Gratitude Giveaway Hop 2012

Yay!  Another giveaway!  A huge thank you to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for hosting this fantastic hop.  At BiblioJunkies HQ, we are so thankful for all of you that stop by and actually participate in or read our silliness.  We LOVE meeting other purveyors of the silly and ridiculous, so this giveaway is to say THANKS! 

This year, as always, I am thankful for my fellow BiblioJunkies who are my BFFs, my partners-in-crime and all around fabulous chics!  I am also thankful for breakfast chocolate, hot boys without shirts and fantastic books that send us to another world for a while. 

Bel says she is thankful for:

"Dark chocolate covered coconut bars, my Psych pineapple stress ball, my newfound love of running and any dreams of mine involving any of the fictional and non-fictional hotties I love."

And Nat's thankful for:
Was on vacation when I wrote this post, so I am going to make things up.  Nat is thankful for her new boots, Peeta, short stop lights and The Killers. 

What are you thankful for?

So, now for the free stuff!  Today we are giving away a book that is in the running for my very favorite book of 2012 - Spark by Brigid Kemmerer.

Seriously folks, this is a phenomenal book and everyone should read the series.

AND, because I'm feeling a little crazy, we are also giving away the much loved book by Kiera Cass, The Selection.

All you have to do to enter is follow us, either by GFC, Twitter or "like" ing us on Facebook.  Leave your info in the Rafflecopter form below and you may win these awesome books!  Because we spent all our money on books, chocolate and/or pie, this giveaway is open to those with continental U.S. addresses only.  You can read the fine print below.  Also, check out the linky for all the other participating blogs.

Again, a HUGE thank you to everyone the comes out to play with us and good luck!

~Shel, Bel & Nat


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (29)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.



By Brigid Kemmerer
Publication Date: August 28, 2012

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit…

Spark: Elementals Book 2 by Brigid Kemmerer

*****

Releasing August 28, 2012
From Kensington (KTeen):

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

And no one seems to believe him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit…

Those of you that follow the blog know that the first in the Elementals series, Storm, is one of my favorites of 2012 so far (check out my review here).  I felt some trepidation in reading Spark, because let's face it, often the second book in a series is the worst (i.e. New Moon).  Amazingly, I liked Spark more than Storm.  Being stingy with my five star ratings, I really had no hesitation in giving one to Spark.  I was and remain completely blown away Gabriel's story. 

Gabriel's element is fire and his control over it iffy at best causing some incidents he would really rather forget, but that are forever burned into his mind.  The death of his parents, the attacks by the other Elementals, the threat of the Guides, his strained relationships with his brothers - all combine to make Gabe a very angry young man.  Gabe's anger, rage and fear all leap off the page, forcing you to feel his struggle as if it were your own. 

It's very rare for a book to make me feel something, especially so swiftly and deeply.  I felt this way with Storm, but Spark took it to an entirely different level.  Spark is a heart-pounding, totally engrossing follow up to Storm - so engrossing you will swear you can almost feel the flames.  Brigid Kemmerer is definitely a talent to watch.  The sneak peak at Spirit made me want to bang my head on the wall since it does not publish until next year!  Oh my god you guys, it was sooo good! 

So, there you have it.  My second 5 star rating.  I hope you all read Spark (but read Storm first!) and let me know what you think.  I hope you love it as much as I did.

~Shel

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

****1/2

From Kensington:

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn’t want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her.

Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake.

When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming…

This is an incredible debut novel.  Storm has everything I look for in a book - hot boys, supernatural abilities, a heroine that I don't want to smack around - a little humor, some drama and intrigue.  Storm is the first in the Elemental Series featuring people who can control the elements.  Storm introduces us to the Merrick brothers.  Chris, the youngest of the Merrick boys controls water and we meet him as he is getting beaten to a pulp by some other elementals.  Becca saves his butt and in return her life gets seriously strange. 

I loved the Merrick brothers (and really, who wouldn't).  Despite their supernatural abilities, the brothers act a lot like I would suspect brothers to act in their situation, with no female influence.  With the exception of Becca and perhaps Hunter, the remaining characters are not fully developed, but I assume we will learn more as the series progresses.  The series will follow the brothers and I am looking forward to figuring out where the author is taking the story.  

If you follow the blog, you know that I am incredibly stingy with my 5 star ratings.  The only one I have given was for Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan.  A book has to completely blow me away to get a 5.  I'm giving Storm 4 1/2 because it was really close to blowing me away.  I read it twice in one weekend - I just could not get it out of my head.  

You can see Michael's (the oldest Merrick brother) story in the prequel Elemental.  

 

Then join me in waiting anxiously for Spark, releasing August 28, 2012.  Check out yet another hot Merrick brother!

We are giving away a copy of Storm from 5/25/12 through 5/31/12 in the Spring Into Summer Hop, so enter for your very own copy of Storm to obsess over!  Also check out our Q & A with Brigid Kemmerer here.

~Shel