gifted of writers are able to achieve.–Los Angeles Times Book Review.
Does either of these books interest you?

 

BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 2018

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When I first got the email announcing the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge two songs instantly popped into my head:

The reason I say that is because this is the introduction:

Do you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain… with a book in hand? Then this year’s BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge is for you. We’re headed to #MargaREADaville for BookSparks in Paradise.

I am hoping that this summer I will be lucky enough to read a few of these books as there is quite a few that interest me. Do any of these books interest you? If so what?

The host this year is Jessica Knoll she is the author of:

Luckiest Girl Alive: A NovelThe Favorite Sister

I haven’t read either of her books but from the sounds of them they sound really good.

Here is this summer’s line up of books.

May:

Trouble The Water: A NovelHow To Walk Away: A NovelThe Favorite Sister

June:

How Hard Can It Be?: A NovelHidden: A NovelTell Me Lies: A NovelEntangled Moon: A Novel

Providence: A NovelThe CompletionistBefore And Again: A NovelAll We Ever Wanted

July:

Three Days MissingThe Subway Girls: A NovelHer Pretty Face

Give Me Your HandThe Lightkeeper's Daughters: A NovelShe Was The Quiet One: A Novel

August:

 

The Bucket List: A NovelThe Leaving Year: A NovelNot Her Daughter: A Novel

The Other Woman: A NovelBetter Than This: A Novel

Review/ They Dylan Dilemma

The Dylan Dilemma by Patricia B. Tighe
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Romance

High school senior Kenzie Harper-Shea has no time for dating, especially after the arrival of the basketball coach from hell. Now Kenzie has lost her confidence, is in a slump, and in danger of losing out on a scholarship to play college ball. The last thing she needs is her “vacation boyfriend,” Dylan McCoy, distracting her with warm smiles, inside jokes, and swoony kisses.

Dylan, however, is totally ready to date. He finally lives in the same town as Kenzie and is not about to lose the chance to let their relationship grow into something more. But for now, he’ll stay in the friend zone because he’s determined to find out what has her running scared. It can’t be just about basketball.

As Kenzie spends more time around Dylan, her feelings become a jumbled-up mess. It’s obvious they’re into each other. So, why does she panic whenever she thinks about dating him? Is it connected to basketball or to something deeper? She’s not sure. Does she have the courage to examine her heart, even if it means breaking Dylan’s?

This is the second book in the series. The first one is called About Last Summer and there is a third one in the works.

Since I haven’t read the first one I am not quite sure if this is a story line that continues over from the previous book. I know for me personally knowing that this was a second book in the series I kind of felt like I was missing something so I will definitely be ordering this book online to read just to catch myself up since there is a 3rd book coming out.

Our main character is Kenzie and although she looks like your girl next door she is but the only difference is that she lives and breathes basketball. She works and trains hard because her end goal is to get into college on a basketball scholarship. Kenzie is confident that she will go far but that is short lived when a new coach walks in and leaves Kenzie questioning herself and her confidence.

This is sort of where I had a problem with the coach. I liked the fact that he was strict and had a regime put in to place but the snide comments were just a little unnecessary and I think they don’t need to be said to young impressionable people who are playing the sport because they love it and want to succeed in it. Hearing those kinds of things make kids question why they do it when they are told one thing and it makes them feel like they aren’t good enough and in the end quit the sport. You can tell I am a parent of a child in a sport and had a child go through this exact same thing.

Anyways, enter Dylan, Kenzie’s basically vacation boyfriend. You know what I mean by that right? Anyways Dylan has decided that he wants to make things with Kenzie just a little more offical. He has decided that he wants to go to college in Kenzie’s home town so that he can be a little closer to her. He is ready to move from the friend zone to the boyfriend zone but Kenzie has other ideas and she doesn’t need Dylan to ruin her plans.

I loved Dylan and he knew that Kenzie was his dream girl and he would do anything even if it means just being friends with her to have her in his life. He makes it a point to always be there for her and he is determined to crack her tough exterior and find out what is making her scared. Is it all about basketball or is it something more?

After reading this I am determined to read the first book and continue the series. This was such a fun and cute read and the perfect thing I need to switch up my reading routine. I mean who doens’t love a cute fun teen romance book?

Blog Tour/ The Dylan Dilemma

The Dylan Dilemma by Patricia B. Tighe
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Romance

High school senior Kenzie Harper-Shea has no time for dating, especially after the arrival of the basketball coach from hell. Now Kenzie has lost her confidence, is in a slump, and in danger of losing out on a scholarship to play college ball. The last thing she needs is her “vacation boyfriend,” Dylan McCoy, distracting her with warm smiles, inside jokes, and swoony kisses.

Dylan, however, is totally ready to date. He finally lives in the same town as Kenzie and is not about to lose the chance to let their relationship grow into something more. But for now, he’ll stay in the friend zone because he’s determined to find out what has her running scared. It can’t be just about basketball.

As Kenzie spends more time around Dylan, her feelings become a jumbled-up mess. It’s obvious they’re into each other. So, why does she panic whenever she thinks about dating him? Is it connected to basketball or to something deeper? She’s not sure. Does she have the courage to examine her heart, even if it means breaking Dylan’s?

About the author:

The mother of two grown sons, Patricia B. Tighe lives in West Texas with her husband and dog. She eats way too much pizza, drinks way too much coffee, and watches way too much NFL football. On the bright side, she also reads and writes teen fiction. She promises to include as much romance, angst, and adventure as possible in her books.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | InstagramGoodreads

Link to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39109223-the-dylan-dilemma

Purchase Link: Amazon

Giveaway Info:

• One (1) winner will receive an Echo Dot (US Resident) or a $25 Amazon GC (INT)

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Book Spotlight/ Monsterland Reanimated


About The Book:

Title: MONSTERLAND REANIMATED
Author: Michael Okon
Pub. Date: April 13, 2018
Publisher: WordFire Press
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, audiobook
Pages: 267

Find it: AmazonB&NiBooksKoboGoodreads

After Monsterland has been destroyed, the entire world is thrown into chaos. Wyatt Baldwin and his friends must go beyond the boundaries of their small town to reestablish contact with the outside world. During their journey they discover a new threat released from the bowels of the defunct theme park. The danger of werewolves, vampires and zombies pale in comparison to an army of relentless mummies, Vincent Conrad’s reanimated monster and the menace of a life-sucking ooze they call The Glob.  Wil Wyatt and his friends survive when they reenter the scariest place on earth?

MonsterlandTitle: MONSTERLAND
Author: Michael Okon
Pub. Date: October 13, 2017
Publisher: WordFire Press
Pages: 214
Formats: Paperback eBook

Find it: AmazonB&NiBooks, TBD, Goodreads

Welcome to Monsterland, the scariest place on earth.

When world markets are decimated by a crippling plague, philanthropist, and billionaire businessman, Vincent Konrad decides to place monsters in a theme park setting to promote education and tolerance. Copper Valley is chosen as the primary site for the park in the United States.

Wyatt Baldwin, a high school senior is dying to go to the opening and when he lands special passes to the park, he and his friends are expecting the experience of a lifetime.

After all, in a theme park where real zombies, werewolves, and vampires are the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?

Book Trailer:


About Michael:
Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling in his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

Find Michael:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Snapchat

Giveaway Details:
2 winners will receive a signed finished copy of MONSTERLAND REANIMATED, US Only.

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Tour Schedule:

 

Week One:

4/30/2018- Devouring Books– Review
4/30/2018- A Gingerly Review– Excerpt

5/1/2018- Novel Novice– Guest Post
5/1/2018- Cindy’s Love of Books– Spotlight

5/2/2018- Twirling Book Princess– Excerpt
5/2/2018- Reese’s Reviews– Spotlight

5/3/2018- A Dream Within A Dream– Excerpt

5/4/2018- FUONLYKNEW– Spotlight
5/4/2018- Dazzled by Books– Excerpt

 

Week Two:

5/7/2018- Sweet Southern Home– Review

5/8/2018- BookHounds YA– Interview
5/8/2018- Two Chicks on Books– Excerpt

5/9/2018- Birdie Bookworm– Review
5/9/2018- Owl Always Be Reading– Excerpt

5/10/2018- Don’t Judge, Read– Review

5/11/2018- Books A-Brewin’– Excerpt

 

Book Blitz/ The Nerdy Necromancer

The Nerdy Necromancer banner
This is my stop during the book blitz for The Nerdy Necromancer by S.E. Babin. This book blitz is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours. The book blitz takes place on 24 April. See the tour schedule here.

The Nerdy Necromancer is only 99cents! Today Only!
You can get your copy of The Nerdy Necromancer for only 99 cents today only! Get your copy here.

The Nerdy NecromancerThe Nerdy Necromancer (The Deadicated Matchmaker #1)
By S.E. Babin
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 24 April 2018

Blurb:
Helen Reaper has a weird relationship with the dead. As in she can bring anyone or anything back to life, so she’s constantly bombarded by people begging her to restore their loved ones, their pet fish, that cute girl who fell off a building while taking a selfie. Super. Annoying. So Helen becomes a necessary introvert and a homebody, choosing to absorb herself in books instead of real life.

The Deadication Dating Agency comes to her this time in the form of a mysterious letter and a cute little puppy.

They know someone who’s already dead who won’t mind her talent one little bit. Can a woman who raises the dead find a love that stays alive?

You can find The Nerdy Necromancer on Goodreads

You can buy The Nerdy Necromancer for only 99 cents here on Amazon
It’s available to read with Kindle Unlimited.

About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling author S.E. Babin has a passion for writing books with a paranormal twist. Whether it’s romance or mystery, she loves taking the norm and turning it into the extraordinary. Her love of reading turned into a curious exploration to see whether or not she could write her own novel. Beginning with discarded pages of angsty novels and a slightly popular reimagining of Beowulf’s Grendel in her high school English class, Sheryl spent way too much time in the library, killing any chance of her becoming a cheerleader or anything even remotely cool.

You can find and contact S.E. Babin here:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon
Instagram

Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of The Nerdy Necromancer. One winner will win a $25 Amazon Gift card.

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
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