Stacking the Shelves [21]

I am joining in on Stacking The Shelves, a weekly meme hosted over at Tynga's Reviews. It is an easy way to share what books you picked up that week, and to see what other people have picked up to read themselves.

How to Participate?

• Create your own Stacking The Shelves post. You can use my official graphic or your own, but please link back to Tynga’s Reviews so more people can join the fun!
• You can set your post any way you want, simple book list, covers, pictures, vlog, sky is the limit!
• I am posting Stacking The Shelves on Saturdays, but feel free to post yours any day that fits you.
• Visit Tynga’s Reviews on Saturday and add your link so others can visit you!

• Visit other participants link to find out what they added to their shelves!

THIS WEEK: 

Believe it or not, this week I actually purchased a book! A book, as in one, but still exciting. This is a book I have wanted since it came out a couple of months ago, but I was trying really hard not to buy books, so I didn't buy anything. On Friday, I had dinner with my friends at the outdoor mall where they have a Barnes & Noble, so I decided to stop in. As I can get a teacher discount there, I decided to go ahead and buy it.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson - I have heard such great things about this book, and I cannot wait to read it for myself! I have also started reading We Were Liars from the school library. I am half way through, and I am enjoying it, but I feel like I have no idea what is going on in it!

What did you guys add to your shelves this week?

Blogger Spotlight: Tiffany (Me!)

Hey all! Unfortunately, the person I had lined up to be hosted on Blogger Spotlight this week did not get back to me. I did not want to completely forget about this week (or move forward the next person since I gave her a date to expect her post, I'm looking at you Inge!), so I thought I would just answer the questions myself to give you all a little bit more information about myself. Also, I am down to just two scheduled posts in the future, so if you would like to be hosted on Blogger Spotlight, please let me know! (My Google Drive freaked out not long after the first one, so if you signed up and I never emailed you, I wasn't able to see your information so go ahead and notify me again so I can email you!).

(This picture isn't completely recent, as I have cut off a lot of my hair since - it's about three weeks old - but it's one of my favorites of myself lately)

1. Tell us about yourself; nicknames, occupation, pets, family, etc. 

As you already know, my name is Tiffany. I don't go by a whole lot of nicknames - some people call me Tiff, though it's not something that I really like. My family is pretty big on "pet names" though, so a lot of my nicknames have nothing to do with my name. My dad likes to call me egg head, and my mom has been calling me Boo since I was young. I am a teacher, and am currently in my third year of doing so. I have moved to a new school in a new district (the one I grew up going to school in), and I am really loving it. I teach seventh grade reading, and my students have been great so far. My husband and I will have been married two years on the twenty-third of this month, we have owned our house for a little over a year, and we have a miniature Schnauzer named Sirius.

2. How long have you been blogging?

Actually, today it has been exactly seven months. It's hard to believe that it has already been that long, but it makes me very happy as well. I am loving this blogging thing, though it's been a bit more difficult lately going back to work, and starting at a new school.

 

3. How did you decide on your blog name?

I'm actually not completely sure how I came up with my blog name. I knew that I wanted a book blog, but I also knew I didn't want an overused or boring name, which was something I was really, really worried about. I'm not always the most creative, especially when on the spot. I spent some time thinking about it and managed to come up with my blog name, though. I am incredibly happy with it.  

 

4. What is your favorite type of post?

I am not sure that I really have a favorite kind of post at this point; it really depends on my mood more than anything else. Sometimes I really want to do a meme, like my Cover Concepts on Mondays or Top Ten Tuesdays (I have been really bad about these lately). Sometimes I just rambling on about things I enjoy, and other times I really, really enjoy writing up a review. Like I said, it really just depends on the mood I'm in.  

 

5. What 3 books would you recommend to everyone?

I am going to cheat a little bit because they aren't all separate books - I think that it's okay to cheat in times like this, though!

1. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling 

2. Any book written by Sarah Dessen (I am so thrilled that she released that she has another book coming out. I can't wait for it next year!)

3. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

 

6. What author are you dying to meet?

This has always been such an easy question for me. I would love, love, LOVE to meet and talk to Sarah Dessen in person. She is one of the reasons that I fell in love with reading and continued to read, and I just feel like she would be so fun to meet in person. I definitely wouldn't mind some autographs on my books, either! 

7. What Hogwarts house would you be in? (OR Divergent faction)
 I would definitely be in Ravenclaw, no doubt about it. While I think that I would enjoy Gryffindor as well, I am just not that brave. I put a lot of merit in knowledge and I love always having a book with me, so I think that definitely says Ravenclaw.

As for Divergent faction, I always struggle with it. I would say Erudite if they didn't end up being such horrible people. I think that I would probably end up being Divergent because I don't really match up with any of the factions.

8. Favorite Quote?
"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good." - HP; J.K. Rowling

Ten Random Facts: 

1. I would go to bed by 8 every night if I could. Sleeping early is one of my hobbies, apparently. I'm just so exhausted so early.
2.   I am obsessed with my Toms. I have a blue and white pair that I wear with almost everything. I just got a gray pair as well that I'm starting to break in as well as they actually match much more than my blue ones do.
3.  I am really picky and indecisive when I get dressed in the morning. If I don't feel good in something, then I will refuse to wear it because I know that it will bother me all day.
4. I cannot stand having stains on my clothes. Even if it is something small, it's all I will be able to think about for the rest of the day. I suppose it's slight OCD or something of the sort. 
5. I don't like listening to the radio in the morning because I don't like the talk show stuff. Instead, I make CDs to use in my car in the mornings and save the radio for the afternoon.
6. I like to sing loudly in my car. As I drive about 100 miles every day back and forth to work, I have to find some way to entertain myself.
7. I really do not enjoy listening to audiotapes, unless I have the book in front of me so I can follow along as well. That makes it impossible for me to listen to them in the car, though that would be a much better way to spend my drive most days.
8. I used to hate tomatoes, and now I feel like I could eat them on almost everything. It's funny how our tastes can change like that.
9. I have a slight (or huge) addiction to Target. I love everything about that store, and can spend quite a bit of time just walking around looking at everything, even if it's not something that I actually need.
10. I have lived in Texas since I was seven, and I absolutely hate the heat. 

Thanks for reading! Remember to contact me if you would like to be featured on a future Blogger Spotlight.

 
 

 

Cover Concepts: August 31 - September 6

Happy Monday! Welcome to the feature Cover Concepts on my blog. Every Monday I am going to create a post with all of the young adult book covers that are releasing within the week. I will then tell you all what I think about the covers; If I love them, or if I think that they could be better. At the end of the post, I will give you all a chance to vote on your favorite cover of the week. As I pick a lot of my reads based on their covers, this seemed like the perfect feature for me to begin on the blog. Feel free to leave comments with your opinions of the covers as well, and we can discuss them! :] 

There are tons more books releasing this week! Some of them look really, really good so I would definitely look into them and see what you guys want to pick up! Also, because there are so many again, I'm not going to post a poll and instead we can just talk about the covers in the comments! :] Happy Labor Day! 

1. The Winter People by Rebekah L. Purdy - September 2

Thoughts: I am usually not a fan of having big faces on covers like this, but I actually think that this one is pretty bearable. I love how the colors all fade together, and it just feels cold. I think that this one is actually really well done.

2. Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts - September 2

Thoughts: I really like the simplicity of this cover. Some people might think it is boring, but I would take this over a cover with horrible models any day.

3. MARY: The Summoning by Hillary Monahan - September 2

Bloody Mary #1

Thoughts: I am definitely not a fan of scary books, and this cover is enough to tell me that I need to stay away. I like how the first part of the title is backwards, as if it is a mirror. It is supposed to be Bloody Mary, after all (I'm assuming so, anyway.).

4. The Jewel by Amy Ewing - September 2

The Lone City #1

Thoughts: I have been a fan of this cover since I first saw the ARCs released. I just love big dresses on covers, especially when the focus is more on the dress than the model. I do love how the mirrors are being used in this cover as well, and how you can see the models' reflection in so many places.

5. Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes - September 2

Thoughts: This is another one that I have been interested in since I first saw the ARC. I love the contrast between the colors of the chairs, and how it perfectly fits the title. I also love the handwritten title. It's great that they can get their point across without having people on the cover.

6. Don't Touch by Rachel M. Wilson - September 2

Thoughts: Lots of great covers this week. I love how old fashioned this cover becomes just by adding the gloves and the up-do. Of course, I know why she is really wearing the gloves based on the synopsis. I think that the text is very pretty, and I actually don't mind the tagline being on her neck like it is.

7. The Dolls by Kiki Sullivan - September 2

Dolls #1

Thoughts: I think that this is an interesting cover, though I am not a fan of snake skin at all, so it does not quite win me over like I'm sure that it would for other people. I do like the addition of the snake on the heel and the font looks interesting. I think that a lot of people will really like this one.

8. Puppy Love by A. Destiny & Catherine Hapka - September 2

Flirt Series

Thoughts: I guess they decided they wanted to take the title quite literally with their cover. Not only is there a couple that is obviously in love, but there is also a puppy on the cover with them. This is the exact kind of cover that I'm just not into anymore.

9. 100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith - September 2

Thoughts: I am assuming that this cover will make a lot more sense after you read the novel. I am hoping so, at least. I think that the sky in the background is very pretty, and I think the title is handled well in the simplicity. I'm not sure about the horse, but I guess that's that...

10. Sealed with a Lie by Kat Carlton - September 2

Two Lies and a Spy #2

Thoughts: This is another thing with covers that I cannot stand at all. I hate when they put two scenes on top of each other like this and think that it works. It does not work, at least not in my opinion. And, seriously, the guys hair in the top picture, what's up with that?

11. The Boy I Love by Nina de Gramont - September 2

Thoughts: I guess that this is the boy she loves? It is also an incredibly dull cover.

12. Practice Makes Perfect by Melanie Spring - September 2

Varsity #3

Thoughts: I had not even heard of this series before I looked up this cover for this post. After coaching cheerleading for two years at the middle school level, I definitely don't want to read about it. I guess the cover makes sense for what it is, though. I like the font of the title, but that's really about it for me.

13. Hider, Seeker, Secret Keeper by Elizabeth Kiem - September 2

Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy #2

Thoughts: If I'm being completely honest, this is not a well done cover at all (I'm sure that this is something that we can all see). However, as a former dancer, I really do love when dancers show up on covers. That is the one plus here for me.

14. Feuds by Avery Hastings - September 2

Feuds #1

Thoughts: Another dancer! I have to say that this one is far better than the one above. I do like the colors of the background with the contrast of the girl all in black. The only think I don't like is that stupid tagline. It's used over and over again.

15. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas - September 2

Throne of Glass #3

Thoughts: I know that everyone has been waiting forever for this one to come out (I haven't started the series yet, oops!). I do think that this cover is awesome, though. I'm glad they did a cover change after the first book. It matches the rest in the series, the girl looks awesome, and she isn't a dull model. What else could you want?

16. Starry Night by Isabel Gillies - September 2

Thoughts: I am LOVING illustrated covers lately. I think that this is my favorite one this week. I just love the colors and the design in the background. I think that it is very well done.

17. Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini - September 2

The Worldwalker Trilogy #1

Thoughts: I have been interested in this one as well since seeing the ARC. Now that I look at it bigger, I'm not sure how I feel about it. I like that it's not super zoomed in on the model, but she also doesn't really seem like she fits into the scene. It's fine, but could be better.

Poll: There we have it, those are the majority of the young adult books releasing this week. Which cover is your favorite of the week? Seeing as there are SO many books this week, I'm not going to create the poll as usual. Instead, simply leave a comment telling me your favorite cover this week and we can discuss them! :]