The Loft Literary Center

Heather's Book Blog

nobody@vox.com(Heather Kay) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:36:56 -0700

Please visit my new blog at

www.HeathersBookBlog.com

all future posts will be located here!

This is a Book Blog focused on Paranormal Romance Novels. I am always look ing for a good book so your suggestions are most welcome.

Thank You -Heather

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Sookie Stackhouse, Anita Blake, Riley Jenson

nobody@vox.com(Heather Kay) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:34:39 -0700

Sookie Stackhouse, Books 1-7

I have read what I consider the top three Vampire Romance/Mystery book series that are out there. My Vampire interest was recently acquired through the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, however I searched for a more adult approach on the subject matter and this is what I recommend.

Sookie Stackhouse (The Southern Vampire Mysteries) by Charlaine Harris. There are currently 8 books in the series with the next book due out in May. I read these books before HBO picked up the series True Blood which is based on them. I find the show to be slow, but that is probably because I am years down the road in Sookie Stackhouse's life. (and you can never really fully adapt a book to the screen you just miss all of the characters thoughts and feelings)

The series takes place in Louisiana and is about Sookie who is telepathic, works in a bar, lives with her grandmother, and does not have luck with men. Through recent laws passed vampires are now legal citizens. This has changed life in the small town of Bon Temps. The town is very racist to the newly revealed vampires. Bill the vampire moves in next door to her and she discovers that she cant hear his thoughts or the thoughts of any other vampire. Bill becomes her boyfriend and with that relationship she goes deep into the vampire community and catches the eye of many other vampires.

The series includes Shape Shifters, Ware Animals, Witches, Fairies and few other magical creatures that make this world very interesting and unpredictable. There is a string of different love interest throughout the series that will have you wanting more. There is also always someone who is trying to get Sookie killed or put in danger the ones she loves. I recommend this series as an introduction to the Vampire Romance/Mystery category.

Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 1)

The next series I recommend is Riley Jensen (Guardian Series) by Keri Arthur. I have read 6 of the 7 books in the series and I intend to complete the 7th in the next few days. The next installment in the series is due out in October. This series is about Riley Jenson half Vampire half Werewolf. This series dives more into the

werewolf side of things that is lacking from the other series. It follow her and her job which starts off as an office worker it the Directorate of Other Races but it evolves into the Guardian job that her boss keeps steering her towards.

Riley's twin brother is kidnapped and with a naked Vampire who has amnesia that is on her doorstep she sets out to find her brother. These books have a lot of fight scenes that are very visual, it is real easy to hold your breath through a few pages before you realize you are even doing it.

Riley goes through a string of conflicted lovers and relationships that leaves you as a reader unable to decide who to pull for. The nonstop action makes these books a very fast read. This series takes you deep into an unknown world that you could never imagine existed. I recommend this book if you are looking for a good Vampire Romance/Mystery with a window into the world or Werewolves.

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Book 1)

The final and my favorite of the three series is the Anita Blake (Vampire Hunter) by Laurell K Hamilton. I have read 15 of the 16 books in the series (I cant seem to find a copy of Blood Noir anywhere and had to place a special order that is taking forever to come in) The 17th in the series is due out in June.

This series is about Anita Blake who is a necromancer (someone who raises zombies) by day and a legal vampire hunter by night. She is known in the vampire world as The Executioner because of her high kill count. Anita also a part of the Regional Preternatural Investigation Team RPIT which is the department of the police that deals in all crimes involving a monster of sorts.

Anita is torn between relationships and and her own moral hang-ups. This series goes deep into the Vampire and Werewolf community and a few other things that seen to fit right into this world of mayhem. Hamilton has done a really good job with describing this world so that you can imagine everything that Anita is experiencing. You also get to learn about weapons, which was never really my thing but it is put out there in such an interesting way that you can't help but want more.

This series is never dull for even a moment, you are constantly taken from one thing to the next without any time to breathing. There is also such a long list of characters that you never get bored with the same personalities.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who is interested in the Vampire Romance/Mystery. One of the best things about it is the amount of books in the series. I read very fast reader and I was on this series of books for awhile and never got bored. I cant wait for the next book in the line up.

Any book suggestions or comments please let me know!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse Book 9) by Charlaine Harris

nobody@vox.com(Heather Kay) — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:18:04 -0700

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9)

SPOILER ALERT!!! I read this book in only one day! I had forgotten how just how intense Sookie Stackhouse's world was. This book was non stop action from the start. Here is the description from the back of the book.

Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps—and nothing about weres.

Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works—and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it.

But there’s a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings—older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves—is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle.

Here is the real deal. The book starts with the Weres coming out to the world. Sam shifted in the bar to show everyone that he was really a shapeshifter. Not everyone took the news so well and Sam's stepfather shot his mother when she told him her secret. Sam had to immediately leave to be by her side in Texas and he left Sookie in charge of the bar.

Sookie was approached by Eric's daytime guy with a request for Sookie to meet with Eric at Fangtasia. He also gave her something wrapped in velvet and said that Eric requested that she gives it to him in front of his guest, which happened to be the new Vampire King of Louisiana. When Sookie arrives at the bar and hands Eric the wrapped gift he opens it and it is the small knife that was used in vampire weddings. This meant that Sookie belonged to Eric and they were married in the vampire community. This protected Sookie because the King of Louisiana was there to request Sookies presence with him to gather information, and because Quinn requested to see Sookie. Sookie was outraged by Eric's trick but their blood tie made it her for her to stay mad.

Sookie Returns to Bon Temps the next morning the FBI at her door questioning her about the explosion and wanted to know how she was able to find the survivors and who was the boy that assisted her. During their questioning Sookie receives a call that Crystal, Jason's pregnant wife was crucified outside of Merlots Bar. The FBI agents thought it might be a hate crime and they tagged along with Sookie to the bar.

Sookie is also visited by her great grandfather Niall the Fairy. He tells Sookie that she may be in danger because of a fray war that was forming and his enemy was trying to kill and his bloodline. Sure enough a Fairy shown up to kill Sookie but she is gardening and happened to have an iron tool in her hands and killed the Fairy.

Sookie also has another surprise visitor that was Quinn. Bill sees Sookie and Quinn arguing outside and comes over to protect Sookie. I turns in to a fight and ends with Sookie getting knocked out. When she wakes up Eric is in bed with her and she knows he gave her his blood to help her recover. Sookie gets the courage to ask Eric if he really remembers the time they spent together when he was under a spell and he tells her that he remembers every second. He also told her that part of the spell was that he would be close to his hearts desire, and that was why he was running down Sookie's road. And he offers for Sookie to quit her job and move into his house, but she refuses.

Arlene makes an attempt on Sookie's life and she is arrested along with her boyfriend. Sookie spots another fairy in the woods and is worried about her safety. She calls in a favor with the vampires and the werewolves she is sent Trey from the weres and Bubba from the vampires. Trey is poisoned Bubba is weakened, and Sookie is kidnapped by fairies. Sookie learns that Niall is from the Air fairies and Brendan is of the water fairies and they were responsible for the death of her parents.

She is tortured and knew she was going to die, but she wakes up in a hospital with Claudine. Eric arrives shortly and he said Brendan is on his way to destroy everyone. He gives Sookie a lot of his blood to get her strong enough for the fight. He then bring her into the room where Bill is receiving blood from Clancey in preparation for the fight. Bill tells Sookie that he will die fighting for her. Brendan and the Frey bust into the room and the fight begins. Of corse the vampires win the fight. Pam comes and picks up everyone and returns them home.

Niall the only remanding prince decides to close the off the fray world and remove all contact with the humans for the humans safety. He goes to tell Sookie bye and when he is leaving he says that the vampire really loves her but he leaves before she could think to ask which vampire.

Here is chapter one from Charlene Harris's website, enjoy!

Dead and Gone Chapter One

Book 3 of 50 in the 365 Challenge!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress Book 1) by Jeaniene Frost

nobody@vox.com(Heather Kay) — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:20:14 -0700

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1)

SPOILER ALERT!!! So I just finished Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost. This book was a super fast read I finished it in one day, its action packed, has a nice little romance story and its keeps you wanting more. Its also fun because it is set in todays world and vampires are still in hiding. Here is the Blurb from the back of the book.

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.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

Ok so Cat is a half vampire because her mother was raped by a newly made vampire and becomes pregnant with her. As a result of this her mother has a hatred to vampires and insist that Cat kill as many as she can find because they are all murderous monsters. Cat goes out to clubs and lets vampires hit on her and leaves the bar with them, when they make their move to drain her she kills them.

This leads to her meeting Bones, a master vampire hit man, who notices Cat and her little mission. He kidnaps her because he thinks she it working for the man that he has been tracking to kill. When he discovers that she is something different and realizes her potential gives her a choice of death or partnership in his mission. Cat accepts because she knows that it is her only chance to live.

Bones trains cat for weeks and they set out with Cat as bait to catch bad vampires with Bones waiting to question them before they kill them. Bones is trying to get to Hennessy a vampire who is selling young human girls to vampires for considerable amounts of money. He has been searching for him for 11 years and intends to track him with information form the vampires they hunt down.

In this process Cat falls for Bones, who is already in love with her, but is fighting her feelings because she was brought up believing that all vampires are evil. Cat is also still scarred from her first serious relationship with a boy who left her as soon as she had sex with him. As Cat struggles with her feelings Bones tricks her into going out on a date with him and just as they are about to kiss Hennessy walks into the club. Cat lures Hennessy out of the club and her and Bones attempts to kill him but they fail.

They continue hunting vampires to get to Hennessy. In the process Cat decided she loves Bones and they start dating, but she lies to her mother and tells her that she is dating her human neighbor.

Hennessy's vampires find where Cat's family lives and they kill her grandparents and kidnap her mother in order to get Cat. Bones is busy killing Hennessy and Cat discovers that his partner is the governor, she goes straight to his house and kills him. The police show up and arrest her and the FBI comes in to take her into custody.

On the way there the FBI agent Don tells her they are in a new devision in paranormal investigation and wants to hire Cat to hunt rogue vampires because she is the only of her kind. She is offered a job new identity and a home for her and her mother each, for 10 years in the FBI and no contact with vampires. She agrees knowing that this is the only way she will not go to prison and the only way to save them form killing Bones. Bones shows up just after Cat agreed to their terms and is unaware of her plans. He stops the car that has Cat in it and gets Cat and her mother. They go to a place to hide so he can make arrangements for them to leave the country.

Cat has no intention on leaving with him because she knows the FBI will track them down and kill them, but she doesn't want to tell Bones because she knows he will talk her out of it. Bones leaves to take care of a few last minute plans and Cat leaves Bones a note breaking up with him.

Cat and her and her mother leave and go meet Don and his crew where she starts her new job and is in command of a new crew she must train. She doesn't stop thinking about Bones but she knows this is the only way he will be safe.

Book 4 of 50 in 365 Challenge!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Midnight Sun (Twilight Series, Edwards Version) by Stephenie Meyer

nobody@vox.com(Heather Kay) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:50:06 -0700

The Twilight Saga Collection

So Midnight Sun is Twilight form Edwards point of view. As you may know Stephenie Meyer was in the process of writing this book when it was illigally posted on the internet. She was so upset by this that she has stopped writing the book but has put the partial daft on her website.

I liked this installment better than Bella's version of the story. However that may only be because I have read the story from Bella's point of view and this fills in all of the blanks. And I really like that we get to hear everyones thoughts as Edward hears them. The incomplete draft has left me wanting more, I really hope Myers finishes the book,

Here is the link to Midnight Sun on Stephenie Myers website. Have Fun!

Midnight Sun: Edwards Version of Twilight by Stephenie Myer

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress Book 4) by Jeaniene Frost

nobody@vox.com(Heather Kay) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:22:31 -0700

The fourth installment of the Night Huntress Series will be released on July 28. Here is a promo clip from Jeaniene Frosts website.

Destined for an Early Grave Jeaniene Frost Book Trailer

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress, Book 4) by Jeaniene Frost

nobody@vox.com(Heather Kay) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:52:06 -0700

Jeaniene Frost

SPOILER ALERT!!! This is the fourth installment in the Cat and Bones series. I liked the different twist that it took on the Vampire world. Here is the cut from the back of the book. Her deadly dreams leave her in grave danger

Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now its time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about. Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her. She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave.

Here is the real skinny. You start the book on a nice vacation with Cat and Bones and then things get really strange as they always do in the paranormal world. Cat is having dreams of a vampire she has never met but he claims her as his own. This vampire Gregor, is known as the Dreamsnatcher because he can steal people out of their dreams.

It is revealed that he has met Cat years go and apparently they are married and bound to each other. Cat has no memories of this because Mencheres has erased them and then imprisoned Gregor for his own benefit (He wanted Cat to bond with Bones to strengthen his own line). Gregor escapes and states that he and Cat are married and wants to reclaim her but no one can confirm one way or the other if their bond is true (Mencheres hid Cats memories so deep that he cannot even replenish them) If Cat is truly bound to Gregor then her bond to Bones is void. Gregor needs to die but he is a powerful vampire and Bones is concerned of his strength. Many vampires will not side with Bones if Cat is bond to Gregor because by vampire law Cat then belongs to Gregor.

They seek out the partnership of Marie Laveau to gain her on their side incase a battle erupts with Gregor. They fail in gaining her partnership but Cat learns from her that Gregor has the power to return Cat's memories of their time together. This puts a great strain on Cat and Bones relationship because she wants to go to Gregor and get her memories restored so she can know if there was a marriage. Gregor snatches Cat from her dreams and she ends up getting her memories restored by him and it is revealed that they were bound to each other by vampire marriage. Cat stabs Gregor with a silver knife and he allows her to call Vlad to come and get her and bring her back to Bones. This angers Bones to know that she had her memories restored and she does in fact belong to Gregor. Cat and Bones are constantly arguing and they eventually split up, Bones returns to New Orleans and Cat goes to stay with Vlad.

Cat is taking sleeping pills that were supplied from her Uncle that would allow her to have dreamless sleep. When it was revealed that the pills side effects included a short temper and were the result of a majority of her and Bones fights she stops taking the pills. This makes her susceptible to Gregor snatching her from her dreams again. The only way he cannot invade them is if she a full vampire. Vlad offers to make the change but she only wants Bones to change her. After a series of misunderstandings Bones agrees to change her into a full vampire and their bond is as strong as ever.

When Cat transforms into a vampire there is an odd twist, she only drinks dead blood from vampires, and she does form Bones and Vlad. When Gregor finds out she has become a vampire he is angry because he cant get to Cat in her dreams so he kidnaps her mother and transforms her into a vampire against her will. Cat, Bones and the crew break into Gregors place to take back her mother. In the ambush things were not going as planed and Cat managed to burn the house down with pyrokinetics that she did not know she possessed. They retrieved her mother but Rodney the Ghoul was killed in the process.

Bones challenges Gregor to a fight to the death. Law Guardians along with several Master Vampires are there to observe and make sure rules are followed. Each vampire only had 3 knives to aid in the fight. They fought down to their last knives and Gregor used his last knife in Bones back, it was not a killing strike but Bones was dying from the injury and Cat could sense this but did not understand why. When Gregor went in for the killing he turned to smile at Cat and his almost victory over Bones. All of a sudden Gregor burst into flames and instantly was killed by Cats anger. The Law Guardian states that Cat dies for interfering with the fight. Bones then recover enough to reveal that hidden in Gregors weapons was an injection device that pumped liquid silver into him for a faster kill. This meant that Gregor was guilty of cheating and Cat was free. It is revealed that when Cat drinks from another vampire she acquires and special powers that they may posses like Vlad and his pyrokinetics. Cat and Bones are finally able to get back to their vacation. The End!

Frost's next book is a sin off about Cat's Friend Denise, First Drop of Crimson due out in Feb 2010.

Book 6 of 50 in the 365 Challenge!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend