What's On My Kindle? - Episode 1

Welcome to the first edition of What's On My Kindle?

What exactly is What's On My Kindle? This is my own little thing that I am going to be getting out every Saturday or Sunday (depending on what the evil thing known as RL does to me).  Within this post I'll list a few of the books that are currently on my TBR list on my Kindle.  Some are freebies (or were when I bought them), and others I paid for with gift cards, or had a few spare bucks to spend on a book.

All of them, I fully intend on getting to, at some point (and taking a massive chisel to my to-read list and hopefully hack it down to under 1000, again).

The books that I'm featuring today are all by the epic YA author David Estes.  Two of his series, are my favorites, and an anthology that I will be reading as well that has stories by several phenomonal YAauthors, most of which I've read at least something by.  I encourage you to check out David Estes if you love YA books!

THE MOON DWELLERS - First book in David Estes second series, YA Dystopian.  In a desperate attempt to escape destruction decades earlier, humankind was forced underground, into the depths of the earth, creating a new society called the Tri-Realms.  In this series we meet Adele, a seventeen-year-old middle class member of the Moon Dwellers, who is sentenced to life in prison for her parents crimes of treason.

THE STAR DWELLERS - Second book in the Dweller's Saga by David Estes.  This series is his second series, and definitely a great read.  If you love YA Dystopian, then this series is for you.  Adele, after rescuing her father and younger sister, is forced to leave her family and Tristan behind to find her mother.

THE SUN DWELLERS - Third book in the Dwellers Saga by David Estes.  YA Dystopian novel.  In this book, Adele must embark on a secret mission to the Sun Realm to assassinate the president, and uncover secrets about her relationship with Tristan that she is not yet ready to face.

FURTHERMORE - An anthology of stories from YA authors Rebekah Campbell, David Estes, Amber Garr, Karen Amanda Hooper, Stephanie Judice, and Leigh Michael.  A first date, a lottery, treachery and deceit.  Eighteen original stories will take you through worlds here and beyond, depths of the earth and the embrace of the sea.  Proceeds from the sale of this Anthology go to cancer research and support.

ARCHANGEL EVOLUTION - Third book in the Evolution series by David Estes.  This series gives us a new look on the way that angels and demons were created.  While Taylor is getting used to her evolution, the Archangel Council has uncovered a bold new secret, on that will allow them to finally defeat the demons.  I highly recommend this series if you love YA paranormal.ANGEL EVOLUTION, DEMON EVOLUTION

Moving Is An Adventure

So I am moved.

Everything is still in boxes and bags and apart and nowhere near done, but things are looking very good. Things will get done slowly but surely. We are also making a list for the maintenance Guy which will be coming by. We are going to see if he van hook up the washer and dryer for us as well. We need a few more light bulbs and such, but this house is 100 times better than where we had been.

There will be pictures when we get settled and things get hooked up and things like that.

Gonna be lazy for a bit.

Moving Sucks

So, currently I am the ONLY PERSON in my house that is awake right now, and I will continue to be the only person awake for the next several hours.  I have been awake for 24 hrs (not entirely consecutive as I took an hour nap between 1230 and 130 am.) and still have several more hours to go before I can take a nap or get even something resembling sleep. Why? Because I'm in the process of getting my house ready to move.

Yup, I'm moving, and things are absolutely freaking crazy right now.  Boxes, bags, crates, bins and various other things are littered and cluttered about my house in controlled chaos (or at least something resembling that).  I apparently did not realize just how much STUFF that I had until I had to pack it all up.  However, I've gotten rid of some stuff that is definitely NOT needed, and found something that I've been missing for a couple of years now and that was honestly the highlight of my night.

I feel complete again, whole, and now I have to continue to bust my butt and get everything situated and sorted and start probably around 530-6ish beginning to move boxes outside in preparation for loading the truck that is due to arrive at around 9am.  Once boxes are out, and things are relatively cleared for the removal of larger objects I may just be able to rest for a little bit (I can hope!).  I've a friend coming over at some point to help move, my roommate's husband's parents are coming to help us move along with a couple of other people.  Things are going to hopefully go very quickly and ultimately we can get to Lake City and get things unloaded in a reasonable, timely manner - or at least get stuff under the carport because there is a slightly higher chance of rain in Lake City than there is here.

Either way, this move is happening getting closer to being done in less than six hours.

Important Update - Changes here at CoaB

Well, things have been ungodly quiet around here and for that I apologize! I've been dealing with various things that have kept me away from the virtual world.  However, that is about to change! I've got quite a bit going on and working on getting things together for a massive giveaway that I may or may not be holding around my birthday...so KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED!  For announcements and things of that nature.  Gonna be a while yet.

On to the important things!

Review Guidlines/Rating System: Currently working on revamping my review policy and ratings break down.  There will be changes, some people will not like them. I am beyond the point of caring.  I need to get things sorted and will have those updated as soon as possible.

Archiving: Anything from my previous blog (the word press one) will no longer be available for viewing on this blog.  Things from my beginnings on blogger will be available here from now on.

New reviewer: I will be introducing a new reviewer, Agent Butterfly, is what she shall be called.  My roommate's daughter will be writing book reviews instead of book reports for her homeschooling and I will be reading the books as well, so yes, there will be double reviews of some books.  She however, will have her own personal space here at CoaB, where her reviews can be found. I encourage you to check her out.  Her first review will be going up by the end of the week.

Guest Posts: I'm looking for them, hungering for them!  If you want to do one, contact me and we can set things up!

Interviews: I miss doing these and I want to do more! Lots more! May even let Agent Butterfly do one if I can find an author she's read!

Alright, I think that is all I have for you at the moment.

There will be reviews coming later today!

Keep reading!

Guest Post: Jason E. Maurer

For my guest post, I’ve chosen to discuss self-worth and homosexuality and how the two go hand-in-hand, mainly because that is what my new novel “Trust and Love” is all about.

The main theme of my novel is the “It Gets Better” Campaign because it is the struggle of nearly all people in the LGBT community [LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender] to overcome their own fears, and stand up for themselves in a world that still thinks of us as being sinners.

The “It Gets Better” Campaign stems from the unfortunate suicidal deaths of several gay teenagers, who were bullied in school by youngsters like themselves who do not understand that we are just as human as everyone else. My heart has broken so many times over the past few years to hear of another loss of someone who gave up the fight.

I look back on my own high school turmoil, and am thankful that none of my suicide attempts succeeded.

I had few friends, although the ones in my close circle were treasured more than I could ever describe. Some of us are close to this day.

Being gay was not something anyone talked about, except to make fun of those unfortunate boys who showed any sign of being a “sissy”.  I grew up listening to the negativity spouted by others, and realized early on that I was not “normal”, that the things I felt for the guy who lived next door were wrong.

I wish more than anything that the “It Gets Better” Campaign had been around when I was a teenager. My life in school would have been much, much different. I might have had the courage to stand up for myself, instead of having everyone harass and make fun of me, saying I was worthless and nothing but trash.

This is why I stand so adamantly behind “It Gets Better”. I want that tormented young boy who is sitting there holding a bottle of pills to know he is not alone. I want that young girl who is holding a knife to her wrist that I understand what she’s going through. I want them to know that suicide is NOT the solution to their problems. I want them to understand that their lives WILL get better.

It took many years for me to realize that I wasn’t a freak, that the way I felt toward others of the same sex was okay, that I wasn’t some piece of trash to be so easily discarded.

If you are one of those teenagers who feel like your world is crumbling down around you because the bullies won’t leave you alone, then I have some advice. It may sound hopeless and almost like wishful thinking, especially if you are afraid of them, but things are never as hopeless as they seem. My advice is this:

1. Stand up for yourself.

2. Never back down.

3. Fight for what you believe.

If one of those bullies is attacking you and your beliefs, you have every right as a human being to protect yourself. Stand up tall, look your enemy in the eye, and defend, defend, defend.

Even if you lose the fight, remember that the pride of standing up for yourself and fighting for your beliefs is better than not doing anything at all.

I survived my high school years, and you will too.

And do you know why?

Because there are others in this world who love you for being who you are, and will stand by you no matter what.

My novel “Trust and Love” may seem more like a fairytale than real-life, but the message remains:

Do Not Give Up On Yourself, Because We Will Never Give Up On You.

By writing my novel, I hope to assist everyone in realizing that suicide is not the answer, that your life is more precious than you might think right now, and that we are here to support you no matter what.

Visit www.itgetsbetter.org for information on how to help us win the fight.

To buy “Trust and Love”, visit http://www.amazon.com/Trust-and-Love-ebook/dp/B00AS5AEBM/ref=la_B0080HHLPC_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356936849&sr=1-1

All my love to everyone and best wishes for a wonderful 2013!

Jason E. Maurer

http://jasonemaurer.blogspot.com

This Space Under Construction!!!

Greetings wonderful readers and followers,

I know things have been quiet around my little confessional, but worry not I have not forgotten you or stopped reading. The new year is fast upon us and it will be an exciting year for me in my little slice of literary heaven.

Get ready for a new look, updated review policy, updated rating system, lots of nifty features, giveaways, interviews, guest posts and reviews if course.

Things will be revealed on January 5th! Are you as excited as I am, are you ready for things to kick off and get rocking for 2013, I know I am.

I will also be featuring my top ten books of 2012 and my top ten least favorite books of 2012. What else do I have in store for you, you will just have to wait and see.

Love, kisses and great reads,

Martha aka Caedy

Hello to New and Old Faces! Some Important Information Ahead

To all the new followers, thank you, thank you and thank you a hundred times over and I am quite pleased that you've found my slice of literary heaven.  Some things in the works, I will be revamping my review policy, as well as further detailing a few things to stream line the process.  I will be attempting to get back into posting a blog schedule, and now that I am once more the proud owner of a Kindle (THANK THE GODS) I will have lots more books to read and review (including some from the 1300 in the archives of my amazon account that I've not yet touched). 

I will also be perhaps sharing with you some of my writing, though that might go to a separate blog in and of itself.  Beyond that, I've also got computer access again at home (for more than a handful of hours early in the morning on weekends) so I can post things more regularly. 

Also, if you like my reviews, and the content that I provide, I would highly recommend sharing me with your friends, finding me on Goodreads and ultimately following my reviews and things here.  I do post my reviews on goodreads as well, and I will be once more refreshing my smashwords account and posting things there (mainly because I have books that I need to grab there and redownload on my Kindle). 

If you are an author and following me here on my little piece of heaven, and would like me to review your book I am more than willing.  Digital copies are accepted (mobi/kindle format preferred above all others) and print copies as well.  If you send me a copy of your book (digitally or otherwise) allow me minimum of three (3) weeks to have time to read and formulate an opinion on your book to provide you with a proper review and not allow you to feel slighted. 

I will in the coming weeks be catching up on my backlog of reviews (and trust me when I say that there is a backlog!).  Those ultimately come first, and then I will be moving on to some of the newer material that I have received.  But, worry not, I will not allow your book to be lost in the shuffle like some have in the past.  I do apologize if you happen to be one of those authors (it was so very not intentional). 

Also, if you aren't an author, but you have an awesome book that you want to recommend to me, and it is available for lending via Kindle, you can of course always lend it to me and I will have it read and reviewed within the two (2) week grace period that is allowed for Kindle lending. 

Any other comments, questions, or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me and let me know.  Also, if you are looking for Beta readers, decidedly more than willing!