Bookcase of the Week [15]

Saturday Sayings [25]

[via We Heart It]

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse has finally settled into a relationship with the Viking vampire Eric, and her errant brother Jason seems to have his life in order, too. But all the other people in Sookie’s life – Eric himself, her former lover Bill, her friend and boss Sam – are having family problems. Eric’s maker shows up with Eric’s ‘brother’ in tow, the ailing Bill can only be healed by a blood sibling, and Sam’s brother’s marriage is about to take place... or will it? The furor raised by the coming out of the two-natured has yet to settle; some people are just not ready to sit down to dinner with a man who turns into a dog. And Sookie herself is still recovering from her last ordeal. She’s definitely improving, physically and mentally, but she’s always going to have some dark moments now. The werewolves tell her that there have been strange and ominous passers-by in the Stackhouse woods; now Sookie is about to come face-to-face with one of her more distant relatives. [via GoodReads]

Yes, I am a big fan of this series and, yes, I did enjoy this book. It was just lacking something for me.

Let me make it clear, when I crack open one of Charlaine Harris' Sookie novels I am thrown into this world from the first page and I will practically not eat, drink or sleep until it spits me out in the end. Thus was still the case with Dead in the Family, but, this was really just a filler book. There was nothing utterly important in it to really make it stand out for me.

Sookie is a different girl in this novel. And I think I actually like her this way better. Since her last ordeal in the previous book - she has a tougher no-nonsense attitude. She's not taking crap from anyone and that includes FBI agent Lattesta, boyfriend Eric, ex-boyfriend Bill and father-by-vampire-law, Appius Livius Ocella. I like this new Sookie even though she still says stuff like Howdydoo(?) or crapanola.

My fave part of the book of course = Sookie & Eric!! Eric & Sookie!! Oh yes, they are together, they are in love and they are married by vampire law, of course. My only complaint was that there was not as much Sookie & Eric time as I would have liked and their few intimate moments were VERY PG - you know, of the fade to black variety. I would have liked a tad more detail... call me naughty if you must.

Other than that, there are plenty of storylines running amok throughout the story: Bill still being sick from the silver poisoning he acquired during the Fae war, a possible cure by use of a "sibling", Tara's pregnancy, Sam having issues with his family and their shifter ways, the government looking to add shifters/weres to the national registration bill which would limit their rights as US citizens; the possibility that Victor wants Eric, Sookie and all our fave vamps out of the picture, Eric's maker making a surprise visit bringing along his new "son", and "were" politics with Alcide's pack that land Sookie as Shaman to the pack. Not to mention there are a few straggler faeries that are hanging about Sookie's land. Oh yes, I know, if you can think of it, it was probably a storyline in this book.

Overall, I enjoyed the book but, to be quite honest, you won't miss much if you skip it. It's one of those. Nothing is really resolved in it. A few storylines were added and some minor one's were resolved but the big issues were left hanging. I'm taking the next book in the series will deal more with Victor and his big, bad self, and I'm sure we'll learn more of Bill and his "sibling" as well as get more were/shifter drama.

Although not as exciting as previous books, you can still find a good dose of Sookie in here and, a good dose of Sookie is never a bad thing.

Heist Society by Ally Carter

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels.

Now at 15, Kat is in the middle of the biggest con she has ever attemped... she's attending boarding school (using a fake identity, of course), but nonetheless, she has broken free of her family and their thieving ways and is striving to be a "normal" girl.

But all her dreams of normalcy are ripped away from her when she is framed as the perpetrator of a prank at school and eventually ends up expelled... their goes that dream. But even worse then getting expelled is the fact that her father has also been framed. If the 5 paintings that he is rumored to have stolen are not returned within the allotted he will suffer a greater punishment then just a mere expulsion.

It is up to Kat (who makes a deal with the evil man who owns said paintings) to return them even though her father did not commit the crime of stealing them. She rounds up her own crew to get the job done (including her Lolita-esque cousin who looks innocent and sweet with her mini skirts and high heels; the billionaire boy next door and the computer nerd that can hack into any system). But can a bunch of teens pull off an Ocean's 11 worthy heist or will their plans land them in the slammer?

This is fast-paced, full of unpredictable plot turns, danger, adventure, some great characters and a little romance sprinkled in for good measure. It really is just perfect.

I think the plot was just brilliant - I found it to be original and well-orchestrated, unbelievable at times, but that's what made it so great. Ms. Carter's writing style is witty, funny and she definitely has a way of connecting with the reader. I loved the various twists and turns that always had you on your toes. Who was Visily Romani? What happened to the paintings? Will these kids actually get away with this? Everything was a mystery and just when you thought you had it figured out, you'd be thrown for another loop.

I enjoyed Heist Society so much! I loved all the shenanigans that Kat and her ragtag crew have to go through. Ms. Carter made Kat such a strong young woman - she was the perfect female lead. Her crew brought the perfect amount of comedy and techy geekiness as well as the villain brought the perfect amount of villainy/creepiness.

Overall this is one that can be enjoyed by everyone no matter what the age. I can't wait to see where we will go to next.

True Love: Three Novels by Lurlene McDaniel

True Love consists of three novels written by Lurlene McDaniel which make up this 600+ page tome.

Don't Die My Love
Julie Ellis and Luke Muldenhower have been together since the sixth grade. They're now in high school and still love each other unconditionally. Luke is the star quarterback on the football team. They lack for nothing - popularity, good grades, but especially love. They are considering what colleges they plan on attending, Luke is expecting a full scholarship as an athlete, everything is looking up for them. That is, until the day Luke confesses that he hasn't been feeling all that well. He has been lethargic, weak and has been losing weight. Upon examination it is discovered that Luke has Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Not only is Luke's life in jeopardy but will their love be able to surpass such a devastating blow?


I'll be Seeing You
Kyle Westin is blinded when a chemistry experiment goes wrong. While at the hospital he meets Carley Mattea. As their friendship and their feelings for one another grow, Carley suffers more and more knowing that she hasn't been truly honest with Kyle. For although Kyle is blind he is a very good looking young man. But Carley is not pretty - her face is deformed and she cannot help but doubt that Kyle would still love her if he really knew how she looked. Will their love be able to overcome the superficial or will that age old battle between beauty on the outside rather than the inside prevail?

A Rose for Melinda
Told in epistolary fashion using letters, journal entries, e-mails, doctors' reports and instant messages, chronicles the relationship between Melinda and Jesse. They have known each other most of their lives and although they now live away from each other and Melinda has been accepted into the Washington School of Classical Dance’s summer program through their correspondence we are able to learn that Melinda has been diagnosed with leukemia and how this affects her dream of becoming a prima ballerina.

I can definitely see why Lurlene McDaniel's novels are a hit with teen girls. Her stories all pretty much have the same recipe - usually one or both of the main characters is suffering from a traumatic illness or injury and how these events affect their relationships. The romance in all three stories was very sweet and clean, very G-rated. I think Ms. McDaniel definitely has a way of connecting with young girls through their feelings relating to love, loss, hopes and dreams. Each story had a good message and I think that's important on books for young adults. I do have to tell you one thing though, I literally sobbed while reading some parts of these stories. I recommend that you keep tissues handy (and by tissues I mean a whole box of them). I mean my chest hurt by the time I was done reading this book.

All in all, this was a sweet book with some very lovely, if sad and depressing stories. I would recommend to young girls or anyone looking for a book where they can just have a good cry while reading it.

Giveaway Results (several - so what's new?)

I know you're excited that I have finally taken the time to select giveaway winners. I know I'm late on all of these but, then again, what's new, ya know. :D

The Host
- Bere
- TwilightsDance
- vanita (didn't leave e-mail)

Alex Cross's Trial
- Booksnyc
- jewelknits
- xxsquigglesxx

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict
- dArLyN

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer [audiobook]
- Steve Capell
- Kerry
- kathryn313

Forbidden Passion
- Virginia C
- throuthehaze
- princesalinda
- TwilightsDance
- Jenna Wood

Dark Deceptions
- A Musing Mother
- Michelle (Red Headed Book Child)
- julstew
- Martha Lawson
- Anna ♥

Montana Destiny
- Myra
- Lyoness2009
- karenk
- Mitzi H.
- Scorpio M.

Ravished by a Highlander
- elaing8
- chey
- Sandy Jay
- Karen H in NC
- Debi

Still the One
- Mama Bookworm
- Tina
- Debbie F
- holdenj
- princesalinda

Sexaholics
- Jenn
- RachieG
- Cynthia (didn't leave e-mail)
- dor
- debbie

Way to go you guys! Winners were chosen using randomizer.org. I will be sending out a ton of e-mails within the next couple of minutes, so look out for it. You have until Monday to get back to me, if I haven't heard from you by then, a new winner will be chosen.

If you are still interested in more giveaways, check out my giveaways page [here] later today as I will be posting more giveaways this afternoon. Toodles.