Books Reviews

Table of Contents

For Dog LoversFor Paranormal FansFor EveryoneFor Audio Book Fanatics

For Dog Lovers

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I hate sad books, but this one was creatively written and inspiring on all levels. If you don't mind a few tears, this book is a must read for all dog lovers. Enzo is a lab terrier mix plucked from a farm outside Seattle to ride shotgun with race car driver Denny Swift as he pursues success on the track and off all of which is written from the dog's perspective.

 

Dogs Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

Did you read in my previous post? I HATE sad books. This one I had to read in one night because I was sobbing, but the book was so well written I could NOT put it down. This book is again written from the dogs perspective and gives wonderful life lessons.

 

Gone to the Dogs by Emily Carmichael

HILARIOUS. What comes around goes around. This beautiful woman is killed while cheating with her best friends boyfriend. She is reincarnated as a Corgi named Piggy, 'nuf said.
 

A Dog Year by Jon Katz

If you know any owners of Border Collies you should read this book. Border Collies are great, smart dogs, but they can be a bit on the crazy side and this author captured that wonderfully. This author has actually written a number of dog books that my doggie friends might find really worthy reads.
 

Chet and Bernie Mysteries by Spencer Quinn

Very light read. This is written from the dogs perspective. This dog was kicked out of the police academy and now lives with a private investigator. It is really cute.

 

Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote

This book gives great insight into the dog/human interaction and how dogs communicate and understand humans. It also shows the science behind many of his observations. It really makes me watch my interactions with my dogs more closely.

 

For Everyone

Lucky series by Deborah Coonts

These are great light reads where Lucky O'Toole is a Customer Service (problem solver) at one of the top vegas casinos. It is truly funny stuff in a Janet Evanovich style of writing.

 

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

People have probably already seen the movie but if you haven't read the book, it is well worth it.

 

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

OK - if I just read the back of the book, I never would have read this trilogy, but I thought it was fabulous. Forget all of the hype about the movie and read the books.

 

Stuart Woods

This author has a number of books out with three main characters. My favorite is Stone Barrington, he is a slutty bachelor. He was a cop but got hurt on the job so he is now a lawyer. He still has his cop contacts and his jobs as a lawyer gets him in all kinds of trouble. Definitely good, light, entertaining reads.

 

Another noteworthy character is Holly Barker, but he only wrote three books dedicated to her character. She shows up in other books, but only as a supporting character.

Kinsey Millhone by Sue Grafton

These are great light reads, but note that the character never moves out of the 80s. This private investigator still uses pay phones and fax machines, but the stories are great fun.

 

Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun by Lois Winston

Every once in a while you have to read something light. This is a mystery with a twist of having craft projects thrown in to make things interesting.

 

Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

If you haven't already taken the time to read this series, start now. The first book is One for the Money and will be out in theaters in a week. The series is about girl who is out of work and decides to get a job from her cousin who is a Bail Bondsman. Stephanie becomes a bounty hunter and is not very good at it. The characters are wonderful and only get better with each of the books. I highly recommend this series to anyone who needs a good chuckle.

 

Bone Yard by Donna Ball

This is a story about a woman who runs a dog training kennel, but it is pretty funny that she has no control over her golden retriever. The retriever finds a bone in her kennel area that belongs to a body and the mystery begins. Great light reading.

 

The Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle

These are great little mysteries that tell a lot about the coffee industry. The difference between expresso and latte and how to roast coffee beans to perfection. Great book unless you are a serious tea drinker.

 

Must Love Dogs by Claire Clark

Even if you have seen the movie the book is even better. I love how this author tells a story. It is light and fun and a good story, even when you know the ending.

 

The Huntress by Dorothy McFalls

This is a romantic suspense. Very well written and fun to read.

 

For Paranormal Fans

The Shifters Series by Rachel Vincent

This book is about were-cats, so it is a little different perspective than the normal were wolves stories. Faythe Sanders is a Texas grad student with a secret: she's a shape-shifting werecat, not by choice.

 

Night Huntress Series by Jeanie Frost

Talk about strong woman character. If you like vampire books, this is a MUST read. Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

 

Code Name by Christina Skye

This is all about top-secret government experiments done on soldiers to make them stronger, faster and better.

 

Alex Craft Series by Kalayna Price

So Alex is a Grave Witch. She raises "shades" to talk to families and settle disputes on wills. She even works with the police to solve murders by talking to the dead. Good, fast paced books.

Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill

You know, the same old story. Grad student gets attacked by vampires then becomes a vampire for one of the strongest houses in Chicago. She is found to be a strong fighter, even though she has zero training. Of course she comes from a family with money, so what is the true motive for turning her into a vampire? It is a good read.

 

Kitty Norville by Carrie Vaughn

This is a Colorado based writer. Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station and a werewolf in the closet. Her new late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged is a raging success, gets interesting when a were-wolf hunter tries to kill her while she is on the air doing the show. The first 3 or 4 books were great, then she took a path that I didn't like, but entertaining reading none the less.

 

Allie Beckstrom Series by Devon Monk

Great magic books. Interesting concepts. Using magic means it uses you back, and every spell exacts a price from its user. But some people get out of it by Offloading the cost of magic onto an innocent. Then it’s Allison Beckstrom’s job to identify the spell-caster.

 

Signs of Zodiac Series by Vicki Pettersson

These are real live comic book super heroes based on the signs of the zodiac. When she was sixteen, Joanna Archer was brutally assaulted and left to die in the Nevada desert. She seeks revenge and answers.

 

Witch & Wizard by James Patterson

This is actually written as a teen book but is very entertaining. World of witches and wizards and everyone out to get them. Note: There are only three books, but two graphic novels were written to fit between the first and second book, so you might see gaps in the storyline if you don't get those too.

Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs

Great shapeshifter series - Mercy is a VW mechanic and her next door neighbor is a werewolve. Just to make him mad, she leaves one of her VWs up on bricks so he can always see the heap of junk from his window. Love the strong female character.

 

Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin, Book 1) by Jennifer Estep

This series was quite intriguing to me, she had a number of very strong characters. After Gin’s family was murdered by a Fire elemental when she was thirteen, she lived on the streets and eventually became an assassin to survive. There is a lot of action and mystery in this series.

Jane Yellowrock Series by Faith Hunter

Just finished the most recent book in this series - I love, love, love her writing style. If you like vampire, werewolves and other creatures, this is a great series for you.

 

Charley Davidson Series by Darynda Jones

I am currently reading the third book in this series call "Third Grave Dead Ahead". This is about the one and only Grim Reaper. She is very witty and flippant about death. At the start of every chapter she has a t-shirt quote of some kind. The one on the current chapter was "I know Karate, and a couple other Japanese words." Super fun light reading that will keep you entertained.

Secret McQueen Series by Sierra Dean

I am currently reading book 2 in this series and book 3 is due to be released in March. If you like Vampire and Werewolf stories, check these out. There are also a couple of Novellas available as well.

 

Alexa O'Brien Huntress by Trina M. Lee

If you are looking for another werewolf series this is a good one. There are enough twists to make it really interesting.

 

Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead

Don't let the titles fool you. This is a great series for the lover of supernaturals. I love the interaction with one of the characters that is a famous author. Fabulous how a writer captures the mind of a writer on paper.

 

Mageri Series by Dannika Dark

This gets into the world of Mages and learning how to control newly gained powers. If you really want something, like her page on Facebook. She posts pictures of how she sees some of her characters and they are hoooot!

 

Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator by Janni Nell

Allegra Fairweather here. Paranormal investigator. Got problems with specters? Shapeshifters? I'm the woman to call. Just don't call me a Ghostbuster. The last guy who did that ended up flat on his back with my boot at his throat. What a fun read!

 

Great Books Made Better on Audio

The following three series are ones that I recommend for Audio!!!!!

In Death Series by J. D. Robb

Just got the latest book in this series of about 40 books. This is about a rough tough female cop in New York. The year is 2030 + so there are all kinds of cool inventions. If you ever wanted to try to listen to an audio book - start with these. The reader is one of the best so far - she has very distinct voices for each of the character. Can't get enough of these.

 

Troubleshooter Series by Suzanne Brockmann

OK - while we are on the topic of great audio books...Patrick Lawlor is one of the sexiest readers every. Flashpoint is the first book that Patrick reads. These are hot, hot, hot romance novels involving Navy Seals. This reader makes these books come alive. If you want dreamy steamy romance - try these!

 

Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews

The reader brings you into the mind of Kate Daniels right from the beginning and the way her mind works cracks me up. She is a woman who is not frightened easily, even when she should be. There are also some short stories of some of the funniest scenes written from another persons perspective. Cracks me up.