Stacking the Shelves: 9/23 - 9/29

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme where we can share what books and bookish items we bought, won, traded, borrowed, or got for review.

For Review - Physical Copies

 

A HUGE thank you goes out to William Morrow, Ballantine, St. Martin's Griffin, Abram Books, and Macmillan for sending me these amazing books for review!

For Review - eBooks

For Blog Tours

   

From Netgalley & Edelweiss

 

A big thanks to Soho Press, Delacorte, Avon Books, and Simon & Schuster for these great books for review!

Won/Bought/R.A.K.

 

Mystery Box of Books - Won from Isalys @ Book Soulmates

 

Confessions of an Angry Girl - Won from Kris @ Imaginary Reads

The Dark Light (SIGNED) - Won from Sam (I forgot which blog - sorry!)

Boung - R.A.K. from Catie @ A Movie In My Head (Thanks Catie!) 

 

Close up of my pretty signed copy of THE DARK LIGHT.

 

Bought:

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter 

   Swag:

Origin bookmark from author Jessica Khoury

Winterhaven Series bookmark - SIGNED 

Tons of Crewel bracelets from Macmillan

What did you get for your shelves this week? Leave me a link in the comments!

Review Copy Wipeout is Coming!

The Book Monsters are hosting a review copy challenge that will run from October 1st through December 31st. The goal is to read as many books from your review pile as you can (or want). Make sure to head over there to sign up for the challenge & grab a button! You can find the post here.

I recently went through and organized my review copy pile. Needless to say, I am really embarassed at how incredibly HUGE it has become - even though all I read these days are review copies. I really need to amp it up and finish as many of these as I can. I'm talking an entire 5 shelf bookcase worth of physical review copies - not to even mention how many ebooks I have for review. Any suggestions on how to choose which ones to read and in what order? I'm definitely overwhelmed here.

Here are just a few of the review copies that I need to read & hope to get through by the end of the year:

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Source: ARC from publisher

Description:

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.  


Review:

The Raven Boys is the first book in a thrilling new paranormal young adult series by best-selling author Maggie Stiefvater. The novel focuses on Blue Sargent, who lives among a house of psychic female relatives, yet has never had any abilities of her own. During St. Mark's Eve, Blue accompanies her great aunt to an old church to learn the names of people who will die in the coming year. Blue has done this every year for as long as she can remember - except this year - she seems someone. It's a young man who is wearing the uniform of Aglionby - a rich private school in their town. Blue takes on the mission of finding out who he is and trying to warn him. Little does she, or her newfound friends from Aglionby, realize that their lives will never be the same again.

This book was definitely one of the best I've read this year and possibly one of my all-time favorites. The story has so many layers to it and the topics that fill the story are varied but interesting. There's tons of magic, psychic energy, ghosts, ley lines, folklore, mystery, and romance. There's a bit of something for everyone's tastes in this book. The story itself is masterfully written and is completely original and unique. I have never read anything like this before, which is something that I can't say very often. The characters are interesting and have real depth - which makes them easy to identify with early on. The book is fast paced and filled with lots of intrigue and action - which made it a real page turner for me. I literally couldn't - and wouldn't - put it down. I never wanted it to end! I can't comment enough on how extraordinary the plot of this novel is. It's so deep and multi-faceted - it completely enchants you right from the first page. The setting is full of mystery and magic, which only adds to the sense of adventure that the plot evokes. I could ramble on and on about how much I loved this book and why. I highly recommend that everyone reads this book - you won't be disappointed! As for me, I am now impatiently waiting for the next book in the series (even though it won't be coming out for a long time). READ THIS BOOK NOW!!

 

Of Blood and Bone: Promo Event & Giveaway!

Of Blood and Bone (The Minaldi Legacy #1)
Author: Courtney Cole 
Genre: Women’s Contemporary/Dark Romance
Release date: September 16

Book Description:

Love is dangerous… “I’m a monster, Eva. There is no saving a monster. But I love that you want to try.” My heart constricts at the expression on his face. He has no hope for himself, so I have to hope for him. “You’re not a monster,” I argue softly. “You’re a man, Luca. A man like any other, you’re made of blood and bone.” As a little boy, Luca Minaldi was told he was a monster. As an adult, he knows it is true. He lives in Malta, a fairytale-like place filled with sunshine and sea, beauty and secrets. And Luca’s darkest of secrets is the best kept of them all. Eva Talbot is spending the summer in Malta to finish up her doctoral dissertation. When she meets Luca, a mysterious and handsome shipping tycoon, there is an instant attraction, a disturbing and beautiful energy that she has never felt before. But she senses the darkness that lives within him. Eva is hired to care for his mother, who suffers from dementia, but it is Luca who Eva will eventually risk everything to save. Her life becomes a swirling chaos of darkness and romance, of secrets and mystery. And the question that emerges will become the most important answer of all. Can she save Luca from the darkness that plagues him without losing herself? The answer is a matter of life or death.

(From Eva's point of view)
 
“Evangeline,” he says softly, his dark eyes glued to mine. “I’m so sorry about the other night. I wish I could remember. I wish I could take it back.”
“I don’t,” I tell him honestly. “I really don’t.”
He gazes out the window for a scant moment more, seemingly deep in thought, before he crosses the room to me. He kneels in front of me and looks into my eyes. In this moment, he is as vulnerable as I’ve ever seen him, as I’ve ever seen anyone. He’s completely open to me, hiding nothing.
I want so desperately to kiss him.
“I can’t,” I tell his dark eyes, praying that I don’t fall into them. “I want to kiss you right now. But I can’t. You’re my patient. There are ethics…”
Luca shakes his head, his hands on my knees and his gaze upon mine. “You aren’t my doctor, Evangeline. You’re my friend. I’m simply talking to a friend who wants to help me tonight. You’re not licensed to practice medicine in Malta, remember? So where does that leave your ethics?”
He smiles wolfishly and waits without moving. He’s offering himself to me. I know that. And it is against his better judgment. He has told me that, as well. Yet here he is, on his knees in front of me.
I suck in a breath and inhale the air that is so charged with everything that Luca is.
Whatever that is.
It is dangerous on many levels. I know that.
I reach out unsure fingers and trace the top of his shoulders, moving over the contours. They are so broad, yet so slender at once. He’s perfectly built. Strong, lithe and powerful. I drop my head. I know that I don’t want to resist him anymore. For the first time in my life, I’m going to do something that my heart wants to do, not what my head tells me to do.
I grip him tighter with my fingers and pull him to me. He folds in between my knees, pressing me to his chest. I can hear his heart thumping rhythmically against mine as my fingers linger on his warm back.
He dips his head and presses his forehead to mine, staring into my eyes. His are a smoldering and stormy black.
“I’m afraid to get close to you,” he tells me. “I’m afraid for you.”
“I’m not,” I whisper. “I’m not afraid of you. Kiss me, Luca.”
Even I can hear the thick desire in my voice and Luca hears it too.
He groans and covers my mouth with his own, muffling the sound with my lips. He is pressed so close that he seems to absorb me. Every plane of his body is against every plane of mine. I don’t know where he stops and where I start, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is him and me and this.

Links: 

Website 

Amazon

Giveaway: (3) Swag Packs that includes a $10 Amazon gift card, a t-shirt, as well as misc. Courtney Cole swag. Open to US/Canada. Each blog use the Rafflecopter code below only. Giveaway ends 10/6/2012.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Never Land Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway

Never Land (Never Knights #2)

Author: Kailin Gow
Genre: Mature YA/New Adult
Expected Release Date: September 24, 2012

Description:

Welcome to Never Land, the land of Never and the world of rock, the world of new experiences and sensations, a world where music runs through the veins of the dedicated, and love is taken and given with consequences. Never (Neve) Knight, the lead singer and manager of a band filled with the hottest guys in rock  finally gets the dream that she wanted:  a label signing her band The Never Knights.  It is what she always wanted, a band of her own and playing her own kind of music. Getting her band to where it was came at a high price, including giving up the man who makes her heart race and her blood pound, the man who caused her to nearly lose her band.   As she gets ready to go on her world tour, fate brings her close to Danny Blue again, and she's not sure if she can give him up a second time even if it means losing the band.   

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15835680-never-land 

“I can't get enough of you,” he replied, kissing me. His eyes opened wide, and within them I saw a look of decided mischief. “Close your eyes.”“What are you going to do to me?”
 

“You'll see,” Danny said. I followed his directions, and a moment later I felt something cool and moist against my skin. The delicious aroma of chocolate wafted through the air; my skin began to tingle with a pleasurable warmth. – Never Land (Never Knights #2) by Kailin Gow

 

Never Say Never (Never Knights, #1) 

Author: Kailin Gow 

Genre: Mature YA/New Adult

Release Date: August 13, 2012 

Publisher: theEDGEbooks.com

Description:

What girl wouldn't want to be surrounded by the sexy guys from the hottest teen rock sensation in the country? 18-year-old Never "Neve" Knight, not only is surrounded by the hottest boys to hit the music charts, but she is the band's lead singer. As the band's lead singer and manager, Never formed and shaped the band to where it is today, a band on the rise and on the brink of being signed by a label. As one of the guys, she knew each of the band members since they were all snot-nose ten-year-olds. While her boys were the cutest guys and they would protect her like knights, she couldn't date any one of them and ruin the chance at being signed with the record label of her dreams.  

That changes when one of the band members suddenly drops out of the band, and in walks Danny Blue, with his dreamy blue eyes, hot body, and British accent. Suddenly, Never's solid world has turned to mush, and her rule for not dating one of her band members is seriously challenged. Can she keep her head straight and get her band signed with a label without losing her heart?

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15716628-never-say-never

Buy Links:
Never Say Never (Never Knights #1)
Never Land (Never Knights #2)

Author Bio:

Kailin Gow is the author of over 100 books, with the majority of them for young adults. Her most popular series are: The Frost Series, PULSE Series, Desire Series, Wicked Woods, Steampunk Scarlett Novels, and more. A full-time author, she is also a producer, having worked in radio, television, and film. She grew up in Southern California, lived in Texas and England, and had traveled extensively around the world.

Author Links:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kailingow
FB: https://www.facebook.com/KailinGowBooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/78111.Kailin_Gow
Website:  http://kailingowbooks.com/

  

Exciting News: 

Kailin Gow is making a music video, produced by the music producer of pop sensation Kina Grannis, who is so popular amongst her young fans that they created a convention called K-Con for her, and they have most of the actors cast already (mostly hot guys).  The music video lead is seriously being considered by an actor from Twilight! 

Also, don't forget to enter to win a signed red patent leather Coach handbag for the Never Say Never Contest going on at: 

http://kailingowbooks.com/contests-and-giveaways/2012/8/9/never-say-never-rocking-red-hot-romance-win-a-signed-coach-h.html

 

 

 

Giveaway Info:

• *signed* copy of Never Say Never, Saving You Saving Me, and Loving Summer 
• $25 Amazon Gift Card 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fire Dance Tour: Review, Playlist & Giveaway

 

Fire Dance (Fire Wars #3)

Author: Kailin Gow
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: October 24, 2012 


Book Blurb:

As the war between the water gods and fire gods rage on in the forms of their Embodiments, Mac was forced to take on the side of her mother’s, causing her to betray her eternal love Chance. Her destiny still calls for them to be together, but now with her taking on the abilities of her mother’s heritage, things have gotten much more complicated.


Review:

Fire Dance is the third book in a young adult fantasy series that follows our heroine, Mac, as she tries to make sense of her mythological background and her place in the war that has broken out between the gods. This series is quite interesting, mixing both dystopian qualities with mythological characters and stories. The characters are interesting, as they have more than one layer to them - both modern and mythological. The mix of genres makes this series unlike anything else out there and definitely breathes new life into young adult fiction. Some things in the story felt a bit cliched - I found myself rolling my eyes at Mac's character from time to time and the romance was a touch syrupy at points. On top of the engrossing plot and well written narrative, the story deals with real issues like family, trust, love, and self discovery - which helps the reader connect even more to the characters and the story itself. Overall, this is an exciting and unique series that has tons of action mixed with romance and mythology. It surpasses genre labels and definitely appeals to lovers of all types of fiction.

Fire Dance (Fire Wars #3) - Playlist
1. Set Fire to Everybody (ca715al1v3's Mashup) - Adele Vs. Skrillex
2. My Immortal - Evanescence
3. Ring of Fire - Adam Lambert
4. Sweet Sacrifice - Evanscence
5. My Goddess - The Exies
6. Breathing Underwater - Margie Digby
7. Eternal Flame - The Bangles
8. Island Style (featuring Jack Johnson) - John Cruz
9. Sirens - Angels & Airwaves
10.  My Time With You - Kina Grannis & David Choi
11. Fire Dance - Edvin Marton 

Listen to the playlist here. 

Author Info:

Kailin Gow is the author of over 100 books, with the majority of them for young adults. Her most popular series are: The Frost Series, PULSE Series, Desire Series, Wicked Woods, Steampunk Scarlett Novels, and more. A full-time author, she is also a producer, having worked in radio, television, and film. She grew up in Southern California, lived in Texas and England, and had traveled extensively around the world.

Links:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

November Surprise Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway

 

November Surprise
Author: Laurel Osterkamp
Genre: Chick Lit / Women's Fiction




Date Published: 8/2012 

Buy Link: Amazon


Synopsis:

For Lucy Jones, the distinction between love and politics is hazy at best. Both can be all-consuming, and either can lead to a heart-breaking loss or an exhilarating win. Whatever the case, if you’re seen as a loser, you probably are one. Lucy first learns this lesson in 1988, when she’s a shy girl, battling a high school bully and rooting for Dukakis. Through the years Lucy will experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat as she makes the choices that define her. Meanwhile, she also struggles to define her relationship with Monty, who comes in and out of her life like the changes in public opinion. Is Monty simply a one-night stand, a kindred spirit, or the love of her life? And by 2008, can he offer her a change to believe in?


Over the course of twenty years and six presidential elections, Lucy grows and adjusts with the times. Filled with snarky political and pop-culture references, November Surprise is about the journey we take to believe in a candidate, in love, and in ourselves.


November Surprise is a companion piece to Campaign Promises, which is free on Amazon. They can be read in either order. Both have a liberal slant. 

Monty and I have been dancing together all evening. The slow songs are the best, but we also do the Macarena and even the Chicken Dance. I can’t stop laughing the entire time I’m quacking my hands.
Jack and his new wife, Petra, have fed each other cake. Petra has thrown her bouquet, and all the toasts have been given. The night is winding down, and Monty leads me off the dance floor.
“I’m really glad neither of us had dates,” he says.
“Yeah, me too.” My heart beats just a little bit faster than normal.
“And I’m sorry about earlier. Hitting on you like that. It was clumsy. Will you forgive me?” His face is flushed and his tie is loosened. I’m sure I’ve noticed before how good looking he is, but this is the first time I’ve let myself appreciate it.
“There’s nothing to forgive.” I look around, make sure nobody is watching, and then I stand on my tip-toes and plant a kiss on his cheek. When he doesn’t flinch or pull away, I give him the barest whisper of a kiss on the lips.
It’s all the encouragement he needs.
With a conspiratorial smile, he takes my hand and leads me outside the reception hall. I follow willingly.
When we get to a dark, hidden spot, he wraps his arms around my waist and kisses me deeply. I can feel it everywhere, my entire body is tingling, my knees are weak, and I’m sure that at any moment, my heart will explode.
I don’t want him to stop. But he does.
“Where are you staying tonight?” he asks.
“I was going to drive back to my parents’ house.”
“Hmm…” he leans in and kisses me some more. I press up against him like I can’t get close enough. He tilts his head back ever so slightly, so he can talk. “That’s a long drive. Do you want to stay with me, instead?”
“You have a hotel room?”
“It’s close to the airport,” he whispers. “I fly back to New York really early tomorrow.” Then he baby kisses my eyes, nose, and chin.
I don’t answer immediately. I’m trying to steady my breathing. “So you can make a clean get away?”
“It’s not like that.” he smiles. “And you haven’t even said yes, yet.”
But he knows I’m going to. “You can’t ever tell Jack,” I say.
“He just got married, Lucy. Do you really think he’ll care?”
I rub my hands down his back and across the taut muscles in his arms. “I never had sex with him, and we dated for months. If he finds out you and I had a one night stand…”
Monty cuts me off with another kiss. “I promise I’ll never tell him,” he murmurs, between kisses.
We make out a few seconds more, but our kissing is interrupted when I’m consumed with a fit of giggles.
“What’s so funny?” Monty asks.
I shake my head. “Sorry. It just occurred to me. I’m about to do it with the homecoming king.”
Monty chuckles. “Does that turn you on?”
“Yeah,” I admit. “Kind of. Is that okay?”
He kisses my neck. I tilt my head back and sigh in pleasure.
“Are you kidding?” His lips are a mere centimeter from my skin as he mumbles, and his arms tighten around me even more. “If I had known, I would have worn my crown.”
Now we’re both laughing.
“You know this isn’t the sort of thing I usually do…”
He raises his face so he’s looking me in the eye. “I know,” he says, and he smiles. Crinkles form around his green eyes, and I feel a moment of panic. There’s no way I’m casual enough to be with him for just one night.
“Let’s make it special, okay?” He reaches down and clasps my hand, and I let him lead me somewhere, again. This time, I follow him to the parking lot. Tonight, I’d follow him anywhere.

Author Bio:

Laurel Osterkamp was a comedy writer in Minneapolis before she began writing novels.
Her first novel, Following My Toes, has been a Kindle best seller and won the 2008
Indie Excellence Award for Chick Lit. Starring in the Movie of My Life received honors
in the 2011 Indie Excellence Awards for Chick Lit, and in the 2011 International Book
Awards for Women's Fiction and Young Adult Lit. Both books are indie approved at
indiereader.com. She currently teaches high school, and is working on her next book,
which is inspired by her recent jury duty. 

Author Links:

Website

Blog

  What's up for grabs? A $30 Amazon gift card! Here's how to enter:

 

Leave a comment with a way to contact you to enter into the contest. Also, anyone who buys November Surprise and forwards their receipt to laurel@pmibooks.com will receive 10 entries.

http://novembersurprises.blogspot.com/ 

Release Day Blitz: Never Land by Kailin Gow

Never Land (Never Knights #2)
Author: Kailin Gow
Genre: Mature YA/New Adult 

Buy Link: Amazon

Description:

Welcome to Never Land, the land of Never and the world of rock, the world of new experiences and sensations, a world where music runs through the veins of the dedicated, and love is taken and given with consequences.

Never (Neve) Knight, the lead singer and manager of a band filled with the hottest guys in rock finally gets the dream that she wanted: a label signing her band The Never Knights. It is what she always wanted, a band of her own, playing her own kind of music.

Getting her band to where it was came at a high price, including giving up the man who made her heart race and her blood pound, the man that caused her to nearly lose her band. As she gets ready to go on her world tour, fate brings her close to Danny Blue again, and she's not sure if she can give him up a second time even if it means losing the band.  


From August 13 through October 30, 2012 every time you download the Kindle Version of Never Say Never, you get entered into the drawing to win a signed red leather patent Coach Handbag. (Valued at $700) 

 

This Coach Bag is gorgeous so don’t miss this chance to get a shot at winning it!  Here’s the details!

NEVER SAY NEVER SIGNED COACH BAG CONTEST

Go get Never Land Now!  And if you have a friend who hasn’t read Never Say Never, tell them to go to http://www.facebook.com/KailinGowBooks to enter for a chance to win a gifted copy of Never Say Never starting today!