Review: Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum #14) by Janet Evanovich

1.5 stars for Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum book 14) by Janet Evanovich.

I think I need a break after this one. The Plum stories seems to have taken a nosedive of late.

Even though I flip through each and every page of this book, nothing registers. I only vaguely remember something written about a diva and how much I dislike the plot.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the next main story be good, else I will be bidding adieu to the series.

Review: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy #2) by Douglas Adams

1.5 stars for The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy book 2) by Douglas Adams.

At the end of book 1 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, readers learn that only two Earthlings, Arthur Dent and Tricia McMillian survive the decimation of Earth by the Vogons to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. And thus all hopes of finding the ultimate answers to the ultimate question of Life, the Universe and Everything fall unto the shoulders of these two survivors.

In this book 2, we are told that the Vogons do not like leaving a job unfinished, especially the Captain who is in charge of destroying planet Earth. So, Arthur and Trillian, together with their two Alien friends, Ford Prefect and his cousin Zaphod are pursued by the Vogons.

In their efforts to escape from the Vogons, this group of four miraculously turn up in Milliways which is the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. This is by far my favourite part of the story as the brilliancy of it all amuses me to no end. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - it is not a figure of speech but taken literally, it means - Boom! End of Universe. Period. Milliways happens.

Sadly, other than my enjoyment of reading on how these four beings end up at the Restaurant, the same cannot be said for the rest of the story. Seriously, after the first half of the book, I have no idea what story the author is trying to tell. The plot simply degenerates into fragmented pieces that do not make much sense to me. It is no longer funny in a silly kind of way but absurd in a stale kind of way.

Publisher: Tor; Reprints edition
Publication date: 1 Sep 2009

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Facing annihilation at the hands of the warlike Vogons is a curious time to have a craving for tea. It could only happen to the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his curious comrades in arms as they hurtle across space powered by pure improbability band desperately in search of a place to eat.

Among Arthur's motley shipmates are Ford Prefect, a longtime friend and expert contributor to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Zaphod Beeblebrox, the three-armed, two-headed ex-president of the galaxy; Tricia McMillan, a fellow Earth refugee who's gone native (her name is Trillian now); and Marvin, the moody android who suffers nothing and no one very gladly. Their destination? The ultimate hot spot for an evening of apocalyptic entertainment and fine dining, where the food (literally) speaks for itself.

Will they make it? The answer: hard to say. But bear in mind that the Hitchhiker's Guide deleted the term "Future Perfect" from its pages, since it was discovered not to be!

"What's such fun is how amusing the galaxy looks through Adams' sardonically silly eyes."

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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Review: Dirty Angels (Dirty Angels #1) by Karina Halle

1.5 stars for Dirty Angels (Dirty Angels book 1) by Karina Halle.

Dirty Angels is a dark rmance about a good girl and a very, very bad man, about drug cartels set in Mexico with drug use, violence, abuse, too steamy sex, bad language and sexy Mexicans.

I do not enjoy reading about rebuffed past loves and finding new love in another standalone. To me, at least in fiction, the man will always be in love with his first love; unforgettable! irreplaceable! from some deep hidden recesses of his mind. Any other girl will just feel like a cheap substitute.

The author drops an unexpected bombshell when she reveals having cooked up the concept of Javier's book when she has just finished writing On Every Street. This means that, at that point in time, the author has already decided that Javier is not the man for Ellie!

One can tell that Karina Halle is a very polished and seasoned writer just by picking up any of her books to read. However, I do not care for Dirty Angels, and I am definitely going to give the rest of "Dirty" series a pass.

Publisher: Metal Blonde Books
Publication date: 15 Jun 2014

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For Luisa Chavez, a twenty-three year old former beauty queen, a better life has always been just out of her reach. Sure, she’s had men at her feet since she was a young teenager but she’s never had the one thing she’s craved – security. Having grown up in near poverty, her waitressing job in Cabo San Lucas can barely let her take care of herself, let alone her ailing parents. Every day is another unwanted advance, every day is a struggle to survive.

When Salvador Reyes, the depraved leader of a major Mexican cartel, takes an interest in her, Luisa is presented with an opportunity she can’t afford to pass up. She’ll become Salvador’s wife and exchange her freedom and body for a life of riches – riches she can bestow upon her deserving parents. But Luisa quickly finds out that even the finest wines and jewels can’t undo the ugliness in her marriage, nor the never-ending violence that threatens her every move.

Soon, Luisa is looking for an escape, a way out of the carefully controlled life she’s leading. She finally gets her wish in the worst way possible.

As it is, being the wife of Salvador makes her an ideal target for rival cartels and there’s one particular man who needs Luisa as part of his cartel’s expansion. One particular man whose quest for power has destroyed lives, slit throats and gotten him out of an American prison. One particular man who will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.

That man is Javier Bernal. And he wants Luisa. He wants to take her, keep her, ruin her.

Unless she ruins him first.

*Blurb and image from author's website*

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