REVIEW: The Girlfriend’s Guide to Understanding Men

Title: The Girlfriend’s (Gay Friends) Guide to Understanding Men
Author: Bo Sebastian
Finished: August 24, 2010
Pages: 148
Published: 2010
Format: first edition, e-book

I’ve had this earlier review e-book for quite some time and finally pushed my way through it. It was fun read here and there, lots of good tidbits, but I have a feeling it’s not exactly the same book that was being released to the rest of the world.

This book is almost a Sex and the City guide book for women and how to avoid dating the wrong men, bad situations, and even friendship advice. It’s very similar to other books I’ve read about dating, but written by a gay guy there was a definitely different spin to the whole thing which was quite fun.

Overall, quick and fun read.

*challenges: 1010 category challenge, new author challenge, ryob challenge, 100+ challenge, august 12×12 challenge

REVIEW: The Surgeon

Title: The Surgeon
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Finished: August 24, 2010
Pages: 359
Published: 2001
Format: first edition

After starting to watch the new TV show on TNT, Rizzoli & Isles, I heard it was based of a great series and I knew I had to check it out.

Jane Rizzoli is a rookie cop, the only girl in her division, and at this point the butt of every joke and all the female commentary in the office. All she wants is to be one of the boys, track down killers and save lives, but it’s nearly impossible.

When a series of brutal killings against sexual assault victims come to Boston, it’s not long before they find a connection between Boston and Savannah, Georgia were a series of similar murders took place.

One survivor is all that remains to help them try to piece together this puzzle of the mysterious surgeon who is slowly becoming the most feared man in Boston and amongst women. Rizzoli finds herself facing a moral dilemma – she wants the surgeon so bad that she puts her career at risk and becomes a bigger target for everyone in the department, and a possible liability.

To prove she is a good cop, perfect for the job, and just as capable as any man, Rizzoli begins her own fight by secretly searching for the surgeon herself, and stumbles upon the most unexpected.

*challenges: 1010 category challenge, new author challenge, twentyten challenge, support your local library challenge, 100+ challenge, 1st in series, august 12×12 challenge

2nds Challenge – COMPLETE

Hosted by Royal Reviews
January 1 – December 31, 2010

I loved this challenge again for the second year and look forward to joining again in 2011. It went surprisingly fast, finding many new books and authors, plus continuing on with series. I found so many other new ones this year, I can’t wait to add them to next years list of books.

My List:

1. Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot (second book by author)
2. Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell (second book by author)
3. Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain (second book by author and in series)
4. Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot (second book in series)
5. You Suck by Christopher Moore (second book by author)
6. Glory in Death by J.D. Robb (second book by author and in series)
7. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (second book by author)
8. 2nd Chance by James Patterson (second book in series)
9. The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene (second book by author and in series)
10. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (second book by author)
11. The Anah’jari File by Douglas Armentrout (second book by author)
12. Heart Mender by Andy Andrews (second book by author)

REVIEW: Heart Mender

Title: Heart Mender
Author: Andy Andrews
Finished: August 15, 2010
Pages: 247
Published: 2010
Format: first edition

The was my second Andy Andrews book and he never disappoints. Unlike the Noticer, this book reads a lot like a fiction novel, and even as you turn the last page you keep wondering whether the story can truly be real.

Taking place during World War II, we meet Josef, a German soldier on a sub, and Helen, a waitress in a small town suffering over the loss of her husband in the war.

It took me some time to get into the story after Andy’s introduction. While digging up a tree, Andy finds an old can full of old German artifacts and becomes determined to find the story behind them and who they belonged to.

Soon after this revelation begins this amazing story of broken hearts, war, anguish and hope. Helen is a young woman who is torn apart with anger over the loss of her husband so early in their marriage. Even her closest friends  can’t seem to bring her out of despair and help her move on.

While walking on the beach, she comes across Josef, a scary surprise given the violent war that is going on in the gulf, and while fearing for her life, she can’t just leave him to die so she takes him into her home to nurse him back to health.

This story was so amazing and powerful, the fairytale that we only see in movies but not in real life. The only parts that were slow involved the war scenes, which I always have problems with (historical books are not my favorite), but overall the most amazing book ever. Could bring tears to your eyes.

*challenges: 1010 category challenge, ryob challenge, 100+ challenge, 2nds challenge, august 12×12 challenge

REVIEW: Extras

Title: Extras
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Finished: August 11, 2010
Pages: 417
Published: 2007
Format: first edition

The final book of the Uglies series, at least that has been published, did not lack in creativity and suspense. I wasn’t sure what to expect after finishing Specials but it wasn’t what was given to me in Extras.

I loved the introduction of new characters and how Westerfeld keeps it a mystery as to where he is truly going with the story, how he will wrap up the series and tie everything together.

Taking place three years after Specials, we are introduced to Aya, a “kicker” (also known as reporter or blogger), in search of her next big story. Rumors are floating around of a group of kids who are experimenting with dangerous surfing but want nothing to do with popularity.

What she comes across is far bigger than she ever imagined. The future of the world rests on whether or not she can create a convincing story without dying in the process. Once released, Aya has no idea what to expect, but she probably didn’t ever imagine what she received.

I enjoyed this follow up story very much, the culmination of all the books together and finding out the true future and facts that no one could have ever imagined. I’m still curious if this is how he will end or if there will be yet another adventure, but I liked it all the same.

*challenges: countdown challenge, monthly mixer mele, series iv challenge, 1010 category challenge, ya challenge, support your local library challenge, 100+ challenge, august 12×12

Other Reviews: So Many Books, So Little Time