Stacking the Shelves # 19

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Welcome back my friends! I hope you find something that you like within my books that

I've borrowed, purchased, or received from publishers and NetGalley/Edelweiss. 

Buyer beware! This weeks STS rocks the house down to the ground! I won a box that

contained 20 YA books! Some I had before and will end up giving them away over the

course of the month or trading them for something newer. The rest I need to find time

from being bombarded with ARC's to read them!

So, let's get it on! 

 Received from Netgalley and Flux books:

 

Received from Edelweiss and  Harper Collins:

Received via Giveaway!

Borrowed via Library (Been on hold for 2 months!)

 

Won in a giveaway! (Note: Only putting up the ones I have not read!)

  

 

 

 

 

 

Like I said before, this has been a most excellent week in regards to getting books!

Doesn't count the freebie I downloaded for my Kindle via Amazon!

Please feel free to leave me your link. I shall do my best to return the favor

in a timely manner.

Thank you so much for enjoying my STS!

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the 2nd Annual Back to the Book Giveaway Hop

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

& Buried in Books

There are over 240 blogs participating in this hop, so there are so many chances to win!

What can you win at this stop? You can win a book of your choice (valued up to $10 from The Book Depository.) This giveaway is open internationally provided TBD ships to you

Giveaway ends September 8th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Feature & Follow Friday # 27

Welcome back to Feature & Follow Friday!

This weeks question is......

Q: Best Cover? What is the best cover of a book that you’ve read and didn’t like?

My answer: Well, crap. I've read so many books over the past (2) years, that it's hard to just count one as the best cover,  and book I didn't like. So, here are a few of my favorite covers, and books I really didn't care for. Remember, these are all subjective to MY tastes in what I like to read and what I thought about the book at a whole. 

 

Thank you very much for visiting my blog. Don't forget to check out my Followers

Appreciation Giveaway while you are here!

Please let me your link, and I promise I shall return your visit to my blog!

Have a great Friday everyone!

Early Review - The Kingmaker by Clay & Susan Griffith

Every once in a while, I get stuck in annoying hyperbole with my reviews, or attempt to write something that is so simple it makes my head explode. This time I shall be brief and to the point with my thoughts and review.

In my humble opinion, The Kingmaker is a bloody brilliant ending to a marvelous series that has everything you can ask for. It has epic and bloody battles, intrigue, and treachery, deception, and betrayal at the most important times possible. It also has love and long lasting friendships with real meaning to them. Of course, it also has vampires, and steampunk a combination I am quickly falling in love with.

I could say all sorts of wishy washy stuff about how absolutely awesome this series is. I could say how awesome and stupendous Gareth and Adele are together and that it's a shame that the trilogy is now over. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the couple and the struggles they have coming in future months, and years.

I would gush about the fact that Adele has become something of a super heroine with her geomancy abilities to crush the vampires like they were bugs on a windshield. I would also say that she’s grown into an awesome character with little character flaws, and none of that Mary Sue bullshit that some heroines in this genre end up falling into.

I would also say that I absolutely loved General Anhalt and how he stuck with Adele through thick and thin and didn't really care about the fact that Gareth aka Greyfrair was a vampire who was fighting against his own kind for humanities sake. The man risked his life and limb for Adele more times than I can count and somehow survives until the very end!

I loved the world building and storytelling that Clay and Susan have put together. I loved learning about the secondary characters that play such an important role in this book. I loved the fact that you could feel the emotion when Adele learns of the betrayal by someone really close to her and then learns that she is the end all to a nefarious scheme that started with her own mother.

You could say, after reading this ending, that there are many more story-lines that COULD be told. But, by ending the series now, the authors don't get caught in a situation where they can't get out of. There are too many series out there today that keep going like the Everready bunny and I end up abandoning them for silly plots and idiotic storylines.

Thank you Clay and Susan for an awesome series!

HIGHLY recommended to those who love Steampunk, Romance, and Adventure.

*Recv'd from PYR on 07/10/2012*
*Expected publication: September 4th 2012 by Prometheus

Title - The Kingmaker
Authors - Clay & Susan Griffith
Publisher - Prometheus
Release Date - September 4, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday # 22

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

It hasn't been the best week for Jessica McClain.

Her mate has been kidnapped by a Goddess hell-bent on revenge --- but Jessica is playing for keeps. Because she's the only female werewolf in town...it comes with its own set of rules...and powers. Aided by two vamps, two loyal Pack members, and one very reluctant human, Jessica must rescue her man while coming to terms with what being a wolf really means.

All in a day's work for a girl. The second novel in the Jessica McClain series is a full on action adventure featuring one angry Goddess and plenty of monsters, demons, and a few newly risen beasties.

Why I'm waiting on this book. You can read my review below to see how much I love

this new series. I love Jessica and her ability to kickass and take names. I enjoyed Full Blooded a lot and can't wait to see where Carlson takes this series. 2013 can't come fast enough for me!

Cover Reveal - Naturals by Tiffany Truitt (The Lost Souls # 2)

Synopsis as posted on Goodreads.com

Tess is finally safe from the reach of the Council, now that she is living in the Middlelands with the rebel Isolationists. With James having returned to Templeton, she easily falls back into her friendship with Henry, though her newfound knowledge of Robert’s chosen one status still stings. Even surrounded by people, Tess has never felt more alone. So she’s thrilled when James returns to the settlement, demanding to see Tess — until she finds out that it’s because her sister, Louisa, has been recruited into Tess’s old position at Templeton, and that the dangerously sadistic chosen one George has taken an interest in her.

Expected publication: April 9th 2013 by Entangled Teen

About Tiffany: Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of one McDonald's and Banana Rats (don't ask) she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).

Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman(5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered “low brow” or outside the “classics.”

Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom. She currently teaches the following novels: The Outsiders, Speak, Night, Dystopian Literature Circles: The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Uglies, and Matched.

NATURALS on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15811135-naturals

Tiffany's website: http://tiffanytruitt.wordpress.com/

Tiffany on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tiffanytruitt

Pre-Order Link: http://www.amazon.com/Naturals-Lost-Souls-Tiffany-Truitt/dp/1620611473/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345929106&sr=8-1&keywords=naturals+tiffany+truitt

Stacking the Shelves # 18

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Welcome back my friends! I hope you find something that you like within my books that

I've borrowed, purchased, or received from publishers and NetGalley. Let's get right to it!

 Received from Netgalley:

Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen (Random House)

Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones (St. Martin's Press)

 

Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)

The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)

 

Borrowed from the Library:

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Cast in Fury by Michelle Sagara

 

Taken by Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Criminal by Karin Slaughter

 

Not a bad week at all. I was pleasantly surprised that I was approved for 4 books

on the same day from NetGalley. Might we actually see the publishers catching

up on our requests? Hmmm I hope so!

Have a pleasant and safe week! Happy Reading!

Early Review - Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson (Jessica McClain # 1)

"Full Blooded" absolutely floored me with it's continued thrill ride, excitement, romance, and suspense. Jessica McClain should be considered the newest heroine in the shifters genre and fans of Kelley Armstrong and Patricia Briggs would do themselves a huge favor by picking up this series and reading it from the beginning.

I highly recommend that future readers of this series start with Blooded: A Jessica McClain Novella first. It's only 60 pages and well worth the current price. I recommend this novella because you need to understand who Jessica is and how she came to be on her own. You need to understand that Jessica grew up within the confines of a Pack as the only female (daughter to the Packs Alpha) and was hated for just being born.

You also get a better understanding behind the Pack's hatred of Jessica because of something called the Cain Myth and why other supernatural sects are after her.

Full Blooded takes place 8 years after the conclusion of Blooded and 10 years after Jessica should have shifted into a werewolf. The story begins with a Jessica's shocking coming out party as a Full Blood Female Werewolf, the only one of her kind in existence, and ends with a stunning conclusion that will leave readers wanting more.

I absolutely loved Jessica's character in both Blooded and Full Blooded. I loved her determination, her absolute desire to not allow anyone to push her around, and I loved the fact that she tried so very hard to be on her own and not under the thumb and guidance of her father and the pack.

I enjoyed watching Jessica coming to terms with the fact that she was now a full blooded werewolf and one that is highly unusual as well as powerful. I also enjoyed her interaction with her twin brother Tyler who has been nothing but supportive of everything she's ever tried to do including being on her own and opening her own PI business.

Other characters who are awesome include Nicholas (Nick) Michaels (her business partner and werefox), Danny Walker, James Graham and Marcy Talbot a witch who works with Jessica and Nick. I was actually surprised at the choice of mate for Jessica. I was actually rooting for several other characters who have known and been supportive of Jessica over the course of her 26 years of existence. Then again, we really didn't get a chance to see what happens between Jessica and her new mate because of factors beyond her control. One can only hope that Hot Blooded is as intense and enjoyable as Full Blooded and Blooded were.

You will notice that I did not spoil who ended up as Jessica's mate, or what happens in the end? I would rather have you, the reader, check out this book for yourself than spoil the surprises.

Expected publication: September 11, 2012 by Orbit

*ARC provided by the author for review and future blog tour*

Title - Full Blooded
Author - Amanda Carlson
Publisher - Orbit
Release date - September 11, 2012

Review - Blood Kin by M.J. Scott (Half-Light City # 2)

Holly Evendale is a spy and thief nicknamed the Owl. She is part fae, but truly despises her father for the way he abandoned her mother and later when he forces a geas on her in order for her to do his bidding when she refuses to help him. Holly is an interesting character. She isn't an innocent bystander in this story but one who is prone to cause trouble for others for what she considers the right reasons. She spies on people and steals things for money and for a way to keep her mother comfortable and her dress shop opened.

It's not until she's drawn into a world that she's not accustomed to that she ends up working with Guy DuCaine. Guy is a Templar Knight who has sworn to protect the city and innocents at the cost of his own life if necessary. Holly literally falls into Guys arms while spying for her client and it's sparks love at first sight.

Guy was introduced to readers in Shadow Kin when he was trying to protect his brother Simon from being killed. His willingness to put his life on the line for the Knights Templars is admirable. Guy carries a heavy burden in that he hasn't forgiven or forgotten that the blood murdered his younger sister. When Guy meets Holly, his heart is forever changed and there's sparks right from the onset of their first meeting.

Holly and Guy find themselves working closely together in an effort to find out who is causing problems for the Templars (who are being ambushed on a nightly basis) and why they are threatening the peace accord that the Lady of the Fae created. It also appears that Simon and Lily are far from out of harms way or the spotlight in this series.

Blood Kin continues the story loop where Shadow Kin left off after Simon and Lily found a way to defeat Blood Lord Lucius which left a power vacuum within the Night World. In my humble opinion, Blood Kin isn't as good as Shadow Kin but it's still an interesting story. The world building is interesting in that you have everything from Templar Knights, Beasts (werewolves), Blood (Vampires), Fae, and humans all mixed together and living within the confines of Half-Light City.

The one thing that grates on my nerves and thus a lowers my review is the continued change of POV's in the middle of a chapter. I realize that as readers we need to be able to understand the two separate characters as the story is developing. I realize that at times it's fun to see what the other character is thinking when things suddenly change for the good, or the bad. Yet, I don't mind saying I don't like it!

It should be interesting to see who the next players are in Iron Kin (Half-Light City # 3) which will release April 2, 2013.

Title - Blood Kin
Author - M.J. Scott
Publisher - ROC
Released - June 5, 2012 

Waiting on Wednesday # 21

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

Description

The ever after, the demonic realm that parallels the human world, is shrinking. If it disappears completely, so does all magic. It's up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to avert catastrophe and keep life from changing... for the worse.
While saving the world is important, it isn't Rachel's only motivation. There's also the small fact that she caused the ley line to rip in the first place, setting off a chain reaction of unfortunate events. That little mistake has made her life forfeit unless she can fix it. It's also made her more than a few enemies, including the most powerful demon in the ever after—a terrifying entity who eats souls and now has an insatiable appetite for her. He's already kidnapped her friend and goddaughter to lure her out, and if Rachel doesn't give herself up soon, they'll die.
But Rachel has more than a few impressive and frighening skillls of her own, and she isn't going to hand over her soul and her life without one hell of a fight. She's also got a surpise: elven tycoon Trent Kalamack. With this unlikely ally beside her—a prospect both thrilling and unnerving—she's going to return to the ever after, kick some demon butt, rescue her loved ones... and prevent an apocalypse before it's too late. Or, at least that's the plan.

Expected publication: January 22nd 2013 by Harper Voyager

Why I'm waiting for this one. 1. I love this series even though Rachel does some 

boneheaded things. 2. Trent....enough said. 3. This description sounds absolutely

intriguing and can't wait to get my paws on this one!

What are you waiting for?