Stacking the Shelves (7/15/12)

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! Visit Tynga's Reviews to know more about this weekly meme.

This is our first time since December to join a book haul feature! Well It's time we break the no-post-on-Sundays curse. :) So here are the titles I got in the past 2 weeks.

From NetGalley

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Lucky in Love (Lucky Harbor #4) by Jill Shalvis

At Last (Lucky Harbor #5) by Jill Shalvis

Forever and a Day (Lucky Harbor #6) by Jill Shalvis

Bought

Torrent (River of Time #3) by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Tiger's Curse (The Tiger Saga #1) by Colleen Houck

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Won

Fated (The Soul Seekers #1) by Alyson Noel (ARC) 

The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats (Signed)

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Gifted

Of Poseidon (Of Poseidon #1) by Anna Banks (ARC)

Thank you so much to ate Precious of Fragments of Life, Lisa of Badass Bookie, J. Anderson Coats, Lauren of Epilogue Review, NetGalley (Grand Central Publishing & Harlequin Teen) and my Mom! 


What books did you get this week? Please feel free to leave a link of your post in the comments.

Review: Second Kiss by Natalie Palmer

Second Kiss by Natalie Palmer

Paperback: 168 pages

Release date: April 5th, 2011

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Goodreads Rating: 3.81

Goodreads Summary: Gemma Mitchell is a normal girl who somehow gets herself into abnormally embarrassing circumstances. And while she thinks she's the biggest loser in school because of them, there are a few people in her life who would disagree. One of those people is her best friend, Jess Tyler, who is opposite to her in every way. He's popular, good looking, athletic, and intelligent, and he can't get enough of Gemma. But while Gemma is dealing with problems like wrong locker combinations and Valentine's Day dances, Jess is living in a world of serious issues that are foreign to Gemma, until she realizes that he's holding on to her for dear life. 
Humorous and true to life, Second Kiss is an entertaining saga about a boy and girl who find that their lives have a lot more meaning once they have shared them with each other.

Gemma Mitchell is a normal girl who is somehow always caught up in some embarrassing situations. And while she thinks less of her, there is one person who’s always beside her. Her best friend, Jess Tyler--he's popular, good looking, athletic, and intelligent, and he can't get enough of Gemma. How this two people can realize that they’re for each other, if they both think things will be awkward? And will they say their feelings for each other before it’s too late?

I like the book; I’ll say it was passable. I thought the notion was good but when we get to the whole story I sometimes feel there was something missing. There are parts wherein I find it was too fast paced, that I felt those part where should the story continues. Though with all these grievances I have, I found myself liking Jess and somehow Gemma too throughout the story. Jess was the supporting and compassionate friend who has hidden feelings for Gemma. While Gemma’s the innocent and humble friend who’s also always next to Jess as his friend. I like her character because the author didn’t make her like the other cliché girls we could read in other books. Why? Because even though she really can’t help loving Jess and wanting to be with him always, she tried to stand on her own. She found new friends and tried to keep her feelings with Jess and leave some pride for herself. 

Friendships broke and new were found, standing on your own feet and doing the right thing before it was too late and taking up your chances on something, was this story is all about. I still recommend this to those readers who want to read easy and simple story on their shelves, but I’ll still stand on my view of the book. Mediocre.

Cover Reveal: Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Publication date: March 19th 2013

Goodreads summary: In Clockwork Princess, Tessa and her companions travel all over the world as they race to stop the clockwork army before it’s too late. As Jem’s health worsens alarmingly and his friends search desperately for a cure, can Tessa choose between the two boys she loves—even if it means never seeing the other one again?

IT HAS A COVER!! And OMG it's GORGEOUS. The colors, the dress, the model-everything's beautiful. I must also say this is my favorite cover in the Infernal Devices series... scratch that, this is the best Cassie Clare book cover yet in my opinion. This is one of my all-time favorite series so I'm more than excited to get my hands on this. So what do you guys think? :)

Review: Red Glove (Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black

Red Glove (Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black

Hardback: 325 pages

Release date: April 5th, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Goodreads Rating: 4.12

Goodreads Summary: Curses and cons. Magic and the mob.

In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth — he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything — or anyone — into something else.


That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she’s human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila’s been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion-worker mom. And if Lila’s love is as phony as Cassel’s made-up memories, then he can’t believe anything she says or does.


When Cassel’s oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue — crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too — they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can’t trust anyone — least of all, himself?


Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else, that’s how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Now that Cassel knows that he’s been tricked and manipulated by his brothers and that he’s the most powerful and rarest curse worker around. It’s not as simple as it seems with his brother being murdered the Feds recruit him to find the girl with the red glove –but the mob is after Cassel too. When his touch could be a plus or drawback and no one can be trusted, it’s his way now to decide on his own.

Curse Workers series never stops to amaze me. The second book, Red Glove, was also a fantastic book that is worth every bit of my time. There are still the twists and turns that could make you bend and guess and guess ‘til the end of the story. But for the most part I’ll say this one had me in sympathy pains and broke my heart in the end. Being the rarest curse worker and the most powerful is a hard job for Cassel. I admire how he manages to used his power to unravel the mystery that lies beneath his brother, Philip, death. The tag team of Sam, Daneca and Cassel that has been made throughout the latter part of White Cat was not just shown as a way for Cassel to have for his con act but also had them as a friend for real. The love story of Cassel and Lila was also more visible in this book; it has been more complicated with Lila’s feelings being worked by Cassel’s mother. 

With the Feds and mob being on Cassel’s side, it brought not only an action-packed story but a more guessing one. Another different darkly compelling fantasy that deserves praise! Guess I have to read the third book immediately J

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (4)

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly book meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey to share what books we have finished last week, are currently reading and planning to read for the rest of the week. 

Wew, I miss working on IMWayR? We’ve been really busy this past few days, home works and projects to be done and it’s only 2 weeks after the class started! Now it’s my turn to share what I’ve read, currently reading and can’t wait to read!

Last week I finished:

Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram – is the new book of Kelly Oram that talks about finding a new you. A hockey-obsessed tomboy Eleanor Westley meets the hottest and sweetest boy she’s ever seen. What will happen if their universe collides? And who’s thispsycho killer in city?  An easy read and amusing concept! Review will be posted next  (4/5)

Significance (Significance #1) by Shelly Crane

 - This is the first book in the series Significance, I’m very thankful that my friend Dea recommends this book to me. I don’t understand how characters here are sometimes became mushy and yet they’re not off-putting; ugh I must really love this book! (5/5)

Accordance (Significance #2) by Shelly Crane

The 2^nd book in the exceptional Significance series can’t get enough of Caleb and Maggie’s love story. More swoon worthy moments and action to expect! (5/5)

Currently Reading:

Second Kiss by Natalie Palmer

-Gemma Mitchell is a normal girl who somehow gets herself into unusually embarrassing circumstances who has a popular, good looking, athletic, and intelligent best friend who also can't get enough of her? A very interesting book for me, can’t wait to see what happens next J

What I plan to read:

            

Inescapable (The Premonition #1) by Amy A. Bartol

Intuition (The Premonition #2) by Amy A. Bartol

Indebted (The Premonition #3) by Amy A. Bartol

-           

-          A 4+ star? Been hearing great things and negative reviews too about this series. Well let’s see until I read these books. :)