Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

 3/5 Stars

Goodreads:

An ambitious intern. 
A perfectionist executive. 
And a whole lot of name calling. 

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard. 

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office. 

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other. 

Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over two million reads on fan fiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.

My Review:

I really was hoping for more with this. It was 3/4 sex and 1/4 story. 

Don't get me wrong, I love my smut. But I also like there to be a story. The story really didn't get strong until towards the end. It was cute, but I guess I was more in the mood to read a story rather than erotica.

I haven't read 50 Shades but I've heard enough about it. This seems similar but much more tame. 

I liked Chloe and Emmett. Chloe was a spitfire and Emmett gave it right back to her. I just wished there was more character development. I wanted more of a story to balance out the hot sex. 

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

 3/5 Stars

Goodreads:

Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning...

My Review:

I wish I loved this more. I loved loved loved Vampire Academy. I enjoyed Bloodlines, but just wish it drew me in more. 

Sydney's character was strong and I enjoyed her inner turmoil with her views on the Moroi and the typical alchemists' views. There were definitely parts that were predictable, but I also have high comprehension skills. 

I wished there was more Adrian. I guess he comes in more in the next book, but I was ready for him in this first book. 

Overall this was a good book and I'll definitely be reading the entire series. 

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

3/5 Stars

Goodreads:

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

My QUICK QUICK Review:

3 stars. I really liked this story. The only thing keeping me from rating it 4/5 stars were the scientific entries. I think the book would have been much much stronger without those.

Grayson is definitely swoon worthy. Favorite part was the college party.

Thrown by a Curve (Play by Play #5) by Jaci Burton

3/5 Stars

Goodreads:

She thinks she knows this player—but he has a few surprise moves.

For Alicia Riley, her job as a sports therapist for the St. Louis Rivers baseball team is a home run—until she becomes the primary therapist for star pitcher, Garrett Scott. Out of the lineup with an injury, he’s short-tempered, hard to handle, and every solid inch, a man.

Right now, the only demand he’s making on Alicia is that she get him ready to pitch in time for opening day. Except the sexual chemistry between them is so charged, Alicia’s tempted to oblige Garrett just about anything. But both their careers are at stake—one bad move and it’s game over for both of them.

Garrett also feels the hot sparks between them, and the way he figures it, what better therapy is there than sex? Now all he has to do is convince the woman with the power to make the call.

My QUICK QUICK Review:

A cute read. Alicia was a little fire-cracker. The story line was light and made it a perfect beach read.

Anything But Sweet by Candis Terry

3/5 Stars

Goodreads:

HE’S STUBBORN AND THOROUGHLY MALE . . .

If Charlotte Brooks thinks she and her TV makeover show can turn Reno Wilder’s hometown upside down, he’ll be happy to prove her wrong. The x-Marine has seen too much turmoil and he likes Sweet, Texas, just the way it is. Traditional. Familiar. A little dull. Everything Charli isn’t. But instead of backing off from his scowls like everyone else, Charli digs in her skyscraper heels.

SHE’S TENACIOUS AND WICKEDLY TEMPTING . . .

Reno Wilder is a one-man unwelcoming committee, but Charli isn’t budging. It’s clear the gorgeous cowboy needs an overhaul just as much as Sweet. Someone needs to break him out of that gruff shell and show him how fun and rewarding a little change can be.

THEY’RE ABOUT TO FIND THAT LOVE IS ANYTHING BUT PREDICTABLE.

My QUICK QUICK review:

I really liked the interaction between Charlotte and Reno. Both are pretty stubborn which made some really cute parts. Overall a really cute beach read.

Love at First Click by Elizabeth Chandler

3/5 Stars

B&N:

I could no longer deny what the heat in my cheeks meant when I was around Flynn. I was falling for my sister's boyfriend.

There's just something about Flynn. Yes, he's a tall, unbelievably gorgeous, dark-haired football player, but . . . he's also sweet and nice and super easy to talk to. It's lucky I'm the photographer for the school paper, because my camera likes Flynn almost as much as I do. Unfortunately for me, so does my sister, and there's no way I can nab Flynn with her in the picture.

But could this be the real thing?

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.

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.

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.

The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris

3/5 Stars

Goodreads Summary:

Avery James has her life planned out: this summer she'll work with a humanitarian program in Costa Rica, next year she'll graduate at the top of her class, and after that, college and medical school. Perfect, planned, total order.

The only problem: getting the rest of the money she needs for the trip before the deadline. Hannah Cohen, her biggest competition for the valedictorian title, makes an unexpected offer: If Avery can win over Zac Greeley and make him break up with Hannah before the end of the school year, a check for five hundred dollars is all hers. Faced with the prospect of spending yet another summer working as a giant hot dog, it's an offer Avery can't refuse.

Zac is nothing like Avery expected. Within his chaotic world of midnight slushie runs and spontaneous dance parties, her total order is quickly falling apart while Hannah seems poised to get everything she wants. But just how much is Avery willing to give up for the perfect, planned life?

My Review:

This is definitely a book I'll recommend to my 8th grade girls. It's cute and I can totally see some girls relating to this. It has the friendship problems, family problems, and boy problems all in one, and the author does a wonderful job of keeping it "real".

That Boy by Jillian Dodd

3/5 Stars (I'd say 3 1/2 stars)

Goodreads Summary:

That Boy is a contemporary romance about falling in love with the boys next door.

You know, being friends with two cute boys does have its benefits.

There's Danny. Danny is a golden boy in every way. He has dreamy blue eyes and blonde hair that always looks perfect, even when it’s windblown or been stuck under a football helmet. He’s the boy every girl crushes on. The boy I get into trouble with, the boy I fight with, the hot quarterback no girl can resist, not even me. Being with Danny is like being on an adventure. He has a bright, contagious smile and abs to die for. He’s pretty much irresistible.

Equally crush worthy is Phillip. Adorable, sweet Phillip, who I have known since birth. Phillip has dark hair, a perfect smile, brown eyes, and the sexiest voice I have ever heard. He’s the boy I talk to every night before I go to sleep. The boy who rescues me, the boy who can read my mind, the boy who is always there for me, the boy who tries to keep me out of trouble, the boy who irritatingly keeps getting hotter, and whose strong arms always seem to find their way around me. And when he gives me that grin, I can never say no.

One boy will give me my very first kiss.
One boy will teach me to make out.
One boy will take me to prom.
And finally, one boy will ask me to marry him.
They will both be my best friends.
But only one of them will be the boy I fall in love with.
Only one of them is That Boy.

My Review:

I liked this book. Although, the main female character annoyed me sometimes. Overall, I really liked how the author portrayed the 2 boys. They were so different, but I could see why she was best friends/loved them both. There was a HUGE shocking turn in the plot that came out of left field. I cried actually and had to keep reading (until 4 a.m.) so that I could go to bed and not have sad dreams.

This was a longer book than I thought it would be (I read on my Nook, so I never actually know how many pages there are in the book until I open the file).

There's part of me that really liked the book, but then another part that just liked it. Back and forth. :)

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

3/5 Stars

B&N:

Bobby Phillips is an average fifteen-year-old boy. Until the morning he wakes up and can't see himself in the mirror. Not blind, not dreaming—Bobby is just plain invisible. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to Bobby's new condition; even his dad the physicist can't figure it out. For Bobby that means no school, no friends, no life. He's a missing person. Then he meets Alicia. She's blind, and Bobby can't resist talking to her, trusting her. But people are starting to wonder where Bobby is. Bobby knows that his invisibility could have dangerous consequences for his family and that time is running out. He has to find out how to be seen again—before it's too late.

My Review:

I've had this book in my library for a while, and I've heard some great things. I'm glad I read it so that I can recommend it to my students. It's an easier read, but the content can really create some great discussions. You can take the invisibility at face-value, or you can go a little deeper with it.

The characters were developed nicely. There were some funny parts, and then at the end, there was a point where you had to keep reading to find out how it all played out.

I heard there's a second one...I'll probably check that one out, too.

So Over You by Gwen Hayes

3/5 Stars

B&N:


Layney Logan, girl reporter.

That's all she's ever wanted to be. This year, her senior year, not only does she have to share the coveted Senior Editor position with her arch nemesis, Jimmy Foster, she also has to figure out how to keep the school paper alive. With the local paper closing and the school cutting Journalism from the budget, it's a long shot. Working side-by-side with Foster, the guy she likes to call Lucifer,makes it even worse.

The only thing Layney dislikes more than swimming in the high school dating pool is Jimmy Foster think he got the best of her, so she takes
his ridiculous newspaper assignment--to go on twelve blind dates--to prove his powers of darkness won't work on her. The trouble is, the more she learns about herself on her journey of bad blind dates, the more she wonders if maybe Foster has known her better than she knows herself all this time.

And maybe she should have trusted him with the secret she’s kept for four years—the secret that broke them up to begin with.


My Review:

This was a cute book. It was under a hundred pages, but I think the author could have expanded the story. There were a few opportunities to add more, and I wish she took it. There was a part where we learn something intense about the main female character. The book would have been stronger if it had gone a little deeper.

Overall, a good read for young adults.

Dreamfever (Fever Series #4) by Karen Marie Moning

3 1/2 Stars

B&N:

They may have stolen my past, but I’ll never let them take my future.

When the walls between Man and Fae come crashing down, freeing the insatiable, immortal Unseelie from their icy prison, MacKayla Lane is caught in a deadly trap. Captured by the Fae Lord Master, she is left with no memory of who or what she is: the only sidhe-seer alive who can track the Sinsar Dubh, a book of arcane black magic that holds the key to controlling both worlds.

Clawing her way back from oblivion is only the first step Mac must take down a perilous path, from the battle-filled streets of Dublin to the treacherous politics of an ancient, secret sect, through the tangled lies of men who claim to be her allies into the illusory world of the Fae themselves, where nothing is as it seems—and Mac is forced to face a soul-shattering truth.

Who do you trust when you can’t even trust yourself?


My Review:

Finally! Finally this series is getting good...to bad it's the second to last book. I called it (I think on the 2nd book review). This series really only needed to be 3 books long (if that.)

Yes, the author still retold a good amount, but it wasn't as bad as the 3rd book. Towards the end of the book, I did start skimming just to find out what happened, but over all I did enjoy reading the book.

It ended at a "wtf" moment. Most did, but this was was really like- I need the next book. I can only imagine the frustration of the people who actually read this when the books were coming out. Luckily I had all of the books on my Nook when I first started the series.

One more book to go!

Darkfever (Fever Series #1) by Karen Marie Moning

2/5 Stars possible 3/5 Stars....I keep going back and forth!

B&N:
MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman.

Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death - a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone - Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed - a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae…

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane - an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women - closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book - because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands…

My SHORT review:

So, first I thought this book was wicked good. The characters drew me in as well as the story line. Then it slowed down a bit. When I finished it, I was like, "Hmmm not so great." I was going to give it a 3/5 Stars, but because it was really good then just became "eh" I brought it down to a 2 star.

I heard the rest of the series is really good. Started the 2nd one tonight. We shall see.

Simply Irresistible & The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis

3/5 Stars

B&N:

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.




3/5 Stars

B&N:

Two Men Are One Too Many . . .

Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.

But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.



My Reviews:

I enjoyed reading both books. I love books like this. Easy, quick reads. Yes, they are predictable. But, I can't help it. I love my "love stories."

I really love books that make a series out of different people's stories. I know there will be a 3rd book about the last sister and am looking forward to it coming out.

Chicago Star's Series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Some more summer beach reads:

Chicago Star #1: It Had to Be You 3/5 Stars

Chicago Star #2: Heaven, Texas 3/5 stars

I plan on reading the rest of the series because they are quick, light reads.

*edit* 7/30/11

Read all 7 books. I really like this author.