Wolfsbane and Mistletoe


A short story collection featuring stories about werewolves and Christmas by Charlaine Harris, Donna Andrews, Simon R. Green, Dana Cameron, Kat Richardson, Alan Gordon, Carrie Vaughn, Dana Stabenow, Keri Arthur, Joe Konrath, Patricia Briggs, Nancy Pickard, Karen Chance, Rob Thurman and Toni L. P. Kelner.


The holidays can bring out the beast in anyone. They are particularly hard for lycanthropes. Whether wolfing down a holiday feast (use your imagination) or craving some hair of the dog on New Year’s morning, the werewolves in these frighteningly original stories will surprise, delight, amuse, and scare the pants off readers who love a little wolfsbane with their mistletoe.

This was a really fun read, not all the stories were the best but I did enjoy reading such variety. I was amazed by how they could make Christmas and Santa Claus so dark and creepy. Some I had read other works and many I had not so am looking forward to trying some new authors out.

Bodyguard by Christy Tillery French


Natasha Chamberlain - Nattie to her friends - is a young woman with many skills. She is efficient and has a quick mind and wit plus served her time keeping Investigative Services, Inc. in Knoxville Tennessee running smoothly for three years. In her off hours she plays soccer with a go-for-the-jugular mentality. Both on and off the soccer field, Nattie can dish it out as well as take it. She has a feisty way about her, and a hair trigger temper. Nattie has two goals in life: to become a crack investigator and to climb her sexy and mysterious boss like a tree.


Jonce Striker is the founder of I.S.I. He's a man blessed with intimidating size and power, of Cherokee lineage, who keeps his secret past to himself. Nattie has had a crush on him for three years but never dared to make her feelings known. When he agrees to let her guard a wealthy client, the fur begins to fly.


Roger Valentine is a nerdy billionaire who hires I.S.I. to protect him when his life is threatened. Roger is seriously lacking in social skills. When this lonely, isolated man with an overbearing mother meets up with Nattie and her colleagues, his life is changed in more ways than one. His bodyguards soon become the friends and family Roger never had, and their friendship humanizes a once nerdy recluse.


The action is intense as the bodyguards track more than one evil doer out to kill Roger. Nattie's courage under fire, coupled with her zany personality, both impresses and infuriates her boss, adding humor to the mix. And the simmering sexual chemistry between Striker and Nattie finally ignites with mixed results for all concerned. Can they keep their mind on business long enough to save Roger's life?

I had read some reviews of a later book in the series so thought I would give this a try. Not a difficult read but not as good as I hoped. I guess I just felt like the relationships were convenient and a bit contrived. I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't enjoy this book more. I will look for others in this series to see if it improves.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

'Tis the Season! by Lorna Landvik

The story starts with tabloid coverage of Caroline Dixon, an heiress who's lost her way and thinks she finds roadmaps in alcohol and bad behavior. We see her world crumble as she goes from one drunken brawl to another alienating herself from her friends.

We start to see the story via three other characters from Caroline's past and present who eventually connect with her to help her find a better way back. It's written entirely in e-mails and letters which is a bit disconserting at first but does help the story flow. This has some romantic overtones as several of the characters connect romantically but it is not the main focus of the story.

I found myself smiling as I read the emails sent to and fro and friendships develope by chance. It is Christmas after all!

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney)

The book that introduced the world to Agatha Raisin!
Putting all her eggs in one basket, Agatha Raisin gives up her successful PR firm, sells her London flat, and samples a taste of early retirement in the quiet village of Carsely. Bored, lonely, and used to getting her way, she enters a local baking contest. Despite the fact that Agatha has never baked a thing in her life, she is sure the pie she has secretly bought from an upper-crust London quicherie will make her the toast of the town. But her recipe for social advancement sours when the judge not only snubs her entry - but falls over dead! We are introduced to the major characters of this series, Harry Wong, Mrs. Bloxby, Roy Silver and meet James Lacey (who is much more promident in the next book).

Agatha Raisin is one my favorite series that every few years I re-read. I decided to listen to this on CD in the car and it was a fun and fresh as the first time I read it back in 2001. I love re-reading favorite series as it's like visiting old friends.

Dark Light by Jayne Castle (aka Jayne Ann Krentz)

Book 5 in the Harmony books

Years ago a mysterious curtain opened in space and a new planet was discovered. The people of Earth named this new planet Harmony and began to travel there and to colonize it. The atmosphere and conditions were very much like Earth. Then, without warning, the curtain closed again and the colonist on Harmony were stranded. Now, two hundred years later, they exhibit unusual paranormal abilities which not only allow them to survive, but to thrive.

Sierra McIntyre is a reporter for a tabloid newspaper, the Curtain, even though she has no experience in journalism. But, of course, she is writing investigative, hard hitting stories, not like the other stories which appear in the Curtain, and she wants some serious questions answered by the new Crystal Guild boss, John Fontana. Fontanta is the new Guild boss, the man in charge of all the "ghost hunters" who have the paranormal power to control ghost energy found in the catacombs below the city. So Fontana immediately sees the advantage of joining forces with this reporter (who has been a true nuisance for him since he took over as Guild boss) so he proposes that they enter into a Marriage of Convenience in order to investigate these problems together. So after being in the same room with each other for about one hour Fontana asks Sierra to enter into a Marriage of Convenience (not a permanent Covenant Marriage) with him and she agrees! Even though her family views the Marriage of Convenience as little more than a legalized affair, she still just says, OK, sure, why not!

We find out that Sierra moved to Crystal City to get away from her family of overachievers. She considers herself an underachiever so she wants to start over someplace where she will not be compared to her other family members. Of course her being ruthless about getting stories about the Guild wouldn't be considered being an overachiever would it? ha ha.. Fontana is an actual bastard as his father never entered any kind of formal relationship (CM or CM) with his mother. This plays a very minor role in the story has his father's family has to come to him to save the family company. Fontana also can produce Dark Light which is invisible and stronger than any normal light produced on Harmony. Then we learn more about this ultra-violet light that is alien technology, blah, blah, blah.

In this series of stories each heroine has a dust bunny, which in my mind was this kind of Trible (like from Star Trek) looking animal. Her dust bunny is named Elvis and for some reason very prominent in this story. Of course it plays into a rescue scene later in the book but I'm not sure why Elvis had to be so played up. He even wears sunglasses and a cape. Oh, well, comic relief I guess. I'm thinking Krentz maybe had so many people asking her questions about the dust bunnies that she decided to give this one more personality.

Now this was not one of the strongests books by Krentz but it was interesting to see more of Harmony. I think a big part of the problem is that there were several plots going on and none were very strong so I think it conflicted and made it hard to really care for any of the characters. Now I'll keep reading more of Krentz/Castle/Quick's books but probably only check out from the library instead of buying it.

Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon

Father Tim novel

Enjoying retirement and his life in Mitford, North Carolina, Father Tim receives a letter postmarked from his home town. The letter contains only two words: Come home. Although it's been 38 years since he was in Holly Springs, Father Tim and his loyal canine companion Barnabus set out from Mitford, to the small Mississippi town of his childhood.
During his re-discovery of Holly Springs we share his memories and learn why his father was so bitter and angry, why his mother was so sad and why Father Tim became the person he is now.

We see a life similiar small town with Father Tim making new acquaintances easily as well as reacquainting with past ones. The final third of the book is heartbreaking and real and done so eliquently.

I've listened to most of the Mitford books on tape/CD in the car and loved the reader. So this was a bit jarring to hear a different much younger male voice reading Father Tim. But by the end of the story I had forgotten to be annoyed by it. The reader did a great job of making the voices sound real.

One hopes that we'll see more of Holly Springs.

Sugar House by Laura Lippman

Tess Monaghan series - book 5

Glue-sniffing teen Henry Dembrow goes to prison after confessing to killing a young Jane Doe found with a small rubber hose tied in a bow around her neck. A month later he, too, is dead. Coincidence? Ruthie Dembrow, Henry's sister, has her doubts and asks former Baltimore reporter Tess Monaghan, to investigate. Tess agrees only because her father, Patrick, says he owes Ruthie one. Going over the facts of the crime, Tess realizes that she needs to identify the victim and to learn how the victim came to know her alleged killer.

Another great installment of Tess series and it is fun to learn more about Tess's father and background. We see more development of Tess and her boyfriend Crow's relationship.

When the Sandpiper Calls : a cozy mystery by Peggy Darty

Christy Castleman is the local "mystery lady" of Summer Breeze, a town on the Florida Panhandle. Her first mystery novel is a success, and now Christy faces a looming deadline for her second, which keeps her at her computer at all hours. Then she discovers an antique green bottle on the beach with a note: "Call the police. Someone is trying to kill me." Is this a joke? Or is something more sinister going on in Summer Breeze? And what's happened to aggressive realtor Marty McAllister, who has suddenly disappeared from the town? A real murder mystery is brewing right in Summer Breeze, and Christy is in the thick of it.

When a homeless man and then another resident who had protested the realtor's aggressive development on his island are arrested, Christy worries that the real murderer is still on the loose. A further development in the case comes when a jewelry heist in New York back in the 1980s is tied into the murder. The ending is unexpected a bit more violent than I anticipated for a cozy mystery.

Christy has a loving extended family, ranging from her benevolent pastor father to a kid brother who is off in Australia trying to "find himself." One of the most enjoyable characters is Jack, a fisherman and at one time her future father-in-law, with whom Christy maintains a delightful relationship. Christy's almost-too-good-to-be-believed Granny provides respite in the form of country cooking, deep faith, sage advice, and her own wisdom about the murder. Her Granny is hoping Christy will find romance, and it isn't long before Christy meets the handsome war hero Major Dan Brockman, who seems intent on sweeping her off her feet. However, Christy's heart is still aching from a tragic love affair in the past, and she's unsure if she's ready for another man in her life. The Sassy Snowbirds, a fun group of "red hat" women over 50, are Christy's biggest supporters and add color and a bit of help with figuring out some clues. One of the most realistic parts of the book is her relationship with her mother, which shows the emotional complexity between them, while loving, are always marked by a bit of tension. So I enjoyed the variety of characters the author brought to life.

Breaking Cover by J.D. Rhoades

Story unfolds with a newspaper story of two young boys who have been kidnapped from a rural North Carolina town. Tony Wolf lives a reclusive life, but has gotten noticed nevertheless for being such a mysteryman. While driving home from doing errands he spots a white van and sees a terrified young face screaming out the window. He follows the van and discovers the kidnapped boys. He is torn between doing nothing and doing everything. He takes the kidnapper out and calls 911 leaving the boys behind to be rescued by the local cops. But too many questions are left unanswered. He is recognized on a surveillance tape from the local gas station, and suddenly the FBI is very interested. His cover is blown.

Undercover FBI agent Tony Wolf had infiltrated a meth-dealing biker gang until his cover was blown; since then, he's been living under an assumed name outside Pine Lake, N.C. Not even his wife or his employers know where he is. Wolf was believed dead after his cover was blown 4 years ago. When a local reporter comes to his house he knows it is just a matter of time before his enemies come knocking. Now his location is known and he is on the run. To those who have been watching and waiting for him to reappear—drug-crazed bikers thirsty for vengeance, FBI agents hoping to either rescue or silence him and an aggressive local reporter. Wolf proves to be the sort who, once cornered, is far more deadly than his pursuers could have imagined.

While this book had some very violent sections, so I had to skim read those parts, it was a very exciting read. The characters are believable and engaging. It leaves you wanting to know more. I have not read this author before but am curious now to what his previous books are like.

Visions in Death by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts)

Set in the year is 2059, NCY Detective, Eve Dallas is called to Central Park to investigate the murder of Elisa Maplewood. Arriving in an expensive gown and heels, Dallas has to balance her private socail life with her life as a police detective. But death is not neat and tidy and Dallas cannot forget that. The killer had gone to great lengths and taken unnecessary risks in order to stage the scene...the victim was displayed on the rocks near the lake, herhands posed as if in prayer, with a single red ribbon around her neck. Upon closer examination, Dallas discovers the most alarming, as well as, the most telling clue, the eyes had been removed with surgical precision.

When Celina Sanchez, a licensed, registered psychic offers to help with the investigation by sharing her disturbingand surprisingly accurate visions, Dallas is less than receptive to the idea. However, after an extensive background checkand some cajoling, Dallas and Peabody pay Celina a visit at her home. Despite following up on all leads, exhaustive searches and Celina's visions, more bodies were discovered with the killer's grotesque signature.

It doesn't take long for Dallas to determine that the killer hates women and is fascinated by his own strength and domination over women. So she agrees to an interview with the press, reporter NadineFurst, in order to bring the killer out into the open. While Dallas was right about his reaction, she miscalculated the target of his rage. She had anticipated, as the lead investigator, the killer would come after her, instead her partner, Detective Peabody was viciously and mercilessly attacked.

During the hunt for this psychopath, she is forced to deal with abuse issues from her childhood that she has spent a life-time trying to bury. Dallas finally tells Peabody about her past and her battle with demons that she fights every day. It is always interesting to see how Dallas will handle her personal life and friendships. Interesting twist at the end that made the storyline more believeable.

China Lake : an Evan Delaney novel
by Meg Gardiner

The story begins with a religious cult jeering at an AIDS funeral in Santa Barbara, California attended by Evan Delaney. When Peter Wyoming and The Remnant start spewing their hatred the better angels of her nature require her to get in this guy's face. She assumes he is just a bigot, but Evan under estimates this guy, and quickly discovers that Tabitha, her sister-in-law, is a member of The Remnant. Tabitha is still married to Brian, Evan's brother, but she left several months ago and it has been Evan who ended up raising their six-year-old son Luke while Brian was away on carrier duty. Evan's immediate fear is that Tabitha will want Luke back, and she is determined to protect the boy. Fortunately as a Navy brat, a lawyer, and the author of a science fiction novel "Lithium Sunset" featuring the heroine Rowan (the novel is apparently quite popular in high desert cowboy bars), Evan has resources to go alone with her stubbornness and intelligence.

This is a very fast-paced story but I have to say I rolled my eyes a lot. Every situation just seemed so contrived to me and I felt annoyed by it. Even the start of the story with the funeral being picked by this religious group who just happens to have a member who is married to her brother. Of course we find out much more personal stuff is really going on. Plus both Evan and her brother, Brian, are ready to just do whatever they want without thinking of any kinds of consequences. Personally I don't think if the police pulled me over that I would do any of the stuff that happens but that is just me.

Interesting enough the author lives in London but grew up on Southern California. I might read more but I need some distance between myself before I try again.

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan

Set on the last day of business of a Connecticut Red Lobster, we see the story from the manager, Manny DeLeon's point of view. He is a conscientious, committed restaurant manager any national chain would want to keep. Instead, corporate has notified Manny that his—and Manny does think of the restaurant as his—New Britain, Conn., location is not meeting expectations and will close December 20. On top of that, he'll be assigned to a nearby Olive Garden and downgraded to assistant manager.

It's a loss he tries to rationalize much as he does the loss of Jacquie, a waitress and the former not-so-secret lover he suspects means more to him than his girlfriend Deena, who is pregnant with his child. On this last night, Manny is committed to a dream of perfection, but no one and nothing seems to share his vision: a blizzard batters the area, customers are sparse, employees don't show up and Manny has a tough time finding a Christmas gift for Deena. Lunch gives way to dinner with hardly anyone stopping to eat, but Manny refuses to close early or give up hope.

This short book is really packed with great dialog and descriptions of people who work and eat at the Lobster. I read this for my bookclub and we had our discussion at a Red Lobster. You really see a small part of the working class America.

The Young Widow by Cassandra Chan

Phillip Bethancourt and Jack Gibbons Mysteries

Jack Gibbons, an ambitious Scotland Yard detective sergeant, investigates the fatal poisoning of successful businessman Geoffrey Berowne, aided by his best friend from university days, Phillip Bethancourt, who's a wealthy man-about-town with a nose for crime. The chief suspect is Berowne's attractive wife, Annette, whose previous two husbands, both much older than she, also died under odd circumstances. When Gibbons rather predictably starts falling for Annette, he seeks another solution to the murder, despite everything pointing to the young widow as the killer.

A cross between Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christy set in modern day but it had that kind of feel. It was a lot more complicated that I thought it would be but I did enjoy it. I'm looking forward to another endeavour to see how this duo works out.

Eye of Jade by Diane Wei Liang

Formerly a high-ranking member of the Ministry of Public Security, Mei Wang now works for people who need things or persons found in Beijing. (Private investigators are illegal in China, so semantics is employed to get around that hurtle.) Mei has her hands full when she is hired to locate a jade seal from the Han dynasty, previously believed to be destroyed, by an old family friend, Uncle Chen Jitian. Mei and her assistant, Gupin, follow slim leads to a shady dealer who might have connections to the same museum collection supposedly incinerated by the Red Guard. When her mother has a stroke Mei's investigation brings her surprising insights into what her mother had to endure during the harsh Cultural Revolution. The murder of an unimportant man plays a minor role in this provocative novel dealing with what truth is and how our personal perceptions cloud reality.

Liang wrote a memoir about her childhood in the Chinese labor camp and her participation in the Tiananmen Square demonstrations. She gives an interesting perspective to a part of history I am not that familiar with. Personally I found the mystery part not that interesting as it almost seemed to conflict with the relationship between Mei and her family. The mystery just kind of fizzled out at the end but I am curious to see how this charachter is developed.

Three Bags Full : a sheep detective story by Leonie Swann

When shepherd, George Glenn, is found in his field with a spade driven through his body, the sheep he leaves behind takeit upon themselves to solve the murder. The victim's habit of reading to his flock has rendered the animals unusually intelligent,and each sheep contributes his or her own talent as they observe the villagers of Glennkill in hopes of uncovering the mystery.The best detectives in the flock appear to be the brilliant Miss Maple, smart enough to avoid the trivial "Smartest Sheepin Glennkill" contest, the bold black ram Othello, and the all-remembering (and all-eating) Mopple the Whale. As the sheep piece together clues and debate motives, they find that there's no shortage of suspects: "Bible-thumping Beth" paid George frequent visits, George's wife Kate was unhappy, the neighboring shepherd Gabriel has a strange flock of non-fleecy sheep, and the flock's favorite human to place under suspicion, Ham the Butcher, always smells of "screams, pain, and blood."

This story has an interesting premise and I found it rather facinating. The sheep have a particular view of the world and try to associate everything to what they know. The confusion with "grass" is a prime example of what it means to humans versus the sheep. The novel is not fast paced and the ending comes to a satisfying conclusion as they discover that murder does not mean someone else did it. There is a nice addition of the sheep drawn on the bottom of each page, if you flick the pages the sheep gambol, which is cute.

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

2nd book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

The last thing Sookie wanted was to find Lafayette Reynold's body in the back Andy Bellefleur's car. Lafayette was the cook at Merlotte's Bar, where Sookie waited on tables. Andy was a police detective who left his car at the bar because he was too drunk to drive it home. Now Bon Temps, Louisiana is a small rural town, where murders are mercifully rare. However, anything like this is bound to be a major headache for Sookie, who is telepathic, and whose boyfriend is Vampire Bill, the town's major predator. Make that ex-predator; Bill is one of the good people, getting his nourishment from artificial blood these days. As does any vampire who wants to fit into the mainstream world.

But a simple murder case is not enough. Before Sookie and Bill can look into Lafayette's death, Eric, the local vampire leader, summons them to Shreveport. Eric has agreed to send them to Dallas, where Sookie's telepathic talents are needed to solve a disappearing vampire problem. Even before they get to Shreveport, stuff happens. Sookie has a run in with a maenad, who wants tribute from Eric, and decides to write him a note about it on Sookie's back. Bill barely gets Sookie to Eric's lair, where she can be healed. Don't expect Dallas to be any better. There, Sookie finds herself kidnapped by the local anti-vampire club, 'The Fellowship of the Sun,' and scheduled for sacrifice.

Two very different storylines going on in this story. I was impressed by how well it all tied together. Of course lots of sexual tension and blood sucking a long the way but hey it is a romance! I read the first book years ago and haven't really tried any for a long time. But with the series on HBO - Trueblood which is based on this series I thought I would give it another chance. A lot more fun than I remember it being.

In a Strange City by Laura Lippman

Tess Monaghan mystery series

Book 6

Every January 19th, in honor of Edgar Allan Poe's birthday, a loyal clique waits in the small hours for the "Visitor," also known as the "Poe Toaster," to approach Poe's tomb. He wears a formal cape and carries three blood-red roses and a bottle of cognac as tribute. For some reason the press keep their distance, as do bystanders. This year, for the first time, PI Tess Monaghan is present, too, along with her boyfriend, Crow. Tess has been comissioned to discover the identity of the Poe Toaster by a would-be client, Tess awaits the coming of the Visitor in the freezing winter night. Suddenly, two caped men with roses and cognac show up. A shot rings out one man lies dead, the other runs off. Tess tries to piece together what happened with red herrings and partial truths.

This is a much more complicated story than previous Tess novels. So I really enjoyed the complexity of it and enjoyed the ride. Laura Lippman has really become one of my favorite authors as I really enjoy her storylines and her character developments.

No Human Involved by Barbara Seranella

As far as the Venice PD is concerned, the murder of lowlife dealer "Flower George'' Mancini is a clear case of AVA, NHI- - "asshole versus asshole, no human involved.'' So it's no big deal when Mancini's daughter Munch, the chief suspect in his killing, gives Sgt. Mace St. John the slip and disappears into the San Fernando Valley. But when the gun that shot Mancini is linked to a grisly series of dismemberments, Mace wishes he'd paid closer attention to Munch's moves while he had the chance. Even though he squeezes some personal details of her horrible life (her father got her hooked and repeatedly sold her for drugs) out of her attractive probation officer, he has no way of tracing her. As she has reinvented herself as Daisy now working at Happy Jack's Auto Repair, as a lippy mechanic and assiduously building the new paper trail that will bury her old identity for good. While Mace is wrestling with his own father's problems--a series of strokes have left Digger St. John sadly addled--another break in the case links the killings to a deadly, penicillin-resistant strain of gonorrhea, and puts Mace on Munch's trail once again. But does he really want to catch this gamine druggie when she's finding Jesus, going to NA meetings, and trying to make good and old wrongs?

Interesting story, set in the late 1970's in Los Angeles, we see the darker side of free love and drugs era. Munch short for Munchkin as she used to work for the Wiz as an auto mechanic. I enjoyed how the story switched from Munch to Mace until at the end the story overlapped you had a hard time seeing who was saving whom. Munch's character is not someone to feel sorry for as she is a survivor and finding her way out of a life that has no regard to human or animal life. Mace on the other hand is working as a police detective and finding his path filled with roadblocks from work to personal with his dad's declining health. I love at the end how he ends up adopting 2 dogs when he doesn't even want one. Seranella really shows a person's depth by the small details. Definitely worth reading more of her books.

Heroines by Eileen Favorite

On a picturesque acreage near Prairie Bluff, Ill., 13-year-old Penny Entwistle, and her mother, Anne Marie, run a retreat where literary heroines seek temporary refuge from their tragic destinies. Franny Glass, Madame Bovary, Scarlett O'Hara, Catherine Linton and others find respite from their varied crises, but must return to their books eventually and suffer the fate that awaits. Penny, in the first throes of teenage rebellion, has little patience for her mother and the heartbroken or otherwise distraught women Anne Marie refuses to counsel (lest she change the course of their stories). But when a mythical Celtic knight arrives, searching for his lost heroine Deirdre, Penny gets caught up in a web of deception that lands her in the loony bin. While the staff diagnoses her fabulous story as an attempt to deal with the long-ago death of her father, her mother commits Penny as a means of protecting her from peculiar goings-on at the house, and Penny must rely on the very fictional characters her mother favors to help her.

I liked the original premise of the story, heroines who need a break from their story come to a country bed and breakfast. The story takes place in the 1970s and you can see how naive people were back then. We get most of the Anne Marie's & Penny's back story while Penny is is institutionalized. It is heartbreaking as Anne-Marie does nothing to save her daughter and appears so frustratingly passive throughout the story. She seems more like the pothead than her daughter with her inability to deal with situations constructively. Penny, like most confused early adolescent girls, pushes her mother away while craving her attention, while Anne-Marie seems incapable of taking care of anyone but her heroines.

This book almost felt like two books put together so the story just didn't flow well. I'd like to see the author re-write it into two or three books as I think it would be much more satisfying read.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyers

Headstrong, sun-loving, 17-year-old Bella declines her mom's invitation to move to Florida, and instead reluctantly opts to move to her dad's cabin in the dreary, rainy town of Forks, WA. She becomes intrigued with Edward Cullen, a distant, stylish, and disarmingly handsome senior, who is also a vampire. When he reveals that his specific clan hunts wildlife instead of humans, Bella deduces that she is safe from his blood-sucking instincts and therefore free to fall hopelessly in love with him. The feeling is mutual, and the resulting volatile romance smolders as they attempt to hide Edward's identity from her family and the rest of the school.
There is a lot of buzz about this intense vampire teen series in libraries and bookstores. So I finally decided to give book 1 a try. Meyers does a great job with the dialog and creating the erotic tension between Bella & Edward. This book reads fast and leaves you feeling satisifed at the end, but open to sequels if any appear. Of course we know that there are 2 so far with book 4 coming out in August and the movie coming out later this year. So I'll check out book 2 soon. I'm a big fan of vampire books and found this book satisifing and am interested in seeing how she developes the series.