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*

In My Mailbox 32 + Winners

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi over at The Story Siren and is a great way to see what other bloggers are reading and reviewing. I always love seeing what everyone else got for their week!


FOR REVIEW:
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
Rip Tide (Dark Life #2) by Kat Falls
Class Collision: Phoenix Rising by Annette Mackey

WON:
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

BOUGHT:
Supernaturally by Kiersten White
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Karma Girl by Jennifer Estep

A huge thank you goes out this week to Teen Book Scene, Scholastic, Annette Mackey, Tara from Fiction Folio and Carissa from Preternatural Primer for sending me so many great books to read!

I also want to extend an enormous thank you to JL Bryan and Jennifer Estep for allowing me to host giveaways of their books this past week, Random.org chose the winners and they have both been emailed!

TOUCH OF FROST

Winner:
Carissa from Preternatural Primer

JENNY POX/TOMMY NIGHTMARE


Winner:
Lori

Guest Post + Giveaway: Jennifer Estep and Touch of Frost

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author Jennifer Estep back to the blog to talk a little bit about mythology and her new young adult novel Touch of Frost which releases tomorrow (yay!) so be sure and add it to your list. This is the first book in her Mythos Academy series and is just an all-around entertaining read (check out my review HERE). I adore Jennifer's books, so I hope you all pick this one up if you've yet to read anything by her!

Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to Jenny for having me on the blog today. Thanks so much, Jenny!

My name is Jennifer Estep, and I write the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more.

Touch of Frost, the first book in the series, comes out tomorrow, July 26.
First Frost, a prequel e-story to the series, is available now. The second book,
Kiss of Frost, will hit shelves on Nov. 29.

So today, Jenny asked me to talk a little bit about my favorite myth. There are tons of interesting myths out there from all the different cultures of the world. It’s really hard to pick just one, but I’ve always liked the myth of Psyche and Eros (aka Cupid).

There are a lot of different variations, but basically, the myth goes a little something like this: Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, is jealous of the human Psyche’s beauty, so she asks her son Eros to shoot Psyche with one of his magic arrows so Psyche will fall in love with an ugly man (or even a monster). However, Eros ends up falling in love with Psyche instead and marries her. But Psyche doesn’t know exactly who her husband is, and despite warnings not to, she eventually uncovers his true identity. Eros leaves Psyche, and she begins to search far and wide for him.

Psyche eventually goes to Aphrodite, who gives her a series of impossible tasks to complete (are there any other kind of tasks in mythology?). But with the help of various creatures and others, Psyche performs the tasks. Eros forgives her, the two are reunited, and Psyche becomes a goddess herself.

Why do I like this myth so much? For one thing, it’s one of the myths that actually has a happy ending. In so many of the myths, humans are killed, turned into animals, or worse by the gods because of the humans’ pride or the gods’ jealous, vengeful natures – like when Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, turns the human Arachne into a spider because Arachne boasted that she could weave better than Athena herself. But in this myth, Psyche and Eros end up together, despite all the obstacles that Psyche has to overcome.

But the thing I like most about this myth is that it has an almost fairy tale quality to it, especially with the elements like the mysterious husband, the impossible tasks, and the various helpers who aid Psyche. I like fairy tales just as much as I do mythology, so this story is a nice mix of the two. Also, I just like the idea that true love conquers all – even when it comes to the gods.

What about you guys? What are some of your favorite myths or fairy tales?

Jennifer Estep is a USA Today bestselling author who also writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

Books in the series are Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, Venom, and Tangled Threads. Spider’s Revenge, the fifth book, will be released on Sept. 27. Visit www.jenniferestep.com for free short stories, excerpts, and more.

Thanks so much for taking the time to come back on the blog Jennifer! I honestly cannot say enough positive things about Jennifer or her books, she's just one of those authors who makes me happy. She has all sorts of fun extras on her website (listed above) so be sure and check it out if you want to get a feel for her characters and her style.

GIVEAWAY

Jennifer has generously offered up a copy of Touch of Frost to give away to one lucky winner on the blog! To enter, please leave a comment answering Jennifer's question above along with a valid email address so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open to US residents only and will run through midnight EST on Friday, July 29th after which time a winner will be chosen and announced on the blog. Good luck everyone!

Review: Touch of Frost

TOUCH OF FROST
(Mythos Academy #1)
Jennifer Estep
Paranormal Young Adult
336 pages
Kensington Publishing Corporation
Available July 26th
Received from author for review

THE STORY
Gwen Frost is unfortunately stuck at a school where everyone seems to belong but her. She's the lone Gypsy with a gift for psychometry, the ability to touch an object and know its history, among Spartans, Valkyries and other students with enviable strength and skill.

While Gwen has no idea why one of the professors showed up at her door one day asking her to attend Mythos Academy, she's quickly distracted from her outsider status by the brutal murder of one the school's most popular young girls and the theft of one of the thirteen artifacts vital to those who wish to instigate a second Chaos War.

No one else seems to care that Jasmine has died, but Gwen can't seem to let her death go. With the somewhat reluctant help of Spartan bad boy Logan Quinn, Gwen attempts to solve Jasmine's murder and the bowl's theft, and in doing so discovers the truth about her family, her reason for being at Mythos, and her role in the impending war.

MY THOUGHTS
Touch of Frost is Ms. Estep's foray into the young adult fiction world, and much as she does with her Elemental Assassin series, she provides us with complex and layered characters against a believable supernatural backdrop. One of the shining strengths of her books, in addition to her vibrant characters, is their episodic quality. A large paranormal problem is outlined, and then within that larger arc a smaller piece of the puzzle is integrated–given to us to solve in it's entirety by the conclusion of the book so we are left with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction at having completed the first leg of Gwen's journey while still knowing there's so much more waiting for us. We are never drowned in preparatory details and explanations but rather are provided just enough information to grab our attention and hold it completely, and as we go along new strands of information are added to blend with our previous knowledge effortlessly.

Gwen is a fun and quirky young woman, feeling very much out of place at a school full of people with extraordinary gifts and skills sets, but dealing with the strangeness of her situation with as much humor as she can muster. She does have a tendency to dwell on her sense of not belonging in those moments when the humor fades away, seeming content to stay isolated while ruminating on all the reasons she feels so alone as opposed to taking measures to remedy her situation. That being said however, part of her appeal is that she is clearly a work in progress, complete with understandable doubts, insecurities, and all the little nagging internal voices that have a tendency to point out our flaws when we least need the reminder. As the story moves forward, we do get to see Gwen start to mature and make an attempt to adjust to her new life, and it becomes apparent to us she will continue to do so with each installment until we inevitably reach the end and can say to ourselves "look how far she's come".

Gorgeous and arrogant, Logan Quinn initially seems as though he will be pretty straightforward and stereotypical–the smoldering, womanizing heartthrob who we can appreciate superficially but ultimately won't affect us on a deeper level. Ms. Estep's characters are never predictable however, and just when we think this is going to be a story where the athletic, popular guy falls for the antisocial misfit, the bottom of the character box we've labeled and placed him in drops out, and we are given fleeting glimpses of a depth we can't help but want to more thoroughly explore. She also has the uncanny ability to write male characters who both attract and repel us simultaneously and who are charming one minute and infuriating the next, forcing us to be ever vigilant and wary even while we're still undeniably intrigued by them. We want to let down our guard with Logan, but we also fear the emotional pain he is clearly capable of inflicting the moment we do, and so we sit on the edge of our seats with our feelings in chaos as we try to decipher a young man whose thoughts and actions are beyond our comprehension.

Overall, Touch of Frost is a strong first installment despite Gwen's initial melancholy, and the events for book two are nicely set up without leaving us frustrated over a lack of resolution. The mystery element is well-executed, with clues skillfully placed to keep us suspicious of everyone involved. Ms. Estep is an auto-buy author for me, and I am eagerly anticipating book two so I can laugh with, and root for, Gwen as she begins to find a place among the myths and legends.

Rating: 4/5

In My Mailbox #26

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi over at The Story Siren and is a great way to see what other bloggers are reading and reviewing. I always love seeing what everyone else got for their week!



FOR REVIEW:
Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
The Vampire Stalker by Allison van Diepen
Ada Legend of a Healer by R.A. McDonald

BOUGHT:
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
White Cat by Holly Black
The Darkest Secret by Gena Showalter

A huge thanks to Jennifer Estep, Scholastic, and House of Lore Publishing for sending me books this week!