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?

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. 

Wrap-Up: December 2013

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the lack of updates in December. I decided to take a break, but I am back! I will explain more in the life post.

I read 4 books this month. Since I wrote no reviews, I will add my thoughts after each book. Just a short little review.

1. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! Honestly this was such a good book that I didn't want to put it down. I loved the writing styles of both authors. Levithan's side as Dash just had me rolling in laughter the whole time. It was a perfect book to get into the Christmas spirit. I want to get a red moleskin notebook now. Can I find my man the same way Lily did??? Haha... jokes, jokes.

Rating: 4 Cups of Tea

 2. How to Love by Katie Cotugno

I read this because it was highly appraised by Melissabooks on YouTube. She hasn't failed me yet and I did love this, but things could have been different. Each chapter was different because it went back and forth between past and present. I honestly am not a fan of that because it left me confused and it's almost like switching points of view - I'm not a fan. I did love the book, though, the story was well written.

Rating: 4 cups of tea

3/4 The Selection and The Elite by Kiera Cass

OH MY WORD! ASDFGHJKL..... these books are amazing. I had read the first book once before, about a week or so after it's release and was in awe of the world Cass created. I had been intending on picking these up, but thankfully, my parents allowed me to get these for Christmas, so I couldn't pass up the chance. This is probably one of my favorite series to date. I just love America and Maxon. Aspen... not a fan, but I respect his intentions. 

I can't wait until May 6th for the release of The One.

Rating: Both were 5 Cups of Tea

To Buy: Christmas Reading Books

Deviantart user tenlittlebirds

Hey Everyone!

Tis the season where Christmas is upon us and I needed to spice up my bookshelf with some lovely Christmas reads. Since I have most of December off from school (and the entirety of January), I was thinking some winter books were needed to be boughten for my mind to eat up!

So here I compiled a list of books I will be purchasing over the next few weeks to be boughten and read:

1. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
2. Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson
3. The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laben
4. The Archived by Victoria Schwab
5. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
6. The Selection by Kiera Cass
7. The Elite by Kiera Cass
8. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
9. Allegiant by Veronica Roth 
10. A Song of Ice and Fire Box Set by George R.R. Martin

In total, that brings me to 13 books I want to buy. I will probably begin buying these in the next few weeks. I am excited to buy the Game of Thrones books because everyone has been raving about it. I wanted the first two on the list to be Christmas related and c'mon, who wouldn't buy some good ol' John Green?

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,

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

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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

How To: Choose the Perfect Book

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Hey everyone!

I decided that I ought to do a post on finding that "perfect" book to read. I know I have troubles finding a really good book to read when I am absolutely craving something to read.

One of the ways is to pick up the Sunday issue of The New York Times or go on their website and search through the bestsellers. I think this is a great resource that the US puts out to show what are some really good series, Young Adult novels, etc. I look forward to seeing what new books end up on there.

Another way to find books is to go on YouTube and type in "BookTube" which is a small community within the YouTube community that specifically talk about books that they like. If you really enjoy Young Adult books, like myself, this is a really good resource. I have learned about so many books via this resource that I probably never would have picked up if it weren't for them. One of the best ones is Katytastic, she is funny and always talks about books.

Goodreads is the obvious place, but I wouldn't just search for a book. I would try to befriend a lot of people to get a grasp of what they are also reading. It's really interesting to read their reviews. Along with Goodreads, I would suggest going on the best selling option on Amazon. I spend so much time on Amazon searching through the book section and adding to my ever growing Wishlist. You can also do this on Book Depository but they are sometimes slow with delivering your book. I recommend this website if you want a different cover of a book rather than the one you already own.

A final way to find that perfect book is to go on google and type in "Young Adult Blogs" and if you're also on blogger, you can follow those blogs. I have yet to follow any blogs apart from Sprinkleofglitter (a make-up person from YouTube) but I will let you know some of my favorites!

Till next time!
~Amanda