Mundie Moms

Thursday, December 15, 2011

#BIR2011 Day 5: DIE FOR ME by Amy Plum



The Best I've Read 2011 feature continues with one of my all time favorites, Amy Plum's DIE FOR ME! Seriously, this book has it all, a historical setting, romance and an alluring paranormal twist. Not to mention Jules, one of my all time favorite supporting characters. Before we get to Jules, I want to share a little bit about the book:


Published by: Harper Teen
Released on: May 10th, 2011

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love? (quoted fromGoodreads).

I'm so thrilled to have Amy on the blog today! She has stopped by to answer my burning question,
If Jules Was My Tour Guide Around Paris, What Three Places Would He Take Me To?
You can be sure that since it’s Jules showing you around, there will be a lot of flirting and show-off chivalry involved. So just prepare yourself for the fact that he’s going to want to treat you to everything. Don’t even try to get your wallet out. He’ll be offended.

First of all, he takes you to the Clignancourt flea market in the north of Paris. This is a huge indoor-outdoor flea market where you can find everything from leather jackets to vintage lava lamps to nineteenth-century sculpture. Jules shows you his favorite booths, introduces you to the antiques and art dealers that he knows, and looks very pleased with himself when they tease him about being tour guide for the pretty American. You pick up some little trinket and ask Jules what it is. He explains and asks if you like it. You say yes, but that you’re just looking and not buying, and you move on to the next booth.

After a couple of hours, Jules asks if you’re ready to see some real art and you say yes. You hop into his old beat-up Austin Mini and drive south through Paris to the Museum of Modern Art at the Centre Georges Pompidou. He takes you through the museum, stopping in front of paintings by his old friends—Picasso, Braque, Leger. He tells you anecdotes about each painting and the avant-garde art events that used to take place in Montmartre. He tells you who was in love with whom. That one painter stole the other’s mistress, and painted this nude portrait of her, flaunting it in the most frequented gallery. Jules’s stories bring the paintings to life for you. You are flattered and awed to be given a personal tour by an artist who had a personal history with the art he is showing you.

Jules asks you if you’re hungry, and when you respond that you’re ravenous, he says he knows the perfect place. He takes you to a friend’s restaurant called Chateaubriand, where they give you a little corner table. People stop by every few minutes to say hi to him, and he introduces you to all of them. As with the antique dealers, there are lots of winks and comments about the pretty American. You don’t choose your dinner – there is only the chef’s menu which comes out in seven small courses with a tiny glass of different wines served with each course.

While you’re finishing off your dessert, Jules reaches into his pocket and pulls out the trinket you had admired at the flea market. “It’s important to have a decent souvenir of Paris—and of me,” he says. And when you try to give him a thank you hug as he drops you off at your hotel, he shakes his head and says, “No. You’re in Paris. We give the bises.” He gives you a feather-soft kiss on each cheek and leaves you there, dizzy with the romance of Paris and of your revenant tour guide.


See why I adore Jules! How can you not fall in love with him.

Thank you Amy for stopping by today! I'm now going to day dream of Paris and Jules.

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You can follow Amy on her Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads

You can purchase DIE FOR ME at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

You can read my 5 star review for DIE FOR ME here. Stay tuned after the first of the year for when we announce our upcoming UNTIL I DIE blog tour!!! I can not wait for this sequel!

UNTIL I DIE will be out in May 2012. You can pre-order it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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Thank you to Harper Teen, I have 1 copy of DIE FOR ME to giveaway to 1 lucky winner! To be entered for your chance to win, please fill out the form below.

- US Mailing Addresses only (no PO Boxes)
- 1 entry per person
- You must be 13 yrs & older (or have a parent/guardian's permission to enter if under 13)
- This giveaway ends on 12/17/11


Don't miss one of my other favorites from this year, Vanish by Sophie Jordan, which is being featured on the Best I've Read Blog today!

Thoughtful Thursday: Authors Against Animal Abuse Auction


I love it when authors come together for a fabulous cause. In the past we've seen just what they can do when they auction off books for flood relief, for children's hospitals, for care packages going over seas, for children's charities and so forth. Today I'm thrilled to post about an auction author Christine Johnson has put together with friends like Cassandra Clare, Carrie Ryan, Julia Karr, Julie Kagawa, Jon Skovron, Beth Revis, Mike Mullin, Saundra Mitchell, Angie Frazier, Rhonda Stapleton, Crissy Calhoun, Michelle Hodkin, Lauren Oliver, Sonia Gensler, Diane Peterfreund, Deva Fagan, Jeri Smith-Ready, and Liv Spencer.

Authors Against Animal Abuse Auction was inspired because of a horrible situation Christine witnessed a few weeks ago. You can read about it here, but if you're an animal, be prepared to get a bit teary eyed over this story. RIGHT NOW you can bid on books from each of the authors listed above. Sounds like an awesome deal right!?! You have the chance to win some signed books and even some ARCs, and in the process you're helping save an animals life. 100% of the proceeds are going to the Humane Society. In addition, both Carrie Ryan & Diana Peterfreund will match the aggregate of the high bids with up to $1,000 EACH to be donated to their local animal shelters AND Christine Johnson will be donating her volunteer hours at her local Humane Society. For every $100 earned she'll donate 4 hours, up to $1,000.

Here's the links for each of the bids (which are on Ebay):

1) The Mortal Instruments series (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels) by Cassandra Clare, in hardcover, each containing a signed bookplate. ALSO, Claire de Lune and Nocturne by Christine Johnson, Claire de Lune in paperback and Nocturne in hardcover, both signed.

2) The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead-Tossed Waves, The Dark and Hollow Places) by Carrie Ryan, in hardcover, signed. ALSO XVI and an ARC of Truth, by Julia Karr, both in paperback, both signed.

3) The Iron Fey series (The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, The Iron Knight) by Julie Kagawa, in paperback, signed. ALSO Struts and Frets, plus Misfit by Jon Skovron, both in hardcover, both signed.

4) Across The Universe by Beth Revis, in hardcover, signed. ALSO Ashfall by Mike Mullin, in hardcover, signed. ALSO two Ashfall posters.

5) The Vespertine in hardcover and an ARC of The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell, both signed. ALSO, Everlasting and The Eternal Sea by Angie Frazier, both signed and in hardcover.

6) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, in hardcover, signed. ALSO an ARC of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin, signed. ALSO The Revenant by Sonia Gensler, in hardcover, signed.

7) The Stupid Cupid trilogy (Stupid Cupid, Flirting with Disaster, Pucker Up,) by Rhonda Stapleton, in paperback, all signed. ALSO Spotted; Your one and only unofficial guide to Gossip Girl by Crissy Calhoun, signed, in paperback.

Circus Galacticus by Deva Fagan, in hardcover, signed. ALSO The Midnight Tunnel by Angie Frazier, in hardcover, signed.

9) Rampant and Ascendent by Diana Peterfreund, both in hardcover, both signed. ALSO a limited-edition ARC of Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready*.

10) Love Bites; the Unofficial Saga of Twilight by Liv Spencer, signed in paperback. ALSO Love You to Death; the unofficial companion to the Vampire Diaries AND Love You to Death; the unofficial companion to the Vampire Diaries, Season 2 by Crissy Calhoun, both signed and in paperback.

** taken directly off of Christine's site** These links are property of Christine and the auction is run by Christine. All questions or concerns about the auction need to be directed to Christine herself. She's posted ways to contact her on her site: christine at christine johnson books dot com (no spaces) or on Twitter, @cjohnsonbooks.

If you're unable to put $ towards the auctions, your time is just as valuable. Animal shelters nation wide are in need of volunteers. Many are under funded and under staffed. By volunteering your time, you can help save the lives of many animals.

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