Bleeding hearts
China Bayles Herbal Mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert
Coach Tim Duffy's Pecan Springs high school football team has won the state championships two years in a row -- and in Texas, that makes him a demigod. But when China's stepson's principal asks her to conduct a sensitive investigation concerning accusations of sexual misconduct lodged against Duffy, she becomes embroiled in a dark drama that, if exposed, could destroy families and ruin lives. Statutory rape and cold-blooded murder are just the beginning of this mystery…

China struggles to unravel the mysterious circumstances surrounding the murder of a beloved high school football coach and the alleged suicide of a woman who was once one of his students. A handmade quilt, sewn by a woman who went through cancer treatments, is missing from the quilt show that Ruby is in charge of. In typical New Age style Ruby decides to ask the Ouija Board to help guide her to the guilty party. Plus to complicate matters China's mother asks her to get some papers that were found after her husband's secretary's death. What China finds will rock her to the bone.

Interesting enough China's husband is out of town for most of the book. We get to see more of China interacting with other women and friends.

Enchanted Inc. by Shanna Swendson
Katie Chandler, a 20something, small-town Texas girl, who finds that being average in New York City is anything but. She is still adjusting to life in the big city while working a for a nightmare boss when she gets a fantastic offer to work for a mysterious company, MSI, Inc.

Through her new job and the magical folk she meets, Katie comes to find out she isn't quite as average as she thought; and the fairy tale life she has longed for begins to come true in surprising ways. What Katie doesn't realize is how rare and important being ordinary can be. In fact, it is her ordinary characteristics that make her the perfect secret weapon for MSI, Inc. Now she has magicians and fairies meddling in her attempted romances, a secret life she needs to keep hidden from her non-magical friends, not to mention that dangerous pull she feels for Owen, an attractive but shy wizard who might be the most powerful magic man since Merlin.

Kind of a play on Sex and the City (aka Hex and the City). Very sweet story with a few bumps in the road but all is overcome in this "happily ever after" style mode.

Once Upon Stilettos is the sequel or at least some the same characters.

Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin
by Nancy Atherton

Lori Shepherd, feeling a touch world-weary, decides to become a volunteer at the Radcliffe Infirmary, where she can spread a little good cheer in the community. There she meets Elizabeth Beacham, a kind, retired legal secretary with no family except a brother who has mysteriously disappeared. Lori is saddened when Miss Beacham passes away suddenly after only a few visits. But when she receives an envelope containing a set of keys and a letter Miss Beacham wrote to her just a few days before her death, it becomes clear that there was much more to the gentle invalid than met the eye. Notices start arriving around the village of the large bequests made before her death. And Lori finds that Miss Beacham’s flat is filled with priceless antiques—an inheritance too precious to remain unclaimed. Armed with a few clues and Aunt Dimity’s help, Lori begins to unearth Miss Beacham’s secrets and, ultimately, the surprising truth about her next-of-kin.

#10 is this interesting series. I get a little tired of the main character so I haven't read any of this series for quite a while. But I thought I would give it a try with this one. This was one of the better stories as it gives Lori some humility which she really needed.

Saddlemaker's Wife by Earlene Fowler
Ruby McGavin, grieving over the recent death of her husband, Cole, is shocked to discover that Cole lied to her about his family. They're not all dead, as he told her, but very much alive, and in his will, he has left her his share of the family ranch in California. Ruby heads to tiny Cardinal, Calif., with Cole's ashes, intent on selling her share of the ranch, but she quickly realizes that Cole had hidden many things from her. Cole's younger brother, Lucas, who has fled his life as a lawyer in San Francisco, has returned to Cardinal, where he scrapes out a life as a saddlemaker. Slowly Ruby and Lucas edge closer to the truth of a secret that haunts both their lives.

This was a very interesting story. You really feel like you are in this small town and getting to know the characters. I've tried to read her other quilting stories and while I enjoyed it but not as much as this story. It will be interesting to see if she writes more with these characters.

Whales on Stilts! by M. T. Anderson
Lily Gefelty's father works for a mad scientist who wears a sack over his head. When she overhears him say that he wants to take over the world, her oblivious father assures her, "Honey, sometimes adults use irony. They don't really mean what they say." Nonetheless, the 12-year-old calls on her two best friends, Katie Mulligan, the star of the "Horror Hollow" novels (think "Goosebumps"), and Jasper Dash, also known as the Boy Technonaut (think "Tom Swift"), to investigate. The trio soon learns that Larry does indeed plan to conquer the world using mind-controlled whales on stilts with laser-beam eyes. No adult will believe them, so it's up to the kids to save the Earth.

This was a very fun entertaining read. Book 2 is already in the works. I love how it shows sometimes the kids do know best.

Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. While on a cruise he is thrown overboard and became lost. While he lived with Abilene he just existed. He never listened to Abilene's stories or understood what it ment to be alone and never loved Abilene though she loved him.

His adventues take him from part of the world to another as he is chosen and lost by several different people who need him at the time. He learns to listen and love and be loved. He discovers that everyone matters and has a story to tell. It is another beautiful story by DiCamillo and the color plates illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline really adds to the story. This would make a great read-a-loud or to read at bedtime. It is lovely.

Don't Look Down by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer
A story of romance and action story, written by two experts in the genres. Jenny Crusie writes Lucy Armstrong, a film director with family problems--why is her sister so depressed, her niece so unhappy, and her ex-husband so intent on getting her back--and career problems--why is the star so determined to do his own stunts, the ingenue so determined to seduce the stunt double, and that Green Beret stunt double so damn attractive? Bob Mayer writers J. T. Wilder, a Green Beret who has his own troubles including the goofball actor he's doubling for, the stunt coordinator who's gunning for him (literally), and the director who looks like Wonder Woman and keeps distracting him from his mission. And that's before the CIA, the Russian mob, and the one-eyed alligator show up.

I've read other books by Jennifer Cruise and she always makes a fun read. Interesting to see her work combined with Boy Mayer who I have not read before. I got kind of tired of the young niece being the comic relief plus the ending was a little predictable to me. A good book to take on vacation or read on the beach.

My Name is Stilton, Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton
Kids in my library love this series - it is never on the shelf so I thought I would try one and it is not the first in the series. We are introduced to his young assistant editor, Pinky Pick, who is only thirteen years old! Geronimo is a nervous, mild-mannered mouse who would like nothing better than to live a quiet life, but he keeps getting involved in far-away adventures with Thea, Trap and Benjamin. The books are written as though they are autobiographical adventure stories. The author is identified only as Geronimo Stilton, and references are occasionally made to past and future books in the series.

The series originated in Italy and has become the most popular children's book series in that country. The books are bright with color pictures and the text changes font styles and colors to match what is happening in the storyline to highlight a certain word. It was distracting to me but I can see why kids like it.

John Rain books by Barry Eisler

Rain Fall
John Rain was born of an American mother and a Japanese father, Rain is a businessman based in Tokyo, living a life of meticulously planned anonymity. Trained by the U.S. Special Forces and a veteran of Vietnam, he is a cool, self-contained loner—and he has built a steady business over the past twenty-five years specializing in death by "natural causes." He is also a man struggling with his own divided nature: Japanese/American; soldier/assassin; samurai/ronin. He is given an assignment to kill a man on a train but to make it look like a heart attack. When he notices an american man going through the dead man's pockets Rain's carefully ordered world begins to unravel. Unknown agents from within and without the international intelligence communities have been circling him for years and, having connected him to the subway job, now have the scent they have been seeking. At the same time, Rain is drawn outside his private world by an alluring jazz pianist, the dead man's daughter, who is the key to the very secrets that her father died trying to reveal.

Fascinating read. You really get a feel like you are in Tokyo and walking beside him. Looking forward to reading more.

Hard Rain
Rain Storm
Killing Rain
Last Assassin

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.