My Reading Pile #61

Aside from the signed copies of City of Lost Souls that I purchased, this week was pretty quiet as far as the mailbox is concerned. I actually wasn’t expecting anything, but one book did show up.

Credit for mailbox sharing goes to TSS.

I received a copy of Betrayed by Ednah Walters for review from the awesome folks at Spencer Hill Press.

I am really excited to check this book out. I’d heard of the author and her series when it was self-published and I actually have one of the books in that series on my Kindle. But I’m super glad I hadn’t yet read it so that I can read this book without comparisons or influence from the earlier version.

Betrayed is due out in early June and I definitely plan on reading this prior to release. But for now….

Here are the books I have in my reading pile this week.

(May 13 – May 19, 2012)

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First up on the pile is Starling by Lesley Livingston. I received an ARC through a trade and after Jaime of Two Chicks On Books sent me a photo of a certain passage involving the Fennrys Wolf, I knew I had to move this book right to the top of the pile.

I loved the author’s Wondrous Strange series, fell in love with Kelley, Sonny and Fenn and was just so sad to see the series end. But when I heard that Starling continued Fenn’s story, I was ecstatic.

And Starling sounds seriously awesome. I love the fact that this story also takes place in New York City. And I love the fact that Mason Starling’s family has some kind of connection with the Norse gods. But most of all I love, love, love that Fenn appears to have amnesia.

Starling sounds like it will be an action-packed adventure, with a mystery I know I’ll love unraveling with the characters. And I am dying to see what the author does with the Norse mythology in this story. And that first line of the description has me absolutely intrigued - ”Love is just the beginning… of the end.”

Yes, there was no way I’d be able to wait until closer to release date to put this book on top of the pile.

Next up on the pile is Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. I have the eBook and a print copy, but as the print copy is signed I will be reading the eBook version. Which I’ve owned since release date. Which has been begging to be read ever since. And yet which has never made it onto the pile… until now.

At first it was because I was hesitant to pick up this new story in a world I loved with other characters than my very favorite ones. I was worried I’d spend the entire read missing them and not be able to get into this book. But then I heard that the story included Adrian, which the description didn’t even hint at.

But by that time I was just too bogged down with reads that I couldn’t get it to the top of the pile. Well, after much pressure and getting a chance to borrow the sequel, I just couldn’t hold out any longer.

I’ve always thought Sydney was awesome and I am excited about heading to Palm Springs where the characters won’t just be moroi and dhampirs.

Richelle Mead is an awesome writer. I still haven’t quite recovered from the mid-series heartbreak in the Vampire Academy series. Though I have to say I loved how the next book played out because of it. But I’m super excited to see what happens with Adrian as he’s one of those characters that I want to have a happily ever after.

Wishful Thinking reads:

If I Die by Rachel Vincent is my only wishful thinking read this week. I know I’ll have an entire month to re-read this book for the challenge, but after finishing My Soul to Steal I really need IID to make me smile.

I’ve read If I Die a few times, but I hadn’t read it just after reading MStSteal so I’m curious to see if it changes anything.

Those left behind:

I sort of went a bit off pile last week and didn’t read either book I had planned on reading. Not because I couldn’t get into them or because the books aren’t amazing. But I’ve been in a bit of a funk and I didn’t want that to affect my reading enjoyment of two books I know I’ll love.

So, I decided to do a bit of re-reading instead for two books I already adore - My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent for the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge and The Long Walk by Stephen King because that is one book that will always be out of this world amazing.

I will be reading both books from last week before I start this week’s reads because I think I’m starting to come out of my mood… well, I hope I am. But I’ll also be reading a purely for me book that I won’t be reviewing on any blog. And no, it’s not that book that everyone’s talking/ranting about.

NetGalley Pile Adds:

I’ve stayed away from NetGalley this week. I’m really trying to squeeze in the books I’ve already agreed to review through NetGalley before requesting any new ones. And I’m eternally hopeful that I’ll get a few read over the summer.

But that remains to be determined.

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I’ve been in such a snark the past few weeks that it’s made it tough to read. I’m a mood reader and when I’m in a snarky mood, it’s tough to get lost in a book. I become overly critical and that’s just not how I like to read. And with a few less than stellar reads for me lately, which ended with a hugely disappointing non-YA read, I’ve been wary of picking up any of my “dying for” reads.

But going off pile for an old favorite I believe has helped. Although I’m still in full-on snark mode, I found that I was able to get lost in a book without nit-picking. So, instead of feeling anxious I’m feeling hopeful.

So, anyway, I have some pretty amazing reads ahead of me that I just know I’ll love – yes, I do go into reads with that much faith in them and the author. But I’d love to hear what you’ve got planned for the week ahead.

Happy reading!

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Do you create a reading pile?

If so, what’s in your pile this week?