Candy Box Confession: NEGATIVE REVIEWS

I was chatting with my Capri-Sun loving, Cajun friend Kim a few weeks ago and we got to talking about a series of books she loves that pretty much everyone else in my universe does NOT love.  I haven’t picked up these particular books because of the negative things I’ve heard about them and honestly, I probably never will. There are just too many great books waiting on my TBR pile.  She was surprised by my confession and I was surprised by her surprise.  Then my cat was surprised by my surprise by her surprise.  And we all walked around like this:   :O   *shakes head at self*  Anyway…

All of this surprise nonsense got me to thinking.  We take POSITIVE book recommendations seriously, but do we take negative reviews seriously? Or do we have to read a book ourselves and find out if it really is bad?  I fall into the camp of taking negative reviews seriously.  Well, wait.  Let me rephrase.  I take negative reviews from legitimate sources seriously.  Those people who post negative reviews on virtually every book they review on Goodreads?   Yeah, I ignore them.  But if my book besties say a book is bad, I’m probably not going to read it. 

On the other hand, maybe I AM missing out on some great reads because I’m listening to those who didn’t like a particular book.   Sometimes a book just doesn’t fit our current mood and sours our taste for it.  And now I’m paying for their crappy day by missing out on the greatest book of the year.  Great.

So, what are your thoughts?  Do you take negative reviews from legitimate sources to heart and skip the book or read it anyway? Do you treat positive reviews the same way?  Confess to us.

Winner, Winner, Chocolate Dipped Dinner!

We are so excited to announce our winners from our 500 Followers Giveaway! We had so much fun reading through your favorite crushes and squealing over the pictures we received. I think we're going to put together a little visual aid with said pictures to express our thanks to each and everyone of you who has spent even a minute with us.  WE LOVE YOU ALL!


The winner of LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins (to represent the sweet side of Fictitious Delicious) is...

Sarah Bibi Setar

The winner of the hardcover edition of DARK LOVER by J.R. Ward (to represent the crude side of Fictitious Delicious) is...

Melissa @ just one opinion

The winner of a pre-ordered copy of SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi (to prove that it's okay for your fictional crush to be a hero OR a villian) is...

Anne

Congratulations to Sarah, Melissa and Anne! We've sent you each an e-mail, please respond within 48 hours!

Thanks again to everyone who participated in this giveaway. We wish we could give each and everyone of you a lollipop!  Instead, we offer our warm appreciation.

Happy Reading!

Book Review: HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER by Lish McBride

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

by Lish McBride

Release Date: October 12, 2010
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library

Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.

Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.

With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?

Fictitious Delicious Rating: 5+

This book was so stinkin’ FANTASTIC I hardly know where to begin. First of all, can you see the potential just by the title? There is NO coincidence that this book title is awfully similar to the Elton John song. In fact, the pairing of cheesiness and horror is prevalent throughout NECROMANCER, and is definitely the trademark of this book.

NECROMANCER is equal parts hilarious and disturbing, but all around AWESOME. I was so disturbed by some of the events and descriptions and comments in this book that I almost peed my pant laughing. I don’t think I can say it any better than the brilliant Sherman Alexie did in his blurb:


“This is a SCARY funny book OR a FUNNY scary book. In either case, it is a great book. I LOVE IT.”



Nail on the head.

However, while reading HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER, I recommend the following warnings:

1. Do not read this book if you have a weak stomach.
2. Do not read this book if you have a weak sense of humor.
3. Do not read this book while pretending to do something else, because it will be obvious that you are doing nothing BUT reading this book.

Again, HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER is most likely not a book for everyone, but it was definitely a book for me. If you’ve read the synopsis and are intrigued, I promise you that this book is everything you hope it will be.

Book Review: THE IRON KNIGHT by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight (The Iron Fey #4)

by Julie Kagawa

Release Date: October 25, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Format: Galley eBook

Source: Netgalley and Harlequin Teen (Thank you!)

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

Fictitious Delicious Rating: 5

Just ONE week till the Winter Prince, or "His Royal Iciness", gets to tell us HIS story! The long awaited 4th book in Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series is almost here!!

IRON KNIGHT had everything I love in a book: action, conflict, romance, humor, fantasy/paranormal and more. It was definitely my favorite book in the series! Ash came alive for me, and his struggles and sacrifices were so poignant and heartfelt… it is a beautiful, moving, and intense story.

The plot twists in the IRON KNIGHT were perfect and completely unexpected, and the conflicts were very intense. But Ash's story is also very relatable. Ash deals with emotional and psychological trials in this story, not just physical ones. And the decisions he has to make are deep and permanent. Something about these experiences made Ash become even more real to me.


As with the other books in the series, Ash's story involves a journey.  Only this time, Julie takes us into a part of the Nevernever that not even Ash and Puck have seen before.  Julie writes about this unknown territory with imagery that was so clear it was like a movie in my mind.  Julie always writes fantastic imagery, but this new side of Faery even creeped Ash out, which proves just how intriguing, frightening, and intense this story is.

Long-time fans of the series should be warned, however, that this story resolves pretty much all the issues raised in the series and provides closure and resolution for Ash.  This means the story contains some really harsh stuff and some really difficult decisions. However, for me, these conflicts made the story that much more powerful, and the ending that much better.  I will not tell you how it ends, only that I was definitely left satisfied and felt a complete conclusion. (fangirl translation: I LOVED IT!!!)


THE IRON KNIGHT is a fabulous finale to a fabulous series, and my personal favorite of all four books!



Though...now Puck needs an HEA.   Hey, Julie! You taking volunteers?

TGIF {4}

TGIF is a weekly feature hosted by GReads! to re-cap the week's posts & to propose a question for followers.

This week's question: Show & Tell: Where do you grab a book and get lost in it? Show us your favorite spot you like to read. 

Well, since I have approximately 10 piles of clothes on my bed that I'm trying to organize for our trip to Orlando tomorrow, I will refrain from snapping a shot of my most favoritest spot to read. (Picture the most comfortable bed in the world with two fluffy pillows and one of those fancy reading pillows with a high back and arms. Then add a cat)  


Instead, I'm sharing my second favorite spot.  Our living room.  I'm easily distracted while reading here, so I snuggle up with a book here only if it's quiet time in the St. Rand household. 

So, how about you?  Tell us YOUR favorite spot to get lost in a book.

Here's what happened on the blog this week:

• Amy reviewed ULTRAVIOLET by R.J. Anderson

• Jen reviewed THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie

• We got some really great entries in our 500 Followers Giveaway.  If you're reading this on Friday, it's not too late to enter--Check it out!

Book Review: THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie 

Release Date:  September 12, 2007

Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Format: Audio Book

Source: Library

Get it:  Anderson's Bookshops, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and don’t forget your local library!

Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with the poignant drawings that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live. (Summary from Goodreads)

Fictitious Delicious Rating: 5+

We all love falling in love with a book and I find that feeling intensifies when you fall head over heels with a book that you weren’t even sure you’d LIKE.  The latest book to receive the highly coveted 5+ cotton candy rating on the blog is, THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART TIME INDIAN.

Let me start off by saying this: READ THIS BOOK! 

My interest in this story was piqued when I learned it was a banned book. The Stockton, MO School District banned this book because of violence, language and some sexual content (Source: Books Challenged or Bannedin 2010-2011 by Robert P Doyle).  I’d like to give a big shout out to them for bringing this book to my attention.  Holla, Stockton!

This book does indeed contain violence, language and some (self loving) sexual content.  It’s all part of the sometimes tragic, sometimes hopeful story behind the life of one Arnold Spirit, Jr.  

Our hero leaves the discomfort of his school on the Spokane reservation in the hope of finding the tools he needs for a better future in the all-white school in Reardan, WA. Watching Junior reconcile the part of his life that now lives in a well-to-do white community with the with side of his life that still resides in the dysfunctional life he has always known on the reservation will break your heart and produce belly laughs. Sometimes at the same time.  The relationship between Junior and his best friend, Rowdy, is one that will make your heart cringe and soar. Sometimes at the same time. I think you get the idea. Sherman Alexie knows how to tell a great story. One that you’ll think back to often.

I listened to this book on audio book and would highly recommend it.  Alexie reads it himself!  I really think that is part of the reason I had such a great time experiencing this story. I just learned that the physical copy of the book has illustrations and I’ll be looking for it the next time I’m out and about. I’m excited to see how pictures will enhance the story.

Let me finish by saying this: READ THIS BOOK!  You’ll be glad you did.

Book Review: ULTRAVIOLET by R.J. Anderson

Ultraviolet 

by R.J. Anderson 

Released: June 2, 2011
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library

Once upon a time there was a girl who was special. This is not her story. Unless you count the part where I killed her.

Sixteen-year-old Alison wakes up in a mental institution. As she pieces her memory back together, she realizes she’s confessed to murdering Tori Beaugrand, the most perfect girl at school. But the case is a mystery. Tori's body has not been found, and Alison can't explain what happened. One minute she was fighting with Tori. The next moment Tori disintegrated—into nothing.

But that's impossible. No one is capable of making someone vanish. Right? Alison must be losing her mind—like her mother always feared she would.

For years Alison has tried to keep her weird sensory abilities a secret. No one ever understood—until a mysterious visiting scientist takes an interest in Alison's case. Suddenly, Alison discovers that the world is wrong about her—and that she’s capable of far more than anyone else would believe. (from Goodreads)

Fictitious Delicious Rating: 4.5 

There seems to be a trend in some recent books I’ve read. A trend where the book starts out on one path, and in the end, does an almost complete 180. ULTRAVIOLET is one of these books, and in this case, R.J. Anderson does it very well! 

Readers don’t really know what this book is about and experience things only as Alison does. Her memory lapse and strange “abilities” make the story unnervingly mysterious. Does she really need to be in an institution? What is going on with all her sensitive senses? And what DID happen that day in the parking lot? 

But although Alison believes she is dangerous, readers get a clearer and clearer picture of her as the story movies forward. She inspired so much empathy in me that I was rooting for her to survive and discover the truth about the strange things she almost remembers.

ULTRAVIOLET is a really fascinating mix of mental disorders and science fiction, and the result is a unique, refreshing read with an unpredictable ending. You readers looking for a non-series sci-fi/paranormal romance/mystery would really enjoy this one-of-a-kind story.  Definitely pick up this book!

TGIF {3}

TGIF is a weekly feature hosted by GReads! to re-cap the week's posts & to propose a question for followers.

This week's question: To-Be-Read's: How big is your pile? Which book keeps getting pushed down the stack, but you keep meaning to read it?


Oh, man, this is a good one! Right now, my TBR list on Goodreads contains 83 titles. I try really hard to keep this to a manageable number. I go through it about once a month to change the order and delete some titles. It's the librarian in me, I guess. 

Jen, on the other hand, has like a million books on her TBR. I mean, that girl reads fast, but not THAT fast. ;) And usually she is the one with OCD tendencies.

There is that ONE book that is in constant flux on my TBR list, the one I am constantly getting from and returning to the library: HUNGER by Michael Grant. 

 I LOVED the first installment, GONE. It was so apocalyptic, so X-Men, so Lord of the Flies! But it was also extremely daunting. These are not short books, and they are not relaxing books, and when it comes right down to it, I think I'm scared to continue this series! It was frightening! And apparently, the problems only get worse. (Subsequent titles are LIES and PLAGUE. Yeah. You get my point.)

But I tell you, having a SUPER LONG TBR list is quite possibly the best problem anyone could ever have. <3



And now for this week's recap:

• The WVMP Radio Series Read-Along began in full swing last weekend! Come hang with us and chat about the series! (Warning: Immaturity and Swooning Abound. Chat at your own risk.)
• Jen reviewed the wittiest zombie book ever, BAD TASTE IN BOYS by Carrie Harris.
• On Wednesday, we pondered our long Wait for CLOCKWORK PRINCE by Cassandra Clare.
• The Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop ended, congrats to our winner, Rie Conley!
• AND OUR MOST EXCITING NEWS! We hit 500 followers! We still can't believe it, but if you can, please enter our giveaway! And you know with us, there is a ton of fun involved!

Happy Friday, and Happy Reading!

500 Followers: A Delicious Giveaway (with Fictitious Boys)

Just about six months ago, two girls decided to take the plunge into the world of book blogging.  They worried that no one would get their silly senses of humor and wondered if they’d even have enough material to blog about.  Then they moved onto the territory of fear.  What if no one stopped by to read their purposefully short book reviews and other posts about book awesomeness?  They decided that it didn’t matter and Fictitious Delicious was born.

The two girls who worried, feared and did it anyway.

Then, last week Fictitious Delicious hit 500 followers. 500!! That is unbelievable. Our hearts are full from the outpouring of love we've received from everyone. As a small token of our appreciation for each and every one of you we're giving away some of our favorite books.  

A Delicious Giveaway (with Fictitious Boys)

WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS: Amy, the sweet side of FD, is giving away a copy of LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins.  Jen, the crude side of FD, is giving away a hard cover copy of DARK LOVER by J.R. Ward.   You can enter to win one or both.  PLUS THERE’S A BONUS BOOK GIVEAWAY.  More on that in just a few shakes.

HOW DO YOU WIN:  Fill out the form at the bottom of this post.  Now, because this is a giveaway to celebrate you, our loyal followers, we are opening up this giveaway to followers only. If you follow us on GFC, Twitter or Facebook you qualify!  

International entries welcome.

To calculate the appropriate giveaway period we took the number of GFC followers (536) divided by the number of blog posts (126) and got an answer of 4.25.  We then took that number and multiplied it by the number of months since the blog started (5.5) and divided THAT number by the number of prizes available during this giveaway (3). Then we rounded up to make things easy.  Giveaway is open for 8 days.  Form will close at 11:59PM CST on October 14.

BONUS BOOK: You know how much we love our fictional characters right? Well, to celebrate swoon worthy heroes of the good and bad variety, we’re going to pre-order one lucky person a copy of SHATTER ME by Tahareh Mafi! (Sizzling hot hero AND villain)

Here’s what you gotta do to win the bonus: Tweet us a picture of one of our favorite fictional guys with a silly hashtag (@FictishDelish). Then leave a link to your tweet in the comments of this post. Multiple entries are encouraged. Just leave a comment with your link(s) to be sure we don't miss it! Here are some of our favorite crushes to help you decide what to send us:

Amy loves RICHARD ARMITAGE. The end. Well, not really. She also loves Dimitri, Cricket, Puck, Hale, R, Brigan, Archer, Tucker, Zachary, St. Clair, Morelli, Eric, Peeta, Jackson Rathbone, Mr. Darcy, etc. But mostly she loves guys in tight skinny jeans. FYI--Hairy armpits gross her out.

Jen loves Zachary, Butch, Noah, Adrian, Jericho, Shane, Adam, St. Clair, Conrad, Jeremiah, Cole, Logan, Mr. Rochester, Jace, Edward, Ren, Nash, Neville, Four, Cassel, MATT BELLAMY. Basically great guys that sometimes do bad things. (Except Neville. He didn’t do anything bad. Ever.)

You’ll notice that our fictional heroes include real guys, too. We still consider them fictional heroes because, you know, they aren’t really in our lives. We don’t draw a line between real or imaginary while we’re….reading.

Good luck and most importantly, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! We are nothing without you.

Winner, Winner, Carameled Apple Dinner!

We are so excited to announce our winner for the made-of-awesome Banned Books Week blog hop! Thanks again to I'm a Reader, Not a Writer and I Read Banned Books for hosting this hop. And thank you to everyone who entered!


The winner of SPEAK and WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson is...

Rie Conley

Congratulations, Rie! We've sent you an e-mail, please respond within 48 hours!

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the hop. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Banned Books Week than giving away powerful, life-changing books.

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday: CLOCKWORK PRINCE by Cassandra Clare

At Fictitious Delicious, this week's most-anticipated read is...

Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2)

by 

Cassandra Clare

Publisher:
Margaret K. McElderry Books


Expected Release Date:

December 6, 2011

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.                                                                               With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to the enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.                                                                                                                                                                                       Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?                                                                                                                          As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart. (Summary from Goodreads)

Well, file this Waiting on Wednesday post under the category of "DUH".  I think it's safe to say that half the universe is waiting on this one.  This read hits our WOW because our anticipation is near a boiling point with talk of the first ARC's hitting reviewers and the trailer being teased.   C'mon, already!  Give us Will!  Give us Jem!  Give us TEESSSSSSSSAAAAA!  Please?

Book Review: BAD TASTE IN BOYS by Carrie Harris

Bad Taste in Boys (Kate Grable #1)

by Carrie Harris (Check out her website! It's fantastic!)

Release Date:  July 12, 2011

Publisher:  Delacorte Press

Format: Hard Cover

Source: Library

Get it:  Anderson's Bookshops, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and don’t forget your local library!

Someone's been a very bad zombie.                                                                                                           Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids.  Worse yet, the steroids are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies.  No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah...not even Kate!                                                                                                                                             She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other.  So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town...and stay hormonally human. (Summary from Goodreads)

Fictitious Delicious Rating: 4

And the award for wittiest writer of the year goes to…..Carrie Harris! 

I seriously dare you to read this book without laughing, like, a dozen times.  Yeah, I know it’s a zombie book but it is a hilarious zombie book.  Which is why I love it.  And that’s saying a lot coming from a girl who can’t watch a zombie movie without cowering under the covers.

In this story, we have a super smart heroine named Kate Grable.  (Prepare to develop an inferiority complex while you read.  This girl knows EVERYTHING.) Kate volunteers as a student trainer for her high school football team and discovers that the coach is injecting members of the team with BEEEEEEEP. She takes it upon herself to find the who, what, when, where, why and how’s of the mysterious symptoms displayed by the players lucky enough to be dosed up.  There’s lots of black vomit, missing limbs and digits, and aggravated growling throughout this zombie invasion.  All of which was very scary for this scaredy cat.  But I continued reading and I’m so glad I did.

Like every book I love, this book has some romance.  Now granted it’s sprinkled in between zombie attacks but it’s there nonetheless.  The story really focuses on Kate and her ability to put her super smart braaaaaaiiiins to use to find out how to cure what’s wrong in Bayview so there isn’t a ton of kissing (awwwwww….) but it IS there.  And the ending is very romantical. It appears as though this is book one of a series so maybe Kate and BEEEEEEP’s relationship will be further developed in future books.

Don’t hesitate to pick this one up, folks.  It’s a PERFECT October read!

Week 1: WVMP Radio Series Read Along

WICKED GAME
Hosted by: Fictitious Delicious
October 1 - 8

Click the cover to get to the Read Along!

Oct. 2: Prompt questions from Chapters 1-16 posted. PLEASE keep discussions relevant to current reading. Let’s not post spoilers, ok?

Oct. 5: Prompt questions from Chapters 17-31 posted. PLEASE keep discussions relevant to current and prior readings only. Let’s not post spoilers, ok?

Oct. 11: TWITTER CHAT WITH SHANE & CIARA

Follow them: @ShaneMcAllister @CiaraGriffin @jsmithready

Hashtag: #WVMPchat

Oct. 26: GOOGLE+ HANGOUT WITH JERI SMITH-READY

Come chat with Jeri when she joins us for a WVMP Hangout.  Additional instructions for the Hangout will be posted when we get closer to the date. Be sure to mark your calendars for this awesome event hosted by Jen Duffey from What’s on the Bookshelf.

All your comments enter you for a chance to win WVMP Bookmarks and signed WVMP buttons. Three winners will be selected! Giveaway ends October 9 at 11:59 CT.

Follow the Read Along on Facebook too: http://www.facebook.com/pages/WVMP-Fan-Page/154639917963291

Welcome to the WVMP Radio Series Read Along!

Welcome to the WVMP Radio Series Read Along!  If our planning sessions are any indication, this Read Along is going to be a GREAT time.

We start our reading of WICKED GAME today and we’re very anxious to start discussing the goings-on in Sherwood with all of you.

Here are some things to keep in mind as we begin the Read Along:

1. Test out your Google+ account as soon as you can. When you log in to your account you should have a notification from Jen Duffey sharing a WVMP Circle with you.  Accept her invitation and...Voila!  You'll have your very own WVMP Circle that includes all participants of the Read Along.
2. When you want to submit a post to the WVMP Read Along group, be sure to share with your WVMP Circle so everyone can see your question/comment.
3. Come visit us OFTEN on Google+. While each host will be posting discussion questions throughout each week, we want YOU to post what’s on your mind. Start or comment on a discussion thread anytime you’d like. 
4. Come visit us OFTEN on Facebook.  Because Google+ is new to so many of us, we’re going to be posting questions on the WVMP Fan Page on Facebook, too. Post on the wall at any time!
5. Each comment you make on Google+ and Facebook earns you an entry into a weekly swag giveaway.
6. NO SPOILERS. Please keep discussions relevant to current and prior readings only.

   

IMPORTANT LINKS

WVMP Fan Page on Facebook

Google Plus link

LET IT BLEED Novella

MEET YOUR HOSTS

Find your hosts on Twitter: @jenduffey @FictishDelish @Kimberdee @BritneyWyatt @MarissaOdom

Find your hosts on Google+: 

Link to Jen Duffey from What's on the Bookshelf 

Link to Fictitious Delicious

Link to Kimberly from Living Fictitiously

Link to Britney from Living Fictitiously: 

Link to Marissa from And many to read before I sleep

SCHEDULE OF READ ALONG

October 1 – 8 WICKED GAME hosted by Fictitious Delicious

Oct. 2: Prompt questions from first half of the book posted. PLEASE keep discussions relevant to current reading. Let’s not post spoilers, ok?

Oct. 5: Prompt questions from second half of the book posted. PLEASE keep discussions relevant to current and prior readings only. Let’s not post spoilers, ok?  

October 9 – 17 BAD TO THE BONE hosted by Living Fictitiously

Oct. 9: Prompt questions from first half of the book posted. PLEASE keep discussions relevant to current and prior readings only. Let’s not post spoilers, ok? 

Oct. 12: Prompt questions from second half of the book posted. PLEASE keep discussions relevant to current and prior readings only. Let’s not post spoilers, ok? 

October 18 – 26 BRING ON THE NIGHT hosted by What’s on the Bookshelf

Oct. 18: Prompt questions from first half of the book posted. PLEASE keep discussions relevant to current and prior readings only. Let’s not post spoilers, ok? 

Oct. 26: Prompt questions from second half of the book posted. PLEASE keep discussions relevant to current and prior readings only. Let’s not post spoilers, ok? 

October 17 – 30 LET IT BLEED hosted by And many to read before I sleep and What’s on the Bookshelf

Oct. 29: Prompt questions from all posted portions of the online novella.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Oct. 11: TWITTER CHAT WITH SHANE AND CIARA (9PM ET/8PM CT)

          Follow them: @ShaneMcAllister and @CiaraGriffin and @jsmithready

          Hashtag: #WVMPchat

Oct. 26: GOOGLE+ HANGOUT WITH JERI SMITH-READY (9PM ET/8PM CT)

Come chat with Jeri when she joins us for a WVMP hangout.  Additional instructions for the hangout will be posted when we get closer to the date. Be sure to mark your calendars for this awesome event hosted by Jen Duffey from What’s on the Bookshelf.

Oct. 31: READ ALONG WRAP UP

The ULTIMATE FEED THE NEED GIVEAWAY question is posted.  Winner selected and posted on November 2.

         

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are prompt questions? These are questions that the current week’s host will post on Google+and Facebook to prompt discussion.  Please understand that you can post your own questions on Google+ and Facebook at any time.  Prompt questions are meant only to get the conversation going.

How do I win a weekly giveaway? Create or comment on any Google+ and Facebook discussion thread.  Each comment is an entry.  Hosts from each week will select a winner at random on the last day of their hosted week.  Winners will be posted on Google+ and Facebook.

What is the ULTIMATE FEED THE NEED GIVEAWAY? This prize package includes a WVMP Coffee Mug (from What’s on the Bookshelf), a WVMP Tote Bag (from Fictitious Delicious), a copy of ETERNAL: MORE STORIES WITH BITE (this is a YA anthology that includes a WVMP story) (from Living Fictitiously) and a $15.00 iTunes Gift Card (from Many to Read Before I Sleep).  Yeah, you want this.

How do I win the ULTIMATE FEED THE NEED GIVEAWAY? First of all, you are eligible to win the grand prize IF AND ONLY IF you signed up for the Read Along prior to October 1.  Secondly, pay attention to the details as you read the series.  We’re going to ask you a question that only a pro can answer at the end of the Read Along.  If you answer correctly, your name goes into a drawing. 

What if I have other questions? Please post any questions you might have during the Read Along onto your Google+ page or the WVMP Fan Page on Facebook.  One of the hosts will be happy to help you.