Legacy by Molly Cochran

Five out of Five stars.


Such a high rating rewarded to such a worthy book. This is the best book that I've read in a long time. It's rare that I find a good book these days, and I really lucked up when I received this one in the Galley Grab newsletter. Now of course, I didn't just jump into this right away, because that just wouldn't be me. No, I had to read the Goodreads reviews first. From the few reviews that I found, I discovered that there weren't really many fans of this book. Personally, I didn't see the problem. I mean the story line was...imaginative? I don't know if there really is a word to describe it, but what I do know is that for supernatural novel it was highly original and I could tell that Molly Cochran really did her research. The characters were lovable enough. The romance wasn't built plainly on lust disguised as love like most YA Romance novels these days (although I can't say that I would mind much if it was...pervert? Guilty as charged. ;D). The writing was just beautiful. It had substance, and meaning, which is what a lot of today's paranormal romance novels lack these days. I will admit that a few of the situations and reactions were a tad bit unrealistic, but it is fiction after all. Supernatural fiction, at that. Overall, it was a finely crafted novel and I didn't regret the time spent reading it after I finished it. So yeah, I seriously don't see where all the negative opinions about this came from. I mean, like I said, they're opinions. If you want to hate this novel, then that's your prerogative, but I just want to understand why so many people hated it. Or am I exaggerating? Or maybe the only reason I didn't hate it was because I had lowered my expectations after reading the bad reviews? Maybe...

It's A List!: The Next Book in That Series You Love (YA Novels 2011-2012)

1. Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz (#4 in the Touch series)

Expected Publication: December 6, 2011

2. The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting (#3 in the Body Finder series)

Expected Publication: 2012

3. Spellbound by Rachel (#3 in the Hell Hall Series)

Expected Publication: March 13, 2012

4. Stormy Nights by Ellen Schreiber (#9 in the Vampire Kisses series)

Expected Publication: 2012

5. Fever by Lauren DeStefano (#2 in the Chemical Gardens series)

Expected Publication: February 21, 2012

6. Thumped by Megan McCafferty (#2 in the Bumped series)

Expected Publication: 2012

7. Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter (#5 in the Gallagher Girls series)

Expected Publication: March 20, 2012

7. So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev (#3 in the Theatre Illuminata series)

Expected Publication: September 13, 2011

End Note: Have you noticed that the majority of the books on this list are fantasy oriented? It's a bit sad that YA authors won't take the time to write a great non-fantasy romance novel anymore. Although these series' are awesome, I still miss the good old days where Dessen, Cabot, Abbott, and Scott (Elizabeth, not Westerfield) ruled the teen romance section.

My Apologies Dears!

Oh my goodness, I've been gone far too long! Life has just been so busy! I feel horrible about breaking my promise (again!) on the books I was to review. So, I think I'm going to do away with Coming Soon lists, as I've proven to be unreliable. I don't want to make anymore promises I can't keep, so from now on I'm going to have a "What's Hot" list instead of "Coming Soon" lists, if that's alright with you guys.

Hex Hall Series: Book 1 and 2 by Rachel Hawkins

Before I read this series, I was pretty much turned off the whole paranormal romance thing, because there are just too many of them, and the monotony is killing me. It's rare that you're find a normal normal YA romance novel these days. But it's not just that. That's not the reason why I'm turned off of the genre. It's mainly because they're all the same. The same mythical creatures, the same story formulas. 


But, this one was different, which is why I absolutely loved it. So many twists and turns. It just really kept me guessing. 


The only thing I didn't like was it's blatant similarities to the Evernight Series. And don't tell me that you've read both series and didn't notice! Think about it: girl goes to school designed to train and help [insert mythical creature here] control their powers, girl meets boy at the aforementioned school, girl and boy fall in love/like, girl discovers that boy is actually a member of a secret organization devoted to hunting and killing [insert mythical creature here], boy flees school, girl is forbidden to see boy, boy and girl can't stay away from each other and end up sneaking out to see each other, girl and boy are discovered by [insert name of third (male) member of love triangle here] but he is so in love with girl that he agrees to keep their secret.


So, as you can see, the Hex Hall series had quite a few similarities. But, hex Hall is also very different from Evernight. The Demon/Witch thing was the biggest difference, and while I'm usually opposed to books that contain demonic characters (lie), it was one of the main reasons I loved this series so much. I seriously cannot wait for book three. Demon Glass left on on sort of a cliffhanger. And, it has me really confused on who Sophie should choose. It's like an Edward vs. Jacob thing, except it's Archer vs. Cal. She loves Archer more, but Cal is better for her. Why? Well, let's see here: he's noble, smart, sexy..... But then again, isn't Archer all of those things, too. Well, Cal has something that Archer doesn't--or, more accurately, Archer is something that Cal is not: he's a member of The Eye. 

Books You Should So Totally Read...

*For Mature Audiences* 1. Protective Custody by Wynter Daniels

2. Flyaway by Helen Landalf

*For Mature Audiences* 3. Tell Me More by Janet Mullany

4. Legacy by Cayla Kluver

5. Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

*For Mature Audiences* 6. Collide by Megan Hart

*For Mature Audiences* 7. The Man She Loves to Hate by Kelly Hunter

8. Divergent by Veronica Roth

9. The False Princess by Ellis O'neal

10. A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson

*For Mature Audiences* 11. The Countess Takes A Lover by Bonnie Dee

Heist Society by Ally Carter

"When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history—and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way."

I have to say that this book was not at all what I expected....well okay, maybe it was a little bit like I expected. But, it really surprised me. Now before I elaborate, let me just say that I was reluctant to read this book. Why? Well it may have had something to do with the fact that I was kind of angry at Ally Carter for abandoning Gallagher Girls (not literally) and starting a whole new series. And not to mention that the last book left us on a serious cliffhanger! But, I'm not here to talk about Gallagher Girls, I'm here to talk about Heist Society, so where was I? Oh yes, my reluctance to read it? Another reason I didn't want to read it was because a few of my friends had already read it and had told me that it was seriously lacking in the romance department...and we all know that I don't read anything that does not contain romance willingly. But, I decided to give it a try anyway,  since it was Ally Carter (whom I adore).

And what do ya' know? My friends were wrong! Which is why it surprised me.  While there wasn't really any of that kissing-I love you, and we're so meant to be together-going out on dates-stuff, there was quite a bit of that will they-or won't they-stuff. Between Hale and Kat, that is. And, there was a mini love triangle (for like a millisecond), but we won't get into that. 

What I loved about this book was not just the romance, but also the action, the adventure, the mystery, the heist. I felt like I was watching a movie while reading this. The characters were awesome and I fell in love with Hale not just once, but twice! Heist Society was brilliantly written and I know Ally Carter must have done loads of research...either that or she herself is secretly a part of a heist society...but I'm pretty sure it's the former. The way she told the story  is what really just kept me going, kept me wanting more.  I'm not usually a fan of stories told in the third person (which I will elaborate on at a later date), but I absolutely loved this one.  

I cannot wait for the Book  2, Uncommon Criminals, to come out (hopefully I can find an ARC or Galley before then). Ally Carter really outdid herself this time. This one deserves five stars.

Stylish Blogger Award! Yay!

So guess what?? I've received my very first blogging award! I was given this award (Stylish Blogger Award) by The Chey Show.

These are the rules if you get the award:

• Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
• Tell us 7 things about yourself.
• Award 15 super stylish bloggers this award.
• Contact those bloggers and let them know they have won.

So, here are seven awesome things about yours truly!

1. I'm an introvert - it's true. 

2. I love Chinese food - Favorite fast food place? Panda Express (although the food there is technically more American than it is Chinese).
3. I'm super sensitive.
4. I'm an optimist
5. I love reading - shocked? I know.
6. I write poetry
7. I feel like most of the people I talk to just aren't on my level - Not to say that I'm smarter than everyone I talk to because, trust me, I'm not. I just believe that my mind set and way of thinking is a little on the unique side.


15 Super Stylish [Book] Bloggers?? Coming right up!


1. Me, My Shelf, and I
2. Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm
3. Lip Gloss and Literature
4. Book Soulmates
5. Books Over Boys
6. A Cupcake and a Latte
7. Tina's Book Reviews
8. Jessica's Bookshelf
9. Read Me, Bookmark Me, Love Me
10. LC's Adventures in Libraryland
11. 100 Stars or Less
12. The Book Swarm
13. Teen Book Addict
14. Red Hot Books
15. Under the Covers

Congratulations to all of you! I am so honored to have received this award and I hope you guys will be just as honored! Lots of love to you all! <3 <3