January 2018 Reads!

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert

I found this book at Target sometime this fall (no shopping trip there is complete until I thoroughly scour the book section!).  It sounded like a cute, light read, which I like to intersperse between my heavier reads. I loved the book!  The story was interesting, cute, and romantic.  I loved reading about all the food the Lou is cooking and all the places Lou and Al went to.  A well, written, fun read! A bonus was that it is set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin!  I love Milwaukee!  I lived there when I was in 5th and 6th grades and go back to visit from time to time.  It is a great city and was so much fun to read about.

December Read--Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

After spending most of the fall with Lewis and Clark, I was in the mood for a lighthearted Christmas story.  I purchased this book realizing several things:  1)  "Christmas" books often have very little about the Christmas holiday in them.  2) I knew it was a book in a series, but didn't know anything about the books that came before this one.  3)  The blurb on the back of the book sounded intriguing--a Christmas storm on an island.

Once home with my extravagant purchase (I have been trying not to purchase novels) I happily dove in once December 1st hit. (In my house, one does not begin celebrating the Christmas season until then.)The story was cute--a baker who lives on an island, but quickly started to annoy me:

*The main character's boyfriend, Huckle, mostly just laid around from what I could tell.  What did he do all day?  He seemed a bit lazy to me.  If he wasn't working, why didn't he help Polly at the bakery?
*The couple's pet puffin, seemed ridiculous.  Really, who would let a puffin loose in a house and (shuttering) in a bakery.  All that nasty bird poo all over, the thought of it made me sick.  
*The side story about the best friend who cheated on her new husband seemed a bit depressing to be in a Christmas story.
*Same goes for the father who abandoned her story line.
*The storm wan't what I was expecting.  It didn't really hamper much and didn't show up until the end of the book, making the line from the back of the book completely misleading.

So, in the end a decent story, but misleading, annoying and depressing at times.  Not at all what I was hoping for.

Undead and Unworthy

by Mary Janice Davidson

Book 7 in the Betsy Taylor Vampire Queen Series

In this book Betsy and Sinclair have just Married.  Betsy, the unwitting Vampire Queen is still trying to figure how just what it means to be queen, what she must do as queen, and what her powers are and how to handle them.  He husband, Sinclair is King, only because he slept with her right after she defeated the old ruler.  They do come to love each other and have a human wedding, although Sinclair is a bit overprotective of Betsy. 

I liked this book better than the last few.  Betsy is finally accepting her responsibilities and is finally being less of a materialist twit.  I wish the author would go deeper into Betsy and the other characters, adding more romance and heartbreak.  It's good, but not one of my favorites, but really, how bad could a book with vampires be anyway? 

Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur

Book One in the Myth and Magic Series 

I've read all the Riley Jenson Guardian books.  She has several more series, although I think at least one of her others has not been released in the U.S. yet.  (Ms. Arthur is from Australia.) 

So far there are just two books in the Myth and Magic Series and her web site does not mention anymore to be released soon.  I really enjoyed this book.  The main characters are sea and fire (or air) dragons.  It's kind of a mix of Maximum Ride, a Miyazaki movie, and a romance.  It was interesting, I enjoyed the plot and the characters.  Very entertaining.

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

A romance full of Greek Mythology, kind of like a grown-up Percy Jackson with romance instead of adventure.  I have seen a lot of Sherrilyn Kenyon in the paperback book sections and I wanted to read something of her's.  It was good.  There were a few really tender, heart wrenching moments and a happy ending--just want I want in a romance. 

Karen Marie Moning's Faefever series

Darkfever
Bloodfever
Faefever
Dreamfever
Shadowfever

I read all five books in just a few weeks.  It is a great story.  The author does a great job of just giving you enough info. to keep reading.  The evil Fae, the elusive Barons, and Mac. who keeps rising to all the challenges thrown her way.  There are still a lot of questions left unanswered, so I hope the spin off series will continue to delve into the Fae world.  Loved them!

Vampire Romance Part 2

I'm the Vampire, That's Why and Don't Talk Back to Your Vampire by Michele Bardsley



I had to put these next two books in their own entry, because I loved them so much.  There is no fun escape read I like better than vampire romance, and it gets taken to a whole new level when the book also makes me laugh!  These did that so well.  There was an interesting supernatural world and problem to overcome, plenty of believeable romance, plenty of humor, and even better the heroines are were all mothers before being turned into vampires!  (Four Fangs)

Vampire Romance

If anyone has been following by blog, you will have figured out that I am a huge vampire book fan.  (No it didn't start with Twilight, It started with Interview with a Vampire.)  Here are a few I have read lately:

 From Christine Feehan's Dark Series--Dark Prince and Dark Melody.  The vampires in this series are at risk of loosing their soul's to the Darkness unless they find their life partner.  I love the utter devotion the vampires have for their soul mates, but the books tend to bog down when the hero and heroine sit around for page after page talking about how much the other one means to them.  Will this stop me from reading all bazillion of the books in the series, no way! (Three Fangs)

Kate MacAlister, A Girl's Guide to Vampires.  This one is a bit misleading, because it is not mainly about vampires.  Vampires are a part of the book, however and story is interesting.  There are also more books in this series and they are being rereleased soon.  Here the male vampires are born with darkness as a result of their father's sins and only their soul mate can bring them out of the darkness.  Pretty good.  (Two Fangs)

Kerrelyn Sparks, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire.  The first book in another long series of books.  This book was a bit lighter than the previous two, but still interesting.  The author has thought up an interesting vampire/supernatural world here with good story lines and romance.  (Two Fangs) 

Note:  My vampire book scale is from one to four fangs.  One being not so hot and Four being on fire. 

One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

One Foot in the Grave, A Night Huntress Book by Jeaniene Frost

This is more vampire romance. My family thinks I'm obsessed. Maybe I am, but I'd like to state for the record that I loved vampires long before Twilight (which I, of course, read in it's entirety). I read Bram Stoker's Dracula and everything Anne Rice wrote.

This is Book 2 in the Night Huntress Series, a fact that I had a hard time figuring out. No where on the book or in the library catalog does it state which book is which, but the Night Huntress books obviously build on one another and it would be confusing to read them out of order. Book Publishers--please indicate somewhere on the books which book in the series it is so I don't have to compare publishing dates!

Okay, now about the book. Half-vampire, Cat, in order to protect everyone she loves, leaves her vampire, lover, Bones. The book covers more supernatural intrigue and the reunion of Cat and Bones. No real surprises here, interesting and fun. I have an issue with the outfits the author has Cat wearing. This is supposed to be a romance, which mostly women read. So why is Cat dressed like a slut wearing what is basically no more than a swimsuit and high heels to fight vampires with? I also thought the sex scenes were a bit much--most of the time I think less is more with sex scenes. I'm not looking to read porn, which this book seemed like at times. Yes, I will probably read the other two books in the series anyway. I like the characters and how they are trying to work out a life together.

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost
A spin off novel from the Night Huntress Series

This is vampire/supernatural romance. This book is based on the Heroine of the Night Huntress Series' best friend, Denise. Denise has had enough of the supernatural world and tries to avoid it after her husband is killed. She is drawn back in when her family is being killed by some supernatural being. She enlists the help of her best friend's, husband's' best friend and fellow vampire, Spade. The story line/action is interesting. This author's romance is a little on the weak side, but still good. Her supernatural writing is better. Overall, not classic fiction by any means, but a fun book.

Night Huntress Series, Halfway to the Grave

This is the first book in the Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost. It is a vampire romance. I have always loved romance and vampire books (I've read all the Anne Rice books). So, of course, I loved the Twilight books. This series has less of the destiny-type romance and more action. The main character, Cat, is a tough half-human half-vampire. She was raised to hate vampires and has been out killing them since she was 16. That is until she meet Bones, a Vampire who hunts bad vampires. She finds out a lot about herself and killing vampires and along the way discovers that all Vampires aren't that bad. A good, fun read. It is romance so definitely for adults only. It's interesting enough that I want to know more about Cat and Bones' adventures so I've ordered the second book in the series, One Foot in the Grave, from the Library.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

This in another Lincoln book for 2011. The Story is about Brittany, a popular, rich, white girl and Alex a poor, Hispanic, gang member. I liked the way the author discusses the way the classes did or did not interact. It is a good message for teen to read about. The story is interesting. Brittany's home life is not as perfect as she makes it out to be and Alex has his own secrets. The two getting together and discovering their similarities despite their different backgrounds is great. I do have a problem with the fact that Brittany dates Alex knowing he is a gang member, knowing that he carries illegal guns, and possibly is involved in other illegal activities. Lots of girls and women all ready date boys and men thinking they will change. In the book Alex does change, but in real life that thinking usually leads to heartbreak. Brittany puts herself in danger dating Alex. In addition, they have sex while they are still in high school. Yes, I know that kind of thing goes on, but do we have to put it out their in front of kids so often it seems like the normal thing to do; instead of waiting until they are older. They did practice safe sex, but it still disturbed me.

In all, I think it sends the wrong message. I would not recommend kids in middle school/teens read this book.