Grave Peril - Jim Butcher

Overview: (from BN.com)

In all his years of supernatural sleuthing, Harry Dresden has never faced anything like this: the spirit world's gone postal. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someone-or something-is purposely stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? If Harry doesn't figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself.

This is the third installment of the Harry Dresden Series, and my favorite so far. I've definitely enjoyed the first two books, but while reading this one, I was actually curious as to what is going to happen to Harry and the other characters. The characters are starting to evolve, and we are learning more about their lives. I also really enjoy the writing, in that it's a dark book, but there are some great laugh out loud moments which lighten it up a bit. I'm really looking forward to reading more in this series. 

Rating: A

Dark Gold - Christine Feehan

Synopsis:
Alexandria Houton will sacrifice anything--even her life --to protect her orphaned little brother. But when both encounter an unspeakable evil in the swirling San Francisco mists, Alex can only cry to heaven for their deliverance . . . And out of the darkness swoops Aidan Savage, a golden being more powerful, more mysterious, than any other creature of the night. The ageless Carpathian male snatches them from a hideous fate. But is Aidan Alex's salvation . . . or her sin? If she surrenders to Aidan's savage, unearthly seduction, and gives him the color, the light, the family he craves, will Alex truly save her brother? Or sacrifice more than her life?

My Thoughts:
Another strong story in the Carpathian series, this time focusing on Aidan Savage. This is the third in the series, and I'm feeling as if all the stories are all the same in the sense that they are all more character driven than plot driven, the women are turned into Carpathians and have to be shown the way to live by their mates, and there is always an internal struggle with the females of the stories to want to be with their mates. They find they don't want their lives ruled by a man, and want a sense of independence, but in the end all works out well and everybody is madly in love.
Because Dark Gold was so similar to the last two books, I found myself becoming bored with the story. My friends say that as the series goes on the characters and the plot get better. I will probably read one or two more to see, but if this is all there is, I'm probably giving up on the series. It is a really strong romance, but the stories are becoming too repetitive.

Rating: B-

Club Dead - Charlaine Harris

Synopsis:
Sookie Stackhouse is having man trouble. Her vampire boyfriend, Bill, has been distant and inattentive lately. Then he announces that he is going on a business trip, which clearly is more than it seems. After a werewolf tries to abduct Sookie at work, Bill's boss, Eric, tells her that Bill fell under the sway of his--Bill's, that is--ex, a sexy vamp named Lorena, and has been kidnapped. Eric wants Sookie's help in getting Bill back, and despite her hurt over Bill's betrayal, Sookie agrees to go to Jackson, Mississippi, to find her wayward lover. Eric has persuaded Alcide, a dashing werewolf, to get Sookie access to Josephine's, aka Club Dead, the local hangout of Jackson's supernatural element. In between dodging kidnappers, the advances of amorous Eric, and her growing feelings for Alcide, Sookie has to find out who kidnapped Bill and figure out a way to rescue him.

My Thoughts:
Yet another great addition to the Sookie Stackhouse story. She's back at it again, this time Bill has been kidnapped, and she must go search for him and his kidnappers in Alabama. Some great new characters, as well as the characters we've met before. In my opinion, this series keeps getting better with each book.

Rating: B+

Dime Store Magic - Kelley Armstrong

Synopsis:

Unlike the Wizard of Oz, the witches in this sexy supernatural romance, including the murdered mother of 23-year-old heroine Paige Winterbourne, are not evil entities inhabiting a fairy tale land. They're an ages-old race of women so frightened by the possibility of exposure and endangerment that they've allowed their magical powers to atrophy. When Paige inherits her mom's mantle as Coven leader, however, she also inherits caretaking responsibility of Savannah Levine, an extremely gifted but rebellious 13-year-old who possesses her dead mother's penchant for dark magic-and for attracting the unwanted attention of darker magical beings (including Savannah's long-lost sorcerer father). The only person Paige can depend on is the one person she doesn't want to associate with: Lucas Cortez, an endearingly nerdy lawyer/sorcerer ("It was a sad world when a witch had to rely on a work-starved sorcerer for help"). As in Armstrong's debut novel Bitten, this story's special strength lies in its seamless incorporation of the supernatural into the real world. A convincing small-town setting, clever contemporary dialogue, compelling characterizations and a touch of cool humor make the tale's occasional vivid violence palatable and its fantasy elements both gripping and believable.

My Thoughts:

A great follow up to Armstrong's last book 'Stolen'. This story felt a little different from the last two books, and that could possibly just be because it's told from a different point of view, but I was still completely drawn into the characters and the story, just like the previous books. Really the synopsis says it all :) Another great one by Kelley Armstrong!

Rating: A

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

 

Originally Reviewed June 22, 2003

Wow!! Yet another great installment of Harry Potter! Harry is now in his third year at Hogwarts and faces new adventures as well as new dangers. Ms. Rowling does a wonderful job of taking us through another year in Harry's life. I loved this book as much as the first two. I think it's beautifully written, and there are always twists and turns that take the reader by surprise! All of the Harry Potter books are complete page-turners, and the "Prisoner of Azkaban" is no exception. Bravo Ms. Rowling!

June 23 2009:

This is probably one of my favorite books in the series. No matter how many times I reread these books, they always entertain, and I never am bored!

Rating: A+