Things of Awesome: March Edition

Remember back in December when I started this feature and explained my inherent laziness and how it might affect things down the line? Yeah. That came into play a little bit last month when I didn't post any February Things of Awesome. New feature fail. The good news though, is that I'm feeling properly motivated again and have some fun bookish things to share with you all, including another short conversational snippet between me and Kevin.

1. MAYA'S NOTEBOOK GIVEAWAY

Nineteen-year old narrator Maya Vidal is struggling to make it through her teenage years. Abandoned by her mother and neglected by her father, Maya lives in Berkeley, California with her willful, outspoken, and wise Grandmother Nidia – affectionately known as Nini – and her gentle and beloved grandfather, Popo, who both help her navigate the turbulent waters of her adolescent years.

When her Popo dies of cancer, Maya is devastated and goes completely off the rails. With her girlfriends—together, they are known as the vampires—she falls into a life of drugs, alcohol, and petty crime. Her Nini attempts to help by enrolling her in a rehabilitation center, but she continues on a downward spiral, winding up in Las Vegas in a dangerous underworld of big time drugs, crime, and prostitution.

With a gang of assassins, the police, the FBI, and Interpol in hot pursuit, Maya flees the country with the help of her Nini to a remote island off the coast of Chile – Chiloé. Adapting to a completely strange new life and in the company of a torture survivor, a lame dog, and other unforgettable characters, Maya records her thoughts as well as her story in her notebook, uncovers a terrible family secret, comes to understand the meaning of love and loyalty, and initiates the greatest adventure of her life: the journey into her own soul.

Thanks to the wonderful people at HarperCollins, I have two ARCs of Maya's Notebook to give away on the blog today. To enter, please just fill out the Rafflecopter form below! Giveaway is open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2. TOUCH OF FROST ON SALE

Touch of Frost, the first book in the outstanding Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep is on sale for $2.99 at several retailers through March 25th. This is a favorite series of mine, so if you've been wanting to start it, now is the perfect time to do so!

Barnes and Noble • Amazon • Kobo

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy -- a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why - especially since I should have been the one who died . . .

 

3. ETIQUETTE & ESPIONAGE FUN

The marketing department at Little, Brown launched an epic and insanely creative campaign for Etiquette & Espionage prior to its release, and they haven't slowed down one bit since it's been out. They've recently designed a very entertaining graphic about what one should do if one's carriage happens to be hijacked by flywaymen. This is vital knowledge people. Many a peril awaits those who travel by carriage ;-)

Check it out HERE. 

4. BIG BAD BITE

Big Bad Bite, an adult paranormal romance from authors Crystal Leo and Melissa Pahl (writing under the name Jessie Lane), has undergone some changes and is being re-released. From the authors:

“We're excited to announce that Big Bad Bite had a makeover! Inside and out! We have a sexy new cover featuring our favorite Wolf, Adam, AND Big Bad Bite was sent off and edited by the amazing girls at C&D Editing

Some might wonder, "Has the story changed?

The answer to that would be yes and no. No, because the story line is still the same. Yes, because it no longer has those pesky grammatical errors, info dumps were cut down, inconsistencies were caught, and best of all, a tiny scene was added! Overall, it's a better story, but still has a kick ass, snarky heroine Jenna, and the snarly, but lovable, Adam who wants her. 

So, if you haven't picked up your copy of Big Bad Bite yet, then go get it today!”

• • • • • • • • • •

Jenna O’ Conner has been taught her whole life to hide from everyone. Never to let anyone to close enough to know that she would prefer a shotgun for her birthday over of a bouquet of roses. She’s been smothered by her over protective family so that no one learns what she truly is. Which is not human. Nor, is she considered the norm for the supernatural Other community that is benevolent enough to share this world with the humans.

In a desperate attempt to live her own life away from the small town she was raised in, Jenna obtains her dream job as the newest member on the Wilmington Police Department’s SWAT Team. What she didn’t predict was that she would run into trouble her first day on the job, in the form of a deadly, mouthwatering man named Adam McPhee. Who is also not human, but more like a wolf walking around in human skin. He’s determined to figure out exactly what Jenna is, which unbeknownst to him, could very well put her life in danger. He’s also determined to have her all to himself.

As if that wasn’t enough for Jenna to deal with, bad news blows into town. A group of extremist Shifters who think humans are cattle and factions of Others worldwide should stay within their own species - never to intermingle. Chaos ensues. Jenna has to find a way to shut them down, but in the process of trying to do that, discovers things about herself that even she never thought was possible.

Website • Goodreads • Amazon

5. LIFE WITH KEVIN 

For the full story behind these little conversational snippets go HERE.

Me: (reading in my head) He held out his arms, and she hit him full force right in the chest. He lifted her, hugging her so close that he was sure he crushed her. He spun her round and round as he buried his face in her hair, absorbing the feel of having her in his arms –

Kevin: RIIIBBBBIIIITTTT

*Please let it be noted that the word "ribbit" (yes, like a frog), in this particular instance was not yelled out, but rather belched. BELCHED.

Me: Wow. Seriously?

Kevin: What?

Me: You just interrupted a very romantic scene with your obscene burp. Must you always "ribbit"?

Kevin: Yes.

Me: I've never been less attracted to you than I am right now. I'm pretty sure Bowen (the hero) doesn't ribbit when he belches. In fact, I'm thinking he doesn't belch at all.

Kevin: *glances at book cover* You're reading a book about a highlander. There's no way in hell highlanders didn't belch.

Me: Bowen doesn't. I'm quite certain he doesn't fart either. He's a miracle of nature. And manhood.

Kevin: According to that cover, he's also perfectly waxed. Seems unlikely for a highlander.

Me: You don't know that Kevin. You weren't alive then. Maybe this particular clan of highlanders were all inexplicably hairless and perfectly toned. YOU'RE RUINING IT BY QUESTIONING!

Kevin: Okay.

Me: Let me preserve the fantasy, alright? I like to think that somewhere out there is a glorious male specimen who refrains from randomly belching out words in the presence of the woman he's madly in love with.

Kevin: Well, unfortunately for you, that man is not here. Here there be ribbits.

Me: *headdesk*

Review: Etiquette and Espionage

ETIQUETTE AND ESPIONAGE
Finishing School #1
Gail Carriger
Young Adult/Steampunk
320 pages
Little, Brown
Available Now
Received from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Sophronia Temminnick at 14 is a great trial more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners -- and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Her poor mother, desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady, enrolls the lively tomboy in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage -- in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

MY THOUGHTS
A fun and quirky young adult debut from Ms. Carriger, Etiquette and Espionage is packed full of engaging characters all equipped with the sense of humor fans of her Parasol Protectorate series love so dearly, ensuring that upon finishing this first installment we immediately begin counting the days until the next book releases. While this story is a bit slower in nature, it’s never dull, instead we find ourselves so charmed with the outlandish antics of young Sophronia and those attending Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality that it’s hard to miss the suspense or action. There is certainly a mystery that unfolds as Sophronia’s first semester progresses, but it feels almost secondary to the sheer entertainment we find in wondering what the characters will say or do next.

Though Sophronia is fourteen years-old and therefore may not appeal to older readers of young adult fiction, it’s important to know she comes across far more maturely than her young years (though not so much so that her age is rendered completely unbelievable) might suggest. She’s full of sass and fire, possessing a quick mind that serves to assist her in getting out of the trouble her innate curiosity so often gets her into. Her need to stick her nose into everything never once comes across as a character flaw or irritation for us as readers, instead she manages to approach all her ridiculous situations with an infectious humor, forcing a laugh out of us before that first twinge of frustration even has the chance to form.

While there are several boys of note in this tale (despite the fact that the finishing school is an all girls academy), there is no romance to be had, something that might cause a beat of hesitation for lovers of romance (like myself), but ultimately this story is all the more refreshing for its absence. In the place of romantic tension and angst we have the formation of strong friendships full of teasing and laughter, complete with rather silly and absurd names like Lord Dingleproops to keep a lighthearted smile plastered to our faces the entire time we read. A sootie named Soap does make his way onto our romance radar rather quickly and easily, but given Sophronia’s young age we don’t have much expectation for romance going in, and instead welcome their innocent friendship and mild flirting with open arms as we bask in our reprieve from relationship drama.

Overall Etiquette and Espionage is a highly amusing introduction to this series; a quieter read that gives our hearts a bit of buoyancy rather than weighing it down with pain and conflict, leaving us light, happy and thoroughly entertained.

Rating: 4/5
 
Gail stopped by to answer a few questions yesterday as part of the promotional tour for Etiquette & Espionage, so be sure and check it out and enter for a chance to win a finished copy!

Etiquette and Espionage Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

Today I'm hugely excited to be a part of the promotional tour for the first book in Gail Carriger's new young adult series, Etiquette and Espionage. Each stop on this tour was given a pair of lessons around which to base their interview questions, with one half of the pair focusing on etiquette and the other, shockingly, on espionage. I jumped at the chance to ask Gail all about household management and hand to hand combat, so I hope you all enjoy the interview!

HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT AND HAND TO HAND COMBAT

What’s the most important quality to look for when hiring someone for a position within the home?

Smooth running on all rails, a good set of basic protocols, a well-polished exterior, and gears in excellent working order. Oh, did you mean human staff?

Someone has just arrived at the front door completely unannounced and uninvited. What’s the proper response to such a situation?

Send out the butler to make it clear at you are Not At Home to callers.

When facing a larger opponent in hand to hand combat, what’s one thing a person of smaller stature should never do?

Direct attack. Diversion is always a superior approach.

Is there one part of our bodies that most people don’t know makes a great weapon?

The tongue is all too often underestimated.

If you were sent to finishing school, what’s the name of one class at which you would excel?

Tea Parties, Tarts, and Tarting it up for all occasions.

Thanks so much for sharing Gail! More finishing school lessons and information on Gail can be found here:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Buy Etiquette and Espionage on Amazon

ADDITIONAL ETIQUETTE AND ESPIONAGE GOODIES

•     Check out the Official Finishing School Tumblr! Find all sorts of fun and unique content for this new series including school supplies, eCards and more! And just look at that face. Don't you want to meet him?

•     Live at the Lounge - Gail is doing an author video chat with fans on February 12, 2013. Fans are encouraged to RSVP, sign-in and join the conversation on the day. Gail will be wearing a tea hat and encouraging fans to come with their very best millinery… and there may even be tea served. It's a unique chance for fans to interact with Gail and ask questions face-to-face! Get all the details HERE.

ETIQUETTE AND ESPIONAGE

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Sophronia Temminnick at 14 is a great trial more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners -- and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Her poor mother, desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady, enrolls the lively tomboy in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage -- in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Watch the trailer

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Gail an the fabulous team at Little, Brown I have an awesome prize pack to give away to one lucky winner today. To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to US residents only, good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR

Don't forget to check out the previous and remaining stops on the tour!

2/4: Forever Young Adult
2/5: The Book Rat
2/6: Alice Marvels
2/7: Supernatural Snark 
2/8: Mundie Moms