Reading list

This is not a full list of what I read this month. I don't usually remember that much.
1. Now I can die in Peace-Bill Simmons. About the Red Sox. Very funny and informative for all you baseball people.
2. What's A Ghoul to Do- Victoria Laurie. The jury's still out on this one. Interesting overall, but I didn't like either male secondary character and there was just something missing. Not as good as her Abby books.
3. The Trouble with Magic-Madeline Alt. A paranormal cozy set in Indiana. Fun and interesting, but I thought it tried too hard to be typical Mid-Western. I got the feeling that the author is a British transplant. She uses some heavy handed stereotypes and that isolated the main character.
4. A Charmed Death-Madeline Alt. The second in the series. Better. Less British and more interesting with the 'witchy' stuff. Still a little stereotypical. Maggie seems more wishy-washy with her family and friends in this one.
5. Rescue Me-Elda Minger. One of the last Harlequin Temptations. Good book. About a resurging action hero who saves two people from a gunpoint robbery. One is a young boy and the other a woman starting a new life. Yes, cliched. But a quick easy read with some fun and good sex.
6. The Prada Paradox-Julie Kenner. The final book in her Play.Survive.Win trilogy. This time it's set in L.A. They are making a movie about The Givenchy Code when the heroine of this book is targeted by the game. She's a former child star who was stalked and attacked by a crazed fan. After rehab and therapy she trying to make her way back. Until her attacker resurfaces and she gets a note in a Prada bag(I love that part!) telling her she must play or die.
7. The Key trilogy-Nora Roberts. Key of Light, Key of Knowledge and Key of Valor. It's a few years old, but worth the read. Three women are chosen to find three keys to free the souls of the Daughters of Glass. A Celtic myth. Vintage Nora. Funny, intelligent, well paced, and plotted. Main characters are strong and the secondary characters likable and forward the plot. Some people should take a lesson!

What I'm reading - April

With Easter & work travel, my month has started out quite pathetic!

Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris
I pulled this off the bookshelf to re-read. I love all the Harris books, but the Shakespeares hold a special place as the series I started with. Lily Bard's taciturn manner is hilarious! This is also the book that introduced Jack. Seriously, if you have not read these books do. Harris has a remarkable way of writing characters. You are interested in them, what is coming next, and they never get old - even if their clothes do.

Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris
You can't read just one! This is my favorite of the Shakespeare's. The scene at the wedding rehearsal dinner is the most amazing, romantic 3-4 lines in a single book! I don't know how Harris could write a character like Lily so that we don't pity her, she doesn't annoy us, and she seems to do everything just as her character should.

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Wow! I did not expect this book to be so good! Andrews has started a great new Fantasy series here. She is slowely creating this mysterious and unique world. I don't completely understand what's going on, but I understand the little elements she is introducing me to and can not wait to learn more! Great character development that does not 'jump the shark' on any issues. Best of all - a female lead who's tough, doesn't jump every guy she meets, and wants to do things on her own. I am SO hooked. Please let the second book come out this year... I can't wait 12 mos!

To Love and To Perish by Laura Durham
The 3rd in the series for wedding planner Annabelle. The story was pretty good. A hilarious scene at the end with Richard. As always, Richard & Ferm made the book. Thankfully, the crazy old lady was reduced in this book. However, there were still about 4 pages too many of Leatrice. She adds nothing to the story and she's not needed, hopefully she will completely fall by the wayside. The actual wedding planning elements were a little lighter than usual, but it was a good idea to explore the backstage of the profession. I'll pick up the next book and hope for continued improvements.

Slay it with Flowers by Kate Collins
I finally dug this series out of my too-read box (I have the next 3!). As I suspected, once I read one I got back into the charcter. Its a rather typical cozy with a short, busty heroine who meddles in things. Excluding cousin Jillian, there aren't any annoying characters - they all seem to support the story in some manner. The mystery is fine, though not surprising. Marco is, of course, the catalyst for continuing on. An ok series if you've read the others and need to fill your Saturday.

Dead Girl's Dance by Rachel Caine
Although her weather warden series gets all the attention, this YA series is really different & interesting.

What's a Ghoul to do? by Victoria Laurie
This will be our April pick to read.

What's a Ghoul to do? by Victoria Laurie

Let's read this for April as we're fans of the author. Pay particular attention to the writing - I had a coworker comment that she thought it was deplorable in the Abbey Cooper bk 1. I hadn't noticed a thing and I usually do....

Killer Insight, by Victoria Laurie

Guess what I got to read this weekend??!! I LOVE my local store that puts books out early...

Killer Insight is the fourth installment in the Abbey Cooper Psychic Eye series. This one, as the others before it, are a great read. What's it about? Well, Abbey heads to Colorado for a good friend's wedding (so good I don't believe she was ever mentioned before, but I have to check on that). As a bridesmaid fill in, Abbey's obligated to do all the pre-wedding stuff, which kicks off in an unfortunate way when Abbey looks at a photo and sees that one of the women is dead. The woman she replaced in the wedding party. What follows is Abbey assisting the bride's brother - the local sheriff - with uncovering info about this death, and the many crimes that follow. The psychic stuff Abbey does is good and explained well. The supporting characters all get a little role that ties in with the story. There are new twists to Abbey's love life - which I admit I was not so happy about to begin (The bastard!), but it seemed to work out for the best.

What's good? Abbey's psychic revelations, the overall story - ie murders. Dave. He's a hoot. The scene at the mall where the bystander helps out Abbey - you'll see.

What could be improved? Confusing names that sound similar! Dutch is the usual guy in the books, but in this book there's a Duffy that takes center stage - a little confusing. Fortunately, the author didn't mix them up anywhere - which most authors do at some point, when they have characters with similar names.