Murder Between The Covers by Elaine Viets

Murder Between The Covers by Elaine Viets

My Rating: 7 *'s

Description: Once on the fast track to success, Helen Hawthorne is going nowhere faster. Forced to trade in her chic life for a shabby one, she's now on the run, jumping from city to city and dead-end job to dead-end job, trying to stay one step ahead of her past....

Helen has a new job "off the books" at Page Turners bookstore in Fort Lauderdale. It's run by Page Turner III, who happens to be neither well-read nor well-liked. When his money troubles surface, it seems the store's long life may be over --- but it's Page's life that's cut short instead. He had plenty of enemies, including an unhappy wife and unfortunate employees. But it is his unforgiving lover --- Helen's wacky neighbor --- police are ready to throw the book at. To save her friend, Helen will have to read between the lines ... and uncover the truth about a clever killer.

My Thoughts: One of the things I am enjoying about this series is seeing what dead end job Helen finds herself working with each book. In this one, I was pleased to see she is working at a bookstore, though I wouldn't consider that in and of itself a dead end job, but for Helen, it is when her boss, the owner of the store, is murdered and her friend becomes the prime suspect.

The story isn't heavy on the mystery and it doesn't take long for the reader to figure out who the culprit could be. The journey getting to that final destination is quite entertaining as the various neurotic and bizarre characters come out of the woodwork.

As long as the reader goes in expecting the predictable, this will be an interesting and entertaining read.

Innocent In Death by J.D. Robb

Innocent In Death by J.D. Robb

My Rating: 10 *'s

Description: The death of history teacher Craig Foster devastated his young wife, who'd sent him off to work that morning with a lovingly packed lunch. It shocked his colleagues at the Upper West Side private school. And as for the ten-year-old girls who found him in his classroom in a pool of bodily fluids, they may have been traumatized for life.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas, of course, is more hardened to murder cases. And this is clearly a murder case. That lovingly packed lunch was tainted with deadly ricin. And Mr. Foster's colleagues, shocked as they may be, have some shocking secrets of their own. It's Eve's job to get a feel for all the potential suspects, and find out why someone would have done this to a man who seemed so inoffensive, so pleasant...so innocent.

Now Magdelana Percell - there's someone Eve can picture as a murder victim. Possibly at Eve's own hands. The slinky blonde - an old flame of her billionaire husband, Roarke, from his days on the wrong side of the law - has turned up in New York, and she's anything but innocent. Unfortunately, Roarke seems blind to Magdelana's manipulation, but not to her shapely figure and flirtatious ways. And he insists that the occasional lunch or business meeting with her is nothing to worry about...and none of Eve's business. Eve's so unnerved by the situation that she finds it hard to focus on the Foster case. Still, she'll have to put aside her anger, jealousy, and heartbreak, for a while at least - because another man has just turned up dead, and the case is taking some strange turns and hitting some frustrating dead ends.

Eve knows all too well that innocence can be a facade. Keeping that in mind may help her solve this case at last. But it may also tear apart her marriage.

My Thoughts: I'm not sure if WOW sums up effectively the reactions and feelings this book brought out of me. This installment so far has to be the most shocking out of the entire series. Eve has seen her share of the evil in the world. She has lived through it and survived it and brought so many of the perpetrators of evil to justice. The identity of this villain comes as a major shock and surprise to everyone around Eve, but not Eve. Nothing shocks or surprises her when it comes to the evil in people. But she maintains a cool head and goes after the killer with cunning and direct precision that left me impressed with her skill and reeling in surprise at the same time.

Equally impressive is the way Eve deals with a woman from Roark's past whose intentions are not as friendly and innocent as she would like us to believe. Eve shows a very human and vulnerable side of her while trying to understand her emotions and deal with the situation so it doesn't destroy her marriage. I especially enjoyed that Somerset and Eve were on the same side for a change when it came to this situation. Fans of this series will continue to appreciate the witty sarcasm and insults exchanged between them as well as the humor at Eve's discomfort around Mavis's baby.

Wife In The Fast Lane by Karen Quinn

Wife In The Fast Lane by Karen Quinn

My Rating: 9 *'s

Description: Christy Hayes is a case study in successful living. She's won two Olympic gold medals, built a multimillion-dollar business, and landed a gorgeous and powerful CEO husband. But Christy's dream life begins to unravel when she inherits custody of an eleven year old girl named Renata. Suddenly she finds herself battling three formidable opponents: a treacherous business partner bent on ousting her from the company she founded, a ruthless stay at home mom who'll stop at nothing to maintain her PTA power base, and a stunning single woman scheming to steal her husband. Throw in the demands of one high maintenance spouse and it's clear: something's got to give. But what? Her marriage? Her career? Her sanity?

My Thoughts: Interesting story of a woman who bites off more than she can chew when she inherits custody of her housekeeper's eleven year old granddaughter on top of being CEO of a demanding multi-million dollar company and wife of a powerful mover and shaker in his own right.

The best lesson of this book is the "rule of two." Love, Career, Children: pick two. I found this to be so true of women in the world today wanting and having it all and needing to prove to themselves and everyone that they can have it all. It can be done, but unfortunately, not without consequences.

I recommend this book to all women, who are living life in the fast lane. Remember to take a moment and reflect on your life and to assess that your life's passions are the things you are devoting your time and energy to.

New Additions To The TBR Pile in January

Do you remember that New Year's resolution I made to read more books than I acquire? LOLOLOLOLOL Sherri, you are a funny, deluded yes, but funny girl. I'm off to a great start on breaking that resolution, but what the hell. Can't turn my back on these homeless books, now could I? What kind of bibliophile would that make me?


You Had Me At Goodbye by Tracey Bateman

Description: Everything is on the line for aspiring editorial diva Dancy Ames when she's fired by her publisher. Could this be the time to risk it all on her writing career--and maybe even love?

Dancy Ames has an enemy: Jack Quinn. The man who swoops in, steals her dream job at Lane Publishing, and fires her, saying she just doesn't have what it takes to be an editor. Now that she's unemployed, Dancy must find a new career. Coffee barista, English teacher, literary agent. Hmm. Maybe she'll write a novel--a nasty invective, featuring a relentless job-stealing, coffee-drinking stalker who falls in love with a coffee barista. She's got time on her hands, so when her friends dare her to send Jack a proposal, under an assumed name, she takes them up on it. If he likes it, she'll have her ultimate revenge. But what will she do when it turns out that Jack is interested in her book--and maybe more?


This Charming Man by Marian Keyes

Description: With This Charming Man, Marian Keyes hits her stride as a novelist with her best novel yet, telling the stories of four women who are shaped by one man

Paddy de Courcy is Ireland's debonair politician, the "John F. Kennedy Jr. of Dublin." His charm and charisma have taken hold of the country and the tabloids, not to mention our four heroines: Lola, Grace, Marnie, and Alicia. But though Paddy's winning smile is fooling Irish minds, the broken hearts he's left in his past offer a far more truthful look into his character.

Narrated in turn by each woman, This Charming Man explores how their love for this one man has shaped their lives. But in true Marian Keyes fashion, this is more than a story of four love affairs. It's a testament to the strength women find in themselves through work, friendship, and family, no matter what demons may be haunting their lives. Depression, self-doubt, domestic abuse—each of these women has seen tough times in life, and it's through Keyes's wonderful storytelling ability that these subjects are approached with the appropriate tone and candor. Her deft touch provides a gripping story and, ultimately, a redemptive ending.


The Chocolate Lover's Club by Carole Matthews

Description: FORGET DIAMONDS --- CHOCOLATE IS A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND.

Some women are addicted to shopping. Others can't get enough of champagne. But there's one thing that Lucy Lombard can't live without, and that's chocolate --- rich, creamy, delicious chocolate. Sharing her passion are three other addicts: Autumn, Nadia, and Chantal. Together they form a select group known as the Chocolate Lovers' Club. Whenever there's a crisis, they meet in their sanctuary, a cafe called Chocolate Heaven, and with a cheating boyfriend, a flirtatious boss, a gambling husband, and a loveless marriage, there's always plenty to discuss. By turns hilarious and heartrending, The Chocolate Lovers' Club brings together four unforgettable women from totally different worlds united in their passion for chocolate.


The 8th Confession by James Patterson

Description: As San Francisco's most glamorous millionaires mingle at the party of the year, someone is watching--waiting for a chance to take vengeance on Isa and Ethan Bailey, the city's most celebrated couple. Finally, the killer pinpoints the ideal moment, and it's the perfect murder. Not a trace of evidence is left behind in their glamorous home.

As Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the high-profile murder, someone else is found brutally executed--a preacher with a message of hope for the homeless. His death nearly falls through the cracks, but when reporter Cindy Thomas hears about it, she knows the story could be huge. Probing deeper into the victim's history, she discovers he may not have been quite as saintly as everyone thought.

As the hunt for two criminals tests the limits of the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay sees sparks fly between Cindy and her partner, Detective Rich Conklin. The Women's Murder Club now faces its toughest challenge: will love destroy all that four friends have built? The exhilarating new chapter in the Women's Murder Club series, The 8th Confession serves up a double dose of speed-charged twists and shocking revelations as only James Patterson can.


Permed To Death by Nancy J. Cohen

Description: Marla was already having a bad hair day, but when one of her clients dies while getting a perm at her salon, her day just can't get any worse... until the smugly competent Detective Vail accuses her of poisoning the wealthy widow's coffee creamer! Granted, Bertha Kravitz was hardly her favorite customer, but Marla could have never murdered the ornery woman. Now it's up to the savvy stylist to find out just who did. With a dollop of humor and a dab of suspense, Nancy J. Cohen introduces a sassy, stylish sleuth as Marla leads readers on a dizzyingly fast-paced romp in this satisfying first installment of The Bad Hair Day mysteries.



Innocent In Death by J.D. Robb

Description: The death of history teacher Craig Foster devastated his young wife, who'd sent him off to work that morning with a lovingly packed lunch. It shocked his colleagues at the Upper West Side private school. And as for the ten-year-old girls who found him in his classroom in a pool of bodily fluids, they may have been traumatized for life.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas, of course, is more hardened to murder cases. And this is clearly a murder case. That lovingly packed lunch was tainted with deadly ricin. And Mr. Foster's colleagues, shocked as they may be, have some shocking secrets of their own. It's Eve's job to get a feel for all the potential suspects, and find out why someone would have done this to a man who seemed so inoffensive, so pleasant...so innocent.

Now Magdelana Percell - there's someone Eve can picture as a murder victim. Possibly at Eve's own hands. The slinky blonde - an old flame of her billionaire husband, Roarke, from his days on the wrong side of the law - has turned up in New York, and she's anything but innocent. Unfortunately, Roarke seems blind to Magdelana's manipulation, but not to her shapely figure and flirtatious ways. And he insists that the occasional lunch or business meeting with her is nothing to worry about...and none of Eve's business. Eve's so unnerved by the situation that she finds it hard to focus on the Foster case. Still, she'll have to put aside her anger, jealousy, and heartbreak, for a while at least - because another man has just turned up dead, and the case is taking some strange turns and hitting some frustrating dead ends.

Eve knows all too well that innocence can be a facade. Keeping that in mind may help her solve this case at last. But it may also tear apart her marriage.




50 Ways To Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom

Description: Jazz cant decide whether to scorch him with a fireball or jump into bed with him

Jasmine Tremaine is a witch who can't stay out of trouble.

Nikolai Gregorivich is a drop-dead gorgeous vampire cop on the trail of a serial killer.

The sizzling love affair between Jazz and Nick has been off-again-on-again-for about 300 years. Mostly off, lately. But now Nick needs Jazzs help, and while Jazz and Nick try to figure out their own hearts and resist their ever-increasing attraction, they must steer clear of a maniacal killer with super-supernatural powers. They are surrounded by a hilarious cast of oddball paranormal characters, including Norma, the chain-smoking ghost who haunts Jazzs sports car, Dweezil, her ghoul of a boss, and Fluff and Puff, a pair of bunny slippers with sharp teeth and short tempers (watch your ankles)!

Momzillas by Jill Kargman

Momzillas by Jill Kargman

My Rating: 6 *'s

Description: A hilarious and deliciously scathing send-up of motherhood as practiced in the upper echelons of Manhattan society, from the coauthor of The Right Address and Wolves in Chic Clothing.

The mothers on Manhattan’s chic Upper East Side are highly educated, extremely wealthy, and very competitive. They throw themselves and all of their energy and resources into full-time child rearing, turning their kids into the unwitting pawns in a game where success is measured in precocious achievements, jam-packed schedules, and elite private-school pedigrees.

Hannah Allen has recently moved to the neighborhood with her New York City–bred investment banker husband and their two-year-old daughter, Violet. She’s immediately inundated by an outpouring of advice from her not-so-well-intentioned new friends and her overbearing, socially conscious mother-in-law, who coach her on matters ranging from where to buy the must-have $300 baby dress to how to get into the only pre-pre-preschool that counts. Despite her better instincts and common sense, Hannah soon finds herself caught up in the competitive whirl of high-stakes mothering.

My Thoughts: A little on the bizarre side but probably very realistic. I can't imagine there are women out there who are "Momzillas" but after reading this, it's very likely that there are. Several times I found myself exclaiming out loud for some of these women to get a life.

The 8th Confession by James Patterson

The 8th Confession by James Patterson

My Rating: 9 *'s

Description: As San Francisco's most glamorous millionaires mingle at the party of the year, someone is watching--waiting for a chance to take vengeance on Isa and Ethan Bailey, the city's most celebrated couple. Finally, the killer pinpoints the ideal moment, and it's the perfect murder. Not a trace of evidence is left behind in their glamorous home.

As Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the high-profile murder, someone else is found brutally executed--a preacher with a message of hope for the homeless. His death nearly falls through the cracks, but when reporter Cindy Thomas hears about it, she knows the story could be huge. Probing deeper into the victim's history, she discovers he may not have been quite as saintly as everyone thought.

As the hunt for two criminals tests the limits of the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay sees sparks fly between Cindy and her partner, Detective Rich Conklin. The Women's Murder Club now faces its toughest challenge: will love destroy all that four friends have built? The exhilarating new chapter in the Women's Murder Club series, The 8th Confession serves up a double dose of speed-charged twists and shocking revelations as only James Patterson can.

My Thoughts: I keep thinking that this will be the last installment of "The Women's Murder Club" series that I will read as I have assumed, incorrectly, that Patterson can't take these characters any further without them becoming redundant. I love to be surprised and Patterson doesn't dissapoint as, once again, I am pleasantly surprised at what Lindsay, Claire, Yuki and Cindy find themselves thrust into.

I enjoyed the developing attraction between Lindsay and Conklin initially, but I am glad to see Patterson take it in a different direction; besides, I love Joe and have been rooting for them for a very long time. I've also wanted to see Cindy in a more central role and with this book, I get my wish as she not only gets a relationship but also plays an active position in one of the murder cases. Yuki seems to be at odds in her career and her personal life, but I am hopeful that Patterson will turn that around. Claire is always great as the glue that holds the group together with her common sense and logic.

The cases were riveting and kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out whodunit. I am back to being deeply addicted to this series and eagerly looking forward to #9.

Tall, Dark & Dead by Tate Hallaway

Tall, Dark & Dead by Tate Hallaway

My Rating: 8 *'s

Description: The line between magic and sanity is very thin. That's part of why I, Garnet Lacey, quit cold turkey. Never touch the stuff. No exceptions.

But magic is so addictive...and my inner Goddess, Lilith, is hard to resist. Besides, restraint isn't easy when you manage Wisconsin's premier occult bookstore, and get customers like Sebastian Von Traum --- piercing brown eyes, a sexy accent, and a killer body in black leather and denim. The only thing missing is an aura. Which means he's dead...

That means trouble. I guess I'm a sucker for it. The Vatican witch hunters are on to us. My long-lost vampire ex has crawled out of the woodwork looking for action. And Sebastian's frustrated ex is stirring in her grave.

What's a girl to do if she's hot for a dead man walking? Run like hell --- and take full advantage of the nights...

My Thoughts: New author for me and an interesting beginning to what appears to be a good series. I liked Garnet and Sebastian and the other supporting characters and hope to see more of them in the next book. I wish there had more about the Vatican Witch Hunters as I found them intriguing and needed to understand why they were the villains. I could imagine in my mind a whole other twist with these characters as the heroes.

Anyway, the book was a pretty quick read and I enjoyed that the author didn't get hung up in petty details. Hopefully the Lilith issue gets resolved in the next book as well.

Born In Death by J.D. Robb

Born In Death by J.D. Robb

My Rating: 10 *'s

Description: Eve Dallas has a grisly double homicide to solve when two young lovers-both employees of the same prestigious accounting firm-are brutally killed on the same night. It doesn't leave Eve a lot of leftover time to put together a baby shower for her buddy Mavis, but that's supposedly what friends are for.

Now Mavis needs another favor. Tandy Willowby, one of the moms-to-be in Mavis's birthing class, didn't show up for the shower. A recent emigrant from London, Tandy has few friends in New York, and no family-and she was really looking forward to the party. And when Eve enters Tandy's apartment and finds a gift for Mavis's shower wrapped and ready on the table-and a packed bag for the hospital still on the floor next to it-tingling runs up and down her spine.

Normally, such a case would be turned over to Missing Persons. But Mavis wants no one else on the job but Eve-and Eve can't say no. She'll have to track Tandy down while simultaneously unearthing the deals and double-crosses hidden in the files of some of the city's richest and most secretive citizens, in a race against this particularly vicious killer. Luckily, her multimillionaire husband Roarke's expertise comes in handy with the number crunching. But as he mines the crucial data that will break the case wide open, Eve faces an all too real danger in the world of flesh and blood.

My Thoughts: With the arrival of Mavis's much anticpated baby and the recruitment of Eve and Roark as unwilling birth coaches, this installment of the In Death series has become my favorite.

Filled with the gritty action and precise, hard-nosed determination Eve demonstrates with every case, this story also brings a lot of light moments and laugh out loud hilarity at the horror Eve and Roark feel facing the birth of Mavis and Leonardo's child. In her typical fashion, Eve manages to solve three homicides and take down a baby selling ring in the process. Surprising that something as minor as the birth of a child could send this tenacious seeker of justice to her knees. I hope this series continues for a very long time and I'm looking forward to the next book with eager excitement and anticipation.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In December

The arrival of the New Year also brang more additions to the already heaping mountain of to be read titles. I know I sound like a broken record but I really do hope that in 2010 I read more from the pile than I add to it.


You Drive Me Crazy by Carole Matthews

Description: Falling in love can be a bumpy ride...

The last place Anna Terry expects to fall in love is in the waiting room of her divorce lawyer's office. But that's where she meets Nick Diamond and Cupid's arrow strikes...

Anna's had more than her fair share of heartache. Her first marriage ended before her pregnancy was over, and her second husband has disappeared, leaving her with two children and not a penny to her name. Nick's luck hasn't been any better: his wife has run off with the local butcher and his second-hand car dealership is in chaos.

When Anna gets a job as Nick's secretary, what starts as a mild flirtation soon accelerates into overdrive --- but that's before their ex-partners show up and they're all in for a bumpy ride.


Freudian Slip by Erica Orloff

Description: Everyone loves shock jock Julian Shaw....except the guy who shot him

The raunchy radio DJ expects the dark tunnel, white lights-even his late grandmother greeting him at the pearly gates. Instead, he gets a coma, a spirit guide named Gus and a pushy demon with a deal. His assignment: Kate Darby.

Kate Darby's best friend just stole her guy! Now she's losing her mind.

All she really wants to do is stay in mope mode, but it feels as if someone is watching her, whispering strange thoughts into her head, making her say and do things she would never normally consider. And it's actually making her life better!

Now Julian wants another change to prove he's a good guy. But he just might have to sell his soul to the devil to get it....


Fashion Slaves by Louise De Teliga

Description: What some people will do for a little Gucci is totally outrageous...

New York, New York. What a wonderful town. And what a cutthroat scene of designer divas, high-maintenance mannequins, and predatory groupies. Ex-model Josie Vaughn once belonged to the coveted inner circle. Now, at the ripe old age of thirty-six, she's trying to claw her way back in as a fashion stylist.

Josie may not have money or a man, but she's got connections. Once known as "The Empress," the leggy Australian convinces world-renowned fashion photog Hamish Kent to let her style a shoot, despite the machinations of his venomous ex-wife / agent. But it's Hamish's oh-so-hunky - and straight! - assistant Marcus who really gives Josie a go.

Then there's fabulously rich socialite pal Priscilla Saunders, who takes Josie under her Chanel-clad wing and fixes her up on a blind date with sartorially challenged investment banker Andy Wyatt. Just what Priscilla was thinking, Josie has no idea, but Andy proves to be exactly the kind of friend a woman in Manolos needs when she keeps tripping over her psychotic, drug-addicted ex-fiance.

Josie's big break finally comes when she least expectgs it. Unfortunately, once she's back in the spotlight, there's no shortage of people willing to dish all her dirty little secrets. But this isn't Josie's first time at the Seventh Avenue rodeo --- and one should never underestimate a fashionista's ability to land on her stilettoed feet....



Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson

Description: DON’T MESS WITH HEXES

Katie Chandler had always heard that New York is a weird and wonderful place, but this small-town Texas gal had no idea how weird until she moved there. Everywhere she goes, she sees something worth gawking at and Katie is afraid she’s a little too normal to make a splash in the big city. Working for an ogre of a boss doesn’t help.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, Katie gets a job offer from Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., a company that tricks of the trade to the magic community. For MSI, Katie’s ordinariness is an asset. Lacking any bit of magic, she can easily spot a fake spell, catch hidden clauses in competitor’s contracts, and detect magically disguised intruders. Suddenly, average Katie is very special indeed.

She quickly learns that office politics are even more complicated when your new boss is a real ogre, and you have a crush on the sexy, shy, ultra powerful head of the R&D department, who is so busy fighting an evil competitor threatening to sell black magic on the street that he seems barely to notice Katie. Now it’s up to Katie to pull off the impossible: save the world and–hopefully–live happily ever after.


Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

Description: In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.



Born In Death by J.D. Robb

Description: Eve Dallas has a grisly double homicide to solve when two young lovers-both employees of the same prestigious accounting firm-are brutally killed on the same night. It doesn't leave Eve a lot of leftover time to put together a baby shower for her buddy Mavis, but that's supposedly what friends are for.

Now Mavis needs another favor. Tandy Willowby, one of the moms-to-be in Mavis's birthing class, didn't show up for the shower. A recent emigrant from London, Tandy has few friends in New York, and no family-and she was really looking forward to the party. And when Eve enters Tandy's apartment and finds a gift for Mavis's shower wrapped and ready on the table-and a packed bag for the hospital still on the floor next to it-tingling runs up and down her spine.

Normally, such a case would be turned over to Missing Persons. But Mavis wants no one else on the job but Eve-and Eve can't say no. She'll have to track Tandy down while simultaneously unearthing the deals and double-crosses hidden in the files of some of the city's richest and most secretive citizens, in a race against this particularly vicious killer. Luckily, her multimillionaire husband Roarke's expertise comes in handy with the number crunching. But as he mines the crucial data that will break the case wide open, Eve faces an all too real danger in the world of flesh and blood.



At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost

Description: SOME THINGS WON'T STAY BURIED... AT GRAVE'S END

It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield's life. With her undead lover Bones at her side, she's successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead. But though Cat's worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover's finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger. As if that wasn't enough, a woman from Bones's past is determined to bury him once and for all.

Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat's about to learn the true meaning of bad blood. And the tricks she's learned as a special agent won't help her. She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself -- and Bones -- from a fate worse than the grave.

Honorable Mentions Of 2009

For the books that didn't make the top reads list for the year, I want to give an honorable mention to the titles I read in 2009 that didn't make the cut for the best but were still very good reading and recommended:

My Lady In Time by Angie Ray
The Quickie by James Patterson
Love's Labyrinth by Anne Kelleher
Veiled Threats by Deborah Donnelly
Deep Midnight by Shannon Drake
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Engaging Men by Lynda Curnyn
Notes From The Backseat by Jody Gehrman
My Life Uncovered by Lynn Isenberg
Haunted In Death by J.D. Robb
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Insider Dating by Jennifer O'Connell

2009 In Review

Another year has come and gone and the best part of the reading year is upon me as I get to look back and evaluate what I read and how my stats measured up. Happily, 2009 was a better year in reading than 2008 was. I read 53 books and only gave up on 8.

My reading had a few changes. The biggest change was there was a substantial drop in my chick-lit reading and a large increase in other fiction. My cozy mysteries dropped by half as well. My hunger for the mystery/suspense/thriller genre has not been satisfied, which is good as I am really enjoying them. I put the "Twilight" series books I read under Young Adult since that's how they are marketed but this is where you can be creative in your cataloging as these books cross genre lines into paranormal romance and fiction. Here's how it stacked up:

Chick-Lit: 7
Cozy Mystery: 3
Mystery / Suspense / Thriller: 15
Paranormal Romance: 13
Young Adult: 3
Anthologies: 2
Other Fiction / Literature: 10

My selections for the best reads of 2009 in the order they were read are:

Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire by Michele Bardsley
O Is For Outlaw by Sue Grafton
When Darkness Falls by Shannon Drake
Deja Demon: The Days And Nights Of A Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner
Imitation In Death by J.D. Robb
For A Few Demons More by Kim Harrison
Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison
Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner
Remember When by Nora Roberts
Divided In Death by J.D. Robb
High Noon by Nora Roberts
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
Fool by Christopher Moore
From Dead To Worse by Charlaine Harris
Visions In Death by J.D. Robb
White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison
Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
Survivor In Death by J.D. Robb
Halfway To The Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Origin In Death by J.D. Robb
Memory In Death by J.D. Robb
One Silent Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Girls' Night In by Jennifer Weiner, Meg Cabot, Sophie Kinsella and more
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Charmed & Dangerous by Candace Havens
Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon
A Vision Of Murder by Victoria Laurie
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
Killer Insight by Victoria Laurie
Dead And Gone by Charlaine Harris
Undead And Unpopular by MaryJanice Davidson
True Lies Of A Drama Queen by Lee Nichols

Here's hoping 2010 will bring on more excellent reading!

Insider Dating by Jennifer O'Connell

Insider Dating by Jennifer O'Connell

My Rating: 8 *'s

Description: Recently divorced, top financial analyst Abby Dunn has learned the hard way that when it comes to relationships, there's no sure thing. But Abby has decided to use her knack for risk management to change all that --- and give a whole new meaning to mergers and acquisitions. She's creating a members-only club in which women share the inside-dating information they need to invest in their greatest assets: themselves. And she has underperforming men running scared.

But while Abby is busy hedging bets, someone is skewing her data and threatening to ruin her business. Now Abby is is about to find out that sometimes even the savviest market wizards can be headed for a crash.

While it may be perfectly legal, nothing good can come from insider dating...

My Thoughts: The first book I've read by this author. I liked the characters and the story had a good premise. The back cover blurb is not accurate, though. The author doesn't spend a lot of time in the past which would have given the reader a better understanding of why Abby's marriage failed, which is the catalyst for her actions in this story. I liked that Abby was a flawed heroine. She made a lot of mistakes and definitely wasn't the victim of a bad marriage as she contributed to the downfall quite a bit. She also carries a lot of baggage from her own parents divorce with her that established the foundation for a lot of her behavior and thinking. I will be looking for more books by this author.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

My Rating: 6 *'s

Description: When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life-first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse-seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

My Thoughts: Good ending to an interesting series. The story seemed to drag for me somewhat and I had a hard time accepting how easily Bella adjusted to her new existence, but I liked how the story turned out. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys vampire romance.

Books On The Nightstand

As the year is quickly winding down, I see I have several titles still sitting on the nightstand that it doesn't look like I will get read by the end of the year.

Here is what's stacked up...

Dating Big Bird by Laura Zigman

Description: With the laugh-out-loud humor and heartfelt wisdom that made ANIMAL HUSBANDRY a national bestseller, Laura Zigman's second novel introduces Ellen Franck, a successful single career woman whose one desire -- a child of her own -- throws her into the ever-growing ranks of the "reproductively challenged."

Ellen has a life many people dream about -- a glamorous fashion industry job, an apartment in Greenwich Village, good friends -- and yet Ellen feels herself at sixes and sevens, filled with a vague longing for... what? She can't say. Then the sight of her newborn niece, Nicole (a.k.a. "The Pickle"), makes her realize exactly what she's been missing: a child. But there's one problem. Malcolm, the man she loves, is too scarred by the long-ago death of his young son to ever consider fatherhood again.

Looking down the barrel of the dark side of thirty-five, Ellen knows that time is passing, and as it does, her desire to have a baby only increases -- especially when her sister Lynn announces she's pregnant with her second child. Now Ellen must finally address the very real flaws in her relationship with Malcolm and examine her doubts and fears about the only option that seems to be available -- single motherhood. And so begins nine months of reading, Internet surfing, and nonstop Zigmanesque observations about morning sickness, stretch marks, accelerated hair growth, digestion, amniocentesis (and that's just the beginning). And Ellen... well, Ellen finally makes a clear-eyed decision that will change her life.


Murder Between The Covers by Elaine Viets

Description: Once on the fast track to success, Helen Hawthorne is going nowhere faster. Forced to trade in her chic life for a shabby one, she's now on the run, jumping from city to city and dead-end job to dead-end job, trying to stay one step ahead of her past....

Helen has a new job "off the books" at Page Turners bookstore in Fort Lauderdale. It's run by Page Turner III, who happens to be neither well-read nor well-liked. When his money troubles surface, it seems the store's long life may be over --- but it's Page's life that's cut short instead. He had plenty of enemies, including an unhappy wife and unfortunate employees. But it is his unforgiving lover --- Helen's wacky neighbor --- police are ready to throw the book at. To save her friend, Helen will have to read between the lines ... and uncover the truth about a clever killer.


Wife In The Fast Lane by Karen Quinn

Description: Christy Hayes is a case study in successful living. She's won two Olympic gold medals, built a multimillion-dollar business, and landed a gorgeous and powerful CEO husband. But Christy's dream life begins to unravel when she inherits custody of an eleven year old girl named Renata. Suddenly she finds herself battling three formidable opponents: a treacherous business partner bent on ousting her from the company she founded, a ruthless stay at home mom who'll stop at nothing to maintain her PTA power base, and a stunning single woman scheming to steal her husband. Throw in the demands of one high maintenance spouse and it's clear: something's got to give. But what? Her marriage? Her career? Her sanity?


Tall, Dark & Dead by Tate Hallaway

Description: The line between magic and sanity is very thin. That's part of why I, Garnet Lacey, quit cold turkey. Never touch the stuff. No exceptions.

But magic is so addictive...and my inner Goddess, Lilith, is hard to resist. Besides, restraint isn't easy when you manage Wisconsin's premier occult bookstore, and get customers like Sebastian Von Traum --- piercing brown eyes, a sexy accent, and a killer body in black leather and denim. The only thing missing is an aura. Which means he's dead...

That means trouble. I guess I'm a sucker for it. The Vatican witch hunters are on to us. My long-lost vampire ex has crawled out of the woodwork looking for action. And Sebastian's frustrated ex is stirring in her grave.

What's a girl to do if she's hot for a dead man walking? Run like hell --- and take full advantage of the nights...


Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman

Description: A public defender turned stay at home mom, Juliet Applebaum is bored with playdates and trips to the park --- so near the end of her second pregnancy, she gets off the mommy track to track down a murderer....

Juliet isn't too surprised when her feisty, tantrum throwing two year old daughter doesn't get into Hollywood's premier preschool ---- but she's shocked and suspicious when the school's principal is killed in a hit and run accident. Against the advice of her screenwriter husband, and with her rambunctious toddler in tow, Juliet heads to the local playground to dig up some dirt on a disgruntled studio executive whose daughter wasn't offered a place in the school. But she has some surprising new suspects to consider when her investigation takes her into a seedy online newsgroup --- and the most dangerous parts of the human heart....


Couch World by Cathy Yardley

Description: It's all about the furniture, the friends, the funk.

I WOKE UP HAVING NO IDEA WHERE I WAS.
IT'S A FAMILIAR FEELING.
IF I DID KNOW WHERE I WAS... THEN I THINK I'D BE WORRIED.

P.J.'s life is simple. Wake up at 2:00 p.m. In someone else's place, on someone else's couch. Shower. Clothes. Club. P.J.'s a punter -- someone who fills in if a DJ isn't able to make a gig. San Francisco is a hotbed of glam bands and alternative rock, and P.J.'s into all of it -- she's been living the urban Bedouin lifestyle for almost a year now, saving money to create the blow-out, off-the-hook demo of the music she loves, the music for which she deliberately abandoned "normal."

Ever wondered what it would be like to pack it all in and live the carefree life -- no 9 to 5, no daily grind, no routine, no one to check in with? P.J. knows how it's done. The most important element? Lots of friends, with couches. One night it's Cecil's high-end settee, the next it's Sticky's lumpy sofa. P.J.'s even got smarmy Samantha to make sure there's always a hideaway bed from hell in the wings. But when a reporter infiltrates her life, then acts as if she wants to make it her own, P.J. senses real trouble. Could this spell the end of couch world?


What's sitting on your nightstand?

Gaming My Own Way

Before The Scottish Guy and I got married, the only gaming I was interested in was The Sims. Interested is a weak adjective though. It actually bordered on obsessed. The ex-asshole and I played a little Nintendo before he graduated to Playstation and then eventually to Xbox. The Scottish Guy gave me an Xbox for our first Christmas as a married couple. I was really excited because I had discovered Uno on Xbox and wanted to play without having to exit the console because Halo or Call of Duty or Rainbow 6 was summoning my man.


I tried to play Halo with him once but was completely overwhelmed with the pace of the game and the fact that he kept sneaking up behind me and clobbering me in the back of the head with a battle rifle didn't help. Enjoyed playing LEGO Indiana Jones so much that I jumped on to LEGO Star Wars, but haven't finished it. Have found that I also enjoy all of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games and we are accumulating quite a collection of guitars.

Imagine my excitement and enthusiasm when I was informed about the release of the Resident Evil special edition Xbox 360 elite console. Never played the game, never had an interest, most likely never will. I was totally stoked about this console because...

Take a look....





















Yes, it's red! "Is that all? Is this what had you so jazzed?" You are probably asking yourself that right now. And the answer is not just yes, but HELL YES! It matches my kitchen. My Coca-Cola red kitchen.

Now if only I can pull myself away from Facebook and the farming, cooking, and mobbing, then maybe I can get back on my red machine and kick some Uno butt.

Questions To Ask Before Marrying by Melissa Senate

Questions To Ask Before Marrying by Melissa Senate

My Rating: 6 *'s

Description: A New York Times article lists fifteen questions couples should ask before marrying

Ruby Miller and her fiancé, Tom Truby, have questions 1 to 14 almost covered. It's question 15 that has the Maine schoolteacher stumped: Is their relationship strong enough to withstand challenges?

Challenges like…Ruby's twin sister, Stella. The professional muse, flirt and face reader thinks Ruby is playing it safe. And that the future Mrs. Ruby Truby will die of boredom before her first anniversary or her thirtieth birthday, whichever comes first.

Challenges like…sexy maverick teacher Nick McDermott, Ruby's secret longtime crush, who confesses his feelings for her at her own engagement party.

But before Ruby can plan the wedding that may never be, Stella announces she's pregnant by a one-night stand whose name might be Jake (or James? Maybe Jason?) and who lives somewhere under the glittering lights of Las Vegas. Ruby and Stella hit the road to find him—with a lot more than fifteen questions.

And after three thousand miles, a stowaway relative and hitchhiking teen lovebirds bound for an Elvis wedding chapel, the Miller sisters might get some answers.

My Thoughts: OK story about two sisters on a journey of self-discovery while trying to answer many of life's questions before one of them gets married. Couple of twists in the plot I didn't care for that nearly made this book a wallbanger for me. It was difficult at times to connect and relate to the characters.

New Additions To The TBR Pile in November

Shhh...don't tell on me, but I actually got rid of nearly 100 books in November. Books I knew I wouldn't read.... Hardly seems effective when more show up on my doorstep begging to be let in.

The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham

Description: Everything's coming up roses for Fleur Daxeny, as she goes through more rich men than she does designer hats....if that's humanly possible. Beautiful, charming, and utterly irresistible, her success at crashing funerals to find wealthy men is remarkable. But behind Fleur’s Harvey Nichols wardrobe, is a woman with a mysterious past.

Fleur wastes no time in seducing her latest conquest, the handsome and rich widower Richard Favour, and she swoops into his life like a designer-clad tornado. His children are caught up in a whirlwind as their father's new girlfriend descends on the family estate leaving chaos and excitement in her perfume-scented wake. Soon, more than one family member is suspicious of Fleur's true intentions. Fleur is not one to wear her heart on her Chanel sleeves, but she soon finds herself embracing Richard and his lovable family. But just as Fleur contemplates jumping off the gold-digger train for good and enjoying the ride of true love, a long-buried secret from her past threatens to destroy her new family. Fleur is thrown into a race against time to prove herself to Richard before it's too late. Can she trust her heart or will she cut ties and run away as fast as her Prada pumps can take her?


My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon by Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, et al

Description: What newly married couple doesn't dream of a romantic retreat where they can escape the world for a while—but what happens when supernatural forces intrude on their wedded bliss?

Nine of today's hottest paranormal authors answer that question in this all-star collection of supernatural stories. Can a vampire-hunter enjoy her honeymoon when she's just learned that her new hubby is a werewolf? How can newlyweds focus on their wedding night when their honeymoon suite is haunted by feuding ghosts? And what's a wizard to do when a gruesome monster kidnaps the bride on her way home from the wedding?

With so much otherworldly mayhem awaiting our newlyweds, will they ever get around to the honeymoon itself? Find out in My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon.

Edited by P.N. Elrod
Kelley Armstrong - "Stalked"
Jim Butcher - "Heorot"
Rachel Caine - "Roman holiday, or SPQ-arrrrrr"
P.N. Elrod - "Her Mother's Daughter"
Caitlin Kittredge - "Newlydeads"
Marjorie M. Liu - "Where the Heart Lives"
Katie MacAlister - "Cat got your tongue?"
Lilith Saintcrow - "Half of Being Married"


Killing Bridezilla by Laura Levine

Description: When writer-for-hire Jaine Austen signs on to script vows for the ultimate Bridezilla, "I do's" soon become "I wish I hadn't's"--and curtains for the bride spell a veil of woes for Jaine...
Jaine's accepted her share of lame gigs to pay the bills, but rewriting Shakespeare's got to be an all-time low. The fiasco begins with a call from Jaine's high-school nemesis, uber rich uber witch Patti Devane. It seems Patti will soon be sashaying down the aisle with another former classmate from Hermosa High, and she'd like the exchange of vows to evoke Romeo and Juliet...except without the "downer" of an ending.

Even worse than the assignment itself is dealing with Patti as a client. At least Jaine's not alone, as nobody can stand the demanding, spoiled, and incredibly rude Bridezilla from Hell. Patti's managed to rack up an amazingly long list of enemies in a short time, not the least of whom include her prospective mother-in-law, the soon-to-be ex-wife of Patti's stolen soon-to-be groom, and just about everyone involved in the wedding preparations. So it isn't a complete surprise when the erstwhile Juliet plunges to her death during her balcony scene.

The loosened bolts that brought down the bride were clearly an act of sabotage--what's not so obvious is whom, among Patti's numerous haters, committed this murder most foul. Was it the caterer she threatened to ruin? The bridesmaid tossed out of the wedding party for being too chubby? Jaine's determined to learn the truth--if only to end the hideous walk down memory lane kicked off by her association with Patti.

Between fending off advances from the nerd of her high school nightmares and figuring out ways to stop Prozac the cat from corrupting the victim's pet Poodle, Jaine's involvement in this case keeps veering between comedy and tragedy. That is, until another body is discovered--and the killer starts laying plot for a final act--starring Jaine...



Killer Cuts by Elaine Viets

Description: Helen Hawthorne’s latest dead-end job is in Miguel Angel’s Fort Lauderdale hair salon, where a trim can cost as much as a car payment and a blowout can wipe you out. But when one of the salon’s most famous clients, gossip blogger and cable-TV show host Kingman “King” Oden is murdered at his own wedding, things get a little hairy and King becomes the prime suspect. To save her boss—and her job— Helen is determined to find the murderer. When she finds herself the target of threatening notes, it’s more imperative than ever that she figure out who at the wedding was dressed to kill.




Hollywood Car Wash by Lori Culwell

Description: Amy Spencer is an accidental celebrity. On Monday, she's a normal college student in Michigan. By the end of the week, she's in Hollywood, starring in a TV pilot--as a regular girl from Michigan. It's all fun and games until the show gets picked up and Amy learns the terrible price of stardom--to keep the part she didn't even want at first, she's going to have to get the Hollywood Car Wash to make her more marketable. First, she'll have to lose twenty pounds. She'll also need new teeth, blonder hair, and a megastar boyfriend with a big secret. By changing everything from her weight to her hair to her name, Amy slowly learns that the only way to survive in Hollywood is to lose herself. Inspired by true events, this shockingly accurate novel about the ins and outs of the Hollywood game will leave the reader wondering--who is Star?

Hollywood Car Wash is the first in a series.



Girls Who Gossip by Theresa Alan

Description: It's not mean if it's true...

Yes the rumours are true...

I'm actually coming home to Colorado for the summer. Maybe it won't be so bad. After all, I've got cocktails, shopping, and gab sessions with my girlfriends to look forward to. Plus time with my dysfunctional family. Yippee. I'm Helaina, by the way. Helaina Denner if you've known me since junior high, like Hannah and Marti. Helaina Merrill if you know me from film school at NYU. See, I lead a bit of a double life: "starving" student when in Manhattan, daughter of privilege when in Denver

And it gets even better...

...depending on your definition of "better." First off, I've picked this time to try and reconnect with my father. Which would be easier if we'd ever had anything resembling a relationship to begin with. I guess this is one of the pitfalls of having a parent as rich as Bill Gates and as accessible as the Pope...

Seriously, some of this stuff you cannot repeat...

like what I'll tell you about Owen, the adorable journalist I just met. He's sweet, sincere, sexy...real soul mate material. But something's keeping me from letting him get too close. What's my problem, anyway? No need to answer: that's what friends are for. Now, amid high-altitude parties in Aspen, bikini waxes gone mad, and caught-on-tape blackmail fodder, I'm about to find out exactly what one heiress's problems amount to in this crazy world. Just remember, whatever I discover is off the record - for the moment, at least...



All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Janelle Brown

Description: When Paul Miller’s pharmaceutical company goes public, making his family IPO millionaires, his wife, Janice, is sure this is the windfall she’s been waiting years for — until she learns, via messengered letter, that her husband is divorcing her (for her tennis partner!) and cutting her out of the new fortune. Meanwhile, four hundred miles south in Los Angeles, the Millers' older daughter, Margaret, has been dumped by her newly famous actor boyfriend and left in the lurch by an investor who promised to revive her fledgling postfeminist magazine. Sliding toward bankruptcy and dogged by creditors, she flees for home where her younger sister Lizzie, 14, is struggling with problems of her own. Formerly chubby, Lizzie has been enjoying her newfound popularity until some bathroom graffiti alerts her to the fact that she’s become the school slut.

The three Miller women retreat behind the walls of their Georgian colonial to wage battle with divorce lawyers, debt collectors, drug-dealing pool boys, mean girls, country-club ladies, their own demons, and one another, and in the process they become achingly sympathetic characters we can’t help but root for—even as the world they live in epitomizes everything wrong with the American Dream. Exhilarating, addictive, and superbly accomplished, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything is an original, utterly modern addition to the genre of suburban fiction.

Haunted In Death by J.D. Robb

Haunted In Death by J.D. Robb

My Rating: 8 *'s

Description: Originally from the Anthology Bump in the Night

Number Twelve is an urban legend in 2060 New York City. The hot club in the 1960s, it is now reported to be haunted…and cursed. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is called there to investigate the apparent murder of Radcliff Hopkins, its new owner and the grandson of the man who made Number Twelve a cultural icon. Several bullets from a banned gun end his dream of returning the building to its former glory.

With everyone around her talking about the supernatural, pragmatic Eve won't let rumors of ghosts distract her from hard evidence. The case becomes even more bizarre when it appears to be linked to the suspicious disappearance of a rock star eighty-five years ago. As Eve searches for the connection, logic clashes with the unexplainable. She may be forced to face the threat of something more dangerous than a flesh-and-blood killer.

My Thoughts: A little different twist on the usual cases we see Dallas and Peabody investigating. This one involves a murder from nearly 100 years ago and a lot of paranormal activity. In spite of the story being short, it managed to draw me in completely and fully hold my interest.

True Lies Of A Drama Queen by Lee Nichols

True Lies Of A Drama Queeen by Lee Nichols

My rating: 10 *'s

Description: Some true lies of a drama queen:

*My name is Elle Medina. (Absolutely true!)

*I'm a professional psychic. (Completely accurate. Except for the "professional" part...and the "psychic" part.)

*I'm planning my best friend's wedding. (Maya only thinks she's planning it.)

*I'm a serious journalist. (I cover crystal therapy for the local weekly rag.)

*I live with my boyfriend, Merrick. (I'm pretty sure he's still my boyfriend.)

She may be lovely and talented but Elle Medina's phone psychic business is sputtering, her boyfriend thinks she's attending graduate school (not exactly) and she's about to ruin her best friend's wedding. Things can't get worse. Can they?

They can and do when Elle's innocent dressing room striptease (oh, like you've never!) ends up on the Internet, and she sets out to find the cyber-creep who put her there. Elle knows coming of age is not a destination but a journey...she's just having a little trouble staying on the road.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this story more than I enjoyed the first Drama Queen book. Elle is someone who manages to make complete chaos manageable. When everything seems to fall apart around her, she is at the top of her game. I can't help but admire that.

I recommend this author for her fresh and witty storylines, snappy dialogue and characters that are realistic and easy to relate to.

Undead And Unpopular by MaryJanice Davidson

Undead And Unpopular by MaryJanice Davidson

My Rating: 9*'s

Description: As Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor approaches the big three-one (in human years, that is), she has a lot on her plate. There are wedding plans to finalize, with no help from her fiance, Eric. And Betsy has decided to stop drinking blood, something Eric --- the vampire king --- may not understand....

So, when some guests show up uninvited --- and they happen to be the powerful European vampires, who have finally come to pay their respects the week before her birthday --- Betsy gets really cranky...

My Thoughts: More campy and wacky antics occurring when Betsy, the Queen of the Vampires, is approaching her 31st birthday. Adding to her stress is her decision to go blood free, her upcoming wedding and the arrival of a group of European vampires, whose intentions may not be so friendly. And if that's not bad enough, there's a zombie in the attic! Betsy is having a bad day and she really HATES zombies. Really, what else can go wrong? You can't even begin to imagine, so I highly recommend picking up this book to find out.

Dead And Gone by Charlaine Harris

Dead And Gone by Charlaine Harris

My Rating: 9 *'s

Description: Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps—and nothing about weres.

Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works—and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it.

But there’s a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings—older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves—is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle.

My Thoughts: Enjoying this series more with each book. Though I wasn't a fan of Sookie's relationship with Quinn, I haven't decided if Eric is good for her either but I don't think I want to see her back with Bill. This book brings more hostility out in the open when the weres decide to out themselves. I wasn't surprised at Arlene's reaction as she has been increasingly intolerant with each book since she associated herself with The Fellowship of the Sun. What I found interesting is how the murder of a were-panther is tied to Sookie's past.

Looking forward to Sookie's next adventure.

New Additions To The TBR Pile in October

Some very promising titles making themselves comfortable in the bottomless pit of Mount TBR...

Dead After Dark by Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward, Susan Squires & Dianna Love

Description: With these four tales of paranormal romance, it's never been hotter to be close to death…

SHERRILYN KENYON “Shadow of the Moon”
Angelia has fought her entire life to make herself strong. Now, with her patria under fire, she has to protect her people from Fury and his werewolf clan. Vowing to bring him to justice, Angelia sets out alone… -- until the hunter becomes the hunted, and the only way for her to survive is to trust the very wolf she’s sworn to kill.

J. R. WARD “The Story of Son” Claire
Stroughton is a beautiful lawyer who would rather spend the night with a legal brief than the man of her dreams. Then a routine client meeting turns dangerous— -- and deeply sensual -- —when she is held captive by a gorgeous man with an unworldly hunger…...

SUSAN SQUIRES “Seize the Night”
When Drew Carlowe returns home to win back a lost love, he is quick to dismiss rumors that his estate is haunted by a stunning young ghost... until one passionate encounter leaves him mystified— -- and aching for more.

DIANNA LOVE “Midnight Kiss Goodbye”
Trey McCree possesses an insatiable desire for Sasha Armand— -- and supernatural powers that could endanger her life as a human. But when they team up to stop an evil warlord, Trey discovers that Sasha can do way more than drive men wild…...




Tan Lines by J.J. Salem

Description: Summer just doesn't get any hotter than this.

Liza is beautiful, fearless, and slays rival media commentators with her firebrand feminist spin. So why is it that this summer, in the Hamptons, Liza is falling into all the old traps and cliches that she cautions other women to avoid?

Kellyanne hoped that this summer would be different. Waiting tables and playing mistress to a rich developer helps her to stay afloat before her big break as an actress. But why are the phenomenal looks that were supposed to take her all the way leading her to the edge of disaster?

Billie rocks the indie music scene with an appetite for self-destruction. Sex is candy, drugs are fuel, and even her closest friends are disposable. So how is she supposed to find real success when she's only looking out for number one?



She Who Shops by Joanne Skerrett

Description: Weslee Dunster is one sister who has always been about the practical side, earning her way to Boston University through good, old-fashioned hard work. Who needs Prada when you've got brains, right? Wrong! With her GAP khakis and humble background, Weslee's no match for the wealthy New Englanders who seem to look at her like she's stepped out of a Sears catalogue. The women in Wes's new sphere treat shopping like a contact sport, and they never met a friend they didn't want to trash as soon as her back was turned. And the brothers will snub you for having skin that's a shade past cafe au lait or an accent that's one generation from Jamaica. Now, caught up in a hectic lifestyle filled with designer clothes, expensive highlights, finger-aching bling, air kissing, fine-looking players, lies, betrayals, and other things her once sensible life didn't demand, Wes is in for the ride of her life - one that could have her crashing and burning...unless she can figure out the rules of the game and how to break them...



One Foot In The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Description: You can run from the grave, but you can't hide...

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She's still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around him awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline kick of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head -- wanted: dead or half-alive -- means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard she tries to keep things professional between them, she'll find that desire lasts forever... and that Bones won't let her get away again.



Marked by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Description: The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire -- that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny -- with a little help from her new vampyre friends.



Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Description: While recovering from an ill-timed makeup mishap, Lula is a witness to celebrity chef, Stanley Chipotle, losing his head - literally. Now Lula and Stephanie are on the hunt to identify the killers before Lula is next on the chopping block.

Meantime, Ranger's recruited Stephanie's help for a top secret mission. Someone on the inside at Rangeman is leaking client information, determined to bring the company down. No one is above suspicion, not even Ranger's right hand man, Tank.

Can Stephanie hunt down a killer, a traitor, five skips and keep Grandma out of the sauce?

It's the sexiest, scariest, most fun Plum yet. So good you'll want seconds.



Dead And Gone by Charlaine Harris

Description: Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps—and nothing about weres.

Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works—and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it.

But there’s a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings—older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves—is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle.



Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Description: A stunning and suspenseful new landscape emerges in the thrilling Dark-Hunter world—a world where nothing will ever be the same again. . .

Fang Kattalakis isn't just a wolf. He is the brother of two of the most powerful members of the Omegrion: the ruling council that enforces the laws of the Were-Hunters. And when war erupts among the lycanthropes, sides must be chosen. Enemies are forced into shaky alliances. And when the woman Fang loves is accused of betraying her people, her only hope is that Fang believes in her. Yet in order to save her, Fang must break the law of his people and the faith of his brothers. That breech could very well spell the end of both their races and change their world forever.

The war is on and time is running out...