Books: September Edition

I feel like September was a long, slow month. Which is fine. It means I got some good reading time in between school, work, and family life. I read six books this month, although one was a re-read. I couldn't help it. Ha ha.

First I read Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott. Here's a quick summary, via BN.com:

Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast. Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate's invisible.

And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she's sure she's just his latest conquest.

Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen — but only if she lets them....

This book was sweet, simple, and very reminiscent of a novel by Sarah Dessen. I liked the secondary characters a lot; Will was funny and genuine, Kate's grandma cracked me up, and the drama with her parents felt very real. However, Kate was whiny, annoying, and kinda blah. I really liked the ending of the book, but I feel like it was rushed. Overall, three out of five stars. 

Then I read a two-part series by Nicole Williams. The books are called Crash and Clash. Here's the overview: 

Southpointe High is the last place Lucy wanted to wind up her senior year of school. Right up until she stumbles into Jude Ryder, a guy whose name has become its own verb, and synonymous with trouble. He's got a rap sheet that runs longer than a senior thesis, has had his name sighed, shouted, and cursed by more women than Lucy dares to ask, and lives at the local boys home where disturbed seems to be the status quo for the residents. Lucy had a stable at best, quirky at worst, upbringing. She lives for wearing the satin down on her ballet shoes, has her sights set on Juilliard, and has been careful to keep trouble out of her life. Up until now.

Jude's everything she knows she needs to stay away from if she wants to separate her past from her future. Staying away, she's about to find out, is the only thing she's incapable of.

For Lucy Larson and Jude Ryder, love's about to become the thing that tears them apart.

I really liked these books a lot. First of all, they are very real and gritty. I could relate to Lucy so much and I really enjoyed her as a main character. She is everything I try to be, independent, strong, and unique. Jude is your typical bad boy, but with a very sweet side. At first I was annoyed by him and his stupidity, but as the books went on, I found myself liking him more and more. I also loved how these books really explored every aspect of love and making a relationship work. They were wonderful! Four  stars for Crash and five stars for Clash. 

After those two, I tried a book called Taking Chances by Molly McAdams. I was looking for something like Easy by Tammara Webber. Here's the summary for Taking Chances: 

Eighteen year old Harper has grown up under her career Marine of a father's thumb. Ready to live life her own way and experience things she's only ever heard of from the jarheads in her father's unit; she's on her way to college at San Diego State University.

Thanks to her new roommate, Harper is introduced to a world of parties, gorgeous guys, family and emotions. Some she wasn't expecting yet, and others she never knew she was missing.

She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with her boyfriend Brandon, and her roommate's brother Chase. Covered in tattoos, known for fighting in the Underground and ridiculously muscled...they're exactly what she was always warned to stay away from, but just what she needs. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both adore and would do anything for Harper, including stepping back if it means she's happy.

It sounds great right? Full of drama, love triangles, college life. And there are some seriously rave reviews for this book on Goodreads.com. But for me, it did not live up to what I wanted. At all. It was extremely dramatic, in a bad way like a soap opera. The main character, Harper, was annoying, stupid, and had basically no personality. Nothing that happens in this book would happen in real life. Seriously. It was ridiculous. I liked the idea behind the book, and there were parts I enjoyed, but over all, it was way too long, too dramatic (even for me), and too cheesy! I found myself rolling my eyes and was happy when it finally ended. The writing was pretty bad and there was virtually no editing done on this book (a huge pet peeve of mine). Only three stars for this one (although it probably should be two; I'm being nice!).

Then I read Down To You by M. Leighton. Here's the summary, from Goodreads (sorry it's kinda long):

 Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white.

But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.
Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her.

Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them.

I absolutely loved this book. Honestly. The characters were wonderfully real, the writing was great to read, and the plot was intriguing and yet simple. It was a fast, enjoyable read and I really did like everything about this book. I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a good, steamy romance. Five out of five stars. It's that simple. 

Finally, I read Easy by Tammara Webber for the second time. I have already done a review for this one, so I will skip the summary (if you are interested, it was back in my July Books Edition). This book has stuck with me ever since I read it. I can't stop thinking about it. So I decided to re-read it. And it was just as wonderful the second time. You guys, I cannot hate anything about this book! I just love it. Nothing else in the genre has lived up to it. This is wonderful book about college life, relationships, and standing up for the right thing. I love the main characters, the plot, everything. If you haven't read this one yet, read it. You can thank me later. I would give this one six stars out of five, but I guess that's cheating, so five it is! 

Well, sorry this ended up being a long post! I guess I had a lot to say about these books, ha ha. Enjoy!

Yours,

Cait