July #3 - THE TURNING

Title: The Turning

Author: Jennifer Armintrout

Publisher: Mira

Copyright: 2006

ISBN: 0-7783-2298-X

Series or stand-alone: #1

Setting: Grand Rapids, MI
1st Sentence:

I read a poll in the newspaper once that said the number-one fear of Americans aged eighteen to sixty-five is public speaking.

Comments:

This is the first book in a four-book series featuring Dr. Carrie Ames who is attacked in the hospital and turned into a vampire. She meets Nathan and then her sire who she is blood tied to and he's like one of the most evil vampires on Earth. I loved this book and passed it on to several friends...and then there was book 2. You'll see shortly.

July #2 - LOTTERY

Title: Lottery

Author: Patricia Wood

Publisher: GP Putnam's Sons

Copyright: 2007

ISBN: 978-0-399-15449-2

Series or stand-alone: Stand-alone

Setting: Everett, WA

1st Sentence:

Prologue
My name is Perry L. Crandall and I am not retarded.

Comments:

Perry's gram taught him everything he needed to survive - how to write things down, how to play the lottery and who to trust. Then she dies, leaving him alone at 31 and he wins the state lottery of 12 million dollars and finds out he has more family than he knows what to do with. The book is about trust, loyalty and what makes us capable. I loved this story; it was one of my top 5 favorites this year. Perry is a wonderful character and it's kind of like reading Forrest Gump - a classic.

July #1 - WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

Title: Where are you now?

Author: Mary Higgins Clark

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Copyright: 2008

ISBN: 978-1-4165-6638-0

Series or stand-alone: Stand-alone

Setting: Manhattan, NY

1st Sentence:

It is exactly midnight, which means Mother's Day has just begun.

Comments:

Ten years ago, Carolyn's brother, Mack, disappeared without a trace. Every year since, he calls his mother on Mother's Day. Since his disappearance, women have been disappearing. And one goes missing this year, just after his call. Carolyn will do everything in her power to find her brother and clear his name. This was typical Mary Higgins Clark material. I found the plot predictable, the characters okay although at times shallow. It was an easy read but nothing that made me shout, "hallelujah!"

June #6 - FEARLESS FOURTEEN

Title: Fearless Fourteen

Author: Janet Evanovich

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Copyright: 2008

ISBN: 978-0-312-349-51-6

Series or stand-alone: #14

Setting: The Burg - Trenton, NJ

1st Sentence:

In my mind, my kitchen is filled with crackers and cheese, roast chicken leftovers, farm fresh eggs, and coffee beans ready to grind.

Comments:

Stephanie gets wrangled into playing bodyguard to Brenda, an aging rockstar. She also gets roped into playing babysitter to Zook - the son of a skip who bears an eerie resemblance to Joe Morelli. The usual antics ensue. This book didn't have as much Ranger in it as I'd have liked but maybe 15. Hey, I ain't too proud to beg and I'll read these 'til there are no more so...

June #5 - GOOD GHOULS DO

Title: Good girls ghouls do

Author: Julie Kenner

Publisher: Penguin Group

Copyright: 2007

ISBN: 978-0-425-21703-0

Series or stand-alone: #2

Setting: Austin, TX- Waterloo High

1st Sentence:

Prologue
In case you're wondering, there are at least one or two things worse than getting turned into a vampire against your will.

Comments:

This book is a continuation of Beth's search for a cure and the pressures of being a teenaged vampire. I will read this series as each book comes out; the books are fast and enjoyable. I liked the first book better than the second but that could have been my frame of mind at the time.

June #4 - TEMPTING EVIL

Title: Tempting evil

Author: Allison Brennan

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Copyright: 2008

ISBN: 978-0-345-50272-8

Series or stand-alone: #2 in Prison Break trilogy

Setting: Centennial Valley, MT

1st Sentence:

Prologue
Eighteen months ago
"I should have killed the bitch when I had the chance."

Comments:

Two escapees make their way toward Joanna's - one is obsessed with her, the other is just crazy. Brennan is another favorite author of mine. I worry about the day I can no longer keep up with all of these great authors! How will I ever choose?

June #3 - FEAST OF FOOLS

Title: Feast of fools

Author: Rachel Caine

Publisher: Nal Jam

Copyright: 2008

ISBN: 978-0-451-22463-7

Series or stand-alone: #4

Setting: Morganville, TX

1st Sentence:

It was hard to imagine how Claire's day - even by Morganville standards - could get any worse...and then the vampires holding her hostage wanted breakfast.

Comments:

Amelie's father, Bishop, comes back to Morganville with revenge on his mind. A party is held in his honor with each vampire bringing a human gift, but when some vampires rebel, all hell breaks loose. This is a good installment in this series and one of my favorite series to read.

June #2 - UNDEAD AND UNEASY

Title: Undead and uneasy

Author: Mary Janice Davidson

Publisher: Jove

Copyright: 2007

ISBN: 978-0-515-14504-5

Series or stand-alone: #6

Setting: St. Paul, MN

1st Sentence:

Prologue
Once, there was a beautiful queen who was as terrible on the inside as she was glorious on the outside.

Comments:

Betsy is planning her wedding to Sinclair, when out of frustration she wishes every would leave her alone. And they do. But when people are leaving her left and right, who's gonna watch her brother? And who's gonna come to her wedding? If there is one...

Typical Betsy Taylor fare - you don't have to be a rocket scientist to read it but then I'm not sure a rocket scientist would enjoy it! I enjoy them all!

June #1- FIRST DROP

Title: First Drop

Author: Zoe Sharp

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Copyright: 2004

ISBN: 978-0-312-93704-1

Series or stand-alone: #1

Setting: Miami, FL and Daytona Beach, FL

1st Sentence:

For the third time that morning I shut my eyes tight in the absolute and certain knowledge that I was just about to die.

Comments:

Charlie is hired to protect Trey - but it appears there are several people who want them dead. Charlie will do whatever she must to protect him.
This book was first published in the UK and the author is British which caused the only problem I had with this book. There are many British terms throughout the book, and I didn't mind having them come from Charlie, because she is British, but it was off-putting to hear an American teenage boy from Florida using them in casual conversation. The book, however, was great on suspense and kept me reading through to the end. I'll be looking for follow-ups, for sure.

May #7 - BONEYARD

Title: Boneyard

Author: Michelle Gagnon

Publisher: Mira

Copyright: 2008

ISBN: 978-0-7783-2539-0

Series or stand-alone: ARC from author; #2

Setting: The Berkshires

1st Sentence:

Prologue
Cougar flipped through the trail log.

Comments:

A boneyard is unearthed with the bones of several unsubs. All DNA results point towards a certain group of people. But then, some of the kills are different from some of the others. Are there two killers loose in the woods? A great story, strong in suspense. Michelle has become one of my must-read authors and I was excited to get my hands on this before it was actually published.