All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

Sookie travels to a vampire summit with the Queen of Louisiana, Eric, Pam, He Who Does Not Exist, aka Bill, and a few others. Bonus is that Quinn, he new man, is also there working.  Her talents as a telepath are needed to help Sophie Anne shore up her crumbling position after Hurricane Katrina.

Of course nothing is ever simple but Sookie has grown quite a backbone and is doing much better at protecting herself as much as possible.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon

The early 1770s in the Colonies was a time to depend on yourself and not on any powers that be.  Friends, family and neighbors were your support, and sometimes your downfall depending on how they approached a certain situation.  For the families of Fraser's Ridge life is always an adventure, asked for or not.

With political winds beginning to stir Claire and Jamie must walk a fine line. Roger and Brianna also know what is to come and at times it is difficult to realize how real things are.

Fast paced with many trials and tribulations, often laced with humor.  The only fault is to many lose ends seem to be tied up in the last few pages but that does not really affect the quality of the overall story.

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

Sookie might just be going to have a normal relationship, well as normal as she can get. At least Quinn breathes and his heart beats.  Things are looking up and then of course disaster.

A dead body, sliced neatly in half in the bushes, a message from the queen, Bill and Eric seeking her attention and a few witches for good measure.  Oh, and her cousin Hadley, she died, the second time. 

Fast paced, more info on the politics of vampires and weres and a lot more information about witches and how they operate.  Fun, fast read which leaves you ready for the next installment.

This was the third time I had read the book and it is still enjoyable.

A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

A collection of short stories featuring Sookie Stackhouse.  Fairies, weres, vamps add up to a nice read that can be taken all in a chunk or by bits and pieces.  Well written, fun and at times intriguing. Best read with a bit of knowledge of the world that Sookie lives in.

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Amelia Peabody accepts that she is not a fashionable female and will never have a romance but that is okay with her.   After the death of her father she takes her small fortune and travels to Egypt to learn more of the beginning stages of archeology.  Once there she takes in a young English woman as a companion and she and Evelyn set off on the Nile.

The first of many novels in a series, the parody of early adventure and romance books from the late 1800s and early 1900s hits just the right tone.  Fast paced, full of sarcasm and humor and the requisite adventure.

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Sam is shot, along with several others of the two natured so Sam ask Sookie to request a favor of a bartender/bouncer while he recuperates.  The new vamp, Charles, ends up staying at Sookie's house.
Jason has started turning furry at the full moon, Eric has questions and Bill is back in town and jealous.  Add in Tart and a very dominating vamp and Sookie has about more than she can handle. 
Fast paced and quite good.

Elizabeth Perers "He Shall Thunder in the Sky"

Another season in Egypt but this time David is in jail, Ramses is a spy, Nefret is trying not to let The Family know how much she knows and of course Evelyn and Emerson think they know all.

The start of WWI tears old friends apart and causes social upheaval.   The archeological quest goes on despite all of these things happening.

A fun read with a bit of darkness that will make you laugh out loud while learning a bit about the Ancient Egyptians.  Highly recommended but as always, better if read in order of events.

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Sookie and Bill have broken up.  She would like to see more of Alcide but that is complicated by Debbie Pelt.  New Years brings a resolution to not get beaten up.

Then she finds Eric running down her road with no memory of who he is and Jason disappears.  Her resolution is not looking to good.

Again, Sookie is much stronger in the books than the HBO show True Blood and I still like Eric best.

Fun read.

Skelton Key by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider, fourteen year old James Bond type, is called upon once again to investigate at Wimbledon followed by a trip to Cuba.  Filled with action, gadgets, and even a bit of very early stages romance this novel will appeal to the reader that will one day read all about 007.

Suggested for the late elementary or middle school reader but will also appeal to the adult looking for a light read.

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Ever's family is killed in a car crash that changes her life.  The usual, almost being killed, losing parents and sister, going to live with an aunt hundreds of miles away, hearing peoples thoughts and knowing things will happen before they do, normal stuff.  Despite the sarcasm there this is a nicely fleshed out book.  Although she makes some stupid decisions she also makes some good ones so it gets high marks on that front. 

The first in a series that I think I will enjoy reading.

Witchlight by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Winter Musgrave knows something is wrong but has no idea how she got to where she is or why she is there. The dead animals, open doors, and the fear of outside just add to the stress of the mystery.  She finally ventures out and gets help from Truth Jourdemayne and learns more about her past than expected but there are still many blank spots.

Her journey to sort out her past also takes her on a journey to find herself and her strength. 

Witchlight follows the mystical theme often seen in books of the late 80s early 90s which is refreshing change from many current books.  Read and enjoy.

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

1771 Carolina mountains is a lovely place to be. 1771 Carolina mountains is a harsh place to live.  The Fraser clan is carving out a living and a life with joy and tragedy mixed in in equal parts.

To tell more may give away to much of the story but read it and immerse yourself into the life of pioneers with a partial knowledge of what is to come.  Even people isolated from others are affected by the politics of the people in power, something we should never forget.

FYI Roger is still my favorite.

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Sookie is finding Bill distant, then he leaves on a mysterious trip.  Naturally that is just the start of a lot more drama.  Eric tries to make a move, Bubba is a major player, thank you, thank you very much, and Alcide enters her life. 

Sookie has started to look out for herself and tries not to depend on others to take care of her. Best of all she is a lot stronger in how she lets others treat her. 

Funny and fast paced.

Dead in Dalls by Charlaine Harris

Sookie is sent to Dallas by Eric to investigate a missing vampire.  Of course things do not go well.  Upon arriving back in Bon Temps she helps the Belfleurs, again, a bit more excitement than you would want on a nice evening out with associates.
Eric is "Da Man", speaks sarcasm with ease, and has a wonderful vibe to him.  Sookie is much smarter than in True Blood and Bill still irritates, pretty much like people you know. :)
A great escape book that is funny more often than not with just enough danger to make it all move right along.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Read this a long time ago then recently watched True Blood.  Rereads can be very revealing.  I like Sookie better in the books, she is not stupid there like in the series.  Being a telepath sounds neat until you think of all the weird and random stuff you think of all day long.  If nothing else it makes you think about thinking. :)

Bill Compton, vampire, still gets on my nerves.  Eric Northman is still the man and Jason Stackhouse remains stupid. 

The idea of calm and quiet is appealing so I can see why Sookie likes Bill but the idea of having a relationship with someone that wants to feed off of you is just beyond my comprehension.

Overall it is a fun, light read with enough action and drama to move things right along.  There are also aspects that will make you think and reflect upon human behaviors and how people react to ones that are different from them.

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen

Take a reptile loving man with problems caused from a concussion due to a falling iguana, money problems, a savvy teen that is missing a thumb from a gator bite and reality television in the Everglades and you have a recipe for adventure.

As with most of Hiaasen's novels there is a moral to the story, shady characters, lots of humor and a fast pace that leaves you wanting more.  I highly recommend any of his writings but this was one of my favorites.

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

Claire has gone back to Jamie, two hundred years back in fact. As with all things Jamie Fraser nothing is simple and as with all things Claire she ends up in the middle of it all without even trying.

Back in the future that Claire has left is Brianna, who is still trying to absorb that she is not biologically Frank Randall's daughter but the daughter of a man that lived two hundred years earlier.  Thankfully she has Roger Wakefield to lean on as needed but being much like her Da she just goes and does herself.

Following Brianna into the past is Roger who learns a lot more about history than expected, especially the hardship portion.  Roger is my favorite character just so you know. ;)

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

Twenty years earlier Claire Fraser left Jamie on a hillside to return to her time as he prepared to die at Culloden.  She returned to her life as Claire Randall, wife of Frank, to bear the child of Jamie in safety.

Frank has died and Claire takes Brianna to Scotland where Claire finds that Jamie did not die as planned in the Rising.  Another time of great decision for Claire and now it is not leaving her husband but her beloved daughter who favors her sire so very much.

More is learned about Gellis Duncan and a few more clues are given as to how the stones work.

Fans of the series will be well pleased with how the story progresses.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Claire and Jamie continue to move forward with their desperate plan to avert the Rising.  Having knowledge of events to come though does not mean that life is easier, if anything it makes decisions more difficult.

If more is reported to much is given away so you must read it for your self.  Well written, fast paced, intriguing and one that you will want to read more than once, the true test of an excellent novel.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I first read this book when it was first published and loved it, going on to read the entire series as each book was published. 

Coming back to it twenty years later it is still a very good story.  A bit of paradox which is handled very well, lots of adventure, danger, having to do what must be done to survive, and a surprising turn from a relationship that does not begin in the best of circumstances. 

Time travel is always interesting and this is one of the better ones I have ever read.

Divide and Conquer by Carrie Ryan - Infinity Ring 2

Dak, Sera, and Riq land in France, while it is under attack by Vikings, talk about getting your blood pumping! 
As you read more information is given about the SQ, Time Wardens, and Historyans and Riq begins to give some insight into his character
Another fast paced, fun read.

A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner - Infinity Ring #1

Time travel is always interesting and has been done many times but what makes this interesting is the major events of history that are different.  Of course you have to have three very different yet brilliant youth to save the world, that is a rule of YA fiction. 
A fun, light, read that makes you stop and review your history on more than one occasion.  This is the first in a multi-book series that will appeal to many readers.  The authors vary and there is a game to play so it should be a series that hooks a lot of people.

The Spriitglass Charade by Colleen Gleason

Stoker and Holmes are working together again and things are moving right along.  A young lady is becoming involved in the séance scene, trying to communicate with her dead mother to help her find her brother.  What seems at first a simple solution of course has to become much more involved.

Mina and Evaline's characters become richer in this second adventure, and much more likeable.  The twist on two famous families from literature is very interesting and I eagerly await the next installment,

The Harlequin by Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake Vampire Hunter is not hunting vampires, they all seem to be wanting to have her as a consort for the power that she gives to her relationships.  One emergency after another with weres, vampires, and assorted bad guys running all around. 

Her relationship with Richard is bad, then good, then seemingly over. Jean Claude still makes her flutter and the collection of weres expands.

I keep giving this series a try as the first few books I really liked but the sex theme is getting old.

No True Way -Mercedes Lackey

A collection of short stories set in Valdemar by a variety of authors.  The final installment is penned by Mercedes Lackey.

Several stories have a link to weaving but the theme of poor, put upon main character becomes tiring after three short stories.  There are a couple of bright spots but overall lacks the depth of previous collections.

On the plus side short stories are nice because it gives that little touch of magic that can brighten the day.

Standup Guy by Stuart Woods

Stone Barrington becomes involved in the strangest things. From a major political move supporter to giving "hypothetical" situation advice on how to launder money from a long ago robbery.  For such a sharp lawyer though he certainly makes some foolish decisions in her personal life. 

Quick paced, well written, just not my favorite novel by Mr. Woods.

The City of Death by Sarwat Chadda

Go a bit deeper than Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom into the lore of India.  The goddess Kali is all about death and Ash Mistry, through a minor accident, is her tool of death.  Just being in the eighth grade makes that last bit a hard pill to swallow.

Follow Ash through many lands as he meets demons, magicians, and rashaka of many kinds.

At time dark and a bit disturbing The City of Death has Ash really evaluating his motivation and actions, and the decisions are not easy at any point.  A good read, the second in a series.

The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason

Meet Mina Holmes, niece of Sherlock Holmes, and Evalin Stoker, sister of Bram.  The setting is an alternative London although the time is correct.  Now add in a secret cult that is trying to awaken an Egyptian goddess and you have a face paced mystery.

Using the logical explanations of Holmes and knowledge of things best not spoken of with powers that Stoker possess makes for a fast paced steam punk type novel.  The first in a series will leave you wanting more.