Books to Escape Reality

Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey

2012-01-06T14:02:00.004-06:00

This is the latest in the "Five Hundred Kingdoms" series by Lackey. Bella is an unconventional daughter, who has tried very hard to maintain a good relationship with her Stepmother and 2 stepsisters. She is training with a local "Granny" to become an herbalist to set up her own shop when she is bitten by a werewolf. She is whisked off to the Duke's castle only to find out the Duke is the werewolf. This is a great story of people striving to do their best even when confronted with things that shouldn't be. A really good read!

Kitty's Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn

2011-12-17T23:05:00.001-06:00

This is a collection of short stories set in Kitty's world of different characters we have met through Kitty. I really enjoyed the story of Rick's turning and the Kitty New Year's Eve story.

Hit List by Laurell Hamilton

2011-12-15T10:45:00.001-06:00

The latest Anita Blake book was very different from recent titles. She is helping the US Marshals hunt a serial killer/killers that are hunting weretigers from city to city. This book is set in Seattle and she has interactions with favorite characters from previous books. Edward figures predominantly. Interestingly, Jean-Claude and the others are only mentioned and not physically in this book with Anita. I'm wondering where the author is going with the ending of this book.

Hexed with stories by Ilona Andrews et al

2011-12-06T16:17:00.001-06:00

I mainly checked this out for the Andrews story set in the Kate Daniels world of Atlanta. It stars Jim, the Pack's 2nd in command and Dali, a weretiger who's tiger is white which is rare. It deals with Oriental customs and a demon punishing people. I also read 2 other stories. They were okay; they weren't my usual flavor fantasy.

Highborn by Yvonne Navarro

2011-11-21T15:08:00.001-06:00

What if a fallen angel decided she had had enough of being in hell and wished she had never rebelled against God? That's the basis of this book by Navarro. Brynna escapes hell and comes to Earth to try to redeem herself by helping the good by protecting them from the demons of hell itself. Along the way she teams up with a Chicago Detective who can't believe what she is telling him. I can't wait for the 2nd book to come out. I really like the discussion between the Father Murphy and Detective Redmond on whether faith covers believing that the forces of Heaven and Hell could actually be on earth interacting with humanity.

White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

2011-11-14T19:09:00.001-06:00

I'm slowly catching up on my reading lately. I'm still working my way to catch up with the Rachel Morgan series. In this book, Rachel reunites with the ghost she helped save when she was 18; figures out Kisten's killer and learns some more things about herself...for good and for bad. Her brother comes back and helps move her mother away because halfway through the book, Rachel is shunned by all the witch community. They believe she is a black witch rather than a white witch. This messes up her relationship with Marshal a really cool witch from a previous book. All in all, it's a good book but I can't wait to start the next one to see how she is going handle all the eggs she has in the air. I really like this series but you do have to read them in order to get the full story of the evolution of Rachel Morgan.

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

2011-10-26T14:36:00.001-05:00

The latest Mercy Thompson book is AWESOME! I love the characters, the setting, the author's style of writing, everything. Mercy and Adam get married and go on a honeymoon engineered by the Fae instead of what Mercy thought it would be. There is a big nasty monster in the Columbia River eating people. We learn a lot about Mercy and her parentage in this novel. There are several one on one discussions between Mercy and other characters and the dialogue is fantastic. I really loved the ending...too perfect!

Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn

2011-10-14T13:06:00.000-05:00

This reminded me a lot of "Big Trouble in Little China" with Kurt Russell. A romp through San Francisco's Chinatown sewers and tunnels - encounters with Chinese gods, vampires, magic and her own issues with Cormac and Ben. An enjoyable book that answers the question, Was General Sherman a werewolf? :D

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

2011-10-05T16:57:00.000-05:00

The 5th Kate Daniels novel is as good as the first. I really, REALLY love this series. Kate's foster daughter, Julie, runs away from school. Meanwhile, Kate is hired by the Red Guard to find a missing scientist and his creation, rumored to be quite bad. Kate learns more about herself and her family and a group of non-magical fanatics decide to kill hundreds of people just to remove magic from the world. The author has an interesting dialog between Kate and another character about the reasons people kill and why would they be so heartless about killing hundreds of innocents just to achieve their goals. The ending thought is that humans basically are greedy and are motivated by selfish desires more often than not. In some ways, her novels make the monsters more 'humane' than the humans in their desires to save others and do good.

Mercy Burns by Keri Arthur

2011-09-30T13:00:00.000-05:00

The 2nd book in the dragon series. Mercy is Trae's half-sister. Trae is the sexy draman in the first book "Destiny Kills". Mercy is a reporter and she's found evidence of someone destroying draman-filled towns in the Southwest. As she and a friend are investigating they are run off the road and her friend killed. She has 7 days to avenge her friend's death or her spirit will roam the earth unable to pass to the next world. Helping her is a dangerous assassin for the dragon council, a muerte. The sparks fly between them as they try to figure out what is going on in the dragon's culture.

Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur

2011-09-30T12:55:00.000-05:00

Keri Arthur has started a new series set in the US but dealing with Dragons and half-dragons hidden amongst humans. This the first book of the series. Destiny is a water dragon/fire dragon child who is trying to save her mother and various children kidnapped by an evil scientist who has keep her mother imprisoned for over 20 years. He knows about dragons and is experimenting on them to find out their secrets. Helping her is a sexy draman (half human/half fire dragon). He's a bit of rogue and thief but he seems to really care about her or is it the ring she has that belonged to his half-brother?

The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

2011-09-19T16:25:00.000-05:00

I'm finally catching up on some of my backlog of reading. Harrison's Rachel Morgan is a spunky, fiery-tempered red head that gets into a lot of trouble but she's also very loyal to her friends and family. I love this series set in Cincinnati but in a world where magic and supernatural creatures live side by side with humans. Rachel's roommates are a living vampire and a pixie. This book adds another renter in, a gargoyle named Bis. More secrets are revealed and Rachel's life definitely takes a radical turn. I can't wait to read the next book.

Dangerous Games by Keri Arthur

2011-08-18T23:13:00.000-05:00

The 4th Riley Jensen book was an exotic romp into the world of pleasure and pain. Women are being murdered in Melbourne; their faces frozen in an ecstatic look. What thing could kill yet the women be "happy" about it? Riley, her brother Rhoan and the Directorate are looking for the killer while a killer is stalking Riley. I really enjoy this series set in Australia. I actually used pieces of it in an old superhero campaign I ran set in Australia.

Kisses from Hell by PC Cast

2011-08-16T00:31:00.000-05:00

A collection of short stories of vampire stories. I found them all interesting except for Cast's selection. I didn't really understand it and if I did it seemed to equate vampires to spiders and people to ants. Some of the stories were quite intriguing.

Dark Lover by JR Ward

2011-08-16T00:29:00.000-05:00

This is the first of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a group of vampire warriors that protects 'civilian' vampires from the evil group, The Lesser Society. The Lessers want to kill all vampires and vampires want to kill all lessers. Throw a sexy half-human, half-vampire female daughter of one of the Brotherhood who is about to go through her change, a police detective who's starting to figure something's not quite right in his little town and it makes for an erotic vampire romp.

Last Scene Alive by Charlaine Harris

2011-08-16T00:24:00.000-05:00

The next in the Aurora Teegarden series. Her friend the novelist is back because the novel he wrote about the events in her first book has been turned into a movie and they are filming it in Roe's home town. The actress playing Roe is murdered and someone is taking potshots at Roe. She's still grieving her husband's death in the last book but romance may be waiting around the corner.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

2011-07-28T22:09:00.000-05:00

This book was very well written even if I sometimes wondered if I was reading about race relations in the 1960s in Mississippi rather than present day and the 1980s. It's a murder mystery about the disappearance of a girl in the 1980s and another one in the present day. The story centers around Larry Ott, a nice but weird guy, blamed for the 1980s disappearance of Cindy Walker and his black friend/schoolmate, Silas. Silas, present day, is a constable, back in the little town of Chabot, MS where everything happened 20 years ago. It's very sad and depressing in places because you feel sorry for Larry, who's a gentle man but greatly misjudged and misunderstood. I really liked the ending even if it seemed to take forever to get there.

Bullet by Laurell Hamilton

2011-07-20T19:24:00.000-05:00

I've been catching up on my stack of books. Bullet is an Anita Blake Vampire Hunter book and is excellent. I've been reading this series since the beginning and the personal growth we see in Anita and her friends/lovers is mesmerizing. I enjoy the books for the interpersonal relationships, Anita's own mental discussions over her morals and ethics, her continuing to want to be a good guy no matter what the bad guys do. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

Private by James Patterson

2011-07-08T22:26:00.003-05:00

James Patterson is one of the better suspense/thriller writers today. Private is about a Desert Storm vet who reopens his father's private investigations firm in LA. His firm is handling 3 really tough cases in the book: his firm is helping the police track down and stop a serial killer preying upon young 15-17 year old women and killing them; helping a friend who's wife has been murdered; and looking into NFL corruption for his uncle who owns a football team. The pace is good, the endings are never what you expect and the main character is always a good guy who has a few tarnishes on his halo but is trying to do what's right.

Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton

2011-06-20T19:13:00.002-05:00

MC Beaton's newist Hamish book was a page turner beginning to end. Hamish has to prove that a man found dead in his chimney was not killed by the chimney sweep who is also found dead in a bog. Multiple deaths and engagements, Hamish being accused of having an affair with the Doctor's wife, his cat and dog defending his home, all keep Hamish at his wit's ends.

The Sleeping Beauty by Mercedes Lackey

2011-06-16T17:12:00.002-05:00

This is the 5th book in the 500 Kingdoms series by Lackey. The 500 Kingdoms are sort of fractured fairy tales run by "The Tradition". The Godmothers of the said kingdoms do all that they can to protect the people from the Tradition in its efforts to force people into certain roles in life. Siegfried has spent his entire career avoiding the sleeping maiden in the fiery ring because he knows he'll die if he kisses her, besides the fact that it's his aunt that is sleeping in the ring. Rosamund has recently lost her mother and her father has married an evil stepmother. When a Huntsman tries to murder her in the palace she flees and thus begins this romp into fantasy. If you love tongue-in-cheek adventures, lisping unicorns, birds who constantly cry "doom" and princes vying for the hand of a princess, you'll love this book.

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

2011-05-23T16:47:00.002-05:00

This Mercy Thompson book has it all. Teens in love, Fae fixing cars, Mercy and Adam going out on a date, Pack politics and most importantly, what happens when Samuel decides there's nothing worth living for. Mercy handles things in her usual not-so-subtle style. I just love the fact that her cat has no problems with werewolves or vampires.

Flirt by Laurell Hamilton

2011-05-23T16:44:00.002-05:00

I'm finally catching up on my reading again. Flirt by Hamilton is an Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novel. Anita deals with getting kidnapped and being forced to raise a corpse after turning down the job through the agency she works for. She is being blackmailed with losing someone she loves if she doesn't perform the job. It was a lot shorter than previous novels but still interesting. The title comes from a minor scene in the book where Anita is being taught how to casually flirt with waiters by her housemates.

A Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

2011-05-16T15:32:00.002-05:00

Vampires, ghouls, ghosts and a demon hunting down someone are the focus of this book that's part of the author's Otherworld series that stars half-vampire Cat. Cat is friend's with the protagonist in this book and figures greatly in the end of the book. It's a romance with a twist and a bite. This is not for people who want fade-to-black love scenes either. A good read but I wish the ending wasn't as expected as it was.

Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn

2011-05-04T17:49:00.002-05:00

This was a fantastic read! Vaughn is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I loved this story of a great storeroom of artifacts, a family of guardians and the snippets of different ages seen. The characters are very believable. What an interesting view of Sinon of the Trojan War and Odysseus. I'll admit I've always wished for a different ending of the Trojan War where Hector is not killed. I always thought the Trojans should have tossed Paris over the wall and given Helen back. I liked the portrayal of Evie and Frank Walker. I loved Queen Mab! I'll admit the world is a bit darker than I like but at least there's a happy ending!

Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk

2011-05-04T17:43:00.003-05:00

Hi!
Yeah, it's been awhile. Devon Monk's book is the first of a series about Allie Beckstrom, a mage in the modern world. Monk's take on magic and the world is a bit different from other books I've read. Magic always has a price...be it your health or your memories. I must admit, I found it a bit depressing of a book to read, I don't know if I'll read any more. The whole "writing your life so you can remember it when the magic takes its price" seems too dark for me. The whole world is a bit dark for those of us who like happy endings. She's a very good writer and I don't want any one to think differently. She really draws you into the story and keeps you there.

Kitty Goes to War by Carrie Vaughn

2011-02-09T14:59:00.002-06:00

The newest Kitty book shows some maturing on Kitty's part. She's starting to take life a bit more seriously rather than "it's all about me" like she has been in the past. She's trying to help 3 soldiers who were made werewolves as part of an army experiment to field werewolf soldiers in the Middle East. When their alpha is killed by a land mine, the unit falls apart and goes berserk. It's up to Kitty and her pack to rehabilitate them or the army will lock them up or kill them. She's also dealing with a lawsuit filed by the owner of a convenience store chain for stories told about the chain while on her talk show. Kitty, Ben and Cormac must figure out what's behind the stories. Are they real or not? More information on Cormac comes out in this book as well. Overall a good read.

Bewitched & Betrayed by Lisa Shearin

2010-10-07T13:11:00.002-05:00

The newest Raine Benares book was an exciting read. It starts with an intense combat scene in a brothel and gets more interesting as each page turns. Raine is still hunting for the bad guy, Sarah Nukpana, who's hiding while he tries to regrow his body using very nasty dark magic. Her chemistry with Mychael the paladin intensifies and more betrayals are in the shadows as well as more allies. A great read overall.

Kitty and the House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn

2010-09-15T09:22:00.003-05:00

Kitty is asked to be on a reality show with a group of supernaturals which includes a werewolf, a wereseal, 2 vampires, 2 psychis, a magician and a skeptic. They are locked away in a remote cabin in the Montana wilderness. Turns out its a trap and a group of people are going to kill them off one by one. Really good book, great dialog and of course, Kitty is fantastic in her chatty way.

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

2010-08-16T13:38:00.002-05:00

What a kick-butt book!!! I couldn't put it down until it was finished. The fourth Kate book has her dealing with a supernatural being tried to release pandemic diseases in Atlanta by killing shapeshifters. She butts heads with Curran, the local sexy Beast King werelion in charge of the Pack (the shapeshifting community); Ted, the head of the Order in Atlanta and adopts a mongrel poodle she names Grendel. More of her secret past comes out and I'm not even going into how hot the scenes with Curran were throughout the book. I love Kate's interaction with Saiman and Grendel. Overall an intense book start to finish. I really, really enjoy this series. I do have one question: What happened to Grendel? He's not mentioned in the epilogue. Looking forward to the next book!

Skin Trade by Laurell Hamilton

2010-08-05T12:49:00.002-05:00

This Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novel sends her to Las Vegas with 3 other US Marshals to hunt down a vampire that is a serial killer. While there, Anita will have run-ins with the local law enforcement (an undersheriff whose wife ran off with a shapeshifter), paranormal SWAT team, the local Master of the City, his weretiger mate and all the weretigers under her as well as the US Marshals she's working with, one of whom is a creepy killer himself who is in love with Anita, not mention Marmee Noir (the mother of all Vampires). A very good read!

Kitty Raises Hell by Carrie Vaughn

2010-07-02T17:04:00.002-05:00

Kitty, my favorite werewolf, takes on demons, a cult, vampires and a paranormal reality show in this latest jaunt. Kitty disrupted a Tiamat cult in the last book and they're seeking revenge. They release a demon that burns things to disrupt Denver and mess with Kitty's life. A ghost-hunting reality show shows up in Denver and Kitty works with them to the mutual benefit of both shows. Can't wait to read the next one!

Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton

2010-06-16T21:29:00.002-05:00

The Hamish MacBeth series is one that I always enjoy visiting when a new one comes out. Hamish and the other characters are like old friends you visit for a couple of hours and see what's going on in their life. Hamish is a constable in the Scottish Highlands. He's an attractive red-head that can't seem to help being chased by eligible women in every novel. Every woman that is attracted to him wants to change him and tame him without seeing him for all the good points that attracted the woman to him in the first place. Poor Hamish can't seem to find a woman that will like his lifestyle as a constable in a sleepy village nor his cat and dog. In this mystery novel, a young woman is murdered by a mail bomb posing as a valentine. The list of suspects is endless and even worse a new policewoman has set her sights on Hamish. I love Lugs and Sonsie the dog and cat that live with Hamish. They're smarter than their human in so many ways. :)

Death Perception by Victoria Laurie

2010-06-09T17:08:00.003-05:00

This is the 6th Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye book. She and Dutch head to Las Vegas to hunt down his cousin who's been kidnapped while working as a bodyguard. Lots of fun running around the town with Cat (Abby's sister) and Candice--winning money and mini coopers while staying one step ahead of the bad guys. Amidst this all, Dutch is kidnapped and Abby's having visions of his tombstone. Fun read, not real heavy!

Wicked Prey by John Sandford

2010-05-06T17:03:00.002-05:00

I love the Lucas Davenport books, I mean I LOVE them! I want Lucas to be my local police officer. He doesn't tolerate bad guys at all. He knows what's right and he tries to protect the innocent. He knows how to play the political game without getting the gunk all over himself. This book in the series is set in 2008 during the Republican convention in Minneapolis. A murder gang is robbing and killing the moneymen at the convention--throw in a red herring of a gun nut with a 50 caliber gun and it's a free for all in the parking garage at the end of the book!

Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton

2010-03-25T17:38:00.002-05:00

This is the newest book for the Merry Gentry series. She's pregnant and dealing with a horrific case for her boss. Someone is murdering the demi-fey of LA and laying the bodies out to represent famous fairy tale illustrations. It's up to Merry and her men to solve the mystery before someone close to Merry is the next victim.

Must Love Hellhounds

2010-03-25T17:35:00.002-05:00

This is 4 short stories which included one by Ilona Andrews entitled "Magic Mourns". It's part of her Magic Bites series that I really love. It deals with 2 people falling in love while looking for Raphael's stepfather's body. The snag...a giant hellhound named Cerberus looking for the body as well. I love Andrews' series alot.

On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

2010-03-08T16:21:00.002-06:00

I've read Andrews' other books about Kate set in Atlanta. This is a non-series book. Andrews' books have a interesting mix of technology and magic. This book's premise is that the world of magic and the world of technology are side-by-side with a border area called "The Edge" where both work. An evil force is killing off the residents of the edge and it's up to Rose and her allies to fight it off. The relationship between Rose and Declan is the right amount of steamy with potential that you need to make a good relationship.

A Fool and His Honey by Charlaine Harris

2010-03-08T16:18:00.003-06:00

This Aurora Teegarden book was a big disappointment. Roe whines the entire book and the author kills her husband off at the end of the book. The mystery wasn't even much of a mystery and Roe was too "pity me" throughout the book. I will read the next one but it's going to have to be really good to keep me reading her. I struggled 3 months to read this book.

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

2009-12-23T10:55:00.002-06:00

Well, I read this in one day...that should tell you how good it is. It is the newest installment in Briggs' Alpha and Omega series starring Charles and Anna. They have been sent to Seattle to negotiate with the European werewolf delegates about coming out and being open about being werewolves. Someone is murdering people connected to the negotiations and trying to kidnap Anna, a rare omega wolf. It's up to Charles and Anna to figure out who's behind the sabotage without getting killed.

Crime Seen by Victoria Laurie

2009-11-19T11:04:00.002-06:00

Hi! I haven't posted in awhile. I'll admit...I haven't felt like reading...a bad comment from a librarian. :) This is the 5th book in the Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye series. Abby is recuperating from the end of the 4th book (don't want to give anything away). She's starting to get back into her business and has partnered with Carmen Fusco, a PI who's rented part of her office suite. She is als0 helping Dutch, her FBI boyfriend, with some cold cases. Laurie packs in lots of action, thugs and even a prison riot. This was a good read to the end. She leaves us hanging about one of Dutch's cases to the next book, with lots of visions and questions.

The Trouble with Demons by Lisa Shearin

2009-09-21T13:01:00.002-05:00

The 3rd Raine Benares book was an exciting, don't want to put it down adventure from page 1. The intricacies of political intrigue on an island full of mages gets even hotter when some bad guys open a hell-gate on the island and release demons to munch on the students. The tension between Raine, Tam and Mychael gets even hotter, can't wait for the next book. This is a quick-read, fun series with humor, good vs. bad, magic and 1 hot paladin!

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

2009-08-27T11:26:00.003-05:00

The newest Mercy Thompson book starts off where Iron Kissed left off. It's been a week since Mercy was attacked and had to kill 2 vampires. The local Vampire queen is miffed and has declared her a traitor therefore people are going to try to kill her and her friends. She has to decide whether to become Adam's mate (local werewolf Alpha) and an old college friend shows up with a ghost problem. Mercy and Stefan (vampire friend who drives a scooby-doo mystery machine) go to Spokane to look into the ghost problem and face a really, REALLY bad vampire who has a special ability that is really nasty. It's a good read and worth the time.

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

2009-08-05T19:14:00.002-05:00

The 3rd Kate Daniels book. Fantastic arena battles (not for the faint of heart), some sexy scenes, really nasty bad guys and Curran, the Beast Lord. I love these characters and the magic. The setting is kind of depressing but it makes for cool running fight scenes and scary monsters like you've never seen before. I would love to be the butt-kicking swordsman that Kate is but I don't live in that kind of world. :)

For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison

2009-07-30T22:46:00.002-05:00

The next book in the Rachel Morgan series. She arrests a bad guy at his wedding (on her birthday no less), gets possessed by a bad guy demon, helps the FIB look into Were suicides that end up being murders, settles a fight between 2 were gangs and hopes to not die before the end of the book. I really enjoy this series but I was very unhappy with Kisten's death and happy with Piscary's.

You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister

2009-06-18T09:08:00.002-05:00

This is the first book in the Aisling Grey series. Aisling is a courier for her uncle's antiquities business. She arrives in Paris on her first assignment to deliver a gold dragon statue to a collector only to find the collector murdered and she's the prime murder suspect. A detective she meets on the scene steals the artifact and thus begins a fast, fun romp through the Paris streets and sewers. This book has dragons, witches, mages, a taxi driver named Rene who teaches Aisling nonsensical phrases in French and a demon named Jim who's in the form of a Newfoundland dog. I'll be getting the next book of this series. It is a bit racy for the faint of heart.

Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance

2009-06-10T23:10:00.002-05:00

This novel by Karen Chance is in the same world as the Cassie novels with Mircea, Dracula's brother, again playing a role. The novel centers around Dory, the half-human, half-vampire daughter of Mircea. She's a badass who kicks bad guy paranormal butt. Vampire politics, bad-guy mages, bad-guy elves, good guy elves and 1 sexy vampire make for an interesting novel. I can't wait to see if she does another Dory book. This book includes Claire who was the heroine in a short story in a fantasy compilation. Claire is Dory's roommate and has been kidnapped by parties unknown. This novel takes place after the short story.

Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich

2009-06-10T23:06:00.003-05:00

I just love the Stephanie Plum novels. Nowhere can you get crazy grandmas, dudes called Zook and Mooner and a psychic that predicts terrible things happening with pizzas all in one book. Let's not forget Ranger, the sexiest mystery man to come down the pike in years. I always picture him as Antonio Banderas. :D Stephanie is stuck watching a teenager after his mother disappears as part of a bad guy's plan to get 9 million dollars that was stolen from a bank over 10 years ago. Bodies drop all over the place in this novel. The scenes with Mooner's potato cannon are priceless. I can't wait to see what happens with Lula's wedding plans in the next novel.

Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand by Carrie Vaughn

2009-05-25T17:50:00.002-05:00

Yes, another werewolf book. :) The newest Kitty book deals with Kitty and Ben's wedding plans. They end up deciding to elope to Las Vegas and get mixed up in a big mess. What happens when you mix up vampires, lycanthropes, Kitty's radio show live and televised and a gun show full of werewolf-hunting bounty hunters? You'll have to read it to find out. I really enjoy Vaughn's books for their humor and Kitty's determination to be normal. The scene where 2 bounty hunter's meet Kitty's parents is hilarious. Brenda actually comments on bringing mother's into the mix is unfair.

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

2009-05-25T12:25:00.003-05:00

The first Alpha-Omega book by Patricia Briggs stars Charles (briefly seen in the Mercy Thompson series) and Anna. They are trying to figure out their relationship and are sent to hunt a rogue werewolf hunting in a national park. There's lots of tension between them due to Anna's past. I really enjoy Briggs' writing style. Her characters seem real with real-life emotions and foibles. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Charmed to Death by Shirley Damsgaard

2009-05-08T11:55:00.002-05:00

The 2nd Ophelia and Abby book was good but I could tell who the bad guy was even if Ophelia was blind to it. I'm a little irritated with Ophelia's whiny "I want things my way" attitude. Abby has a lot more patience than I do. This book wraps up the mystery of Ophelia's friend's murder 5 years ago before the beginning of the series. Damsgaard has populated this little Iowa town with the usual small-town personalities. The newest addition is the detective from Iowa City who believed that Ophelia was the murderer up until the end of the book. It will be interesting to see where that relationship goes. Of course, I enjoy the series because Ophelia is a Librarian. :D

Death of a Witch by M.C. Beaton

2009-05-04T12:59:00.002-05:00

The newest Hamish MacBeth book is a hoot! The author paints a very vivid picture of small Scottish highland villages and the way people's lives are interwoven in such a setting. Admittedly, small towns are the same the world over. Everyone knows everyone else's business; there are no secrets or secret lives; people are always interested in your life more than they want you to be interested in their life. Hamish gets back from an awful holiday to find out some woman has moved into town and is convincing everyone that she is a witch. All the men seem to be abnormally attracted to her and the women are getting irritated by their husbands. When the witch is murdered, Hamish has to do a lot of delving into the woman's past as well as the villagers' hidden lives. What really goes on behind the lace curtains? Hamish is very uncomfortable with the results. His love life is no less baffling. He has 3 different women all interested in him but he can't seem to get it right as to how to handle them and in the end is alone with his dog and cat as he was at the beginning of the novel.

The Night Bird by Catherine Asaro

2009-04-29T15:11:00.004-05:00

I love Asaro's Lost Continent Series. I absolutely adore it. I reluctantly started the newest book. I knew that once I started it, I would be unable to function without finishing it. However I was not prepared for the negative feelings it generated in me. The heroine is kidnapped and sold into slavery as a pleasure girl to an outlaw Prince fleeing the Emperor Cobalt (hero from a previous book). She's smart, she's a mage and she has a mouth. She refuses to cave to the society the Prince belongs to that considers women to be animals, "higher than a goat, but lower than a horse". I really hate reading about cultures that so trample human life and consider women unable to learn and lower then men.

The story does have a happy ending. The Prince isn't really as bad as his culture and he's willing to learn and change to keep the woman he loves. However, the 'bad guy' general is still out there to cause even more problems in the next book. This is the 3rd book where the general is involved in capturing a heroine and abusing her. The fact that he continues to get away with it is galling and annoying.

Don't let my feelings keep you from reading the book. Asaro does a fantastic job of creating an interesting fantasy world, interesting 3-d characters that are not perfect but are very real. Heroines who are strong but have weaknesses as well.

Killer Insight by Victoria Laurie

2009-04-15T13:24:00.002-05:00

This Abby Cooper novel follows her to Denver to attend the wedding of a childhood friend. Before she leaves she prepares a special Valentine's evening for her boyfriend, Dutch, that ends with her believing that he dumped her on Valentine's Day. When she arrives in Denver, a bridesmaid has disappeared that she realizes has died or been killed. As she helps the bride's brother, Duffy, a Sheriff, solve the disappearance she has all sorts of problems due to "Mercury Retrograde". All's well that ends well even if it means Abby has a brush with death. A really good novel and I really like the series and the characters.

Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels

2009-03-27T11:12:00.003-05:00

This is Daniels' 4th Pepper Martin book. She travels to Chicago to present a paper at a cemetary conference for her boss who is sick. While there, she gets recruited by a dead researcher to protect Pepper's friend, Dan, who happened to work with this woman. There is a Doctor recruiting homeless peopel off the street and they disappear after being recruited. Pepper learns some new things and comes to realize she can get her hands dirty and break nails and the world won't end.

Dark of the Moon by John Sandford

2009-03-16T14:45:00.002-05:00

This is the first Virgil Flowers book by Sandford. We read it for book club last week. Flowers is a minor character in the Lucas Davenport books by Sandford. Whereas Davenport's novels are situated around the Minneapolis/St. Paul region of Minnesota, Virgil's book takes place in a small western Minnesota town that resembles any small town in the US. You know that small town: everyone knows your business before you do; Parents find out about what kids are doing before they even get home; everyone knows who's sleeping with whom. This is a really action-packed novel. The first page starts with a murder and a gruesome one at that. If you have not read Sandford, don't put it off, you won't be disappointed with his characters or his stories.

A Spoonful of Poison by M.C. Beaton

2009-02-28T10:08:00.003-06:00

This is the latest Agatha Raisin novel. I have loved the series from the beginning but Agatha's silly girl-like crushes and fantasies are starting to wear thin. The mystery is always good, the investigation a rollicking good time but Agatha has got to stop trying to be a nubile 20-something who has no brains. Deep down Agatha is a good person but she keeps letting her shallow desires get in the way of being a good friend.

Absolute Power by Michael Carroll

2009-02-26T11:00:00.002-06:00

I had a reason to zoom through book 2. My friend Paul, couldn't wait on book 3 to be released in the US so he purchased a British release copy on the internet. Thanks Paul!!! The conclusion to the trilogy makes me wonder if Mr. Carroll is continuing the series beyond 3 books. If that's the case, simultaneous release in the US, PLEASE!!!! As is the case with people who try to change the future based on visions, Quantum, didn't realize that he somewhat brought about the future by acting on it and the visions aren't quite what we expected. A very cool wrap-up to a story arc...but is it really over?

The Gathering by Michael Carroll

2009-02-26T10:55:00.002-06:00

Book 2 of the Quantum Prophecy continues the story of Danny and Colin from book 1. I cannot begin to tell you how well-written this book is. Carroll has really thought out his alternate history and how superheroes would affect it. I zoomed through this book yesterday. Unfortunately, the publishing company has decided to release each book a year apart. The development of the characters and their maturing under fire is fantastic. Danny worrying about his vision and his father's vision, his guilt over his father's death is very realistic. You can imagine a teen going through these same questions. Colin's growing power and changing abilities fit in very well with the super concept.

Witch Way to Murder by Shirley Damsgaard

2009-02-19T17:02:00.002-06:00

Ophelia is a librarian in a small town in Iowa. She moved here 4 years ago to escape a tragedy in her life. Her grandma, Abby, is the local gardening guru. What everyone doesn't realize is that Abby is a Witch and Ophelia is a Clairvoyant. Abby is a witch that practices herbal cures and grew up in Appalachia. Ophelia doesn't want to be a clairvoyant and does the best she can to avoid her gift. An interesting light-hearted book with a touch of wackiness for good measure. I really like Abby, Ophelia is hard to like. I really like the small-town feel (reminds me of home) and Darci, Ophelia's assistant is a very likeable blonde.

Tombs of Endearment by Casey Daniels

2009-02-17T11:53:00.002-06:00

This is the 3rd book in the Pepper Martin series. A rock star died 30 years ago of a drug overdose and the band is coming back to Cincinnati to perform a reunion concert in the town where he died and was buried. The rock star (reminiscent of Jim Morrison) asks Pepper to help him out. Pepper actually starts to fall in love with him because he is SEXY and tries to kiss a ghost. You'll have to read the book to find out the consequences of this action. :) Daniels writes a very light-hearted mystery that has a good story. The only drawback is Pepper is a little too style-conscious and the clothing banter annoys me.

Power Play by Joseph Finder

2009-01-27T13:53:00.002-06:00

Jake works for a major airplane manufacturer. Substituted in at the last moment for his boss, he's sent on a weekend retreat with senior corporate execs for a team building off site meeting. During the first night's dinner, they are surprised by a group of "hunters" who take the group hostage.

I really liked this book for several reasons. The suspense of who is behind it, who's the traitor, what's the motivation is intense but you also are in Jake's head as he thinks through everything. As you read the novel, you learn more about Jake and his background. This is an intense book that grabs you and keeps you till the end.

A Vision of Murder by Victoria Laurie

2009-01-16T13:13:00.002-06:00

This is Laurie's 3rd book about Abby Cooper. She has been convinced to purchase a run-down house with her sister and her handyman and together they will fix up old houses and sell them. The big problem is the house is haunted by 2 ghosts a murderer and a victim. She deals with Dutch, her cop-boyfriend recuperating and needing a nursemaid as well. It's enough to make a Psychic Intuitive go crazy.

Dangerous Games by Keri Arthur

2008-12-24T11:29:00.002-06:00

Riley Jensen is back looking for a serial killer stalking women. She's also looking for a rogue vampire making baby vampires and turning them loose. What she ends up finding is a little more scary than even Riley can handle. Someone wants to bring back an ancient Persian god of Death, Despair and Pain. Ew. Riley finally makes some decisions regarding her relationships with Kellen and Quinn. Can't wait to read the next one in the series. This book was particularly spooky when read by kerosene light because your power is out. :D

The Chick and the Dead by Casey Daniels

2008-12-24T10:32:00.002-06:00

Pepper Martin's second book has her helping a ghost who died 50 years ago, Didi Bowman. Didi claims her sister stole her novel and published it under her own name. Merrilee Bowman, a native of Pepper's city is coming home to kick off the 50th anniversary of the movie and book. Pepper once again runs into trouble and the sexy police detective, Quinn. I really enjoy these books, even if Pepper is a little more clothes conscious than I care for. :D

Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

2008-12-19T13:18:00.002-06:00

The Stephanie Plum series is always a a treat to me. This time I listened to it while doing lots of driving over the last month. Stephanie is out looking for an eccentric batch of FTA's while trying to clear herself of the possible murder/disappearance of her ex-husband, Dickie Orr, jerk extraordinaire. She shows the reader how an electric stapler is a great deterrent to assault by a big beefy man. Said beefy man, Dave, suffers more indignities throughout the last half of the book. This series always has me laughing so hard I almost lose control. Enjoy!!

Damage Control by J.A. Jance

2008-11-10T10:26:00.002-06:00

Yes, it's been six weeks since I finished a book. Being laid up and reading 5 books in 4 days burned me out for a while. :)

Damage control is Jance's newest book in the Sheriff Joanna Brady series. There is always more than meets the eye in a Jance book. The twists and turns that Brady has to navigate to figure out if there was a murder and if so, who did it. I sometimes get annoyed with Joanna's personal mental struggles with family and friends. However, I always enjoy the books in the end. What starts off as an apparent murder-suicide quickly turns ugly and morphs into something else entirely.

Dead Over Heels by Charlaine Harris

2008-09-25T20:48:00.002-05:00

The next Aurora mystery takes place 2 years after "The Julius House". She's happily married, back to work as a part-time librarian and is settling into a routine. While she is lounging in the yard, a dead body is dumped out of a plane to plummet to the ground in her back yard. It turns out to be the detective that has always harassed her. This kicks off a story that has humor and a serious mystery both in a good mix.

Phantom Prey by John Sandford

2008-09-25T20:45:00.002-05:00

The newest Lucas Davenport lives up to Sandford's reputation for a thriller with more twists and turns than the roads in a Minneapolis subdivision. Lucas is asked by his wife Weather to investigate the disappearance and possible murder of a friends daughter. The friend is a new-age spiritualist who consults tarot readings and star charts for business decisions. When other people who knew the daughter start dropping dead, Lucas knows there is something really wrong going down at the Goth clubs in the twin cities. If you like gritty detective and don't mind the fact that the good guys sometimes get violent all over the bad guys this is a read for you.

Don of the Dead by Casey Daniels

2008-09-24T12:08:00.002-05:00

Pepper Martin is an ex-rich society daughter who's daddy has been sent to prison for medicare fraud. She's been dumped by her society fiance and needs to work. Having gone to college to look for a husband and graduating with an art history degree and no marketable work skills, she takes a job at the local cemetary as a tour guide. This all happens BEFORE the book starts. After tripping in the cemetary and hitting her head, she now sees a 30-year-dead ghost of a local mafia don and he wants her to solve his unsolved murder. It's a funny mystery with a loveable but ditzy heroine. She's more focused on fashion and shoes sometimes than on what's going on around her. There's a dark and handsome police detective and a scatter-brained geek Doctor both pursuing her and not necessarily for her body, much to her chagrin.

The Alto Wore Tweed by Mark Schweizer

2008-09-24T12:03:00.002-05:00

This is a small press mystery set in North Carolina. Hayden Konig is the Detective in charge of the St. Germaine police force. He is also the organist and choir director for the local Episcopalian church. The mystery centers around the new female Pastor for his church and the murder of the church's janitor. Woven into this mix are the odd characters that make up Hayden's town and adds to the humor of the book. I was laughing out load and uncontrollably when I got to the Kiwanis and Rotarians and their dueling Christmas nativity scenes a block apart downtown. I'll admit that the book is a little hard to follow because Schweizer weaves amongst the actual story, Hayden's writing of a ridiculous mystery that he slips into the choir folders in an episodic fashion.

Morgue Mama: The Cross Kisses Back by CR Corwin

2008-09-22T12:19:00.003-05:00

As I work through the stack of books I've accumulated over the last month, I finished this one today. CR Corwin's heroine, Maddy, otherwise known as Morgue Mama, but not to her face, is a 60-something Morgue Librarian for a newspaper in Ohio. Recruited by a reporter to help investigate the murder of a famous tele-evangelist, Maddy reluctantly helps Aubrey research the murder. Over the course of the book, they are followed, threatened by corrupt police officers and they eat a lot of meat loaf and au gratin potatoes. The author is really good with the twists and turns and the ending is very unexpected. I thank SD Tooley for recommending this author to me, I really enjoyed it!

Blood Noir by Laurell Hamilton

2008-09-15T17:05:00.003-05:00

The latest Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter book. Definitely not for the faint of heart. I'm really intrigued where Hamilton is taking the storyline and can't wait for the next in the series. There is a lot of sex and violence and bad language in this series, however, I'm intrigued by the storyline and caught up in the character's development. It's so funny to read about a woman who's tough to the world and inwardly is terrified of Love and Commitment!

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

2008-09-08T13:25:00.002-05:00

This is our book club book for the month. What a powerful, emotional story! In 1964, a doctor's wife goes into labor early and in the middle of blizzard. He is forced to assist in the delivery himself, along with his nurse, when the Obstetrician is in a car wreck. When his wife delivers twins, he is shocked to discover his daughter has Down's Syndrome like his own sister did. He makes the decision to have the nurse take her to a home to be raised and tells his wife the daughter died in delivery. The rest of the book is about how that one decision changed everyone's lives: David (the doctor), Norah (the wife), Paul (the son), Phoebe (the daughter) and Caroline (the nurse). It is a deeply woven tale that carries you through the first 25 years of the childrens' lives and how they grow up. Not for the faint of heart!

The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey

2008-09-08T13:21:00.002-05:00

The newest book from Lackey set in the 500 Kingdoms (The Fairy Godmother series). This takes place in the far north, a land of Snow and Winter. Aleksis is the Godmother over this region. Also known as the Snow Queen, she is master over a castle that helps her burn the chaff out of potential bad guys and keep them good. Someone is murdering entire villages and claiming to be her. Aleksis, after consulting with Elena (the heroine of The Fairy Godmother) decides to enter the tale herself and remove the imposter. I love Lackey's setting with The Tradition and how the fairy godmothers must work to make sure people have as good as of a life as they can. I always look forward to reading the newest in the series when it comes out each year.

Armed and Magical by Lisa Shearin

2008-08-24T22:01:00.003-05:00

Armed and Magical is the next book in the series that started with Magic Lost, Trouble Found. Raine is a seeker, someone who helps locate lost people or items with her magical ability. In the first book, she was bound to a nasty piece of rock that likes to suck people's souls into it. This book finds her on the island of Mid trying to find someone to help her get rid of the loathsome rock before it hurts someone she loves. There's lots of political intrigue and Raine has a hard time figuring out who's trustworthy and who's not. The author has a different view of what goblins are compared to the usual D&D flavor of goblin. I'm really enjoying this series and look forward to Ms. Shearin's next installment.
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Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen

2008-08-11T14:49:00.002-05:00

This is August's book for the library book club. I was reluctant to read it because EVERYONE is raving about it. I'm one of those people who hates reading something just because everyone else is. I was wrong. This is a really good book with a gripping story. The reader is in the mind of Jacob Janowski, a 93 year old curmudgeon stuck in an assisted living home. You alternate between the present and his memories of 70 years ago, when he became the vet for a traveling circus. This book really shows a harsh view of those early traveling circuses and the life on the road during the Depression. It's a love story but also a very interesting look at the relationships Jacob built living in the circus, especially with Rosie the elephant.

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

2008-08-10T11:14:00.002-05:00

This book kicks butt bigtime! Kate Daniels is powerful and a good guy. She's a merc with a mystery background that we are starting to learn about. She's enough of a good guy to want to save a child no one cares about.

My hobby is roleplaying. I have a lot of friends who don't understand why I get irritated when roleplaying games limit the players. Read this series of books! This is the kind of hero I want to play - powerful enough to take on the bad guys and still have the humanity to cry for friends who die. When I play roleplaying games I want to play someone who can change the world, for better or worse.

The first book in the series is Magic Bites, read it. Then read this book you won't be disappointed!

Embrace the Night by Karen Chance

2008-08-07T11:00:00.002-05:00

This it the 3rd book in the Cassandra series by the author. Cassandra has become the new Pythia and is being threatened on all sides. Pritkin, the war mage, who's been helping her seems to possibly be a betrayer instead of a friend. Mircea, the Vampire, who laid the geis on her is slowly dying and she can't seem to find a way to reverse it. Throw in appearances by Apollo himself, who claims he wants to help train her and Cassandra doesn't know who to trust. Lots of magically explosive battles, near-misses with death and you have an exciting read that is well worth the time. Read the first 2 books (Claimed by Shadow and Touch the Dark) first, however or you'll not know how things got so messy.

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

2008-07-21T19:36:00.002-05:00

Harlan Coben is, IMNSHO, the best author that is currently writing. His books are fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thrillers that questions things we take for granted. His newest book is about a couple who's son is dealing with the grief of losing his best friend to suicide. In their need to protect him, they install spy software on his computer so that they can monitor his emotions. Woven throughout this story is the murders of two women that, you, the reader knows, must somehow be connected to the main story, but Coben isn't going to let you know a minute too soon how it all ties together. I recommend each and every one of his books because they will test your thoughts and values as well as entertain you while keeping you guessing where his story is twisting you next.

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

2008-07-21T19:27:00.002-05:00

I had to read this book for book club. Admittedly, Mr. Albom is a fantastic writer who really grabs you into his stories, but I really don't like reading them. Why? do you ask? He makes me cry! His stories are very emotional and this one is no different. Chick is a former ball player who has lost everything he loves. His daughter gets married and doesn't let him know until months after the wedding is over. One night he gets really drunk and starts to drive home to commit suicide in the town he grew up in. He's involved in an awful car accident and relives the last day his mom was alive--a day he was out of town and missed. This book is about missed opportunities we have with our family every day. It really is a very good book but I just prefer to not read emotional books that make me think. :D

Three Bedrooms, One Corpse by Charlaine Harris

2008-07-01T23:37:00.003-05:00

The 3rd in the Aurora Teagarden series. These are fun little, fluff mysteries that are easy to read and funny to boot. I really find Harris' characters whimsical and easy to picture. She paints small town life very well. Reminds me too much of my own small town life growing up. Thankfully we didn't have the murders that populate Lawrenceton, Georgia as they do in the Harris novels. Aurora continues to be single while her friends are all getting married and having kids. She meets the woman that will take Aubrey away from her and realizes it the minute she meets Emily. However, dark, mysterious and sexy Martin Bartell sweeps her off of her feet. She ends the novel with an engagement ring. Will Bartell survive in the next book? We shall see.

Tempting Evil by Keri Arthur

2008-06-21T14:22:00.003-05:00

The 3rd Riley Jensen novel is intense and action packed to the very end. I like Arthur's characterizations. The characters are believable personalities, some quirks, some flaws, but basically believable people in unbelievable circumstances. If you enjoy vampires, werewolves and conspiracy theories, this is the series for you.

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

2008-06-13T14:22:00.002-05:00

Patricia Briggs has created a heroine and a series that is entertaining and riveting from the first page to the last. Mercy Thompson is a perfect blend of heroine: spunky, intelligent, independent and loyal to her friends. I really enjoy this series. Every novel reveals a little more of the world of Mercy Thompson without overloading you with all the facts at once.

Better Read than Dead by Victoria Laurie

2008-06-13T14:19:00.002-05:00

The 2nd Abby Cooper book is as funny and entertaining as the first. I really like Ms. Laurie's writing style. Her characters are funny, believable and not perfect. I can't wait to get my hands on the third one.

Kitty and the Silver Bullet by Patricia Briggs

2008-05-27T11:45:00.002-05:00

In this novel, Kitty, a werewolf, has to bite the bullet and go back to the Denver she fled over a year ago. She fled her abusive alpha pack leaders and has been on the road with her radio show. Her mother has become very ill and need surgery so Kitty goes back to Denver to be with the family. While in Denver, she gets mixed up in a turf war between two master vampires and has to deal with the pack leaders she fled along with resolving her feelings for Ben, her attorney-turned-werewolf (last book). Patricia has populated Kitty's world with likeable people in all walks of life that are central to her well-being. I especially like her relationship with Detective Hardin, who's become the first Denver cop to become an expert in the paranatural. The Kitty series is really good for seeing how our world would react to the sudden realization that werewolves, vampires and the like are really among us and how it affects everyday life in the US.

A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison

2008-05-09T17:28:00.003-05:00

The next Rachel Morgan book takes her and Jinx (full-sized) to Mackinaw Island to rescue Jinx' oldest son, Jax, and her ex-boyfriend Nick from a pack of werewolves. I like the interaction between Rachel and Jinx. Rachel finally starts to address some hard issues about her personality and her desires in life. This is a turning point book for her as a character. I look forward to getting the next one to read.

Prom Nights from Hell edited by Meg Cabot

2008-04-19T10:10:00.003-05:00

I read this because Kim Harrison had a short story in it. It's a teen novel about the paranormal and prom nights. Great mix, huh? :D The story I liked the best was by Michele Jaffe about Miranda Kiss, a teen who has superhero abilities. I hope Ms. Jaffe writes a full-length novel about her, I would enjoy reading more. I also really liked the story by Ms. Meyer about what happens when a demon tries to unleash her horrors on a prom night and is brought face-to-face with someone who is truly a good person for no other reason than they like doing the right thing.

Death of a Gentle Maid by MC Beaton

2008-04-17T10:58:00.002-05:00

I love MC Beaton's books! The newest in the Hamish series is like visiting old friends and talking for a couple of hours. Hamish MacBeth is a Highlander Constable who loves living in his little village and watching out after the locals. They are cozy mysteries with lots of memorable, eccentric characters. Hamish's lack of luck with the females in his life is a problem a lot of people can empathesize with.

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie

2008-04-15T11:46:00.003-05:00

Abby Cooper is a Psychic Intuitive. This means that she meets with people and gives them insight into the decisions in their lives by 'reading' them with the help of her spirit guides. After having a blind date with a homicide detective and reveiling too much about a missing persons case, Abby comes under surveillance by the police. Ms. Laurie has written a witty mystery with humor to boot. I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the next one.

Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison

2008-03-28T15:15:00.003-05:00

This is the third book in Kim's Hollows series. This series is set in Cincinnati and is a world where Magic has re-entered the world in a non-peaceful way. Vampires, Weres, Witches and Fairies all move through society with normal humans. The Hollows is where the inderlanders (supernatural creatures) live. Think Chinatown in a big city but much darker and dangerous. Rachel Morgan is a witch who works with the law while running her own business with her partners, Ivy, the living vampire and Jenks, a pixie and father of hundreds of tiny pixies. There's humor, good guy vs. bad guy and a bit of sex thrown together to make it a fun romp.

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

2008-03-12T09:35:00.002-05:00

This novel switches between Minnesota in the mid-1990s and Nazi Germany during World War II. It is the story of Anna and her daughter, Trudy. It is a story of what a woman will do to save her daughter and her own life. It is a story of the guilt people can carry for all their lives, thinking that maybe they made the wrong decision. It is the author's first novel and very well written, however the author does not use quote marks for conversation. It's a bit jarring to get used to. The book is not a happy book, it's actually quite depressing if you think about the people who may have had to make those choices during the Nazi era. The book does leave you with a sense of maybe, just maybe, Anna might come out of her shell slowly but surely.

Kissing Christmas Goodbye by M.C. Beaton

2008-02-22T09:13:00.002-06:00

The Agatha Raisin series is one of those series where you always enjoy catching up with your favorite characters. The newest installment sees Agatha desperately trying to find a way to have what she always thought was a 'traditional Christmas' dinner. She's asked by a little old lady to come to her estate because said lady thinks one of her family is trying to kill her. Instead of a sweet little old lady, Agatha comes face to face with a nasty, bitter old lady who enjoys upsetting the people around her. Even though the scene seems to come from the pages of an Agatha Christie novel, it is not as it seems and so Agatha finds out. This book introduces a new character who reminds Agatha of her earlier life. The ending scene with the Christmas dinner is pure Agatha. :) A must read if you are into British village mysteries.

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris

2008-02-19T11:57:00.003-06:00

I realized after I wrote up "Bone to Pick" that I had not written up the first book of the series. Aurora, "Roe" to her friends is part of a club that meets monthly to discuss Real Murders of the past (think Jack the Ripper, Lizzy Borden). When she shows up for the monthly meeting, one of the members is found dead like the murder they were to discuss that very night. Roe and her mother, along with the mystery writer neighbor and a police detective. Roe works part-time in the local library (wonder why this author appealed to me? ;)) Thanks to Myraquilt at Pogo for recommending this book to me.

Wicked Fantasy by Nina Bangs

2008-02-19T11:29:00.002-06:00

This was my relaxing read on a cold Sunday afternoon. :) Nina Bangs writes very steamy books dealing with all sorts of supernatural creatures. This is the third book in her 'wicked' trilogy about an adult resort in Galveston Texas where people can live out their fantasies. Each of the wicked books deals with a different man at the resort and his dark, secret past. There's telepathic cats, chocolate shoppe-owning demons and wizards. What more could a girl ask for?

A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris

2008-02-19T10:32:00.002-06:00

The second in the Aurora Teegarden mystery series is a good followup to the first novel. Some time has passed since the 1st novel and a lot has changed in Aurora's life. I really enjoy the storyline and the humor that the author uses in her novels. Aurora's a little too worried about clothes for me personally but then I've never been much of a shopper. The dilemma of dating a minister is interesting as well. How sexy does one dress for a date when dating an Episcopal minister?

Kissing Sin by Keri Arthur

2008-01-21T14:27:00.000-06:00

This is the second book in the Riley Jensen series. This series is set in a near-future Australia and Riley is a werewolf/vampire creature, a dhampir. She works for the Directorate, an agency in charge of policing the supernatural creatures in Australia. There is an evil corporation that is experimenting with creating genetic cross-species using shifters and vampires. Because they know Riley is a genetic cross-breed they are trying to get ahold of her DNA, something she's trying to stop. The evil corporation is a large web of intrigue and Riley must negotiate carefully through the webs without getting caught. I really like the intrigue and double-crosses the novelist writes. The book is violent and sexually graphic so beware if you don't like those types of books. Ms. Arthur has created a whole society for how werewolves conduct themselves in public and private. It is very detailed and she has put a lot of thought into how they would fit into normal society.

One of Riley's most endearing qualities is that she doesn't want to become a full agent of the Directorate. She doesn't want to give into the violent nature that is a part of what she is and become a 'legal' killer for the government. Her battles with her own conscience and that of her boss as well as the others in her life makes her very three dimensional.

Kill Me by Stephen White

2008-01-17T16:06:00.001-06:00

This book deals with a somewhat controversial subject. The protagonist engages in extremely dangerous sports. After seeing a good friend lie dying in a coma unable to die, he decides to purchase an "insurance" policy that says if he crosses a certain threshold, they will kill him rather than him lay helpless for a long period of time. I found the book hard to get into because the 1st person perspective bounces around. We discussed this book in library book club Monday night and the "would you do it?" question was an equal mixture of yes and no.

Wraith by Phaedra Weldon

2008-01-17T15:59:00.000-06:00

A private detective who snoops by astral projection? Zoe's mom runs a tea shop in Atlanta that's haunted by 2 ghosts. Zoe is conducting an investigation when she witnesses a murder in her astral form. Unfortunately, the murderer can see her and starts hunting her. This is an interesting book, I'm holding final judgment until I read the next book in the series. There's lots of humor, dark humor, scary otherworldly creatures and ice cream. Did I mention the hunky police detective who Zoe decides to help in the murder investigation?

The Good, the Bad and the Undead by Kim Harrison

2007-12-13T22:21:00.000-06:00

This is the second book in the Witch series starring Rachel, a witch in Cincinnati. She's a private investigator who' partners are a half-vampire, Ivy, and a pixie named Jenks. Jenks is her sidekick, being the mouthy partner when it's least wanted. Ivy is the sophisticated socialite vamp who's family is very powerful in the city. There are lots of unusual minor characters, a federal police officer who's her sometime ally; a big corrupt politician who she really hates but can't resist; a boyfriend who messes with things he shouldn't and a multitude of pixie children running amuck in the house. I really like this series and I believe the writer has a thing for Clint Eastwood based on the titles of the books.