Sunday, July 29, 2012

IMM/Mailbox Monday: 7/29/12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren, and Mailbox Monday is hosted by a group of bloggers! We share books we received this week, whether we bought them, got them in the mail or checked them out from the library.



Traveling Book Box:
Pretty Little Liars poster
Scars by Cheryl Rainfield
The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

Review:
Altared by Claire and Eli

Gift:
$100 Amazon gift card

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Mini Review and Blog Tour: Perfectly Ridiculous


Perfectly Ridiculous by Kristin Billerbeck

Release Date: July 1, 2012
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Christian Fiction
Series: Perfectly Dateless #3
Pages: 247
Format: Paperback
Buy It: Amazon
Daisy's ready for summer fun--but it seems summer has something else in store.
High school is over, and Daisy Crispin is happy to leave it in her past and look forward to a bright new future at college. In the meantime, she is planning an all-expenses-paid trip with her best friend Claire to Argentina--home of exotic food, the tango, and her handsome sort-of boyfriend Max. 

When Daisy discovers she needs to do missions work to fulfill the requirements of her scholarship, she chalks it up to her monumental bad luck in life and kisses her vacation goodbye. What was supposed to be a relaxing time in the lap of luxury turns into hard work, sleeping on a cot, avoiding scorpions, and stressing about where she stands with Max. Daisy wonders if anything in her life will ever go according to plan . . . 
I was expecting Daisy to be some sort of snob. It was surprising to me that her best friend Claire was more of the snob, and Daisy just went along with her plan to make the trip work. Also, I felt her obsession with Max was a little weird. Why would you be so focused on a guy from another country who may not even return your feelings? Overall it was a great book, don't get me wrong. I just felt some parts didn't make sense. Also, I didn't read the first two books, but I don't think you really need to with this book.

I received this book free for a Revell Blog Tour. I was not required to post a positive review, simply an honest one.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Review: The Harvest of Grace


The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall

Release Date: August 9, 2001
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Genre: Christian Romance
Series: Ada'a House Novel #3
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Buy It: Amazon

Reeling from an unexpected betrayal, can Sylvia find relief from the echoes of her past…or will they shape her future forever? 
Although Sylvia Fisher recognizes that most Old Order Amish women her age spend their hours managing a household and raising babies, she has just one focus—tending and nurturing the herd on her family’s dairy farm. But when a dangerous connection with an old beau forces her to move far from home, she decides to concentrate on a new start and pour her energy into reviving another family’s debt-ridden farm.
After months in rehab, Aaron Blank returns home to sell his Daed’s failing farm and move his parents into an easier lifestyle. Two things stand in his way: the father who stubbornly refuses to recognize that Aaron has changed and the determined new farmhand his parents love like a daughter. Her influence on Aaron’s parents could ruin his plans to escape the burdens of farming and build a new life.
Can Aaron and Sylvia find common ground? Or will their unflinching efforts toward opposite goals blur the bigger picture— a path to forgiveness, glimpses of grace, and the promise of love.
I liked this book a lot! It was a little confusing at first, with all the different characters and random point of view changes. Despite the fact that the description only focuses on Sylvia and Aaron, all of the Ada's House characters have a chapter from their POV at some point or another. I don't think it's necessary to have read the other two books first, as I didn't, but it was still a little confusing. Thankfully the book has a guide to how all the characters are related in the back :) One thing that did bother me was how dramatic the whole family situation was with Sylvia. I felt it was a little over the top and unrealistic for an Amish family. However, I did enjoy this book and spend right through it!



I received this book free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program. I was not required to post a positive review, simply an honest one.



Sunday, July 15, 2012

IMM/Mailbox Monday: 7/15/12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren, and Mailbox Monday is hosted by a group of bloggers! We share books we received this week, whether we bought them, got them in the mail or checked them out from the library.


Won:
The Trouble With Magic by Madelyn Alt (Thanks Hannah!)
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (Thanks Hannah!)

Gifts:
A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn (Thanks Hannah!)
Homemade bookmark (Thanks Hannah!)

Monday, July 9, 2012

Review: ttyl


ttyl by Lauren Myracle

Release Date: April 1, 2005
Publisher: Amulet Books
Genre: YA Fiction
Series: Internet Girls #1
Pages: 234
Format: Paperback
Buy It: Amazon
This funny, smart novel follows the friendship of three 16 year old girls as they experience some of the typical pitfalls of adolescence: boys, queen-bee types, a flirty teacher, beer, crazy parents, and more. Lauren Myracle has a gift for dialogue and characterization, and the girls emerge as three distinctive and likable personalities through their Internet correspondence. This light, fast-paced read is told Entirely in instant message format, the first book ever for young adults to be written so.
I loved the format of this book! I don't usually read books in different formats, so this was a nice change of pace. However, this book kind of disgusted me. I don't normally dislike a book so strongly, but it bothered me how much these girls were being ridiculous. The one girl was only focused on sex, and dating the "perfect" guys. Another girl started flirting with a teacher even AFTER both of her friends said it was a bad idea! And all three of them were just plain catty when they started fighting. Basically, I feel like teenagers are painted terribly in this book. But I do plan on reading the others in the series in the hopes that they will improve!



I purchased this book from Goodwill. I was not required to post a review.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

IMM/Mailbox Monday: 7/8/12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren, and Mailbox Monday is hosted by a group of bloggers! We share books we received this week, whether we bought them, got them in the mail or checked them out from the library.


Gifted:
The One Year Bible (Thanks Tyndale!)

For Review:
The Stars Shine Bright by Sibella Giorella (Thanks LitFuse!)
Perfectly Ridiculous by Kristin Billerbeck (Thanks Revell!)
The Haven by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Thanks LitFuse!)
Savage by Willow Rose (Thanks Willow!)

Won:
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (Thanks Elegantly Bound Books!)
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Review: The Annihilation of Foreverland


The Annihilation of Foreverland by Tony Bertauski

Release Date: December 31, 2011
Publisher: Bertauski
Genre: Sci-Fi
Pages: 294
Format: Ebook
Buy It: Amazon
When kids awake on an island, they’re told there was an accident. Before they can go home, they will visit Foreverland, an alternate reality that will heal their minds.

Reed dreams of a girl that tells him to resist Foreverland. He doesn’t remember her name, but knows he once loved her. He’ll have to endure great suffering and trust his dream. And trust he’s not insane.

Danny Boy, the new arrival, meets Reed’s dream girl inside Foreverland. She’s stuck in the fantasy land that no kid can resist. Where every heart’s desire is satisfied. Why should anyone care how Foreverland works?

Together, they discover what it’s really doing to them.
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I honestly don't think I can write a review that will do it justice. I don't usually like sci-fi, because I tend to go more for the fantasy genre based on the characters and worlds. I was very surprised how quickly I became addicted! Some of the characters were hard to like, but I know that was kind of the point. I was so not expecting the ending either! Totally a shocker. Definitely a must read!



I received this book free from the author. I was not required ti post a positive review, simply an honest one.

Also, just as a heads up! The author is doing a special promotion right now where the ebook is free on Amazon! So click the link above if you're interested in learning more or purchasing it yourself!

Monday, July 2, 2012

Review: Better Together


Better Together: What On Earth Are We Here For? by Rick Warren

Release Date: January 1, 2004
Publisher: PurposeDriven
Genre: Christian Devotional
Pages: 238
Format: Paperback
Buy It: Amazon
40 days of devotional readings, journaling pages. The complete study guide for 40 Days of Community small group video lessons taught by pastor Rick Warren.
This book was hard for me to read by myself. It was definitely geared more towards a small group setting! Unfortunately, since I found it at my local Goodwill, no one else I know owns  copy. However, I still liked this book! It really opened my eyes as to how I interact with others and how we can all work together to make our outside interactions even better. Great book for a small bible study!



I purchased this book from Goodwill. I was not required to post a review,

Sunday, July 1, 2012

IMM/Mailbox Monday: 7/1/12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren, and Mailbox Monday is hosted by a group of bloggers! We share books we received this week, whether we bought them, got them in the mail or checked them out from the library.

No books this week! I was kind of surprised, but it's nice to not add any books to my growing pile :P How did everyone else do?
 
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