Stacking The Shelves (12)

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by TyngasReviews.com

This month's book haul is absolutely MASSIVE. This is the largest monthly haul I have ever had in my entire life. I have an awesome husband and mother that went out and found bags and boxes of Goosebumps for me and I found a ton of thrift store books for prices that I just couldn't turn down (I'm not joking, I paid $.91 for 19 books!) I also won a couple books and won a couple of giftcards that I used to buy more books. So, yeah. Next month will probably be nothing compared to this. ;)

For Review

• The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexander (ARC/eBook/NetGalley)

Bought

• L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad (hardback/used)
• Two Truths and A Lie by Sara Shephard (hardback/used)
• Never Have I Ever by Sara Shephard (hardback/used)
• The Lying Game by Sara Shephard (hardback/used)
• The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (x2)(paperback/used)
• Dangerous Girls by R.L. Stine (paperback/used)
• Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire (paperback/used)
• Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (paperback/used)
• Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (paperback/used)
• The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood (paperback/used)
• My Booky Wook by Russell Brand (hardback/used)
• Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead (hardback/used)
• The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (hardback/used)
• Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (hardback/used)
• Infamous by Lauren Conrad (hardback/used)
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett (paperback/used)
• Specials by Scott Westerfeld (paperback/used)
• Mattimeo by Brian Jacques (paperback/used)
• Pretties by Scott Westerfeld (paperback/used)
• Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (paperback/used)
• Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques (paperback/used)
• Bridge To Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (paperback/used)
• Lord Brocktree by Brian Jacques (paperback/used)
• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (paperback/used)
• Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (paperback/used)
• Holes by Louis Sachar (paperback/used)
• The Nose That Didn't Fit by Andi Green (hardback/used)
• Stella, Star of The Sea by Marie-Louise Gay (hardback/used)
• The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks (paperback/used)
• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (x2)(paperback/used)
• The Second Summer of The Sisterhood by Ann Brashares (paperback/used)
• Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling (paperback/used)
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (paperback/used)
• The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (paperback/used)
• What Happened To Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (hardback/used)
• The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (paperback/used)
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (hardback/used)
• The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger (paperback/used)
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (paperback/used)
• Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (paperback/used)
• Love The One You're With by Emily Giffin (paperback/used)
• TTFN by Lauren Myracle (hardback/used)
• Divergent by Veronica Roth (paperback/used)
• The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper (paperback/used)
• Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (paperback/used)
• January by Audrey Carlan (eBook)
• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (paperback)
• Umicar's Big Race by Brian L. Perkins (paperback)
• Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (hardback/used)
• Portrait of A Killer by Patricia Cornwell (hardback/used)
• Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (hardback/used)
• The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins (hardback/used)
• The Advenures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (hardback/used)
• Down on The Coast by Ann M. Martin (paperback/used)
• Mallory and The Trouble With Twins by Ann M. Martin (paperback/used)
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (paperback/used)
• Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (paperback/used)
• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (paperback/used)
• The Dog Who Cried "Woof" by Bob Barkly (paperback/used)
• The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book by Bill Waterson (paperback/used)
• Ghost of A Chance by Laura Peyton Roberts (paperback/used/bought with gift card won)
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (hardback/used)
• The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn (hardback/used)
• Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (paperback/used)
• Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu (paperback/used)
• Emily Windsnap and the The Monster From The Deep by Liz Kessler (paperback/used)
• Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel (paperback/used)
• The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (paperback/used)
• Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James (paperback/used)
• Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (hardback/used)
• The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snickett (hardback/used)
• The End by Lemony Snickett (hardback/used)
• Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl (paperback/used)
• I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (paperback/used)
• The Book of Me: A Do-It-Yourself Memoir by Nannette Stone (hardback/used but blank)
• Finding North by Carmen Jenner (eBook/purchased with GC that I won)
• Slip of The Tongue by Jessica Hawkins (eBook)
• Fuck Buddy by Scott Hildreth (eBook)

Gifted

• How I Got My Shrunken Head by R.L. Stine (paperback)
• Revenge of The Lawn Gnomes by R.L. Stine (paperback)
• One Day At Horrorland by R.L. Stine (paperback)
• Ghost Camp by R.L. Stine (paperback/from mom)
• Vampire Breath by R.L. Stine (paperback/from mom)
• Go Eat Worms by R.L. Stine (paperback/from mom)
• Scream of The Evil Genie by R.L. Stine (paperback/from mom)
• Say Cheese And Die - Again! by R.L. Stine (paperback/from mom)
• The Werewolf of Fever Swamp by R.L. Stine (paperback/from mom)

Valentine's Day Haul

• Welcome To Dead House by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Stay Out of The Basement by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Monster Blood by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Say Cheese And Die! by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Curse of The Mummy's Tomb by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Let's Get Invisible! by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Night of The Living Dummy by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Girl Who Cried Monster by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Welcome To Camp Nightmare by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Ghost Next Door by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Haunted Mask by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Be Careful What You Wish For... by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Piano Lessons Can Be Murder by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Werewolf of Fever Swamp by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• You Can't Scare Me! by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• One Day At Horrorland by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Why I'm Afraid of Bees by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Monster Blood 2 by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Deep Trouble by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Go Eat Worms! by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Ghost Beach  by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Return of The Mummy by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Phantom of The Auditorium by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Attack of The Mutant by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• My Hairiest Adventure by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• A Night In Terror Tower by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Cuckoo Clock of Doom by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Monster Blood 3 by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• It Came From Beneath The Sink! by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Night of The Living Dummy 2 by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Barking Ghost by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Horror At Camp JellyJam by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• A Shocker On Shock Street by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Haunted Mask 2 by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Headless Ghost by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• How I Got My Shrunken Head by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Night of The Living Dummy 3 by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Bad Hare Day by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Egg Monsters From Mars by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• The Beast From The East by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Vampire Breath by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Calling All Creeps! by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• Beware, The Snowman by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)
• How I Learned To Fly by R.L. Stine (paperback/from husband)

Won

• Forbidden by Lauren Smith (eBook from Book Briefs)
• Don't Call Me Baby by Gwendolyn Heasley (Paperback from Stuck In Books)

Kindle Unlimited Finds

• Bad Girlfriend by Brooke Cumberland (eBook)
• Suit by Jettie Woodruff (eBook)
• Caleb by Kim McNiel (eBook)
• Swift by Heather London (eBook)

Amazon Freebies

(All books listed were free at the time of purchase. Prices may now have changed).

• Falling Into You by Jasinda Wilder (eBook)
• Delicate Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan (eBook)
• Two To Tango by Mimi Strong (eBook)
• The Uncanny Valley by Gregory Miller (eBook)
• Conflicted by M.M. Koenig (eBook)
• Six of Hearts by L.H. Cosway (eBook)
• The McKays Box Set by A.J. Carella (eBook)
• Making Her His by Lucy Leroux (eBook)
• It's Not My Favorite by Rue (eBook)
• Adapted For Film by Stacey Rourke (eBook)
• Crushed by Kasi Blake (eBook)
• A Step Two Close by Jaimie Roberts (eBook)
• Making The Cut by Anne Malcom (eBook)
• The Devil In Canaan Parish by Jackie Shemwell (eBook)
• The Last Girl by Joe Hart (eBook)
• Sinful Cinderella by Anita Valle (eBook)
• Find Me by Michelle Mankin (eBook)
• Brand by Maggie Sweet (eBook)

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Reading Updates

CURRENTLY READING

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Katie's Hellion by Lizzy Ford

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

READING NEXT

Love, Tink by Elle Strauss

BOOKS FINISHED THIS MONTH

Stella, Star of The Sea by Marie-Louise Gay

UmiCar's Big Race by Brian L. Perkins

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

The Nose That Didn't Fit by Andi Green

Midnight Mass by Sierra Simone
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Stay Out of The Basement by R.L. Stine
The Dog Who Cried "Woof" by Bob Barkly
Grey by EL James

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February In Review

2/8/16

Cover Reveal: #Rev by Cambria Hebert

Review: Midnight Mass by Sierra Simone

2/10/16

Review & Giveaway: Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow

2/11/16

Review: Cake by Nicole Reed

2/14/16

Happy Valentine's Day & A Giveaway!

2/18/16

Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

2/19/16

Review: Stay Out of The Basement by R.L. Stine

2/27/16

Review: Grey by E.L. James

2/29/16

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Rock by JA Huss

Stacking The Shelves (12)

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Rock by JA Huss

Rock
J.A. Huss
Publication date: March 7th 2016
Genres: Rock-star Romantic Suspense

Welcome to RK’s rock star life.
I was living the dream, I was full throttle, all in, one hundred percent on top of the world. But it’s a hell of a long fall back down when you finally crash and burn.
Welcome to the delusions, the final act, the coming-to-Jesus moment when there’s nothing left to do but look yourself in the mirror and ask… How did I get like this?
I am RK’s living nightmare. I am RK’s empty soul. I am RK’s unchecked fantasy world that makes no sense to anyone.
I only have one thing left. Just one girl holding my broken pieces together.
And even she might be a lie.
Rock is a standalone rock-star romantic suspense by the New York Times bestselling master of twist, JA Huss.

Add to Goodreads

—

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Every day this week JA Huss is giving away FIVE ROCK super swag packs on her Facebook page!
Enter HERE➔ http://on.fb.me/1MXMGHG

—

Author Bio:
JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.
You can chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorJAHuss), Twitter (@jahuss), and her kick-ass romance blog, New Adult Addiction (www.newadultaddiction.com).
If you're interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, or information on her upcoming personal appearances, you can join her newsletter list (http://eepurl.com/JVhAr) and get those details delivered right to your inbox.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

GIVEAWAY!
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Review: Grey by E.L. James

Cover Soure: GoodReads.com

Title: Grey

Author: E.L. James

Series: Fifty Shades #4

Version Reviewed: Finished, Paperback

Website: www.eljamesauthor.com

I purchased this book myself.

GoodReads Synopsis:

See the world of Fifty Shades of Grey anew through the eyes of Christian Grey.
In Christian's own words, and through his thoughts, reflections, and dreams, E L James offers a fresh perspective on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the world.
Christian Grey exercises control in all things; his world is neat, disciplined, and utterly empty—until the day that Anastasia Steele falls into his office, in a tangle of shapely limbs and tumbling brown hair. He tries to forget her, but instead is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot comprehend and cannot resist. Unlike any woman he has known before, shy, unworldly Ana seems to see right through him—past the business prodigy and the penthouse lifestyle to Christian’s cold, wounded heart.

Will being with Ana dispel the horrors of his childhood that haunt Christian every night? Or will his dark sexual desires, his compulsion to control, and the self-loathing that fills his soul drive this girl away and destroy the fragile hope she offers him?

This book is intended for mature audiences.

Review: 
Where do I begin with this book?  I'm not really sure, in all honesty. I know that the entire Fifty Shades series is a sensitive topic for most people. The majority of the world either has a love or hate relationship with the story and I'm not ashamed to admit that I am in love with it. Does the story have it's faults? Yes. Do the main characters have their faults? Yes, they do. But that's one of the reasons why I love this story. It isn't black or white. It's... well, it's a gray area (no pun intended). Love it or hate it, you can't deny that it makes you feelsomething. What that something is, is completely up to you.

I felt a multitude of things when I read Fifty Shades of Grey for the first time. I devoured it and I was one of the many readers that desperately hoped for the chance of re-reading the events in Christian's point of view.  I wanted a deeper look into his mind. I wanted to know what made him react the way he did in certain moments and what made him say and do some of the things he did as a character. And Grey did just that. It gave me such new insight into Christian's character and made me fall in love with this broken man.

It was so different, witnessing the thoughts in his head and it was easy to develop a bit of an understanding for the way he felt about himself and why he treated people the way he did. This book gave us a definite look into his psyche, a deeper story than the original. It's not often that I can say this, but I honestly think I prefer Grey over the original book that started it all.  I loved reading along as Christian worked through all of these new issues and the feelings and emotions that they brought out of him. It was interesting to see just how much he would let himself feel before he would shut everything down and return to his comfortable, dominant role.

This book definitely made me feel things. I was happy with the characters and horrified at Christian's past. I found myself amused at the moments where Christian was oblivious to the feelings brought out in him, confused at what exactly was going on inside his mind and his heart. In a way, it was easy to see him as this tortured little boy that never figured out how to be okay with himself.

I truly loved this book and would have no problems picking it right back up and re-reading it. My only wish is that James has plans to continue with the series in Christian's point of view. There's one particular scene in Fifty Shades Darker that I am in love with, the one scene that has stood out in my mind over the entire series and I really, really want to read it from his perspective.

Rating: 5 Stars

Review: Stay Out of The Basement by R.L. Stine

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

Title: Stay Out of The Basement

Author: R.L. Stine

Series: Goosebumps #2

Version Reviewed: Finished, Paperback.

Website: www.rlstine.com

This book was given to me as a gift.

GoodReads Synopsis:

Dr. Brewer is doing a little plant-testing in his basement. Nothing to worry about. Harmless, really.
But Margaret and Casey Brewer are worried about their father. Especially when they... meet... some of the plants he is growing down there.
Then they notice that their father is developing plantlike tendencies. In fact, he is becoming distinctly weedy- and seedy. Is it just part of their father's 'harmless' experiment? Or has the basement turned into another little shop of horrors?

Review:
Oh, how I am loving reading these books. Sadly, I didn't get the chance to read many of them growing up but I did get to watch the show occasionally and I absolutely fell in love with Goosebumps.  Now that I'm older and can have more a say (financially) in the books that I can read, have started collecting these books and so far have amassed books 1-52, with a few duplicates. I am devouring them as quickly as I possibly can.

I remembered Stay Out of The Basement from the tv show so I was super excited to finally read this one and it did not let me down.  As I've gotten older, I have forgotten how totally creepy some of these books can get!  I loved Margaret and Casey's story because it's so insanely unsettling. Like, can you imagine being stuck in your home with one of your parents knowing that something isn't right? That's there's something strange and freaky going on in the basement below you but you can't do anything about it? Let me just say that these kids are a lot braver than I am and that they handled it a lot better than I would.

This book was well written and Mr. Brewer was freakishly awesome and scary. I would love to watch the tv show again to get a visual of all of his creepy plant hybrids, leaves, and green blood. If you're a lover of Goosebumps or are thinking of getting into the series, you definitely need to make sure this one is on your reading list!

Rating: 4 Stars.

Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

 Title: Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini
Series: Starcrossed #1
Version Reviewed: Finished, Paperback.
Website: www.josephineangelini.com

I purchased this book myself.

GoodReads Synopsis:

How do you defy destiny?
Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.
As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Review:
This book... I have a sort of history with this book even though this is the first time I've ever actually read it.   In 2011 I discovered the book blogging community. I don't remember how it happened exactly but I absolutely fell in love with it and knew that, as an avid reader, I had to become a part of it. So I did. I immediately set about making my blog but I only had one problem. I had absolutely no idea what to name it. I ran through so many ideas in my head but nothing seemed right. And then I started seeing Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini floating around almost every single blog that I followed. I had no idea what it was about but I loved the cover and I loved the name. It was romantic and booksih and reminded me of Romeo and Juliet, a story that I have always loved. And so, Starcrossed Reviews was born and the color scheme was purple and black. (Later shut SR down and started RD&PJs). No, one would assume that I would immediately pick up and read the book that inspired the name of my blog, but I didn't. My fellow bloggers know how the infamous TBR pile is and this book seemed to always get shoved to the bottom of the list. I have no idea why, I just never seemed to pick it up. Until almost five years later.

And it was absolutely amazing! Oh my gosh, why did I wait so long? This book seriously blew my mind with its awesomeness and I couldn't get enough of it. I really wish I would have read it sooner.

The characters were great and believeable, the mythological aspect was so well knitted into the story and so well done that I couldn't stop reading. Every part of this book was written beautifully and every part of the story worked so well together. Angelini left me guessing throughout the whole book, wondering what was going to happen next.

I often find that books are pretty predictable, but not this one. I quickly fell in love with the characters and their lives and I cannot wait to get the next book and find out what happens next!

Rating: 4 Stars.
Favorite Character: Lucas

Happy Valentine's Day & A Giveaway! (US Only)

This graphic was designed by FreePik but edited by me to fit my content.

One winner will receive a paperback copy of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, a set of two Valentine's Day pens, a notepad, and a Valentine's Day bracelet.

US only, no cheating.

Entries will be verified.

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Review: Cake by Nicole Reed

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

Title: Cake
Author: Nicole Reed
Version Reviewed: Finished, eBook
Website: www.nicolereedbooks.com

I purchased this book myself.

GoodReads Synopsis:

Would you be willing to make a mess of your life to get exactly what you want?
Kylie Lord has known Trent Moss and Dray Savage since college. Trent, the smart and kind-hearted humanitarian has had her heart from the moment they met, but someone else always has his. Dray is an arrogant professional football player who happens to be Trent’s best friend and Kylie’s nemesis “with benefits.”
Five years after graduation, Kylie is commanding the world with a new image and a successful business; however, she lacks the one thing she wants and the one thing she can never have. That is, until one fateful night when Kylie decides to go after all of her forbidden fantasies and risk everything.

Two men, completely different and poles apart, but together they are her idea of perfection. One can only offer her tonight and the other forever, but can Kylie settle for just one man, or can she have her cake and eat it too?

Review:
*This review was originally written in 2014 but was never posted. I am unaware of any changes that may have been made to the book since writing this review.

Oh goodness, where do I even start? I hate writing reviews for books that I didn't really care for but, for the sake of fairness, it's a necessary evil.

What initially drew me in about this book was all the buzz that I saw going around for it on all the blogs. The cover was also very sexy and it sounded like something I would read and enjoy.

Unfortunately, it wasn't.  At all. The story itself is good and I feel like there is a lot of potential there. I didn't like the writing style and, throughout most of the book, it seemed really rushed.  To me, it also seemed poorly edited which is one of my pet peeves. If I'm going to buy a finished copy of a book, I want it to actually be finished and ready to read. I understand that mistakes are made and that sometimes things are overlooked and I'm okay with that. I'm not okay with paying money for something that reads like an ARC. 

There were a lot of times where I honestly wondered why I was still reading it. The main character was, in my opinion, annoying and I just felt like everyone, minus her aunt Leigh, were just jerks to one another on an almost constant basis. Honestly, if I lived in the world of Cake, I wouldn't have given any of them the time of day.  They either talk horribly to one another or are constantly screwing each other over.  And not in the way that I enjoy reading. ;)

The only good thing that I can really say is that, for some reason, I couldn't stop reading it. As much as I disliked it, I had to see it out until the end.

Rating: 2 Stars.
Favorite Character: Aunt Leigh.

Review & Giveaway: Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

Title: The Prophecy of Shadows
Author: Michelle Madow
Series: Elementals #1
Version Reviewed: eBook, ARC
Website: www.michellemadow.com

I received this book for free from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

GoodReads Synopsis:

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love!

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers—and, to her dismay, by Blake—the school’s notorious bad-boy.
Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.
When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect—it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.

Review:
I was super excited when I was approved for this title on Netgalley. I couldn't wait to begin reading the first in the Elementals series because Michelle Madow is an awesome writer and the synopsis for the book sounded amazing.  I do have to say that the beginning little blurb is one hundred percent correct. This is right up the Percy Jackson/Secret Circle alley and I could easily understand why fans of those series' would enjoy The Prophecy of Shadows.

The book begins with Nicole moving to a new town. With a new town comes a new school and her first day is anything but ordinary.  In her homeroom class she is very quickly introduced to the world of witches, gods, energy, elements, magic and power.  This one initial moment is what kicks off the rest of the book and once everything takes off, the pace doesn't slow down.

The Prophecy of Shadows is full of magic, action, and adventure.  There's something lurking around every corner and it's really interesting to go along wit Nicole as she learns more about who she is and discovers the powers and loyalty that she has found in her new Elemental companions.

With a little bit of love and teenage lust thrown in the mix, The Prophecy of Shadows definitely does not disappoint and I absolutely cannot wait to continue reading the series when the second book, The Blood of Hydra, is released. This is a truly awesome start to a great new series.

Rating: 4 Stars. 

Giveaway

Michelle is offering up a fabulous prize during her Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows Virtual Tour event. One (1) lucky winner will receive a Kindle Fire 7”! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:
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About the Author:

Michelle Madow has always loved writing stories, but the possibility of being an author used to feel
more like a dream than a reality. She didn’t share her stories with anyone until her junior year of college, when she signed up for an Intro to Creative Writing course. Her teacher and classmates read the first chapter of a book idea she had, and they loved it so much that they told her she had to finish the book so they could find out what happened next. By the end of the school year, Michelle finished that book, which would later be published as her first novel, Remembrance.


Michelle grew up in Baltimore, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she writes books for young adults. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle has toured across America to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

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Review: Midnight Mass by Sierra Simone

Cover Source: GoodReads.com

Title: Midnight Mass

Author: Sierra Simone

Series: Priest #1.5

Version Reviewed: Finished, eBook

Website: www.authorsierrasimone.com

I borrowed this book through Kindle Unlimited.

GoodReads Synopsis:

We are told that God will punish the wicked. That sinful men will reap what they sow. We are told to scourge our souls with prayer and pain to become clean once again.
Well, here I am. Wicked and sinful. Desperate to become clean…even though it feels so good to be dirty.
But even I never expected what came next.

Even I never expected my punishment to come so soon.

Review:
I knew as soon as I finished Priest that I had to read this book next. There was no doubt about it. I had to find out what was going to happen next.

Midnight Mass begins three years after the ending of Priest and we find Poppy and Tyler (formerly Father Bell) in a bit of a rut, which I actually found kind of refreshing.  This story line felt very real to me. Even the strongest couples find themselves having troubles occasionally and everyday life can even get in the way of two people that can't seem to get enough of one another.   I enjoyed Midnight Mass because it was real and represented a realistic marriage.

I love how we got to witness the progression of Tyler and how he was learning to deal with himself after leaving the Clergy. He wanted so badly to be Godly and to do exactly what God had planned for him but he sort of lost himself along the way.  It was nice to watch him figure himself out and learn how to love and trust himself again.

Priest was definitely about a taboo subject that brought a lot of heated moments to life and I am very pleased to say that Midnight Mass is just as steamy between the sheets... and pews.

I loved it and I cannot wait to read more from Sierra Simone.

Rating: 4 Stars.

Cover Reveal: #Rev by Cambria Hebert

#Rev
Cambria Hebert
(GearShark, #2)
Publication date: March 18th 2016
Genres: Contemporary Male/MaleRomance

Trent Mask puts the REV in revolution.
A line has been drawn.
Indie vs Pro
Here at GearShark, we’re straddling that line to bring you exclusive coverage of what some have dubbed the war of racing.
Every war starts with a spark and ends in revolution.
Drew Forrester was the spark,
but his second-in-command is the REVolution.
What does it take to stand brave in the face of opposition?
resolve of steel…
Stubborn will…
And a heart that refuses to give up.
It isn’t just the drivers in this war.
The revolution is about more than just racing.
It’s about shattering labels and taking risks.
So we asked Trent Mask: Truth or Dare?
His answer?
Both.
Check out the full feature article inside…

Add to Goodreads

—

Book 1:

Find book 1 on:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:
Cambria Hebert is an award winning, bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.
Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).
Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: The Hashtag Series, Text, Torch, and Tattoo.
Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.

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