REVIEW: Fearless Fourteen

Title: Fearless Fourteen
Author: Janet Evanovich
Finished: November 7, 2010
Pages: 310
Published: 2008
Format: First Edition

Stephanie Plum, still ON with Joe Morelli but unsure about her relationship with Ranger, finds herself coaxing a woman from committing suicide instead of going back to jail.

In the meantime, Ranger finds himself guarding a famous singer and calls Stephanie in to help, which makes Morelli very unhappy that she’s spending full days and nights with Ranger instead of him.

When Loretta is taken back into custody and no one bails her out, Morelli finds himself the caregiver of her son and for the first time Stephanie and Joe are looking more like a happy family, seeing what it would be like if they have kids of their own.

This was  the first book that I found myself not fully enjoying and wishing that Stephanie would start getting her act together, make a final decision on who she wants to be with, and make the next step in her job and her relationship. After fourteen books, you would think she would be able to successfully pick up a FTA without the help of Ranger or even Lula.

Still funny, but I’m waiting for more.

*challenges: fall into reading, series IV challenge, stephanie plum challenge, 1010 challenge, ryob challenge, november 12×12 challenge, countdown challenge

Other Reviews:
Reading with Tequila

REVIEW: Catcher in the Rye

Title: Catcher in the Rye
Author: J.D. Salinger
Finished: November 7, 2010
Pages: 216
Published: 1945
Format: hardback

I’ve been wanting to read this book for quite some time and was glad I had a chance to finally experience what so many people talk about.

One of my favorite things about the book was that it took place partially in New York City (which is my new obsession). I was great reading about the city so long ago and how so many things haven’t even changed.

It’s a great story of turmoil, coming of age, angst and fear – a young man growing up, trying to find his calling and place in the world.

For a good part of the book I was wondering where it was going and what the point was, but yet I still enjoyed. Holden’s journey through discovery and different cities, was something all adolescents can relate to – the search for purpose and finding their way through new experiences and letdowns.

This book is definitely every one should read and experience, young or old. I’m glad I read it and wouldn’t be surprised if it turns into a book  I re-read in the future.

*challenges: fall into reading, 1010 category challenge, new author challenge, tbr challenge, ryob challenge, november 12×12, 1% challenge, project fill in the gaps

Other Reviews: Devourer of Books, Jules’ Book Reviews

REVIEW: I, Alex Cross

Title: I, Alex Cross
Author: James Patterson
Finished: November 7, 2010
Pages: 374
Published: 2009
Format: first edition

One of the most recent Alex Cross books introduces us to more of the Cross family as tragedy hits.

A beloved member of the family is brutally murdered and Alex finds himself on the quest to find who has disrupted their happy life and his birthday celebration.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Cross novel without some complications. Everything is wrong the situation and it doesn’t make Alex’s search for a brutal killer (or two) when the dearest member of the family falls ill.

A secret and hidden club, catering to the rich and famous and their kinky fantasies, run by a power player who feels he can’t be touched, becomes the prime focus and Alex finds himself looking for a faceless killer that no one can identify – except one girl that managed to escape and has been hiding ever since.

This was a great story, one of his best yet. The twists were unbelievable and I can’t wait to see what’s next after the brilliant cliffhanger.

*challenges: fall into reading, series IV, 1010 category challenge, RYOB challenge, november 12×12 challenge, countdown challenge, james patterson challenge III

Other Reviews:

• Reads 4 Pleasure
• Reading With Tequila

REVIEW: Time of My Life

Title: Time of My Life
Author: Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi
Finished: November 6, 2010
Pages: 256
Published: 2009
Format: audiobook

I had been wanting to read this since it came out and when I found the audiobook on sale, I couldn’t resist.

The Time of My Life is the story of Patrick Swayze’s journey through dance and acting, meeting his beautiful wife, the struggles and pain of repetitive injuries, and then the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

The journey through the life of Swayze, hearing about how he accomplished so much, persevered, set new goals and dreams despite the constant fear that his next injury could be the end.

The story was so personal and heartfelt, listening to husband and wife tell the story of their life, their own words and voice, reading letters from the past, traveling, working through fights and problems and coming out on the other side stronger than ever before. There was so much courage in their life that one can only hope to be as strong as they were and are.

*challenges: 1010 category challenge, new authors challenge, a-z challenge, ryob challenge, november 12×12, countdown challenge

100+ Reading Challenge – COMPLETE

Hosted by: J. Kaye’s Book Blog
January 1 – December 31, 2010

I had fun participating in this challenge again this year. Unlike last year, I’m going to consider this challenge complete as 100 books even though I know I’m going over. It’s nice to have it off the list of challenges left to be finished and I can focus on all the others.

To see my original post with links to reviews, click HERE. Already starting to look forward to next year.

MY LIST

1. What My Cat Has Taught Me About Life by Niki Anderson
2. Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot
3. Dear Jane Austen by Patrice Hannon
4. Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell
5. Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
6. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
7. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
8. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
9. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
10. 1st to Die by James Patterson
11. Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain
12. The Killing Circle by Andrew Pyper
13. Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot
14. Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain
15. Seven Up by Janet Evanovich
16. Twitter Power by Joel Comm
17. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
18. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
19. Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
20. You Suck by Christopher Moore
21. Glory in Death by J.D. Robb
22. Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason
23. The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
24. E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton
25. Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich
26. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien
27. 2nd Chance by James Patterson
28. Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives by Laura Schlessinger
29. Angels Flight by Michael Connelly
30. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
31. The Day I Shot Cupid by Jennifer Love Hewitt
32. The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene
33. The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene
34. The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene
35. Twilight: Graphic Novel Volume 1 by Stephenie Meyer
36. Tarantula by Bob Dylan
37. The Secret of Red Gate Farm by Carolyn Keene
38. The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene
39. 3rd Degree by James Patterson
40. Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
41. 4th of July by James Patterson
42. In Odd We Trust by Dean Koontz
43. Linchpin by Seth Godin
44. Fish! by Stephen Lundin
45. 5th Horseman by James Patterson
46. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
47. Clue in the Diary by Carolyn Keene
48. Nancy’s Mysterious Letters by Carolyn Keene
49. Password to Larkspur Lane by Carolyn Keene
50. Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
51. To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
52. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
53. Rich Again by Anna Maxted
54. Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
55. Sign of the Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene
56. Clue of the Broken Locket by Carolyn Keene
57. Alex Cross’s Trial by James Patterson
58. Sail by James Patterson
59. F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton
60. Thank You For Smoking by Christopher Buckley
61. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
62. Everything Counts by Gary Ryan Blair
63. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
64. A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly
65. Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
66. 6th Target by James Patterson
67. Specials by Scott Westerfeld
68. The Anah’jari File by Douglas Armentrout
69. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
70. City of Bones by Michael Connelly
71. Lost Light by Michael Connelly
72. 7th Heaven by James Patterson
73. Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
74. 8th Confession by James Patterson
75. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler
76. 9th Judgment by James Patterson
77. Extras by Scott Westerfeld
78. Heart Mender by Andy Andrews
79. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
80. The Girlfriend’s Guide to Understanding Men by Bo Sebastian
81. Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
82. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
83. Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
84. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
85. Precious by Sapphire
86. Plum Lovin by Janet Evanovich
87. The Narrows by Michael Connelly
88. Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
89. The Message in the Hollow Oak by Carolyn Keene
90. The Mystery of the Ivory Charm by Carolyn Keene
91. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
92. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
93. The Whispering Statue by Carolyn Keene
94. Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote
95. Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
96. Late, Late at Night by Rick Springfield
97. Sorry, Right Number and Other Stories by Stephen King
98. Stationary Bike by Stephen King
99. The Haunted Bridge by Carolyn Keene
100. Exploiting Chaos by Jeremy Gutsche