Helpful Score: 1
Summary:
Mackenna and Veronica are off to Scotland for the summer. While the two investigate the Scottish countryside, they come across a letter from Mackenna's aunt. After following the instructions in the letter, the two girls are transported to a fairy tale world called Doon. There is a charming prince that falls madly in love with Mackenna and a strangely familiar boy for Veronica. It seems that all of their dreams have come true. Is the love of these young men worth trading their lives for or is this just a pretty cover for a very dark nightmare? As with all fairy tales, this one includes romance, good versus evil, and heroines that don't need a man to save them.
My thoughts:
This is such a precious story. I have been enjoying the resurfacing of a good, young adult fairy tales. This has all of the elements of a classic with enough modern elements to make it a fresh, intriguing read. The story goes back and forth between Mackenna and Veronica's points of view, which is different. The two are so close that they are almost sisters, so sometimes I feel like their points of view are too similar. On the other hand, Veronica is definitely closer to who I am (nerdy book girl), so I tended to enjoy her words a little bit more. I was rooting for the girls to find happily ever after with their sweet princes, but also encouraging the girls to find themselves and enjoy their friendship. I liked how this story focused on the girls being able to save themselves instead of constantly relying on a prince to rescue them. It's good for a modern fairy tale. I'm looking forward to the continuation of Mackenna's story in the future. Hopefully Corp won't keep us waiting for too long.
Mackenna and Veronica are off to Scotland for the summer. While the two investigate the Scottish countryside, they come across a letter from Mackenna's aunt. After following the instructions in the letter, the two girls are transported to a fairy tale world called Doon. There is a charming prince that falls madly in love with Mackenna and a strangely familiar boy for Veronica. It seems that all of their dreams have come true. Is the love of these young men worth trading their lives for or is this just a pretty cover for a very dark nightmare? As with all fairy tales, this one includes romance, good versus evil, and heroines that don't need a man to save them.
My thoughts:
This is such a precious story. I have been enjoying the resurfacing of a good, young adult fairy tales. This has all of the elements of a classic with enough modern elements to make it a fresh, intriguing read. The story goes back and forth between Mackenna and Veronica's points of view, which is different. The two are so close that they are almost sisters, so sometimes I feel like their points of view are too similar. On the other hand, Veronica is definitely closer to who I am (nerdy book girl), so I tended to enjoy her words a little bit more. I was rooting for the girls to find happily ever after with their sweet princes, but also encouraging the girls to find themselves and enjoy their friendship. I liked how this story focused on the girls being able to save themselves instead of constantly relying on a prince to rescue them. It's good for a modern fairy tale. I'm looking forward to the continuation of Mackenna's story in the future. Hopefully Corp won't keep us waiting for too long.
AGE WARNING! Please do not read if you're under 17 because of the sexual & language parts!
About this book:
"Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months.
But the Scottish countryside holds other plans.
Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna's great aunt--and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica's daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they've longed for...or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare."
Series: Book #1 in the "Doon" series {"DOON is loosely based on the premise of the musical Brigadoon, with permission from the ALan Jay Lerner Estate and the Frederick Loewe Foundation." From the back cover.}
Spiritual Content- The sign of a cross is done; Vee does yoga; Kenna calls a place a "h*llhole" and a day "h*llish"; Vee says a book is "Bible-sized"; a "divine Protector", "the Protector" and the "Protector's will" are mention a few times; Chapel going (MacKenna says "determined not to let my intimidation get the best of me. My folks had never been churchgoers, so the whole worship concept--from the unnatural dressy clothes to the organized rites that everyone seemed to perform by osmosis--felt foreign and forced." Kenna also says that "The preacher was a natural storyteller. Despite myself, I learned forward and hung on his every word."); Vee says she "always believed in the existence of God. It'd just been too painful to go back to the place where I'd sat sheltered between both my parents."; Kenna wonders if rain is the tears of God (she'd heard someone say that once); "Thank the good Lord!" is exclaimed once; Vee asks god to show her the way then thinks "What made me think the Protector of Doon would hear me, the girl who'd started all this trouble in the first place?"; Kenna prays to "Duncan and Fiona's Protector to work a miracle"; A hymn is sung (it is written as well); Vee calls a girl "a mini Italian goddess";
Negative Content- Minor (& Major) cussing including: a witch', a shrew', five forms of crap', a what the heck', a shoot', five unfinished what the--?s", 12 stupid's, four forms of freaking', five forms of idiot', a give a fig', two forms of screw', three heck's, four hag', four slag's, a crud', four jerks', one form of shoddy', three forms of darn', a "be d*mned!", (Another "d*mned" is when Kenna says "I was a d*mned good actress"); a "what the devil"; "had a lot of sucking up to do"; curses & profanities are said but not written; Vee calls something cursed' twice; Jamie yells out "Bloody H*ll!"; Kenna asks "What the h*ll is going on?" and Jamie says "H*ll is right."; Vee calls out "Mother cusser!" when she hurts herself; Many, many, many talks of witches, evil, magic & curses (a showdown with a witch); Ale, champagne, beer & wine is drunk (Vee drinks some ale and it's semi-detailed; people are drunk or almost drunk); Blood & fighting (semi); Meth & "like a drug" are Mentioned; Sarcasm; Vee shows Kenna a symbol and Kenna says "It's pretty, but I wouldn't get it tattooed on my lower back or anything."; A witch has serpents (detailed; Kenna calls them "h*ll worms"); Kenna tells a witch that "one day you will rot in h*ll, you shriveled old troll"; "a h*llish shriek rent the air" is said once; A scene like the Mother Gothel one in "Tangled" (detailed);
*Note: H*rry Potter is mentioned a few times and Edw*rd Cullen ("Tw*light") & werewolves are also mentioned.*
Sexual Content- two s*xy', two yummy's, four wench's and 12 forms of hot'; guys get called "gorgeous" eight times; a few not-detailed kisses, a semi-detailed kiss and five detailed kisses (on one, a shirt gets partially unbuttoned; another an earlobe gets nipped); Eyes wander & stare; Many, many, many, Touches and Dancing & the emotions of the touches (semi-detailed and detailed); Mentions of wanting to snogg someone; many almost kisses, talks about kissing, many wants to be kissed and wondering if a guy's lips were as soft as she imagine; In the opening chapter Vee says that Stephanie "stalked anything with an XY chromosome" and Eric & Steph flirt, Eric "brushing the bare skin of her thigh. A move he'd used on me, more times than I could count"; In a chapter, Bob the Slob (Vee's mother's (Janet's) boyfriend) "Bob's eyes flowed over my skin-tight leotard and sheer wrap skirt with obvious interest." He also notices how she's grow up & whistles and Veronica calls him a "perv"; When Kenna says her dad was acting weird at the airport & saying that he knows she'll make the right decision, Vee asked if he was trying to have the s*x talk with her, to which Kenna replied "No. It's a little late for that." And Vee asks about one guy and Kenna says no, but that it could happen with a director because they "totally shared a moment" (Vee calls him a "pedophile"); When taking them to his room Duncan says "Relax woman, it's not as if I'm asking ye to share my bed" (he stays across the hall); Kenna says that Eric will "most likely end up impregnating Steph"; Kenna says it "was like stepping into a medieval Calv*n Kle*n ad--only with more clothing. And when both of them smiled, I felt a resulting swoon deep in my girly parts"; Vee says her first boyfriend (7th grade) "forced his tongue into my mouth, which I accidentally bit because I didn't know what he was doing, and then he dumped me the following week."; When talking about dreams that you don't know where they came from, Kenna says "like the time I dreamt I was in Greg-the-stage-tech's bed, naked?"; When Duncan asks if Kenna is comfy on the picnic blanket, she says "I guess. I'd fell better if I were wearing pants." Duncan then looks "as if he'd swallowed a nest of bees. You're--not--wearin'--any pants?'" to which Kenna replies "No, I'm not. I'm wearing this skirty thingy." And he asks "what about underneath?" Kenna squeak and tells him that's none of his business (she thinks "What a perv! Did he really just march me all the way up here in the hopes of getting lucky?"; it's cleaned up that she should have said "trousers".); Kenna talks about kissing "I'd had my share of lip locks and tongue tangles, both or stage and off, though none had come even close to Finn. Made up or not, it was hands done the best kiss I'd ever had." (Finn is imaginary); Jamie walk in with no shirt on and Vee thinks: "Oh no. His broad shoulders and perfect sculpted torso would've put the models on the giant Abercrombie and F*tch posters to shame. He was all bronze skin and smooth muscle." She comments again in her mind "Rubbing his open hands against his eight-pack abs, his eyes crinkled against the sun and a languid grin spread across his face. He'd never been hotter--correction, I'd never seen anyone look hotter." Vee is in a bed with only a top that reaches her knees and shows him one leg (accidentally at first) and when he notices she thinks "Something about the situation made me feel giddy--and a little powerful." It continues "Without taking my eyes off him, I experimentally removed the blanket covering my right leg and watched in satisfaction as his eyes widened. Slowly, I stood, allowing the shirt to fall into place just above my knees. Jamie cleared his throat but his eyes stayed locked in the downward position. Knowing I was playing with fire but unable to resist, I lifted my arms above my head with a great yawn. As I stretched onto my toes, the hem of the shirt rose to the top of my thighs." And then "Fluidly, I lowered my arms and brought my feet to rest flat on the floor. The Knowledge that I could beat him at his own game filled me with wicked satisfaction. Then I caught his eye and the forceful heat of his stare hit me like a wave, almost knocking me back into the sofa. With great deliberation, he moved in my direction. And I knew I was over my head." {REALLY!?!? This part upsets me so much!} She says, I'm sorry, he says I'm sorry and says "For future reference, lass, dangling bait in front of a hungry shark is a bad idea." And then throws her a pair of pants and says "I think ye better put these on. Before I do somethin' verra un-princelike." (She sprints from the room); Vee tells Jamie "Oh, don't be a perv!" and (playfully) smacks his arm (noticing his biceps in the process), he then asks "What is a perv?" and she glances at him "You know, a pervert...a sexually depraved lunatic" and he asks "You think I'm some kind o' crazy s*x fiend?" and she replies "If the shoe fits..." and he goes "Well, what would that make you then, little miss dance-around-the-room-wi'-no-trousers-on? Hmm?" Vee thinks "There was no way he could know I did that on purpose--could he? I didn't--you don't think I--" she says that she did not dance(!) and he replies "A pity, that."; Kenna & Duncan slept together, him on the floor and her in the bed ("Pretty much. I mean, he slept. I just lay near him and swooned all night."); Lots and lots of romance, love, falling in love and the emotions.
Body comments including: Kenna & Vee notice each other's body (curvy, petite, etc.); Kenna says she was/is "an ex-Goth, theater-geek Amazon voted most likely to have ketchup on my boobs"; When talking to Vee, Kenna says "I'd give my left boob for your metabolism" and Vee comes back with "Well, I'd give my right butt cheek for one of your knockers" and they both agree that they both would look funny after that exchange; a "did some prince ditch your skanky butt for a nice girl?".
-Veronica "Vee" Welling
-MacKenna "Kenna" Reid
P.O.V. switches between them.
288 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star
My personal Rating- One Star
Where to start, where to start. Okay, first? UGH! Second: I read chapters 1-25 then went to #37 to the end because I was sick of the sexual parts and wanted to make this book end. And then I went back and read chapters 26-36 to give y'all a "fair" review. If you ever doubted that I love doing book reviews of y'all this better have cleared that up. Honestly, though! The witches & magic (especially towards the end) were so annoying! A Scripture I find absolutely perfect for this book comes from 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." And in Micah 5:12 The Lord declares, "I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells." And There's many other Scriptures that talk about those who mess with sorcery and that angers The Lord. Nuff said. And the language! Oh my goodness! Really Zondervan/Blink?! I cannot believe the cussing! I am so disappointed with this book, the authors and publisher!
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*{{'Books for Christian Girls' reviews all genres of Christian books, writing down all the Spiritual, Negative & Sexual content and does ratings for girls ages 9-19.
Keep in mind, when reading a BFCG review, ignore the things that don't bother you, but take notice of the things that do.}}
About this book:
"Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months.
But the Scottish countryside holds other plans.
Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna's great aunt--and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica's daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they've longed for...or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare."
Series: Book #1 in the "Doon" series {"DOON is loosely based on the premise of the musical Brigadoon, with permission from the ALan Jay Lerner Estate and the Frederick Loewe Foundation." From the back cover.}
Spiritual Content- The sign of a cross is done; Vee does yoga; Kenna calls a place a "h*llhole" and a day "h*llish"; Vee says a book is "Bible-sized"; a "divine Protector", "the Protector" and the "Protector's will" are mention a few times; Chapel going (MacKenna says "determined not to let my intimidation get the best of me. My folks had never been churchgoers, so the whole worship concept--from the unnatural dressy clothes to the organized rites that everyone seemed to perform by osmosis--felt foreign and forced." Kenna also says that "The preacher was a natural storyteller. Despite myself, I learned forward and hung on his every word."); Vee says she "always believed in the existence of God. It'd just been too painful to go back to the place where I'd sat sheltered between both my parents."; Kenna wonders if rain is the tears of God (she'd heard someone say that once); "Thank the good Lord!" is exclaimed once; Vee asks god to show her the way then thinks "What made me think the Protector of Doon would hear me, the girl who'd started all this trouble in the first place?"; Kenna prays to "Duncan and Fiona's Protector to work a miracle"; A hymn is sung (it is written as well); Vee calls a girl "a mini Italian goddess";
Negative Content- Minor (& Major) cussing including: a witch', a shrew', five forms of crap', a what the heck', a shoot', five unfinished what the--?s", 12 stupid's, four forms of freaking', five forms of idiot', a give a fig', two forms of screw', three heck's, four hag', four slag's, a crud', four jerks', one form of shoddy', three forms of darn', a "be d*mned!", (Another "d*mned" is when Kenna says "I was a d*mned good actress"); a "what the devil"; "had a lot of sucking up to do"; curses & profanities are said but not written; Vee calls something cursed' twice; Jamie yells out "Bloody H*ll!"; Kenna asks "What the h*ll is going on?" and Jamie says "H*ll is right."; Vee calls out "Mother cusser!" when she hurts herself; Many, many, many talks of witches, evil, magic & curses (a showdown with a witch); Ale, champagne, beer & wine is drunk (Vee drinks some ale and it's semi-detailed; people are drunk or almost drunk); Blood & fighting (semi); Meth & "like a drug" are Mentioned; Sarcasm; Vee shows Kenna a symbol and Kenna says "It's pretty, but I wouldn't get it tattooed on my lower back or anything."; A witch has serpents (detailed; Kenna calls them "h*ll worms"); Kenna tells a witch that "one day you will rot in h*ll, you shriveled old troll"; "a h*llish shriek rent the air" is said once; A scene like the Mother Gothel one in "Tangled" (detailed);
*Note: H*rry Potter is mentioned a few times and Edw*rd Cullen ("Tw*light") & werewolves are also mentioned.*
Sexual Content- two s*xy', two yummy's, four wench's and 12 forms of hot'; guys get called "gorgeous" eight times; a few not-detailed kisses, a semi-detailed kiss and five detailed kisses (on one, a shirt gets partially unbuttoned; another an earlobe gets nipped); Eyes wander & stare; Many, many, many, Touches and Dancing & the emotions of the touches (semi-detailed and detailed); Mentions of wanting to snogg someone; many almost kisses, talks about kissing, many wants to be kissed and wondering if a guy's lips were as soft as she imagine; In the opening chapter Vee says that Stephanie "stalked anything with an XY chromosome" and Eric & Steph flirt, Eric "brushing the bare skin of her thigh. A move he'd used on me, more times than I could count"; In a chapter, Bob the Slob (Vee's mother's (Janet's) boyfriend) "Bob's eyes flowed over my skin-tight leotard and sheer wrap skirt with obvious interest." He also notices how she's grow up & whistles and Veronica calls him a "perv"; When Kenna says her dad was acting weird at the airport & saying that he knows she'll make the right decision, Vee asked if he was trying to have the s*x talk with her, to which Kenna replied "No. It's a little late for that." And Vee asks about one guy and Kenna says no, but that it could happen with a director because they "totally shared a moment" (Vee calls him a "pedophile"); When taking them to his room Duncan says "Relax woman, it's not as if I'm asking ye to share my bed" (he stays across the hall); Kenna says that Eric will "most likely end up impregnating Steph"; Kenna says it "was like stepping into a medieval Calv*n Kle*n ad--only with more clothing. And when both of them smiled, I felt a resulting swoon deep in my girly parts"; Vee says her first boyfriend (7th grade) "forced his tongue into my mouth, which I accidentally bit because I didn't know what he was doing, and then he dumped me the following week."; When talking about dreams that you don't know where they came from, Kenna says "like the time I dreamt I was in Greg-the-stage-tech's bed, naked?"; When Duncan asks if Kenna is comfy on the picnic blanket, she says "I guess. I'd fell better if I were wearing pants." Duncan then looks "as if he'd swallowed a nest of bees. You're--not--wearin'--any pants?'" to which Kenna replies "No, I'm not. I'm wearing this skirty thingy." And he asks "what about underneath?" Kenna squeak and tells him that's none of his business (she thinks "What a perv! Did he really just march me all the way up here in the hopes of getting lucky?"; it's cleaned up that she should have said "trousers".); Kenna talks about kissing "I'd had my share of lip locks and tongue tangles, both or stage and off, though none had come even close to Finn. Made up or not, it was hands done the best kiss I'd ever had." (Finn is imaginary); Jamie walk in with no shirt on and Vee thinks: "Oh no. His broad shoulders and perfect sculpted torso would've put the models on the giant Abercrombie and F*tch posters to shame. He was all bronze skin and smooth muscle." She comments again in her mind "Rubbing his open hands against his eight-pack abs, his eyes crinkled against the sun and a languid grin spread across his face. He'd never been hotter--correction, I'd never seen anyone look hotter." Vee is in a bed with only a top that reaches her knees and shows him one leg (accidentally at first) and when he notices she thinks "Something about the situation made me feel giddy--and a little powerful." It continues "Without taking my eyes off him, I experimentally removed the blanket covering my right leg and watched in satisfaction as his eyes widened. Slowly, I stood, allowing the shirt to fall into place just above my knees. Jamie cleared his throat but his eyes stayed locked in the downward position. Knowing I was playing with fire but unable to resist, I lifted my arms above my head with a great yawn. As I stretched onto my toes, the hem of the shirt rose to the top of my thighs." And then "Fluidly, I lowered my arms and brought my feet to rest flat on the floor. The Knowledge that I could beat him at his own game filled me with wicked satisfaction. Then I caught his eye and the forceful heat of his stare hit me like a wave, almost knocking me back into the sofa. With great deliberation, he moved in my direction. And I knew I was over my head." {REALLY!?!? This part upsets me so much!} She says, I'm sorry, he says I'm sorry and says "For future reference, lass, dangling bait in front of a hungry shark is a bad idea." And then throws her a pair of pants and says "I think ye better put these on. Before I do somethin' verra un-princelike." (She sprints from the room); Vee tells Jamie "Oh, don't be a perv!" and (playfully) smacks his arm (noticing his biceps in the process), he then asks "What is a perv?" and she glances at him "You know, a pervert...a sexually depraved lunatic" and he asks "You think I'm some kind o' crazy s*x fiend?" and she replies "If the shoe fits..." and he goes "Well, what would that make you then, little miss dance-around-the-room-wi'-no-trousers-on? Hmm?" Vee thinks "There was no way he could know I did that on purpose--could he? I didn't--you don't think I--" she says that she did not dance(!) and he replies "A pity, that."; Kenna & Duncan slept together, him on the floor and her in the bed ("Pretty much. I mean, he slept. I just lay near him and swooned all night."); Lots and lots of romance, love, falling in love and the emotions.
Body comments including: Kenna & Vee notice each other's body (curvy, petite, etc.); Kenna says she was/is "an ex-Goth, theater-geek Amazon voted most likely to have ketchup on my boobs"; When talking to Vee, Kenna says "I'd give my left boob for your metabolism" and Vee comes back with "Well, I'd give my right butt cheek for one of your knockers" and they both agree that they both would look funny after that exchange; a "did some prince ditch your skanky butt for a nice girl?".
-Veronica "Vee" Welling
-MacKenna "Kenna" Reid
P.O.V. switches between them.
288 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star
My personal Rating- One Star
Where to start, where to start. Okay, first? UGH! Second: I read chapters 1-25 then went to #37 to the end because I was sick of the sexual parts and wanted to make this book end. And then I went back and read chapters 26-36 to give y'all a "fair" review. If you ever doubted that I love doing book reviews of y'all this better have cleared that up. Honestly, though! The witches & magic (especially towards the end) were so annoying! A Scripture I find absolutely perfect for this book comes from 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." And in Micah 5:12 The Lord declares, "I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells." And There's many other Scriptures that talk about those who mess with sorcery and that angers The Lord. Nuff said. And the language! Oh my goodness! Really Zondervan/Blink?! I cannot believe the cussing! I am so disappointed with this book, the authors and publisher!
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*{{'Books for Christian Girls' reviews all genres of Christian books, writing down all the Spiritual, Negative & Sexual content and does ratings for girls ages 9-19.
Keep in mind, when reading a BFCG review, ignore the things that don't bother you, but take notice of the things that do.}}
