Strange Angels (Strange Angels #1) by Lilith Saintcrow, Lili St. Crow

Strange Angels by Lilith Saintcrow

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?
~~~~~


Absolutely loved this book. Wonderful new series by an author that I have not read before. I do have her adult series and if this book is any indication I am going to enjoy it as well. I can not wait to get my hands on the next book in this series to see where Dru and Graves adventure leads to next.



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Sang Spell by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Sang Spell by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Phyllis Reynolds Naylor earned countless fans with the touching morality of Newbery Award-winning Shiloh and the laugh-out-loud realism of Achingly Alice. But aficionados may be surprised to find that Naylor's Sang Spell reads more like a haunting mystery. Grieving over the sudden death of his mother, Josh Vardy is reluctantly hitchhiking to Dallas (to begin a new life with his aunt), when he is mugged and left beside a remote mountain road. A woman driving a horse and cart takes him to a strange, fog-bound, primitive village, where there are no cars or telephones or electricity. The homespun villagers turn out to be a long-lost people of mixed ethnicity, called Melungeons. They accept Josh into their community, but will only answer his questions with evasiveness and enigmas. Mavis, a broad-shouldered young woman his own age, befriends Josh when he is put to work with the others gathering ginseng, a valuable root they refer to as "'sang" and trade once a year to Chinese merchants. Over and over again Josh tries to escape--by road and by river--but finds that somehow all routes lead back to this village that time has forgotten. When Josh finally joins in the villagers' rituals and celebrations, his feelings of despair about his own future begin to transform and heal. And after his loyalty to the Melungeons is tested, Josh finds that he is free at last to make the decision to leave.

~~~~~

Quick enjoyable read, but unfortunately the ending was a disappointment for me. I did enjoy the book but wish that the ending had not fallen so flat.



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The Fall (The Strain #2) by Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan

The Fall by Guillermo Del Toro

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


From the authors of the instant New York Times bestseller The Strain comes the next volume in one of the most imaginative and frightening thriller series in many, many years Last week they invaded Manhattan. This week they will destroy the world.

The vampiric virus unleashed in The Strain has taken over New York City. It is spreading and soon will envelop the globe. Amid the chaos, Eph Goodweather—head of the Centers for Disease Control's team—leads a band out to stop these bloodthirsty monsters. But it may be too late.

Ignited by the Master's horrific plan, a war erupts between Old and New World vampires, each vying for control. At the center of the conflict lies a book, an ancient text that contains the vampires' entire history . . . and their darkest secrets. Whoever finds the book can control the outcome of the war and, ultimately, the fate of us all. And it is between these warring forces that humans—powerless and vulnerable—find themselves no longer the consumers but the consumed. Though Eph understands the vampiric plague better than anyone, even he cannot protect those he loves. His ex-wife, Kelly, has been transformed into a bloodcrazed creature of the night, and now she stalks the city looking for her chance to reclaim her Dear One: Zack, Eph's young son.

With the future of humankind in the balance, Eph and his team, guided by the brilliant former professor and Holocaust survivor Abraham Setrakian and exterminator Vasiliy Fet and joined by a crew of ragtag gangsters, must combat a terror whose ultimate plan is more terrible than anyone has imagined—a fate worse than annihilation.


Another excellent read in this fantastic trilogy. Don't know if I can wait for the final book to come out. Great new look into vampirism and the end of the world as we know it.



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The Strain (The Strain #1) by Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan

The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The visionary creator of the Academy Award-winning Pan's Labyrinth and a Hammett Award-winning author bring their imaginations to this bold, epic novel about a horrifying battle between man and vampire that threatens all humanity. It is the first installment in a thrilling trilogy and an extraordinary international publishing event.

The Strain They have always been here. Vampires. In secret and in darkness. Waiting. Now their time has come. In one week, Manhattan will be gone. In one month, the country. In two months—the world.

A Boeing 777 arrives at JFK and is on its way across the tarmac, when it suddenly stops dead. All window shades are pulled down. All lights are out. All communication channels have gone quiet. Crews on the ground are lost for answers, but an alert goes out to the CDC. Dr. Eph Goodweather, head of their Canary project, a rapid-response team that investigates biological threats, gets the call and boards the plane. What he finds makes his blood run cold.

In a pawnshop in Spanish Harlem, a former professor and survivor of the Holocaust named Abraham Setrakian knows something is happening. And he knows the time has come, that a war is brewing . . .

So begins a battle of mammoth proportions as the vampiric virus that has infected New York begins to spill out into the streets. Eph, who is joined by Setrakian and a motley crew of fighters, must now find a way to stop the contagion and save his city—a city that includes his wife and son—before it is too late.


Great start to a new trilogy that is a different take to the vampire genre of books currently out. Totally enjoyed it and look forward to the rest of the trilogy.



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Kiss of Crimson (Midnight Breed #2)

Kiss of Crimson by Lara Adrian

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


He comes to her more dead than alive, a towering black-clad stranger riddled with bullets and rapidly losing blood. As she struggles to save him, veterinarian Tess Culver is unaware that the man calling himself Dante is no man at all, but one of the Breed, vampire warriors engaged in a desperate battle. In a single erotically charged moment Tess is plunged into his world—a shifting, shadowed place where bands of Rogue vampires stalk the night, cutting a swath of terror.

Haunted by visions of a dark future, Dante lives and fights like there is no tomorrow. Tess is a complication he does not need—but now, with his brethren under attack, he must shield Tess from a growing threat that includes Dante himself. For with one reckless, irresistible kiss, she has become an inextricable part of his underworld realm…and his touch awakens her to hidden gifts, desires, and hungers she never knew she possessed. Bonded by blood, Dante and Tess must work together to thwart deadly enemies, even as they discover a passion that transcends the boundaries of life itself….



Another enjoyable read in the Midnight Breed series.



This book focuses on Dante who we met briefly in book 1. This series still reminds me a lot of Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series.



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Kiss of Midnight (Midnight Breed #1) by Lara Adrian

Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind—and the unwitting humans existing alongside them—from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.

Here, in the arms of the Breed’s formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all. . . .



This series is very much like Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

A group of vampire warriors who are trying to save humanity from Rouge vampires who kill indiscriminately. Each book focuses on one particular warrior and how he meets and falls for his 'Breedmate'.



Good enough to keep reading the series but not nearly as involved as Ward's series.



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Philippa Fisher's Fairy Godsister by Liz Kessler

Philippa Fisher's Fairy Godsister by Liz Kessler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


New from the author of the best-selling Emily Windsnap series! A tale of a girl and her reluctant fairy guardian sparkles with magic and charm.

Philippa Fisher would like nothing more than to summon a fairy. Still, she is taken aback when Daisy, the new girl at school, announces that she is Philippa's fairy godmother — or godsister, since they're both the same age. Though the fairy is none too pleased with her mission, she is obliged to see it through and grant her human charge the customary three wishes. Now, if only Philippa would wish for something that makes her life better, not worse! With warmth and whimsy, the creator of Emily Windsnap whisks a traditional theme into a contemporary setting to tell a story of friendship, luck, and how we decide what we really want.


Bought this at the school bookfair for my 10 year old. She read it, liked it and insisted that I read it. I am glad that I did.



A cute tale of friendship with a couple of life lessons thrown in for good measure.







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The Diary of Pelly D by L.J. Adlington

The Diary of Pelly D by L.J. Adlington

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Toni V is a teenager working for the City Five demolition crew. While drilling through concrete he unearths a battered water can containing a parcel wrapped in faded brown paper. Though he's supposed to turn over anything he salvages, Toni V smuggles the package back to his room, unwraps it, and finds a notebook.

This is the diary of Pelly D. It's totally secret, so if you're reading it I hate you already.

Toni V figures there's no harm in paging through it since he doesn't even know this Pelly D.

I'm not being arrogant. That's just the way it is at school. . . . I'm Pelly D. It's pretty simple. I RULE!

The more Toni V reads, the more he thinks Pelly D is rich, stupid, and petty. Yet he can't help starting to care for her, especially as her words slowly reveal the chilling state of her world.

I know it doesn't matter what gene tag you have -- Mum's made that clear again & again like a stuck CD. It's just . . . How can I face everyone at school if . . .

What happened to Pelly D? Toni V needs to know. And he has one clue:

Dig -- dig everywhere.



This was a good read recommended to me by my 14 year old daughter. She did a book report on it for school. Yes it reads a lot like The Diary of Anne Frank but it focuses on a new generation.



In the future the human species has ventured out into space and found life on a new planet. They have also recreated humanity in a test tube. We follow the life of a young somewhat spoiled teenage girl from normal everyday life through the tragedy of a holocaust of her type of human in a world originally created to prevent prejudice and racism. It really is a thought provoking peek into human beings.



Glad that dd recommended it to me and glad that I took the time to read it.







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Breed by Owl Goingback

Breed by Owl Goingback

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


There is a dark underside to the sunny city of St. Augustine, Florida. An ancient evil is awakened in the Tolomato Cemetery, and is intent on stalking and destroying the citizens of the town. The evil creature, a Shiru, was believed to be a mythical beast from ancient Indian legend. The legend says the Shiru once roamed the earth attempting to mate with the women of the local Indian tribes in an effort to breed, but the Indians recognized the danger and hunted them down, destroying their hideous deformed offspring. But this legend is so old, that almost no one in modern day St. Augustine knows of it, and if they did they wouldn't believe it...that is until one, summoned by three women dabbling in black magic, crosses over from the dead. Now the Shiru is determined to get revenge on the human race, and to breed with a strong woman with an ancient blood line. Unbeknownst to her, local tour-guide, half Cherokee Ssabra Onih, is the Shiru's target. Fortunately for her, and the rest of the town, the spirit of Chief Tolomato comes to guide her, and enlist her help to hunt down the evil Shiru and send it back to the underworld. At the same time city police officer, Jack Colvin is working hard to track down the perpetrator of a series of grisly murders. Soon Colvin's and Onih's paths cross, and they join forces with the help of Chief Tolomato and other friendly spirits, in a desperate attempt to stop the seemingly invincible Shiru.



An okay read. I enjoyed the fact that it was set in St. Augustine. Being a Floridian and having visited St. Augustine on several occasions it was fun to read about it. The storyline was okay, the plot was good enough to keep me reading. Not a lot of 'horror', but some moments.



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Steward of Song by Adam Stemple,

Steward of Song by Adam Stemple

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Stemple explores the complications of family ties in this shimmering sequel to 2005's Singer of Souls. American musician Douglas Stewart has imprisoned his former mistress, the evil but beautiful former queen Aine, and now rules the Daoine Sidhe. Douglas's sister, Bridie, a former cop, thinks he killed their grandmother and is scouring Scotland for him. Their brother, Scott, an Iraq war veteran tormented by hallucinations, is stuck caring for the baby who has mysteriously appeared on his doorstep. Fortunately, Mundoo, a mysterious Native American god, is around to provide parenting advice. When the siblings reunite in the realm of the Sidhe, Bridie and Scott must decide how much Douglas, who seems to be taking a turn for the megalomaniacal, can be trusted with his newfound power. Stemple riffs off Native American and Celtic myths with ease while skillfully depicting a world where any move can have dire consequences.



Wonderful follow up to 'Singer of Souls'. In fact this book was twice as good as the first. I read it in a day which is always a sign that a book is too good to put down. Highly recommend this fantasy novel to all.



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Singer of Souls by Adam Stemple

Singer of Souls by Adam Stemple

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Synopsis
From the son of fantasist and children’s author Jane Yolen, an assured debut novel of dark fantasy

Publishers Weekly
At the start of Stemple's wonderful fantasy debut, his first solo effort (he's collaborated with his mother, Jane Yolen, on children's music books), Douglas "Doc" Stewart, a recovering heroin addict and talented street musician, flees Minnesota for Scotland and his Grandma McLaren, who welcomes her grandson with open arms but warns, "I've buried three husbands and I'll bury you, too, if need be." Doc's subsequent success as a busker in Edinburgh strengthens his resolve to stay clean. During the Fringe arts festival, he meets a fey young woman, Aine, who gives him the gift of sight distilled in white powder he shoots into his arm. This ability to perceive the faery world puts him in grave danger after Aine is abducted by a strange priest, Father Croser, who uses his own magical sight for evil purposes. A "bogie" (or mischievous spirit) enlists Doc's assistance in rescuing Aine, but Doc soon finds himself drawn into a faeryland that's alarmingly similar to the world of addiction he thought he'd escaped forever and an erotic adventure that holds shocking consequences. Fans of Charles de Lint and Clive Barker will find much to like.



Great read. An interesting take on Fairies. Douglas was a likeable character and the storyline kept me wanting to read.

I did not care much for the ending, but am already well into the second book and I am enjoying it just as much as the first.



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Gentlemen Prefer Succubi (Succubus Diaries #1) by Jill Myles

Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Who knew an angel could get a girl in so much devilish trouble?

Jackie Brighton woke up in a dumpster this morning, and her day has only gotten weirder. Her breasts grew overnight, her sex drive is insatiable, and apparently she had her first one-night stand ever . . . with a fallen angel.

Of course, she only remembers gorgeous Noah’s enormous, er, package. And their steamy shower sex. Hmm . . . and the dark stranger whose bite transformed her into an immortal siren with a seductive Itch.

With help from Noah and fellow succubus Remy Summore, Jackie adapts to her new lifestyle—until she accidentally strikes a deal that sends her lover into the deadly clutches of the vampire queen and lands Jackie, Remy, and the queen’s wickedly hot right-hand man into the middle of a fierce battle for an ancient halo.

But how’s a girl supposed to save the world when the enemy’s so hard to resist



Has potential. I like the storyline, even if some of it is a bit far fectched. Looking forward to seeing where the author goes from here.



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Numbers (Numbers #1) by Rachel Ward

Numbers by Rachel Ward

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Whenever Jem meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die.

Burdened with such an awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. But while they’re waiting to ride the Eye Ferris
wheel, Jem notices that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!



This was a good, but heart breaking book. I liked the characters and the storyline was okay. Will read the next book when I can get my hands on it.



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Lilith's Brood (Xenogenesis #1-3) by Octavia E. Butler

Lilith's Brood by Octavia E. Butler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Dawn: After nuclear war destroys the world, Earths survivors are rescued by the miraculously powerful Oankali aliens- who survive by merging genetically with primitive peoples without their permission.

Adulthood Rites: Desperate to regain their world, childless humans seek to cleanse the alien taint by kidnapping hybrid children. But the raiders are blind to the truth of Earths new children.

Imago: The futures of both humans and aliens rest in one young beings successful metamorphosis into adulthood.



A very interesting read from Octavia Butler. Keeping in mind that this is actually 3 book sin one, it took some time to read, but was enjoyable.



Very interesting take on aliens taking over the world, and so much more that that. Thought provoking to say the least.



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Plaster and Poison (A Do-It-Yourself Mystery #3) by Jennie Bentley

Plaster and Poison by Jennie Bentley AKA Bente Gallagher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Ex-New York designer Avery Baker left the bustle of the big city to start her own home renovation business in Maine. But as she renovates an old carriage house on behalf of a soon-to-be wed friend, she stumbles across a lifeless body-a person known all too well by the blushing bride. The small town is abuzz with big suspicions, and Avery realizes she must unravel a matrimonial murder.



Very much enjoying this series. Great characters, interesting mysteries and some nice do it yourself tips. A series that I am going to continue reading without a doubt.







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Spackled and Spooked (A Do-It-Yourself Mystery, #2) by Jennie Bentley

Spackled and Spooked by Jennie Bentley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A mystery surfaces behind the walls in the new Do-It-Yourself series.

Avery Baker and her boyfriend, Derek Ellis, are flipping a seriously stigmatized house rumored to have ghosts. Soon they’ll have even bigger problems — and this renovation project might haunt them forever.


Really enjoying this series. I love the characters and the mysteries are interesting although I have to admit that I figured this one out early.
Great cozy series!

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Fatal Fixer-Upper (A Do-It-Yourself Mystery, #1) by Jennie Bentley

Fatal Fixer-Upper by Jennie Bentley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



First in the new Do-It-Yourself mystery series

Avery Baker was once a New York designer, but inheriting her aunt's old Maine cottage has le ...more First in the new Do-It-Yourself mystery series

Avery Baker was once a New York designer, but inheriting her aunt's old Maine cottage has led her down a new career path - home renovation. Now, with help from hunky handyman Derek Ellis, Avery starts learning the ABC's of DIY. But when the designer-turned-renovator finds clues that lead to a missing professor, she wonders if she can finish the house - without getting finished off in the process.



Very good start to what is a new series for me. I love the characters, the mystery was not over the top and the main character is not an all out sleuth, she just happens upon the mystery. Thinking that this is going to be a great series.

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A cage of butterflies by Brian Caswell

A cage of butterflies by Brian Caswell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Mikki and the others live at 'the farm' - an advanced learning facility, a think-tank for a bunch of young people with very high IQs. But what is really going on at the farm? And what about the five much younger children knwn as the Babies, frail as butterflies?
Brian Caswell's new novel explores the powerof love - and presents readers with an intriguing jigsaw puzzle of suspense'


This book was okay. The plot seemed familiar, the story did not have a lot of depth, but it was an interesting idea and played out interestingly enough to keep me reading.

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One Foot in the Grave (The Halflife Chronicles, #1) by Wm. Mark Simmons

One Foot in the Grave by Wm. Mark Simmons

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Christopher Csejthe doesn't believe in vampires--until he becomes one. He doesn't believe in witches or werewolves, either. Then they make him an offer he can't refuse.


Wonderful read. I love this author's writing style and sense of humor. Very much looking forward to more of his books.

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A Glimpse of Evil (Psychic Eye Mystery, #8) by Victoria Laurie

A Glimpse of Evil by Victoria Laurie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Professional psychic Abigail Cooper has received a cold welcome from some prickly investigators at the FBI. But that won't stop her from following her intuition...even if it brings her eye to eye with acts of true evil.

SOME COLD CASES ARE BETTER LEFT COLD...

As the FBI's newest civilian profiler, Abby Cooper has a tough job ahead of her. Not only does she have to use her powers of intuition to help solve a backlog of the bureau's cold cases, but she must also win over a frosty group of seasoned investigators and teach them how to develop their own perceptive abilities.

If that weren't challenging enough, Abby's sure that several of the cold cases are connected, but she's the only one who's convinced. Things go from bad to worse when Abby and another agent are suspended for not following protocol, leaving Abby and her old partner, Candice, to investigate on their own. To discover how these pieces fit together, Abby will have to call on every intuitive bone in her body...before she's the one put on ice.


Absolutely love this series!!

Abby and Dutch have moved to Texas along with their crew of friends -- to start new jobs. Abby has a job with Dutch working on solving cold cases for the FBI. I really enjoy the relationship between Dutch and Abby as well as the adventures that Abby finds herself constantly drawn into.

Can't believe that I am going to have to wait a year for the next book. Looks like it is time to drag out Victoria Laurie's Ghost hunter series.

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Hybrids (Neanderthal Parallax, #3) by Robert J. Sawyer

Hybrids by Robert J. Sawyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



In Hominids, author Robert J. Sawyer introduced a character readers will never forget: Ponter Boddit, a Neanderthal physicist from a parallel Earth wh...more In Hominids, author Robert J. Sawyer introduced a character readers will never forget: Ponter Boddit, a Neanderthal physicist from a parallel Earth who was whisked from his reality into ours by a quantum-computing experiment gone awry - making him the ultimate stranger in a strange land.

Now, in Hybrids, Ponter Boddit and his Homo sapiens lover, geneticist Mary Vaughan, are torn between two worlds, struggling to find a way to make their star-crossed relationship work. Aided by banned Neanderthal technology, they plan to conceive their first hybrid child, a symbol of hope for the joining of their two versions of reality.

But after an experiment shows that Mary's religious faith - something completely absent in Neanderthals - is a quirk of the neurological wiring of Homo sapiens brains, Ponter and Mary must decide whether their child should be predisposed to atheism or belief. Meanwhile, as Mary's Earth is dealing with a collapse of its planetary magnetic field, her boss, the enigmatic Jock Krieger, has turned envious eyes on the unspoiled Eden that is the Neanderthal world.



I absolutely loved this ending book in the Neanderthal trilogy. We continue to follow the story Ponter and Mary as they attempt to make a live for themselves in the now connected parallel earths. I loved the progression of the story as well as the ending. Very good trilogy!!

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Humans (Neanderthal Parallax, #2) by Robert J. Sawyer

Humans by Robert J. Sawyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Robert J. Sawyer, the award-winning and bestselling writer, hits the peak of his powers in Humans, the second book of The Neanderthal Parallax, his trilogy about our world and parallel one in which it was the Homo sapiens who died out and the Neanderthals who became the dominant intelligent species. This powerful idea allows Sawyer to examine some of the deeply rooted assumptions of contemporary human civilization dramatically, by confronting us with another civilization, just as morally valid, that has made other choices. In Humans, Neanderthal physicist Ponter Boddit, a character you will never forget, returns to our world and to his relationship with geneticist Mary Vaughan, as cultural exchanges between the two Earths begin.As we see daily life in another present-day world, radically different from ours, in the course of Sawyer's fast-moving story, we experience the bursts of wonder and enlightenment that are the finest pleasures of science fiction. Humans is one of the best SF novels of the year, and The Neanderthal Parallax is an SF classic in the making.



A wonderful continuation of the story that started with 'Hominids'. This book starts immediately after the first one. Ponter has returned home to his Earth, but he can not forget about Mary who he left behind on the parallel earth. He convinces the High Gray Council to allow him to reopen the tunnel that connects his earth with Mary's earth in hopes of being able to exchange knowledge. We follow the story of the two worlds and the more personal story of Ponter and Mary's love affair. Very good book and a wonderful addition the the trilogy.

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Hominids (Neanderthal Parallax, #1) by Robert J. Sawyer

Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer


Hominids is the first book of The Neanderthal Parallax, a trilogy that will examine two unique species of people. They are alien to each other, yet alike in their never-ending quest for knowledge and essential humanity. We are one of those species, the other is the Neanderthals of a parallel world where they, not Homo sapiens, became the dominant intelligence. In that world, Neanderthal civilization has reached heights of culture and science comparable to our own, but with a radically different history, society, and philosophy.

During a quantum-computing experiment, Ponter Boddit, a Neanderthal physicist, accidentally pierces the barrier between worlds and is transferred to our universe. He is almost immediately recognized as a Neanderthal, but only much later as a scientist. He is quarantined and studied, alone and bewildered, a stranger in a strange land. But Ponter is also befriended - by a doctor and a physicist who share his questing intelligence and boundless enthusiasm for the world's strangeness, as well as by Canadian geneticist Mary Vaughan, a woman with whom he develops a special rapport.

Meanwhile, Ponter's partner, Adikor Huld, finds himself with a messy lab, a missing body, suspicious people all around, and an explosive murder trial. How can he possibly prove his innocence when he has no idea what actually happened to Ponter?" Contact between humans an Neanderthals creates a relationship fraught with conflict, philosophical challenge, and the threat to the existence of one species or the other - or both. Yet their meeting is also rich in possibilities for cooperation and growth on many levels, from the practical to the esthetic to the scientific to the spiritual. In short, Robert J. Sawyer has done it again.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent read. Hard to put down once I started. Great characters, great plot and lots of stop and think moments. Totally love the Parallel Earth plot and look forward to reading the next two in the trilogy!

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Beauty by Robin McKinley

Beauty by Robin McKinley



A retelling of Beauty and the Beast

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A great re-telling of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. McKinley is a master at rewriting fairy tales. I loved this version of Beauty.

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The Forestwife (Forestwife Saga 1) by Theresa Tomlinson

The Forestwife by Theresa Tomlinson


Mary, raised by her uncle, her mother dead, has no other choice among the nobility of medieval England. So she flees into the forest, seeking only her freedom.


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an enchanting tale of Mary, a girl who becomes Marian, the Forestwife and falls in love with Robert, her champion. A fabulous take on the story of Robin Hood with the emphasis on Marian. I absolutely loved it and can not wait to find the next 2 books in the trilogy.


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The Great God Pan by Donna Jo Napoli

The Great God Pan by Donna Jo Napoli


Pan, both goat and god, is a curious being who roams nature searching, wondering, and frolicking with maenads and satyrs. He plays melodies on his reed flute, wooing animals to listen. He is a creature of mystery and delight. One day in his travels, Pan meets Iphigenia, a human raised as the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. Pan is captivated by the young princess. Set against a landscape of myth and legend, Napoli’s latest tale is a love story wrought with sincere emotion and all that is great about the Gods.


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a wonderful story. I loved mythology as a kid and this is a wonderful romp back into that childhood love. This is the story of Pan and his curse, his love of a human, and his sacrifice for that love.

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Midnight Predator (Den of Shadows, #4) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Midnight Predator by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes


Midnight, the ancient evil sanctuary of vampires and their human slaves that was burned to the ground centuries ago, has risen from the ashes to open its dark doors once more. And it's up to Turquoise Draka, famed human vampire hunter of the Bruja guild, to stop Midnight's founder and vampire most malevolent, Jeshikah. But once inside Midnight's walls, Turquoise discovers that instead of Jeshikah, the surprisingly benign vampire Jaguar is at the helm. Acting as a human slave, Turquoise tries to discern Jaguar's mysteriously kind motives as she works at planning Jeshikah's assassination. Meanwhile, her acting servitude is playing havoc with her memories, as she begins to recall the bleak days when she used to be a human slave herself, the time before her training as an elite Bruja warrior. With bitter memories of beatings and humiliations battling with her present suicidal assignment, Turquoise must do everything in her power to keep from blowing her cover and losing her sanity.



While this is listed as #4 in the Den of Shadows series, it is really a stand alone. There were no characters that I recognized from the earlier books and the only similarity is that the vampires are in both books. This is an entirely different group of vamps who live in a very different lifestyle than the previous books. This book evolves around the slave trade and a group called Midnight where vamps have human slaves.

The book itself was quite enjoyable, the characters well developed and overall a much more mature writing style than the previous books by this author.

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Shattered Mirror (Den of Shadows, #3) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes


Publishers Weekly
In this third installment in the series that began with In the Forests of the Night, Atwater-Rhodes focuses on teen witch (and vampire killer) Sarah Vida, who "never asked for anything more complex than the simple good and evil definitions she had been raised on" but gets more than she bargained for when she befriends vampire siblings Nissa and Christopher. This is trouble: it's harder to kill when you know your prey, and her mother the most infamous witch of all will disown her if she finds out about the friendship. Her conflict intensifies when she discovers that Christopher's twin is Nikolas, the same vampire who long ago murdered a Vida witch. Atwater-Rhodes chooses an interesting theme (no one is purely good or evil), and she builds some creative elements around it. SingleEarth, an organization of all creatures, for instance, includes vampires and witches who work together for peace. Her description of Nikolas, whose home and clothing are completely black and white, plays into this well, and provides for some striking visual images. Some of her writing, though, as in Sarah's final faceoff with Nikolas and Christopher, is over the top ("I want it as much as humans want to breathe, but I have control," Christopher says of Sarah's blood). Still, fans of the teen goth writer will likely find plenty to feast on here. Ages 12-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.



My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a very good, quick read. Each of Atwater-Rhodes Den of Shadows books is like a little peek into this world that she has created. While this book has a couple of characters who were featured in the previous book it could very well be read as a stand alone.

Looking forward to more glimpses into this entertaining world of vampires and witches that this author has created.

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Demon in My View (Den of Shadows, #2) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Demon in My View (Den of Shadows, #2) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes


Jessica isn't your average teenager. Though nobody at her high school knows it, she's a published author. Her vampire novel Tiger, Tiger has just come out under the pen name Ash Night. Jessica often wishes she felt as comfortable with her classmates as she does among the vampires and witches of her fiction. She has always been treated as an outsider at Ramsa High.

But two new students have just arrived in Ramsa, and both want Jessica's attention. She has no patience with overly friendly Caryn, but she's instantly drawn to handsome Alex, a cocky, mysterious boy who seems surprisingly familiar. If she didn't know better, she'd think Aubrey, the alluring villain from Tiger, Tiger had just sprung to life. That's impossible, of course; Aubrey is a figment of her imagination. Or is he?

Nail-bitingly suspenseful, here is the deliciously eerie follow-up to In the Forests of the Night, by the remarkable fifteen-year-old novelist Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a quick interesting read. I like the world of vampires and witches that the author has developed. It has been quite some time since I read her first book 'In the Forests of the Night' and I really felt like I was missing a lot of back story. I probably would have enjoyed this book much more if I had read it nearer to finishing the first book,since I have no recollection of the characters.

But keeping in mind the age of the author when she wrote these books, a good read.

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The Report Card by Andrew Clements

The Report Card by Andrew Clements


SHHHHH
Nora Rose Rowley is a genius, but don't tell anyone. She's managed to make it to the fifth grade without anyone figuring out that she's not just an ordinary kid, and she wants to keep it that way.

But then Nora gets fed up with the importance everyone attaches to test scores and grades, and she purposely brings home a terrible report card just to prove a point. Suddenly the attention she's successfully avoided all her life is focused on her, and her secret is out. And that's when things start to get really complicated....



My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read this book with my 5th grade literacy group at school. I then proceeded to rave about it to the teachers and tell everyone I talked to that they needed to read it as well. This is an amazing book. What insight into the whole test taking dilemma faced by our kids in schools today!

I highly recommend this to all parents of school aged kids as well as all educators.

Fantastic book!!!!

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Keeper of the Earth (Daughter of Destiny, Book 4) by Jenna Solitaire

Keeper of the Earth by Jenna Solitaire


Having found the Board of Fire, Jenna and Simon hurry to decipher the clues that will lead them to the Board of Earth—and mastery over the very land itself. But on their way to locate the tomb of a mythical English hero while fending off shadowy new attackers who want the Boards for themselves, an offer of help comes from a surprising source. Can Jenna and Simon trust this offer—or are they walking straight into a trap set by the one who has coveted the Boards for millennia?


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well this did not have the 'happily ever after' ending that I prefer, but it was an interesting end (or is it the end) to the series.

I enjoyed this entire series more than I thought I would and was please with the way that the last book went.

Hoping that maybe one day the author will continue the search.


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Keeper of the Flames (Daughter of Destiny, Book 3) by Jenna Solitaire

Keeper of the Flames by Jenna Solitaire


My name is Jenna Solitaire, and I am the Keeper of the Boards. With the elements of Air and Water at my command, I now go in search for the most dangerous Board I have sought so far—the Board of Fire.

From the searing desert of the Middle East, Jenna and Simon travel to the ancient city of Pompeii, following the clues to the hiding place of the Board of Fire—also known as the Board of the Flames. But Peraud is hot on their trail, and is more determined than ever to claim the two Boards the Keeper already possesses. Jenna must also contend with her growing attraction to Simon, who is torn by his desire for her—and his sacred duty to the Church.


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another wonderful book in the Daughter of Destiny series. Jenna is learning more about the boards, what it means to be the Keeper and about herself. She is maturing and changing as her struggle to control the boards continues.

Can not wait to read the final book and see how this all works out.

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Keeper of the Waters (Daughter of Destiny, Book 2) by Jenna Solitaire

Keeper of the Waters by Jenna Solitaire


My name is Jenna Solitaire—and I am the Keeper of the Boards. I have the Board of Air. And every day, I hear the voice of the Board of Water calling to me. Somehow, I must find it and master its powers--before someone else does...

Having mastered the power of the Board of Air, Jenna travels to Jerusalem to find the Board of Water. She is accompanied by Simon Monk, who seeks the Boards on behalf of the Vatican. Jenna doesn’t trust Simon, but he’s her only source of information about the Boards. In Jerusalem, Jenna meets Saduj, a local guide who claims to be able to help them find the Board they seek. Simon is suspicious, but Jenna finds herself strangely attracted to Saduj. Jenna must find the Board before it awakens and causes unimaginable destruction. But will she lose her heart—and possibly her life—in the process?



My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Quite enjoying this series. Surprisingly more than I expected. Fro a teen novel it is well written and quite the page turner. Looking forward to reading more.

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Keeper of the Winds (Daughter of Destiny, Book 1) by Jenna Solitaire

Keeper of the Winds by Jenna Solitaire


My name is Jenna Solitaire and everything I thought I knew about myself, my family, and my future is wrong. My life is not my own. It never has been. I just didn’t know it—until now…

After the death of her grandfather, nineteen-year-old Jenna Solitaire finds an ancient wooden board hidden away in the attic of his house. Scorched by fire and covered in mysterious symbols, the board fascinates her—and scares her—at the same time. As does Simon Monk, the handsome stranger who has come into her life, claiming to know about the board. Even more frightening is the voice whispering in Jenna’s head, calling her “Keeper.” Does Jenna have power over the winds, as Simon claims? Is she truly the Daughter of Destiny?


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Surprisingly good start to a 4 books series. Enjoyed the idea and find the fact that the author is the main character interesting. Definitely going to read the next 3 now and then give them to my daughter to read.

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Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse, #10) by Charlaine Harris

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris


Sookie Stackhouse has finally settled into a relationship with the Viking vampire Eric, and her errant brother Jason seems to have his life in order, too. But all the other people in Sookie’s life – Eric himself, her former lover Bill, her friend and boss Sam – are having family problems. Eric’s maker shows up with Eric’s ‘brother’ in tow, the ailing Bill can only be healed by a blood sibling, and Sam’s brother’s marriage is about to take place... or will it? The furor raised by the coming out of the two-natured has yet to settle; some people are just not ready to sit down to dinner with a man who turns into a dog. And Sookie herself is still recovering from her last ordeal. She’s definitely improving, physically and mentally, but she’s always going to have some dark moments now. The werewolves tell her that there have been strange and ominous passers-by in the Stackhouse woods; now Sookie is about to come face-to-face with one of her more distant relatives...

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Somewhat disappointed in this installment of Sookie. I guess I am just expecting too much, but I felt like I had been cheated after waiting a long year for the next book. Too many politics and not enough action. Sookie's obsession with family bothers me. She needs to understand that family is not always blood relatives. Lots of bits of things going on in this book, but no closure on most of it.

Hoping that we see a lot more action in the next Sookie when it comes out, sigh, next year.

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Deep Blue (Beck Easton Adventure, A) by Tom Morrisey

Deep Blue by Tom Morrisey


A suspense-filled search for hidden treasureand hidden truths.
While University of Michigan graduate student Jennifer Cassidy is researching the family history of Cecilia Sinclair, a long-deceased Southern expatriate, she discovers that something of great value is hidden in a spring near the family plantation in Florida. Jennifer contacts Beck Easton, a cave diver and former Marine, to help her. When Beck finds a map, it sets off a race for gold, and both pro- and anti-Cuban groups follow Jennifer and Beck as they travel from Florida to the Bahamas to Lake Huron, tracking clues that pre-date the Civil War.
After nearly losing her life, Jennifer is confronted with the meaning of Matthew 6:19-21, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And she realizes that she will have to make a decisionwill she pursue gold and glory or God?


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Very interesting read. I read this because my own little hick town is featured in the book. I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. Wonderful mystery that leads to a very interesting take on history. Main characters were enjoyable and enjoyed reading about the diving aspects of the book. Would definitely read more by this author if I came across it.

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Undead and Unwelcome (Undead, #8) by MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson



Betsy Taylor has problems that only a vampire queen/suburban wife could possibly understand. Such as taking the body of her werewolf friend Antonia-who died in her service-to Cape Cod, where she's not sure if the Wyndham werewolves will welcome her with fangs or friendship. Meanwhile, her posse back in St. Paul is sending frantic e-mails alerting Betsy to her half-sister's increasingly erratic behavior. Looks like the devil's daughter is coming into her own-and raising hell.



My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another fun chapter in Queen Betsy's life. These are such quick reads that I almost feel cheated. It goes by so quickly and then we have to wait, wait, wait for the next one.

I am looking forward to seeing what happens with Laura in the next book.

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Scar Night (Deepgate Codex, #1) by Alan Campbell

Scar Night by Alan Campbell


An insane angel, a bitter young assassin, a drunkard desperate to enact a father's revenge, and a naive boy angel wrapped in a dark steampunk setting...

In the city of Deepgate, suspended by chains over a seemingly bottomless abyss, there are two angels: one, an untested boy, the last of his line, forbidden to fly and unable even to wield the great heirloom sword of his legendary ancestors; the other, a psychotic murderess mad for revenge - or redemption.
When one of the city's own turns against its people, bringing enemies to its doorstep, both seek a powerful magic at the bottom of the chasm - and learn that what lies below is far more sinister than they've been taught to expect.


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was an interesting read. Different than my typical read and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, but I do have a couple of complaints. This book was mostly about world building, but I still have trouble imagining what Deepgate is. We get the basics, but there seems to be a lot missing. How and why was Deepgate created? What is the abyss? I just feel like the author spent a lot of time getting us acquainted with the world, but did not go into any depth.

The characters are well developed and likable. I really want to read more about what happens with Dill, Rachael and Carnival.

For me the books was just getting good when it ended. So I am looking forward to the next book which I hope to be able to get to soon.

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Roadkill (Cal Leandros, #5) by Rob Thurman

Roadkill by Rob Thurman


New from the national bestselling author of Deathwish

It's time to lock, load, and hit the road...

Once, while half-human Cal Leandros and his brother Niko were working on a case, an ancient gypsy queen gave them a good old-fashioned backstabbing. Now, just as their P.I. business hits a slow patch, the old crone shows up with a job.

She wants them to find a stolen coffin that contains a blight that makes the Black Death seem like a fond memory. But the thief has already left town, so the Leandros brothers are going on the road. And if they're very, very lucky, there might even be a return trip...



My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I really like this series but this book was just okay for me. Not a lot of the action that I have come to expect from the Leandros brothers. Much more philosophical musing in this book as compared to previous books.

On the plus side it was interesting to learn more about Rafferty and his cousin, Catcher, who we met in a previous book.

I didn't care for the Cal/Auphe aspect or even the Cal/Delilah line.

Hoping the next book goes back to what was great in the earlier books.

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Makeovers Can Be Murder (A Fat City Mystery, #3) by Kathryn Lilley

Makeovers Can Be Murder by Kathryn Lilley


Plus-size reporter Kate Gallagher is facing the ultimate challenge-wearing a bikini for an upcoming assignment about weight loss scams. Sticking to her diet won't be easy-especially since her love life is already wasting away.

Kate learns she's not alone at a meeting of a women's support group, the Newbodies-where her friend Lila confides that her marriage is in trouble. When Lila turns up dead, Kate's suspicions immediately fall on the husband. But that's before she finds out that Lila wasn't the first "Newbody" to die. Apparently a killer has an appetite for plus-sized victims...


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was another good read in the Fat City Mystery series. The mystery was okay although I thought that the ending was a bit rushed and maybe a little over the top.

Not really liking where the author is taking Kate's love life but I get the feeling that we have not seen the end of Kate and Jonathan.


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A Killer Workout (A Fat City Mystery, #2) by Kathryn Lilley

A Killer Workout by Kathryn Lilley


Plus-sized reporter Kate Gallagher decides to report for duty at Body Blast, a boot camp-style fitness program. But then her roomie is discovered with a broken neck at the foot of the climbing wall. It’s not the first suspicious accident at the camp—another woman recently fell to her death during a Wilderness Challenge.

Kate knows that losing weight is hard, but now it looks like it’s turning into mortal combat.


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was a little darker and not quite as much fun as her last book. I still enjoyed it, but the humor that I so loved in her first book was missing in most of this book. Although I will say that there is a scene at the end of the book that redeemed it as far as the humor goes. I was laughing out loud and could not stop. Kate's butt really saves the day as well as the humor in the book.

I like where the author is going with Kate's love life and the mystery was interesting to figure out. Looking forward to the next book in the series as well.

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A Host of Dragons: Dragon Delasangre #4 by Alan F. Troop

A Host of Dragons: Dragon Delasangre, 4 by Alan F. Troop


A vessel bearing twelve mysterious passengers arrives at a marina near Peter DelaSangre's secluded island home, heralding the arrival of more sinister events-including the kidnapping of Peter's daughter and a corporation's attack against the family fortune. Now, Peter must uncover the ties that binds these misfortunes together, before it's too late.



My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Enjoyed this book of the Dragon DelaSangre series, just as I enjoyed the previous 3. I am kind of sad to think that there may be no more.

Peter find himself under attack, both personally and professionally, but has no idea who is behind the attack. Of course Derek, his wayward brother in law is involved. In his search for a mate Derek manages to bring the wrath of the European Dragons to Peter's doorstep. When a Host of Dragons attack Peter and his family he has no choice but to use all of his resources to fight back.

I actually begin to like Derek in this book and really would love to see more of what happens to the DelaSangre family in the future. Maybe the author will consider writing another book in the future.


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Shift (Shifters, #5) by Rachel Vincent

Shift by Rachel Vincent


Being the first female werecat enforcer isn't easy. Scars accumulate, but I'm stronger in so many ways.

As for my personal life? It's complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother's death and my father's impeachment, it's all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe.

With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option….



My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I remember back to when I read the first book in this series and did not care a lot for it. Too much 'cat' terminology, I think. lol Now I pre-order them because I can not wait to read the next one.

This one was non-stop action packed from beginning to end. Faythe and her Pride are attacked by Thunderbirds, who up until now were thought to be practically extinct. Further investigation leads Faythe to the truth, Calvin Malone has set up her Pride to take the fall for a crime against the Thunderbirds that one of his own enforcers is guilty of. Faythe really begins to come into her own as the next Alpha in line and starts taking charge as she has to figure out a way to prove her Pride's innocence as well as save the life of Kaci, the young tabby that she has grown to love.

We see the Prides move closer to civil war as well as see Faythe struggle with her relationships with both Marc and Jayce. Lots of things left to come in the next book and I don't want to wait till October!!

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Magic In the Blood (Allie Beckstrom, #2) by Devon Monk

Magic In the Blood by Devon Monk


Working as a Hound-tracing illegal spells back to their casters-has taken its toll on Allison Beckstrom. But even though magic has given her migraines and stolen her recent memory, Allie isn't about to quit. Then the police's magic enforcement division asks her to consult on a missing persons case. But what seems to be a straightforward job turns out to be anything but, as Allie finds herself drawn into the underworld of criminals, ghosts, and blood magic.


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Really like this series. It is a bit of a different twist on the whole paranormal scene. Just magic, but magic with a twist. I love the characters and the relationships between the characters. Love the storyline and look forward to reading more in this series as soon as I can get my hands on them.

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Xombies: Apocalypticon by Walter Greatshell

Xombies: Apocalypticon by Walter Greatshell


Survivors of a cataclysmic zombie-making plague leave a temporary safety of a refitted nuclear sub to scavenge for food and supplies on land. But they soon find themselves facing new terrors on the surface and mutiny below.


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I have to say that I was disappointed in this book. Having recently read the prequel I suppose that I was expecting the story to continue from where it left off, with Lulu and the other survivors struggling to find the cure for Agent X. But for me this book was all over the place. Lulu and her 'boys' were featured very little in the plot and really seemed like more of an after thought. There really was not any one character who stood out, with the exception of Sal Deluca.
The timeline kept bouncing around, to the point of confusion. We jumped from having Xombies, to having some mutation of Xombies that are so unrealistic that, imo at least, it completely took away from the plot. It was like the author decided to change the story about half way through the book. We are left with more questions than before and no resolution in sight. I understand that the author has a couple more books planned but I can't imagine where he plans to go from here. When all hope for humanity is taken away, is there really anywhere else to go?

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Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom, #1) by Devon Monk

Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk


Devon monk is casting a spell on the fantasy world...

Using magic means it uses you back, and every spell exacts a price from its user. But some people get out of it by Offloading the cost of magic onto an innocent. Then it’s Allison Beckstrom’s job to identify the spell-caster. Allie would rather live a hand-to-mouth existence than accept the family fortune—and the strings that come with it. But when she finds a boy dying from a magical Offload that has her father’s signature all over it, Allie is thrown back into his world of black magic. And the forces she calls on in her quest for the truth will make her capable of things that some will do anything to control...


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Absolutely loved this book. For me at least it is a much different take on magic and they way that it is used. In a world where magic was discovered 30 years ago and is now a commodity that can be harvested, stored and used by anyone, there is a need for laws regulating it's use, because magic use has it's price. The price is pain in one form or another. Of course humans have also discovered a way to pass that price off to others and that is where Allie comes into the picture. She is a Hound, someone who can trace the source of illegally offloaded magic back to the original caster. When she takes on a job to see who offloaded magic use to a Boy who is dying because of it, she is drawn back into her father's world, something that she walked away from years ago.

This book really is a non-stop action ride from start to finish. I love the characters, the plot and the possibilities for future books. Going to have to get my hands on the other 3 books in the series so far as the author has me hooked!

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Pretty In Ink (Tattoo Shop Mystery #2) by Karen E. Olson

Pretty In Ink by Karen E. Olson


Murder in the city of sin...

Brett Kavanaugh is a tattoo artist and owner of Vegas's hottest tattoo shop, The Painted Lady. And in her spare time, she does some sleuthing. After Brett and company ink Sin City's newest drag queens, they're invited to opening night at the strip's glamorous Nylon and Tattoos show-which ends in disaster when a stranger with a Queen of Hearts tattoo fatally injures Britney Brassieres with a champagne cork. And when another drag queen is found poisoned, it looks like someone's targeting Vegas's fabulous femmes...


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love this series. The characters are being more fully developed and the plot is interesting. I am curious where the relationship between Bret and Jeff is going to go. The plot was multi-layered and interesting to read. Really looking forward to more books in this series. Going on my pre-order list!

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Dying to Be Thin (A Fat City Mystery, #1) by Kathryn Lilley

Dying to Be Thin by Kathryn Lilley


The first course in a sleuth series sure to satisfy.

In just a week, plus-sized TV producer Kate Gallagher has been laid off because of her weight and dumped by her boyfriend. So she enrolls in a weight loss clinic in Durham, NC. Soon, Kate's ready to sell her soul for some sweets. But when a diet guru turns up dead with fondue forks where his eyes were, Kate loses her appetite-and has a breaking story on her hands...


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great start to what is no doubt going to be a fun cozy mystery series. Found myself laughing out loud several times. Kate is a snarky, fun, full of life character and I am very much looking forward to the next couple books in the series, which luckily I have sitting right here.
I love the 'diet' tips at the beginning of each chapter that are taken straight from 'The Little Book of Fat-busters by Mimi Morgan'.
Seems like this series will be following Kate on her never-ending struggle to lose weight, which most of us can relate to at one point in our lives or another. The humor that the author uses is fantastic. You can tell that she knows of what she writes. :grin:

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Xombies by Walter Greatshell

Xombies by Walter Greatshell


Spreading at an astonishing speed, the "Agent X" virus transforms everyone it touches into maniacal monsters. Lulu Pangloss, one of the few as yet uninfected, flees to the last safe place on earth--but what's awaiting her there is as unexpected, and as frightening, as what's followed her.


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don't even know where to start with this book. I enjoyed the book. The author could have smoothed out the flow of the book a little. It was a bit bumpy in places, but the plot was a very interesting one. I am very much interested in the sequel due out in March as I want to see how he goes from here. I did not like all of the things that happened in the book, but then I tend to be a 'happily every after' person and this book most definitely did have a happily ever after ending. Several thought provoking areas in the book and an interesting take on just how our society would handle the end of the world as we know it.

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Grave Secret (Harper Connelly Mystery, #4) by Charlaine Harris

Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris


Lightning-struck sleuth Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver take a break from looking for the dead to visit the two little girls they both think of as sisters. But, as always happens when they travel to Texas, memories of their horrible childhood resurface.

To make matters worse, Tolliver learns from his older brother that their father is out of jail and trying to reestablish contact with other family members. Tolliver wants no part of the man- but he may not have a choice in the matter.

Soon, family secrets ensnare them both, as Harper finally discovers what happened to her missing sister, Cameron, so many years before.

And what she finds out will change her world forever.


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Quite an enjoyable Harper Connelly book. I am glad that we finally get some closure on the baggage that Harper has had to carry with her. Harper has never been one of my favorite Charlaine Harris characters. She is a little too damaged and needy for my liking, but I did enjoy the way that this book wrapped up a lot of the stuff that Harper has carried with her.
I like the way that Charlaine Harris left us with a possible opening for future books, but a conclusion that we can live with if no more come.

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