Quick Review: The Spellman Files Series by Lisa Lutz (# 2-4)

Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz

This book had everything I love! Humour, sleuthing, crazy antics, footnotes and Doctor Who! Really? I think this book was written just for me. The minute I finished this one I had to pass it on to my friend that got me reading the Stephenie Plum books. She loved them just as much. She took herself straight to the bookstore and bought the next two books that I hadn't gotten yet. She passed them on to me as soon as she was finished with them.

I can't wait to get them. Hoping they are as good as the first two.

4.5/5


Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz

I am in love with this series. This "document" chronicles Isabel's court ordered therapy sessions and her life without sleuthing. However, that is harder to get away from than anticipated. Frequent visits from dad, getting blackmailed and taking cases on the side all seem to just drag her back in.

The humour is still there, the footnotes and appendices. Love it.

4/5



The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz

Best of the series. Loved this one. Are you surprised? Read it all in a day this weekend.

Doctor Who makes a return, Isabel is back where she belongs, working in the family business, now as a part owner. Filled with all the usual suspects from the previous books and all the fun. This book had me laughing out loud and cheering "finally", but it also had me crying in the end.


5/5


_________________________________________

Book Review- Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrew

About a month ago or more I started to reread Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrew for the first time since I was in high school. That was a long time ago. Don't think I need to mention exactly how long... 
Well, I couldn't finish it. I actually only read a few chapters before having to pick something else up. I couldn't get past the writing. It seemed so much more simplistic than I remember. The dialogue was hard to believe, it just all seemed a bit dumb downed. I think young adult fiction is now written so smartly and realistically that this book just showed its age. 
Has anyone else had this reaction to it?  I loved this book when I was a teen. The plot was different than anything I had ever read and it seemed so adult. Now, not so much.
dnf
Source: giveaway win_________________________________________

Book Review- The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

I picked up this book randomly from a clearance rack awhile ago and I am so glad I did. This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It was smart, laugh out loud funny and it had some really great, fun characters. Another plus...footnotes. I know I have mentioned before how much I love footnotes. 
The Spellmans are an interesting bunch. A family of private investigators that are always investigating each other instead of their clients. Being the first book in the series (there are currently 4 books), there is a lot of time spent learning about each family member. Usually this can get get a bit tiring but here they are presented with so much humour and all the information is associated with the plot so it was always interesting.
So much fun. Go out and get yourself a copy. 
4/5
Source: purchased_________________________________________

Mailbox Monday-04/05/10

Things seem to be getting back to normal. I had another book in the mail this week! Woohoo. This time I received Trackers by Patrick Carman from the author/publisher for review. I have actually already read it but don't expect my review until the end of the month. The hardcover will be available on May 1st.

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page



_________________________________________

Sunday Salon (March recap)

The hubby and I are having a quiet day at home trying to get better. We both have colds so we haven't done much of anything today. I was quite jealous hearing about the bbq and egg hunting happening at my parents' today. Both sister's families there and us here on our own. This is why the minute we found out we were having a baby we decided it was time to move back to CA. 



I had my 16 week appointment on Monday and the doctor did a sonogram to check gender and do some measurements. There were no dangly bits! I am excited. It's funny. I always thought I would want a boy but I am actually really thrilled about having a girl. Now we must think of some girl names.

The list of names we are considering:

Emma
Madeline
Olivia
Violet
Sydney
There are some literary names in there and one family name. Three are from children's books.  
What other names from literature should we be considering? 
____________________________
Books Read in March:

17. The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket =
16. Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
15. Small Favor by Jim Butcher
14. Run For Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge ~
13. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
12. That Summer by Sarah Dessen (review)
11. Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen (review)
10. Frenemies by Alexa young
9. Knocked Out By My Nunga-Nungas by Louise Rennison
Read So Far in April:
19. Trackers by Patrick Carman18. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Expect reviews of these two soon.
_________________________________________

We are having a....

GIRL!

I had my 16 week appointment on Monday and the doctor did a sonogram to check gender and do some measurements. There were no dangly bits. I am excited.  It's funny. I always thought I would want a boy but I am actually really thrilled about having a girl. Now we must think of some girl names.

The list of names we are considering:

Emma
Madeline
Olivia
Violet
Sydney

Current Music: Phoenix

Have you all listened to them yet? I have recently discovered Phoenix and am loving this album. I heard 1901 on the radio and quickly purchased the album. It has been playing continuously on my iPod. 
So, supposedly the baby can hear now as her ears are formed. The hubby thinks I should be playing some classical music. Well, this album is called Woflgang Amadeus. That counts, right? :)
Oh yeah, we are having a girl! 

_________________________________________

Book in the Mail!

I have recently purchased a couple books but have had no books show up in the mail in months until two days ago. I had no clue what book it could be. I was surprised to see The Lotus Eaters by Tartjana Soli. It was a win from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program back in December. I had pretty much decided that it wasn't going to arrive. It was a nice surprise and the perfect time since I am now reading regularly.

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page




_________________________________________

Ya Quick Reviews- Someone Like You and That Summer by Sarah Dessen

I picked up this movie tie in book about a year ago at Half Price Books since I had never read anything by Sarah Dessen and this was a two for one deal. The movie was based on Dessen's books Someone Like You and That Summer. After reading the two and reading the description of the movie I don't see how it could have been any good. With so much going on in both books, why not just use one book? 
Anyway, this is not about the movie this review is about the books. 


Someone Like You
Halley and Scarlett, friends since childhood, have to deal with death, pregnancy and family drama. Halley comes home from summer camp to be with Scarlett after her summer love is killed in a car accident. The year after is filled with surprises and changes in relationships. Scarlett and Halley's friendship is portrayed very realistically, as are the teen problems that are dealt with. I really enjoyed reading this one and felt very invested in the characters and their lives.
4/5
That Summer
Haven's summer begins with a wedding and ends with another. Her father marries the weather girl he had an affair with while married to Haven's mother. Then the rest of the summer is spent preparing for her sister's wedding. Haven spends a lot of this time thinking about her sister's past boyfriends. One of them, Sumner, who Haven has the best memories of, returns that summer and strikes up a friendship with Haven. I didn't enjoy this one as much. It seemed too focused on the past and not much happens in the present. The characters just didn't capture me as much as those in Someone Like You.
2.5/5



_________________________________________

Jewelry Art Designs

Before finding out I was pregnant and dealing with the terrible morning (all day) sickness I had promised a review to Sarah of Jewelry Art Designs. This is very late in coming. 

Sarah sent me this lovely pendant on a very simple silver chain.  I was a little worried that the chain would be too short for my rather thick neck but I was excited to see that the chain has three links spaced evenly along it to adjust the length. A very nice detail.
Pendant Info:
14k Gold, 14k Rose Gold, and White Gold Rhodium Bonded Bouquet Pendant Made up of Rose Golden, Golden, and Silver Flowers with Round Clear CZ in the Center of Each in Silvertone

Summer Bouquet is a floral display of rose, gold, and silver flowers with blissful clear round CZ in the middle of each. White Gold Rhodium Bond is achieved using an electroplating process that coats the item with heavy layers of rhodium, a close cousin of platinum that costs three times as much, which gives our jewelry a platinum luster.

The delicate flowers are beautiful and the different metals makes this pendant perfect no matter what type of jewelry you wear- gold, silver, etc. It goes with everything. It is also a lovely add to my spring wardrobe. 
I received a lot of compliments from coworkers and students when I wore it to work. The girls especially thought it was very pretty. When I don't wear it they ask about it. One even asked if she could have it. :)Love those little 4 year olds. 
Be sure to check out Sarah's other jewelry on her site, including some really nice earrings. You can find those here.
Thanks, Sarah, for sending the pendant my way and sorry for the delay. I really had no clue it would take me so long to post about it.
(Borrowed photo from Sarah's site, I took pics but my camera got erased somehow. I blame the hubby.)