Review: 148. Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich...

I'm addicted to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, even though the last few books have seemed like recordings stuck in an endless loop...
 
Title: Smokin' Seventeen
Author: Janet Evanovich
ISBN-13: 9780345527684
Hardcover: 308 pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts: Oh Stephanie. Working out of a borrowed motor home, Stephanie and her gal Lula get into the same hijinks as always. They get fooled by the perps they go looking for (again), Steph's wheels go up in flames (again), Grandma Mazur causes a ruckus at the funeral home (again), Steph's mom sets her up with another it'd-be-better-to-not-go-there date (again)... If you're familiar with the series, I don't need to say any more. If you're not, start with One for the Money, where it's all fresh and new.

 Honestly, I'm not sure how much longer I'll keep picking these up. At some point, the same-story-all-the-tiime routine gets old and stale. And I hate that she's with both Morelli AND Ranger in this one. Pick one and stick with it, or dump 'em both and go find someone else! (Not that it would be easy to dump Ranger, in my opinion!)

Stephanie needs to get off of this wheel she keeps running around in. Really.

 drey's rating: Ok. What about you? Have you read Smokin' Seventeen? What did you think? Or have you given up waiting on Stephanie to grow up?

Review: 139. Hounded by Kevin Hearne...

I'd seen mentions and reviews of Kevin Hearne's Hammered all over the blogosphere recently, and decided that I needed to check out his Iron Druid Chronicles books. So I started at the beginning...

Title: Hounded (Iron Druid Chronicles #1)
Author: Kevin Hearne
ISBN-13: 9780345522474
Paperback: 289 pages
Publisher: Random House, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
I finally picked up Hounded, and it sat on my shelves for a week before I gave in to its call. I know, I know, I should be ashamed of myself... But 'tis the truth, and I promised to be honest.

If it makes Atticus O'Sullivan fans feel better though, I regret that wait. This centuries-old druid has definitely found the fountain of youth--and while his tea helps, I firmly believe his attitude and outlook on life has plenty to do with his longevity. He is a smart-mouthed smart-alecky young man who along with his wolfhound Oberon made me laugh out loud. I loved his "translations" of old-time speak into modern-day vernacular, and his gentle chastising of the other long-lived who haven't quite adjusted their speech patterns (yet).

There are gods, a special sword, and lots of action in Hounded. Thank goodness Atticus isn't just a normal dude--he wouldn't have survived. As it is, he's lucky he's still standing after all the dust settles. And after killing gods, you know that what follows is going to keep him on his toes.

Kevin Hearne's Atticus O'Sullivan is going to go on my list of favorite urban fantasy protagonists, and Kevin's on my author-to-stalk list now... Check this series out if you haven't already!

drey's rating: Outstanding! The characters entertain, the plot is crazy yet works well, and the myriad mythological figures makes this a must-read for those who can't get enough of the old(er) gods... I'm off to find Hexed and Hammered, so I can stalk Atticus' next adventures. Don't forget to check out Kevin's visits this month as our Featured Author!

Have you read Hounded? What did you think?

Review: 120. The Soul Mirror by Carol Berg...

I've been looking forward to more of Carol Berg's Collegia Magica series... 

Title: The Soul Mirror (Collegia Magica #2)
Author: Carol Berg
ISBN-13: 9780451463746
Paperback: 515 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:  
Soul Mirror takes place after the events in The Spirit Lens, and tells the story from the viewpoint of Anne de Vernase--the daughter who named her father traitor, saw her brother imprisoned, lived with her mother's madness, and grieves her sister's death. So much tragedy in this young woman's life...

When she is summoned to Merona to answer for her family's treachery, Anne is thrust into a court filled with deadly intrigue and magical dealings. Not having magic of her own, Anne is suspicious of the Queen's magician Dante. Of course, the gossip she hears and the goosebumps he leaves behind does nothing to lessen those suspicions.

I loved the cast of characters Carol Berg has provided in this series. Portier is a side dish here, as the main course is all Anne. Using her wits and her sister's gifts, Anne is determined to find out what is plaguing the Queen. And while she's at it, clear her family's name. All by herself of course, as there's not a single person she dares trust. Not too much for a twenty-two-year-old to take on, is it?

The intrigue is absorbing, the plot is solid, and the storytelling superb. I want friends like Ilario and Portier. The ending reveals a villain who'll surprise you, and a willing victim of all the schemes put into play in The Spirit Lens... Loyalties are not always where they seem to lie.

drey's rating: Excellent! I want more Portier, and I definitely want more Anne and Dante! Can't wait for The Daemon Prism...

Have you read Soul Mirror? Thoughts?

Review: 116. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher...

I've been very impatiently waiting on this title to be mine (from the library)... Well, it finally was! Yay!

Title: Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13)
Author: Jim Butcher
ISBN-13: 9780451463791
Hardcover: 477 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts: Poor poor Harry. *sigh* He does the world a good deed, and ends up in the ever-after for his efforts. Good thing he's got friends... Or does he?

In this thirteenth installment to the popular Dresden Files series, Harry is sent back to watch over his friends--and to prevent further catastrophe (of course). He's not real. He's lost his magic. And he can't figure out which friends need protecting, never mind the how.

Reading a bit like Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Harry gets to reflect on how his emotions have caused some of the ruckus now gone mad in Chicago--and all around the world--and figuring out what he needs to do to help fix things for everyone else. Murphy's stressed and mostly in shock. Molly's surviving as best she can. And Bob's split off his evil half, just in case somebody not-so-Harry gets their grubby mitts on his skull. Sigh. When did saving the world get so complicated?

I loved the growth Harry experiences in Ghost Story. I winced at the Molly we see here. And I felt really really badly for Murphy. But I thought the ending provided a twist to how the story can progress, and I can't wait to meet the Harry starring in book number fourteen.
 
drey's rating: Excellent!! Not quite my favorite Dresden Files book, but close.

Have you read Ghost Story? What did you think?

Review: 113. The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch...

This is yet another title whose cover caught my eye, and it was one of a horde of books that made it to my house from the library in the past few weeks...

Title: The Magnolia League
Author: Katie Crouch
ISBN-13: 9780316078498
Hardcover: 348 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:  
Alexandra Lee is sixteen years old and orphaned when her mother's van goes off a cliff. Two months later, she is moved to Savannah, Georgia, to live with her grandmother. Going from hippy to southern belle is a culture shock to say the least, and she doesn't intend to acquire any of the seemingly-effortless gentility that her grandmother expects of her.

Then she finds out that not everything that glitters is gold, and all the gentility in the world doesn't hide the fact that her grandmother's social club has its fingers in more than a few questionable things--including a partnership with hoodoo practitioners. And now she's expected to not only be one of them, but eventually lead them...

Is she strong enough to withstand the pressure to conform? Or will this not-quite-rail-thin sassy hippy girl become lost in the glory--real and imagined--of being one of the Magnolia League?

I like Alex, except when she's all wishy-washy about a boy. A girl who stands up for her vintage t-shirts and ripped jeans in the face of Dolce & Gabbana and Marc Jacobs does not do wishy-washy; she kicks butt with her army boots or smart-mouth witticisms. I like her new friend Dexter and I even like Hayes and Madison--the debutantes assigned to get Alex into the local scene. I'm not sure I like the Buzzards much (what a name, huh?), and I'm definitely sure I don't like her grandmother all.

The pace starts off leisurely and hardly picks up until you get to the end, where Alex finds out just how devious her grandmother is, and has to decide whether she'll give it all up--for the boy she's pretty sure she loves, or for the mother she's lost. Up till the end, this was just another story about another teenager who finds out that the world around her holds many secrets. But with that ending, I'm waiting to see what Katie Crouch comes up with next for Alex. And what repercussions will flow from her decision.

drey's rating: Pick it up!

Have you read The Magnolia League? What did you think?

Review: 110. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris...

Boy, was the waitlist loooooooooong for this one!

Title: Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse #11)
Author: Charlaine Harris
ISBN-13: 9780441020317
Hardcover: 325 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library 


drey's thoughts:  
Well, it's not Sookie if there aren't a bunch of crazy things happening around (if not to) her, and plenty of crazy things happen in this latest addition to the series. Her place of employment is firebombed. Two fairies live in her house. A naked were hangs out in her bed. And Debbie Pelt's crazy-as-a-loon sister is out of jail.

There's not much in terms of character development or even plot development in this one, except for Viktor pushing all of Eric's buttons. And the fact that Eric has a secret--one he won't tell Sookie, and has forbidden Pam to share. Not that Sookie doesn't eventually find out; she is Sookie after all.

The only thing I'd consider a true addition to the story is Adele's letter, which not only sheds light on Fintan's love for her grandmother, but also prepares for some more interesting occurrences (hopefully) in future installments. Most everything else was just fluff, or a whole lot of no-change. But all in all this was a fun read, and I'm looking forward to see what Eric does with his dilemma and how Sookie proceeds with her new-found knowledge.

drey's rating: Ok

Have you read Dead Reckoning or any of the Sookie Stackhouse books? What did you think?

Review: 104. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa...

I've been meaning to get to this third installment of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, but hadn't had the time. Luckily for me, I finally put some time aside to inhale it!

Title: The Iron Queen (Iron Fey #3)
Author: Julie Kagawa
ISBN-13: 9780373210183
Paperback: 358 pages
Publisher: Harlequin, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Poor Meghan. Yeah, she's exiled. And yeah, so's Ash. But hey, at least they have each other. And she can go home... Right?

Wrong. On so many fronts. The false king has declared war on the Nevernever, and Summer and Winter both come together (Hah! Bet you never expected to see those words together!) and approach Meghan for help. After all, she's the only one who's ever squeaked out alive after going toe to toe with the Iron Fey. Never mind that she may not survive this time...

But how can she say "no," especially when Mab offers to revoke Ash's exile in return? So off she goes--with Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin in tow--into the Iron Kingdom, where they find excitement, adventure, and Iron-poisoned landscape. How will she find the false king, much less defeat the Iron army? Especially when she doesn't even know who the false king is...

I really enjoyed the storyline, and I really like Meghan. Ash more than Puck (he was quite a brat here). And this series wouldn't be quite the same without Grim. This is a wonderful addition to the Iron Fey series, and I cannot wait for The Iron Knight (due in October!).

drey's rating: Excellent!

Have you read The Iron Queen or Julie's Iron Fey series? What did you think?

Review: 103. Die for Me by Amy Plum...

Die for Me's cover caught my eye, and it was finally my turn to bring it home from the library...

Title: Die for Me
Author: Amy Plum
ISBN-13: 9780062004017
Hardcover: 341 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
This is the second YA novel I've read this year that's set in Paris. I love Paris! Ok, enough about me. On to the book.

Amy Plum's Die for Me is a romantic story about a girl who's lost her parents, and the boy she meets and falls in love with. Only thing is, he's not quite exactly a boy... What is he, you ask? Well, that's part of the fun of reading the book, so I'm not going to spill. Instead, I'm going to tell you that I really like Kate. So she's not the strongest girl out there, but what do you expect from someone who's lost her parents and so suddenly at that? She's still smart and kinda sassy, and she's definitely not whiny or angsty.

She's slowly coming out of her self-imposed shell when she sees Vincent, and wonders about him--his mysterious appearances, his friends, his everything... Then she actually meets him. And finds that sometimes a boy is so worth the trouble--especially this one, who comes with buckets of it.

The storyline runs smoothly, the plot has no hiccups, and you'll enjoy Amy Plum's take on  good-vs-bad. The characters are well-drawn, the conflicts explained... And the love story is so sweet--even with the slightly cheesy parts--that it'll take you back to when you were a teenager dreaming of romance and boys. Pick this up if you like romantic YA urban fantasy.

drey's rating: Excellent!

Have you read Die for Me? What did you think?

96. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White...

The first thing I noticed about Kiersten White's Paranormalcy was the cover.  So I added it to my library hold list.

Title: Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy #1)
Author: Kiersten White
ISBN-13: 9780061985843
Hardcover: 335 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Evie is a typical sixteen-year-old.  She's sassy and snarky, carries a pink Taser around, and works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency tackling and tagging paranormals.  She's also the only one who can see past the glamour that paranormals wear.  Makes her pretty handy to have around, especially if you're ICAP...

One day, someone breaks into the ICAP facility where Evie lives.  He's captured, but won't say why he's there.  Evie's intrigued, naturally.  And then she starts dreaming of words, words from a prophecy unknown to her.  Then something starts killing the paranormals, and next thing you know Evie's on the run for her life.  Who can she turn to?  Where can she go?  What can she do?  She's not going to just roll over and die--she just met a boy for crying out loud!

Paranormalcy is cute and fun, because Evie is cute and fun.  Never mind that there's actually a plot and tension and action, everything flies quickly and flows nicely because the characters and their interactions are smooth and interesting.  You'll enjoy hanging out with Evie as she figures out that special is totally overrated, real-life boys are much more fun than TV characters, and siblings can be a total drain.

drey's rating: Excellent!  I can't believe this is a debut, but hey book #2, Supernaturally, is out soon!

Have you read Paranormalcy?  What did you think?

95. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins...

This one's been on my TBR for a while, and I finally picked it up from the library.

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
ISBN-13: 9780525423270
Hardcover: 372 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Anna and the French Kiss is a lovely story about a girl who meets a boy and how their friendship evolves into something more.  Of course, this being set in a high school (even if it is in Paris), there's the requisite angst and my-friend-also-likes-the-same-boy drama.  Not that it's drowning in angst and drama, because if that were the case I wouldn't have liked it as much as I did.

I liked the cast of characters in Anna and the French Kiss, especially Anna.  She's bright, funny, and nice.  Etienne is witty and charming, and such a romantic.  The two make a lovely couple, if only they could just get to the point where they were a couple.  Then again, if it was that easy, this would be a novella instead of a heartwarming romantic read.

drey's rating: Excellent!  Add it to your summer reading if you like a good boy-meets-girl story.

Have you read Anna and the French Kiss? What did you think?

Review: 94. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton...

I'd wanted to pick this up since I saw the cover, and it's been waiting patiently on my shelf since it came from the library... I'm glad I got to it before it had to go back.

Title: Darkness Becomes Her
Author: Kelly Keaton
ISBN-13: 9781442409248
Hardcover: 273 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
I really enjoyed the combination of mythology, paranormal, and post-apocalyptic New Orleans in Kelly Keaton's (aka Kelly Gay) first YA urban fantasy. The heroine, Ari, is a seventeen-year-old orphan looking for answers--who's her birth mother? Why did she give Ari up? And what exactly is it that makes her so weird?

What she finds takes her to "New 2", the now privately-owned former city of vampires and magic where misfits gather and an ancient Goddess lurks. And Ari discovers there's a curse on her line that is passed from mother to daughter, from forever and a day ago. Determined to be the one who beats the curse, Ari makes a stand.  Only, is she strong enough to win?  Especially when she doesn't know what she is, and her opponent is a very very strong Goddess?

If you're a fan of the genre, you'll love Darkness Becomes Her.  Ari is stubborn and headstrong, and refuses to budge on her principles.  The band of misfits she finds in New 2 are basically background, except for Sebastian (the boy--there's always a boy) and Violet, a little girl with fangs and a pet alligator.  Or was it a crocodile?  I forget.  But I love Violet.

The action starts at the beginning, and doesn't stop till the end, when Ari once again stands up for herself--and makes enough sense to sway the adults to her way of looking at things.  Along the way she learns a bit about trust, and a bit about love.  I will definitely pick up the sequel--A Beautiful Evil comes out in February 2012.

drey's rating:  Excellent!  But what else would you expect from the author of the Charlie Madigan series?  *wink*

Have you read Darkness Becomes Her?  What did you think?

More stuff:
Kelly Keaton's website

Review: 91. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick...

It took me a long time to get to this, but I had to--Silence is coming out soon! *grin*

Title: Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2)
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
ISBN-13: 9781416989431
Hardcover: 427 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Nora Grey is not having a good summer.  Sure, her boyfriend Patch is pretty awesome (even if her mom or her bff don't think so), but not only does she have to go to school, she's paired up with her arch-enemy Marcie Millar in class.  Then her mom tries to set her up with her childhood friend who's moved back into town.  And she's seeing her father around town.  Definitely weird--he's dead, after all.

When Patch starts distancing himself from Nora, she can't figure out if it's because of the archangels' threat, or because he's dumping her for Marcie.  Not that she knows why Marcie hates her guts anyway.  Confused and emotional, Nora decides to break off with Patch and starts hanging out with Scott (the childhood friend), only to find out that there's a gang of Nephilim who're up to no good...  And Scott's one of them.  Not only that, but she also finds out that her father's not who she thought he was.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this follow-up to Hush, Hush.  And quite a few revelations as well.  Along with the cliffhanger ending, I'm sure you'll be waiting to pick up Silence with me if you read this (or have read it)...

drey's rating:  Excellent!

Have you read Crescendo?  What did you think?

Review: 90. Pale Demon by Kim Harrison...

I've had Pale Demon sitting on my shelves for 3 weeks, and thought I'd better pick it up before it makes the return trip to the library unread...

Title: Pale Demon (Rachel Morgan #9)
Author: Kim Harrison
ISBN-13: 9780061138065
Hardcover: 439 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Well.  Rachel starts out this installment neck-deep in doo-doo, as she has to head to San Francisco to plead against her shunning.  But can she trust the Coven members to live up to their end of the bargain?

None of her cohorts think so, but all Rachel has at this point is hope.  And then Trent comes bearing an offer--get him to Seattle in three days and he'll help her through the trial.  Can she trust him?

The better question would be:  Can a demon-witch, a pixie, a vampire, and an elf survive a road-trip together?  Especially when there are day-walking demons about, assassins on their trail, and wickedly devious goings-on?  I guess you're going to have to read Pale Demon and find out.  Poor Rachel.  All she wants is to be left alone.  And alive, of course.  Getting to that point in one piece wouldn't be too much to ask for, would it?

drey's rating:  Excellent!  Loved this latest installment--lots of action, and definitely a ton of character development.  I wonder where Ms. Harrison's going to take Rachel next?

Have you read Pale Demon? What did you think?

Review: 85. The Color of Heaven by Kim Dong Hwa...

I couldn't wait to finish Kim Dong Hwa's Color of Earth series...

Title: The Color of Heaven (The Color of Earth #3)
Author: Kim Dong Hwa
ISBN-13: 9781596434608
Paperback: 310 pages
Publisher: First Second, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Ehwa is now seventeen, and waiting for Duksam to return--he is off fishing, to make money so he can come back and marry her. While he's away though, she's beset by doubts--will he really come back for her? And as she's maturing into womanhood, her relationship with her mother also matures. After all, they're both waiting for their men to come back.

I loved watching Ehwa growing up and learning about life and love in this beautifully drawn series from Kim Dong Hwa. The cultural traditions and nuances are right up my alley, and the emotions are not unfamiliar to anyone who's ever had a crush or been in love.

drey's rating: Excellent! Definitely pick this series up for the beautiful artwork and the lyrical storytelling.

Review: 80. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman...

I've wanted to pick up a copy of Eon since I received the sequel in the mail. I'm glad I finally did, this one is worth the read!

Title: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
Author: Alison Goodman
ISBN-13: 9780670062270
Hardcover: 531 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2008
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Set in an Asian-inspired world, Alison Goodman's Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is a story about a girl from the salt mines who's hidden her gender and suffered through humiliation to be able to stand before the dragons on this New Year's Day.  To be able to hope that the ascending dragon chooses her. 

But the trial on this New Year's Day is fraught with danger of the political and ambitious kind.  When power is available, power is sought.  And the newly-ascended Dragoneye Lord definitely seeks power.  Eon attracts both his suspicion and his scheming when she is selected, not by the ascending Rat Dragon, but by the dragon that rules them all--the long-missing Mirror Dragon.  But there's a problem--Eon didn't bind with her dragon, and therefore cannot control her dragon's powers.  What will she do when the Emperor clearly marks her as his own and involves her in court intrigue?

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is an excellent fantasy adventure that focuses on the characters and yet has action and drama galore.  I could not put it down once I started, and my 8-year-old has expressed interest in the story (more for the dragons than anything else, I'd bet).

drey's rating: Excellent! I cannot wait to find out how Eona's story continues...

Have you read Eon? What did you think?

Review: 79. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher...

I've wanted to pick up Catherine Fisher's Incarceron since I saw the cover.  Well, I know I'm slow, but I finally got to it!

Title: Incarceron (Incarceron #1)
Author: Catherine Fisher
ISBN-13: 9780803733961
Hardcover: 442 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Incarceron is a story of a boy stuck in a prison and knows he came from outside (even if nobody believes him).  It is also a story of a girl whose whole life has been for one purpose and one purpose only--to further her father's ambitions.

Finn doesn't fit in with the rest of the Comitatus.  The only reason they keep him around (i.e. alive) is because he's believed to be a seer, and he definitely has the expected fits.  Then Finn finds a key, and has flashes of life outside Incarceron--his life outside Incarceron.  So off he goes to find the way out.  Accompanying him are his oathbrother Keiro, the "medicine man" Gildas, and former slave-girl Attia.  And then Finn "meets" Claudia.

Daughter of the Warden of Incarceron and betrothed to the heir to the Realm, Claudia has lived a pampered life yet she lives it in fear of displeasing her father.  So how can she tell him she doesn't want this marriage? Then Claudia makes a few important discoveries--Finn among them--and decides to take matters into her own hands. 

Incarceron's storyline is engaging and captivating.  Finn is likable (he's the hero, after all), and his companions provide an excellent foil for his character.  Claudia I really liked.  Brought up to do as she's told, she still manages to do her own thing while playing obedient daughter.  And when push comes to shove, she stands on the side of right and is willing to prove it.  Huzzah for the girl with chutzpah!

drey's rating: Excellent!  I will be reading the sequel, Sapphique, in the not-too-distant future. I hope!

Review: 78. First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones...

Ok, I'll admit it. I wanted this book for the shoes on the cover. If anyone knows where I can pick up a pair, holler! *grin*

Title: First Grave on the Right
Author: Darynda Jones
ISBN-13: 9780312662752
Hardcover: 310 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Do you like your paranormal genre with  more of an action-packed mystery instead of mushy-sappy or even hot-n-heavy romance? Then you ought to give Darynda Jones' debut novel a whirl. It's got dead people. Missing teenage boys. Good cops. Bad guys. And dying. Or not.

But most of all, what it has is Charley Davidson, whose spunky sassy attitude is what appeals to me. Then again, if she weren't spunky or sassy, I think she'd be certifiable. After all, she sees dead people. And talks to them. Sometimes to convince them to head towards the light. Sometimes to ask 'em to do some snooping around for her. I like a girl who uses what's available, especially when it's to help those who can't help themselves. Yeah, back to dead people...

And then there's Reyes Farrow. Walking, talking, do-gooder yummilicious sex-on-a-stick. But only for Charley (do-gooder) and only in Charley's dreams (sex-on-a-stick). I like that he's part of the story, but not most of the story or the story, if you know what I mean. He's just there, sometimes... I guess that means there's some romance here too. I cannot wait to see what Darynda Jones has in store next for Charley. And hey, if Reyes is there too, then it'll be for the better. *grin*

drey's rating: Excellent! You won't put down this wickedly sassy book till you're done. And then you'll ask for more.

Review: 75. Bloodshot by Cherie Priest...

I added Bloodshot to my TBR list as soon as I saw the cover. Never underestimate the power of a cover, people! But I digress...

Title: Bloodshot (Cheshire Red Reports #1)
Author: Cherie Priest
ISBN-13: 9780345520609
Paperback: 359 pages
Publisher: Random House, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Raylene Pendle is a thief--and a very good one at that. She's also a vampire who doesn't like hanging out with other vamps. When she's asked to recover some government documents, she hesitates because the client is a vamp. A blind one.

She reluctantly agrees, and finds herself mired in more trouble and attention than she's ever wanted and then some. With ghouls, men in black, street kids, anonymous internet acquaintances, and transvestites all hanging with, or following her around, Raylene's circus show is mind-boggling and adrenaline-pumping.

The characters are cool. The dialog is snappy, witty, and grin-tugging humorous. The plot moves. And the story will capture your attention and hold it until all the bad guys have been identified (if not eliminated) and the good guys get to save the day. Or do they?

drey's rating: Excellent!

Have you read Bloodshot? What did you think? I'm also not quite sure what to tag this as, so I stuck with the default urban fantasy--it's vamps and ghouls, and takes place in Seattle, Atlanta, and Washington D.C. What else would you tag it with?

Review: 70. The Color of Water by Kim Dong Hwa...

I really enjoyed Kim Dong Hwa's The Color of Earth when I picked it up on a whim, so I went looking for the other books in this graphic novel trilogy.

Title: The Color of Water (The Color of Earth #2)
Author: Kim Dong Hwa
ISBN-13: 9781596434592
Paperback: 308 pages
Publisher: First Second, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
In The Color of Water, Ehwa is now sixteen. She meets Duksam, and spends her free time daydreaming about him and about love. Is he the one for her? When his employer sees her, though, the old lech decides to set the matchmaker to pursue Ehwa's hand in marriage.

In the meantime, Ehwa's mother still pines for the picture man, as Ehwa pines for Duksam. And all of the longing, and the joy when they are able to see each other, is delicately drawn in this beautiful graphic novel.

As in The Color of Earth there's a lot of cultural nuances in The Color of Water, along with the explanations. The artwork and dialog are spare and simple, but completely beautiful. I am glad I picked this up, and will return for The Color of Heaven to find out where Ehwa's story goes from here...

drey's rating: Excellent!

Review: 69. India Black by Carol K. Carr...

I saw this cover and liked the dress, so I picked it up. Then I added it to my library pile to take home...

Title: India Black
Author: Carol K. Carr
ISBN-13: 9780425238660
Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
India Black is a madam, and she makes absolutely no excuses for it. Multiple times, in fact... And there's no escaping it, either--she is the title character after all. In this Carol K. Carr offering, the madam becomes embroiled in espionage when an unfortunate patron departs this life while in the clutches of one of India's "ladies"...

I'm not sure why she decides to dump the body, but she's discovered by a British agent while doing so, and finds out that the poor departed had something very important in his possession--a case that the Russians simply cannot be allowed to get their hands on. Next thing you know, India's engaging in subterfuge all over England trying to recover the case as it ping-pongs between India and her agent, the Russians, and the Prime Minister's opposition.

I wanted to like India Black. I thought the premise was promising, and I like India's dry humor. But somewhere between the first and last page, I got bored, and really didn't care if they recovered the case or not. I still love the cover, though!

drey's rating: OK