Lost in Translation

This book was fantastic! It was educational, fun to read and super fun to look at. The pages were laid out differently and illustrated beautifully for each of the different words used. I have started trying to use each of these words in my own life, as some of the things the words define are amazing. The words picked are fun to say, and interesting ideas to discuss with others. While some of the others it's hard to believe that there is a special word dedicated just to describe that certain situation or scenario. I would recommend this book highly to anyone, it's a great coffee table book and a great conversation starter. It catches your eye right away with the colorful cover and pages and interesting and intriguing title. 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

This summer I started on a "I HAVE to read all these books that are going to be movies" spree. It was so fun for me, but for my fiance that had to go see all the movies with me afterwards, it was not fun. This was basically me and he hated me for it:

And then, when he hated the movie, I could tell him that you know what? It was nothing like the book, so you have to read the book too. I tell him this all the time, and he doesn't believe me. I also tell him: 

Every book lover knows that last part. Never EVER judge a book by its movie. I can't think of a single book that was not as good as the movie was. Okay, end rant about book adaptations into movies. 

My spree started with If I Stay this summer. This book was pretty amazing and well written. It was very sad at the beginning and the whole story made me really appreciate my family and friends all that much more. It starts out with Mia losing her entire family in a horrific car crash and then chronicles her story from there. For a lot of the book, it's Mia looking down over her body in the hospital and remembering happier times in the past with her family and friends. The whole concept of "if I stay" is whether or not Mia is going to stay with her body, or move on to the after-life with the rest of her family. The title, if nothing else, was brilliant and I loved that. Another thing I enjoyed was that even though the premise of the book was so sad and tragic, the author found ways to incorporate some funny things and at times I was laughing out loud because of the book. The whole time I was rooting for her to continue to follow her dreams no matter what, because that's what her parents would have wanted her to do. 

Overall, this is a great book and even though I thought it was going to be really dramatic and heavy material, I loved that the author made some parts of it light and uplifting. I would definitely recommend this! I also love this quote from the book: 

Buy it here on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Quick Review:
Title: If I Stay

Author: Gayle Forman

Pages: 304
Recommended for: Young adult girls

Summer House with Swimming Pool

I'll start off by saying I wasn't sure how much I was going to like this book. It had a very interesting summary and synopsis to read, however, when I started, I was not a fan of the characters. The first part of the book was fantastic. The characters were intriguing and I was really looking forward to this becoming a page turner. However, all of the plot "twists" were predictable and towards the second half of the book I was finding myself becoming more repulsed by the characters and having a general distaste towards the book. 

The main character, Marc Schlosser is a pretty well known and successful doctor in the Netherlands. The story begins after one of Dr. Schlosser's patients, who is a fairly well-known actor on a new HBO series, Ralph Meier dies. Dr. Schlosser comes under scrutiny because this terminal condition developed in Meier while in Schlosser's care and a possible misdiagnosis could have caused Meier's death. The story does flashbacks, setting the scene and letting us in on Meier and Schlosser's relationship and how their families shared a vacation together at a beach house.   The book takes a look at how Ralph was treated, if it was correct or if he was misdiagnosed from the beginning and how that fateful vacation could have caused everything. 

Overall, this book was fantastic at the beginning, but could have easily been 50 pages shorter with the story wrapping up quicker and making it an easier read. 

Buy it at Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

copyright Herman Koch 2014

Quick Review:

Title: Summer House with Swimming Pool

Author: Herman Koch more information on him click here.

Pages:400

Recommended for: Adults

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. 

Cress by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3)

Okay, I read this book in literally a day... Come to find out... I HAVE TO WAIT A WHOLE YEAR FOR THE NEXT ONE TO COME OUT! What is this nonsense??? Cress lived up to every one of my expectations and even exceeded them. I flew through the book and was in love with all of the characters at the end. I found this meme online and thought it was entirely appropriate: 

I'm just stunned. Ms. Meyer does a wonderful job of giving each of the characters their own personality and really taking the time to develop the characters and have you grow to love all of them. When reading the different chapters, narrated by the different characters, it is very easy to tell the "narration styles" apart and I think this is what makes the book so great. All of the characters have their chance to narrate the story and share what they are thinking. I am in love with Cress and Captain Thorne. I love that Cress seems like a damsel in distress at times, but then can totally take care of herself. I was really nervous at the *SPOILER ALERT!* card table part, where Cress saw Thorne with the other girl, but in all reality, he was just betting for a new body for Iko! Swoooon. *END SPOILER* I want Kai and Cinder to be together so bad it hurts. Queen Levana is more evil than ever and it's amazing. I can't wait to read more about her and her stepdaughter, who I'm assuming will be Winter in the fourth book. I've read some things that are suggesting that Winter will be a take on Snow White. I'm excited to see where this will go, since the stepdaughter is locked away in a tower and is going a little "crazy" talking about the bleeding walls? Ahh, I just can't wait for the next one. Marissa Meyer, why are you doing this to us! Can it just be 2015 already???

Here it is at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon. 

(You may want to wait to buy them all and read them when Winter comes out in 2015, because you will be in agony waiting for Winter if you read them all now! ;) Consider yourself warned!)

Copyright, Marissa Meyer, 2014

Quick review: 
Title: Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Pages: 550 (hardcover) again, long but absolutely, uncontrollably worth every minute of reading!
Recommended for: Any and everyone!

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #2)

Let me just start out by saying, Marissa Meyer, we have a love/hate relationship now. (Okay, you're right, a love/hate relationship that she doesn't even know about..) I don't understand how you can wrap one story up, yet still leave me wanting more and begging for the next book. I finished Scarlet and this is exactly how I felt.

Things I loved about the book:
Ms. Meyer was able to introduce new characters, yet keep up with Cinder and Iko, then find a way to bring Scarlet and Wolf together with Cinder and Iko towards a common cause. I think this was fantastic, and I never found myself confused or not understanding what was going on with what characters. Ms. Meyer was also able to add in another badass female character without her really overshadowing Cinder and had them work together flawlessly. While Cinder and Scarlet did not always get along, I think that they still worked as a duo, trying to achieve a common goal, but each for different reasons.

I also really enjoyed that Cinder was getting used to her Lunar capabilities and was starting to learn how to use and control them. I wish that Prince Kai was seen more in this book, and I really want him and Cinder to work things out and be together already! We alllll know it's bound to happen.  I did enjoy seeing more of Queen Levana and her evil ways and dealing with Prince Kai. Even though we didn't see much of Kai, Ms. Meyer gave us a new male character to swoon over, Wolf. He is just so handsome and mysterious and so into Scarlet, I can't even. I think this is me right now:



No, but seriously. I love him. And I can't wait to see what Ms. Meyer does with him and Scarlet. They are just too cute. As my boyfriend would say, "Wolf is the strong, handsome character who is really sensitive and sweet on the inside, but he only shows that side to the girl that he falls for." I know, I know. I found myself quite the romantic. ;) He's still a keeper. 

Anyway, back to Scarlet.. I can't wait to read the next one and see how their journey continues together and incorporates the next person "Cress." Even though, as soon as the girl on the spaceship was introduced, I figured she was going to be Cress with her long, flowing, Rapunzel-like locks. 

Go out and buy these books and read them! If you want to see what I have to say about Cinder first, click here. Or, to save yourself some agony, wait until all 4 books are out and then get them. Save yourself some pain. 

Here's the book at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon.

Copyright, Marissa Meyer, 2014

Quick Review: 
Title: Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Pages: 452 (hardcover) long, but SO WORTH IT!
Recommended for: Anyone! It's so good!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Look at me, I am on a roll with 3 posts in one month? More posts than I have done all year! Maybe because it's the summer and I have less to do so that means MORE READING! This is what I've felt like so far this summer:

Okay, maybe I can't quit! But it's a better hobby than some other things! Okay now onto Cinder:

Cinder is about a girl living in a futuristic world, where Cinder is a cyborg living with her stepmother and two step sisters as their maid. Sound familiar? Yep, a futuristic Cinderella. The cool thing about this series is that Ms. Meyer took different fairy tales and rewrote them and incorporated more futuristic things as well as real life problems that fairy tale characters don't often face. Cinder is being used as a maid and fixer-upper around the house by her stepmother and stepsisters, during a time where the "plague" is taking over New Beijing. Cinder meets Prince Kai one day when he comes to get his android fixed. Soon after, she starts her adventure trying to find the cure and this mysterious "princess selene" who can stop the Lunar Queen Levana from taking over Earth. 

The thing that I liked the most about this book is how ferocious Cinder is.  She is a great leading lady and really fights for her family and those that she loves, including her android Iko.  Queen Levana is also one of the best villians that Ms. Meyer could have made for this novel.  She is vain, obsessed with power (and herself) and willing to risk it all to make sure that Princess Selene is never seen or heard from again. This is witnessed in the stories of her burning down Princess Selene's nursery when she was just a small child. While as soon as Princess Selene was mentioned, I knew how that part was going to turn out, the story was not as predictable as I thought it would be.  The plot moves along nicely, and doesn't get slow at any points.  One thing about all of the Lunar Chronicles is that Ms. Meyer does a wonderful job leaving you wanting more and more for the next book. It was excruciating to have to wait a whole year for Scarlet to come out after reading Cinder. 

Great book! Go out and buy it at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. 

(Copyright Marissa Meyer, 2014)

Quick Review:

Title: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Pages: 390 (hardcover)

Recommended for: Young adults, both boys and girls because it has some action in it as well!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Like many of the books I read, I got sucked into this book hard core. I could not put it down. I was also WEEPING at the end. Full on, ugly cry. So attractive, right?  After reading it, I went to talk to my mom about it, because my mom and I read the same books and then discuss them together. As I was talking to her, I almost started crying again because it was just so good and sad at the same time! What is wrong with me?!

Anyways, I would highly recommend this book. And as a plus... the movie is coming out on Friday (June 6th). I am very excited, and I am pretty sure that my mom and I are going to see it on Thursday! We are such nerds. I am ecstatic to see how the movie turns out, however, I never like the movies as much as the books. But hey, that's how life goes, right?

The Fault in Our Stars is about a girl named Hazel who has cancer. Her mother forces her to go to a cancer support group, where she has a friend named Augustus. Side note-- how cool of a name is Augustus?! Okay, so they meet and Augustus is pretending to be this bad boy and of course Hazel is interested (aren't we all!) and so they hang out, after "Gus" practically forces her to come out with him. The story takes us on the ride that is Gus and Hazel's epic romance. While the way that Hazel and Gus talk to each other is not the way that "normal" teenagers talk to each other or discuss things with each other, these teenagers are not "normal" teenagers. Although, at some points I did feel that John Green was trying to slide in a few of those "one-liners" that teenagers will be tattooing on their bodies in a moment of epic, passionate, romance, it was still a good book. And some of those one-liners really got me.  I found this meme online and think that it accurately describes this book:

So accurate, am I right?

Another thing about this book that I really enjoyed was the cast of characters chosen for the movie.  Although at first, I was not a big Shailene Woodley fan, she is really growing on me as she develops her acting skills and career more. I realize that I am no expert on anything really, but I really think she has developed so much to become good at her job! I also really like the fact that she seems down to earth and humble, much like Jennifer Lawrence (who I read she hates to be compared to..Sorry Shailene!)  One weird thing about the casting is that in Divergent, Shailene's character's brother (Ansel Elgort) is now Augustus for The Fault in Our Stars movie.  Minor details, but it's a little weird.. 

Back to the book.. SO GOOD! Go out and read it now! 

(Copyright John Green, 2014)

Buy it at Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

Quick Review: 

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Pages: 313 (hardcover)
Recommended for: EVERYONE!

The One (Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

Okay, so let me start this off by saying that I read this book in about a day. One. Single. Day.  I have been waiting so long for this book to come out and I was so excited when it did! I had pre-ordered it months in advance (much to the dismay of my boyfriend who thought I was crazy.. sorry not sorry), and was so excited when I got the email from Barnes & Noble that it had shipped.  Not only did I pre-order the book, but I pre-ordered a copy that Kiera Cass had signed herself.  How awesome is that? I was so excited!

Anyways, onto what I actually thought of the book itself.. If you have not read the first two books, I would highly recommend you do that first! You can read what I have to say on the first two here.

Of course, I'm going to start off with, I was SOOOO happy that they did finally end up together.  I really liked that Kiera Cass took her time getting them fully together and then threw in a little rift between Maxon and America at the very end to get you to think, dang maybe they won't end up together? I really enjoyed how she even made me like Celeste and feel bad when (SPOILER) she gets killed in the end. Another thing that I liked about the book was that America stayed true to her roots until the very end.  She fought for Aspen as a friend, and she stayed humble throughout the whole experience, not letting it change her for the worse.

Even though, overall I was happy with the ending, I feel that Ms. Cass could have done a little more with the rebel piece. The Southern rebels are mentioned, and attack the palace a few times, but they never really come into play after two appearances.  The Northern Rebels are the only ones that we grow to know and it's only their explanation of the Southern rebels that we get.  I really enjoyed that Maxon and American were sneaking around trying to help the Northern Rebels and change the way that the country is run.  I also liked that we got to know more about Maxon and the way he worked, but the book wrapped up a little too quickly.   Overall, it's a great, quick read and I really enjoyed it! It's not your typical fairy tale story about a girl coming into the royal family and falling in love with a prince, it runs deeper than that.

In case you get confused on who all of the Selected girls are, Kiera Cass has included a list on her website! Find it here. She has also announced a new novella called "The Queen" which will take us back to Queen Amberley's selection time. Read about it on Ms. Cass's website here.

Want to own it? Here it is on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

(Copyright, Kiera Cass 2014)

Quick Review:
Title: The One (Selection Book 3)
Author: Kiera Cass
Pages: 217 (ebook)
Recommended for: Young adult girls

City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4)

City of Fallen Angels is number 4 in the Mortal Instruments series. Let me tell you, when I was starting this book, I thought wow, everyone is getting along! The war is over, everyone is alive and well and Clary and Jace finally get to be together without thinking they are brother and sister... Boy was I wrong.

So it is true that in this book the war is over and Clary is back at home training to become a real shadowhunter like her hunk of a boyfriend Jace.  Everything is fine and dandy, and Clary's mom and Luke are planning their wedding! Too good to be true right? Absolutely. All of the sudden, shadowhunters are turning up dead everywhere. Nobody can figure out who is murdering all these innocent people, and why they are only targeting shadowhunters. Poor Simon has also told his mother that he is a vampire when she finds vials of blood in his room, and he gets kicked out of his house. Clary can't ask him for help because he's clearly dealing with some of his own issues. The story feels like something you've read before, because it follows the same basic plot line as the previous books. I was kind of hoping that Ms. Clare would leave Jace and Clary to be, but of course they have their own trials and tribulations in this book again. Alec and Mangus develop together as a couple, and new demons are introduced and take on a big role in the book. The ending did catch me off guard as much as it could..

Overall, this book was not terrible. I think that as someone who hates to leave a series unfinished, it was not unbearable to read. I just wanted something a little different, maybe the characters to develop more and Clary to become less whiny. But hey, you can't have everything.

Here's the book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

                                          © Margaret K. McElderry Books, Cassandra Clare

Quick Review:
Title: City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments Book #4)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 424 (paperback)
Recommended: Young adult girls, 14-17 (or 22!)

Educational Books? People Read Those?

Happy 2014!

This post is about an educational book. It's not a fun, young adult/teen book that I usually like to read, however, this book was sent to me by my friends at Librarything, and so I read and reviewed it. The book is Exploring Critical Issues in Gifted Education: A Case Studies Approach by Christine Weber.

So here's the review:

I liked the case studies approach that this book had to offer, however, some of them were dry and hard to get through.  The book itself is very dense and offers a lot of information that might be helpful to someone who is willing to look past the dry-ness of the writing. The topic of Gifted Education is a topic that is neglected in today's society and I was really hoping that this book would help highlight some of the issues facing teachers when it comes to gifted education. This book might be have an application in a grad school program focusing on Gifted Education, but I don't think it's a book that can be read quickly without having others to discuss the case studies with.

Overall, I'm not a big fan of reading educational books for fun. This was like forcing myself to read a textbook even though I didn't have a class it applied to. If I did have a class it applied to, it may be easier to read and take from.

                                                             (copyright Christine Weber 2013)

Here's the book on Amazon.

Overall, I give it a 4 out of 5 stars because it is interesting and educational, just not my cup of tea.

City of Glass (Mortal Instruments Book #3)

City of Glass is the fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.  I'm telling you, although these books are for young adults (I still consider myself a young adult, I'm only 22) they really suck me in! I couldn't put them down!

City of Glass picks up where City of Ashes leaves off, much like City of Ashes did with City of Bones.   I love that in these books, certain things do get tied up at the end, but there is always that burning question or problem that still is left unanswered or unsolved for the next book to pick up. That's the sign of a great author, someone who really won't let you put their series down and keeps you coming back for more and more.  Oh and of course, as I'm sure you know.. Don't continue reading if you haven't read City of Ashes, or if you're okay with spoiler alerts read on! 

This book is great. I didn't know what to expect once Simon became a vampire, but I really like that he is semi-normal and can walk in the sun, every since he fed off Jace. Clary is now still trying to save her mother's life and to do so, she has to travel to the City of Glass, the home of all Shadowhunters.  Clary enters the city without permission (which is against the law) and is met by worse and worse news.  Jace doesn't want her in the City and Simon was thrown in prison by the Inquisitor because they are skeptical of a vampire that can walk in the sun (uh yeah, I'd be too!). Clary must find the friend of her mother's to help save her mother's life before it is too late.  Valentine is on his way to destroy all Shadowhunters and allow demons to rule the world.  Clary must convince Shadowhunters to fight along side of their eternal enemies, werewolves, vampires and fairies to help stop Valentine and the demons he is planning to bring into the world. Luckily, Clary finds out she has a magical power that can aid the "good" side in the fight and she has to decide how she can use it to help.  

Definitely a must read! Find it on Amazon here and Barnes & Noble here. 

© Margaret K. McElderry Books, Cassandra Clare

Quick Review:
Title: City of Glass (Mortal Instruments Book #3)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 576 (paperback)
Recommended: Young adult girls, 14-17 (or 22!)

City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments #2)

City of Ashes is the second book in the Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare. Don't read this post before you've read City of Bones, unless of course you're okay with Spoiler Alerts!


City of Ashes picks up right where City of Bones left off.  Clary's mom is still in a magic-induced coma, she still knows about the Shadowhunters and knows even more now about demons, werewolves and fairies than she ever wanted to know. Clary is torn between leaving this new Shadowhunter world behind and returning to her normal life with her best friend Simon, or becoming a full fledged Shadowhunter with the help of Jace, the guy she just found out is her brother but she still just can't seem to shake him from her mind.  Clary needs to help her mother get better and get out of her magic induced coma, and the only way to do so is to track down her evil father Valentine.  All of the sudden, downworlder children are dying everywhere and being drained of their blood. Clary sets out to see if Valentine is behind this, and if he is, why does he need their blood? After realizing that the mortal instruments have been stolen and that Valentine is in fact behind all of these murders, Clary needs the help of Jace to take down their father. However, Jace was raised by Valentine and has personal connections and fond memories of Valentine, while all Clary knows about her father is that he left her mother and never came back for them.  

I liked the sequel because it was just as good, if not better than the first book.  While the first book seemed to have a lot of loose ends, the second book ties up some of them and creates it's own loose ends leaving you wanting the third book immediately.  Luckily, I started these books after they were all out and didn't have to wait for the next one to come out after finishing the previous books. We all know it's the worst when you have to wait extra time for the sequel to be released.  

Take away from this post: Keep reading the Mortal Instruments Series... You won't regret it.

                                             © Margaret K. McElderry Books, Cassandra Clare


Quick Review: 
Title: City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments Book #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 464 (Paperback)
Recommended: For young adult girls, 14-17 years old.

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Book #1)

So it's been awhile since I posted, but I'm going to keep posting, even if nobody is reading, but for myself so I can keep track of my books I've read and what I thought about them.. 

So.. City of Bones.. Here we go...

I started reading City of Bones and when I was half way through I saw a preview for the movie that was coming out. So naturally I started picturing Lilly Collins as Clary.  Now she is actually close to what I originally pictured for Clary, but the guy who plays Jace? Not at ALL what I pictured Jace to look like. But that's besides the point. Especially because I haven't seen the movie yet, and don't want to until I finish the whole series and it comes out on Redbox so I can only rent it for $1.  I know I'm probably going to hate it since it will most likely be nothing like the book.. (Why do they always do that?)

So.. City of Bones.. This was a great book. Starts off with Clary seeing this beautiful people (Jace and Isabelle) go into a club and disappear. They all have strange tattoos and Clary's friend Simon, can't see the people with the tattoos.  Clary follows the people and gets herself into trouble and then ends up back at the Institute, where Jace and Isabelle are living. Clary feels herself drawn to Jace because he is so beautiful, but he acts snobbish and stuck up.  It's a typical story of girl meets boy, girl has a crush on boy, boy has crush on girl but acts like a jerk. A story most teenage girls can relate to. Then come the demons... Clary is introduced to the "Shadowhunter" world.  A dangerous world full of demons and angels and murders that disappear in an instant. Clary must enter this world to help save her mother who is attacked and taken by demons.  It's up to Clary to learn how to be a Shadowhunter from Jace and the Lightwoods to save her mother from whatever force has taken her.  

This is a great book. It's riveting and really captures your attention from the very beginning. It doesn't take long for the book to get rolling and I really enjoyed it.  

Here is the book on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble..

© Margaret K. McElderry Books, Cassandra Clare

Quick Review:

Title: City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1)
Author: Cassandra Clare

Pages: 512 (paperback)

Recommended for: Young adult girls 14-17 years old

Ascend (Trylle Trilogy #3) by Amanda Hocking

Ascend is the way every single trilogy or even series should be ended.  Kind of like what J.K. Rowling did with the Harry Potter books, Amanda Hocking included a short epilogue that explains where the characters are in the future. It's amazing. Hocking ends the story and sums everything up, then she does a little "where are they now" type thing.  Perfect. Just the way I like it.

Wendy has discovered now that in order to save the Trylle from the deadly Vittra, she must sacrifice herself to the Vittra King, who also happens to be her father.  If she doesn't surrender to the Vittra, then the Vittra will mount an enormous attack on the Trylle that the Trylle may not be able to survive. Wendy must decide what to do. Chance a fight with the Vittra or sacrifice herself so her friends can be safe.  Among Wendy's decisions is to decide what guy to choose to be with forever.. Loki or Finn? Finn or Loki? Wendy does get married in the book but you'll just have to read it to find out to who..... The future of the entire world rests in Wendy's hands and it's up to her to figure out what to do to save the world!

Excellent series and easy to read. I really enjoyed reading these books, and I think it only took me about a week to power through all three of them.  I would definitely recommend checking them out! I've also been looking into Amanda Hocking's blog, where I found out that she has sold the movie rights and someone is now trying to make a movie out of the books! Fancy shmancy. I hope they do a better job with these than what they did with the Beautiful Creatures novels.  That movie adaptation was atrocious. But that's besides the point.. read the Trylle trilogy! You won't regret it!

Want to buy it? Here it is on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

                                                   © ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, Amanda Hocking

Quick Review:
Title: Ascend (Trylle Trilogy #3)
Author: Amanda Hocking

Pages: 326 (paperback) including the "bonus" story

Recommended for: Young adult girls, with some reservations about the language and content. Probably ages 14+

Torn (Trylle Trilogy #2)

Well hello again. I'm writing this post quickly before I go to class (grad school classes suckk), so it may not be too well written. But still, bear with me....

Here goes nothing...

So Torn, also by Amanda Hocking of course since she wrote the Trylle series. Awesome number 2 to this series. Sometimes sequels to books are ehh but this one is wonderful because it helps tie up some loose ends from the first books but still leaves you wanting more from the third book. Torn picks up with Wendy in Trylle trying to become the best princess she can be. However, she is really starting to resent her mother for giving her up and making her a changeling but also she is starting to despise her role in Trylle as the princess. She decides to go home and try to live as a regular human. Yeah right, nice try Wendy.  Not even 5 minutes after she is home she is alone and is then attacked by the Vittra who take her home with them.  At the Vittra palace Wendy meets Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she starts to share a growing attraction. While imprisoned at the Vittra palace, Wendy learns more astounding secrets of her life and must make some pretty crazy decisions. Wendy spends the second half of the book trying to decide if she should listen to her heart and do what's best for her or listen to her mother and the Trylle and do what's best for the Kingdom.  While in "princess training" Wendy must also learn how to master her magical powers and also marry a powerful royal to help her rule the Trylle when she becomes Queen.

The book is very well named, I must say. Wendy is "torn" between so many different things, love and duty, who to listen to, who to believe, who to love, it's amazing. Either way she loses something she loves. Who does she decide to love? Finn, her bodyguard who is strictly off limits? Loki, the Vittra prince who she should hate, but just can't? Or Tove, the best match a royal can have in the Trylle kingdom, but he comes with an impossible mother-in-law? In Torn, Wendy must face many dilemmas and she must choose, not only what's best for her, but what's best for her kingdom too.

Great book! Definitely a good continuation of Wendy's story from Switched.

Want to own it? Here it is on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Quick Review:
Title: Torn (Trylle Trilogy #2)
Author: Amanda Hocking

Pages: 324 (paperback) including the "bonus" story

Recommended for: Young adult girls, with some reservations about the language and content. Probably ages 14+

Switched (The Trylle Trilogy #1) by Amanda Hocking

     The Trylle books are by Amanda Hocking. They are fantasy books that are set in modern day but with a secret world built in. Kind of like Harry Potter, only not as good. (Sorry, I'm a huge Harry Potter fan and nothing I've read can come close to those books!)  
      The Trylle Trilogy I read in about a week.  All 3 in 1 week. I couldn't put them down.  The first one was called Switched, which is what I am talking about in this post. It starts out with Wendy, who seems like a normal girl, living a normal life... Until you find out that when Wendy was 6 her mom tried to kill her. Wendy lives with her brother and Aunt now and they move from town to town because Wendy has a knack for getting into trouble, forcing them to move away. Now enter Finn. He's a mysterious guy at Wendy's new school who is about to unravel Wendy's life and completely change her point of view. He comes to tell her that she is not a human and was a changeling who was switched at birth. Finn is sent to retrieve Wendy from her human home and to take her home to Trylle, where she belongs.  Wendy is forced to enter a whole new world and become someone new. She wants to fit in in this new place, but she doesn't want to leave her brother and Aunt behind, both of whom have done so much for her over the years.

          This was a good, quick read. Had a lot of plot twists that I was not expecting and it also had some action scenes in it as well. The Vittra are the enemy "tribe" to the Trylle and they are constantly trying to attack the Trylle and take Wendy (you find out why in the book, I don't want to ruin it for you!). The book that I got, and I think most of the books have it now had a special add on story called "The Vittra Attacks."  It takes a scene from the book and explains it from the Vittra's point of view. I thought that was very neat because you never get to see exactly what happens in the "bad guy's lair" or inside their head, it's always from the point of view of the hero. The other two books in the series also have similar stories at the end of the book.  

           I would recommend these books for Young Adult readers. Girls mostly, but the right boy may enjoy it because it does have action scenes in it. There is some content in the books that may not be appropriate for young readers, and the language in the books can sometimes get graphic. 

          I would like to read the Watersong series by Amanda Hocking as well. Has anyone read those? I think that may be next (or somewhere up top) on my to read list, that seems to be getting longer and longer by the minute. I don't hate it one bit. 

Want to buy the book? Here it is on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

© ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, Amanda Hocking

Quick Review:
Title: Switched (Trylle Trilogy #1)
Author: Amanda Hocking

Pages: 318 (paperback) including the "bonus" story

Recommended for: Young adult girls, with some reservations about the language and content. Probably ages 14+

The Elite by Kiera Cass (The Selection #2)

****SPOILER ALERT**** If you have not read The Selection by Kiera Cass, I would highly recommend that you DO NOT read this post. This is the next book in the trilogy and if you read what I have to say about this book then you'll know what happens in the first one.  Read what I have to say on The Selection here.

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Okay, since you are still reading, I am assuming that you have read The Selection. First of all... When I first picked up this book, I didn't realize that it was a trilogy. So when I came to the end and nobody had been picked I was upset. Now, however, I have come to terms with the fact that it is a trilogy and have read the next one in the series. The Elite was riveting. I could not put it down, and I think I finished it in a day. Now that the Selection has been going on for quite some time, Prince Maxon has narrowed down the Selection from 35 down to 6. We've gotten to know the girls pretty well and I know everyone dislikes Celeste. She really gets on my nerves. Doesn't Prince Maxon see what a conniving, backstabbing biotch she is? But onto America.. She hasn't decided if she's still in love with Aspen, or if she loves Prince Maxon... AND THEN Aspen shows up at the castle as a guard! Did not see that one coming. Of course it complicates things, forcing America to remember all the promises and secrets that Aspen and her shared. The other girls are now fighting even harder for the crown and America is forced to make some hard decisions. But just as America decides exactly where she wants to be a devastating and heartbreaking loss forces her to reconsider her choices.  The rebels are also fighting against the throne, throwing in some action packed scenes and making America think about what it would be like if she lost Maxon or Aspen. 
     I personally would love for America to choose Maxon. I think that he really cares about her and she knows it would really help her family out for her to be so powerful and rich.  I also think that with America as the Princess and eventually the Queen that it would make for some very interesting changes in the kingdom.  America has good ideas about changing things up and I think with Maxon's help they could really make it work, as well as create a beautiful life together. Aspen is a good choice and I know he would make it work with America and really work hard to provide for her, but I don't know if after the Selection she will be allowed to marry an eight.  Now that she has jumped to a three rank, I feel like nobody will allow for her to marry an eight. In the book I also like how supportive America's dad is of her. Especially during the scene where she tries to stand up for Marlee and her dad tells her how proud he was of her trying to do that. It brought me to tears. I am rooting hard core for America and I can't wait to read The One which doesn't come out until May 2014! Yikes, that's a long time to wait.
    Also, there is another Selection novella called The Prince.  I have not read this yet, but apparently it is from the point of view of the Prince and it's about the other girl in Prince Maxon's life before the Selection. Gasp! Wow. It's only 64 pages so I will probably download it on my nook and read it real quick and let you know what I think! If anyone has read it already, let me know what you think!
   Unrelated to the Selection novels but completely related to Kiera Cass, you should check out her YouTube Channel. She's so awesome and down to earth and she does some "interviews" with the Selection girls.  She dresses up as them herself and answers some questions as if she were them.  They are hilarious. You can watch them here, and here is Kiera Cass' YouTube Channel.

Thanks for reading!

Copyright © 2012, Kiera Cass.

Want to own it? Here it is on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Quick Review:
Title: The Elite (Selection Book 2)
Author: Kiera Cass
Pages: 323 (hardcover)
Recommended for: Young adult girls

The Selection by Kiera Cass

            The first book that I have decided to talk about is The Selection by Kiera Cass.  I read this book a little while ago and it was fantastic. It's set in future United States after China has tried to take over and failed. The public is divided into Castes, with the wealthiest people deemed as "Ones" and the poorest people "eights." There is a King and Queen and the Selection is set up to find the future Princess of the kingdom.  It gives thirty-five girls the chance of a lifetime. They are given the opportunity to enter the world of glittering gowns and sparkly jewels to fight for the heart of the handsome Prince Maxon. Okay so I know what you're thinking, this sounds so much like the Bachelor. Well, it is kinda. But with much higher stakes. The rules are much stricter for the girls and they are forced into "Princess training" for when one of them is chosen. Enter America Singer, the protagonist of the story. She does not want to be swept up into this fancy world. America has already decided to spend the rest of her life with Aspen, but their love is secret because he is a whole caste below her.  She is picked in the Selection (surprise!) and is forced  to compete for a crown she doesn't really want. Of course, like any book she goes into the competition hating the Prince and then gradually finds out he may not be all bad. But does she want to give up the future she's been imagining with Aspen? Dun dun dun... What happens next? 

Copyright © 2012, Kiera Cass.

Well.. you have to read it to find out! It's a quick read, meant for young adults. The hardcover edition is only 327 pages, which is nothing. A very quick read and definitely worth it! 

Want to get it? Here it is on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Quick Review:
Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Pages: 327 (hardcover)
Recommended for: Young adult girls

And So It Begins...

             I have decided to start a new adventure today. It's summer, it's nice out, perfect tanning weather, yet all I want to do is read. I've decided sharing the books I read and what I think about them will make the amount I read seem a little less scary. I have to admit, I am a total bookaholic. I buy books even though I have a million on my shelf still waiting to be read.  I'm pretty sure I inherited this trait from my mom. She does the same thing. I have millions on millions of books to read, yet I still buy more books when I see them. I have a hard time walking past a bookstore without walking in and buying something.  McKay's in Manassas? I can barely drive past there without feeling an overwhelming urge to pull over, run inside and scoop something up. 
            My boyfriend thinks it's a problem. And you know what, I think he may be right. But with this blog, it will make it seem (to me at least) that I HAVE to read. I have to blog about my books when I'm done and somebody is dying to read about what I've read! I'm thinking that this may turn out to be a terrible idea, or maybe it'll end up being fun? Who knows. 
           Join me on my adventure this summer as I try and read as many books as humanly possible and then blog about each and every one of them.  If you ever have any suggestions or books you think I should read, please let me know! (As if I don't have enough to read already, what's one more book right?) 
            
         And now..  Let the games begin.....