In My Mailbox (94) / Stacking The Shelves (15)

Last week was pretty much my lucky/work ideal sort of week, I had to guest speak in some classes and of course between the classes there are about 3 hours which yes, I could go back to the office for an hour but it’s definitely not worth it, SO I basically got 3 hours each day of paid reading time and lol I whipped through 6 books last week. Isn’t that awesome? I have one more day of this, on Monday and then an easy sort of week to catch up on office things before my vacation which is 10 whole days of bliss! Family and friends and books and presents, legit I cannot wait. OH OH and I have been working out every single day — either running or doing videos on youtube (search Blogilates, you won’t regret it). So, that’s my week in a nutshell. How did your week go? I’d love to know in the comments.

Books, The Diviners, Les Miserables

For Review:

Taking Chances by Molly McAdams (Edelweiss) – You guys! I used Edelweiss for the first time. Granted, this was one of those widgets that the publisher emails you and you are automatically accepted. Anyways, the pitch was all ‘Molly McAdams is an awesome New Adult voice’ and I’m like frick yeah NEW ADULT BOOKS GIVE THEM ALL TO ME and so I bit the bullet and learned Edelweiss. I’m thinking about starting Taking Chances this week because after The Sea Of Tranquility, I’m jonesing for more of these sorts of books.

Lies That Bind by Lisa and Laura Roecker (Netgalley) – So, I was on the vlog tour for this book but tragedy, I haven’t read it yet. BUT THEN MAGICALLY my Netgalley request FINALLY went through and was approved, so yay! Yay approved book. I do plan on reading this book like maybe today while I’m on the exercise bike.

The Believing Game by Eireann Corrigan (Unsolicited) – I’ve read one book by Eireann Corrigan, You Remind Me Of You in my pre-blogging days I think. I didn’t really love it, but The Believing Game sounds totally legit and kind of scary which I am occasionally in the mood for, so I’ll definitely be reading this one.

Angelfire and Wings of The Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton (SECRET PROJECT) – Okay, I’ve read both of these and loved both and there’s a secret THING coming up and MY LIPS ARE SEALED SO DON’T ASK BECAUSE I WON’T TELL UNTIL IT IS THAT TIME. <3

Garden Princess by Kristin Kladstrup (Requested Review Copy) – HECK YES HORTICULTURAL MIDDLE GRADE MAGIC. I will always, always say yes to fantasies that involve gardening even though I have no patience for planting things myself.

Yaqui Delgado Wants To Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina (Requested Review Copy) – Contemporary book about bullying and identity? Sign me up.

Jane Austen Goes To Hollywood by Abby McDonald (Requested Review Copy) – A contemporary version of Sense And Sensibility by the author of Boys, Bears And A Serious Pair Of Hiking Boots, I am in.

Out Of This Place by Emma Cameron (Requested Review Copy) – This is one of those magical Australian contemporary books that’s written in verse with alternating POVs, so pretty much I love it based on principle. I cannot wait to read the heck out of this book.

Plague In The Mirror by Deborah Noyes (Requested Review Copy) – So the premise is this girl goes back in time because she has a doppelganger and AHHH there’s the Black Death and with my obsession I NEEDED THIS BOOK.

Zebra Forest by Adina Rishe Gewirtz (Requested Review Copy) – This is a middle grade that has to do with family secrets and lies and hostages, and it’s a debut and I love the cover plus, it’s Candlewick so you know it’s going to be good stylistically.

Personal Effects by EM Kokie audiobook (SURPRISE COPY) – Okay, so the wonderful amazing, super awesome publicist threw this in the box because she’s like I think you’ll like this audiobook and I’m like EEEEP when I opened it because it is narrated by Nick Podehl and he is the best EVER and OH MY GOD I will listen to this as soon as I finish listening to reached and I just got really super excited you guys. PLUS Kelly at Stacked recommended this on Twitter like a few days ago and I only remember because I starred her tweet of recommendations hahaha.

Purchased:

From Ashes by Molly McAdams – I got the press release and this was only like $2.99 on Kindle which is not a lot to pay for guilt-free reading that is not time sensitive. PLUS YAY NEW ADULT!

Genesis by Bernard Beckett – Short Kindle dystopia, and it was a daily deal. There was zero thought on my end before purchasing.

Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer – Another Kindle Daily Deal, plus I get that some of this book is problematic, but honestly when I see cheap Heyer, I snap it up on principle.

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout (Audible) – Well, there’s a few reasons why I got this but I won’t delve into them. Suffice to say, I had an audible gift card for $10 and this has been on my wishlist for a long time and I only paid $0.91 for it.

The Adventure Of The Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle (Audible) – This was free on Audible a few days ago.

Blackwood by Gwenda Bond – Already read this! Signed copy, woot woot!

The Diviners by Libba Bray – Read this as well! Plus, yay my copy is signed and awesome.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead – Not signed, but I haven’t read this yet but I did fall in love with Liar & Spy, and so I was like i need this as a reward to myself for being awesome.

Gifted:

From Amy at Tripping Books:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo – When I went to check my mailbox the other day I was not expecting a package at all, but this envelope package from Amy was sitting there and I’m like whatever could this be? So then I go back inside where it’s warm and my TV is blaring and I rip open the envelop and there’s this beautiful card which is hanging on our card wall, and a note from Amy saying she couldn’t resist picking this up because she thought of me and I teared up a little bit with gratitude because I’m very, very fortunate to have such amazing blogger friends who know my favorite books ever. It was probably the nicest surprise I’ve gotten in months. Thank you, Amy. Your friendship means so much to me!

From Shanyn at Chick Loves Lit:

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson – So, Shanyn has been one of my best blogger friends since practically the beginning and I cannot imagine a day when I do not talk to Shanyn. We’ve even taken part in this 30 Day Fitness Challenge together and it’s going pretty awesome. ANYWAYS, we got to talking about Amazon wish lists and she’s like send it to me and I’m like um okayyyy. And then she’s like you really haven’t read Second Chance Summer? FOR REAL? And I’m like yes for real I haven’t read it. And then she goes that was easy. And then 3 seconds later there is this email from Amazon saying I have a gift and of course I misted a little bit behind my computer screen because again, I’m lucky to have the greatest friends ever.

From the Oblong Books signing:

Yellowcake by Margo Lanagan – I’ve been wanting to read Lanagan forever and this book at 215 pages seems rather non-threatening. So yay!

In case you skipped it or missed it, here’s a recap of what we’ve posted here last week:

I lamented the lack of Ancient setting historical fiction in my gushing review of the Cleopatra’s Moon audiobook.

Live Through This by Mindi Scott profoundly affected me and I highly recommend it.

Swoons delivered just in time for the holidays! Check out Kissing Under The Mistletoe by Marina Adair.

Allison recounts her top ten new-to-me authors of 2012!

So many awesome new books coming out! Allison is waiting on Fat Angie.

If you weren’t planning on reading Code Name Verity, maybe Allison’s review will convince you otherwise.

That one time I was like UGH GUYS I NEED TO READ MORE SEQUELS in my review of Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin (sidebar: I would like more comments please!!).

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

The following two tabs change content below.
April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.
About April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Comments

  1. I’ve heard great things about Personal Effects. And I still have yet to read Angelfire but can’t wait to find out your top secret! I am envious you can read 6 books in a week. Lately that is all I can manage in a month. lol I hope you enjoy your new books and awesome gifts! 🙂

    You can see what books I got this week here!

  2. <3

  3. Awesome books, April. An enviable pile. I think I’m most looking forward to your review of The Garden Princess. It sounds all sorts of amazing.

  4. I’ve been wanting to read Jane Austen Goes To Hollywood, it looks so good! 🙂 Here’s what books I got this week: http://aliceinreaderland.wordpress.com/2012/12/15/in-my-mailbox-2/

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

  5. Okay, I am SUPER intrigued by this super secret project of yours! And I haven’t heard of Garden Princess before but it sounds AWESOME. I am with you on fantasies involving gardening! Ooh, and I think I need to get my hands on Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood. Fab books, April – hope you enjoy!

  6. I can guaran-freaking-tee you will like Out of This Place. I read it as Cinnamon Rain (the Aussie title) and it’s one of my favorites of 2012. And the free verse is just perfect for the story. I keep pulling it off my shelf and rereading bits of it.

  7. When You Reach Me is good. I didn’t like it as much as the Newbery honors that year (Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate), but that is normal for me. I tend to prefer the Newbery honors to the actual Newbery Winner.

    Hope you enjoy all your books. Maybe I will see you again at Oblong books. I really enjoyed the program last Sunday.

  8. Aw, Les Miserables is such a great gift! You’re so lucky!!

  9. Plague in the Mirror! APRIL. Seriously. That looks amaze.

  10. Awww, yay! I’m so glad that you loved it. Big holiday xoxo to you, my dear. <333
    Now, let's talk about The Garden Princess and Plague in the Mirror. Because I can't even. I can't deal with horticultural themes in my books I love it so much. And the freaking BLACK DEATH?? STOP IT RIGHT NOW. Awesome books!

  11. Free reading time at work? Sounds like a good deal to me. 🙂

    Oooh, I’ve been wanting to read The Believing Game too. Enjoy!

  12. Ok, so you’re not the first person to mention the Blogilates to me. I need to look into this for real. I was doing so great with the running and working out and it’s come to a screeching halt since I got busy again with work.

    But back to books…

    I’m new to Edelweiss. I’ve only requested one book, I think. The book you got sounds awesome! I’m also all about the New Adult books! BRING EM ON!

    Great books! Happy reading! 🙂

  13. Holy snapcrackers, you got SO MANY BOOKS.

    I just heard awesome things about The Believing Game, so I hope that’s awesome for you too. Very curious about Out of This Place and Plague in the Mirror (which was totes my WoW two weeks ago). It sounds sexy, so I hope it’s that but not skeezy.

    Oooh, Personal Effects on audio! That’s awesome! I want to read that one, but if the audio is stellar, I will totes do that!

  14. I’ve been wanting to read YELLOWCAKE for awhile now, so curious what you will think of it! Happy reading. 🙂 I finally got off my butt and started requesting spring 2013 titles, so I’ve gotten some fun stuff in this week, too. Perfect timing for after the holidays!

  15. Wow, six books in a week, I’m impressed! Ever since having a baby (actually, ever since pregnancy and baby brain set in), my concentration has been shot and I have to work so much harder to get through a book. Gone are my book-a-day reads! 🙁

    Lots of good-lookin’ books here, April. Ooh you got a Margot Lanagan book, I hope you like it!