Perfect Chemistry

Title: Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1)

Author: Simone Elkeles

Genre: YA/Romance/Fiction

Release Date: December 23, 2008

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥♥

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers. 

 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. 

 In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

~ Goodreads

Perfect Chemistry is absolutely ahh-maaa-ziiing!  I could not put it down!  I was a bit reluctant to get it just because of the whole gang theme, but in the end Perfect Chemistry was a winner.

Brittany Ellis has it all: money, a jock boyfriend, a nice car, designer clothes.  But her home life is the exact opposite.  An eccentrically psychotic mother, a father that disappears almost every night, and a sister that needs her more than she can imagine.
When Alex Fuentes walked into Brittany's life, the last thing she ever expected between them was chemistry.
Alex Fuentes is a hard-core gang banger.  He's hard on the outside and likes to keep it that way.  But when Alex takes a bet to get with Brittany, he gradually uncovers the real girl underneath all the designer clothes and makeup.  And he falls hard.

So, this is sort of like Romeo & Juliet, girl and boy fall for each other, but their families and backgrounds are not in the least compatible.  Star-crossed lovers.  And let me tell you, Brittany and Alex are polar opposites; Brittany is soft and girly, while Alex is gritty and a total bad boy.
I really liked that the story was told from alternating view points, because I got to get a glimpse into Alex and Brittany's mind and home life.  I have to say, I preferred Brittany's view point just because she was easier to relate to and her life wasn't as complicated as Alex's.

Brittany and Alex's relationship developed at a steady pace.  Their interactions were very fluent and produced sparks, hence the title.  I loved watching Alex fall for Brittany, a girl he never imagined for himself and vice versa.  So sweet!

There were also some really humorous scenes.  The wedding scene (Paco!) is the funniest, in my opinion.  I couldn't stop laughing because it was too comical!

If you like modern love stories with a major twist, then you should definitely consider reading Perfect Chemistry!

Overall, I'm giving Perfect Chemistry a 5/5 because I loved the star-crossed lovers theme and who couldn't love this book?  It's amazing.

Stacking the Shelves #2

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that allows us to showcase our recently received books.  Let the 'To Be Read' lists pile!

I am so excited to read these books, especially Wait for You and Perfect Chemistry, since they've gotten such high ratings.
School has been slowing me down on my reading, so that's why it's been taking a bit longer for me to review books.  Too much homework!  I can't wait to be done with high school and the cliques and the sleep-deprived nights and the zombie-like mornings.  Hopefully, when I go off to college I'll have more free time to read.
Without further ado, my most recent book haul!

Wait For You

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

The Fault in Our Stars

Beautiful Disaster

Perfect Chemistry

Bloodlines

Slammed

Apollyon (Covenant #4)
The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden
Not pictured: Wait for You (The paperback releases on Tuesday!)

I'm sure I'll love these books!

~What books are you reading?

Dare You To

Title: Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)

Author: Katie McGarry

Genre: YA/Fiction/Romance

Release Date: May 28, 2013

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥♥

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."  

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again.... 

"I dare you..." 

 If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where.  So she protects her mom at all costs.  Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness.  That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her.  At all.  Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does.... 

 Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone.  Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things.  The craziest?  Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.  But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected.  Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

~ Goodreads

Where do I start?

Dare You To is an amazing story of unequivocal love, overcoming boundaries and expectations, trust, and did I already say love?  I cannot express how much I adore this book in words!  Pushing the Limits and Dare You To are each perfect in their own way and I feel like every book worm who loves a realistic modern-day love story should read this.  Agh, too much perfection in one book!

Beth Risk is damaged.  Emotionally and physically.  Her mother's boyfriend likes to spend his free time beating her and her mother up.
Beth's past scarred her and she can't seem to let it go.  The events that have occurred in her life have shaped her into a thick-skinned skater who hungers for something more than a trashy life filled with drugs and alcohol and abusive men.

Beth is forced to move to a new school and start fresh.  Or as fresh as it can get with the rumors surrounding her family swallowing her alive.  Then Beth meets Ryan.  First-class jock and baseball pitcher.  Beth never would have though this boy could steal her heart, but he just might do it.

Let me tell you all, this book had me crying hysterically, laughing, gaping, and everything in between.  I am amazed Katie McGarry can write such beautiful books one after another!
I had very high expectations going into Dare You To right after Pushing the Limits, and I was happily pleased.  The two were right at the same level of eloquent and heartfelt.

Beth
In Pushing the Limits, I found Beth very annoying and jealous.  But once I got to know her character, I realized she wasn't as much of a bitch as I thought she was.  I felt like I knew Beth as a character and a person.  With such a destructive past, it's no wonder she clung to Isaiah the way she did.  I was hoping for a relationship between the two of them, but once Ryan came into the picture, too late, Isaiah.
It was more difficult to adjust to Beth's character after reading Echo's perspective in Pushing the Limits; they're two completely different girls.  But I enjoyed seeing the world through Beth's eyes.

Ryan
*Involuntary sigh* I love Ryan.  He was such a gentleman and sweet and gorgeous and just perfect!  He didn't let social boundaries keep him from loving Beth.  Ryan and Beth have a unique and rare type of love that glued them together from the beginning even if they hadn't realized it.
I was thoroughly surprised Ryan denied Gwen's advancement, because I'm used to the jocks making out with the wrong girl, begging for the right girl to take them back, blah, blah, blah.  So, yeah, that bit made me very happy :)
Ryan was also very... sure of himself.  Confident.  Whatever you want to call it.  His confidence radiated from him in a positive way.

Overall, I'm giving Dare You To a 5/5 because this is is such a wonderfully brilliant book!

You Are Mine

Title: You Are Mine (Mine #1)

Author: Janeal Falor

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Release Date: May 6, 2013

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥

Serena knows a few simple things.  She will always be owned by a warlock.  She will never have freedom.  She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is.  And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished.  Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts.

 Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country.  With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules.  When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world.  The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach.  Serena longs for both.  But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.

Thank you to Janeal Falor for providing me with an electronic copy of You Are Mine!

Serena has always been owned.  From her conception to her seventeenth birthday, her father, Councilman Stephen, has abused her as if she was a material object.  But this is how life for all women in Chardonia has been since she can remember.  Eat.  Sleep.  Obey.
But all that changes the minute she meets Zade.  Foreign and aloof, he pikes Serena's interest against her better judgment.  Zade opens Serena's eyes to a life and love she never could have imagined.

What I Liked:
The whole concept of a dystopia where men rule over women like humans over dogs is quite interesting.  Falor didn't disappoint in bringing out Serena's emotions when it came to how she was treated.  I was so enraged in some parts and crying in others and, ugh, my emotions were completely haywire!
Zade.  I loved Zade!  He was sweet, compassionate, caring, but he was a little bipolar....  But other than that, he was a perfect match for Serena.
The setting.  It was a little difficult to judge the century, but I'd have to guess 19th century, maybe?  Gowns, as in royal palace gowns, were what women wore in the book, so I think it's an accurate estimate.
The writing was a mixture of formal and informal.  A little odd, but you'd have to read the book to understand.  I kind of liked it....
Serena and Zade's relationship.  Serena is the damsel in distress and Zade is the knight who saves her from an oppressive lifestyle.  Got to love him.

What I Didn't Like:
The pace.  There was too much of Serena wandering around the town and doing nothing.  I wanted more action!  Maybe some more quirky characters.  Anything to fill up the blank parts in the book.
There wasn't enough romance.  I mean, there were a couple of kisses, but it wasn't enough!  I didn't feel Serena and Zade's chemistry throughout the book.  More interaction!

Are you going to read the second book?
~Yessss!

Overall, I'm giving You Are Mine  4/5 because I loved the unique story, but I need more chemistry between Serena and Zade.

What's Up Wednesday

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jaime Morrow allowing bloggers to connect with their readers and catch up.  What's Up on your Wednesday?

What I'm Reading:
At the moment, I'm reading You Are Mine by Janeal Falor, which I absolutely love, and The Selection by Kiera Cass.  There's been so much hubbub online about The Selection that I knew I would be condemned to book nerd rejection if I didn't read it.  I'm about one hundred pages into it and it's a bit slow, but I like it!  It has a Bachelor and Hunger Games kind of feel to it.

What I'm Writing:
A slew of notes on Othello for AP Literature.  Not a big fan, but it was written a while back, so no judging here.
I was working on a project, but because of my non-committed nature, the file has been waiting to be finished for about a month.  There's a possibility I might get back to work on it, but not anytime soon, what with school and all the wonderful things it brings along with it *sarcastic voice*

What Else I've Been Up To:
My week has consisted wholly of homework and reading.  Wow, I'm such a fun person!  *sarcasm* I'm definitely not one to go out and party like many other teenagers, but it's fine.  Life's good when it's filled up with reading, right?  Right.  :)

What Inspires Me Right Now:
Hmmm, Kings of Leon and T.S. Eliot.
I've been obsessed with Kings of Leon's album, Come Around Sundown.  It's so mellow and perfect and reflective.  Calming alternative music is my thing, so Come Around Sundown is right up my alley.
T.S. Eliot's poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is one of my favorites, and I've recited it a couple of times this week.  If you haven't read it, I strongly recommend it!  It's all about love, lust, self-reflection, self-worth, an unaware woman, and a man in love.  It's perfect and lyrical.

What's up on your Wednesday?

Dance of the Red Death

Title: Dance of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #2)

Author: Bethany Griffin

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Release Date: June 11, 2013

My Rating:
♥♥♥♡

Bethany Griffin continues the journey of Araby Worth in Dance of the Red Death—the sequel to her teen novel Masque of the Red Death. 

 In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her.  She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city. 

 Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero. 

 With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.

~ Goodreads

'Dark' and 'depressing' are the words that came to mind the minute I finished Dance of the Red Death.  This book was so depressing!  But it was also very captivating and alluring, so it all balanced out.  Well, except for the fact that there weren't very many cheerful parts.  Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, Araby and Will/Elliot's relationship scenes were the only parts in the book that actually made me slightly happy.  That's a downer :/

D.o.t.R.D. picks up right where Masque of the Red Death ended.  Araby and the crew are on Kent's plane/ship and are debating over where to go.  Of course, Araby wants to try to track down her father and face Malcontent's group of crazed zealots, but she knows they must go to Prospero's palace and face him, even if Araby is scared out of her wits of going back to the place that stinks of death and treachery.

Relationships
During her adventure, Araby is faced with her feelings for both Elliot and Will.  (Personally, I thought it was obvious who she would end up with)  Araby's feelings for each of them muddles her mind and many times I felt like she just wanted to make out with whoever was available.  Totally not acceptable.  I didn't feel the emotional connection with either of them.  The kissing scenes were very blah and the author didn't do the usual and write about how her heart was about to burst with emotion, etc.  I'm glad she didn't say that, because it's completely overrated, but some insight into Araby's emotions would have been better than none.

Araby's meeting with her mother in Prospero's castle was so incredibly dull.  Her mother was impassive!  I expected maybe a hug or some endearment, but what did I get?

"You're alive."

No!  That's a horrible reunion scene!  Ugh, that line drove me completely insane.

Blood, Gore, the Works
There is so much death and gore, so if you're not into that kind of stuff, you'd best stray away from Dance of the Red Death.  Bodies lining the streets, bloody tears, oozing sores, *shudder* this book has it all.  It was very gross, but it set a good description of the setting.  I could imagine the dilapidated city in ruins with its dying occupants lying on the damaged roads.  So, wonderful description of all things bloody!

The Story
I loved how Griffin drew me into Araby's convoluted world.  It was a bit slow in the beginning, but I was sucked in around page 50.  This book is a wonderful spin on one of Poe's greatest works, and I applaud Griffin on her series!

Overall, I'm giving D.o.t.R.D. a 3.5/5 because I loved Araby's story of survival, but the relationships came off as lackluster.

Trust in Me Cover Reveal & Giveaway!

Title: Trust in Me

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: October 22, 2013

It’s Wait for You as you’ve never seen it. Trust in Me lets you in on Cam’s side of the #1 New York Times Bestselling story.

 Cameron Hamilton is used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But when Avery Morgansten comes crashing into his life – literally – he finally meets the one person who can resist his soulful baby blues. But Cam’s not ready to give up. He can’t get the feisty and intriguing girl out of his head.

 Avery has secrets, secrets that keep her from admitting the feelings Cam knows she has for him. Will persistence (and some delicious homemade cookies) help him break down her barriers and gain her trust? Or will he be shut out of Avery's life, losing his first real shot at the kind of love that lasts forever?

I seriously cannot wait to read this!  It is going to be fan-tab-u-louuuuus!  Are you guys as excited as I am?   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Escape from Eden

Title: Escape from Eden

Author: Elisa Nader

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Dystopia

Release Date: August 18, 2013

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥♡

Since the age of ten, Mia has lived under the iron fist of the fundamentalist preacher who lured her mother away to join his fanatical family of followers.  In Edenton, a supposed “Garden of Eden” deep in the South American jungle, everyone follows the Reverend’s strict but arbitrary rules—even the mandate of whom they can marry.  Now sixteen, Mia dreams of slipping away from the armed guards who keep the faithful in, and the curious out.  When the rebellious and sexy Gabriel, a new boy, arrives with his family, Mia sees a chance to escape. 

 But the scandalous secrets the two discover beyond the compound’s façade are more shocking than anything they ever imagined.  While Gabriel has his own terrible secrets, he and Mia bond together, more than friends and freedom fighters.  But is there time to think of each other as they race to stop the Reverend’s paranoid plan to free his flock from the corrupt world?  Can two teenagers crush a criminal mastermind?  And who will die in the fight to save the ones they love from a madman who’s only concerned about his own secrets?

~ Goodreads

I was slightly reluctant to read Escape from Eden just because the summary sounded so... intense.  But I'm so glad I decided to get this eARC on Netgalley!

Mia is living a simple life in a harmonic and "peaceful" utopia called Eden.  The people of Eden are controlled by the "sacred and holy" Reverend and his advisor, Thaddeus.  But everything is not as perfect as it seems.  When Gabriel jumps into the picture, Mia starts to doubt the environment she has grown up in and she finally melts the thin layer of ice that has been placed in front of her eyes like a shield.  Mia sees Eden for what it really is.  She and Gabriel make terrifying discoveries about a place many people call home and how the ones they have looked up to for so long are the biggest traitors in Eden.

This book was so incredibly good!  There was never a dull moment in the story; it was very well paced.  The action, romance, mystery, suspense, it was all there along with lovely narration.  I also liked the fact that this book had such a unique story-line, which made it even more intriguing.

Gabriel.  *cue involuntary sigh*  He's the dark, gorgeous, bad-boy that comes barreling into Mia's life with no warning.  He was a bit hot-and-cold, but you delve into the reason behind that in the story.  Totally swoon-worthy.  And, honey, I was swooning ;) 

Isn't the cover so pretty?  Love it!

There were some topics frequently mentioned that weren't exactly kid-friendly.  So, I wouldn't recommend Escape from Eden to anyone under 13, but I do recommend it to anyone 13+ that loves unique dystopias that have sort of a diluted Hunger Games esque plot.

Overall, I'm giving Escape from Eden a 4.5/5 for the originality of the plot line and the brave characters.

♥ Get this book!  You won't regret it!

A Darkness Strange and Lovely

Title: A Darkness Strange and Lovely

Author: Susan Dennard

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Paranormal

Release Date: July 23, 2013

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥♥

Following an all-out battle with the walking Dead, the Spirit Hunters have fled Philadelphia, leaving Eleanor alone to cope with the devastating aftermath.  But there’s more trouble ahead—the evil necromancer Marcus has returned, and his diabolical advances have Eleanor escaping to Paris to seek the help of Joseph, Jie, and the infuriatingly handsome Daniel once again.

When she arrives, however, she finds a whole new darkness lurking in this City of Light. As harrowing events unfold, Eleanor is forced to make a deadly decision that will mean life or death for everyone.

~ Goodreads

Amazing, amazing, amazing!  ADSAL (A Darkness Strange & Lovely) and SSAD (Something Strange & Deadly) are both equally stunning books and I'm still wondering how Dennard does it.

ADSAL picks up about a month after the Shadow Hunters left Philadelphia for enchanting Paris, France.  Eleanor is less than happy in her current situation; her mother is a nutcase, her ex-best friend is acting cold and stoic towards her, and she is steadily draining her funds trying to pay for her mother's medical bills.  Paris is a breath of fresh air after what happened in Philadelphia, but it does not last long.  There are soon new problems concerning the dead arising in the city of fashion and love.  Will Eleanor and the Shadow Hunters once again keep their heads above the water or will they be swept under by the strong current?

The writing is absolutely fantastic.  It might just be that I love anything Victorian (books especially!), but I loved the elegance with which they spoke.  It was so...sophisticated.

"Let us drink tea and sit near the fireplace.  Very comfortable, no?" ~ I love putting no? at the end of sentences!  It makes me feel so European ;)

Eleanor is a wonderful lead heroine.  She's brave, spunky, headstrong, and, most importantly, has the courage to keep moving into the future.  Not once did she falter in her stride toward stopping the Dead take over the city.

Eleanor and Daniel!  Woop-woop!  Let me just say, I fell in love with Daniel in the beginning of SSAD and hated him by the end.  Now, in ADSAL I have mixed emotions towards him.  (Just a warning, but ADSAL does not have that much romance, so if you were hanging on to the series only because of that, you'll be disappointed)  He's still the sweet, rough, and tough man we met in the first book, but just a more polished version.  Eleanor doesn't get to see Daniel until the last half of the book, so the amount of interaction was severely reduced (whyyyyy?).  I feel like there should have been more romance, but that's just me.  If Dennard has squeezed in two or three more romance scenes, I would have been a very happy girl.

Action (yay)!  Gore (ewww)!  There is a lot of gore glory in ADSAL, so let this be a warning.  If you don't like or can't handle blood trickling from ears or smelly rotted corpses, you might have to skip a couple of pages...

Overall, I'm giving ADSAL a 5/5, because this was a wonderful sequel to an equally wonderful debut.

Pushing the Limits

Title: Pushing the Limits

Author: Katie McGarry

Genre: YA/Romance

Release Date: July 31, 2012

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥♥

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms.  Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night.  All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.  But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined.  They should have nothing in common.  And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

 Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away.  And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

~ Goodreads

Pushing the Limits is a read-until-3AM, forget-about-work, and completely-in-the-zone kind of book.  From the first thirty pages I was instantly hooked.  McGarry has a wonderful writing style that displays both the struggle of adolescence and the pain loved ones can cause in such an eloquent manner.  Even the cursing sounded sophisticated.

The Characters
The character development was phenomenal!  I grew to know each and every character, flaws and all.  Heck, I even empathized with Echo's dad at one point.
The well drawn out plot showcases their lives on a movie screen, timing each revelation of their lives with the utmost care.  In the beginning, I was reeling at Echo's mother, father, and stepmother.  In the end, I understood how much pain Echo and Noah had gone through in just a couple of months, all the while trying to adjust to their new status as a couple in a high school full of lions ready to rip them to shreds.
I loved Noah and Echo!  They were the two missing pieces of a puzzle.  Noah was the yin to Echo's yang.... okay, maybe not that, but you get my point!  They were made for each other.

The Plot-Line
I thought I had read books about characters with some jacked up pasts, but they don't even compare to Echo's past.  I can't say what happened to make her so traumatized, but I can say that it's horrific.  To have so many tragedies happen in such a short span of time is unimaginable.  And to top it all off her father makes one of the stupidest decisions of all time.  Yeah, I really couldn't stand Ashley and Echo's father.  I mean, who does that?
Noah.  Noah is a golden statue with some kinks in the base.  He had so much love for his brothers and such an urgency to remind them of the life they used to have when their family had been whole.

Why should you read Pushing the Limits?
Pushing the Limits is a whirlwind of tragedy, love, pain, and new beginnings coupled together with fantastic writing and broken characters that will leave you hungry for more.

Overall, I'm giving this book a 5/5 because it was absolutely flawless.

Stacking the Shelves #1

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that allows us to showcase our recently received books.  Let the 'To Be Read' lists pile!

My first ever Stacking the Shelves meme!  I have been waiting to do this for about a month and I'm so ecstatic to finally start!
So, my birthday is coming up and I decided to splurge a little bit and go on a book spree!  Well, electronically, that is.  I''m too lazy to go to B&N myself and shopping online is amazingly hassle-free.  Amazon is my BFF :)
My goal is to finish each and every wonderful title listed before next Monday.  *sigh*  These are going to be some long nights....

Bought

NetGalley

eARC

Pushing the Limits

Goddess

A Touch Mortal

Dance of the Red Death

The Selection

Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen)

Shadow of the Mark

Pure (Covenant #2)

A Darkness Strange and Lovely

Wicked Fate

Escape from Eden (eARC)

Torn

~ What books are you all reading?  

Half-Blood (Covenant #1)

Title: Half-Blood (Covenant #1)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Mythology

Release Date: October 18, 2011

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥♥

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals--well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the purrs. 
Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. 
There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1: Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. 
But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. 
And that would kind of suck.

~ Goodreads

I absolutely loved Half-Blood.  The action, romance, mythology, and quirky writing coupled together made this book one of my favorites.

Alexandria (Alex) shows characteristics that many of Armentrout's main characters in her other books radiate: confidence, energy, boldness, lovability, etc.  Alex is a strong lead; she shows compassion and strength in the steps she takes to recuperate and build herself back up to her previous status in the Covenant.  But she is a little...pushy.
Aiden is what I like to call a Swoon Character.  He is strong (physically and emotionally), caring, protective, smart, the list goes on and on.  Basically the epitome of a fearless male love interest.

The whole forbidden romance element really kicked the plot up a notch or two.  I loved the secrecy and sneakiness the couple evoked, because if they are caught, it would mean two things: 1) Alex would be thrown in jail and 2) they would be considered outcasts for even considering such a dangerous relationship.

Half-Blood is definitely an emotional roller-coaster.  Alex encounters a terrifying surprise after re-entering the Covenant.  She has to choose between her love for someone long gone and loyalty to her people and cause.

Overall, I'm giving Half-Blood a 5/5 because the story had an extremely well-thought out plot and I loved the characters and experiencing their adventures.