The Haul (BEA Part Two and other things)

Buckle up, it's going to be a long post. This is THE HAUL.

But it's more than just my BEA Haul. I wanted to include books/ebooks I received in the last week or two as well while I was at this. And there's pics. And lots of flailing. So yeah. Let's just get the show on the road now, shall we? :D

Let me start by saying this is actually a post in relation to Stacking the Shelves, which is hosted by Tynga's Reviews. I don't post often with this feature, I know, but I'm pretty much making up for that right now with this one. And will try and get around to doing so more in the coming months.

I'm going to begin with the easy ones before I get to the major haul from BEA.

The e-books I was approved for in the last two weeks on NetGalley/Edelweiss:

The Girls at the Kingfisher Club - Genevieve Valentine
Of Monsters and Madness - Jessica Verday
Stray - Elissa Sussman
In the End - Demitria Lunetta

Physical copies I received from pubs:

The Immortal Crown by Richelle Mead from Dutton.
The Jedi Doth Return from Quirk (have already read, enjoyed, and given away)

Purchased:

The Maze Runner - James Dashner
Highland Hearts - Hannah Howell (sshh, I have a secret enjoyment for some of these books)

Gifted (now here comes the BEA haul immediately following!):

Okay, so there's a story to this gift. One: I love love love TMNT. Don't judge me! Two: I have been trying to find Dreams of Gods and Monsters EVERYWHERE and I just couldn't and it made me really sad. I live in the sticks. I pretty much have to order a majority of my books when I want particular ones it seems. I was on the verge of ordering this, and was going to when I got back from BEA, until Lyn (Great Imaginations) handed it to me the night before our trip. Did I mention we traveled together? Oh, well, we did. I miss her already. I nearly screamed in her face though when I saw she got these for me. Just wait until she sees what I get her.

BEA HAUL!!

I paced myself people. I didn't get as much as I thought I'd get. And I didn't get invited to any parties this year, probably because it was my first year and I don't really know anyone or have any connections. I don't know. Maybe next year? Either way, I was still extremely happy and grateful for the books I did bring in. I picked up my biggest priority books I think -- Melissa Marr, Holly Black, and Sarah J. Maas especially. I really look forward to a lot of reading over the next few weeks.

So here's what I've got:

Broken Monsters - Lauren Beukes
Made For You - Melissa Marr
The Darkest Part of the Forest - Holly Black
Heir of Fire - Sarah J. Maas
Black Ice - Becca Fitzpatrick
Famous in Love - Rebecca Serle
Sinner - Maggie Stiefvater
Mortal Heart - Robin LaFevers
Unhinged - A.G. Howard
Salt & Storm - Kendall Kulper
I'll Give You the Sun - Jandy Nelson
Lacy Eye - Jessica Treadway
The Boy Who Drew Monsters - Keith Donohue
Clariel - Garth Nix
The Map to Everwhere - Carrie Ryan & John Parke Davis
History of the Future - A.S. King
Messenger of Fear - Michael Grant
10:04 - Ben Lerner
The Jewel - Amy Ewing
A Plague of Unicorns - Jane Yolen
Gabriel Finley & the Raven's Riddle - George Hagen
Nest - Esther Ehrlich
On a Clear Day - Walter Dean Myers
Missing Reels - Farran Smith Nehme
Positive - Paige Rawl
Story of Land and Sea - Katy Simpson Smith
A Sudden Light - Gath Stein
Burn For Me - Ilona Andrews
The Question of Miracles - Elana K. Arnold
Tape - Steve Camden
Anatomy of a Misfit - Andrea Portes
Falling into Place - Amy Zhang
Lies We Tell Ourselves - Robin Talley
Belzhar - Meg Wolitzer


Book I'm already reading: Broken Monsters
Also currently reading The Forever Song. Can't wait to start reading Dreams of Gods & Monsters and Made For You soon. <3


Now I can't guarantee I'll read ALL of these. I know there's been a lot of drama the last few days regarding BEA and ARCs, so I'm going to say a few quick words: When I picked up my books, I had full intention of wanting them for reading/reviewing at that moment. I was caught up in the moment. Everyone is, am I right? Now that I am at home, with a deeper, longer look at each individual book, I can see there a few in this pile I probably won't be so in to after all. When it comes down to it, I'd much rather take the few I know would be disasters for me and host a fun giveaway (in which a reader from my blog can win a cool little bundle of about 3-4 books) and pass them on to someone that would have much more interest. Ya know? That's the whole gist of an ARC anyway. Passing them around, giving them out, promoting. And that's that from me on this particular topic. Lol.


Also... I'm still freaking out a bit over this:

<3





I can't wait until next year!!

BEA Recap: Part One

It’s BEA recap time! I wanted to get to this a lot sooner than now, but you just can’t imagine how exhausted I was when I arrived home from New York. I wasn’t much at all when I was there, the energy buzzing through me like crazy, but then it crashed hard the morning I was leaving. LOL. The little amount of sleep and food I lived on for the four days of my trip probably didn’t help much, but in the end it was well worth it and I totally can’t wait to do it all over again next year (at least, I’m keeping my fingers crossed to go again!).

This was one of the single most amazing experiences of my life with a lot of firsts for me. It was my first ever plane ride. My first ever train ride. First time in any cab. First time so far from home. First non-family vacation. MY FIRST TIME MEETING AUTHORS AND GETTING BOOKS SIGNED (and yes, I totally fangirled with included stuttering and open-mouthed, wide-eyed, staring). I overcame and fought through a lot of anxiety issues with crowds and meeting new people… and I’m so glad I did because I met some amazingly wonderful people throughout the BEA.

I stayed with the ladies of Great Imaginations (Kara, Lyn, and Bekka) and Jessie from Ageless Pages Reviews, and had a total blast! The inside jokes we now share will last us and have us in stitches for a long, long time I’m sure. Miss those ladies already!

I was so worried I would be overwhelmed going into BEA my first time but I really wasn’t at all. It felt like I was home. It probably helped I had a great friend (Kara) who’d been there the previous year and gave me all the rundown beforehand with such helpful advice, too.

There were some things I sadly missed out on due to time restraints (like missing out on meeting Julie Kagawa and I wanted to cry when I realized), and some things I'm glad I missed due to the insanity... Hello? Saturday BookCon? I heard (and saw pics) that Javits was chaos so I skipped the final day and had a relaxing time wandering around New York a bit, having lunch with several other bloggers, and then laying around in the hotel until it was time to go do my volunteer work at the library for the Kids' Author Carnival.

One of the best moments during the event would have to be meeting Melissa Marr. You just don't understand the years I've spent waiting for that moment and how much she means to me as a writer and a reader. By the time I stepped up to her, I was in utter shock and basically unable to form a proper sentence. Still, she was so sweet and she recognized me! And look!

I also met Sarah J. Maas, who was so lovely and resembled JLaw so much, but unfortunately couldn't get a pic. I did have this pretty cool pic taken with the Bookcrastinators (awesome bloggers, btw!) while in line though. It's on their Instagram if you want to see it! :)

I could probably go on and on with all the awesomeness and epic feels I had throughout the event. The best part overall: the people. I made new friends, met ones I'd already known just through the interenet and built an even closer connection, and had a great experience with the crowds the majority of the time...




There was an attempted carjacking. An intern was threatened. I saw Keanu fucking Reeves. Yada yada yada... This is all inside stuff. :P

You guys. This small-town Texas girl fell completely and madly in love with the city of New York. I'm not even kidding. I can't wait for another visit. The city that never sleeps? I can see why! There's always something to do there. There's so much to see. I want to go back already and see everything I wanted to see that I didn't get a chance to. I don't care if I have bruises on my legs from all the walking--- I didn't mention the approx. two mile walk Lyn and I made one night around Manhattan, but it was actually really nice and I would totally do it again right now if it meant hanging out there again for a bit longer (and not in this hundred degree heat haha).


Guess I should start my save jar now for next year, huh?


Stay tuned for Part Two, coming at you this weekend, which will include my haul from BEA, gifts received before the trip, and packages picked up when arriving home! :P