Book Review - Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2)

Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2)

Charlaine Harris

320 Pages

“When a vampire asks Sookie Stackhouse to use her telepathic skills to find another missing vampire, she agrees under one condition: the bloodsuckers must promise to let the humans go unharmed.”

This is the second installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series and picks up very soon after the last one ended. Sookie & Bill are in love, Lafayette dies, Eric needs Sookie to go to Dallas to use her skills for a vampire clan willing to pay, and all hijinks ensue. Those are the main plot points. Sookie did not annoy me as MUCH as I thought she would, and at least they actually finally showed her weak from some of the beatings she takes. I’m starting to get bored of the she loves me/she loves me not aspects of the Bill/Sookie relationship, but I have to suck it up because there are still 9 more books to go. She has more chemistry with Eric and even Sam for his bit parts in the book.

On to Book 3 and Disc 4 of True Blood Season 1. And Twlight: Eclipse at the movies next week …. Vampires really have taken over my life.

Book Review - The Girl Who Played With Fire

The Girl Who Played With Fire


Stieg Larsson

630 Pages

“Fans of intelligent page-turners will be more than satisfied by Larsson's second thriller, even though it falls short of the high standard set by its predecessor, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which introduced crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist and punk hacker savant Lisbeth Salander. A few weeks before Dag Svensson, a freelance journalist, plans to publish a story that exposes important people involved in Sweden's sex trafficking business based on research conducted by his girlfriend, Mia Johansson, a criminologist and gender studies scholar, the couple are shot to death in their Stockholm apartment. Salander, who has a history of violent tendencies, becomes the prime suspect after the police find her fingerprints on the murder weapon. While Blomkvist strives to clear Salander of the crime, some far-fetched twists help ensure her survival. Powerful prose and intriguing lead characters will carry most readers along.” – Publishers Weekly

Larsson definitely has a talent for keeping a reader hooked. I sat enthralled during “Dragon Tattoo” and this follow up novel was the same way. The story picks up a year or so after we left Lisabeth & Mikael and follows them while they prove Lisabeth’s innocence.

In the first, the main characters were Mikael, Lisabeth, Henrik & Harriet Vanger. In this novel, we are introduced to several new characters and others, such as Berger, get some more fleshing out. The only time I got confused was with all the various cops names and characters, especially the two working from Milton.

I was a bit disappointed that after all the lead up to “All that Evil” it turned out to be what it was. Yes, what happened was not pretty but after what happened with her guardian in the first novel and other things, I guess I was just expecting it to go that "shocking" route. My biggest gripe would be the ending, or well a common theme during both books. I am all for this being fiction and having to have a hyper sense of reality, but this girl is supposed to be 4’11” and the size of a 12 year old, yet she is beating the crap out of giants, getting knocked around, etc. Adrenaline, fight or flight survival, I get it, but there is also a physical limitation of what a person’s body can take, she’s not a vampire. The ending, just, I could not get myself to not roll my eyes. That being said, it still hooked me enough that I cannot wait to read the third and final book which was just released “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest”.

Book Review - Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 1)

Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 1)
Charlaine Harris

292 Pages

Like I needed any further vampire obsessions…..

“Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....

Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

A fun, fast, funny, and wonderfully intriguing blend of vampire and mystery that's hard to put down, and should not be missed.”

I have wanted to start this series for a while, and have been holding off watching True Blood Season 1 until I did. What a guilty pleasure read. It took me only an afternoon but was very, very enjoyable. The story takes place in Bon Tempts, LA with the Stackhouse family. Sookie is a waitress at the local bar & grill and has a secret ability. She is a wallflower, but that begins to fade when she meets the first vampire to come into the bar, Bill. Vampires have now been giving “legal” status and are the new craze around the area. Sookie and Bill’s relationship grows while searching for a vampire wanna-be killer attacking the local residents.

The book is pretty well paced and has a lot of fun characters introduced. Sookie for the moment is likeable but I have a feeling eventually will move into “Bella” status for me. Bill seems like a good enough love interest, but I am more intrigued by the characters Eric, Jason, and Sam and look forward to seeing where the go in the saga. The killer was a shock to me as I usually figure this stuff out ahead of time. I also didn’t see the end twist with Sam coming either. It does have a romance novel feel at points, and gets pretty racy. But not so often that it gets annoying. I really look forward to seeing how the characters are portrayed in the show. So onto watching Season 1 and getting the next book “Living Dead in Dallas”.

Book Review - The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadows Souls

The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadows Souls


L.J. Smith

608 Pages

This is the fourth installment of the popular series published in March 2010. It leads off right where the last one left, Elena, Matt & Damon on the search for Stefan who is in prison in the Shi no Shi prison. Meanwhile, Bonnie & Meredith are left behind in Fells Church to deal with the chaos and evil that has taken over. The quest leads them all into “The Dark Dimension” where vampires & demons reign and humans serve as their slaves.

Currently, the TV show on the CW Networks, is one of my guiltiest pleasures. It just completed its first season, and I completely enjoyed every episode. The plot moves so fast, questions are actually answered, suspense is carried well, the characters are relatable (even for being vampires) and well there is so much pretty to look at (hello, Damon!). It is loosely based on the first book, which is a good thing. It really makes it its own.

These books are definitely written for the young adult demographic, but in the beginning, they were still enjoyable for adults as well. However, the author is clearly just writing to write now and appease any die hard fans. True plot & mystery has gone out the window. It has the potential but unfortunately the story always goes too romance novel for my taste. Elena is going the way of Bella and that just irks me to no end. I am totally a big Elena – Damon “shipper” (yes I just used that word, sue me) especially on the TV show, but in the books I am so sick of them. Get together, don’t, whatever, just make a decision, it’s just getting annoying. The only good thing I can say about this installment is the ending definitely made sure I will buy the next book. Unfortunately I had to go through 600 pages to figure that out.

And now that I have had my current fill of TV show/books for the moment I can get back to the real list.

Book Review - Supernatural: Nevermore

Supernatural: Nevermore  


Keith R.A. DeCandido

336 Pages



Official Description:

“Twenty-two years ago, Sam and Dean Winchester lost their mother to a mysterious and demonic supernatural force. In the years after, their father, John, taught them about the paranormal evil that lives in the dark corners and on the back roads of America...and he taught them how to kill it.

Sam and Dean have hit New York City to check out a local rocker's haunted house. But before they can figure out why a lovesick banshee in an '80s heavy-metal T-shirt is wailing in the bedroom, a far more macabre crime catches their attention. Not far from the house, two university students were beaten to death by a strange assailant. A murder that's bizarre even by New York City standards, it's the latest in a line of killings that the brothers soon suspect are based on the creepy stories of legendary writer Edgar Allan Poe.

Their investigation leads them to the center of one of Poe's horror classics, face-to-face with their most terrifying foe yet. And if Sam and Dean don't rewrite the ending of this chilling tale, a grisly serial killer will end their lives forevermore. “

For those that might not know, Supernatural is a TV show that airs on the CW network. It just completed its fifth season. It tells the tale of two brothers that are raised as hunters of the supernatural and their journey. It plays heavily on the emotional connections of family and the lengths one would go to protect them. I am a fanatic. I absolutely love the writing and plot lines (just don’t get me started on the last 3 or 4 episodes of Season 5….grrrrr!). And as a female, there are a lot of good looking men to fawn over, mainly for me, one Jensen Ackles (Dean). But back to the book.

The story is supposed to take place in between two episodes in Season 2 (Crossroad Blues & Croatoan). It is purely written just for fan fanatics who just can’t get enough. It is a quick read and supposed to give you some more insight into your favorite brothers, but they pretty much missed the boat entirely. I would have serious qualms and negative comments about this book, if I didn’t accept it for what it is, glorified money making fanfic. I cringed several, several times (Dean calling Sam “Sammich”??????). There are two “monster of the week” plot lines going on in NYC. One is a friend of Ash’s who is being haunted by a ghost (who wears a Queensryche t-shirt which may be the only thing I really enjoyed!), and the other is a more complicated story of someone trying to bring Edgar Allen Poe back to life. If executed properly, the Poe stuff probably would have made a decent episode. There is no brotherly angst or any emotional delving into the issues, which for some, can be a welcomed break from the series.

Ultimately, I would describe this as “so horrible that it was enjoyable”. In my research, I have heard the next companion novels get better, so I will continue my journey with the Winchester brothers via print until the show comes back for its final season in September.

Book Review - Speak of the Devil: A Novel of Suspense

Speak of the Devil: A Novel of Suspense
Richard Hawke
400 Pages

Fritz Malone is a private investigator on his way home with bagels when he gets caught up in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Next thing he knows he sees a lone gunman in the crowd and takes off after him. This launches him into a world of high profile blackmail, police corruption, and revenge. Working on direct orders from the Mayor and Police Commissioner, Fritz sets off to find out who the real “Nightmare” is.


Overall, I am very impressed with this debut novel by Richard Hawke. The story was fast paced and kept me engaged. Every time you think you know who the killer is, he sends you in another direction. Malone is a wise ass, but not too much. He is jaded and haunted, but not too much. There are a lot of characters met along the way, which can get confusing. Some are given full back stories, some none at all, and other’s you get a taste but then it gets dropped. I am forgiving this though, as it is the first novel, and hopefully some more of this will be fleshed out in future books.

I know it is just part of the genre, but I do find it comical when the main character, usually a Private Investigator, lawyer, or retired cop, are able to circumvent the law and get the bad guy easier than the real men in blue. Fritz can sneak into buildings surrounded pretty much with swat teams, unnoticed, and get close to the bad guy, meanwhile 4 or 5 cops have already been shot and wounded in the process. I’ve always wondered if these authors just do not like police in general, or if there is just no way else to get the main character to be the ultimate hero. There is a lot of description about NYC, which some people will either like or find useless. I personally enjoyed it.

I look forward to starting his next chapter, Cold Day in Hell, which seems to take a more darker turn.

Book Review - "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Stieg Larsson
608 Pages

"Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo."

I am generally not a fan of "best sellers" or "must read" books.  I used to be, but I think with all of the build up of expectations, the books always disappointed me.  Not saying they were bad books but I probably would have enjoyed them much more had I just happened to see it sitting on a shelf, for example. So, as with many things, if I've been burned once or twice, I just tend to stay away.  I lurk on a lot of "book club" type message boards and have consistently saw this book talked about.  I would skim and knew it was popular and the name, but not much else.  I ignored it and went on my merry way.  Well by the tenth time or so of someone asking if I had read it, I had to give in.  I never expected it to like it but had to at least be able to say I had read it.  I'm weird like that.

I will officially eat crow.  I greatly enjoyed this novel.  It was nothing of what I expected and reminded me to, no pun intended, "never judge a book by it's cover".  Larsson takes you on quite a journey with twists I never saw coming, and that is rare now a days. 

The story starts out a bit confusing with two separate characters and plots being jumped to back and forth, but mid way through it all comes together and makes sense.  The major characters are well developed and relatable.  It covers all the bases - corporate espionage, suspense, mystery, abuse, family relations, unexpected friendships, some but not too much romance, etc.   It kept me pulled in and not wanting to put it down.  I had to stop reading half way through to read "Waking Up" for book club and was not happy about it.

I will forewarn that there are some scenes and material that could be disturbing for some people.  I read a lot of the genre.  One of my favorite series is James Patterson's Alex Cross series and I have watched Law & Order: SVU for years.  I am pretty numb to sexual abuse and rape story lines.  Not that I enjoy them in anyway or anything, but I am numb to the "shock factor" I guess.  However, I don't know if it is because I have been reading a bit different themed books lately, but the scenes depicted in this book actually made me cringe a bit.   The level things are described are not done to "shock" anyone, but is pretty vital for the connection to the story and understanding of why the characters are the way they are.

The second book is "The Girl Who Played With Fire" and then the third and final is being released next week, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest".  I definitely plan on reading them as soon as I finish with other books that have been piling up.

There is a movie already out called "Män som hatar kvinnor" (Man Who Hates Women) that has received some good reviews, although it does change some things about the book.  A 2012 American blockbuster adaptation is planned but nothing is cast yet (pretty much every A-listers name has been "rumored).  I really worry about this.  The DaVinci Code suprised me in it's effort to stick to the book and not add typical hollywood things, and I really hope they do the same here.

Book Review - "Waking Up"

Waking Up

Joe Traum
416 Pages

"When his 11-year-old son is kidnapped and murdered, a distraught Michael Hayes faces the potential end of his family and his booming business, Eagle Realty. The police fail to find the killer, leading Hayes and his Eagle colleague, Soo-Mee Yeong, to embark on their own investigation. Enlisting the aid of an old friend who has his own ties to the criminal underground, the duo focus on a Japanese mobster who, when attempting to launder money, suffered substantial losses in an Eagle real estate transaction managed by Hayes. The search leads Hayes and Yeong through the shadow world of drug smuggling and duplicitous real estate deals in America and Japan. Will they find the killer and bring him to justice? Joe Traum brings memorable characters, colorful locales, and a page-turning plot to this fascinating thriller."

The book originally came on my radar as the monthly pick for a book club I was joining in on.  My partner in crime when it comes to books found out about the club and that the author was actually going to be at the meeting as well since he was from the local area.  Unfortunatley, the meeting didn't turn out to be a discussion about the plot of the book, instead the author stood up front and talked to us for an hour about his journey into publishing and minor bits about how he came up with ideas for the book.  Interesting topics, but not what I was attending for.  Still, all in all, not an overall bad experience.

The book is ok, especially for this being his first novel, but defintiely not on par with the books I am used to reading.  The murder/kidnapping plot was cookie cutter and similar to other books already published.  The author did attempt to throw in a few curve balls but didn't quite hit them out of the park.  The other half of the plot is about the main character, Michael Hayes, career in real estate investment.  I did learn a bit about the field, but there was too much focus on it.  I wanted more of the suspense part not a real estate education.  The author did say that he was more interested in the real estate side so his goals were accomplished.  If you are used to reading suspence novels, then the ending is not really shocking, but give it a shot, who knows!

The author's next undertaking is a book about two brothers that get seperated at a concentration camp as babies, but end up years later working as partners on a real estate deal without knowing the truth.  Seems intriguing enough if done right.

Book Review - A Lion Among Men

A Lion Among Men: Volume Three in the Wicked Years

Gregory Maguire

336 Pages

A Lion Among Men is the third installment in Maguire’s “Wicked” series which includes the very popular Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and Son of a Witch. The series started out by telling the story of the infamous “Wicked Witch of the West” made popular in Wizard of Oz but shows her as a misunderstood soul actually doing good. He introduces us to Elphaba & Glinda and the story of their friendship. He uses these characters to symbolize society’s inability to accept “different” and willingness to accept leaders on blind faith. The story continues to show Elphaba’s life exiled in the shadows. During this he begins to lay seed for the next book, Son of a Witch, which follows the story of the rumored son of Elphaba, Liir. And then for the third, the story of the Cowardly Lion, Brr, in A Lion Among Men.

From Maguire’s introduction:

“A Lion Among Men follows the peripatetic career of the Cowardly Lion. First seen in Wicked as a lion cub culled from his pride for the purpose of laboratory experimentation, the Lion (known as Brrr) makes his name in that little Matter of Dorothy about which all of Oz is still talking. But one doesn’t necessarily become lion-hearted by going after public approval, by racking up those medals and titles and golden statuettes at award ceremonies.

Tarnished with scandal of every stripe, Brrr is loathed by the Animals who believe he betrayed them in helping Dorothy do in the Witch. He fares no better trying to live as a lion among men. When civil war breaks out in Oz, Brrr is caught in the line of fire as he interviews the mysterious old oracle, Yackle, about the sources of Elphaba’s power. He must choose how much approval he can live without. A bit player all his life, he may yet be the linchpin on which the prosecution of the war rests.“

Book Review - The Brass Verdict

The Brass Verdict


Michael Connelly

547 Pages

The Brass Verdict takes two different cases and weaves them together. This book also intertwines two of Connelly’s major characters – Mickey Haller, defense lawyer, and Harry Bosch, long time detective. Bosch has been the star of 14 Connelly books and this is Haller’s second. However, you do not need to have read any prior books to enjoy this one.

Mickey Haller has taken a year off of being a high ranked independent defense attorney. He is thrown back into the mix when another defense attorney, Jerry Vincent, is murdered. Haller is immediately given Vincent’s entire practice and all of his cases. If that wasn’t enough he is also interrogated by long time veteran detective Harry Bosch in the murder case of Vincent. The story takes you through the murder trial of Haller’s brand new client, movie producer Walter Elliott, and all the connections of the Vincent investigation. It has a lot of twists and turns and keeps you riveted throughout it all.

A few years ago my father, my main book club partner, started to greatly enjoy the Harry Bosch series. I tried to read one, Echo Park, and found it good but just didn’t overall thrill me. Later, another one of my friends, Craig, got the Connelly bug as well. A few months ago Craig gave me “The Lincoln Lawyer” to read. I put it to the side and continued reading my teen vampire books. Finally, I picked it up and I was not disappointed. “The Lincoln Lawyer” is the first book to introduce Haller. I read it in about a day, I believe. It was fast paced, interesting, thrilling and believable. I was very excited to learn that there was another one, The Brass Verdict.

I read this one again in about a day. I love my legal thrillers and this one captured both my love of Grisham lawyer thrillers with Patterson’s Alex Cross detective thrillers. Bosch is featured but the main focus is Haller, with a very interesting character twist at the very end. I have definitely caught the Connelly bug and will begin the Bosch novels from the beginning.

Book Review - Darkly Dreaming Dexter

Darkly Dreaming Dexter : A Novel

Jeff Lidsay

288 Pages

“Meet Dexter Morgan, a polite wolf in sheep’s clothing. He’s handsome and charming, but something in his past has made him abide by a different set of rules. He’s a serial killer whose one golden rule makes him immensely likeable: he only kills bad people. And his job as a blood splatter expert for the Miami police department puts him in the perfect position to identify his victims. But when a series of brutal murders bearing a striking similarity to his own style start turning up, Dexter is caught between being flattered and being frightened – of himself or some other fiend.” – Back Cover Description


Most people have already seen the show that airs on Showtime (and briefly on CBS proper during the writers strike), DEXTER staring Michael C. Hall. I do not get any premium channels so I have yet to catch the show although many people I trust just rave about it. Before starting the DVDs I decided to begin at the original source material – the books the story is based on. This is my preferred way of order: book before movie/TV show. There are four books in this collection, with a fifth one being released in September.

Darkly Dreaming Dexter was a quick read but rather enjoyable. It does not take long to become fond of the title character whether he is Dexter or the Dark Passenger. I do not want to give too much detail as I would not want to spoil certain key things. I will say that I expected it to be much darker and cynical but for me, it seemed more like dark humor. I did not have the intrigued mind set and expressionless face like I do when reading about Alex Cross serial killers; I had more of an amused smirk. Not saying that is a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. The story has some interesting twists and turns and moves quickly. You would think with this being the original book there would be endless chapters of character development, but it keeps it’s pacing up. I am very interested in seeing how the book turns into an entire TV season. It definitely sets up the potential very well. Next book in the series – Darkly Devoted Dexter.

Book Review - Mistress Shakespeare

Mistress Shakespeare: A Novel
Karen Harper
404 pages

Mistress Shakespeare is a story about Anne Whateley, the true love of William Shakespeare’s life. It is written in Anne’s point of view and is basically her writing her own memoir for future generations. The memoir begins when she is a girl and first meets Will. It then follows their young friendship, budding romance, and Romeo & Juliet-esque life long relationship/marriage. The only true fact is that there was a marriage license filed for a Will Shakespeare and Anne Whateley, however, all other aspects are based on the author’s personal research and opinion. Despite the debate on fictional vs non fictional, it is a great love story set in the Elizabethan period. It guides you on an interesting tour of Shakespeare’s best works and the events going on in his life that could have influenced why and how he wrote them. Anne is a very strong and independent woman and not the typical damsel-in-distress heroine of the times. She tries very hard to not live her life by her feelings for Will. Yes, she is one of Will’s biggest promoters but that is because she also believes in the work, his talent, and theater as a whole.

I am glad I read this but it did not overly thrill me. I enjoyed mostly the anecdotes about the works of Shakespeare but the love story aspect left me unfulfilled. But that could be because I am not a big romance person. I enjoy a good relationship in my story but not as the focus on my story (as long as you don’t look at my tween-vampire book weakness).