Harry Dresden – Wizard
Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden has faced some pretty terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. It comes with the territory when you’re the only professional wizard in the Chicago-area phone book.

But in all Harry’s years of supernatural sleuthing, he’s never faced anything like this: The spirit world has gone postal. All over Chicago, ghosts are causing trouble – and not just of the door-slamming, boo-shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someone – or something – is purposely stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn’t figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself….

With every book that I complete in this series I am enjoying it more and more. I have read some other reviews and I know some people seem to not like Harry’s view on women, I do not agree with them. While in some sense his view is old fashioned he fully admits that and as a man he of course does notice how a woman is dressed and what it does to her form, but you don’t see him running around molesting them. So that said the story itself.

We learn more about Harry’s past in this one and we see that even with all his powers he can’t always save the day in a perfect way like he wants too. No in fact sometimes he just can’t do much at all and has to deal like the rest of us with the cards he is dealt. I also found it interesting that we learn more about the different kinds of vampire in his world, the red’s, whites and blacks. Very curious and interesting. Overall this was another action packed installment and I am so happy that I started reading this series. Harry has a very practical look to magik and I like the way that he wields it.

My Gemstone Rating:

J. R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood novels have introduced readers to a “different, creative, dark, violent, and flat-out amazing” (All About Romance)world. Now, as the vampire warriors defend their race against their slayers, one male’s loyalty to the Brotherhood will be tested-and his dangerous mixed blood revealed…

Caldwell, New York, has long been the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It’s also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and owner of a notorious night club that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he’s approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King and leader of the Brotherhood.

Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood-even though his sister is married to a member, for he harbors a deadly secret that could make him a huge liability in their war against the lessers. As plots within and outside of the Brotherhood threaten to reveal the truth about Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in his darkening world, Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him-and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.

For me this was another one that hit out of the park on a high note. We spent a good deal of time with the Brother’s but we also get to know Rhevenge better, he was a shady character for most of the books. A man who dealt drugs, was part sympath part Vampire and all of that. What we didn’t know was what made him tick, what truly made him do what he did, was he just bad? Or was there a reason. Lover avenged answers that and more.

We also spend more time with my favorite Brother as he is recovering, Tohrment. Him and his wonderful (he doesn’t think so) guardian angel lassiter are there and he is working on coming back and being the Brother that he needs to be. Overall this is a win win for me and I am very glad I made it my next read. Its a great book in the series and only wets the appetite for more.

My Gemstone Rating:

Robin wanted to win The Holdout, a cutthroat reality TV show, so she gave it her all, challenge after challenge. Then she fell for Grant, with his irresistible eyes and heartbreaking life story. But Grant was only using Robin as they competed for a million dollars. Once home, Robin wants to hide from the humiliation as episodes of The Holdout are aired, and she worries her family was right all along; she’s not a survivor. Or maybe she’ll have the last laugh Besides, Robin now has jury duty. And as she forges ahead, confronting her demons about bravery, justice, and romance, Robin will come to decide which is more important: the courage to stand alone, or the strength to love again. Laurel Osterkamp’s award winning novels have been hailed as funny, intelligent, snarky and poignant. She is the author of four novels and two novellas, including the November Surprise series, which, like The Holdout, features the Bricker family. Laurel was recently on a federal jury, and she loves watching Survivor.

Ah reality TV you can’t escape it! I love this book for the different look it takes at things. We see not only what a reality show can do to someone but life after the reality show along with what I feel is just living life.

Robin the main character did not have an easy life, she like many of us has had things she needed to cover come in her life. I appreciate what I feel is a very real feeling in this book. Looking at life as it happens after a big reality show. Laurel Osterkamp has done a fantastic job with The hold out.

My Gemstone Rating: