Saturday, February 22, 2014

Stacking the Shelves (February 22)




Stacking the Shelves
- Hosted by: Tynga’s Reviews





Description: Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!


E-Book/Kindle Reads:

 


Let me just start by saying that I've had a pretty excellent book week and I am very happy with my finds and purchases :). To start with, I went and bought the second book in the At Somerton series by Leila Rasheed - Diamonds and Deceit...I read the first book Cinders & Sapphires in a day, and I had to know what happened! (...and feed my Downton Abbey withdrawals.) I have already finished this one (again a one day read!), and will be posting a review shortly, but it did not disappoint! Plus look at that cover - gorgeous right?

My other two purchases were The Captive Maiden and Where the Stars Still Shine. I love both of the covers for these two books, and I've had my eye on The Captive Maiden for awhile now. I am a sucker for fairy tale retellings, and this one happens to be a Cinderella retelling. I've also heard great things about the author (Melanie Dickerson), but have not had the chance to try her out yet. 

Where the Stars Still Shine was my Kindle deal of the week, it was only $1.99. For that price who can resist a beautiful cover and intriguing premise? I think both sound like excellent reads, so I'm very excited to try them out.


Book Buys:

   




My bookstore finds this week include three new to me authors, one of whom I've seen around on other blogs and have been meaning to try out. My first buy was Something Like Normal by Trish Dollar (who also wrote Where The Stars Still Shine my $1.99 Kindle deal of the week buy). This one looks really good, and I love the topic she's tackling, so I'm really looking forward to this read. I have to say, I'm a bit of a sucker for YA books that try to open up discussion around tough, relevant, real life topics.

My other two choices funnily enough both include the word secret in their titles. Maid of Secrets and Manor of Secrets are both historical drama type reads, I always love a good trip back in time. 

Manor of Secrets instantly appealed to me, not only because of the cover - have you looked at this cover? But also because of the time period and the fact that it reminds me of Downton Abbey (have I mentioned that I love that show?). 

Maid of Secrets on the other hand, involves a historical setting and a "secret society of protectors" in the court of Queen Elizabeth. Secrets, intrigue, a royal court setting, and espionage? I'm sold! I think it sounds very intriguing and fun, cannot wait to try it out.


How about you - what are your favorite genres or plot features that have you "sold"? Anyone else buy any great new reads this week? Please feel free to comment and share a link to your new reads below. 


Jenn
 Tale of Two Doxies









45 comments:

  1. I have Diamonds and Deceit waiting for me, liked the first book so looking forward to it. Happy reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just finished it and posted a review, it was a quick read and very enjoyable - can't wait for the next installment! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did, thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. **Big sigh** I loved Where the Stars Still Shine. Not only was the book wonderful, but that cover is one of my favorites ever. It's gorgeous... and so is the story inside.

    Check out my StS and my birthday giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I keep hearing great things about it, so I'm very excited to get to that one. And I completely agree about the cover - I love it! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  3. Oh nice! These are all new to me! Hope you enjoy each and every one of them!

    My STS will be up tomorrow, so be sure to stop by then!

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll definitely stop by to check it out, you always seem to have some great reads that I haven't seen yet. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  4. I really want to read Where The Stars Still Shine. I hope you enjoy all of these books!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm really looking forward to that one - I keep hearing great things about it and the cover is just beautiful. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. Lovely haul, Jen :) I love historical romances, especially if they are able to capture the 'feel' of the time they are set in :)
    I hope you'll enjoy your new acquisitions!
    Thanks for stopping by earlier. Have a wonderful weekend.

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I definitely agree, I love a good historical romance - the ones that sweep you up and make you feel as though you've been transported back in time. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  6. I'm now really curious about Diamonds & Deceit, though I haven't read the first book. Hmmmmm. Enjoy!

    My STS, if you're interested.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just finished it and I really liked it a lot :) I definitely recommend it, though I would start with Cinders & Sapphires since it picks up where that one leaves off. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  7. I haven't read any I confess but I saw some reviews and I really hope you'll like them all. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Melliane, hope you have a great weekend - thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  8. I need to start the At Somerton series, and Manor of Secrets sounds amazing! Thanks for stopping by. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you enjoy historical dramas and/or English Estate dramas I definitely recommend the At Somerton series. I just finished the second one today, can't wait for the third! Thanks for stopping by :)

      Delete
  9. If the At Somerton series has a Downton Abbey feel then I must check it out as the second book sounds really good. That is exactly the reason I wanted to read The Manor Secret because it has that kind of feel too. (I LOVE that show as well..lol)

    Thanks for stopping by my blog I hope you enjoy all your reads!
    Stormi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds like those reads are definitely a good fit for you - I've already finished both the At Somerton's and definitely enjoyed them so I would recommend them if you're looking for a Downton-esque fix. :) Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  10. Great haul, lots of wonderful deals. Enjoy At Somerton series. I really want to read that one too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's really good so far - hope you get the chance to read it as well. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  11. Manor of Secrets sounds so good! Great haul!
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm really excited for that one, I love the premise and the cover. Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

      Delete
  12. Great haul! I adored Where the Stars Still Shine. Enjoy them :) My STS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So many people are saying great things about that one - I might have to move it up my pile! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  13. Ooh, can't go past a $2 book! That's epic! I always seem to miss the kindle deals which sucks. Haha! Happy reading! XD Thanks for stopping by mine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know right? Love it when I see a good Kindle deal - I've been trying to check the daily deal a few times a week and checking twitter so I can check them once in a while. Thanks for stopping by! :)

      Delete
  14. I heard great things on Where the Stars Still Shine. Happy reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I keep hearing how good it is - and I've started reading her other book so I believe it won't disappoint. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  15. Nice haul! I hope you enjoy all that you got.

    Thanks for stopping by my STS.

    Sabina @ Delirious About Books

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks I'm pretty pleased with my picks the week - now I justbwishni had a week off to read them all :) thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  16. Great haul. I really want to read Where the Stars Still Shine, it looks so good. I hope you enjoy all of your books :) My STS.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! It's got a gorgeous cover and I'm very intrigued by the premise - I'm reading her other book now and it's really good so far. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  17. WOW!! You have so many awesome books this week, many i want to read myself. i heard great things about where the stars still shine. happy reading :)

    hope you can stop by my StS Post.

    -michelle @ Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks

    ReplyDelete
  18. DIAMONDS & DECEIT has an awesome cover. And I still have to read MAID OF SECRETS. I love the author, and I'm sure the book will rock. Great haul this week!

    Stop by my haul

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really does, it was how I first noticed the series actually. I haven't read anything by Jennifer McGowan before, so I'm glad to hear you enjoy her. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  19. Something Like Normal was really good. Very touching. And I'm tempted to read Where The Stars Still Shine. That cover is so pretty. Hope you enjoy your books! Here's ours if you'd like to see it: BiblioJunkies Happy Reading! ~ Bel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm reading Something Like Normal right now, and it seems really good so far. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  20. Hope you enjoy all of these, they look amazing :)

    My STS this week!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Several of these are on my tbr. Great stack! Thanks for stopping by mine!

    Tressa @ Tressa's Wishful Endings

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great haul! Maid of Secrets is on my to-read list and I am going to have to add The Captive Maiden now I think. :) Happy Reading!
    Here are my newest additions .

    ReplyDelete