Dead Until Dark.

In Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris, (the first Sookie Stackhouse novel) we meet young waitress Sookie Stackhouse and some of the people of her small southern town - Bon Temps. We learn that Vampires are "out of the coffin" and this is not exactly okay with everyone. Also to find out, is that Sookie herself is not exactly normal. While she isn't one of the undead, she has a sort of disability: She can read minds & she would like nothing better than to be able to never do so again. Sookie's adventure begins when the vampire (Bill) walks into the bar she works at, and she saves his life, out in the parking lot when he is being drained by a couple of rats that want to sell his very valuable vampire blood. And before Sookie knows it, she is the target of a vampire disapproving serial killer targeting fang-bangers - women who've been with vampires.
I really enjoyed this book. It was easy and fast paced and there was just enough between important events to where I didn't get bored with the story. I loved the author's humorous writing style, and there were many interesting characters. I loved Sookie, though I had a lot of mixed feelings towards Bill until I started to understand that he mostly always thought of himself as unhuman and he detached himself from humans and their (his) emotions a long time ago. I hope he'll be a more likeable and understandable character in the other books. I also hope to see more of Eric in future books as well, even though he was not in this first one that much at all. I really liked him.
I didn't really think much or try to guess about who the killer was, which was why I was so surprised at who it was. That person seemed...not completely nice and on the road to goody-goody, but decent. In fact it's still sinking in. I never suspected.
I'm planning on reading this again before I have to take it back to the library. I very much recommend this if you are looking for some fun vampire fiction, even if you're not a fan of the True Blood series as I'm not, you might still find yourself liking this first book of the series.

The Sound of Butterflies.

In Rachael King's The Sound of Butterflies, Thomas Edgar, an amateur naturalist; travels to the Amazon in search of a butterfly he isn't even sure exists. Things start out fine for Mr. Edgar and his three companions: George, Ernie, and John. Catching wonderful specimens, and ever on the look-out for what will be his prize catch - his Papilio Sophia. A yellow and black swallow-tailed butterfly.

In their travels of scientific exploration in the jungle's of Brazil, they meet Mr. Santos, a seemingly harmless man in the rubber business. Harmless, at first, that is. He takes them to his home in Manaus, and that, I think, is where things truly begin to unfold completely for Thomas.

This was such a wonderfully written book I hated to finish it. The chapters alternated between Thomas's time in the jungle, and Sophie's (his wife's) time in Richmond, England - taking place in 1904, Ms. King's lovely writing transports the reader there with her interesting, likeable - and some not so likeable characters. It was very interesting to see this story unfold along with Thomas's horrifying secrets and Sophie's struggle to cope with a man that resembled her husband, who had changed drastically by his return.

The story begins with Thomas's return - he is mute, and has alarming red welts on his body. Sophie tries her best to get Thomas to speak but has no luck after trying everything she can think of, which finally drives her mad enough to drag his crates full of specimens he'd collected while away, outside to burn them, which actually, finally does get a response out of Thomas. I was so glad for that, because I was beginning to go a little mad at his not speaking right along with Sophie. Due to the fact that in the chapters of his time Brazil, pieces are revealed, but nothing quite yet that was the cause to push Thomas over the edge. It was as if I were finding out with Sophie the darkest secrets he had been keeping. With an ending that was truly shocking - and heartbreaking, this book may prove haunting for days after reading it.

Highland Destiny.

In Highland Destiny by Kathryn Hockett, a feud has been raging for years between the clan's of the MacLeod's and the MacDonald's. But everything changes once Malcolm MacDonald announces to his two nephews (Niall and Gregor) that he is going to choose once of them as tanist. (From what I could gather this would be future leader of the clan after his demise.) Niall MacDonald knows he is the man for this honored position, but how must he get his uncle's attention? He decides the only way to do this is to sneak into the enemy's castle (Dunvegan) and steal their beloved fairy flag. Though meanwhile, Ian MacLeod has had enough of his daughter Caitlin's delays to be married. After a few wasted attempts to try to force her to choose a husband, he looses his temper and declares that she will marry the next man to set foot in Dunvegan Castle.

Feeling scared and afraid, Caitlin goes up to the guard tower late one night to see if her brother's ghost will appear - whom was killed long ago in a battle between the two rival clans. To her surprise she does see someone there, and believes it is her dead brother. Only it is Niall who has previously fallen into a barrel of flour while sneaking into the castle. His charade does not last for long as his eagerness to get his hands on the flag ruins his plans of a smooth escape. Outraged, Caitlin takes him directly to her father's chambers at sword point, expecting him to get just what he deserves: a one way ticket to the dungeon for the rest of his days. But, neither father nor daughter knowing he is a MacDonald, Niall uses his quick wits to talk his way out of the dungeon and into Caitlin's bed - as her husband. He claims he tried stealing the flag as a show of his bravery, and he is really just a fisherman who heard of Ian's outburst, and has come to claim his daughter.

What unfolds from there is like a Romeo & Juliet path of events, except nobody ends up dead at the end.

Well, it took me forever to read this book, but I really enjoyed it. It was nice and easy and had me worried about the characters fate's more than once. Even over-looking the slow beginning and the annoying language until I got used to it and all the cheese that is usually found in a romance novel such as this, I really liked this story and appreciated what Caitlin and Niall fought through to be together. Very well worth sticking with this one.

Christy Brown: The Life that Inspired My Left Foot.

Synopsis from B&N.com: Christy Brown was severely disabled from birth with cerebral palsy and unable to use any part of his body other than his left foot. Doctors said that he was a mental defective and would never be able to lead a normal life; Christy proved them wrong. Written with the help of his surviving family members and artists who knew him well, this first authorized biography tells the astonishing story of Christy's struggle with his disability and his development as an artist, author, and poet, beginning with his mother teaching him to read and write using chalk on the worn floor of their small family home. Christy's memoir My Left Foot was published in 1954 and later made into an Academy Award–winning film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, while his bestselling novel Down All the Days was described by The Irish Times as "the most important novel since Ulysses." Using previously unpublished letters and poems, this book marks Christy Brown's importance as a writer and celebrates his will to succeed.

This was...a wonderfully eye-opening book. I am so glad I read it. Last year I became very interested in Christy Brown as an artist, but I never really, really realized just what an amazing artist and person he was. I am astounded at what he accomplished with his left foot. I cannot even begin to describe well enough of how much more I simply adore this man for his perseverance and the beauty of his life.

It was interesting to know the extra details, and the people that were in Christy's life. I think Ms. Hambleton did a wonderful job with this book. Very detailed, and well, personal. I felt I got a real look into Christy's life, I especially enjoyed his letters - they displayed such an articulate mind. Not that I think someone who can only control their left foot should be an idiot, but the fact that he hadn't any proper schooling is what gets me for that fabulous mind he had.

I fear I am going to begin rambling, so I will cut this review short, it is a lovely book on Christy Brown, and this, along with his auto-biography My Left Foot, is a wonderful start if you are interested in learning more about him. I also recommend trying out his poetry. I found it very refreshing when I read it last year, he was very talented.

Chez Moi.

In Chez Moi by Agnes Desarthe, Myriam opens a restaurant in a quiet neighborhood in Paris, and she has no idea what she is getting herself into.

As her restaurant's (Chez Moi) business begins to pick up, the mystery of Myriam's life begins to unfold. It was interesting to see how she went from wife to mother to circus cook. While her past is very appealing, I wish I could say the same for Myriam in the present. She seemed a little...strange really. But on the same side - likeable. I felt bad for her, especially for the poor relationship she had with her son. I think that was the saddest aspect of the story. Also, I just couldn't make sense of it. Why did she let her motherly instincts and love fly out of the window like that? I hated that about her, but I digress. There are many little side things and characters that just fit in with the flow of Chez Moi, which I rather liked. Such as Ben's sort of "take charge" character, and Hannah and Simone as well. Though Hannah and Simone were such small characters..I liked them while they were there.

The Spare Room.

The extreme basics: Nicola has cancer and has gone to stay in Melbourne with her dear friend Helen, while she undergoes some (badly chosen) treatments.

I don't really know what I was really hoping to see happen in The Spare Room by Helen Garner, but it was definitely not what I was expecting. I thought it would be a little more dramatic and sad, but it wasn't. I had this overlook on the book because I didn't read any of the blurbs before I actually started reading it. (Never again will I do that.)

Anyhoo, this was an okay little story. On the inside of the dust-jacket it says: An unforgettable novel - gripping, moving, and unexpectedly funny - about the distance a friendship must travel, and the depths it must plumb, when confronted by the threat of death. I hardly found it any of these things. Not even all that moving, because I felt it was too short. I didn't feel like there was enough there about Helen and Nicola's friendship for me to really understand their bond and why Nicola chose to stay with Helen really, during those ridiculous treatments she was getting. I could see all the points and such the author was trying to make, but I didn't really feel them. A nicer point to the book is the writing style, I liked it, and there didn't seem to be any fluffy filler either. I felt bad for Helen and Nicola, but there wasn't enough for me to care to carry their story with me for however long after I'd finished reading. I would've liked to see more character development, and less of Helen's "woe is me" on taking care of Nicola. I realize the responsibility and weight she must have felt but my goodness, enough is enough. Why did she even take on the job in the first place...?

That's all I really have to say on this book.

Snowy Night with A Stranger.

Snowy Night with A Stranger, is a Christmas themed anthology made up of three stories by Jane Feather, Sabrina Jeffries, and Julia London.

I haven't much to say about Jane Feather's story in this one: A Holiday Gamble, because well, I couldn't even make it into the third chapter. It just didn't catch my interest, and I couldn't even begin to root for a hero named "Ned." Seriously. Yes I am that picky. It was just slow feeling for me and the characters felt strange right off the bat. Not a good sign for me, so I just moved on to the next story.

In When Sparks Fly by Sabrina Jeffries (a possible new favorite author!), I was completely in love with all of the characters. Especially the heroine, Ellie. I just loved her. She was so sweet and charming, I hoped the "Black Baron" (Martin) would see it too and let down his guarded heart and just sweep her away. But Martin had a horrid Christmas memory that left him hating the holiday and typical "society ladies" as he believed Ellie to be. Fortunately, Ellie is able to break through all of the ice and his fears, and bring the promise of a new and happy life to Martin.

I have already reviewed Julia London's contribution to this anthology, here.

The Foreigner.

In The Foreigner, by Francie Lin, we meet Emerson Chang. A forty year old bachelor who leads a less than exciting life in his stuffy pressed suits as a financial analyst. His world is flipped upside down by the death of his mother, which leads him to a completely life changing adventure of sorts to Taipei to settle the inheritance of his mysteriously crooked younger brother; Little P.

The way this story is written alone is well worth the read. Filled with characters you may never want to come across in real life, Emerson struggles with a fear he harbors for his little brother who he believes has been roped in to a criminal underworld - but to what extent he is completely clueless. While there, he makes valuable unexpected friends and finds things out about his brother's dealings and everyday life that I didn't even guess were coming. By the end of this book you may be as shocked as I was at how Emerson's fight to save what was left of his family had drastically changed along with his life in general.

The Foreigner unfolds a highly amusing and sometimes funny page turning road of self discovery and shocking secrets and truths.

The Bounty Hunter's Bride.

Synopsis: The long journey across the West ended in sorrow for one hopeful mail-order bride. Dani Baxter stepped off the train in Colorado, only to learn that her intended had died suddenly, leaving three young daughters behind. And suddenly she knew why God had sent her here—to make this family whole again.
But her late fiancé's brother, Beau Morgan, a bounty hunter obsessed with vengeance, believed that was his duty. He proposed they marry—in name only— for the children's sake. But as she came to know him, she realized she wanted more, much more. And she wondered if even this lost man could somehow find peace in a woman's loving arms. (B&N.com)

Well. I was expecting this story to go a little differently than the way it actually did. I was thinking Beau would propose to Dani and they'd get married and then she'd fall in love with him and it would be one big happy-throw-up ending. Like I was in the mood for. Nope. I'm not saying it went badly, but I'm feeling a little mis-led at the order of things in the synopsis.

Anyhoozer, Victoria Bylin's nice little tale about how Beau and Dani come to love one another was...a little on the dull side. It was too "everything's going to be alright." Not enough character development. Too little time spent on the characters emotions towards one another. It didn't feel real enough for me. However, while the characters left me generally unsatisfied, I liked how the way their lives turned out together. (If that makes any sense!)

Just one of those nice little stories. But not a reading life or death one. So if you're in the mood for something light and easy - and if you don't mind a bit of bad editing, this could be for you.

This was my first book read for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.

2009 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge.

(To be filled in 2009, of course.) Here is my list for this reading challenge:

1. The Bounty Hunter's Bride, by Victoria Bylin. [review]
2. The Foreigner, by Francie Lin. [review]
3. Snowy Night with A Stranger (Anthology), by Jane Feather, Sabrina Jeffries, & Julia London. [review]
4. Chez Moi, by Agnes Desarthe. [review]
5. Christy Brown: The Life That Inspired My Left Foot, by Georgina Louise Hambleton. [review]
6. The Spare Room, by Helen Garner. [review]
7. Highland Destiny, by Kathryn Hockett. [review]
8. The Sound of Butterflies, by Rachael King. [review]
9. Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris. [review]
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2009 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge.

I am so excited to have stumbled upon this challenge over at J. Kaye's Book Blog. It looks like so much fun, and I am such a library addict I don't think I'll have any problem completing this. :) I'm going for a goal of 25 library books.

The guidelines:

1. You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.
2. This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
3. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
4. Our goal is to read 12, 25, or 50 books checkout from our local library in 2009. Please decide which when you sign up and don’t change it.
5. These can be audios, downloads, children’s, YA. As long as it’s a book, format and target age group does not matter.

Find out more and sign up over at the official challenge page.