Posts By: Giselle

Saturday, September 08, 2012

Introducing Xpresso Design!

Posted by Giselle • 31 Comments

Most of you have probably noticed that I love designing banners and such, after numerous emails, questions, and compliments regarding these designs I have decided to launch Xpresso Design where you can purchase custom banners and buttons made especially for you! Have a look at some of my designs:

Buttons

Event buttons: giveaways, events, challenges, etc can be designed to your needs.

Here are buttons I have made for my own events in the past:

Banners

I can design blog tour banners that your are participating in to go on your sidebar, or if you are an author/publisher hosting a tour for your book, I can design the tour banner.

Examples of tour banners I designed:

*More examples on my own sidebar, and at Alluring Reads*

And miscellaneous banners for events, memes, giveaways – you name it.

(I know some of these are one time use banners, I show them as an example of my design skills, that could have been made as tour banners)

Examples:

More Details

As you can see, there is a new tab up above for “Xpresso Design”, I am currently working on that page which will list pricing and packages, examples of my work as shown above, how to contact me, and other info I deem important. However, I’m already taking names for designs; email me for questions, details, prices, and to get some pretty designs! 😉

Contact me

Review & Interview: What’s Left Of Me

Posted by Giselle on 09/07/2012 • 21 Comments

Xpresso Reads welcomes the What’s Left of Me Blog Tour on the blog today which is hosted by HarperCollins Children’s Books. I have my review along with a great interview with the fabulous Kat Zhang!

What’s Left of MeKat ZhangSeries: The Hybrid Chronicles, #1Publication date: September 18th 2012by HarperCollins

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared…

Review: Fang Girl by Helen Keeble

Posted by Giselle on 09/06/2012 • 31 Comments

Fang Girl Helen Keeble Publication date: September 11th 2012 by Harper Teen

Things That Are Destroying Jane Greene’s Undead Social Life Before It Can Even Begin:

1) A twelve-year-old brother who’s convinced she’s a zombie.2) Parents who are begging her to turn them into vampires.3) The pet goldfish she accidentally turns instead.4) Weird superpowers that let her rip the heads off of every other vampire she meets.(Sounds cool, but it doesn’t win you many friends.)5) A pyschotic vampire creator who’s using her to carry out a plan for world domination.

And finally:6) A seriously ripped vampire hunter who either wants to stake her or make out with her. Not sure which.

Being an undead, eternally pasty fifteen-year-old isn’t quite the sexy, brooding, angst-fest Jane always imagined….

Helen Keeble’s…

Monstrous Beauty Audiobook Clip & Giveaway

Posted by Giselle on 09/06/2012 • 7 Comments

Monstrous Beauty Elizabeth Fama Format: Audiobook Publication date: September 4th 2012 by Macmillan Young Listeners

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences. Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will…

Review: Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Posted by Giselle on 09/05/2012 • 40 Comments

I have tried to read mermaid books – a new hype in today’s YA market – and book after book I keep finding myself disappointed, realizing that these water beings are simply not my forte… until now. Is it the dark, twisted plot? Is it the violent, yet beautiful story? Is it the combination of local sea lore mixed with curses, murders, love, and horror? Let’s just say, this is definitely more up my alley than the froufrou mermaid books that I have been using for kindling lately.Monstrous Beauty welcomes the old sea-folk lore, where mermaids are beautiful, perilous beasts who seduce and kill those who unfortunately come upon their waters. There is even mention of specific lore details such as the goddess Atargatis; I can’t say I was extremely…

Waiting on Wednesday (52)

Posted by Giselle on 09/05/2012 • 32 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. My pick this week:

Period 8 Chris Crutcher Release date: March 26th 2013by Harper Collins

In this full-length novel from Chris Crutcher, his first since the best-selling Deadline, the ultimate bully and the ultimate good guy tangle during Period 8.

Paul “the Bomb” Baum tells the truth. No matter what. It was something he learned at Sunday School. But telling the truth can cause problems, and not minor ones. And as Paulie discovers, finding the truth can be even more problematic. Period 8 is supposed to be that one period in high school where the truth can shine, a safe haven. Only what Paulie and Hannah (his…

Review: Burn for Burn

Posted by Giselle on 09/04/2012 • 37 Comments

Burn for BurnJenny Han & Siobhan VivianPublication date: September 18th 2012by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY… THEY GET EVEN. Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister. Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she’s ready to make her pay. Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she’s not the same girl anymore. And she’s ready to prove it to him. Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won’t…

Review: Outpost by Ann Aguirre

Posted by Giselle on 09/04/2012 • 0 Comments

OutpostAnn AguirreSeries: Razorland, #2Publication date: September 4th 2012by Feiwel & Friends

Deuce’s whole world has changed. Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn’t fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as…