Dead And Gone by Charlaine Harris

Dead And Gone
Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse mystery #9
Rating 5 stars

Read For:
What An Animal Challenge
42 Challenge


Synopsis:
A new Sookie Stackhouse book is always a treat! Sookie is a sexy, sassy cocktail waitress who works at Merlotte's Bar in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She's just a regular gal, with all the normal hopes and fears, about dating, boys and life in general - oh, and she's telepathic. And her boyfriends have included Vampire Bill, her first love and the were-tiger Quinn. And Bon Temps is a pretty normal rural town, where murders are mercifully rare. Well, maybe not that rare, as Sookie keeps finding out in this award-winning, New York Times bestselling series! And this autumn Sookie comes to the small screen in True Blood, created by Alan Ball (Six feet Under) and starring Anna Paquin as the irrepressible heroine.

My Review:
My husband was able to get this newest Sookie book at our library so as you can see I had to play "catch up" and read All Together Dead and From Dead To Worse so I could read Dead and Gone before it had to be returned to the library. Of these three, Dead and Gone is hands down better than the previous two! My husband flew through the book first and stated that he felt was the best of the series so far, and I agree. The action, "hot" romance and mood of this story was very much "larger than life". The final "battle royale" put me very much in the mindset as when I read Harry Potter 7. Some semi-pivotal characters are "Xed" out of the story, one way or another.

The story is "almost" written, dare I say, that Charlaine could stop the series right here if she so chose-GASP! LOL. Now, I don't think that's the CASE, but Dead and Gone definitely has a "wrap up" feel.

Finally-without giving up too much: If you are on "Team Eric"-you MUST read Dead and Gone:)
5 stars!

From Dead To Worse by Charlaine Harris

From Dead To Worse
Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse Mystery #8
Rating 4 stars

Read For:
A To Z Challenge
What An Animal Challenge
42 Challenge

Synposis:

After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the manmade explosion at the vampire summit, everyone--human and otherwise--is stressed, including Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who is trying to cope with the fact that her boyfriend Quinn has gone missing.

It's clear that things are changing--whether the weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie--Friend to the Pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, leader of the local vampire community--is caught up in the changes.

In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death, and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood finished flowing, her world will be forever altered.

My Review:
In some ways better than the last book but the story seemed more like a series of short storylines than a main theme. While that didn't upset this reader, as a "slice of life" in the Sookie world is always enjoyable, this book would be VERY confusing for anyone not aqquainted with the series.
I like that it appears that Quinn, the weretiger may be exiting Soookie's life as he's just become an increasingly annoying character, and I'm equally glad to see Sookie's relationship with Eric seeming to go to the front burner as well. All in all, not the best Sookie story but even a mediocre Sookie story is way better than most other Vampire books out there.
4 stars.

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

All Together Dead
Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse Vampire Mystery #7
Rating 4.5 stars

Read For:
42 Challenge
What An Animal Reading Challenge
Read Your Name Challenge
Spring 09 Challenge


Synopsis:
Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit.

The summit is a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

My Review:
All Together Dead, to me, started out a bit slow. I don't particularly like the Quinn character so that may have been the problem. Fortunately about 80 pages in, when Sookie and Eric meet again, the books action ramps up and it's a great book after that.

Another fantastic book in the series! 4.5 stars.

Dove's Way by Linda Francis Lee

Dove's Way
Linda Francis Lee
Historical Romance-Victorian Era
Rating 5 stars

Read For:
RYOB Challenge
What An Animal Challenge
Spring 09 Challenge
Victorian Challenge
Themed Reading Challenge
1st In A Series Challenge
Chick Porn Challenge
Serial Readers Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge 2009



Synopsis: "Even months after that day on the train, her face still haunted my dreams. And I was sure the feel of her in my arms would stay with me forever. But then one night, she stepped back into my life as if walking into my dreams. . . ."

Matthew Hawthorne saved Finnea Winslet's life one day on a train in Africa. But Finnea didn't know that on that day she saved his soul. Destroyed by scandal, Matthew would have been ostracized completely by the unyielding society of his birth had he not been such a powerful man. Matthew doesn't let himself care about anyone or anything, until Finnea arrives unexpectedly in Boston.

Raised in Africa, Finnea is as foreign to Bostonians as they are to her. Yet she is determined to make a life for herself there, so she turns to Matthew to learn the ways of that rigid town. But can Matthew help Finnea without losing what is left of his heart?

From the jungles of Africa to the heart of Boston society, DOVE'S WAY is an extraordinary tale of redeeming love that will rescue a man, and release a woman from the pain in her heart.

My Review: Dove's Way is a very moving and heartfelt Historical Romance. The storyline is set in Boston but is also halfway in Africa as that's where the two characters meet and where the heroine grows up. Finnea and Matthew are both "tortured" characters in their own ways. Finnea is very insecure in her familial relationships and Matthew was horribly injured and scarred in an accident. This story is very "high drama". You won't find yourself laughing or smiling during this book but it will probably make you tear up.

Some sexual chemistry, including a few fairly hot love scenes, nothing that should offend, in fact the scenes are more emotional than anything.

I'm looking forward to reading book two, Matthew's brother's Grayson's story in Swan's Grace.

5 stars.

The Bloodied Cravat by Rosemary Stevens

The Bloodied Cravat
Rosemary Stevens
291 pages
Rating 3.0 stars
Read For:
RYOB Challenge
Historical Fiction Challenge
A to Z Challenge
What An Animal Challenge

Synopsis:
The arbiter of fashion attends the Duchess of York's birthday party. But when a guest is murdered-with one of the Duchess' hairpins-Beau must clear her name and find the culprit.

My Review:
In this third Beau Brummell mystery, the story begins at Oatlands, The Duchess of York's country home. The Duchess is celebrating her birthday and Beau has bought a special present for her, one that his valet, Robinson, is bringing up in a separate carriage. Unfortunately, Robinson's carriage is set upon by highwaymen. The highwayman steal something precious to the Beau, something that, if brought to light, could ruin his life as well as The Duchess'.

The Bloodied Cravat was enjoyable, though not as good as books one and two in the series. Beau's a bit "off his game" in this story, though rightly so as what is happening to him. Once Mr Lavender and his daughter Lydia enter the story it picks up the pace again. I enjoy Beau's relationship with Lydia, and hope it continues in book 4.
I would still recommend The Bloodied Cravat for fans of Historical Mystery and Regency period enthusiasts.
3 stars.

The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood

• READ FOR:
• 1-RYOB Challenge
• 2-1st In A Series Challenge
• 3-What An Animal Challenge
• 4-Serial Readers Challenge
  

My Amazon Review:

Delicious fluff......,

January 5, 2009

Synopsis:
Christina Bennett had taken London society by storm. The ravishing beauty guarded the secret of her mysterious past until the night Lyon, Marquis of Lyonwood, stole a searching, sensuous kiss. An arrogant nobleman with a pirate's passions, he tasted the wild fire smoldering beneath Christina's cool charm and swore to posess her...

But the fiesty and defiant Christina would not be so easily conquered. Mistress of her heart and of her fortune, she resisted Lyon's sensuous caresses. She dared not surrender to his love...for then, she must also forsake her precious secret...and her promised destiny!

My Review:
This book is a prime example of how engaging writing can overcome many, sometimes glaring, flaws.

The premise is far fetched and historically inaccurate, the characters overblown and stereotypical, and the love scenes old school "bodice ripper". But, with all those flaws, did I enjoy this book? Heck yes!

Julie Garwood has a way of writing engaging characters that carry you along, despite the inaccuracies. Christina's "saga" was quite thrilling-being raised in the colonies by Indians (who call her Lioness) but seeking out her English heritage in adulthood, meeting the arrogant, brooding Marquis of Lyonwood, and upon hearing that he is called Lyon, decides then and there that he is her destiny:). Christina is a wonderfully strong willed self sufficient heroine-no "too stupid to live" here.

The banter between Christina and Lyon was fun and sexy, the villains were villainous and the adventure was fast paced. Is this book fluff? Sure-it's like cotton candy-no nutritional value but delicious just the same. If you're looking for an engaging, hot romance that may not stretch your mind but does pull at your heartstrings, then read this book.
Sensuality scale-rated R.
4 stars.

What An Animal Reading Challenge-FINISHED

Even though this is six months in I still think I can complete as I have tons of books that would work for this challenge. Join HERE:

The rules are simple:
1. Read at least 6 books that have any of these requirements:
a. an animal in the title of the book
b. an animal on the cover of the book
c. an animal that plays a major role in the book
d. a main character that is or turns into an animal (define that however you'd like ;>)).

2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragons, mermaids, centaurs, fairies, vampires...you get the idea...

3. Challenge runs from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. You can still sign up after July 1st as long as you can get 6 books read by June 30th ;>).
4. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.
5. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or just list them as you find them.
6. Books may be swapped out at anytime (assuming you made a list to begin with).
7. Crossover books with other challenges is permitted and encouraged.
8. You don't have to blog or write a review, but you can if you want to.

My List:
1. The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood
2. The Bloodied Cravat by Rosemary Stevens
3. Dove's Way by Linda Francis Lee
4. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Vampires, WereTiger, and a cat:)
5. From Dead To Worse by Charlaine Harris (Vampires, Were animals, and Fairies)
6.Dead And Gone by Charlaine Harris (Vampires, Wereanimals, and Fairies)

FINISHED!