The Bookworm: Book Blast & Giveaway - Silver-White by Shawn Underhill

Silver-White by Shawn Underhill

“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep.”
~ Robert Frost

*Evie’s family has been holding out on her …

Big time.

On an unexpected visit to her grandparents’ house in New Hampshire’s secluded North Woods, the sixteen-year-old literally runs into the truth of the long-hidden family secrets, and finds herself thrust without warning into the clandestine world of the Great North Pack—a wild and exhilarating world of rugged beauty, heart-pounding adventures, and long nights running under a sea of stars … but as she’s set to discover, a world also fraught with potential dangers lurking in the shadows.

Praise
 "Simply put, this book was amazing. I've read more fantasy novels than I can count, but this one is certainly one of the best. The heroine isn't some wishy-washy pansy that screams at everything, and the focus of the story isn't on some unbelievably beautiful teenage girl who suddenly becomes the biggest, baddest member of her species falling in love with some big, bad, sexy member of her newfound species. It's about a girl becoming something she never knew existed, finding her place within the pack family she values more than ever before, and an age-old feud that threatens everything she loves." ~Morgan

Purchase ~ just .99 cents

Amazon Kindle

Author Shawn Underhill

Shawn is a part-time writer from New Hampshire, where he spends his free time hiking in the mountains, camping, racing dirt bikes, or anything else that keeps him outdoors. Dogs are his very favorite people. He is also the author of the novel All Things Different.

Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

 
BookBlast $100 Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/31/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shopaholic Streak: Shop for Charity at Natta Cosme!

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."
~ Mother Teresa

December is the month of giving. So what could be better than donating to charity this season. But it gets better! With Natta Cosme, you can shop for your Christmas presents and know that 100% of the money you've spent will go to charity to raise funds to help the victims of the recent Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. It's seriously a win-win situation! Donations are also very welcomed on the Natta Cosme website so check it out! This charity fund raiser is brought to you by The Butterfly Project Malaysia and Natta Cosme.

charity fund raiser for Typhoon Haiyan

Natte Cosme has made charity-giving so simple. Products start from just RM 7 and you have 11 choices! Or just make a RM 10 donation if you can't find something you like or want to give away as a present. Choose from Hello Kitty (who doesn't like that?), Sebamed, and Baviphat amongst others.

pick your presents from here or make a donation

For bloggers, just post about this event and spread it high and wide as charity work should know no bounds. Natte Cosme is also giving a token of appreciation to the first 50 bloggers who blog about this fund raiser! Visit Plus Size Kitten for more information and to take part.

So what are you waiting for? Give back to charity. I know I will be!

The Bookworm: Just for Tots - How to Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan & Lee Wildish

• Title: How to Babysit a Grandpa
• Author: Jean Reagan
• Illustration: Lee Wildish
• Format: Hardback 32 pages
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Published: 04 May 2012
• Genre: Storybooks, Family, Humour
• ISBN 13: 9780375867132
• ISBN 10: 0375867139
• Source: Gifted by I Love to Read and Review Books
• Buy:  The Book Depository|Amazon

In an apple core (The Bookworm’s version of a nutshell)

A short and simple read for the young ones. Full of cheeky ideas to keep you little ones busy at Grandpa's.
  
 
Summary

A "New York Times" bestselling picture book about a child spending time with his grandpa. Written in a how-to style, the narrator gives important tips for "babysitting" a grandpa, including what to eat for snack (anything dipped in ketchup, ice cream topped with cookies, cookies topped with ice cream) what to do on a walk (find lizards and dandelion puffs, be on the lookout for puddles and sprinklers), and how to play with a grandpa (build a pirate cave, put on a scary play). Filled with humor, energy, and warmth, this is a great gift for or from a grandparent, and perfect for lap reading when Grandpa comes to visit!


My Thoughts

At only 32 pages long, this is a very short book so there's not a lot to say. The story is cute with really sweet and colourful illustrations. The activities are fun and quite kooky but are cool enough that little kids, and especially for little boys. Ideas presented in point-form teaches kids to differentiate the important bits of the story.

All in all, great book to tucking kids into bed for the night, and filling their minds with creative ideas for the next day. And a lovely Christmas present to be tried out the next year!

The Book Depository * Amazon

Disclosure: I was not compensated financially or otherwise for this review. Everything mentioned are my own thoughts based on my experience. 

The Bookworm: Book Blast & Giveaway - Rebels by Scott & Judith Powell

Rebels

The world is on fire. From the ashes like a phoenix rises a new America, one that will save it all. Under one condition; absolute and complete surrender. The world complies without question. Those who don’t are destroyed. It is in this world, John is born. His very name is treason. If the New America, now known to everyone as the State, knew what John was, they’d kill him, but instead they give him a gift.

Praise for Rebels John has a lot of potential (especially for someone so young) in that he sees the flaws in this society. He wants to be like George Washington and knows a lot about the manner in which a government should be run... Highly recommended. ~Amazon Review  

About the Authors Scott Powell was born in Burlington, Vermont, to a father who was a police officer and a mother who emigrated from South Korea. He received a degree in marketing from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, and a master's degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Scott served a two-year Spanish-speaking mission for his church. He is a mixed martial artist who continues to train with his father, a second-degree black belt in Tae kwon do and a kick boxer.





Besides being married to Scott for over seventeen years, Judith Powell is a stay-at-home mom whose whole life has been full of stories. Being raised by an Irish storytelling father and a Native American mother, stories have filled her life and her head until they finally had no choice but to flow out through her fingertips.

Website * Twitter * Pinterest

Rebels' Facebook Page

Judith's Facebook * Scott's Facebook

 

Tour Schedule

 

Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/20/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To A Non-Young Adult Reader

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish to highlight a top ten list related to book blogging, and all things cool.

This week's topic is really interesting as we had free reign over the course we wanted the topic to take. I've been in quite a bit of a YA book-reading frenzy the past few years so I think it's time I recommend some of my favourites to friends who have not delved into this wonderful genre. YA can be combined with so many different genres like dystopian (one of my favourites), romance, mythology, fantasy, sci-fi, etc. It truly is endless.

The Selection by Kiera Cass - This series is like crack, but one that's plain good for you! I can't get enough of it and I've read it a couple of times. It's like The Bachelor except the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is a Prince! Lots of catty fights entail but also stories of secret romances, ballgowns, and royal dates with some mild dystopian themes thrown in for suspense.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - One of my current go-to series when I need a pick-me-up. It combines the best of fantasy, romance, adventure, and folklore. . Think Alice in Wonderland meets A Midsummer Night's Dream meets modern-day technology. There's a knight in shining armour, a court jester, and a cat! Need I say more?

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - More than just the average high school romance, but also one surrounded by the City of Lights and all its splendour. A lovely story I can't wait to continue in Book #3.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano - The summary is too cool not to read this book. What if you knew you had 4 years left to live? It wasn't what Rhine thought that's for sure. Life takes a very different turn, down a darker, dystopian path.

Across the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - Okay, I have yet to read book two, as I just bought it. But I know I'll love it so I'm putting book three on this list! It's only coming out in GAH February so I have a couple of months to read book two! But I love this series and the pairings in it so I am expecting good things!

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund - This book is unlike anything I've ever read before, from the writing style to the story itself. Post-apocalyptic life in the country-side may seem slow and boring, until some futuristic visitors arrive and someone familiar is more than he seems!

Across the Universe by Beth Revis - A wonderful futuristic sci-fi story filled with mystery and just enough romance. Partially similar to Wall-E in its realistic future if mankind doesn't save Mother Earth in time. So who's killing all the people on board the spaceship? Read it to find out!

Divergent by Veronica Roth - One of the must-read YA dystopians around. Such great world-building with cool characters. It makes you really think about yourself, what would you have done? 

 The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter - I'm all for Greek mythology, especially when it is unconventional and has some romantic themes going on. The Gods and Goddesses are unlike what you've seen or read in other books or movies. The good guys aren't who you think they are. Perfect for someone who doesn't take mythology too seriously.

 

Every Day by David Levithan - This is a book I'd actually recommend to people no matter their age, race, religion, or gender. It covers all of the sensitive topics humans have faced since time began. 

Have you read and enjoyed any of these? Most of the above are the first books of the series, others companion books, and one stand-alone. I hope you've discovered something here to your liking if you haven't discovered YA books before. Thanks for dropping by!