Linda Wisdom - 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover

2. 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom (2008)
Witches Academy Series Book 1
Length: 374 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Started: 7 January 2010
Finished: 14 January 2010
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 April 2009
Why do I have it? I like paranormal romance and Linda Wisdom is a new author for me

For my #15 challenge ('W' Word For Winter), I read 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom. Jasmine Tremaine is a thoroughly modern 700-year-old witch who can't seem to shake Nick Gregory, her vampire ex-lover from 30 years ago. Nick is a darkly handsome cop who can push all Jazz's buttons.

Even with all their history together, Jazz and Nick can't forget the passion they have together and are ultimately drawn together again as a malevolent wizard-turned serial killer targets vampires and especially, Jazz Tremaine. They will need all the help they can get from Jazz's super-computer-geek room mate, Krebs, Dweezil, Jazz's ghoul of a boss, Fluff and Puff - rabid bunny slippers - and Irma - a chain-smoking ghost who inhabits Jazz's sports car. I really enjoyed this book, the characters were very funny and touching. I give this book an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Nick Valentino - Thomas Riley

1. Thomas Riley by Nick Valentino (2009)
Length: 288 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started: 1 January 2010
Finished: 6 January 2010
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Nick for sending me a copy of this book to read
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 15 November 2009
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and Nick Valentino is a new author for me

Thomas Riley is a West Canvian scientist who, along with his wily apprentice Cynthia Bassett, has built weaponry and technology for their country's twenty year war against its neighbor Lemuria. When an alchemy experiment goes horribly wrong, leaving the soul of Thomas' patron's daughter in Cynthia's body, Thomas and she must kidnap their Lemurian counterpart - a mad scientist - to help them retrieve the young girl's spirit. It will take all of Thomas' scientific skills to escape from Lemurian soldiers, airship pirates and from the constant threat of treason.

I really liked this story and give it a B+! Nick Valentino stopped by for a blog tour in November. Thank you, Nick.

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often

Fred Tribuzzo - Saint Nick

20. Saint Nick by Fred Tribuzzo (2009)
Length: 76 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started/Finished: 20 December 2009
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Tracee at Pump up Your Book for sending me a copy of this book to read
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 12 November 2009
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and Fred Tribuzzo is a new author for me


Paul Castellucci was a down-and-out middle-aged bankruptcy lawyer whose high-flying spiritual ideals had guttered to almost nothing, leaving him depressed and cynical. Now it is almost Christmas and the spirit world has decided to take Paul firmly in hand through the intervention of three iconic 19th-century Native Americans: Black Elk, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. They challenge him to a dream quest through his past, present and future, no guarantee of a safe return. It's going to be a rough ride. I loved this book and give it an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Patrick Suskind - Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

19. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind (1985)
Length: 310 pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Started: 6 December 2009
Finished: 16 December 2009
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 April 2009
Why do I have it? I like historical mysteries


I just finished Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille was born without the personal scent that denotes us all as human beings. He was however born with a brilliant sense of smell. With such a brilliant olfactory sense, he rose from lowly tanner to the most famous perfumer in Paris. He was driven insane by the fact that he could smell human beings and to him, they all smelled horrible.

He spent seven years as a hermit living in a cave, during which time he discovered that he has no personal odor. When he reemerged from the cave, he had a diabolical plan to make his own personal scent and make people adore him. All he needed now was the sweet floral scents of virgins. I enjoyed this story even though it was a little long and give it a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often

Teresa Medeiros - After Midnight

Re-read. After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros (2005)

Kane/Cabot Vampire Series Book 1
Length: 370 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Originally Read: 1 August 2008
Re-read Finished: 1 December 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart

I had read this book last year and really enjoyed it. I was reacquainting myself with the plot and found that it was just as good the second time that I read it.

May you read well and often

Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin - The Taker and the Keeper

17. The Taker and the Keeper by Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin (2009)
The Red Monocle Series Book 1
Length: 176 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started: 11 November 2009
Finished: 21 November 2009
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Monserrat at Chiron Books for sending me a copy of this book to read
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 11 October 2009
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin are new authors for me.


I just finished reading The Taker and the Keeper by Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin, It is the first book in the Red Monocle Series.

Middle-schoolers Gregory Guest and Yolanda Torres find that they are the only two people in their tiny town of Bainesboro who can sense something wrong with the world - the sky is duller and parents and teachers are nastier somehow. Together with their eccentric science teacher and Gregory's trusty magical red monocle, the children go into the legend of King Arthur to help the wizard Merlin and his apprentice to find Excalibur and defeat the sorceress Morgan le Fay. Only then can Gregory and Yolanda set the "real" world to rights and save the legends of Camelot. I really enjoyed this story and give it an A! I look forward to the next book in the series.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Kathryn Meyer Griffith - Witches

16. Witches by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (1993)
Length: 384 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 4 November 2009
Finished: 14 November 2009
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 24 March 2009
Why do I have it? I like horror and Kathryn Meyer Griffith is a new author for me.

For my #10 challenge (Reader's Choice), I read Witches by Kathryn Meyer Griffith. Amanda Givens is a white witch - a witch who uses her powers for good. She lives alone in a cabin in the woods of Canaan, Connecticut with her feline familiar, Amadeus. When Amanda is wrongly blamed for a rash of ritualistic murders committed by a Satanic cult, she is inevitably drawn back in time by the ghost of Rachel Coxe, a dark witch who was drowned for practicing black magic in the 17th century.

Now, as Amanda tries to rehabilitate Rachel's reputation in an effort to save her own life, she has to rely on a sister's love and magical knowledge, and a powerful sect of witches named the Guardians to help Amanda get home safely. I give this romantic horror story an A+! I thought it was great.

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often