Book #24 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

ISBN: 0545010225

Format: Hardback, 784 pp

Pub. Date: July 21, 2007

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Series: #7 in the Harry Potter series

Bought on Amazon.com for $17.99 (had on pre-order since Feb. 1, 2007)

From the Publisher

Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety and companionship of The Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him.

In this final, seventh installment of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling unveils in spectactular fashion the answers to the many questions that have been so eagerly awaited. The spellbinding, richly woven narrative, which plunges, twists and turns at a breathtaking pace, confirms the author as a mistress of storytelling, whose books will be read, reread and read again.

My Opinion of the Book

No Spoilers!!!

This book has probably become my fave of the Harry Potter series. I did have a few things I didn't enjoy about this book, but overall I loved it. The parts I didn't enjoy would be major spoilers for those who have yet to read the book, so I won't mention them here, but feel free to message me if you're curious. I thought Rowling did a great job in wrapping things up, although the epilogue left a lot to be desired. I did shed tears twice within the book... once during an entire chapter when we discovered everything about Snape. While waiting for this book, that was the main thing I was waiting to hear about. I had my ideas on him, but didn't know the full story behind him. The other time I cried was when one of my favorite characters was killed, but I won't say who to avoid spoilers as well. I will miss the anticipation of more books to come, but I look forward to whatever new series Rowling decides to come out with next.

Book #23 - Fanged & Fabulous by Michelle Rowen

ISBN: 0446618624

Format: MassMarket Paperback, 331 pp

Pub. Date: July 1, 2007

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: #2 in the Sarah Dearly series

Borrowed from Laura (CTGMOM)

From the Publisher

My name is Sarah Dearly, and I've got major problems. Last month, I was turned into a vampire by the world's worst blind date. Then I may have, totally by accident, started a war between the mostly peaceful bloodsuckers and a bunch of sociopathic vamp hunters who have nicknamed me the Slayer of Slayers. Now I'm being used as bait to draw out the hunters' bad-ass leader, while my gorgeous 600-year-old boyfriend Thierry seems to be blowing me off, and my sizzle-hot, fanged friend Quinn is trying to turn my self-defense lessons into make-out sessions. So you know what? I'm done. I've had it. There comes a time when a vamp has to just suck it up and go after what she wants. And as soon as I figure out what that is, that's exactly what I'll do...

My Opinion of the Book

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Bitten & Smitten, but reading F&F brought me back into Sarah's world. The book had lots of laugh out loud moments and lots of twists & turns to keep me guessing. I enjoyed the Buffy & Angel references made within the book (especially the Angel one... LOL!) although I could've done without the Monty Python and reality TV comments. (Yeech!)

I'm not sure if I'm happy about the way things ended with Sarah, Quinn, and Thierry in this book, but I guess I'll just have to see how things go in Lady & the Vamp when it comes out next year. *sigh* I sure hate waiting for all the sequels to the series I enjoy, but at least that gives me time to read other books. :)

Book #22 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

ISBN: 059035342x

Format: Trade Paperback, 309 pp

Pub. Date: December 16, 2002

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Series: #1 in the Harry Potter series

Bought used at a library sale I believe... probably for $1

From the Publisher

Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter.

My Opinion of the Book

I typically don't re-read books, but with the final book of this series coming out next month I thought I'd give the series a try again. I am sure that there are many things that I missed during my first hurried reading and I am trying to catch those bits now. I actually really enjoyed reading this book again... and after having seen the movies I was able to picture faces and hear the voices of the characters as I read along, which made it all the more interesting.

Book #21 - Sudden Pleasures by Bertrice Small

ISBN: 9780451221315

Format: Trade Paperback, 280pp

Pub. Date: June 5, 2007

Genre: Contemporary Erotica

Series: #3 in Pleasures series

Bought on Amazon for $11.20

From the Publisher

Ashley Kimbrough has everything a woman could want. Not only is she wealthy and successful, she has a more than satisfying sex life in The Channel, a secret network that allows women to live out their wildest fantasies. But if she doesn't find herself a husband she could be in danger of losing it all.

Then multi-millionaire Ryan Mulcahy enters Ashley's life. With that Celtic warrior's body and drop-dead gorgeous face, he makes her fantasies run wild. Although their marriage is one of convenience, Ashley is starting to wonder whether she can use everything she learned from The Channel on her unsuspecting husband.

My Opinion of the Book

I was so excited when this book finally came out and loved every minute of it! I think this book is even hotter/kinkier than the 2 previous books in the series. I can't wait to see what Small has in store for us in book 4 (Dangerous Pleasures due out Aug. '08). I do always wonder more about the couples from the previous books since we only get a glimpse at their current lives in the sequels. Maybe down the road we'll get some kind of reunion or update of sorts. :)

Book #20 - one of those hideous books where the mother dies by Sonya Sones

ISBN: 0689858205

Format: Hardback, 268pp

Pub. Date: April 27, 2004

Genre: Teen Fiction

Not part of a series

Checked out from library mobile

From the Publisher

My name is Ruby

This book is about me.

It tells the deeply hideous story of what happens when my mother dies and I'm dragged three thousand miles away from my gorgeous boyfriend, Ray, to live in L.A. with my father, who I've never even met because he's such a scumbag that he divorced my mom before I was born.

The only way I've ever even seen him is in the movies, since he's this mega-famous actor who's been way too busy trying to win Oscars to even visit me once in fifteen years.

Everyone loves my father.

Everyone but me.

My Opinion of the Book

I believe this is the 3rd book I've read by Sones and I really enjoy her writing style as well as her stories. I know lots of readers don't enjoy the prose format and honestly, I didn't think I would either, but it really doesn't feel like it's written in poetry.

Of the three Sones books I've read, I believe this story was my favorite. I loved the transitions that Ruby made in dealing with her mother's death and all the changes in her life. Some of it was predictable, but some of it still surprised me. The whole dream sequence before the earthquake was very interesting and I also liked how Ruby continued emailing her dead mother throughout the book in coping with her emotions a bit more.

Looking forward to finding other books by this author.

Book #19 - Stray by Rachel Vincent

ISBN: 0778324214

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 618pp

Pub. Date: June 1, 2007

Genre: Paranormal Fantasy

Series: #1 in the Werecat series

Bought at Borders for $6.99

From the Publisher

Vincent's debut, an urban werecat fantasy, is a good story that suffers from about 200 pages of bloat. Faythe Sanders is a Texas grad student with a secret: she's a shape-shifting werecat. After she's attacked by a Stray—a werecat without ties to any pride—Faythe's father, the Pride Alpha, orders her to return to the family compound. As it turns out, two other werecat tabbies have gone missing, indicating an organized effort by the formerly go-it-alone Strays. The author's world building is intriguing but overly narrow, reducing the range of jungle feline behavior to a keen territorial instinct. Secondary characters abound, including Faythe's intended, formerly human werecat Marc; five years earlier, she escaped the pride on what was supposed to be the eve of their wedding. Unfortunately, they both have frustrating character tics that are only exacerbated by the novel's length: Faythe is more often too-stubborn-to-live than kick-ass, and all the tears Marc wells up over Faythe don't forgive his insufferable jealousy. A polished tale may hide within this one, but Vincent needs to rein herself in a bit if she wants to build a readership.

My Opinion of the Book

What a fabulous first book from a new author. This book was fresh and different from other paranormal books I've read. The story was action-packed from start to finish with enough laughs mixed in to keep the story light. I loved every minute of it. The only disappointments I had were 1) Faythe didn't end up with the guy of my choice at the end of this book (but hey... that means I can maybe have him, right? *grin*) and 2) that I have to wait until April '08 in order to get the next book in the series, Rogue.

Definitely pick up this book if you are into the paranormal and want something new and fresh!

Book #18 - Undead and Uneasy by MaryJanice Davidson

ISBN: 9780425213766

Format: Hardback, 272pp

Pub. Date: June 5, 2007

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: #6 in the Undead series

Bought at Amazon for $15.09

From the Publisher

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Elizabeth Anne Taylor and Eric Sinclair

607 Summit Ave
Midnight
July 4, 2007

RSVP by June 25, and don't be like one of those jerks who doesn't RSVP and then shows up with three people. Seriously.

In the days leading up the The Big Day, Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor seems to have a full house - and the wedding guests have yet to arrive. Along with her human buddies, there's a ghost, a werewolf, and a Fiend crashing at her place. And though her fiance, Vampire King Eric Sinclair, conveniently disappears when the conversation turns to seating charts and flower arrangements, he does manage to make his oh-so-sexy presence known at other moments.

Betsy knows the next few weeks won't be smooth sailing - but she never expects just what's in store for her. Cold feet are no surprise, especially with an undead groom. But when Sinclair truly goes missing - and not just to avoid wedding preparations - along with most of her friends and loved ones, Betsy is frantic. Alone and afraid for the fate of everyone she loves, Betsy can't trust anyone as she trieds to find them and whoever is behind all the disappearances. And what happens next will shake the foundation of the vampire world forever in the bestselling series that "breath(es) new life into conventional vampire lore."

My Opinion of the Book

Wow... Wow... Wow!!! This was probably the best Betsy book yet!!! I loved every bit of it!

I know there are going to be at least 3 more books for sure and probably more after that so I'm really hoping to find out the answers to a few questions I have still. I met MJD tonight at Borders and she's said that she wants to continue the story on even after book 9 so that's very exciting news as well! I'm sure there will be plenty of time for me to sort out all of my questions in future books. :) I'm not going to put any spoilers here, but the book was just awesome!!! I know they're short and only seem to leave you with a taste, but I think this one did a lot in a short amount of pages! (well, considering the font size... LOL!!!)

On a side not, MJD is just as funny in person as she is in her books. She's also super sweet and a great talker. I hope she comes back to Louisville again as I'd love to listen to her talk once more. Now if she only pops into the bookobsessed.com forum as I mentioned to her when she was signing my books. *grin*