Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Hey Everyone!

Today I am reviewing Legacy by Cayla Kluver. I hope you enjoy this book and add this to your Goodreads list!

Title: Legacy
Author: Cayla Kluver
Series?: Yes, book 1 in a trilogy (I will review them all)
Pages: 496
Publication Date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: HarelquinTeen
Rating: 4/5

This book takes place fully in the kingdom of Hytanica following the royal princess, Alera, as she must choose a suitable husband by her 18th birthday under the stress of the kingdom being attacked by the Cokyrian kingdom. When a blue eyed boy named Narian comes into the kingdom after being kidnapped during infancy, he disrupts Princess Alera's other suitor, Steldor's, courting as well as the peace of the kingdom.

I should start by saying this is probably the second or third time I have read this book. The first time, it was lent to me from a friend, the second time so I could read the sequel (which I never did). I figured I should read this once again because I own the entirety of the trilogy and the last one is signed by the author. I never met her, she's from my home state and did a signing at a local Barnes & Noble a few years ago when it came out.

The writing in this, I thought, was amazing considering it was written by a sixteen-year-old. Yes, the author published this when she was sixteen. It is written in first person, but the word choices Kluver picks makes you feel as if you're in a world other than your own. I feel as if I was transported to the times of Kings and Queens with a large poofy yellow Beauty & the Beast dress.

The romance is phenomenal, though minimal. The whole story, Princess Alera is battling with herself about who she should choose and it is amazing. It reminds me a little of The Selection and it makes me happy. That is one of my favorite series. THE ENDING THOUGH.... YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK, GUYS! The ending is incredible.

Entwined with You by Sylvia Day

Hey Everyone!

Sorry for the delayed review for this book, but here it is! I am also really sorry for the lack of blogging, school started back up!

Title: Entwined with You
Author: Sylvia Day
Pages: 356
Published: June 4, 2013
Cups of Tea: 5

So.... needless to say I FREAKING LOVED IT!

When I was reading this I was so intrigued in the story because, let's be honest, I did not expect what happened (I won't tell you because it was that good). Like, I thought it was just going to continue on from the previous books and just go around in circles. You know the circle, guys.

Basically, this story is not like that in the slightest and I was so pleased with that. I also wanted to use that One Direction lyric someone...haha. Found a place! The whole story, though was so beautifully written and I cannot wait for the next two books. COME TO ME CROSSFIRE SERIES! I AM READY!

Until Next Time,

Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

Title: Reflected in You (Crossfire #2)
Author: Sylvia Day
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Published: October 23, 2012
Pages: 338 pgs.
Own it?: Yes, paperback
Genre: Mature Adult/Erotica
Goodreads: Click here

Cups of Tea: 4 cups

Hey Everyone,

This is the continuation of the last book review I did. I rated this one, yet again, four stars. Don't get me wrong, I adored this book as well, but I felt that it was lacking in some areas. 

The thing I felt it lacked was a climactic point. I felt that at the end of the story, we were thrown this curve ball that left me like, "What? What just happened?" I felt she could have built it up because it wasn't really foreseen and there was no inevitable problem. It was just very anti-climactic.

The sex in the book was great as always, and this story showed a lot of improvement in the characters and the fact that they were willing to do something that helped their relationship. They were willing to go to couples therapy and it showed a lot about both characters. The shrink says something that becomes important and I honestly forgot about it for a good majority of the book.

This book, I felt, was almost necessary because it strengthened Eva and Gideon's relationship. It shows that they are willing to do anything it takes. I typically don't read mature adult, but if more books out there are like this one, I am more than willing to pick them up. These two characters just show there is more than an overly sappy first love relationship. I will continue to rave about this book on the next review for Entwined in You. 

Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Hey Everyone,

First review of 2014!

Title: Bared to You (Crossfire #1)
Author: Sylvia Day
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Published: June 12, 2012
Pages: 338 pgs.
Own it?: Yes, paperback
Genre: Mature Adult/Erotica
Goodreads: Click here

Cups of Tea: 4 cups

So first, I would like to say that I rarely ever read erotica or adult fiction. Sure, I read some last year, but I mostly read Young Adult. I was recommended this series and I like it thus far.

The story is about a new employee to Crossfire Industries name Eva Tramell. The novel starts off when Eva goes for a jog and runs into super hot guy in a suit named Gideon Cross (though she doesn't know his name at that point. Takes her a while). She finds out that he owns the building, and practically the whole town, and they have a steamy office romance.

I have to say, I enjoyed this a lot better than 50 Shades of Gray. I read that book last summer and enjoyed it, but this one had much more plot and characters that you become involved with. When I started the book, I thought it was interesting, but wasn't able to tell whether the main character's best friend, Cary, was a boy or girl.

This book is one of those books that I feel deserves more hype than it has been getting. I feel as if 50 Shades has taken more hype than this book deserves. This book has no contract and is just about a relationship between two people who have their fair share of life problems. Between her overbearing mother and his mysterious past, they make a couple who needs each other more than they need food.

I don't usually get invested in an adult book like this, but this one deserves so much recognition and it's just well written. The best writers don't get the recognition they deserve.

Thoughts if you read this?

Thoughts On: Essence by Mandi Lynn

Hey Everybody!

This is the review for self-published author, Mandi Lynn, on her debut book Essence which was published on CreateSpace in August of 2013. This book was the first self-published piece I've boughten and here is what I thought of it.

First of all, the cover was absolutely gorgeous. The girl on the cover is Mandi herself which makes it interesting. The only problem I have with the cover is the spine (and it's not that big of an issue) is the giant gap between the "e" and the "n." Obviously Lynn is not a professional editor, but if she wanted to, that is just an easy shift up.

Essence starts off talking about how Emma was technically dead at her birth with the umbilical cord wrapped tightly around her neck, but was soon revived. As the story moves along, Emma finds a stone and by picking up this stone, she was met with her unexpected death that brought her to Phantom Lagoon the place where she simply just exists.

This was a good first debut novel, but I felt that this could have used some more work. The writing was well, but it also felt a little unnatural at time with the language. When the three year old character was introduced to the reader, it felt a little odd because I didn't realize she was supposed to be three. Another thing is that Lynn had a tendency to rush through things and drag on with some things.

When I was reading through it, I did find myself skipping through pages just to keep reading and finish the book. Don't get me wrong, it was better than I expected, the story was a strong story, but I felt as if there was a whole thing missing within it. I wasn't skeptical going in, but when I started reading it, I started to realize why the literary agents began to reject her manuscript.

Lynn, like I stated previously, she started to rush things quite immensely and then jumped back in time and it left me confused. The aspect that I felt was missing was something vital in Emma's life and I didn't feel that it was the way it should have ended. I honestly wanted to know more about Eliza because I felt like she was a strong character whereas Emma felt flat.

I rated this with three cups of tea because I felt that Lynn rushed her writing a little bit by self-publishing. She should have taken the agents rejections as motivations to better her writing and work harder at it to get a fully developed story.

I do have to apologize if it seems like I was completely bashing the story, I just was giving my whole and honest opinion. I apologize if Mandi Lynn sees this and feels anything bad about it.

Until Next Time,

Thoughts On: City of Lost Souls

Hey Everyone!

So today I bring you the review for City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare. I had been intending to write this for a few days, but have been putting this off as I was watching movies and doing NaNoWriMo (check the sidebar for my status).

I felt like CoLS was like 1,000X better than it's previous book. I loved how it solved the random return of Sebastian. I felt like Clary was torn about which direction she should be going in whether she should stay true to the institute or stay true to Jace. Obviously, you can probably guess which one Clary chose.

I felt that this was a very strong book in the series because it has a lot of humor and a lot of strong story points. My favorite parts of the series, one of them, was in this book between Clary and Jace. We also learn more about Jace as he was taken over by Sebastian.

The epilogue was by far my favorite part of the entire book. I was honestly expecting a marriage proposal by Jace Lightwood, but alas, we shall wait and see what the next book (191 days and 11 hours for the record). I think I am most excited to see where this last book goes. My main hope for the final book in The Mortal Instruments Series is that it is focused around Clary and Jace because, in the end, the book is about them and their undying love for each other. The book will probably have something with Sebastian who is on the run and he will most likely be killed (just being honest here).

I give this story five cups of tea because it kept on my toes and wanting more and more. I just couldn't put this book down, I finished it in about a day. I loved this book so much and will probably read anything with Cassandra Clare's name on it.

If you want to learn more about the Shadowhunter world and have read The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments I suggest you go buy the infamous Shadowhunter's Codex. It was available for purchase this past Tuesday and I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the books. I will post a full review on this book when I read it and receive it. Note: don't buy the Kindle version, many of the bad reviews were from there because the fonts (the handwriting ones) were not easy to read.

Until Next Time,

Finding Books Similar to Other Ones

Hey Everyone!

So today, in the midst of writing a novel, I stumbled upon a really cool website! It is a website where you type in an author or a book title and it will spew out a list of books just like it, or similar.

The website splits it by language, story, and characters to match up the book you chose to be paired with other books of similarity. If you type in a book that is part of a series (ie The Mortal Instruments or Harry Potter) you will get the other five or six books in the series as well as their paired others.

I think it's really cool how you say you really like a specific book and with this website, you can find books similar to it. I think I will be using this website to find a good book to buy! I can't wait to utilize it once I finish reading all the other books I haven't read.

Check it out: http://booklamp.org

Until Next Time,

Thoughts On: City of Fallen Angels

Source: Tumblr

Hey Everyone!

It's time for yet another Mortal Instruments review. This time, it is for the fourth book City of Fallen Angels. I finished this book in about three sittings (over the span of about five days).

This book was so different from the first three books in the series. I felt that this was didn't have a clear sense of direction just because all of what had been building up had been resolved (for the most part) in the third book, City of Glass. Don't get me wrong, I loved this book and the whole series, but I don't think it was the best of the series thus far.

One thing I felt that Cassandra Clare could have done was drag on Valentine and Sebastian/Jonathon's lives instead of killing them off in the third book. Though, if she kept Valentine, it would resemble J.K. Rowling's infamous series a bit. Clare had a large potential with this book and she took some risks with Jace's character though I wish she did different with him.

Clary and Jace are finally able to be together in a romantic way in this book and I wish she took up on that more than she did. I felt as if she just was like, "Yeah, cool... we're casually seeing each other." I wish there was more romance because in the previous books they were driven by the sexual tension and then it just disappears. I didn't get it.

The humor though was incredible. The photo featured in this post is one of the lines she has Jace say. It cracked me up when that happened and I had to include it in this post. It was just a too perfect line.

DISCLAIMER: I am not purposefully bashing Cassandra Clare or her Mortal Instruments series. I am simply just stating my opinions on the book. Hence the purpose of a review.

I gave it four stars because of the faults that I felt were there. Other than that, it was a very good book!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Until Next Time,

Thoughts On: City of Glass

Hey everyone!

As you probably have noticed from the reviews I've done, I have been reading The Mortal Instruments series and let me tell you.... I AM IN LOVE!

Source: Tumblr user ggrinted

This series has moved me in ways that I never thought I would be moved by a book. Wait.... how about I tell you that stuff when I do my final reflections. Well, I just finished the third book City of Glass by Cassandra Clare. It is absolutely phenomenal! Incredible! Outstanding! Any other synonym for incredible can fit here!

The book starts off right after Clary sees her mother for the first time in weeks (I totally predicted this, by the way) and she is absolutely furious at Jocelyn for the lies for the lies that were fed to her. Understandable, I mean, her mum did kind of put herself into a comatose state to escape from Valentine the evil Shadowhunter. Completely understandable, Clary, I feel you.

The book, I felt, was a vital turning point in the series because they all end up in Idris (the Shadowhunter homeland) and are there for the remainder of the book. The story lines I thought would happen did happen and it was the most satisfying feeling in the world. The ending this was me:

I was freaking out because I didn't want it to end. It was so amazing that I was very near tears when it ended. I'm kidding, but it was a spectacular third novel. I can't wait to pick up City of Fallen Angels.

I think this one is self-explanitory.

Until next time!

Thoughts On: City of Ashes

Source: tumblr.com

Hey Everyone!

So today's review is for Cassandra Clare's City of Ashes. I started this book on Thursday because it was the first chance I got to sit down and read it. Though, I was at work when I began reading the book, but that is where I read much of the first book as well.

This book, I felt, started out rather slow and it took me a little bit to get into, but I loved it nonetheless. I thought it was so interesting and I love Clare's little hints of humor throughout the book. For example, in one of the later chapters Luke presents Clary with a pamphlet for Simon that is called How to Come Out to Your Parents (No, I am not telling you if Simon is gay or not). 

I loved how well this part of the series moved because I felt as if it was moved perfectly and I loved the language she uses in the novel. I have read many different things regarding Cassandra Clare's use of similes on almost "every single page." However, I didn't seem to notice because I was just sucked into the whole world and the story. I absolutely adored it.

The ending, though. If you read this book, how many of you wanted to throw the book at the wall because of the ending and the major cliffhanger? I was so mad that she introduced that part and then just ended the book like that. Luckily, I had purchased the third book on Thursday and the fourth on Friday. So I have to wait until Monday to get the book. 

It was a fantastic second book to a series I have quickly grown to fall in love with. I honestly cannot wait until I finish the rest of the books and pre-order the sixth book! As of right now, this is one of my favorite series following Harry Potter.

My Rating:

Link to this Book:

I give this book five cups of tea because honestly, I couldn't put this book down from the moment I got it. I had to read it and read it fast. I'm still a little weary on the brother/sister thing between Clary and Jace. I do not think they are brother and sister because that physical attraction just does not happen between siblings even if they didn't know. I honestly think Valentine is lying about their blood relation. I am starting to think the Inquisitor may be related to Jace. Who knows, we will find out in City of Glass, won't we?

Till Next Time,

~Amanda

Goals for the End of the Year

Source: deviantart.com user MOTHart

Hey everyone!

So I was thinking about all the books I still have to read and I have a list of books I still want to read before the end of the year/want to buy. I am determined to finish my 30 book goal for 2013. I have four books left until I finish and this makes me so happy!

In 2012, I had a goal of reading 60 books in a year. Now, I wasn't as into books as I am now. I would pick up a book if it looked good, but I didn't have any aspiration to be like, "Yeah! I am going to read like three to four books a month!" Me in 2013, though, I wanted to read as much as I can and I have accomplished this thus far. In June alone, I read 13 books and I am amazed that I read that much in a month. Never have I read that much before.

Books I Want to Read Before 2014:
-City of Ashes (currently reading).
-City of Glass*
-City of Fallen Angels*
-City of Lost Souls*
-City of Heavenly Fire*

* Still have to buy

This is five books so that rounds me out to 31 books estimated for the end of the year! Hopefully I will finish The Mortal Instruments to round out my year!

Until next time,
~Amanda