Giveaway Scout - Has anyone else used this?

I saw a post by another blogger mentioning Giveaway Scout a little while ago. So of course, I saved it to look at later. And after several brief viewings, I am shocked at how much stuff they have on the site! And I've only book looking at the Books section, maybe soon I'll venture into the other areas on the site.

From what I've seen, you can add your blog to the site, and whenever you have a giveaway, it will be posted in the appropriate section. This means more traffic for your giveaways, and therefore for your blog! I am debating adding my blog to the list.. not that I have many giveaways, but I do have some books I'm looking into giving away - all gently used. Actually.. one of them wasn't even read. I was going to sell them, but I figure I prefer giving them away instead!

So tell me, has anyone else used giveaway scout? How do you feel about it? Did you put your blog up on the site, or... if this is the first time you've heard about it, are you going to add yours?

Review of "Early to Death, Early to Rise" by Kim Harrison

 Finally got my hands on the second book in the Madison Avery series. You can find my review of the first one here.

Disclaimer: This book has been borrowed from my local library. I have not received this book, nor any monetary compensation, in exchange for a positive review.

Type: YA Fiction, Angels, Oh crap I'm dead!, Series, Reapers

From the book jacket: "   Madison Avery's dreams of ever fitting in at her new school died when she did. Especially since she was able to maintain the illusion of a body, deal with a pesky guardian angel, and oh yeah, bring the reaper who killed her to his untimely end. Not exactly in-crowd material. It's amazing that her crush, Josh, doesn't think she's totally nuts. Now Madison has learned that she's the dark timekeeper, in charge of angels who follow the murky guidelines of fate. Never one to abide by the rules, she decides it's time for a major change to the system. With the help of some unlikely allies, Madison forms a rogue group of reapers who definitely don't adhere to the rules of the heavens. But as she grapples with the terrifying new skills that come with being a timekeeper, Madison realizes she may not be prepared for what lies ahead- unless she gets some seriously divine intervention.   "

I'm really liking this series. Madison is an interesting character, and I love her interactions with the reapers, guardian angels, and even other timekeepers.. which we see more of in this book. One of the characters makes a mention of Madison changing people, and maybe that's her purpose.. to change the structure the light and dark reapers have been working with for millenia.

This book reads quickly, helped along by the fact that it takes place in one day, from the morning of one to the morning of the next. I was a little sad to see less of Josh, who was a big player in book one (as well as the short story that started the series), but he is present for a short while, and I can see how and even why he wasn't able to stick around for the whole of the book. But the lack of Josh means more of our resident angels, Nakita, Barnabas, and even some Grace. I really do love seeing the two reapers bicker, and Grace's rhymes make everything worthwhile. Really! They do.

I really enjoy that the reader gets to share Madison's journey into the unknown. There is much she doesn't know about her new job, and we the readers get to learn it with her. The first time she flashes forwards is an almost haunting experience.. and it's one of the scenes that stuck with me once I finished the book. I don't think it's much of a spoiler, but just in case, I'll put up a warning here...
*********** POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT ************

Madison is watching a possible Mark, someone that may need to be reaped, when suddenly things start seeming.. blue. Lights have a blue tint, her vision is fading into blue, and it's an experience that physically drains her. She begs Barnabas not to let her look at the stars as she fades into the flashforward... and wakes to him holding her tightly, mentioning he was afraid to let her go, because he thought she would fade away. I took great pleasuring in imagining this particular scene, and it almost hurt to see how pained Madison was upon waking, as well as how scared Barnabas was of letting her go.

*********** END OF SPOILERS ****************

I seriously enjoyed this book, and I'm desperate for more of the series. Now we have a new player in the timekeeper world... Ron's student/replacement, and I love the dynamic his character is adding. I can't wait to see more from Kim Harrison's Madison Avery series. And I'm loving the titles. I can't help it, I love playing-on-words/phrases kind of titles..

I'm giving "Early to Death, Early to Rise" by Kim Harrison a FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). I loved it, I really did. It's a quick read, which is probably the only item on the Con side of the pro/con list for this book. I want more Madison! More Barnabas! More Nakita! More Grace! More... everyone, really. So please everyone go check out "Early to Death, Early to Rise" by Kim Harrison, as well as the first book in the series "Once Dead, Twice Shy".. and the short story that starts it all, found in "Prom Nights From Hell."

Read the book? Tell me what you thought in the comments. Want the book, find it at Amazon.com!


Happy Reading!
~!~ Morning Glow

Review of "Getting Lucky" by Carolyn Brown

 Look at this! A new review! Bout time, huh? Nothin' like some delicious cowboys.

Disclaimer: This book has been borrowed from my local library. I did not receive this book, nor any monetary incentive, in exchange for a postive review.

Type: Series, Cowboys, Romance, Sexy, Stubborn men

From the back of the book: "    After being the center of nasty gossip in her last hometown, all Julie Donovan wants in Saint Jo, Texas, is a quiet uneventful life for her and her daughter Annie. But when a sexy cowboy walks into her classroom with a daughter who looks like Annie's twin, suddenly the whole town is looking for explanations...  Devoted single dad Griffin Luckadeau will do anything to protect his own, and no sassy redhead is going to get in his way. When he thinks Julie is scheming to steal his ranch out from under him to benefit her own daughter, sparks really begin to fly... Julie and Griffin can't seem to cross paths without a scuffle. But when the dust settles, these two Texas hotheads may realize they've actually found something worth fighting for...  "

I'm a little torn about this book. There were definitely parts I liked, but once more and more characters, especially the Luckadeau family, were introduced, I was pretty darn confused. I realized a little later on that this book is part of a recurring series featuring the Luckadeau family. And maybe if I had read the rest of them before this, the supporting character names and back stories might not have all run together. Griffin even told Julie the story of his relatives and how they got their Happily Ever After, but all the names started to mush together into one big ball of confusion.

I also found a lot of the same phrases being used over and over, and not just by the same people. I think that helped make me confused. That since people were acting similar and saying the same things, I would often mistake one character for another. Or just get annoyed with something they said several times. For the life of me, I can't remember what the one phrase was that bothered me the first time I heard it, let alone the next couple. Does anyone else have that problem? A character says something and it just pulls you out of the story.. and then they keep doing it?

As I said, I'm a little conflicted on this book. Yes, obviously it had some not-so-great moments, but "Getting Lucky" also had some wonderful moments. Both Julie and Griffin were obviously very loving and devoted parents... and I love their chemistry together, as well as with their children. Both main characters felt real, and multi-faceted. And there were definitely some steamy scenes between the two... both of the loving and argumentitive kind. I loved when they quarrelled in the beginning almost as much as I loved when they kissed and.. well, you know, all the rest of that fun stuff. *Wink*

Despite my mixed feelings on "Getting Lucky" by Carolyn Brown, I am eager to check out more from her. I really would like to read "I Love This Bar" and maybe some day I'll go back and read the earlier books in the Luckadeau series. That said, I'm giving "Getting Lucky" a THREE POINT FIVE out of FIVE (3.5/5). It was good, just mixed feelings and all that.

Have you read it? Let me know what you think in the comments. Want to read it? Pick up your copy from Amazon.com.



Happy Reading!!
~!~ Morning Glow

Books bought, received, etc.

Finally, a books bought and received post. It's sort of a grouping of several weeks. Two weeks, at least.

Books received for review:
"Public Affair, Secretly Expecting" by Heidi Rice
"Wild Fling Or A Wedding Ring?" by Mira Lyn Kelly
"Entwined" by Elizabeth Naughton
"How to Succeed Without Dying" by Becky A. Bartness

Won:
"Faeries Gone Wild" Anthology

Bought:
"Eternal Kiss of Darkness" by Jeaniene Frost
"Nightlight, a parody" by The Harvard Lampoon
"The Mammoth book of Irish Romance" Anthology
"Heat Wave" Anthology (Not pictured)

Review of "Sizzling Sixteen" by Janet Evanovich

 Finally, another Stephanie Plum novel! Thank goodness, I needed it. And I must say, I can't wait for her new "Unmentionables" Series to start.. Well, let's dive right into it!
Disclaimer: This book was given to me as a gift for my birthday. I was not given this book, nor any sort of monetary incentive, in exchange for a positive review.

Types: Series, Mystery, Sexy men, Doughnuts, Destruction of cars, Mobsters

About the book: Stephanie Plum is at it again. Vinnie gets himself kidnapped by his bookie's new boss, and Lula, Stephanie, and Connie have to find a way to come up with the cash, or their business, and possibly their lives, are forfeit. So Stephanie has to balance her skip-hunting, which she doesn't do all that well on the best days, with trying to find her cousin, which is near impossible. Complete with her two favorite men, Morelli and Ranger, a few car mishaps, several burning buildings, and plenty of stink bombs, and you have the newest Stephanie Plum installment.

I have to say, I'm much more pleased with this newest Stephanie Plum book, than the last one. "Finger Lickin' Fifteen" felt like a disappointment, but I think "Sizzling Sixteen" got back to the good ol' days of adventure, hijinks, and some actual character development. Stephanie actually questions her job, and shows some growth, something the last few books have been missing. I still hold hope for this series, and I think Evanovich will have to toss down the Ranger or Morelli card soon... Stephanie is going to have to make a move. The fans can't be left with this tension for the rest of the series, however long it continues. I'm sure whatever decision she ultimately makes will make a lot of people mad (Go on, admit it, most people are either Team Ranger or Team Morelli... me? I'm Team Screw Stephanie, Let Me Have Them Both!), but she has to do SOMETHING! And a quick little note... I loved seeing more of Vinnie this time around. We get to see him more as a character, and less as just a footnote in Stephanie Plum History.

I definitely have to give Evanovich some brownie points, the plot of "Sizzling Sixteen" is far superior to "Finger Lickin' Fifteen." The characters actually have something strong to motivate them, they don't feel like they're just going through the motions. Yes, there is still the crazy, random occurances that we love Stephanie Plum for, but there's more. That "more" is what I have felt missing in the past few books, and I'm so glad the author is taking this beloved series in a much better direction. I hope she keeps this up with the new off-branch of the series, featuring Diesel's people.

So, to sum it up, I really enjoyed "Sizzling Sixteen." It was Janet Evanovich's usual romping good read, and I feel like it showed a lot of improvement since the last book. I can't wait to see more of Stephanie's tale, and frankly, I hope some more man-drama is added in the next book. We readers can't handle it being in such a stand still forever!

I'm giving "Sizzling Sixteen" by Janet Evanovich a FOUR out of FIVE. I'm happy with the end result of the book, it had some extremely good, laugh-out-loud moments, but I really wanted Evanovich to step it up even more, and give Stephanie's relationships a good kick in the bum. Hopefully next time!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Morning Glow

The Great book and TV war...

I love reading. I do! I mean, I decided to take up reviewing, for hecks sake, of course I love reading. But there is another love in my like.. television. And I do watch a few shows on TV (Bones, Castle, Leverage).. I mostly prefer to see everything on DVD. And now, working at a library, I can do that! At my work, we lend DVDs out for two weeks, and have many, many TV shows to choose from.

Currently, I'm watching Monarch of the Glen. A BBC show, it ran for several years (I believe there are 7 seasons), and guess what - work has them all! So I put myself on the request list for seasons 1 - 3. Of course they came in out of order.. 3, 1, 2.. then as I started watching some, I put more on hold. Now 5 has come in before 4. But here's my dilemma. Since three came in first, it is due this week. So the part of me that hates to keep things overdue wants to spend all my free time watching this show, so I can return them. But the other part of me, the one that knows that as a library employee.. I don't get fines for overdue items... says might as well keep them overdue, and spend some of that free time reading!

But to make it even worse! Guess what else is due this week! "Tempted" by PC and Kristin Cast.. book six in the House of Night series. And I'm still on book five. So now, maybe, you understand the title of this post. My love of reading and my love of TV (as well as the pressure of due dates) is at war.. which do I do first? Do I watch the shows first, do I read first? Do I split my time? I just need a few more hours in the day, please!

Book Blogger Hop!

I love fridays - it's the book blogger hop! Find other blogs, and maybe even some new friends!