Stacking the Shelves (16)

Thanks to Tynga at Tynga's Reviews for hosting Stacking the Shelves and making this awesome graphic!

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process! --Tynga

I'm back! I know this seems like A LOT of books, but I've been out of commission for a couple weeks. We got the house painted (inside and out) and new flooring. Due to this, the internet was spotty, all of my books had to be packed up, and it just really disrupted life. I continued reading, but mostly stayed off the computer while it was happening. And now I'm having panic attacks when I think about putting all of my books back. They're currently packed up in seventeen 55 quart plastic bins and ten fabric bins. That will be tackled Monday... Or at least some of it. Anyway, on to the books!


Review:
Second Chance by Heather Brewer ARC [Preorder]
Banquished by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie [Preorder]
Two and Twenty Dark Tales anthology eARC [Preorder]
I will be giving away one of the copies of Vanquished when I post my review! Thanks to the authors, publishers, and netgalley for these review titles!


Won:
Skinny by Donna Cooner ARC [Preorder]
Origin by Jessica Khoury ARC [Preorder]
Blood Kin by M.J. Scott [Buy Now]
Thanks to Kat Zhang & the Something Strange and Deadly Outbreak for Skinny & Origin! Thanks to M.J. Scott & The Romance Bandits for Blood Kin!.


Purchased by Sara:
Otherkin by Nina Berry [Buy Now]
Hearts of Darkness by Kira Brady [Buy Now]
Widow's Web by Jennifer Estep [Buy Now]
Shadows Before the Sun by Kelly Gay [Buy Now]
Wake by Amanda Hocking [Buy Now]
Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill [Buy Now]
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [Buy Now]
Brave New World anthology [Buy Now]
Willful Impropriety anthology [Buy Now]
I know it looks like I went crazy overboard, this is three weeks worth of purchases. It's still a little crazy, but helps me justify it to myself. :) I'm excited for all of these books.

Kindle:
Croak by Gina Damico [Buy Now]
When I bought this title, it was on sale for $1.99.


Purchased by Christen:
Moonglow by Kristen Callihan [Buy Now]
The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires by Molly Harper [Buy Now]
Christen was excited for both of these titles and picked the up once she got home from her cruise.


Free-ish:
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks [Buy Now]
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo [Buy Now]
A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton [Buy Now]
Storm by Brigid Kemmerer [Buy Now]
I received a $50 giftcard from my employer for participating in a healthcare survey and biometric screening. So, of course, I ordered more books. I have one more from the giftcard that I'm waiting for that hasn't released yet. I think the giftcard covered all but a dollar after my discount.

Used:
From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris [Buy Now]
We finally have the whole series! This book isn't pictured because it is still packed away from the house renovations.


Library:
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth [Buy Now]
Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne [Buy Now]
The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda [Buy Now]
Glimmer by Phoebe Kitandis [Buy Now]
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater [Buy Now]
I'm going to be sad next year when I can no longer go to the neighboring county's library (they are no longer allowing you to borrow for free from out county) because I always find great books.

Waiting on Wednesday (66)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Revelation
Author: Erica Hayes
Series: Novel of the Seven Signs #1
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 10/02/12
Chosen by: Sara
Pre-order:

Summary:

A fallen angel with a mission and a medical examiner who's lost her faith are fighting for their souls in a glittering, near-future Manhattan...

Blind faith is for fools. That's what Dr. Morgan Sterling believes. And she's going to prove it by curing the zombie plague ravaging her city's slums. She's certain it's not a sign of the End of Days, but a nasty disease -- until an angel appears in her morgue in a flash of glory.

Luniel is not just a fallen angel. He's a powerful warrior sworn to fight evil in hopes of a chance at redemption. He's after the demon princes who are stealing the seven vials of holy wrath which, when perverted, will unleash eternal hell on earth. To stop the plague, Luniel needs Morgan's help, and her faith. But Morgan believes science is their salvation. If the zombie plague is a demonic curse -- and if Luniel is true -- he’ll have to prove it. Even if he loses his heart to true love or his soul to Hell...

Update Time

I just wanted to give everyone a bit of an update as to why I haven't been posting as much lately.

First, my mom is getting the house re-painted and is getting new flooring installed. This has led to a lot of packing and moving of things. I had to box up all of my books (except for the small box of ones I will read over the next two weeks) in 24 hours. Now, I have a lot of books (I didn't count but my guess is around 800) so this was not an easy feat. They're currently in twelve 56 gallon plastic bins and nine fabric cubicle bins. I am already absolutely dreading having to put them all back because they were not packed up in alphabetical order. They were packed up due to size, and although it wasn't completely random, I am a bit OCD.

Second, my job is a fickle thing. At my store, I'm on the team everyone relies on to do everything, even if it's not our job. For a while things were looking better and we were getting our own duties completed. But now, the new store manager wants to add to our list of duties and it's really stressing me out. You know I'm stressed if my psoriasis breaks out... And when I'm stressed, I don't read as much. So part of my lack of posting is that I don't have nearly as many reviews to write as I normally would. I have fallen a bit behind schedule in regards to reading and finishing books that I received for reviews, which adds to the stress. And it also keeps me from picking up a book just for me. It's like a never ending cycle...

Third, I have had some opportunities present themselves over the past month that have taken up a bit of my time as well. I'm not at liberty to talk about this portion at the moment, but don't worry, it's good things! It's just also things that keep me away from my books and this blog a bit more.

So these are all of the reasons I have been a bit less present than usual. Hopefully the home improvement things don't last longer than planned (although you never know with Florida weather), and hopefully work doesn't get any more stressful. I probably won't be posting anything for Stacking the Shelves until after my books are back where they belong since I do not know what is in each bin. But when I finally do post, it'll most likely be epic. I will probably continue posting Waiting on Wednesday and Top 5 Sunday posts, and hope to still get some reviews out during all of this mayhem. And I'll still be lurking around on twitter because my phone is almost always with me. :)

Waiting on Wednesday (65)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Dark Currents
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Series: Roc #1
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 10/02/12
Chosen by: Sara
Summary:

The Midwestern resort town of Pemkowet boasts a diverse population: eccentric locals, wealthy summer people, and tourists by the busload; not to mention fairies, sprites, vampires, naiads, ogres and a whole host of eldritch folk, presided over by Hel, a reclusive Norse goddess.

To Daisy Johanssen, fathered by an incubus and raised by a single mother, it’s home. And as Hel’s enforcer and the designated liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, it’s up to her to ensure relations between the mundane and eldritch communities run smoothly. But when a young man from a nearby college drowns -- and signs point to eldritch involvement -- the town’s booming paranormal tourism trade is at stake. Teamed up with her childhood crush, Officer Cody Fairfax, a sexy werewolf on the down-low, Daisy must solve the crime -- and keep a tight rein on the darker side of her nature. For if she’s ever tempted to invoke her demonic birthright, it could accidentally unleash nothing less than Armageddon.

Top 5 Sundays (5)

Top 5 Sundays is a weekly blog meme hosted by Larissa's Bookish Life.




08/05/12: Super Powers You'd Love to Have for a Day!




What is Top 5 Sundays? Here's how Larissa explains it on her blog:

Every Sunday I will post a TOP 5 list on the blog. It can be about anything and every week I'll have a new theme {You can vote on next week’s theme on my left sidebar!} and I will ad the Mr.Linky below the post so you can do a list with the theme and add you link to it.

Rules:
1.Write a post listing your TOP 5 choices within the theme I chose (or was chosen on a poll) for the week.
2.Mention this Blog on the post and link back to it.
3.Feel free to use the Feature's image (there is a smaller size version of it below).
4.After you've finished your post, add you link (of the post, not your blog's main page) to the Mr.Linky at the end of that week's post.
5.If you don’t have a blog to post, just leave your list in the comments. =)

For my top 5, I have chosen some of my favorite series to help illustrate some interesting powers that I wouldn't mind having for a day.

1. Elemental Powers
Series: Elemental Assassins by Jennifer Estep
Books Available: Spider's Bite, Web of Lies, Venom, Tangled Threads, Spider's Revenge, By A Thread, and Widow's Web (08/21/12)
Reason: The elemental powers that the author has created as so in depth and creative. Characters use them for every day things, as well as fighting. I may need more than just a day with these powers because I would want to try out every elemental power available.

2. Demon Hunting & Shapeshifting Power
Series: Deadtown by Nancy Holzner
Books Availble: Deadtown, Hellforged, Bloodstone, and Darklands
Reason: This series is a double-whammy of powers that I would love. I would have so much fun shapeshifting, and I would probably shift into multiple animals. I would also enjoy demon hunting, but if I had to choose one it would definitely be shapeshifting.

3. Psychic Powers
Series: Winterhaven by Kristi Cook
Books Availble: Haven and Mirage
Reason: I love all of the different psychic abilities available in this novel. I would definitely want to spend the day using both telekinesis and telepathy. I've always wished I could have powers like that.

4. Oracle Powers
Series: Delphic Oracle by Alayna Williams
Books Available: Dark Oracle and Rogue Oracle
Reason: This series introduced me to many different types of pre-cognition powers that I found very interesting. I've always had a fascination with tarot cards, and this series introduced me to a world beyond them.

5. Lantern Powers
Series: Lantern by Laura Bickle
Books Available: Embers and Sparks
Reason: Although the lantern powers are a bit reminiscent of fire elemental powers, I would definitely love to have these powers for a day, especially if I got a familiar like Sparky to go with them.

Stacking the Shelves (15)

Thanks to Tynga at Tynga's Reviews for hosting Stacking the Shelves and making this awesome graphic!

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process! --Tynga

Won:
Drain Me by M. Beth Bloom ARC [Buy Now]
Thanks to HarperTeen!

Bought:
Mirage by Kristi Cook [Buy Now]
Kitty Steals the Show by Carrie Vaughn [Buy Now]
Even though I still have the read the book before it, I'm excited for the new Kity Norville book. And I had to get a copy of Mirage at Kristi Cook's signing.


Library:
Illuminate by Aimee Agresti [Buy Now]
Soulbound by Heather Brewer [Buy Now]
Fins are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs [Buy Now]
Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter [Buy Now]
The Real Werewives of Vampire County by Alexandra Ivy, Angie Fox, Jess Haines & Tami Dane [Buy Now]
I was very excited to grab a copy of Soulbound for Christen at the library. She really wants to read it, but doesn't have any book money after saving up for her cruise. I also learned that shiny metallic covers like Illuminate won't scan at the self-check out.

Waiting on Wednesday (64)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Carnival of Souls
Author: Melissa Marr
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release date: 09/04/12
Chosen by: Sara
Summary:

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures -- if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father -- and every other witch there -- fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and Graveminder, comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

Title: Necromancing the Stone
Author: Lish McBride
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release date: 09/18/12
Chosen by: Christen
Summary:

With the defeat of the evil Douglas behind him, Sam LaCroix is getting used to his new life. Okay, so he hadn’t exactly planned on being a powerful necromancer with a seat on the local magical council and a capricious werewolf sort-of-girlfriend, but things are going fine, right?

Well... not really. He’s pretty tired of getting beat up by everyone and their mother, for one thing, and he can’t help but feel that his new house hates him. His best friend is a werebear, someone is threatening his sister, and while Sam realizes that he himself has a lot of power at his fingertips, he’s not exactly sure how to use it. Which, he has to admit, is a bit disconcerting.

But when everything starts falling apart, he decides it’s time to step up and take control. His attempts to do so just bring up more questions, though, the most important of which is more than a little alarming: Is Douglas really dead?