Tempting (Buchanans Series #4) bySusan Mallery

3/5 Stars

B&N:
After three romantic flame-outs in a year and a restaurant career going nowhere, Dani Buchanan needs a fresh start. She goes looking for her biological father, but never expects to find a senator running for president. As his long-lost “love child,” Dani could seriously derail the election — something his handsome campaign manager Alex Canfield isn’t going to let happen. Dani isn’t about to let Alex run her life, no matter how tempting she finds him — and Alex isn’t going to allow Dani to melt his cynicism, no matter how close he has to get. The last thing either of them wants is love, especially with scandals brewing and family trouble on the way. But Dani and Alex are forced to trust each other, and when trust turns to passion, the potential for disaster is only a tabloid scandal away.

My Review:

Liked this one, too. Alex just seemed really cute. Dani is a decent character. It was interesting to see where the author took this last story in the series.

Overall, a good, quick series.

Sizzling (Buchanans Series #3) bySusan Mallery

3/5 Stars

B&N:

A spiteful article about the former pitcher and current playboy questions his talent in the bedroom. And the newspaper’s just the first bad news. Reid’s grandmother Gloria’s broken hip means she needs constant care — but Reid hired Nurses 1 and 2 for their bedside manner with him. So for Number 3 he chooses Lori Johnson, the first candidate who seems immune to his brand of charm.

Lori’s never wasted her time with amoebas like Reid Buchanan. So why are her well-fortified defenses starting to crumble under the force of his sexy smile — and the kindness he shows her at every turn? There’s only one explanation for the feelings flaring between them — chemistry. Chemistry so hot, it’s sizzling!

My Review:

Ok, I really like Reid, too! And the character of Lori is a little spit-fire. I love how she interacts with the grandmother (Gloria). Another cute story.

Irresistible (Buchanans Series #2) bySusan Mallery

3/5 Stars

B&N:
When ex-Marine Walker Buchanan stops to help Elissa Towers change a tire, he tells himself it’s just the neighborly thing to do. And when Elissa finds herself baking him a thank-you pie, she’s just returning the favor...right?

Both of them have sworn off dating — Elissa’s determined to protect her little girl, and that means ditching her taste for dangerous men...especially former Marines with dark secrets. Walker knows that he’s not cut out for hearth and home...his own crazy family made sure of that. But the sparks won’t stop flying between them.

Now the two are struggling to keep their relationship “just friends,” but with every kiss, their rules fly out the window...

My Review:

I liked this one more so than the first. That may be because I really liked the character of Walker. The author did a great job at showing his inner struggle. The grandmother character (who was in the 1st book as well) is just evil!

Delicious (Buchanans Series #1) bySusan Mallery

3/5 Stars

B&N:

Menu

Appetizer Cal Buchanan needs a top-flight chef to take over his failing Seattle restaurant, The Waterfront. He can afford to hire the best in town — the only problem is that the best happens to be his ex-wife, Penny Jackson.

Entrée Penny really needs this opportunity, but she doesn’t need the distraction of working with her ex. She’s sworn off romance — she’s even having a baby on her own. But before she knows it, the heat is on… and the attraction between her and Cal moves from a low simmer to a full boil!

Dessert The rest should be easy as pie, but a secret from Cal’s past could spoil everything. Maybe it’s true that too many cooks spoil the broth - or maybe two is enough to make it irresistible.

My Review:

Cute story. I liked the character of Penny. She was quick, and her interaction with Cal and the others had me laughing at times.

Quarantined by Joe McKinney

2/5 Stars

B&N:

The citizens of San Antonio, Texas are threatened with extermination by a terrifying outbreak of the flu. Quarantined by the military to contain the virus, the city is in a desperate struggle to survive. Inside the quarantine walls, Detective Lily Harris is working burial statistics duty at the Scar, San Antonio's mass graveyard, when she finds a murder victim hidden amongst the plague dead. But Lily's investigation into the young woman's death soon takes a frightening turn as yet another strain of the deadly flu virus surfaces, and now Lily finds herself caught up in a conspiracy orchestrated by a corrupt local government intent on hiding the news from the world and fighting a population threatening to boil over into revolt. As the city erupts in violence, Lily is forced to do the unthinkable. With the clock ticking toward annihilation, Lily must lead her family through the quarantine walls and escape with news that just might save us all.

My Review:

I read this book a bit ago, but I guess I forgot to post it. I think the basis of the book is strong. If the author went a little further, this book would have been better. It was interesting to see what the world would be like if a virus took most of us out.

Crossed (Matched Trilogy Series #2) byAlly Condie

3/5 Stars

B&N:

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

My Review:

So, I loved the 1st book...this book was only OK. I think in the beginning it was pretty good...but then it got slower. I ate up the 1st book, but this one went relatively slow for me. The first book kept me wanting to turn every page and stay up all night to finish, this one...not so much. But, it was still good. Just not amazing. I will read the last book once it comes out.

Matched (Matched Trilogy Series #1) by Ally Condie

4/5 Stars

B&N:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My Review:

I really really liked this book. I had it for a bit, but just wasn't into reading it. Then I read one of my students reviews on it, and I was interested. And I must say, I am happy she read the book because it got me to read it! I thought the author did a great job with the relationships between the characters. I did notice a bunch of similarities to the book The Giver which were interesting to catch.

The Enemy (Enemy Series #1) & The Dead (Enemy Series #2) byCharlie Higson

3 1/2 Stars

B&N: The Enemy

In the wake of a devastating disease, everyone sixteen and older is either dead or a decomposing, brainless creature with a ravenous appetite for flesh. Teens have barricaded themselves in buildings throughout London and venture outside only when they need to scavenge for food. The group of kids living a Waitrose supermarket is beginning to run out of options. When a mysterious traveler arrives and offers them safe haven at Buckingham Palace, they begin a harrowing journey across London. But their fight is far from over—the threat from within the palace is as real as the one outside it.
Full of unexpected twists and quick-thinking heroes, The Enemy is a fast-paced, white-knuckle tale of survival in the face of unimaginable horror.

B&N:The Dead

The disease only affects people sixteen or older. It starts with the symptoms of a cold. Then the skin begins to itch, and spots appear--spots that soon turn into pus-filled boils. But the worst part is the headache, the inner voices that tell you that you need to eat them . . . the young ones.
When the Disaster strikes, the world turns upside down for Ed, Jack, Bam and the other students at Rowhurst School. The parents and older siblings they left back at home are dead--or worse. Once the teachers go on the attack, the kids know it's time to escape and make their way to the city. It's got to be better in London . . .
or will it be worse?

Higson's terrifying, utterly compelling prequel to The Enemy introduces an all-new cast of characters and sets the stage for a dramatic third book in the series.


My Review:

I must say, I did enjoy reading these books. Yes, it was pretty gross...the author described the disease pretty well. What I really liked about these books though was the psychological aspect of what these kids were going through and what they had to do to survive.

Also, one thing that shocked me, was the author did not stick to the rule of the "main" character can't die. And no, that doesn't give it away because there are a few main characters.

The 2nd book actually takes place one year before the 1st book which I thought was kind of neat. By the end of the 2nd book, you could see where the two came together.

Overall- I suggest this series. I'll definitely be reading the 3rd book in the series.