The Best Reader:
audio book review

"This book was beautifully executed and wonderfully imaginative." — Miss Remmers

Release Date: Sept 2011
Publisher: Doubleday
Challenges: Audiobook Challenge, DAC 2011, 100+ Reading Challenge

"The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead."

Like many others, I picked up "The Night Circus" because someone related it to Harry Potter and "the next big thing." As the first couple chapters progressed, I reminded myself that this would be "like" Harry Potter and I don't think I stopped that comparison until two thirds of the way through the book. In my opinion, "The Night Circus" is very little like Harry Potter. The narrator is fantastic and with his accent it sort of sounds like Harry Potter. The language is beautifully descriptive and the story is flawlessly wound like Harry Potter. But other than that, I'd say this book is in a category of it's own.

"The Night Circus" was a fantastic audiobook but because I didn't know anything about the plot other than it was Harry Potter-esque, I really didn't know where this story was headed. It was hard to hear the changes in perspective and the different plot lines and smaller pre-chapters.

This audio made walking the dog go by so much faster, even in the -15 degree weather! I never really craved caramel like other readers (and I eventually noticed how the caramel smell was almost continually brought up) but I could see the colors (or lack there of) and I could imagine the whole plot playing out.

Overall, this book was beautifully executed and wonderfully imaginative.

-Visit Erin around the web here: Website | Goodreads | Twitter
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To the FTC, with love: Library Loan Audio and Bought as Gift

"I think sometimes that society has become hardened to the atrocity that was Nazi/Jew WWII, but the reality is that there were other victims of WWII as well. This is their story." — Miss Remmers

Release Date: March 22nd, 2011
Publisher: Philomel Books
Challenges: 100+ Challenge, Audiobook Challenge, DAC 2011

"Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.
Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously — and at great risk — documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives."

Forgive me, but I can't exactly remember who raved about this book on Twitter about a month ago, but THANK YOU! I remember this person just exclaiming how amazing this audio was and as a result I interlibrary loaned it without even looking up the synopsis. When I played the first tape I was surprised to see that it was a WWII novel and even more baffled that it wasn't portraying the Nazi/Jew version. No, this book illustrates life from the perspective of a young Lithuanian girl who has been imprisoned by the Soviets with her mother and young brother.

I was at first a bit weary of this plot, as (again) I'm not a big historical fiction person. But I was on a road trip to visit my mother and "had no other choice." A few tracks later I was completely enveloped and by the second disk I knew without a doubt that this audiobook would be one of my favorites. I cried several times throughout my road trip and when I wasn't in my car I was thinking of Lina and her family.

Parts of this book made my insides hurt with hunger, exhaustion, and complete despair (it was that good). It seems like the past couple of audios have really brought me down with annoyances and frustrations (mostly to do with the narrator) but this book (and narrator) did such a fantastic job of bringing me into the story and making it intensely real and horrifying.

The end, I will say, brought me to tears in the classroom. I finished another novel on reading day and still had a period to go so I went to the library and got the book (and felt like I was cheating on the audio). As the last page ended the bell rang, and I didn't even say goodbye or "have a good weekend" to my kids. As the next class trickled in I was still wrapped in the feeling of immense sorrow and elation (at the same time). There were even a few questions (spoilers): how did they get out? what happened next? What about the young Pole who help them? How did Andruis find her? Was her father really alive? But I see now that those things aren't really that important to the story.

This audiobook was phenomenal, almost life changing. If you've been struggling to find a good story or a good audiobook, no matter what your preference of genre is, this book is spectacularly honest and unique. I've never read such characters with such a real plot. I think sometimes that society has become hardened to the atrocity that was Nazi/Jew WWII (until you visit the Holocaust Museum in DC) because of all the movies and the matter-of-factness of history books, but the reality is that there were other victims of WWII as well. This is their story.

-Visit Ruta around the web here: Website | Goodreads
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To the FTC, with love: Library Loan

"'Crescendo' was a decent sophomore novel and if you didn't really "connect" with the exposition or rising action, that climax will definitely bring you back for more!" — Miss Remmers

Release Date: October 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Challenges: Audiobook Challenge, Off the Shelf, 100+ Reading Challenge

"Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.
The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?"

Because it had been over a year since I read, it took me a few chapters to rediscover the plot and characters. I'm not sure if it's due to the time difference or the place I'm in currently, but this book just didn't hit me the same way "Hush, Hush" did. It's not that I disliked the book, it's just that I wasn't in a hurry to finish. Maybe I'm having a case of the Audio Blues — does this happen to anyone else?

Anyway, Vi, the best friend, annoyed me during the audio because I felt like the narrator was out of voices. But the actual character really impressed me — what an awesome friend! If I had to pick any recent book BFF for my real life friend I think it would be her. What she would do for Nora was absolutely endless and the girl definitely has spunk.

Patch was a bit more predictable and right from the get-go I was like, "Oh no," in regards to Nora's actions and reactions in love. I mean, this girl just needs to stop, let the hormones relax, think, and then act. There was a bit of a surprise at the end, and despite the predictability throughout the novel there were the moments (especially towards the end) where I was like "WHAAAAT!?" That alone was enough to get me excited for "Silence."

All in all, "Crescendo" was a decent sophomore novel and if you didn't really "connect" with the exposition or rising action, that climax will definitely bring you back for more!
-Visit Becca around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter
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To the FTC, with love: Library Loan Audiobook

Release Date: September 2010
Publisher: Ember
Challenges: Audiobook Challenge, Off the Shelf, 100+ Challenge

"There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce—and goes out of his way to make that very clear—she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret... even if it kills her."
"Fallen" has been on my TBR list since before it's release. I received the ARC from someone and then my mom bought me a finished copy — but it wasn't until I interlibrary loaned the audiobook that I finally got around to completing this book.

It's been so long since I've finished this book that I've kind of forgotten the specifics and my exact reactions. Does that happen to anyone else? So I'm not going to pretend to analyze this book, plot, or characters, because (honestly) I can't remember.

I do remember not being completely in love with it and being really annoyed with Daniel and Luce. There were parts that were extremely predictable but then there were twists that kept me guessing. However, the ending was worth me interlibrary loaning "Torment" so hopefully when I begin listening to that hopefully I'll remember the exact gist of things.:)

-Visit Lauren around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter
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To the FTC, with love: ARC from Publisher, Bought finished copy, Library Loan Audiobook

Release Date: 2006
Publisher: NAL Jam
Challenges: YA Challenge, Audiobook Challenge, iChallenge, Off the Shelf, 100+ Reading Challenge

"Welcome to Morganville, Texas.
Just don't stay out after dark. College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation, where the popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks in the school's social scene: somewhere less than zero. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life. But they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood."

I apologize for my rant/rave. I'm sure this book wasn't as bad as I am recollecting now, but I'm just needing to get this all off my chest. If you stick with me through this review there is a "light at the end of the tunnel" in the form of a funny "while I was listening" story. I know it's "unprofessional" to write super negative reviews and I mean no disrespect to the author, but this book at it's essence just did not float my boat. For a different perspective please look at these reviews: Love Vampires, Book Briefs, and Books from the Addict.

I chose to pick this series up because it was on my Top YA List Challenge and, I won't lie, I'm a "sucker" for vampire books. Unfortunately, this book didn't suck me in... at all. First of all, I found all of the characters to be so entirely cliche, shallow, and extreme that I couldn't take ANY of them seriously. In the first chapter you're introduced to Jenn, Gina, Monica, and Erica — the mean girls. I mean, really? Perhaps the purpose of the similar syllables was to indicate that they were really of one personality, but it really only confused me more.

I understand the element of fiction, but how mean these girls were was just two extreme for me to even handle. I mean, pushing a girl down the stairs in a dorm and leaving her there to potentially die? I understand the whole laundry thing because I've seen that kind of bullying, but jumping the girl!? I'm serious, at one point (spoiler) all of the girls in the dorm kidnapped Claire by shoving a bag over her head and throwing her into a van and beating her and then there was the time when they took her to the basement of the dorms and held her down while she was beaten. That's just too ridiculous for me to handle.

Speaking of Claire, I am so sick of hearing how intelligent she is! Every chapter I was reminded of the fact that she was only sixteen but smart for her age and that she was in college early. It was almost like listening to how clutzy/ditzy Bella is every other page. Then the parent issue: it seems like in most YA books there's a lack of strong parents (because how else would these kids be getting away with all they are getting away with?). In this book, apparently two extremely good parents let their sixteen year old go to this far away small-town university rather than let her go to a large, ivy-league near by. Then after a hospital incident (because Claire apparently can't go anywhere without needing to be rescued) her parents finally get worried and only then does Claire become a REAL sixteen year old.

But it's not really Claire's fault — all of the characters acted (LOTS) older than they really were. I just can't wrap my mind around a bunch of eighteen year olds hanging out in a house (and paying for it) and being as mature as they were. With the alcohol references and the maturity of the characters, it felt like they were more in their mid-twenties rather than the end of the teens.

Whew. Still reading?

Those are basically the notes I had typed down while listening. Forgetting the characters and the plot, the narrator alone didn't really sell me on this book either. I purchased a hard copy of Volume One, the first two stories, months ago but I won't be reading the last part of it. I just can't stomach it.

I know as a "fair" reviewer I should mention something that I enjoyed about this audiobook, but there really wasn't anything (other than the fact that at least the vampire society was intriguing and even believable). I do have a funny "while I was listening story" though to lighten the mood of this review.

While I was listening to this audiobook to and from work my neighborhood underwent some major road construction. At one point I was in my car stopped at one of those signs held by a worker (one side said stop and the other side says "slowly"). I was in the front of the line and this particular worker was sort of staring at me funny. Then all of a sudden a more "racy" part of the book was narrated and I could just feel the judgement of this worker staring me down. I started to get really embarrassed and even blushed. I'm hoping he couldn't hear me, but I do have to have my radio on pretty loud to hear the audiobooks. Awkward.

-Visit Rachel around the web here: Goodreads | Twitter
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To the FTC, with love: Library Loan Audiobook and Bought hard copy

Release Date: April 2008
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Challenges: Audiobook Challenge, 100+ Reading Challenge, Dystopia Challenge

"Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?"

Much like "The Maze Runner, " when I began listening to the Jenna Fox audiobook I almost had to stop to make sure I was starting with track one on disc one (and consult Twitter to confirm I was supposed to this confused. Once I realized that it wasn't just me, I was able to let go and listen.

It took me about four days worth of walks to begin to understand what was going on. This didn't exactly "put me off," but I wasn't in a hurry to find out either. The best word to describe how I felt about the beginning of this novel is "indifference." Because I had absolutely no idea what was going on I didn't feel a connection with Jenna and therefore didn't feel a connection with the book overall until very late into the novel.

That being said, while reading "Jenna Fox" I was able to see and understand all sides of the controversy — Jenna's, her parent's, and society's perspective. Generally I feel that as readers we automatically side with the protagonist and all other perspectives are simply "foot-noted." But with "Jenna Fox," all the perspectives were very equally represented and I appreciated the ability to think for myself as a reader and decide which perspective I agreed with.

I appreciated the novel and the ethics presented but, if I'm being honest, I didn't feel the connection to this book that I needed in order to pick up the second book. Again, I just felt indifferent towards this book — it wasn't awful but it didn't scream "never put me down" either.

I'm looking for a "never put me down" book to get out of my funk — any suggestions?

-Visit Mary around the web here: Goodreads | Twitter
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To the FTC, with love: Audiobook from Library

"I found myself... having to take out one ear bud because it hurt to listen. Not a physical hurt, but an emotional and mental hurt." — Miss Remmers

Release Date: October 1999
Publisher: Puffin
Challenges: Audiobook Challenge, YA List Challenge, Off the Shelf, 100+ Reading Challenge

"When Melinda Sordino's friends discover she called the police to quiet a party, they ostracize her, turning her into an outcast — even among kids she barely knows. But even worse than the harsh conformity of high-school cliques is a secret that you have to hide."

"Speak" has been on my list of things I MUST read for about two years. I finally got around to listening to it.

You undoubtedly remember the discussion last year about "Speak" being a banned book. You know how supposedly powerful it is and how everyone loves it. Well, if I could say any ONE thing about this book that you may not have heard before it would be this: the audiobook's narrator is absolutely fantastic and listening to this novel may even be more powerful than reading it.

I'm not kidding, unlike "The Maze Runner" where the audiobook hindered my enjoyment of the book, this audiobook was amazing. The narrator was absolutely brilliant — so honest, innocent, sarcastic, and believable! I felt like I knew her! The narrator's voice with Halse Anderson's words put such emotion into me!

For instance, several times (not just once) I found myself walking the dog and listening and having to take out one ear bud (I know this sounds crazy) because it hurt to listen. Not a physical hurt, but an emotional and mental hurt. There was even a moment when I was walking and listening and it was rather late at night (around midnight) and at that point in the novel I was actually looking behind me to make sure no one was there! It's been weeks since I've finished this book and that suspicion is still there — the fear!

Besides a fantastic story that was so well written and articulated, this book (and more specifically this audiobook) is the perfect example of VOICE for students. My school district employs the 6+1 writing traits and one of the traits is VOICE. Voice is incredibly hard to teach because 1) it's hard to find and 2) it's hard to do! In the coming weeks as my students get comfortable with their routines and we begin discussing the 6+1 traits, I will be using "Speak" in the classroom to discuss the immense power of VOICE — something Laurie Halse Anderson seems to be an expert at.

-Visit Laurie around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter
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To the FTC, with love: Library Loan Audiobook

"The audiobook didn't work for me. Everything else is dystopian greatness!" — Miss Remmers

Release Date: October 2009 Publisher: Random House Challenges: Dystopia Challenge, Audiobook Challenge, Top YA Challenge, 100+ Reading Challenge
"Imagine waking up one day in total darkness, unsure of where you are and unable to remember anything about yourself except your first name. You're in a bizarre place devoid of adults called the Glade. The Glade is an enclosed structure with a jail, a graveyard, a slaughterhouse, living quarters, and gardens. And no way out. Outside the Glade is the Maze, and every day some of the kids — the Runners — venture into the labyrinth, trying to map the ever-changing pattern of walls in an attempt to find an exit from this hellish place. So far, no one has figured it out. And not all of the Runners return from their daily exertions, victims of the maniacal Grievers, part animal, part mechanical killing machines. Thomas is the newest arrival to the Glade in this Truman -meets-Lord of the Flies tale. A motley crew of half a dozen kids is all he has to guide him in this strange world. As soon as he arrives, unusual things begin to happen, and the others grow suspicious of him. Though the Maze seems somehow familiar to Thomas, he's unable to make sense of the place, despite his extraordinary abilities as a Runner. What is this place, and does Thomas hold the key to finding a way out?"
Subsequent Books: "The Scorch Trials" — October 2010 "The Death Cure" — October 11, 2011
I began "The Maze Runner" completely confused — I mean, calling my mom and saying, "Did I miss something?" I listened to this book while walking the dog and as I complete more and more audiobooks I realize that sometimes beginnings are so ambiguous that I need to call or text someone who I know has read the book to make sure that I'm on the right "disc" (although the best word is track as I upload it to my iPhone). "The Maze Runner" was like that — I was just sure I had accidentally pressed "shuffle."

Once I realized that "No, this is really how it starts," I let go of my confusion and attempted to acclimate to the story. It didn't really work for me. It's a longer audiobook and with three walks a day (about an hour a day) it still took me weeks to finish. This may be the first instance of my audiobook adventure that the audiobook didn't work in the books favor. I just didn't connect with the plot, the characters, or the setting.

I know, you're thinking right now that you've heard TONS of great things about this book and that you are so disappointed. I am too. But I'm not blaming the book at all and I'm not disagreeing with all of those fantastic reviews. I'm just saying that the audiobook (for me) didn't work. Everything else is dystopian greatness!

Two things that I can think of that hindered me were that the narrator was sounded like a thirty or forty year old and the boys were teenagers at best and that I had a hard time visualizing the setting. Again, this may not be the books fault but my own. My mind wanders when I listen and walk (and pick up Pip's business all at the same time). This, with the longer audiobook, could be a catalyst in my inability to connect. I'm not sure.

With all the series out today, I'm not sure if I'll continue this journey with Thomas in "The Scorch Trials." If I decide to, I'll definitely be reading and not listening. Have you read the second novel? Do you recommend it? Why?

Did I make a reference to my dog's feces in this post? That's a first!
-Visit James around the web here: Blog | Goodreads | Twitter -BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook
To the FTC, with love: Audiobook from Library

"I enjoyed the audiobook and recommend it to any reader looking to return to a world of gowns, princesses, magic, and dancing" — Miss Remmers

Release Date: March 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Challenges: Audiobook Challenge, DAC 2011, 100+ Reading Challenge

"Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her... beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing... it's taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation. Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest. But there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late."
I haven't read a book like this in a long time — a true fairy tale-esque story. Yes I've read loads of fantasy and paranormal books, but it's been forever since I've felt complete transported back in time to a land of princesses and magic. The audiobook was extremely helpful with this particular book in regards to setting the scene and the atmosphere of the fairy tale. The narrator was superb and excellently pulled off that "In a land far away" type of voice.
As for the plot — I did have a few frustrations. There are twelve little princesses — TWELVE! I found this a bit excessive and they all kind of mushed into one princess by the middle of the book. I just don't understand why it was necessary to have TWELVE princesses. Even now, after reading the book, I only remember Azalea, Bramble, and Clover as actually having a personality. I understand that Dixon wanted to illustrate that Azalea was the "mother figure" and that she had a lot on her plate — but honestly, with twelve sisters to remember I had a lot on MY plate!
I was also bothered by the triviality of the main concern of this story — dancing. Now, I love to dance and I never sit out a dance (not even on my wedding night!) but really, if your life basically goes down the toilet and (I'll just say it because I think we can all assume it's going to happen) your mother dies I feel like you're going to be a bit more concerned about other things than dancing. I found this preoccupation with the hobby a bit repetitive and unbelievable.
Wow. That sounds really negative. I don't mean it to be because in reality I enjoyed this audiobook. It was a great listen while walking the dog and I looked forward to those walks because of it. Those two slight annoyances were just that... annoyances. They never ruined the book for me and they didn't (obviously) make me stop listening. I enjoyed Azalea's character although some of her actions may have made me doubt her intelligence (but really, what damsel in distress do you NOT doubt the intelligence?). She was likable and headstrong and she really did have her sisters' best interests at heart. I loved the two main love interests (and the surprising third) and I especially enjoyed the King.
Random point — I felt like there were three different times this book could have ended besides the actual ending. When listening to an audiobook you can't necessarily "see" the end so this was a bit confusing (when all of the tracks are downloaded so you aren't dealing with CDs) and I actually had to go into my iPod option on my phone to make sure I was on the right track.
In short, had I attempted to read this book rather than listen to it I'm not sure if I would have been able to stick to it simply because it is harder to get used to this entirely different atmosphere and scene. The narrator did a fantastic job of whisking me away to this far away land whenever I put my ear phones in. The plot, while centered around the repetitive concept of the love of dancing, did actually fit the feeling of the book and the characters, who melded into a three characters (Azalea, Bramble, Clover, little sisters), were likable and fit well into this fairy tale-esque world that Dixon has created. I enjoyed the audiobook and recommend it to any reader looking to return to a world of gowns, princesses, magic, and dancing.
-Visit Heather around the web here: Website | Goodreads
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To the FTC, with love: Library Loan Audiobook recommended by Michelle at Hooked to Books

Release Date: 2007
Publisher: Ace Trade
Challenges: Audiobook Challenge, iChallenge, Off the Shelf, 100+ Reading Challenge

"Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit.
The summit is a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe."

For anyone who hasn't read the first six books or actually has an interest in starting to read these books — this review may not be for you. I apologize and urge you to look elsewhere for an informative and helpful review.

Alright, let's be honest: I am seven books in and I'm still waiting for this book to "get good." My BFF Button swears that it does. She loves these novels and together we both agree Eric is definitely swoon-worthy. But as for the writing? It kind of nauseates me. I hate hearing about the stupid Word of the Day calendar and her money problems and etc etc etc.

But (yes, there is a but) despite the (in my opinion) poor writing, I enjoyed this novel for what it was: a light, fluffy novel. I listened to it in the car to and from work and other errands and while I never felt the need to go sit in my car or take a road trip to finish this audiobook, I wasn't exactly super annoyed whenever I strapped the seat belt in either.

Although, funny story, so there's loads of construction in my neighborhood right now and while I was on my way home from summer school one day I was stopped at one of those construction stop signs (I'm not explaining this well), you know — where the person does really nothing but stand in the hot sun, smoking a cigarette, and twisting the sign from SLOW to STOP (generally at the most inopportune moment for me)... anyway, so I was stopped and the story all of a sudden got a bit "steamy" and the construction worker just kept staring me down. Then I started to get nervous that the stereo was too loud and he could hear what I was listening to! I pretty much blushed the last six blocks home.

So yea, that's my review. It's probably the worst one I've ever written, but it's hard to review the seventh book in a series that you aren't particularly liking. I will continue reading this series, perhaps if only to see what Button sees in it. So maybe I'm the crazy one? Admitting to not really liking a series but reading it anyway? Who knows. But I'm definitely hoping for some more Eric in the next novel.

-Visit Charlaine around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads
-BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook

To the FTC, with love: Audiobook via Library Loan and Bought (used paperback)

From Amazon.com...

"Life has been good for Becky Bloomwood: She’s become the best personal shopper at Barneys, she and her successful entrepreneurial boyfriend, Luke, are living happily in Manhattan’s West Village, and her new next-door neighbor is a fashion designer! But with her best friend, Suze, engaged, how can Becky fail to notice that her own ring finger is bare? Not that she’s been thinking of marriage (or diamonds) or anything... Then Luke proposes! Bridal registries dance in Becky’s head. Problem is, two other people are planning her wedding: Becky’s overjoyed mother has been waiting forever to host a backyard wedding, with the bride resplendent in Mum’s frilly old gown. While Luke’s high-society mother is insisting on a glamorous, all-expenses-paid affair at the Plaza. Both weddings for the same day. And Becky can’t seem to turn down either one. Can everyone’s favorite shopaholic tie the knot before everything unravels?"

Confessions of a Shopaholic
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

I think I've finally got my Becky fix.

Like I've said consistently about the Shopaholic books, I don't like the main character. I find Becky to be self-centered and selfish. She continually makes a mess of things, and while it all works out in the end, she never learns her lesson! It was during this book as well that I began to dislike Luke too; he barely paid attention to Becky and fell into this sort of depression that, to me, said they should call off the wedding all together and let him work on his issues.

The plot drives these books and does a fantastic job of taking hold of readers and keeping them interested. Fast paced and full of cliff hangers and twist, the plot is the highlight of this book. Despite not like the main characters (Becky or Luke in this novel), I couldn't help but need to find out what would happen next and how it would all work out.

But, as I said, I think I've finally had my fix. While "Shopaholic and Baby" looks interesting, "Shopaholic and Sister" (the fourth novel) doesn't grab my interest at all. The Shopaholic books are fun, light reads that are purely for enjoyment. It was perfect listening to these books while working around the house and driving around the Midwest, but I think it's time for me to hang up my plastic.

Yes, that was a pun.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Characters: 4/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 6/10
Theme: 8/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 3/10
Overall: 80/100 B-

To the FTC, with love: Library Loan