Tuesday, May 29, 2012

ARE YOU READY TO GET YOUR HOP ON?


Stretch out people we are hopping again! That's right! Mug of Moxie is ready to give another book away!
The book up for grabs is perfect for this SPLASH INTO SUMMER GIVEAWAY HOP.
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June
By Robin Benway
And now for the RULES of this giveaway.
*You must be a follower of Mug of Moxie
*You must be over 13 years old to enter this giveaway
* This giveaway is open to US residents
In the comment section please leave GFC name and contact information
A winner will be chosen by Random.org on JUNE 1-If chosen winner does not confirm in 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.
Good luck and have fun! Below is a list of other blogs participating in the awesome SPLASH INTO SUMMER Blog Hop.
**A GIANT shout out to I'm A Reader, Not A Writer and Page Turners for hosting this AMAZINGLY COOL event!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Book Review-ENCLAVE

ENCLAVE
By Ann Aguirre
Summary taken from Goodreads:
In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.
As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.
Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first Deuce thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.
As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.
My thoughts-
I was excited to hear that this book is 1 in a planned series called Razorland. I finished Enclave with my head spinning and many questions. I'm hoping that book 2 has some answers.
I chose this book because of the dystopian theme and description and I wasn't disappointed. By some of the book. The book starts in a place known as the enclave where Deuce was born and raised. Her existence is underground. The world she lives is dirty, cramped, loud and dark. She has a title and a job which are fine with her. She believes in the purpose she serves-to provide for the enclave and protect it from the Freaks(zombie like creatures we are given little information about). The enclave is dark and scary. I loved the first part of this story!
But then Deuce and her hunting partner Fade are banished to Topside(above ground) and then the story takes a hard left.
I was confused and frustrated by the direction it took. Although it keep it's fast pace-Deuce and Fade are running....first from freaks, then gang members and then back to the freaks-the why, when and how kept me from enjoying the rest of the book.
Questions that have kept me up at night-
What happened to drive people underground?
What the hell are the freaks and what made them??
Is the author seriously trying to redeem gang member/rapist and make him possible love interest to main character????
AND then Enclave just ends-
It might have been less frustrating if I had the second book to jump right into.
Enclave is a good book-if you plan to just read it and not think about it.......
I would recommend this book for readers 14 and up. It contains violence, the topic of rape and flesh eating zombies.
I bought this book for my Nook and will count it for the E-Book Reader Challenge 2012.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Book Review-BEAUTY QUEENS

BEAUTY QUEENS
By Libba Bray
2011
Scholastic Press
390 Pages
Taken from Goodreads:
The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.
What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program - or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan - or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?
My Thoughts:
Let's start with a confession. Libba Bray and I have a somewhat tumultuous relationship.
I loved her "A Great and Terrible Beauty" series but I really didn't like or "get" Going Bovine.
I took a chance on Beauty Queens. Once again the reviews varied-people loved it or hated it.
I found myself middle of the road.
I liked Beauty Queens.
It's not boring!
It's a story that keeps you on your toes with multiple characters, a plane crash, and lots of bad guys running amok. It's a page turner with a lot of action.
I was expecting a survivor/Lord of the Flies type of story based on the cover.
Well, you know what happens when you assume....and this book goes in a completely different direction.
Even when I was annoyed with the story or a character I had to keep reading because I wanted-okay, HAD to find out how this crazy tale was going to end.
This story contains the evils of Beauty Pageants, Product Placements, Commercials/Corporate Sponsorships and Reality TV. At the same time it gives us the readers the opportunity to witness girl power, complicated friendships, compassion and tolerance. Oh, and did I mention pirates?
I finished this book cursing Libba Bray's name in one moment and praising her genius take on things the next.
See, I told you our relationship is rocky!
I believe that fans of Libba Bray's Going Bovine will love Beauty Queens.
I know that I will pick up her next book and read it regardless of cover or content. Because I'm morbidly curious that way and a part of me needs to be a part of Libba Bray's crazy world.
I would recommend this book is for readers 15 and up. It contains sex, violence and many sexual relationships.
The Salmon Public Library does have this book available for check out-located in Adult Fiction.

Monday, May 21, 2012

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Random.org has spoken and the winner of the LDS AUTHORS GIVEAWAY HOP is-
ANGELA CISCO
An email has been sent and the winner is confirmed.
I will be mailing ANGELA CISCO two great books by LDS authors-
Matched by Ally Condie &
Haunts Haven by Joan Sowards 
A ENORMOUS thank you to I'm a Reader, Not a Writer and  The Book Bug for hosting this hop-
AIR KISSES to all who participated, hopped, joined and followed.
Next giveaway will be:
May 25th
SPLASH INTO SUMMER Giveaway Hop.
See you there!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

NEW FANGLED FIND

My NEW FANGLED FIND-
Last week while sitting under the hair dryer getting my grays colored I was catching up on the latest news with a stack of People magazines when I came across a book review. The book is called Let's Pretend This Didn't Happen by Jenny Lawson. It was a typical book review but what caught my eye is that the author Jenny is a blogger. So after leaving the salon with beautiful, gray-free hair I went home and immediately logged on to her site-The Bloggess
I spent the rest of the night reading and laughing. Not a quiet chuckle but a obnoxious hyena-like, embarassing snort laugh that made my husband turn the TV up louder.
This girl is funny!
Oh yeah-I bought her book. It's on it's way and I can't wait to read it. In the mean time I'll be stalking the mailman and going back to her site.
WARNING: This book is not a YA. Blog and book contain explicit language.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Did someone mention a chicken dinner?

Why yes, yes I did!
Mug of Moxie is announcing a winner!

Announcing the CHILDRENS BOOKS WEEK Giveaway Winner......

ETHEL O.
Technically it's not a real chicken dinner-for clarification I should probably mention that. It's just a saying-with a chicken picture-that I find hilarious for some reason. Anyways a chicken dinner would be kinda hard to mail-especially with post office rules and regulations. They already give me a hard time with media mail.....just sayin.
Congrats to ETHEL O.
A pack of children's books have been sent her way.
ENJOY!
A HUGE thank you to I'm a Reader, Not a Writer, KidLitFrenzy, Classic Children’s Books and MymcBooks for hosting this hop-
AIR KISSES to all who participated, hopped, joined and followed.
Next giveaway will be:
May 25th
SPLASH INTO SUMMER Giveaway Hop!!
Stay tuned for awesome books that will be up for grabs!

Friday, May 11, 2012

LDS AUTHORS Giveaway Hop!

                                                   Stretch out people we are hopping again!
                                                                        That's right!
                                               Mug of Moxie is giving more books away!
The LDS AUTHORS Giveaway Hop is Hosted by: The Book Bug and I'm a Reader, Not a Writer.
This Hop is Featuring books written by LDS Authors and I have two up for grabs:


                                                            HAUNTS HAVEN
By Joan Sowards

                                                                   MATCHED
 By Ally Condie

And now for the RULES of this giveaway.
*You must be a follower of Mug of Moxie
*You must be over 13 years old to enter this giveaway
* This giveaway is open to everyone-INTERNATIONAL- BABY!!!
In the comment section please leave GFC name and contact information
A winner will be chosen by Random.org on MAY 18th-If chosen winner does not confirm in 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.
Good luck and have fun! Below is a list of other blogs participating in the awesome LDS AUTHORS Giveaway Hop.



Monday, May 7, 2012

IT'S TIME TO HOP!!!

Welcome to another exciting Giveaway Hop on Mug of Moxie!
We are celebrating Children's Books with this hop because it's....
CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK
Children’s Book Week is was Established in 1919, it's the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!
 For more information please visit: http://www.bookweekonline.com/
For this hop Mug of Moxie has five beautiful soft cover books chosen from Emma's book shelf. These books have been  read once and are in perfect condition.
ANGELINA'S BALLET CLASS 
A POCKET FULL OF KISSES
I LIKE MYSELF
DINNER WITH OLIVIA
HOW I BECAME A PIRATE
This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer, KidLitFrenzy,
Classic Children’s Books and MymcBooks. THANKS! 
All giveaways end on May 13th. A winner will be chosen by Random.org on May 14th
To enter this Giveaway Hop simply put your contact information in in the comment section.
This giveaway is open to my International friends!
You DO NOT need to be a follower to enter this giveaway.
Good luck and have fun!!


Saturday, May 5, 2012

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Announcing the SHOWERS OF BOOKS Giveaway Winner......
                                                                                   M.A.D.
An email has been sent and the winner is confirmed.
I will be mailing M.A.D.  2 GREAT books-Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles &
The Daughters by Joanna Philbin! 
A GIANT thank you to I'm a Reader, Not a Writer and One A Day YA for hosting this hop-
AIR KISSES to all who participated, hopped, joined and followed.
Next giveaway will be:
May 7th
Children's Books Giveaway Hop