#BookReview Books I Love ~ Deadlocked

Okay folks, so sorry it has been a long time since I posted a book I loved. With my rheumatoid arthritis problems, I literally could not hold my books. Deadlocked I bought in hardback format when it first came out, and quickly found I couldn't read it. My family did buy me a Kindle for my birthday last month, which has solved my problem nicely. I'm able to prop it up next to me if holding it becomes too difficult. So, I've been reading once again, and so happy to be doing so!

Charlaine Harris - Deadlocked:  4 stars

Honestly, I almost didn't buy Deadlocked for the Kindle. The price was a little steep for an ebook I already paid for in hardback, and the 1-star reviews this book generated didn't encourage me in paying the price a second time. However, the Sookie Stackhouse books have been some of my most favorite ever, so I went ahead and got it, hoping for the best. I'm glad I did. While I would only give this book 4 stars, I definitely don't think it deserved the 1-star reviews, and I'm looking forward to the last book in the series scheduled to come out next year.

Sookie and Eric have a lot of problems in this book and Sookie is trying to decide what direction she wants her life to go. While I would agree with the reviews complaining that Eric doesn't receive enough page time, Vampire Bill made a lot of appearances, and it was nice to have him in the spotlight again.

The faries are restless and Sookie is caught in the middle of both farie and vampire issues, trying to keep herself out of trouble and stay alive - as usual. It is a nice, quick read that I finished in a few days. A lot of questions posed in the series are answered, but there is still plenty of mystery left as far as what will happen in the 13th and final book. I would still count this series among one of my favorites and I recommend this book.

Happy reading everyone! Have a terrific week!

~ Chantel

Books I Love~Mercedes Lackey/Phoenix and Ashes

I have a confession to make, I'm still making my way through Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick.  Then, I'm going to read my new Sookie Stackhouse book by Charlaine Harris (that I just received in the mail yesterday!) Deadlocked.  Because of that, I'm going to recommend one of my favorite past books. This book is hitting this list because it's one I've read over and over, and I enjoy it every time.

Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey is quite possibly the best book out of her Elemental Masters series.  If you love fantasy and magic, with a little romance thrown in, set in the time of World War I, this is the book for you.  In fact, I recommend all of the books in this series that came before this one.  I was disappointed with the next in the series, Reserved for the Cat, and can't recommend it, but the rest - terrific!

Phoenix and Ashes is a unique retelling of the popular story of Cinderella.  Having loved fairy tales since I was a young girl, this series is just what I like in a fantasy.  The use of elemental magic by the main characters adds to the fun!

Amazon description: In this dark and atmospheric rendition of the Cinderella fairy tale, an intelligent young Englishwoman is made into a virtual slave by her evil stepmother. Her only hope of rescue comes in the shape of a scarred World War I pilot of noble blood, whose own powers over the elements are about to be needed more than ever.

That books vies for spot of my "favorite" with the first in the series (not really considered part of this series because it is set in America instead of England) The Fire Rose.  This is the wonderful retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Both of my copies of these books are so worn and well read, the pages are starting to fall out.  Can't go wrong with either if you like fantasy. 

For more information on Mercedes Lackey's prolific writing and her many available books, visit her page www.mercedeslackey.com  This is, by no means, the only series of hers that I read, and reread, and I will probably recommend more from her in the future. 

Have a great week, and happy reading!  Soon, I'll be off to wonderful Bon Temps, Louisiana with Sookie Stackhouse to chase her vampires! Can't wait to read more about sexy vampire, Eric Northman! Though I have to admit, Vampire Bill also gets sexy points (but I am team Eric for both the show and the books). 

    Alexander Skarsgård (aka Eric) from HBO's True Blood~based

on Chairlaine Harris's Sookie books.

Stephen Moyer (aka Vampire Bill) from
HBO's True Blood

Books I Love ~ Dangerous ~ 4/30

I had a truly wretched time picking a favorite to recommend from this author, Amanda Quick.  If you like historical romance, I can't recommend her highly enough.  I've been pouring through one of her more recent novels, Burning Lamp, trying to finish it in time for today's blog post.  Alas, I've not been able to finish it in time.  That said, this book is not my favorite one by her, and I decided to highlight one of her books that I truly love.

Let me reiterate before I move on, there is nothing wrong with Burning Lamp, but it is one of her Arcane Society Novel's where the heroes and heroines have psychical abilities.  These are good books with wonderful story lines, but sometimes I feel we are asked to go out on a limb to enjoy these books and I like the straightforward romantic suspense of her earlier tales.

My pick this week is Dangerous.  Book description from Amazon: From a magnificent ballroom ablaze with lights to an imposing country house steeped in shadows comes a breathtaking tale of an impetuous miss--and a passion that leads to peril...

At five and twenty, Prudence Merryweather knew very well tht risks a woman took by visiting a gentleman in the dead of night. But bearding the notorious Earl of Angelstone in his den was the only way to stop him from engaging her hot-headed brother in a duel. And that was why she found herself ushered into Sebastian's frobidding presence at three int the morning--and thoroughly kissed before dawn.

She was a country-bred innocent--and an intriguing experience for a man who dwelt more in the shadows than in the sunshine. Yet as her boldness drew Prue into one dangerous episode after another, Sebastian found himself torn between a raging hunger to possess her and a driving need to protect her. And the reckless beauty would soon need all the protection she could get...

Really, any of Quick's earlier books have a special place in my heart and I've read all the ones I own several times. In fact, while researching for pictures to use on this blog, I found three early books that I've yet to read! I can't wait to order them and get to it. Some of you may know, Amanda Quick is the historical suspense writing pseudo name for already-recommended contemporary romantic suspense author Jayne Ann Kretnz. I've yet to read any books from her future romantic suspense alter ego, Jayne Castle, but I imagine they are probably good reads as well.

Just to caution you, sometimes her heroes can be a little alpha (a bit more than I like anyway) but her strong females more than make up for this and often end up saving the big male instead.  She never disappoints with anything she delivers, and I don't think you could go wrong with any of her books if you like historical romance with a splash of mystery. 

Happy reading, everyone!  Deadlocked, the new Sookie Stackhouse novel by Charlaine Harris (recommended previously by me here) will be to my house on May 4th!  I'm going to be in reading Heaven for a while as I re-read that series this week! Have a great one!

Books I Love ~ 4/2

Vampires and werewolves and telepathy... oh my!

This week, I'm going to tell you all about my guilty little pleasure... well, not so little.  A few years ago I read Twilight with my daughter, which made me realize I'm not so big on the whole sweet vampires/teen angst-type of books.  Those are perfectly fine for anyone who likes that type of book, but I realized I'm not that person.  So, I thought I would stay away from the vampire culture shock taking over the reading industry. 

However, one night I flipped through channels on TV before bed (no matter how many channels you have, there's never anything good on!).  I landed on HBO.  There was some weird show on. A vampire, just awakened after first being created, wandered the forest with her maker, Bill, looking for dinner.  I thought, "This is strange.  What the heck is this?"  For some reason, I kept watching.  It's an addiction, really, and from then on I started religiously watching True Blood.  It comes on in the summer on HBO, and my whole family became addicted.  I always know where everyone will be Sunday night in the summer, with me, in the living room, watching True Blood. 

Then came my birthday, and my daughter (knowing how much I love to read) went out and found the first two books the series is based on.  The Sookie Stackhouse Novels by Charlaine Harris.  OMG! I became obsessed! These are not your typical vampire novels, and Harris has been writing long before Twilight took over our vampire culture.  These books are wonderful!  I raced through those first two in three days and had to run to the store to buy the next seven books. 

So goes my ongoing love affair with Sookie and her fierce--yet deliciously sexy--vampires.  The twelfth novel, Deadlocked, will be out in May, so if I disappear for a while, you'll know where I am.  I normally re-read the entire series and then go on to read the new book each year when the new release comes out. 

Charlaine Harris also writes several other series of books.  I've read them all and they're all great, but Sookie remains my favorite (though the Lily Bard mysteries are my daughter's favorite).  You can visit  Harrris' page here.

What are you reading?  

Have a terrific week!  Happy reading, everyone!