Blue Moon Rising - Simon R Green

Blue Moon Rising by Simon R Green

BLURB:

In those days, there were heroes and villians, and darkness walked the earth. There were dragons to be slain, captured princesses to be saved, and mighty deeds to be accomplished by knights in shining armor. Many tales are told of that time, tales of steadfast bravery and derring-do...

This is not one of them.

Rupert didn't especially want to be a prince. And he certainly never asked to be the second son of a royal line that really didn't need a spare. After all, a kingdom suffering from crippling financial loss couldn't very well afford to have different factions fighting over who was more worthy to rule as the next king. So Rupert was sent out ot slay a dragon and prove himself - a quest straight out of legend.

But Rupert also discovered the kinds of things legends tend to leave out, as well as the usual demons and goblins, a dreaded Night Witch... and even worse terrors hidden in the shadows of Darkwood.

Rupert did find a fiery dragon-and a beautiful princess to rescue too. But the dragon turned out to be a better friend than anyone back at the castle. And with the evil of Darkwood suddenly spreading its roots... and with the blue moon rising and the Wild Magic along with it, Rupert needed all the friends he could get...

Drinking Midnight Wine - Simon R Green

Drinking Midnight Wine by Simon R Green

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Toby Dexter is a slave to his own daily grind - nine to five at the local bookstore. One evening he gets a reprieve in the form of a beautiful woman riding the same train. A woman he follows through a rainstorm. A woman who opens a door in the wall that wasn't there a moment before...
So he follows her through the door, where a serpent awake and an angel falls...
Toby has entered Mysterie...

The Man With the Golden Torc - Simon R. Green

The Man With the Golden Torc by Simon R. Green
Book 1 of the Secret History series

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The name's Bond. Shaman Bond.

Actually, that's just my cover. I'm Eddie Drood. But when your job includes a license to kick supernatural arse on a regular basis, you find your laughs where you can.

For centuries, my family has been the secret guardian of humanity, all that stands between all of you and all of the really nasty things that go bump in the night. As a Drood field agent I wore the golden torc, killed monsters, and I protected the world. I loved my job.

Right up to the point when my own family declared me rogue for no reason, and I was forced to go on the run. Now the only people who can help me prove my innocence are the people I used to consider my enemies.

I'm Shaman Bond, very secret agent. And I'm going to prove to everyone that no one does it better than me.

Over Her Dead Body - E.C. Sheedy

Over Her Dead Body by E.C. Sheedy

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Some secrets... are worth killing for... Again and again...

Everyone knows that Mary Weaver is a saint. All her life she's been the guiding force behind Mayday House, a refuge for women in need. But on this dark night, she is haunted by memories from another time. Lies. Betrayals. Murder. Evil. She will not die without confessing her sins, without telling the truth. She will make three last phone calls, and if she awakens sleeping dragons, so be it...

Gus Hammond's job is simple. Now that the old lady Weaver is dead, he is to go to Erinville, Washington, and shut down her dilapidated old mission. But he hadn't counted on Keeley Farrell - he hadn't counted on wanting her. Born and raised at Mayday House, Keeley has come back to continue Mary's work and discover truths about her own life - truths that lie buried somewhere in the jumble of files deep inside Mayday House...

Terrible things have happened at Mayday House. Sins that some want buried forever... sins that someone would kill to hide. Now, Gus has a new reason to get Keeley free of Mayday House. For a dying woman's last act has ignited a deadly fuse, one that leads back to this very house and Keeley herself... a woman he can't lose.

Improper English - Katie MacAlister

Improper English by Katie MacAlister

BLURB:

London on Three Kisses a Day

Brandishing a loaf of French bread at a dishy detective wasn't how Alexandra Freemar had envisioned starting her stay in London. But the sassy American wasn't about to put up with any flak from the uptight - albeit gorgeous - Scotland Yard inspector who accused her of breaking and entering. She didn't have time to deal with this suspicious upstairs neighbour. She had two months to write the perfect romance novel - two months to prove that she could succeed as an author.

Luckily, reserved Englishmen were not her cup of tea. Yet, one kiss told her Alexander Black might not be quite as proper as she'd thought. In fact, his lips could be classified as downright wicked, leaving Alix to wonder how far his talents extended. There was only one snag: The serious-minded gentleman wasn't interested in a mere summer fling. And while as a writer Alix knew every imaginable euphemism for the male member, as a woman she soon realized she had a lot to learn about love.

MY Version:
To be written later. in short - woman was bloody annoying and insecure, but pulls herself together in the end.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister - Gregory Maguire

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

BLURB:
We all know the story of the beautiful girl, Cinderella, made to work among the ashes, but what if the fairy tale told only half the story? What fate befell her ugly stepsisters... and what curses accompanied Cinderella's looks?
Set against the backdrop of seveteenth-century Holland, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is Gregory Maguire's stunning retelling of the classic fairy tale - and a novel of beauty, betrayal, illusion and understanding in its own right.


MY VERSION:
The story starts slow but gradually picks up towards the middle. Cinderella in this book is actually named Clara van de Meer, daughter of a Dutch merchant. Her mother has kept her educated in fine manners and protected behind closed doors. Clara is not allowed to step foot outside her family walls and she loathes to do so. She is introverted, and also "uppity" but cares for her father after her mother passed.
The story is told from the view of the younger stepsister, Iris, who is kind and pratical, wary of her mother's evils. She is plain and unbecoming, and self-concious of it. The older stepsister, Ruth, was born huge and lumbering, with withered limbs, and the mother relies on Iris to take Ruth in hand and take care of her. The mother in question is a very shrewd woman who goes to all lengths to ensure she gets her way.
Interaction between these four central characters begin when the mother is hired at the van de Meer household to assist in housekeeping.

All in all, this is alright in my opinion. The story is not fast paced, but has enough substence and character development to make up for it. I did get bored a little in some parts when Iris goes off into her fantasies of imps and sprites. Spanning 397 pages, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is a refreshing insight to the traditional Cinderella story.

Light My Fire - Katie MacAlister

Light My Fire by Katie MacAlister
An Aisling Grey, Guardian, Novel

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Aisling Grey is juggling being a demon lord, a Guardian, and a wyvern's mate, even though she's keeping her distance from said wyvern, Drake, these days. But her presence is still required at a meeting of the green dragons. Since several attempts have been made on her life, Drake is sure to get protective of her. Which might not be a bad thing when war breaks out and all hell breaks loose-literally.



MY Version:
This book is sizzling~~ Having Drake as a mate sure fires things up. *wink wink*
Aisling Grey has lots of responsibilities thrust upon her, and she's trying to run away from some of them. Leader? Who, me? No way. Run...
She's trying to get proper training to be a Guardian, juggling the dragons' attentions at the same time, AND trying to fend off imps, a result of her pet / familiar / minion Jim accidentally offending the imps BIG TIME. All in all, Grey seems to attract trouble, and trouble has no problem trailing after her everywhere. Chaos all around. And oh, people want her dead, people want to seduce her, people want her to be their leader... She should just makes clones of herself so that there will be enough of her to go around. Lots of things happening in every chapter, with Grey complaining all throughout. Did I mention that she is a Demon Lord as well, and has a minion named Jim who appears in the mortal world as a dog? Overall a satisfying read at 352 pages. Her capers leave you wanting to know what happens next in her overwhelmingly chaotic life.


Professional Review people [SPOILERS]:
MacAlister's third paranormal Aisling Grey novel takes her heroine and her pet demon, Jim (who looks like a Newfoundland dog), to London, where she is apprenticing to Nora to learn the Guardian trade. She is soon on the hot seat when Jim eats the Imp king, but that may be the least of her problems since the Green and Red dragon clans are now at war, and someone wants her dead. The imps do torch Nora's house so Aisling, Nora, and Jim move into the London mansion of Drake Vireo, green-eyed wyvern, and sparks fly. Then, kidnapped while wearing only a towel, Aisling is pitched from the frying pan into the fire when she is then stolen from her kidnappers and required to draw on her dark powers to vanquish a Demon Lord. MacAlister's crazy paranormal high jinks, delightful characters, and simmering romance between Aisling and Drake will appeal to fans of MaryJanice Davidson's Betsy Taylor, Queen of the Vampires, series. Diana Tixier Herald
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder - Joanne Fluke

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
A Hannah Swensen Mystery

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Hannah already has her hands full trying to dodge her mother's attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden's most popular bakery. But once Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah's famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life just can't get any worse. Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer. But if she doesn't watch her back, Hannah's sweet life may get burned to a crisp.


MY take:

This is really a delicious mystry. The book has RECIPES in it! Yes, you read it right. RECIPES of every cookie and pastry that's featured in the book, including the Chocolate Chip Crunchies mentioned on the blurb. That aside, I find Hannah to be a very observant and clever woman. Honestly, she does a better job than the damn sheriff. Too bad she's better than the dude at baking cookies, else they can switch jobs. She has no problems doing both their jobs anyway. I digress. Hannah's a likeable character, and the twist - there's always a twist, will catch you by surprise. I was so sure the murderer was Person A, but it turned out to be someone I didn't even put in the picture. Have fun trying to solve the mystery earlier than Hannah, and don't forget to try out the recipes in the book if you have the interest, time, and resources.

Oh, and this is more of a girly mystery book than a manly detective story. The murder was not spine-chilling or anything, more like oh dear, he's dead. Then the game of Whudunit starts. A Rainy Day read at 310 pages. It has an Index of Cookie Recipes at the end, and a sneak peek of the next book in the Hannah Swensen series; Strawberry Shortcake Murder.

Wolfblade - Jennifer Fallon

Wolfblade by Jennifer Fallon
Book ONE in The Wolfblade Trilogy

BLURB:

Marla Wolfblade is young and impulsive, the sister of Hythria's debauched ruler. In a fiercely patriarchal society, her life is his to command. And, to the displeasure of the Patriot faction, who are eager to usurp the throne, she is chosen to carry on the royal line.

Marla's position places her at huge risk in circles where friends and family are enemies and socerers play insidious games. But when she chooses the dwarf Elezaar as her slave, the odds change. His guidance sees Marla become a wily diplomat and tactician - but will that be enough to save Hythria's future heir?

This must be her mantra: trust no one.


MY Version:

Marla starts out as a whiny, empty headed pretty young thing with her head in the clouds. Her brother, on the other hand, is the High Prince of the land but does a poor job of it. He leaves the task of governing the country and the numerous Warlords of the provinces to the High Arrion, which is a fancy name for the chief of sorcerers. Ironically, the chief of sorcerers has not a magical bone in his body. The High Prince is not interested in women and prefers to spend his time exploring his perverse fantasies with slaves and others of his elk. This is where Marla comes in. Essentially, whoever who marries and gets Marla with child will be the father of the heir of the land, and that would grant immense power to the man who marries Marla. Politics eludes Marla until she gets her first slave, Elezaar the dwarf. Elezaar is a damn smart guy, seemingly with all the answers. Kinda like Merlin to Arthur. He teaches Marla his Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power which are like Confucious sayings that really come in handy. I really liked this rule: Accept what you cannot change - change that which is unacceptable.
Armed with her new knowledge, Marla tries her hand at politics... And that is where the fun begins. Those who wanted to make use of a doll found Marla more than what they bargained for.

I look forward to finding Book TWO in the library. This is a good read, though hefty at 711 pages. In fact, what attracted me to the book in the first place was its size. Don't read it the wrong way, I'm just attracted to a long story because I find short ones end too abruptly. And precisely because they end so fast, the character development / feelings for the character in most short novels tend to be lacking. There's an author interview transcript at the end too, if you want to know more about the woman who wrote this great book.