Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Synopsis:
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

My Rating: 8/10

My Thoughts:
There was a lot of blog hype about this book, which is why I decided to pick it up. I'm always looking for a good love story, and this book very much fit that criteria.

Unfortunately I read this book a while ago, so some of the specific things are getting kind of fuzzy. This book is a classic bad boy (who is really a good guy) meets good girl (who is a lot more complicated than she appears) and falls in love. However don't let this overused plot deter you, I was very much crushing on Alex, and found Brittany very likable. The romance was everything I look for in a book like this. I was addicted from beginning to end and I especially liked the epilogue. Sometimes I find them pointless, but in this case I really enjoyed it because it offered a lot of insight. (I don't want to give anything away by saying more)

If you're looking for something that will throw you a plot curve ball, this story isn't it. But I would totally recommend this book to anyone looking for an excellent love story to read again and again, for I was most thoroughly entertained.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Synopsis:
Seventeen year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father… until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms – first love, the love between parents and children – that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts… and heal them.

My Rating: 7/10

My Thoughts:
I'll admit it. I was one of those people who saw the trailer for the movie and then jumped in the queue of holds at the library. therefore it took a long time for the book to finally come. But it did. I liked it, with one exception. (And no, the exception was not the fact that I pictured Miley Cyrus as Ronnie the entire time)

I've got nothing against Miley Cyrus, and didn't really mind picturing her as Ronnie. She fit the description and I moved on with my life.

I really liked the first half of the book. Ronnie is your typical angsty teen that you generally find in the beginning of these types of books. She parties, and gets into trouble but she doesn't drink, so you know she is good at heart. (obvs) Despite the angst, Ronnie ended up being a pretty likable character. The romance was good, which was a major reason I liked the first part so much.

My problem with this book was the last third. Stuff happens, characters are sad, and everything got really, really preachy. Personally, this was a big turn off for me, but there are probably plenty of people who don't mind, or actually read the book for that stuff. I just didn't dig it.

Overall, good first part, but the second part got on my nerves. I liked the movie too, they eliminated a lot of the preachy-ness so I was digging it more.

The Man From Saigon by Marti Leimbach

Synopses:
It's 1967 and Susan Gifford is one of the first women correspondents in Saigon, dedicated to her job and passionately in love with an American TV reporter. Son is a Vietnamese photographer anxious to get his work to get his work into the American press. Together they cover every aspect of the war from combat missions to the working of field hospitals. Then one November morning, after narrowly escaping death during an ambush, they find themselves the prisoners of three Vietcong soldiers who have been separated from their unit. Helpless in the hands of the enemy, they face the jungle, living always with the threat of being killed. But Son turns out to have a secret history that one day will separate Susan from her American lover. As they are held under terrifyingly harsh conditions, it becomes clear just how profound their relationship is, and how important it has become to both of them.

My Rating: 8/10

My Thoughts:
I picked this book up randomly from my library's new books shelves. I'm always looking for books about Asia, and Vietnam specifically, that don't have anything to do with war. And honestly there are very few. For that reason, this book intrigued me. Now, I know that this book IS about the Vietnam war, but because it was from the perspective of a woman and hinted at a love story with a Vietnamese man, I was hooked and picked it up.

This book is told in alternating perspectives between Susan and her boyfriend. I LOVED Susan's sections, and HATED the perspective of her idiot lover. (I kept flipping ahead to see how many more agonizing pages I had left until it switched back to Susan) Honestly, I just wanted to keep reading about Son. He was fascinating, and I fell in love with him way before Susan started having feelings for him.

I was kept guessing the whole time about how this book was going to end. And I feared the worst, (after all it is a war novel) but hoped for the best. The ending surprised me. I think I should have been angry with how it ended, but I'm very strange when it comes to endings, and if an ending can throw me a curve ball, I usually like it. Even if it's not your typical happy ending.

I feel like I'm being kind of cryptic with this review, but I never know how much to say about a book without risking giving something away. So, overall, even though there were sections that I dreaded coming to and hated while reading, I really enjoyed this book. (Though I think I would like any book that gives me a male character to fall in love with) I would recommend it.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Synopses:
Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

My Rating: 9/10

My Thoughts:
ZOMBIES!!! How can you say no to that? This book takes place several years after the Forest of Hands and Teeth and follows Mary's daughter. I found her a little annoying at first. Very naive, sheltered and rather lacks guts. However the story starts off with a bang, and soon Gabry is forced to face her fears and go beyond the fence.

After the initial action, I thought the story dragged a bit, but then picked up again when the zombie worshiping cult was introduced. This, along with a few other new elements that were introduced, created some interesting drama.

Like The Forest of Hands and Teeth, the story eventually ends up amongst the trails protected by the chain link fence, and like the book before this story also has a love triangle. I love a good love triangle and agree with Carrie Ryan writing in her blog about how a love triangle should have two viable love interests. If one of the guys is obviously the wrong choice, the love triangle is too easily resolved and all the exciting drama is lost.

Overall I think I might like The Dead-Tossed Waves better than the Forest of Hands and Teeth. I'm not sure why, except that I absolutely loved one of the love interests. Since this book ends on a huge cliffhanger, I can't wait for the next book to come out and to find out what happens.

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Synopses:
Born with a scarlet mote in her left eye, Phedre no Delaunay is sold into indentured servitude as a child. When her bond is purchased by an enigmatic nobleman, she is trained in history, theology, politics, foreign languages, the arts of pleasure. And above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Exquisite courtesan, talented spy... and unlikely heroine. But when Phedre stumbles upon a plot that threatens her homeland, Terre d'Ange, she has no choice.

Betrayed into captivity in the barbarous northland of Skaldia and accompanied only by a disdainful young warrior-priest, Phedre makes a harrowing escape and an even more harrowing journey to return to her people and deliver a warning of the impending invasion. And that proves only the first step in a quest that will take her to the edge of despair and beyond.

Phedre no Delaunay is the woman who holds the keys to her realm's deadly secrets, and whose courage will decide the very future of her world.

My Rating: 10/10

My Thoughts:
This is one of my favorite books of all time. It's absolutely amazing, and everything I want from a novel. Phedre is the perfect heroine. She is smart and talented without being an over the top sword wielding warrior. She is not only educated in history, languages, and politics, but also as a spy and courtesan, which places her ideally amidst the many court intrigues at the palace. One of my favorite kind of books is one where characters preach the importance of education, learning, and knowledge and this is definitely one of those books.

Ultimately, however, it's the scope and history of the world that Jacqueline Carey has created that amazes me. It has a rich and powerful spiritualism that is well fleshed out and very interesting. I love the connections between actual history and the slightly skewed version in Carey's world. I want to live in Terre d' Ange.

There are many, many characters in this book, and I had a hard time keeping them straight, even with a helpful list in the beginning of the book. However, though there was some slight confusion about who was who with some of the minor characters, it did not detract at all from the overall story, and within a few rereads (yes I've reread this book many times) I had no problem what so ever with characters.

I do have to warn you, this book is for mature audiences. Phedre is after all a courtesan and the descriptions of her assignations leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. I was blushing a bit the first time I read it when I was 19. However, if this isn't a problem for you, absolutely check it out. I highly recommend it.

I'm excited to say that Jacqueline Carey is going to be visiting my home town on a book signing tour tomorrow. I can't wait to meet her!