manda-rae's Haul

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

I'm still getting quite a few Christmas cards.  It's so much fun.  You guys will all have to think happy thoughts for me because I will be driving through Iowa/Nebraska when this post goes live.  We're doing a 21 hour drive this weekend to get home to family.  Due to our work schedules, we'll be celebrating Christmas a week early with our family.  So I hope you all have a much better weekend than me (and don't get caught in the snow)...

Gifted:

• From Lili, part of the Arcycling Secret Santa
• Trance by Kelly Meding
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• So I definitely scratched my head a little when I pulled this book out.  I'd never heard of it before.  And then I read the back cover and was all, "hey, new adult urban fantasy interest!"  So it sounds like something right down my alley.  Thanks goes to Lili from Lili's Reflections.
• Swag from the Shade Series by Jeri Smith-Ready
• It's in the right-hand corner.  Two nameplates and bookmarks with the original covers for the Shade series (which I like better than the new ones).  I got this a couple of weeks ago and apparently missed placing it in an earlier haul.  Thanks goes to Jeri Smith-Ready.
• Holiday Card Exchange hosted by Turning the Pages
• Ornament Card from Autumn at Paperrdolls - I was surprised to see all of the confetti falling into my lap as I opened the card.  Thank you so much!
• Thinking of You Card plus bookmarks from Megan at Amethyst Daydreams - Ooh!  Bookmarks!  I love collecting bookmarks!  And I definitely need to read Sweet Venom sometime.  Thank you!
• Circular Snowman Card from Melina's Book Blog - This card is so pretty!  Thank you for the Christmas wishes!
• Other Snowman Card from Kim from Read Your Writes Book Reviews - Thank you for the card!

From the Library:

• Flock by Wendy Delsol
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• A paranormal series involving storks and Jack Frost.  Oh yeah, this is a series that I can cozy up to the fire with.  And I might need some hot chocolate to go with it...
• Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• So I have read the first three books in Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series and really enjoyed them.  Then I saw a new urban fantasy series coming out.  I just couldn't resist...
• Rebel Heart by Moira Young
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• I really enjoyed Blood Red Road.  It was the personality and the twang that pulled me in.  So of course I'm really looking forward to this sequel.

For Review (e-edition):

Prophecy Girl by Faith McKay

Amazon | Goodreads

I just realized the cover has a mountain in the background.  Oh how I miss my mountains.  This book seems like it has some paranormal secrets just waiting to be found out.  And I'm curious to find out what happens.  Thanks gors to Faith McKay!

Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen

Amazon | Goodreads

This book seems like pure fantasy.  Jumping from our boring world into Renhala, a world where things become alive and interesting.  Plus, there's a moon on the cover!  Thanks goes to Amy Joy Lutchen!





manda-rae's Past Week

Reviews:

• Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Book Blogging/Personality:

• 2012 End of Year Survey

Book Blitz:

• Snow White Sorrow by Cameron Jace

Giveaways:

• The Grimm Diaries Prequels by Cameron Jace (ends 12/27)
• 1 Year Blogoversary: Book of Choice (ends 12/29)

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Genre:  YA Contemporary Romance

Pushing the Limits, Book 1

Katie McGarry's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Katie McGarry's website):

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

This book is full of emotional roller coasters, and it really doesn't disappoint.  You have two traumatized teenagers that are trying to let go of the past and try to reclaim their lives.  But that's a lot easier said than done.  And trust me, my eyes welled up with tears at a couple of spots in this book.

This story is from both Echo and Noah's points of views.  I had an easier time relating to Echo because her story hit closer to home with me.  Her parents divorced, her dad remarried the girl that was once considered harmless.  And somehow, she's been replaced in her father's eyes.  It's easy to see why she felt like she wasn't apart of the new family.  Now bear with me while I jump up on my soap box for a second, all guys who have daughters in their lives should be man enough to tell their daughter he loves her every day of her life.  And they shouldn't have to have a reason to say this.

All-righty, moving along to Noah now.  He has some major trust issues because he's one of those kids who happened to fall through the cracks of a system that was meant to protect kids.  Yep, he's in foster care.  And how he ended up there, how he copes, and what he wants to accomplish in life is really just heart-wrenching.  All I can say is I am thankful I didn't have the kind of life he was stuck with.  Also, teenagers have no reason to trust adults because we give them no reason to trust us.  We have a policy where we lose all faith and trust in a teenager when they mess up just once.  And then we wonder why they don't trust us...

This book is all about coming to grips with your past and accepting it.  The past isn't full of colorful rainbows, in fact, there's quite a bit of pain there.  But as Echo and Noah begin to depend on each other, they find that trust and love can come from hard places.  I definitely recommend this book to contemporary fans and others who are looking for a good contemporary.

Challenges:  Debut Author Challenge, YA Mythology Challenge, and Young Adult Reading Challenge

Book Blitz and Giveaway: Snow White Sorrow by Cameron Jace

Snow White Sorrow by Cameron Jace

Genre:  YA Paranormal Fantasy

Cameron Jace' website

Expected publication date:  February 2013

Goodreads

Description (taken from Xpresso Book Tours):

What if all you knew about fairy tales was wrong?

Sixteen year old Loki Blackstar is no Prince Charming. His mother is a ghost. His only friend is a red Cadillac that talks to him through the radio. He looks like an Angel but acts like jerk. No wonder he has been banned from Heaven, which is the least of his troubles. Loki needs a job to pay for school and support himself.

Still, Loki has a rare gift: He is a Dreamhunter. One of the few in the world who can hunt and kill immortal demons in their dreams so they never wake up again.

When Loki is sent to kill a sixteen-year-old vampire girl the locals call Snow White Sorrow, he is pulled into a magical but dangerous world. The locals believe the monster to be Snow White.

The real Snow White... living in the ruins of an ancient castle in a small town. She is described as horribly beautiful, terrifyingly enchanting, and wickedly lovely.

What he finds instead is a beautiful monster girl filled with rage and hurt, who has an epic untold story to tell of things such like why the Brothers Grimm altered the fairy tale, who the Evil Queen really is, where the mirror came from, and who possessed it.

Snow White has killed every person who has dared come near the castle where she once lived with the queen. Mysteriously, she lets Loki live, and whispers two words in his ears; two words that will change his life forever.

A fairy tale retelling involving vampires?  Count me in!  Plus, the cover looks awesome!!

The Grimm Diaries Prequels

Amazon | Goodreads

Special Note:  The prequel pack (all 6 stories) is available on Kindle for only 99 cents today.

Author Bio:  Cameron Jace

Wonderlander, Neverlander, Unicorn-chaser, enchanter, musician, survived a coma, & totally awesome. Sometimes I tell stories. Always luv the little monsters I write young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction mostly. The Grimm Diaries series is a seven book saga that deals with retellings of fairy tales from a young adult POV - it connects most of the fairy tales together and claims to be the truth about fairy tales. I live in San Fransisco and seriously think circles are way cooler than triangles.

Another Special Note:  If you like Cameron's Facebook page, you will be notified of the exact release date for Snow White Sorrow.  And on this day only, you'll be able to purchase Snow White Sorrow for only 99 cents.

Giveaway

Cameron Jace is offering one of my readers a Kindle copy of his Grimm Diaries Prequels.  This giveaway is open internationally and ends on Thursday, December 27.  Entries include free entry, tweets, and following people.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2012 End of Year Book Survey

So, my blog has mainly consisted of book reviews and some memes (although I've been slacking a little).  I've noticed it's lacking a little with showing my personality.  I guess I'll have to remedy that with some personal posts about books, ;p

This End of Year Survey is hosted by Jamie at the Perpetual Page Turner.  Don't forget to check out the linky on her survey page to check out other bloggers' responses.  Now hopefully, you'll gain some insight about some of my favorites this year.

Best in Books 2012

1.  Best book you read in 2012?  (You can break it down by genre if you want)

Agggg....  I can't pick just one...

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

Okay.  So Richelle Mead is currently my favorite author.  And so many people have read her YA Vampire Academy series but they always say they've never heard of her Storm Born series.  And while I think Adrian is super hot, Dorian's even sexier.

Shadow and Bone.  I was not expecting that story at all.  It blew my mind away, and I had to locate the pieces afterwards.  I also realized that I have a thing for dominating men in books.  Don't know why.

Patricia Briggs is another of my favorite authors.  I loved her Mercy Thompson series, but it feels like it's going downhill for me.  Meanwhile, the Alpha and Omega series is picking up.

2.  Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn't?

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Tiger Lily by Lodi Lynn Anderson

Two books I was totally looking forward to, and they just fell flat for me.  The first made me realize that I don't really care for zombie books.  Or I just don't care for suicidal girls (I'd never make it as a counselor).  The second put me to sleep on multiple occasions.  And while the first had many unexpected death scenes and the second made me very teary-eyed at the end, I felt they just couldn't redeem themselves enough...

3.  Most surprising (in a good way) book of 2012?

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

Croak by Gina Damico

So The Hunt kept me captivated all the way until the book ran out of pages.  Then I immediately threw it out the window for ending so abruptly (the window wasn't open though, so it just made a loud thud). And Croak was such a cute book.  You wouldn't think of grim reapers as being cute, but they are.

4.  Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The first I recommend to all of my cyber friends.  The second I recommend to all of my real-world friends.  Why?  Because it feels like everyone in the blogging world had already read Divergent when I finally picked it up.

5.  Best Series you Discovered in 2012?

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Okay, so I classify favorite series as having read more than one book (otherwise you're just liking the book - not the series).  So considering most books I read this year were the first in a series, I didn't have much to go off for this one.  Luckily, the only series I've read this year happened to be one I really enjoyed (even though I think the second one wasn't as good).

6.  Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

I can't really say they're favorites yet, but they've definitely caught my eye...

Julie Kagawa

Brodi Ashton

Amanda Hocking

Lauren Oliver

Jessica Spotswood

7.  Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

I kind of quit reading contemporaries after realizing that I just wasn't enjoying them as much as everyone else.  But this one was a whirlwind to read.  And while I don't plan on reading the second in the series, I would recommend this book to all YA readers.

8.  Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I read this in one sitting.  All people who've read it should know why.  For those that haven't read it, be prepared to spend some hours with it because you won't want to put it down.

9.  Book you read in 2012 that you are most likely to re-read next year:

Umm...  I don't usually re-read books.  I just don't have enough time...

10.  Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Switched by Amanda Hocking

The colors are just so vibrant.  I must have a thing with red...

11.  Most memorable character in 2012?

Cam from Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

Take a good look at the book cover; that's Cam.  Anyone who's read this book should understand why I picked him (or maybe they didn't like the book as much as I did).

12.  Most beautifully written book in 2012?

A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young

This was a hard one for me.  And this series definitely flows well for me.  It's like you're on a beautiful ride for four hours that you don't want to end.  But all too soon, it does...

13.  Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?

Umm...  So when vampires and werewolves start walking the earth, I'll work on answering this question.

14.  Book you can't believe you waited until 2012 to read?

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Refer to all of my other mentions for this book.  Also, you'd think I learn from this one that I must read the second now (but I've yet to do this).

15.  Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2012?

Okay, so I'm not very good at remembering quotes that I loved.  I definitely sticky note them, but I don't really do much with them after that.  How do you guys manage to save all of your awesome quotes and recall them from memory so easily??

16.  Shortest and longest book you read in 2012?

Math City by Ahmad Amani (66 pages)

The Diviners by Libba Bray (592 pages)

The Diviners literally rocked my socks off.  That's definitely one that had me at the edge of my seat.  Wait a second, didn't we already pass a question that was along those lines?

17.  Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it?  (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.)  Be careful of spoilers.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

I love this series.  And you'd think I'd have figured out the plot by now, but I haven't.

18.  Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc.).

Myrnin and Claire in Last Breath by Rachel Caine

My favorite book in the series.  It's also the eleventh for those who aren't familiar withe The Morganville Vampires series.

19.  Favorite book in 2012 from an author you read previously.

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead

Again, favorite author...

20.  Best book you read that you read based solely on a recommendation from somebody else:

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

I only picked this up after seeing all of the marvelous reviews.

Looking Ahead...

1.  One book you didn't get to in 2012 but will be your number 1 priority in 2013?

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

If you haven't figured out already, I'm a slacker.  A slacker who has no excuses...

2.  Book you are most anticipating in 2013?

Omens by Kelley Armstrong

I just barely heard about this new series.  And Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, so I'm curious about this one.

3.  One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2013?

Spend more time blogging.  More time leaving comments.  Saying hi to all of my internet buddies.  I know you're out there somewhere...