Cleaning Up My TBR With a Giveaway (US Only) – Down the TBR Hole #56

This meme was started by Lost in a Story.  Here is how it works:

• Go to your goodreads to-read shelf.
• Order on ascending date added.
• Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books (or 20 if you keep adding like I do!)
• Read the synopses of the books
• Decide: keep it or should it go?

1. Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike

The blockbuster film Inception meets Lisa McMann’s Wake trilogy in this dark paranormal thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike. This supernatural young adult novel is perfect for fans of Kelley Armstrong, Alyson Noël, Richelle Mead, and Kimberly Derting.

Charlotte Westing has a gift. She is an Oracle and has the ability to tell the future. But it doesn’t do her much good. Instead of using their miraculous power, modern day Oracles are told to fight their visions––to refrain from interfering. And Charlotte knows the price of breaking the rules. She sees it every day in her wheelchair-bound mother and the absence of her father. But when a premonition of a classmate’s death is too strong for her to ignore, Charlotte is forced to make an impossible decision: continue following the rules or risk everything—even her sanity—to stop the serial killer who is stalking her town.

My Thoughts: I do like this author, but don’t remember this book or if I’ll get to it.

Verdict: Toss

2. The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik:

Anna Eliot is tired of worrying about what other people think. After all, that was how she lost the only guy she ever really liked, Finn Westbrook.

Now, three years after she broke his heart, the one who got away is back in her life.

All Anna wants is a chance to relive their last kiss again (and again and again). But Finn obviously hasn’t forgotten how she treated him, and he’s made it clear he has no interest in having anything to do with her.

Anna keeps trying to persuade herself that she doesn’t care about Finn either, but even though they’ve both changed since they first met, deep down she knows he’s the guy for her. Now if only she can get him to believe that, too….

With her signature wit and expertly authentic teen voice, Claire LaZebnik (the author of fan favorites Epic Fail and The Trouble with Flirting) once again breathes new life into a perennially popular love story. Fans of Polly Shulman, Maureen Johnson, and, of course, Jane Austen will love this irresistibly funny and romantic tale of first loves and second chances.

My thoughts: It sounds okay, but don’t know that I’ll ever get to it.

Verdict: Toss

3. Desert Tales by Melissa Marr:

Return to the world of Melissa Marr’s bestselling series and discover how the events of Wicked Lovely set a different faery tale in motion. . . . Originally presented as a manga series and now available for the first time as a stand-alone novel, Desert Tales combines tentative romance, outward strength, and inner resolve in a faery story of desert and destiny.

The Mojave Desert was a million miles away from the plots and schemes of the Faerie Courts—and that’s exactly why Rika chose it as her home. The once-mortal faery retreated to the desert’s isolation after decades of carrying winter’s curse inside her body. But her seclusion—and the freedom of the desert fey—is threatened by the Summer King’s newfound strength. And when the manipulations of her trickster friend, Sionnach, thrust Rika into a new romance, she finds new power within herself—and a new desire to help Sionnach protect the desert fey and mortals alike. The time for hiding is over.

My thoughts: I haven’t read the Wicked Lovely series yet, so don’t know if I’ll ever want to read this.

Verdict: Toss

4. Collaborating for Real Literacy: Librarian, Teacher, Literacy Coach, and Principal by Sharon Pitcher:

Authentic literacy practice is crucial to preparing all students to be successful both in the workplace and college in the 21st century. Insisting that this literacy achievement will only happen when librarians, teachers, literacy coaches, and administrators work together in their schools, “Collaborating for Real Literacy” addresses the role of each instructional leader individually and examines the importance of the group collectively in bolstering the literacy of all students. Practical ways to support the teaching of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are infused throughout every chapter.

In this second edition of the book, core chapters on scaffolding, literacy centers, family literacy, English-language learners, comprehension, assessment, writing, and discussion have been updated based on current research and CCSS. Each of these chapters now offers suggestions for literacy coaches. Also new are recommendations for grades K-5 and 6-12, demonstrating specific ways to apply instructional ideas to different age levels and providing materials that can be used for the instruction. Additionally, three new chapters have been added with real literacy instructional ideas for content area reading and Response to Intervention (support for struggling readers).

My thoughts: So, I think this might be helpful, but I know I probably won’t get to this, and with the school I’m at, it might not be as relevant.

Verdict: Toss

5. Throttle by Joe Hill and Stephen King:

Inspired by Richard Matheson’s classic “Duel,” “Throttle,” by Joe Hill and Stephen King, is a duel of a different kind, pitting a faceless trucker against a tribe of motorcycle outlaws in the simmering Nevada desert. Their battle is fought out on twenty miles of the most lonely road in the country, a place where the only thing worse than not knowing what you’re up against, is slowing down . . .

My thoughts: So, I feel like I might want to read this at some time, but don’t know that I need to keep it on my TBR, as both are well known authors.

Verdict: Toss

6. Thirteen by James Phelan:

13 books. 13 nightmares. 1 destiny.

I click my fingers and everybody dies.

Sam wakes from his nightmare to discover the terrifying reality. It will come true.

Kidnapped from school and finding out his parents aren’t who he thinks they are, Sam is suddenly running from danger at every turn. Nothing will ever be the same again.

With his life and identity shattered, Sam’s salvation is tied to an ancient prophecy. He is in the final battle to save the world, up against an enemy plotting to destroy us all.

He alone can find the last thirteen.

My thoughts: Hmmm, this actually sounds pretty good. Maybe I’ll keep it for now.

Verdict: Keep

7. Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman teetering on the verge of thirty must be in want of a husband.

Not true for Manhattanite Elizabeth Scott. Instead of planning a walk down the aisle, she’s crossing the pond with the only companion she needs; her darling dog, Bliss. Caring for a pack of show dogs in England seems the perfect distraction from the scandal that ruined her teaching career, and her reputation, in New York. What she doesn’t count on is an unstoppable attraction to billionaire dog breeder Donovan Darcy. The London tycoon’s a little bit arrogant, a whole lot sexy, and the chemistry between them is disarming. When passion is finally unleashed, might Elizabeth hope to take home more than a blue ribbon?

My thoughts: Eh, probably not going to get around to.

Verdict: Toss

8. Getting Waisted: A Survival Guide to Being Fat in a Society That Loves Thin by Monica Parker:

Monica Parker bridges the divide between serial dieter’s survival guide and memoir, taking readers on a hilariously funny yet bumpy ride from chubby baby to chunky adult.

In Getting Waisted, Monica begins every chapter with a diet she committed to and reveals how much weight, money, and self-esteem she lost, then she tells how much weight she gained when she fell off the wagon. After all, “no one tells a short person to get taller, or a tall person to get shorter, but fat people hear about their bodies all the time.” From Living Large in a size zero world to jumping into the dating pool without causing a tidal wave of angst, Monica learns that when you stop buying what the diet-devils are selling and start liking yourself, life is far more rewarding. When Mr. Right appears out of thin air, will she run back to the catalogue of Mr. Wrongs out of fear? Readers will laugh and cry as she realizes that while she thought it was her body that was in the way, it was really what she kept in her head that needed adjusting.

Ultimately, Getting Waisted is an inspirational look at life through society’s warped fun-house mirror, but Monica’s reflection tells the real tale: everyone is always under construction and we are all flawed, chipped, and dented, but that doesn’t mean we’re not interesting, vital, and sexy.

My thoughts: So, there was a time that I was reading all these weight loss books and it inspired me. But right now I feel like I want to read what I want to read, I want to blog, I want to write, and I need to just do the things to lose weight.

Verdict: Toss

9. Sweet Unrest by Lisa Maxwell:

Lucy Aimes has always been practical. But try as she might, she can’t come up with a logical explanation for the recurring dreams that have always haunted her. Dark dreams. Dreams of a long-ago place filled with people she shouldn’t know…but does.

When her family moves to a New Orleans plantation, Lucy’s dreams become more intense, and her search for answers draws her reluctantly into the old city’s world of Voodoo and mysticism. There, Lucy finds Alex, a mysterious boy who behaves as if they’ve known each other forever. Lucy knows Alex is hiding something, and her rational side doesn’t want to be drawn to him. But she is.

As she tries to uncover Alex’s secrets, a killer strikes close to home, and Lucy finds herself ensnared in a century-old vendetta. With the lives of everyone she loves in danger, Lucy will have to unravel the mystery of her dreams before it all comes to a deadly finish.

My thoughts: So this has a lot about it I’d like, New Orleans, voodoo, ghosts maybe, but I don’t know that it is that original? But I may want to read it some day.

Verdict: Keep

10. The Double Life of Incorporate Things by Leanna Renee Hieber:

Just when we think our nightmares are over, the Society has invented a new horror. Around every corner a shadow; behind every whisper a demon. If we don’t end what the devils began, we will all die haunted…

The finale in the acclaimed Magic Most Foul trilogy, the trauma and the terror of the Master’s Society has only escalated for the dashing Lord Denbury and brave, feisty Miss Natalie Stewart. A new terror has been unleashed in Manhattan. Together they, with their stalwart friends and unlikely heroes, take the fight directly to the Denbury estate, where fresh evils have awakened. But are they prepared for all the sacrifices that shall be asked of them? With their very lives and the sanctity of their mortal souls at stake, Natalie and Jonathon are past the point of no return…

My thoughts: So, I really liked the first one, but haven’t read the second one yet, so I probably don’t need to keep book three on my list until I read and know if I like the second one enough to keep reading.

Verdict: Toss

Final Thoughts:

So, I’m only doing 10 this week, because I’m just learning WordPress, so wasn’t sure how to copy and paste the last post’s html and just insert my new stuff. Only keeping 2 this week though, so that’s good. 

When I last said how many were on the list last week, it was 3,059,  with cutting 8, I’m now at 3074, and I know I’ve added a bunch this past week, so it makes sense.

Have you read any of these?  Would you suggest I keep any I’m tossing?  And if you’re inspired to do this on your blog, please feel free to join in and share a link in the comments, since it will also get you an extra entry into my giveaway at the bottom of this post.  

Giveaway:

So, because I don’t know yet how to add a Rafflecopter to this, I’m going to just choose a winner from the comments below. If you’re interested in any of the books in the pictures below, you’ll get to pick two, and I’ll throw in a 3rd, just leave me a comment with what you’d pick! Remember, only one from the 2019 picture, and I have a 2020 book up for grabs this week too!