The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan

Year Published: 2000

My Rating: 5 stars

256 pages

Weight: 6.4 ounces = 0.4

This is the second book in the Cirque Du Freak series..(Young Adult Fiction)

It's the story of Darren the half-vampire and assitant to his mentor Mr. Crepsley (the vampire) to travel all around, then they decide to join the Cirque Du Freak.

Darren needed friendship and found it with Evra, then while the Cirque is resting he meets a boy named Sam Grest who becomes a very dear friend to Darren.. and a nature guy named RV.

Some troubles happen in the Cirque and Darren is devastated..

A very nice series, I already started the third book..

A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan

Year Published: 2001

My Rating: 5 stars

272 pages

Weight: 9.4 ounces = 0.5875 lb.

This is the first book in the Cirque Du Freak series. It is a young adult fiction.

I have heard quite a bit about this series but was kind of skeptic to start it, I was imagining something like a horror movie!

But was I wrong!!

It's a very fast read and so enjoyable, I couldn't imagine how it flew.. It's about this boy called Darren Shan (the author) who is telling his story.. his TRUE story that is..
Darren is a kid in school with a lot of friends but the closest are 3 and from those three is his best friend Steve.

One day they find a flyer about a circus for freaks and are very interested in going, they pool their money and get ticket..
The show was great but their problems start after the show.. very exciting and fun to read..

Very recommended series for vampire lovers like me :)

Stalked by Brian Freeman

Year Published: 2007

My Rating: 5 stars

432 pages

Weight: 7 ounces = 0.4375 lb.

(Serial Killer Thriller)

This is a first for me by this author and surely it will not be the last.. I will hunt his other books as soon as I can.

Maggie is a cop and a partner to Stride for over 10 years, when her husband Eric turns out murdered in her house with her own gun with her in the house with him, all the evidence points at her.Stride is at the scene first, and although he thinks she might be innocent, he knows she is hiding something from him..Then he discovers that it's more than just simple domestic secrets that Maggie and some others are hiding.Then other bodies start to surface and other crimes reveal themselves.. Filled with murder, deceit, blackmail and betrayal what a book!!!

It is a fast action packed read, with a lot of surprises, just when you thought you solved the crime something turns up!

I loved it and would highly recommend it to any mystery/crime reader and will be looking for more of Freeman's books!

Acting Like Family by J.J. Massa

Year Published: 2005

My Rating: 2 stars

164 pages

Weight: 6.4 ounces = 0.4 lb.

This book is the first in the Montgomery Family Legacies, it was recommended to me by my blogger friend Erotic Horizon.

I really had trouble remembering the name of the book, I keep thinking it's All in the Family, no it's Always a Family.. then I go back to look at the book to remember the name.. don't know why?!

It's the story of actor Riker Montgomery who happens to have trouble keeping young fans out of his bed, till one night he finds Bet there sleeping.. Right away he knows she is the one and they live a night of bliss..

In the morning Bet is afraid he might think her a loose woman, she disappears, only to realize her mistake when she realizes her love for him. So she tries to contact him and fails, then she discovers she is pregnant so she tries again, but his lawyer tells he that Riker wants nothing to do with her and her baby!!

Then after she delivers the action starts, and she is chased around the country by people who want her and her offspring!! Will she find Riker and will he save her? Or will he just turn his back on his family?

True that it was a reasonably short book and reads fast but so is the details.. The main idea is good but the writing is just not my style.. The plot was also good but really needs some more developing, the information is given in bits and pieces, the way she accepted that Riker is a werewolf was actually no reaction at all.. I did like the sibling joking between Riker and Lakon.. it should have been more.. I guess if the same story was extended another 100 pages it would have worked better for me..

As for the rest of the series, I might and I might not continue.. It really depends on my mood, but for now I'm going to go read something quite different.. Although I do want to know what happens with Lakon, he was really cute!!

It was supposed to be erotic and I don't mind that but it was not my kind of erotic it was more on the mild side :)

Other points of view about this book :)

Erotic Horizon

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

Year Published: 2006

My Rating: 4 stars

352 pages

Weight: 13.6 ounces = 0.85 lb

This is the 6th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series (Southern Vampires).

It starts with Quinn paying a visit to Sookie in her house for two reasons.. the first is to ask her to go out with him and the second to inform her of the Queen's wish that she goes to the vampire conference with her.. Then she is requested to go to New Orleans to close down her former cousin Hadley's apartment who has been murdered weeks before by a fellow vampire..

She is attacked twice, both times with Quinn with her!! Making her wonder who the target for the attack is.. her or Quinn or both? Or is Quinn behind these attacks?!A lot of action and bloodshed occurs..

I liked this book although I didn't like Quinn in the beginning then I kinda got used to him.. he seems sweet.. or is he?!

The tiger thing started to appeal to me.. creepy eh..?!

Bill turns out an even worse JERK than he was before.. if that is even possible!! You just want to light him up for hurting Sookie!

A lot of action happens, with some surprises here and there ..

I'll be starting the 7th book very very soon :)

BTW, I really like this cover of the book, it describes my imagination for the story and I just adore the tiger :)

A favorite quote from the book..
Quinn was drying himself off, and he turned around to show me his muscular derriere. "Fur-free," he said. "Can I share the bed?"

These are my reviews for the books I read from this series in order:
1. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
2. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
3. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
4. Dead To The World By Charlaine Harris
5. Dead As A Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Other Reviews .. :)
Alaine at Alaine's Reading Blog


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Dead As A Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Year Published: 2005

My Rating: 4 stars

320 pages

Weight: 4 ounces = 0.25 lb.

This is the 5th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series (Southern Vampires).

It's the full moon and Jason joins the shifters in Hotshot, then the shootings start!!

A girl shifter is shot dead, then Calvin Norris, the Sam! So it seems that a serial killer is on the loose and looking for shifters in specific.

The shifters in Hotshot suspect Jason, and Sookie is afraid for his life..

Now Merlotte's has no bouncer with Sam being injured so he asks Sookie to ask for Eric's help as a favor, so Eric sends them a vampire bouncer/bartender.

Then Sookie's life becomes endangered and trouble seems to look for her in every corner, as usual!

The were's have an important ceromony that Sookie is asked to attend and is dragged in to were politics unintentionally!

Then she meets a new kind of supe that intrigues her like no other!

A lot of action and events take place in this book, although it seems that every supe that lays eyes on Sookie goes nuts over her, she gets kissed by most of them too!

I mostly liked this book like I liked the whole series, Sookie has become really familiar to me, and she kinda grew on me.. I got addicted.. I already started book 6.. although this is not my favorite book of the series it has it's good moments.. what I didn't like was Quinn.. I mean the way he looks (I mean the way he is described), over 6 feet tall, bare chested bald guy.. come on I can't shake the vision of a genie or Mr. Clean from my head.. he just needs a gold earring!! YUCK!

I don't know why he shaves everyday and sometimes twice a day!! Does that mean he is not really bald just shaving his head!! I hope so.. I mean this is fiction why not make guys perfect :)

This is what ended me giving the book 4 stars instead of 5..

The 6th books starts with Quinn.. God help me!

A quote I liked by Eric.. it just made me laugh..

"Sookie, you have to understand that for hundreds, thousands, of years we have considered ourselves better than humans, separate from humans.” He thought for a second. “Very much in the same relationship to humans as humans have to, say, cows. Edible like cows, but cute, too.”

These are my reviews for the books I read from this series in order:
1. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
2. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
3. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
4. Dead To The World By Charlaine Harris

Other Reviews ..
Alaine @ Queen Of Happy Endings

A Girl's Guide to Vampires by Katie MacAlister

Year Published: 2003

My Rating: 5 stars

384 pages

Weight: 7 ounces = 0.4375 lb.

This is the first book in the Dark Ones series.

Joy Randall's Top 5 Tips for Vampire Hunters:

1. Location, location, location. Remember, if you wouldn't be there, neither would a bloodsucker.
2. Trust your eyes. You know the handsome, annoyingly arrogant, self-assured man in the shadows with long hair and a cleft in his chin? He's your vampire.
3. No matter how tempting it might be, do not "accidentally" acquire a paper cut and suggest YOUR VAMPIRE kiss your finger to make it better.
4. From here on out, play it cool. Don't offer to accompany your prince of the night on the talk show circuit and whatever you do, don't offer him your heart.
5. And most of all, remember?being a vampire is nothing to laugh about.

Joy and Roxy and two American best friends, planning on going on a dream vacation to Europe together and hoping to find their soul mates on the way.

Before leaving for the trip they meet up with the witch Miranda to ask for the help of the goddess to find their soul mates.. Skeptic as she is Joy doesn't believe any of what Minanda has to say about finding a Dark One in her path that could be her soul mate.. since she does not believe in vampires as Roxy does..

So of they go to the Czech Republic, where they find the castle of their favorite Moravian Vampire series author CJ Dante next to the hotel they are staying in and plan to meet with him. Meanwhile a vampire fair is to start and they get to meet some of the fair people including Raphael the head of security, Christian who becomes a close friend, Arialle, Tanya, Dominic and Milos.

Then the visions start, so joy tries to blame them on the beer but they become more vivid and disturbing. Not knowing who is sending her these images and starting to believe there really might be a Dark One doing this to her, she starts investigating. Could it be the sexy gorgeous Raphael or the cool smooth Christian or fang face Dominic?

While doing so, a murder occurs on the fair grounds and Joy and the love of her life are on the list of prime suspects. But she knows who the murderer is so she is determined to prove to the police who he is and prove her lover innocent!

Although I read this book out of order since I read the second book in the series first I kinda knew who would be with who in the end, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

The friendship between Joy and Roxy is so adorable and lovable! The love scenes are HOT! The guys are GORGEOUS! I LOVED it!!

I will be continueing in this series very soon!

Sex And The Single Vampire by Katie MacAlister

Year Published: 2004

My Rating: 5 stars

371 pages

Weight: 4 ounces = 0.25 lb.

This is the second book of the Dark Ones series. Actually I didn't realize that until after I finished it and was considering picking up the next in the series that I realized that I have started the series from book 2 and that I did not read book 1. I hate doing this but it was my fault, so now I HAVE to read book 1, I just have to!

Alegra Telford is a summoner from the USA travelling to London since there are a lot of ghosts and paranormal activity there and she has not been successful so far. Although she should be summoning ghosts she has not summoned anything yet and her boss is getting finicky and has already threatened her that if she doesn't change that she would be jobless.

Then she gets the hang of it and starts summoning ghosts here and there.

She meets with the famous CJ Dante, who claims that she is his Beloved, having trust issues of her own she panicks and tries to change his mind.

But love is something that can not be denied and they must unite for them to defeat a very mean demon or else get destroyed.

Will Alegra put her past behind her and trust Christian, or will she turn her back and go back to the USA?

I loved this book, it was fun, fast and so entertaining. I didn't even realize that I was reading the second book in the series since I didn't feel left out. The characters were funny and cute, spacially Christian friends Joy and Roxy they are such a pair you could laugh out loud at there bickering.

The only thing that I didn't really like was the name of the book.. It was the least attracting thing for me and what made me put off reading it for so long.. But now that I read it I don't mind it anymore :)

Now I'll go start the series proper and read the first book..

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

Year Published: 1995

My Rating: 5 stars

336 pages

Weight: 14.1 ounces = 0.88125 lb.

I only picked this book up because it was tagged on Shelfari as a music book and the monthly tag for the (Play Book Tag) group for January is music, so I thought I could at least read one music related book!

I started this book planning on reading a couple of pages and then declaring that it's a boring WTF book and throw it aside.. I had every intention to HATE this book, I don't know why!! .. but once I started it I just couldn't put it down!!

It's the story of Rob, a thirty-ish record store owner who was just dumped by his girlfriend Laura.. so he starts the book by listing the five top breakup in his life (his ex-girlfriend is not in those five) !!

He is a very believable guy, flawed, self centered and hopeless! Not to mention a bit scared :)

You just hate to love him but you end up adoring him ;)

The book goes like he is really talking to you, like he is a true down to earth guy who is spilling his guts! It also talks about compilation tapes that were very famous in the 80's which I guess the new generation does not really understand :) this is before the cd's and dvd's!

Boy did I love those tapes !!!

He loves to make top five lists of almost everything imaginable, from best movies, to his parents best movies, to best records, to best club records, just name it!

For those who are into music or even are in the sidelines but were there in the 80's (like me), I truly recommend this fun read!

This book has been done into a movie by the same name starring John Cusack, I'm planning on checking it out the first chance I get. I wonder if it's as good as the book though!

Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris

Year Pulished: 1996

My Rating: 5 stars

214 pages

Weight: 4 ounces = 0.25 lb.

(Cozy Mystery)

This is the first book in the Lily Bard Mysteries series.

Lily Bard is a very efficient cleaning lady living in Shakespeare. When her landlord is murdered she becomes a prime suspect because of her past.

So she tries to prove her innocence by figuring out who the true killer is.

This is a first for me in this series - well since it's the first book - but I found that Lily is a very complex and interesting character who I enjoyed reading about! I enjoyed how she goes about to figuring clues and being very perceptive.

A fast and fun read that will not disappoint! I will be continueing this series which I think totals 5 books :)

Dead To The World By Charlaine Harris

Year Published: 2004

My Rating: 5 stars

320 pages

Weight: 5.6 ounces = 0.35 lb.

This is the forth book of the Southern Vampires series featuring Sookie Stackhouse.

It seems this series just gets better and better, If it was possible to give more than 5 stars i would have done so.
Although I loved all the books in this series till now this is by far the best!

It starts with Sookie going back home from work at night when she finds a naked man running on the side of the road (well he is wearing Jeans but that's all), when whe stops to try to help him she is surprised to find that it is the vampire Eric!
It turns out he has no idea who he is, or what he is doing there.. so she takes hime home..
He is so much different when he is not himself, if you thought he was hot before he is even hotter now!! *fanning myself*
Then Jason goes missing..
A lot of events happen with some action thrown in..

Very highly recommended series :)

These are my reviews for the books I read from this series in order:
1. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
2. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
3. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Others points of view about this book.. :)
Alaine @ Alaine's Reading Blog
Kara @ World According to Books
Beth F @ Beth Fish Reads
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Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson

Who Moved My Cheese?
An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Year Published: 1998

My Rating: 5 stars

96 pages

Weight: 8 ounces = 0.5 lb.

This book is about the story of 2 mice "Sniff" and "Scurry", and two small people "Hem" and "Haw".

They are living in a maze and there main goal is to find "cheese". In the beginning they find it in a Cheese Station and are happy to go there everyday to eat cheese to their hearts content. Then cheese starts to become less and less everyday.

The mice realizing the change, start looking for new places with cheese outside this station, while the "people" not realizing or actually recognizing any change stay where they are until there is absolutly NO cheese.

First they wait for the cheese to come back, then one decides it's time to move on and look for something new..

It's a really nice story with cute characters, that you can apply to your daily life, wheather it's a job, a relationship, a business or anything else. You just need to realize when cheange will happen -because it will- and act before it's too late.

I recommend this book, it's a short story that has so much meaning in it.

Some quotes form the book..

"When you change what you believe, you change what you do."

"Noticing small changes early helps you adapt to the bigger changes that are to come"

"Keep life simple, don't overanalyze or overcomplicate things"

"You should go out of your comfort zone to explore the world and all it's possibilities"

"Time to leave this cheese station and find some new cheese"

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Year Published: 1987

My Rating: 3 stars

288 pages

Weight: 7.2 ounces = 0.45 lb.

This is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel based on the true story of the woman slave named Margaret Garner.

In the novel "Sethe" who after escaping from the plantation "Sweet Home" that abused her, ended up murdering her baby daughter out of love!
Then after years, this daughter comes back as a presence in the house where Sethe lives. After being run out of the house by "Paul D" comes back in person!

I liked the story, but the telling of it bothered me. Going back and forth from past to present, from character to character just kept confusing me.
And some things were just referenced to, so you should assume what it means, I hate that.. I prefer things to be spelled out for me!

I'm planning on seeing the movie after reading this book, the story is strong but the authors style is not to my taste so I guess I will avoid this author from now on!

Other points of view about this book:

Things Mean A Lot
Rhinoa's Ramblings
Aquatique
The Inside Cover
a young lady's book lounge
Rebecca @ Lost in Books
Bluestocking @ The Bluestocking Guide

Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx

Published: 1997

Pages: 64

My rating: 4 stars

Weight: 5.6 ounces = 0.35 lb

I saw the movie in 2007 and enjoyed it so I thought I'll give the book a try!

Two cowboys (Jack and Ennis) take a job watching and tending sheep on Brokeback Mountain one summer in the the early 1960s, a friendship buds and turns into love. Then each goes on back to their own life marrying and having kids, but the love they once shared keeps drawing them to each other for the next 20 years!

I liked this short story, not much different than the movie for a change, talking about a taboo topic, specially in those days. For those who are offended by m/m relationships I would not recommend this book.

Although I don't agree with the concept of the story I liked it, and I am definitely straight!!

To read something interesting about writing this book check here ..

Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Published: 2004

Pages: 128

My rating: 2 stars

Weight: 3.5 ounces = 0.21875 lb.

"I changed the color of her eyes according to my state of mind: the color of water when she woke, the color of syrup when she laughed, the color of light when she was annoyed"

"Age isn't how old you are but how old you feel"

"We already are old. What happens is that you don't feel it on the inside, but from the outside everybody can see it"

A nighty-year-old journalist decides to have an adolscent virgin for his birthday, he arranges it with the madam that used to always provide him with what he need. Then a love story starts.

I really thought I would like this book, but unfortunatly the way the conversations are written just got me confused and put off. It's mostly he said/she said! As for the story, too fairy tale for my sake. I mean it took him 90 years to fall in love with someone and when he did he loved a sleeping 14 year old!! Utterly meaningless!

I gave it 2 stars because of some lines I quoted above that I liked. Overall I would not recommend this book!

Other points of view about this book :)

Sandra at Fresh Ink Books

Bethany at B&b

Things Mean A lot

Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

My first book of the year 2009 !!

Published: 1952

Weight: 14.4 ounces = 0.9 lb.

Pages: 192 pages

4 stars

Wilbur the pig befriends Charlotte the spider, helping him and educating him, she then tries to save his life.
It was a fun fast read, true it's childrens book but still it was fascinating. I enjoyed the conversations between Wilbur and Charlotte the most.

A really nice book to read specially with your kids :)

Other points of view about this book:
Things Mean A Lot
Nothing of Importance
Becky's Book Reviews
Dog Ear Diary