manda-rae's Haul

Stacking the Shelves consists of books we received in the last week, hosted by Tynga's reviews.

I need to put a little more time into my memes.  I've been spotty at best with my posts this summer.  That's my goal for the summer, to get back to consistent posting.  On another note, my 500 follower giveaway is up and running (see below for a link).  I had an awesome book week this past week; I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else received...

For Review:

• Unwholly by Neal Shusterman
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• I'm so excited to read this book!  I read the first book last year right around the time that the second book was being announced.  Isn't the cover for this one a little creepy-looking?  I'll be reading this within the next couple of weeks.  Thanks goes to Simon and Schuster for providing me a review copy.

Purchased:

• Unwind by Neal Shusterman
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• When I read this, I used a library copy.  I figured I might as well own my own copy.  Plus, I now have the actual book to throw at my husband's face when I tell him to read it.  And believe me, he'll be reading it soon...
• Unclean Spirits by MLN Hanover
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• This adult paranormal fantasy read caught my interest a while back.  And while browsing through cheap books via ebay, I couldn't pass this beauty up.  If anyone's read it, I'd be interested to hear what they thought about it.
• Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• I've been dying to read this conclusion to the Shade trilogy.  Sad thing is, my library still hasn't received a copy for this one (even though they have tons of copies for the first two books).  I'll let you know how epic this read was once I finish it.

manda-rae's Past Week

Reviews:

• Scars by Cheryl Rainfield
• Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

Giveaways:

• 500 Followers Giveaway (Int'l)

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

Genre:  Adult Urban Fantasy

Alpha and Omega Series, Book 3

Patricia Briggs' website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.

Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...

Let me start off with I am a major fan of Patricia Briggs' books.  I absolutely love her Mercy Thompson series and this (Alpha and Omega) series.  The lastest book in the Mercy Thompson series is the last one of Patricia Briggs' books that I read, and I was a little disappointed.  With that note, please note I'm not going to touch this book's plot line, and my review is most likely leaning towards my opinion of the series as a whole.

In a world of werewolves, fae, and vampires, the murder mystery becomes a lot more interesting.  And I absolutely loved the serial killer mystery in this book.  Granted it was predictable, and I did catch a few twists ahead of time.  However, the ending was really, really good.  And even though my opinion of the Mercy Thompson series went down a little with the last book, I am anxiously awaiting the next book in that series as well as this series (both series are set in the same setting).  Let's just say the series just set things on fire, and it's burning.  Will it go out or get worse?  We'll have to wait until the next book.

I recommend all fans of adult urban fantasy should read this series as well as the Mercy Thompson series.  Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors, and you can clearly see why in her writing.  I can't wait until the next one comes out.

500 Followers Giveaway (Int'l)

Congratulations goes to the following people:

• Carrie from Sweet Southern Home won a copy of Onyx.
• Kyra from Blog of a Bookaholic won a copy of Anna and the French Kiss.
• Eileen from Singing and Reading in the Rain won a copy of Such a Rush.
• Angie won a copy of Paranormalcy.
• Lexie won from The Book Bug a copy of The Death Cure.

A couple of weeks ago, I hit a milestone that made me happy and excited.  It's nice to know that there are so many people out there who share my love of books.  And I thought what better way to celebrate than to do a giveaway for my readers.

There will be 5 winners who will win a book of choice.  This book of choice has a $15 dollar limit (although I am flexible if the book you really want is barely over) and will be purchased from Amazon or Book Depository (depending on the cheapest option).

How it works:

1. This contest is open internationally (as long as the Book Depository ships to you).
2. Entrant must be 13 years of age or older.
3. Giveaway ends on Saturday, July 28.
4. You can enter via the Rafflecopter form below.  You can enter by doing one of the following:
1. Free entry.  Just click to enter.
2. Follow blog via GFC/Linky.  Let me know how you follow and your username in the comments section.
3. Follow me on twitter.  Let me know your twitter username.
4. Leave a comment on this post.  Answer the following question:  Which book release are you most anticipating this year?
5. Comment on a book review.  Let me know which book review you commented on.
6. Post giveaway button on website.  Leave a link to your website/blog in the comments section.
7. Tweet about the giveaway.  Leave a link to your tweet in the comments section.
5. Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond with logistics.

Button code:

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

Genre:  YA Contemporary

Cheryl Rainfield's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads)::

Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more. But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences.

We enter Kendra's world where she is an abuse survivor and can't find the support she needs.  Her parents are too self-absorbed in their own worries to give her the support she needs.  Not to mention that there's a big communication block between parents and daughter.  So, Kendra finds the support she needs through friends and a therapist.  She meets a girl named Meghan who she can relate to and begins to fall for.  All the meanwhile, her memories are coming back, she copes with them the only way she knows how: by cutting.

This book made me super depressed.  I'm not sure I can handle books like these.  They're sad, and they make me want to cry.  With that being said, there were some issues I had with this book.  As with parents getting too absorbed with themselves to pay attention to their daughter's cries, I believe teenagers can do the exact same thing.  But a teenager (sometimes) does not have the maturity to recognize this.  I felt like this book put too much blame on the mother for not paying enough attention.  And I want to point out that not all parents are like this.  Reading this book can give the reader a generalized view: if a victim cuts, then their parents are bad parents.  And that's not true.  You can have teenagers cutting who have parents trying their hardest to support their kids and trying to keep the communication open.  But something happens that creates a communication barrier between the two, and I believe teenagers can't be held 100% blameless when that occurs.

Now back to the book (after I get off my high-horse rant).  This book did take a turn that I was slightly expecting, and I'm not sure I liked it.  I don't know how to rate a book that made me depressed enough to not want to read it (or made me think about my own past teenager issues).  And the fact that this book points out that there are coping mechanisms to help you stop cutting, but they're never brought up.  We don't really see Kendra's healing process, just that it happens.  I would've liked to see more of that.

Who would I recommend this book to?  People who have a personal interest in the plot might like it.  That's why I picked it up, but it definitely did not leave me with a good-happy feeling (more like a 'this world's depressing' feeling).

Thanks goes to WestSide Books and Netgalley for my review copy.

manda-rae's Haul

Stacking the Shelves consists of books we received in the last week, hosted by Tynga's reviews.

It's been a whirlwind of a week this past week.  I worked a lot.  I almost had a house and was then disappointed when I didn't get it.  And I looked at more houses this week.  Oh, and I read a little bit.  If only my weeks went a little slower, then I could read more.

Purchased:

 

• The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead (signed)
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• I've been waiting for this book for a very long time.  Did I mention that Richelle Mead is one of my favorite authors out there?  So, yes, I can't wait to read this one!!!

From the Library:

• City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• Another series that I'm looking forward to continue!  I've heard both good and bad things about this one.  However with the ending from book four, I've been waiting for this one ever since my eyes left the last page of the last one.

For Review (e-edition):

Pledged by Gwynneth White

Amazon | Goodreads

Would you look at the simplicity of this cover?  Soul mates and curses, who can resist?  You'll be seeing more of this one in the next few months.  I'm excited for this read.




manda-rae's Past Week

Reviews:

• The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross
• Croak by Gina Damico

Memes:

• Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List

Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's post is Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List.

I don't even think I've read all of my Spring reads.  The problem is all of the books I really want to read I end up buying.  And that means I have all of the time in the world to read them.  However, library books and review books have a time limit.  Hence all of the ones I'm really anticipating don't get read.  (Maybe I'll make it easy and add some review books to my list.)  There may very well be some repeats in this list.

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Dark Eyes by William Richter

Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel

The First Days by Rhiannon Frater

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink