Review: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

Book: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line

Series: Veronica Mars #1

Released: March 25, 2014

Publisher: Vintage

Pages: 336 (Nook Version)

Stars: 5 out of 5

The book picks up where the movie leaves off. It’s spring break in Neptune which means all the co-ed's are coming out of the woodwork. When a girl goes missing while on a wild spring break getaway with her girlfriends, Veronica Mars takes on her first case after returning to Neptune. But Veronica hits a few snags in her investigation early on. Because Neptune, where the rich get richer, where the people will do everything in their power to make sure their income isn’t jeopardized.

It's Veronica Mars! Nothing is as it seems and Veronica finds herself in the company of people more dangerous than she had originally thought. But when a new lead in the case brings someone she thought long gone back into her life, Veronica must do something even harder than solving this case; she comes face to face with her past.

   Okay, for those of you who don't know, Lindsay and I are huge Veronica Mars fans. Kristen Bell is amaze-balls and I personally believe anything she touches is gold. But first and foremost, she will always be Veronica Mars in my eyes (and heart)! 

I've seen all of the VM episodes so many times that I can probably quote most of them. And of course I bought the digital version of the movie and I watch it at least once a week. Team Logan! Anyway, color me totally stoked when Rob Thomas, that evil genius, decided to release Veronica Mars books! That's right, books ... Plural. Not one, but two! It's like having another movie or tv season all over again. But instead of having to wait for the next episode, you just keep turning the page to find out what happens next! Love it. 

   "The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line" runs with the typical Veronica Mars plot. There's a case she needs to solve, anyone and everyone is a suspect, there's all the familiar faces, and of course big twists and turns. I almost expected to feel like, "yeah, yeah. I've heard this all before." However, there's a new feel to the story. Veronica is not a teenager anymore. These aren't high school kids she's dealing with. Mars Investigations is struggling,

on the verge of closing the doors and she desperately needs this money. For the first time Veronica is the one calling the shots, taking care of business, and everyone is relying on her. For me, the storyline takes on a much more mature tone. The plot in general really had me guessing. I didn't expect the major plot twist at all and I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. 

This is the first book that I've read in just a matter a few hours in a very long time. As a new mom, I value sleep. Once my son is down for the night, typically, so am I. But this book had me hooked. I stayed up so I could finish it and it was worth it! 

I loved feeling so in tune with the book. I felt as if could hear and visualize everything exactly how it was on the show and in the movie. That was my only reservation in the beginning. I was afraid of feeling disconnected from the Neptune and characters I know and love. Fortunately, Rob hit the nail on the head and totally did the world of Veronica Mars justice. I can't wait for the second book!

   For all the VM fans out there, this book is a home run! And for the rest of you, you're missing out. You need some Veronica Mars in your life ... After all, they say she's marshmallow.

Review: Timebound by Rysa Walker

Book: Timebound by Rysa Walker

Series: The Chronos Files #1

Released: January 1, 2014

Publisher: Skyscape

Pages: 374 pages (Kindle)

Rating: 3.75 of 5

 

Goodreads 

 

 

From Goodreads:

When Kate Pierce-Keller’s grandmother gives her a strange blue medallion and speaks of time travel, sixteen-year-old Kate assumes the old woman is delusional. But it all becomes horrifyingly real when a murder in the past destroys the foundation of Kate’s present-day life. Suddenly, that medallion is the only thing protecting Kate from blinking out of existence.

Kate learns that the 1893 killing is part of something much more sinister, and Kate’s genetic ability to time-travel makes her the only one who can stop him. Risking everything, she travels to the Chicago World’s Fair to try to prevent the killing and the chain of events that follows.

Changing the timeline comes with a personal cost, however—if Kate succeeds, the boy she loves will have no memory of her existence. And regardless of her motives, does she have the right to manipulate the fate of the entire world?

 

 

 Time travel? Historical setting? Future setting? AND a current setting? Sounds like a book right up my alley. I had high hopes when I downloaded this one as part of the Kindle Prime feature, and it definitely paid off. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Kate is an average teenager. Her parents are divorced, and she splits time between the two of them. All of this sudden her estranged grandmother (Katherine) shows up asking to have lunch with Kate and her mother. While at lunch, Kate notices a pendant her grandmother has out on the table is glowing a bright blue. While her mother is away from the table, Katherine briefly tells Kate she has a "power" that not everyone has.

 

Katherine, in fact, is from the future. She is a CHRONOS historian (all this gets explained, so I'm not going to do it). She gets stranded in the 1960s when something happens at CHRONOS headquarters causing her pendant to no longer work.

This pendant is what allows a person to travel in time. Kate (and her dad, by default, kinda) move in to Katherine's house, so Kate can be trained in how to use the pendant because....

 

As it turns out, Kate's grandfather, Saul, is a BAD GUY and caused CHRONOS to fail, is altering timelines. Like a lot. Which is making some of Kate's family disappear (like in Back to the Future!).

Look! Marty and those two other people

Upon the realization that basically Kate doesn't exist, she meets Trey. Trey is a super cute, helpful, and all around good guy. He decides to help Kate out with her problem. There's some insta-love happening, but I felt like it kinda worked within the context. Kate desperately needed a friend, and Trey was there and willing to help her out (and not freak out about what Kate was saying). 

BUT there's this other guy. Kiernan. Who Kate seemed to know in another... timeline? Past? Future? And apparently they had / have / will have a relationship. Ha. 

So, Kate finally figures out when and where she needs to "jump" in time to fix whatever Saul is doing. However, TWIST, if she fixes the timeline, then Trey won't remember her. There's a great discussion between Connor (Katherine's assistant) and Kate about what is right vs. what's best.



I loved all of the historical references. Using actual facts from history give the story an added depth that I appreciated. Sometimes it did feel a little forced, but I could see how it would be beneficial and a learning experience for younger readers who may not know as much of this history. It gives you glimpses of Woodstock, civil rights, suffrage, and the World's Fair in Chicago.

I can see how the time-travel aspect could get very confusing at times. Due to my love of Doctor Who and other time-travel related things, it was actually fairly easy for me, personally, to follow. But, there are a couple of times I did have to pause and think about when things were taking place. It doesn't flow in a line as the Tenth Doctor says, but more a big ball. (See clip below which is really rather accurate in relation to this book).

 

 
Overall I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who likes sci-fi, mystery and especially time-travel. I'm looking forward to Book 2!