{The Weekend Update} 7.16.16 - Back to Reality

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 time, 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 and Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer since I'm not using a specific meme title anymore.

Man, I'm gone for four days and Goodreads changes everything up! WTH?!? I usually don't mind their makeovers so much, but I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet. It's going to take a little getting used to.

I was seriously off the grid for four days and it was kind of glorious. Even on breaks from the water, I didn't feel the urge to check my phone or look at Twitter or Instagram. It was really rather nice. Makes me wonder how much I could really get done these days if only I weren't so connected...and I'm not even all that bad compared to some!

Vacation was good but I think three days at a waterpark is maybe two too many. We were lucky to have a cabin at the resort, though, so that we had somewhere to go back and rest between rides. Of course, if we hadn't, Katie might not have gotten a splinter the size of her pinky imbedded in her thigh resulting in a trip to the medic, but it's done now. ;) Overall, it was a really fun trip, but I need a vacation from my vacation. Hehe.

Okay, okay. On to the books. Here's what I scored this week...

Gifted:




My friend Sabrina is the absolute best. She sent me this amazing The Scorpio Races-themed package and I am beyond words. She also got me an ARC of Bright Smoke, Cold Fire for my Rosamund Hodge collection because she is just that lovely and thoughtful.

Traded:

I'll likely be doing a new #booksfortrade | Have You Seen This? post with some new books up for grabs very soon! I'm still looking for a few high profile ARCs, like Throne of Glass, On the Fence, and Scarlet (Gaughen), plus some other 2016 releases, including Nevernight, Blood Rose Rebellion, Scythe, and others.

Freebies:



You can grab both of these titles from SYNC this week, but only through Wednesday.

Purchased:



I grabbed one of the last copies of the gorgeous UK edition of Uprooted by Naomi Novik and a finished copy of This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab for my collections this week. Aren't they purty?!?

Library:



Despite knowing this was going to be eerily similar to the Vampire Academy series, my curiosity got the better of me and I borrowed the audio from the library. And now I'm kind of hooked, so I have to wait until my holds on the rest of the series come in. Wah wah wah...



So, that's my haul. =) What fabulous bookmail did you get this week?

The Week in Review:

Reviews:

• I'll Give You the Sun

Current Giveaways:

Check back soon!!!

Promotional/Discussion Posts:

• Two of Our Biggest Pleasures in Life: Books & Kitties!
• #WoW - Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett
• SYNC Summer 2016: Week 11 | #AudiobookSYNC16

Currently Reading:

After the blood and death and torture that was Blood for Blood, I'm in the mood for some hawt, summery romance, and I'm hoping this one fits the bill. Now, if I could just find some water to read it by...




Currently Listening:

It's kind of crazy to me how varied the reviews have been for this book. My friend hard-core rec'd it to me, though, and the pub sent both the ARC and the audio, so I'm doing both right now. I like it, but I think I prefer the written version better simply because I can't speed up the audio. The author narrates and it's good, but yeah...too slow. Also, I don't like how Jaxon is spelled...I prefer Jackson. :P I just love a good witch story, though...especially one so steeped in history.




Recently Read/Needs Review:

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