Waiting on Wednesday (95)

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving with family and friends! I know I did! 

Now it's time to get back to the books and catch up on blogging!


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"The Wild Queen: The Days and Nights of Mary Queen of Scots"
by Carolyn Meyer
Harcourt Children's Books
Release Date: June 19, 2012

The following description is from goodreads.com:

Mary is only six days old when she is crowned after the death of her father, five years old when she is sent to France to be raised alongside her future husband. Surrounded by friends and beloved by the royal family, Mary absorbs the culture, becoming more French than Scot. But when her frail young husband dies, Mary, now eighteen, is stripped of her title as Queen of France and set adrift in the harsh world, alone.

Determined to reign over what is rightfully hers, as well as to claim the throne of England to which she believes she is entitled, Mary returns to Scotland. The fiery young queen must sometimes go to brutal lengths to establish her sovereignty. And she is just as willful when it comes to her love life. Hoping that a husband will help her secure the coveted English throne, Mary marries again, but the love and security she longs for elude her. Instead, she finds herself embroiled in a murder scandal that could cost her the crown. And her attempts to bargain with her formidable "sister queen," Elizabeth I of England, could cost her her very life.
I love historical YA and I've really liked the other books I've read by this author. Plus how fabulous is that cover?!

What are you waiting for this week???

"The Highlander's Heart" Review

"The Highlander's Heart"
by Amanda Forester

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: Nov 1, 2011 
Source: ARC sent by publisher

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  


Fleeing into the wilderness to escape an abusive marriage, Lady Isabelle Tynsdale would sooner face down a wild boar than spend another night with her wretched husband. Battered by the elements, desperate to elude a band of attackers, and defending herself against, as fate would have it, a wild boar she is rescued by the handsome Laird David Campbell.
Campbell knows holding Isabelle captive for ransom is his best chance to temper the storm threatening to destroy his clan. The ransom of an English countess should be more than enough to pay off his debts to England and save him from an unwanted marriage. But Isabelle didn't escape her husband just to become another man's captive and Laird Campbell is seriously misguided if he thinks she's going to go quietly.

My Review:

After reading the author's first book and finding it a really refreshing change from the norm, I was excited to read this book. I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first, but it was still a sweet, relaxing read.

The story is very sweet, and nothing really objectionable happens. There are no cringe-worthy moments or traumas. Even the ever-present highlander kidnapping turns out to be a good thing for all involved. The leads were slightly bland for my liking but there were actually two supporting couples with romances of their own and they were a little more multi-faceted. I enjoyed watching the secondary romances play out.

It did seem like problems and obstacles worked themselves out a little too perfectly and a little too quickly. On one page an obstacle would arise and it would be solved perfectly on the following page. Still it was a cute, sweet, and relaxing read.


Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5

Setting: 4/5

Romance: 3/5

Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 3/5
Writing: 4/5



Bottom Line: If you're looking for a sweet, quick read about highlanders, this is the book for you.

"The Iron Knight" Review and Excerpt

"The Iron Knight"
by Julie Kagawa

 
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: Oct 25, 2011 
Source: ARC sent by publicist

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.


To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Review:

This book was so much different than what I thought it would be, and I mean that in a good way. This was my first book in the Iron Fey series (not that I advise reading book 4 first, haha) and I was very surprised at the depth of the characters and story, as well as the detail of the adventure and setting. This is not your typical fluffy YA paranormal romance. While I admit to feeling bewildered sometimes at the beginning since I hadn't read the other books, I felt like the author did a great job of recapping the events from the first books. So while, I never felt lost, I still think I could have gotten so much more out of the book if I had read the other books first.

I can see how fans are so passionate about this series and have chosen teams, either Team Ash or Team Puck. This is a book that will stay with you, you'll still be thinking about it long after you read it.

I liked the fairy tale references sprinkled though out the book. It was a lot of fun for a fairy tale fanatic like me.

I think it's so interesting that one of the characters makes a reference to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, because I was reminded of the Indiana Jones movies the entire time I was reading this book. It's the same type of adventure with trial after trial that must be overcome, and it makes for a very exciting story.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5

Setting: 5/5

Romance: 4/5

Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5 (Excelllent!)
Writing: 5/5



Bottom Line:I highly recommend this book, it's so much more than a typical paranormal teen romance.



As part of "The Iron Knight" Blog Tour, I'm happy to announce that I have excerpt for readers of my blog!


“Would you believe the cat owes him money?” Puck’s voice
came from behind my shoulder, making me wince. The witch
scowled at him.
“I did not ask you, Robin Goodfellow,” she snapped, jabbing
a clawlike finger at him. “And you had best watch your
tongue, lest you find yourself neck-deep in a pot of boiling
snake venom. Right now your friend’s civility is the only
thing keeping me from skinning you alive, and you will be
silent on my land or you will leave. My question was for the
prince.”
“I am a prince no longer,” I said softly, interrupting her
rant. “My service to the Winter Queen is done, and Mab has
cast me from her circle. I am dead to her.”


Don't miss tomorrow's stop on the blog tour:

"The Virtuoso" Review

"The Virtuoso"
by Grace Burrowes

 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: Nov 1, 2011 
Source: ARC sent by publisher

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

The highly praised trilogy of Regency romances by award-winning author Grace Burrowes concludes with gifted pianist Valentine Windham, youngest son of the Duke of Moreland. Val retreats to the country after an injury robs him of his musical ability, only to learn from impoverished widow Ellen Markham that he can be loved even when his music falls silent.

My Review:

The lead in this story, Valentine Windham, was a supporting player in the author's previous books in the series. The quiet piano virtuoso was one of my favorite and most memorable characters from a book ever. That's some pretty high expectations to set on a character, and I'm glad to say that Val did not disappoint on his own story. Much gentler, kinder, and more artistic than the heroes we're used to seeing in historical romance, Val is my favorite type of hero. The type who is kind to everyone, and not afraid of his feelings. The only thing I could possibly say that I was almost disappointed in was that his injury prevented him from actually playing the piano.

I'm not sure I really loved Ellen, but maybe that's because Val was so special and it seemed like Ellen's good traits really weren't described. It was more like she was "there" instead of being someone really outstanding. It was hard to see why exactly Val liked her so much. The story was skewed more towards Val's point of view anyway. It was really his story, which was fine with me, it really worked here.

I liked all the musical terms scattered throughout the book. The reader could see that Val thought musically even if he wasn't actually playing.

There is so much emotion in the book, you really get a deep sense of the characters' feelings. One thing about the author's books is that there is a lot to absorb so they do read rather slow. You can't start reading one of her books and expect to fly through it. There are many intricacies to each character that you need to absorb to really feel the book's emotions.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5

Setting: 4/5

Romance: 5/5

Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5 (I think I need to buy the finished version because my ARC didn't have this fantastic cover!)
Writing: 5/5



Bottom Line: The Virtuoso did not disappoint and it's definitely going on my keeper shelf. I hope we're lucky enough to see more of Valentine in the Windham sisters' series.

Winners Announced!!


Winners Announced!!

I've had two contests end this week on In the Hammock, and here are the winners!


The winner of "The September Queen" by Gillian Bagwell is:



Gwendolyn B
 


The winner of the Romance at Random Giveaway Hop, winning an e-book of "Because of You" by Jessica Scott, is




donnas

Winners were chosen via random.org random number generator. Congrats to the winners!! I have emailed the winners for her/his mailing addresses. Winners have 3 days to respond :) A huge thank you goes out to everyone who entered!! Congrats!!

Please note that the contests were sponsored by the publisher/publicist, and they are responsible for mailing out the prizes. In the Hammock Blog is not responsible for lost or undelivered books or for the amount of time it takes to deliver the books.

 

"Shadow Horse" Review

"Shadow Horse"
by Alison Hart

Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Release Date: March 27, 2001 
Source: sent by author

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

Horses + mystery + rescuing abused animals = a triple crown of perpetually popular preteen genres!

Thirteen-year-old Jasmine is found guilty of assaulting Hugh Robicheaux, the owner of the horse farm where she works. But she's still determined to prove that Robicheaux killed Whirlwind, the mare she loved. Jas is sure that Shadow Horse, a scrawny brown gelding she rescues at a horse auction, is the key to the mystery—but just how is Shadow Horse connected to Whirlwind?

Deftly written by a teacher and equestrian who has authored more than sixty books, this heartwarming and inspiring Edgar Award nominee will have special appeal for mystery fans as well as young horse lovers.

My Review:

This book was originally written in 1999 and it definitely reminded me of the simpler, sweeter YA that I used to read. Even the packaging of the story is like the slim, 250 page YA books of that time. There's nothing over the top in the book, and it's a nice, refreshing change of pace from today's dystopians, and tear-jerker contemporaries.

The heroine, Jas, is 13, so it's probably suited to a young YA audience or the older middle grade reader.

The mystery is nice and I sure didn't see where it was headed. I loved Jas' relationship with her grandfather. It's very loving and sincere. The romance with Chase is cute and age appropriate, it's really more about developing a strong friendship than a romantic relationship.

Of course, the book is perfect for horse lovers. It would be a great read for a girl who has graduated from all the middle grade horse series and is ready for something older.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5

Setting: 4/5

Romance: 4/5

Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5



Bottom Line: Overall, this is a great, wholesome read with lots of horses and nail biting mystery.

Thanks to the author, Alison Hart, I will be having a giveaway for this book and the sequel, "Whirlwind" soon! Stay tuned for details!

Waiting on Wednesday (94)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Sweet Evil"
by Wendy Higgins
Harper Teen
Release Date: May 1, 2012

The following description is from goodreads.com:

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being
bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen
angels in Sweet Evil.

Anna, a tender-hearted southern girl, was born with the sixth
sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of
a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger,
but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring
Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her
will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned
you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip forces Anna and Kai to face the reality
that hope and love are not options for their kind. When it's
time for Anna to confront her demons, will she choose to embrace
her halo or her horns?
I can't help it, I'm drawn in by the cover and title!

What are you waiting for this week???

"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" Review

"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children"
by Ransom Riggs

Publisher: Quirk Publishing
Release Date: June 7, 2011 
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

My Review:

I absolutely love the concept of this book. The author used eerie "found" vintage photos and developed a back story for each photo. The photos weren't the whole story, but there was an eerie and supernatural explanation for each strange photo.

I loved the beginning of the book, when Jacob was re-telling the stories his grandfather had told him, and before the mystery had really unravelled.  I also liked the spookiness of when he first found the orphanage. But after Jacob actually meet the kids and how he was able to meet them, things grew a little confusing for me. I won't give any spoilers, but there was a lot going on and it was pretty out there. I had a lot of questions about how exactly everything worked.

The presentation of the book itself is gorgeous. In a world of e-books and e-readers, this book really reminds you how beautiful books are and what a great experience that reading a real book can be.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5

Setting: 4/5

Romance: 3/5

Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 4/5



Bottom Line: The beautiful book and intriguing photos make this story a keeper.

In My Mailbox (93)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.
 
Only one book this week, but that's ok, I really need to catch up! Plus with Thanksgiving coming up, I'm going to be really crunched for time!
for review:
 
"Kiss Crush Collide" by Christina Meredith 
 


This one was my waiting on wednesday pick awhile back so I'm super excited to read it! 

What did you receive in your mailbox this week???


Veteran's Day Giveaway Hop

A Salute to Our Veterans – Veteran’s Day Blog Hop

From Romance at Random: 
In honor of Veteran’s Day & their awesome service for our country we’d like to celebrate with our very own Jessica Scottactive duty army captain, full time mom & author & her husband, first sergeant deployed with the army on his final tour; with promoting Jessica’s new book, BECAUSE OF YOU, the first in her Coming Home Series.
  

 Each participating blog found in this blog hop, will be giving away a FREE ebook of BECAUSE OF YOU. Be one of the first to read this powerful love story – comment below and any of the participating sites to be included in this random drawing – 25 winners total as each site will choose a winner — increase your chances to win by visiting all of these sites.


"Because of You"
 by Jessica Scott

Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: Nov 14, 2011 

Summary from goodreads.com:

From the war-torn streets of Baghdad to the bittersweet comforts of the home front, two wounded hearts navigate the battlefield of coming home from war in this explosive eBook original from newcomer Jessica Scott.

Keeping his men alive is all that matters to Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison. But meeting Jen St. James the night before his latest deployment makes Shane wonder if there’s more to life than war. He leaves for Iraq remembering a single kiss with a woman he’ll never see again—until a near fatal attack lands him back at home and in her care.

Jen has survived her own brush with death and endured its scars. And yet there’s a fire in Shane that makes Jen forget all about her past. He may be her patient, but when this warrior looks her in the eyes, she feels—for the first time in a long time—like a woman. Shane is too proud to ask for help, but for Jen, caring for him is more than a duty—it’s a need. And as Jen guides Shane through the fires of healing, she finds something she never expected—her deepest desire.


Visit Jessica online: http://www.jessicascott.net

Follow Jessica on Twitter

Romance fan? Take a look at Romance at Random! Whether you love historicals, contemporaries, or paranormals, Romance at Random has it all!


Facebook

This novel is already getting rave reviews! 
I think this one is really emotional, a tear-jerker for sure! Check out the summary and leave a comment to enter!



GIVEAWAY RULES:

Romance at Random has generously provided an ebook copy of "Because of you" for one lucky reader of my blog!

All you have to do is comment on this post with your email address! If you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy




Rules:
  • Open Internationally
  • E-book copy of the book
  • Leave a comment with your email address
  • Ebook will be provided by the publisher, In the Hammock is not responsible for books not recieved, or the amount of time taken to deliver the book
  • Must be 18 or over 
  • Ends Sun Nov 13
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!


Check out the other stops on the tour here:

"Hades" Review

"Hades"
by Alexandra Adornetto

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: Aug 30, 2011 
Source: ARC sent by publisher

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

Heaven Help Her.

Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier’s love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.

The story that Alexandra Adornetto built in her New York Times-bestselling debut, Halo, comes alive in action-packed and unexpected ways, as angels battle demons, and the power of love is put to the test.

My Review:

Honestly, from the reviews I've read of this book, I was expecting a lot worse. I actually liked the beginning of the book before Bethany was kidnapped and went to Hell. The beginning was very light and fluffy, and sure, she over-romanticized Xavier, but there's nothing wrong with that in my opinion. I liked that Bethany and Xavier had a happy, healthy relationship.

However, after Jake kidnapped Bethany and took her to Hell, I wasn't as interested in what happened. The overly sweet writing style didn't work in that setting for me. You could tell the book was written by someone very young, it just felt a bit limited in it's overall view of the world. There wasn't a lot of structure to the world she built or to the rules of that world. There were lots of holes in the plot and setting.

I didn't really enjoy the constant bickering between Xavier and Bethany's best friend, Molly, because it seemed too close to flirting. There was definitely one of those "I hate you, I love you" vibes going on, even though it was never addressed.


Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5

Setting: 3/5

Romance: 3/5

Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 4/5 ( I liked it a LOT before I knew this was the kidnapping scene!)
Writing: 3/5



Bottom Line: I really didn't hate the book but I think with the author's style, she might have been better suited to write a gooey, fluffy, teen romantic comedy instead of a paranormal set in hades.

Waiting on Wednesday (93)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:


"Wrecked"
by Anna Davies
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: May 1, 2012

The following description is from goodreads.com:

Miranda has lived on Whym Island since the death of her parents. She has taken comfort in its seclusion and in the folklore that claims a mysterious sea witch controls the fate of all on the island and its surrounding waters. It's just been easier to believe that things are out of her control.
But when a terrible boating accident takes the lives of several of her friends, Miranda is rescued by a mysterious boy that haunts her dreams. As the guilt of the accident consumes her, she finds refuge in her late night swims. Then, she meets Christian, a boy who seems so familiar, but won't tell her where he is from and why they can only meet at the beach. As Miranda falls for Christian and begins to put the accident behind her, she discovers that there are secrets that Christian is keeping to protect her that may only end up bringing her nothing but harm.
Sounds like a mermaid story to me, so I'm in! What a cover, doesn't look much like YA, does it?

What are you waiting for this week???

Teaser Tuesday (53)

Yay for "Teaser Tuesday" from MizB of Should be Reading!!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:



  • 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 that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My teaser Tuesday pick:




" If Luck were indeed a lady, this evening she was playing devilishly hard to get. "




p 24 ARC of "Too Wicked to Wed" by Cara Elliott

"Ghost Files" Review

"Ghost Files: The Collected Cases from Ghost Hunting and Seeking Spirits"
by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson

Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: Sep 27, 2011 
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

An omnibus edition of GHOST HUNTING and SEEKING SPIRITS, the real-life adventures of the paranormal investigators from Syfy's hit show Ghost Hunters.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this collection of tales from the "Ghost Hunters'" real experiences. This book contains both of their previous non-fiction titles in one volume, so there are a lot of spine-tingling ghost stories to be read!

The stories are told in the same tone of the show, you'll feel like it's a friend sitting down and telling you the stories. This really makes for an enjoyable read. The stories are all very short, only 3-7 pages each, so they're quick, entertaining reads too.

I really liked the stories from the late 90s and early 2000's because they happened before the tv show started, and were all new stories for me. I was also glad to finally read Jason and Grant's personal experiences with the supernatural that got them started with ghost hunting because they never talk about these experiences on the show.

Each of the stories are so intriguing they could each be expanded into a whole book. They range form the super scary-poltergeists, etc; to the strange-ghosts walking through floors; to the sweet-the 1950s teen curious about a new baby.



Bottom Line: A treat for any fan of ghost stories not just the Ghost Hunters tv show.

In My Mailbox (92)



In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.


for review:

"The Best of Me" by Nicholas Sparks


I was very surprised to receive this one for review!

bought:

"The Seduction of Scandal" by Cathy Maxwell


"The Deed" by Lynsay Sands


I didn't realize this was a reprint until I got home, oh well, I didn't have the old one either.

"In Bed with a Highlander" by Maya Banks


I've been seeing this series everywhere and I've really been wanting to try it!

What did you receive in your mailbox this week???

Giveaway: "The September Queen"

Thanks to Gillian Bagwell and Berkley Trade, I have one copy of her new historical novel, "The September Queen" to give away to a lucky reader of In the Hammock! This novel is already getting rave reviews! Check out the summary and leave a comment to enter!

"The September Queen"
 by Gillian Bagwell

Publisher: Berkley Trade
Release Date: Nov 1, 2011 

Summary from goodreads.com:

Jane Lane is of marrying age, but she longs for adventure. She has pushed every potential suitor away-even those who could provide everything for her. Then one day, adventure makes its way to her doorstep, and with it comes mortal danger...
Royalists fighting to restore the crown to King Charles II implore Jane to help. Jane must transport him to safety, disguised as a manservant. As she places herself in harm's way, she finds herself falling in love with the gallant young Charles. And despite his reputation as a breaker of hearts, Jane finds herself surrendering to a passion that will change her life forever.



Visit Gillian online: http://gillianbagwell.com/

Follow Gillian on Twitter


GIVEAWAY RULES:

Gillian and the publisher have generously provided a finished copy of "The September Queen" for one lucky reader of my blog!

All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this post with your email address! Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy


Extra Entries:
+1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
+1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)



Rules:
  • US and Canada only
  • Must be a follower to enter
  • Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
  • Leave a comment with your email address
  • Books will be mailed out by the publisher, In the Hammock is not responsible for lost or missing books, or the amount of time taken to ship the books
  • Must be 18 or over 
  • Ends Mon Nov 14
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!


Free Ebooks for the Weekend! Nov 4

Here are some free ebooks available for Kindle and Nook to keep you busy over the weekend! 

Not all are available for Nook. 

Remember these go fast!

 
"Wild & Steamy" by Meljean Brook, Carolyn Crane, Jill Myles



"The Queen of New Beginnings" by Erica James



"A Measure of Mercy" by Lauraine Snelling



"I Dream of Genies" by Judi Fennell



"Hollowland" by Amanda Hocking



"Songbird Under a German Moon" by Tricia Goyer






Lots of Winners Announced!

Winners Announced!!

I've had three contests end this week on In the Hammock, and here are all the winners!

The winner of my 1300 Followers Giveaway is:




BLHMistress 
 


The winner of the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop, a ARC of Tempest Rising, is



LisaILJ



The winner of the "Song of the Nile" giveaway is:

Paige
Winners were chosen via random.org random number generator. Congrats to the winners!! I have emailed the winners for her/his mailing addresses. Winners have 3 days to respond :) A huge thank you goes out to everyone who entered!! Congrats!!

Please note that the Song of the Nile contest was sponsored by the publisher/publicist, and they are responsible for mailing out the prizes. In the Hammock Blog is not responsible for lost or undelivered books or for the amount of time it takes to deliver the books.

 

"Between the Sea and Sky" Review

"Between the Sea and Sky"
by Jaclyn Dolamore

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: Oct 25, 2011 
Source: ARC sent by publisher

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

My Review:

This book was excellent, it really was so much more than what I thought it would be. I assumed it was yet another YA paranormal set in today's world. But I was so wrong. The author has set up an entire world where mermaids, humans, and winged people all live (somewhat) together. The world is historical in nature, even though I couldn't pinpoint an era, it'd definitely not today's world of cell phones and mean girls.

I loved that the author really thought out the romance. It wasn't the watered down fairy tale where the girl drops everything to be with the boy. Both Esmerine and Alan really respect each other and don't want to tear the other from their home and way of life.

Aside from the Dosinia storyline, which I had figured out pretty quickly, there was nothing else predictable about the story. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen to Esmerine and Alan. I loved that the book was only 250 pages. Because there was no filler to make the book longer, every page was exciting.

The romance was fantastic, even tough I wanted more romance in the beginning. The couple was very guarded at the start, but once they let each other in, their relationship was wonderful. And what better hero could a reader want than a cutie who always has a book tucked into his vest pocket?



Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5

Setting: 5/5

Romance: 5/5

Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5



Bottom Line: This book is perfect for fans of fantasy and romance who are ready for something different from the norm. It's definitely on my keeper shelf.

Waiting on Wednesday (92)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:


"Masque of the Red Death"
by Bethany Griffin
HarperCollins Children's Books
Release Date: Apr 24, 2012

The following description is from goodreads.com:

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.
YA based on a story by Poe? Can't wait!

What are you waiting for this week???