New on the Shelves {April 2016}

I added quite a few things to my shelves in April. One last hurrah before the Hubby completely locked down the budget ;D I also couldn't resist a few good sales going on during the month! 

A photo posted by @amzech18 on Apr 30, 2016 at 2:08pm PDT

New on the Shelves {March 2016}

Most of what I added to my shelves in the month of March was from the library. Gotta love that place. Let me share those first......

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

This one was pretty adorable. Snarky, sarcastic, and ultra creative. Patrick Ness gives us the story of the 'normal' characters that live in the background

Goodreads

Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh

A mature MG sci fi read. Short and fast, it's worth finding a copy from the library. 

I posted my review last Thursday

Goodreads

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

EVERYBODY. This was my first EVER book club book read. And it wasn't fantastic. This style of writing, literary, dry, aloof, is just not my thing. Everyone else in the group thought much of the same about the story as well.

Goodreads

Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Gah, this cover #gorgeous. I actually haven't gotten to this one yet. Book one of the trilogy was off the charts. I listened to book two which may have affected my rating. I am nervous, albeit excited, to start this one soon!

Goodreads

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Okay, admit it friends: I got some awesome books from the library this month. This collection of short stories gives each character an 'origin' story of sorts. So nothing is exactly fresh and new, except for the very last story which is #romancegoals

Goodreads

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

This was Uppercase's March book choice. The cover is pretty swoony IRL and the synopsis sounds super awesome. I can't wait to dive in! ...though I am not sure when that will be...

Goodreads

The Gift of Friendship by Dawn Camp

I have actually received a copy of this book from the publisher already...so not sure why I got this one again. Perhaps it was a mistake? Perhaps it was part of the launch team deal? Either way, I gave this copy away to a BFF already :)

Goodreads

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

A Jane Eyre retelling? Don't mind if I do! Thanks Netgalley for the ecopy!

Goodreads

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And there you have it! I technically only added like...one physical read to my shelves? But already for April I have added quite a bunch. Oops. BUT! You'll have to stay tuned :D

See anything you'd like to add to your shelves??

Books I Want to Reread in 2016

Yes, it is April. And yes I am just finally getting around to listing the books I want to reread in 2016....but better late than never, amirite? I need to read at least one of these before May ends!
*links lead to my reviews!

Breathing Room by Leeana Tankersley

I have her newest, "Brazen", that I should be starting this week. I remember her writing as 'honest and truth revealing'. Gorgeous cover as well ;)

The Finishing School by Valerie Woerner

This one needs a re-read from me just so I can take each lesson and truly let it seep in. Maybe I will blog my way through this as a way to stay accountable??

Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson

I don't think I ever posted about this one, but it is beautiful. Anything these two write is soul refreshing. With a tough young baby and a rambunctious three year old, I could use some hope and fresh air.

50 Women Every Christian Should Know by Michelle DeRusha

THIS. Every single lady in this book is so inspiring. I could use inspiring right about now. This one was also supposed to be on my ReRead 2015 list....but we can see how well that went...

Chasing God by Angie Smith

After reading this one I wanted to push it on every single person I knew. Prayer, forgiveness, running around in circles searching desperately for God. Angie gets it, she has been there. This one made my 'Lifechanger' shelf and it's time I revisit why. 

Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin

When I first read the words beneath this beautiful cover, they didn't strike me as earth shattering. But at the time, I was much better at my personal Bible study time. Now life has happened and I need to dive in again. I think reading Wilkin's words will give me the spark I need to dive headfirst back into the Word. 

And of course...because it is obvious:

  

If you could reread anything this year, what would it be??

New on the Shelves {February 2016}

This post is late in coming...almost a month late! Sorry friends, I've fallen behind on reading and blogging. I am pretty much in survival mode these days. Having two kiddos is HARD, especially when the baby boy may have a dairy intolerance! BUT you didn't come here to hear me lament, we came for BOOKS!! So here is what I added to the shelves in February:

Top Books I Read in 2015

According to Goodreads, I read 129 books in 2015. Twenty-seven of these were marked with a five star rating. You can pop over and see my favorite books for the first half of 2015, as those books won't be included here. This list will include books I read from July to December of 2015. ...well, plus one horrible oversight that I simply HAVE to remedy. 

Also, this IS in a 'kind of' order. I tried, but it's so hard friends! Please, add these awesome books to your TBR list stat!

Top Fave Books of 2015...So Far

Hello! It's that time of year again where I pause to look back on what I have already read.

I've read 70 of 85 books to date. I'm totally shocked by this. I didn't think I would be reading so much this year, but I've had a nice amount of time. Having so many awesome, quality books has helped too! I have read a plethora of stellar book this year. Picking five was impossible. I couldn't even limit it to six! So here are the Top Seven Books of 2015 .... so far!

INSPY 2015 Award Winners!

I can't believe that after all that fun and great reading, I forgot to post the INSPY Award winners for 2015! The announcement went live on June 30th and hopefully you have already seen the results. First, for the category I was judging the winner was:

Literature for Young Adult: Storm Siren (Thomas Nelson) by Mary Weber:

New on the Shelves (7)

Friends, I simply have to brag. I had THE best mail week last week. A signed book. An ARC. And some new hits from fantastic authors. Check it out:

New on the Shelves (6)

I may be inconsistent, but at least I am persistent! :) Here is another round of books I've gotten my hands on these last two weeks:

Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander

New on the Shelves (5)

Okay, time for me to get back to my irregular feature. With all the fantastic books I have picked up recently, I am just DYING to share them! I'm going to resist *too much* backtracking and just share my most recent finds. Even still for the sake of not having the worlds longest blog post, I will only link to the Goodreads pages instead of sharing the summaries here. Take a deep breath..and dive in!!

New on the Shelves (4)

YIKES. Somebody stop me!! I am in love and things are going well...with books! I wish more of these were physical copies..*insert sad face*

A Bouquet of Love by Janice Thompson

via Revell publishing 

Blog Tour Book

Goodreads Summary:

Cassia Pappas has found herself in a nearly impossible situation. She wants to spend her time immersed in her new job at a Galveston Island floral shop, arranging blooms and brightening occasions with her lovely creations. But her huge Greek family–especially her father–has other ideas. They've all relocated to Galveston to open up a new family restaurant location on the Strand– directly across the street from the Rossis’ popular pizza place–and they want Cassia’s full participation.
To make matters worse, as Cassia is trying to develop a strong professional relationship with Galveston’s premier wedding coordinator, Bella Neeley, her own father is intent on stealing all of the Rossi family’s faithful customers. Not exactly the best way to get into Bella’s good graces!
Still, at least Alex, that hot delivery guy from the nursery, is always hanging around the flower shop . . .
Fan favorite Janice Thompson gives readers one more romp with Bella, Galveston, and the bustling wedding biz in the final installment of her popular series. Anyone who loves quirky families, loads of laughter, and tender romance will find themselves hooked.

Kitchen Confidence by Kelsey Nixon
via Blogging for Books and the publisher
Goodreads Summary:

A young food star and new mom, Kelsey is an invaluable friend in the kitchen to everyone settling into their first kitchen of their own. Her recipes, which are broken down into simple steps, teach readers how to cook, highlighting key tools and basic techniques everyone should know. And yet her flavors are anything but basic; Kelsey gives everyone the confidence to start with the 2.0 version of a recipe instead of the boring standards. For example, she makes her house pilaf with quinoa instead of rice, and her addictive fruit salad is a savory first course instead of a lackluster dessert. 

     With 100 recipes and 60 color photographs, Kitchen Confidencebrings home all of the energy and spirit of the Cooking Channel show of the same name, making it an excellent handbook for newlyweds, recent college graduates, and those discovering their kitchens for the first time. 

Lizzy and Jane by Katherine Reay
via Thomas Nelson and Netgalley
Goodreads Summary:

Lizzy and Jane never saw eye to eye. But when illness brings them together, they discover they may be more like Austen’s famous sisters after all.

Lizzy was only a teenager when her mother died of cancer. Shortly after, Lizzy fled from her home, her family, and her cherished nickname. After working tirelessly to hone her gift of creating magic in the kitchen, Elizabeth has climbed the culinary ladder to become the head chef of her own New York restaurant, Feast. But as her magic begins to elude her, Paul, Feast’s financial backer, brings in someone to share her responsibilities and her kitchen. So Elizabeth flees again. 

In a desperate attempt to reconnect with her gift, Elizabeth returns home. But her plans are derailed when she learns that her estranged sister, Jane, is battling cancer. Elizabeth surprises everyone—including herself—when she decides to stay in Seattle and work to prepare healthy, sustaining meals for Jane as she undergoes chemotherapy. She also meets Nick and his winsome son, Matt, who, like Elizabeth, are trying to heal from the wounds of the past. 

As she tends to Jane's needs, Elizabeth's powers begin to return to her, along with the family she left behind so long ago. Then Paul tries to entice her back to New York, and she is faced with a hard decision: stay and become Lizzy to her sister’s Jane, or return to New York and the life she worked so hard to create?

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis
via Disney-Hyperion and Netgalley
Goodreads Summary: 

Princess Snow is missing.

Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back—but that’s assuming she wants to return at all.

Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.

When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane’s arrival was far from accidental, and she’s pulled into the heart of a war she’s risked everything to avoid. With the galaxy’s future—and her own—in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival.

Starry Night by Isabel Gillies
via publisher and Netgalley
Goodreads Summary:  

Sometimes one night can change everything. On this particular night, Wren and her three best friends are attending a black-tie party at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to celebrate the opening of a major exhibit curated by her father. An enormous wind blasts through the city, making everyone feel that something unexpected and perhaps wonderful will happen. And for Wren, that something wonderful is Nolan. With his root-beer-brown Michelangelo eyes, Nolan changes the way Wren’s heart beats. In Isabel Gillies's Starry Night, suddenly everything is different. Nothing makes sense except for this boy. What happens to your life when everything changes, even your heart? How much do you give up? How much do you keep?

So let's hear it friends, interested in any of these titles?? What titles did you add to your shelves this week? Leave a link or comment below!!

New on the Shelves (3)

Welcome to another lovely edition of New on the Shelves with me, your lovely host :) All these are for review except one...


Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
via Crossway Publishers 
Goodreads Summary:

Many Christian women find great encouragement and joy in and through women's Bible studies. However, popular Bible teacher Jen Wilkin is concerned that sometimes we let our emotions rule our study of Scripture and forget that the Bible is primarily about God, not us. Challenging hungry women to go deeper in their study of Scripture, this book will help you refocus your efforts on feeding your mind first and foremost. Whether you're young or old, married or single, this accessible volume will energize and equip you for Bible study aimed at transforming both the heart and mind.

Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
via Netgalley and publisher
Goodreads Summary:

Oliver grew up in a family of explorers - but his biggest adventure is about to begin!

Along with his new friends, a grumpy old albatross, a short-sighted mermaid and a friendly island called Cliff, Oliver goes off in search of his missing parents. But before he can put his rescue plan into action there's the evil Stacey de Lacey and an army of greasy, green sea monkeys to contend with . . .

Growing Up Social by Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane
via the author and publisher, Moody
Goodreads Summary:

In this digital age, children are spending more and more time interacting with a screen rather than a parent. Technology has the potential to add value to our families, but it can also erode a sense of togetherness and hinder a child's emotional growth. In Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen-Driven World, you'll learn how to take back your home from an over-dependence on screens. Discover the five A+ skills needed to give your child the relational edge in a screen-driven world: affection, appreciation, anger management, apology, and attention. Today's screens aren't just in our living rooms; they are in our pockets. Now is the time to equip your child to live with screen time, notfor screen time. Constant entertainment is not the goal of childhood. No phone, tablet, or gaming device can teach your child how to have healthy relationships; only you can. Growing Up Social will help you:


Equip your child to be relational rich in a digital world
Replace mindless screen time with meaningful family time
Establish simple boundaries that make a huge difference
Read what's working for the screen savvy family down the street
Prepare your child to succeed down the road in relationships and life
Learn healthy ways to occupy your child while you get things done

Created for More by Jonathan Malm
via Netgalley and publisher
Goodreads Summary:

If you ever feel like your devotions are disconnected from your day, like your quiet time is competing with your responsibilities, or like your spiritual walk is separate from a walk you take through the grocery store, you need this devotional.
You were created for more.
Devotions aren't supposed to be isolated from your life; the God who created you also calls you to create-whether that is a business, a family, a book, a photograph, a website, a sermon, or a meal for someone hungry.

By tying together our daily creations and our characteristics from God,Created for More will remind you of the life God is calling you to. Read your Bible with excitement, let prayer seep throughout your day, and see your devotion to God multiply as you rejoice in creating for Him 

Hyperion by Dan Simmons
via Half Price Book Stores :)
Goodreads Summary:

On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all. On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope—and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.  

Okay, two bloggers lately have recommended this book strongly...and I can't remember who! Poor memory, I know. Let me know if it was you so I can give you due cred :)

I can't wait to dig in!! What have you gotten lately??