Books I love. Kim, Charlaine, Jim. Oh, what fun!

      In the time since the last post I have had some changes in my schedule.
I was running around being crazy trying to be a mom and house cleaner while studying for some difficult classes. This was during my summer "break". Thankfully, my summer cram finished really early and I had a few weeks off.
    
    In that time off I took the opportunity to catch up on some pleasure reading. Don't get me wrong, I used the time to catch up on my review work(for which I will post the links to those reviews as soon as they are available) but mainly, I had a back up of books that I have been dying to read that my hubby gave me for Christmas and my B-day.

    And I've decided to write a few things about them here. (I'll try not to give any spoilers away.) 

    The first book I read was Jim Butcher's "Ghost Story" Which is #12 in the Dresden Files.

     First off, I love this series. I have been following Harry Dresden's adventures for a few years now. 
    I wasn't sure how this book would go. At the end of the last book Dresden had been shot and fell into the water. In this story it's about him being a ghost(if an albeit unusual one) that's trying to solve his own murder. It introduces new people and integrates  some old faces from earlier books. It was fast paced but it also took time to focus on some important character development. The ending was fantastic and leaves Dresden in a pickle and the reader eager to delve into the next book coming out in November. I will be getting "Cold Days" when it is out. 

(I really hope something happens between Murphy and Dresden in this book. *fingers crossed*)

(I wonder where he'll live now? With Mab, ya know, since his house was destroyed  a couple books back?)

     The next book I read was Kim Harrison's "A Perfect Blood" Which is the 10th book in "The Hollows" series.

     Again, another series I adore not only for the action packed scenes but also it is a very character driven series. I love that Rachel is always screwing things up by always following her instinct without thinking things through. Ivy is sexy and dangerous(who doesn't want to be that?) Jenks is one funny Pixie that cusses like a sailor and is more Wiley than anyone guesses. And Trent...sigh...I don't even know where to start. He is rich, arrogant and suave. but he is also secretly nice(to Rachel) and really sexy.

     In this story Rachel has to grapple with a decision and with some feelings she's having for Trent. Since she barely escaped the ever after, she's been living in fear and living without her magic. Through some scrapes(where Trent saved her skin) she realizes that she can't keep putting herself and her friends in danger by staying neutered. But, if she removes the magic charm the blocks her from the ley lines, then Al(her pissed off demon mentor) will find her and punish her for escaping. The ending was good and leaves me wanting to read the next installment.

(Will she and Trent finally get jiggy? or will they continue their emotional tug-o-war?)

(Will she continue her demon training with Al? Can he help her "fix" the hole she made in the ever after?)




And before this book comes out in January, there is a book of short stories coming out in October that has the story of Trent and Jenks adventure from "A Pale demon" where they disappeared for a couple chapters. 
That book is:

   

(I am interested in the adventure but mostly want to know if being in Trent's POV gives any clue to his feelings for Rachel.)

And the last set I read were Charlaine Harris's "Dead Reckoning" and "Dead Locked" books 11 and 12 in the "Southern Vampire Mysteries" series.

By this book Sookie and Eric have been an item for a while but they have been having trouble. Especially with communication. As always, there are other issues. Someone's been trying to kill Sookie. Also, there have been issues with the left over Fae. Sookie is sucked into a murder plot and after all is said and done she's tired. 
There was some good action and some humor. I will admit to being pissy at Eric a couple times and I felt bad for Pam and Bubba. And I think that if a book can incite emotion, it must be pretty good. 

     I found out that this is the second to the last book. Things continue  to get worse between Eric and Sookie but she and Sam's friendship get's closer. (She even has the opportunity to save Sam) She finds out some hard truths about Claude and this book leads to ALL the Fae leaving Bon Temps.

(I wonder about the fly by call from Quinn out of nowhere)

(Her decision makes Eric POd)

My theory on where this might be going: 1)I think that Eric will leave. 2)she's pretty much put the brakes on anything happening with Bill(no matter how much he Luuuves her 3)Throughout this book all the men folk have made a mention or have been jealous of Sam 4) Sookie has made many mentions about how nobody is good enough for Sam--she doesn't know who is but...5) Sookie saved Sam's life and will be there emotionally for him after his break up....and 6) I think she and Sam will date, co-own Merlott's and have a family...(I am not sure how I feel about it. I am an Eric fan but Sam is a nice guy.)

The next book "Dead Ever After" comes out in May. It is also the final installment of the series. I will Have to read it.

And yes, I am a truebie too. Even if they aren't following the books exactly. It is still a great show and they have Alexander Skarsguard playing Eric...What's not to love?

So, How about you? What have you been reading for fun?
Anybody a fan of any of these book series? I'd love to hear your take on them.