Welcome to Two Chicks on Books!!!

Thanks for stopping by! I'm here to share all things Bookish and also news about Movies, TV Shows, and even Video Games I love! I love to read your comments :)


Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Two Chicks on Books Turns 5! And A Giveaway!


Wow! I can't believe it's been 5 years! It seems like these past 5 years have flown by. I still remember my very first post, a review of Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton (which was a horribly written review lol). I remember the first people I met from blogging and some of them have become my best friends! Yes Rachel, Mindy, Nancy, Bella, Damaris,  Jess, Bonnie, Cameron, Bridget, Sophie, Katie, Jenny, Danny, Amber, Julie, Brittany, Rachel, Crystal, and Jen I'm talking to you! Love you ladies :D

I also remember the awesome authors and publishers who have been a blessing to work with I love you all! If I mentioned everyone this would be quite a long post. But I did want to send a special shout out to Veronica Rossi, Talia Vance, Katherine Longshore, Cory Jackson, AG Howard, Sara B Larson, Claudia Gray, Martina Boone, Maria V. Snyder, Cat Winters, Evelyn Skye, Sabaa Tahir, Renee Ahdieh, and Joelle Charbonneau you have been some of my favorite authors and have become amazing friends! To the local ladies we must meet for Margaritas soon!

So what has changed in 5 years? It doesn't seem like much but it's actually been a lot. To start I had a partner... but after the first year it wasn't working out so we parted ways. I couldn't lose the blog name I had come to love so I'm still Two Chicks on Books. I've also gone through 3 blog designs and this current one is by far my favorite but I may be looking for a new design next year I've had this one for 3 years lol! When I first started blogging I had always dreamed of working in publishing and 4 years ago that dream started to come true. I became an intern at Entangled Publishing and 4 years later I'm a Publicity and Marketing Director for Month9Books! I love my company so much! Thanks Georgia McBride for having faith in me and giving me a job that I love doing everyday! I also started a blog tour company with one of my besties Rachel from Fiktshun and Rockstar Book Tours has been a blast! I can't believe we've been doing this for 3 years now!

So ok I'm not one for long winded posts but what I really wanted to say is thank you!!! All of you who have been a part of this 5 year journey I am so blessed to have each of you in my life and I'm looking forward to more years of blogging to come and to meeting more awesome people! And to celebrate turning 5 I'm giving away stuff because whats's better than giveaways?!?! 

Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a Kindle Fire 7 ($49.99 retail price). US Only. 

1 winner will receive a Box of 2016 ARC's US Only.

1 winner will receive a Book from my Best of 2015 Post from Amazon or The Book Depository, International.


Because it's not legal per the FTC I can't require a follow but I really want my winners to be followers of my blog so I'd really appreciate it if you did!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dying to Read (136) EVER THE HUNTED by Erin Summerill


Hey y’all thanks for stopping by to see my Dying to Read post and of course as always I have to give credit to the lovely Jill over at Breaking the Spine for the Waiting on Wednesday Meme!


I know this doesn't come out for almost a year but I don't care! I'm super excited for it!


Title: EVER THE HUNTED (Clash of Kingdoms #1)
Author: Erin Summerill
Release Date: December 27, 2016
Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
Pages: ?
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon
Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.

However, it’s not so simple.

The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.
So what do you think? Will you be adding this to your pile? What are you dying to read this week?

Friday, December 25, 2015

Top 10 of 2015 Day 5- Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2016!


Merry Christmas! Welcome to the last day of the Top 10 Books of 2015! We hope you all have been having fun! To close out the week we’re looking forward to 2016 so today’s topic is….. Top 10 Books I'm looking forward to in 2016. (This list should be comprised of books released ONLY in 2016)

And make sure to stop by my co-hosts sites Fiktshun, Tales of a Ravenous Reader, and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads for their lists! Oh and make sure to sign up with the linky to share your lists! 

Ok I’m being a big time cheater here! I’ve read a few of these books already but I needed to share how awesome they are! I’ll put READ next to the ones I’ve read lol.

1. BURNING GLASS by Kathryn Purdie. READ

2. INTO THE DIM by Janet B. Taylor. READ

3. A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT by Sabaa Tahir.

4. THE CROWN'S GAME by Evelyn Skye. READ

5. THE STAR TOUCHED QUEEN by Roshani Chokshi

6. AND I DARKEN by Kiersten White.

7.  THE ROSE & THE DAGGER by Renee Ahdieh.

8. REBEL OF THE SANDS by Alwyn Hamilton. READ

9. A SHADOW BRIGHT AND BURNING by Jessica Clueless

10. REVENGE AND THE WILD by Michelle Modesto. READ

Going to add a few honorable mentions since there's so many 2016 books I want to read!

THE KING SLAYER by Virginia Boecker.
THE BEAUTY OF DARKNESS by Mary E. Paerson
EVER THE HUNTED by Erin Summerill
RUINED by Amy Tintera
CLANLESS by Jennifer Jenkins


Did any of my favorites make your list? Thanks so much for participating in this year's Top 10 of 2015 it was a blast and we hope to see you next year! 

And remember to stop by my co-hosts sites for their list!

Make sure to fill out the linky to share your lists! 


Thursday, December 24, 2015

Top 10 of 2015 Day 4- Best Book Boyfriends of 2015!


Merry Christmas Eve!!!!! Today’s post is a long one so bear with me! It’s Best Book Boyfriends of 2015 (MUST be from a book released in 2015 and from a book you've READ in 2015)

And make sure to stop by my co-hosts sites Fiktshun, Tales of a Ravenous Reader, and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads for their lists! Oh and make sure to sign up with the linky to share your lists! And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for some awesome prizes below!

This is by far one of the hardest categories for me! There’s so many swoon-worthy guys!!! There are no honorable mentions because my post would have been a mile long but I wish I could have added more! I’m not doing covers for this post I’m sharing quotes and scenes from the books!

1. Valek from SHADOW STUDY by Maria V. Snyder. You do not know how happy I am to be able to add him to this list! He is my #1 all time favorite book boyfriend and with more Study books out expect him to be #1 on my list for the next few years!

“Yelena?”

“Hmm?”

“I’d like you to stay with me while we figure out how to unblock your magic. We’re stronger together.”

“All right.”

He laughed. “I thought I’d have more of a fight.”

“I’m too tired to argue.”

“Then I should take advantage of the situation.”

I cracked one eye open. “And?”


“I’d like you to stay with me forever.” 


2. Khalid from THE WRATH & THE DAWN by Renee Ahdieh. I decided to share a few small scenes since I couldn't pick just one lol.

“What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?” he whispered.

“If I’m a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed.” The weapons still in her grasp, she shoved against his chest.

“No.” His hands dropped to her waist. “Destroy me.” 

Shazi, 

I prefer the color blue to any other. The scent of lilacs in your hair is a source of constant torment. I despise figs. Lastly, I will never forget, all the days of my life, the memories of last night—

For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you.


Khalid.”


3. Paul Markov  from TEN THOUSAND SKIES ABOVE YOU by Claudia Gray. He will always be in my heart and he will always be on my top 10 list. I chose a small scene but if you've read the books you know how much Paul has been thorough and how hard it was for him to tell Marguerite he loved her.

Paul:“I love you.”

Marguerite:“And I love you. In any world, any universe.”

Paul:“This world is enough.”


4. Prince Magnus from FROZEN TIDES by Morgan Rhodes. 

“She was his princess. No. She was his goddess. With her golden skin and golden hair. She was his light. His life. His everything.


He loved her more than anything else in this world.” 


5. Gryphon from NAMELESS by Jennifer Jenkins.

Gryphon spent most of his watch that night watching Zo as she slept with one arm around Tess and the other around Joshua,  as if they were her baby chicks. as if they were her baby chicks. He wondered what it would be like to have someone care for him with the passion that Eva cared for Stone. In the last few years, whenever he imagined belonging to a woman he never managed to picture the girl’s face. 

Now, even when he fought the tendency, he always saw Zo. It was part of the reason he could never travel to the Allies. He’d rather rip out his eyes than watch Zo and Gabe share their lives together. 

Gryphon wasn’t quite sure when it happened, but somewhere in the trauma of the last two days he’d realized that he’d never really be happy without her. It was an awful feeling that gnawed at his gut and threatened all reason. Like discovering you’d lost your arm in battle. Living with the memory of what it was like to have that arm, and reminded every day of the loss. 

Gryphon the deserter, son of Troy the deserter, was in love with a Wolf. A fitting end to the tragedy that was his life.


6. Dragon/Sarkan from UPROOTED by Naomi Novik. There's one scene I realllllly want to share but it would be too spoilery so I leave you with this.

“You intolerable lunatic," he snarled at me, and then he caught my face between his hands and kissed me.” 


7. Ezra Mason from ILLUMINAE by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

 “since i will not send this, i also feel it is my duty to inform you that almost six months on I think I still love you and that makes me sad becaue love shouldn’t feel this way. is like getting kicked in the stomach every time i think of you and it makes me want to roll my face across this keyboardbiu;///ubEWdcfhugiov’byhi;.//////-=‘-0i9juh8ygtfdcsaazs34defg7uefg7u8hi9o0p8hi9o0p-[[09ju8dcsaazs34d9o0p-[[09.” 


8. Rafe from HEART OF BETRAYAL by Mary e. Pearson. I'm sharing a few small scenes.

“It was worth it, Lia,” He said. “Every mile, every day. I’d do it all again. I’d chase you across three continents if that’s what it took to be with you.” 

“But you’re everything I want. Remember that. I love you, Lia. Not a title. And not because a piece of paper says I should. Because I do.” 

“And I began walking. A thousand miles, or two, I would carry her all the way to Dalbreck if I had to. No one would pry her from my arms again.” 

“I’m not the farmer I claimed to be, but I hope I can make you fall in love with me again, this time as a prince, one day at a time. We’ve had a terrible start—it doesn’t mean we can’t have a better ending.” 


9. Gideon from THE ARTISANS by Julie Reece.

“You’re making this harder, Gideon. Just go.” 

“No. Not until you hear me out.” When he takes my hand, his eyes glint with careful determination. He won’t be denied his chance to speak, and I can’t refuse him anymore. I’m caught up in whatever spell he’s casting. 

He leads me to the worn, pleather sofa in Maggie’s living room. The springs creak under his weight, and then mine, as he eases us onto the cushions. I’m inching away until he leans over me and I’m on my back. His face inches from mine, emits the scent of black licorice, salt, and musk. 

“Listen to me, please.” Three fingers run over my mouth, causing every moth in my belly to twitch. “You’re worth fighting for, Rae. And though you won’t admit it, I know you love me. I see it in the way you look at me, the things you say and do. That’s why I won’t stop until you’re mine.” The fire, always smoldering beneath the surface of his gaze, ignites, underlining the intensity of each word he speaks. “Do you think you can hide from me? Push me away; hurt me until I give up on you? ‘Quit’ is not in my vocabulary.” 

I cut my eyes away. “You don’t get it, Gideon.” 

With his fingers pressing into my shoulders, he shakes me once, forcing me to look up. “Don’t I? You’re afraid. Terrified of what love may cost you, and I understand. I’ve lost people, too, but we belong together. Can’t you feel that?” The heat in his gaze blasts through to my soul. “You brought me back from the dead, gave life where there was nothing but ash and decay. Trust me to do the same for you. I love you, Raven. You’re worth loving, and I’m exactly the man to prove it to you.” 


10. Black Knife from THE ORPHAN QUEEN by Jodi Meadows. I'd put his real name but just in case someone hasn't read the book I don't want to spoil the surprise. Sharing a couple small scenes here too.

“Taking me out to robberies, bar fights, and wraith houses isn't enough for you anymore? I though we were happy."


"Only the best for you, my lady.” 

I narrowed my eyes. I" don't trust you."

"I don't trust you,either."

So we don't move. 

"Ever? "He met my eyes again,and searched me.

So what about you? Who's your top 10 book boyfriends of 2015? Make sure to fill out the linky so I can see and make sure to stop by my co-hosts blogs to see their lists and find today's giveaway!

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Top 10 of 2015 Day 3- Best Debut Authors of 2015!


Welcome back!! Today’s topic is Best ________ Of 2015 (Readers/Bloggers choice. Please fill in the blank with ONE or more of these topics - Villains, Contemporaries, Dual POV's, Novellas, Adult titles, New Adult titles, Love Triangles, Couples, Bad Boys or Debuts. REMEMBER - this list MUST be from books you've READ in 2015)

And make sure to stop by my co-hosts sites Fiktshun, Tales of a Ravenous Reader, and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads for their lists! Oh and make sure to sign up with the linky to share your lists! And don’t forget one of us is hosting a giveaway today! Who you ask? You'll just have to visit each site to find out ;)

I decided to do Debut Authors since there are so many good ones this year! All of the links go to their twitter accounts so if you don’t follow them go do it! They are definitely not in order. If I could I would have made them all #1!

1. Renee Ahdieh. THE WRATH & THE DAWN was one of my top 5 favorite books of 2015! I can't wait for it's sequel!

2. Sabaa Tahir. AN EMBER IN THE ASHES also makes my top ten list this year. I need the sequel now!

3. Jennifer Jenkins. I freaking loved NAMELESS and I adore Jennifer. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series.

4. Becky Wallace. I freaking loved THE STORYSPINNER so much that I actually read the sequel, THE SKYLIGHTER already so I'm cheating with this one lol. 

5. Virginia Boecker. THE WITCH HUNTER was an awesome fantasy with historical elements. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series!

6. Melissa Grey. THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT surprised the hell out of me! I knew I'd like it but I didn't think I'd love it as much as I did and I can't wait for book 2!

7. Eleanor Herman. Oh technically she's not a debut but LEGACY OF KINGS was her YA debut and it was flipping amazing!

8. Rhiannon Thomas. I loved her Sleeping Beauty retelling, A WICKED THING and can't wait to read book 2!

9. Stacey Lee. I will admit I haven't read her books yet but I adore Stacey and she's a local author so gotta add her to the list :)

10. Melinda Salisbury. THE SIN EATER'S DAUGHTER will also make my top 10's lists I can't wait for the sequel!!!!


Did any of my favorites make your list? Fill out the linky and let me know! And good luck with the giveaway! 


And remember to stop by my co-hosts sites Reading YA Rocks, Tales of a Ravenous Reader, and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads for their lists and one of them is hosting a giveaway today but I'm not saying who you'll just have to visit all 3! 

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Top 10 of 2015 Day 2- Best Book Covers of 2015 and A Giveaway!


Welcome to day 2! Today’s topic is Best Book Covers of 2015 (MUST be a book released in 2015. Would be best if it's a book you've READ in 2015, but it's not required) and this year High Fantasy Covers take the cake in the beauty department!


And make sure to stop by my co-hosts sites Fiktshun, Tales of a Ravenous Reader, and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads for their lists! Oh and make sure to sign up with the linky to share your lists! And today is my giveaway day so make sure to read the whole post and enter below! 

I read and loved all the books on this list. I'm not going to go into why I love these covers I'm just going to let their beauty speak for themselves!

1. TEN THOUSAND SKIES ABOVE YOU by Claudia Gray. 






2. THE IMMORTAL HEIGHTS by Sherry Thomas.






3. MECHANICA by Betsy Cornwell.





4. AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir.









6. A WICKED THING by Rhiannon Thomas.






7. SEEKER by Arwen Elys Dayton.






8. THE SIN EATER'S DAUGHTER by Melinda Salisbury.






9. PERSUASION by Martina Boone.






10. ILLUMINAE by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman.






Did any of my favorites make your list? Fill out the linky and let me know! And good luck with the giveaway!


And remember to stop by my co-hosts sites for their lists!

Today is my giveaway day and I have decided to do 2 giveaways!!

Giveaway details;

1 winner will receive a pre-order of a 2016 book of their choice (limit $25) US only.

1 winner will receive a box of 2016 ARC's. (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Blitz- THIS RAGING LIGHT by Estelle Laure With an Exclusive Excerpt and A Giveaway!



I am so excited that THIS RAGING LIGHT by Estelle Laure releases today and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Estelle Laure, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a finished copy of the book and a bottle of nail polish that matches the cover courtesy of Estelle, HMH, and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.



About The Book:

Title: THIS RAGING LIGHT
Author: Estelle Laure
Release Date: December 22nd, 2015
Pages: 288
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
"A funny, poetic, big-hearted reminder that life can—and will—take us all by surprise.” —Jennifer E. Smith, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Can the best thing happen at the worst time?

Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she’s about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend’s brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch, Estelle Laure’s soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.




Exclusive Excerpt:

When Wrenny and I roll up the hill to Eden’s house in Mom’s ancient Corolla, Digby and his dad, John, are outside playing basketball, and I want to get in the house as fast as possible,
because otherwise I might be trapped here all day, staring. I get a little twinge of something seeing a dad and his kid playing ball like dads and kids are supposed to. That’s a real
thing, and my hand wants to cover Wren’s face so she can’t see all that she is missing.
Which reminds me. “Wren.”
“Yeah?” She’s wiping at her shirt, reading a book on her lap, and she’s a little bit filthy, her hair greasy and knotty in spite of my efforts this morning. At some point the braids came out, and she’s reverted to wild.
“You know how Mom hasn’t been around lately?”
She stops. Tightens. “Yeah,” she says.
“Well, we don’t want anyone to know about that, okay?
Even Janie and Eden and Digby and John.”
“But Mom’s on vacation. She’s getting her head together. She’s coming back.”
“Okay, yes,” I say, “but still. We don’t want to tell anyone, because they might not understand that. They might get the wrong idea.”
“Like that she left us permanently?” There is so much more going on inside that Wrenny-head than I can ever know.
“Maybe, or at least for longer than she was supposed to.” I reach for the handle to the door because I can’t look at her. “Someone might think that.”
“She didn’t, though,” she says. “She’s Mom.”
“Of course she didn’t.” Lie.
“So who cares what anyone thinks?”
“Wren, just don’t, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Some things are private.” I open the door, then lean back across and wipe uselessly at her shirt with my thumb. “Like Mom being on vacation. So, okay?”
“I said okay, okay?” She gets out and waits, stares at me like I’m the most aggravating person on earth. “Hey, Lu?”
“Yeah?” I say, bracing myself for what’s next.
“Your mama’s so fat, she left the house in high heels and came back in flip-flops.”
I would tell her that I hate her new obsession with fat jokes, but I’m not in the mood for any dawdling, so I half laugh and get moving. I want to get inside and quick because there’s also the other thing. And by “other” I mean what makes me sweat just standing here. And by “thing” I mean Digby, who I have known since I was seven but who lately makes a fumbling moronic moron out of me, a full-on halfwit. Ask me my name when I’m in his presence and I’m not likely to be able to tell you. I’d probably just say, “Lllll . . . lllllllu . . .” and you’d have to catch the drool running down my chin.
I know. It’s not at all attractive.
But really. Tall, sweaty, and not wearing a shirt, so the muscles are all right there for the watching. He doesn’t exactly glisten, on account of the fact that he’s whiter than white, that he tans by getting freckles so he’s covered in them now after a whole summer outside. But seeing his hair all plastered to his forehead, his body so long and lean, looping around his dad to get the ball into the hoop, I want to fall out of the car and onto my knees in the driveway, say Lord have mercy, hallelujah, write sonnets and paint him, and worship that one little curve where his neck meets his shoulder that is just so, so perfect.
He is beautiful.
Which is why when he says hi as I pass him, I barely raise a pinky in response. There are two main problems here, aside from the fact that he is Eden’s twin and that’s all kinds of weird.
One, he’s had the same girlfriend since the dawn of time. They’re pinned, she wears his jacket, their marriage certificate is practically already signed. Angels bless their freakin’ union. And two, if I ever did get a chance with him, like if he ever kissed me or something, I would die of implosion. I know I sound like a twelve-year-old mooning over some celebrity, and not the extremely self-possessed woman-tobe that I actually am, but something about him makes me lose my mind. Something about the way he moves, about his himness — it shatters me all the way down. So I hope he never does kiss me. That would be nothing but a disaster. No one needs to see me fall apart like that. Least of all him.
Actually, maybe least of all me.









About Estelle:
Estelle Laure is a Vonnegut worshipper who believes in love and magic and the power of facing hard truths. She has a BA in Theater Arts from New Mexico State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and thinks everyone should have to wait tables or work in a kitchen at least once in their lives. She lives in Taos, New Mexico with her children.








Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a hardcover of THIS RAGING LIGHT and a bottle of Essie Nail Polish that matched the book cover. US Only.


Ends on December 31st at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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