The Honey Queen - Cathy Kelly

one sentence summary:
The town of Redstone has an eclectic cast of characters who interact with each other as only small town people can.

review:
This was a heartwarming read, full of people struggling with life that in the end find happiness. The writing is quick and the descriptions of setting are fantastic. The characters are all connected in unexpected ways and there is a personality for everyone to relate to included in the story. I enjoyed the read, it made me smile to myself a lot. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a light, happy read.

8/10

One Hundred Names - Cecelia Ahern

one sentence summary:
Kitty is a disgraced reporter and her mentor has just died leaving her the task of finishing one last story.

review:
This is a beautiful story, it is uplifting and enthusiastic about people. It strives to show that every person has good within them and everyone has a story worth listening to too! I found myself smiling with every turn of the page. The characters are all fantastic. I recommend everyone read this, it is good for your soul.

9/10

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making - Catherynne M Valente

one sentence summary:
September is 12 and she is tired of her boring old life so goes on a grand adventure.

review:
This is a brilliant story, it reminds me of a cross between Phantom Toll-Booth and Caroline. It is so well written that even though it is a children's book I am going to have to recommend everyone take the time and read it. The characters are all unique, there are no stereotypes or tropes to be found on the pages of this thrilling little story. The writing it self is beautiful, with poetry like prose on every page. With each new character comes a new adventure. Do yourself a favour and read this (also a great gift if you don't know what to get a 7-10 year old or for a baby shower... every kid should have this on their book shelve).


10/10

Baby Drive South Trilogy - Stephanie Bond

one sentence summary
The Armstrong brothers are determined to rebuild their home town, along the way they are distracted by love.

review
Very typical of this genre, quick and easy romance stories to feel good about (a half step above harlequin as far as writing quality). Characters that are based strongly on  stereotypes falling in love and then refusing to admit it etc.  A great read all around. I recommend them to anyone who enjoys a bit of romance in their life.

6/10

First Grave on the Right - Darynda Jones

one sentence summary:
Charley is a sexy keep no prisoner grim reaper who in addition to helping the dead cross over helps her uncle, a police officer, solve crimes.

review:
This had a great premise but the writing was not so good. It relied on tropes and cliches to the point of a prime time television show. It would be ok for a day at the beach but there are thousands of better authors out there, some who even write for Harlequin. I will not be continuing to read this series, which is disappointing because of how intriguing the premise was. It did have its moments of great humour though, perhaps Jones should consider a career in stand up or television writing.

5/10

Love in a Nutshell - Janet Evanovitch & Dorien Kelly

one sentence summary
Kate life fell apart and she is looking for a change in pace so moves to her old family summer home which is falling apart around her but she has dreams of making it into a B&B.

review
This story was great! Exactly what one expects from Evanovich, a quirky romance with lovable characters and a dash of drama and adventure. The writing is witty and fast paced with new twists and turns introduced just as you are getting a rhythm in the story which creates a very exciting page turning read. It is very formulaic but it is a formula I like. It you also like predictable love stories with lovable characters read this one too!

8/10

Blood Lite - ed. Kevin J Anderson

one sentence summary
a collection of short, often witty, paranormal stories.

review
these stories range in quality from "why the hell did I waste my time reading that" to "wow, listen to this..." with the majority being in the first category. I was disappointed by most of the stories but Butcher's was really good and Snell's was interesting (if not particularly well executed) but that was pretty much it for good writing. The more I know the author the more disappointed I was in their story.

2/10

Notorious Nineteen - Janet Evanovich

one sentence summary:
Stephanie Plum is up to her old shenanigans, catching bad guys and accidentally getting her cars blown up.

review:
This is beach reading, or plane reading, or what ever reading you do that requires no attention at all. Written to the lowest denominator this is a highly entertaining (but not at all intellectual) read. A good smattering of romance, a great use of dialogue and characters that are unforgettable. I recommend reading this only if you are still reading this series 19 books (plus holiday/novellas) in.

6/10

Pagan Babies - Elmore Leonard

one sentence summary:
after witnessing the genocide in Rwanda a conman turned priest returns to Detroit to raise money for the orphans...

review:
this is a highly entertaining novel. The characters are all really well written and the story moves like a race horse. Leonard's writing is darkly humorous and the language he uses flows from the characters mouths with colloquialisms that not only give them a regional accent but date them as well. The characters and their eccentricities are always the high point of his novels and this is no different. I highly recommend this to anyone who doesn't like a bit of naughty language in their reading. Great for reading on a plane or at the beach as it does not require your full focus but is an easy story to get into, even part way through.

7/10

Henry Huggins - Beverly Cleary

One Sentence Summary:
A boy and his dog overcome the obstacles that face boys as they grow up.


Review:
heartwarming stories aimed at middle-school (and maybe younger) boys. Written using language that young boys can read themselves and overlapping with other characters in the quirky suburban world that Cleary has created.   A 1950's world with ice cream cones and long summer days when a boy and his dog could have adventures and even take the bus without a parent, well before the advent of televisions in every room and video games to play on them. I highly recommend this to any boy (or girl) who likes reading.

8/10

 

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fanny Flagg

one sentence summary
Friendship can come from the most unexpected people in the most unexpected ways

review
This is a wonderful novel, telling a story of a small town over fifty years of history. It shows true friendship in all sorts of forms and how much of a struggle it can be. In a hodgepodge of entertaining stories the lives of four women are patched together and you can't help but like them. It also takes an unflinching look at race relations in the Southern USA during this time. I recommend this to anyone who likes witty, amusing stories told in off handed ways.

8/10

Silver Dragon Trilogy - Katie MacAlister

one sentence summary:
Romance and dragon/demon politics do not always go together but love always finds a way.

review:
These are quirky comical easy reads with a healthy dash of sexy. The characters are all really well drawn out and the interactions between them are charged with human emotion. I enjoyed the settings that MacAlister used from the underworld to the apartments of characters from her earlier series. I also really liked the bits about the characters from earlier series, it was kind of like catching up with old friends. I recommend this series to anyone who likes quirky romances.

6/10

The Next Best Thing - Jennifer Weiner

one sentence summary:
Can a disfigured female writer make it in Hollywood?

review:
An entertaining read that was well written and had mostly really strong plot points and characters. There were some unnecessary "twists" and some totally ridiculous plot points but all in all a good beach read.  I really liked the scenes from when the protagonist was young and in the hospital, her relationship with her grandmother was by far the strongest relationship in the book. There were other characters that were totally unnecessary and took away from the story rather than adding to it. The ending was a true fairy tale ending, happily ever after for everyone.

7/10

The Pickwick Papers - Charles Dickens

one sentence summary:
an exclusive club report the details of their personal adventures and the people they meet to each other.

review:
This is one of those books that you can keep around and read over and over. You can pick it up on a shitty day, open it randomly and read a few pages of genius. I may be too much of a fan of this but I honestly think it is the best character study ever written. It is hilarious in its attention to detail, the details of the people and the things they do. It is all so perfectly written that even a few pages of it is sure to wash even the worst story telling off your brain. It is like a palette cleanse for the readers soul. I recommend this to people who consider themselves readers.

8/10

Coraline - Neil Gaiman

one sentence summary:
a little girl finds an alternate world that is exactly like her own, but is completely different.

review:
A really well written story with a strong, independent female protagonist aimed at kids old enough to know the difference between reality and make believe. I can guarantee I will be reading this to my niece and grandniece given the opportunity. Gaiman does a fantastic job of describing the world through the eyes of a child. I highly recommend this to everyone, especially young girls who feel misunderstood by the world.

8/10

The Princess Bride - William Goldman

one sentence summary
 The movie is a classic everyone has seen, the book is better.

review:
This story has everything, drama to action to love and adventure. It tells a compelling story using a fantastic vocabulary built around amazing characters and their adventures. I recommend everyone go steal a fourth grader (boy or girl, doesn't really matter) and read this novel out loud with them. If you haven't read it yourself do it now or forever consider yourself deprived of one of the best stories ever. It is a highly entertaining fast paced read with easy to follow intersecting character lines. I have heard criticism that the female protagonist isn't strong, and isn't a good role model, this is true, she isn't but you can use her as a lesson on what not to do in life, and as an adult look at her as one of those stupid annoying females that we all know far to many of. This is a parody after all, you do have to be able to laugh at the characters in their over the top trope ness. In conclusion if you haven't read it read it now...

10/10

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (and The Great Glass Elevator) - Roald Dahl

one sentence summary:
Charlie is a little boy who is heading towards a terrible adulthood when an eccentric man puts him on a new and exciting path.

review:
when I was a kid I loved both of these stories. The illustrations added a lot to the books (in these editions I can not speak for the other editions). There is something universally appealing about a poor boy winning the golden ticket to a better life and then actually getting that life by being a good person. Not to mention the satisfaction of seeing the bratty kids get their comeuppance. The writing is endearing, I recommend all kids read these the day they are old enough to make out the vocabulary.

10/10

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S Thomas

one sentence summary:
overindulgence leads to insanity
review:
This is a great work of American Fiction, it aptly throws the reader into the hedonistic drug culture of the 1960/70's. IT is a highly entertaining read full of unbelievable circumstances and outrageous claims, which when coupled with the drug induced feeling of the work it is one of the most fascinating novels I have read in a long time. I recommend it to anyone who wants an in depth look at the world of indulgence without actually doing the drugs. The writing is fantastic.
8/10

The Stephanie Plum Series - Janet Evanovitch

one sentence summary:

Stephanie Plum is sort of incompetent and a bounty hunter, it is highly entertaining to read about her misadventures.

Review:

Evanovitch writes in a fast passed hard hitting style full of pun and innuendo. Her characters are unforgettable and the misadventures she comes up with are laugh out loud hilarious. They do get repetitive but these are not novels read for furthering the intellect  they are read with the knowledge that they are brain candy, real cotton candy reads. I recommend them to anyone who is looking for some no-brainer type reading. 

6/10

7/10

If you enjoy this series check out Stephanie Bond, Sue Grafton, and Lisa Lutz

Weezie & Bebe Mysteries - Mary Kay Andrews

One sentence summary:

Can you still find love after you have varicose veins? 

review:

Mary Kay Andrews says yes, yes you can! These are all great stories about two very strong women who happen to be best friends. All of these novels are written at the same quality (good) and in the same style (flowing, witty, laugh out loud funny) perfect for a day at the beach or cuddled up in front of the fire. All of the characters are interesting and make you kinda want to be their friends. The setting is really well done, right down to the streets they drive on. And the plot is fast paced with a happy ending (well, 4 happy endings, one for each book). I recommend this to someone looking for a mindless read. 

7/10

If you enjoyed Mary Kay Andrews be sure to check out:

Fannie Flagg

Jennifer Cruise 

Susan Elizabeth Phillips