Finger Lickin' Amazing

I decided to take a quick break from J. Kaye's challenge and read the newest book of my favorite series! I love the adventures of Stephanie Plum.

Lula has just witnessed the beheading of Stanley Chipotle. Stanley Chipotle became famous (well famous for Trenton) by having his face plastered all over hot sauce bottles. Now seeing someone murdered is a very nerve racking thing to happen. So what would any sane person do? Head over to the bonds office and go talk to their friends. Why call the police?

They finally call Morelli and he goes to the bond office to make sure everyone is ok. Stephanie and Morelli are right now on the 'outs'. Morelli has to bribe Lula with food in order to get her to go to the police office. Steph leaves to go to her apartment and take a shower. When she gets out of the shower she runs into Ranger.

Ranger is having some problems at his work site. There have been some break-ins on properties that have RANGEMAN security. Ranger thinks that Stephanie will help find the leak because she looks trusting and well she's a good looking woman. While she's working for him she has to look through tons of paper work and do non-stop background checks.

In the meantime Lula is still dealing with the fact that she saw someone murdered. As Lula continues on with her life, the two hit men start shooting at her. She quickly jumps into her Firebird and drives off. Lula later learns that who ever wins the BBQ cook off will win 1 million dollars and it doesn't hurt that the cook off will attract the hit men. Lula gets Grandma Mazur to help create a killer BBQ recipe. When Lula returns to her apartment the hit men return and make swiss cheese out of her door. After returning fire Lula decides that she'd be a lot safer at Stephanie's apartment.

Stephanie has to find the people that keep breaking into the the buildings that RANGEMAN is protecting - and fast. As usual Stephanie has to decide between hot, sexy, dangerous Ranger and hot, sexy, semi-dangerous Morelli. I still can't decide who she should end up (for right now) but I think in the long run it would be better for her if she stays with Morelli.

In this book it focused more on Ranger than Morelli. I could not stop laughing through out this whole book :) I love Grandma Mazur and when I get old I will be like her. I swear I will dye my hair red just like she did. For those of you who follow the series like I do - you won't be let down. Well you might be let down at how quickly you read the book. I read her books so quickly and then have to wait for the next one to come out. Too bad she can't make them longer.

I just found this really cool website from Bonnie at Redlady's Reading Room. Her review of the book is here. It's the BURG! Go to it and you can see Steph's neighborhood. You can even click on some of the houses - like Morelli's - and get an inside look!

Also reviewed by Laura at I'm Booking It.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich. New York (c) 2009

Books in this series:

1) One for the Money

2) Two for the Dough

3) Three to Get Deadly

4) Four to Score

5) High Five

6) Hot Six

7) Seven Up

8) Hard Eight

9) To the Nines

10) Ten Big Ones

11) Eleven On Top

12) Twelve Sharp

13) Lean Mean Thirteen

14) Fearless Fourteen

15) Finger Lickin' Fifteen

I have another blog . . .

If you guys are so inclined, please check out my other blog. It is in the early beginning stages so be patient and I will soon have more up. Thanks :)

My new blog is Calliope and Thalia's Modern Day Musings

YA Challenge #8- Chosen

Ok so this will be embarrassing to tell. Well not really. Ok so when I chose this book I thought it was the first in the series. It's not. It is actually the 3rd in the series and the funny thing (maybe sad for the author) is I didn't notice.

Zoey has been marked to become a vampyre. She attends the school House of Night where she learns about the vampyre culture. Zoey has been chosen by the goddess Nyx to become the High Priestesses. Neferet is currently the one holding that title and she's becoming evil. You see Neferet is responsible for the death of Stevie Rae (Zoey's best friend). But Stevie Rae isn't really dead - its more like she's the un-dead dead and has become a monster. Zoey believe she can still save her best friend. Zoey thinks this has made Stevie Rae different than the other creatures.

Zoey can't tell anyone about Stevie Rae because Neferet will read their minds and know. When they go to have another circular ritual someone has to replace Stevie Rae's earth spot. Zoey quickly prays to Nyx - who sends her nemesis Aphrodite. Zoey soon learns that Aphrodite isn't that bad and she's actually nice and is the only one that can help her. Zoey goes to get Stevie Rae and take her to Aphrodite's house where Stevie Rae can clean up.

As if Zoey's problems weren't enough she now has 1 more problem. Loren is a young, extremely hot drama professor at the school. Loren is pretending to like Zoey so that he can ruin her relationships. It works. Loren convinces Zoey to drink his blood and she drinks his. Then he convinces her to tell him everything that has been bothering her. She does - spilling the secret about Stevie Rae. Erik walks in on them, and Zoey runs to catch up. As she's walking she hears Neferet talking to Loren. Zoey learns that Loren really doesn't love her like he said, and that he's only doing as Neferet bids.

Zoey has to save her best friend, avoid Neferet, and keep her friends from abandoning her.

I apologize for the bad review, but I just couldn't think of a review for this book. It really didn't stand out. I don't know if I will read these series (this time starting with book 1). I had a hard time getting into the grove of the book. I am curious though to see how she will resolve the problems - that alone will probably make me finish the series.

The Girls over at B.A.M. Book Reviews have already reviewed the 1st book. Go over there to check it out :)

Books in this series:

1) Marked

2) Betrayed

3) Chosen (just reviewed)

4) Untamed

5) Hunted

6) Tempted (October 2009)

Chosen by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast. New York. 2008

DBR 1 Year Anniversary Challenge

Ok so I found this lovely challenge on Allison's blog. The challenge is in celebration of Dragonfly Book Review's 1 year blogoversary! Congrats :) The deadline is Nov 11, 2009. For more information including signing up click here, also the reading list for this challenge is here. Good luck to all!!

YA Challenge #7- 13 Reasons Why

I just finished this book not 2 seconds ago - and I feel like the main character not at the end but in the middle. I feel 'shell shocked'. This book is an amazing book, and also a sad one, but it ends with hope.

The book opens to a sad a exhausted male sending off a package to the next recipient of the “list”. Inside the box are 7 cassette tapes – with 13 different stories.

Hannah Baker killed herself – and sent out a box with 7 cassette tapes – each with a story about a person responsible for her death. Well that's not entirely true - as she says “I hope you’re ready, because I’m about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you’re listening to these tapes, you’re one of the reasons why” (p 7).

If they don’t keep sending the box to the other recipients than a public showing will be made – some how Hannah will know from beyond the grave. Along with the cassette she gives them each a map – with locations that she has already marked down.

This first story on that tape deals with a boy named Justin – and how he ruined Hannah’s reputation. Justin was Hannah's first innocent kiss. “A kiss? A rumor based on a kiss made you do this to yourself? No. . . a rumor, based on a kiss, is just the beginning" (p 30-31).

All I could think while reading this is if Hannah sent me these tapes and I had to wait for my names I’d go crazy

Rumors are ugly things that change a way we look at things – or do they? Do we allow them to? Why does it give them a reason or excuse to do that?

From the first side of the tape – it shows Hannah’s down ward spiral – it shows the actions of people who helped her fall – no one offered to help – to selfish or did they just not know?

I still say this is a wonderful book, just don't let the whole story make you turn away. As I said before, there is hope at the end :)

Lisa from Books Lists Life also reviewed the book here

Another blogger has reviewed the book here. The blog's name is The Reticulated Pi-Thon. I couldn't find their name. Sorry!!

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. New York. 2007

Passing on the cheer

Blogs that receive the Let's Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and befriends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to 8 bloggers.

The 8 blogs are :

Kinny at Kinnie's Korner

Lilyvine at Lilyvine's Pet Times

Jenners at Find Your Next Book Here!

Amanda at The Ramblings Of A Hopeful Artist

Holly at Writer's Block Reviews

Michele at A Reader's Respite

Jenni at Falling Off The Shelf

Padfoot and Prongs at Good Books Inc.

YA Challenge #6- The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones (Book 1)

For you adults that are familiar with The Da Vinci Code you'll understand the book. The two main characters Dan and Amy must race against members of the family to solve the the 39 clues - which will save the world.

It is a pretty action packed book for kids - with double crossing, bombs, traveling the world, and never looking back. From page one I was sucked into the book and couldn't put it down. Even when I was sleeping last night I was thinking about the book - I even had a dream I was trying to solve the clues!

Grace Cahill has kept a very important secret to herself; even her own family doesn't know. For 400 years Cahills all over the world have worked to keep the secret safe until it was ready to be discovered. On her death bed, she knows it is time for the hunt to begin. She also knows what conniving backstabbers her family relations are and can only hope that both Dan and Amy (her grandchildren) will solve the clue - they are her only hope.

Before she dies, she gets her lawyer to take about the top secret will. The will contains the very first clue and who among the family are allowed to get it. At Grace's funeral only 40 of the hundreds of people to show up, are selected to hear the reading of her will. They are invited by the golden tickets found in their pamphlet. (The golden ticket made me think of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - except her funeral is much more subdued than candy land.) When the 40 guests gather in the room, they are told that they can either take the 1 million dollars Grace has bestowed them, or they can go on the greatest race known to man - but there is NO truing back and they only have 5 minutes to decide. Amy and Dan are the last to decide and they decide to join the race - there is no turning back now.

They get their au pair, Nellie to help them by being an adult like figure. With Nellie's help they go to Pairs on their first clue. However their relatives are hot on their trails, trying to hurt Amy and Dan any chance they get. With the first clue solved everyone is rushing to be the first to get the second clue - Amy and Dan already have a lead.

I have to read the second book!!! The 39 Clues is also a real life competition that Scholastic has put together. The books come with 6 'clue' cards of their own, and you can even buy the cards too! I'm not interested in playing the game - I just want to read the books :)

Steve has also reviewed this book which can be found by clicking here. His blog is here Book Reviews and More

Books in this series:

*The books will be written by different kid authors*

1) The 39 Clues: Book 1 The Maze of Bones

2) The 39 Clues: Book 2 One False Note

3) The 39 Clues: Book 3 The Sword Thief

4) The 39 Clues: Book 4 Beyond the Grave

5) The 39 Clues: Book 5 The Black Circle (Aug 11, 2009)

6) The 39 Clues: Book 6 In Too Deep (Nov 3, 2009)

7) The 39 Clues: Book 7 Untitled ( Feb 2, 2010)

8) The 39 Clues: Book 8 Untitled (Apr 6, 2010)

9) The 39 Clues: Book 9 TBA (Jun 2010)

10) The 39 Clues: Book 10 TBA (Sept 2010)

The 39 Clues: Book 1 Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan. New York (c) 2008