Review and One Day Giveaway: Pandora’s Box by Katie Salidas

Details:  Pandora’s Box by Katie Salidas

• Pub. Date: June 2011
• Publisher: Katie Salidas, via Smashwords
• Sold By: SMASHWORDS – EBKS

Synopsis

After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she’d learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package – a Pandora’s Box.
Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it?
When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.
Powerless against the ancient evil, the clan flees Las Vegas for Boston, with only a slim hope for salvation. Could Lysander’s old journals hold the key? And what if they don’t?
And how welcome will they be in a city run by a whole different kind of supernatural being? 
Werewolves…

My Thoughts:

This book picked up right where Hunters and Prey left off which was nice to see.   Fallon find a mysterious box on the door step and end up opening it even though Lyssa knows that this is a bad idea.  Fallon says that the box was calling to her to open it.  What happen next is terror for everyone.  They have unleashed something that it out to destroy them and does destroy Rozaline, Nicholas’ mate which put everyone on edge and trying to figure out how to get this spirit back in the box it came from.  This mission takes them to Boston to retrieve Lysander’s old journals.  All they find there is dead bodies and trouble with the werewolves who think they are at fault.  They have to work together with the wolves to solve this problem.

As with the previous two books, this was one that captured my attention and held it throughout the entire book.  the style of writing appeals to me and I just feel like I have a connection with the characters.  The most frustrating part of this book is the end, a  HUGE cliffhanger!  I cannot wait for more from this dynamic group.  What I liked the most about this book is the addition of the werewolves and witches.  I think it rounded the story out.  I also liked that there was not a lot of talk about the hunting itself.  All in all, another great story by Katie Salidas.

My Rating

Another good story!

Giveaway:

This is a for an ecopy of Pandora’s Box by Katie Salidas

Mandatory Entry:

Please leave a comment with your email address

Extra Entries:

Be a GFC follower and leave a comment with your email address

Follow me on twitter and leave a comment with your email address

Tweet this contest and leave me a comment with the link and your email address

This is a one day contest so please be sure to enter by midnight.

The author will provide the prize.

For More check out:

Here is the schedule:

Meet & Greet at www.vbtcafe.com

Guest Blogging at http://theaatkinson.wordpress.com

Guest Blogging at http://.lahongrais.blogspot.com

Guest Blogging and Giveaway at www.alanryker.com

Guest Blogging and Giveaway at www.jc-martin.com/fighterwriter

Review and Giveaway at http://giveawayblogdom.blogspot.com

Giveaway at http://aliseonlife.blogspot.com

Guest Blogging and Giveaway at http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com

Guest Blogging and Giveaway at http://speedyreader-allthingsbooks.blogspot.com

Guest Blogging and Giveaway at http://bestbooks1.blogspot.com

Review and Giveaway at http://norachipleybarteau.blogspot.com

Guest Blogging at http://JETaylor75.blogspot.com

Guest Blogging and Giveaway at http://hotgossiphotreviews.blogspot.com

Guest Blogging and Giveaway at http://writingcrazyme.blogspot.com

Review, Guest Blogging and Giveaway at www.lisasworldofbooks.com

Guest Blogging at http://margaret-paranormalromanceauthor.blogspot.com

Review and Giveaway at http://authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com

Guest Blogging at www.chaosandinsanity.com

Review at http://thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com

Interview at

http://www.brendawoodystevetindle.yolasite.com/author-interviews.php

Review, Guest Blogging and Giveaway at http://www.coffeetablereviews.net
Review, Guest Blogging and Giveaway at http://takingtimeformommy.com

Spotlight at http://authorspromotingauthors.blogspot.com

Interview at www.immortylcafe.com

Spotlight at http://writinginnovations.blogspot.com  

*I was provided an ecopy of this book for review.  This in no way affected my opinions listed above.

Winners

Kung Fu Panda Giveaway

Diana D said…

Po is our grandson’s favorite. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway

dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

I have sent you and email and you have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

Embraced by Blood Giveaway

Jessica (Peace Love Books) said…

This book sounds really good! thanks for the giveaway!

-teddybrgrrl@sbcglobal.net

Embody Winner:

StuckInBooks said…

Hmm sounds interesting.

GFC follower

valerie(at)stuckinbooks.com

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/StuckInBooks/status/86624565182214145

June 30, 2011 10:38 PM 

Congrats to all the winners.  I have sent you all emails please be sure to respond.

Once Upon A Read-A-Thon

I am participating in the Once Upon a Read-a-Thon hosted by Reading Angel, Pure Imagination, and Candace’s Book Blog. I was really lucky that this Read-a-Thon lined up with my week off of work so I am excited to be able to participate.  I plan to update as I finish books, I will be updating right here in this post.  If you want to participate and still haven’t signed up, click the picture above to be taken to the sign-up page. It isn’t too late to join in!

Here are the books that I will be reading during the read-a-thon:
Pandora’s Box by Katie Salidas (Already started yesterday)
Unleashed by Emily Kimelman


I will be adding more books as I finish.  At this point, I don’t know what I am going to be in the mood for.


Hope you will be joining.


Update #1


11:37 EST 


Pages Read: 150 pgs
Books Finished: 1
Titles:  Pandora’s Box


Mini Challenge #1
IB Book Blogging


Mini Challenge Question 1:What is your favorite type of myth (Greek, Roman, Egyptian etc)?
Greek is my favorite and has been since 5th grade when I spent an entire year studying it.

Mini Challenge Question 2:
What is your favorite book with some type of mythology in it?
Right now, I would have to say Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, it was outstanding!


Update 2  4:51PM


Pages Read: 368
Books Finished: 2
Titles: Pandora’s Box and Unleashed
Reviews written: 2


Up Next:  Sliding on the Egde by C Lee McKenzie

Update 3  9:25 PM

Pages Read: 368

Books Finished: 3

Titles: Pandora’s Box, Unleashed and Sliding on the Edge

Reviews written: 2

Up Next:  A Life That Fits by Heather Wardell

It’s Monday What are you Reading?

This great meme is hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. Each week will share with you the books we are reading, just finished reading and those books we are planning to read this week. 

Finished:

Currently Reading:

Up Next:

How was your reading week?

Review: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Details:  Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

• Pub. Date: May 2011
• Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
• Format: Hardcover , 400pp
• Sales Rank: 15,938
• Age Range: 12
• Lexile: HL690L

Synopsis:

From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island.

Teen beauty queens. A “Lost”-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to emall. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.

My Thoughts:

Okay, so I was not entirely sure about this book but I had been hearing such great things that I had to check it out.  A plane full of beauty pageant contestants crashes on a deserted island and they are forced to survive on their own but is this all it appears to be or is there more going on on this island.  There are very few girls left and honestly is seems that there are not a lot of skills from the remaining girls.  It is going to be a huge challenge to survive and make it back to the contest.  

Libba Bray is one of the funniest authors I have ever read.  This book was so funny, laugh out loud funny.  She has the ability to use humor to teach some very powerful lessons and you don’t even realize that it has happened until it is all over.  This book is quick witted and very quick moving.  I did not want to put it down because I just had to know what was going to happen next.  Everything from making watch catching systems out of evening gowns to exposing who each contestant really was deep down.  This was by far the funniest book I have read all year, and probably for years before that.

My favorite line in this book hits very close to home.  I am from Michigan and here is what Ms. Michigan had to say.

“Yeah. Hi. Jennifer Huberman, Miss Michigan.  Go Blue!  I am from Flint, the smaller Motor City.  Well, before they went bankrupt. Now, I’m from Repossessed City.  Sorry. Little gallows humor there.”

I applaud Libba Bray for the research she completed about all of the states and types of people she put into this book.  This is what made it such an outstanding read.  Not to mention, the unique idea, settings and challenges she brought to Beauty Queens.

My Rating:

Great Read!  I highly recommend this book.

*I was provided a copy of this book by Scholastic.  This in no way affected the opinions and views above. 

Netgalley July

 

DETAILS:

*DECLARE YOURSELF*

Post on your blog (preferable), your Facebook wall, on Tumblr — somewhere on the interwebs — and link back to this post. Basically, tell your followers and friends about NetGalley July and comment below with your link

Or

Tweet about the event using the hashtag #NetGalleyMonth

The only real criteria is to have a link back to this post somewhere in your declaration and you must comment below 🙂

*READ*

As many NetGalley books as you can in July — make sure you keep track of them because this time, in order to be eligible for a prize you must report your reads to me. Another post, an email, a comment on the wrap up post in August – doesn’t matter – I just want to know what you read 🙂

*PRIZES*

2 people will win $15 worth of books from The Book Depository!

So I declared what about you/

In My Mailbox (28)

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren.

I am happy to share with you what I got in my mailbox this week.  I hope you had a great mailbox week as well.  Please feel free to leave me a link and I will stop by and see you.

For Review:

Thank you ROC, Egmont USA, Netgalley, Harlequin, HarperCollins,Justin Gustainis,and C. Lee McKenzie

Won:


  


Gift:



Thanks Mom!


What was in your mailbox this week?

Follow Friday!

Q. Let’s step away from besties…What is the worst book that you’ve ever read and actually finished?

This book was very hard for me to finish.  It was just not my style.  I give the author a lot of credit for taking on the topic.

his week’s question isn’t a question at all! I thought I would do things a little differently this week and give all of you a chance to promote a giveaway (or two!) from the blogosphere.

Reading Angel is having a giveaway for The Light of Asteria 

Reading Between the Wines is having a giveaway for Awaken the Highland Warrior

Dark Faerie Tales is having a giveaway for Flying Blind 


Please stop by and enter their contests!

Giveaway: Kung Fu Panda 2

GIVEAWAY

Kung Fu Panda is back and General Mills is teaming up with DreamWorks´Kung Fu Panda 2 to bring the action-packed adventures right to your breakfast table.  Throughout the remainder of spring, spin fighter toys featuring Kung Fu Panda 2 characters including Po, Tigress, Shifu, Monkey, Lord Shen, Mantis, Crane and Viper can be found inside specially marked boxes of participating General Mills cereals: Cocoa Puffs (11.8 oz.), Trix (10.7 oz.), Golden Grahams (12 oz.), Reese´s Puffs (13 oz.), Cheerios (14 oz.), Apple Cinnamon Cheerios (12.9 oz.), Cookie Crisp (11.25 oz.), Lucky Charms (11.5 oz.), Cinnamon Toast Crunch (12.8 oz.) and Honey Nut Cheerios (12.25 oz.).

Let the games begin with one spin fighter toy in each box. Simply cut out the targets on the box and then use your spin fighter to try and knock them down. With eight character toys to collect, the Kung Fu fun can continue all summer long!

The Giveaway
One lucky winner will receive Kung Fu Panda 2 Prize Pack which includes one box of a participating Big G cereal, a Kung Fu Panda 2 spin fighter toy and the original Kung Fu Panda movie.

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me which character is your favorite (Po, Tigress, Shifu, Monkey, Lord Shen, Mantis, Crane and Viper) or if you plan on seeing or have seen the new movie! and leave a way for contact if you win.

Ways to Enter:

• Follow me GFC and leave an additional comment

All the details and fine print
Giveaway will begin today and ends July 10th. Winner will be picked at random and notified by email. The winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize (otherwise a new winner will be chosen).Open to US residents, 18 years of age or older.

DISCLOSURE: I WAS GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY FROM MY BLOGSPARK, GENERAL MILLS, & KUNG FU PANDA 2. I RECEIVED THE INFORMATION AND/OR PRODUCT LISTED ABOVE, BUT MY OPINION ON THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE IS 100% HONEST. NO OTHER COMPENSATION WAS GIVEN OR RECEIVED.

Booking Through Thursday!

Since my dog is turning 10 today … what animal-related books have you read? Which do you love? Do you have a favorite literary dog? (Snoopy, anyone?)

My Current Favorite Animal Related Book is The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.  It was just a touching story and I really enjoyed and have been recommending it to everyone. I guess I really should post a review for it.  

What about you?  Any favorites?