Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Welcome to the Rafflecopter Giveaway hosted by Makobiscribe and Simply Stacie! As most of you know I got married on Monday and for that I wanted to share my happiness with all of you so, are you ready to know rhe wonderful gift?!

One winner will get the chance to buy books up to $25 from The Book Depository!

Surprised? I know, right? xD I'm feeling so happy that I want to share this feeling with you all :D Since this is a Rafflecopter Giveaway you need to fill up the Rafflecopter form.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Feature & Follow Friday (12)

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme created by Parajunkee and co-hosted by Alison Can Read where bloggers hop around meeting and following other bloggers.


To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

  • (Required) Follow Parajunkee.com  & Alison Can Read (our hosts).
  • (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - Pedantic Phooka & Drying Ink.
  • Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. 
  • Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
  • Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
  • If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
  • If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!



  • Well... This is it! I'm being featured!!! Woohoo!!! First of all, Thanks to Rachel from Parajunkee's for choosing me, her meme was one of the first ones I liked before being a blogger. I always thought it's a great way to meet new people, discover new books and have fun with the questions :D.
    And thanks a lot to Alison too, specially for her reviews on manga... I really need to start reviewing manga soon... hopefully after my wedding I'll have more time.

    Because, you all know, right? I'm getting married on MONDAY!!! OMG... I'm like hyperventilating here... hahahahaha. And right now I'm on holidays, that's why I haven't been posting too much latelly (sorry!).

    So, if you want to give us a wedding present *crossing fingers* you just have to check my RAK at the side bar :D (The books of Game of Thrones would be for my fiancé). Of course, no need to do it at all but since we are already broke after all the expenses books would be an amazing gift, hehe.

    And now, what you all really want to read:

    Q.It's that pesky magic book fairy again! She has another wish: What imaginary book world would you like to make a reality?

    Easy one, the Nevernever from The Iron Fey series would be my first choice, and then the world from The Time Master Trilogy... Louise Cooper's did a wonderful job creating a whole new world full of magic and marvellous characters.

    For reviews just check my "Library/Reviews" tab :D

    And, to all my old and new followers, thanks for being here. Stick around and enjoy my reviews, my giveaways and my craziness ;)

    Monday, September 12, 2011

    Winner of the Embrace Giveaway!

    A little bit late, I know but as I told you I'm in Spain for holidays :D



    Anyway, here I am to announce the winner of the giveaway and it's....

    ... Nathiel!!! The winner will receive an e-mail with the ebook shortly.

    Besides this, I just want to let you all know that I'm reading a lot and enjoying myself a lot too so as soon as my holiday and my wedding is over I'll come back with a lot of fun stuff and tons of books to be reviewed, yay!

    Hugs!

    Friday, September 9, 2011

    Feature & Follow Friday (11)

    Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme created by Parajunkee and co-hosted by Alison Can Read where bloggers hop around meeting and following other bloggers.


    To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
  • (Required) Follow Parajunkee.com  & Alison Can Read (our hosts).
  • (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - Pedantic Phooka & Drying Ink.
  • Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. 
  • Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
  • Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
  • If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
  • If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!



  • Q. Have you ever wanted a villain to win at the end of a story? If so, which one??

    I'm thinking really really hard and... honestly I can't remember any villain that I wanted to see victorious... My only option would be Yandros from "The Time Master Trilogy". He is for sure one of my favorite character in the whole world because, well, he is a Chaos' God and he is mean and manipulative but cares for his "human" brother... you should really read this trilogy, is awesome. A-WE-SO-ME!

    And, in case you are curious, my review of the first two books are: The Initiate and The Outcast.

    Besides this a few news to share: in less than an hour I'm going to the airport and then I'm going back to Spain for a few days, woohoo!!! Sun. here I come! I'll try to post as much as possible, promised!
    I will be back the 17th of September with my fiancé, my parents and a friend who is going to be my best man for my wedding the 19th!!! (omg... just 10 days... I'm hyperventilating already...). So, if by any chance, any of you want to give me a wedding present just check my RAK wishlist here (longshot, I know, but with all the arrangements for the wedding we are broke xD).

    Anywho, see you later beautiful people!!! :D

    Thursday, September 8, 2011

    Blog tour stop and winner!

    First of all, a big hi to all my new followers, I hope you all stick around and enjoy my blog. The next couple of weeks are going to be a little crazy with my holidays in Spain (i will get to enjoy the end of the spanish summer, woohoo!), my wedding coming soon (eleven days and counting!) and my honeymoon (Disneyland Paris, here we come!!!).
    Frankly, the only bad thing is that everything here is sooooo expensive... we are completely broke... anyway, I did manage to save $10 to buy the winner of my giveaway a book, hehe.



    But before that I would love you all if you could read my review of "Seers" (link here) that is part of the blog tour I'm participating in. Pretty please? I promise you all is a terrific book! :D

    And now... yes, the winner of the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop!


    Congrats to sarahthehobbit! The e-mail has been sent and the winner needs to answer before 48 hours or another winner will be choose.

    And for those that didn't win, don't despair... near the end of the month I'm going to participate in another giveaway and the winner will get the chance to buy books up to $25! (it's such a good thing to get paid before the end of the month xD). So stay tunned :)

    Book Review: Seers



    Seers

    by Heather Frost
    Release date: 8th October, 2011
    Publisher: Cedar Fort
    Pages: 331 (ARC given for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review)

    Summary from Goodreads:

    For Kate Bennet, surviving the car wreck that killed her parents means big changes and even bigger problems. As she begins to see auras and invisible people, Kate must learn to trust Patrick O'Donnell, a handsome Guardian, or risk her life being overrun with Demons. She soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble.

    Tuesday, September 6, 2011

    Interview: Charlotte Blackwell author of the Embrace series



    Interview with Charlotte Blackwell
     Author of: Embrace Series

    Alaiel: Before anything else, thanks for the interview. I’m really happy for being able to participate in your blog tour and have the chance to talk about “Immortal Embrace” and “Forbidden Embrace”.
    Charlotte: Thank you so much for having me here. I am so excited to share my books with you and your readers.

    Questions about yourself.-

    Alaiel: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
    Charlotte: I am a wife and mother to 3 and began writing about 3 years ago. I feel so blessed to be doing something that I love and have the opportunity to share it with others as well. My eldest daughter is homeschool and most of the time I feel like a taxi driver to my kids, but I love that too. I really want them to have every opportunity to find what they love to do. I am also a HUGE believer in the laws of attraction and helping others.

    Alaiel: What is one your favorite book? Why?
    Charlotte: I don’t really have a fave book, but a fave series. The Grant Brother Series by new author Kathi S. Barton is an Adult romance and I love it so much. The series follows 6 brothers through trials and tribulations in the search for love and happiness. It is a very real series and the issues her characters go through are very real and possible.

    Alaiel: Where is your favorite place to write?
    Charlotte: I do almost all my writing in my bedroom, it is quite and my own personal space. Everything I need is there.

    Alaiel: When you are blocked what do you do?
    Charlotte: Sometimes I talk it out with other writers try to get the flow going again. Other times I try to work on another Project, removing myself from the issue where I am blocked can get the creative juices flowing again.

    Monday, September 5, 2011

    It's Monday! What are you reading?! (10)



    It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme that comes to us from Sheila at Book Journey. To participate, simply post what you finished reading in the past week and what you plan to read this week. It is a good way to find other books you may enjoy reading. After you write your post, head over to Sheila's blog to leave your post's link on the link entry form at the bottom of the What are you reading? post.



    What I finished reading:


    I read both books for a blog tour going on right now and today I'm hosting a giveaway of the first book!
    My review of Immortal Embrace is here.
    My review of Forbidden Embrace is here.


    I finished both books while I was traveling to Paris and back from Paris and they were a perfect companion! My reviews for both books should be up today ;)


    This one was a good read, not as good as the third book but still a pleasant, funny read. My review for this book is here.



    What I'm reading now:


    I'm participating in another blog tour, this one is for Seers which is being so far an interesting read. My review of the book is scheduled for the 8th of this month :)


    To read next:



    And sorry but please, envy me xD (I'm mean, I know). This perfect body... I mean, book! This perfect book is going to be my next read... I'm sure I could stare at him all day long...


    And then this baby comes next... I wanted to read it a long time ago but I never got the chance so well, this is it! ;)

    What about you, guys? What are you up to this week? Remember to enter in my other giveaway for a chance to win $10 to spend in the Book Depository here.

    Giveaway: "Immortal Embrace"

    In addition to my review of "Forbidden Embrace" I'm going to host a giveaway for an ebook copy of the first book in the series: "Immortal Embrace" ;)


    What you need to do is really easy:

    - 1 entry for living a comment in one if the reviews or the author guest post.
    - 2 extra entries for tweeting about the giveaway.

    Easy peasy, right? The links for the reviews and the guest post are:

    - Review "Immortal Embrace" here
    - Guest Post "What lead me to writing" here
    - Review "Forbidden Embrace" here

    And now just fill the Rafflecopter form! Good luck to everyone :D

    Book Review: Forbidden Embrace



    Forbidden Embrace

    by Charlotte Blackwell
    Series: Embrace series #2
    Release date: 1st september, 2011
    Publisher: World Castle Publishing
    Pages: 125 (epub provided for the book tour)

    Summary from Goodreads:

    Just when Sophia Pierce thinks her eternal life will be happy and peaceful, something else happens to turn it upside down. With rogue vampire approaching the town she has learned to call home, the Pierce family must prepare for battle. With some magickal help will they be able to save Wenham?

    Even more trouble arises when Danika, the newest vampire of the family decides this might not be the right place for her. The Pierce family has already lost one love, Caspian, when he felt he was no longer worthy of their family name. Will Danika follow his footsteps and will he be able to save her from a fate far worse than his own?

    Sunday, September 4, 2011

    In My Mailbox (8)


    In My Mailbox is a meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren that features books I've received/purchased/won during the current week.



    Last week I received a few books that I won in giveaways, yay! And since buying is out of my reach right now they made my week, hehe.

    Books that I won:

    - The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton
    - Vanish by Sophie Jordan (ARC)
    - The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch (ARC)



    Let's be honest, just by looking at the cover of "The Perfect Play" my mouth is hanging open... what a perfect body!!! This is going to be my next read for sure, woohoo!
    And "Vanish" was an amazing read... my review should be up in one or two days.

    Don't forget to enter in the giveaway that is taking place right now, just click here and enter to get a chance to win one book (or books) from The Book Depository up to $10 (there's always offers of books under $5, you just need to look for them).

    Hugs!

    Book Review: Immortal Embrace



    Immortal Embrace

    by Charlotte Blackwell
    Series: Embrace series #1
    Release date: 1st June, 2011
    Publisher: World Castle Publishing
    Pages: 146 (epub provided for the book tour)

    Summary from Goodreads:

    Sophia Pierce has suffered since her brother left, and is unsure if she will ever get over it. That is until her family decided to move to Wenham, Massachusetts. Her and her siblings have been ordered to protect their little sister, and must return to High school. This is where Sophia finds her soul mate Nathanial and life as she knows it is about to change.

    As a vampire, Sophia has always kept to herself, but as a high school student will she learn to step out of her comfort zone a little? Sophia has found a best friend in a powerful witch and a love to call her own. That is until something tragic happens and blood is spilled. Will Sophia be able to resist the sweet scent of her beloved's blood?

    This is Sophia's story, a story of a girl who finds herself, love and everlasting friendship. The excitement of this story wraps mortals, vampires, witches, and shape shifters all into a romantic tale of young love, friendship, the meaning of family. The story of a girl who tries to finds herself when she thought it was all lost.

    Guest Post: What lead me to writing by Charlotte Blackwell

    Today I start my participation in the "Embrace series" blog tour, yay! And as scheduled I'm bringing you all a guest post by Charlotte Blackwell in which she will tell you a little bit about herself and her series.
    Don't forget to check my review of the first book Immortal Embrace HERE.

    Without further ado help me welcome... Charlotte Blackwell!


    What lead me to writing
     A Guest Post by Charlotte Blackwell

    Hi everyone, my name is Charlotte Blackwell and I’m the author of the new Embrace series. The Embrace series is a young adult, paranormal romance that I began writing for fun. I can’t actually believe that two of the books have been published already, Immortal Embrace and Forbidden Embrace. A third book Mystic Embrace is on its way this November as well. Not to mention my wonderful publisher World Castle Publishing has request yet another book in the series. I hope that you all enjoy this series as much as I have.
    Well I figure there is so much info out in cyberspace about my books that I would talk today a little about what has lead me to writing this series and what I love about the Embrace Series and writing.

    Throughout the years I’ve always written down my thoughts and feelings. Writing things out has always helped me to cope with life or even move on and close out an issue that has taunted me. I never expected to write professionally, until November 2009 when I began work on Immortal Embrace. Honestly even then, it was just for fun and wasn’t until the following spring when I began publishing articles online and getting paid for it, that I thought I could make a go at being an author. Immortal Embrace was something to help me past the time, I’m a stay at home mom and my life is centered on my three wonderful children. This was just supposed to another outlet to communicate with my children. It didn’t take long for it to become so much more than just for my kids; it is now for everyone’s kids.

    You may wonder how a book about vampires, witches and other supernatural beings can be used as an out let for communication. Well the character’s in the Embrace Series all go through many of the things teenagers face today. Peer pressure, drugs, sex, insecurities, trust. Throughout the series we see the characters and how they have to deal with these issues, some handle it better than others, and some need to be rescued from situations they never thought out. I feel that this is a great way to open communication between teens and their parents, or even their friends. We have all had our share of difficulties, but it is how we deal with them that make us stronger. I hope that readers will see and learn from the characters mistakes and see how they grow. Maybe teens and young adults can see they aren’t the only ones to face these things.

    The Embrace series has become so much more for me, it has showed me who I am and helped me to learn my purpose in life. Even in my mid thirties and a mother to three, I still had doubts about myself and who I was. Now I feel that my feet are firmly planted and I can actually be a good role model to the rest of my family. I have shown my children that they can do anything they choose to and to always believe in themselves while they follow their dreams. There is so much a person can have in life as long as you stay happy, positive and always help others. Life can be better than you ever expected and that is something I have finally learned.

    Thank you so much for letting me share with you today, I hope that you all follow your dreams to the fullest and remember they may even be something you never expected like mine was.

    Saturday, September 3, 2011

    Random Acts of Kindness - September (wedding gifts? :D)


    Book Soulmates hosts this wonderful monthly event and this is the second time I participate, hehe.

    Last month I had promised myself that I was going to send at least one book to one person but weddings are really expensive, specially in Switzerland ¬¬ and for that - breaking my promise, I mean- I'm really sorry. At the end of the month, when I will have more money since my wedding is in 16 days, I will send at least one book! :D

    This month is not my birthday but I'm getting married (I'm starting to get nervous just thinking about it...), that should count, right? xD Look at it in this way: my fiancé and I are so broke that we can't buy books for us right now. And what a better wedding gift than books?! :D

    My wishlist is here. This month I'm going to include in my wishlist "A Song of Ice and Fire" series (aka Game of Thrones) that are the books he's being wanted to read just in case some of you want to surprise him too ;)


    RULES:
    • Sign up each month that you'd like to participate.
    • Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button :)
    • Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
    • If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.
    • Please, once you receive a RAK, email or tweet me {Vanessa} so that I can update the Google doc. There are a lot of requests for this!
    • At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!  Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

    OPEN TO EVERYONE!
    Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.
    Remember, there's always The Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!


    Easy breezy!!

    A big hug and a huge thanks to everyone for participating in this wonderful event!

    500 Followers Giveaway @ Obsession with Books

    To all my lovely followers:

    There's a really cool giveaway going on in Obsession with Books and I'm sure you would love to participate, after all, there's 5 prize packs to choose from!!!



    So, what are you waiting for?! Click on the giveaway button (in my Giveaway Blog-roll) or HERE.

    Yeah, I know you all love me for telling you this, hahaha. And, as always, is an international giveaway, woohoo! :D

    Book Review: Exclusively Yours



    Exclusively Yours

    by Shannon Stacey
    Series: Kowalski Family #1
    Release date: 7th June 2010
    Publisher: Carina Press
    Pages: 257 (NetGalley)

    Summary from Goodreads:

    When Keri Daniels’ editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.
    Joe’s never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he’s intrigued to hear Keri’s back in town—and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he’ll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

    He proposes an outrageous plan: for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she’s worked too hard to walk away from her career.

    But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe’s sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn’t ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of "Keri+Joe 2gether 4ever".

    Friday, September 2, 2011

    And... I'm back! (for now at least, hehe)

    Hello beautiful people! How are you doing?!

    Sigh... I've missed you all so much! But OMG, I had a great, awesome and marvelous time in Paris :D And don't get me wrong, I can barely stand up and walk... I think I won't be able to use my legs for at least a couple of days... my friend and I walked a LOT! But it was so worth it... I took a few great pictures and he did too but I'm gonna have to wait for him to go back to Brasil so he can send them to me, snif...

    So, do you want to know where we went?

    Eiffel Tower:

    Thanks goodness the cue wasn't too long, hahaha. Most of the funny pictures are with him :( But I have all the good and cool pics, hehe.



    Louvre Museum:

    We went twice because the first time it was closed... who knew it's close on Tuesdays?! Anyway, we went back the next day :D

    Sorry for my finger... 


    River Sena:

    We also took a tour across the river and it was so nice... every time we passed in front of another boat the people on it waved at us xD





    And I have more pics but I don't want to bore you to death so I'm just going to stop here, haha.

    Besides this I have a few reviews to write down... at least 5 so give me a little time and I will do it as soon as possible!

    Don't forget to participate in my current giveaway Back to the Books Giveaway Hop for a chance to win a book of your choice up to $10 from TBD ;)

    Hugs!