Book Review: Run Catch Kiss

Run Catch Kiss by Amy Sohn

So I have to admit, this is my second attempt at reviewing this book, the first review ended up getting accidentally deleted.  And then I just ignored it for a couple of weeks.  So here is my second attempt.

Run Catch Kiss by Amy Sohn is a contemporary/humor novel based on the main character Ariel Steiner and her ambitions on becoming a a-list actress.  The novel was published in 2000, and I read it back in March of 2014 when I was on vacation. This was one of many book that I have bought from the book store I used to work at so this book probably sat on my shelf for at least nine years.

The story starts out with an eye catching line, "I was only twenty-two and already I was infamous..."  You follow the saucy character Ariel Steiner as she returns home after college as she dreams of becoming a top actress.  But unfortunately her freshman-fifteen pounds, a talent agents who isn't all there, kind of stands in her way.  But a lucky break comes in the form of writing a sex column in a trendy new york downtown weekly magazine (a la Sex in the City).  But unfortunately the writing and articles start to turn Ariel's life upside down, and when she finally falls in love, she has to decide, settle down, or continue to be the saucy and brazen sex kitten.

I have to admit, I LOVED this book.  I started to read this book when I was on vacation last year and I couldn't put it down.  I believe I read this in a day.  I was completely enthralled by the characters Ariel, there were times where I sympathized with her, laughed with or at her, or wanted to throttle her.  You see here at the beginning as a very shallow person who is driven, but when you see events not happen to her like they should, you feel for her defeat but also think to yourself, that's karma.  The main love interests was also interesting.  Even though he wasn't the main focal point, you understood what he was to her and they were to each other so that I really liked.

In the end I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because I couldn't put it down.  It had me laughing at some parts, and feeling sad in other and also a little angry.  This was a pleasant book to read, and I think a good vacation book.

Rating:
4 out of 5

Book Review: Bubbles A Broad

Bubbles A Broad by Sarah Strohmeyer

Bubbles A Broad by Sarah Strohmeyer is a mystery style book in the genre a la Stephanie Plum.  There is some romance, but it is mostly based on main character Bubbles Yablonsky trying to get a spot in her town's news paper.  So I first picked up this book when I worked at the book store because my manager Kristi said that if I liked Janet Evanovich that I would like Sarah Strohmeyer's Bubbles series.  The book is part of a series, but you don't have to read them in order.  In fact I think this book is in the middle of the series.  There really isn't a whole lot of mention of the previous books and there is enough character description so that recurring characters have enough knowledge.

The main character in this book is Bubbles Yablonsky, who is in her late thirties and a single mother of a teenage daughter.  The setting of the book is somewhere in Pennsylvania and there is some mention of the Amish and also people with Polish, Dutch and German ancestry.  Bubbles physical description is one of busty, blond (bleached) big hair, and her love of animal print clothing and high heels.  Before trying to become journalist reporter for her local newspaper Bubbles was a hair stylist and nail technician at a salon.  After going to a unaccredited college in an old department store she gets her degree in journalism and is trying to get onto the paper.

The overall plot of the book starts when Bubbles is visited by Carol Weaver who has just escaped from prison and has gone to Bubbles to help prove her innocents.  Carol believes that she was framed for her husbands murder because he knew to many secrets about the steel company that supports the small town.  During the investigation, Bubbles uncovers more than what she expected and soon becomes a target for people trying to get rid of her.  There is a lot of action during this book but that doesn't stop Bubbles from finally consummating her relationship with hunky investigative reporter Stiletto.  I have to be honest though, I don't know if Stiletto is a nickname, first or last name.  It wasn't really ever explained, I'm assuming that it was explained in one of the other books, because he is a recurring character.  Along with Stiletto, Bubbles mother, her mothers best friend, Bubbles best friend and boss at the hair salon that she used to work at, her ex-husband, teenage daughter and the daughter's boyfriend.  They are all crazy characters that seem like you have everyone in her family.  The plot was very well thought out, and even though there was something not really resolved it kind of was so you're left not wondering at the end of the book.

This was a good book, and I enjoyed reading every word from front to back cover.  I liked how it was kept very light and airy but with enough action to keep me interested.  There were scenes where I literally laughed out loud and then there were other scene that made me feel concerned for the safety of Bubbles.  If you're in the mood to read a book that has some action, romance and humor then Bubbles A Broad is the book for you.

Rating:
4.5 out of 5

On Deck:
Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding

Book Review: Charmed Thirds

Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty

Charmed Thirds is the third book in a series written by Megan McCafferty.  The first two books are Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings.  Yes I have read both books before this one.  But I did read them quite sometime ago but surprisingly I remembered a lot of important details from the first two books to know what was going on with this one.  This is one of those series where I think it would be more beneficial to read the books in chronological order first, because the novel is written like a diary/journal by the main character. This book is in the young adult genre and is based on real life topics.

The novel and series is based off the life of Jessica Darling.  It is written in a diary/journal style but also with a slight first person point of view.  The book is about her life in college and dealing with her boyfriend going to a Buddhist school in California while she is going to Columbia in New York.  The character of Jessica Darling is your typical college student who is too aware of her surroundings and curses her not so glamorous life in Pineville, New Jersey.  While the first two books in the series is about Jessica in high school.  This book covers her whole college career.  There are a lot of conflicts in this story that shape the the plot but I think the main one were when Jessica cheats on her boyfriend Marcus and her parents decide to cut her off financially.  The whole book seemed very realistic and to a certain extent I think it is very easy to relate with.  The book end with graduation and Jessica going off to try and find her next step beyond college so of course there is a sequel to this book called Fourth Comings. What I liked most about this book and the two before is that Megan McCafferty is really good at adding humor into her stories.  It's almost as if Jessica Darling was a real life person, she would be a stand up comedian.

This was a really quick read and it was kind of hard to put down.  It was very addicting and I constantly wanted to know what would happen next to the character Jessica Darling.  I love the humor and plot in the story.  While it was kind of typical drama plot I think the style of McCafferty's writing kept it fresh.  There are definitely little parts and scenes that are easy to replay in your head and make you chuckle.  While there is sex and relationships in this book, there is no detail of the acts.  You just know that it happened.

I think anyone who is in the mood for a quick read with a little bit of drama and humor this is the book for you.  While there is a little bit of course language it isn't enough to turn me off from the book.  While it is addictive and a quick read, the chapters are broken up in year/semesters/months so it is easy to find a stopping point.  Again I really enjoyed reading the books.  McCafferty has done a good job developing her lead character through out the three books into an easy transition that is realistic.

Rating:
4 out of 5

On Deck:
Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Bubbles A Broad by Sarah Strohmeyer
Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding

Book Review: Bad Boys to Go

Bad Boys to Go

Bad Boys to Go is an anthology with three different authors: Lori Foster, Janelle Danison and Nancy Warren.  All three stories share the same similarity that the main male characters are considered "bad boys" but really aren't.

Bringing up Baby by Lori Foster is about bad boy Gil Watson who had a wild one night stand that made him a father.  It isn't until his daughter is about 2 years old that he finds out that he is a father.  But the mother is tragically killed and her best friend has been the only mother this little girl knows.

This story was fun and funny.  While it is only about 100 pages there is enough detail to keep you interested. This is different from a lot of the other romance anthologies that I have read because the two main characters have known each other for quite some time.  So their romance is plausible.

The Wilde One by Janelle Denison is about bad boy Adrian Wilde who is an extreme outdoors man and Chayse Douglas who is a photographer who wants him to pose for her hunk calender.  He on the other hand is not enthused about it so she must find a way to persuade him.

This is another fun and funny story that is light with just enough smut and romance to keep me interested.  Again, the two main characters have a history so the story takes place right at the climax of their relationship budding into something more.

Going After Adam by Nancy Warren is a little different than the the other two stories.  Gretchen Wiest's main objective is to go after cheating spouses since she is a private investigator.  But when she is hired to to after Adam Stone she is in for more than what she bargained for.  One: he isn't married, two: he has people after him to kill him.

This also follows the fun and funny story line, but there is immediate romance with out a past between the two main characters.  But I have to say the hilarious funny parts were a lot more than the other two stories.

All three stories have very detailed romantic scenes so if that isn't your thing I wouldn't consider the book.  But it isn't as vulgar as what true erotica is but the language sometimes borders on porno language.  The stories are around 100 pages each and you can easily read each on with in an hour before bed if you would like.  They all have pretty well detailed plots for short stories and they are fun to read.

I originally picked up because I have read a few of Lori Foster's book and liked her writing style and was pleasantly surprised by the other two authors.

Over all, this is a very fun book to read.  The stories were fun and fast with romance and hilarity.  Each held the proper amount of detail but didn't weigh it down to make it seem like you were reading a story more than 100 pages.

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Rating:
4 out of 5

On Deck:
Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber  by Adele Lang
Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Return of the Warrior by Kinley MacGregor

Bakers Dozen 8

On the Bright Side; I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison

So this is the second book in Rennison's Georgia Nicholson series and my favorite.  This is also a young adult novel and at the time that I read it it was age appropriate.  I think one of the reason's why this story stuck out in my head is because of the humor.  My taste in humor is very slap stick and kind of juvenile.  One of my favorite parts is where Georgia is holding her younger sister in her lap and her younger sister farts.  That whole scene had me giggling for about 3 hours straight.  But other than that the whole book is full of hilarity.

The whole series is based on Georgia's journal entries about her daily life and her affections of the opposite sex, especially her Sex-God boyfriend Robbie.  The story takes place right after Rennison's first novel, Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging so it is a series that you would probably want to start from first novel to the end of the series.

While the first three or four novels seem more juvenile,but you definitely see a character growth in Georgia as the series progresses.  But Rennison never looses her distinct sense of humor as the series progresses.  I have to say that she wrote an excellent modern-day, young adult version of Lucy and Ethel, as Georgia's best friend Jas plays side kick to all of Georgia's crazy antics.

This is definitely a book and series that will probably stay on my bookshelves for years to come.  If you ever feel the need to indulge you inner teenager with some humor I definitely recommend this series to anyone, young or old.