Review: Smokin' Seventeen - Janet Evanovich

• Hardcover:
 320 pages

• Publisher:
 Bantam; 1st edition (June 21, 2011)

• Language:
 English

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum.  Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list.
Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie.
With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke.

My Thoughts...

I could read these books forever! I know that after a while some things might get repeated, and that some people want to see Stephanie choose between Morelli and Ranger but I couldn't live without both of them! Once of the things I love is the highly entertaining cast of secondary characters. We got to see quite a few classics.  Grandma Mazur, Steph's parents, Lula, the bail bonds team, and the men. We did get an addition to the crew. Apparently fans aren't the only ones who want Steph to settle down. So does her mom, she thrusts Dave at Stephanie. It was a lot of fun watching Steph fight off advances from Dave, and trying to keep her mom at bay. I won't lie, another thing I love is that they are set in New Jersey. Its nice to read a book set in the state I live in. Ranger and Morelli were both hot in this book, and while I am totally team Babe, I do love Morelli too. This book had everything I have come to expect from this series, a good story, great characters, car deaths, and lots of humor! I give this one 5 stars and recommend this series to everyone!

In My Mailbox (18)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

all links go to goodreads =o)

Legend - Marie Lu

Kiss of Frost - Jennifer Estep

Silver Tongued Devil - Jaye Wells

The Girl Who Could Silence The Wind - Meg Medina

Touch of Power - Maria V Snyder 

My Reading Plans

I have come to realise that I have started more new series this year that I have any year past I think. I have so many series that are just haning. I read the first book and got wrapped up in something else when the second, sometimes even third book was released.  I am going to try to catch up on some of these series to clear up some of my massive To Be Read Mountain! I am going to go threw all of my to be read books and come up with a list of books that I need to read to bring my current in the majority of my series. Once I have the list done I will update this post with my list and as I read some of these and can cross them off the list I will come back and update. I'm hoping that doing this publicly will help keep me motivated. What I really need to do is put on my blinders, I get caught up in all the new release hype and all the pretty covers! Cross your fingers for me! 

Review: My Soul to Steal - Rachel Vincent

• Paperback:
 352 pages

• Publisher:
 Harlequin; Original edition (December 21, 2010)

• Language:
 English

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back. 
See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives. 
And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants

My Thoughts...

Rachel never disappoints me! Her Were-Cat series still holds a special place in my heart and on my shelf, as wall as this series. I loved Kaylee in this book. In the past books I have liked her, but she always seemed to be leaning on Nash. Now we see her standing on her own .  I might be in the minority here but I loved Sabine! She was a great character and perfect for getting Kaylee to stand on her own two feet and try to fight for what she wants. I also might be team Sabine + Nash. I wasn't really ever a huge Nash fan. I've read reviews where people say that they would hate to see Kaylee with Todd but I personally thing if it happened I might squeal. I have always been team Todd. I guess we will have to see where the next book takes us. This story though had me completely sucked in and grasping at straws trying to figure out where we were going! I can't wait for the next book to see what craziness happens to this bunch next. I give this one 4.5 stars!

Review: Zombies Don't Cry - Rusty Fisher

• Reading level:
 Ages 12 and up

• Paperback:
 300 pages

• Publisher:
 Medallion Press (May 1, 2011)

In the sleepy small town of Barracuda Bay, Maddy Swift leads the life of a fairly typical teenager, but while attending a party one night, Maddy is struck by lightning and awakens to realize she has been reanimated and turned into a zombie. While becoming acquainted with her new "lifestyle," Maddy stumbles upon two unexpected undead chaperones, fellow students Dane and Chloe, who begin to teach her the ways of zombie life, including defending the populace from Zerkers—the bad zombies. Together, on prom night, the three teens must ultimately defend Barracuda Bay High from an all-out zombie Armageddon.

My Thoughts...

I was on the fence with this book tour. As I have stated before I am a wuss and zombies give me the creeps.  So you might ask why would you request a book that is clearly about zombies? Well to that I say I read the description on Goodreads and saw a few reviews that convinced me that this was more than you're typical zombie book, and it sure was! Maddy is a normal teenager struggling with normal things like a best friend who has the amazing ability to make everything all about her, a father who loves her, cares about her, but seems to work too many hours, bullys, and boys. Maddy's life takes a major turn when she literally bumps into the new school hottie, not once but twice in the same day. He seems interested in her which doesn't happen often with a spotlight loving best friend. Our hottie invites Maddy to a party and while she things that maybe things will change for her, she doesn't realise just how true this is. Maddy never makes it to the party she does how ever get struck by lightning and reanimated. This starts Maddy's journey of learning how to be a zombie, and how to pass for a still living girl. She makes some new friends and continues dealing with old enemies. this was a great story there was self discovery, tension, a romance that feels just out of reach. The characters were all pretty awesome in there own way. The ending was pretty shocking, I didn't quite expect things to go down quite the way they did. All in all this story kept me turning the pages and wanting more. I highly suggest this to everyone even wusses and zombie scardy cats.  I hope you give this one a chance it is well worth it. I give this one 4 stars. 

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is...

Kiss of Frost - Jennifer Estep

Logan Quinn was try­ing to kill me. My Spar­tan class­mate relent­lessly pur­sued me, swing­ing his sword at me over and over again, the shin­ing sil­ver blade inch­ing closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes prac­ti­cally glowed with the thrill of battle... 

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

Ok...Ok...so this one is scheduled to come out 11/29/11, but I am posting it anyway because I don't have it yet! I NEED this book so bad. I really want to know what happens next!

Review: Ultraviolet - R.J. Anderson

• Paperback:
 416 pages

• Publisher:
 Orchard Books

• Language:
 English

Once upon a time there was a girl who was special.
This is not her story.
Unless you count the part where I killed her. 
Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison's condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can't explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori -- the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that's impossible. Right?

My Thoughts...

This book was not at all what I expected, but it was a pleasant surprise. One of my favorite movies was Girl Interrupted, and this kinda had a similar feel to it. I actually enjoyed reading about Alison's time in the mental institution. I liked Alison, she was pretty interesting, She might not be an ass kicking chick like say Rose Hathaway, but she handled her situation rather well all things considered. I also love that she can "see" words. It was a cool look at something I didn't know much about. This book took quite a few turns that I wasn't expecting, but in the end it all seemed to come together and work well. This one really caught me off guard, and I liked that. I hope if you guys haven't all ready read it that you will give this book a chance. I'm giving this one 3.5 stars.