Hot Six by Janet Evanovich


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A book all about Ranger - or is it? This was one of my favorites in the series so far, probably because of the subject of Stephanie's new hunt. Well, not Stephanie's, exactly...

I would like to see Stephanie getting a little more proficient at the bounty hunter gig, though. The 'I left my gun at home' is getting just a tad worn. If she wants to use a stun gun or pepper spray, she should get a little better at it and not haul all her stuff around in a bag. Just my opinion...

Still, she sure has a nose for trouble, and a dog's nose to go with it this time. I'm glad Bob is hers and not mine!

Whew! six books in about as many days, and I'm nearly caught up with my 100 in a year. With Stephanie's help, I might actually get a little bit ahead!


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Yup, another one. There's 15 in the series, so hang on to your hats!

High Five by Janet Evanovich


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another case, another kooky character. Apprehending a three-foot tall man is of course a challenge, but I garnered a lot of raised eyebrows laughing at Stephanie's attempts when reading in public.

One thing, the subject of the main search is lost pretty early. Things are pretty convoluted, but, as usual, it takes a few cars blowing up to straighten everything out.

Yeah for Ranger for taking Stephanie on as an employee. His patience is endless...boy I'd like to know how long it'd last.

His patience!

Yeah, right! Wonder if he has any other job openings.

This book wins the award for best (and most frustrating) cliffhanger ending. Thank goodness I have the next book in my hands already!


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Four to Score by Janet Evanovich


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Okay, so I've got the gist of the series now...new book, new big case to solve, new crazy character. Little cases on the side, Morelli, sometimes on the side, sometimes more.

Cars blow up.

Except the land yacht.

I loved Sally - hope he shows up again. Seems like with all these friends that Stephanie is making, she's starting to build a network. A bizarre network, but a network none the less.

Joyce...no, no spoilers. But...ah, Joyce. Great job, Stephanie!

Morelli...mmmm. Still...Ranger?

A really good read while standing in line at DisneyWorld.


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Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich


My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Let's try this again - got the books mixed up the first time!



This one has quite the twist at the end which leads Stephanie to get her man. I do like the fact that she always seems to pull it out at the end, though not without plenty of fireworks.



The juxtaposition of Stephanie's bounty hunter side and her 'I'm a Jersey woman' side is the best part. And Lula - she's definitely a keeper.



Morelli...Ranger...Stephanie has such a tough life.


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Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Second in the series - even better I thought. Stephanie picks up her 'bounty huntering' a notch and starts to get the hang of the gig. Still bumbling, but at least she's starting to take the job more seriously. Makes her more relatable, I think.

Best part: Grandma Mazur. She's a kick in the pants, and Stephanie's the only one who seems to understand her grandma.

The whole Italian/Jersey scene is hilariously funny - as is the fascination with funerals and viewings. Still working on figuring out Morelli - wish Stephanie would share a little more details about what she thinks of the guy.


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These next few are coming fast an furious - I found a great series and had a vacation (translation: no internet access).

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've heard so much about this series - my friends have all read it - even my mom. So with hours of webless plane flights I finally dove into the world of Stephanie Plum.

I read an outtake book from this series a while back, but had forgotten all about Stephanie and her bounty-hunter lifestyle, so this was truly like starting from scratch. Not a romance, One for the Money was more like a spiced up mystery. The series opener, this book did a great job of introducing the main characters and setting up some long-term relationships.

I have to admit, though, that Stephanie is kinda shallow for me. I like her - she's really funny - but she dives into a dangerous profession with little more than a 'well, I need to be able to pay the rent, and buy doughnuts' attitude. Her relationship with Morelli could use just a tiny bit more definition, or at least a tiny bit more explanation of her feelings for me.

The adventure aspect of this book can't be beat, though, and I'm definitely reading on to find out more.


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I'm behind again! Luckily I've got some long plane flights coming up - time to catch up! Hopefully my selections are better than this one!

Game for Anything by Bella Andre

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars


I've finally read my first trashy romance. Thin plot, transparent and unbelievable characters, and repetitive sex make this book more like a rejected porn movie script than a novel. I had to force my way through.

Good punctuation. I'm glad I got it for free.


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Just a quick FYI for all you twilighted users - the server is down for maintenance tonight (Friday 6/25). Why not Sunday morning? I don't know. Hopefully it'll be up soon, but I don't have an ETA.

Posted 9:30 pm PDT....If I hear more, I'll let you know!

blondie

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars


I'll try to do this without spoilers...

This latest installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series was kind of a disappointment for me. It feels to me like a 'I added too much to my fantasy world, and am correcting that mistake' type story. That, and considering the number of people who died, many of them pregnant women, made this a less than fulfilling read for me.

Sookie's relationship with Eric gets slightly more convoluted - but it's kind of an afterthought to the rest of the story. The vampires in general are kind of an afterthought, IMO, which is what drew me to the series. I hope the next book resolves some things - I'm ready for this series to end.


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Trouble in Spades by Heather Webber

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book introduces Nina's sister Maria - and she's a crack up!

More complicated and more suspenseful, I think, this book is a perfect summer read. The switch to Avon was a good one - this book is more polished and complete than the first one (under Harper Collins).

Heather Webber does a great job in creating interesting characters - Brickhouse Krause is a kick. Nina's relationship with her ex is aggravating - but probably realistic. He's just a snake...

Starting the series from this book is fine - I think it's a better place than where I first took it on (in book 3).


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A Hoe Lot of Trouble by Heather Webber

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


I finally tracked this book down on MobiPocket. The author switched publishers, it seems, and this book is out of print.

While this is obviously her first book, it has the same flavor and convolution of her later mysteries. Riley, Nina's stepson is still one of my favorite characters, and seeing him from the beginning adds a lot to his growth as a character throughout the series.

As far as the mystery goes, Webber is good at creating credible red herrings. Though the sub-plot with Riley was pretty easy to figure out, the murder was more complicated.

Definitely an enjoyable afternoon read!


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Hunted by P. C. Cast

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars


I read a few of the reviews for this book before reading it, and so wasn't surprised at how Zoe's love...polygon...has grown. Now that she's tapped all the species available (so far), I'm assuming they'll form some other kind of circle in the next book or two. Maybe we'll see Loren return in ghost form, that wouldn't surprise me at all, either.

The thing that was kind of disappointing about this book was the plot. It seemed absurd that our little band of rebels would walk right back into they House of Night. I realize that's the easy way to force Zoey to confront Kalona, but it was just...unbelievable...even for a fantasy world. And that they weren't all immediately locked up or at least sequestered...anyway, I'll stop here so I don't spoil things.

I think this book was the least inventive of the series, and hope that the next one brings more imagination back to the story.

One more question I can't shake - where are all the adult vampyres? They don't all live at the House of Night - the actors, writers, all those 'famous' vamps? Aren't there ANY in Tulsa? What about the cop's sister?

Okay, that was like 4 questions. But if the next book doesn't pick up (and the editing improve), I think I'll be done with this series.


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Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


With the movie coming out, I knew I needed to hit the book again remember the plot.

As expected, Dan Brown's research (and imagination) is exceptional. The thing that I'd forgotten was how much detail he'd put in - and how long it took to get to the 'race' part of the story. I expect the movie will be quite different - and I think that will be an improvement.

That's my only complaint, though. I appreciate the realism he puts into his stories, and the work. He delves into particle physics as well the depths of the Vatican. Finding the lines between reality and imagination isn't so simple - but that's what makes the story so appealing.

This story is written as the prequel to the DaVinci Code, but the movie will place it chronologically after (which is good - I love Tom Hanks, but time only goes forward for him).

September brings the next book in the DaVinci Code series - "The Lost Code". I can't wait!


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Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars


Yup, another reread - but I had research a story I was working on... 8-)

I've never read Wuthering Heights, but if this book is any indication, I think it'd be a tough read. The frustration of Bella's waffling between Edward and Jacob is painfully drawn out. But, unfortunately, it's in this book that Bella acts more like a true teenage girl. So as irritated as I am at her, I understand her motivations.

The conflict between Edward and Jacob is probably what I find the most entertaining. They have kind of a mutually-assured-destruction kind of relationship. And they're both kind of oxymoronic - Jacob, the child, gives Bella the comfort her father can't; Edward, the adult, acts his physical age as he does some pretty juvenile things to keep her from Jacob.

But still, I loved this book. Edward and Bella definitely had their moments - and the ending was great.


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Yay! I'm almost caught up! That's what a long bus ride will do for you - lots of reading time! :-D

Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars


No stronger allies, no greater friends, no better fighters of honor could a king behold than these assembled afore me

I'd been waiting for this book to come out! Bummer that it's only available in hardback at the moment - I like my stack of matching Brotherhood paperbacks!

First of all - if you haven't read the Insider's Guide - I highly recommend you read it first. There's one tidbit in particular pertaining to Wrath which plays into Lover Avenged. You won't be lost without it, but it really adds to his whole story. And there's a lot of Wrath in this book!

That was the biggest surprise about Lover Avenged - Wrath's story. Of course it centers around Rehvenge and Ehlena, but again, the ongoing plot lines are just as interesting. Tohr fans - just...YAY!

Because the book is centered on Rehv, a half-symphath, we are given a glimpse into that part of Ward's world. Not so much lesser action in this book and almost no Scribe Virgin (though her appearance is...thought provoking). Rehv's loyalty is tested from the beginning, but I'd imagine you can guess how that turns out!

As Rehv's right hand, Xhex plays a big roll in this book, so we get a fair amount of John Matthew (YAY), and by the end of LA I think you'll agree that JM's book must be next. I wonder if it will parallel one of the previous books...(but no spoilers, so I can't tell you which one!) We also get more about Trez and iAm - the Moors - and they're as interesting as 'the boys' (JM, Q, B).

Surprisingly, this book has a quieter tone than the others, I think, probably because there's much less emphasis on the fighting aspect. Not that there's not violence (and sex - lots of that!), but it has a much different feel in Rehv's world.

As for the war...Lash has changed the tone of the lesser side. More dangerous in some ways, a little easier to understand in others (weird, I know). He's no Mr. X, at least not yet. (Mr. X just creeped me out.)

In many ways, the ending of LA was not as complete as the other books. Rehv and Ehlena are together in the end (not a spoiler - all the books end with the couple together - it's a romance!) but not with the 'here's how it's going to work' like at the end of Phury's, Z's, heck, any of the other books. There's more to Rehv and Ehlena's story - the question is whether we'll get it in the next book, or on the boards.

All in all, LA was better than Lover Enshrined (though that one's grown on me a bit). Wouldn't be my pick for the best one of the series (I think that would still be Lover Revealed) but still 5 stars.


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Untamed by P.C. Cast

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


In this installment, Zoey has to juggle her friends' trust against what she thinks is right. In many ways, this book reminded me the most of the Harry Potter series. I don't know how many more books are on tap for this series, but it seems like it should be coming to a head soon.

The next round of boyfriend battles is set up for Zoey in this book - as is the assumed role she'll play in the final conflict. If the story Grandma tells is really foreshadowing Zoey's part, then the comparisons to Harry Potter will continue. (Cryptic, I know, but I try not to write spoiler reviews!) I really hope that she can finally let go of Heath. If she's really changed so much, she should be able to quit clinging to him, especially since he's not around!

I was kind of frustrated that Zoey (or any of her friends) couldn't see why Neferet was insistent that the cleansing ritual go on as scheduled. That was too obvious for them to miss.

At least the sexual aspect of the series has died down a bit. I still think the first book was the most graphic (I'm a prude, I'll admit it). I'd probably let my daughter read the following books. But, gotta start at the beginning, so she'll have to wait a couple more years.


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Chosen by P.C. Cast

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars


The third book in the 'House of Night' series continues Zoey's trials as she struggles to shoulder the power and responsibilities that Nyx has given her.

As if Zoey's world isn't complicated enough, she goes from 2 boyfriends to 3. Honestly, I think that Erik is way too forgiving, he doesn't fight hard enough for Zoey even though he knows she's pulling away. And though Zoey doesn't want to think of herself as a 'slutty ho'...well, babe, if the shoe fits...

By the end of this book her relationship struggles seem to come to an end. Hopefully she can do some growing up in the next book. She's only starting to learn what kind of battle is looming.

I did enjoy the scene with Zoey's mom. I wish there was a little more interaction with them - they're obnoxious, yes, but entertaining. Off to the next book!


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Betrayed by P.C. Cast

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars


Of the four books I've read so far in this series (yes, I'm behind in my reviews), I think this one is the best. It lays the foundation for the books to come beyond world building, but also adds to the world we're learning about.

Zoey grows into her new life in this book, strengthening her circle of close friends. Her love life gets even more complicated (how teenage is THAT!), and she starts to understand some of what Nyx has told her about darkness and light. (It's not too surprising - but Zoey finally figures it out.)

This book takes a very emotional twist - and leaves the reader itching for the next book.

The secondary characters are well done - they are easy to love/hate. Some aspects of the ongoing plot are predictable, I think, but there's enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning.


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Marked by P.C. Cast

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


A friend gave me the 'House of Night' series (the first 4 books anyway) for me and possibly my daughter to read. She warned about one sexual aspect in particular, so I went after the books first. After reading, this book, Marked, is the most explicit. I'll be waiting until my daughter is a ways into high school before passing it on to her.

The story itself was good, and I recommend it. In many ways the main character, Zoey, is a very typical teenager (more so than some other characters, like Bella in twilight). She leads on her old boyfriend, unable to make a true break with him, even though she gets hooked on a new beau. And of course, she has an evil stepfather...who should figure more prominently in future books, I'm guessing.

The 'villain,' Aphrodite, is a lot of fun too, though she could have been even more vindictive, I think. The cast of supporting characters is entertaining, and keeps the story moving along.

The world the Casts have built is an interesting one - kind of like Harry Potter mixed with twilight. Though it's YA, if you like paranormal romance, you should enjoy this series.


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The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide by J.R. Ward

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a unique and fun book. A cross between writer's guide, character bio, and web banter, the Insider's Guide has a little bit of everything. The relationship JR Ward has with her characters is as intricate as her writing is, and I, like so many of her readers, am totally jealous!

On the fiction side - the novella about Z and Bella and Nalla is worth the price alone - as is the chat with the brothers detailing Phury's mating ceremony (again I say 'Poor Tohr'!!!).

But on top of all the fiction, the way JR Ward details the writing of each book is an invaluable resource for those of us trying to follow in her footsteps. From how she fought getting V's book done (and how far to go with the S&M) to how easy Wrath's book was (and it was first!!!)...I really enjoyed hearing her struggles and triumphs.

I highly recommend this to any and all BDB fans!


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