In My Mailbox {20}

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren

Bought

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty (x2)

She's So Dead To Us by Keiran Scott

Won

 A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler (signed)

Borrowed

Top Ten Greek Legends

The Usborne Encyclopaedia of Ancient Greeks

What did you get in your mailbox?

Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

    

Title: Forgive My Fins

Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Series:  Fins #1
Pages: 255

Publisher: Templar 
Release Date: July 1st 2011 (UK)
Source: For blog tour
Rating: 5 stars

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush. 

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Reading Forgive My Fins was like watching a Disney movie. Truly magical. It was sweet and romantic and just too cute. I was in bed all day, sick, and read it in one sitting. It definitely made me feel a lot better!

Lily was just SO much fun. She was a little silly and a tiny bit deluded about romance (like most teenage girls are). She uses phrases like "son of a swordfish". It was hilarious. Quince was just adorable. I want a Quince for myself!!

The plot is a little predictable but it was so much fun that I didn't care at all! It wasn't trying to be serious. It was what it was and I loved that. It was full of witty banter and sarcasm and everything else I love.

If you love romances, fun characters and swoon worthy boys then you will LOVE this. Buy it. Read it. Love it.

Review: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

    

Title: Bumped

Author: Megan McCafferty
Series: Bumped #1
Pages: 255

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: May 10th 2011 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 3.5 stars

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. 

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job. 

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from. When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

It was the premise of Bumped that really drew me in. Ethical issues are something I am fascinated with and the harsh reality that the world within Bumped could happen make this a must read. Unfortunately it fell a little flat for me.

The writing and the premise kept me going through most of the novel. I didn’t feel a connection with the characters though they did develop towards the end of the novel. The actions of the twins, mostly Harmony, didn’t make too much sense to me. Zen was the only character I really liked.

Whilst the writing was engaging the slang really confused me. A lot of the time I was confused by the slang and had to try and figure out its meaning by the context. I think a glossary at the back of the book may have helped. It did slow down the reading and pulled me out of the world every now and again.

The world that McCafferty created was skilfully done. Some extra information was needed at times, I felt but aside from that it seemed realistic.

Despite not loving Bumped, I think the next book will be better and I look forward to reading it. 

Review: What Happened To Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

    

Title: What Happened To Goodbye

Author: Sarah Dessen
Series: Standalone

Pages: 402
Publisher: Razorbill Penguin
Release Date: June 2nd 2011 (UK)
Source: For review
Rating: 4 stars

Another town. Another school. Another Mclean. Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been fleeing their unhappy past. And Mclean's become a pro at reinventing herself with each move. But in Lakeview, Mclean finds herself putting down roots and making friends—in part, thanks to Dave, the most real person Mclean's ever met. Dave just may be falling in love with her, but can he see the person she really is? Does Mclean herself know?

I ADORE Sarah Dessen. She is one of my favourite contemporary fiction authors. She creates realistic, magical romance novels that make my heart melt. She writes books that I will reread multiple times.

What Happened To Goodbye, in my opinion, is not her best. It lacked something for me. What I love most about Sarah Dessen is that we get to see an actual relationship between the two characters. I felt it was a little rushed here.

Dave, the romantic interest was super swoon worthy. I love a super smart guy who is a little on the geeky side.  I had no qualms with him at all. McClean was also a relatable protagonist that I could connect to. Dessen always makes characters that I want to be friend with. The additional characters were also fabulous.  McClean’s diner and school friends really added an extra dimension.

The writing was as incredible as always. I am totally swept in and captivated by her words. They are so beautiful and poetic and mesmerising. She also knows how to create super sweet, make-me-aw moments that just tug on my heartstrings.

What Happened to Goodbye is a quick, sweet romantic novel with beautiful writing and engaging characters, though the romance felt slightly rushed. If you are a Sarah Dessen fan, read it. If you have never read Sarah Dessen before I wouldn’t recommend starting here. The Truth About Forever, Just Listen and Along For The Ride are some of my favourites.

In My Mailbox - 9/11/2011

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren

I would link all the books but there are WAY too many. Sorry :)


I would also like us to spare a thought for those that lost their lives or lost loved ones in 9/11.

Review: Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

     

Title: Birthmarked
Author: Caragh O'Brien
Series: Birthmarked #1

Pages: 361

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: May 2nd 2011 (UK)

Source: For review

Rating: 4 stars

After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested.

Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.

Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, BIRTHMARKED explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code.

I really enjoyed Birthmarked. It had everything needed to make a fabulous dystopian. The setting. The oppressors. The strong heroine.

Gaia was a wonderful protagonist. She was brave and strong. Her determination and love for her family were endearing qualities that made me respect and admire her. She did, though, have faults. She felt that serving the Enclave was the most important thing and in the beginning, did not question this.

The book is full of secrets that are slowly revealed throughout the novel. A lot is learnt and there are definitely a lot of surprises. The book itself is also beautifully written; however whilst I enjoyed reading it whenever I put it down it took an immense amount of effort to start again. I couldn’t tell you why as I loved it whilst I read it.

Birthmarked was an enjoyable read and I am excited to start Prized, the second in the series.

Review: There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

    

Title: There Is No Dog
Author: Meg Rosoff
Series: None

Pages: 224
Publisher: Puffin
Release Date: August 4th 2011 (UK)
Source: From Spinebreakers
Rating: 3 stars

Meet your unforgettable protagonist: God, who, as it turns out, is a 19-year-old boy living in the present-day and sharing an apartment with his long-suffering fifty-something personal assistant. Unfortunately for the planet, God is lazy and, frankly, hopeless. He created all of the world's species in six days because he couldn't summon the energy to work for longer. He gets Africa and America mixed up. And his beleagured assistant has his work cut out for him when God creates a near-apolcalyptic flood, having fallen asleep without turning the bath off. There is No Dog is a darkly funny novel from one of our most delightfully unpredictable writers.

This is the first Meg Rosoff book I have ever read and from what I've heard it is the most out there she has written. The premise - fantastic. I am fascinated by God and his existence so the premise suited me perfectly. It is one of those books where you read it and when you finish you can't decide whether you liked it or not. I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

I loved Meg's quirky writing style. It definitely drew me in and intrigued me. The writing could not really be faulted and it is because of this that I am eager to pick up her other, less unusual, books.

What I really enjoyed was how realistically....it started. I could really see how a 16 year old could have created the Earth, enjoying terrorising humans. It was completely different to how God is normally described. I think the plot lost some realism throughout the novel which hindered my enjoyment. I love books with wacky premises that make it seem like it could really happen.

The intrigue in the subject matter kept me going through most of it. The chapters were too short for me, averaging at 5 pages each. It felt a little disjointed and occasionally hard to follow. (A friend of mine suggested this could be down to the fact that a teenage boy's interest lasts about as long as the chapters).

Bob, though interesting, wasn't a likeable character. His sense of entitlement, his treatment of humans and having sex with human girls just to ditch them the next day really irritated me. I understand that this was the point. He wasn't meant to be a likeable God. I did hope for a little growth of his character and at points it felt like this may happen but alas, there was none. Bob's adviser was an amusing character. I enjoyed his witty sarcastic remarks and his concern for the whales (though you would have the humans would be more important). Bob's pet was also a nice touch.

The book was funny at moments whilst at others it went a little too overboard and felt a little silly. The realistic parts were the most amusing as you envisioned them happening.

There Is No Dog had fabulous potential but something went wrong somewhere for me. If the chapters had been a little longer and the plot less silly in parts it could have been wonderful. It may not be for all people and some religious believers may be offended so enter with caution.