Silver-White Book Blast

Silver-White by Shawn Underhill



“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

~ Robert Frost



*Evie’s family has been holding out on her …

Big time.

On an unexpected visit to her grandparents’ house in New Hampshire’s secluded North Woods, the sixteen-year-old literally runs into the truth of the long-hidden family secrets, and finds herself thrust without warning into the clandestine world of the Great North Pack—a wild and exhilarating world of rugged beauty, heart-pounding adventures, and long nights running under a sea of stars … but as she’s set to discover, a world also fraught with potential dangers lurking in the shadows.


Praise

 "Simply put, this book was amazing. I've read more fantasy novels than than I can count, but this one is certainly one of the best. The heroine isn't some wishy-washy pansy that screams at everything, and the focus of the story isn't on some unbelievably beautiful teenage girl who suddenly becomes the biggest, baddest member of her species falling in love with some big, bad, sexy member of her newfound species. It's about a girl becoming something she never knew existed, finding her place within the pack family she values more than ever before, and an age-old feud that threatens everything she loves." ~Morgan

Purchase ~ just .99 cents

Amazon Kindle

Author Shawn Underhill

Shawn is a part-time writer from New Hampshire, where he spends his free time hiking in the mountains, camping, racing dirt bikes, or anything else that keeps him outdoors. Dogs are his very favorite people. He is also the author of the novel All Things Different.

Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

BookBlast $100 Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/13/13


Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



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Special Edition Black & White Cover Reveal + Guest Post!

I'm very happy to be a part of the Blog Tour for the special edition cover reveal for Karen Schreck's novel, While He Was Away!  Take a look below, everyone!

One year--he'll be gone for one year and then we'll be together again and everything will be back to the way it shoulder be.

The day David left, I felt like my heart was breaking. Sure, any long-distance relationship is tough, but David was going to war--to fight, to protect, to put his life in danger. We can get through this, though. We'll talk, we'll email, we won't let anything come between us. 

I can be an army girlfriend for one year. But will my sweet, soulful, funny David be the same person when he comes home? Will I? And what if he doesn't come home at all?

And now, I give you a guest post from author Karen Schreck on how to find inspiration!

***

How Inspiration Can Come From Anywhere:

Even a Trip to the Grocery Store and a Handful of Long-Lost Photographs

By Karen Schreck

  

I sometimes wonder what my mother would say if she knew that her story—one of the saddest, sweetest love stories I’ve ever heard—was retold in a new way in my young adult novel, While He Was Away.

Now Sourcebooks Fire is sharing the story yet again, in a second, exclusive edition, released nation-wide at Walmart.  The fact that Sourcebooks believed enough in While He Was Away to bring it to life the first time felt like a much-needed confirmation of years of hard work.  The fact that they are standing behind my book again in this way . . . well, it feels like a miracle.  I’m truly grateful.

I wonder what my mother would say to this incredible news? I like to think she would be grateful too.  I like to think she would be happy.  She wanted her story heard after all.  So much so that it was one of the last things she told me, just before she died.

One rainy night when I was fourteen, right before cancer left her to ill to talk, let alone drive a car, my mother said, “Come with me.  We’re going shopping.”  We drove to the little local market and wandered up and down the aisles, as she threw in a can of tuna, some dishwashing soap, and other little things we didn’t need.  We paid for these little things.  She looked anxious and tired, still she hadn’t said a thing; we hadn’t spoken a word.

It was only when we were parked in our driveway again that my mother said, “I was married once before when I was very young.  He died a hero in WWII.”

And that was that.  Soon after, she died.

I thought about my mother’s mysterious love story for many years.  I talked to relatives, found long-lost photographs.  The story took seed in me.  It flowered into a novel about a young women whose boyfriend leaves for the Iraq War.  In her loneliness, she seeks out a grandmother she’s never met, whose first husband died in WWII.  She seeks out a character inspired by mother.

A late night drive, a few words spoken in the dark.  Even things as simple as this can inspire a novel.

Stacking the Shelves (13): Touch of Ever Rose

We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking the Shelves, created and hosted at Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks!



Won:

Everbound by Brodi Ashton (from Courtney at Fuzzy. Coffee. Books.)

I won Courtney's Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway, and this is my first of TWELVE books, yowza!  Thank you, Courtney! :)

Bought:

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder (Finally have the first of her new fantasy series!)

Dragon Rose by Christine Pope (Can't wait to read this spin on Beauty and the Beast!)
Thanks to my beau's Amazon Prime account, these arrived quite quickly!

What did you stack on your shelves this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Awaken

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's "Waiting On" Wednesday selection is:

Awaken (Abandon #3)

By Meg Cabot

Publish date: May 7th by Point

From Goodreads~

Death has her in his clutches.  She doesn't want him to let go.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she'd be forced to live forever in the one place she's always dreaded most: the Underworld.  The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant she could be with the boy she loves. 

But now her happiness—and safety—are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: He revived a human soul.

If the balance between life and death isn't fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce's home back on earth will be wiped away.  But there's only one way to restore order.  Someone has to die.  

Why am I waiting on this one?  It's been an amazing ride with Pierce and John, and I aim to see it through to the end... *gulps* even if that end means someone's death.  I'll be sad to see the story end, but I MUST know what happens.  May can't get here soon enough!

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Stacking the Shelves (12): 2008 Movie Tie-In

We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking the Shelves, created and hosted at Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks!



Bought:

Krabat by Otfried Preußler, Anthea Bell (translator)

Everyone, I'm so excited to finally get a copy of the book!  The movie was fascinating, so I'm hoping the book will be very promising, too.  Take a look at the trailer below to see what I mean. ^_^

(Obtained from meininki's YouTube page.)

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Winner!

And the winner is...

Carrie L!

The winner has been confirmed.  Thank you all for participating!

Top Ten Tuesday: 2013 Debuts I’m Looking Forward To

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new Top Ten list will be posted by one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. Everyone is welcome to join, just make sure to link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so everyone can check out other blogger lists. Have fun!

Top Ten (Or Seven) 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To

(Goes to show I need to pay more attention to debuts!)

1) Splintered by A.G. Howard - I haven't seen much in regards to Alice in Wonderland as far as reboots, but this one sounds like a great story!

2) Prophecy by Ellen Oh - So many people have enjoyed this one, plus it's based on Korean mythology.

3) Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black - This sounds like a spooky story filled with intrigue and dancing.

4) Ink by Amanda Sun - Japanese setting and the idea of inked drawings coming to life make this a must-read on my list. 

5) The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd - I remember reading The Island of Dr. Moreau and the twist involved, so I'm very curious to see what Shepherd has in store for Moreau's daughter. 

6) Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield - Songs from chantresses bring magic into the world? What a wonderful idea!

7) Solstice by P.J. Hoover - I cannot wait to read this lovely Texas author's story revolving around gods and monsters and a secret kept from the heroine.

Looking forward to seeing all the debuts on everyone's lists!

Stacking the Shelves (11)

We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking the Shelves, created and hosted at Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks!

Bought:

Celtic Snowflake Book
I commissioned this book from an artist on Deviant Art after seeing the original she created for her parents. It was just too beautiful and i just love snowflakes. I can't wait to bring it to the next book event!

Gifted:

The Last Unicorn Deluxe Graphic Novel by Peter S. Beagle & Renae DeLiz (Signed thanks to my Dad & Mom!)

Defiance by C.J. Redwine (Thanks to Beth, my awesome former roomie!)

Signed:

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A small stack but one filled with lots of care!  What did you receive this week? ^_^

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Goals for 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new Top Ten list will be posted by one of the bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. Everyone is welcome to join, just make sure to link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so everyone can check out other blogger lists. Have fun!

Top Ten (Okay Seven) Bookish Goals for 2013

1) Read 75 books (a feat I hope to surpass, but will accept achieving).
2) Read 10 books from my shelves before purchasing anything new.
3) Read more urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels (particularly those on my shelves).
4) Finish 3 series that I have already started (which should be doable since final novels for several are being released this year).
5) Start 3 new-to-me series (also doable since I have several on my shelves).
6) Read 1-3 nonfiction books that aren't graphic novels (yes, Dewey classifies GNs as nonfic).
7) Read A Discovery of Witches (I've let it intimidate me too long!)

Here's hoping I can achieve most of them in 2013!

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop!

It's that time of year again!  Time for clearing off the bookshelves to make way for the new books in the coming year.  This month for my readers, I have THREE books to give ONE lucky winner.  Why three books?  Well, because it's a trilogy, that's why!

Up for grabs is Maria V. Snyder's Glass Trilogy!

1 paperback copy of Storm Glass

1 paperback copy of Sea Glass

1 paperback copy of Spy Glass

Just fill in the Rafflecopter form below to enter, easy as pie!

Rules:

- Must be 13 or older to enter
- Open to US residents only
- Winner will be contacted January 11th and must confirm win within 72 hours

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Good luck everyone!

Remember to check out all the other participating blogs!

2013 Resolutions Bookish and Non-Bookish

It's always nice to start out the year with some goals in mind.  But first we must reflect on the previous year at hand.  One of my personal goals was to become more involved in the blogging community, and I believe I managed to do that on a local scale.  With all of the amazing bloggers in town, I always look forward to bookish events going on around the city.  

Reading challenge-wise, I wanted to read 10 books for the 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge.

I only managed to read 9 books on my 2012 TBR pile, but I still count that as a victory.  Here's what I read for this challenge:

- Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

- The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

- Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

- The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegan

- Anew by Chelsea Fine

- Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

- A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang

- Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

- Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

***

Originally, I had planned to read 10 YA Mythology books for the 2012 YA Mythology Challenge.

I managed to read 5 books for this challenge, and I think it was due to being burned out on Greek mythology.  Still, I have quite a few more on my shelves so I'll have time to read more this year.  Here's what I read for this challenge:

- Everneath by Brodi Ashton

- Underworld by Meg Cabot

- Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

- Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

- Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

***

On the bright side, I met my Goodreads 2012 Challenge by reading 55 books in 2012, 5 more than my projected amount of 50 books.  I know I'd said I didn't want to count graphic novels, but I love them so much!  And there were quite a few good series that I found and just had to read.  

***

For the new year, I plan to read 75 books for the Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge and I won't exclude any type of book whether it's a novel, graphic novel, or a picture book.  Books are meant to be enjoyed after all.  And because I plan on focusing on growing as a librarian, I won't participate in other reading challenges for 2013.  

This year my resolutions are to:

1) Attend TLA conference and gain as much insight from panels hosted by my colleagues.  

2) Give my library assistants opportunities that will help them grow as professionals.

3) Help my library become more active in the community through volunteering our time.

4) Spread more word about Texas authors, especially those in my city.

5) Start and stick with a proper exercise regiment with my trainer (my beau).

6) Write every day even if it's just a couple of sentences.

I hope all of these will be possible to achieve this year, and I look forward to seeing more of my bookish friends at future events held in 2013.  Good luck this year, everyone! ^_^

What are your New Year's Resolutions for 2013?