Summary:
Daniel is a guy who used to be a computer programmer for Hewlett-Packard. Now he's a hermit with so many mental hang-ups, he can't even count them, let alone the rest of us. He spends most days exactly the same, spying on an unknowing real estate agent through his open window, doing nonsensical puzzles and mathematical calculations in his head just because he can, and avoiding curbs at all costs because there could be a scary abyss lurking at the bottom of that three-inch step. His whole world is centered around dealing with his imagined issues, and he hardly ever ventures past them to converse with the outside world.
Thoughts:
Yes, it's that Steve Martin. To be honest, it's weird. It took me a long time to get through it, including going through a ridiculous number of books between when I started it and when I finished it. I got my hands on it initially through PaperbackSwap.com (which is an awesome resource for books, particularly because it doesn't cost all that much!) in mid-February, started it maybe in March. I just took a look, and the next book I had my hands on from PBS Dead as a Doornail, which I finished and posted about in late March. There are twenty two books between that book and this one now. As I type this post up (in mid-June), it took easily three months to start, and then subsequently get myself back to, this book. That doesn't bode well as a gauge of how much I liked it. But, as usual, I digress.
The book is droll. It doesn't have specific chapter markers, nor easily noted stoppage points. A scene could go on for a paragraph before moving on to the next, or it could take five pages, and you could never tell which it would be until you got to the end of it. I was hoping that the author's comedic background would lend itself to creating a fun, light-hearted book that I would love and adore almost as much as I do him. But alas, that was absolutely not the case. I read sixty pages, over the course of about a month, and couldn't stand it anymore. I put it down for nearly two months before picking it up again. In the end, it takes until page 88 of a 163 page book for anything of substance to happen. Until then, the reader is introduced to more and more of the main character's crazy until you want to kill him and put him, and yourself, out of your shared misery. From page 88, it turns out to be almost interesting, but by that point, I was so fed up with the crazy that I just wanted to power through to the end to get the whole mess over with.
I don't recommend this book, by any means, unless you're severely mentally challenged and think this will be a help to you. Seriously, don't bother. Steve Martin's comedic prowess makes no appearance in this novella. None.
Book 34 of 50
Pages: 163
Genre: General fiction
Grade: D+
Would I Recommend?: Nope. Not even because it's Steve Martin.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Seven Up (Janet Evanovich)
Summary:
Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, sucks at her job. The only reason she's still at it is because she's really, really lucky, and because one of her bounty hunter buddies, Ranger, is really effing hot. This time around, Steph's after an eighty-year-old with an attitude and former (probably still current) mob connections who is not afraid to take a shot at anybody in his way. Poor Steph keeps trying to drag the old man to jail, and getting herself mocked every time it doesn't work out. Nice. Her perfect sister, Valerie, is home from California and getting in her way, thanks to Valerie's impending divorce and new-found need to reinvent herself. And Grandma Mazur's always getting in the way, this time in the form of being kidnapped.She's got Morelli, her cop boyfriend/lover boy, proposing marriage, and Ranger, that hot buddy of hers, proposing one night of who knows what. And Joyce Bernhardt keeps pissing her off. How you doin', Jersey. Just a day in the life...
Thoughts:
Hey, you guys got a short reprieve, didn't you? Once again, Steph's got a thousand issues, and no patience to resolve any of them. I love that there are always a dozen balls in the air for Stephanie, though I will admit that I feel bad for her because of it. Things just don't seem to ever be easy for the poor girl. I still appreciate her relationship with Morelli, though her impending hook-up with Ranger is going to put a crimp in those plans real fast. I almost wish she would break up with Morelli so she could get Ranger out of her system. Who knows if that will happen, (uh, everyone who's actually up to date with the series, considering there's 12 others) but I wish she'd just make up her mind already. Next thing I know, Evanovich is going to send another man into the mix, just to increase the sausage party Steph's already surrounded by currently. Still, the writing is great. Stephanie's voice is perfectly Jersey. And the books are not only fun, they're easy to plow through in a matter of a few days, sometimes less if you give yourself a couple hours. Love this series.
Book 33 of 50
Pages:
Genre: Mystery/romance
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Would I still be reading this series if I didn't recommend it?
Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, sucks at her job. The only reason she's still at it is because she's really, really lucky, and because one of her bounty hunter buddies, Ranger, is really effing hot. This time around, Steph's after an eighty-year-old with an attitude and former (probably still current) mob connections who is not afraid to take a shot at anybody in his way. Poor Steph keeps trying to drag the old man to jail, and getting herself mocked every time it doesn't work out. Nice. Her perfect sister, Valerie, is home from California and getting in her way, thanks to Valerie's impending divorce and new-found need to reinvent herself. And Grandma Mazur's always getting in the way, this time in the form of being kidnapped.She's got Morelli, her cop boyfriend/lover boy, proposing marriage, and Ranger, that hot buddy of hers, proposing one night of who knows what. And Joyce Bernhardt keeps pissing her off. How you doin', Jersey. Just a day in the life...
Thoughts:
Hey, you guys got a short reprieve, didn't you? Once again, Steph's got a thousand issues, and no patience to resolve any of them. I love that there are always a dozen balls in the air for Stephanie, though I will admit that I feel bad for her because of it. Things just don't seem to ever be easy for the poor girl. I still appreciate her relationship with Morelli, though her impending hook-up with Ranger is going to put a crimp in those plans real fast. I almost wish she would break up with Morelli so she could get Ranger out of her system. Who knows if that will happen, (uh, everyone who's actually up to date with the series, considering there's 12 others) but I wish she'd just make up her mind already. Next thing I know, Evanovich is going to send another man into the mix, just to increase the sausage party Steph's already surrounded by currently. Still, the writing is great. Stephanie's voice is perfectly Jersey. And the books are not only fun, they're easy to plow through in a matter of a few days, sometimes less if you give yourself a couple hours. Love this series.
Book 33 of 50
Pages:
Genre: Mystery/romance
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Would I still be reading this series if I didn't recommend it?
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Insatiable (Meg Cabot)
Summary:
Meena is a script writer for a very popular soap opera, Insatiable. She's all set to fight for a promotion, when her arch rival shows up already having gotten the promotion, and is taking the show in an impossibly horrible direction. She's going to add vampires, which are, of course, all the rage right now. Her show is about to start a vampire war with their rival show Lust, and Meena thinks the whole thing is stupid. Meena is upset, and feeling downtrodden. But after a early morning (read: 4am) walk with her dog that resulted in a bat attack against her and a handsome stranger, though, things start looking up. The only problem is that Meena doesn't realize she's stepped into a real-life vampire war, and her knight-in-shining-armor is right at the center. Oh, and Meena knows how everyone's lives will end. She's magic like that.
Thoughts:
Anyone that has read anything from me over the last few years knows that I am hopelessly in love with Meg Cabot's writing. This was no exception. Granted, I'm starting to get sick of the vampire wars as much as the next girl. (I still maintain that they don't effing sparkle, and they never will. Dumb books.) But this was a nice twist on the norm. Sure, Meena falls for a vampire and has ridiculously hot sex with him, but she hates the idea of it, and wishes she never heard the word "vampire." She at least isn't crazy in love with the idea of living forever, and doesn't want to die to be able to do so. Cabot's writing was flawless, as usual, though the subject matter was bordering on cliche at this point. The ending left things far too wide-open for my taste, but I'll give her a pass, because I love her so much. Also, there's apparently a second book in the series too. (Shocker, with that ending.) Don't worry, I won't jump on it yet. You do know what a sucker I am for a series, though!
Book 32 of 50
Pages: 464 pages, read as an e-book
Genre: Fantasy, romance, and vampires
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: If you're into vampires, sure. If you like Meg Cabot, sure. If you like a fairly good romance novel, sure. Otherwise, it's not a must-read.
Meena is a script writer for a very popular soap opera, Insatiable. She's all set to fight for a promotion, when her arch rival shows up already having gotten the promotion, and is taking the show in an impossibly horrible direction. She's going to add vampires, which are, of course, all the rage right now. Her show is about to start a vampire war with their rival show Lust, and Meena thinks the whole thing is stupid. Meena is upset, and feeling downtrodden. But after a early morning (read: 4am) walk with her dog that resulted in a bat attack against her and a handsome stranger, though, things start looking up. The only problem is that Meena doesn't realize she's stepped into a real-life vampire war, and her knight-in-shining-armor is right at the center. Oh, and Meena knows how everyone's lives will end. She's magic like that.
Thoughts:
Anyone that has read anything from me over the last few years knows that I am hopelessly in love with Meg Cabot's writing. This was no exception. Granted, I'm starting to get sick of the vampire wars as much as the next girl. (I still maintain that they don't effing sparkle, and they never will. Dumb books.) But this was a nice twist on the norm. Sure, Meena falls for a vampire and has ridiculously hot sex with him, but she hates the idea of it, and wishes she never heard the word "vampire." She at least isn't crazy in love with the idea of living forever, and doesn't want to die to be able to do so. Cabot's writing was flawless, as usual, though the subject matter was bordering on cliche at this point. The ending left things far too wide-open for my taste, but I'll give her a pass, because I love her so much. Also, there's apparently a second book in the series too. (Shocker, with that ending.) Don't worry, I won't jump on it yet. You do know what a sucker I am for a series, though!
Book 32 of 50
Pages: 464 pages, read as an e-book
Genre: Fantasy, romance, and vampires
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: If you're into vampires, sure. If you like Meg Cabot, sure. If you like a fairly good romance novel, sure. Otherwise, it's not a must-read.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
The Rock Star's Daughter (Caitlyn Duffy)
Summary:
Taylor is a fifteen year old girl, with a partying mom and a rock star dad, who goes to a boarding school. The summer before she turns sixteen, her mother dies and she's forced to go on the road with her father, who she has only met twice before. The book follows Taylor as she deals with the loss of her mother and builds a relationship with her father, her father's wife, and the rest of the band, the crew, and the roadies. She's got a lot of learning to do.
Thoughts:
Taylor's an inexperienced girl in many ways, not the least of which being her never having been disciplined by an adult. She's had to raise herself, which puts her in an awkward place when she realizes that there should actually be rules to follow, even when you're a teenager. Taylor is naive, and very young-for-her-age, despite having to help her mother get through life too. The summer romance bits are thin and not very well done. She "falls in love" after three brief encounters with a cute boy. Sure, I was a teenage girl once too, but really? In any case, the book isn't all that well-written, and Caitlyn Duffy writes like she's just starting out as a writer (which, by reading the Author's Bio on the last page, she apparently is). I would say skip this unless you can get it free as a Kindle book, like I did, and don't have to shell out anything for it. Otherwise, save your time. I had to push my way through the last few chapters because I just wanted to move on to something else. My attention wasn't held at all. I won't be continuing this series, most especially because it seems Duffy will be writing about different girls that all go to the same school, instead of continuing with the same life she's already built. That's not my favorite kind of series, let me tell you.
Book 31 of 50
Pages: 319 read as an e-book
Genre: Teenlit
Grade: C+
Would I Recommend?: Meh, only if you can get it free, and have NOTHING else to read. Otherwise, not worth the bother.
Taylor is a fifteen year old girl, with a partying mom and a rock star dad, who goes to a boarding school. The summer before she turns sixteen, her mother dies and she's forced to go on the road with her father, who she has only met twice before. The book follows Taylor as she deals with the loss of her mother and builds a relationship with her father, her father's wife, and the rest of the band, the crew, and the roadies. She's got a lot of learning to do.
Thoughts:
Taylor's an inexperienced girl in many ways, not the least of which being her never having been disciplined by an adult. She's had to raise herself, which puts her in an awkward place when she realizes that there should actually be rules to follow, even when you're a teenager. Taylor is naive, and very young-for-her-age, despite having to help her mother get through life too. The summer romance bits are thin and not very well done. She "falls in love" after three brief encounters with a cute boy. Sure, I was a teenage girl once too, but really? In any case, the book isn't all that well-written, and Caitlyn Duffy writes like she's just starting out as a writer (which, by reading the Author's Bio on the last page, she apparently is). I would say skip this unless you can get it free as a Kindle book, like I did, and don't have to shell out anything for it. Otherwise, save your time. I had to push my way through the last few chapters because I just wanted to move on to something else. My attention wasn't held at all. I won't be continuing this series, most especially because it seems Duffy will be writing about different girls that all go to the same school, instead of continuing with the same life she's already built. That's not my favorite kind of series, let me tell you.
Book 31 of 50
Pages: 319 read as an e-book
Genre: Teenlit
Grade: C+
Would I Recommend?: Meh, only if you can get it free, and have NOTHING else to read. Otherwise, not worth the bother.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
The Spy Who Left Me (Gina Robinson)
Summary:
Treflee Miller (yes, that's her name, though her given name is "Elizabeth." Go figure!) is an almost-divorcee who wants nothing more than to help her cousin through what should have been the happiest time in her life and is turning out to be one of the toughest. Carrie, Treflee's cousin, has left her groom a few days before the wedding, and has decided to take the honeymoon trip with her former bridesmaids instead. Treflee expects a calm, relaxing trip to Hawaii. Instead she finds her spy husband, who she is desperately trying to divorce, on an undercover assignment. Ty wants anything but a divorce, and is trying to figure out why his wife went from wanting to jump his bones every time he came home to the coldest ice queen ever. Treflee gets wrapped into the spy game, making a deal with Ty that she'll help him get the bad guys in exchange for his signature on the divorce paperwork, while Ty tries his damnedest to win back her heart.
Thoughts:
Not bad. The writing could surely be worse. It's a fun romp through a spy's world as he fights to hold on to his wife. Treflee keeps a secret from Ty (she had a miscarriage while he was on his last mission and never told him!) and blames him for not being there for her. I hate to say it, Tref, but it's absolutely your fault sweetie. The spy bits are interesting, though the bad guys' organization names are stupid. (Revolutionary International Organization of Terrorists, or RIOT, and the Fuk Ching. Really, Ms. Robinson? Really?) The main characters' names are ridiculous. But the storyline and the writing otherwise is fairly good. It's a good going-on-vacation book. (I say this because I read it while on vacation myself!) Go for it. It's a fun little read, and it goes really quickly.
Book 30 of 50
Pages: 352 read as an e-book
Genre: Romance, with a side of mystery.
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Sure. It's light, and addictive, and apparently it's the start of a series. (Music to all your ears, right? Another series for me to read through!)
Treflee Miller (yes, that's her name, though her given name is "Elizabeth." Go figure!) is an almost-divorcee who wants nothing more than to help her cousin through what should have been the happiest time in her life and is turning out to be one of the toughest. Carrie, Treflee's cousin, has left her groom a few days before the wedding, and has decided to take the honeymoon trip with her former bridesmaids instead. Treflee expects a calm, relaxing trip to Hawaii. Instead she finds her spy husband, who she is desperately trying to divorce, on an undercover assignment. Ty wants anything but a divorce, and is trying to figure out why his wife went from wanting to jump his bones every time he came home to the coldest ice queen ever. Treflee gets wrapped into the spy game, making a deal with Ty that she'll help him get the bad guys in exchange for his signature on the divorce paperwork, while Ty tries his damnedest to win back her heart.
Thoughts:
Not bad. The writing could surely be worse. It's a fun romp through a spy's world as he fights to hold on to his wife. Treflee keeps a secret from Ty (she had a miscarriage while he was on his last mission and never told him!) and blames him for not being there for her. I hate to say it, Tref, but it's absolutely your fault sweetie. The spy bits are interesting, though the bad guys' organization names are stupid. (Revolutionary International Organization of Terrorists, or RIOT, and the Fuk Ching. Really, Ms. Robinson? Really?) The main characters' names are ridiculous. But the storyline and the writing otherwise is fairly good. It's a good going-on-vacation book. (I say this because I read it while on vacation myself!) Go for it. It's a fun little read, and it goes really quickly.
Book 30 of 50
Pages: 352 read as an e-book
Genre: Romance, with a side of mystery.
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Sure. It's light, and addictive, and apparently it's the start of a series. (Music to all your ears, right? Another series for me to read through!)
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Hot Six (Janet Evanovich)
Summary:
Stephanie Plum has only been a bounty hunter for a little while. Maybe a year or two at this point. And she gets handed the hardest bounty she's ever had to bring in. She has to bring in Ranger, her mentor and friend, who has helped her out of countless scrapes, and who she kind of has the hots for, though don't tell Joe Morelli... Stephanie doesn't want the job, but gets pulled into Ranger's mess anyway. He is wrapped up in a mob deal, and everyone is after him. Stephanie gets sucked in because she can't leave well enough alone, and has two goons tailing her, along with Joyce Bernhardt, her least favorite person ever. And as a bonus, Grandma Mazur pisses off Stephanie's dad, and decides to move in with Stephanie, putting a crimp in her suddenly a little more active sex life. Not to mention that Ranger has started setting his sights on Steph too. What a pickle.
Thoughts:
They really just keep getting better. Stephanie has to deal with a slightly loopy mob boss, a very horny almost-boyfriend, and a hot co-worker on the run. These books just keep getting funnier and hotter under the collar! They feel so familiar, too, thanks to their setting in New Jersey. I feel like I know Stephanie and her whole family. Maybe not the crazy people she hangs with thanks to her less than desirable job, though... I just keep wanting more from this series, and not in a bad way. Thank goodness there's another twelve books to go!
Book 29 of 50
Pages: 336
Genre: Mystery, romance, and chicklit in equal parts
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?:
Stephanie Plum has only been a bounty hunter for a little while. Maybe a year or two at this point. And she gets handed the hardest bounty she's ever had to bring in. She has to bring in Ranger, her mentor and friend, who has helped her out of countless scrapes, and who she kind of has the hots for, though don't tell Joe Morelli... Stephanie doesn't want the job, but gets pulled into Ranger's mess anyway. He is wrapped up in a mob deal, and everyone is after him. Stephanie gets sucked in because she can't leave well enough alone, and has two goons tailing her, along with Joyce Bernhardt, her least favorite person ever. And as a bonus, Grandma Mazur pisses off Stephanie's dad, and decides to move in with Stephanie, putting a crimp in her suddenly a little more active sex life. Not to mention that Ranger has started setting his sights on Steph too. What a pickle.
Thoughts:
They really just keep getting better. Stephanie has to deal with a slightly loopy mob boss, a very horny almost-boyfriend, and a hot co-worker on the run. These books just keep getting funnier and hotter under the collar! They feel so familiar, too, thanks to their setting in New Jersey. I feel like I know Stephanie and her whole family. Maybe not the crazy people she hangs with thanks to her less than desirable job, though... I just keep wanting more from this series, and not in a bad way. Thank goodness there's another twelve books to go!
Book 29 of 50
Pages: 336
Genre: Mystery, romance, and chicklit in equal parts
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?:
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Mockingjay (Suzanne Collins)
Summary:
The final book in the Hunter Games series, Mockingjay keeps the action going. At the end of Catching Fire, Katniss is pulled out of the arena from her second Hunger Games to find out there is a whole revolution already happening in Panem. She finds herself in District 13, the district that the rest of the country thought was long gone, and she's in the midst of the revolutionaries' camp. She is asked to be the face of the revolution, the Mockingjay, the person to inspire Panem's people to fight against President Snow and the Capitol's forces. This final installment in the series watches Katniss try to find her place in the world, and figure out who she wants to have at her side in the end.
Thoughts:
This series is a good one. There is a lot of hype about it for a reason. Is it the next Twilight or Harry Potter? Maybe or maybe not, but the writing is definitely on par with Rowling's. (Stephanie Meyer's writing is no where near the same caliber, so I refuse to acknowledge her popularity further.) The concluding book is bittersweet for sure, and watching the deaths of some of the characters in this one are hard to handle, for sure. The problem with this book is that it flies through the story so quickly that you don't have time to really mourn anyone, as much as you'd like. One death in particular is so shocking, not even Katniss really deals with it. I understand that the plan was always to have a trilogy, but this particular piece could have used a good fifty to one hundred extra pages of exposition. The ending is what I would have wanted to see, but hardly brushes the surface of the joy and happiness it should have. It could have been worse, certainly, but it really could have been better.
Book 28 of 50
Pages: 400
Genre: Post-apocalyptic teen lit, with touches of romance
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Yes, but read the first two first!
The final book in the Hunter Games series, Mockingjay keeps the action going. At the end of Catching Fire, Katniss is pulled out of the arena from her second Hunger Games to find out there is a whole revolution already happening in Panem. She finds herself in District 13, the district that the rest of the country thought was long gone, and she's in the midst of the revolutionaries' camp. She is asked to be the face of the revolution, the Mockingjay, the person to inspire Panem's people to fight against President Snow and the Capitol's forces. This final installment in the series watches Katniss try to find her place in the world, and figure out who she wants to have at her side in the end.
Thoughts:
This series is a good one. There is a lot of hype about it for a reason. Is it the next Twilight or Harry Potter? Maybe or maybe not, but the writing is definitely on par with Rowling's. (Stephanie Meyer's writing is no where near the same caliber, so I refuse to acknowledge her popularity further.) The concluding book is bittersweet for sure, and watching the deaths of some of the characters in this one are hard to handle, for sure. The problem with this book is that it flies through the story so quickly that you don't have time to really mourn anyone, as much as you'd like. One death in particular is so shocking, not even Katniss really deals with it. I understand that the plan was always to have a trilogy, but this particular piece could have used a good fifty to one hundred extra pages of exposition. The ending is what I would have wanted to see, but hardly brushes the surface of the joy and happiness it should have. It could have been worse, certainly, but it really could have been better.
Book 28 of 50
Pages: 400
Genre: Post-apocalyptic teen lit, with touches of romance
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Yes, but read the first two first!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
High Five (Janet Evanovich)
Summary:
The bounty is almost nil during the hot and sweaty summer of [whatever year this is supposed to be...] and Stephanie Plum is hunting for something to do, and some way to pay the bills. Her mother begs her to help find her uncle Fred who has gone missing during his morning errands. She soon learns that there's far more to the disappearance than just a wandering old man. Stephanie gets one little bounty to go after, though, and I do mean little. Her little person FTA bounty is not coming quietly, and winds up living in Steph's apartment thanks to a broken door at his place. In the wake of the waning bounties to recover, Stephanie's mentor, Ranger, throws a few "small" jobs her way to help her get by, and she winds up developing more than a passing interest in Ranger himself.
Thoughts:
I don't have to keep singing Evanovich's praises if you've read any of my previous reviews of her other three books, but I will say this: High Five was the hottest book so far, and there wasn't even major action in the romance department. The tension, however, was incredibly high, in every respect. HEL-lo! The ending leaves you hanging, too, and I fought like hell to not pick up number six, especially considering how addicting this series is, and the fact that I already had six in hand! Whooooo, boy! The story line is a great one, with another great twist. I might be the most clueless reader, but I never really guess who's going to turn out to be the bad guy with Evanovich's work until she reveals the last clues. Highly suggested, as usual.
Book 27 of 50
Pages: 340
Genre: A+
Grade: Mystery, romance, chicklit, and a whole lot of all of them, too!
Would I Recommend?: Yesyesyesyes! Go start the series. Read it. Love it! GO!
The bounty is almost nil during the hot and sweaty summer of [whatever year this is supposed to be...] and Stephanie Plum is hunting for something to do, and some way to pay the bills. Her mother begs her to help find her uncle Fred who has gone missing during his morning errands. She soon learns that there's far more to the disappearance than just a wandering old man. Stephanie gets one little bounty to go after, though, and I do mean little. Her little person FTA bounty is not coming quietly, and winds up living in Steph's apartment thanks to a broken door at his place. In the wake of the waning bounties to recover, Stephanie's mentor, Ranger, throws a few "small" jobs her way to help her get by, and she winds up developing more than a passing interest in Ranger himself.
Thoughts:
I don't have to keep singing Evanovich's praises if you've read any of my previous reviews of her other three books, but I will say this: High Five was the hottest book so far, and there wasn't even major action in the romance department. The tension, however, was incredibly high, in every respect. HEL-lo! The ending leaves you hanging, too, and I fought like hell to not pick up number six, especially considering how addicting this series is, and the fact that I already had six in hand! Whooooo, boy! The story line is a great one, with another great twist. I might be the most clueless reader, but I never really guess who's going to turn out to be the bad guy with Evanovich's work until she reveals the last clues. Highly suggested, as usual.
Book 27 of 50
Pages: 340
Genre: A+
Grade: Mystery, romance, chicklit, and a whole lot of all of them, too!
Would I Recommend?: Yesyesyesyes! Go start the series. Read it. Love it! GO!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Four to Score (Janet Evanovich)
Summary:
Stephanie Plum's latest FTA (Faiure to Appear) bounty is a waitress with an ass of a boyfriend. She swiped his car because she was pissed at him, and he pressed charges. Maxine and her family take Stephanie on a wild goose chase thanks to her clues for her dumb-ass boyfriend. Of course, Stephanie has to figure out what all the clues mean, because they might lead her to her bounty that much faster. She enlists not only Lula, a former prostitute turned secretary and sidekick, but her Grandma Mazur, a seventy-something lady with time to kill, and a drag queen named Sally Sweet. It doesn't help that she can't figure out what the hell is going on with her hunky almost-boyfriend Morelly, or that her cousin has brought her least favorite person in the world (the woman she found screwing her now-ex husband on their dining room table) on as a fellow bounty hunter after the same bounty, or that someone is once again trying to kill her. Just another day in the life of a Jersey girl.
Thoughts:
I straight-up love this series. It's addictive, and I am so totally hooked. It takes everything in me to hop to another book after finishing one, so that my blog doesn't look like a Janet Evanovich love fest! (Currently, I'm in possession of the books up to number nine, but I'm trying to take my time... You'll see in the next few weeks how well it's working out!) This particular installment sees Stephanie fighting several different wars as usual, including a few of the heart. I love that Stephanie's forced to stay with Joe Morelli, thanks to a tiny little thing called a fire bomb... I like their dynamic. I have a friend that's a fan of a certain other gentleman in the series, though we'll get into that situation further when Stephanie's travels put her more in his way. For now, I love this series like a fat kid loves cake. Keep it coming, Evanovich.
Book 26 of 50
Pages: 313
Genre: Mystery, romance, and a whole lotta chicklit
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Definitely. Love this series. Enjoy!!
Stephanie Plum's latest FTA (Faiure to Appear) bounty is a waitress with an ass of a boyfriend. She swiped his car because she was pissed at him, and he pressed charges. Maxine and her family take Stephanie on a wild goose chase thanks to her clues for her dumb-ass boyfriend. Of course, Stephanie has to figure out what all the clues mean, because they might lead her to her bounty that much faster. She enlists not only Lula, a former prostitute turned secretary and sidekick, but her Grandma Mazur, a seventy-something lady with time to kill, and a drag queen named Sally Sweet. It doesn't help that she can't figure out what the hell is going on with her hunky almost-boyfriend Morelly, or that her cousin has brought her least favorite person in the world (the woman she found screwing her now-ex husband on their dining room table) on as a fellow bounty hunter after the same bounty, or that someone is once again trying to kill her. Just another day in the life of a Jersey girl.
Thoughts:
I straight-up love this series. It's addictive, and I am so totally hooked. It takes everything in me to hop to another book after finishing one, so that my blog doesn't look like a Janet Evanovich love fest! (Currently, I'm in possession of the books up to number nine, but I'm trying to take my time... You'll see in the next few weeks how well it's working out!) This particular installment sees Stephanie fighting several different wars as usual, including a few of the heart. I love that Stephanie's forced to stay with Joe Morelli, thanks to a tiny little thing called a fire bomb... I like their dynamic. I have a friend that's a fan of a certain other gentleman in the series, though we'll get into that situation further when Stephanie's travels put her more in his way. For now, I love this series like a fat kid loves cake. Keep it coming, Evanovich.
Book 26 of 50
Pages: 313
Genre: Mystery, romance, and a whole lotta chicklit
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Definitely. Love this series. Enjoy!!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Dead Reckoning (Charlaine Harris)
Summary:
Sookie's got a vampire hubby who just can't seem to talk things through with her. They have a blood bond that Sookie is worried is the only reason she actually loves Eric. But when the bond is broken, and the love is still there, she's not quite satisfied. She wants Eric to talk to her, include her in his life and his worries. Not that she doesn't have enough to worry about. There's still someone out to kill her, and she can't stand Eric's new boss. She just can't figure out whether it's horrible to want people dead...
Thoughts:
Not bad. I wouldn't say it's one of the best in the series, but it could have been worse. The good news for you, dear readers (all three of you, haha!) is that you're not going to have to hear about Sookie Stackhouse much more. I've got one more published book to get my hands on, and then it'll only be once a year that you'll hear about Sook's adventures in vampirism. But back to the book. I found that this particular book didn't stick with me nearly as much as some of the others in the series. If something's really super-fantastic, it'll stick in my brain and make me want to read more of whatever it is so badly I can't wait to get the next in the series. This book in the series wasn't like that. I got more annoyed with the characters than usual, and was almost looking forward to getting to the end so I could move on to the next book. I'm not as pleased with Harris's work on this one as I have been in the past. Oh well, better luck next time!
Book 25 of 50
Pages: 368
Genre: Mystery, with romance and vampires and a few other fantasy characters...
Grade: B
Would I Recommend?: Yeah, it's still a good book, and the series is fabulous. But be sure to read from the beginning. This one will lose you if you start from the middle!
Sookie's got a vampire hubby who just can't seem to talk things through with her. They have a blood bond that Sookie is worried is the only reason she actually loves Eric. But when the bond is broken, and the love is still there, she's not quite satisfied. She wants Eric to talk to her, include her in his life and his worries. Not that she doesn't have enough to worry about. There's still someone out to kill her, and she can't stand Eric's new boss. She just can't figure out whether it's horrible to want people dead...
Thoughts:
Not bad. I wouldn't say it's one of the best in the series, but it could have been worse. The good news for you, dear readers (all three of you, haha!) is that you're not going to have to hear about Sookie Stackhouse much more. I've got one more published book to get my hands on, and then it'll only be once a year that you'll hear about Sook's adventures in vampirism. But back to the book. I found that this particular book didn't stick with me nearly as much as some of the others in the series. If something's really super-fantastic, it'll stick in my brain and make me want to read more of whatever it is so badly I can't wait to get the next in the series. This book in the series wasn't like that. I got more annoyed with the characters than usual, and was almost looking forward to getting to the end so I could move on to the next book. I'm not as pleased with Harris's work on this one as I have been in the past. Oh well, better luck next time!
Book 25 of 50
Pages: 368
Genre: Mystery, with romance and vampires and a few other fantasy characters...
Grade: B
Would I Recommend?: Yeah, it's still a good book, and the series is fabulous. But be sure to read from the beginning. This one will lose you if you start from the middle!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Three to Get Deadly (Janet Evanovich
Summary:
Stephanie Plum, novice bounty hunter, gets the worst assignment yet. She's got to pick up Uncle Mo, Trenton's favorite candy shop owner. Mo missed a court date, and hasn't been seen at the shop in days. Stephanie gets in too deep as usual, and finds herself threatened almost every day after starting her hunt for Mo. Add to that Lula, a former hooker who's angling to become a bounty hunter herself, who decides that she's going to help Stephanie out, and often causes more trouble than good. And the icing on this cake is Joe Morelli, Stephanie's first bounty and a Trenton cop, who can't seem to decide whether he wants to kill Stephanie or screw her senseless. Tough life for anyone, but Stephanie deals. Barely...
Thoughts:
How obsessed am I with this series? So much. I love Stephanie Plum's voice. Evanovich makes me smirk like the Jersey girl I am, and I feel like Stephanie could be the girl down the street from me. I love the feel of the books, a little suspense, and a lot of Jersey jokes that only we really get. Even if you're not from Jersey, there's plenty in this series that anyone can love, including the hunky cop (that we all KNOW Stephanie's going to get her *ahem* hands on eventually), the crazy sidekick, the crazy dude that knows how to handle the worst of it, and a ridiculous family that you're thankful that you don't have. One of the things I love about this series is that the books don't end with a ridiculously open ending. They end with actual closings of the storylines, and the only overarching plots are the romantic plot with Stephanie and Morelli, and the plot that carries Stephanie through her learning how to be a bounty hunter. Well done, Ms. Evanovich.
Book 24 of 50
Pages: 384
Genre: Mystery, with hints of romance
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Yup. For sure, especially if you're from New Jersey.
Stephanie Plum, novice bounty hunter, gets the worst assignment yet. She's got to pick up Uncle Mo, Trenton's favorite candy shop owner. Mo missed a court date, and hasn't been seen at the shop in days. Stephanie gets in too deep as usual, and finds herself threatened almost every day after starting her hunt for Mo. Add to that Lula, a former hooker who's angling to become a bounty hunter herself, who decides that she's going to help Stephanie out, and often causes more trouble than good. And the icing on this cake is Joe Morelli, Stephanie's first bounty and a Trenton cop, who can't seem to decide whether he wants to kill Stephanie or screw her senseless. Tough life for anyone, but Stephanie deals. Barely...
Thoughts:
How obsessed am I with this series? So much. I love Stephanie Plum's voice. Evanovich makes me smirk like the Jersey girl I am, and I feel like Stephanie could be the girl down the street from me. I love the feel of the books, a little suspense, and a lot of Jersey jokes that only we really get. Even if you're not from Jersey, there's plenty in this series that anyone can love, including the hunky cop (that we all KNOW Stephanie's going to get her *ahem* hands on eventually), the crazy sidekick, the crazy dude that knows how to handle the worst of it, and a ridiculous family that you're thankful that you don't have. One of the things I love about this series is that the books don't end with a ridiculously open ending. They end with actual closings of the storylines, and the only overarching plots are the romantic plot with Stephanie and Morelli, and the plot that carries Stephanie through her learning how to be a bounty hunter. Well done, Ms. Evanovich.
Book 24 of 50
Pages: 384
Genre: Mystery, with hints of romance
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Yup. For sure, especially if you're from New Jersey.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Two for the Dough (Janet Evanovich)
Summary:
Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter, and she's not so great at it. Not yet, anyway, considering she's not had all that much practice at it just yet. This second book finds her going after a guy who shot his buddy in the knee, and then skipped bail. Little does she know, Kenny Mancuso is involved in much bigger things than just an accidental shot to the knee, and there's soon dead bodies to deal with. What's worse, Joe Morelli, Stephanie's former flame, local cop, and ex-bounty, is after Kenny too. Of course, Morelli explains it away that he's just looking for his cousin, but Stephanie's gut tells her that there's more to it. She's learning well that she should go with her gut whenever possible.
Thoughts:
Love it. No really, I love this series. Stephanie Plum is a great character, and Evanovich gets the Jersey voice just right, as though she's a Jersey Girl, born and bred, which of course, she is. Of course, in this second book, she misses the boat on one of the classic Jersey phrases, (In Jersey, we go "down the shore," not "to the shore.") but if that's the worst of it, that's hardly anything at all. The series so far is great fun. I love Stephanie's fight to make herself look like she can actually handle herself as a bounty hunter, and I love the constant jabs and pokes at Jersey from someone in the family. Plenty of people make fun of New Jersey, but only real Jersey kids know how to truly stick it to the state. Plus, there's the romance story line with Stephanie and Morelli that no one can overlook. Evanovich does a great job carrying the whole mess, and I love watching every second of it. New favorite series, friends. Lucky you.
Book 23 of 50
Pages: 312
Genre: mystery, with a touch of romance
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Yes. And this series feels more like one you don't have to read from the start. It helps, but it's not completely necessary.
Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter, and she's not so great at it. Not yet, anyway, considering she's not had all that much practice at it just yet. This second book finds her going after a guy who shot his buddy in the knee, and then skipped bail. Little does she know, Kenny Mancuso is involved in much bigger things than just an accidental shot to the knee, and there's soon dead bodies to deal with. What's worse, Joe Morelli, Stephanie's former flame, local cop, and ex-bounty, is after Kenny too. Of course, Morelli explains it away that he's just looking for his cousin, but Stephanie's gut tells her that there's more to it. She's learning well that she should go with her gut whenever possible.
Thoughts:
Love it. No really, I love this series. Stephanie Plum is a great character, and Evanovich gets the Jersey voice just right, as though she's a Jersey Girl, born and bred, which of course, she is. Of course, in this second book, she misses the boat on one of the classic Jersey phrases, (In Jersey, we go "down the shore," not "to the shore.") but if that's the worst of it, that's hardly anything at all. The series so far is great fun. I love Stephanie's fight to make herself look like she can actually handle herself as a bounty hunter, and I love the constant jabs and pokes at Jersey from someone in the family. Plenty of people make fun of New Jersey, but only real Jersey kids know how to truly stick it to the state. Plus, there's the romance story line with Stephanie and Morelli that no one can overlook. Evanovich does a great job carrying the whole mess, and I love watching every second of it. New favorite series, friends. Lucky you.
Book 23 of 50
Pages: 312
Genre: mystery, with a touch of romance
Grade: A
Would I Recommend?: Yes. And this series feels more like one you don't have to read from the start. It helps, but it's not completely necessary.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Dead in the Family (Charlaine Harris)
Summary:
Poor Sookie. All she wanted was some quiet in her mind after years of telepathy cluing her in to what everyone she's ever met is thinking. That's all she wanted when she started getting into the vampire world. But now she's got her fairy bloodline, not all of whom are pleased with her, whether the door to the fairy world is open or not. She's got a whole other vampire that she's bonded with forever, and she might be in love, but she might not. She's got friends that are werewolves and dealing with their newly exposed existence, and one might be a traitor. And once again, there's someone out to get her. Sookie just can't get a break.
Thoughts:
Once the ending isn't really there. I won't harp, but Harris, you've really got to work on this. The book itself is good. Sookie and Eric are getting closer, and start dating in this book. Good for them. (Finally.) Jason, Sookie's brother, seems to be growing up a bit. (Finally.) Everyone seems to be settling into their lives (or unlives) well in this book. Of course, there's always problems, because it would be a pretty boring book if there weren't. I'm almost glad I'm getting close to the end of this series, though. (I'm sure you're glad I'm almost done too!) I enjoy them, don't get me wrong. They're just not as intense anymore. They've settled into a groove, which I appreciate, but the groove isn't as groovy as when they were more action-packed. Eric, one of the very major characters at this point, has become more kitten than tiger, thanks to a shift in power. Sookie, who used to be so light-hearted, has become hard. It's almost as though Sookie and Eric have swapped places. I almost want Sookie to get herself turned, just to see what she would do with it. Anyway, I've come this far (10 books into an almost 12 book series. Book 12 comes out in May.) I don't think I'll feel right stopping now. Besides, despite their groove status, they're still entertaining. Just with a little less wow.
Book 21 of 50
Pages: 311
Genre: Mystery, vamps, and romance
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Sure. But please start from the beginning. They're more fun that way.
Poor Sookie. All she wanted was some quiet in her mind after years of telepathy cluing her in to what everyone she's ever met is thinking. That's all she wanted when she started getting into the vampire world. But now she's got her fairy bloodline, not all of whom are pleased with her, whether the door to the fairy world is open or not. She's got a whole other vampire that she's bonded with forever, and she might be in love, but she might not. She's got friends that are werewolves and dealing with their newly exposed existence, and one might be a traitor. And once again, there's someone out to get her. Sookie just can't get a break.
Thoughts:
Once the ending isn't really there. I won't harp, but Harris, you've really got to work on this. The book itself is good. Sookie and Eric are getting closer, and start dating in this book. Good for them. (Finally.) Jason, Sookie's brother, seems to be growing up a bit. (Finally.) Everyone seems to be settling into their lives (or unlives) well in this book. Of course, there's always problems, because it would be a pretty boring book if there weren't. I'm almost glad I'm getting close to the end of this series, though. (I'm sure you're glad I'm almost done too!) I enjoy them, don't get me wrong. They're just not as intense anymore. They've settled into a groove, which I appreciate, but the groove isn't as groovy as when they were more action-packed. Eric, one of the very major characters at this point, has become more kitten than tiger, thanks to a shift in power. Sookie, who used to be so light-hearted, has become hard. It's almost as though Sookie and Eric have swapped places. I almost want Sookie to get herself turned, just to see what she would do with it. Anyway, I've come this far (10 books into an almost 12 book series. Book 12 comes out in May.) I don't think I'll feel right stopping now. Besides, despite their groove status, they're still entertaining. Just with a little less wow.
Book 21 of 50
Pages: 311
Genre: Mystery, vamps, and romance
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Sure. But please start from the beginning. They're more fun that way.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Dead and Gone (Charlaine Harris)
Summary:
Sookie's got more troubles as usual. Her friends and colleagues in the Were community (werewolves, werepanthers, etcetera) are officially coming out of the supernatural closet. The FBI wants to question her about how she was able to help find people in the bombing of the vampire summit a few months back, and they're hoping to exploit her gift. There's fairies that are after her, and want her dead. A former bestie of Sookie's is not cool with the news that their boss is a shapeshifter, and wants to take them all down. There's a crucifixion. And to top it all off, Eric does something really sneaky that ties Sookie even tighter to him. Poor girl.
Thoughts:
Once again, a good one. I am starting to get a bit annoyed, though, at how Harris ends these books. Sure, they leave you wanting more, that's not a big issue. But when the wanting is for a more wrapped up plot, and for an actual ending to a book, not a "to be continued," that's not a good thing. Harris does pack a punch with this one once again, which I appreciate, and there's always something going on. I really enjoy Sookie's growing attachment to Eric, because I always liked his character, and how they interacted. I'll keep going with the series, because there's not much left, but the open endings are starting to bug me, especially considering Harris only puts out one book a year, it seems, and I'm coming very close to the current end of the series. I will say, though, I'd be interested in going back and watching how this would play out on the TV show. I wonder if it'll even be around long enough to get to these plot points, though it might, as it's already in season five, and each season seemed to equate to one of the books in the series.
Book 20 of 50
Pages: 312
Genre: Mystery, romance, and vampires
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Please start from the beginning of this series, if you're going to read it at all. It's too confusing otherwise.
Sookie's got more troubles as usual. Her friends and colleagues in the Were community (werewolves, werepanthers, etcetera) are officially coming out of the supernatural closet. The FBI wants to question her about how she was able to help find people in the bombing of the vampire summit a few months back, and they're hoping to exploit her gift. There's fairies that are after her, and want her dead. A former bestie of Sookie's is not cool with the news that their boss is a shapeshifter, and wants to take them all down. There's a crucifixion. And to top it all off, Eric does something really sneaky that ties Sookie even tighter to him. Poor girl.
Thoughts:
Once again, a good one. I am starting to get a bit annoyed, though, at how Harris ends these books. Sure, they leave you wanting more, that's not a big issue. But when the wanting is for a more wrapped up plot, and for an actual ending to a book, not a "to be continued," that's not a good thing. Harris does pack a punch with this one once again, which I appreciate, and there's always something going on. I really enjoy Sookie's growing attachment to Eric, because I always liked his character, and how they interacted. I'll keep going with the series, because there's not much left, but the open endings are starting to bug me, especially considering Harris only puts out one book a year, it seems, and I'm coming very close to the current end of the series. I will say, though, I'd be interested in going back and watching how this would play out on the TV show. I wonder if it'll even be around long enough to get to these plot points, though it might, as it's already in season five, and each season seemed to equate to one of the books in the series.
Book 20 of 50
Pages: 312
Genre: Mystery, romance, and vampires
Grade: B+
Would I Recommend?: Please start from the beginning of this series, if you're going to read it at all. It's too confusing otherwise.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
One for the Money (Janet Evanovich)
Summary:
Stephanie Plum is a woman living in Trenton, NJ, and she's just lost her job. She can barely pay her rent, let alone car payments or anything else. She's dying for any job she can get her hands on. When she goes to her cousin's office to interview for a filing job, and finds the position filled, she is willing to do anything. That's when her cousin's secretary tells her there's an open spot for a bounty hunter. Stephanie jumps at the chance when she hears how much she'll get for the job. The added bonus is that she'll be bringing in the one guy that's humiliated her all her life. Little does she know that she's way over her head in the bounty hunting business, and there's more to her case than meets the eye.
Thoughts:
Oh my God, I loved this. I read it two sittings, because I couldn't put it down. (The only time I did was because it was well past midnight, and my eyes were more closed than open.) It's not only a fast read, but it's funny as hell. I will say that it is very dated, considering it was originally written in 1994, when the eighties were only slightly uncool, and car phones were the new rage (Forget cell phones. Those weren't even thought of yet!) The fashion described for poor Stephanie sounds like a girl getting ready for an 80's party. But if you take all that in stride, and remember a time when cell phones weren't available to call for help from a dark alley, you'll be fine. I will admit that when Stephanie first gets into trouble when she's out and about in the city, and she needs help, my first reaction is "use your cell phone and call someone," but then I checked myself, checked the publishing date, and laughed. But it really is a fun read, and I look forward to getting into the series. As a girl from Jersey, I appreciate and understand a lot of the "New Jersey attitude" that Stephanie and the rest of the characters exude. And even 18 year old jokes about Jersey's lack of gardens make me smile. I highly suggest this book, and probably the series. Besides, although I plan to see it no matter how bad it supposedly is, I hear the book is way better than the movie. I just hope it's set in 90's Jersey, not 2010's Jersey. It would be so much more interesting! Be warned, once I start really getting my hands on these books, you'll be hearing about them endlessly until I'm through, just like the rest of the series I've powered through.
Book 19 of 50
Pages: 352
Genre: Mystery
Grade: A-
Would I Recommend?: Definitely. And it doesn't hurt that it's the first in the series either!
Stephanie Plum is a woman living in Trenton, NJ, and she's just lost her job. She can barely pay her rent, let alone car payments or anything else. She's dying for any job she can get her hands on. When she goes to her cousin's office to interview for a filing job, and finds the position filled, she is willing to do anything. That's when her cousin's secretary tells her there's an open spot for a bounty hunter. Stephanie jumps at the chance when she hears how much she'll get for the job. The added bonus is that she'll be bringing in the one guy that's humiliated her all her life. Little does she know that she's way over her head in the bounty hunting business, and there's more to her case than meets the eye.
Thoughts:
Oh my God, I loved this. I read it two sittings, because I couldn't put it down. (The only time I did was because it was well past midnight, and my eyes were more closed than open.) It's not only a fast read, but it's funny as hell. I will say that it is very dated, considering it was originally written in 1994, when the eighties were only slightly uncool, and car phones were the new rage (Forget cell phones. Those weren't even thought of yet!) The fashion described for poor Stephanie sounds like a girl getting ready for an 80's party. But if you take all that in stride, and remember a time when cell phones weren't available to call for help from a dark alley, you'll be fine. I will admit that when Stephanie first gets into trouble when she's out and about in the city, and she needs help, my first reaction is "use your cell phone and call someone," but then I checked myself, checked the publishing date, and laughed. But it really is a fun read, and I look forward to getting into the series. As a girl from Jersey, I appreciate and understand a lot of the "New Jersey attitude" that Stephanie and the rest of the characters exude. And even 18 year old jokes about Jersey's lack of gardens make me smile. I highly suggest this book, and probably the series. Besides, although I plan to see it no matter how bad it supposedly is, I hear the book is way better than the movie. I just hope it's set in 90's Jersey, not 2010's Jersey. It would be so much more interesting! Be warned, once I start really getting my hands on these books, you'll be hearing about them endlessly until I'm through, just like the rest of the series I've powered through.
Book 19 of 50
Pages: 352
Genre: Mystery
Grade: A-
Would I Recommend?: Definitely. And it doesn't hurt that it's the first in the series either!
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