Showcase Sunday #19

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where you show what books you've purchased, borrowed, checked out from the library, received from giveaway, etc.

I can't believe how fast December is rolling by. We are only a few days away from Christmas and while I has been keeping busy with snowstorms, crowded malls and holiday events, I was still able to pick up 3 early Christmas presents to myself this week for FREE. If only I could get deals like that on Christmas presents for my family. 

I got Hollowland by Amanda Hocking which was featured in our Friday's Featured Freebie last week. Melissa has started reading the Watersong series, but I haven't had a chance to read anything by Hocking yet, so I am excited to have a copy of Hollowland. I picked up The Woodlands by Lauren Nicolle Taylor which will be featured in one of our upcoming Friday's Featured Freebie. I also got Sunset Rising by S.M. McEachern which has the most gorgeous cover. The price has now increased to 99 cents so it is pretty much free. All three are distopias so I will have to be careful to break up reading these so I don't get a distopia overload. 

Have you heard of any of these novels or authors? What books did you pick up this week?

Friday's Featured Freebie: Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

Amanda Hocking, the author of the Watersong series, currently has her first book in her last series, The Hollowland free on Amazon. It is a zombie urban fantasy set in a futurist dystopia. Hocking admits that this series is a little bit "more violent and gritter" than her other novels. But, don't worry it still has the romance you are longing for and a strong willed, kick ass heroine Remy, who readers can't help loving and admiring. 

Hollowland (The Hollows #1)
by Amanda Hocking 

Free on Amazon

"This is the way the world ends - not with a bang or a whimper, but with zombies breaking down the back door."

Nineteen-year-old Remy King is on a mission to get across the wasteland left of America, and nothing will stand in her way - not violent marauders, a spoiled rock star, or an army of flesh-eating zombies. - Goodreads

Top Ten New to Us Authors in 2013

This week's Top 10 Tuesday, which is hosted by The Broke & the Bookish. Tonight's topic, Top Ten New to Us Authors in 2013.

2013 was a great year, full of new authors that Melissa and I will be watching for years to come.

1. Jennifer L. Armentrout / J. Lynn - Melissa discovered the Lux Series by Armentrout and then the Covenant series and let's just say she is now a J-ARM fan for life. I just started reading the Lux Series about a week ago and I will admit that Melissa knows how to recommend books. Props to Armentrout for creating one of the sexiest fictitious men I have ever stumbled across. I really hope she considers making the Lux series longer because I can't get my fill of Daemon Black.

2. Heather Fleener - Melissa introduced me to the Ancients of Light series by Fleener early this year and it has been quite a journey since. A journey full of sexy vampires who I just want to sink my teeth into. We also got a chance to meet Fleener and share some witches brew as we discussed the Realm she created along with it delicious residents.

3. Lauren Oliver - Before I Fall by Oliver just blew me away and then we read the Delirium series for book club. I am eagerly waiting for the releases of Panic and Rooms in 2014. I will read anything this woman writes.

4. Kiera Cass - What can I say other than I fell completely and utterly head over heads for Cass' Selection series. I can't wait for the final book, The One to be released in May.

5. Veronica Roth - We just discovered the Divergent series this year and it was like the Hunger Games all over again. We became obsessed with this series and....also Four. Yummy Yum Yum.

6. Susan Kaye Quinn - Melissa found the first book of Quinn's Mindjack trilogy on her Nook and since that day her life got hijacked by this series.

7. Jamie Magee - Melissa got reeled into Magee's Insight series by another freebie on B&N.

8. Tenaya Jayne - I found Forbidden Forest free on Amazon. Forest and Syrus romance had me swooning and sent tingles down my spine.

9. Samantha Hoffman - Between picking up Arena Wars and Zombie Island for free on Amazon, I have become absorb into Hoffman's worlds of werewolves, vampires and zombies. This woman knows how to make the men real while keeping them fantastically dreamy.

10. C.E. Wilson - Another pleasant surprise was the discovery of The Punishment Sequence series by Wilson. The story contained one of the most unusual relationship I have read but that is what made me adorn the first book in the series, Oath of Servitude sooo much. Now, I just need to get my hands on the second book. Don't miss my review and giveaway of Oath of Servitude coming soon.

Waiting on Wednesday #18

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are highly anticipating.

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)
by Marissa Meyer
Release Date: February 4th 2014

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can. - Goodreads

Why am I Waiting?

I feel a little guilty about putting this on my waiting list since I haven't read book two in this series yet, but clearly not guilty enough to not blog about it. I have a feeling once I read Scarlet (book two) I will fall completely and utterly in love with this series. At least I can dream, right? Cause right now I need a series that I can fall in love with. On a side note, I started Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout so I am about to find out if Daemon Black is as delicious as Melissa claims. And let's just say she has set the bar really stinkin' high...

But, enough about me. What are you waiting to be released?

Top Ten Books On Our Winter TBR

This week's Top 10 Tuesday, which is hosted by The Broke & the Bookish.  Tonight's topic, Top 10 Books on Our Winter TBR.

Well, let me see here.....I need to go get my nook.  So does anyone else do this?  I'm a little OCD when it comes to my nook.  I have a tendency to organize the books on the tabletop based on the order I want to read  them in.  This would be the reason why I need to get my nook. 

Ok.  Got it.  Here are mine:

I'm in process of reading The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson for book club.  It has great reviews, but I'm struggling a little.

Stranger Books by Matt Davenport.  This is the second book in the Abstract series.  I'm looking forward to reading this book from a good friend.

Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich.  These books make me giggle and I enjoy them.

The Selection by Kiera Cass.  Since Rachel is reading something I've suggested to her, I promised her that I would read one of her recommendations.

Elemental by Alexandra May.  I've picked up so many free books that I've had to work in a free book into the rotation so I have more room on my tabletop for more books.  Yes, all 5 pages are filled top to bottom.

Rachel has finally finished her first book since October!  She is planning on continuing with:

Obsidian, Opal, Onyx, Origin, and Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout.  I'm just a little jealous that she is reading these even though I read and recommended then to her.  It just doesn't seem right that she gets Daemon Black all to herself.

The First Phone Call From Heaven by Mitch Albom.  I'll let Rachel read this one first, then maybe I will.

What's on your TBR this winter?

Showcase Sunday #18

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where you show what books you've purchased, borrowed, checked out from the library, received from giveaway, etc.

I am still alive even though it would be hard to tell by my recent postings. I have been going through a dry spell. I haven't finished a complete book since October. What is going on with me? Prior this year, I bumped up my reading goal to 50 books and for the first time this year I am 2 books behind schedule.

I started reading Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout last week. The thought process is that if I read the entire Lux series and its spin-off, Obsession that would bring me up to my 50 book goal before year end. So far, I am really enjoying the characters and like Armentrout's style but I am still getting distracted by movies (shout out to 2 Guns and the Sapphires - check these movies out), cleaning and working out thus I am not as far as I should be. 

Melissa purchased another Jennifer L. Armentrout novel - Bitter Sweet Love. I am pretty sure she is getting very close to owning every single book Armentrout has written. She also purchased the Selection by Kiera Cass as part of our deal that if I read the Lux series that she will read the Selection series.

    

What did you pick up this week? How close are you to completing your reading goal for 2013?

Waiting on Wednesday #17

This year has gone by way too fast.  I can't believe that I'm already thinking about books to be released in 2014.   This week's waiting on Wednesday is Flame by Amy Kathleen Ryan, since I just finished Spark last week.

Flame by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Release Date: January 7, 2014

In the thrilling conclusion to the Sky Chasers series Waverly, Kieran, and Seth struggle to survive on-board the New Horizon—and take down their enemies before it's too late.

Waverly and the other members of the Empyrean have scattered, and their home ship has been destroyed. Their mission to rescue their parents didn't go as planned, and now they're at an even greater disadvantage: trapped with their enemies on the New Horizon, trying to find a way to survive. Kieran has been pulled under Anne Mather’s wing, but is she really trying to make peace, or just using Kieran to build her own power? Meanwhile, Waverly is taken in by a mysterious old man who wants to help her bring Anne Mather down—but the more Waverly cooperates with him, the more dangerous her position is, and the more at odds with Kieran she becomes.

Seth's situation is even worse. After setting out from the Empyrean on his own, with only a vague strategy to guide him, he is a fugitive aboard the New Horizon. He's doing what he can to challenge the power of Anne Mather, but he's badly hurt, and getting sicker.

Will Seth ever see Waverly again? Will his health hold out long enough to help her topple their enemies? And will Waverly find a way to unite with her friends before they all fall? Nothing is sure and every moment is a risk in this explosive finale of the Sky Chasers series. ~Goodreads