Something Out of the Ordinary...

One of the books I recently received for review

caught my teenage sons' eye,

so he asked if he could read and review it for a homeschool assignment.

Of course I was absolutely tickled to death that

he was taking an interest in reading, so the answer was a resounding YES!!

I know this is mostly a "chick" place,

but most of us "chicks" have kids that might not be chicks,

SO- I thought it might be fun to do thing a little different today.

Never fear though,

at the end of this review there's another one that's a little more "chickie"

So Heeeeeere's Britain:

City of Thieves David Benioff
Review by: Britain Castellano
This book follows the story of Lev Benioff, a 17 year old boy who is caught looting and put into the same cell as a deserter named Kolya during the Nazi siege of Leningrad. Both thought they were going to be executed, but instead they are given a chance at saving their lives by completing an odd mission: find a dozen eggs for a powerful Soviet colonel to use in his daughter’s wedding cake.
This book is very dramatic and adventurous. David Benioff does a better job in transitioning in this book than in any other book I have ever read(I’m almost 14 but I have read plenty of books!). This is obviously an adult book, but I think I like adult books better than “young adult” books after reading this. The book is very savage, brutal, and funny! David Benioff, like I stated earlier, is very good at instantly changing the mood of the story.
The only complaint I have is that the book was not longer! I just kept wanting to read on but eventually it ended, like all good things do. I loved the fact that every character had a distinct and constant personality. In this way, the author excels even farther. Especially how he shows Lev(the main character) gradually changing thoughts and acting differently like a real person would, instead of suddenly making a dramatic emotion/personality change the way a lot of young adult characters do.
David Benioff captures the heart and emotions of his readers. The entire story, I felt like every person, place, and thing mattered, I CARED about the characters. Also, in many parts of the story, I broke out in laughter at the funny jokes present.
From sadness to savagery to humor, David Benioff has produced a gripping and thrilling masterpiece! Hats off to you mister Benioff and thank you for providing me with many hours of pure enjoyment.

Thanks to Alexandra Ramstrom at Penguin Group for this book.

Parents, there are swear words and I would say a moderate amount of violence in this book, but no more so than anything they see on basic cable or xbox 360 today. Plus it's an actual BOOK!!!

I will be sharing our review copy with one lucky commenter to this post


To enter please leave a comment with your thoughts on Britain's review of the book, I want you to give him a grade!! AND don't forget your email address, I can't count your entry without it!!
Britain will chose a winner on Monday April 27th!

About a week after this blog launched

I received an email from Mandy Blake of

Reading Comfort

This woman has come up with some fabulous ideas!

The Book Buddy is the cutest ever

little lap pillow, that I never knew I needed.

The BB comes with a removable acrylic desktop that you can use for your laptop, (no more setting your lap on fire) but here's one of the other cool things...my kids have discovered it also makes a great lap desk for their snacks in front of the TV, or while working on their school work. (we homeschool) The adjustable straps hold the acrylic in place so your work doesn't slide all over the place.

The second set of straps are great for holding your book in place while you're reading and these are also adjustable. We've been fighting over mine since it arrived about a week ago. The quality is amazing, I'm no expert but it seems to be manufactured from a similiar weight to upholstery fabric, very thick and durable, which keeps the weight of the acrylic and laptop from making it "sink".

Mandy has tons of other great products available over at reading comfort, great gift ideas for every book lover you know, and for yourself.

For CHIC BOOK CHICK readers Mandy is Offering a FREE GIFT with every BOOK BUDDY ORDER. After placing your order, click on the lower left icon titled "WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK" and mention your order and that you came over from Chic Book Chick!! Thanks Mandy!!

There is still time to enter the following Giveaways

You Buy The Peanut Butter, I'll get the Bread Kirsten Poe Hill and Renee Warren

Mr. Perfect Linda Howard

Passion Unleashed Larissa Ione

READ On CHICKS!!

SELF HELP SUNDAY!!!

You Bring The Peanut Butter,

I'll Get the Bread......

Best Friends in Business

Kirsten Poe Hill & Renee E Warren

Maybe you're like me, and you have constant delusions of granduer, when you're letting your mind wander and you find yourself developing your own business in your head, (my delusions are so big, I even write them down sometimes). I have this crazy dream that someday I will be able to make money doing what I love.

These two gutsy women did exactly that. They share their story with us, not only their aspirations, but also with a true "how to" look at how they made it happen. I love how honest they are about their mistakes and pitfalls as well as their successes and what it took for them to come out successful, in a world and a time where few businesses do. I also liked that these women took what could have been a very dry, dull "how to" business book and turned it into an informative, fun and often inspiring story by adding their personal experiences to the mix.

The authors Kirsten Poe Hill and Renee E Warren are the cofounders of Noelle-Elaine Media Inc. a New York City based even management, media relations, and production firm with many notable corporate, nonprofit and celebrity clients.

Thank you to Alexandra Ramstrum with Hudson Street Press & Plume for this book.

I am willing to share my Review copy with one lucky CHICK!

To Enter please

1. Leave a comment with your email in it

For extra entries:

2. Follow Me/or already a follower please leave another comment saying so

3. Please blog about this contest and come back here and comment about it

Winner will be randomly chosen April 26

Open to all

Thanks so much!!

Winners of Last Sundays Giveaway

Living Beauty by Bobbi Brown are

BINGO

CAROLYN

BETH

JANA

JAYME

CHICKS, you will be receiving an email from me

You need to respond with your address within 48 hours

OR

I pick new chicks!!

We are 52 and growing in the

Chic Book Chick

Group at Goodreads.com

The group is open to all you don't have

to wait for an invitation!!

I've got a giveaway going on over there too

Come and join us!!

Take care and

Read On Chicks!!

FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!

Hey There My CHICKS!!!


Ready for a little FUN!!


Stakes and Stilettos
Michelle Rowen






I love how a fresh look at vampires
can make them all fun again!
Michelle Rowen's vampires don't
go around trying to bite everyone, or kill people. They don't control minds, have super human strength, or turn into bats.
They mostly drink their blood from a keg...beer style. They breathe, have beating hearts, and can walk around in sunlight. In fact, they're almost human...almost...except for immortality and pesky liquid diets.

Sarah Dearly is a newly turned vamp who is trying to get used to her new life, but the universe is working against her. In a matter of a week she loses her job, gets staked, gets cursed by a witch to be a nightwalker, And to top things off she's having trouble talking her boyfriend's wife into letting him go so that they can be together.


This is actually the 4th book in the Immortality Bites series, #5 is due out August 25 of this year, so you have plenty of time to catch up. I really enjoyed this fresh look at vampires.


Michele Rowen's characters are funny, witty, and people I would want to hang out with. I thought I had pretty much read everything that could be written about vampires, I'm pleasantly surprised and pleased to say that I haven't.

The Winners of the 5 Copies ARE:

Danie

Tetewa

Holly

Nicole

Violet

Ladies, you'll be recieving an email from me

Please respond with your address within 48 hours or

I pick new CHICKS!

Today's Giveaway is

My copy of the following three books

(so they are gently read by me)

of

All of Me by Lori Wilde

Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione

Stakes and Stilettos by Michele Rowen

I will pick 3 winners to be announced next Friday, April 24th!

All you need to do for this one is leave a comment

BUT, please put your email in your comment or it won't count

Random Blinkie winner this week is:

LUVLEE STAMPER!!

send me your address for a suprise Chickadee!!

grab my chick and put it on your sidebar

(with a link)

link me back for a chance at

a random act of reading happiness!!

(have questions email me castellanoamy@yahoo.com)We are growing like crazy over at Goodreads.com

lots of fun conversation and chickiness

49 members and counting in the Chic Book Chick Group!!
Come and join us!!!!

See my sidebar for more places to win free books!

Scroll down for my other giveaways!!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of your support!!

Don't forget to come by for SELF HELP SUNDAY!!!

Is it Hot in here, or is it this book I'm reading....?

Passion Unleashed Larissa Ione

It's definitely the book...Serena Kelly is one of a select few, a charmed human. Keeper of a treasure so great no one except the angels even know what exactly it is or can be used for. Serena only knows that it's keeping her alive, having been been bitten by a Mara Demon when she was only six, losing the charm or her viginity also means losing her life. The charm protects her from anything or anyone that would mean her harm, but who is going to protect her from herself?

Wraith is a Seminus Demon, an incubus, out to populate the world with more demons, and kill whatever gets in his way...because that's what demons do. The one good thing in his life is "Underworld General" the hospital for supernatural beings he started with his brothers, building it using their combined life forces.

Until fate puts Serena in his path. When Wraith is poisoned by an asassain, the only cure is the charm protecting Serena and in order for Wraith to live, Serena will have to die.

I should maybe interject here...as the cover suggests..(and where can I get one of him, btw) this book is hot...yowza! But, the story doesn't depend on the sex to keep it interesting, there's a great plot here as well and the writer does an excellent job balancing the two with a lot of action.

This is book #3 in the Demonica series, and as my ever growing TBR pile turns into Mt Everest, the other two are definitely on my list as they are the stories of Wraith's brothers, Shade and Eidolon who are already hitched in Passion Unleashed. I'm thinking there will probably be more.

The first two titles are:

If you enjoy paranormal romance I know you'll like this. Fans of Gena Showalter I'm positive you will really enjoy it.

I've got 5 copies to give away!!

1. Leave a Comment +1

2. Follow Me +1 already a follower +2

3. Post this contest on your blog (can be on your sidebar or a post) +3

PLEASE put your email in your comments

us and canada only please no Po Boxes, thanks to Ana at Hatchette for these books!

Winners will be announced on April 22nd!

The Winners of the 5 copies of ALL OF ME by Lori Wilde are

Nicole

MJ

HeatherM

NotNessie

Scottsgal

CONGRATS LADIES!

Please email your address to

castellanoamy@yahoo.com

with "WINNER" in the subject line within 48 hours

or I'll have to pick another chick!!

Our Goodreads group is growing

we're at 44 members now

Way to Rock IT!

If you'd like to join just go to

Goodreads.com

and join

the Group

"Chic Book Chick"

THANKS for Stopping by and

READ ON CHICKS!!

Daring Time Contest

Click here to enter the Daring Time Contest!

Romance...with some murder on top and a side of espionage

Happy

Tuesday

Chicks!!

If you like your romance to have some murder, suspense, and sometimes even a little espionage on the side I suggest you give Linda Howard a try.

(I've read pretty much everything she's ever written,unless there's a title out there I somehow missed due to unavailability)

My favorite by Linda Howard is probably Mr. Perfect.

Jaine Bright is another one of those heroines that I just couldn't get enough of. She's a smartass with quick wit and an honesty with herself that I so admire. (Ahem..do you see a trend with me loving smart ass heroines?...) The back drop of this book has a grisly murderer on the loose stalking Jaine and her friends after they get together one Friday night after work and as a joke put together a list of attributes that their "Mr. Perfect" would posess. But, Jaine's character is so strong and the heat between her and Sam (the hero) is so...well...hot... that it's sometimes hard to remember that.

This book was published in June 2001, the only thing that dates it is a conversation about midway through about 3 of the women not having cell phones. It's pretty widely available at local libraries, paperback swap, and amazon.

Some other books to check out by Linda Howard are:

There are lots more really good ones, these are just some of my favorites

I've got a gently used copy of Mr Perfect up for grabs!

1. leave me a comment = 1 entry

2. become a follower = 1 entry already a follower =2

3. Put my linky on your sidebar = 3 entries and also enables you to get other chances for random acts of reading

Winner will be announced next Tuesday, April 21

Here's the Linky

The Winner of Jennifer Crusie's

Faking It

is

Drey

Drey please email me your address and put "winner" in the subject line and I will get this out to you!

Join us as Goodreads.com

just chicks talking about books

no stress and no deadlines

but lots of fun!!

Group Name

"Chic Book Chick"

Come back tomorrow for another review, giveaway, and winners announced for

All of Me by Lori Wilde

What Happens In Vegas... After Dark

HEY CHICKS!!!
Scroll down for more Giveaways and Review
I just wanted to share this contest with you!