Showers of Books Giveaway Hop April 16-30

Showers of Books Giveaway HOP
April 16-30, 2016
hosted by Bookhounds
details and complete list (here)

Blast from the past...

Start With the Backbeat
A Musical Novel
by Garine Isassi
-Chick-lit, Music, 1980s, New Adult
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
It is the spring of 1989 in New York City when Jill Dodge, a post-punk rocker from Texas, finally gets her big promotion at Mega Big Records. She is thrust into a race to find a gritty, urban rapper before the “Gangsta” trend passes their label by. As Jill and her mostly middle-class coworkers search for the next big rap star, they fluctuate between alliances and rivalries, tripping over the stereotypes of race, class, and musical genre. They work to promote their current roster of acts as well as the new rap artist they sign to a contract. It turns out, he may not be what they expected. Full of original lyrics and wit, Start With the Backbeat is a compelling examination of the nuances of class, race, and culture in America―which are sometimes ridiculously serious.


Mystery set in Spain...

The Invisible Guardian
by Dolores Redondo
-Mystery, Spain
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Already a #1 international bestseller, this tautly written and gripping psychological thriller forces a police inspector to reluctantly return to her hometown in Basque Country—a place engulfed in mythology and superstition—to solve a series of eerie murders.

When the naked body of a teenage girl is found on a riverbank in Basque Country, Spain, homicide inspector Amaia Salazar must return to the hometown she always sought to escape. A dark secret from Amaia’s past plagues her with nightmares, and as her investigation deepens, the old pagan beliefs of the community threaten to derail her astute detective work. The lines between mythology and reality begin to blur, and Amaia must discover whether the crimes are the work of a ritualistic killer or of a mythical creature known as the Basajaun, the Invisible Guardian.

Torn between the rational procedures of her job and the local superstitions of a region shaped by the Spanish Inquisition, Amaia fights against the demons of her past in order to track down a killer on the run.


YA contemporary...

All the Bright Places
by Jennifer Niven
-Mental illness, YA
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.


YA audio cd, fantasy...

Crudrat
by Gail Carriger
-Fantasy, YA
-audio CD
Website | Goodreads | my review
Welcome to Wheel: a perfect world without poverty, disease, or want. Tinkered and tuned in every way for maximum order by Rank and Spoke, every child knows her destiny. So long as she can take the neural implant.

The defective, whose bodies reject the implants, do not exist. Ghosts. Cyphers. Haunting the edges of society, living on scraps, killed for sport. A lucky few, the Crudrats, scrape out a perilous living cleaning the toxic wastes from the great machines that power the station.

Meet Maura. Cypher. Crudrat. Grown too tall, alone in a spaceport with no use for her, doomed to starve. With only her crud-eating murmel and an alien monster to help her, she must find a way to survive, or escape, before they catch her and blow what’s left of her life, and her companions, into space.

From the pen of Gail Carriger, Artistic Whispers Productions presents an unabridged full-cast young-adult adventure that brings golden age-style science fiction into the 21st century, stuffs it full of heart, and gives it a finely polished, gleaming edge.


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WIN one of the books above (my review copies) or audio cd of Crudrat!

For 4 winners.

Open to US only.

Offer ends: April 30, 2016

TO DO: (2 parts)

1. COMMENT here and tell me which book you would like AND leave your email.

2. READ and comment on another post on my blog.

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NOW, hop-along to these other sites for more goodies… (here)

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Contest has ended - (winner is here)

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Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - 4.14.16

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts
hosted by (un)Conventional Bookviews (details)
A meme to share some food and/or drink quotes found in current reads.

The Invisible Guardian
by Dolores Redondo
-Mystery, Thriller, Spain
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Quote:
The flour had not led them anywhere, and if the suspect had not bought the txantxigorris locally, where did that leave them? Flora had told her they they were definitely baked in a stone oven, but that wasn't much help either. Almost all the restaurants and rotisseries from Pamplona to Zugarramurdi had one, and that was without counting those that were still found at bakeries and the older farmhouses, albeit sometimes unused.
-chapter 35, page 266 (ARC)

The sweet treat, txantxigorri, plays an important role and is mentioned numerous times in this story. I had to google it as I was unfamiliar with it.

One of the ingredients includes pork rinds which is curious for a sweet treat. So, now I am craving it and wanting to give it a taste. I may have to take a trip to Spain for a sample ;-)

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* image source: txantxigorris from The small world of Esti (here)

The Invisible Guardian by Dolores Redondo

The Invisible Guardian
by Dolores Redondo

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookExcerpt
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter @DOLORESREDONDOM

Just released (US): March 8, 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Spain
Hardback: 384 pages
Rating: 5

The Baztan trilogy:
The Invisible Guardian
Legacy in the Bones
Offering to the Storm

First sentence(s):
Ainhoa Elizasu was the second victim of the basajaun, although the press was yet to coin that name for him.

When the naked body of a teenage girl is found on a riverbank in Basque Country, Spain, homicide inspector Amaia Salazar must return to the hometown she always sought to escape. A dark secret from Amaia’s past plagues her with nightmares, and as her investigation deepens, the old pagan beliefs of the community threaten to derail her astute detective work. The lines between mythology and reality begin to blur, and Amaia must discover whether the crimes are the work of a ritualistic killer or of a mythical creature known as the Basajaun, the Invisible Guardian. Torn between the rational procedures of her job and the local superstitions of a region shaped by the Spanish Inquisition, Amaia fights against the demons of her past in order to track down a killer on the run.

Zombie sighting:
He had been like a zombie trying to pull of the illusion of appearing alive, an illusion that couldn't seem more false to him now.
-chapter 43, page 338 (of ARC)

PeekAbook:



My two-bits:

I found a new favorite detective in Amaia Salazar. She keeps a cool head and is a thinks outside-of-the-box kind of character.

Being the first in a series, this book does well in the backstory of Amaia, especially in creating a connection and sympathy for her. Yes, I like her.

This was not a fast-paced thriller. It is a methodical one where you get a sense of the whole picture by learning about the location setting and the people who live there. And, in this case people who are close to Amaia.

The story also weaves the folklore of the place which creates some eerie moments.

About the author:

Dolores Redondo was born in Donostia-San Sebastián in 1969. Her novel The Invisible Guardian, a #1 international bestseller, was shortlisted for the prestigious CWA Dagger Awards. It was also named the “Best Crime Novel of the Year” by La Vanguardia. Redondo studied law and gastronomy before beginning her writing career. She now lives and writes in the Ribera Navarra.

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* review copy courtesy of publisher

Stacking the Shelves - 3.19.16

Stacking the Shelves
hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

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Freebie: for kindle

Addicted to You (Addicted #1)
by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie
-New Adult, Romance
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> From Stacking Shelves, I decided to give this series a try after reading a recommendation and review from Words With Sarah (here).

For Review:

The Invisible Guardian
by Dolores Redondo
-Mystery, Thriller, Spain
courtesy of publisher -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Not Always Happenstance
by Rachael Anderson
-Romance
courtesy of eBooks for Review -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Nikolas and Company Book 4:
Fire of The Lionsbran
by Kevin McGill
-Fantasy
courtesy of author -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads
Library:

Kill The Boy Band
by Goldy Moldavsky
-Humor, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> Had to pick this up when I found the library had it. It is one of my anticipated reads for the year.

So Cute It Hurts!!
volume 1
by Gō Ikeyamada
-Japanese, Manga, Humor, Romance
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> From Stacking Shelves post by Waiting for Wentworth (here). So cute I had to give it a try. Gobbled it up in a day. And, yes. Super cute ;-)

OTHER things on my shelf: kinda book-related

Snape Tribute Box
from Fandom of the Month Club (here)
Box includes:
- Info card
- Decal: Always
- Magnet: Snape
- Velveteen bag: Half Blood Prince
- Necklace: charms representing Snape, Lily and James
- Earrings: Snape
- Ring: 394
- Cuff bracelet: After all this time? Always.

UNBOXING:

From Uppercase package (details & signup):
A hand-selected young adult book & fun bookish item, delivered monthly #UppercaseBox

March package includes:
- Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
- Signed bookplate
- Stickers: Rebel of the Sands theme
- Bookmark with links for book interactivity
- Earrings: Quote Couture (18k gold) from JewelSugar
- Magnet: Read More

Rebel of the Sands
(Rebel of the Sands #1)
by Alwyn Hamilton
-Fantasy, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic. For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned, or female.

Amani Al’Hiza is all three. She’s a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can’t shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’s destined to wind up wed or dead.

Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. But though she’s spent years dreaming of leaving Dustwalk, she never imagined she’d gallop away on mythical horse—or that it would take a foreign fugitive to show her the heart of the desert she thought she knew.

Rebel of the Sands reveals what happens when a dream deferred explodes—in the fires of rebellion, of romantic passion, and the all-consuming inferno of a girl finally, at long last, embracing her power.


AND binge watching: on Netflix

Bob's Burgers
tv series, season one
Creators: Loren Bouchard, Jim Dauterive
Starring: H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal
-Animation, Humor | imdb | my rating: 5
Bob Belcher, along with his wife and three children, try to run their last hope of holding the family together, which is running Bob's dream restaurant.

=====> Watching it for the odd humor and chuckles derived.

AND binge watching: on YouTube

IISuperwomanII
vlogger
Starring: Lilly Singh
-Humor | YouTube channel
Hi! My name is Lilly and I make funny videos every Monday and Thursday. I rant, create sketches and sometimes even dress up as my parents! Most importantly, I smile a lot and want to make you feel happy.

=====> Loving her sense of humor! Came across this Canadian comedian after seeing an ad about her in Entertainment Weekly.

AND watched: in theatre

Knight of Cups (2015)
Director/Writer: Terrence Malick
Starring: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman
-Drama, Romance | imdb | my rating: 3 but turned into 5!
A writer indulging in all that Los Angeles and Las Vegas has to offer undertakes a search for love and self via a series of adventures with six different women.

=====> At first I did not take to this. First, note that I went into this without knowing premise. Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and Natalie Portman were the main draws for me.

The film was artsy with metaphors to figure out and lots of voiceovers (which I haven't been keen on lately). BUT, I was forced to seriously think about it when a someone sitting next to me in the theatre started a conversation with me about it. Spent a delightful dinner with the person dissecting the film and came to appreciate and really like the film.

Got me interested in learning about tarot cards and interpretations.

The Wave (2015)
original title: Bølgen
Director: Roar Uthaug
Writers: John Kåre Raake, Harald Rosenløw-Eeg
Starring: Kristoffer Joner, Thomas Bo Larsen, Ane Dahl Torp
-Action, Drama, Thriller, Norway | imdb | my rating: 5
Even though awaited, no-one is really ready when the mountain pass of Åkneset above the scenic narrow Norwegian fjord Geiranger falls out and creates a 85-meter-high violent tsunami. A geologist is one of those caught in the middle of it.

=====> Went to see this for the cinematography as Norway is one of those place I want to visit some day. Loved it. The story was just as gripping.

AND watched: on DVD

Me, Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)
Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Screenplay: Jesse Andrews
Based on book by: Jesse Andrews
Starring: Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke
-Comedy, Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
High schooler Greg, who spends most of his time making parodies of classic movies with his co-worker Earl, finds his outlook forever altered after befriending a classmate who has just been diagnosed with cancer.

=====> So glad I watched this. I thought it might be too sad which is why I had not seen it sooner. Yes, there were sad parts as cancer is a sad topic. However, overall the story is true and touching with its portrayal of friendships and character growth.

Loved the mini-films and animation presented.

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* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways offers