Problems Only We Know: Deal Bundles

I'm starting a new feature called Problems Only We Know. This is feature is meant to be funny--sarcastic at times-- that highlights on a few topics here and there that can be annoying or small inconveniences that only readers/bloggers will understand.

For our first Problems Only We Know topic, let's talk deal bundles.

Let's say you own all of the books in a series except the last book. That last book is priced at $2.99 (or whatever the price, it really doesn't matter). And then the entire series goes on sale for $0.99 as a bundle. WHAT DO YOU DO?

via GIPHY

On the one hand, buying the bundle at the reduced price is still cheaper than buying the last book by itself. On the other hand, since you already own the prior books in the series you're taking up space on your device. So which path do you take?

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

I guess it comes down to which is more important to you? Money or space. It doesn't really matter. You just have to choose one.

via GIPHY

It's not like this is a huge deal. But it is an inconvenience. And this is definitely a problem that only readers know. What do you guys think? Let me know!

Love and First Sight - Review

Love and First Sight

By: Josh Sundquist

Published: January 3rd 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

288 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--In his debut novel, YouTube personality and author of We Should Hang Out Sometime Josh Sundquist explores the nature of love, trust, and romantic attraction.

On his first day at a new school, blind sixteen-year-old Will Porter accidentally groped a girl on the stairs, sat on another student in the cafeteria, and somehow drove a classmate to tears. High school can only go up from here, right?

As Will starts to find his footing, he develops a crush on a charming, quiet girl named Cecily. Then an unprecedented opportunity arises: an experimental surgery that could give Will eyesight for the first time in his life. But learning to see is more difficult than Will ever imagined, and he soon discovers that the sighted world has been keeping secrets. It turns out Cecily doesn't meet traditional definitions of beauty--in fact, everything he'd heard about her appearance was a lie engineered by their so-called friends to get the two of them together. Does it matter what Cecily looks like? No, not really. But then why does Will feel so betrayed?

Told with humor and breathtaking poignancy, Love and First Sight is a story about how we related to each other and the world around us.

Will has been blind since birth. After an incident where he was taken advantage of, his parents sent him to a special school for the blind. But now he's decided that he wants to be independent, and Will believes the best way to prove that he can be independent is to go to a normal school. What Will doesn't expect is to find a group of friends that he feel more like family. And maybe even more.

Cecily is first introduced when she runs out of the classroom crying on Will's first day because he was "staring" at her. Only he wasn't staring...because he can't see. But she didn't know that. Will and Cecily end up becoming friends and feelings start to develop. I really enjoyed seeing how Cecily and Will learned to relate to each other. Cecily trying to describe the things that she sees--a painting, a sunrise, etc. She's a photographer so all things visual are especially meaningful for her. And Will trying to explain to Cecily what he can understand and perceive and what he can't.

What neither one of them expects is for an opportunity to arise for Will to have an experimental surgery that might result in him getting his eyesight. This isn't a spoiler because of the title and because of the description, but Will does get his sight. But things that we take for granted daily are things that his eyes and his brain do not recognize. Shapes. Colors. People. He is starting from scratch. Part of this was frustrating for me because I don't always handle books with an excessive amount of description, but I also found myself fascinated because I did just kind of assume that once his eyes were medically fixed then he could just...well...see (and understand). So it was interesting to watch him learn basically the same things that my one year old daughter is learning (shapes and colors, names for objects etc).

Things aren't all blue skies and rainbows for Will and Cecily though. Cecily has been keeping a secret. I was intrigued by this part of the description. What could be the thing Cecily was keeping from Will? Is she "ugly"? Overweight? And what kind of person is Will that it matters to him? Ultimately, I was okay with how Josh Sundquist worked this part of the story. I was never completely surprised by Cecily's secret. And Will's feelings actually turned out to be fairly understandable.

Favorite quotes:

-"Your inability to see doesn't stop your face from speaking what's on your mind."

-"Are your people maybe sensitive to sunlight?" "I think you are getting us confused with vampires."

-"I always expected yellow would be...quieter."

Love and First Sight was a fun read that kept me hooked into the story. I enjoyed the characters (main and secondary). And I was particularly fascinated by Will's journey in gaining his sight. As an added bonus, this book doesn't have any potty mouth which I really appreciated. Love and First Sight gets 4 Stars. Have you read Love and First Sight? What did you think? Let me know!

Waiting on The Secret History of Us

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Secret History of Us

By: Jessi Kirby

Expected Publication: August 1st 2017 by HarperTeen

288 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--Gorgeously written and emotionally charged, The Secret History of Us explores the difficult journey of a teenage girl who must piece her life together after losing her memory in a near-fatal accident.

When Olivia awakes in a hospital bed following a car accident that almost took her life, she can’t remember the details about how she got there. She figures the fog is just a symptom of being in a week-long coma, but as time goes on, she realizes she’s lost more than just the last several days of her life—she’s lost her memory of the last four years. Gone is any recollection of starting or graduating high school; the prom; or her steady boyfriend Matt. Trying to figure out who she is feels impossible when everyone keeps telling her who she was.

As Liv tries to block out what her family and friends say about who she used to be, the one person she hasn’t heard enough from is Walker, the guy who saved her the night her car was knocked off that bridge into the bay below. Walker is the hardened boy who’s been keeping his distance—and the only person Olivia inexplicably feels herself with. With her feelings growing for Walker, tensions rising with Matt, and secrets she can’t help but feel are being kept from her, Olivia must find her place in a life she doesn’t remember living.

I don't know what it is about amnesia stories, but I've enjoyed Jessi Kirby in the past. This one sounds pretty good too. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

2016 EOY Wrap Up

At the end of every year and the beginning of the next, I go into contemplative mode. I think about the past year. What happened? What changed in my life? What were the big things that I accomplished? What did I spend my time doing or thinking about? And then I think about the upcoming one as well. What do I want to see happen? What do I want to change in my life? What big things do I want to accomplish? What do I want to spend my time doing and thinking about? What things about last year do I really want to see change in the upcoming one?

2016 has been almost entirely focused upon me finding my groove as a mother. While that was a change that started in 2015, this is the first entire year that I've had as such. As Little Girl has gotten bigger and bigger, I'm finding myself enjoying motherhood more and more. Don't get me wrong, tiny babies are adorable, and I love that stage where all you do is cuddle basically, but now she's becoming more independent which is easier on me. Not to mention that I adore seeing her learn new things.

The earlier months of 2016 were focused on naps and feedings. My year was broken down by days which were broken into 3 hour segments. Eat, wake, sleep. Repeat. And while we are still heavy on "the schedule," life has gotten so much easier in all of these areas as the year has passed. Little Girl and I made it to my goal of one year breastfeeding. We actually made it to almost 14 months due to her getting a cold and me not being in a huge rush to wean. December 15th was our last time nursing. She still doesn't nap well if we're not at home, but I've learned that she can go without a nap or two every so often if necessary.

This has also been my first year not working a normal job. Being able to stay at home with Little Girl has been the best. I love being the one who gets all of her smiles every day. And it hurts my heart to think about all the things I'd miss if she were in daycare or with her grandmother. All of the new things she does and learns. But I haven't had as much free time as I thought I would. Little Girl is a cat-napper so even though she still naps multiple times per day, those naps aren't very long. And it's surprisingly hard to get housework (or reading) done while she's awake. During those waking times, I try hard to work with her on learning new skills or words.

I finally feel like I can breathe a little bit, and life feels like it is getting back to a relatively normal state. Of course, we hope to have more kids so I know in the coming years that we'll be essentially repeating this year of craziness and sleeplessness. But for now, I'm eating up every minute I have where she completely adores me while I can. Reading and blogging have taken a backseat, and that's completely okay with me.

EOM Wrap Up Posts for 2016

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Blogging Highlights from 2016

Holly and I successfully hosted the 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge. This was our third year. We are returning for 2017 also.

I participated in the March Take Control of Your TBR Pile and read 5 books from my TBR pile.

Celebrated my 5th Blogoversary.

October was my 4th annual All Things Halloween event of Halloween-ish book reviews and such.

I continued features created in previous years: Cover Doubles and Discussions Only We Know. Although, I didn't get any Series DNF, Upon Further Review, or From the Ashes posts done. But I'm excited to announce that I'm starting a new featuring in 2017.

I did a commentary on one movie: Me Before You.

I didn't listen to any audiobooks because I haven't figured out how to do so with my new day to day.

I also didn't do any re-reads this year.

Books Read in 2016

*These qualify for the 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge.

Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist (review coming soon)
A Lady of Esteem (Hawthrone House, # 0.5) by Kristi Ann Hunter (review coming soon)
A Noble Masquerade (Hawthrone House, # 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter
An Uncommon Courtship (Hawthorne House, # 3) by Kristi Ann Hunter
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, # 5) by Sarah J Maas (review coming soon)
Chaos (Mayhem, # 3) by Jamie Shaw (review coming soon)
Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow
*Opposition (Lux, # 5) by Jennfer L Armentrout
*November Snow (Bad Bloods, # 2) by Shannon A Thompson
Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, # 4) by Sarah J Maas (review coming soon)
Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, # 3) by Sarah J Maas (review coming soon)
Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, # 2) by Sarah J Maas (review coming soon)
By Your Side by Kasie West (review coming soon)
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, # 1) by Sarah J Maas
*Finding It (Losing It, # 3) by Cora Carmack
Faking It (Losing It, # 2) by Cora Carmack
Losing It (Losing It, # 1) by Cora Carmack
November Rain (Bad Bloods, # 1) by Shannon A Thompson
Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan
The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep
Under the Lights (The Field Party, # 2) by Abbi Glines
*Winter (Lunar Chronicles, # 4) by Marissa Meyer
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
*Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry, # 3) by Simone Elkeles
Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry, # 2) by Simone Elkeles
Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, # 1) by Simone Elkeles
*The Crown (The Selection, # 5) by Kiera Cass
Me Before You (Me Before You, # 1) by Jojo Moyes
Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks, # 4) by Miranda Kenneally
*Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise, # 2) by Simone Elkeles
Leaving Paradise (Leaving Paradise, # 1) by Simone Elkeles
*The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy, # 3) by Marie Rutkoski
The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy, # 2) by Marie Rutkoski
The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy, # 1) by Marie Rutkoski
The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively by Gary Chapman
The Heir (The Selection, # 4) by Kiera Cass
Too Late by Colleen Hoover
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows
Dreamology by Lucy Keating
Flamecaster (Shattered Realms, # 1) by Cinda Williams Chima
*The Natural History of Us (The Fine Art of Pretending, # 2) by Rachel Harris
*Their Fractured Light (Starbound, # 3) by Aime Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
*Morning Star (Red Rising Trilogy, # 3) by Pierce Brown
Defending Taylor (Hundred Oaks, # 7) by Miranda Kenneally
*Split Second (Pivot Point, # 2) by Kasie West
Autofocus by Lauren Gibaldi
A Walk in the Sun by Michelle Zink
*Very Twisted Things (Briarcrest Academy, # 3) by Ilsa Madden Mills
Beautiful Me: Believing God's Truth About You by Stasi Eldredge
Very Wicked Things (Briarcrest Academy, # 2) by Ilsa Madden Mills
Beautiful Burn (The Maddox Brothers, # 4) by Jamie McGuire
Very Wicked Beginnings (Briarcrest Academy, # 1.5) by Ilsa Madden Mills
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam
He Will Be My Ruin by KA Tucker
Walk the Edge (Thunder Road, # 2) by Katie McGarry
The Distance from A to Z by Natalie Blitt
*Forever Summer (Summer, # 4) by CJ Duggan

Books DNF'D

Banished (Forbidden, # 2) by Kimberley Griffiths-Little (DNF @ 54%)
Night Speed by Chris Howard (DNF @ 10%)
Winging It (Corrigan Falls Raiders, # 3) by Cate Cameron (DNF @ 9%)

How was your 2016? Are you exciting about moving on to 2017? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 228 & Stacking the Shelves - 163

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.

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful 2016, and I'm wishing each of you all the good things for 2017 also. Can you believe I only received one book for Christmas? Granted, I didn't ask for many, but I guess my family has decided they're a bit tired of giving me books for a little while. Monday we spent the day with Husband's family. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday flew by. I got some housecleaning done. Usually this week of the year I'm all about relaxing and doing nothing but reading, but we've been so busy up until now that I haven't had time to clean like normal. So I felt like I couldn't relax until I got some cleaning done. Friday we went to my parents' house. My nephew puts on a Christmas light show every year and this was the only chance we had to do it. Little Girl absolutely loved it. She was dancing around to the music. It was adorable. She also spent the night with my parents Friday night (her first night away from home), and Husband I went to see Rogue One. We both really enjoyed it. Saturday, I was able to sleep past 7 am for the first time since she was born. And then I basically read until time to go pick up Little Girl.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Wednesday: Waiting on Havoc (Mayhem, # 4) by Jamie Shaw
Thursday: Review of An Uncommon Courtship (Hawthorne House, # 3) by Kristi Ann Hunter (4 Stars)
Friday: 2016 EOY Book Survey
Saturday: December 2016 EOM Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: 2016 EOY Wrap Up
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday (maybe)
Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday
Thursday: Review of Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist
Friday: Problems Only We Know: Deal Bundles

Don’t forget to sign up for the 2017 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15, 2017 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Coming Up for Air (Hundred Oaks, # 8)

By: Miranda Kenneally

Expected Publication: July 1st 2017 by Sourcebooks Fire

320 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Sports

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--Swim. Eat. Shower. School. Snack. Swim. Swim. Swim. Dinner. Homework. Bed. Repeat.

All of Maggie’s focus and free time is spent swimming. She’s not only striving to earn scholarships—she’s training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and cheers her on. But Levi’s already earned an Olympic try out, so she feels even more pressure to succeed. And it’s not until Maggie’s away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the “typical” high school experience she’s missed by being in the pool.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to lose to win?

The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, # 3)

By: Mary E Pearson

Published: August 2nd 2016 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

688 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Own (Chritmas present from my mother-in-law)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--Lia and Rafe have escaped Venda and the path before them is winding and dangerous - what will happen now? This third and final book in The Remnant Chronicles is not to be missed.

Bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's combination of intrigue, suspense, romance and action make this a riveting page turner for teens.

Thorn Queen (Dark Swan, # 2)

By: Richelle Mead

Published: 2009 by Bantam

480 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: Personal Kindle Library (series bundle deal)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--Eugenie Markham is a shaman for hire. She's paid to bind and banish creatures from the
Otherworld.

But something happened after her last battle. She became queen of the Thorn Land. With her kingdom in tatters, her love life in chaos, and eager to avoid the prophecy about her firstborn destroying mankind, the job's really not all it's cracked up to be.

Now young girls are disappearing from the Otherworld, and no one seems willing to find out why. Or to put an end to it. Not that Eugenie's fazed by spilling fey blood, but this enemy is shrewd, subtle, and dangerous -- and nursing a very personal grudge.

Eugenie must venture deep into the Otherworld and trust in a power she can barely control. She may be a reluctant queen, but she's vowed to do her duty, even if it means facing the darkest and deadliest side of her nature.

Iron Crowned (Dark Swan, # 3)

By: Richelle Mead

Published: March 1st 2011 by Zebra

378 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: Personal Kindle Library (series bundle deal)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--An embattled mystically entwined with our own, the Otherworld is at the mercy of one woman...

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham is the best at banishing entities trespassing in the mortal realm. But as the Thorn Land’s queen, she’s fast running out of ways to end the brutal war devastating her kingdom. Her only hope: the Iron Crown, a legendary object even the most powerful gentry fear…

Who Eugenie can trust is the hardest part. Fairy king Dorian has his own agenda for aiding her search. And Kiyo, her shape-shifter ex-boyfriend, has every reason to betray her along the way. To control the Crown’s ever-consuming powers, Eugenie will have to confront an unimaginable temptation--one that will put her soul and the fate of two worlds in mortal peril…

Shadow Heir (Dark Swan, # 4)

By: Richelle Mead

Published: February 2nd 2012 by Bantam Books

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: Personal Kindle Library (series bundle deal)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

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

Goodreads description--#1 New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead returns to the Otherworld, a mystic land inextricably linked to our own--and balanced precariously on one woman's desperate courage...

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld...

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice...

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!