Mini-Reviews. A little something I do occasionally to get out a few thoughts on a bundle of books I've read. This week Im talking about Tammara Webbers Between the Lines Series books 1-3. Love celebrity gossip? Do you get crazy excited over the next hot thing in Hollywood, or do you roll your eyes at the drama, the fame, the entire lifestyle? These books have it all, the bad boy, the good boy, the schemers, the players and most of all the lovers.........

Between the Lines by Tammara Webber
April 29, 2011-Indie
Kindle/Nook- Own

Meet Reid, Graham and Emma. Teenage celebrity's, all three in different spectrum's of fame. Reid is a superstar, the latest hot young actor who gets all the parts and gets all the girls. Graham is well known yet chooses the more Indie route and enjoys a not so paparazzi life. Emma is an unknown and about to make her first big movie, opposite Reid Alexander. Their chemistry is off the charts and very heated movie making quickly becomes the real thing. The media goes crazy whenever Reid and Emma step out together and every rumor you can imagine starts hitting the Internet and tabloid magazines. Its a rather shocking ordeal for Emma and leaves her feeling a bit confused and questioning whether this life is really what she wants.

Where Reid is all about the spotlight, Emma is more concerned with just being an actress, that's why she strikes up such an easy friendship with Graham, a guy who seems to balance the life with ease. What Emma doesn't know is that Graham sees her more than just a friend, and Emma has a sneaking feeling that she has feelings for Graham too, but between Reid and Brooke (the uppity actress on set who likes Graham) the two will probably never get together. With cameras in her face 24/7, the loss of  friends and the insecurity about turning in her V-Card, Emma's life feels overwhelming.

A surprising twist and unexpected ending leaves you only wanting more. With the release of the movie, rumors out of control and hearts broken, the teens will all have to face some consequences in the end.

I really enjoyed Between the Lines, I couldn't help but think of the Twilight cast while I read it, I loved Tammara's take on what could possibly go on behind the set, the things that media and paparazzi can't photograph. I loved how the book would take a situation and we as readers knew the scoop but then watching how rumors and media can spin it and create story's where there are none......fit in with our own media madness perfect. Highly entertaining with a mix of emotions over the four MC's.....I loved them, I hated them, I cant wait for more.


Where You Are by Tammara Webber (Book 2)
October 1, 2011 by Kindle/Nook
Purchased

After our irresistible ending in book one, book two takes a deeper look at the brand new relationship between Graham and Emma and how our jilted celebs, Reid and Brooke are handling it.

With the huge popularity of the movie the crew made in book one, Emma is actually rethinking this whole fame thing, doubts she had before are escalating into overdrive and the possibility of being super famous is nauseating. Growing up shes always been busy with commercials, TV spots and little parts in movies, but being an actress isn't necessarily what shes wanted, it was more so what her parents wanted. What she really wants is to go college and move to New York, starting a new life as an independent adult. Graham who lives in New York too, encourages Emma to chase her dreams and chase him at the same time. Graham enjoys being an actor but has chosen to stay out of limelight for specific reasons, one reason that shocks an unsuspecting Emma. Things aren't going to be easy, but falling in love and sticking together tends to beat the odds for these two. Even with a strong connection though can the couple handle the plans Brooke has for them? Because Brooke wants Graham and Reid wants Emma back, and those two conniving cads will go to lengths to break them up and in the process ruin reputations, destroy friendships and risk losing even more of themselves in this celebrity lifestyle.

Again, I really enjoyed reading this. It was fun, dramatic and ended just the way it should have with an added shocking bonus. I love it when a book takes me on a roller-coaster, and Where You Are did not fail to spin me around like crazy.

Good For You by Tammara Webber (Book 3)
December 15, 2011 by Kindle/Nook
Purchased

After the tender end in book 2, which showed us a small glimpse of hope concerning the snobby, conceited, Reid, book 3 launches us into the crazy world of this Hollywood it star.

Drinking, girls, promiscuous sex and spending loads of money have always been Reid's thing. After losing Emma and feeling a little down about his actions in book 2, Reid drowns his depression in alcohol and dance clubs, until one night the drinking lands him in the hospital after having destroyed a house with his car. As punishment, the courts have ordered a DUI, a suspension and ordered Reid to community service, helping rebuild the habitat home he destroyed. Money, charm, or his good looks wont get him out of this one and he's stuck doing the time for his crime. His PR team is in an uproar, his father is mad and they will all work together to put a spin on what Reid is really doing, making him out to be in his celebrity charity phase.Reid could care less, he just wants things done and over so he can make his next million and bag his next adoring fan.

When Reid starts his sentence he meets Dori, the girl who will be working with him over the duration of his time. She's not impressed by Reid or his celebrity status, she thinks hes stuck up and frankly just a player jerk...which of course is what Reid is all about. After spending time together though Dori begins to soften towards Reid and tries to look past the jerky exterior to the good guy lurking inside.

Reid on the other hand is a bucket full emotions, he's feeling things he's never felt and wanting to actually be a better person, not just for Dori but for the entire community he's met while working on the house. Reid finally opens up to Dori about his home life, his alcoholic mother, and the cost fame has had on his life. As the two share things about each others life, the bond becomes intense and more than Reid has ever had, he's shocked but he wants Dori and he wants to make things work. Can the couple make a go of it, even though they are both from such different worlds? Can Dori handle what comes with Reid and can Reid really give up his bad boy ways?

Out of the series, this book was my favorite and not because of the swoon worthy romance that came with it, but for the fantastic character development and the depth Webber invested creating an endearing character who in the beginning was loathsome and unlikable. Reid by the end came full circle and seeing him complete a 180, truly made him my favorite character, nothing beats seeing the bad boy meet his match. This was a wonderfully written, entertaining story of love, life, celebrity teen actors and the cost of fame.

Rating

This series is recommended to readers 17&up and contains: Violence, alcoholism, underage drinking and drug use, sexuality (explicit scenes in book 3) and graphic language.

Book One- 4/5/ Book Two- 4/5- Book 3- 5/5
Overall Series- 4.5/5- YA-Contemporary