The Blue Girl (Firebird) by Charles de Lint

The Blue Girl (Firebird) by Charles de Lint

This was a very interesting and different YA book. A blending of real world and the world of fairies and ghosts, as well as other "darker" beings.

It's more than that, though. It also is about family and friendship, and I think it's a great read for young adults, especially with the book's theme of individualism and loyalty and respect. Imogene is a great character, flawed but noble. Maxine is strong and brave, far more than she would have thought. And together, they realize that they have a great strength.

I highly recommend this book for all ages! 4 1/2 stars.

Ten Big Ones: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich

Ten Big Ones: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich

Love this series! In this one, Stephanie has a contract put out on her by a local gang. This one seemed a little more serious and dark than some of the other ones.

I'll be taking a break from this series but can't wait to get back to it!

To the Nines: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich

To the Nines: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich

After reading two great YA Paranormals, I needed something totally different, and I can always depend on Stephanie Plum :) In this one, she's looking for a missing immigrant, and in the process uncovers other related murders, plus takes a business trip to Vegas with Lula and Connie.

Lots of laughs and intrigue, plus the sexual tension with Ranger and Morelli - and this book, like the others, just keeps you glued to the book all the way to the end - 4 1/2 stars!

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2) by Richelle Mead

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2) by Richelle Mead

After reading the first in this series (Vampire Academy), I went out and bought the next one! I think this one is even better - and that's saying a lot! I love this series, and can't wait until the next book comes out (come on November!!).

In this book, Rose comes closer to graduation, while outside the academy, the Strogoi has upped the ante in their attacks against Moroi and the guardians.

There were many parts of this book which brought tears to my eyes, both happy and sad ones. I love books that really pull at my emotions, and this one definitely did that.

Highly recommend this series!

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1) by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1) by Richelle Mead

Once I finally had a chance to sit down and get into this book, I read straight through! I loved it - I love Rose and Lissa, Christian, and Dimitri. Mead has created a really great alternate view of vampires - the "typical" ones (those who can't be in sunlight, die from fire, beheading, or a stake in the heart) are evil, and Rose is a Guardian, who protects Lissa (also a vampire, but not "turned") from the evil ones.

We learn about Vampire Royalty, history, and magic - and even mystical and historical legends. All around, this is a well-thought out, intriguing story, and I'm heading out in the next day or two to get the next one in this series! Definitely a 4 1/2 star book!!

Brigadoom: A Kate London Mystery by Susan Goodwill

Brigadoom: A Kate London Mystery by Susan Goodwill

I'm always happy when the first book in a series is good! This one doesn't disappoint. The characters are well-drawn, and the mystery is believable. A romance is set-up, and we're introduced to the "supporting cast" in a way that fit in well with the story.

Kate London and her aunt are trying to restore her family's theater, but of course, things aren't going well. When a vandal breaks in, and then is later discovered murdered, Kate is of course considered a suspect. She tries to prove her innocence, with her aunt's "help."

This is a fun read and I'll definitely be reading the next one (which is sitting here here in my TBR - thanks Cindy!) - 4 1/2 stars :)

Secrets of My Suburban Life by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Secrets of My Suburban Life by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Very good YA book. Ren and her father move from New York to the suburbs, and as she tries to fit in and make friends, she discovers that another student has been in an online sex chatroom, and is planning to meet the other man. Ren intervenes, and in the process, learns quite a bit about herself and others.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

This is an amazing book! I absolutely loved it. I took my time reading it, because I wanted it to last a while and I wanted to make sure I read each word.

The story begins with the narrator's accident, which leaves him horribly burned and near death. As he recovers, he's visited by Marianne Engel, and it is her story that fills the majority of the book. She claims to be over 700 years old - and is currently a renowned scultor of gargoyles (or grotesques, as she says they are called).

I don't want to give too much away, because the joy in the book is reading her history, the stories of her friends, and ultimately, the story of the narrator's recovery.

But I will say this - it's a great book - and it gets all five stars!

Lori Tagged Me!

Here are the rules: I am going to list three categories of books. 3 MUST Read Books, 3 Keep Your Eyes on These, and 3 Look For These Soon. Keeping with the theme, I am going to tag at least 3 bloggers. They should put these same lists on their blog but SUBTRACT one book from each list and ADD one of their own. Then they should tag at least 3 more bloggers. It will be fun to see how the lists change as they go around the blogosphere. Please come back to this post and leave a comment so I can see how the lists are changing.

Since this is Book Buzz…please keep your lists to titles released in 2007-2009.

So, here goes…[asterisks are next to my additions]


3 Must Read Books:
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
*Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain
The Lace Reader, by Brunonia Barry

3 Keep Your Eyes on These:
Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer
The Grift by Debra Ginsberg
The Keepsake, by Tess Gerritsen

3 Look For These Soon:
*Cross Country by James Patterson
When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

Questions To Ask Before Marrying (Red Dress Ink) by Melissa Senate


A great chick-lit book! Twin sisters, Ruby and Stella, drive to Las Vegas in search of the father of Stella's baby - and to give Ruby time to decide once and for all if she's marrying the right guy! Some of it was fairly predictable, but I honestly was thrilled with the way it ended. All the way through, the characters are wonderful - not just the main characters, but the ones that Stella and Ruby meet along the way. This was one that was hard to put down, and I hated that it ended.
4 1/2 stars!

Death Perception (Psychic Eye Mysteries, Book 6) by Victoria Laurie

Death Perception (Psychic Eye Mysteries, Book 6) by Victoria Laurie

Another great addition to this series! I love Abby Cooper - she's a great character :) In this book, Abby and Dutch head to Las Vegas to look for his kidnapped cousin. Cat and Candice show up to help out as well and there's lots of intrigue, great characters, and a solid, unexpected ending.

I'm well aware of the controversy with this author, and you know what? I still like the books and will keep reading them :)

Thank you to Jeffrey Cohen!

He was kind enough to post on my blog :) So I want to make sure I let everyone know that they definitely need to read his books! I haven't read his Aaron Tucker books yet, but I just love the Double Feature mysteries!

It Happened One Knife (A Double Feature Mystery) by Jeffrey Cohen

It Happened One Knife (A Double Feature Mystery) by Jeffrey Cohen

Another cute addition to this series! Elliot's investigating again, this time looking into the mystery surrounding the death of an actress from 50 years ago. At the same time, he's "helping" the police and Anthony look for Anthony's missing film, trying to reconcile with his ex-wife, and dodge bullets! 4 stars!