August Wrap Up 2016

   August was certainly as busy as July was, and I definitely got as much reading done, maybe more. Starting with a bunch of books that I had to get done for publishers. 

   Like last month, my family went camping again. This time to a closer location, maybe 15 minutes away from my home. Because of the campsite being so close, we ended up having a ton of visitors. They ranged from visits from family, to friends, to many squirrels that decided to taunt and mess with my dog. Then there was my new hammock that I got to finally try out, unfortunately everyone else had the same idea too..

   After camping, for a brief moment of actually being my home after a week of camping, I was able to celebrate my best friends birthday with her! We spent the evening hanging out with her boyfriend, and another friend of ours, then going out to eat. Overall I had an amazing time, and I couldn't have been happier that my bestie wanted to spend her birthday with me. 

   Then exactly the next morning my family went on a quick weekend trip to the US, Fargo, North Dakota to be exact. Sometimes we enjoy heading down there for a weekend of shopping, and oh boy did we shop. My bank account is weeping still, and it's been a couple of weeks already. oops. I did get tons of amazing shoes, purses and clothes though.....

   Probably the best thing about that trip was that I finally got to use my Cold Stone Creamery gift card that Steph had gotten me for my birthday last year. We don't have CSC in Canada, so we had to celebrate the occasion with a ridiculous picture after waiting so long to try it.

   Besides that, I've worked the rest of the time or I've spent my time driving my sisters around for summer camps or work as well. Not the best way to spend the last few days of my Summer Break but whatever.

   With University starting shortly, I've had to say goodbye to a few of my friends who went out of province for school. I'm excited for them to go to school out there, but I'm sure as heck going to miss them. 

   And that sums up my August, with me going to University for the first time I'm not sure what you guys should expect for September. I already have a ton of things scheduled and ready to go, but I guess we'll have to see where things take me from there.

   Until next month!

   Now for the monthly stats:

Books Read:

Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes

Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun

Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova

Day Zero by Kresley Cole

Arcana Rising by Kresley Cole
A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

Book Haul:

The Swan Riders by Erin Bow (ARC)
Sisters of Salt and Iron by Kady Cross (Hardcover)
Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Paperback)
Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid (German Edition Hardcover)
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon (Hardcover)
Trono de cristal by Sarah J Maas (Spanish Edition)
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes (ARC)
Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder (Paperback)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Hardcover)
The Turning by Jennifer Armintrout (Paperback)
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole (Paperback)
Recreated by Colleen Houck (Hardcover)
P.S. I Like You by Kasie West (Hardover)

   A HUGE thank you to Simon and Schuster, Adi Alsaid, my best friend and my sister for 

most of the books I received from this month!

Books Reviewed:

Wax by Gina Damico

How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

The Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore

The Witch Hunter Series by Virginia Boecker

Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun

Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes

Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge

Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout 
Day Zero by Kresley Cole

September Releases I'm Excited For:

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas (6th)

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova (6th)

The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron (13th)

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess (20th)

The Swan Riders by Erin Bow (20th)

Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige (20th)

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (20th)

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (20th)

Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis (20th)

Like A River Glorious by Rae Carson (27th)

   That's August! I'm super excited to see what's to come, but I'm also super nervous at the same time. Anyone else starting University for the first time this fall? Tell me about some of your new experiences, I'd love to hear them!

Book Review: The Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Release Date: August 3rd, 2010

Read: 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins

Series: The Lorien Legacies, #1

Format: Hardcover, 440 pages

Source: Gift

Description from GoodReads:

   Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books--but we are real.

   Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.

   But they know.

   They caught Number One in Malaysia.

   Number Two in England.

   And Number Three in Kenya.

   They killed them all.

   I am Number Four.

   I am next.

United As One by Pittacus Lore

Release Date: June 28th, 2016

Read: July 12th-15th, 2016

Publisher: HarperCollins

Series: Lorien Legacies, #7

Format: Hardcover, 449 pages

Source: Bought

Description from GoodReads:

   The Mogadorians have invaded Earth. Their warships loom over our most populated cities, and no country will risk taking them head on. The Garde are all that stand in the way, but they’ll need an army of their own to win this fight.

   They’ve teamed up with the US military, but it might not be enough. The Garde need reinforcements, and they’ve found them in the most unexpected place. Teenagers from across the globe, like John Smith’s best friend, Sam, have developed abilities. So John and the others must get to them before the Mogs, because if they don’t their enemies will use these gifted teens for their own sinister plan.

   But after all the Mogadorians have taken from John—his home, his family, his friends, and the person he loves most—he might not want to put any more lives in danger. He’s got nothing left to lose, and he’s just discovered he has been given an incredible new Legacy. Now he can turn himself into the ultimate weapon. So will he risk his life to save the world, or will he realize that power in numbers will save us all?

Review:

Contains Spoilers:

   We're coming.
   I read the first book in the Lorien Legacies series way back in 2011, when they had first announced the I Am Number Four movie. I had asked for it for my birthday, and luckily I had gotten it. I fell in love instantly, and demanded the sequel, having only to wait a few months and an addiction to the series was born.
   Being a series of 7 books, with a new one releasing each year, I felt like I grew alongside the characters. From starting off with Number Four/John to meeting all the others, like Six, Eight, Seven and even our little surprise of meeting Ella/Ten. You couldn't not have a favourite that you'd be rooting for surviving, or becoming super bad ass! I'm going to miss them now that I'm done with them.
   I really enjoyed how planned out the whole story was, with everything leading up to the final battle.  But with large build ups, you're always going to expect something different they what you got or you're to be let down in some way. With United as One I'm happy to say that I was satisfied with the ending we received, of course there were a few things that I wish were different but overall I enjoyed it.
   The Lorien Legacies is one of my favourite series, and no matter what I say about them, my words won't do the series justice. With Pittacus Lore being a pseudonym for both James Frey and Jobie Hughes , I do hope they come together to write something else in the future!
   

Overall Rating:

Favourite Quotes:

"It's the little mistakes that lead to big mistakes." - I Am Number Four

"The only limits for tomorrow are the doubts we have today." - The Power of Six

"Only by leaving someone good can you meet someone better." - The Rise of Nine

"There's no set futures, only the one we make." - The Fall of Five

"People tend to change when they find out aliens are real." - The Revenge of Seven

"I still don't have all the answers, but I'm no longer afraid to confront the questions."- The Fate of Ten

"It's not an easy thing, deciding how much to sacrifice." - United As One

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Aliens, Invasions, Superpowers, Survival 

July Wrap Up 2016

   July was busy, busy, busy. There was never a dull moment. Starting with celebrating Canada Day with friends, then our annual schools over clean up, (We do a huge clean up of our house), celebrating my sisters birthday, working, wisdom teeth removal, camping, like I said, it was jam packed. 

   The two things that took up most of my time were my surgery and my camping trip. With school being done, I finally got my wisdom teeth removed and was able to stay at home for a good amount of days. My friends were fabulous, a few of my close friends came and visited me on multiple days bringing ice cream, popsicles, and season 4 and 5 of Game of Thrones. It was a good couple of days, if you didn't count the constant pain in my jaw, and not being able to eat solid foods. 

   For camping, my family and I went to a somewhat close campground with family friends of ours. We were gone a week, and I pretty much got all my reading done within that week.  When I wasn't reading, we watched horror movies, and went fishing. Then there was the couple times we walked through a clay path and became walking grey beings, and jumped off a cliff into the lake. 

   Then finally, the last week of the month was jam packed with trying to kick my sister out of the house so that we could plan her Harry Potter Surprise Party. Which took place yesterday, we had her party in the morning then headed out to the official Harry Potter Party that was being hosted by McNally Robinson in honour of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child's release! We had Mandrake Cupcakes, a Wanted Wizard Photo Booth, and we tie dyed a Hogwarts House Crest Shirt with our house colours! It was great, and boy was my sister surprised. 

   Overall, it was phenomenal day and I think my sister was over the moon happy. And that was my month! August will be almost as packed, but either way I'm super excited!

Harry Potter Party

   Now for this months stats!  

Books Read:

The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
Burning by Danielle Rollins
United As One by Pittacus Lore
How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Manther
The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker 
Wax by Gina Damico

Book Haul:

The Hunt by Megan Shepherd (ARC)
Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge (ARC)
As I Descended by Robin Talley (ARC)
In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken (Paperback)
United As One by Pittacus Lore (Hardcover)
Ice Kised by Amanda Hocking (Paperback)

A huge thank you to McNally Robinson and their Two Thumbs Up program, and Vivien from @deadtossedwaves for trading me The Hunt on #BooksForTrade!

Books Reviewed:

And I Darken by Kiersten White
The Crown by Kiera Cass
The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead
Burning by Danielle Rollins

August Books I'm Excited For:

Day Zero by Kresley Cole (1st)
The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson (2nd)
Recreated by Colleen Houck (2nd)
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff (9th)
Arcana Rising by Kresley Cole (15th)
Vicarious by Paula Stokes (16th)
The Flame that Never Dies by Rachel Vincent (16th)
The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee (30th)
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir (30th)

   That's it for July! I got a quite a bit of reading done if I say so myself! Hopefully August will be the same way!

Top 10 Books I'm Looking Forward to in the First Half of 2016

   As always, I have huge list of books that I'm looking forward to this year. Unfortunately only half of there covers have been released, so in order to show off all their beauty I've decided to only show you my favourite books from the first half of 2016. So here they are! 

   

   Those are them! Are you excited for any of these? No? What books are your excited for in 2016? Let me know! I'd love to add them to my TBR pile! 

Ohana Talks: Books Read in 2015 but Didn't Get Review.

   Throughout most of the year you see and hear about the books that I've read and reviewed, but you never hear about the book I read and didn't review. So for today, I wanted to highlight some of the other fabulous books that just never got a review! And I must say, there are a lot of them.

The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore 4/5 

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill 4/5

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder 5/5

Shutter by Courtney Alameda 4/5

The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead 5/5

Macbeth by William Shakespeare 3/5

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare 5/5

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 2/5

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 3/5

Alienated by Melissa Landers 4/5 

Captive by Aimee Carter 3/5

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake 2/5

Sister's Fate by Jessica Spotswood 3/5

Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre  3/5

Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little  4/5

The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine 3/5

Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong 4/5

The Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore 5/5

The Jewel by Amy Ewing 5/5

The White Rose by Amy Ewing 4/5

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin 2/5

   What about the rest of you bloggers or reviewers? Were there any books that you read but didn't review? How long is your list? I'd love to know!

Ohana Talks: Naked Hardcovers

   I love hardcovers, at times they can be my book weakness. When are they my weakness? When their covers are gorgeous. The picture above is just a few examples of the ones I own. Aren't they gorgeous?

   Today I wanted to show you some of my favourite naked hardcovers. I know that people don't normally know what the undercover looks like unless you own them, so these are just a few of my favourites that I have seen so far!

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano 

(Original Hardcover)

The Internment Chronicles, #1

Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter

White Rabbit Chronicles, #2

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Bloodlines, #1

Compulsion by Martina Boone

The Heirs of Watson Island, #1

Reawakened by Colleen Houck

Reawakened, #1

The Diviners by Libba Bray

(Original Hardcover)

The Diviners, #1

Talon by Julie Kagawa

Talon, #1

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

The Lorien Legacies, #2

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Cycle, #1

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3

   There is one other that I adore but have no picture of and do not own, and that's All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. If you ever stumble upon a copy of it in a bookstore, make sure to check it out.


   I think my favourite thing about hardcovers is that you only get them for the first year of publication, then the paperback releases and the hardcovers become impossible to find. I guess it just makes them unique to me because the people who find the series after don't get to experience the beauty. Don't get me wrong, I do hate that the hardcovers are impossible to find after the first year. I just enjoy it too.

   What are some of your favourite naked hardcovers? What do you like most about them? The covers? Or their spines?

Ohana Talks: Top 5 Favourite Love Triangles

   Love them or hate them, everyone has read a book with a love triangle in it. Whether it was the famous trio in Twilight or if it was some other. 

   Over the past years I've grown to love a select few of triangles, and I can say for a few of them I wouldn't be where I am today without them! So today I'm going to be telling you them! Here are my top 5 favourite love triangles!

Warning: Post will contain spoilers varying on the book series.

Four, Sarah & Six

   When I first read I Am Number Four, I loved Four and Sarah together. He risked everything to be with her, but when Four and Sam go back to Paradise and "Sarah" turns them in to the Mogadorians I kind of lost it. I know we realize later that it wasn't actually Sarah, but it kind of stuck with me. Plus with Six being so bad ass, how could one not ship them.

Evie, Death & Jack

   I was always iffy with Jack, so when Death came along I automatically fell in love. I've still only read the first two books, but with still 2 more books to go, I can't wait to see where Kresley Cole takes us!

America, Aspen & Maxon

   What can I say, I'm still Team Aspen even after The Heir.

Kelsey, Kishan & Ren

   I have so many tears for this series, I think this was the only series that I was constantly back and fourth between the guys. I still don't even think I have a team, I miss Kishan but with the ending we got, I can't say I don't love Ren. *SIGH* 

Tessa, Jem & Will

   I SHIP IT ALL, ALL OF THEM. I NEED MORE OF THEM I TELL YOU, MORE.

   aha, well those are my Top 5 Love Triangles! Who are your favourites? Let me know, I'm always looking for more ships.