Stacking the Shelves # 55

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a way to share with everyone all the goodies you've received through out the week. 

Just click the covers to be taken to their goodreads pages. 

Purchased

I grabbed these two for kindle so Jess and I can buddy read them.. Probably starting Fairest on Monday. :)

For Review

( Thank you Simon & Schuster)

I've been wanting to read this one ever since I heard about it. I really hope it's amazing. I'll be slipping that one into my reading schedule asap. :) 

 In regular life news.. Winter is still here.  

< insert sad face here>

So badly wishing for Spring. 

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Labels: stacking the shelves

The Weekend Update - 2.21.15

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!  =)

Man, was that the crappiest week ever or what? Not that I expect next week to be much better. Work is kicking my butt and it doesn't look to get any better anytime soon. With the exception of our trip to Florida for Spring Break soon...I think that's the only thing keeping me going right now. I haven't had much time to read lately, or when I have time, all I want to do is sleep. But I've been passing the days at work listening to audio...more so than usual. It's helped a little. I just wish something new and awesome and completely unrelated to what I currently do would just land in my lap. :(

Enough of me complaining. Anyway, here's what I scored this week:

For Review:


       an unsolicited bunch of ARCs from Harper

Invincible by Amy Reed
Every Last Promise by Kristin Halbrook
Finding Paris by Joy Preble
None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio



Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius

Library:



Dairy Queen series by Catherine Gilbert Murdock - audiobook (review)


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

The Week in Review:

Reviews:

• The Winner's Crime - Jen
• The Moon and More - April (audio)

Current Giveaways:

Check back soon!!!

Promotional/Discussion Posts:  

• Our #TopTen bookish problems
• #WoW - This week, we're waiting on Hold Me Like a Breath & Daughter of Deep Silence
• This one time...for Valentine's Day - how April celebrated this past Valentine's Day =)

Jen's Currently Reading/Listening To:

Still plugging away at these two...

I still haven't officially started this. o_O I just haven't had time with work and family stuff. I've zonked out every night this week. :(

I think I'm scared to finish this one. I'm stuck at 65% and I can't make myself finish. :(

Upcoming Reviews:

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Labels: in my mailbox (imm), stacking the shelves, the weekend update

This one time... for Valentines Day...

Valentines Day has never been our thing. I think it's mostly for single/new dating couples. That statement could be completely wrong.. as I've been married almost 12 years. I'm out of the loop these days. For our first Valentines Day as a couple, Brian got my a little teddy bear hugging a vase of flowers. We haven't celebrated since. 

It's just a day, I like to think we celebrate everyday. I've never been into flowers and cards, chocolate.. yes.. I'll take that everyday of the year. But flowers.. they die, and cards are such a waste of money. 

This year was no different. We did not celebrate, in fact Aubrey had a friend sleep over. What did happen this past weekend is Brian finished out Master Bedroom! He is quite the handy man, and he's been working on our new room since fall. Well, what better a weekend for him to finish it up! Best Valentines gift ever! 

Today I thought I would show you some pics of start to finish. I'm still so amazed and can't stop looking at it. 

Ahh, back when it was just a thought. You see, this room is funny shaped. We live in a chalet, so the roof is steep. We used this room as Aubrey's nursery, but there were no closets. We have since moved her down to our old office, which Brian also redid. It's all bubble gum pink and everything. It was time for her to have a real room with her very own closet. 

What our house needed was a proper Master Bedroom. One you could hang clothes up in. Brian always toyed with the idea of building closets into this room, and we finally decided to give it a try. the bigger paychecks from my new job helped with this. lol. 

Here is a pic of the very beginning! Exciting, right!! :) When he started building it, we honestly didn't know how it was going to turn out. He is not a contractor, so everything he does, he's just learned along the way through online tutorials and such.

After the drywall when up, it really started to take shape. We knew we wanted his and her closets. That was a must. And since the rooms in our house are small, We wanted to maximize the space with a built in entertainment center. That's what you see in the middle. 

Then came the electrical and the tedious job of spackling. That is really what took up most of his time. But the end result was worth it. Once everything was ready, it was time to pick out the paint!!!

We chose this brushed pearl paint from lowes. The base color was Weathered Gray. It's really neat and pretty easy to apply.

Brushed Pearl Application

I'm sharing that link because I got so many questions on Facebook regarding the kind of paint we used when I posted a pic of the room earlier this week. 

With the paint done, it was time to move on to the floor. We chose a beautiful hardwood. I love it so much.

To save money, we did ceramic tile in the closets. Another project Brian taught himself, and it looks fabulous I think. :)

I cannot get over how talented he is. Are you all ready to see the finished product!!!! It's awesome. :)

Drum Roll .........

I can definitely get used to this view.

So there you have it.. the best Valentines Gift ever, even if it wasn't intentional. My husband is amazing. I'm in awe of his skill. We saved so much money with him doing all this himself. Thanks to the internet, you can learn how to do anything!

I hope you all had a great Valentines Day too! :)

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Labels: Happy Wife, Home Improvements, Master Bedroom, Valentines Day

{Audiobook} Review: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Title: The Moon and More
Author: Sarah Dessen
Narrator: Allie Gallerani
Series: Standalone
Length:  11 hrs 25 mins
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: June 4th, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby? Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going? Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.

It's been a while since I've listened to a Sarah Dessen book. I went through a phase last year, where I blew through 3 of them. It was marvelous. So easily I was drawn back into that feeling a Dessen books gives you. I loved The Moon and More. I have seen some mixed reviews on it. Some saying it didn't hold the same magic her previous novels had. I disagree.

The Moon and More is the perfect summer read. It takes in a beach town. It's summer. It's perfect. And it's hot... I love reading books with hot weather... during these frigid Winter temps I'm dealing with  here. It reminds me that Spring will be on its way... eventually.

One thing I adored about this book was the realistic relationship Emaline has with Luke. I won't go into detail but I saw tons of my friends go through this very thing after our Senior year. Also, Emaline's relationship with her Father. That was pretty realistic too I think. Oh and her relationship with her step brother is adorable.

Something I always come to expect with a Dessen novel is the magnificent quotes. This one was by far, my favorite. Possibly ever.

“Having no expectations for some people in your life can be depressing, if not devastating. But with others, it’s what is necessary. The hard part is not just figuring out which one applies, but accepting it.”

So very true. I have people like this in my life, and it's not easy. I can tell you that, but over the years you learn to accept it. This quote really struck me.. I had to rewind it in the car numerous times.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Moon and More. The Narrator was great, and the story had just the right mix of summer fun and coming of age seriousness. I definitely recommend it. :)

This isn't the kind of gif I was searching for but I just had too. lol. It's so stupid. lol. 

About the author:

Sarah Dessen grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with highest honors in Creative Writing. She is the author of several novels, including Someone Like You, Just Listen and Along for the Ride. A motion picture based on her first two books, entitled How to Deal, was released in 2003. Her eleventh novel, The Moon and More, will be published in June 2013. She lives in North Carolina.

Find Sarah:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Labels: audiobooks, beach, growing up, penguin audio, reviews, sarah dessen, summer, the moon and more

Waiting on Wednesday: Hold Me Like A Breath & Daughter of Deep Silence

"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 selections are...








's Pick:




Title: Hold Me Like A Breath
Author: Tiffany Schmidt
Series: n/a
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: May 19th, 2015

Penelope Landlow has grown up with the knowledge that almost anything can be bought or sold—including body parts. She’s the daughter of one of the three crime families that control the black market for organ transplants.

Penelope’s surrounded by all the suffocating privilege and protection her family can provide, but they can't protect her from the autoimmune disorder that causes her to bruise so easily.

And in her family's line of work no one can be safe forever.

All Penelope has ever wanted is freedom and independence. But when she’s caught in the crossfire as rival families scramble for prominence, she learns that her wishes come with casualties, that betrayal hurts worse than bruises, that love is a risk worth taking . . . and maybe she’s not as fragile as everyone thinks.

I love Tiffany Schmidt. She is super sweet in person and I've read all of her stuff. So I cannot freaking wait to read this one. :) Hurry up May!!!




's Pick:

Title: Daughter of Deep Silence
Author: Carrie Ryan
Series: n/a
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: June 2, 2015

A delicious tale of revenge and identity from Carrie Ryan, the bestselling author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

In the wake of the deadly devastation of luxury yacht Persephone, just three souls remain to tell its story—and two of them are lying. Only Frances Mace, rescued from the ocean after torturous days adrift with her dying friend Libby, knows that the Persephone wasn’t sunk by a rogue wave as survivors Senator Wells and his son are claiming—it was attacked.

To ensure her safety from the obviously dangerous and very powerful Wells family, Libby’s father helps newly orphaned Frances assume Libby’s identity. Frances has spent years in hiding, transforming herself into Libby, and she can no longer allow the people who murdered her entire family and Libby to get away with it. After years of careful plotting, she’s ready to set her revenge plans into motion—even if it means taking down the boy she’d once been in love with: the senator’s son.

The game has just begun, and Frances is not only playing dirty, she's playing to win.

Eeek! I love revenge stories! And I've been a fan of Carrie Ryan's ever since I read the first book in The Forest of Hands and Teeth series. But because of this, I also know to expect this to be a rather devastating read. Ryan knows just how to work your heart into a frenzy.


What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: carrie ryan, contemporary, daughter of deep silence, Hold Me Like a Breath, mystery, penguin, revenge, tiffany schmidt, waiting on wednesday (wow)