Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (4)

Sookie doesn't have that many relations, so she hated to lose one - but of all the people to go, she didn't expect it to be her cousin Hadley, a consort of New Orleans' vampire queen - after all, Hadley was technically already dead. But she is gone, beyond recall and she's left Sookie an inheritance - one that comes with a bit of a risk - not least because someone doesn't want Sookie digging too deep into Hadley's past - or her possessions. Sookie's life is once again on the line and this time the suspects range from the rogue werewolves who have rejected Sookie as a friend of the pack to her first love, the vampire Bill. Sookie's got a lot to do if she's going to keep herself alive

Book 6 in the Sookie Stackhouse Series and we find that once again Sookie is getting herself into trouble .......

I found it a little confusing at the start with the mention of Hadley her cousin as there really isn't alot of mention of her in the other books and I thought I had maybe overlooked a book somewhere .... But after a few pages you get to know what is going on .... Sookie is summoned to the Royal Court to see the Queen with a new man/tiger in tow .... Hot on her heels are the Werewolves looking for some answers ..... And we find out Bill's true intentions .....

Will she manage to escape getting injured in this novel .... I think not !!! Again good story line with all your favourite characters ...

I rate this book ****

"Rumours" by Anna Godbersen 4****

'Manhattan has bid farewell to it's brightest star, the dazzling Miss Elizabeth Holland.

Yet the rumours about her untimely demise continue.

Meanwhile her sister, the irrepressible Diana,

has been seen in the company of not one, but three eligible bachelors.

Might there be a fourth?'

Second book in the Luxe series and the first in my Romance reading challenge.

I enjoyed reading the second novel but found it wasn't quite as good as the first. A bit like reading the twilight series in the sense you couldn't put the first one down until you finish, but the second just seemed to drag a bit. I look forward to finishing the series off to see how the author is going to deal with all the problems each of the characters are facing. I love the character of Diana, she has such a free spirit about her and for someone so young she is put into some difficult positions. I'm a big fan of historical romance novels as I love to imagine what the period would of been like... clothes, houses, food, manners etc...

I love the idea of men being genltemen and treating ladies with respect, though it also can be very restrive in how they speak and interreact with each other.

Love the book... well done Anna.

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (4)

Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in a little bar in a small town deep in Louisiana. She's funny and pretty and well-mannered, but she doesn't have that many close friends - mind you, that's not so surprising when you consider how few people can appreciate her abilities as a mind-reader. It's not a quality that has the guys beating down her door - well, unless they're vampires or werewolves or the like . . . but they're not just supernatural freaks, some of them are friends, even family . . .

And much as Sookie might want a quiet life, when she's around, things just seem to happen . . . like her brother, who appears to be changing into a were-panther. He's not that bothered, but someone doesn't like it - someone's trying to wipe him out, as well as the rest of the shape-changing population, and that mean's Sookie's got just a month, before the next full moon, to find out who wants her brother dead, and stop the fiend.

Book Number #5 in the Sookie Stackhouse series and I really enjoyed this one as well ... Poor Jason is turning into a were-panther and Sookie as always is getting caught up into their world .... And it doesn't help when you have killed a Were yourself ......

Your favourite characters are here with Eric the cheeky viking vampire ... Your hunky Were-wolf Alcide ..... All wanting you to do favours for them .... You just know Sookie is going to end up in the trouble .... and it doesn't help when there is a sniper out there shooting your friends .......

Good story line and I am loving this series !!! So if you loved the last load of books you are going to love this one !!!

I rate this book 4****

Discussion Questions for the Boy in the Striped Pyjama's by John Doyle

Well Girlie's here are the questions for the next book .......

1. What did you think of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas? What did you particularly appreciate? How did your emotions change during the course of the story?

2. Do you think Boyne was right to look at this subject from the perspective of a naïve young boy? How effective do you think this was in helping you to approach the subject?

3. How did you feel about Bruno and his family when we first meet them in Berlin? To what extent did you struggle to identify with them because they are a Nazi family?

4. At age 12, Gretel is the proper age for membership in the League of Young Girls, a branch of Hitler’s Youth Organization. Why do you think she is not a member, especially since her father is a high-ranking officer in Hitler's army?

5. What did you think of Bruno’s character? What did you like about him? What didn’t you like?

6. To what extent could you understand Bruno’s adoration of his father, and his struggle to come to terms with what he was discovering?

7. Bruno asks his father about the people outside their house at Auschwitz. His father answers, “They’re not people at all Bruno.” (p. 53) Discuss the horror of this attitude. How does his father’s statement make Bruno more curious about Out-With?

8. What is it about the house at Out-With that makes Bruno feel “cold and unsafe”? How is this feeling perpetuated as he encounters people like Pavel, Maria, Lt. Kotler, and Shmuel?

9. How did your feelings about Ralph (Bruno’s father) change during the book? Was there a turning point in your feelings? If so, when?

10. Why do you think Ralph did what he did? How would he have justified it to himself and to others?

11. What do you think drove Obersturmführer Kotler to be so cruel?

12. Why does Gretel change? What impact does this have on Bruno?

13. How would you describe Elsa? Were you surprised that Elsa (Bruno’s mother) was unaware of the true nature of the camp? How would you have responded to this situation if you had been in her position?

14 .‘Elsa doesn’t think. She doesn’t think for herself, she doesn’t think deeply. She chooses to be oblivious, concerning herself only with the safety of her family and her position in society – everything else is beyond her periphery. She’s a sort of accomplice and assistant to her husband’s ideals, his desires, his morals and his ambitions.’ (Vera Farmiga)
To what extent do you think she is morally responsible for what happens?

15. When Bruno dresses in the filthy striped pajamas, he remembers something his grandmother once said. “You wear the right outfit and you feel like the person you’re pretending to be.” (p, 205) How is this true for Bruno? What about his father? What does this statement contribute to the overall meaning of the story?

16. How would you describe the friendship between Bruno and Schmuel? What makes it a good friendship?

17. Why did Bruno betray Schmuel? Why was their friendship able to survive this?

18. How do you think the family, and Ralph in particular, would be impacted by the final scenes of the book?

19. How do the characters in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas exemplify Hannah Arendt’s notion of ‘the banality of evil’, that evil arises out of the tendency of ordinary people to follow orders, to accept what they’re told by authorities, to conform to the prevailing opinion? How easily could such evil arise in our own society? What might lead to it? What could prevent it?

20. When Bruno and his family board the train for Auschwitz, he notices an over-crowded train headed in the same direction. How does he later make the connection between Shmuel and that train? How are both trains symbolic of each boy’s final journey?

21. Bruno issues a protest about leaving Berlin. His father responds, “Do you think that I would have made such a success of my life if I hadn’t learned when to argue and when to keep my mouth shut and follow orders?” (p. 49) What question might Bruno’s father ask at the end of the novel?

22. In what sense is this a redemptive story?

23. Does The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas fill you with despair or hope? Why?

24. What would you identify as the most important messages from The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

A Sucker for a New Challenge ....

For this challenge you will need to read seven books in six months. To complete the challenge the title or author's name will need to begin with the letters R-O-M-A-N-C-E and must be classified as a romance novel (this includes as romance sub genre including contemporary, historical or paranormal).

To join us in the challenge, put a post on your blog saying you're participating in the challenge and the letters R-O-M-A-N-C-E down the post ready for you to put up your book list. Now you can post a suggested list or you can just put up the letters in preparation. You can change the your choice at any time, books can crossover with any other challenges but must be reviewed to be counted. Don't forget to put up the Button for this challenge in your side bar with a link to Royal Reviews. This challenge begins on June 1st and finishes on November 30,2009, although you can sign up anytime.

Well you all know Legs and I love to read and can never pass up a chance for a challenge and this one looks great so we will give it a try ........ We could all do with abit of Romance in our lifes ... RIGHT ....

Irish's List

R-Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
O-
M- The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison
A- The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
N-
C- Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
E- Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James


Leg's List
R- 'Rumours' by Anna Godbersen
O- 'The Other Queen' by Philippa Gregory
M- 'My Hero' by Debbie Macomber
A- The Angels Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
N-'Vision in White by Nora Roberts
C-'Confessions of a Little Black Gown' by Elizabeth Boyle
E-'The Rose and the Shield' byElaine Barbieri

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris (41/2)

When cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse sees a man on the side of the road, she doesn't just drive on by. Turns out the poor thing hasn't a clue who he is, but Sookie does. It's Eric the vampire--but now he's a kinder, gentler Eric. And a scared Eric, because whoever took his memory now wants his life.

The 4th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series and I have to say I loved this book and couldn't put it down ... By far the best book of the series so far .......

You have your faithful characters in Bill and Amanda the Vampires .... Alcide the Werewolves ..... Sam the Shapeshifter and now you have the introduction of Witches and Were-Panthers ...... Great stuff ........

Sookie is hiding Eric the Viking Vampire from the Witches who are hunting him down and now her beloved Brother Jason is missing and she fears is dead ......... She cannot rely on Bill her ex vampire boyfriend as he is out of the country so it is basically up to her to protect Eric ....

Great story line ..... Couldn't stop reading ...... Looking forward to reading the next in the series ...

I rate this book 41/2 ****

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris (31/2)

Sookie's boyfriend has been very distant-in another state, distant. Now she's off to Mississippi to mingle with the underworld at Club Dead-a little haunt where the vampire elite go to chill out. But when she finally finds Bill-caught in an act of betrayal-she's not sure whether to save him...or sharpen some stakes.

The 3rd book in the Sookie Stackhouse Series and it doesn't seem that Sookies life is getting any easier .....

This is not my most favourite book in the series and in a few parts found it quite slow .... But it does introduce you to a whole new set of characters which you will love and namely ... Alcide the hunky were-wolf ..............

Sookie has to make a decision whether to go after Bill the Vampire or not? There are alot of action and fights in this book and if you loved the first couple of books then you will love this one :)

I rate this book 31/2 ***

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen 5*****

It was the old New York way...

the way of people who dreaded scandle more than disease,

who placed decency above courage,

and who considered that nothing was more ill-bred than 'scenes',

except the behaviour of those who give rise to them...

- Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence.

Oh the cover of this book just said buy please.... so I did!

Wow... I just could not put it down. For a first time novel it was fantasic.

It has all the glitz of the O.C but with bigger frocks and more dashing boys and it's set in 1899.

There is gossip, intrigue, deceit, romance, jealousy, humour and betrayal

just to name a few things.

The author transports you into a world you can only imagine exists,

a world where your best friend isn't who you think she is and will

stab you in the back whens it's turned.

Love it, love it, loved it,

and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Highly recommend it. I rate this 5*****

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (4)

All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly : Sookie Stackhouse is in trouble again! Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is having a streak of bad luck. First her co-worker is killed, and no one seems to care. Then she comes face-to-face with a beastly creature which gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins. The point is: they saved her life. So when one of the bloodsuckers asks for a favour, she obliges - and soon Sookie's in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She's supposed to interview certain humans involved, but she makes one condition: the vampires must promise to behave, and let the humans go unharmed. But that's easier said than done, and all it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly . . .

This is book two of the Sookie Stackhouse Series about Vampires in the South .... And it is an easy funny read about the adventures of Sookie and her Vampire boyfriend .... Nothing has ever been the same since Sookie starting dating Bill the Vampire ... It introduced her to a world of Vampires and Shapeshifters ...

Now that Eric the chief Vampire knows that she can read minds he sends her out doing various jobs for him .... And of course there is always danger .... I am enjoying these books but there are some sex scences in this book as well ... But if you love your Vampire books you will love this book :) ....

I rate this book 4****

The Conjuror's Bird by Martin Davies 3***

Journeys begin in many different ways. It was Cook, a man experienced in preparations for a long sea expedition, who persuaded Joseph Banks to return to Revesby before they sailed; so that summer of 1768, two months before they were due to depart, he made the journey back to Lincolnshire; back to the woods and fields that for the next three years were what he thought of when he thought of home.

It was an interesting first novel, not quite what I was expecting.

The author has mixed current day life with past historical intrigue.

He managed to intertwine both stories so that you never got lost in either. I did enjoy it

but It wouldn't be one of my all time favourites.

I rate this book 3***

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (4)

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....

Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

A fun, fast, funny, and wonderfully intriguing blend of vampire and mystery that's hard to put down, and should not be missed.

Ok these books have been out a while and number 9 was just released this May ... They brought out a different cover which I prefer to the original covers ... ( You all know what a book snob I am when it comes to covers .... The original cover where very cartoonie and I would have just passed them over ) Last year they made this book into a TV series and it got quite the following so much so that they are making a second series based on the 2nd book ... Dead in Dallas ...

The book is an enjoyable read but be warned there are a couple of sex scenes in the book ... And it is classed as an Adult read .... But the story line and characters I just loved ... There are Vampires, Shape shifters and some other species in the book which makes for a good story line and an endless supply for future books ...

The character of Sookie is great she is not your ordinary human she can read minds ... Bill the Vampire is great who is very charming and old fashioned ... And there is mystery to solve as who is killing all the women in the town ..... Is it the Vampires ???

I rate this book 4 ****

Now how does the book compare to the TV Series .... I have to say I loved the characters and the story line to the series but it is definitely an Adult View .... There is alot of sex scenes and I mean alot and some are quite graphic ... So this series is not for everyone .... If there was no sex scenes in the series then it would actually be perfect ... I was abit curious whether the books would be the same way but I am pleased to say they do not .... The second series is going to be aired at the end of June 2009 .... The series is good .... Great characters ... Great Music ... And great story line ... But again very graphic and alot of swearing which is a shame ...

Jane Eyre by Charotte Bronte

This is a quick review for the Books to Movie Challenge for Jane Eyre and there seems to be a recurring theme ... I like the movies but the books are just plain better :)

For so many years my favourite movie of Jane Eyre is with Timothy Dalton as Mr Rochester but the more recent version done in 2006 I think wins in the end .... It is very much like the book and is over 3 hours long .... So make sure you are comfy because if you are any thing like me you will not be able to watch it in parts you have to watch it all at once .... Which is what we as a book club done last Friday and loved it ....

Obviously in the series version you do see the beautiful house Fairfield and the gorgeous gardens etc .... You see the sparks that fly between Jane and Edward and the facial expressions etc ... But it really cannot compare to the book ... I think because when you read a book you have in your head your own version of the characters and places and when it appears on the big screen it doesn't always match up with what is your head ...

But all in all this 2006 version of Jane Eyre is beautifully done so settle down with a box of chocolates and be swept away with the feisty Jane and broody Edward .... A couple that was just meant to be from the start !!!!!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (5)

As an orphan, Jane's childhood is not an easy one but her independence and strength of character keep her going through the miseries inflicted by cruel relatives and a brutal school. However, her biggest challenge is yet to come. Taking a job as a governess in a house full of secrets, for a passionate man she grows more and more attracted to, ultimately forces Jane to call on all her resources in order to hold on to her beliefs.

Move over Mr Darcy here comes Mr Rochester ......

This is one of my favourite books and movies of all time .... I don't know how many times I watched Jane Eyre when I was growing up and Mr Rochester was always Timothy Dalton until the new version came out in 2006 ....

This novel is truly a classic ... And a novel which you can read with great ease and amusement ... Jane is such a wonderful character .... Even as a young child she knew her own mind even under such awful surroundings .....

I would truly call this novel a love story .... It is full of passion .... And it amazes me that it was written so long ago but yet is still so fresh .... I couldn't help but continually turn the pages to see what happens next ....

I feel this book has everything that you would require in a story ... Romance ( which sometimes you can feel the attraction between Jane and Edward was electric ) .... There was suspense and mystery ( What exactly was in attic? ) ... There was Ghosts and stately Mansions ( With beautiful gardens and women dressed in wonderful apparel ) ... There where the characters you loved to hate ( The wicked Aunt and Mr Brocklehurst ) .... The character who is the heroine ( Jane .... Plain she was not ) and no story would be complete without a brooding, Ruggedly Handsome Landing Man in Mr Rochester ....

I have so many favourite parts in this novel but here is but a few ....

"He rose and came towards me, and I saw his face all kindled, and his full falcon-eye flashing, and tenderness and passion in every lineament. I quailed momentarily - then I rallied." pg 329
(Swoon .... Swoon ... Swoon )

"My little friend!" said he, "I wish I were in a quiet island with only you; and trouble, and danger, and hideous recollections removed from me" ...... Can I help you, sir? - I'd give my life to serve you." .... "Jane, if aid is wanted, I'd seek it at your hands; I promise you that." Pg 244

"If one shook hands, for instance; but no - that would not content me either. So you'll do no more than to say Farewell, Jane?" ...... pg 271

"God pardon me!" he subjoined ere long, "and man meddle not with me: I have her, and will hold her" Pg 308

I cannot tell you how much I really love this book ... If you have not read it yet please do yourself a favour and go and get a copy !!! ..... You will not be disappointed ... You can really see how it is a Classic and remain one for many years to come ...

I rate this book 5*****

Ok we are doing this book as a book club and are going to settle down to watch the series .... So here is a wee teaser .... If you haven't seen this series it is well worth the watch :)