SYNC: Young Adult Literature Audiobooks for Free!! Summer 2013

Thanks to my friend, Jinky, for bringing this website to my attention!! This is a website where you can download two audiobooks each week for free this summer. They give instructions on how to download the books. Don't have time to listen to two audiobooks every week? Here's what they say about that:  

Available for a Limited Time:
Remember–grab these titles before they are replaced by a new pairing on June 6!  While the title availability is time-limited, your listening time is not.  Once you have downloaded the MP3 files, the audiobook is yours to listen to at your leisure.

For more details, click here. 

Here's the schedule:

SYNC Titles Summer 2013

May 30 – June 5, 2013
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, read by Rebecca Gibel (AudioGO)
The Tempest by William Shakespeare, read by a Full Cast (AudioGO)

June 6 – June 12, 2013
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, read by Katherine Kellgren (HarperAudio)  
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, read by Wanda McCaddon (Tantor Audio)

June 13 – June 19, 2013
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, read by Will Patton (Scholastic Audiobooks)  
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, read by Robert Ramirez (Recorded Books)

June 20 – June 26, 2013  
Once by Morris Gleitzman, read by Morris Gleitzman (Bolinda Audio)  
Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr., read by Dion Graham (christianaudio)

June 27 – July 3, 2013  
Rotters by Daniel Kraus, read by Kirby Heyborne (Listening Library)  
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, read by Jim Weiss (Listening Library)

July 4 – July 10, 2013  
Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford, read by Nick Podehl (Brilliance Audio)
She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, read by a Full Cast (L.A. Theatre Works)

July 11 – July 17, 2013  
The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann, read by Peter Altschuler (HarperAudio)  
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, read by Simon Vance (Tantor Audio)

July 18 – July 24, 2013
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, read by Erin Moon (Recorded Books)  
Hamlet by William Shakespeare, read by a Full Cast (L.A. Theatre Works)

July 25 – July 31, 2013  
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, read by Charlie McWade (Scholastic Audiobooks)  
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, read by Steve West (Blackstone Audio)

Aug 1 – Aug 7, 2013  
Death Cloud by Andrew Lane, read by Dan Weyman (Macmillan Audio)  
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, read by Ralph Cosham (Blackstone Audio)

Aug 8 – Aug 14, 2013  
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, read by Katherine Kellgren (Brilliance Audio)  
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, read by Miriam Margolyes (Bolinda Audio)

Aug 15 – Aug 21, 2013  
Sold by Patricia McCormick, read by Justine Eyre (Tantor Audio)  
Let Me Stand Alone by Rachel Corrie, read by Tavia Gilbert (Blackstone Audio)

Blog Tour: Escaping Darkness by Theresa McClinton

Tour Schedule

Escaping Darkness
She may have spent years in an asylum, but that didn’t make her crazy–just fearless.

Dropped in Moscow with her friends on an impossible mission against underworld forces, Tara is left to her feelings of overwhelming inadequacy. Her boyfriend is a healer, her best friend is “the Guardian,” and everyone else is a powerhouse of awesome strengths. The only thing she has been able to contribute are her memories, which has left her with nightmares of her time spent at the mercy of the evil Sarian–who everyone has gone to fight.

Alone with her emotions, Tara finds herself falling into a city of depravity and corruption. And amidst all this evil is a young man with an agenda of his own, who leads her down a road that will either prove she is a hero at heart, or drag her into a world she’s always feared.

He wants revenge, she wants redemption. And in an underground rings of missing girls and bloody sacrifices, only the fearless can survive…

This book is darker than The Stone Guardian, which isn't surprising since it deals with human trafficking (no details, though). Tara is having a hard time sleeping since her return from Sarian but since she doesn't want anyone to worry about her, she keeps it to herself. She and her boyfriend, Peter, hear a story on the news that a student and gang member got in a confrontation when the student's younger sister was forced into a car. The student died before the ambulance got there and the gang member was in critical condition at a local hospital. 

With her best friend Ashley gone, memories of abuse she endured as a child and feeling like her boyfriend deserves someone better than her, she breaks up with Peter and takes off. She gets involved with the gang member that grabbed the student but he doesn't seem to be what she was expecting. Who is he and is he there to help or hurt her? 

I like Tara from The Stone Guardian and was glad we got to know her better. Her life hasn't been easy and she wants to be able to handle her issues herself. She has a big heart and wants to help those in trouble, even if it means putting her life in danger. She's put through the ringer in this book and it will be interesting to see where that takes her in the next book.

Content: Swearing, including the "f" word a handful of times
My Rating: 3.5 stars

Amazon

Author Theresa McClinton
A long time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa started her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there. After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and features articles to delve into the whimsical world of young adult paranormal romance.
Since then, Theresa has gotten married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and was repeatedly guilt tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having stepped foot on the soil of over a dozen countries, traveled to sixteen U.S. states—including an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. But wherever life brings her, she will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

The Stone Guardian
When myth becomes reality, reality becomes a nightmare.

Like any other teenager in America, Ashley just wants a normal life. But growing up in an orphanage for the insane is anything but normal. After endless therapy and increasing medication, her nightmares have only gotten worse.

Probably because they’re not nightmares.

When Ashley’s mysteriously abducted, she finds a reality even less normal than the orphanage. And she discovers something else—she’s no ordinary orphan. Faced with enemies thought to only exist in fairy tales, Ashley discovers she possesses a powerful Maya bloodline. She’s the daughter of an ancient Maya Guardian, whose duty is to protect the Stone of Muuk’ich, an enchanted relic blessed by the gods. But first she must get it back from Sarian, a power-hungry demigod who slaughtered the last guardian—Ashley’s mother. Without the stone, all will be lost.

When she meets Arwan, a hot Belizean time bender, his delicious olive skin and dark eyes make her feel a little less alone. But his gentle whispers and reassuring touch might not be all they seem. How can she balance love and duty when it’s up to her to prevent the rising of the underworld? Especially when the guy she loves might be its crown prince…

I was able to read this book, too! I don't think it's essential to have read it to read Escaping Darkness, but was glad I did because it made reading Escaping Darkness a smooth transition without feeling like I needed to catch up. 

This is the book where we meet all the characters and learn what's going on. Ashley and Tara start out in an orphanage for the insane and, when a fire alarm goes off one night, they chase after a little girl, get lost in the woods, walk into the fog and wake up in Belize. Ashley and Tara are brought up to speed on Ashley's true identity and her destiny. They also learn about the gifts all the others have and what Ashley should have but hasn't ever developed. 

Tara meets Peter and Ashley meets Arwan, who she's interested in and then Jayden appears from her past to stir things up. Her cousin Hawa is someone I hope we get to know a little more about. Hawa and Peter used to date but are broken up and Hawa seems to still be having a hard time dealing with it. There's also Renato, Ashley's uncle, who they look to for guidance and direction, and Marzena, who looks like a child (the same girl they thought was lost in the woods at the orphanage). 

While in the orphanage, Ashley had terrifying dreams where a man always appeared and she learns that his name is Sarian. He's the general of the underworld forces and is trying to get Ashley to join forces with him so he will be all powerful and take over.

They all have to take on Sarian, which is scary but gives Ashley a chance to start figuring out how to use her powers and they turn to someone who they aren't sure they can trust. At the end, something happens which takes Ashley and Arwan away and that's where Escaping Darkness picks up.

I like the story and the way the characters interact with each other. I feel like there's still lots to learn about them as they have just met and are getting to know each other better. I'm looking forward to reading more!

Content: Swearing, including the "f" word a couple of times
My Rating=4 stars

Amazon

Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 6/11/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule

May 28th
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer – Interview
Stacy Clafin Author & Reviewer – Review
The Flipping Bookworm – Spotlight
Kindle Obsessed – Tens List
Emma Michaels – Spotlight

May 29th
Community Bookshelf – Review
Bookworm Lisa – Review
Mythical Books – Spotlight
Bookworms’ Avenue – Interview

May 30th
Mel’s Shelves – Review
Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews – Character Interview
Pretty Opinionated – Guest Post
Rust Read – Tens List

May 31st
alwaysjoart – Review
Bloksiner’s Book Blog – Interview
Promiscuous Diva – Guest Post
Books 4 Tomorrow – Spotlight

June 1st
Book Flame – Spotlight
Vonnie’s Reading Corner – Review

June 2nd
The Bookworm Lady – Review
Spellbindings – Tens List

June 3rd
Dee’s Reads – Spotlight
Curling Up With a Good Book – Interview
MoREADS – Review

June 4th
Clean Romance Reviews – Spotlight
readalot – Review
Books Beside My Bed – Excerpt

June 5th
Crazy Four Books – Review
Jessica Loves Books – Review
Sweeping Me – Spotlight

June 6th
Amethyst Daydreams – Review
Musings of a Blogder – Review
From the Bootheel Cotton Patch – Spotlight

June 7th
Rogue Mission – Review
Ohana Day Academy – Review
The LUV’NV – Review

Two Awesome Freebies TODAY!!

There are two awesome freebies for you to get right now!! The first is The Escape of Princess Madeline by Kirstin Pulioff. The author is offering this for free in conjunction with the blog tour which is happening right now (see side bar to get to the post with the giveaway), and you can get extra entries in the giveaway for downloading her book for FREE!! I will share my review on Monday, June 3. This offer is good through Friday, May 31.

The second is Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy: Book 2 by Jeff Gunhus. I'm signed up for a blog tour for this one which is coming up at the end of June. Get it and see if you agree with my assessment! I reviewed the first book and you can read that here. I don't know how long this book will be free so get it soon!

Blog Tour: Day of Defense by Scott Thormaehlen

Day of Defense, by Scott Thormaehlen, 2013, 176p
My Rating=5+ stars, Highly recommend!!
Source: Provided review copy from the author for an honest review

There comes a point for each of us who are Latter-day Saints when we are face-to-face with those who have contrary views to ours. Oftentimes, we find ourselves feeling attacked and wish we knew just the right thing to say and how to say it.

Day of Defense: Positive Talking Points for the Latter Days transforms misconceptions and stigmas associated with the LDS Church into opportunities to effectively share the truth.

Discussion is divided into specific topics that place seemingly peculiar LDS beliefs into patterns seen in the Bible and early Christian history. Misunderstandings discussed include:

The Great Apostasy
Plural Marriage
Heaven and Hell
Man’s Potential and the Nature of God
The Book of Mormon
The Restoration

The Bible comparisons of these tough topics will give you the confidence to stand strong in the day of your defense. (Goodreads)

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am constantly defending my beliefs. I love the way this book is written! It is easy to understand and the topics are ones we're all familiar with. I love the tone in which he presents it--to help inform and clear up misconceptions, not antagonize or criticize others. We have so much in common with people of all faiths and we need to embrace our similarities and look to build bridges with others who are different from us. I enjoy talking to those who have sincere questions and aren't out to play "gotcha." I'm imperfect and the words don't always flow freely out of my mouth in a coherent, intelligent way, so I'm glad I now have an excellent book to refer others to where they can learn more about my religion.

Thormaehlen goes to the Bible to find the answers to his questions and a lot of it I have heard before but there were also ideas I wasn't familiar with. I love the way he presents the information. He starts each chapter with the negative statements that are directed against us and then shows where and how our theology fits with the Bible. This is a book that I feel I could continue to read over and over and come away with something new and a deeper understanding every time. It's not a long book, but there's lots of meat!

I was able to interview the author so keep reading if you want to know if he's currently working on something new:

Author Interview

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I first started doing research and writing down the first thoughts or notes that later became Day of Defense back in 2002 or 2003 while I was in the Air Force. 

What inspired you to write Day of Defense?
My inspiration came from a combination of being surrounded by non-LDS colleagues during my time serving in the United States Air Force.  My experiences in conversation with others begged me to discover my own religion and faith in light of the misconceptions that many held.  Also 9/11 kind of struck me, not at the time of the attacks, but as things unfolded it became clearer that these two worlds were colliding.  I felt impressed to pay close attention to my faith and take note so that some day I could help others understand what was keeping them from what I know as the Restoration of Christianity.  I have always believed my religion to be a source of peace that could some day bridge the differences between peoples that cause such conflicts, and more importantly share truth that can hopefully shape people’s attitudes so that such things are prevented, not antagonized, or do not occur because of ignorance and intolerance from either side.  
 
Are you planning to write any other books similar to this one?
I am, in fact I have an outline that covers misconceptions about the LDS faith not covered in Day of Defense.  This will deal with things Brigham Young is recorded saying in the Journal of Discourses, Joseph Smith looking into his hat to translate, the lost 116 pages of the Book of Lehi, blacks and the priesthood, horses in the Book of Mormon, the Book of Abraham, and other stumbling blocks that people come across investigating the LDS Church.  I hope to do it in a succinct easy to read book just like the first one.  Wish me luck!

What are some of your favorite books and what book are you reading now?
One of my favorite books is Standing for Something by then President Gordon B. Hinckley.  I’ve recently read a short book titled Joseph Smith and Modern Astronomy by Richard Ingebretsen.  On my to read list is The Exodus Case by Dr. Lennart Moller, Latter-day Liberty as well as Latter-day Responsibility by Connor Boyack, another Cedar Fort author.  Mere Chrisitianity by C.S. Lewis is a favorite.  I also like The Revolution by Ron Paul and Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Hiking, trying to catch up on the news, hang out with my girlfriend, or reading.  I have also purchased a book to study for the LSAT. 

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
I would love to teach History, particularly Word Civilization or U.S. History to college students.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Never give up, but make yourself useful advancing your career in other ways too because writing one book will not pay the bills.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
I hope you have the opportunity to find people who are honest truth seekers and that you will find Day of Defense a valuable tool to share with those who cannot quite connect the dots.  Please remember to post a review and rate the book on Amazon.com, Goodreads.com, and your own blogs.  Thanks!

Yay, I'm glad to hear that a second book in the works, so good luck with it, Scott. I will definitely read it! 

Author Scott Thormaehlen

Scott Thormaehlen served honorably for four years in the United States Air Force as a weather forecaster during the Operation Enduring Freedom and the War on Terrorism. He graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelors of Arts in History. These academic and professional experiences cultivated an already analytical and curious mind. Stationed in the Bible Belt, at Shaw AFB, SC and born in South Texas, Scott has lived in areas where Bible-only belief is the prevailing religious perspective. Having lived in the “Mission Field” for over 29 years, Scott gained a cultural perspective of his religious counterparts in school, among friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Sharing a belief in the Bible and being raised in the knowledge of the Restoration, Scott came to realize the peculiarity of his station in life and the conflict between Mormonism and mainstream Christians. His interest in history, particularly Early Christian history and the differences between Mormons and mainstream Christians motivated this book; particularly that many viewed his faith as a cult and did not fully understand and often misrepresented the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The book began in 2003 as a few pages of notes that sought to simply answer Mormon topics with the Bible. Over the years Scott added more notes, and more notes, until he decided to put his work and thoughts into book format.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Blog Tour: The Tale of Mally Biddle by M.L. LeGette

Tour Schedule

The Tale of Mally Biddle by M.L. LeGette

When Mally Biddle agreed to spy upon the King of Lenzar and his overbearing knights she knew she was heading into danger. She didn't know she'd find a family unlike any other.

Posing as a servant in Bosc Castle, Mally serves tea and tends fires for the most dangerous men in the kingdom. Her goal is to learn the truth of what happened sixteen years ago, when the infant princess met her death ... a death that is surrounded by more questions than answers.

Along her search for the truth, Mally meets the energized Lita Stump, the strict and matriarchal Meriyal Boyd, and the opinionated Archibald Diggleby. Then of course there are the knights: Leon Gibbs who is slicker than a greased hog, Adrian Bayard, hot tempered and violent, and the worst of the lot: Sir Illius Molick, Captain of the Knights. And then there is Maud, a mysterious woman who just might know everything...

This book is a clean, fun read! It starts right after Queen Amara has a riding "accident" in which she dies and King Sebastian is poisoned shortly after that. One of the servants, Alice Spindle, is accused of killing him since she is the one who brought him his drink and she is executed. None of the other servants believe she is guilty but they are unable to do anything to help her. Salir Romore, the King's advisor, takes over as King.

Cayla Black is another servant who takes care of Princess Avona (who is currently a baby) and she is convinced that the Princess is not safe and after getting a scare one night, she forms a plan and we pick up 16 years later with Ivan Finley, a rebel who is part of a group that wants to restore the kingdom to the way it was when King Sebastian was in charge. Life is more dangerous now with ridiculous laws, high taxes and knights who could do whatever they wanted without fear of consequences. Ivan has a plan and he sets off to find someone to help him. He meets Mally Biddle and she agrees to help him.

There are lots of characters that are introduced and sometimes it was hard to keep everyone straight. Mally has a lots of spunk and charges ahead with what she needs to do, even if she's scared by it. She's likable and forms great relationships. The plot was predictable but the characters were fun to read about so that didn't bother me at all. This was a hard book to put down and I wanted to keep reading it to find out how the mystery would unfold. I loved the ending and highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good, clean read with great characters, mystery, lies, betrayal, friendship, and light romance!!

My Rating=4.5 stars

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Amazon Kindle

Praise

"To say I loved this book is an understatement. Mally is a wonderful character and she encounters so many quirky folks on her assignment. Very well written and engaging story! And an added bonus of a love triangle! I enjoyed it from beginning to end!! I will definitely be looking for more from this author!"

~April Holgate

Author Melissa LeGette

Melissa LeGette lives in Georgia where she helps run a family farm, so her nails are a fright. The Tale of Mally Biddle is her second novel.

Blog * Facebook 

Pinterest * Twitter

 Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/5/13

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Launch: The Battle for Princess Madeline by Kirstin Pulioff

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...

Announcing a monumental day!

It is Kirstin's birthday and the LAUNCH of our Tour, plus...

We reveal the cover of The Battle for Princess Madeline... NOW ON SALE!!  

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

The Battle for Princess Madeline

by Kirstin Pulioff

156 pages

Published May 29, 2013

The Kingdom of Soron bustled with activity as preparations for the Fall Festival began. Lively merchants, hardworking farmers, and musicians eagerly awaited this event of harvest and joy. This year’s festival was even more important, as they celebrated Princess Madeline’s betrothal to her knight champion, Daniel. 

Celebration quickly turns to disaster as Prince Paulsen returns with curious demands, either Princess Madeline will be his, or no ones. Rejection turns to obsession and battle is declared.

In a tense struggle to decide her future, Princess Madeline must choose where to put her trust… in the king’s tried and true plan, the wizard’s cryptic messages and maps, or her own sense of bravery. Follow Princess Madeline on this adventure as she battles evil in an attempt to create a future of love and magic.

The Tour:

5/27 – LAUNCH!  

5/28 – Book Deep in Cliffhangers

-         

I Am aReader, Not a Writer

5/29 - Geo Librarian - Review

-         

Novels,News & Notes

5/30 – Dee’s Reads – Review

-         

Tressa’sWishful Endings

5/31 – Green Mountain Couple – Review

6/2 – JoJo’s Corner - Review

6/3 – Mel’s Shelves – Review

6/4 – Books for Kids – Review

-         

TheBookish Daydreamer

6/5 – Books for Kids – Review

6/6 – MisAdventuresof a 20-Something Year Old Girl

6/7 –  Mel’sShelves  - Review

6/9 – Wonderings of One Person - Review

6/10 – Cassandra Lost In Books – Review

-         

Jessie’sBook Place

6/11 – Backing Books – Review

6/12 – Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile - Review

6/13 – Fluttereal Flight - Review

-         

MySeryneti

6/14 – Grand Finale Blast!

Happy Birthday Kirstin!!

Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart.   Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management.  Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in North Plains, Oregon, and enjoys being a stay at home mom.  When she’s not writing, she is busy with her kids, church and the family business.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon

Madeline's story begins...

The Escape of Princess Madeline

by Kirstin Pulioff

ebook, 66 pages

Published November 5th 2012 by Malachite Quills Publishing

Premise:

The Kingdom of Soron is known for many things, its rolling landscape, haunting history, fiery sunsets, and its beautiful princess. Princess Madeline woke on her sixteenth birthday to realize that her future had been planned out, a life full of privilege, royalty, and boredom... a life with a husband and knight champion that she did not choose. Using her charm, strength and stubbornness, she defies the King at every turn, determined to keep her freedom on her terms.

Freedom quickly turns to disaster as she finds herself seized by a group of wandering bandits. With the kingdom in turmoil over her capture- her Knight Champion eager to prove himself, a group of dedicated suitors determined to win her hand, and a group of exiled wizards join forces in the hunt to rescue her. Follow Princess Madeline in this adventure to find freedom and love.

Barnes & Noble

Amazon:

Giveaway:

International Giveaway. Must be 13 to enter. See below Rafflecopter for more details. Available to WIN:

* Autographed set of both: The Escape of Princess Madeline & The Battle for Princess Madeline

* Autographed copy of The Escape of Princess Madeline

* Autographed copy of The Battle for Princess Madeline

* 5 eCopies of The Battle for Princess Madeline

* $25 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 13 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kirstin Pulioff and  Burgandy Ice & Colorimetry as Prism Book Tours. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.