In My Mailbox!

For Review: 

• Splintered by A.G. Howard
• Entice by Jessica Shirvington 

Swapped: 

• Magician's Muse by Linda Joy Singleton  

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!  It's hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

 

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!

Review - Savage (Daughters of the Jaguar #1) by Willow Rose

Title: Savage

Author: Willow Rose

Series: 1st

Pages: 444

Published:  June 14th 2012 by DMC 

ISBN: 9781477662397

Source: Author sent for honest review

Description: The year is 1983. Christian is 22 years old when he leaves his home in Denmark to spend a year in Florida with a very wealthy family and go to med-school. A joyful night out with friends is shattered by an encounter with a savage predator that changes his life forever. Soon he faces challenges he had never expected. A supernatural gift he has no idea how to embrace. A haunting family in the house next door. A spirit-filled girl who seems to carry all the answers. An ancient secret hidden in the swamps of Florida. One life never the same. One love that becomes an obsession. Two destinies that will be forever entangled. 

I Give This ...

I was intrigued by this one.  A man from another country trying to immerse himself in our culture and attend medical school.  I was really hoping this would be a good read.  

I wonder what Christian was expecting when he came to Florida.  I hope he realized that he didn't land himself in typical America situation.  A rich family that will basically adopt him as the long lost son.  I don't think that's a realistic situation.  I was also a little leery of the fact that the daughter just readily accepted him into her friend circle.  I don't think I would have done that, and she doesn't strike me as the type of person who would either.  Plus, I often really didn't like the family Christian leaves with.  The father/doctor seems to have conditions to everything, the mother seems spacey and discounted, and the daughter has more than one issue.

Despite that I liked Christian.  He seems generally optimistic and grateful for the situation he is in.  He knows that it's an awesome opportunity to study medicine in the US.  But at the same time, he's ensure if that's what he truly wants to do.  It's more of what's expected of him and it would be extremely hard for him to strike out in a directions that hasn't been mapped for him.  When the jaguar saves him life, he begins to think of his own mortality.  Does he really want to spend the rest of his life doing something he doesn't really enjoy?

I enjoyed the interactions with the family next door.  Their idiosyncrasies were a sharp contract to the rich world that Christian was accustomed to.  I loved learning about each family member and what they brought to the overall dynamics of the whole group.  I think they taught Christian a lot about life and the bigger picture.

The romantic relationships were a little intense for me.  Christian seems to have little regard for Heather, the girl he lives with.  It's just sex to him, but I'm not sure what it was for her.  And there are some instances that bothered me a little.  Then he meets Aiyana the girl next door and becomes obsessive.  It's a good thing she could handle him, because he became very intense.

I had a really hard time with the beginning third of this book, to the point I almost put it down.  I enjoyed the rest of it for the most part.  An interesting book that I would recommend for older readers.  It's definitely not young adult.

Review - The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron

Title: The Dark Unwinding

Author: Sharon Cameron

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 318

Published: September 1st 2012 by Scholastic Press 

ISBN: 9780545327862

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.   Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.  As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance. 

I Give This ...

I'm not sure what called to me more, the fact that this is set in regency England or that the book seemed to have a steampunk feel to it.  Either way, I was eager to give it a shot.

Katharine proved to me a great lead character.  I think she has an hard place in life.  She's at the mercy of her Aunt and believes she has no other way out but to take the abuse handed to her.  When she's forced to her uncle's estate to see to his affairs, she begins to see that there are worse things than being tossed out of her aunt's house.  She begins to question what's more important, her own perceived shot at happiness.  Or is the happiness and well being of an entire town worth the possibility of a lifetime of just one's own suffering.

What Katharine discovers among her uncle's estate is sometimes confusing.  A house that has endless corridors and rooms, a workshop that consists of gadgets that I couldn't even being to understand mixed in with a group of people that will stop at nothing to make sure their benefactor stays right were he is.  But, not everybody is manipulating Katharine in the ways that she thinks.  Someone on the estate sees power among the inventions tucked away on the farm and think Katharine is the perfect tool to get what they wants.  

I really enjoyed the plot and cast of characters.  There were times the story dragged a little and the details got a little fuzzy.  But, the story was past paced and interesting.  I wondered until the very end of Katherine would have the guts to stand up for her uncle and all that he built.  I truly loved her uncle and felt that she did as well.  I didn't think in the end that she could take away all the he had done.  

I was happy that the story had a generally happy ending.  It didn't end exactly the way that I had hoped.   It does have an open ending leaving room for a sequel.  I would like to see were the character go, so I hope there is one!

Review - Defiance (Defiance #1) by C.J. Redwine

Title: Defiance

Author: C.J. Redwine

Series: 1st

Pages: 416

Pubished: August 28th 2012 by Balzer + Bray 

ISBN:  9780062117182

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.  At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.  As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. 

I Give This ...

I just was never really sure what to make of this book, so I didn't add it to my to-read list right away.  But, the early reviews seemed generally positive and I thought I would give it a try.   I'm glad I did because it's currently one of the better books I've read all year.

Rachel is a riveting lead character that may drive you a little crazy.  I love a strong female lead as much as the next person, but I also realize there's a time and place for all of that.  Rachel tends to be so head strong that she acts first and thinks later.  But, it's that very attribute that leads her to believe her father is alive.  She's willing to risk everything and venture into the Wasteland to find him.  It's the reason her father trained her the way he did.  She was never raised to be the typical female in this society.  She's going to fight until the end, and that's enough to make me admire her.

I loved Logan from the very first section were we get his view point.  His story is so fascinating.  I think is biggest characteristic can also be his flaw, his pride.  He doesn't want to be remembered as the orphan whose mom defined the city's leader.  He wants to prove that he can protect Rachel in light of her father's absence.  But, I think most of all he wants to move beyond what Baalbdoden has to offer, and if he has to bring down the Commander to do it then so be it.

I think what was most interesting about this story is Rachel is not a damsel in distress.  Logan doesn't save her, except maybe from herself.  She goes through a lot of the story on her own, willing herself to be stronger than the people around her.  She really has the weight of the world on her shoulders.  It's not only her life that depends on her success but others as well.   

I also really enjoyed the world that has been created her.  The commander seems heartless and cruel, but there's a lot of little quirks to this society.  It seems like one of those things that was done for the good of the people in the beginning, but now has gotten out of hand.  The monster that plays such a predominate role in this story wasn't the highlight for me.  I kept picture the creatures from the movie Tremors and it totally ruined that aspect of the story.  But, the technology that controlled it was interesting.  I'm looking forward to were that might take us in future books.

Overall I really liked this story.  I was expecting fantasy, but it also has a dystopian feel to i.  Very strong characters and a romance that felt real.  I look forward to the next one!

Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR List

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  If your curious about this meme, visit Top Ten Tuesday where they have previous topics and upcoming topics listed as well.

I did this list for summer as well.  I had high hopes to make a dent in that list considering it was all books from the library or my own pile (plus one that was to be released).  I read 3 total.  Not as high as I had wished.  Here's to trying to knock off the ones on this list! It's a mix of review books I'm looking forward to a library/personal challenge books.

 

• Ashen Winter by Mike Mullin
• The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
• Velveteen by Daniel Marks
• Wolfsbane by Andrea Creamer
• Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margret Stoh
• Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
• Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning
• Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
• Curse the Dawn by Karen Chance
• Hunt the Moon by Karen Chance 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. Click on the picture to be taken to Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

 

 

You can tell school started last week.  Only 2 books for me.  Hoping when we get in the swing of things I will be back up to 3.

Read Last Week:  

• The Emerald Storm by Michael J. Sullivan
• Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren

Currently Reading: 

• Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

Up This Week: 

• Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter 
• Dearly Beloved by Lia Habel

In My Mailbox!

For Review:

• My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris

Would you believe I walked into Barnes and Noble loaded with a gift card and walked out with nothing.  They didn't have a single thing in stock that I wanted (ok that's kind of lie, but I have a hard time buying hardback books from there when they run about $10 more than Amazon).   They also had them oddly arranged, so it's possible that they had something and I just couldn't find it.  I was extremely disappointed!

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!  It's hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

 

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!