STS #130 – Bought Borrowed & Bagged #80
Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga’s Reviews is all about the latest additions to your library – virtual or actual, with books that are bought, borrowed, won or ARCs you will be reading soon. Bought Borrowed and Bagged is a homage to to Barron’s Books and Baubles from KMM’ Fever series, and is hosted by Braine over at Talk Supe. Without further ado, here’s what I bought, borrowed or bagged this past week:
Come What May (All Saints #1) by A.M. Arthur – Thank you Carina Press and Netgalley!
Jonas needs Tate. He just doesn’t know it yet.
Or at least, he doesn’t want to admit it. Because there is no way Jonas Ashcroft is gay. He’s a straight, carefree frat boy player, just like any good son of a conservative state senator. If only his struggle to convince everyone—especially himself—didn’t leave him so miserable. No matter how many girls or bottles he drowns himself in, Jonas can neither escape nor accept who he is.
Enter Tate. He’s smart, confident, and instantly sees right through Jonas’s surly exterior. Sure, he’s done things in life he’s not proud of, but he knows who he is and what he wants. And what he wants is Jonas. As their easy friendship intensifies into something more, Tate introduces Jonas to a life he’s never known. One filled with acceptance and sex and a love that terrifies and excites them both.
But some inner demons refuse to be shaken off so easily. When Jonas’s old life barges in, he faces a shattering choice, one that could destroy everything he and Tate have fought so hard for. Sometimes love just isn’t enough—and sometimes it’s exactly what you need.
Holding Smoke by Elle Cosimano – thank you Disney Hyperion and Netgalley!
John “Smoke” Conlan is serving time for two murders but he wasn’t the one who murdered his English teacher, and he never intended to kill the only other witness to the crime. A dangerous juvenile rehabilitation center in Denver, Colorado, known as the Y, is Smoke’s new home and the only one he believes he deserves.
But, unlike his fellow inmates, Smoke is not in constant imprisonment. After a near death experience leaves him with the ability to shed his physical body at will, Smoke is able to travel freely outside the concrete walls of the Y, gathering information for himself and his fellow inmates while they’re asleep in their beds. Convinced his future is only as bright as the fluorescent lights in his cell, Smoke doesn’t care that the “threads” that bind his soul to his body are wearing thin-that one day he may not make it back in time. That is, until he meets Pink, a tough, resourceful girl who is sees him for who he truly is and wants to help him clear his name.
Now Smoke is on a journey to redemption he never thought possible. With Pink’s help, Smoke may be able to reveal the true killer, but the closer they get to the truth, the more deadly their search becomes. The web of lies, deceit, and corruption that put Smoke behind bars is more tangled than they could have ever imagined. With both of their lives on the line, Smoke will have to decide how much he’s willing to risk, and if he can envision a future worth fighting for.
Speed of Life by J.M. Kelly – thank you HMH Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss!
Twins Crystal and Amber have the same goal: to be the first in their family to graduate high school and make something of their lives. When one gets pregnant during their junior year, they promise to raise the baby together. It’s not easy, but between their after-school jobs, they’re scraping by.
Crystal’s grades catch the attention of the new guidance counselor, who tells her about a college that offers a degree in automotive restoration, perfect for the car buff she is. When she secretly applies—and gets in—new opportunities threaten their once-certain plans, and Crystal must make a choice: follow her dreams or stay behind and honor the promise she made to her sister.
Soulmates by Jessica Grose – thank you William Morrow and Edelweiss!
It’s been two years since Dana’s divorce, and she’s moved on. She’s rapidly approaching partner at her law firm, she’s cooking herself meticulously healthy meals each night, and she threw away Ethan’s ratty old plaid recliner. Most of all, she barely thinks about Ethan—or about how the man she’d known since college ran away with a yoga instructor, citing spiritual claptrap that Dana didn’t understand at the time and still has no desire to.
But when she sees Ethan’s face on the cover of the New York Post—with the headline “Nama-Slay: Yoga Couple Found Dead in New Mexico Cave”—Dana discovers she hasn’t let go of Ethan as much as she claimed she had. As she digs into the mystery surrounding Ethan’s death, she also revisits the last years of their marriage—and finds that neither is what it appeared to be.
A novel of marriage, meditation, and all the spaces in between, The Retreat is a page-turning mystery, a send-up of yoga culture, and a nuanced look at contemporary relationships by one of the sharpest writers working today.
One Second (Seven #7) by Dannika Dark – Thank you Tantor Audio!
Lexi has faced personal struggles, but nothing has prepared her for the most perilous battle of her life. Shifters are on the brink of war as Northerners target Colorado in an attempt to infiltrate the borders. Texas winds up on the hit list, and the Weston pack prepares to fight for their land . . . and for their lives.Austin’s courage is put to the test when rogues want to seize his land and slaughter his pack. But that’s not all he’s facing as two shocking revelations turn their lives upside down. His love for Lexi is unwavering, but their future is uncertain.Will the local packs set aside their differences to fight together, or will this be the end of peace among Shifters? Stand witness to the epic conclusion of the Seven series.
I won a copy of After You by Jojo Moyes from Lekeisha the Booknerd for her blogoversary!
Lou Clark has lots of questions.
Like how it is she’s ended up working in an airport bar, spending every shift watching other people jet off to new places.
Or why the flat she’s owned for a year still doesn’t feel like home.
Whether her close-knit family can forgive her for what she did eighteen months ago.
And will she ever get over the love of her life.
What Lou does know for certain is that something has to change.
Then, one night, it does.
But does the stranger on her doorstep hold the answers Lou is searching for – or just more questions?
Close the door and life continues: simple, ordered, safe.
Open it and she risks everything.
But Lou once made a promise to live. And if she’s going to keep it, she has to invite them in . . .
Did you get some exciting-looking books this week? Remember to leave me your link so I can check out your Stacking the Shelves and or Bought, Borrowed and Bagged post, too 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! Have a spectacular Saturday.
It looks like you got some awesome titles! I can’t wait to read Come What May; it sounds awesome. I’m also really curious about Holding Smoke. I hope you enjoy it!
I agree, it really does! Thanks for stopping by, Lauren 🙂
Great post. I love the sound of Speed of Life, I’m going to have to look out for this book. I have After You on my TBR but haven’t read it yet, I loved Me Before You though so hopefully After You will live up to it.
Here’s my StS:
https://rathertoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/2016/04/16/stacking-the-shelves-16-april-2016/
I really enjoyed Me Before You, too, Hayley, and I hope After You will be as good!
I’m always excited by my books! I grabbed a few by authors I like so I’m a happy Chuckles this week! Hope you enjoy your books!
I’m glad you’re a happy Chuckles this week 🙂
Great haul, Lexxie! I might have to check out Soulmates… It’s not my usual type of read but I’m intrigued 🙂 Happy reading!!
That summary just got to me, Danielle 🙂
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
Look at all those yummy books, enjoy!! 🙂
I agree, they all look yummy, Stormi 🙂
Oh wow! Lots of people got Holding Smoke this week!! That’s one I am very intrigued about! I loved Elle’s Nearly books and this one sounds pretty awesome too! I can’t wait to read all these reviews…because I did have some initial hesitancy over it, so reading reviews will help confirm my initial gotta get it reaction! LOL! Happy Reading!
My STS will be up tomorrow, so stop by then if you can!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
I can’t remember where I first heard about Holding Smoke, but I’m very intrigued by it as well 🙂
Speed of Life sounds INTENSE! I’m very curious about the Elle Cosamino book. It looks really intriguing and I’ve wanted to try the author for a while.
Enjoy all these amazing books! 🙂
I know, right? Intense can be good, and it can also be kind exhausting… I’m hoping for really good!
It looks like you got a lot of interesting books. I hope you enjoy them all! 🙂
Thanks Aj 🙂
Awesome haul of books this week. A Lot of your books are new to me.
Grace
I agree, Grace, they all look great 🙂
I have Holding Smoke on my TBR 🙂 enjoy your books
Thanks, Lauren, I hope so, too!
I love the cover of Speed of Life and the blurb sounds interesting too. I’ll look out for it! 🙂
I couldn’t resist that blurb, Sya!
Soulmates sounds good and I like A.M. Arthur so I think I’m going to head over to Netgalley and request that one if it’s still there.
My Stacking the Shelves
I hope it’s still there, Karen 🙂
Twitter: lattenightsbook
YOU WON THAT BOOK?!!! OMG!!! Seriously, can I have your luck on winning things?! Or can you at least tell me when these giveaways happen?! Thanks 😀 Yes, I’m holding you to it :p
I hope you enjoy all of these books!
🙂 Yes, I did win that book, Gen! Lekeisha had a Rafflecopter for her blogoversary and I entered 🙂 I win every now and then, so I guess I’m very lucky. And I usually tweet about giveaways I enter, but you and I are not always awake and online at the same time 😉
This is the 2nd time I’ve seen Holding Smoke. I must’ve missed it on NG, but I want to read it! Enjoy your books.
It sounds great, doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Christy.
that’s nice! I need to read more Moyes books. happy reading!
I’m looking forward to it a lot, Melliane, but at the same time, I’m a little wary… there’s a lot of hype surrounding this one.
Great looking books, esp speed of life . have a great week and happy reading.
I agree, Brandi, that one looks really good 🙂
Nice haul 🙂 seems you got some great stories to read and listen to – happy reading & listening!
best wishes
Vi @Gone With The Books
Thanks, Vi 🙂 I look forward to all of these 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Congratulations on your new books!!!! These are all new to me but I see one or two that I need to add to my TBR list. I hope you enjoy all your new books. Have a great week! Happy reading!!
Thank you, Mandy 🙂 Have a great week yourself 🙂
Looks like a really good haul! There’s some interesting titles here too. I hope you enjoy them 😀
Have a fantastic week,
Amy x
Thanks, Amy! I’m looking forward to all of these 🙂
Nice haul! Hope you enjoy your books and thanks for stopping by my stacking.
brenda
Thanks, Brenda 🙂
Twitter: talksupeblog
Great books! Holding Smoke has my attention, too bad Disney doesn’t like me 😛
That’s just not right, Braine! How could they not like you??
Twitter: kbaby81
Holding Smoke is one that I’m curious about. All of these look like great reads. Can’t wait for your thoughts on After You. I’m waiting to read that one myself.
YAY for After You. Jojo is one of my faves. Happy reading.
Those all look good! I hope you’ll enjoy them. Come What May sounds interesting. And yay for the win! It’s always fun to win a book or bookish giveaway.
Come What May, Holding Smoke, and Soulmates really caught my attention, Lexxie. Congrats on such a fantastic haul! One Second should be at my door today – if FedEx can manage the snow. 😉 My mail hasn’t been delivered since last Friday! Anyway, I look forward to seeing what you think of these titles and I hope they’re all fabulous!
I’ve missed you. Hopefully we can chat in the next few days! **BIG HUGS**