Reading Into Romance - Guest Post w/ Cayla Kluver

Hello, all!  I'm happy to have the chance to host a stop on the Harlequin Teen Reading Into Romance blog tour today.  Stopping by today we have Cayla Kluver, author of the Legacy trilogy.  Cayla will tell you all about a vital key to romance in her books: kissing.  I hope you enjoy and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post.  Good luck!

First Kisses

As we know from the beginning of Legacy, Steldor is a lady’s man, well-experienced in wooing women, and an excellent kisser.  This is clear from Alera’s reactions to some of his advances.  Even though she dislikes him, she recognizes his masculinity and inherent attractiveness, noting after one kiss: “…he departed, leaving me slightly off balance, as I had not anticipated such tenderness from him, and highly unsettled by the knowledge that I had enjoyed both his kiss and his touch.”

As for Steldor, his first kiss with Alera is one he will never forget, for it was the first time a woman ever rejected his advances.  He is at his romantic best, having taken her to dinner and then for a walk in the Palace gardens.  But when he sits with her on a bench and leans in to kiss her, she pulls away, appalled that he would make such a presumptuous move on her.  Before he can kiss her again, she springs to her feet and hastens to London.  Certainly not the way Steldor is used to having his evenings end!  This was, of course, not only Alera’s first kiss with Steldor, but her first romantic kiss, period.  And even though it was entirely unwelcome, she admits to London that “when we were sitting on the bench, I couldn’t think.  He has this amazing… scent.”

Interestingly, up until this first kiss, Steldor was pursuing Alera primarily because she was his way to the throne.  But after this experience, he sees her as a challenge, a handful, and well worth pursuing in her own right.  As strange as it seems, her rejection makes her more attractive to him.

Alera’s first kiss with Narian occurs later in Legacy, and is presumably the first time he has kissed a woman.  It is a forbidden kiss, and comes in the aftermath of Alera learning about the Legend of the Bleeding Moon and being advised to stay away from him.  He has just defeated Steldor in the Exhibition at the Harvest Festival’s Tournament, and she seeks him out in his tent, where his injuries are being treated.  She confronts him about the legend, and the kiss is his way of telling her that he loves her and has no intention of hurting her or her kingdom.  Alera describes the kiss in this way:  “His vivid blue eyes captured mine of deep brown.  As my heart pounded, his lips met mine, lightly at first, then more insistently, and I succumbed to his embrace.  I melted against him, my hands upon his back, all reason having abandoned me.  After several moments, our lips reluctantly parted…”  While she has long been attracted to Narian, this may be the moment when she realized she has fallen in love with him.

So what’s the power of a kiss?  Both Steldor and Narian would seem to be excellent kissers, which would indicate the magic is not in the manner of the kiss itself.  But perhaps a kiss helps to identify your true feelings about someone.  In the case of Steldor, it strengthens Alera’s dislike of him.  With Narian, it confirms that she loves him.  So don’t take a first kiss too lightly, or engage in one too soon.  And above all, pay attention to what your instincts are telling you!

About the Author

With the book industry currently in a debate over print vs. digital, Cayla Kluver, born October 2, 1992 in Wisconsin, truly embodies the next generation of author. At just 19 years-old, Cayla has already published her debut novel Legacy in three different formats.

It all began with self-publication and the creation of her own publishing house (with the help of her mom, called: Forsooth Publishing) in 2008. Cayla was then offered a digital debut with Amazon (was the premier title for Amazon’s self-publishing program, Amazon Encore) in 2009. Finally in 2010 Cayla was signed to a three book publishing deal with Harlequin TEEN.

She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy.  Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors.  She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook.

Check Out the Other Stops

Monday, March 4th - Karen Ann Hopkins and Temptation:

• Bittersweet Enchantment

• The Cozy Reader

• Paulette's Papers

Wednesday, March 6th - Liz Fichera and Hooked:

• Bumbles and Fairy-Tales

• IB Book Blogging

• Chick Loves Lit

Friday, March 8th - Cayla Kluver and the Legacy series:

• YA Bibliophile

• Rex Robot Reviews

• Starting the Next Chapter

Monday, March 11th - Aimée Carter and The Goddess Test series:

• Coffee, Books and Me

• Book Nook

• Bookshelf Banter

Wednesday, March 13th - Julie Kagawa and The Iron King series:

• Refracted Light Reviews

• Page Turners

• Mundie Moms

Friday, March 15th - Katie McGarry and Pushing the Limits:

• Alice Marvels

• Bewitched Bookworms

• Katie's Book Blog

Monday, March 18th - Rachel Vincent and The Soul Screamers series:

• Fiktshun

• Parajunkee

• The Bookish Brunette

Wednesday, March 20th - Hannah Harrington and Saving June:

• A Bookish Escape

• The Book Cellar

• Basia's Bookshelf

Friday, March 22nd - Jordan Dane and In The Arms of Stone Angels:

• Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf

• Fantasy Book Addict

• Swoony Boys Podcast

The Giveaway

Today's Daily Prize:

Your Choice of 1 of the Books in the Legacy Trilogy

The Grand Prize:

HarlequinTEEN dresses you for a romantic date with this beautiful, unique heart shaped locket! And in case it’s a chilly spring evening, don’t forget the matching beautiful Pashmina!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour - Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver

Welcome back, dear readers, for another awesome blog tour.  Today I am happy to be able to play host to the final stop on the Sacrifice Blog Tour.  I first started reading this series shortly after I began this blog, so it has pretty much been with me from the beginning.  I have enjoyed reading this series so much, so I'm very glad to get to be part of the tour for the last book.  Today, I am going to give you the top 5 things I love most about the Legacy series.  Feel free to chime in with all the things you like about it, as well.

Top 5 Things I Love About the Legacy Trilogy

1. The World-Building: I have always liked the ways in which the kingdom of Hytanica are described and brought to life on the page.  You can really get a sense of what you would see around you if you were to be transported into the book to see for yourself.

2. The Characters: Watching the various characters develop and change has been a great experience, especially when it comes to Alera.  Seeing her morph from a princess whose days are filled with the social engagements expected of her to a strong queen more than willing to lead her people has been simply great.

3. The Intrigue: Just when you think you have things all figured out, something will happen to make you think twice.  The nature of the conflict between Hytanica and Cokyri is one of intimidation and mystique.  It's hard to know who is on which side, but it sure is a lot of fun trying to figure it out!

4. The Society: When I get down to the sheer base of things I find interesting about this series, underneath it all is an appreciation for the social gatherings Alera gives and frequents.  From the fashions to the friendships and acquaintances, there is so much to observe. 

5. The Adventure: I couldn't get enough of the sense of adventure that is present in this story.  That it builds and builds through each book just makes things even better.  C'est magnifique!

About the Author

With the book industry currently in a debate over print vs. digital, Cayla Kluver, born October 2, 1992 in Wisconsin, truly embodies the next generation of author. At just 19 years-old, Cayla has already published her debut novel Legacy in three different formats.

It all began with self-publication and the creation of her own publishing house (with the help of her mom, called: Forsooth Publishing) in 2008. Cayla was then offered a digital debut with Amazon (was the premier title for Amazon’s self-publishing program, Amazon Encore) in 2009. Finally in 2010 Cayla was signed to a three book publishing deal with Harlequin TEEN.

She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy.  Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors.  She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook.

About the Book

Click the Cover to Add to GR!

This is not the time for the fight to end. Now is when the fight will begin. This is the time to regain what has been lost.

This is a story told by two:

ALERA – Queen of a fallen kingdom, secretly in love with the enemy.

SHASELLE – Daughter of a murdered father, rebel with a cause.

One was ruler of Hytanica, but now walks the razor’s edge to keep the fragile peace in her beloved homeland.

The other slips through the war-torn streets, seeking retribution for her family’s tragedy, following whispers of insurgency.

Both face choices that will separate them from those they cannot help but love. As their stories intertwine, a conspiracy ignites that may end in slavery or death—or lead to freedom anew, if only each can face what must be sacrificed. Told in part from within the castle by Alera and in part outside the walls by a new character, Shaselle, SACRIFICE showcases the final epic battle for love and freedom.

The Giveaways

One reader of this blog will win a copy of Sacrifice, the third and final book in the Legacy trilogy.  The grand prize that will be awarded to one winner from the entirety of the tour includes all that you see below:

Good luck, everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Exciting New Cover This Week!

Yesterday, Harlequin Teen revealed the third and final cover for Cayla Kluver's Legacy series.  I thoroughly enjoyed both Legacy and Allegiance and I can't wait for the third book, Sacrifice, which will be released this October 30th!  Isn't this cover gorgeous!?

It doesn't appear as though there is a plot description yet, but based on the events at the end of Allegiance, I just know it's going to be fabulous!

Enter to Win a Kindle Touch!

The tournament is over and now it's time for the big prize.  Up for grabs is a Kindle Touch wearing a lovely Allegiance skin.  This giveaway runs for 5 days and can be entered via any of the blog tour host sites (we all have the same Rafflecopter form).  If you need a refresher, you can view my post HERE.  At the bottom of that post, you will also find links to the other tour participants' blogs.  There is also 5 more days to enter to win a copy of Allegiance in that post, so if you missed out before, now is your chance!

Here is the grand prize for this giveaway:



What are you waiting for?  Go enter!  Good luck!

Allegiance Tournament - Why Hytanica is the Place to Be

Greetings, dear readers.  I hope you are all ready for an extra special treat today.  It is my pleasure to take part in the blog tour for Cayla Kluver's Allegiance by telling you why Hytanica trumps Cokyri and deserves your vote.  I invite you all to sit down, view the evidence put forth by myself and all of the other tour participants, and come to your own conclusions.  If you choose, you will be in the running to win the amazingly awesome grand prize at the end of the tour!

 
So, What's So Great About Hytanica?

• What a view!  Hytanica: a vibrant city surrounded by lush forests and rolling countryside.  Whether you enjoy serene walks or horseback riding, Hytanica is the place for you.  How can you deny the beauty of such a place? 
• You won't go hungry!  Why on earth would you wish to live in a desert that doesn't easily support the growth of food crops when you can live in such an idyllic setting that is able to provide ample sustenance to its citizens?   Hytanica doesn't have to raid neighboring kingdoms for resources!
• Fashionistas welcome!  Hytanica is THE place to be if you enjoy things such as fashion.  You have to admit, there are some gorgeous dresses worn in both Legacy and Allegiance.   The guys do pretty well, too, judging by Steldor's wardrobe.
• Party on!  Parties and balls are in pretty regular occurrence at the palace and at various manors dotted throughout the countryside.  From tea parties to balls, Hytanica offers many opportunities to have fun and socialize.
• It's raining men!  Two words: eye candy!  Yes, ladies, there are some fine, strapping young men to be found in Hytanica.  The best part?  You don't have to worry about some evil overlord coming along to terrorize you at a given moment (unless, of course, he invades your city).  Just be prepared to keep them in line.  ;-)

Series Information

Book 1: Legacy (July 2011)
Book 2: Allegiance (March 2012)
Book 3: Sacrifice (November 2012)  

About Allegiance:
Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / IndieBound

AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD QUEEN IN LOVE WITH THE ENEMY AS THEIR COUNTRIES PASS THE POINT OF NO RETURN…

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn’t truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica—until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn….

About Cayla Kluver

Cayla Kluver was born on October 2, 1992, in Wisconsin. She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy. Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors. She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads 







Contest Info

Allegiance is on tour with daily giveaways of Allegiance and a Grand Prize giveaway of a Kindle Touch skinned in the sumptuous Allegiance cover art.

To win the Grand Prize of the Kindle Touch you will be able enter at the end of the Tour by guessing which Champion won The Tournament! Be sure to check out all the tour stops!

  

Monday, February 20th - YA Bibliophile
Wednesday, February 22nd - For Those About To Read
Friday,February 24th - Books With Bite

Monday, February 27th - Harlequin Blog
Tuesday, February 28th (Book Birthday!!) - Hippies Beauty & Books
Wednesday,February 29th - Starting The Next Chapter 
Friday,March 2nd - A Cupcake and A Latte

Monday,March 5th - Electrifying Reviews
Wednesday,March 7th - Kindle Fever
Friday,March 9th - Unabridged Andrea

Daily entries for the copy of Allegiance are managed through the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open US/Canada. See full contest rules here. 

  

Review - Allegiance

by Cayla Kluver
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: February 28, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 490
source: Netgalley
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive.

An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn...

What I Thought

When sitting down to read Allegiance, I did so with the knowledge of how wonderful the previous book, Legacy, had been.  Little did I know, I was in for a treat.  Not only is Allegiance a likewise wonderful book, I am happy to say that it is even better!  Cayla Kluver's historically-inspired fantasy world was about to push the bounds of everything I thought I knew of the atmosphere in which this series takes place.  This novel, detailing the conflict of duty vs. love and good vs. evil, provides a smooth plot progression that makes it so very easy to sink into the story, thus allowing hours to pass by before coming up for air.  This well-written, descriptive novel is everything a fan of fantasy fiction could want.

Alera, Steldor, Narian, and Hytanica all come into their own within the pages of Allegiance.  Alera begins to leave behind childhood and develops an inner strength that will get her through many struggles and allow her to become a ruler that even the patriarchal, misogynistic society of Hytanica will respect; Steldor, the reprehensible, egotistical young man whom Alera now finds herself shackled to by the bonds of duty reveals some surprising character traits; and Narian finds himself trying to balance allegiance by way of love and allegiance by way of coercion.  These characters, as well as others scattered throughout the story, have developed so much past what they were in Legacy.  Each has newly found strengths and weaknesses that make them such well-rounded characters.  I couldn't help but question with whom my sympathies lay the most.  I was absolutely blown away by the time the last chapter was complete that I immediately wanted the next book to read.  It was just that phenomenal.

If you, yourself, enjoyed Legacy, don't hesitate.  You will want to read Allegiance as soon as possible.  If you haven't yet begun to read this series, I must urge you to do so.  Cayla Kluver's books will not leave you wanting.  With its smooth plot progression and propensity for detail, Allegiance will leave you stunned and craving more.  Fans of both historical fiction and fantasy can find enjoyment in this series due to its historically-inspired world-building and the presence of a mysterious Cokyrian magic.  I can not wait to house this entire series on my shelves.

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.     

Review: Legacy

by Cayla Kluver
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: June 28, 2011
format: egalley
pages: 496
source: Netgalley
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

The first boy disappeared on the day of his birth, on a night when the pale yellow moon of the nighttime sky turned red and bathed the heavens in the ghastly color of blood, on the same night the Kingdom of Cokyri abruptly ceased its merciless attack.

Across the land of Hytanica, under the shadow of the crimson moon, infant boys continued to vanish. Not until the blood had faded from the sky did the disappearances stop and the bodies of the murdered infants were found outside the gates of the city, a final word from the greatest enemy Hytanica had ever known. For the next sixteen years, peace reigned, but one mystery remained unsolved. The Cokyrians had abducted forty-nine newborns, but returned only forty-eight bodies.

Now, as seventeen-year-old Princess Alera of Hytanica is besieged from all sides by suitors vying for the Throne, a teenage Cokyrian boy, Narian, is encountered within the walls of her Kingdom, a boy who will show Alera a world where women serve a purpose and not just a husband. As Narian helps Alera find her voice, she struggles against an arranged marriage that will shatter the life she has scarcely begun to live. And when Narian's shocking past is uncovered, and war with Cokyri looms once more, he must fight to defy a fate ordained at his birth.

What I Thought

Legacy is a interesting mixture of fantasy and historical fiction. Taking place in the fictional, medieval era-like kingdom of Hytanica, Legacy focuses less on magic (which is alluded to but doesn't manifest in this book) and more on the life of Alera, the crown princess who is caught up in a web of duty, tradition, and lack of personal rights. Added to all of this, there is danger on the horizon in the form of the threat that is Cokyri, the land Hytanica had been at war with sixteen years prior and who had been responsible for the deaths of forty-eight infants, as well as the disappearance of another. When a mysterious Cokyrian boy is captured and brought to the palace, Alera's world begins to transform as she learns about choice and struggles to make a difficult decision: duty or love?

Alera was a slightly difficult character to grow accustomed to, at first. This is a girl who has been raised in a world where women have little to no choice in the way their lives turn out. This can be a bit difficult to reconcile with the 20th/21st century mindset, but it is well worth sinking into the world that Alera lives in just so you can see the impact of the transformations Alera is going through. She is at the onset of a major change in the way she views herself and the women surrounding her. Without the context of the Hytanican mindset, the whole point would be lost. What Alera goes through is frustrating and, in many ways, sad. I grew to really feel for her and rooted for her until the very end. As for the other characters, there was a great variety on offer. The diversity of the different guards made for interesting interactions. The guards range from serious and authoritative to bumbling and foolish. This kept the story from stagnating and, at times, provided for a little comic relief.

There is a bit of a love triangle in Legacy, though not in the sense that one might typically find in a YA romance. First, there is Steldor, the man Alera's father wants her to marry. This man represents duty, as her father believes that he will be a good king, but Alera finds him to be insufferable and, at times, cruel. Second, there is Narian, the man who represents love amongst Alera's choices. He is respectful of Alera, but also a hard nut to crack. At times she is unsure of him, which is a problem when combined with her lack of confidence in herself. As she struggles with the depth of her feelings for Narian and her loathing for Steldor, Alera is faced with the difficulty of gathering enough courage to stand up for what she wants. This made for a compelling story that I could not put down once I became fully immersed.

The setting of Legacy is, at first sight, the stuff of a young girl's dreams: a fairy tale palace with princesses, a king, and a queen. However, there is more to it than that. Hytanica is a kingdom in turmoil. The threat posed by Cokyri is menacing indeed, giving the events that took place sixteen years previously. The things that happened to the Hytanican families during this time were horrific and atrocious and fully set the scene for danger that will play a big role later in the story. In addition to that, the Cokyrian threat is part of the catalyst that leads to Alera's burgeoning awareness. As she learned more and more about the war and saw first-hand what the Cokyrians were capable of, Alera is forced to grow up a bit faster than she would have liked. While the action involved wasn't front in center, there is promise for more in the upcoming installments of this series, which I will definitely be looking forward to.

Legacy is one of those books that is very easy to get lost in as you are taking into a world outside your own. I had a great time reading about Alera's world and getting to know her as a character. It is a great start to this new series and I will be looking forward to Allegiance, the second book in the Legacy series. I give Legacy 4 hoots!

Obligatory legal statement: This egalley was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.