The Keatyn Chronicles, by Jillian Dodd

Stalk Me - 4.5 out of 5 stars

Book Description:

Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed.  Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience.  She's popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most coveted lunch table.

She's just not sure she wants it anymore.

Because, really, things aren't all that perfect.

Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam.

Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.

It's exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.

And, deep down, she isn't sure if she has any true friends.

To add to the drama, her movie star mom has a creepy stalker.

A hot, older man flirts with her and tells her they should make a movie together.

And she's crushing on an adorable surfer.  Dating him would mean committing social suicide.

So she writes a new script.  One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony.  But little does she know, there's someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.

Review:

I love Jillian Dodd!  She is so talented at just sucking you into books.  She got me right away in That Boy series and again with the Keatyn Chronicles.  The other points Jillian earns as an author from us...she never fails to make us laugh.  Like out loud.  A lot.

The Keatyn Chronicles can be classified as extremely mature YA with an incredibly addictive storyline.  Stalk Me is the first book of the series and you absolutely cannot read the other books until you've read this one.

Keatyn Douglas has everything in life she could ever want.  Super star mom, super star step dad, great family, huge beach house in California.  I mean seriously is there anything Keatyn doesn't have???  Oh that's right, love from a guy who loves her for her.  Keatyn is one of my all time favorite book characters.  She is genuine and the books are written in the form of a daily diary so you see everything playing out just like she does.  You would think a girl with all the things Keatyn has should be happy, and she is, but she struggles with thing all of us (even adults) struggle with on a daily basis.  For example, everyone wants to be popular but at what price.    

When I first started reading this book I found myself very frustrated with Keatyn's thoughts and especially her actions.  I also was kind of put off that before something happened or before she would talk to another character she would literally "script" it in her head first.  I'm not going to lie her immaturity frustrated me so much in the beginning I think it held me back from instantly being hooked, however, Jillian Dodd has this incredible storytelling ability and before long all I cared about was finding out what Keatyn was doing and how she was going to get herself out of the next crazy situation.  Before long I was so caught up in the story and especially in Keatyn's life that I couldn't put the book down!

I think its also important you go into this series with the knowledge that Keatyn is only 17 years old and therefore her actions are going to resemble those of a typical teenager, maybe just more extreme because she has been exposed to so many different things having grown up in Hollywood.  In the end this is one of the reasons I fell in love with the series.  It's just such a fun break from the reality of my own life.  Keatyn lives in the moment, who doesn't wish their real life could be as glamorous as growing up with a movie star mom, being able to purchase anything they want, no curfew, being able to go and come as she pleases, a closet full of the latest fashion, and of course living in picturesque Malibu???  It's completely unreal how much this 17 year old girl can get away with, but then again she isn't a normal 17 year old. 

Boys...so many boys and so little time for Keatyn to decide who she loves.  She is so wishy washy but that is a typical teenage right?  I would know, I have one in my house.  Sander her boyfriend appears great on the surface but is always getting drunk.  Brooklyn, the hot surfer neighbor, is older and seems to be laid back and good for Keats but is he too laid back?  Cush is her best guy friend with lots of potential to be more, and he doesn't expect or want her to change.  Or there is Vincent, hot new neighbor and film director.  He is older, but it could work.  Who will Keatyn choose?  In this first installment you will also see Keatyn battle with the "Queen B" at her high school.  Make connections to possibly launch her own acting career.  You also join Keatyn for an out of this world 17th birthday celebration, a summer alone in Europe with one special boy and even witness craziness as someone puts Keatyn's life in danger.  One things for sure, Keatyn's world is about to be turned upside down and you don't want to miss one minute of it!  WARNING:  Prepare to find yourself addicted!  As soon as you finish Stalk Me you are immediately going be dying to start Kiss Me. 

Kiss Me - 5 out of 5 stars

Book Description:

I've always written scripts for my perfect life.

But no way could I have ever scripted this.

My life is so far from perfect, it's not even funny.

All because of a stalker.

I'm at a boarding school where I have to lie about who I am.

I can't see my family.

I'm tutoring a Hottie God that tortures me with his smile.

The most popular girl already hates me.

But there's this boy.

This hot, sweet, sexy boy.

So I'm going to stop trying to script my life and just live it.

Because who knows how long I have left.

Review:

To begin, if you have not read Stalk Me, STOP reading this review now!  It will ruin the first book in the Keatyn Chronicles for you.  But if you haven't read it go one click it right now!  Seriously, it has been on sale for FREE for a few weeks and if you let that opportunity pass you by then pay for it, it is worth it.  Okay, now that you have been properly warned, on to the review.

Oh my goodness...I can never get enough of these books!  Yes, it's official and I am not ashamed to admit that I'm 31 years old and 100% addicted to this series.  These books are like a drug I never saw coming!  Keatyn is so much fun.  Even running away from psycho Vincent and being stuck at boarding school, she is freakin awesome.

Kiss Me picks up right where Salk Me left off, so at this point you have met some new people in Keatyn's life at her new boarding school.  Aiden, Dallas, Riley, Whitney, Peyton and Dawson to name a few.  I love how these books pick up right where the last one starts.  We don't miss a thing and it's fantastic.  Keatyn is on her way to a new life at boarding school.  She just made the dance team and took a ride on the Ferris Wheel with the God of all Hotties AKA Aiden.  She is trying to live her life the way she always wanted to in California, without drama and not worrying about being the most popular.  She left that life behind with Vanessa and she definitely doesn't want to start it again with Whitney.  This is her chance to be herself, she can start fresh and she's decided she has no interest in being the popular girl, however, one thing's for sure, everyone is going to know Keatyn Monroe, the fearless, confident girl who isn't afraid to go after what she wants and who finds herself involved with more extra curricular activities than she ever dreamed of before.  She is taking full advantage of being an "unknown" and making sure she gets the "true high-school experience."

So what can you expect with the 2nd installment...boys, boys and more boys!  There's Dallas and Riley her friends who she sometimes kisses, Hottie God who she undeniably has an instant connection/love at first sight thing and kisses, Brooklyn (who I wanted to punch for his stupidity, but was also secretly thrilled Keatyn finally opens her eyes to his true personality) who yes she kisses, Gorgeous who even though she shared the worst kiss of her life with is now finding incredibly sweet and there's some serious chemistry with.  So, the question is, which boy is the best?  And, let's not forget about Vincent, he's there and Keatyn finds herself thisclose to being discovered!  There is drama and more drama, but Keatyn also begins to make some real genuine friends with actual bonds.  But let's be honest...by the end of this book you are going to find yourself even more vested in all these boys and you aren't going to be able to stop yourself from jumping on team to team when it comes to trying to decide who should/will be her "moon boy."

Keatyn is like able because she is nice, sweet and makes decisions that are easily oftentimes justified in her mind.  She is young, beautiful, loves to have fun, wants to be involved in everything, but she also over thinks everything.  She wants to find true love and it's more than fun to watch her look for it in all the hot guys vying for her attention.  I promise you'll be sucked in like a really good prime time soap...think gossip girl with the love triangles of Vampire Diaries.

Date Me - 5 out of 5 stars

Book Description:

I'm not scripting my life anymore.

I'm living it.

I'm done with the God of all Hotties.

I'm going to give my heart to the boy who I think deserves it.

The boy whose kisses are hotter than molten lava.

The boy who offered me the key to his heart.

The boy who asked me to Homecoming in a big, sexy way.

There are so many things to look forward to.

Parties at the Cave.  Homecoming festivities.  Drama Tryouts.  Shopping trips to NY.

But things aren't always as perfect as they seem.

Not that I can blame him.

I have secrets too.

But, for now, I'm going to pretend I'm just a normal girl. 

I'm going to pretend he's not still out there.

I'm going to pretend he's not getting desperate.

I'm going to pretend I'll never see him again.

But, I will.

And this time, I might not get away.

Review:

Again, if you have not read Stalk Me and Kiss Me, go do it NOW.  Do not pass go, do not collect $200 just DO IT NOW!!!!

Have I mentioned this is my guilty pleasure???  Once again I couldn't get enough, I was sucked in before I even finished page 1 and didn't stop reading until the last page was turned.  Yes, you heard me, I read this book in 1 sitting!!!  Of course when it was over I was devastated I would have to wait months to get my next Keatyn fix.

With each book we see Keatyn become more and more mature.  She is able to recognize when a bad decision has been made and you can really see she is learning and growing from those experiences.  She finally realizes she cannot script her life and tries to embrace living each day to its fullest.  As always her life is messy but it's fun and addicting to watch Keatyn navigate through the chaos.

Date Me picks up immediately after Dawson asks Keatie to be his homecoming date in the most memorable and outrageous way possible.  In this installment you are treated with the full homecoming experience, a nail biting Vincent encounter, parties and shopping in NYC with the girls, more Whitney stand-offs, of course more major crushing and dancing with the Hottie God, the making of a crazy sexy music video.  Keatyn also learns that boys are boys and sometimes she too easily trusts those boys with her heart, what happens when said boys disappoint.  She also ponders what true love is and whether or not she's found it.  She learns to juggle doing things for herself vs. doing them for some guy.

Jillian is going to make you laugh and cry, scream in frustration and jump up and down with joy when Keatyn finally does something right.  I absolutely love these books are told on a day to day basis.  I think one of the things I enjoy most is that I honestly have no idea where or with who Keatyn is going to end up with (but for what it's worth we at Romance Rewind are team Aiden and have been since book 2).  I think Jillian is going to keep us guessing until the end, but getting there has already been so much fun and I literally cannot wait until the next installment, Love Me is released...hurry up August 11th!!!