Tag Archives: Stacking the shelves

May 3 2014
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Stacking the Shelves – April 2014 Edition!

Stacking the shelves

Hosted by Tinga’s Reviews

Considering how many books I bought last month (as seen in March’s STS) I think a serious cutback in book buying was definitely called for. I’m pleased to say that the only books I acquired this month were either purchased last month during my spend-a-thon or bought under my personal read 4, buy 1 challenge. Here’s a look at what I got: 

Hardcopies:

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Most of these I’ve already read. I’m at the point where I’m only adding the best of the best to my collection. I think all of these qualify. :)

Ebooks:

All of these I snagged for under $3.00 – killer! I’ve been hearing awesome things about both Red Rising and Archived, and who doesn’t love Robin Hobb?

Library:

Turtlebomb!!! I’ve read about half of the books I’ve borrowed (thank goodness for online renewals), and have, for the most part, enjoyed them all. My favorite read in this category was the Girl of Fire and Thorns – which you may have noticed is also in the “purchased” category… it was AWESOME!

ARCs:

Thief’s Magic by Trudi Canavan
May 29, 2014
Fool’s Assassin by Robin Hobb

Thank you Penguin Random House! Having the chance to review an early copy of The Immortal Crown is like a blogging dream come true for me. Be on the lookout for the review of it near the end of the month!

 Also, you may have noticed I’m doing a great job sticking to my new resolution to stop requesting so many titles from Netgalley and Edelweiss. I’m reserving that for the best ones – like a new Robin Hobb and a new Trudi Canavan!

So that’s it for my haul! How did YOU do this month? :)

by Niki Hawkes

Mar 28 2014
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Stacking the Shelves – March 2014 Edition!

Stacking the shelves

Hosted by Tinga’s Reviews

Okay, brace yourselves… I went a little hogwild buying books this month. You see, I left my job of eleven years with Barnes and Noble Bookstore, and the terror of having to pay full price for books after more than a decade of employee discounts made me a bit irrational. I may have drained my savings…

Anyway, I now have practically every book that was on my To Be Purchased list, which is a lot of excellent reading to look forward to:

Hardcopies (Adult):

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My favorite aquisition in this category is probably the new Brandon Sanderson – it’s gorgeous!

Hardcopies (YA):

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I’ve already read most of these, but I am excited to have so many pristine hardcovers to add to my colleciton!

Because of the circumstances, my Read 4, Buy 1 challenge went completely out the window. So much so, that I have decided to put myself on a book buying ban. We will see how long that lasts, ha ha. Stay tuned for April’s edition of Stacking the Shelves: Niki’s failed attempt at a book ban.

 Library:

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Yes, I am finally utilizing the library for the first time in my life… I can’t possibly support my habit without it now. I figure it will allow me to read the books before I buy them, and become a little more picky in deciding which ones actually spend money on.

Signed Awesomeness:

This month I was lucky enough to meet Patricia Briggs, Brandon Mull, Chad Morris, and Dan Wells – which pretty much makes this the best month ever! The signed Brandon Sanderson I got from BN.com as an exclusive preorder, and the Ann Aguirre I acquired from a post she did on goodreads. :-)

ARCs:

Mortal Heart

 Yup, just one. That’s a vast difference from the ten I had on last months list. What can I say, I’ve managed to show a bit of restraint… But there also hasn’t been anything I’ve been just dying to read. Sad to say, but I’m pretty sure I went a little bit overboard in ARC requests last month, a decision I’m paying for. It wouldn’t of been so bad, but I requested a bunch of sequels to series I haven’t started yet simply because they were ones I was planning on reading eventually… not my brightest moment. My plan going forward is to limit myself to requesting sequels only if I am caught up in the series.

Anyway, if you need me, I’ll be reading…

 What books stacked your shelves this month?

by Niki Hawkes

 

Mar 1 2014
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Stacking the Shelves – February 2014 Edition!

Stacking the shelves

Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

 February has been an excellent month in book collecting. I added a bunch of hardcover editions to my shelve, replacing the paperbacks of some of my favorite series. My personal Read 4, Buy 1 challenge is going fairly well – not only is it allowing me to focus on the awesome books I’ve already owned for years, but it’s also making me incredibly selective of the new books I bring home. When you are only able to pick out a few new titles every month, it really forces you to be picky.

Hardcopies:

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Of course the book I am most excited about this month is a signed first edition of Undead Pool by Kim Harrison! I am also really tickled to have acquired hardcover copies of Sara Douglass’ Wayfarer series. The Cabot books were freebies from work and my best friend assures me that I will love them.

ARCs:

   Thank you Netgally and Edelweiss!

Of course I am ecstatic at the opportunity to read the new Richelle Mead, but the book I am most excited about is The Lascar’s Dagger by Glenda Larke. I feel so privileged to have gotten hold of an early copy – I was already planning on reading it the day it came out. She’s one of my all time favorite fantasy authors and I have read and loved everything she’s ever published (including a series I had to have shipped over from Australia).

What books stacked your shelves this month?

by Niki Hawkes

Feb 1 2014
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Stacking the Shelves – January 2014 Edition!

Stacking the shelves

Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

 All I have to say is thank goodness for friends and family who heard my birthday pleas for Barnes and Noble gift cards. Without them, I certainly wouldn’t have read enough books this month to bring home this many amazing titles (per my Read 4, Buy 1 challenge). As I have been trying to streamline my collection to only the most special of titles, I am focused on bringing home only books I have already read (and loved) and/or want to collect. It’s really difficult to keep myself from buying things I won’t read for a long while, but so far I’m doing pretty well. Anyway, here’s a look at my new acquisitions:

Hardcopies (Adult):

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 I am thrilled at all the additions to my collection this month! Having the Briggs and Harrison books in hardcover makes me incredibly happy, but I am most excited about the Brandon Sanderson book – it is gorgeous!

Hardcopies (Young Adult):

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(Guarded by Raistlin)

Not too many in this category… To be honest I kind of violated my Read 4, Buy 1 for the bottom three titles because I found them on such killer deals. I think I paid less than ten dollars for the bunch. The problem is, I like having all formats match in the collections and now I have to go buy the other Rachel Caines in hardcover…

Thank you Harperteen for sending Panic!

ARCs:

 I probably shouldn’t have included the Lauren Oliver ARC in the Young Adult category as well as this one… ah, well – too late. Anyway I did get a few other awesome titles from Netgalley and Edelweiss (Thank you!!). I am actually tickled to only featuring two digital ARC titles this month because it’s proof that I’m sticking to my resolution to stop requesting so many of them.

 What books stacked your shelves this month?

by Niki Hawkes

Dec 27 2013
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Stacking the Shelves – Decembers Edition!

Stacking the shelves

Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

As some of you may know, I am undertaking a read 4, buy 1 challenge as of the beginning of December and I am pleased to announce that I have stuck to that goal. Although I kind of cheated this month. You see, I don’t count gifts as part of my challenge purchases so all of the Barnes & Noble gift cards my family got me this year are responsible for the latest additions to my collection:

Hardcopies (Adult):

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A couple of these came from scouring local used bookstores, and my prized find was a hardcover edition of The Beholder’s Eye by Julie E. Czerneda – one of my all-time favorite novels and one that I’ve been actively searching for online. I couldn’t believe my luck!

Hardcopies (Young Adult):

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This is where most of my gift cards went – as you can see I had a lot of fun spending them! Although, because I have the most awesome best friend ever, the copy of The Fiery Heart was actually a Christmas present from her. Not only did she give me the book I was most looking forward to buying, but got it signed and personalized for me by Richelle Mead! Best. Friend. EVER!

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E-books:

Alas, none.

ARCs:

Thank you Edelweiss!! 

 It looks like I have a ton of great reading ahead of me! What books stacked your shelves this month?

by Niki Hawkes

Dec 1 2013
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Stacking the Shelves – November’s Edition!

Stacking the shelves

Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

 November’s Stacking the Shelves has to be my favorite so far because I actually have more than a couple of books to show for my month of book buying. Here’s a look at my library’s new additions:

Hardcopies:

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 All SIGNED and purchased it during the Vegas Valley Book Festival – an event that literally made my year. As if getting to go to the event wasn’t cool enough, I was part of the Barnes and Noble team recruited to help run the BN tent. In short, I got paid to be there… How cool is that? Throughout the day, we got to wander between multiple author panels, get pictures with the authors, and attend the massive author signing at the end of the day. There were so many authors there that I was concerned I wouldn’t have enough time to get all my books signed. I have to complement the people in charge of the events for organizing things so well because I was able to meet and talk to every author on my list with time to spare. It was amazing and I fully intend on going again next year. And yes, I brought back a few of these for you… Giveaways to come. :-)

E-books:

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As you might be able to tell, I blew the crap out of my budget on hardcopies…

ARCs:

 The one I’m most excited to read is probably Shannon Hale’s new book. I think she has a lovely voice and I always find her stories charming. I’m looking forward to seeing how she tackles a dystopian – will there be more edge? I’m excited to find out…

What books stacked your shelves this month?

by Niki Hawkes