Stacking the Shelves (85)

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, 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!

 
  Books Purchased:

Captured by Jasinda & Jack Wilder (signed)
   

For My Kindle:

  

Tall, Silent & Lethal by RL Mathewson
Home is Where You Are by Tessa Marie
Once Bitten, Twice Shy by CC Wood
 
eARCs for Review:
   
Bewitched, Bothered, and Bitten by CC Wood
Scenes From the City by Penny Reid
Zoey and the Nice Guy by Carter Ashby

 

Cover Reveal: Snowy Days, Steamy Nights

I love a good seasonal read, especially in the winter when you just want to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot tea (my preference). I'm already a huge fan of Katy Regnery, and it looks like she's in good company with this anthology, so I'm looking forward to getting my winter reading in with this one.

 SNOWY DAYS, STEAMY NIGHTS Anthology

 Available Jan 2, 2015
   

Steam up your snowy nights with this new anthology of six deliciously sexy romances by the following bestselling and award-winning romance authors:

FROSTED, by Katy Regnery
GROUNDED, by Kate Forest
MELTED, by Jennie Marts
REKINDLED, by Susan Scott Shelley
SMITTENED, by Jamie Farrell
SNOWED, by Veronica Forand

FROSTED (Katy Regnery) – When Grace Luff’s children send her to a Silver Wings weekend at a luxury resort, they are hoping that the 56-years-young widow will meet a man to lift the loneliness she’s endured since the passing of her husband over three years before. Grace, who barely remembers how to date, doesn’t expect to meet anyone special, so she’s surprised that the owner of a local ski rental shop, Tray Bradshaw, makes her heart leap with interest and attraction. When a rogue snowstorm traps the pair in an abandoned cabin, they’ll get to know each other, and discover that it’s never too late to change…or fall in love.

GROUNDED (Kate Forest) – Biologist Julia won’t tolerate another frigid Chicago winter studying the frozen Great Lakes. But with every hour of her flight delay, her chance on a research voyage in Florida slips further away. Jeremy must get to Florida to sever the noose-like obligations of his family’s boating business so he can become curator of a Chicago museum. Stuck in an airport, waiting out the snowstorm of the century, can two travelers headed for opposite paths find love while trapped in Concourse B?

MELTED (Jennie Marts) – Painful memories from long ago resurface when Emily Wells travels to Colorado to clean out her family’s vacation cabin for its new owner. Strongest among them? Her recollections of Logan Chase, Emily’s first love, to whom she gave her heart one magical summer, only to have it broken when she never heard from him again. Logan had never forgotten that summer romance and can’t believe it when he finds Emily packing up the little cabin that he has recently purchased for renovation. Despite the passage of years and their stormy history, Emily and Logan can’t deny the fierce attraction that still sizzles between them…Will one snowy night together be enough to melt her frozen heart and give them both a second chance at love?

REKINDLED (Susan Scott Shelley) – Actress Gemma Norwood and carpenter Adam Hudson are thrown together four years after a gut-wrenching break-up. Both are looking to make major changes in their lives, but after one kiss, rekindling their relationship is all that matters. When family obligations and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities threaten to tear them apart again, the warm glow of a happily-ever-after seems as impossible as starting a fire in a snowstorm.

SMITTENED (Jamie Farrell) – Dahlia Mallard is determined save her ice cream shop by getting country music superstar Billy Brenton to attend her risqué flavor-tasting event. But the closest she can get to Billy is his drummer, the womanizing Mikey Diamond. The more she gets to know Mikey, the more she wants to save him from his bad boy ways. When he discovers she’s using him to get to Billy, will she still be able to have her ice cream and eat it too?

SNOWED (Veronica Forand) – Lorena Rubio’s life is turned upside down when she’s kidnapped by Andrés “Con” Conesa, right hand man for the drug lord who murdered her sister. Con, who is deep undercover for the FBI, must keep her at a cabin in the snowy Sierra Nevada Mountains until the rumor that she’s provided specifics about his drug cartel to the police is confirmed or denied. Their attraction ignites in the middle of this frozen hideaway, but Lorena is unwilling to offer her heart to a criminal. When the cartel boss arrives and wants Lorena put on ice for snitching, Con must decide whether or not to blow his cover for the woman he craves beyond reason.

*All stories included in Snowy Days, Steamy Nights are either short-story or novella length, giving readers the perfect opportunity to “meet” a new author or enjoy a sweet treat from a present favorite.*

 

Pre-Order now:

 

Review: Dead Girl Walking by Ruth Silver

Dead Girl Walking by Ruth Silver

Royal Reaper #1

242 pages

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal, Romance

Content: Clean, with a few curse words

Source: ARC for Honest review

Forget everything you know about grim reapers. Princess Ophelia Dacre sneaks out of the castle to visit her boyfriend in secret. A perfect night cut short when she's brutally murdered. Ophelia is given the rare chance to become a grim reaper. She must become Leila Bele, cut ties with her old life, and follow the rules of the reapers. Her greatest adventure begins with death. Recommended: Ages 14+ 

Dead Girl Walking was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read. Princess Ophelia/Leila is murdered, and instead of going to whatever lies beyond death, she is given the opportunity to be a grim reaper. In death she has left behind her secret boyfriend and younger sister, and been thrust into a new life with new friends that she is not at all prepared for. But Leila is not one to easily follow directions (remember the secret boyfriend?) so the instructions for being a grim reaper are also not easily followed, often times with dire outcomes.

Basically, we have a very interesting plot and a main character that you know is going to make things interesting because of her choices, both good and bad. The pace is quick-moving, not lingering long on some scenes, which at times was great and at other times left me wanting more. Some scenes felt like they were over too quickly. But I remained entertained throughout.

As for the characters, I found them endearing and enjoyed getting to know them, though I wanted more. Actually, what I really missed in this book is the emotional connection. Despite the heavy topic of death, I didn't feel the depths of emotion that I would have expected. Yes, there is some emotion but overall things seemed to be handled a bit nonchalantly at times. There were a couple of scenes that I expected more from and fell a little flat.

However, despite the flat emotions and quick pace, I still found Dead Girl Walking very entertaining. This is the first book in a series, though I do not know how many books there will be. But I am curious about what's going to happen next and like the main characters, so I look forward to continuing this series. This is also a clean read, making it a nice read for young adults.

AMAZON  --  GOODREADS

 

Review: Wonder by RJ Palacio

Wonder by RJ Palacio

January 3, 2013

315 pages

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction (but for everyone!)

Source: Personal purchase

 

You can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things. He eats ice cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside.

But Auggie is far from ordinary. Ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go.

Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?

Narrated by Auggie and the people around him whose lives he touches forever, WONDER is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page.  
 

Wonder is one of those special books that can be enjoyed by all generations. I read this aloud with my children, ages 7-14, and all of us were eager to continue the story each day. This is one of those books everyone should read. I highly recommend it!
 
Wonder is the story of August Pullman, an ordinary ten-year-old boy at heart, who was born with a severe facial abnormality and has had numerous surgeries. He has been homeschooled up to this point, where his parents have decided to put him in private school. He has spent his life being judged by others in regard to his appearance, but has also been protected in a sense by his family from even greater exposure. So we take this journey with August and those in his life as he is exposed to the kindness and cruelties at the hands of children and adults alike. The topic of this story is already quite compelling and special. But beyond that, the author's approach, not just using August's perspective, but also utilizing perspectives from his sister, friends, and acquaintances, creates a touching, well-rounded journey through August's first year at private school, and is a story that will stay with you.
 
My family and I were touched by the importance of this book in so many regards on how we treat each other, how we judge each other, and how our actions reflect on our children's actions. We had some wonderful discussions and additionally had the opportunity to meet the author, which was a real treat for my kids and me. I must repeat myself and say, I highly recommend Wonder.

Additionally, the newest version of Wonder contains The Julian Chapter, and I recommend reading that as well. It is a great addition to the story and gives new perspective on Julian and his outcome. It's also quite touching and made reading aloud quite difficult at one point because I was trying to not become a blubbering mess in front of my children. Trust me - Read it.

Excerpt: The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon

 The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon

Release Date: November 27,2014

 

 

If I tell you right up front, right in the beginning that I lost him, it will be easier for you to bear. You will know it’s coming, and it will hurt. But you’ll be able to prepare.

Someone found him in a laundry basket at the Quick Wash, wrapped in a towel, a few hours old and close to death. They called him Baby Moses when they shared his story on the ten o’clock news – the little baby left in a basket at a dingy Laundromat, born to a crack addict and expected to have all sorts of problems. I imagined the crack baby, Moses, having a giant crack that ran down his body, like he’d been broken at birth. I knew that wasn’t what the term meant, but the image stuck in my mind. Maybe the fact that he was broken drew me to him from the start.

It all happened before I was born, and by the time I met Moses and my mom told me all about him, the story was old news and nobody wanted anything to do with him. People love babies, even sick babies. Even crack babies. But babies grow up to be kids, and kids grow up to be teenagers. Nobody wants a messed up teenager.

And Moses was messed up. Moses was a law unto himself. But he was also strange and exotic and beautiful. To be with him would change my life in ways I could never have imagined. Maybe I should have stayed away. Maybe I should have listened. My mother warned me. Even Moses warned me. But I didn’t stay away.

And so begins a story of pain and promise, of heartache and healing, of life and death. A story of before and after, of new beginnings and never-endings. But most of all...a love story.

“I haven’t cried today,” I realized suddenly, and Moses gave in and sat down beside me, his size and heat making me curl against him and lean my head on his shoulder. He ran a big hand over my hair and left it cradled against my face. I turned my cheek and kissed his palm and felt him shudder. Then he wrapped both of his arms around me so I could bury my face in his chest and he could rest his head on my hair.

“If you keep being sweet I will break my new record,” I whispered. “And I’ll cry again.”

“Crying from sweetness doesn’t count,” he whispered back, and I felt the moisture prick my eyes, just as I’d predicted. “Gi used to say happy tears watered our gratitude. She even had a cross-stitch that said as much. I thought it was stupid.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Ah . . . so Gi was a believer in the five greats.” I pressed my lips against his throat, wanting to get as close to him as I could.

“Gi was a believer in all good things,” he rubbed his cheek softly against my hair, nuzzling me.

“Especially you.”

“Even me,” Moses said, lifting his hand to my chin.

 

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23252517-the-law-of-moses  

Website: http://www.authoramyharmon.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoramyharmon?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aharmon_author

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authoramyharmon/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Harmon/e/B007V3HXUY

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5829056.Amy_Harmon

 

Amy Harmon knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story.

Amy Harmon has been a motivational speaker, a grade school teacher, a junior high teacher, a home school mom, and a member of the Grammy Award winning Saints Unified Voices Choir, directed by Gladys Knight. She released a Christian Blues CD in 2007 called “What I Know” – also available on Amazon and wherever digital music is sold. She has written five novels, Running Barefoot, Slow Dance in Purgatory, Prom Night in Purgatory, the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue, Making Faces and most recently, Infinity + One. 

Her newest book, The Law of Moses releases November 27, 2014.

 

Hosted by:

www.alphaliteraryservices.com

 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (23)

 It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.

 

 What I Read Last Week:

  
 

Dead Girl Walking by Ruth Silver
Tall, Dark & Lonely by RL Mathewson (re-read)
Without Regret by RL Mathewson (re-read)
Tall, Dark & Heartless by RL Mathewson (re-read)

 
 What I'm Still Listening To:

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey (almost done!)
 

My Reviews Last Week:

  

The Wolf Within by Cynthia Eden (4.5 Stars)
Charming the Beast by Cynthia Eden (5 Stars)
Ruin by CD Reiss (4 Stars)

  

What I'm Reading This Week:

Tall, Silent & Lethal by RL Mathewson

 

Stacking the Shelves (84)

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, 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!

 
  Books Purchased:

  
 

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (signed)

Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park
Painted Faces by L.H. Cosway
Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon
A Different Blue by Amy Harmon

Used Book Deals:

 

Torment by Lauren Kate
Taken by Tuesday by Catherine Bybee