My Soul to Save GIVEAWAY!

Here's another chance to win a great book!

Thanks to Chelsy, I have 3 copies of the 2nd book in the Soul Screamers series, My Soul to Save, to giveaway!

Here's a quick synopsis & video:

Book 1 of The Soul Screamers series -- My Soul to Take -- was released this past summer, and readers found out why Kaylee Cavanaugh screams bloody murder when someone’s about to die.

In Book 2 – My Soul to Save – when teen pop star Eden croaks on stage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk.

Soul Screamers: The last thing you hear before you die.

Don't forget to check out the official Soul Screamers website for more information!

Interested in winning a copy?
Just comment on this post w/ your name & email address!
It's that simple!

Want extra entries?:
+1 if you're a follower
+1 if you post about this elsewhere (just leave me the link!)
Please comment for each extra entry you earn or it will not be counted!

Good luck! Open to US mailing addresses only (no PO boxes, please!)
Ends 2/20/2010

Alexandra Bullen’s guest blog & Giveaway!

Hello everyone!

The Book Vault is hosting Alexandra's next stop for her book tour! Alexandra's novel, Wish, is now available in bookstores!

Today, Alexandra will be doing a guest blog about her writing process! Thanks for joining us!

~~~~~*~~~~~

What is your writing process?

I’m endlessly fascinated by listening to other writers answer this question. This is probably because my own writing life feels pretty ordinary and boring. I don’t have any quirky habits or weirdly inspirational places to write. I don’t have to write at night, while listening to music, though sometimes I do both. I don’t need absolute silence, but once in a while it helps. The circumstances of my perfect writing atmosphere seem to constantly be in flux, depending on what I’m working on and what feels right at the time.

The only thing that doesn’t change is the writing. I try to do it every day. It doesn’t always work out that way, but I try not to beat myself up about it.

I’ve heard writers say that when they’re stuck, they imagine that they're chained to the desk and not get up until they’ve written through whatever it is in the story that’s holding them back.

I wish I could do that. I’d probably explode first. If I’m not making progress on something, and all of my usual tricks—like re-reading an earlier chapter, or writing an entire scene in dialogue—don’t work, I’ll leave it alone for a bit. The chances that I’m going to be inspired to write are far greater if I take my mind and heart somewhere else.

And then, it’s back to writing. Wherever, whenever, and however it happens…for as long as it happens. I guess, in a way, that’s my process.

What’s yours?

~~~~~*~~~~~

Thanks for taking them time out to let us know a bit more about yourself!
Don't forget to check out the website for Wish and Alexandra's blog!

Giveaway!!

If you're interested in winning a copy of Wish, just comment on this post with your a brief answer to Alexandra's question; what's your writing process? Just tell me one thing about your process--do you like to listen to music while you read? Create outlines and go from there? Don't forget to include your name & email in your post to be entered!

Contest ends 2.12.10, midnight (EST)
One winner will be drawn from all eligible entries
open to US mailing addresses (no PO boxes, please!) only, sorry!

~~~~~*~~~~~

Head over to YA Book Realm tomorrow, 1/28, for the next stop in Alexandra's blog tour, which will include an interview!

The Lonely Hearts Club Giveaway!

Thanks to the lovely Dina, I have 3 copies of The Lonely Hearts Club to giveaway!

Here's a quick blurb for The Lonely Hearts Club:
Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating, so she vows: No more. She’s had one too many bad dates, and has been hurt by one too many bad boys. It’s a personal choice…and soon everybody wants to know about it. It seems that Penny’s not the only girl who’s tired of the way girls change themselves (most of the time for the worse) in order to get their guys…or the way their guys don’t really care about them. Girls are soon thronging to The Lonely Hearts Club (named after Sgt. Pepper’s band), and Penny finds herself near legendary for her non-dating ways – which is too bad, since the leader of The Lonely Hearts Club has found a certain boy she can’t help but like…

Don't forget to visit the author's site here!

Interested in winning a copy? Just leave a comment on this post with your name & email!

Extra entries (please comment SEPARATELY for each extra entry you have earned or you will not receive that entry!):
+1 if you post about this giveaway somewhere (please leave the link!)
+1 if you are or become a follower of The Book Vault

Giveaway ends 2/6/2010 Midnight, EST

Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to participants with a United States mailing address only (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.) No PO boxes please!

Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier

Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier

Release Date: November 3, 2009
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 402

After fleeing home, a young scribe, Caitrin, ends up at Whistling Tor. Not a typical town, Whistling Tor has been isolated and a rarely sought destination as the people there live under a curse. It is said that their leader, Anluan, is a useless leader who is crippled, and plagued by the mystical curse. Things have not changed for many many years, but when Caitrin takes refuge at Whistling Tor for a night, the unchanging, shadowed lives of the townspeople might just change.

The majority of the people of Whistling Tor live below the hill on which Anluan's estate sits. Caitrin finds shelter at the local inn there, and after hearing that Anluan requires a scribe, scrambles up the hill through the haunted forest that lies before Anluan's place. Desperate not to return home and direly in need of a job, Caitrin agrees to transcribe and recopy the documents in Anluan's library.

At the castle, Caitrin meets Anluan's small, but loyal and kind household. Although Anluan and the only lady in his household seem cold to Caitrin, she finds friends in other members of his staff. Despite being extremely doubtful Caitrin would truly stay the whole summer to finish the job, Anluan's household soon warm to her and see her determination. Despite her dedication to her work, many questions about Whistling Tor and Anluan's past spring up for Caitrin as she transcribes the library's contents. Why is Whistling Tor cursed? And why are there some horribly dark materials in the castle's library? Caitrin realizes that this will not be a simple summer job, but Anluan is extremely reluctant to give any answers.

Closed off from the outside world for so long, Anluan has not had many interactions with others, and has lived a tormented life. But when Caitrin came to Whistling Tor, Anluan may not be able to remain isolated forever. Gently persistent, Caitrin begins to break down the barriers Anluan has put up, and learn the secrets of his past. But most important of all, Caitrin brings something new to Whistling Tor--hope. Now Caitrin, Anluan and the others will have to rise up and find the courage and hope to change, so the curse can no longer control their lives.

I really enjoyed reading Heart's Blood. As I got further along, I could not put this novel down! I was eager to read on and continue Caitrin and Anluan's journey! Ms. Marillier writes beautifully and paints some rich images. It is a tale of courage, hope, forgivness, patience and faith. I loved watching the characters grow and mature! Although I would not say the plot is extrodinary or very unique, it is a well written tale that is worth reading!

Nothing by Robin Friedman

Nothing by Robin Friedman

Release Date: August 1, 2008
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 232

Parker has been the perfect student his whole life--straight "A's" since first grade, a resume full of community service, leadership positions in clubs, and a plethora of extracurricular activities. He's always felt the pressure to be "perfect" and to get into HYP (Harvard, Yale, and Princeton) from his father, who attended Princeton himself. Yet, despite his seemingly perfect image, Parker does not feel so perfect on the inside. He wonders how much of what he is doing actually holds any meaning for him, and eventually realizes that most of what he does is solely for his college application.

With the constant need and pressure to be absolutely perfect and doubts about who he really is beginning to surface, Parker's confidence begins to slip. He begins to see himself as 'fat' despite his thin physique (thanks in part to being on the track team) and begins to binge, then purge to comfort himself. Whenever he becomes disgusted or disappointed with himself, Parker gourges on junk food then immediately purges so he can feel thin. Hiding his shame, purging and insecurity behind mouthwash and breath mints, Parker thinks he can still hold onto his faultless image without anyone discovering his secret.

However, as time passes, he begins to lose weight, and his confidence also drains away. But with his family wanting to remain picture-perfect and with the crushing pressure around him, Parker feels trapped and does not know who to turn to. And if no one takes action soon, Parker may just waste away completely...

It was interesting to read about bulimia from a guys point of view. Although Nothing was interesting, it eventually got repetitive and the descriptions and sentences seemed extremely similar to previous, similar parts. The progression of the novel was still good and the switching viewpoints provided a nice look from the inside and outside perspective. The ending seemed a bit too perfect and easy for me, but I'm not unhappy it ended that way. I know I'm being rather vague, but I don't want to give too much away.