Heat Wave by Richard Castle

Heat Wave by Richard Castle

Narrated by

Audiobook – mp3

Rating: 3 stars

Summary from Goodreads:

A New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPD detective shines a light.

My Review:

Nikki Heat is a NYC police detective. Jameson (Jaime) Rook is a magazine reporter. Jaime is riding along with Nikki as part of a story he is doing about the department. Together they investigate the murder of real estate Matthew Starr. Starr reveals secrets, lies, deceit, and greed in the victim and those around him. This fast paced novel never lags. It keeps you engaged right to the very end. And why wouldn’t it. It reads like a Christmas song: 5 suspects, 4 police chases, 3 detectives, 2, murders, a multi-million dollar art collection theft, 1 reporter, 1 steamy love scene, and a partridge in a pear tree! TBR #3

Challenges:

Soundtrack Challenge: Dirty Dancing

2012 Support Your Local Library

2012 50 State Reading Challenge

Fun and Games:

Bunnita Reading Travel Buggie

Virals by Kathy Reichs

narrator: Cristin Milioti

Hardcover: 464 pages

Publisher: Razorbill; First Edition edition (November 2, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1595143424

ISBN-13: 978-1595143426

 Rating: 3stars (3.6)

From Goodreads:
Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.

My Review:
Tory Brennan is the niece of Temperence Brennan of the Bones books and the TV show of the same name. Tory is a smart and headstrong 14 year old teenage girl. A different tone than many of the YA books out right now, Virals is not about a teenage romance (though she does have a crush). This book is about 4 smart kids who live on an secluded island near Charleston, SC. Together they try to solve the mystery of a dog tag. Finding the dog tag leads to a 40 plus year old cold case that someone will kill to keep the truth buried. Finding the dog tag also leads to find a sick puppy (Copper) who has been illegally experimented on. While resucing and caring for the ill puppy the group contracts a new hybrid parvovirus. Between trying to solve the cold case and their new DNA mutalition their lives will never be the same.

Can you tell I really liked this book. It is written in the first person, very conversational. I liked that this was not a teen romance. Romance is great but it's nice to take a break from it. My favorite character is Tory's friend, Hiram. His character actually had me laughing out loud several times. Read this if you love a good mystery. If you like YA minus the romance. If you love Scooby-doo. LOL I mean "jinkies... they would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling kids."

Plot: 4  Characters: 4  Writing: 3 Other: 3*  Overall Feel: 4**

*setting was average. narrator was average as far as differences in characters voices (definitely a good choice though).
** fast paced and interesting. I wanted to know what happened next. I will take a break but looking forward to getting to book 2.

Fun and Games 2012:
Bunnita Reading Travel Buggie

Reading Challenges 2012:
2012 Support Your Local Library
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge
2012 50 State Reading Challenge

The Rocky Road to Romance by Janet Evanovich

Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages

Publisher: Harper (August 31, 2004)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0060598891

ISBN-13: 978-0060598891

 Rating: 3 stars (2.8)

from Amazon:
Her tall, dark, and deliciously dangerous boss . . .

When the delightful, daffy Dog Lady of station WZZZ offered to take on the temporary job of traffic reporter, Steve Crow tried to think of reasons to turn Daisy Adams down. Perhaps he knew that sharing the close quarters of a car with her for hours would give the handsome program director no room to resist her quirky charms. He'd always favored low-slung sportscars and high-heeled women, but that was before he fell for a free spirit who caught crooks by accident, loved old people and pets, and had just too many jobs!

Loving Daisy turned Steve's life upside down, especially once he adopted Bob, a huge dog masquerading as a couch potato. But was Daisy finally ready to play for keeps?

My Review:
The Rocky Road to Romance is a precursor to the Plum series in way. Although Steve Crow, radio station boss and love interest is a character of his own, Daisy Adams definitely has some Stephanie Plum qualities. She is headstrong and hard-headed, walks unnecessarily into danger, stubborn, and has a hard time asking for help.

Daisy is also a workaholic. She volunteers as a crossing guard, deliver newspapers, a waitress, a cab driver, The Bowser Hour (she wrote a cookbook for dogs) spot on the radio, a doctorate student, an internship at a retirement home, and just landed a temporary job filling in as the radio station traffic reporter. And in typical Evanovich fashion, Daisy finds herself in the middle of some pretty incredible incidents.

Steve Crow is WZZZ radio station owner. He falls for Daisy, hard. She mentions a dog she tested recipes with so to have an excuse to get closer to her he tells he she can use his dog. Only one problem, he doesn't have a dog. Crow goes to a shelter to find a dog, Bob. Bob is to big for the sport car Crow drives so he buys a car. The condo building he lives in doesn't allow dogs so he buys a house. All for the love of Daisy. But the question is will she allow herself to admit the love he knows she has for him or better yet succumb to it?

I know you want the rundown right. Here goes: Daisy the workaholic, Steve the boss and love interest, Kevin the human food vacuum, Elise the elderly bodyguard, 2 drug dealers, a surprise parental visit, an incidental engagement, and a pregnancy.

A fast paced and entertaining story. The Rocky Road to Romance is kind of like Rocky Road ice cream there's alot going on but at the end of the bite it melts into a delicious delight. Bon Appetite

Plot: 3 Writing: 2  Characters: 3  Other: 3 Overall feel: 3

Reading Challenges 2012:
2012 Romance Reading Challenge
2012 Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge
The 50 States Reading Challenge 2012

Fun and Games 2012:
R.R.B.C. Summer 2012
Bunnita Reading Travel Buggie

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Book 1 in series

Paperback: 391pgs

Rating: 4 stars

From back of book:

When Nora and Patch are forced together as lab partners, Nora would rather fall to her death than put up with his elusive answers to her questions, his teasing, and his infuriatingly handsome face and hypnotizing eyes. It seems Patch was put on earth just to drive her crazy.

But before long, Nora's defenses start to break down as her curiosity about Patch heats up. Why does he always seem to be wherever she is and know exactly what she's thinking? How does he know what to say to both attract and repulse here? And what is up with thos V-shaped scars on his chiseled back?

As their connection grows stronger. Nora's own life becomes increasingly fragile. Nora needs to decide: Is Patch the one who wants to do her harm or the one who will keep her safe? Has she fallen for one-of-the-fallen?

My Review:

A love story that includes teenagers, angels, and nephilim. Nora has always been a good student. The type of daughter any parent would dream to have. She is reliable and does pretty much as she is told. That is until Patch. Patch a bad boy. Just how bad Nora has no idea but she does know that it would be a good idea to avoid him. There’s only one problem. Patch seems to be everywhere she is. And to make matters worse, someone is following her intent on doing her harm.

Hush, Hush is an interesting love story. The suspense kept the story moving forward though I never for a minute thought that Patch would hurt Nora. What I didn’t like about the story was the way Nora rationalize her fear of Patch. You should never be with someone you don’t feel safe with. Bad boys are bad to others not to you…those would be jerks and who wants to be with a jerk. Also I wasn’t so crazed about the character Vee. There were many times I just wanted to slap her. Ignoring a news article is one thing but trying to convince a friend to go out with a guy who slammed her up against her house well, that’s selfish. I am looking forward to reading book 2 Silence. TBR#2

Challenges:

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

2012 Paranormal Romance Reading Challenges

2012 50 State Reading Challenge

Fun and Games 2012

Bunnita Reading Travel Buggie

He Was My Man First by Flowers & Parker

He Was My Man First

By Nancey Flowers & Courtney Parker

pgs 338
rating 4stars

From Goodreads:

     Valentine Daye is a product of the streets. Raised in the projects, she lost her father and her mother young. By fifteen, she was living the life with drug lord Colombo. But when Colombo and his crew are murdered, Richard Washington, one of Colombo’s many street runners, swoops in and wastes no time making Valentine his queen.
     Nine years later, Valentine and Rich are a happy couple who have weathered some “minor” problems. Valentine is well aware that Rich steps out on her. But doesn’t every man? He always finds his way home. Or at least he did before Vanessa Knight.
     Vanessa Knight is a woman who has everything . . . except Richard Washington. An heiress to a multimillion-dollar company, Vanessa is willing to forgive Rich’s flawed background. However, she wants him for herself, and tells him that he must decide what’s important to him—a flourishing career at clothier Jorge Jacobs, where she can make him a VP, or a life with his street past, Valentine?.
      When Daye meets Knight, each woman plots and schemes to steal Rich’s heart. Rich must make a decision. Does he gamble and start a new life with the beautiful and cunning Vanessa, or does he stay with his around-the-way girl Valentine, who has been with him through thick and thin?

My Review:

     He Was My Man First is a fast paced book about love, lost, and lies. I had a problem with all the characters in this book. Let’s start with Vanessa. She comes from somewhat old money though in my opinion having your great grandfather make a fortune doesn’t count as old money to me. To those who have “real” old money 3 generations of wealth is still new damn money so what her and her family really is just a bunch of siddities who have forgotten where they come from. Anyway…she lost her love to a car accident which she blames herself for. Since then she has become all about using people to get what she wants. At first, Richard was just a means to get herself a higher position in the company but then she starts to catching feelings. All the while, she enjoys what they affair is doing to Valentine. I have no sympathy for Vanessa. The back story of how her fiancée died was suppose to stir up some empathy for her character but it didn’t not work for me. No she wasn’t exactly responsible for his death but her actions were insensitive and added to the circumstance of his death.

            On to Richard, like some many men out there he enjoys having his cake and eating it too. Unfaithful and selfish are the two words to describe his character. He’s the type that likes to have his main chick and have a girl on the side. He says and does whatever he has to to get over on them including using the word love. What is sad about men like him is that they usually do have love for the woman they are dogging out but they love themselves and their wants more.

            Now to Valentine, having a abusive relationship with her first man does tend to make any relationship after that seem great but her rationale for Richard was pathetic. She never blamed him for any of the cheating that he did. It was always the chick fault because hey…men cheat. Even if that is true, one doesn’t just go along with the program. Men cheat because the main woman tolerates and the side chick(s) don’t care. If women refuse to deal with infidelities there would be a lot less of it. Valentine annoyed me to no end. I do like how she finally got a clue though she had to be put in a situation in order to get it. I also like the ending. I can’t speak on it without giving it away but there is never one way to do things and I don’t disagree with the path she chose. TBR list 2

Challenges:
2012 50 State Reading Challenge
2012 Romance Reading Challenge

Fun and Games 2012:
Bunnita Reading Travel Buggie

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver The Wolves of Mercy Falls

by Maggie Stiefvater

9 CDs, Unabridged
Narrators: Jenna Lamia & David Ledoux

Scholastic Paperbacks

Rating 2.5 stars

book 2: Linger   book3: Forever

From cover:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

My review:

Poetic and lyrical this book left me feeling that the author tried too hard. As an adult I am starting to forget some of what it was like back when I was a teenager. The one thing I do remember is that none of us spoke like the teens in this book. We, of course, thought we knew everything. I can’t speak for others. But my life has not been easy. I have been through things as a child and teenager that most adults are lucky to read about or watch on the news so Grace isn’t that foreign to me though my mom was nothing like Grace’s. I just know what it’s like to have to take care of yourself at an early age.

I can not tell you why I didn’t too much care for this book. It just did not pull me in. I didn’t get lost in the story. Getting lost in a story is how I know that it is good. The dialoug could be horrid. The plot could be thin. The character could be unlikable. But if it can pull me in to the point where I feel like I’m watching a movie not reading the book then more often than not I’m going to like the point. Shiver did not have that effect on me. On to the story…

Grace was bitten by wolves as a child and ever since has been fascinated with them. The golden eyed wolf holds a special place for her. Her wolf. What she doesn’t know is that the wolves that bite her and the golden eyed wolf are werewolves. Sam is the golden eyed wolf. He works in a book some during the summer months when he can remain human. In Shiver, the relationship between Grace and Sam is formed. She learns about what the wolves really are. In the end the impending cold threatens to take Sam away until next summer…unless they can think of a cure.

I thought the cure in the book was clever. I also like this take on werewolves. They are not the horror movie werewolves. Instead they are humans who become wolves. Losing their human thought capabilities and becoming mostly wolf for the exception of their human eyes. The end of the book couple when the fact that I generally like to finish a series I’ve started convinced me to move on to Linger the second book. If you like YA books, werewolves, and a teenage love story than you will probably enjoy this book. TBR list 4

#Series Sunday
Challenges:
2012 Paranormal Romance Reading Challenge
2012 50 State Reading Challenge
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

hardcover pgs.166

rating 4stars

Plum Lucky is a between-the-numbers book.  These books could be considered part of the Plum series or a series on their own. It would be book 14 in the Plum series (if listed in order) and book 3 in the between-the-number series.

Stephanie is driving with Lula when they spot Grandma Mazur with a duffel bag fighting a little person who resembles a leprechaun. In the morning, hottie Diesel shows up at Stephanie’s looking for a place to crash while he looking for a skip. While Stephanie is contemplate what she is going to do with Diesel her mother calls to enlist her to find Grandma Mazur.

On a hunch, Stephanie figures grandma went to Atlantic City to spend a little of her Social Security check. She stops at the bonds office to inform them of where she is about to go so of course Lula and Connie come along.

Sure enough, Grandma Mazur is at Daffy Casino in Atlantic City. Only she is not spending money for her Social Security check but money from the duffel bag. That’s right. The duffel bag was filled with money and, since this is a Stephanie Plum book, trouble.’

With a cast of characters that include Stephanie, Lula, Connie, Grandma Mazur, Diesel, mobster Lou Delvina, Snuggy (the lucky unlucky leprechaun), and Doug the horse Plum Lucky doesn’t crap out.

*rating factors - fun, fast paced, and short pages. One to two day read

Challenges:
2012 50 State Reading Challenge (New Jersey)
Soundtrack Challenge: Dirty Dancing
2012 TBR Challenge
Stephanie Plum Series