My Summer Reading List

This summer looks amazing in terms of book publishing! There are so many books that are either already out or are coming out this summer that I am dying to read!!

I love to secretly, or not so secretly, LOL, troll through the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites to figure out what books are coming out when... so, I've already got a HUGE stack of books that I'd like to read before the summer is over, but these are the "essential" ones I want to read...

Are any of you already planning your reads for the rest of the summer, or am I just the crazy one, LOL?! Anyway, here's MY summer reading list:

Just for Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Fins series, book three

Publication date: July 3, 2012

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Paranormalcy series, book three

Publication date: July 24, 2012

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Already published...

Carter's Unfocused One-Track Mind by Brent Crawford

Carter series, book three

Publication date: August 7, 2012

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

Summer series, book three

Already published...



Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Publication date: July 3, 2012

Timeless by Gail Carriger

Parasol Protectorate series, book five

Already published... 

(Clicking on the title of each book will take you directly to the book's Amazon page where you can read the description and check out similar books.)

I think I am going to task myself to actually report on whether or not I've read these book by September 1st this year...you will all hold me accountable, right? :)  I have to have an actual goal with them or I'll keep putting the ones I own off to the side...

Anyway, tell me what are some of the books on YOUR summer reading list????

Cover Craving...

Just for Fins
by Tera Lynn Childs
Fins series, book three

Isn't this another fantastic cover for a mermaid book??

Publication date: July 3, 2012

When Lily Sanderson decided to remain Crown Princess Waterlily of the mermaid kingdom Thalassinia, she knew she couldn’t just coast along in the current. But since she’s spent the last couple of years on land—with gorgeous human Quince by her side—Lily’s not sure she has the fins to lead a kingdom. Even her maddeningly pretentious cousin Dosinia seems to know more about ruling than she does.

But Lily has to dive in deep to keep her promise to Tellin, her mer bond in name only, whose kingdom is suffering in the changing ocean climate. Lily knows this is a seven seas–sized problem: from sea animals dying to oil spills and threats to humans. They’ll need to create some serious waves to make the mer community aware and get it to join together to make things right. Even if that means facing one of the iciest queens in the mer kingdoms.

Just when Lily thinks her double life on land and sea can’t get any more complicated, an ancient mer law might separate Lily and Quince after all. It feels as if the pair is up against a solid tsunami wave!

In this third installment in the series that began with Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever, Lily will have to find a way to balance safety and justice for the mer people as well as for the humans she loves. (description from Goodreads.com)

Tempest Rising

Tempest Rising
by Tracy Deebs

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her-and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance. (description from Amazon.com)

This was another Fin-Tastic mermaid tale. (I know, I couldn't help myself!) Anyway, I loved how this was a really great blend of the fun and mystery of the ocean and surfing, with the darker dangers of undersea life. Tempest was a really believable character and the fact that she fought to try to keep all of her previous-to-the-change relationships really only made me connect with her more.

This was no case of "Oh. He's so beautiful...my entire life must now revolve around him" love at first sight. Yes, there was instant connection, but Tempest fought to make sure it went deeper than that. She also was really, really devoted to her family, and I loved that. Even as she explored new aspects of her life, she never forgot her younger brothers. So sweet.

I'm really, really hoping that Tracy Deebs plans to follow this up with another book, because though Tempest has made her choice about where her life is going, some pretty big plot points are not cleared up...I must know what happens!!!

2011 Debut Author Challenge Title

In My Mailbox - September 11, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

Gifted:

*A very special shout out to my friend, Miss Kim, for getting me a beautiful hardcover copy of Divergent, one of my new favorite books, for my birthday!!*

For Review:

The Highest Frontier by Joan Slonczewski
*Thanks to Tor Teen*
The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson
*Thanks to SLJ*


Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith
*Thanks to SLJ*


From the Library:

Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs


Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien


On My Nook:

Reality Check by Niki Burnham
Haunting the Night by Mara Purnhagen


Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
*Woot! Loving all the freebies on B&N this week!*

In My Mailbox - July 24, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

For Review:

Priscilla the Great: The Kiss of Life by Sybil Nelson
Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson

On My Nook:

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper

From the Library:

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

FIns Are Forever Release Day!!

Today is the swimmingly happy release day for Tera Lynn Child's second awesome mermaid tale, Fins are Forever!



I loved this book...in fact, you can go back and read my review here. There is nothing better during the summer than a little fin-tastic romance. *sigh*

I was lucky enough to actually meet Tera Lynn Childs in person last night at the Otis Library in Norwich, CT. My friend, Jen, from Yabooknerd, is the Teen Librarian there and she did a wonderful job hosting. (I have more pictures to post later...) For now, I will just say that Tera is as sweet and funny as her books. :)

Fins are Forever

Fins Are Forever
by Tera Lynn Childs
Forgive My Fins, book two

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mer girl, true, but signing the renunciation paperwork will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being human thing once and for all.

Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer-bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form, when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody?

The seafoam on the surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up. Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her dreams? (description taken from Goodreads.com)

I can't tell you how happy I was to dive back into the beautiful world of Thalassinia. This is truly what I've always imagined the world of merpeople to be like...a beautiful castle, a lovely (and yes, at times, dangerous) kingdom full of interesting people with gorgeous fins. Really, didn't you always want to be a mermaid...or, er...merman?

I really enjoyed seeing Lily and Quince's relationship tested in this second book. They work really well together and had just the right amount of passion. I couldn't believe when TLC threw another merman into the mix! Talk about tension. I was really happy to see, though, how Lily managed to find the right balance in her life, politically and romantically. It made for a great ending!!

Speaking of learning to find balance...one of my favorite characters in this book was Lily's cousin, Doe. Her character had great depth here as she learned to accept humans as well as merfolk and finds her own true love. Her situation really helped Lily to cope with her own. What a great addition to the story!

One of my favorite series to recommend as we get closer to summer! Tera Lynn Childs manages to bring the ocean alive in the best possible way and just makes me want to start wading in to find my own merman. *sigh*

Full disclosure: ARC sent by author/publisher for review
2011 Shifter Reading Challenge Title

In My Mailbox - February 27, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

On My Nook:


Eye Candy by Tera Lynn Childs
Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce

From The Library:


By These Ten Bones by Clare Dunkle
Ominous by Kate Brian


Pandora Gets Angry by Carolyn Hennessy
Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

For Review:


Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray
Forgotten by Cat Patrick


Huntress by Malinda Lo
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

*Thank you to Little Brown and SLJ for sending these ARCs after the SLJ Spring Book Buzz Webcast!!!*

Fins are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs

*Thank you, Tera, for sending this copy!!*

The Mermaid's Mirror

The Mermaid's Mirror
by L.K. Madigan

Lena has lived her whole life near the beach – walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves – the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching.

As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf.

But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport.

Yet something lures Lena to the water … an ancient, powerful magic. One morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman – with a silvery tail.

Nothing will keep Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.

And soon … what she sees in the mermaid’s mirror will change her life …
(description from Amazon.com)

This was an extremely well written and enjoyable fantasy book. Lena is a truly believable teen...keeping secrets from her parents, trying to please everyone to the best of her ability, loving her younger brother... I was really happy to also see that each of Lena's parents, her father, her mother, and her stepmother, were loving, supportive well-rounded characters.

When Lena learns of the merfolk, she travels to their world. L.K. Madigan does a lovely job describing their village. It's tangible and believable. The merfolk have interesting day to day lives and customs. Each merperson that Lena meets is just as well thought out and presented as her human friends.

*I do have to say that though, I really, really enjoyed this book and felt the merfolk were really well-done, they felt a little..."darker"...than I prefer. Not that it detracted from the plot of the story, at all! I just like to imagine merfolk as slightly more magical.

I do not want to spoil the ending at all, but I will say that it was realistic and touching and totally fit the tone of the book. I really enjoyed this one.

Anxiously Awaiting...

Fins Are Forever
by Tera Lynn Childs

Coming June 28, 2011!!
I loved Forgive My Fins and can't wait to read the sequel.

Forgive my Fins

Forgive my Fins

by Tera Lynn Childs

Lily is a mermaid - a Thalassinian princess who recently discovered she's half human - and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its drawbacks, like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince, but it has one major perk: Brody, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. The problem is, mermaids aren't really casual daters - when they "bond," it's for life. So when an attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-size case of mistaken identity, Lily is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails as smoothly as you planned.

Loved it! Lily is a quirky, lovable teen. Awkward with out her "sealegs," Lily just cannot seem to get things right in the guy department! When the unthinkable happens (and I won't go into detail as I don't want to spoil this before it comes out), Lily must learn to get along with her previous nemesis, Quince. Full of conflicting emotions that are heartfelt, warm, and touching, this breezy tale enthralls and entertains! A great would be beach read. I love the descriptions of Thalassinia, too. With a killer cliff hanger in the epilogue, I cannot wait to read book 2!

Full disclosure: ARC received from publisher via TLC (Thanks!!!)

On sale date: 6/1/2010