Awesome Release Day Contest 3: Heidi Kling

Happy Release day to Heidi R. Kling! To celebrate the release of Sea, I'm giving away a brand new copy ordered for the winner from the Book Depository so yes, this contest WILL be international.

Book Summary: Still haunted by nightmares of her mother’s death, fifteen-year-old Sienna Jones reluctantly travels to Indonesia with her father’s relief team to help tsunami orphans with their post traumatic stress disorder—something Sienna knows a lot about. Since her mother’s plane went missing over the Indian Ocean three years before, Sienna doesn’t do anything if it involves the ocean or planes, so this trip is a big step forward.

But the last thing she expects is to fall for Deni, a brooding Indonesian boy who lives at the orphanage, and just so happens to be HOT. When Deni hears a rumor that his father may be alive, Sienna doesn’t think twice about running away with him to the epicenter of the disaster. Unfortunately, what they find there could break both their hearts.


To enter, fill out this form but be prepared to tell me: What is your biggest fear? This is relevant to the book, as Sienna is afraid of flying.

This part is US only, but I will choose which answer to the fear question I like the most and they will win some Sea swag!

Contest will end Sunday, June 20 at 6 p.m. CST. International.

Want your chance to win more Sea related stuff on this awesome release day? Make sure to follow Heidi on Twitter and hashtag your posts with #Sealove (The giveaways are on 6/10 but the hashtagging can continue on!)

Awesome Release Day Contest 2: Suzanne Young

Confession Time: Back in Nov/Dec when The Naughty List ARCs first went out, it didn't appeal to me. I think it was the bright pink cover. You guys have seen my blog. I prefer darker colors. Not to mention, I was more narrow in the books I thought I liked to read back then. Chick lit wasn't it.

But then I started seeing more about these books. And my reading selections started widening. And then I did an author chat on my forum and thought holy crap this woman is amazing. Finally, I got my hands on her books and they are so worth it!

So to celebrate the release of the second installment, So Many Boys, I bring you my second contest for the day! I've got signed copies of both The Naughty List and So Many Boys for one lucky winner!

The Naughty List Summary: As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty! Then Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?


To enter, fill out this form and be prepared to answer: What is your favorite clean nonswearing way of swearing?

The person who's nonswearing word I like the best will get some Naughty List swag! The actual book winners will be chosen with random.org.

But there's more. Follow Suzanne on Twitter and get her to 1300 followers by the time this contest closes and I'll throw in another set of books out of my pocket.

This contest is US only and will end Sunday, June 20 at 6 pm CST.

Awesome Release Day Contest 1: Nancy Holder

Happy Release Day to Nancy Holder with The Evil Within- the second book in the Possessions series. I featured Possessions in last week's Summer Recommendations and now you can find out what's in store next for these characters! Not to mention, this cover is amazingly creepy!

Book Summary: In this sequel to New York Times bestselling author Nancy Holder’s Possessions, Lindsay finds out that she, too, is possessed, and must return to creepy Marlwood Academy in order to rid herself of the spirit. Lindsay’s afraid of what the spirit is telling her to do—kill Mandy! But the secrets of Marlwood go much deeper than Lindsay thought. Sometimes the girls who seem like enemies are actually on your side. And the voices you trust the most—the voices that come from within—are the ones that want you dead.

Up for grabs is an ARC of The Evil Within. Since I'm shipping it, this one is US only. Contest will run through Sunday, June 20 at 6 pm CST.

To enter, fill out this form and be prepared to answer: What is your favorite horror movie, book, play, etc that deals with possession?

Book Review: The Girl Next Door by Selene Castrovilla

SUMMARY:

While most seniors at her high school are worrying about prom and final exams, seventeen-year-old Sam is desperately trying to save her best friend Jesse's life. He has a rare, treatment-resistant form of cancer, and his odds of survival aren't good, and he may have only ten months left to live. Through every bit of his pain and anguish, Sam has been by his side--through the grueling, aggressive treatments and their awful aftermath, to sleeping in his room at night when he's afraid to be alone. Best friends and neighbors since preschool, Jesse and Sam's friendship is changing--now they're falling in love, and the bond between them grows stronger even as Jesse is weakens. Will they have a happy ending...or will their story end in heartbreak?


OPINION: 5 STARS

A tale of love and loss, pain and healing, The Girl Next Door is an arresting read that carries its own black cloud. Launching right into the pain aspect of the story, the book opens after Jesse’s cancer has ravaged his body. Enduring another round of chemo, Sam wakes up to hear him throwing up- again. The situation set up in this book is highly distinctive, as Sam stays with Jesse every night despite his mother’s disapproval to ensure Jesse doesn’t die alone.

Sam’s character changes dramatically throughout the book. Coming off initially strong, her fears and weaknesses are exposed as the story progresses. Flashbacks to the kids she and Jesse used to be are also prevalent, bringing to light how much has changed on account of Jesse’s rapid digression. Sam is a highly flawed character but also holds plenty of strength and an empowering strength that is refreshing and memorable. Her story is painful but endearing, her character empathetic and struggling.

Jesse is as radically shifted as Sam, a host of different personalities mixed within one boy and his daily state of health helps determine how weak or strong he is. Struggling with knowing he has just months to live and not even eighteen yet, seeing Jesse through Sam’s eyes is a very rough part of this book to stomach. She loves him as the boy who lived next door all her life- her best friend and confidant. But as they spend more time together, the love she’s held for him as more than friend is slowly returned, taking the entire situation to a new level. Jesse’s character comes out strongly, showing just how intensely he can love but his desire to live is tarnished by the near constant pain he lives with.

Jesse’s prognosis is not good and no matter how great things seem to be going, the weight of the cancer is always present. Throughout the book, the reader will be wondering if Jesse will be that 4% to survive although no one has yet survived his particular kind of cancer. With everything stacked against him, Jesse still fights even when it seems hopeless. Though this is a tale of first love, there is no promise of a happy ending. As things progress, Sam’s own mental state and ability to handle the situation is brought into question, casting a dramatic and heartbreaking light on an already dark tale.

A small but well developed cast of characters, a brave but heartrending set up, and lithe writing make The Girl Next Door an emotional but striking read. Intermixing several elements, there is a beautiful mix of life and death, happiness and pain throughout the book. Teenage love and lust play a large part in this book but it is cast in a different light given the seemingly hopeless scenario. The related situations are handled maturely and fluidly, adding to the story overall. Decisions and actions that would be deemed objectionable in a different situation take on a new form and the entire plot plays out in a surprising, stunning manner.

The final outcome is written exceptionally well, the entire story and last words reverberating for days after the book is put aside. The way Jesse’s condition affects not only him but those around him is portrayed, as is both his and Sam’s fight and desperation. This is a very moving and emotional read and a beautiful example of how one diagnosis can tear a world apart.

Details:
Source: ARC received for review from publisher free of charge
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Westside Books (June 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 193481315X
ISBN-13: 978-1934813157

Author's Website

Excerpt

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick is A Good Boy Is Hard to Find by Suzanne Young, set to hit shelves November 25 from Razorbill.

I won't do a summary since I don't want to spoil anything from the first two, but this is the perfect fit this week since book 2 in this series, So Many Boys, comes out tomorrow! And since I've had the privilege of reading it already, it's time I moved on to yearning for book 3! Suffice it to say, Young has left us with a lot to think about after book 2 and some characters who have a few things to set right. Will they do it in book 3? We'll find out! (In November).

I loved the first two books, from the great story line to the strong characters. The writing brings a strong voice and there are plenty of little quirks to appreciate. Things can really only get better from here I think. Not to mention, I love how the first book was bright pink, the second blue, and this one a nice purple. They fit together nicely on the shelf and the looking through the window thing fits the overall premise fantastically too. Thus, tomorrow you should buy So Many Boys and join in me waiting for A Good Boy Is Hard To Find.

Winners!

I've consulted with my friends for the Linger winner and gotten friendly again with random.org for my Leaves and Amy & Roger contests and have winners!

Michael Baron's Leaves
Karen

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour + $10 Starbucks Gift Card
Dakota

Linger ARC:
Madeleine with the very awesome entry of "Autumn's Beautiful Curse"


Thank you to everyone who entered these contests! The Linger one was especially hard- I had some awesome entries and we even had a tie we had to break before we got the winner.

Stay tuned for another contest coming this week, and more coming up in coming weeks! There's also still two going on right now.

All 3 of you will be emailed- you have 48 hours from when the email is sent to reply or I will do new winners.