The Elite by Kiera Cass

Hello Lovelies!

Okay I know it has been a while since my last post but I have been trying to enjoy what little vacation time I have. I will have several posts going up the next few days to try to make up for it though so let's get into the first one.

10 out of 10!

Goodreads summary: 
 
Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

When I started this book, I was so excited for the next installment of America's journey with Maxon and it did NOT disappoint. I read it in two days and the only reason it took me that long was because I was traveling with my parents so I couldn't sit and let it consume me. 

America is one of 6 girls left in the Selection and she has all but decided on what she wants and of course things start to crumble around her. Her best friend in the castle is taken from her and Maxon seems to be to blame. She becomes angrier than ever with the situation and decides to put a stop to it. 

It backfires of course and she ends up making the king, as well as Maxon, mad at her. She now is determined to fight harder than ever to get what she wants, now she just has to figure out how.

This book literally had me laughing out loud, crying, and throwing in down in the middle of a sentence. It was one of those books where everything seems to be going so perfectly that you know you by the fact that the book isn't even half over you should stop now before it all comes crashing down around you. There were several times I dreaded to pick the book back up because I knew something I wouldn't like was coming. As a reader, I became so invested in these characters that it hurt my heart when something happened with or to them.

I have only read this book once which should mean that it would only receive a 9 on my scale but I know I will be rereading it and it had me on such a roller coaster of emotions while I was reading it, I couldn't not give it a 10.

I can't wait for the last book to come out and see what happens with these characters. I am so invested at this point, if it doesn't work out for all of them I will curl up in a ball and cry my eyes out. 

As always, leave me a comment telling my what you thought of my review and what other books you think I should read and review. I will be putting all my information about Instagram and Twitter on my About Me page so be sure to follow me on both of those.

Thanks for reading!

C.

The Selection - Kiera Cass

 

10 out of 10!

Goodreads summary-

 For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Hello Lovelies!

 Okay let's start from the beginning. I read this book in less than a day. I absolutely love this book! I've read it 4 times and it keeps getting better. 
 
I love this book so much there are some SPOILERS so reader beware.

When the book begins, America is just a poor girl who is in love with a boy, Aspen, that's below her station. This struck me as similar to The Hunger Games with Gale and Katniss. The reader is given every reason to love Aspen. Until he messes everything up, of course.

Enter Prince Maxon. I love this character. He is sweet and instantly connects with America. America of course does not want to be with him and yells at him the first time she meets him. I love America because she is one of those characters who does not care in the least what anyone else thinks of her. 

She makes a deal with Maxon that even though she doesn't want to be queen, if he lets her stay so her family can get the money that being in the Selection brings, she will become his confidant. Their relationship is adorable! They tug their ears to signal they need to meet. How cute is that? :)

Enter Aspen again.....of course. As soon as America begins to think she could be with Maxon.....of course. But as I've said before, there has to be a conflict for there to be 3 books. 

Aspen is drafted by the military and given orders to guard the palace where he sees America again. He drives me nuts! He didn't want her to lower herself but now that he's on her level he wants to take her away from what could be the love of her life. 

The book ends when she becomes one of the last six in the Selection. Those six become the Elite and that's where the book leaves off.

I love this book and will most likely read it again. Maxon and America's relationship makes me smile. I want them to end of together at the end of this series. Every time Aspen shows up, I cringe.  

I have read the second book in the series already and that will most likely be the next review I do. 

I would love to know what you all think of this book if you have read it. As always, leave me a comment letting me know what you think and what other posts you would like me to do.

Thanks for reading!

C.

Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

 

8 out of 10!

Hello Lovelies!

Goodreads summary:
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

I was drawn to this book mainly because the movie was released and I hate seeing a movie that I haven't read the book to especially when the book has such good reviews. When I picked it up from the store I couldn't wait to get home and read it. I continued to feel this way until I was about two thirds done with this book.

Once I got to that point it seemed to begin to drag. I wanted something to happen and instead I got more things building up to her birthday. I know you have to set the story and the build it up to make it dramatic but my goodness I was so tired of reading this book by this point I just wanted it to be done. 

The ending also had me frustrated. I know in order to set up a sequel there has to be unfinished business and something still has to be wrong with the characters for it to make sense to even write a sequel much less have someone else read it. I understand this but dang! This book does not even touch trying to end on a good note. It just ends. Lena and Ethan are all but going in two separate directions and it's not happy ones. 

I have the second one already but I'm not in a huge hurry to read it. This book left me on a low point with the characters and I already know that things are not going to go the way they want them to just by the ending of this book. 

This book would have probably gotten a lower review if it had not been for the amazing chemistry between Ethan and Lena. I love that Ethan loves Lena immediately and will do anything he can for her. This is the reason I continued on with the story when I wanted to throw it against the wall. 

Leave me a comment telling me what you think about this book. Follow me on instagram @careteach and on twitter @bookjunkie409. Be sure to follow this blog to get all the updates as soon as they happen!

Thank you all for reading!

C.

Once Upon a Tag - Anna Adams

9 out of 10!

Hello Lovelies!

Goodreads summary:
When David, a young French painter, unexpectedly meets Rita, an infamous Parisian street artist, his convictions are shaken to the core during a night he is unlikely to ever forget.

Okay everyone let me start from the beginning. I usually do not like short stories. I do not feel like there is enough for me as a reader to grasp onto. So when I was contacted by Anna to review this story, I was hesitant. 

The first pages sucked me in and I was hooked. I love the writing and the story left me wanting a novel about these characters. Although I usually do not like short stories, the rapidness of this one left me loving the fast pace of the characters and what they are going through.

I love Rita's character and how she looks at David with complete disdain and he looks at her in the same way. This is usually the sign of a great romance to come.

I would love to see a novel spawn out of this story because there are so many things left hanging when the story comes to a close. I also want to read Anna's other books because of this story. It takes me away from the world I live in and transports me to France. I love that about this story and from the preview of Anna's book that where I will get to go again. 

I want to thank Anna for giving me a copy of this story so I could review it for all of you.

As always leave me a comment telling me if you have a book or story you would like for me to review or if you have any other post suggestions for me to do.

Thank you for reading!

C.

Summer Reading has begun!

Hello Lovelies!

Summer has officially begun for me! I get a whole 3 weeks off before I get to go back to school for 2 months. So because I have all this time on my hands I decided to make a list of the books I want to read this summer. 

I wrote them all out on my whiteboard so I can see them everyday. There are some odd ones but most are fairly main stream. 

I'd love to see all of your summer fun reading lists. Leave me a comment and let me know what they are. Maybe I'll add some to my list. If you have any questions, please leave a comment. 

My next review should be coming soon.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter! bookjunkie409  

And on Instagram! careteach

Thanks for reading!

C.