#1 Blog A Quote

Share a quote from your favorite books every Monday! To sign up, visit Michelle at Michelle Chew Writes.

The Way I see it, life is like a jelly doughnut. You don't really know what it's about until you bite into it. And then, just when you decide it's good, you drop a big glob of jelly on your best T-shirt - Stephanie Plum

This is my favorite quote from Janet Evanovich's Ten Big Ones. It is also the opening line for the book.  This is the first book from Janet Evanovich I've read. I was actually attracted to this book because it's pink (I was really young back then). But starting from this book, I hunt for the rest of Stephanie Plum series. I was hooked! 

#9 Teaser Tuesday: Die For Me

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I halfheartedly glanced around before looking back down in the page, but did a double take when I noticed someone staring at me from across the terrace. And the world around me froze when our eyes met – Page 12, Die For Me, Amy Plum

It's been sometimes since I joined this weekly bookish meme... Anyway, I just started reading this book. So far, it's good! Would you believe that I decide to read this because I was attracted to the cover? Yeah... I do judge a book by it's cover :P

Book Review: The Eternity Code

The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl #3)

Eoin Colfer

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Science Fiction

Publication: April 2006

Format: Paperback, 352 pages

Website: Artemis Fowl

Buy: Amazon 

I think, reading The Eternity Code makes me feel a tad younger. I can’t believe that I squealed like a little girl while reading and anticipating on what will happen to Artemis in his latest adventure.

Artemis Fowl is planning to go straight after this one last adventure. He was trying to sell a modified fairies technology to Jon Spiro. But his plan went wrong. The technology was stolen and Butler, his bodyguard had to pay for it. Artemis needs help to rescue Butler and retrieved the stolen technology. Thus, he turned to his nemesis-turned-friend, Captain Holly Short for help. The people agree to help him with one condition: Artemis has to undergo a mind wipe to erase his memory of the People.

I absolutely LOVE this book. Did I mention that I squealed like a little girl while reading this? Oh, I did, didn’t I? I can’t help but to find how interesting this book is. I love Artemis Fowl as a character. He’s a genius whom rarely shows much of his emotion. So that part where he showed his emotion when Butler was shot really touched me. I really love the relationship between those two. The dialogue is absolutely brilliant! It makes me laugh out loud for a few times. I especially love the row between Artemis and Captain Holly. I like how Eoin Colfer delivered the humor without trying too much.

The Eternity Code was a real page turner. I find it hard to stop myself from reading it from the very first chapter. It was interesting to see that Juliet is replacing his brother to protect Artemis. Most of all, I was excited to see how Artemis plan to retrieve the stolen cube from Jon Spiro. In the end, The Eternity Code managed to make me astonished on how the story progress and how it ended. I’m now aching to read the next book for more adventure :)

Book Cover's Description:

Artemis Fowl is going straight-as soon as he pulls off the most brilliant criminal feat of his career . . . but his plan goes awry, leaving his loyal bodyguard, Butler, mortally injured. Artemis's only hope of saving his friend is to employ fairy magic; so once again he must contact his old rival, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police. It is going to take a miracle to save Butler, and Artemis's luck may have just run out. . . . 

Book Review: Clarity

Clarity (Clarity #1)

Kim Harrington

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Paranormal

Publication: 2011

Format: Paperback, 256 pages

Buy: Amazon, Book Depository, Acmamall

Clarity “Clare” Fern was born with a gift. She could see vision when she touched a certain object. Because of that, most of her classmate called her freak. When a girl was found murdered, Clare’s ex-boyfriend, Justin, came to ask her help to solve the case. Now, Clare had to team up with Gabriel, the hot, detective’s son to find out about the murder. Just as she got a few clues here and there, more murder occurred! Things went worse when Clare’s brother, Perry become a suspect. Clare is now determined to find out who the murder is. In the same time, she must figure out what she feels for the boys: Justin and Gabriel.

I can’t believe I stayed up all night to finish CLARITY. Yes, it was really good and I just couldn’t stop reading it once I had it in my hand. 

I love the main character, Clare. It’s difficult not to love her. She had a fiery personality and I love how she always fights back when anyone bullied her. I like how each of her family members had different gift. Her brother for example, could talk to ghost, and her mother could read minds. I really like it when Clare’s mother read Clare’s thought just as she was thinking of the hot detective’s son.

Kim Harrington did a great job writing how the story went and how the suspense is built. The mystery was really well planned. The story was unpredictable to the point that I think everybody is a suspect. I had a great time guessing who the murder is, but only managed to figure out as I was closer to the end. The combination of mystery and psychic is definitely great! I like how the mystery and romance was well balanced. Although there was a hint of love triangle between Clare, Justin and Gabriel, I love how the romance didn’t overshadow the mystery. 

CLARITY is definitely one of my favorite mystery novels right now. It was definitely a page turner! Although, I suspect that I think it has to do with how Kim Harrington likes to end the chapters with cliffhangers. But still, CLARITY is a great mystery book. A must read for mystery lover as myself. I’m looking forward to read the next book: Perception.

Book Cover’s Description

Don't close your eyes. Except when the truth is too dark to bear.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case -- but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother -- who has supernatural gifts of his own -- becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Book Review: I Heart Paris

I Heart Paris (I Heart #3)

Lindsey Kelk

Genre: Chick Lit

Publication: July, 2010

Format: Paperback, 312 pages

Website: I Heart…Paris

Buy: Amazon, Book Depository

I heart Lindsey Kelk. The third book from I Heart Series is definitely not a disappointment. This book has left me giggling at some scene (because laughing in public would be inappropriate) and grinning like an idiot.

In I Heart Paris, Angela’s boyfriend, Alex suggested her to a trip to Paris when he was invited for a performance at a festival. In the same time a fashion magazine, Belle, asked her to write an article on underground hotspots in Paris. Angela thought that this trip will be great. But then things started to go wrong. First, her luggage was destroyed (along with her shoes, clothes). Then, she saw Alex with his ex in a bar, Jenny wouldn’t talk to her and someone was trying to sabotage her article. With things falling apart around her, Angela hopped on a train to London to sort things out. But then, she got a second thought. Now she can’t decide if she should go back home to her family or went back to Paris and see Alex.

I love how Lindsey Kelk writes what’s been going through Angela’s mind. You could see that Angela was a fun and a bit crazy at times. That crazy part might be something in common that Angela and I shared. I think that Angela was lucky that she seemed to stumble into good people when she went to a new place. First, she got Jenny in I Heart New York. In Paris, Angela got Alain, another helpful concierge. Angela seemed to think that everyone around her is nice. I wonder what would happen when she met with a mug or something…

I Heart Paris was definitely sweeter and funnier than the second book. I love the crisis that Angela was facing and that not every crisis she faced had a good ending. It makes the story even more realistic. Overall, this is a fun, light read. I’ve read the next book (it was the first book I’ve read from this series) and I’m excited to read I Heart London next.

Book Cover's Description:

Angela is in the City of Love -- but her own lovelife is heading for trouble! 

Angela Clark is a British girl living the life dreams are made of in fabulous New York. But she's never been to the romantic capital of the world -- Paris. So when boyfriend Alex suggests a romantic trip there, tying in with his band's tour and Angela writing an insider's guide to the hip city for a glossy fashion mag -- Belle , she jumps at the chance. Soon Angela finds herself meandering along charming streets lined with designer shops, sipping creamy hot chocolate and eating croissants. It's a world away from New York but she could get used to the joie de vivre of Paris. But when Louisa, Angela's best friend shows up from London, it's not quite the happy, girly catch up she'd hoped for and everything in Paris seems to be going from bad to worse. Louisa reminds Angela that her old life is only a train journey away. With Alex spending so much time partying with the band and meeting up with his ex, for the first time in ages, Angela is homesick. Suddenly Angela is questioning her new life in New York and wondering -- is it make or break for her and Alex?

Book Review: The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)

Rick Riordan

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure

Publication: 2005

Format: Paperback, 375 pages

Buy: Amazon, Book Depository, Acmamall

Admittedly, I watched the movie before I read the book. My little sister warned me that the book is totally different than the movie. She was right. The book was different and way better than the movie.

Percy Jackson is a 12 years old boy who was sent to a boarding school for trouble kid with dyslexia and ADHD. Strange things started to happen when his math teacher, Mrs Todd, attacked him and disappeared. Suddenly everyone in his class had no idea who Mrs Todd is.

It was during summer vacation that he found out that his best friend, Grover is a Satyr and that he is a half-blood or a demigod. To save Percy from monsters attack, his mother and Grover took him to a Camp Half-Blood. Sadly, Percy lost his mother when they were attacked by a Minotaur. It was in the Camp Half-Blood that he discovered that he is a son of Poseidon, the god of sea and that he was accused of stealing something which belonged to Zeus. Percy then teamed up with Grover and Annabeth, daughter of Athena to retrieve the stolen item and stop the war between the gods.

What I really love about The Lightning Thief is the narration which was written in Percy’s point of view. It was entertaining and not annoying, easy to follow and it keeps me wanting to read more. The humor was hilarious. I love Percy’s character and his fun sidekicks. I think Rick Riordan have done a good job portraying what is it that a twelve years old boy thinking. Although there were times where I think that his attitude didn’t seems like he was twelve. But Riordan’s writing is good. I’m looking forward to read the second book.

Book Cover’s Description

After getting expelled from yet another school for yet another clash with mythological monsters only he can see, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he finally learns the truth about his unique abilities: He is a demigod, half human, half immortal. Even more stunning: His father is the Greek god Poseidon, ruler of the sea, making Percy one of the most powerful demigods alive. There's little time to process this news. All too soon, a cryptic prophecy from the Oracle sends Percy on his first quest, a mission to the Underworld to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus.

Book Review: Plum Lucky

Plum Lucky ( Stephanie Plum #13.5/A Stephanie Plum Holiday Novel)

Janet Evanovich

Genre: Chick Lit, Crime & Thriller, Humor

Publication: January, 2008

Format: Hardback, 176 pages

Website: Evanovich [Read Chapter One]

Buy: Amazon, Book Depository

My mother and grandmother raised me to be a good girl, and I have no problem with the girl part. I like men, malls and carbs. Not necessarily in that order. The good part has been spotty. I don’t steal cars or sniff glue, but I’ve had a lot of impure thoughts. And I’ve acted on a bunch of them. Not limited to, but including, snooping through a guy’s closet in search of his underwear. On the surface, this doesn’t sounds like a majorly hot experience, but this was no ordinary guy, and I couldn’t find any underwear. – Plum Lucky, Janet Evanovich, Page 1, Paragraph 1.

I was really lucky. I got myself a copy of hardback Plum Lucky with cheaper price. How cheap? Well, imagine the paperback version with 50% discount. I know... I was really lucky! And it wasn’t that this book was a used book. It’s new. 

When grandma Mazur found a duffle bag full of cash, she disappeared. Worried, Stephanie’s mother asked her to find her grandma and Stephanie tracked down her grandma at a casino in Atlantic City. Stephanie then learns that grandma Mazur got the money from Snuggy (who thinks he’s a leprechaun). Snuggy was after grandma and the money. And Diesel was after Snuggy and the money. It turned out that Snuggy stole the money from a mob. The mob was pissed. So he kidnapped Doug as hostage. But apparently, Stephanie and her friends couldn’t return the money as they have spent them in Atlantic City.

Plum Lucky was the third Stephanie Plum between-the-numbers novel. As a fan of Stephanie Plum, there’s no way that I’m going to miss this one. As usual, Evanovich never failed to make me laugh out loud with this series. It was hectic, lunatic and full with sexy men – a perfect recipe for Stephanie Plum book.

Book Cover's Description

Looking to get lucky?

Stephanie Plum is back between-the-numbers and she’s looking to get lucky in an Atlantic City hotel room, in a Winnebago, and with a brown-eyed stud who has stolen her heart.

Stephanie Plum has a way of attracting danger, lunatics, oddballs, bad luck . . . and mystery men. And no one is more mysterious than the unmentionable Diesel. He’s back and hot on the trail of a little man in green pants who’s lost a giant bag of money. Problem is, the money isn’t exactly lost. Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur has found it, and like any good Jersey senior citizen, she’s hightailed it in a Winnebago to Atlantic City and hit the slots. With Lula and Connie in tow, Stephanie attempts to bring Grandma home, but the luck of the Irish is rubbing off on everyone: Lula’s found a job modeling plus-size lingerie. Connie’s found a guy. Diesel’s found Stephanie. And Stephanie has found herself in over her head with a caper involving thrice-stolen money, a racehorse, a car chase, and a bad case of hives.

Plum Lucky is an all-you-can-eat buffet of thrills, chills, shrimp cocktail, plus-size underwear, and scorching hot men. It’s a between-the-numbers treat no Evanovich fan will want to miss!