The Big Kahuna by Janet Evanovich and Peter Evanovich, 303 pages

"The Big Kahuna" is book #6 in the Fox and O'Hare series by Evanovich.  As far as I am aware this is the first time Peter Evanovich, the son of Janet  Evanovich, has gotten a writing credit.

The story has the same zany, mad cap feeling of the rest of Janet Evanovich's books but the characters have changed from past books.  Kate O'Hare, straight arrow FBI agent, has been the lead on the adventures in the past while ex-con man, turned FBI helper Nicholas Fox has been her sidekick.  Their leading and supporting roles were switched in "The Big Kahuna."

It was still a fun, yet forgettable, crazy ride of a story but I missed have Kate in the lead and the role reversal was a little strange.

Winter (Lunar Chronicles fourth book) by Marissa Meyer 827 pages

This was the final story of the Lunar Chronicles series.  All the characters come together, get split apart, come back in different groups, separate again and there's no time to register calm or relief for any of them.  The end was hard fought, but well worth it.  If you are looking for a very satisfying, female character-driven, sci-fi, light romance, adventure story, you need to jump into the Lunar Chronicles at your very first opportunity.  This was an incredibly well-crafted series with characters that constantly surprised me with their complexity and depth.  I listened to the whole series read by Rebecca Soler who did a fantastic job.

The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage by Phillip Pullman 460 pages

If you loved Pullman's His Dark Materials series, as I did, you absolutely must read this new series!  It was like putting on your favorite, comfy pajamas jumping back into the rich alternate reality of Lyra's Oxford.  Of course, this is a prequel to the other series, so Lyra is just a baby.  The main character is Malcolm, an industrious boy who helps his parents at their inn, does odd jobs for the nuns nearby and jack-of-all-trades tasks up and down the river.  His trusty canoe, La Belle Sauvage, affords him the luxury of accomplishing this in quick fashion.  Strange folk and rumors are moving through his parents' inn and Malcolm gets absorbed in a dangerous mission to protect the mysterious baby that is being sheltered at the nuns' priory.  

This was an absorbing, beautifully written story and I can't wait for the next one in this series! 

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, 203 pages

I saw a movie preview for "A Wrinkle in Time" and thought I better read this classic children's book that I missed reading when I was actually a child.

The book begins with the cliche, "It was a dark and stormy night" which made me giggle.  I missed out on a lot of great books when I was a kid because I didn't think I liked science fiction and fantasy.  You live, you learn.

This is book one in a five volume series.  Kids, adventure, space travel and a little magic.  Great fun!

Inherit Midnight by Kate Kae Myers 416 pages

Think National Treasure, add in some 39 Clues and you get Inherit Midnight. The main character Avery is on an adventure solving puzzles and riddles trying to solve her grandmother's clues. Avery's grandmother is very wealthy but also sick. Instead of naming a heir, members of the family must travel the world learning about their family history. This is a nominee for the Gateway Readers' Award and a great read for young adults. 

Monsterland by James Crowley 373 pages

Charlie lost his cousin Billy a year ago.  He can't believe he's truly gone, a body was never found and Billy was such a good swimmer...  Halloween night finds Charlie following a vampire, Billy always dressed as a vampire, could it be him?  What Charlie finds instead is a world full of wonders and nightmares he's only heard about in stories.  He can't let the opportunity to try to find Billy slip away.  This puts him in the way of danger more than once, but he doesn't give up.  This was a nice story about how we all suffer when someone is torn from our life, but it was a really cool spin on traditional monster stories.  I would recommend it to kids 10 years or older for the most part. 

Dangerous Minds by Janet Evanovich, 319 pages

This is book #2 in Evanovich's new Knight & Moon series.  The series name refers to the two main characters, eccentric gazillionaire Emerson Knight and his Girl Friday, Riley Moon.

In this outing they are trying to find an island stolen from Knights' friend, Wayan Bagus, a Buddhist monk.  It turns out the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service, in particular, might have something to do with the island's theft and later disappearance.

The book never really caught my attention, but I slugged through.  I think Evanovich might have phoned this one in from her own tropical island escape.

The Eagle's Quill by Sarah L. Thomson 224 pages

After finding Benjamin Franklin's original key that he discovered lightning with, Sam, Marty, and Theo are headed to Glacier National Park in search of their second Founding Fathers' key. They are lead to a Montana Ranch in search of Thomas Jefferson's quill that he used to sign the Declaration of Independence. Not far behind them is Gideon Arnold, who kidnaps their chaperone and the ranch owners. Sam, Marty, and Theo must work together with Abby, the daughter of the ranchers. In order to get the adults back, the group must find the quill and give it to Gideon. They enter the wilderness where they encounter a bear, a mountain lion, and the waterfall. Will they be able to find the quill and keep everyone save? Again, this was another fast read with interesting historical facts. 

The Eureka Key by Sarah L. Thomson 240 pages

Sam is a master at puzzles. When he wins a contest, Sam learns that he will get to travel across America for the summer. What Sam didn't know is that he would be taking this trip with Martina, a history buff, and Theo, a descendant of George Washington. Sam was recruited to help solve puzzles and clues that were left behind by the Founding Fathers of America. The Founding Fathers left seven keys that will unlock an invention created by Benjamin Franklin, a secret weapon that would help defend the U.S. While Sam, Marty, and Theo are looking for their first key in Death Valley, they come across a group of thugs who are working for Gideon Arnold, a descendant of Benedict Arnold. Together, Sam, Marty, and Theo must work together to make it out of a secret cave while searching for the key. This book is a fast read and reminds me of National Treasure. 

The Reivers by William Faulkner, 320 pages

"The Reivers" is the library book clubs' classic pick this year.  It was originally published in 1962, about a month before William Faulkner died.

It is a rollicking and nostalgic story that the narrator, Lucius, is telling his own grandson nearly 60 years after it happened.  Lucius was 11 years old in 1905 when he and two family employees, one black and one white, "borrow" Lucius' grandfather's car and drive it from Jefferson, Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee.  They pull this off because Lucius' parents and grandparents leave town to attend a funeral. 

Stolen cars, stolen horses, prostitutes, amoral lawmen are all part of this adventure.  I wondered all through the book when the term "Reivers" would come up.  It didn't.  I later read a review that said "reivers" is an old Scottish word that means "robber."  Ahh, well said, Mr. Faulkner.  I mostly internally cringe when I know I am going to read a CLASSIC, but I totally enjoyed this one.

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman, 69 pages

This is a slim gem of a Neil Gaiman fairy tale.  On the eve of a Queen's marriage there is a mysterious sleep that is overtaking the kingdom.  The Queen sets out with her trusty dwarf companions to find the culprit.

Adventure, strong women and homages to Snow White and Sleeping Beauty follow. 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, 435 pages

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is book 3 in the 7-book series by J.K. Rowling.

Harry, Hermione and Ron are now 13 and in their 3rd year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  In this volume, crazed murderer Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison, Azkaban - a feat that no one has ever pulled off before.  He seems to be after Harry . . . and maybe Hogwarts isn't even safe.

Another great installment in the series.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, 352 pages

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is book two of the wildly popular seven book series by J.K. Rowling.

I've read and listened to the books before, but just don't seem to get tired of the story.  I'm especially drawn to them in the fall.  It's been a long time since I've read, instead of listened to them but so far I'm reading this time.

Harry is back for his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  With the help of his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, he is able to thwart the evil wizard Lord Voldemort (He Who Must Not Be Named, for you squeamish folks.)

On to the Prisoner of Azkaban . . .

The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg, 320 pages

This is book #5 in the Fox and O'Hare series that is a collaboration between Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.

Fox is Kate Fox an FBI agent secretly tasked to work with O'Hare.  O'Hare is Nicolas O'Hare con man and super criminal extraordinaire who looks like he is on the run, but is secretly working with the FBI to bring down really bad guys.

This time the duo is trying to stop a Serbian bad guy from unleashing a small pox epidemic on the world.

Deep?  Uh, no.  Fun? You betcha.

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown, 416 pages

While this book tells the wonderful story of the Washington University rowing team who made it to the Berlin Olympics in 1936, it mostly focuses on one of those boys in the boat, Joe Rantz. 

The book also shares a lot of information about the Depression, the Dust Bowl and the lead up to World War II in both the US and Germany.  It was an incredibly informative and spectacular book. 

I learned a lot about rowing, but I also learned a lot about what people overcame to survive in America in the 1930s.  I also learned about the nine boys in the boat and their coaches and their varied stories and what it took to reach Olympic glory.

A+, 5 stars, thumbs up!

American Gods, 10th Anniversary Edition by Neil Gaiman, 522 pages

Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller.  This proud-to-be-an-Englishman-thank-you-very-much wrote a rollicking tale about America.  The original text won several literary awards from Science Fiction to Fantasy to Horror.

Shadow has been in jail for three years and three days before he is supposed to be released gets tragic news that gets him released early.  Shadow is at loose ends and gets hired by the mysterious "Mr. Wednesday" who somehow knows him, even though they just met.

Shadow travels America with Mr. Wednesday gathering other mysterious figures for a potential epic battle.  Crossing, double crossing, gods and adventure ensues.  I'm not doing it justice but if you haven't read the book, read the 10th anniversary edition like I did, because it is expanded and is the author's preferred text.  If you like to listen to books - even better.  The audiobook features a full cast of different readers.

The Scam by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg, 304 pages

This is book #4 in the Fox & O'Hare Series by Evanovich and Goldberg.  Kate O'Hare is an FBI agent who is publicly trying to bring down con man Nicolas Fox.  The reality is that she has been ordered to work with him conning and bringing down other bad guys.

In typical Evanovich fashion, there is a zany cast of supporting characters who appear in all the Fox & O'Hare books.  These are fun mind candy and I was not disappointed.  The book ended with a cliff hanger so I'm looking forward to book #5.

Holes by Louis Sachar, 233 pages

If Stanley Yelnats and his parents didn't have bad luck, they wouldn't have any luck at all.  They can trace the bad luck to Stanley's no-good, dirty rotten, pig stealing great-great grandfather.  Some even say there is a curse on the family. 

Stanley's latest round of bad luck sends him to Camp Green Lake, a detention camp for wayward boys.  It isn't green and there isn't a lake and the boys are expected to dig a five-foot hole every day in the old lake bed.

Stanley unknowingly gets the chance to break the family curse while he's there.  This is a great children's book that won many awards, including the 1999 Newbery Medal.  I listened to it because I was looking for something quick and enjoyable and I was not disappointed.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, 336 pages

I'm not a fan of survival stories so resisted reading this book.  However, my sister told me I needed to watch the movie, which I did and really liked so I gave the book a shot.  I listened to it and I'm glad I did.

Cheryl Strayed decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995 when she was 26 because her life was a mess.  Her life spiraled out of control after her mom, Bobbi, died when Cheryl was 22.  Her mom was only 45.

Parts of the book were difficult to listen to because her life really was a mess and she had gone through some horrible situations.  The horse . . . oh my.

But, this book was ultimately uplifting because you know what?   She was able to do this difficult trail and get past her past so she could get on with her life.  So, thumbs up from me and Happy Trails, Cheryl.

The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, 304 pages

"The Job" is book 3 in the Fox and O'Hare series by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.

The books feature Kate O'Hare, straight laced FBI agent, secretly tasked to work with the con man she worked so hard to catch, Nicolas Fox.

Nick now works for the FBI, though very few people know that.  He helps take down bad guys through elaborate, crazy, hilarious cons with the help of a zany crew that includes Kate's bored, retired, elite military dad.

The books have laugh out loud humor and fun, if implausible adventures.  But who cares?  Just relax and enjoy it.