Motor Mouth - Janet Evanovich

Alexandra Barnaby is back.
Alex has a passion for cars and an engineering degree. She works for Sam Hooker who is a NASCAR driver and also used to be her boyfriend until he was caught cheating on her.

Part of Alex's job description is working as a spotter doing a race. When she is asked to do a fellow spotter a favour, little does she know just how complicated this one little favour is going to make her life.

It's a fun story, with good characters.
Recommended reading for all Evanovich fans and romance readers.

Aairman - Eion Colfer

Conor Broekhart was born to fly. According to legend it was fate really. After all he was born in the air.

Conor and his family live on a little island just off the coast of Ireland. They are very good friends with the King and his daughter. The King is keen to keep the Island independant and so together with Conor and his friend Victor, they immerse themselves in science and the pursuit of flight.

All seems to be going well but what of these whispers about a traitor and a conspiracy?

I enjoyed this story. I think it has more general appeal than some of Eion Colfer's other novels. Recommended reading also as teen fiction.

The Harlequin - Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake's life finally seems to working, despite all the men in her life, and the complications not just they but also the metaphysical crap that comes with them.

Then, Anita is given a white mask and suddenly there are a whole lot of new questions to be asked which no one , even Jean-Claude seems to be able to answer.

I really enjoyed this one. There's not so much sex and what there is can easily be skipped over without affecting the story at all. Lots of action.

The Minister's Daughter - Julie Hearn

It's the story of a little town, who are believers in the old ways, piskies and faeries, who find themselves with a new intolerant zealously religious minister.

One young girl, Nell, being trained in the ways;herb gathering, mid/wifery, spells and healing who gets caught in the lies of the minister's daughter. Trouble comes.

Feast of Souls-Celia Friedman

The King's son is dying from an incurable disease known as 'the Wasting'. The king's Magister, Ramirus, knows full well what the Wasting really is and what is it's cause but this knowledge must be kept from the 'Morati'(the non-magisters), and most especially from the King.

In an effort to somehow prevent this knowledge from getting out, Ramirus calls on other Magister's for aid as this is something that could harm all Magisters. Thus begins part 1 of a trilogy.

I quite enjoyed the story. It has all the elements of a good story- a good bad enemy, heroes and heroines, magic, intrigue and battle. Some phrases are a little repetitive but apart from that I look forward to reading the other 2 books.

genre-Fantasy

The Hard Way-Lee Child

Jack Reacher is just sitting in a cafe having a good cup of coffee. It was so good in fact that he he did something he doesn't normally do- he went back the next night. What seemed like a guy just getting in his car and driving away, turns out to be the opening moves of a kidnapping.

It wasn't bad. It wasn't any better or worse than the other Jack Reacher novels.

The Chemistry of Death-Simon Beckett

The Boleyn Inheritance-Phillipa Gregory

Accessory to Murder-Barbara Jaye Wilson

A Brenda Midnight Mystery. Brenda Midnight gets dragged into her latest madcap escapade by her friends the N's. By trying to be helpful, she inadvertently gets Lemmy Crenshaw into trouble and the trouble just keeps on coming. All this whilst trying to come up with a Spring line for her hats.

I liked it. If you want a really meaty mystery then I wouldn't recommend this novel. It's a good easy read and a little fun.

Eleven on Top-Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum has finally had enough. Nothing any different to her normal day happened but for some reason she just decides she's had enough of rolling in rubbish, getting her cars blown up etc... Now all she has to do is get a new job and figure out who is trying to kill her. Simple.

I enjoyed this one the most out of all the Stephanie Plums. I didn't find her irritating in the least. And I laughed a lot.

Indiscretion-Jude Morgan

When Caroline Fortune's father loses their fortune through gambling and incompetence, he arranges for her to be the paid companion to an extremely wealthy and demanding Lady. But she must beware, as the unscrupulous see a young lady without family to protect her and therefore easy to seduce.

Although I did enjoy the reading of this novel, I did find the characters to be a little too good, even the baddies weren't really bad.

Eye in the Sky-Philip K. Dick

A visit to the Belmont Bevatron turns into a journey into bizarro land when 8 people get caught in the path of a malfunctioning proton beam deflector. Miraculously the 8 survive relatively unscathed and it is only as they go about their business, the day after the accident, that they realize everything is not as it seems.

Based on the fact that P.H. Dick had also written Blade runner and Minority report, I decided to try one of his stories. It quickly becomes obvious that this story was written some time ago. If you take into account that this story was written in the 1950's, then for it's time it was probably an incredible story.

Told from the point of view of the engineer who for all his supposed intelligence and training is a bit thick. It was an okay read.

genre-science fiction

Maskerade-Terry Pratchett

Pen Pals- Olivia Goldsmith

Jennifer is a supposedly savvy broker on Wall Street who in a moment of drunkenness and incredible stupidity decides to take the fall for her boss. Despite their reassurances that everything will be fine, she won't have to spend time in jail and if she does it will be one of those 'country club' jails and none of those promises actually coming true, Jennifer continues to believe in each empty promise even though she is currently serving time in the county prison and nothing is going as planned.

Very slow to start. It doesn't really start to get interesting until halfway. Nevertheless it was an okay read.

Maximum Bob-Elmore Leonard

Elmore Leonard also wrote 'Get Shorty'. I hadn't actually read any of his work before and chose this novel due to my enjoyment of the movie,'Get Shorty'.

'Maximum Bob' is about a judge so nick-named due to the sentences he hands out. He's a bit of a red neck as are many characters in the novel. Maximum Bob sets off a chain of events when he endeavours to rid himself of his wife through shady means.

Told in the voice of each character as the plot unfolds, you get a real feel for each character. So much so that because of my dislike of the rednecks and other lowlifes, I was tempted to put this novel aside.

Although I am unlikely to read any more of Elmore Leonard's work, I can certainly see the appeal his style might hold for others.

Ten big Ones-Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plums adventures are really heating up. They started with the explosion of yet another one of her vehicles, initiated by a store robber, who unthinkingly gives Steph a good look at his face so that now she can i.d. him.
Adding to the general mayhem that is her life, is grandma Mazur, the now not so perfect sister Valerie, a cross dresser and some nut who thinks he's playing wargames with Stephanie.
Miss Plum is starting to grow on me. Initially I kept reading this series of books because I found the other characters entertaining. But now I feel that she's not quite the bimbo she started out being and there is actually some method to her work.

I'll give this one a 7/10
Recommended - general reading.

Knight's dawn- Kim Hunter

A knight finds himself in territory unknown, memory forgotten with signs upon his body of having been in an immense battle in an area that hasn't seen battle for a 100 years.

So begins Knight's adventures which involve wizards, witchcraft, friendship, betrayal, love and battle. Something for everyone.

I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the next two sequels.

Recommended reading-general

Dead Witch walking- Kim Harrison

The beginning is not promising. It just sounds a bit silly. As in slapstick silly but if you bear with the book for about....10 pages then it starts to get interesting.

The setting is that there was some kind of bio chemical genetic leak which resulted in humankind being decimated. Only the undead, witches wres etc... were immune. Which led to their 'coming out as such.

The story centers around a witch, a vampire and a pixie who all work as some form of law enforcement.

Micah-Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake is called on to be a replacement for her good friend and fellow necromancer, Larry. She has to raise a witness for the Feds, who died before his testimony could be taken. Unfortunately for Anita, it entails flying. Micah tags along for the ride to give her a hand with one or two things. One of them being to feed the ardeur.

This is a very quick read. The highlight for me is that Richard isn't in it. A lot fewer characters appear in this novel but it makes a nice change of pace from her other novels.

Raclette und heisser Stein-Rose Marie Donhauser

If you want to try something a little bit different with your raclette, this is a great book. Some of the ideas in here, when you see them, you think, 'Of course! Why didn't I think of that!'

It has a good section of vegetarian dishes, meat dishes and desserts and it also gives tips on which drinks, and side dishes(recipes included) would compliment the meal. As well as some variations to the recipe to try.

The book finishes with details to have your very own Caribbean party-what to serve,table decorations, what type of table best suits this kind of celebration and other helpful tips.

Yes, the title is in German but I'm sure there are translations of this in other languages.

Cerulean Sins-Laurell K. Hamilton

Book 11 in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. With every book, Anita's life gets more complicated, and more is revealed of her powers. Someone or something is ripping bodies to shreds and taunting the police with each murder. Anita has to not only try and solve this case but also deal with Dolph's increasing antagonism and emotionalism.

Jean-Claude gets an unexpected visitor who is doing her best, to undermine him and steal his power. Just your everyday vampire politics.

Mostly emotional, relationship stuff with a bit of the cop stuff thrown in. Still a good read but not as good as her earlier novels. Again if you're not into gore, avoid reading her books.

Welcome to my Planet-Shannon Olson

Shannon is 30, living at home, on Prozac and rather than sorting out her own life, she is more interested in her mother's. Some would say, this is to avoid thinking about her own life.

Told in a series of snippets, as if she were talking to her therapist. Which she does.

I was unable to finish this tale. On the side of every page is some writing. I found it so distracting that I found it hard to concentrate on the story. I assumed in this age of advertising bombardment that it was an attempt to advertise another book written by Shannon Olson. Which annoyed me immensely.

It wasn't until I gave up on completing this novel that i looked closer at the writing. It's the title of this book. Usually, this is put at the top of every page, where it is less disatracting.
Genre-drama,
Recommended reading for... certain women.

Endymion Spring-matthew Spring

Who or what is Enymion Spring? Young Blake becomes caught up in answering this question at the same time he is trying to come to terms with his changig family life and living in a new city.

It is a story that began hundreds of years before Blake is born and yet one which he might end up finishing if all goes right. It all has to do with powerful secrets, figuring out who's the bad guy, a magical chest, a blank book and a dragon.

Recommended for all ages and in particular 8 years and upwards.

Emma Brown-Clare Boylan

Beginning with the first 2 chapters of an unfinished book written by Charlotte Bronte, Clare Boylan continues the story of a young apparently rich young lady, who has just began her education at a new ladies'school.

The mystery ensues when inquiries are made as to where young Miss Matilda Fitzgibbon is to spend her christmas holidays and the letter is returned-no such address. Who is Matilda? Why was she enrolled under false pretenses? And by whom?

I enjoyed this story. Holds general appeal.

Bloody Bones-Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake is hired to settle a dispute over land. Her job, raise everyone in it and ask them who their ancestors. However, nothing is ever this simple.

Three teenagers are found in some nearby woods. Killed in a way that Ms Blake hadn't seen before.

Then, there's another murder. Or is it? Are these deaths linked?

Not as many characters to assimilate, which makes it easier reading. Nicely captured vampire characteristics. Almost makes me believe the monsters are real.

The only thing that doesn't do it for me, are the detailed descriptions of what everyone is wearing. Gets a bit tiresome. It's understandable with the vampires and the meetings with vampires and I understand that the author is trying to reveal character through clothing but I didn't think it was necessary every single time.

Making the a-list - Tyne O'Connell

Saskia Williams likes to make lists beginning with 'Things I long to experience before turning thirty', through to-'The a-list of people you should know by thirty' and including 'a hit-list';A must for any advocate of the 'new immorality'.

As her thirtieth birthday draws near, Saskia starts to feel ever more desperate about her relationships or lack thereof, the likelihood of not being married and therefore fulfilling all of her mother's expectations and her job prospects.

Out of 10, I'd give this book a 4. It rambles a lot or rather 'Saskia' rambles a lot, so the book doesn't really get started until a third of the way through. Plus, I tire of reading about english women whose big concern is designer clothes, being overweight, drinking too much and being seen with the 'right people'.

If you enjoy Marianne Keyes novels, this book might appeal to you.