Stacking the Shelves # 57

                Welcome to Stacking the Shelves was created by Tynga and the full details can be found on her page.  Basically you showcase the books you bought or received each week.  Little, or not so little, weekly book hauls. 

E-Book (Review):

Crooked Raven by Talis Jones

Cradled(Beholder #4.5) by Christina Bauer

                Another good small week.  I have some pre-orders I’m waiting on but I never count them until they arrive.  Share a link below with what goodies you got this week. 

Being Alpha (Alpha Girl #7)

                Hello happy readers!  Another weekend is here and I can’t believe July is almost over.  This is seriously insane.  Still that being said I have a review of a new book in a series I adore today, Being Alpha (Alpha Girl #7) by Aileen Erin.  I received an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review but as with the other books in this series I already had that baby on pre-order, that arrived this Tuesday, I just get it a bit early this way ;)  This is the 7^th book in the series which might be intimidating but they are so good and super-fast reads.  I have reviewed all the books in the series if you’re interested or need a refresher:  Becoming Alpha, Avoiding Alpha, Alpha Divided, Bruja, Alpha Unleashed, and Shattered Pack.

Rating:  5 Stars

               

                In the last book we stepped away from Tessa for a bit and got to follow what was happening with Meredith and Donovan in Ireland.  After defeating the evil witch Luciana, Tessa and Dastien were able to go on vacation / honeymoon after seeing their friends’ full moon ceremony and it is glorious and much deserved.  But Tessa hasn’t been able to have a vision and there is a nagging feeling that something is amiss….oh and a magical attack that nearly kills her might have been a sign something is up.  Now they have to end their vacation and go back into the thick of things, because even with Luciana dead her mess isn’t over. 

                It is so nice to dive back in with Tessa and the gang well minus Mer in person as she’s back in Ireland but she was just a call away.  More it was nice to see Tessa and Dastien get some much needed time together.  They have been from one disaster to the next and this was no exception but at least they got a break in there for a little bit.  They are so cute and I love how they are adapting to the bond.  They have a real healthy relationship and I adore how they work together and balancing one another out.  It was fun to see how the different pairs worked together as well.  I like the unity they all show.  Many are Were and loyal by nature but even the others there is this great loyalty between them tried and true forged in battle.  Even when they don’t see eye to eye on things they still hear one another out.  This is friendship goals!

                Tessa has grown so much since we got to know her in the first book.  She continues to grow as she comes to terms with what she has become.  She is powerful in both respects plus she was raised a human so she can see things from different angles.  She is ready to jump in and help anyone and takes on more than her fair share of responsibility but still she doubts herself as ever being a true alpha.  I love the character development for her and others as they grow from being teens to something more with what they have been forced to endure and adapt too. 

                In books past, and this one as well we always have lots of evils to fight with but in this we had another different battle to win as well.  A super powerful demon is trying to take Tessa and she has to battle not just physically but with her mind and soul which was different and fun.  I loved seeing the different tethers between the characters was cool.  We also got to see how a new generation may be young have a different set of priorities and willingness to work together and break down walls and bound together.  Unity is a real theme and I really enjoyed that and of course the combination of Weres’, witches, and fey.  The different levels of power between the factions and inside them was present.  This book sent shivers down my arms in many moments and had me laughing so hard it hurt at others.  Tessa is for sure one of a kind and I love her inner thoughts because I was right there with her.

“I didn’t look to see who followed me as I raced out the door.  The ones that trusted me would come.  The rest could f&@k themselves, because I wasn’t waiting.”

                The story in here is intriguing mixing all the different supernaturals and we even got introduced to some new ones I can’t wait to learn more about.  Samantha and Eli both seem like huge stories for the telling and oh yeah the whole quick pop over to the Lunar Court….yeah totally have to explore that more in time because that looks amazing!  I love that this is seven books deep and we still have so much we can explore and do.  Each chapter as you read pulls you in and flies by, the pacing is really on point, add that with amazing characters and fun story and it is gone in a blink leaving you needing more.  I’m excited for the next book in the series, and like in books past we are jumping to different characters.  I like that the series does that as well as it gives the reader a deeper insight into characters we already know and love and it also provides a break and a way to explore new worlds!

                Bottom line = I LOVE this installment and this series is an autobuy for me.  I already have book 8 on preorder!  Come on 2019!

                Until next time…

Movie Corner #13

                Hello happy movie fans!   I've had a good couple of weeks I have seen every movie at my local theatre except one as of right now but not to worry new movies come out tonight!  That said here is what I’ve seen the last two weeks:

Ant-Man and the Wasp:  5 Stars

                So first I just have to say you should see all the previous movies first.  Seriously they are in order for a reason.  There are spoilers for up to Infinity War.  Just saying be warned some people didn’t realize this and were confused and then upset they were spoiled for something.  Aside from that this movie is a much more light hearted film.   I really enjoyed it.  Hope takes a real central lead in this which I liked but it also seemed like the skills/brains of Scott were downplayed some.  I think it could just be his uncertainty with the dynamic after everything that happened so it never really hit me until after the movie when I was thinking about my thoughts for the review.  I think it was beautifully timed for the laughs and fun after we left off in Infinity War, because it was hilarious.  There was a lot happening with lots of action and a fast pace.  We got to know a few new characters but more important we got to know the others better.  The cast was phenomenal and did an amazing job and I really liked the effects they really have found a way to de-age for flashbacks that doesn’t look super cheesy and that is just the tip of the effects.  It was a huge treat and I look forward to catching it again.

Sicario:  Day of Soldado:  4 Stars

                I watched the first movie the day before.  I had never seen it but the sequel looks intriguing.  I don't know if seeing the first one was totally necessary to see this one.  I think they cover the idea of who he is and what his "team" does pretty well.  Though it did give more back story which I appreciated.  It was an interesting movie.  It had a lot of violence and such for sure but it also filled in some character work with a pretty interesting story.  It's something I am glad I saw but it's not the type of movie I see myself putting on again.  It's not a feel good movie you can always re-watch and that is okay it wasn't intended to be that. 

Skyscraper:  4.5 Stars

                This movie is full of over the top action scenes and the rock being the rock and laughing in the face of reason.  And I loved it.  It was the huge action movie full of all the crazy stunts and action that you wonder how the person hasn't died of something by now in the best way.  It had a pretty easy to follow story behind the characters and I enjoyed it.  Everything is over the top and very predictable but I enjoyed myself the whole time, well minus the group who sat beside me and kept getting up and down to move seats and go get things and even checking tinder during the movie, seriously some people should just be banned from the movies.  Skyscraper is what you expect it to be and that is what I love about it.  Some action, cool scenes, and lots of little funny moments in there to keep it light and not take itself too seriously.

Hotel Transylvania 3:  Summer Vacation:  5 Stars

                I only recently watched any of these movies.  I had never seen them but my besties kids love their "vampire movie" and we watched the first one while I was there one day and I really enjoyed it.  So of course I had to watch the sequel and be ready for the new one!  This one is super sweet full of the fun moments you are used to in the others with lots of laughs and fun but also a deeper and sweeter underlying message which I can appreciate.  It also has some hilarious music which is fun to bop along with.  I look forward to seeing it again with the bestie and her little ones!

The First Purge:  4.5 Stars

                The Purge movies are interesting to me.  Mostly because I've always found talking about the idea of the purge theory with people fascinating.  That said this is a good installment.  I liked the idea of showing how it started.  We see what it evolves into but to see the start and see how things went from an experiment into this huge dangerous thing….wow.  I liked the story here and I like that it brought up a different aspect to the purge than "murder night" because there is more crime than murder and it is at least addressed in this one. 

*****

                This was a pretty good week I actually saw everything at my local theatre but one movie as of yesterday.  What movies have you seen recently?  What should I see?  The next couple weeks I plan to see a couple more sequels, seems to be a theme, The Equalizer 2, Mamma Mia!  Here We Go Again, Unfriended:  Dark Web, and Mission:  Impossible- Fallout, which I am ready for having done a MI marathon of 1-5 this week!

~Can't Wait Wednesday: Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7)~

                Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J. Maas

Out:  10/23

From Goodreads:

                The FINAL installment to the Throne of Glass series.

                Captured by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin is trapped inside an iron box in a secret location, with seemingly no hope for escape.  As she endures months of torture, her friends scatter to different fates.  Without Aelin to protect them, soldier Aedion and shapeshifter Lysandra need to defend their homeland at all costs.  Also left to forge their own paths in order to change history are Chaol, the witch Manon, and the golden boy Dorian-while Aelin’s mate, the fae male Rowan, searches the world over for his lost love.

                As Aelin gathers the strength to save herself and fight the ultimate battle of her life, all of their destinies hang in the balance.  Some ties will bond even tighter together, others will be severed forever, and mysteries will be revealed in this action-packed, heart wrenching series finale.

Why I’m Waiting:

                 MONTHS?????? Okay so yes I love this series and this is where it all ends.  I need to know what happens next after how Empire of Storms left off but then I finally got to read the summary and again….MONTHS!!!!!!!  NO!!!!  I have so so so many needs in this book.  I need it ASAP of course but in the book itself I have so many things I need to happen and I am not please it’s going to take at least MONTHS to happen. But yeah the cover dropped finally and I knew this was next and my most anticipated book of this year!

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your CWW as well so I can check it out.

Top Ten Tuesday: Novellas / Short Stories

                Hello everyone!  Top Ten Tuesday is just how it sounds, a topic is picked and we put our Top Ten for that in a post and share and check out everyone’s answers.  Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. 

The top ten today is:  Novellas / Short Stories

A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.1) by Sarah J. Maas

Duty Bound (Angelbound Origins #0.5) by Christina Bauer

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

Night of Cake & Puppets (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2.5) by Laini Taylor

Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles #4.5) by Marissa Meyer

Unite Me (Shatter Me #1.5 & 2.5) by Tahereh Magi

The House of Night Novellas by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Happily Ever After (Selection #0.4, .5, 2.5, 3.1, & 3.5) by Kiera Cass

Folktales from Ravka by Leigh Bardugo

Covenant Novellas and Extras by Jennifer L. Armentrout

*****

And I totally forgot this was a novella bind up until I saw it on another post but it's one of my favorites...

The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass #0.1-0.5) by Sarah J. Maas

               

                So what do you think?  Tell me what you think of my list in the comments below.  Also please link back to your Top Ten as well so I can check out your list and see what I missed!

~Stacking the Shelves #56~

                Welcome to Stacking the Shelves was created by Tynga and the full details can be found on her page.  Basically you showcase the books you bought or received each week.  Little, or not so little, weekly book hauls.  So it's been a few weeks since I had anything to post about on one of these.  I've been sticking to my budget pretty well but when I come into some amazon credit….well you know I use it for books! 

Physical Book:

A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes #3) by Sabaa Tahir

E-Book:

Yumi (A Flame in the Mist #1.75) by Renee Ahdieh

                A very small haul but I'm happy with it.  I do have a couple pre-orders that are months away and so many books I want but I'm being very careful lol.   Share a link below with what goodies you got this week. 

A Study in Shifters (The Adventures of Marisol Holmes #1)

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you all are having a good Friday and have some fun plans for the weekend ahead.  It's a bit later in the day but wow is it hot as Hades out and humid here and yard work….death.  Still my grass was almost to my knees so it was kind of necessary.  That said today I am here to discuss a relative new release that I finished last week but have been a bit slow to get my thoughts to paper.  The title is the first book in a new series, A Study in Shifters (The Adventures of Marisol Holmes #1) by Majanka Verstraete.  I was provided a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley and Monster House Books. 

Rating:  4 Stars

                Marisol Holmes, descendant of Sherlock Holmes, and half jaguar shifter and next in line to the shifter throne, is trying to repair the damage done from a mistake she made.  After she trusted the wrong guy in the worst way Marisol is able to convince the Conclave, the underground organization of detectives solving supernatural cases, to give her a chance to redeem herself.  She is put on a new case, one she has even more reason to solve as the evidence is pointing towards a fellow jaguar shifter and that could spell bad news for her mother and her place on the throne.  She is on the case, undercover at the school working in secret with her new supervisor, *cough* babysitter *cough* but things get very personal as the case unfolds.  Can she unravel the mystery and solve the case before too much damage or life is lost?

                So I was stoked about this book for obvious reasons.  Shifters, Sherlock, and I have read all but one series by this published house and loved them so far so why not.  It was a new to me author and I was ready to dive in.  Like the other books I have enjoyed from this publisher it has beyond everything else awesome worlds and super fast paced books you can fly by.  This was no exception.  A Study in Shifters is a fast paced read that really keeps the story moving along as it builds the world around you.  Marisol is trying to recover from a big mistake involving a boy and more than just a broken heart.  I liked diving right into things.  Marisol was really hard on herself for her mistakes, which I find relatable.  I'm not a shifter and thankfully none of my mistakes were ever this life and death but I know each time I make one, more so when I was still in school, I could fill a library with my worried 'should of' or 'could of' moments.  Still even as she struggles with pushing things down she is very clever and amazing at facts and puzzles, something we associate with a Holmes.  Stealing a line from a fav show that recently got the boot, she has a high IQ but low EQ, basically book smart not interacting with people smart. 

                There is a strong hierarchy in the shifter world.  Each clan has a leader and then a leader of the clans which is a power struggle.  I loved the dynamic about the different clans and look forward to getting to know more of the different clans and their ins and outs as the series continues.  Mannix, the one who betrayed Marisol, is a great Moriarty like villain.  All of this was a fun and interesting story full of mystery and puzzles which I adored. 

                Still there were a few things that for me lessened my adoration of the book slightly.  Again I was reading an ARC  so some of this may have been corrected or edited prior to publication.  The biggest was some repetition.  I understand the need for some for sure in building but some aspects , but the constant references to the "big betrayal," were a bit excessive especially in the first part of the story.  IT was mentioned so often I felt they whole event could have been explained twice instead of the references.  There was also a lot of talk about the different modes and the mind palace which I enjoyed but sometimes her mode or palace was mentioned a few times in the same paragraph.  It pulled me slightly from the action of the story here and there which is a shame because it's really good.  I think I just didn't connect as much to that lead in being as mysterious and vague, maybe because that wasn't the mystery I wanted to focus on.

                So overall I enjoyed  this start to a new series and will be looking for book two for sure.  The story, the characters, mystery, and this fun little world melding Sherlock and shifters is bound to be lots more fun.  And most importantly it was entertaining and that is what counts for me.  I was captured and really enjoyed my reading time so I still rate it high and look forward to reading more.  Because to be sure there are some things I figured out and others I did not see coming in the least and that is always great.   I'm excited to see what is next for Marisol, Indra, Mannix, Roan, Wyatt and the shifter clans!

                Until next time…