Join the Army of TEN

Happy Release Day Gretchen McNeil and her newest book, Ten!!! *throws confetti*

(Check out my Waiting on Wednesday post about this book from last week!)

To help spread the word about this deliciously dark book, Gretchen created a promotional "street team" network called the Army of Ten. Members complete different "missions" (assignments such as tweeting, blogging, per-ordering, etc) according to the different "ranks". Completed missions earn the members rank-determined "medals" (prizes), including entries into the awesome grand prize package (to be drawn for on October 30).

Austin Teen Book Festival 2012

It's that time of the year again! *squee* Time for the Austin Teen Book Festival!

If you haven't heard about the festival (check out my posts about it last year here and here), then here are the details for this year (info courtesy of ATBF's website):

Waiting on Wednesday: Ten

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming book releases you are highly anticipating. It also allows book-lovers to share "forthcoming" glimpses of their TBR lists. Check out the other participants posted on Jill's blog to find new books to add to your list.

Teaser Tuesday: The Faerie Ring

I'm participating in "Teaser Tuesdays," a bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Current Read:

The Faerie Ring
(The Faerie Ring #1)

By Kiki Hamilton

"The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…" (via goodreads)

In My Mailbox: Summer Edition

The IMM feature was started by The Story Siren as a way for bloggers to share what books they'd recently acquired and to connect with other bloggers to find new reads. Some people post this feature every week, others every other week, and some even once a month. I've decided to post my own IMM at the beginning of every month to share with my readers all the lovely new books I've added to my bookshelves! (Click here to check out other IMM posts!)

This post is going to be a bit longer than most of my IMM posts because I'm posting all the books I've acquired during these past 4 summer months. (Hence the "summer edition" part in the blog's title.)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Torn Wing

I'M BAAAAACCCCKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for being M.I.A. these past summer months, but I've been super busy. Doing what, you might ask? Well...*takes a deep breath* I taught a children's theatre camp (4-5 year-olds), worked on costumes for 2 different theatrical productions (as well as acting in a minor role in 1 of them), spent time with family and friends I don't get to see too often, helped take care of my younger brother after his jaw surgery last month, and started planning my wedding. *passes out out from lack of breath*

Needless-to-say, I've been so busy I haven't had much time to update my blog or even read the blogs I follow (my Google Reader is overflowing with unread posts)...or read any books, work on my writing, create any crafts, etc. But now school has started, so I'm going back to work and having a schedule with more "free time." And I thought it was high time I get back to blogging! 

Onto the main post...

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming book releases you are highly anticipating. It also allows book-lovers to share "forthcoming" glimpses of their TBR lists. Check out the other participants posted on Jill's blog to find new books to add to your list.

Author Interview: Karen Amanda Hooper

Happy Release Day to Karen Amanda Hooper and her newest book, Grasping at Eternity! *throws confetti* 

I've been following Karen's blog for the past few years and celebrated last year with her for her debut release, Tangled Tides (which will be featured in a book review next month here on my blog). Now I am please to announce the release of her second book, which is a story very dear to her heart. The book will only be available in e-book format for now with the paperback version becoming available sometime this summer. To help Karen spread the word of GAE and to help share in her celebration, I'm featuring an interview with her today on my blog. Please enjoy! (And check out her magical books!)

The Book...

Grasping at Eternity (The Kindrily Series #1)
by Karen Amanda Hooper


Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories. 

Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.

Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her. 

While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be. (via Goodreads)

Meet the Author...

Author of YA paranormal and fantasy. My merfolk/selkie novel, TANGLED TIDES, was released November 2011 by Rhemalda Publishing. 

I was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years and I'm currently sunning and splashing around Florida with my two sweet and adorable dogs. I'm addicted to coffee, chocolate and complicated happily-ever-afters. (via Goodreads)

Find Karen On

Twitter: @Karen_Hooper

Facebook : Karen Amanda Hooper - Author Fan Page

Goodreads: Karen Amanda Hooper - Goodreads Author

Website: www.KarenAmandaHooper.com

Teaser Tuesday

I'm participating in "Teaser Tuesdays," a bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Current Read:

Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1)

By Bethany Griffin

"Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her." (via Goodreads)

Book Review: The Breakaway

Last September I had the privilege to be a participant in the official blog tour of Monarch by Michelle Davidson Argyle. So when Michelle requested participants for her newest book's blog tour, I gladly volunteered and eagerly awaited my e-copy ARC of The Breakaway.

The Book...

The Breakaway

by Michelle Davidson Argyle

"When Naomi Jensen is kidnapped, it takes her parents two days to realize she’s missing. Escape isn’t high on her list of priorities when all she has to return to is an abusive boyfriend and parents who never paid much attention to her. For the first time in her life she’s part of a family—even if it is a family of criminals. But she’s still a captive. In a desperate attempt to regain some control in her life, Naomi embarks on a dangerous plan to make one of her kidnappers think she’s falling in love with him. The plan works too well, and when faced with the chance to escape, Naomi isn’t sure she wants to take it." (via Goodreads)

Released by Rhemalda Publishing on May 1st

In My Mailbox: April Edition

Hello! Sorry for my month-long hiatus, but I've been kept busy by several issues. And due to all this busyness and stress in my life, I've felt uninspired to write or read anything...which is a problem since that highly affects my lil' blog here. But now I'm back on track and full steam ahead this month!

Now since it's the first of the month, that means it's time for:

The IMM feature was started by The Story Siren as a way for bloggers to share what books they'd recently found or received and to connect with other bloggers to find new reads. Some people post this feature every week, others every other week, and some even once a month. I've decided to post my own IMM at the beginning of every month to share with my readers all the lovely new books I've added to my bookshelves! (Click here to check out other IMM posts!)

In My Mailbox: March Edition

It's time for another edition of "In My Mailbox" over here at May-Day's Daze, where I share the books I acquired during the previous month!

The IMM feature was started by The Story Siren as a way for bloggers to share what books they'd recently found or received and to connect with other bloggers to find new reads. Some people post this feature every week, others every other week, and some even once a month. I've decided to post my own IMM at the beginning of every month to share with my readers all the lovely new books I've added to my bookshelves! (Click here to check out other IMM posts!)

Author Interview: Elle Strauss

Welcome back for another stop on the Clockwise blog tour! If you haven't read my review of Clockwise, then click here to check it out. (You can also click here to see the list of other bloggers involved with this tour.) 

Today I have a special interview with the author of Clockwise, Elle Strauss!

Meet the Author...

"Elle Strauss writes Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction. She's a married mom of four, and lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, famous for beaches and vineyards. She's fond of Lindt's sea salt dark chocolate and hiking in good weather. Her Young Adult rom/com time-travel CLOCKWISE and contemporary/otherworldly Middle Grade IT'S A LITTLE HAYWIRE are now available on Amazon." (via her website)

Find Elle On

Twitter: @elle_strauss

Facebook : Elle Strauss - Author

Goodreads: Elle Strauss Goodreads Author

Google+: Elle Strauss

Wattpad: Elle Strauss