I know, I promised you that I would have a post up with my current reading list and thoughts…Well, hey, it is still December, right? So here is a combined post of what I have read over the past two months. If you want to read summaries of what the book is about, then head over to the Amazon link (if you buy the book, I get a small portion of the sale through my affiliate link). These are my thoughts after reading the books. Enjoy!Read More »
I haven’t posted an update in almost a month, but I have been busy. I am currently halfway through the current quarter and trying to keep up with all my course work. In fact, I will have a post up later this week as part of an assignment for my Social Media course. It will be all about Personal Learning Networks.
I did have a post ready to go about how much I love the micro investing service Betterment, but then the Dow dropped 666 points and then over 1000 points. Not that I had a lot invested as it was, but I really was not liking the feeling of losing $20 in the a matter of a week. It is one thing for it to dip into my interest, but now it is dipping into the investment deposits. I am not liking this feeling, but with any type of investing, you need to be in it for the long haul as the market will have its ups and downs.
I do have good news! In fact lots of good news…the first one is that my dissertation proposal finally made it past my supervising professor and I am now waiting on committee feedback to see if I am really to defend the proposal. Once that happens, I will begin the field research stage of my doctoral dissertation process. Yay! One step closer to being Dr Jen. 
The second piece of good news I have is that my husband has just launched a website called Life-ing 101 which will be a collection of life hacks, tips, and so much more about well… living. It is more than just adulting, it is about thriving. Stop by and check it out! 
February is a short month, but I have plans…I hope to get some more recipes up and I am also working on a couple of review posts, my goal for the month is to read at least a book a week. Honestly, my to be read pile on my kindle of advance reader copies is getting kind of overwhelming. Make sure to check out the Recommendations tab for book and product suggestions.
Being normal is so overrated.
As Evie, is beginning to learn, real high school is nothing like a high school tv drama. There are things like homework, PE, and oh, yeah, those lockers. Yes, those coveted lockers from the first book. Not to mention a long distance relationship with college-boy, Lend.
Confused? I am of course talking about Supernaturally by Kiersten White. This is the sequel to the oh so wonderful Paranormalcy. First thing I have to say is that I have some absolute cover love for these books. Fair hair and eyed Evie standing in her gorgeous dresses. I really hope that they don’t change the cover when book two finally hits the bookstore shelves because it is absolutely gorgeous. Yeah, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover, but I admit that and the title are what first caught my interest in Paranormalcy.
Book two continues Evie’s story with her trying to adjust to a normal life outside of the International Paranormal Containment Agency. Well, maybe more like not adjusting. Her shapeshifting boyfriend is away at college and she isn’t exactly fitting in with the whole normal high school girl scene except for missing said boyfriend and making plans to attend the same college on early admission. In the first book, it was a desire for prom and in this one the goal is Georgetown.
It is no surprise that Evie is seriously tempted by Raquel’s request to help IPCA out again with a couple missions, but of course things don’t always go so simply for her. However, hasn’t she learned from all those episodes of Easton Heights that lying and boyfriends don’t mix?
Mingled throughout the teenage drama, you have Jack the boy who just doesn’t want to grow up, a paranormal hunting UberVampire, sneaky paranormal locals, and yes, ex-boyfriend faery drama once again. There is even NASCAR, but you will have to keep reading to find out how that fits in the mix (yeah, not exactly Evie’s sparkly pink scene).
Did I mention that this book is all age teen appropriate? Yeah, those bleeping “bleeps” are so endearing. It kinda fits with a character that has a pink taser gun affectionately nickname Tasey.
Questions will be answered but even more will be asked so book three better not be too far away. So put on your hottest paranormal hunting heels with coordinating sparkly pink accessories and head to your closest bookstore to place your pre-order for the July 26, 2011 release.
Thought I would share some goodies with everyone today…
Once upon a time when I was an undergrad, I worked for Waldenbooks (you know, those almost extinct places known as bookstores, in fact I think that one may in fact be extinct). St the time, most of my paycheck went towards supporting my reading habit. As a librarian, this habit continues. In fact, I tend to bring home more than I could possibly read and end up sending it all back or adding my name back to the hold lists. This doesn’t stop me from wanting more books. The cheaper the better.
How can it get any better than free?
NetGalley is a website that connects book reviewers and librarians with publishers in want of reviews for their books. They only provide digital copies of the books, but these range from already release to already on the market. We aren’t talking no name companies either, these are big name authors and publishers. Some titles are available for immediate download and others have a more stringent approval system. It is worth checking out. In fact many of the books you have seen reviewed on this blog have come from NetGalley. 
LibraryThing and Goodreads are both websites that offer free books to their members in the form of contests. Think of it as placing your name in a hat and crossing your fingers that you will be picked. Many of these titles have hundreds of people vying for only a handful of copies; so your chances of winning are close to that of winning the lottery. I have known people who have received copies, so it can happen.
Remember that if you request a copy of a book for review purposes that you should actually review it. Failure to do so may not only hurt your chances or working with that publisher again, but also for other reviews.
You also might want to try some author stalking. NO! Put down the binoculars! I don’t mean that kind of stalking! Check out the author’s website. If they have a blog, follow it. Hang on their every tweet, just don’t become an annoying gnat (you know the bug that buzzes annoyingly non-stop in your ear, get the idea?). You never know when there might be an impromptu giveaway directly from the author or their publicist.
A lot of book blogs also give away their Advance Readers Copies (ARCs) to followers and those that comment on their posts. (Sorry, this blog, does not yet host giveaways. Digital ARCs,yeah, non-transferable. But keep posted cause you never know when that might change). I find a lot of ARCs to give to my teen reviewers at the library by keeping an eye on the list-serves and blog rolls. Here are some websites I know of that offer free book contests, both ARCs and published:
Free Book Friday
Writerspace
Dead Rules Giveaways to Support Teen Reading
If you know of any other interesting places to get free books or ARCs, post the, to the comments below. Happy Reading!
