TBR Book Tag

I was tagged by Bogdana at Bogdana the Booknerd for this tag and it look like a lot of fun so I thought I would give it a try.  Bogdana has a wonderful blog and runs a Perpetual YA Bookworms group on Goodreads so check her out!

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?
I track everything I read on Goodreads, but am not real good at tracking TBRs.  I have a basket at home which holds all my library books, and a shelf for any physical reviews copies I receive.  I have been trying to use a planner more so I log when digital galleys from Netgalley and Edelweiss are released so I can look at a glance and see what I should be reading.  Also, I find that doing monthly TBR posts on my blog helps me prioritize some.

Is your TBR mostly print or ebooks?
Both.  I enjoy reading in both forms but go through periods where I am reading one more than the other.  Lately I have been accumulating more physical books, but reading more ebooks.  I am also bad about adding freebies to my kindle, so the list on it is constantly growing.

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?
I try to be mindful of what is set for release, or what is due at the library soon, but every once in a while, I just pick up something at random - it helps me keep my sanity.  I guess you could say I am a mood reader, but try to pick from what needs to be read in a timely manner which still fits my mood at the same time.

A book that's been on your TBR list the longest?
Bloodshot by Cherie Priest.  This came out in January 2011 and I still haven't read it yet!

A book on your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover.
Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan...see?

A book you recently added to your TBR.
Chapelwood by Cherie Priest - I loved Maplecroft.

A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading.
Probably right now it's The Drafter by Kim Harrison.  I bet I will read it some day, but I read the prequel novella and didn't care for it too much and it will do me no good until I get over losing Ivy, Rachel and Jenks from her Hollows series.

A book on your TBR that everyone has read but you.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.  It's everywhere!

A book on your TBR that you are dying to read.
It's a tie between NOS4A2 by Joe Hill and The Martian by Andy Weir.

An unpublished book on your TBR that you are excited for.
Marked in Flesh (The Others #4) by Anne Bishop.

A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you.
Don't really have an answer for this one.  Probably is Throne of Glass.

How many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf? 
I plead the 5th.  There are a ton.  But in honestly, for years my TBR shelf and wishlist have been the same thing and I am bad about just adding a book when I see it so I don't forget about it later, so it isn't a TBR in its truest form.

My nominations:

Chucklesthescot from Chuckles Book Cave.  I don't know if she will want to do it, but I love her blog!

Blood and Salt - A Wonderful October Read!

TITLE: Blood and Salt
AUTHOR: Kim Liggett
PUBLISHER: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
PUBLISHING DATE: September 22, 2015

FROM GOODREADS:  Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.

“When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”

These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.

Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.

As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.

MY THOUGHTS:  After having given this book some thought, I have decided to go with a 4 paw rating for a few reasons. I did go back and forth while reading it, and may have even entered "2 paw" territory for 20-30 pages, but overall, I think this is a worthy debut novel.

This book centers around Ash and her twin Rhys, with a few creepy kids from the hidden utopia of Quivira thrown in for good measure. I have to admit that I really enjoy Rhys. While kind of a wimp, he was definitely the voice of reason compared to whimsical "I just met Dane and now I love him" Ash. In addition, Beth is truly wonderful and I really hope there is lots more of her in future installments. The book is written in present time, but while in Quivira, you definitely realize how much in the past the inhabitants are still living. Ash has flashbacks/visions throughout the book which helps bring to light Quivira's history and how Ash and her family play an important role in its future. I loved the horror aspect of this book and that's probably what really bumped me up to 4 starts. Come on, a hidden community in the middle of a cornfield, and that's not even the creepiest part about the corn (can't spoil anyone).

My biggest problem with the book was the insta-love between Ash and Dane. While reading it, I kept waiting for the big historical connection to explain the sudden attraction, but it never did quite deliver. I will say there are some twists and turns at the end which made this troupe more tolerable, but I really enjoyed the slow pacing of the relationship between Rhys and Beth better.

Overall, this is a really solid debut by an author definitely on my watch list. Her website indicates more horror books to be released in the future and I can't wait to see what she comes up with. Not to mention there is a sequel for Blood and Salt in the works and I will be picking it up as soon as it is released. I enjoyed this book and am glad to say it pleasantly surprised me.

I received my copy from Penguin First to Read.

RATING: 4 PAWS

I read this as part of my R.I.P challenge.  It would be perfect for a scary, Halloween read.

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is weekly meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming anticipated releases.  Here is what I am most waiting for this week:







**************************************************************************************************** 

The King Slayer (The Witch Hunter #2) - June 2016

There is no real description yet, and I still need to read the first one, but LOOK AT THAT COVER!  Still a long wait but I wanted to show something really pretty this week.  What are you waiting for?

Top 10 Tuesday - Books I HAD to buy...but are STILL sitting in my TBR bookshelf!

This top 10 weekly meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and can be found HERE.  Each week they focus on lists which cover various topics related to books and reading.  This week is a free choice, and since I haven't been participating in this meme too long, I looked at some of the older choices and picked one I missed out on.  So this week I am focusing on books I HAD to buy, but basically still haven't read.

I remember rushing out on my lunch hour the day this was released and getting caught in a HUGE thunderstorm...and nope, still haven't read it.

So of course, I had to buy this one as well.  At least I waited a week or so and there was no storm involved in the purchase.

Let's keep it in the family, but at least I pre ordered this one so at least no travel was involved.

Even though it's been out forever, last year I just HAD to have this so I bought it at a local, expensive bookstore, and now look at it from time to time.

Loved the cover and had to own it.  I have heard mixed reviews and maybe someday I will decide for myself.

Bought this on a whim when it was released so the hardcover has been sitting on my shelf for at least 4 years now.

I LOVE W. Bruce Cameron but I know this book will make me cry. 

Everyone has been raving about this series so I just had to order the first one last year, but nope, never even started.

In my defense, this has only been out a month or so, but I just know it will be a while before I get to it.

So have you seen this giant brick of a book?  At least it looks nice on my shelf (sitting right beside the still unread compendium #2).









Have you read any of these and should I dust any off and give them a chance anytime soon?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  Thanks for visiting!

September is for Sequels - WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?????

TITLE: After Dead - What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse
AUTHOR: Charlaine Harris
PUBLISHER: Ace
PUBLISHING DATE: October 29, 2013

FROM GOODREADS: Dead Ever After marked the end of the Sookie Stackhouse novels—a series that garnered millions of fans and spawned the hit HBO television show True Blood. It also stoked a hunger that will never die…a hunger to know what happened next.

With characters arranged alphabetically—from the Ancient Pythoness to Bethany Zanelli—bestselling author Charlaine Harris takes fans into the future of their favorite residents of Bon Temps and environs. You’ll learn how Michele and Jason’s marriage fared, what happened to Sookie’s cousin Hunter, and whether Tara and JB’s twins grew up to be solid citizens.

This coda provides the answers to your lingering questions—including details of Sookie’s own happily-ever-after…

The book will feature extensive interior art by acclaimed Sookie artist Lisa Desimini, including a Sookieverse Alphabet, color endpapers, and several full-page black and white interior illustrations.

MY THOUGHTS: 
As I was reading this book, my first thought was "Why?" However, I wanted to finish the ENTIRE series, and it does fall into my September is for Sequels challenge, so that was quickly answered. My next question though was not as easily resolved - "Who are most of these people?" Maybe Harris had a need to have closure in her head, or maybe she just wanted to capitalize on another book, and hey, it's her prerogative, but I could have went the rest of my life without knowing what happened to 90% of the people in this book - maybe even 95%. I really still don't know, and don't care, who most of them were.

That being said, this was a quick read and enough people had warned me about it that I just grabbed it from my library's Overdrive system. I pretty much finished it an a half an hour so it wasn't a big time waste. I am glad to know what happened to Sookie, Sam, Bill and Pam, but unless you are a die-hard fan, I can't see much other use for this book. Now, on to the book of short stories and I can put Sookie to rest forever. 

RATING: 2 Paws 


I have now completed 3 sequels this month and only need to finish one more to complete my challenge -
GO ME!!!!

Stacking the Shelves (32)

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves or TBR piles, may it be physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in a physical store, online, books you borrow from the library or friends, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks! The original meme was started over at Tynga's Reviews. I keep thinking I need a slow week or two but then again, there are worse habits right?  (At least that is what I keep telling myself).  Anyway, here we go!

On the ARC front, I received a couple which I am thrilled to have and read soon!


Never Broken: Jewel - I just posted this as my W.O.W. this week and then yesterday evening, received approval from Netgalley and Penguin.  It comes out next Tuesday and I am thrilled to have it.  I remember my husband introducing me to Jewel when we were dating and I have loved her ever since.
Wither: Amy Miles - Tell me that cover doesn't look out of place with the other 3?  This one is already out and I want to thank Red Coat PR.
The Teachings of Shirelle - Live Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead: Douglas Green -  First of all, those who know me...a dog.  Enough said.  But I couldn't pass off that title.  Smith Publishing is releasing this one November 17, 2015.
Pale Moon Walking: Paula Altenburg- Entangled Teen releases this on September 28, 2015. 

 
And I entered the 1-click danger zone again this week - and even paid full price for one, but in my defense, I have been waiting on it forever. 


Chapelwood (The Borden Dispatches #2): Cherie Priest - I loved the first book so much that I broke down and finally paid $9.99 to get this on my Kindle - almost unheard of.  But I do plan on reading it toward the end of the month so.....
Witches of Lychford: Paul Cornell - I saw this reviewed on someone's blog as part of R.I.P. and it sounded great so I grabbed it.  It was only $2.99 and I believe it's a novella - albeit a longer one.
Blood Call : Lilith Saintcrow - This was a daily deal last week and I had it on my watch list so I couldn't resist.
Strange Afterlives: A. Lee Martinez.  This is an anthology from a lot of great writers, but when I saw A. Lee Martinez's name and $1.99, I entered the 1-click zone.  I also fell in love with the cover.

So what did you get this week?  Let me know where I can see your stack so I can ease my guilt.

I hauled too many books again!!!!

 

 

September is for Sequels - Sookie Stackhouse Edition

So one of my goals this month has been to finish the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris.  Surprisingly enough I actually planned on only reading #12, but liked it so much, I moved right on to #13.  Now I just want to read After Dead and A Touch of Dead and I will have successfully knocked off the entire series.  I wanted to share my thoughts, so here we go!

TITLE: Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12)
AUTHOR: Charlaine Harris
PUBLISHER: Ace Books
PUBLISHING DATE: May 1, 2012

FROM GOODREADS: Growing up with telepathic abilities, Sookie Stackhouse realized early on that there are things she'd rather not know. An now that she's an adult, she also realizes that some things she knows about, she'd rather not see--like Eric Northman feeding off another woman. A younger one.

There's a thing or two she'd like to say about that, but she has to keep quiet--Felipe de Castro, the vampire king of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), is in town. It's the worst possible time for a human body to show up in Eric's front yard--especially the body of the woman whose blood he just drank.

Now it's up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl's fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who's set out to make Sookie's world come crashing down.

MY THOUGHTS: 
I haven't read a Sookie Stackhouse novel in many years, and admit I only picked this up as part of a "September is for Sequels" challenge I am doing on my blog. I really expected to dislike this book as I felt the series had went on to long, but overall, I was pleasantly surprised. Perhaps because I hated the last season of True Blood so much, I found this book rather refreshing. I am not a huge Eric fan, and I really never cared much for Bill, so the fact there there was little of both in this book didn't bother me like other readers. I also did not find Sookie as annoying as I usually do. I can tell by Harris' writing that the series is winding down and she is trying to wrap up a few dead ends. I won't go too much in depth because this is the 12th book so much I what I could say would be spoilers. Let me just say I immediately stated #13 when I finished and am now determined to vanquish this series from my TBR once and for all!

RATING: 4 PAWS

TITLE: Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse #13)
AUTHOR: Charlaine Harris
PUBLISHER: Ace Books
PUBLISHING DATE: May 7, 2013

FROM GOODREADS: Sookie Stackhouse finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clearcut. He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.

Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime.

But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough...

MY THOUGHTS:  As I mentioned when I wrapped up Deadlocked a few days ago, I waited forever to finish this series. And honestly, I always thought I would hate it, especially after seeing so many criticisms about the last book, but you know what, I liked both Deadlocked and Dead Ever After and am glad I finally finished them.

Perhaps I liked them so much because I waited so long and there was a nice break for me. I have always said and still believe the series went on too long. However, I found both #12 and #13 satisfying. I know it's not a popular opinion, but I feel Sookie ended up with the right person, and I believe Eric showed his true colors, and didn't all of a sudden get weak.

I think I may pick up the wrap up, After Dead, before the month is out, and then I can feel like I at least accomplished one of my goals this year. 

MY RATING: 4 PAWS 

So I know a lot of people hated the way these books ended, but I am in the minority.  In fact, you could say I got the ending I always wanted.  Well, now that I think about it, I got the ending I wanted for True Blood, but oh well, I'll take it wherever I can!