Blonde Eskimo by Kristen Hunt (with giveaway)

Blonde Eskimo
by Kristen Hunt

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter @https://twitter.com/kristenhauthor

Just released: October 13, 2015
Publisher: SparkPress
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Paperback: 308 pages
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
I'm almost there. I can see the island just on the horizon. It looks ominous with the heavy mist surrounding it. I can feel the sweat trickling down my back and my heart accelerating at the thought of stepping foot on its pebbled beaches. I don't want to go there, I don't want to stay there, but I have to. There's no other choice.

Part Viking, part Eskimo, Neiva Ellis knew her family’s ancestral home, the island of Spirit, Alaska, held a secret. A mystery so sensitive everyone, including her beloved grandmother, was keeping it from her. When Neiva is sent to stay on the island while her parents tour Europe she sets out on a mission to uncover the truth, but she was not prepared for what laid ahead. On the night of her seventeenth birthday, the Eskimo rite of passage, Neiva is mysteriously catapulted into another world full of mystical creatures, ancient traditions, and a masked stranger who awakens feelings deep within her heart. Along with her best friends Nate, Viv and Breezy, she uncovers the truth behind the town of Spirit and about her own heritage.

When an evil force threatens those closest to her, Neiva will stop at nothing to defend her family and friends. Eskimo traditions and legends become real as two worlds merge together to fight a force so ancient and evil it could destroy not only Spirit but the rest of humanity.

My two-bits:

The premise of a Viking and Eskimo mashup and Alaska as the setting got me from the start.

I like how the vibe of magic and local folklore is in the air throughout.

Revealed secrets and family history kept me engaged.

About the author:

Kristen Hunt is an artist and writer based in Phoenix, Arizona. She is an avid fan of movies, graphic novels and Young Adult literature. Anything evolving fantasy and supernatural experiences captures her interests. As a young child Kristen visited her family in Nome, Alaska and learned of her Eskimo heritage. Her Grandmother, known as the blonde Eskimo because of her golden hair and blue eyes, told Kristen the many legends found throughout Alaska, such as the Ishegocks, totems, and much more. It was these stories that inspired Kristen to write her current novel.

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* review copy courtesy of book tour sponsored by BookSparks. @booksparks

* SIGNUP to win this review copy (here).

Dewey's Readathon: October 2015 pt2

Dewey's 24 hour Readathon
October 17, 2015 (details)
Pre-Dewey post with reading list (here)
Deweys part one: Hours 1-12 (here)

HOUR 13: 5pm
Reading at the cafe.

Mini Challenge: A Recommendation Engine (here)

My current recommendation: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
My recommendation to commenter: The Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr

HOUR 14: 6pm
Still at the cafe with my book. And the hour started with some live music. I have some gorgeous romantic piano playing in the background. It also looks like other musicians are assembling. Perhaps a jazz ensemble?

HOUR 15: 7pm
Sure enough, got some classic jazz tunes while reading at the cafe.

HOUR 16: 8pm
Picked up some dinner and headed home.
Had dinner while playing Words with Friends.

HOUR 17: 9pm
Continued to read and finished Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff!

( happy dancing )

Mini Challenge: 4 Seasons 4 Books (here)

Spring: The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore
Summer: The Grownups by Robin Antalek
Fall: Reading The Sweet Oak by Jan Stites
Winter: Blonde Eskimo by Kristen Hunt

HOUR 18: 10pm
Started reading...

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Amazon | Goodreads=====> Actually started reading from page 294 (out of 720). I wanted to make a major dent in this chunkster or possibly finish it during the read-a-thon (fingers crossed).

HOUR 19: 11pm
Reading on the couch.

HOUR 20: 12am
Reading in bed. Probably not a good idea. But, it is the warmest place to be in the wee hours. And, I might nap.

Mini Challenge: Shelfie (here)

HOUR 21: 1am
Read until page 370 of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara before retiring for the night. It was slow going reading this. Got through 76 pages and boy-o-boy was there a doozy of a scene within those pages.

HOUR 22: 2am
zzz

HOUR 23: 3am
zzz

HOUR 24: 4am
zzz

Mini Challenge: Reading Fort (here)

Under the dining room table. Throw blankie, pillows and snacks underneath and all set.
-->late entry, just wanted to answer question

WRAP-UP: 5am

CLOSING SURVEY (here)

Which hour was most daunting for you?
--> Hour 21
Perhaps next year, I should nap between Hour 20-23 and set alarm to be up for Hour 24.

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
--> Both books I read were fabulous.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? --> NA

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
--> Although I do not always comment, I always like the posts on the Dewey site to be able to touch base.

How many books did you read? --> 2

What were the names of the books you read?
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Which book did you enjoy most? --> Both books were enjoyable in different ways.

Which did you enjoy least? --> NA

If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? --> NA

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? --> YES, as a Reader.

LOVED this episode of the Read-a-thon and devoting the day to reading books.

THANKS to the hosts and supporting cast :-)

Until next time...

October 2015 - 21 hours
October 2009 - 22 hours
April 2009 - 8 hours

BookSparks Fall Line Up (with giveaway)

One of my favorite publishers, BookSparks (check out their site for specials and giveaways), will be featuring some great reads this Fall. Below are a few I will be featuring and reviewing. Take a look and let me know if any interest you in comments and you will be eligible to WIN my review copy of the book (and leave your email) -offer ends November 30, 2015, in time for a December treat in your mailbox ;-)

Please note: ebook review copies are not included in this giveaway

A Woman of Note
by Carol M. Cram
-Historical
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Blonde Eskimo
by Kristen Hunt
-Fantasy, YA
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

The Crescent Spy
by Michael Wallace
-Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Spy Thriller
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Fourteen
by Leslie Johansen Nack
-Memoir
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Great Bravura
by Jill Dearman
-Mystery, Thriller
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Reading the Sweet Oak
by Jan Stites
-Women's Fiction
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

The Space Between Heartbeats
by Melissa Pearl (ebook)
-YA
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
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Contest has ended - (winner is here)

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Stacking the Shelves - 8.29.15

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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For Review:

Fourteen
by Leslie Johansen Nack
-Memoir
courtesy of BookSparks -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Blonde Eskimo
by Kristen Hunt
-Fantasy, YA
courtesy of BookSparks -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Great Bravura
by Jill Dearman
-Mystery, Thriller
courtesy of BookSparks -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

The Girl Without A Name
by Sandra Block
-Psychological thriller
courtesy of Wunderkind PR -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

A History of Glitter and Blood
by Hannah Moskowitz
-Fantasy, YA
courtesy of book tour -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads
Star Craving Mad
by Elise Miller
Destination: Get to know New York
-Chick-lit
courtesy of BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 2015 -Thanks!
BookSparks | Goodreads
Library:

300 Sandwiches:
A Multilayered Love Story with Recipes
by Stephanie Smith
-Memoir, Romance, Recipes
Amazon | Goodreads
“Honey, you are 300 sandwiches away from an engagement ring.”

When New York Post writer Stephanie Smith made a turkey and Swiss on white bread for her boyfriend, Eric (aka E), he took one bite and uttered those now-famous words. While her beau’s declaration initially seemed unusual, even antiquated, Stephanie accepted the challenge and got to work. Little did she know she was about to cook up the sexiest and most controversial love story of her generation.

300 Sandwiches is the story of Stephanie and E’s epic journey of bread and betrothal, with a whole loaf of recipes to boot. For Stephanie, a novice in the kitchen, making a sandwich—or even 300—for E wasn’t just about getting a ring; it was her way of saying “I love you” while gaining confidence as a chef. It was about how many breakfast sandwiches they could eat together on future Sunday mornings, how many s’mores might follow family snowboarding trips, how many silly fights would end in makeup sandwiches. Suddenly, she saw a lifetime of happiness between those two slices of bread.

Not everyone agreed. The media dubbed E “the Internet’s Worst Boyfriend”; bloggers attacked the loving couple for setting back the cause of women’s rights; opinions about their romance echoed from as far away as Japan. Soon, Stephanie found her cooking and her relationship under the harsh glare of the spotlight.

From culinary twists on peanut butter and jelly to “Not Your Mother’s Roast Beef” spicy French Dip to Chicken and Waffle BLTs, Stephanie shares the creations—including wraps, burritos, paninis, and burgers—that ultimately sated E’s palate and won his heart. Part recipe book, part girl-meets-boy memoir, 300 Sandwiches teaches us that true love always wins out—one delicious bite at a time.

=====> I heard out this woman's challenge a couple years ago and was intrigued with the variety of sandwiches she concocted. Always looking for lunch ideas...

OTHER things on my shelf: kinda book-related

DON'T miss it, I almost did...

Austen in August
hosted by The Book Rat
August 18-31, 2015
(details here)

Fall Reading Challenge 2015
sponsored by BookSparks
starts in September
check out it out (here)
join and signup (here)
IT'S COMING...

=====> SOOOO excited! Finally got the go to subscribe to Owlcrate, a monthly YA subscription (details).


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* some of these may be offered as giveaways within the next two months

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

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