Contest Rules for all my giveaways

Posted on by Cindy

I just wanted to post my contest/giveaway rules for everyone that will be entering my contest/giveaways. This will apply to all my contest/giveaways that I am hosting unless otherwise stated.

RULES:
-In all the giveaways please include your email address so that I have a way to contact you should you be a winner. Failure to do so will cause your entry to be deleted.

-All my contest/giveaways are for readers of my blog so I would prefer it if you subscribed to my blog or were a follower.

-If you are coming from a freebie site your entry will be deleted.

-Before entering please make sure that you are able to enter as some of the giveaways will be Canada only. (Sorry but this is due to the cost of shipping items out!)

-If you are a winner you have 48 hours to email me back with your mailing address. Failure to do so will result in picking another winner.

-All the giveaways/contest have ending dates posted in the post its announced.

-Also you must have a valid mailing address no PO Boxes please.

Thanks in Advance.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Review) Top 8

Posted on by Cindy


PUBLISHER: Scholastic (Point)
PUB DATE: October 2008
PAGES: 308
SOURCE: Borrowed book from the library.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Madison MacDonald is seriously freaking out

Madison MacDonald

16

Putnam, CT

Status: Single?

About Me:
Everything in my life was working out. I had my three best friends, a brand-new boyfriend, and the lead in the school play. Aside from that history paper I hadn’t started, things felt perfect.

Then I returned from spring break to find my Friendverse profile hacked. Someone clearly out to ruin me had spilled the most damaging secrets – AND posted the worst photos of me ever taken – online.

MY THOUGHTS
This is Katie Finns debut book. I actually ended up borrowing this because I have to say I was curious about the book when I started seeing her second book Whats Your Status? on several blogs this summer.

Top 8 begins with Madison MacDonald’s friendverse page. I am probably going to make myself sound old here by saying I had no idea what friendverse was so yes I googled it and discovered that its sort of like myspace/facebook. If anyone is on friendverse please correct me if this is wrong.

Anways Madison is away on vacation and while she is gone her friendverse account has been hacked without her knowledge and doesn’t discover this until she gets home. She has no idea who did this but is determined to find out.

Madison is not the most popular girl at school and her top 8 is basically all her best friends and she is the kind of girl who is friends with everyone. (You know the kind.)

Just before Madison went on her family vacation she had it all: the cute boyfriend, the lead in the school play and friends. She was happy as any girl would be. Now that she is back and knows her account has been hacked she discovers that whoever did this broke up with the boyfriend, said mean and nasty things about her friends and possibly cost her the lead in the play.

With a list of possible suspects she quickly realizes that people she suspected turn out innocent and the one person she didn’t suspect was the person who set out to ruin her life. Will she find out who it is? What will she think when she uncovers the truth?

Will she be able to get the boyfriend back as well? Curious to know then I suggest you pick up the book.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Author Meet Up) Cecil Castellucci

Posted on by Cindy

I have to send out a huge thank you to Nikole at Scholastic books Canada for sending me an ARC of Rose Sees Red (my review is to come) and for letting me know that Cecil was going to be coming to town this weekend.

I actually found out that she was going to be doing a show tune singing and novel excerpt reading on Thursday August 19th right here in Montreal. I was unable to attend this event but I will get the chance to meet her Saturday August 21 at a double book signing for the following books:

ABOUT THE BOOK
A child who loses a beloved grandparent finds comfort in carrying on the activities they shared in this sweet, genuine look at a universal rite of passage.

Grandma is always on her knees in the dirt, with her gardening gloves on, talking to her roses and laughing with the birds-of-paradise. Her home brims with plants and blossoms, and on hot days, she waters her granddaughter, her “most special flower of all,” with the garden hose. But a day comes when Grandma is no longer there to care for the little girl, who feels sad and small and alone until she remembers all that her grandmother taught her – and all that she now has to teach. Full of light and life and the solace of green growing things, this moving and beautifully illustrated picture book explores a timeless bond with warmth and joy.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Rose has given up. She”s given up on friendship, on happiness, on life being anything other than black, black, black. Yrena wants out. She”s a dancer who doesn”t want to dance, a prisoner in her own home, a resident of New York who never gets to see the city. To Rose, Yrena has always been the Russian girl who lives next door, seen through the window but never spoken to. At least not until Yrena crashes into Rose”s room-and Rose”s life-and sets in motion a night in New York City that none of them will ever forget. From YA superstar Cecil Castellucci, this is the story of cold hearts and cold wars warmed by simple human connection and the liberty of being young and free in the early hours of a new day.

Check back for my review and photos and such from when I meet Cecil this weekend. I will be meeting up with Avis as she will be attending this event with me.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Review) Sh*t My Dad Says

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Sh*t My Dad Says
AUTHOR: Justin Halpern
PUB DATE: April 26/10
PUBLISHER: Harper Collins
PAGES: 158
SOURCE: This was a borrowed book from the library.

ABOUT THE BOOK

After being dumped by his longtime girlfriend, twenty-eight-year-old Justin Halpern found himself living at home with his seventy-three-year-old dad. Sam Halpern, who is “like Socrates, but angrier, and with worse hair,” has never minced words, and when Justin moved back home, he began to record all the ridiculous things his dad said to him:

“That woman was sexy. . . . Out of your league? Son, let women figure out why they won’t screw you. Don’t do it for them.”

“Do people your age know how to comb their hair? It looks like two squirrels crawled on their heads and started f——.”

“The worst thing you can be is a liar. . . . Okay, fine, yes, the worst thing you can be is a Nazi, but then number two is liar. Nazi one, liar two.”

More than a million people now follow Mr. Halpern’s philosophical musings on Twitter, and in this book, his son weaves a brilliantly funny, touching coming-of-age memoir around the best of his quotes. An all-American story that unfolds on the Little League field, in Denny’s, during excruciating family road trips, and, most frequently, in the Halperns’ kitchen over bowls of Grape-Nuts, Sh*t My Dad Says is a chaotic, hilarious, true portrait of a father-son relationship from a major new comic voice.

If you would like to read the first chapter you can do so by clicking on this link

MY THOUGHTS:
When I first heard this story one day on the news I quickly had to check out www.twitter.com/ShitMyDadSays . I think I ended up sitting at my computer laughing at some of the things Justin’s dad had said.

I am anxious to see how this will play on in the fall when Sh*t My Dad Says comes on tv. Is anyone else going to watch this?

Anyways back to my review of the book. I have to say that some of the things Justin’s dad said was pretty funny and I sat laughing out loud. This was a pretty quick and easy read.

Each chapter offers a title and a mini story about said title. At the end of each chapter is a bunch of quotes from his dad. To pick a favorite title is hard as I enjoyed them all but I will give you a few of my favorite sayings.

On Tailgating the Driver in Front of Me
“You sure do like to tailgate people…Right, because its real important you show up to the nothing you have to do on time.”

On Videotaping Christmas Mornimg
“Okay, smile when you open your presents…No smile and look at the camera, dum-dum.”

On Child Safety
“Don’t touch that knife, you never need to be holding a knife…I don’t give a sh*t, learn how to butter stuff with a spoon.”

On Summer Vacation
“Watching tv all day is not an option. If this were Let’s Make a Deal that would not be behind one of those doors to choose from.”

As you can see I was being very selective in what I was putting here because of the language. If this kind of lanuage offends you then this is not the book for you as its used alot in the book. If your like me and it doesn’t bother you then pick up this book. I am sure you will be laughing out loud.

This was a funny quick read book that I enjoyed reading.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Hard to Believe

Posted on by Cindy

Its hard to believe that next week will be Cindy’s Love of Books second bloggiversary.

So all next week I plan on having a week long party to celebrate my bloggiversary. There will be daily giveaways and a bigger giveaway at the end of the event.

If any authors, reps or publishers would love to help out that would be great. Also if any of my readers would like to do a guest post please feel free to contact me through this post or by email at cindysloveofbooksarc AT gmail DOT com.

So check back on Sunday August 22nd when the festivites begin.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Review) Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City
AUTHOR: Holly Denham
PUB DATE: August 2010
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks
PAGES: 544
SOURCE: Received a finished copy from the publisher.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Dear Holly, isn’t it shocking…?

Things are finally going Holly Denham’s way: she’s in love, she’s getting the recognition she deserves at work, and her friends and family have graciously opted to avoid disaster for the moment.

Just when Holly is starting to settle into her new life, scandal erupts and Holly finds herself—and her in box—at the center of a gossip whirlwind that threatens everything she’s worked so hard for.

Written entirely in emails, this follow-up to the UK smash hit Holly’s Inbox will keep you glued to its pages as the scandal running rampant in the city threatens to ruin Holly’s hard-earned and long-awaited happiness.

MY THOUGHTS
I want to send out a thank you to April from Sourcebooks for sending me this book. I have anxiously been awaiting for this one to come out after reading the first Holly’s Inbox book last year. This wasn’t as huge as last years book (over 600 pages) and like last year it was a very quick read. I enjoyed reading it and actually managed to read this in a few hours.

Scandal in the City is just like the first book, its done in email format. The books characters have remained the same as the last book with Holly, Trisha, Jason, her mother, grandmother and many more. You don’t need to read the first one to read this one.

Holly is still working as a receptionist at DKHeurst and she is still with Toby. Just like the previous book Holly manages to get into some high jinx that you wonder how she will be able to get herself into that situation and how will she ever be able to get out of it?

In the first book Holly managed to get into alot of trouble and things weren’t the best but is seems in this book things are coming together but is the calm before the storm? Things seem to be running smoothly for her in the work place and in her personal life. Things are going great with Toby and at her she is being offered a promotion. She has to keep things quiet at work for now about the promotion and that means keeping that secret from her coworker and good friend Trisha so you can only imagine where this will go and how it will end?

As I am reading I have to say I laughed, wanted to reach into the book and shake Holly by the shoulders and gringe at the things she said and did. I guess you really can’t blame Holly because sometimes it did look like things were the way they seemed. I am sure we might react the same way or maybe not.

If you are looking for a light, fun and easy/quick read then this is for you. I am curious if there will be a book three. What do you think? If there is I can not wait to read it.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Review) Seduced by the Wolf

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Seduced by the Wolf
AUTHOR: Terry Spear
PUB DATE: August 2010
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Casablanca
PAGES: 416
SOURCE: ARC was mailed to me from the publisher
COVER: ARC and Final copy are the same.

ABOUT THE BOOK
His first priority is to protect his pack…
Werewolf pack leader Leidolf Wildhaven has just taken over a demoralized pack. With rogue wolves on the loose causing havoc and the authorities from the zoo suddenly zeroing in on the local wolf population, the last thing he needs in his territory is a do-gooder female, no matter how beautiful and enticing she is…

She’ll do anything to help wolves…
Biologist Cassie Roux has dedicated her life to protecting wolves in the wild. On a desperate mission to help a she-wolf with newborn pups, the last thing Cassie needs right now is a nosy and entirely too attractive werewolf pack leader trying to track her down…

With rogue wolves and hunters threatening at every turn, Cassie and Leidolf may find their attraction the most dangerous force of all…

MY THOUGHTS
I have to send out a very huge THANK YOU to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending me this ARC of Seduced by the Wolf.

You will noticed that I don’t review alot of romance books here on my blog and honestly that is because I am not a romance reader. I think I can probably count on both hands the number of romance books I have read in the past 14 years and its not alot. I’m not sure why I am not a fan when so many are but it ranks right up there with historical fiction another genre I just don’t read.

When it comes to romance books I have to say hands down if I am offered a Terry Spears book I jump at the chance. I absolutely love this series.

Seduced by the Wolf is book five in the series with three more books to come. just a little note that you don’t have to read the previous books in the series to understand what is going on. I am going to buy the first two very soon.

Like the previous books I read I once again was drawn into the story right away and had a hard time to put this down and I pretty much devoured this book in one sitting. I love the cover for this.

As I was reading this several character names popped out at me that were in previous books and it was nice to see them again and to play more of a part in this book. You often wonder what happens to characters when a series continues so this was really nice.

Seduced by the Wolf is a perfect title of this book because that is basically what happens in Oregon. Cassie comes to town to give a lecture about wolves. She is a wolf biologist and there is more to Cassie then meets the eye.

Leidolf is the alpha male of the local pack and he is trying to bring some order to the pack which seems to be falling apart. He is dealing with an issue of a cougar that seems to be killing some of his livestock.

Cassie and Leidolf are forced together when someone slashes her tires before the lecture and being the gentleman that he is he looks after her by getting his men to fix the tires (apparently Leidolf owns quite a bit of the towns population)and telling them to keep an eye on her car to see is behind it.

He convinces Cassie to go out with him for a quick dinner which she agrees to until she steps into the restaurant its filled with wolves. She is worried that her secret will come out but really how long can she keep it and why hasn’t anyone figured it out?

You can see the instant connection happening between Cassie and Leidolf. The only thing is Cassie has no interest in looking for a mate while Leidolf is. Will he be able to change her mind?

If I write anymore I will really giveaway the book but if you are looking for a great book this is it.

BOOKS I HAVE READ IN THIS SERIES:
To Tempt The Wolf Book 3
Legend of White Wolf book 4

UP COMING BOOKS:
Wolf Fever book 6 December 7th/10 (Just in time for my birthday!)
Heart of the Higland Wolf book 7- June 2011
Dreaming of the Wolf book 8 – 2011 (no date yet)

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.