and the winner is…

Debbie

Debbie please email me with your full name and mailing address, I’ll be emailing you back with a list of books for you to choose your prize!

Happy Reading Everyone! Keep an eye out for more future contests!

Hugs,

Dani ~ aka The Romance Book Addict

Time for some more book quotes! I love finding new quotes in books that I read.

       The King’s Champion by Catherine March

“Love is not nonsense. It is everything. For without love what is a man? Just an empty shell.” – Sir Lindsay Crawford (fellow knight/friend of hero, Troye de Valois)

“Love needs no reason. It just is.” – Lady Eleanor Raven (heroine)

I actually found two quotes in this book, both about love. I like both of these quotes very much, especially Lady Eleanor’s quote.

               Sold Into Marriage by Ann Major

“Life is a journey without reliable tour guides. You made plans and then you got distracted and took detours that proved to be dull, disastrous, or wonderful, or a combination of all three.” – Josie Navarre (heroine)

This quote made me laugh. It’s so true and yet whats wrong with getting distracted or going off course? What’s a journey without a little adventure?

Hugs,

Dani ~ aka The Romance Book Addict

Yay! Another Contest! This contest will be a little different then my other contests. The rules will be the same (be sure to read them HERE), but the only difference is that you will get to pick the book prize from my “Book Prize Shelf”… so it’s a Your Choice Book Contest! I have a wide variety of Romance genre books for you to choose from for your prize. Once I choose the winner as stated in the rules the winner must contact me to claim their prize.

NOTE: The winner will only be able to choose ONE book for their prize.

Contest ENDS on Monday October 5th, 2009 at midnight central time! 

To enter just answer the question below:

What is the best book you’ve read so far this year? A book that you just couldn’t put down, that was just so amazing you had your head stuck in the book until you finished it?

Hugs,

Dani ~ aka The Romance Book Addict

Hello again everyone! I told ya I’d be back!

I thought that in todays post I’d tell you about some updates that are going to be happening on my blog and some things I’ve already done. 

First off here are the things I have planned that are going to take place or that I’m currently working on (I’ll have a future blog update post that will let you all know when these things are finished):

~ I’m going to be getting rid of my monthly What’s On Your Playlist? meme. It just doesn’t seem to be that likable at this time. I might bring it back in the future, but who knows.

~ I have a TON and I mean a ton of books that I’m signed up to read and review so expect quite a few new Bubba Dog’s Book Reviews coming up soon!

~ Since you already know that I haven’t been able to blog for the past few months it also means that I haven’t had a chance to check my email much either :/ so anyone who has emailed me about the blog or book reviews or questions or anything I’ll be getting back to you ASAP.

~ I’m working on a new page for the Weekly Words Challenge as well. I only participated in it once when I started so now I’m going to join in again and have some fun showing everyone my photography.

Here are the updates that I’ve already done:

~ I gave in! I joined Facebook for the blog! LoL I already had a “personal” facebook page, but I decided to make another one just for my blog (so I can post updates, when I have a book review up, etc.). So if you’re interested, add me! Plus there is a new facebook application called “NetworkedBlogs” where you can create a page for your blog and people can rate it and follow it. The application keeps tabs on your blog so when you have a new blog post it updates it on the NetworkedBlogs application for you to let everyone else know you have a new post up. Pretty cool huh?

Dani Atwater

Create Your Badge

Okay, well that’s about it for now. Now a question for you all:

Got any good book recommendations for me? Any books that you just couldn’t put down, that were just so amazing you had your head stuck in the book until you finished it?

See ya tomorrow!

Hugs,

Dani ~ aka The Romance Book Addict

I’ve been away for along time, I know and I’ve missed blogging terribly, along with my fellow bloggers and blog friends.

I had a lot of things going on over the summer that I needed to take care of, especially some important family things that needed to be put first and formost before blogging, but now I’m back and I’m going to get back on track…. oh i just rhymed didn’t I :/ … lol anyway I know there are some prizes I owe people, so please be patient and I’ll get that settled within the next week and announce the winners (the contests on the side bar are CLOSED and those are the contests I’m talking about for the prizes I owe).

Since I’ve been gone for so long I know I’ve lost readers, but that’s okay. I’m just going to jump back into blogging and start fresh and new if that makes sense lol. I’ll be blogging like regular again so one last thing before I go…

a big HELLO to everyone! I’ll be back early tomorrow morning with another post!

Hugs,

Dani ~ aka The Romance Book Addict

Yesterday I came across this great online used book store and I just have to tell you about it!

Jennifer – the owner of Better Than Chocolate Book Co. – opened the “online” doors of her store in 2005. Her store offers used Romance & Women’s Fiction books in mainly paperback, but does offer a bit of everything including hardcover and books on cd/tape.

Here are some perks you can find at her store:

• BetterBucks – Earn cash back on every purchase over $5.00, to use on future purchases.
• DustCatcher Book Sale -  A certain selection of books $1.00 each. Held every 3rd Monday of each month.
• 2Buck Book Overstock – All books she has an overstock of are $2.00 each.
• .50 Cent Book Blast – Twice a year (late spring & fall) all overstock books are .50 cents each.

Looks like I’m going to be doing some book shopping soon! If you’d like to check out this awesome used book store head on over to Better Than Chocolate Book Co.! You won’t be disappointed!

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Jennifer also has a Ning Social Network called Girl Reads Romance. This is a social network for Romance readers/writers to have fun and discuss our favorite books! As an added bonus Jennifer has an ongoing event called 10 Book Tuesday, every Tuesday you could have a chance to win a grab bag full of 10 books! To enter all you need to do is be a member of Girl Reads Romance and make sure to RSVP every Tuesday and you’re entered! It’s that easy! So come on over and join in on this fun community! We’d love to have you! If you join, be sure to add me and Jennifer as a friend!

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Now time for another contest!

Jennifer has graciously donated an amazing prize to giveaway!

A grab bag full of 20 Romance books!!! Ya, you read that correctly, 20 Romance books!!! Keep in mind though they are used, but are in excellent condition and the grab bag will have a mixture of all sub-genres within Romance.

To enter all you need to do is be sure to follow the Contest Rules and answer the 2 Trivia Questions below:

Contest Rules:

- contest is open to U.S. Residents ONLY

- ONLY people who are 18 years old or older can enter

- you MUST e-mail ME your answers to the 2 Trivia Questions, if you answer the Trivia Questions in the comments area your comment will be deleted and your entry will be disqualified!

- When you email me your answers be sure to put GRAB BAG CONTEST in the subject line (My email address is listed in the contact area on my sidebar).

- Contest ends on Wednesday July 8th at midnight central time!!!

Here are the Trivia Questions:

1. What are the names of Jennifer’s 2 small dogs?

HINT: Answer can be found in the About Us section of her used book store website Better Than Chocolate Book Co.

2. What state does Girl Reads Romance (aka Jennifer) live in?

HINT: Answer can be found on the profile page of Girl Reads Romance (she’s the creator of the network too).

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Okay everyone be sure to check out Jennifer’s used book store, Better Than Chocolate Book Co. and her social network Girl Reads Romance!

Hugs,

      Dani ~ aka The Romance Book Addict

I’m joining in on a fun meme challenge called…

This meme is run by Tink of Pickled Beef, if you haven’t been to her blog I suggest you check it out, its amazing!

Okay here’s how the challenge works:

Every Tuesday Tink will pick out 2 words for the week – you can find the weekly words on her blog – then all you have to do is grab your camera and take pictures of things that you believe interpret those words. Then on the following Tuesday you post your photos and go to Pickled Beef and post the link to your post under Tink’s WWC post and she’ll also have 2 new words for everyone. Does that make sense? For some reason I’m horrible at trying to explain things today…

Okay here are the words for this week:

C and Wood

C is for Cali Mae…

C is for Chance…

Wood

I think I cheated, but I had to use an old photo I took for one of the weekly words – “Wood” because we’ve had the crapiest weather here for the past few days and I didn’t want to take a chance and get my camera wet.

So there you have it… if you’d like to check out the other Weekly Words Challenges head on over to Pickled Beef and check out her WWC post and scroll through the comments to visit other bloggers who are participating!

Hugs,

       Dani ~ aka The Romance Book Addict

Happy Father’s Day to all those great dads, uncles, and grandpas! You know who you are!

Hugs,

      Dani ~ aka The Romance Book Addict

***NOTE: Sadly Stephenie Meyer is not taking part in this tour so the information below was taken from The Host website.***

Q & A with Stephenie Meyer

Q: What inspired the idea for The Host?

A: The kernel of thought that became The Host was inspired by absolute boredom. I was driving from Phoenix to Salt Lake City, through some of the most dreary and repetitive desert in the world. It’s a drive I’ve made many times, and one of the ways I keep from going insane is by telling myself stories. I have no idea what sparked the strange foundation of a body-snatching alien in love with the host body’s boyfriend over the host-body’s protest. I was halfway into the story before I realized it. Once I got started, though, the story immediately demanded my attention. I could tell there was something compelling in the idea of such a complicated triangle. I started writing the outline in a notebook, and then fleshed it out as soon as I got to a computer. The Host was supposed to be no more than a side project—something to keep me busy between editing stints on Eclipse—but it turned into something I couldn’t step away from until it was done.

Q: Did you approaching writing The Host, your first adult novel, differently than your YA series?

A: Not at all. Like the Twilight Saga (this is probably the only way The Host is like the Twilight Saga!), The Host is just a story I had fun telling myself. My personal entertainment is always the key to why a story gets finished. I never think about another audience besides myself while I’m writing; that can wait for the editing stage.

Q: You have referred to The Host as being a science fiction novel for people who don’t like science fiction. Can you explain why?

A: Reading The Host doesn’t feel like reading science fiction; the world is familiar, the body you as the narrator are moving around inside of is familiar, the emotions on the faces of the people around you are familiar. It’s very much set in this world, with just a few key differences. If it weren’t for the fact that alien stories are by definition science fiction, I wouldn’t classify it in that genre.

Q: There is a lot of internal dialogue between Wanderer, the narrator and invading “soul”, and Melanie, the human whose body Wanderer is now living inside. Each character has her own distinct voice and internal struggle. Was it a challenge to have the two characters, who essentially take up one body, stand on their own?

A: Wanderer and Melanie were very distinct personalities to me from day one; keeping them separate was never an issue. Melanie is the victim—she’s the one that we, as humans, should identify with; at the same time, she is not always the more admirable character. She can be angry and violent and ruthless. Wanderer is the attacker, the thief. She is not like us, not even a member of our species. However, she is someone that I, at least, wish I was more like. She’s a better person than Melanie in a lot of ways, and yet a weaker person. The differences between the two main characters are the whole point of the story. If they weren’t so distinct, there would have been no reason to write it.

Q: Did any of the characters surprise you while writing?

A: I am constantly surprised by my characters when I write—it’s really one of my favorite parts. When a character refuses to do what I had planned for him or her, that’s when I know that character is really alive. There were several characters who caught me off guard with The Host. One in particular was slated for a bit part as the wingman to the villain. Somehow, he knew he was more than that, and I couldn’t stop him from morphing into a main love interest. 

Q: Your Twilight series has had a lot of crossover appeal for adult readers, do you think The Host will also appeal to your younger readers?

A: I’ve had a great deal of interest from my YA readers about the release of The Host. I have no doubt that they will continue to make up a core part of my readership. I love blurring the lines between the different genres and categories—because in my head, a good book won’t fit inside the lines. I hope that The Host continues to do what the Twilight Saga is doing: showing that a good story doesn’t belong to any one demographic.

Q: How do you feel about the enormous success that you’ve had with the Twilight series? How has it changed your life?

A: I am continually shocked by the success of my books.  I never take it for granted, and I do not count on it in my expectations of my future.  It’s a very enjoyable thing, and I’ll have fun with it while it lasts. I’ve always considered myself first and foremost a mother, so being a writer hasn’t changed my life too much – except I do travel a lot more and have less free time.

Q: What adult authors do you read?

A: I’ve been reading books for adults my entire life. Growing up I was an avid reader—the thicker the book, the better. Pride and Prejudice, Gone with the Wind, The Sword of Shannara, Jane Eyre, Rebecca, etc. I’m a huge fan of Orson Scott Card, and Jane Austen– I can’t go through a year without re-reading her stuff again.

In honor of hosting The Host I’ll be giving away 3 copies of The Host courtesy of Hachette Book Group!

To enter – read the contest rules below and answer this question in the comments:

Which of Stephenie Meyer’s books is your favorite? If you haven’t read any of her books or you don’t have a favorite then tell me one of your other favorite books you’ve read this year.

Contest Rules for Hachette Book Group Giveaways:

-U.S. and Canada entrants ONLY

- NO P.O. Boxes please

- I’ll be contacting the winners so be sure to leave a valid email address!

- The winners will have 48 hours to reply back to me with their addresses so be sure to check your spam folders!

 ***Note: Contest Rules for Hatchette Book Group Giveaways are seperate from my own Contest Rules)***

Contest will end Tuesday, June 30th at midnight central time!!!

To check out the rest of the stops for The Host Blog Tour check out the calender HERE!

Thanks for stopping!

Hugs,

     Dani ~ aka The Romance Book Addict

As you can see, I got rid of my monthy slideshow release page… there are just sooo many books that come out every month that I’d love to share with you in the slideshow I had posted that I don’t think everyone is gonna sit through because, I hate to say this, but it would be so long and I don’t want to bore you… so I thought why not ask you all what kind of slideshow should I do? Should I do one of my upcoming reviews? Or would you prefer to have the old slideshow back and let’s say I keep it to a minimum like the “Top 10 books I’m looking forward to seeing release each month” or what other kind of slideshow do you have in mind? I’d really like to know… so don’t be shy voice your opinions!!!

Also I’d like to know if there any authors you would like to see guest blogging here? Please keep it within the Romance, YA, and Pet genre.