Stacking the Shelves May 2014

When I started blogging I already had a substantial TBR pile, and finding out about highly-rated, great new books through blogging meant I was adding to that pile pretty regularly. I was also very lucky to be approved for some popular books on NetGalley. This was great, I was doing loads of reading and felt very lucky to be getting these review copies. Then I started a part-time diploma and the number of free reading hours I had took a dramatic dip… and my blogging went up a gear, so I was spending more hours blogging than reading. It all felt like it was getting a little out of control, so I came up with a plan to read, blog and have a life. It is making things a little easier.

My TBR pile had gotten a little out of control, so I put myself on a 3 week book-buying ban – doesn’t sound like much, but it was tough. I lasted the three weeks, but when they were up… well, you’ll see for yourself shortly…

Books I Bought:

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover: Colleen Hoover’s NA books have made quite an impression in the blogosphere and I had to find out what all the fuss was about. I decided to try Maybe Someday because of the sound track that accompanied the book – and I loved it! You can check out my review here. I definitely want to get more Colleen Hoover books, she does the NA genre so well. Plot Summary: At 22 years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Delirium, Pandemonium and Requiem by Lauren Oliver: I’d been interested in this trilogy for the longest time, and had heard good things about Lauren Oliver’s writing. I managed to hold off buying them until I got a great deal on the series and just couldn’t say no. Plot Summary: Ninety-five days, and then I’ll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It’s hard to be patient. It’s hard not to be afraid while I’m still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn’t touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don’t.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: Finally, finally, I got my hands on Shatter Me (with that oh-so-beautiful cover). The first book in the series seems to have gotten some mixed reviews, so rather than buy the whole series like I usually do (see above) I thought I’d try the first book, just in case. Really looking forward to this! Plot Summary: Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain: Diane Chamberlain and Jodi Picoult are two authors whose books are on my insta-buy list. I haven’t always loved everything they’ve written but they are always at least a solid 3+ and when they get it right, it blows me away. I got this book for £1 before me and Amazon had our fall out. Plot Summary: Dr. Olivia Simon is in the middle of treating a gunshot victim while on duty Christmas night when she realizes that the patient is Annie O’Neill, the woman with whom her husband, Paul, is in love. Despite Olivia’s best efforts to save her, Annie dies in surgery. For Olivia, Paul and Annie’s husband, Alec, life will never be the same.

Books for Review:

Minutes Before Sunset by Shannon A Thompson: I collaborated with author, Shannon A Thompson, for my first ever Author Spotlight feature, which included reviewing the first book in The Timely Death trilogy, interviewing Shannon and hosting my blog’s first ever giveaway (which as you can tell has sparked quite a few giveaways!). Plot Summary: Eric Welborn isn’t completely human, but he isn’t the only shade in the small Midwest town of Hayworth. With one year left before his 18th birthday, Eric is destined to win a long-raging war for his kind. But then she happens. In the middle of the night, Eric meets a nameless shade, and she’s powerful—too powerful—and his beliefs are altered. The Dark has lied to him, and he’s determined to figure out exactly what lies were told, even if the secrets protect his survival.

True North Book 1 and Book 2 by Allie Juliette Mousseau: I’m taking part in a Book Blitz and Giveaway for the True North series, and was kindly provided with both books to review. These books are NA and suitable for the 18+ age range. Plot Summary: Book 1 focuses on Liv Morrisey and Jake North – Liv is dreading seeing Jake after his heroic homecoming from Afghanistan. She’s been in love with Jake since she was a little girl, but he’s older than her and her big brother’s best friend. She was always nothing but the off-limits little sister. Liv can’t decide if Jake’s homecoming is finally the night to prove to Jake she’s all grown up or the night she should let him go forever. Book 2 focuses on Liv’s brother Nate and Liv’s best friend Julia. Nate thought he had a handle on his affections for the one woman he ever cared about, Julia North, who happens to be his boss’s daughter and best friend’s little sister. But Jules is about to blow that calm self-control he’s had a tight grip on all to hell.

I signed up to NetGalley’s Wellness Challenge this month (which is basically NetGalley convincing members to get their reviews in for books they’ve received). I have 11 outstanding book reviews that require feedback on NetGalley and I’m determined to get them off my list before I request any others, and even then I’ve decided to be super controlled in what I request because there are so many already published books I want to read!

Books I Won:

Aimee over on What Aimee Read Next held a giveaway to win a copy of The Mortal Instruments: City of Heavenly Fire, and I won!! I was so chuffed to have won this giveaway and it’s nice that my copy of the book now has a bit more of a special story behind it. I wasn’t expecting to receive this on its release date, but I came home from work on the 27th to find the beautiful hardcover waiting for me – thanks Aimee! I wanted to reread the first 5 books in the series before starting this, so I’m avoiding spoilers like the plague.

DVDs and TV Shows:

No DVDs I can think of this month, but I’ve been hooked on TV Shows on Netflix. The two biggest ones being 90210 and Misfits. I used to watch the original Beverly Hills 90210 with my sister when I was really young, and I thought I’d check out the new one, within a few episodes I was hooked. It’s a bit of a cheesy guilty-pleasure, but I’m completely in love with Liam.

Misfits is a UK TV show about a group of teens doing community service when they get hit by some sort of storm and develop superpowers. I LOVED this show when it first came out but stopped watching after the first season. All three seasons are up on Netflix so I thought I’d catch up. I really want to know what’s happening in The Vampire Diaries but Netflix only goes up to season four, I hate when that happens!

Have you read any of these books yet? What did you think? Let me know!