The Quiet Concert: giveaway

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Splash into Summer Giveaway Hop

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop!

Reading outside and enjoying the warm weather is one of our favorite activities! We are excited to be participating in this Splash into Summer Giveaway Hop.

Winner get's their choice of book from image below!

GIVEAWAY RULES:
- US residents only (sorry International friends :()
- Ends June 8th, 2016
- Fill out the Rafflecopter to enter
- Winners will have 48 hours to respond before someone else is selected
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Visit Some of the other Blogs on the Hop Below or Here!

Raining Romance Giveaway Hop

Raining Romance Giveaway Hop!

We do love a good love story :) Winner get's their choice of book from image below!

GIVEAWAY RULES:
- US residents only (sorry International friends :()
- Ends April 15th, 2016
- Fill out the Rafflecopter to enter
- Winners will have 48 hours to respond before someone else is selected
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Visit Some of the other Blogs on the Hop!

Favorites Giveaway Hop

Favorites Giveaway Hop!

We have read and enjoyed so many books lately! The winner has their choice of book from the picture below!

GIVEAWAY RULES:
- US residents only (sorry International friends :()
- Ends February 19th, 2016
- Fill out the Rafflecopter to enter
- Winners will have 48 hours to respond before someone else is selected
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Visit Some of the other Blogs on the Hop!

May I Suggest Giveaway Hop

May I suggest...Giveaway Hop!

Hosted by Stuck In Books!

This year Scholastic generously gave The Quiet Concert two awesome books Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger and Rook by Sharon Cameron. Ashley enjoyed both Rook and LOL. Now is your chance to win a copy of both books!

Rook by Sharon Cameron
Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger

GIVEAWAY RULES:
- US residents only (sorry International friends :()
- Ends May 16th, 2015
- Fill out the Rafflecopter to enter
- Winners will have 48 hours to respond before someone else is selected

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Visit Some of the other Blogs on the Hop!

BLOG TOUR {Review & Giveaway}: Neverwas (The Amber House Trilogy #2) by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed and Larkin Reed

Title: Neverwas

Series: The Amber House Trilogy #2
Author: Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed and Larkin Reed

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: January 7, 2013

Pages: 320, Hardcover
Source: I received an ARC from the Author in exchange for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

"I was sixteen the second time I had my first kiss...."

At the end of AMBER HOUSE, Sarah made a choice that transformed everything--and now she must choose it all again.

Things are very different--better--for Sarah and her family: her Aunt Maggie grew up; her parents are happily married; her grandmother died after a long, productive and respected life. But other things are different too, and not for the better.

After growing up in the free country of the Pacific Northwest, Sarah Parsons has settled in at Amber House, the stately Maryland home that's been in her family for generations. But the world surrounding the House feels deeply wrong to Sarah. It's a place where the colonists lost the 1776 Insurrection, where the American Confederation of States still struggles with segregation, and where Sarah is haunted by echoes of a better world that she knows never existed.

Her friend Jackson shares these visions of a different world--and together, they manage both to remember the way things ought to be, and to plan a daring mission that will reset the universe once again. Sarah must figure out what has changed, and why, and how she can fix it--how she can find her way to another otherwhen.

I doubt there is a more perfect series for me than this one. First, I fell in love with Amber House, and then I fell in love with the story.

At the heart of this story is one old, old house....

"The estate was famous — one of the oldest in North America, owned by a single family, my family, since the 1600s. Dormant gardens surrounded the house, which was all white clapboard and pillars, brick and green trim. Not stately so much as solid. Filled with time.
My grandmother used to tell me how three hundred and fifty years of my ancestors had added to Amber House — a wing here, a porch there, a balcony, a turret. Decade after decade. Generation after generation. Century after century."

and one elaborate family history - cruelty, insanity, death.

And Sarah can relive it all...

"'Your gramma called them echoes.'
'It's like replaying a piece of the past. A moment played over again. Like a scene from a movie. But only certain people can see them.'"

I love this idea. Liked seriously LOVE this idea. I loved exploring Amber House - its present and, with Sarah's gift, its past. The house fascinated me. The history fascinated me. And the combination of the two left me mesmerized. The description that was provided was wonderful. And the story was weaved nicely throughout. I could live in this series.

When Sarah comes to Amber House this time around the world is a different place. So different, in fact, that I had a little trouble in the beginning understanding it. The states are still divided, racial segregation still exists, there are even Nazis! At the end of book one, Sarah changed the past, and consequently changed the future. But since her own life was rewritten in the process, she has no memory of doing it.

Fortunately, Amber House does.

"'Amber House holds its share of secrets. But those are in the past, aren't they, and the past doesn't give up its secrets easily.'"

This book has a bit of a slow start as the world is established and Sarah rediscovers her gift. But after it gets going there was no slowing down. Once again we are reliving history, waiting for Amber House to reveal its secrets to Sarah so she can fix whatever change she set in motion. But the stakes are much higher this time. The echoes darker. And the future is not so certain. I loved the adventure. The suspense.

Most of the characters from Amber House are present in Neverwas, albeit a little different. Sarah as an MC still falls a little flat for me, maybe more so in this book. And having grown up with an easier life has made her character less... resilient. But I admire that she will go to great lengths for the one's she loves and her relationship with her Autistic brother Sammy continues to pull on my heartstrings. The love and care with which she interacts with her brother is beautiful. Sammy himself is just fantastic. I love how everything he says is exactly what you need to hear, when you know how to listen.

The love triangle is still present, but not quite the same, since Sarah is more sure of her feelings. Jackson is noticeably less present in this book, and I missed him. But Richard is considerably better and I felt bad that past memories kept Sarah at a distance.

Overall, Neverwas was a strong sequel to Amber House. I didn't love it more than Amber House, but I loved it nonetheless. I think the care with which this house and its history have been written is truly remarkable and sets the stage for a wonderful story, to which the authors use to its fullest potential. I highly highly recommend this series to fellow readers. It's unlike anything else I've read.

In NEVERWAS, Sarah must piece together the mystery of her forgotten past with the help of clues left behind by her great-grandmother, Fiona Warren. For readers interested in the chance to win a signed first-edition hardback of NEVERWAS -- with an exclusive hint for what's in store for Sarah in the final book, OTHERWHEN, hidden inside -- visit each blog on the tour for the month of December, collect the various lines from the poem, arrange them in the proper order, and submit the final sonnet by New Year's Day for a chance to win the special copy of NEVERWAS!

KELLY MOORE is a New York Times best-selling author, former litigator, and single mother of three. Her latest project, the young adult fiction series THE AMBER HOUSE TRILOGY, co-written with her two daughters and based loosely upon her own family history, examines fourteen generations of Maryland women and their ties to the past, present, and future. The first book in the series was nominated for the 2014 Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award for its realistic portrayal of characters with autism; Moore is outspoken about her inclusion in the autism spectrum, and is dedicated to autism awareness.

TUCKER REED is an award-winning fiction and nonfiction writer. She has been recognized on the national level for her short stories, essays and poetry. She is also a notable political blogger and has appeared on CNN, CBS, ABC and HuffPost Live, as well as featured in articles published by TIME magazine, Marie Claire magazine, Ms. magazine, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian, among numerous others.

LARKIN REED is a professional photographer, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in filmmaking. In 2013, Reed established her own multimedia production company, and has subsequently produced and directed several short films.

Whispering Pretty Stories
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Bibliophilic Monologues
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Annette's Book Spot
Zach's YA Reviews

Next up: The Musings of ALMYBNENER

Stuck In A Good Book Hop

September 20th to 25th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Valerie from Stuck in Books

For this giveaway hop, we are offering readers a chance to win an ARC of The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater. We both absolutely love the series and want to share the love :)

US only and 13+up please!

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Check out more of the blogs on the hop

Summer of Love Giveaway Hop!

Summer of Love Giveaway Hop

Hosted by YA Romantics

July 22-29

For this giveaway hope, we are offering readers a chance to win their choice of one of our favorite romance themed books. The winner can choose from the list below. US only and 13+up please!

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

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REVIEW #137 & GIVEAWAY: Broken Forest by Eliza Tilton

Title: Broken Forest

Author: Eliza Tilton

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Release Date: May 1, 2013

Pages: 242, Paperback
Source: Provided by author for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

Hopeless he'll never be more than the boy who didn't save his brother, 17-year-old Avikar accepts his life as the family stable boy, trying to forget the past. But when his sister, Jeslyn, is kidnapped, the thought of losing another sibling catapults him on a desperate quest. With his best friend by his side, and using the tracking skills he learned from his father, he discovers Jeslyn has been taken, kidnapped by one Lucino, the young lord of Daath, a mystical place thought only to exist in fables.

And Lucino has plans for Jeslyn.

His shape-shifting brethren feed off the auras of humans, and Jeslyn's golden hue is exactly what Lucino needs to increase his power. The longer it takes Avikar to reach her, the more entranced she becomes with Lucino's world, and the harder it will be for Avikar to set her free.

He failed his family once. He won't fail again.

Broken Forest is a fast-paced, action-packed, and suspenseful fantasy story.

It's no secret that I am a fan of multi POV. In Broken Forest we get the perspective of Avikar, Jeslyn, and Lucino, providing a well-rounded depiction of events.

From Avikar's side we get the chase. He's desperate to find Jeslyn before it's too late. But Lucino continues to send forces against him, making his journey a treacherous one. He finds allies along the way and he even finds love. I really enjoyed the small romance between Raven and Avikar. Raven was fierce and headstrong. And Avikar was completely clueless when it came to women. Their relationship was sweet but it was by no means was the focus of the story. Just a nice complement.

I especially enjoyed seeing both Jesslyn and Lucino tell different sides of the same story. Lucino's end game was not in Jeslyn's best interest but he treats her well so that she will come to him willingly. But as he spends more time with her he begins to feel something close to fondness for her, even though she is just a human. Meanwhile, Jeslyn is charmed by Lucino and finds him to be a complete gentlemen. She is oblivious to his powers of influence and true thoughts.

This book was strongly plot-driven, rather than character-driven, but we do get some character depth and development. This is mostly seen in Avikar, who is haunted by his brother's death, for which he feels responsible. He doesn't think he can survive the loss of someone else he loves and this guilt and fear is what compels him on his journey. By the end, he has come a ways in learning to live for himself and letting go of that which he cannot control.

I would have liked to see a bit more world building in Broken Forest. Lucino is this reptilian-like creature. His kind have invaded this world because their world is dying. But I don't understand their kind, the extent of their powers, their behaviors or their motives. The ending left room for a sequel but I don't see anything on Goodreads yet. If there is one, I hope we get some of the answers then. I need more information to fully appreciate the story. Also, we only got glimpses of the world in which the story is set in. Daath is this magical, lively place and I wanted to see more of it. Unfortunately, I was unable to picture the setting in my head. Broken Forest is not lacking in originality, only in description.

Broken Forest is a fun adventure with some pleasant warmth and intrigue. All the traditional elements of a good fantasy story are present, but Eliza Tilton adds a twist to things that set it apart from the rest. I'd even go so far as to say that it read a tad sci-fi-ish. While it didn't blow me away, the story, world and characters have a lot of potential.

Broken Forest is a fine debut that hints at good things to come.

Giveaway!

Eliza Tilton has generously provided a Paperback of Broken Forest + Swag for one lucky reader to win! US only + 13+up please!

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BLOG TOUR {Review #131 & Giveaway}: Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Welcome to our blog tour stop for Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols, hosted by Shane at Itching for Books. You can follow the tour here. And don't forget to check out the giveaway at the end of this post! Thanks for stopping by! :D

Title: Dirty Little Secret

Author: Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV Books

Release Date: July 16, 2013

Pages: 288, Hardcover

Summary from Goodreads:

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

Review

The country music theme in Dirty Little Secret was a big draw for me. I really enjoy when books have a strong musical presence but I enjoyed this one even more because that music was country. And theres something about country music - the lyrics, the atmosphere, the vibe - it's just really something special. And set in a place like Nashville, the country music capital of the world, you have a setting that literally comes alive. I really really enjoyed this one for that reason. I kind of fell in love with country while reading. And the emotion in the music really comes through to the reader. It was brilliant.

I must say, I liked Bailey as a MC. First off, her snarky attitude was pretty entertaining. My favorite line: "I told Elvis that under my circle skirt, there was a Glock." She tried to act tough because she was in this rebellious stage of her life but underneath her facade she really was just a good girl putting on a brave face. She was dealt a pretty rough hand and I'm not sure I'd handle it much better than she did. When I was a teenager and got really pissed off at my mom, I got spiteful too. (But I'd like to think I've grown out of that).

What the book summary fails to emphasize is how shitty her parents were. When Julie got the record deal and Bailey didn't, they were the most uncaring, selfish, negligent <insert a ton of negative adjectives here> parents. They didn't stop to think how Bailey would feel when all her dreams came crashing down around her, watching her little sister get a deal alone even though she was incredibly talented herself. Or how about the fact that they up and left to tour the country for a year to promote her sister's upcoming album and straight up left Bailey behind. That's because the record company didn't want anyone aware of Bailey's existence in case it made for bad press that they shut her out. And want to hear the worst part? They forbid Bailey from pursuing music!!! How can you foster a passion for music from the age of 5 and then tell your kid they can't play anymore for the "possible" sake of her sisters career. HOW CAN YOU DO THAT? And when Bailey acts outs because she is just a teenager and doesn't know how to deal, they punish her even more harshly. They threaten not to pay for college if she doesn't behave and stay under the radar. They won't acknowledge that maybe she's hurting. And the award for the world's worst parents goes to...

So in hindsight I thought Bailey was handling things pretty well considering. She was hurt, jealous, angry, confused and probably wanted to scream and flip the bird to the world, but she kept her emotions in check and tried to obey her parents because she really didn't have another choice. She wanted to go to college. But music was a part of her and she couldn't just give it up. Her mall gigs were alright but when tall, dark, and handsome Sam walks in with an offer she can't refuse... she doesn't. But what started as a "just this once", kept happening again and again. Bailey knew she was treading a fine line with her parents anger, but she couldn't help herself. She loved the feel of playing music, and playing in a band with Sam. Then again, Sam didn't leave her much of a choice either.

Oh, Sam. *sigh*. Sometimes you were alright. Sometimes I wished a piano would fall out of an upper story and hit you on the head. How could one boy be so understanding at times, and so completely intolerant and unaccepting at others. Seriously, he would listen to Bailey but never failed to be completely judgmental and unmoving if he disagreed with something she said. His band was his life. Everything else came second. And he wasn't above using Bailey if it furthered his chances of success. He was an ass. And Bailey knew this. And yet she still let herself get attached and worse. I can't say I totally blame her but I can't say I approve of her taste in men either.

BUT Sam did come around. And I really enjoyed this ending of this book. Things that needed to be said were said. And things that needed to happen, happened. So while Dirty Little Secret was not perfect, I still enjoyed it. Especially with how well Jennifer Echols captured the passion for music and the sensation of playing for an audience. I could feel the thrill Bailey felt playing her fiddle while reading and I loved that.

About the Author

Jennifer Echols was born in Atlanta and grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama—a setting that has inspired many of her books. She has written nine romantic novels for young adults, including the comedy MAJOR CRUSH, which won the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the drama GOING TOO FAR, which was a finalist in the RITA, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Book Buyer’s Best, and was nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults. Simon & Schuster will debut her adult romance novels in 2013, with many more teen novels scheduled for the next few years. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and her son.

www.jennifer-echols.com

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The Best Book Ever Giveaway Hop

The Best Book Ever Giveaway Hop

Hosted by The Best Books Ever

Co-Hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer

June 4th to 10th

As part of The Best Book Ever Giveaway Hop we are giving away one (1) book that fits into the category of "Best Books Ever: Best of 2012. We have each picked our top three books from 2012 and will give one lucky winner their choice of one of them.
Nicole's Favorites

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas Sanctum (Guards of the Shadowlands #1) by Sarah Fine
Ashley's Favorites

Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee

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BLOG TOUR {Review #89 & Giveaway}: January Black by Wendy S. Russo

Welcome to our blog tour stop for January Black by Wendy S. Russo, hosted by Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. You can follow the tour here. And don't forget to check out the giveaway at the end of this post! Thanks for stopping by! :D

Title: January Black

Author: Wendy S. Russo

Release Date: January 15, 2013

Pages: 336, Paperback

Summary from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old genius Matty Ducayn has never fit in on The Hill, an ordered place seriously lacking a sense of humor. After his school’s headmaster expels him for a small act of mischief, Matty’s future looks grim until King Hadrian comes to his rescue with a challenge: answer a question for a master’s diploma.

More than a second chance, this means freedom. Masters can choose where they work, a rarity among Regents, and the question is simple.

What was January Black?

It’s a ship. Everyone knows that. Hadrian rejects that answer, though, and Matty becomes compelled by curiosity and pride to solve the puzzle. When his search for an answer turns up long-buried state secrets, Matty’s journey becomes a collision course with a deadly royal decree. He's been set up to fail, which forces him to choose. Run for his life with the challenge lost...or call the king’s bluff.

Review

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, sir. I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death." ~Patrick Henry

Let’s see what I can say about this book… First things first, this is not an easy read and I don’t think this book is for everyone. The pace is a far cry from your typical YA read and may very well test your patience. The story is slowly developed and the clues are steadily given. There is no easy moving from one clue to the next. Matty goes periods of time without making and progress before stumbling onto some other piece of information. That being said, you have to be interested in both the mystery and the characters or you will likely get bored. I’ll admit, my attention wavered occasionally, but overall I stayed invested. Usually just as I started to get impatient with the story development, Russo would provide another clue or action to pull me back in.

The mystery is heavily tied to politics and political themes. But all roads lead back to the underlying question of freedom.

“… he found a statement made by Ronald Reagan. He said, ‘Freedom is never more than one generation from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same…’”

The setting is kept vague enough so that nothing is given away. We know society is technologically advanced. There are references throughout made about the “Old World” which is referring to the world we currently live in. We know the people escaped that world for freedom and peace. But other than clues there is nothing definitively given. Again, this all ties into the mystery. The whole book is a puzzle that comes together at the end.

I don’t claim to be the most perceptive person ever but I had no idea what the answer was until it was given and I didn’t understand the significance of many of the clues until I had that answer and could reflect back. But I still felt both anticipation and suspense with each discovery. I could still follow what was going on. I’ll take a well-seeded mystery over a simple one any day.

The characters were pretty interesting. Not epic, but I liked their stories when they filled the pages in between mystery-solving. The King was my favorite. He was laid-back, mysterious, intelligent, good-humored. I never really knew if he was good or bad. Or if he was hiding something. He definitely added to the intrigue. Matty as a character appealed to my nerdy side – he was a total brainiac. But he was a little awkward at times and had a few too many descriptive boyish moments when he was with Iris. To say they had a relationship is a bit of a stretch. It felt more like a friendship because of their innocence and purity. I liked how Iris kept Matty grounded and she was her own person - both strong and vocal.

The following is a good quote to show both Matty and the King’s relationship:

“‘The instructor is boring and the section is a joke.’
‘And?’ the king prompted him for more.
‘He expects his answers, not correct ones.’
The king spun around at the bottom of the stairs, blocking Matty’s path. He crossed his arms. ‘You drew the atomic model for magnesium.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Matty said, meeting the king’s eyes as he stopped on the lowest stair. They were brown.
‘It was a civics test,’ the king said before walking away. Matty followed. “The question regarded the Assembly.” Downstairs resembled upstairs, except for a burnt orange wall in what Matty assumed was the sitting room. ‘Explain.’
‘Twelve.’ Matty looked around for something in the king’s home that would belong in the palace. He found nothing. ‘Twelve protons, twelve electrons, twelve prince regents.’
‘So, the fact that magnesium is sour and highly combustible, that’s just a coincidence?’”

Overall, I enjoyed the change of pace in January Black from my usual reads. It was intricately detailed and had a thoughtful and deep-seeded mystery. The setting was familiar and yet it wasn’t, which kept me guessing. And you never know what the characters were really up to. This book makes you think, but it is a good use of brain power.

About the Author

Wendy S. Russo got her start writing in the sixth grade. That story involved a talisman with crystals that had to be found and assembled before bad things happened, and dialog that read like classroom roll call. Since then, she’s majored in journalism (for one semester), published poetry, taken a course on short novels, and watched most everything ever filmed by Quentin Tarantino. A Wyoming native transplanted in Baton Rouge, Wendy works for Louisiana State University as an IT analyst. She’s a wife, a mom, a Tiger, a Who Dat, and she falls asleep on her couch at 8:30 on weeknights.
FACEBOOK* WEBSITE * TWITTER * GOODREADS

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