Undead on Arrival by L.A. Banks

This is a book in the Crimson Moon series. It needs to be read in order. The first book is Bite the Bullet.

     This book started out a bit slow for me. Not that a book has to have wham and bam, non-stop action,

 story but I mean the story has to be interesting and move in a way that keeps me wanting to read more.

Though the start was a bit too slow for my tastes, once it got going, it got going. Though the story got better

by the end I was disappointed . I wanted a one on one face off, and it just wasn't given. I feel a bit cheated.

You kill off one of the big bad guys, and it isn't between hero and villain, really? Otherwise, it wasn't a bad

installment to the series.

Weddings from Hell : Short Story Anthology

     I only got this collection because it had a story from Jeanine Frost. One of my favorites.

     It's always a risk when you pick up any story collection in finding one that is mostly composed of stories you enjoy. This was a typical, average collection. Not bad, but not great either. Average. It's common theme was weddings with supernatural problems.

     Since this only contains four tales, I'll look at each story.

     The first tale is by Maggie Shayne. It's about a family curse. As I read this story, I thought , ok, interesting, but as I found out the exact specifications of the curse, the movie Practical Magic came to mind. The curse was different but still connected to husbands, and cast by an ancestral witch. It could have been more inventive. Fell short.

     The second tale is by Jeanine Frost. I read her Night Huntress series. The first is Halfway to the Grave. This tale is about a vampire who has been asked to find a missing Grandson and stop a wedding. This story could have been better if it was set in an earlier time. Its a little far fetched that in this day and age, that some one could get away with forcing someone into marriage, by holding a family member hostage, without providing proof. A few changes to the story, and it would have been better.

     The third tale is by Terri Garey. Girl dies, comes back as a ghost whisperer. Throw in a hillbilly cousin's wedding, and a ghost, then you have a decent tale of finding justice and putting a spirit to rest.

     The fourth tale is by Kathryn Smith : Vampire meets girl, leaves girl after she declares her love for him. Comes back and stops her from getting married to someone with a past connection to him. Not a bad tale. I thought slut was a more modern word, and if your going to use the word arse don't add hole to it. It's weird and doesn't look right.This story needed a bit more to it, expand a little with the big confrontation, ending felt to predictable, could have been done differently, creatively. Otherwise like the others, not bad.
   

Shelter by Harlan Coben

     It is so refreshing to find a young adult novel, after reading several others, that had a story with characters that didn't disappoint.
     This is the first book by Coben that I have read. I'm aware that he is better known as an adult author. Maybe that is the edge he has when writing a good YA novel. He knows how to balance what an adult likes and place it in a believable teenage tale.
     His characters are believable, adults and teenagers alike. I like the twists in this story. A good bit of mystery, that led me down a road I wasn't expecting. Characters I enjoy following, A nice balance of teenage "drama" with a unique mystery, I would have never expected.
   Definitely reading the next installment. Nice to see there is hope for YA books.

Olympus has Fallen

     I was kind of interested in seeing this film once I saw the trailer. Even after I read a review or two, still was a wouldn't mind seeing it.

      The one reviewer was right, not quite original for that kind of film story. It wasn't a bad film. The destruction and take over scenes were well done. A bit more character development, at least with the hero. A bit of humorous release now and then was well done. Not a bad film for that type of hero and rescue tale type, and save the world. I'm sure the destruction scenes would be much more enjoyed on the big screen, than the little one, aka television.

     Not a bad film to go and see. 

Shadow Rising by Yasmine Galenorn

If you have not read Sisters of the Moon series in order, you need to before reading this book. The first book is Witchling.

This installment is told from Menolly's perspective. A typical good read in this series. An old , powerful enemy resurfaces, new creatures to fight, a haunted house, more of Shadow Wing's plans surface. Several relationships will change dramatically. several characters have major personal changes in regard to their magical / supernatural abilities.
     As usual this story has a good balance between action and life issues. Not disappointed at all.

Ever After by Kim Harrison

          This story is part of a the Rachel Morgan series that must be read in order. The first book is Dead Witch Walking.
      This story felt a bit off to me because Ivy is hardly in it. It really changed the dynamics of the story, it just wasn't quite the same. But it was still a good read. It's one of those pivotal stories in a series where past decisions come back to bite the characters in a butt.
     I won't be a spoiler person but this is also the tale where two well known characters will die, relationships between several characters will begin to have major changes, and a decision of Rachel's will change the Inderland world for better or for worse.
     Though not one of my favorites in this series, I think it was the lack of Ivy that slowed the story for me. It's still the typical Rachel Morgan and crew out to save the world, and this time magic as well. Still a good read overall.