Stacking The Shelves (#6) November

Stacking The Shelves (#6) November!

Stacking The Shelves (Hosted by Tynga's Reviews) is a monthly blog meme where I post about all the books I have bought, won, received for review, etc.)

So I had a big haul this month! Yay! Kind of like my big birthday present from everyone around the blogosphere (Sorry it's a late post!)

ARCs!

Here are the books I received for review!

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Tandem by Anna Jarzab

The Living by Matt de La Pena

Chasing Shadows by Swati Avasthi

The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler

The Beautiful & The Damned by Jessica Verday

Signed Books!

I won a signed copy of Purple Moon inside of a swag pack via a giveaway. HOWEVER, the signed, first-edition hardcover of Dark Talisman by Steven M. Booth was sent to me from Scott, thanking me for my ecstatic review of the ARC of the same novel found here. Thanks Scott!

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Purple Moon by Tessa Emily Hall (signed!)

Dark Talisman by Steven M. Booth (signed first-edition hardcover!)

Bought!

Only bought one book this month. I was so busy I didn't have time to make it to book stores!

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The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Swag!

I won all of the Purple Moon items inside of a giant swag pack (Thank you Tessa!)

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Confessions of The Private School Murders by James Patterson

Purple Moon Swag Pack-

Signed copy of the book

Notebook

Ribbon bookmark

Bookmark

Sleeping mask

Mocha Starbucks Insta-coffee (Yum!!)

Signed coffee mug

I also won this awesome matching T-Shirt along with a hardcover edition of the book!

Promotional Swag!

(2) Eye of Minds jumbo buttons

Mister Max jumbo button

(5) bookmarks

(2) Regular postcards

(1) signed postcard from Jessica!

A zombie-relocation letter for The World Without A Future!

(2) Business cards for TWWAF

(1) other business card

Gifted!

-All of these were gifted by my wonderful grandmother, who I adore!-

Forrest Gump by Winston Groom

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Her Cinderella Heart by Ruth Scotfield

So, a recap on all the books I got! Eep!

12 Total!

(5 ARCs, 2 Signed, 2 reg. Hardcovers, and 3 reg. Paperbacks)

November Stacking The Shelves Stockpile!!

This everything total I received this month!

So it was a great month :) And I wanna know! What did you get?



Review: Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Title: Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Release Date: March 18, 2003

Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, Romance, Action

Medium: Paperback, Bought

Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes was a compelling read. Somehow, I forgot to write a review of this novel on my blog, so I will have to make this review shorter than usual.

The plot was strong and interesting, full of mystery and heartbreak. It tells the story of a girl who mysteriously had her entire face burned when she was young. Her father tells everyone she dumped a pot of spaghetti on herself, but this turns out to be a lie. Her only friend is known as a fat kid, but after he gets on the swim team and loses tons of weight, he is scared she will think he's leaving her behind. And when Sarah is suddenly admitted into a hospital because she won't speak or move, her friend makes it his job to find out what really happened. This plot was gripping, intense, exciting. It was emotional and hit very close to home. Full if mystery, action, romance, all within a contemporary setting, makes for an eventful novel.

The writing was great. It was very realistic and creative, staying very believable throughout the entire novel. It weaves a story of a girl's seventeen year fight to tell what really happened to her, all while knowing she would never be pretty and that more serious things would happen if she did tell. With underlying themes of consequences, sticking up for your friends, being truthful, friendship, and more, this novel makes you question all that you know and makes you think for yourself. A wonderful read for anyone of any age, Staying Fat Sarah Byrnes is a great contemporary read. Magnificent. 

Review: Wake by Amanda Hocking

Title: Wake by Amanda Hocking

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 

Release Date: April 16th, 2013

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Drama

Medium: Paperback, bought

I was slightly skeptical coming into the Wake series and the world of Amanda Hocking. I had never read any of her work before, or any books about mermaids or sirens, so this was a pleasant surprise for me! 

I really enjoyed Wake. The plot was actually very nice. It centers around a girl who finds herself naturally attracted to water. When taken in one night by three beautiful girls, she is forced to become one of them. She soon finds herself turning into one of them, only to make the choice: either become a siren and use your beauty and voice to entice men, only to kill people to sustain yourself, or refuse not to become one, and have to die. The plot was very thought out and pleasing, giving me everything I wanted and a few plot twists mingled in. In showed what happens when your are forced to make desperate decisions involving the ones you love. With underlying plot ties of family, friendship, budding romance and heartbreak, all within an nice plot. Very good.

The characters were very interesting as well. Gemma was a strong, independent character that reminded me much of myself. She was mature and thought of her family and friends before herself, and was determined to do what was best for them. Harper on the other hand, kind of got on my nerves. She's was overpowering, bossy, and annoying. Of course, she acts this way to help fill in for the position of Gemma's mother, but still. Daniel instantly caught my eyes, and I say, I'm already excited to see more of him in the series (ecspecially since I saw a depiction of him on the cover of Tidal, a sequel to Wake) and I must also say that Alex's sexy nerdy character also interests me. I can't wait to see what happens to the characters as the series progresses.

The writing was also very good. Lacking a little, but still good. Interesting and original, it was about an unusual topic, while still keeping it believable. It was easy to read and the writing was flowing, smooth, and hard to stop reading. There were very few times in which I could actually stop reading. It was that good. It wasn't the best novel I have ever read, but it definitely isn't the worst. This series is sure to be one of my favorites, and I cannot wait to get ahold of the sequel. Overall, this is an original series with a flair for mythology, showcasing both the beauty and ugly of an old myth. With interesting characters and smooth writing and a good plot line, this series is perfect for anyone wishing for an escape from reality.

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel (Book review)

Title: Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Release Date: October 18th, 2011

Genres: Horror, Action, Romance, Fantasy

Medium: Hardcover, bought

Dearly, Departed is a timeless love story set in the year 2193, in New Victoria, where ball gowns, bonnets, and carriages are reinstated. Graceful and beautiful, Nora Dearly and her family and friends live in a world where marriages are assigned,  women are expected to agree and be tranquil, and daily life is to be peacefully, perfectly, boring. That is, until zombies begin to roam the world.

The plot is very intricate and well-planned in this novel. Similar to steam punk, this novel is a royal love story set 180 years in the future, featuring the Victorian age of simplicity and timeless beauty, and of course, the "ageless" beauty of zombies. War ensues between New Victoria and the Punks, a group of pro-zombie, good-guy-zombies who guard the borders. When a new breed of killer zombies attacks Nora and her family, she is kidnapped to safety by the Punks, as they hunt for her father, who may hold the cure to the zombie disease being spread. While war ensues, the women become strong and fight alongside the good zombies, fighting against the bad guys who have taken her father hostage. With an unbeatable army-themed plot mingled with family, romance, friendship, survival, and war, this novel is sure to keep you on edge.

The writing is very systematic and interesting. Great dialogue and switching of point of views. With an original plot and setting, and characters who demand your attention, it makes for a great zombie-action-romance. A perfect mix of Warm Bodies, The Walking Dead, etc. and Twilight. The romance in this novel is not that of Twilight, however, in the way that this romance slowly transforms from repulsion to attraction, and creates a hardened couple bonded through the apocalypse. The writing is very detailed and interesting, creating a whole new world and variation on the topic of zombies. I can't get over how detailed this plot is, and how thought out the sci-fi-turned-Victorian principle is. Action-packed and yet pretty at the same time, with both strong male and female main characters, it makes for a great unisex read. 3.5 stars.

Stacking The Shelves #6

Stacking The Shelves (hosted by Tynga's Reviews) is a weekly meme featuring the books you win, buy, borrow, receive for review, etc. It's been awhile since I've done one, so this is a big one! 

 

Received For Review:

        Serissa By M. Cundy (ebook)
        Rednecks vs. Zombies by T.R.F. Sedgwick (ebook)
        The Name by Manik Ghawri (ebook)
        Dreamwalker by Andrea Heltsley (ebook)
        Anyone But You by Amy Helmes and Kim Askew (ebook)
        The Fall From Grace by H.D. Carpenter (ebook)
The Elect by Elle Todd (Ebook)
         Pepe by Robby Charters (Ebook)

Won:
        Relativity by Cristin Bishara (Hardcover and signed!)
        Hourglass by Myra McEntire (ARC paperback!)
        Timepiece by Myra McEntire (Hardcover!)
          Infinityglass by Myra McEntire (Hardcover!)
          The Cool School: Writing from America's Hip Underground (ARC paperback!)
          American Girl On Saturn by Nikki Godwin (ebook)
          Heist by Laura Pauling (ebook)
          Relativity by Cristin Bishara business card
          Sia by Josh Grayson (ebook)
          Cassie's Cowboy Crave by Kimberly Krey! (Ebook)

Bought:
        Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (hardcover)
        Aerie and Reckoning by Thomas E. Sniegoski (paperback)
    Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani (hardcover)
    Eve by Anna Carey (hardcover)
    Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel (hardcover)
    Dragon's Oath by P. C. Cast; Kristin Cast (hardcover)
    The Diviners by Libba Bray (hardcover)
    Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1 by John Vornholt; Arthur Byron Cover; Alice Henderson (paperback)
    Hades by Alexandra Adornetto (hardcover)
    Flesh & Bone by Jonathan Maberry (hardcover)
    Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher (paperback)
    Happiness to Go! by Simon Spotlight (boxed set) (I bought it for my little brother)
     Buffy the Vampire Slayer 2 by Christopher Golden; Nancy Holder; Diana G. Gallagher (paperback)
    The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer (paperback)
    This World We Live in by Susan Beth Pfeffer (hardcover)
    Before I Die by Jenny Downham (paperback)
    Cemetery Girl by David Bell (paperback)

 

Waiting To Arrive:          Tandem by Anna Jarzab (ARC paperback!)

          The Returned by Jason Mott (Hardcover)
          Signed bookmark of Jennifer Walkup
          Confessions: The Private School Murders Tshirt!
          Chasing Shadows by Swati Avasthi (ARC paperback)
          The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler (ARC paperback)
          The Living by Matt de la Pena  (ARC paperback)
          THE BEAUTIFUL & THE DAMNED by Jessica Verday (ARC paperback)
         Once Upon A Nightmare by McKelle George (ebook)
         City of Devils (ebook)
        City of Devils swag pack
        The "Purple Moon" Prize Pack: (Autographed copy of Purple Moon, Purple Moon sketch journal, Purple Moon sleeping mask, Purple Moon mug, Purple Moon glitter bookmark, Purple Moon ribbon bookmark, "The Anxious Christian" by Rhett Smith, and Starbucks mocha flavored instant coffee!)

& more! (I didn't get pictures of everything)

What did you get?

Stacking The Shelves (4)

I know STS posts are supposed to be weekly occurrences, but darn it if I don't get post happy! Sorry for so many STS posts so close together, but while I am currently reading another novel, I also stopped by my library for the first time in close to 2 years. Crazy, I know!

It's just that I started back at school last year and my trips to library got less and less frequent. Between schoolwork, new friends and teachers, old friends and family, football games, pep rallies, holidays, birthdays, yada yada yada... I just stopped going, and started buying all my books. This was also around the time I discovered ARCs and such things I'm addicted to now. 

But yesterday, I was walking downtown with my friends during the 125th anniversary of our town's settlement, when I decided it was time to go back to the library.

She had to update my card and account and everything, and I don't think she recognized me until she read my name on my account, but I got to borrow some books, and that's all I wanted. Most of these, I just read the titles on them and didn't have to read the plots n the back, because I already knew I had been wanting them!

It's a little hard to see, but the books I borrowed were (besides the antiques price guides at the bottom): Neferet's Curse, The Book Thief, The Scorpio Races, The Raven Boys, Halo, Reached, and Red Glove.

The library may become a more common destination for me now, because since school has restarted, I'm a little low on funds from over the summer. 

But I'm psyched to have gotten all of these amazing novels and get to read them now! These have all been on my TBR list for a long time.

What did you get this week? 

Stacking The Shelves (3)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where you feature the books you have recently bought, borrowed, been gifted, won, etc.!

 

Yay! Just got this in the mail! Thanks to Star at the Bibliophilic Book Blog for an amazing contest and to Michael Raymond for this awesome personally signed book of his! Can't wait to read this in time for Halloween! 

What did you get?

Stacking The Shelves (2)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where you can post your latest book purchases! 

My latest purchases! (Sorry it's been awhile! Here's the majority of my latest finds, but not all of them!) 

And thanks to Star at the Bibliophilic Book Blog for this signed copy of The Shadow Things by Jennifer Fretag 

What did you get?