Demons Not Included by Cheyenne McCray

Title: Demons Not Included
Author: Cheyenne McCray
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Demons Not Included is the first book in a new series for McCray. This being the first book I have read by McCray I was impressed how she the story flowed and each aspect of the characters presented will fleshed out in the story line. McCray introduces you to a half-human half-Drow woman named Nyx During the day when she does most of her work with the human world she is a blonde haired human nothing out of the norm. However at night Nyx becomes as she states it several times an amethyst (NOT PURPLE)-skinned, dark-haired Drow.

Nyx gets her strong will and strength from her dad and her daytime human form from her mother. The difference between Nyx and other Drow is she would rather live in the human realm and she is a female warrior. Nothing that the male drow's look favorably on.

While in the human realm she finds that others are being killed by a demon and with the help of her co-worker and a cute police officer who knows about the paranormal they set out to find out who is committing the murders.

McCray's writing grabbed me from the beginning of the story and had me routing for Nyx and her cute cop friend. The story never got dull with me and at the end had me wanting the next book in the series to be out. I hope the wait for the next book in the series is not a long one as I want to continue the story McCray has started for Nyx.

This book has everything in it that I could ask for love and romance, mystery and action. Great job by Cheyenne McCray

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Title: Living Dead in Dallas
Author: Charlaine Harris
Rating: 4 out 5 stars


Just when Sookie thinks things are settling down for her and Bill she is requested actually demanded to go to Dallas by Eric Sookie agrees to go as long as Bill is there with her. And so the next adventure in Sookie’s life begins.

Upon arriving in Dallas an attempt is made to capture Sookie but is unsuccessful. After getting to the hotel and checking in Sookie discovers that there are other telepaths in the world. She is not alone. When meeting with the vampires of Dallas Sookie comes to learn her job. There is a vampire missing and they want Sookie to find out if the fellowship of the light is responsible. Teaming up with her is a man by the name of Hugo who is also dating a vampire.

What happens next can come as a surprise to the reader. This book was a nice sequel to the first in the series Dead Until Dark. Harris does a great job of keeping the same characters prominent in the book while telling a new story building on the last book.

The only problem I had is if you are watching the series True Blood you will find the similarities of the first season and the first book end just there. Season two is based loosely around book two.

I recommend that one read this series as just that a book series not a series that a tv show is based on less you maybe disappointed.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Title: Dead Until Dark
Author: Charlaine Harris
Rating: 4 out of 5 started

I originally picked this book up a year ago and never read it. I gave the book to a friend and thought nothing of it until I started watching the HBO show True Blood and found out that it was based on the series by Charlaine Harris. So I purchased a box set of the books. Books 1-6 I believe. Usually I like to read the books first that a show is based on but I did it in reverse order. For all you True Blood fans season one closely follows book one in the series.

Dead Until Dark you meet Sookie Stackhouse a young girl living in Bon Temps and working as a waitress. However, Sookie is not your average girl. Sookie possesses a power that allows her to hear what people are thinking. This causes Sookie to viewed as an outcast. Sookie's life is thrown upside down when she meets a gentleman by the name of Bill Compton. He is different then the others in town for the fact that Sookie can't hear his thoughts. The world is quiet when she is around him. Sookie soon finds out that Bill is not your average man, he is a vampire.

Sookie soon falls in love with Bill and together work to solve the mystery of the murders being committed in Bon Temps. While trying figure out who is behind the killings Sookie is asked by another vampire, Eric, to help find out who is stealing from him. Eric knows of Sookies powers and wants to use her to help him out.

Harris does a good job of tying all the story lines together by the end of the book. She keeps the story going and makes the reader look forward to the next adventure in Sookie's life.

Upcoming reviews

Hello everyone,
Here is the scoop going to take a break from the reviews momentarily of books that I have purchased in order to get caught up on reviews for ARCS. the following ARCS will be reviewed and posted by the end of next week. (Fingers crossed.lol)

• Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
• The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliiott
• Screw Cupid by Samantha Schofield (this will be posted September 3 as part of a blog tour)
  

FIRST OFFICIAL GIVEAWAY CONTEST: Hush Hush

Hello everyone so after much thought and planning and help for ideas from my friend Gail I have decided to hold my first giveaway. So here it is.

I am giving away an ARC of Hush Hush. I have read and loved the story and my review can be found here. So to continue on with the details of the giveaway.

Rules.

1. This contest is open to everyone.
2. One entry if you leave a comment here on this post.
3. retweet the contest on twitter placing @bgale11 in the post.
4. mention the contest on your blog and leave a note with the blog address so I can go check it out. (sidebar is okay with link back to this post)
   
5. Send me a message on facebook ( forgot to include my name on facebook for those of you that don't know me. you can find me here)
   
6. This giveaway will end on September 15.

Good Luck everyone.

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Hush Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Release date: October 2009

While scrolling through an email from Shelf awareness I came across an add for this book. I read the idea behind the book and thought this is a book I could really enjoy so I requested an early reviewer. After requesting the Arc I went about my days not knowing if I would get a copy. Came home one day and to my surprise I had a copy waiting for me. I was sooooo happy. Any who I have read the book so on to the review.

Becca does a wonderful job of throwing the reader right into the story from the very first page. At first I was like what do the first couple of pages have to do with the plot but as I read the book and more came about each character I understood why the book began the way it began.

Meet Nora Grey a high school student who has no idea how her life is going when meeting a guy named Patch. Patch has a mysterious side to him and lets out information that he feels is needed and nothing more. Nora at first wants nothing to do with Patch and is horrified when she is teamed up with him in biology class. She tries her best to get it changed but with no luck.

As Nora gets to know Patch the more she has feelings for him however, she is told by others that she should avoid Patch at all cost. Although she wants to not like him he is the one she calls when she is in trouble. Then one night Nora finds out more about Patch's past and fears arise.

What will happen next will the truth come out as to who Patch is and if he can change his mysterious ways?

Hush Hush one of the best books I have ever read and recommend it to others who want a book that keeps you guessing until the end.

Current List of books to be reviewed

1. Wish you were dead 5 out of 5 (was asked by author to wait until book is released to post review as some things have changed from the ARC I received)
   
2. Midnight Cravings. 5 out of 5
3. Handcuffs 4 out of 5
4. Going to Far 4 out of 5 stars (How could I have forgotten this one)
5. Intertwined 5 out of 5 stars (added 6/29/09)
6. Demons Not Included 5 out of 5 stars (added 7/6/09)
7. The last of the Red hot Vampires (added 7/11/09)
8. Strange But True America Weird Tales From All 50 States 3 out of 5 stars (added 7/15/09)
9. Dead Girls Are Easy 4 out of 5 stars (added 7/19/09)
10. Dead Until Dark 4 out of 5 stars (added 7/31/09)
11. Cracked Up to be 4 out of 5 stars
    

The Astonishing Adventures of Fan Boy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

Title: The Astonishing Adventures of Fan Boy and Goth Girl
Author: Barry Lyga
Rating 5 out of 5 stars

Meet Fanboy a high school student who well like most his age dislike school. He doesn't have many friends and the one friend he has doesn't hang out much with him in public. Fan boy feels he is all alone especially since his mother is pregnant with the child of his step dad whom he can't stand.

Fanboy spends his time reading comics and working on one of his own. Then one day he meets Kyra also known as Goth Girl. She too dislikes school and the jocks that go with it. And an added bonus for fan boy is that Kyra likes comics too.

Barry Lyga weaves a great story of the struggles in high school and how with a friend you can overcome it. I must say he also has such great detail that you can picture the things he is saying. for example when he described dodgeball in gym I could literaly in my head see the game going on.

I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading more by Barry. And I must add He is really nice to talk to. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with Barry when I attended the Book Expo America back in May.

The Devil Inside By Jenna Black

Tittle: The Devil Inside
Author: Jenna Black
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

So I was walking around Borders one day thinking to myself that I wasn't going to by any books. Yeah right. Who knows me to go into a bookstore and not walk out with at least 4 or 5 books. So while looking at the books I picked this one up and read the back it had a interesting premise.

Morgan Kingsley is a demon exorcist that is called into to exorcise a demon from an 8 year old girl. Once that has been accomplished the folks that called on Morgan to help believe she herself is possessed however she asks that another exorcist be called in and she is cleared. Morgan leaves and the story begins.

Morgan begins to find strange notes written in her handwriting upon walking up. Telling her that someone is inside her. Morgan doesn't believe the notes and goes to her friend for help. Morgan begins to dream upon falling asleep and meets Lugh who she finds out has invaded her body but can not control her while she is awake. Uncommon for demons who possess humans. What Morgan finds out is the demon that possesses her is the King of the Demons, Lugh. The story progresses with Morgan trying to find out who would want the Demon to be stuck in a humans body.


I thought the story had a good baseline and developed nicely. The only thing is at times I thought some of the story could have been left out as it did not really have any backing in the whole Demon possession story. With that in mind I do feel it is a good book and an enjoyable story line.

What Happened to Cass McBride by Gail Giles

Title: What Happened to Cass McBride
Author: Gail Giles
Rating 4 out of 5 stars

I bought this book about a year and a half ago and started reading it then but couldn't get into so I put it on my shelf of books to read. So I picked it up again yesterday and was able to read it in one day. Even though the book bounced around from the main characters the story was easy to follow.

Gail Giles did a wonderful job of tell Cass's story from all the viewpoints of the people involved. Gail Giles brings the reader in and holds her until the story ends. At times you feel bad for Cass and at other times you can sympathize with Kyle.

What Happened to Cass McBride is a story of one individuals struggle to accept what his brother has done, one individual trying to figure out why she is in the position she is in. And the last question will Cass be found before it is too late?

A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi

Title: A Circle of Souls
Author: Preetham Grandhi
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A circle of Souls is Preetham Grandhi's break out novel and I must say it is a great way to start a writing career. Grandhi introduces the reader to many different characters but through out the story you see how each person's story ties together for the main story.

There is no time waisted by Grandhi in getting the reader into the story. The story jumps off from the beginning. The characters you meet along the way only help tell the story better.

First meet Janet a young girl who goes missing and is later found brutally murdered. Then meet Naya a seven year old girl having dreams that no one can explain. Her parents bring her to the hospital for help when they see her trying to jump off her balcony. At the hospital we meet Peter Gram a child psychologist who takes Naya on as a patient. He wants to find out what is causing Naya's dream and by doing this gets pulled into the mystery of what happened to Janet.
Agent Leia Bines an FBI agent called into help solve this murder mystery.

Grandhi does a wonderful job tying all the characters and their individual stories together and solving the mystery of what happened to Janet.

I definitely recommend this book to others who like a book that keeps you guessing until the very end.