First Grave on the Right

It is rare for me to find a book that is both funny and heartfelt honest. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Darynda Jones' First Grave on the Right is a book that fills both of those categories. The main character in the story is Charley Davidson---and if you can picture the type of woman that can stand up to that name, you'll know what a feisty character she is! Charley is a part-time private investigator and a full-time grim reaper. What, exactly does that mean? Charley literally sees dead people and it's her job to convince them to "step into the light"--and apparently she is very sparkly and attracts a lot of dead people to her. When the dead people that Charley sees have died under less than ideal circumstances (like murder), they often ask Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Charley has a few admirers amongst her retired police officer father's former co-workers, and continues to help her police officer Uncle Bob solve cases with the help of her dead friends. Added to this mix is a mysterious, misty, stranger who keeps slipping in and out of Charley's dreams and waking life and who she can't seem to stop thinking about. The most entertaining part of this book is when Charley carries on conversations with the dead people (that she can see) while she is sitting in cars/ restaurants/ offices with live poeple (who can't see the dead people)---it is hilarious! If you like Janet Evanovich's books starring lingerie-seller-turned-bounty-hunter Stephanie Plum, you will enjoy getting a taste of this entertaining story by Darynda Jones.

Harvest Hunting

Yasmine Galenorn's latest book, Harvest Hunting is another great entry in her Otherworld series. This book is mainly about Delilah, the middle sister of the D'Artigo sisters, although the book does further the story of her and her sisters Camille and Menolly and their husbands and partners. I love this series, because it blends supernatural and romantic elements in an action-packed, believable world. The D'Artigo sisters are half-Fae, half-human and each posesses unique qualities and talents. Delilah is a werecat who also changes into a panther and is on her way to becoming a Death Maiden for the Autumn Lord, Camille is a witch who's powers often backfire and who has aligned herself with three men who help her magic strengthen and Menolly is a vampire who is learning how to exist in the world. A lot happens in this book, in the D'Artigo sisters (and their friends) attempts to defeat the Shadow King and other demons in their path to find the spirit seals and defeat their enemies. The series is a great read--the characters are very interesting and complex and have just as many issues as the rest of us, even though they are only half human.

Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place...

If you love stories about resilient people succeeding in tough situations, make sure you check out 127 Hours, a new movie that has just been released to DVD. It is based on the story, Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston, and tells the story of a harrowing hiking adventure. Aron is an adventure junkie, who enjoys hiking in Blue John Canyon in Utah. An avid mountain climber, 127 Hours is the true story of his remarkable mountain climbing adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon. He spends five days trying to free himself while examining his life, friends and family and surviving the elements and a lack of water. I admired Ralston's courage and tenacity and his amazingly upbeat attitude that remained throughout the five days. The movie is visually beautiful and I enjoyed the juxtaposition of this wonderful natural world contrasted with the gritty struggle of Ralston to break free from the boulder. The movie stays true to the book that it is based on, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, and I think it's worth it to read the book as well as watch the movie in order to get the story in Ralston's own words. A truly great performance by James Franco (it will keep you riveted to your seat) and an incredible courageous story of survival about a man who deserves to be a hero.

A Decadent Way to Die

I've been reading this series by G. A. McKevett sine the beginning (Just Desserts is the first one) and have loved every one. This is the best book yet though and I can't wait to read the next one. This series is about a private detective originally from Georgia, Savannah Reid, and A Decadent Way To Die is set in the fictional town of San Carmelita, CA. Savannah is a plus-size woman and she left the San Carmelita Police Department due to issues with her weight. She now runs the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency with her friend and assistant Tammy, and two retired FBI agents. Her one-time partner at the police department, Dirk Doulter, often helps them on cases and she returns the favor.

In the latest installment, Savannah is commissioned to find out who wants to do harm to Helene Strauss, the 81 year old owner of Strauss Doll Works, Inc. There have been two suspicious "accidents" and the evidence and motive are pointing towards members of Helene's own family. Savannah is on the case but has to do some work alone because Tammy's time is taken up with a new boyfriend who seems intent on controlling her every movement. Savannah's efforts to get Tammy to see the boyfriend's controlling nature are met with resistance until Tammy is savagely beaten. Savannah doesn't let anybody get away with that! As the case of who wants to kill Helene draws to a close, there are some unforseen consequences for Savannah and perhaps at long last the simmering attraction Savannah and Dirk feel for each other will come to a head--or will they once again part ways as just friends?

G. A. McKevitt is a pseudonym for Sonja Massie.

What the Night Knows

I have been on a "thriller" kick lately, and the one I recently read was What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz. As a matter of fact, I flew through the last 44 pages at a record speed last night, heart pounding, because I just HAD to know how it ended! This book is a wonderfully written story with supernatural elements, a psychotic killer (or two) and lots of red herrings that will keep you guessing until the very last page how the story will end. I am a huge fan of Dean Koontz' work and this book did not disappoint me. The hero is John Calvino, a semi-retired police detective who was instrumental in stopping a serial killer when he was a teen ager. Twenty years later, the killings start again and John must figure out how to stop the cycle and keep his family safe. I truly enjoyed Koontz' descriptions of the Calvino's house and the heart-stopping roller-coaster ride of events. The book reads like a good suspense movie and I will not be surprised if a version of this book makes it onto the big screen in a few years. If you like Dean Koontz' books, try also reading Stephen King and Peter Straub, two other authors who write with expertise in this genre.

Meet an "Everyday Icon"

Those cardigans, the necklaces and pins, and of course the kitten heels--these are the hallmarks of Michelle Obama's trademark style. In Kate Betts' new book, Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style, two hundred color photographs, original designer sketches, and historical images give a lavish tour of our First Ladys' style statements. We are taken on a behind-the-scenes journey of how she created her image and, more important, what that image says about American Style today. Much has been written about Michelle Obama but Kate Betts places her in a broader cultural and historical context. This book is the definitive book on how a working mother of two became an unforgettable, global style icon.

Full Dark, No Stars

I haven't read any Stephen King books in a long time, so when Full Dark, No Stars came across my desk, I decided to try it out. The book consists of four short stories in one book: 1922, Big Driver, Fair Extension, and A Good Marriage. The stories are all creepy and scary and give you just enough information that you wish they lasted a little bit longer. This is truly "typical Stephen King writing" and if you love Cujo or Christy, you'll love these stories too. In the book's Afterword, King sums up the books purpose this way: "When it comes to fiction, the writer's only responsibility is to look for the truth inside his own heart. It won't always be the reader's truth, or the critic's truth, but as long as it's the writers' truth...all is well...I have tried my best in Full Dark, No Stars to record what people might do, and how they might behave, under dire circumstances." The people in these four short stories are basically ordinary people that are confronted with a sudden and drastic circumstance and must figure out how to act (or react). The writing is at times tense but never do the heroes and heroines act the way you expect. These four stories are as much an exploration of the human mind as they are creepy thrillers.

Jane Austen...Vampire?

Is it so hard to believe that one of the world's favorite authors is still alive today...running around...as a vampire? This is the premise of Jane Bites Back, a very entertaining novel by Michael Thomas Ford. Jane Austen is living as Jane Fairfax in the sleepy college town of Brakeston, New York. She is the owner of Flyleaf Books, a moderately successful bookstore (who is surprised by this???) and is a bit weary of having lived for the last 234 years. Jane has been trying to get her "big break" by getting her novel, Constance, published while watching the stunning sales of anything having to do with Jane Austen and not receiving any royalties from the sales. Her manuscript is rejected 116 times before she receives her big break and a publisher decides her novel is one of the best things written in a really long time. Things get a little crazy when she begins to be pursued by a local contractor (should she tell him she's undead???) and a suitor from her past. This entertaining novel contains lots of references to dead (and un-dead) authors and literary figures from the past and it is a treat to read. I am a big Jane Austen fan, so it was enjoyable imagining her trying to live a comtemporary life, and doing things such as talking on a cell phone and being a panelist at a romance writers' conference. Jane is charming because she is constantly in turmoil about who should know she's a vampire, and she really thinks feeding on blood is a "necessary evil." This is a great read for vampire and literary story lovers! If you like this story, try also reading Stephanie Barron's, Jane the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor, the first book in the Jane Austen Mysteries series.

Humorous Movies

I recently spent some "brrrr-y" days watching movies at my house. Two of my recent favorites were Despicable Me and The Lottery Ticket. Despicable Me stars Steve Carell and is a wonderful story about a villain named Cru who is trying to pull off the greatest "steal" ever by stealing the moon. He and his thousands of adorable minions (trust me, you'll think they are cute too) invent gadgets and steal things in their attempt to make Cru (voiced by Steve Carell) the "World's Greatest Villian." While on this journey Cru ends up adopting three orphaned girls, and the way they wrap Cru around their fingers is one of sweetest things I have ever seen. This movie is rated PG (Rude Humor and Mild Action) and is a great family movie night pick.

The Lottery Ticket is a great "what-if" movie that describes what happens when a young man from the local neighborhood wins the lottery. Kevin Carson (played by Bow Wow) buys a lottery ticket on a whim and ends up winning $370 million--the bad news is that the lottery office is closed for the long July 4th weekend and Kevin must figure out how to keep a lid on his good fortune and survive the three-day weekend. This movie is full of twists and turns and very funny scenes, and the viewer discovers, with Kevin, the "good, the bad and the ugly" in his friends. There is a brilliant cast in this film (Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton, Loretta Divine, Ice Cube, Bill Bellamy, T-Pain, Ketih David, Terry Crews, and Mike Epps) and it is truly a great experience to watch it. The movie is rated PG-13 (Sexual content, Language including a Drug Reference, Some Violence and Brief Underage Drinking) and could be a great choice for a couples movie night.

Port Mortuary

Patricia Cornwell has recently published a new entry in her Kay Scarpetta series, titled Port Mortuary. Scarpetta had accepted a scholarship from the Air Force many years agao to pay off her medical school debt and those military ties have led her to a training fellowship at the port mortuary at Dover Air Force base when the book opens up. Scarpetta has been working at the air force base for several months longer than she has expected and is relieved when her niece Lucy, her husband Benton and her co-worker Marino call her back unexpectedly to the Cambridge Forensic Center, her "true job" that she has been neglecting as a result of the fellowship. The case that calls Scarpetta back concerns a young man who died but when his body is examined the next day it appears as if he was alive when he was locked inside the CFC's cooler. This is the case that could end Scarpetta's new job, almost before it begins! The plot of this book is typical Cornwell, but in my opinion, Scarpetta seems as if she is hanging on the outskirts of the action while Benton, Lucy and Marino do all the work. I believe Patricia Cornwell has used this book to "launch" the next stage of Scarpetta's career as the head of the CFC. There is a great amount of forensic detail spelled out here, which will please Cornwell's fans, but this book is not the best fit for a series' newcomer.