Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Product Details
Pub. Date: March 2002
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 304pp
Series: Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series, #2
ISBN-13: 9780441009237
ISBN: 0441009239


Synopsis

This is the second book in Charlaine Harris' popular Southern Vampire Mysteries series. Telepathic vampire maven (and cocktail waitress) Sookie Stackhouse has been tasked with locating an abducted vampire and suppressing an upstart anti-undead religious cult.

My thoughts

I had my post all written and then it was lost when I went to publish it so here goes try number two. Once again I read and viewed in the opposite order of my usual. Usually I prefer to read a book before watching the book or television series based on it, but for both books one and two in this series I watched TrueBlood and then read. It isn't such a big deal since the series is based on the books but doesn't follow them completely. I actually enjoy looking for the similarities and differences between the two and then deciding how I prefer the story. I was glad to see that Tara, Sookie's best friend, does exist in the series even though she doesn't make an appearance until almost the end of book two. Some of the characters that die in the show are still alive and ones that are still alive have died, so I am not sure how that will affect the third season of the show. Since I don't have HBO I haven't seen the first episode of season three yet. I usually wait for the DVDs to come out and watch it all in a row.

I wondered about the Eric, the vampire from Fangtasia, because he showed up under an assumed name at a party in Dallas. Eric Northman said his name was Lief and I wondered if he was supposed to be Lief Ericson since he is also a Viking. Perhaps in each book she throws in a real person who is a vampire now. In book one it was Elvis. That may not be the case, I've only read books one and two and that is just a guess about Eric.

This was an enjoyable read, it was quick and easy and even if you've already watched the series I would recommend it because it isn't all the same.

Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie brings humor and storytelling magic to this modern-day romance of a match made anywhere but in heaven—but destined for a fairy-tale ending.


Daisy Flattery is a free spirit with a soft spot for strays and a weakness for a good story. Why else would she agree to the outrageous charade offered by her buttoned-down workaholic neighbor, Linc Blaise? The history professor needs to have a fiancée in order to capture his dream job, and Daisy is game to play the role. But something funny happens on their way to the altar that changes everything. Now, with the midnight hour approaching, will Daisy lose her prince, or will opposites not only attract but live happily ever after?

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Bantam; Reprint edition (January 26, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553593366
ISBN-13: 978-0553593365

My thoughts

It has been a while since I've read a Jennifer Crusie novel. This one was a very enjoyable read, such a nice escape for awhile. The thing I really liked about this book was Daisy's belief that we area all the author of our own story. If we can tell it we can make it true, sometimes you are writing your own story and other times it is a friends, but every day you are creating your reality. I'm not sure that is what Crusie was hoping her readers would get from it when she wrote it, but in between the fun and the painting and the relationships that was what I took away from the story.

About the Author
Jennifer Crusie is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifteen contemporary novels. Her work has been published in twenty countries.

Tate by Linda Lael Miller

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

There are barely enough hours for divorced dad Tate McKettrick to run the Silver Spur ranch, do the suit-and-tie thing for his business and run herd on his beloved six-year-old twin daughters. But time stands still at the sight of Libby Remington. When they were high school sweethearts, the wealthy McKettrick couldn't convince Libby he loved her. But now they're both back in Blue River, Texas. And cattle rustlers, a manipulative ex-wife and a killer stallion can't keep him from trying again.
Libby has her hands full taking care of her mother—and running the Perk Up Coffee Shop. Caffeine, she needs. Tate McKettrick, with his blazing blue eyes and black hair? No. Oh, heck—yes. But can they really hope for a second chance?

My thoughts:

It has been so busy around here that I feel like I've barely had any time to read lately. I am experimenting with our laptop right now, but I keep getting kicked off. Hopefully I will be able to save this for when I am logged on again, but who knows.

I ordered this book from paperbackswap awhile ago but when I didn't get to it right away I decided to wait until it was closer to the release of the other two books in the trilogy so that I could read them all together. Less likely to forget details that way. I really like Miller's McKettrick family. Although these McKettrick's are related to the others it doesn't make any difference if you've read the other books or not. I think I have forgotten more details from the books than I remember, and I had no problem getting to know Tate and his brothers because they pretty much stand alone.

I enjoyed getting to know Libby and Tate and see her try to learn to trust him again after he had broken her heart years ago and I also liked the way Miller explored how to change one mistake might take away some of the good things that came from going down that path in life. That is a good lesson for all of us, even when things aren't perfect they may lead to something you might have missed had you not gone through the rough patch. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and it is in the mail to me from Paperbackswap right now. I just love that site. If you are a big reader and you haven't checked it out yet I highly recommend it!

Hero at Large by Janet Evanovich

Product Details
Pub. Date: March 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN-13: 9780062000163
ISBN: 0062000160

Synopsis
It seems like good luck when gorgeous and mysterious Ken Callahan stops to help single mom Chris Nelson with her car. But then she breaks his arm...then his toe...and then his heart. Not easily discouraged, Ken moves into her basement...cooks her potholder in the spaghetti sauce...attempts to seduce her with cookies...and destroys her favorite pan by trying to make a roast in it. All may seem lost for Chris and Ken, until a meddlesome Aunt Edna, a ride on a Zamboni and a genuine love of family all conspire to turn their luck around.

My thoughts:
I really enjoy Evanovich's novels, they are full of wacky situations and often car problems. This one was re released in March and was one of the first ones she wrote years ago before developing the Stephanie Plum series. Both of the main characters were likable. For some reason I had a hard time getting into the book and even put it down for quite a while, but then when I picked it back up I finished it in a couple of days. It reads very fast. This would be a great book to read at the beach, perfect for a summer day relaxing even though it is set in the fall. All the ice skating might make you feel cooler by the pool!

Montana Destiny by R.C. Ryan

Product Details
Pub. Date: May 2010
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 352pp
ISBN-13: 9780446548632
ISBN: 0446548634

Synopsis
They're the McCords...three rugged, sexy cowboy cousins who'll inherit the family range--if they seek the treasure hidden on it. But even more precious are the women who can tame their wild hearts...

Emergency medic Marilee Trainor likes her freedom and lives for trouble. But when she stumbles upon a clue to the legendary McCord gold, she 's suddenly in a mysterious killer's sights--and the arms of irresistible playboy Wyatt McCord. This McCord cousin has been everywhere, yet the ranch is the only place he feels at home. Now Marilee's courage and independence make him want to protect her, win her heart, and finally settle down. But trust is the one thing Wyatt and Marilee can't easily give. And their survival and everything they cherish depends on whether they can surrender to each other--to fight for their...

My thoughts:

I received this book for review through Hatchette Books and their book tours. I love finding new authors to read and enjoy. I requested to take part in this tour because it reminded me of Linda Lael Miller's various series about cowboys and ranches and I loved the fact that it contained a mystery. While I do enjoy romance I always enjoy it a bit more with a mystery thrown in there to add to the story.

I liked Wyatt and Marilee, they are likable characters. This is book two in a series, but even though I had not read the first one I had no problems picking up the series at this point and enjoying it. I've never read one of Ryan's books before either. On their first date the couple share a pizza and here is something I loved about it, they both really ate! You always read about people eating one slice of pizza and being full which may be very true for some people, but not for all. They each ate two slices and then had a third and that made it seem real to me. Plus I loved that they weren't considering how many calories they had eaten or anything like that, each time they went out to eat, and they went out a lot, they ate what they wanted and as much as they wanted and I loved it. Silly of course, and not the point of the story at all, but that element made these characters more real to me.

Finding out the back story of the small town, their families search for the missing gold, and pat relationships and how they affect the present, while watching this couple get to know each other and overcome their own obstacles due to their own pasts made this book and enjoyable read!

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Lucinda's Secret Book 3

We had to take a break from reading for a few days because our regular library did not have this book on the shelf. My children were so sad on Thursday when we came home with just books 4 and 5. They paged through them and read some picture captions and such, but I decided to wait until we had read the third to keep going. On Monday we went to a different local library to borrow their copy which was available. In book three we meet Aunt Lucinda or Aunt Lucy who owns the house the children are staying and is currently living in an institution because she is believed to no longer be sane. Lucy knows about the fairies and has been treated unkindly by them because they want her to give them the field guide. Even though Jared found it in the attic of the house she never had in all of her years living there alone. Aunt Lucy is very worried for the children and shares some history they were unaware of, her father who wrote the guide disappeared one day years ago when she was a child. He went out for a walk and never came back. This changes the children's perception of what kind of man Arthur was during his time.

More fairy creatures appear in this installment as well such as a phooka, a unicorn and wood elves. More beings are wanting to find the book to either destroy it or use it.

The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone Book 2 by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone Book 2 by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

Book 2 starts right where the first one left off and continues on from there. In this installment the children meet more magical creatures including goblins, a hobgoblin, a troll and a griffin and start using some of the knowledge they discover in Arthur's Field Guide. The children start needing to work together more to face the challenges they come upon and you can see their relationships starting to improve with each other, although their mother is left out and in the dark about the happenings. It has been interesting reading the books since I did see the movie a few years ago. Until now I would have said the movie was too scary for my children to watch, but since we will have read all the books soon I am thinking that I may let them watch it. Hopefully the way the creatures are done won't be too much for them. I enjoy comparing the book to the movie when possible so they can see how movies most times don't have all the details and elements of the book since they have to be made to fit into a set amount of time.