Stacking The Shelves #6

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! This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and anyone can get involved!

Note: Click on the cover and it will take you to amazon for more information.

Bought:

For Review

Freebies

What did you get this week?

Books: My Mr. Manny ~ Jennifer Garcia

Title: My Mr. Manny
Author: Jennifer Garcia
Sort Story: Standalone
Publishing date: 27th Augustus 2013
Publisher: Renaissance Romance Publishing
Number of pages: 257 p.
Language: English only
Age category: Adult

Received an advance reading copy from this in no way influences my honest opinion.

About My Mr. Manny

Mia Balducci misses her childhood days and yearns for the big, Italian family that she left behind in small town Massachusetts. At the tender age of sixteen, Mia moves with her bachelor father to Los Angeles, but no matter how many years pass, it never becomes home to her.

The years spent living with her father aren’t easy, especially since she can’t stop thinking about what she once had. Her enrollment in the University of Southern California promises to bring exciting changes to her life, but Mia winds up with big problems instead. When she runs into an old friend from her old hometown of Winthrop, she gets swept up in nostalgia, and she soon loses herself in a quickly-progressing romance.

When the fantasy falls apart, she is left to raise her precious little girl, Lucia, on her own. The demands of Mia’s work schedule and Lucia’s needs increase, and their lives become increasingly hectic. It is soon clear to Mia that she needs help. Luckily, her life-saving cousin saves the day and brings the mother and daughter a male nanny – their new “manny.”

After losing his high-pressure job on Wall Street, Dominic Roberts wants to follow his dreams to have a family. He’s already one fiancée down, and there are no likely prospects for another. In order to find the family he so desperately wants, he finds himself getting into the manny business. Since he is fully qualified to provide child care and is eager to leave New York City behind, his sister-in-law is able to land him a job in California working for his first client – the beautiful and intriguing Mia Balducci.

Will Lucia like the new man in her mother's life? Will Mia? And will this new trio discover the happily ever after they all so desperately seek?

My review

*This is going to be a bit personal, please bare with me :) or stop reading

This everything you don't want to read about when you just came out of a 7 year long relationship. This book could have been my live story minus the kid. Why didn't I want to read this?, well the first half of the book was about Mia's relationship with her ex-husband, even though she was marry she always had to do everything alone (which was a very confront story for me). Then she finds out why, and is left to raise their daughter alone. It was a really touchy story, or maybe it was just me that was emotional. I like how strong Mia was and that she pulled through putting her daughter for everything else.

Then the second half of the book consisted of everything I want a relationship to be. (Get my frustration with this book yet???) The second half is all peachy perfect, lovingly but careful. Mia and Dominic are attracted to each other from the start but they don't immediately jump each others bones the minute they see each other (the insta-love version). This relationship actually evolved when the book continues, because they are both still processing their past lives.

When I started this I thought it would be funny, light-hearted story, which was definitely not the case. I still pushed through even with  blurry eyes at times. It was still a pretty good book, it was realistic and emotional, with characters that developed throughout the story. The only problem I am still have after finishing this, is the beginning! Yes I mentioned this also in my book blitz you can read it here: Click here . The first 20 per cent of the book was really rushed, so rushed that I wanted to stop reading around 10 per cent in, but I pushed through. After my blitz post I received an email from the author explain why she chosen this start for the book:

"A lot of people didn't like that I "skimmed" the first part, but it was just for background, the real story is between Mia and Dominic and how they become a family with Lucia."

Rating

This book is well written, very realistic and of course a happily every after makes this a great read. There for 3 skaters!

Music ~ Christina Perry ~ Arms

I found a song that was great with the second half of the book. So enjoy! Ik vond dit nummer goed passen bij de 2 helft van het boek. Dus geniet er van.

Buy the book on Amazon

My Liebster award nominations!!!!

Good afternoon lovely people,

So yesterday I answered the questions of the two bloggers that nominated me for a Liebster Award: Monique from Mo Books and Margaret from Literary Chanteuse see the post here: Click! Today I am discussing my nominees! And I am also going to tell you why I nominated them! I have chosen INTERNATIONAL bloggers, since I am one my self! I thought it would be fun to keep it international!

What is the Liebster Award? 

The Liebster Award is a way to help blogs you like with less than 200 followers, and to give them some deserved attention so our followers can discover them as well.

Rules:
Link back the blogger that tagged you;
Nominate 10 others;
answer the questions of the one who tagged you; 
Ask 10 questions for the bloggers you nominate;
Let your nominees know of their award;

So here are my nominations!!! It was really hard to put this list together! Since I follow over 200 blogs! 

1. Natali @ Book Cupid (Canada)
She was one of my first followers! And I enjoy her reviews a lot, they are nice and short, with a clear opinion. (I have trouble keeping it short myself lol, mmight learn something there). 

2. Laurien @ Curls and Books (The Netherlands)
This is one of the blogs I started following recently. I enjoy her post and thought to give her an well deserved nomination!

3. Jamie @ Vailia Page Turner (Canada)
Here's were I go if I need a good suggestion for what fantasy to read! I often find mysef saying: Hey I didn't know that one! I really need to read this!

4. Mina @ Mina's Bookshelf (USA)
The coolest thing about her blog is that she finds drinks to go with the books!!! How awesome is that?!

5. Book bunny @ Book Bunny's Burrow (Finland)
I just envy her design!! I love the whole bunny theme and the fact that she own's two lovely bunnies aswell! How cute, if you wanna see an awesome blog design hop over and say hi!

6. Leesdame @ Leesdame (The Netherlands)
This blog keeps me connected with my Dutch Heritage, so to say, she blogs in Dutch and reads a lot of dutch author. I like her reviews they are dynamic and honest.

7. Guinevere and Libertad @ Twinja Book Reviews  (USA)
I love what they stand for: Fighting to bring multiculturalism to YA fantasy and science fiction novels! I think this is a very noble goal and I enjoy their articles about multiculturalism they are always interesting and it makes you think!


8. Isabel @ Sab the Book Eater  (Philippines)
She always puts a smile on my face, her posts are witty en funny!

9.  Bieke @ Istyria Book Blog (Belgium)
Another great blog design, great giveaways and ofcourse great reviews.

10. Jack @ The Book Stop (Ireland)
Well first of all, I believe he is the few male blogger I follow, you would be able to count them on two hands, as we would say in the Netherlands. Ányways a while back he did a dystopian month which was totally awesome! And it is becoming one of my new favourite genres, so it was cool to read about all the books that are out there in this genre! Thank for that Jack!

Here are my questions at te nominees:

1. What makes your blog unique?

2. Why do you blog and what's your goal?

3. Do you support literature from your country and what are some the authors from your country we would need to know about?

4. What book have you read  so many times that you lost count?

5. Where do you like to read? (If you want you can include a pic of your reading spot)

6. Do you have any advise for new bloggers?


7. What is your favourit book-turn-into-movie and why?


8. You are sitting in a bar and your favourite author walks into the bar, what would you ask him/her? 

9. Which genre do you prefer to review and why?

10. Have you ever travelled outside the country you are from? Which countries did you visit?

Liebster Award

Monique from Mo Books  and by Margaret from Literary Chanteuse nominated me for the Liebster Award. I truly am honoured and I'm surprised that they thought of me! THANK YOU Monique and Margaret!

What is the Liebster Award? 

The Liebster Award is a way to help blogs you like with less than 200 followers, and to give them some deserved attention so our followers can discover them as well.

Rules:
Link back the blogger that tagged you;
Nominate 10 others;
answer the questions of the one who tagged you;
Ask 10 questions for the bloggers you nominate;
Let your nominees know of their award;

Monique's Questions:

1. What are you currently reading?

Uh Im a currently reading 2 books Visited by Janine Caldwell and Moon Dwellers by David Estes!




















2. What is your favorite book(s) of all time?

Uh that is one though question! I enjoy so many books, it would be a tie between Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. Yes I know Twilight, I just find a lot of Bella in myself, like the awkwardness towards people, tripping over my own feet. Those kind of things. The Vampire Diaries has a lot more going on, it was never what I expected, especially book 5 to 7 (The Return series) (I refuse to read the books after Midnight since they are NOT written by L.J. but by a ghostwriter!!!) was really dark and spine chilling (for me first book I read that I didn't want to read at night alone in my little cabin). Lastly, the greatest fantasy book in the world: Lord of The Rings! Don't think I have to explain that one!

3. How did you come up with your blogs name?
I started out writing about my skating experiences, when we get natural ice and can skate on the lakes here in the Netherlands, the inhabitants of the Netherlands go a little crazy! So I wrote about the tours I skated and posted pictures. Then I started doing some writing about other stuff. I turned my blog into a book blog in May. Anyways back to my name, since I started out writing about the skating stuff, the link with Ice was easy, then there is this song called Ice Queen by Within Temptation. And Ice Queen's bookshelf was born. Two passions in one name.


4. Who are your top 3 book boyfriends?

1. Damon ~ The Vampire Diaries ~ L.J. Smith, forever my number one!
2. The Mad Hatter ~ Her Mad Hatter ~ Marie Hall
3. Alek Dostov  ~ Prelude ~ Kasonndra Leigh

5. Do you have a favourite book quote?

“Human beings as a whole cannot be good for long before the bad creeps back in and poisons us again.” - Divergent ~ Veronica Roth

“Ahh, so it is the Asian guy. Bummer. Well I’m sure you two will be very happy together, and make many zombie-ass-kicking babies.” - Cole   ~ Mortality ~ Kelli Sheridan

"Erin: When inside I'm jumping like a bunny who found a big ass carrot garden." - Prelude ~ Kasonndra Leigh

6. Do you have any of your own personal memes on you blog?

Yes, this is my own personal meme! It's called Swinging Saturdays! Every Saturday, I chose a top 5 of  a certain music genre or theme, like soundtracks, love songs, punk or indie music etc. If you would like to host it, just send me an email on icecoldpassions@gmail.com with the kind of music you like! Love to see what you like to listen to and what kind of top 5 you would want to share!

7. If you could meet any author, past or present, who would it be?
Ah, that's an easy one! L.J. Smith, I have been a big fan of all her work for a while now! I only miss two of her books in my collection, and I am still patiently waiting on the grand finale of the Nightworld series!

8.  Have any bookish pet peeves?
When authors copy and paste sentences throughout the book.. Please authors DON'T!!!!! Also when a book is full of grammar failures and the storyline is horrible as well, it makes me want to cry. (Yes even I notice grammer mistakes even though it is my second language)!

9. What are your favorite genres?
Well anything paranormal, shifters, werewolves, vampires, elfs, fairies, anything with mythology is very exciting because I love mythology! I also read a lot of romance, a bit of erotica and an ocassional historical novel or dutch literature novel.

10. If you could be a character from any book, travel to any world, who would you be? Where would you go? And (again from any book) who would you bring with you?
I think I would go to wonderland, I don't think I want to be Alice though, I think I would prefer to be the White Queen. How would I kidnap? Well I would kidnap Damon ofcourse (if he's not going to come then I have to persuade Ash (Nightworld series)) from the Vampire Diaries world. And we would make a wonderful couple and we would live happily ever after!

Question's from/vragen van Margaret from Literary Chanteuse

1. Do you listen to audio books?
Nope, none and I don't think that will change anytime soon. In my opinion it takes away the joy of actually reading, it seems kind of lazy!

2. How many books do you read per week?
At the moment maybe one if I am lucky, sometime only half a book. I have classes 4 evenings a week and am working fulltime so that leaves very little time to read. When I finish my last two courses and get my bachelor degree I will have more time to read so then I will get back to 2 or 3 books a week.

3. What is your favourite online book club?
I have two to be honest both are on Goodreads click on the logo and it will take you to the book club!







4. Which do you prefer print or e book?
That is a dilemma I have been struggling with for almost a year now. Finally did decided that I wanted an ereader, I got a Kindle for my birthday! Best gift ever! But I still like physical books, because they are visible, you can touch them look at them in a pretty book case. So I find myself at a crossroad not knowing which road to take, everytime I want to purchase a book.

5. Which book's cover is your favourite?
The covers of both Splintered and Unhinged they are so beautiful! Check out the cover artist's website here: http://www.ladysymphonia.com/ she has some other beautiful art on there as well! Seriously if I were to publish my own book I would want here for my cover artist!

6. What is your favourite beverage?
Well on the weekend I like a good ole beer brands like Heineken, Hertog Jan, I also enjoy specialty beer like Palm, Moreeke and Herfstbock. Week day, I drink lots and lots of coffee, and I love Red Bull!!!

7. Are you an InD'tale Magazine subscriber? (it's free by the way)
Never heard of it, will check it out.

8. If not are you going to subscribe?
Maybe, I will have to check it out first :)

9. Have you "liked" them on Facebook?
Maybe

10. If not are you going to right now?
Maybe

So that's it for the questions! I am going to do a separate post for my nominees!

Books: Kinetic ~ S.K. Anthony ~ promo

Kinetic by S.K. Anthony
Series: The Luminaries, #1
Publication date:  September 2013
Genre: New Adult Urban Fantasy

About Kinetic

Being strong is one thing. Being an unlimited source of power is quite another.

Genetically altered by the Organization, Annie Fox takes down criminals CIA-style with her luminary strength. With nothing to mend but her broken heart, she is relentlessly pursued by her boss Derek Lake. Just when Annie is about to give him a chance, her ex-husband unexpectedly comes out of hiding.

A wanted man, Nick Logan is a cold-hearted murderer who is considered enemy number one, and orders are clear: kill on contact. He is more powerful than ever and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. His plan? Get his hands on Annie and use her Kinetic energy to destroy them all. When Annie finds herself with an opportunity to end him, she pauses, horrified by the scars covering the face she once loved. A split second that will cost her everything…

About S.K. Anthony

S. K. Anthony is a writer, a reader and a make-stuff-up-er who lives in New York with her husband and toddler twins. She is a wine connoisseur, which just really means she knows she loves it, and a caffeine addict. When she isn’t busy with her family she finds herself being transported into the world of imagination. Well, either that or running away from spiders…she is convinced they are out to get her!

Excerpt

I spent the whole night reading all the files that Samantha had given to me, and I couldn’t find anything new. The next day, I was so tired that I left Kevin playing video games and went to take a nap in the middle of the day. In my exhausted state, I smiled, remembering the old Nick.

“Why are you crying?”

“I’m not. I don’t cry,” I said, sniffling.

“Okay, well… here, take this,” he said, taking off his sweater while standing in the cold in his white T-shirt. “Your face is wet for some reason,” he smiled.

“I don’t need that.”

“You have mascara running down your cheeks. Come here,” he said, and wiped my face with his sweater. He was so gentle and caring and nice that my tears betrayed me and poured down my face, embarrassingly. He held me with my head against his hard chest for a long while.

“Oh, my God, why can’t I stop crying?”

“Don’t worry about it, let it out. I’ll hold you.”

I pulled away. “No, you don’t have to. I’m fine. Thanks.”

“So you punched her. You’ll be all right.”

“No, they’re going to kick me out for not controlling my anger!” I squeaked.

“I won't let it happen, Annie, I promise.”

I laughed. “What could you possibly do?”

“I’ll stand up as a witness. Lisa was pushing Beth around, and you stood up for your friend. Loyalty counts for Luminaries, you know.”

“Right,” I smiled. Now, looking at him, I couldn’t believe I had cried in his arms. “Why are you so nice to me all the time?”

“I like you.”

“Ha! Don’t you go thinking you’re adding me to your list of girls here.”

“You’ve been training with me long enough to know I’ve stopped all that,” he said, pushing my hair behind my ears.

“So?”

“So, you and I will happen. My kisses fix everything, by the way, so if you want to come closer I can—”

“Stop it, Nick. Not happening.”

He touched the tip of my nose. “Not today, maybe.”

“Not ever,” I said, still feeling the memory of his arms around me.

“Annie?”

“Yes?”

“I’m going to kiss you one day, I hope you know this.”

Books: Fractured Legacy ~ Skye Callahan ~ promo

Today I am part of the blitz for the Fractured Legacy book blitz! I signed up for this because the synopsis was so interesting that I got curious, so I will probably be reading this!!!

Hope I got you curious too!!!

About Fractured Legacy

Kaylyn Anderson's fascination with abandoned places and dark creatures kindled her work as a paranormal investigator. But when dreams begin to distort reality, she questions what is real and pulls away from everyone she trusts. The opportunity to investigate the Teague Hotel--a long-abandoned landmark that has always piqued her curiosity--provides a chance to redeem herself. Unraveling the hotel's secrets won't be easy, but Kaylyn soon finds herself the target of a dark entity that has been trapped in the building for decades. 

If Kaylyn stands any hope of defeating the spirit, she'll have to accept that her fears are real and convince fellow investigators that she hasn't lost her mind.

About Skye Callahan

Skye Callahan was born and raised in Ohio and has seen enough unbelievable stuff to feed a lifetime of paranormal stories. When not writing or working at the dayjob she hangs out with her ethnomusicologist husband and pet ferrets, reads, and takes long walks through the cemetery.

Interview with Sky Callahan

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Right after I learned to write my name. I've always loved creating stories and fantasy lands—they were usually complete with ghosts and vampires and heroes on motorcycles. My family was lucky to drag me out of the library most of the time, and I always had a pile of paranormal stories waiting to be read--I remember R.L. Stine, Christopher Pike, and Bruce Coville the most. It wasn't long before I started writing similar stories.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

Outside of my family, the biggest support has come from my beta readers. I never imagined meeting such wonderful (and often crazy) people. They've all been helpful in getting the finished product together and motivating me to write and edit when I need to.

What is your writing process?

I just write. I've never done a lot of planning or outlining in the technical sense, I leave it up to the characters to lay out the details. First drafts are normally handwritten with a fountain pen in my journal, then, I begin typing it up, putting things in the right order, adding details, etc.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Description. I nearly fall out of my chair every time someone compliments my "knack for description." If asked, I can layout every detail of the locations, characters, etc, down to the color of the carpet in the trunk of Kaylyn's car. But when I'm writing (and reading) those details never seem as important as what the characters are saying and doing.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I work in a non-profit business consulting office doing everything from research and writing, to marketing and event coordination.

What project are you working on now?

The next book in the Darkness Bound Series. Kaylyn's sister, Cole, finally gets to take center stage for a while in this one, so we'll get to see more into the relationship between the sisters. And Jonah... well, he's not doing so well.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

You can either write or aspire to write. If you want to be a writer sit down, get rid of unnecessary distractions (like the word aspiring), and write. My next bit of advice would be to find a good support group--online or in person--having other writers around to critique, offer suggestions, and sometimes just chat about life in general is the most valuable resource you can find.

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