Stacking the Shelves (26)

This week I'm joining Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews and sharing the books that I acquired throughout the past week.

(links to Goodreads)
My True Love Gave to Me ed. by Stephanie Perkins (Purchased) - one copy is damaged and will be returned
Surrounded by Sharks by Michael Northrop (Purchased)
Tackled by Love by Rachael Duncan (Gifted) - Thanks Rachael!!

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon Wrap-up

End of Event Meme:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? 1:00 a.m  - I wanted to keep reading, but I fell asleep
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? for readers who like novels-in-verse: The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Have a place to list all giveaway winners in one location in addition to the hourly announcements. This really wasn't an issue for me, but other readers may find it helpful.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I liked who the website was organized. All of the information was easily accessible
5. How many books did you read? 2 and started a third
6. What were the names of the books you read? Foreign Exchange by Denise Jaden, Tomboy by Liz Prince, and started The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
7. Which book did you enjoy most? Foreign Exchange by Denise Jaden
8. Which did you enjoy least? I liked them all.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I wasn't a cheerleader this year.
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I will. I'll participate as a reader and donate a copy of prizes like I did this time.

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon

Woo-hoo, it's read-a-thon time! I love participating in Dewey's Read-a-thon. This year I'm going the low-pressure route. I've selected a couple of books to read and plan to finish a couple of in progress books. I hope by doing this, I will have a chance to stop by some other blogs participating, cheer some people along and do a few challenges. I have a break planned later today to go see Gone Girl (keeping with the book theme) with some friends. Other than that, I'm ready to read!!! I'll post most of my updates on Twitter @ActinUpJoli and check in here periodically.

Books to Read:

 

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder - this is a reread for me
Tomboy by Liz Prince - a graphic memoir/review book
Foreign Exchange by Denise Jaden - already in-progress
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige - already in-progress

Let's get this read-a-thon started!!!

Opening Meme:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Virginia, USA
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? Finishing Foreign Exchange
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? Popcorn
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I am a thirty-something blogger who rediscovered my love for young adult books during my last semester of college and have never looked back. When I'm not reading or blogging, I spend my time with my book club Provisions and Paperbacks, scoping out independent bookstores, singing along to the tunes of Maroon 5, and generally just actin’ up in any way I can.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? This time I don't have an overwhelming to-read pile of books.

Love My Indie Bookstore with Heather from The Turning Pages

Love My Indie is a feature where fellow bloggers, readers, and authors share their favorite independent bookstores. I love the feeling I get when I go into an independent bookstore - like it is filled with hidden treasures just waiting for me to find them.

Showing some Indie Love today is on of my favorite bloggers:

Heather of The Turning Pages

I've made it a mission of mine to visit an indie bookstore wherever I travel. This all came about when I visited my very first indie back in 2012 & immediately knew that indie bookstores are something to be treasured. They are the kind of place that you walk into and instantly feel their warmth and welcome take you in. They are the kind of place that as you walk slowly through the aisles, hear the hundreds of stories calling your name. And they are the kind of place that take your breath away and as you take a deep breath to collect yourself, smell the sweet, leathery scent that any book lover has come to know. 

When Joli approached me about writing about my favorite indie, I struggled to pick just one! After taking some time and going back and forth between my top three, there is one that I just can't help but share. 

 

The Strand Book Store in the city that never sleeps, NYC, is any book lovers paradise. It is the home of 18 MILES. . .yes, you read that right. . .of books! I had the opportunity to visit the Strand this past May after traveling to NYC for Book Expo America. After spending two days among the madness that is BEA, I didn't think a bookstore could take my breath away the way an entire book expo did, but I was wrong. Just walking down the street and seeing the red Strand banner swaying in the breeze, I stopped and stared. Call me crazy, but I teared up a little bit. Hey, it happens when I get really excited about something.

When I walked in, I couldn't help but struggling to close my gaping mouth. It was a sight to be seen! Every square inch of that bookshop is filled with books and anything having to do with the written word. So much to look at and not enough time in one day to look at it all. I tried to capture it all in a picture, but it's definitely not possible when there are multiple floors and 18 miles of books to be seen. So a little snapshot will have to do. 

 

 

My favorite part? The moment where I had to go grab a ladder to get a book from the top shelf. Yes, there are ladders placed all about so you can help yourself. It was my Belle moment and took everything in me not to break out in song. 

 

Another thing I loved? The prices! I purchased a hardback for only $9! That's pretty good if you ask me and something I wasn't expecting. So, if you're ever in NYC, I highly recommend setting aside some time to explore the Strand. I know that I'll be going back if I ever find myself living the city life again. 

 

 

Heather Sheffield is the creator of The Turning Pages where she blogs along with her cousin Christie. She also devotes her time as an Author's Assistant. You can follow her on Twitter.

Spotlight and Giveaway: Naliyah by Shauna Kelley

Naliyah by Shauna Kelley

 

Naliyah

The Vetala Chronicles, Book One 

By Shauna Kelley, award-winning author of Max and Menna 

AVAILABLE NOW! 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads

Lenora Scheid can tell you much of human nature. After more than a century of traveling from warzone to warzone, she has experienced more than she can handle of mankind’s thirst for blood and power…she cannot, however, tell you what she is.

Not exactly human, but not precisely vampire either, Lenora’s whole life has been spent under the watchful eye of her father. With only her dreams of a mysterious blue‐eyed man as company, she has little choice but to follow her father across the world despite his refusal to help her understand her true nature.

As Lenora reaches the end of her tolerance with their life of travel and death, she comes face to face with her blue‐eyed man and everything changes. Can this man save her from a life of brutality? Or will the secrets kept from her for so long destroy them both?

Visit Amazon now to learn more about this exciting new release 

"“Naliyah has something for everyone... You don't want to miss this.“

--Kelly Hager, Kellyvision Blog

“Highly imaginative, captivating, and rich in characters and story… a must read.”

--Tia Bach, author of The Tala Prophecies 

To celebrate her new novel, Shauna has generously donated an e-book copy of Naliyah to give away to one luck reader.
Fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter.

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My Summer Roommate by Bridie Hall:Excerpt and Giveaway

My Summer Roommate

by Bridie Hall

Publication Date: September 19, 2014

Published by Evernight Teen

136 Pages

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Chloe needs a place to crash for the summer before college. When Chris offers, she moves in with him. It’s just for two months, no biggie. But soon she realizes she may have made a mistake. He is too perfect; a former snowboarder, laid-back and kind to boot, and he’s smitten with her. But she’s got trust issues and a relationship feels daunting. When he keeps trying to win her over, the temptation becomes overwhelming.

 Just as she gives in and decides it’s not worth fighting their emotions anymore, Chris reveals he’s made a stupid mistake which might ruin Chloe’s trust in him and tear them apart

Excerpt

“Hey, wait up,” Harper calls as I run ahead. It’s an early morning and we’re running in the park. Isabelle suggested I join Harper on his regular run when I mentioned to her that I started running two weeks ago. Harper was dubious at first. I think he was afraid I’d slow him down. But I push myself every day to get the poison out of my system.

The poison being Chris, of course.

The day Chris broke my heart I crashed at Izzy’s place. The next morning, when I knew he was at work, Izzy helped me move my stuff from his place to hers. We managed to avoid him altogether. Now, my boxes litter her upstairs hallway, and I sleep on an air mattress. Harper has been evicted back to his place and he’s none too happy about it, but he puts up with me because I’m Isabelle’s friend. He’s great like that.

“What’s the rush?” he says now, breathing almost normally.

I shrug, but the gesture gets lost in the movement of my entire body.

“You’re pushing yourself like you’ve got a marathon to win next week,” he says. “Why don’t you try enjoying it instead?”

I want to say ‘are you crazy, this is not about enjoyment’. But I don’t. Mostly, because I’m tragically out of breath.

“Don’t beat yourself up about Chris.”

I risk a sideways glance, but I quickly lose half a stride to him. I don’t want to get into a discussion about Chris with Harper, of all people.

“He’s a guy,” he says, like that explains it all. The arrogance of it annoys me so much that it gets me to speak.

“So?”

“Guys do stupid stuff, Chloe.” He chuckles. “Haven’t you learned that already?”

I stop. Now I want to talk about it, but I can’t do it with my heart trying to gain independence by jumping out of my throat.

A few paces ahead, he stops too when he notices I’m not following him.

“So? Is it supposed to be okay because he’s a dude?”

He walks back the few yards separating us. He looks intimidating, so tall and serious.

“No,” he says. “But you’re too smart to be blinded by one stupid act.”

“It was a pretty big and pretty stupid act.”

Getting love advice from Harper is surreal. I wonder what Isabelle will have to say about it. I don’t know how much he even knows about Chris and me. I never discussed it with him, so whatever he knows must’ve come from Izzy.

“Was it a pretty big love or a pretty small fling?” He raises one eyebrow at me, like a displeased teacher, and I want to slap him across his gorgeous face and thank him at the same time.

“Shouldn’t we be running?” I grumble and start off again, although my legs are killing me.

I wish things were as simple as he put it. But they’re far from it.

Find Bridie Hall Online:  Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Cover Reveal: UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT by Angie Stanton

Fans of Rock & a Hard Place and Snapshot have been asking for this book for two years. At long last, here's the cover for Garrett's book, Under the Spotlight!

Under the Spotlight: A Jamieson Brothers Novel (The Jamieson Collection #3)

by Angie Stanton

Age: YA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: May 2015

Goodreads

Blurb:

After an embarrassing stint on a reality TV music competition years ago, Riley Parks vowed never to sing again. Now she's working at the prestigious Sound Sync recording studio and life is looking up. But then Garrett Jamieson, the oldest brother in the famous band Jamieson, crashes into her world.

Garrett has hit rock bottom and is desperate to reinvent himself. After calling in a few favors, he ends up working at Sound Sync Studio to learn the ropes of record producing. And he can't believe his luck when he discovers that Rilely is an amazing singer. But Garrett is forced to use every trick in his arsenal to persuade Riley to record.

Sparks fly as Garrett finally meets his match. Dealing with the feisty redhead ranges from frustrating to thrilling, and in the heat of the moment, one stolen kiss changes everything.

About the Author:

Angie Stanton never planned on writing books—she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in rural America with her brothers’ 4-H pigs as pets, she found that dance didn’t quite work out. Instead, she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head, she began to write them down, and the rest is history. When not writing, she loves watching natural disaster movies, going to Broadway musicals, and dipping French fries in chocolate shakes.

Angie’s next release is titled Under the Spotlight releases on May 5, 2015.. Stay tuned for more info.

Agency Representation: Jane Dystel of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management, New York.

For regular updates and some silly nonsense, please like Angie on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AngieStantonAuthor

Twitter: Angie_Stanton

http://angiestanton.com/