Dead Sea by Brian Keene

Dead Sea by Brian Keene

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


With zombies taking over the cities, a group of humans escapes the carnage by taking a small Coast Guard ship out to sea, but there's no getting away-even in the wide ocean.

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Interesting zombie book. A few differences that make it interesting. First that Hamelin's Revenge(the disease that creates the zombies) is able to cross species. This makes the struggle to survive even more dangerous as the survivors are not only running from the human dead, but also the dead from the animal kingdom. Zombie dogs, tigers, bears, etc make for a greater struggle to survive. Also the survivors take to the sea in an old coast guard ship to try to escape the dead. Of course it is never that easy. The ending for me was a perfect ending for the zombie apocalypse.

My only complaint would be that Keene has a few philosophical rants in the story that I would zone out on while reading. It was like when you are watching a good movie and there is a boring scene and you find yourself drifting off till the next action scene wakes you up. Other than that a very interesting take on the zombie apocalypse.



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Them Bones by Howard Waldrop

Them Bones by Howard Waldrop

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



In 1929, some archaeologists find a horse skeleton in a mound in the Louisiana swampland—a mound which pre-dates the re-introduction of the horse to North America. Moreover, the mound contains something even more anachronistic—a corroded brass rifle cartridge.

This is a novel about shifts in time. From the late twenty-first century, Madison Yazoo Leake, a member of the Special Group, is transported back in time in an attempt to stop the destruction of the human race. However, he arrives not in 1930s Louisiana, but in a world where Arabs explored America, the Roman Empire never existed, and the Aztec empire extended to the Mississippi

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Interesting take on time travel. It was interesting enough to keep me reading, but not without issues. The book follows 3 different time lines/groups that are loosely tied together, but only partly comes together in the end. For me there should have been a lot more world building and a more concrete finish. I enjoyed parts of the story but was a bit disappointed overall.



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The Serpent's Daughter (Jade del Cameron Mysteries #3) by Suzanne Arruda

The Serpent's Daughter by Suzanne Arruda

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Joining her mother for a holiday in the ancient port city of Tangier, American adventuress Jade del Cameron expects their trip will be far less dangerous than her safaris in East Africa. But soon after their introduction to a group of European tourists, Dona del Cameron goes missing- victim of an apparent kidnapping-and, shockingly, the French authorities seek to arrest Jade for the murder of a man whose body she discovered in a series of ancient tunnels. Now, Jade must call upon her friends to find her mother and expose the true villains, who have every intention of bringing about her own destruction..


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Another very enjoyable read in the Jade del Cameron series. I enjoyed this one because I think that we got to see a little more of a vulnerable Jade. He relationship with her mother is explored and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. I like Sam, though the relationship between Sam and Jade is a little erratic. The mystery itself was interesting and I really enjoy how the author puts a little bit of mysticism/magic in the stories without making it an overwhelming aspect of the story. Definitely planning to read more of this series.



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Total Eclipse (Weather Warden #9) by Rachel Caine

Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin, her husband, the djinn David, and the Earth herself have been poisoned by a substance that destroys the magic that keeps the world alive. The poison is destabilizing the entire balance of power, bestowing magic upon those who have never had it, and removing it from those who need it. It's just a matter of time before the delicate balance of nature explodes into chaos-and doom.



Wow! What an ending to a great series. I totally enjoyed it. Lots of action and of course world-saving going on. Enjoyed meeting Luis and Cassiel and really want to start in on the 'Outcast' books now. The end was sad, and sweet, and just about what I would have expected with this series. Gonna miss reading about Joanne and David, but very happy that I rode along on their journey!



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Cape Storm (Weather Warden, #8) by Rachel Caine

Cape Storm by Rachel Caine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Check the forecast for the series that's "an addictive force of nature that will suck you in ." (News and Sentinel)

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin and her new husband, the Djinn David, are running from a malevolent hurricane bent on destroying her. Joined by an army of fellow Wardens and Djinn onboard a hijacked luxury liner, Joanne has lured the storm into furious pursuit. But even their combined magic may not be enough to stop it-nor the power-mad ex-Weather Warden controlling it..

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I have to admit, I love this series! Yes some of this stuff is repetitive and I really do not like Evil Jo, but overall I love this series. Non stop action, combined with some great friendships and interesting story line makes for a great read. Looking forward to see what they are going to do next. Gonna kind of miss everyone when the series ends.



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Gale Force (Weather Warden #7) by Rachel Caine

Gale Force by Rachel Caine

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin is on vacation when her Djinn lover, David, asks Joanne to marry him. She's thrilled to say yes, even if some others may be less than happy about it.

Unfortunately, Joanne's pre-marital bliss is ended by a devastating earthquake in Florida. And she can't ask David and his kind for assistance. Because the cause of the quake is unlike anything Joanne has ever encountered, and a power even the Djinn cannot perceive.
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This book in the Weather Warden series is a non-stop action ride. Just when you think you can catch your breath something else happens and you take off again.



Seems that Joanne and David can not catch a break. Glad that their relationship is moving forward. Gonna be interesting to see how they get out of this fix in the next book.



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The Undead: Zombie Anthology by D.L. Snell, Elijah Hall

The Undead: Zombie Anthology by D.L. Snell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


"The Undead" is a stunning collection of 23 tales of the living dead by zombie fan favorites and up-and-coming authors. "The Undead" includes classic tales of survival in a world populated by the living dead as well as an array of unique takes on the zombie genre: zombies as reality entertainment, glimpses from inside the "life" of the undead, intergalactic war with
humanity's own dead turned against us, and everything in between. "The Undead" will leave zombie fans hungry for more!

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A very wide selection of Zombie stories. As with all anthologies some stories are more memorable than others. There were some good stories in here, but nothing absolutely fantastic. I did however enjoy Brian Keene's afteword.



A couple of the more interesting stories for me



Undead Prometheus by Rob Morganbesser

Chuy and the Fish by David Wellington





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Corpse Pose (Mantra for Murder Mystery #1) by Diana Killian

Corpse Pose by Diana Killian

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Readers will bend over backward for the debut of the first yoga mystery series.

Ever since her husband ditched her-for another man-A.J. hasn't exactly been on the road to inner peace. Then her yoga-guru aunt is found dead, and A.J.'s named the sole heir to her lucrative yoga studio-making her a multimillionaire, a prime suspect, and the killer's next target.

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At the beginning of this book I did not like the main character. She came off as a whiny adolescent and I was mildly shocked when I read that she was supposed to be 35. That aside, she grew on me and I actually ended up enjoying the book quite a bit. The mystery remained a mystery until the end and the characters were interesting enough to make me want to read more. I will definitely be looking for more books in this series.



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Flipped Out (A Do-It-Yourself Mystery #5) by Jennie Bentley

Flipped Out by Jennie Bentley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Avery and her hunky handyman boyfriend are renovating a house belonging to a local news anchor who's thrilled to be filmed as part of a home renovation show. But cable television fame proves fleeting when the man is murdered and Avery faces the task of nailing the killer.



This was okay............ I like this series, but I did not like this book nearly as much as the previous ones. I knew who done it, and I did not like the way that either Avery or Derek acted in this book. Will probably keep reading this series, but won't anticipate the next book as much after this one.



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Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom #5) by Devon Monk

Magic at the Gate by Devon Monk

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Allie Beckstrom's lover, Zayvion Jones, is a Guardian of the Gate, imbued with both light and dark magic and responsible for ensuring that those energies don't mix. But Zayvion lies in a coma, his soul trapped in death's realm. And when Allie discovers that the only way to save Zayvion is to sacrifice her very own magical essence, she makes a decision that may have grave consequences for the entire world.

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The first half of this book was good, about the same as the last few, but the last half............ With the exception of the very first book in the series, it was probably the best yet. I very much am looking forward to the next book in hopes that it keeps the pace set. Love meeting all of the wonderful characters that we are getting to know. All in all a wonderful action packed series.



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Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In the spirit of DRAGON RIDER and THE THIEF LORD, an enchanting fairy tale told with Cornelia's trademark warmth and wit: Perfect Funke fare for readers in the middle grades--Cornelia's "sweet spot"!Igraine dreams of becoming a famous knight just like her great grandfather, but the truth is, life at the family castle is rather boring. Until the nephew of the baroness-next-door shows up. He's got a dastardly plan to capture the castle and claim as his own the wonderful singing spell books that belong to Igraine's magician parents. To make matters worse, at the very moment of the siege, her mom and dad botch a spell, turning themselves into pigs! Aided by a Gentle Giant and a Sorrowful Knight, it's up to Igraine to be brave and save the day--and the books!

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Loved this book. What a wonderful feel good story. Igraine is fabulous and I totally became immersed in her world. Books like this are why I so enjoy reading children/teen books.



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Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The winter isn't ending. Nobody knows why.
And Odd has run away from home, even though he can barely walk and has to use a crutch.
Out in the forest he encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle - three creatures with a strange story to tell.
Now Odd is faced with a stranger journey than he had ever imagined.
A journey to save Asgard, City of the Norse Gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.
It's going to take a very special kind of boy to defeat the most dangerous of all the Frost Giants and rescue the mighty Gods. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever.
Someone just like Odd...

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Cute fun read........... I enjoy Gaiman's books and this was no exception.



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Magic on the Storm (Allie Beckstrom #4) by Devon Monk

Magic at the Gate by Devon Monk

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Allison Beckstrom is committed to her work tracing illegal spells. Now, there's an apocalyptic storm bearing down on Portland, and when it hits, all the magic in the area will turn unstable and destructive. To stop it from taking out the entire city, Allie and her lover, the mysterious Zayvion Jones, must work with the Authority-the enigmatic arbiters of all things magic-and take a stand against a magical wildstorm that will obliterate all in its path...

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Another great chapter in the life of Allie Beckstrom. These books remind me a lot of the Weather Warden books simply because they are like a chapter of a novel. The entire book covers a couple days and then the next book takes up right where this one left off. Not to say that I don't enjoy that but I sure am glad that I have them all here on my TBR pile or I do not think that I would enjoy them quite as much.







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Magic in the Shadows (Allie Beckstrom, #3) by Devon Monk

Magic in the Shadows by Devon Monk

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Allison Beckstrom's magic has taken its toll on her, physically marking her and erasing her memories-including those of the man she supposedly loves. But lost memories aren't the only things preying on Allie's thoughts.

Her late father, the prominent businessman-and sorcerer-Daniel Beckstrom, has somehow channeled himself into her very mind. With the help of The Authority, a secret organization of magic users, she hopes to gain better control over her own abilities-and find a way to deal with her father...
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This book brought back exactly why I enjoyed the previous 2 books in this series so much. Action packed, non-stop, magical ride........... Totally enjoyed this book. Love Shamus and Stone, two new characters and am very pleased with where the book is going so far. Ending was almost like we just stopped in the middle of the story with no finish, but then again,I really want to read the next book which is what the author had in mind. lol



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Mysteria Lane (Mysteria #2) by MaryJanice Davidson, P.C. Cast, Gena Showalter, Susan Grant

Mysteria Lane by MaryJanice Davidson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Return to a town of bewitching seduction and sensual demons. There’s a spellbinding witch of love who wants to make one man hers; a vegan having trouble adapting to vampirism; Satan’s emissary, who is looking for steady work in Colorado; and angelic triplets feeling a wee touch of the devil.

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A nice set of 4 stories set in Mysteria, a town created for the supernatural. It has been a while since I read the first book in this series, so I really did not remember any of the characters that were in this book but the concept was still there. As with the first book, the story by MaryJanice Davidson was the worst. Very disjointed with little to no plot and a couple of different story lines that really did not mesh well. The other 3 stories in the book were fun, quick reads. The story by PC Cast was a 'sweet' romance while the story by Gena Showalter was a 'hot' romance. Susan Grant's story was a little more out there, but still an enjoyable read. Overall the book does not have anything that is going to be memorable over the long haul, but was a fun bit of quick entertainment.



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Murder Boogies with Elvis (Southern Sisters Mystery #8) by Anne George

Murder Boogies with Elvis by Anne George

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Southern sisters Mary Alice and Patricia Anne are enjoying their golden years, and these days are better than most. They're spending time with their grandchildren. They're planning Mary Alice's fourth wedding. And they're still having fun solving mysteries, too. So when an Elvis impersonator takes a fatal dive into the band at a local benefit, Mary Alice and Patricia Anne don't need any coaxing to put on their blue suede shoes and set out in search of a killer -- whose next target could be the Southern sisters themselves
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Loved this last book in the Southern Sisters Mystery series. I will miss reading about these wonderful sisters and their bumbling adventures. Nice ending to a wonderful, fun, witty series. I am sad that there will be no more murder mysteries for Mary Alice and Patricia Anne to stumble upon. Like the way that this one wrapped up and left us with some very happy endings for a wonderful group of characters.



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Murder Carries a Torch (Southern Sisters Mystery #7) by Anne George

Murder Carries a Torch by Anne George

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The Southern sisters' cousin Pukey Lukey is in a terrible state. His wife, Virginia, has run off with a housepainting preacher. And that's just the start of his trouble. Because before Patricia Anne and Mary Alice can help Pukey Lukey find his beloved Virginia, they'll discover that all is not heavenly in the Church of Jesus Is Our Life and Heaven Hereafter, where the faithful are into snake-handling, the holy men are engaged in a venomous war, and a killer has left Pukey with a huge lump on his head -- and a dead redhead by his side.

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Another enjoyable read in the Southern Sisters Mystery series. While this one is not as good as the books in the beginning of the series, it is still a lot of fun to ride along with Mouse and Sister as they bumble their way through murder mystery after murder mystery. I am looking forward to seeing what happens with the family in the next book since I know that it is the last in the series. Gonna miss these two characters and their families when I am done.



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Murder Shoots the Bull (Southern Sisters Mystery, #6) by Anne George

Murder Shoots the Bull by Anne George

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Patricia Anne would swear that either she or her sister Mary Alice were switched at birth, except they were both born at home.Flashy, flirtatious Mary Alice is one foot taller, twice the body weight of Patricia Anne, and three times as likely to do something completely off the wall. But now Mary Alice's impulsive behavior has land them both in the Birmingham jail!

It all begins with a call from their good friend Mitzi Phizer, who's starting an investment club — kind of a Beardstown Ladies group. Patricia Anne is willing to make a small, conservative investment in a thriving chain of HMOs; Mary Alice is hot to trot to put her money on Viagra. But before the club idea gets off the ground, the sisters spot Mitzi's supposedly faithful husband in a chummy little huddle with a redhead — and the next thing they know, Arthur is accused of murdering the mystery woman. Nothing about the whole sordid story fits the kind, gently Arthur, and Patricia Anne is doing her best to console her good friends. But when their house catches on fire, and Arthur is shot in a place that won't allow him to even sit down at his own murder trial, the sisters know they have to stand up for the poor fellow. And that means checking out everyone — from low-down cads to highbrow bank presidents — to find a no good gun-toting arsonist who believes big money is to kill for.

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Another fun read in the Southern Sisters Mystery series. I did not enjoy this one quite as much as the previous books in the series though. The characters involved in the actual mystery and their relationships were hard to follow and the ending was a little too thrown together for me. I still enjoyed the relationship between Mary Alice and Patricia Anne and will be finishing up the series soon.



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Creepin' by L.A. Banks, Monica Jackson, Donna Hill, J. M. Jeffries, Janice Sims

Creepin' by L.A. Banks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Welcome to a world of werewolves, vampires, demons and mere mortals, where, in the name of revenge, five women are about to live out their wildest fantasies—even if it means crossing over to that other side…
Five of today's most provocative authors invite you into a realm beyond the limits of your sensual imagination, where anything can happen—and does. In these stories of bloodlust and payback, of scorching desire and otherworldly fantasies come true, you'll encounter five women who thought they had it all, until a betrayal takes them on a feverish journey to the dark edge of vengeance. Fueled by lust and deception, these women are going to let their voracious appetites guide them as they take justice into their own hands.…


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Did not care at all for 'The Heat of the Night' by Donna Hill. Totally without plot and was nothing more than a continuing sexual encounter that was too far fetched to even enjoy. The other 2 stories -- 'Payback is a Bitch' by LA Banks & 'Vamped' by Monica Jackson were okay reads, though I feel that 'Vamped' had too 'miraculous' of an ending.
Without question the best 2 stories in the book were the last two-- 'Balancing the Scales' by JM Jeffries and 'Avenging Angel' by Janice Sims with 'Avenging Angel' winning in a landslide.
I enjoyed the Jeffries story. It had a good plot and storyline. Nice finish and definitely made me want to look into more books by these talented authors.
But I have to say that I loved Janice Sims' story. It read like a novel and the minute that I finished I rushed to her website to see if there were any more books about the Nephilim. Sadly I did not see any but I really hope that this author plans to take this storyline further. I can see an entire series evolve from this story. Wonderful read!!!



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Murder Gets A Life (Southern Sisters Mystery #5) by Anne George

Murder Gets A Life by Anne George

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In the breezy, very funny Murder Gets a Life, the fifth Southern Sisters mystery from Alabama writer Anne George, petite, married Patricia Ann and her thrice-widowed amazon of a sister discover that murder's a family affair, thanks to Mary Alice's new in-laws. There's a corpse with a hog-butchering knife stuck in his chest, but plot's hardly the point in a story chock-full of engaging characters and knowing humor. When Patricia Ann wonders if the murder victim was married, Mary Alice says, "Probably, his clothes matched."


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Love this series. I enjoy the writing style of the author. The relationship between the flamboyant Mary Alice and her laid back sister Patricia Anne is wonderful and the things that they manage to stumble into are always a treat to read about.



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