Sunday, 20 January 2013

Showcase Sunday #2


Inspired by Celine from Nyx Book Reviews, I've decided to combine a bunch of book haul memes into one post. There are so many of these out there, all with great hosts and banners, that it can be very hard to choose between them. So, why choose? Welcome to... Stacking the Showcase Sunday Post Shelves with Letterbox Love. Or, something... :-)

Showcase Sunday is hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea. Stacking the Shelves is hosted at Tynga's Reviews, and Sunday Post is hosted at Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. Letterbox Love is a special British book-haul meme hosted by Lindsey at Narratively Speaking.





I wasn't going to buy a book this week, I really wasn't. But then I made the mistake of stepping into a charity shop and all hope was lost...


I've been wanting to read Cloud Atlas for a while, and I really wanted a copy with this cover rather than the movie cover, so I consider this a very good find. Plus, good causes! ;-)

And a review copy of a book that looks fantastic, from the same publisher as The Red Knight, which I really enjoyed!


Reading-wise, last week I finished two books, The Case of the Good-Looking Corpse, and The Immortal Rules.


This week I'm reading The Veil, by Jerry Ibbotsen, and The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa.



I'm also mulling over which book I'll read for February's werewolf/shifter month, as part of the Paranormal Challenge. Any recommendations? :-)


Last week's posts:

Bout of Books Wrap Up Post
The Red Knight - Book Review
Vampire Hunter D - Book Review


You may have also noticed... I have a new blog design and banner! Yay!


The old one was only ever meant to be temporary, so it's nice to have something fresh and shiny. This is the result of my husband and I experimenting on blogger and photoshop pretty much all day Saturday, and because we're both new to this, we're feeling pretty pleased with ourselves. And the banner is all John's creation, with very little input from me beyond 'make it fantasy and sci-fi, and make it purple'. Didn't he do a great job?

Big thank you to all the lovely people whose free stuff we used! Photoshop brushes from MiloArtDesign, alecan, redheadstock, and midnightstouch, all on DeviantArt. Font from George Williams.



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36 comments:

  1. Anonymous20 January 2013 at 14:19

    I love your banner & design, well done both of you! I really really need to sort a banner out for my blog (it's been on the to-do list literally since I started blogging) but I have no clue where to start and I just keep putting it off.

    I'm sure I've read cloud atlas, but I think I'm going to have to re-read it, because we saw the advert yesterday and it's all only very vaguely familiar...

    Have a great week!

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    1. Victoria Hooper20 January 2013 at 14:39

      Thanks Faith! :-) I was the same with the banner, thought I'd have to pay an artist cos I had no idea how to go about creating one. But then I found a lot of free to use paintbrush tools on DeviantArt, and we fiddled around with those til we came up with something.

      Still tweaking fonts and playing around with html... some of it's pretty tricky, but it's a lot of fun figuring it out!

      Hope you have a good week, and happy reading! :-)

      Delete
  2. Claire20 January 2013 at 16:53

    I love your banner and design! It looks totally professional :) It sounds like you've had a great week for books and I'm looking forward to your review of The Immortal Rules!

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  3. Sam (Realm of Fiction)20 January 2013 at 20:11

    I really enjoyed both of those Julie Kagawa book (I love anything she writes) and can't wait for the sequel to The Immortal Rules. Cloud Atlas sounds interesting too... I love that cover!

    Your new banner is lovely! :)

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    1. Victoria Hooper20 January 2013 at 20:45

      Thanks Sam! :-) I think I'm quickly becoming a Julie Kagawa fan too. Hard not to really - I love vampires and fey!

      Delete
  4. Ula20 January 2013 at 20:18

    Great haul! I got Cloud Atlas and Iron Fey series a while ago but still have to start them all.

    Happy reading and thanks for stopping by :)

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  5. Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer20 January 2013 at 20:20

    I loved Immortal Rules and hope you enjoy it, I am curious about The Veil. So glad you decided to link up with the Sunday Post..we are delighted to have you. I love your banner and am now following you and stalking you on twitter..LOL Happy Reading! The Sunday Post

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    1. Victoria Hooper20 January 2013 at 20:55

      Aww thanks! :-D I'm really enjoying linking up with these memes and seeing what everyone's reading! :-)

      Delete
  6. Unknown20 January 2013 at 20:39

    Love the banner! I have heard some pretty good things about Cloud Atlas. I would really like to read it.

    Here's my Showcase Sunday!

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    1. Victoria Hooper20 January 2013 at 20:56

      Thanks Laura! :-) I've heard a lot of good stuff too, really looking forward to giving it a try!

      Delete
  7. Unknown20 January 2013 at 20:50

    The new banner is great. Sweet haul too. Immortal Rules and The Iron King are really good. Happy reading.

    Jenea @ Books Live Forever's Sunday Post

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  8. Bumbles and Fairy-Tales20 January 2013 at 21:06

    Cloud Atlas sounds really interest, even though I have no interest in seeing the movie, lol! I've heard great things about The Immortal Rules - I need to catch up on this one and on the Iron Fey series!
    Great stack, enjoy reading :)

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    1. Victoria Hooper20 January 2013 at 23:40

      Thanks! :-D I'm not sure about the movie either, will probably end up renting it later, or watching it when it comes to TV. The book looks really good though.

      Delete
  9. Faye (Daydreaming_Star)20 January 2013 at 22:45

    Love the new design Vicky! :D

    Ooooh, What did you think of The Immortal Rules?? I am very curious!
    And how are you finding The Iron King? :D

    Faye

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    1. Victoria Hooper20 January 2013 at 23:41

      Thanks Faye! :-) The Immortal Rules was really good. I thought it was a little shaky in the middle, but otherwise very exciting and had a really interesting world. Great ending too!

      Delete
  10. Grace Fonseca20 January 2013 at 22:51

    New follower. Very nice haul of books. I hope you enjoy all your new books.

    Grace

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    1. Victoria Hooper20 January 2013 at 23:42

      Yay, thanks Grace! :-) Hehe, I'm really looking forward to reading them all!

      Delete
  11. @MelissaJoLynn_20 January 2013 at 23:03

    Did you like The Immortal Rules? I loved it! I've only read The first in the Iron Fey series. I hear it gets better as the series goes on. Enjoy all your books and thanks for stopping by today.

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    1. Victoria Hooper20 January 2013 at 23:45

      Thanks! :-) I really enjoyed The Immortal Rules, and The Iron King is good so far. :-)

      Delete
  12. Bellas Shelf21 January 2013 at 00:40

    I love your new banner! I need to practice my photoshop skills. I would love to be able to create the awesome stuff I see on other ppls blogs. It would be nice to be able to update my blog and not have to pay for it each time. Ok, that sounds awful of me, but it can get pricey if you tend to be a bit indecisive. Like myself. I am glad I FINALLY got a blog look I love and can live with for a long time *phew*
    I loved Immortal Rules and only read the first if the Immortal Fey series, but I liked it a lot.
    I am reading Beautiful Creatures now. I want to get a lot of the series I havent finished-finished by the end of 2013.
    New follower via GFC :)
    Have a great rest of the week and start of next week!
    What's on Bella's Shelf?

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    1. Victoria Hooper21 January 2013 at 13:53

      Haha that's what I thought too! It would get very expensive if you want to change it too often. I really like your banner though, I think it's definitely one to stick with! :-)

      I got Beautiful Creatures for the kindle recently, so that's on my To Read list too. Want to read it before seeing the movie!

      Thanks! :-D Hope you have a great week too, happy reading!

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  13. Unknown21 January 2013 at 00:47

    Lots of great books almost every one of them I have heard about and great things I might. Enjoy your haul!

    MY SUNDAY POST

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  14. Shoshanah21 January 2013 at 01:30

    I saw Cloud Atlas in the theaters, and while I didn't love it, I did enjoy it enough to think it'd be fun to read the book.

    And while I haven't read it, I have heard great things about The Immortal Rules.

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    1. Victoria Hooper21 January 2013 at 13:55

      The Immortal Rules is very good, you should give it a try! :-) I'm not sure about the Cloud Atlas movie, will probably end up watching it when it comes to TV. The book looks great though! :-)

      Delete
  15. Somewhere Only We Know21 January 2013 at 02:38

    New follower! I'm currently reading The Iron Daughter. I do want to read The Immortal Rules! Happy reading!

    Check out my SP & STS.

    Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know

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    1. Victoria Hooper21 January 2013 at 13:55

      Thanks Sandy! :-) Hope you're enjoying the Iron Fey series!

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  16. Bleuette21 January 2013 at 06:25

    I really enjoyed The Iron King (and the entire Iron Fey series) and I'm pretty excited to read my copy of The Immortal Rules, I've seen in it on so many top ten lists and most people seem to love it! Happy reading! :)

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    1. Victoria Hooper21 January 2013 at 13:58

      Ooh hope you enjoy The Immortal Rules! It's good :-) Thanks, and hope you have a great week!

      Delete
  17. Jasprit21 January 2013 at 23:14

    Oh I adore the cover to Cloud Atlas! The Immortal Rules was one of my favourite reads last year, so I'm glad got around to picking up a copy! I hope you enjoy all your books! :)

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    1. Victoria Hooper26 January 2013 at 03:37

      Thanks Jasprit! :-) I really enjoyed The Immortal Rules.

      Delete
  18. Vicky @ A Backpack Full of Adventures24 January 2013 at 10:47

    Stacking the Showcase Sunday Post Shelves with Letterbox Love, ROAR! :D

    I love your background image, it looks amazing! :) And I'm totally voting for The Veil. I haven't read it but it looks and sounds really interesting.

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    1. Victoria Hooper26 January 2013 at 03:43

      Hehe, thanks so much! :-D The Veil was really interesting - not quite what I expected, but in a good way. :-)

      Delete

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