Stacking The Shelves (46)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

I got a ton of books this week. I went to Value Village at the start of the week and donated a bunch of stuff and came out with some awesome books. The middle of the week was a trip to the library and Friday I went to a local book sale and got some awesome books. My shelves are ready to explode.

Bought Used

Outlander- Diana Gabaldon (My copy was getting ratty)

We Need to Talk About Kevin- Lionel Shriver

Forgotten Garden- Kate Morton (My copy went missing so I picked up a new copy)

The Adoration of Jenna Fox- Mary E. Pearson










Borrowed from the Library

The Time Keeper- Mitch Albom

The Diviners- Libba Bray















Bought New

Monday Mourning- Kathy Reichs

White Cat- Holly Black (Only $3.00!!)

Mediator- Meg Cabot (Bind up of first two)

The Fox Inheritance- Mary E. Pearson

The Prince of the Mist- Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Season of Risks- Susan Hubbard (I know own all three.Should start this series...)

Glimmerglass- Jenna Black



What did you get in your mailbox?

Jenny Pox- JL Bryan

Title: Jenny Pox

Author: JL Bryan

Source: Free on Kobo

Series: Yes

Rating: 4.5/5

Eighteen-year-old Jenny Morton has a horrific secret: her touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague, the "Jenny pox." She lives by a single rule: Never touch anyone. A lifetime of avoiding any physical contact with others has made her isolated and painfully lonely in her small rural town.

Then she meets the one boy she can touch. Jenny feels herself falling for Seth...but if she's going to be with him, Jenny must learn to use the deadly pox inside her to confront his ruthless and manipulative girlfriend Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all.

Not recommended for readers under eighteen.

Eighteen year old Jenny is not allowed to touch anyone or else they will becoming infected with the "Jenny Pox". She has been doing pretty well with avoiding people and is in her last year of high school when she meets a boy who she can touch. She starts to fall for Seth but he is dating Ashleigh who is manipulative and holds a secret that is more powerful than anyone could imagine.

This book can get graphic. I would not suggest this for a younger audience. I read the reviews before I decided to read it and in the beginning I could not understand why such a warning would be put on this book but once I got into it I understood completely. The twist and turns this book had was crazy. I loved the beginning but I had no idea how this could be made into a story but Bryan managed it and it blew me away.

The characters were very old fashion. The setting was in a small town where religion was a big part of everyday life. The setting almost reminded me of a modern day Salem witch hunt which is the best way I could explain it. Ashleigh is the preacher's daughter who on the outside appears to be perfect in every way while Jenny is seen as more of the charity case who lives with her alcoholic father and is picked on her wearing gloves giving her the nickname of "Jenny Mittens". Seth is first perceived as the jock boyfriend of the most popular girl in school with the rich family who owns half the town but like Ashleigh he has his own secrets that he reveals to Jenny. 

Towards the end of the book I started to feel like this story was running out of steam and I was afraid there would be an unsatisfying ending but Bryan threw in one last twist that makes me want to continue this series so I can find out more. I could never have guessed where the story was going, I thought I would have it figured out and something would happen that threw me completely off and I would start wondering where things were going next. There was some sexy times in here and some pretty graphic violent parts but if they were not in the story it would not have had such a power hold and the best part was this book was free. I know it is currently free on Kindle, Apple, Sony, Kobo, and Smashword so check it out it is worth it.

Enclave- Ann Aguirre

Title: Enclave
Author: Ann Aguirre
Source: Bought used
Series: Yes
Rating: 4.5/5












In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.
As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.
Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first Deuce thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.
As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

This book reminded me why I love dark books. The story grabbed me and did not let go, I am desperate to know what  happens next. I have already put book two on hold at the library and I am dying to buy the novella off the Kobo website. 

Deuce has worked hard all her life to become a huntress and she has finally succeeded. After her naming ceremony she is given Fade as a partner to go on patrols. Fade is not from the enclave. He is an outsider that other hunters found and they decided to allow him to stay. Since being partnered with Fade her world has been turned upside down, he shows her a side of the enclave she never knew existed. Deuce must choose between the world she knows and the world Fade had introduced her to.

Fade is the outsider bad boy with the soft middle. He takes care of Deuce and makes her see what she is missing, but at times he can also be a total jerk. I cannot say too much but there were times when I was not a fan of him. Deuce has been brought up to believe the elders are always right and know what is best. You can only be one of three things; a breeder, a builder or a hunter. She is a little wary of Fade at first which I totally understand. Who would trust this outsider who says he is not from the underground but as the story progresses she starts to grow as a character and trust him, she is not as naive as she first appears. I loved Stone and Thimble. I want to believe they will be in the future books, there is so much more to there story that has to be told. 

The storyline is similar to a lot of other apocalyptic/ dystopian books out there but Enclave has something that makes it stand out from the crowd. It has great characters facing impossible odds but still managing to stay sane. The story is a fast paced, even when the story seems to be slowing down and allowing the characters to rest you know it's not true. There is always something waiting around the corner to try and kill them. 

Stacking the Shelves (45)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Last week I forgot I made a second trip to the library and got three more books. I left them in the car and forgot they were in there until I was looking at my November TBR so these books are technically from last week. 

I also bought some books this week. I went to Port Huron on Saturday and of course I stopped at some book stores. I tried to get a Kindle Paperwhite but unfortunately none had them and the Nook I was interested in was also sold out. I will prevail. 

Borrowed From the Library

Tilt- Ellen Hopkin

Rage Within- Jeyn Roberts

Ten- Gretchen McNeil













For Review

The Bridge- Jane Higgins (I love this cover!)

















Bought New

Shut Out- Kody Keplinger

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close- Jonathan Safran Foer ($4.95 at Barnes and Noble!)














Bought Used

Where We Belong- Emily Giffin (For $1.00 I could not pass it up)
















What did you get in your mailbox this week? 

Monster High- Lisi Harrison

Title: Monster High

Author: Lisi Harrison

Souce: Gifted

Series: Yes

Rating: 4/5

From Lisi Harrison, the New York Times bestselling author of The Clique and Alphas, comes a new series with a fresh twist on high school, romance, and the horrors of trying to fit in.

They prefer to call themselves RAD (Regular Attribute Dodgers), but some call them monsters. So far, the "monster" community has kept a low profile in Salem, but this year two new girls enroll at Master High School, and the town will never be the same.

Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and cheerleading. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters who might be stalking the halls, Frankie finds that life in the "normi" world can be rough for a chic freak like her.

She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver--but can a normi be trusted with her big secret?

I have to be totally honest, when I see the book was pink under the dust jacket I really did not have high hopes for it. I thought it was going to be completely girly and complete fluff. I am glad that it proved me wrong, sure it was super sweet and a little fluffy at times but it did touch on some real issues that people have in high school so I give it huge kudos and I regret judging the book by it's cover.

Frankie Stein is only fifteen days old, her father created her in his lab.  She is told she will be able to go to "normie" high school but when a rumour is spread that there could be a monster walking the halls Frankie starts to understand why her parents were so protective of her. She meets Melody Carver and thinks she might be the friend she needs to tell her big secret.

The point of view was divided between Frankie and Melody. Frankie thinks that life is just like in the glossy gossip magazines she reads and hopes that everyone will accept her for her. She soon finds that this is not the case and starts to rebel against her parents. Frankie was a little frustrating at times but once I put it into perspective that she only knows the outside world from teen movies and magazines I started to understand her character a lot better. She wants to tell the world what she is and hopes that the "normies" will accept the monsters. Melody has just moved from Beverly Hills with her family. She got a nose job from her plastic surgeon father but feels like everyone is only seeing her for her beauty and not the person she is on the inside. She wants to start over in Ohio. Her sister is a little flaky at times but underneath she is actually really sweet and tries to help Melody feel comfortable. 

 The plot was a little fluffy but it had a serious underlining message to it that I could relate to and I hope others can too.  The entire plot was really sweet which made it a quick read. If I had the time I could have read this book in an afternoon. The pages flew by.

I hope to continue with this series, I really enjoyed it and even though I expected something a little more spooky I was really impressed with this book overall.