The Entertainer Book Tag 📚

I haven’t done a book tag in a while, but when I saw The Entertainer Book Tag on Jade’s blog, I thought I’ll give it a try. It’s a short one, but you know the drill: grab your coffee and let’s go!

1) Your favorite form of reading (ebook, audiobook, etc.)?

This question pops up in almost every book tag I come across. My answer is always the same no matter how many years I age: physical books. I tried ebook, but we were not compatible. I’m yet to try an audiobook, so maybe I’ll give that a chance one day.

2) If you could trade places with any other MC in their fictional world facing the same problems as them, who would you trade places with?

Haha! This is funny, for although I’ve read hundreds of books, it’s always the male characters that resonate with me the most. Like, I can name five of my all-time favorite male characters at the snap of a finger (d’Artagnan, Spencer Reid, Luc Moncrief, Alex Cross, and Ethan Hunt!), but I can’t do the same when it comes to female MCs.

Eh, guess I adore male MCs more than their female counterparts. Oh, wait, I didn’t answer the question. Well, to be honest, when I was into mangas and the then anime for Yu-Gi-Oh! I wanted to trade places with Yami Yugi for at least one episode. He was the coolest dude around and perhaps in the world of anime, still is. No one has spiky hair like him, the deep baritone or can even dream of wearing a jacket like him. Not even one Seto Kaiba. 

3) Favorite Movie?

I don’t watch movies anymore. The only ones I’m currently attempting to watch are the ones that I’m doing for the TC Challenge which I may not complete, but that’s okay. Anyway, my favorite movie is the Mission: Impossible franchise. If I have to choose one, Ghost Protocol.

Only in my dreams, I am this free to fly off buildings like this!

4) What do you wish you could see more of in books?

Characters that aren’t reduced to stereotypes such as Frenchmen. Almost every book I read, Frenchmen are reduced to the same great looking, adorable, lovable, philandering, smothering, delicious heartthrobs! Why can’t we have Frenchmen who aren’t dreamboats and hair that aren’t the best? The Frenchmen who have flaws like their other fictional male counterparts. Why can’t we have that?

5) Favorite first line from a book?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1

(The Holy Bible)

6) A book that isn’t your favorite all-time read, but one that you could read over and over again?

*** GIFs via Google Images

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Twenty Questions Book Tag📚

And welcome back to another book tag segment! I know I just currently did one, but I’ve had this one bookmarked as well (found it via thriceread) and figured that now is a good time to give it a try. You know what to do: get your bestie a coffee…

…and savor the irresistible sips as you read along.

1. How many books are too many books in a book series?

I could only speak for the Alex Cross series. It’s on the 26th book and it’s still going strong. I remember trying to get into the Pretty Little Liars series before it became a thing, but I found it boring after the 3rd book or so and quit. 

2. How do you feel about cliffhangers?

I can handle it once it’s done well. 

3. Hardcopy or paperback?

Definitely paperback! 

4. Favorite book?

The Holy Bible. 💙

5. Your least favorite book?

Anything fantastical. I can’t handle fantasy, magic, and things of those nature.

6. Love triangles, yes or no?

7. The most recent book you just couldn’t finish?

At the moment it’s Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. It’s literally boring!

8. A book you’re currently reading?

I just started reading the first book of The Women’s Murder Club series by James Patterson (1st To Die) and I’m not overly impressed. I’ll discuss the book at a later time.

9. Last book you recommended to someone?

Well, someone recently wanted a quick and exciting read so I recommended Invisible by James Patterson. 

10. The oldest book you’ve read? (Publication date) 

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (1844).

11. The newest book you’ve read? (Publication date)

The President Is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton (2018).

12. Favorite author?

God. Mortals include Alexandre Dumas, Jules Verne, and James Patterson. 

13. Buying books or borrowing books?

I prefer to buy my own books, but I sometimes borrow books from fellow bookworms if I’m interested in it.

14. A book you dislike that everyone else seems to love?

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. Too-long chapters, overwritten garbage, too slow… more like I’ll Give You Death. I tried being nice, but it didn’t work out.

15. Bookmarks or dog-ears?

Definitely bookmarks!

16. A book you can always reread?

It’ll always be the Holy Bible. I’m on my 5th or so reread. 

17. Can you read while hearing music?

I don’t listen to music while reading, but if someone is blasting music (which is the norm where I live) I can definitely read through it. 

18. One POV or multiple POV? (POV = Points of view)

I don’t mind the multiple POV once the author knows what he or she is doing. 

19. Do you read a book in one sitting or over multiple days?

Now that I don’t have the time to sit and enjoy reading, it usually takes multiple days… even weeks. However, if the book is a page-turner, I read it in one sitting. 

20. One book you read because of the cover. 

I haven’t read it as yet, but I brought Glitter by Aprilynne Pike because I thought the cover was lovely.

*** Jack Sparrow GIFs via Google Images

Book #100: Roses Are Red

In a series of crimes that has stunned Washington, D.C., bank robbers have been laying out precise demands when they enter the building — and then killing the bank employees and their families if those instructions are not followed to the letter.

Detective Alex Cross takes on the case, certain that this is no ordinary bank robber at work — the pathological need for control and perfection is too great. Cross is in the midst of a personal crisis at home, but the case becomes all-consuming as he learns that the Mastermind is plotting one huge, last, perfect crime.

The sun looked like a lemon drop melting in bright blue skies.

My 100th review!

Shall we dance?

No? Okay, on to the review!

I don’t normally reread books and the books that I claim to love usually just sit on my shelf, but this is the second time that I read this book (10 years later or so). It was a beautiful trip down memory lane, but I was able to look at it with fresher (and harsher) eyes than my young teenage self.

In this story, Alex Cross’s girlfriend Christine leaves him after going through a traumatic experience. On top of it, a psychopath calling himself the Mastermind is after Cross. The man never gets any rest. It’s always one thing after the other! The Mastermind is an evil genius. He pulls off bank robberies taking the bank employee’s families as hostages.

In the love department, Cross is trying to win back Christine, but at the same time,  he meets and falls for Senior Agent, Betsey.

The stupidest part was Cross going ‘undercover’ at the mental institution when it was already established that the Mastermind KNEW HIS FACE! He went in there with no disguise expecting to nab a crazy man. Idiotic move.

The title has nothing to do with red roses and should’ve been called The Mastermind. The man is a brutal killer and he won’t hesitate to strike you where it hurts. He is undoubtedly one of Patterson’s best and craziest villain that gave Cross a run for his money.

Oh, this is the first part of the Mastermind series with a killer ending. Part two is titled Violets Are Blue and I’m off to read it now.

COVER

Eh, it didn’t particularly wow me; 3/5.

OPENING:

BRIANNE PARKER didn’t look like a bank robber or a murderer – her pleasantly plump baby face fooled everyone. But she knew that she was ready to kill if she had to this morning. She would find out for sure at ten minutes past eight.

VERDICT:

Day 25: A character who you can relate to the most

The last time I related to a character, it was Alex Cross in Hope to Die.

Cross’s faith in God was the biggest factor that stood out to me. Despite the fact that his family was kidnapped and they could’ve died at any moment, Cross’s faith in God just grew stronger and it had me questioning if I were to be face to face with a deadly situation as Cross, how would I fare? Would I be strong enough to face the eye of the storm? Some readers thought that Cross’s faith in God was too much to their liking, but I guess they don’t understand that almighty power of the King.

The lesson learned? Never underestimate the power of God.

Day 15: Favorite male character

I might have mentioned them a few times since I’ve started this challenge. James Patterson’s Alex Cross.

Alexandre Dumas’s d’Artagnan who was based on real-life Charles de Batz-Castelmore d’Artagnan. Charles served Louis XIV as captain of the Musketeers of the Guard.

 

Day 04: Favorite book of your favorite series

This is going to be a tough one. 

Yesterday, I said that my favorite series was Alex Cross and the Hardy Boys Mystery Stories. Let’s start with Alex Cross. This crime, mystery, and thriller series has been running since the 1990s. James Patterson is a genius with the way he lets Cross narrate in first-person while the villain’s POV is told from the third-person. It’s easy to follow along. With 25 books to date in this series, I have to go with Violets Are Blue because I’ve read it twice now and I don’t usually reread books.

The Hardy Boys Mystery is kind of complicated. The first 58 stories were published between 1927 and 1979 and I was in love with the blue glossy flashlight cover format. Somewhere in the late seventies, the paperback was discontinued, the volume number started as 59 and ended at 190 in 2005. And then The Hardy Boys Secret Files were released in 2010 which was rebooted as The Hardy Boys Clue Book series in 2016 as if I didn’t already have enough Hardy Boys in my life! ❤ 

Here’s a nice movie fact: it was 2007 when Ben Stiller and Tom Cruise were “rumored” to be doing a Hardy Men movie and this news was everywhere up until 2010.

Why didn’t this happen? I would’ve LIVED for it! Stiller could’ve been the blond one (Joe) and TC the raven head one (Frank). These sleuthing siblings deserved this movie!

And now we currently have The Hardy Boys Adventures which began in 2013 to present. A new book is coming in April God’s willing and I am excited about it. Oh, right, I’m rambling. My favorite book would have to be the first one because it hooked me right from the beginning. I need to start rereading this series soon.

Day 03: Your favorite series

I love The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories and the Alex Cross series! I recently got my younger sister into the Hardy Boys and I tend to get everyone into Alex Cross. It was my transition from YA to Adult where it concerns reading thrillers/mysteries.