Darlene's Book Nook: July 2013

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

#WaitingOnWednesday: Everything Breaks by Vicki Grove @PutnamBooks

Hi, everyone!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Here is this week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection:

TITLE: Everything Breaks

AUTHOR: Vicki Grove

PUBLISHER: Putnam Juvenile

EXPECTED PUBLICATION DATE: October 3, 2013

FORMAT: Hardback, 256 pages

GENRE: Juvenile Fiction (ages 12 and up)

ISBN: 9780399250880

Acclaimed author Vicki Grove returns with a haunting revival of a classic Greek myth.

Tucker was supposed to be the designated driver. But there was something about the beauty of that last true summer night, that made him want to feel out-of-control just once. He drank so much and so quickly that he was instantly sick. That left Trey to drive. "I'll catch up to you later," were the last words Tucker would ever say to his friends as he heaved by the side of the road. It was the last time Tucker would ever see them alive.

Tucker’s grief and guilt are just about unbearable and he wonders how he can continue living himself. When he meets the Ferryman who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers that divide the world of the living from the world of the dead, Tucker gets a chance to decide: live or die. The temptation to join his three best friends on the other side may be too much for Tucker to overcome.

A gripping, haunting and emotional read.

I love Greek myths, and this sounds like it would be a really heartbreaking and interesting read!

What are you waiting on? Please leave a comment in the section below. If you participate in this meme, please leave a link so I can visit your blog!

The Point of No Return Book Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway with J.D. Combs

Hi, everyone!

I am pleased to participate in the Book Tour hosted by Orangeberry Book Tours for J.D. Combs' The Point of No Return.

About J.D.:

JD Combs grew up in a military family using her rich imagination to get her through the loneliness that can come with moving from one place to another. JD studied journalism in college, interning as a newspaper reporter and fell in love with the craft of telling other people's stories. She has maintained a personal blog for the past two years and decided it was time to, once again, tell other people's stories through the characters she created in her head.

JD lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband Stan Pokrywka, their three children, a bunny, two cats, a crested gecko and a golden retriever.

CONNECT ONLINE WITH J.D.:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Welcome to Darlene's Book Nook, J.D.!

J.D. has written a guest post, so I will now turn the floor over to her.

The Inspiration Behind "The Point of No Return"

By J.D. Combs

There were so many factors that caused me to write this book. The most important factor is that I’m a hopeless romantic. I’ll go on to tell you, I’m in my mid-forties. It’s the time of life where, I think, many of us start to get smacked in the face by the infamous mid-life crisis. I’ve been married for almost 20 years, that’s time enough to live through the ups and the downs of married life multiple times over. While the up times are more than fantastic, the down times can truly suck the life out of each spouse. In all the years I’ve been married, I’ve seen couples who I thought were infallible go down in flames, and I’ve seen marriages that I thought were doomed from the start learn to grow and thrive with each other. So I started wondering why the happily ever after was doable for some but not for others, and in wondering about happily ever after I had to let my mind travel down the path of infidelity. Some of this was beyond hard to write about, but my mind wouldn’t shut down and stop thinking about everything that goes into a marriage from both spouses.

Do you or don’t you? That was the question I had to ask myself over and over as I wrote The Point of No Return. Do you cross the line and head into infidelity or do you stay true to your spouse? Can there truly be a happily ever after or is that just a made up fallacy? These were two other questions I had to ask myself repeatedly as I wrote my book. Neither question was good or fun to answer, but in looking around at real life I had to accept the fact that both deserved to be answered.

Facebook and social media make the ability to cheat so much easier. Who would know if you carried on a little something on the side? How easy would it be to fall into a flirtation when life in your marriage is not so good? I’d venture to guess, it would be fairly easy. I’ve heard the stories of some of my friends who have something extra on the side. I’ve interviewed people who have carried on affairs for years. I’ve seen the devastation of a family due to multiple lovers on the side. Holly The Home-wrecker came to life in many instances. So, for me, this book was my way of showing the seedy side of life on the other side of fidelity.

My desire for a happily ever after of my own made it hard for me to write some of the scenes in the middle, but my wish for a fairy tale ending made writing the whole book a true necessity. I hope that makes sense to you. I so desperately want everyone to have the fairy tale ending I think most of us want. I thought maybe if I wrote about the down side of marriage and infidelity, it would be easier to appreciate the up side when we have it. I wish you all the happily ever after of your dreams.

Thanks so much for joining us today, J.D.!

One lucky winner will win a digital copy of J.D.'s Romantic Suspense novel, The Point of No Return!

TITLE: The Point of No Return

AUTHOR: J.D. Combs

PUBLISHER: Perfect Mamas Press

PUBLICATION DATE: May 8, 2013

FORMAT: Kindle Edition, 216 pages

GENRE: Romantic Suspense
ASIN: B00CR5LOLK

Charley, a devoted wife and mother of five, has a life that looks picture perfect to those around her. But years of living life in a neglected marriage make her question her relationship with her husband. Charley spends sleepless nights writing in her journal and trying to find happiness in the life she has. She's not sure she can continue living a dull, loveless life anymore.

When an old high school crush strikes up a conversation on the Internet, an innocent flirtation begins. Charley begins to, once again, feel alive and vibrant, but she quickly learns not everything is what it seems. Will her naiveté in the online world propel her toward the point of no return? Will the woman who seemed to have it all lose it in the blink of an eye? Or will Charley finally find the happiness she's been craving?

Buy Links:

Amazon Kindle / Amazon Paperback

To enter the giveaway, please fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below.

This giveaway is open worldwide until 12:00 AM CST
on August 7, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants:

28th June – Book Feature at Peace from Pieces

29th June – Twitter View with OB Book Tours

30th June – Twitter Blast with OB Book Tours

1st July - Book Review & Guest Post at Mommy Adventures

2nd July – Author Interview at The Bunny’s Review

3rd July - Twitter Blast with OB Book Tours

4th July – Book Review & Guest Post at Author’s Friend

5th July – Book Review & Author Interview at The Reading Cat

6th July – Guest Post at Blog-A-Licious Authors

7th July – Book Review at Kindle Nook Books

8th July – Book Review & Author Interview at Dreaming Pages

9th July – Book Review & Guest Post at Top ‘o Mornin’ To Ya

10th July – Book Review at Me, You & Books

11th July – Book Review & Guest Post at Everything 4 Books

12th July – Book Review at My Reading Problem

13th July – Book Review & Author Interview at UnBiased Book Reviews

14th July – Book Review & Guest Post at City of Reviews

15th July – Author Interview, Book Feature & Guest Post at Talisman Book Publishing

16th July – Book Review at Nobody Important

17th July - Orangeberry Sidebar

18th July – Author Interview & Book Review at Pages to Chapters

19th July – Book Review at Working 4 Books

20th July – Guest Post & Book Review at Mind to Mind

21st July – Book Review at bit’s ‘n Bobs

22nd July – Author Interview & Book Review at Paws on Books

23rd July – Book Review at Journey’s thru Books

24th July – Guest Post at Books Are Magic

25th July – Book Review at A Novel Design

26th July – Book Feature at Laurie’s Thoughts

27th July – Author Interview at Voicu Mihnea Simandan‘s blog

28th July – Book Review & Author Interview at Non-Stop Reads

29th July – Book Review at Brainy Reads

30th July – Book Review & Guest Post at UK Book Club

31st July – Guest Post & Giveaway at Darlene’s Book Nook

1st August – Book Review at Zoo of Books

2nd August – Book Review & Author Interview at Creating Imaginations

3rd August – Book Review & Guest Post at Reading Away Life

4th August – Book Review at Gentleman Reads

11th August – Excerpt at Quality Reads UK

18th August – Author Interview & Book Feature at Book Professor

25th August - Orangeberry Book of the Day

1st September - Tweet Me A Storm with OB Book Tours

8th September – Guest Post at Farm Girl Book

15th September – Excerpt at Reading the Dream Life

22nd September – Author Interview & Book Feature at Books & More

29th September – Excerpt at High Class Books

6th October – Guest Post & Giveaway at Books Are Magic

13th October – Book Feature at Author’s Going Places

20th October – Author Interview at UnEnding TBR Pile

27th October – Guest Post & Book Feature at Life Altering Reads

3rd November – Excerpt at Book Connoisseur

10th November – Author Interview at Pages to Pages

17th November – Author Interview & Book Feature at Top Shelf Books

24th November – Excerpt at Imagination in Books

1st December – Guest Post at eInk Reviews

8th December – Author Interview at Pastime with Books

15th December – Guest Post & Book Feature at Love Books

22nd December – Excerpt at Books on the Open Range

29th December – Author Interview & Book Feature at Lonely Heart

Monday, July 29, 2013

Winners of Sweet Karoline by Catherine Astolfo

Hi, everyone!

The lucky winners of Sweet Karoline by Catherine Astolfo are:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations to you both! I have sent each of you an email, and you have 48 hours to claim your prize.

If any prize is not claimed within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to enter!

There is still time to enter these giveaways (just click on the badges below):

Worldwide - ends July 29th

Worldwide - ends July 30th

BlackWyrm Publishing Summer 2013 Kindle Fire or Kindle Paperwhite with loads of e-books! - Worldwide - ends July 30th

Worldwide - FREE BOOK FOR EVERYONE - ends July 31st

Worldwide: $25 Gift Card to Amazon or B&N plus a signed copy of Epiphany - ends July 31st

Worldwide - ends July 31st

Worldwide - ends August 2nd - 2 winners!

Winner of Deadly Memories by S.D. O'Donnell

Hi, everyone!

The lucky winner of Deadly Memories by S.D. O'Donnell is:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations to Jess! I have sent you an email, and you have 48 hours to claim your prize.

If any prize is not claimed within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to enter!

There is still time to enter these giveaways (just click on the badges below):

Worldwide - ends July 29th

Worldwide - ends July 30th

BlackWyrm Publishing Summer 2013 Kindle Fire or Kindle Paperwhite with loads of e-books! - Worldwide - ends July 30th

Worldwide - FREE BOOK FOR EVERYONE - ends July 31st

Worldwide: $25 Gift Card to Amazon or B&N plus a signed copy of Epiphany - ends July 31st

Worldwide - ends July 31st

Worldwide - ends August 2nd - 2 winners!

Winner of The Controlled by Becky Komant

Hi, everyone!

The lucky winner of The Controlled by Becky Komant is:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations to Mary P.! I have sent you an email, and you have 48 hours to claim your prize.

If any prize is not claimed within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to enter!

There is still time to enter these giveaways (just click on the badges below):

Worldwide - ends July 29th

Worldwide - ends July 30th

BlackWyrm Publishing Summer 2013 Kindle Fire or Kindle Paperwhite with loads of e-books! - Worldwide - ends July 30th

Worldwide - FREE BOOK FOR EVERYONE - ends July 31st

Worldwide: $25 Gift Card to Amazon or B&N plus a signed copy of Epiphany - ends July 31st

Worldwide - ends July 31st

Worldwide - ends August 2nd - 2 winners!

Winner of Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan

Hi, everyone!

The lucky winner of Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan is:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations to Denise L.! I have sent you an email, and you have 48 hours to claim your prize.

If any prize is not claimed within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to enter!

There is still time to enter these giveaways (just click on the badges below):

Worldwide - ends July 29th

Worldwide - ends July 30th

BlackWyrm Publishing Summer 2013 Kindle Fire or Kindle Paperwhite with loads of e-books! - Worldwide - ends July 30th

Worldwide - FREE BOOK FOR EVERYONE - ends July 31st

Worldwide: $25 Gift Card to Amazon or B&N plus a signed copy of Epiphany - ends July 31st

Worldwide - ends July 31st

Worldwide - ends August 2nd - 2 winners!

High Summer Read-a-Thon: My Wrap-up Post #HSreadathon

This is my Wrap-up Post for the High Summer Read-a-Thon!

I Finished:

The Program
(Program, Book #1)
by Suzanne Young
[on my iPod]
MY REVIEW

Started But Not Finished:

Crazy Time: Surviving Divorce and Building a New Life

Crazy Time: Surviving Divorce and Building a New Life
by Abigail Trafford

Pretty When She Kills (Pretty When She Dies, #2)

Pretty When She Kills
(Pretty When She Dies, Book #2)
by Rhiannon Frater
[on my iPad]

Shades of Earth
(Across the Universe, Book #3)
by Beth Revis
[on my iPod]

Still Reading Aloud to My Kids:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
(Harry Potter, Book #4)
by J.K. Rowling

Here are the final tallies for the week:

Total number of pages read: 163 pages
Total number of minutes listened: 9 hrs
Total books finished: 1

Thanks again to my favourite read-a-thon host, Michelle!

Audiobook Review: The Program by Suzanne Young

TITLE: The Program

SERIES: Program, Book #1
AUTHOR: Suzanne Young

NARRATOR: Joy Osmanski
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster Audio
PUBLICATION DATE: April 30, 2013

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook, 10 hrs and 56 mins
GENRE: Young Adult, Science Fiction/Dystopia
ISBN: 9781442357938

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone - but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

MY REVIEW:

I received this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.

Wow, I think this book has now moved into the top spot for my favourite YA book of 2013!

In this dystopian world, the suicide rate amongst teenagers is on the rise, with one out of every three teens succumbing to the tragedy. Scientists have failed to determine the cause and have speculated that it could be due to pesticides used in the production of food or contaminants in vaccines. They believe the most likely cause is due to overuse of anti-depressants in the generation of the parents, which has altered the chemical makeup of their offspring making them more prone to depression.

The protagonist is Sloane Barstow, a 17 year-old teenage girl whose school district in Oregon has established a program where students are observed closely for any changes in their manner or disposition that could signal the threat of depression. If a person is exhibiting any such symptoms, they are flagged and handlers are called in to take the “infected” student to a treatment facility. The patient will be subjected to a cocktail of pills that will strip away the troubling memories that are affecting their mood. The Program generally lasts about six weeks, and then the patient is released but is not permitted to mingle unsupervised with the regular teens. These patients, referred to as “returners,” attend high school with other returners and will remain there until graduation. If they wish to visit with friends, they can do so at the Wellness Centre while being chaperoned by a handler. Once the teens turn 18 years of age, they cannot be forced into treatment.

Sloane’s brother, Brady, committed suicide when she was 15 years old. Her boyfriend, James Murphy, was Brady’s best friend and he is the only person who is holding Sloane together. He keeps reminding her that they cannot show any vulnerability and must hide their true feelings or risk being flagged. When one of Sloane’s friends is forced into treatment, it sets off a chain-reaction from which there is no turning back. Fearing for the safety of their only remaining child, Sloane’s parents call in the handlers to have her taken away. Sloane is adamant that they will not succeed in erasing her memories, and she is desperate to hold onto her identity.

The Program is one of those books that just grabbed me from the get-go and never let me go! The concept of being taken against one’s will into a program that would brainwash me is so frightening. A teenager wouldn’t be able to trust anyone. What a way to live! Young created a gripping, emotional story with a sweet romance that has me yearning for more! I cannot wait to read the sequel, The Treatment, which is expected to be released in April 2014. That seems so far away, so I’m definitely planning to check out her A Need So Beautiful series while I wait. Just a caution out there for the parents: There is sexual content, so I would recommend this one only for those at the upper end of the teen range.

Memorable quote:

“He said that some things are better left in the past and true things are destined to repeat themselves.”

This is my second narration by Joy Osmanski, and she was bang-on! She captured Sloane’s emotions perfectly, and she made it very hard for me to put this book down.

MY RATING:

5 stars!! I loved it, and you should definitely put it on your TBR list! A big thanks to Simon Audio for the opportunity to review this audiobook!