Stacking the Shelves (Jan 26): The One With The LOTR Bag

Hello there!

How was your week? Can you believe January is almost over?

Here's the WTSL week in review:

• On Monday I reviewed Nothing Else Matters by Sara Boyd and was largely underwhelmed. 
• On Tuesday I welcomed another cover artist-Once Upon A Time Covers. This is turning out to be a lot of fun and there's one more coming next week.
• On Wednesday I was impatiently waiting to read Pandemonium and Requiem by Lauren Oliver
• Thursday was my stop on the Mourning Cloak blog tour. I was completely blown away by it, so you can read my gushing review and interview with the author Rabia Gale.
• Friday was hopping day. I found awesome new blogs, and discovered what books keep you up late.

Here's what I got this week:

FOR REVIEW:

 

PURCHASED:



I got the paperback from The Book Depository. It's still on sale for $4.78.

PRESENTS:
As always, Darling is knocking my socks off.

I'm a huge Tolkien fan and this bag is FANTASTIC! The print is actually purple (looks blue on the picture, but that's the best I could do. It also looks smaller than it really is). It's handmade, created by Naughty Bags. I recommend you check out what else she has in store. There are so many awesome bags with bookish prints, every bag can be completely customized and best of all, they're not expensive at all (a bag of this size costs around $20-25).

I'm thinking of giving away one for my fourth blogoversary in July. Is that something you guys would be interested in winning? Or do I better stick to gift cards?

Also in the picture, my son's first zombie book. He's obsessed with them lately.

That's it from me! What goodies did you receive this week?

Stacking the Shelves (Jan 19)

Hello, darlings!

I didn't participate last week because there was nothing to share (which is a good thing, I'm catching up on my reviews). This week I received some awesome books, so here they are: 

Stacking the Shelves (Jan 5)

Hi everyone!

How was your week? I hope the new year started off great for you.

I already broke one of my resolutions on the first day of 2013-no review books for a while. Eh, they sounded good and considering that it took me two days to finish the series, there are no grave consequences to my tbr pile. I'll review all four next week. 

Into The Dark parts 1-4 by Milly Silver

From Darling: 

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Purchased

Have I mentioned how much it irks me that each Black Dagger Brotherhood installment is split into two? This is part 1 of Lover Unbound (BDB #5) and it'll be a month before part 2 is out. Reading them in English would probably be faster, but since I already collected 9 books and they're cheap, I'll stick to it. Besides, I love the covers and the series looks good on my shelf :)

And it's Vishous. 

Vishous, ladies! 

Who is your favorite Brother?

Have a great week! 

Stacking the Shelves (Dec 29)

Hello, lovelies!

It's been so long since my last Stacking the Shelves post! First there was NaNoWriMo, then I was busy with my thesis and graduation. I missed the hopping and visiting more than any other aspect of blogging!

I sure I'll forget to add something since it's been that long, but here's what's new on my shelves:

Stacking the Shelves (Oct 20)

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews

I got a lot of stuff this week! Half of these are in Croatian, but I linked them to the original editions on Goodreads.

So without further ado, here we go:

BOUGHT:

Mr. Monster (John Cleaver #2) by Dan Wells (Croatian Edition)

I got the Croatian edition to match the first book. And then I saw that it was translated by the same person whose translation almost ruined Madame Tussaud for me. Fingers crossed that this translation is not such a disaster after all.

LIBRARY:

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Finished. Breezed through it in a few hours and I wasn't too crazy about it. And this is my favorite cover of this book!

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher 

Reading right now, and it's not one to rush through. Interesting and nicely written!

FOR REVIEW: 

Any Other Night by Anne Pfeffer

For a blog tour with RABT Blog Tours, my review on November 29th.

Saving You, Saving Me by Kailin Gow

Also for RABT Blog Tour, my review November 3rd. 

Winning The City Redux by Theodore Weesner

For a blog tour with Blue Dot Literary, my review October 29th.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (from St. Martin's Griffin via NetGalley)

I was hooked by the music references, but I have a feeling that there will be a loooot more to love about this book! 

WON

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This was on my wishlist forever, and now I won it in the Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop from Jess @ Gone With The Words.  

It gets better-I won another book in the same giveaway hop, A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle from Kayla @ Bibliophilia, Please. I'll show you that one when it arrives.

I never win anything in giveaways, and now I won two banned/ challenged books. Fate, ain't it? In your face, book banners! :D

Many thanks to Kayla, Jess, and all the publicists, authors and tour organizers for this great stack!

Now excuse me, I have a lot of reading to do, but first, let me see your hauls!

Stacking the Shelves Oct 13

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Hello, friends!

I'm so glad this week is finally over and get to relax, blog and read-at least Friday to Monday, when it's time for the final round of edits for my thesis (I swear this is the last! My supervisor said so!)

This week was really stressful, mostly due to this test I'm whining about here. Still I managed to read a lot...I finished all the books that I mentioned in my last post (though I gave up on one) and start some other books too. 

So, this week, I got:

(click on the covers to see them on Goodreads)

LIBRARY:

I was surprised to find Hex Hall in my local library yesterday. I had no idea that it was translated. 

I started The Graveyard Book last winter, but didn't finish it. So I got it from the library and finished last night.

KINDLE FREEBIES

(all these were downloaded in the last month, but I regularly forget to include them in my StS post)

No review books! Less pressure! Lots of books to chose from!

Have you read any of these? Which one should I read next?

Happy reading!

Stacking the Shelves Oct 6

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews where we show the books that we received, bought or borrowed in the last week. 

I didn't participate in StS last weekend because I was busy with Bloggiesta. Do you see the results? (Hint: I changed the entire design and couldn't be happier with it).

So, I also got some great books in the past two weeks. Here are the pretties (clicking on the cover will take you to the Goodreads page):

bought:

from author for review:

from NetGalley:

I finished In The After. It will be reviewed closer to release date (October 16th).

Pushing the Limits magically appeared on my NetGalley homepage. I did request it a long time ago, but never received a rejection or confirmation until this week. I thought it was already taken down after release date. Luckily for me, it wasn't :) I just finished it yesterday. Review coming next week.

I treated myself to City of Bones last week. I'm somewhere around page 150. It's okay so far. I adore Simon!

Aldo's Fantastical Move Palace is...odd, to put it mildly. There's something about the writing that just irks me too much, and I'm not sure if I'll finish it.

I started the Ghostwriter last night. I like the story so far. Gave me creeps on several occasions.

What's new on your shelves this week? Link me up :)

Stacking the Shelves (Sep 22)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews where we show the books (and book-related things) that we received for review, purchased, borrowed...in the last week.

Stacking the Shelves (Sep 15)

Many thanks to Tynga at Tynga's Reviews for hosting Stacking the Shelves, a weekly meme where we share the books (and other book related stuff) that we received.

Yep, I'm back to blogging this week.

No, I haven't graduated yet. I'm done with all my exams (yay!), I finished my thesis (yay again!) and now I'm waiting for my mentor to either say it's ok and give the green light so I can defend it, or to begin her red-inkshed all over it and demand changes. She is very busy these days, and all I can do is gnaw on my nails and hope for the best (which would mean minimum changes). I'm not a very patient person and I'm not good at waiting, but at least this period has given me some free time to read and blog.

(see how I'm deluding myself? I should be studying for a very important test which could lead to a dream job in one of the institutions of the European Union. I am studying, don't hate me if I take a break from fractions and statistics). 

Meanwhile, I'm catching up on my favorite blogs and typing up reviews. Most of the books that I've received since my last Stacking the Shelves  I've already read. Here are the latest additions to my shelf:

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

These two were presents from my darling. I loved Across the Universe, and needless to say, I frexing love A Million Suns. Can't wait for Shades of Earth!
Beautiful Creatures left me with mixed feelings. I'm still one the positive side (Lena and Ethan are so cute together), but some things gave me the roll-eyes syndrom.

The Second Empress by Michelle Moran

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

I received The Second Empress from Crown Publishing (many thanks-and thanks to Michelle for making it happen!) There was a book fair in my small town these days where I found The Heretic Queen (the Croatian edition). That was a lucky find, I couldn't find it anywhere where it was previously sold. Michelle has left a great impression with Cleopatra's Daughter. The Second Empress is delightful, too, and right now I'm reading The Heretic Queen, and like it a lot.
My darling also bought me Moran's Madame Tussaud, but I haven't picked it up yet so it's not in the picture. What can I say, I love Michelle's books, and I love my darling who knows how to make this bookworm happy.

That's it from me! What awesome stuff did you get?

Stacking the Shelves-my first disastrous vlog

There, I DID IT! My first vlog, which is also going to be the last one. I have no idea what happened with the sound, it was just fine until it was uploaded to YouTube. Now you can barely hear anything unless you have your earphones on. Gah. I don't have time to record it again, so all the books are listed below with links to Goodreads.

REVIEW:

In Too Deep by Portia Da Costa (from Black Lace)

GIFT:

Gilded Age by Claire McMillan from my darling

Cicada signed paperback & T-shirt from Belle Whittington

BORROWED:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

The Glass Books of The Dream Eaters by GW Dahlquist

BOUGHT:

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Stacking the Shelves-the five weeks haul

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's reviews.

July so far is pretty busy with guests in the house and with the thesis that I intend to finish in the next couple of weeks. I did post a few reviews, but I didn't participate in memes because I didn't have time to visit around much. In this Stacking the Shelves edition I tried to compile everything bookish that arrived at my place in the last five weeks. Hope I don't forget something!

BOUGHT:

znanje.hr

(Part 2 of Lover Awakened in the English edition) The rest of the series is coming in winter first so I'm taking a break from the Brotherhood. Lover Awakened is my favorite so far. But I say that for every next in the series. 

Goodreads

Across the Universe by Beth Revis (paperback)

I plain adored this one, reviewed it and gave it five stars.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (paperback, Croatian edition)

I've read Shiver a while ago, received Linger as a present (haven't read it yet), and now I have the complete series. I'll probably have to reread Shiver as well. Been too long.

entangledpublishing.com

Obsidian by JL Armentrout (for Kindle)

I bought this hiiiiighly anticipated read two days ago. Finished it yesterday and was disappointed (yes, I know I'm in the minority). Review will be up these days, once I gather my thoughts. 

FOR REVIEW:

Goodreads

The Beach Holiday by Anita Hughes (finished copy, paperback)

from Ebury Press

Read, reviewed, just not posted yet. An okay pool/beach book.

Goodreads

Wanted: Dead or Undead by Angela Scott (finished copy, paperback, signed) from the author

This was on my radar for quite a while. I've been a follower of Angela's blog for more than two years now and watched the process of getting this book published. Angela asked if anyone wanted to give a home to a batch of books damaged in the mail. I got one (on my birthday!) The copy I received is in near perfect condition, save for the lower right corner being a bit curved. But I received ARCs in worse state than that.

And I finished this one too. It's definitely different and I liked it very much. Will be reviewed shortly.

Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles #1) by Julia Crane (ebook)

I was one of the participants in the blog tour. I hosted an interview and wasn't required to review Coexist, but I'll probably read it and review soon. Julia was extra sweet, surprising us all by sending all participants Amazon gift cards. Many thanks!

BORROWED:

The Road by Cormac McCarthy. While I did adore some aspects of the book, the ending threw me off a bit. But I'd still highly recommend it if you're looking for a chilling post-apocalyptic novel. 

OTHER GOODIES:

You know how much I loved Cicada by Belle Whittington? Belle is a darling. We're always saying hi on Facebook or messaging back and forth about everything. She was holding a contest for signed Cicada bookmarks on her FB page, and asked if I would like to have some. Here are the pretties with a special appearance by Holley Shiftwell:

Sorry for the bad pic. I'd blame it on the camera, but it's actually my photography skills that don't extend further than "Which button do I have to press?"

So, that's it from me. I can't wait to see what you got!