Saturday, 7 January 2012

In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

This segment of IMM is a Fun one! I've been doing this book review blogging this for a few months now; and I didn't think I would get any notice with all the other great book blogs out there. But low and behold, now I'm on the publisher radar.

Here's what's in my mailbox:

Perfect on Paper by Janet Goss

(ARC paperback from New American Library. Expected publication: March 6th 2012)

And these were in my inbox:

Dearly, Departed (Gone With the Respiration, #1)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Last Gleaming (Season 8, Vol. 8)

Courtney Crumrin and The Night Things (Volume 1)

New Girl by Paige Harbison (Expected publication: January 31st 2012 ) From HarlequinTEEN for review
The Stuttering Tattoo by Greg Logsted From TKA Distribution for review
Mesmerize (Mystyx #4) by Artist Arthur (Expected publication: January 24th 2012) From KimaniTRU for review
Hellsbane (Hellsbane #1) by Paige Cuccaro From Entangled Publishing, LLC for review
Allegiance (Legacy #2) by Cayla Kluver (Expected publication: February 28th 2012 ) From HarlequinTEEN for review
A Tale of Two Proms (Bard Academy #4) by Cara Lockwood From TKA Distribution for review
The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry (Expected publication: May 1st 2012) From Amulet Books for review
Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Promise, Part 1 by Gene Luen Yang (Expected publication: January 25, 2012) From Dark Horse Books for review
Practical Jean by Trevor Cole From HarperPerennial for review
Halflings (Halflings #1) by Heather Burch (Expected publication: February 1st 2012) From Zondervan Publishing for review
Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson From Zonderkidz for review
Dearly, Departed (Gone With the Respiration #1) by Lia Habel From Del Rey for review
Avatar The Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino From Dark Horse Books for review
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Last Gleaming (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 #8) by Joss Whedon, Jane Espenson, Georges Jeanty, Karl Moline From Dark Horse Books for review
Courtney Crumrin and The Night Things (Courtney Crumrin #1) by Ted Naifeh From Oni Press for review

Blood Warrior (The Alexa Montgomery Saga #1) by H.D. Gordon, Janice Gordon From RI&R events for review

Thank you publishers for making my day. I'm not scared! Keep 'em coming. This just means I'll have to read faster! Oh and thanks to my wonder Mother for buying me that Nook I'd been asking for. *Kisses* Now I can actually read these ebooks w/o lugging my laptop around! Whoohoo!

So did any other newbies strike gold in 2012?

What's in your mailbox?

About the Blogger

I'm Katrina, founder of Kindred Dreamheart. I'm an aspiring junior & women's petite clothing designer and book lover. I read select genres. However if it's a series I'm sure I'd love it also regardless of the genre. I read when I want to be entertained; watch TV when I'm bored; and when I'm not designing something fabulous, I blog.

Dreaming Hearts and ARC books Giveaway

Win a FREE ARC copy of Trina by Darrell Debrew & Help me spread the word on Dreamheart Spotlight!

Murder chose Trina at age fifteen when her mother's boyfriend attempted to rape her. After serving time in prison, Trina is adopted by a retired FBI agent who trains her to become one of the deadliest paid hit girls the agency has seen. With a thirst for killing, Trina soon becomes a Homicidal Hydro Killer with a vicious appetite for her next hit. Things are good until she can't execute her very last assignment. Things change. Maybe for the best; maybe not.

Read my review of this book here!

Find out more about Dreamheart Spotlight here!

Sign up for this giveaway on Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US residents only. (Sorry guys, but shipping is expensive.)

About the Blogger

New 4 Star Review for Snowed in Together by Ann Herrick

"...The story has a credible ending and nice, realistic characters who personified small town highschoolers. This was written from a guy's point of view, so much of his inner dialogue was in reference to what looking at the cheerleaders did to his body. Not graphic, and might be something girls should understand. It was a little weird to read, though.

I liked Ann Herrick's writing style and while this one seems a little more mature (references to sex and body parts) than her other short story "All's fair in love and Words", both are simply written and fun to read.

...Would I recommend it to friends? Yes
-The Book Runner

~Find this title here

Friday, 6 January 2012

Dreamheart Spotlight #2

"I look at music as the role model. I look at it to be a Divine gift."

Bred in the city known for blues and rock, experiencing life overseas, then cultivated in the home of GO-GO music; recording artist Kevo Desh is one up-and-coming artist more than worthy of a Dreamheart
Spotlight. I was lucky to catch this soul music expressionist, visiting relatives in Washington, DC, for an exclusive interview.

Desh’s trademark is his live band and self written lyrics. There are few songs he record that either doesn’t have a positive message and/or a moral. However, Desh doesn’t want to be considered a role model. “I look at music as the role model. I look at it to be a Divine gift”, he said. “I am merely an empty vessel. I [may] let them down; but divinely inspired music will never let them down.”

Even though our interview was spare of the moment, Desh was effortlessly fashionable. Sporting an asymmetrical futuristic retro haircut, striped hoodie, stone washed jeans, white kicks, and guitar close at hand, we discussed his style. “Fashion is an inward expression”, he said. “External is based on how I feel on the inside.” Desh went on to say that he did not follow trends. He expressed his style as a “simple straight forward approach”. “Music and fashion goes hand and hand”, he said. “Honest in fashion. Honest in music.”

Desh is also an avid reader. “I read the Bible a lot”, he said. “A lot of things that stood the test of time is in this book. The Bible is cultural, spiritual, and historical.” Desh also reads a colorful assortment from school material provided by his children to scripts. “I read [my daughters] books to help them make the connection with history,” he said. “The Godfather was the first book I read before I got into reading scripts.” Desh believes that the Godfather changed his whole view on movies, because after that he began seeking novels to movies based on books. He would read the book, then find the script online. “The script brings it to life”, he said. Desh went on to express an appreciation for the overall production and music composition within a motion picture. “The score is the behind the scenes music to the movie, [whereas] the characters are experiencing the move’s soundtrack. The score is for the viewer’s experience to feel the intensity,” he said. “From the novel to the script to the movie to the score to the soundtrack…it all starts with the book.”

Here’s an exclusive sampler:

Download whole albums from Kevo Desh for free at www.erbrecords.com/

Want to know more about this Dreamheart?

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/KEVO-DESH-LOVE-DE-FACTO/395816704487

Website: http://erbrecords.com/

Twitter: @erbrecords

Myspace: erbrecordsworldwide

Email: kevodesh@erbrecords.com

As always, be sure to show Kevo Desh some love!
Subscribe or follow to see more Dreamheart Spotlights!

About the Blogger

Busting the Newbie Blues

Hosted by Small Review

When did you start your blog? Almost 8 months ago.
Why did you start your blog? I wanted to blog about my growth as an aspiring fashion designer.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far? Oh yeah! Writing is much harder than talking. It's easy for me to get an audience talking but I find it hard to allow my personality to truly shine online. My English teacher's scared me for life....lol! I occasionally use slang and the country from Tennessee comes out when I'm excited; but when I type I'm always waring with myself. Thus what I actually type sometimes look kind of wonky.
What do you find most discouraging about being a new blogger? Staying on schedule and remembering to post.
What do you find most encouraging? Comments, comments, comments! This lets me know that people are actually reading what I write and appreciate it. When I don't get comments, I question whether my post is in vain.
What do you like best about the blogs you read? Have you tried to replicate this in your blog? I envy people who can type how they talk online. *smiles* I'm working on that, because I want people to see me like I am: Proper when I want to be, a little bit silly, and a total nerd.
What do you dislike about blogs you’ve read? Do you try to avoid this? I don't like when there's the glitch of overlapping sidebar items. I try to check my blog in viewer mode every time I post to catch this and fix it right away.
Any advice for other new bloggers? Do memes. They help to bring attention to your blog and help you to gain followers. If people really like you, they'll visit regularly and comment. I appreciate these fellow bloggers: Shout out to Maja @ The Nocturnal Library, Jennifer @ Some Like It Paranormal, and Carabosse's Library.
Any questions you'd like to ask newbie or established bloggers? Do you like my blog?
Is there anything you’d like to tell us about your blog? I wish I had more comments on my book reviews and fashion posts.

About the Blogger

Fashion Forward Fiction Friday (3)

Join me every week, where I judge books by their "fashionable" cover!

The Good, the Fab, and the Ugly (Poseur, #2)

Okay I am a fan of layering. T-shirts and thermals that is. I’ve never seen it done with a dress before, and though it’s kind of weird, I can’t say it looks “bad”. Auburn red heads always look fabulous in emerald green. I can do without that clutch, but I would Rock that dress. Seriously! I’m loving the fascinator millinery hat also. I would where this to the military ball or to the night club.

This “ Fashion Forward Fiction Friday” feature was brought to you thanks to this book:

The Good, the Fab, and the Ugly (Poseur #2)

by Rachel Maude

Fashion isn't everything.
It's the only thing.

Halloween comes to Winston Prep and the newly named teen fashion label POSEUR introduces this season's must-have accessory: a red-hot handbag called the Trick-or-Treater. But whose design is sweetest? Janie, Petra, Melissa, and Charlotte all insist: Mine. You see the problem?

Good thing, then, for the sweetness of revenge. Time to dust off that costume and put your best mask forward. 'Tis the season for candy, conflict, and couture.

The Good, the Fab, and the Ugly is the second juicy novel in the stylish and hilarious new series from the publisher of the national bestselling Gossip Girl, The Clique, The It Girl, and The A-List. Includes 5 do-it-yourself patterns by real-life fashion label Compai and fashion sketches throughout by the author!

I hope this read is as entertaining as it is dashing !

So did this fabulous fiction dazzle you?

Feature Follow Friday #3

This meme is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Q: Go count the number of unread books sitting on your shelf. How many?

8 (I have a small bookshelf, lol);

however on my Goodreads "to-read" shelf I have 901.

(Hey I'll get there, eventually!)

I visit the library often and they usually have what I want. If not, we have this great "suggest a title" option with a quick turn around.

I only buy textbooks and cookbooks. This helps cut down on my bookshelf clutter.

The 8 books that I have yet to read are books people bought for me thinking just because I love to read, I'd read ANYTHING.

Not true *SMH* so not true!

How many unread are on your self?