Come help out a great cause!

So a while back I interviewed Robert C. Roman, the author of The Artifice Series and The Iron Angel Series. As most of you know from the interview his day job is a high school teacher. As most of you don't know he teaches in a district that is more than a little strapped for funds. He has been helping to compensate for his classrooms lack of resources from his own pocket. Now most of you in today's school system know this isn't an all uncommon practice anymore.  Most teachers pay for items out of their own pockets and unfortunately the amount of teachers doing this and the amount they are paying is rising each year. However their pay isn't being raised so this leads to choices between supporting their own families and supporting their classrooms.  
In my effort to help I wanted to spread the word about a challenge Mr. Roman has given himself.  He has decided to put his 'money where his mouth is' and put half of all the money he earns from his writing for the next year back into his classroom. (this is on top of what he already puts in from his regular paycheck)

Why am I telling you all about this?

Because there are numerous ways you can help.  There are even some that don't require spending any money at all, simply the click of a mouse.

To find out more follow this link to Robert's Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is post.  Even if all you do is share his post and get the word out there it helps so why not take a minute and check it out?  Offer some words of encouragement. Maybe you might even have a few suggestions that might help?  Any help at all is appreciated.

Thank you!

Heeheeheeheehee!

Manga/Graphic Novel/Video Game Novel Challenge 2013

So this year since I said that I would try to get to Level 3 of the Challenge That means I need to have at least 25 books read before the end of the year. That's at least 2 books a month. (and one extra one in at least one of those 12 months)   As a change from last year I'm gonna be putting the reviews up here as I get them done and then linking them in the monthly round-up at Mother/Gamer/Writer.  I also plan to try to remember my update my Challenge page at the end of the month. Want to see what the other people in the challenge are reading this month? Click here!

The Golden Twine (Cat's Cradle Book #1)

Amazon Summery:

To most, Suri is just an orphan in a traveling caravan. But Suri is determined to prove she has the mettle of a monster tamer. When she unknowingly takes something valuable from a caitsith -- a cat monster -- she will have to quickly harness her powers ... if she even has them!

My Review:

I wasn’t sure about this when I picked it up.   Gosh what a pleasant surprise though. 

I liked the artwork.  While it was a bit cartoony, it was cute and overall it worked well with the story itself.  Not everything was super detailed, but there were quite a few panels where the funniest parts were taking place in the background.  I also liked the fact that I was able to read the panels clearly and the artwork wasn’t blurry. (Something I’ve had to deal with since a lot of the graphic novels that I review I read on my laptop)  The only issue I had was that for some reason some of the works were white. I could barely see them, just a kind of shadowed outline. I don’t know if this was done on purpose or if it was just a glitch in the font and how it showed up. 

The story itself is good.  There were a lot of laugh out loud parts and I really wanted to see what was going to happen to Suri.  The ending is abrupt, yet it wasn’t as annoying as some pictureless cliffie I’ve had to deal with.  Obviously there are going to be more books in the series and this one was a great intro to the monsters of Galatea, Suri and her friends.  

Yes I had issues with the font of some of the words, but the book overall was fun enough that I was able to overlook it.  I would definitely pick this one up if I saw it in print and I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the series.

*I received an e-copy of this book for review from NetGalley*

A to Z Challenge April 2013

OMG! Has it really been a whole year???  Well at least this year I feel a little bit more prepared.  I actually thought up my theme last year, but I didn't start working on it 'til just last month. Also this year I am only doing the Challenge for this blog so that should help cut down on any craziness. So last year my theme was Randomness. This years theme is..... (drum roll please!) A to Z Reviews! I kinda toyed with the idea last year but realized I really had no idea what the challenge was going to be like and I didn't want to add too much extra and make it even harder.  But like I said this year I feel a little more prepared. PLUS I finally replaced my Kindle. (YAY!) Reading on the go is once again a whole lot easier. I went through the titles I currently have and have chosen 26 to read and review for the month of April. Each book title will correspond to the letter of the alphabet for that day.  So are you participating this year? If so do you have a theme or topic?  Are you prepared or do you plan to wing it? Love to hear what you have planned and good luck! If you are interested in participating and want to find out more click here.

Manga/Graphic Novel/Video Game Novel Challenge 2013

So this year since I said that I would try to get to Level 3 of the Challenge That means I need to have at least 25 books read before the end of the year. That's at least 2 books a month. (and one extra one in at least one of those 12 months)   As a change from last year I'm gonna be putting the reviews up here as I get them done and then linking them in the monthly round-up at Mother/Gamer/Writer.  I also plan to try to remember my update my Challenge page at the end of the month. Want to see what the other people in the challenge are reading this month? Click here!

Dragon Age:

Those Who Speak

I got the e-copy of this book through NetGalley.

Amazon Summery:

In this canonical story from the lead writer of BioWare's Dragon Age games, reluctant monarch King Alistair travels to an empire of evil mages. Accompanied by the pirate captain Isabela and the underworld merchant Varric, Alistair will stop at nothing to uncover the fate of his lost father - even if it means battling an army of cultists singlehandedly! The fight turns even more personal as Alistair faces a former ally and Isabela must confront the tragedies of her past while imprisoned in the cultists' dungeon!

My Review:

Meh. I wasn’t as impressed with this one as I was with the cover. 

I liked the art work. It was detailed without being overwhelming.  It was colorful too. 

The story was ok. Maybe if I knew more of the background it would have been more interesting. It felt like there was more that I should know about the story itself that could have been filled in a bit better. Also the title…I think it would have worked better if the story had been more about the Tamassran. As it was while one ‘Who Spoke’ was a main character the story wasn’t about her.

***Spoiler Alert*** Also I was kinda waiting for a big reveal about what the captain’s real name had to do with anything.  But it didn’t.  Yes it had some deep thought underlying about how a name should reflect who someone is and the captain decides she might not be an Isabela anymore either. But I don’t know, considering it’s an adventure story I just thought there would be some bigger connection to the story.  ***End Spoiler***

Would I read more of Dragon Age? Possibly.  It’s not terrible…more just not my cup of tea. 

Manga/Graphic Novel/Video Game Novel Challenge 2013

So this year since I said that I would try to get to Level 3 of the Challenge That means I need to have at least 25 books read before the end of the year. That's at least 2 books a month. (and one extra one in at least one of those 12 months)   As a change from last year I'm gonna be putting the reviews up here as I get them done and then linking them in the monthly round-up at Mother/Gamer/Writer.  I also plan to try to remember my update my Challenge page at the end of the month. Want to see what the other people in the challenge are reading this month? Click here!

The Curse of Dracula

I got the e-copy of this book through NetGalley.

Amazon Summery:

The Curse of Dracula is back in this deluxe new hardcover edition, a fitting tribute to the immortal legacy of artist Gene Colan! A mysterious, charismatic figure is moving amongst the circles of San Francisco's political elite, hunting for the right candidate. When Jonathan Van Helsing and his team of vampire hunters come to town investigating a string of grisly murders and stumble into a pit of blood-soaked horrors, they know it's only a matter of time before they come face-to-face with the master of the dark! But are they too late to stop Dracula's terrifying plan to become the power behind the president of the United States?

My Review:

I didn’t realize when I requested to review this one that it was a reissue of a classic. I don’t like reviewing ‘classics’.  I’ve found they already have a steady standing of fans that dislike any review that isn’t exactly what they want to hear.  That being said I did say I would review it.  So here goes.

The artwork is good and solid, it’s not my favorite style, but it is well done. The darkness and the horror of the story itself comes across clearly in the panels.  There is gore and there is nudity, but both are part of the story itself, not just there for shock value or to get sales.

As for the story itself, it is a fresh change of pace from the current vampire hero that has saturated today’s culture.  Dracula is Dracula again, not worrying about any of the humans, or anything else, that happens to get in his way.  But he isn’t just a stupid animal driven by blood lust.  He is intelligent and plans his every move in advance.

It is good work, classic work. Do I think you will like it if your tastes run towards some of the more modern graphic artwork and comic fare?  Maybe.  I think you would definitely be able to appreciate it. Will you like it if you are vampire obsessed? Possibly…if you prefer you vampires non-sparkly and bloodthirsty.  

Manga/Graphic Novel/Video Game Novel Challenge 2013

So this year since I said that I would try to get to Level 3 of the Challenge That means I need to have at least 25 books read before the end of the year. That's at least 2 books a month. (and one extra one in at least one of those 12 months)   As a change from last year I'm gonna be putting the reviews up here as I get them done and then linking them in the monthly round-up at Mother/Gamer/Writer.  I also plan to try to remember my update my Challenge page at the end of the month. Want to see what the other people in the challenge are reading this month? Click here!

Hoax Hunters

I got the ecopy of this book through NetGalley.

Amazon Summery:

In this first collection of the critically acclaimed series, the Hoax Hunters travel to Russia, the Louisiana Bayou, and 1984 New Jersey to seek out the truth behind supernatural events - and cover them up! The Hoax Hunters demonstrate the truth isn't out there. Collects Hoax Hunters #0-5.

My Summery:

I almost wasn’t able to download Hoax Hunters from NetGalley. Fortunately for me it finally fixed itself. Hoax Hunters Vol. 1 is awesome!  Seriously tons of fun.  Both the artwork and the story are fast paced.

The artwork isn’t always perfectly detailed. Some frames seem to even have a blurred quality to them. But it is consistent and there are some really nice full page pieces.   It’s not generally my favorite style, but it worked well with the story itself and I liked it.

The story is great. Even when the team is dealing with mass deaths and crazy death cults it still has a bunch of great one liners and jokes.  Where they corny? Some, yes.   But they were funny corny and kept the story from being way too serious.  There are more than a few unanswered questions at the end of this volume.  Plus quite a few characters I would love to find out the background on. But overall it was a great beginning and I hope to be able to get my hands on more Hoax Hunters very soon!

Fairyvision by J.L.Bryan ~ Cover Reveal

 I love the Songs of Magic Series!! It is so much fun to read!  And now I get to share with all my lovely readers out there the cover for book 5 in this series!

Jason, Erin, and the other Zebras go on a world tour with their enchanted instruments, only to encounter the mysterious supernatural Folk of India and the Far East. While they tangle with their record company, Erin tries to avoid dealing with the secrets she's learned about herself, while Jason pieces together a mystery surrounding a very special golden guitar called Caliburn.

In Faerie, Aoide the Lutist and her troupe finally return home from their long adventure. They're struggling to get new gigs, but Aoide senses opportunity in the form of special new magic mirrors that can broadcast concerts, plays, and other entertainment all over Faerie...

I love this cover! It is awesome and I can't wait to read the book! If you haven't started this awesome series yet you're missing out.  But you are in luck currently the first book in the series, Fairy Metal Thunder, is free! Just click on the links below.  

J. L. Bryan is the author of the Paranormals series (Jenny Pox, Tommy Nightmare, Alexander Death, and Jenny Plague-Bringer) and the Songs of Magic series (Fairy Metal Thunder, Fairy Blues, Fairystruck, Fairyland, and the new book, Fairyvision). Fairy Metal Thunder is free on Kindle, Nook, Apple, Smashwords, Sony, and Kobo. Jenny Pox is also free on Kindle, Nook,Smashwords, Apple, Sony, and Kobo. He’s on Twitter and Facebook, and has a website and blog and all that.

Manga/Graphic Novel/Video Game Novel 2013 - Book Swap

As many of you know I have decided to participate in this challenge again this year. I also recently moved and I'm at a loss for what to do with ALL the books I have! In an effort to keep some space on my shelves as well as try to expand my reading options for different categories of the challenge, I have decided to offer print copies of books I've read for this challenge to other readers who are also participating in the challenge.  These books are not always new, nor have they been published in past year. However they do qualify for the challenge and they are in good condition.

Here are the following rules to the trade:

-I will only send to or trade books with people who are participating in the challenge. (I will verify that the person is part of the challenge)

-If it is a straight book/book exchange then both books must qualify for the challenge. 

-If you don't have a book to trade but are interested in reading any of the books I have available that is fine too. Just send me an email and let me know which one you are interested in and I will send it to you. But again you MUST be participating in the above challenge. 

-All trades or gifts will be based on a first come first serve basis. 

-If I send you a book I DON'T want it back! Feel free to find someone else to trade it with or to pass it on to. 

-If you send me a book you won't get it back. After reading and reviewing it for the challenge I will put it up on the Book Swap page and then pass it onto another contestant in the challenge.

-I will pay media mail to send the book...I will not pay for books to be sent to me. 

I will probably tweak some of these rules as the challenge progresses if only because I will get more familiar with what works and what doesn't.  Remember this is just a hopefully fun way to meet other participants in the challenge as well as finding different books to help meet the challenge goals.  

If you have any questions, want to request a book or trade for one, or if you have some books from the challenge you would like to share as well, email me at aimeelavalle(@)gmail(dot)com.

Follower Love Giveaway Hop Feb. 5th -Feb. 11th.

First I'd like to thank I am a Reader, Not a Writer and The Reader's Antidote for hosting the lovely hop!

Second I'd just like to remind everyone that this giveaway is US/Canada only. 

Now onto the prize!

I'm giving away a print copy of The Billionaire's Unexpected Heir by Kathie DeNosky.

The Billionaire's Unexpected Heir

by: Kathie DeNosky

Summery from Amazon:

Becoming the new owner of Hickory Hills Thoroughbred farm was not in billionaire Jake Garnier's plans. Becoming a father was even more unimaginable. For his new business came with one Heather McGwire, ranch manager...and mother to Jake's secret child.

After barely surviving his own father's desertion, Jake knew he couldn't walk away from his responsibilities. Marriage seemed the only solution. Yet Heather wouldn't settle for simple sweet talk and seduction. If Jake wanted a real family, he'd have to saddle up for the long ride.

Just use the Rafflecopter below to enter and then continue hopping to the next blog on the list!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Quirk is AWESOME!

So a while back I won an awesome deck of Zombie Tarot cards.




Unfortunately when I received them there was also a nasty note from the Post Office saying I owed S & H.  Apparently they had issues with whether the prize I had won was technically media mail or not. *meh* I have issues with the Post Office so I just paid it...no big. I did however contact the blog I won it at to let them know what happened. (They weren't the ones who sent the prize, but I figured they knew who to contact on the publishers end.)  I figured somebody should know that way they wouldn't get a whole bunch of complaints from actual paying customers.  Plus I really enjoy the blog so I didn't want it to happen to any other winners and have them have issues with her blog. I wasn't really screaming and yelling angry. Annoyed yes and out about $. (But hey the zombie tarot....sooo worth it. I have zombie problems I know) Anyway after sending the email I didn't expect anything else to come of it.

Well...as the title said...Quirk is AWESOME!! They heard about the issue with the Zombie Tarot and they sent me a box filled with awesome!!

Awesomeness!!

I mean seriously awesome!!! I even got a nice little apology letter too.  Really I wasn't expecting anything so that kinda made it even more awesome! The coolest part is that all the books are ones I probably would have chosen for myself if given the opportunity! (More than a few were even on my wishlist!)

Anyway I just wanted to share what awesome people they have working at Quirk. They could have just ignored what happened. I mean I didn't complain I just sent a heads up email to the blogger who had held the contest. Yet they went above and beyond reimbursing me for the S & H  I shelled out. Seriously cool!   I've already read a few of the books I received and I plan on framing the posters. (Especially the Keep Calm and Carry On...seriously cool!)  

Quirk thank you soo much you guys are awesome!