Top Ten Tuesdays (May 14, 2013)

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given.

This week the topic is: 

Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects (abuse, suicide, grief etc or something personal hard for you)

There are many tough subjects that are hard for me to read. Especially when it comes to bullying and suicide. Below is a list of several different books that I have read or that were recommended to me.

1.  Shut Up by Marilyn Reynolds

2. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

3. Kissing the Rain by Kevin Brooks

4. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

5. Beaches by Iris Rainer Dart

6. Shooter by Walter Dean Myers

7. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

8. Lucky by Alice Sebold

9. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

10. Down Sand Mountain by Steve Watkins

Stacking the Shelves (16)

What is Stacking The Shelves all about?

We are all book lovers and the need to share our enthusiasm is sometimes overwhelming. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you’re anything like me, you are probably hoarding books and even though you are excited about your latest book arrival, it might be a while before you get to review it and Stacking The Shelves is a good way to express your undying enthusiasm for those titles!

How to participate? Just head on over to Tynga's Reviews and sign up!

FOR REVIEW

from Kensington Publishing Corp.

The Queen's Rivals by Brandy Purdy

Predatory by Alexandra Ivy; Nina Banks; Dianne Duvall; Hannah Jayne

Hearts of Shadow by Kira Brady

As Twilight Falls by Amanda Ashley

from Simon and Schuster Audio

Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson

Star Trek: Into Darkness by Alan Dean Foster

from Celestial Book Promotions

Close Ups and Close Encounters by S.J. Brown

GIFTED

Since it was my birthday my hubby got me a gift card to Barnes and Noble so I purchased the following e-books. I also bought myself the last Sookie book to read as a gift to myself..:D

Audio Book Review: Iscariot: A Novel of Judas by Tosca Lee

Iscariot: A Novel of Judas

By: Tosca Lee

Publisher: Simon and SchusterAudio

Publication Date: February 5, 2013

Format: Audio CD: Unabridged edition

Source: publisher in exchange for an honest review

Wow. This was a really deep novel. The reader is taken to the very heart of a very complex and conflicted man. Tosca’s storytelling of Judas’ life makes you rethink everything you know and have been taught. Judas did not come by his decision lightly when he turned Jesus over to Pontius Pilate. He didn’t even know that is what he was doing. He thought he was saving Jesus but his limited knowledge of the law (even though he really did think he knew everything) was used against him.

Judas starts his life out being the son of a traitor and it seems everyone he attaches to becomes one also. In Jesus, he thinks he finally found someone to believe in so he joins the Nazarene’s followers in hopes of finally being free of Rome’s rule. Unfortunately, Jesus has other plans and so begins the frustration on Judas’ part. He never understands why Jesus just won’t toe the line a bit instead of always going against the old Jewish laws.

Iscariot: A Novel of Judas is worth reading. Not only for the recreating of the harsh living of people back then but for the different view of the life of Jesus Christ. The reader is taken on a journey through the eyes of Judas and dives into why a man who has obvious devotion for the Nazarene ends up betraying him.

PURCHASE ISCARIOT

Amazon  /  Book Depository  /  Barnes and Noble

My Birthday Week

 

Hey everyone! Sorry about not posting Stacking the Shelves today but 1) I didn't receive any books last week..:( and 2) it's my birthday week!! So I will be taking the week off from the blog because I think I deserve it..LOL...and I have a few things planned to celebrate my birthday. 

One of the things is I convinced my husband to attend is a Zombie Pub Crawl...yes I am dressing up and no he is not. But the fact that he will go with me is the one thing I asked...:D We are also going to go to one of our favorite places to eat on the day of my birthday (Thursday) and I am going to enjoy a very greasy and not healthy hamburger that I deserve (been on the NutriSystem diet the last three months). It is also our 10th Anniversary on Friday and to celebrate that we are taking in a Minnesota Twins game on May 18th. We decided to splurge on some really nice seats and a nice hotel. We do plan to go to a movie Friday because he really wants to see Iron Man 3 so I will let him to one thing I wants to do this week...:D

So I hope everyone has a great week because I know I will!

Book Review: Strange Angels by @lilithsaintcrow

Strange Angels

Series: Strange Angels, #1

By: Lili St. Crow

Publisher: Razor Bill

Release Date: May 14, 2009

Format: Softcover

Source: personal

Challenge Met: 2013 TBR Pile

Everything changes for 16 year old Dru Anderson when her father leaves on a hunt and doesn’t return. At least not as a human. Even though Dru and her father have been hunting other beings since her mother died, Dru has never been on her own, she has only used her special “touch” power to aid her father. Now she has no choice. Someone has changed her father into a zombie and that someone is coming after her next. Without knowing who she truly is and what her destiny is, Dru is left floundering until an unexpected helper in the form of a goth boy named Graves becomes her side-kick. The next savior to enter the picture is fanged and his name is Christophe. It isn’t quite clear if Christophe is good or bad but Dru needs to know more about the supernatural world and he is the only one to give her that insight. There is something slithering in the night and it is getting closer so Dru will need all the help she can get.

I really enjoyed this first installment. I found myself cheering out loud for Dru. She is a very real character. Her vulnerabilities make her believable. It is a mix of Supernatural and Buffy, The Vampire Slayer and contains many great action scenes with the added mystery of why Dru is on the supernatural beings menu all of a sudden. This is great for the older YA paranormal lovers with caution to some that there are some descriptive gruesome scenes.

PURCHASE STRANGE ANGELS

Amazon  /  Book Depository  /  Barnes and Noble