Soundtrack Saturday (41)

I love books. I love music. I love it when the two are paired up, so I thought I'd create a feature to highlight both of my loves.

Soundtrack Saturday is a meme created and hosted by me, right here on The Hardcover Lover! So what is Soundtrack Saturday? It's a feature about bookish playlists! Each Saturday, I choose a book and post a playlist based on it! But that's not all. You can participate, too! I'm inviting all interested book bloggers to participate in this meme! Each week, I'll be posting a linky at the bottom of my post so that you can share your Soundtrack Saturday playlist for other bloggers and blog readers to find.

As with all bookish memes, there are a few easy steps to follow to help you create your own perfect Soundtrack Saturday post:

• Choose a book that you've read or are currently reading - any book is fine as long as you can create a playlist for it
• Create a full (10+songs) or a mini (four songs) playlist for the book of your choosing
•  For more detailed instructions on the different types of soundtracks and how to make them, please visit the meme's homepage.
• Please credit me somewhere in your post. It can be as simple as "Soundtrack Saturday is a weekly meme that was created by Erin at The Hardcover Lover."
• Leave a comment on my blog post if you enjoy the feature
• Add your name to the link-up tool at the bottom of the post

Blogger Reputation: Rebel of the Sands + GIVEAWAY

Hey, everyone! I've got an extra special post lined up for you today in celebration of Alwyn Hamilton's debut novel, Rebel of the Sands. Alwyn's novel releases in about two weeks, and I am so so so incredibly excited for this one! In Rebel of the Sands, the main character, Amani, starts to find herself becoming a myth in the making. She's known for her sharpshooting skills, and pretty soon, her reputation is known throughout Maraji.

The folks at Penguin Teen thought it would be cool to think of blogger reputations to celebrate the uniqueness in the community. But before we get to mine, let's get acquainted with Hamilton's book!

Title: Rebel of the Sands

Series: Rebel of the Sands

Author: Alwyn Hamilton

Publisher: Penguin Teen

Publication Date: March 8, 2016

Add it to Goodreads
Pre-Order

She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from.

Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him...or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

Meet the Bloggers: Princessica of Books

Meet the Bloggers is a new feature on The Hardcover Lover. So what's it about? Well... it's about meeting new or different bloggers. Each month, a different blogger will be featured here with a bookish guest post.

Are you ready? Let's meet today's featured blogger.

Waiting on Wednesday (62)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly, bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. You can find out more information on the meme on her blog, Breaking the Spine.

The meme helps book bloggers and readers shine a spotlight om some of the many upcoming releases that we are all patiently (but most likely impatiently) waiting on. Get it?

So you're interested in sharing some of the books you're waiting on with your readers!? That's great! To participate in Jill's meme, all you need to do is:

• Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
• Be sure to credit Jill in your post
• Link up to the Linky on Jill's blog

Blog Tour: Rebel Bully Geek Pariah

Title: Rebel Bully Geek Pariah

Author: Erin Jade Lange

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: February 16, 2016

Add it to Goodreads

The Breakfast Club gets a modern, high-stakes reboot in this story of four very different teens and a night that changes them forever.

The Rebel: Once popular, Andi is now a dreadlocked, tattooed wild child.
The Bully: York torments everyone who crosses his path, especially his younger brother.
The Geek: Tired of being bullied, Boston is obsessed with getting into an Ivy League college.
The Pariah: Choosing to be invisible has always worked for Sam . . . until tonight.

When Andi, York, Boston, and Sam find themselves hiding in the woods after a party gets busted by the cops, they hop into the nearest car they see and take off—the first decision of many in a night that will change their lives forever. By the light of day, these four would never be caught dead together, but when their getaway takes a dangerously unpredictable turn, sticking together could be the only way to survive.

With cinematic storytelling and compelling emotional depth, critically acclaimed author Erin Jade Lange takes readers on literary thrill ride.

Top Ten Tuesday (28)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by the lovely ladies from the book blog, The Broke and the Bookish. They created this particular feature because they love making and sharing bookish lists with their readers.

Every week, there is a new topic, and bloggers are encouraged to share their own lists with everyone in the book community. All bloggers are encouraged to create a list based on the week's theme, share it with their followers, and then link up on The Broke and Bookish.

It's really easy to join:

• Go to The Broke and the Bookish to check this week's topic
• Come up with a top ten list of your own and post it
• Share your link on The Broke and Bookish

2016 Love-A-Thon: A Dedication

The 2016 Love-a-Thon is hosted by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books, Cee from The Novel Hermit, Hazel from Stay Bookish, and Mel from The Daily Prophecy.

This annual event is all about spreading love and positivity in the book community. There have been special blog posts, Twitter chats, and challenges. 

One mini-challenge - Book Bingo - included a square about dedicating a post to some of your favorite blogs, authors, Bookstagrammers, or BookTubers. Today, I'm writing three letters to three of my favorite bloggers and friends.

2016 Love-A-Thon: An Invitation to Tea

The 2016 Love-a-Thon is hosted by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books, Cee from The Novel Hermit, Hazel from Stay Bookish, and Mel from The Daily Prophecy. 

During the past two days, book bloggers from all over the world have been participating in the event. There have been Twitter chats, challenges, and commenting sprees to spread love and positivity in our little corner of the Internet.

2016 Love-A-Thon: Spine Poetry

The 2016 Love-a-Thon is hosted by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books, Cee from The Novel Hermit, Hazel from Stay Bookish, and Mel from The Daily Prophecy.

This weekend has been all about spreading love and positivity in the book blogging community, and the event isn't over yet! Yesterday, we introduced ourselves and shared a mix and match post (among other mini-events), and today, we're sharing book spine poetry.

2016 Love-A-Thon: Book Bingo

The 2016 Love-a-Thon is hosted by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books, Cee from The Novel Hermit, Hazel from Stay Bookish, and Mel from The Daily Prophecy. 

During the weekend, book bloggers from all over are participating in the event that spreads love and positivity. There are challenges, Twitter chats, and commenting sprees to get people interacting. And an added bonus, participants are meeting so many new bloggers!

2016 Love-A-Thon: Mix and Match

The 2016 Love-a-Thon is hosted by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books, Cee from The Novel Hermit, Hazel from Stay Bookish, and Mel from The Daily Prophecy. 

Over the next two days, book bloggers from all over the world will be participating in the event. There will be Twitter chats, challenges, and commenting sprees to spread love and positivity in our little corner of the Internet.

Soundtrack Saturday (40)

Soundtrack Saturday is a meme created and hosted by me, right here on my blog, The Hardcover Lover!

So what exactly is Soundtrack Saturday? Well, first of all, it's a book meme that combines book and music. Each Saturday, I choose a book that I've read (either recently or from years and years ago), and I create a playlist or soundtrack for it.

I'm inviting all interested book bloggers to participate in this meme! Each week, I'll be posting a linky at the bottom of my post so that you can share your Soundtrack Saturday playlist for other bloggers and blog readers to find.

As with all bookish memes, there are a few easy steps to follow to help you create your own perfect Soundtrack Saturday post:

• Choose a book that you've read or are currently reading - any book is fine!
• Create a mini (four songs) or full soundtrack (ten-fifteen + songs) for that book based on characters and plot details
• For more detailed instructions on how to create your own playlist, please visit the meme's homepage. (You could also click the link in my navigation bar!)
• Please credit me somewhere in your post. It can be as simple as "Soundtrack Saturday is a weekly meme that was created by Erin at The Hardcover Lover."
• Leave a comment on my blog post if you enjoy the feature
• Add your name to the link-up tool at the bottom of the post

2016 Love-A-Thon: Introduction Post

Hey, everyone! Welcome to my first post for the 2016 Love-a-Thon! 

The 2016 Love-a-Thon is hosted by Alexa from Alexa Loves Books, Cee from The Novel Hermit, Hazel from Stay Bookish, and Mel from The Daily Prophecy. Over the next two days, book bloggers from all over the world will be participating in the event. There will be Twitter chats, challenges, and commenting sprees to spread love and positivity in our little corner of the Internet.

ARC Review: The Bitter Side of Sweet

Title: The Bitter Side of Sweet

Author: Tara Sullivan

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: February 23, 2016

Add it to Goodreads

For fans of Linda Sue Park and A Long Way Gone, two young boys must escape a life of slavery in modern-day Ivory Coast.

Fifteen-year-old Amadou counts the things that matter. For two years what has mattered are the number of cacao pods he and his younger brother, Seydou, can chop down in a day. This number is very important. The higher the number the safer they are because the bosses won’t beat them. The higher the number the closer they are to paying off their debt and returning home to Baba and Auntie. Maybe. The problem is Amadou doesn’t know how much he and Seydou owe, and the bosses won’t tell him. The boys only wanted to make some money during the dry season to help their impoverished family. Instead they were tricked into forced labor on a plantation in the Ivory Coast; they spend day after day living on little food and harvesting beans in the hot sun—dangerous, backbreaking work. With no hope of escape, all they can do is try their best to stay alive—until Khadija comes into their lives.

She’s the first girl who’s ever come to camp, and she’s a wild thing. She fights bravely every day, attempting escape again and again, reminding Amadou what it means to be free. But finally, the bosses break her, and what happens next to the brother he has always tried to protect almost breaks Amadou. The old impulse to run is suddenly awakened. The three band together as family and try just once more to escape.

Tara Sullivan, the award-winning author of the astounding Golden Boy, delivers another powerful, riveting, and moving tale of children fighting to make a difference and be counted. Inspired by true-to-life events happening right now, The Bitter Side of Sweet is an exquisitely written tour de force not to be missed.

Blog Tour: Arrows + GIVEAWAY

Title: Arrows

Author: Melissa Gorzelanczyk

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: January 26, 2016

Source: eARC via Edelweiss

Add it to Goodreads
Buy the Book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A modern cupid story set in present-day Wisconsin combining the fantastical elements of Greek mythology with the contemporary drama of MTV's Teen Mom.

People don’t understand love. If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow.

Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.

A clueless Karma doesn’t know that her toxic relationship is Aaryn’s fault . . . but he’s going to get a chance to make things right. He’s here to convince Danny to man up and be there for Karma. But what if this god from Mount Olympus finds himself falling in love with a beautiful dancer from Wisconsin who can never love him in return?

This fast-paced debut novel explores the internal & external conflicts of a girl who finds herself inexplicably drawn to a boy who seemingly doesn't reciprocate her feelings, touching on the issues of love, sex and responsibility, with a heroine struggling to control her destiny--perfect for fans of Katie McGarry's novels and MTV’s 16 and Pregnant.

Waiting on Wednesday (61)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly, bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. You can find out more information on the meme on her blog, Breaking the Spine.

The meme helps book bloggers and readers shine a spotlight om some of the many upcoming releases that we are all patiently (but most likely impatiently) waiting on. Get it?

So you're interested in sharing some of the books you're waiting on with your readers!? That's great! To participate in Jill's meme, all you need to do is:

• Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
• Be sure to credit Jill in your post
• Link up to the Linky on Jill's blog

ARC Review: The Forbidden Wish

Title: The Forbidden Wish

Author: Jessica Khoury

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: February 23, 2016

Add it to Goodreads

She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world...

When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years -- a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.

Book Review: Joyride

Title: Joyride

Author: Anna Banks

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Publication Date: June 2, 2015

Source: From Author for Review

Add it to Goodreads

A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from NYT-bestselling author Anna Banks.

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber's mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.   

Soundtrack Saturday (39)

I love books. I love music. I love it when the two are paired up, so I thought I'd create a feature to highlight both of my loves.

Soundtrack Saturday is a meme created and hosted by me, right here on The Hardcover Lover! So what is Soundtrack Saturday? It's a feature about bookish playlists! Each Saturday, I choose a book and post a playlist based on it! But that's not all. You can participate, too! I'm inviting all interested book bloggers to participate in this meme! Each week, I'll be posting a linky at the bottom of my post so that you can share your Soundtrack Saturday playlist for other bloggers and blog readers to find.

As with all bookish memes, there are a few easy steps to follow to help you create your own perfect Soundtrack Saturday post:

• Choose a book that you've read or are currently reading - any book is fine as long as you can create a playlist for it
• Create a full (10+songs) or a mini (four songs) playlist for the book of your choosing
•  For more detailed instructions on the different types of soundtracks and how to make them, please visit the meme's homepage.
• Please credit me somewhere in your post. It can be as simple as "Soundtrack Saturday is a weekly meme that was created by Erin at The Hardcover Lover."
• Leave a comment on my blog post if you enjoy the feature
• Add your name to the link-up tool at the bottom of the post

Hello?: A Pretty Epic Book Sale + GIVEAWAY

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

YA author Liza M. Wiemer has a special announcement for everyone this Valentine's Day weekend. You can grab a copy of her book, Hello? for just $0.99! That's right! You can curl up with Hello? for under one dollar this weekend! That sounds like an epic Valentine's Day deal to me!

Title: Hello?

Author: Liza Wiemer

Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary

Publication Date: November 10, 2015

Add it to Goodreads

One HELLO can change a life. One HELLO can save a life.

Tricia: A girl struggling to find her way after her beloved grandma's death.
Emerson: A guy who lives his life to fulfill promises, real and hypothetical.
Angie: A girl with secrets she can only express through poetry.
Brenda: An actress and screenplay writer afraid to confront her past.
Brian: A potter who sets aside his life for Tricia, to the detriment of both.

Linked and transformed by one phone call, Hello? weaves together these five Wisconsin teens' stories into a compelling narrative of friendship and family, loss and love, heartbreak and healing, serendipity, and ultimately hope.
Told from all five viewpoints: narration (Tricia), narration (Emerson), free verse poetry (Angie), screenplay format (Brenda), narration and drawings (Brian).

Hardcover Lover Confessions | My Commenting Habits

Hello there, everyone, and welcome to another Hardcover Lover Confessions post! I'm sure that many of you now know that Hardcover Lover Confessions is a discussion post feature on The Hardcover Lover. In these posts, I confess my feelings and thoughts on things going on in the blogosphere, but sometimes I just use them to share advice or habits of mine.

Waiting on Wednesday (60)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly, bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. You can find out more information on the meme on her blog, Breaking the Spine.

The meme helps book bloggers and readers shine a spotlight om some of the many upcoming releases that we are all patiently (but most likely impatiently) waiting on. Get it?

So you're interested in sharing some of the books you're waiting on with your readers!? That's great! To participate in Jill's meme, all you need to do is:

• Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
• Be sure to credit Jill in your post
• Link up to the Linky on Jill's blog

Blog Tour: Reign + GIVEAWAY

Hey, everyone, and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Reign. Yes, I'm talking about the TV show on The CW! Some of you might already know this, but there are actually companion novels to the show that give fans a little more insight into what's going on at French Court. Let's learn a little bit more about them. Shall we?

Title: The Prophecy

Series: Reign

Author: Lily Blake
Based on the Series Created by Laurie McCarthy and Stephanie Sengupta

Publisher: Poppy (Little Brown)

Publication Date: January 1, 2014

Add it to Goodreads
Buy the Book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

An original novel based on the hit television series, Reign.

Since Mary, Queen of Scotland was a child, the English have wanted her country and her crown. She is sent to France to wed its next king--to save herself and her people. It's a bond that should protect her, but there are forces that conspire...forces of darkness, forces of the heart. Mary's rule, and her life, has never been safe.

Find out what happens to Mary, Francis, Bash, and the rest of the French court after the season one finale.

Long may she reign.

Title: Hysteria

Series: Reign

Author: Lily Blake
Based on the Series Created by Laurie McCarthy and Stephanie Sengupta

Publisher: Poppy (Little Brown)

Publication Date: May 12, 2015 

Add it to Goodreads
Buy the Book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

France is aflame with rumors of witchcraft and treachery. Who will be burn for their transgressions? Find out in this haunting original novel based on the hit CW television show, Reign.

Something sinister has been sweeping the villages surrounding the French court. Rumors of Satan's horsemen traveling the countryside and claiming the souls of villagers have sent the people reeling into a religious frenzy and soon fear and suspicion lead them to accuse a young girl of witchcraft. After the prisoner is brought to the palace for questioning, Mary, Greer, Kenna, and Lola work to prove her innocence. But there are others who will stop at nothing to see the girl and her secrets silenced forever...

Book Review: I Was Here

Title: I Was Here

Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Publication Date: January 27, 2015

Source: Purchased

Add it to Goodreads

Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

Soundtrack Saturday (38)

I love books, and I love music. I also love pairing up songs from my extensive iTunes library to books I read. What better way to do that than create a meme, right? Well... that's just what I did! Soundtrack Saturday was born in 2014, and in the posts, I create playlists for the books I've read.

Each Saturday, I'll post a new soundtrack, but that's not all! You can, too! I'm inviting all book bloggers to participate in this meme! Like other bookish memes, I'll be posting a linky at the bottom of my post so that you can share your Soundtrack Saturday playlist for other bloggers and blog readers to find. (I promise to check yours out if you leave a link!)

As with all bookish memes, there are a few easy steps to follow to help you create your own perfect Soundtrack Saturday post:

• Choose a book that you've read or are currently reading - any book is fine!
• Create a full (10-12+ songs) or mini (4 songs) based on the book of your choosing
• For more detailed instructions on how to create your soundtrack, please visit the meme's homepage.
• Please credit me somewhere in your post. It can be as simple as "Soundtrack Saturday is a weekly meme that was created by Erin at The Hardcover Lover."
• Leave a comment on my blog post if you enjoy the feature
• Add your name to the link-up tool at the bottom of the post if you participated

ARC Review: Rebel Bully Geek Pariah

Title: Rebel Bully Geek Pariah

Author: Erin Jade Lange

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: February 16, 2016
Source: ARC from Bloomsbury

Add it to Goodreads

The Breakfast Club gets a modern, high-stakes reboot in this story of four very different teens and a night that changes them forever.

The Rebel: Once popular, Andi is now a dreadlocked, tattooed wild child.
The Bully: York torments everyone who crosses his path, especially his younger brother.
The Geek: Tired of being bullied, Boston is obsessed with getting into an Ivy League college.
The Pariah: Choosing to be invisible has always worked for Sam . . . until tonight.

When Andi, York, Boston, and Sam find themselves hiding in the woods after a party gets busted by the cops, they hop into the nearest car they see and take off—the first decision of many in a night that will change their lives forever. By the light of day, these four would never be caught dead together, but when their getaway takes a dangerously unpredictable turn, sticking together could be the only way to survive.

With cinematic storytelling and compelling emotional depth, critically acclaimed author Erin Jade Lange takes readers on literary thrill ride.

Waiting on Wednesday (59)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly, bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. You can find out more information on the meme on her blog, Breaking the Spine.

The meme helps book bloggers and readers shine a spotlight om some of the many upcoming releases that we are all patiently (but most likely impatiently) waiting on. Get it?

So you want to participate in Waiting on Wednesday? Awesome! All you need to do is:

• Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
• Be sure to credit Jill in your post
• Link up to the Linky on Jill's blog

Reading Challenge Update: January

Hello, all you lovely people! We made it through January! It seems like the new year started yesterday, but we're already a month into 2016, and things are only just getting started. Hooray!

Some of you might remember that I signed up for a lot of reading challenges in 2015, and unfortunately I never really kept up with them. Yes, I read the books that I wanted to for the challenges, but I forgot to link up and keep track of my progress. That's not good, right!

This new feature is one that I'm hoping will help me stay on track. Instead of just reading the books that I've challenged myself to read, I'm going to be sharing them with you at the end of each month. I'm really hoping that this helps me remember and keep track of all of the books I'm reading and the challenges I've signed up for this year.

Alright... so let's see how I faired for January...