Catching Up

It has been a while since I have posted and in the meantime, I have read the following:

• Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris - This was the second in the Aurora Teagarden series. I'm really liking this plucky little librarian. In this novel, Aurora has been named heir to an unexpected fortune. She has inherited her friend Jane's bank accounts and house (and a secret item hidden in the house). Great fun.
• Dark Lover by J.R. Ward - This is the first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and establishes the environment and the rules. We meet the "Blind King" and find out that in this reality, vampires live as humans throughout adolescence and then go through the "turning" when they are about 25 or so. Very interesting take on the Vampire genre. One funny note, almost all of the vampires have emotions for names that you just throw some h's around in and there ya go. There is Rhage, Vishious, Phury, Thorhment, and Zsadist. Ok - I know Zsadist doesn't have an h, but same basic principal. She does the same thing with other common terms (all in the glossary) sheclusion is one example.
• Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris - I didn't realize that this book wasn't about Shakespeare, but as a Charlaine Harris book, I should have guessed. This book is set in Shakespeare, Arkansas and the main character, Lily Bard, selects Shakespeare as the small town to start a new life in after she survives a vicious attack. Lily, the anti-social weightlifter and maid spends the book trying to figure out who has killed the landlord of the "garden" appartments near her home.
• Shakespeare's Companion by Charlaine Harris - in this sequel, Lilly Bard tries to stay out of trouble, but can't stop her deductive skills. (And the fact that people say and do lots of things in front of Lily while she cleans the house gives Lily loads of information to use for clues.)
• Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward - this is Book 2 of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. This book concentrates on the Black Dagger Brother, Rhage. He is cursed and tough and easy to love. I love the way J.R. Ward changes perspective so frequently. Sometimes it is "wait - is she alive or dead?" when we've moved on to what another character is feeling and experiencing. I think I enjoy books where we see the perspective of the "bad guy" as well as the protagonist. I like multiple point of views better than just first person narrative.
• Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward - I was surprised that she would pick Zsadist for the next book. He is anti-social and, of course, misunderstood. There are many rumors about how afwul he is and all of the terrible things that he has done, so no one gives him the benefit of the doubt. He reminds me of Zarek from Dance With the Devil. They were both tortured and lived lives as slaves while their brothers were free living as aristocrats.
• Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward - I'm almost done with this book. I should be able to finish it tonight (unless the Astros put on a great show). It focuses on Butch, the human who has befriended the Black Dagger Brotherhood. It really is a great story. A lot of twists and turns make this one of my favorite so far. We're also learning a lot about Vishous who will be the protagonist of the next book. My only complaint about this book is a complaint that I have about the whole series. If I read the word sh**kicker one more time I'm going to scream. It is ok to say boots. Really. I'd be interested to see the number of times she uses this word. It isn't as prevailent in this book because Butch is a clotheshorse and is wearing Gucci most of the time, but come on! She never once uses the word boots when referring to the shoes of most of the brotherhood. Nope, always sh**kicker.