Tuesday, November 04, 2008

October Reading List

14. Storm Front ( Dresden Files #1) by Jim Bitcher Rating: B+

The first of the Dresden Files series, I've watched teh tv series before I started reading the books actually but it's a good thing I watched it a year ago so I pretty much don't remember a lot of it.  But because Dresden is written in a first person point of view, I keep hearing Paul Blackthorne's voice narrating in the back of my head. Too bad they cancelled the show, it has so much potential

Meet Harry Dresden, Wizard for Hire. He finds lost items, conducts paranormal investigations, does consulting work, gives advice and charges reasonable rates. 

 

13. A Quick Bite (Argeneau Vampires #1 ) by Lynsay Sands Rating: B+

Technically the first book in the Argenau Vampires series if you go by Sands reading order, I thought this was a unique way of explaining the whole vampire need for blood thing. I did enjoy the book and look forward to the other books in the series. The intereaction of the Argenau family was quite fun. And the whole fainting thing was very funny. I love Thomas and the spiderman pajamas!!

"Lissianna has been spending her centuries pining for Mr. Right, not just a quick snack, and this sexy guy she finds in her bed looks like he might be a candidate. But there's another, more pressing issue: her tendency to faint at the sight of blood ... an especially annoying quirk for a vampire. Of course it doesn't hurt that this man has a delicious-looking neck. What kind of cold-blooded vampire woman could resist a bite of that?
Dr. Gregory Hewitt recovers from the shock of waking up in a stranger's bedroom pretty quickly -- once he sees a gorgeous woman about to treat him to a wild night of passion. But is it possible for the good doctor to find true love with a vampire vixen, or will he be just a good meal? That's a question Dr. Greg might be willing to sink his teeth into ... if he can just get Lissianna to bite."

12.High Stakes (Vegas Vampires #1 ) by Erin McCarthy Rating: B

this was a fun quick read.

"He's a bloodsucking freak of nature. But, unlike other politicians, Ethan Carrick is actually a nice guy. Not to mention a very hot, wealthy, casino-owning vampire. It's an election year for vampires, which means he'll first have to escape his opponent's hit men. Then he'll have to find a suitable First Lady, preferably here in Vegas.
Brittany Baldizzi fits the bill. She's smart, pretty- and sweeter than a glass of diabetic O-Negative. But her protective sister Alexis steps in with a message for Ethan: Bite me. It's then that he realizes it's the sexy, no-nonsense Alexis who raises his stake. And as much as she denies it, Alexis wouldn't mind a romp in the coffin with him. But can a mere mortal, even one who risks her life for him, make a centuries-old, womanizing vampire feel something entirely new?" 

11. Bit the Jackpot (Vegas Vampires #2) by Erin McCarthy Rating: B+

enjoyed this one more than the first.

"Vampire Seamus Fox is supposed to be the campaign manager for a Vampire Nation presidential candidate. Instead, he finds himself running around Vegas keeping tabs on the candidate's wife and female entourage.
Seamus has had his fill of women: a disastrous and deadly love affair has haunted him for over two centuries. Talk about baggage. But suddenly he finds himself obsessed with a mysterious stripper who dances behind a screen. The sultry yet shy Cara Kim whets his appetite for more, but leave it to Seamus to fall fangs over feet for that rarest of Vegas attractions-a good girl."

10. Unshapely Things ( Connor Grey 01) by Mark Del Franco Rating: B+

Was a surprisingly good read, Wakey lent me her copy and after finishing it, wanted to read the next book in the series.

"In the alleys of the decrepit Boston neighborhood known as the Weird, fairy prostitutes are turning up dead. The crime scenes show signs of residual magic, but the Guild, which polices the fey, has more "important" crimes to investigate and dumps the case on human law enforcement.
Boston police call in Connor Grey, a druid and former hotshot Guild investigator-whose magical abilities were crippled after a run-in with a radical environmentalist elf. As Connor battles red tape and his own shortcomings, he realizes that the murders are not random, but part of an ancient magical ritual. And if Connor can't figure out the killer's M.O., the culmination of the spell might just bring about a worldwide cataclysm."

09. Love Bites (Argeneau Vampires #2 ) by Lynsay Sands Rating: B+

I enjoyed this as much as the first plot but I thought this had more going on plotwise, it did introduce some new sides of the family that wasnt really elaborated in the first

"Etienne Argeneau's three hundred years of bachelorhood were at an end. Either that, or he'd be forever alone. He could only "turn" one human in his lifetime, and most of his kind reserved that power for creating a life mate. If he turned the wrong woman . . . But what choice did he have? He had to save Rachel Garrett. He didn't know her very well, but the beautiful coroner had saved his life. To save hers he would make her immortal."

08. Bled Dry (Vegas Vampires #3) by Erin McCarthy Rating: B-

Out of the three, I didn't enjoy this as much, and was actually tempted to skip parts because I didn't feel anything for the heroine. I had to push myself to read the book, the end was not so bad but the first half was a bit trying for me

"Hooking up with a vampire has its risks-but getting pregnant usually isn't one of them. Tell that to Brittany Baldizzi, who finds herself in the family way with no father in sight. After their one night of passion, vampire Corbin Jean Michel disappeared off the face of the earth-or at least off the Vegas strip.
Corbin is a vampire with a cause, secretly trying to find a cure for his condition. But when he finds out Brittany is pregnant with his child, Corbin can't keep his paternal instincts from trumping his bloodsucking ones. Even when showing his hand could cost him the woman he can't help but love."

07. Harvest of Bones (Chintz and China Mysteries 4) by Yasmine Galenorn Rating: A

Love love Yasmine Galenorn, I love all the characters and went through this one pretty quickly

"It's harvest time in Chiqetaw, Washington; Emerald O'Brien's favorite season. But this year, nature yields a most supernatural bounty. When Em and her sweetie, Joe, stumble over a bramble-covered foundation that has remained hidden for fifty years in the lot next door, strange events begin to occur. The cat vanishes. Will o' the Wisps threaten to harm Emerald and her loved ones. And the ghost of a woman named Brigit and her beloved calico make themselves at home in the backyard. Now it's up to Em and her friends to delve into the past, reveal the secrets of the dead and lay them to rest as they ring in the autumn with a harvest of bones. "

06. Hex of a Wedding (Chintz and China Mysteries 5) by Yasmine Galenorn Rating: A

the last in the Chintz China series which is sad, but I loved the whole series!!

Emerald O'Brien is about to tie the knot with her fiance Joe, but one uninvited guest to their engagement party reminds her that some ties still need to be severed. Her ex-hubby Roy can't hold his liquor--or his temper--and after brawling with Joe, he threatens to ruin their wedding. When Joe is wounded from a gunshot the next day, Roy becomes the prime suspect. Emerald knows her ex has a mean streak a mile wide but doesn't believe he'd be capable of attempted murder. And when a sinister presence starts stalking her maid of honor, Em begins to worry that her marriage has been cursed before she's even walked down the aisle...

05. Shades of Earl Grey ( Tea Shop Mysteries 3) by Laura Childs Rating: B

honestly, i did enjoy the book after reading the first two a few months ago, going back to the Charleston and encountering all the characters again was so much fun. I did think that the story ended rather abruptly, kind of like build up..build up...end

"An antique wedding ring mysteriously disappears from the hand of a dying bridegroom.  Then a priceless sapphire necklace is plucked from its display at the Heritage Society.  Could there be a very dangerous breed of cat burglar prowling the cobblestone pathways of Charleston's historic district?  With the Heritage Society under fire and their extravaganza Treasures Show fast approaching, Theodosia is called upon to match wits with a very slippery opponent."

04. English Tea Breakfast ( Tea Shop Mysteries 4) by Laura Childs Rating: B+

this was better than the previous one, imho all in all. The mystery kind of left you guessing but I like how so many things are still going on, with the fashion show and tv appearance, Delaine is becoming more dramatical as time goes on though, Every story needs it antagonist though :)

Dawn is about to break at South Carolina's Halliehurst Beach, and the members of Charleston's Sea Turtle Protection League are taking part in the annual "turtle crawl."  As they help hundreds of tiny green loggerheads tumble safely into the surf, the dedicated volunteers congratulate themselves with a well-earned shore breakfast.  But as the tea steeps and the gumbo simmers, a strange mass is spotted floating off-shore.  Donning mask and swim fins, Theodosia paddles out to investigate, only to discover a dead body bobbing in the waves.  The hapless victim turns out to be Harper Fisk, a prominent Charleston art dealer and passionate collector of Civil War antiquities.  Rumors of sunken treasure and gold bullion have abounded, yet nothing has ever been found near Halliehurst Beach.  But now Theodosia begins to wonder--did Harper Fisk finally stumble upon something?  And was he killed because of it?

 

Very cool! 4 more books and I've accomplished my goal for this year!! I quite enjoyed all the books I've read this month.

Currently reading: Jasmine Moon Murder (Tea Shop Mysteries 4) by Laura Childs and Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton