Stacking the Shelves (137)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what they got throughout the week!

From Publishers/Authors

SO MANY BOOKS. I honestly don't realize how many books show up at my house until I do my post every Saturday and see all of them together. I am so excited for all of these, too! I love Kim Karr and Judi Fennell, and how awesome does The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B look? I've never heard of it before and it just showed up on my doorstep! And the cover is so pretty! I'll definitely be reading that one soon. I definitely can't wait to dig into all of these! 

From Amazon

I got a $20 Amazon gift card from a survey website and, of course, spent it on books! All of these were around $4 and all are in perfect condition! I've been dying to read Catherine and Nowhere But Here. I've already read Dare You To and loved it, so I wanted my own copy. When I saw Just a Boy Standing in Front of a Boy online, I immediately starting flipping out. Notting Hill is one of my favorite movies and the title of this book is the quote Julia Roberts says to Hugh Grant at the end and it's the BEST MOMENT EVER. So when I saw that this book existed, I knew that I had to own it. I love my new goodies! 

That's it for me! What did you all add to your shelves this week? 

Book Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander

By Diana Gabaldon

Release Date: July 1, 2014 (originally in 1991)

Source: Publisher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Summary: The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon—when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life . . . and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire . . . and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives. 

Review: Finally. FINALLY. Not only did I finally get the chance to pick this book up after obsessively watching the first season of the show, but I finally had the chance to finish the gosh darn thing! Coming in at 850, this definitely took awhile to read (a month between reading other books), but it was worth every second. 

A former nurse, Claire Randall has survived the war and is now simply enjoying life on a second honeymoon with her husband in 1945. But when she walks through a strange stone circle, she is hurled back in time to 1743 Scotland. Claire is instantly brought into the lives of Scottish highlanders and, though she does fight to get back to her time, she finds herself forming bonds with the men, especially the young warrior Jamie Fraser. Jamie shows Claire passion and love she thought she had but realizes she never actually did. With emotions brewing, Claire is torn between her past and her present, lives with two men who couldn't be more different. 

Wow. To say I was utterly freaking out the entire time I was reading this book is an understatement. Like I said, I watched and obsessed about the show before I even started this book, so I came in with some pretty high expectations. The Claire and Jamie in this book, though, are SO MUCH MORE than they were in the show. I felt more connected to Claire as I got inside of her mind and really felt the attraction and connection between her and Jamie that I only slightly got in the show. Those two are just so connected to each other, both physically and emotionally, and I loved watching them grow to learn to trust and love each other. What surprised me most, though, was how closely the show followed the book. The show stops at about the 300 page mark in the book, so from there on I had no idea what to expect.

You would think Diana Gabaldon would run out of things for Claire and Jamie to do in a novel that is 850 pages long, but, shoot, there was so much action! Seriously, they were going all over the country and getting into all sorts of trouble and the book was simply impossible to put down. There was one point that I was literally freaking out to the point where I had to look ahead to see how that part of the novel ended just to ease my nerves. I know, I know, looking ahead is horrible, but I was about to have a heart attack! Any book that gets that kind of reaction from me and is 850 pages of constant action or at least interesting dialogue is a keeper to me. Even when they spent days or weeks traveling or just going through life, there wasn't a dull moment in this book. And, seriously, who doesn't love Jamie? He is so freaking adorable and stubborn and strong and just man. I'm definitely hopping onto the next plane to Scotland to find those stones so that I can go back to the 1700s and find a Scottish warrior of my own…

I know you've all probably heard about Outlander one way or another and already have your opinions on it. But seriously, you HAVE to read it. And if you don't have time to read it, then watch the show. Both have amazing characters and truly bring the world alive of Scotland in 1743. There are so many amazing, complex characters aside from Claire and Jamie and watching their stories and relationships play out is just fascinating. I'm not sure if I'll be able to read the entire series, but I'm definitely going to carve out some time in the next couple of months to tackle book two to find out what happens to Claire as she navigates a world so unlike her own. 

Book Review: Thoughtful by SC Stephens

Thoughtful (Thoughtless 1.5)

By SC Stephens

Release Date: February 24, 2015

Source: Publisher

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Summary: In Thoughtless, Kiera told her story. Now it's time for Kellan Kyle to share his side in Thoughtful . . .

The only place Kellan has ever felt at home is on stage. Gripping his guitar in a darkened bar, he can forget his painful past. These days his life revolves around his music and his band mates, and that's the way he likes it. And then one woman changes everything . . .

Kiera is the kind of girl Kellan has no business wanting - she's smart, sweet, and dating his best friend. Certain he could never be worthy of her love, he hides his growing attraction . . . until Kiera's own tormented heart hints that his feelings might not be one-sided. Now, no matter the consequences, Kellan is sure of one thing: he won't let Kiera go without a fight.

Review: Words cannot even begin to describe how much I love Kellan Kyle and the Thoughtless series. I devoured all three books when they came out about two years ago and haven't been able to forget about Keria and Kellan's story ever since. When I heard that Thoughtful was coming out and it was Kellan's point of view, I knew that I had to read it!

After always never feeling good enough as a child, Kellan has found a home onstage where he can shine with his guitar and best friends. It also gives Kellan the opportunity to feel that connection with his fans, on and off the stage, and never feel alone. From the moment Kiera walks into the bar, though, Kellan is completely struck by how sweet and beautiful of a person she is. The only problem? She's completely in love with his best friend. Kellan does his best to resist Kiera and be happy for his friend, but when things start to heat up between them and Kellan realizes Kiera may just feel the same way about him, Kellan won't back down without a fight. 

I thought I loved Kellan when I read the Thoughtless series, but holy cow do I love Kellan now. Being inside of his head was so heart-wrenchingly beautiful and I felt so many emotions throughout the entire novel. His relationship with Kiera is so back and forth and I was surprised how much I started to really hate Kiera. It's been awhile since I've read Thoughtless, so I don't remember all of the details of her story, but I just started to hate her for putting Kellan through so much pain! She seemed so selfish in this book because we didn't get to see all that was happening between her and Denny. What we got was Kellan's desire to feel wanted and worthy of someone and have Kiera constantly taking that away from him. Ugh! Kellan is so deserving of love in this book that it just broke my heart!

Having Kellan's point of view means that we got to see the guys act like, well, guys around him. It was fun seeing the band together and how they act around each other. My only problem with this book, though, was that Kellan's emotions became a bit redundant and I felt like we were in his head a little too much. Yes, I get he loves Kiera and has a hard time wanting her while wanting her to still be with Denny, but we didn't need so many inside moments and I could have used more action in the plot rather than inner monologue within Kellan's mind. Other than that redundancy, though, I felt even more connected to Kellan in this book and just wanted to shake Kiera for putting him through so much pain! Can't she see what an amazing guy is right in front of her?!?! Granted, Kellan did have his part in the hardships of their relationship, but he had to put up with so much when all he wanted was to feel loved! 

Before even thinking of starting this book, you have to read Thoughtless. Once you see Kiera's point of view, you'll be able to handle her character's flaws in this book and truly appreciate the emotions and hardships they face in this book. And be prepared to fall completely heed-over-heels in love with the super sweet, yet completely unnerving singer named Kellan Kyle. That's a name you'll never, ever forget after reading this series! 

Cover Reveal: Under the Influence by LB Simmons

Dalton,

I loved you once. A love I thought irrevocable. A love I mistakenly believed could transcend both time and circumstance. Under the influence of my dimwitted, naïve, traitorous heart, I became intoxicated with what I now know was simply a figment of my self-indulgent imagination. So drunk on the feeling, I couldn’t see what was right in front of my face. So foolishly enamored, I blindly followed my heart into the depths of an emotion that would ravage me. 

Years later, I know now what I wish I knew then. I am stronger. Smarter. Tougher. I will not allow myself to be broken again. 

I loved you.

I raged for you.

I wept for you.

And now, I’m letting you go.

Author's Note

Under the Influence is the journey of two childhood friends that spans the course of five pivotal years in their lives. It is a story about their discovery of true friendship as it blossoms into first love, their experience of crucial sacrifice and ultimate betrayal, and their endurance of agonizing heartbreak on the way to finding lasting redemption.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Make sure to sign-up HERE for L. B Simmons newsletter for exclusive sneak peaks into 

Under the Influence and a first look at Chapter 1.

About the Author

L.B. Simmons is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a degree in Biomedical Science.  She has been a practicing Chemist for the last 11 years.  She lives with her husband and three daughters in Texas and writes every chance she gets.

FACEBOOK   TWITTER  TSU   WEBSITE   GOODREADS   AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

LB Simmons' book The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is on sale for only $.99 cents on Amazon! I LOVED this book, so you all should go and get yourselves a copy while it's on sale for such a great deal! Check out my review of the novel right here!

Waiting On Wednesday (183)

  

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of!

Nowhere But Here
By Katie McGarry 
Release Date: May 26, 2015

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both. 

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down. 

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

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KATIE MCGARRY IS COMING OUT WITH A NEW BOOK. Seriously, I have yet to read a book by Katie McGarry that I have not loved. And I've read almost every single one of her books. I'm so excited to read a book outside of her Pushing the Limits series! This one sounds SO GOOD. I'm not sure how I feel about the main character being named Oz, but boy does he sound yummy! I definitely can't wait for this one! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Heroines from Books

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given. So hopefully I'll have a new list to share with you all each week!

1. Hermione from Harry Potter

2. Olivia from Before Jamaica Lane

3. Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice

4. Abby Abernathy from Beautiful Disaster

5. Cassie from The 5th Wave

6. Annie from Breathe, Annie, Breathe

7. Claire from Outlander

8. JD Schwenk from Dairy Queen

9. Cath from Fangirl

10. Katy from Obsidian