Die Trying, Lee Child

Reacher novel. And of course... our wandering ex Military Police man of mystery is wandering, minding his own business when he helps a woman out of the door of a dry cleaners because she is juggling the clothes and a cane due to a recent injury. Unfortunately, once again our tumbleweed is in the wrong place at the wrong time and she is destined to be kidnapped. Reacher, of course, gets kidnapped with her. Now that we have the story set up...

I decided that Child has an amazing knack for action scenes. When I was a pump my adrenaline action scenes multiple times in one book... I'm going to grab Reacher. He's like you're basic, I can do anything Rambo type of character. hotness. :D

I did figure that at some point that Reacher and Holly would hook up. On top of being an irresistable stud muffin that can get any girl's heart pumping, he seems to be a bit of a whore... he sleeps with all his damsels.

I thought that the story was interesting though. I've had previous experience with books who incorporate government conspiracy groups in the stories (i.e. Soul Catcher, Kava) but never one that was attempting to declare it's own independence from the U.S. with such a blatantly insane leader.

The book get's one and half thumbs up and I'll admit, I'll stay tuned for now.

Wake, Lisa McMann

I got this because they had an entire section at Borders for "if you liked Twilight...you may also like..." while there was still Twilight movie madness going on. With New Moon coming out, there is probably another similar rack there. Anyway, I found this book. the subtitle states that, "your dreams are not your own" ... plus I liked the cover.

I started this the day I finished I, Mona Lisa and finished it the next morning. Granted it's not that long, 210 pages. And it's a young adult book so the actual text is almost double spaced and larger than a regular novel as they can sometimes be. But I genuinely liked the story. I had never read anything where your heroine could partake in the dreams of others around her.

I think her romance with Cabel is cute and how they help one another with their insecurities. Though I think her friend Carrie is a bit of a twit though.

I have to admit that I plan on staying tuned with Fade. I can't wait to see what Ms. Stubbin's part in this whole thing is... in-treguing.

I, Mona Lisa, Jeanne Kalogridis

Okay, so the art historian in me couldn't resist the title. And I couldn't resist the description either. Leonardo, the Medici and a romance between the young Guiliano and Mona Lisa? I prepared myself for disappointment, it was too good to be true.

I'll admit, I put this book aside... for whatever reason. But when I picked it up again to read on the way home from vacation (a little behind, I'll admit) I decided to just start it all over because I had no clue what was going on where I was.

I was not all together disappointed, I actually liked the story. But it was a little predictable in many areas. I figured that her mother had an affair with Lorenzo's brother Guiliano. I predicted that in the city's uprising that Lisa's Guiliano did not die that he was actually in hiding and that Lisa was tricked. I began to suspect that her father was involved with Lisa's second husband and Sarvonarola but only a couple chapters before it was revealed.

Overall, if you don't mind a historical novel with a fair amount of art reference, this is a good choice. I would advise some knowledge of Italian Renaissance period art and history because I counted myself lucky for already knowing a good deal about the Medici.

Mischief in Maggody, Joan Hess

Vacation book. The Sookie book in the previous entry was one as well. I finished the first on the four hour drive to our destination, and I finished this over the course of the four days at the hotel. I think this was a great vacation book. It's got a touch of mystery, but a whole lot of spunk. It has made me love this little town of Maggody a little more and I've had to restrain myself from just flying through the whole series... a girl's got to have a little variety in her life.

I was not all that sad that Robin is murdered. But I think her kids are hilarious, Hammet is definitley my favorite of the four... Perhaps because of them terrorizing Mrs. Jim Bob :D.

Ruby Bee and Estelle never cease to amaze me. Taking in Baby and then loosing him. Then attempting to patch together a romance between Arly and David Allen. And the attempts to get Arly to see the psychic. Lovely.

More importantly is the hippies that appear to be sticking around town for a little bit of time. Well, except for Nate, who along with Celeste, is no longer with us.

I must say I am begining to think that once I have reached the conclusion of this series, I will be sad. It will probably turn into one that I pick up and read multiple times.

Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris

Another Sookie book. I read this so soon mainly because I wanted to read the book before I delve into the next season of TruBlood. I haven't bought the third book yet, but it may go on that list of books that are an option for Christmas.

I definately have to say that the character of Sookie has drifted away a bit from what she was in the first book. Initially she seemed quirky, but now Sookie has taken on a more serious tone. I liked the quirky.

I did like that there are other Werewolves and that they are mad at the vampires. I thought it was an interesting take on the ever present vamps vs. wolves theme. I am also curious as to what will happen with the Bill-Sookie-Eric thing. Could be fun, I'll stay tuned for that part of the puzzle.

Overall, not bad, a little lacking... but whatever, it's just one book in a series.

Dead Witch Walking, Kim Harrison

I find that it is so hard to find a supernatural book that does not instantly remind me of the Anita Blake series. Anita simply has just about everything there is when it comes to supernatural. However, although I saw some similarities, I did not feel as if I was reading a Laurell K. Hamilton knockoff.

I found the lack of humans intriguing, however her explanation of the race's downfall was short and left me a little confused.

The ending I found was a bit anti-climactic. I found the rat competition more interesting than the final fight scene, which was sad for me indeed.

Although, I predict that I will keep on chugging with the series since I was informed that that one was slow to start and the others improve.

Malice in Maggody, Joan Hess

This was a nice break from my vampire book stint. Although I felt a bit lost at first with the gas station scene with Robert. But Hess does a decent job of moving right along and explaining the characters.

I love the characters. And the dynamics between some of them. Ruby Bee is possibly emerging as my favorite. But I was saddened when Jaylee met her end, I was rather amused by her as well. Plover and Arly's battle of "thou shall not know my first name" was a cute little additive and makes me wonder what happens to them in future books.

As for the ending? I thought it was comical that everyone was rushing to Robin Buchanon's house where they found Carl and Robert in... disrepair... I'm not sure of the accurate wording for that one. And wrapping up the plots I give Hess a mediocre score. I figured out early on that Carl did not commit the crime he had been doing time for. Not to say he did not deserve to be in jail though. But, as for Jaylee's murderer, I did not guess that one until it was revealed. I was definately rooting for Jim Bob to be that culprit.