#32 – Changes

Changes is the 12th novel of the Dresden Files series, and it certainly lives up to its name.

I can’t say too much about this book, as I’m going to be writing a review for rambles. Net (check out the link to the right), but this book completely alters everything you thought an absolute in Harry Dresden’s universe. By the end of this novel it is obvious that nothing will remain the same. Changes. That’s all that happens in this book.

Changes (Dresden Files #12) by Jim Butcher

#31 – A Reliable Wife

This book has been on the Barnes & Noble paperback bestseller list for a couple months now, and since the ebook was only a little over $5 I decided to figure out what everyone loved about it.

I was amazed from the very first page. This is the author’s first fiction novel, and you would not know it. His writing style is extremely impressive. I was blown away from the beginning. The prose is elegrant and flows smoothly creating an extremely rich and detailed story about 3 very lonely people.

I don’t want to say too much and give too much of the story away, but I will say this was a very good book. One of the great things about it is that Goolrick doesn’t lay out his entire hand right from the beginning. When you think you know the characters, halfway through you learn something new that takes you by surprise. The story drags a little about 3/4 of the way in, but it picks up again by the end.

Set against a depressing and isolated wintry backdrop, this story is emotional, dark, rich and real.

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

#30 – He’s Just Not That Into You

I’m really not a fan of relationship self-help books, but I saw this movie and was a little curious to see what the book was like. I was surprised that I actually kind of enjoyed it.

This isn’t just a self-help book. It’s also humorous and easy to read. Since most of the book is aimed towards girls already in a relationship, not much could be applied to my life at the moment. It also seems like a lot of it is stuff that should be common sense for girls, and it’s almost sad that they would have to read a book to figure it out. But I know we have a habit of convincing ourselves of something if we want to. I also really liked that the book reinforced my belief that the guy should be the one asking the girl out, not the other way around. (see? It’s not old-fashioned!)

He’s Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt and Lisa Tuccillo

#29 – Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2)

This was the first complete novel I read on my new NOOK. While I won’t use this blog to advertise the device, I will say that I am really enjoying it (which really surprises me).

Sea of Monsters is the second in the Percy Jackson series, and I think I liked the first book better than this one. Although I won’t let that discourage me, because everyone I’ve talked to so far says the same thing. This book was a little slower and less exciting than the first.

While I’m enjoying reading through this series, I will admit that it doesn’t cross the age gap like Harry Potter does. This series is definitely intended for children, and it’s definitely written specifically for them. But it’s a great series for them.

Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan

#28 – Dead Until Dark

Dead Until Dark is the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, which the TV show True Blood is based on. I’ve already read the entire series, but there is a new one coming out next month and was hoping to re-read the entire series before then. Unfortunately I’m not sure I’m going to get time.

This book (and the entire series) is definitely not the best book I’ve ever read. The plot and the writing are fairly simple, and Ms. Harris fashion sense definitely leaves a lot to be desired, but it’s easy to read and entertaining.

#27 – Torchwood: Consequences

I was mildly disappointed with the recent selection of Torchwood novels. They always release three at a time, and usually at elast one of them is really good. Unfortunately that wasn’t really the case this time, although I would say this was probably the best of the three.

Consequences is actually a series of short stories that are all connected by, as the title gives away, consequences. The events of each story are the consequences of the story before. The one thing I loved about this book is that one of the short stories has Owen and Tosh in it, and I really miss those two. Although that story also irritated me for not getting it’s facts straight (it took place while Jack had disappeared with the Doctor, yet referred to Rhys as Gwen’s husband before they were even married).

Overall it wasn’t a bad read, if you’re a huge Torchwood fan like myself.

Torchwood: Consequences by Various Authors

#26 – Boneshaker

Two of my co-workers raved about this book and it sounded really interesting, so I decided I would give it a chance. Unfortunately, I didn’t like it quite as much as they did.

Boneshaker is an alternate history/ Steampunk novel that takes place in the late 1860s (?). The Civil War has not ended, and a catastrophe has turned Seattle into a danger zone. After an accident with a machine created to drill into the ground, a gas escapes that turns people in the living dead and the city has to be walled up to prevent the zombies, or “rotters,” from escaping. Fifteen years after this accident the son of the man responsible goes into the city hoping to find answers his mother isn’t willing to give him.

While the concept and the plot is really interesting, it just felt like the story moved to slowly. It’s one of those books that could be really good … if it had been written by someone else. But that’s just my opinion. Like I said, my friends at work loved it, so maybe it’s just me.

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

#25 – The Girl Who Chased the Moon

I love Sarah Addison Allen’s books. If you haven’t read any of them I highly recommend them. Each book is about a quirky southern town and is slightly magical. They’re fairly light, easy reads, but they are all enjoyable. And I like each consecutive book better than the last.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is her third and most recent book, it just came out last week. It’s the story of a teenage girl who, after the death of her mother, goes to live with her grandfather (who stands over 8 feet tall) whom she’s never met. There she learns about that this isn’t any ordinary town. Wallpaper changes to match your mood, people can see the scent of food baking and strange lights move around in her yard at night.

This is my favorite of her books so far (they literally get better with each one). If you’re looking for something light and easy to read with just a hint of magic and romance this is a great choice. And if you like this one, then I highly recommend her earlier books, Garden Spells and Sugar Queen.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

#24 – Heart of the Dragon

If you know me, you probably know I’m a huge fan of the series, Supernatural. This is a book based on the series. It wasn’t great, but the author is certainly improving.

But … he’s still not great. I’m actually looking forward to the next two books more because they are two different authors (although I’ve read one book by the guy writing the next book and I really wasn’t impressed). I think the problem with Keith DeCandido, who has written three of the novels now, is that he tries to hard to be one of us. It’s like the geeky guy in high school trying to fit in with the cool kids. He’s a fan of the show, and he wants other fans to know it so he writes in all this extra stuff to prove how much he knows about the show, but it just doesn’t work. He’s trying too hard.

That said, this was probably the best of the three Supernatural books he’s written so far. I actually kind of liked the flashbacks to the Campbells and John hunting. I think I would have liked it better if he hadn’t kept referring to Castiel as Cass. It sounds like a girl’s name. There’s only one L Dude!

Anyway, if you’re a SPN fan, then you might not hate this book. Like I said, it was an improvement on his earlier novels.

#23 – Full Moon (Dark Guardians #2)

This is another book that I’m reviewing for my friends website, so you’ll have to go there for a more detailed opinion. However I will say that this book wasn’t bad. It certainly wasn’t anything special, and the first book was probably better, but this wasn’t bad. It’s a quick read and it does draw you in enough to want to know what happens.

Full Moon (Dark Guardians #2) by Rachel Hawthorne