Extraordinary Rendition by Paul Batista

Release Date: May 1, 2013

Publisher: Astor + Blue Editions LLC

Pages: Paperback (380pgs)

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Description: When Ali Hussein, suspected terrorist and alleged banker for Al Qaeda, is finally transported from Guantanamo Bay to the US mainland to stand trial, many are stunned when Byron Carlos Johnson, a pre-eminent lawyer and son of a high-profile diplomat, volunteers to represent him. On principle, Johnson thought he was merely defending a man unjustly captured through rendition and water-boarded illegally. But Johnson soon learns that there is much more at stake than one man’s civil rights. Hussein’s intimate knowledge of key financial transactions could lead to the capture of—or the unabated funding of—the world’s most dangerous terror cells. This makes Hussein the target of corrupt US intelligence forces on one side, and ruthless international terrorists on the other, and puts Byron Carlos Johnson squarely in the cross hairs of both. Written by no-holds-barred attorney Paul Batista, Extraordinary Rendition excels not only as an action thriller, but as a sophisticated legal procedural as well. Smart. Fast. Heart-pounding. A legal thriller of the highest order.

Review: I enjoyed reading this book. It was a page turner and I just couldn't put it down. This story was a little close to home with the events that happened during 9-11 and the trials that took place against the people being charged. 

Ali Hussein is arrested because the US Government believes he is a terrorist. Byron is the lawyer hired to defend him. Byron comes across a lot of hurtles with the government, CIA, and FBI. As I'm reading the story it seemed very real. Paul wrote the story very well, and researched the information to make the story very real. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys realistic thrillers. It was well written and had the facts to back it up. 

Teaser Tuesdays-20

Hey guys its another wonderful Tuesday...if you don't know what Teaser Tuesday is about here is a refresher:

Teaser Tuesdays are a meme hosted by Mizb of Should be Reading. Here are the rules if you wish to participate.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

The lawyers at the Civil Liberties Union who had first contacted Byron told him that, in their limited experience with accused terrorists, it sometimes wasn’t clear what their real names were. There were often no fingerprints or DNA samples that could confirm their identities. The name Ali Hussein was as common as a coin. It was as though genetic markers and their histories began only at the moment of their arrest.

Extraordinary Rendition by Paul Batista Kindle Edition

Intangible by J. Meyers

Release Date: January 31, 2012
Publisher: Self published
Pages: Kindle
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal/Urban
Series: Book 1
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description: Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

Review: I was given a copy of this book by the author herself. I'm glad that I was given the opportunity to read this book. I absolutely enjoyed it from beginning to end. While reading, there was not a dull moment throughout the book. Intangible is a short, quick read but J. Meyers was able to draw my attention and keep it there while I was reading. It is books like this that remind me why I enjoy reading. 

J. Meyers did a good job on developing her characters. Since it is going to be a series, a writer can not give everything away about their characters. In some ways, she makes Sera and Luke relateable with common events that go on in their lives that have nothing to do with their special abilities. At some point, we have dealt with death of a loved one, or having insecurities in yourself that will cause you to push people away. I know I have experienced these things through the years. 

She also does a great job putting a new twist as what we know the paranormal world to be like. There is a good mix of the paranormal elements, and these twins that are human just like everyone else but have special abilities they have to keep secret from everyone. The ending of the story leads you to believe the story of Sera and Luke is over, however the very last couple of pages leave you on such a cliffhanger. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Pack of Lies Volume One: Debunking the 40 Most Destructive Conservative Myths in America by John-Paul Bernbach

Release Date: August 27, 2012
Publisher: Astor + Blue Editions
Pages: Kindle 
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Politics
Series: 1 of 4
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description: Pack of Lies is a collection of 40 arguments, divided into four volumes and released in digital book format for instant access and ease-of-use. Each one of the 40 chapters takes on one of the 40 most destructive conservative lies in America today, and then systematically deconstructs it, contrasts it with reality, and presents effective arguments that shoot it down. In this way, Pack of Lies not only exposes the over-arching conservative deception, but it undermines and obliterates it through painstaking refutation, issue-by-issue, lie-by-big-conservative-lie.To make it useful for political junkies and casual readers alike, each chapter of Pack of Lies can stand on its own, allowing the reader to refer any lie, any issue, or any volume that he/she needs immediately, making it a handy reference on a smartphone or tablet for quick, effective rebuttals to common misperceptions.

Review: Please keep in mind everyone has different political views, and everyone has a right to their own opinion. 

I have never read a political book in the past, however I do follow politics and the current electoral campaign. I enjoyed this book very much and very informative. I believe whatever political party a person is a part of will enjoy this book if they keep an open mind. However, this book is geared more for the Democratic party. 

The information provided in this book is information I already knew, and topics you will hear the candidates discuss, but its great to have the statistics and numbers to prove the truth behind the lies. This is information that the conservatives will not provide you with. This is information every American has the right to know. I enjoyed this book so much that I recommended it to my father some coworkers to read. I'm looking forward to the other volumes in the series, and read the other lies. 

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Victor Gollancz Limited
Pages: Hardcover (327pgs)
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Paranormal/Vampire
Series: Book 12 in Sookie Stackhouse series
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Description: With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

Review: Over all the this book was good, but I feel that Charlaine is slightly slipping in her story line. That she is just trowing these books together with out staying true to herself. The writing style and characters have changed drastically through out the series.
The last book leaves us off with readers finding out that Eric is promised to marry another vampire. The bond is now broken between Eric and Sookie. Sookie has also cut all ties with Amelia because she talked her into breaking the bond. When Deadlocked came out, I was hoping it would pick up right where it left off and provide more background and details about the bond, Eric's promised wife, and Amelia. Unfortunately this does not happen. 
Amelia makes a one line appearance in this book. We get very little information about the woman Eric is supposed to marry. Deadlocked went more in depth about the love Eric and Sookie have for each other. It was truly put to the test, and in the end we find out where Sookie's heart truly lies. 
I want to say that I never abandon a book once I have stated reading it. Unfortunately half way through I wanted to stop reading. I pushed through and finished, which I am happy I did. The ending was the books saving grace. It left me in anticipation for the next book. If you are someone to who reads a series, even though the latter half of the books have not been up to par. Stick with this one even if you don't like how it turns out. The ending saved it for me, and I plan on reading the next one to see how the series ends.

Waiting on Wednesday-15


"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this event is to get bloggers to spotlight and share the books they are anticipating on coming out.

On my wishlist this Wednesday is: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily

Release Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: Hardcover (418pgs)
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


Description: The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spin off series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

Review: This book continues with Sydney's journey on protecting Jill while they are in Palm Springs hiding. The last book ends with Keith teaming up with Moroi and selling their blood. We learn what happens to Keith and what the Alchemists have done to him. For the first time Sydney thinks things have finally calmed down and gone back to normal. Normal as things can be in her situation. Sydney is proved wrong, and her life turns upside down by the end of this book. 

I have to say that I enjoyed this book more than Bloodlines. The romance Richelle writes was fantastic. Sydney is new to the dating world, and she is already socially awkward at times. It was fantastic to see how Sydney's character develops in this book. I couldn't help but laugh reading all the things Sydney encounters and needs advice on about dating. I know all girls can relate. At some point we have all been there and asked our friends for advice. 

Adrian is the character that grew the most in the book. I am already an Adrian fan, and my love for him just grew deeper. I feel Adrian is a misunderstood person, and people don't give him enough credit. They have already written him off as the guy who is lazy, procrastinator, and will never amount to anything. Since people already think these things about him, he just lives up to what they think. There is so much more to him, and Richelle lets everyone see it in The Golden Lily. 

Jill and Eddie were more minor characters in the book, but we still see character development with them. Jill has definitely grown up from Bloodlines. Eddie is still Eddie, great as always. February 12, 2013 can not come fast enough for The Indigo Spell which is the next installment of Bloodlines. 

Teaser Tuesdays-19


Hey guys its another wonderful Tuesday...if you don't know what Teaser Tuesday is about here is a refresher:

Teaser Tuesdays are a meme hosted by Mizb of Should be Reading. Here are the rules if you wish to participate.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

"Rose once told me about this poem she'd read. There was this line. 'If your eyes weren't open, you wouldn't know the difference between dreaming and waking.' You know what I'm afraid of? That someday, even with eyes open, I still won't know."

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead page 241.

Random Thoughts:


This week is going to be a little crazy. We all know Golden Lily by Richelle Mead came out this past Tuesday the 12th. I purchased the book, and I have been trying to finish it as fast as I can. It is common knowledge between my friends that I am not a fast reader. You guys may have picked up on this as you see how long it takes me to finish reading just one book. This is a constant joke among my friends, and they love to give me a hard time for it. But it is especially important that I finish ASAP because I will getting the opportunity to meet Richelle Mead for a book signing tomorrow the 14th in Fort Lauderdale. I am so excited for this rare opportunity. 


So, I plan on getting pictures (if allowed) and post them for everyone, and provide any Q&A that may occur tomorrow. Now the fun part will be choosing which books I want her to sign for me. So many choices..... 

The Shadow of the Wind

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon


Release Date: January 25, 2005
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: Paperback (487pgs)
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


Description: Barcelona, 1945—Just after the war, a great world city lies in shadow, nursing its wounds, and a boy named Daniel awakes one day to find that he can no longer remember his mother’s face. To console his only child, Daniel’s widowed father, an antiquarian book dealer, initiates him into the secret of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a library tended by Barcelona’s guild of rare-book dealers as a repository for books forgotten by the world, waiting for someone who will care about them again.

Daniel’s father coaxes him to choose a book from the spiraling labyrinth of shelves, one that, it is said, will have a special meaning for him. And Daniel so loves the book he selects, a novel called The Shadow of the Wind by one Julián Carax, that he sets out to find the rest of Carax’s work. To his shock, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book this author has written. In fact, he may have the last of Carax’s books in existence.

Before Daniel knows it, his seemingly innocent quest has opened a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets, an epic story of murder, magic, madness, and doomed love, and before long he realizes that if he doesn’t find out the truth about Julián Carax, he and those closest to him will suffer horribly.

Review: This book was recommended to me, and when I read the description I was excited to start reading. I would highly recommend this book to everyone that enjoys a mystery. This book starts with a 10 year old Daniel going with his father to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books where he gets to choose one book that will become his. Daniel discovers The Shadow of the Wind and from that moment on this book becomes his life. 

While reading this book I was very impressed with the character description. I have never read a book where the author provides a lot of background on a each character, and it is cohesive with the story. I fell in love with every character in the story, the good and the bad guys. I developed sympathy for the bad guy in the story and how he became that way. 

There is a great mixture of mystery, history, and love in this story. As we follow Daniel in this story, I couldn't help but get lost inside. I truly felt that I was in Barcelona 1945. I could picture everything as it was happening, and the imagery Carlos gave in his story was fantastic. I can't wait to read the rest of his novels and get lost in his next mystery.

Waiting on Wednesday-14


"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this event is to get bloggers to spotlight and share the books they are anticipating on coming out.

On my wishlist this Wednesday is: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Description: The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series


Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

Teaser Tuesday-18


Hey guys its another wonderful Tuesday...if you don't know what Teaser Tuesday is about here is a refresher:

Teaser Tuesdays are a meme hosted by Mizb of Should be Reading. Here are the rules if you wish to participate.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

"Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you,' answered Julian."

Kindle 42%

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Teaser Tuesday-17

Hey guys its another wonderful Tuesday...if you don't know what Teaser Tuesday is about here is a refresher:

Teaser Tuesdays are a meme hosted by Mizb of Should be Reading. Here are the rules if you wish to participate.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

"Television, my dear Daniel, is the Antichrist, and I can assure you that after only three or four generations, people will no longer even know how to fart on their own. Humans will return to living in caves, to medieval savagery, and to the general state of imbecility that slugs overcame back in the Pleistocene area. Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say - it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke of everything, and a lousy joke at that."


The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 
Kindle 24%

5/23/12

Random Thoughts:


I have been so busy that I have neglected on posting my reviews. Since I attend school part time at night after work my nights have been so busy with class. Now that it is summer I plan on knocking out some books and posting some reviews lol.

Teaser Tuesday-16

Hey guys its another wonderful Tuesday...if you don't know what Teaser Tuesday is about here is a refresher:

Teaser Tuesdays are a meme hosted by Mizb of Should be Reading. Here are the rules if you wish to participate.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

"Research only." Mom said sternly. "I don't want you using that time to play computer games or updating your Facebook status. Like I had time for social networking these days. I could just see my status: Battling a zombie horde, the lunch @ Slim's.

Pg 156 "Dead is a Battle Field" by Marlene Perez

Waiting on Wednesday-13

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this event is to get bloggers to spotlight and share the books they are anticipating on coming out.

On my wishlist this Wednesday is: Dead is a Battlefield by Marlene Perez

Description: Jessica Walsh is starting her freshman year at Nightshade High and trying to forget about the tragic events surrounding her brother’s graduation. She wants to have a normal high school experience. But that’s easier said than done in Nightshade. 

When a new boy shows up at school, the girls are infected with a case of seriously creepy crushes. But when their obsession turns to violence, Jessica and her friends start to wonder if there’s more going on than just a little friendly rivalry. Are the smitten girls turning into love zombies? 

And Jessica has other worries—like her crush on Dominic Gray, the cute but moody new singer for Side Effects May Vary, and the mysterious tattoo that appeared on her arm one day and lets her know whenever there is trouble brewing. Jessica learns she's a Virago, a woman warrior chosen to fight evil whenever it threatens her hometown. But does a lowly freshman really have what it takes to keep Nightshade safe?

Teaser Tuesday-15

Hey guys its another wonderful Tuesday...if you don't know what Teaser Tuesday is about here is a refresher:

Teaser Tuesdays are a meme hosted by Mizb of Should be Reading. Here are the rules if you wish to participate.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

"Okay, I'll rephrase. People are watching you rub all over each other like bitches in-"
27% on Kindle Demon Dark by Penelope Fletcher

2/26/12

Random Thoughts:


I wanted to start writing down some random thoughts about books and things just going on during the day. Also an opportunity for me to chat with you guys, and gather your thoughts of what you think about my blog. If you all have any ideas of changes you want to see or books you want to recommend me to read. 


Random thought for today is that I want to share with you guys is that I attended Megacon in Orlando, Fl last weekend. I went to meet Joseph Morgan (Klaus) from Vampire Diaries, and Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) from Harry Potter. I had a great time meeting them and attending the convention. This was a Syfy and comic book convention. I have never attended one of these before, so it was definitely interesting. Many people were dressed up as their favorite characters from comic book heroes, anime, Star Wars, and Star Trek. 


I dragged my mother to attend with me and we had a blast. It was fun, and even though there might not be any celebrities I want pictures with I may attend next year, just to interact with the people and walk around the vendor area. Tom Felton and Joseph Morgan were so sweet and nice in person. While I was getting my autograph from Tom, he thanked me for coming out to see him. I was taken aback by that. Usually its me thanking them for taking the time to do pictures and autographs. He also asked me if I liked what he wrote on my DVD that he signed. He is utterly the sweetest person I have ever meet. The short interaction that I had with him was just wonderful. He seems very down to earth and humble. My love for him just got bigger. Tom my play the bad boys in the movies, but he is anything but. 

The Ripper

The Vampire Diaries: The Stefan Diaries- The Ripper


Release Date: November 8, 2011
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: Paperback (256pgs)
Age Group: Teen
Genre: Paranormal 
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 


Description: Haunted by the past . . .

The year is 1888, and the scent of blood lingers heavy in the London air. Stefan Salvatore thought he could escape his violent origins by settling in the peaceful countryside of England, but when a heinous murderer named Jack the Ripper surfaces, Stefan fears darkness will always follow him. Drawn into the investigation, Stefan assumes the worst: This is the work of a vampire. And the more he learns, the more he becomes convinced that the killer is someone close to him--and that he can never outrun his past.

Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan's Diaries reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine--and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began.

Review: A year has gone by and we find Stefan in London working as a groundskeeper for the Abbott family. Everything seems to be going well for Stefan. He has his eating habits under control, has a job that he likes, and loves the Abbott family. 

Stefan takes a trip to London with Mr. Abbott and his world changes from that moment on. A string of murders take place, and they are calling the murderer Jake the Ripper. Stefan stays in London to investigate. Against all odds he runs into his brother Damon after 20yrs. Damon and Stefan's world are turned upside down.

We are introduced to some new characters who are socialites, and Damon spends a lot of time with them. I love the banter between Stefan and Damon. Damon is great as always and I can never get enough of him. Everything seems normal as I'm reading, and I thought I had the ending figured out because it all fit into place but in the last five chapters everything changed. 

For everyone that watches the show, I thought this book was going to be about Stefan and his Ripper years. Not the case at all, but it was still a great story line and it kept me entertained. This truly is a great series for any Vampire Diaries fans.

Reading Order:

Origins

Bloodlust

The Craving

The Ripper

The Asylum

The Compelled

Teaser Tuesday-14

Hey guys its another wonderful Tuesday...if you don't know what Teaser Tuesday is about here is a refresher:

Teaser Tuesdays are a meme hosted by Mizb of Should be Reading. Here are the rules if you wish to participate.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

"Females like to put rose tinted glasses on love, but it's just as ugly as other emotions, perhaps uglier."
7% on Kindle "Demon Dark" by Penelope Fletcher

One for the Money

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich


Release Date: June 13, 2006
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: Paperback (320pgs)
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Mystery/Humor
Author Website: http://www.evanovich.com/
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


Description: Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash--fast--but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family.

Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water--wanted for murder.

Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight--and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man.

Review: A good friend recommended this series to me a year ago, but I just never read them. After watching the movie trailer, I really had to start reading this series. I absolutely loved this book. All I did was laugh the whole time I was reading. 

Stephine Plum just got a divorce, lost her job, and about to lose her apartment. She is really down on her luck. She needed a job and couldn't find one because she was either over qualified or under qualified. Stephanie lands a job working at her cousin Vinnie's bond agency. She becomes a bounty hunter so she can make ends meat and pay her bills. She is a very determined woman, and she doesn't give up no matter what curve ball is thrown her way. 

Joe Morelli is a cop and he is out on bail for murder. Stephanie used to be in love with Morelli when she was younger, and still has feeling for him. Stephanie's commission for catching Morelli is $10,000, and that kind of money will turn her life around. She has to battle with her feelings for Morelli, and making money to pay her bills.

The writing in this book is great. There was never a dull moment throughout the whole book. There was the right amount of mystery, suspense, and humor. The story line is great as well. In a way woman can relate to Stephanie. Some time or another we get hung up on our ex's, and we don't know how to get them out of our heads. People fall through hardships in their life, and try like hell to make things better in their life. 

Reading Order:
One for the Money

All Her Father's Guns

All Her Father's Guns by James Warner


Release Date: January 10, 2011
Publisher: Numina Press
Pages: Paper back (200pgs)
Age Group: Adult
Genre: General Fiction
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Description: Cal Lyte, a gun-loving venture capitalist, is tired of paying alimony to his ex-wife Tabytha. Plotting to blackmail her and derail her campaign for Congress, he enlists the help of their daughter's boyfriend, British academic Reid Seyton, to unearth some Lyte family secrets. But the results turn out to be more than anyone bargained for, in an escalating cycle of revelations that will leave nobody's life the same.

Review: I received this book from the author asking me to read his book and review it. I am not much of a gun lover, but I will read any type of book and give it a chance before I judge. After reading the book, I did enjoy it more then I expected too. I actually found it funny and a little disturbing with all the revelations in the end. 

Cal is this gun loving man and his world revolves around them. If he is not working helping people start up new businesses, then he is cleaning, buying, or target practicing with his guns. He his is a black and white type of person. There was never a grey area with him. 

Then we have Reid, who is Cal's daughter's boyfriend. Reid was my favorite character in this book. He was confused and a little lost guy that was just going through the motions. I related to him because sometimes I feel like I just go through the motions in my life. He also helps Cal dig up dirt on his ex-wife. 

During the process of getting information on Cal's ex-wife, Cal and Reid get a little bit more then what they asked for. In the beginning of the book it seemed like it was a little predictable, and I thought I knew how the book was going to end. Some things to come to light at the end of the book that left me a little speechless. In the end, I couldn't help but laugh. 

Teaser Tuesday-13

Hey guys its another wonderful Tuesday...if you don't know what Teaser Tuesday is about here is a refresher:

Teaser Tuesdays are a meme hosted by Mizb of Should be Reading. Here are the rules if you wish to participate.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

"My feeling is, if you're going to spend that much time on your knees, you could find something that pays better. You know what I mean?"
5% on Kindle "One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson


Release Date: September 16, 2008
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Pages: Hardcover (465pgs)
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Mystery
Author Website: http://www.stieglarsson.se/
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


Description: Once you start The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, there's no turning back. This debut thriller--the first in a trilogy from the late Stieg Larsson--is a serious page-turner rivaling the best of Charlie Huston and Michael Connelly. Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.


Review: Overall I did enjoy this book. The only complaint that I had is its a slow read. The first 200 hundred pages were the hardest to get through. After getting past 200 pages the book flowed a lot better and I was able to finish it. 


Even though it was a slow read, this book did have a nice amount of suspense and drama. There are a lot of characters in this book and from time to time it is hard to keep everyone straight and their relation to each other. There is a family tree in the beginning of the book, and I did have to reference that from time to time. I love the two main characters Blomkvist and Salander. Blomkvist is a smart Journalist that got into some trouble with the law for writing false information in an article. Then you have Salander who is a socially awkward hacker and is under guardianship from the government. These two work so well together in their investigation to find a killer. 


There were some scenes that were a little hard to read because they were very graphic and hard to swallow. The ending was very shocking and I did not see it coming. Stieg Larsson is a great writer and he has a wonderful imagination to put this story together. I can't wait to dive into the next book and find out what happens next. 


Reading Order
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest