Showcase Sunday (45) - It's Been 84 Years...

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits, and Tea, where we showcase what books we've gotten over the course of the week, whether it be bought, received from the library, from the publishers for review, etc. 

Fact: the last time either of us three has done a haul on this blog is January. I always tell myself I'll get around to doing one, but since the majority of my ARCs are usually of the e- variety, I never really get around to it. HOWEVER, this week I get a very large amount of review copies from publishers in the mail (absolutely my biggest week ever so far), and am expecting a few more packages next week, so perhaps this will get me back in the swing of things. But probably not. I'm just aspiring to not be lazy tonight, and because of that you get a rundown of this week's unusually large haul. Let's break it down. (Also keep in mind a few things: I forgot about this as usual; it's now extremely late as I am writing this; and I am exhausted, so this may/probably will be incoherent. And I plan on getting this done soon so I can collapse into pillows.)

Showcase Sunday (44): The One with All of Us

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits, and Tea, where we showcase what books we've gotten over the course of the week, whether it be bought, received from the library, from the publishers for review, etc. 

Alternate titles: The One in Which I Go Overboard Just a Little; The One Where Mel Proves Why Australia is Awesome; The One Where Ellis Finally Gets Pivot Point. (Also: this post is really long. I was going to name this The Really Long One but come on, that's just asking for penis jokes from you guys in the comments.)

Showcase Sunday - Yeah, I'm Too Lazy for This

Hey, so, as you may or may not have already noticed, a Showcase Sunday hasn't been posted in quite a while (months). Hence the name of this post, because no, I am absolutely not posting every single book I received since the last Showcase Sunday post. One, because I'm far too lazy for that (as you all should know by now), and two, because it's 1 AM on Saturday, and I'm getting to this just now because I'd forgotten, since I started Sherlock. So instead, here are the books I've received in the past two weeks, more or less. And since Mel just got home from China and I want her to have fun at home and relax, this will just be my haul for the past two weeks. Okay, enough introduction. Sorry. Let's go. 

Showcase Sunday (42)

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits, and Tea, where we showcase what books we've gotten over the course of the week, whether it be bought, received from the library, from the publishers for review, etc.

For Review:

Replica: I have heard pretty mixed to negative things about this one, but I'm definitely willing to give it a shot, considering I do tend to like dystopians and haven't read one in quite a while. Thanks, Tor!

Kinslayer: Um, yeah. I'm definitely excited for this one. While Stormdancer took me a while to get into, once I got into it it was gorgeous and awesome. And now that I have a physical ARC of this one I can flip back to the glossary and the list of characters in the front, which I couldn't really do with Stormdancer with my e-galley last year. Thanks, Thomas Dunne Books!

Extremities: I already read this one, and honestly, I wasn't a fan at all. There's a note/warning on the back saying that this book is strictly not for children, so I got excited thinking it would be horrifying and for adults. Noooope. Review to come on the blog pretty soon. 1.5 stars for this one. But thanks, Tor!

White Space: The Matrix meets Inkheart? Um, YEAH. Enough said. Thanks, Egmont!

The Brokenhearted: So I heard really bad things about this one but I'm far too curious to not give it a chance, and if I hate it, I'll DNF it since I know it won't get better. Thanks, HarperTeen!

Ask Again Later: This sounds like Pivot Point but with DATES, which is all I really need to know about this book. Thanks, HarperTeen!

These Broken Stars: I was initially unsure about this one because I wasn't a fan of co-author Meagan Spooner's Skylark, but then the reviews started coming in from trusted friends and I knew I had to have this one. Can't wait to start it! Thanks, Disney Hyperion!

Charming: From what I know I'm pretty sure this is about a prince from a line of dragon slayers, which sounds pretty awesome to me. Thanks, Orbit!

What did you get this week? Let me know in the comments, or leave a link to your haul, and I'll check it out as soon as possible!

Showcase Sunday (41): *hyperventilates*

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits, and Tea, where we showcase what books we've gotten over the course of the week, whether it be bought, received from the library, from the publishers for review, etc.

For Review:

Panic by Lauren Oliver [Coverless]

All That Glows: I haven't read very many stories of the Fae, but I have liked what I've read, so I'm looking forward to this one! Also, Fae with British history influences? Count me in! (Though the last sentence of the synopsis on Goodreads scares me a lot--"For despite all her powers, Emrys has discovered a force that burns brighter than magic: love." Whyyyyy? 

Elusion: I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE. It sounds like what Under the Never Sky would be if it focused more on life inside the pods, and that just sounds so fascinating and awesome. AND THE COVER. 

Perfect Lies: Okay, so I intensely disliked Mind Games. But curiosity got the best of me with this one when I saw it downloadable, and I snatched it. I also started it immediately with a "let's-get-this-over-with" mindset and honestly, it's really not that bad. Not bad at all, actually. I wouldn't say I like it so far just yet, but what I can say is that it is definitely an improvement upon Mind Games. Maybe this one was written in ten days as opposed to Mind Game's nine. 

Dear Killer: This is about a serial killer, and the end of the synopsis says it's a psychological thriller, so YES PLEASE.

House of Ivy & Sorrow: I didn't like Transparent all too much. But I really, really like witches. So I'm giving Natalie Whipple a second shot and am going into this one with a good amount of anticipation. WITCHES!

Her Dark Curiosity: !!!!!!!!!! I loved The Madman's Daughter, and after the heartbreakingly awful cliffhanger it ended on, Her Dark Curiosity easily became one of my most highly anticipated 2014 releases. SO EXCITED. Fingers crossed it doesn't end on another heartbreaking and awful cliffhanger.

Fake ID: This is about...a criminal teen? I don't know much about it, honestly. I just skimmed the synopsis. From what I've gathered it sounds interesting, the title intrigues me, and the last sentence about the killer possibly being the MC's father sounds awesome, so I have high hopes for this one!

Avalon: I liked Mindee Arnett's debut The Nightmare Affair well enough, and have kept an open mind towards reading her other novels, and this sounds awesome awesome awesome. Spaceships! Teenage mercenaries! JOSS WHEDON IS IN THE SYNOPSIS!

Cruel Beauty: Beauty and the Beast? Um yes please. 

The Promise of Amazing: I have a feeling this one will be either incredibly adorable or insufferably cheesy and cliché, but I guess I'll have to find out which one it is once I read it!

No One Else Can Have You: This sounds like SO. MUCH. FUN. Seriously. A murder mystery? And in a small town? Want. Want want want. 

Not A Drop To Drink: I've been dying to read this one for a while, and I'm so excited to finally be able to get around to it. I've been meaning to read an awesome and original dystopian novel lately, and this sounds like just that. (And it's got awesome reviews to back it up.)

Uninvited: A gene that classifies you as a murderer? The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report? Now that just sounds too good to pass up. 

Chasing Shadows: Ah, a good old-fashioned revenge story dealing with grief and insanity. I've been craving one of those since Premeditated, so I can't wait to get to this. I hope it whets my revenge story appetite!

Pieces of Me: I'll be honest, I wasn't too sure about this one at first. It sounded a bit too wacky and the synopsis alone confused me, but I figured I would at least give it a shot, and if it is as weird and confusing as the synopsis initially suggested, I'll abandon it. 

Panic: I wasn't a huge fan of Delirium, but I loved her prose in it, and the main downfall for Delirium was my lack of connection to the plot, characters, and I found the pacing to be too slow, but I hope those won't be issues with Panic. Based on the synopsis, I think it's safe to say a lack of connection with the plot won't be an issue for me, nor will slow pacing, but I hope I can connect to the characters.

HUGE thank you to HarperTeen for all the awesome titles!

What did you get this week? Let me know in the comments, or leave a link to your haul, and I'll check it out as soon as possible!

Showcase Sunday (40): "I Love HarperTeen" Edition

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits, and Tea, where we showcase what books we've gotten over the course of the week, whether it be bought, received from the library, from the publishers for review, etc.

For Review:

          

Bought:

How to Love: I am so excited to start this one. I've been in the mood for contemporaries lately, and this one has gotten rave reviews from friends of mine so far, and from the synopsis, I'm pretty sure it focuses on a mother/daughter relationship, so I'm looking forward to hopefully having my heart stomped on while reading this book. Thanks, Balzer + Bray!

The Beginning of Everything: This is another contemporary I got this week that has gotten rave reviews from friends of mine! I'm not exactly sure what it's about, but Christina says it's witty, and the author told me it has a lot of puns, and the original title (Severed Heads, Broken Hearts) intrigues me, so I think I'll love this one quite a bit. Thanks, Katherine Tegen Books!

Being Sloane Jacobs: I wouldn't normally be interested in this one, but I've heard great things about Lauren Morill's Meant to Be, so I hope this one is as fun as I've heard that one is. Thanks, Delacorte!

Once We Were: !!!!! I loved What's Left of Me, so words can't describe how excited I am for this one. I'm thinking of reading it while I'm waiting at the airport/on the plane on Tuesday. Can't wait! Thanks, HarperCollins!

The Burning Sky: I honestly don't know much about this one, but I've heard really good things, and I think it's about an elixir that goes wrong and screws everything up (though I could be completely wrong and am too lazy to actually check for myself and read the synopsis), so I look forward to it. Fantasy isn't usually my genre, but I've read some really good ones this year. Here's to hoping The Burning Sky joins those good ones. Thanks, Balzer + Bray!

Frostbite: I wasn't the hugest fan of Vampire Academy, but I fully intend to continue the series, and have heard that it gets much better after the second book, so I hope I like this one more than I did the first! 

What did you get this week? Let me know in the comments, or leave a link to your haul, and I'll check it out as soon as possible!

Showcase Sunday (39): The Small To Not So Small

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits, and Tea, where we showcase what books we've gotten over the course of the week, whether it be bought, received from the library, from the publishers for review, etc.

As you may have noticed from the title, this week's haul was going to be small. But then Blythe, Kate and myself decided to combine our haul which then turned out to be not so small.

For Review:

Bought:

Won:

Thanks Shelleyrae!

Solstice: (Received by Blythe) I'm looking forward to reading Solstice because the Greek Mythology coupled with a dystopian setting intrigues me, but the mixed reviews and love triangle intimidate me.  Thanks Tor Teen!

Fairytales for Wilde Girls: (Received by Melanie) This seems to be a light and cute read. And the cover just makes me go all crazy.

Stung: (Received by Melanie) The idea of the novel is ingenious, nothing like I've ever heard of. Yet when I read this recently, the world building and characterisation turned out to be greatly disappointing. And the unfortunate, romance. What is with romance these days? Bleh. Thanks Bloomsbury Australia!

Banish: (Received by Melanie) Banish, to be completely honest, sounds crazy. Alyssa's mom is psychotic and her ex-boyfriend committed suicide. WUT. But it's another Aussie contemporary so I'm hoping it'll turn out to be something worthwile. Thanks Harlequin Australia!

Unseen: (Received by Kate) I am VERY excited about this book. It's the seventh in a crime series set in the part of Georgia where I grew up. Book six was genuinely terrible, but the first five were absolutely amazing.

Parasite: (Received by Kate) (I THINK I got this this week?) Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire is another of my absolute favorite authors, so this was an exciting ARC to get.

False Sight: (Received by Kate) This is the sequel to a book I REALLY enjoyed. I know a lot of bloggers have a problem with the author because he once reacted negatively to a negative review of a book written by a friend of his, but he was SUPER embarrassed about it and I think he handled himself well afterwards.

Down London Road: (Received by Kate) This is a garbage, soapy romance novel. I'm very excited about reading something that isn't SUPPOSED to be very good.

Tarnish: (Received by Kate) I need to read the book that came before it, first. I like historical fiction, so we'll see.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane: (Received by Kate) He's one of my top five favorite authors of all time, so I'm pretty pumped about this.

Eleanor & Park: (Received by Kate) YA Romance, great author: obviously I'm psyched about this one.

Charm & Strange: (Received by Kate) I've heard great things about this from a lot of people (Blythe gave it, what five stars?), so I've been wanting to read it for a while.

Another Little Piece: (Received by Kate) This is another one I've been meaning to buy since I saw all the positive reviews on Goodreads.

Unnatural Creatures: (Received by Kate) I bought this for my little sister because it contains works by some of my favorite writers, but there are a few stories I haven't read in it, so I'm gonna check it out first.

Fury: (Received by Kate) This book is tough to get in the US. My friend Wendy let me borrow it so I don't have to pay a million dollars to get it shipped here.

The Reapers at the Angels: (Received by Kate) Also loaned to me by Wendy. I love creepy stuff, so this is high on my TBR list.

Proxy: (Received by Kate) My review of this went up on Thursday, but since I bought it on Wednesday, I guess it still counts.

Wildlife: (Received by Melanie) This is an Aussie contemporary which I'm uber excited for. I love books that deal with deep or difficult issues as it's always fascinating to see how the author tackles it. After seeing some convincing reviews, this one is on my high TBR. Thanks Shelleyrae!

What did you get this week? Let us know in the comments, or leave a link to your haul, and we'll check it out as soon as possible!

Showcase Sunday (38): The One With Sequels

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits, and Tea, where we showcase what books we've gotten over the course of the week, whether it be from a book store, bought for your eReader, received from the library, or from the publishers for review, etc.

For Review:

 

Taste Test: Okay, so if you take Big Brother and MasterChef (two of my absolute favorite shows every), and you put them in a room and...science happens...the outcome would be Taste Test. I am not joking when I say that Taste Test is the lovechild of Big Brother and MasterChef, which means I absolutely love it so far. (Did I mention how fun it is? Because it is SO. MUCH. FUN.) Thanks, Walker Children's! 

The Mirk and Midnight Hour: So this is book 1/3 for the title of this post, meaning it's a sequel. A sequel to a book that hasn't been received quite well amongst good friends of mine, but granted that it's a companion novel set in the same world and not a direct sequel, and that it's a retelling of Tam Lin, I'm all in. Thanks, Random House!

Hereafter: Did I mention that all three of the sequels I got this week are for books whose predecessors I haven't read? (Oops? Also, yes, I might be weird to use 'whose' when concerning books, but shhh.) Anyway, I've heard that Shadowlands is really fun, and that this sequel is really creepy, so I jumped the gun and requested it. It's not that bad when you wholeheartedly plan to eventually read the first book! Shush! Thanks, Disney-Hyperion. 

Never Fade: Okay, now I have a good reason for requesting this one having not read The Darkest Minds, and that's because apparently The Darkest Minds ends in some monster cliffhanger and, while I have been dying to read it since it was published, I promised myself I would only read it when the sequel is released, or if I get an ARC of the sequel. And, now that I have an ARC of the sequel, I'm fully prepared to read The Darkest Minds! (But perhaps not emotionally prepared. Seriously, I've heard that this cliffhanger is a life-ruiner.) 

What did you get this week? Let me know in the comments, or leave a link to your haul, and I'll check it out as soon as possible!