Saturday, April 30, 2011

In My Mailbox

I've never done an IMM post before, but I've considered doing one in the past. Since I'm officially out of school and will have more time I figured I could start devoting more time to this blog! So here we go! :)

For review via author:

From Galley Grab:




What did you get in your mailboxes this week?

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Review - Star Wars #6 (Sentinel)


This is the synopsis from Amazon:

Cast into slavery by the machinations of the Sith, Ori Kitai believes she’s found her way back into the Lost Tribe—and perhaps a whole lot more. Ori’s discovery of a second starship gives her the opportunity to avenge the humiliations heaped on her family by the decrepit Grand Lord. Indeed, she could turn their entire society upside down—offering escape from their planetary prison. But Ori encounters resistance from a surprising person: the seemingly humble farmer who took her in: a man with a secret past and an agenda of his own. He cannot allow Ori Kitai to unleash the Lost Tribe on an unsuspecting galaxy. But how can he stop the woman he loves without destroying them both?

My review: 4 stars

Plot: This one picks up right where #5 lets off. It starts out suspenseful and keeps that suspense up until the very end. Quite a catching story!

Characters: Ori becomes a lot less selfish in this one, and begins to see herself through another's eyes. She becomes much more tolerable.

Setting: Same setting as previous book.

Overall: This one ties up the last book, and ends well. Although it could end as is, I hope to see another book soon!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Review - Star Wars #5 (Purgatory)


This is the synopsis from Amazon:

The mighty Sith dynasty founded on the planet Kesh by the survivors of the shipwrecked Omen has endured for a thousand years—and so has the merciless Sith code, which prizes power above all else. Lady Orielle Kitai enjoys power as the scion of a noble family and member of the elite Sith Sabers. But Lillia Venn, as reigning Grand Lord of the Sith, possesses absolute power . . . and is determined to keep it. When a failed regicide sparks a political—and literal—bloodbath and suspicion falls on Orielle, she is swiftly condemned to slavery by the ruthless Grand Lord Venn. But seeing the cunning power play for what it is, Orielle vows to strike back. And at the ramshackle home of a poor dirt farmer with an astounding secret, she discovers the means to make her vengeance a devastating reality.

My review: 4 stars

Plot: At first this book confused me, because the main character had not been mentioned in the previous books. Then I realized this one is set years after the fourth book ended. This plot dragged a little for me, but it picked up significantly towards the end with a cliffhanger that leads you directly into the next book.

Characters: I found Ori a bit annoying to be honest. She is very arrogant about her family's standing, and then when she has the chance to restore it she takes it up without considering the consequences of the others around her.

Setting: The setting is the same as the previous books, just years later.

Overall: I loved the romantic aspect included in this book, because it helped you to understand Ori a little more. This book is a good read and I can't wait to start on the next one!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Review - The Lipstick Laws


This is the synopsis from Amazon:


At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.
For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.
But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?


My review: 3 stars

Plot: This book didn't really stand out to me as a unique plot. I've read a few different books with the same idea: new girl gets adopted by the bullying, popular girl and is forced to change to fit in. I did think the little twists added in were good however.

Characters: Some of the characters were really funny! One guy she is forced to date is annoying and attached but his actions make you want to laugh from sympathy towards her.

Setting: I didn't feel like the setting really impacted the book in any way.

Overall: I liked this book but it isn't necessarily one I would go out of my way to recommend to others. Pick it up if you have time for a fun read.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Review - Lydia's Charm


This is the synopsis from Amazon:

Widowed and jobless, Lydia King moves her son and herself to Charm, Ohio, to be close to her mother and help with her grandfather. Menno Troyer, a furniture store owner, is also recently widowed and the father of four energetic boys. Levi Stutzman, another newcomer to the area, is the only one in his family not handicapped by dwarfism and has dedicated his life to caring for them. As fall colors the countryside, will anonymous gifts left for Lydia bring her hope for a new life and romance, or will another tragedy flood her with infinite despair?

My review: 4 stars

Plot: I didn't like that she was going back and forth between two men. However, it made for an interesting storyline and was fairly enjoyable throughout.

Characters: Some of the characters were a little arrogant for my taste. I felt that the many deaths that occurred were also unnecessary and only added to the high conflict between the other characters.

Setting: I love Amish stories and towns, so I loved reading about the quaint shops!

Overall: I really did like this book, despite the small flaws I noticed. A great Amish read!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Review - Delivered With Love


This is the synopsis from Amazon:

An old love letter found in the glove compartment of a young woman's inherited 1972 Volkswagen propels her to leave her life in Los Angeles and go to the small town of Capitola, California. There her dream of finding the writer of the letter leads her on an unexpected journey that changes her life forever.

Claire James, age twenty-three, is ready to make it on her own.  When she's fired from her job as a waitress and subsequently kicked out of her sister's home, she sees it as an opportunity to start over.  But even before moving, a thirty-five-year-old love letter written to her mother keeps Claire stuck in the past.  Michael Thompson, a middle-aged real estate agent, wants to keep the past where it belongs--at least until his grown daughter is married.  But, then a young woman comes to town . . .

My review: 5 stars

Plot: I wasn't pulled in right away, but once I got deeper into the book I fell in love with the story and the romantic events that happened throughout. I love romances and this one did not let me down.

Characters: I loved how chivalrous the man was and that he truly cared about her feelings and her fears of commitment. I could also relate to Claire, so it was an overall great read. Another good part was the connections between the characters! So much fun finding out all of theirs past secrets.

Setting: I felt like the Cali coast was the perfect spot for a romance novel.

Overall: This book was so good! I finished it in less than a day. I highly recommend you go pick it up! Right now it's free on Kindle so click the Amazon link above and check it out!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

24 Hour Read-a-thon

I'm going to be participating in Dewey's 24 Hours Read-a-Thon today! I definitely won't be reading all day, especially since my hours started at 4 this morning :P And I'm cheering for part of the time. But I do plan to finish at least one book and possibly two! Yay reading!

These are my answers to the welcome questions:

1)Where are you reading from today?
2)Three random facts about me…
3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

1) Oregon, United States.
2) I'm a lefty, I have diagnosed mild epilepsy, and I go to the greatest Christian college!
3) 3 right now... but it might change: The Mountains Bow Down, Let Me Be a Woman, and Beside Still Waters.
4) Just to finish at least one book! Hopefully I can accomplish that :P
5) This is my first year! :)

Edit: I passed the half-way mark when I was shopping in Salem so this is late... I have made terrible progress so far.

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?
2. How many books have you read so far?
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
9. Are you getting tired yet?
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

1. STILL The Mountains Bow Down.
2. That's the only one :/
3. Finishing this one and moving on to Let Me Be a Woman!
4. Not really. I've done a lot wth friends which has left little time for reading.
5. Just family. I can't really say anything to my mom :P
6. How much I enjoyed reading once I got into it, since I've been in a bit of a reading slump.
7. Definitely block the day out ahead of time to keep from having other plans.
8. Spend more time both reading and cheering.
9. Not really. It's only 6:40PM here.
10. Lock yourself in your room. It really works.

EDIT: End of challenge.

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
5. How many books did you read?
6. What were the names of the books you read?
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
8. Which did you enjoy least?
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

1. All of them!
2. Yeah, hopefully I can pull them out next year.
3. Plan ahead.
4. The cheerleaders!
5. 0... :/
6. -
7. -
8. -
9. Just keep going!
10. I think I will, but I will definitely be planning ahead.
 
Blog Design by Use Your Imagination Designs images from the Wonder Emporium kit by MK-Designs