Private Down Under by James Patterson and Michael White

The private series heads to Australia with a new P.I.

Craig Gisto is likable with his shredded past. His crew is fun.  As characters, I enjoyed them and I'd read something about them again.

The story itself was good.  Short and clipped, but good.  The whole book sort of felt like a trial run.  Like Patterson was testing out the Australian crew.  If that's the case, I'm hoping he brings them back.

3 smiles for the short mystery that will keep your attention

Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding

I admit I've never read the first two books.  I did see the movies (although I'm aware the doesn't count).  So I feel like I can truly say...you don't need to have all the background to really enjoy the magic that is Helen Fielding's writing.

This book is LAUGH OUT LOUD hilarious.  Bridget is funny, relatable, and always worried about the things you worry about daily.  Her life is imperfect yet somehow beautiful.  She's Bridget Jones...still glorious even at 50.

I loved it and I highly recommend it.
5 smiles, great quick read.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

"Good and evil were always changing places with each other."

I'm a huge fan of Frank L. Baum's Oz.  That being said, I obviously have no problems with writers taking his land and spinning new tales from it.  I am also a huge fan of Gregory Maguire's Wicked series.  So when I was given Dorothy Must Die as a gift, I was excited!

This book takes a look at a Dystopian futuristic Oz where everything has changed.  Including our former heroine, Dorothy, who has become a creepy dictator.  The idea is quite enchanting.

I'm not one for reading the back cover, normally.  However this one is in bright red letters and very hard to miss.  So I had an idea of what to expect.  I was wrong.  Not the good kind of wrong like when you think your friend is talking about you behind your back.  The bad kind of wrong like when you thought your friend remembered your birthday.

This book is basically one giant setup to the series.  The "mission" outlined on the back cover doesn't come into play until the LAST CHAPTER of the book.  Here you are the entire book wondering when the Tin Man and his crew are going to come into play.  Then the last chapter finally comes and you think "oh, there it is."

Amy is interesting, but I'm not sure I was in love with her the way you want to be with a protagonist.  Possibly it's because she's taking a stand against DOROTHY.  I mean you'd really have to work hard (which this author does) to make us hate Dorothy.  The woman's a legend.

I like the idea, but maybe I should've skipped the first book and jumped straight to the second.  This one is all set up.

2 smiles just for the intriguing concept

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles, Book 2

I liked the first book in this series, Cinder, enough to rate it 4 smiles and recommend it to a few people.  This sequel doesn't disappoint.

The plot revolves around Scarlet's kidnapped grandmother and the street fighter who offers to help find her.  Cinder, readers will recall, is trapped in a jail cell and must escape if she is to survive.  The story packs action at every turn.

I think I actually liked this book better than the first.  Scarlet is a character I can really get into.  She is headstrong and loving.  Despite all the things working against him, I even liked Wolf.  Okay, I really liked Wolf.  He's probably one of my all time favorite characters, and I have a lot.  Plus, Cinder is back and she's always entertaining.  The author even threw in a new guy to help us get more of that great sarcastic banter Cinder is so good at.

Overall, 5 smiles.  I can't find fault with it.

On the off chance that Marissa Meyer finds this review, I wanna add one message for her.  Kudos for breaking the "rules" of this business.  YA in third person?  Absolu-freaking-lutely.  Your first novel kicking off a series?  Heck yeah.  I love your guts and ambition Ms. Meyer and I wish you the best of luck!

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Don't you hate when a series you've been fawning over ends?  I do.

Again, Mr. Riordan begins with an apology for the last cliffhanger (and apology).  It's cute. For the first time he lays out the prophecy right in the front of the book.  Cool change.  So I'm into it already and it's only the first chapter!  This guy is a master.

I don't want to say much about this book, since it's the EPIC conclusion to what is technically two book series (Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus).  I'll say this much: it's a beautiful, fitting ending to an amazing ride.

5 smiles and if you're a fan of the series...it's a can't miss.

Unlucky 13 by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

The 13th Woman's Murder Club Installment (no, you don't have to read them all to enjoy them)

I think I finally figured out what bugs me about this series.  I do not have friends like this.  I mean, I have friends.  I have drop-everything-and-run-to-you friends.  But my family gets my 90%.  Lindsay and her crew seem to give job and friends a much higher percentage than family.  Even this book, with Lindsay married with a baby, involves very little time with that family unit.  I find myself paranoid that her (absolutely amazing) hubby will be unhappy.  It irks me.

Anyway, you read these books for the mystery.  It had that.  This one revolves around a case involving the missing lady who fooled them all in a previous book, Yuki's wedding, and a disaster happening to one of the girls.  It's not the best book I've ever read, but it's nowhere near the worst either.

2 smiles (sorry James)

Gregor and the Marks of Secret by Suzanne Collins

Book 4 in the Underland Chronicles

This book starts off quite different than the rest of the series.  Gregor's mother remains below the Earth, Gregor is allowed to freely visit the Underland, and his amazing neighbor finally knows the secret.  The book continues to be vastly different than the previous three, but it is a difference that was needed.  This change makes you realize how similar and yet somehow free the previous tales were. This novel is heavy with future and pressure.  Gregor shoulders it well.

The book centers around the mice from book 3 bringing back the crown they were told to use in emergencies. The crew must travel to find what's been happening in the Underland. The biggest difference is that this all must happen in secret, and there's no prophecy they are chasing this time.

The book leaves you hanging, so you may want the 5th one ready to go.

4 smiles and highly recommended series for your kiddos in 3-5th grades (or higher).