BlogFest 2010 - Hundreds of Winners!

This drawing is now CLOSED

The big day is finally upon us.  It is Day 1 of BlogFest 2010.  If you're not familiar with this event, you're in for a treat, we all are!  Cinnamon at A Journey of Books has put this event together for us.  It is essentially a "blog run" that runs for 72 hours starting at 12am today until midnight Sunday, September 12th. 

Readers can start at one blog and then follow a link at the bottom of their post to be taken to the next blogger.  It doesn't matter where you start as you can always go to the master list on Cinnamon's site or you can head to http://ajourneyofbooks.halfzero.net.   There you will find a link to the Tracking Site where you can register with a valid email address (used only for contacting the winner).  This site will allow you to track your progress through BlogFest 2010! You can log on from anywhere at any time and continue where you left off. The best part is that every blog that you visit and mark off through this tracking site will give you one entry into the massive grand giveaway! There is a great collection of books, goodies and other swag that is looking for a new home!

Since this is a blog run, I won't bog you down with too much to do.  This festival was designed to bring increased traffic and awareness to the participating bloggers, so I have one stipulation for my giveaway - you must be a follower.  That's it!  As for prizes, they're based on my number of followers!  I'm starting with 1 book.  If I reach 200 followers, I'll add another.  For each 50 followers that come on board, another book will be added.  The way I'll work it is that the 1st name drawn will have their choice of the books I've put in the mix, the 2nd name will get 2nd pick and on down the line. 

The first book up for grabs is my ARC of The Duff by Kody Keplinger.  I just reviewed it HERE earlier in the week and I Loved it!  I'll try to update the prize list as we go this weekend, but I'm planning on being busy myself checking out everyone else's great blogs and giveaways.

The DUFF: (Designated Ugly Fat Friend)

To enter, leave a comment with some way to contact you if you're my winner(s).  I will notify the randomly chosen lucky one(s) and they will have 48 hours to respond or I'll choose an alternate winner. My drawing is open Internationally, so ALL are welcome.

The next blog on the run just happens to be MoonCat Farms Meanderings (yes, that is my other blog - I somehow ended up in line next to myself :)  Check it out as there is another great book giveaway there as well..  Good luck and

 

~~ If you get a chance, be sure to check out the other GIVEAWAYS I have running right now.
 ~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Duff by Kody Keplinger

 The DUFF: (Designated Ugly Fat Friend)

TITLE:    The Duff
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Kody Keplinger
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 277 pages
PUBLISHED:   Poppy, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-316-08423-9
HOW'D I GET IT:   Won ARC from La Femme Readers

FROM GOODREADS:  Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.  

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.


Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.
 
MY TAKE:   I had a hard time keeping my hands off this book when I first received it.  I had several in line ahead of it that I needed to get done so I forced myself to wait... I am happy to report the book was very much worth the waiting!
 
As an adult woman, I don't know too many of my friends ~including myself, that didn't think they were the DUFF at some point growing up and may still feel that way now.  I think it's a big part of being a teenage girl with girlfriends.  The obsession with getting the boys to notice you, be accepted, being cool..it all comes with the territory and the age.  No matter how beautiful and popular these girls are (were), it seems there is always those moments where they felt that everyone else was prettier, thinner, and "happier" than them.  Of course, we didn't have the absolutely perfect title of DUFF to describe it back then.  Bravo Kody! 
 
The protagonist, Bianca, is pretty darn enlightened for a 17 year old.  She's rather cynical and a bit caustic at times, but I really liked her character.  The author really fleshed out these players, making you really care about them and relate to their story.  Wesley is the typical man-whore that we all remember and maybe love.  I was really pleased that he was written in a way that we thought he was a real jerk and grow to really like and care about him as the story progressed. 
 
Supported by their friends and a very well thought-out plot, Bianca and Wes's story is one that I think most everyone will relate to at some point in the book. (While I loved it, I think some who are easily offended or not quite mature yet, may find the cussing and sex scenes ~ very nicely done, in my opinion ~ a little too adult at times.)
 
It is very impressive that someone of Ms. Keplinger's young age can produce such a thought-provoking and readable novel.  I'm looking forward to what comes next from this talented young author and recommend you do too. 
  
MY RATING:    4.5/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon,  The Book Depository

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

The Incredible Origins of the Onyx Sun

TITLE:    The Incredible Origins of the Onyx Sun
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Christopher Mahoney
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 262 pages
PUBLISHED:   Pariah Publishing, 2008
ISBN#:   978-0-9795202-4-2
HOW'D I GET IT:   Won from First Reads on Goodreads

FROM GOODREADS:  The book follows Zack Goodspeed, a perfectly normal 11-year old boy, who discovers his eccentric grandfather has invented a source of unlimited power, called the Onyx Sun and harnessed that power to fuel a spaceship. Stowing away on the ship with his mischievous neighbor Angelina "Max" Maximillian, Zack is thrust into a journey that strands him on the Moon, introduces him to bold new friends, and pits him against Dr. Machvel, a rogue member of a crew bent on turning the Onyx Sun into a weapon of mass destruction.  

Through an imaginative storyline, the book immerses children in the possibilities they will one-day face to improve humanity through invention and technological exploration. It is a scintillating, roller-coaster ride of a story that helps kids also understand the nature of friendships, conflict, and personal growth.

MY TAKE:   I thought this was a cute book for young readers just dipping their toes in the Science Fiction genre.  (This was an Advance Review Copy so I do hope the typos and grammatical errors were caught and corrected.)  Zach turns into quite the hero by the end, with a little help.  Max aka Angelina was a great side-kick addition as this book could lean a little heavy on the boy's club without her. 

Because this was a rather light, quick read, you don't get too involved or in-depth with the characters. This is slated to be the first book in the series, so the author possibly has plans to continue the storyline.  Maybe he'll build upon them as individuals?  Zach's overly-eccentric grandfather is just a bit over the top for me, but I think the kids that this book is intended for will get a kick out of him and his antics.  The story moves quickly although there is a lot of detailed explanations at times that tend to slow it a bit.  I think most middle grade readers will enjoy the story, especially as I understand the actual published copy has really good illustrations to go with the great cover.
   
MY RATING:    3/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.