A Giveaway On A Friday Sounds Like A Great Way To Start The Weekend, Yes?

Happy Friday!! We've got an awesome giveaway for y'all today to celebrate the release of the 3rd book, Gathering Darkness, in the Falling Kingdoms series. If you are a fantasy fan and haven't jumped on this series, get on it!

We are happy to offer an amazing Falling Kingdoms prize pack that will include:

 - Copies of Falling Kingdoms, Rebel Spring & Gathering Darkness
- Falling Kingdoms postcard set
- Falling Kingdoms t-shirt

Series Overview

In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed…and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even love.

In AURANOS, privileged Princess Cleo is forced to confront violence for the first time in her life when a shocking murder sets her kingdom on a path to collapse.

In LIMEROS, the king’s son, Magnus, must plan each footstep with shrewd, sharp guile if he is to earn his powerful father’s trust, while his sister, Lucia, discovers a terrifying family secret about her birth that will change everything.

In PAELSIA, rebellious Jonas lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.

Witches, if four, are put to death, and Watchers, immortal beings who take the shape of hawks to visit the human world, have been almost entirely forgotten. A vicious power struggle quickly escalates to war, and these four young people collide against each other and the rise of elementia, the magic that can topple kingdoms and crown a ruler in the same day.

About The Author

photo credit Shanon Fujioka

Morgan Rhodes is the New York Times bestselling author of the FALLING KINGDOMS series. As a child, she always wanted to be a princess—the kind that knows how to wield a sharp sword to help save both kingdoms and princes from fire-breathing dragons and dark wizards. Instead, she became a writer, which is just as good and much less dangerous. Along with writing, Morgan enjoys photography, travel, and reality TV, and is an extremely picky yet voracious reader of all kinds of books.

LEARN MORE

Follow Morgan Rhodes on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram
Find the Falling Kingdoms series on Facebook
#FallingKingdomsSeries

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Prizing & samples courtesy of Penguin Young Readers

Lori's Favorites of This Year

Technically, I was supposed to organize a Cocktail and Conversation post for today, but those posts always sneak up on me, so it didn't get done.  I also didn't get my post written for last week because, among other things, I spent over two hours on the phone dealing with insurance, then got called into work on my day off.  So I decided to go ahead and do my post today because I really liked my post that I was mentally composing whilst on the phone (because who really wants to pay attention while they are dealing with insurance stuff?).

With the end of the year looming before us, I've begun thinking about what I've read this year and what I really liked.  I didn't read a ton this year, I never do.  But I feel like I read a pretty good variety for me.  As a result, I am kind of surprised by the books that are quickly becoming solidified as my favorites for this year.  I usually read mostly fiction.  I'll usually read a couple of non-fiction books for fun, which I enjoy, but don't usually totally knock my socks off.  So, imagine my surprise when--as I am reflecting on my favorite books of the year--I realize that my favorite reads this year are non-fiction.  Naturally, I am not stopping reading for the remainder of the year, but I feel pretty comfortable in naming these as my favorite reads of the year.

Judging a Book by Its Lover by Lauren Leto  This one came in a BookRiot Quarterly box earlier this year.  When I first read the description on the back, it didn't really sound like me, so it kind of hung out on my bookshelves for a while.  One afternoon or evening I wound up grabbing it and flipping it open.  I finished the next day.  Leto's book is full of a lot of really interesting and short essays or pieces about reading and not taking reading too seriously.  It has a very long list of what your favorite author says about you.  It has a long chapter on how to fake reading certain authors, which really turns out to be a great reading pathway if you choose to actually read some of Dostoevsky's works (to name one author).  I had a lot of fun reading this book.  It really helped me chill out and decide to not pressure myself so, so much with my reading.  I read for fun.  So isn't stressing out over what I'm reading totally defeating the point?  It is, it is.

Thus ends the books I've actually finished.  The remaining ones on my list are all in progress.  I think I'll finish two of them by the end of the year.  One, however, is perfect for stringing out for a while.

My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff  I'm at the halfway point with this one.  It was a quick read for me up to that point.  I would have made more progress, actually, if I hadn't stopped for watch an episode of NCIS with my parents (it's our family time).  I am loving reading about the publishing industry during the late 1990s.  Rakoff is extremely relatable to me.  She faces a lot of issues that I faced and still face today, like the part when she realized that her friend who had always written poetry had let that dream die and how that affected their friendship dynamic (basically--people change).  I can't wait to see what happens next.  It's an unputdownable memoir.  Love it!

Ten Years in the Tub by Nick Hornby  Beginning in the early 2000s, Hornby (author of High Fidelity and About a Boy) began writing a monthly column for Believer magazine.  He continued writing this column for ten years.  This volume collects all of his articles.  Each month begins with Books Bought and Books Read, then he discusses what happened and offers up impressions of his reading.  He also offers up a lot of wisdom about his reading life in the process.  For instance, he muses that the books we buy probably say more about us than the books we actually read because the books we buy illuminate who/what we aspire to be, whereas we read books for a variety of reasons that are sometimes have less to do with us than outside forces.  He also shows that you can do a whole lot of reading while still having outside interests (for him it's soccer and music) and that it's OK if sometimes those outside interests overshadow our reading for a while.  This was another that made me realize that reading doesn't have to be a super serious venture.

The Year of Reading Dangerously by Andy Miller  I impulse bought this one a couple of days ago, when it was released.  Except I had to buy an e copy because none of the stores near me had any physical copies in stock.  It's fine, but I would have preferred the ability to underline and mark pages for future use.  Anyway, Miller decides that he's dissatisfied with his reading life, so he decides to organize it a bit more.  He starts with a list of ten classics that he's really kind of ashamed that he hasn't read yet and vows to start reading them.  The list ultimately grows to fifty books.  He works his way through each novel.  The book he writes details his journey through the list, what happens to him along the way, how the novels make him feel and how they impact his life, etc.  It's not a ton of literary criticism or a book review of each novel, which I really like.  Though, reader beware, there are spoilers to the plots of these books.  So far for me this hasn't been too big of a problem, but once he gets to reading novels I really want to read but haven't yet read, I'll probably wind up skipping those bits.  This one is a bit more serious because it explores the importance of literature and reading, but I think it's ultimately about pleasure and one man's way of making his reading journey pleasurable to him.

I find it interesting that all of the books that are going down as my favorites for the year are non-fiction books about reading.  But I like it.  These books have given me a lot to think about with my reading and have given me some ideas for how to go forward.  I also find it interesting that all of them are ones I only picked up in the last month.  I could have just as well skipped the first ten months of the year.  :)

I'm still really excited about all of the reading I have left for the year.  In addition to finishing the Rakoff and Miller and making more progress on the Hornby, I am working on I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe, tentatively starting Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, and making some plans for my upcoming reading goals and ventures.  Plus, there absolutely must be a reread of David Sedaris's Holidays on Ice.  It's a must for this time of year.

What have been your surprise favorites of the year?

Top Ten New-To-Us Authors We Read In 2014

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

Julia's Picks

1. Meredith Duran: I started off this year reading through some of the books on my eReader (a goal that oh so quickly fell to the wayside as new and shiny things grabbed my attention). Meredith Duran was one of those purchases I did while reading romance deals posts and I really enjoyed the story I read, The Duke of Shadows. It made me want to seek out more of her work, which is on my eReader, but I have yet to read book two. 

2. Jim C Hines: This author was a unique discovery for me. I knew him from the internet and his blog where he poses like romance novel hero/heroines and fantasy heroines to see how ridiculous the poses are. I found out about his new series through those posts and had them on my to read list for quite a while. Luckily my sister bought them so I was able to finally try out his work.

3. Ruta Sepetys: I have you guys to thank for this one. Out of the Easy was one of the recommendations from the Slumplist and I really loved it. It has made me want to seek out some of her other books or at least I have her on my radar for when her next release comes out.

Bridget's Picks

4. Lev Grossman. I read The Magicians, the first in a trilogy, this year and it was awesome. The two other books in the trilogy are definitely on my Christmas list. :)

5. Jeffrey Eugenides. I read The Marriage Plot on my honeymoon (thought it would be appropriate) and over the summer I read The Virgin Suicides. I liked The Marriage Plot better, but both were good. Hoping to read Middlesex sometime next year.

6. George R. R. Martin. I also started reading A Game of Thrones on my honeymoon after it utterly captured my husband for two straight days. I'm sort of in a slump with the series right now—I put down A Feast for Crows a few months ago and haven't felt motivated to pick it up again—but for the most part I've been enjoying it.

Jamie's Picks

 

7. Sarah J. Maas.  I know I'm late on the bandwagon here but I read Throne of Glass on Memorial Day and then binge read Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire right after BEA. SARAH J. MAAS = my 2014 really. She changed the game for me.

8. Marie Rutkoski: Another author just totally getting me hooked on fantasy this year. I LOVED The Winner's Curse and The Winner's Crime. This trilogy is PHENOMENAL and Marie just has a way with words and shredding my heart!!!

9. Kiersten White: So I read Illusions of Fate and this was my first Kiersten book! I was really, really impressed. Then I read her story in My True Love Gave To Me and loved that. Can't wait to check out the rest of her books!

10. Corey Ann Haydu: Life By Committee just blew me away! Corey is so, so talented and I've loved getting to know her online as well where we've had some really great conversations about life! Definitely an author who I feel is underrated and it is my mission to shout her name from the rooftops!

And Jana's jumping in last minute to add Mary E. Pearson (Kiss of Deception), Abigail Haas (Dangerous Girls), April Lindner (Love, Lucy), and Jennifer L. Armentrout (Don't Look Back).

So tell us all your new favorite authors from 2014 and make our TBR list EXPLODE!

Julia Reviews Notes to Boys by Pamela Ribon

Title/Author: Notes to Boys by Pamela Ribon

Publisher/Year Published: Decmeber 2013 by Rare Bird Books
How I got this book: My coworker loaned it to me
Why I read this book: My coworker told me too :)
Rating: 4.5 stars

Pamela Ribon has been showing up a lot in my recent life. First of all, she shows up with that horrible barbie book nonsense, bringing it all to life in her blog post. Then I see her name mentioned in a Smart Bitches post and think, "Oh! I recognize her! She is the one who wrote the hilarious thing on the sad barbie book". And finally, it came to a point when I looked at the book my friend from work had loaned me and realized it was her again. At that point I knew I was going to like this book. 

My friend had told me that this was their bookclub pick this month and most of the ladies had liked it though it took a bit to get into. I liked it from the beginning though did skim through some of the more cringe-worthy notes. 

Let me back up. This book is written on the concept that Pam saved all of the notes she wrote to boys as a teenager. They are just brimming with 15 year old angst and feeling. I would read them and cringe to myself on her behalf and then cringe again remembering some of the things I did as a teen. Thank God I didn't save any AIM conversations... All this cringing would culminate in the grateful realization that I was no longer 15 and did not have to worry about overwhelming feels anymore. Teenage angst is real, yo. It get's better. But then you get adult worries like bills... anyway...  

My favorite parts of this book were not the notes themselves but the context and stories around them. Pam is a fantastic writer who drew me into her past quite easily. I want to read more of her books and blog posts now that do no center around these notes. The notes were my least favorite part actually. I enjoyed them more toward the beginning, but as the book went on I had enough flashbacks thanks. 

Anyway, I enjoyed this book. Give it a shot if you are interested in a memoir centering around some of the more embarrassing aspects of teenage girlhood doused with a good dose of humor. 

(cross-posted to my booklikes blog)

Broke and Bookish Book Haul for 11/23 - 12/6

Daisy's Book Haul

Bought/Gifted:
-Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll: this is next month's book club read, so I decided to get myself the pretty cloth-bound version of awesome.
-Never Judge a Lady By Her Cover by Sarah MacLean: I'm SO excited about this one! The final rogue book and finally we'll get to hear Chase's story :)
-A Long Way From You by Gwendolyn Heasley: I wasn't a big fan of Don't Call Me Baby by the same author, but this sounds cute, so I'm just gonna give it a try.
-As You Wish by Jackson Pierce: major thank you to Ciska @ Ciska's Book Chest for this one! I've been eyeing it for almost 4 years now and it sounds adorable.

Egalleys for review:
-The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver: I am fascinated by a twin taking over her sister's life after an accident! This can either be REALLY good or meh, I'm hoping for the first.
-The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre: I'm always rooting for the unlikely couple and these two sound like they fit that description.
-Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder: OMG ALL THE EXCITEMENT!!!! I didn't know how fast I had to click that request button when this popped up on NetGalley because EEEEE!!! MORE YELENA AND VALEK AND JUST ALL OF THE GOOD STUFF!!
-Searching for Grace Kelly by Michael Callahan: I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but it sounds really interesting and I haven't really come across many books set in this time period before that caught my attention like this one. Here's to hoping it's awesome.
-The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki: a novel about Sisi! I'm so in!

Top Ten Books Daisy Is Looking Forward To in 2015

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

So I've been trying really hard not to add any of the books that were on my last two TTT lists, and it was REALLY difficult, but it worked and just know that I'm really excited about those as well, but to throw in some variety, here's the other books that I'm looking forward to in 2015!

1. Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira: this sounds super cute. And I'm dying to see if acting like your favourite heroine from a novel pays off in the romance department.

2. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: It's a new Leigh Bardugo series!!! EEEEE!!! I LOVED the Grisha trilogy and I will basically just devour this book when it comes out.

3. The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan: It's Rick Riordan. Writing about Norse Gods. Do I need to say more?

4. Untitled #4 by Sarah J. Maas: ok, so I cheated with this one, cause it's on the sequels list from two weeks ago, but I just wannnnttttt it SO BAD! GIVE IT TO ME NOOOWWWW!!!

5. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin: People, you should all read Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy. It is beyond amazing. And because of that I will always be excited about another book she has coming out.

6. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: YES SHE HAS ANOTHER BOOK COMING OUT!!! Isn't she just awesomeness personified?? So I'm not generally a fan of fae books, but Sarah has this amazing writing style that I love and I WILL READ THIS. Also, the cover is gorgeous.

7. Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge: YESSSSSS!!! I loved Cruel Beauty and I'm guessing this will be just as good!

8. The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West: Kasie West is awesome and a plotline that involves faking a relationship which progresses to a real relationship is just a whole lot of YES!

9. Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray: I read The Diviners for book club this year and it was really good! I'm really anxious to find out what happens next and also if the couple I'm shipping will end up together because the romance that was happening towards the end of the book was NOT it.

10. The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean: A new historical romance series by Sarah MacLean, HOORAYYYY!!

November Favorites & Our December TBR List

Here's our collective roundup of favorites and looking ahead to a book on our TBR for December! Tell us in the comments one of your best reads in November and a book you plan to read in December!

 

FAVORITES

Jamie says:

 

Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot -- Oh how I loved this book!! If you like contemporary YA, get on it!

Julia says:

Notes to Boys (And Other Things I Shouldn't Share in Public) by Pamela Ribon

I feel like Pam Ribon and I connected on a karmic level this past month. She kept showing up in the most random places. Remember my Barbie rant (which by the way all of your comments were awesome on!), well Pam Ribon was the one who started it all with her blog post bringing the horrid book to life. Then this book was actually given to me to read by a coworker because her book club loved it. Serendipity brought me to this author and this book. While it brought up some cringe-worthy memories from middle/high school (hers and my own), it was my favorite read this month because of the humorous way she wrote about her past.

Daisy says

The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon: I was incredibly lucky to get to borrow the ARC from a friend of mine and The Mime Order was just AMAZING. This series is so beyond awesome that I just cannot. SO MANY FEELS.

Jana says 

 

 Mistletoe and Mr Right by Lyla Payne

November was a rather lackluster month for me, as far as books went. I didn't read any true gems or books that made me swoon or squee. Of the books I did read, though, my favorite was Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Lyla Payne. It's a cute new adult Christmas novella that takes place in Ireland, and really got me in to the Christmas spirit! 

Tahleen says

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this one. The writing is excellent, and the worldbuilding is pretty much faultless. I kind of thought of Game of Thrones while I was reading, but with less blood and evil. This was a winner (pun intended).

ON OUR TBR FOR DECEMBER

Jamie says

 

No Place To Fall by Jaye Robin Brown: We all know my love for contemporary YA and this one is out in December and sounds awesome! Love that cover!

Julia says

Never Judge a Lady by her Cover by Sarah MacLean

While I have already started gouging myself with Christmas themed romance novels, this book has caught my eye as on my TBR as soon as possible list. It's the last book in a series of four of which I have liked the first two and hated the third, so I am trepidatious. But this cover has a lady in pants and makes me think of pirates, so I have high hopes.

Daisy says

I second Julia's pick and want to add:

Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass: I think it'll be just the kind of light read I need with the cosiness of Christmas coming up :)

Jana says

Maybe This Christmas by Sarah Morgan

I love Sarah Morgan's Christmas books, plus this one is the end of a trilogy, which makes it even better! I'm starting this one today. :)

Tahleen says

Winterspell by Claire Legrand

This is our book club pick for December, as we decided to read something seasonal and wintry/Christmassy. It's a retelling of The Nutcracker, so we're all kind of excited about it.

Tell us a favorite book you read in November and one book you ABSOLUTELY plan to read in December!!