Two Years of Blogging

In January 2011 I was a 17 year old that loved to read but didn't know how to share her passion. I became a guest reviewer at The Secret Life of an Avid Reader - which is sadly no longer an active blog, but I learned so so many things about the book blogging world, and finally in March 2011 I started my own.

It has been a looooong journey from the little blue-brown blog to what In Between is today.

March 5th 2011 I made my first post, my first review, being Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. I've written around 150 more reviews since then.

2 Years Guys. 2 Amazing Years. 

and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

It is really tempting to get all sappy and emotional and give this huge speech, but I will not, so don't worry. I will, however, get slightly cheesy and say that none of this, NONE of this would have been possible or as fun without these

Jennifer @Some Like It Paranormal - We've been friends for a long time, I love her blog, I love her, I love her taste in books. She's influenced my choice of books a lot and she always recommends the best. I look forward to more years of blogging with her ♥

Molly @Once Upon a Prologue - She's such a beautiful person, and she was missing for a little while while she changed her blog. Now she has a shiny new Wordpress blog and it looks fabulous!

Kylee @Babbling of a Bookaholic - My blog twin! She's A-mazing, I had her as a friend on Goodreads for quite some time, but it wasn't until a month or so ago that we actually started to talk and Oh My God, she's as crazy and dramatic as I am!... she's just a lot like me. And Happy Birthday!!!! (it was yesterday, but there's no harm in congratulating you again - I hope Amazon finally decided to cooperate with you!!)

Valeria, Goodreads Profile Here - She's so so funny and we both live in the same place, how cool is that? We know our culture, we know our people, we know our football team and we know our traffic. She's the best on twitter and has yet to fail at making me smile.

Melannie @Books Are Vital - Who is also from the same place as I am. She has the funniest reviews ever. She hasn't posted many lately, (she's in med school) and I miss them and her like crazy :( At least she's doing great in school ;)

Justin @Justin's Book Blog - Crazy cat Sir and great buddy, we've chatted endlessly on facebook and he's an awesome blogging buddy to have.

Cindy @Oodles of Books - I Love LOVE Cindy's blog, both design and content. She's so nice and has really great content, one of my favorite bloggers <3

Anna @Literary Exploration - There is no nicer and friendlier person in all the blogosphere. Seriously, there isn't.

Haley @Ya-Aholic - She's one of the bloggers I most admire, her blogging style and book taste are really good, and if she ever decides to study Graphic Design, she'll be the best. 

Vicky @Books, Biscuits and Tea - another blogger and designer I really admire. She's an excellent reviewer and  a very talented person when it comes to nail polish - seriously, check out her designs.

I feel so so proud of knowing such amazing bloggers and for having so many lovely followers

Thank you for being around and for welcoming me into this world of book lovers and allowing me to share what I love most and my biggest passions. These are two years of blogging in what I hope are still much more years to come, and I really hope you'll stick around with me :)
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. 

Now the giveaway.
Two winners will get a book of their choice (15$ or less)
International as long as The Book Depository ships to you

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Happy New Year 2013 Giveaway Hop!

 

Happy New Year everyone!

There is definitely no better way to start the year than with a giveaway!

A book of your choice from Amazon or B&N from under 15$

(US)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to enter the rest of the giveaways! 
and to enter my All I Want for Christmas Giveaway (US)

NOTE: I did something, I'm not sure what, but I accidentally removed comments D:! I have no idea how to get them back, and I am so so so sorry for this! No worries though, I have your answers in my saved in my e-mail and they still count! It was an accident D:! again, sorry!

All I Want For Christmas Giveaway!

This is the thing: I swore I would not buy any more books until I finished reading at the very least 5-10 books in my TBR pile... but, you know, Christmas is coming, and I plan on buying a few books as a gift to myself :D! No, you don't get to look at me that way, it's Christmas, that's totally legal.

Anyways, I am buying 6 books, problem is, I'm having trouble deciding which books to buy! This is were you guys come in. 

Help me pick which books to buy!

and in return, two lucky people are getting any book they want under 15$ for Christmas :) 

... Well, more like New Years really, 'cause that's when the contest ends and when I'll buy my books... still, you'll get books! The Giveaway is US Only! Sorry about that :(

I have to choose 6 of these books

(I made list after list and this was all I could narrow it down to)

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Now VOTE
Giveaway is US Only - sucks, I know :( but you can still help me pick books, 

just leave a note beside the book you choose that says 'Only Voting'

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Thank You for voting and Happy Holidays :)

Something Wicked Comes! - Giveaway!

Something Wicked Comes, and I present to you Intertwined by Gena Showalter

It's one of my favorite books! Zombies! Werewolfs! Vampires! Knomes! Pixies! 2 Love stories! All in one book, with a main character that has 4 souls inside of him. Sounds awesome, and it is :3

 There’s something about the new guy at Crossroads High…

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time travel.
One can raise the dead.
One can possess another human.
One can tell the future.

Everyone thinks he’s crazy, which is why he’s spent his entire life shuffled between mental institutions and juvie. All of that is about to change, however. For months Aden has been having visions of a beautiful girl—a girl who carries centuries-old secrets. A girl who will either save him or destroy him.

Together they’ll enter a dark world of intrigue and danger... but not everyone will come out alive.

***

GIVEAWAY!
One Hardcover copy of Intertwined. US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't miss the other stops and chances to win more awesome books :D!
 

Speechless Blog Tour & Giveaway!

 “In honor of National Anti-Bullying Awareness month, we’re talking about SPEECHLESS by Hannah Harrington, a young adult novel about bulling."

About Love Is Louder
The Love is Louder movement was started when the Jed Foundation, MTV and actress Brittany Snow decided to do something to help those feeling mistreated, misunderstood or alone. Now hundreds of thousands of people around the world have joined the Love is Louder movement and are using their actions to make their communities and schools better places for everyone. Come join the Love is Louder movement with us. Get started now atLoveisLouder.com/SPEECHLESS

About Speechless

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret 

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed. 

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse. But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

Speechless - Goodreads,  amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Indie Bound

About The Author

Hannah Harrington resides in Michigan with one dog and too many cats. When she isn’t busy writing like a crazy person, she enjoys arguing about politics, watching documentaries, playing guitar (very badly) and speaking about herself in the third person. She released her debut novel Saving June in December 2011 and wowed readers with its intense subject of teen suicide. Her latest novel, Speechless (September 2012), explores the topic of bullying. You can find her online at www.hannahharrington.com

My Speechless Moment.

I was one of the unfortunate ones that were bullied big time in elementary school and junior high. But there was this one girl that made her mission to make school days impossible, she would always pick on me, call me names and we once got into a big fight in a classroom.

I went to the bathroom one day between classes, it was empty except for her, she was crying on the floor. I had heard earlier that day that some guys were bothering her and they threw her lunch to the floor. I had been in that same bathroom floor doing the exact same thing, crying because of frustration and hurt. I thought about just turning and leave. She briefly looked at me and then went back to her crying, not caring at all if I saw her or not, not caring if I stayed or leaved. I decided to stay. I just walked next to her, and sat beside her. She kept crying for a while, a few girls came inside the bathroom and I just shook my head at them and they all left. Once she had stopped I gave her some paper so she could clean up and let her borrow my makeup. No words were exchanged, not an uncomfortable silence either, there was just no need to talk, and I was completely and utterly Speechless.

Speechless to know that a girl that had broken me many times could also be just as broken and just as hurt. It did not justify why she did what she did, but it did help me understand better. We're all hurting a little bit, the thing is, What do you with it? Do you make people just as hurt as you or do you help them? As for that girl, she only offered me a smile, and I didn't need any more than that. After that she didn't bother me anymore, we did not became friends, not at all; but we did have a quiet understatement, a sense of respect for each other.

You have to be careful with what you say, but also with what you don't say. Words can hurt, but you can also speak up for someone and help them. Bullying is a really big issue, it can make school really difficult and really damage you; but it's like Hank Green says "Your job is not to deal with it, your job is to survive it, which you can do, because it will end. And then yes, it will get better." I am only halfway through Speechless, but I can already tell it's a must read.

GIVEAWAY.

 Thanks to Kismet Book Tours we have One Copy of Speechless and “Read for the Fun Mood” pens to support the Teen Reading Week. One winner from all entries during the tour gets an Epic Prize Pack: KindlePaperwhite with Speechless Skin, 1 iPhone Skin, 5 Copies of Speechless to share with friends & family and 1 copy of Saving June! 

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Tour Schedule
Monday, October 15th - Page Turners
Tuesday, October 16th -  Love Is Louder
Wednesday, October 17th - Harlequin Blog
Thursday, October 18th - My 5 Monkeys
Friday, October 19th - The Daily Bookmark
Monday, October 22nd - Wastepaper Prose
Tuesday, October, 23rd - YA Bibliophile
Wednesday, October 24th - The O.W.L.
Thursday, October 25th - In Between
Friday, October 26th - I'm a Book Shark

 

Empty Net - Toni Aleo + GIVEAWAY!

Empty Net by Toni Aleo
Date Released:  September 3rd 2012
Pages: 353 pages
Format: ARC
Source: Author

Summary:

Definition of an Empty Net: When a team pulls the goalie for an extra attacker, desperately seeking a goal.

Audrey Parker was in a horrible place.
She hated her job, her sister was getting married and moving out, but worst of all, she was in love with a total jerk. No matter what she did, every guy she met hurt her. All she wanted was her happily ever after. Her Prince Charming. Her Lucas Brooks! She didn’t know how to change her life but she knew she needed too.
Feeling like she was about to hit rock bottom, Audrey wakes up next to Tate Odder.

Tate Odder had lost everything.
After being brought up from the Assassins’ farm team, the Florida Rays to the Nashville Assassins, Tate hopes he’ll forget everything he has lost. He doesn’t. Each day gets harder to live in a place he doesn’t know. Even being the first rookie goalie to shut out an opposing team three times during the Lord Stanley Cup Finals, he still felt empty. With the loss of his parents and sister still heavy on his heart, Tate isn’t sure how to live like everything is okay.

But when he wakes up beside Audrey Parker, things start to change. She turns his life upside down with her kooky sense of humor and her bright clothing. She is intelligent and beautiful, and for once, he doesn’t feel empty.
Will Audrey be the person to fill the holes in Tate’s heart, making him whole again?
Or will another player ruin everything, leaving him feeling forever like an empty net?

From Goodreads

My Review:
I Love Love LOVE this books! They have become one of my favorite series and I loved every single aspect of them! Following Toni Aleo's now familiar writing style, Empty Net delivered a fantastic story. We met Audrey in Trying to Score. I really liked her, even if in the beginning she was a bit... pathetic? lol, not in a bad way, she was just fooled with the idea of loving someone and did some stupid things - like cleaning after the douchebag's mess. I felt really bad for her in this aspects, she deserved better things and she hadn't gotten any of them.

Audrey finds comfort for her broken heart with the sweet piano melodies her new neighbor plays (great music btw.) and also in a one night stand that didn't turn out quite as planned. Now let me introduce you to Tate Odder, I think he is my favorite guy in all the books! I had a huge crush on Shea Adler from Trying To Score but, it's just so many great men and it's really hard to choose. *Sigh* I'll definitely go with Tate, he loved Red-velvet and Ron Pope. Funny fact: Tate's ex-fiance and the girl that broke his heart has my first name  x)  I swear I would never dare to brake Tate's heart.

Tate and Audrey are, without a doubt, perfect for each other. Problem? Tate is 7 years younger than Audrey, and she isn't exactly comfortable with that, to say the least. But Tate is a mature, sweet man and a Sex God - Audrey definitely wants him, and he wants her. 

I was a little bit afraid that Empty Net wouldn't deliver as the series ending, but it did. Even if the three books revolved around hokey players and a similar theme, they were all different and unique in their own ways. It never felt like a repetitive story or the same characters. Each one was very clear and their stories and conflicts were different.

Empty Net was fantastic, and I want need more. I cannot wait to see what Toni Aleo will be writing next.
A Must Read Series.

Author Bio

I am a wife, mother, and hopeless romantic.
I have been told I have anger issues, but I think it’s cause of my intense love for hockey!
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughters dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, and reading the latest romance novel.
I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, and did I mention I love hockey?

Website

Facebook

Twitter: tonilovesweber6

Get the first 2 books in the series

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble 

 

GIVEAWAY!

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Chasing McCree - J.C. Isabella

Chasing McCree by J.C. Isabella
Date Released:  April 14th 2012
Pages: 182 pages
Format: Kindle Edition
Source:B

Summary:

Briar Thompson had it all. The right clothes, the right friends, the right car. Being popular was all that mattered. Her parents were rich and treated like royalty throughout the community. She thought her senior year of high school was going perfectly, until the night her drink was spiked at a party by one of her so called friends.

That was the night she met Chase McCree.

Chase wanted to go back to Montana. To the ranch and the wild, wide blue sky that went on forever. He wanted nothing to do with flashy cars or spoiled rich kids. But he found himself head over boots for the quirky cheerleader who turned her back on her social status. She befriended him when no one else would.

Shunned and hurt by the people who were once her friends, Briar flees with Chase to his family ranch in Montana. There she discovers another world, and apart of herself she never knew.

The cowboy wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met. The cheerleader wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met. Apart their lives didn’t seem to make sense, but together, they were chasing forever.

From Goodreads

My Review:

Best part of Chasing McCree? Briar. I really liked her as a character. I've read quite a few books were the main character struggles with the decision of following her friends and what's expected of her, but not one with as much determination as Briar. The night her friends left her and she met Chase, she made up her mind. She never really doubted what she wanted to do and who she wanted to be, which is something I really admired in her. Her mother was also a really pushy person that expected waaaay to much of her, I really did hate the woman. Still, even if there was pressure, Briar stood her ground. 

As for Chase, apart from the times were he mentioned he enjoyed to shoot and killed his first animal at the age of 10 and me constantly thinking he was a savage for doing such a thing, was pretty charming. He was a cowboy to the core, and also a gentleman. He wasn't a city boy at all, he belonged in his ranch. As for Briar, even if she was raised as a city girl, deep down, she felt more alive and like herself in the ranch also. I had a small conflict with this. I wasn't really able to relate to that aspect of the story. I'm definitely a city girl - not like Briar, I'm not rich and I do more things than shop, but I am so Not a ranch/outdoors girl. I'm not one to go camping, or riding horses. Don't get me wrong, camping must be fun - as a once in a lifetime event. And horses are pretty - from far away. The idea of breaking free from the city sounds romantic and pretty; liberating and honest, but while showing this I think the book made life in the city seem too shallow. 

Aside from this the book was really fun, lighthearted and quirky, especially Briar's Grandmother. Crazy lady, really funny, no doubt! She was a really entertaining character! But if my Grandmother ever starts acting that way or says the phrase 'No Glove go Love' to me, I'll freak out o.o And a great ending! Really liked the Epilogue, really showed a HEA.

I'll definitely be reading more books by this author! :)

About the Author

I'm J.C. Isabella, and I love to write. I've been writing for about ten years now. Mostly it was just for fun, for me. But my friends liked my work, so I decided to self publish. I hope you enjoy the rest of my site, and the books I have written.

The reason I chose to write romance, is because I love a happy ending. In YA there are so many lessons to be learned, so many firsts to be had. Why not write about first kisses, first crushes, or trying to explain to your father you were bitten by your boyfriend, who happens to be a werewolf?
One thing I will always promise in my books is a happy ending. I've always hated getting to the end of a really great novel, and feeling let down because it didn't end the way I thought it should. So about ten years ago, I decided to write a book. I remember it was about these kids who hijack a boat to find buried treasure in Mexico.... Needless to say, my writing has come a long way since my teen years, and I know I have room to improve, but I feel guilty having these books sitting in my computer, with no one to read them. So I'm putting them out for the world to see!  I try not to take myself too seriously. I'm not an editor, nor am I a total wiz when it comes to grammar or language. I try my darndest though, and I hope to give people an enjoyable read that is nice a break from reality.  I put a lot of work into what I do, and I appreciate people reading my work. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble: | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

GIVEAWAY:

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Don't forget to check out the rest of the tour stops! 

What Kills Me - Wynne Channing +GIVEAWAY!

What Kills Me by Wynne Channing

Date Released:June 6th 2012
Publisher:  Jet & Jack Press
Pages:  209 pages
Format: mobi
Source:Dark Mind Tours

Summary:

An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race.

So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive.

How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals?

From Goodreads

My Review:

I Loved the tragic aspect of the book, no, not in a sad way. But how Alexia became a vampire, and what she had to face afterwards was pretty much brutal. I really felt for her from the moment she woke up as a vampire. She had such a short time to grieve what she's lost before she's given a death sentence. Lucky her, she's special. The unlucky part is that she has to learn the hard way. 

Speaking of unlucky characters: Meet Lucas. Hot and strong and protective. Did I miss anything? He also had to loose a lot in the beginning. He was a very bitter character in the beginning, his mood softened a little as he got to know Alexia, and together they had great-sarcastic sense of humor, I really enjoyed the interaction between these two. Apart from the great dynamics between the main characters, was all the action. No dull moments. Always on the go and running for their lives. 

I was really intrigued by the prophecy in the book. The fact that Alexia is was meant to basically extinguish vampires was a bit funny yet exiting and interesting. Especially if we consider that Alexia feels really bad for stealing someones car... not exactly what I had in mind for a main character with a huge destiny. Alexia was original in this aspect. She's not your typical hero, she's quirky, awkward and she can't seem to shut up x) She's in the stage of trying to find out who she is as a vampire and who she is to the vampire race. By the end she became stronger and braver. I really enjoyed the ending and the shocking aspects of it. Looking forward to the sequel :D!

Buy What Kills Me

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Wynne Channing

Wynne Channing is an award-winning national newspaper reporter and young adult novelist. She loves telling stories and as a journalist, she has interviewed everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Hugh Jackman to the president of the Maldives and Duchess Sarah Ferguson. The closest she has come to interviewing a vampire is sitting down with True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard (he didn’t bite). She briefly considered calling her debut novel "Well" so then everyone would say: "Well written by Wynne Channing." 

Where to find Wynne:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

GIVEAWAY! - US/CANADA

One Lucky winner will get a signed bookmark with a butterfly charm and a e-copy of What Kills Me! All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know which is your favorite vampire book. Good Luck!

Want More?

Don't Miss Dark Mind Tours Giveaway Here.

Seaweed - Elle Strauss + GIVEAWAY!

Seaweed by Elle Strauss

Date Released:  June 15th 2012
Publisher: ESB Publishing
Pages: 233 pages
Format: Mobi
Source: AToMr Blog Tours

Summary:

Dori Seward can’t wait to get out of Eastcove, a sleepy fishing village on the border of New Brunswick and Maine. She bides her time by hanging out with friends, attending swim club, and holding her biggest competition, Colby–who wants more than just friendship, at arm’s length.

Then Tor Riley comes to town and he has everything Dori dreams of in a boyfriend–looks, athleticism and mystery.

But Tor also has a tantalizing secret and Dori is determined to find out what it is. The truth is crazier than her wildest imaginations and more dangerous, too. Dori has new enemies, and they will do anything to get to her.

Her life, her dreams and her love for Tor are all weighing in the balance. Will Dori risk it all in order to have it all?

From Goodreads

My Review:

Seaweed reminded me a little bit of The Thirteenth Year,-which is a movie I adore- they had some similarities but Seaweed made it's own story. Seaweed was a story that had so many things going on - No dull moments, and there were lots of little twists and turns.

Dori was an impulsive character, it sometimes seemed like she made irrational decisions, but it was really hard to stay mad at her, because even if they weren't the best choices, they still lead up to something good or pleasant surprises. Tor was such a cute guy, but he still had an edge when it came to protecting Dori or having to fight for her - literally. I also really loved the way the author managed the whole mermaid world - a bit weird on the family ties, if you ask me. But it was still creative and the whole process of getting a tail seemed pretty original to me. I have read very few mermaid books but I definitely want to read more of them; they all manage to be mysterious and fascinating at the same time.

My favorite thing about Seaweed was the writing. They way Dori's head was made was really fun and entertaining. I liked her little inner jokes and sarcastic comments. I carried a smiley face through most of the book. I like quirky characters, and Dori's mind was definitely appealing. Seaweed is a perfect summer read, especially if you're near the beach ;)

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13638450-seaweed

Author Blog: http://ellestraussbooks.blogspot.com/

Author Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElleStraussAuthor

Twitter: @elle_strauss, https://twitter.com/elle_strauss

GIVEAWAY!  
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Don't forget to visit the rest of the tour stops!