The Spellmans Are Out For Revenge!

Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Everyone beware!  The Spellmans are out for Revenge!  The third book in the Spellman series by Lisa Lutz.  This one does not disappoint!  All the good stuff wrapped up under one cover...funny, entertaining & a quick read!  If you haven't read my previous reviews regarding the other Spellman books I recommend them to all Evanovich fans!  Though they do have a few differences they are easily comparable & just as good as the Plum series.  The spellmans have quickly became a part of my favorite "book families".

Here's a quick overview about the Spellman series books for those of you who missed my previous reviews (links to those are below).  The Spellmans own a P.I. business (family owned & operated).  Run by Mom, Dad, David (brother who does not work with them), Rae (the younger sister who works with them) & Izzy the main character who also (obviously) works with her parents.  There are more quirky, fun characters that you will meet throughout the books & will come to love.  So, if you haven't, pick up Lutz's book & you will quickly find yourself caught up in Izzy's obsessive case investigations, her bad luck & all of her families hilarious happenings!  Oh, & did I mention the family loves to blackmail each other!?  As odd as it may sound I know it will keep you laughing out loud!



Here's the link to my review of the first Spellman book.  The Spellman Files.
Here's the link to my second book review.  Curse of the Spellmans.

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80's Teen Heartthrob Corey Haim Passed Away

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Though it may not come as a surprise to a lot of you it's still non-the-less a sad event.  80's teen heartthrob Corey Haim passed away this morning at age 38.  Police say it looks like an apparent drug overdose, though they cannot be sure until the autopsy is done.  Anyone who has seen his & the "Other Corey's" TV show The Two Corey's which starred both Haim & Corey Feldman, probably caught a glimpse of Haim's continuing struggle with drugs.  

Both Haim & Feldman were popular 80's teen heartthrobs & yes, I was one of those with a crush on Haim.  You may remember him for some of his movies, most notably The Lost Boys & License to Drive (both movies starring Haim & Feldman).  Haim was also known for his roles in Murphy's Romance (which also starred Sally Field & James Garner) & Lucas (also starring Kerri Green & Charlie Sheen, was also Winona Ryder's first feature film role).  Both two of my favorite movies.  

A sad time!  I'm sure he'll be missed by many & especially those of us who had his posters hanging on our bedroom walls!  I admit...I was one of them! ; )

A Few Books On My Wish List

My Wish List is a never ending list of books that I wish were on my TBR shelf.  Both seem to constantly grow!  So, here's a few of the books on my Wish List.  Some having been on the list for a long time, others more recently added.

• The Circus in Winter by Cathy Day 
• The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy by Stewart O'Nan
• Billy Creekmore: A Novel by Tracey Porter
• The Thurber Carnival (Perrenial Classics) by James Thurber

(In case you haven't figured it out yet I love circus/carnival settings).

  Now back to the list...

• Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
• Walking to Gatlinburg by Howard Frank Mosher
• Mermaids in the Basement by Michael Lee West
• American Pie (A Novel) by Michael Lee West
• Leavenworth Train: A Fugitive's Search for Justice in the Vanishing West by Joe Jackson
• The 158-Pound Marriage by John Irving
• Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving
• Ladies of the Lake by Haywood Smith 

Those are just a few books on my wish list!  Read any of them?  Share your opinion!  Have a book on my wish list just laying around or would like to sell?  Let me know!  What's on your Wish List!?

We're Going South of Broad with Pat Conroy (Review)

South of Broad by Pat Conroy


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When I think of how to describe this book I am reminded of John Irving's writing.  The reason for that is some of the characters & events that take place in the book I believe are comparable to the feel of an Irving book.  Which is not meant as an insult as I am an Irving fan!


With that being said you also cannot mistake this book being written by Conroy.  It has his vivid, beautiful descriptions of places & surroundings which he is known for.  It's so easy to imagine the places he writes about even when you haven't been there.


As for the book overall I found it to be very good.  Entertaining, nice flow & easy to read.  The story takes place starting in the 1960's up to the 1990's.  The main character Leo King is a child when the story begins & goes throughout his life up to an adult.  Both a coming of age story as well as a look into events that took place in the stories time periods.  Such as racism & AIDS.  Of course I have to mention Leo's group of unforgettable friends too!  Friends from all walks of life & their adventures & life growing up together.  Friends you won't soon forget!  I was very pleased with this book.


It had the coming of age, history, love & adventure.  A little something for everyone!  I would recommend this book to any Irving fans as well as all Conroy fans.  If you're looking for a book about life, growing up & the hardship of growing up in a certain time period this is a great one!


Read the full synopsis of this book here.

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Books Recently Added To My TBR Shelf

My "TBR" (To be Read) shelf seems to grow daily, but here are the books I've most recently acquired.

Last week I took a trip to the used bookstore. I was thrilled when I walked out with an armload of books! I felt like I had hit the lottery! Coming away with a couple of books that had been on my "wish list" for at least 2-3 years now. You can imagine my excitement when my eyes were searching the shelves not expecting to actually see those couple books sitting there! I wanted to jump up & down! Hey, some people get excited over a new pair of shoes or a new T.V., but for me it's books! I am not ashamed to say...Hi, my names Angela & I am a Book-a-Holic!!!

On to the list!

1- Southern Discomfort by Rita Mae Brown. I've read a few of her books in the past & enjoyed most of them.

2- Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz. I love this series! Funny! If you like Janet Evanovich's Plum series you should check it out!

3- Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. I like the movie & have always been interested in reading the book.

4- Kaleidoscope by Darryl Wimberley. Love reading books about circus or carnival life.

5- The Road to Wellville by T.C. Boyle. The cover of this one just happened to catch my eye, so I took a chance on it. lol

6- Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey. I loved One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by him. Also a great movie!

7- The Further Inquiry also by Ken Kesey. This is one I've wanted for yrs. Yea!

8- The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe. My Best find of the day!!! I have wanted this book for so long! I can't wait to delve into it!

Look for these book reviews & more coming soon to a blog near you! ; )

A Honkytonk of a Book!!!

Honky Tonk Man by Clancy Carlile

This is another of my old reviews I thought I would share. Of course this is one of my favorite books! If you haven't read the book perhaps you may remember the 1982 movie of the same title starring Clint Eastwood. Needless to say the movie of course was based on the book. Clancy Carlile the author of the book also wrote some of the songs on the movies soundtrack. Another great book by Carlile is Children of the Dust. If you've never heard of it here's a link to my review of that book. Scroll down towards the bottom of the page & you'll see it. Underneath the review you'll find the Synopsis also. O.k., now for the Synopsis of Honkytonk Man...

Following a musician taking one final chance at the big time. Red Stovall is a would-be country singer who has been bouncing around the margins of the music business for years. With nowhere in particular to go, Red arrives at the failing Oklahoma farm of his sister for an extended visit, where her son Whit quickly bonds with his uncle. However, it's obvious that Red is in very poor health, drinking heavily & breathing with difficulty, & when Red is invited to audition for the Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Whit tags along for the road trip to keep an eye on his ailing uncle. En route, Red & Whit are joined by Whit's grandfather & another hopeful vocalist, Marlene, who like Red is chasing her own dreams of stardom on the Opry. Now for the review....

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just loved this book! It is easily one of my favorites. A book about dreams, coming of age, life, honkytonks. It was such an interesting & entertaining read. One that will tug at your heart strings & make you want to cry while in other parts you will be laughing out loud. Definitely a book I will read again in the future.

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Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen (Review)

Though this is one of my old reviews I thought I would share it. This is one of my favorite books.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
6/5/08-Just started reading this book. The first few pages already have me hooked. Can't wait to get to the next page!

This was such a great book! I can't say enough about it! Great story line & such memorable characters. I couldn't wait to turn to the next page yet didn't want the book to end. Very funny, touching story. I highly recommend to everyone. Especially those who like the circus/carnival reads. Definitely a book I will revisit in the future.

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