Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sunday Post - 50 & Stacking the Shelves - 23

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This has been a crazy week. Husband and I had a long talk last Saturday night about some things I've been stressed out about. While not really being stressed about reading and blogging perse, I believe backing off on some of my reading intensity will help reduce the stress I feel in some other aspects of life. And considering I'm ahead of my goal at this point, I think I can afford to back off A LITTLE. I still plan to post the same amount and continue to plan to meet my reading and blogging goals. But since it's still June, I don't have to achieve my 2013 goals this month. :)

This week is always a busy week of the year for me. Father's Day, my brother's birthday, and my birthday usually all fall right in a row. So we've been some celebrating crazy people with more celebrating to come. I got several gift cards for my birthday that I plan to spend on books (imagine that!), but as celebrating isn't over yet, I must wait before I run off to the stores. Look out for my massive book hauls over the next couple of weeks. hehe!

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest (3.5 Stars)

Tuesday: Top Ten Summer 2013 TBR List (I've already finished Siege and Storm (The Grisha, # 2) by Leigh Bardugo.)

Wednesday: Waiting on The Distance Between Us

Thursday: Review of Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, # 1) by Veronica Rossi (4 Stars)

Friday: Happy Birthday to Me -- No blog post...just a shameless shout out to myself.

Saturday: Blog Tour Stop: Review - Falling For Hadie (With Me, # 2) by Komal Kant (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, # 2) by Veronica Rossi

Tuesday: Top Ten Books I've Read So Far 2013 (I can already tell you I can't keep this list to 10.)

Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday: Review of Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend (Confessions, # 2) by Louise Rozett (This one is likely to be controversial. OH BOY! Don't know if I'm ready for this.)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Hidden (Firelight, # 3)

By: Sophie Jordan

Published: September 2012 by HarperTEEN

260 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Source: Personal Library (birthday present)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, # 1)

By: Michelle Hodkin

Published: September 27th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

452 pages

Genre: YA, Paranormal

Source: Personal Library (birthday present)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.

Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On

By: Stormie Omartian

Published: January 1st 2008 by Harvest House Publishers (first published January 15th 1999)

313 pages

Genre: Christian

Source: Personal Library (birthday present)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Thousands of readers have been touched with the encouraging message found in Stormie Omartian's bestselling book "Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On" (over 350,000 sold) and its companion book, "A Devotional Prayer Journey, " which warmly invited readers to record answers to prayer and create a beautiful keepsake of God's tender mercies. Now the book and journal have been combined to make it even easier to write down those moments of light just when needed.

Insights from the book and interactive questions offer readers a way to gently focus their thoughts as they consider the events in their journeys of faith. Whether as a gift or a personal keepsake, this new edition of "Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On" will be a valuable part of a devotional prayer time with the One who guides and leads.

Wild Cards (Wild Cards, # 1)

By: Simone Elkeles

Expected Publication: September 24th 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

288 pages

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires, # 1)

By: Rachel Caine

Published: October 3rd 2006 by NAL Jam

239 pages

Genre: YA, Paranormal

Source: Borrowed from my local library

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

Deep Blue Secret (The Water Keepers, # 1)

By: Christie Anderson

Published: July 29th 2011

358 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Source: Kindle freebie deal

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--California teen Sadie James thinks her life couldn't get any better. She has great friends, an energetic mother she adores, and the beach practically in her own backyard. But her carefree life is turned upside down when she's rescued by a mysterious and strangely familiar boy who won't even tell her his name. Each time the boy appears, Sadie's unexplainable attraction to him deepens along with her need to unravel his secrets. The boy is there to protect her, but as wonderful and exciting as it might be to have an irresistible boy with crystal green eyes protecting her every move, every minute of the day...why does Sadie need one? As Sadie finds answers, she realizes her life isn't as perfect as she thought. Not only is she caught in a world of dangerous secret agents she never knew existed, but it turns out her true identity may be the greatest secret of all.

Darkhouse (Experiment in Terror, # 1)

By: Karina Halle

Published: March 10th 2012 by Metal Blonde Books (first published May 1st 2011)

346 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror

Source: Kindle Freebie Deal

( Goodreads | Amazon | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--With all the vampire, werewolf and faerie books out there, it's easy to become numb to all things supernatural. The antidote? Darkhouse introduces two real and unforgettable characters, Perry Palomino & Dex Foray, amateur ghost hunters who are "attractive, relatable and oddly heroic," "flawed but loveable," "slightly crazy" and just the most endearing pair to ever tackle the paranormal...just don't call them normal.

Darkhouse is a thrilling and sexy new take on concepts like Supernatural and The X-Files, bringing a breath of fresh air to a genre that has been inundated with the dead.

***Darkhouse and the Experiment in Terror series is a horror/romance for mature audiences only. Readers who are easily offended by harsh language should think twice about reading it.***

Side note...didn't see that warning about the language on this last one...Whoops!

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

38 comments:

  1. I love love the cover for Hidden, thank you for stopping by! :) Enjoy all your books

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  2. Thanks Michelle! This past week was definitely less stressful! I'm looking forward to getting into the Unbecoming of Mara Dyer too!

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  3. Thanks Katja! I'm definitely feeling less stressed this week! Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. I'm definitely looking forward to getting started on that one! Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. I'm looking forward to finally getting to read it--seems like everyone but me has read it! :)

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  6. I know...the covers for this entire series have been really pretty IMO! Thanks for commenting!

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  7. You have some lovely looking books! Enjoy...and let the stress flow away.

    Here's

    MY SUNDAY UPDATES/MAILBOX MONDAY

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  8. Nice haul. I wanna read all of these :)

    following

    http://itchingforbooks.blogspot.com/2013/06/stacking-shelves-44.html

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  9. Sarah @ Girl!ReporterNovember 28, 2016 at 8:31 PM

    Happy belated birthday!

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  10. You got some great books! I'm curious to read the Firelight series and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, as well. Have a great Sunday, thanks for stopping by. :)

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  11. I'm also trying to cut myself a little slack over the summer and so far it feels great. I usually review three books a week, but I'll sometimes do two over the summer. I have a lot of reading to catch up on and I want to read some stuff just for fun.

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  12. My house has been busy since the kids have been out of school. It's hard to get a lot done with my kids, neighbor kids in an out, let alone read a lot. So, I understand. Enjoy your new book. :)

    Thanks for stopping by. :)

    Jenea @ Books Live Forever's Sunday Post

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  13. Amazing haul! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is one of my favorite books. It's really unique and interesting. The sequel is even better! I hope that you enjoy everything you got this week. :)

    Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian

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  14. Glad you talked to hubby, reading should always be enjoyable and never ever stressful! I love your haul. Wild Cards is one I want or wait did I buy it? LOL Have a relaxing week! The Sunday Post

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  15. Great haul! I enjoyed The Unbecoming, but I still need to read the second book in the series. I can't wait to read Wild Cards. Happy reading!
    Natflix&Books' StS

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  16. Yay for less stress and for gift cards for books! Enjoy your week ahead!!

    Thanks for stopping by my Added to the Bookshelf post!

    ♥ Melissa @ Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

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  17. The covers look amazing. I need to start the Mara Dyer series soon.

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  18. Happy birthday!

    I really need to read The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer. I own it and it is staring at me from my TBR shelf. I hope you enjoy it!

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  19. I loved Firelight, but Vanish wasn't my favorite. It ended right BEFORE a cliffhanger so I'm excited to start Hidden. Also I've heard great thinks about the Mara Dyer series so I'm stoked about that too! Thanks for commenting!

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  20. There's no way I could keep up the pace of reviewing three a week because that requires reading three a week. It's definitely important to focus on reading just for fun! Thanks for stopping by Jen!

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  21. Oh I bet. Summer time with the kids being out of school is bound to be more hectic. Thanks for stopping by!

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  22. I've heard great things about the Mara Dyer series, so I'm stoked about it. Thanks for stopping by Krystianna!

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  23. I completely agree. The reading wasn't so much stressful as other things are. But I think relaxing on my reading pace will help out with those other things. HAHA!!!! I completely understand. If it weren't for Goodreads and my nerdy spreadsheets I wouldn't be able to keep up with which ones I have either.

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  24. HAHA! Yeah, I love the gift cards to just buy whichever books I want--spend to my hearts content. Thanks for stopping by!

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  25. Looking forward to starting the series. I've heard nothing but good things. Thanks for stopping by Natalie!

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  26. Thanks Dina! I've heard nothing but great things about the Mara Dyer series!

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  27. Happy birthday! I do believe that stress can come from the smallest things, so I understand the need to take a step back. :) I really liked The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, but the sequel is a fail for me. Yay for Under the Never Sky series!

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  28. Happy birthday!! I really hope your stress level goes down and that taking a step back works for you. I want to read Unbecoming, I've heard a ton of goof things about it. I hope you enjoy!

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  29. Happy Birthday! Super haul and I'm intrigued about the Confessions review! Hope the stress levels decrease. It's understandable - think it comes with review and blogging territory :)

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  30. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is great! Great book haul! Thanks for stopping by my Blog.

    -Marianne @ Boricuan Bookworms

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  31. Nice haul this week - I really enjoyed Mara Dyer...hope you do too!

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  32. Thanks Maria! I'm definitely looking forward to getting into the Mara Dyer series. Sorry you didn't love the sequel. And yes...Love the Under the Never Sky series. Thanks for stopping by!

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