Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews 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!

Titles link back to Goodreads
• Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott (purchased)
• The Girl With The Iron Touch by Kady Cross (purchased)
• The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa (purchased)
• Extras by Scott Westerfeld (purchased)
• Shadow Of The Mark by Leigh Fallon (purchased)
• The Temptation by Aubrey Clark (purchased)
• Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey (purchased)

I got a lot of J.R Ward books…a lot. I found these on eBay, $30 (incl. postage) for the lot. I had been wanting to get the Aussie covers, because, well, these covers aren’t really for me, but at that price I could forgo them looking pretty on my shelves. Here’s hoping I still enjoy the vampire series. It’s been a few years since I read the first two.

There’s a distinct purple-ness to my book haul this week. I finally decided to give in and get a copy of Heartbeat, adding it to my pile of contemporaries I want to check out this year. I haven’t been able to find a copy of The Girl In The Clockwork Collar in-store, but I’m going to keep trying. I picked up the third in the series in case it disappears in the mean time. Why is it so hard to find previous Harlequin releases in Australia once the next book in a series comes out? It’s exactly why I’ve been collecting Julie Kagawa’s books with each new release even though I haven’t even started this series yet.

The rest are some bargain books I picked up on the cheap in order to finish off or fill out missing places in series I’ve been collecting. I did read Blood Feud back in 2011, but I’m not sure what happened in it anymore. I recall a family of vampires, and…caves, maybe. I’m not sure. You can see it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. I’ve got books three and four on my shelves already, but I don’t think I’ll be getting around to them any time soon. I’m waiting on my TBD order to arrive with some other goodies I want to check out.

Here are some of my latest posts if you want to check them out:
LaFevers, Robin His Fair Assassin #1, Grave Mercy – Joey’s guest review.
Terrill, Cristin All Our Yesterdays #1, All Our Yesterdays – LOVED this!
Westerfeld, Scott Uglies #2, Pretties – Wasn’t for me.

That’s it for this time. So, what books have you gotten lately? Which of these books would you recommend I read first? Let me know in the comments.

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren, which allows bloggers to share what books they’ve received in the past week. They can be from stores, contests, tours or publishers!

• Drawing Blood by Poppy Z. Brite (purchased)
• Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride (purchased)
• Evermore by Alyson Noel (library)
• Blue Moon by Alyson Noel (library)
• Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel (purchased)
• My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey (purchased) – My Review
• Hades by Alexandra Adornetto (won – thanks Lisa @ Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me)
• Divergent by Veronica Roth (purchased)
• Dawn of Darkness by Daniel A. Kaine (purchased – eBook) – My Review

It’s been a couple weeks since my last mailbox. I haven’t really been anywhere, or spent much money lately, which has been good. Just reading and studying. I preordered Dearly, Departed a couple months ago, it’s one I plan on reading over summer. I haven’t got a copy of Halo at the moment, so I’ll have to hurry up and get myself one because Hades is looking lonely on my shelves. The two Evermore books were borrowed from the library because I wasn’t sure whether I’ll like them enough to spend my money on them yet. The other four I ordered at an online discount bookstore for around $2 – $4 each. I’ve been wanting Hold Me Closer, Necromancer for a while. It’s meant to be like the short-lived TV series Reaper, which was a favourite of mine, so I was excited when I found this one cheap.

Here are my latest reviews if you want to check them out:
Johnson, Maureen Shades of London #1, The Name of the Star
Kaine, Daniel A. Daeva #1, Dawn of Darkness
Shirvington, Jessica Violet Eden Chapters #1, Embrace
Smith, Andrew, Stick
Vincent, Rachel Soul Screamers #5, If I Die

Link up to your mailbox and I’ll be sure to check it out!

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren, which allows bloggers to share what books they’ve received in the past week. They can be from stores, contests, tours or publishers!

• Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick (purchased)
• The Cross Of Sins by Geoffrey Knight (purchased)
• The Name Of The Star by Maureen Johnson (purchased)
• Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (purchased)
• Sektion 20 by Paul Dowswell (thanks to Publishers)
• Out For Blood by Alyxandra Harvey (purchased)
• Bleeding Hearts by Alyxandra Harvey (thanks to Publishers)

I got the paperback of Silence last week, but I needed the UK foil hardcover to match Hush, Hush and Crescendo. I’m going to have to keep both though, since the paperback is the only one that has the bonus chapter from Patch’s POV. I read Silence a few days ago if you want to check out my review. Thanks to Bloomsbury for Sektion 20 and Bleeding Hearts, I love the shiny blue cover on the first one. I had to go pick up a copy of Out For Blood since I’ve only read the first two Drake Chroncicles books so far. I also stumbled upon the new movie edition of Breaking Dawn and had an urge to get it. Although, I don’t have any of the other movie editions, so it looks a bit random sitting on its lonesome on my shelf.

Here are my latest reviews if you want to check them out:
Fitzpatrick, Becca Hush, Hush #3, Silence

Link up to your mailbox and I’ll be sure to check it out!

Title: Blood Feud (Drake Chronicles #1)
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Published: June, 2010 by Bloomsbury
Pages: 257
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

The action and romance continue as the Drakes face a new vampire with a 200-year-old grudge. It’s been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she’s made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That’s if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

The clans are gathering for Helena’s royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha’s reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmartre—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.

Final Thoughts:
Better than the first book, a change of POV greatly helped my enjoyment. Logan, the Victorian clothes loving vampire, despite teasing from his six brothers, takes up the lead alongside Isabeau. The adventures are much the same as those from book one, but their strong character traits made up for what annoyed me last time around.

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren, which allows bloggers to share what books they’ve received in the past week. They can be from stores, contests, tours or publishers!

• Winter’s Shadow by M.J. Hearle (library)
• Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey (library)
• Entice by Carrie Jones (library)
• Soulless by Gail Carriger (library)
• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (won)
• Frostbite by Richelle Mead (won)
• Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead (won)
• Blood Promise by Richelle Mead (won)
• Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead (won)
• Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (won)
• Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (purchased)
• Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr (purchased)
• Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr (purchased)
• Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr (purchased)
• Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr (purchased)
• Chime by Franny Billingsley (won)

I forgot I’d gone to the library on Monday, so that’s why my first picture is clearly patched together, I didn’t feel like getting all the books back out for a new photo. I managed to pick up the complete Wicked Lovely series this week for $25 from Big W (if you’re in Australia). It was so cheap, and comes housed in a nice hard box, I just had to get it. I’ve only read this first book in the series so far, you can find my review here. Thanks to Jess from She Known As Jess for Chime, which I won in the Midsummer’s Eve giveaway. You probably also noticed my signed Vampire Academy book above. I entered a competition with Penguin Australia at the end of May where you had to come up with a question for Richelle Mead in 25 words or less. I just happened to be one of the ten winners. In addition to having my question answered in an upcoming video, I also got sent the whole series – Thanks so much Penguin. All of the books are personally signed with a different message in each. I’ve only read the first book, so I’m very excited to have these.

If you haven’t already entered my INTERNATIONAL Giveaway, check it out for a chance to win one of the books in The Demon’s Lexicon trilogy. (Ends 17th July 2011)

My Reviews from the past week:
Hearle, M.J. Winter’s Shadow #1, Winter’s Shadow
Mitchell, Todd The Secret To Lying
Rees Brennan, Sarah The Demon’s Lexicon #3, The Demon’s Surrender

Link up to your mailbox and I’ll be sure to check it out!

Title: Hearts At Stake (Drake Chronicles #1)
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Published: December, 2009 by Walker Books
Pages: 248
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family. Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart. Even fans of the genre who’ve seen it all will find a fresh read with kick-butt characters and family dynamics that ring true for all brothers and sisters—vampire or otherwise.

Final Thoughts:
Also released as My Love Lies Bleeding in AUS/UK. Nothing ground-breakingly new to the genre, but it has plenty of action, scheming and hot vamp boys if you’re interested in a quick read.

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren, which allows bloggers to share what books they’ve received in the past week. They can be from stores, contests, tours or publishers!

• Wake by Lisa McMann (purchased)
• Gone by Lisa McMann (purchased)
• Die For Me by Amy Plum (purchased)
• Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini (purchased)
• The Devouring by Simon Holt (purchased)
• Soulstice by Simon Holt (purchased)
• The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross (purchased)
• My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent (purchased)
• Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (purchased)
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (purchased)
• Intertwined by Gena Showalter (purchased)
• Unraveled by Gena Showalter (purchased)
• Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins (purchased)
• Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (purchased)
• Fallen by Lauren Kate (purchased)
• Torment by Lauren Kate (purchased)
• Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon (purchased)
• Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon (purchased)
• White Cat by Holly Black (library)
• The Secret To Lying by Todd Mitchell (library)
• Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead (library)
• Frostbite by Richelle Mead (library)
• Captivate by Carrie Jones (library)
• My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey (library)
• Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward (library)

As you can see, my mailbox went into overload this week. Lots of my bookdepository orders arrived (every single book packaged individually), but I still have a couple more I’m waiting on. I went to the city this week with my friend Brittany from Nice Girls Read Books and we stalked all the bookstores we could find. We nearly got stuck in a back alley tow away zone trying to find a park for one of the little independent bookshops. City driving, not fun… On top of the 12 books that arrived in the mail, I grabbed 6 at the shops on impulse and picked up 7 more from the big library in the city. Out of all of these, I’d read six already (Wake, My Soul To Take, Intertwined, Unraveled, Clockwork Angel and Infinity) but I needed them for my collection. I especially love the shiny foil coverslip on Clockwork Angel, it looks great sitting beside my TMI hardbacks.

Link up to your mailbox and I’ll be sure to check it out!