The Heist (Fox and O’Hare Series #1). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick.

The Heist (Fox and O’Hare Series #1). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick. 2013. Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group. ISBN-13: 9780385366953 (Unabridged audiobook, 8 hrs, 27 mins).

The FBI teams up with the Most Wanted.

Action-packed, Entertaining, Page-turner, Witty, Wonderful Characters, Great Narration

320 pages

The Chase (Fox and O’Hare Series #2). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick.

The Chase (Fox and O’Hare Series #2). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick. 2013. Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group. ISBN-13: 9780385366991 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hrs, 07 mins).

For fans of Leverage (tv series).

Action-packed, Entertaining, Page-turner, Witty, Wonderful Characters, Great Narration

303 pages

The Job (Fox and O’Hare Series #3). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick.

The Job (Fox and O’Hare Series #3). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick. 2013. Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group. ISBN-13: 9780385367035 (Unabridged audiobook, 7 hrs, 01 mins).

Fight con-men and thieves with one of your own.

Action-packed, Entertaining, Page-turner, Witty, Wonderful Characters, Great Narration

320 pages

The Scam (Fox and O’Hare Series #4). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick.

The Scam (Fox and O’Hare Series #4). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick. 2013. Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group. ISBN-13: 9780385367073 (Unabridged audiobook, 6 hrs, 55 mins).

Refreshingly eccentric cast.

Action-packed, Entertaining, Page-turner, Witty, Wonderful Characters, Great Narration

305 pages

The Pursuit (Fox and O’Hare Series #5). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick.

The Pursuit (Fox and O’Hare Series #5). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick. 2013. Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group. ISBN-13: 9780385367035 (Unabridged audiobook, 7 hours, 01 mins).

Never leave home without your rocket launcher.

Action-packed, Entertaining, Page-turner, Witty, Wonderful Characters, Great Narration

354 pages

Island Book by Evan Dahm

Island Book by Evan Dahm

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This graphic novel kicks off with a whole lot of telling and backstory, which is disappointing, but still, I was interested in where this might go. Somewhere around panel 40, this becomes more interesting. Luckily, with this simple format, you can progress to that panel quickly, so just hang in there through the rocky start.

The artwork is very simple and clean with mostly muted colors that I really enjoyed. It gives everything a nice, moody feel. There’s actually a lot of visual depth in the scenes, and you can feel the action and motion in the drawings, especially in terms of the movement of boats and water. Honestly, the artwork is probably my favorite things about this one.

In the first 40 panels, most of the characters look identical, so that is confusing. However, the side characters from the first world don’t really seem to have names, personalities, or much of a purpose, other than to interact with Sola, the MC, so once you figure out which one is Sola, the scenes start to make more sense.

I think that the simple format and storytelling is good for the intended audience, overall. This just completely lacks character development and clarity in the world building, other than what you can guess at from what you see in the artwork. It basically becomes a long journey with multiple stops to add new underdeveloped side characters. The dialogue tends to be a bit vague and often awkward or cheesy. It doesn’t always move the story forward effectively. I have to confess that I liked the wordless panels the best.

The end is pretty confusing, anticlimactic, and disappointing. You don’t get any true answers, and if it’s trying to express a deeper message, the younger intended audience isn’t going to get it. I’m 38, and read a lot, and I was completely unconvinced of any deeper meaning or message. I felt like I just went on a long, useless journey. Sure, it was interesting, when I thought it was building to something, but once I realized there wasn’t going to be any true plot development or resolution, I just had to force myself through to the last panel.

Still, despite these many concerns with the format and storytelling, something is compelling about this one. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, other than I enjoyed the otherworldly quality and adventure of it. It’s best for young readers who are new to graphic novels, and it likely won’t have as much appeal to older graphic novel fans who like to read across age categories, particularly teens and adults, as we tend to expect a more solid storyline and some actual character development.

Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher, for allowing me to read an advanced copy. This graphic novel will be published on May 14, 2019.

Pages: 290

Red: The Heroic Rescue (The Circle #2)

 Red: The Heroic Rescue (The Circle #2)
by Ted Dekker
Pages: 400
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Less than a month ago, Thomas Hunter was a failed writer selling coffee at the Java Hut in Denver. Now he finds himself in a desperate quest to rescue two worlds from collapse. In one world, he's a battle-scarred general commanding an army of primitive warriors. In the other, he's racing to outwit villians intent on taking over the world with an unstoppable virus.

The story picks up in the second book now that all the main characters are introduced and the way Thomas is in both worlds is already established. 

Black (Circle Series #1)

 Black
by Ted Dekker
Pages: 560
Rating: 4 out of 5

Ted Dekker is known for his fast-paced, character driven novels that are unlike any other Christian fiction I have read and is often not marketed as Christian fiction. This series is a fantasy tale with our reluctant hero, Thomas, fleeing for his life from loan sharks in our world but entering a whole other reality when he dreams. Is he in the future, the past, or an entirely different planet? The beings he meets in the dream world tell him different things and that the others are lying. Who to believe? Which world is real. Both his sister and his new friends say that their world is real and the other a dream. Are they both real? After several "trips" back and forth Thomas is suffering from sleep deprivation but must learn information from both worlds to save the other. If only he can remember and make the right choices. As you may guess from the subtitle, book one sets up the major problems and players in this series. Part of Thomas' task is to decide which side is evil and which side is good and how does he really know? Whose definition of good and evil is correct?

Besieged (The Iron Druid Chronicles #4.1-4.2, 4.6-4.7, 8.1-8.2, 8.6-8)

 Besieged (The Iron Druid Chronicles #4.1-4.2, 4.6-4.7, 8.1-8.2, 8.6-8)
by Kevin Hearne
Pages: 256
Rating: 5 out of 5

I always love short story collections of a fun series. The shorter snapshots can give you insight to a character's past and personality. Sometimes the shorter story just allows you to have a great visit with a favorite fictional character. If you enjoy the Iron Druid Series don't miss this short story collection. Though there were a couple minor spoilers for me in since I am on book 7.

Shattered (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #7)

Shattered (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #7) 
by Kevin Hearne
Pages: 352
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Atticus O'Sullivan the last surviving Druid now has company. His apprentice Granuaile is now a full-fledged Druid and his mentor has been rescued from an island frozen in time. But Owen has been there For nearly two thousand years and basics of every day modern life are shocking too him.

While Atticus is trying to help Owen acclimate, Granuaile is called to India to face an evil spirit that his possessing her archaeologist father. Assisted by the witch Laska Granuaile may be able to vanquish the spirit but will her father survive the process?

And we get to meet Yeti. They love Bacon!

Alexandra Barnaby Novels by Janet Evanovich

SUMMARY: Alex Barnaby teams up with NASCAR driver Sam Hooker to rescue her brother and find a sunken treasure in book 1 in the series, and in book 2 they must clear their names of murder while tracking down a new high-tech device that appears to guarantee the winner of a race.

REVIEW: Since I enjoy Evanovich’s Stephanie Plums series, I cracked these books open in great anticipation. Unfortunately, they did not live up to expectations. The plots are a little too far-fetched and the main characters are more annoying than quirky and fun. The romantic elements fizzle more than they sizzle, so I won’t even tag it as a Contemporary Romance.

RATING: 2 out of 5

BOOKS IN SERIES:

Metro Girl, Book 1:  296 pages and Motor Mouth, Book 2:   312 pages

Artemis by Andy Weir

 Artemis
by Andy Weir
Pages: 305
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

From the author of The Martian comes a totally different science fiction adventure. Besides being set on a planet in space this novel is quite different from The Martian, much more adventure and less science. Artemis is a settlement on the moon owned by a corporation.

The main character Jazz Bashara was born on the moon and is just as tough as the atmosphere. While being smart and talented Jazz is often her own worst enemy and is still paying for some mistakes she made as a teen. Jazz is trying to make a fast buck but ends up in the middle of a conspiracy to take over the control of Artemis. But Jazz will need more than her brains and daring to commit the perfect crime, she's going to have to learn how to deal with her past and forgive herself and others to succeed.

Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting by David Reed

 Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting
by David Reed
Pages: 272
Rating: 4 out of 5

Fun read for fans of the tv show Supernatural. Written from the perspective of Sam and Dean's mentor, Bobby Singer. Something has happened to Bobby's memory and he's trying to write down what he knows before his mind completely goes