Book Chatter (13) + Giveaway: New Adult - What's the big deal?

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Once a month, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on various book topics and offering prizes that pertain to the topic at hand. That’s not all – You will get to choose the monthly topic by voting on which topic to discuss for the following month. You will also be able to suggest topics by clicking on this FORM.

NEW ADULT - WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

What is New Adult (NA)? NA fiction is a developing genre of fiction with protagonists in the 18–25 age bracket or an older Young Adult (YA). The term originated through a contest held in 2009 by St. Martin’s Press.

When I first started my blog, it focused on YA books and there were times when I wanted to read more mature books that I could relate to. I wanted books that were more intense and hit on more dramatic subject matter. I believe there is still confusion on about what NA is. When the “sex factor” is brought up, I can see where readers would think that these books mostly involve sexual content. Believe me when I say there are plenty of books “NA” books out there like this. I’ve found out through my experience reading books in this genre, it can be like playing Russian roulette. There are some great NA books but when books in this genre are filled with racier content that adds no value to the story, I sometimes find myself shying away from this genre. I tend to stick with authors who’ve written works in this genre that I love. I could probably go on and on about this genre but I would like to mention some books that were considered YA but held more mature content that I loved and these books were the reason that I wanted to read more books like it.

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver trilogy

Melissa Mar’s Wicked Lovely series

Where She Went by Gayle Forman – this is the sequel to If I Stay told from Adam’s POV.

It wasn’t until reading Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, when I started to really search out more books in this genre. I’m a big lover of NA books and there was a point in time while I was out on hiatus that the majority of the books I read fell in this genre. Everywhere I turned, another NA book popped up. Most were self-published and as I stated earlier, you have to find out what you enjoy in your books with protagonists that are college aged. I know that every reader has different tastes but I’m finding out that with my preferences, it’s becoming hard to find the gems in this genre.  

Here are some of my favorite authors in this genre:

Colleen Hoover

Tammara Webber

Jamie McGuire

J. Lynn (Jennifer L. Armentrout)

Leah Raeder

What do you think about NA books? Do you have any favorites?

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*CONTEST CLOSED* 

Rules: 1 Winner! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest ends @ 12:00am (CST) June 29, 2015. US &
Canadian Residents only.

Book Chatter (11): Fictional Crush

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on various book topics and offering prizes that pertain to the topic at hand. That’s not all – You will get to choose the weekly topic by voting on which topic to discuss for the following week. You will also be able to suggest topics by clicking on this FORM.

Fictional Crush

If you will practice being fictional for a while, you will understand that fictional characters are sometimes more real than people with bodies and heartbeats. ~Richard Bach

One of the joys of reading is being able to fall in love with the characters that come along and accidentally find a place in your heart. It’s not often that I crush on fictional characters but when I do fall in love with a character, it’s groundbreaking. So many elements have to come together for me to even see the characters come to life in my eyes. When these elements meld effortlessly, sparks fly.

Character development is so important to me. When it’s done right, I often find it hard not to care about the characters. Since we’re discussing crushes, I can’t help but swoon over the guy(s) that captures my heart. I love reading about complex characters, they have so much depth. When I enjoy reading about their struggles and triumphs, it makes them more endearing to me.

Character description is also important. I’ll be honest and say I love tall, dark, and handsome descriptions. Add the bad boy element to the character on top of great character development and I’m a goner. There are so many characters with this description but again when that character is created to utter perfection (Not talking about him being perfect); he leaves quite a memorable impression.

So, what fictional character knocks my socks off? When it comes down to it, it’s the characters that I love reading their stories over and over again. Oh and every time, I continue to be reminded why I fell in love with that character.

Jericho Barrons (Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning) – This is how I picture Barrons. He’s the ultimate bad boy. He has so many layers to him that I can’t wrap my head around it sometimes. Just to make it simple as to why this man is my fictional crush, I’ll just say I’m obsessed! That says it all.

I could name more fictional crushes but none even compare to Barrons. If you have not read this series, I would highly recommend it. But keep in mind that it is an adult series (You are warned).

Other fictional crushes:

Jace Wayland (Mortal Instruments)

Bones (Night Huntress Series)

Patch Cipriano (Hush, Hush)

Dageus MacKeltar (Dark Highlander)

Edward Cullen (Twilight Saga)

Who's your fictional crush and why?

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*CONTEST* 

Winner will receive his/her choice of book with fictional crush - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! 

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) October 31, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Book Chatter (10): Favorite Paranormal Creature

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on various book topics and offering prizes that pertain to the topic at hand. That’s not all – You will get to choose the weekly topic by voting on which topic to discuss for the following week. You will also be able to suggest topics by clicking on this FORM.

Favorite Paranormal Creature

Vampires, Werevolves, and Faeries...Oh My! Well, I guess you could say that if you enjoy reading books with paranormal elements. Anything supernatural fascinates me and as you know, my blog is all about the SUPERNATURAL. Some of my friends don't particularly like this genre and just doesn't understand why these paranormal creatures intrigue me. When asked, I say, "Don't knock it until you try it."

There are so many mythical creatures in the fantasy world and I'm just dying for authors to take a step outside of the norm and give readers something new. But until then, I'll just be happy reading about the different spins on vampires, werewolves, fairies, and angels. With that said, how do we decide which supernatural creature is our favorite? What is it that makes these creatures so alluring? I'll start by sharing which creatures are my favorite and why.

These are my top favorite paranormal creatures. Although there are others that I’m beginning to enjoy reading about, such as ghosts and dragons but the following are by far my favorites:

1. Vampires

2. Werewolves

3. Faeries

4. Angels

As you can see, my list is filled with the traditional supernatural creatures. I think that society has a fascination with some of these creatures for the same reasons. I am particualarly attracted to the otherworldly beauty that they possess. The immortality factor or eternal youth as you might call it, calls to my inner youth of staying young and fresh. These creatures also exude power and strength, not to mention there is a sensual side to them when it comes to how they seduce mortals with their glamours or prowess or what not. One of the biggest attributes that I love about these creatures is their dualities - one moment they can be dark and dangereous and the next, a brooding hero of damsels in distress. I can’t get enough of them!

So, I've told you mine, now tell me yours. Which supernatural creature(s) is your favorite and why?

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*CONTEST* 

Winner will receive his/her choice of book of character that they would like to meet - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! 

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) October 17, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Book Chatter (9): Characters I would like to meet

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on various book topics and offering prizes that pertain to the topic at hand. That’s not all – You will get to choose the weekly topic by voting on which topic to discuss for the following week. You will also be able to suggest topics by clicking on this FORM.

Characters I would like to meet.

One of the great things about books is falling in love with the characters. Being able to read about so many different worlds and the characters that bring these books to life can be quite addicting. With so many popular books toping the bestseller’s list, it’s no wonder the buzz has readers itching to bring their favorite characters to the big screen. 

It would be amazing or a dream/fantasy comes true if I could meet some of my favorite characters. Well, it’s just as I said, “A Dream” but I’ll settle for them coming to the big screen just to get me a bit closer to reality. But this topic is about the characters that I would love to meet, so who cares if they’re not real. When I’m immersed in a book and I’m crying my eyes out or I’m all goo-goo eyed over a swoon worthy character – to me that’s as real as it gets. With that being said, here’s a list of characters that I would love to meet. 

Young Adult 

Ø Rose & Dimitri (Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead) – They’re one of my favorite YA couples and I would love to see them spar with each other. 

Ø Patch (Hush, Hush Series by Becca Fitzpatrick) – I’d want to meet him just to swoon. 

Ø Jace & Magnus (Mortal Instrument Series by Cassandra Clare) – Put these two in a room together and I just may die from laughing. 

Ø Nicholas & Lucy (The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey) – I love these two! They are just unforgettable to me. 

Ø Puck (Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa) – Yes, I know I would literally die being in the same room with Puck. Maybe he can teach me some magic tricks too. 

Ø Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed, and Peaseblossom (Theatre Illuminata by Lisa Mantchev) – I’d want to hang with them so they can point me out to the best desserts, plus we could make some mischief while we’re at it. 

Adult 

Ø Mac & Jericho (Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning) – Probably one of my favorite couples of all time now. I’d probably pee in my pants or just faint from setting eyes on Jericho Barrons. I’d kick it with Mac so we can shop. I love pink too! 

Ø Cat & Bones (Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost) – I wouldn’t know what to expect with this couple. But both Cat & Bones are hilarious. So, I’m sure I’d have a great time. 

Ø Faythe & Marc (Shifters Series by Rachel Vincent) – Both kick ass and down to earth characters. I feel so connected to these two. 

Ø Merit (Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill) – I could paint the town red with Merit. She just seems like a fun person to be around. Plus, she loves chocolate! 

Ø Dageus & Drustan (Highlander Series by Karen Marie Moning) – I would love to be a sandwich just for a day with these two tall gorgeous men. *sigh* 

Ø Cassie (Cassie Palmer Series by Karen Chance) –I’d want to kick it with Cassie for the inside scoop on t her powers. Plus, you never know what’s about to go down when Cassie is around. Just keep your seatbelts locked!

So, which characters would you like to meet? Why?

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*CONTEST* 

Winner will receive his/her choice of book of character that they would like to meet - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! 

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) October 3, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Book Chatter (8) Favorite Genres

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on various book topics and offering prizes that pertain to the topic at hand. That’s not all – You will get to choose the weekly topic by voting on which topic to discuss for the following week. You will also be able to suggest topics by clicking on this FORM.

Favorite Genres

If you’re a book lover like me, then you’ve probably read tons of books. Being a book blogger, also pushes reading up a notch. My love for books is one of the reasons I started blogging. As I’ve come to realize, after reading countless books, I’ve naturally gravitated toward certain genres.

There are so many reasons why people read books but I’ll point out a few that I can relate to:

          

 Knowledge

 Enjoyment

 Entertainment

 Escapism

 Education

 Relaxation

 Creativity

 Expertise

 Boredom

         

         Click on image to getter better view

Whether it is for Knowledge or Entertainment, every reader has certain genres that they enjoy more than others. There are many sub-genres within the Fiction and Non-Fiction Genres. I only read Fiction for PURE ESCAPISM. My favorite sub-genres are genres within genres. Any book, YA or Adult with Fantasy or Paranormal elements is where I LOVE to LIVE in. I love genres like this because it’s left up to your imagination to live completely in the character’s world with no worries about the real world. Anything goes in this genre and I don’t have the urge to critique it and get caught up in applying the rules of the real world into the fantasy world.

I also love Historical Romance (Regency/Victorian). There’s something magical about being caught up in a whirlwind of balls, gowns, and rakes. *sigh* I’m just beginning to really delve into Contemporary novels. The ones that I’ve fallen in love with are more on the darker, grittier side. These books have a way of forcing me to acknowledge the characters and their struggles on their journey back into the light. Although, I’m not a big fan of this genre, I am more open to it now. One of the main reasons I’ve had such bad luck with this genre is my tendency to compare the books to real life. In the end, most of the books that I’ve read fall short in making a believer out of me.

So, what is/are your favorite genre(s)? Why?

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*CONTEST CLOSED* 

Winner will receive his/her choice of book in favorite genre - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! Must comment to be eligible.

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) September 19, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Book Chatter (7): Standalone VS Series

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on various book topics and offering prizes that pertain to the topic at hand. That’s not all – You will get to choose the weekly topic by voting on which topic to discuss for the following week. You will also be able to suggest topics by clicking on this FORM.

Standalone VS Series

Characters come and go as we read book after book while escaping into their worlds. Some characters enter our lives and leave an unforgettable impression upon us. It’s hard to let go but in the end, we may or may not find ourselves satisfied with the end of their stories. While everyone has their own preference, I guess it depends on what we look for in our books.

I’ve read my share of remarkable books and the one thing that always seems to be consistent after I turn the last page is how the characters fare in the future? Or, will there be a sequel? These questions are the reasons why I prefer a series to a standalone.

If the book left a great impression upon me in leading me to care about the characters, then of course, I want more. The majority of the books I own are series based. I have loved and cried right alongside these characters. This type of connection is often lacking from the standalones that I read. I don’t fully get to know the characters well enough to care much about them. That being said, I do have a few standalone favorites that managed to sweep me off my feet. But in the end, it comes down to how deeply invested I am in the characters’ lives by the time I turn the last page.

Here’s a list of my favorite Standalones & Series

Favorite Standalones (Top 5)

Going too Far by Jennifer Echols

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Favorite Series (I have way too many, so I’ll do top 10 (5 Adult/5 YA) in no particular order – means I’ve read most at least 2 times & there are 2 or more books out)

Favorite Adult Series

Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill

Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

Magic Study by Maria Snyder

Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost

Shifter Series by Rachel Vincent

Favorite YA Series

The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

What do you prefer? What are some of your favorite standalones/series books?

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*CONTEST CLOSED* 

Winner will receive his/her choice of favorite standalone/series book - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! Must comment to be eligible.

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) September 12, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Book Chatter (6): What's the Cover got to do with it?

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on various book topics and offering prizes that pertain to the topic at hand. That’s not all – You will get to choose the weekly topic by voting on which topic to discuss for the following week. You will also be able to suggest topics by clicking on this FORM.

What's the Cover got to do with it?

When I’m looking for the next book to take me to out-of-this-world escapism, lately these lyrics come to mind:

You’re so hypnotizing
Could you be the devil
Could you be an angel

Your touch magnetizing
Feels like I am floating
Leaves my body glowing ~E.T. by Katy Perry

Imagine browsing the isles of your local bookstore, and then BAM - the cover of a book captures your attention.  It’s gorgeous, unique, and makes you want to sneak a peek. And when you pick up the book, not only is the cover mesmerizing, the touch and feel of the book has you quickly ensnared and flipping through the book to read the summary. Does this sound like you? Well, it certainly fits me.

  

That’s right! I LOVE book covers. I’ll buy a book just because of the cover. More often than not, a cover can make or break a book. It’s that old cliché, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” that I oftentimes tend to ignore. While beautiful covers grab my attention, some great books get skipped over because of unattractive or mediocre covers. One book in particular that I always think of is Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. I did not like the cover and would not have read the book if it wasn’t for the great reviews from my friends. So whether the book has a beautiful cover or not, you have a 50/50 shot of getting a great book. But it doesn’t hurt to entice me by beauty or uniqueness.

We could also spin this topic around and take a look at all the book covers that have absolutely nothing at all to do with the book. Sometimes, readers may even be annoyed when cover model is portrayed differently than the book’s description. I do find myself a little disgruntled with covers that do face shots. I like to imagine what I think the characters would look like, especially when the majority of the time the cover models are not what I imagined. Then I’m left with a snapshot of the cover model detracting from an otherwise good reading experience. I know it’s really out of the author’s hands about the covers but it would be really nice if they had more input. Maybe we’d see better covers. But hey, what can you do?

Some of my favorite book covers of 2011 so far are  (I could go on and on but I’ll do my top 15): How I picked this list: If I was in a bookstore, these covers would automatically make me pick up the book.

The Unbecoming of MaraDyer by Michelle Hodkin

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Wither by Lauren Destefano

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Destined by Jessie Harrell

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

After Obsession by Carrie Jones

Everneath by Ashton Brodi

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Elemental Reality by Cesya MaRae Cuono

My favorite book covers from 2010 were Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick & Fallen by Lauren Kate.

My favorite series book covers are The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.

What are some of your favorite Book Covers? Do they portray the book?

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*CONTEST CLOSED* 

Winner will receive his/her choice of favorite book cover- pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! Must comment to be eligible.

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) August 29, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Book Chatter (5): Books into Movies

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on various book topics and offering prizes that pertain to the topic at hand. That’s not all – You will get to choose the weekly topic by voting on which topic to discuss for the following week. You will also be able to suggest topics by clicking on this FORM.

Books into Movies

How many times have you pondered when reading one of your favorite books, “I wish this book was made into a movie." Some of today’s and past award winning movies were adapted from books not to mention that most of these movies are considered some of the best in film history.

I’m all for transforming great books to the big screen...if done right. Now, I know everyone has their own opinion on how these books should be adapted. Most of time fans of said books have concerns about choices in actors/actresses and what scenes should be included in the movies. As we all know, it’s not up to us or the authors who’ve written the books.

Some of my favorite books into movies include (I’ve watched it at least 3 times):

THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY

THE NOTEBOOK

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

SCARFACE

THE COLOR PURPLE

JURASSIC PARK

DIE HARD

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

WAR OF THE WORLDS

WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ

BOURNE IDENTITY

ROMANCING THE STONE

JAWS

FORREST GUMP

FIGHT CLUB

THE SECRET OF NIMH

Lately, there’s been a rise in YA books being adapted into movies following the Harry Potter rave. The Twilight Saga is currently sending fans screaming into the theatres if only to get a peek at actors Robert Pattison or Taylor Lautner. I love the Twilight Series as books but I think the movies are mediocre at best. Each film is a little bit better than the last - I’ll admit but half of the time I cringe throughout each scene. But hey, that just me…I think it takes the right combination of ingredients to make a great book into a successful movie. In my opinion, the majority of the books that I’ve read have been better than the movie but it’s still satisfying to see the adaptation on the big screen if it’s even remotely good.

Some upcoming YA films that I’m ecstatic about seeing include:

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS by Cassandra Clare

THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan

WICKED LOVELY by Melissa Marr

Some optioned books that I would like to see:

VAMPIRE ACADEMY by Richelle Mead

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver

FALLEN by Lauren Kate

MATCHED by Ally Condie

BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver

INCARERON by Catherine Fisher

Well, there you have it! How do you feel about books being adapted into movies? What movies would you like to see on the big screen?

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*CONTEST CLOSED* 

Winner will receive his/her choice of favorite book turned into movie - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! Must comment to be eligible.

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) August 22, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Book Chatter (4): Hard copies vs eBooks

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on various book topics and offering prizes that pertain to the topic at hand. That’s not all – You will get to choose the weekly topic by voting on which topic to discuss for the following week. You will also be able to suggest topics by clicking on this FORM.

Hard Copies vs. eBooks

If you are a book lover like me, I’m sure at one point or another that you’ve amassed a certain amount of books and have run out of shelf space.  Facing such a dilemma, you either find more shelf space or come up with an alternative such as the eBook.  More and more eBooks are available for download today as technology and publishing companies try to find more ways to connect with their readers plus eBooks are cost effective.

Here’s a quick comparison of the benefits of having the different formats

Hard Copy	eBook
sentimental value	portability
quality	quicker to search
feel of the book	available on various platforms
cheaper than an eReader	less expensive
no strain on eyes	environmentally friendly

I honestly don’t care for one format over the other; it just depends on the situation. For instance, my mother and I like the same books. So instead of buying two copies, I buy an eBook so that we can share via Kindle.  If you want to know why we don’t just borrow, it's because, I’m really stingy when it comes to my favorite books – I really don’t like loaning them out. Sorry Mom! Another instance is when it’s a series that I’m crazy about and I LOVE the cover.  So, I end up buying the hard copy which prompts me to continue buying the other books in the series. Also, Let me just point out that I don’t like my bookshelf looking mismatched. There are several other reasons for me picking one over the other but in the end, both formats work for me.

Whether you have to have that paper copy in your hands or you just love the convenience of an eBook, I think each format will continue to benefit the masses.

So, which do you prefer?

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*CONTEST CLOSED* 

Winner will receive $15 gift card from Amazon or Barnes and Nobles
Rules: 1 Winner! Must comment to be eligible.

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) August 15, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.