Saying Good-bye

After thirteen books and several short stories, it is time to say good-bye to Sookie, Sam, Bill, and Eric. Dead Ever After is the last of the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. I believe it is a nice send off for my friends of Bon Temps. Fair warning, if you haven't read up to Deadlocked, there will probably be some spoilers in the review.

This book picks up, pretty much right after Deadlocked ends with Sam being revived by the Sookie with the fairy gift.  That leads to some super awkward moments between Sam and Sookie in the beginning, and basically spells the end of Sookie and Erics relationship.  Eric summons her to him for a public vampire divorce in of King Felipe and his soon-be vampire wife Freya, but Eric stills wants to keep her as his side piece. I had a total you go girl moment when Sookie told him he must be crazy to think she would be the other woman.

As if Sookie is not dealing with a enough, Arlene gets out prison and shows back up at Merlotte's, and is soon found dead in the dumpster behind the bar.  Someone manages to make it look like Sookie is the killer, and she is arrested for her murder.  It seems Sookie's enemies just keep coming, with her arrest and them someone tries to killer her while she is out on bail.

Ms. Harris does a fantastic job of wrapping everything up in the end, but it is a little sad to say good-bye to all these characters that I have followed and loved for so many years.  I am happy to report that some of my favorite characters make reappearances in this book, including Quinn and Diantha.  Best of all, Sookie ends up with who I think is the best match for her.

And I am happy to report the Ms. Harris has written what is basically an epilogue for many of the characters in the books in After Dead, which has definitely made my want to read list.

Currently Reading: 
Code
by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs

Demons and Steampunk

The last installment of Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices, Clockwork Princess, was amazing!  I simply adore Cassandra Clare, and was so glad that she did not disappoint with her newest book.

Clockwork Princess begins with Tessa preparing for her wedding with Jem. Too bad her gown fitting is interrupted by Gabriel Lightwood, who says his father is no longer human.  After the battle with Bendict Lightwood, Will and Tessa discover that Jem has been taking his "medicine" too much and is almost out.  To which they soon find out that, Mortmain has seized the supply of the "medicine," and if they don't find a way to get it or heal Jem, he will die.

Mortmain finds a way to take Tessa from the Institute.  To which she finds out his terrible plan, and why exactly he needs her.  Tessa most learn how to control her power, so that she may save the ones she loves.

So, I did not go into as great as description of the book as I usually do because it would be too easy to give away important stuff, but I will say this, the book will not leave you bored.  First, I have to say I simply love the setting in the Infernal Devices' books, and the steampunk element makes it just awesome.  The characters are just written so wonderfully, and Ms. Clare does a great job in their relationships to each other.  Tessa, Will, and Jem are probably some of my favorite YA characters ever.  I find their love for each other beautiful, and don't we all want friendships like that.  I love how you can see personalities of characters are similar to those of their descendants in The Mortal Instruments series.

One of the most amazing things she does with this book is bringing everything full circle.  I, personally, can't wait to see how the events of this book may influence the last Mortal Instruments book, City of Heavenly Fire due out in May 2014.

If you have not read The Infernal Devices, what are you waiting for? And while you are at it, go ahead and check out Mortal Instruments. Oh, and did I mention, that the cover art for this book is simply fantastic.

Currently Reading:
Dead Ever After
by Charlaine Harris

Heard it All

I have to admit I cheated a little in reading this book as in that I listened to it on audiobook, instead of actually reading it.  Mary Kay Andrews is a fun southern author, whose books are fantastic for listening to on long trips.

Grace Stanton is a livestyle blogger who thinks she has a wonderful marriage until she catches her husband, Ben, cheating on her with her assistant.  In a spectacular exit from her marriage, Grace drives Ben's convertible into their pool, which is one of the best "I am leaving you" scenes ever.

Grace moves back to her mother's, which is an apartment above the bar she owns, The Sandbox.  As Grace tries to put her life back together, she finds that Ben has locked her out of her blog, house, and finances.  To make matters worse, the judge overseeing her case sentences her to counseling before granting her divorce.

The story bounce between Grace's perspective, and Wyatt's.  Wyatt is a soon to be single dad, that runs his family's failing tourist park.  His soon to be ex-wife, left him for the guy down the street, and basically tries to make his life miserable.  After an incident where the ex deliberately provokes him to violence, he too is sentenced to counseling by the judge.

Grace and Wyatt officially meet at the divorce group, along with an interesting group of ladies.  Most of whom were, also, sentenced to attend these sessions by the same judge. After some digging, they discover, that maybe these sessions are not as legal as they sound.

As Grace begins to put her life back together, she learns that maybe her life with Ben was not who she really was, and that a new love is just what she needs.

I simply adore MKA's writing style.  All her characters feel real, and someone I would like if I met them in real life. She makes a nice balance in romance and reality.  Her love scenes don't feel forced, and she leaves the good stuff up to the imagination.  My biggest complaint is that sometimes certain things in the plot become predictable, but in truth that didn't keep me from enjoying her book.

I really enjoyed all characters.  Grace was wonderfully creative, and character actually made me want to do the projects she talked about.  A bonus for Grace is that she rescued a dog in the book.  As a vet student and the owner of two rescue dogs, an author always gets points with me for making their character an animal lover and rescuer.

Who wouldn't like a man like Wyatt? He is a great father to his son, has the rugged outdoorsy thing going for him, and knows how to treat a woman.  If a fictional character can get father of the year, I am pretty sure Wyatt deserves it.  Despite how awful his ex is being to him, he tries to keep their son out it, and never says bad things about her around their son.  I think he is a great match for Grace.

I definitely recommend this book. If you plan on taking a long trip soon, this is a great audiobook to put on.

Currently Reading:
Clockwork Princess
by Cassandra Clare