June TBR

So I am hopeful that this will be a good month for reading. School is out, which means I have lots of time to READ! Here is what I hope to get read in June-

Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Quarantine: The Loners by Lex Thomas

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne (ARC)

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Crossed by Ally Condie

Legend by Marie Lu

Ambitious huh? I guess I will do the best I can! What are you guys planning on reading in June?

-McKenna :)

May Reading Wrap-Up

Hey guys! So, May has not been the best month for me book-wise, but it was still pretty good. Here is what I read in the month of May.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis- Review here

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler- Review here

Thumped by Megan McCafferty- Review here

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti- Review here

The Binding by L. Filloon- Review here

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Fire by Kristin Cashore (Audio) - Review here

I hope you all had a great month too!

-McKenna :)

In My Mailbox (9)

Hey guys! It's nice to see you again! I'm here today to share my In My Mailbox for the last two weeks. You will soon see it is very toned down as compared to two weeks ago. But, as I always say, it's quality NOT quantity! In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.

From the Library- 

Legend by Marie Lu

From PBS- 

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne (ARC)

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks (ARC)

I hope you all had a great week in books! Leave me a link in the comments so I can check out all of your great finds!

-McKenna :)

The Binding by L. Filloon

The Binding
Author- L. Filloon
Published- December 11th, 2011
Kindle Edition
Received in exchange for an honest review as part of the Blog Tour hosted by Lightning Book Promotions

Two nights after her eighteenth birthday, Lily is attacked while out jogging, but is saved by Tharin Lunar, a Sidhe prince. When she discovers that her attacker is her own brother, Lucas, who disappeared four years ago, Lily refuses to believe that her brother would truly hurt her and becomes determined to find Lucas and bring him home. Lily finds that Lucas’ disappearance is somehow tied to Tharin; so when he informs her that she is his betrothed and must return with him to Velesi, fulfill a treaty between their families and unite the two strongest clans through their marriage, Lily agrees. However, she’s not going to Velesi for a wedding, but to bring home her only family, Lucas.

On their journey to the borders of Velesi, the realm of the Thirteen Clans, they’re pursued by a Sidhe assassin group call the Ange, meet with an ogre crime lord that ends badly, deal with a sleazy troll motel manager, and when they discover that there’s a bounty on their heads, they must keep one step ahead of every assassin, bounty hunter and low-life criminal in Velesi.

Protecting Lily has become the biggest challenge of Tharin’s life. Lucky for him he has help in the form of his twin brother, Tolan, Lily’s best friend Julia and his three bodyguard cousins.-- Goodreads

Wow! Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this book! I must admit, I typically do not enjoy fantasy. I never understood the obsession with faeries, zombies or vampires. I totally adored this book though!

I love the cover, especially the fact that it featured Cessa. It is very mysterious and somewhat creepy. It works well with the books content.

I genuinely liked Lily as the main character. At times she was a bit whiny, but most of the time she was a fiery, spunky girl with a (hidden) passion for Tharin. The cohesiveness between the characters was great. I got the feeling that they were more of one big, happy family, rather than a dysfunctional group. I found all of the characters to be like able, but my favorite was Julia. She was such a strong character, and especially protective over Lily, even though she had been through so much. It takes a strong person to overcome the abuse that they sustained.

I really enjoyed the romance between both Lily and Tharin and Julia and Tolan. Both were cute in their own unique way. The romance helped to balance out the action of the story, which at times got VERY intense! A good intense though, not bad.

One thing that did bother me about the book were the many typos I picked out throughout the book. They took away from the enjoyment of the book a bit because I always found myself searching for them rather than taking in the literary elements. I guess the OCD in me was coming out!

Man, oh man, did this book end with a crazy cliffhanger. I think I sat in my chair for about five minutes after I finished reading trying to comprehend what had just happened. It was a completely crazy and unexpected ending. I totally wanted the next book so I could continue on with the story. But alas, I must wait like usual!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a great taste of fantasy with plenty of action and romance mixed in. I am looking forward to reading book two!

I will be giving this book 4 stars!

About the Author- I was born in Samoa, spent my 6 to 11 years in Hawaii (Oahu), grew up and finished school in California, and lived my adult life from the age of 30 in Las Vegas, and here is where I have been since. I have been writing since before I even knew what writing meant. The Binding is my first novel.

Authors links:
Blog: http://lfilloon.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LFilloon
Order your copy here: Amazon.com


-McKenna:)

Fire by Kristin Cashore (Audio)

Fire
Author- Kristin Cashore
Published- October 5th, 2009
Penguin Audio
12 hours 39 minutes
Obtained from the library

In the sequel to Graceling, turmoil plagues the land of Dells. Armies in the northern and southern regions build strength and prepare to invade King City and dethrone young King Nash. Outside the city, in the forests and mountains, spies and thieves lurk and loot.

Young Fire, a girl who possesses irresistible beauty and can influence others' minds, resides here, and as her world crumbles win the looming war, she desperately searches for a way to save it.-- Goodreads

I can't believe how long I have gone without Audio books! I totally discovered a new obsession. I find myself wanting to clean and do laundry knowing that I can listen to a book while I do it!

So, me being me, I was completely oblivious to the fact that this was book 2, even though it has no relation to Graceling, save for one character. By the time I realized this, I was already three Cd's in. I decided to continue listening anyway after asking a few of my bookie friends if I needed to read Graceling first.

I really, really loved the narrator for this audio. Besides the fact she had a British(?) accent, she also did a great job of bringing the characters to life with different voices and tones. I will for sure be listening to Graceling and Bitterblue! I really hope she narrates for them also!

Now, onto the story! I really enjoyed this book! I absolutely adored Fire. What a kick-butt heroine. She was so admirable and strong throughout the whole story. Her chemistry with all of the characters was perfect. I loved the relationship between her and her horse, Small. It reminded me a lot of when I used to ride horses and had that connection. I also loved the relationship between her and Hannah. It makes me wish I had a sibling or cousin I could mentor like that.

Fire (the story, not the character) had lots and lots of action. People were always leaving to explore, having parties, or taking part in wars. Lots of stuff was constantly happening, which was part of the reason I found this book so entertaining.

I did have an issue with a message that Mrs. Cashore expressed through this book. I DON'T condone casual sex, and I also don't think that it should be encouraged. No mention was made for using protection other than herbs after it has occurred. A lot of points in this book mentioned using sex as torture, so that the woman got pregnant and settled down. What a horrible, horrible thing.

I also think that there may have been a bit too many mentions of Fire's "bleeding" time. I can understand if a teenage girl reads this book, but if I gave it to my brother to read, I think it may confuse him or gross him out. Just my honest opinion.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I really am not a fan of fantasy, but for some reason this one grabbed my attention and held it until the last word. I can't wait to get my hands on Graceling, and then Bitterblue!

I will be giving this audiobook 4 stars!






-McKenna :)

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

Something Like Fate
Author- Susane Colasanti
Published- May 4th, 2010
Viking Juvenile
268 pages
Obtained from PBS

Best friends Lani and Erin couldn't be more different. Lani's reserved and thoughtful; Erin's bubbly and outgoing. Lani likes to do her own thing; Erin prefers an entourage. There's no possible way they could be interested in the same guy.
So when Erin starts dating Jason, Lani can't believe she feels such a deep connection with him--and it may be mutual. The more Lani fights it, the more certain she feels that it's her fate to be with Jason. But what do you do when the love of your life is the one person you can't have?-- Goodreads

Wow! I cannot believe I actually finished a book in one day. It has been so long since that has happened. I think my reading funk may have ended! Yay!

This book was a great take on a common teenage fiasco- a love triangle. More specifically a love triangle between your best friends boyfriend, your best friend and you.

The cover- This cover perfectly describes the content of the book. I love the "secretive" hand-holding in the background and the lovable couple in the foreground. They did a great job of keeping the cover light and colorful.

I really genuinely liked Lani as a protagonist. From the first page she presented herself to be a lighthearted teenager who is just trying to find her way in life. I LOVE characters that have flaws. She had quite a large flaw, especially after dating Jason, before she tells Erin.

Jason was such a sweet guy. I loved the connection between the two, especially over the summer before they dealt with Erin. He was the perfect example of an All-American guy. What a great love interest.

I really did enjoy the romance between Lani and Jason, even though in the back of my mind a siren was going off. Quite honestly, if this situation ever presented itself to me, I don't think I could go along with dating my best friends ex. That just seems wrong, especially if she never asked Erin beforehand. I do also question why Erin never had a suspicion about the relationship. Had she never heard the saying "While the cats away, the mice will play". That's what I would think....hmmm...I'll ponder that some more.

I do feel like the ending was rushed. In real life, the makeup between friends over something this devastating usually takes much longer than 3 weeks. Half the time they don't end up making up at all.  guess the author was looking for a way to end the book on a happy note. I would have been fine with the ending going either way.

Overall, I really enjoyed this cute, light book. It was a great pick for summer and a quick read. I definitely recommend it. I can't wait to pick up more of Mrs. Colasanti's books!

I will be giving this book four stars!





-McKenna :)

In My Mailbox (8)

Hey everyone! Welcome to my In My Mailbox for this week and last week. In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren

From PBS-

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti (ARC)

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand (ARC)

October Sky by Homer Hickam

Paper Towns by John Green

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

The Dead and The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

From the Library- 

Crossed by Ally Condie

The Death Cure by James Dashner

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (Audiobook)

Thumped by Megan McCafferty

Phew! I feel like I just ran a book marathon! What did y'all get in your mailboxes this week?

-McKenna :)

Thumped by Megan McCafferty

Thumped
Author- Megan McCafferty
Published- April 24th, 2012
Balzer + Bray
304 pages
Obtained from the library

It’s been thirty-five weeks since twin sisters Harmony and Melody went their separate ways. And now their story has become irresistible: twins separated at birth, each due to deliver twins…on the same day!

Married to Ram and living in Goodside, Harmony spends her time trying to fit back into the community she once believed in. But she can’t forget about Jondoe, the guy she fell for under the strangest of circumstances.

To her adoring fans, Melody has achieved everything: a major contract and a coupling with the hottest bump prospect around. But this image is costing her the one guy she really wants.

The girls’ every move is analyzed by millions of fans eagerly counting down to “Double Double Due Date.” They’re two of the most powerful teen girls on the planet, and they could do only one thing to make them even more famous:

Tell the truth.-- Goodreads

As always, keep in mind that this is the second book in the series. This review may possibly contain spoilers from Bumped.

So my thoughts on the cover- It relates well to Bumped. I liked how they kept the egg theme going. I think this cover is very symbolic towards the birth of babies hence the hatching egg. It relates well to the story and adds a cute touch.

It has been quite a while since I read Bumped, so I was afraid of being unable to recall what happened in book one. No such problems occurred. The beginning of the story served as a good recap for what happened in the last book and I was able to recall exactly why I loved Bumped so much.

Mrs. McCafferty came up with a neat (and somewhat scary) concept. Teenagers hired to "bump" with sperm donors for older couples in their country all because of a Virus that deems all girls above the age of 18 infertile. It is weird to think that this could possibly happen in our world. Nevertheless, the concept was fresh and unique and utterly gripping.

I loved getting to know both Melody and Harmony in a deeper sense, even though I felt that Harmony's story delved deeper than Melody's. I love that this book is written in dual-perspective so I did feel like I got to know each girl on an individual basis. Both girls have matured in this book, but most especially Harmony. I cannot even imagine what being a teen mother is like (and I hope to never find out!). Both girls handle their situations with poise, which in the long run works out for them.

And then there's Jondoe! He is sooo swoon-worthy and definitely more grown up. He finally comes to terms with the fact that he actually loves someone and wants to settle down. He no longer wants to be the super fertile bachelor he has been for so long. I find him to be an admirable role model.

As far as action goes, this book had little to none in my opinion. I guess you could bundle this book together as two genres, dystopian and contemporary, mostly because it was more focused on romance rather than turmoil in the society.

I kind of wish there was or will be a sequel to this series to see how Melody and Harmony end up ten or more years into the future. I think that would be hind of neat.

Overall, I enjoyed Thumped, but I for sure need to read an action novel next to make up for the lack of action in this book.

I will be giving this book four stars!

-McKenna :)

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

The Future of Us

Authors- Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
Published- November 21st, 2011
Razorbill
356 pages
Obtained from a PBS Game

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.-- Goodreads

First off, I am sorry for being so MIA for the past week. School got out on Friday, and I was hit with insane allergies. The good thing is I am almost all better AND I will have all summer to be more active on the blog- YAY!

Oh my goodness y'all! I loved this book. It tackled one of my Internet obsessions- FACEBOOK!

Wow, the cover is super creative. I loved the usage of the facebook "f" in future. Also, I really liked the subtle 0's and 1's across the cover. Very simple, yet sooo eye catching. And, of course, Josh and Emma are somewhat blurred in the background.

What a neat concept. I can only imagine the feeling Emma has when she can see herself in the future. Who wouldn't become somewhat obsessed with how you turn out? I loved how the book was written in a dual perspective. It was neat to see how different genders view the world.

Both characters were relate able, but I preferred Josh. Emma just seemed so whiny and juvenile to me. She was so materialistic and shallow, especially with her choices of boyfriends. Josh, on the other hand, was just an all around great guy. He was sweet, shy, caring, and above all he was genuine. He never really became obsessed with changing his future like Emma did. Instead he adopted more of a go-with-the-flow attitude. I liked that.

I think this book would have been even more enjoyable if I had experienced all of the stuff the 90's kids did. By the time I was able to understand what a scrunchie was, they were already going out of style. I never really owned a Walkman or had dial-up.

Overall, this was a great read. I was rarely bored with the story, but I can understand why adults may find this book funnier than teens purely due to the 90's references. I for sure need to read 13 Reasons Why now!

I will be giving this book 3 stars!

-McKenna :)

In My Mailbox (7)

Hey guys! Sorry about being MIA for In My Mailbox last week....life got hectic as usual! I am excited to show you what dropped in my mailbox this week!

Purchased-

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

From Netgalley- 

Quarantine: The Loners by Lex Thomas

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

From PBS-

Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson

From the Library- 

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

(This a rare occasion in which I read adult fiction. I adore his writing!)

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Audio CD)

Contest win- 

The Reason is You by Sharla Lovelace

(I am really sorry, but I completely forgot who I won this from. I tried my hardest to track it down but couldn't find it)

I hope you all had a great week in your mailbox!

-McKenna :)