While awaiting the release of newest Stephanie Plum novel I grabbed Plum Lovin, a between the numbers novel by Janet Evanovich.
About the book:
Mysterious men have a way of showing up in Stephanie Plum’s apartment. When the shadowy Diesel appears, he has a task for Stephanie—and he’s not taking no for an answer.
Annie Hart is a “relationship expert” who is wanted for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Stephanie needs to find her, fast. Diesel knows where she is. So they make a deal: He’ll help her get Annie if Stephanie plays matchmaker to several of Annie’s most difficult clients.
But someone wants to find Annie even more than Diesel and Stephanie. Someone with a nasty temper. And someone with “unmentionable” skills.
My thoughts: This was just as good as the regular numbered Stephanie Plum books. I’m glad that there are a few filler books since I’m waiting for
Sizzlin Sixteen to arrive. The extra novels gives us a chance to meet new characters and visit some old faves. Not enough Grandma Mazur for me though… she’s always my fave!
Rating 3.5/5
I’m back on track with posting and just finished Clear and Convincing Proof by Kate Wilhelm, part of the Barbara Holloway series.
About the book: The Kelso/McIvey rehab center is a place of hope and healing for its patients — and for the dedicated staff who volunteer there. For lonely newcomer Erica Castle, its’ a place to make new friends. For brilliant physical therapist Darren Halvord, it’s a chance to showcase his unusual gift. For beautiful Annie McIvey it’s a sanctuary from a cruel husband. And for directors Naomi and Greg Boardman, it’s a lifelong dram about to be destroyed if Annie’s husband, David, has his way. A brilliant surgeon, an implacable misogynist, a man whose ego rivals his skill with a scalpel, David McIvey now has controlling shares in what has always been a non profit clinic. His plan to close the clinic and replace it with a massive new surgery center — with himself at the helm — means that the rehab center, with all its good work and good people, will be forced to close its doors. MORE HERE
My thoughts: I love the Barbara Holloway series and especially get a bang out of her dad, Frank… “Christ-on-a-mountain,- Bobby!” LOL.. I listened on audio and I’m used having the same reader for the series. This one took awhile for Barbara to get involved and I had to double check to make sure that it was one of the series of books. Once she did, she brought along her usual cast of characters and in true form, kept the reader guessing right up until the very end.
Rating 4/5
I’m cranking out the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich and the latest was Lean, Mean Thirteen.
About the book:
New secrets, old flames, and hidden agendas are about to send bounty hunter Stephanie Plum on her most outrageous adventure yet!
MISTAKE #1
Dickie Orr. Stephanie was married to him for about fifteen minutes before she caught him cheating on her with her arch-nemesis Joyce Barnhardt. Another fifteen minutes after that Stephanie filed for divorce, hoping to never see either one of them again.
MISTAKE #2
Doing favors for super bounty hunter Carlos Manoso (a.k.a. Ranger). Ranger needs her to meet with Dickie and find out if he’s doing something shady. Turns out, he is. Turns out, he’s also back to doing Joyce Barnhardt. And it turns out Ranger’s favors always come with a price…
MISTAKE #3 More Here!
My thoughts: We really get to see a different side of Stephanie and her past in this book. I always wonder where Janet will take her next and in this one, we got to see what came before. Lula is enjoying a bigger role in each book lately which I like.
Rating 3.5/5
Continuing with Debbie Macomber‘s Cedar Cove series, I just finished 8 Sandpiper Way.
About the book: When a wife finds a strange earring in her husband’s pocket, what’s a woman to think?
Emily Flemming can think of only two explanations—an affair or sticky fingers—but neither sounds like the husband she knows and loves. Still, Pastor Dave did regularly visit the elderly woman whose jewelry has been turning up missing, and he does refuse to tell Emily where he’s been when he comes home so late. He may be a good man, but he sure looks guilty—even to his wife.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Troy Davis’s long-ago love has moved to town, and there’s news aplenty from newcomers and old-timers alike in Cedar Cove. MORE HERE.
My thoughts: The Cedar Cove series books are always my feel good, quick read, go-to books. Never anything earth shattering but always enjoyable and give me the feeling like I’m visiting old friends.
Rating 3.5/5
I always wanted to read the Lemony Snicket books but never got around to it so I finally started the series with The Bad Beginning ( A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1)
About the book:
Dear Listener,
I’m sorry to say that the audiobook you arc holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very beginning of this Program when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on to the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune. In this short audiobook alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast. It is my sad duty to tell these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from turning off this audio and listening to something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket
I loved this book and it was especially a great listening experience being read by
Tim Curry. This will likely be a series that I will read quickly as I’ll either do the audio books or will read the paper copies.. just the right size to carry around as a purse book. It’s got that fantasy feel and colorful characters. Just reading the product description gives you a feel for the writing style.
Rating 4/5
I was totally unplugged for a week so I didn’t listen to any audio books so I finally finished Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich.
About the book: Stephanie Plum is thinking her career as fugitive apprehension agent has run its course. She’s been shot at, spat at, cussed at, fire-bombed, mooned, and attacked by dogs. Time for a change, Stephanie thinks. Time to find the kind of job her mother can tell her friends about without making the sign of the cross. So Stephanie Plum quits. Resigns. No looking back. No changing her mind. She wants something safe and normal. As it turns out, jobs that are safe and normal for most people aren’t necessarily safe and normal for Stephanie Plum. Trouble follows her, and the kind of trouble she had at the bail bonds office can’t compare to the kind of trouble she finds herself facing now. MORE HERE
My thoughts: Although it took me awhile to finish this one it had nothing to do with the story itself. I actually liked this one a lot and got to see a different side of Stephanie and a more in depth view of her family members. Things are heating up with her two guys and they all seem to be coexisting.. for now, at least. Looking forward to number 12 to see where it takes Stephanie in terms of her employment.
Rating 3.5/5
Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Stephanie Plum Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge
Continuing in on my Stephanie Plum challenge, Ten Big Ones, by Janet Evanovich was a quick audio filler.
About the book:
She’s accidentally destroyed a dozen cars. She’s a target for every psycho and miscreant this side of the Jersey Turnpike. Her mother’s convinced she’ll end up dead…or worse, without a man. She’s Stephanie Plum and she kicks butt for a living (well, she thought it would sound good to put it that way…)
It begins as an innocent trip to the deli-mart, on a quest for nachos. But Stephanie Plum and her partner, Lula, are clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time. A robbery leads to an explosion, which leads to the destruction of yet another car. It would be just another day in the life of Stephanie Plum…except that she becomes the target of a gang. And the target of an even scarier, more dangerous force that comes to Trenton. With super bounty hunter Ranger acting more mysteriously than ever (and the tension with vice cop Joe Morelli getting hotter), Stephanie finds herself with a decision to make: how to protect herself and where to hide while on the hunt for a killer known as the Junkman. There’s only one safe place, and it has Ranger’s name all over it-if she can find it. And if the Junkman doesn’t find her first. With Lula riding shotgun and Grandma Mazur on the loose, Stephanie Plum is racing against the clock in her most suspenseful novel yet. Ten Big Ones is page-turning entertainment and Janet Evanovich is the best there is.
Between the adventure and the adversity there’s attitude and Stephanie Plum’s got plenty inTEN BIG ONES.
My thoughts: I always love Stephanie Plum novels and usually find myself listening and laughing out loud at least a few times. I liked this one with more focus on the mysterious Ranger. It was a shortie and was only 3 CDs so it was a perfect filler between some more meaty reads of late. I still prefer Lori Petty as the reader as she was my schema for the character way back in beginning but this one was ok.
Rating 3.5/5
Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Stephanie Plum Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge
Now that I’m walking again, I’ve been plugging in and just finished Book 7 in Debbie Macomber‘s Cedar Cove Series, 74 Seaside Avenue.
About the book: I’m living a life I couldn’t even have dreamed of a few years ago. I’m married to Bobby Polgar now (you know, the famous chess champion who just happens to be the man I love!). And we’ve got this beautiful house with a view of Puget Sound.
Lately something’s been worrying Bobby, though. When I asked, he said he was “protecting his queen” — and I got the oddest feeling he wasn’t talking about chess but about me. He wouldn’t say anything else.
Do you remember Get Nailed, the beauty salon in Cedar Cove? I still work there. I’ll tell you about my friend Rachel, who’s got two men interested in her (count ‘em, two). And I’ll let you in on what I’ve heard about Linnette McAfee, who left town when her love life fell apart. (That kind of trouble I know all about.) Come in soon for a manicure and a chat, okay? — Teri (Miller) Polga More Here!
My thoughts: As always, Debbie Macomber is a go to author when I need a light, feel good book. I’m enjoying getting to know more characters as the series is continuing. I read it really quickly while walking and doing a few things around the house. Gotta love audio books!
Rating 3.5/5
Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge
Recommended by the ladies in my Booklovers online group, I read Book 1 of the Trilogy, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
About the book: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capital surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capital is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor to his or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capital wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rules. MORE HERE
My thoughts: I LOVED this book!! It reminded me of the same feel as The Giver and I recommended it to the school librarian when I was just a few chapters in. I can’t wait for the next installment. This is one of those kinds of books that I found myself thinking about when I wasn’t even reading… (in fact, had lots of dreams about it last night.) This story has a lot of moral discussion points and I can see it being used in a classroom to spark student thinking and examination of one’s moral compass.
Rating 5/5
Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,,
Jumping right in to the next Stephanie Plum installment, Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich.
About the book: Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum has a big problem on her hands: Seven-year-old Annie Soder and her mother, Evelyn, have disappeared.
Evelyn’s estranged husband, Steven, a shady owner of a seedy bar, is not at all happy. During the divorce proceedings, he and Evelyn signed a child custody bond, and Steven is demanding the money guaranteed by the bond to find Annie. The money was secured by a mortgage on Evelyn’s grandmother’s house, and the True Blue Bonds Bail Agency wants to take possession of the house. MORE HERE
My thoughts: I listened to this one while getting things done around the house today. I need to move away from my wish that the reader was Lori Petty and just accept that it isn’t. I did have some LOL moments as I usually do reading this series. Sister Valerie took a bigger role and things heat up with the love triangle.
Rating 3.5/5
Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,, Stephanie Plum Challenge
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In the Book Nook
Planned books:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasi by Chantal Sicile-Kira
- Teacher Miracles: Inspirational True Stories from the Classroom (Miracles) by Unknown
- Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives by Dan Millman
- Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan
- While I Was Gone (Oprah’s Book Club) by Sue Miller
Current books:
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Suze Orman’s Action Plan: New Rules for New Times by Suze Orman
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Possible Side Effects by Augusten Burroughs
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The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping: Insider Tips, Helpful Hints, Hip Shops by Melody Fortier
Recent books:
- The Love of Her Life by Harriet Evans
- Dogplay: The Canine Guide to Being Happy by Kim Levin, Christine Montaquila
- The Barn by Avi
- A Beginning, a Muddle, and an End: The Right Way to Write Writing by Avi
- Amber Spyglass #3 His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
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