Pile Denial: 25

I am in denial.

It is ugly but it is nevertheless the state of things.

Here I will document my struggle with my book obsession. Behold my denial in all of its glory.

Pile Escalation:

Library:
The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead
Requiem by Lauren Oliver
 
Email:
Prophecy Girl by Cecily White 

NetGalley:
Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Pile Reduction:

Read:
Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer
Prophecy Girl by Cecily White
Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons  

Bottleneck Effect:

Reading:

Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

*crazy cackling* Oh, I really did it this week. Do you know I have been reading off pile since February 9th? A whole month and a half of detour and I don't think it is coming to an end. Want to hear another sad little tidbit? Probably, not but too bad. ;) I looked back to the first pile denial post to try and cheer myself up. Surely I have made some progress in all this time. The first post was back on August 27th last year, seven months ago. I had 44 physical books and 28 ebooks waiting to be read. All my efforts seem to be accomplishing is keeping the situation from getting worse. I don't seem to actually be extricating myself. How is this possible. I swear I am reading tons of books. So yeah, back to the mess of this week. I would like to blame the library but I did request they get copies of The Indigo Spell and Requiem. So the blame is somewhat on my shoulders. I guess that means I will be getting to The Golden Lily in the next couple of weeks as well. I really want to be able to read a book the moment it crosses my path. Is that so much to wish for? Lately I have been envying my friend who does just that. I guess I should be grateful I didn't have a much more dire slip. There might still be hope. I keep thinking that there really aren't many books I am looking forward to come summer. Not sure that is really true since I keep finding more. So it seems that my hope of catching up this summer and fall is a false one. I may have to get more strict with myself. Not sure I want to know what that would entail.

Remember how I have been lately thinking I could see the light at the end of the tunnel? Yeah, forget that. I was clearly delusional. Obviously, the library and NetGalley have something else in mind entirely.

Also, library books look nice but they sure aren't very photogenic.

Another note: I think I am all tuckered out on dystopian. Not good since there are at least six waiting to be read. *sigh* I don't know how much more of this bleak stuff I can take. Do you think dystopian is on the way out yet?

Until next week. . .

Here are the numbers of books hanging out on my TBR pile.

Pile Truth:

Books:45 (increased) :(

eBooks: 27 (stable) :|

How about you? Are you in denial?

Share in the comments or even in a post, just don't forget to leave a link, and help me feel a little better.

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Read Now Sleep Later

March 29th through April 5th

First I really wanted to give you a special treat. Since that isn't possible I thought I would at least show you a picture of what I wish I could give each of you.

Photo courtesy of The Pioneer Woman

If you find you really must try these just click the picture and you will be taken to the directions so you can make some.

Back to the giveaway.

US only

Must at least 13 years old

I am giving you a choice.

The winner will get to pick one of the following books.

ARC copy

ARC copy

I have giveaways for Sweet Venom, Supernaturally and Grave Mercy still running as well so you should check them out.

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Supernaturally: Book Review and Giveaway

Supernaturally

Kiersten White

HarperTeen
July 26th 2011
Young Adult | Paranormal

Official Blurb -

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be...kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

I loved the humor in this book. Evie has that witty sense of humor I like to imagine my inner thoughts contain. It isn't the case but I like to pretend. It was such a delight reading this book. She could always turn around any bad moment with just the right comment.

I have to say I was disappointed in Lend. I guess I wanted a bit more drama. Or perhaps for him to be a bit more proactive. Instead we just get an impressive amount of imaginative dates. I guess he is a bit too nice for my tastes and far too easy when it comes to letting his girl hang out with another guy. I got upset with him when he totally let her walk off with Jack. Come on Lend don't you have more starch in you than that! I kept getting distracted trying to imagine what it would be like having a boyfriend you could barely see. I guess I am just brainwashed into only finding color attractive. I mean I need something to see to be attracted to.

I liked this book. It left me with a smile on my face. So excited for the last installment. 

Content:
Language: Heavy(Just kidding. Although the word bleep is used rather frequently.)
Violence: Mild  
Sexual: Clean 

Moment Divine:
"There are things in this world you're better off not knowing. Go home and leave the night it's mysteries."
"Wow, melodramatic much? You vampires always take yourselves so seriously." His eyes bugged out in surprise. "Yeah, I know you're a creature of the night. Bringer of death, sucker of blood, needer of tans, so on and so forth. And oddly enough, I'm still unimpressed."
"You will take me back to the trolls."
Vampire mind tricks are dependent on their glamour, and with my nice view straight to his white corpse eyes, he just looked silly. I let my face go blank and nodded slowly. "Yes. The trolls. Back. With me. Cannot form. Complete sentences." I shook my head. "Yeah, so not happening."

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Giveaway  
US Only
Must be 13 or older

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Silver: Book Review

Silver

Talia Vance

Flux
September 8th 2012
Young Adult | Paranormal
Steampunk

Official Blurb -

"As I step into the room, a silver flash blurs my vision. Before I can take a breath, the world falls away."

Brianna has always felt invisible. People stare right past her, including the one boy she can't resist, Blake Williams. But everything changes at a house party where Brianna's charm bracelet slips off and time stands still. In that one frozen, silver moment, Blake not only sees her, he recognizes something deep inside her she's been hiding even from herself.

Discovering she is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth, Brianna finds herself questioning the truth of who she is. And when she accidentally binds her soul to Blake, their mutual attraction becomes undeniable.

But Blake has his own secret, one that could prove deadly for them both.

Bound together by forbidden magic, Brianna and Blake find themselves at the heart of an ancient feud that threatens to destroy their lives and their love.

Not at all what I was hoping for. I really hated Blake. Why should Brianna have a crush on such a jerk! Have some self respect and shut the man down. The inferno lust was way too much. Whoa, hello. And Blake continues to be a class A jerk. Send him stepping. The only reason I finished the book was I wanted to know just what Blake was. He had to be something. By the time I knew his story I just forced myself to finish the rest.

Not a book I would recommend. The characters just aren't likeable. And the romance is so lusty.

Pile Denial: 24

I am in denial.

It is ugly but it is nevertheless the state of things.

Here I will document my struggle with my book obsession. Behold my denial in all of its glory.

Pile Escalation:

Mail:
Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting 
Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

NetGalley:
The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross
   

Pile Reduction:

Read:
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting

Bottleneck Effect:

Reading:

Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer
 

Wow, I must have suffered from over-reading syndrome unbeknownst to myself. Because I really struggled to read this last week. Or maybe I had some sort of fear of success blocking my path. Does my subconscious not want to get out from under this stack of books? Or maybe my subconscious realizes it is futile to resist. Must hoard books!

I am totally geekin' out right now. The Girl with the Iron Touch!!! If it were possible my eyes would have popped out of my head when I got approved. I couldn't believe it. So very excited. It will be hard not to drop all my other review commitments in order to satisfy my need to read this book. I better pull out my iron self-control. Not that I put much stock in it since that same iron self-control didn't stop me from getting buried in books. lol.

Is it just me or are their an insanely large amount of book blog tours in the beginning of April. I am getting notices and requests all over the place. It is a good thing I rarely get noticed for the big ones or I would be in trouble. I would probably go and do something silly like double book myself and overbook myself. Ending up with way more books than I could possibly read. I really do try to repeat my mantra to myself. "No more TBR pile." But it doesn't always keep me from picking up a new book.

So glad to have my own copy of Through the Ever Night. It is such a beautiful book. I can't wait to see what the last cover will look like. Lucky for me I have already read this sweet book so it doesn't add to my TBR pile.

Until next week. . .

Here are the numbers of books hanging out on my TBR pile.

Pile Truth:

Books:44 (decreased) :)

eBooks: 27 (increased) :(

How about you? Are you in denial?

Share in the comments or even in a post, just don't forget to leave a link, and help me feel a little better.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar: Book Review

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

Kady Cross

Harlequin Teen
May 22nd 2012
Young Adult | Paranormal
Steampunk

Official Blurb -

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

The roller coaster mess between Griffin and Finley gets a bit tiring. Actually Griff get a bit tiring. He is so worried about the balance of dark and light within Finley that it seems his indecision will only guarantee her consumption by the dark side. Instead of being passive and inactive try fighting for her, dimwit. So frustrating. Even though he whines and complains to much in this book, I must say Griff comes through again for the whole team. Such a spectacular show of the depth of his abilities. He provides us with a very gruesome mental image of pain and death. *shudders*

I really like Jack and it is really hard to see him get dumped on in this book. If anyone deserves a happy endings it should be him.

There is a bunch of deep betrayal in this book. Ouch!

I certainly don't want to be wearing that fancy clockwork collar. Also, I really don't like Mei from the very beginning. I so wish Finley could beat the living daylights out of her.

I can't wait to see what horrors will be next. Kady Cross put together another entertaining read.

Top 10 Tuesday: 10 Books I Just Had to Buy but Haven't Read

I normally ignore these memes but this one is hilarious.

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books I Had to Buy But Haven't Read Yet

Tiger's Voyage and Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck
Rapture by Lauren Kate
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Darkness Falls Cate Tiernan
The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
The Dark Light by Sara Walsh
Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I have begun to think that getting purchased by me is a sure fire way to not get read. Some of these books have been sitting on my shelf for a year. And the thing is I just HAD TO HAVE them. I couldn't wait until the library got a copy or I happened to win one. I HAD TO HAVE each and every one. But since I had books that needed to be read for review and other such I told myself there was plenty of time to get around to these ones. It wasn't like they were going anywhere. I could find the time to really savor these delights. Only once they got up there and started collecting dust I began to forget. It started out little but soon developed into a full fledged "Why did I want those so badly again?" Yep, it got ugly. Now I have to challenge myself to get to these books. I am sure they will more than prove their worth once they are finally given a chance. And I will wonder why I wasted my time on all those other less than awesome books when I could have read these awesome books. Then I will make the inevitable resolution to never again agree to read a book that I suspect will only result in a less than stellar read. Only I never can keep that resolution, especially since it is not always apparent if a book won't be AWESOME. So anyway I am sure some of you are astounded that these lovelies should pine away on the shelf. I am too. Try not to be too hard on me.

Dark Triumph: Book Review and Giveaway

Dark Triumph

Robin LaFevers

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

April 2nd 2013

Young Adult | Historical

Official Blurb - 
Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.

But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.

My reentry into this world was not as quick natural or as fluid as one of Sybella's many kills. After a year many of the details of Ismae's journey had become vague or slipped my mind altogether. I couldn't place names and everything together. It took a good eighty pages before I was on fairly firm ground. Once that happened I found myself immersed in another beautiful novel. The writing is fabulous. Nothing shallow or jarring.

So much darkness should be unbearable to read. Yet somehow there is just enough hope to keep up the spirits and keep the darkness from completely consuming the light. Mortain makes yet another great revelation! Purely amazing. To find beauty, love, redemption, and hope among the darkest of places.

I was wary of reading this book. I was just so attached to Ismae and couldn't imagine how anyone else could compare. Sybella rises to such a task and certainly does not disappoint. Beast is an absolute joy. Such an ugly behemoth should not so easily steal the heart and enliven the pages. His character is fabulous and so absolutely perfect. 

I find that after this second novel I am ready to pre-order the third without hesitation. Easily the third book will also be a stunner. Too bad the wait is so long. If you can stomach the darker nature and side in life this is not a book to miss. Characters you will fiercely love and a story filled with danger in every corner. Four hundred pages will be over before you are ready to part.

Content:
Sexual: Mild to moderate
Violence: Moderate to heavy

 ---------------------------------------------------

Giveaway 
US Only
Must be 13 or older
(Note: This ARC has four pages missing from it.)

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blogger Confessions: Can't Teach a Blog New Tricks

Hosted by: For What It's Worth and
Midnyte Reader 

Question:What is important in design for the blogs you follow? What features/elements do you appreciate? What are big turn offs?

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My absolute favorite blog design and long time secret(or perhaps no longer secret) desire of my heart for my own blog design is The Pioneer Woman. Her blog screams personality and I love the functionality of it. I really want to have that scrolling window she does. It would fit the way I blog perfectly. Alas, I have not the coding abilities in which to accomplish that feat. I barely know how to code a basic text only blog page. I am also pretty sure finding someone else to code it for me wouldn't be the best investment for me right now. 

When I started blogging I really loved the look of Reading Teen. They have since gotten on the simplify bandwagon and it just isn't the same. I still love For What It's Worth's blog design. I have been following her for two years and haven't tired of her color scheme or graphic. 

There is one blog I follow regularly that I wish did not have white or light colored writing against a black background. It is always such an eye strain for me. For the most part I think we all have similar basics to our blogs. So it is very easy to navigate them. I most dislike ads. They just don't feel like they belong. Turning something fun into a money machine. I get why people do them but I just don't think they look very good. Of course, I have never stopped following because of ads. I have however stopped following blogs if their graphics start to get a little bit risque. I am not a fan of such graphics plus I have little children roaming around my house. Don't want these sorts of images being seen by their sweet innocent eyes. 

It seems to me that since I started blogging there are have two different fads in blog design. Either simplification or news reel. The news reel one is definitely harder to get accustomed to. I always feel so out of the loop since I still have the same layout from the beginning. Just can't seem to teach myself new tricks. :)

I myself can never seem to be satisfied with my design. Always I am wishing for a something different. Largely betrayed to you by my divulging my secret wish. But I get tired of the same old graphics. Right now I certainly am wishing for a graphics overhaul but with spring in the air I lack the time.

Anyway, thanks for the topic.

Pile Denial: 23

I am in denial.

It is ugly but it is nevertheless the state of things.

Here I will document my struggle with my book obsession. Behold my denial in all of its glory.

Pile Escalation:

Library:
Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons

NetGalley:
Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer
   

Pile Reduction:

Read:
Asunder by Jodi Meadows
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
When I'm With You by Cecilia Gray
A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest 

Bottleneck Effect:

Reading:

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
 

Asunder was really very boring, especially next to Unravel Me. In many ways I almost wish I hadn't read it. That and I barely remember it after the intense journey of Unravel Me. Phew!

Now I have one or two review books to slog through. I am hoping they turn out to be entertaining and not drudge reads. One of the review books still hasn't show up so maybe I will only have one to read. I can almost see the end of this terribly long detour I have taken from my TBR pile. I have one blog tour left to get ready for but that book hasn't arrived either. Hopefully this all gets sorted out. When I am finished with all those review and book tour books I have only one library book left to read before I am free to return my efforts to my ultimate goal. TBR pile decimation! Bwha Ha Ha!

Until next week. . .

Here are the numbers of books hanging out on my TBR pile.

Pile Truth:

Books:45 (decreased) :)

eBooks: 26 (decreased) :)

How about you? Are you in denial?

Share in the comments or even in a post, just don't forget to leave a link, and help me feel a little better.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall: Book Review

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

Julie Klassen

Bethany House Publishers
January 1st 2012
Adult | Romance

Official Blurb -

Regency Romance and Mystery from Bestselling Author Julie Klassen

To escape a scheme to marry her off to a dishonorable man, Margaret Macy flees London disguised as a housemaid. If she can remain unwed until her next birthday, she will receive an inheritance, and with it, sweet independence. But she never planned on actually working as a servant. And certainly not in the home of Nathaniel and Lewis Upchurch--both former suitors.

As she fumbles through the first real work of her life, Margaret struggles to keep her identity secret when suspicions arise and prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall. Can she avoid a trap meant to force her from hiding?

Brimming with romance and danger, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall takes readers inside the fascinating belowstairs world of a 19th-century English manor, where appearances can be deceiving.

My biggest complaint was that the book was at times a bit long winded. Otherwise it was an enjoyable read. Fans of Downton Abbey will likely enjoy this book. Especially since it has such an in depth view into the belowstairs life.

A simple regency romance. The biggest difference being we get several scenes from the male's point of view. Which I especially enjoyed.

This book has danger and a smidge of mystery. Characters that just won't reform and great gobs of happy moments.

A real treat.

So entertaining were Margaret and Nathaniel that it was hard to part with them on the last page. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

Sweet Venom: Book Review and Giveaway

Sweet Venom

Tera Lynn Childs

Katherine Tegen Books
September 6th 2011
Young Adult | Paranormal

Official Blurb -

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

At first as odd as this version of mythology was playing out at least it was interesting. Even if you can barely call it Greek mythology. But with the introduction of Greer everything goes down hill. Their is just too much being introduced. Far too many unknowns. Very little foundation to stand upon. No body knows anything and none of the rules apply now. Two of the girls are dealing with some heavy and odd crush behavior. I don't like that both guys don't seem right.Then Thane being a wild card is one more to top off the list of too much. I felt like all I can claim at the end of the book is knowledge about the three girls characters. There is an inordinate amount of time spent building each character. It just doesn't feel like enough in the face of all the gaping black holes of unknown. And I am bothered by the fact that both good and bad forces are after them. Sounds like they can't trust anyone. I suspect there are two pieces of knowledge that will come back later in the story. The bit about Perseus and the human husband. So I do think this story has potential but I don't think it was developed enough before the book ends. I can predict very easily the I will forget this story amidst all my other reads between now and the next books publication. I don't think it will stand out.

I do like that this is an almost complete re-invention of the mythological story of Medusa. Will the story follow traditional Greek lines of family soap opera drama? Forbidden love, death, torture, and misery? Or will that also be re-invented to mix better with this century?

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Giveaway
US Only
Must be 13 or older

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pile Denial: 22

I am in denial.

It is ugly but it is nevertheless the state of things.

Here I will document my struggle with my book obsession. Behold my denial in all of its glory.

Pile Escalation:

Library:
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
   

Pile Reduction:

Read:
The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Blood-Kissed Sky by J.A. London

Bottleneck Effect:

Reading:

Asunder by Jodi Meadows
 

I spent a few days nursing my wounds from The Eternity Cure so I didn't as much reading done as I would like. I did attempt to cheer myself up by re-reading Edenbrooke and knitting. Tough times. It didn't help that I found Asunder a bit of a bore and therefore finished reading Edenbrooke. Sadly that doesn't count towards my freedom. But it was really nice to take a break and just read for the sheer enjoyment of it. No worries or thoughts about reviewing it. Wonder if I should give up on Asunder or forge forward.

Until next week. . .

Here are the numbers of books hanging out on my TBR pile.

Pile Truth:

Books:46 (stable) :|

eBooks: 27 (decreased) :)

How about you? Are you in denial?

Share in the comments or even in a post, just don't forget to leave a link, and help me feel a little better.

Eye Candy: LVIII

During the week I spot different book covers that catch my eye for one reason or another. I keep track of them all here on my weekly Eye Candy post. Most of the books featured here I have not bothered to read the synopsis for. Just plain old fashioned cover envy or not in some cases. There are the occasional covers that catch my eye but not so much because I want to read them but more of a oh my goodness what were they thinking.

Rebel Spring

Morgan Rhodes

So very stunning!

Not a Drop to Drink

Mindy McGinnis

I really love it. Makes me want to laugh. Which might not be their intention but I just want to laugh. Must be a bad world.

One

Leigh Ann Kopans

Brings the Hourglass series covers by Myra McEntire to mind.

The Fiery Heart

Richelle Mead

Oh no! This book cover has me concerned. I really need to sit down and catch up on this series. Find out just what sort of trouble is happening.

Tumble & Fall

Alexandra Coutts

Makes me nostalgic for Christmas.

Wait for You

J. Lynn

Well the monochromatic with a splash of red is an instant sell once again. Makes me want to create an ensemble to match.

Siege and Storm

Leigh Bardugo

Well, to tell you the truth, I am a bit disappointed. It felt like the longest wait just for the cover reveal and I was expecting a bit more. The white writing is a bit hard to focus on. Regardless of a cover which isn't quite a stunning as I hoped I am absolutely sure it will be a fantastic read. Can't wait!

What do you think about the covers?

Like it, love it, or could do without it?

Seen any stunning covers you care to share?