Stacking The Shelves

Stacking The Shelves

Stacking The Shelves December 13th 2014

Stacking the Shelves is a meme by Tynga 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.

My hubby kind of hinted he wanted to get me something other than books so I picked up a few that I've been dying to read.

Reviews
None this week

Purchased
eBooks 

Zodiac by Romina Russell (Goodreads)

Now That You're Here by Amy K. Nichols (Goodreads)

Firebolt by Adrienne Woods (Goodreads)

Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Goodreads)

What did you get this week?

Relish Scavenger Hunt

Today I am excited to be part of the scavenger hunt for Relish. 

 

In anticipation of the release of Relish. The author is sharing the first chapter over several blogs. Each one will have a page. 

Check out the synopsis sounds amazing to me. I know I can't wait to get a copy in my hands. How about you?

Relish by Kate Evangelista

Add it to your goodreads to read list 

(Here)

Synopsis

 I left Lunar Manor broken, seeking comfort in the hands of Laurel “the Dragon” Hardy, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Gossip. Okay, I may have used him to ease the pain He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named caused by his confession of loving someone else. On New Year’s Eve! Granted, he was drunk off his ass, but still! I stay with Larry mainly because the dreams are getting worse. Worse enough to wake me in the middle of the night needing the touch of another to save me from losing my mind.

Unfortunately, the handsome bassist of the uber successful indie rock band, Vicious, is never far from my mind. I thought I was rid of him once and for all only to have him show up at my hotel in London. Luka Visraya’s power over me is intense. No matter how far I run, I always end up circling back to him.

If you think my story is just some romance about two lovers getting back together, think again. Little did I know that returning to Luka meant I’d be plunging myself into a world more familiar than I ever thought possible. Trust me when I say I didn’t believe it either when the truth finally came out.

~Page 3~

I stared up at the ceiling for the longest time, pondering the question that seemed to have no answer. I adopted the practice since leaving Lunar Manor. The simple act of counting the cracks on the plaster centered me. Soon the aftereffects of the dream receded. The chanting no longer drowned out other more normal sounds around me, like the soft snores of the man beside me. I shifted my gaze to the window by my side of the bed. The heavy snowfall dulled the city lights. The weatherman expected fifteen inches to cover Crescent City this mid-February morning—one for the record books. But the weather outside couldn’t match the flash freeze inside my body. I barely felt my lungs inflate as I inhaled the chilly air in my tiny apartment. The steady hum of the radiator couldn’t compete with winter’s ferocity. Maybe I should add another heater, but then, what good would it do when I practically counted down the days until graduation?

Setting aside crazy dreams and thoughts of another heater, I focused on the most important thing: My final project. The looming deadline for the Spring Showcase forced me out of my warm bed. The springs creaked as I pushed up. The guy beside me grunted. I paused. He shifted onto his stomach. When his breathing returned to soft snores, I pushed aside the heavy comforter and shrugged into a wool robe. Not the sexiest of looks, but considering my state of nakedness underneath, it would have to do.

Shoving my quickly freezing feet into sheepskin booties, I heaved off the bed and stretched my arms above my head. The vertebrae along my spine popped back into place and I sighed. I rolled my head from side to side, unlocking all the kinks. A dull ache pulsed along my inner thigh. I must have pulled something last night. I rubbed at the tight muscle before shuffling out of my room into the living room for my morning ritual.

~Next Page~

Next page (here)

Bio

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department and never looked back. Today, she is a graduate of De La Salle University - Manila with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature. She taught high school English for three years and was an essay consultant for two. Currently she writes full-time and is based in the Philippines.

Links

Website | Twitter | Tumblr | Facebook 

| Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram | Wattpad

Diary Entry

December 11th  2014

Less than a month left. I just don't know where the month has gone. So much crazy stuff has happened over the last 11 months. Hopefully next year will be boring so I can get in more reading. 

Blog cover update
I'm just playing but I needed change. I don't know how I feel yet. I think I'm going to keep working on it. I hope to get more updating customizing for before the new year. I'm still tweaking it but I hope to have it ready to go before the new year.  

Bookish updates 
Not close to hitting my goal so I need to read every moment of the day if I'm going to just make my goal. So far not off to a good start. This will be my first year not finishing it unless I sneak a few novella's in at the end. 

Currently reading
Pawn by Aimee Carter 
(Goodreads)

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING. 

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. 


There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

I'm not very far but so far I'm enjoying the book. I'm just a little worried a love triangle is on the horizon which I typically avoid. 

New to me 
I've been exploring some of the urban fantasy/fantasy novels and have come across several that look like must reads. This one sound really interesting and the cover isn't bad. 


Henge by Realm Lovejoy
(Goodreads)

Modern-day Camelot. Where knights no longer carry swords. Magic is dangerous. And those who seek control are not to be trusted.

Sixteen-year-old Morgan le Fay is a fire user. An ordinary girl with an extraordinary skill, she has the ability to create and command fire at will. Her dream is to become the Maven—the right hand of the future King Arthur. In the chance of a lifetime, Morgan is selected to join Arthur’s Round, an elite group of young magic users from which the new Maven will be chosen.

Along with the other fire, water, and wind users in Arthur’s Round, Morgan is rigorously trained and tested. The handsome Merlin, a brilliant water user, takes a particular interest in her. Is his friendship to be trusted, or is Merlin simply trying to win the position of Maven for himself? Among the many rivals Morgan faces is the current Maven, Mordred, who seems determined to see her fail.


But Morgan has a secret—years ago, her mother was executed for using fire magic, and Morgan’s desire for justice makes her more than ready to take on the challenge before her. Can she prevail in Camelot’s tests of survival and magic? Only time—and Morgan’s powerful fire—will tell.

Beautiful Covers
I tend to gravitate to beautiful covers. I wanted to share one of my new favorites.

Relish by Kate Evangelista (Goodreads) - One of my favorite series that I happen to be impatiently wait for to come out. 

Goals
I'm scedualling blog posts which is new for me. I kind of like it. It's still new I typically pre write them the day before or mull them over for weeks than share them. With the upcoming holidays I don't know how much time I'll have so I want to get them done early. 

What are you reading?

Wishlist Wednesday

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've been on a urban fantasy kick recently it's after all my favorite genre. This week's had a beautiful cover it's already on my amazon wishlist. 


My choice this week is:

Winter Wolf 
by Rachel M. Raithby 
(Goodreads)

Synopsis
Katalina Winter has been living for eighteen years with a secret hidden inside of her, a secret not even she knew. With this secret comes consequences, expectations, ones she’s not willing to fulfill; she’ll give her heart to whomever she wishes, even if he is a Dark Shadow wolf…


Katalina must navigate her way through a world at war, where the alpha is law and only the strong survive. True love is powerful, but some people will go to any lengths to destroy it. 

What's on your wishlist?

My Dusty Bookshelf

My Dusty Bookshelf

I've got an addiction for adding books to my bookshelf but never getting around to them. I'm sure I'm not the only one either. It's just so easy with all the new books to forget about the older ones. I'd like to start reading some of the books I've had for years and just haven't read. I thought this would be a good way to share and rekindle some interest in my dusty books. Plus I love giving books a little extra spotlight when I can. 

I picked this one up years ago when it first came out in paperback with every intention of starting it. I didn't get a chance it hit the shelf and was lost in the piles of books. I found it and have it on my TBR pile. 

Spider's Bite

by Jennifer Estep

Synopsis

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South — when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction...especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

 How is your reading going? Anything interesting that's been sitting on your shelf a long time. 

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday December 10th 2014

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 just added this one a few days ago to my TBR. I like a good thriller and this one sounds just like my kind of book. However I have a long wait. 


Daughter of Deep Silence
by Carrie Ryan
(Goodreads) 
Expected Publication June 2nd 2015

Synopsis
A delicious tale of revenge and identity from Carrie Ryan, the bestselling author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth

In the wake of the deadly devastation of luxury yacht Persephone, just three souls remain to tell its story—and two of them are lying. Only Frances Mace, rescued from the ocean after torturous days adrift with her dying friend Libby, knows that the Persephone wasn’t sunk by a rogue wave as survivors Senator Wells and his son are claiming—it was attacked.
 
To ensure her safety from the obviously dangerous and very powerful Wells family, Libby’s father helps newly orphaned Frances assume Libby’s identity. Frances has spent years in hiding, transforming herself into Libby, and she can no longer allow the people who murdered her entire family and Libby to get away with it. After years of careful plotting, she’s ready to set her revenge plans into motion—even if it means taking down the boy she’d once been in love with: the senator’s son.
 
The game has just begun, and Frances is not only playing dirty, she's playing to win.
What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday December 9th 2014

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~Grab your current read

~Open to a random page

~Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on the page

~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! ( make sure that what you share doesn't give away too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

~Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

I'm starting this one today, it's been on my review list way to long. 

Currently I'm reading
Pawn by Aimee Carter 
(Goodreads)

Teaser 

(Opening Line)

Risking my life to steal an orange was a stupid thing to do, but today of all days, I didn't care about the consequences. If I were lucky, the Shields would throw me to the ground and put a bullet in my brain. 

Dead at seventeen. It would be a relief. 

What are you reading today?

Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke And The Brookish. Who doesn't love lists. They make life easy! And fun!! It's always a never ending topic.

I'm playing around with my own graphic I'll be trying a few out of the next month. I want one unique to me. 

This week's topic:
Top Ten New-To-Us Authors We Read In 2014

I've haven't read as many new authors this year as I did before. Lots of sequels this year. 

1. Gena Showalter - Alice In Zombieland ~ I loved Alice it's one of my new favorites and  I have the other two on my must read list. I can't believe I waited so long to read her books. 

2. Soman Chainani - The School For Good and Evil & A World Without Princes~ I devoured each of these in a day. I was instantly hooked and I'm dying to see how it will play out. One of my top must have's for 2015.

3. Alison Kemper - Donna of the Dead & Dead Over Heels ~ I'm a huge zombie addict so I had to sign up for the tours. After Donna of the Dead I was hooked on Alison Kemper's books. I didn't even hesitate to sign up for the next one. I'm hoping that she writes more I love the zombie romance story's. 

4. Danielle Paige - Dorothy Must Die & No Place Like Oz ~ I've been a Dorothy fan since I was a little girl so of course I couldn't pass up the chance to read this series. I think the author did an amazing job putting her own unique spin on a classic. 

5. Eve Silver - Rush ~ I received this one for review from the author and loved it so much I picked up the next one to read because I had to know what would happen next. 

6. Karen Akins - Loop ~ I requested this one via Netgalley and was super excited to receive it. I love the time travel romance concept. 

7. Erin Morgenstern - The Night Circus ~ One of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. It was a fantastic story that I know I'll be reading again and again over the years. 

Not ten this week but still a good list. I'm sure I will be adding lots of books to my TBR this week. I can't see what your favorites are.  

What's on your top ten list this week?

Book Review: Atlantis Riptide

Title - Atlantis Riptide

Author - Allie Burton

Series - Lost Daughters of Atlantis #1

Genre - YA Fantasty Romance

Published - May 22nd 2013

Publisher - Alice Fairbanks Burton

(Amazon)

Synopsis

Atlantis Riptide

Lost Daughters of Atlantis Book 1

Sixteen-year-old Pearl Poseidon ran away from the circus tired of her adoptive parents’ abuse of her special skills. As a runaway, she craves anonymity but when she saves a small boy from drowning she draws attention to herself and her special abilities. Boardwalk employee and aspiring investigative reporter, Chase Thomas, helps her with the rescue and witnesses her amazing dive.

Now, he has questions. And so do the police.

Unbeknownst to Pearl, a battle rages under the Pacific between Loyal and Non-Loyal Atlantean forces and each side wants to use her powers for their cause. Will the commotion in the ocean expose her secrets to the world? Will Chase’s reporter-determination ruin their chance for a real relationship? Will staying near the ocean she loves catapult into a battle royale? 

Review

Pearl is on the run from the circus starting a new life with a new identity in Mermaid Beach. She takes a job on the boardwalk working as a custodian when she see’s a young boy fall into the lagoon. Risking her secret identity Pearl dives into the lagoon to save the boy, however by the time she finds him and saves his life he’s been under water to long. Her only chance to save him she breaths into him giving him the chance to breath under water and saving his life.

Chase is the boardwalk manager who saw the whole thing knowing that Pearl and the boy had been under water longer than was humanly possible. Pearl tries to pass it of as not a big deal in hopes of not drawing attention to her secret. Pearl doesn’t know about her past only that she can breathe under water, is strong, swim fast and isn’t affected by changing temperatures. As Pearls relationship grows with Chase she decides she can trust him telling him her secret. Next she encounters another person just like her who can live under water. She learns that she’s a descendant of Poseidon one of the missing princesses. Will Pearl be able to keep her secret or will her past come to claim her.

I like Pearl she’s had a tough life but has gotten away from her abusive adopted parents and is at last living her own life.  I loved Chase at first I wasn’t sure about him but as the book progressed he just kept getting better and better. I really liked getting to know the other Atlantean’s and hope to see them in the next book like Cuda and finn as well as the other princess.

I picked Atlantis Riptide up as a kindle freebie a while back but never seemed to get around to it yet but I’ve been hoping too. I wasn’t sure what to expect I honestly figured it would be mermaids but I was pleasantly surprised to see that they kept their human forms. I like the concept that Pearl is an Atlantean from the lost city of Atlantis. Atlantis Riptide is a captivating novel about a girl finding the life she has been missing. I loved the character Pearl was easy to connect with and I couldn’t’ help cheering her on as she learns to trust Chase, finds out about her past and her future. The novel is well written the story flows from start to finish I had a hard time putting it down. I really enjoyed Atlantis Riptide and look forward to reading the rest of the novels and see what happens next. 

Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays 
Hosted by Should Be Reading

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.

• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).

• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 

• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren't) enjoying it.

• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!

• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

This week:

• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren't) enjoying it.

I'm currently reading Atlantis Riptide by Allie Burton. 
I picked it up as a kindle freebie a while back and just got around to it. 
I'm only 20% in but so far I'm really enjoying the book. I have my coffee and kindle so all ready to finish my book today.



Synopsis
Atlantis Riptide
Lost Daughters of Atlantis Book 1

Sixteen-year-old Pearl Poseidon ran away from the circus tired of her adoptive parents’ abuse of her special skills. As a runaway, she craves anonymity but when she saves a small boy from drowning she draws attention to herself and her special abilities. Boardwalk employee and aspiring investigative reporter, Chase Thomas, helps her with the rescue and witnesses her amazing dive.
Now, he has questions. And so do the police.

Unbeknownst to Pearl, a battle rages under the Pacific between Loyal and Non-Loyal Atlantean forces and each side wants to use her powers for their cause. Will the commotion in the ocean expose her secrets to the world? Will Chase’s reporter-determination ruin their chance for a real relationship? Will staying near the ocean she loves catapult into a battle royale?

What are you musing today?