Fat Stack Friday December 27, 2024

Happy Friday December 27, 2024.

Here's what I've gotten in the last week!

From Libby:

Unsteady (Undone #1) by Peyton Corinne

I got the second book in this series to read and review so I figured I'd read through the first one first. There are definitely cross over characters with the second and the books overlap a bit so I'm glad I read this one first!

On my Kindle:

One Night, Two Holidays by Ali Brady

I was hoping to get to this one before Christmas but it didn't happen. But it's still Chanukah so I have time to read it in that holiday's timeline!

For Christmas:

Got these for Christmas from my kids! I'm loving the edges. Especially for A Study in Drowning! I've read all of these except The Half King.  Shatter Me is a favorite series for me and I can't wait to get the others for my collection!

The Half King (The Half King #1) by Melissa Landers

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi

The Courting of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats #1) by Mary Pearson

A Study in Drowning (A Study In Drowning #1) by Ava Reid

I got these from my parents for Christmas. Notice another copy of Shatter Me. Now I need to figure out what I want to do with the extra.

Shatter me (Shatter Me #1) Tahereh Mafi

Hooked (Never After #1) by Emily McIntire

Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This hoody and the tee shirts are from my Mom and Dad! Do they know me or do they know me?

This blanket is from one of my besties who also loves books! It's the perfect reading blanket.

What did you get this week?

 

Fat Stack Friday November 22, 2024

I missed last week so I have quite a few books to list for my book haul! Check them all out!

For my Kindle:

The Half King (The Half King #1) by Melissa Landers

I have enjoyed Landers' past books so I'm excited to start this new series by her.

Variation by Rebecca Yarros

I have read one romance book by this author and otherwise I'm very much a fan of her Fourth Wing series. I hope this one lives up to the hype.

Servant of Earth (The Shards of Magic #1) by Sarah Hawley

I've really enjoyed the Hawley books I've read in the past. I'm excited for an adult paranormal.

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck

This one is blurbed by Ali Hazelwood and she's one of my favorite authors. I do hope it lives up to her hype!

The Remains of Christmas by Megan Montgomery

I'm looking for some Christmas stories and saw this one in one of my Facebook book groups. I hope I'm not disappointed!

Phantasma (Wicked Games) by Kaylie Smith

This one was recommended by one of my close friends who tends to have the same taste in books as me. I've also seen a lot of talk surrounding it. Here's to hoping I like it. 

Once Charmed, Twice Cursed by Shaylin Gandhi

Another one I saw talk of in my book groups. It just sounds like it will be really interesting!

Trial by Fire (The Eye of the Goddess #1) by Sariah Wilson

I don't even know where I heard about this one but it must have looked good because it's now on my Kindle! 

The Anaconda Downstairs (The Cocky Kingsmans #4) by Amy Award

I've really been enjoying these books. They are body positive, no third act break up, cute and charming romances!

The Co-Op by Tarah Dewitt

I recently listened to Savor It by this author and really enjoyed it. I'm hoping this one is just as good.

Ahen Son (War of Lost Hearts #0.5) by Carissa Broadbent

I'm a huge fan of this author. I haven't started this series yet but now I have all the books that are published so I should!

From Libby/Hoopla:

The Weiner Across The Way (The Cocky Kingsmans #2) by Amy Award

I listened to this one on audio and really enjoyed it. It was cute, though this author does like her insta-love. But if you are a fan of Taylor Swift and her man, this one should hit you right in the feels!

The Pussy Next Door (The Cocky Kingsmans #3) by Amy Award

I really love the body positivity this author. This one was a bit of insta-love but it was cute, nonetheless.

Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti

I should know better than to listen to rave reviews. The blurb offered such promise. I'm about halfway done with this one on audio and I want to punch myself in the face. Maybe it's the narrator so I decided to get the Kindle version and see if that may work better for me. This is the first book for this author so maybe it might be that, as well. 

Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter

I actually have this one to review on NetGalley but it was previously published and available on Hoopla to listen to. I love me some Lynn Painter and this one did not disappoint!

For review:

Only In Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde

I noticed this one on NetGalley and put it on my potential request list. About 10 minutes later I was checking my email and there was an invite from the publisher. I guess it's fate!

Ride With Me (Lights Out #2) By Simone Soltani

I'm in my F1 era! This is the second book in this series. I read the first and it was ok but I wanted to see if the series possibly got better. I hope I like this one more than the other F1 books I've been reading. This will be my 4th and if I am unhappy, I think I'll not read more motorsport books.

I have a few that came in the mail, but I need to take pictures so I'll post those next week.

What did you get this week?

 

Most Anticipated Releases Tuesday November 19, 2024

Happy new release Tuesday November 19, 2024. Here's what I am excited about this week!

A Legend in the Baking (Fake it Till you Bake it #2) by Jamie Wesley

The first book in this romance series was really cute so I was excited for this one. I got a copy from the publisher and you can read my review HERE.

Duchess Material by Emily Sullivan

The publisher contacted me to review this one. I wasn't sure but I'm loving all the regency error romances I have been reading so I gave it a try. You can see my review HERE.

The Half King (The Half King #1) by Melissa Landers

I really like Melissa Landers' writing so I'm excited to see what this new series from her is all about!

The Whispering Night (The Luminaries #3) by Susan Dennard

I enjoyed the first book in this series. I wanted to wait for this one to come out before continuing so I'm excited to jump back in now that this is out!

The Songbird & The Heart of Stone (Crowns of Nyaxia #3) by Carissa Broadbent

This is my most anticipated book of the year. I actually bought a special edition from Blackwell's that arrived last week but I didn't want to ruin it by reading so I'll wait for my Kindle version to load. I am super excited to see the next couple in this series!

Variation by Rebeca Yarros

I have only read one of Yarros's contemporary reads and it was a long time ago so i don't really remember it. But I've heard good things about her contemporary books so I'm looking forward to giving this one a try.

What are you most anticipating this week?

 

ARC Review: Lumara by Melissa Landers

The answers lie within.
Boarding school student Talia Morris has no idea her boyfriend, Nathaniel, is a Mystic, let alone second in line to the throne of a secretive, aspirational magical community―one no mortal has ever been allowed to step inside. Until now. Nathanial’s cousin is about to be married in the biggest wedding the magical world has ever seen, and Nathaniel is allowed to bring a date. Talia is the lucky recipient of the golden ticket every Mystic wannabe in the world would kill for―only she doesn’t want it. Talia thinks Mystic worship is lame and stupid and unnecessarily aggrandizes people for being born a certain way. When she finds out Nathaniel is “one of them,” she almost jumps ship. But Nathaniel loves her, and she loves him. So when he begs her to give his family and their community a shot, she reluctantly agrees.
Enter the most fantastical world any mortal has ever seen, and the coolest magical wedding ever. After a few days of bonding with Nathaniel’s family on the island, of seeing how beautiful their magic is and how peaceful their community, Talia’s about to be won over―until the entire wedding party suddenly falls into an unexplainable coma and the community goes on lockdown. Talia, the outsider, is pegged as the culprit and has to do everything in her meager non-power to prove her innocence. As she embarks on a journey to find the truth, Talia soon discovers reality is not all it seems, and her past may put her in more danger than she ever imagined.
In this captivating YA fantasy, Talia must solve a multigenerational mystery and break a curse, all the while being torn between making her family proud and regaining the trust of the boy she loves.

Title: Lumara
Author: Melissa Landers
Expected Publication Date: 12/6/2022

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

REVIEW:

I want to thank NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and give my honest review. 

What drew me in: BOARDING SCHOOL! Every time I see a book with a boarding school I think Harry Potter and I want to read it. BUT I always have to go in with lower expectations because nothing ever lives up to it for me. But I'm always hopeful someone will hit the mark. SCI-FI! I love me some sci-fi. Unfortunately, the book is not quite as sci-fi as it seems it should be,. So if you're going in thinking you're going to be floored by that aspect, turn your expectations down. Also, MELISSA LANDERS: Because I've really liked her previous books I've read, so why not keep reading what she writes! And the COVER I mean it's gorgeous. I'm a sucker for a good cover.

What kept me reading: THE CHARACTERS! I really enjoyed them and wanted to find out more about them. They truly had unique personalities. I do feel like more back story could have happened. More fleshing out so that I could truly connect with them but overall I enjoyed them: the good, the bad, and the ugly!

What I'm not so sure about: THE STORY! I enjoyed how it started but then I just got annoyed. It just didn't seem like it kept a rhythm.  The possibility of twists. Which happened but were kind of expected. Also, while it did wrap up, I feel like there's still room for a sequel. I love a good series but am disappointed when I read a book that I feel should be a stand alone and then it doesn't seem to be that way.

Overall: It was a fun read but didn't keep me as pulled in as I would have wanted. I just expected more. Would I read more Landers, for sure. Would I read a sequel, not so sure.

Melissa Landers writes science fiction for teens and the young at heart. The Alienated trilogy (ALIENATED, INVADED, UNITED) and the Starflight duology (STARFLIGHT, STARFALL) are complete! Look for Melissa's middle grade debut BLASTAWAY, now available from Disney-Hyperion.

 

Cover Reveal: Blastaway by Melissa Landers @Melissa_Landers

Today Melissa Landers and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the cover and an exclusive content for BLASTAWAY, her new Middle Grade Sci-Fi which releases Summer 2019! Check out the awesome cover and the excerpt!

On to the reveal! 

Title: BLASTAWAY

Author: Melissa Landers

Pub. Date: Summer 2019

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: ?

Find it: Goodreads

Pitched as "Home Alone in space," a young science prodigy who runs away in his family spaceship must team up with a plucky mutant to save the Earth from destruction.

Scheduled for publication Summer 2019.

Exclusive Excerpt!

At some point, I must have fallen asleep.

I say that for two reasons. First, my chin was wet with drool, and I hardly ever slobber on myself when I’m awake. And second, I was no longer on Earth.

I sat bolt upright and stared out the window as distant stars whizzed past in a blur. There were no planets in sight, and judging by the swirling purple nebula ahead of me, this wasn’t the way to Nana’s house. I checked the navigation screen and felt my mouth drop open. The flashing beacon that represented my ship was halfway between Earth and Fasti.

(So you see, it is totally possible to steal a spaceship on accident.)

I guess my hand hit the EXECUTE button when I fell asleep. And because it would take just as long for me to turn around and go home as it would to finish my journey, it made sense to keep going, right? Either way, my parents would ground me into the afterlife, so I might as well earn the sentence, right?

Right.

An electric thrill rushed through my veins when I thought about the possibilities that lay ahead of me. Anything could happen on this trip. Literally anything. I could discover a brand-new element. Or meet a secret race of aliens. Or invent a new energy source. Or eat so much chocolate that I puked. Either way, I had complete freedom to make this journey into whatever I wanted, and once I realized that, there was no freaking way I could turn back. It was like the universe had dropped a gift in my lap, a gift I had no intention of returning.    

I wiped the drool off my chin and smiled.

“Hold onto your stars, Fasti. Here I come.”

About Melissa:

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her kids. She lives just outside Cincinnati in the town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.”

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Book Blitz: Starfall by Melissa Landers @Melissa_Landers

Hi, booklovers!

I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m so excited to launch STARFALL, the second and final book in my Starflight duology! This story picks up shortly after the first book ends, but now Cassia and Kane are the main characters, with Doran, Solara, and the rest of the Banshee crew pitching in to help take down an intergalactic mafia. (You know, just an ordinary day in space.) And while saying goodbye to characters is never easy, I think I gave the crew a proper sendoff with plenty of humor, heart, and action. I hope you love STARFALL as much as I do!

Haven’t read the first book? You’re in luck, because for a limited time, Starflight is on sale for 99 cents in all e-formats. Now you can binge read the entire duology in one sitting!

Praise for Starflight:

“Smart, action-packed and utterly addictive!” –New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman

“Starflight has the cinematic appeal, warp-speed action and unlikely heroes of Star Wars.” –Justine Magazine

“A lively tale of romance, space pirates, conspiracy, and made (as opposed to genetic) families.” –Booklist

“A great choice for fans of raw sci-fi action, reminiscent of the lawlessness presented in the television series Firefly.” –School Library Journal

If you love sci-fi adventure with a dash of romance, I hope you’ll pick up the Starflight duology today. Starflight and Starfall are both available in stores and online.

STARFLIGHT (book 1)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jmEOqA

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2kjs57n

Book Depository (free international shipping): http://bit.ly/1OoN2WD

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1IIMPx7

STARFALL (book 2)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jmNsW2

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2ddKuih

Book Depository: http://bit.ly/2k98EvN

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/2dhMLry

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a Starflight duology swag pack, complete with bookmarks and two signed mini posters! The giveaway is open internationally. Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

Waiting on Wednesday #108: United (Alienated #3) by Melissa Landers @Melissa_Landers

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly awaiting!


Title: United (Alienated #3)
Author: Melissa Landers
Expected Publication Date: August 2, 2016

Blurb:
After thwarting a deadly coup and saving the alliance between their worlds, Cara and Aelyx have finally earned a break. Their tiny island colony is everything they dreamed it would be―days spent gathering shells on the beach and nights in each other’s arms.

But the vacation is short-lived.

The treaty between Earth and L’eihr has awakened an ancient force that threatens to destroy them all. The Aribol, mysterious guardians charged with maintaining interstellar peace, deem the alliance a threat to the galaxy. They order a separation of the races, decreeing humans and L’eihrs must return to their own planets within the month or face extinction. In fact, they already have agents in place on Earth, ready to begin.

With the clock ticking, Aelyx and Cara assemble a team of colonists and race back to Earth, where they unite with old friends to solve the mystery of who the Aribol are, what they want, and the real reason the alliance has provoked them. As tensions build to a full-scale war, Aelyx and Cara must fight harder than ever―not just for their future, but for the survival of both their worlds.

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives just outside Cincinnati in the town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.”

Release Day Blast and Giveaway: Starflight by Melissa Landers @Melissa_Landers @DisneyHyperion

Hey there, booklovers!

I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce the release of STARFLIGHT, the first in a brand new sci-fi series from Disney-Hyperion. I originally pitched this story to my editor as “Overboard” (one of my favorite romantic comedies) meets “Firefly” (an amazing show that was tragically cancelled after one season). STARFLIGHT follows the misadventures of Solara Brooks, a penniless felon who indentures herself to her high school nemesis, Doran Spaulding, in exchange for passage to a new world. But when Doran’s memory is temporarily erased, Solara convinces him their roles are reversed—that she’s the master and he’s the servant—and leads him onto a renegade spaceship, where intergalactic shenanigans ensue. STARFLIGHT is very different in tone from the Alienated trilogy, but the story is still filled with all the things I love: humor, heart, and adventure.

What do reviewers have to say?

“Get ready for blast-off! Action-packed and utterly addictive, nobody writes like Melissa Landers. A smart, satisfying romance set in a vividly detailed world, Starflight was just plain fun!” –New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman

“Teens will be bracing themselves during the swashbuckling action scenes. A great choice for fans of raw sci-fi action, reminiscent of the lawlessness presented in the television series Firefly.” –School Library Journal

“A lively tale of romance, space pirates, conspiracy, and made (as opposed to genetic) families.” –Booklist

If you like your sci-fi adventure served with a side of romance, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of STARFLIGHT today. It’s now available in stores and online.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1RUTRl2

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1MKVTwt

Book Depository (free international shipping): http://bit.ly/1OoN2WD

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1IIMPx7

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a STARFLIGHT swag pack, complete with custom nail wraps, bookmarks, and a mini poster! The giveaway is open internationally. Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck, and happy reading!

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.