Frozen Reads: Top 5 List

It's Fun Friday!

Me and the gang over at YA Storytellers do Fun Friday posts together and link them up so that you can get to know multiple YA authors at once. Check out some of the other posts here:

Bryna Butler
LM Preston

This week is:
 FROZEN READS: Top 5 List of Books to Curl Up with on a Cold Winter's Day

And it dawned on me, it really depends on where you live as to whether you have a COLD winter's day or a warm one. Here in Virginia Beach, it's a smooth 39 F as I write this at 9am. And that's on the warm side of average for this time of year. For New Year's I was in the Poconos and it was SIX DEGREES! But in a month or so, I'm headed to Guam and it'll be around 80-85 so... it's all relative. 
But no matter where I am, I will still curl up with a good book!
So, here's my list.

1. Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck
I first heard about this book last year from my good friend and fabulous author, Tiffany King. She was raving about it and how it was one book she'd read over and over again. As you can see, my TBR pile is wayyyy too backed up. I just read it in paperback during my Christmas vacation. Needless to say, once I got going, I couldn't put it down and was so disappointed to find the series wasn't available on Kindle (still not sure why.) and I had to wait until arriving home from vacay in the mountains to get book 2 and 3. Reading book 3 now and let's just say, all I want for Christmas THIS year is a tiger-prince from India. For real. I now have a picture of a tiger hanging in my bedroom--it's officially been added to the bucketlist to go to India and see a tiger. Awesome series!

2. Cross Country Christmas, A Woodfalls Girls Novella by Tiffany King
This one is a novella so don't get TOO cozy because it will leave you wanting more, which is the point of a good novella. It's a story between stories in this series by Tiffany King and it's all about being snowed in wtih the hottie of your dreams. So, perfect winter read!

3. Wicked Thing by Angeline Kace
If you're looking for a story to keep you not just warm but HAWT on a cold day, this is IT! Dallas is a motorcycle-riding, bicep-bulging, smartass HOTTIE. If you don't believe me, read for yourself. And let me just say this: my blood boiled. #YUM **This one is New Adult and NOT intended for readers under 18.

4. Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon
If you want to laugh so hard you forget what season it is, this is the one. It's hilariously relatable--there's a man waiting in the bedroom. To shave or not to shave??--and romantic and REAL. Such a fun and outrageous story about love and life and choices that shape both. It's the first of many great releases for Eliza Gordon (which is by the way a pen name. If you MUST know who the woman behind the mask is, email me and maybe I'll tell).

5.  Because of Low by Abbi Glines
This one is an oldie but goodie in my opinion. It's the FIRST indie contemp I read--and could probably be considered New Adult, although the genre didn't really exist yet when this came out--and it's why I fell in love with the genre! It's so fun and warm-blooded. No chills while reading this. You're too busy going "awwww" or "ohhhh" to notice the cold nipping at your doorstep. Not that you'll leave your house. This one won't be put down.

What's your Frozen Read?

Authors of UtopYA Ultimate Giveaway

The countdown has been going on for months, and now it’s almost time! One of the most fun conventions of the year is about to happen, and some of your favorite authors attending UtopYA want to celebrate. We’ve gotten together, and have some amazing prizes that you’re not going to want to miss out on.

Ultimate Swag Pack Giveaway:

True reading fans love to collect goodies from their favorite authors, but this giveaway takes that to the next level! If you’re going to UtopYA this year, you’re going to want to get your hands on this Ultimate Swag Pack. Some of your favorite authors have gotten together to give you their very best swag. I’m not talking about a signed bookmark (although those are included)—this prize pack includes the following:

·        Leather bracelet from Tiffany King

·        “Grant’s Cupcake” tee shirt from Sarah M Ross

·        Lavender/Spearmint bath salts from Heather Self

·        “Nick Rocks my World” mug and bath soaps from Ella James

·        Skull Necklace and other prizes from Amy Jones

·        Keychain from Morgan Wylie

·        Signed mini-poster and other prizes from Quinn Loftis

·        Custom USB loaded with books and Necklace from Laura Elliott

·        Modified Swag Pack from CA Kunz

·        Estilorian Swag Pack from Raine Thomas

·        Bracelet from SR Johannes

·        Archers of Avalon tote bag and coffee mug from Chelsea Fine

AND from me: A custom Imitation necklace AND a picture with Linc ON his motorcycle Saturday night!!!! <-- yes, for real!

And that’s just part of the prizes you can win!  So now that you’re salivating and reaching out your “gimme, gimme” hands, you’re probably wondering how to enter. We’re giving you a few options:

1.   Make a video hyping UtopYA and the authors of UtopYA. Then, post this video on FB or Twitter and email it to sarah@sarahmross.com (so we don’t accidentally miss it in the Twitterverse. This video can be short and sweet – basically telling people that UtopYA is coming and about the amazing authors that are going.

2.   Make a FB banner or meme hyping UtopYA and the authors of UtopYA. This is the same concept of the video, but for the more camera shy folks out there. Then, change it to your banner and email it to sarah@sarahmross.com to have your entry counted.

*We’re not giving a whole lot of instruction on how to do this on purpose. We want you to be creative! Get those juices flowing! Want to make a Utop rendition of “Call Me Maybe”? Or post a video of you stalking your favorite authors before you stalk them in real life at Utop? A meme of Grumpy Cat at Utop with the authors? The possibilities are endless! But make it creative! All the participating authors will vote on the one that WOW’s us the most.  And remember: This part of the contest is open to peeps attending UtopYA only! Prizes to be picked up at UtopYA!!

Not able to make it to UtopYA this year? Don’t worry! We have a great giveaway for you too! Enter the Rafflecopter below to win some amazing autographed paperbacks! (Open to US residents only! Sorry!!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway