Flip This Zombie by Jesse Petersen

Title: Flip This Zombie (Living with the Dead Book 2)

Author: Jesse Petersen

Publisher: Orbit Books 2011

Genre: Zombies

Pages: 250

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombies; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Authors: P

The Zombie Apocalypse has been good to Sarah and David. Their marriage is better than ever. They communicate well, share responsibilities, and now, they're starting a business. ZombieBusters-for all your zombie extermination needs.
There are lots of zombies and that means lots of customers...Except one of them doesn't want the zombies dead, he wants them alive and ready for experimentation. Mad scientists make for difficult clients and this time, Sarah and David might have bitten off more than they can chew.

Book 2 in the Living with the Dead series doesn't fail to entertain. The first book found David and Sarah Walker dealing with a collapsing marriage and a zombie apocalypse. This time they're back with a strong marriage and a new business venture, Zombie Exterminators, Inc. They're joined by a slightly weird 11 year old and a creepy scientist. As soon as the second book came out, I ran to the library (okay I didn't run, but definitely got there fast) and searched for the book. It wasn't on the shelf! NO!!! I looked in the catalogue, and it was there, but in a mysterious part labeled "Popular Library." Don't fear, I figured it out and found the recognizable hot pink cover.

All around, a rollicking good zombie killing time. I do love zombie stories that don't take themselves too seriously. The series does a great job at including funny one liners and pop culture references. Very excited about this series. A quick read, but lots of fun. Definitely can't wait until the third book comes out. Alas no definite date set... Just have to wait and find out if Sarah and David find the fabled Western Wall.

Living with the Dead

#1 Married with Zombies
#2 Flip This Zombie
#3 Eat, Slay, Love
#3.5 Shambling with the Stars
#4 The Zombie Whisperer

At the Scent of Water by Linda Nichols

Title: At the Scent of Water

Author: Linda Nichols

Publisher: Bethany House 2004

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 414

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: A to Z Authors: N (doesn't fit anywhere else, but such a a great book!)

Life is rewarding for Samuel Truelove. He's a gifted surgeon, he's married to the love of his life, and he has a beautiful daughter. But when he's called to perform an emergency surgery, a deadly cascade of events is set in motion, and his picture-perfect life begins to unravel....
Annie Truelove, hoping to escape painful reminders of her grief, leaves her beloved home in the mountains of North Carolina and begins a new life in faraway Seattle. But a disturbing headline takes her back home, where memories of both joy and sorrow come flooding back. What will it take to heal two broken hearts?

My friend C picked this book off of the coffeehouse borrowing shelf. You borrow a book, you add a book. It's a great little system. C read it in just a few days, gave it to me, and told me that I had to read this book. So I began (after readying myself with a silly zombie book).

This book moved me. Not just a little story of loss, but a deeply moving portayal of lost people struggling to find their place (forward or backward). I found myself tearing up throughout the book. The characters' pain was so intense, I felt it through the pages. This wasn't a book that I could read in the car line at school or in the five minutes I waiting for a friend. This was an intense reading book. I had to block out an hour or two here and there to read. I had to devote all my energy to the book. But once I did, I was sucked into Linda Nichols world. And loved every minute of it.

Linda Nichols has an amazing ability to weave an intricate story told through multple perspectives, but each one as real as you or me. I rooted for each and every character. I urged them to find their way, their happiness, even as I am struggling to find mine in real life. I feel like this book came at the exact right time for me, just what I needed. Although very sad, ultimately a story of hope and encouragement. Sometimes we need to stumble and fall before we can dance....

Now I need to pass off the book to another friend. Eventually it will get put back on the loaning bookshelf, but I will recommend it to all I know. The next book I read will not compare to this one... so I think something lighter in fare is in order. Zombies anyone?

Valentine's Day is Killing Me

Title: Valentine's Day is Killing Me

Author: MaryJanice Davidson, Leslie Esdaile, Susanna Carr

Publisher: Kensington 2006

Genre: Romance

Pages: 295

Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; February Romance Month; A to Z Titles: V

Another short story compilation, this time Valentine's Day themed. Like almost every compilation I pick up, I like some of the stories, and not some of the stories. This one included:

Cuffs and Coffee Breaks by MaryJanice Davidson -- Already love Davidson and this story was a fun adventure "who dun it." The only think that I didn't like was the logic with the crime featured. It seemed a little convuluted, more like a plot device than a real crime. The two main characters were fun and likable. Overall I did like this story.
A "No Drama" Valentine's by Leslie Esdaile -- Just could not get into this story at all. Maybe it was the writing, maybe the characters, maybe the plot. I just didn't enjoy reading this one.
Valentine Survivor by Susanna Carr -- Fairly interesting story, fairly interesting characters. I give this one a middle grade, not amazing, but not horrible. The main character was a little too neurotic for my tastes.

A fairly decdent Valentine's Day themed compilation. Maybe I'll pick up another one this month. Until then, I'm going to move to a book recommended by a friend. It's a little heavier in tone, but she says it was amazing.

Zombies for Zombies by David P. Murphy

Title: Zombies for Zombies: Advice and Etiquette for the Living Dead

Author: David P. Murphy

Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc. 2009

Genre: Zombies

Pages: 239

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; Zombies; A to Z Titles: Z

So you've been bitten by a zombie. Bummer.

And so begins a great self-help guide to the transition to zombie state. I absolutely love my zombies and this great guide really prepared me for the eventual future of becoming a zombie. The tongue-in-cheek style was awesome. A hilarious mix of facts, hypotheticals, and downright funnies.

Included in this guide:

How to dress for your new lifestyle
Great tricks for getting bloodstains out of your clothes
Handy recipes for brains
Deep stuff concerning spirituality
Fitness ideas for keeping you toned and somewhat energetic
New skin-care techniques to help ward off "rotting flesh syndrome"
Proper grooming
How to overcome that darned zombie social stigma
Dance steps for the motor-impaired
Handy recipes for brains (yes, I know I'm repeating myself, but soon you'll be showing a lot more interest in brains

I would recommend this book to everyone. We need to be prepared for the coming zombie apocalypse. We really need more authors to write guides to help us with the future. Pair this book with The Zombie Survival Guide and you have a great addition to your library.

Wildflower Brides

Title: Wildflower Brides: Four Romances Blossom Along the Oregon Trail

Author: Andrea Boeshaar, Cathy Marie Hake, Sally Laity, Pamela Kaye Tracy

Publisher: Barbour Publishing 2002

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Pages: 350

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; February Romance Month; A to Z Titles: W

So I just don't really know what to say about this one. I liked it, but didn't like it. It had some good parts, but then really predictable parts. This anthology falls into my Christian historical fiction dilemma. I like them, but don't like them. I have mixed feelings about the entire genre. I did like this one because the four stories, all written by different authors, were set in the same wagon train heading for Oregon. The crossover of characters was a nice touch. The story was definitely more believable than many of the Christian historical fiction that I've read in the past. However, it wasn't anything exciting. A nice read during a snowy day.

Bespelling Jane

Title: Bespelling Jane Austen

Author: Mary Balogh, Colleen Gleason, Susan Krinard, Janet Mullany

Publisher: HQN 2010

Genre: Paranormal; Jane Austen

Pages: 377

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; Vampires

Jane Austen retells, vampires, witches, and romance... must read. I absolutely loved this book! Well, all except the last story, but that had more to do with the writing style than the subject matter. The volume consisted of four short retellings of Austen novels with paranormal twists.

Almost Persuaded by Mary Balogh -- a retelling of my favorite Austen novel Persuasion, but through reincarnation. I loved that this story was still set in the Regency era world of Austen. The characters, similarly but not the exact same as Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth, were perfectly cast into the world. I liked the reincarnation twist to the story. It was an interesting change; not an intrusive one.
Northanger Castle by Colleen Gleason -- Northanger Abbey but filled with the threat of vampires. Well, more of the idea of the threat of vampires. For our heroine Caroline Merrill doesn't have any real evidence of vampires existing, but she looks for them anyway. Imagine her surprise when it turns out there really are vampires in Regency era England. My second favorite Austen book retold.
Blood and Prejudice by Susan Krinard -- Another vampire retelling. This time set in today's world but inhabited by the familiar characters of Bingley, Darcy, and the Bennett. Good story, but not the absolute best from the book.
Little to Hex Her by Janet Mullany -- A retelling of Emma, but in a modern world with vampires, witches, elves, werewolves, and various other supernatural beings. I just couldn't get into this story. I read it, but definitely didn't enjoy it like the others. This may be because Emma is my least favorite of the Austen novels.

Must read for fans of the genre of Austen retellings, sequels, spin-off, and prequels. I will definitely recommend this one!

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore

Title: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Black Dossier)

Author: Alan Moore

Genre: Graphic Novel

Rating: Vol. 1 4/ 5 stars, Vol. 2 4/5 stars Black Dossier 2/5 stars

Movie Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Page to Screen; Support Your Local Library; Steampunk

I picked these three volumes up from the library. A group of literary heroes/villains brought together until shadowy circumstances to "aid" England against threats, what better idea? I was intrigued. J convinced me to read them. He said I would like them. And I did. Each character not quite a hero even with their actions. The art was amazing. If you ever read it, make sure to really look at each panel, especially the backgrounds. There's a lot of details drawn into the background. While the dialogue was good and plot interesting, I really liked finding the surprises in the backgrounds. And of course, I really enjoyed the allusions to other literary characters and historical events.

Volume one consisted mostly of setting up the universe and characters. The storyline was intriguing though somewhat predictable. Volume two was an interesting take on War of the Worlds. I liked the Martian invasion and inclusion of Dr. Moreau and other shadowy secrets. Unfortunately, the Black Dossier was a real let down. Set in 1958, it attempted to pick up the continuation of the League but was much too confusing for me. I only half-heartedly finished the volume. It just really didn't grab my attention like the other two volumes.

A few years back I had seen the movie version of The Leagues of Extraordinary Gentlemen and was very disappointed. I revisited the movie to see if it had grown on me. Alas, it was as bad as I remembered. Unfortunately, most of the characters fell flat. the plot boring and predictable, and the dialogue cheesy. There were moments when the movie shined, but they were few and far between. Of all the characters in the movie, I thought Mina Harker and Dorian Grey were the only interesting ones. And even their story could have been expanded and more interesting. The allusions to their history could have set up a much more complicated relationship. Unfortunately the entire movie tried to play it safe and ended up being boring instead. Not the worst movie I've ever seen, but definitely not one I am going to seek out to rewatch.

Archenemy by Frank Beddor

Title: Archenemy (The Looking Glass Wars: Book 3)

Author: Frank Beddor

Publisher: Speak (Penguin Group) 2010

Genre: Fantasy; YA

Pages: 370

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: YA; 2011: Mind the Gap: A to Z Authors: B; Fantasy; January: New Books

The Heart Crystal's power has been depleted, and Imagination along with it. The people of Wonderland have all lost their creative drive, and most alarmingly, even Queen Alyss is without her powers. But at least the vicious Redd Heart seems to be similarly disabled. Amazingly, she is attempting to team up with her enemy, Alyss, in order to reclaim Wonderland from King Arch. Alyss might have no choice but to accept Redd's overtures, especially when she begins to receive alarming advice from the caterpillar oracles. . . .

I absolutely loved the first two books of The Looking Glass Wars: a reimagining of Alice in Wonderland. Where Wonderland is an alternate world accessible from Earth through puddles where there shouldn't be any puddle. Princess Alyss Heart is whisked away to Earth when her evil aunt Redd Heart (think the Red Queen) kills Alyss' parents and Redd's sister Genevieve and takes over Wonderland. Eventually Princess Alyss is found by Hatter Madigan (think Mad Hatter but a protector and bodyguard and not crazy) and brought back to Wonderland to retake the crown. A war for the throne begins... and concludes in this volume.

I won't spoil any more secrets from the trilogy, but I will say that I love the books. Beddor does a great job taking Lewis Carroll's original story and characters and reimaging them as something more than a "children's story." (Yes, I know the original Alice in Wonderland is not a children's story, but has elements of logic, math, political study, and social satire. It's one of my favorite books. But it continues to be placed in the children's section of most places because of the crazy surrealism and characters). The series is listed as Young Adult Fantasy, but adults would easily love the story line and characters. They are real, much more real than Carroll's portrayal. The "white rabbit" as Bibwit, the albino tutor to royalty. The playing cards as soldiers dealt for attack.

As to the settings, Wonderland is a complete world. Imaginative settings, regions, other groups of peoples. Even appearances by the Jabberwocky (always a favorite). The colors are wonderfully woven together. I could move through the environment right along with Princess (later Queen) Alyss as she struggles to find her rightful place in Wonderland.

A must read for fans of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and/or fun adventure fantasy. A great addition to my ever expanding library!

*As a side note, I also loved the SyFy Channels reimaging of Alice in Wonderland titled "Alice." I now own it and rewatched it right after reading Archenemy as another look at Alice in Wonderland. Check it out!

The Looking Glass Wars

The Looking Glass Wars
Seeing Redd
Archenemy

Bite Me by Christopher Moore

Title: Bite Me

Author: Christopher Moore

Publisher: HarperCollins 2010

Genre: Vampires

Pages: 309

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Vampires; Local Library

The city of San Francisco is being stalked by a huge shaved vampyre cat named Chet, and only I, Abby Normal, emergency back-up mistress of the great Bay Area night, and my mangahaired love monkey, Foo Dog, stand between the ravenous monster and a bloody massacre of the general public.
Whoa. And this is a love story? Yup. See, while some lovers were born to run, Jody and Tommy were born to bite. Well, reborn, that is, now that they're vampires. Good thing theirs is an undying love, since they're imprisoned in a bronze statue. Their Goth Girl Friday, Abby Normal, wants to be a bloodsucking fiend, too, but right now she's really busy with other stuff like Chet, who's getting bigger and smarter—and thirstier—by the minute.
Before you can say "OMG! WTF?" Tommy and Jody are sprung from captivity, and join forces with Abby and the entire crew to hunt big cat and save the city. And that's when the fun really begins.

Another fun vampire story from Moore. This time told mainly from the perspective of Abby Normal (minion to Jody and Tommy in You Suck) and involved the threat of vampire cats (yes, you read that right, vampire cats). Interesting twist to the traditional vampire stories. Vampire cats roam the streets of San Francisco eating the homeless population and generally creating a scary threat. I am no fan of cats myself and can see the general horror if the population of feral cats were turned into vampire kitties. I would be screaming my way out of town in a hurry. Even with the creep out factor, the book was hilarious. I thoroghly enjoyed the romp.

The only downside: the voice of Abby Normal got very annoying after a while. I felt like I was back to reading back student papers with all the text language and "kayso"s thrown in. It was a cute gimmick in You Suck, but after awhile I longed for an adult (or even semi adult) voice to take over. Thankfully Abby's wasn't the only voice. Moore did allow some of the other characters to narrate chapaters and sections of chapters. For this slight annoyance, I had to knock off a point. I just didn't devour this book like I did the other two. But still, a great read!

Love Story

You Suck by Christopher Moore

Title: You Suck (Love Story #2)

Author: Christopher Moore

Publisher: HarperCollins 2007

Genre: Vampires

Pages: 328

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Vampires; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Titles: Y

Being undead sucks. Literally.
Just ask C. Thomas Flood. Waking up after a fantastic night unlike anything he's ever experienced, he discovers that his girlfriend, Jody, is a vampire. And surprise! Now he's one, too. For some couples, the whole biting-and-blood thing would have been a deal breaker. But Tommy and Jody are in love, and they vow to work through their issues.
But word has it that the vampire who initially nibbled on Jody wasn't supposed to be recruiting. Even worse, Tommy's erstwhile turkey-bowling pals are out to get him, at the urging of a blue-dyed Las Vegas call girl named (duh) Blue.
And that really sucks.

Finished the sequel to Bloodsucking Fiends in one day (adding the 30 minutes spent reading the first 50 page the other day before realizing it was a sequel and the time spent yesterday reading the rest of the book). Very enjoyable followup to a great, funny, and awkward vampire love story.

The plot and characters got more complicated with the addition of a blue hooker (yes you read that right), two Goth teens, and a homeless man and his cat. Sounds absolutely crazy, but it really does make sense with the story.

Moore is a genius when it comes to great dialogue. Funny, sincere, and yet still sarcastic all rolled into one. His Abby Normal (teen Goth) journal entries: freaking amazing! Laughed out loud at so many parts. The people at Firefly probably thought I was crazy. Oh well, that's pretty on par for me.

Worst part: a cliffhanger ending

Best part: a new book in the series was published and I got it from the library... Hopefully there's an ending to Jody and C. Thomas Flood's love story. I would hate to leave them encased in bronze (oops, spoiler alert)

Love Story

Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore

Title: Bloodsucking Fiends (Love Story #1)

Author: Christopher Moore

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 1995

Genre: Vampires

Pages: 290

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Vampires; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Titles: B

Jody never asked to become a vampire. But when she wakes up under an alley Dumpster with a badly burned arm, an aching back, superhuman strength, and a distinctly Nosferatuan thirst, she realizes the decision has been made for her. Making the transition from the nine-to-five grind to an eternity of nocturnal prowlings is going to take some doing, however, and that's where C. Thomas Flood fits in. A would-be Kerouac from Incontinence, Indiana, Tommy (to his friends) is biding his time night-clerking and frozen-turkey bowling in a San Francisco Safeway. But all that changes when a beautiful undead redhead walks through the door...and proceeds to rock Tommy's life -- and afterlife -- in ways he never thought possible.

Funny story: I started reading a vampire book by Christopher Moore entitled You Suck. About 50 pages into it, I realized that it was a sequel. The characters kept referring to people and events that I should already know. Well I didn't know them because I hadn't read the book. Thankfully I had checked the first book out from the library. So 50 pages into the sequel, I put it down and picked up the first book.

After reading some pretty serious books (The Monsters of Templeton and A Girls Guide to Vampires) it was refreshing to read a light, funny vampire book. The main character, Jody, gets turned into a vampire, but is left alone to navigate this new condition. Hilarity and awkward situations abound. I imagine that it would be weird to one day wake up a vampire, not knowing what you can and can not do, what special powers you have, what kills you, etc. Of course Jody's first mission is to find a minion (because who doesn't want a minion?). Enter C. Thomas Flood, Jody's new minion and boyfriend (mortal of course). The relationship between the two seemed very real, complete with stupid arguments and plenty of awkward moments.

The plot consisted of colorful side characters, an ancient vampire playing a game of cat and mouse, and plenty of highjinks. I won't give away any spoilers, but you know there's a sorta cliffhanger at the end, because I accidentally started reading the sequel. A must read for lovers of funny vampire stories.

Now off to restart You Suck. I have high hopes for the sequel, please don't disappoint me.

Love Story

Bloodsucking Fiends
You Suck
Bite Me

The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff

The last few days have been crazy busy with snow days, household chores, birthday parties, and distractions. My regular blogging schedule was majorly disruppted, but hopefully I'll be getting back to it in the next few days.

Title: The Monsters of Templeton

Author: Lauren Groff

Publisher: Voice (Hyperion) 2008

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 361

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: YA; 2011: YA or YA Not; Support Your Local Library: A to Z Authors: G

"The day I returned to Templeton steeped in disgrace, the fifty-foot corpse of a monster surfaced in Lake Glimmerglass."
So begins The Monsters of Templeton, a novel spanning two centuries: part a contemporary story of a girl's search for her father, part historical novel, and part ghost story, this spellbinding novel is at its core a tale of how one town holds the secrets of a family.
In the wake of a wildly disastrous affair with her married archaeology professor, Willie Upton arrives on the doorstep of her ancestral home in Templeton, New York, where her hippie-turned-born-again-Baptist mom, Vi, still lives. Willie expects to be able to hide in the place that has been home to her family for generations, but the monster's death changes the fabric of the quiet, picture-perfect town her ancestors founded. Even further, Willie learns that the story her mother had always told her about her father has all been a lie: he wasn't the random man from a free-love commune that Vi had led her to imagine, but someone else entirely. Someone from this very town.
As Willie puts her archaeological skills to work digging for the truth about her lineage, she discovers that the secrets of her family run deep. Through letters, editorials, and journal entries, the dead rise up to tell their sides of the story as dark mysteries come to light, past and present blur, old stories are finally put to rest, and the shocking truth about more than one monster is revealed.

I've recently started reading young adult fiction, and I must say I am surprised at the good quality. I picked this book up based off of recommendations from lost of book bloggers. The beginning of the book was a bit confusing. I really couldn't tell if I liked it or not. Thirty pages in, I really started to get into the story.

The story has everything: monsters (both supernatural and human), a paternity mystery, family relations, and historical research. The various elements wove together to form a layered story that really kept my attention. The characters (likable or not) were complex. I didn't find a single one-dimensional character in the bunch (and that's saying a lot considering there are a lot of characters).

I won't spoil the ending, but let me say it's a biggie. The ending did a nice job of wrapping up all the story lines. I especially loved the ending to the "monster's" story. This will definitely go on my favorites list for 2011.

Ophelia Joined the Group... by Sarah Schmelling

Title: Ophelia Joined the Group Maidens Who Don't Float: Classic Lit Signs on to Facebook

Author: Sarah Schmelling

Publisher: Plume 2009

Genre: Nonfiction; Humor

Pages: 273

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library: A to Z Authors: S

From William Shakespeare's introduction:

The following will not be tolerated here: Slurs, libel, dullness, status updates that inclde the phrase '[Your name here] hates Mondays' or 'Thank God it's Friday.' emoticons used in an effort to mask one's lack of vocabulary, use of exclamation points that give us the impression you've OD'd on cocaine and Pixy Stix, and abuse of texting acronyms. Unless you are a six-month-old infant or a little girl in a tickle fight, you are not really rolling on the floor laughing. If you are, you need to get up, go outside, and speak to another human being because there's something wron with your sense of humor.

So what exactly happens when litrary characters and authors join Facebook? The answer... hilarity! I loved, loved, loved this book. It's written in the style of Facebook, complete with status updates, comments, pokes, social games, stupid quizzes, profiles, and ads. Schmelling really knows what she's taking about here. Each character/author has it's own personality exactly how I imagine them if they lived in the 21st century.

My favorite, of course, was the section on Jane Austen, specifically the section on Pride and Prejudice. The best exchange in the whole book (and I can completely picture this, by the way):

Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas are now married.
Elizabeth: What the?
Mr. Darcy: Hmmm, maybe I should marry you.
Elizabeth threw a sheep at Mr. Darcy.

Alice's confusion over her place in the Wonderland network read just like how I imagined her to be...

Alice is so sorry. She's new here and has been out o sorts sicne falling down the rabiit hole.
Morpheus: We're in the Matrix now. Take this pill, and I'll show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Hunter S. Thompson: I've been there. Madness in any directon. Maybe it meant something. Maybe not.
Alice: No, I mean a real rabbit hole. Like a bunny? Oh my.

How about this little exchange between Mina and Lucy on the Dracula news feed:

Lucy wrote on Mina's Wall.
"Dear Mina, why are men so noble and perfect when women are so despicable and worthles?"
Mina wrote on Lucy's Wall.
"I don't know, sweet Lucy! What kind of women are we?"
Lucy wrote on Mina's Wall.
"One-dimensional virginal Victorian women, I think!"

The quizzes were amazingly predictable, just like Facebook. My favorites:

Which Circle of Hell are You In? by The Inferno
If You were a Jane Austen Character, Who Would You Be? (complete with Jane Austen's criticsm and annoyance at everyone getting Elizabeth Bennett)
Which Dystopia Are You In: 1984, Brave New World, or Social Media? (I think I'm stuck in Social Media, although it doesn't look any better than the other two)
Are You a REAL MAN? (Ernest Hemingway only scored a 40% putting him with Ashley Wilkes, Ishmael, Jonathan Swift, and Ron Weasley; he wasn't too happy about it)

For any and all literature buffs or anyone who can actually picture all these old stories. A true must read!

As an added bit of fish-out-of-water fun, check out one of my favorite movies Lost in Austen or great books Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler.

A Girl's Guide to Vampires by Katie MacAlister

Title: A Girl's Guide to Vampires (Dark Ones #1)

Author: Katie MacAlister

Publisher: Avon (HarperCollins) 2003

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 374

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Authors: M; 2011: Will Power, What Will Power?; January New Books

All Joy Randall wants is a little old-fashioned romance, but when she participates in a "Goddess evoking" ceremony with her friend, Roxy, Joy finds out her future true love is a man with the potential to put her immortal soul in danger. At first the ever-practical Joy is ready to dismiss her vision as a product of too much gin and too many vampire romances, but while traveling through the Czech Republic with Roxy, Joy begins to have some second thoughts about her mystery lover because she is suddenly plagued by visions of a lethally handsome stranger. Then, when she and Roxy attend a local GothFaire, Joy meets Raphael Griffin St. John, head of security, and she becomes even more bewildered because the dark and dangerous Raphael seems too close to her dreams for comfort. Readers will gladly give in to the wickedly sharp bite of MacAlister's wit in this temptingly toothsome romance. With its superb characterization and writing that manages to be both sexy and humorous, this contemporary paranormal love story is an absolute delight.

I wasn't looking to start another series (since I have am in the process of reading about 4 series) but this caught my eye at Target last week. I had a few gift cards left over from Christmas and decided to pick this up along with a new pair of Chucks and the first season of Glee on DVD. Oh happy day! Dancing, singing, shoes, and a book!

The book pleasantly surprised me. I initially thought, "Ok a vampire romance. Is it going to be completely cheesy or just sex scenes or really bad writing?" I find that like it. A nice mix of story, myth, and romance. I won't go into the mythology (lots of intricacies; two types of vampires) but it was refreshing to read a mythology different from the Twilight model.

I liked the main female character, Joy, but felt like she was a little too trusting when she jumped into bed with Raphael. It was very forward and sudden. What really got me was how she complained that he wasn't telling her his secrets. My thought was "well, you've only known him for two days; most people do not reveal everything about themselves within two days of meeting." Otherwise, I liked Joy's fearlessness when it came to speaking her mind. Some days I really wish I could tell people what I really thought, but then I would be the big meany in the room. Oh well, I will just have to live vicarious through characters in books.

As to the big mystery of the novel, it wasn't much of a mystery. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I didn't enjoy it. I did enjoy watching the characters figure out the mystery. The red herrings were a nice touch. The ending was a little bit of a cliffhanger and I hope they visit some of the characters in the subsequent novels. Thankfully it wasn't too much of a cliffhanger, so I'm okay with the ending.

I went to the library and got the next couple in the Dark Ones series in case I get in the mood for vampires in the next month. However, I think I need a bit of zombie therapy for the next book selection.

Dark Ones

#1 A Girl's Guide to Vampires
#2 Sex and the Single Vampire
#3 Sex, Lies, and Vampires
#4 Even Vampires Get the Blues
#4.5 Bring Out Your Dead
#5 The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires
#5.5 Cat Got Your Tongue
#6 Zen and the Art of Vampires
#7 Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang
#7.5 Unleashed
#7.8 Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend
#8 In the Company of Vampires
#9 Much Ado About Vampires
#10 A Tale of Two Vampires
#10.5 Shades of Gray
#11 Lifestyles of the Rich and Undead

The Royal Pain by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: The Royal Pain (Alaskan Royal Family #2)

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Brava (Kensington Publishing Corp.) 2005

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 252

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Contemporary Romance; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Titles: R

Marine biologist Dr. Shel (“Never Sheldon”) Rivers has a problem. Some princess expects him to wait on her, hand and dimpled foot. His boss is taken with the royal redhead—brunette, whatever, it's not like he keeps track of that stuff—and nobody realizes that he just wants to be left alone in his lab. All alone. All the time. Weekends, holidays…it's all good.
Now here's Miss Royalpants, insisting that he escort her around the marine institute, explain what he's doing, kiss her until her toes curl…no, wait, that was his idea. She's not even apologetic about being born into a royal family! Says it's his problem to overcome, not hers. Which leaves him with one option: to kiss her again. And again. And…
So she's nothing like he expected. In fact, Dr. Rivers can see that this fantastic, exasperating woman has problems no princess should ever have to deal with. And he has an idea to help her get some much-needed sleep. Of course, it involves getting very, very tired beforehand, but if she's up to it, then so is he…

Kinda disappointed in this one. I read the first book in the series and absolutely loved it. The second book felt a little flat. I think I just couldn't connect to the two main characters. Princess Alex is very unlikable. I know the character is supposed to be complicated, but it seems like she has too many problems. I found myself wanting to reach into the book and smack her. Get a grip, woman! As for the male interest, Dr. Sheldon Rivers is an arrogant ass and never changed through the whole book. The one scene that sticks out is where they start arguing and as they argue they undress to have sex. Ugh! The entire scene was so fake and orchestrated. I wanted to like the book. Really I did... but I just couldn't. I read to the end hoping the characters would come to their senses, but nothing really changed. I saw that there's a third one in the series. I got it from the library. but have put it at the bottom of the stack for right now. I am changing gears and going to go for some paranormal book.

Alaskan Royal Family

The Royal Treatment by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: The Royal Treatment (Alaskan Royal Family #!)

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Brava (Kensington Publishing Corp.) 2004

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 268

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Contemporary Romance; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Authors: D

In a world nearly identical to ours, the North won the Civil War, Ben Affleck is the sexiest man alive, and Russia never sold Alaska to the U.S. Instead, Alaska is a rough, beautiful country ruled by a famously eccentric royal family, and urgently in need of a bride for the Crown Prince. But they have no idea what they're in for when they offer the job to a feisty commoner...a girl who's going to need...
The Royal TreatmentThe Princess-To-Be Primer,
Or, Things I've Learned Really Quick, As Compiled by Her Future Royal Highness--Yeah, Whatever--Christina. That's me.
1. Telling jokes you picked up from the guys on the fishing boat doesn't go over really well at a fancy ball.
2. Must learn to curtsy, stifle burps, and tell the difference between a salad fork and a fruit knife.
3. Must not keep thinking about Prince David's amazing eyes, lips, hands, shoulders, uh...wait, can I start over?
4. Becoming a princess is a lot harder than it looks.
5. Falling in love is a whole lot easier...

I've not read much contemporary romance that didn't have an paranormal aspect to it, so this is definitely new to me. If the rest are like this book, I am going to love the genre!

I found the characters likable and real. Each had faults, but that made them more likable. There's nothing worse than a character who's seemingly perfect. How is the reader supposed to connect with someone who doesn't have any problems? They can't and it usually makes the book boring. Davidson allows her characters (even the love interests) to be interesting. And because of that interestingness (I know not a word, but I like it) the reader connects to them.

The story itself is fun: an adventure in romance and royalty. The universe Davidson created does differ from our own in that Alaska is a separate country ruled by a royal family. But that's more of a plot device instaed of an aspect of fantasy. The plot is classic: lost girl, seemingly stuffy guy, meddling family, aspects of danger, and a romance all thrown into one.

I really like this book and saw that Davidson made a trilogy all set in this slightly alternative universe. I picked up the other two books: The Royal Pain and The Royal Kiss and plan on reading them next! Then I think it's time to move to real fantasy or science fiction or maybe even zombies for a change of pace.

Alaskan Royal Family

The Royal Treatment
The Royal Pain
The Royal Mess

The Lightkeeper's Bride by Colleen Coble

Title: The Lightkeeper's Bride (Mercy Falls #2)

Author: Colleen Coble

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 2010

Genre: Historical Fiction; Christian; Romance

Pages: 284

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Historical Fiction; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Titles: L

Katie Russell loves working as a telephone operator in Mercy Falls, California. But since childhood she has been expected to marry well. Her family presses for an engagement to wealthy bachelor Bartholomew Foster and though he doesn't stir her heart, their engagement promises a secure financial future.
Working the phone lines one evening, Katie overhears a chilling exchange between her friend Eliza and a familiar male voice. Katie soon learns that Eliza has disappeared, and the crime may be linked to another investigation by handsome new lighthouse keeper, Will Jesperson. Katie and Will soon form an alliance. An alliance that slowly blossoms into something more.
Despite the danger surrounding her, Katie is powerfully drawn to Will. But she is not at liberty to marry for love. And though society forbids their growing affection, Katie can't help but notice Will's sense of peace. It's a peace that rests on his trust in God—a trust that Katie has never had to depend on, with her future so clearly mapped out before her.
But the more Katie uncovers of the mystery, the more she discovers about herself, her past, and the brilliant future that could be hers if only she has the courage to trust in God and follow where her heart so fearlessly leads.

The second book in Coble's Mercy Falls series reads just as well as the first. I find that I am really enjoying the mix of Christian romance and mystery/thriller. The second novel's heroine makes a brief appearance in the first novel as Addie's new friend. Katie Russell is a great character, full of stubbornness but a caretaker's heart. I really connected with this character. of course, the male interest is also intriguing. I could exactly picture Will Jesperson in my mind throughout the story. His quiet strength and determination are a perfect match for Katie.

Of course, Coble packs the novel with red herrings and obvious suspicions, leading the reading on a twisting and turning ride to the truth. The revelations of the villains didn't fail to satisfy and surprise. I enjoyed the ride. And I heard there's a third Mercy Falls novel coming out this year. I look forward to it!

Mercy Falls

The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Colleen Coble

Title: The Lightkeeper's Daughter (A Mercy Falls Novel)

Author: Colleen Coble

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 2009

Genre: Historical Fiction; Christian; Romance

Pages: 306

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Historical Fiction; A to Z Authors: C; Support Your Local Library

Addie Sullivan leads a quiet life in a northern California lighthouse. She mourns the death of her father and endures her mother's bitterness, until the night a storm brings an injured stranger and a dark secret to her home. The man insists she is not who she thinks she is, but rather "Julia Eaton"—the child long lost and feared dead by her wealthy family. Seizing the chance to be reunited with the Eatons, Addie leaves her lighthouse home but decides to keep her true identity a secret until they can unravel the mystery.
Addie loves the Eatons' palatial home tucked away among the California redwood forests. She feels secure with the jovial family, adores the young boy who is her charge as governess, and finds romance with his father John, a young widower. But sinister shadows overtake Addie's joy. As dusty rooms and secret compartments give up their clues about her past, Addie finds a faith and a love she could never have guessed. To embrace this new world of promise is to risk her life; but to run away is to risk losing the greatest love she's ever known.

I read a lot of Christian historical fiction. It's quick, easy, and guaranteed to have a good message. Unfortunately, a lot of the genre falls into a very formulaic structure. By the end, I often want to chew my arm off because of the predictability.

That being said, The Lightkeeper's Daughter was a refreshing change. Maybe it was because the characters weren't stereotypes of people. Maybe because the writing, specifically the dialogue, didn't seem forced and from an 8th grader. Maybe because the story had many twists and turns to which I didn't know who was the villain. Maybe because the story was saved from being overly sermonized (is that a word?, it is now); the Christian message was still there, but subtle.

Whatever the reason, I enjoyed the book immensely. I found out there was another book released in the Mercy Falls series. Of course, I ran to the library to get that one too. It's next on my reading list: The Lightkeeper's Bride. I give The Lightkeeper's Daughter 4 out of 5 stars. I definitely recommend to anyone loving mysteries with a bit of romance and without all the sex and violence of my other authors. Enjoy reading! And don't worry I won't give away the ending. You just have to find that out for yourselves.

Mercy Falls

Confessions and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

Recently I picked up these two books at the library. I am a sucker now for anything Jane Austen related. With "Jane Austen" in the title, how could I resist?

Basic Premise: Two women, Jane Mansfield, a contemporary of Jane Austen although she's never met the author, and Courtney Stone, an Austen fan in present day LA, switch bodies a la Freaky Friday. From there, each woman has to learn to navigate the new society and life. Hilarity, confusion, and a sweet story evolve from there.

I enjoyed the new experiences each woman faced. Even though Courtney is an Austen addict, she has now idea of what life was really like back in the Regency era. Likewise, Jane cannot even fathom life in the 21st century. Specifically Courtney is appalled at the hygiene of the 19th century (something I know I would never get used to; I love indoor plumbing and soap). Although Jane has muscle memory for things like driving a car, her amazement at the new fangled gadgets of our time are delightful. It's almost like a kid discovering a new trick or phrase. Her glee at figuring out the "new" is infectious.

The characters were likable, flaws and all. Each woman had her misconceptions and prejudices that the other had to deal with in order to be happy in that life or her original. The supporting cast had a good blend of obvious cads, close friends, meddling parents, potential love interests, and enemies. I enjoyed the exchanges between characters, especially when the women were insistent that each was someone else.

The setting descriptions were realistic and attentive without dwelling too much on the detail. The author obviously did her research on Regency era England settings. I could really picture the places in my mind. LA was, well, LA, but that's okay. It was a nice dichotomy of the worlds, time and place. Even the characters comment on the settings, which is definitely appropriate considering the circumstances.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed these books. I didn't realize when I read the first one that there would be a sequel. I am glad I happened upon it at the library or I never would have known Jane's side of the story. A definite must read for all Jane Austen addicts out there.

Castles by Tracie Peterson

Another Christian historical romance down... but this one was a bit different. Since it was unusual, I thought I would share.

The Same

Same type of plot. Same type of characters. Four novellas connected through characters -- same set up for the novella collections.

The Different

The setting: Most of the Christian historical romance that I have been reading is set in the United States in the 1800s. They are usually set in a "wilderness," a newly explored/settled area such as Alaska or Montana. This one was set in Medieval times in England. There were many references to the politics of the time, i.e. the church versus kings versus high and low classes. I loved the little tidbits of information here and there about daily life in the castle. The change was refreshing.

The content: Usually the books are very heavy handed with the sermon-like content. Two characters get into a discussion about whatever, and it ends up that one character recites a sermon in the guise of a discussion. Sometimes these "discussions" get a little over the top. If they take up three pages, it's too much. This one was much lighter on the sermon front. The characters still talked about their faith and attempted to sway another character, but it was much lighter. The books focused more on the action and those of the characters. I enjoyed the change.

Overall I really like this book. I think my favorite novella was the first one -- Arianne. It felt the most "real." I hope I find more like this one. Now, to move on to more "literary" fare...