Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Title: Brave New World

Author: Aldous Huxley

Publisher: HarperCollins 1932

Genre: Classics

Pages: 268

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Science Fiction; 2011 - Back in the Day: A to Z Author X

"Community, Identity, Stability" is the motto of Aldous Huxley's utopian World State. Here everyone consumes daily grams of soma, to fight depression, babies are born in laboratories, and the most popular form of entertainment is a "Feelie," a movie that stimulates the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Though there is no violence and everyone is provided for, Bernard Marx feels something is missing and senses his relationship with a young women has the potential to be much more than the confines of their existence allow. Huxley foreshadowed many of the practices and gadgets we take for granted today--let's hope the sterility and absence of individuality he predicted aren't yet to come.

This is one of those books that I try to read every couple of years. I first encountered Huxley's dystopian tale in high school. It spoke to me. I found danger in the words. A danger that we can avoid if we pay attention. I think this book cemented my love of the social sciences. I wanted to learn more about psychology and sociology and government and philosophy and art and history.

While reading, I still find myself stopping and contemplating passages. I read paragraphs. I digest the thoughts and insights into the human experience. Huxley's book speaks to as a philosophy tract albeit more engaging. I love the story of revelation and loss. I love the characters for their stereotypes and flaws. My favorite has to be Mustapha Mond who sacrificed his curiosity and education for safety within the civilized world. I cry over John the Savage's discovery of and then loss of the world. I rail against Bernard's waffling. All in all, Huxley has produced the best characters to illustrate his vision of a possible future.

The Affinity Bridge by George Mann

Title: The Affinity Bridge (A Newbury and Hobbes Investigation)

Author: George Mann

Publisher: A Tor Book 2009

Genre: Steampunk

Pages: 333

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Steampunk

How I Got It: Borrowed from the library

Welcome to the bizarre and dangerous world of Victorian London, a city teetering on the edge of revolution. Its people are ushering in a new era of technology, dazzled each day by unfamiliar inventions. Airships soar in the skies over the city, while ground trains rumble through the streets and clockwork automatons are programmed to carry out menial tasks in the offices of lawyers, policemen, and journalists.
But beneath this shiny veneer of progress lurks a sinister side.
Queen Victoria is kept alive by a primitive life-support system, while her agents, Sir Maurice Newbury and his delectable assistant Miss Veronica Hobbes, do battle with enemies of the crown, physical and supernatural. This time Newbury and Hobbes are called to investigate the wreckage of a crashed airship and its missing automaton pilot, while attempting to solve a string of strangulations attributed to a mysterious glowing policeman, and dealing with a zombie plague that is ravaging the slums of the capital.

I loved loved loved this book! It had everything I want in an adventure novel: great characters, witty dialogue, fast-paced action, a bit of romance, mysteries, and zombies. Okay, confession time... I will read almost anything with zombies. But I have found a few that I didn't like. This falls into the majority. I loved the mystery surrounding the murders and the downed airship. The zombies were a welcome addition to the mystery.

Newbury and Hobbes are an entertaining detective duo. I loved that they didn't make Hobbes a wimpy wallflower, but gave her some strength. She's still a lady of the time period, but she's a progressive lady. And Newbury is the right amount of gentleman and kick ass hero. The villains are villainous. The danger is real. It was a roller coaster adventure. I can't wait to read more from Mann.

Newbury and Hobbes Investigations

#1 The Affinity Bridge
#2 The Osiris Ritual
#3 The Immorality Engine
#4 The Executioner's Heart
#5 Case Book of Newbury and Hobbes

The Walking Dead: Book 3

Title: The Walking Dead: Book Three

Author: Robert Kirkman

Publisher: Image Comics 2010

Genre: Graphic Novel; Zombies

Pages: 304

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

How I Got It: borrowed from library

This hardcover features another 12 issues of the hit series along with the cover art - all in one oversized hardcover volume. Perfect for long time fans, new readers and anyone interested in reading a zombie movie on paper that never ends.

Another winner. I just love this series. It hasn't topped Fables, but it's a close second as my favorite graphic novel series. Every page is horrifying, even if you don't see any zombies. The ever-present danger and unease comes through. As much as I love zombies, I don't want to live in world of The Walking Dead. I will pass, thank you very much. We finally get to meet The Governor. I've heard bits and pieces from other readers and fans of the television series (speaking of it start's this weekend!). He is just as interesting and dangerous as I heard. I love the ending (or is it?) for his character. Plus we get see more of Glenn, Michonne, and Rick. And we get to meet some new survivors. I loved Dr. Stevens. The zombie attacks were horrifying. The quiet moments were filled with unease. The confrontations were high tension. All the aspects of the series that I have grown to love. Can't wait for the next book.

Heat Wave by Richard Castle

Title: Heat Wave (Nikki Heat #1)

Author: Richard Castle

Publisher: Hyperion 2010

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 216

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Page to Screen (Or should I say Screen to Page)

How I Got It: Borrowed from the library

A New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPD detective shines a light.
Mystery sensation Richard Castle, blockbuster author of the wildly best-selling Derrick Storm novels, introduces his newest character, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat. Tough, sexy, professional, Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City's top homicide squads. She's hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York's Finest. PulitzerPrize-winning Rook is as much a handful as he is handsome. His wise-cracking and meddling aren't her only problems. As she works to unravel the secrets of the murdered real estate tycoon, she must also confront the spark between them. The one called heat.

I'll admit it... I was really hesitatnt to read this one. I absolutely adore Castle, but in the past I have found television and movie tie-in books to be very badly written. So only after hearing great things about this one, I picked up the book. And I'm so glad I did. This was just delightful. A suspense filled detective story with the charm and with of Castle.

All the characters are there, albeit with some name changes. I especially loved the Detectives Raley and Ochoa, affectionately referred to as Roach. They were the comic relief in the book. So much fun to see Ryan and Esposito redone. Loved it! Lauren Parry, the ME, has a passing resemblence to Laney, but she has a very small part. I would love to see more of her in the next book. Captain Montrose is the fatherly figure guiding the department. Sounds like Captain Montgomery. And finally we come to the two main characters: Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook. Nikki has a resemblance to Kate Beckett in her strength and determination. The difference is we get to hear her inner monologue through the book. This really adds to the character. We get to hear about her insecurities. Kate Beckett shows it on the television show, but in a more restrained way. And Jameson (Jamie) Rook... What can I say? It's Nathan Fillion. Oops! I meant Richard Castle. I love the play on names: Castle/Rook. He's the sauve journalist trying to get the inside scoop on detective work and Nikki Heat. Their will they/won't they romance wasn't long and drawn out, but just the right amount of wait. They didn't jump into bed together in the frist 25 pages. I appreciated seeing their relationship development. Eventually they get together. I wonder what this says about the future of Beckett and Castle?

As to the storyline, I liked it. It was a bit predictable, but kept me entertained. I appreciated the logical red herrings and revelations. It didn't read like a fantasy story where characters know things they shouldn't. It read like a real detective story. We get bits and pieces of the puzzle and have to put it together with the detectives. I definitely stayed with the story the entire way. I can't wait to read the sequels: Heat Rising and Naked Heat.

P.S. The acknowledgements at the back are priceless!

Nikki Heat

#1 Heat Wave
#2 Naked Heat
#3 Heat Rises
#4 Frozen Heat
#5 Deadly Heat
#6 Raging Heat
#7 Driving Heat

The Boys: Herogasm

Title: The Boys Vol 5: Herogasm

Author: Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson

Publisher: Dynamite 2009

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

How I Got It: J owns it

Garth Ennis, John McCrea, and Darick Robertson bring another tale from The Boys! An evil so profound it threatens all mankind! The mightiest heroes on the planet uniting to defend us all! A secret crisis of such utter finality that a countdown to civil or infinite war seems unavoidable! But have you ever wondered what really happens during Crossovers? The Seven, Payback, Teenage Kix, Fantastico, and every other supe on Earth team-up for an annual event like no other...and where the supes go, can a certain "five complications and a dog" be far behind? Vought-American prepare to make their move, in a story that will change the world of the Boys forever: Herogasm!

Interesting volume. I could have done without all the "activities." I did like the reveal of what's been going on in the White House. It leads to some intriguing conclusions and speculations about just what the war is about. I can't wait to find out what happens next...

The Boys:

The Boys: We Gotta Go Now

Title: The Boys Vol 4: We Gotta Go Now

Author: Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson

Publisher: Dynamite 2009

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 184

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

How I Got It: J owns it

Garth Ennis is the award-winning writer of Hellblazer, Hitman, Punisher, Preacher, Pride and Joy and War Stories. He is much in demand for his hard-edged, wickedly humorous style. Darick Robertson is the critically acclaimed artist and co-creator of Transmetropolitan. He is also the artist on Fury and Punisher (both with Garth Ennis), and the creator of Space Beaver.

Wee Hughie dressed as a superhero. That's all you really need to know about this volume. Okay, not really, but that part was absolutely entertaining. This volume gives us a broader picture of the different superhero factions. We get intimate with the G-Men and all the other G-(insert stupid word here) teams. The interactions really do say a lot about humans in general. Sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes enlightening, The Boys is always thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining. Can't wait for the next volume!

The Boys:

The Boys: Good for the Soul

Title: The Boys Vol 3: Good for the Soul

Author: Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson

Publisher: Dynamite 2008

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

How I Got It: J owns it

In a world where costumed heroes soar through the sky and masked vigilantes prowl the night, someone's got to make sure the "supes" don't get out of line. And someone will. Billy Butcher, Wee Hughies, Mother's Milk, The Frenchman and the Female are The Boys: a CIA-backed team of very dangerous people, each one dedicated to the struggle against the most dangerous force on Earth-superpower. Some superheroes have to be watched. Some have to be controlled. And some of them-sometimes need to be taken out of the picture. That's when you call in The Boys. This volume collects issues 15-22 of the Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.

More politics, more intrigue, more violence, and a little bit of romance! Perfect volume to add to the collection. We get to see Hughie and Annie's first steps into dare I say it, a relationship. But they don't know who each other is! The reveal will have to be amazing. We get to hear from Legend about the history of the superheroes and Vought-American. Very interesting stuff in there. It even parallels our real history. And did I mention, we get zombies! Yup two superhero zombies... I love this series.

The Boys:

Accidentally Dead by Dakota Cassidy

Title: Accidentally Dead (Accidental Friends #2)

Author: Dakota Cassidy

Publisher: Berkley Trade 2008

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 352

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Vampires: 2011 - It Wasn't Me

How I Got It: borrowed from the library

A vampire puts the bite on a dental assistant.
It’s a lousy first day on the job for Nina Blackman when a patient, loopy from the anesthesia, bites her. At least he was cute. But for real drama she can’t beat the next evening. Nina wakes up with a set of razor-sharp fangs, bionic vision, supersonic hearing, and a taste for blood. But there’s a good explanation: It’s her patient, Long Island vampire Greg Statleon. Actually they’re perfect for each other—if Nina’s willing to commit to one man for eternity.

Another fun paranormal romance. I am not as impressed with the second book in the series as the first book in the series. After a while, the story started to feel like a repeat. But the main characters were fun enough that they kept me engaged in the story. I liked Nina's brash confidence to a certain point. I liked Greg's mysteriousness to a certain point. I would never have been able to be friends with these people. They did make fairly fun characters for 350 pages. I am certain that I will read the third book in series. I'm not sure about the fourth and fifth. We'll just have to see how it goes.

Accidentally Paranormal (DNFed series)

Accidental Werewolf
Accidentally Dead
The Accidental Human
Accidentally Demonic
Accidentally Catty
Accidentally Dead, Again
The Accidental Genie

The Boys: Get Some

Title: The Boys Vol 2: Get Some

Author: Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson

Publisher: Dynamite 2008

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

How I Got It: J owns it

The second volume of Garth Ennis and Darick Roberston's acclaimed series The Boys is here! BIGGER! THICKER! UNCUT! (not that Garth would ever allow this gang of idiots to cut anything!) Get Some collects issues 7-14 of the critically acclaimed series and is an excellent companion to Dynamite's best-selling Volume I trade "The Name of the Game! These issues feature the legend the story of the Tek-Knight and the team's journey to frozen Russia!

Another series that I just adore. And it's all J's fault. Yep, that's right, I'm blaming him. Now I have to read the rest of these volumes. Oh well, at least the reads will be enjoyable.

The second volume had more politics, superhero antics, mystery, and conflicted. I am loving Hughie's gradual accepatance of his job and place in the world. The storyline from Tek Knight was an itneresting take on politics and corprations. I really liked the mystery of the story. The story set in Russia was a blast, literally! My only problem: they did away with Little Nine so soon. She seemed like an interesting character. It would have been nice to see more from her.

The Boys:

The Boys: The Name of the Game

Title: The Boys Vol 1: The Name of the Game

Author: Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson

Publisher: Dynamite 2007

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 152

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

How I Got It: J owns it

This is going to hurt! In a world where costumed heroes soar through the sky and masked vigilantes prowl the night, someone's got to make sure the "supes" don't get out of line. And someone will! Billy Butcher, Wee Hughie, Mother's Milk, The Frenchman, and The Female are The Boys: A CIA-backed team of very dangerous people, each one dedicated to the struggle against the most dangerous force on Earth - superpower! Some superheores have to be watched. Some have to be controlled. And some of them - sometimes - need to be taken out of the picture. That's when you call in The Boys!

J has been hounding me to read this series for a very very long time! He swore I would love it, but I kept getting distracted by library books, fairy tales, and zombies. I finally picked it up and started reading yesterday. And he was right (but don't tell him), I loved it! The Boys blends the classic comic book superheroes with the complicated world of things like Watchman. We see how the supes act once the final panel has been drawn. They aren't the boy scouts we often see. Instead, they are real people with real issues. And in some cases, not so real issues, but definitely weird. The Boys are there to protect us nonsupes from the collateral damage of fighting crime. I loved Hughie's innocence (that opening page is a killer!), MM's father status, Butcher's mysterious agenda, and Frenchman and The Females shrouded past. I can't wait to learn more about these characters.

The Boys:

The Elephant Mountains by Scott Ely

Title: The Elephant Mountains

Author: Scott Ely

Publisher: Orca 2011

Genre: YA dystopian/survival

Pages: 203

Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: A to Z Authors: E

How I Got It: ARC from LibraryThing Early Reviews Program

Global warming and an unprecedented series of hurricanes have put New Orleans and most of the low-lying areas of the South underwater. In the chaos and anarchy that results as cities and towns are abandoned, fifteen-year-old Stephen is suddenly left to fend for himself. He soon encounters Angela, a college student whose parents have been killed. Navigating the labyrinth of flooded fields and towns in an airboat, the two set out in search of Stephen's mother and higher ground. Armed with both guns and the skills his survivalist father has taught him, Stephen struggles to maintain hope and his humanity in the face of violence and desperation.

An interesting plotline, but I think the book failed to live up to the promise. I love dystopian/survival literature. I think it has to do with my love of zombies. But really any survival stories are right up my alley. I started this book seeing the scary potential future. What Ely predicts could happen. Hurricanes and global warming could rise the waters enough to swallow a lot of the low-lying southern lands. New Orleans would be toast. Florida would disappear. And the rest would be under varying amounts of water. People would have to flee to higher ground or attempt to ride out the water. Anarchy and chaos would reign if it happened quick enough. I bought all of the environmental changes. I bought the desperation the changes brought. I could imagine all this happening. Those parts of the book rang true.

Unfortunately, the characters fell flat. Stephen, while the most interesting character, seemed lost; as if he didn't have a personality apart from the "not quite a man" status. I couldn't quite connect to his inner struggles. Angela started as an interesting character but quickly got lost. She portrayed herself as a devout Christian, but then that aspect fell away. I would have liked more consistency with the character. And everyone else was only in the picture for a few pages each. We met someone, shared a few stories, and then they disappeared or were killed. I get that it is supposed to be a fairly solitary journey, but I would have liked to spend a little more time with some of those characters.

Overall, an interesting premise. But it didn't quite follow through. I would recommend to fans of dystopian/survival literature.

Fables: Wolves by Bill Willingham

Title: Fables Vol. 8 Wolves

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2006

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/ 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables

Fabletown's ex-sheriff Bigby Wolf and ex-deputy mayor (and power behind King Cole's former mayoral throne) Snow White finally tie the knot in this arc from the series about the fairy-tale characters who walk among us (or, at least, New Yorkers). That can't happen before Mowgli finds missing, moping Bigby and the latter undertakes a reprisal mission against the Adversary.

Collecting issues #48-51 of writer and creator Bill Willingham's award-winning Vertigo series, WOLVES also includes newly-created maps of Fabletown and the Homelands illustrated by Willingham and, as a special bonus, Willingham's complete script to the double-sized issue #50.

At this point, I don't know if I have anything inventive to say about the Fables series. I love each and every volume. This one was no exception. We see the reappearance of Bigby Wolf (always one of my favorites). Plus, the kids the grown so much. I love seeing all six (I mean seven! hee hee Frau Totenkinder) kids grow and change. They're such fun little side characters. And Cinderella makes a very integral appearance to the mission in the Cloud Kingdoms. Can't wait for the next volume, but I will have to as it's on hold at the library.

Fables:

Jack of Fables: Americana by Bill Willingham

Title: Jack of Fables Vol 4: Americana

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2008

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 128

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series

Jack hits the road in search of a lost city of gold in this new collection featuring issues #17-21. Aided by his sidekicks Paul Bunyan, Humpty Dumpty, Gary the pathetic fallacy and the mysterious Hillary Page, Jack's in for the adventure of a lifetime!

Another hit! Jack has really grown on me in the last few volumes. He's more than just the bad boy of Fabletown. His stories just keep getting more and more involved. This time we encounter a few old favorites (Hello Mr. Dumpty and Alice) and a few new ones (Goodbye Mr. Burner). I have loved the twists and turns. Finding out the connections between all the fables, and more importantly the stories themselves, has been a great adventure. And this volume has zombies! Best volume yet!

Jack of Fables:

The Accidental Werewolf by Dakota Cassidy

Title: The Accidental Werewolf (Accidental Friends #1)

Author: Dakota Cassidy

Publisher: Berkley Trade 2008

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 326

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Books Around the States - New York

How I Got It: borrowed from the library

Marty Andrews is having a bad week. First, she's bitten by a mangy mutt while walking her teacup poodle. As a result, her salon-perfect blonde hair beings darkening by the day to something that's soooo not in her color wheel. Her moodswings have turned her into The Hormonal Hulk. Worse yet, the hair on her legs is growing at a rate even a body slam into an entire vat of wax couldn't cure. Last, and most important, her dream job as a sales rep for Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics is going to hell in a handbasket...
The only high point is Keegan Flaherty, the drool-worthy man who shows up at her door. Of course, he's clearly insane. Keegan claims that he accidentally bit Marty, and since he's a werewolf, she is now too. Red meat cravings aside, Marty refuses to believe a word until a kidnapping makes her realize there's more at stake than her highlights. And she must put her out-of-control life in the hands of the man who makes her blood run wild in more ways than one...

A fun little paranormal romp. I loved the main characters, Marty and Keegan. They were fun and strong characters. It was an interesting mix of personalities. Marty was incredibly stubborn, but then so was Keegan. They were an oddly, but amazingly endearing romantic match. The storyline is fairly predictable. But again, I don't mind if the characters are fun. I liked the fun werewolf transition story. I will be picking up the next one to read soon.

Accidentally Paranormal (DNFed series)

Accidental Werewolf
Accidentally Dead
The Accidental Human
Accidentally Demonic
Accidentally Catty
Accidentally Dead, Again
The Accidental Genie

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Title: Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Orbit 2009

Genre: Steampunk; Paranormal

Pages: 373

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Steampunk

How I Got It: I own it!

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great man social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire--and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia is responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

I loved this book! A beautiful blend of steampunk and paranormal with some great characters. I really beginning to like these "supernaturals have come out" types of books. How do they integrate or not integrate into society? What is their role? Are they still dangerous or just fun oddities? These aren't Twilight supernaturals. There's always an edge of danger every time one appears. I just loved the world. Plus there was dirigibles and inventive weapons. And some gruesome experimental machines. The steampunk elements were all there. The storyline was fun with some great twists at the end. I appreciated the whodunit aspect and finding out with Alexia what was going on. It was a refreshing change from the third person omnipotent or the incredibly dense first person monologue. Alexia was a breath of fresh air. A confident spinster who operates within her academic passions as opposed to fashion and husband hunting. Nevermind that she gets the husband in the end, it makes sense for her evolution of her character and Lord Maccon is definitely dreamy. I'm also very attached to her vampire friend Lord Akeldama and werewolf Beta Professor Lyall. I loved this characters so much. There's more to them than what meets the eye. I hope they make appearances in the subsequent novels. I have the next three (fifth book hasn't been released yet) and am ready to dive in. Well, next week's readathon in which I must get rid of some library and Net Galley books first.

Alexia Tarabotti

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: