In the Box: August 2015 Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss

Once again the Fresh Fiction box contained not one but three paperback: Reunited for the Billionaire's Legacy by Jennifer Heyward, And Then He Kissed Me by Kim Amos, and A Peach of a Pair by Kim Boykin. The first two are traditional romances, but the last one seems right up my alley. Not quite as many ebooks this time around (only the minimum of three), but that is OK.  I received Sheltering His Desire by Allyson Lindt, Candidate by Tracy Ewens, and Murder.com by David Deutsch.  Murder.com sounds a little more hard-boiled than the previous offerings from Gemma Halliday Publishing, but it still sounds perfect for me, and it is the first in a series unlike the majority of this month's books.

The swag was also a little light this month, but that is fine as that is not why I subscribe.  I am not a fan of the stress ball, but the dog tag is actually a flash drive, so that is awesome.  And yes, those are banana Laffy Taffy!

A pretty awesome Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss.  While this month had 3 paperbacks, each box will have at least one paperback and 3-6 ebooks, along with swag, for $25 a month (you can skip months). 

Stacking the Shelves: 8/23-8/29

First Reads from Goodreads:

Oak & Mist by Helen Jones

Dream Things True by Marie Marquardt

The Hollow Ground by Natalie S. Harnett

Stacking the Shelves: 8/16-8/22

For possible review (on Bookloons):

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

Bought on Amazon:

Fallen by Carey Baldwin

Across the Long Sea by Sarah Remy

Stacking the Shelves: 8/9-8/15

First Reads from Goodreads:

Play It Again by Nancy Fraser

Erin's Gift by Nancy Fraser

Abomination by Gary Whitta

A Murder at Armageddon by A.K.A. Chisti

A Healing Heart by Melissa A. Hanson

October Mourning

Title: October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard
Author: Leslea Newman
Publisher: Brilliance Audio

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For fun

Thoughts: I have never listened to a poetic narrative, but this was just beautiful, despite the tragedy behind it.  I think I actually got more out of the poems hearing them then if I would have read them.  

Rating: 5 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 8/2-8/8

For possible review (on Bookloons):

Fable Comics by Chris Duffy, ed.

Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang & Mike Holmes

Reawakened by Colleen Houck

The Reckoning by Carsten Stroud

First Reads from Goodreads:

Goose by Dawn O'Porter

LibraryThing Early Review:

The Occasional Diamond Thief by J. A. McLachlan

Swapped for on My Subscription Addiction:

Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg

Bought at Half-Price Books:

Girl Sleuth by Melanie Rehak

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

Title: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
Author: Matthew Quick
Publisher: Hachette Audio

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For fun

Thoughts: One of the best, most intense books I have ever listened to.  Very tight, realistic story (well, except for the mother), that makes you not want to turn it off.  I also thought the narrator, Noah Galvin, was perfect.

Rating: 5 stars

In the Box: July 2015 Awesome Pack

July brought another awesome Awesome Pack Big Kid Pack. The subscription is $44.99 a month and you can choose the Big Kid option (for those without kids - like me), or the Family option.  Their site does not have referral links set up yet, nor can you log into your account yet, but they do have a referral program, so if you do decide after reading my review to try it, I would very much appreciate if you told them you heard about it from me, rickimc [at] aol [dot] com.

For July, the main game was Bremerhaven (a $55.00 value) from Mayfair Games. This says it is a "strategy game for experienced gamers", so I am worried it will be too difficult for my husband to agree to play, but the theme might be enough to sway him.

The smaller games this month really excited me.  First up was another Z-Man game (if you have read my past reviews, you know that I think they make great games), Batt'l Kha'os (an $18.00 value).  This is not in their current catalog, so that means it is older, but that does not mean it is not cool.  The game, though, that I was most excited about was Crap or Slap! (a $13.99 value) by Twilight Creations.  Oddly, this came out less than a year ago, but I cannot find it in their catalog, which is odd because it sounds amazing - a great party game in the vein of Apples to Apples or CAH.

The collectible this time was a Portal 2 Keychain (a $12.95 value). I do not really know what Portal 2 is (a video game?), but I love keychains.  This, though, is too big for my current purse, so it will have to wait until fall to get used.  Awesome Pack swag this month was a new magnet, and I collect magnets!

Another awesome Awesome Pack !  The items actually added up to an amazing $99.94 value, and I got it all for $44.95 (less than half!), which included shipping.  If you would like to subscribe, once again, I ask that you say you heard it from me, rickimc [at] aol [dot] com.  (Please note: as games and collectibles can vary in price based on demand, I tried to take the price from the manufacturers site whenever possible.)

Stacking the Shelves: 7/26-8/1

For possible review (on Bookloons):

The Shrunken Head by Lauren Oliver & H. C. Chester

First Reads from Goodreads:

The Relic by Kathi Daley

The Mansion's Twins by Rose M. Channing

Bought on Amazon:

The Drowning God by James Kendley