Cover Blurb:
     It is the middle of the summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the window panes. Harry Potter is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursley's house in Privit drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore himself. One of the last times he saw the headmaster was in a fierce one to one duel with Lord Voldemort and Harry can't quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursleys of all places. Why is the professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks time? Harry's 6th year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start as the worlds of Muggle and Magic start to entwine.

I gave this a 9/10 for the sheer fun of enjoying reading it. For me, Harry Potter stopped being fun with the last book and it was good to get that back again. However, when I stop to think about it (or listen to my husband talking about the book), there really wasn't a lot of plot here. I enjoyed at adventure, but we didn't progress the overall story very far.

I don't want to spoil this for anyone (one major event was spoiled for me and I was very annoyed about it) which means I can't really go into what I thought about some of the details, forcing this to be a particularly short review. But I guess mostly I enjoyed the story and I'll wait to see if my quibbles are going to be resolved in the last book before complaining too loud.

Cover Blurb:
     Christine "CC" Canady is an Air Force Sergeant who wishes for some magic in her life. She has no idea how much magic she will get when on her 25th birthday she drunkenly summons the goddess Gaea and asks for a little magic.
     CC's wish is soon granted when she finds the plane she is travelling in crashing into the ocean and her body being dragged under.
     Pulled down beneath the waves CC comes face to face with the mermaid Undine. But as shocking as that experience is she is not prepared for the sudden switch in places when she finds herself face to face with herself.
     Stranded back in the distant past CC soon finds herself face to face with the reason Undine was so eager to leave her body and world. Sarpedon...Undine's evil brother who is determined to make the mermaid his own.
     Fleeing from him CC finds sanctuary on land when Gaea turns into a human. If she finds true love on the land the spell will be complete. But until that time CC must return to the sea every third night or she will die.
     Helped to the land by Dylan, a merman who has followed her and, like Gaea, knows that she is not Undine, CC finds further help in the form of Sir Andras, a knight who pulls her from the waters and leads her to the nearby monastery. It seems from the start that Sir Andras is the ideal candidate for CC to fall in love with and complete the spell.
     But CC finds that there is danger within those walls too and she must keep up the pretence of a loss of memory of risk being taken for a witch.
     CC soon finds herself falling in love, not with Sir Andras, but with Dylan who watches over her from the waves and answers her call when she returns to the waters. But Dylan is half mortal and no match for Sarpedon and the more time they spend together the more they risk endangering each other.
     With the help of her new friends CC hopes that she can finally find a place to belong. But how long can she hold onto that place and can tragedy be averted in time for her and Dylan to build a life together?

Well, it sounded like fun - and I still like the premise - but this simply didn't work for me. I found the pace very slow and didn't particularly care about the characters. I was skimming my way through the rest of it before I even reached p. 100. It didn't help that it turned into a medieval along the way, as that's a time period that does absolutely nothing for me. I liked the beginning, and the end was rather nice - it was everything in the middle that didn't grab \me so much.

Cover Blurb:
     Late one night, exploring her father's library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters addressed ominously to 'My dear and unfortunate successor'. Her discovery plunges her into a world she never dreamed of - a labyrinth where the secrets of her father's past and her mother's mysterious fate connect to an evil hidden in the depths of history. In those few quiet moments, she unwittingly assumes a quest she will discover is her birthright - a hunt for the truth about Vlad the Impaler, the medieval ruler whose barbarous reign formed the basis of the Dracula myth. Deciphering obscure signs and hidden texts, reading codes worked into the fabric of medieval monastic traditions, and evading terrifying adversaries, one woman comes ever closer to the secret of her own past and a confrontation with the very definition of evil.

I loved this book. I only had two very small quibbles, which are what stopped it from getting a perfect score. But I'll come back to those...

I found this a very compelling novel. Once I'd got into the story, I had to keep on going to find out what happened next. I was also so caught up in the tale I was barely tempted to check out the end of the book, which is my greatest weakness. I fight it with every book I read and sometimes I win, sometimes I lose; this time I didn't even try. This is made more surprising, but the fact this is largely a 'tell' book, rather than a 'show' book. The tale is being told by three different characters, all filtered through the main narrator, about what happened in their respective pasts. Yes, we get a lot of detail and description in each case, but all the same, a feeling of hearing the story rather than being deep down in the action remains. It doesn't matter a scrap, and may even be the device that made the book as compelling as it was.

What about those quibbles?

I generally don't have a lot of time for the affectation of having a first person narrator and refusing to let the reader know his or her name. I first discovered it in Daphne duMaurier's Rebecca (anyone know if this was a first or another repeat?) and thought it was very clever, but while it fitted that book, it felt unnecessary here. The second was that the book was neatly and cleanly finished and then it had one of those purposefully ambiguous epilogues that throw everything that has just happened at the climax of the book in doubt. I find that annoying. I guess the scientist in me likes my i's dotted and my t's crossed.

But these are still minor complaints about and overall solid and fascinating book. If the topic sounds even vaguely interesting, give this book a try.

Cover Blurb:
     Cassie Brittman lives with her mother, Anne, a self-absorbed college student. Despite an unusual family history, she struggles to be a regular teen, practicing her violin and spending time with her boyfriend
     When her reclusive grandfather falls ill, her mother forces her to drop everything so that they can rush back to the farm where she was raised. The first half of the story centers on the conflict between Cassie and Anne, whose irresponsible ways often push her daughter into the parental role.
     However, Snyder drops hints from the beginning-Cassie's green thumb, her odd encounter with a winter hare, a dangerous but strangely alluring boy on a motorcycle-that this is more than a novel about a dysfunctional family. Eventually, Cassie learns the truth: the Brittmans are linked by blood to nature spirits who want her help in fighting a dark and threatening rival clan.

This is a lovely book, made a young adult novel by it's tone rather than for any 'talking-down' to the reader. Because of the book blurb, I had more idea of what was going on than Cassie did, but that didn't hurt the story at all. I did find Anne's refusal to face up to the reality of her family and its legacy a little annoying, as Cassie would have managed the situation much better if she had had a little more information.

The Red Clan were truly creepy in a quite not-human sort of way and excellently portrayed. Hannah remained a strong figure throughout the story, despite the fact she was already dead, especially through her diary and her small "cameo" at the end, which was touch and beautiful both at the same time.

Like I said, I lovely book, as the best YA titles are, capturing both adult themes and stories without losing the magic with which one can remember childhood. Highly recommended. Barbara was right again.

Cover Blurb:
     Joanne Walker has three days to learn to use her shamanic powers and save the world from the unleashed Wild Hunt.
     No worries. No pressure. Nevermind the lack of sleep, the perplexing new talent for healing from fatal wounds, or the cryptic, talking coyote who appears in her dreams.
     And if all that's not bad enough, in the three years Joanne's been a cop, she's never seen a dead body -- but she's just come across her second in three days.
     It's been a bitch of a week. And it isn't over yet...

I had already selected this book when 'Barbara-the-pusher' told me it was great and I should read it. This is a case where both of us were right. This was a well placed, very enjoyable story that kept me fascinated. I'm already waiting for the next one.

Joanne is a well created character, more of a smart ass than kick-ass and great with it. She gets tossed into the worlds beyond this one like being tossed into the deep end of a pool. While she does some sinking, she also learns how to swim. She's a novice and she knows it, but she manages to muddle along in a believable way. Murphy's metaphor of using shamanic healing power as a mechanic would fix a car is new and well-envisioned. Joanne sees her own scars and deep-seated issues as cracks in a windscreen, that being to be repaired as she discovers her own powers and place in the world.

Murphy has created a nice blend of Celtic and Native American traditions here, although this one focuses more on the Celtic side, especially as the main enemies are Celtic gods and demigods. All the same, her Cherokee heritage is well documents and I'm hoping we'll see more of that side of her in upcoming books. I'm also hoping to see more of Coyote in future as he's lovely fun.

I guess, ideally I would have given this book 9½ out of 10, but since I set myself to integers I decided to err on the side of generosity and give the book a 10.

Cover Blurb:
     Betsy Taylor turns 30, gets laid off, is killed by an SUV and wakes up dead all in the same week. The vampire community is convinced she's their prophesied Queen. But she's not having any of it - she's got shoes to buy! And now the undead world is being turned upside-down by a Bela Lugosi throwback and her subjects expect her to take care of it! Why didn't she read the handbook? But her would-be consort, Eric Sinclair, is (annoyingly) ever-present. If only he wasn't so tall, dark, gorgeous...and undead.

All through this book, I kept changing my mind over whether or not I liked it. It didn't hit me between the eyes as a fantastic book and while I smiled wryly at some of Betsy's comments and reactions I didn't think they were spectacularly funny. All the same, the story did grow on me and by the end I was looking forward to reading the next one in the series. I don't plan to rush out and buy my own copies at this point, but I did enjoy the book.

This sounds like a rather lukewarm review, and I guess it is. I enjoyed this book, but it didn't drag me in, tie me down and make me unable to focus on anything else while I was reading it. So it was good, but I don't know that, for me, it deserves the raves I've seen it receive.

Cover Blurb:
     In the realm of the Dark-Hunters there is a code of honor that even immortal bad boys must follow:
     Harm no human. Drink no blood. Never fall in love.
     But every now and again a Dark-Hunter thinks himself above the Code. That's when I'm summoned. Who am I? I'm the one thing the fearless fear. Step over the line and it's my wrath you will face. Nothing can touch me. Nothing can sway me. I am relentless and unfeeling.
     Or so I thought until I met a female Dark-Hunter who goes by the name of Danger-it's not just her name, it's how she lives her life. She doesn't trust me at all. And who could blame her? She alone knows that I'm here to be judge, jury and most likely executioner of her friends. Yet she is my key to saving some of them. Without her, they all will die.
     Dangereuse St. Richard is a deadly distraction. Something about her is reawakening a heart I thought was long dead. But in a race against evil, the only hope mankind has is that I do my duty. And how can I do my duty when it means that I will have to sacrifice the only woman I've ever loved?

I know these books aren't exactly great literature, but I really like them. I like the universe Kenyon has created and the characters she has peopled it with. This one was no exception.

There has been much speculation about Alexion's identity and it was easy to see which option of many discussed among fans was going to be right within the first couple of chapters. It didn't matter. The story was about his life (or lack thereof) and not a mystery about exactly who he was. I felt Kenyon pulled it off beautifully. Alexion is a wonderful character and I hope we see more of him, although given his limitations it may mean it is in the background rather than in the main action. Which in its own way is a bit of a pity, as that may mean we see less of Xirena as well, and she's a great new character. Ash's life is never going to be the same.

I was mildly disappointed in Danger's characterisation, as I felt I never got right inside who she was. I know a lot about her, but it felt like it was at something of a distance. This was a shorter book than some of the others and it was always set up to be about Alexion and his salvation, which I think pushed her into a background a bit. Yes, this was a love story, but it was, as I just said, even more about Alexion and his salvation and that made her somewhere between a major and secondary character instead of equally primary with Alexion.

Kenyon also too the time to make official many of the hints she has given us about Acheron. If you read all the novels and the hints, you could guess at most of it previously, but now we know for certain. Of course, more mysteries were introduced and many things weren't answered, but it is nice to know that the mystery that is Acheron has advanced instead of staying permanent and annoyingly in the same place.

As always, Kenyon has introduced new characters that leave the readers wanting even more books from her. Two a year isn't nearly enough. I've now added Savitar and Kyros to characters I think need a novel of their own. Well, maybe one day.

Cover blurb:
     The Indigo TeaShop located in Charleston, South Carolina's historical district is usually a place of serenity, but today chaos reigns. The owner and her small crew prepare a tea party at the famous Lamplighter tour of Historical homes. The event goes smoothly, but when it is time to leave, someone remains sitting in the shadows. One of Theodosia's employees goes to check on the person only to find him dead.
     An autopsy reveals that the man was poisoned. As the word spreads amidst society, business drops at the teacup. Unwilling to sit back and wait for the storm to pass, Theodosia begins to snoop. This leads to several viable suspects including someone who wants to stop Theodora before she gets to close to the truth.

I was disappointed in this. Not quite disappointed enough to stop reading, but close. This should have been a great premise and a lovely read, but it fell totally flat for me. I wasn't engaged by the settings, I got annoyed by all the tea references instead of enchanted and I simply didn't get enthused at all. I also figured out who dunnit quite easily, which for me is a sign of not such a good book. If I'm entranced by the tale, I getting to know the characters and the setting and my subconscious doesn't have time to solve the mystery. That wasn't the case this time.

I doubt I'll be reading any more of this series or this author.

Cover blurb:
     As the third daughter in a magical bloodline, Abigail Drake was born with a mystical affinity for water, and possessed a particularly strong bond with dolphins. She spent her entire life studying them, learning from them, and swimming among them in the waters off her hometown of Sea Haven … Until the day Abby witnessed a cold-blooded murder on shore, and found herself fleeing for her life — right into the arms of Alexsandr Volstov. He’s an Interpol agent on the trail of stolen Russian antiquities, a relentless man who gets what he goes after — and the man who broke Abby’s heart. But he isn’t going to let the only woman he ever loved be placed in harm’s way — or slip away from his embrace...

While not a 'knock my socks off' book, I thoroughly enjoyed this, reading it in little more than a day. I've found I really like the Drake Sisters books. All seven sisters are lovely and that mix of family warmth and magic is, for lack of a better word, magical. Their men are fairly typical of Feehan's heroes - strong, demanding and a little dark - but they are not nearly as alpha as her Carpathians, who seemed to have gone a little over the top even for them lately.

There was a bit of the "just talk to each other, dammit" feeling, as Abbey and Alexsandr refused to properly discuss what lay between them, and I think it could have been settled a little sooner than it was. All the same, I've read much worse and Feehan's reasons for why Abbey refused to talk were acceptable - it wasn't just pique or only to delay plot resolution.

I've got a feeling I know who Hannah will end up with, and I now have suspicions about Joley. I look forward to the next book, whenever it comes, to find out how gets hooked up next, how and with whom.

Cover blurb:
     Prince Boleso is dead -- slain by a noblewoman he had intended to defile.
     Lord Ingrey kin Wolfcliff has been dispatched to the remote castle of the late, exiled, half-mad royal to transport the body to its burial place and the accused killer, the Lady Ijada, to judgment. Ingrey's mission is an ugly and delicate one, for the imminent death of the old Hallow King has placed the crown in play, and the murder of his youngest son threatens to further roil already treacherous political waters. But there is more here than a prince's degenerate lusts and the fatal retribution it engendered. Boleso's dark act, though unfinished, inadvertently bestowed an unwanted mystical "gift" upon proud, brave Ijada that must ultimately mean her doom -- a curse similar to one with which Ingrey himself has been burdened since boyhood.
     A forbidden spirit now inhabits the soul of Ijada, giving her senses she never wished for and an obligation no one sane would desire. At once psychically linked to the remarkable lady and repelled by what she carries within, Ingrey fears the havoc his own inner beast could wreak while on their journey, as he fights a powerful growing attraction ... and an equally powerful compulsion to kill.
     The road they travel together is beset with dangers -- and though duty-bound to deliver Ijada to an almost certain execution, Ingrey soon realizes that she is the only one he dares trust. For a malevolent enemy with designs on a troubled kingdom holds Ingrey in his sway -- and without Ijada's aid and love, the haunted lord will never be able to break free and realize the great and terrible destiny bestowed upon him by the gods, the damned, and the dead.

I loved this. Of course, I generally love Bujold's work and give her a good amount of leeway, but she didn't disappoint. I've heard some people say they didn't like this one as much as The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls. It was a bit different (in a very different part of this universe for one thing and a couple of centuries for another), but I really enjoyed it.

About half way through it took an unexpected right angle and went in a different direction from what I had expected. I thought this made the story a lot stronger, but it may be what annoyed other readers. To me, it gave the whole story a lot more depth and purpose than just the simpler level of tale we began with.

You don't really need to have read the first two books to enjoy this one, but you will have a better understanding of the Chalionese gods if you do and that may help the sense of the story as, once again, it is a theological tale as well as an adventurous one.