Honey Bunches of "Oaks"

10 October 2011

Blog Review: Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not what I was expecting. I really need something more substantial to happen to Stephanie. Like, hooking up with Ranger. I don't know about the rest of this series' readers, but I picture The Rock when I think of Ranger. Who wouldn't want to be with him!?!

Overall, I liked this book better than the last one. I still don't understand the point of recapping who she is, what she does and who everyone else in the book is. It's a waste of space. Who's going to start out reading this series on the sixteenth book? But, if you took out all that redundant information in this book, it would have been incredibly short. What's up with the really wide margins and huge text? I felt like I was reading a book for a 4th grader. My first chapter book! Woo-hoo!

That said, I can't wait for the next book. I love reading about Stephanie's adventures. And Lula is hilarious. J.E. please bring on something new for Stephanie!

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08 October 2011

Book Review: Summer Blowout by Claire Cook

Summer Blowout by Claire Cook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this book! I started reading it after finishing The Gates by John Connolly. I didn't want to have nightmares and this looked like a light read. I was right, but I was also surprised at how quickly I read it. Only a few hours. I couldn't put it down! I was reading it in bed while J was sleeping and had to keep myself from laughing too loudyly, quite a few times.

This is my first Claire Cook and I'm glad I wasn't disappointed. I have seen her other novel, Must Love Dogs but have never read it, since I've already seen the movie. I think I will read it now anyway.

I love Bella and her entire family. She reminds me a lot of Janet Evanovich's character, Stephanie Plum. {Crazy, large family} It cracks me up that she's addicted to lipstick and chapstick, but then again, she is a make-up artist. Her dad is a wanna-be-Italian and I just find him adorable. I wish that Claire Cook would write a sequel to this novel. I would love to find out what happens between Bella and Sean Ryan. Also, what other mischief she and her siblings can get into whilst doing make-up. lol.

I definitely recommend this if you're looking for a light, quick-read. It would also make a great beach book.

And who doesn't love the little dog, Cannoli! I love being able to relate to characters who talk to their pets. :P

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Memorable Quotes: {That made me LOL}
"I pulled my suitcase out of the backseat of my bug, along with Cannoli's new travel case, a spiffy animal print pet backpack on wheels. When I first saw it, I thought maybe the dog was supposed to wear the backpack, but it turned out the person wore the backpack with the dog in it. It had a pull-up handle and wheels, just like my suitcase, so you could also roll it along the ground. It had mesh vents in the front and on the sides to let in lots of air. I unzipped the top and popped Cannoli inside, then attached the safety harness to her jeweled collar. She looked up at me in horror. "Don't worry," I said. "I won't zip up the mesh part until we absolutely have to."

I extended the handles on my rolling suitcase and pet carrier, got them positioned evenly behind me, then hooked my shoulder bag over my head and under one arm, like a beauty pageant sash, so it wouldn't fall off. I reached back with both hands and started pulling. We moved along at a brisk, comfortable pace. The rolling suitcase was one of the best inventions ever, maybe right up there with the ionic hair dryer. I sure would like to have been the entrepreneur who thought up one of those two.
I heard a choking sound behind me. When I looked back, Cannoli was hanging from the backpack harness with her hind legs circling frantically in the air. She looked like she was riding a bike just above ground level.
"Cannoli," I yelled. I unhooked her and made sure she was breathing on her own. When I tried to get her back in the backpack, she whimpered. I talked to her soothingly yet firmly, then tried again. This time she started howling like I was hurting her.
People turned and stared as they walked by. "What are you looking at?" I said to one couple. I suddenly felt true remorse for every time I'd stared at a parent with a toddler throwing a tantrum. I made a vow to be a better aunt to Tulia's kids if I ever made it out of this parking garage. I pleaded with Cannoli one more time."

"There also wasn't one single bit of grass or dirt outside the airport. Even the median strip was a concrete sidewalk. Where did Atlanta's pet travelers pee? Maybe city dogs just learned to use the sidewalk. We kept walking. It looked like if we crossed the road that all the cars used to get onto the highway, we might come to a planted-up area, but we also might get killed.

Finally, I just lifted Cannoli up and plopped her down on a great big ashtray built into the top of the trash barrel. "Good thing you're not a German shepherd," I said.

Book Review: The Gates by John Connolly

The Gates: A Novel by John Connolly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think my library is unaware that this book and The Book of Lost Things are both young adult. So far, this book is creepy and I'm only on page 51. I mean, my neighbors are annoying sometimes, and certainly they get on my nerves when their dog barks too much or their car alarm won't stop going off {like today, it went off every 5-10 minutes. All. Day. Long. (10-03-11)}. But, thankfully, they have never held a seance to open a portal to Hell. That I know of...

More to come.

Pretty good read over all. I think it would be somewhat scary even for young adults. I definitely wanted to find out what happened to Nurd, but I liked how the book ended anyway.

I enjoyed the character that was meant to eat Samuel. {The one under the bed.} I thought it was quite funny how he didn't know what he was doing. I found myself giggling while reading his part and the weird thing in the pond. How did he get to be left behind when the portal was closed?

And the conversations between the Vicar and Mr. Berkeley was very humorous, too. I've included it in my favorite quotes as well.

"I don't think," he said, "that a vicar is supposed to beat a bishop to death, or even back to death."

Mr. Berkeley looked down upon the remains of Bishop Bernard.

"If anyone asks, we'll say he fell over," he said. "Lots of times."

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Six Word Saturday

Playing Farmville and

posting book reviews.

It's going to be a short day. Jeremy is at work. :(

I'm at home and waiting for him to get off, so we

can go grocery shopping. He's going to feel like

he's not having a weekend at all.

Go see what Cate is up to at Show My Face

and let her know what you're up to this Saturday.

04 October 2011

RTT: I don't feel like it.

So I'm not gonna.

I just cleaned the house

and I don't feel like blogging.

But you should. And check out

Stacy, the current Random leader,

at Stacy Uncorked.

Well, one random thought:

Why does my kitten put his

toys in the food or water bowls?

Weirdo.

Here's a pic of some cuteness:

03 October 2011

The Book of Lost Things

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book reminded me of books I read when I was younger, like before I was a teenager. It even has a life-lesson! I found it in the adult section though.

The book starts off during Hitler's reign. The main character, 12-year-old David, has just lost his mother. To deal with it, he escapes to his books. They soon begin to whisper to him. His father finds a new wife and they soon have a baby boy. David becomes even more angry and escapes into his imagination. Soon, he can't differentiate between his fantasy world and reality.

He goes down to the garden in his backyard and is transported to another world that strangly reflects the stories in his books.

This world, that has no name, contains heroes, monsters, and a King that holds the Book of Lost Things. David teams up with a Woodsman that promises to help him get to the King so that he can help David get back home.

This book is full of adventure and heroism. I'm hoping that there are more books like this, written by John Connolly.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, adventure and super-natural.

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