Saturday, June 21, 2014

The Weekend Update - 6.21.14

So, since my end-of-the-week post isn't just about what I got in my mailbox or on my Kindle each week -- though that is a big part of it, I won't lie -- I decided to change up the title and intro a bit.  I might tweak the format a bit over the next few weeks, but for the most part, it'll contain the same stuff: stuff I got, stuff I did, and stuff that's coming up on the blog.  Plus, I get to use the awesome GIF you see here and blow kisses to all the people who sent me lovely books and bookish things.  Oh, and I've started linking up to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews since I'm not using a specific meme title anymore.  April's also doing her own Stacking the Shelves posts on Sundays.  Stop by and say hi!  =)


You guys! I just realized I've already read over 100 books this year, and it's not even the end of June yet! Wow. At this rate, I might need to up my goal a bit. But it helps that probably half of what I "read" is on audio. And I'm going through those really fast these days. I'm so glad I finally got an account with my state library so I could download audio free from them instead of spending a beaucoup on Audible credits. Not that I don't still use that site, but I'm not buying nearly as many extra credits as I was, and I'm not splurging on every sale they have anymore. ;0) Anyway, I still remember the first year I did this challenge, when my goal for the entire year was only 100 books. Crazy how much more I read now. And how much faster. And how much better I am at picking my reads.

Also, we had our first mini-harvest from the garden this week! Just green beans, but fresh ones straight from the garden are the best! Katie loves them, too...even said she's going to start sneaking out to the garden to get them herself. =) We should have some squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes soon, as well. I'm going to have to go through my cookbooks for some new recipes so I can make dishes that put all of our veggies to good use. Though, I know from experience that once the garden gets going, there will be so much extra that we'll have to give some away. :D

Anyway, here's what I scored this week:

For Review:

Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I have enough to read as it is, so this is a good thing, I promise. =D

Library, Freebies & Deals:

The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars, #1)Paper ValentineI'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls, #1)Anne of Green Gables

The Thousand Dollar Tan Line, a Veronica Mars novel by Rob Thomas - borrowed audiobook from the library after being on the waitlist foreverrrrrrr but it's worth it because VM narrates!!!
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff - borrowed audiobook from the library
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter - downloaded audio via SYNC
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - downloaded audio via SYNC

Purchased:

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha, #3)


Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo -- Read it. Loved it. Wept for it. Reviewed it.


So, that's my haul. How about you? What did you get this week?




The Week in Review:

Reviews:
Current Giveaways:


 photo e8f0043c-e8d1-4d4c-9d18-94a038cc6773_zpsa6b59426.jpg

Win an audiobook from our list of favorites!
2 winners - INTERNATIONAL

Promotional/Discussion Posts:  Our Summer TBR Piles, Cover Reveal for Ann Aguirre's New Adult seriesSYNC 2014 - Week 6 Books Up for Grabs - I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You & Anne of Green Gables

Jen's Currently Reading/Listening To:

The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars, #1)I'll Give You the SunIf you'll remember, I borrowed this ARC from the lovely Christina last week, and I just can't put it off any longer. I've been dying to read this since I first heard Jandy Nelson had a new book releasing this year, and I just can't wait another minute to dive into it.




Gah, I've been on the waiting list at my library for this audiobook for ages. I want a finished copy, but I also want to experience Veronica Mars herself (otherwise known as the talented Kristen Bell) narrating the story. So I waited. And waited. And now it's finally here and it's just as good as I'd been hoping, especially after seeing the movie, which you really should do prior to reading this. Just sayin'.


Upcoming Reviews:

The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars, #1)From What I Remember...Haze (The Rephaim, #2)



Follow on BloglovinLike honest reviews & giveaways?  Be sure to follow us on Bloglovin' so you never miss out!



16 comments:

  1. CONGRATS ON 100 BOOKS!!!! *showers you with cake* I've hit 103...aaaand, that was my goal. So I'm done? New hobby? LOOOOOL I'm hilarious. I probably won't double that or anything, for the next half of the year, but it's fun to see that i can read 100 books in 6 months. x) Huzzah for audio, right?!! I need to get back into listening to them....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha...that was my goal the first year I did the challenge, but now that I've added audio to the mix, I know I can probably do double that. :)

      Delete
  2. Wow, I feel like I'm slacking, lol. I believe I am at 75. Of course the World Cup has been on so that has significantly slowed my reading down. I picked up Anne of Green Gables this week from Sync as well. I loved the book as a teen so it will be cool revisiting it as an adult.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would think I'd read more during summer, but I've really slacked off in the last couple of weeks, too. *shrugs* I'm happy to hear Anne was good to you as a teen...it was one of my favorites back then, too.

      Delete
  3. I've only read 63 books! I've still never listened to an audio book. Maybe once the wee one is in school I can listen while I do other things. I need to read Haze! here I thought I was almost up to date on books and then realize that September is actually rather close up. How has this year flown by so fast! I feel like I'm stuck in May. Of course walking outside and being burned and drenched in sweat should tip me off to the Texas summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's still a lot, Kristen! :) Yep, I listen all the time, while I'm working, cleaning, exercising...pretty much during any mundane task where I wish I was reading instead. :) Haze is awesome. I just read it for the second time so that I can finally review it. And I know! It'll be here before ya know it. I'm pretty behind on review books, too...just realized that instead of starting the one I wanted to, I have three that are releasing on the 8th that I need to make a priority. Oops.

      Delete
  4. Nice haul this week. Ruin & Rising is everywhere right now. I have the first two books but have yet to get to them, have heard so many amazing things so definitely need to do that soon. I hope you have a great reading week and enjoy all of your new additions :) Here's my STS.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was so good! What better time to start the series than now when all the books have been released. I just rec'd them to my older sis, too. :)

      Delete
  5. Wow, Jen, I'm proud of you for the no review copies. YAAAAAAAS to Gallagher Girls, even though it IS the audio version. I'm kind of nervous that you'll hate it because 1. you might not be interested (NOT GONNA HAPPEN....no pressure) or 2. the narrator will ruin it for you. But I hope you love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Weeeellll, it's not like I didn't request any...I just haven't gotten them yet, lol. :) I think I'll like it. We usually have pretty similar taste, and I think I can overlook the narrator, especially if I speed it up. :)

      Delete
  6. I bought Veronica Mars but the third person was bother me so then I put a hold on the audio book at the library especially when I heard Kristen Bell was the narrator. I am still on the wait list! I think I'm finally down to the #1 spot though. Ruin & Rising was amazing! I cried a little bit too even though everything pretty much worked out how I wanted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eeek, the audio is awesome! I was on the wait list for weeks because I didn't realize my library had gotten the audio yet -- they'd only had the ebook last time I'd checked. But Kristen Bell is fabulous as the narrator, but I'm sure you could guess that. :) R&R was exactly what I'd been hoping for and expecting, too, from that series. Glad you loved it!

      Delete
  7. I can't wait to see what you think of Paper Valentine! It's so different and written so beautifully. Plus the love interest is definitely not run of the mill variety. He's really adorable. :)
    I'll Give You the Sun is on my very immediate TBR list too! Gosh, it sounds amazing.
    I'm planning on ordering the first three books of Paula Weston's series next month - I've heard great things!
    Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paper Valentine was interesting, and you're right about the love interest being very different from the usual bad boy type. And I actually have to put I'll Give You the Sun on hold in favor of some review books that come out soon, but I'll pick it back up ASAP. And I've already got Shimmer pre-ordered...I am so ready for more of those angel spawn badasses. :)

      Delete
  8. Amazing accomplishment! Reading well over 100 books is a personal goal that I hope to meet one day. It is amazing that you can challenge yourself and reach it! WOOHOO!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congrats on 100 books already! I'm just over 70, which is ahead of my target too. I find it hard to fit on audiobooks sometimes, so good for you for flying through them.

    ReplyDelete