Books From the Backlog #4

Books From the Backlog is hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books and it's a way to feature our neglected books on our bookshelf.  

This week I'm featuring a novella spun off one of my favorite books: On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves. I've had a copy of this book I think since it was released, which was back in 2013. I don't know why I haven't read it yet. It's on 160 pages. My husband even read it (On the Island is a fav of his, too!).  It has a 4.05 rating on Goodreads with 7,727 ratings, pretty impressive for a novella since they're usually rated lower, and still a high rating after seven years. Ratings seem to go down as the years go by, IMO.

Uncharted (On the Island #1.5) by Tracey Garvis Graves

Publication Date: July 2nd 2013 by Penguin

Source: Purchased

Pages: 160

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About the book:

Tracey Garvis Graves - and Anna and T.J. - return in this companion novella to the New York Times bestseller On the Island

When twenty-three-year-old dot-com millionaire Owen Sparks walked away from his charmed life, he had one goal in mind: get as far away as possible from the people who resented his success, or had their hand out for a piece of it. A remote uncharted island halfway around the world seemed like a perfectly logical place to get away from it all.

Calia Reed wasn't part of Owen's plans. The beautiful British girl - on holiday in the Maldives with her brother, James - made Owen wonder if getting away from it all might be a lot more enjoyable with a carefree girl who didn't know anything about the life he left behind.

But Owen had no idea how much his carefully detailed plans would go awry. Nor did he realize that a decision he made would have such a catastrophic effect on two passengers who boarded a plane in Chicago.

And when Owen shows up at Anna and T.J.'s door with an incredible story to tell, everyone involved will learn just how much their lives are intertwined. 

Books From the Backlog #3

Books From the Backlog is hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books and it's a way to feature our neglected books on our bookshelf.  

Just like my choice last week this is another self-published, indie book. There's an audio version which makes the chances I'll read it higher. I'm a huge fan of post apocalyptic stories, add in zombies and I'm there! I added Thicker Than Blood back in 2015 after reading a GR friend's five star review. This book still has a good rating: 3.9 stars on Goodreads, so I'm hoping it's good!

Thicker Than Blood (Thicker Than Blood #1) by Madeline Sheehan

Publication Date: January 12th 2015 by Createspace

Pages: 366

Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Audible

About the book:

A true friendship never dies.

Leisel and Evelyn lost everything. Husbands. Families. Friends. Lives that made sense. All they had left was each other, and a friendship that could withstand anything…

Even an apocalypse.

Until one fateful night, the marginal safety they’d come to rely on comes to a vicious and brutal end. With the help of Alex & Jami, both unlikely allies, Leisel and Evelyn are able to escape their shattered sanctuary only to find themselves face-to-face with a much altered, much crueler life where they have to find the way—and the will—to stay alive in a world they no longer recognize.

Traveling across a broken and infection-ridden country; the road-weary group are pitted against endless violence, improbable circumstances, and the ultimate loss.
Everything comes at a price—especially safety, the cost of which could very well strip them of the one thing they’ve tried so hard to cling to: their humanity.

Yet along with all the trials they’re forced to endure, there’s also hope in the form of love. Having loved Leisel from afar, Alex attempts to put the pieces of her fractured heart back together.

But in such a savage world, is there room for love?

In a place of nightmares-made-reality, where the living should be feared far more than the dead, an unbreakable friendship and a love amongst all odds can mean the difference between life and death.

There are friends…

And then there are Leisel and Evelyn.

What about you? Have you read this book and if so, what did you think?

Books From the Backlog #2

Books From the Backlog is hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books and it's a way to feature our neglected books on our bookshelf.  

I just recently whittled down my TBR on Goodreads from over 750 books down to 242, only leaving books I really want to get to someday. Here's one from my list.

I bought Vain back in 2013 after a friend recommended it and then never got to it.  Vain was published in 2012 and still has a high average rating (4.23 on Goodreads) which I take as a good sign.

Vain (The Seven Deadly #1) by Fisher Amelie

Publication Date: December 24th 2012 by Author

Pages: 392

Source: Purchased 

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book: 

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Have you read this book? If so, what'd you think?

Books From the Backlog #1

Books From the Backlog is hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books and it's a way to feature our neglected books on our bookshelf.  

This is my first time participating! Here's my choice:

Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil

Publication Date: February 1st 2013 by Hardie Grant Egdmont

Pages: 316

Source: Publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

About the book:

Sam is a geek movie-buff with a ragtag group of loser friends who have been taking abuse from the popular kids for years. But when the super-cool Camilla moves to town, she surprises everyone by choosing to spend time with Sam's group. Suddenly they go from geek to chic, and find that not everything boils down to us and them. With their social lives in flux, Sam and Camilla spend more and more time together. They become the best of friends, and Sam finds that he's happier and more comfortable in his own skin than ever before. But eventually Sam must admit to himself that he's fallen in love. If he confesses his true feelings to Camilla, will everything change again?

I got a copy of this back when I still read a lot of YA, because it sounded cute, and because Melissa Keil is an Aussie writer. I don't know about you, but I've had great success with Aussie writers, like Melina Marchetta, Cath Crowly and Ellie Marney. There seems to be something extra special about their writing!  Well, this still languishes on my Netgalley account, giving me the stink eye every time I open up my shelf! 

What about you? Have you read this? If so, what did you think?