Indie Books Giveaways and Sale! Thanks @attackofthebook!

Saw this and had to share :)

Go check out Indie Books this weekend!

This Labor Day weekend is an ebook lover’s dream come true!

Over 100 authors, over 130 titles, all priced to 99 cents as part of a Labor Day weekend sale to remember.

It is the first annual Indie Book Blowout! 

ARC Book Review: Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers @courtney_s

What an intense read!

I honestly took several breaks while reading this 200 some odd page book because the topic and subject matter as well as the power behind the language and emotions that were stirred up with this book... it was just so hard and intense.

Intense seems to be the word that keeps popping up when I describe this to others. I want people to read it. Courtney Summers did an incredible job with this story. You feel so much for Eddie and her family and friends.

You see how intricately laced we all are and how a small action changes so much and how one person can hurt so many others. The pain within the pages of this book can be both stifling and liberating. It feels good to go through the catharsis, but it also does sting.

Several times while reading, my stomach flipped and plummeted. But that is what makes this story so great. It's real and it's gritty along with the beauty. It's real life. There are parts of this book that will feel like a mirror and it will be uncomfortable, but then there are several instances where I found myself laughing or grinning like a tool as well.

There is a lot of pain in the story, but it's also incredibly beautiful and poignant. This is truly a wonderful read, I just personally struggle with death and depression because it brings up a lot of things I'd rather not think about.

It is truly a wonderful read and I would guess that most people would be able to plow through it in a few hours if that. It might have been hard for me to read, but I don't regret it in the least.

Summers did an amazing job with this story. I would highly recommend, just maybe not during an emo day.

Review: Across the Universe by @BethRevis Tantalizing and terrifying.

Woah.

So I am not a big SciFi person... My childhood his riddled with dad and I watching Star Trek on Saturday mornings and we watched Star Wars together, but that is about where my Science Fiction background begins and ends. When my book girls started talking about this book, it sounded intriguing as well as having a kickass title. When several girls started an ARC tour of the book so we could blog about it as it was coming out on 01-11-11, I jumped on the list. When I got it and saw how big it was last weekend, I really was concerned if I'd be able to finish it.
SciFi's just not my thing, I'm really on a YA and Historical Fiction kick right now, it will distract me with all the technical stuff and I'll forget the plot... yeah, no. That is not at all what happened.

I started it yesterday midday. I finished it a few minutes ago.

I read in the car, at hockey, while making chicken soup from scratch with my stepmom all while convincing her to read it, curled up on the couch with Bella dog and the kitties, and in the tub tonight while trying to destress.

This book is awesome. And not like, "Yay, good yarn, kept the groundlings entertained for a while" good. This was frexing awesome!

The characters are very well drawn and even though it all happens over a matter of days, you get an entire lifetime, or three, in the pages. I immediately fell in love with Amy, the female lead character, and slowly warmed to Elder, the male. The point of view flips between the two which is something I'm glad to see more and more since I'm doing it in my own novel. I'm glad I'll not be the lone weirdo, or simple freak, as Amy is referred to in the book.

There are a lot of emotions riding throughout this story and on several occasions I was startled by the harshness and brutality that was considered "normal" on the Godspeed spaceship. The Season and the Fourth Floor had me completely disgusted and enthralled. I was also started to find myself agreeing with Eldest, the late Elder, and Elder. I know that's confusing, read the book, you'll get it. I was truly horrified by Eldest, but yet I understood his actions. I was scared by the way the late Elder behaved but also in the way I thought of how he had a semblance of the right idea... I could empathize with his choices. Then there is Elder, who you want to hug and smack repeatedly through the book. Especially at the end. He's been put in this integral role; that he never wanted, that he's not prepared for, and none of this is his fault. He does struggle so much, but yet, as Amy describes, he has this innocence and kindness muddled with the Leadership that's bred into him. I kept thinking "mancub" while reading.

There are a few scenes that I saw coming and was happy I could figure it out ahead of Amy and Elder. There are a few curveballs in there thanks to Beth's ability to turn a phrase and catch you off guard. Harley... wow. Such a wow.

The entire time you are on this stunning emotional rollercoaster. You are up with Amy who is strong and fragile, you are down with her as well when she's totally broken, but trying to stand on her own two feet in a situation that I can not totally comprehend. All the while there is a cunning, fascinating mystery thriller wrapping around an incredible social message threading it's way through this tale of power, love, strength, vulnerability, passion, anger, friendship, and peace.

If we don't have the sky, where are we?

If we can't help each other, who are we?

If we don't have truth, what do we have?

Mazel Tov Beth! You did an incredible job! And while I left with many a question, I enjoyed this book immensely. I may pick up another SciFi in the future! Care to write a sequel to help me with all the damned questions still ricocheting around my cerebrum? I hear murmurs of there being more, but no real facts... Beth? Anyone? Bueller?

Go pick it up. If you like a good mystery thriller, you won't be sorry! And check out Beth's site- bethrevis.com and the book site as well, a lot of fun stuff, including several prizes for pics of you with your book! I'm still looking for the secret page, if anyone has a cheat, hook me up!

This book is Bella approved :)