Shuyler Van Alen is a girl who just wants to fit in. She lives in New York and attends a private school of elite, rich and spoiled teens. When she turns 15, stranges things start happening to her. She has flashbacks of being at a place hundreds of years prior, her body is undergoing strange changes and she is having unusual food cravings. After attending an exclusive meeting, she finds out that she is apart of an ancient group of vampires called the Blue Bloods. Something is wrong though as the vampires are under attack by someone who wants them dead.
 
Read this first book in a series and enjoy the life of vampires mixed with a social club to die for.

It took me a while to get into this but then it turned out to be very intriguing. Anyone who has traveled the world can relate to the culture shock of the author's trip to China as well as the minute details that become so poignant and extraordinary when you are far away from home. The author is traveling with a friend. They are both fresh out of collage and it is the 80s. The wear and tear that ensues on their friendship will make you say, "I have SO been there" when you have traveled with friends. However, this true story becomes highly amazing and strenuous as the author deals with helping her friend through what she thinks is homesickness.

Riveting and now I know what all the hype is about. This book was an amazing thriller set in Sweden that deftly ties together two characters--Mikael and Lisbeth. They both are "fighting the system" in their own way and seeking justice. Modern day technologies are highlighted and used in spectacular ways. A mystery of a missing person is the nugget of the book. We learn about Sweden and the neo-Nazism that is still present there. This is the first in a trilogy--can't wait to dive into the second one. Tragically, the author died of a heart attack after completion of the third book.

This was a good fast read of the vampire genre and it sets you up for the upcoming release, Love Sucks! Somehow the author manages to get into the teenage/vampire mind and form a fast-paced story that incorporates all of our modern social networking but also the icky parts of being a teenager who is misunderstood. The language is right on for the age, I think. At times a little raw, but it seemed very real. Good writing--I wasn't clear where we were headed and I liked that. :)

New Yorker Clary Fray gets a shock when she witnesses three tattooed teens murder a boy at the Pandemonium Club. She gets a worse shock when the body disappears and no one else saw the murderers even when they walked through the busy club. As she tries to make sense of what she saw, she discovers that there is a whole world that she didn’t know about. The tattoo covered teens are Shadowhunters, and she shouldn’t be able to see them either. When her mother is kidnapped (she is the only person to know where find the Mortal Cup, a magical object sought by Shadowhunters and their rivals) Clary must go into danger and discover the secrets about her family.

This urban fantasy is entertaining, though the characters are not as three dimensional as one would like. There are multiple types of nonhumans, including demons,werewolves and vampires; competing or cooperating with humans to save the world or destroy it.

There are three books in the series The Mortal Instruments: 1.  City of Bones, 2. City of Ashes, 3. City of Glass

I adored this quick read about thirteen women who purchase a diamond necklace together and treat it as a timeshare. We each come from a different experience and our feelings about materialism & wealth & sharing & communal property differ. Friendship supersedes all that and that becomes the greatest lesson of all for these women. They can be friends despite different belief systems and motivations and even political affiliations! Yippee!! The strength is in our friends!

Discovering Linda Fairstein is just as exciting as discovering Harlan Coben! Set in the New York Public Library (what's not to like?) is a mystery involving the elite of New York and the conservators of rare books. The main character, Alex Cooper, is so likable and so knowledgeable, you can't wait for the mystery to be solved. Tightly written, snappy, short chapters made this a wonderful fast read for a busy person. And I learned so much!

A fast fictional read that was simply excellent. Eilis Lacey moves to Brooklyn, New York from Enniscorthy, Ireland based on the recommendation of a priest. (circa 1950s) Eilis is grappling with social norms on both sides of the ocean. In Brooklyn, she experiences culture shock, weather shock!, and homesickness. She is obedient at school, at work and to her landlady. Then she meets Tony and things begin to change. She appears to be finding her own identity. Suddenly she must return to Ireland and once again her destiny is being determined by others. What road will she choose and why? Which would be better for her--Ireland or Brooklyn? All I could think was there must have been countless women (from all cultures) who were in situations like this--I grieve for them.

If you can get past the vulgarity, and I suppose what can you expect from a book about vampires?, you actually encounter a pretty rich plot with subplots and an emotional development of the narrator/main character. This book is full of puns and off-color jokes and the vampire culture is very well woven throughout. There actually is a very sweet relationship here between the vampire and the young mortal girl who he adopts. There is also a happy ending. There are vague references to this world inhabited by vampires and I wished we were told more about how & why that all came about. The way technology was described in this future place--the fears and capabilities--were reminiscent of today which is kind of weird because the novel is already five years old. Not for the faint of heart--get used to all the blood and be able to laugh about it and you will be okay!

Anita Blake is able to raise the dead and a vampire hunter. Vampires now have rights in St. Louis so an execution order is required to kill a vampire to stay legal. Anita stays on the right side of the law, mostly. People want bodies raised for many reasons; to settle a will dispute, forgiveness, even to find out who killed them--as long as their throat wasn't ripped out. Anita is also on the police Spook Squad that is called to investigate murders that may have been committed by vampires or other otherworld characters. She is also involved with Jean Claude, a very old vampire that becomes the Master of the City--kind of like mayor for the vampires in the area. Anita is only 5'3" but armed with her silver bullets and silver knives, she takes on the oldest and most powerful vampires she comes across, usually with a little help from her friends. The books are very graphic in describing the deaths of the victims and zombies Anita raises. The action moves the plot along and there is usually a mystery of "who done it" that gets resolved. This is the first series of Anita Blake books. I have read several and while it would be helpful to read them in order, it's not absolutely necessary. I've enjoyed them and will finish the series.

Ava is a stunning human with otherworld friends. She doesn't understand how her friends are attracted to them and is determined to remain "human". Until, she is walking home from a girls night out and is attacked by a vampire. She swallows some of his blood and now her future involves becoming a vampire. The hero is in town to hunt up a rouge vampiress and comes to her aide, killing the attacker and taking her home to help her through the transition. She and he become involved in love and the scheme to capture the rouge vampiress. The book was an entertaining romance involving the otherworld characters. Easy read.

Fire is set in the same world of Graceling, with a new cast of characters. Fire is a human monster with fiery hair and the power to control the minds of others. She lives across the mountains in the Dells, on the same planet as Katsa’s seven lands, but it is so different as to be another world. Here there are no Gracelings, but there are monsters—both animal and human. Monsters are recognized by the unusual color of their hair, and Fire is named for the bright oranges and reds of her hair. Other monsters seek her in order to feast on her especially delicious flesh, as she is the only human monster alive. Men desire her, women hate and fear her, except for those who have come to know her and love her for her many good qualities. 

Raised in bizarre fashion by her father, the twisted human monster Cansrel, she is trying to live in a way to make up for her father’s cruel excesses. Her friend Archer is obsessively controlling, in order to protect her. When she must travel to King City to help the royal family save their kingdom she learns a lot about herself, the truth, independence and loyalty.
 
While this is a young adult book, it will be enjoyable to adult readers of fantasy as well. The characters are complex and interesting and more mature than many of those in young adult literature. Characters are not just focused on what affects them—their emotions run the gamut of guilt, love, hate, patriotism, loyalty and betrayal. The plot includes adventure, romance and intrigue. The writing is even better than Graceling, which I enjoyed very much.

Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are now married, and have gone to the Continent for an extended honeymoon. Elizabeth is concerned because while Mr. Darcy professes his love and treats her with care and consideration, he has limited his passion to an occasional kiss.

Their visit to Paris is wonderful—Darcy has many friends and an amazing number of houses and hunting lodges spread throughout Europe. The trip becomes more perilous as they proceed. Wolves howl as they traverse the Alps on their way to visit Darcy’s uncle—who is a Count, with a mysterious castle surrounded by a deep moat. Their visit is cut short when they must flee the castle as an angry mob approaches. Strange frightening dreams begin haunting Elizabeth’s nights after they arrive in Venice, despite (or perhaps because of) the masquerade ball held in her honor. When they are invited to Prince Ficenzi’s villa near Rome even more perilous events test Elizabeth’s courage, and the love between Elizabeth and Darcy. 

Obviously the characters and setting are very important to Jane Austen fans. The story builds on Pride and Prejudice but this paranormal sequel does a good job of complementing the original work.

Popular for Jane Austen fans and lovers of paranormal romance, but would also be fine for those looking for historical fiction with a slightly different aspect. Not as graphic as many of the newer paranormal romance.

This is the first of a list of books starring Betsy, the Queen of the Vampires. Betsy is having a really bad week. First, she loses her job, then she is killed in a car accident. Betsy can't seem to stay dead, as she has been turned into a vampire. Her first concern is how she was nearly buried in cheap knock off shoes instead of one of her designer pairs in her closet. There are very funny scenes of her adjusting to her new life. This is Chick Lit meets Vampire.

George Martin reminisces about his pioneering work as a producer in the record industry in England before, during, and after the reign of The Beatles. A fascinating look at the group dynamics and how Martin, along with Brian Epstein, groomed The Beatles for success.