Stacking the Shelves (108)

Stacking the Shelves

I love it when the stacks are short and sweet!

StoryBundle logoA couple of notes about this week’s stack; I also bought the Urban Fantasy Bundle from the marvelous people at StoryBundle. This time round it’s a collection of urban fantasy stories in well-known series by equally well-known authors, including the Bigfoot Stories by Jim Butcher, and the first-time-ever ebook edition of Elizabeth Bear’s Whiskey and Water.

Also on the list is an oldie but hopefully still goodie. Open Road Media has created a terrific business by producing ebook editions of/for authors of contemporary classics who have managed to obtain their rights back. I read Leon Uris’ Exodus at my grandparents’ apartment when I was in high school; I still have the half-torn hardcover. But I loved it then, so I’m curious to see how well it wears. And of course the ebook copy won’t get any wear and tear at all.

For Review:
Idol of Bone (Looking Glass Gods #1) by Jane Kindred
Night Shift by Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Lisa Shearing and Milla Vane

Purchased from Amazon:
Alaska Traveler: Dispatches from America’s Last Frontier by Dana Stabenow
Exodus by Leon Uris
Wildfire at Dawn (Firehawks #2) by M.L. Buchman

Borrowed from the Library:
City of the Lost by Stephen Blackmoore
Forcing the Spring: Inside the Fight for Marriage Equality by Jo Becker

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Stacking the Shelves

In addition to feeding my addiction at both NetGalley and Edelweiss, there were a couple of special purchases I’d like to mention.

The wonderful folks at StoryBundle are running a special bundle this week of Science Fiction and Fantasy written during NaNoWriMo. This looks like a terrific punch of new SF/F authors, and I can’t wait to see how the stories turn out.

Humble Bundle (much better known for their indie gaming bundles) have a special Doctor Who comics bundle this week. If you love the Doctor, or are curious about the comics, this is a great way to read a pretty full starting collection.

For Review:
The Agincourt Bride (Catherine de Valois #1) by Joanna Hickson
Allegiance (Penton Legacy #4) by Susannah Sandlin
Black Ice (Midgard #2) by Susan Krinard
Dark Refuge (Spirit Wild #4) by Kate Douglas
The Little Green Book of Chairman Rahma by Brian Herbert
Lock In by John Scalzi
The Tudor Bride (Catherine de Valois #2) by Joanna Hickson
Witchlight (Magic Born #2) by Sonya Clark
Wouldn’t It Be Deadly (Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins #1) by D.E. Ireland

Purchased:
Doctor Who Comics Bundle from Humble Bundle
Sci-Fi/Fantasy NaNo Bundle from StoryBundle
Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden’s Syndrome by John Scalzi

Borrowed from the Library:
Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick

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Stacking the Shelves

In addition to my usual roundup of books from NetGalley and Edelweiss, you’ll notice that one of the things purchased is another bundle from the wonderful folks at Story Bundle. StoryBundle logoThis time round, they have a fantastic collection of romance, as they say, from the past, the present and the not-quite-normal. Go to Story Bundle, take a look at the titles they have on offer, and decide how much they are worth TO YOU. Pay what you think the collection deserves.

If romance isn’t your thing, check out some of their past bundles to get an idea of the many realms that they collect. If you sign up for their mailing list, you’ll get notices whenever they have a new bundle. They’re always interesting, whether they are quite your cup of tea or not. I think this is my fourth. Or fifth. At least.

For Review:
Gilded Lily (Steam and Seduction #3) by Delphine Dryden
Knight of Love by Catherine LaRoche
The Nightingale Girls (Nightingales #1) by Donna Douglas
The Nightingale Nurses (Nightingales #3) by Donna Douglas
The Nightingale Sisters (Nightingales #2) by Donna Douglas
Serafina and the Psycho Sous-Chef (Serafina’s #4) by Marie Treanor
Stone Song (Cold Iron #3) by D.L. McDermott
Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Thomas Sweterlitsch
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot by David Shafer

Purchased:
The Mary Russell Companion by Laurie R. King
Romance: Past, Present and Paranormal Bundle from Story Bundle

Borrowed from the Library:
The Leopard Prince (Princes Trilogy #2) by Elizabeth Hoyt
Shadows of the Workhouse (Call the Midwife #2) by Jennifer Worth
Silver Mirrors (apparatus Infernum #2) by A.A. Aguirre

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Stacking the Shelves

There’s another StoryBundle available, and this time it’s a “Truly Epic Fantasy Bundle”. It says so right there on the label. I got it for the Rusch and Gaiman books, but it looks like an awesome combination of stories all around.

I can never resist a good epic fantasy, or even the promise of one–so they had me at “Truly Epic”. But seriously, if you love reading genre, get on StoryBundle’s mailing list. They put together some fantastic batches of books, not just fantasy, but they’ve done romance, horror, thrillers, science fiction and even an entire Doctor Who bundle.

For Review:
Dialogues of a Crime by John K. Manos
Duke City Split by Max Austin
The Guild (Guardians of Destiny #3) by Jean Johnson
Hard Time by Cara McKenna
Kindling the Moon (Arcadia Bell #1) by Jenn Bennett
The Last Time I Saw You by Eleanor Moran
Loving Rose (Casebook of Barnaby Adair #3) by Stephanie Laurens
The Mirror (Northwest Passage #5) by John A. Heldt
Seth (Cyborgs: More than Machines #5) by Eve Langlais
Silver Skin (Cold Iron #2) by D.L. McDermott
Summoning the Night (Arcadia Bell #2) by Jenn Bennett
Tease (Ivy Chronicles #2) by Sophie Jordan
Twisted Miracles (Shadowminds #1) by AJ Larrieu

Purchased from Storybundle:
Bloodletting (Affinities Cycle #1) by Peter J. Wacks and Mark Ryan
The Camelot Papers by Peter David
Clockwork Angels by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart
The Emperor’s Soul (Elantris) by Brandon Sanderson
The Festival of Bones (MythWorld #1) by James A. Owen
The Immortals by Tracy Hickman
The Monarch of the Glen (American Gods #1.5) by Neil Gaiman
The Sacrifice (Fey #1) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Spirit Walker by David Farland

Borrowed from the Library:
Boots Under Her Bed by Jodi Thomas, Jo Goodman, Kaki Warner, Alison Kent
The Cold Cold Ground (Sean Duffy #1) by Adrian McKinty
Concealed in Death (In Death #38) by J.D. Robb
Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
The Ghost of the Mary Celeste by Valerie Martin
Spirit of Steamboat (Walt Longmire #9.1) by Craig Johnson

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Stacking the Shelves

All those books I bought were from the current StoryBundle. If you haven’t heard of StoryBundle yet, you really should check them out, they are awesome! StoryBundle is like HumbleBundle, except it’s always for indie books. (HumbleBundle does indie games)

StoryBundle logoHere’s the deal; StoryBundle puts together a bundle (duh) of ebooks. You decide how much you want to pay and how much of what you pay goes to the authors and how much to StoryBundle for putting things together. You can also decide to give a percentage to designated charities. If you decide the books in the package are worth more than a set minimum, you get bonus books.

I’ve been interested in the two M.L. Buchman novellas for a while because I adore his Night Stalkers series. So this bundle was a win for me. So was the Doctor Who bundle I got a couple of months ago. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

Stacking the Shelves Reading Reality October 5 2013

For Review:
Bound by Wish and Mistletoe (Highland Legends #1.5) by Kat Bastion
The Descartes Legacy by Nina Croft
I’ll Be Home for Christmas (Coming Home #2.6) by Jessica Scott
The Love Game (Matchmaker #3) by Elise Sax
Poisoned Web (Deizian Empire #2) by Crista McHugh
Rodeo Sweethearts (Copper Mountain Rodeo) by Lillian Darcy
Werewolf Sings the Blues (Midnight Magic #2) by Jennifer Harlow
When It’s Right by Jeanette Grey
Who’s 50: The 50 Doctor Who Stories to Watch Before You Die by Graeme Burk

Purchased:
The Christmas Cuckoo by Mary Jo Putney
Daniel’s Christmas (Night Stalkers #2.5) by M.L. Buchman
Frank’s Independence Day (Night Stalkers #3.5) by M.L. Buchman
Galatea by Laura Leone
Melting Ice by Stephanie Laurens
The Trouble With Heroes by Jo Beverley
Up on the Rooftop by Kristine Grayson

Borrowed from the Library:
Divide & Conquer (Cut & Run #4) by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux
Fish & Chips (Cut & Run #3) by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux
The Scroll of Years (Gaunt and Bone #1) by Chris Willrich
Touch & Geaux (Cut & Run #7)  by Abigail Roux

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Stacking the Shelves

StoryBundle logoIf you’ve never heard of StoryBundle, and you love Classic Doctor Who, you have 10 days to get in on a treat. StoryBundle is HumbleBundle for indie books. Their current bundle o’books is the six Doctor Who titles I purchased this week. The deal is that you pay what you think the books are worth, and you get to download the books, DRM free. Looking at previous bundles, I’m sorry I missed The Fantastic Women’s Fiction Bundle and The Indie Fantasy Bundle. I won’t miss the next one, I signed up for the newsletter.

Photo of Elizabeth Peters AKA Barbara MertzIn much sadder news, Dr. Barbara Mertz, better known to the mystery and romantic suspense worlds as Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels, passed away on August 8. As Elizabeth Peters, she was the creator of the indomitable Amelia Peabody Emerson, Victorian archaeologist and wielder of sharp parasols and even sharper wit. (I’ve always wondered if Amelia wasn’t one of the progenitors of Gail Carriger’s Alexia Tarabotti) Although I have read all of Peters’ Amelia Peabody series and her Vicky Bliss series (they connect, eventually) I never did read her Jacqueline Kirby series. I am now.

Stacking the Shelves Reading Reality August 10 2012

For Review:
Born Wild (Black Knights Inc. #5) by Julie Ann Walker
Forged in Dreams and Magick (Highland Legends #1) by Kat Bastion
Losing Control by Nina Croft
The Love of My (Other) Life by Traci L. Slatton
Naked Once More (Jacqueline Kirby #4) by Elizabeth Peters
What Makes This Book So Great by Jo Walton

Purchased:
The Best of TARDIS Eruditorum by Philip Sandifer
Dalek I Loved You by Nick Griffiths
Dining With The Doctor by Chris-Rachael Oseland
Hellfire (Theirs Not to Reason Why #3) by Jean Johnson
The Spy Wore Blue (Lord and Lady Spy #1.5) by Shana Galen
TARDIS Eruditorum Vol. 2: Patrick Troughton by Philip Sandifer
A Taylor-Made Life by Kary Rader
VWORP by Earl Green
Who & Me by Barry Letts

Borrowed from the Library:
Elisha Barber (Dark Apostle #1) by E.C. Ambrose
Enthralled by Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Meljean Brook and Lucy Monroe
Finding Camlann by Sean Pidgeon
How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire (Love at Stake #1) by Kerrelyn Sparks
The Seventh Sinner (Jacqueline Kirby #1) by Elizabeth Peters