Book Blogger Hop #25 (7/5 - 7/11): The Rafflecopter Widget

Welcome to the new

Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffec-Addicted Writer!

He took over this hop from

Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.

I'm so glad he decided to

continue with this weekly feature!

For more information, click HERE.

What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this question:

Do you like or dislike Rafflecopter,

and why?

2.)  Enter the link to your post in the

Linky list on Bill's blog.

3.)  Visit other blogs on the list and

comment on their posts. 

4.)  Be sure to find out next week's

question when you visit Bill's blog!

My Answer

When I hosted my first giveaway, I had no idea that such a widget existed,  so I selected a winner the old-fashioned way -- by pulling names out of a hat!  Yes, really.  I typed up the name of each giveaway participant (in Word), printed out the lists, cut them all up into little pieces of paper, folded them over, and put them into the hat.  I then wiggled the hat around, and, without looking inside of it, pulled out a name, unfolded the paper, and saw who the winner was.

I knew I wouldn't be doing any future giveaways if I continued with this method....

HAPPY 4th!! Celebrate with A Night's Dream of Books!!

I'd like to wish

all my fellow American bloggers

a wonderful holiday,

full of great food,

surrounded by your loved ones,

and of course....

with gorgeous fireworks galore!!

And now I present..... 

Great Fourth of July Reads!!!

Goodreads

Amazon US

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Amazon US

Barnes & Noble

   

Goodreads

Amazon US

Barnes & Noble

  

Goodreads

Amazon US

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Amazon US

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Amazon US

Barnes & Noble

Waiting On Wednesday #81: Cold Spell, by Jackson Pearce

This is a weekly event hosted by

Jill @ Breaking the Spine!!

It showcases future releases which

we book bloggers are

eagerly anticipating!!

Here's my choice for this week!

 Cold Spell

(Fairytale Retellings #4)

Jackson Pearce

Hardcover, 336 pages

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

November 5, 2013

Romance, Urban Fantasy,

Young Adult Fiction

Goodreads Synopsis

Kai and Ginny grew up together–best friends since they could toddle around their building’s rooftop rose garden. Now they’re seventeen, and their relationship has developed into something sweeter, complete with stolen kisses and plans to someday run away together.

But one night, Kai disappears with a mysterious stranger named Mora–a beautiful girl with a dark past and a heart of ice. Refusing to be cast aside, Ginny goes after them and is thrust into a world she never imagined, one filled with monsters and thieves and the idea that love is not enough.

Book Review: Fanpire: The Twilight Saga and the Women Who Love It, by Tanya Erzen

Fanpire: The Twilight Saga and the Women Who Love It
Tanya Erzen
Hardcover, 184 pages
Beacon Press, October 30, 2012
Cultural Studies, Nonfiction

The title of this very interesting and entertaining book refers to the worldwide Twilight phenomenon, which is indeed an empire of devoted fans (of which I'm one).  As with its predecessor, the Harry Potter phenomenon, the 'fanpire' has made news to such an extent that it has become a permanent part of popular culture. 

Erzen, who is an associate professor of comparative religious studies at Ohio State University, is also a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship, and a visiting scholar at the Simpson Center for the Humanities at the University of Washington.  She's no stranger to the Saga's allure herself, so she decided to take her interest further, immersing herself fully in the fan experience.  The result is this book, which explores every facet of that experience.

The introduction welcomes the reader to what has become affectionately known as 'The Twilight Zone', that land of obsessed Twilight fans who meet in Twilight conventions, create Twilight fan websites, and even get Twilight-inspired tattoos (something I would never do myself).  

Throughout the book, Erzen offers the reader multiple examples of the love this series of books and movies has inspired in so many fans.  She presents many anecdotes, as well as analyzing just why The Twilight Saga is so very popular.

It all starts, the author states, with the love for a fictional character --  Edward Cullen, the vampire who falls in love with Bella Swan, a human girl.  Erzen analyzes his personality traits, the most endearing of which are his romantic gestures toward Bella, as well as his total devotion to her.  This is something that appeals not only to the teen fans of the series, but to older females, as well.  Even grandmothers love these books!  Although we all know that this is idealized love, we can still sigh and dream...  As the author herself states, on page 4 of the book: "Even if fans acknowledge that Twilight's representation of love is a fictional ideal, the possibility of fated romance triumphing over the messiness and confusion of everyday life is potent."

Shelf Candy Saturday #74: Search for the Star, by Mary Stanton

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!!

This weekly feature

showcases beautiful book covers,

and provides information,

if available, on their very talented creators!

For more information

about Shelf Candy Saturday,

just click HERE.

This is my choice for this week!

Search for the Star

(Unicorns of Balinor #5)

Mary Stanton

Trade Paperback, 128 pages

Scholastic Paperbacks, First Edition

November 1, 1999

Fantasy, Middle-Grade Fiction

Why do I love this cover?

I have been wildly in love with horses my entire life, although I haven't been lucky enough to ever have been owned by one....  Of course, unicorns, as their close relatives, claim my admiration as well!

This particular unicorn is breathtakingly, magically, beautiful.  Since I know something about the Arabian breed (my favorite), I can see that this unicorn was inspired by an Arabian stallion.  The features are typical of the breed.  And oh, those soulful eyes....  That luxuriously flowing mane.... And then there's that golden horn.... The horse is a strange shade of lovely blue-green, which makes him even more beautiful to my eyes.  How I wish I could be friends with this magnificent creature in real life!