Book Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

The Distance Between Us 
by Kasie West
Release Date: July 2nd, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
ebook, 312 pages
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
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Goodreads Summary: 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.

Cindy's Review:

At a Glance/The Cover:

This is the type of book I love to read. Those carefree, romantic reads for your reading humps during the summer. And Kasie West is exactly the author you would need to find, because she writes a lot of these amazing YA contemporary novels I'm so fond of. 

And jeez. It's a cute cover. :) Everything about the author and the book makes me smile.

The Characters/My Opinion: 

Caymen Meyers - She's an amazing narrator full of humor. She is hilarious and definitely fun to get to know and follow along with. Caymen grew up as a poor girl who lives above her mom's doll shop. Her rich father left her mom and her when she was younger and so her mom Susan dislikes anything rich. Or more like anyone rich. But soon, Caymen meets Xander but can't help but fall for her charm. 

Xander Spence - Of course, it's always the element of boys to make things a little more interesting. At least for me. :) I love nicknames. I think they're actually really special. Or the other way around. Like you have a special dear name for someone special to call you. Okay. Overuse of specials, but Alexander over here was definitely a real charm. He was a fun guy. And honestly, I think he replied to all of Caymen's sarcastic comments really well. So well that they're seriously flirting if this was real life. :D 

So yep, another fun contemporary read. Probably one of my summer rereads when I'm feeling down or when I could use some excitement in my life again. :D 

Overall Thoughts:
I am so glad I found another author to read. An author that writes books just the way I like it and a whole stack of them to read plus more coming!

I CANNOT wait for The Fill-in Boyfriend by Kasie West because *squeals* that sounds SOSOSOSO cute. I just can't help but gush. :D 

The Rating: (1-10): 9
Happy Reading~

Blog Tour: Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Welcome to my stop on the Forbidden Blog Tour
hosted by I Am a Reader.

Forbidden (Forbidden #1)

by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Release Date: November 4th, 2014

Blurb: In the unforgiving Mesopotamian desert where Jayden’s tribe lives, betrothal celebrations abound, and tonight it is Jayden’s turn to be honored. But while this union with Horeb, the son of her tribe’s leader, will bring a life of riches and restore her family’s position within the tribe, it will come at the price of Jayden’s heart. 

Then a shadowy boy from the Southern Lands appears. Handsome and mysterious, Kadesh fills Jayden’s heart with a passion she never knew possible. But with Horeb’s increasingly violent threats haunting Jayden’s every move, she knows she must find a way to escape—or die trying.

With a forbidden romance blossoming in her heart and her family’s survival on the line, Jayden must embark on a deadly journey to save the ones she loves—and find a true love for herself.

Set against the brilliant backdrop of the sprawling desert, the story of Jayden and Kadesh will leave readers absolutely breathless as they defy the odds and risk it all to be together. 

Cindy's Review: 

At a Glance/The Cover:

I always to seem miss all the blog tours I'm actually interested in. Then, I'll have to end up buying the book because I want to read it so badly. So it was a huge surprise when I got to be on this blog tour! ion I'm so honored! :)

I absolutely love historical fiction. They have believable forbidden romances with perfect gentlemen in addition to royalties and story of the past we don't live in our everyday lives. 

The Characters: 

Jayden - Jayden was easy to follow along and fun to read about. She is slightly humorous and a little unsure of what she should do with herself. In Forbidden, we slowly start to see Jayden choose her decision between a life or for family. One of the other. 

Kadesh - Kadesh was this total stranger. But soon, he found a place in my heart. A modest, kind, and handsome young man. Now I sound like an old granny. Why can't they exist in everyday life like this? Or maybe in everyday teenage boys? 

Horeb - I was really prepared to like this boy. I was hoping Jayden would forget the 'forbidden' and realize that she can have both love and family with Horeb. But boy was I wrong. Entirely wrong. Horeb is more like a controlling, evil ex-boyfriend. You do not want him in your life. He uses sympathy of others to manipulate situations. Anyone who can kill someone without blinking or feeling anything is not worth even thinking about. 

There is somewhat a love triangle, but from the beginning, you can obviously see who would be a better choice. Who would be the most logical and realistic. So all in all, the decision comes down to FAMILY or LOVE? 

Characters and romance aside, I really enjoyed the setting and historical mentions. Obviously, there isn't enough Mesopotamian history to really know what happens during this time period and what the nomadic tribes do. The author's imagination with it was amazing and I really enjoyed. I love the historical mentions especially of big cities they stop by and the neighboring lands. I'm taking APWH and I feel so proud I'm actually keeping up with everything! :D 

Overall Thoughts:

A definite must-read for historical fiction lovers. This compelling novel is filled with romance, morals, and deep-thoughts of a young girl living in the Mesopotamian world. 

The ending was certainly an open ending. I would call it a cliffhanger, but there is some cushion base of moral lessons right at the end. It's how I would like to end my essays. Life lessons and penetrating words of advice. Nothing of a sudden fall off the cliff. 

The Rating: (1-10): 9.5~

Happy Reading~

Book Trailer: 

Author Bio: 

Kimberley Griffiths Little was born in San Francisco, but now lives in New Mexico with her husband and their three sons. 

For such award-winning middle grade novels as When the Butterflies Came, The Last Snake Runner, The Healing Spell, and Circle of Secrets, her writing has been praised as "fast-paced and dramatic," with "characters painted in memorable detail" and "beautifully realized settings." 

Kimberley adores anything old and musty with a secret story to tell and makes way too many cookies while writing. 

She's stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland; sailed on the Seine in Paris; ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan; shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria.

Links: 

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Website: http://www.kimberleygriffithslittle.com

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