Sex and the Single Vampire (Dark Ones, #2) by Katie MacAlister

Sex and the Single Vampire by Katie MacAlister

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


If Allie doesn't find a ghost soon, her short career as a "Summoner" with United Psychical Research Association will be a thing of the past, so naturally she is delighted to find what she thinks is the tortured spirit of a gorgeous, naked, wounded man. But the cranky spirit, who looks exactly like the dishy man who has been haunting Allie's dreams, doesn't need her help since he isn't a ghost, but rather Christian Dante, best-selling author of vampire romances and Moravian Dark One. Of course, Allie wants some answers from the arrogant and domineering Christian, but he is more interested in working out the exact nature of their relationship, since fate has chosen Allie as his "Beloved."(

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7/1/2006

I really enjoyed this book once I got into it. The beginning was a little rough. We seem to be introduced to the main character, Allie, in the middle of her character development. She finally comes together further into the book as we learn more about her history but it made for a little confusion early on. I kept feeling like I had missed reading a previous book that should have told us more about her. (The author also gives her an annoying habit of saying 'Poop' that is a huge turn off). But as the story unfolds it got much more interesting to the point that I could not put it down and sat up well into the night to finish it. I look forward to more books by this author.

ETA-- 3/08 and I now realize why as this is technically #2 in the series. LOL Have the rest on MT. TBR.


ETA-- 6/20/14 -- I decided to reread this as I recently read the first book in the series and to be honest I did not really remember reading this one years ago. I guess that I have a greater appreciation for this type of book because I probably would have rated it 4 stars this time around.



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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

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Read this so that I could go see the movie with my daughters. I had seen somewhere that this was the modern 'Love Story' and I think that is a very accurate description. Fantastic, if heart wrenching read. Can't wait to see the characters come to life in the movie.



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Al Capone Does My Shirts (Al Capone at Alcatraz, #1) by Gennifer Choldenko

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Today I moved to a twelve-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water. I'm not the only kid who lives here. There's my sister, Natalie, except she doesn't count. And there are twenty-three other kids who live on the island because their dads work as guards or cook's or doctors or electricians for the prison, like my dad does. Plus, there are a ton of murderers, rapists, hit men, con men, stickup men, embezzlers, connivers, burglars, kidnappers and maybe even an innocent man or two, though I doubt it. The convicts we have are the kind other prisons don't want. I never knew prisons could be picky, but I guess they can. You get to Alcatraz by being the worst of the worst. Unless you're me. I came here because my mother said I had to.

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I started this book with my 5th grade reading group. Unfortunately we were unable to finish it before the end of the school year, but I enjoyed it so much that I brought home a copy to finish over the summer.

This was a wonderful book that gives us not only a history lesson (none of my kids in the group had heard of Al Capone before and few had heard of Alcatraz so we were able to do a wonderful history lesson prior to starting this book) but some fantastic insight into autism and how it affects families.

While this book uses Al Capone as a draw it is really about how Moose deals with the frustration of having a sister who is different than other kids. Since this book is set in the 1930's and autism had not yet become a common diagnosis we are able to explore life with Natalie without the label of autism.

I would suggest this read for higher level 5th grade and above.



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Birthday Party Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #9) by Leslie Meier

Birthday Party Murder by Leslie Meier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The whole town of Tinker’s Cove is looking forward to the celebration marking former librarian Julia Ward Howe Tilley’s ninetieth birthday. Lucy Stone, Miss Tilley’s closest friend, dreamed up the party idea—at about the same time she decided she’s not getting old without a fight.

That sounds like a plan—until Lucy realizes her daughter’s fourteenth birthday bash, a coed sleepover, may turn her hair white overnight. What was she thinking when she agreed to let Sara have the party? On her mind, instead, was the shocking death of Sherman Cobb, the town’s oldest attorney, an apparent suicide. His law partner, however, thinks Sherman was murdered.

Poking about in Sherman’s papers, Lucy turns up an intriguing tie between the dead man and Miss Tilley. Meanwhile Miss Tilley’s own past has come back to haunt her in the form of a mysterious niece named Shirley and a biker great nephew named Snake. Soon no one can get to see the elderly librarian because the brash, bossy Shirley says she’s “failing.” Now, as a killer’s ruthless plan rushes toward a conclusion, Lucy needs answers fast—or else she and Miss Tilley won’t live long enough to make a wish and blow out the candles on this year’s birthday cake…

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Another enjoyable visit to Tinker's Cove. I always enjoy the adventures that Lucy gets herself involved in. It was nice to learn a bit more about Ms. Tilley as well this time around.



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The Big Five-OH! by Sandra D. Bricker

The Big Five-OH! by Sandra D. Bricker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a very enjoyable romance. I just recently hit the Big Five-OH so thought that it would be fun to read. I quite enjoyed the humor, romance and story line. The characters were great and I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.



Olivia Wallace has a birthday curse . . . or so she thinks. It was a broken heart on her 16th, a car accident on her 21st, pneumonia on her 30th, and a fall down a flight of stairs on her 35th. There were Ohio blizzards on her 38th, 39th, and 40th; and six days before her 45th, she lost the love of her life to a heart attack. Numbing grief stole that birthday and a couple more to follow and, on the morning of her 48th birthday, she received the call she’d dreaded ever since losing her mom so many years ago…she was diagnosed with stage-3 ovarian cancer. The doctors didn’t hold out a lot of hope, but Liv survived and maintained her faith. Months of surgeries and chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed.

But now, as her 50th birthday creeps up the icy Ohio path toward her, her hair has grown back, her energy level is up, and she is officially cancer free. It makes her nervous. After everything she’s gone through, Liv hates the idea of driving on icy roads and returning to work as an O.R. nurse in a local Cincinnati hospital.

Her best friend Hallie knows just the thing to break Liv out of the winter doldrums, while providing a safe haven of warmth, sunshine, and a time to regroup: a holiday in the Florida sunshine!



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The Drayton Chronicles by Tony Bertauski

The Drayton Chronicles by Tony Bertauski

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Drayton Chronicles is a collection of novellas.

DRAYTON, THE TAKER
Blake Barnes commits suicide by freezing on Mt. Hood. As his life fades, he assumes Death has come to him in the form of a young man. In his last moments, he asks Death to find his family, to tell them he's sorry. Drayton honors this last request as he absorbs Blake Barnes' waning essence. He travels to the Lowcountry of South Carolina to find his family. But saying sorry is not always as easy as the words imply. Drayton seeks to unravel the mess Blake Barnes has left behind and the predator he's unleashed on his family.

BEARING THE CROSS
Drayton finds Andrew Drummond dying on the roadside. He absorbs the last of his life, but not before Andrew demands vengeance. In those last moments, Drayton understands what Andrew desires. He sees all of his hardships, the crosses he has been forced bear. Drayton will find the source of his suffering. He will show his transgressor Andrew's pain. He will show him the depth and taste of true suffering.

SWIFT IS THE CURRENT
Drayton spares the life of elderly Ms. Ruth Current. She was supposed to die, but her life is unresolved. Drayton intends to put to rest the blight she and her grandchildren have set loose upon the world.

YELLOW
Father Gordon suffers a life-ending heart attack during mass, but not before he looks into Drayton's eyes. In them, he sees his own sins and asks for forgiveness. Drayton grants him the opportunity for redemption. But asking for forgiveness is the first step in a very difficult journey.

NUMBERS
Dr. James Gallagher has a good life until a new patient hands him a card scrawled with the number 5. His new patient tells him that he will die of a stroke in five days. Dr. Gallagher doesn't take him seriously since this new patient claims to be thousands of years old. He considers committing him to a psychiatric ward until he begins to have visions.

He sees how Drayton has become what he is today.

~~~~~



This was an interesting read. I have read other books by Tony and really enjoyed them, so when the first book in this set was free on Amazon I jumped on it. I read it, loved it and then bought the set. I do have to say that the first and the last stories in this set were the best for me. The stories in between had some very dark content and to me were not really about Drayton as much as about the other characters. I probably would have enjoyed them more if they had focused more on Drayton. He was by all means the most interesting aspect of these Chronicles. One thing that I can say about all of the stories that I have read by Tony Bertauski, is that they are thought provoking and that they stay with me, long after I finish reading them.



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Drayton, the Taker (Drayton, the Taker #1) by Tony Bertauski

Drayton, the Taker by Tony Bertauski

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Drayton once believed he was a vampire. He doesn't know what he is. Or why he lives. He takes not his victim's blood but the silky essence of their soul during their last breath. Often mistaken for the Angel of Death, his victims sometimes ask for forgiveness. Sometimes he delivers. After all, he is not without sin.

~~~

I very much enjoy this author's work. His writing is captivating right from the beginning and he writes with such depth that even a short novella like Drayton draws you in and keeps you reading.

I picked this first novella of the Drayton Chronicles up free at Amazon, and I immediately purchased the entire set as soon as I finished reading this.


Drayton is such an interesting character and I am very curious to read more about him, especially his origins. To read about a creature like Drayton who seems to have turned his need to consume human life into something positive makes for a very interesting read. Looking forward to reading more......



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Cat Calls by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Cat Calls by Cynthia Leitich Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Tiffany's grandmother sees something wild in her future -- but is 16-year-old Tiffany prepared for the powerful shape it will take? When she takes over her grandmother’s fortune telling booth for a day, some really strange things happen… CAT CALLS is a short story by New York Times Bestseller Cynthia Leitich Smith -- set in the same dark universe as her novels Tantalize, Eternal, and Blessed.

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This story was almost too short. Seemed like as soon as we were introduced to the main character it was over. I was a little put off by how there was no prior mention of shifters but the Tiff was so accepting of what she was. Would have been okay if this was tied into a series or another book, but as a stand alone just did not have enough meat.



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Haunted Love by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Haunted Love by Cynthia Leitich Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Spirit, Texas, is a town of secrets, and as the new owner of the local haunted movie theater, Cody Stryker is juggling more than his fair share. When a mysterious new girl comes to town and runs afoul of the ghost that lives in his theater, Cody’s caught in the middle and needs to figure out exactly who he can trust. HAUNTED LOVE is a short story by New York Times Bestseller Cynthia Leitich Smith -- set in the same dark universe as her novels TANTALIZE, ETERNAL, and BLESSED.
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I quite enjoyed this short story. There was enough action to keep you reading and enough depth to the characters to make you interested in what happens to them. For a short story, well written.



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Northern Bites, a.k.a. Canada Sucks: A Very Short Vampire Story by Alex M. Bright

Northern Bites, a.k.a. Canada Sucks: A Very Short Vampire Story by Alex M. Bright

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


There's a reason vampire stories don't usually take place in Canada.

~~~


This was a very short, amusing story about a vampire who gets nagged into going north for the longer nights, just to find that it is not so easy getting a meal when your dinner is wrapped in several layers of clothes to stay warm.



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A Bit of Bite by Cynthia Eden

A Bit of Bite by Cynthia Eden

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A killer is stalking the streets of Crossroads, Mississippi, and it’s up to Sheriff Ava Dushaine to stop him. But when suspicion falls on werewolf alpha Julian Kasey—Ava’s ex-lover and the man who still haunts her dreams—Ava knows that she’ll either have to prove his innocence…or watch the whole town go up in flames.

Originally part of an Entangled anthology.

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This was a quick interesting read. Not a lot of character development, but for a 50 page read it was not bad. Plot was good and I can imagine the world being expanded for a full length novel.



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Bedtime Stories for Children You Hate by Antoinette Bergin

Bedtime Stories for Children You Hate by Antoinette Bergin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Hate cute stories? Hate happy endings? Hate children? Not quite right in the head? If so, this deliciously twisted storybook is dedicated just to you.

Includes "Your Upstairs Neighbor Kills People" and "Blood in the Sink". You know you want this book. It can be our secret.

**NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN**



There were a couple amusing stories, a couple stupid stories, but overall a quick amusing read.



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A Girl's Guide to Vampires (Dark Ones #1) by Katie MacAlister

A Girl's Guide to Vampires by Katie MacAlister

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


All Joy Randall wants is a little old-fashioned romance, but when she participates in a "Goddess evoking" ceremony with her friend, Roxy, Joy finds out her future true love is a man with the potential to put her immortal soul in danger. At first the ever-practical Joy is ready to dismiss her vision as a product of too much gin and too many vampire romances, but while traveling through the Czech Republic with Roxy, Joy begins to have some second thoughts about her mystery lover because she is suddenly plagued by visions of a lethally handsome stranger. Then, when she and Roxy attend a local GothFaire, Joy meets Raphael Griffin St. John, head of security, and she becomes even more bewildered because the dark and dangerous Raphael seems too close to her dreams for comfort.

~~~


Totally enjoyed this quirky romance. I forget how much I enjoy sappy romances until I start reading them. Seems that I don't really read them as much as I probably should.

Loved Joy's personality and her humor. Enjoyed the story line and look forward to reading more about the Dark Ones and their Beloved.





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Paths Not Taken (Nightside #5) by Simon R. Green

Paths Not Taken by Simon R. Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


John Taylor just discovered his long-gone mother created the Nightside—the dark heart of London—and intends to destroy it. To save his birthplace, he will have to travel back through a very distant—and probably deadly—past.

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I am enjoying this series. In this book John learns more about his mother and her creation of the Nightside. We also get to explore John and Shotgun Suzie's relationship as it develops. Not really sure where it is going, but it is nice to see that John does have the ability to love someone.



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Wedding Day Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery #8) by Leslie Meier

Wedding Day Murder by Leslie Meier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Already juggling four kids’ hectic schedules, a rambunctious dog, an attention-craving husband, and a full-time reporter job, Lucy Stone can’t possibly squeeze in another responsibility…or can she? When Sue Finch asks for help planning her daughter Sidra’s wedding to Internet millionaire Ron Davitz, loyal pal Lucy willingly dives into the world of white lace, roses, and chair rentals. What could be more perfect than a backyard Summer wedding in the Stones’ newly built gazebo?

Yet when the groom’s body is found floating beside his yacht, Lucy isn’t convinced it was an accidental drowning. From the picturesque waterfront to toney Smith Heights Road, Tinker’s Cove is awash with suspects. Now, fresh from planning Sidra’s wedding, Lucy finds herself contemplating her own funeral as she launches the harrowing pursuit of a killer who will do anything to keep from being unveiled…

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I enjoyed my visit to Tinker's Cove with Lucy and her family as Lucy helps her best friend Sue plan her daughter's wedding. It is always fun to see what is going on in the Stone household as the kids grow up and Lucy tries to deal with life as a small town housewife.

My favorite lines of the book --

"in moments the school bus wold arrive for the last time until next September. It was Monday, June 17 -- the last day of school. Watching the second hand jump forward, Lucy felt her freedom ticking away. This must be what it feels like to be a condemned prisoner who hears her last appeal has been denied, she thought."






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Hex and the City (Nightside, #4) by Simon R. Green

Hex and the City by Simon R. Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Lady Luck has hired John Taylor to investigate the origins of the Nightside--the dark heart of London where it's always 3 A.M. But when he starts to uncover facts about his long-vanished mother, the Nightside--and all of existence-- could be snuffed out.

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I am enjoying this series as we discover more about who John Taylor is and finally find out who his mother is. I love the new characters who are introduced in each book as well as seeing old faces again. Looking forward to seeing how John handles this new twist of knowing who his mother is and finding a way to save the Nightside.



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Cured (Stung, #2) by Bethany Wiggins

Cured by Bethany Wiggins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Now that Fiona Tarsis and her twin brother, Jonah, are no longer beasts, they set out to find their mother, with the help of Bowen and a former neighbor, Jacqui. Heading for a safe settlement rumored to be in Wyoming, they plan to spread the cure along the way--until they are attacked by raiders. Luckily, they find a new ally in Kevin, who saves them and leads them to safety in his underground shelter. But the more they get to know Kevin, the more they suspect he has ties to the raiders. He also seems to know too many details about Jacqui and her family—details that could endanger them all. For the raiders will do anything they can to destroy the cure that would bring an end to their way of life. Bethany Wiggins’s reimagining of our world after an environmental catastrophe won’t fail to stun readers.
~~~



I enjoyed this book much more than the 1st. While the main characters of 'Stung' are part of this story, the are more supporting actors than main characters. The story is about Jack/Jacqui who has lived with her parents and brothers outside of the wall for the last 4 years trying to survive the raiders who have become prevalent since the bee virus. In order to survive Jacqui has to pretend to be a boy. When her older brother Dean leaves to help get Fo's mother to safety and never returns Jacqui decides to go look for help. She enlists the help of Fo, her boyfriend Bowen and her brother Jonah in her search for her brother.

This story was a can't put down read that I finished in one day.



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Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A witty philosophical murder mystery with a charming twist: the crack detectives are sheep determined to discover who killed their beloved shepherd.

On a hillside near the cozy Irish village of Glennkill, the members of the flock gather around their shepherd, George, whose body lies pinned to the ground with a spade. George has cared for the sheep, reading them a plethora of books every night. The daily exposure to literature has made them far savvier about the workings of the human mind than your average sheep. Led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world), they set out to find George’s killer.

The A-team of investigators includes Othello, the “bad-boy” black ram; Mopple the Whale, a merino who eats a lot and remembers everything; and Zora, a pensive black-faced ewe with a weakness for abysses. Joined by other members of the richly talented flock, they engage in nightlong discussions about the crime and wild metaphysical speculations, and they embark on reconnaissance missions into the village, where they encounter some likely suspects. There’s Ham, the terrifying butcher; Rebecca, a village newcomer with a secret and a scheme; Gabriel, the shady shepherd of a very odd flock; and Father Will, a sinister priest. Along the way, the sheep confront their own all-too-human struggles with guilt, misdeeds, and unrequited love.

Three Bags Full is already an international hit. “It’s rather as if Agatha Christie had re-written The Wind in the Willows, and I ended by loving it, ”Jane Jakeman wrote in The Independent. Funny, fresh, and endearing, it introduces a wonderful breed of detectives to American readers.

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This book was definitely outside the norm of what I typically read. I love mysteries, but never read books that have animals as the main characters personifying humans, so this was new for me. While I enjoyed the story, I can't say what kept me reading exactly. I enjoyed reading about the personalities of the sheep as they attempted to, in their own way, solve the murder of their shepherd. I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery, and had fun trying to keep up with the way that the sheep viewed human activities. As a mystery I would not give the book very high ratings, but for it's interesting take on how sheep view the world it is worth the read.



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In the After (In the After #1) by Demitria Lunetta

In the After by Demitria Lunetta

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.

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Totally enjoyed this read recommended by my 14 year old daughter. Wonderful post apocalyptic story that was just right for both teens and adults. Amy is a wonderful main character, the story line is intriguing and I can not wait to read the sequel!



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Nightingale's Lament (Nightside, #3) by Simon R. Green

Nightingale's Lament by Simon R. Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In the Nightside, the hidden heart of London where it's always 3 AM, Detective John Taylor must find an elusive singer known as The Nightingale. Her silken voice has inexplicably lured many a fan to suicide--and Taylor is determined to stop her, before the whole neighborhood falls under her trance. But to catch the swift-winged Nightingale, he'll have to hear the deadly music--and survive.

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This was another interesting tale of the Nightside. A few new characters. I loved Dead Boy!! Overall an interesting series that I look forward to continuing!



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