The Generals Daughter by Nelson De Mille

"A horrifying murder has taken place inside the closed doors of the army. Beneath the shiny brass festers profound corruption, misconduct and sexual deviation. Will the death of the Generals daughter become the whirlwind to topple the walls of the establishment?"

Really good read. I enjoyed the mystery, all the twists and the reason behind the murder. There were touches of humour that made me smile between all the more serious bits. Highly recommended.

Gap Creek by Robert Morgan

Julie Harmon works hard, "hard as a man" they say, so hard that at times she's not sure she can stop. People depend on her. She is just a teenager when her brother dies in her arms. The following year, she marries Hank and moves to Gap Creek. Julie and Hank discover that life is complex, grinding ever on without pause or concern for their hard work. To survive, they must find out whether love can keep chaos and madness at bay.

I enjoyed this story of love and hardship told in Julie's "voice". The writing was simple but true to character. A really good read.

The Wicked Cousin by Zabrina Faire

Bryony was being forced into an unwanted marriage by granting her mother's deathbed request. The man who caught her mother's fancy was her cousin Stephen. But there was something she could not like about him. If only she had realized her heart's desire earlier when her rather unhandsome cousin Lucas was around. But he had disappeared rather abruptly and was considered dead. She now realized he would have made a wonderful husband. If only she had been mature enough to look beyond the exterior! Now that she was older, she longed for his loving companionship and guidance.

But Bryony was drawn to Mr. Bidwell who had come to work on her library. She trusted him as she had not trusted anyone since Lucas had disappeared. Who is this mysterious man and would he be the man to save her from Stephen?

A nice, light read with an unusual twist. Not too many heroes are like Lucas.

Dhampir by Barb and J C Hendee

The story starts with Magiere and Leesil two con artists who go from small town to small town pretending to be vampire hunters, after their last job they are camping in the woods when they're attacked by a real vampire who believes them to be real hunters, after the battle the vampire dead they head to a small town to open an inn, what they don't know is that the brother of the vampire they killed has made this small town his home, with his family of the noble dead he starts a war with the hunters only to find Magiere is his worst nightmares come to life.

This was an OK book. Good plot idea, good character development but for some reason it didn't totally grab me. At times I found myself gettng frustrated with both vampire and hunter. My favourite character was Chap, the dog.

Brother Odd by Dean Koontz

A resident of St. Bartholomew's Abbey, a monastery in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Thomas has the ability to see the spirits of the dead, a gift he has used to resolve mysteries and prevent future tragedies. As the story opens, the seer is unsettled by visions of bodachs, sinister ghostlike entities whose appearance precedes some dire tragedy. Thomas frantically searches for some sign that will help him head off disaster, even as St. Bart's is thrown into turmoil by the disappearance of one of its members. Thomas must figure out both the identity of the person or being behind the terror and the most effective way to restore peace to his haven.

Why did I pick up this book?......I enjoyed the first in the series.

What did I like about this book?....The humour. The character of Odd. He is witty, charming and unexpected.

Where is the book going next?....To the winner of the Happy Smile Day Sweepstakes.

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

"He's Odd. Odd Thomas, to be precise. Genius fry-cook, boyfriend to the gorgeous Stormy - and possibly the only person with a chance of stopping one of the worst crimes in the bloody history of murder..."

Why did I choose this book?........It's main character can see dead people. A sure attraction for me.

Why I liked it?.....The way Granny Sugars died. It sounds like a great way to go. I also loved the language, the descriptions.

Where to next?.....The winner of the Happy Smile Day RABCK. I hope she enjoys it as much as I did.

Necking by Chris Salvatore

As if corralling supernatural-fiction authors and their overenthusiastic fans wasn't hard enough, publicist Gia Felice must keep secret that her authors are the real deal: vampires, werewolves and occasionally aliens. Her determination to remain mortal is challenged by Johnny, a vampire whose flirting is getting increasingly intense. While Gia and Johnny continue their macabre mating dance, she is enlisted by author Bella to track down Daniel, the vampire who changed her and who she suspects of murdering her husband.

Clever, witty and fun. A quick, light read. My only problem with it was how easily Gia accepted humans being killed.

Black Powder War Naomi Novik

After their fateful adventure in China, Capt. Will Laurence of His Majesty’s Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching.

Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn–thanks to the diabolical machinations of another Chinese dragon who blames Temeraire for her master’s death and vows to ally herself with Napoleon and take vengeance. Then, faced with shattering betrayal in an unexpected place, Laurence, Temeraire, and their squad must launch a daring offensive. But what chance do they have against the massed forces of Bonaparte’s implacable army?

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first 2. It's getting a bit reptitive and drawn out.

Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

A historical fantasy, Naomi Novik captures the Napoleonic period perfectly and skillfully layers history with imagination by adding a Dragon Air Force to the battle for England against Napoleon. Temeraire is a Celestial dragon, the most highly-prized of all draconic breeds; famed for their intelligence, agility and most of all for the Divine Wind - their terrible roar capable of shattering the heavy timbers of war ships and devastating woodland. Captured by the British, Temeraire was meant to be the companion of the Emperor Napoleon and not captained by a mere officer in the British Air Corps. The Chinese have demanded his return and the British government cannot afford to provoke the Asian super-power into allying with the French - even if it costs them the most powerful weapon in their arsenal, and forces Laurence and Temeraire apart.

This second book is considerably less fast paced than the first one, but still entertaining and intriguing - especially when they reach China and discover a dragon culture distinctly different from what they've come to know in the West.

Temeraire by Naomi Novik

he war tearing Europe apart is not fought upon land and sea alone, for battalions also fill the sky. And the feiry death they bring has little to do with gunpowder - it comes from the very guts of the beasts they are flying: dragons.

don't know what to say about this book. It is compelling alternate history. The characters grow during the story. I absolutely loved the dragons.

I am so glad I have the next in the series. As soon as I finished this I picked up the next.

The Inquisitor by Gayle Wilson

A serial killer has targeted Jenna. Sean's sister was killed by the same man 3 years earlier and he is after him. A few not very convincing red herrings and a not very surprising finish.

A nice enough light read on a wet day.

A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin

A bit uneven. Some characters have me very interested, while others don't.

It's been a good series but hasn't totally grabbed me.