Sunday, September 30, 2012

Look at what I got!

Umm, I know you guys usually do a In my Mailbox Monday post, but I just couldn't wait to share this! I just got 2 awesome titles from Entangled Publishing, and am waiting on another title from author Nikki Jefford. Here they are!

From Entangled:

Be careful what you search for...

Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry--hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.

When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends--are lost forever.


and... 

Liv comes out of a coma with no memory of her past and two distinct, warring voices inside her head. Nothing, not even her reflection, seems familiar. As she stumbles through her junior year, the voices get louder, insisting she please the popular group while simultaneously despising them. But when Liv starts hanging around with Spencer, whose own mysterious past also has him on the fringe, life feels complete for the first time in, well, as long as she can remember.

Liv knows the details of the car accident that put her in the coma, but as the voices invade her dreams, and her dreams start feeling like memories, she and Spencer seek out answers. Yet the deeper they dig, the less things make sense. Can Liv rebuild the pieces of her broken past, when it means questioning not just who she is, but what she is?


And I'm still waiting on 

 If Graylee Perez thought sharing a body with her twin sister was bad, dealing with a duplicate of herself is two times worse. Gray the second doesn’t seem to get that Lee’s boyfriend, Raj McKenna, is off limits. Then there’s the problem of Adrian Montez. He expects one of the Grays to be his.

Nearly a year later, the council is onto them for past misdeeds; Lee, along with the rest of the coven, has lost control of her powers; and Gray is being stalked by what looks like the Grim Reaper.

If they work together, they may stand a chance of setting things right and making it out alive.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Book review: God Can! by Calvin Rychener

God Can!
NOTE: I received this book from Netgalley.

I don't know how to begin this review. It's difficult when reviewing non-fiction. I guess, just start on it and see how it unfolds.

For starters, I didn't know (or I had forgotten) that I would be reading the stories of several people, how they were suffering, how they were led to the faith by the loving hand of God, and how He changed their lives forever.

To read full review, please click here.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Follow Friday #31

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Follow Me Friday is a book meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. #FF is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. In order to join in the fun, all you need is well . . . A book blog :)


The question this week is:


What is the BIGGEST word you've seen used in a book lately - that made you stop and look it up? Might as well leave the definition & book too.

 
My answer:

I honestly don't know. I don't remember such things. I do know I've looked up some words, even in my recent reads, but what those words were... no clue.

Well, what's your answer?

Please leave links to your FF's, so I can stop by!! Oh, and if you're a new follower, let me know so I could return the favor!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Book review: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Spellbound (Spellbound, #1)

NOTE: I received the ARC of this book from MIRA INK.

Where to begin, where to begin... The cover was very pretty, with these shiny glass-like particles suspended around.

But the story wasn't the best I've read so far. Umm, sad to say, it was rather in the middle of the rating scale, which is too bad because I had great expectations for it.

The writing style was good, though there were places (especially in the first half of the book) where I found it difficult to concentrate on the story. The story itself was well built, but it wasn't anything original. The soul mate concept was far too stretched, and I just couldn't find it believable or realistic. Sure, I believe in love at first sight, but this just felt sort of forced.

To read full review, please click here.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

In her shoes ~28~

Every Tuesday I will pick a character I've read about recently, perhaps even the week before, and try putting myself in her shoes. What things would I do differently? What have I learned from her behavior? That kind of thing. You are welcome to participate if you want, just please link back, so we could build a nice community of followers. Thanks!!! :)



Entangled (Spellbound #1)Today I'm going to pick a heroine I read about last week. Her name is Graylee and she's a witch. She's also an amazing friend, a loving sister, and a caring daughter.

Gray is also very talented in her skills, being able to break through a horrible barrier that had been keeping her useless for years. Still though, even as she learns who put the barrier in place, she is forgiving and able to just let it go. Until she's tangled up in a bunch of events that she didn't have the power to overcome.

Good thing she had Raj, the bad boy with a good heart, who was ready to do anything for Gray. And honestly she deserved his affection and love, because she was just naturally good and brave and sweet.

There were a couple of times when I thought she'd turn vengeful, but then she didn't. The good in her just didn't let her. It was amazing how much pain she allowed herself to go through, just so she wouldn't hurt the people she loved. Even when they didn't really love her back. (Evil sister Charlene is who I mean.)

I believe that characters like Gray are very hard to come across, which is why she's definitely on my "favorite" list.



Who's shoes would you like to step into this week?

Monday, September 24, 2012

Book review: Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate

Eve and AdamNOTE: I received this title to review from Netgalley.

I'll start with saying that I'd been wondering why the second E and the D in the title were backwards. While I seem to have figured out the E (the girl hated being called Eve), I have no idea what's the reason behind the D. So if anyone has figured it out, or has any suggestions, please share them!

Now, let's talk about the book itself. I can say that I liked the story. It wasn't the best story, and it was a bit too slow paced for me, but it was unique, and I stand by my rating. The world building was nice, including various elements of description of the lab quarters, the equipment, the change in scenery etc.

The characters were a bit undeveloped I think, but it seems like they will be worked on in the next book. Here are my thoughts on them:

To read my full review, please click here.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Cover reveal: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Amazing cover to the third book in JLA's LUX series! I am really excited about the book, and the blurb and cover are just awesome! Check them out!


No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.


Intrigued yet??? I sure am, even though I'm still waiting for my copy of Onyx to arrive. :)) I honestly can't wait!!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Book review: Entangled by Nikki Jefford

Entangled (Spellbound #1) NOTE: I received this book from Netgalley to review.

Boy, am I glad I requested this book from Netgalley!!! It was simply ah-mazing! I couldn't stop reading, and even dreamed of it in my sleep!!! I can't believe I liked it so much, but then again, great books do stick around for a while. And this one was certainly a great book.

The story was about two sisters, twins in fact, who are so unlike each other, there's no room for comparison. And they're also witches. But while Graylee (Gray) is open and helpful and just good, Charlene is her total opposite. Too many things happen between the sisters, that they can't really trust, or love each other in the end. That part of the story is actually sad, because I hate it when siblings don't appreciate each other and instead stab each other in the back. It's just awful.

To read full review, please click here.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Book review:

Speechless NOTE: I received this book to review from Netgalley.

I'm glad to say that my expectations of this book were actually surpassed. To be honest, I had forgotten what the book was supposed to be about. And so I plunged in the story, expecting something paranormal. But it came out to be a contemporary YA! Which, by the way, I was totally in the mood for.

And so it goes. I loved this book. Perhaps the only things I didn't like about it, was the use of cuss words now and then. But, I guess I could overlook that, since the story was pretty good.

The storyline was unique - a teenage gossip girl, who messes up big time (no news there!)decides to take a vow of silence. I've never read such a story, so it totally grabbed me, and I read the book in just one standing. That's how amazingly good it was.

To read full review, please click here.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #39

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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.

My pick this week is:





Title: The Lost Son
Series: none that I know of
Author: Tamra Torero
Release date: October 9th, 2012

Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Jacob has always been able to charm his way out of trouble with the law. But when he’s sentenced to work at a family Christmas tree farm in place of Cody Matthews—a boy killed in Jacob’s last DUI—Jacob is in for a harsh reality check. This emotional story of loss, love, and redemption is impossible to put down.

 Why I want to read it:

1) I love contemporary stories. Somehow they're so much more realistic. (duh)
2) The cover reminds me of Christmas with all it's magic and miracles and stuff...
3) Well, I just want to know more about Jacob. Has he learned the consequences of his actions?

So how about you? What amazing book are you waiting on this week?  

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

In her shoes ~27~

Every Tuesday I will pick a character I've read about recently, perhaps even the week before, and try putting myself in her shoes. What things would I do differently? What have I learned from her behavior? That kind of thing. You are welcome to participate if you want, just please link back, so we could build a nice community of followers. Thanks!!! :)


This week I'd like to present to you a very special girl. Her name is Mia and she's the heroine in Kat Beyer's "The Demon Catchers of Milan". What's so special about her, you might ask, and I'm going to tell you.

Mia has the blood of a demon catcher flowing through her veins. But she's never known it. Not until she's possessed by the very demon who's been haunting her family for centuries. Many do not survive a possession, but Mia's not like everyone else. She has the guts to fight. And after figuring out exactly what she's up against, she's ready for revenge. I can't wait for the next book to come out, so I could see Mia in her full potential. I have the feeling that she's got some powers that not even her Italian relatives have thought possible.

I was also very pleasantly surprised that Mia wasn't just the girl who had everything, who was given and told everything. She had to figure things out on her own. Like why were all the candles lit in Nonno's candle shop? And why on earth wasn't anyone supposed to breathe on them? She's smart though, so it didn't take her long. I was really proud of her :)

Who's shoes would you like to step into this week?

Monday, September 17, 2012

Book review: The Burning Star by Jessie Lane

The Burning Star (Star Series #1)
Let me start off by saying that I began reading the uncorrected version and kept with it until about 33% of the story. I was very disappointed by the many misspellings, word misuse, lack of punctuation and a whole lot of other editing problems.

So then I thought that I'd upload me the newer (proofed) version. I honestly couldn't see any difference, except that the chapters now bore the POV name. If that could be counted as improvement, okay, but it isn't such in my book.

Still though, I think that this story is unique in a way that in my experience so far the worlds of the werewolves and fae hadn't been mixed in together. And also, I sort of liked the plot, it definitely kept me going. But, there was a huge problem with almost all the characters. They sounded completely unrealistic, their dialogue was way overdone, and I found myself rolling my eyes most of the time. There was also the problem of the development... it was slow. Very slow.

To see full review, please click here.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Book review: The Demon Catchers of Milan by Kat Beyer

The Demon Catchers of Milan
NOTE: I received this book from Netgalley to review.

Let me say first, that I loved the book cover and that it was what made me request the book in the first place. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I can't wait for book 2 to come out. If there is going to be book 2, that is.

So, the story was pretty unique, in my opinion. I haven't read anything like it, so the concept was pretty fresh, and I liked that. It wasn't one of those typical paranormal novels where everything revolves around some love triangle with an indecisive girl and a couple of boys that surround her and fight for her attention. It was a book where there was spiritual action, and a rather slight note of romance. The story line revolved around a demon possession, a family of demon hunters, and a girl who grew out of her shell in a country far from home.

To read full review, please click here.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Cover Reveal: With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

Awesome news you guys! The cover for the last Soul Screamers novel has been revealed. Officially! And it's gorgeous!!! I don't know if it will be the same for both the UK and US releases, since the UK ones are quite different to begin with, but oh my! Just looking at it takes my breath away!!! A huge thank you to whoever designed it! :)))) And even though book 6 was sort of lacking in the story development (imo), I'm still very much in love with the series, and I can't wait for With All My Soul to come out! :)



The announced date of publication so far is April 1st, 2013 (yeah, it's April Fool's day... umm... hope it's not a joke, cuz that would be a pretty bad joke indeed), which is less than an year away, but to us fan-readers it's gonna feel like a lot more. *sigh*

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

Friday, September 14, 2012

Follow Friday #30

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Follow Me Friday is a book meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. #FF is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. In order to join in the fun, all you need is well . . . A book blog :)


The question this week is:


What hyped up book do you think was not worth all the talk?

 
My answer:

Mmmm, let me think for a second... Goodreads.. help!!!

Okay, so after looking at my read GR list, I came up with this:

Why? Because it totally dunked my expectations. I though it would be a real assassin story, full of conspiracies and stuff... but no. I was seriously disappointed.


Well, what's your answer?

Please leave links to your FF's, so I can stop by!! Oh, and if you're a new follower, let me know so I could return the favor!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Book Review: Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout


Oh, wow! If you guys had been following my reviews, you know that I just read Half-Blood last week. And what do you know, I loved it. Which is why I got Pure next and finished it in two days. And it was absolutely fabulous.

Jennifer's story telling has definitely improved even more and I found myself in Alex's world as if it were mine. That happens rarely, so it's definitely important to me. I loved the structure and development of each scene, the way they grew in intensity and left me longing for more.

And the characters got even more interesting here.

To read full review, please click here.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #38

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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.

My pick this week is:




Title: Ever
Series: none that I know of
Author: Jessa Russo
Release date: October 1st, 2012

Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.

Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.

Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.

Some girls lose their hearts to love.

Some girls lose their minds.

Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.


 Why I want to read it:

1) Oh the next door neighbor romance! I love it!!
2) The cover is amazing, with that light and the whisper of a ghost... mmm!
3) And that mystery about losing her soul? Gosh, of course I"m waiting on it! Sure, it helps that I got it from Netgalley already :DD

So how about you? What amazing book are you waiting on this week?  

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

In her shoes ~26~

Every Tuesday I will pick a character I've read about recently, perhaps even the week before, and try putting myself in her shoes. What things would I do differently? What have I learned from her behavior? That kind of thing. You are welcome to participate if you want, just please link back, so we could build a nice community of followers. Thanks!!! :)


There's been a lot of good and bad reviews about Sweet Evil, but I completely loved the book. And I also completely loved Anna, the brave but sweet heroine.

Some may say that Anna was too sweet to be a demon's daughter. But she's grown up  in a human environment, and she's also a half-angel. So, her good nature wasn't to be unexpected. And I actually loved they way she behaved, because she was almost like a mirror image to my own personality.

Let me tell you something - I love it when heroines share traits with my character. It's sort of sweet :)

So, Anna was brave - she wasn't afraid to challenge even the demon Dukes, if that meant protecting someone weak. She was a bit reckless, true, but what sort of brave person isn't?

Her heart was real big - she could hold in it love for her friends and family, and of course for the one boy that she could never have. There were moments when I wanted to pull her hair for not being able to let go of Kaiden, but then again - I couldn't really blame her for falling for him. I mean, who wouldn't??? Still though, she did a pretty good job at living with the knowledge that she could never have him. In my book, that's brave too.

Anna's my pick, who's yours?

Monday, September 10, 2012

Book Review: Perfectly Unique by Annie Downs


Note: I received this book to review from Netgalley.

At first I thought that this will be just the next instruction book, but i was pleasantly surprised to find out it wasn't so.  There wasn't a list of do's and don'ts, where the only thing you seem to be allowed to do is pray. No, I'm not saying not to do that. Of course praying is important, it's njust not all there is.

Chapter after chapter, the author introduces us to both real pieces of her life and the importance of each and every part of our body. From our mind and heart, through our eyes and mouth, Annie talks about the wonderful way God has made us, the many ways we do wrong with His work and the even more ways we can glorify Him through each part of our body.

To read full review, please click here.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Book Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy, #1)

Let me start with this: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book. I can't not give it 5 stars. It just totally won me over. And I couldn't put it down, finished it in one sitting :))

Okay, enough ranting, let me tell you what was so superb about it.

First, there was the story itself. It was unique, it was daring, and it was light at the same time. I haven't read anything quite like it, and I really appreciated that. It's difficult to write a unique story nowadays, what with all the thousands of different novels that pop up on the market..

Second, the story telling was enchanting. It make me love the book from the first page till the very last one. I can say that I breathed Sweet Evil from cover to cover. And what was more important was that I was with the characters every step of the way, feeling what they felt, seeing what they saw.

And last, but definitely not least: the characters.

To read full review, please click here.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Follow Friday #29

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Follow Me Friday is a book meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. #FF is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. In order to join in the fun, all you need is well . . . A book blog :)


The question this week is:


What are you reading right now? How do you like it?

 
My answer:

Nothing actually. I finished a book last night, Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins, and haven't started on anything else. But, I must say that I LOVED that book! It was exactly what I'd needed - fun, light, fast paced and completely un-put-downable. If you haven't read it, you should definitely do so. :)
Well, what's your answer?

Please leave links to your FF's, so I can stop by!! Oh, and if you're a new follower, let me know so I could return the favor!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Book Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Half-Blood (Covenant, #1)

Here's a book I'd wanted to read for a while, but never got the chance to get to. Now that my friend Kay gave me a copy for my birthday, I'd made sure to go ahead and plunge in the Covenant Series adventure.

And boy, I don't regret it at all!

I loved the story, the narrative, the romance, and the characters. I can say that there wasn't even one thing lacking.

The concept of the Greek gods and their plethora of offspring was interesting. The forbidden connection/relationship between pure bloods and half bloods was something that made me read on, just so I could see if the characters would find a way to overcome it. Naturally, it wasn't done in this installment, so I'll be definitely going on to the next one!

To read full review, please click here.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #37

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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.

My pick this week is:



Title: Angel of Mercy
Series: Cambion Series, Book 3
Author: Shannon Dermott
Release date: December 31st, 2012

 
Summary:
Loss cuts deep, deeper when you’ve only had what seems like a short time with that person. Your feelings were already confused and now there was no more time. Mercy’s perilous adventures ran light speed ahead when newcomers come to town. Lycanthropes, demon hunters, and someone else who will come between her heart and her head will play a part in determining her fate and the fate for if not all, most of her friends.
Teaser
“…It’s been me. Always me. And in the end, I may be the only one left standing between you and certain death.”
He was oh so close, close enough that his scent surrounded me like a blanket. There was little doubt that I would always be safe with him.
“And what about…” I tried to say while looking into those blue eyes.
His finger put gentle pressure on my lips. “No one matters but you and me. When will you realize that?”
 
 Why I want to read it:

1) Just look at that cover, please. PLEASE!!! It's absolutely beautiful!!
2) I love Shannon's books, and I really NEED more!!!
3) Can't wait to see who Mercy will end up with!! I love Luke, but Flynn is my soft spot ;)

So how about you? What amazing book are you waiting on this week? 

GIVEAWAY REMINDER:


One giveaway is currently running on my blog - "The Burning Star" by Jessie Lane. You can check it out and participate here .

Oh, and please leave links to your WOW posts, so I can stop by! Thanks!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

In her shoes ~ 25 ~

Every Tuesday I will pick a character I've read about recently, perhaps even the week before, and try putting myself in her shoes. What things would I do differently? What have I learned from her behavior? That kind of thing. You are welcome to participate if you want, just please link back, so we could build a nice community of followers. Thanks!!! :)


Well, I sort of missed posting last Tuesday, but what can I say? No female character impressed me much. That's too bad, I know.

There's this one girl that I read about, Erin from Gwynneth White's Pledged, who kind of earned being featured this week. But I gotta warn you, it's not because of her strength of character, or brilliant mind or anything like that.

It was more the things she was lacking that made me feature her.

To be honest, I thought she was a pretty weak character. She went with the flow rather than fight for what she believed in. She was quick to 'fall in love', and because of that her feelings felt pretty unreal to me. You can't one moment not be in love, and then the next be told that "hey, that guy is your soul mate!", and you totally fall for that. Umm, no.  Not realistic at all.

So, I'd be sure to do at least that differently. Believe in my own heart, not in people's words.

Erin's my pick, who's yours?

Monday, September 3, 2012

Book review: Pledged by Gwynneth White

Pledged (Soul Wars Saga, #1)NOTE: I was given this book to review by the author, Gwynneth White.

I never thought that this review would be so difficult to write. I don't even know where to begin, or how to rate the novel. I hope I get some insight as the words appear on the screen. At any rate, just please don't think I'm being hateful or anything. I'm just being honest.

Firstly, let me say that I had great expectations about Pledged. So great in fact, that when I started reading it, they came crushing down on me. Not cool, I know, but that's what usually happens when a book doesn't turn out to be what you've thought it would be.

To read full review, please click here.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Bday bookstravaganza!

I know I never mentioned this, but my birthday was last week. Yay! So for the past two weeks, presents have been arriving from all over the world. I've never been so excited about my b-day before, but this year all my GReeps have made me feel THE LOVE :)) Thank you guys! I love you all!!!

So let me share with you a couple of pictures. I must confess that I'm still waiting for at least one package, but I just couldn't hold this post any longer. Whenever that package arrives, I'll make sure to post its contents too :)

From my friend Wendy I got this lovely book thong along with a vampire first aid kit and a cute card! As you can see, the thong is pink and pretty, and I absolutely love it! Thanks sweetie!!!


And the paper treasures include the following:


none of which I have yet read, but I think Sweet Evil will be first, since I'm buddy reading it with a couple of GReepies :)

Thank you all amazing girls!!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Book trailer: Pledged by Gwynneth White

Everyone, listen up!! The book trailer of "Pledged" by author Gwynneth White is finally out!! Check it out here!


I love that knife, don't you? It's got this weird boomerang shape. Perhaps there's a meaning behind it? And those girls/ghosts from the past... what is the meaning of them? I guess we'll read on and find out :) Enjoy watching!

And here's where Pledged can bepurchased from:

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pledged-gwynneth-white/1111939746

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/171570

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pledged-Soul-Wars-Saga-ebook/dp/B0088PEEYC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343140429&sr=1-1&keywords=pledged+gwynneth

Oh, and don't forget to sign up for the giveaway, that can be found in my giveaways page :)