Fade Away (Myron Bolitar #3) by Harlan Coben

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): The living room is Martha Stewart. The basement is Legos—and blood. The signs of a violent struggle. For Myron Bolitar, the disappearance of a man he once competed against is bringing back memories—of the sport he and Greg Downing had both played and the woman they both loved. Now, among the stars, the wannabes, the gamblers, and the groupies, Myron is embarking upon the strange ride of a sports hero gone wrong that just may lead to certain death. Namely, his own.

Book Review:
So this book was recommended to me. Admittedly, I'm not a huge mystery fan, so this was a bit out of my comfort zone. Overall, it was a light read with good pacing. I got a bit confused at the end. I feel like Coben rushed the ending and left it a bit muddled. The main character is likable. His best friend/sidekick is pretty bad ass. I enjoyed reading Fade Away and would consider picking up another book by the same author.

Favorite Quote:
“He truly believed that no one could love him, and no matter who you are, that hurts. It made you insecure. It made you want to hide and build fences” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I like the contrast of the colors.

Rating:

Top Ten Tuesday: Making Life A Little Bit Easier!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Things That Make Life As A Reader/Book Blogger Easier

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Bloglovin

Goodreads

Twitter 

Email

Blog List

My Nook

Bookmarks

Google Calendar

My Amazon Wishlist

Barnes and Noble.com

What things make your life as a reader/blogger easier?

Top Ten Tuesday: Back to School

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books in Academic Settings

Honestly, the topic was top ten books in "x" setting, but as the start of school is just around the corner, I chose the academic setting.

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Forgotten
by Cat Patrick
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One of my favorite reads set in an "everyday" academic setting a.k.a. high school. :)

The Liar Society (The Liar Society #1)
by Lisa Roecker and Laura Roecker
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Great suspenseful story in a boarding school setting!

Meant to Be
by Lauren Morrill
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Fun, romantic story in a study-abroad setting. :)

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend
by Kody Keplinger
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Love this contemporary tale told from the "ugly duckling's" perspective. A must-read for any girls who's felt like an outcast in high school.

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1)
by Maggie Stiefvater
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This enticing novel is told in a boarding school setting, through a male voice. A definite must read!

Bittersweet
by Sarah Ockler
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This sweet tale is told from a more after-school-sports perspective. I absolutely adore Ockler's writing and highly recommend her works!!!

All These Things I've Done (Birthright #1)
by Gabrielle Zevin
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This sinful story is told in a private school setting with the mobster family life thrown in for flair!

The Social Code (The Start-Up #1)
by Sadie Hayes
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This scandalous tale is told in a college setting. So far, it has been one of my favorite books of the year!

Also Known As
by Robin Benway
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Also Known As is a fun tale full of espionage and adventure with a private school setting.

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June
by Robin Benway
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Yes, another Benway book! If you haven't read them, why the heck not?! This is by far my favorite Benway novel set in high school! You should absolutely read it!

What are some of your top setting for stories?

The Theory of Everything by Kari Luna

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Sophie Sophia is obsessed with music from the late eighties. She also has an eccentric physicist father who sometimes vanishes for days and sees things other people don’t see. But when he disappears for good and Sophie’s mom moves them from Brooklyn, New York, to Havencrest, Illinois, for a fresh start, things take a turn for the weird. Sophie starts seeing things, like marching band pandas, just like her dad.
Guided by Walt, her shaman panda, and her new (human) friend named Finny, Sophie is determined to find her father and figure out her visions, once and for all. So she travels back to where it began—New York City and NYU’s physics department. As she discovers more about her dad’s research on M-theory and her father himself, Sophie opens her eyes to the world’s infinite possibilities—and her heart to love.

Book Review:
Overall, I enjoyed this book. However, it's not quite what I anticipated. What makes The Theory of Everything shine are the characters. Sophie is the quirkiest, most animated of the bunch. I'm not sure what to make of her "episodes," however. I feel like this aspect could have been fleshed out a bit more. For the most part, the other characters accepted her explanation of "episodes vs. hallucinations." The mingling of physics and love was a bit of a reach as well. The "love conquers all theme" gave off more of a middle school feel vs. YA. The supporting characters are phenomenal, particularly Finny. I would have loved to see more of his character. Walt is a delight as well. Again, I wish his appearances could have been explained better. Overall, I'd recommend this with reservations.

Favorite Quote:
"Mom walked over to the stereo and turned on the radio. New Age music filled the room. 
'Gawd, this is awful,' I said.
'I need to relax,' Mom said. 'I don't want to say anything I'm going to regret.'
'I could say a lot of things about this music that I'd never regret,' I said.
'It's calming!' Mom said in a voice that was opposite of calm."

Cover Art Commentary:
I just adore this cover! It's colorful and whimsical. Besides, how could you not love the pandas?!

Rating: