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Sunday, June 22, 2014

Book Review: Toxic - Sara Shepard

I forgot to post this one, I finished this book last week....

Agghhhh!!!! So close!!!! I'm such a sucker for this series! I wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait for the next book to come out. And then I devour it in no time. *sigh*

I can't say too much because I don't want to give anything away, but holy crap! Ali is CRA-ZAY!!! That's all I'm saying. Other than I need book #16, like, yesterday!

It's funny though because I watch the show too, and since it's been so long between the last book and this one, and the show is currently playing season five, I got kind of mixed up when I was reading it - thinking that things that happened in the show happened in the book. I had to set myself straight. :)

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From the GoodReads website: "High school seniors Aria, Emily, Spencer, and Hanna barely survived their most recent encounter with A. And it's not over yet…. The police don't believe there's another, deadlier, A out there, but the girls know what-and who-they saw. If they don't track down this final tormentor soon, A will silence them forever.

Sara Shepard's fan base continues to grow as ABC Family's hit Pretty Little Liars TV show draws in new readers to the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Full of unexpected twists and shocking revelations, the second-to-last novel ramps up the stakes for the jaw-dropping series conclusion in Pretty Little Liars #16."

Book Review: Top Secret Twenty-One - Janet Evanovich

Janet Evanovich, never stop writing these books!!! I will be so sad after I finish the last book in this series, whenever that may be. Hopefully not for a lot of years. Grandma Mazur and Lula are my favorite characters and I love how past characters make their way into new stories, like Randy Briggs. He cracks me up too. 

This book had plenty of laugh out loud moments, and one that had me laughing and gagging at the same time. These kinds of things can only happen to Stephanie. 

If you haven't read any of the books in this series, each book can stand on its own, but I would recommend reading them in order. It's my opinion that reading them in order would make them funnier than if they were read in a haphazard order. 

I really wish they would make a TV series out of it. It would probably be expensive, what with all the car and building explosions, but it would be worth it!!!

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From the GoodReads website: "Stephanie Plum is back in an all-new adventure from #1 bestselling author Janet Evanovich. This time Stephanie’s in deep. To get to the bottom of the mess, she’s going to have to keep things Top Secret."

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Book Review: The City - Dean Koontz

I received this as an ARC from Net Galley, and felt so lucky at getting it seeing how Dean Koontz has been my favorite author for 22 years. 

After his last book didn't measure up to my DK standards, I really wasn't all that excited to read it - this was before I found out I could read it early and review it. Once I was given the chance, my interest perked up a bit and I started it almost immediately. 

The story is.....unlike anything of Dean's that I've read, but at the same time, still Dean's style all the same. It's difficult to describe. Instead of being a gripping, page-turner like a lot of his books have been for me, this one just kinda grabbed me, it intrigued me. And I think that had something more to do with the characters rather than the story itself. Sure, he threw in a little bit of paranormal/magic which seemed prevalent in so many of his previous books (some of my favorites, actually), but the characters, oh the characters. They draw you in, they make you love them, feel like you've known them all your life. I want to say that I think Mr. Yoshioka is definitely one of my favorite characters. I love everything about him, especially his wisdom. And Jonah's mom, Sylvia, I just want to high-five her and say, "Hell yeah, girl! You rock!" She was awesome with everything that she endured and accomplished, and how she handled it. 

I'm surprised that I got into this book as much as I did because I'm not normally a fan of books that are set in anything other than contemporary settings. But it worked, and I learned some things as I usually do when I read a DK book. He certainly does his research so he knows what he's writing about. Every time I read one, I feel as though I've gotten and education on one subject or another. This one was history and art. 

I do recommend this book if you're looking for something interesting or intriguing, or if you like history (Vietnam War time frame). I don't recommend it if it's your first Koontz, especially if you've had friends talk about his other books because, if you aren't aware of the way he can cross genres (most of the time, successfully), this could be a let down for you. Read a dozen of his other ones first, then come back to this. :)

From the GoodReads website: "The city changed my life and showed me that the world is deeply mysterious. I need to tell you about her and some terrible things and wonderful things and amazing things that happened . . . and how I am still haunted by them. Including one night when I died and woke and lived again.

Here is the riveting, soul-stirring story of Jonah Kirk, son of an exceptional singer, grandson of a formidable “piano man,” a musical prodigy beginning to explore his own gifts when he crosses a group of extremely dangerous people, with shattering consequences. Set in a more innocent time not so long ago, The City encompasses a lifetime but unfolds over three extraordinary, heart-racing years of tribulation and triumph, in which Jonah first grasps the electrifying power of music and art, of enduring friendship, of everyday heroes.

The unforgettable saga of a young man coming of age within a remarkable family, and a shimmering portrait of the world that shaped him, The City is a novel that speaks to everyone, a dazzling realization of the evergreen dreams we all share. Brilliantly illumined by magic dark and light, it’s a place where enchantment and malice entwine, courage and honor are found in the most unexpected quarters, and the way forward lies buried deep inside the heart."