The Starry-Eyed Revue is Turning 3!!! - Day 1 Celebration & Giveaway

As of this Friday, The Starry-Eyed Revue will be three years old. This blog is my baby and I take a lot of pride in it, and even though things haven't always run as smoothly as I'd hoped, it's still been a ton of fun. I've met a lot of great people, readers and other bloggers alike, and I can't imagine not sharing the reading experience with all of you. I'm not going to name any names because I'll inevitably forget someone and feel terrible about it, but you know who you are and how much your friendship means to me.

I could be all fancy and make charts and graphs depicting how the years have been to me like I did for my 2013 Year in Review post, but I'd prefer to save that for the end of the year and focus on the books I read, not pageviews and other stats. I'm honestly just happy that there's anyone else out there who wants to read my thoughts and rambles. =)

And I feel ever so lucky to have a friend like April to share this blog with now. We all lament from time-to-time how much work running a blog is, especially with everything that entails and trying to have a life outside of the blog, but having someone to share your blog with is the best. No joke. I never thought I'd be able to share my blog with anyone -- I'm usually too controlling and stubborn to let go of the reigns -- but April has been a godsend. Now I can't imagine doing this without her.

And so to celebrate the last three years, the changes the blog has undergone over the last few months, and what's to come, we have a week filled to the brim with giveaways for you. We hope you've been good little readers and have been paying attention! ;0) [Since I'm seeing some wrong answers, I'm guessing not all the little blogglings have been reading closely, so here's a hint: eat gelato first.]

We're THREE (yay!!!) and here's what we're giving away to celebrate today:

Rules:

• This giveaway is US only. Sorry, international readers, but we'll have a giveaway for you later in the week, promise. :)
• One entry per household. 
• Entries will be verified. Any entry found to be falsified will result in disqualification of all entries for that participant. 
• Winner will be notified via email. Winner will then have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected. Please check your SPAM folder!!! 
• We are not responsible for lost packages. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you all for sticking with us and for stopping by to celebrate this milestone with us! We wouldn't have made it this long without you all!

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Labels: blogiversary, giveaways

{AudioBook} Review: The Well's End by Seth Fishman

Title: The Well's End
Author: Seth Fishman
Narrator: Katie Schorr
Series: The Well's End #1
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Publication Date: February 25th, 2014
Source: received for review via Audiobook Jukebox
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

A deadly virus and an impossible discovery unite in one enthralling can’t-miss read...

Sixteen-year-old Mia Kish has always been afraid of the dark. After all, she’s baby Mia, the one who fell down a well. That was years ago, though the darkness still haunts her. But when her classmates and teachers at ritzy Westbrook Academy start dying of old age from a bizarre and frightening virus that ages its victims years in a matter of hours, Mia becomes haunted by a lot more than the dark. Their deaths are gruesome and Mia worries she and her friends may be next. In order to survive, Mia and her small crew must break quarantine and outrun armed soldiers in hazmat suits who shoot first and ask questions later.

And there’s only one place to go—the Cave, aka Fenton Electronics. Mia knows it’s somehow connected and hopes her dad, Director of Fenton Electronics, who has always been strangely secretive about his work, has the answers she needs, and more importantly a cure to save everyone before the whole town succumbs to the mysterious virus. Unfortunately, it’s not answers Mia discovers, but something far more treacherous and impossible than even the virus itself.

A high-stakes, fast-paced adventure with imagination and heart.

I heard about The Wells End through April @ Good Books & Good Wine. Everything about her review told me I would love it and I was right to trust that feeling. This book was pretty freaking awesome. A while ago, Jen told me about a site, Audiobook Jukebox, where you can request Audio books to review. Scrolling through I so The Wells End and remembering Aprils review, I quick requested it. A little risky since I’m new to the Audio scene, but it was a good call. First I’ll mention that the Narrator is perfect. I love her voice, she fit Mia perfectly, and I was sucked in immediately.

Ahhhh the story, let’s talk about the story guys!! It’s so much more than it seems to be! The thing that initially grabbed my attention in the description was the virus. I love that kind of stuff. Crazy spreading virus’s, count me in. A virus breaks out at Mia’s ritzy school. Not just any virus, but this virus is aging the teachers super quickly and killing them.

The whole school has been quarantined, so Mia and her friends are stuck unless they break out. They all have reason to believe there is something more to this virus, and Mia’s father may have the answers, but first they have to get to the cave alive.

The Wells End is full of action. It’s really the first audio book I’ve listened to of this nature, and it was great. I was making up excuses to do mundane things, just so I had more time to listen. I even listened a little last week while I was sick as a dog. Laid out on the couch with my phone by my head. It was serious stuff.

The only lacking thing is the romance, which April @ GB&GW mentions in her review. I have to agree with her on that, so I knew going in to The Wells End, that the swoons would be weak. It’s all good though, because there is a deadly virus running rampant, and they are being chased by soldiers in hazmat suits. I’d be concerned and annoyed if there was tons of kissy face stuff going on, ya know?

I don’t want to get into too much detail for fear of ruining it for everyone, but holy shit balls, there really is more to that virus, and the cave!?! Don’t even get me started on that. I’m still fascinated. The ending leads into the next book perfectly. While it’s a bit of a cliff hanger, it’s a perfect cliff hanger. Not one that pissed me off, but just has me dying for more. My head might explode with the mere thought of how wonderful it will be to finally get that book in my hands.

About the author:

Seth Fishman (me) was born and raised in Midland, Texas (think Friday Night Lights) and received his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England (think cold and rainy and millions of castles). His YA thriller, The Well's End, is the first in a series and the protagonist, Mia Kish, is roughly inspired by a hometown drama that (when I was young) really blew him away: (http://articles.latimes.com.).

When not writing, Seth is a literary agent at The Gernert Company (www.thegernertco.com), and thinks writing and agenting are the two very best jobs in the world. Thanks for checking in!

Find Seth:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Labels: audiobooks, post-apocalyptic, reviews, sci-fi, seth fishman, the well's end

Stacking The Shelves #14

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a way to share with everyone all the goodies you've received through out the week. 

Just click the covers to be taken to their goodreads pages. 

Purchased

I love Jenny Han. Her Summer series is the shit!! Jess and I decided we wanted to buddy read this one together so I got it this week and we started the other day. It's really cute so far! Now I haven't read My Life Next Door yet, and I think What I Thought Was True is some sort of follow up, possibly you can read them out of order, but anyway, I talked Jess into doing a back to back buddy read with those two, so maybe they will be next! :)

Gifted

Thank you so much to April over at Good Books and Good Wine! She recently read the first book, Suddenly Royal and she wasn't in love with it, so she asked me if I would like her copy of Recklessly Royal since she knows I liked book one. That was super sweet of her. <3


That's its! No books for review and no freebies!! I hope you all had a great week! Mine was pretty awesome. Still riding on a high from YA Fest last week. Check out my wrap up post if you haven't yet! I'm giving away a couple signed books! YA Fest Wrap Up. Plus you will want to meet Cardboard Jen, trust me.. She's a pisser!

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Labels: stacking the shelves

The Weekend Update - 4.26.14

So, since my end-of-the-week post isn't just about what I got in my mailbox or on my Kindle each week -- though that is a big part of it, I won't lie -- I decided to change up the title and intro a bit.  I might tweak the format a bit over the next few weeks, but for the most part, it'll contain the same stuff:  stuff I got, stuff I did, and stuff that's coming up on the blog.  Plus, I get to use the awesome GIF you see here and blow kisses to all the people who sent me lovely books and bookish things.  Oh, and I've started linking up to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews since I'm not using a specific meme title anymore.  April's also doing her own Stacking the Shelves posts on Sundays.  Stop by and say hi!  =)

You guys, Katie and I had the best time handing out books for World Book Night on Wednesday. I was nervous because I'm kind of shy, but it helped having Katie there. Plus, the fact that people always love free stuff -- even books -- made the entire venture pretty effortless. :D Here are some pics of us getting the books all ready:

Also, April and I have been busy preparing for our 3rd blogoversary this next week, so we haven't spent much time visiting you guys. We're sorry, but after this week, things should go back to normal. Well, at least for me. April will be on a cruise so she won't be replying to comments or visiting until the middle of the month. #reallyexcitedforher #butstillkindajealous

Anyway, here's what I scored this week:

1. Awesomely adorable Wish You Were Italian swag from Kristin Rae, including a magnet from Darren, which you'll understand the significance of once you read the book. =)
2. Some of the books April had signed for me at YA Fest - just to get a glimpse of how awesome the authors are. ;0)
3. The full stack April had signed for me at YA Fest
4. Ann Aguirre's newest book Mortal Danger, which I may or may not be salivating over as you read this.

For Review:

Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore - received a 2nd copy so expect a giveaway soon! :D
Mary: The Summoning by Hillary Monahan - IDK why I think this is a good idea seeing as how just the mere mention of Bloody Mary freaks me out, but we'll see.
Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre - AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! *flails* *flails some more*

Thanks Disney-Hyperion & Macmillan!!!

Purchased:

My Not So Super Sweet Life by Rachel Harris - Kindle deal - haven't read the 2nd book in the series yet but I just couldn't pass up this deal!

Library:

That Summer by Sarah Dessen (audio) - April made me jealous w/ all her Sarah Dessen listens, so I had to pick up one for myself (mini-review here)
Blood Red Road by Moira Young (audio) - re-listen in preparation for Raging Star next month
Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkings (audio)
The Selection by Kiera Cass (audio) - curiosity finally got the better of me :(
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski (audio) - okay, I know I just read this one, but I've heard the audio is amazing & even though I'm not a fan of this narrator usually, I wanted to give it a try as a refresher since I'm on the TWC Street Team & will be promoting the book all next week

Won:

Blythewood by Carol Goodman - ARC won from the awesome ladies over at Nawanda Files during one of their Freebie Friday giveaways - I already listened to this one awhile back and loved it, so it'll be nice to have this hard copy to revisit closer to December when the sequel releases

So, that's my haul. How about you? What did you get this week?

The Week in Review:

Reviews:

• Royally Lost (April)
• Fool Me Twice (Jen)
• Wish You Were Italian (Jen)
• After the End (April)
• Death Sworn - audio (Jen)

Current Giveaways:  April's giving away a signed book or two from YA Fest 2014 -- just comment on this post to enter. Also, check back soon for more giveaways, including our 3 Year Blogoversary, featuring a week of giveaways!



Promotional/Discussion Posts:  Our Bookish BFFs, YA Fest Wrap-up, SYNC Summer 2014

Jen's Currently Reading/Listening To:

Eeek, April got my copy signed and back to me just in time to read it before the book's release next month. So excited to return to this world of gargoyles, demons, and angels. And it doesn't hurt that there are some upstanding and entirely swoon-worthy young men involved. =D

Just finished my re-listen of Blood Red Road, and as much as I loved the story before, I love it that much more thanks to the awesome narration of Heather Lind. Seriously, it is perfection, and even though I hadn't planned to immediately start Rebel Heart, I couldn't help myself. Especially knowing what comes next for Saba. o_O I'll be ready for Raging Star soon enough!

Upcoming Reviews:

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Labels: in my mailbox (imm), stacking the shelves, the weekend update