Search This Blog







2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2026 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (2)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (8)
- Colorado (2)
- Connecticut (1)
- Delaware
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (2)
- Indiana (2)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (2)
- Maine (4)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (5)
- North Carolina (2)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (4)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (3)
- Utah (1)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (2)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (3)
- Wyoming(1)
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (7)
- Austria (1)
- Canada (3)
- England (24)
- Fiji (1)
- France (1)
- Ireland (3)
- Italy (2)
- Mexico (1)
- Morocco (1)
- New Zealand (1)
- Norway (1)
- Scotland (2)
- The Bahamas (1)
- Vatican City (1)





2026 Build Your Library Reading Challenge








Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo



2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge





Wednesday, March 18, 2015
YA Military School Novel A Fast-Paced, Girl-Power Thrill Ride
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Sam McKenna's never been able to back down from a dare. Especially when it comes from her older brother, Amos. In the wake of his suicide, 17-year-old McKenna is more determined than ever to fulfill the last challenge Amos ever flung at her. Even if it's a crazy one. And trying to get into the prestigious, boys-only Denmark Military Academy is insane—especially when you're a girl. Still, Sam manages to break the barrier and become one of the school's first female cadets. That's when the real nightmare begins.
No one wants Sam to survive her first year at DMA. Not even her brother, Jonathon, who's a cadet colonel at the school. That becomes clear almost as soon as she steps onto campus. Not only is she forced to work harder than her male counterparts, but she's mocked and abused at every turn. Although she finds allies in surprising places, she soon begins to suspect that an archaic secret society is still at work on DMA's campus—and it wants her gone.
As Sam works to expose the school's dark side, she struggles to fit in, to outlast her tormentors, and to help the two other female cadets stay strong in the face of brutal intimidation tactics. Then, there's her strong, but embarrassing attraction to her drill sergeant. The longer Sam stays at DMA, the more dangerous her situation becomes. Can Sam survive her brother's dare? Does she even want to? Is it really worth it, when the society is so obviously out for her blood? Sam has never known when to quit. This time, her stubbornness could cost her her life ...
While the premise behind Rites of Passage, a debut novel by Joy N. Hensley, isn't very original, it still makes for an intense, action-packed read. With Hensley's insider's view of military academy life, the details of Sam's experience ring with authenticity. Sam, herself, is empathetic and admirable—an easy character with which to side. I definitely cared about what was happening to her. The thing that bugged me about her story, though, is that it's all about a tough, kick-A heroine who can take care of herself—and yet, Sam repeatedly gets rescued by all the guys around her. Solving all of these problems on her own, with only minimal help, would have made her a more inspiring character. All in all, though, I enjoyed Rites of Passage. It's fast-paced and compelling, a solid debut that makes me curious to see what the author will do next.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder invectives), violence, and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Rites of Passage from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Top Ten Tuesday: My Spring-Has-Sprung TBR List
9:36 AM
I've been so busy trying to catch up on reviews of books I read LAST year plus keeping up with those I'm scheduled to review THIS year that I haven't done Top Ten Tuesday in awhile. I miss it! This week's topic looks fun and easy, so I'm joining in. You should, too. All you have to do is click on over to The Broke and the Bookish, follow the directions, and you're in. Easy cheesy.
Without further ado, here are the Top Ten Books on My Spring TBR List (ten I'm really looking forward to reading, anyway):
1. Silence by Deborah Lytton—I'm hoping to get to this one really, really soon as I was supposed to have reviewed it a few days back. It's about a girl with a golden voice whose greatest dream is to sing on Broadway. Then, a tragic accident renders her deaf. Sounds compelling, no?
2. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng—After a long wait, I've finally got this family drama/murder mystery out from the library. I'm excited to see if it lives up to all the hype.
3. Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez—I'm intrigued by this YA novel about a girl trying to shed her old identity in a new country, only to have someone from her past show up to complicate things.
4. Descent by Tim Johnston—I'm on the waiting list at the library for this one, which looks fantastic. It's about a family vacationing in the Rocky Mountains when one of their children goes missing.
5. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty—I loved Big Little Lies and I've heard that Moriarty's other books are even better. Can't wait to read this one.
6. On Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee—This dystopian sounds different, therefore I must check it out!
7. The Hollow Ground by Natalie S. Harnett—I'm actually in the middle of this family drama/murder mystery set in Pennsylvania's coal mining country. It's about a girl who finds a body in an abandoned monkey hole, a find that uncovers family secrets long buried. So far, it's excellent.
8. Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen—I've only read a couple of Dessen's books. This one looks like a bit of a departure for her, so I'm interested to see what it's all about.
9. Dead Wake by Erik Larson—I don't read a lot of non-fiction (a problem I need to remedy), but this book about the Lusitania sounds fascinating.
10. Chestnut Street by Maeve Binchy—Several of my favorite authors, including Binchy, have died in the last few years, which makes me super sad. I love Binchy's novels about everyday families in Ireland. At the time of her death, she was working on a collection of stories about people living on an ordinary Dublin street. Although I'm not big on short stories, I'll read anything by Binchy.
So, there you have it. Kind of an eclectic list, but all ten are books I'm excited about. Hopefully, I'll get to them this Spring. How about you? What's on your list?
Happy St. Patrick's Day! And, as always, happy reading :)
Monday, March 16, 2015
Overambitious Far From You Not All That Enjoyable
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Sophie Winters has a knack for survival. Three years ago, she almost lost her life in a car accident. She walked away with her life, as well as a permanent limp and an addiction to OxyContin. Now a recovering addict, the 17-year-old has just experienced another terrifying brush with death. Although she survived being held up by a masked man with a gun, her best friend, Mina Bishop, did not. Since the incident is believed to be drug related, Sophie is being blamed. No one believes she's kicked her drug addiction. No one believes she's not responsible for Mina's death.
The only way to convince people she's innocent is for Sophie to figure out who really killed Mina. In the meantime, she must wrangle with her feelings of grief, of guilt, and of moving forward without her best friend by her side.
Far From You, a debut novel by Tess Sharpe, is many things. Too many things, really. It's a murder mystery, a romance, an issue novel, and an addiction/recovery story. The problem is that there's a little too much going on. I, for instance, would have liked a stronger focus on the mystery instead of Sophie's weird, obsessive romance. Sophie's harsh, self-absorbed personality also made it difficult for me to care too much for her in general. So, while the conflicts in the story kept me reading, I can't say I enjoyed Far From You all that much. The characters didn't appeal to me, the plot seemed too ambitious, the big reveal too abrupt, and overall, the novel depressed me. So, yeah.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, depictions of underage drinking/prescription drug abuse, violence, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Far From You from the generous folks at Disney/Hyperion via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Saturday, March 14, 2015
What's It Like to Be An LDS Missionary? New Picture Book Gives Kids an Inside Look.
1:00 AM
(Image from author's website)
Do you ever wonder what it's really like to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?
When David and Megan receive letters from their Uncle Clay, they get a little taste of what an LDS mission is all about. They learn how elders and sisters teach people the Gospel, serve others, bear their testimonies, and invite everyone to come unto Christ. They also hear about more mundane parts of the missionary experience, like learning to eat unfamiliar foods, living with a companion, dealing with rejection, and exercising to keep their bodies strong. Most importantly, Uncle Clay assures them they don't have to wait until they're older to be missionaries—there are things they can do right now, as kids, to prepare themselves to serve the Lord. After all, you don't have to wear a name tag to help and teach other people!
I don't review many picture books, but when Benjamin Hyrum White asked "Sister BBB" to take a look at his newest, I couldn't resist. I Hope They Call Me on a Mission, written by White and illustrated by Corey Egbert, is an uplifting, informative tale about what LDS missionaries do day in and day out. It gives a great overview, with bright, appealing pictures to enhance the text. I especially like the "What Can You Do Now?" sections, which help kids understand that they can do many things right now to not only help them serve missions in the future, but also to live Christ-centered lives in the present.
While I Hope They Call Me on a Mission may be difficult for young children to read by themselves, it's a great tool for parents/teachers to use for Family Home Evenings, Primary lessons, and Sacrament Meeting entertainment. Middle graders will enjoy absorbing all the information in the book as well. Personally, I plan on sharing it with my own offspring in an upcoming FHE. You should, too.
Want more opinions of I Hope They Call Me on a Mission? Follow the book's blog tour here.
Want more opinions of I Hope They Call Me on a Mission? Follow the book's blog tour here.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of I Hope They Call Me on a Mission from the generous folks at Cedar Fort. Thank you!
Subscribe to:
Posts
(Atom)

Readin'
Liberty Street by Heather Marshall
Listenin'
The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
The Wild Season1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
20+ Kids Breakfast Ideas1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sheer by Vanessa Lawrence2 days ago
-
Fruit Fly by Josh Silver2 days ago
-
Frankel, Laurie "Family Family"2 days ago
-
-
The Tailor by Tim Sullivan2 days ago
-
-
-
Chase Me If You Can3 days ago
-
Week in Review #375 days ago
-
Books read in August5 days ago
-
-
-
-
Seasonal TBR: Fall1 week ago
-
-
Sparked My Interest: August 20263 weeks ago
-
-
-
Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney7 months ago
-
-
Sunday Post #5681 year ago
-
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus2 years ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?2 years ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra3 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?3 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction
2020 - Middle Grade Fiction









