C.J. Box is a perfect example of why I will sometimes continue reading a series when I had only a ho-hum reaction to the first book. I don't even remember why I picked up this series, but I probably found it when I was tooling around on my dad's kindle. In December, my dad got an iPad for his birthday and I became the somewhat dubious possessor of an e-reader (my feelings about e-readers are conflicted, to say the least), so I decided that I'd go back and tie up my loose ends by finishing the series.
There are, to date, 13 novels in the series. I read #1-6 in 2011, #7-8 in 2012 and then discovered that whoever purchased the books must have quit reading the series because there were no more loaded on the kindle. At the time I was on the verge of giving up the series because they weren't consistently hitting the mark. Luckily, when I decided to give it one more chance, my library didn't fail me, and I was able to pick up where I left off. I breezed through #9-11 last month:
This series features Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett and his friends, family and countrymen. Ol' Joe, predictably, finds himself in the middle of all sorts of ridiculous (not to mention dangerous) situations, and in his well meaning, sometimes bumbling way, he works to solve the crime, save the day, etc. I enjoy the slight twist on the detective novel of having a hero who exists slightly outside the usual law enforcement circles.
I feel like it took a while for Box to hit his stride with the series; it wasn't until book 6 that I was feeling consistently connected to the characters. The plot lines in books #6-11 get no less fantastic/unrealistic, but either the flow of the stories evened out or I just became accustomed to Box's voice. Whatever the case, I've found myself quite enjoying the last few books and am looking forward to finishing up the series.
I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who's a fan of detective novels.
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This is hands down one of my favorite pieces of chick-lit. I use the term chick-lit with no derision - I've discovered that some people think of it as an insult. To me, chick-lit is the literary version of a Rom-Com (or are Rom-Coms the video versions of chick-lit????) and it's a genre I love. The Boy Next Door is Rom-Com/chick-lit at its best.
Meg Cabot is a prolific author of both YA and adult fiction (including The Princess Diaries series) and if you haven't checked out one of her books, you should. If you stick around here for any length of time, I'm sure you'll see more of her! Or, don't wait for me - click over to her website and check 'em out.
This is a book that I've read at least 6 or 7 times (it's on 4 different year shelves on goodreads, but I know that I've read it more than 4 times - this is one area where goodreads really lets me down - I can't be the only serial re-reader out there - but they only give you the option of one "date read"....get on this goodreads!!!!) and I've loaned/recommended it to at least that many people.
I love pretty much everything about this book, and as many times as I've read it, it never ceases to make me smile. This is the first in a (very loosely connected) trilogy and though this one is my favorite, they're all great. Perfect for a relaxing day at the pool with a refreshing beverage of your choice.
Up Next.....The fourth and final part of my July Recap: The Book Club Edition
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