Can Never Have Too Many Books Book Haul!!! :D

YAY!! More books to add to our shelves! There is nothing like opening a box and finding fresh new books inside! This book haul combines both May and June books. Sadly it's not as big as this last book haul but even a small haul is better than no haul. :D

Now lets get to this EPIC book haul!!

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Birthday Gift From Mia at M&EM Read:

Relic by: Renee Collins

Thank you Miss Mia for the wonderful birthday gift!! The book sounds amazing and I can not wait to read it!!

To Follow Their Blog Click here.... M&EM Reads

Barnes & Noble Purchases:

The Heir by: Kiera Cass

Alienated by. Melissa Landers (Currently Reading)

Book Outlet Purchases:

Only Everthing by: Kieran Scott

Complete Nothing by: Kieran Scott

Vortex by: Julie Cross

Timestorm by: Julie Cross

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by: Jennifer E. Smith

What new books have ya'll added to your book shelves?

Published by: K

Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Hello Everyone!! So sorry for the long absence, it has been a crazy last couple of months. Starting a new job, being sick and getting a new puppy. :) But now we can get back to focusing on our blog, school is over, the job is going well and we are both no longer sick. Plus the puppy is a great addition to our family. 

Now let's get to this review!! :)

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Red Queen 

By: Victoria Aveyard

Length: 383 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Goodreads Synopsis:

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win? 

My Review:

Rating: 

Wow....this book was AMAZING!!! I was hooked from page one!! I hated having to go to work, it meant I had to put this captivating book aside all day. :( And let me tell you that was the hardest part!!  Because all I wanted to do was finish this book so I could find out what happens to the main character Mare!! That girl found herself in many sticky situations throughout this story.

Victoria Aveyard is an amazing author! She did an amazing job developing the world that Mare lived in. It was easy to picture the run-town Stilts in which Mare grew up in as well as the luxurious place she is forced to live in after her mysterious powers are revealed.

Mare was an amazing character, she was strong-willed and stubborn. She was willing to sacrifice her own life for her people (Reds). I prefer to read books with strong female role models. It helps young girls want to be want to reflect the same personality of their favorite characters. 

The romance was mild throughout this book. But it was more interesting to watch friendships develop and people be betrayed by those they thought they could trust. It made the story reflect real relationships. That being said I have to say I was rooting for Cal from the second her appeared in the book. TEAM CAL!!! 

I strongly suggest read this book! Especially if you are a fan of books like Divergent and Hunger Games!! Oh...and be prepared for a shocking twist at the end!! It was a twist I did not see coming!! This is a summer must read :D

Published by: K

Book Tour & Review: The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis

This month we were lucky enough to be able to participate in The One Thing by: Marci Lyn Curtis Book Tour! We want to give a HUGE thank you to Marci and Disney-Hyperion for allowing us to participate in this book tour and read an advanced copy of this remarkable book. :)

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The One Thing

By: Marci Lyn Curtis

Release Date: September 8th, 2015

Genre: Young Adult Contempary

Length: 336 pages

Pre order:

Amazon

B&N

Synopsis From Goodreads:

"A soaring tale of life and love, of sacrifice and renewal, and learning to see people as they really are."

Maggie Sanders might be blind, but she won't invite anyone to her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie's rebellious streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal.

Now Maggie has a probation officer. But she isn't interested in rehabilitation, not when she's still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead the team to victory.

Then Maggie's whole world is turned upside down. Somehow, incredibly, she can see again. But only one person: Ben, a precocious ten-year-old unlike anyone she's ever met.Ben's life isn't easy, but he doesn't see limits, only possibilities. After awhile, Maggie starts to realize that losing her sight doesn't have to mean losing everything she dreamed of. Even if what she's currently dreaming of is Mason Milton, the infuriatingly attractive lead singer of Maggie's new favorite band, who just happens to be Ben's brother.

But when she learns the real reason she can see Ben, Maggie must find the courage to face a once-unimaginable future...before she loses everything she has grown to love.

Our Review:

Rating:

Omg...we were so excited when this book finally arrived in the mail. AND IT WAS WORTH THE WAITING!! We had been waiting to read this book for quite a while, ever since our mom had met Marci at Yallfest in November. Instantly after hearing about her debut book we read the synopsis and couldn't wait to read it. When offered a chance to be a part of the Book Tour we both jumped at the chance. 

The day we recieved this book we sat down as a family every night and read it together, each reading a chapter out loud, so we could share the book experience together. We absolutely loved this book! It had equal parts drama and wit. We couldn't wait to see what happened to the main character Maggie.

Maggie was probably one of my favorite female characters in a book in a long time. She was full of wit and sarcasm. She had us laughing at every turn, with her quick comebacks. Even though she had lost her eye-sight a few months back she had humor when it came to her lack of sight. 

Marci did an amazing job developing her characters and describing Maggie's world. Even though Maggie was blind, Marci described her world as though she weren't. She made it very easy to picture Maggie's world. 

It was also nice that this wasn't the usually romance story. While Maggie and Mason (Ben's brother) had a bit of a developing romance it didn't blossom spontaneously. The story was less about teenage romance and more about Maggie's relationship with Ben, the young boy the let's Maggie have a small glimpse of the world she had lost months ago. LOVED BEN, HE WAS A HOOT!

The twist on blindness that Marci developed throughout this story was captivating. It certainly wasn't something we saw coming. We were both very surprised. 

Marci did an amazing job developing this story, I highly recommend reading this book. It is definitely worth read! :D

About the Author!

Marci Lyn Curtis grew up in Northern California, where she went to college and met an amazing guy in a military uniform. Two college-aged kids and one dachshund later, she lives in Maryland, where she laughs too loudly and eats peanut butter off spoons. 

Her YA contemporary debut,The One Thing, comes out September 8^th, 2015 via Disney-Hyperion. Learn more about her at Marcilyncurtis.com.

Pre Order:

 Amazon

B&N

Published by: K & C

Review: The Death Cure (Maze Runner Trilogy) by James Dashner

The Death Cure 

By: James Dashner

Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult

Length: 325 pages

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s the end of the line.

WICKED has taken everything from Thomas: his life, his memories, and now his only friends—the Gladers. But it’s finally over. The trials are complete, after one final test.

Will anyone survive?

What WICKED doesn’t know is that Thomas remembers far more than they think. And it’s enough to prove that he can’t believe a word of what they say.

The truth will be terrifying.

Thomas beat the Maze. He survived the Scorch. He’ll risk anything to save his friends. But the truth might be what ends it all.

The time for lies is over. 

Mom's Review:

Rating:

Okay I have finished the 3rd book.

I loved the storyline of the gang trying to save as many of their group and get out of the craziness. Thomas totally takes contol and puts his own life in jeopardy. The decision Thomas had to make regarding Newt was extremely intense.

I was a little disappointed in the ending with no true indication of the relationship between Brenda and Thomas. I must say though that the details James Dashner puts into his books makes you feel like you are right there in that situation with the "runners."

Published by: Mom

Yay more books....March & Book Fair Book Haul!! :D

Yay....more books to add to our ever growing collection!! These books are a combination of books we bought in March and at my sisters school book fair this past week. In total we have added 14 new books to our bookshelves. Can't pass up an opportunity to buy more books!! Already plan to read and review many of these books ASAP!

March Amazon Purchases:

Red Queen by: Victoria Aveyard

The Return by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Day 21 (The Hundred #2) by: Kass Morgan

Book Fair Purchases:

Nevermore by: James Patterson

All Fall Down by: Ally Carter

The Zodiac Legacy by: Stan Lee

The One (The Selection #3) by: Kiera Cass

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by: Marissa Meyer

Ripper by: Stefan Petrucha

Variant by: Robsin Wells

Scorched by: Mari Mancusi

Dead Girls Don't Lie by: Jennifer Shaw Wolf

On the Fence by: Kasie West

Goodwill Purchase:

City of Lost Souls by: Cassandra Clare

Published by: K

March Wrap-up :)

I can't believe how quickly March went by, it's been a busy and stressful month. Starting a new job and focusing on my writing didn't leave much time for reading, sadly. Even so, I was able to finish 4 books this month. Then my mom and sister read one book each. Hopefully this month will be less stressful and I can finish more books. :D 

Books I Finished:

The 100 by: Kass Morgan  (4/5 Stars)

Sanctum by: Sarah Fine  (5/5 Stars)

On Dublin Street by: Samantha Young  (2.5/5 Stars)

Not Shown:

Me and My Invisible Guy by: Sarah Jeffery  (2/5 Stars)

Books Chloe Finished:

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by: James Patterson  (5/5 Stars)

Books Mom Finished:

The Scorch Trials by: James Dashner  (5/5 Stars)

Published by: K

Review: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

On Dublin Street 

By: Samantha Young

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 372 pages

Synposis From Goodreads:

Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

My Review:

Rating:

After reading the reviews on Goodreads and seeing the 4 star rating it had received, I had high hopes for this book. However, sad to say I had a difficult time getting into this book. It started out very slow and at times I found Jocelyn to be a bit annoying. 

I think I was going into the book hoping for more suspense, more mystery but instead it was quite predictable. The whole time I was waiting for some epic mystery to be exposed but it never happened.  

The romance between Braden and Jocelyn was very cute. I liked how it developed and it wasn't an instant romance. The difficulties and struggles they went through has a couple really made it seem real.

Overall, the writing was amazing and the story was good. I just don't think it was my kind of book. And maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't just read a ho-hum romance before this one. 

Published by: K