Babymouse graphic novels by sister and brother team Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Babymouse: Queen of the World!
Queen of the World! introduces Babymouse and her nemesis, a popular cat named Felicia Furrypaws. Babymouse desperately wants an invitation to Felicia's slumber party (which she feels could confer "queen" status), although her best friend Wilson the Weasel expects her to watch monster movies with him that night. Fantasy sequences testify to Babymouse's reading habit and active imagination: in one reverie, she's Babymouserella, transformed into a princess by "fairy godweasel" Wilson, but undone by Felicia on the way to the ball ("In 'Cinderella,' the mouse pulls the carriage. Duh!").

These 3 tone comic style books in pink, black and white offer a tweeny look at life. Much like Captain Underpants but for 9-10 year old girls. Well done!

Babymouse: Our Hero
Babymouse: Beach Babe

Bollywood Confidential by Sonia Singh

With her golden coloring, long black hair, and Oscar-deserving acting skills, Raveena Rai knows she's meant to be a star--if only she can get that big break. Now, after eight years of toiling as a slave girl, a belly dancer, a Mexican cocktail waitress, and some other truly unspeakable roles, the Lord Ganesh finally throws his lovely and loyal devotee a bone.....all the way to Bombay--aka Bollywood, the heart of Indian cinema--where a young director wants her for the lead in his upcoming flick.

Instead of the Hollywood star treatment, Raveena must cope with hellish humidity, screeching bats, a stressed-out swami uncle, a sleeze movie director and a sexy demigod co-star (named Siddharth, no less!) who doesn't give her the time of day. Surely, fame and a romantic leading man will be written into Raveena's life's script--if Bombay doesn't drive her crazy first.

Reminds me of the more recent Meg Cabot novels. Short and fluffy but very fun. A refreshing voice plus the author lists her top 10 favorite Bollywood movies of all time. I've actually seen one!

Jack Spratt Investigates (Nursery Crime Division) by Jasper Fforde
author of the Tuesday Next mysteries brings us a new type of investigator

Big Over Easy
Introduces Detective Inspector Jack Spratt and Sergeant Mary Mary of the Nursery Crime Division, the small and highly underfunded department that is part of the Reading Police. It is Jack and Mary to deal with any crimes involving nursery rhyme characters - who have inexplicably taken up residence in Berkshire.

Ever wanted to know why Humpty Dumpty fell off his wall? Was it an accident? Suicide? Why was he buying shares in the failing Spongg footcare empire, and who had most to gain from his death? His ex-wife? His Lover? Solomon Grundy of Winsum & Loosum pharmecuticals or even Lord Spongg himself? What is the link with St Cerebellum's woefully inadequate and outdated mental hospital? And is it merely coincidence that Humpty died not five days before the Jellyman's celebrated visit to Reading to dedicate the Sacred Gonga's visitor's centre? And whose was the 28 foot long human hair found in Humpty's apartment?

Per usual this quirky series brings us into the nasty world of nursery crimes. I've loved the Tuesday Next mysteries and while these are even more quirky they are just as much fun to read.

Book 2: Fourth Bear

Ladies of Covington Series by Joan Medlicott

Ladies of Covington Send Their Love
Cautious Grace Singleton, uncertain of her place in an intimidating world. Outspoken Hannah Parrish, harboring a private fear that may change her life. Fragile Amelia Declose, shattered by devastating grief. Circumstance has brought these disparate women of "a certain age" to a Pennsylvania boardinghouse where three square meals and a sagging bed is the most any of them can look forward to.

But friendship takes them on a startling journey to a rundown North Carolina farmhouse where the unexpected suddenly seems not only welcome, but delightfully promising. And with nothing more than a bit of adventure in mind, each woman will be surprised to find that the years they've reclaimed from the shadow of twilight will offer something far more rare: confidence, competence, and even another chance at love...

A very nice book of friendship and finding new purpose in life. Told from the perspective of all three ladies who are also widows we experience their loss and happiness and finding their inner strength. Each has experienced loss of their own and have to learn to trust one another to help them through it. I will say that I was getting tired of Amelia who had more brushes with death and would lose control more than all the others. It was hard to read it from her perspective as I felt the least sympathic for her. But this won't stop me from wanting to read another book in the series.

Gardens of Covington
From the Heart of Covington
Spirit of Covington
At Home in Covington
Christmas in Covington
Seasons of Covington

Nightside series by Simon R. Green

2) Agents of Light and Darkness

John Taylor is back in Darkside - this time he is commissioned by a priest named Jude to finding the unholy grail, not for the cup that Jesus drank from, but the other cup, the Judas Cup, which provides both ultimate power and ultimate corruption. If it was just John Taylor and an ugly silver cup this would be a piece of cake for John - find it and return it to the Vatican, who will hide it from all the powers, human and otherwise. But no such luck - everyone is after it. Demons, gangsters, and angels - thousands of them, good and bad, all prepared to end the universe to gain the cup. Knowing he is out of his depth, Taylor brings Shotgun Suzie on board, and together they challenge Armageddon.

It is funny as angels from both heaven and hell are after the cup and both are determined to torture, kill and destroy anyone who gets in the way. These angels appear as ordinary gray suited bankers or accountants until they burst into flames turning those who look into a pilar of salt. Except if you are holding the Speaking Gun, in the beginning God created things by calling their name, which can destroy things by Speaking their name. It will also kill angels. Go figure? Of course Taylor gets his hand on it from the nazis.

Green's books are not long but he manages to crame a huge amount of horrible images in it. I skim through those parts as I usually like the beginning and the ending makes me want to read more about Taylor. I know this is a pretty big series so will try another one out.

1) Something from the Nightside
John Taylor is a detective in London, but what he really is an expert on finding lost things. It's part of the gift he was born with as a child of the Nightside. He left almost 5 years ago, to escape the murder and mayhem. But since business has been slow lately, he accepts a case from Joanna Barrett, to find her runaway teenage daughter. With his gift he is able to determine she is in Nightside. A square mile of Hell in the middle of the city, where it's always three AM. Where you can walk beside myths and drink with monsters. Where nothing is what it seems and everything is possible. Taylor swore he'd never return. But who else can rescue her daughter and there's something about this woman depending on him. So he's going back home.

This is a kind of blah look at a supernatural underground life in London. But while the main character gives great descriptions of how terrible everything is I never really felt like I got a feel for it. Most everyone is kind of one dimensionial and no real substance. Everyone seems to want to kill Taylor but no real reason why except they don't like him. I will try another one to see if there is more to this series that what this first book gives me.

3) Nightingale's Lament
4) Hex and the City
5) Paths Not Taken
6) Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth
7) And Follow Darkness Like a Dream

Gilda Joyce Mysteries by Jennifer Allison

Gilda Joyce Psychic Investigator
Gilda Joyce is a quirky almost 14 year old from Michigan. Since her father has passed away she has been interested in developing her psychic abilities. On the last day of school she announces she is going to spend the summer in San Francisco but she doesn't know anyone there. hmmm was it her psychic talking for her?

She then discovers she has relatives who do live in SF, her mother’s distant cousin Lester Splinter and his fragile daughter Juliet. She writes a letter inviting herself to visit some and when receiving a letter of invitiation (written by Mr. Splinter's bubbly assistant) she's off and running. She determines that Mr. Splinter and his daughter live in a haunted house — there's even a tower that is off limits. The house seems to conceal a terrible secret. But is it really haunted?

While everyone seems to see ghosts but Gilda she cheerfully marches on to solve these mysteries. Together she and Juliet discover the sad secret of why they tower is shut off from the house. Is Juliet doomed to become her aunt, who killed herself by throwing herself from the tower?

This engaging story is fun and you almost believe that Gilda is psychic. Can't wait for the next installment!

Fangs for the Memories by Kathy Love

After a disastrous first day in the Big Apple, Jane gets inebriated at a bar with the help of a charming stranger. Rhys, knowing the ex-con's intentions are bad, follows them when they leave, saving Jane from rape. But during the attack, Jane loses her most precious possession--a chain with her parents' rings on it. She goes back to find it and finds her hero being viciously assaulted by his brother, Christian. Salvation comes in the form of Rhy's other brother, Sebastian, who offers to pay Jane to look after Rhys, who has lost his memory and now believes he is still a nineteenth-century viscount, not the 208-year-old vampire he really is. He also thinks Jane is his bride.

What will happen when Rhys finally remembers just who and what he is? Will he keep Jane or will Christian have the final say?

This a very erotic vampire story in which the vampires aren't that bad but only drink blood and can't go out in the sun. No real violence but a focus more on sex instead. Interesting concept is that becoming a vampire does not change who you really are. If you are a good person you'll be a good vampire. If you're a bad person than you'll be a bad person. Makes sense.

It will be interesting to read about the bad brother in the sequel.

Sequel featuring Christian - Fangs But No Fangs

Odelia Grey Mysteries by Sue Ann Jaffarian

Too Big to Miss
Odelia Grey, is a paralegal in Southern California. Odelia is in her late forties, single, 5'1" and 215 pounds. She's lived a lifetime of prejudice about her size but, as a mature woman, she's not going to take it anymore. She and her circle of friends have a support group and are slowly but surely accepting themselves for who they are and taking a stand against the discrimination against them. Odelia is shocked and upset when the leader of their group, Sophie London, supposedly commits suicide. And she is even more surprised when she discovers that Sophie had a porn website and shot herself in front of her viewers. There's a romance between Odelia and a paraplegic, Greg Stevens, who witnessed Sophie's suicide online.

This series more than just a mystery as more of how the character develops and becomes more confident in herself.

Curse of the Holy Pail

Love At Large

SilverFin: a James Bond Adventure by Charles Higson
Meet Bond–James Bond–at 14, before he became the suave, lady-killing international spy. An orphan, he attends Eton and lives with his Aunt Charmian during school breaks. While the premise for this prequel sounds intriguing, it fails to deliver. Action, adventure, and mystery are not a part of the plot until the end. While visiting his dying Uncle Max in Scotland, James discovers that his enemy at Eton, George Hellebore, is visiting his father, Lord Randolph, who owns the castle in the same town. On the train to Scotland, James met Red Kelly and learned that Red's cousin Alphie is missing. Rumor has it he disappeared near Loch Silverfin, which is part of the Hellebore estate. It doesn't take long for James and Red to determine that Alphie's disappearance is connected to the castle.

Red Kelly, Meatpacker, Wilder Lawless, and her horse, Martini, are interesting and quirky characters while we need to see James' character developed more.

2nd in the series
Blood Fever (Young Bond)

Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay
The Casson family is an endearingly eccentric bunch. Big sister Cadmium, an appallingly bad driver even after hundreds of lessons with an attractive instructor, is studying for her college entrance exams. Saffron, 13, isolates herself from the family after learning that she is actually an adopted cousin whose mother died when Saffy was very young. Indigo works hard to defeat his fears through most unusual means. Rose, the youngest, is an expert at manipulating their pompous father and delightfully ditsy mum, both artists. When their granddad dies, he leaves Saffy a stone angel, which she decides must still be in Italy, her birthplace. With the help of her wheelchair-mobile friend, Sarah Warbeck, who is wickedly adept at managing her parents, Saffy stows away on their family trip to Italy. Although the angel is not there, she learns to appreciate her own family and home. Meanwhile, her siblings set off on a comical car trip to Wales, where the statue is found. Rose provides much of the humor on this trip, with her funny messages to the irritated drivers stuck behind hapless Caddy's car.

This was such a delightful book. It was fun and entertaining and suprising deep for such a short chapter book.

Companions:
Indigo’s Star
Permanent Rose

Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach

When Hero starts sixth grade at a new school, she's less concerned about the literary origins of her Shakespearean name than about the teasing she's sure to suffer because of it. So she happens to have the same name as a girl in a book by a dusty old author she also shares a name with a girls dog. Hero is simply not interested in the connections. But that's just the thing; suddenly connections are cropping up all over, and odd characters and uncertain pasts are exactly what do fascinate Hero.

There's a mysterious diamond hidden in her new house, a curious woman next door who seems to know an awful lot about it, and then, well, then there's Shakespeare. Not to mention Danny Cordova, only the most popular boy in school. Is it all in keeping with her namesake's origin or just "much ado about nothing"? Hero, being Hero, is determined to figure it out. We see her develop a friendship with the woman next door who knows more about the house Hero lives in but is she telling the whole truth?

This is a fun and fast paced read. The characters are interesting and full of life. It was named as one of the Best Book for 2005.

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
High on the side of rocky Mount Eskel, far from the valleys where gardens are green and lush, where lowlanders make laws, Miri’s family has lived forever, pounding a living from the stone of the mountain itself. For as long as she can remember, Miri has dreamed of working alongside the other villagers in the quarries of her beloved mountainside. But Miri has never been allowed to work there, perhaps, she thinks, because she is so small. Then word comes from the valley that the king's priests have divined Mount Eskel to be the home of the prince’s bride-to-be—the next princess. The prince himself will travel to the village to choose her, but first all eligible girls must attend a makeshift mountain academy to prepare themselves for royal lowlander life.

At the school, Miri soon finds herself confronted by bitter competition among the girls and her own conflicting desires to be chosen by the prince. Yet when danger comes to the academy and threatens all their lives, it is Miri, named for a tiny mountain flower, who must find a way to save her classmates—and the one chance to leave the mountain each of them is determined to secure as her own.

Oh, what a lovely book. It is so beautifully written that I didn't want it to end. So much happens and you can't help cheering for Miri as she struggles to let herself shine but still stay true to herself.

Bloodangel by Justine Musk
Jess, a rising young artist who is haunted by her parents' death and her uncle's abuse, paints strange, wild portraits of a teenage boy lost in the desert. It is the face of Ramsey, a skate-punk, bookworm foster kid who appeared in a police station at the age of seven, covered in blood. When a burned-out rock'n'roll star enters into an unholy alliance with a mysterious hitchhiker, and the forces of pre-biblical good and evil start to stir, Jess must unravel the truth about the boy's identity -- and her own. Her quest will take her to a place deep in the Mojave where magic is real, demons exist, and an underground rock'n'roll band has the power to bring on Apocalypse.

Everything is based on perception and everyone is reincarnated from someone else. Their lives constantly criss-cross through time until the time comes to awaken the inner demon to fight for the future of earth.

Wow! This beautifully written book is kind of a cross between horror and fantasy. It will be interesting to read more by this author.

Penderwicks: a summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy by Jeanne Birdsall
Along with their loving but preoccupied botanist father and a clumsy dog, the motherless Penderwick sisters responsible Rosalind, twelve; feisty Skye, eleven; creative Jane, ten; and shy Batty, four. Along with their loving but preoccupied botanist father and a clumsy dog named Hound, they spend their summer holiday in the Massachusetts Berkshires in a rose-covered cottage on the grounds of a mansion called Arundel Hall. A fast friendship develops between the girls and Jeffrey, the only child of Arundel's icy owner, Mrs. Tifton. This story offers much to the reader. Humor and friendship, this charming, old-fashioned story feels familiar in the way the best books seem like old friends.

This is so much like some of my favorite childhood books such as Tacy & Tib. Like a breathe of fresh air! Plus this won the National Book Awards for Young People's Literature Excellent!

Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
Hilarity and hijinks abound in this tale about a voracious swine with an overweening yen for hot buttered toast. Mercy is the beloved pet pig of the doting Mr. and Mrs. Watson. When Mercy sneaks into her owner's bed one night, her added heft causes the bed to fall partway through the ceiling. Although the besotted Watsons assume Mercy is trotting off to seek help, the only search and rescue Mercy seems to care about involves butter and hot bread. In her quest for some midnight munchies, Mercy awakens the crotchety neighbor. Wild chases and mayhem ensue before help arrives in the guise of firefighters.

This book is so different that her previous books. Fun and light and more to come.

Shape-Changer's Wife by Sharon Shinn
Aubrey was a student, gifted in the fine art of wizardry. But the more knowledge he acquired, the more he wanted to learn. So he travelled to a faraway land in search of the greatest master of all, the powerful shape-changer Glyrenden. From him, Aubrey expected to discover the secret of long-lost spells and the mysteries of arcane magic. But there was one discovery he never expected, one mystery he risked everything to solve. Her name was Lilith.

This is not a long book and I read it in one evening. Shinn has a way with words so you feel that you are almost there like a fly on the wall.

Rattled by Debra Galant
Set in the fictional subdivision of Galapagos Estates, Rattled is about what happens when soccer moms, animal rights activists, dishonest real estate developers and endangered species fight for ascendancy in the rapidly developing New Jersey suburbs.

Heather Peters is staring 35 in the face—though "depending on the light, she could still pass for a high school cheerleader. Her husband, Kevin, can barely stand her half the time, and her son, Conner, is a complete misfit—but at least they've just landed their dream home in Galapagos Estates, a new development in New Jersey. Galant follows their comic trials and those of two longtime area residents: Agnes, an animal lover and PETA sympathizer, and egg farmer Harlan White, who freelances as a handyman and makes a "fortune off those suckers." Which is how Harlan finds himself smashing the head of an endangered rattlesnake on Heather's back porch... and how Heather gets arrested after Agnes fingers her as the murderer of an endangered species... and how Galapagos Estates becomes the center of a media firestorm. Heather's rise to fame as a "rattlesnake killer" makes a handy metaphor about urban sprawl and the battle of new residents versus old ones, and pokes fun at the oversize egos of slimy developers and yuppies alike.

This book is one crazy ride. Kind of like the Stepford wives mixed with Desperate Housewives. I wouldn't say I laughed out loud but it was a fun read. What was interesting is that not one of the characters was really likeable. They all were annoying and crazy. I'd read more as they come out.

Pashazade by Jon Courtenay Grimwood
First in a trilology, this novel blends alternative SF and hard-boiled mystery. ZeeZee, who has spent his youth largely in boarding schools and in trouble, is also Ashraf al-Mansur, though that identity is unknown to him. Whisked away from a Seattle prison by his Aunt Nafisa, who he never knew existed, ZeeZee (aka Raf) is transported to El Iskandryia, an exotic, exquisitely detailed North African city. Lady Nafisa explains to her nephew that her brother married American Sally Welham and though divorced five days later, he is a legitimate offspring of an Emir. Aunt Nafisa introduces Ashraf to her niece nine year old Hani and his future wife Zara daughter of wealth; both hate him because the fuss made over him interferes with their respective lives.

However, before his aunt can complete arrangements for his entrance into the elite of Ottoman society, she is killed. As a newcomer and the sole heir to her fortune, the police suspect Ashraf murdered his aunt. Based on his American experience with Chinese employers, Ashraf knows he must prove his innocence or be railroaded into prison or worse. His only help comes from two females who loath him. Built on an alternate historical foundation to include Germany winning World War I and the Ottoman Empire thriving in the early twenty-first century. Ashraf also known as ZeeZee struggles with what he has learned about his patriarchal ancestry (his mother could not provide two consistent responses as her version of the truth kept wavering) and with his aunt's death. Hani and Zara add depth to Ashraf's character.

Great cast of characters and an interesting story. It took me awhile to get into this novel as the main character seems to change his personality as well as his name at various intervuls making it difficult ot follow sometimes. Kind of like riding a roller coaster and not really able to focus on anything until the ride is over and you say "Wow!". This book is kind of like that, especially the final few chapters. There are two more books in the series so I need to read it and see how I feel then.

Romilla Chacaon Mysteries by Marcos McPeek Villatoro

Home Killings
Introduces us to Romilia Chacaon, a rookie in the Nashville police force. She receives her first murder case when called to the scene of an apparent suicide. Romilia quickly discerns that the young Latino reporter was murdered possibly because of an upcoming article connecting a media-touted Latino philanthropist, lately arrived from Atlanta, with drugs and kids. She is able to tie this murder with two other serials murders that already have someone in jail for killing them. Thus making the other officer look incompetent. Are the ceremonially slaughtered bodies the product of ancient ritual, a serial killer or a campaign to shock rival drug lords into compliance?

Combatingng the machismo of the police force and the challenges of being an outsider within the Latino community. She is also introduced to the drug and illegal trade of the seedy underworld of Nashville. But she has to find balance with her work and personal life, where mother and child are both so dependent on her.

Very interesting read, much more dark and intense than I normally enjoy. I met the author at the Friends of the Cerritos Library mystery author luncheon in January. He is a very intense and intriguing person, plus a great public speaker. I find when I meet authors I want to read their books to see if the impression I got matches how they write. His definitely does.

Fremont Jones mysteries by Dianne Day

Strange files of Fremont Jones
The year is 1905. Fleeing the confines of her staid Boston upbringing and a potential marriage to a loathsome suitor, the modern-thinking Caroline Fremont Jones opens a typewriting business in San Francisco using the name Fremont. Her business brings her in contact with the normally mild young attorney Justin Cameron, who reacts with hostility when Fremont takes dictation from "ancient gentleman" Li Wong. A week later, Li Wong is dead, and Fremont's office is ransacked. Another client, Edgar Allan Partridge, brings three manuscript stories to Freemont for typing but never returns to pick them up. His brooding tales are full of evil and very like those of his namesake. Fremont's investigations into the mysteries of her dead and missing clients lead her to suspect her rooming-house neighbor, whom she believes is a spy. There is even a little bit of sex as she makes the wrong decision of who to have sex with.

Fun and entertaining read of a woman who is trying to make a life for herself without a man. I read this probably 5 years ago and enjoyed reading it again to read more of the series.

Fire and Fog
The new book opens with Fremont dreaming that a train is approaching but in reality the great 1906 earthquake is hitting San Francisco. After rescuing her typewriter from the rubble, Jones goes to work helping out the Red Cross, typing letters in the home of a woman she saved during the tremor. When she finds Alice dead in the sitting room she hunts down the police only to find the body is gone. Labeled a troublemaker by the police Fremont must determine who would murder Alice but finds that she has a very sinister past. She goes hunting for illegal artifacts and helping her friend Meiling escape from an arranged marrage and find a new life. She even gets kidnapped by a ninja and escapes without anyone's help!

In typical no-nosence fashion Fremont manages to solve several mysteries while getting her life back on track. Plus she manages to catch the eye of 3 men including Michael Archer who may or may not be a spy.

Bohemian murders
Fremont has left San Francisco and taken a temporary job as a lighthouse keeper. She finds a body floating in the surf near her beach. The police seem uninterested in the woman's identity, and her body disappears from the local mortuary after the coroner rules that she was murdered. Later, Fremont is attacked by a masked rider as she travels through the fog-shrouded forest in her rig. Caught up in these baffling events, she decides to find out who the woman was and who killed her. Meanwhile Fremont's mysterious lover is living nearby in a colony of bohemian artists.

An obvious solution and once again Fremont's life is put in danger.

Emporer Norton's Ghosts

Death Train to Boston

Beacon Street Mourning