Private: Down Under (Private, #6) by James Patterson

Private: Down Under by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

"The world s most exclusive detective agency opens a new office in Australia!"

With the best detectives in the business, cutting edge technology, and offices around the globe, there is no investigation company quite like Private. Now, at a glittering launch party overlooking the iconic Opera House, Private Sydney throws open its doors

Craig Gisto and his newly formed team have barely raised their glasses, however, when a young Asian man, blood-soaked and bullet-ridden, staggers into the party, and what looks like a botched kidnapping turns out to be a whole lot more.

Within days the agency s caseload is full. But it is a horrific murder in the wealthy Eastern Suburbs and the desperate search for a motive that stretches the team to the limit. Stacy Friel, friend of the deputy commissioner of NSW Police, isn t the killer s first victim and as the bodies mount up she s clearly not the last."

My Review:

Another Private installment, another city and branch, another lead character, still same great momentum. I've realized with all the changes, we can keep the same backbone but tell completely new stories with new people, solving different crimes, which seems to stave off boredom. I enjoyed the fact that there are multiple cases to solve, and that not every interaction is a romantic one.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator had a perfect Australian accent, which complimented the locale very nicely. With that being said, one of the main characters was described so perfectly as Rebel Wilson. Hopefully that won't ruin anyone's experience reading this book.

I liked the cast of characters, they were slightly flawed, but not to the point of disbelief. They worked well together.

I'd recommend this book if you like any of the other Private books, or if you are a fan of James Patterson.

Read from July 06 to 18, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery/Detective, Adult
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews

Private India: City on Fire (Private, #8) by James Patterson

Private India: City on Fire by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Mumbai, seemingly unconnected people are dying, strangled in a chilling ritual and with strange objects carefully arranged with the corpses.

For Santosh Wagh, head of Private India, the Mumbai branch of the world's finest investigation agency, it's a race against time to stop the killer striking again.

In a city of over thirteen million, he'd have his work cut out at the best of times, but this case has him battling Mumbai's biggest gang lord and a godman who isn't all he seems.

And then he discovers there may be an even greater danger facing Private India. Hidden in the shadows is someone who could destroy the whole organisation - along with thousands of innocent Mumbai citizens...

My Review:

Sadly, at first, I was really bored. However, I stuck with it, and things picked up quite a bit. The end had a whirlwind conclusion. I have noticed I tend to struggle when many of the names and/or locations are so similar sounding (i.e. A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) - don't get me wrong, I love the stories, I just get confused sometimes).

What I really like about some of the books in the Private series is the diversity. Many are set in a different country, and James Patterson seems to bring the location into the fold. I learn about those cultures from a different perspective. *Here's hoping the research is done to make these details as accurate as possible*

I'd recommend this book if you already enjoy James Patterson's books or if you just want a quick and fast paced read.

Favorite Quote:

“One only realizes the value of air when one is deprived of it and one only begins to value life in the face of death.”

Read from August 27 to September 15, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery/Crime, Suspense
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews

Blood and Snow Volumes 1-4: Blood and Snow, Revenant in Training, The Vampire Christopher, Blood Soaked Promises by RaShelle Workman

Blood and Snow Volumes 1-4: Blood and Snow, Revenant in Training, The Vampire Christopher, Blood Soaked Promises by RaShelle Workman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

"Lips red as rubies, hair dark as night. Drink your true love's blood, become the Vampire, Snow White."

EVERY THOUSAND YEARS THE VAMPIRE QUEEN SELECTS A NEW BODY, ALWAYS THE FAIREST IN THE LAND, AND THIS TIME SHE'S CHOSEN SNOW WHITE.

BLOOD AND SNOW: Snow White isn't an ordinary girl. She doesn't know that yet.

REVENANT IN TRAINING: Snow has become something not quite human. She must discover how to live with the changes, hopefully without killing anyone.

THE VAMPIRE CHRISTOPHER: Snow White craves blood. Especially the blood of her Hunter. But will drinking from him save or enslave her?

BLOOD SOAKED PROMISES: Snow White must come to terms with her bloodlust. It's one thing to drink the blood of her Hunter, something else entirely to drink the blood of a human.

My Review:



I used "whispersync" to get through this story. While physically reading this book, it wasn't too bad. However, while listening to this book, it was horrendous. The narrator was so terrible she killed momentum, entertainment, and my interest. I should have just continued to read it, but I wanted to get it wrapped up.

As for the story itself, it wasn't awful. I don't think it quite reached it's potential, but it is a series, and it needs to keep readers coming back after each installment. The story was very juvenile, and although RaShelle Workman was attempting to mash-up vampires with the idea of Snow White, there were a lot of characters to keep track of. I'm having a hard time following their motives and intentions.

Although this book wasn't for me, it very well could just be what someone else is looking for. Decide for yourself if you want to read this series, and if you choose to, read it don't listen.

Read from September 02 to 08, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Fantasy, Fantasy/Paranormal, Paranormal/Vampires, Young Adult, Fantasy/Fairy Tales
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Little Prince, The by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Moral allegory and spiritual autobiography, The Little Prince is the most translated book in the French language. With a timeless charm it tells the story of a little boy who leaves the safety of his own tiny planet to travel the universe, learning the vagaries of adult behaviour through a series of extraordinary encounters. His personal odyssey culminates in a voyage to Earth and further adventures.

My Review:



This book was very insightful and boring at the same time. I had seen the movie as a child (either that or the book came alive as a child) and I think my expectations were really high. A lot of the time I was confused because things just did not make sense. However, from early on, I knew this was written to be enjoyed from a child's point of view. It probably makes perfect sense to those pristine imaginations who haven't been corrupted by the world. Therefore, I tried to get into the proper mindset.

As I tried to comprehend the story as an innocent, I could see how this story was magical and whimsical. Although I couldn't completely stop being an adult and knowing what I know, I noticed there was also a hidden message, somewhat philosophical and somewhat dark. Much like the flower in this story.



I would recommend this book if you are an adult reading to an innocent child, that way the story will reach it's full potential.

Read from September 01 to 04, 2015

Favorite Quotes:

“Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.”

“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”

Top 5 Genres*: Fiction, Childrens, Classic, Cultural/France, Young Adult
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #3) by Rick Riordan

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Percy Jackson returns in another modern-day adventure with a Greek mythology twist—this time he must find a goddess kidnapped from Mount Olympus!

When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. And now it's up to Percy and his friends to find out what happened. They must find Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence on the Olympian Council could swing an important vote on the war with the titans. Not only that, but first Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared—a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.

My Review:

This series just keeps getting better and better. Admittedly, I had to pause and Google a lot of the Gods/Goddesses and Monsters just to understand their back-story, which made things make a little more sense.

Percy is growing up nicely, and if it weren't for his fate, I think he'd grow up to be a decent human being. Percy doesn't realize it yet, but he is starting to have feelings for Annabeth. He's at the age where it is somewhat appropriate, and Rick Riordan is playing things out and at a pace most believable. I'm not a parent, but since I was a child/teenager once, Athena's warning and blatant distaste for Percy (albeit because he is cursed/fated) will only drive them closer.

Annabeth wasn't in this story as much, but we did learn a little more about her. Grover was his same self, contributed to the story nicely enough. We got to meet Thalia a little more in depth, and I like her too. In the last book we were left wondering about her, and in this book we were educated.

I am looking forward to seeing where this story will lead. Percy keeps getting lucky, but I'm nervous because luck doesn't last forever!

P.S. Who was the mysterious girl at the Hoover Dam?

Favorite Quotes:

“The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation.”

“The wind blowing through my ripped clothes was so cold that I felt like a Percysicle.”

“There is always a way out for those clever enough to find it.”

Read from August 28 to September 01, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fantasy/Mythology, Fiction, Adventure
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews

Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer

Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mary Alice Brannigan doesn’t believe in the supernatural. Nor does she expect to find that Dreamland, the decaying amusement park she’s been hired to restore, is a prison for the five Untouchables, the most powerful demons in the history of the world. Plus, there’s a guy she’s falling hard for, and there’s something about him that’s not quite right. But rocky romances and demented demons aren’t the only problems in Dreamland: Mab’s also coping with a crooked politician, a supernatural raven, a secret government agency, an inexperienced sorceress, an unsettling inheritance, and some mind-boggling revelations from her past. As her personal demons wreck her newfound relationship and real demons wreck the park, Mab faces down immortal evil and discovers what everybody who’s ever been to an amusement park knows: The end of the ride is always the wildest.

My Review:

I ended up really enjoying this! This was a fun, creep-tastic, and humorous read about a carnival and it's demons.



Admittedly, I had a hard time getting into this story. However, once I became intrigued, I was hooked. I think it was a line (something along the lines of) oh hell no minions, you're not touching me or my demon spawn. (Sorry it's not the actual quote, I returned the book before I wrote this review.)

This story had everything, romance, fight scenes, death, demons, crazy old women, promiscuity, minions, ice cream, illusions, dragons, clowns, mermaids, stuffed animals, and a crow, etc. Even if these things sound weird together, they were worked out perfectly in the book. I found myself laughing out loud many times and had to pause to just get my bearings before continuing on.

I loved all the main characters, and despised the villains. Mab was annoying at first but grew on me, Ethan as well. Joe/Dave was interesting, Glenda & Elfie were a hoot, Cindy was sweet, Ray was an ass, Oliver was everything I dreamed of, Weever was a little intense, and I could just go on and on as there was a last cast (is that the term used for books?)

Anyways, I would recommend this book, and will definitely be picking up another by Jennifer Crusie and/or Bob Mayer.

Favorite Quotes (that I remembered to write down)

“Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

“He loved her all he could; but he couldn't love her very much.”

Read from August 19 to 31, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Romance, Fantasy/Paranormal, Fantasy, Women's Fiction/Chick Lit, Fiction
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

Vi ew all my reviews

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #2) by Rick Riordan

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson—a six-foot-three, mentally-challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any "normal" friends.

But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders which protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner by the Cyclops Polyphemus on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia—only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name.the Bermuda Triangle.

Now Percy and his friends—Grover, Annabeth, and Tyson—must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family—one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

My Review:

Much better Rick Riordan!

I came in to this story without reserves, without comparisons, and without judgement of that god-awful movie adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. That being said, this book surpassed my expectations, and has improved in quality and storytelling. I can definitely say I will continue on in this series.



I really like Percy's character. He is somewhat wild, and sometimes does not think before acting, but he's young, so it makes sense. He also has a sensitive side, he stands up for the "little man" and wants to do the right thing, even when he is tempted by the not so right.

Annabeth is starting to grow as a person too. I think Percy and her make a great team. Grover had an interesting role in this story, but I wouldn't have put it past him to do what he needed to do to save his own hide.

We were introduced to Tyson this go-round. I really liked him. At first, he had me confused, but once his situation was explained, it made sense and I realized we should not underestimate him. He was a nice addition.

I cannot wait to see what's next.



Favorite Quotes:

“Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we're related for better or for worse...and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum.”

“Does truth have a moral?”

Read from August 24 to 25, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Fantasy, Childrens/Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fantasy/Mythology, Fantasy/Paranormal

*According to Goodreads
_________________________

My ratings system

5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews

Hellhole by Gina Damico

Hellhole by Gina Damico
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

A devil is a bad influence....

There was a time when geeky, squeaky-clean Max Kilgore would never lie or steal or even think about murder. Then he accidentally unearths a devil, and Max's choices are no longer his own. The big red guy has a penchant for couch surfing and junk food - and you should never underestimate evil on a sugar high. With the help of Lore, a former goth girl who knows a thing or two about the dark side, Max is racing against the clock to get rid of the houseguest from hell before time, and all the Flamin' Hot Cheetos this side of the fiery abyss, run out.

Gina Damico, author of the Croak series, once again delivers all the horror, hilarity, and high-stakes drama that any kid in high school or hell could ever handle.

My Review:

I became a fan of Gina Damico after completing the Croak series, Croak, Scorch, Rogue. Her style of writing and storytelling are smooth and easy going.

However, with this story, she didn't quite reach her peak. Although this was still a decent story, it didn't quite meet my expectations. However, when considering the merit without comparison, this was better than decent. I feel it might be too harsh to compare the two story-lines.

I immediately enjoyed all the characters, especially Max and Burg. Max was a bumbling goof and it completely showed. He was funny but it wasn't forced. If you don't believe me, Max's experience with Project Runway will make you laugh out loud (at least I did). His range of emotions while dealing with some grown up situations to begin with and then having to deal with a junk-food demanding devil were quite understandable and believable.



Burg was a pain, and a devil (so I'll let you take from that what you will), but he was oh so funny. I found myself laughing out loud and shaking my head in dismay many times (apparently I laughed a lot). Maybe I wasn't supposed to like him, but I did. He kinda reminded me of this guy . . .



I liked how Gina Damico maintained a level of darkness. I think she has a great balance of darkness, humor, hope, and reality. Well done!

Read from August 13 to 19, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fantasy/Paranormal, Humor, Paranormal/Demons
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd by Holly Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside) and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.

With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on!

My Review:

Some stories were amazing, some were not so much, and some were pointless.

ONCE YOU'RE A JEDI, YOU'RE A JEDI ALL THE WAY by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci: I loved this story and thought it would set the tone for the rest of the book. I was wrong. They should have stuck this story in the middle to encourage readers it wasn't all so bad or at the end to wrap up nicely.

ONE OF US by Tracy Lynn: I loved this story, and it should have started the book with this. Given us readers a short lesson on nerdism.

DEFINITIONAL CHAOS by Scott Westerfield: This was interesting and made me think. I liked it.

I NEVER by Cassandra Clare: This was nice, and showed how nerds come from all walks of life. It also shows people aren't always who they seem online.

THE KING OF PELINESSE by M.T. Anderson: Way off the wall, not great, but more great than bad.

THE WRATH OF DAWN by Cynthia Leitich Smith and Greg Leitich Smith: This one fell flat. There was so much potential, but just kinda of veered off a cliff towards the end. However, there were some airbags and somewhat redeemed itself.

QUIZ BOWL ANTICHRIST by David Levithan: Interesting to see the competitiveness of Quiz Bowl, and I enjoyed the almost understanding/confusion on the MC - it wasn't negative but relatable.

THE QUIET KNIGHT by Garth Nix: Cute story. I'm not sure what else to add without giving anything away.

EVERYONE BUT YOU by Lisa Yee: This was a nice story about growing up and growing apart. Finding yourself and making the best of your situations. Nicely done.

SECRET IDENTITY by Kelly Link: Too long which was unnecessary. I was confused most of the time. I would have skipped this entirely if I'd known.

FREAK THE GEEK by John Green: Random, silly, unnecessary. Did not entertain me the way it could have, there was a lot of potential.

THE TRUTH ABOUT DINO GIRL by Barry Lyga: I was thoroughly enjoying this story until the end. Really girls? Really?!

THIS IS MY AUDITION MONOLOGUE by Sara Zarr: This was ballsy, and I'd probably have cheered the loudest at the completion.

THE STARTS AT THE FINISH LINE by Wendy Mass: I really liked this story, and it has piqued my interested in astronomy.

IT'S JUST A JUMP TO THE LEFT by Libba Bray: No, just no. This was not the way to end the book, by any means.

Comics by Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley: They were drawn well and some were entertaining. Some were just so random, I didn't get them. Not sure if that's my fault or theirs.

Read from July 29 to August 13, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Young Adult, Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Humor
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Percy Jackson is sent to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp (on Long Island) for demigods, where he learns that his father is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends, Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the underworld and prevent a war between the gods.

My Review:

My brother, who, unlike me*, got to enjoy Harry Potter as the books were coming out, enjoying the anticipation of the next release date, he recommended this series. He even went as far to say that this series was better. Being a HUGE Potter fan, I had high expectations.



Sadly, I was crushed. This was a great story, and I will continue on in the series, but I'll just have to get in the mindset to not compare my first experiences to the other. Admittedly, I think I'd have gotten a little more out of the story had I been more familiar with Greek Mythology. I know the basics, but that's sub-par at best.



Please don't get me wrong, I strongly like this story, I just didn't LOVE it. Of course, my opinion can definitely grow the deeper into the series I get, so keep a lookout for future reviews of the following books.



*I got to enjoy the magical world of Harry Potter as an adult. Although I missed the Hogwarts Express when I was younger, I proudly climbed aboard as an adult and haven't looked back!

Favorite Quotes:

“Suspecting and knowing are not the same.”

“Go on with what your heart tells you, or you will lose all.”

“The sea does not like to be restrained. ”

“If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself.”

“Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face.”

“Where's the glory in repeating what others have done?”

“Even strength must bow to wisdom sometimes.”

Read from August 06 to 07, 2015

Top 5 Genres*: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fantasy/Mythology, Fiction, Adventure
*According to Goodreads
_________________________
My ratings system
5 stars - I absolutely loved it
4 stars - Good book and would recommend
3 stars - Decent book, but wasn't spectacular
2 stars - Not good, but was able to finish it
1 stars - Did not finish (DNF) and I don't usually rate a book I haven't finished (just to be fair to the author)

View all my reviews