Dark Bites

Dark Bites by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Collection of short stories.

House of the Rising Sun - Wish I had read it before I read Styxx. The story of Aricles (Styxx) and Bathymaas.

Phantom Lover - The story of V'Aidan and Erin

Winter Born - The story of Dante and Pandora

A Dark Hunter Christmas - Gallagher spends Christmas at Sanctuary.

Until Death We Do Part - Retta forgives her husband Prince Velkan.

A Hard Day's Night Searcher - When Rafael's squire publishes a story about the Dark Hunters, Rafael seduces Celena in hopes of getting him off the hook with the council.

Shadow of the Moon - The story of Fury and Angelia. They deserved a much longer book.

Fear the Darkness - Nick Gautier returns to New Orleans.

Where Angels Fear to Tread - Zeke wishes his life was more exciting and discovers he has been "chosen" to replace his Granduncle as a Seraph.

Love Bytes - Computer Geek Adrian puts the moves on Sam.

Santa Wears Spurs - Catherine's husband walked out on her five years ago. Now he walks back into her life and all his secrets are revealed. Will she expose him or keep his secret so they can live happily ever after.

Redemption: A Bonus Scene from The Guardian - Seth and Lydia's wedding.

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Left to Die

Left To Die by Lisa Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Jillian River's car is found the police assume she is a victim of the Star Crossed Killer. But actually her first husband's (Aaron who is suppose to be dead) deranged lover is out to kill her. Luckily for Jillian before the jealous Falda can finish her off Zane MacGregor arrives and takes her to his cabin where they are snowed in. Once the weather breaks MacGregor attempts to find a way off the mountain, while he is gone Falda shows up and shoots his dog and takes Jillian into the woods where she leaves her naked and tied to a tree. MacGregor arrives in time to save her and the police show up shortly thereafter. Once Jillian is well she teams up with MacGregor to track down Aaron.

Meanwhile Regan whose ex has taken her kids becomes the next victim of the Star Crossed Killer

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The Lady of the Rivers

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The book is about Jacquetta of Luxembourg (Elizabeth Woodville's Mother).

When the Book opens her family is holding Joan of Arc prisoner. Jacquetta's Great Aunt the Demoiselle of Luxembourg promises to keep Joan safe and she is allowed to spend time with the family. But after the Demoiselle dies, they turn her over to the Church and Joan is burned at the stake. Jacquetta learns early that a woman with power is in grave danger.

As a teen she is married to John of Lancaster 1st Duke of Bedford, the most powerful man in France and heir to the throne of England. He knows of her family's descent from Melusine, and is convinced that Jacquetta has "the gift". He forces her to scry for him but she is unable to translate the things she sees. When he dies, she takes his squire Richard Woodville as a lover and they return to England. They marry without the King's permission but he forgives them after heavily fining them. The Duchess of Gloucester,is accused of ill wishing the King. She flees into sanctuary but is forced to do public penance, divorce the Duke and is imprisoned for the rest of her life on the Isle of Man.

Jacquetta and Richard are sent to fetch the King's betrothed Margaret of Anjou. Henry VI is very pious and fails to consummate the marriage, in a timely manner. The King and Queen spend excesses of money on extravagances while failing to pay the troops and merchants and become very unpopular with the country side which is heavily taxed to support their life style. The Queen eventually takes Edmund Beaufort as a lover and becomes pregnant. When the King sees them in an embrace he falls asleep and refuses to wake until long after the baby is born. When he eventually awakens Richard Duke of York has been named Protector and he has no memory of what he saw before he fell asleep. Margaret urges him to regain the crown and punish the Yorks. He regains the crown but it soon becomes apparent he is merely a puppet for his wife and Edmund Beaufort. Richard of York attacks, Edmond Beaufort is killed and the King is taken into Richard's custody. The King agrees that Richard should serve as Regent and that he will be King after his death (disinheriting the Queen's son). The Queen and her son escape and go to the Tudors (the King's half brothers).

Jacquetta returns to the countryside and her children. Her eldest daughter Elizabeth is married to Sir John Grey and has two sons with him.

The Queen summons Richard, Anthony and Sir John to her army. She has brought the Welsh to terrorize the countryside and Richard Duke of York has been killed along with his son Edmond.Jacquetta and Richard believe the Yorks have been defeated. But London refuses to open it's doors to the Queen and her Army and Richard's son Edward arrives. The Londoners name Edward King and open their doors to him. A battle ensues and Sir John (Elizabeth's husband) is killed. Richard and Anthony are paroled and agree never again to raise a sword against York. They return home.

Elizabeth has been left penniless as her Mother in Law refuses to return her dowry. Elizabeth takes her sons to stand by the road, in order to ask King Edward to intercede for her when he rides by. Jacquetta adds a love potion to a drink she prepares to serve the king.

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Stolen Prey

Stolen Prey by John Sandford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Typical Davenport novel.

It starts out with Lucas Davenport getting mugged by two meth addicts and breaking his wrist. He is rather preoccupied with finding them and sics Flowers on the case. In typical Flowers fashion he doesn't just find the two muggers he stumbles on a large scale magic mushroom ring.

Meanwhile Davenport is part of the investigation into the torture and brutal slaying of the Brooks family and their pets. Everyone agrees it is the work of a Mexican gang, but the question is why, what did they want from the Brooks family.

Lucas realizes Brooks was using his software company to laundry drug money and realizes someone (not the Brooks) must have stolen the money. He starts looking for the thieves. The Mexican government sends two agents (Rivera & Martinez) to work with him. Lucas figures out the identity of one of the thieves (Kline), but doesn't get anywhere when he questions him. After Lucas leaves the the three killers the gang sent to Minnesota  arrives at his apartment, but Kline manages to escape by fleeing into his bathroom and yelling for help.

Rivera uses his Mexican contacts to find the killers the gang sent and kills one of the killers and has the other two corned when Martinez shoots him in the back and tells the other two members of the gang to flee. She concocts a story for Lucas, that he initially buys.

Slowly Lucas figures out that Martinez is working with the gang and sets a trap for her but she escapes with the remaining killer. He then tells the media that Martinez recovered the laundered money that had been converted to gold.

The gang kills one of the thieves (Ivan), Sanderson and Albitis have a falling out and Sanderson hits Albitis over the head with a golf club. Albitis supposedly has lost her memory. Sanderson and Kline arrange for the police to find the majority of the gold so the Mexicans will no longer be looking for them and hide the remainder. They get away with stealing the money as Lucas has no way to prove they took it.

Martinez realizes "The Voice" will never believe she doesn't have the gold and decides to kill Lucas. She and Tres (the remaining killer) go to Davenport's home and think he is there because they see his SUV in the drive (he took his Porsche), Letty spots them before they enter the house and yells at her Mom to run with the baby and lock herself in the maids apartment. Letty heads for Lucas' bedroom and gets his gun out of the gun safe. She kills Tres who comes after her, and with a broken arm goes after Martinez who she also kills, saving her adopted family.



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Inherit the Dead

Inherit the Dead: A Novel by Jonathan Santlofer and others
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It was for a good cause but the book was a huge disappointment. The only thing Lee Child wrote was the introduction.

A rich socialite who is supposedly dying hires Perry to find her daughter. The daughter kills her Mother and when the half brother who has been stalking her, kills her Father she takes the opportunity to kill him. But Perry doesn't fall for her innocent routine ...............

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Nevermore

Nevermore by James Patterson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Fang returns to the flock after Maya is killed by Ari. Jeb wants to kill Fang because his DNA holds the secret to immortality. They discover Angel is still alive and the Flock rescue her only to be attacked by Ari and a large number of Erasers. They defeat the Erasers only to have Dylan try to kill Fang. Then Dr Martinez (Max's Mom) shows up and whisks them away to an island paradise only to have a large meteor hit Earth. Fang, Max, Angel & Dylan survive.

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The Goldfinch

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book you will either hate or love. I also found it very depressing until the very end when the hero finally finds a reason for living.

Theo suspended from school has been called in for a conference along with his Mother . Theo had apparently been struggling ever since his Father walked out on them, with no way to find him. Having some spare time before the conference and loving art Theo's Mom takes him to see "Portraiture and Nature Morte: Northern Masterworks of The Golden Age". The piece she particular wants to see is The Goldfinch. Theo being a typical 13 year old boy is more interested in the red headed girl who is at the museum with her Uncle Welty. When the bomb goes off Theo and his Mom are in different parts of the Museum. When Theo awakens the only one in the room with him is a dying Welty. Welty gives him his ring and tells him where to take it and also encourages him to save The Goldfinch. Dazed and confused Theo puts various things in a shopping bag including The Goldfinch and wanders out of the deserted Museum after Welty dies. Not knowing what to do he follows the plan, to go to their apartment to wait for his Mom if they are separated. When night falls and she hasn't returned he frantically starts making phone calls.

Child Protective Services show up and intend to stick him in the Foster care system until he gives them the name of his friend Andy. Both of these bright boys have been promoted a grade level and are picked on by their classmates at the private school Theo has a scholarship too. Andy's well to do parents take Theo in after his Grandparents refuse to and his Dad can't be tracked down. Slowly Theo starts to remember things and he takes Welty's ring to Hobie and discovers the red headed girl (Pippa) is alive. The three become friends and Theo begins to come out of his depression. Then Pippa's Aunt arrives and takes her away. Shortly after Theo's Dad shows up with his girlfriend and takes Theo to Las Vegas. Theo doesn't know what to do with the painting and is afraid if anyone finds out he has it he will get in trouble so he hides it in his suitcase.

Theo's Dad pretty much neglects him and he starts hanging out and drinking and doing drugs with Boris. Theo's Dad tries to get his hand on money Theo's Mom put away for his education but the lawyer Mr. Bracegirdle thwarts him and Theo's Dad gets drunk and drives into the desert where he crashes his car and dies. Afraid that Child Protective Services will come for him Theo flees to New York with his dog on the bus, ignoring Boris' plea for him to stay just one more day. Scared and sick he arrives on Hobie's doorstep and Hobie takes him in. Eventually they become partners and Theo runs the antique shop while Hobie repairs and makes furniture. Theo still terrified he will get in trouble if anyone finds out he has The Goldfinch hides it in a storage facility.

Out of the blue Boris shows up to apologize to Theo, who has been unaware all these years that Boris stole The Goldfinch from him. He has been using The Goldfinch as collateral, a deal went bad and he lost it. Determined to make things right with Theo, Boris and Theo head to Amsterdam to get the painting, they briefly recover it before the bad guys take it from them. Separated from Boris Theo is sick and scared and contemplates suicide before Boris shows up and reveals he called the Art Crimes people and they have retrieved The Goldfinch and several other paintings, with the reward money Theo and Boris are now rich, and Theo is able to correct some of his mistakes.



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