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giveaway

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

Kathryn Cooper

This Young Adult Giveaway Hop is co-hosted by two amazing blogs, I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Reading Teen.

Have you read the River of Time series by Lisa T. Bergren? This series is a MUST read! It’s my all time favorite. Just thinking about it makes me want to go re-read all the books. If you win you get to choose ONE of the RIVER OF TIME books. The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL as long as The Book Depository ships free to your country. Click HERE to check the list.


Click titles to see my reviews. I haven’t read Tributary for some reason! I better get on it.
Waterfall (paperback or Kindle)
Cascade (paperback or Kindle)
Torrent (paperback or Kindle)
Bourne & Tributary (Kindle only!) These are both novellas.

Fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to visit the hosting sites to hop to the other blogs participating in the Young Adult Giveaway Hop. Their giveaway posts should be up by Wednesday morning.
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Reading Teen

blog tour, Book Review, giveaway

Blog Tour, Book Review, and Giveaway: Choosing Charity by Terri Ferran

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Choosing Charity
Author: Terri Ferran
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Release Date: July 2012
Pages: 208
Series: Faith, Hope, and Charity #3
Source: The Book Bug Blog Tour
4 Stars: I Really Liked It

With a new job, a husband she adores, and a life full of friends, Kit’s life seems pretty much perfect—well, aside from the fact that her husband is in school and way too busy for Kit’s liking. And of course she’s still dealing with the fall-out from her adoptive parents’ divorce.

But when Kit learns that her biological mother wants to meet her, she’s not sure how to react. What good could possibly come from getting to know someone who left you in a dumpster to die?

Exquisitely written and full of heart, Choosing Charity is a can’t-miss read that’s sure to remind you why Christlike love is the greatest virtue of all.

My Thoughts:
Note: This book would be considered Christian fiction, specifically LDS fiction (Latter-day Saints/ Mormons). It wasn’t “preachy.” It mentioned prayer and asking God for help and guidance which for me is normal and every day.

This is the third book in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone. I didn’t read the first two books, but now I’d like to go back and read those. I think it would have enhanced my reading of Choosing Charity because of the attachment I would have felt for all the characters, but it wasn’t necessary.

I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a beautiful story. I loved the main character, Kit, from the beginning. She was easy to connect with. Kit had just graduated from college and had been married a few months. She had a new job and was learning to balance married life. I think the feelings Kit had relating to her parents’ divorce were very realistic. She had a lot of ups and downs with all the different story lines going on. I loved all that was happening in the book. At first I had a hard time remember who all the side characters were, but I soon had it figured out and loved all the side stories. Charity and Lily were my favorite side characters.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, clean, entertaining contemporary. Read below to find out about the giveaway, other blog tour stops, launch party, and more!

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: very mild ( kissing )
Language: none
Violence: none

I received the book from The Book Bug Blog Tour. Thank you! I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.

Buy it!

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Adult Fiction

Giveaway Info:
As part of the tour, Terri is generously offering a grand prize giveaway of the Faith, Hope, and Charity trilogy, including hard copies of Finding Faith, Having Hope, and Choosing Charity. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post or any of the other stops on the tour. Click HERE to visit the tour page for the full tour schedule. The more stops you comment on, the more entries you have into the contest!

Launch Party Info:
The official launch party for Choosing Charity will be held on August 11th from 3-7 PM at Seagull Book in The District in South Jordan. Terri will be joined by three other authors: Diony George and Carla Kelly. Prizes and refreshments will be offered so come join the fun!

Other Books in Series:

Finding Faith and Having Hope

Author Bio:

Terri Ferran grew up in a small Colorado town that offered little in the way of entertainment. She escaped through reading (and later on a Continental Trailways bus), and although the town didn’t have a library, she eagerly anticipated the coming of the Bookmobile and would check out stacks of books at a time. She moved to Utah as a high school senior where she joined the LDS Church and met her husband, Tod. She dreamed of being a writer but took the safe route of becoming a CPA. She finally got brave enough to quit working in the world of numbers to pursue her dream of writing and also to spend more time with her children. Her first book, Finding Faith was published in 2007 and she is excited to be living her dream of writing in real life. Terri still loves to read, but she can usually be found writing, doing laundry, dishes, running errands, napping, eating chocolate, or exercising (not necessarily in that order).

Social Networking Links:
Website: http://www.terriferran.com/

Tour Page:
http://thebookbug-hogan.blogspot.com/p/choosing-charity-blog-tour.html

ATBF 2012

Austin Teen Book Festival 2012 TBR list

Kathryn Cooper

There’s less than 2 months until the Austin Teen Book Festival!! I am so excited. My husband and I are going to head down there this year. There will be a ton of great YA authors and bloggers attending. There have been 32 authors announced so far! This will be epic. Are any of you planning to go?

Austin Teen Book Festival 2012- FREE
Saturday, September 29
10am-5pm
Palmer Events Center
Austin, TX

Austin Teen Book Festival links:
website
author list on website
facebook page

At first I thought I’d read a book by each author, but now I know that will be impossible. So here’s the list of authors I do plan to read from before I go or have already read from and can’t wait to meet!

Anna Banks

Leigh Bardugo

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Rae Carson

Ally Carter

Rachel Cohn

Kresley Cole

Ally Condie

Gina Damico

Tracy Deebs

Kami Garcia

Jeff Hirsch

Tara Hudson

Sophie Jordan

Jessica Khoury

Dan Krokos

Marissa Meyer

Tamara Ireland Stone

Wow now that I see the list I’m thinking there’s no way I’ll read all these, BUT I’ll try. I’ll give myself another week or 2 to finish up some books for review then I’ll get started. Look forward to some of these books being reviewed.

Have any of you read these? Any book you think I HAVE to read first? The only ones I’ve read from this list are Ally Carter and Ally Condie’s series, Cinder, and Hereafter.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Book Review, midnight in austenland, shannon hale

Book Review: Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Midnight in Austenland
Author: Shannon Hale
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Release Date: January 2012
Pages: 277
Series: Austenland #2
Source: library
5 Stars: I LOVED IT!!!

When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stays at a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests’ Austen fantasies.

Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn’t sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlor games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside’s mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And-perhaps of the most lasting importance-could the stirrings in Charlotte’s heart be a sign of real-life love?

The follow-up to reader favorite Austenland provides the same perfectly plotted pleasures, with a feisty new heroine, plenty of fresh and frightening twists, and the possibility of a romance that might just go beyond the proper bounds of Austen’s world. How could it not turn out right in the end?

My Thoughts:
I need to stop reading books set in Europe! Now I’m desperate to vacation there. One of these days my husband and I will have to take a European tour. Until then, I’ll have to be satisfied with visiting Europe through books.

I loved this book!! I read it every spare chance I had. It was so fun! I’m at a loss for words to describe how much I enjoyed relaxing and reading this book.

Charlotte was in her late 30s, divorced, and had two children. Early on in the story she read Jane Austen and decided to take a trip to Austenland while her kids were with their dad for part of the summer. If you’ve read Austenland you’ll remember Miss Charming. Well, she was back and as funny as ever with perfect comedic timing — hilarious.  There were a few other characters returning from Austenland. I enjoyed the continuation of their stories.

I really liked Austenland, but I loved Midnight in Austenland even more. The mystery added to the fun. I felt so uncomfortable for Charlotte at times, but in the end I was attached to the character and wanted to see her happy with her life. I recommend this book to everyone!

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( mention of affair, mild talk mostly by Ms Charming- hilarious, kissing )
Language: very mild ( effin-1, d***-2, h***-1, a**-1 )
Violence: mild ( attempted strangle, hitting and kicking, murder )

Buy it!

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Adult Fiction

Book Review, middle grade, oliver neubert, the wind of life the flyers, the wind of life the wanderers

Book Review: The Wind of Life series by Oliver Neubert

Kathryn Cooper

Title: The Wind of Life: The Flyers
Author: Oliver Neubert
Publisher: Purple Branch Publishing
Release Date: September 2011
Pages: 196
Series: The Wind of Life #1
Source: author
3 Stars: I Liked It

Timo, a fourteen year old flyer, lives in the mountains with his mother. For years, the Flyers of the Mountains have been enemies of the Wanderers of the Flatlands. To stop the old law: “Those who are born without wings have to die,” Timo is dragged into a plot where he must learn to use his special gift to bring the two misunderstood races together. As Wardor, the leader of the War Flyers, learns about the plot, he will stop at nothing to kill everyone involved. In her search for her missing brother, Val and Timo become close friends, but will they survive the impending war or will Val’s brother be lost to the old law?

My Thoughts:
This was a good book. The plot was so interesting that it kept me reading. Timo was 14 and a flyer. A flyer was a human with wings on their back. How cool is that?! I don’t know about you, but I’ve always thought flying would be the best super hero power. So, the fact that the characters had wings really kept me reading. The narration switched around to different characters, but mostly stayed with Timo.

The dialog and narrative was awkward for some reason. Some parts just felt stiff. On the other hand there were some really beautifully written parts as well. By the end of the book I was left wanting to know what happened next.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: very mild ( slept in a bed together but didn’t even kiss )
Language: none
Violence: mild ( injuries from a fall, murders, blood )

Buy it!
[ Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository ]

THIS IS THE 2ND BOOK IN A SERIES!
Title: The Wind of Life: The Wanderers
Author: Oliver Neubert
Publisher: Purple Branch Publishing
Release Date: December 2011
Pages: 176
Series: The Wind of Life #2
Source: author
3 Stars: I Liked It
Rider, a fourteen year old Wanderer, has found shelter among the dead willows, the haunted place of the Flatlands. He is suffering from the abuse of his tyrant father, but his connection to nature and the elements keep him sane. He has a special gift that allows him to run with the antelope and to communicate with the animals. When he helps a young woman escape from a group of deadly hunters, he discovers that the mysterious, hated Flyers still exist. Drawn by curiosity and instinct, Rider uncovers a serious plot lead by his father to murder innocent children and to go to war against the Flyers. Rider has to stop his father and luckily he is not alone. One of his enemies is looking out for him, but will this be enough or will Rider be crushed by this father?
My Thoughts:
The writing was better for this book. I connected more with Rider, the wanderer. Again the narrator changed to different characters but mostly stayed with Rider. I wasn’t a huge fan of the villain narrative. Knowing what the villain was doing and thinking gave too much away when it could have been left a mystery longer.

There was a cute budding romance, and the plot was intriguing. I’d be interested to read the next book in the series.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: none
Language: none
Violence: mild/moderate ( physical abuse of child from father, blood, punches, murder, bloody deaths )
Buy it!
[ Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository ]

I received these books from Oliver Neubert. Thank you! 
I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction
giveaway

Reading Clean Giveaway Hop Sign Ups

Kathryn Cooper


Announcing the Reading Clean Giveaway Hop
September 6th – 12th
Hosted by Clean Teen Fiction, One Librarian’s Book Reviews 

Featuring Clean Reads!  Books free from sex, language and gratuitous violence.
Books you can share with anyone without hesitation be it your mother, daughter, or bishop’s wife. 

Hop Rules

  • Your giveaway must be for a “Clean Read”.
  • Only 1 mandatory entry, all others must be optional.  Keep it simple, no long lists of things for people to do.
  • Your blog & giveaway must be “family friendly”.

To Sign Up To Host A Giveaway Click on the Blue Link at the bottom of the linky that Says “Click here to enter” and fill out the form with the following information:

Your Blog Name followed by where you will ship to in parentheses
Link to your Blog or Website
Email Address to send you a reminder email


stacking the shelves

Stacking the Shelves (5)

Kathryn Cooper

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tygna’s Reviews, is a weekly post where bloggers list the books they recently acquired. The books can come from anywhere: publisher, author, giveaway, library, bought.

Click the book’s cover to view on Amazon and the title to add to your GoodReads.

FOR REVIEW (eBooks):
Audrey’s Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman
Solid by Shelley Workinger

WON:
Evermore by Alyson Noel (from my library for participating in summer reading program)
Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham (from the author via GoodReads’ First Reads giveaways)

Thank you to Jody Gehrman, Shelley Workinger, my public library, Hilary Weisman Graham, and First Reads Giveaways!