Stacking the Shelves: 24 May 2013

Apart from the fact that I like boasting about my new books, one of the reasons I love this meme is that I get to see what's new out there. It's also a chance to chat to other bloggers. So thanks to Tynga for hosting.

I've bought and begged quite a few new books since I did my last SS, so here goes . . .

BOUGHT

The Elite (Goodreads)
I was so excited to read this, but my daughter Erin got her hands on it first and she wasn't that impressed. It put me off a bit. Still, maybe next week I can squeeze it in between other reads.

Shiver (Goodreads)
I've been dying to read this for ages. Can't wait. Nothing like a good wolf paranormal to get the hormones pumping.

Shades of Earth (Goodreads)
I LOVED the Across the Universe series by Beth Revis and this, the third book, has just been released. Can't wait to dive in.

BEGGED

I saw some intriguing titles of Netgalley, which I just had to get my paws on.
Happily, I was approved for . . .

Outcast
Pub Date: Jun 4 2013

After six years of “angels” coming out of the sky and taking people from her town, 16-year-old Riley Carver has just about had it living with the constant fear. When one decides to terrorize her in her own backyard, it’s the final straw. She takes her mother’s shotgun and shoots the thing. So it’s dead. Or … not? In place of the creature she shot, is a guy. A really hot guy.  A really hot alive and breathing guy.  Oh, and he’s totally naked.

Not sure what to do, she drags his unconscious body to the tool shed and ties him up. After all, he’s an angel and they have tricks. When he regains consciousness she’s all set to interrogate him about why the angels come to her town, and how to get back her best friend (and almost boyfriend) Chris, who was taken the year before. But it turns out the naked guy in her shed is just as confused about everything as she is.

He thinks it’s 1956.

Set in the deep south, OUTCAST is a story of love, trust, and coming of age. It’s also a story about the supernatural, a girl with a strange sense of humor who’s got wicked aim, a greaser from the 50’s, and an army of misfits coming together for one purpose: To kick some serious angel ass.

It sounds like fun. I hope to get a review up as close to the release date as possible.

When in Paris (Goodreads)

Okay, I must admit that the cover does not do it for me. Not at all. I'm just not a smoochy cover kind of girl. But who can resist a title called When in Paris? This looks like a fun love story, so I'm looking forward to tucking it in between some heavier reads.

Dragonwitch (Goodreads)

The publisher, Bethany House Publishers, offered me this out the blue, and I snatched it with both greedy little hands. I mean look at that cover!!!! I'm really intrigued to read it.

So, like all book bloggers, my shelf runneth o'er . . .

I would love to see what you got this week, so leave a link and I'll be sure to drop by.

cheers

Gwynn

Stacking The Shelves: May 11

Because I've been such a lucky girl, winning a heap of things, I feel eminently qualified to do Stacking the Shelves this week. Thanks to Tynga for hosting.

So where do I begin . . . rubs hands together!

Thanks to Carmen at shelfspaceneeded, I won a paper copy of Touch (Goodreads). 

Apart from the fact that Kale (the hero) is a real hottie, the book blurb sound great, so I'm super excited for this one.

Then I scored big at Martha's blog Books, Books, and More Books

From her a won a David Estes bundle of eBooks . . .

 Nikki Powergloves (Goodreads)

The Moon Dwellers (Goodreads)

Fire Country (Goodreads)

I think the Nikki Powergloves will be a bit young for me, but I'm definitely thrilled with the other two.

Then I won my first swag!

Amazing how excited a grown girl can get over some pretty pieces of cardboard!!!

Thanks to Jennifer @ Simply Young Adult.

If that isn't enough magic for one week, I was also given some exciting titles to review via Netgalley.

Broken Forest (Goodreads)

I was suckered by this cover! I just love it. I hope the book is just as good. 

 Dare You To (Goodreads)

I was pretty stunned when Harlequin agreed to give this to me. I requested it on the off chance that I'd get it. Imagine my excitement when it arrived on my Dashboard at Netgalley. If it is anything like Pushing the Limits (Goodreads), I know I'm going to love it.

 Some of Tim's Stories
Having been a S.E. Hinton fan all my life, I could not resist this one. Because I could not find it on Goodreads (even though it was released on 30 April 2013), I will share the blurb with you: 
Terry and Mike are cousins who are as close as cousins can be - more like brothers, really. Growing up in happy times, they think their idyllic lives are invincible. But shared tragedies send both of their lives in two very different directions. Told through a series of inter-connected short stories by Tim, a sympathetic bartender who recognizes himself in the characters he speaks of.

"Some of Tim's Stories is a compact set of vignettes... Hinton trims her prose close to the bone...and carves it into...sharp, concise observation[s]...[that are] admirably direct." -The New York Times

How can one not be excited about that?

Well, that was me. What about you? Leave a link and I'll visit.

Cheers

Gwynn

Staking the Shelves: 6 April

As always, a big thanks to Tynga for this meme. 

Okay, so I went crazy yesterday at the bookshop. But then I did have two hours to kill. And I did buy some books for my kids. Or so I console myself. Thankfully, I had my iPhone so I could scan the books I was interested in onto Goodreads. That just added to the fun  . . . and eliminated a couple of 'undesirables' that didn't have good ratings. So you see, I could have spent a whole lot more . . .

As it was, I got:

Vanish is the second book in the Firelight series. 
Because it's a dragon paranormal there's no way I could resist it. Firelight, the first in the series, was such fun so I'm sure this will be too. And for those who enjoy my cover comparison posts: watch out for this book because you're in for a treat!

Insigna 
 I love Sci-Fi and this has an Ender's Game feel to it, so I had to bring it home with me. Can't wait to read it.

Falling Kingdoms
This feeds my need for high fantasy - my other great literary love. I adore this cover and can't wait to dive into this one.

The Goddess Test and the Goddess Interrupted 

I had my daughters, Stephanie and Erin, in mind when I bought these because they love Greek mythology romances. I know I will probably love them too!

Industrial Magic:
Erin and I both love Kelly Armstrong so this was a natural. Her Women of the Otherworld series is amazing. Perfect for feeding the paranormal beast lurking in my heart.

Then I won an eBook. Yah!

My Wolf's Bane
Weres and dragons are my best, so this is a perfect match for me. 

So that was my week. What about you?

Cheers
Gwynneth

 

Stacking The Shelves

Thanks to Tynga for hosting this meme. I welcomed two Kindle books into the family this week.


Last week I featured Nightspell. Since then I've read it and it was such fun.

The characters are well developed, the world building fantastic - Ghostland is amazing - and the plot complex. 

I would recommend this to anyone who likes high fantasy, kick-butt female characters, intrigues and ghosts. Wonderful stuff. My favourite character was definitely Cassie. If you've read it I'd love to know your views.

Because I loved Nightspell to the value of four stars (and because the ending was left hanging with so much promise for more) I went onto Amazon to find a sequel.

There wasn't one. Duh! This was the second in a series, (Although it works just as well as a stand-alone), so I immediately downloaded the first book Mistwood onto my Kindle.

Stunning cover . . . what do you think?

Anyway, I stayed up until three this morning reading Mistwood, and I'm hugely impressed. I just cannot understand why it's only sitting with a 3.54 star rating on Goodreads. Anyone know the answer??? I'll tell you what I think when I'm done reading it.

While I was on Amazon, I couldn't resist downloading Roar And Liv: An Under The Never Sky Story onto my Kindle. I have been meaning to read this for ages and since I've just reread Under The Never Sky, I just couldn't resist it.

So that was my week. Tell me about yours.

Cheers
Gwynneth

Stacking the Shelves #2

Yes, it's Saturday, time for a look at the new additions to The Family. Thanks to Tynga for hosting this meme.


I was sparing this week . . . given that I still have about twenty unread waifs sitting on my TBR shelf, waiting for final acceptance in the inner circle of The Family.

So what did I get?

1. Trouble Twisters: The Monster. This is the second book in the Trouble Twister series and I don't yet have the first. I rectified that immediately by order it's companion. I admit this series is probably younger than I normally read (it looks like Middle Grade) but you know me and Garth Nix! 'Nuf said.

2. Daughter of the Flames: I recently finished Frostfire, the second in this series (although it works just as well as a stand alone). It was AMAZING, so when I saw this, I had to have it. Logical, right?

3. Nightspell: A classic case of cover love. It looks so intriguing, I couldn't resist it. Have to see what it's all about.

Finally, what am I reading at the moment? Actually, it's a re-read of an all-time favourite . . . 

Under The Never Sky is as wonderful this time round as it was when I first read it. Pity about the awful cover. It does NOT do this book justice.

That's me?  What about you?

Cheers
Gwynneth

Stacking The Shelves #1

Nothing thrills me as much as sneaking into the bookshop when I’m supposed to be doing something serious - like grocery shopping - and scooping up a new book gem. I know I sound shallow, but it makes life worth living. And then to come home and put the new member of the family on the TBR shelf! Words cannot begin to describe the joy . . .

So, it made sense that Staking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga at  http://www.tyngasreviews.com would be the perfect meme for me.  

This week I added three new books to the family . . .

 The Abhorsen series was AMAZING and I just had to have this to complete my collection. Can't wait to read it.

I am undying fan of Ender and plan to read his whole series - I call it a labour of love. This is the follow on from Ender's Game.

I downloaded this onto my Kindle. It's the prequel to The Maze Runner series. I've started reading it, and right now it's sitting at a 2.5-3 star book. Not nearly as riveting as the others . . . but we'll see when I get to the end.

What did you get this week?