A Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Judi

Nora Roberts concludes her Boonsboro Inn trilogy (The Next Always, The Last Boyfriend) with The Perfect Hope, the story of the third Montgomery brother Ryder and the innkeeper Hope. Hope has come to Boonsboro after losing her heart to the wrong man and her hotel manager job in Washington, D.C. She loves the restored Inn Boonsboro and runs the inn with care and attention to detail. Her close friends Avery and Clare are in relationships with two of the three Montgomery brothers who worked to restore the old inn to it’s current grandeur. Ryder has always been a mystery to her–a man of few words who appears short-tempered and not particularly sociable. When her former boyfriend appears with a less than respectable proposal, Ryder comes to Hope’s defense, and both realize the unavoidable attraction between them. Roberts writes with humorous, witty dialog and touching family interactions. The entire family becomes involved in trying to solve the mystery of the inn’s ghost Lizzy’s “Billy”–who was he and why is she waiting for him? This is a charming story with likeable, strong and independent characters, a sweet love story and a strong-willed ghost–a perfect ending to this trilogy.

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Linda

After war and plague destroyed New York city, most of civilization has migrated underground. Lives are short and when Deuce turns 15, she takes on the role of huntress to provide food and protection for the group. She is paired with Fade, a teenager who lived topside as a young boy, but he is not trusted by the elders who rule the clan. On a hunting mission, Deuce and Fade discover that a neighboring clan has been brutally destroyed by the tunnel monsters–or Freaks. When they try to warn the elders, they are exiled from the clan. Fade leads the way to topside and Deuce, born in darkness, must learn to survive in sunshine–in the ruins of a city populated by dangerous gangs. Guided by Fade’s memories as a child, they face dangers unlike any they have ever known. Enclave is a tense, action-packed dystopian story, much more thriller than romance, though Aguirre teases at a future love triangle. This is the first book in projected series, and will appeal to fans of the “Hunger Games.”

The Last Victim by Karen Robards

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Judi

Author of many popular romantic suspense novels, Karen Robards has created a new series in the genre of paranormal suspense. Dr. Charlotte Stone is a psychiatrist and an expert in criminal psychology, studying serial killers and their motivations. As a teen, she was the sole survivor of a killer known as “The Boardwalk Killer”, and new murders are taking place with the same methods, leaving police to believe this killer has resurfaced. The FBI approaches Charlie, asking for her insights into the case. She has never revealed to anyone that she is able to see the ghosts of the recently murdered, and despite her reluctance to become involved in the case and with the spirits of the murdered, she agrees to help with the case. Along with the FBI, Charlie has unexpected assistance from the ghost of a murdered prisoner that she had been interviewing, Michael Garland. The Last Victim is the first in a planned series featuring Dr. Charlotte Stone and her ghostly assistant Michael garland, and the series is off to an exciting start.

Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Judi

In the latest installment in her popular Friday Harbor series, Dream Lake, Lisa Kleypas tells the story of Alex Nolan, whose past demons haunt him and prevent him from developing a close and loving relationship with anyone, including his brothers. He is an alcoholic coping with divorce when he meets Zoe Hoffman, a chef at the local inn whose culinary expertise has been known to create food that can comfort and heal. Zoe has given up on believing in love after being hurt in the past. She is devoted to caring for the grandmother that raised her and now suffers from Alzheimer’s. Alex returns to Friday Harbor to help renovate his brothers home, where he becomes aware of the presence of a ghost. The ghost appears only to Alex and needs Alex’s help to discover who he was and why he is unable to move on. The relationship between Zoe and Alex is touching and believable, and the presence of the ghost adds humor. This is a satisfying and magical romance and a wonderful addition to the Friday Harbor series, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor and Rainshadow Road.

God Save the Queen by Kate Locke

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Emilyn

We’re often told by parents (and librarians) not to judge a book by its cover. I’m apparently a terrible librarian because I choose what to read by its cover on a regular basis. God Save the Queen is one example of a book I chose for the cover. That smirking, red haired, steampunk-wearing woman on the cover couldn’t fail to catch my eye at the very least. When I realized it was set in an alternate 2012 in England where Queen Victoria still ruled as a near-immortal vampire, I simply couldn’t resist.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the Royal Guard, the organization charged with protecting the vampires and werewolves who make up the Aristocracy in this alternate Britain. When her younger sister, Drusilla, goes missing, Xandra uses all the resources at her disposal, including going to the goblin prince for information, in order to find her. What she finds shakes her belief in the structure of British society and the right of the Aristocracy to rule and everything she thinks she knows about the people in her world.

God Save the Queen is an exciting blend of horror, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, mystery, steampunk and alternate history. With a flawed main character and conspiracies that run deep, this is a fun read for people who like urban fantasy.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Emilyn

I almost didn’t read this one because I didn’t like the cover (and yes, I know, I shouldn’t be judging books by their covers). I’m glad I picked it up, though, since I’m a sucker for the crop of young adult fantasy books with strong, interesting heroines that have been published in the past few years. If you liked The Hunger Games, Matched, Graceling, or Sabriel for the strong female main character, you’ll want to pick up Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

Karou is a young woman living in Prague who is leading a double life. In one life she is an art student with a boyfriend who cheated on her, in the other, she runs errands picking up teeth for the wishmonger, Brimstone, the chimaera who raised her. She collects languages, has blue hair that grows in that way, three bullet scars on her abdomen and eye tattoos on the palms of her hands that have been there for as long as she can remember.

Karou is drawn into a centuries old conflict between angels and the chimaera when she runs into Akiva, an angel soldier trying to cut Brimstone off from the world. Karou and Akiva are drawn to one another, but there are secrets kept and hidden between them, and a startling revelation will drive them apart.

Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Rhonna

Ciara Griffin, a con artist trying to go straight, gets a job as a publicist for a radio station. The DJs are all somewhat strange, appearing to be stuck in a particular era and tending to only appear at night. She tries to increase listeners by changing the call letters to WVMP and playing up a vampire theme, but that backfires when some listeners make it clear that they know she isn’t joking. Soon she is becoming more informed about the vampire world than anyone would wish to be, and her protector, grunge-era DJ Shane, may not be able to save her. Wicked Game contains some of the gore and suspense that one expects from an urban fantasy novel, but with a light and humorous twist.

Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie

Posted on November 11, 2010 by Judi

Jennifer Crusie’s new, offbeat, entertaining romance combines two orphaned children, a remote Gothic house, an ex-husband as well as a fiancee, visitors from the spirit world and lots of eccentric characters, creating a light-hearted romantic adventure. Andie Miller confronts her ex-husband, North, in order to return his alimony checks and close this chapter in her life. Instead, he convinces her to spend a month caring for two children under his guardianship, after the three previous nannies have abruptly quit the job. Her adventures begin when she arrives at the house, to find an odd housekeeper, two sullen and quiet children and more than one ghost. This book is filled with witty dialog, fun and unique characters and, of course, romance. If you enjoy romance with a ghostly twist, Maybe This Time is for you!

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Rhonna

Meena Harper is really tired of her life. The soap opera she writes for is being taken over by a vampire plot line, she can’t get her unemployed brother to move out of her apartment, and it’s so difficult to meet men when she has the ability to see how people are going to die as soon as she meets them. Then one night late when she is out walking her tempermental dog, she is rescued from a freak bat attack by a beautiful man. For the first time ever, she can look him straight in the eye and not see how he will die. Of course, the reason for this is going to be unpleasant.

Meg Cabot is at her finest with Insatiable, managing to create a paranormal romance with her typical wit.

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Rhonna

Soulless by Gail Carriger is described on the cover as “A novel of vampires, werewolves, and parasols,” which sums it up quite well. Alexia Tabotti is a soulless spinster who faces a frustrating world filled with paranormal annoyances and two insipid half-sisters, armed with only her quick wit and her parasol. When she is attacked by a vampire at a ball, (how gauche!) she accidentally kills him and upsets the delicate balance that keeps 19th century London civilized. Fortunately, Scottish Alpha werewolf and government official Lord Maccon is on hand to help her solve the mystery and save the day. This fast-moving and incredibly funny story will have you cheering them on and wondering how long Miss Tabotti will maintain her spinster status.

Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Emilyn

Parasite positives, or “peeps,” are those infected with a parasite that turns them into light-avoiding cannibals with drastically increased life spans (they prefer to avoid the v-word). Cal is infected by his girlfriend, but it turns out he’s a natural carrier of the parasite and simply acquires excellent night vision, superhuman strength and a craving for rare meat. He joins a secret branch of the New York City government dedicated to tracking the infected but learns when he finds the woman who infected him that there’s more to the story. This novel is well thought out with scientifically based explanations for all the symptoms of vampirism. Not your average vampire novel, but it will appeal to a wide range of ages, from high school students up to adults.

Witch Way to Murder

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Linda

In Witch Way to Murder, by Shirley Damsgaard, you will enjoy a light touch of the paranormal. In this cozy mystery, Ophelia Jensen is a sassy, savvy librarian who just happens to be a reluctant witch, an unwanted “gift” she considers inconvenient at best and at worst downright dangerous.

Her kindly old grandmother Abby, however, has no compunctions about the paranormal, being a practicing witch with unique abilities of her own. And sometimes the otherworldly arts do come in handy — like when the arrival of a mysterious, good-looking stranger seems to trigger an epidemic of catastrophes, from the theft of bomb-making materials to a corpse dumped in Abby’s backyard. Luckily Ophelia and Abby are on the case and determined to make things right. But it’ll take more than magick to get out of this boiling cauldron of lethal trouble.

There’s No Place Like Here

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Rhonna

If you’ve ever wondered where those missing socks have gone, There’s No Place Like Here by Cecelia Ahern is the book for you.

Sandy Shortt is obsessed with missing things. She has arranged her home so that things rarely disappear because it is so distressing to her when they do. Her career is searching for missing persons. This obsession has gotten in the way of her relationships and her happiness. She recognizes that this is a problem, but isn’t sure how to deal with it. Then one day she goes missing herself, which clarifies many of her questions, but isn’t much comfort unless she can get back to her old life. This is an imaginative story that will help you to feel much better about those missing socks.

Her Fearful Symmetry

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Mary

Historic Highgate Cemetery in London would be a fascinating place to visit this time of year with it’s gothic tombs and occult past, including the Highgate Vampire. Audrey Niffenegger takes you there in her newest book, Her Fearful Symmetry. Twins Julia and Valentina inherit a flat in London on the edge of Highgate Cemetery from their Aunt Elspeth. Their mother and Elspeth were estranged twins so Julia and Valentina had never been to London or met their aunt. The beautiful old apartment is home to the ghost of Elspeth and other interesting characters, including Robert, Elspeth’s former lover and Martin who suffers from agoraphobia/ocd. The unusual story of love after death, twin-sister estrangement, and life with mental disorders is complicated but wonderfully twisted. Enjoy a ghost tale this season.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

Posted on October 21, 2009 by Rhonna

There have been several theories on the cause of the Salem witch trials of 1692, ranging from the oppression of women to moldy bread. In The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, Katherine Howe dares to ask the question “What if there were women guilty of practicing witchcraft?”

Connie Goodwin, a Ph.D. student, is spending the summer cleaning out her grandmother’s house in Marblehead, Mass. when she discovers a mysterious key with the name “Deliverance Dane” curled up inside it. Armed with her love of research, she sets out to discover what this means, uncovering centuries of secrets about an ancestor she didn’t know existed.

Interspersed with Connie’s story, Howe gives us glimpses of the lives of Deliverance Dane and her daughter and grandaughter, exploring what it may have been like to live through the trials and how the following generations would have continued to face judgement long after 1692 was over.

This book is a fascinating mix of magic and mystery. It contains enough creepiness for an October read, but that is balanced by the life details of Deliverance and Connie. It calls to question the line between healing and witchcraft, the possibility of things we don’t understand, and if good and evil are always what they seem to be.

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