Open and Shut

Open and Shut
by  David Rosenfelt

Series:  Andy Carpenter #1
Genre:  Mystery, Crime, Humor
Publisher: Listen & Live on
03 April 2008
Reading with my ears:  Unabridged
06 hours 50 minutes
Narrator:   Grover Gardner

Whether duelling with new forensics or the local old boys' network, irreverent defence attorney Andy Carpenter always leaves them awed with his biting wit and winning fourth-quarter game plan. But Andy prefers the company of his best friend, Tara, to the people he encounters in the courtroom. Tara, a golden retriever, is clearly smarter than half the lawyers who clog the courts of Passaic County. However, just as it seems Andy has everything figured out, his dad, New Jersey's legendary ex-D.A., drops dead in front of him at a game in Yankee Stadium. The shocks pile on as he discovers his dad left him with two unexpected legacies: a fortune of $22 million that Andy never knew existed . . . and a murder case with enough racial tinder to burn down City Hall. Struggling to serve justice and bring honor to his father, Andy must dig up some explosive political skeletons-and an astonishing family secret that can close his case (and his mouth) for good.

My thoughts:
What a fun read!  Someone in my Facebook bookclub read one of the books later in this series and was telling us about this lawyer and his lovely golden retriever, Tara.  (I love dogs so how could I resist taking a look!)  I have a problem with not starting a series at the beginning, so I went in search of where it all started, way back in 2003 - with the audiobook published in 2008 - a lifetime ago.  But it has not aged at all, I felt as if it could have been written yesterday.  

Andy is not your usual buttoned-down lawyer.  In the beginning of the book, he seemed too fond of dishonest (in my opinion) theatrics in the court room.  I was doubting my choice but after a few chapters this disappeared and he got more serious about defending his client which I appreciated much more.  

All in all, Andy has a good heart, even taking payment in watermelons when defending a client :)

After the fiasco of my previous read, I needed something light and fluffy and that is exactly what I got. It left me with a huge smile on my face.  

The narrator was great with a soothing voice not interfering with the story at all.  I enjoyed this one and would recommend if for a fluffy read.

{Audiobook} Review: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Date Read: 21 April 2014
Reading with my ears
Narrator: Kate Rudd
Unabridged audio - Length: 7 hours 14 minutes

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

My thoughts:
I have been putting off reading this book for months.  It is such a touchy subject for me.  I am currently going through chemo therapy and I was afraid of what might lie within the pages of the book.  I have done enough crying.  I was worried what would be done with such a serious subject.   Would it be too morbid, would it be too sentimental . . . ?

But now, after having read it, I can honestly say that I enjoyed it so much.  Even if I am not a teenager anymore, I could identify with the characters - a lot of their feelings are my feelings too.  I even had a few moments when I had to laugh out loud.  It is all so true!  Yes, life goes on even with cancer

There is not much that I can say that has not been said before, so I will leave it with my few personal thought above.

I can’t wait to see the movie.

Review: Bite Me

Bite me
by Shelly Laurenston 


Series: Pride Series #9
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Humor
Source: NetGalley 
Release date:  25 March 2014
Date Read: 12 March 2014

Livy Kowalski has no time for idiots. When you shapeshift into a honey badger, getting through life’s irritants is a finely honed skill. Until she gets stuck housing her nutso cousin and dealing with her dad’s untimely and unexplained demise.

That’s where Vic Barinov comes in—or his house does. Vic can’t step outside without coming back to find Livy devouring his honey stash and getting the TV remote sticky. It gets his animal instincts all riled up. But he’ll have to woo her at high speed: all hell is breaking loose, and Livy is leading the charge…

My thoughts:
I was just ecstatic when I received the eARC of book 9 of the Pride series by Shelly Laurenston.  Her books are my most anticipated book every year.  I just cannot wait for the release dates to come around.  And once again, I was not disappointed.

We met Livy, a honey badger shifter, in the last book, Wolf with Benefits.  What a wonderful surprise she is.  She is the definition of snark in a world full of crazy characters.  Unfortunately her dysfunctional family's reputation means that she is not the most loved in the shifter community.  After all, she comes from a family of thieves  and crooks . . . very successful thieves and crooks. 

Our story starts with Livy at her father's funeral.  It should be a tough time for Livy but her father's death is not the reason for her unhappiness (after all she hated him).  Her distress is all about the way he died.  A way no shifter should have to die.   Pretty soon almost all of the shifter world are involved and it is all about the good guys against the bad (shifter and human).

Off course there is also a lot of romance.  Livy and Vic are made for each other - their personalities are so far apart that it just works.  After all who else would keep their anger in check when their home is constantly raided (okay damaged with badger holes everywhere) and their honey stock erased.  It could only be a soft spoken white tiger/bear hybrid that enjoys finding a little honey badger in his cupboards.

We usually get a sense of who the next book's "happily every after" couple will be, but this time, Shelly has kept it close to her chest.  There are a few possibilities and we have a whole year to digest and debate this. Personally I hope it is one of the beta characters who do not usually have the opportunity to let their personalities shine.  I have a little soft spot for a certain kaolo bear shifter.

This is one of my favorite series and has been from Book 1.  Shelly Laurenston has a gift of making you want to cringe your teeth in some parts and in others, she makes you spit out your drink laughing.  It is just a wonderful combination as you never know what will come next.   The story is always important but it is more about the way it is delivered that makes this a win for me.  I think it is time for a re-read of the series.

  

{Audiobook} Review: The Martian

The Martian
by Andy Weir

Genre: Science Fiction, Humor
Date Read: 15 February 2014
Narrator: RC Bray
Reading with my ears
Unabridged audio - Length: 
10 hours 28 minutes 

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first men to walk on the surface of Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first man to die there.
It started with the dust storm that holed his suit and nearly killed him, and that forced his crew to leave him behind, sure he was already dead. Now he's stranded millions of miles from the nearest human being, with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive--and even if he could get word out, his food would be gone years before a rescue mission could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to get him first.
But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills--and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit--he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. But will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?(Goodreads)

 
**Beware of Adult language**

 My thoughts:
I am not exactly sure how I got interested in reading The Martian.   I admit I am a cover lover. Pretty covers always catch my eye.  
This cover would not have caught my attention and I would have assumed that it is directed at a male audience (well, look at it.  don't you agree?). 

This is exactly the reason why I am so glad that that it was discussed in one of the audiobook discussions on Goodreads.  I would have missed an amazing journey - both mine and Mark's.   

The online book club discussions intrigued me.  It brought forth such a wide range of feelings from the participants.  But everyone agreed, you have to read this . . . now!

So I went in search and  when I heard the first few sentences . . .

I am pretty much f*cked . . . that is my considered opinion.  F*cked.

I was hooked.  (how can you not love that!) 

This is a story of one man left behind after a failed Mars mission.  But Mark is not ready to give up even if all rational thought leads to the conclusion that there is just no way that he will be able to survive until a rescue mission can be launched.   But Mark has not lost his sense of humor and it carries him through some difficult situations.

“Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be “in command” if I were the only remaining person.”  What do you know? I’m in command ”

Luckily Mark is the perfect MacGyver type guy and before long he is making water (yeah, that is right - he MADE water).  With that somewhat important problem solved, he goes ahead and starts growing potatoes.  It looks like there might be some hope but before long slight oversights causes big problems.  Luckily Mark has duct tape.

“Also, I have duct tape. Ordinary duct tape, like you buy at a hardware store. Turns out even NASA can’t improve on duct tape. ”    

You will not be disappointed by his story.  I am not sure if all the science is accurate but that is really not important.  This science fiction story is about a man and his fight for survival.

I devoured Mark's story in two days and I am sure you will not be able to put it down either.  Grab a copy today!

Also look out for the movie!  Andy Weir has become one of those one in a million success stories.  From selling the ebook for 99c to having the movie rights bought by a huge movie company.  Congratulations, Andy and here is to many more.