The Drop, Harry Bosch, Book 17

Author:  Michael Connelly
Year: 2011
Publisher:  Hachette Audio
Narrator: Len Cariou

In one morning, Harry Bosch gets two new cases. One is a DNA hit on a cold case of a teenage girl who was raped and murdered in the 1980s. The problem? The young man the DNA matches was only eight years old at the time of the death. 

The second case is an investigation of the apparent suicide of George Irving, the son of Irvin Irving, city councilman and Bosch's longtime nemesis. For some unknown reason, Irving specifically requests Bosch as investigator on this case and wants the chips to fall wherever they fall (at least that's what he says).

Michael Connelly never fails to entertain me. For over 17 books now he has managed to keep me totally invested in Harry Bosch as a character (remember, Bosch appears in the Mickey Haller books as well) which is a feat because I tired of authors such as James Patterson ages ago. I love these books and I dread the day Connelly decides to stop writing them. As usual, Len Cariou narrates the books flawlessly. Definitely recommend.

Blue Bloods, Book 1

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Year: 2006

Publisher:  Hyperion

Pages: 302

So, this book has been sitting in my TBR pile for an eternity. It's a vampire novel. I originally picked it up because I thought the premise of the original settlers to America being vampires was unique. These vampires are called Blue Bloods and they came to America to start over. The book focuses around Schuyler Van Alen who attends a rich private school in New York. The vampires of Blue Bloods don't know they're vampires until their teen years. At which time their abilities start manifesting and they remember their past lives. Interesting concept, right? I'm not too sure that it worked for me. I had a hard time paying attention during the first half of the novel but it slowly pulled me in to where by the end of the novel, I was into the story and liking it but I still wasn't sure I would continue with the series. Then there was that completely unresolved ending! Guess I'll be keeping an eye out for the second book in the used book stores.

Evermore, The Immortals, Book 1

Author:  Alyson Noel

Year: 2009

Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin

Pages:  301

Ever Bloom is the sole survivor of a car accident that kills her parents and her sister. After the accident, Ever can see people's auras, hear their thoughts and know their life story just by touching them. She recedes into herself to avoid human contact and avoid the noises of the world. Then, Damen Auguste transfers into her school. When Damen touches Ever, he mutes the world around her. Oh, and as if that wasn't enough, he's extremely gorgeous and wealthy. But Damen has a secret and Ever must figure out if Damen's secret is a danger to her and her friends.

I liked this story. It was just an easy read. As I was reading it, I thought the story might be going the Twilight way but it didn't. I'm not too sure about Ever as a character because I don't know for sure how strong she's going to be but I am enticed enough to read the second book and see what happens.

Dreamless, Starcrossed, Book 2

Author: Josephine Angelini

Year: 2012

Publisher:  Harper Teen

Pages: 487 pages

This book picks up not long after the events of Starcrossed. Now the Scions know that Helen is the only one of them able to descend into the Underworld. So, each night Helen goes down into the Underworld searching for an answer to end the feuding between the Scion families. But the daily trips into the Underworld are hard on Helen and are eroding her health. On top of that, she no  longer has Lucas' support. Then, she meets Orion in the Underworld. Orion is a Scion also and he becomes Helen's support and protector.

It's not often that I say that I loved a sequel (especially a middle book in a trilogy sequel) as much as I did the first book but I most certainly did here. Angelini did a wonderful job of continuing her story, expanding the mythology and carrying me away. I love this series, the Greek mythology and all the characters. I found myself laughing to myself at points because Angelini used phrases that I remember reading myself in the Greek poems that these stories rely on. My only complaint is that there were a number of what I'm going to call printing errors in this book. They usually showed up as missing words in sentences. Not something that would be Angelini's fault but that of people at the publishing house who should have proofread it better. 

2012 Big Book Summer Challenge

Sue Jackson at Book by Book is hosting a 2012 Big Book Summer Challenge. And it's really an easy challenge. All you have to do is read one book over 400 pages between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I know, I know. I'm getting a late start but I also noticed that there's a lot of books over 400 pages on my TBR pile; so, I decided to join in her challenge and see just how many of those big books I can get out of my TBR pile since my goal for the year is to read as many of the unread books in my house as possible. I figure this can be some extra incentive.

But, if you want to join in, you just have to read one book. Come on, that's not too hard. So, head over over to Sue's blog and join in the summer fun!

Here's a picture of just some of the big books from my TBR pile that I'm going to try to get to this summer:

Fallen

Author:  Lauren Kate

Year: 2009

Publisher:  Delacorte Press

Luce Price is banished to the Sword & Cross boarding school which is most likened to a juvenile detention center where she meets the criminally handsome Daniel Grigori  - who wants nothing to do with Luce. Yet she finds she can't stay away from Daniel or his secrets. And that's as much as I'll say about the story for fear of giving away some of the plot (although I think from the title it's safe to assume angels are involved).

I started Fallen the first time about six months ago. I read the first 50 pages and stopped. I picked it back up today, skipped the first 50 pages and started reading, and kept reading until I finished the book. It went a lot better the second try. I wanted a quick and easy read and that's what I got. Lauren Kate does a really good job of partially out her information to where when the book ended, I wasn't really sure I'd learned anything except that Luce and Daniel loved each other. And all that mystery definitely makes me want to pick up Torment. 

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

Author:  Kady Cross

Year: 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

In this follow up to The Girl in the Steel Corset, Finley Jane and her group of misfit (or unusually talented) friends set off to New York City to rescue their friend, Jasper, who was kidnapped. The villain who has kidnapped Jasper is forcing Jasper to do something for him by holding a woman Jasper once loved captive with a clockwork collar that tightens if she tries to escape. In order to help Jasper, Finley has to join up with the criminal gang in order to learn their plans so that Finley and her friends must figure out how to stop Jasper's kidnapper and rescue him at the same time.

Can I just say how much I love the steampunk aspect of this series? I think my favorite part is how seamlessly Kady Cross weaves the steampunkiness into what could easily be Victorian times and makes it feel like this is the way history happened and that it all exists. I find myself wanting to look up you tube videos and watch the dirigibles parking on top of the Empire State Building! For the setting alone, this book gets an A+. Fortunately, Cross didn't just build a super cool word. The story is pretty good too. Oh, and I love the characters. I wish Finley and Emily were among my group of friends and I would completely fall in love with Griffin.