Spring Break Read-a-thon 2014

Hey Everyone!

So it is currently my spring break and I had planned on a read-a-thon for myself during this time. I chose books that I had been intending to read for a long while or I needed to reread for the films coming out this year. I can't believe I'm already halfway through my books!



Divergent & Insurgent by Veronica Roth
I chose these two books mostly because of the film (which I am seeing on Friday). I fell in love with this series all over again and I cannot wait until I get Allegiant.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
I have had this book since October, maybe earlier. I needed to read this because I felt bad for having this sitting on my shelf for a while.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
I am rereading this one for the film in June.

Vampire Academy (Book 1) by Richelle Mead
I heard this was a fantastic series and I decided to pick up the book (which I happened to find at half-price books)!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I am excited to read this! I just need to read this to see what everyone is on about!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
I love the cover and the story sounds so chilling and good. I can't wait to read this one!

The Selection Stories by Kiera Cass
A short and sweet book to read the last day before I go back to school.

**The Archived by Victoria Schwab (Not picture-- on Kindle)
I will read this depending on whether or not I have enough time.

I sure challenged myself, didn't I? It's a challenge, but who doesn't love a good challenge?

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.

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?

Writing Update: December 2013

Hey Everyone!

So... not much writing happened in the land of my NaNo novel. I tried, but I was so drowned in the holidays and finishing some other projects that I simply didn't have time.

One good thing came out of December. I finished another one of my stories I write. I was proud since it took me over a year to write. It's not going to be published, I know this already.

January is going to be me working on edits and reworking the story. I have a lot to change. I've decided to let it sit for a month, that's what Stephen King does, and it's probably a good thing. I just want to make it the best story I can before I begin querying.

For all of you writers out there, how many edits did you go through before submitting?

NaNoWriMo 2013: I WON!

Hey Everyone!

I officially won NaNoWriMo and it was my first one. I have no idea if I will ever do it again, but one thing is for sure: I finished my first full length novel. Of course, there is a lot of things to be edited, but it's to be expected since it is a NaNoWriMo novel.

I have huge hopes for this and I'm sure all of you are equally as excited for your own pieces of writing. This one was a huge step forward in a direction I've wanted to go for a long time, I just didn't have the inspiration to write a whole novel.

I want to thank everyone on twitter who I followed and followed me back. The people who also spent countless hours doing word sprints with me. I thank you all because without you guys, I wouldn't have finished this book ever.

My outline for the next year looks like this:
December/January: Draft 2
February-April: Draft 3
May/June: Draft 4
July/August: Draft 5
September: Final touches
October: Begin Querying

That is my timeline, I'll update you guys as the months go by, but I hope you all update me as well on your own writing project. Oh, and I made a mock cover for my book (which I have renamed to Strong).

Until Next Time,