Stacking the Shelves: 8/17-9/6

I missed the last few Saturdays due to out of town trips, so this is rather long.

For possible review (on Bookloons):

The 100 by Kass Morgan

Day 21 by Kass Morgan

Sammy Keyes and the Kiss Goodbye by Wendelin Van Draanen

Won:

The Shy Girls Social Club Handbook for Dealing with Bullies & Other Meanies by Kailin Gow

Saving You Saving Me by Kailin Gow

Never Say Never by Kailin Gow

First Reads from Goodreads:

Rogerson's Books of Numbers by Barnaby Rogerson

Feast of Fates by Christian A. Brown

The Pen Name by David Jacob Knight

Manson by Jeff Gunn

At the Edge of the Lighthouse by Gabriel J. M.

LibraryThing Early Review:

The Night Itself by Zoe Marriott

Billy Purgatory: I Am the Devil Bird by Jesse James Freeman

Received in Book Riot Quarterly:

What We See When We Read by Peter Mendelsund

The Salinger Contract by Adam Langer

Maps and Legends by Michael Chabon

Requested from Paperback Swap:

XO by Jeffery Deaver

Bought on Humble Bundle:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake

Busting Vegas by Ben Mezrich

By the Blood of Heroes by Joseph Nassise

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

Map of Bones by James Rollins

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Wasteland Saga by Nick Cole

The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho

Twinmaker by Sean Williams

Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey

The Dead Run by Adam Mansbach

The Taken by Vicki Pettersson

Bought on Amazon:

The Darkness and the Deep by Aline Templeton

Lying Dead by Aline Templeton

Lamb to the Slaughter by Aline Templeton

Dead in the Water by Aline Templeton

Blood Rose by Margie Orford

Daddy's Girl by Margie Orford

The Stolen by Bishop O'Connell

Once Upon a Rhyme by Jack Heckel

The God Hunter by Tim Lees

Ten by Gretchen McNeil

The Howling Heart

The Howling Heart

by April Bostic

published by Eternal

2013

ISBN 978-1-62929-019-5

Why Read?: Review

Challenges: Standalone

The Howling Heart is a paranormal romance, but author April Bostic takes it further than some readers of this genre may be comfortable with.  Hardcore shifter fans, though, will probably love it.

Paige is working her way up at Elle magazine.  Right after a huge promotion, though, two other things happen that completely change her life.  First, she discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her.  Even worse, her father dies expectantly and leaves her a cabin in Black River, Colorado.  Needing a change of scenery, Paige takes her bereavement leave and sets out for Colorado to check on the cabin.  Her first night there, a wolf visits her just like one did when her family vacationed there when she was ten.  Trying to leave, she flips her car trying to avoid a large animal.  She is taken in by Riley, the hottest guy in town, and his twin sister, Quinn.  Their father is the sheriff who is none too happy with Riley's infatuation with Paige.  See, the town of Black River harbors a secret, one that Paige cannot easily comprehend.

I do not have a problem reading shifter romances, but I do have a problem with bestiality, which Bostic alludes to though never quite goes there.   This is what really pulled me out of The Howling Heart.  Also, Paige was rather well-rounded, but Riley was a tad too much of a sex-god stereotype, making him somewhat unbelievable.  Quinn was also a very notably developed character.  Also, even though the characters were in their early twenties, some of their actions just did not seem to fit with that generation.

As I mentioned at the beginning, certain aspects of The Howling Heart might not sit well with some readers.  However, those who really love shifters will enjoy April Bostic's work.

Rating 2/5

2013 Standalone Challenge Recap

Challenge:  Standalone Reading Challenge
Host:  IceyBooks & I Like These Books
2013 Level: 15 books - FAILED!
Thoughts:  There are just not that many new standalones!1. Rennefarre by Tamara Ramsey
2. The Namesake by Steven Parlato
3. Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl by Carolita Blythe
4. A Week with Fiona Wonder by Kelly Huddleston
5. Echo by Alicia Wright Brewster
6. The Howling Heart by April Bostic
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Echo

Title: Echo
Author: Alicia Wright Brewster

Publisher: Dragonfairy
ISBN: 978-1-939452-11-5

Why Read?: Early Review
Challenges: Standalone, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This is a fast-paced new adult fantasy/sci-fi. Brewster has imagined a unique world with a unique plight, and the countdown she pits her protagonist against increases the momentum. I just would have liked to see a tad more depth overall.

Rating: 3 stars

A Week with Fiona Wonder

Title: A Week with Fiona Wonder
Author:  Kelly Huddleston

Publisher: Open
ISBN: 978-0615722825

Why Read?: Early Review
Challenges: YA Contemporary, Standalone, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: If I had to summarize A Week with Fiona Wonder in a phrase, I would call it a contemporary YA version of Roseanne.  It very much has the feel of the show, but with more teen angst, but real angst not fake angst like on teen TV shows.  It is very hard to describe, but a wonderful read.

Rating: 4 stars

2013 Standalone Reading Challenge

Challenge:  Standalone Reading Challenge
Host:  IceyBooks & I Like These Books
2012 Level:  15 books - Failed
2013 Level:

1. Rennefarre by Tamara Ramsey
2. The Namesake by Steven Parlato
3. Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl by Carolita Blythe
4. A Week with Fiona Wonder by Kelly Huddleston
5. Echo by Alicia Wright Brewster
6. The Howling Heart by April Bostic
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Rennefarre

Rennefarre: Dot's Wonderful Travels and Adventures 

by Tamara Ramsey, translated by Malve von Hassell

published by Two Harbors

2012

ISBN 978-1-938690-38-9

Why Read?: Review

Challenges:  Standalone, YA/MG Fantasy, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

            Rennefarre: Dot’s Wonderful Travels and Adventures was originally written by Tamara Ramsey in 1941.  While it has gone through many editions in Germany, Malve von Hassell has provided readers with the first English translation of this children’s fantasy.

            On Midsummer’s Eve, Dot is upset about having to stay home and watch her siblings while her parents get to attend the bonfire.  Thinking she can sneak out while her brother and sister sleep, Dot crawls through the meadows to the bonfire.  However, along the way, a Rennefarre flower falls into her shoe, rendering her invisible to humans.  While her family cannot see or hear her, she finds that she can hear and see animals and spirits.  This ability leads on her a long, adventurous journey back into her own world as she tries to help as many as she can along her path.

            Rennefarre has a very interesting concept, but it feels like some of the true magic may be lost in translation.  Some passages flow nicely, while others seemed bogged down with explanations and simplistic wording.  Monica Minto’s illustrations are a nice touch and provide a break to a rather long children’s tale.  Some of the German editions were broken up into multiple volumes, and even though this version is translated from an abridged one, I cannot help but think it would benefit from being broken down into more sizeable chunks for a younger reader.  The “Chronicle of Major Historic Events” and glossary at the end are very helpful, though.

            Rennefarre: Dot’s Wonderful Travel and Adventures can make a great bedtime story, especially since the chapters are broken into many parts.  Children will definitely enjoy Dot’s magical world.

Standalone Challenge Recap

Challenge:  Standalone Reading Challenge
Host:  IceyBooks & I Like These Books
2012 Level:  15 books
Thoughts:  Close...I got really close, but I don't think I will make it.  Oh well, there is always next year.
Books:1. The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson
2. The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker
3. Night Sky by Jolene Perry
4. The Liberation of Max McTrue by Kim Culbertson
5. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
6. The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith
7. Revived by Cat Patrick
8. Knee Deep by Jolene Perry
9. The Color of Snow by Brenda Stanley
10. Back to Bataan by Jerome Charyn
11. Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle
12. Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill
13. What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton
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