Stacking the Shelves/Sunday Post: The Week of Thrillers, eBook Deals, & Way Too Much Rain

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and focuses on new books that were received/bought/borrowed this week while the Sunday Post is hosted by the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and focuses on recapping your week. 

New Books: 

For Review: 

Every Time You Go Away by Beth Harbison

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris 

Mr. Nice Guy by Jennifer Miller & Jason Feifer 

Dive Smack by Demetra Brodsky 

Thanks St. Martin's Press, The Fantastic Flying Book Club, Demetra, & Sourcebooks!  

Bought: 

The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren 
Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally 
Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally 
Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally 

Books Read this Week:

Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey: I expected to like this, but I never expected to love it as much as I did. Rea completely pulled at my heartstrings here, and I loved that the problems in this book were layered and complicated. The ending may be a bit too happy given the situation but still an enjoyable read regardless. 

Lies by T.M. Logan: Wasn't a huge fan of this at first but the more I read the better it got. The twist toward the end actually threw me for a loop, which was a huge plus, and I liked that T.M. made social media such a huge part of the plot. 

The Banker's Wife by Christina Alger: SO GOOD! Christina perfectly ties together the POVs & the mystery is gripping as well as intricate. Surprisingly enough, I also loved the setting - the dark side of the banking industry. 

The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan by Gia Cribbs: One of the best YA thrillers I've read AND another twist I didn't see coming! (It must be keep-Lauren-guessing week). If you've loved books like One of Us is Lying, The Truth Beneath the Lies, and We Were Liars, you're sure to love this!   

What I'm Currently Reading:

Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett: It's taking me a while to get through this, but now that I've hit the 50 percent mark it's starting to speed up (thankfully!). It's an interesting concept and the characters are likable but I just feel the set-up took forever. 

Furyborn by Claire Legrand: Even though reviews had been incredibly mixed, I still had high hopes for this; however, I've been disappointed more times than not so far. I'm not a huge fan of the characters and the two POVs sound exactly the same. It doesn't help that having the time periods 1000 years apart makes things more tiresome than interesting...Basically this may end up being a DNF unless it greatly improves in the next few chapters. 

Life Update: 

I didn't get nearly as much read as last week, but the books I did read were high quality. I can't even pick a favorite - I loved all of them for very different reasons. 

The books I'm currently reading have been slowing down my speed a little, but I'm hoping to finish Onyx & Ivory soon (hopefully by the end of the long weekend!). Honestly, it's gotten a lot better, and while the set-up was a little tiresome, it was important. Furyborn, on the other hand, is slowly becoming one big snooze-fest :( 

When I got a Sourcebooks Fire email about the Miranda Kenneally eBook deals, I couldn't resist. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Hundred Oaks series, and considering the three books I haven't read were on sale just seemed like fate. I HAD to buy them, right? AND The One I Can't Forget was a big steal ($1.99!!) so that was irresistible as well. Thank goodness for gift cards! 

In non-bookish news, this week has been busy. I've been staying at my parents's house for the last couple of days, and because of all the rain in Northeast PA, the house's drainage system wasn't working as well as it should've been. The back patio flooded and  the basement got a little water in it. So I spent all of Wednesday waiting for the drainage guy to come only to have him call at 4 pm and say he wasn't coming...don't you hate when that happens?! Thankfully, he showed up early on Thursday morning & the problem was fixed. I'm also moving to my new apartment this weekend (I'll be back near Philly again and I seriously can't wait!) so that's kept me busy. I picked my keys up on Friday, and the ride down quickly reminded me why I never travel on holiday weekends. The traffic was miserable. 

The next few days I might be slightly MIA with unpacking. Plus I don't have wifi set up yet so that's making things a little difficult, but I'll try my best to comment back (it just may take a while). 

Have a great week everyone!! 

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Sunday Post/Stacking the Shelves: Rainy Weather, Morning TV, and Binge Reading

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and focuses on new books that were received/bought/borrowed this week while the Sunday Post is hosted by the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and focuses on recapping your week. 

New Books: 

For Review: 

Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager 

Eagle & Crane by Suzanne Rindell 

The Banker's Wife by Christina Alger 

Much thanks goes to Penguin, First to Read, HarperTeen & The Fantastic Flying Book Club! 

Books Read this Week:  

Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi: I was hesitant to start this as the reviews I've seen have been incredibly mixed, but I ended up really liking it. It's a fast paced read, one that chronicles the many ups and downs of a sudden relationship. I thought Anica did a great job of addressing abusive relationships in this, and I LOVED the friendship between the main character and her best friend. It won't be for everyone, but I think it will definitely find its place among contemporary lovers. 

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager: SO GOOD. Everyone's been telling me for AGES how good Riley's books are, but of course, I didn't listen. I need to read Final Girls asap! 

All of This is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor: One of my most anticipated books of the spring, and it didn't disappoint! I've seen this compared to Pretty Little Liars, and that comparison definitely rang true. It's incredibly readable - I didn't put it down once - and there's such a deliciously dramatic tone to it. While I could see the big twist coming from the beginning, I didn't feel too left down by that. Lygia took this book an interesting pathway, and while I think some more could have been said, it's still a solid book. 

Fair Game by Taylor Lunsford: I can't believe how fast I tore through this book! I never expected to love it as much as I did. It's nerdy, sweet, and incredibly hot. There's also a mystery involved. 

Love Beyond Opposites (Grad Night #3) by Molly E. Lee: Just as cute as the previous Grad Night book! I also adored the epilogue. 

The Lies They Tell by Gillian French: Meh...not for me 

Out of Left Field by Kris Hui Lee: Double meh...not for me as well 

August and Everything After by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski: Not exactly what I had expected, but I still enjoyed it. I loved the setting even though it's making me crave the beach more than ever. 

The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin: This has been described as being similar to Grey's Anatomy and that is exactly what I got. Kimmery did an amazing job of diving into the many intricate details of a long-term friendship, and the ending still has me thinking...

Under a Storm-Swept Sky by Beth Anne Miller: The scenery in this book was superb! The main characters go on a hiking trip through Scotland, and if you don't get incredible wanderlust from it, I'll be shocked. It got a little shaky towards the end, as I felt that it was a tad too long, but overall a sweet and emotional romance. 

One Baby Daddy by Meghan Quinn: LOVED IT! 

What I'm Currently Reading: 

The Banker's Wife by Cristina Alger: At the very beginning of this one so not too much to say about it just yet. 

Lies by T.M. Logan: I actually started this one a while back, but I'm just now getting back into it. It started off rough, but it's slowly gaining traction. The "bad guy"  is super creepy! 

Posts You May Have Missed: 

Monday: Spotlight Tour for August and Everything After (Review & Giveaway!) 
Thursday: Review for Foolish Hearts  
Friday: Review for August and Everything After 
Saturday: Review of One Baby Daddy & Reviews for Out of Left Field, Love Between Opposites, and The Lies They Tell

Life Update: 

How I managed to read 11 books this week, I'll never know. I feel like I'm either in a read-read-read-read mood or I-CAN'T-read-anything-why-are-all-these-books-NOT-working mood. There is no in between, it's all or nothing lol 

I'm finally catching up on reviews, which is good considering how much I read this week. I'm also proud of myself for already reading 2 out of my 4 new books. Makes me feel like I have my life together. 

Other than that, it's been a relatively slow week. Some family events but that's about it. I was in a baking mood so I made chocolate chip cookies, and I have to say they were really good. Not my best, but still high up there. I've had some free time in my mornings lately so I've fallen into the morning television trap *hides face* it's so easy to get sucked in. But you know you've been watching too much of it when half of your conversations involve "well on Live with Ryan and Kelly/Ellen/GMA, they said..." lol 

Last but not least: I started a new Netflix show this week: Safe, which was created by Harlan Coban. It's not exactly what I had expected, but somehow I've managed to fly through the first four episodes on Saturday morning (I think the rainy dreary weather played a big role in it). Have any of you watched it? 

Have a great week everyone! 

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Sunday Post/Stacking the Shelves: Surprises & Good Books

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and focuses on new books that were received/bought/borrowed this week while the Sunday Post is hosted by the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and focuses on recapping your week. 

New Books: 

For Review: 

One Small Thing by Erin Watt 

One Baby Daddy (Dating by the Numbers, #3) by Meghan Quinn

Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf 

Much thanks goes to Harlequin Teen, Meghan Quinn/Inkslinger PR, and EntangledTeen!!

Books Read this Week:  

Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman: It took me a while to get into this; however, by the end I was so glad I stuck it out. Other People's Houses is equal parts funny and sad, and it does a great job of capturing so many different aspects of life... careers, relationships, marriage, etc. Abbi said a lot in this book that resonated with me. 

Love Again (Cowboys and Angels, #4) by Kelly Elliott: This series is one of my guilty pleasures. The Parker family is so endearing - I can't get enough of them! While this wasn't my favorite of the series, I was still so happy that Waylynn (finally!) get her happy ending. 

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang: This was one of my most anticipated books of 2018, and it did not disappoint. Funny, charming, and romantic. 

The Real Michael Swann by Bryan Reardon: The synopsis of this one intrigued me - a women's life is turned upside down when her husband is involved in a suspected terrorist bombing - but it ended up not being the book for me. I found it hard to connect with the main characters, and I never found the plot to be exciting or thrilling - I could see the big twist coming from the very start. 

Book I'm Currently Reading: 

The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin: This was one of my FirstToRead books, but the download expired before I got the chance to read it. Thankfully, my library got a copy in. I'm excited to start it. It's been compared to Grey's Anatomy. 

Life Update: 

This week went by super fast, but it was a good week overall! I read some great books - The Kiss Quotient & Other People's Houses were sooooo good - and the Bring Me Their Hearts box was such a wonderful, unexpected surprise! I always love getting these kinds of boxes, and the little book cover, in particular, is so cool. I never expected to get approved for One Small Thing on Netgalley either so that was a great surprise. I LOVE Erin Watt's books. 

I also went to Target today and bought three shirts. I have such a hard time finding clothes I like so it was a big deal. And trying clothes on made me realize just how much weight I've lost. I'm down about 25 pounds since December, and I have gone down 2 shirt sizes, which I didn't even realize! It's such an amazing feeling. 

Have a great week everyone, and Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! :) 

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Stacking the Shelves/Sunday Post: Reading Slumps, Busy Schedules, & Good Books

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and focuses on new books that were received/bought/borrowed this week while the Sunday Post is hosted by the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and focuses on recapping your week. 

New Books: 

For Review: 

Sadie by Courtney Summers 

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang 

Tell Me No Lies by Adele Griffin 

Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey

Love Beyond Opposites (Grad Night #3) by Molly E. Lee 

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

Lies by T.M. Logan

Your Rhythm (Sherbrooke Station, #1) by Katia Rose

Kingdom of Ash and Soot (The Order of the Crystal Daggers, #1) by C.S. Johnson

The Waters & The Wild by DeSales Harrison

Much thanks goes to St. Martin's Press, Entangled Teen, Bookish First, First to Read, Random House, Katia, and Prodigy Gold Books! 

Books Read this Week (a.k.a the reading slump is FINALLY over!):

Lies You Never Told Me by Jennifer Donaldson: Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars and The Truth Beneath the Lies! It was suspenseful, intense, and even a tad creepy - I was so glad I read it during the day. While I did figure out the big twist halfway through, I was still fully shook when the big reveal finally occurred.  

The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir: This book felt like a TLC show (if you read the synopsis you'll figure out which one I'm talking about), and I ate up every single word. The Book of Essie relies heavily on the dramatics; however, it also hits upon many important topics - teen pregnancy, religion, sexual assault. I thought Meghan did a great job of bringing these topics to light; however, I wish there had been more development. At times, I felt that only the surface of each issue was touched upon - there was a lot more that could have been said. 

The History of Jane Doe by Michael Belanger: I didn't outright cry, but this book still shattered my heart into a million pieces. Books like The History of Jane Doe is the reason why I always make it a point to read debut novels - there's so much potential and promise to be found within them. 

Life Update: 

I feel like I've barely been around lately, and there's several reasons behind that....

NUMBER ONE: April was INSANE! There were so many times I started putting together a Sunday Post, but ended up being sidetracked by something else. Mostly, I've been busy with school, work, and other topic secret things (*fingers crossed* I'll have good news to share soon, there's lots going on in my personal life right now). I also fit some fun things into my weekends. Last weekend I went to a bar crawl with several of my friends from undergraduate, and it was a ton of fun! I stayed up way too late - 2 AM - and spent way too much money, but I wouldn't have given it up for the world! It was nice catching up with everyone. The weekend before that I went to a designer purse bingo (I love, love, love purses, besides books of course it's the one thing I let myself indulge in), and I won a super cute black and white Kate Spade purse (worth $200!!). I can't wait to use it - it's going to be perfect for summer!   

NUMBER TWO: Now for the part that affected blogging the most...I feel into a reading slump. There were several reasons behind this. For one, I was reading a book I wanted to love...BUT I just couldn't get through it...BUT of course I kept trying to push myself through it. It ended up being a huge mistake, because when I finally decided to put that book aside, I ended up starting another 2 books only to later DNF them as well...it was rough, and given how busy I was, I wasn't that ambitious when it came to reading...

However, everything is starting to calm down, and as you can see I've read three really great books in the last week, and I'm currently reading another great one - THE KISS QUOTIENT! So I think (I HOPE!) that my reading slump is over...

That's it for me! Let me know how you all have been! Read anything amazing yet? Let me know in the comments! :) 

Have a great week everyone! 

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Stacking the Shelves/Sunday Post (39)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and focuses on new books that were received/bought/borrowed this week while the Sunday Post is hosted by the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and focuses on recapping your week. 

*I'M CURRENTLY GIVING AWAY 1 COPY OF TRESPASSING BY BRANDI REEDS. ENTER TO WIN HERE. US ONLY!* 

New Books: 

For Review: 

What You Left Me by Bridget Morrissey

The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls by Jessica Spotswood 

The Slave Prince by Jeyna Grace 

The Demon Race by Alexandria Warwick

Lies You Never Told Me by Jennifer Donaldson  

Much thanks goes to Alexandria, Inkshares, Sourcebooks Fire, and Penguin/First to Read! 

Books Read this Week:

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren: THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! It's made me want to read all of Christina Lauren's other books. I need more!  

Aces of Shade by Amanda Foody: Such an exciting series opener! Just wish I didn't have to wait a year until the next one :( 

The Rules of Rebellion by Amity Hope: Another adorable and heartwarming read from Amity! 

Winter Glass by Lexa Hillyer: I thought Spindle Glass was good but this took everything to a whole new level. Sad to see this series end, but I can't wait to see what Lexa has in store for us next. 

Breaking the Ice by Julie Cross: Everyone's been singing praises for this since last year, but of course I didn't listen and now I'm hitting myself over the head for it. This was so stinkin' cute! The chemistry, the characters, the slight mystery - I was enamored! 

Zombie Abbey by Lauren Baratz-Logsted: Lauren's books are usually very hit-or-miss for this me, but I enjoyed this one. It's an odd little book that's for sure - kind of reminds me of a Downtown Abby meets Santa Clarita Diet. I'll be curious to see if there's a sequel - the ending was very open-ended. 

Life Update: 

Another week gone in the blink of an eye! 

Easter went well. My mom spoiled me with an Easter basket, which made me happy. I may be 22, but I still love getting a basket full of candy. And the hummingbird cake turned out to be DELICIOUS! Seriously, if you love bananas/pineapples, you have to try it. It's the perfect amount of sweet - not overwhelming but sweet enough to keep you content - and the cream cheese icing was a great touch. But lets be serious I'd just eat a plate of cream cheese icing for dessert if that was acceptable lol I wish I had a picture of it to share but it disappeared before anyone could take one :( 

I also went shopping yesterday and found not one but two things I liked, which is so rare! I'm incredibly picky when it comes to clothes/shoes since I know that if I only half like something I'll never wear it. I got an adorable pair of flats from TJMax (they were originally $70 but I got them for $30!) and a simple yet cute dress from Banana Republic (another steal - originally $70 but I got it for $28!). Unfortunately, the shoes and dress won't work together but I'll survive lol 

In the last bit of news this week:
I hit 100 (!!!!) books in my Goodreads challenge this week. I don't know how I've managed this and I don't know if the pace will continue, but for now I'm celebrating. 

Have a great week everyone! :) 

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*ICYMI: Enter to win my giveaway for Trespassing by Brandi Reeds HERE. US only!* 

Sunday Post/ Stacking the Shelves (37 & 38)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and focuses on new books that were received/bought/borrowed this week while the Sunday Post is hosted by the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and focuses on recapping your week. 

New Books: 

For Review: 

Royals by Rachel Hawkins 

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson 

Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez 

Fair Game by Taylor Lunsford 

Under a Storm-Swept Sky by Beth Anne Miller 

Isle of Blood & Stone by Makiia Lucier 

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier 

The Rules of Rebellion by Amity Hope 

The Queen Underneath by Stacey Filak

Much thanks goes to Page Street YA, Amity Hope, St. Martin's Press, HMH, Penguin/First to Read, Entangled, and Feiwel and Friends! 

Books Read Over the Last Two Weeks:

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson: I've been hearing fantastic things about Lily's books for ages now so I was beyond excited to get an early look at this. For the most part I liked it. I appreciated the amount of body positivity, and I loved all the girl power. However, the overall mystery left something to be desired. 

Royals by Rachel Hawkis: Cute and funny. It was an easy read, but it didn't quite live up to Rachel's Hex Hall series. I felt that it wasn't as developed as it could be. At the end, I was like "wait, that's it?" 

The Window by Amelia Brunskill: Chilling creepy!  

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier: I discovered this one in a Netgalley email, but I wasn't all that impressed with it.

Life Update: 

I had every intention of posting a weekly wrap-up last week but then life got in the way. Ergo, two weeks in one post. 

This past week was busy, busy, busy. I feel like I didn't have one minute of peace between assignments and weekly commitments. The only book I finished was Undead Girl Gang but that's only because I scheduled time in. I needed to know how it ended! By the time Friday night rolled around I couldn't have been happier. I'm hoping this upcoming week is less chaotic. 

My family is celebrating Easter today with a small family dinner, and I can't for all the good food. My mom decided to make a hummingbird cake this year, and I'm hoping it's as good as it smells. Plus it has my cream cheese icing on it, which is my favorite. 

Have a great week everyone! 

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Sunday Post/ Stacking the Shelves (36)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and focuses on new books that were received/bought/borrowed this week while the Sunday Post is hosted by the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and focuses on recapping your week. 

*I'm currently giving away one copy of Alexandra Monir's The Final Six and swag HERE! US only!* 

New Books: 

For Review: 

Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game #1) by Amanda Foody  

Beyond a Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake 

The Lies They Tell by Gillian French 

Onyx & Ivory by Mindee Arnett 

Thief of Happy Endings by Kristen Chandler 

Little Big Love by Katy Regan 

Much thanks goes to Harlequin Teen, Harper Teen, Penguin Young Readers, and First to Read! 

Bought: 

Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz 

Books Read This Week:

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney: I read this on the plane to Florida, and guys, I don't think a flight has ever gone faster! This book was GOOD. I'm still thinking about the ending. It's one of those that leaves you think "wait, what did I just read?!". Alice is definitely a new author to watch out for! 

Now a Major Motion Picture by  Cori McCarthy: I went into this knowing almost nothing about it, but it was such a delightful surprise! It was laugh-out-loud funny as well as charming. I especially loved the emphasis on feminism! 

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman: Gayle Forman has done it again! This book is stunning! I love the simplicity of her writing. It makes it so incredibly easy to loose yourself in her books for a few hours. I also loved the bond between the 3 MCs. 

Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen: Fantastic premise but the execution fell short. I was expecting a chilling spy thriller, and while Matt did provide some good twists, I was more often bored with what I was reading. It also didn't help that I couldn't connect with the MC. She was incredibly one dimensional. 

Trespassing by Brandi Reeds: So I started this book last night at 10:30 pm thinking I'd read a chapter or two then go to bed. PLOT TWIST: that didn't happen. Before I knew it was 3 am and I was done with the book. It was such an incredible whirlwind! Once I started I couldn't put it down. There were so many thrills and chills, and honestly I don't think I've been this creeped out while reading book in a while. I was double checking that all my doors were locked! 

Life Update: 

My Florida vacation was AMAZING! We truly lucked out with the weather. It was sunny and warm almost every day, and the one day that it was supposed to rain heavily it ended up just being a few showers. I went to Universal Parks on Monday. It was my first time there, and while I don't normally like amusement parks, I had so much fun! The rides were fun, and I LOVED the frozen butter beer in Harry Potter World. It was SOOOOO GOOD! If/when I go back I'll definitely be getting another one! I also spent some time on the beach, which was nice! It wasn't super hot, but I didn't mind - the breeze was nice. 

I was so sad to leave on Thursday, especially when I found out that Northeast PA was in the 30s, but as they say all good things must come to an end :( My airport experience back though was horrific! First, the flight was delayed by an hour so there was no way I was going to make my connecting flight, which was a nightmare. It didn't help that the crew on my first flight weren't very nice.... The one good thing was that the airport was happy to book us another flight but at 10 pm instead of the original 5. So I ended up in the Newark airport for about 5 hours Thursday, and it was just miserable. I don't think the place had any heat on! 

But really that was the only bad part of the week. I didn't get to read as much on vacation was I would've liked, but I powered some books when I got back. Trespassing blew me away! If you love thrillers, you need it in your life! I can't wait to start Ace of Shades! *Fingers crossed* I like it as much as everyone else. 

Have a great week! 

*ICYMI: I'm currently giving away one copy of Alexandra Monir's The Final Six and swag HERE! US only!* 

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