Stacking The Shelves #60

Stacking The Shelves

Stacking The Shelves August 31st 2013

Stacking the Shelves is a meme by Tyngas Reviews that let's bloggers share their new books and swag, whether they are physical or virtual. I'll include books I've been sent, emailed, purchased, won and for review.

I was a nice week added a few received a few.

Received for review 

 The See-Through Leopard by Sibel Hodge (Goodreads) From Sibel Hodge Via Netgalley
Dragon Rising by Jamie Rush (Goodreads) From Forever Yours Via Netgalley

Purchase

Dragon Mine by Jamie Rush (Goodreads)
Anywhere With You by Kaylee Ryan (Goodreads)
Uprising by Shelly Crane (Goodreads)
Frost by Marianna Baer (Goodreads)

What did you get this week?

Review: The Secret of Shadow Ranch

Title - The Secret of Shadow Ranch

Author - Carolyn Keene

Series - Nancy Drew #5

Genre - Pre-teen YA

Published - 1931

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

Nancy drew arrives in Phoenix, Arizona, eagerly looking forward to a fun-filled vacation at Shadow Ranch, but abruptly finds herself involved in a baffling mystery. The ranch is being haunted by a phantom horse and maliciously damaged by an unknown enemy. Local people believe that the ghostly animal is carrying out the curse of Dirk Valentine, the romantic outlaw who was killed many years ago at Shadow Ranch, where he had gone to fulfill a promise to his sweetheart.

Suspecting that a treasure hidden by Valentine may be at the root of the Shadow Ranch mystery, Nancy undertakes a challenging search, aided by her friends Bess Marvin and George Fayne. The first vital clue is found in an antique watch and sparks a series of clever deductions and dangerous developments. While seeking further clues, the girls' investigation in a ghost town ends in a near disaster when Nancy is trapped inside a building that is toppled by a rockslide - a rockslide which is deliberately caused. But the pretty titian-haired detective remains undaunted in her determination to solve the mystery.

Review 

Nancy has just finished a case headed for a much needed vacation with her best friends Bess and George in Arizona at Shadow Ranch. However her vacation may be short lived because upon arriving she learns that a mystery is unfolding at the ranch that could force all the girls’ home early.  Before the girls can even leave the terminal they encounter a stranger warning them away from Shadow Ranch, as if that’s not enough they have car trouble on the way to the ranch. 

As the girls arrive at the ranch Nancy convinces that Rawleys that she will be able to solve the mystery before times runs out for them all. As the girls dive deeper into the mystery they learn more about the phantom horse. They also learn the lore about who Dirk Valentine was and why someone would want to scare them off the ranch. With her friends by her side Nancy sets out to find who’s really after the ranch, will she find them before they find her?

I love Nancy Drew she one of those girls I was able to relate with as I was growing up. She’s also still enjoyable now that I’m an adult it’s just good clean mystery. Nancy is the kind of girl you can’t help being addicted to she’s smart and savvy but comes off as a real girl. Plus what can I say I love the outfits she wears; I visualize her as this cute blonde high school girl in grown woman clothes. Plus who wouldn't want to solve cases with your best friends by your side.  

I've always been a Nancy Drew fan my mom hooked me on her before I was ten, so reading her books is like visiting an old friend or fond memory. All of the books in the Nancy drew series can be read separately, or in order which is nice because I've been known to read them out of order as a child. It’s been ages since I've read a Nancy Drew and happened to be craving a clean quick mystery. Shadow Ranch is a fast paced quick read filled with action, adventure and horses the perfect makings of a great story. I always suggest Nancy Drew to younger girl readers because I feel like they will connect with her and want to read more of the series. That being said I think it’s a fun series that teen’s even adults will enjoy. I loved picking up and reading the whole book in one afternoon. 

4 out of 5 stars 

Follow Friday

Follow Friday

Hosted by:

Parajunkee's View 

&

Alison Can Read

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!
Each week a new question, new answer, and new blogs to follow. 
If you want to follow via GFC just in case it goes away I ask you follow a second way, email, Linky, Bloglovin'. 
Thanks

Featured blogs this week:

The Whimsical Mana
&
I Read, Ergo, I Write

This Week's Question:
If you could only have ONE - one book - for the rest of your life. Don't Cheat....What would it be?

Answer 
That's the hardest question because I love them all. If I had to pick one book it has to be a book I would enjoy reading over and over. 

My choice this week would be....Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (Goodreads) I've not read Alice in Wonderland in ages but it's one of my favorites as a child. It's one of those books I could read over and over. I really do need to buy a hardback edition like the B&N leatherbound one. 

How about you? What ONE book would you choose?

Cover Reveal : Reckless Longing

Cover Reveal : Reckless Longing

Title - Reckless Longing 

Author - Gina Robinson

Series - Reckless #1

Publication - September 23rd 2013

Genres - Contemporary, New Adult

(Goodreads)

Synopsis

Ellie Martin hates her beautiful, man-crazy mother. Her mother’s wild and wanton behavior has left Ellie with a deep longing. To escape. To belong. To know who her real dad is. To really be loved. Her mother finally crosses a line that sends Ellie running, escaping to college with one, focused goal–to find and confront her bio dad, who doesn't even know she exists. Then she meets Logan. Hot, charming, and troubled. He turns her world upside down and puts all her plans in jeopardy.

Logan Walker is hiding a shameful and painful secret. One that nearly cost him everything. When he meets the beautiful and mysterious Ellie at a Week of Welcome event, something inside him awakens and he finds himself drawn to her.

But the attraction they both feel for each other is as delicate as the web of secrets they each hide behind. And as the truths are revealed,  their reckless longing may not survive the fallout.

Author Bio

Gina Robinson loves humor, romance, suspense, and spies. Not necessarily in that order. Her latest toy is a video spy pen. She plans on putting her engineering degree to good use by building a tasar out of a disposable camera using the instructions and schematics from The Evil Genius series. Fair warning--she hasn't held a soldering iron in quite a few years.

She writes contemporary romance featuring sexy spies and plenty of adventure and humor. The Spy Who Left Me, the first book in her new Agent Ex series, published by St. Martin's Press, is available now. Diamonds Are Truly Forever, the next book in the series, will be released on May 22, 2012. 

Her first two novels are published by Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing.

She's also published a humorous women's fiction novel, Pink Slipper. If you like Sophie Kinsella, you'll enjoy Pink Slipper.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.ginarobinson.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1890237.Gina_Robinson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinaRobinsonAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ginamrobinson

Xpresso Book Tours is also hosting a Blitz be sure to sign up (Here)

Review : Taste Test

Title - Taste Test

Author - Kelly Fiore

Genre - YA Contemporary 

Published - August 27th 2013

Publisher - Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Format - Ebook Review Copy

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

If you can grill it, smoke it, or fry it, Nora Henderson knows all about it. She’s been basting baby back ribs and pulling pork at her father’s barbeque joint since she was tall enough to reach the counter. When she’s accepted to Taste Test, a reality-television teen cooking competition, Nora can’t wait to leave her humble hometown behind, even if it means saying good-bye to her dad and her best friend, Billy. Once she’s on set, run-ins with her high-society roommate and the maddeningly handsome—not to mention talented—son of a famous chef, Christian Van Lorten, mean Nora must work even harder to prove herself. But as mysterious accidents plague the kitchen arena, protecting her heart from one annoyingly charming fellow contestant in particular becomes the least of her concerns. Someone is conducting real-life eliminations, and if Nora doesn’t figure out who, she could be next to get chopped for good. 

With romance and intrigue as delectable as the winning recipes included in the story, this debut novel will be devoured by all.

Review 

I received an advanced copy for review in return for an honest review from the publisher Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books via NetGalley. Nora has grown up in her father’s BBQ restaurant her entire life cooking since she was little. Her passion is cooking so when she is selected to compete on Taste Test a teen culinary reality show she jumps at the opportunity. Nora may be a southern cook with a BBQ background but she won’t let that hold her back from winning the competition. She instantly butts head with the handsome rich kid, and befriends two other girls in the competition.  

While the first challenge goes off without a hitch the next one isn't so lucky when a sink explodes hurting Angela and removing her from the competition. Nora suspects foul play from one of her competitors and when Joy is injured during a challenge, she’s sure she has the right suspect. Nora’s toughest competition is the rich guy Christian, the more she gets to know him the harder time she has disliking him. Will Nora win the competition or will she be end up injured or worse before she has the chance?

Nora reminds me of a southern belle, strong stubborn and with good family values. She’s torn between wanting to win so she can go off to Paris for culinary school and staying home to help her father run his BBQ restaurant. Christian is perfect to pit against her you can't help liking him even if he is arrogant the chemistry between the two is on fire. I really enjoyed Nora as a character she’s just so easy to relate to she feels real. The supporting characters help enhance the story with characters that steal your heart and those who you can't help hating.

I was excited to be approved for Taste Test because I’m an addict for reality cooking shows. The book is well written it gives us little insider tidbits you don’t see on TVs which I loved.  A truly captivating story filled with yummy cooking, intriguing mystery, and innocent romance. I enjoyed the mystery in the story I thought I knew who it was only to be surprised in the very end. The story is well written, it flows smoothly creating an intricate story that captures the imagination. I very much enjoyed Taste Test the story is cute perfect for a lazy afternoon read. As the authors debut novel I think she’s done a beautiful job and look forward to seeing what she does next. Plus what’s not to love with the super cute cover. 

 4 out of 5 Stars

Cover Reveal : Before & Beyond

Mrs. Potter’s Book Publicity Services Presents:

A Double Cover Reveal for author Melissa Pearl!

BEFORE

(Betwixt Novella #0.5)

Description:

Dale Finnigan is a teenage rebel; he lives for parties, girls and joy riding in stolen cars. In spite of his uptight parents' constant warnings and lectures, he continues to run wild. His crazy lifestyle is the only way he can live and feel free…until his reckless behavior takes him down a path where there is no going back.

In this prequel to BETWIXT, find out who Dale Finnigan was before he became known as “scar-face”—the unassuming hero everyone underestimates.

Add BEFORE to your Goodreads TBR List

BEYOND
(Betwixt Novella #1.5)

Description:

Have you ever been so in love with someone, but not had the courage to tell them?

Nicole Tepper is that girl. She loves her boyfriend Dale, but fearing rejection, keeps her feelings buried deep. She can’t even let on how heartbroken she is when Dale begins applying for colleges thousands of miles away from her; never even whispering a word about how much she wishes he would stay close.

But, when Dale is rejected from Colombia University in NYC, due to a police report that follows him wherever he goes, Nicole soon discovers that love can drive her to do things she never thought possible.

There's more than one way to say, I love you and Nicole Tepper is about to prove to Dale that she loves him beyond all common sense.

Add BEYOND to your Goodreads TBR List

Cover Designs By: Eden Crane Design

AUTHOR BIO:

“I used to be a full time teacher (11-13 year olds) then I became a full time mother. During that time I also found my passion for writing. Over the last ten years I have been studying the craft and putting myself out there.

My first trilogy came out in November, 2011. It has been a wild ride swimming in this indie river and I have loved so much of it. I have learned so many amazing things and met so many great people. It has totally solidified the fact I want to be a writer for as long as I possibly can!

I now have five books published and am working on a new YA Fantasy trilogy for 2013. I am having so much fun with it and can't wait to share it with everybody.

I am from New Zealand, but am currently living in China with my husband and two sons. It has been a culture shock, but it's pretty cool living in such a different country.” ~Melissa Pearl

AUTHOR SOCIAL LINKS:

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Blogs: http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/ and http://yalicious.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Page

Smashwords Author Page

Newsletter subscription

Website

Pinterest

Cover Reveal : The Darkest Joy

Cover Reveal : The Darkest Joy  

  Title: The Darkest Joy 

  Author: Marata Eros

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster 

  Expected release: February 18, 2014 

  Genre: Dark Romantic Suspense 

  Age Group: New Adult 

  Cover Reveal Organized by : AToMR Tours

Synopsis :

  A sexy and poignant new adult novel from New York Times bestseller Marata Eros, about two lost souls who find each other in the wake of tragedy, only to learn that love may not be enough to heal the wounds of a dark and tortured past... 

 Twenty year-old Brooke Starr has escaped the aftermath of a brutal tragedy by abandoning her music studies and moving north to take a summer position as a part-time deck hand on a deep-sea fishing boat. When her survivor’s guilt becomes unbearable, Brooke realizes there's only one thing she can do to finally erase the pain. 

 Deep sea fisherman, Chance Taylor, has just wrapped his guitar set at the local saloon when he sees the silhouette of a young woman in repose, the full moon highlighting her shadow as she plummets from a pier too high for diving... into water too cold to survive. Without thinking, he plunges in after her, saving Brooke from drowning.

 As Chance works to save her from her own emotional fragility, Brooke finally begins to learn how to save herself. But when their chemistry begins to consume them, Brooke withdraws. She’s determined to be the master of her own destiny... until the past catches up with her in a cataclysmic plan so dark, so final... it threatens their love and their very lives.   

  About the Author
Marata Eros is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. A passionate writer who loves interacting with her readers, Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband. Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest  

Cover Reveal : Wings of Memory

Cover Reveal : Wings of Memory 

Title - Wings of Memory 

Author - Anna Kyss

Series - The Underground Trilogy #2

Genre - Urban Fantasy, YA 

Expected Publication - September 2013

(Goodreads)

Synopsis 

Kiernan leaves his homeland, hoping to unlock the secrets that could save his people from extinction. But the path to answers is fraught with danger. He never imagines what lay hidden in the Costa Rican rainforest.

Shortly after arriving, Kiernan encounters the human girl that he spent months yearning for. Kiernan must decide between his love for Meghan and his budding loyalty to his brother, Avery. He tries to place his brother first, until faced with an impossible decision.

Kiernan must tap into magic to save his people. The only problem: unleashing his magic involves breaking his vow to his brother. What if the only way to help Avery is to choose Meghan?

Wings of Memory is a young adult, urban fantasy that weaves together supernatural lore, romance, magic, and an interesting take on Mesoamerican history. It is the second novel in The Underground Trilogy.

Check out the first book in The Underground Trilogy.
Wings of Shadow 
by Anna Kyss 
(Goodreads)

Synopsis 

In the struggle for survival...

Meghan's graduation gift is one that any eighteen-year-old would dream of: traveling abroad to England. Her journey turns into more adventure than expected when Meghan meets the mysterious Kiernan and is introduced to a strange society hidden beneath the streets of London. 

The fittest win out at the expense of their rivals...

When Meghan's life is threatened, she flees the city and seeks sanctuary in a distant village--a place unseen by human eyes for over one hundred years. Not knowing if anyone can be trusted, Meghan tries to determine who is friend, who is foe... and who has captured her heart. Meanwhile, a battle for survival brews all around her.

From the Review Pile

From the Review Pile August 29th 2013

From the Review Pile is a meme hosted by Stepping Out of the Page every Thursday.

The aim of this meme is to showcase books that you've received for review (or if you don't receive review books, any book that you own and really want to read/review) but haven't yet got around to reading, in order to give the book some extra publicity.

I know that a lot of you have a huge pile of books that you want to read/review, but it understandably takes a while to get around to reading them all - here you can give a book (or two!) some of the publicity that it deserves, even if you haven't read it yet!

I've decided to pick two review books I've had on my pile for a while that I hope to get to next. 

First 

Rewrite Redemption
by J.H. Walker
(Goodreads)

Synopsis 

She’s sixteen. He’s seventeen. They don’t know each other…at least not yet.

She has a secret and her whole life revolves around keeping it. Every few months and with little warning, she simply disappears, pulled into the past for hours or even days. She’s terrified it will happen in front of someone, changing her life forever. So far, the only witnesses have been her parents, and that didn’t end well. She has no control over it and no idea why it happens to her. 

She wants answers.

He has answers—at least he understands what’s going on. He has a secret, too. He’s part of an organization that goes back in time to rewrite reality. But he also has a problem. He broke the organization’s number-one rule by altering his own timeline. As punishment, he’s been blocked from time travel, which is most unfortunate. Because the changes he made to his timeline, accidentally resulted in disaster for his family. A disaster he’s now prevented from repairing. No one can travel beneath the organization’s radar except a Shadow. But they’re rare, so rare he’s never even met one.

Then he moves to her town.

This is a YA romance with paranormal/sci-fi elements.

Second

Cursed 
by Monica Wolfson
(Goodreads)

Synopsis

When 17-year-old Sasha orders her latte at a local café, she hardly expects to get robbed. Strangely, the men don’t want money from the register. Instead they are interested in the necklace she is wearing that her mother gave her years ago.
Sasha can’t understand why the men would want the worthless piece of stained glass that hangs around her neck from a leather cord. It’s not worth anything or is it? She comes to realize not all value is measured in dollars and cents. 
This is the night she meets Evan, who saves her life by distracting the robbers as the couple dodge flying bullets. It takes days for Sasha to acknowledge that her burgeoning magic abilities helped keep them safe. She’s adamant in keeping that secret from Evan. She doesn’t want him to know she’s a freak.
Cursed is a thrilling romantic and exhilarating read. Monica Wolfson takes readers to a fantasy world they won’t want to leave.

What do you have on your review pile?

Cover Reveal - Through Glass

Cover Reveal - Through Glass

We are so excited to be able to bring to you the cover reveal for Rebecca Ethington’s THROUGH GLASS which releases in less than a month on September 20th, 2013.

Both the book’s cover and description are awesome and more than a little bit chilling and we cannot wait for its release.

If you’d like to know more about the author, Rebecca Ethington, be sure to check out her website, or any of the other places she hangs out online.

And if you can’t wait until September 20th for the release of THROUGH GLASS, the first book in her Imdalind series, KISS OF FIRE, is now available in eBook format for free at AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE and for the KOBO.

We love the cover, but what do you think?

COMING SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2013

About THROUGH GLASS

Everyone remembers the day the sky went black. They remember the screams as the blackness ate those who were out in the open, those who surrounded themselves by light, and those who made noise.

Everyone remembers the voice from the sky, the way food disappeared.

Everyone remembers the day the sky went black, and the sun was wiped from the sky.

At least that’s what I hope. I hope that there is an ‘everyone’ that will remember.

I hope that I am not alone.

Because I remember.

I remember, because it was the day I became alone.

It was the day the house went silent, and the birds stopped singing. It was the day when everyone disappeared, everyone except the boy, the only person I have seen in two years.

The boy I talk to through the glass.

GOODREADS

***

About Rebecca Ethington

Rebecca Ethington has been telling stories since she was small. First, with writing crude scripts, and then on stage with years of theatrical performances. The Imdalind Series is her first stint into the world of literary writing.

Rebecca is a mother to two, and wife to her best friend of 14 years. She was born and raised in the mountains of Salt Lake City, and hasn’t found the desire to leave yet. Her days are spent writing, running, and enjoying life with her amazing family.

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | GOODREADS | PINTEREST | TUMBLR

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday August 28th 2013

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. In my case not so patiently waiting for the new releases, which I lack.

I'm a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong and can't wait to get my hands on this one....


Sea of Shadows
by Kelley Armstrong
Expected Publication April 8th 2014
(Goodreads)

Synopsis

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever.
What are you waiting on this week?

W...W...W... Wednesdays

W...W...W... Wednesdays August 28th 2013

W...W...W... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Be sure to link up to her so others can see what your reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions...

1.What are you currently reading?

2.What did you recently finish reading?

3.What do you think you'll read next?

Books

1.What are you currently reading? Taste Test by Kelly Fiore (Goodreads)

2.What did you recently finish reading? The Ward by Jordana Frankel (Review)

3.What do you think you'll read next? Rewrite Redemption by J.H. Walker (Goodreads) I plan to start this one after Taste Test but if I don't finish then it will be bumped to next week's head of the list because of my challenge book will be started Friday. 

What are you reading?

Wishlist Wednesday #5

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the list and onto our wonderful shelves. 

Hosted by Pen to Paper

I love this idea.  

Super Excited to share. 

My choice this week is....

Size 12 is Not Fat
by Meg Cabot
(Goodreads)

Synopsis 

Heather Wells Rocks!

Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two — and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings (when Mom took the money and ran off to Argentina). Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12 shape (the average for the American woman!) and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student from Heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

The cops and the college president are ready to chalk the death off as an accident, the result of reckless youthful mischief. But Heather knowsteenage girls . . . and girls do not elevator surf. Yet no one wants to listen — not the police, her colleagues, or the P.I. who owns the brownstone where she lives — even when more students start turning up dead in equally ordinary and subtly sinister ways. So Heather makes the decision to take on yet another new career: as spunky girl detective! 

But her new job comes with few benefits, no cheering crowds, and lots of liabilities, some of them potentially fatal. And nothing ticks off a killer more than a portly ex-pop star who's sticking her nose where it doesn't belong . . .

This one sounds like fun.