Leap Into Books Giveawy Hop-2016-Open INT

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Task it Tuesday-Week 8 of 2016

  

So I am finally feeling better and started to get things done.  Not a lot of blogging or read but real life.  After being sick so long, so many real life tings fell to the side and I had to play catch-up this past week.  But I did alright overall.  

I got the house picked up, made some cookies and have been getting a bit too addicted to playing Treasure Madness on facebook again.  I have a few days of VIP status there right now so that is my free time for the next few days lol.  Love this silly click game!  

The push for this next week (besides the above mentioned game) is blogging, my closet and finishing up some books by the end of this month.  I always have had too many books going and it has come to bite me in the butt, so to speak.  I want to start March off on a bit cleaner slate. I doubt I will catch up on them all but every page closer helps!

Blogging

• Write/post 7 reviews -(got 2 up)
• 3 Discussion/other Post (meme styles don't count)
• Get STS post up to date
• Catalog all January & February ebooks I have received/purchases onto Goodreads shelf.
• Finish getting Archive, Genres And Guest Interview pages up to date
• Catalog 594 books I own
• Catch up on comment responses for 2016
• Write any 2 posts (reviews, discussions, thoughts, other...non memes/giveaways!)
• Responding to all comments made prior to 2016
• Go through Edelweiss and Netgalley for new titles I can't live without (but stay smart about requests!) 
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•  
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• List another 100 books I own

•   Write another 3 posts
•   clean up social media and other blogging  follows and likes so I actually find the content for those I really have an true, regular interest in.
  1. Twitter
  2. Facebook
  3. Pinterest 
  4.  GFC
  5. Bloglovin
  
  
  
   

Reading

• Read Eragon (made progress)
• Read Sierra Jensen series Bks 4-12 (read Bk 4)
• Read 8 manga (read 4,  1/2 through the next)
• Read Ashley Bell
• Read Rebel Nation
• Finish Ready Player One
• Finish Invaded
• Finish The 5th Wave
• Finish Golden Son
• Read 3rd book of Troubled Times series
• Read Eldest
• Finish The Gateway through which they came
• Finish Black
• Finish Steampunk 

Manga Review: Deadman Wonderland Vol 2

 

 

Deadman Wonderland Volume 2 

by Jinsei Kataoka & Kazuma Kondou

Genre(s) Manga, Graphic Novel

Pages: 208

Originally Published: Dec 2007

Publisher: Viz Media

 

 

 

Official Synopsis: "Framed for the brutal murders of his classmates by the mysterious Red Man, middle school student Ganta Igarashii finds himself sentenced to death and sent to the bizarre and fatal theme park/prison that has risen from the ruins of the Great Tokyo Earthquake—a hell on earth known as “Deadman Wonderland.”

Falsely accused of murdering his classmates and sentenced to death in Deadman Wonderland, Ganta begins to learn more about life inside the prison walls. Upon hearing that the Red Man, the strange being that killed his friends, is in the G Ward, Ganta heads there seeking answers—and revenge. Instead he finds a mysterious man who calls him “Woodpecker.”"

 

"While on the hunt for the Red Man, Ganta is thrown into a battle exhibition called the Carnival of Corpses, in which he is matched up against the powerful Senji. The battle is intense, but even if Ganta wins, is he prepared for the consequences?"

 

 

 

 Review:  This really is one of the strangest mangas I have read. I honestly don't know what to think of it at this point. I like parts of it but others are vague, leaving me with so many questions.

Stacking the Shelves 100

 

 Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, every Weekend. This is to share books I have acquired from various sources. Physical books & ebooks both are welcome. If its something being sent to me by mail, I will not mention it until I actually receive it. 

FINALLY I AM ALL CAUGHT UP ON ALL BOOKS!!!!! This is my February acquisition to date.

Alright, so I thought I was being good and prepping this post ahead of time and then a box of books I ordered came in plus I went to a thrift store and had a bit of fun in the book section.  Plus my OTSPSecretSister gift came in this week.  SO I have physical pictures of all the above mentioned books toward the end. Everything else is cover shot copies of what I have.

MASSIVE HAUL WARNING!!!!

 

Review: The Dominant by Tara Sue Me (an adult novel)

 

 

The Submissive: The Dominant (2)

 

by Tara Sue Me

 

Genre(s) 18+/Adult, Romance

Pages: 352

Published: Aug 2009

Publisher: NAL

 

 

 

 

 

Official Synopsis:  "Nathaniel West doesn’t lose control.

As the playboy CEO of West Industries, he governs the boardroom during the day; as a strict dominant with exacting rules, he commands the bedroom at night. He never takes on inexperienced submissives, but when Abigail King’s application comes across his desk, he breaks his own restrictions and decides to test her limits.

Abby’s combination of innocence and willingness is intoxicating, and Nathaniel is soon determined to collar her as his own. As long as she follows his orders and surrenders herself fully to him, no one will get hurt.

But when Nathaniel begins falling for Abby on a deeper level, he realizes that the trust must go both ways—and he has secrets which could bring the foundations of their entire relationship crashing down..."

 

 

 

 

 

 Review:  This book is a flipped perspective of the first book, The Submissive (click the link to learn more and read my review). This can be read as a standalone in replacement of The Submissive if you choose but I highly suggest reading both. Now we get the story of how Nathaniel West falls in love with his new submissive, Abby King.

A lot of this runs the same course the first book did. Many of the scenes are the same, just we are getting his side of the story. But we also get some fun extras. Like the knowledge of how he first came across Abby, to his reaction to her application and his interactions with friends and family. This book gives Nathaniel more depth which was nice.

Task it Tuesday- Week 6 of 2016

  

I have been have a very rough past several weeks.  From The Flu, to a cold, to Bronchitis, back to a cold with allergies!  Ugh!  I cannot win.  Toss is a psoriasis issue on my leg,  a toothache, eye issues and chronic arm/hand pain  and I am just dandy!! So very little has been done on any level.  I get less than 2 hours sleep a night (you should see the bags under my eyes) and an exhausted.  So my task this week is just to get well.  I added a few blogging/reading tasks but honestly I get to what I get to this week.  I just want to come back next week and say I am relatively healthy once more.  But here is what I did do, and what I still hope to do (once I am well).

Blogging

• Write/post 7 reviews -(got 1 up)
  
• 3 Discussion/other Post (meme styles don't count) -(1 done)
  
• Get STS post up to date -progress
  
• Catalog all January ebooks I have received/purchases onto Goodreads shelf. -(made progress)
  
• Finish getting Archive, Genres And Guest Interview pages up to date
• Catalog 494 books I own
• Update "about me" and policy page
  
• Catch up on comment responses for 2016
  
• Reply to at least 25 comments made prior to 2016.

•   
•  
•  
• Write any 2 posts (reviews, discussions, thoughts, other...non memes/giveaways!)
• Finish responding to all comments made prior to 2016
• Catalog another 100 books
• Go through Edelweiss and Netgalley for new titles I can't live without (but stay smart about requests!)

Books

• Read Eragon (progress)
  
• Read Sierra Jensen series Bks 3-12 (Bk 3 done)
  
• Read The Fiery Heart
• Read 3 manga (read 2)
  
• Read Ashley Bell
  
• Read Rebel Nation
  
• Finish Ready Player One
  
• Finish Invaded
  
• Finish The 5th Wave
  
• Finish Golden Son
  
• Finish The Rosemary Spell
  
• Finish The River
  
• Finish 3rd book of Troubled Times series (progress)
  
• Read Eldest

GIVEAWAY TIME!! February New Release Giveaway Hop- OPEN INT

 

Any book published in FEB 2016 could be yours.  Well, any book up to $15 that is. You can get a print book from The Book Depository OR 1 ebook via Amazon or B&N.

Fiction, nonfiction, Y.A, Adult, childrens, graphic novels...you name it, you can pick it!  It is not limited to the image about although there are some great and popular titles there!

Dare I read this romance?

I often wonder what draws you into a romance or what do you like or not like to read that involve a romance.  

For the most part I am not a romance reader in the traditional sense.  Sure, I can enjoy romance within a book I read but typically, not a traditional reader of romance.  Paranormal being the main exception.  I guess I should state I don't usually like contemporary romance or historical romance.  Those Avon books with the bosom-busting  women being swept off by the Fabio-type guys are an instant NO for me.  I don't even bother with the summary.  But every now and then, a romance sneaks by me.

Stacking the Shelves 99

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, every Weekend. This is to share books I have acquired from various sources. Physical books & ebooks both are welcome. If its something being sent to me by mail, I will not mention it until I actually receive it. 

So a mix of review books, some last swaps made from on online site I will never use again (more to come on that probably next week) and a few purchases.  I also got my latest round of mangas from Viz Media recently, and will share those on next weeks post, along with a few other swaps this didn't quite make this list.  I snapped a blurry picture on Instagram of some of these  but for some reason I can't upload it. Oh well, very fuzzy pic anyways.  So a few paperbacks also to push over to next time. Otherwise, I am finally just about up to date sharing all my new lovelies for the winter!

REVIEW: Follow the White Rabbit by Kellie Sheridan

 

Beautiful Madness: Follow the White Rabbit (1)

by Kellie Sheridan

Genre(s): Retellings, Fantasy

Pages: 100

Published: May 2013

Publisher: Patchwork Press

Official Blurb:  "For centuries, Wonderland thrived as the domain of beautiful bedlam and unapologetic madness. It was a place like no other. All it took was one girl slipping in through the cracks of the universe to start chaos spiraling toward order. In the 150 years since Alice’s visit, the realm has become tainted—almost normal. Rabbits in waistcoats and playing card minions are little more than creatures of myth, and Wonderland is literally falling to pieces.

For Gwen, Rose, and Lucky, Wonderland is home, and yet they know little of its former glory. When the Alice prophecy resurfaces, they’ll have one chance to use Wonderland’s own legends to bring a little mayhem back into their reality. For she who controls Alice controls the fate of Wonderland."

Review:  Bit disappointed with this. First off, this was just a long introduction it seemed. It doesn't really go anywhere. We meet a lot of characters, get a small glimpse into each of there lives as they start to weave to gather and then it ends. No answers about Alice, definitely no resolution. And to make matters worse it is like the next part does not exist! We get a cool prologue that drew me in and then it just confuses us in a mass of characters. Each is a bit unique but we don't get a chance to get a real feel for anyone before it ends. If feels like someone took a book, tore off the first 100 pages and said" there's the story!"

Task it Tuesday-Week 5 of 2016

  

For a bit about what this is go check out Michelle at Because Reading or to understand what I am setting this up as check out my first post.   Basically if I have it crossed off, I finished it this past week.  Items in red are a week old and now "past due."  I Spaced a bit under each category before adding new tasks for the week.  Old tasks carry over until completed.  The exception is the fun spot at the bottom.  Those aren't red as there are no expectations for completion.  Just a stronger focus over other fun things.

Well I found out my cold/flu led to Bronchitis and a Sinus infection.  YAY!!! So ha have still been yuck this past week.  But I was a bit more productive than last week.  2 blog giveaways up, and a few other posts, I kept up my home and got  a bit "spring cleaning" done and still managed to squeeze in some reading between the full body-wracking coughs.   This week I plan to put a heavier emphasis on blogging tasks and book listing.  Mind you, work, family and this disastrous cough take priority but hopefully things will just go up from here!

Also-READ MORE!  Reading is way down.  Although I did start 2 books I didn't plan on starting yet but 1 is due back at the library soon and the other I needed a book to read at night on my kindle.  Still, I had hoped to get more reading in but just been so tired.

Blogging

• Write/post 6 reviews -1 done
  
• 3 Discussion/other Post (meme styles don't count) -1 done
  
• Get STS post up to date -progress
  
• Catalog all January ebooks I have received/purchases onto Goodreads shelf. -made progress
  
• Finish getting Archive, Genres And Guest Interview pages up to date
  
• Catalog 300+ books I own- 6 down (sad...)
  
• Update "about me" and policy page 
•  
•  
• 
  
• Write/post 2 reviews
• Catalog 200 more books I own
• Catch up on comment responses for 2016
• Reply to at least 25 comments made prior to 2016.

Books

• Read Eragon
  
• Read Sierra Jensen series Bks 3-12 (Bk 3 almost done)
  
• Read The Fiery Heart  (progress)
  
• Read 1 manga
  Read Ashley Bell
  
• Read You're Never Weird on the Internet
• Read Rebel Nation
  
• Finish Ready Player One
  
• Finish Invaded
  
• Finish The 5th Wave
  
• Finish Golden Son
  
• Start Eldest
  
• Start The Rosemary Spell
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Read 2 manga
• Finish The Rosemary Spell
• Finish The River (started this past week)
• Finish 3rd book of Troubled Times series (started this week)
• Read Eldest
  
  

What's a Star Wars EU fan to do?!

  

Anyone who knows me can vouch for my being a Star Wars fan.  I was flat out obsessed in middle and high school.  I originally saw the movies (the original trilogy) in about 4th or 5th grade and REALLY liked them.  They were the reason I fell in love with the sci-fi genre.  

In sixth grade I was in the library and saw a book titled Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights: Shadow Academy.  So I figured, "why not?"  

 I fell in love! I loved the new situation and characters!  Especially Jaina Solo (daughter of Han and Leia).  I even used her name on forums and social sites (Twitter is @jljaina).   I started saving my rare allowance earnings just ot collect all the books available.  When they re-released the original trilogy and started to show the new movies at theaters, I saw them all on opening day.  My dad even pulled me out of school for one of them (and he never even let me stay home when I was sick unless I was throwing up).  Jaina, Jacen, Zekk, Mara Jade, Kyp Durran, etc where my best book friends.

Stacking the Shelves 98

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, every Weekend. This is to share books I have acquired from various sources. Physical books & ebooks both are welcome. If its something being sent to me by mail, I will not mention it until I actually receive it. 

 

 

 

So here is most of January's books I got.  Few more, plus the final swaps I will ever make on bookmooch but I will share those hopefully next time.  I was really sick all week and still not doing well.  

 

On the plus side, I was able to start participating int he famous ostpsecretsister!   Very excited about that and spent hours looking into my new sister and learning about her and her interests.  So that is where most of my time has gone.  

I finally started writing up posts and reviews again, so expect to start seeing those again.  Keeping posts limited so I *hopefully* don't have any more dead weeks.  Still, lots more stuff to catch up and share.

♥  ♦  ♣  ♠

For Review

  

Favorites Giveaway Hop-2016

 

Any Book that I consider a "Favorite"  To keep is more open, any book I have rated 4 or 5 stars on Goodreads!  Up to $15 from  The Book Depository OR 1 ebook via Amazon or B&N. 

Here are just a few ideas (but not limited to these) that are recent enjoyments:

 

Giveaway is International

Romance is in the Air Giveaway Hop-INT

 

 Any romantic book.  Does not have to specifically be a romance but the romantic theme within the book must be a strong focus -Up to $15 from  The Book Depository OR 1 ebook via Amazon or B&N.  As a bonus, I will be picking out one addition surprise book to toss in, based on your choice and comment recommendations.
Here are just a few ideas (but not limited to these)
 

Giveaway is International

Manga Review: Crimson Spell Vol 3 by Ayano Yamane

 

Crimson Spell Volume 3

by Ayano Yamane

 

Genre(s): Manga, Graphic Novel

Pages: 180

Published:  Sept 2009 (Japanese) & April 2014 (English) 

Publisher: Sublime

 

 

Official Blurb:  "Prince Vald continues his journey with the sorcerer Halvi, seeking a means to break the curse that causes him to transform into a demon at night. But enemies looking to take the power of Vald’s cursed sword for themselves bewitch Halvi in an attempt to make him fight the young prince! Forced to the brink, Halvi makes a crucial choice.

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for mature audiences."

 

 

 

Review:  Oh Vald, when you are in demon form, you need to come with a warning! Not only is demon Vald hot but he is also dangerous!