Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you’re adding to your shelves, be it buying or borrowing. From ‘real’ books you’ve purchased, a book you’ve borrowed, a book you’ve been given or an e-book they can all be shared.
My resolve not to acquire too many new books is going so well, here is the latest batch to make their way onto the TBR!
Firstly, after joining BOOKERTALK in her Read into 2016 post, I was lucky enough to be the winner and have a beautiful copy of The Redemption of Galen Pike by Carys Davies, a collection of short stories.
In a remote Australian settlement a young wife with an untellable secret reluctantly invites her neighbour into her home. A Quaker spinster offers companionship to a condemned man in a Colorado jail. In the ice and snows of Siberia an office employee from Birmingham witnesses a scene that will change her life. At a jubilee celebration in a northern English town a middle-aged alderman opens his heart to Queen Victoria. A teenage daughter leaves home in search of adventure. High in the Cumbrian fells a woman seeks help from her father’s enemy…… Goodreads
Another collection of short stories caught my eye on the excellent blog written by Marina Finding Time to Write, The Blink that Killed the Eye by Anthony Anaxagorou. She made it sound so appealing with her statement:
We come back to the grey shores of Great Britain, except there is nothing ‘great’ about it. It is perceived as a diminished, impoverished island, with fearful people and dysfunctional families, in this collection of loosely related short stories.
How’s a girl supposed to resist?
Blurb
The Blink That Killed the Eye is a stunningly crafted debut short story collection, taking a poetic torch to the shadows of daily life – illuminating the characters, situations, emotions and dilemmas that pour into even the most ordinary existences. From building sites to prison cells; from the birth of love to the last moments of breath – Anthony Anaxagorou navigates expertly through the tangled nets of invisibility, desperation and power to bring us time-defining tales of tragedy and hope; commenting on the irony of our shrinking capacity to really see ourselves or each other in a world increasingly defined by appearances and dangerous preconceptions. Goodreads
I have been approved of some good looking books on NetGalley too – of course I have, I can’t stay away!
Thin Ice by Irene Hannon was published on 5 January 2016 by Revell
Blurb
After losing her parents in a car accident and her sister to a house fire, Christy Reed has been mired in grief. Life is finally starting to feel normal again when an envelope arrives in the mail–addressed in her sister’s handwriting. And the note inside claims she is still alive.
FBI Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force operator, is assigned to reopen the case, but he’s coming up with more questions than answers. If Ginny Reed is still alive–who is the woman buried in her grave? Where is Ginny? And is Christy a pawn in a twisted cat-and-mouse game–or the target of a sinister plot? As he digs deeper, one thing becomes clear: whoever is behind the bizarre ruse has a deadly agenda.
Bestselling author and two-time Christy Award finalist Irene Hannon warms readers’ hearts as they root for a romance between Lance and Christy, but she pulls out all the stops as this high-stakes thriller chills to the bone in a race to the finish. NetGalley
One of my favourite authors, Helen FitzGerald has written a new book, Viral which also made it’s way onto my pile:
Blurb
So far, twenty-three thousand and ninety six people have seen me online. They include my mother, my father, my little sister, my grandmother, my other grandmother, my grandfather, my boss, my sixth year Biology teacher and my boyfriend James.
When Leah Oliphant-Brotheridge and her adopted sister Su go on holiday together to Magaluf to celebrate their A-levels, only Leah returns home. Her successful, swotty sister remains abroad, humiliated and afraid: there is an online video of her, drunkenly performing a sex act in a nightclub. And everyone has seen it.
Ruth Oliphant-Brotheridge, mother of the girls, successful court judge, is furious. How could this have happened? How can she bring justice to these men who took advantage of her dutiful, virginal daughter? What role has Leah played in all this? And can Ruth find Su and bring her back home when Su doesn’t want to be found? NetGalley
and Debbie Howells, author of The Bones of You, also has a new book; The Beauty of the End and for the second time this year, my wish on NetGalley was granted!
Blurb
“I was fourteen when I fell in love with a goddess. . .”
So begins the testimony of Noah Calaway, an ex-lawyer with a sideline in armchair criminal psychology. Now living an aimless life in an inherited cottage in the English countryside, Noah is haunted by the memory of the beguiling young woman who left him at the altar sixteen years earlier. Then one day he receives a troubling phone call. April, the woman he once loved, lies in a coma, the victim of an apparent overdose–and the lead suspect in a brutal murder. Deep in his bones, Noah believes that April is innocent. Then again, he also believed they would spend the rest of their lives together.
While Noah searches for evidence that will clear April’s name, a teenager named Ella begins to sift through the secrets of her own painful family history. The same age as April was when Noah first met her, Ella harbors a revelation that could be the key to solving the murder. As the two stories converge, there are shocking consequences when at last, the truth emerges.
Or so everyone believes. . .
Set in a borderland where the past casts its shadow on the present, with a time-shifting narrative that will mesmerize and surprise, The Beauty of the End is both a masterpiece of suspense and a powerful rumination on lost love. NetGalley
Lastly, Channel Islander, Rachel Abbott has a new book out on 17 February 2016, Kill Me Again and she has kindly passed me a copy to my absolute delight.
When Maggie Taylor accepts a new job in Manchester, she is sure it is the right move for her family. The children have settled well although her husband, Duncan, doesn’t appear to be so convinced.
But nothing prepares her for the shock of coming home from work one night to find that Duncan has disappeared, leaving their young children alone. His phone is dead, and she has no idea where he has gone, or why. And then she discovers she’s not the only one looking for him.
When a woman who looks just like Maggie is brutally murdered and DCI Tom Douglas is brought in to investigate, Maggie realises how little she knows about Duncan’s past. Is he the man she loves? Who is he running from?
She doesn’t have long to decide whether to trust him or betray him. Because one thing has been made clear to Maggie – another woman will die soon, and it might be her. Amazon
TBR WATCH
Since my last count I have read 6 books, and gained, it yes, 6, so the total stands at 174 books!
85 physical books
75 e-books
14 books on NetGalley
What have you found to read this week?
You can check out the books I have read and reviewed in 2016 on my new page in shades of green!
Some great book there, jealous you got an early copy of Kill Me Again by Rachel Abbott, this ones on my “wish list”
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I was very lucky but as the author is another Channel Islander she tends to remember me! Not too long to wait for it at least.
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I’m enjoying my role as a temptress -Rita Hayworth, here I come! Look forward to hearing what you thought about Anaxagorou’s stories – and in fact all of the books you acquired this week sound pretty good. Have you seen my review of Viral on Crime Fiction Lover? I think Helen Fitzgerald is marvellous!
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Haha – I’m off to view that now – I really have enjoyed both the Helen FitzGerald books I’ve read so far.. so looking forward to Viral.
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Glad to know the Carys Davies collection arrived safely. Hope yiu enjoy it as much as I did. I bought three books yesterday, two from the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny and one from a library sale – In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje
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Yes, it arrived Friday, thank you! I’m so looking forward to reading this one. Oh I have one Louise Penny on my TBR, another author I keep meaning to try!
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I’ve requested two of these from Netgallley. Hope I get them as the mystery ones look yummy
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I’ve got my fingers crossed for you!
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I think it will be very hard for you to reduce your TBR list :). There are too many good stories out there!
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It is an uphill struggle – I’ve started February 3 books up on January so it’s not moving in the right direction.
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Oh, these look good, Cleo! I like Helen Fitzgerald’s work, so Viral caught my eye right away. And Marina Sofia sold me on the Anaxagorou, too. It really sounds great. So does the Davies. Lots to enjoy!
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Yes the cutting back isn’t working so well but these were all irresistible.
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Very tempted by The Redemption of Galen Pike- thanks for the tip Cleo!
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You’re very welcome – I’m delighted to have won a copy and looking forward to reading it.
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More fun books! The Rachel Abbott book sounds good – I need to read her books that I already have. And also The Beauty Of The End and Viral – always lots to wish for. Enjoy them!
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Thank you Kay – Rachel Abbott lives on one of the other Channel Islands, although I found that out after I’d read some of her books, you should read them they are very good!
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What a fabulous line-up of books! Because I LOVED The Bones of You, I am definitely adding The Beauty of the End to my list. Enjoy them all!
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I know I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it on NetGalley – so looking forward to reading it.
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Hehe! Six!!! The one that appeals most to me this week is The Redemption of Galen Pike, so if you could please review that one soon… thanks! 😉
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I know – I’m up 3 on the beginning of the year already despite the willpower hat – I think I need to return it for a super strength one!
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Ah, murder mysteries. These ones look so good! I’m curious about viral too. It’s not my typical book, but it seems relevant to today. Great haul! Hope you enjoy these 🙂
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I must admit I do like books that feature on contemporary issues and Helen FitzGerald is a wonderful author too.
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Oh wow, Viral sounds intense but so accurate to today’s world where people put so much online, or other people put things of you online without permission. I just read this nonfiction book about public shaming done online, especially via Twitter called So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed. Viral made me think of that. It’s a good book if you like non- fic.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
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It’s great when book deals contemporary issues – I do want to read the non-fiction book you mention, I read another of this author’s books about psychopaths and like his style.
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Some great books. Wouldn’t mind having of few of them myself. Happy reading.
sherry @ fundinmental My Sunday Memes
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Thanks for visiting Sherry!
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Wow, Viral sounds intense. What a nightmare that would be! I’m also looking forward to Debbie Howells’ upcoming book, as I enjoyed The Bones of You last year.
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