Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Title: Smokin' Seventeen

Author: Janet Evanovich

Why I Read It: I've read this entire series.

Where I Got It: Target in Chicago

Rating: 3/5 stars



Overview from Barnes and Noble:

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. 
 
Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list.

Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie.

With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke.

If you've ever read any of Janet's books, you'd know that they are hilarious. Janet has a way of making you literally laugh out loud through out her books. This book was no exception! 

I am just glad that I don't live the life of Stephanie. She has crazy people after her on a day to day basis. People are  trying to kill her, leaving dead bodies in the bonds office empty parking lot with her name on it. Her, as well as her on again, off again boyfriend and Trenton cop Morelli, are trying to figure out who the killer is and why they're doing the killing and leaving the bodies for Stephanie.

While this on going investigation continues, Stephanie has to capture her FTA's for the week. In case you're not aware of the bounty hunter lingo, FTA means Failure To Appear in court. She has to capture these people and take them down to the police station to book them until their next court date. 

This book is a fast paced mystery where there is never a dull moment in Stephanie's life, to say the least. 

For this particular book, I didn't like it quite as much as I did all of her other books. It was still a laugh out loud book, but I felt like it wasn't quite as funny as usual. I also felt like the bizarre things that happen to Stephanie in all of the other books in the series, weren't as good in this book. I found myself disappointed and bored in the book most of the time.

I do, however, suggest you read it if you've read all of the other books in the series. Maybe you will like it a little better than I did.

My Rating: 

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Title: Lock and Key

Author: Sarah Dessen

Where I Got It: Borrowed it from my roommate

Why I Read It: I've heard numerous times that Sarah Dessen is a great author

Rating: 3/5 stars


Overview from Barnes and Noble:

"Ruby is used to taking care of herself. But now she's living in a fancy new house with her sister Cora - a sister she hasn't seen in ten years - and her husband Jamie - creator of one of the most popular online networking sites. She's attending private school, wearing new clothes, and for the first time, feels the promise of a future that include college and her family. So why is she so wary? And what is Nate - the adorable and good-hearted boy next door - hiding behind his genial nature? As Ruby starts to see, there's a big difference between being given help, and being able to accept it. And sometimes, in order to save yourself, you've got to reach out to someone else."

This book was an okay book. It wasn't the greatest, but it wasn't horrible at the same time. I think my biggest issue with it is that it started off really slow. And it doesn't go into a whole lot of detail why Ruby and her sister Cora had a bad childhood with their Mother. Don't get me wrong, it does explain it enough for you to understand, but in the same token, I feel like there could have been a little bit more information to make the story better. Does that make sense?

Ruby is the type of plain clothes person, who is happy with what she has. She doesn't expect more from people, and she takes what she can get. She understands that happiness comes from what you have, and you just have to take it as it comes. 

When Ruby is forced to move in with her sister, she had to change all of her beliefs about being happy with what she had, because Cora and Cora's husband Jaime were most "high class" than Ruby was ever use to. Ruby has a hard time dealing with this, and wants nothing more than to go back to taking care of herself. She wants to know who told on her, and who found out that she was the one taking care of herself, instead of her mother. She also wants to know what happened to her Mother. 

Ruby has been hurt so many times throughout her life, that it's hard for her to trust anyone. So, when Cora's neighbor Nate befriends her, she's very cautious and stays clear of him as much as possible.

As the overview states, this book is all about taking a deep breath, and being able to accept the help that's given, rather than saying that you're fine without the help of others. It's also about GIVING help to others, even while you need it yourself. 

As I stated, the book was a good book. Don't get me wrong, but it was just a slow starter. I think that's the main reason I gave it the 3/5 stars. If it would have caught my attention from the very beginning, it would have been at least a 4/5. 

I do recommend this book to those who like Young Adult books and/or Sarah Dessen. It's worth a read if you just want an easy read. It is quite a thick book, but it's a smooth reading book, so you can get through it at a decent pace, once the book starts getting interesting. 

Find Sarah Dessen online: www.sarahdessen.com

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/sarahdessen

My Rating:

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Title: To Kill A Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

Why I Read This Book: Because I've heard all of the 'hype' on it for years, and wanted to see if the book was REALLY as good as everyone said.

Rating: 3 stars

So, I wasn't even sure how many stars to give this review. I wanted to give it 4 stars, but at the same time, I felt like that was pushing it.

I was so disappointed in this book. EVERYONE who I knew that read this book, talked about how GREAT of a book it is, and how it's been a huge success since the day it was first published, etc. I didn't see the big deal, at all. I felt like it had WAY too much unnecessary information, and not enough detail into what the story is REALLY suppose to be about.

For example, in the beginning-ish of the book, they talk about how Atticus is a white lawyer, who is defending a black man. Through out the book, they talk about how Scout, and Jem were being teased because their father was defending this black man. But, Harper Lee didn't mention WHY for most of the book, he was defending this person, except by saying, "I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do it." Okay?? What is that suppose to tell your readers? It didn't tell us why Atticus was defending this man until almost the end of the book. My understanding of this book was that it was suppose to be about life back in the 50's thru the 70's and what life was like back then. How racism was, etc. But the book just kept going on and on about Boo Radley and how he never came out of his house, and about the walks that the kids took, etc. Who cares! I want to know more about what the story is about!! A white lawyer defending a black man in the older days!

In all honesty, the last few chapters of the book were the best, and I would give those chapters alone 5 stars, just because it kept my interest, and because I finally knew WHY Attitcus was defending this black man. I don't want to give too many details, in case someone wants to read the book for themselves. The end of the book is the actual trial, and the jury, and finding out whether or not this man was going to be acquitted, etc. I found myself wanting to keep reading to see what would happen. That's how I thought the entire book would be, but I was left very disappointed with the whole book in general.

So, my rating is 3 stars. The book was dragging too much, gave too much unnecessary information, didn't go into enough detail about the important stuff, and was just dry for me. I feel like I was let down horribly. Maybe because everyone gave it so much praise, my standards were too high.

I wouldn't recommend this book.

SIDE NOTE: I AM ALSO A BOOK REVIEWER ON THE BLOG THE BROKE AND THE BOOKISH! PLEASE VISIT THAT BLOG AND READ ALL OF THE WONDERFUL REVIEWS ON DIFFERENT BOOKS THERE AS WELL!!!!