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December 25, 2010

The Mark

 

imageTitle: The Mark

Author: Marilyn Bunderson

Publisher: Bonneville Books

Release Date: March 8, 2010

Received From: ATWT


Summary:

She's had it forever. A tiny mark on her hand. No big deal, right? But when Tori discovers that her ordinary freckle is really some kind of microscopic tattoo, she doesn't know what to think, especially after meeting Eric, a guy she feels strangely connected to--and not just because he has a mark too.
All too soon, Tori and Eric realize that their marks are only the first clue to a mystery that will change everything. And with each new discovery, Tori finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into a world she could never have imagined


Review:

I really enjoyed this book! There was lots of intrigue and romance.

Tori was a really cool character, she was willing to go to all sorts of lengths to find out about something that no one knew anything about. I found myself getting really excited as well whenever they would find something new.

I also liked how there were more than one person with this mark, it made it seem more plausible, and less “me me me”. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending but I wish the storyline could have been longer, it just seemed rushed at the end and not as well developed as it could have been.

This was a fantastic debut and I cannot wait to see what Marilyn comes up with in the future!

4 ivy2 

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Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas to everyone! And if you don’t celebrate it have a great day!

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December 24, 2010

The Ivy

 

imageTitle: The Ivy
Author:  Lauren Kunze and Rina Ounr
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date:  August 31, 2010
Received From:  Publisher via T2T


Freshman year at Harvard--glamorous parties, blossoming friendships, steamy romances, and scandalous secrets. Skip the campus tour and get right to the good stuff: classes are for scoping guys (and their Facebook profiles), not taking notes. The library is for study dates (the medieval history stacks get a lot of action), not studying. And success is a 4.0 GPA... plus getting into the most exclusive parties. How will Callie--a California girl with brains, beauty, and big dreams--and her three roommates survive?


I was super excited to read this book! It sounds amazing. A different take on college life. Sadly I was disappointed.
I did not like this book. It was full of very shallow people with nothing better on their minds then hooking up, drugs, and boys. I expected a little of that but each page brought more deceit and boredom. I wanted less fluff and more substance from the characters. They were all so shallow, especially Callie. She thought nothing of stabbing people in the back to get what she thought she wanted. I spend the majority of the book trying to figure out how most of these people got into Harvard.
The only part I enjoyed were the little emails and messages from Alexis between the chapters, that is what got me through the book.
I was sorely disappointed, it was like gossip girl semi-grown-up not at all what I was expecting. But if you like that stuff maybe its the book for you
Yan talks about the book with the same opinion as me but she spells it out better: http://booksbytheircover.blogspot.com/2010/10/t2t-tour-ivy.html


1 ivy
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December 23, 2010

Winter Reading Circle


image
Winter Reading Circle: Tales for a Winter Night
Find some nice and cozy – or dark and spooky –
reads perfect for wintertime, on this fun blog hop.

You are here: #4 of 6: A Reader’s Adventure
Welcome to Winter Reading Circle, part of the winter season Random Magic tour, Winterlong
This is the one day blog hop where many different bloggers are going to be taking about their favorite wintertime reads! So here are my picks!
shiver Linger
- Shiver/Linger
- Maggie Stiefvater

Check out the book trailer!
- Browse or buy this book
- Why this is a great winter read! First of all most of Shiver takes place in the winter and temperature plays an important role. The love story is also sure to warm you up! Also the fonts are fun colors to add to the mood!

image Beautiful darkness book 2nd
- Beautiful Creatures/Beautiful Darkness
- Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Check out the book trailer for the first book!
-Browse or Buy the first book!
-Why these are great winter reads: One of the best things to read during the winter all curled up on the couch are really big books that draw you in and don’t let you escape. These books will definitely keep you captivated until the last page. Also they take place in Georgia where it is not cold, so they will also warm you up!

image
- Random Magic
-Sasha Soren
Check out the book trailer!
-Browse or Buy this book
- Win this book 
-Why this is a good winter read; This fun book will keep you laughing, and occupied for hours!

need captivate image
-Need/Captivate/Entice
-Carrie Jones
Check out the book trailer for the first book!
- Browse or Buy Need!
- Why this is a great winter read; This book takes place in Maine where it gets super cold so the atmosphere is there, the love story and action will keep you warm throughout the entire series!


-The Expressologist
-Kristina Springer
-Browse or Buy!
-Why this is a great winter read; This book is so cute! The fun drinks will get you in the winter mood, and the fun storyline will draw you in!


So this winter pick up one of these amazing books and fall in love with the characters!
- Check out the next blog for more winter reads!
http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2010/12/winter-reading-circle.html
- Do you have any amazing books that are good to read in winter that you think I missed? Comment!
-Here are all the great bloggers on the Winter Reading Circle:

#1: What Book Is That? (http://tinyurl.com/2dpwu2v)
#2: Willowdust Reviews – Tina’s Book Reviews (http://tinyurl.com/2352r6q)
#3: Diary of a Bookworm (http://tinyurl.com/yalp5lu)
#4: A Reader’s Adventure (http://tinyurl.com/ycsq5gc)
#5: vvb32 Reads (http://tinyurl.com/nzkf5y)
#6: La Femme Readers (http://tinyurl.com/yfqkmy7)
Twitter: @lafemmereaders (http://tinyurl.com/274j8gy)

Thank you for coming along with us, and happy reading!
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December 17, 2010

Esther Friesner Guest Post

Today I have a guest post with Esther Friesner the author of The Nobody's Princess series, the Sphinx's Princess series,  and her newest book Threads and Flames!


What was different about writing Threads and Flames opposed to The Nobody, and Sphinx series'? Was it harder...? What did you have to do differently? 


      I wouldn’t say that writing THREADS AND FLAMES was harder than writing the NOBODY’S PRINCESS/PRIZE and SPHINX’S PRINCESS/QUEEN series.  All of the books required me to do a lot of research, though in some cases, I had less to do because I was already familiar with the historical background material.
      On the other hand, the biggest difference I encountered as far as researching these books was that for THREADS AND FLAMES I was not confined to what I could learn from books and internet sources.  I could (and did!) visit many of the sites described in the book.  I was born in New York City, and as often happens when you live somewhere, you don’t tend to visit the tourist attractions.  Researching THREADS AND FLAMES gave me the chance and the motivation to go to Ellis Island, the Lower East Side, and to the very building where the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire happened.  (Yes, the building still stands.  It was fireproof.  The victims were not.)  One of the best parts of this hands-on research was going to the Tenement Museum on the Lower East side.  It really opened my eyes to the living conditions Raisa would have encountered!


Thanks Esther!








*Author picture from author website

December 16, 2010

Threads and Flames

Title: Threads and Flamesthreadsand flames

Author: Esther Friesner

Publisher: Viking

Release Date: November 25, 2010

Received From: Publisher

Summary:

It's 1910, and thirteen-year-old Raisa has just traveled alone from a small Polish shtetl all the way to New York City. It's overwhelming, awe-inspiring, and even dangerous, especially when she discovers that her sister has disappeared and she must now fend for herself. She finds work in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory sewing bodices on the popular shirtwaists. Raisa makes friends and even—dare she admit it?— falls in love. But then 1911 dawns, and one March day a spark ignites in the factory. One of the city's most harrowing tragedies unfolds, and Raisa's life is forever changed. . . .

One hundred years after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, this moving young adult novel gives life to the tragedy and hope of this transformative event in American history.

Review:

I love historical fiction and I loved Esther’s Nobody’s Princess series so I was really excited to get the chance to read this book!

Raisa was  a really interesting character, she was strong willed and has so much determination. I loved reading about her determination to succeed no matter what the odds.

I liked how Esther took such a devastating event that many people had probably never heard of, and made it accessible to the generation of today.

One problem I had with the novel was the fact that it ended really nicely. I was happy for Raisa but I did not feel like that was realistic I wish she had gotten some of the things she wanted but maybe not all so the ending would seem more real.

Overall this was a poignant tale of never giving up!

Make sure to check out my guest post with Esther tomorrow!

4 ivy2

 

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December 11, 2010

CSN Review Coming Up



Hey guys I am going to be doing another review with CSN stores. 

If you have not heard of CSN they are an online retailer where you can buy all sorts of things from children's luggage  to bookcases of every shape and size.

So look out for my review! 



December 10, 2010

Random Magic Musical Blog Hop!

Music is a strong theme in Random Magic  -- so strong, in fact, that one of the celestial characters Winnie
and Henry meet is Efterpe, the Muse of music.

In celebration of the winter season, here’s a fun blog hop to check out. You’ll find lovely songs with wintry themes that also match some of the important themes in the book.

Come sit by the fire and enjoy a musical feast for friends with us...

You are here: #6 of 10 (A Reader's Adventure)


Hot Buttered Rum - Krista Detor
Song and book themes: Celebration - Humor



Random Magic quote:

Winsley’s coloring shot up to an alarming shade of red. Terrible color for him, Lady Witherspoon mused idly. He’d make himself sick.
“Would you like a tisane?” she suggested. “Very --”
“Soothing,” Tony agreed. “Sort him right out.”
“Yes, soothing.”
“Scotch’d work better.”
“Yes, maybe,” she said, smiling. “Very English, no?”
“Gin and tonic’s more our line.”
“Maybe a gin and tonic, then?”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
Excuse me,” Winsley said... (More)

Watch Random Magic trailer - More Random Magic: Browse

Bonus: Free MP3s (as avail.): Your Holiday Song - Indigo Girls and El Cant Dels Ocells - Coro Vox
Aurea

Check out music stop #7 of 10: Take me there!

(If you enjoy a particular music pick, please consider buying the track to help support the person or group that created it for everyone’s
enjoyment. River of Light  is the unofficial soundtrack for the 2010 Random Magic
 winter season tour, Random Magic: Winterlong. Happy listening!)

For the impatient, here are all the blogs on the hop:

#1 of 10: Spellbound by Books (@Meeka_21) (http://tinyurl.com/26a6smf) (http://tinyurl.com/2d2fj4k)
Themes: Buoyancy - Good Cheer

#2 of 10: Geeky Blogger (@thehistorychic) (http://tinyurl.com/25trpf4) (http://tinyurl.com/29bdbaj)
Themes: Reflection - Spirituality

#3 of 10: The Book Swarm (@marybrebner) (http://tinyurl.com/25hphy8) (http://tinyurl.com/22jkesm)
Themes: Fortitude - Quirkiness

#4 of 10: Elbit Blog (@MeriGreenleaf) (http://tinyurl.com/dnlval) (http://tinyurl.com/23x6wxx)
Themes: Tenderness - Devotion

#5 of 10: The Reading Lassie (@ReadingLassie) (http://tinyurl.com/29qjk9m) (http://tinyurl.com/2d4pv5r)
Themes: Mystery - Magic


#6 of 10: A Reader's Adventure (@ReaderAdventure) (http://tinyurl.com/ycsq5gc) (http://tinyurl.com/22jzaxo)
Themes: Celebration - Humor

#7 of 10: vvb32 Reads (@vvb32reads) (http://tinyurl.com/nzkf5y) (http://tinyurl.com/2cmrlg7)
Themes: Love - Geniality

#8 of 10: About Happy Books (@abouthappybooks) (http://tinyurl.com/2a2eocb) (http://tinyurl.com/27exol7)
Themes: Comedy - Creativity

#9 of 10: The True Book Addict (@truebookaddict) (http://tinyurl.com/qo6un2) (http://tinyurl.com/2d2w3h6)
Themes: Hope - Light

#10 of 10: The Fluidity of Time (Twitter n/a) (http://tinyurl.com/2e4zn68)
Themes: Art - Beauty - Inspiration

Thanks for listening!

December 8, 2010

Winterlong Blog Hop!


Random Magic Tour: Winterlong
Dec. 10-23, 2010

About: Random Magic
Tour organization: Lyrika Publicis
Tour prize coordinator: @LaFemmeReaders
Contact the tour: @RandomMagicTour

Win something wonderful: Tour prizes
Random Magic (Gift-wrapped, first edition)
Fairy tale mini-dolls (Madame Alexander series, complete set)

Magical Covers art event: Prize pack
Beautiful art journal
This Book Belongs To bookplates set
2011 ARC (pre-pub.) YA winter-themed novel

Dec. 10
Winterlong: Musical Blog Hop
Come sit by the fire and enjoy
some lovely winter tunes…

#1 of 10: Spellbound by Books
@Meeka_21
Themes (song and book): Buoyancy - Good Cheer

#2 of 10: Geeky Blogger
@thehistorychic
Themes (song and book): Reflection - Spirituality

#3 of 10: Ecstatic Reviews
@EcstaticReviews
Themes (song and book): Fortitude - Quirkiness

#4 of 10: Elbit Blog
@MeriGreenleaf
Themes (song and book): Tenderness - Devotion

#5 of 10: The Reading Lassie
@ReadingLassie
Themes (song and book): Magic - Mystery

#6 of 10: A Reader’s Adventure
@ReaderAdventure
Theme (song and book): Celebration - Humor

#7 of 10: vvb32 Reads
@vvb32reads
Themes (song and book): Love - Geniality

#8 of 10: About Happy Books
@abouthappybooks
Themes (song and book): Comedy - Creativity

#9 of 10: The True Book Addict
@truebookaddict
Themes (song and book): Hope - Light 

#10 of 10: The Fluidity of Time
Twitter: n/a
Themes (song and book): Art - Beauty - Inspiration

(Blog Hop Summary – via vvb32)


Bonus: Free winter song for every stop
on the hop, feel free to visit all blogs to find them all.

Dec. 11
La Femme Readers
Twitter: @lafemmereaders
Magical Covers: Reimagining the cover of Random Magic
Welcome and prizes info
Voting: Dec. 18 - Winner revealed: Dec. 20

Dec. 12
My Love Affair With Books
Twitter: @Misha_1989
Review
Feat.: ‘Winter Dancers’

and – just for fun!

Unabridged Chick
Twitter: @unabridgedchick
Feat.: Elf Yourself (winter widget)

Dec. 13
Oodles of Books
Twitter: @oodlesofbooks
Review

and

Books, Sweets and other Treats
Twitter: @lindsiking
Feat.: ‘Winter Drinks’

Dec. 14
Stories and Sweeties
Twitter: @storiesweeties
Review
Feat.: ‘Sweets for the Sweet’

Dec. 15
vvb32 Reads
Twitter: @vvb32reads
Feat.: ‘Dandy Fellows’
Related event: Dandies and Delectables (Dec. 10-23)

Dec. 16
Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
Twitter: @blodeuedd83
Review

and

Chick Loves Lit
Twitter: @shanynlee
Review
Feat.: ‘The Secrets of Random Magic


Dec. 17
This Miss Loves To Read
Twitter: @MissIrenne
Review
Feat. ‘Fairy Tale Top 10: Random Magic


Dec. 18
Booklover - Book Chicks
Twitter: @LexieVmp666
Review
Feat.: Video review of Random Magic
More: The Booklover - Book Chicks video channel

and

La Femme Readers
Twitter: @lafemmereaders
Magical Covers: Reimagining the cover of Random Magic
Voting on cover entries
Winning cover revealed on Dec. 20

Dec. 19
The Fluidity of Time
Twitter: n/a
Review
Feat.: ‘Subtle Magic: A discussion of Random Magic themes’

and

Mundie Moms
Twitter: @MundieMoms
Twitter: @katiebmundiemom
Review (book chat format)

Dec. 20
Makeshift Bookmark
Twitter: @makeshiftjen
Review
Feat.: ‘Casting Random Magic (gallery)

and

La Femme Readers
Twitter: @lafemmereaders
Magical Covers: Reimagining Random Magic
Finale: Cover winner revealed

Dec. 21
The Bushwick Book Club (Seattle chapter)
Twitter: n/a
Feat.: Songs inspired by Random Magic (audio/video)
Details: Video performances, two different singer-songwriters.
More: The Bushwick Book Club (Seattle) video channel

Dec. 22
Girls in the Stacks
Twitter: @girlsinthestack
Feat.: Bookshelf Theater: Random Magic (video)
Details: Video performance, cute scene from the book.
More: The Girls in the Stacks video channel

Dec. 23
Winter Reading Circle: Tales for a Winter Night
Find some nice and cozy – or dark and spooky –
reads perfect for wintertime, on this fun blog hop.

#1 of 6: What Book Is That?
Twitter: @heynocupcake

#2 of 6: Willowdust Reviews – Tina’s Book Reviews
Twitter: @BooksatTinas

#3 of 6: Diary of a Bookworm
Twitter: n/a

#4 of 6: A Reader’s Adventure
Twitter: @ReaderAdventure

#5 of 6: vvb32 Reads
Twitter: @vvb32reads

#6 of 6 La Femme Readers
Twitter: @lafemmereaders
Completing the reading circle -- and the Winterlong tour.
Thank you for coming along with us, and happy reading!

November 1, 2010

Catherine Ryan Hyde guest post! + giveaway

Today I have a guest post from Catherine Ryan Hyde! Author of Jupstart the World.


Okay.  Elephant in the room.  I write about topics that some would call controversial.  In Becoming Chloe, for example, I share a story about a friendship between a girl who’s been the victim of repeated sexual abuse and a young gay man who hustles for their survival.  In The Year of my Miraculous Reappearance, I tell the story of a 13-year-old alcoholic who’s raising herself, her Down Syndrome brother, and her alcoholic mom.  In this most recent book, Jumpstart the World, my protagonist falls in love with an older man who, she later learns, is transgender.

And, yeah, I guess that’s controversial.
Yet time and time again people read these books and tell me it’s clear that I’m not exploiting or sensationalizing these topics in any way.
So, what are we really saying when we say the subject of a book is controversial?  In my opinion, we just mean it makes people a little uncomfortable.  And that’s okay with me.  Because I really don’t feel it’s my job as an author to help people remain safely within their comfort zones.  I think good books should change people.  Shake them up a bit.  Make them look at the world in a new way.  Make them look at the people around them with different eyes. 

Now, how are you going to do that without ever experiencing the discomfort of something new?
It reminds me of the André Gide quote, “In order to discover new lands, one must consent to lose sight of the shore.” In real life, with real lands, this requires extraordinary courage.  As words on a page, I trust my readers to handle it.

So that’s why I choose the tough subjects.  That, and this:  For every character I write, thousands, even millions of young people are out there living the same issue.  The world is full of gay and transgender people.  And teenage alcoholics.  And girls (and boys) who have been sexually abused.  What happens to them if they can’t find themselves in literature?  How much harder is it to be yourself if nobody else’s self seems anything like you?

And for those who are not living the issue, familiarity equals normalcy.  When you are unfamiliar with something, it seems frightening.  But if you find out that someone you know very well is going through one of these issues, it begins to feel…well…normal.

Fiction can foster normalcy, which can increase acceptance.  It really can.  I’m not giving it too much power.  I don’t think it’s possible to give too much power to words.  Communication is the most powerful tool we have.  It’s the way we learn to live with each other.

So I write about things that may feel strange to you, but in time they won’t.  And, in a very small way, that’s changing the world through books.  And that’s what I want to do.

Thanks Catherine! It is really cool to see authors with such deep conviction!

I have a copy of Jumpstart the World to giveaway as well! So leave a comment with your email by Nov 15 to be entered. U.S. only sorry!

October 25, 2010

CSN Review Coming Soon, plus other cool links!


Hey guys! I am going to be doing another review with CSN stores! I love the bookshelf I got last time and I cannot wait to deside what I am going to get this time! Just as a reminder CSN stores has hundreds of things from nesting tables to bookshelves, there is something for everyone, so look out for my review and check it out yourself!

In other news:
I recieved this email today:

E-Book of The Dark Divine Priced at $2.99 f or a Limited Time
 
Promotion Leads Up to the Highly-Anticipated Sequel,
THE LOST SAINT
 
New Y or k , October 25, 2010—Egmont USA announced today that the e-book of THE DARK DIVINE by Bree Despain will be available f or $2.99, from October 25 through November 22—wherever e-books are sold. 

Cool right!
Also there is a really cool post on 5 ways to Jumpstart the world by Catherine Ryan Hyde the author of Jumpstart the World here

So go check all these things out and have a great day!

October 24, 2010

Random Magic Halloween Musical Blog Hop!





Music is a strong theme in Random Magic -- so strong, in fact, that one of the celestial characters Winnie and Henry meet is Efterpe, the Muse of music.

In celebration of music, Halloween and all things spooky, here’s a fun blog hop to check out. You’ll find tidbits about creepy characters from the book -- and some great music picks.

Come enjoy a musical Halloween blog hop with us, we’ve got tunes for ghouls…

Songs for: Werewolves



Werewolves of London – Warren Zevon

Random Magic excerpt: “Brute edged cautiously up to the big black door of a huge gate. In the distance, Henry could just make out the twinkling lights of something large, dark, and spooky. With turrets.
They dismounted.
Brute stretched, then shook out his wobbly legs, spattering Henry with mud. ‘That’s as far as I go, sorry,’ he growled gently. He shivered suddenly, his fur bristling like a nervous cat. ‘They give me the creeps.’” (To buy the book, or find out more, go here)

Check out music stop #5 of 8: Take me there


(If you enjoy a particular music pick, please consider buying the track to help support the person or group that created it for everyone’s enjoyment. Across The Sky (http://tinyurl.com/ld2drr) is the unofficial soundtrack for the Random Magic Halloween Tour (2010). Happy listening – and Happy Halloween!)


here are all the blogs on the hop so you can check them all out:

Well-Read Reviews
http://wellreadreviews.com/

Elbit Blog
http://merigreenleaf.blogspot.com/

Cerebrate’s Contemplations
http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/cerebrate/

A Reader’s Adventure
http://mariah-readingadventure.blogspot.com/

La Femme Readers
http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/

StoryWings
http://storywings.blogspot.com/

Diary of a Bookworm
http://www.thediaryofabookworm.com/

What Book Is That?
http://www.whatbookisthat.com/

Random Magic Halloween Tour Schedule



Random Magic Halloween Tour

Oct. 24 – Nov. 2, 2010



About: Random Magic























Tour organization: Lyrika Publicis

Tour prizes coordinator: @LaFemmeReaders

Contact the tour: @RandomMagicTour



If you want to win something wicked:

Gift-wrapped first edition, Random Magic

Cute wicked witch rag doll (Mme. Alexander collectible)

Order of events!

Oct. 24

Halloween Musical Blog Hop!



Come along for a fun, musical blog hop,

featuring creepy characters and tunes for ghouls:

Check out the hop schedule here (coming soon)



Oct. 25

Diary of a Bookworm

http://www.thediaryofabookworm.com/

Review

Feature (incl. excerpt): ‘Crafty Dames: Famous Witches’


Oct. 26

Daisy Chain Book Reviews

http://daisychainbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @daisychainbooks

Feature (incl. excerpt): ‘Haunting Places: Ireland’s Spookiest Castles’


Oct. 27

Escape Between the Pages

http://escapebetweenthepages.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @LoriAtEBTP

Review

Feature (incl. excerpt): ‘Bell, Book and Candle: A Modern Witch’s Toolkit’


Oct. 28

La Femme Readers

http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @LaFemmeReaders

Feature (incl. pix gallery): ‘Casting Random Magic

Tour treasures: Win something wicked!



Oct. 29

Spellbound by Books

http://www.spellboundbybooks.com/

Twitter: @Meeka_21

Review

Related event: Spellbound by Books’ Spookfest (‘Here Be Vampires,’ incl. excerpt)

Related event: WORD for Teens’ Book Spooks (‘Haunted Places,’ incl. excerpt)



Oct. 30

Bewitched Bookworms

http://www.bewitchedbookworms.com/

Twitter: @BwitchedBkworms

Review (dual review): 'Chatting Over The Cauldron: Random Magic'


Oct. 31

StoryWings

http://storywings.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @storywings

Review

Feature: A love spell!

Related event: vvb32’s Trix-‘n’Treatz (‘Vamps!,’ incl. excerpt, feature film)



Nov. 2 (All Souls’ Day)

Electrifying Reviews

http://www.electrifyingreviews.com/

Twitter: @ABennettBooks

Review (vlog): Video review of Random Magic

Feature: November's Unearthly Rites: Day of the Dead

Related content: Electrifying Reviews' video channel

Make sure to check out all the fun!