Plague by Michael Grant

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary:(from goodreads) It's been eight months since all the adults disappeared. GONE.They've survived hunger. They've survived lies. But the stakes keep rising, and the dystopian horror keeps building. Yet despite the simmering unrest left behind by so many battles, power struggles, and angry divides, there is a momentary calm in Perdido Beach.But enemies in the FAYZ don't just fade away, and in the quiet, deadly things are stirring, mutating, and finding their way free. The Darkness has found its way into the mind of its Nemesis at last and is controlling it through a haze of delirium and confusion. A highly contagious, fatal illness spreads at an alarming rate. Sinister, predatory insects terrorize Perdido Beach. And Sam, Astrid, Diana, and Caine are plagued by a growing doubt that they'll escape - or even survive - life in the FAYZ. With so much turmoil surrounding them, what desperate choices will they make when it comes to saving themselves and those they love?
Review: This is the fourth book in the Gone series and I enjoyed this one just as much as the others. I really like the direction the plot took in this book and thought everything was really well done. I am surprised that the author can constantly keep this series fresh and engaging and keep it from getting dull or repetitive. The way this book ended made me really excited to read the next book. I think things have finally been taken to a different level in the series. The characters, as always, were really great. Dekka became on of my favorites in this book and I started to like Caine in this book for some reason. I also thought Toto was really funny. This is a really awesome series that I think dystopian fans will enjoy.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Summary:(from goodreads) Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
Review: This is the first book in the Infernal Devices series. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one as much as I enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series, but I did really enjoy it. The plot was well paced. Even though this book is close to 500 pages it never thought it was slow. The twist near the ending was surprising and the somewhat of a cliffhanger ending made me really want to read the sequel. I really liked the characters in this book. Tessa was a really strong main character, although it took me a while before I really liked her. Jem and Will were both awesome but i have to say as of this moment I am team Jem. The setting in this book was really great. Even though we don't get to see much of it, the fact that this is set in Victorian London really added a lot to the story. This setting and time period really defined a lot of the characters thought and behaviors which I liked.  Also I wish Magnus had a larger part in this book. overall, I really liked this book and am anxious to start the sequel, although it will probably be a while before i do because i plan on reading City of Fallen Angels first.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Summary:(from goodreads) Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
Review: I thought this was a really interesting retelling of Cinderella. The plot was well paced and although I figured out what was going to happen pretty early on, I still really enjoyed it. i thought the world building was really well done but i do hope that in the rest of the series we get a little bit more history of how things came to be the way they are. I appreciated how unique this story was while still staying somewhat true to the original. It had a good balance of old and new that i really liked. Cinder was a really great main character. I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. Kai and Dr. Erland were really awesome characters as well. I think Queen Levana is one of the characters that we all love to hate and i am sure excited to see what all of these characters are up to as the series continues. Overall, I think this book is a great choice for anyone who is a fan of fairy tale retelling.

The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin

Summary:(from goodreads) Sixteen-year-old Mason Rice is having the night of his life. He's just delivered an incredible performance in the school play, basked in celebratory afterglow vibes at the party of the year, and lost his virginity to one of his best friends—the gorgeous but previously unobtainable Kat Medina. His dreams are coming true, and the future looks golden.
Unfortunately, Kat sees things very differently. Crossing the friendship line was a big mistake, and all she wants is to forget it and move on, even if that means forgetting Mason altogether. What's a guy to do? Well, if you're Mason, you hang your hopes on the first attractive twenty-three-year-old you cross paths with. At first Mason wonders if he's imagining the chemistry . . . until Colette invites him over to her apartment. Suddenly Mason's living in a whole new world.
 Review: I thought this book was just ok. The plot was pretty basic and predictable. Although I still enjoyed watching things slowly unfold. I also didn't really connect with any of the characters. Mason was an interesting protagonist but he kinda started to get annoying after a while. I just couldn't relate to any of the characters and that took away from the story for me. I thought the chemistry between the characters seemed kind of forced and not really that believable. my biggest problem though was the lack of reaction from everyone when the truth came out. I thought that Mason's dad at least should have reacted to the situation a little bit more than he did. They just made it seem like no big deal and that bugged me. Despite that stuff though, I did enjoy this book and i think people who want a romance with a little bit of drama will enjoy this one, it just wasn't one of my favorites.

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary:(from goodreads) Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.
Review: This is the third book in the Caster Chronicles and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I love the suspenseful plot that doesn't let up for a moment. This book was full of surprises and twists and the ending in particular, was really surprising. Although, I hope it doesn't turn the next book cheesy and annoying. As always I really love the characters in this series. Ethan and Lena are both really awesome characters. I really feel their connection and am excited that there is still another book to come. i am finding it hard to say very much that hasn't already been said about this series, but if you are looking for and awesome southern story full of supernatural excitement, then I recommend this series.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Summary:(from goodreads) When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?
Review: I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this and although it wasn't perfect, I did enjoy it. This book follows a lot of characters and when I first started reading it I was confused about who everyone was. After a while though, it got easier to follow along. This book didn't have a whole lot as far as plot. The main plot focuses on fighting for the empty council seat and things slowly start to spiral out of control for several characters. I would say this book is mostly character driven and I enjoyed getting to know all these characters even if I didn't really connect with any of them. The only perspective i started to get annoyed with after a while was Krystal.   In a nutshell, this book is 500 pages of secrets. lies and gossip in a small English town and I enjoyed it. If you go in to this expecting an action packed magical mystery, you are going to be disappointed, but otherwise i think it is an enjoyable read. I have to say that if you start reading don't give up on it if things seem slow. It does get better and the ending was surprising. Overall, this is a good read.

So Over You by Gwen Hayes

Summary:(from goodreads) 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 thinking 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.
Review: I thought this was a cute and sweet, light hearted romance story. The blind date twist added a unique twist on the story and it was fun to watch Layney experience the blind date rollercoaster. What i didn't like about it was that it seemed like as the story when on, the dates were given a backseat to Layney's other conflicting emotions and issues. I thought the secret that Layney revealed towards the end was surprising. It added a differetn dimension to the story and made Layney a more relate able character. Layney was the only character that I really liked in this book. She was the only one that I could really connect to and despite the fact that dating and romance play a big part in this book, I didn't feel the chemistry with any of the male characters, even though there are some who had potential. On the other hand, I really liked the character development that happened over the course of the book. Layney really was a changed person by the end. Even though the ending was somewhat openended, it was easy to imagine where these characters end up and I did enjoy it.

Easy by Tammara Webber

Summary:(from goodreads) When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.
Review: I thought this was a pretty good book. The plot was well paced, especially where the romance is concerned. I liked the slow buildup of their relationship, especially during the first half of the book. I really liked Jacqueline and Lucas and wanted them to end up together. They were both very well rounded characters. I thought the revelations about Lucas' past really added a lot to the story. My only real problem was that he romance became the center of attention and all the other story lines kind of fell flat. Jacqueline's music practices and escpecially the story line involving Buck. I felt like the could have been explored more and the story could have taken a different direction, which is kind of what I expected based on the summary. Overall, though I really did like this book.