Smokin' Seventeen

Stephanie Plum is at it again...  crazy grandma, suffocatingly involved parents, two men and a crappy job.  In the latest installment, Plum is having some extraordinarily bad luck (even for her).  Between Morelli's grandma giving her the eye and all the people that are out to kill her, Stephanie stays pretty busy!

Although I will be the first to say I'll be sad when Evanovich ends this series, I also have to admit the stories are getting very repetitive.  Inside of the first few chapters, I knew who the killer was, which made for a bit of a boring read.  However, there were still plenty of laugh-out-loud funny moments to make up for it!

Let's break it down...

(To see the usual recurring characters, click here.)

Mooner
A stoner from way back, Mooner doesn't have many brain cells left.  ;)  He is always very random, but ends up saying just the right thing at just the right time!

Nick Alpha
Jimmy's brother is out of jail and looking for revenge.  

Dave Brewer
An old friend from high school, Dave and Stephanie reconnect when their meddling parents try to set them up.

Regina Bugle
After failing to appear in court, Stephanie and Lula must track Regina down.  Turns out she's more than a little crazy...

RATINGS

Writing Style    9/10
Characters        6/10
Storyline          6/10

OVERALL       7/10

Although it's far from being my favorite, fans of the Plum Series are likely to enjoy Smokin' Seventeen!

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Life's a Beach

I was super excited to see this on the Kindle Top 100 Free list last week.  I'm a huge Claire Cook fan. The Wildwater Walking Club...  Loved it.  Summer Blowout...  Loved it.  With that being said, I have to be honest; this book just wasn't quite up to par.  I enjoyed it, but I also didn't mind putting it down if the phone rang or I was a little tired.  (If I'm reading a great book, the ringer gets turned off and I'll stay up all night to finish it if I have to. ;)  While the ending isn't necessarily disappointing, it also isn't very exciting... only very predictable.  Life's a Beach is a typical coming-of-age novel with average characters and relationships.


Let's break it down...

Ginger
At the age of forty-one, Ginger is living above her parents garage with her cat, Boyfriend.  She spends her time babysitting her sisters children, making sea glass jewelry, and trying to decide what to do for the rest of her life.  

Geri
Ginger's older sister, Geri, is obsessed with turning fifty and addicted to work.  She constantly criticizes Ginger's life choices... especially when it comes to her less-than-serious boyfriend, Noah.   

Riley
This second grader is one of the things that made Life's a Beach worth reading!  Riley is quite the comedian.  After being cast in a locally filmed movie, Ginger must accompany him to the beach for filming.


Tim
A gaffer working on the movie set, Tim is persistent in trying to win Ginger's affections.

Noah
Noah is a part time boyfriend and full time glass blower that Ginger can't seem to change.

RATINGS

Writing Style  5/10
Characters      4/10
Storyline        4/10

OVERALL     4/10

Although I normally highly recommend Claire Cook, Life's a Beach is not a book I'll be pushing my friends to read.

Want to give it a try?
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What Happened to Goodbye

Sarah Dessen comes through yet again with this delightfully written novel!  Intended for young adults (but great for any age!), What Happened to Goodbye deals with a teenager’s complex feelings surrounding her parents’ getting divorced, moving from town to town for her dad’s job, making friends in a new place, and having an unexpected crush.  There is definitely plenty to keep you occupied!  

Let’s break it down…

Mclean

 After changing her name and personality in each new town, Mclean surprises even herself by using her true identity in Lakeview.  Can the real Mclean maintain a relationship with her father, forgive her mother, and possibly fall in love?

Dave

Geeky, funny, awkwardly cute, and recently grounded, Dave is your average teenager.  Likable as he is, it’s easy to root for him during this story.

RATINGS

Writing Style      7/10                      

Characters          7/10

Storyline              8/10

OVERALL              7.5/10

Although all of her novels can stand alone, I recommend reading Dessen's books in order.  You'll recognize the return of a character here and there; but, most importantly, her writing gets noticeably better in each book.  

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The Girl Who Chased the Moon

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is set in present day Mullaby, North Carolina, a small town where tradition, social standing, and the art of barbeque are greatly valued.  If you’re on a diet, this may not be the book for you!  Your mouth will water at the tantalizing culinary imagery throughout these chapters!  This stand-alone novel by Sarah Addison Allen, is beautifully written and gently sprinkled with enough magic to keep you on your toes.  Allen sticks to her classic fairytale-like quality of writing while exploring relationships between a parent and child, amongst friends, strangers, and that of a husband and wife.  While her characters may not leave a lasting impression, they will keep you entertained during this fanciful read.

Let’s break it down…

Emily Benedict

At the age of 17 and shortly after her mother’s tragic death, she moves in with a grandfather she never knew she had.  Her mother’s childhood is a mystery she’s determined to solve; but when she discovers her mother wasn’t always the person she knew her to be, she must find a way to handle being forced to live down the past her mother ran away from.  

Vance Shelby

It’s easy to fall in love with this gentle giant as he learns how to be a grandfather to Emily and remembers what it was like to be a father and husband.  A creature of habit, will Vance be able to break his routine and be there for Emily?

Julia Winterson

BBQ restaurant owner, friend to Emily, baker of cakes, and keeper of many secrets… Julia is a character you’ll enjoy getting to know.  After leaving Mullaby as a teenager, you get to ‘watch’ as she falls back in love with the small town (and one of its residents!) without even realizing it.

Win Coffey

The Coffey family are small town royalty.  Win, the son of the mayor, is sick of doing exactly what he’s told.  Can he see Emily, against his father’s wishes, without bringing the past back around?  A mysterious and handsome rebel, Win is the perfect addition to this cast of characters.

RATINGS

Writing Style:    8/10

Characters:       8/10

Storyline:         7/10

OVERALL:      7.5/10

Definitely worth your time if you’re looking for a light, entertaining romance with a mysterious twist!

*Kindle Users:  Get it here!*