Almost by Anne Eliot

Book Description:

At a freshman party she doesn't remember, Jess Jordan was almost raped.

...Almost. Very nearly. Not quite. Three years later, Jess has managed to make everyone believe she's better. Over it. Because she is.

...Almost. Very nearly. Not quite.

Unfortunately, until Jess proves she's back to normal activities, her parents won't discuss college. So, she lands a summer internship and strikes a deal with hockey jock, Gray Porter: He gets $8,000. She gets a fake boyfriend and a social life.

Jess has no idea Gray signed on for reasons other than money. She also never expects to fall in love. But Gray’s amazingly hot, holds her hand all the time, and makes her forget that he’s simply doing his job. It’s like having a real boyfriend.

...Almost. Very nearly. Not quite.

Gray Porter is hiding secrets of his own. About Jess Jordan. About why he’s driven to protect her, why he won't cash her checks, or deny her anything she asks.

Christina's BookReview

 

Jess Jordan has lived the last three years repeating the same word in her mind. Almost. Jess Jordan was almost raped, is Almost cured, is Almost normal. Her life consists of Almost…

Her parents don’t think Almost is a good enough reason to let her live her life. With the constant supervision of her parents Jess is miserable. If only she could stop her terrible nightmares. If only she could forget that terrible night.

When her sister makes her a list of “how to be normal” Jess takes it upon herself to see that the list is completed. It’s the only way she will be able to even think about College. Enter Gray Porter...

Gray needs to get a job at Geekstuff.com in order to save for College. Gary needs to concentrate on his jobs and grandmother. Gray doesn’t have time for a girlfriends especially NOT Jess Jordan. Unfortunately life has other plans for him…

When Jess makes Gray an offer he can’t refuse both of them are not ready for what happens. As Gray tries to protect Jess and try not to fall in love with her he lives with a dark secret. One he doesn’t want Jess to know, just yet. And Jess refuses to let Gray in on why she is always so bitchy and always falling asleep. Jess needs Gray to accept her deal and that’s it. No strings attached. No need in revealing to him her nightmare.

When happens when his secret is out? What happens when Jess gets her memory back of that dreadful night? READ AND FIND OUT.

I have to start off by saying that I struggled a little through this book. There were times where I found myself dying to just get to the end. The only reason I continued through it? Gray Porter. :) He was everything girls look for in a guy. He was sweet, caring, funny, handsome, patient, and smart. I loved every part he was in but at one point I wanted to yell at him to STOP BEING A WHIMP!

Jess treated Gray like CRAP! Every time he tried to make her smile or comfortable she belittled him and then felt bad for it. But it didn’t stop her from continuing it. I wanted him to man up and just shake some damn sense into her. I wanted to strangle her at time. I know, a little dramatic, but so true.

Some of the secondary characters need to be mentioned because I enjoyed when they were present in the story. Cory and Michelle were great best friends to Gray and they were so cute together! Kika was the greatest little sister and I enjoyed the way she told Jess things just how it was.

I’m sure you all know why the 4 star rating by my ranting above. Jess just wasn’t a character I enjoyed reading about. I can’t relate to what she went through like others could I'm sure. As an author the point of your work is to have all readers sympathize with the character.I found Jess to be selfish, bitchy and rude throughout the whole book. I wished that she had tried to at least let Gray help her when he wanted to and that she wouldn’t have waited until the very end to suddenly give him a chance.

I would recommend this books because the premise of it was good and because Gray and the secondary characters makes the read worth it. 

Blood Like Poison: For the Love of Vampire by M. Leighton

Book Description:

Ridley Heller thought that all her problems would be over if she could have Bo back; back from the dead. But what Ridley didn't know was that her wish would come at a price.

Bo survived a condition that would have killed a lesser vampire, or any vampire for that matter. The only reason he didn't die is because of who he is, someone Ridley doesn't know at all. Someone Bo himself doesn't know at all.

As Ridley gets closer to finding out Bo's true identity, she discovers that loving him could also come at a price, a price much higher than she ever could have imagined. The question is: is there any such thing as a price too high to pay for Bo? For his love, for his safety, for eternity in his arms?

 Christina's BookReview

"Yes, life is all about pain and trouble and frustration and anger, but it’s also about love and friendship and good days and sunshine. You can’t have one without the other. If you avoid pain, you avoid living."

A new twist on Vampires.

Ridley Heller is in her last year of high school. She only has to continue to be who she is until she gets her scholarship to Stanford. All of the torture of pretending is worth it as long as she gets into Stanford. That’s her mission, get through Nine months. Nine months of pretending to get along with the schools evil queen, one year of putting up with her fake friends, Nine months of dating the quarterback that doesn’t make her feel anything. Just Nine months. That will be easy. But Ridley Heller is oh so wrong…

Jonathan Bowman AKA Bo cannot take his eyes off of Ridley she finds herself feeling all “tingly”. It doesn’t matter that her friends think he’s a stalker. He isn’t to Ridley. He can’t be. He’s gorgeous and makes her feel like the only girl in the world. His words make her melt like butter. But Ridley is about to find out that Bo is so much more…

Bo is a Vampire. And he’s dying…

Can Ridley save the man that she has fallen in love with? Or will she be too late… Read Blood like Poison to find out!

From the first sentence M. Leighton sucks you right in. You do go in thinking it is probably another Twilight knockoff but then you find out how so wrong you are. Ridley Heller is nothing like Bella Swan. But Bo does make you swoon like Edward Cullen. :) This is a whole new twist to vampires that will keep you enthralled.

I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to see what is in store for Ridley and Bo. You are left with so many unanswered questions and a sad ending, which makes you want to jump right into the next book in the series. I’m so glad that I found this series when it was done instead of having to wait long excruciating months for the next.

Why the 4 Star Rating? Only because I felt Bo was a little distant in this book and wished we had gotten to see him and Ridley get to know each other better. And because honestly, all they did was make out most of the time. With that said, I still enjoyed it!

This is my second book from Ms. Leighton and completely opposite of her contemporary masterpiece, Fragile, which makes you realize that she has the amazing talent of crafting Contemporary Romance as well as Paranormal Romance.

If you want to read a new twist on Vampires and romance, pick up this book!

Knee Deep by Jolene Perry

Book Description:

Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.
Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.
Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both.

  Christina's BookReview

 

Shawn + Ronnie= Forever

Ronnie Bird has it all. Loving parents, great friends, average grades and the love of her life. Ronnie’s life is perfect. At least that’s what she thinks…
Shawn has been acting strange lately. He’s tense all the time and angry. If only Ronnie would be a better girlfriend he wouldn’t be. When Shawn starts to act hurtful towards her, she doesn’t know what to do. She needs to find a way to make it all better for him. It’s all her fault. She needs to be a better girlfriend and listen to what he says. But Ronnie is about to learn that love doesn’t hurt. Not mentally or physically.

Luke wants to show Ronnie what real love is. He has loved her in silence for many years. Unfortunately Ronnie doesn’t see him as anything other than a friend. That is until she is chosen to play opposite him in Romeo & Juliet.
When the lines between real and fake start to blur for Ronnie, she tries everything in her power to avoid what’s happening. She can’t be falling for her Luke. She has Shawn. She and Shawn are meant to be together forever. They will get over there rough patch… Will Ronnie finally open her eyes or will she continue to be in denial?

Ronnie is a sweet girl. Too sweet. She is utterly blind when it comes to Shawn. She blames herself for all the wrong going on in their relationship and ignores the signs. She is blind to what is in front of her.
Luke is such an amazing friend. He is rough around the edges, but who wouldn’t be with a past like his. You can’t help but instantly like him and feel bad for him because there isn’t another alternative for Ronnie. Shawn is it. No matter how many times he saves her and shows her how he feels Ronnie continues to push him away. When he finally walks away your heart breaks for him.

This was a good story. At times I felt like it dragged on and it was frustrating to read about all the reasons Ronnie made up for Shawn. It got to the point where I wished I could jump into the book and wring her neck. Her internal debates had me rolling my eyes. SHEESH, you have an amazing boy who is protecting you and is your best friend and you are pushing him away for a selfish loser who abuses you! WTHeck is that!

That wasn’t the only reason this book received 4 stars. Honestly, at the end I felt like readers didn’t really get to know Luke as much as I think we would have want to. It was always Shawn this, Shawn that and only at the end do we get Luke this, Luke that. I wish we had more Luke and less Shawn, but that’s just the way it was written. Maybe a Luke POV novella would make up for it. :)

Overall it was a good read. I will be reading more of Ms. Perry’s work.

The Curse Girl by Kate Avery Ellison

Book Description:

When Bee is imprisoned in a magical, cursed house because of her father's selfish choices, she has just one plan... escape! But she must solve a riddle and help her fellow prisoners break the curse that binds them all before she can leave, and that is proving more difficult than she originally thought thanks to the bitter young master of the house, Will.

Will wants nothing to do with Bee or her help (and he certainly isn't planning on falling in love with her), but he might have underestimated just how determined and clever--and irresistible--she can be.

Christina's BookReview 

Bee is an average high school girl, with friends, schoolwork, and a boyfriend she likes a lot. But all that changes when her father makes the mistake of entering the "hunted" house in their town. For his actions Bea will suffer the consequences. She is to about to discover that the house in its recipients are aren't what everyone makes them out to be. The house is magical. The only solace in the house is Liam, the beast imprisoned in the basement at night. The downside to the house? The owner of the house who acts like a beast. 

Will isn't looking forward to having a human in the house but doesn't have a choice. Beauty gets under his skin and he finds it hard to be nice to her when having to deal with his predicament. Will is cursed and he's about to find out that Beauty isn't what he makes her out to be. 

Will Beauty ever be able to leave the house or be a prisoner forever? Will she be able to save Will? 

The Curse Girl is a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast so I was excited to delve into it. Bee is your typical innocent girl who doesn't want to leave her life behind. She's upset and looking for a way out of the hell her father put her in. Will is an arrogant jerk and his sister is always playing referring between the two. As Will and Beauty are forced to work together they slowly grow attached to each other which makes the relationship believable. 

Why the 3.5 Stars? I felt the story was rushed and that at times the characters were boring to read about. The story had a lot of potential and I wished that there were more action and less of Bee's inner ramblings. Although the book provided a twist to the fairytale it was still bland. My rating was more because of the spunk in Bea and the sweet/mean parts in Will. 

If you want a quick light fairytale retelling you just might enjoy this.

Fragile by M. Leighton

Book Description:

Her heart, as delicate as glass. His love, as strong as steel. Can either survive life and death? 
Hardy Bradford is an eighteen year old football phenomenon who has the girl, the school, the town and the future in the palm of his hand. His life is all mapped out for him, right down to who he’ll marry and how he’ll become a professional football player. It doesn't seem to matter that Hardy would’ve chosen a much different life if it was up to him. But it's not. At least not until his Miracle comes along. 
The first time Hardy laid eyes on Miracle St. James, he didn’t know who she was, but he knew she was something different and that he’d never get her out of his head. And he didn’t. Now, months later, Hardy’s world is turned upside down when Miracle shows up in his class, stealing his heart and forever changing the course of his life. 
Miracle’s sick. Very sick. And Hardy might be losing the only thing in his life that has ever mattered. How much is too much to sacrifice for the one you love? For just a little more time? For just one more chance? Can Hardy be the hero Miracle needs? Or is it Hardy that needs saving

Christina's BookReview

"Tonight, you got your miracle. The day I saw you, sitting with Mila in the park, I got mine."

M. Leighton weaved a beautiful story with an amazing 100% swoon-worthy guy. Hardy Bradford is the new hottie on the block!

Hardy Bradford has life all planned out. He is a great football player, had a popular beautiful girlfriend, friends, and a bright future. But Hardy soon realizes is that he doesn't want any of the above. The football scholarship, the popular girlfriend, and bright future as a football player isn't his dream. Its someone else.

His dream comes in the form of a sweet green eyed beauty. With just a glimpse of her in the park Hardy is forever changed. Months later when she walks into his classroom Hardy knows that he would do anything to get to know her. Miracle St. James is his miracle.

Miracle St. James has a different view of life. She has been through alot in life and has learned to value every moment she has. Good and Bad. She doesn't let anyone ruin her. Not a jealous upset girlfriend, not an angry father, but most of all, not a sickness. 

As Hardy starts to hang around Miracle he finally is able to stop living for others and live for himself. With Miracle he can be truly himself. Not someone his father wants him to be. Miracle understands him. Miracle can read him like a book. Miracle shows him the value of life and how to be a better person. Hardy would do anything to protect her and show her that he loves her more then anything in his life. She is his dream come true.So when Hardy is faced with the ultimate test he is dead set on protecting and saving the one person that it would hurt to lose. But will it all in vain? Will Hardy have to deal with the lose of his "Miracle"?

I cannot express how much I loved this book! Many people will compare it to A Walk to Remember and even with its similarities, this book will bury itself into your heart. It is mostly about Hardy and his journey and is told from a 3rd person point of view. You will fall in love with him and will melt with each word and each gesture of his. It might be an insta-love, and although I dislike those books, this story is so much more. This is about a guy finding the real meaning on life, not only through love but through the eyes of someone that values life and all its good and bad.

I highly recommend this book to any romance reader,any A Walk to Remember fan and any person that just wants to read a good book about love and life.

Thomas & January by Fisher Amelie

Book Description:

Thomas Eriksson thinks he has it all figured out.
"People crossed the street when they saw me. I’m not really sure why that was. I mean, okay, I might have looked a bit intimidating if I was being truthful with you. I’d changed since New York. New York represented a life that wasn’t real, not truthfully, anyway. No, New York was the “young, immature, in love, idiot" side of Tom. The “Tie-Dye Tom of New York City” didn’t exist anymore. Tie-Dye Tom was dead."
January Mac Lochlainn thinks she’s her own worst enemy.
"I quit Berkeley. Threw away a full scholarship. Plans, you ask? What plans?"
But they’re both wrong.

Christina's BookReview

“Discover why you’re important, then refuse to settle for anyone who doesn’t completely agree.”

Thomas Eriksson also known at "Tie-Dye Tom" isn't the same guy we met in Callum & Harper. Since realizing his feelings for his friend Kelly and being shutdown he just isn't himself. Running away from New York city and immersing himself in his new career is the best way to get over it. But how wrong her turns out to be...

January MacLochlainn is tired of attending Berkley just to make her parent happy. After dropping out she is offered the chance of a lifetime. Being able to help discover musical talents is a dream come true. Even if it comes with an arrogant jerk who dishes out the most tasteful kisses.

When January walks into Tom's life he isn't prepared for the feelings she entices him. He has already been through the runner. He isn't about to be stupid enough to even fathom going through it again. But January just isn't going away. Mentally of physically. When the two are forced to work together on helping Tom get a promotion they have to finally face the truth. They are quickly and madly falling for each other.

I want to say that I loved this book. I want to say that it was just what i expected. Sadly, it wasn't. I loved the storyline in Callum & Harper but didn't expect this story to be the same and it wasn't. What I did expect though was for it to have the same character depth. It didn't.

Don't get me wrong. It started off strong but then turned boring then got a little better at the very end. I loved the bickering between January and Thomas and found myself laughing hysterically at it but then Tom quickly lose all his bitterness and it got boring and a little cheesy. I loved being able to read a little about the New York gang and that they were still a tight knit family.

Great storyline. Good start but not so great of an execution.
All this is not to say that I won't continue reading any Fisher Amelie writes because that is far from the truth. She has a gift for writing real life heartfelt stories and I will continue to read anything she publishes.

If you want a light quick read, pick up Thomas & January. If you want to read something like Callum & Harper, this might not be it. 

Review for Book #1-Callum & Harper HERE

Consume by Shelly Crane

Book Description:

Eli and Clara's story continues as she tries to finish high school. Eli is as over protective as ever and Tate and his group of friends are no help. They wait for the Horde, always looking over their shoulder. But the ever annoying but strangely prophetic bird begins to become more of a chatter box and Eli learns something that could change some things. Not just for him and Clara, but Devourers everywhere.
Then an unexpectedness guest comes forcing Eli to flee with Clara, leaving her temporary family behind. She is thrown into his world of underground 'traitors' and learns much of his past. They meet many new people and creatures along the way to freedom. But when tragedy strikes the two, will Clara see the monster in Eli? Can she handle his strange world and awful past? Will one of them lose their life forever...

Christina's BookReview

“I want to save her because..." Even though he was speaking to her, he never took his eyes off mine. "Because I'm a better man with her. Because I can't imagine going back to being who I was before I met her. Because I'm afraid...that I could be that monster again without her here loving me.”

In this final installment of the Devoured series we witness a change in Clara and finally a change in Eli. As they fight to stay alive and get the help they need in order to live peacefully Clara learns more about the world of the Devourers. But for these two, nothing will separate them. Not a bitter brother, old as well as new enemies, or the juvenile acts of human teenagers. Eli and Clara encounter new beings in this book and make friends with surprising allies. But will fighting for their love cost them their lives?

Consume was an okay wrap up to Eli and Clara's story. We meet new characters and delve a little into ones introduced in book one. It was interesting reading more about the world Eli is from. But at times the book was just bland. The action was bland, the relationship was bland, and the characters were not really memorable. Well except for Enoch, he was interesting. I'm interested in how his story will play out in the next book in this series.

The book had its few good moments and that is why the 3.5 rating, but wasn't a book that I would read over and over again. I felt there was so much potential to Eli and Clara's story if the Devourer world was delved into more and in depth.

All in all, if you want a light, quick read then pick up this series.

Review for Book #1-Devour- HERE

Devour by Shelly Crane

Book Description:

Clara has it all. A wrestling star boyfriend, popular friends, all the right school activities...pretty much a perfect life...up until her parents died. Now she lives with the Pastor and his family and though they take good care of her, she feels alone. Then her boyfriend, Tate, starts to show signs of trouble when a new guy, Eli, comes to town. Clara is fascinated with him but hides it until something happens. Eli confesses to her that she gives him something he's never had before...something he needs. Everything is about to change for this normal pretty popular girl in a supernatural way

Christina's BookReview

“You saved me from my life.”

Clara Hopkins has it all. A popular wrestling star boyfriend, popular friends, and a normal life.The only rip? Her parents are dead and she's now living with her Pastor's family. But her life is still pretty good. Or so she thought. Eli Thames is about to turn her life upside down.

Eli is sweet, protective, charming and gorgeous. With those starling violet eyes and beautiful smile Clara as well as every other girl can't keep their eyes away from him. He devours their attention and Consumes Clara's every thought. But Eli is much more then meets the eyes, as Clara is about to find out.

As Clara and Eli start to spend time together she starts to realize that her life has been a lie. Her boyfriend is acting strange and her friends aren't the type of friends a person should have. Clara's eyes are finally opening. Thanks to Eli. But Eli has a secret and Clara is prone on figuring it out. When she finally does, everything she's ever known would never be the same. She finally grows the courage to part from the lie she's been living and finally be free. But freedom comes with a price. A price she is willing to pay, with Eli by her side. He's her protector, her friend, the guy she loves, but most of all her "mate". Together they stand to fight off the evil in both their lives.

I have to say that I enjoyed this story. There were times when things dragged and Clara had me wanting to strangle her but at the end she made up for it. This story was not only about love for each other but about love for yourself. Finding the courage to love yourself enough to walk away from the poison in your life. Clara really blossomed in this book and it was refreshing to not have to read an entire book of her being stupid.Eli was also incredible in his way. He was very protective of Clara and loving but also very stern and direct with her. I loved that about him.

The title plays honor to the book. You will devour this book! and want more to Consume more! If you haven't read this, pick it up!

Review for Book #2-Consume- HERE

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

Book Description:

Being the good girl isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ashton Gray has grown weary of playing the part to please her parents, and to be worthy of the town’s prince charming, Sawyer Vincent. Maybe That’s why she’s found herself spending time with Sawyer’s cousin, Beau, while he’s away for the summer camping with his family. Beau is nothing like her perfect boyfriend. He’s the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, dangerous in ways she’s only day dreamed about, and the one guy she should stay away from.

Beau never envied Sawyer his loving parents, his big nice home, or his position as quarterback. He loves him like a brother. Which is why he's tried everything in his power to keep his distance from Sawyer’s girlfriend. Even if he has loved her since the age of five, Ashton is Sawyer’s girl, so therefore she’s off limits. But when Sawyer leaves for the summer, Ashton, the one girl Beau would move Heaven and Earth for, decides she wants to get into trouble. Stabbing the one person who’s always accepted him and stood by him in the back, is the cost of finally holding Ashton Gray in his arms. Is she worth losing his cousin over?.... Hell Yeah

Christina's BookReview

 

"I love you. I know the real you too. You think I don't but how easily you forget I was the one who bailed you out of trouble over and over again as kids. I didn't ask the perfect Ashton to be my girlfriend when I was fourteen years old. I asked the only Ash I'd ever known. You changed all on your own. I'm not going to lie. I was proud of the girl you had become. My world was complete. I had the perfect family, perfect girl, perfect future. I let myself forget the other girl you once were."

Ashton Gray, Beau Vincent and Sawyer Vincent are best friends. As they grow and Sawyer decides to take his chances and ask Ashton out, the other Vincent boy stands by with regret. When Sawyer is gone for the summer, the two people he love most are about to commit the worse crime...

I wish I could say I loved this book. I did like it. I think what made me not like this is the fact that Ashton and Beau didn't seem to "love" Sawyer as much as they mentioned. They basically did what they wanted and decided to deal with it whenever Sawyer was back. Although they loved each other they went about it the wrong way. The excuse that Sawyer didn't know the "real" Ash is nothing but a foolish excuse. He did know her, he was the one always bailing her and Beau out of trouble. If she changed it was because she wanted to, he didn't make her. He wasn't at fault for anything and was stabbed in the back by the two people he loved most in the world.

Not to mention that the "rekindling" of Ash and Beau's friendship/relationship was rushed and at times seemed to be all about satisfying Ashton "easy" side. She quickly throws all her morals out the window when she's with Beau instead of finding the line between good vs "bad". To me Ashton seemed selfish throughout the whole book. I didn't find myself feeling sorry for what happened after the revelation.

I liked that Beau was there for her when her world was turned upside down, I appreciated that he helped her find the "real" her. What I didn't like was that he seemed to not care about what his repercussions would be for doing things with his "cousins" girl.

Like I said The Vincent Boys was okay. I'm looking forward to reading about Sawyers story next and think I will enjoy it more then this one. He was wronged here and he deserves his happy ever after.

Reckless Magic by Rachel Higginson

Book Description:

16 year old Eden Matthews has been in and out of private schools for the last two years. Kingsley is her last chance to finish high school and she is determined to simply do that. But when she meets Kiran Kendrick and her world opens to something she thought only existed in fairy tales, she's unsure what her future will hold. Suddenly she is captivated by a boy who seems to be the source of all of her problems and struggling to rescue her best friend from a foreign prison. When attempts are made on Kiran's life, Eden alone must save him. Thrust into a world that is more make-believe than reality, Eden has to find her own destiny without losing those she loves most. Reckless is an intricate story of mystery, adventure, magic and love. Eden Matthews is an unlikely heroine set on a path to save the world and her loved ones before its too late.

Christina's BookReview

 

"I understood the purpose of the Resistance, but the battle I chose to fight would be the one that brought me closer to the man I loved with every fiber of my being."

Eden Matthews knows that she's going crazy. She has to be. There is no one else in the world that can set fire to a school, flood another and magically produce huge tropical bees. Little does she know that she isn't going crazy. She's about to find out that she's different but not in the way she thinks.When she is given a final chance to finish school she goes in without any hope. And when she meets Kiran Kendrick the unexplainable happens. Her "electricity" magnifies.

Kiran is one gorgeous, irritating, arrogant jerk. He brings out the worse in Eden with his snarky comments and smirks. But Eden can't get him to leave her alone. There is something about him that makes the "electricity" she has in her ignite.But Kiran, Eden is about to find out, is much more then she bargained for.

After a camping trip goes terribly wrong, Eden must come to terms with what she is.After realizing and being told what the "electricity" really is Eden suddenly accepts it quickly. But things turn even more crazy when she learns just who Kiran is and the rules of the world she now is part of.

Eden is destined for much more then she wants. She is thrust into the new world around her and has a hard time accepting. When she has to fight for much more then herself she quickly learns that being who she is is not easy. And being in love with someone who is forbidden is not what she expected. Being star-crossed sucks.

Reckless Magic is book 1 in the Star-Crossed series and it starts off with exactly what you need! I couldn't put this book down the first time I read it as well as the 2nd time. If you want to read about star-crossed lovers, kick ass Immortals, and magic this is the series for you! This book as well as the rest of the series is unique and should be read by every YA Paranormal Romance lover! Rachel Higginson brings us a book chuck full of AMAZING boys! I swear to you, you will love every guy you encounter! I want myself a Kiran, Jericho, Avalon and even an Amory!:-)

Pick this up! I promise you will LOVE it!

Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout

Book Description:

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.
Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:
Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.
Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Christina's Book Review:

“Need covers itself with love, but need… need is never love. Always beware of the one who needs you. There is always a want behind a need, you see.”

Holy crap this book is AWESOMENESS! Jennifer Armentrout takes Greek Mythology and develops an outstanding storyline! From horrid monsters to a kick ass heroine!

Alexandria Andros is a half blood who is taken from the Covenant by her mother for reasons she doesn't know. When tragedy strikes she must find a way back to her home all the while avoiding the Daimon's hunting her. As a half blood she is able to see Daimons for what they really are and not for what they portray. As a half blood she has no other power then the ability to kick Daimon ass. She was born and breed to do just that. Protect the Pure's from Daimons. When she finally makes it to the Covenant she realizes things aren't going to be easy for her. She is training to catch up on her combative skills and trying to follow the Covenant rules. There's one rule that's the hardest for her. Relationships between Half's and Pure are forbidden.

Unfortunately, Alex has fallen for Aidan St. Delphi. Aidan is a Pure.

Aidan is a Sentinel for the Covenant. A guard that protects all Pure's from the Daimons. He isn't like most Pure's though. He isn't a snob, doesn't believe he's better then the Half's. Aidan is everything a girl wants. Everything Alex loves. He is protective, smart, badass, sweet, caring, and gorgeous. The one thing about Aidan? He is a Pure. Which means he is off limits to Alex.

As Aidan trains Alex so that she can enter the Covenant for school they both fight against what they both feel. All the while trying to figure out what is going on and why the Daimons are coming after her. When they finally do figure it out Alex will have to make a decisions. Kill someone she loves of let them kill her in order to protect everyone else she loves. Read to find out...

This book is totally badass! I loved that every character had a personality and everyone of them were kick ass in their ways.

If you love Greek mythology, a kick ass heroine, a HOT male lead and lots of action this is the book for you! Pick it up and read it! You will not be disappointed!

Daimon (Covenant, # 0.5)

Book Description:

For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.
According to her mother, that’s a good thing.
But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.
The Daimons have found her.

Christina's Book Review: 

Daimon is the prequel to the Covenant series. In this book we get the story of what happened with Alex before she was taken back to the Covenant. It helps to read this before Half Blood to understand what happened with Alex's mom.
Quick and easy read. If you are about to start the series read this first. 

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James

Book Description:

When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind - until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time.
The unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her - but on his own terms.
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving adoptive family – Grey is man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny.
Can their relationship transcend physical passion? Will Ana find it in herself to submit to the self-indulgent Master? And if she does, will she still love what she finds?

Christina's BookReview

Ana Steele agrees to help her friend by conducting an interview with Christan Grey, a young successful entrepreneur. She didn't expect for her to have a sudden attraction to the snobbish, arrogant man. But Christan sees something in Ana that he wants. Something that she doesn't see coming. What Christian told her once was true. Christian Grey is 50 Shades of F***ed up!I wish I can say that this book enthralled me. Really I was expecting something NOT like that! I was completely disgusted! I forced myself to finished it only so that I could write my review for my book club. It started off okay and then when we finally are privy to why Christian Grey is a mess I was put off completely.

Honestly, I expected some other secret. Never in a million years did I expect what I discovered.

Ana Steele is a terrible MC. She is the worse influence to women and young women out there. Because lets face the fact, with all the publicity this is getting, every girl out there wants to read it. I wish Ana had a little more respect for herself, first sexual relationship or not. No girl should ever want their first time to be with someone that doesn't love them, is controlling, and gets his rocks off beating them.The influence that this book could have on people is what bothers me.

Christian Grey might be sexy, rich and a influential. He might be all of that, but he is TERRIBLE! He needs help! I truly have nothing to say about him because he repulsed me after we finally see who he really is.
Nonetheless, I will not continue the series. Maybe one day I will have the will to read on and finish it just to say I gave it a chance but not anytime soon. The only reason this book got two stars was because it was interesting until we hit the "I love to hurt women" part.

Like everyone says this book is not for everyone. You either love it or you hate it. It is everyone's own opinion. If you want to know what all the hype is about, read it. Don't say some of these reviews didn't warn you, though. 

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Book Description:

Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.
She’s wrong.

Christina's BookReview: 

 “You're the girl who called me an asshole the first time we spoke. The girl who tried to pay for lunch even after you learned I have more money than God. You're the girl who risked her ass to save a dying dog, who makes my chest ache whether you're wearing green silk or ripped jeans. You're the girl that I--" Noah stopped, then took a step closer to me. "You are my girl.” 

Mara Dyer wakes up in a hospital and doesn’t remember why she’s there. When she is told about the accident she can’t recall what happened to land her there and her friends gone. She decides moving away will help. Little does Mara know that her nightmares will always be following her. When strange things start to happen to her she starts to believe she’s broken and can’t be fixed. Noah Shaw doesn’t agree.

Noah is categorized as a player at Mara’s new school. He is cocky, ignorant, persistent and irresistible. When he sets his sights on Mara she tries everything in her power to stay away because of his reputation. But to Noah, Mara isn’t like any other girl he knows. He is about to find out just how different she really is.

As the two spend time together, from rescuing abused dogs and brothers to figuring out each other secrets, they slowly come to realize that they aren’t so different.

My reaction at the end of reading this the first time was:

WTH! OMG! what kind of ending was that??!! I freaking KNEW it! Gah! i don't want to wait for the next book! it needs to be out NOW!

Okay, so after my reaction....

This story has been added to my list of favorites. I loved everything! The cover, characters, storyline, romance, and by gosh I LOVE LOVE Noah Shaw! He has been chosen as my book boyfriend! I’m dying to know what happens next and to learn more about what is going on with Mara. I want her to be able to control whatever she does and hopefully Noah can help her do that. She became very stubborn at the end.

Other Characters:
Daniel and Joseph are great brothers! They really seem to love Mara and they like Noah, which is a plus. I was so sorry for Jamie and I hope we haven't seen the last of him. He was a good addition to the story and it would suck not to have him back.  

I would recommend this book to everyone!

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Book Description: 

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.
Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart. 

Christina's BookReview

 “I got schooled this year
by
a
Boy.

 
a boy that I'm seriously,
deeply, madly, incredibly,
and undeniably in love with.  

And he taught me the most 

important thing of all ... 

To put the emphasis

                                                                         On life. ”

Layken Cohen doesn’t like the cold. Layken doesn’t like change. Layken has been numb since the death of her father. Layken is about to find out what it is to feel something different.

Will Cooper has his hands full with his little brother. Will loves to do Slam Poetry. Will is Layken’s neighbor. Will Copper is about to be thrown a curveball.

When Layken, her mother Julia and brother Kel, move to Ypsilanti she isn’t at all excited. Layken is still trying to come to terms with being moved from her hometown and leaving everything her father was behind. She cannot wait to graduate and be able to go back to Texas. When Kel catches the attention of Caulder, the boy next door, Lake is about to find out that there might be something worth staying for in Ypsilanti.

Will Cooper is trying to get his life in order and take care of his little brother Caulder. Will loves Slam Poetry and his brother more than anything in life. When his brother makes friends with the new neighbor he doesn’t expect to be drawn to the little boys’ sister.

After Will and Lake automatically hit it off and are falling for each other quickly. But when Will and Lake discover that they are more than just neighbors, things go downhill. As they both come to terms with what life has thrown at them they realize that sometimes you have to push against life and its obstacles.

If you haven’t read this, do so now! This is truly a great book about love, life, loss and the therapy that writing invokes. I enjoyed this book from the first page. Every character was amazing in their own ways.

A few things I enjoyed:
1. The Slam Poetry. It was AWESOME!-I love poetry and reading about Slam Poetry was really cool. As well at the ones the characters performed!
2.Eddie- She was incredible! That was one girl that had many obstacles thrown her way and overcame them all. And her boyfriend and foster dad were AMAZING.
3.Eddie’s Birthday Scene- I cried so much it was crazy. It was that beautiful. That heartwarming. The PERFECT!
4.Will’s Slam Poetry-His poetry was very heartwarming and very real which made me love him even more.
5.Caulder and Kel- There relationship was so innocent and so bonded. I loved that they instantly became best friends and that Caulder was there for Kel through the good and bad.

This book is so BUTTERFLYING(have to read to find out)fantastic! Pick it up now! I dare you! :)

Review for Book #2-Point of Retreat-Coming soon....