Top 5 Favorite Book Series

            There is nothing like finding a new book series to read. I’ve been lucky to find so many great series, and as a result I have several favorites. So today, I thought I would share my top five favorite book series. This list is in no particular order, and I’ve included the synopsis and image from Amazon.com for the first book in each. Each of these books are ones that I would read again and again, and I hope that if you haven’t read them yet, you’ll check them out.

       1.)    Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich

Book 1 of 22 (soon to be 23) – One for the Money: “Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash--fast--but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family.

Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water--wanted for murder.

Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight--and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man.”

My thoughts: The Stephanie Plum series is a fun, light read. Stephanie’s life as a bounty hunter is a hilarious adventure, and we get to watch her exploits with the dashing Joe Morelli and the mysterious Ranger Manoso. Read the series and then make the decision of whether you’re a Babe or a Cupcake.

2.)    Heist Society by Ally Carter

Book 1 of 3 – Heist Society: “For as long as she can remember, Katarina has been a part of the family business-thieving. When Kat tries to leave "the life" for a normal life, her old friend Hale conspires to bring her back into the fold. Why? A mobster's art collection has been stolen, and Kat's father is the only suspect. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.”

My thoughts: Teenage thieves, what’s not to love? Kat and her friends pull off some amazing heists in this series, and I sincerely hope that Ally Carter will write another book in this series too.

3.)    Myron Bolitar by Harlan Coben

Book 1 of 10 – Deal Breaker: “Sports agent Myron Bolitar is poised on the edge of the big time. So is Christian Steele, a rookie quarterback and Myron’s prized client. But when Christian gets a phone call from a former girlfriend—a woman who everyone, including the police, believes is dead—the deal starts to go sour. Trying to unravel the truth about a family’s tragedy, a woman’s secret, and a man’s lies, Myron is up against the dark side of his business—where image and talent make you rich, but the truth can get you killed.”

My thoughts:  The Myron Bolitar mysteries are really fascinating, with some great characters. These books pretty much cemented Harlan Coben as my favorite mystery writer. In fact, these books are so good, that it’s hard to get a hold of them at the library. There’s also a YA spinoff series that stars Myron’s nephew, Mickey Bolitar, that’s really good.

4.)    The Selection by Kiera Cass

Book 1 of 4 (soon to be 5) – The Selection: “For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.”

My thoughts: First of all, the covers are gorgeous and are great at drawing you in. It’s a dystopian novel, but different from the likes of The Hunger Games and Divergent. Actually it’s pretty much like a dystopian Bachelor, which is pretty fascinating.

5.)    The Glenbrooke Series by Robin Jones Gunn

Book 1 of 9 – Secrets: “The storybook town of Glenbrooke is about to become Jessica's new home and she can't wait to settle in. She has eagerly planned this chance for a fresh start and knows how important it is that she hide the details of her past.
However, an unexpected encounter with a compassionate paramedic named Kyle changes everything.
Come to Glenbrooke - a quiet place where souls are refreshed.”

My thoughts: I read this series during my senior year of high school. It’s a great Christian romance series, and it leaves you wishing that Glenbrooke was a real place that you could move to. Seriously the town sounds like the perfect place to live. This series also introduced me to Irish Breakfast Tea, which I discovered is quite good. Each book centers on a different character, but all of the stories find a way to intertwine. 

Now you know my favorite book series, do you have any to recommend? 

Book Review: See How They Run

                One of my favorite authors is Ally Carter and I started reading her books when I was in sixth grade. My mom had bought me the first book in the Gallagher Girls series, I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You, to read while I was at the orthodontist. I remember how funny it was when my orthodontist said, “That title scares me a little bit”. After reading that one, I was hooked and could not wait to start on the next one. Even though I’m no longer considered part of the young-adult bracket, Ally Carter’s books are some of my favorites and I always look forward to reading her books when they come out.  

I recently finished the second book in her Embassy Row series, See HowThey Run. It seemed only fitting that this be the first book review on this blog.

 Here’s the synopsis from Amazon.com:

For the past three years, Grace Blakely has been desperate to find out the truth about her mother’s murder. She thought it would bring her peace. She thought it would lead her to answers. She thought she could put the past to rest. 
          
But the truth has only made her a target.
          
And the past?
          
The only way to put the past to rest is for Grace to kill it once and for all.
          
On Embassy Row, power can make you a victor or a victim; love can turn you into a fool or a fugitive; and family can lead you forward or bury you deep.  Trust is a luxury.  Death is a very real threat. And a girl like Grace must be very careful about which secrets she brings to light.

            See How They Run begins right where the first book in the series, All Fall Down, left off. The truth behind her mother’s murder has not brought Grace the peace that she hoped for. Instead only more mysteries and secrets are rising. The more Grace learns about the secrets of Adria’s history and those of her own family, the more of a target she becomes. See How They Run is a gripping page-turner that leaves you wondering what will happen next.

            Adria, as we learn in this book, has a very interesting history and that history is coming back to haunt those in the present. I’m not going to give any spoilers, but I will say that the cliffhanger ending leaves us with a secret about Grace that I never saw coming.

            The Embassy Row series is a series that can appeal to all age groups, and I’m anxiously looking forward to Ally Carter’s next installment in this series! 

Love Triangle Woes

                Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and it can be a sad time if you’re single. Luckily we can live vicariously through our favorite characters in our books and movies. And everything is great. They’re happy and madly in love, it’s only a matter of time until they get their happily ever after.

                But wait, who’s this guy? Why is she spending so much time with him and questioning her relationship? No, wait, you belong with the other guy not him! AGH!

                Love triangles can suck. Our happy couple is no longer quite so happy. He’s trying to prove his love, while she’s trying to figure out who it is that she wants to be with. Outside of the story, the fandom is splitting at its seams. Teams have formed, ship wars are being waged, and suddenly things aren’t quite as happy as they were before.

                As a writer, is this something that I want for my storyline? Do I want to venture into the realm of love triangles? I know who I want my main character to end up with. I also know that there is a chance that one of the platonic relationships could be misread as something else. What if readers think that these two would be better together than the intended endgame I have?

                I know that some might would recommend a love triangle to add in some drama and angst, but honestly, as a reader, I’m really getting tired of them.

                Sometimes they’re not too bad. I didn’t mind the love triangle in the first three novels of Keira Cass’s Selection series. All of the characters had their good moments, and it wasn’t dragged out too terribly long. It also might have helped that she ended up with the guy I wanted.

                Other times I get really frustrated.

                Take the Stephanie Plum series for example. I love the books, they’re humorous and a good light read, and I would definitely recommend checking them out. The only complaint I have is how long the love triangle has lasted. The series is going on 23 books now, and Stephanie still keeps going back and forth between Joe and Ranger. Honestly at this point I don’t think Janet Evanovich can really end the love triangle without alienating a large portion of her fanbase.

                After all these years, the fandom has grown and you have a large group of Cupcakes (Joe/Stephanie supporters) and a large group of Babes (Ranger/Stephanie supporters). And then you also have some who don’t care either way. Personally I am a Babe, and I have it worked out in my mind what it could be like if Stephanie and Ranger wind up together and the adventures they could have. This is a book series I have invested a lot of time in, and honestly, the series will probably be over for me if she goes with Joe.

                I’ll admit that I get very attached to characters. I know that it might sound unreasonable to quit something just because things didn’t turn out the way I wanted, but at the same time I don’t want to spend money or time on something that doesn’t appeal to me anymore. It’s happened to me before.

 

                I loved Once Upon a Time during its first two seasons, and during season two I became a Swanfire shipper. I loved Neal and Emma’s story and I really wanted to see them work things out. Neal actually became one of my favorite characters. Then the love triangle happened. Captain Swan vs Swanfire, and I’ll be honest and say that I might would have been fine with Captain Swan if Neal had still gotten a happy ending. Instead he was killed and my interest in the show died with him.

Gif  from ask-neal-baelfire.tumblr.com

                In a way, it doesn’t feel like a satisfying conclusion to a love triangle because one side just wins by default due to a tragedy. Or maybe it was satisfying to some and I’m just bitter.

                So what should be done when it comes to love triangles? I’m not saying that they’re completely bad, because they can be done well in the right hands.

In the end I think that the writer needs to hold firm. We may write for our readers, but we also write for ourselves. If a love triangle is planned, then it shall happen. If one is not destined to appear, then don’t force it to happen. There’s a good chance that things may get out of control if you step off course. Just try to stick with your guns, and keep with the story you’ve planned all along.  Even if you do end up making fangirls everywhere cry. I’ll admit I’ve shed some tears myself over a fictional breakup. I hope someday I can write such lovable characters, that they’ll affect people that way.