There are only a few days left… I promise. But there are still a few rockin’ bloggers who have some amazing tips to share. And I can’t not post their wisdom here on the blog. If I were to hoard it all to myself, that would be… well… selfish. And I try not be too selfish. Especially with awesome advice that can only make this community better.

Well, today I am very honored to be able to have another one of my favorite bloggers on the blog. She really doesn’t need an introduction, though I’ll give her one anyway. I mean, who doesn’t already know Ashley, The Bookish Brunette a.k.a. The Zombie Queen?

While she may have only started “rocking your face off since 2011″ it feels like she’s always been a part of this community. She has a larger-than-life kind of personality… totally opposite to my hide-in-the-shadows one. And I am so seriously amazed by everything she does.

From having one of the most gorgeous blogs in the blogosphere. To promoting some of the most exciting Indie and Self-pubbbed authors. To writing immensely entertaining and informative posts. To running Zombie Craze two years in a row. To being just as… if not more than (though I don’t think that’s possible)… in love with Claudia of PhatPuppy Art’s amazingly amazing artwork.

Oh… and if that’s not enough, you should check out her hilarious vlogs and late night Twitter convos.

But before I go and take up all the post space with my ramblings, I’ll just leave you with a little background before I turn this post over to Ashley….

I am almost positive I got to know Ashley through our mutual love of PhatPuppy Art. There may have been the occasional Tweet or two before that, but until it became set in stone that we were huge fans, I might not have known Ashley quite as well.

Though I did know of her blog. How could I not? That blog is the stuff of awesome. And while I can’t rock that look – she even makes zombies look pretty – where clearly I go for dark and destructed, I love staring at her gorgeous design and her incredibly well-formatted posts. (Sooo pretteh.) But it’s not like I really need another reason to stick around. Her posts rock!

And Ashley is super nice, super friendly and someone who is clearly way more established and knowledgeable at this blogging thing  than I am. And so, without any more blabbitty-blab, let me turn this blog over to her…

BB’s Tips for Bloggers

Oh those tips are AWESOME! And that post was so much fun. I totally agree Twitter is something to watch out for! When I started out it became a total time suck… actually I think I still get caught up on the DM side of it way too often. It is a total frenemy!

And I will always, always, always be afraid to ask… but I’ll do it anyway. Because you’re totally right. They can just say no… or ignore you. It’s not like they’re zombies that will invade your home and eat your brains!

Respect is so important. Of course you don’t have to agree. Differences are what make life interesting. But being respectful of those differences and treating people with respect is a must.

Um… as far as “cliques” I was NOT one of those bloggers that got the invite to be epic…. So I’m really, REALLY grateful Your Epicness agreed to be on my humble little blog.

And oh… em… gee… that is SO freaking rude! i can’t believe anyone would demand that you tell them how to design your header! Yes, learn… or buy them from Parajunkee like I do.

As far as choice “d” – YES. Couldn’t agree with you more.

Ashley, thank you so much for taking the time to write this awesome post and to share your wisdom in a voice that is very much all your own. I LOVE it! Thank you!

And now…

For those of you who have not yet “met” Ashley – is there really someone who hasn’t? – you can find her here…

So I asked Ashley what her favorite YA Zombie reads were this year and she had two…

So, I am offering up for giveaway – to be ordered from Amazon or The Book Depository depending upon location – to two winners a copy of ROT & RUIN by Jonathan Maberry OR ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND by Gena Showalter.

Enter in the Rafflecopter below, and all my usual giveaway rules apply. (See my giveaway policy if you have any questions.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I didn’t get any physical books in the mail this week. At least I don’t think so as I haven’t checked my mailbox since Wednesday. Though I did get approved for a book on NetGalley that I’ve been dying to read for at least a few months now and I received an eARC of an author’s book that looks like a lot of fun.

So, no, there were no physical books. And I think it’s going to be that way for quite some time, as I have zero requests in and zero books traded for. Which means that I’ll only have digital images of some of the books I receive from NetGalley, that is if I decide to request any.

But this week I did get two eARCs for review and they are…

From NetGalley courtesy of the publisher Amulet, an imprint of Abrams, I received an eARC of SPLINTERED by A.G. Howard. Which I’ve been so excited to read for months now, ever since I first saw the cover and saw that it was a new adventure in Wonderland. This time by an ancestor of  the real life Alice.

I also received, thanks to the author Brittany Geragotelis, an eARC of WHAT THE SPELL? Which looks like such a fun and exciting read, I just couldn’t resist the chance to take an early peek. Magic and witchcraft and a love story make this book one I just can’t help but want to read right now.

But I do have a couple books ahead of both of these that should get read first, so…

Here are the books I have in my reading pile this week.

(October 14 – October 20, 2012)

First up on the pile is VESSEL by Sarah Beth Durst. I received a copy for review from the author through the publisher, Simon & Schuster, and I can’t wait to get the chance to read it.

I’d seen the cover ages ago and thought it was absolutely gorgeous and exotic and it made me want to know more. As did the description. I can’t wait to explore this “desert world of sandstorms and sand-wolves.” I’m excited about meeting Liyana and seeing just what happens when the goddess she’s been awaiting never arrives.

I am looking forward to taking the journey through the desert as Liyana and Korbyn search for the other vessels who are missing the gods that were chosen to inhabit them.

This story sounds so very different and enchanting and I am super stoked to be able to move it to the top of the pile this week.

Next up on the pile is a book I’ve been dying to start reading for ages and that’s ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND by Gena Showalter. It’s been on my wishful thinking reads for the past couple of weeks and I just can’t wait any longer.

I want to see Alice take her vengeance against the walking dead. I can’t wait to learn exactly how she plans on doing just that. And I am so excited to see just how Gena Showalter envisioned Wonderland packed full of zombies.

And, of course, I can’t wait to meet Cole Holland who is apparently the “baddest of the bad boys.” Oh yeah.

I have avoided almost all reviews so I can experience this one for myself, but I love the excerpt I’d read on Amazon and I adore the quirky “Off with their heads” tagline on the book.

I am so happy I’m finally able to add this one to my reading pile instead of just wishing I could.

***

Wishful Thinking reads:

SILENCE by Becca Fitzpatrick is my only wishful thinking read this week. FINALE comes out on the 23rd and I’d love to get caught up with this series by the time it is released so I can just jump from one to the other.

But as I have so many books that I must read first… and a few that I really should be reading… I really can’t justify moving it to the top of the pile and so it remains but a wish.

***

Those left behind:

I am a bit behind on last week’s pile because I still didn’t get the computer set up that will allow me to import the audiobook of BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD into a format that will allow me to listen to it on my iPhone.

But I did finish reading COVET which left me cruelly hanging as I await the next book in the series. I also finished reading LOTHAIRE. Which I loved. Oh that book was so much fun. And had quite a bit of heat. And surprisingly, I actually reviewed it over on Fiktshun After Dark.

Not surprising, I did go just a little bit off pile and devoured BREATHE by Sarah Crossan and did a reboot on STARLING by Lesley Livingston which I’ve been desperate to read for ages.

I hope by the time I start on this week’s pile on Sunday that I’ll have finished STARLING, but that remains to be determined.

Of course I still have to write my reviews for CRAVE, COVET and BREATHE, but hopefully I’ll have at least reviewed BREATHE by Monday. Fingers are most definitely crossed.

***

NetGalley Pile Adds:

I did end up getting lured over to NetGalley to check out the new format. And I ended up taking just a quick peek at some of the Top Requested books, where I noticed SPLINTERED. Which I’ve wanted for ages. Which I just had to request.

I know, I know. Bad, bad me. But I really thought I’d get rejected or ignored. So, it was much to my surprise that I was approved and that I have it sitting on my Kindle right now, just begging for me to take a longer look.

I’ve been on such a reading kick lately, which is why I’m surprised I’d only read two books this week. As I was absolutely sure I’d read more. Am I getting that senile that I’ve already forgotten a book I’ve read? Very possible. Likelihood? Probable.

I hope to be able to write four reviews this week, as I am starting to fall a bit behind on those. But as I don’t remember the last time I was ever able to write that many in one week, I’m not wholly confident it will happen for me this week.

But I am, as always, ever hopeful.

And I hope that you have a stack of books on your reading pile this week that you’re just dying to dig into. Because I am of the firm belief that books you are desperate to read are ones that are far easier to escape into.

Have an amazing and happy reading week this week!

***

Do you create a reading pile?
If so, what’s in your pile this week?

Below are the YA books that released – and are releasing – this week that I am spotlighting for my “Book Watch: Releasing This Week” post.

These are books for the week of September 25th-October 1st that I had pre-ordered.

Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel was released in the U.S. on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Del Rey, the print edition is 496 pages.

Dearly, Beloved is the second book in the Gone With the Respiration series by the author.

***

I cannot believe I’m behind on this series and book two, Dearly, Beloved, is already happily residing on my Kindle. I have got to find a few moments to catch up on this series as it is one I’ve been dying to read ever since I first heard about it.

I love the mix of the Victorian setting and zombies. I love that in this sequel there are pro- and anti-zombie factions. I love that “lines are being drawn.” And I can’t wait to meet Nora and Bram.

I did sneak a peek at the description and I’m nervous about what might happen to Nora now that she’s a target. I hope that her father can find a cure, especially for this new strain of the virus.

I can’t wait to get caught up on this series and I hope to do so in October. Any book described as “spellbinding” and “suspenseful” is one I want at the top of my reading pile. 

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter was released in the U.S. on September 25, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Harlequin TEEN, the print edition is 416 pages.

Alice in Zombieland is the first book in author Gena Showalter’s new series, White Rabbit Chronicles. The second book in the series, Through the Zombie Glass will be released in 2013.

***

I am so excited that Alice in Zombieland if finally out. I wish this week hadn’t been so crazy or I’d have already read it. I’ve been waiting forever for its release. Forever.

I love Gena Showalter’s writing. And this series about Alice and zombies sounds epic. I already spotlighted it earlier this month for my Book Watch post, so I promise not to ramble, gush, rave too much, but I can’t help but do so just a little bit.

I am dying, just dying to meet Alice Bell and bad boy Cole Holland. I desperately want to know what happened to Alice’s family. And I’m so curious to see just how many elements from the original tale will be incorporated into this one which sounds every bit as exciting as the original. Yes, I did read the short excerpt on Amazon.

I’m not sure which place is worse – Zombieland or Wonderland – but I can’t wait to read and find out. And I definitely plan on doing so in the next couple of weeks.

The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini was released in the U.S. on September 25, 2012 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to order online in all formats at Amazon and in hardcover and eBook formats at Barnes & Noble.

Published by Balzer + Bray, the print edition is 400 pages.

***

I hadn’t heard of The Other Normals until fairly recently when I was offered a copy through a trade. It sounded like a lot of fun so I decided to pre-order it for my Kindle.

I love that this story is about a boy-turned-hero. That he is basically a D&D a gamer who gets caught up in a real life adventure to save a princess. That he has to embark on a quest that utilizes the skills he learned from his rpg. And that all of this happens at summer camp.

This book sounds so very different from any of the books I’ve read in YA and I can’t wait to get the chance to pick this one up and meet Perry Eckert. I haven’t yet read anything by Ned Vizzini, but I am definitely excited to check this out later this fall.

The Mephisto Kiss by Trinity Faegen was released in the U.S. on September 25, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by EgmontUSA, the print edition is 448 pages.

The Mephisto Kiss is the second book in author Trinity Faegen’s The Mephisto Covenant series.

***

I haven’t yet read the first book in the series, but I just had to order The Mephisto Kiss as I definitely plan on reading this entire series as it sounds super cool. Even though I haven’t yet read book one, I did sneak a peek at the description for this book and it sounds just as intriguing as the first.

I am very curious to meet this Eryx and find out whether his plans to force President Ellis to pledge his soul are successful. And I can’t wait to find out if he discovers Jordan’s true identity before the Mephisto brothers find a way to save her.

The description promises “romance, danger, and intrigue,” which are all very much things I love, so I can’t wait to finally get the chance to discover this series for myself and read both books back-to-back.

Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick was released in the U.S. on September 25, 2012 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to order online in all formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by EgmontUSA, the print edition is 528 pages.

Shadows is the second book in the Ashes trilogy by author Ilsa J. Bick.

***

I hadn’t heard much about Ashes before its release. But everyone was talking about it and how amazing it was, so I ordered it for my Kindle. And while I haven’t yet read it, I did order the second book in the series because I’m so curious to find out more about this series that everyone said was so incredibly chilling and a must read.

The description for this sequel grabbed me immediately. Even if I hadn’t heard of this series before now, just checking out the first three sentences would have made me order this book.

I am very interested in finding out just what kind of monster lives in Alex’s head and whether she is able to outrun the “demons of her past.” And I am so super curious to meet these humans in this apocalyptic society that may be the worst kind of monsters.

I really, really hope to be able to catch up on this series later this month. If it’s as “haunting” as the description promises, then I can’t wait to be a new fan.

Covet by Melissa Darnell was released in the U.S. on September 25, 2012 in paperback and eBook formats. It is currently available online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Harlequin TEEN the print edition is 496 pages.

Covet is the second book in The Clann series by author Melissa Darnell. The third book in the series, Consume, is slated for release in 2013.

***

I received an eARC of Covet through NetGalley for review as I am part of the tour later this month. But I had it pre-ordered long before then. I first heard of this series prior to Crave’s release and had that book pre-ordered, too.

I hadn’t had the chance to read Crave when it released, though I am reading it now and it’s a quick, fun and engaging read so far. I’d fallen in love with the first book’s cover and the description was captivating. I wanted to meet the Clann and find out more about just why the main character, Savannah, was forbidden from having anything to do with them or with Tristan. And I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to finally pick it up and find out.

I refuse to look at the Goodreads description for this sequel as I am in the middle of reading book one and I don’t want to read any potential spoilers. But I imagine that things don’t end perfectly for her and Tristan at the end of the first book and I can’t wait to find out just what happens with them in book two. If there is a “them” at the end of book one, that is….

I definitely plan on reading this sequel in the next week or two. Maybe in the next few days. Even though I don’t have a review for my tour stop, I want to find out where this series is heading as I’m already hooked. And while I’m not quite as in love with the second book’s cover, I am definitely glad I have this next book ready for me to pick up just as soon as I finish book one.

A Fractured Light by Jocelyn Davies was released in the U.S. on September 25, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by HarperTeen, the print edition is 352 pages.

A Fractured Light is the second book in the Beautiful Dark series by the author.

***

I cannot believe that A Fractured Light released this week. I don’t know how time passed so quickly between the release date for the first book in the series and this one. But somehow book two is already in my possession and I’ve yet to read book one.

I have wanted to meet Skye, Asher and Devin ever since I first read the description. Especially Asher, who is described as being “dark and wild.” I fell in love with the cover. I fell in love with the love triangle. And I was instantly captivated by the “impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world.”

So of course I had to pre-order this book. Because I want to find out what happens next even though I don’t yet know what happens first. I want to be able to continue reading from one book to the next without a break in between. And I want to find out just who Skye chooses. I really hope it’s Asher.

The Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda will be released in the U.S. on October 1, 2012 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Arthur A. Levine Books, the print edition is 304 pages.

The Savage Fortress is the first book in the Ash Mistry Chronicles by author Sarwat Chadda.

***

I first learned about The Savage Fortress this summer during the Authors Are Rockstars Tour and pre-ordered it for my Kindle. While I received an early copy a couple of weeks ago, I know I want this book for my collection and I can’t wait until it downloads on Monday.

I am super excited to meet Ash Mistry and go on the adventure with him as he is hunted by Lord Alexander Savage and his army of shapechangers. I can’t wait to see just how the author describes the fortresses and deserts that Ash encounters on his journey.

The battle sounds epic. The legend sounds magical. And the adventure sounds like one that I can’t wait to embark upon with Ash.

I will definitely be reading this book later this month and I just know it will be awesome.

***

The Turning by Francine Prose

Pub. Date: September 25, 2012

Published by: HarperTeen

(AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE)

***

With all the craziness that has been this past couple of weeks, I hadn’t realized I had eight books pre-ordered this week. I was quite surprised when seven of them downloaded on Monday Midnight.

While Wolf Pact by Melissa De La Cruz releases this week in print, I have the eBook pre-ordered and that doesn’t release until next week, so I’ll include it then. And while Demon Eyes by Scott Tracey releases this week in eBook format, as I have both the eBook and print editions pre-ordered, I will include it during its official release week, next week.

Most of the books releasing this week are sequels and I’m still way behind on all series, though I am so super thrilled and excited that Alice in Zombieland has released so that I can dive into that long-awaited book.

I also just started reading Crave by Melissa Darnell and would have finished it in one sitting, as it’s a quick and easy read, but for the fact that I’ve been just so exhausted. The Dude blames the sea air. I blame that, the sunshine, and the fact that it’s been a grueling couple of weeks.

But I really can’t wait to read Lia Habel’s series and Jocelyn Davies’ series as I heard they’re both awesome. And I can’t wait to check out The Other Normals as that book has me super curious.

I hope that this winter gets me caught up on all my “dying to read” books, but we shall see. I still haven’t been able to resist purchasing every book I want to read. Which is why I have seven new books that I’d pre-ordered in my collection this week.

But what about you? Any new reads that you’ve added that you’ve been pining for? Is Alice in Zombieland one of your most anticipated reads this week? I’d love to know!

As always, I would love to hear what you’re hoping to add to your collection this week!

And if you have any great suggestions of “must read” books to buy that are releasing this week, please let me know!

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter will be released in the U.S. on September 25, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Harlequin TEEN, the print edition is 416 pages.

Alice in Zombieland is the first book in author Gena Showalter’s White Rabbit Chronicles. The second book in the series, Through the Zombie Glass, is slated for release in 2013.

***

There are so many amazing books releasing the week of September 25th but there’s been one book I’ve been waiting the longest for and that’s ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND by Gena Showalter. I have been dying to get my hands on this book. So there was absolutely no way I wouldn’t be putting it in the spotlight this week.

I’ve been wary of books that rewrite history to include the undead, but Alice in Wonderland was already fiction. And while I’ve loved Alice’s story each of the many times I’ve read it, I just know I’m going to love Ali’s story, too.

I want to know exactly what happened that made things change for her in an instant. I want to know how her father’s “paranoia and delusion” somehow became a reality. And I want to know just what things she could have done differently so that she wouldn’t be forced to avenge her family.

But I also am dying to meet Cole Holland. I’m just so curious what his secrets are and why they are so dangerous. More dangerous, even, than the zombies. And I can’t wait to see just how kick-a** Ali Bell is in this series.

I’ve been a fan of author Gena Showalter’s for quite awhile now. I love the fact that she decided to take on a classic and give it her own twist. I can’t wait to see just how she tackles both this book and the next and whether she’ll decide to take the series even further.

I love the gorgeous cover. And I absolutely love the tagline, “Off with their heads.” While September 25th is only a few weeks away, the wait has been absolutely killing me and it can’t come soon enough.

Classic fiction with a twist, innocence lost and zombies. And all of this awesome penned by Gena Showalter. Even with all the seriously amazing books releasing the week of the 25th, I say ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND is the Book to Watch this week.

(Oh, and be sure to check out the excerpt on Amazon if you want to get a short peek before release date.)

Places to Watch

***

About the Book

Other Amazing Books to Watch

Here are a ton of awesome books releasing the week of September 25th:

Dearly, Beloved (Gone With the Respiration #2) by Lia Habel

The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini

A Fractured Light (A Beautiful Dark #2) by Jocelyn Davies

The Mephisto Kiss (The Mephisto Covenant #2) by Trinity Faegen

Shadows (Ashes Trilogy #2) by Ilsa J. Bick

Covet (The Clann #2) by Melissa Darnell

Wolf Pact (Wolf Pact #1) by Melissa de la Cruz

Below are the YA books coming out this week that I am spotlighting for my “Book Watch: Releasing This Week” post.