Sparse Blogging for the month of July. We have my husband's 13 year old daughter with us for the month of July, so my time will be limited on what I can do on the interwebz. I have a couple of book reviews I need to get together and I'll still drop in on everyone's blog when I can sneak away.

Contests/Giveaways I come across will be listed in my sidebar so feel free to drop by and check it out. To be honest, there have been so many lately, it's been kinda hard to keep track of them. Here is list of blogs (who I think do a superb job of listing giveaways), that post regularly throughout the week, the various giveaways. Check them out:

• Book Junkie
• LadyVampire's Lair
• Undercover Book Lover
• West Of Mars -- Win A Book!

Author News:

• Nalini Singh's Branded by Fire (Book 6, Psy-Changeling series) released today! She's guest blogging over at Silk and Shadows today, head over and congratulate her.
  
• Rachel Caine has poll she would her readers to take. She is doing research for lecture she is giving about young adult literature, later this month. If you moment head over and help her out.
• Majorie M. Liu has a post listing where and when she will be doing signs and a radio show.
• Richelle Mead announced she has a new web site design up and she has the first chapter of the Thorn Queen posted there as well. Very nice!
• Jocelynn Drake has posted cover for the German version of Nightwalker and the Science Fiction Book Club omnibus edition of Dark Days that includes Nightwalker and Dayhunter. The new cover Dawnbreakers has also been posted on her blog.
• Alyssa Day posted "get you in the mood" snippets from Atlantis Unmasked (Book 4, Warriors of Poseidon series) which released today. Congratulations!
  
• Yasmine Galenorm has posted that Bone Magic and Inked are now available for pre-order.
• Faith Hunter's Skinwalker released today! Yay! I'm looking forward to this book.
  

Interesting Tidbits:

• Anna's Book Blog has posted Blogs to Check Out. Check it out, she lists several interesting blogs that you may not be acquainted with yet.
• i09 has an interesting post: Your Spike/Angel Slash Just Became Canon (Kinda) [Buffy Slash]. Um, Spike and Angel as a couple...
• The Galaxy Express posted: Future Blogs, discusses some past history on blogging and the future of blogging. Very Interesting.
• Mondo Vampire has a book review on Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge.
• Bookalicious has posted: Do Bloggers make a difference in sales. I'm seeing a lot posts on this topic lately.
• The Daily Galaxy Express has an interesting post: Stephen Hawking: "Humans Have Entered a New Stage of Evolution", discussing how reading and external information collection is part of evolution. Very insightful.
• Leontine's Book Realm has announced: Announcement: THE BEEFCAKE PREVIEW CLUB opening on first Monday of every month. Sabin, the next Lord Of The Underworld, will be the topic of discussion on August 3rd. If you would like to join the club head over and sign up! When you sign up, you'll get a sweet badge like the one on my sidebar.
  
• Smexy Books has some strange happenings, that look like fun, going on over at her blog: "SSHH It’s A take Over: July 20th - 25th". Head over and find out what it's all about.
  

Contests/Giveaways:

• Suzanne McLeod: The Naming of The Beasts :: Giveaway: Enter the giveaway for a chance to win your choice out of the five Felix Castor books including The Naming of The Beasts, along with a signed copy of The Cold Kiss of Death or The Sweet Scent of Blood. Deadline is end of day, anywhere, on Wednesday, July 8th.
• Gena Showalter: Win an advanced readers copy of DARKEST WHISPER! You need to head over to Gena's blog for the details. The winner will be announced on Friday, July 10th.
• Patricia's Vampire Notes Interviews Cecilia Tan: Three copies of ebook Mind Games by Cecilia Tan will be given away. Deadline to enter is by July 9 at 11:59 PM.
• Devon Monk: To celebrate the release of MAGIC IN THE BLOOD in the UK, Devon Monk is giving away three copies of MAGIC IN THE BLOOD. Deadline to enter is Midnight PST on Thursday, July 9th.
• Silk and Shadows: Silk and Shadows is having contest, that will be running all week, for a chance to win Through the Veil by Shiloh Walker.
• Pat's Fantasy Hotlist: Pat's Fantasy Hotlist is giving away five copies of the final book in Joel Shepherd's Cassandra Kresnov series, Killswitch. Not sure what the deadline is.
• BSC Reviews: BSC Reviews is giving away 5 signed copies of Chris Evan's The Light of Burning Shadows (Iron Elves Book II). Deadline to enter is before July 12th.
• My Blog 2.0: Dottie has reviewed and is giving away a copy of The HIGHWAYMAN by Michele Hauf. Deadline to enter is before July 14th.
• Eclectic Book Lover Giveaway: Undercover Book Lover is giving away 10 copies of THE SAMPLER, all signed by Ilona and Gordon Andrews. THE SAMPLER includes first chapters from 7 of ACE and ROC's upcoming late summer/early fall novels. Head over to find out which books are sampled. Deadline to enter is 11:59 pm PST July 17th.
• SciFiGuy.ca: The Felix Castor Contest with Author Mike Carey. 5 copies of the DEAD MEN'S BOOTS will be given away on July 17. 3 Grand Prizes of the first three Felix Castor books, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, VICIOUS CIRCLE and DEAD MEN'S BOOTS will be given away on July 23rd.
• Patricia's Vampire Notes: Patricia's Vampire Notes is giving away 5 copies of The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Deadline to enter is July 21st.
• Book Junkie: Is having a Hot Summer Nights contest that will be running for the month of July. Here over and check out the details.
• Alaine - Queen of Happy Endings: Is giving members of her blog a chance at winning Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran or Blood Promise by Richelle Mead. Not a member of her blog? No problem, just head over and join. Deadline to enter is before July 31st.