Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet.  Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US.  So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions. We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Book Wars is a new feature for both of us which we hope to post every Monday, while we get it up and running this is subject to change as we participate in other features or tours we have committed to prior to setting up Book Wars.

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent is.... the UK Cover!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: Delicate (Grounding Quinn 0.5)

Author: Steph Campbell

Publisher: US - Self Published, 186 Pages, (June 2012), UK - Simon & Schuster UK, 208 Pages, (May 9th 2013)
Add to: Goodreads USA Version | Goodreads UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Sydney Pierce has just met the guy of her dreams…just don’t tell her psycho boyfriend, Trevor.

With a gorgeous boyfriend, a thriving gymnastics career and a stellar academic record, anyone would assume that Sydney has it all. That's precisely what the seventeen-year-old perfectionist wants you to believe, and she works hard to keep up the pretense. Especially now that there are cameras following her for a documentary on Olympic hopefuls.

When Grant, the charming new student, disrupts her carefully crafted routine, the cracks beneath her perfect façade begin to rise to the surface and despite Trevor's objections to their friendship, she can't stay away from him.

As her connection to Grant pulls her closer to him, the once lighthearted relationship with Trevor takes an intense and dark turn, forcing her into a position in which not only her happiness, but her safety is at stake. Can Sydney learn to let go of everything she is clinging to in order to gain everything she has ever wanted, or will she realize her breaking point too late?

About the author:

Steph Campbell grew up in Southern California, but now calls Southwest Louisiana home. She has one husband, four children and a serious nail polish obsession.

She blogs at stephcampbell.blogspot.com Stop by and say hello! facebook.com/authorstephcampbell Twitter: @stephcampbell_

Find Steph Online: Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Steph If I'm honest, I prefer the US version. I think the UK version looks a little young, and doesn't pop as well as the US version. I think seeing just the back of the cover model works so well, because Sydney, the main character was all about shying away from attention.

Lisa Hmmm, this week is such a hard choice for me. I've been thinking about it, looking at these two on and off for a few days and it's so hard to pick which one I like better. However, in all Book Wars there must be one winner so I think I'd have to go with the US cover. The US cover for me looks a bit more polished. If I was going to choose the story by cover alone I'd be sold on both so that's not an issue at all for me. Very hard choice this week, but the US cover just eeks out a win for me this round.

Michelle It's times like this that I really wish we didn't have to pick our favourite cover. I love them both for different reasons. I like how the USA cover makes the girls feel like she is alone and has no one.  But I also like the UK cover, it seems to fit better with the New Adult theme than the USA one in my own opinion.  I really am torn between the covers, so I am going to go with Shelf Appeal. If I saw both of these covers in a shop on a shelf I would be more likely to pick up the UK version over the USA version.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of Delicate NOW!

survey service

Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet.  Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US.  So, Michelle from Much Loves Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions. We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Book Wars is a new feature for both of us which we hope to post every Monday, while we get it up and running this is subject to change as we participate in other features or tours we have committed to prior to setting up Book Wars.

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for The Winter Witch is.... the UK cover!  Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Right: US - Left: UK

Title: My Soul To Take (Soul Screamers, #1)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Publisher: US - Harlequin Teen, 279 Pages (August 1st, 2009) UK - Mira Ink, 345 Pages (January 1st, 2011)
Add to Goodreads: USA Version | UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

Synopsis: She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.

About the author:

A resident of San Antonio, Rachel Vincent has a BA in English and an overactive imagination, and consistently finds the latter to be more practical. She shares her workspace with two black cats (Kaci and Nyx) and her # 1 fan. Rachel is older than she looks-seriously-and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.

Find  Online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa The US cover has a graceful feel and the UK cover is more edgy and is more of a literal take on the whole "Soul Screamers" series title. I can see people loving both for different reasons and while the US version is just the beginning of for the covers in this series it's set up for a theme for all the future titles which I like. I like how they all pretty much match sitting on my shelves. So I guess I'll have to choose US for this round. While I love the edgy feel of the UK version I just can't get past seeing the whole series and how amazying they look up close and person.

Michelle This is another tough week, we really don't seem to be making this easy on ourselves to pick a cover :). The USA covers were what initially drew me into this series, and while I do love these covers and how they all follow on, getting more amazing as the series continued, I have to pick the UK covers for this one. Like Lisa, she can see how the covers all match when they are together, which I can also do for my own UK covers.  Each one has a different colour and focus image on each one, and I love how they catch your eye. It's a UK vote for me this week.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of My Soul To Take NOW!

panel management

Hey everyone! I'm REALLY EXCITED to be hosting author Lisa Desrochers' blog tour for her up and coming "New Adult" release - A Little Too Far from HarperCollins! We're looking for bloggers who'd like to be part of the tour for reviews, interviews, guest posts and more! All the info and the form to sign up are below!

Title: A Little Too Far (A Little Too Far #1)
Author: Lisa Desrochers
Publisher: HarperCollins, (September 17th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

"More than a ridiculously sexy, HOT read, Desrochers takes you on a wild ride of self-discovery and bittersweet romance." —Jennifer L. Armentrout (J. Lynn), New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You.

Synopsis: Have you ever gone just a little too far?

Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for better part of the last few years…and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome. But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to Confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt…and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy on the eyes deacon…only eight months away from becoming a priest. As Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.

Tour Dates: September 16th - 27th (Monday - Friday)

Type's of Posts: Review, interview, guest post, character interviews, excerpts/teasers (2), play lists, top ten lists, casting list, etc! Bloggers who have selected interviews or guest posts will be required to email questions and topics. Review copies will be made available for those who have selected review. These copies will be eBook format only and sent via a link through Edelweiss. If you don't have an account, please create one asap.

How to Sign Up: Please complete the form below. Everyone who signs up will be considered for the tour. However since we're looking for more than one post a day during the tour most (depending on how many people sign up for the tour) if not everyone who signs up will be assigned a date.

Sign-Up's for this tour will close on: August 12th, 2013

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to email and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

I know I'm not the only one excited about this book! I can't wait to read it and kick off the tour!

A HUGE thank you goes out to Christine at I *Heart* Big Books for creating the tour banner and button for me! YOU are the best EVER!!!

Wow! The amazing book boys are all around the blog right now and are looking for a date with one lucky, LUCKY reader. Seriously guys, I wish I could enter to win a "virtual date" with one of this book boys. So far "It's A Date!" has been going great and I thank everyone for stopping by and entering.

While the last two days have been spent with some swoon-able bad boys - Kaidan from Sweet Evil and Dante from The Collector, today I have a chance to bring you someone a bit different but who I have an epic love for, today I'm excited to bring you....

CAS from ALTERED

Title: Altered (Altered, #1)
Author: Jennifer Rush

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 336 Pages (January 1st, 2013)

Add to: Goodreads
Purchase Altered: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Synopsis: When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

Interview with Cas - 

What did you do for Valentine's Day?

Ate chocolate.

What's your idea of the perfect date?

There would be food involved. Definitely food. And ice cream, which is like the upper echelon of food. Maybe some Celine Dion. Love that chic.

Say you're making a Mixed CD for someone special/important to you. What would be on that CD?

Celine Dion! My heart will go on. And on and on. It’s a big heart. I have love for everyone. Gather in ladies! There’s plenty to go around!

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Umm, should all chocolate have a caramel center? Fact: Yes.

Describe the perfect girl?

I don’t discriminate.

And lastly, what's the best way to YOUR heart?

I think we've already covered that. Ice cream. Caramel filled chocolate. Celine Dion. Free love. Also, BBQing.

"Little known fact: Valentine's Day is also known as National Make-Out With Cas Day. So let's celebrate it together!" - Cas, ALTERED

Don't forget to check out the last two days on the blog when I had a chance to spread the love for Kaidan from Sweet Evil and Dante from The Collector.

Thanks guys! You make my heart all melty-swoon!

Find Jenn Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

ENTER TO WIN A DATE WITH CAS TODAY!!!

Note: This is the SAME rafflecopter form as on the events main page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want to win a Virtual Date with a swoon worthy book boy? How about Kaidan from Sweet Evil? Or Dante from The Collector? Take a look at all the "It's A Date!" event info and

>>>CLICK HERE<<<

Enter before it's too late!

Can I just say how much I love all three of these delicious book boys? WOW! So, yesterday my blog featured Kaidan of Sweet Evil and today I bring you another swoon-fest. Each of these wonderful book boys want to spend a "Date" with YOU! Yep, they sure do so check it out and enter, enter, enter!

And now, as excited as I was to interview this bad, bad boy I'm ecstatic I finally get to share it with everyone! Today I bring you.....

DANTE from The Collector

Title: The Collector (Dante Walker, #1)
Author: Victoria Scott
Publisher: Entangled Teen, 400 Pages (April 2nd, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-Order The Collector: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Synopsis: He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big, red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect—he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried.

Interview with Dante -

What did you do for Valentine's day?

The usual--sealing the souls of bad girls everywhere. I got a job to do, and there's never a day off for hell's #1 collector. Of course, I get why dudes like V-Day. Their girl's all happy and smiley and touchy. It must be kind of nice. But it's whatever.

What's your idea of the perfect date?

Easy. Being with a girl somewhere quiet. I don't dig the whole crowded scene. If I got a girl, I want her one on one. Maybe a drive-in movie where we're kicking it in my ride. Or maybe just on her couch while her parents (who hate me) are asleep upstairs. Oh, and V-Day is about gifts. Let's not skirt around that. Whatever my girl wanted, she'd get. Anything. There'd probably be flowers involved, too. Girls dig that stuff, no?

Say you're making a Mixed CD for someone special/important to you. What would be on that CD?

A lot of angry, violent music. It is what it is.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

No comment. Maybe. I don't know. No comment.

Describe the perfect girl?

Eff. This mess is hard. Okay, I guess she'd be...alive. Not as in heart beating, although that'd be a plus. I just...I'd want someone who really lived. Someone whose face lit up at the smallest thing, ya know? But it doesn't matter. I'm dead, and I've got a full time job in the fullest of ways. So there's no sense in thinking about crap like that.

And lastly, what's the best way to YOUR heart?

Bacon.

"I'm a self-assured, finger-lickin' delicious demon from hell. And I want to show you how good it feels to be bad. Pick me, doll. You won't regret it." - Dante Walker, THE COLLECTOR

Be sure to check out yesterdays post with Kaidan from Sweet Evil & Sweet Peril and tomorrows post with Cas from Altered!

Find Victoria Online: 

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

ENTER TO WIN A DATE WITH DANTE TODAY!!!

Note: This is the SAME rafflecopter form as on the events main page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want to win a Virtual Date with a swoon worthy book boy? How about Cas from Altered? Or Kaidan from Sweet Evil? Take a look at all the "It's A Date!" event info and

>>>CLICK HERE<<<

Enter before it's too late!

So, for the "It's A Date!" event I wanted to take some time to spend a day here on my blog with each of the boys. WOW, let me tell you it's been exciting and so much fun! The winners of the event are in for a great "Date!"

And today I had the pleasure of interviewing.....

KAIDAN from Sweet Evil & Sweet Peril!

Title: Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy, #1)
Author: Wendy Higgins
Publisher: HarperTeen, 453 Pages (May 1st, 2012)
Add to: Goodreads
Purchase Sweet Evil: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Synopsis: Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Title: Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2)
Author: Wendy Higgins
Publisher: HarperTeen, 374 Pages (April 30th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Preorder Sweet Peril: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Synopsis: Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Interview with Kaidan -

Courtesy of Wade Poezyn

What did you do for Valentine's day?

~ If I'm being honest, I slept in late and spent the day being pissed off at the world. Then went out with my band mates and got trashed. (Sorry, luvs, honesty isn't always romantic, eh?)

What's your idea of the perfect date?

~ Right then. I don't date. (Again with the honesty.) I mostly meet girls at gigs and pubs and parties.

Say you're making a Mixed CD for someone special/important to you. What would be on that CD?

~ Hahaha...oh wait...you're serious. Okay, someone special. Er...only ever burned CDs for my own self (selfish bloke that I am).  I suppose I'd fill the CD with songs that made me think of said special someone - whether it's lyrics that speak of them, or a tune that seems to play along with a memory I have of them. In other words, the songs would depend on the person.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

~ No. I know I'm breaking all sorts of Valentine's rules by saying this, but I barely believe in love.  However, you can bet your fine backside I believe in lust at first sight.

Describe the perfect girl?

~ As far as physical description I have no perfect girl because I like it all - hair color, eye color, skin color, body type - what's not to like? Variety and individuality are beautiful things.  But as personalities go, I prefer open-minded, "chill" girls who like to have a good time.

And lastly, what's the best way to YOUR heart?

~ Random acts of kindness.  What?  I'm being serious... *winks*

"You can't change a bad boy, so just enjoy him. ~Kaidan Rowe, SWEET EVIL"

Be sure to check back tomorrow to see which one of these amazing book boys I'm spending some time with!

Find Wendy Online: 

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

ENTER TO WIN A DATE WITH KAIDAN TODAY!!!

Note: This is the SAME rafflecopter form as on the events main page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want to win a Virtual Date with a swoon worthy book boy? How about Cas from Altered? Or Dante from The Collector? Take a look at all the "It's A Date!" event info and

>>>CLICK HERE<<<

Enter before it's too late!

Hello and welcome to what I hope *fingers crossed* will be the first in a new event here on my blog "It's A Date!". Three authors, three book boys and THREE WINNERS! We all love book boys, so why not a chance to win a virtual date with one?

Keep reading to find out the who's, what's and where's. Oh and how to enter to win too.

The first three, wonderful, amazingly EPIC authors who have volunteered their time and their delicious book boys are:

Jennifer Rush, author of Altered

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 336 Pages (January 1st, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Purchase Altered: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository
Find Jenn Online: Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Synopsis: When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

Victoria Scott, author of The Collector

Publisher: Entangled Teen, 400 Pages (April 2nd, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Purchase The Collector: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository
Find Victoria Online: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Synopsis: He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big, red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect—he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried.

Wendy Higgins, author of Sweet Evil

Publisher: HarperTeen, 453 Pages (May 1st, 2012)
Add to: Goodreads
Purchase Sweet Evil: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository
Find Wendy Online: Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Synopsis: Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

The book boys: Cas from Altered, Dante from The Collector and Kaidan from Sweet Evil. *fans self*

The how: The "Virtual Date" will take place via emails back and forth over the course of a day between the winners and the book boys. How many emails exchanged will be at the discretion of the author(s), the book boy(s) and the winner(s). However, there will be at least a few throughout the day and evening that each winner can look forward to.

Entering: There are THREE DIFFERENT Rafflecopter forms to fill out, one for each boy. Feel free to enter one, two or ALL THREE! We've made sure to keep it pretty simple and easy to enter, just make sure if you want to enter the giveaway for ONE SPECIFIC BOY that you pay attention to the three different forms when entering.

After the date: So, after you've spent the day with Cas or Dante or Kaidan, what's next? Each author AND winner has the option of posting the date on their blogs and or websites. I know I hope the authors and winners share the "Date" with us.

Words from the boys:

"Little known fact: Valentine's Day is also known as National Make-Out With Cas Day. So let's celebrate it together!" - Cas, ALTERED

"I'm a self-assured, finger-lickin' delicious demon from hell. And I want to show you how good it feels to be bad. Pick me, doll. You won't regret it." - Dante Walker, THE COLLECTOR

Courtesy of Wade Poezyn

"I don't date. But for you, luv, I'll make an exception." - Kaidan Rowe, SWEET EVIL

So, what do you guys think? I'm excited! I wish I could enter to win, but hosting this epic event... I can't even find the words to say how thrilled it is to take a random, crazy idea and have three authors run with it! Speaking of authors, should any of you like to participate in future "It's a Date!" events please contact me ASAP so we can get started!

Now how to enter to spend a day with these three wonderfully swoon-worthy boys!

Quick re-cap: There will be THREE WINNERS. One for each boy. Each winner will receive a "Virtual Date" via emails back and forth throughout one day between the winner and the book boy that they've won the "virtual date" with. The day of the actual "date" will be worked out between the author and the winner after the event has completed.

Feel free to enter one, two or all three. Please understand that there will be THREE different winners, so if someone is lucky enough to win more than one of the "Date's" they will be given a chance to choose which one is their top pick and then another winner will be selected. I want things to be fair and to spread the love of these boys, so I hope you all appreciate and understand.

Also, each winner will also receive some amazing SIGNED SWAG! Check it out below!

Add the button for extra entries:

<center> <a href="http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad218/BoundByBooks/Its-a-Date-FINAL.gif" /></a></center>

Take a peek at the awesome swag:

Rules and how to enter:

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form(s) below to enter this giveaway.
Name & Email Address must be provided. (Easy Entry, just click the form & it does it for you!)
You must be at least 16 years old to enter.
This giveaway is open to: EVERYONE!
Giveaway ends: March 1st, 2013 (12:00AM EST)

ENTER TO WIN A "VIRTUAL DATE" WITH

CAS FROM ALTERED!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ENTER TO WIN A "VIRTUAL DATE" WITH

DANTE FROM THE COLLECTOR!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ENTER TO WIN A "VIRTUAL DATE" WITH

KAIDAN FROM SWEET EVIL!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Since this is the first time for what I hope to be many more of the "It's a Date!" events I'm sure there will be questions along the way, so please feel free to email and I'd be happy to answer them all.

Thanks so much to each of my authors - Jenn, Victoria and Wendy for taking the time, donating the swag and in advance for setting up their book boys for a "date" with three lucky winners! You guys are amazing for taking on my crazy, wacky, loony, hair-brained idea and I love each of you even more for it!

CALLING ALL AUTHORS: I'm looking for this event to possibly be featured on my blog every other month to quarterly.  If you are an author and would like to participate, I'd love to host you and your book boy for a "virtual date" giveaway!
Please email ASAP!

Thanks to everyone who's entered, I wish you ALL GOOD LUCK and Happy reading!

*Photos and quotes from the boys provided by the authors.

Today is the 5th and final day of our Top 10 of 2012 Event. My co-hosts and I hope that you've had a great time with the event this year and we'll be back again at the end of 2013! So, keep reading amazing books and have a wonderful New Year! Oh and here's my list for today's topic......

Top 10 Books I'm looking forward to in 2013 -

Title: Altered (Altered #1)
Author: Jennifer Rush
Publisher: Little Brown & Co., 336 Pages (January 1st, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

Title: Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2)
Author: Jamie McGuire
Publisher: Atria Books, 448 pages (April 16th, 2013)

Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Walking Disaster is Travis' POV.

How much is too much to love?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. Just when he thought he was invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Jamie McGuire's New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster Abby had her say. Now it's time to see the story through Travis's eyes.

Title: The Collector (Dante Walker #1)
Author: Victoria Scott
Publisher: Entangled Teen, 400 Pages (April 2nd, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big, red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect—he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried.

Title: Fragments (Partials Sequence #2)
Author: Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 564 Pages (February 26th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence--it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what's left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira's journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and Kira and Marcus both will discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn't even know existed.

The second installment in the pulse-pounding Partials saga is the story of the eleventh hour of humanity's time on Earth, a journey deep into places unknown to discover the means--and even more important, a reason--for our survival.

Title: Dance of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #2)
Author: Bethany Griffin
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 400 Paged (April 23rd, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Bethany Griffin continues the journey of Araby Worth in Dance of the Red Death—the sequel to her teen novel Masque of the Red Death.

In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.

Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.

With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.

Title: Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, #2)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperCollins, 352 Pages (January 8th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Title: Up To Me (The Bad Boys, #2)
Author: M. Leighton
Publisher: (January 6th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Happily ever after doesn’t come easy. But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms. He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside her chest. Unfortunately, their happily ever after is short-lived when a shadow from Cash’s past threatens to turn their world upside down.

Dangerous people from his father’s world have discovered that Cash holds information that could put them away for a very long time. And they’re willing to do anything—and hurt anybody—to get it back. Giving it up means Cash must choose between the life of his father and the life of Olivia.

Having nearly overcome her wariness of bad boys, Olivia’s trust is shaken when this new threat arises. Now she finds that Cash is not only a danger to her heart, but his family has associations that are a danger to her life as well. She soon discovers that there are some situations in life where trust is a girl’s only option. And this is one of them. If she’s to live, she must trust Cash with her life. But to Olivia, that’s much, much easier than letting go and trusting him with her heart.

Title: Fuse (Pure, #2)
Author: Julianna Baggott
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 416 Pages (February 19th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: When the world ended, those who dwelled within the Dome were safe. Inside their glass world the Pures live on unscarred, while those outside—the Wretches—struggle to survive amidst the smoke and ash.

Believing his mother was living among the Wretches, Partridge escaped from the Dome to find her. Determined to regain control over his son, Willux, the leader of the Pures, unleashes a violent new attack on the Wretches. It’s up to Pressia Belze, a young woman with her own mysterious past, to decode a set of cryptic clues from the past to set the Wretches free.

An epic quest that sweeps readers into a world of beautiful brutality, Fuse continues the story of two people fighting to save their futures—and change the fate of the world.

Title: Rise (Nightshade Prequel, #2)
Author: Andrea Cremer
Publisher: Philomel, 432 Pages (January 8th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: The sequel to Rift and the prequel to the New York Times bestselling novel Nightshade.

Everything Conatus stands for is at risk. Hoping to gather enough resistance to save their order, Ember and Barrow attempt a desperate escape. But fate offers little mercy. When their mission is exposed, the  couple face relentless pursuit by the supernatural horrors that act on the commands of Eira’s ally: the mysterious Bosque Mar. A shocking revelation forces Ember out of hiding, sending her back into the heart of dark magic at Tearmunn keep, where she must convince her old friend Alistair of her love or face dire consequences. Ember’s deception offers the only chance for the resistance to succeed, but what she discovers in the shadows beneath the keep will shatter her world and bring about the Witches’ War.

Richly sensual and full of magic, action and danger, Andrea Cremer's fifth book set in the Nightshade world is an edge-of-your-seat page turner.

Title: Invisibility
Author: Andrea Cremer, David Levithan
Publisher: Philomel, 358 Pages (May 7th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

Honorable Mentions -

Wethering the Storm (The Storm, #2) Samantha Towle, Taken By: Erin Bowman, Deeper We Call By: Chelsea M. Cameron, Cameleon By: Kelly Oram, The Originals By: Cat Patrick, Infinity By: Sedona Venez,  Reckless (THoughtless, #3) By: S.C. Stephens, Hunted (The Guardian Legacy, #3) By: Ednah Walters, Beautiful Bastard By: Christina Lauren, Things I can't Forget (Hundred Oaks, #3) By: Miranda Kenneally, Crash By: Lisa McMann and many, many more.

SO.MANY.AMAZING.BOOKS.COMING.OUT.IN.2013! I mean seriously, I can't even!!! There are so many to talk about & be excited for. SO EXCITING!!!

As always, DON'T forget to share YOUR list in the Linky Below!!

GIVEAWAY!!!

Today's final giveaway is being hosted by Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads. She's giving away to TWO winners a book of their choice from her Top 10 lists!!

>>>CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO ENTER<<<

NOTE: This is the same Linky on all co-hosts blogs.

I'd like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all my co-hosts - Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Rachel from Fiktshun, Jaime from Two Chicks on Books and Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads for making this another FUN and amazing year of Top 10 Lists! I'm down for hosting again next year and I hope you'll be co-hosting with me! <333 to each of you :)