Rogue Blog Tour and Giveaway

Hello gorgeous people!  I'm so excited to be part of the tour for Rogue, the last book in the Croak trilogy!  Here is the post from the fabulous Gina Damico:

Hey hey Croak fans! Welcome to my blog tour / photo hunt / Roguestravaganza! 

From now until ROGUE's release on September 10th, each stop on the tour will reveal an image that represents a chapter in the book - could refer to setting, plot, an important object, mood, or whatever other diabolical visualizations with which I feel like tormenting my dear readers. Each image also contains a hidden letter...though really, they're not that well hidden. (If you have eyes, you should be able to spot them.) 

Collect the letters every day, and at the end of the tour I'll hold a contest, the winner of which will receive signed and annotated copies of the complete trilogy. (For a complete description of the contest, tour schedule, and links to the stops you might have missed, check out the blog tour page on my website.)

This photo is for Chapter 14. I will let the image do the talking.

Thanks for having me! Good luck everyone!

About the Book

Teenage Grim Reaper Lex’s power to Damn souls is getting out of control. She's a fugitive, on the run from the maniacal new mayor of Croak and the townspeople who want to see her pay the price for her misdeeds. Uncle Mort rounds up the Junior Grims to flee Croak once again, but this time they're joined by Grotton, the most powerful Grim of all time. Their new mission is clear: fix his mistakes, or the Afterlife will cease to exist, along with all the souls in it.
The gang heads for Necropolis, the labyrinth-like capital city of the Grimsphere. There, they discover that the Grimsphere needs a reboot. To do that, the portals to the Afterlife must be destroyed...but even that may not be enough to fix the damage. Things go from bad to worse, and when at last the fate of the Afterlife and all the souls of the Damned hang in the balance, it falls to Lex and her friends to make one final, impossible choice.

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Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

IndieBound

About the Author

I grew up under four feet of snow in Syracuse, New York. I received a degree in theater and sociology from Boston College, where I was active with the Committee for Creative Enactments, a murder mystery improv comedy troupe that may or may not have sparked my interest in wildly improbably bloodshed. I have since worked as a tour guide, transcriptionist, theater house manager, scenic artist, movie extra, office troll, retail monkey, yarn hawker, and breadmonger. I live in Boston with my husband, two cats, and a closet full of black hoodies.

Giveaway

The author is hosting a giveaway for the following prize pack:  3 signed bookmarks, 3 signed bookplates, 3 magnets, and a scythe pendant.  Enter in the Rafflecopter below and good luck! The contest is International.
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Top Ten Books to Get in the Halloween Spirit

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

I really don't like horror movies or books, but here are some great books /series to get you in the mood for Halloween:

1.   The Mostrumologist by Rick Yancey - I am right now listening to The Isle of Blood, book #3 of this series, and just like wine, these books get better and better with time.  The writing is just amazing, but be warned that it is not for the weak of heart. 

2.   Rot & Ruin (Benny Imura) by Jonathan Maberry - This is a series about zombies and it is SO good.  Not for younger readers, but it's still an amazing series. 

3.   Croak by Gina Damico - This series is both creepy and funny.  

4.   Soul Screamer series by Rachel Vincent - Banshees, reapers, demons, and all sort of supernatural beings can be found in this series, another awesome reading experience. 

5.   Clarity by Kim Harrington - If you like mystery, but monsters are not for you, give this series a try.  It does have a paranormal take, but it is more about the mystery than anything else. 

6.   Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann - Creepy and fascinating... loved this one.

7.   Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong - Necromancers, werewolves, witches and warlocks, this series has it all AND mad scientists as well.  Really good series, and the predecessors of Armstrong's Darkest Rising (The Gatherint) series. 

8.   Soulless by Gail Carriger - This is an amazing book!  I'm sad to say that I haven't been able to pick up the rest of the series yet, but I absolutely loved this one.  It has mad scientists too, and werewolves and vampires too. 

9.   Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce - A dark re-telling of the Red Riding Hood series.

10. Southern Vampires (Sookie Stackhouse) series by Charlaine Harris - If you follow HBO's True Blood, they you should pick up these books.  They are different (and in my opinion) better than the series, the last book (#13) will be published next May. 

Others to consider Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris, Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. 

What is in your top ten books for Halloween? 

Stacking the Shelves #21

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which we feature all the book goodness that we received, borrowed or purchased during the previous week. All links are to Goodreads.

Sorry I'm late with this post, but I was so busy yesterday and it was an awesome day.  Why? You might ask... 'A' turned 17!  I can't believe that he is 17 already, of course that doesn't mean that I'm getting any older :) 

Purchased (Physical Books) 

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann - I'm a big fan of Lisa McMann's books, I need to read this book. 

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson - I've heard wonderful things about this book, can't wait to read it :)

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan - One of my favorite books is Dash & Lily's Book of Dares which is written by the same authors (besides I love David Levithan!).  Have you seen the movie?  (I haven't).

Purchased for Kindle 

Reckoning by Molly M. Hall - Not sure how I found this book, but it sounds dark and interesting. Oh, and the cover is beautiful. 

For Review

Castles on the Sand by E. M. Tippetts - I was approached by the author to review this book, rounds really good too :)

Stolen Nights by Rebecca Maizel - I was dying to get this book!!!! I really loved Infinite Days, the first book in the series that was out in 2010.  Two years is a long time to wait for a sequel.  Already started this one!

Of Light & Darkness, The Vampire's Daughter by Shayne Leighton - This cover is a bit creepy, but I'm intrigued with the concept of a vampire raising a human child.

Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt - This cover is so pretty and it sounds amazing too. 

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin, Decadent Publishing and NetGalley for these lovelies!

Swag 

I got these signed bookmarks and two magnets for the Croak series by author Gina Damico last week too!

What is stacking your shelves this week?  Have you read any of these books?

Stacking the Shelves #19

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which we feature all the book goodness that we received, borrowed or purchased during the previous week. All links are to Goodreads.

Purchased (Physical Books)

Croak and Scorch by Gina Damico - Ms. Damico stopped by Ellicot's City Barnes & Noble and left some autographed copies on her wake. I picked both! I already read Croak (from the library) and loved it. 

Silver by Talia Vance - Lovely cover, right?

Purchased for Kindle

Reflection by Jessica Roberts - Another amazing cover.  This book looks really good and have great reviews in Goodreads.

Library

The Blessed by Tonya Hurley - I don't know what is it about this cover that I find creepily-beautiful. 

Wake by Amanda Hocking - Need I say more?

For Review

Undeadly by Michelle Vail - Thank you to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for this one.  It looks really good :)

What is stacking your shelves this week?  Have you read any of these?  

Please see all the amazing giveaways at the right of the blog and enter!

Awesome News! Calling All DC, MD and VA Readers / Bloggers, Oh! and Giveaway

About two weeks ago the fabulous Gina Damico, author of Croak (see my review here) and Scorch (published today!), posted this on her blog. 

 It was a call for places to stop to for book signing on her tour.  I filled out the form and guess what?  She is coming to the DC/Maryland area!  See proof below:

She also send me a personal email to let me know that my location was selected. Isn’t that great?  There are no specific details yet about the location or time yet, but I’ll keep checking Twitter and let you know as soon as I hear something :) Or better yet, you can follow her on Twitter here.

Please hear my plea! Help me spread the word about the book signing.  If you are from the Maryland, Virginia, DC area I would love you to consider being there.  To give you an incentive to spread the word I am hosting a giveaway of both of Ms. Damico’s books.  Yes, it’s an Interational giveaway, as long as TBD delivers to you. 

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Thank you for your help and good luck!

Feature and Follow Friday

Feature and Follow Friday is an awesome blog-hop hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

This week's features are Carmen @ Book Me! and Amber I. and Amber R. @AwesomeSauce Book Club this week's question is:

Worst cover? What is the worst cover of a book that you've read and loved?

These are some of the covers that come to mind.  I love every single of these books, but the covers didn't reflect how good they really are. 

What are some of the worst covers for you? 

Waiting on Wednesday: Scorch by Gina Damico (Croak #2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for.

Title: Scorch by Gina Damico

Published by: Houghton Miffin Hartcourt

Release date: September 25, 2012

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby is a teenage grim reaper with the bizarre ability to damn souls. That makes her pretty scary, even to fellow Grims. But after inadvertently transferring her ability to Zara, a murderous outlaw, Lex is a pariah in Croak, the little town she calls home. To escape the townspeople’s wrath, she and her friends embark on a wild road trip to DeMyse. Though this sparkling desert oasis is full of luxuries and amusements, it feels like a prison to Lex. Her best chance at escape would be to stop Zara once and for all—but how can she do that from DeMyse, where the Grims seem mysteriously oblivious to Zara’s killing spree?

Why I want to read it:  I just finished Croak and I loved it! I can't wait for book #2!  If you haven't read book #1 I highly recommended, it is an awesome paranormal read :)

There is still one giveaway open and you can enter to win a copy of City of Lost Souls here (international).  Good luck!

Review: Croak by Gina Damico (Croak #1)

Title: Croak by Gina Damico

Published: March 20^th, 2012 by Houghton Miffin Hartcourt

Source: Library

Format: Paperback

Challenge(s): Debut Author, Support Local Library

Grade rate: A

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.
He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.
Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her Targets like a natural born Killer.
Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to Kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die—that is, people who aren’t supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent—Lex’s curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage—or will she ditch Croak and join in?

My Review

Amazing! Croak was SO awesome.  Do you want to know how awesome?  Let me count the ways:

Great characters: Lex is hilarious, pragmatic, confident (most of the time), brave and loyal. I fell instantly in love with Driggs, he was also funny, handsome, and loyal.  All the ‘juniors’, Lex’s family, especially uncle Mort; and all the people of Croak are amazing!  These characters become alive within the pages of the book.

Great story:  The story is so original and unlike anything I’ve read before.  The plot is wonderful, including enough background information that you understand what is going on and with many twists and turns, although I have to confess that I had my suspicions on who the ‘bad guy’ was.  Yes, the story is a little creepy, but just enough to keep it interesting.

Great writing: Ms. Damico is hilarious!  She writes an amazing story that is performed by amazing characters.  The pace of the story was great too, with enough action to keep me on the edge of my seat.

The ending was a big surprise to me and somewhat painful to read, but that is just a testament to the great writing.  I cannot wait for Scorch, the sequel, due to be published in September of this year.

About the cover:  I have to say that if I didn’t read the synopsis of Croak, I would have never picked it up. Even hubby and ‘A’were a bit surprised when they saw me reading it.  The cover is silver metallic (reflective even) and is just bizarre and creepy (and Lex looks like a guy too!)