My Reading Pile #98

It was an absolutely wonderful week at the mailbox this week. When I started writing this post a couple of days ago I only had two amazing books in my possession. But this afternoon I received a few surprises. Hence the two pictures.

[Credit for mailbox sharing goes to The Story Siren]

I received an ARC of UNBREAKABLE by Elizabeth Norris thanks to the very awesome Jaime of Two Chicks on Books. Well, I say awesome, but I hadn’t planned on reading UNBREAKABLE early. It is a series-ending book and I didn’t want to end this two-book series quite so soon. But I will be adding it to the pile this week because Jaime says I have to. So. Not. Awesome.

I also received a signed copy of SLUMBER by Samantha Young with its gorgeous new cover. Just check the link on Goodreads to see how stunning it is. Or check my Twitter pics as I have a snap of it there. Wolfe and Rogan are two of my very favorite characters and the fact that I have this gorgeous book in print gives me all kinds of smiles. This author is amazing and generous and an incredible talent.

In the second picture are three books that showed up at my door this afternoon. I did not expect the package and I literally stumbled over it as I opened the door. While I knew I’d be getting an ARC of FLICKER & BURN by T.M. Goeglein, I did not expect it quite so soon. Yes, I am so unbelievably excited to have this in my possession. And I did not expect the other two awesome ARCs that showed up – WHITE LINES by Jennifer Banash and PHOENIX by Elizabeth Richards – thanks to Penguin.

As I have quite a few review books stacked on the pile already, I really shouldn’t be reading any of the books shown above, but…

Here are the books I have in my reading pile this week.
(January 27, 2013 – February 2, 2013)

First up on the pile is DANCE OF SHADOWS by Yelena Black. I received an eARC a couple of weeks ago courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, Bloomsbury Childrens Books.

I first noticed this on NetGalley a few weeks ago and was drawn in by the cover. But it was the description that reeled me in completely. Apparently for the main character, Vanessa Adler, “dance is deadly.” And when she dances “the world around her turns to flames.”

I am so curious about just what happens in this story as Vanessa is a ballerina and it sounds like she will be a deadly threat to any of her dance partners. And, no, I did not miss the irony that she was chosen to dance the lead in “Firebird.”

As this is the first book in the series, I’m just so curious what will happen with Vanessa as the series progresses. Especially since the description mentions that in this particular book she’s caught the eye of three men – Zep, Justin and Josef. And it also mentions “danger” and “burning forces about to be unleashed,” which makes me very excited to read this book

And I am so stoked to have the chance to read it early.

I never thought I’d get the chance to read UNBREAKABLE by Elizabeth Norris early. I only recently read UNRAVELING and I am still reeling from certain things that happened in that book.

To now have the second book, whose description nearly killed me when I read it, is so unbelievably awesome. And it’s all thanks to Jaime. Of course….

She did also mention to me that UNBREAKABLE was the final book in the series. That this isn’t going to be a trilogy. Which means that UNBREAKABLE is a series-ending book and I’m just not sure I am ready to say goodbye. Actually, I know I’m not ready to say goodbye.

But I am so curious about what happens with Janelle and Ben in this book. I hear that there’s much more of Agent Barclay. And I’m told that is a really good thing. But the description does mention that Ben is the “prime suspect” in a human trafficking ring. Which is so not a good thing. For Ben anyway… and his family.

UNBREAKABLE sounds so completely tension-filled and nerve-wracking. It sounds like there will be a ticking clock – just five days for Janelle to put the pieces of the puzzle together. And it sounds like things between her and Ben aren’t necessarily what she thought they were.

I cannot wait to find out what happens, even though I really want to… wait that is… since I don’t want to have to say goodbye.

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Wishful Thinking Reads:

I would love to be able to read GODDESS by Josephine Angelini. But as I don’t have an early copy and it won’t be releasing for ages, it is only a mere wish that I could read it.

I also wish I could be reading POISON by Bridget Zinn this week. Because after seeing the amazing cover on Twitter earlier I was reminded yet again of how much I’m dying to read this book.

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Those Left Behind:

Once again I’ve fallen behind on my reading. There was even more drama this week and I only spent maybe an hour reading since last Saturday when I read Episode Four of THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS.

I’ve read twenty-five percent of ILLUMINATE which I love, but I just hadn’t had time to read at all this week. So I’m hoping for some downtime this weekend to finish it before I start on this week’s reads.

And I still haven’t finished my review for HOUSE RULES but I did get my EVERBOUND review posted as planned and I will have my review for WHAT THE SPELL posted on the blog on Tuesday, so I’m not horribly behind with reviews.

I just didn’t get to post the two-and-a-half reviews I wanted to have posted because of all the insanity this past week. Here’s to hoping for a little more calm this week.

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NetGalley Pile Adds:

I didn’t put in a single request on NetGalley this past week. My review eBooks and print books are starting to stack up, so I thought I’d keep my eyes closed and stay far, far away. But….

I had to check to see if there was anything new this week so I could include a link here in this post. And it seems there are some awesome-sounding books that I’d really love to request. I’m holding strong… for now….

Here are the books on my radar…

DOUBLE CROSSED by Ally Carter (Disney Book Group, Jan 22, 2013) A Spies and Thieves novella

THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING by Ashley Elston (Disney Book Group, May 14, 2013)

A TASTE OF HEAVEN by Meg Tilly (Penguin Canada, Feb 1, 2013)

HOW TO LEAD A LIFE OF CRIME by Kirsten Miller (Razorbill, Feb 21, 2013)

EMBLAZE by Jessica Shirvington (Sourcebooks, Mar 1, 2013) *A limited number of galleys will be approved*

WHITE LINES by Jennifer Banash (Putnam Juvenile, Apr 4, 2013)

QUICKSILVER by R.J. Anderson (Lerner Publishing Group, Mar 1, 2013)

NANTUCKET BLUE by Leila Howland (Disney Book Group, May 7, 2013)

HOMEROOM HEADHUNTERS by Clay Chapman (Disney Book Group, May 7, 2013)

So that’s not too long of a list. Though I did not do a full and thorough search. As there are always a few hidden gems, I am sure I missed one or two or twenty. But it’s been such a crazy week and I’m more than ready to disappear into a book instead of searching the eStacks at NetGalley.

If all goes more peaceably in the next week, I’ll take a lot longer look. But until then I hope you find a title you’ve been dying to get your hands on. And I really, really, then hope you’re approved.

It’s been another terrible blogging week, even worse than the previous. And I seem to have eaten away every bit of cushion I once had with my posts. I hope to get back on track this week and I think I’ll try to stay out of the spotlight if I possibly can.

I am expecting a couple of books in the mail soon, and I’m hoping for the trades I made to show up at some point soon, as well. And while I don’t think I have any books sitting in my actual mailbox, I haven’t checked for a couple of days, so there very well might be. Fingers most definitely crossed.

Anyway….

I hope that you were able to get caught up in – and maybe even lost in – a few books this past week and have a few awesome books planned for the current week. If you’d like to share the books on your pile I’d love to hear about them.

And if you create a post about your reads or the books you’ve received this week, leave a link in the comments and I’ll check it out.

I wish you a drama-free week of reading and blogging! Until next week….

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Do you create a reading pile?
If so, what’s in your pile this week?