Inked - Wilks, Chance, Galenorn, Liu

Inked is a collection of four novellas.  They're all about magic in one form or another, but tattoos are important to each.

Wilks I'm familiar with.  In fact, I've been waiting for some time for Blood Lines to come out on the kindle.  I've read the first two books in that series on my kindle and would like to continue.  Her Human Nature is a good short story to go with the the World of the Lupi series.

Chance I've only read in anthologies so far.  I like this  story, Skin Deep, about war mages and werewolves and all things magical.  It's got a good story line.  I'll add Chance to my list of authors to watch.

Galenorn's Silver Etched contribution is little more than soft core porn wrapped in a magical otherworld setting. Other than all the sex it's suspiciously like the early Rachel Morgan stories by Kim Harrison. Downtrodden harassed female police person overcomes the odds and catches the bad guy. Harrison did it very well. Galenorn not so much. The debauchery is definitely not my cup of tea.

The best of the bunch is Liu's Armor of Roses.  Maxine Kiss is back and traveling in time.  As improbable as Liu's universe is, the characters make it fun to read about.  I read to escape reality and Liu's books make an excellent catalyst for the imagination.

All in all, highly recommended.

Hunted - P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast

Hunted is book five of the House of Night series.  This book has lots of big changes in it.  The kids, along with the rest of the world, are in some serious danger.  Zoe and her friends and Grandmother and a Nun have to come together in a new way.  At least this one ends with something of a hiatus so the next book is not needed right away.  I really enjoy this series though.  It's kind of like a modern Nancy Drew with the supernatural, vampyres, and significantly more making out added in.  Maybe not like Nancy Drew after all :)  Highly recommended.

Untamed - P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast

Untamed is the fourth House of Night Book.  The House of Night series is really a big continuing story, but up until this book there was a clear conclusion to each novel.  This time there is a huge event right at the end that changes everything.  Zoe is still becoming stronger and more sure of herself.  The rest of the "nerd herd" is hanging in there with her.  However, the forces against them are getting stronger and coming out of the dark into the open.  Normally I read other books between books in the series but this time I went right to book five, Hunted.  I have to find out what happens after the end of Untamed.  I have a feeling I may be on a House of Night marathon.  Highly recommended.

Dead Beat - Jim Butcher

Dead Beat is another Harry Dresden novel.  This time Harry is dealing with some necromancers with delusions of godhood.  Unfortunately if Harry doesn't stop them they may well make their delusions come true, and the rest of humanity would be in big trouble.  Dealing with his own demons is keeping Harry busy too.  It's another story with non-stop action.  You won't believe what corpse Harry has to animate to beat the bad guys.  Very highly recommended.

Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane

Shutter Island is a thriller with a huge twist, maybe.  The story takes place on Shutter Island, which is home to a mental institution for the criminally insane.  Two federal marshals are sent to the island to help find a missing patient.  What starts out as a locked room mystery soon expands to encompass the whole island.  I've read this novel and I'm still not sure of the ending.  I'm not sure which way I'd like it to end either.  Very highly recommended.

Chosen - P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast

Chosen is the third book in the House of Night series.  This series is like a Saturday serial.  Each book is sort of a cliff hanger and you just have to keep reading.  At least they're worth reading.  Zoe manages to alienate her friends and loose all three of her boyfriends this time.  One fatally.  She's getting stronger but still need some maturity to go with that strength.  The House of Night school is almost under siege because two vampyres have been...well read the book.  Highly recommended. 

Betrayed - P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast

Betrayed is the second book in the House of Night series.  The House of Night is a high school for teenage vampyres.  This book continues with Zoe now the high priestess in training and head of the dark daughters and sons.  The dark daughters and sons is part sorority and part student council.  But there's some trouble brewing when teenagers from Zoe's past begin to disappear and turn up as drained corpses.  It's getting more like monsters now.  I like this series.  Highly recommended.

I like this series more than the Twilight series.  I know that's heresy, but this is more like real teenagers with real problems and some weird new problems thrown into the mix.  Twilight was more teenage angst with vampires and werewolves and nothing really normal.  This House of Night series is definitely geared toward younger readers, and I'd recommend it to my grandkids, but then the authors had to throw in the whole blow job scene in the first book Marked, and I don't know why. Too bad.  I guess that makes this series even more like reality, and I should get with the times, but I want a different reality for my grandkids.

Amazon purchase memory

I love Amazon.  I buy everything there from books to groceries to electronics to clothes.  Being something of a homebody it's very convenient.  I particularly like when they remember what I bought and when.  For example, I can answer the question "how long did that last case of tea bags last me?"

However, they remember books you've bought only by type.  So if I bought the paperback version of a novel a year ago and then see it for the kindle, Amazon appears to have no clue that I already read it after buying it from them.  I find that very annoying.

I know.  I should be able to remember what I've read and what I haven't, but I read a lot of books and have burned out quite a few gray cells over the years.   I started this list just so I could go back and see if I'd already read something, and even if I liked it.  It helps but I think Amazon could do better.  After all, they're using computers and I'm stuck with my aging brain.

The Dark Tide - Andrew Gross

The Dark Tide is a mystery about a man who dies in a terrorist attack on New York City.  He's got a wife and kids and is sorely missed.  This book is a mystery about a hit-and-run that keeps nagging at the police lieutenant who goes out on the call.  Both of these events, and more, are all tangled up in this story in a way that keeps you reading late into the night.  Highly recommended.