Weekly Haul #29

Stacking the shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It's basically a way in which we get to show off the lovely new goodies we got over the past week/month however you decide to do it.

On with the books!

(Click the covers to go to their Goodreads pagges)

The Write Stuff (A Write Stuff Novel) - Tiffany King
I pre-ordered this book. I opened my Kindle on it's release day. Saw it in my library. Opened it. Proceeded to consume it. Consume. So. Freaking. Good! Buy this book. Now!

Black Lies - Alessandra Torre
A couple people I follow on Goodreads gave this one pretty good reviews and I've seen it mentioned a few times on Twitter. I caved.

Red Rising (Red Rising Trilogy #1) - Pierce Brown
I have read contemporary after contemporary lately and while I love them dystopia, when done right, is always going to be my first love. I have high hopes that this will be one of those ones done right.


*****


Another short one this week. What did you add to your shelves? Leave me links to your posts :)

REVIEW: Rule (Marked Men #1) by Jay Crownover

Title/Series: Rule | Marked Men #1
Author: Jay Crownover
Published: May 7th 2013
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Format: eBook | Pages: 327
Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Amazon
★★★★✩ (4.5/5) Stars!!

Jay Crownover | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight--A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want--and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

This series has been on my TBR list for far too long. I don't even know why it took me so long to buy them. Tattooed boys are my biggest weakness so you'd think I'd have been on it even before I read the summary and had only seen the cover! A little over a month ago I was just sitting here and I wasn't doing anything book related so I couldn't even tell you where it came from, but I had the sudden urge to finally buy and start reading the Marked Men series. Best decision ever.

I sabotaged relationships, turned down guy after guy simply because I didn't want a good guy--I wanted the one who was damaged and blind to the way I felt.

You cannot help but love Shaw Landon. She's this girl that makes you instantly feel the need to protect her. By all accounts she should be a spoiled, snobby little rich girl. But the reality of it is she's unbelievably sweet and loving and caring. Her biggest fault though is that she has a hard time for most of the book standing up for herself. She'll stand up and fight for everybody else, most especially Rule, but when it comes to standing up to people in her own defense she shuts down. Normally that sort of thing has me liking a character less, but even though I got annoyed my feelings for Shaw never wavered. 

I didn't bother to cover up; she was used to walking in and finding me hungover and naked--I didn't see why today should be any different.

Meeting Rule Archer for the first time was...a unique experience haha. It was equal parts shocking and humorous and on top of all that highly intriguing.  Even after that initial crazy first impression, there was something about the guy I instantly liked. Sure he was full of attitude, really didn't think about anybody but himself and was a bit of a male slut, okay maybe 'a bit' is something of an understatement, but I had hopes for him. The more I got to know Rule and about his background and the family dynamic he grew up in, the whole bad boy thing and his attitude really clicked for me. Plus I started to see what Shaw saw in him...and he stole my heart as well.

"...Just look around you: I'm still here, Nash hasn't gone anywhere. Jet and Rowdy would kill for you, and if you took a minute to think about it, Shaw has been there just as long..."

What I love most about this series, I've read Rule, Jet and Rome at the time of typing up this post, is how much of a tight knit group these people are. It's not even friendship they're a family. If you hurt one you hurt them all, if you piss off one you piss off all. They protect each other and would do absolutely anything for one another. Sure they fight and argue among themselves as well just like a normal family unit would, but you know that even when they're at each other's throats there's still this deep, unbreakable bond. It's heartwarming. You're slowly getting to know everyone in each book and it has me excited to get to each guys book and see each of these bad boys get his world turned upside down by a girl. I only wish I would have started these books sooner!

That's What HE Said Thursday #12

Every Thursday, the girls over at Chapter Break are hosting a fun new meme! To learn more about "That's What HE Said Thursday" click here.

My Quote:

"I know there were many times when I didn't deserve you, especially with the way I treated you in the beginning, but I plan on using ever second to make up for that."

Daemon Black to Katy Swartz

Opposition (Lux #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

There were a couple of other moments that I wanted to use really bad but they had bits and pieces of spoilerific wording in them. This is still a very sweet and loving side of Daemon.

Swoon Thursday #27

Swoon Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by YABound!

Here's what you do:

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

This week's pick is from:

Opposition (Lux #5)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My gaze shifted over to him, and his expression had softened. "You told me...told me about the most stunning people and what was inside them." I paused, frowning. "The way you said it sounded so very beautiful."

He came closer, stopping in front of me. He knelt down, his eyes shining. "I remember. I said, 'The most beautiful people, ones whose beauty is only rivaled by what is inside of them, are the ones who are quietly unaware of it.' Or something like that."

"That was it." I nodded.

He tilted his head to the side. "I was talking about you then. Those words were meant for you."

My eyes met his again and I swallowed. Hard.

"You had no idea how beautiful you were. I don't even think you do now, but it's what's inside of you." Carefully, he reached out and placed his hand between my breasts. "That's the most beautiful thing in the world. What's in you."

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

So what has you swooning this week? :)

Waiting on Wednesday #25

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine where we share with everyone upcoming new releases that we're eager to get our hands on! :)

The Secret Place (Dublin Murder Squad #5)

by Tana French

Expected Publication: September 2nd 2014

by Viking Adult

The photo on the card shows a boy who was found murdered, a year ago, on the grounds of a girls’ boarding school in the leafy suburbs of Dublin. The caption says, I KNOW WHO KILLED HIM.

Detective Stephen Moran has been waiting for his chance to get a foot in the door of Dublin’s Murder Squad—and one morning, sixteen-year-old Holly Mackey brings him this photo. The Secret Place, a board where the girls at St. Kilda’s School can pin up their secrets anonymously, is normally a mishmash of gossip and covert cruelty, but today someone has used it to reignite the stalled investigation into the murder of handsome, popular Chris Harper. Stephen joins forces with the abrasive Detective Antoinette Conway to find out who and why.

But everything they discover leads them back to Holly’s close-knit group of friends and their fierce enemies, a rival clique—and to the tangled web of relationships that bound all the girls to Chris Harper. Every step in their direction turns up the pressure. Antoinette Conway is already suspicious of Stephen’s links to the Mackey family. St. Kilda’s will go a long way to keep murder outside their walls. Holly’s father, Detective Frank Mackey, is circling, ready to pounce if any of the new evidence points toward his daughter. And the private underworld of teenage girls can be more mysterious and more dangerous than either of the detectives imagined.

The Secret Place is a powerful, haunting exploration of friendship and loyalty, and a gripping addition to the Dublin Murder Squad series.

One of my blogger friends whom I absolutely adore, Trish @ Between My Lines, recently finished this book and from her tweets I was highly intrigued. Once she let me know that it could be read as a standalone I was sold. I need a good mystery in my life and I think this is going to be just that! I wanna know who killed him!!!

What are you waiting for this week? :)

Top Ten Tuesday #29

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

This weeks topic is...

Top Ten Books I Really Want To Read But Don't Own Yet

I seriously can't believe I haven't bought most of these yet. There are quite a few here that I really, really want to read too. I could hear my debit card crying in the corner as I was typing up and formatting this post saying "No! No! I'm so tired of being used..."
(Click the covers for their Goodreads pages)

The Redemption of Callie & Kayden

(The Coincidence #2)

by Jessica Sorensen

Sinner

(The Wolves of Mercy Falls #4)

by Maggie Stiefvater

Tempting The Best Man

(Gamble Brothers #1)

by J. Lynn/Jennifer L. Armentrout

Open Road Summer

by Emery Lord

Daughter of Smoke & Bone

(Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1)

by Laini Taylor

Technically I own the audio book version of this, but I'm throwing it in anyway because it seems I have ADHD when listening and can't seem to make it through chapter 1 without getting distracted. Guess I'm not an audio book person :(

The Distance Between Us

by Kasie West

Dangerous Girls

by Abigail Haas

Throne of Glass

(Throne of Glass #1)

by Sarah J. Maas

One

(One Universe #1)

by LeighAnn Kopans

Insomnia

(The Night Walkers #1)

by J.R. Johansson

*****

I've made myself a little sticky note that's sticking to my monitor so that the next time I get the urge to splurge...I'm going to this list first so I can read these lovelies finally!!

What books made your list this week? :)

REVIEW: Opposition (Lux #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title/Series: Opposition | Lux #5
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Published: August 5th 2014
Format: Paperback | Pages: 352
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance
Source: Amazon
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!!

Jennifer L. Armentrout | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

I am equal parts so happy right now that I could burst and absolutely gutted. This is it. The last Lux novel. I feel like bittersweet doesn't even begin to cover it. I've been hit with different emotions since reading the very last words. Sometimes I'm elated and just have this huge sense of relief that it's over and about how it ended. Then others it's almost like being in mourning. Book hangover? Understatement of the year. Never in a million years did I think I'd be so consumed by a series, let alone one that starred an egotistical alien. I went back and forth in my head 2 years back when I came across Obsidian for the very first time. It sounded so good but paranormal just wasn't my go to genre. I don't even want to think about the fact that I very nearly brushed past this series without looking back.

I wasn't sure what to expect before I started. Mostly I was scared to death. I've felt like I'd been burned by series enders in the past, on more than one occasion. It's hard to feel so emotionally invested in a story and characters and have that happen. Opposition was absolutely perfect. Sure there was stuff that happened that hit me like I was being punched in the gut. But sometimes those really bad things that happen are the spark that's needed, the catalyst that brings the strength and resolve necessary for the next step to happen. (Thanks Wendy for helping to realize that!) Everything happens for a reason. Not that it makes it hurt any less but it helps to accept those things that have to happen.

There was also so much to love about this book. The bromance. The love. Daemon. Katy. Dawson. Beth. Dee. Archer, I think he is my absolute favorite addition to the series. He could very nearly give Daemon a run for his money when it comes to my affections. Luc! Ohh Luc I have such a soft spot for that kid. He had me laughing at the strangest moments with his ill timed jokes and smart ass comments. Well ill timed for the people that they were aimed at, for me I thought it was perfect haha. Sigh. There's just so much! I literally just finished and I'm already ready for a reread.

It's hard to put my afterthoughts into words and I keep feeling like I'm about to burst and say way too much. So I guess that means it's time to close this. Opposition was just the right ending to a series that is, and will always be, my absolute favorite. There's just no way anything else will be able to touch it for me. Each book from beginning to end had me wrapped up in so many feelings and emotions, so many highs and lows and everything in between. Each character you're introduced to has so much depth if they were to have crawled out of a page it wouldn't have surprised me. They feel very real. They inspire you to love them and even hate them. While I'm beyond sad that it's over, I'm happy knowing they're still sitting there on my shelf ready for me to take them down and lose myself over and over again in this amazing world that Jennifer L. Armentrout has created. Which I will be doing for years and years to come.

Weekly Haul #28

Stacking the shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It's basically a way in which we get to show off the lovely new goodies we got over the past week/month however you decide to do it.

On with the books!

(Click the covers to go to their Goodreads pagges)

Nash (Marked Men #4)

by Jay Crownover

I've already blazed through Rule, Jet and Rome and I can't get enough of these guys! Gonna be a sad,  sad day when Asa comes out next year and they're all done :( 

The Thousand Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars #1)

by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham 

My inner fangirl is showing with this one. I absolutely loved the Veronica Mars series and normally when I'd see a book like this coming out after the fact I'd be hesitant to get it but with the name Rob Thomas attached to it who was creator/writer/producer for the show I just had to have it!

*****

That's it for this week. What did you add to your shelves? :)

REVIEW: Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title/Series: Origin | Lux #4
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Published: August 27th 2013
Format: Paperback | Pages: 364
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance
Source: Amazon
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!!

Jennifer L. Armentrout | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

I bought Origin way back on it's release day. It was a pre-order actually. Yet the moment it arrived in the mail I squeezed it onto the shelf in it's rightful place next to the first 3 books, untouched. And there it's sat until a few weeks ago. Waiting. Whenever I'd confess to other fans of the series that I still hadn't read this yet I'd always get a lot of shock over the fact. 'How on earth can you not read it yet? Don't you remember the end of Opal?' Yes! Don't you?! That's exactly why I felt I needed to wait. I'm a chicken. Truth be told I never even read the blurb, or the one for Opposition either. Why? I didn't even want a hint until I was ready to end the series. The ending of Opal shattered my heart into about a million pieces. I have never had a worse book hangover and I just wasn't ready to go through that kind of a situation again and have to wait and wait to finally get some closure. So I waited, surprisingly patiently, until now.

I was on fire again.

Being able to get lost in this series once again has been so much fun. Very bittersweet but honestly there's nothing like it. I was filled with so much apprehension before starting Origin. I started over and reread everything from the beginning and when I finished Opal once again I had a massive pit in the bottom of my stomach. I cracked this one open and got through the first sentence (above) and I almost wasn't ready to go on. I just knew my emotions were about to get a huge workout.  

"I'll burn the world down to save her."

If I were to be forced to pick a favorite out of all the Lux novels then I'd have to say that Origin would be my pick. But...not for any reason you may think of. Basically, this is the first time since the start of the series that one of the Lux novels is in dual POVs. *Dead* I have been wanting to get inside the head of that yummy alien Daemon Black ever since he opened the door in nothing but a pair of jeans and an scowl in book 1. There's a sentence I never thought I'd say haha. I swear I didn't think it was possible but I fell for this guy even more. We really get more of a sense of Daemon instead of just the second hand stuff through the eyes of Katy. His fierceness, his determination, his desperation, his loyalty. The lengths this guy will go to to protect and save the woman he loves even his family...there are just no words.

Luc had warned me that the things here would blow my mind.

I felt like I had a pretty good handle on everything by the end of Opal and boy was I wrong. In this book we get to go deeper into Daedalus and realize there is so much more going on with them than I had even imagined. There are new characters to love and loathe and some that made brief appearances before but we get to see them a bit more in this one. At some points I feel like this book was probably harder on me to read than Opal was. There's all out chaos and surprises everywhere. It was heart wrenching and action packed. There were betrayals and tragedy. But beneath all of that there was also times of tenderness and so much happiness I thought my heart was going to burst. Origin was the perfect build up into Opposition. I just wish it didn't have to end.