Mundie Moms

Saturday, June 25, 2016

#BEA16 Recap / Giveaway!


It's been over a month since I was at BEA, and I still feel like I've not come down from that high of such a fun week. I realize my recap is way late... but better late than never, and I've been meaning to get my post, and now that school is out, I can. BEA16 was in Chicago this year, and it was so much fun! This is my third year going to BEA, and this was the most fun I've ever had at BEA. I had amazing roommates (Heidi from YA Bibliophile, Sara from Novel Novice & Amber from Me, My Shelf & I), connected with some amazing people, reconnected with fabulous friends, and had a lovely time at the publisher events I attended. This was also the first year I moderated at BEA, as well as participated in and attend Blogger Con. Both were so much fun! WARNING, this post is long. Sorry! I even edited a ton out of it. 

Tuesday 



The day in which we all arrived to Chicago. It was also the day that have after years of being online friends, Sara (Novel Novice) and I finally met in person! It was also the day in which I finally got to see Emmaly (who is our MM's Forum) again, and her SIL Alison! Both flew in from Australia to come to BEA! I loved seeing them. Myself, Sara, Em, and Alison all went to a White Sox game. Wrigley Field is AWESOME! We had such a blast at the game! 

Wednesday


Wednesday kicked off with a few of us bloggers getting together for breakfast. Heidi and I met up with friends, grabbed breakfast, visited with a few other bloggers whom were also at the same place, and then we headed out to explore parts of Chicago. We ended up going to the Zoo, which was seriously so much fun. The park the Zoo is apart of is beautiful! I was really surprised at what a beautiful city Chicago is, and it's so clean too. 


BEA kicked off with the Blogger Con, which took place the day before BEA started. This year I had the previlleage for being a round table discussion leader with Lexxie of UnconventionalBookViews. Our table discussion was about "balancing personal life and blogging". I had a lot of fun during our round tables. It was so great to meet Lexxie too! She is awesome. 

DISNEY 


My evening ended with an amazing publisher dinner with Disney. This was seriously one of the most memorable publisher events I've been to. The intimate dinner took place in a place called the Library, it's stunning! I loved meeting so many wonderful people I've had the chance of working with over years with Disney, as well as seeing friends again. They have an amazing team at Disney!  *Pictured above from left to right: Myself w/ Alexandra Bracken, and Eoin Colfer / Myself with Mo Willems and Ryan T. Higgins 


During the dinner they celebrated the 25th anniversary of Disney Hyperion, as well as Mo Willems 25 years of writing books! I don't think they could have brought together a more wonderful group of authors. The laughs were nonstop! I haven't laughed so hard in such a long time.  Mo, Eoin, Shannon and Dean Hale,  Melissa de la Cruz, Sara Sheppard, Alexandra Bracken, Ryan T. Higgins, Dan Santat, and Laurie Keller each talked about their upcoming releases, and some took turns razing each other, which was hysterical.  
*Pictured above: Disney Royalty: Alexandra Bracken, Shannon Hale, Melissa de la Cruz & Sara Shepard  


Mo Willems getting a piggy back ride from Dean Hale. Don't ask.... you seriously had to have been there to get why this was so funny. 


Thank you to Disney for an unforgettable night! Definitely add these Disney goodies to your TBR lists! They're going to be great! 

Thursday 


This year I didn't take a signing schedule with me. There only a few arcs I was hoping to get, and I was lucky to have made it into each of those signing lines. The two hours I waited inline for A Torch Against The Night, was totally worth it! Between authors events, and signings, I lucked out and received the few arcs I really hoping to get. Other than that, I felt like I was saying no thank you, vs saying thank you, when it came to taking arcs. Not that those arcs were bad or anything, but I had limited space flying home, and couldn't afford to ship a ton home. To be honest, it was great not being caught up in what I got or didn't get. If I hadn't gotten the few arcs I was really hoping for, BEA would have still been just as fun. 



What I love about BEA is networking. I love connecting with publicists, fellow bloggers, online friends, and reconnecting with those I've known for years. It's what makes the BEA experience totally worth it, and the purpose of my attending. Some of the best network happens at publisher events, and while waiting in line for a signing. I had such a blast at the publisher events this year. *Pictured above: books from the Simon Teen breakfast (I loved listening to the authors talk about their upcoming releases)


Another thing I loved, were the publisher parties! They were so much fun this year. They're always fun, but this year seemed different. I felt like they were more intimate, and laid back. It was so great visiting with those I've worked with for so long within each publishing house, as well as visiting with author friends, meeting new authors, and seeing so many wonderful blogger / online friends. *Pictured above from the Fierce Reads party: authors Kami Garcia, Marissa Meyer, Caleb Roehrig, and Leigh Bardugo, bloggers: Andye from Reading Teen, myself and Heidi. 

BLOOMBSURY


The night kicked off with a party hosted by Bloomsbury. We had so much fun! Heidi, Sara and I all went together. We visited with friends, authors who were there like Elizabeth Eulberg, and Danielle Paige, and those who work tirelessly behind the scenes at Bloomsbury. Check out some of their upcoming releases, and add them to your TBR lists! 

FIERCE READS


After Bloomsbury, we all headed over to the Fierce Reads party. This party was so much fun! It was so great to mingle with book friends, authors, and the wonderful people who work so hard behind the scenes at Fierce Reads. Their Photo Booth was a blast! We might have all had a little too much fun with it. I love these photo booth pictures, and the one above with the Fierce Reads authors. 


Check out Fierce Reads's upcoming releases featured at the BEA party, and add them to your TBR lists! I am so excited about these reads! 

Sadly I didn't take any pictures at the Big Hancho party that was after the Fierce Reads one. That was a lot of fun as well. It was fun getting to spend the evening with so many wonderful book promoters. From the publishers, to book reviews, to you tubers and so forth. It's such a wonderful, diverse group of book pushers. 

FRIDAY 

What made this year's BEA stand out among the rest, was being invited to moderate the Tor Teen Panel at BEA. Surviving Fictional Worlds with Tor Teen, featured Susan Dennard, Kristen Simmons and Sarah Porter. These ladies are so absolutely fabulous! 



I loved moderating this panel with these ladies! I've had the pleasure of meeting both Susan and Kristen previously, and it was great meeting Sarah. We had a lot of fun on our panel! Thank you to everyone who came out. 



A huge thank you to Tor Teen, Susan, Kristen and Sarah for such a memorable day! This was one of the most fun events I've moderated. 



I love it when I get to catch up with authors I've known for years, and get to meet those I've known on line, but haven't met in person before. BEA is the perfect place to social with authors. I seriously adore my author friends. I normally don't fangirl, but when Hannah (Irish Banana) and I spotted Jay Kristoffer walking around on the floor, we had to go introduce ourselves, I might have fangirled a little bit. He was seriously just as cool in person as he is online. I also loved having a few minutes to catch up with another I seriously adore, Jennifer Armentrout. I also covet her awesome hair! 



I had the most fun with my roommates! We had such a blast together. We all had fun doing our own things, as well as doing things together, and with other friends, like Em, Allison and Emily. Of course what happens at BEA, stays at BEA, but I will say that we made a lot of memories, and laughed so hard our stomachs hurt the next day. I loved that I had roommates who loved to have fun. We closed down BEA by meeting Rosemary Wells who was signing a children's book, and we of course had to take a picture with the dinosaur from The Magic Tree House series. *Pictured above: Sara, Myself and Amber


Amber, Myself, and Sara. We totally missed Heidi in this picture! 

BOOK CON 



Book Con was not as crazy as it normally was in the years I attend in NYC. It was so much nicer having more room here in Chicago. While I didn't have a lot of time at Book Con, because I had a flight to catch, I loved that I still got to see a few friends before I left, and quickly walk the floor. It's always fabulous seeing Maggie Stiefvater. I snapped a quick pic of her before her signing kicked off. I always LOVE seeing Cassie! Time was on my side that day, as Cassie Clare arrived prior to when I had to leave. Sadly I missed her panel, but I loved that I got to spend a few minutes seeing her. I also loved meeting Ursula Uriarte and seeing Kami Garcia again too! Along with Cassie, we all visited for a bit in the Greenroom before their panels. 


This picture is one I love, because I'm the only non-Aussie. Em, Alison and I were walking the floor during Book Con, and ran into Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman.  It was so great meeting Amie! This is a stellar group of people! 

Over all, this year was the most fun I've had at BEA. Between my roommates, those I spent time around, the events at and surrounding BEA/Blogger Con, and taking time to really enjoy the city all made for more memorable trip! Maybe it also has to do with the fact that I finally felt like I knew how to just enjoy the convention, and all it offers, vs getting caught up with everything there is do while at BEA. This year I finally felt like I got it. Don't get me wrong, my first two experiences at BEA in NYC were a lot of fun, and I did some pretty incredible things I never thought I'd be able to do, and made some great memories in process. Sadly I don't think I'll be able to make it to next year's BEA, because it's taking place during the last week of school for my kids, however, I highly recommend attending BEA at least once, if you can. It's so worth it!

THANK YOU to BEA, Blogger Con, Book Con, the publishers, and authors who all put so much heart and time into this year's events! 

TOURING CHICAGO 



What BEA the most fun, was this year I made sure that each day I took some time to enjoy Chicago. It was my first time being to the city (the airport doesn't count), and though we weren't close to anything, we used Lyft and Uber to get around town, (though I would recommend Lyft over Uber any day. They were nicer and cheaper than Uber). From having breakfasts with friends, to walking through the city parks, seeing 'the bean', Buckingham Fountains, the zoo, and going to Wrigley field to see a Cubs game. Every day I took the time to really enjoy the city, and connect with friends. Not saying I didn't do that in NYC, because I did, but this time it was different. I took the time to do that each day. Some days we were out and about for a hour, or two, and other days it was for a few hours in the evening. I took a ton of pictures, most of which I shared on my personal Instagram account. I seriously fell in love with Chicago. I loved that I had travel buddies with me. Heidi, Sara, Em, Alison, Emily, and Andye, I loved touring the city with you guys!

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY

I know how exciting it is to attend BEA, and I know what it's like to wish you could attend. In the 7.5 years I've been blogging, I've spent more years wishing I could go, then I've actually been. It's a blast being around fellow bloggers/readers, and it's exciting when you get an arc you've been coveting, where from a publisher event, or signing. Today's giveaway features some of the arcs I was really excited to receive at BEA. Each of these arcs are ones I received in the mail after I had already received them at BEA. I specifically put these arcs together to giveaway, because these are the arcs I was excited to receive myself to read. Why so many? Well if you had gone to BEA, chances are you would have gone home with a great selection of arcs yourself, so why not give the chance for someone to win a collection of some of the most highly anticipated arcs at BEA. 


ENTER TO WIN 




I want to thank each of the publishers who generously sent me these arcs/chapter samplers, and provided me with the chance to share in the book love with another fellow reader. 

1 Winner Will Receive ARCS for: 

  • Heartless by Marissa Meyer
  • A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir 
  • Empire of Dust by Eleanor Herman
  • Frost Blood by Elly Blake
  • Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse
  • The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker
  • The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia
  • A chapter sampler of Stranger The Dreamer by Laini Taylor 
I would love to open this internationally, the cost for shipping a box this size over seas is unfortunately not something I'm able to cover at this time. While this giveaway is open to residents in the US, I'm more than happy to accept an international winner, provided you cover the shipping costs. I'm working on putting together an swag giveaway that will include a chapter sample, signed swag and more, which will be up soon, and open internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK and Happy reading! If you're looking for some great upcoming middle grade reads, check out my feature for the mg books I received at BEA, here

100 comments:

  1. Thank you for the fabulous giveaway. There are so many great books coming out this year! I would love to get my hands on ARCs of A Torch Against the Night, Strange the Dreamer, Recreated, Witch's Pyre, A Million Worlds with You, The Beauty of Darkness, Ever the Hunted. And this is only the beginning of my list, I could go on on :)

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  2. I NEED to read Heartless because if it's even half as good as her Lunar series it'll be AMAZBALLS! Also really looking forward to more of Laini Taylor's beautiful writing! Glad you had so much fun at BEA and got to see all those amazing people! (BTW LOVE your skull shirt)

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  3. Thanks for the chance. Ever the hunted is on my list.

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  4. Out of that stack, I'm definitely most excited for Heartless, but there are SO many more 2016 ARCs I'm dying to get my hands on. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  5. i hope that in teh swag giveaway for international there will be a tote from BEA, they looks fabulous

    i'm glad you had so much fun!

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  6. Like most people, I'm really looking forward to Heartless by Marissa Meyer. I love retellings, and a queen of hearts one sounds like so much fun.

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  7. I'm most looking forward to strange the dreamer!

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  8. Heartless! I seem to be on an Alice in Wonderland kick

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  9. I'd need to check my wish list. Anything by Kirsten Weiss or Taylor Dean for sure!

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  10. I'm looking forward to Heartless out of this set the most, but in general, I'm looking forward to Recreated, Spare Parts, and A Beauty and the Clockwork Beast

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  11. Looks like you had an amazing time! I'm so jealous you got to meet Susan Dennard! <3 I'm super excited to read Torch against the night. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  12. Heartless! It seems to be super rare or hard to get too.

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  13. Heartless or Caraval definitely!!

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  14. i'm most excited for heartless, because marissa meyer is one of my favorite authors! I will read anything she writes, and can't wait for this new retelling! also, when i entered my email, i may have accidentally put sophia@livelifeforshoes.co, but i meant to put .com! XD thanks for the chance to win these amazing books!

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  15. I'm most looking forward to Timekeeper!!!!! Thanks so much for the chance!!

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  16. The Seven Days of You. Sounds like a fling.

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  17. Frost Blood is the 2016 arc I'm most excited about! Looks like you had a lot of fun and exciting times at BEA! I'm definitely a little jealous and hope I can go sometime in the future!

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  18. There are two arcs that I am exited for, Heartless and Caraval. Heartless because of its intriguing storyline, I desperately want to know how Marissa Meyer spun this together. Caraval is the other arc I am excited about also because of its magnificent storyline! I cannot wait to get my hands on copies of any physical form of these two stories!

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  19. Wow! Sounds like you had loads of fun! I would've love to be there too!

    I'm most excited for A Torch Against the Night!

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  20. A Torch Against the Night is an exciting sounding arc for me.

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  21. Most excited about the king slater! Thanks!

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  22. Wow! BEA looks like so much fun. I have never been able to make it. Thanks for the great giveaway! I am most excited to read Heartless.

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  23. Thanks so much for this giveaway! Im super excited about Heartless :)

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  24. This year's BEA makes me sad. I could have actually gone to it for the first time because of it being in Chicago, but my college graduation was that weekend. Boo...

    I think I'm most looking forward to The Lovely Reckless. I've heard good things. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  25. OMG I am so excited for Heartless!

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  26. Heartless is my most anticipated, but they all look amazing!

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  27. The Lovely Reckless. When I think street racing I think Paul Walker and the swoons kick in.

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  28. I cannot WAIT to read A Torch Against The Night!!! I'm so looking forward to it!! Thanks for this giveaway :)

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  29. Thank you for this giveaway! A Torch Against the Night is an exciting sounding arc for me.

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  30. I cannot wait for Heartless! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  31. I'm probably most excited for Torch Against the Night.

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  32. I am super excited for all of them, how can you ask me to pick? �� But, if I had to, I would say it's a tie between A Torch Against the Night and The King Slayer because I read both of the first books last year.

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  33. I feel like the world is in a better place because of this great giveaway. I'm looking forward to reading all of these books. Especially A Torch Against the Night :)

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  34. I am dying over here. these are amazing books. can't wait to read them all :)

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  35. I'm looking forward to cursed child, it ends with us, the new shadow hunter book

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  36. Huuuugs. <3 I LOVED reading this amazing recap sweetie :D I'm so glad you had such an amazing time. Eee :D So happy for you. <3 And so jealous, lol. Sounds like so much fun :D I love all the pictures. <3 Hugs. Thank you for sharing about all that you did :) Yay. And ahh! Thank you the most for this giveaway. <3 I would not mind paying the shipping at all if I win :) Eee. Fingers crossed. <3 You are the best sweetie. The ARC I'm the most excited about is Heartless. Sigh. I have waited so long for it :)

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  37. A Torch Against the Night is definitely the book I've been anticipating for since the second I finished my e-book ARC of An Ember in the Ashes! I was so blown away by AEITA and loved everything about it, but when I had heard that the publishing house did not buy the sequel, I was going to have a heart attack! But thank the lord that after AEITA was released, it easily became a NYT Bestseller and then the publishing house announced that they were buying the sequel! So in short, I've been dying to get a copy of ATATN, so thanks for hosting this giveaway!

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  38. Thanks for the giveaway!! I'm most excited for Heartless! I absolutely love Marissa Meyer & I can't wait for her next book!

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  39. Torch Against the night. Thanks for this wonderful giveaway.

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  40. Thanks so much for hosting this amazing giveaway! I'm definitely excited forA Torch Against the Night! Been dying to get my hands on an Arc. 😁

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  41. I'm definitely most excited to read Gemina, but from this giveaway, Torch!! Aeita was one of my fav books last year (so much that I have the HC & PB lol). So yeah, TORCH!!!

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  42. I'm so excited for Frost Blood @_@ it sounds too good too be true

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  43. speechless.....cool giveaway :)

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  44. very cool giveaway, so want to read A Torch Against the Night :)

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  45. A torch against the night, for sure! :D

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  46. I'm most excited about heartless!

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  47. A Torch Against the Night! I so want to go to BEA one year.

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  48. So Jealous!!!! I am excited for The Lovely Reckless. I love Kami Garcia.

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  49. Thanks for the amazing giveaway! A Torch Against the Night sounds enticing!

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  50. To be honest being able to own any of these books would be amazing!! Thank you so much for this giveaway!

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  51. Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse ♡ Thank you! Looks like you had a blast!

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  52. Heartless by Marissa Meyer! :)

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  53. Heartless, I wanted to go but couldn't maybe one year until then great posts like this will hold me over! Thanks

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  54. Definitely A Torch Against the Night! Elias X Laia forever!

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  55. Oh, that is a fabulous collection! I'm most interested in Frostblood (the author is a friend of mine!) and Strange the Dreamer, but they all look fabulous.

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  56. I'm really excited to read A Torch Against The Night!!!!! :D Really dying to get my hands on it xD

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  57. I am most excited for A Torch Against the Night and Heartless! Thank you for the giveaway!

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  58. Love all your pictures!! I'm most excited for Heartless!

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  60. From the list above: Heartless. It's the only ARC I really wanted and was unable to get at BEA.

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  61. I'm most excited for Frost Blood right now!

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  62. Oh my goodness! How did I miss this giveaway?! I haven't been doing the best doing of finding BEA recaps, it would seem. Or is it just me - are there not as many, this year? Not even thinking about giveaways, but recaps in general seemed scarce. :/ I like seeing all the pictures. So. Thank you for that. :D

    I am totally entering your giveaway! The only ARC I wanted for BEA (had I gone) was A Torch Against the Night. I was really hoping I would make Penguin's mailing list, but not this time! That's okay. =) I can't wait to read it! I've reread An Ember in the Ashes so many times, I've lost count. Hopefully TORCH does not disappoint!

    Thank you for the chance, Katie!

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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  63. I want to read The Diabolic. Not sure why, maybe just because the name is intriguing.

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  64. I am looking forward to reading Heartless!!! I just binge read the Lunar Chronicles this year and love her writing!!!!

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  65. A Torch Against The Night!! An Ember in the Ashes was just so good and I want more!

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  66. Frost Blood by Elly Blake. Thanks!

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  67. I am most looking forward to Heartless! I loved the Lunar Chronicles series, so I have high hopes for this book!

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  68. I'm most anxious to read Spontaneous. :)

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  69. I just finished reading the Lunar Chronicles for the first time, so I'm really hoping to read Heartless!

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  70. I want to read Heartless, like yesterday ;)

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  71. Such a great giveaway! Thanks for holding it!

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  72. I'm super excited to read Marissa Meyer's newest, so, Heartless!

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  73. I really love Sabaa Tahir, so I'm extremely excited to read A Torch Against the Night

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  74. The King Slayer looks good. Great title!

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  75. A Torch Against the Night is one I can't wait for!

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  76. I would LOVE to read Heartless. And attend BEA. It's on the wishlist. Thanks for a great recap. It looks like you had a fabulous time. :)

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  77. I would really love A Torch Against the Night and Heartless, but I'm also really looking forward to Jennifer Niven's latest, Holding Up the Universe!

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  78. I am most excited to read Empire of Dust from this list. Not on this list would be Stalking Jack the Ripper.

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  79. Thank you for the giveaway! I am really looking forward to The Pretty Reckless.I also really wanna read Holding Up the Universe and The Sun is Also a Star.

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  80. Heartless! (And Strange the Dreamer, even though it isn't the whole book...)

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  81. Of the stack, I am most looking forward to reading Empire Of Dust, A Torch Against The Night, and Heartless! I also really want to read Ever The Hunted. Thanks for the chance!

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  82. I'm most excited to read A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT! I recently read AN EMBER IN THE ASHES and I loved it!

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  83. Sounds like a great time at BEA and BookCon! I really wish I could go, but I love over on the west coast. It sounds like an amazing experience. Thank you so much for doing this giveaway! I'm really excited for Heartless by Marissa Meyer.

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  84. I'm so excited to read Heartless!!

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  85. Definitely most excited for Heartless!

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  86. I want to say all but if I have to pick one then it has to be Heartless! The story sounds beyond addicting and amazing! Thank you for the chance!!

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  87. I'm most excited to read Heartless by Marissa Meyer! Thank you for this amazing chance! :)

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  88. Heartless, A Torch Against the Night, Strange the Dreamer. I can't decide!!

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  89. Guadalupe MontoyaJuly 8, 2016 at 9:40 PM

    I'm very excited about Heartless, as I'm crazy for retellings, but am also
    excited for works by new authors like Frostblood.

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  90. I'm excited for A torch against the night!

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