In My Mailbox #31

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.

So, I've had to force myself to stop requesting review copies, whether via the publisher or simply through Netgalley.  My TBR/review pile is damn near unmanageable at the moment.  But Ashley at booknook posted her WoW segment this week, and although I was excited about Throne of Glass before, I was quadruply (real word? maybe not, but whose blog is this, anyway?) excited after reading the two chapter excerpt she linked to on Facebook.  So, obviously I had to request the title on Netgalley immediately.  Now, the only question that remains is whether I can hold off a couple of weeks while I catch up on other titles for review.  I'm not a betting woman, but if I were, I would not put money on myself at this point.  :P

For Review:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

And here's the trailer:



Won/Gifted:

Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers, signed, won from Lisa Desrochers
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood, signed, also won from Lisa Desrochers
Ascend by Amanda Hocking, gifted from Michele at A Belle's Tales
Insurgent, signed, also gifted from Michele

Michele is my BBS (bestest book-soulmate) and my best bookish friend.  We bonded over our love of Four and all things Divergent last year, and so for my 30th bday this year (on Insurgent's release date, no less), she got me a SIGNED copy of Insurgent.  How awesome is she?  She also sent me a care package full of goodies for our midnight reading of Insurgent on release day.  And she sent me Ascend from the goodness of her heart because she had an extra copy and knew that was all I was lacking to have a complete set of the Trylle trilogy.  I could not ask for a better bloggy friend.  :D

Purchased:

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Elemental by Brigid Kemmerer
Significance by Shelly Crane
Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

So, my sister, who isn't much of a reader, but who I can con into reading a book if I try hard enough -- she did read The Hunger Games trilogy in a week -- read an excerpt of Let's Pretend This Never Happened on Amazon, and she was sold.  So, I bought us each a copy after reading the excerpt myself.  It just hit too close to home, and I was crying because I was laughing so hard.  I looked over at my sis, and we agreed.  She could be relating the details of OUR lives in this book.  Small town Texas girl.  Check.  Crazy family antics.  Check.  Having a sense of humor about it all.  Check.  I can't wait to read more of it!

ebook steals & deals:

So, that's my haul.  Did you get anything good this week?  Share a link to your book haul post in the comments!

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Labels: bbs, ebook deals, in my mailbox (imm), TBR pile

Review: Until I Die by Amy Plum

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title:  Until I Die
Author:  Amy Plum
Series:  2nd book in the Revenants series
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Publication Date:  May 8, 2012
Source:  ARC

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

So...I have tons of scribbles for this book. If you know my reading style at all, you know that this is never a good sign.  When I’m consumed by a book, or vice versa, I tend to forget to stop and record my thoughts.  When a book is not living up to my expectations?  THAT’S when I find myself with pages of notes.  Granted, I can’t include a lot of my notes in my review because some of my thoughts were particularly spoilery, but you get the point.

I loved Die for Me when I read it last year.  I liked the story, the characters, the setting…I even appreciated the bad guy.  However, I’m starting to notice a trend.  A big majority of the books I read this time last year – read: the first books in trilogies that are slated to release sequels this year – really wowed me.  Maybe I was just getting back into my reading groove and was happy to read anything at that point.  This was around the time I started my blog and everything was new and shiny and full of awesome.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you compared my taste in reading materials from a year ago to the present, the results might be a bit skewed.  Basically, I’m just warning you that I’m not going to review Until I Die as favorably as I did Die for Me, and I want you to know that I’m not picking on the book or the author.  Also, it may not be any fault of the author or the book.  It really could just be me that changed.

That said, I feel that Until I Die fell into the “middle book slump”.  It was 350+ pages of fluff, nothing of any consequence really happening throughout the entirety of the novel.  Sure, Kate is searching for a way for her and Vincent to have a somewhat normal life together, and he’s conducting experiments with the same end result in mind.  However, the majority of the book was spent on Revenant history and unsubstantiated claims of a Champion and other Revenant-related lore that was neither unexpected nor unsurprising.  After the first quarter of the book, I already knew where the storyline was headed, and although I love to be proven correct, the result left me quite dissatisfied.

My biggest complaint, though, was how contrived this novel felt.  I have no less than five written examples of obstacles being overcome rather conveniently, despite the odds being stacked against the characters, and those are only the ones I felt compelled to document.  Life, love and everything in between isn’t easy for your average human, so why would I find it believable that a human dating a not-so-gross zombie would have an easier go of it?

I did appreciate the fact that Vincent feels the need to point out to Kate that she has pretty much ostracized herself from all of her former friends and that she still does need those connections to the normal world.  I can’t really fault Vincent for anything there; I do so hate a protagonist who dumps all of her former relationships for one with a guy who’s already warned her away from him for various reasons.  On the other hand, Vincent doesn’t push Kate away because of the wrongness of their relationship, as so many wrong-for-her love interests are wont to do, so kudos on that front, as well.

I didn’t hate Until I Die, and I’ll definitely pick up the next book in the series.  I just wish Until I Die hadn’t been such a middle novel.  I was so excited about this book, and it just fell short of my expectations.  I’ve been trying to curb those as of late, but when you’ve already read the first novel and adored it, what do you do?

Rating:  1/2

Book-A-Likes:  Hereafter by Tara Hudson, Spellbound series by Cara Lynn Shultz



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Labels: amy plum, book trailers, book-a-likes, ghosts, harper-collins, revenants series, reviews

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop

Ahhh...I just love this time of year!  Spring is in the air, summer is on the horizon, and love is in bloom. :D  And that means it's time for the Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop featuring light-hearted/contemporary young adult romance and sweet, clean adult romance.

So, here's what I have up for grabs:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title:  Dying to Know You
Author:  Aidan Chambers
Series:  n/a
Publisher:  Amulet Books
Publication Date:  April 1, 2012

In Dying to Know You, award-winning author Aidan Chambers has created an indelible portrait of a young man discovering his own voice in the world, and has constructed a love story that is as much about the mind as it is the heart.

In this contemporary love story, a teenage boy named Karl enlists a famous writer to help him impress his girlfriend, Fiorella. She has asked him to write her a letter in which he reveals his true self. But Karl isn’t convinced he’s good enough with words, so he tracks down Fiorella’s favorite author and begs him to take up the task. The writer reluctantly assents, on the condition that Karl agree to a series of interviews, so that the letter will be based on an authentic portrait of Karl. The letter, though effective, has unexpected consequences for Karl, Fiorella, and the writer.

I haven't read this one yet, but it does sound cute, doesn't it?  Not a fan of the cover, but maybe once I have a chance to read it, it'll make sense.  :0)

**Please note that this giveaway is only open to residents of the United States.  Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be drawn.**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now that you've entered on my stop, be sure to check out all the other goodies being offered up on this hop:

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Labels: contemporary, giveaway hops, giveaways, romance

Awhile on the Pile #1

Awhile on the Pile/From the Review Pile is a meme hosted by Stepping Out of the Page every Thursday but was also inspired by Rachel at My Reading Pile/Fiktshun. The aim of this meme is to showcase books that you've received for review -- or any book that you own and really want to read/review -- but haven't yet got around to reading in order to give the book some extra publicity.

Here's the book I chose to give some extra love this week:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title:  Dark Parties
Author:  Sara Grant
Series:  n/a
Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  August 3, 2011
Source:  ARC from publisher

Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield "protects" them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there's nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says...

Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she's ever known, including the people she loves the most.

You would think that with my addiction to dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels, I'd have moved this one to the top of the pile the minute I got it, but the pile was already pretty intimidating at that point. o.O  I hope to get to this one soon, regardless.  If you've already read it, please share your thoughts in the comments.

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Labels: awhile on the pile, dystopian, hachette, TBR pile

Waiting on Wednesday: Rebel Heart by Moira Young

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title:  Rebel Heart
Author:  Moira Young
Series:  2nd book in the Dust Lands series

Publisher:  Margaret K. McElderry
Publication Date:  October 30, 2012

The Tonton have been defeated. Lugh has been rescued.
The heartstone has brought Saba and Jack together.
Now, Saba and her family head west to meet him and start a new life. All should be well.
But shadows of the dead are stalking Saba.
And another kind of shadow is creeping over the dustlands.
Then a messenger shows up.
With news of Jack.

Why I'm waiting:  I LOVED the gritty, captivating rescue story that was Blood Red Road.  I loved Saba's crassness, I loved Jack's unflinching honesty, and I loved the way that the story was told.  I can't wait to see what trouble our wayward wanderers run into in this next installment.  Also, I miss Jack.  And Nero -- I want a crow like that!  And I'm curious to know what's up with DeMalo.

Aside:  What do you think of the cover redesign?  I usually find myself liking the old covers better, but I like the new covers equally as well as the old ones in this case.  This way, I get Jack on the cover.  This makes me happy.  :0)

What are you waiting patiently -- or maybe not so patiently -- for this week?  Share it in the comments so I can add it to my massive TBR list!

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Labels: dustlands, dystopian, favorites, moira young, must-read, simon schuster, waiting on wednesday (wow)