Book 76 of 2009: Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris

Book 43 of 2009: Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Charlaine Harris' 9^th installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series is a big transition book for the Were population of the small town of Bon Temps. At the start of Dead and Gone the Weres finally decide to go public. This is a huge deal, and the reactions of the townsfolk vary greatly. However, shortly after the announcement is made, there is a murder behind Merlotte's, and a Were has been crucified. The question is, is the murder related to the big announcement, or is there another reason for this horrible killing? Sookie, with the help of her two favorite vampires, Eric and Bill, does everything she can to track down the person responsible, yet, as always, seems to put herself in more danger in the process.

The Sookie Stackhouse series is still going strong with this latest novel. I enjoy the way Harris balances out the mystery, humor, and romance in all of her books. She seems to know just what the perfect mix should be! I didn't enjoy this book as much as some of the earlier ones because it wasn't as focused on the vampire community as it was on some of the other characters in the series, and I am hoping that Harris will go back to spending more time at Fangtasia (the vampire bar) and other vampire hang-outs in future books. But other than that complaint, I have none! I always look forward to Harris' books and am already eagerly awaiting the next one. Highly Recommended!

Contains: Violence, Adult Language, Adult Situations

Review also posted at MonsterLibrarian.com

Book 65 of 2008: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Book Description:

Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana, but she keeps to herself and doesn't date much because of her "disability" to read minds. When she meets Bill, Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's the type of guy she's waited for all of her life, but he has a disability, too--he's a vampire with a bad reputation. When one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next.

My Opinion:

I'm typically not one for re-reading books only because there are SOOO many books still out there that I haven't read at all, but after having watched the first season of TRUE BLOOD I really wanted to re-read this book to see how the series truly compared to the book as I couldn't remember all the details of the book. I just looked and this book originally came out back in 2001 but I didn't discover the series until early 2006 so that was when I first read this book. It was amazing how much I had forgotten of the storyline within just about 3 years! I have to say that HBO did a great job with the series, but there are some major differences in the series and the book. The most disappointing thing that was left out of the show was the the character of Bubba! I'm HOPING that he will pop up in later seasons, but he first appeared in this book which is what season 1 was based upon and he wasn't in the show as of yet. *sigh* Another major change in the series was what happened near the end with the final "battle scene" with the killer. To avoid spoilers I won't say what the differences were here, but it did differ. Outside of that, the series added in a lot of storyline to the characters of Jason, Tara, and Lafayette... as well as a little extra to a few other characters, but other than that the story flowed quite closely to the book. There was another death within the book that supposedly Bill caused in the show that caused a big stink between the vampires, but in the book he didn't cause it... that seemed a little strange to have been changed to me, but while watching the show it made sense. So... even though a bunch of odds 'n' ends changes were made, the show flowed really well and made sense. I also liked that the show used some of the exact dialogue from the book. So... overall I think they did a great job in making the show based from the book. I'm not disappointed! And in re-reading the book... this still stands to be one of my favorite series and held up well as a re-read. I will probably read each of the books in this series again following up watching the seasons of the shows as they come out to compare them, so it'll be slow going, but I think it's neat comparing the differences.

Trailer for TRUE BLOOD:

Book 33 of 2008: From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

Book Description:

After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the manmade explosion at the vampire summit, everyone—human and otherwise—is stressed, including Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who is trying to cope with the fact that her boyfriend Quinn has gone missing.

It's clear that things are changing—whether the weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie—Friend to the Pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, leader of the local vampire community—is caught up in the changes.

In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death, and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood finished flowing, her world will be forever altered.

My Opinion:

The latest installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series (8) by Charlaine Harris was just as fabulous as the previous 7 novels by her. I love how this storyline progresses throughout each book. This book wrapped up some loose ends, but then unraveled some new ones that will need to be fixed up in the remaining books to come. I believe there are 2 more books contracted, though I'm definitely hoping for more!

I'm kind of nervous about how much to say in this posting as it'd be easy to give stuff away to people considering this is so far into a series so I'll leave it at that, but if you haven't read this series and are a fan of paranormal fiction and mysteries, definitely check out this series. Or... if you just like mysteries, check out her Lily Bard series.

Book #37 - An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris

ISBN: 9780425217290

Format: Hardback, 280 pages

Pub. Date: September 25, 2007

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Series: #3 in the Harper Connelly series
Laura (CTGMOM) checked out from her library for me to borrow

From the Publisher

Hired to find a boy gene missing in Doraville, North Carolina, Harper Connelly and her brother Tolliver head there-only to discover that the boy was only one of several who had disappeared over the previous five years. All of them teenagers. All unlikely runaways.

All calling for Harper.

Harper soon finds them-eight victims, buried in the half-frozen ground, all come to an unspeakable end. Afterwards, what she most wants to do is collect her fee and get out of town ahead of the media storm that's soon to descend. But when she's attacked and prevented from leaving, she reluctantly becomes a part of the investigation as she learns more than she cares to about the dark mysteries and long-hidden secrets of Doraville-knowledge that makes her the next person likely to rest in an ice-cold grave.

My Opinion of the Book

I am still loving this series!!! Harris keeps her books suspenseful and makes the reader wonder all through the book. I think this is my favorite book yet in this series and I can't wait until the next one is released (whenever that may be!!!). The character progression in this book made me quite happy and I can't wait to see what will come next. After this book, though, I don't know how much more Harper can take! The fact that she had to take on a case with multiple deaths was quite the challenge for her. She's a strong gal though so I'm sure she'll keep at what she does best!

Book #30 - Shakespeare's Christmas

ISBN: 0440234999

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 242 pp

Pub. Date: March 1, 2005 (reprint)

Genre: Mystery

#3 in the Lily Bard Series

Bookring started by Amberkatze... sent to me by Maurean... next to innae!

From the Publisher

Lily Bard is going home for the holidays. More comfortable in baggy sweats than bridesmaid's frills, Lily isn't thrilled about attending her estranged sister's wedding. She has moved to Shakespeare, Arkansas, to start a new life, cleaning houses for a living, trying to forget the violence that once nearly destroyed her. Now she's heading back to home and hearth - just in time for murder.

The town's doctor and nurse have been bludgeoned to death at the office. And Lily's detective boyfriend suddenly shows up at her parents' door. Jack Leeds is investigating an eight-year-old kidnapping and the trail leads straight to Lily's hometown. It just might have something to do with the murders... and her sister's widowed fiance. With only three days before the wedding, Lily must work fast to clean up the messy case before her sister commits... marriage!

My Opinion of the Book

Still loving this series and unfortunately don't know where I have put books 4 & 5... ack!!! I hope they show up soon! Lily is a great character and I'm really loving her boyfriend, Jack, as well. I hope that Harris continues on with this series beyond book 5 in addition to her other series.

Book #29 - Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris

ISBN: 0425213102

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 206 pp

Pub. Date: December 5, 2006 (reprint)

Genre: Mystery

#2 in the Lily Bard Series

Bookring started by Amberkatze... sent to me by Maurean... next to innae!

From the Publisher

When Lily stumbles upon the well-built corpse of a local body builder-his neck broken by a barbell-the town's underlying racial tension begins to boil over. The white victim was somehow connected to two unsolved murders of black residents of Shakespeare-and a dogged policeman is determined to stop the killing. But it is Lily herself who may have to decide whether to stay and fight for justice, or run away one more time.

My Opinion of the Book

Yet another great Harris book! This book ended up more interested than I had assumed it would from the prologue as it ended up being based around a much bigger problem then just one murder. Again, Harris continues with a lot of character advancement (though I've also come to terms with the fact that Lily is quite the little nympho... LOL!!!) I do like the "new guy" though. I think he's much better than Marshall and Claude. I can't wait to find out what becomes of him come book 3. Shakespeare's Christmas, which I will be starting VERY soon!

Book #28 - Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris

ISBN: 0440224187

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 245 pp

Pub. Date: July 7, 1997

Genre: Mystery

#1 in the Lily Bard Series

Bought at New Albany Library booksale for 50 cents

From the Publisher

To Lily Bard, the sleepy town of Shakespeare, Arkansas was the perfect place to hide from the violence that nearly destroyed her life years before. Today Lily is strong, confident in the martial arts she studies, her looks disguised by her closely cropped hair and baggy clothes. Working as a housecleaner, Lily comes and goes without anyone noticing - until she witnesses a murder.

What Lily Bard saw on that dark night has stripped away her anonymity and earned her the unwanted attention of a homicide detective and a suspicious community. And with her intense, married karate instructor showing a passionate interest of his own, Lily's plan of a private, well-ordered life is coming unhinged. The killer of an unlamented landlord is lurking close by. And while Lily knows the inside dirt on her neighbor's dust, drawers, and private lives, she must admit to a secret of her own: that in the shadow of a brutal murder, she is coming alive again...

My Opinion of the Book

Harris is one of my favorite authors. Her Sookie Stackhouse series is her best series, (though I'm also partial to vampires so that might make me a bit biased *grin*) but I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the Lily Bard series. There were many twists & turns in the book that kept me guessing on who the killer was and I never did figure it out. I also love the way Harris does her character development throughout the books. Poor Lily has been through so much, even before coming to Shakespeare, but yet she still manages to get in the midst of all the trouble. I admire her... she is one strong gal! Looking forward to learning more about Miss Lily! :)

Book #15 - All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

ISBN: 0441014941

Format: Hardback, 323pp

Pub. Date: May 1, 2007

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Series: #7 in the Southern Vampire series

Bought at Barnes & Noble for about $15 I believe

From the Publisher

Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit.

The summit is a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

My Opinion of the Book

Yet another great Sookie story. This is one of my favorite vampire series and I absolutely can't wait for the TV series to start this fall. I still don't know who I really want Sookie to end up with, but I'm really leaning towards Eric just because I love his personality. *grin* Now when will the next installment come out? *pouts*