The Running Bibliophile

Janet Evanovich is a talented author, and her Stephanie Plum book series just keeps getting better and better with each book. Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum, #14) is no exception. Although this series is technically a thriller and suspense book, it could also be categorized as chick lit and humor.  There were numerous times throughout the book that I found myself laughing out loud, which is always welcome, especially with a pandemic going on in the real world. The situations that Stephanie Plum gets herself into are always comical, and let's face it, predictable at this point. And, the way that her on again off again boyfriend Joe Morelli reacts is always humorous as well.  One character that is reoccurring in the Stephanie Plum series is Grandma Mazur, and she makes an appearance in Fearless Fourteen . However, I am glad to say it is a minor role in this book. I love the character, but there are times when I feel like she was featured too much. I can only t...

In the sequel to Spying in High Heels (High Heels, #1) by Gemma Halliday, we reunite with kid shoes designer Maddie Springer, her best friend Dana, and LAPD Detective Jack Ramirez. When Maddie receives an odd message on her answering machine from her estranged father, Larry Springer, she's determined to find out what kind of trouble he is in, and travels to Sin City (a.k.a. Las Vegas, Nevada) with Dana to investigate. Killer in High Heels (High Heels, #2) by Gemma Halliday stays true to fashion to this series as a cozy mystery and chick lit. If you're looking for a great beach read, I definitely recommend this book because overall, it is just a super fun, light hearted read. When Maddie brings up the topic her biological father to her mother, it's no surprise her mother isn't happy with all of the questions seeing as Larry ran off to Las Vegas with another woman named Lola and has had virtually no contact with their daughter for 26 years. This is the most re...

I've been in a bit of a reading slump the past few months . . . nothing really has been able to keep my attention very well, not even books by my favorite authors. So, I've been doing a lot of rereading of some of my favorite books, including those from my childhood, in hopes to get out of my slump. I recently had the yearning to reread the first book in the High Heel Mysteries by Gemma Halliday. Synopsis of Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday:  Maddie Springer works as a fashion designer . . . that is a designer for kids shoes. In the midst of her current project of designing "Strawberry Shortcake" tennis shoes for tots, her attorney boyfriend, Richard Howe, cancels their lunch plans and goes missing. Howe becomes the prime suspect in a murder and fraud case involving his client Devon Greenway. Wanting to clear her boyfriend's name, Maddie is determined to insert herself into the police investigation in any way she can. I enjoyed Spying in ...

Melanie Hoffman, a former lawyer, has lost half of her body weight and opened Dining By Design, a gourmet take out cafe that specializes in healthy food. She's barely opened the doors when her husband announces that he wants a divorce and is leaving her for another woman . . . one that is double the size of Melanie. Surprised by this, she now faces financial hardships and finds a roommate in the most unlikely person . . . a twenty something woman with pink hair and a quirky personality. On top of that, she starts dating a documentary filmmaker named Nathan. With all the changes, Melanie realizes she still has a lot to learn about life and herself. Good Enough To Eat by Stacey Ballis can easily be defined as chick lit. I might have mentioned in other reviews that chick lit is not a genre I normally choose for myself. However, one of the book clubs I was in briefly had picked this book as their monthly selection. I decided to read it because I liked the premise of the book....

Southern belle Ansley Waller's ultimate goal is to get a diamond ring, but her life is turned upside down when her fiancé calls off their wedding. Embarrassed by her predicament, Ansley leaves Dallas, Texas to live with her recently widowed grandmother Vivian in New York City. Tired of her granddaughter wallowing in misery, Vivian gives Ansley an ultimatum . . . get a job or go home. Ansley decides to open her own bakery, and before long, she's even dating. However, the men in Manhattan are vastly different than the ones back home, and her flirting falls flat. On top of that, someone is trying to sabotage her new business. The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross is not a book I normally would have picked up on my own, but it was a book club pick. It definitely falls into the categories of chick lit, cozy mystery, and beach reads. Let me begin with what I actually liked about the book. I enjoyed the recipes at the end of each chapter, and I swore I would make some of...

The Devil Wears Prada  by Lauren Weisberger follows recent college graduate Andrea “Andy” Sachs as she moves to New York City with her best friend Lily, determined to break into the competitive world of publishing. After blanketing the city with her résumé and facing rejection after rejection, Andy finally lands what many consider the opportunity of a lifetime: a job “a million girls would die for” as the junior personal assistant to the formidable Miranda Priestly, editor-in-chief of the fictional high-fashion magazine Runway. What begins as a stepping stone into the publishing industry quickly spirals into a demanding, all-consuming role that tests Andy’s ambition, integrity, and relationships. As she becomes more entrenched in the glamorous yet cutthroat world of fashion, her personal life begins to unravel, leaving her to question how much she’s willing to sacrifice for her career. When The Devil Wears Prada hit theaters, I knew I had to see it, and I wasn’t disappo...