January/February Wrap Ups 2015

Here's a quick insight to what I read in January and February. With a brief explanation if I loved the books or didn't. If you wish to have a review on any of these please feel free to let me know in the comments.

January:

To be honest I was in a reading slump in the first two weeks of January. I was burnt out from 2014. I read 104 books. That's the most I've ever read in a year. Anyway here is the five books I read in the new year.

1. A Seal's Surrender (Uniformly Hot Seal's#2) by Tawny Weber 3/5 stars Having been in a reading slump. I decided an adult romance was the fix. I did have some issues with this one. Which is was its only a three. I do have book one on my kindle. Might read it at some point.

2. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak 5/5 stars (reread)

My first reread in 2015. I read this in January of last year. I loved it then and still do. Although this time around there were tears.

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton 5/5 stars

How did I not know this was a book? I adore the movie. Halloween is my favorite holiday. So of course I asked for this as a birthday gift. Read it one sitting was a short book.

4. Steelheart( The Reckoners,#1) by Brandon Sanderson 5/5 stars

To be honest hearing this hyped up on BookTube is my reasoning for reading this one. But Brandon did not disappoint. Sooo good. I want Firelight now!!

5. Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass,#1) by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars (reread)

Kickass female lead. Amazing loved even more the second time around.

Favorite book of the month: Steelheart.

February:

Was a better reading month for me. Managed to read seven books.

1. The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass, #0.1-0. 5) by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars

Loved it. Need I say more about this series?

2. At Any Price (Gaming the System,#1) by Brenna Price 4/5 stars

Quick new adult romance.

3. A Court of Thorns and Roses eSampler by Sarah J. Maas5/5 stars

Reading this four chapter sampler, has me craving this book even more!!

4. Crown of  Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2) by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars (reread)

5. Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3) by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars

Caught up with the series. Want Queen of Shadows!!

6. The Black Mage:Apprentice by Rachel E. Carter 5/5 stars

To be a few chapters to remember the events of book one.

7. O'Hurley Born by Nora Roberts 5/5 stars

Needed an adult romance.

Favorite book of the month:

Heir of Fire

Phew, that's my wrap ups for the past 2 months.

Not going to post a March TBR. I never really stick to them. I have a few books on hold on the overdrive library.

Let me know what you read in January and February. Did you read ant if the books I mentioned?

Happy Reading, Ashley.

My Top 15 Most Anticipated Books of 2015

A new year of great books are upon us. I'm super excited for them all. But here are my Top 15 I'm most excited for.

1. Queen of Shadows, (Throne of Glass, #4) by Sarah J. Maas

I freaking love this series so much. I haven't read Heir of Fire but when I do I know I will need this ASAP!!!

Release date: September 1st 2015

2. End of Days (Penryn and the End of Days, 3) by Susan Ee

Angels have attacked earth. I loved Angelfall and World After. Can I just have this already?

Release date: May 5th 2015

3. A Court of Thorns and Roses( A Court of Thorns and Roses,#1) by Sarah J. Maas

A new book series from my new favorite author. Yes, please!! Have this previous already pre-order.

Release date: May 5th 2015

4. Red Queen(Red Quuen,#1) by Victoria Aveyard

Hearing alot of good things about this one. I love the cover!!

Release date: February 10th 2015

5. Armada by Ernest Cline

I loved Ready Player One. Was one of my top 14 of 2014. Can't wait to see what this one is about.

6. Shadow Scale(Seraphina,#2) by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina was one of the first dragon books I read back in 2012. So I've been wanting for this sequel for a while.

Release date: March 10th 2015

7. Don't Stay Late: A Fear Street Novel by R.L. Stone

R.L. Stine is a favorite author of mine since Goosebumps (yes, I grew up in the 90s) I'm excited for a new book from him. His scary stories I can handle.

Release date: April 7th 2015

8. I Was Here by Gayle Forman

I heard nothing but amazing things about Gayle's writing.

Release date: January 27th 2015

9. All the Rage by Courtney Summers

I've only read one of her books. Fall For Anything really loved it.

Release date: April 14th 2015

10. The Liar by Nora Roberts

New novel from Nora Roberts, enough said.

Release date: April 16th 2015

11. The Heir (The Selection,#4) by Keira Cass

The Selection series got me out of a reading slump last year. Excited where the characters are now.

Release date: May 5th 2015

12. The Heart of Betrayal( The Remnant Chronicles,#2) by Mary E. Pearson

The Kiss of Deception which is the first book. Had a crazy plot twist. I'm excited for the sequel.

Release date: July 7th 2015

13. The Copper Gauntlet (Magisterium,#2) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

The Iron Trial is book one. Loved it, want to read book two.

Release date: September 1st 2015

14. Rogue(Talon,#2) by Julie Kagawa

Julie always blows my mind. Her world of dragons is no exception.

Release date: April 28th 2015

15. The Black Mage: Apprentice (The Black Mage,#2) by Rachel E. Carter

The sequel to The Black Mage:First Year.

Alanna mixed with Throne of Glass.

Release date: February 17th 2015

Are you excited for any of these books I mentioned? What are some books you're looking forward to in 2015.

Happy Reading, Ashley.

Benefits of Rereading

I know some readers never reread a book. They feel like it's a waste of time. When they could be reading a new book. I however love to reread a book whether it is a stand alone or series. I think rereading a book that is apart of a series helps put the past events fresh in your mind. Especially if the first novel came out and then a year or two later the sequel comes out.

Sometimes rereading a favorite book can help you get out of a reading slump. I have done that a few times in the past. You fall back in love with the story, characters, and it gets your passion for reading up again.

Rereading a favorite series for example the Harry Potter series. Is like revisiting old friends. No matter how,many times I read them I still feel the same as I did when I read them for the first time.

Do my question to you my lovely readers, Do you reread books? If so what are your favorites to revisit?

Happy Reading, Ashley

ReVamped Time

Hello My lovely readers, I've been MIA since September of last year. Bad book blogger. I even started a new blog to try and get back into blogging again but then I realized why would I abandon this one. It's where I started and I feel like it's my child. So I'm going to revamp it and get back to sharing my love of books with you all. I'm sorry for not being the best book blogger. I hope you all are going to join me on this journey.

I'm going to put the posts I shared on the other blog I started. I think I'm going to delete it then. Focus on BooksAreDiamonds again. Because books are my diamonds.

Excited to get the ball going. Happy Reading, Ashley!!!

The Black Mage:First Year by Rachel E. Carter

The Black Mage:First Year by Rachel E. Carter
Publisher: Astraea Press
Page Amount: 278
Series: The Black Mage, #1
Source: Review




"Before the age of seventeen the young men and women of Jerar are given a choice –follow tradition, or pursue a trial year in one of the realm’s three war schools to study as a soldier, knight or mage… 

For 15-year-old Ryiah the choice has always been easy. Become a warrior and leave the boring confines of her lowborn life behind. Set to enroll in the School of Knighthood on the eve of her next birthday, plans suddenly shift when her twin brother discovers powers. Hoping that hers will soon follow, she enrolls with Alex at the Academy instead –the realm’s most notorious war school for those with magic. 

Yet when she arrives Ry finds herself competing against friend and foe for one of the exalted apprenticeships. Every “first-year” is given a trial year to prove their worth –and no amount of hard work and drive will guarantee them a spot. It seems like everyone is rooting for her to fail –and first and foremost among them Prince Darren, the school prodigy who has done nothing but make life miserable since she arrived. 

When an accidental encounter leads Ryiah and Darren to an unlikely friendship she is convinced nothing good will come of it. But the lines become blurred when she begins to improve –and soon she is a key competitor for the faction of Combat… Still, nothing is ever as it seems –and when the world comes crashing down around her, Ry is forced to place faith in the one thing she can believe in –herself. Will it be enough?"
-Goodreads


My Thoughts:
I was given for an honest review.I'll started with saying I can definitely see how fans of Tamora Pierce 's Song of the Lioness would love this. Between Ryiah and Alexander being twins and Ryiah training to be a mage. But girls are allowed to train with the boys. Ryiah is a force to be reckoned with. She trained very hard to get to where the first years get to at the end. I loved her bickering the Prince Darren. And how she wasn't sure what to make of him and the way he made her feel.


I am so glad to have been given a change to read and review The Black Mage:First Year by Rachel E. Carter. Highly recommend for fans of Tamora Pierce, Sarah J. Maas. Anyone who loves female progtanstic that kicks butt.

That ending....I need book two now!!!!!

5/5 stars, Happy Reading, Ashley.

September TBR 2014

Since I had some reading slumps happen in August. I'm determined to read more in September. With Fall coming up I feel like curling up and getting alot of reading.

Here is my September TBR for 2014:

Currently reading:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling about 65% done.
Its also a re-read

TBR:
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
2. The Black Mage: First Year by Rachel E. Carter
This is for review!!
3. Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
4. Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
5. Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout
6. Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout
7. Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rereading the first half of the Covenant series to read the last two
8. Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
9. Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout
10. Wild Heat by Bella Andre (re-read)
11. Hot As Sin by Bella Andre
12. Never Too Hot by Bella Andre
13. Sanctum by Sarah Fine (re-read)
14. Fractured by Sarah Fine

I've already read three books so far. I'll tell you all about them in my wrap up. But I really want to catch up/finish some series I own.  If I manage to get through all of these I might add some more. I know banned books week is the 21st to ?. I will try to read a banned book.

But that is my really big TBR for September. Hopefully I stick to it.

Happy Reading, Ashley.

August Wrap Up 2014 and Mini Reviews

Here is a look back at the books I read in August and mini reviews for them.

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
What to say about the Harry Potter series, that hasn't already been said. I loved it more than when I was a child. I'm so glad to be re-reading the series and to finally mark it off my series list. 5/5 stars
2. The Headless Ghost by R.L. Stine
Throughout the month I had times I didn't want to read at all. So I picked up a Goosebumps book, I'm not sure if I read this when I was a kid or not. But it was a quick and spooky read.
4/5 stars
3. The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
I've been slowly working on this big book. I have read a few of Edgar's poems and stories in school. But it was great to read his other tales and poems. 5/5 stars
4. The Selection by Keira Cass
Hearing all about this book and series all over BookTube. I admit the hype it was drew me in and having been in a reading slump. It was just what I needed. I loved America and Prince Maxon. 5/5 stars
5. The Elite by Keira Cass 5/5 stars
6. The One by Keira Cass 5/5 stars
7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Another re-read of this installment of the series. 5/5 stars
8. Alanna by Tamora Pierce
If you haven't read anything by Tamora, I can't recommend her enough. Although the Song of the Lioness is the only series I've read by her. I love it enough to know Tamora is one of my favorite authors.

Well that is all I read in August. Please let me know what you think of the books I read and what you read in August.

Happy Reading, Ashley.