The Walking Dead: Book Two

Title: The Walking Dead: Book Two

Author: Robert Kirkman

Publisher: Image Comics 2007

Genre: Graphic Novel; Zombies

Pages: 304

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

How I Got It: borrowed from library

This hardcover features issues #13-24 of the hit series along with the covers for each of the issues, all in one oversized hardcover volume. Continuing the tale of Rick Grimes and his band of survivors from the zombie apocalypse that has ravaged the world.

This series just keeps getting darker and darker, and I absolutely love it! Once again, I was struck by the black and white drawings. One would think that they wouldn't be enough for a scary zombie story. Yet they convey the stark world the survivors now live in. We aren't focused on the zombie but on the desperate reality of the situation. I love that. The characters are wonderful. We meet some new characters in the prison. We lose some characters. I won't say who, but you know that people are going to die. It's the zombie apocalypse for goodness sakes. However, I was surprised at how many we lost in this book. It was quite starling. Overall it continues this feeling of uneasy. We never know who is going to die next. The Walking Dead is definitely not a predictable story. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next book...

Staying at Daisy's by Jill Mansell

Title: Staying at Daisy's

Author: Jill Mansell

Publisher: Sourcebooks 2011

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 497

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Contemporary

How I Got It: Borrowed from the library

Love and laughter prevail in this charming chick lit romp. Daisy MacLean is the manager of Colworth Manor, a beautiful county hotel. In the year since her cheating husband was killed in a car accident, she's been purposefully single. She doesn't trust handsome and charming men, so former rugby star Dev Tyzack clearly doesn't stand a chance with her, and the two initially grate on each other—but they can't deny their increasing attraction. Unfortunately, Daisy's past is getting in the way of her future, in more ways than one. With a madcap crew of characters, including unlucky-in-love chambermaid Tara and Daisy's gregarious father, this screwball romantic comedy piles on the humor and humanity for a clever, absorbing, and very enjoyable read.

I have finally found a contemporary romance author that I love! Mansell has all he beautiful zany characters and storylines that keep me entertained. Sure, sometimes they're predictable, but they're still fun to read. I haven't come across a main character that I hate. I love all of them. They're all so much fun. (Wow I think I'm done saying fun, but it's all true).

A definite must read for fans of smart romance and good characters. I want to live in one of Mansell's novels!

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

Title: The Jane Austen Book Club

Author: Karen Joy Fowler

Publisher: Plume 2005

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 288

Rating: 4/5 stars Movie: 4/5

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Contemporary; Page to Screen

How I Got It: I own it!

This is one of those books that I have tried not to read. I was afraid that it would take my beloved Jane Austen and butcher her stories. I was afraid it would try to be clever, but fail miserably. For some reason, I eventually picked this up on clearance. And I'm pleasantly surprised. This book is more about the themes of Austen's books and how they connect to these characters' lives. I loved how the book was set-up. Each month the book club meets at one of the character's houses and discusses one of the books. Each chapter we get a person's life story and how it relates to the themes of the books. I love the focus on themes and opinions rather than trying to recreate the stories. And so, I ended up liking this book way more than I thought I would.

Specifically, I loved Bernadette's story. Her unconventional life was a real treat to read. Jocelyn and Sylvia's stories of marriage just didn't connect to me. But Bernadette's was fun to read. Grigg seemed like a side character with no much to really learn from him. Allegra made me mad. Her anger and constant pessimism really got to me. And her treatment of Sylvia was just wrong. Prudie's story was interesting, but then her mother died. It seemed like after that she disappeared. Her character comes back from the funeral, but we don't get any deep exploration of what happened and what's going to happen. I would have liked to hear more from her, but alas none. So some stories I liked and some not. But overall, it was an interesting book.

Movie

Disclaimer: I saw the movie before reading the book. While reading the book, I tried to completely block out the movie. I did a fairly decent job of it.

In some ways, I liked the movie more. In this case, the movie focused on less the connection to the books and more on the characters themselves. I thought the movie did a good job at interspersing the stories with the current action and book discussions. I especially loved the little shots of each character reading the books. I love the atmospheric shots. Very nice. As to the characters:

Allegra -- Still annoying and still my least favorite. She is completely self-centered.
Prudie -- She irritating, as she should be, but I still do like her character. I feel sorry for her messed up existence. I thought the inclusion of the affair with the student makes a lot of sense for her character.
Sylvia -- The movie makes her more sympathetic to me. She's much more of a real person in the movie.
Jocelyn -- If anything, the movie makes me like her less. She's self-centered and oblivious, but she is caring deep down.
Bernadette -- Less crazy than the book, and I love her more for it. She's definitely my favorite character.
Grigg -- Much more attractive (in every way) than the book. He seemed like a caricature, but becomes a much more developed character in the movie.

Overall, I really like the book and the movie. Big surprise to me!

Just a Little White Lie by Lynnette Hallberg

Title: Just a Little White Lie

Author: Lynnette Hallberg

Publisher: Carina Press 2011 (e-book only)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 194

Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Contemporary

How I Got It: Net Galley from Carina Press

Lucinda Darling thinks she's ready to get married. Even though Donald doesn't give her butterflies, the heiress is ready to make her marriage work. She's got the dress, she's at the church and her fiancé…is making out with his ex. So Lucinda stuffs her tulle skirts into her tiny sports car and hits the road…only to have her car break down.
Jake Parker knows he's not ready to settle down. But Grandma Hattie is sick, so, to make her happy, he's returning home to find himself a fake fiancée. When Jake rescues Lucy from the side of the highway, she goes from runaway bride to temporary fiancée.
Lucy hopes to escape the public eye in small-town Georgia, but she doesn't expect to fall for Jake's charming hometown, let alone Jake himself. Soon Jake and Lucy both start to wish their lie were true. But Lucy knows she must stop their pretense before Jake's family—and her heart—are hurt so badly they'll never recover.

My first thoughts: cute but not great. A light-hearted romance complete with plot coincidences and sped up time. I like the main characters: Lucinda has spunk, Jake is a great man's man. But the other characters fell flat. We get the two-timing fiance, the desperate ex-girlfriend, the overprotective sister, and the misunderstanding fathers. I just didn't get the point of the other characters. They felt like more plot devices than real people. And all the plot coincidences just made me want to scream.

Rereading my first paragraph, the answer has come to me. I know why I didn't like this book: it didn't feel like there was any real development. Everything was rushed. It was only 194 pages (according to my iPad), but this story could have been 400 pages. I think 400 pages would have given us enough time to really get to know the characters (both main and side) and the "falling desperately in love" in 4 days wouldn't have been an issue. Contrived romances just rub me the wrong way. I liked the idea of the story and the main characters, but this book left me wanting more.

Jack of Fables: The Bad Prince by Bill Willingham

Title: Jack of Fables Vol 3: The Bad Prince

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2008

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 128

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series; A to Z Titles: J

No sooner have Jack and Gary escaped Lady Luck (see Jack of Hearts) than the Librarians of Golden Boughs recapture them for return to Mr. Revise. Worse still, they’re reunited with Wicked John, the fellow Fable who resembles Jack. An argument ensues, and after a mini-van crash at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the adventures really begin. Willingham and company are in top form (artist Andrew Robinson’s work on the final chapter is outstanding), so Jack and the crew are witty and snarky as ever, even in what is basically an interlude explaining histories and telling secrets. --Tina Coleman

Another win. Honestly I don't think any of the Fables series volumes are going to score lower than 4 stars. I just love them and this one is no exception. After the incident at Golden Boughs, I thought Wicked John would play a bigger role in a future volume. I am glad to see the snarky Wicked John make a repeat appearance. We get to see more of Jack's history and his current mistakes. I really love see how he screws up these situations. Just love it. And the Pathetic Fallacy (aka Gary)! I knew there was more than meets the eye. I just love that they've explained more about the entire Storytime world and how the Fables interact with it. Big reveals in this volume! And the next one looks just as good.

Jack of Fables:

Stranger by Zoe Archer

Title: Stranger (Blades of the Rose #4)

Author: Zoe Archer

Publisher: Zebra 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 463

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Paranormal; Books Around the World - England

How I Got It: I own it! (from the Borders closing sale)

Gemma Murphy has a nose for a story - even if the boys in Chicago's newsrooms would rather focus on her chest. So when she runs into a handsome man of mystery discussing how to save the world from fancy-pants Brit conspirators, she's sensing a scoop. Especially when he mentions there's magic involved. Of course, getting him on the record would be easier if he hadn't caught her eavesdropping...Catullus Graves knows what it's like to be shut out: his ancestors were slaves. And he's a genius inventor with appropriately eccentric habits, so even people who love him find him a little odd. But after meeting a certain redheaded scribbler, he's thinking of other types of science. Inconvenient, given that he needs to focus on preventing the end of the world as we know it. But with Gemma's insatiable curiosity sparking Catullus' inventive impulses, they might set off something explosive anyway...

The last book of the series definitely got back on track. After the ridiculous revelation from the third book, Rebel, I was glad to see the story get back on track. The characters, both new and old, made the book feel like an epic. Everyone coming together from across the world to fight the Heirs and take back the Primal Source made for a great adventure. I loved seeing more of Bennett, London, Astrid, Lesperance, Gabriel, and Thalia. The Heirs were appropriately vile. But it was Catullus and Gemma that shined the most. I loved Gemma's tenacious spirit and Catullus' cool intellect. They make a perfect pairing. I really bought the romance.

As to the story, I appreciated the inclusion of the mythical beings of England. A nice touch to see pixies and trolls and Queen Mab. When Catullus and Gemma journey into the Otherworld, I was momentarily reminded of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. Thankfully, this book took the story to a new and different version of Otherworld. I especially loved the encounters with Queen Mab and of course Merlin. And finally, the epic battle was worthy of the end of the series. Everything was larger than life (some things literally) and the danger was great. Of course the Blades win, but with great losses. I was satisfied to see that there were injuries and losses. This wasn't some magical battle where the good guys come through unscathed while vanquishing all their enemies. This was a real battle.

Overall, I've really enjoyed this series. While I wasn't a fan of Archer's contribution to the Bianca D'Arc's zombie series, this one definitely drew me in. I loved the mix of magic, romance, and adventure. I even got some geography and culture thrown in for good measure. Recommend!

Blades of the Rose

#1 Warrior
#2 Scoundrel
#3 Rebel
#4 Stranger

Jack of Fables: Jack of Hearts by Bill Willingham

Title: Jack of Fables Vol 2: Jack of Hearts

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2007

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 144

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series

In this volume collecting issues #6-11, Jack reveals the secret of his former relationship with the illustrious Snow Queen — when he took her powers and became known as Jack Frost. And in present times, he lands in Las Vegas and meets his lovely new bride, a directionless heiress. Could it possibly be "happily ever after" at last?

Two great continuing adventures of Jack. He is really growing on me as a character. Not quite as good as the main Fables series, but definitely a great little read. I enjoyed the story about the Snow Queen. Shows us what she was like before becoming the partner of the Adversary. And the little (hee hee) twist as to what caused her illness: Very nice! Wonder if that will come back up again. Entertaining back story. The Vegas story was interesting, but mostly for the interludes featuring the Page sisters and Mr. Revise. I am really liking the whole deleting fables side plot. Very interesting stuff. Can't wait to see what happens to Jack next!

Jack of Fables:

Rebel by Zoe Archer

Title: Rebel (Blades of the Rose #3)

Author: Zoe Archer

Publisher: Zebra 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 398

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Paranormal; Books Around the World - Canada

How I Got It: I own it! (from the Borders closing sale)

Nathan Lesperance is used to being different. He's the first Native attorney in Vancouver, and welcome neither with white society nor his sometime tribe. Not to mention the powerful wildness he's always felt inside him, too dangerous to set free. Then he met Astrid Bramfield and saw his like within her piercing eyes. Now, unless she helps him through the harsh terrain and the harsher unknowns of his true abilities, it could very well get him killed...Astrid has traveled this path before. Once she was a Blade of the Rose, protecting the world's magic from unscrupulous men, with her husband by her side. But she's loved and lost, and as a world-class frontierswoman, she knows all about survival. Nathan's searing gaze and long, lean muscles mean nothing but trouble. Yet something has ignited a forgotten flame inside her: a burning need for adventure, for life - and perhaps even for love...

Well I hunkered down today, grabbed my tea and sweater, went out to the back porch, and finally finally finished this book. It took me 5 days! That's just crazy for me. It's finally done, over, finished. But what are my thoughts? I'm having a hard time coming to a consensus on this one. Do I like it? Do I just like it less than the previous books in the series? Do I have an issue with the main character? All good questions... After some pondering, I think I've finally collected my thoughts.

The Good

The series continues to entertain me. I still enjoyed the far flung location, this one in the rugged Canadian Wilderness. I still loved the adventure and action sequences. The final battle was the most brutal yet. I still like the magical aspects. It was nice to see the Sources tied to a Native American tribe. I liked the twist of having three connected Sources. I am still taken with the writing style. Not too descriptive, not too conversationalist, just right amounts of action and quiet moments. I am really digging this series.

The Bad

The decision to make Nathan an Earth Spirit. It felt so cheap, so overused. Maybe it's because I've read a ton of shifter/werewolf/witch/vampire books lately, but I just felt out of touch with the character. I want to connect to the characters. In fact, I think I have a fixation on characters lately. I also took issue with the baddies in this book. They just didn't seem bad enough. I loved the nastiness of the Heirs in the first two books. For goodness sakes, in the second book on the baddies is the female lead's father. There's not much nastier than that. But these ones seemed almost like caricatures, but real villans. I was disappointed.

The Verdict

I enjoyed it, just not as much as the first two. I am still looking forward to reading the fourth book, Stranger, and seeing Catullus' story play out. But first, maybe a graphic novel break...

Blades of the Rose

Jack of Fables: The (Nearly) Great Escape by Bill Willingham

Title: Jack of Fables Vol 1: The (Nearly) Great Escape

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2007

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 128

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series

Jack is forced into the Golden Boughs Retirement Community, a jail of sorts where Fables are imprisoned until society-at-large forgets about them, thereby diminishing their magic powers. Enlisting the support of Goldilocks and a cage full of fairies, Jack plans the entire retirement community's escape. Willingham and Sturges give Jack a bad-boy attitude, making him an everyman hero that readers won't always identify with, but will enjoy watching flub and fake his way to freedom, complete with clever riffs on the Turtle and the Hare, the Toothfairy, Mother Goose and Humpty Dumpty.

Not as great as the main Fables series, but definitely a good read. Jack has always been on the periphery of the Fables series. He finally gets his starring role. This volume picks up right where Fables: Homelands leaves off. Jack has been cast out of Fabletown forever, but soon finds himself among other Fables. Some of whom are no longer remembered. But this isn't a nice home. It's a prison run by the horrendous Mr. Revise and his Senior Librarians, the Page sisters. We meet Humpty Dumpty, the Tortoise and the Hare, The Carpenter and the Walrus, Goldilocks (her return!), Paul Bunyan and Babe, and even Alice. All were great side characters. I especially love Goldilocks. She's so psychotic, it's just fun to see her work. A great Jack story. Can't wait to read the rest.

Jack of Fables:

Scoundrel by Zoe Archer

Title: Scoundrel (Blades of the Rose #2)

Author: Zoe Archer

Publisher: Zebra 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 400

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Paranormal; Books Around the World (Greek)

How I Got It: I own it! (from the Borders closing sale)

London Harcourt's father is bent on subjugating the world's magic to British rule. But since London is a mere female, he hasn't bothered to tell her so. He's said only that he's leading a voyage to the Greek isles. No matter, after a smothering marriage and three years of straitlaced widowhood, London jumps at the opportunity - unfortunately, right into the arms of Bennett Day. Bennett is a ladies' man, when he's not dodging lethal attacks to protect the powers of the ancients from men like London's father. Sometimes, he's a ladies' man even when he is dodging them. But the minute he sees London he knows she will require his full attention. The woman is lovely, brilliant, and the only known speaker of a dialect of ancient Greek that holds the key to calling down the wrath of the gods. Bennett will be risking his life again - but around London, what really worries him is the danger to his heart...

A great addition to the series. I loved this one so much! The characters! The culture! The adventure! The magic!

Bennett Day made his appearance in Warrior and I just knew who was going to be a great character. A rogue but one with a sense of honor. He treats women as equals not the delicate flowers most men of the time saw. I loved that in his character. I think I fell in love with him right from the beginning. London is an interesting case. While she starts as that delicate flower, inside she has a thirst for knowledge and adventure. Once she figures out how to satisfy that thirst, she goes after it. I liked that. She's innocent in many ways, but open to new experiences. And Athena is just awesome. A witch from a matriarchal clan. She reminds me of the Amazons: strong, independent, not needing a man.

The story was full of adventure, danger, and riddles (of course). I loved the journey through the Greek Isles to the hidden islands and ruins. The descriptions were amazing. I really felt like I was on a boat in the beautiful Aegean Sea. And of course, Greek mythological creatures made their appearances. My favorite was the Nereids. Such fun! And the hidden creature at the top of the island. I won't give away who it is, but after reading it, it completely makes sense. I just love this story!

Blades of the Rose

Fables: Homelands by Bill Willingham

Title: Fables Vol. 6: Homelands

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2006

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 192

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series

This clever, enjoyable series written by Willingham, has a rather ingenious premise: what if all the characters of fairy tales lived, loved, schemed, and fought in a modern-day city of their own? This installment contains two fun story arcs. One, a cute satire of contemporary Hollywood, stars Jack, of beanstalk fame, portrayed as a rather unsavory trickster. Making his way to Hollywood with a fistful of cash, he becomes a wildly successful producer of films based on his own mythological exploits. Eventually, though, his ruthless business practices and unsavory past catch up with him. In a longer story, Little Boy Blue goes on an epic quest to find and kill a shadowy tyrant.

Another amazing Fables volume! I just can't get over how much I adore this series. I can't wait to get the next volume and speed through it. This one had two great stories. Usually I liked one of the stories more than the other one, but not this time. Jack has always been one of my faves and I'm glad he got his own story. Plus he has a whole spinoff series (don't worry, I got the first four volumes from the library already!). Jack in Hollywood, just seems natural. Plus we get to meet Jill (you know, of Jack and Jill). She's an interesting side character. I really hope we see more of her in the future.

Then the big story: Homelands. We know from the previous volume that the Adversary is continuing to expand the empire. We actually get to go the Homelands and see the expansion. And we meet the Snow Queen (Sigh! She's so evil, I love her). And we meet Gheppetto (sp?). And we remeet Red Riding Hood (kinda saw that one coming). And the Blue Fairy (I feel so sorry for her). And Mowgli (interesting character, hope we see more next volume). And Frau Totenkinder (she's becoming my absolute fave!). All in all, a great collection of new and relatively new characters to tangle with. I saw who the Adversary was a mile away, but it's still a great story. The series is really going now...

Fables:

Warrior by Zoe Archer

Title: Warrior (Blades of the Rose #1)

Author: Zoe Archer

Publisher: Zebra 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 354

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Paranormal; Books Around the World (Mongolia)

How I Got It: I own it! (from the Borders closing sale)

The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond - where what is real and what is imagined become terribly confused. And frankly, Huntley couldn't be more pleased. Intrigue, danger, and a beautiful woman in distress - just what he needs. Raised thousands of miles from England, Thalia Burgess is no typical Victorian lady. A good thing, because a proper lady would have no hope of recovering the priceless magical artefact Thalia is after. Huntley's assistance might come in handy, though she has to keep him in the dark. But this distractingly handsome soldier isn't easy to deceive...

This is definitely a keeper. A blend of romance, Victorian era historical, and Indiana Jones-esque adventure created the perfect book. I loved the premise: magical items, Sources, containing the power of the world. The Blades protect the Sources. The Heirs seek to use the Sources to take over the world. Into this very strange world, a common (or not so common) soldier follows his inner code of honor. Along the way he meets a very confusing young woman, many colorful characters, and danger. I especially liked that Thalia was not a typical Victorian lady. She is a true child of the world, open to the cultures and lifestyles of other peoples. Gabriel is just enough Indiana Jones to keep me intrigued while embodying the traditional romance novel lead characteristics. I loved him. I could see how Thalia allowed herself to love him. Even the brief appearances of fellow Blades members entertained. (Could it be that they are the focus of subsequent novels? I have all four, so we shall see.)

Beyond the characters, I enjoyed the paranormal aspect. The concept of objects imbued with primal energy peaked my interest. There's a great twist when if comes to the Source Gabriel and Thalia seek. I didn't see it coming, but it was definitely a good one. None of these cheesy twists. This one made sense.

Finally, I loved Thalia explanations of Mongol life. At my heart I love reading about culture and history. This book had a bit of both thrown in. I've never done much research into Mongolia, but the cultural discussions intrigued me. I loved learning about the stories and traditions of the Mongol people.

Overall, a great action-adventure romance. A definite must! I'll be moving quickly onto the second in the series: Scoundrel.

Blades of the Rose

The Two Lives of Miss Charlotte Merryweather by Alexandra Potter

Title: The Two Lives of Miss Charlotte Merryweather

Author: Alexandra Potter

Publisher: Plume 2010

Genre: Chick lit

Pages: 400

Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Contemporary

Imagine if you could go back ten years and meet your younger self--would you recognize her? What advice would you give her? Wear sunscreen. Back away from those pleather pants. Don't give that idiot your phone number. Lemon juice won't bleach your hair, it just attracts wasps. He's the one--don't let hm get away. For Charlotte Merryweather, there's no need to imagine. She's about to find out for real... with some surprising consequences.

My first thought after finishing... "It was alright." I didn't hate it, but I certainly didn't love it. It was okay. It was mediocre. It was something to read for a day, I guess. My real problem lies with the characters. Looking back over part book reviews, I am always talking about the characters. I guess I really need good characters to love a book. And this book gave me alright characters. Charlotte, the present Charlotte, was way to neurotic. I guess she's supposed to be. It's the Christmas Carol syndrome. Take a crazy/neurotic/angry/depress/etc person and show them their past, present, and probably future. They do a 180 degree change, and everything works out in the end. Just like in A Christmas Carol, I cannot stand the main character. Charlotte is too crazy/neurotic/silly. I can't even want her to change. I just want her to go away. I understand the point is to show you what could have happened and what went wrong, but shouldn't I be rooting for the character.? I just wasn't at all. And so I don't care about the book. The premise was interesting, but the characters just didn't make me care.

As I read back over this review, I may be a bit harsh on the book. Once Charlotte meets Lottie (about 150 pages into the book), I started to see her as a real person and not a crazy stereotype. By the end of the book, I started to somewhat care for her. But I still stand by that she wasn't a character I could connect to. And I guess that's why I'm sticking with my 3 star rating.

Greek Street: Cassandra Complex by Peter Milligan and Davide Gianfeelice

Title: Greek Street Vol. 2: Cassandra Complex

Author: Peter Milligan and Davide Gianfeelice

Publisher: Vertigo 2010

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 144

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

Boasting a "Greek Chorus" of sexy strippers, vengeful gangsters, a murderous youth and a disturbed clairvoyant teenaged girl, GREEK STREET is Peter Milligan's reimagining of the brutal and visceral tragedies of Ancient Greece played out on the mean streets of modern-day London. In this second volume, a shocking new drama unfolds on the blood, tear and fluid-stained stage of Greek Street as disturbed mother-killer Eddie and aristo visionary, Sandy, try to get to London where Dedalus investigates a suicide and an urban witch tries to get through to a monster. Don't miss this sexy blend of crime, supernatural surrealness and soap opera, all using characters and plots that are simultaneously familiar yet intesnely brand new.

Another Greek masterpiece. I love this series. It takes all the pain of the original Greek tragedies and turns them into something new and modern. We can understand the underlying themes of all the Greek plays through a new lens. If I continue, this review will just turn into gushing and more gushing. Plus I don't want to spoil the storyline for you. It's too good to miss. Unfortunately the third volume won't be out for another few months. I will have to bid my time until then...

Miranda's Big Mistake by Jill Mansell

Title: Miranda's Big Mistake

Author: Jill Mansell

Publisher: Sourcebooks 2009

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 475

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Contemporary

Miranda's track record with men is horrible. Her most recent catastrophe is Greg. He seems perfect--gorgeous, witty, exciting. And he and Miranda are in love... until Miranda discovers he left his wife when he found out she was pregnant.
With the help of her friends, Miranda plans the sweetest and most public revenge a heartbroken girl can get. But will Miranda learn from her mistake, or move on to the next "perfect" man and ignore the love her life waiting in the wings...

Another delightful contemporary romance. I knew within the first 30 pages who would end up with who (except for Bev, that was a surprise), but I still enjoyed the ride. Jill Mansell has a way of taking fairly common storylines and character stereotypes and turning them into a rollicking good read. I loved Perfect Timing and somehow I think I love Miranda's Big Mistake even more. Of course the main character is great. But somehow all the characters are great, even the ones you are supposed to hate. The story played like a good romantic comedy. With the rash of really bad romantic comedies in the theaters lately, has anyone thought about turning these ones into movies? They would be amazing. Funny, sad, cheesy (but good cheesy), romantic, yet realistic. They have everything you want out of a rom com. I must read her other books! I think I finally found a way to finished my Summer Romance Challenge. I'll just read all Mansell books!

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Title: The Left Hand of Darkness

Author: Ursula K. Le Guin

Publisher: Ace Books 1969

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 304

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Science Fiction; 2011- Show It Who is Boss

Genly Ai is an emissary from the human galaxy to Winter, a lost, stray world. His mission is to bring the planet back into the fold of an evolving galactic civilization, but to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own culture and prejudices and those that he encounters. On a planet where people are of no gender--or both--this is a broad gulf indeed. --L. Blunt Jackson

I am at a loss about this book. I went in thinking "This is a classic, I will love it. I'm digging science fiction right now. I loved Madeliene L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time series. I loved Margaret Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale. I enjoyed Heinlein's Have Spacesuit-Will Travel. I adored Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. I am going to love this."

And I was completely disappointed. Oh sure there were parts that I liked. But overall, I kept waiting for the story to really start. I wanted more. And it didn't help that all the names, geography, and customs were very confusing. I got hopelessly loss in a sea of words. I just couldn't truly get into the story like I wanted to. Definitely not going to appear on my Favorites of 2011 list. Oh well. Onto something else...

Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell

Title: Perfect Timing

Author: Jill Mansell

Publisher: Sourcebooks 2009

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 431

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Contemporary

It's the night before her wedding when Poppy Dunbar meets Tom. he is tall, dark, and handsome with a quirky smile, and Poppy can't shake the feeling she's known him all her life. She can't go through with the meeting they arrange... but she can't go through with the wedding anymore either.
Suddenly notorious as "The Girl Who Jilted Rob McBride," Poppy leaves for London and a fresh start. Soon she's installed in the bohemian household of Caspar French, a ravishingly good-looking young artist with a reputation for breaking hearts. But even in her new home and new life, Poppy can't get Tom off her mind. Until she's tracked him down, she'll never know if their meeting was destiny, or if it was just a matter of timing...

OMG!!! I finally found a contemporary romance that I absolutely adored. Everything about it was great! The characters are amazing. Poppy is horribly lost (just like how I feel sometimes). Caspar is the perfect lothario. Claudia is a down-right bitch. Jake is the nerdy little boy lost. And Tom is the perfect Prince Charming. But of course, not everyone is who they seem. All the characters have such chemistry. I couldn't wait to read the whole thing. Even the perfect happy ending didn't bother me. I loved how the characters got to their happily-ever-afters. The journey was the book. And it was great. Very inventive. Not full of clichés like most contemporary romance. I didn't feel like I was reading a recycled story. I was reading a real story, full of faulty people.

I won't run the ending. You'll just have to pick it up and read for yourself. I will definitely be reading more from this author. I finally, finally, finally, found some great contemporary romance. I'm not giving up on this author!

The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

Title: The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

Edited By: Trisha Telep

Publisher: Running Press 2009

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 532

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Paranormal

If love transcends all boundaries, then paranormal romance is its logical conclusion. From the biggest names around, here are 24 tales to take you to another time and place.
Let Alyssa Day, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Cheyenne McCray, Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews, Kelley Armstrong, Maria V. Snyder, Carrie Vaughn, Allyson James Marland, and others show you powers beyong your wildest imaginings.
Within these pages mythical beasts, magical creatures of all shapes and sizes, heart-stoppingly handsome ghosts, angels, and mortals with extra-sensitive sensory perception play out the themes of extraordinary desires.

Overall, I really enjoyed this anthology. There were a few stories that I didn't really love, but I think that has more to do with the style of writing. I did absolutely adore a few. My favorites:

"John Doe" by Anna Windsor -- Really loving the angel theme stories lately. This one intrigues me. Definitely want to read more from the author.
"The Tuesday Enchantress" by MJ Putney -- Two Guardians meet in a surprising circumstance. Neither can deny the attraction. Whole story takes place in the span of a few hours. Great meet and instant attraction story.
"Pack" by Jeaniene Frost -- A great werewolf story. Love Frost's writing and characters. When I get the rest of the series, I am blasting my way through the Night Huntress books.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris

Title: Squireel Seeks Chipmunk

Author: David Sedaris

Illustrated by: Ian Falconer

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2010

Genre: Humor

Pages: 159

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Amazon -- Customer Favorites

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary is a collection of animal-themed humorous short stories by memoirist and humorist David Sedaris.
If animals were more like us, if mice kept pets and toads could cuss, if dogs had wives and chipmunks dated, sheep sat still and meditated, then in the forest, field, and dairy you might find this bestiary, read by storks, by rats and kitties, skimmed by cows with milk-stained titties. "I found the book to be most droll," might quip the bear, the owl, the mole. Others, though would be more coarse. "Bull," could say the pig and horse. As to the scribe, they'd quote the hen: "Trust me, he's no La Fontaine."

Delightful collection of stories. Some funny, some sad, some thought provoking. Make not mistake about it, these stories really aren't about animals. Unless you consider humans just to be another species of animals. Then, yes, it is about animals of the upright two-legged kind.

My favorites:

The Parenting Storks -- What happens when we try to answer the touch questions? What kinds of answers do we get? One stork thinks she has it all figures out. Unfortunately for her and her child, her answers aren't real or logical. Poor stork!
The Crow and the Lamb -- The cruel things we do to each other. Makes for a great story about a lost sheep and lamb and the selfish crow.
The Judicious Brown Chicken -- Pride goeth before a fall. Haven't I read that somewhere? Another take on the phrase.

David Sedaris has certainly hit another home run. Just amazing!

Greek Street: Blood Calls for Blood by Peter Milligan and Davide Gianfeelice

Title: Greek Street Vol. 1: Blood Calls for Blood

Author: Peter Milligan and Davide Gianfeelice

Publisher: Vertigo 2010

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 144

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

Inspired by classical Greek dramas, the series constructs a crime epic following intertwined stories in modern London and most succeeds in channeling the shock value of the original works.

What would happen if we took the classic Greek dramas and set them in today's world? Would they fundamentally change? Milligan shows us that the answer is a resounding NO! All the stories, the triumphs, the tragedies, the characters from ancient Greece are still with us.

I loved this gritty, definitely not for kids, graphic novel outlying the undying lessons. All the remembered characters are here (Cassandra, Daedalus, Oedipus, Agamemnon, the Furies, the Fates, the Greek chorus) placed into modern bodies. I love that this is set in the nasty parts of London, Greek Street, almost a world unto itself. We feel for the tragedy of Eddie (Oedipus). We sympathize with Sandy"s (Cassandra) plight. We loathe Lord Menon's (Agamemnon) and the Furies' despicable behavior. We hope for Detective Daedalus' future. Will his blood be spilled while Jesus watches?

This first volume pushes the stories. Retelling them, but adding new connecting bits. I really want to read the second volume. And the third coming out early next year. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled after issue #16, so I must enjoy it while I can. I like to think of it as a darker Fables series. Definitely something perfect for me.