Four To Score by Janet Evanovich

Four To Score by Janet Evanovich

Year Published: 1998
My Rating: 5 stars
313 pages

This is the fourth book in the Stephanie Plum series.

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is after Maxine Nowicki for jumping bail on stealing her ex-boyfriends car. Little does Stephanie know, it gets deeper.. With the help of her backup ex-prostitute named Lula, a cross-dressing drag queen named Sally Sweet who is the puzzle solver, some help from Grandma Mazur and the dangerously handsome vice-cop Joe Morelli :)

As usual Stephanie gets into trouble, has some mishaps with her car and apartment and has someone looking forward to killing her.

More tension between Staphanie and Joe since she had to move in with him temporarly because she didn't have a place to stay. Then rumors run like fire around the Burg.

Really funny book that I enjoyed very much. Stephanie and Joe are starting to grow on me, Grandma Mazur is GREAT.. Lula is a bundle of fun, even the new Sally is interesting. And Ranger is the SHIT as Lula refers to him :)

Quotes I enjoyed from the book:

Vinnie was 5'7", looked like a weasel, thought like a weasel, smelled like a French whore and was once in love with a duck.

"You were trying to get in touch with me?"

"Yeah, I lost your card. I put it down somewhere and couldn't find it. so I looked you up in the phone book...only I got your parents. Good thing, too. Granny told me you're hard up for a man, and it turns out I'm between women right now, and I don't mind older cicks. so I guess this is your lucky day."

The chick made a valient effort not to stab her fork into Eddie Kuntz's eyeball.

"If Mickey Mouse could fly he'd be Donald Duck."

"I though there'd be wanted posters on the walls and gun racks filled with shotguns."

"This isn't dodge City," Lula said. "We got some class here. We keep the guns in the back room with the pervert."

I'd been replaced by a raspberry Popsicle, and Morelli didn't look all that unhappy. I, on the other hand, wanted to smash something. Morelli was right... I wanted him bad. He might have been right about the curtains too, but I didn't want to dwell on the curtains. Lust I could manage, but the very thought of wanting a relationship with Morelli made my blood run cold.

Sally's mascared lashes snapped open. "The Buick? Holy shit, is this your car? It's got portholes. Fucking portholes! What's under the hood."

"A V-eight."

"Yow! A W-eight! A fucking V-eight!"

"Good thing he don't have them tuck underpants on," Lula said. "He'd rupture himself."

"Day my make, punk," Grandma said.

I'm a firm believer in denial. My reasoning is why deal with uppleasantness today when you could get hit by a bus tomorrow. And if you procrastinate long enough, maybe the issue will go away.

It was a small bungalow. All on one floor. Easy to see Maxine wasn't there. "Looks like you're packing."

"Yeah, I'm cleaning out my Dior stuff. I decided I was only wearing Versace from now on."

My eye started to twitch, and I put my finger to it. you see? That's what Morelli does to me...gives me an eye twitch.

Better to live with my parents than Morelli. If I could just make it through a few weeks with my parents, I could move back into my own apartment, and then my life will get back to normal. And then my eye will stop twitching.

Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich

Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich

Year Published: 1997
My Rating: 5 stars
321 pages

This is the third book in the Stephanie Plum series.

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is on the hunt again. She becomes persona non grata for looking for the local candystore owner Uncle Mo who does nothing wrong according to everyone she asks, but has jumped bail. She then starts tumbling on dead bodies of drug dealers everywhere she seems to go looking!

She then gets threatened by guys with ski masks who want her to step away from all the action that is happening.

All this with the help of Lula the ex-ho that's working as a file clerk at Vinnie's office. She is hillarous!!!

I enjoyed this book even more than the one before, Stephanie and Joe seem to be getting closer and closer with so much tension in the air. Grandma Mazur is incredibly funny, plus she gets a man and invites him to dinner with the family.

I'm already reading the next book.. Don't know when I'll halt this series and go check other books, but for now I feel I need a bit of comedy and light reading so I'm sticking to this one.

Quotes I enjoyed from the book:

I glances over at Connie. "There isn't anything else I should know, is there? Like, was he armed when arrested?

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Connie said. "A forty-five, a twenty-two and a seven-inch blade."

My voice pitched to incredulity. "Two guns and a knife? Forget it! What do I look like, a suicide waiting to happen?"

He was six hours over on a five o'clock shadow. Even in the darkened barroom I could see the tiny network of lines that appeared around his eyes when he was tired. He slouched with one elbow on the bar and picked at my fries.

"If you had a decent sex life you wouldn't need to gratify yourself like this," he said, his mouth curved into a grin, his teeth white and even against the dark beard.

"My sex life is ok."

"Yeah," Morelli said. "But sometimes it's fun to have a partner."

Ranger stripped off his sweatshirt. "adequate is being able to run five miles. how are you going to catch the bad guys if you can't outrun them?"

"Connie gives the bad guys who can run to you. I get the fat, out-of-shape bad guys."

"You're a walking disaster. A man would have to be a total masochist to be interested in you."

Ranger did a lap and jogged by us without acknowledgment of our presence or lack of.
"So why are you really here?" I asked Lula.
Lula's eyes never left Ranger. "I'm here 'cause he's the shit."
"The shit?"
"Yeah, you know...the shit. The king. The cool."
"Do we know anyone else who's the shit?"
"John Travolta. He's the shit, too."
We watched Ranger some, and I could see her point about Ranger being the shit.
"I've been thinking," Lula said. "Suppose there really were superheroes?"
"Like Batman?"
"That's it. That's what I'm saying. It'd be someone who was the shit."

Dead And Gone by Charlaine Harris

Dead And Gone by Charlaine Harris

Year Published: 2009
My Rating: 5 stars
312 pages

This is the 9th book in the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampires series.

Vampires have been known in the world for awhile now, but they are not the only supernatural beings around.. So, some others are coming out in the open but not everyone is accepting them as they had hoped.

Then someone is murdered in a very grousome way and left on display.. On the top of the list of suspects is Sookie's brother Jason, with means and motive too.

Then Sookie is faced with a new enemy that will not stop till one of them is dead!!

A lot of action and some new characters introduced.. Very fun to read as always, and keps you asking for more, more more!!

I enjoyed this book to the max and can't wait to read the next book.. A book for those Sookie fans everywhere :)

Quotes I enjoyed from the book: (Some might contain SPOILERS)

"Caucasian vampires should never wear white," the television announcer intoned. "We've been secretly filming Devon Dawn, who's been a vampire for only a decqade, as she gets dresses for a night on the town. Look at that outfit! It's all wrong for her!"

"I'm here tonight as a representative of a people who have lived among you for many years. Since the vampires have been so successful out in the open, we've decided the time's come for us to tell you about ourselves. After all, vampires are dead. They're not even human. But we're regular people just like you-all, with a difference."

"Eric told you to spend your time driving over here and asking me to come to his bar tonight." Even to my own ears, I sounded unbelieving.

"Yes. He said, 'Track her down, deliver the message in person, and be polite.' Here I am. Being polite."

The closer I got to the vampire bar, the more my pulse picked up; this was the downside to the blood bond I had with Eric Northman. I knew I was going to see him, and I was simply happy about it.

The wave of delight wasn't necessarily related to Eric's gorgeousness or the fact that we'd bumped pelvises, though. The blood bond was responsible. Maybe. I had to fight the feeling. For sure.

"Then I'll take the tiger's request off the table," Victor said. "My master was unhappy about the tiger wanting to leave, anyway. And of course, I'll inform my master about your formal attachment to this one."

"Can you doubt that I want what's best for you?"
"I don't doubt that you want what you think is best for me," I said. "And I don't doubt that that marches right along with what you think is good for you."
Victor laughed. "She knows you well, Eric," he said, and we both glared at him. "Ooops," he said, and pretended to zip his mouth shut.

Don't you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you've made, every hurt you've received, every bit of meanness you've dealt out? There's no profit in it, no point to it, and you need sleep. But that night, men were on my mind, and not in a happy way.

"I'm sorry, cher," he said again. "Sorry you're having to handle it, sorry Jason will be suspected, sorry about the whole thing. Sorry for crystal, too."

"You want to own your own life," Eric said.
"As much as anyone can."
"Just when I think you're very simple, you say something complex," Eric said.
"Are you complaining?" I tried to smile, failed.
"No."

"Do you know why I ended up so close to your home, running down that road in the freezing cold?"

"Eric, when I'm back to being myself, I'm going to nail your ass for putting me in this position of being pledged to you."
"Darling, you can nail my ass anytime," he said charmingly, and turned to go back to his table.

I'd never seen his face so gloomy and serious. Sam was a creature of sunshine.

I was mad, and I was sad, and I suspected that Sam was right. That's when you get the angriest, isn't it? When you know you've done something stupid?

"Like you needed another enemy," he said, and stomped into his office.
Like I needed another friend acting like an asshole, I thought.

Everything about him gleamed and shone. The shirt wasn't simply white - it was snowy and starched; and his coat wasn't just black - it was spotlessly inky.

"I wait for the night you join me," he'd written on the otherwise blank card in his crabbed handwriting.
Faintly cheezy? yes. Gulp inducing? Oh, you betcha. I could practically feel my blood heat up. Ii was sorry I'd opened it right before I climbed in the bed. It definitely took me a long time to drift off to sleep.

Then he got under the blanket with me and propped himself up on an elbow. he was looking down at me. His back was to the light coming from the bathroom, so I couldn't discern his expression. "Do you love him?" he said.

"Do you realle remember?" I asked him. "Do you really remember staying with me before? Do you remember what it felt like?"
"Oh yes," he said., " I remember."

"Did you think that since we made whoopee and you said I was yours, I'd want to quit work and keep house for you? Eat candy all day, let you eat me all night?"
Yep, that was it. His faced confirmed it.

"I always tell you the truth," he said. And there wasn't a trace of that smile left on his face. "I may not tell you everything I know, but what I tell you.. it's true."

I was not where I was supposed to be, and I shouldn't be wherever I was. At the moment, these seemed like two separate and distinct thoughts.

"Why?" I asked. "He actually came to rescue me. Why get mad at him? Where were you?" Rage bubbled up my throat.

He'd lived for so many years, survived by hook and crook. He'd been ready to die for me. There is no female - human, fairy, vamp,Were- who wouldn't be affected by that. I thought of the nights we'd spent together, the times we'd talked lying together in bed - and I cried, though I felt almost too tired to produce tears.

Another review @ Fingers In The Pie

Whiskey Sour - Jack Daniels Mystery Book 1 - by J.A. Konrath

Whiskey Sour - Jack Daniels Mystery Book 1 - by J.A. Konrath

Year Published: 2004
My Rating: 5 stars
292 pages

Lieutenant Jacqueline 'Jack' Daniels is having such a bad week.

1. A serial killer in Chicago is on the loose, killing women and mutilating them, then displaying them for the public to see his handicraft. Leaving a gingerbread cookie as a calling card.

2. She gets dumped by her boyfriend

3. She has chronic insomnia that will drive her mad.

Then the Feds get involved with the help of their 'Vicki' and profiling, and Jack's partner Herb is pushing her to start having a life outside the force, he then convinces her to get a date through a dating service and ends up with surprises on her dates :)

Now Jack is next on the killer's agenda, will she get to catch him before he strikes again?

This was such an interestingly fun book to read, it has humor all over.. Jack's character is so much fun you can't help laugh out loud with her remarks. The murders were grousome and violent, but I have to admire the author's imagination. I loved all the details :P.

I enjoyed it very much and will continue with this series. This author has become one of my favorites!!

Quotes I enjoyed from this book:

Freezing was the curse of the fashion savvy.

"Kind of cold for a jacket like that, Jack." "But don't I look good?" "Sure. Shivering suits you."

They could have been clones. and knowing our government, they might have been.

Herb nudged me quietly. "That's a whole lot of woman." "Spoken by a man with a forty-six-inch waist." "Are you reffering to my washboard stomach?" "Don't you mean washtub stomach? Shh, she's bringing doughnuts."

Actually, I was thinking that once, when I was younger, I had actually considered joinging the FBI. We're all entitled to mements of stupidity, I suppose.

"No one likes an asshole, Jack, until you have to move your bowels."

It's risky, dumping the body that way twice in a row, but it adds to his supernatural mystique. He's lookig forward to the headlines.

"Normally I don't dress until later in the day, but I don't want you getting any ideas."

He has a knack for it. The fact that he's never been caught is proof. There are several tricks he uses, so suspicion neverfalls on him. Never leave evidence. Never establish a pattern. Keep a respectable cover and have an alibi ready. And always plan ahead.

"The last woman I went out with wore way too much hair spray and perfume, When she lit a cigarette I ducked for cover because I thought she was going to ignite."

The clock creeps up on eight o'clock. The spider sits in his web and waits. The fly will be here soon.

"That's four hours. Most women can't scream anymore after the third hour, but I've got high hopes for you. You've got such a big mouth."

Betrayed - House Of Night #2 - by PC Cast & Kristen Cast

Betrayed - House Of Night #2 - by PC Cast and Kristen Cast

Year Published: 2007

My Rating: 5 stars

310 pages

Zoey Redbird has become the leader of the Dark Daughters and Sons, plus having the affinity with the 5 elements which is very rare specially for a fledgling. But Zoey is no ordinary fledgling.. The Vampyre Goddess Nyx is watching over her every step and taking care of her.

She just started to settle in the House of Night and feeling like it's her home now, with her loving friends.. When things start to go wrong.. Human teenagers disappear and end up dead, and all the clues point to the House Of Night..

Death strikes in the House of Night tearing up Zoey!!

She then discovers a deep dark secret that could shatter her whole life specially that it's a huge betrayal from the last person she expected!

A very enjoyable sequel to the first book, actually I enjoyed this more than the first .. it was a page turner.. I started to feel I know Zoey specially that the writing is done in such a way that she is talking to you with so much ease and unformality.. it's amazing!!

Quotes I enjoyed from the book:

I watched her leave, and didn't realize I was crying until I felt the tears drip from my face onto my neck. I'd actually forgotten Neferet was still standing beside me, so I jumped a little in surprise when she handed me a tissue.

Maybe the soothing tinkle of the water would help my stress level... and help me forget.

Her sweater was obviously cashmere, and her pearls were long and real. Every time she gestured with her hands the gihugic pear-shaped diamond on her ring finger flashed a light as cold and beautiful as her voice.

"So it is spoken; so it shall be done"

For Zoey

Alluring Priestess

Night can't cloak your scarlet dream.

Accept Desire's call.

I thought about how right Stevie Rae had been. Snow raelly was magical. It changed the world, made it quiter, softer, more mysterious.

Vampyres aren't dead. They're just changed. It was humans who liked to fuel the scary myth of the walking dead, which I was beginning to find more than slightly annoying.

"Stevie Rae, it's ten o'clock PM. We slept forever and now we're so late it's ridiculous."

Eric touched his fingers to his lips, then held her hand out to me as if to offer me his formal kiss, and then pressed those fingers over his heart and bowed his head.

With a very naughty sparkle in his eyes he took my hand, kissed it, and then made a sweeping bow and proclaimed in his actor's voice that carried all around the room, "Hello, my sweet Desdemona."

"Everything that's light isn't good, and everything that's darkness isn't always bad."

Darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good.

It was easy to keep him from pushing me anywhere. I mean, he's cute and all, but he is just a human.

"Not that I hold your un-human-ness against you guys," Heath said.

I sighed. "Heath, un-human-ness isn't a word. It's inhumanity."

"Zo, I'm not stupid. I know that. i was just coining a word."

"Coining?" Had he really said that?