Reading Road Trip: Wisconsin Style! + Giveaway

It's time to spotlight Wisconsin on the Reading Road Trip 2012.  Reading Road Trip is hosted by Britta from I Like These Books and Hafsah from Icey Books.  I'm so excited to be a part of this! This is the first year that Reading Road Trip is taking place, and basically for the month of July various blogs will be posting a giveaway for a different state.

I chose Wisconsin because that's where I'm from!

This was so much more difficult than I thought.  So, I ended up choosing a book that took place in Wisconsin.  I'm excited because this also happens to be a newly released novel.  It sounds very interesting, and I'll be picking up a copy for myself as well.

On to the details...the giveaway is US only (sorry peeps, this girl is broke!).  I will be giving away one copy of....

Goodreads Summary:

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord’s first sixteen years were not exactly a fairytale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Afghanistan. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire.

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and we all shed tears for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain... magnetism.

And there are stories where it’s hard to be sure who’s a prince and who’s a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.)

Drowning Instinct is a novel of pain, deception, desperation, and love against the odds—and the rules.

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Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway: Undertow by Callie Kingston

Title: Undertow

Author: Callie Kingston

Publication Date: 2/18/2012

Publisher: Carolwood Press

Pages: 230

Format: eBook

Source: Blog Tour

Challenge: 2012 eBook Challenge

Goodreads | Amazon

Book Summary:

While she sleeps beside a log on the wild Oregon coast, a rogue wave pulls Marissa into the sea. Now she dreams each night of a merman who rescues her. Obsessed with returning to this beautiful creature, she again risks her life in the frigid ocean.

Will Marissa remain lost forever in the eddies of her mind, or can real love save her from the abyss? Sometimes, the dangers which lie within are the deadliest.

Where to start with this one?  Marissa is an amazing young woman.  She has suffered a lot of traumatic experiences throughout her life, and at the beginning of the book, she suffers another one.  Marissa finds out her boyfriend Drew is cheating on her, and escapes to the beach to be alone and just think.  While there, she's whisked out to sea by the current and saved by what she believes to be a merman.  

Marissa experiences a lot of craziness in the book, including her own mental breakdown.  She goes through a lot of emotions and the author did a great job expressing those emotions to the reader with a lot of tact and sensitivity.  

There was a bit of a lull midway through the book in which I wasn't quite with it, but I'm glad that I stuck it out.  The ending sucked me in and made me devour the book so much quicker.  It was a great read overall and I really enjoyed it.  I fell in love with Marissa and her new boyfriend, Jim.  Marissa is a skeptical young woman who has a lot of emotions to deal with.  Jim is a great guy who is there for her and willing to help in any way that he possibly can.  

I don't want to say too much more, because I don't want to give anything away.  Basically, if you like contemporary fiction I suggest you pick up this book and give it a try.  Push your way through the middle because I believe you will REALLY enjoy it!

Callie Kingston's home is in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with many furry creatures (including her husband). She holds a masters degree in psychology and has worked in schools for many years. When not writing, she likes to explore the outdoors, especially the forests and beaches along the Oregon coast. She also enjoys a great cup of cappuccino, which happily is easily found in her part of the world.

Click HERE to take a look at the other tour stops, including giveaway opportunities!! 


AND without further ado...check out the e-book giveaway below, provided by the lovely author.  Don't forget, there is also a possibility of winning a SIGNED print copy and a $20 gift card from AToMR Blog Tours!


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Sparkling Reviews: Tv, Gift Cards, Kindle and More!

Have you seen the awesome giveaway from Sparkling Reviews?  There is a little over a day left to enter.  Here are the details from the Sparkling Reviews post: (copied directly from Sparkling Reviews)

2000 Followers Giveaway!

includes:

*1 73 inch Mitsubishi TV 

*1 Sony Home Theater Set (includes Blu Ray Player , iPod dock, and speakers)

*1 $1000 Visa Card (Cause you need food too right? nothing like a movie and take-out)

*1 $1000 Amazon Card (Cause you need Blu Ray movies to watch on your new system!)

The fine print: This giveaway is only for the USA and Canada, I am sorry about the restriction but it is necessary seeing as the electronics are coming from Best Buy.


AND she's giving away more! There are so many ways to enter that you should definitely head on over to her site.  Another giveaway was just posted for the following: (copied directly from Sparkling Reviews)

Kindle Touch Giveaway

This will be coming directly from Amazon, So please make sure that they ship to your country.