Seven Up - Janet Evanovich

Seven Up by Janet Evanovich
Genre: Adult Mystery
Form: Audio Book
Series: Stephanie Plum Series

Semi-retired mob guy, Eddie DeChooch, is caught trafficking contraband cigarettes through Trenton, New Jersey. When DeChooch fails to show for a court appearance, bond enforcement agent Stephanie Plum is assigned the task of finding him and dragging his decrepit ass back to jail. Not such an easy job, it turns out, since DeChooch has learned a lot of tricks over the years and isn't afraid to use his gun. He's already shot Loretta Ricci and left her for worm food in his shed. He wouldn't mind shooting Stephanie next.
Likeable losers (and former high school classmates) Walter "MoonMan" Dunphy and Dougie "The Dealer" Kruper have inadvertently become involved with DeChooch. They've gotten sucked into an operation which is much more than simple cigarette smuggling and holds risks far greater than anyone could have imagined.
When Dougie disappears, Steph goes into search mode. When Mooner disappears, she calls in the heavy artillery and asks master bounty hunter Ranger for help. Ranger's price for the job? One night with Stephanie, dusk to dawn. Not information she'd want to share with her some-time live in roommate, vice cop Joe Morelli.
A typical dilemma in the world of Plum.
And on the homefront, Stephanie's "perfect" sister Valerie has decided to move back to Trenton, bringing her two kids from hell. Grandma Mazur is asking questions about being a lesbian, and Bob, the bulimic dog, is eating everything in sight-including the furniture.
Mud wrestling, motorcycles, fast cars, fast food, and fast men. It's Seven Up. Absolutely Janet Evanovich at her very best.

Source: Barnes and Noble Website

My comments:
Love the addition of the Harley, although I just can't imagine doing bounty hunter stuff, with a two-hundred pounds of "back up" in tow as well. Wonder how long this is going to last...(probably not very, knowing Stephanie). Also.....HELLO Ranger.

Vampire Kisses - Ellen Schreiber

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Form: Book
Series: Vampire Kisses

Raven lives in "Dullsville," where nothing ever happens. Until now...

The mansion on top of Benson Hill has been empty and boarded up for years. But a new family has moved in. A family that never ventures out during the day. Who are these creepy people - especially the handsome, dark, and elusive Alexander Sterling? Or rather, what are they? Could the town gossip actually be true? Are they vampires?

Raven, who secretly covets a vampire kiss, both at the risk of her own mortality and Alexander's loving trust, is dying to uncover the truth.

Source: Back of book

Another vampire series to fill that vampire shaped hole that has made it's way into my normal reading attire. While this is no Twilight by any stretch of the imagination, I felt this book was very cute and interesting. The story was typical mysterious family meets goth girl who is obsessed with black, things that are different, and vampires.

The characters in the story were a bit sub-par for my taste. At times I felt the things that Raven would say sounded more like a thirteen year old than a seventeen year old, as well as some of the behavior. What saved the book for me was the story itself. I enjoyed Raven and Alexander's relationship, even though it took half the book or more for Alexander to even make an appearance.

Favorite Character: Alexander. He was a shy, compassionate guy who was not only hot stuff, but also seemed to be genuinely good. The strong silent type.

Second Chance - Jane Green

Second Chance by Jane Green
Genre: Chic-Lit
Form: Book

Jane Green once again shows why she is a nationally bestselling author with legions of loyal fans. The story of a group of people who haven't seen each other since they were best friends in school, they reunite when one of them dies in a terrible tragedy. Recapturing the intimacy of their younger days, they are each surprised at the impact their encounter brings. Warm, witty, and as wise as ever, Second Chance will strike a chord with anyone who is still trying to figure life out.

Source: Back of book

This is a book about about a group of friend who are still finding out who they are. I found Jane Green's writing very interesting. She would change who was narrating the book quite suddenly, and at first I found it a little annoying, but then found it really pretty neat. One person would be narrating and mention the another of the characters, and the next thing you know that other character is the one narrating without any warning at all. It did, at least, keep the story interesting and moving.

All the characters in this book were different and enjoyable in their own way, but every one of them was also "lost" in their own way. There was something about their life that just was not going right. But bring some old friends together to reminisce about the past and remember a good friend (the friend that kept their group connected in the first place) and all the wild puzzle pieces start coming back together again.

The book was a fun read, although it was not exactly the type of book that I was wanting to read at the time, it was able to keep me intrigued and reading.

Wife for Hire - Janet Evanovich

Wife for Hire by Janet Evanovich
Genre: Adult Romance
Form: Audio Book

Hank Mallone knows he's in trouble when Maggie Toone agrees to pretend to be his wife in order to improve his rogue's reputation. Will his harebrained scheme to get a bank loan for his business backfire once Maggie arrives in his small Vermont town and lets the gossips take a look?

Maggie never expected her employer to be drop-dead handsome, but she's too intrigued by his offer to say no . . . and too eager to escape a life that made her feel trapped. The deal is strictly business, both agree, until Hank turns out to be every fantasy she ever had.

Source: Barnes & Nobel website

Janet Evanovich is the master at knowing what women wants. If you want a romance, BAM, she delivers. If you want funny, BAM, she's on top of that too. I've not yet been disappointed with one of her books. The plots in her books, however predictable, are always fun and entertaining. And she never fails to deliver a very well rounded happily ever after - and that really IS why we read these books, right?

Janet is also the master of creating characters that you can relate to and are enjoyable. I always fall in love with the male protagonist right along with the female protagonist. She makes them utterly irresistible!

Wife for Hire is a scenario that seems like it could work - yeah RIGHT! Major set up for romantic issues or faults. I loved the tension and intensity between Hank and Maggie. Throughout the book you can actually see the characters growing as people, and falling into the place that they are meant to. I did get a tiny bit frustrated with Maggie, who really was overly obsessed with "fitting in" rather than being comfortable in her skin. I felt she was a bit overly judgmental towards most of Hank's neighbors, but most of that was just Maggie's own self consciousness.

Hot Six - Janet Evanovich

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
Genre: Adult Fiction
Form: Mass Paperback
Series: Stephanie Plum Series

Hot Day
Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is faced with her most daunting task yet: bring in the mysterious former Special Forces agent, Carlose Manoso (aka Ranger). He's the man who taught her everything about fugitive apprehension, and Stephanie knows she will be testing her skills against the master. But if she does catch him, she's not so sure she could turn in her friend-even if he's wanted for murder...

Hot Night
Ant if this isn't enough to keep her up at night, Grandma Mazur is crimping her sex life by moving in with her and keeping her from getting any action from her cop boyfriend, Joe Morelli. Now, with her love life messing with her head, two threatening goons on her tail, and three corpses - so far - it's getting a little too hot for Stephaine, who's search for Ranger is bringing her dangerously close to the wrong side of the law...

Source: back of book

First of all, the synopsis has it wrong. This isn't her task. She does not take the assignment to bring Ranger in - Joyce Barnhardt has this assignment. But Stephanie, of course, cannot help but be caught in the middle of all the drama. Especially as others involved in this mystery are following HER to find Ranger. Which of course, they are right to - since Ranger somehow finds himself into Stephanie's apartment on a semi-regular basis. Oh, and we can't forget the new addition to the Plum series: Bob the dog..the poop-tacular mutt who (of course) eats everything in sight!

Hot Six steps up the Stephanie/Ranger possibilities a bit - bring on another love triangle...will be Team Joe or Team Ranger? Personally - I'd go with Joe. But that's just me.