This is a cute, fluffy junk food chick lit book that I read in a little more than a day. If you've ever seen Samantha Who, it's kind of like that. Lex...moreThis is a cute, fluffy junk food chick lit book that I read in a little more than a day. If you've ever seen Samantha Who, it's kind of like that. Lexi wakes up in the hospital, and discovers that she doesn't remember anything for the past three years. She's newly toned, had work done, has a new, businessy job, a husband, new friends, etc. And she turned into a btch. Now she has to figure out her life and see how she turned into a totally different person, and get her memory back. I dunno, three years ago i wasn't that different, but i do see why she changed. Lexi was similar to all Kinsella main characters but I did like it. A good quick read that you'll whip right through!(less)
Started it, got to page 39, and it just seemed too boring. Didn't catch my fancy at all. Tons of other good books to read so I'm not gonna force this...moreStarted it, got to page 39, and it just seemed too boring. Didn't catch my fancy at all. Tons of other good books to read so I'm not gonna force this one.(less)
This first book in a new series arrived and I looked at the reviews. It was rated high, but the last at least page full was all one and two stars. Uh-...moreThis first book in a new series arrived and I looked at the reviews. It was rated high, but the last at least page full was all one and two stars. Uh-oh....did people begin liking this then lately hate it? I decided to try it anyway, it was here, after all, right? This book is set in an alternate reality, where there is a recessive gene that makes itself known at puberty, changing some people into vampyres (yes, with a y). These are most often artists, actors, etc., so many of the celebs we know today are vamps in this book LOL. 16 year old Zoey is just trying to fit in, living with intolerant crazy religion parents and dealing with normal things at highschool when she gets sick and then becomes marked - she's turning into a vampyre. All fledglings go to a special Night School, a high school for vamps, kinda like Hogwarts, and not all kids survive the change and become full fledged Vamps. This isn't spoiler stuff, it's all said right in the very set up. This whole book is a set up book, she gets to the school, realizes she has special powers even for one of these, a sort of chosen one, and finds a pack of quirky friends. It reminds me of BUFFY! She and the Scooby gang can do magic and fight some big bads. I loved this book, devoured it whole, in less than 24 hrs. The reason most people did not like this book is the casual writing style. This is a YA book, written by a mom and daughter team. It's got that dark comedy, light cheese kind of style, again, like Buffy, and I can see some people might not like that, but maybe they shouldn't be reading YA. Me, I loved it. There are six to eight other books in this series already, as this first one was from back in 2007, so I have a lot to read. Sadly, it's not in eformat at the library, so I've just requested the next three in paper to my local branch. If they come in time for the long weekend, I can polish them all off, I'll bet. Super excited for this new series! It's also already been made into comic books, and is coming out as a movie in 2014. I think it'd make an excellent tv series instead.(less)
This is Bishop/SCU Book #11, or 2nd in the Blood Trilogy. I finished the first in the trilogy, and i just HAD to read the next one. Luckily, it was at...moreThis is Bishop/SCU Book #11, or 2nd in the Blood Trilogy. I finished the first in the trilogy, and i just HAD to read the next one. Luckily, it was at my library, for my kindle, so I grabbed it. I devoured the book between right before bed Friday night to Sunday. I'd accidentally read the third Blood book a couple years ago without reading the first two, and now I finally got to see what they had been talking about. It's best to read the first one before this, but I guess you could understand a standalone story about a cult, led by a driven, psychopathic man who posesses an insane amount of psychic powers, and the team from Haven, made up of people with psychic and paranormal abilities themselves, along with help from Bishop's FBI special crimes unit (also psychic ability people) who are there to stop him. I love the flashbacks, learning how he came into power, and how each of the good guys' powers are changing too. If you like XMen or things like that, you'll love this whole series. Once I finished this, i just HAD to re-read the third one, which is what I'm finishing up right now!(less)
This is the second book in the Justin de Quincy series. I first read #3, then couldn't find #1, and now read #2. Oddly enough, #3 was easier to read n...moreThis is the second book in the Justin de Quincy series. I first read #3, then couldn't find #1, and now read #2. Oddly enough, #3 was easier to read not knowing what'd been going on than this one was, it seemed to refer to book one a lot, and was more of a building sort of book than #3 was. Still, I enjoyed it. This series is set back in midieval times, when King Richard is currently a prisoner and John is plotting to take the throne. Justin, the unrecognized son of a prominent church man, has become the "queen's man," taken into Eleanor (Richard and John's mom, an amazing 70 something years old!)'s confidance and service, even though he's only in his 20s and only found out about his father. As i mentioned, the back story is more the focus of this volume, but there is a small mystery there that doesn't have attention fully given to it until the last third of this short book. Two people stopped me to ask about this book, as Penman is a famous historical novelist, but i quite like her historical mysteries. Sometimes it's repetitive to read a story that you already know the outcome of. Here, you get the historical backdrop, and lots of attention to detail about little historical and anthropological facts, while still wondering what will happen next. Despite the mystery being squished, the book was overall good and i look forward to moving on to #4. Wonderful, engaging writer!(less)
I think this is one of the few YA books that really is written for kids. I struggled to page 48, but this is the first in a series, and why try to for...moreI think this is one of the few YA books that really is written for kids. I struggled to page 48, but this is the first in a series, and why try to force it when there's so many other good books to read? This is about a girl who graduates hs early and goes to college at 16 but although she's a prodigy, she's in some dinky college in the middle of nowhere because her mom thought it would be safer to send her to a college in a town run by VAMPIRES rather than to harvard and yale that she got into. yes, no one knew this beforehand, but apparently everyone who lives there knows it. Those aren't spoilers, just the premise of the whole series. The writing's not great, I'm skipping it. It might be good for a middle schooler or something. (less)
This is #10 in the Bishop Special crimes units series and #1 in the sub blood trilogy. I love this series, it's about an FBI unit that is made up of a...moreThis is #10 in the Bishop Special crimes units series and #1 in the sub blood trilogy. I love this series, it's about an FBI unit that is made up of agents with special powers, psychic powers, and now there is also a civilian side, run by the same man, for people who don't work well with all those rules. So, XMen, kinda, and Bishop is Professor Xavier. The people's powers are starting to change and evolve, from using and pushing them so much, and being around other powerful people. And all this time, they're fighting crimes and serial killers, and yes, supernatural serial killers. Dani is the main character of this book, and i did not like her. She's very cold, shut off, just not a likeable person at all. Fortunately, older characters were included, and just the premise and the story of the killer they were tracking was engaging enough. The book had very large printing and the page size was small, so the page number is deceptive, because this book went by in two seconds. It would have maybe been better to just combine this book with at least the next in the trilogy, if not all three. I did have a hard time remembering some things from the past books, so I'll make sure to read the next couple pretty soon. Great book, really great series. I hope that we really do have a branch of psychics working for the law enforcement, by the way. I'd think by now they would have covered that.(less)
A couple years ago, I saw this movie. It was really funny. The hotel pooping scene LOL. Then I discovered the movie had a book, and that it's true! (s...moreA couple years ago, I saw this movie. It was really funny. The hotel pooping scene LOL. Then I discovered the movie had a book, and that it's true! (someone on twitter told me it's not, but i looked it up and all evidence points to it being true.) I finally got around to reading this book and it's funny. A bunch of short stories that Tucker Max had published on his blog about him and his friends going out drinking and hooking up with girls. They don't just drink, they DRINK. Most of his friends have interesting nicknames, and I would just LOVE to get to know Slingblade, he sounds just so weird that it's hilarious. The rest of them, i probably wouldn't like to know in real life. Tucker seems funny, but all the throwing up and pooping and things just seems a bit messy. In their defense, all of this takes place when they are in their 20s, and while not this bad, my friends and i (well, mostly my friends) came close when we were that young. I always thought that stuff would be funny in a book, and i was right. Some people, a lot of people, will probably hate this book, so be forewarned. If you hate gross things, or are a feminist, or get offended easily, or don't laugh easily, you may want to skip it. There are a lot of offensive things in this book. But I liked it, and i see why he had all those girls willing to meet up with him from his blog. I think he'd probably be fun to hang out with one night, so long as i wasn't stuck taking care of him or his friends at the end of the night. Good book.(less)
This is a young adult book, the first in a trilogy, where a big event happens that wipes out all the new mechanical things, as well as most people, an...moreThis is a young adult book, the first in a trilogy, where a big event happens that wipes out all the new mechanical things, as well as most people, and also creates zombie-like beings too. Now a 17 year old girl is trying to survive. I don't want to say too much and cause spoilers, but this is a great book. I love young adult books, for some reason. Here you have a girl living in a world of mostly old people, and fighting to survive. She's not wimpy or vapid like in SOME bad young adult novels, she's a fighter, like in the good ones. The first part of the book is good, then it gets a little slow, and then it gets great near the end. It's really great, and then...it ends. Yes, it ends like it's a chapter and not a book and I IMMEDIATELY looked at the library's ebook collection, where i got this one, to try to take out the 2nd in the trilogy, which is out already, but THEY DON'T HAVE IT!! AAAH! LOL. I'll have to get it soon. If you like end of the world, or action horrorish type things, read this book. (less)
This is book #2 in the dirk pitt series. I like his books, but i'd read a few that were out of order and more recent, so i went back to the beginning...moreThis is book #2 in the dirk pitt series. I like his books, but i'd read a few that were out of order and more recent, so i went back to the beginning to read them in order. i do think that cussler improved with this series as he went on, better writing and characters, but these early ones are still entertaining. pitt is kind of like james bond. i probably would not recomend feminists to read this series, but if you simply like a good action adventure novel, try this series. this one didn't have too much thought to it but was pretty good anyway.(less)
I was approached on Goodreads and asked to review this book in return for a free copy of the e-book. This starts out as the story of four vapid seemin...moreI was approached on Goodreads and asked to review this book in return for a free copy of the e-book. This starts out as the story of four vapid seeming frenemies on spring break from college at a resort in Mexico. I was not impressed - i'm not a fan of Gossip Girl. The writing, the dialogue, was all poor and seemed rather ridiculous. Did a grown up even write this? I just started laughing, and then I realized that might be the point. In the blink of an eye, it switches over to a story about drug running, and escaping a cartel. Only, kind of not really. It's not a spoiler to say that these girls, before only concerned with the perfect hair and clothes and making sure their skirts are hiked up enough, become cold blooded killers. Not only that, they do it WHILE still being concerned with all those things. They can kill someone, then complain about their hair, or fix their eyeliner. The whole thing reminded me of a Grindhouse movie. We have gorgeous women in tiny, skimpy clothes, drinking a lot, and then randomly offing someone with a gun or a MACHETE! They could give the Mad Men cast a run for their money with all the smoking and drinking that goes on! It was hilarious, violent and gory and I enjoyed myself! I'd love to see this made into a movie, with girls teetering on too-high heels and too many shots, as they take out yet another cartel member. In the end, I enjoyed it. Fast-paced and just weird. If you're looking for a teen sort of vacation book, or don't like violence, skip it. But if you like campy action things starring hot girls (even unlikable ones) and bad dialogue, go for it.(less)
I was reading a 1000pg book and a 600pg book and I needed a break, something quick and little, and this 300pg book fit the bill. One I got reading it,...moreI was reading a 1000pg book and a 600pg book and I needed a break, something quick and little, and this 300pg book fit the bill. One I got reading it, I read most of it in a day! This is a sort of mystery, it's a private detective hired by a woman to reconstruct her life before a car accident, because she has amnesia. That makes it interesting, because, in a way, the bad guy is also the victim. I happened to land in the middle of a series, Kristin Ashe PI, but this was easy to follow without the previous books. I found the main character Kristin to be likeable, and I'd like to go back to the beginning and read the whole series. This works great as a stand-alone book because while it hints there may be more things in the past for Kristin's life or her fellow PI, ex nun Ruth, they didn't go into it at all. Nice, quick, entertaining read, just what i needed! Oh, and yes, this series is published by one of those cheaper, lesbian publishers, but unlike 99% of the books I've tried that are published by those, this is just a story of normal people who happened to be gay, and is not some sort of romance or filled with people coming out every five seconds. Happy to find a series like this, because that's how real life is, people going about their normal lives and just happen to have an orientation. So yay for the author on that! It felt like a mainstream book.(less)
Margaret George is a great writer, and i was interested to read her historical fiction treatment of the Helen of Troy story. Other people were too, ap...moreMargaret George is a great writer, and i was interested to read her historical fiction treatment of the Helen of Troy story. Other people were too, apparently, as i was stopped at least three times on the subway/bus and asked about it. I never learned the story in school, but i've picked up enough about it from popular culture and retellings that i know what happened. This kind of tries to be historical fiction, but the gods are still there as characters that do things in the story, maybe not as full people, but they get talked to and those gods actually influence things, so it's more like a mythology still. That's fine, that's interesting. But this book just DRAGGED. I got to page 368 and the war was just starting. There are 600 pages. I am not one to shirk away from a large book - i was also reading a 1000 page book at the time, which i finished and enjoyed - but it has to make some progress. I did not really like the main character, Helen, i didn't really like anyone, and things took sooo long to happen. The best part is the first part of the book, when she's younger, but then it just gets slower and slower. I assume that it will pick up with the war, but when i realized i was just dreading reading this thing because it was putting me asleep, i gave up. I felt badly, since all these people seem to love or want to love the book, but I couldn't. If you like things with very long builds and a lot of wordiness words, try this story. Otherwise, try one of her other books instead. (less)
Remember a million little pieces? the book where they found out that a lot of the things in the story were fictionalized? well, i read it and i barely...moreRemember a million little pieces? the book where they found out that a lot of the things in the story were fictionalized? well, i read it and i barely remember it, but now i just read the sequel. and this book i note is firmly labeled as "literature" so that no one can yell at the things that aren't true. i hated the writing style in this book. every little thing is spelled out. it's something like this: I speak: hi leonard. Leonard speaks: MY SON!! we drink cola. then we drink more cola. then we walk. then we decide we're going to speak again. I speak: let's eat. Leonard speaks: MY SON!! LOL you may think i'm exaggerating, but not really. this whole book could have been written in a quarter of the pages. there is a story there, but it's very short, and it's gotten VERY padded. otherwise, it's a touching story of a man who never had any kids and takes the author under his wing and they eat a mountain of steak and drink lakes of cola. (no one ever drinks juice, or tea, or any of the other tasty non-alcoholic drinks out there lol). I knew part of the end already from the first book and guessed the other big reveal. if you can stand the writing style though, it's a good story, and it's great how the author got back on his feet like that.(less)
i started reading this, it's the first in a new series, but i didn't like anyone in it. the main characters are so good ol boy ish, the way they talk...morei started reading this, it's the first in a new series, but i didn't like anyone in it. the main characters are so good ol boy ish, the way they talk and everything, ew. i couldn't. this may be good for some people but not me. I didn't even get a quarter way through. sorry.(less)
The 11th Eve Dallas book!! I love this series. it's finally starting to get less repetitive too, less re introducing things, and less gooshy too. This...moreThe 11th Eve Dallas book!! I love this series. it's finally starting to get less repetitive too, less re introducing things, and less gooshy too. This one was very about the mystery...you could maybe even read it without the rest of the series, even though elements of the mystery related to their early lives. This was great, like all the others, but I've got nothing special to note about this one. Fun vacation read and my first kindle book! (less)
I can't believe this was published in 1958! I read most of Anya Seton's books in highschool or college, not this one, but all that were at the library...moreI can't believe this was published in 1958! I read most of Anya Seton's books in highschool or college, not this one, but all that were at the library, and i didn't even realize they were so old. I loved this book because it's about the puritans and the colonization of New England. I actually had a distant relative on the mayflower, but this one isn't about the pilgrims. most of what we learned about the first settlers started after they came here to america but this one begins in england, and it taught me a lot of what i didn't learn in school. Seton spent a ton of effort researching this and getting things right, and these people were always writing back and forth, they wrote as much as people do now!! so there was a lot of original content. she'd include parts of the real letters right into the story, it's very accurate. But beyond the story itself, there is the whole thing of how modern a depiction the author gave back in the late 50's. she had a very modern point of view, which is pointed out in the forward that phillipa gregory wrote. seton was ahead of her time. this book just pulled me in and captured me. it drew me in, until near the end, when only then did it start to drag. i didn't like the main character so much anymore, although it was noted she changed so that makes sense. (it took me so long to finish because i was reading a couple other books at the same time, plus i went on vacation and had to leave this one at home). i'm so glad i didn't read this when i was younger, so i could experience it for the first time now. if you're at all interested in history, especially history of new england or the puritans, if you want to know what made them tick, or just learn about an interesting woman who really existed, pick up this book!! (less)
This is the Anita Blake vampire hunter book number six, and i'm actually way, way past it in the series, but i just came back to this one because i'd...moreThis is the Anita Blake vampire hunter book number six, and i'm actually way, way past it in the series, but i just came back to this one because i'd missed it somehow. i started reading it, and saw it's all about Richard. Anita is dating him and just one vampire and she's not having sex with anyone. They're moving the neighbor's tv, going to parties, and generally trying to act like they're normal, everyday people. i know i complain about how the books have evolved but i've learned you can't go back. it seems just silly to see them like this and i guess i'll have to not finish, and just give this book up for lost. if you are reading it in the correct place in the series, enjoy it, because things are about to change big time. (less)
I have made it to the 15th Anita Blake novel. I think that there is something addicting in these books, because i'm never quite sure why i keep readin...moreI have made it to the 15th Anita Blake novel. I think that there is something addicting in these books, because i'm never quite sure why i keep reading them. The first 3/4 of the book moved VEEERRRYYY SLLLOOWWWWLLYYY just like they always do. it's like she's a writer for Lost. There is, however, less sex than normal in this book. The Anita Blake books have of late dissolved into a giant, booklong orgy, with too many descriptions of clothes, and lots of retelling introductions and backstory of what we already know stuck in for good measure. I think she got the message that she was going overboard. when there's more sex than 50 shades of grey, you need to rein it in. but the overly descriptive clothes and backstory intros of everyone every two seconds was still here. plus lots and lots of talking. i don't like anita much, because she is so hypocritical. and richard is his usual annoying self. they're so alike. still, i liked this book because things did happen (they don't always in these books) and the last quarter was pretty good. How does Hamilton keep track of all the powers and rules and things she makes up each time? All in all, not the best ever, but pretty good, and if you've been skipping ahead to try and find a book that isn't just a giant porn, then try this one. Not to mention, we get to see how Edward & his family are doing. (less)
This book is by the author of Lovely Bones. I loved that book, even though it was SO SAD. I was expecting to be sad but love it again... eh. This is a...moreThis book is by the author of Lovely Bones. I loved that book, even though it was SO SAD. I was expecting to be sad but love it again... eh. This is a book about a woman who kills her mom. She says that on the first page. She is crazy. But not good crazy. The whole thing is one depressing train wreck. I read the whole thing, but I didn't particularly like it. Nothing drew me in. I expected more after such a great last book, but I guess that used up her mojo.(less)
This is an Alex Cross novel. I'd read a couple of these books, but not in any order, and this one is out of order too. I couldn't remember if I liked...moreThis is an Alex Cross novel. I'd read a couple of these books, but not in any order, and this one is out of order too. I couldn't remember if I liked these books, but they're always on the best seller list. As I read, i remembered why. Alex Cross has recently left being a police man and is trying to start a private practice as a psychologist, but unexpectedly, he is drawn into a serial killer case. At the same time, another serial killer who he had helped catch and had been friends with, escapes, and now they're both after him. These serial killers were so well-described and interesting, the whole thing drew me in. Very good writing! I was a bit put off before reading these by the movies made from a couple of these books, but the books are way better. I'll def be reading more in this series, maybe starting from the beginning. (less)
I do not know much about the Dominican Republic, mostly only what I learned from reading Alvarez's Time of the Butterflies book. This book follows the...moreI do not know much about the Dominican Republic, mostly only what I learned from reading Alvarez's Time of the Butterflies book. This book follows the life of Oscar, as well as his whole family. It jumps around a lot, so if you have trouble following time, place and pov jumps, this book isn't for you. I'm so ADD that my mind works that way naturally and I love it. But although their family is from the DR, they're here in the US, and Oscar as a character really spoke to me. He's an uber nerd. He is so painfully nerdy that he has no friends. He can't relate to anyone. He's totally alone. I always feel like this could have been me. Not that i'm so super nerdy, but the whole being able to relate with people, I have trouble, and if this and that or whatever hadn't passed, this may have been my fate too. But it's not just about Oscar. It's so much about his mom, sister and grandmother too. I'm usually not a fan of a "smart" "literary" book, but sometimes, they're good enough that I am. The writing style is smart but not off-putting. Great book!(less)
This was on some chicklit list so I put it on my queue who knows when ago. When it came, it was christian chicklit which there seems to be a lot of, b...moreThis was on some chicklit list so I put it on my queue who knows when ago. When it came, it was christian chicklit which there seems to be a lot of, but that didn't really bother me. It's kind of interesting. If someone talking about god a lot, or going to church bothers you, this book isn't for you. But that's not really the main point of the book. This woman lives in SF with a roomie, and she's a mural painter, but kind of sloppy, and she gets picked to be made over for a magazine, but then she goes on overboard. What an unlikeable character! She's going on and on about how she's a good christian, but she is always putting off her church and reading her bible and stuff. Do it or don't do it, but don't preach it at everyone, your roommate, the guys you date, etc., and then don't do it yourself. What a hypocrite! And then she goes crazy on "fixing" things and being super vain, all while picking apart everyone. I just was not on her side at all. The book was ok for a fluff read. The only thing that made me mad about it was something i didn't even realize til almost the end. She kept saying how her best friend married this guy who used to live an alternative lifestyle, but her friend showed him god and brought him into the church and now they're in love, married and pregnant. Fine, I went through the whole thing thinking he used to be a punk rocker, into drugs and womanizing and such. I pictured him covered in tattoos, very "alternative." It wasn't till nearly the end when that friend's mom was still mad at her marrying him, i realized why the mom was upset...her daughter married a gay man! Her daughter took a gay man and "rehabilitated" him and he started pretending to be straight and they married. What kind of life is that? And you can't just stop being gay. "Alternative" was code for "gay." That homophobic undertone will make me not read any more of Tamara Leigh's books. I probably wouldn't have anyway, given how annoying this heroine is, but I can't condone something like that. Most people probably didn't even catch what she meant at all. I'm not saying every christian or christian book is homophobic, but that's sadly the case here.(less)
This is the first ever Dirk Pitt novel. I've read a couple here and there, but out of order and thought, I should begin at the beginning. It says at t...moreThis is the first ever Dirk Pitt novel. I've read a couple here and there, but out of order and thought, I should begin at the beginning. It says at the beginning of the book that the author didn't want to release this because he was just starting out and didn't find it his best work, but the publishers wanted him to, so he did, belatedly. I can see it's a little more direct than his more mature works, but i liked it. No filler, just go go adventure. This causes some sort of plot holes or jumps in belief, but overall, an entertaining fast read. One of my coworkers even stopped me in the lunch room to tell me how much she enjoys this series. I love books that are like action movies! Blow things up! Almost die! Hot women! Save the world! yay! lol. Quick read, once i actually got into it.(less)
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