Twitter & Facebook Hop #6

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Parajunkee

socialhop Twitter & Facebook Hop #6

Welcome to the Twitter & Facebook Hop on Parajunkee’s View.

Today we are linking up our Facebook Fan Pages & our Twitter accounts so we can earn more followers and likes. Social networks are an integral way to get more exposure for your blog, so click away!

Rules To Participate

    1. As a courtesy please follow & like your host — me Parajunkee!
    2. When you follow or like someone @ them and let them know so they can follow back
    3. Be nice about it! Don’t just send the same message over and over again!
    4. Leave a comment and tell me if this meme is a keeper.
    5. As a courtesy if someone follows you be sure to follow back.
    6. You can use the icon above for your Facebook fan page. This is a place people can commend and Like so you know to follow back.
    7. Have fun!

********** Please Remember *********

  1. This is for Facebook FAN pages – not your friend account
  2. This is also not for your Blogs – if you want to add your blog – please join the #FF Hop

TWITTER Twitter & Facebook Hop #6

FACEBOOK Twitter & Facebook Hop #6

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Feature & Follow #81

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Parajunkee

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools — keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.
Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Hop, FF, Meme | 34 Comments

Book Blogging 101: Name Thieves and Proper Planning

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Parajunkee

bb101 Book Blogging 101: Name Thieves and Proper Planning

Welcome to Book Blogging 101, a weekly feature on Parajunkee’s View that answers your questions and strives to share great book blogging tips and some helpful hints to help you on your way.

Someone has my blog name. !!??!! – Semi Anonymous

The name game.

Changed my Book Blogging 101 post topic again today in light of things that came up on Twitter – Again! I shouldn’t plan these anymore. Just troll the twitter halls for tawdry topics.

So, what came up you might ask? The fact that the names of our blogs are not as sacred as we might think. You see, with just an additional THE or a dropped AND for an “&” and your blog name can be modified and used. It might not even be on purpose, it might be purely accidental and that unwary name thief just didn’t do the right research…

Let me tell you a story.

woman checking computer Book Blogging 101: Name Thieves and Proper Planning It is Monday morning and with your coffee and croissant by your side you decide it’s been a month, time to Google yourself yet again. You are a logical person and you know your online presence is a big deal. Maintaining knowledge of what is on the internet about you is an even bigger chore than crafting your blog posts. With a few clicks of your mouse you scroll through the pages and your mouth drops open.

What is this? Click. Click.

This is my blog? Same name though…what?? What!!??

Are you the type of blogger that Google’s yourself? You should. You need to be aware of what is out there about you. There might be an author that quoted your review. Or another blog that wrote a rant that included your post…it’s nice to find these things out for yourself. Or, as the story went earlier, if there is another blog out there that has your name. Yet, if you do come across this — like let’s say a Parajunkie or even so far as a Parajunkee’s Take on Books — it can be done — what do you do??

Freak? Get mad? Ignore it? Unfortunately there is nothing much you can do, unless of course you’ve trademarked your name. You could write a letter asking them to cease and desist. They could still continue on, though. As we have found with piracy laws, the internet is full of copy cats and digital thieves. If you put it on the internet there are people that are just waiting to scoop it up. So, let’s try to play on the logical sensibilities of the start-up blogs to not be the unwary name thief, because accidentally or on purpose name grabbing can have some dire consequences:

  1. The established blog feels like they’ve had their name stolen. The obvious problem right? But being an established blog means the have A LOT more contacts than your few followers. They’ve been around longer, experience, friends, followers, etc. — their call-to-action about a blog stealing their name will be seen and heard by a lot more people than your defense post.
  2. The start-up blog looks unoriginal and copy-cat-esque. Do you really want to be the copy-cat? Go for trend setter, not lame rip-off.
  3. Readers get confused and are not able to distinguish bloggers. (There are so many bloggers out there, if you are like me and follow hundreds of blogs, how do you know what blogger you are chatting up on twitter or even reading — when they are all named the same??)

The person that will be hurt the worst will be the start-up…and all because that wanna-be blogger didn’t do their homework.

Unless you are purposefully trying to siphon off an established blogger’s street cred, you might want to cross your t’s and dot your eyes before you register that .blogspot or wordpress or you might find yourself ostracized before you even get started.

It’s called Planning –

A little bit of research.

Google is your friend – get on Google and search the name that you want to roll out. My suggestion is to have a few names lined up, because you might go through them quickly, depending on their originality.

Five is a good number.

Original names are even better.

Slide1 180x300 Book Blogging 101: Name Thieves and Proper Planning Come up with your potential names and then start plugging them into Google. If you purposefully misspell something, make sure that you Google the right spelling.
Just because you are wittily calling yourself The Hawt Book Blogger doesn’t mean The Hot Book Blogger won’t be offended.

Google and Google and Google. Check twitter to see if the name is used, check Facebook to see if they have a page. Then jump on Blogger or WordPress and see if the URL is available. Even jump on GoDaddy and check if a .com is available because you might want to buy it at some point – it’s only ten bucks a great investment.

If you have to add a THE or a YA or a JA or a WHATEVER — then someone is using the original .com — find the original dot com. Are they still in operation, active and happy? Then don’t use that name!! It’s just a name. Pick a new one. You might think it is witty and original – but it’s not because someone already came up with the idea.

After all this research, hopefully you have nailed down your name and have a good plan to get it implemented.

Originality is key people. You don’t want to be just another Book Addict, right? My friend Patti found out this the hard way –

She was Book Addict Patti and who knows if she came first, but on Google you’ll find the Book Addict, then you’ll find The True Book Addict, further down there will be the Book Addicts (two of them), then there is Confessions of a Book Addict, which adds originality but is overshadowed by thebookaddict.net, Mrs. Book Addict, Mr. Book Addict, Me the Book Addict and then a slew of other female names followed by Book Addict. Ashley the Book Addict, Angelle the Book Addict the list goes on and on and on and on and on.
Some of these bloggers are friends of mine – but I’ll tell them straight, they might have done research before taking that blogger plunge. The problem is most bloggers just start it on the fly. If you haven’t done that yet, or are just starting – there is still time. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Be original.

Your name is your name is your name. Call yourself something else…it has meaning but only if it sets you apart.

 

O, be some other name!
What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

What started this??
The Established Blog #1
The start-up <– Updated Name and everything is happy!
The Established Blog #2
The I’m not sure what is to come

XO – Happy Thursday, Talk Less, Read More.

I can’t get to all the questions, but please ask your BB101 Questions here…bring it on.

Posted in BB101, Book Blogging 101, Feature | Tagged , , | 47 Comments

In Production: Book to Movies 2012

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Parajunkee

banner In Production: Book to Movies 2012

Book to Movies 2012

We all know about The Hunger Games and Breaking Dawn Part II as a part of the Books to Movies in 2012, but there are a few more on the list that you might not be aware of their up coming releases. In no particular order…these are US release dates.

Synopsis & Links taken from IMDb

womanblack In Production: Book to Movies 2012The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

Synopsis: A young lawyer travels to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)
Extras: Watch the trailer for The Woman in Black
Releases: Feb. 3

Extra freaky and this one is going to be my test if I can see Radcliffe as anything but Harry Potter for the rest of his career. I still see Erkle –

oneformoney In Production: Book to Movies 2012One For the Money by Janet Evanovich

Synopsis: Unemployed and newly-divorced Stephanie Plum lands a job at her cousin’s bail-bond business, where her first assignment puts her on the trail of a wanted local cop from her romantic past.

Starring: Katherine Heigl (Roswell, Grey’s Anatomy) Jason O’Mara (Terra Nova)

Extras: Watch the trailer for One For the Money

Releases: Jan. 27, 2012

Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum makes it to the big screen in January with the movie rendition of ‘One for the Money’.

This is probably the one non-para/scifi/fantasy book to movie that I’m looking forward to – because the early Plum novels were some of my faves.

johncarter In Production: Book to Movies 2012John Carter (John Carter on Mars) by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Synopsis: Transplanted to Mars, a Civil War vet discovers a lush planet inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter a princess who is in desperate need of a savior.

Starring: Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights)

Extras: Watch the trailer for John Carter.

Releases: March 9, 2012

I’ve never read the Barsoom series by Burroughs, but there is no denying the man was a genius. He authored other books you might recall like, ‘The Land That Time Forgot’ and ‘Tarzan’ among others.

thelorax In Production: Book to Movies 2012The Lorax by Dr. Suess

Synopsis: A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

Starring: Danny DeVito plays the iconic title character of the Lorax, with Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White and Ed Helms

Extras: Check out the Lorax trailer here

Releases: March 2, 2012

By the same people that produced Despicable Me, this is one of my favorite Dr. Suess tales, so I will definitely be bringing the four year old to see this one.

thevow In Production: Book to Movies 2012The Vow by Kim and Krickett Carpenter

Synopsis:A car accident puts Paige (McAdams) in a coma, and when she wakes up with severe memory loss, her husband Leo (Tatum) works to win her heart again.

Starring: Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum

Extras: Watch The Vow trailer

Releases: Feb. 14

THG In Production: Book to Movies 2012The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Synopsis: Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister’s place for the latest match.

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence ( X-Men: First Class), Liam Hemsworth ( The Last Song ), Josh Hutcherson ( Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant )

Extras: Watch the trailer for The Hunger Games

Releases: March 23, 2012

We are trying to purchase enough tickets to reserve the whole theater for this one. Nuff said.

lucky In Production: Book to Movies 2012The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Synopsis: A Marine travels to North Carolina after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war.

Starring: Zac Efron Taylor Schilling

Extras: Watch the trailer for The Lucky One

Releases: April 20, 2012

I will go to this one just for the sake of seeing Zac Efron with his shirt off — even if it does make me feel like a dirty old woman. He is looking rather mature now…

Screen shot 2012 01 22 at 10.45.17 PM In Production: Book to Movies 2012Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Synopsis: President Lincoln’s mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.

Starring: Benjamin Walker (The War Boys), Mary Elizabeth Winstead ( Smashed ),

Extras: View photos on set

Releases: June 22, 2012

Filmed in New Orleans, so this one is close to my heart — Seems, Grahame-Smith’s unique twisting history seems to be taking hold, because his other novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is scheduled to hit the big screen in 2013.

dorothy 197x300 In Production: Book to Movies 2012Dorothy of Oz by Roger S. Baum

Synopsis: Back in Kansas, Dorothy Gale decides to return to Oz in order to help her friends.

Starring: Lea Michele (Glee), Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Gen)

Extras: View photos on set

Releases: 3 August 2012

Directors: Will Finn, Dan St. Pierre

The great-grandson of the original OZ creator, Roger S. Baum wrote this addition to the world of Oz and it is now being crafted into an animation wonderland. With heavy hitters, like Lea Michelle (Glee) as Dorothy and Dan Akroyd, Jim Belushi, Kelsey Grammer and Martin Short this one is sure to be a must see.

zombie In Production: Book to Movies 2012Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Synopsis: After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.

Starring: Teresa Palmer, Nicholas Hoult

Releases:

The Wettest County (The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant)

Synopsis: Set in the Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by authorities who want a cut of their profits.

Starring: Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Shia LaBeouf

Releases: August 31, 2012

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Synopsis: Six stories set in a different time and place become intricately related to each other.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry

Releases: 19 October 2012

break In Production: Book to Movies 2012The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer)

Synopsis: In the final book in the Twilight series, Edward and Bella get married, consummate their relationship, and then deal with the consequences (to say the least). The 2012 release will portray the second half of the book, with Bella as a vampire as they raise their newborn hybrid vampire child.

Starring:Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Mackenzie Foy
Releases: Nov. 16, 2012

Finally we get to the real action!

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Synopsis: An adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel set in 19th-century France, in which a paroled prisoner named Jean Valjean seeks redemption.

Starring: Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Hugh Jackman as Valjean and Anne Hathaway as Fantine, oh and Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert – and wait for it Sacha Baron Cohen…

Releases: Dec. 7 2012Because we haven’t done this one enough…#justsaying

hobbit In Production: Book to Movies 2012The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, journeys to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug.

Starring: Martin Freeman (Sherlock), Orlando Bloom

Extras: Watch the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Trailer

Releases: Dec. 14, 2012

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Synopsis: The story of an Indian boy named Pi, a zookeeper’s son who finds himself in the company of a hyena, zebra, orangutan, and a Bengal tiger after a shipwrecked sends them adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

Starring: Tobey Maguire (suggested cameo only)

Releases: Dec. 21, 2012

World War Z by Max Brooks

Synopsis: A UN representative, writing a report on the great zombie war, interviews survivors in the wake of World War Z.

Starring: Brad Pitt

Releases: Dec. 21, 2012

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Synopsis: Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby’s circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio (Gatsby) Carey Mulligan (Daisy)

Releases: Dec. 25
And another one that has been recreated enough.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Synopsis: Dean and Sal are the portrait of the Beat Generation. Their search for “It” results in a fast paced, energetic roller coaster ride with highs and lows throughout the U.S.

Starring: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst

Releases: Dec. 27, 2012

These have been stated that they are releasing in 2012 but exact details have not been given:

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

Synopsis: Greek gods living in modern-day New York intervene in the lives of a young couple.

Starring: Christopher Walken, Sharon Stone, Alicia Silverstone

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Synopsis: A humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor.

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Jeremy Irvine

Posted in Information, Movies | 17 Comments

Desperatly Wanting Wednesday: Classic Vampire Romance

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Parajunkee

6678961893 f194d1e8ba o Desperatly Wanting Wednesday: Classic Vampire RomanceDesperately Wanting Wednesday is not only for releases that I’m waiting on, it’s also for already released novels that I just haven’t purchased yet, or gotten to. Too little time, too many good books…

This is my “Want to Read” of

Classic Vampire Romance Novels

41Rcfp8%2B%2B6L Desperatly Wanting Wednesday: Classic Vampire RomanceTitle: Hotel Transylvania
Series: (Saint-Germain #1) 
Author: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Genre: Adult, Vampire Romance
First Published in 1982

The classic tale that introduced the legendary Le Comte de Saint-Germain, first published in 1978 and spawning 14 titles in the Saint-Germain epic, is now available in paperback. A fixture in 1740s Parisian society, Saint-Germain is a perfect gentleman–and a vampire. When the fiery young Madeline falls in love with him, a group of evil sorcerers targets her for their black mass–and only Saint-Germain can save her soul.

51CFvZlnClL Desperatly Wanting Wednesday: Classic Vampire RomanceTitle: The Darkangel
Series: (Darkangel Trilogy #1)
Author: Meredith Ann Pierce
Genre: Young Adult, Vampire Romance
First Published in 1982

Eoduin, a beautiful young woman, is abducted by a vampyre while out with her slave Aeriel gathering flowers, and carried off to be a vampyre’s bride. Aeriel, determined to avenge her mistress, returns to the peak from which Eoduin was stolen and waits until the vampyre should return. Eventually, he comes for her and she can not kill him because of his beauty and power, and he takes her but not to be his bride.

 


If you want to participate in a Desperately Wanting Wednesday, you are more then welcome to join in. Here are buttons and a link-up list to leave your post URL:

6678961827 53a3b81485 o Desperatly Wanting Wednesday: Classic Vampire Romance
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6678961893 f194d1e8ba o Desperatly Wanting Wednesday: Classic Vampire Romance
<a href="http://parajunkee.com/category/feature/wanting" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6678961893_f194d1e8ba_o.png" alt="Desperatly Wanting Wednesday, hosted by Parajunkee's View" width="400" height="421" border="0" /></a> 

Posted in Desperatly Wanting Wednesday, Feature, vampire | 3 Comments

Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Parajunkee

9917938 Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

PJV Quickie: A fantastical and horrifying young adult dystopian adventure story that had me engrossed from the beginning. Moira Young spun a highly original tale that I couldn’t shake even after it ended. Another must read for fans of the dystopian genre.

Title: Blood Red Road
Author: Moira Young
Series: Dust Lands #1
ISBN: 1442429984
Publication: June 7th 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry
Purchased Audiobook from Audible.com
Links: Web >> Author Twitter >> Purchase Book >> Goodreads
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

‘Blood Red Road’ is the story of a family torn apart when men come charging out of a dust storm and kidnap the brother, Lugh. Saba, his twin is left with her unwelcome little sister Emmi and a determination to get her brother back – who is the only person that has ever meant something to her. The wasteland that is the world around them is hard and desolate and it gives you no sense of relief as the sisters are forced into one horrible situation after another. This was not your usual dystopian with the oppressive government as one of the main characters that loomed in the background and the unlikely hero that tries to take it down. No, this was a world gone mad in the wake of poor living conditions, drought and drug abuse, there wasn’t even a government from what I could tell. There was tons of adventure, action, coming of age drama and even a smidge of romance to make up for the lack of political interplay, though.

Moira Young breathes originality and realness into every aspect of this novel, from the highly descriptive world building to the dialect and her fabulous character creation. Her main character Saba will at first unhinge you and then slowly you’ll fall madly in love with her. She just rang true with me, but it didn’t stop there as each new character was introduced and expanded upon they took on a life of their own. I swoon over Jacked, cooed over Emmi and rooted for the Free Hawks.

The only splinters that wheedled in with this book was the character of the bad guy, the King and the ending. The King’s character was a bit over the top and some of the events that were included that were supposed to be surprises were a bit unbelievable. Then the ending rather threw a curve ball into it. I felt the resolution could have been there – but was included for the sake of giving a sort of cliffhanger. It got me slavering for book two which isn’t due out until October 2012 so I’m a big old hot mess over this one.

Audiobook Review:

The audiobook was fabulous, with narrator Heather Lind conveying the tone of the novel with each nuance of her speech. If you think you might have a problem with the dialect you might want to give the audiobook a try. I enjoyed it immensely and was sold after listening to a small excerpt.

Recommendations:

Recommended for fans of the dystopian genre. This was like a Mad Max meets The Hunger Games. There is violence and some heavier subjects but nothing for parents to have to worry from. Recommended for 12+ teens.

Even More:

Ridley Scott, the genius behind movies like ‘Gladiator’ has acquired the film rights to ‘Blood Red Road’. Could this be a series to rival The Hunger Games?

Other Young Adult Dystopian, or Similar Novels

‘Poison Study’ Series by Maria V. Snyder
‘Enclave‘ by Ann Aguirre

ya Review: Blood Red Road by Moira YoungREVIEW Review: Blood Red Road by Moira YoungFAVE Review: Blood Red Road by Moira YoungDYSTOPIAN Review: Blood Red Road by Moira YoungAUDIO Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

signature 300x88 Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Posted in dystopian, Review, Young Adult | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Review: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Parajunkee

514X5vN2N7L Review: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

PJV Quickie: Mary Lindsey set off to make her hero one of the good guys, instead of the tried and true “bad boy” that redeems himself through the love of a good woman. I was almost immediately intrigued by her unique take on the young adult paranormal romance genre. Even better, it is a stand-alone and written with a simplistic and intelligent style that makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Title: Shattered Souls
Author: Mary Lindsey
Series: Stand Alone
ISBN: 0399256229
Publication: December 8th 2011 by Philomel/Penguin
Purchased Hardcover at Author Signing.
Links: Web >> Author Twitter >> Purchase Book >> Goodreads
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

Mary Lindsey’s ‘Shattered Souls’ has everything a good young adult paranormal romance needs. The story goes back centuries and is the tale of Rose and her unique occupation. She is reincarnated age after age to help assist souls cross over, assisted herself by her faithful Protector, Alden. Yet, it has been decades since Rose has been reincarnated and something is wrong this time. Her usual memories of her past lives and her knowledge of how to complete her jobs usually resurface by her 17th birthday, this time around she is a blank slate. She was named Lenzi this lifetime, not Rose and the voices of the dead she has been hearing she has suspected it is a form of schizophrenia taking shape. Lenzi believes she is on the brink of insanity when Alden approaches her and tells her about her unlikely past lives and his roll as Protector.

Now, Lenzi has to make a choice, embrace her destiny and roll as Speaker with Alden or fall back into her everyday life, especially since it means staying with her rocker boyfriend Zak.

Once again, I can not begin to portray how refreshing this tale was. Yes, there was a love triangle, but look past that. The story had an original myth and fantastic character building. Lindsey’s (the author not the character) unique voice was to the point and had an intelligent resonance that I really enjoyed. I also enjoyed that this story was a one book arc even though it has the possibility to be an expanded series. Which, since I’m so used to these inflated story arcs, I thought some plot-lines could be expanded upon, especially Lenzi’s relationship with Zak. It was almost like that was downplayed a lot. Overall a fabulous tale and I’m happy that Patti and I were able to visit with Ms. Lindsey when she visited New Orleans. She was very charming and I can’t wait to read her next novel, which is a retelling of Poe’s Annabel Lee, told within the style of Poe’s writing.

Recommendations:

Recommended for teen audiences that enjoy the young adult paranormal romance genre. The writing style might also be well received by adult audiences, since Lindsey’s writing has a mature tone. There are some more mature topics and I’m putting this at about 15+.

Even More:

View the trailer.

Other Young Adult Dystopian, or Similar Novels

‘Angelfire‘ by Courtney Allison Moulton
‘Nightshade‘ by Andrea Cremer

ya Review: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

signature 300x88 Review: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Posted in Paranormal Romance, Review | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Win Tempest by Julie Cross

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Parajunkee

giveaway1 Win Tempest by Julie CrossToday Parajunkee’s View is offering up a copy of ‘Tempest’ by Julie Cross. ‘

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

 

Q: If you could go back in time, what would you do first?

Contest Deets:

  • Giveaway is for one copy of ‘Tempest’ by Julie Cross
  • Shipping Restrictions: US & Canada only
  • Giveaway ends 02/02/2012
  • Free Entry
  • Extra entries are available
  • Winner will be announced via email
  • Winner has 48 hours to respond, failure to respond will result in disqualification and another winner chosen.

Continue reading →

Posted in Giveaway | Tagged , | 54 Comments

Twitter & Facebook Hop #5

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Parajunkee

socialhop Twitter & Facebook Hop #5

Welcome to the Twitter & Facebook Hop on Parajunkee’s View.

Today we are linking up our Facebook Fan Pages & our Twitter accounts so we can earn more followers and likes. Social networks are an integral way to get more exposure for your blog, so click away!

Rules To Participate

    1. As a courtesy please follow & like your host — me Parajunkee!
    2. When you follow or like someone @ them and let them know so they can follow back
    3. Be nice about it! Don’t just send the same message over and over again!
    4. Leave a comment and tell me if this meme is a keeper.
    5. As a courtesy if someone follows you be sure to follow back.
    6. You can use the icon above for your Facebook fan page. This is a place people can commend and Like so you know to follow back.
    7. Have fun!

********** Please Remember *********

  1. This is for Facebook FAN pages – not your friend account
  2. This is also not for your Blogs – if you want to add your blog – please join the #FF Hop

TWITTER Twitter & Facebook Hop #5

FACEBOOK Twitter & Facebook Hop #5

Posted in Meme, social hop | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Feature & Follow #80

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Parajunkee

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools — keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and  you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.
Continue reading →

Posted in Blog Hop, FF, Meme, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 23 Comments