Blog Tour: The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman (Review + Giveaway)

Genre:	Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling, Fairytale, Romance
Publication.Date	February 11th 2014
Pages:	352
Published By:	Delacorte Press
Author	McCormick Templeman
	The Glass Casket on Goodreads
My review copy:	Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Where to get:

Death hasn't visited Rowan Rose since it took her mother when Rowan was only a little girl. But that changes one bleak morning, when five horses and their riders thunder into her village and through the forest, disappearing into the hills. Days later, the riders' bodies are found, and though no one can say for certain what happened in their final hours, their remains prove that whatever it was must have been brutal.

Rowan's village was once a tranquil place, but now things have changed. Something has followed the path those riders made and has come down from the hills, through the forest, and into the village. Beast or man, it has brought death to Rowan's door once again.

Only this time, its appetite is insatiable.

(Goodreads)

"You will stop interrupting me. A wolf mauled that man."
Jude clenched his jaw. "And I suppose a wolf simply encouraged these men here to remove their clothes and lie down nice and still in the snow like that. You're right," he said slinging his gun over his shoulder and walking into the woods. "That must have been it."

It wasn't until the next day that Tom saw Rowan's enchanting stranger, and when he did, something stirred within him. He was passing through the village square when she caught his eye. Extraordinarily beautiful, she moved with the grace of spritely fawn, and as she came to perch on the low stone wall that surrounded the village well, Tom felt certain he'd seen her somewhere before - as if she were a girl from a dream, or a story read to him long ago.

And he knew that no matter what happened, no matter what the truth of the situation might be, that a part of him would always be out there spinning on the ice with her. The moment itself seemed to fill his veins, and he knew that she would be inside him. Always and forever. After feeling like this, there was no going back.

     Fantasy is a genre that doesn't always work for me. If the world-and-character-building aren't thorough enough - or, in some cases, if they're so detailed, they end up being overwhelming - I probably won't enjoy it. If the writing is too descriptive and too wordy - or if it's too plain and straightforward - I won't be able to get fully immersed in the story. Then there's also the pacing, the setting, the fantastic elements such as magic or supernatural creatures, and of course, the plot line itself. So many things that could go wrong! That being said, I am thrilled to report that The Glass Casket didn't miss a single mark! McCormick Templeman's latest novel is the perfect combination of a tragic love story and a gorgeously imagined, skilfully woven, often times completely shocking fantasy tale, sprinkled with elements of horror and macabre. I absolutely loved it and it's definitely one of my top five favorite books I've read this month. 

"One bleak morning in the eye of winter, five horses and five riders thundered into the remote mountain village of Nag's End. Without ceremony or respect for local custom, they charged through the square and up the steep alpine trail that lay just beyond. Hazarding the rocky terrain, they wove their way between snow-shrouded pines, climbing ever until they reached the icy plateau of Beggar's Drift - a place, it was said, that the Goddess had forsaken."

     With these words, starts the magical tale of love and sacrifice, family secrets and dark prophecies, deception and revenge. 

     The Glass Casket had me glued to its pages from the opening lines. I loved everything - or almost everything - about it, from the isolated and creepy snow-covered setting, wonderfully charismatic characters, to the completely absorbing and unpredictable plot line. This book has so much going for it! It's filled with unique and highly imaginative elements, such as different kinds of witches, magical and cultural rituals, local superstitions and folk tales, unstoppable evil. There's also mystery, family drama, passion and thoroughly bone-chilling, brutal murders. The thing I loved the most about it, though, is Templeman's writing style. The story reads more like a classic fairy tale than your typical fantasy novel. The dialogues are very sharp and full of sparkling chemistry (especially the interactions between Rowan and Tom, and Rowan and Jude), the descriptions - evocative and rich. Overall, though, the prose has a vibe of vagueness and fogginess that sort of requires you to suspend your disbelief, stop questioning every development and just take things at face value. And honestly, I thought that worked really well here, adding to the mysterious atmosphere and creepiness of the tale. 

     As far as the pacing is concerned, The Glass Casket is not a very fast-paced book and I'm afraid some readers will find it too slow for their taste. Personally, I didn't mind that at all. To be honest, I loved the fact that the author took time setting the atmosphere and slowly building the tension. And the build-up really is amazing! Once we reach the tipping point (which is about 1/3 of the way), things start happening fast, and they are sure to send a cold chill down your spine and make your toes curl! Templeman is not one to hold back. She is not afraid to kill-off characters - even the important ones - and she often does it in a beautifully cruel style. I loved that about this book - the fact that you could never predict what will happen next, who will be the next victim of the mysterious, blood-thirsty beast. 

     The mystery plays a great part in this story. From beginning to end, this book had me wrecking my brain for answers. I had no idea what was really going on, no clue as to who the evil culprit was and what their motivations were (even though, at one point, I was suspicious of literally every single character in the story - including the heroine herself!). Templeman did a fantastic job keeping me intrigued and guessing, and I am not ashamed to admit that I was completely clueless most of the time. The plot line was very well thought out - intricate and complex - and made for an entertaining guessing game. 

     All in all, McCormick Templeman's The Glass Casket is an amazingly imaginative book. Well-plotted, inventive, dramatic, and absolutely dazzling, it's a gorgeously dark fairy tale that will keep you enchanted and intrigued all the way through. If you're craving an engaging, atmospheric mystery set against a well-developed medieval-ish background and filled with different kinds of magic and otherwordly creatures, this should be your next pick.

Giveaway:

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Random House, one lucky winner will get a finished copy of The Glass Casket!

Contest is open to: US addresses only
Ends: February 10th

Enter via Rafflecopter below!
Please note: Bookish is not responsible for items lost or damaged in mail.

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The Glass Casket Blog Tour

January 31st – Bookish
February 1st – Katie’s Book Blog
February 3rd – I’d so Rather be Reading
February 4th – Forever YA
February 5th – Wastepaper Prose
February 6th – Stories & Sweeties
February 7th – Peace Love Books
February 8th – The Hiding Spot
February 10th – Children’s Book Review
February 11th – The Midnight Garden
February 13th – Dear Teen Me
February 17th – The Midnight Garden

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Read-A-Long - 2nd Discussion Post

Hi guys! Welcome to the 2nd discussion post for our January Read-a-Long: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor! Huge thank you to everyone who joined us and read the book with us in order to swoon over it together! 

Now, I don't know about you guys but I was completely blown-away by Laini Taylor's imagination and writing skills. The first read-a-long pick couldn't have been more perfect, honestly! I LOVED every single page of this book. It did have its slower moments, yes, but I completely didn't mind, as I was too busy enjoying Laini's beautiful writing style!! Ooooh! Can't wait to read the next book now!!! 

About the book:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Hardcover, US, 418 pages
Published September 27th 2011 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hairactually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Discussion Questions:

1) Share your favorite quote or most memorable passage from the book - tell us why you like it so much!

2) Using only 5 words, describe the way you feel about this story.

3) What do you think about the relationship between Karou and Akiva? Are they starcrossed lovers destined to forever suffer or is their love powerful enough to change the world around them and bring about peace?

4) What part of the book surprised you the most? Was there anything that took you by surprise?

5) Who is your favorite supporting character and why?

6) Do you think Karou and Akiva change a lot throughout the course of the book? Would you say they're dynamic characters?

7) Trust and willingness to believe one another seem to play a big role in the story. What do you think would change if the characters trusted each other more? Or, in some cases, if they didn't put their trust in wrong places?

8) The novel closes with Kaoru and Akiva being yet again separated - what do you think will happen to them in the next book??

Please leave your answers in the comment section below! You can put them all in one comment or break them up into one question per comment! :)

Our favorite quotes:

Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.

It is a condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such. The dragon, you know, hunkered in the village devouring maidens, heard the townsfolk cry 'Monster!' and looked behind him.

Love is a luxury."
"No. Love is an element."
An element. Like air to breathe, earth to stand on.

Peace is more than the absence of war. Peace is accord. Harmony.

For the way loneliness is worse when you return to it after a reprieve—like the soul’s version of putting on a wet bathing suit, clammy and miserable.

She had been innocent once, a little girl playing with feathers on the floor of a devil's lair. She wasn't innocent now, but she didn't know what to do about it. This was her life: magic and shame and secrets and teeth and a deep, nagging hollow at the center of herself where something was most certainly missing.

She had a sadness that was so deep, but it still could turn to light in a second,and when I saw her smile I wondered what it would be like to make her smile. I thought...I thought it would be like the discovery of smiling.

“You were true to her, even if she was not to you. Never repent of your own goodness, child. To stay true in the face of evil is a feat of great strength.”

“Strength,” she said with a little laugh. “I gave her strength, and look what she did with it.” 

Never too late to join!

We are already preparing the next read-a-long for you guys!!! :) Today is the last day to vote on your pick, so head over to this post and cast your vote!!!! 

And remember, it's never to late to sign up for 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge and/or join our monthly read-a-longs, so spread the word and invite your friends to join the fun!

Giveaway:

Everyone who takes part in our January TBR Pile Read-a-long is going to get 10 extra entries into our January Wrap-up giveaway for the TBR Pile Reading Challenge! The Wrap up is up on Bookish and you can find it HERE!!!

And don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the wrap-up post where you'll be able to link up your reviews / thoughts about Daughter of Smoke & Bone!!!

The Traitor’s Wife by Allison Pataki (Interview + Giveaway)

Genre:	Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication.Date:	February 11, 2014
Pages:	496 (paperback)
Published By:	Howard Books
Website:	Allison Pataki
	The Traitor's Wife on Goodreads

Where to get:

A riveting historical novel about Peggy Shippen Arnold, the cunning wife of Benedict Arnold and mastermind behind America’s most infamous act of treason.

Everyone knows Benedict Arnold—the infamous Revolutionary War General who betrayed America and fled to the British as history’s most notorious turncoat. Many know Arnold’s co-conspirator, Major John André, who was apprehended with Arnold’s documents in his boots and hanged at the orders of General George Washington. But few know of the integral third character in the plot; a charming and cunning young woman, who not only contributed to the betrayal but orchestrated it.

Socialite Peggy Shippen is half Benedict Arnold’s age when she seduces the war hero during his stint as Military Commander of Philadelphia. Blinded by his young bride’s beauty and wit, Arnold does not realize that she harbors a secret: loyalty to the British. Nor does he know that she hides a past romance with the handsome British spy John André. Peggy watches as her husband, crippled from battle wounds and in debt from years of service to the colonies, grows ever more disillusioned with his hero, Washington, and the American cause. Together with her former lover and her disaffected husband, Peggy hatches the plot to deliver West Point to the British and, in exchange, win fame and fortune for herself and Arnold.

Told from the perspective of Peggy’s maid, whose faith in the new nation inspires her to intervene in her mistress’s affairs even when it could cost her everything, The Traitor’s Wife brings these infamous figures to life, illuminating the sordid details and the love triangle that nearly destroyed the American fight for freedom.

(Goodreads)

Author Interview

Welcome to Bookish, Allison!  I'm so excited to have you here with us today! I'm personally a huge fan of historical fiction, even more so when it is based on actual people from the past.

Thank you, I’m thrilled to be here! And yes, agreed, historical fiction is my favorite genre.

What made you choose to write a novel based on Peggy Shippen Arnold, a character whom history often ignores? What was the thought process in deciding to tell the story from the perspective of Peggy's maid instead of Peggy herself?

The fact that history has largely forgotten Peggy Shippen Arnold was precisely why I wanted to write The Traitor’s Wife. I had known the story of Benedict Arnold’s treason, as many people do. And I had known the role that John Andre, the British spy, had played.

But I had not known that Benedict Arnold’s wife, Peggy, had been the central figure in introducing the two conspirators. And that Peggy had in fact been a loyalist to the British, and therefore a huge player in her husband’s decision to betray the American cause. When I found out – not only that Peggy had existed – but also that she was such an intriguing figure, I thought it made for a thrilling historical fiction novel.

I created the fictional maid, Clara, as the narrator so that the reader could watch Peggy Shippen Arnold as an outsider. To get to know Peggy as Clara gets to know Peggy. To be simultaneously seduced by but also disgusted by Peggy. Writing from Clara’s perspective allowed me to interject a fresh point of view, apart from the scheming and the treason.

Describe The Traitor's Wife in 5 words or less.

Dramatic.

Multifaceted.

Suspenseful.

Hopeful.

Tense.

At least, I hope it is all five of those things!

I was already intrigued by the synopsis, but those words make me want to read it even more! During your research, did you come across any surprises in terms of historical events or illuminate a character in a particular way?

I was floored at the complexity of Benedict Arnold’s character and career. He was an ardent colonial patriot and a heroic general who fought valiantly for most of the Revolutionary War. If not for Arnold’s military skill at the Battle of Saratoga, the British would probably have won and the Revolution might have ended in 1777.

Also, I was surprised to learn that a certain amount of Arnold’s bitterness toward his colleagues on the American side was justified. George Washington often mediated for Arnold – and took his side – when Arnold was treated unfairly by the Continental Congress and his colleagues in the army.

Benedict Arnold’s name is synonymous with “traitor,” yes, but there are so many other descriptors – and positive ones – that might also be applied to him.

What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, logistical, etc.) you faced?

When you have the historical record from which to carve the arc of the story, it can be difficult to decide when to stick to the facts and when to use artistic license.

In some ways, having access to a timeline of events and such rich historical details makes your job easier as the writer. Of course you want to include fascinating details like what the characters looked like, how they dressed, what sort of homes they would have lived in, and so forth.

But, the more you uncover facts and historical details, the easier it becomes to get bogged down in thinking that you must include everything you find. You start to feel like you are getting way too granular and that the story is becoming unwieldy.

At some point, you need to throw your hands up and say, OK, I’ve got a lot of raw material here. Now it’s time to sit down and write a novel. A novel which, after all, is fiction. 

How much of this book is factual and how much creative license?

The arc of the story is based on the historical facts. Peggy Shippen was a beguiling belle who was courted by John Andre while he was stationed in Philadelphia. Peggy then fell in love with and married Benedict Arnold. Shortly thereafter, the Arnolds began corresponding with John Andre and moved to West Point, with the intention of selling that vital fortress to the British.

The plot is driven entirely by facts. Peggy was a charming, intelligent, well-connected woman. Arnold was a besotted man with a stellar military career but a bruised ego and an empty bank account. The characters like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, the Marquis de Lafayette, and Peggy’s Philadelphia friends all played roles similar to the ones developed in The Traitor’s Wife.

It is in the specific conversations and the development of the characters that I relied most on artistic license. Additionally, all of the servants are fictional characters, including the narrator Clara Bell. And so, all of their subplots, including Cal’s role in uncovering John Andre, are written with artistic license.

How do you prepare to get inside the head of people who actually existed?

By reading as much as I can about the characters and their lives. By learning about the worlds they inhabited, and what their motivations had been. By learning what their days must have looked like. So, for instance, exploring what they would have eaten, how they would have dressed, how they would have spoken, and so forth.

And then, from there, the artistic license comes in. You might say that’s the most fun part!

If you could spend a day with one your characters, who would you choose, where would you go, and what would you talk about?

It’s very tempting to say Peggy. I would love to have seen her in action!

But my answer would have to be George Washington. It would be fascinating to see him, the first ever leader of the United States. From his letters and biographies, you get such a clear picture of what an intelligent, fair, charismatic, strong, virtuous, brave person he was.

To be in the presence of such a titan of American (and world) history would be thrilling. What would we talk about? I would say nothing – I would let him talk, and I would gladly listen!

I myself would be torn between these two people, too. Just to see Peggy and have a conversation with her would be fascinating. However, can you really pass up the chance to chat with George Washington himself? Maybe we'd get lucky and get invited to a party they're both at!

What can we expect from you in the future?

I hope that The Traitor’s Wife will be the first in a long career of writing historical fiction novels. There’s nothing I love more than researching, reading, and writing historical fiction novels. It feels like playing.

I'll definitely be on the lookout for your future novels! Thanks for stopping by Allison - can't wait to start reading The Traitor's Wife!

Website | Goodreads |  Twitter | Facebook

ALLISON PATAKI grew up in upstate New York, in the same neighborhood where Benedict and Peggy Arnold once lived. Allison attended Yale University, where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in English. While at Yale, Allison received Distinction in the Major from the English department and served as a campus reporter and news anchor for the student-run campus television program, YTV News. The daughter of former New York State Governor George E. Pataki, Allison was inspired to write The Traitor’s Wife: A Novel of Benedict Arnold and the Plan to Betray America based on the rich Revolutionary War history of her hometown in New York State’s Hudson Highlands. Allison spent several years writing for television and digital news outlets prior to transitioning to fiction. The Traitor’s Wife: A Novel of Benedict Arnold and the Plan to Betray America is Allison’s first novel. Allison lives in Chicago with her husband.

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Tour Schedule

Monday, January 20th - Daily Mayo

Tuesday, January 21st -  Fire & Ice

Wednesday, January 22nd - Sofia Loves Books

Thursday, January 23rd - Little Miss Drama Queen

Friday, January 24th - Book - A - Holic

Monday, January 27th -  The Most Happy Reader

Tuesday, January 28th - Bookish

Wednesday, January 29th - Books Besides My Bed

Thursday, January 30th - Crossroad Reviews

Friday, January 31st -  Reading Reality

Monday, February 3rd - Curling Up with a Good Book

Tuesday, February 4th - Le Grande Codex

Wednesday, February 5th - Bewitched Bookworms

Thursday, February 6th - Supernatural Snark

Friday, February 7th - Rose's Book Corner

To DNF or Not to DNF

I've been having issues lately. Book related issues. Over the last few weeks, I've DNFed probably every other read. And they're aren't books that are getting so-so reviews. These are the books that are getting 4 or 5 stars from people and have high reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.

I have no idea what is happening! They're also books that I would have devoured within a day and I find myself spending more time wasting time on my phone that wanting to read these books. The book I DNFed just yesterday, I was 200 pages in when I realized that I just did not care. The book started off amazing and I was so excited to read it after having it sit on my shelves for months. And this is by no means a bad book. It has a 4.08 rating on Goodreads, out of more than 75,000 rating. Of all my friends, the lowest rating is a 3/5 - and I can't even get past page 200!

And this isn't the first time this has happened. It happened to me with Ruby Red. I was intrigued, but not terribly intrigued. And that has a 4.14 out of 23,000 rating.

More than anything, this is incredibly frustrating. I'm reading these book because I want to. I want to love them. Hell, I bought some of these books I'm "eh" about so that's even more frustrating! However, I'm not incredibly ready to mark some of these books as DNF on Goodreads. Something  intrigued me enough to pick up these books. Something intrigued me enough to get to page 200. Something intrigued me enough to not want to completely write these books off.

And honestly? It's making me nervous to pick up books. What if this happens to a book I'm super excited about? What then? There are certain books I have no worries about (either continuations of beloved series or books by authors I covet), but the debts or the series beginners that I've had on my TBR for far too long.

Maybe this is just a phase. Maybe I'm going through a reading slump and I'm taking it out on these poor defenseless books. (I read a 5/5 book in between some of these books, which confuses me even more about my "issue.") I think I need to create a new shelf on Goodreads: DNFs to Revist, or something to that effect.

Has this or something like it ever happened to you? Any suggestions on how to pull myself out of whatever pseudo-reading slump/issues I'm having?

A Perfect Passion by Piper Kay (Review)

Genre:	Adult, M/M Romance
Publication Date:	September 19, 2013
Pages:	148
Published By:	Hot Ink Press
Website	A Perfect Passion by Piper Kay
	Piper Kay Website
My review copy:	From author for honest review

Where to get:

  For Damien, passion brings ecstasy, betrayal and danger that almost cost him his life. At the lowest point in his life, he discovers that true passion and loyalty have been staring him in the face all along. There is one problem he must surmount first, Dax is straight and carries a lot of baggage. What neither of them realize is that sometimes passion can also bring healing. That is if one is brave enough to take the first step. In a perfect passion, one must be willing to take the risk.

(Goodreads)

I've never held anything against a person before, and certainly don't judge people.  I take people at face value, and accept everyone's right to be themselves.  Everyone has their own opinions and expressions, they're allowed to be who they are.  I've never understood people who do these kinds of things to another human being. - Dax

 After the uneasy way things ended between Dax and me, I'm not sure what to think.  I know I was probably out of line with what happened, but it just kind of happened.  It wasn't my plan to grope all over him like a stray cat in heat.  What was I thinking? -Damien

  I don't play the Alpha/Sub routine,  There's nothing wrong with both parties taking turns as Alpha, I find it more appealing, because both lovers get to enjoy all flavors of the rainbow.  I sound like a freaking Starburst commercial.  -Damien

  Never in a million years, could I have dreamed I would be attracted to someone so quick, especially not to a man.  I've always had an open mind about most things and situations.  My relationship with Damien is a marvelous one, we get along terrific, and I find him surprisingly sexy.  Who knew! -Dax

 

  I just did not see this one coming!  Oh yes, I read the synopsis and silly me though this was a New Adult type deal.  Though I was wrong and way off, I did enjoy this read in a way that I thought I could never.  I believe that this is a case of trying something new but keeping your eyes closed until you are already too far in to stop.  With A Perfect Passion that was only a few pages in.  Admittedly, I was curious but what I got was more than a taste of something I never would have tried but I got it with a story that called to me on every page.

  This is a story of two people jerked around by people every time they let someone get close and that is just not often.  It was also about experiencing new things and breaking the norm and the expected.  Well, at least it was to me.  Damien and Dax had a lot in common in love, except one thing: the sex that they were attracted to.  They were not playing for the same team to start but then the unexpected happens and Dax steps out of his comfort zone, tries something new.  Maybe at first I thought it was too easy, but I also know that sometimes people bury feelings for a sense of 'right.'  Though what the two had developed quickly, I kept in mind the length of the read and factored it in.  A little more time development between the two would have been nice, but I guess sometimes lust and passion take over.

  I felt to start that Damien, despite the description moved a little too fast in relationships and though I felt for the hurt that he had to endure, I also understand the importance of developing something.  When everything started and we met Dax (the pool boy) I all but drooled.  I could see why Damien found him attractive, yet I didn't see anything ever happening as Dax was straight.  However, it turns out that the power of attraction can be stronger than norms and expectations and they came together.  Their personalities seemed to fit and, once again I was curious as to how they could move that fast but it worked.  This is not saying that the pages that they filled were filled with passion because they weren't.  They both had issues that they needed to overcome and I guess in the end they overcame them because of each other.

  I am not sure if I would have picked this up knowing what it was, but I am glad I didn't know it coming in because it was a great book to open my eyes to this kind of read.  I cannot say that it will be something that I will regularly pick up but because of Kay's writing and her ability to tastefully develop a M/M story.  If you are new to this type of thing or like it and are looking for a quick pick me up this is definitely the book to consider!

Vote on February TBR Pile Read-a-Long Read!

Read-a-long with us in February!

We need you to help us choose our second TBR Pile Read-a-long book!

Reading books together makes for a great motivation to tackle our dusty TBR Piles! And this year, we're all about choosing the books together. We invite you to vote on a book you'd like to read most in February!

The voting poll will be open until January 30th and we'll announce the February read-a-long pick on January 31st!

Which book would you like to read in February for TBR Pile Read-a-long?
	Firelight by Sophie Jordan
	Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
	The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
	The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
	Agelfall by Susan Ee
	The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
	17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma
	Eve by Anna Carey
	Scorched by Mari Mancusi
	The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
	Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
	The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
pollcode.com free polls

The Bookish Team will host 2 or 3 discussion posts (you will be notified via email when they'll go up!) and we will have giveaway prizes for participants, so don't hesitate and join the fun! 

We'll also talk about the plot, favorite/least favorite moments and characters and share memorable quotes! 

And remember, it's never to late to sign up for  2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge and/or join our monthly read-a-longs, so spread the word and invite your friends to join the fun!

To sign up for our TBR Pile Reading Challenge click on the button below. And don't forget to subscribe to the mailing list to be notified about all the news and updates! :)

TBR Pile Reading Challenge January Wrap-up + Giveaway

Hi guys and welcome to January WRAP-UP post for out 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge! 

Hope you had a great January (or rather the first 25 days of it!) filled with awesome reads! I hope you managed to read some books for the challenge - I know I did! :)

Books I've read for the challenge this month:

Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler 

White Dog Fell From The Sky by Eleanor Marse

Love, Water, Memory by Jennie Shortbridge <- my review

ARV-3 by Cameo Renae

Flowers in the Attic by V.C Andrews <- my review

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

The Kill Order by James Dashner <- my review

I only reviewed 3 of these books so far, but I am planning to review them all, hopefully by the end of this month! 

How did you do?

Make sure to link up your reviews in the linky and then enter them into the giveaway!

How does it work?

You have until February 25th to link up all your reviews for the books read and reviewed in JANUARY! (Please only link up books you've read for the challenge during the month of January! The ones you'll read in February will have a different linky and giveaway!). 

If you have a blog and you're sharing your January wrap-up there, leave a comment with the link to your post! If you've signed-up with a Goodreads account only, or simply choose not to post a wrap-up, please leave a comment listing all your January reads.

NOTE: If you have read a book in January, but wrote the review in February, you can choose to link it up in either January or February wrap-up, but please do not link up in both!

Then link-up your reviews in the linky thing below and enter them into Rafflecopter!

Reminder: All participants of our January TBR Pile Read-a-Long for Laini Taylor's DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE receive 10 bonus entries into the giveaway! It's not too late to join! The second discussion post goes live January 30th and the Read-a-Long Wrap-up will be posted on January 31st!

Click here for the first discussion post: HERE <=

Giveaway:

You can win a book of choice from Book Depository or Amazon up to $15

Open: to all TBR Pile Reading Challenge Participants

Ends: February 25th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Never to late to  join!

You can still join our challenge, here's where you can sign-up! 

CLICK HERE