Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1) - Ilona Andrews

The first book took a little bit of time to get into the world, but book 2 and 3 are great. If you can get to book 2 you'll be hooked.

Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, #2) - Ilona Andrews

A lot of fun. Great way to end a book. Although, if you can't go straight to book 3 then I guess it would drive you absolutely batty.

Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, #3) - Ilona Andrews

Enjoyable. Stayed up all night finishing it since there didn't seem like a good place to put it down. All I'm going to say is that Kate should have known better than to make deals with Curran.

On the Edge (The Edge, #1) - Ilona Andrews

I tried to read this and put it down at first. After reading Kate Daniels and getting to know what she means by a world with magic in it this one made more sense and I was really able to enjoy it. I can't wait for book 2.

Ironside (The Modern Faerie Tales, #3) - Holly Black

I liked that the characters from book 1 and 2 combined a bit. At first it was odd to just randomly go back to the original characters, but you get over it.

Silver Borne (Mercedes Thompson, #5) - Patricia Briggs

I love the series, but this one wasn't my favorite.

Divine By Mistake (Parholon, #1) - P.C. Cast

Enjoyable.

Dark Challenge (Carpathians, #5) - Christine Feehan

It was better than some of the previous ones because I didn't feel like the girl was being forced into sex. Thank goodness.
It has the same formula as the rest of the series so far:
A Carpathian male is close to ending their life because it sucks and they don't want to turn into a vampire, they find their life-mate, she doesn't want to be forced into a series relationship that fast, she gets into it anyway, a vampire wants to steal the girl and/or kill the male (generally both), the vampire dies and they live happily ever after, despite the girl being somewhat smothered by an over protective husband.

Lover Beware (Drake Sisters, #1; World of the Lupi Prequel) - Christine Feehan

I'm impressed with this anthology. I enjoyed the stories.

Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) - Kami Garcia

It's an interesting story. It took forever to build, but it managed to stay interesting. I think it could have been done a little better, but it was still good.

Dead Witch Walking (Rachel Morgan/The Hallows, #1) - Kim Harrison

I had high expectations because people have talked this author up a lot. I liked it, but it didn't meet those expectations. I think I would have been happier if I had gone into the story without having ever heard anything about it before. I'll definitely keep reading though.

The Good, The Bad, and the Undead (Rachel Morgan/The Hallows, #3) - Kim Harrison

Much better than the first book. Maybe it's because I know the characters now, maybe it was the plot. I'm not sure what set it apart.

Cinderella - Henry Hewet

Typical.

Need (Need, #1) - Carrie Jones

I like the series, but I don't LOVE the series.

Captivate (Need, #2) - Carrie Jones

Holy Smokes (Aisling Gray, Guardian, #4) - Katie MacAlister

The most entertaining AGG book so far.

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

I liked the 1st book a bit, but I've grown tired of the series. I feel the need to finish it, but I can't seem to motivate myself to do so.

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

Sex, Lies and Vampires (Dark Ones, #3) - Katie MacAlister

Even Vampires Get the Blues (Dark Ones, #4) - Katie MacAlister

Playing with Fire (Silver Dragons, #1) - Katie MacAlister

This series is a little better then AGG even though it's the spin-off.

Up in Smoke (Silver Dragons, #2) - Katie MacAlister

Me and My Shadow (Silver Dragons, #3) - Katie MacAlister

Succubus Shadows (Georgina Kincaid, #5) - Richelle Mead

Georgina is back! Seth, Roman, Carter...I really enjoyed the story. I wasn't as big on the events concerning the villain this time, but it served it's purpose to further the drama and bring new information forward (which I did like). I did figure out the conclusion that Georgina comes to at the end of the book as soon as Mead started hinting that something was going on. I feel like it was very fitting and makes since in the grand theme of the story. (Although, I didn't like the consequences of what she does at the end. She'll regret it later.) I just wish I had about a thousand more pages to read.


Eragon (Inheritance, #1) - Christopher Paolini

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #2) - Rick Riordan

Ok. Would be better if I was a kid. Not loving it, not hating it.

The Titans Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #3) - Rick Riordan

The Vampire and the Virgin (Love at Stake, #8) - Kerrelyn Sparks

Not loving the title, but like her other books, i enjoyed it. If you liked her previous books, you'll like this one. There are so many couples from all the books I had issues remembering who a few of them were. (The couple from book 2.) First Kerrelyn taunts me with Venice, now she's making me crave a trip to Greece. She's playing off my need to travel.

Voices of Dragons - Carrie Vaughn

I love that the book touches on prejudices and the fears that people have of people/ideas/things in general that are foreign to them. That, if it weren't for the bigots in this world, peace could be more of a possibility than it currently is.

Blood Lines (World of the Lupi, #3) - Eileen Wilks

Still enjoying the series.

Night Season (World of the Lupi, #4) - Eileen Wilks

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega, #1) - Patricia Briggs

I loved the series. I like Mercy a little better, but this one is close.

Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, #2) - Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson: Homecoming (Mercy Thompson, Prequel) - Patricia Briggs

On the Prowl - Patricia Briggs and others

Great short stories. I loved them.

Undone (Outcast Season, #!) - Rachel Caine

It leaves you really needing to read the next one. It stops in the middle of the story.

Windfall (Weather Warden, #4) - Rachel Caine

Each one gets a little more interesting.

Firestorm (Weather Warden, #5) - Rachel Caine

Thin Air (Weather Warden, #6) - Rachel Caine

Gale Force (Weather Warden, #7) - Rachel Caine

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

Midnight's Daughter (Dorina Basarab, #1) - Karen Chance

A good spin-off series from the Cassandra Palmer books

Death's Mistress (Dorina Basarab, #2) - Karen Chance

First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, #1) - Jeaniene Frost

Frost is now officially one of my favorite authors. I loved it.

Flirt (Anita Blake, # 18) - Laurell K. Hamilton

It's a short book, almost a novella. Much better than her last short one. I liked it because it didn't get too crazy.

You Slay Me (Aisling Grey: Guardian, #1) - Katie MacAlister

It has potential, but flopped. The next two are about the same way, but they're easier to handle since you're use to the characters.

Fire Me Up (Aisling Grey: Guardian, #2) - Katie MacAlister

Light My Fire (Aisling Grey: Guardian, #3) - Katie MacAlister

Gone (Dream Catcher, #3) -Lisa McMann

I liked the other two books a little better, but this one wraps up the series. I'm sad to see it end.

Urban Shaman (Walker Papers, #1) - C.E. Murphy

Fun series. I want the relationship issues to be resolved. I'm going batty with the way she approaches it.

Thunderbird Falls (Walker Papers, #2) - C.E. Murphy

Coyote Dreams (Walker Papers, #3) - C.E. Murphy

Walking Dead (Walker Papers, #4) - C.E. Murphy

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) - Rick Riordan

Fun kids book.

How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire (Love at Stake, #1) - Kerrelyn Sparks

It's a fun, cute series.

Vamps and the City (Love at Stake, #2) - Kerrelyn Sparks

Be Still My Vampire Heart (Love at Stake, #3) - Kerrelyn Sparks

The Undead Next Door (Love at Stake, #4) - Kerrelyn Sparks

All I want for Christmas is a Vampire (Love at Stake, #5) - Kerrelyn Sparks

Secret Life of a Vampire(Love at Stake, #6) - Kerrelyn Sparks

Forbidden Nights With a Vampire (Love at Stake, #7) - Kerrelyn Sparks

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1) - Maggie Stiefvater

It reads at a slow pace, but it's good.

Tempting Danger (World of the Lupi, #1) - Elieen Wilks

I'm liking the story.

Mortal Danger (World of the Lupi, #2) - Eileen Wilks

Cockatiels at Seven (Meg Langslow, #9) - Donna Andrews

This book was mean! It made me want a lil' monster of my own to terrorize my life.

Six Geese A-Slaying (Meg Langslow, #10) - Donna Andrews

Average. Not my favorite Langslow book.

Swan for the Money (Meg Langslow, #11) - Donna Andrews

Angelic (Women of the Otherworld novella) - Kelley Armstrong

It's been so long since Eve was in a story, that I had forgotten about her. I like the relationship between her and Kristof so I'm excited for the Women of the Otherworld book of short stories that will be coming out this year. While this one didn't focus on that much, it's still worth reading if you've read the other stories.

Exit Strategy (Nadia Staford, #1) - Kelley Armstrong

Good series. I liked book 2 more. It's about an ex-cop turned contract killer. She's an interesting character and so are the boys that she works with.

Made to be Broken (Nadia Staford, #2) - Kelley Armstrong

Tithe (The Modern Faerie Tales, #1) - Holly Black

I have had this book on my to-read list for a while and I've constantly talked myself out of it and referred to it as a "last resort" book. I'm glad I picked it up because I enjoyed it.

Valiant (The Modern Faerie Tales, #2) - Holly Black

I liked the 1st one a little more than this one, but again, something about it kept me reading.

Moon Called (Mercedes Thompson, #1) - Patricia Briggs

I've been starring at this one for a while. For some reason the cover made me question it, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. I'm excited about this series and I really enjoyed all 4 of the books that have been released so far. The characters are great.

Blood Bound (Mercedes Thompson, #2) - Patricia Briggs

Iron Kissed (Mercedes Thompson, #3) - Patricia Briggs

Bone Crossed (Mercedes Thompson, #4) - Patricia Briggs

Ill Wind (Weather Warden, #1) - Rachel Caine

It was okay. It takes a little while for you to get interested. Even then, if you're not interested in weather you'll probably never love it.

Heat Stroke (Weather Warden, #2) - Rachel Caine

A little better than book 1. Easier to get into and more interesting.

Chill Factor (Weather Warden, #3) - Rachel Caine

I'm still on the fence with this series. Book 3 is better than 1, but a little less interesting than 2.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls, #1) - Ally Carter

A cute little YA series. They're entertaining, but not well written.

Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy (Gallagher Girls, #2) - Ally Carter

Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover (Gallagher Girls, #3) - Ally Carter

This one had a lot going on and I really enjoyed it. It started out with some action that got you interested and left you waiting for the next book so that you'd be anxiously awaiting it.

Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer, #1) - Karen Chance

Interesting series. It's about a seer (like the Greek story of Cassandra) that was raised by vampires. People are either trying to kill her or use her for their own means. She can shift through time if need be to help stop an event from happening. I'm enjoying it, but at the same time sometimes the author has a confused moment where she throws a whole bunch of action together, but when it's all said and done you feel like you were missing a sentence of clarification somewhere. You piece together that fact that you missed afterward, but you're confused for a few sentences.

Claimed by Shadow (Cassandra Palmer, #2) - Karen Chance

Embrace the Night (Cassandra Palmer, #3) - Karen Chance

Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, #4) - Karen Chance

Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1) - Patricia Cornwell

It was okay, but not up to the standards of all the hype.

Dead and Loving It - Mary Janice Davidson

Most of the stories were cute, but she went a little too far for my tastes in some areas. There are just some things I prefer to remain ignorant about.

Back to the Bedroom - Janet Evanovich

Love Overboard - Janet Evanovich

Probably my favorite of the stand alone's. I know it was horrible, but I liked the "pirate".

Manhunt - Janet Evanovich

Cute little romance book. Cheesy, but sweet.

The Rocky Road to Romance - Janet Evanovich

The main character gets into all kinds of drama. Cute, but like Evanovich's other books, cheesy.

Wife for Hire - Janet Evanovich

Dark Gold (Carpathians, #3) - Christine Feehan

This story will actually convince me to read book 5. (I accidentally already read book 4.) She had a bit more plot in this story than the other one's. Although, there are still issues with her plots. It was kind of cool to know what will happen to Gregori already when he came into play in this story. It probably took some of the suspense out of it, but for me it just made it more touching. I'm still on the fence about the series. Hopefully I'll decide soon because there are a lot of books in it.

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1) - Jeaniene Frost

I was hooked almost immediately by this book. I almost didn't want to read it because I was judging the book by it's cover, but I'm glad it was recommend to me by multiple people. It was amazing. I loved every minute of it. I like Cat and Bones. They make wonderful characters. The whole series had me emotionally involved. I laughed, cried, blushed, got pissed off... I had a hard time controlling my facial expressions when reading it in public because of the way it got to me. It's a mix of paranormal romance and action/horror. The story has quite a few surprises along the way - Vlad especially. =)

One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress, #2) - Jeaniene Frost

At Grave's End (Night Huntress, #3) - Jeaniene Frost

Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress, #4) - Jeaniene Frost

Unbound - Kim Harrison

This was a group of short stories by Kim Harrison, Melissa Marr, Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Petterson, and Jocelynn Drake

I liked the Frost and the Drake.

Fallen (Fallen, #1) - Lauren Kate

The beginning, Fallen did remind me a little of Twilight. The fact that he's not "good" for her. However, the book as a whole, reminded me more of a mix between Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and Blue Moon (The Immortals, #2) by Alyson Noel. They both have the two boys confusing one girl - basic formula for a YA book. They both have someone trying to keep the happy couple apart. Blue Moon goes even further with the fact that the other party actually wants the girl for himself. However, I guess we'll have to wait and find out why Cam actually wants Luce. Like The Immortals series, the boy has to watch the love of his life die repeatedly until something different finally happens and the girl lives. It took me a little while to get into this book since I wasn't interested in the setting. I didn't want to read about a bunch of crazy kids in an institution-like school. But, I kept reading and I really enjoyed it. I got really nervous when I hit page 200 and the plot still wasn't really unfolding. You could figure parts of the story out, but it was a very, very slow reveal. I did find a few faults with the story, but I was smiling when I finished it and that's all that matters to me anymore. I do like that Kate left a ton of questions opened. She's smart and forcing me to read book 2.

Fade (Dream Catcher, #2) - Lisa McMann

Another wonderful story. I really like the main characters. Wake was a little better, because you didn't know the roles all the characters played at the time, but this one was still great.

*Twilight (Twilight, #1) - Stephenie Meyer

Another Faust - Daniel and Dina Nayeri

There were moments when I got interested, but there were also moments when I completely lost interest. It's a modern version of Faust.

Kitty's House of Horrors ( Kitty Norville, #7) - Carrie Vaughn

This one was okay, but I miss the dynamic Cormac added to the story. I can't wait until he's back in the next one.

* = Reread

Glass House (The Morganville Vampires, #1) - Rachel Caine

I'm on the fence. I hear such great things about the series, but I wasn't sure after this one. I love the characters, but the story was a little dull for me. I'll keep reading to see.

The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires, #2) - Rachel Caine
A little better, but not much. I guess the quality doesn't matter since she's got me hooked on her characters despite the fact. That means I'll keep reading for the sake of finding out what will happen to them.

Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires, #3) - Rachel Caine

Okay, much better. I'm glad I stuck with it. Hopefully the next one gets even better.

Feast of Fools - (The Morganville Vampires, #4) - Rachel Caine

This is the book that sets the next few in motion. It's entertaining and it helped to get me interested in the series. I thought Book 3 might have been a fluke at first. I liked the ones after this one even more so.

Lord of Misrule - (The Morganville Vampires, #5) - Rachel Caine

Carpe Corpus - (The Morganville Vampires, #6) - Rachel Caine

Fade Out - (The Morganville Vampires, #7) - Rachel Caine

Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1) - Eoin Colfer

Ehh. I'll have to read book 2 before I form an opinion on this series. I'm currently on the fence.

Metro Girl (Alex Barnaby, #1) - Janet Evanovich

It's a cute little fluffy series. Good for really light reading. However, it seems like Evanovich uses the same exact character types as the Plum novels and a lot of the same phrases. She needs to diversify a bit.

Motor Mouth (Alex Barnaby, #2) - Janet Evanovich

Fowl Play - Janet Evanovich

Full House (Full Series, #1) - Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes

They're all cheesy, but cute. It's a romance series with a little humor and mystery mixed in.

Full Tilt (Full Series, #2) - Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes

Full Speed (Full Series, #3) - Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes

Full Blast (Full Series, #4) - Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes

Full Bloom (Full Series, #5) - Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes

Full Scoop (Full Series, #6) - Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes

The Grand Finale - Janet Evanovich

Hot Stuff - Janet Evanovich and Leanne Banks
Most of Evanovich's stuff is not what you'd consider great works of literature, but they're usually entertaining. This one was OK, but not something I would recommend. It wasn't very good. I am reading the single titles now simply because I have read everything else she wrote.

Naughty Neighbor - Janet Evanovich

Redundant. Just like her other stories.

Smitten - Janet Evanovich
Cute little fluffy romance. I like that Evanovich can do romance without all of the explicit details.

One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, #1) - Janet Evanovich

A cute little murder mystery. The whole series is a lot of fun. A comedy of errors I guess you could say... Stephanie Plum's a bounty hunter, but she's not a very good one. She's got two really great mean in her life that provide the reader with a lot of entertainment. Lulu (her sidekick) gets annoying at times, but at other moments your laughing hysterically. I had a hard time not busting up laughing out in public when reading these books. They're absolutely crazy and they'll help you de-stress. Don't expect them to be literary masterpieces, but expect to be thankful for your own family after reading about hers. I feel the need to return to the shooting range after reading some of these books.

Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum, #2) - Janet Evanovich

Three to Get Deadly (Stephanie Plum, #3) - Janet Evanovich

Four to Score (Stephanie Plum, #4) - Janet Evanovich

High Five (Stephanie Plum, #5) - Janet Evanovich

Hot Six (Stephanie Plum, #6) - Janet Evanovich

Seven Up (Stephanie Plum, #7)- Janet Evanovich

Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum, #8) - Janet Evanovich

To the Nines (Stephanie Plum, #9) - Janet Evanovich

Ten Big One's (Stephanie Plum, #10) - Janet Evanovich

Eleven on Top (Stephanie Plum, #11) - Janet Evanovich

Twelve Sharp (Stephanie Plum, #12) - Janet Evanovich

Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum, #13) - Janet Evanovich

Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum, #14) - Janet Evanovich

Finger Lickin' Fifteen (Stephanie Plum, #15) - Janet Evanovich

Visions of Sugar Plums (Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers/Holiday Novel, #1) - Janet Evanovich

Plum Lovin' (Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers/Holiday Novel, #2) - Janet Evanovich


Plum Lucky (Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers/Holiday Novel, #3) - Janet Evanovich

Plum Spooky (Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers/Holiday Novel, #4) - Janet Evanovich

Why was this a holiday novel? I thought it'd have to do with Halloween, but there aren't any holidays mentioned. Did she just forget what the title was? Despite being misleading, this was the best of the Between the Numbers. Ranger was in it a little more and that makes all the difference. =)

Thanksgiving - Janet Evanovich
There were parts that were a little cute in this book, but the main character's obsession with getting married just got weird and annoying. I'm wondering if the quick marriage is a pattern in Evanovich books. They tend to happen frequently (with the exception of Stephanie Plum). She needs to get more creative.

Hush, Hush - Bella Fitzpatrick

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL! I enjoyed it. The flirting was very well done. Plus, the story was entertaining. You figured a little bit out, but there were still plot twists and a lot of suspense that kept you interested. I think this has the potential to beat out Twilight for a YA favorite if enough people give it a try. I'm not looking forward to waiting a year for book 2.

Cravings - Laurell K. Hamilton, Mary Janice Davidson, Eileen Wilks, and Rebecca York

Very cute "girly" stories. I'm curious to read something else by Wilks and York.

A Caress of Twilight (Meredith Gentry, #2) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Seduced by Moonlight (Meredith Gentry, #3) - Laurell K. Hamilton

A Stroke of Midnight (Meredith Gentry, #4) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Mistral's Kiss (Meredith Gentry, #5) - Laurell K. Hamilton
I give the second half of the book 4.5 stars, but the fact that almost 1/2 of the book seemed to be sex kills the whole thing. I guess you have to have sex scenes when your main character is the decedent of fertility deities, but still. I get why it's there, but 3-4 chapters on one sex scene is a little overboard. She's hiding behind the scenes when she's perfectly capable of writing wonderful plots. I hope to see her go back to her earlier writing.

A Lick of Frost (Meredith Gentry, #6) - Laurell K. Hamilton

This one and book 7 were my favorites of the series. I went from almost in tears to terrified to excited. It's the first Gentry book to evoke real emotion from me. Perhaps that makes me biased, but if an author can make me feel like that then I'm content.
Swallowing Darkness (Meredith Gentry, #7) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Enjoyable and eventful. It all starts coming together. (For now at least.)

Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry, #8) - Laurell K. Hamilton

I enjoyed it, but it didn't stand out. If I weren't already attached to the characters I might not have enjoyed it.

Strange Candy- Laurell K. Hamilton

Most of the stories were cute and entertaining. A few were boring, but not many. The cover of this book does not match anything in it. Hamilton went for the bondage look on the cover (eek), but they're all cute little stories that really don't involve anything that strenuous. She should have saved the cover for a different book if she enjoyed it that much.

Wake (Dream Catcher, #1) - Lisa McMann

Wonderful story. Very different than the things I've read. At first I didn't think I'd like the format of the book, but I got past that very quickly. I can't wait to read book 2.

Death du Jour (Temperance Brennan, #2) - Kathy Reichs

I liked it better than book one. I'm curious about Ryan and Brennan. =)

Reign or Shine (Demon Princess, #1) - Michelle Rowan

Super cute YA book. I'm excited for book 2 to see what Rhys is up to. FYI - Reading the first chapter teaser at the end of a book is a bad idea. It just torments you.

Time Raiders: The Avenger - P.C. Cast

Hello, Gorgeous! - MaryJanice Davidson

Fluff. But the Eastern European dude was yummy. (Ya, i know, it's odd to hear me use the word yummy.)

The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #2) - Laurell K. Hamilton

I loved it. I liked the first one, but I think this one has gotten me hooked.

Circus of the Damned (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #3) - Laurell K. Hamilton

The Lunatic Cafe (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #4) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Bloody Bones (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #5) - Laurell K. Hamilton
I love how the experiences in your life change who you are. Anita tries so hard to be morally righteous, but since the Voodoo priestess she has made a few exceptions. What do you do when someone is threatening someones life? Stand there, watching to save your own. Or risk your own life in what seems to be a no win situation. Is it stupid to save yourself? Or, to idly standby when someone's in need? Jewish law says to save others unless your own life will be forfeited. All life is precious, but y...more
I love how the experiences in your life change who you are. Anita tries so hard to be morally righteous, but since the Voodoo priestess she has made a few exceptions. What do you do when someone is threatening someones life? Stand there, watching to save your own. Or risk your own life in what seems to be a no win situation. Is it stupid to save yourself? Or, to idly standby when someone's in need? Jewish law says to save others unless your own life will be forfeited. All life is precious, but yours is the most precious. I've never heard of a specific law in any other religion, but maybe they exist. I use this debate when discussing the Holocaust, Russian pogroms, Rwanda, etc. It was interesting to see someone battle with the idea in a supernatural situation. I'd much prefer to study it in fiction than to have someone experience it first hand.

The Killing Dance (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #6) - Laurell K. Hamilton

There was something about this book that I absolutely loved. I consumed this book.

Burnt Offerings (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #7) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Blue Moon (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #8) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Obsidian Butterfly (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #9) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Narcissus in Chains (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #10) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Cerulean Sins (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #11) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Incubus Dreams (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #12) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Wow, I don't think I needed to know that some of those things were possible....

Micah (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #13) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Short. Not much of a build up to the climax.

Dance Macabre (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #14) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Initially, Hamilton had a great series. Then, she brought sex into it, but she used it to further the plot so it wasn't all that trashy. Now it's just getting odd. Reading about 2 people in bed is weird enough for my comfort zone, but when she added 3 I was very uncomfortable and not in the least bit wanting to know about their experience. (Just not my thing...) Now that she's managed to shove 4 people in, I'm really ready to use some unpleasant words to describe the main character. If she tries for 5 in the next book I think I'll quit reading.

The Harlequin (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #15) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Much much better! She had a much better plot for this one. It feels more like her earlier books and that's a compliment. I liked the story line and I found myself getting sucked in and unable to put it down. I'm glad that Hamilton is back to writing well. Richard's an idiot.

Blood Noir (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #16) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Still better than books 12 and 13. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. However, I think it's just because I didn't get behind the premise, not that she didn't do a decent job with what she had. I like that you got to know Jason better during this book, but I'm still wanting to smack Richard.

Skin Trade (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #17) - Laurell K. Hamilton
Loved it! Anita's kind of falling apart. However, this was even more like her earlier books and I really liked the mix of police work and the supernatural craziness that surrounds Anita. She hasn't raised zombies in a few books. That's okay though. It's just odd when they leave the police work out of the story. It feels strange to be done with the story and forced to wait for the next book to come out. It'll be out in February so I won't have to wait long, but after 17 books in a row it was hard to stop and move on to something else. I lived and breathed Anita Blake for 2 weeks.

A Kiss of Shadow (Meridith Gentry, #1) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Sunshine - Robin McKinley

Really interesting story, but it got bogged down too frequently with excessive information. She tried to create her world a little too well and ruined it by 2-4 page explanations right in the middle of a climatic moment in the book. It killed the fluidity of the story. However, the story was still really really interesting and I enjoyed it despite the fact that it took me a few days to get through it.

Shadowland (The Immortals, #3) - Alyson Noel

I thought it'd have a bigger ending. I still love the series, but I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous ones.

Deja Dead (Temperance Brennan, #1) - Kathy Reichs

Very technical. I was entertained, but I don't have to instantaneously go out and read book 2.

Sunbird - Wilbur Smith

Normally I swear by Wilbur Smith, but this one was just okay. There were a lot of interesting parts, but it was a little weird for me.

Sea Glass (Glass, #2) - Maria V. Snyder

I've really enjoyed the series. There are moments when I think that she has gone off on a tangent, but it ALMOST always ties back in (all but one thing). I'm sure that the new magician will come into play in previous books, but the kid wasn't referred to again in this book. I kept waiting for something about him since the book is entitled Sea Glass, but they never did figure out the message. Maybe it's what book 3 will be about.

Poison Study (Study, #1) - Maria V. Snyder

The whole series was wonderfully well written and entertaining. Start with the Study series and then move onto Glass. Each of the books were written at the same level. Unlike some series, they do not get worst as you continue to read them. Poison Study was my favorite, but Fire Study was also very good. (Valek is my favorite).

Assassin Study (Study, #1.5) - Maria V. Snyder

Magic Study (Study, #2) - Maria V. Snyder

Fire Study (Study, #3) - Maria V. Snyder

Power Study (Study novella) - Maria V. Snyder

Powers of Detection: Stories of Mystery and Fantasy - Dana Stabenow

It's a collection of short stories by different authors. It's not worth reading.

Thirsty - M.T. Anderson

Seriously, not much to it. Guys might like it a bit more than girls would.

Frostbitten (Women of the Otherworld, #10) - Kelley Armstrong

I took my time with this book and just let myself enjoy it. I love the series, but Elaina and Clay are my favorite characters so I was excited to get back into their world. By book 10 most series have started to fall short, but after book 9 and 10 I think Kelley Armstrong is doing a wonderful job at keeping her stories fresh and exciting. It was well written.. (I know a lot of these supernatural books are cheesy and light, but Armstrong has the ability to put together a well written novel instead of just a fun fluff read.

Tempted (House of Night #6) - P.C. Cast
I luv me some P.C. Cast. (Awe, look, the twins have rubbed off on me.)

The Van Allen Legacy (Blue Bloods, #4) - Melissa de la Cruz

I liked this one better than the others. She's continuing to become a better writer with each book as I've said in the past. This one did a much better job at working up to a climax and then actually having something big happen (that didn't end in a page). I'm sure she'll continue to get better, but it's nice to see her progressing.

Undead and Unwed (Undead, #1) - MaryJanice Davidson

I was laughing most of the time. It was hilarious. It's absolute fluff and there's no reason to read it other than to have a good laugh. Most males will probably fail to find it funny, but if you're looking to de-stress and just enjoy something trivial this will do wonders for you.

Undead and Unemployed (Undead, #2) - MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unappreciated (Undead, #3) - MaryJanice Davidson

Hehe. Conversations with Satan at Orange Julius. I should have known there was something wrong with that place.

Undead and Unreturnable (Undead, #4) -MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unpopular (Undead, #5) - MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Uneasy (Undead, #6) - MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unworthy (Undead, #7) - MaryJanice Davidson

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

Sleeping with the Fishes (Fred the Mermaid, #1) - MaryJanice Davidson

Swimming Without a Net (Fred the Mermaid, #2) - MaryJanice Davidson

Fish Out of Water (Fred the Mermaid, #3) - MaryJanice Davidson

Derik's Bane - MaryJanice Davidson

The Royal Treatment (Alaskan Royal Family, #1) - MaryJanice Davidson

I enjoy MJD, but all her characters are exactly the same. Betsy, Fred, Christina... all the same girls, with very minor differences. I'd like to see her try something new.

The Royal Pain (Alaskan Royal Family, #2) - MaryJanice Davidson

Just a tinsy bit better than book !. The chemistry is better between the main characters.

The Royal Mess (Alaskan Royal Family, #3) - MaryJanice Davidson

This is my favorite of the series.

Dead Over Heels - MaryJanice Davidson

A collection of 3 short stories that go along with the Undead and Fred the Mermaid series. They were all cute.

Drop Dead, Gorgeous! (Gorgeous, #2) - MaryJanice Davidson

Not very good.

Really Unusual Bad Boys -MaryJanice Davidson

Valentine's Day Is Killing Me - MaryJanice Davidson, Leslie Esdaile, and Susanna Carr

Dark Prince (Carpathians, #1) - Christine Feehan

If there had been more to the plot it could have had potential. I liked the last Carpathians book I read (#14), but I wasn't thrilled with this one. It seemed like it dragged a bit (what plot there was between romance scenes). I'll keep trying some in hopes that the plot sections get better. Plus, I've already checked most of the series out and I feel like I have to read them because of that.

Dark Desires (Carpathians, #2) - Christine Feehan

Dark Magic (Carpathians, #4) - Christine Feehan

Ya, I know, I read them out of order. I started reading book 4 and then realized it wasn't book 3. Oh well. I figured I should just keep reading since I was already 50 pages in.
I'm starting to find a pattern with these books. It's almost like the girl is getting rapped in each one. Ya, so she's found her lifemate, her other half in the context of the book, and the guy always just has to have her. Well, the girl always says no the first time even though part of her feels some connection to the guy (duh, it's her other half...i get it...) but the guy has his way with her anyway. I'm sorry! She said no! To continue constitutes rape. And this lady got awards for her romantic stories. I'm sorry, but rape isn't romance. Now, in the later ones I happened to have read this wasn't the case, but in books 1,2, and 4 it is. (I'm sure I'll see it in the third one too). So, afterward the girl is always pissed off and I would be too, but by the end of the story all is well. In the context of the story one half can't survive without the other, but if they're truly that connected the guy should stop and control his "animal instincts." Can authors avoid having their main characters be raped by someone that loves them and then have everything be okay? It seems like people could get the idea that it's okay as long as the person who did it is their "soul mate". If they're your soul mate they'd back off and let you go at your own pace.

Evernight (Evernight, #1) - Claudia Gray

Odd twist to the vampire story. I enjoyed it.

Stargazer (Evernight, #2) - Claudia Gray

Red Rose and Snow White: A Grimms Fairytale - Grimm Brothers

Read to the class. Better than Halloween, but still not a good book.

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #1) - Laurell K. Hamilton

A Touch of Dead - Charlaine Harris

A compilation of short stories from the Sookie Stackhouse series. The books are much better.

Grave Secret (Harper Connelly, #4) - Charlaine Harris

Harper can sense dead people. She can feel where bodies are and is able to "see" the last few moments before someone's death and/or what they died of. In this book, Harper finally figures out what happened to her sister who has been missing since high school. It's no better or worst than the previous Harper books. You get exactly what you expected.

Chocolate - Joanne Harris

Cute. I had a hard time getting the movie characters out of my head and just letting the book take over. Because of that, I never managed to become fully consumed by the book.

Beauty (A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast) - Robin McKinley

It was beautiful. If you like the story of Beauty and the Beast you should like this.

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

I loved it and thought it was amazingly well written. It's absolutely beautiful and it made me cry more than once.

Evermore (The Immortals, #1) - Alyson Noel

LOVED it! It's cute and interesting. I didn't want to put it down.

Blue Moon (The Immortals, #2) - Alyson Noel

Tall, Dark, and Fangsome (Immortality Bites, #5) - Michelle Rowen

I'm sorry to hear that this is the last book in the series. I liked Thierry and Quinn.

The Alchemyst (Nicholas Flammel, #1) - Michael Scott

I wasn't really pulled in by the book. I'll see if book #2 gets any better because I'm the type of person that just has to finish a series, but I labored through this one.

Halloween - Jerry Seinfeld

It's a kids book. The kids liked it. I hated it.

Secret Vampire (Night World, #1) - L.J. Smith

I liked James' character. It makes a better short story than a book, but it's cute. The climax is not exactly a big deal. However, the series looks really interesting.

Daughters of Darkness (Night World, #2) - L.J. Smith

Spellbinder (Night World, #3) - L.J. Smith

Storm Glass (Glass, #1) - Maria V. Snyder

Really interesting. I liked the technical explanations of glass making mixed with the fantasy storyline. The main character is a girl who can instill magic into glass. In the beginning of the book she's able to create animal pieces that can be used for communication (like a phone). As the story continues and the drama unfolds, she discovers that she can do a lot more than she ever would have imagined. I think that both males (probably) and females could get interested in this one.

Kitty Raises Hell (Kitty Norville, #6) - Carrie Vaughn

It was a lot of fun

Fanged & Fabulous (Immortality Bites, #2) - Michelle Rowan

Lady & the Vamp (Immortality Bites, #3) - Michelle Rowan

Stakes & Stilettos (Immortality Bites, #4) - Michelle Rowan

The Immortality Bites series is light reading, but I really like the main character for some reason. Maybe it's just that she seems so to be such an average person. The series is really cute and I'll keep reading future books.

Angel with Attitude - Michelle Rowan

I liked it, but for some reason I didn't get into it. I don't know if that's because of my personal schedule or if it was something about the book. Let me know what you thought about it if you've read it. It had a lot of good drama in it. Maybe I was just missing the main character from the Immortality Bites series. Who knows...

Succubus on Top (Georgina Kincaid, #2) - Richelle Mead

Succubus Dreams (Georgina Kincaid, #3) - Richelle Mead

Succubus Heat (Georgina Kincaid, #4) - Richelle Mead

I loved this series. The first one was my favorite, but I can't wait for the next book. Book 4 had me freaking out a bit. I can't believe some of the stuff that happened! Yeah for Richelle Mead! She's able to keep me entertained. (Unlike Vampire Academy, this is not a young adult series.)

Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand ( Kitty Norville, #5) - Carrie Vaughn

Cute. Ben and Kitty confuse me at times. They aren't uber romantic as a couple. I don't see them together, nor do I really fell it from the books. but I still like the characters so I'll keep reading.

Murder With Puffins (Meg Langslow, #2) - Donna Andrews

Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos (Meg Langslow, #3) - Donna Andrews

Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon (Meg Langslow, #4) - Donna Andrews

We'll Always Have Parrots (Meg Langslow, #5) - Donna Andrews

Owls Well That Ends Well (Meg Langslow, #6) - Donna Andrews

No Nest for the Wicket (Meg Langslow, #7) - Donna Andrews

The Penguin Who Knew Too Much (Meg Langslow, #8) - Donna Andrews

The Meg Langslow series was also light and carefree. I loved Meg and Micheal in the beginning, but her and Micheal's relationship seems like it's been suffering since the reenactment. They seem almost like siblings rather than a couple. He's just along for the ride as an extra character. The books don't have to turn all romantic, but their relationship is definitely lacking. I feel sorry for the guy. The family antics, while meant to be odd, get to be just a little too much. Book four was my favorite, but towards the end of the series the situations just became more and more unrealistic. Not that the previous books weren't bizarre, but I started to roll my eyes a bit more frequently during book 6 and from there onward I just shook my head a lot.

Master of the Night (Mageverse, #2) - Angela Knight

I like the premise, but there's a lot of sex. A lot! I like the whole Aurthurian legends thing so I'd like to keep seeing what happens in the Mageverse, but I'm not sure if I can handle another book with that many "scenes". I'm sure the fact that once I start a series I feel the need to finish them will win out despite my fears, but I think I'll have to space these out if I do keep reading. Plus, it was just plain cheesy.

The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, #3) - Dan Brown

It took me about 120-140 pages to actually get sucked into The Lost Symbol. Maybe it's the fact that I didn't have the Louvre, or the Vatican to engage my mind in the beginning. I felt like the book picks up after they leave the library and everything starts to get more interesting. Despite the fact that I got interested in it, and enjoyed it, I still didn't feel as consumed with the characters as I have in the past. Maybe it's because I kept picturing Nicholas Cage in National Treasure, rather than Langdon in some of the scenes. Also, it almost seemed as if there was no need for them to go exploring in D.C. since the clues where all in one location. I think I like the idea of one clue leading to the next - with said clue being in a different location/on a different object.

What I did like about this book is the same thing I've loved about the other Robert Langdon books, the symbolism and the integration of art and architecture. I got a lot of new information that I can research and then hopefully use in the classroom, along with some really great quotes. Brown has a way of making art and symbolism fun and exciting and that's always something one needs when describing it to high school students. I never included the Washington Monument or the National Cathedral before, but I think I will now. Even if it's just a mini-lesson on the art and arch of D.C.

Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning, #2) - P.C. Cast

Goddess of Light (Goddess Summoning, #3) - P.C. Cast

Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning, #4) - P.C. Cast

Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning, #5) - P.C. Cast

Warrior Rising (Goddess Summoning, #6) - P.C. Cast

I loved them. The first one was odd in the beginning, but I'm glad I kept reading. (The main character in the first book talks to herself and inanimate objects a little too frequently at the beginning.) I loved Hades in the second book. He made me want to go to the underworld to search for my very own Batman ;). I loved Apollo in the 3rd book and Vulcan in book 5. The fact that P.C. Cast made a Wilbur Smith reference in book 4 proves beyond a doubt that she has good taste. I love Wilbur and it made my day.

My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (Dark-Hunter, #7; Sookie Stackhouse, #6.1; Dresden Files, #7.5) - P.N. Elrod

I read threw this as fast as I could because nothing seemed to be interesting at all. It was a waste of my day.

Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely, #1) - Melissa Marr

Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely, #2) - Melissa Marr

Fragile Eternity (Wicked Lovely, #3) - Melissa Marr

I was pleasantly surprised. For some reason I didn't expect much out of these, but I thought Melissa Marr did a wonderful job. The stories were great. I hope they turn these into a movie. I see some great potential.

Usual Suspects: Stories of Mystery and Fantasy (Sookie Stackhouse, #8.1) - Dana Stabenow

I wasted my time.

Bite (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #8.5; Sookie Stackhouse, #5.1; Mageverse, #3) - Laurell K. Hamilton

Some of these were really good. I liked most of the stories.

Many Bloody Returns (The Dresden Files, #9.1; Sookie Stackhouse, #7.1) - Charlaine Harris

I was indifferent to it. Nothing amazing, but some of you might enjoy it.

Hot Blooded (Carpathians, #14; Mageverse, #1) - Christine Feehan

I liked the Carpathians story. This was a little too "hot" for my preferences.

Blood Lite (Dark Hunter, #9; The Dresden Files #10) - Kevin J. Anderson

Not worth reading at all.

Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville, #1) - Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Goes to Washington (Kitty Norville, #2) - Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Takes a Holiday (Kitty Norville, #3) - Carrie Vaughn

Kitty and the Silver Bullet (Kitty Norville, #4) - Carrie Vaughn

The series is light easy reading, but I really enjoy it. It's good to just relax with and have a fun read. Some of you might find it a little cheesy, but there's something about it I enjoyed and I'll keep reading them.

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1) - Richelle Mead

Frosbite (Vampire Academy, #2) - Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3) - Richelle Mead

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, #4) - Richelle Mead

I just picked up the series on a whim not expecting it to be anything but cheesy, but I've fallen in love with it. I'm already waiting for the next one impatiently. Book 3 was my favorite.

Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1) - Richelle Mead

Absolutely loved it. Read it! Enough said...

Marked (House of Night, #1) - P.C. Cast

Betrayed (House of Night, #2) - P.C. Cast

Chosen (House of Night, #3) - P.C. Cast

Untamed (House of Night, #4) - P.C. Cast

Hunted (House of Night, #5) - P.C. Cast

I really liked this series. They end a little oddly, but that's because the next book picks up right were the last one left off so the transition straight from one to the next. I'm not sure what it is about the series that has grabbed me, but I really got behind Zoey. I'm also loving Eric, but I feel sorry for the poor guy. The next book is out at the end of October and I plan to go to a signing in November. I'm looking forward to meeting the author.

Goddess of the Sea (Goddess Summoning, #1) - P.C. Cast

I was tentative with this one when I started, but the author managed to pull me in. I thought it was fun. And it got me interested in the rest of the series.

Site Unseen: An Emma Fielding Mystery - Dana Cameron

It was okay. I might read more, but I'm not sure yet.

Mysteria - Mary Janice Davidson

Mysteria Lane - Mary Janice Davidson

These were fun. I like the witch sisters.

Blue Bloods ( Blue Bloods, #1) - Melissa de la Cruz

Masquerade (Blue Bloods, #2) - Melissa de la Cruz

Revelations ( Blue Bloods, #3) - Melissa de la Cruz

I like the idea behind the books, but the author is still learning. Each book gets a little better, but she's not there yet. In the first book there's this big build and then you find out that the climax was the big build up. Each book after that, there's a bit more of a distinctive "climax" to the book, but I don't feel like she's there just yet. The stories are interesting enough that I'll keep reading to see how she progresses, but I wouldn't reread them.

Murder With Peacocks (Meg Langslow, #1) - Donna Andrews

Bitten & Smitten (Immortality Bites, #1) - Michelle Rowan

So adorable!

I started some really good series this month. The Charlaine Harris books were still light and fun, but it was the Women of the Other World and the Mortal Instrument series that really captured my attention. Kelley Armstrong and Cassandra Clare did a wonderful job. The Mortal Instrument series is for young adults. It got slow once or twice, but it sucked me in and I had to keep reading. The Women of the Other World series was amazing! I got sucked in and couldn't put them down. Armstrong is a good writer and you really get behind her characters. Bitten and Industrial Magic stand out as my two favorites.


The Summoning (Darkest Powers, #1) - Kelley Armstrong

The Awakening (Darkest Powers, #2) - Kelley Armstrong

Shakespear's Christmas (Lily Bard Mystery, #3) - Charlaine Harris

Shakespear's Trollop (Lily Bard Mystery, #4) - Charlaine Harris

Shakespear's Counselor (Lily Bard Mystery, #5) - Charlaine Harris

Real Murders (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #1) - Charlaine Harris

A Bone to Pick (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #2) - Charlaine Harris

Three Bedrooms, One Corpse (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #3) - Charlaine Harris

The Julius House (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #4) - Charlaine Harris

Dead Over Heels (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #5) - Charlaine Harris

A Fool and His Honey (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #6) - Charlaine Harris

Last Scene Alive (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #7) - Charlaine Harris

Poppy Done to Death (Aurora Teagarden Mystery, #8) - Charlaine Harris

Sweet and Deadly - Charlaine Harris

A Secret Rage - Charlaine Harris

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Sookie Stackhouse, #8.2; Kitty Norville, #2.2) - Charlaine Harris

Bitten (Women of the Otherworld, #1) - Kelley Armstrong

Stolen (Women of the Otherworld, #2) - Kelley Armstrong

Dime Store Magic (Women of the Otherworld, #3) - Kelley Armstrong

Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld, #4) - Kelley Armstrong

Haunted (Women of the Otherworld, #5) - Kelley Armstrong

Broken (Women of the Otherworld, #6) - Kelley Armstrong

No Humans Involved (Women of the Otherworld, #7) - Kelley Armstrong

Personal Demon (Women of the Otherworld, #8) - Kelley Armstrong

Living with the Dead ( Women of the Otherworld, #9) - Kelley Armstrong

Men of the Otherworld - Kelley Armstrong

City of Bones ( Mortal Instruments, #1) - Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes ( Mortal Instruments, #2) - Cassandra Clare

City of Glass (Mortal Instruments, #3) - Cassandra Clare

The Bellini Madonna: A Novel - Elizabeth Lowry

The World Greatest Book of Useless Information: If You Thought You Knew All the Things You Didn't Need to Know - Think Again - Noel Botham

I enjoyed all of Charlaine Harris' books. They're a little cheesy, but they keep you entertained and that's what matters. They are great for reading over the summer or on a vacation. My favorite this month was Dead to the World. I got so sucked in. And, Eric....swoon! It was just really cute. I was also really excited for the new Wilbur Smith book.


Assegai - Wilbur Smith

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1) - Charlaine Harris

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, #2) - Charlaine Harris

Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #3) - Charlaine Harris

Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, #4) - Charlaine Harris

Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse, #5) - Charlaine Harris

Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #6) - Charlaine Harris

All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #7) - Charlaine Harris

From Dead to Worse ( Sookie Stackhouse, #8) - Charlaine Harris

Dead and Gone ( Sookie Stackhouse, #9) - Charlaine Harris

Grave Sight ( Harper Connelly Mystery, #1) - Charlaine Harris

Grave Surprise ( Harper Connelly Mystery, #2) - Charlaine Harris

An Ice Cold Grave ( Harper Connelly Mystery, #3) - Charlaine Harris

Shakespear's Landlord (Lily Bard Mystery, #1) - Charlaine Harris

Shakespear's Champion (Lily Bard Mystery, #2) - Charlaine Harris

Blue Horizon - Wilbur Smith

The Angels Weep - Wilbur Smith

The Leopard Hunts in Darkness - Wilbur Smith

The Triumph of the Sun - Wilbur Smith

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

Men of Men - Wilbur Smith

Monsoon - Wilbur Smith

The Host - Stephanie Meyer

Twilight: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion - Mark Cotta Vaz

Interview with the Vampire ( The Vampire Chronicles, #1) - Anne Rice

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

Rage - Wilbur Smith

A Time to Die - Wilbur Smith

Golden Fox - Wilbur Smith

Birds of Prey - Wilbur Smith

A Falcon Flies - Wilbur Smith

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

The Wide Window ( A Series of Unfortunate Events, #3) - Lemony Snicket

The Miserable Mill ( A Series of Unfortunate Events, #4) - Lemony Snicket

*Midnight Sun (partial draft) - Stephanie Meyers

*Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea - Jules Verne

*The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) - Lemony Snicket

*Caesar - Christian Meier

*The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2) - Lemony Snicket

*Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

Okay, I really haven't read very much recently. I've been watching movies like crazy, but I just haven't been reading because of work and ... honestly, I hadn't found much to interest me. I need suggestions.


Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer



This better not be it! I want more! There's a whole eternity left for Bella to get into trouble!

Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer



Still hooked! Much better.

New Moon - Stephanie Meyer



This is probably the worst of the series. It was a fun read and I really liked it, but it's a bit torn up plot wise because of the circumstances. I think she did the best she could but it feels like the book is a little jumbled. If I hadn't already been sucked in by Twilight I wouldn't have been as willing to read on.


Twilight - Stephanie Meyer



I can't believe I got addicted to this, but I did. It's worth reading. I got sucked in by her ability to develop the characters (something the movie was horrible at). It made me miss Washington and the beautiful scenery, but it also made me more aware of things around me. It reminded me to pay attention to every second I have with my husband and to take everything in about him. I know him really well, but it made want to learn even more.
Besides all that, it was entertertaining. She misuses the word decimate several times, but I'll get over it. It's the relationships in the book that will suck you in and make you want to read the whole series. Meyer juxtaposes her stories with those of other well known novels - book 2 being very Romeo and Julietish - the most obvious of the comparisons. I think this is something I'l reread.


War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy



Good story. Move doesn't do it justice. I loved it, but most of you probably won't.\\


The Best Book of Useless Infomation Ever



Not so useless. ;)


Journey to the Center of the Earth - Jules Verne



First time I ever thought a movie was better than a book. Kind of sad, but I probably would have liked it more if I had read it as a kid.

Medici Money: Banking, Metaphysics, and Art in Fifteenth Century Florence - Tim Parks



Worth reading if you have any interest in the Medici or the time period. I really enjoyed it.


The President's Lady: A Novel About Rachel and Andrew Jackson - Irving Stone



Same as all the other one's I've read by him. It's sweet, entertaining, and worth reading. Read the new one on Jackson afterward because it picks up where this one ends. It's convenient.

I haven't posted since Feb so here's what I've read since then:

I've been incredibly busy recently and have not had the time to post. Nor have I had the time to read many books. Here's what I've managed to find time for:

American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China - Matthew Polly

This was a really interesting book. It's an autobiography about an average guy who decides that he's going to fly to China and learn how to fight like the Shaolin monks. He drops out of Yale, angers his family, and flys to China in the 80's. I really enjoyed it because it not only discribes a lot of different aspects of Chinese culture, but Matt is not afraid to tell you about the stupid mistakes he's made and the embarrassing moments that I would never have the curage to discuss with even my closest friends. I've never been interested in any type of martial arts in my life, but he made me actually consider it for a few moments. Although, give me an opportunity to live in another country and participate in its customs and I'm generally more than willing, as long as I can handle the food. (I hate being a picky eater!)

River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt - Wilbur Smith

I loved this book. I really got behind the characters and loved the heroins and hated the vilians. I was fully engaged in the book while reading. There was a bit of a love story envolved, but it was interesting because it was told from the perspective of a slave rather than a pharoh or warrior. Now, of course, this slave is supposidly the most talented person to have ever lived in Egypt, but at least that provides an opportunity for Smith to bring in art, architecture, advances in warfare, and technology. If you're interested in Egypt you might enjoy it. If you're an Egyptologist, you'll probably find an error or two.

The Book of Useless Information - Noel Botham

Hehe. Fun. Cute to keep you entertained on a long car ride.

The Book of Merlin - T.H. White

You know, I get it, but I still didn't like it. I tried reading this in high school and I got stuck on the communist ants. Again, I couldn't really get past it. I guess after The Once and Future King I was expecting a little more. I can just imagine how much trouble this book caused when it came out. If you love debates over which governmental system is best, here's a book for you.

The Aeneid - Virgil

This book reminded me a lot of The Illiad without the major listing of people. I loved the first part of the book, but my interests kind of tapered a bit after Dido's death. I had been wondering why schools don't make kids read this book over The Illiad since it was more entertaining, but after Dido's death, I stopped questioning the choice. I spent most of my time compairing the styles between Virgil and Homer and how writing had changed from Ancient Greek to Anciet Rome. It's an interesting comparison.

• The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Most people applaud this book as being amazing, as do I. The Kite Runner gives you a brief glimpse at the Russian and Taliban occupation of Afghanistan. (It's not the primary theme of the book, but a significant part of the book). I think it's so important because it shows people that not ever Afghan is pro Taliban, anti-America, etc. Not that I haven't understood that since the beginning, but I can't believe the amount of people out there that don't believe that Afghans are capable of independent thought and that they're all out to get "us." Well, they can think for themselves, and not everyone is pro violence. They've grown up in an era of violence and that's negatively influenced a lot of people, some just failed to cope with it properly.

Anyway, the basic plot is one that a lot of people can understand and I think it's both gut-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time. If you're not up for the read, watch the movie. I hear it's good too. Maybe I'll watch it someday. =)

• Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School At Home - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

I wish everyone would read this book. It was an amazing story that really inspires one to do something for the good of others. Greg Mortenson stays with a Pakistan village after a failed attempt at K2 and realizes that something as simple as a school would make a tremendous difference in their daily lives. He returns to the states and works hard to find money to fund the school he promised. His success leads to the creation of the Central Asia Institute (CAI) and many more schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Greg's story is inspiring and his work has had an amazing effect on the students in these poor villages. Check out his web site or donate a few pennies to Pennies for Peace. If you buy the book on Amazon, some of the money will go to the organization. It's worth it. This is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.

• Life of Pi - Yann Martell

I've contemplated this book for years. Every time I walked past it I'd stop and stare at the cover, wondering if it were worth my time. I'd pick it up, flip it over, and read the summary on the back. "I don't know," I'd say. I would flip it forward and backward wondering if it were worth my time. Every time I would put it down and think maybe I'd get it next time. I repeated this process, especially so in the last two years. I finally asked a few people about it in e-mails, but they seemed to respond to every question I had asked except for the one about the book. Apparently it wasn't memorable enough for them to praise it, or tell me it was horrific. Finally, I asked a friend over the phone and she said she liked it. I had this feeling that there would be something good within the pages of the book, but that summary was making me doubt myself. So, with some form of confirmation I finally purchased the book.

I loved it. The discussions on the nature of the beast and religion, this crazy boy who thought it was okay to be Christian, Muslim and Hindu, and of course, this elaborate story of one's life adrift. There were moments reading when I would relate to the character, but more often then not, I just felt like I understood him and his struggle. It was like no other book I've read. (Which is ironic seeing how there were questions about whether or not the author had plagiarized the book from a less successful version of a boy and a jaguar stuck on a boat.) It's worth a read.

"...a tie is a noose, and inverted though it is, it will hang a man nonetheless if he's not careful." - p. 6

• Paper Money - Ken Follett

This was the last Ken Follett book left for me to read. I understand why it's one of his most successful, unsuccessful novels. It was entertaining and worth reading, but you can also see why it wasn't a worldwide hit. It's different from his other books in that there are tons of characters, some of which are good and others are bad, but in this book there is no real hero. No one stands up and saves the day. Events just happen. It seems much more realistic without someone willing to risk everything, maybe they'll put up a fight here or there, but they never fully throw themselves out there and risk it all. Well, maybe one character puts himself out there in the end, but there's nothing heroic about his deeds.

• Unnatural Exposure - Patricia Cornwell

Unnatural Exposure wasn't exceptionally well written, but it was entertaining. Not much more to say about it...

• Two Lives of Charlemagne - Einhard and Notker the Stammerer

This was a good book to read. Einhard takes a historical approach to his writing and gives a background of the Frank, his likes and dislikes, a list of his marriages and children, as well as his will. Notker the Stammerer, a monk, tells multiple stories or anecdotes. He tells stories that emphasize Charlemagne's intrests in religion, education, etc. Unlike Procopius, these two had nothing negative to say about Charlemagne, which means one should question the validity of the stories without further studies. Despite that, they're worth reading.

• Velazquez - Javier Portus

Portus gives a brief overview of the important artistic and personal influences on Velazquez. He doesn't spend much time analysing Velazquez's art outside of the context of who or what influenced the painter. However, he does discuss his royal patronage and the significance of his portraits in relation to that position. It's a quick read, but it's something to start with. I would not recommend using this as your only source on Velazquez though. It doesn't give you a complete understanding of the artist's works.

• The Secret History - Procopius

Talk about someone unhappy with their current government... Procopius assaults Justinian, Theodora, and Belisarius. It reads almost like an E! True Hollywood Story with a little soap opera thrown in. Without a decent knowledge of Justinians' reign it's hard to separate fact from fiction and the over exaggerations.

I find it rather frightening to see how competent government never seems to survive. There's always someone that will come along later and manage things inefficiently. Off course, that's not a suprise to anyone seeing how it seems to be a historically proven process that we will continue to cycle through.