Month: April 2012

in my mailbox

In My Mailbox (12)

Kathryn Cooper

In My Mailbox, hosted by The Story Siren, is a weekly post where bloggers list the books they recently acquired. The books can be from anywhere: publishers, authors, won in a giveaway, bought, borrowed from the library. This is not to brag but to showcase books that we might not review for awhile.

Click the book’s title to view on GoodReads.

For Review:
Thank you HarperTeen for my review copy!

ARC of Endlessly by Kiersten White
My review will be up closer to the release date, July 24, 2012.

eBooks For Review:
Thank you Opal from Astraea Press and Jenifer Rubloff for my review copies!

Legend of the Oceina Dragon by J.F. Jenkins

Vala: Agendas by J.F. Jenkins

Battlefield by J.F. Jenkins

The School With Chocolate Air by Jenifer Rubloff

What books did you find this week?

Book Review, Flashback Friday, twilight

Flashback Friday: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Kathryn Cooper

Happy Friday! Flashback Friday is where I review a book I loved but haven’t read in awhile.

Title: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Release Date: January 2005
Pages: 498
Series: Twilight #1
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

Bella Swan’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.
Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

My Thoughts:
Have you heard about a little book called Twilight? Well, it’s a wonderful love story. I remember reading it for the first time and falling in love with the romance and excitement. It was the first book I had ever read with vampires, and I’ve actually only read maybe one with main character vampires since. Good vampires?! Who’d ever heard of such a thing?

Edward was a true gentleman in a situation he didn’t ask for. It was fun to watch Bella figure out all his secrets and actually be okay with them. I loved Edward throughout the series because of the great guy he was even though I was Team Jacob by book two. 🙂

I know by book two I didn’t like Bella very much, but I can’t remember if I felt that way in Twilight. I think I still liked her in book one. Just in case you haven’t read the books I won’t spoil the read, but I’ll just say Bella bugged me in New Moon because of the way she reacted to something. I wanted to yell at her, “Move on with your life! You’re in high school! Hang out with your friends!”

The part that stands out in my memory the most is the ending scenes. I was terrified for Bella! Super scary, super exciting! It was such a great book that I really loved reading. Here’s what I wrote on my goodreads after reading it in December 2007, “I didn’t think I’d like a vampire book, but I could not put this down!”

Have you read Twilight? What did you love/ not love about it?

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing, sexual tension )
Language: none I think
Violence: mild/moderate ( scary fighting vampires, blood, injuries )

Book Review, enchanted ivy

Book Review: Enchanted Ivy

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Enchanted Ivy
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: October 2010
Pages: 310
Series: none
Source: library

What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet!
Lily’s test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he’s her guard. That’s weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.
When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.

My Thoughts:
I have had this book on my to-read list for awhile, and I’m glad I finally read it. Lily thought she was a normal junior in high school looking to apply to her dream university, Princeton. She visited Princeton for alumni week with her mom and Princeton alumni grandpa. When her grandpa surprised her with the Legacy Test, a way for her to get an automatic acceptance letter, Lily’s world was turned upside down.

I liked Lily. It seemed like she had a pretty normal life except for her stress associated with her mom’s problem. Rose was loosing her memories. She didn’t even remember Lily’s father anymore who died when Lily was a baby. Lily had to constantly worry about her mother’s well-being, making sure she hadn’t wondered off or colored with permanent marker on the walls. Even though Lily’s mom had “brain hiccups” the two were a fun pair. I enjoyed the scenes with the two of them joking and having fun.

The romance in the book was perfect, not too much not too little. Tye was a mystery even to the end. I loved the parallel worlds of Princeton. The magical world was full of unicorns, dryads, talking animals, elves, etc. Lilly got caught up in a war between worlds. The action was great. I did feel slightly disconnected from the characters. I wished I could completely delve into them more. I can’t pinpoint a reason, just a general feeling at times.

Enchanted Ivy was a great read that I really enjoyed. It was exciting, romantic, and magical. I don’t think there’s a sequel, but if there is I’ll definitely read it.

There is more profanity in this book than I prefer, but not so much to make me stop reading. Details in my content ratings.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing )
Language: moderate ( God- 13, bast***- 1, s***- 3, h***- 7, d***- 4, a**- 2, God d***- 1 )
Violence: moderate ( fighting, blood, deaths )

This is book #1 for The Dusty Bookshelf Challenge 2012, hosted by Books: A True Story.


glamorous illusions, waiting on wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday: Glamorous Illusions

Kathryn Cooper

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly post, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine , where we spotlight a book we are anxiously waiting to be published.

Glamorous Illusions
by Lisa T. Bergren
Published by David C. Cook
Released on June 1, 2012

When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery.

Isn’t the cover gorgeous?! I would love to visit Paris. I’ve never even left the United States. Lisa T. Bergren writes both adult and teen books so I don’t know if this book is teen, but either way I’ll be reading it.

What books are you “Waiting On” today?

Book Review, dangerous favor

Book Review: Dangerous Favor

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Dangerous Favor
Author: Joyce DiPastena
Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
Release Date: January 2012
Pages: 367
Series: none
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

Her father has been accused of stealing from the king, an allegation that has reduced her family to poverty. She has one chance to find and marry a man who can help her prove her father’s innocence. Lord Therri, heir to a rich barony, has the wealth and connections Mathilde needs to delve into the mysteries of her father’s past. Furthermore, Therri embodies all her romantic dreams.
Etienne, the younger son of a disgraced family, has neither wealth nor connections, but is smitten with Mathilde at a glance. She finds the knight intriguing, but believes he is only out to seduce her. While she seeks for a way to win Therri’s attention, Etienne tricks her into granting him her favor, an embroidered white ribbon, for a tournament, setting in motion a dangerous chain reaction of events. Can Etienne save Mathilde from a nightmare from her past and prove himself the true hero of her dreams?
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book! There were a few slow parts for me, but I loved the characters so much that it didn’t bother me too much.

There are two main characters, Mathilde and Etienne, and the story was told from both perspectives. It was great to hear from both sides of the story. It helped me like them more. Mathilde was a little star struck with a handsome man, Lord Therri, when she first came to the tournament with her brother. She even referred to him as The Vision. Silly, silly girl. She drove me a little crazy thinking Lord Therri, aka The Vision, was the perfect man when she didn’t even know him. I liked Etienne all throughout the book. He seemed kind, loyal, and fun to be around.

I loved how the story was wrapped around the tradition of giving favors to knights. Women chose their champion knight before the tournaments and gave them something they had on them like a handkerchief or ribbon from their hair. To see all that entailed and the consequences that came was very entertaining.

This is a wonderful love story that might appeal more to older teens and adults since their ages are: Mathilde, 18, and Etienne, 24.  

Content Ratings:highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild/moderate ( suggestive remarks, almost raped, dialog, kissing )
Language: none
Violence: mild/moderate ( knights tournament fighting, blood, murder )

*I received a copy of this book from Walnut Springs Press. I do not get paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.*

tiger lily, waiting on wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday: Tiger Lily

Kathryn Cooper

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly post, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine , where we spotlight a book we are anxiously waiting to be published.

Tiger Lily
by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Published by Harper Collins
Released on July 3, 2012

15 year old Tiger Lily, proud and fierce, wild and misunderstood, doesn’t believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland, and immediately falls under his spell. Peter is unlike anyone she’s ever known. Impetuous and brave, big-hearted but hard to reach, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland’s inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything – her family, her future – to be with the haunted, hunted, courageous boy who loves her. When – as a punishment for her rebellious ways – she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she’s always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter. With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it’s the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who’s everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.
A story from Tiger Lily’s perspective?! That sounds great! I love retellings, and I’ve never read one about Peter Pan. I’m looking forward to this book release.
What books are you “Waiting On” today?
divergent, insurgent, team abnegation

Team Abnegation!

Kathryn Cooper

I have decided to join Team Abnegation to be a part of Divergent Nation. This will be a fun month of promoting the upcoming release of the second book in the series, Insurgent by Veronica Roth. When you help spread the word about Abnegation you can be entered into some great giveaways!

For Team Abnegation to get points over other factions we are supposed to click on this link. http://bit.ly/choose_abnegation
If you want to keep up with the Abnegation news and enter giveaways go to the Team Abnegation blog.

Check out this fun post by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer: Just Because We Have to Wear Gray. I love it!

If you want to know what all the fuss is about, GO READ DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth. Here’s My Review.

Remember to go visit http://bit.ly/choose_abnegation to give Team Abnegation points!