Author Love 28: Miranda Kenneally

 Author Love is a meme we came up with. There are so many authors and books out there that we love so much and want the world to know about. If you want to play along all you have to do is pick one of your favorite authors. Write what you like about them and/or their books. You can also include an author bio and synopsis of their book if you want.

Author Bio from Goodreads:
Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband

I've recently become a big fan of this author. I read her first two books and enjoyed them but wasn't wowed. Then, I read Breathe Annie, Breathe and I was blown away. I seriously have so much love for that book. I now have a ton of faith in this author. I will read anything she writes! If you don't know who this is be sure to look her up! 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Source: Bought
Stand Alone
A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. 
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...
But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Review
The synopsis for this one kinda threw me off. I didn't really understand what to expect. I may have loved this more than Eleanor and Park and that's saying something!

This tells the story of Cath. Her life is dedicated to Simon Snow. When she goes to college her twin sister somewhat abandons her. Left on her own, Cath must decide if there's more to life than fanfiction.

I loved Cath. I loved her unique personality. I loved how she stayed true to herself. I loved that she wasn't embarrassed of herself. I liked seeing her try new things. She really grew throughout the story. Reagan made the best addition to the story. I loved her snarky personality. Levi was absolute perfection in every way possible. Seriously, where can I find one of him? Him and Cath had the best innocent relationship. 

This had the most relatable storyline. I loved the college setting. I thought it was super fun. I loved all the fanfiction and Simon aspects. I had some troubles putting this down. It had so many amazing aspects. I couldn't stop smiling and laughing as I was reading. Even though I was skeptical at first, I really adored this story. It's hype is very well deserved!

Waiting on Wednesday: Snow Like Ashes by Sarah Raasch

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:

Snow Like Ashes by Sarah Raasch

Expected publication: October 14th 2014 by Balzer + Bray 

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

I've actually already read this pretty and boy is it amazing. Talk about high fantasy. The world building is magical. The characters are fantastic. And, its incredibly fast paced. If this isn't on your TBR you should fix that!

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments! 

In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher Katherine Tegen 
Source: Conference
Companion to Not a Drop to Drink
The only thing bigger than the world is fear.
Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.
When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.
In this companion to Not a Drop to Drink, Mindy McGinnis thrillingly combines the heart-swelling hope of a journey, the challenges of establishing your own place in the world, and the gripping physical danger of nature in a futuristic frontier.

Review
Even though this is a companion, I was still very excited to read it. Not a Drop to Drink was an amazing read as was this. It had all the elements I loved with some new ones too. It definitely did the series justice!

Lucy has a great life by the pond. When disease strikes through her community, no one knows what to do. Lynn has always heard of better places. But getting there wont be easy. Is it worth the risk?

Lucy has grown into an amazing character. I was so happy to see her again. I loved how true to herself she was. She was very determined. She got stronger and stronger throughout the story. I loved how open she was with her emotions. She was easy to relate too. I am so glad Lynn was such a big part of this story. She is still tough as nails. She too has grown. Her and Lucy made for a great family aspect. They would do anything for each other. 

This had quite the storyline. It was very gritty. It definitely didn't lack any realism. I loved it's darkness. You could really see how difficult things were. You saw the people suffering. I loved that this kept me on my toes. I had no idea what to expect. I loved all the cross country traveling and all the different settings. Overall this was a nice addition to the story. I really enjoyed it. This author has impressed me. I cannot wait to see what she does next!

Top Ten Tuesday(68)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists

This weeps topic is Top Ten Books on my Fall TBR. I just went on a huge book buying spree so this should be pretty exciting.

1. Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan. This is the last book. We all know I'm a huge Percy fan. 
2. The Article 5 series. Now that I own all the books I can't wait to binge read them.
3. The Darkest Mind series. The last book in this series comes out in a few weeks. I decided to wait until it came out to start the series. 
4. Idols by Margret Stohl. This pretty is right at the top of my October TBR :)
5. On the Fence by Kasie West. Because we all need a little contemporary in our lives.
6. Earthquake by Aprilynne Pike. Earthbound left me aching for more. Now that I have ,y hands on Earthquake I cannot wait to read it. 
7. Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry. Anything Katie McGarry doesn't need a reason.
8. Endless and Empower by Jessica Shirvington. Another planned binge reading!
9. Blue Lily, Blue Lily by Maggie Stievfvator. Because Maggie Stiefvator is queen of the world. 
10. Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan. Because Sarah Rees Brennan is the queen of cliffhangers!

That's it for me! Let me know what you guys would pick in the comments :)

The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Source: Conference
Second book in The Elemental series
After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by a blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny—especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in.
Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that makes him question everything he previously believed about their mission. Faced with this devastating realization, Iolanthe is forced to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother's prophecies—and forging a divergent path to an unknowable future.

Review
What a sequel! I was a little worried for this one. I had such high expectations and didn't want it to miss them. Of course that didn't happen. This story met my expectations easily. It was absolute perfection. 

Titus and Iolanthe have been separated all summer. They are eager to return to Eton College and continue training. Titus has never know exactly what his mothers prophecies meant. Things get crazy when he makes a shocking discovery that could change everything. 

I absolutely adore Titus. I have right from the start. Yes, he had some choices to make regarding who was best for him. It was very hard to see him and Iola grow apart. They work so well together. But I think that was a challenge they needed to face. Iola is such an amazing character. She can do anything. She never stops growing as a character. She's always fighting while still being loving  she's incredibly powerful. Her role in the story was a little clouded. I loaded seeing her stick by Titus even when he didn't know what he wanted. The relationship between then is honestly my favorite part of the story. They have an amazing relationship. 

This story starts off kinda confusing. It alternates between England and the Sahara dessert. I was a little frustrated at times because I was so confused. But, by the end it was all worth it. I loved the unique way the story was told. I've never read a story told quite like that. The magical aspects were great as always. There was an insane amount of action and suspense. This story is impossible to put down. You really had no idea what was coming next. I couldn't have imagined a better sequel. I really loved it to pieces. I cannot wait to see where this author takes us next! 

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Dial Books
Source: Conference
Stand Alone
A brilliant, luminous story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell
Jude and her brother, Noah, are incredibly close twins. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude surfs and cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and divisive ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as an unpredictable new mentor. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world. 
This radiant, fully alive, sometimes very funny novel from the critically acclaimed author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.

Review
I can't even express how much I loved this book. Nothing I could possibly say would do it justice. This book is absolute perfection in every way possible. 

This tells the story of twins Noah and Jude. As they grow apart, they each tell half the story. If they have any hope of growing back together, they just piece the story back together. 

The best part of this story is the growth of the characters. Noah and Jude made amazing main characters. They were so unique. I loved how different they were from each other. They each had different personalities.  I loved how close they were and seeing them get it back. Family is a huge part of this story. It made it very relatable. 

This story is hard on the heart! It's very moving. It was very hard for me to put down. The story was like a roller coaster. You didn't know where it would take you next. I loved the art aspects. I loved the tension between characters. I loved that I could relate to the story. I really can't think of a single thing I didn't like. I was already a huge fan of this author and this just made it worse. This was an unforgettable read! 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: Bought
Stand Alone
Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.
Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.
Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.
Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

Review
This book has an incredibly amount of hype. I was a little hesitant to read it because I didn't want it to disappoint. But it didn't! It blew me away! 

Set in 1986, this tells the take of first love. Eleanor is new in town. Everyone is judging her for her looks and size. Park is the only person who gives Eleanor a chance. People say first love never lasts but Eleanor and Park are determined to prove them wrong. 

Eleanor took some getting used too. She was very complex. Her life isn't ideal and it showed. I loved how strong she was but not too strong. She didn't let people affect her but she still showed emotion. I did enjoy Park a little more. He was absolutely perfect. I loved how true to himself he was. He was a very unique character. I loved how caring he was. The best thing about Eleanor and Park was how much they loved each other. They were both at their best when together. I was really happy to see them take things slow. You don't get to see that very often. I was also happy to see the struggles in their relationship. It made it very relatable. 

This is contemporary so of course there wasn't much action. The storyline basically consisted of every day high school life. I loved how relatable the story was. I loved the family aspects. I loved that neither of the characters were perfect with perfect lives. The cute parts were of course my favorite part. This is one adorable story. Overall this deserved all the hype it has. I'm so glad I have it a chance. I loved it to pieces!

Series Love 29: The Grisha Series

Series Love is a meme we came up with. There are so many amazing book series out there. We love to share the love and help spread the word. If you want to play along all you have to do is pick a series. It doesn’t matter if it only has one book or a million, as long as you include the authors name and the covers of the books

This week I'm loving on:


This week I'm loving on the Grisha Series by Leigh Bardugo. I actually just binge read this series.  It's been on my list forever and I'm so glad I finally read it. This is an impressive series. Its incredibly dark and mysterious. The characters are absolutely amazing. It keeps you on your toes at all times. You spent the whole series having no clue how it would wrap up. I was a little addicted! I read like the entire series in a couple of days. It was worth it. I'm gonna hold this series dear to my heart forever! If you haven't checked out this series, I highly recommend.

Waiting on Wednesday: Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:

Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan

Expected publication: September 23rd 2014 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Powerful love comes with a price. Who will be the sacrifice?

Kami has lost the boy she loves, is tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before. With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her town.

Rob Lynburn is now the master of Sorry-in-the-Vale, and he demands a death. Kami will use every tool at her disposal to stop him. Together with Rusty, Angela, and Holly, she uncovers a secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes responsibility—and a painful choice. A choice that will risk not only Kami’s life, but also the lives of those she loves most.

This final book in the Lynburn Legacy is a wild, entertaining ride from beginning to shocking end.

So we all know Sarah Rees Brennan enjoys being evil. The ending of Untold just about killed me. The wait for Unmade has been absolute torture but it's almost over! I cannot wait to see how it all wraps up!

Let me know in the comments what you guys are waiting on this week!

Infinityglass by Myra McEntire Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Egmont
Source: Bought
Third and final book in the Hourglass series 
No time like the present.
No time in the present.
No time left.
From the moment the Hourglass group violated the rules of the space time continuum to rescue a murdered loved one, time has been in flux. People from other centuries slide into our time, intruding into our space, threatening our world.
Frantically seeking a way to turn back this tide, the Hourglass begins a search for the legendary Infinityglass, tracking it to the city of New Orleans, a place where the past rests easily with the present.
Quiet, reliable Dune, the group's favourite geek, is selected to travel to the Crescent City and somehow retrieve the renowned object.
But there's a problem.
Because the Infinityglass is not an object, it's a person.
A beautiful, headstrong dancer named Hallie, a girl so enticing Dune can't take his eyes off her.
And time is not on her side.

Review
I'm having trouble even coming up with words for this book. It was that amazing! I couldn't have asked for a more perfect ending. 

The Infinityglass is the most important thing in the entire world. It is central to the understanding and harnessing the time gene. But the Infinityglass isn't an object, it's a person. She doesn't know what she is. The danger is immense. 

This book has my favorite set of characters in the whole series. Hallie and Dune were absolute perfection. Hallie is sarcastically badass. Dune is sweet and smart. They balance each other very well. Together, they make a kickass team. Plus, their both incredibly good looking. Their relationship was quite steamy. I adored it. It was very well done. I was very happy to see all my favorite characters from the last books. They make the best secondary characters. 

This had a very intriguing storyline. It answered every question I ever had. I loved all the action. I had no idea where the story was going. It was very hard to put down. I loved the New Orleans setting. I loved the family aspects. I loved the tension between characters. Overall I should have read this a long time ago. It was the perfect ending to an amazing series! 

Rise by Anna Carey Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: Bought
Third and final book in the Eve series
How far will you go when you have nothing left to lose?
When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America—and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser—Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started.
Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion—killing her father?
In Rise, Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight as Anna Carey's epic tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America comes to a stunning conclusion.


Review
This wasn't really what I was expecting. But in a good way. It had a lot of new elements to the series that I really enjoyed. 

This concludes Eve's story. She's lost the one thing she truly loved. Now she's determined to continue what she started. But you can't live two lives at the same time. 

Eve was probably at her best in this one. She was very self sacrificing and strong. She knew what she had to do and was determined to succeed. I loved how caring she was. I missed some of the characters from the past books. We only got to see a couple. But, we did get lots of new characters to love. 

Out of the whole series this had the best storyline. It never slowed down. It never ceased to surprise me. I loved the different setting and atmosphere. I loved how gritty and dark it was. It fit into the series but was very much it's own story. Overall I'm very sad to say goodbye to this series. It couldn't have had a better ending though. It definitely went out with a bang! 

August Monthly Wrap Up

Hey guys! Happy September! We hope you guys are having a good year. Here is our reading plans for this month and what we read last month

Marissa's Wrap Up

Jasmine's Wrap Up 

Wednesday on Wednesday: The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:



The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Expected release date: September 9th, 2014
from Doubleday Children's Books


From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a riveting new series that defies what you think you know about the world of magic.

From two bestselling superstars, a dazzling and magical middle-grade collaboration centering on the students of the Magisterium, an academy for those with a propensity toward magic. In this first book, a new student comes to the Magisterium against his will -- is it because he is destined to be a powerful magician, or is the truth more twisted than that? It's a journey that will thrill you, surprise you, and make you wonder about the clear-cut distinction usually made between good and evil.

While I've heard amazing things about Holly Black, I've never actually read one of her books-I'm reading White Cat next, leave me alone-so really I was only interested in this once Cassandra Clare started talking about it. Not only will I read anything Cassie puts her name on, I'm also excited to see how these two author besties writing styles come together. Oh, and the plot sounds pretty cool, too.


That's what I'm waiting on this week, what about you? We can wait together :)

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Headline
Source: Conference
Stand Alone
If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. 
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

Review
Let me just say this book fantastic. I was honest surprised by its level of amazingness. 

This tells the story of Ellie. She receives an accidental email from an unknown teenage boy. Graham is a big time movie star. Ellie and Grahams worlds collide in unexpected ways. As they grow closer they discover the major differences between normal and famous. 

I loved these characters. Ellie had a great shy but still exciting personality. I loved her simplicity. I loved how true to herself she was. Graham was a major cutie! I loved him. He was very sweet. He was also very caring. He was very protective over Ellie. Even though she wasn't famous he didn't treat her any less. Both Ellie and Graham were very determined. They never have up on what they wanted even if it was hard. 

This story has the cutest concept to it. Fate brought two people together who didn't quite belong together. It was very cute. It was impossible to put down. I loved how complicated things were for Graham and Ellie. They had to try very hard for what they wanted. The setting might have been my favorite part. I loved all the local people. It was so adventurous. Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a super fun read. I love this author so I can't wait to see what she does next!