By Your Side

Goodreads Synopsis:    When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

My Thoughts:

-    This book pleasantly surprised me. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected.

-    When I heard the library in this story was patterned after my own library, I knew I was going to read it. I love my library!

-    I thought the characters were going to spend the whole book in the library, but I was happy that they didn't, and I got to read about the aftermath stuff.

-    I liked that this wasn't just a romance. Dax and Autumn had issues to deal with. I like that Autumn was sensitive about her anxiety. A lot of people are scared to be open. 

-    I liked the characters, and there was great character development.

-    There were some eh moments, and there were some eye rolling moments, but overall it was a fun fluff book. 

The Distance Between Us

Goodreads Synopsis:    Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

My Thoughts:

-    The cover doesn't fit the book. The girl is too fancy, and the boy isn't fancy enough.

-    Caymen is an awful name for a girl.

-    I LOVED the sarcasm. Caymen's remarks were funny and clever. 

-    The premise of this book reminds me of Pretty in Pink. Molly Ringwald would be the perfect Caymen. 

-    This book was okay, but I'm just not a contemporary romance person. The stories start meshing together, and I can't tell one book from another cause they are all so similar. 

-    The ending was abrupt. I want to know what happens to Caymen's mom and the doll shop. Does Caymen contact her father? There are some loose ends!

Split Second

Goodreads Synopsis:    Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a wonderful well thought out story! Loved it! 

-    It was killing me that Addison couldn't remember Trevor, and that Trevor didn't know Addison at all!

-    I wasn't a fan of the alternating perspectives at first, but it really grew on me. I liked reading from Laila's point of view. I did get confused about which one I was reading a couple times though.

-    My thoughts and feelings about different things changed so much with all the reveals! It was crazy! The intricate story blew me away. I didn't see anything coming! It was great!

-    I loved the characters! Laila and Addison are the type of girls I want as friends! Trevor is so amazing and charming. I liked Conner a lot too. He was all mysterious and brooding but really nice.

-    Duke was so annoying! He sort of redeems himself, but for most of the book I just wanted him to take a hike! 

-    I totally loved the ending! I wanted to do a happy dance! I especially wanted to jump for joy when (Spoiler Alert:  Conner heals Trevor's arm!! That was so awesome! I almost cried. It was super nice of Conner to do that for an almost stranger and Norm.)

-    I'm excited to read more books by this author! 

First Book

(click on cover to see my thoughts on the book)

Pivot Point

Goodreads Synopsis:    Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

My Thoughts:

-    I like parallel universe stories. I think it is a cool concept. 

-    This book reminded me of Sliding Doors with Gwyneth Paltrow. There were a lot of similarities.

-    I liked how the chapters alternated the different lives. It was easy to keep track of everything.

-    I liked how learning something in one alternate life made me see new things in the opposing life. 

-    I liked the characters, especially Trevor. I didn't like the jock from the beginning. He was obviously a player and a user. 

-    Addison and Trevor's first kiss was hot! It was a romantic scene I could gush over, and that doesn't happen too often.

-    The different mind powers were cool. I like the variety and different uses. 

-    The ending is killer! I can't wait to read the next book!

-    Overall, I really liked this story! I'm sorry it took me so long to read it.