Sunday, September 30, 2012

...on the blog

Bloggiesta was hosted by Suey from It’s All About Books and 1st Daughter of There’s A Book. It is an online event for us bloggers where we are encouraged to spend as much time as we want/can spare during three days working on those thiny little details or big plans we have for our blog.

My to-do list:

  • Blog backup
  • write and schedule my TTT posts for the next weeks
  • write and schedule my Photochallenge posts for the next weeks
  • create my Blogoversary Button
  • announce my Blogoversary
  • write my Showcase Sunday post for this week
  • schedule reviews I already wrote
  • write and schedule reviews 
  • Author Interviews?
  • Tag on Blog
I was able to check off 7 items of my list and I am so happy that I participated. I sure will participate in the next Bloggiesta! 

...in books

Showcase Sunday is weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits & Tea which was inspired by In My Mailbox from Kristie at The Story Siren.
It is a possibility for us to show what amazing books we got during the week. 

After last week's book haul of awesome (read all about it here) the one for this week is a lot smaller. I only bought one book this week. 

On Thuesday I left my house to go to work and the moment I reached the station of the tram I opened my bag and realized that I forgot my book at home. Panic! So I went to my favorite bookstore and bought one. 
Marian Keyes' new book The Mystery of Mercy Close

Saturday, September 29, 2012

...in pictures

This week's topic is:
Shadow
 In the wonderful afternoon light that you get in the fall the trees make wonderful shadows.


Friday, September 28, 2012

...in pictures

This week's topic was:
Fall 
 Next week's topic will be:
Shadow / Schatten
Please link you post to mine in time.
Submission period is between the 28th of September and the
6th of October.
(11:59 pm CET)

...on the blog

Bloggiesta is hosted by Suey from It’s All About Books and 1st Daughter of There’s A Book. It is an online event for us bloggers where we are encouraged to spend as much time as we want/can spare during the next three days working on those thiny little details or big plans we have for our blog.


My to-do list for the next three days:
  • Blog backup
  • write and schedule my TTT posts for the next weeks
  • write and schedule my Photochallenge posts for the next weeks
  • create my Blogoversary Button
  • announce my Blogoversary
  • write my Showcase Sunday post for this week
  • schedule reviews I already wrote
  • write and schedule reviews 
Hopefully I will get everything done until Sunday even though it will be three days full of social events and studying  but there is always time to work on the blog, right?

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

My Life...

I am really sorry that it is terribly silent on the blog this week but I had a lot going on at the end of last week (where I usually take time to write blog posts, etc.) and I have an exam coming up next Tuesday and last but not least university is starting again on Monday. So time is running like crazy at the moment.

So this is why I decided to participate in the Bloggiesta this weekend (September 28th till September 30th)! Bloggiesta is hosted by Danielle from There’s a Book and Suey from It’s All About Books.

Bloggiesta is for us bloggers to take some time during those three days to catch up on things concerning the blog which might have been neglected the last weeks. I definitely have some catching up to do and I hope I'll find enough time next to studying, taking my dog for walks, work and attending a christening on Sunday but I'm sure I'll manage. 

What you can expect from Bloggiesta (taken from There’s a Book):
  • to spend time that weekend (as much or as little as your schedule allows) working on your blog
  • to create a to do list to share on your blog and link up with other participants
  • to hopefully participant in several mini challenges and learn something new
  • to connect with other participants through blog hopping or twitter
  • to make new blogging friends!
  • to come away at the end of the three days with a spiffed up blog!
So now I will have to make a list (yeah!) of all the things I need/would like to do on and for my blog during the weekend.

I am really looking forward to spending time doing blog stuff and chatting with people on Twitter, etc. about it. If you want to participate too check out There’s a Book or It’s All About Books for details and if you want to follow me on Twitter you can find me under @life_of_karin.


Sunday, September 23, 2012

...in books

Showcase Sunday is weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits & Tea which was inspired by In My Mailbox from Kristie at The Story Siren.
It is a possibility for us to show what amazing books we got during the week. 
 
This week was a crazy book buying week. 
Here is my haul:

Paperbacks:

Buried in a Book by Lucy Arlington
a bookish murder mystery set in North Carolina - I had to have it!
 
Enchanted, Inc. 
yes, I have this one on my Kindle but it was so good that I want to have it on my shelf 
read my review here
 

Once upon Stilettos
 
Damsel Under Stress 
all three by Shanna Swendson 
 
 
 Head over Heels

Lucky in Love
 
Forever and a Day
 
At Last 
all by Jill Shalvis
I read the first two books (Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing) in the Lucky Harbor series this year and loved them and Ginger from GReads! posted an amazing review of Simply Irresistible on her blog and reminded me how much I like this books so I had to buy them. 

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

E-Books:
 
Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole

Bewitching the Werewolf by Caroline Hanson

The Wedding Cake Girl by Anne Pfeffer

Forever Mine by Elizabeth Reyes

Love Inc. by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout
recommended by Camille 

Vampire Academy: Vampire Academy Series, Book 1 by Richelle Mead
 recommended by Camille 

Glass Houses: The Morganville Vampires Series, Book 1 by Rachel Caine
recommended by Camille 

Sugar Rush by Rachel Astor

Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
recommended by Dani from Pen to Paper

 Beckoning Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #1) by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Flight (The Crescent Chronicles) by Alyssa Rose Ivy

 I finally preordered: 
From Notting Hill to New York . . . Actually by Ali McNamara
 

Friday, September 21, 2012

...in pictures

This week's topic was:
Graphic
 
Next week's topic will be:
Fall / Herbst
Please link you post to mine in time.
Submission period is between the 21st and the 29th of September.
 
(11:59 pm CET)

...in books

Cover Reveal


No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.


Together we’re stronger... and they know it.


Follow this link to an ~~~ EPIC CONTEST ~~~ Announcement. You will want to bookmark this page!

 
USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.


Find Jennifer on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog

Thursday, September 20, 2012

...in books


Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout



Jennifer is the author of many awesome YA book series, like the Convenant and Lux series (read my review of Obsidian here). She was so nice to agree in doing an interview for My Life...

You published a lot of books during the last years. Many of your books are parts of series. Could you describe how you write those novels? Do you write one book after the other or do you write the whole story and divide it into the individual books afterwards?
I typically write the next book in the series after doing final edits (copy editing/proofing) on the book that comes before. That helps get me back in the story and the world. Sometimes that doesn't always work out. But I rarely write any book in a series back to back. By the time I'm finished one book, I'm ready to focus on something else.

What inspires you to write those amazing stories? I assume that there wasn’t an incredibly hot alien knocking at your door, telling you his story and begging you to write it down (if there was could you send him over to Austria, please).
If there was an incredibly hot alien knocking on my door, I'd be a happy girl. I'm sure a lot of authors have these amazing inspirational stories, but I really don't. I bore very easily. Writing is a way to ease that boredom.

Obsidian and especially Daemon has a huge fan base and right now there is the Daemon Invasion going on. Bloggers all over the world love your books. How important is the contact with your readers to you?
I'm completely blown away by the response to Obsidian. I didn't think it would become that popular, because when people hear the word 'alien' they're typically like "Uh, What?" Contact with readers is super important to me. I love hearing from people all around the world and knowing that people out there are enjoying the series.

You recently filmed book trailers for your Lux series. Could you describe the production of those a bit? How was seeing your figures come life? Did you always picture Pepe and Sztella as your protagonists and why did you choose them as Daemon and Katy?
The production was hectic but really fun. Pepe and Sztella were great to work with and really hung in there when the hours got really late. It was great seeing the characters and scenes come to life. Sometimes a little embarrassing when you see the "Laptop Scene" filmed about twenty different times. I didn't choose them for the cover. The publisher's did after the book was written. It was just crazy luck that they resembled the characters in the book so much.

Could you tell us a bit about your upcoming projects?
Right now I'm working on a YA Paranormal that I had started back in 2011, but couldn't figure out the plot and pacing problems then. I'm almost done and hope to have it ready for submission very soon. It's a project I've been excited about!

The books in the Lux series:
  • Shadow
  • Obsidian (read my review here)
  • Onxy
  • Opal (will be published on December 11th 2012)

The books in the Convenant series:
  • Daimon
  • Half-Blood
  • Pure
  • Deity (will be published on November 6th 2012)
  • Elixir (will be published on November 27th 2012)

The stand-alone novel Cursed was recently published!

Thank you Jennifer for doing this interview with me and if you want to know more about Jennifer and her wonderful novels check her Homepage, Blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Come back tomorrow for the Cover reveal of Opal (the third book in the Lux series)!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

...in books

Cover Reveal


If I Should Die is the third book following  Die For Me (read my review here) and Until I Die by the very talented Amy Plum. It will be released in May 2013 and I cannot wait. The covers of the books are so beautiful and the content is amazing. Amy's writing is just amazing. It feels like you are part of the story and experience Kate's and Vincent's lives. Just awesome!

For more information check Amy Plum's Homepage, Blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.

...in books



Review
Espresso Shot
by Cleo Coyle

The author:
source
Cleo Coyle is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Under the name Cleo Coyle, they've written 11 Coffeehouse Mystery titles, every one a national bestseller. The first in the series is now in its 17th printing. Their newest hardcover release from Penguin, A Brew To A Kill, was chosen as a "must-read mystery of the month" by Barnes & Noble. The series has been Star Reviewed by Library Journal and picked up by AudioGo (BBC America Audiobooks) for production in both digital and CD formats. Murder by Mocha, A Brew to a Kill, and their upcoming December release, Holiday Buzz, are all Mystery Guild Featured Alternate Selections. Cleo also writes a supernatural mystery series set in a New England book shop. The Haunted Bookshop Mysteries are published under the name Alice Kimberly. There are five books published thus far with more under contract. The first book in the series, The Ghost and Mrs. McClure, is now in its eleventh printing.
source: Goodreads

First sentences:
She left her building at six for the health club up the street.

Summary:
Manager and head barista of the bustling New York coffeehouse The Village Blend, Clare Cosis been hired to create a gourmet coffee and dessert bar for a swanky wedding. Clare should be thrilled at this chance to shine, but its Matteo Allegro, her ex-husband and current business partner, who’s tying the knot to Trend magazine editor Breanne Summour, who’s in full-blown bridezilla mode. Claire’s got to put her misgivings aside and focus on business, but since she’s a successful amateur sleuth, murder is Clare’s business, too. And when fatal accidents begin befalling people close to Breanne, Clare becomes suspicious. But what she unveils, amid melted chocolate and steaming mochaccinos, may just get her burned...
source: Goodreads

My opinion:
Espresso Shot is the 7th book in the Coffeehouse Mysteries telling the story of Clare Cosy, the manager of the Village Blend, Matt, her ex-husband and coffee buyer for the Blend, Madame, Matt’s mother and the owner of the Blend, Joy, Clare and Matt’s daughter, Mike Quinn, detective at the New York Police Department and a lot of murders that always seem to happen when Clare’s around. Some might say she attracts chaos.
The books are full of wonderful characters and really nice stories. Espresso Shot is set around the wedding of Matt, Clare’s ex-husband and his fiancée Breanne and we as readers not only experience the story but also Clare’s feelings towards Matt and her struggle to let the father of Joy go.
The book comes with wonderful recipes and coffee making tips and if you like reading cozy mysteries you should definitely check out the stories of Clare Cosy and her Village Blend.

Espresso Shot is available at Amazon in paperback and for your Kindle too. You can also buy it at Book Depo.

The other books in the Coffeehouse series are:
  • On What Grounds   
  • Through the Grinder  
  • Latte Trouble    
  • Murder Most Frothy
  • Decaffeinated Corpse  
  • French Pressed   
  • Espresso Shot   
  • Holiday Grind  
  • Roast Mortem
  • Murder by Mocha 
  • A Brew to a Kill
  • Holiday Buzz (will be published in December 4th 2012)
For more information about Cleo Coyle visit her Homepage and her Facebook or Twitter page.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

...in books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish.
This week's question is:
Top Ten Bookish People You Want To Meet (Authors, Bloggers, etc.)


Bloggers:
I would love to meet so many authors but I would love to meet all my fellow book blogger, so there are no spots left for authors in this week's TTT.

Monday, September 17, 2012

...in books

 Blurb Reveal of 
Timeless by Michelle Madow

On the 23rd of August Michelle Madow revealed the cover of Timeless, the last book in the Transcend Time Saga which will be published on the 20th of November 2012.


Today I am proud to be part of a team that reveals the book's blurb and read on afterwards - there might be a giveaway too.

But first, here is the blurb of Timeless:

IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME.
In Remembrance, Lizzie and Drew changed the course of fate so they could be together. 
In Vengeance, Chelsea set fate back on its original, deadly path. 
Now, strange things keep happening to Lizzie. Things that are omens of darkness to come. A curse has doomed her to die an early death, just as she did in her past life. To make things worse, even if she can figure out who cast the curse, it's irreversible. There's only one option left for her to save herself. It's crazier than anything she's heard yet, and to do it, she'll need Drew and Chelsea's help.
Because to make things right, they must go back to when it all began …

I am so looking forward to reading this book. I loved Remembrance (read my review here) and Vengeance (read my review here), the first two books in the Transcend Time Saga and I am sure that this one will be as good or even better.

For further information about the Transcend Time Saga, Michelle Madow or the purchase the books visit Michelle's Homepage.

And now on to the giveaway:
To celebrate the blurb reveal of Timeless Michelle is hosting a giveaway (US only).
You can win:
  • One signed paperback of Timeless (to be sent as soon as possible after the release date)
  • A choice of one of these time travel novels: 
    • Waterfall by Lisa Bergren
    • Tempest by Julie Cross
    • Hourglass by Myra McEntire
    • TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow
    • Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone
    • Timeless Love by Judith O’Brian.
To enter just fill out the Rafflecopter down below.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 

Friday, September 14, 2012

...in pictures

Next week's topic will be:
Graphic / Grafisch
Please link you post to mine in time.
Submission period is between the 14th and the 22nd of September.
 
(11:59 pm CET)

I would like to ask you all if you have any ideas for topics for the following months. I am sure that each and every one of us has this one (or more) topic she wants to see transfered into a picture by us all. It would be great if you would leave me a comment and tell me your favorite topic so that I can include them in our Photochallenge!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

...in books



Review
Clockwork Angel
by Cassandra Clare

The author:
source
Cassandra Clare was born to American parents in Teheran, Iran and spent much of her childhood travelling the world with her family, including one trek through the Himalayas as a toddler where she spent a month living in her father’s backpack. She lived in France, England and Switzerland before she was ten years old.
Since her family moved around so much she found familiarity in books and went everywhere with a book under her arm. She spent her high school years in Los Angeles where she used to write stories to amuse her classmates, including an epic novel called “The Beautiful Cassandra” based on a Jane Austen short story of the same name (and  which later inspired her current pen name).
After college, Cassie lived in Los Angeles and New York where she worked at various entertainment magazines and even some rather suspect tabloids where she reported on Brad and Angelina’s world travels and Britney Spears’ wardrobe malfunctions. She started working on her YA novel, City of Bones, in 2004, inspired by the urban landscape of Manhattan, her favourite city. She turned to writing fantasy fiction full time in 2006 and hopes never to have to write about Paris Hilton again.
source: Cassandra’s Homepage (shortened)

First sentences:
The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts.

Summary:
Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

My opinion:
I love Cassandra Clare’s writing. Her books are always full of lovely characters and awesome bad guys (bad guy not villains) and her villains are so good (can villains be good? You know what I mean, right?). Clockwork Angel was no exception. I cannot believe it took me so long until I finally grabbed it from my shelf and read it. The book tells the story of Tess who after the death of her aunt comes to Victorian England to live with her brother. When she arrives in Southampton her brother is not there to welcome her but sent two Ladies, called the Dark Ladies, to pick her up. From this moment on Tess’ life changes completely.
The story is gripping from the first page onwards and never once is a perfect moment to stop reading to get a cup of coffee or go to bed. As always in Cassandra’s books there are twists and turns and the action keeps flowing; and every once in a while you are not sure who are the good and who are the bad guys.
A must-read for all the fans of The Mortal Instruments and thrilling, action packed, perfectly told paranormal stories. It will suck you in from the very beginning.

Clockwork Angel is available at Amazon in paperback and for your Kindle too. You can also buy it at Book Depo.

The Books in The Infernal Devices series are:
  • Clockwork Angel
  • Clockwork Prince
  • Clockwork Princess (will be published on March 19th 2013)
For more information about Cassandra Clare visit her Homepage, her Blog and her Facebook or Twitter page.