Stacking the Shelves #1

My first Stacking the Shelves post. 

Hosted by Tynga's Review's.

August 10th-17th
*Met the author in person

Books I borrowed, traded, bought, given will be posted biweekly.

Borrowed from the Library:

The Nightmare Dilemma by Mindee Arnett*

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

One Past Midnight by Jessica Shrivington

The Wicked Game by Michelle Zink

Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz*

Random by Tom Leveen

The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

Strange and Ever After by Susan Dennard

Not Shown:

Oh. My. Gods by Tera Lynn Childs

The End or Something Like That by Ann Dee Ellis

Like No Other by Una LaMarche

Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson*

Traded through YABE:

Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis

Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore

The Truth that's in Me by Julie Berry

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta

The Camp by Karice Bolton

Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Forever by Karen Ann Hopkins

Not Shown:

Compulsion by Heidi Ayarbe

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Constable and Toop by Gareth Jones

Skulk by Rosie Best

The Warrior by Ellen Oh

Echo in Time by CJ Hill

Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein*

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze

Given by the Publisher:

The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter (Penguin's First-to-Read)

Sway by Kat Spears (ARC)

Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts (ARC)

Dead Zone by Robison Wells (ARC)

Day 21 by Kass Morgan (Netgalley)

Fiend by Peter Stenson (Blogging-For-Books)

Purchased:

Stormbringer by Shannon Delany (paperback)

Revelations by J.A. Souders (Hardcover)

The Lovely and the Lost by Page Morgan (Hardcover)

Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee (Kindle)

Coral and Bone by Tiffany Duane (Kindle)

Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz (paperback)

Chantress Alchemy by Amy Butler Greenfield (Hardcover)

Unravel by Imogen Howson (Hardcover)

The Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne (Hardcover)

Flame by Amy Kathleen Ryan (Hardcover)

Not Shown:

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (Kindle)

Landline by Rainbow Rowell (Hardcover)

Elegy by Amanda Hocking (paperback)

Night School by CJ Daughtery (Hardcover)

Pivot Point by Kasie West (Hardcover)

Spoiled by Heather Cocks (Hardcover)

Messy by Heather Cocks (Hardcover)

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement Moore (paperback)

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan (3rd copy) (Hardcover)

Slide by Jill Hathaway (Hardcover)

Impostor by Jill Hathaway (Hardcover)

The Willing by Suzanne Young (Kindle)

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter (Kindle)

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater (Kindle)

If I were You by Lisa Renee Jones (Kindle)

Never Have I Ever (My Life So Far Without a Date) by Katie Heaney (Kindle)

What do you think of my latest additions to my Library? I am on my 3rd copy of Unspoken because I reread that book so many times. My purchases were aimed for sequels in series and trilogies. Second and third books are the hardest to find at an affordable price and I was lucky enough to find several different ones. Comment below and tell me what you think!

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55 Book Hoarding Questions Part Two

Part Two containing questions 29-55 of the Book Nerd Questions

Provided by The Literary Pop

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

30. How often do you agree with the critics about about a book? Not very often

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? 100% Necessary

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose? Korean

33. Most intimidating book I've read: Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy. The last book itself is 816 pages!

34. Most intimidating book I'm too nervous to begin: 1Q84

35. Favorite Poet: I don’t like poetry

36. How many books do you usually have checked out from the library at any given time? During the summer I check out 15 books a week. During the school year I check out a maximum of 8.

37. How often do you return books to the library unread? I check out so many I normally return 3 unread.

38. Favorite fictional character: Jared from Sarah Rees Brennan Unpsoken trilogy

39. Favorite fictional villain: I never root for the villain so I cant say I have one.

40. Books I'm most likely to bring on vacation: Normally books I received from the publisher. At the moment it would be Sway by Kat Spears, Zac and Mia by AJ Betts, Day 21 by Kass Morgan, and Dead Zone by Robison Wells

41. The longest I've gone without reading: 3 Months because of school. Accounting is hard.

42. Name a book you could/would not finish:  End Times by Anna Schumaker

43. What distracts you easily when you're reading? TV

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel: To this date The Fault in Our Stars is the obvious answer, however I really enjoyed Twilight. Don’t Judge Me.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation: Beautiful Creatures

46. Most money I've ever spent in a bookstore at one time: $145 for 54 books. Bargain deals I couldn’t pass up.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it? I never skim before I read a book. I skim during a book if it is boring as hell. I read the Synopsis before reading a book.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book halfway through? Too political and/or extremely slow and boring. If I fall asleep then I don’t like it.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized? Yes I do. I rate the covers shelving the best covers and stacking the least favorite covers.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once they've been read? I keep books I enjoy and either swap or sell books I don’t.

51. Are there any books that you've been avoiding? Yes, contemporary because I fall asleep to most of them.

52. Name a book that made you angry: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

53. A book I didn't expect to like but did: Killer Instinct by S.E. Green

54. A book I expected to like but didn't: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

55. Favorite guilt-free guilty pleasure reading: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan or Altered by Jennifer Rush

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Otherbound Review

ISBN: 978-1419709289
June 17, 2014
Amazon Link

 Nolan lives in Arizona and according to his doctor, has epilepsy. Every time Nolan blinks he is transported into the mind of a servant girl from another world known as the Dunelands. When his eyes are closed, he can feel everything Amara feels. But Amara has know idea. That is until Nolan learns with the help of his new medication to control Amara's body. Together they are on the run to save the runaway Princess and discover how they are connected.

The writing is fantastic. I was drawn in  from the very first page and had a hard time setting it aside. I connected more with Nolan than I did with Amara. For a servant girl, Amara was very headstrong and judgmental. I kept rooting for Nolan because he had the worst luck with just about everything. The love interest was not very convincing or believable. I enjoyed the high fantasy atmosphere and  the connection the two main characters shared.

This is very mystery driven with questions arising 3/4 of the way. There were plot twists I did not see coming that were refreshing. This is a standalone. The author has a second standalone coming next year and I will definitely give it a try.

Have you read this author's work? Leave a comment below! Sign up for my email newsletter at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mandemread, and follow me on Twitter @Miaswartz1, and add me to your Circle on Google Plus at mimizane@gmail.com. Check in every two weeks for more updates and posts!

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Take Back the Skies Review

ISBN: 978-1619633674
June 3, 2014
Amazon Link 

Government official daughter Catherine Hunter just wants to be treated equally like a male. After learning she's betrothed to someone she loathes, she escapes onto the Stormdancer skyship as a boy named Cat. On board the ship, she does her chores gradually earning the crews trust and together they learn and uncover secrets her father and the government are hiding from the public. For example, children are being taken from their families to fight in the war that never seems to end. Where are they taken to and why haven't any of them come back?

The writing is mediocre at best. I would recommend this to a younger audience ages 9-12. This will be a six book series. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and the main reason why I gave this a chance. I'm curious to see the next five covers. However, I'm not going out of my way to read them.

Have you read this author's work? Leave a comment below! Sign up for my email newsletter at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mandemread, and follow me on Twitter @Miaswartz1, and add me to your Circle on Google Plus at mimizane@gmail.com. Check in every two weeks for more updates and posts! 

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55 Book Hoarding Questions Part One

Part 1 Containing 28 of the 55 Book Nerd Questions. 

Provided by The Literary Lollipop. 

1. Favorite childhood book? I was in love with The Babysitter’s Club. Every birthday my aunt would get 6 of them for me. I also enjoyed the Animorphs series too but never owned a single copy.

 2. What are you reading right now? At the moment I am reading multiple books. This Wicked Game by Michelle Zink and Sway by Kat Spears

3. What books do you have on request at the library? The Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne

4. Bad book habit? Falling asleep with a book in my hand from boredom. The sign for either a one or two star review.

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library? I currently have over 10 titles checked out but my top three are: This Wicked Game by Michelle Zink, Illusive by Emily Loyd-Jones, and The Offering by Kimberly Derting

6. Do you have an e-reader? Yes, I have the Kindle Keyboard, iPad, and Kindle Fire

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once? At most I read 5 books at one time.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? Yes, I can now read over 150 books every year. In the beginning I had trouble reaching 50.

9. Least favorite book you read this year so far? Oh geez, I have quite a few. Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year? I can’t decide! I have ten so far.

12. What is your reading comfort zone? One book a week at least

13. Can you read in the car? Yes, I read the fastest in the car.

14. Favorite place to read? In my 70’s themed lounge chair surrounded by thousands of books in my storage room.

15. What is your policy on book lending? If you ruin it, you buy me a brand new copy! No folded pages!!

16. Do you ever dog-ear books? HELL NO

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books? Again, Heck NO

18. Not even with textbooks? No, not really. I want to sell my books when I am done.

19. What is your favourite language to read in? English. Duh

20. What makes you love a book? Connecting with the MC, Falling head over heels for the possible love interest and witty LOL banter

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book? All said three points from #20 and if I met the author in person

22. Favorite genre? Young Adult Paranormal (Vampires, werewolves, faeries)

 23. Genre you rarely read but wish you did? New Adult

24. Favorite biography? I never actually read a biography but I found one I want to read and own. It’s called My Life so Far (Dateless)

25. Have you ever read a self-help book? Yes, accounting and computer science ones.

26. Favorite cookbook? Eww. Who cooks?

 27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? Say What you Will by Cammie McGovern. I couldn’t put this book down.

28. Favorite reading snack: Cheese Sticks and Coke Zero

Stop by Next Week for Part 2. 

Comment below and tell me what you think!

Published by M

Blogging for Books Review

ISBN: 978-0770437688
April 8, 2014
Amazon Link 

 *I received an ARC from the Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review*

Rosie and Jonathon have been together for the past fifteen years, unmarried. Both characters are in their middle forty's and have a hippie/grad vibe lifestyle. Rosie worries about her grandmother Sophie who is eighty-eight years old. Jonathon has an obsession with teacups and when offered a position across the country, he jumps on it. Rosie, doubtful of her near future, decides to stay to look after her grandmother. Soon enough she's pregnant with Jonathon's child and maybe falling for her grandmother's at-home-care-taker, Tony. What's a 44 year old pregnant woman to do?

Overall, I loved this book. I had the hardest time putting it down. The ONLY thing I would change is the third person writing. I had a  hard time relating to the main character. Eventually I did start caring for her, but I wish I cared for her sooner. If this was written in first person from Rosie's point of view, this would be a perfect five star book.

I have never really been a fan of women's fiction but after this novel, I plan to read more. I would recommend this to women who enjoy short chick-lit romances.

Do you enjoy reading womens fiction? Have you read The Opposite of Maybe? Comment below and tell me what you think! Also, sign up for my email newsletter at  https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mandemread, follow me on Twitter @Miaswartz1 and add me to your Circle on Google Plus at mimizane@gmail.com. Check in every two weeks for more updates and posts!

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LibraryThing Review: Idols

ISBN: 978-0316205177
July 8, 2014
Amazon Link 

 * I was given an ARC from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review *

Idols picks up right where Icons ended. Dol is presumed dead by everyone except the four Icon children, giving the group an advantage. Dol, Ro, Tima and Lucas have successfully demolished two Icons. Soon after Fortis is captured, which left the group on the run for safety with absolutely no one to trust. On top of all this, Dol is having vivid dreams of a fifth Icon child. Was it really just a dream? Why did it feel so real? Is it too late for Fortis...is he already dead? What should they do? So many questions too many unanswered. 

I found this sequel to be better than its predecessor. Margaret Stohl writes beautifully. The pacing however needs work. This novel (compared to Icons) was fast paced, interesting, and slightly more entertaining though at times predictable. I thought Icons was slow throughout the whole book and never really picked up the pace. With Idols, the first fifty pages were slow but the amount of action taking place had me glued to the pages more often than not. There were more scenes between Lucas and Dol which made for a more believable romance. I wasn't a fan of the love triangle but the romance gave the plot more depth. I am also a huge fan of aliens. In my opinion, there wasnt enough of them within this series.

As weird as this sounds, the names of the four characters bothered me. I cannot picture anyone named Tima which ultimately lead me to hate her as a character. She came off very annoying to the point where I could not relate to her and was happy when she was suffering or in pain. If placed in Dol's shoes I wouldnt be Tima's friend. 

I would recommend Idols to fans of  aliens and dystopian novels.
  
Margaret Stohl was planned to attend Teen Book Festival (TBF) for the past two years but unfortunately was unable to make it. I have read the first Beautiful Creatures book, however I didnt continue because the southern accent bothered me too much. 

Have you read Icons and Idols? What did you think? Excited for the third and final book? Comment below and tell me what you think! Also, sign up for my email newsletter at  https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mandemread, follow me on Twitter @Miaswartz1 and add me to your Circle on Google Plus at mimizane@gmail.com. Check in every two weeks for more updates and posts!

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