Revelations

You know, I used to hate series books. Because I'd always accidentally start in the middle of one, and I'd have to go back and read up to where I started...

So would someone please explain to me why the last 9 books I've read have been part of a series.

The most recent one was Revelations, the third in Melissa De La Cruz's Blue Bloods series.

It was...odd. In a really good way. Schuylar has been forced to move in with the Forces, which means that Mimi is driving her crazy and Jack is fully ignoring her.

Meanwhile, her grandfather has taken over the vampire clan, which is driving Mimi crazy.

Now, I don't get who didn't see some of these things coming. Bliss is bleeding after something important went missing? Weird... (right...)

I like Bliss. I'm sad that she's such a psycho. And in some totally weird way, I understand that Mimi just loves Jack, and can't live without him.

And what is up with Ollie being all...woo-ey and in love? It's weird.

Anyway, I liked this one. The big fight scene, the beginning of the second war, the unknown history... it's really fun.

Salvation in Death

I promise you, I've been reading a lot lately, I just haven't been blogging about it.

That said, I just finished the latest J.D. Robb novel, Salvation in Death. I have no idea what I thought it was going to be about, but whatever I was expecting, it was so much better.

It starts out with a priest. He dies after drinking the sacrificial wine during a Mass for a dead man (I have no idea what that would be called...).

Just pitches over, mid-Mass.

And here I start thinking, oh, some guy who hates the church. Expect a bunch of priest killings.

Nope! Turns out...he's not really a priest.

So the whole book focuses on this one murder, though it branches out into old murders, and then there's the one mid-book. It was a little weird, another preacher (evangelical, this time) who is poisoned during his big preaching time. So then you think it's about killing religious leaders who are making bad choices.

Still not.

It was really good. I enjoyed it...even though I found some of it hard to follow. I know where the girlfriend comes in, and I know all the stuff she did, but it's still a bit confusing for me.

There was something else too.

Oh! Right! Ariel, from Creation in Death came by with a giant cake, and later Eve said something about Roarke going around the law to bring down the killer, and I couldn't for the life of me remember what he did! And I can't just go back and read Creation right now, because I've got (a) homework! and (b) tons of other new books in series that I'm supposed to be reading right now.

So confused!

Anyway, I really liked this one.

100 Posts

Okay, so at the Sardonic Girl, I just mentioned that I found the best, most inappropriate quote that I love.

Since I was reading it, I thought I'd mention it here.

I found this book... The Official Nora Roberts Companion.

Too funny. So I'm flipping through reading polls and glancing at pictures, when I see a quote relating to French fries. So I pause.

"How can one live without French fries? Not well, I say. In fact, I've been known to say that a day without French fries is like a day without an orgasm." -Nora Roberts.

Dime Store Magic

So, Dime Store Magic is the third in Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series (the first is Bitten, the second Stolen). If you remember, the first (and second, though I haven't read that one yet) starred Elena, a werewolf.

This one stars Paige, a witch. A lot happens in the second that leads up to this, but Paige is in custody of Savannah, a 13 year old witch.

When a half-demon tells Savannah's dad (Kristof) of Savannah's mother's death, she also convinces Kristof to go after Savannah.

Paige knows that it's best for Savannah to stay with her, and goes about fighting for her. She employs a human lawyer (Kristof has a sorcerer for a lawyer), but he's killed (by Leah, the half-demon).

Lots of things go wrong after that, most of them involving police action. Between stealing grave dirt, killing a boy, bringing an entire mortuary of dead bodies into zombiehood, and a police chase, Paige has her own problem.

Lucas Cortez, a sorcerer, has shown up, volunteering to be her lawyer.

The only other really important thing you're missing? The sorcerer's have their own mob-type families, called Kabals, and both Kristof and Lucas are heirs to their own Kabal thrones. Lucas doesn't want it, and Kristof does.

So Paige is also trying to keep Savannah out of that kind of trouble, and falling in love with Lucas.

It's a lot to follow sometimes, and it's a little slow (it took me a while to really get into this one...maybe because I read Haunted, the 5th in the series starring Eve, Savannah's mother, before I read this one). Other than those things, I liked it.

For A Few Demons More

You know, one day, I'm going to look back at this time in my life and laugh at all the things I read.

Anyway. I just finished For A Few Demons More by Kim Harrison. It's a supernatural mystery novel where vampires, werewolves (and all other weres), witches, humans, demons, and elves all coexist.

Of course, it takes place in Cincinnati, which is always fun.

Anyway, in this one Rachel (our main character and a witch) is trying to save everyone around her from going postal, maintain some sort of balance with her roommate (Ivy, a living vampire who's in love with her), her boyfriend (Kisten, another living vampire), keep herself from getting killed or turned into a demon's familiar (it's a complicated story), and solve the case of who's killing the weres.

I did mention this is part of a series, right?

Anyway, it's fun. Rachel is a little crude, a lot crazy, and a total adrenaline junkie. It's kind of awesome watching her work.

This one is intense, both emotionally and physically. Everything will, eventually, be okay, but right now it's all a little crazy. And then, Kist...oh, Kist. I love him. Have I mentioned how glad I am that they killed Piscary? Because he was a real jerk (that happens to really old vampires...)

Paying Attention

So, I bought a book today.

I thought it was Destiny Kills by Kay Hooper.

Turns out it's Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur.

They both start with a "K" and end with an "R"...that's the only reason I can even remotely come up with for why I confused the authors.

Lean Mean Thirteen

Lean Mean Thirteen is the thirteenth novel in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Man...I bet guessing where it was was tough.

Anyway, have mentioned lately how much I like these books, right? Because I do. They're fun and funny and just a trip.

In this one, Stephanie's ex-husband (Dickie) goes missing. Since Steph attacked him the day before he went missing, she's at the top of the suspect list.

Of course, then all the other people associated with Dickie's law firm start showing up dead, and she's suddenly not nearly as worried about being framed for murder as actually into the investigation.

And she has to move in with Ranger while Joe is working. I love it when she has to live with Ranger.

And Tank gets shot. I swear, the more Steph hangs out at RangeMan, the more dangerous it gets.

And I did mention how much I love Ranger and Joe, right? Because they're freaking awesome.

Bitten

Okay, so I was looking at the Amazon 4-for-3 lists the other day, and came across this series by Kelley Armstrong. The first was Bitten, so I decided to read it. I requested it from work, and it came in yesterday.

Of course, yesterday I was in the middle of Hunting Fear, so it had to wait.

Oh my gosh. I really liked this novel. It's about a woman (Elena). When we first meet her, she's living in Toronto with Philip. And she sneaks out in the middle of the night, changes into a werewolf, and runs to a ravine.

Then Jeremy calls. And she has to go back to New York, see her old "family."

Including her old fiancee, Clay.

Poor girl. She's put through an absolute emotional wringer, but finally figures out who she is. And who she loves.

Let's just say, she moves out of Toronto in the end (Which, of course, made me really, really happy. I like her and Clay together).

I was sad to lose Logan though, even though I don't know him at all.

This was her first novel, it became a series. One that Elena doesn't narrate the whole time (which makes me sad...I like Elena!).

Anyway...I'm going to see if anyone near me has the second one... I like Kelley Armstrong.

Oh, and I want to mention that it's a little graphic. The killing scenes are a little graphic, it includes references to torture and child sexual abuse. Just a warning.

Hunting Fear

Hunting Fear is another Kay Hooper Bishop/SCU novel.

I like this one. Like the others, it takes place in a small town, stars a psychic (or two...), and revolves around a serial killer. Bonus--about a couple who had been together before and are getting back together. And you wonder why I love these books.

Anyway, in this one, Lucas Jordan is our FBI agent (though Quentin has a secondary role...I love Quentin. He stars in Chill of Fear), and he can sense fear. Samantha Burke tells fortunes in a carnival. But when they find themselves in the same city again (Golden...what kind of city name is that? Probably a real one...), and a kidnapper/murderer on their hands, they have to work together to hunt him down.

Lucas is a little distant...until you find out why (at the almost-very end). Sam is really out there with her feelings, no matter how much she pretends not to be. Jaylene has a terrible name, but they usually call her Jay (Oh...she's Lucas's partner).

Bishop also makes his special appearance, both at the beginning (recruiting Lucas, trying to find Miranda), and at the end (see, our fearless leader really does have everything under control!). Miranda's there at the very very end too.

Anyway, as they're trying to find the victims (the 3 that get kidnapped in this part of the story...apparently the kidnapper has been doing this for 18 months before we come into the picture), Sam and Lucas are also coming to terms with each other...again.

Oh, I did mention that they met 3 years previously on another case, right? Right.

I'm a fan.

The Excel List

So, I have this really complicated Excel list that I keep about the books I read.

There's the main spreadsheet, which includes all of the following (in order) on any book I read: Title, Author Last Name, Author First Name, Stars?, Last Read, Genre, Sex, Violence, Language, Religion, Fiction/Nonfiction?, Other Authors, Own?, Series?, Personal Notes.

Most are pretty self explanatory, but personal notes is where I put an abbreviated version of this.

I'm going to have to add a new column, though. Blogged. Because I'm going to start re-reading things that I've blogged (I already have for a few, in fact), and I don't want to double blog, or have to go check the stupid records.

Oh, the other spreadsheets in the file are Read in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, Books I Own (though I now have a new list in a separate file), and Thieves.

How did you think I kept up with how much I read every year and every month? It's on the list...

Blue Bloods

Okay, one of the girls at work recommended this to me. A post-Twilight teen vampire novel.

Blue Bloods is the first the series (so far, there are 3 out). Schuyler is an outcast teen at an overpriced, rich-kids school.

Oh, and in case you're wondering...she's a vampire. She just doesn't know it yet.

Yeah, all those rich, perfectly-pretty plastic type people? All vampires. Makes you hate them.

Anyway, a whole group of kids are inducted into their new lives (again, a lot of the usual vampire propaganda is not true...used to throw off humans).

But there is something hunting the vampires (they call themselves Blue Bloods, while humans are just Red Bloods). And it's the only thing that can cause true death in them.

And what choice does Schuyler have but to hunt down the thing hunting them? None, none at all. Especially after it...well, I can't say that. Revels a major plot point.

Anyway, well written (if a little confusing). Vampires, by the way, are angels that got kicked out of heaven. So there's an interesting tidbit.

It's odd, and doesn't end on the best of notes. I respect it for that.

But I'm certain she'll find her grandfather.

And I really, really hate Mimi. She's a moron. And Jack needs to wise up.

Divided in Death

Okay, so Divided in Death is a J.D. Robb novel. It stars Lieutenant Eve Dallas, and her oh-so-sexy husband, Roarke.

This one is kinda late in the series, and they've been together something like 2 years at this point.

One morning (around 2 am, when no good calls come in), Roarke gets a call. One of his employees (one with a high security clearance) has just found her husband and her best friend in bed together, dead. This is not good.

So Eve and Roarke go over there and Eve does her job (I did mention she's a murder cop, right?)

Murder, mystery, and mayhem ensue.

Also--lots of things come out about Eve's past.

Now, the problem with some of the J.D. Robb novels is they tend to focus on either the emotional stuff, or on the murder. She usually has trouble blending the two.

Oh my gosh--not this time. This time, it is so well done that the story would absolutely suck without the other stuff. They feed off each other. It's amazing.

One of my favorites in this series because of the way the two work together.

Re-Reading

You know one of my favorite things about re-reading books? When I find really random things shoved in the book.

Nothing like finding an old bookmark (I use index cards most of the time) at some really random point, or an old grocery list.

Today, I found a poem in Chapter 7 of Divided in Death, called "Thoughts Pressed Between Pages"

Now how freaking appropriate is that?

The USA Patriot Act Reader

Get ready for a bunch of these types of posts, I still have 4 more books to get through, and if they're this interesting, you'll be hearing about them. This one was edited by Alphonse B. Ewing.

This one goes over the Patriot Act (oh so long), then talks about libraries. But not in defense of libraries, but in defense of the Patriot Act. It was weird.

But really good. He addresses what the libraries were saying, and actually made me look at it a different way. The fact that libraries are never specifically addressed, for one thing. The wording is a little questionable too.

Something new to think about.

Anyway, I have to give it a 3 because there is a lot of boring for just a little insight. But what insight it is.

The Intellectual Freedom Manual

Okay, so the book I just finished up is a huge book on the policies and statements of the ALA on intellectual freedom, including the ALA Code of Ethics, the Library Bill of Rights, and a huge chunk of information on the ALA's views of patron privacy.

I'm researching for class. Give me a break.

Okay, it was actually interesting, if you're interested in politics, laws, ethics...oh my gosh, I'm into boring things.

I found a lot of good information, and a lot of things I would have never thought of. Bravo, ALA!

Oh, and I can't rate it, because it's not that kind of book. It's a manual.

Chesapeake Blue

There are all kinds of classics. There are the classics that they say are the ones that everyone should read, and there are the kind that you just fall in love with.

Chesapeake Blue in the last of 4 by Nora Roberts, and is my kind of classic.

You have to read the first 3 before you can read this last one, because otherwise a lot of this doesn't make sense. You can read it, and get a lot of the back story, but it's more fun if you know the background.

Seth was adopted by his brothers when he was 10. He spent the rest of his life fighting with his mother, a junkie who wanted everything she could get. Hoping to throw her off his back, he runs away to Europe to paint.

There, his work flourishes, and he becomes a widely known painter. But when Gloria (his mother) shows up at his door, he decides to go back home to Eastern Maryland.

Once there, he meets Dru, a woman who owns a flower shop. He talks her into posing for him, and they end up falling in love.

But Gloria isn't content to let Seth be happy. She threatens to tell a false story to the tabloids, but Seth, his brothers, their wives, and Dru all set her straight.

It's a really fun story. I've always been a big fan of Seth...he's a sweetheart. And Dru, because she's so prim and proper. It makes me laugh. Oh, and Aubrey. She's a spitfire.

Anyway, in case you missed it...I'm a huge fan.

Moby Dick, Part 1

As I recently mentioned on The Sardonic Girl, I've been reading too much trashy pop news and watching too much TV, so in an effort to keep my brain from going to complete literary mush, I'm going to be reading Moby Dick for the next 37 days or so. 20 pages a day. But there's so much, that I may need to talk about it here.

So, part 1. Chapters 1-3. I love what he says about the sea being the thing that keeps him from killing himself. That's interesting. Not to mention that, Ishmael is right. Meditation and water are wedded very close to each other.

The creepy painting in the hallway at the Inn he stays at? The one that's dark and hard to make out what it's supposed to be? Why does that seem like so much foreshadowing to me? Is it?

Also, what does it say that he wanders into a church thinking it's an inn?

Never mind he ends up sharing his bed with a cannibalistic headhunter who is possibly a white man covered in tattoos (did anyone else read Typee?). And! My favorite line! "Better sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian." What the heck does that mean?!?

If There Be Dragons

What can I say, I'm going through an old romance writers kick. As of recently, I've been reading a lot of old Sandra Brown and Kay Hooper novels.

Most recently was If There Be Dragons by Kay Hooper.

What you need to know: This is straight paranormal romance. By that I mean she (Brooke) is psychic, and the entire story is her getting over her issues so that she can fall in love with Cody.

And, yeah, they both refer to her issues as dragons.

The dialogue is cheesy, the temporary pet wolf is weird, and neither of them are very convincing characters, but it's a cute story. She barely uses her psychic ability, which is sad, but a little expected. I really like KH's mystery series better, if only because they use their gifts.

Anyway. It's cute, though a little trite. It was fine. Not stellar, but I'll probably end up re-reading it again in a year or so.

Bowled Over

I just finished Bowled Over, the 6th and latest book by Kasey Michaels, starring Maggie Kelly.

What you need to know about these books? You absolutely cannot start with number six. You have to read number one (Maggie Needs an Alibi) first. After that, go to town. Read what's handy. But you have to read it first.

Maggie is just your average, everyday, neurotic New York Times best selling Regency-Era romance writer living in New York when the series starts.

That is, until her hero, Alexandre Blake aka the Viscount Saint Just aka Alex Blakely, and his Watson-esque sidekick, Sterling Balder, show up on her doorstep.

In this sixth book, Maggie is going home for Christmas, but staying with her father in his bachelor pad while her mother's condo (only a block away) is taken over by siblings and their friends.

But when Maggie's dad is accused of killing a man, Maggie and Alex once again have to solve the crime and save the day (as they have for the last 5 books).

The great part about these books? Aside from being over the top and rather hilarious, they are almost a mete-novel. This book, in fact, has about 3 chapters devoted to the meta-novel. Talking about the killer, of course, and why he's doing what he's doing. It's fun, and funny, in a really odd way.

Anyway, as much as I'd love to say that it's perfect and amazing, it's not. I guessed the motive well into the book (though I thought someone else was the killer, apparently they at least had that right).

And...how did Maggie buy a 4 story house at such a "great price"? There has got to be a catch (and no new Maggie books on the horizon), I'm curious.

And this whole evolving thing? Weird. Though appreciative (because KM almost waited too long to get Alex and Maggie together) to see the characters grow, (a) the whole concept is weird and kind of hard to wrap your mind around (though, there is always "Stranger Than Fiction"), it's also (b) annoying to see how perfect Alex is. Grey hair is a mean (albeit fun) way to show him evolving.

Haha

I love it when popular authors cite other popular authors.

I'm reading Bowled Over, a Maggie Kelly/Saint Just mystery right now. It's an odd series (Maggie is the writer, and Saint Just, or Alex, is the main character in her novels. That is, until one day he shows up on her doorstep in New York...)

And Maggie's talking about marrying off Saint Just in the books, and she cites Nora Roberts, who has this great series about a man and his cop wife.

The In Death series, written under the pseudonym of J.D. Robb, starring the ever sexy, debonair Roarke and his lovely wife, Lt. Eve Dallas. Never mind the books are mostly centered around Eve's cases...not around Roarke (which means she should have top billing, not him).

So there you go. Who doesn't love this type of random reference?

Or I was reading a Janet Evanovich once that cited a woman reading...some romance author that I had heard of... Joy.