The Distance Between Us
By Kasie West

4.5 out of 5

Caymen Meyers works at her mom's doll shop, and sells dolls to the rich on a daily basis. She doesn't enjoy it, but Caymen understands their financial situation and she isn't making any vocal complaints. Xander Spence is a pretty rich boy who comes into her store to buy a doll for his grandmother. Xander is charming, and very rich, but Caymen has spent her entire life not trusting rich people, why would Xander be any different? Together they strike up an unlikely friendship, that could be leading to more than just some laughs, but things keep getting in the way. Can Caymen learn to trust Xander, or will he turn out to be like every other rich snob she's ever known?

This book is so cute, it was the perfect end of summer read. Light and easy, it was relaxing and a quick read. I really liked Caymen, she is really sarcastic, but I love sarcasm and I found her really funny and relatable. And of course, who wouldn't love Xander? He is dreamy and charming and he has a great smile. Their story is adorable and I only wish that there was more of it.

In my opinion the book ends kind of abruptly. There are so many things that are left unsaid that I feel should be answered. What's going to happen to Caymen's mom and the store. Will Sean and Vivian be a part of Caymen's life now? Will they pay for college? What happens next with Xander and Caymen? I'm calling for a sequel because I want to know what happens!

P.S. I don't understand the cover photo, at no time during the entire book, does Caymen wear a pink dress. She wears a black dress, but no pink.

Pandemonium (Delirium #2)
By Lauren Oliver


4 out of 5

This book is written in two story lines that are delivered in alternating chapters.

Lena has made it into the Wilds, but that doesn't mean that her struggles are over. Far from it. Lena makes it to one of the resistance homesteads and joins the resistance. There she has to lug water and help the group survive the hard and cold winter that is quickly approaching.

Lena is part of the resistance living in New York City with Raven and Tack, two fellow resisters she met at the homestead. Her mission, to learn as much as possible about Julian Fineman: the son of the nations leader for the pro-cure movement. But Lena's about to get a lot closer than she ever thought. When Julian and Lena both get captured and thrown into a cell together, who knows what is going to happen.

Very good. The going back and forth was confusing in the beginning a little bit. The book alternates between present Lena in the resistance, and past Lena in the Wilds, which get a little confusing because Lena makes references to things that haven't been explained yet, but I did like both sides of the story. I liked the present Lena chapters better though because there was more action and more character development. It was kind of like you knew that this was the important part of the story, so more time had been spent on those sections than on the other sections. And the ending! Wow! I liked it, but all I can say is, ITS NOT FAIR ITS NOT FAIR ITS NOT FAIR ITS NOT FAIR ITS NOT FAIR ITS NOT FAIR.

Needless to say, I need to get my hands on Requiem as soon as possible, because I do not approve of cliff hangers, EVER.

Awakening (Hope Trilogy #1)
By Lauren Ashley

3.5 out of 5

Emma Hope is a normal teenage girl, living her life quietly without any drama or mystery. If only this were true. When a new student comes to school, and has his sights set on Emma, things begin to change very quickly. But Connor's not into Emma for her looks, he's interested because she is a descendant of a godlike being known as the El-ahren. With this realization, Emma is thrust into danger, and she has no choice but to comply to her new life. With a small group of loyal protectors, Emma must leave everything she has ever known, and begin a journey that will awaken her powers and fulfill her destiny, no matter the costs.

This book was definitely a good read. I don't think I've ever read anything like this. Lauren Ashley's story is completely original, and it is exciting to read such a fresh idea.
In the beginning, Emma is such an introvert, that it kind of makes me uncomfortable. I think that I am kind of an introvert, but Emma is so extreme I didn't know how to deal with her. But then the craziness which is Connor comes along. I really liked that part of the story, because it was so unexpected and it really gave me an idea of what this book was going to be like. And then of course the truth comes out. If I were Emma, I would have asked more questions and I would have voiced my opinions about the whole thing, but I guess that she is an introvert, so she wouldn't have done that.
Then Jordan shows up. From what I've gleaned from the story, Jordan and Emma were just friends before he left? (Correct me if I'm wrong) And Emma thought that they were heading towards a relationship before his unexpected disappearing act. And then he shows up again, and she is furious--as she should be. In my opinion, Emma lets Jordan off too easily. And then suddenly they are a hot and heavy couple. What? That was quiet a turn of emotions. Speaking of this relationship, I don't feel that they are dating. From what is in the book, all they do is make out. That one night when Emma is nervous, and she goes to Jordan's room, she doesn't talk to him about her feelings, she just kisses him to make herself fee better. That is not a relationship, that is a traveling hook-up. But if they're both good with it, whatever.
I don't know if I trust Sebastian and Griffin. They kept doing things that seemed shady to me. I will just have to see what happens.

All in all, it was a good book, and I'm glad I read it. It was action packed, with plenty of twists and some heartbreaking scenes. And of course, the ending leaves you dying to know what happens next!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Because it is My Blood (Birthright #2)
By Gabrielle Zevin

4 out of 5

Anya Balachine is released from Liberty, but that doesn't mean that her problems are over. She has been expelled from Trinity, so she has to find a new high school to go to for her senior year. Her best friend, Scarlet, seems to be getting far too cozy with the awful Gable Arsley, and maybe the worst thing, Win has a new girlfriend. Annie feels that she is all alone, and the family is looking to her for direction. Annie doesn't know what to do, but luckily she doesn't have to worry for long because Charles Delacroix seems to still have it out for her, and before long, Anya finds herself back in prison. But not for long, Annie manages to escape, and has to go into hiding for a period of time. What will happen to Natty while Anya is away? And what of the chocolate? Who will try and take power while Annie is out of the picture? And maybe, they want to make Annie's disappearance more permanent? Anya Balachine has plenty to do, and she has almost no time to do it.

There is so much action in this book, I was never bored. I like Anya and I feel her very relatable even though her life is so different from mine. She is an amazing young girl, who has so much on her plate and she deals with all of it so well. Yes she makes mistakes, but she is smart enough not to let one mistake her ruin all of her plans. She is strong and independent but she does love Win and they really are so cute together. If there I was one thing I would change, is that I would add more scenes of Win and Annie alone. Everything was so business, business, business, that sometimes, I forgot that she had a boyfriend. Crazy twists in the story, and I can't wait to see what will happen next!

Beautiful Souls
By Sarah Mullanix

3 out of 5

Becca thinks that she is a perfectly normal teenager, living her boring life, having an adorable crush on her best friends, normal. But things are about to get very not normal. First come the weird notes and the unexplainable visions and dreams. And those new kids are definitely not normal. Soon Becca is entered into a world of warlocks and witches, and Leo, Becca's best friend and boyfriend, is a warlock too! Everything seems fine, Becca is having fun with her newfound powers, but danger lurks around every corner and she has to keep herself and her family safe.

This took me forever to read, which I feel really bad about because I was asked to review this, but I just really struggled with reading this.

The beginning of the story was just, in my opinion, really not good. The characters were shallow and they seemed to flit from emotion to emotion without much of a second thought. Also I felt that Sara Mullanix had a lot of great ideas for the story but she just kind of threw them all out there at once and didn't really give them time to develop. I kept with the story because I did like the story and because I was asked to, but I really didn't enjoy it.

Then at some point, the story got better. The second half of the book is way better than the first half of the story and I really found myself enjoying it and wanting to read it instead of forcing myself to read the book. All the different plot points came together and the story and the characters really deepened and became something with a lot of potential.

I feel like as I read this, I saw Mullanix grow and mature as a writer. The story is so much better at the end than it is at the beginning, and now that I am done, I am interested in reading the next book in the series and continuing with this story.

Breaking Point (Article 5 #2)
By Kristen Simmons

4 out of 5

Ember and Chase have joined the Resistance in Knoxville and are hoping to lie low until the FBR forgets all about them and they can make their way to the coast and safety. But that plan goes awry when Ember is named as one of the FBR's most wanted and one of the top suspects for the sniper taking out the MM all over town. Now Chase and Ember have to decide, what are they going to do? Chase wants to run for safety, but Ember still needs to help Sean get Rebecca back. And then everyone's least favourite  MM guard shows up in the middle of everything. Tucker Morris is back and nobody knows what he's going to do. Can Chase and Ember stay together, stay safe, and accomplish all of their goals?

This was such a great sequel to Article 5. It had the same gripping, amazing quality that the first one did, but the story is different and mature and fabulous. I really like all the action and all the complex emotions that go on in this book. The fact that sometimes, you do have to work with someone you don't trust is such a valuable life lesson and we see Ember learn that in every page. Also we see Chase and Ember's relationship really grow and mature, which is so cool because I love those two and I think they are so cute! I am really excited to read the finale, Three, which comes out in February 2014!

ok also, here is my favorite quote from the book which I think completely sums up Chase and Ember's relationship and reminds everyone that even though they are both carrying guns and on the run and have Tucker Morris riding in the back seat of the car, they are still to teenagers who are in a relationship together.
    

Article 5
By Kristen Simmons

4 out of 5

Ember Miller is a seventeen year old girl living with her single mom in this post apocalyptic book. The police and the Bill of Rights are no more, instead there are soldiers and the Statutes, and those who don't follow the rules usually don't hang around for long. Ember and her mom are surviving until a knock on the door changes everything. The soldiers have come to take Ember's mom for violating article 5, and one of the officers is none other than Chase Jennings, Ember's used-to-be next door neighbor and boyfriend. Ember is taken to a reformatory school and her mom is taken who knows where. But Ember won't give up hope, she will find her mother, even if it means having to work together with Chase.

I thought that this was really great! I have been wanting to read this for a while, and then my sister finally got it for Easter and of course she instantly hid it away from me, but I have at last gotten my hands on it. I love the premise of the book. And I know that sometimes the post apocalyptic world is a bit overdone and everyone's just dying and there's no hope, but I never get tired of it. I love the end of the world books. And I love Chase and Ember's relationship. Their relationship is so complex and there is so much going on between them, but at the same time, the reader is never confused. They can relate because everyone has had someone in their life who they were close with and then they dramatically changed and you're just left so confused about what happened. That's how Ember feels, and probably Chase too. And they just don't know how to get back to where they were after so much has happened. I thought it was so good, and I am getting the next one, Breaking Point as soon as I can.

If you liked Legend, I would recommend this book.