Dead Ever After marked the end of the Sookie Stackhouse novels—a series that garnered millions of fans and spawned the hit HBO television show True Blood. It also stoked a hunger that will never die…a hunger to know what happened next.

With characters arranged alphabetically—from the Ancient Pythoness to Bethany Zanelli—bestselling author Charlaine Harris takes fans into the future of their favorite residents of Bon Temps and environs. You’ll learn how Michele and Jason’s marriage fared, what happened to Sookie’s cousin Hunter, and whether Tara and JB’s twins grew up to be solid citizens.

This coda provides the answers to your lingering questions—including details of Sookie’s own happily-ever-after…

The book will feature extensive interior art by acclaimed Sookie artist Lisa Desimini, including a Sookieverse Alphabet, color endpapers, and several full-page black and white interior illustrations

I am going to add some warnings to this review. First take heed:

Second, I am not one of the masses who is angry that Sookie ended up with Sam. I thought it was a bit, well okay whatever. I do however hate when authors betray characters and readers. Yes I know they are the author they can do what they want, but still. So there are the warnings.

First this book is WAY over prices. Do not waste your money on it. I am sure there will be plenty of copies in the give away bin soon enough.

So the round up:

Sookie ends up having a hum drum life. Kids. work you know normal person. well good for her.

Bunch of random people we don’t care about have humdrum lives too.

Bill becomes the King of Louisiana (this made me laugh) book Bill never had interest in it was more of a loner, but hey lets make something like the shows right?

Now Eric, yes my favorite character from Day one. I was angry when she sold him off into slavery in the last book, but I thought okay okay so now he will get a good ending. She wouldn’t make it worse… WRONG.
She tries to make us postively sure that because Eric is a survivalist and his nature is strong , Eric is able to find happiness in slavery with Freyda…except WTF? The chilling parallels to Eric’s early years with his domineering, abusive maker, Appius Livius Ocella, hang over his life with Freyda can’t be missed by ANYONE. Despite CH taking pains to characterize Freyda as ‘strong but fair’, the fact that Eric spends the first years of his marriage pining for Sookie and his old life (just as he once pined for his children and his human life when he was turned by Ocella) merely hammers home how much his own will has been denied in this situation. CH tells us that as with Ocella, Eric learned to care for the one who had taken everything from him, and eventually he will be happy. So much so that when offered his freedom, he decided to stay with her. REALLY?! He comes off as an abuse victim falling into familiar patterns, not the Alpha Male we know and love. I am sorry but she did say he was a VIKING right? I mean seriously VIKING….there is no way the Eric we were lead into loving would be steam rolled like this. NO WAY.

So guess what this book gets a NEGATIVE Gemstone rating. Yes I hate it that much on all levels. Way to betray all of the people who have spent years and lots of money on your books CH. WAY TO GO. Seriously.

The story of a remarkable boy called Yann Margoza; Tetu the dwarf, his friend and mentor; Sido, unloved daughter of a foolish Marquis; and Count Kalliovski, Grand Master of a secret society, who has half the aristocracy in thrall to him, and wants Yann dead. Yann is spirited away to London but three years later, when Paris is gripped by the bloody horrors of the Revolution, he returns, charged with two missions: to find out Kalliovski’s darkest deeds and to save Sido from the guillotine. With a tangle of secrets, a thread of magic and a touch of humour, the follies of the aristocracy and the sufferings of ordinary people are unfolded as their lives move relentlessly towards the tragic and horrific days of the Terror. THE RED NECKLACE is not only a tremendous adventure story but a vibrant and passionate picture of Paris in turmoil and of a large cast of memorable characters.

What do you get when you combine Historical Fiction (my favorite genre) and this guy? (Tom Hiddleston for those of you who don’t know.)

You get me buying and listening to my very first Audio book ever. I have to say I am sold. From the audiobook point I love Hiddleston’s read of this not only because it is his very deep and sexy voice that reads it but he does different voices for the characters. I loved that!

Now onto the book itself, well I really loved it. This novel had everything you want to see in a good Historical Fiction (okay everything I want to see). Action, suspense, drama a little bit of a love story and of course a lot of history. The French revolution is one area where I know a little bit but not a lot because I just have not studied it as much as I could have. I felt like I got a nice education though and this book goes right into the favorite category with the other handful of books I have read on the subject. I also LOVE the magic references throughout and the magic work Yann and his friends can do.

Sido and Yann are an amazing pair of characters and ones I am going to enjoy reading more about (it is a series). There were times when Sido’s instance not to leave her Father bothered me, but then I asked myself if it was me wouldn’t I be the same way? Even if my Dad was not the best person in the world if he was the only one I had in the world, wouldn’t I do the same? I came up with a yes. In short, read this book or even better listen to it. Two thumbs way up from me.

My Gemstone Rating:

When Ellie Black meets Dan Cooper, she feels as though she’s found her best friend and soul mate. After an idyllic courtship, Dan proposes and Ellie happily accepts. She loves everything about Dan, even his family: his sister, Emma, has become her good friend, and his mother, Linda, might end up being the mother Ellie never had when she was growing up. Ellie’s own family was far from ideal–her alcoholic mother died when she was 13, and Ellie and her father withdrew from each other almost completely. She hopes Dan’s family will become her own, that is, until she gets to know Linda and realizes how controlling and manipulative she can be. Ellie’s resentment toward Linda grows after she gets pregnant and gives birth to Tom. When an accident puts Tom’s life at risk, Ellie’s bottled-up emotions spill over and threaten not just her relationship with her mother-in-law but her marriage itself. Green, best-selling author of Jemima J (2000) and To Have and to Hold[BKL Mr 1 04], is particularly adept at producing engaging women’s fiction, and her latest is a prime example–warm, convincing, and eminently readable. Although at times Ellie’s venomous anger toward her mother-in-law grates, overall, she is a sympathetic heroine

I want to start my review by saying that in general I really enjoy Jane Green and her writing. So with that said this was not my favorite book of hers. The writing was still solid and very readable, put together well with a good flow to the overall story. So that is why I kept with it. The rest of it however is all pretty predictable and honestly I had a lot of time trying to enjoy Ellie because she is supposed to be the “heroine” of the book the one you should connect with. I just couldn’t. We all have our issues with in laws I am no different on that but the reasoning behind a lot of her issues is just not very solid at all. Overall if you like Green you can give this one a try and see if you like it better then I did.

My Gemstone Rating:

In 1782, during the final clashes of the Revolutionary War, one of our young nation’s most valiant and beloved soldiers was, secretly, a woman.

When Deborah Samson disguised herself as a man and joined the Continental Army, she wasn’t just fighting for America’s independence—she was fighting for her own. Revolutionary, Alex Myers’s richly imagined and meticulously researched debut novel, brings the true story of Deborah’s struggle against a rigid colonial society back to life—and with it the courage, hope, fear, and heartbreak that shaped her journey through a country’s violent birth.

After years as an indentured servant in a sleepy Massachusetts town, chafing under the oppressive norms of colonial America, Deborah can’t contain her discontent any longer. When a sudden crisis forces her hand, she decides to finally make her escape. Embracing the peril and promise of the unknown, she cuts her hair, binds her chest, and, stealing clothes from a neighbor, rechristens herself Robert Shurtliff. It’s a desperate, dangerous, and complicated deception, and becomes only more so when, as Robert, she enlists in the Continental Army.

What follows is an inspiring, one-of-a-kind journey through an America torn apart by war: brutal winters and lethal battlefields, the trauma of combat and the cruelty of betrayal, the joy of true love and the tragedy of heartbreak. In his brilliant Revolutionary, Myers, who himself is a descendant of the historical Deborah, takes full advantage of this real-life heroine’s unique voice to celebrate the struggles for freedom, large and small, like never before

Those who know me well know how much of a fan of the revolution I am. In turn they also know how picky I can be about books set in the era and how I often lament the lack of good, readable and accurate books that take place during this nations forming. After reading Revolutionary by Alex Myers, I am no longer lamenting. This book was simply put one of the finest historical fictions on the Revolutionary war I have ever read.

The story of Deborah Samson may not be known by as many as say the story of General George Washington, but to those who know it like me, we love it. It has been an honor and a privilege to read such a well told fictional account of the time in her life that made her become a soldier. From a woman who was seen as strong willed straining at the bit to break free from the reigns of confinement to a man, a good soldier who served loyally and bravely for the freedom of this country every word is placed with purpose and intent. For me personally it was one little detail that stood out the most that just gave that extra little push to making me believe in this whole story, the use of he and she. As the story comes from Deborah’s point of you would expect to always see she being used, however I noticed in the moments where Deborah truly became Robert and felt more closely with Robert the wording became he. That makes sense to me I get that. Just as towards the end when Robert starts to feel more like Deborah again we see she come back into play, a small detail that some might not even notice as they read the action of the story but I did and I appreciate it.

While as with any historical fiction there are some playing with facts here and there overall I cannot fault the accuracy of Revolutionary. From the uniforms to the way that the drills and firing of the musket are described it all rings true and right well researched. This book gets a highly recommend from me because it is truly a master piece of the Revolutionary war, telling a story that many in this world today will still connect with now.

My Gemstone Rating:

Book two of the Éire’s Viking Trilogy.

Beginning ten years after the end of Éire’s Captive Moon, this is the story of how Agnarr Halvardson returns to Éire with the intention of settling there, marrying, and siring sons.

It is also the story of Aislinn, who was a child in Ragor when the Northmen raided eleven summers prior but is now a working physician in her own right. She spent a year in Bangor Monastery and became a Christian before Cowan and Charis returned to take the children to Cowan’s village in the kingdom of Dál Fiatach and returns there a decade later to finish learning all she can from the monks about their healing practices.

When Cowan brings her a patient, injured and temporarily unable to speak, she can’t help but find the strong, tall man attractive, even if such feelings unsettle her.

Although sparks fly immediately, Agnarr’s idea of wedding Aislinn—the physician who heals him when he is injured—is hampered by many factors, including language and cultural differences. There is also the matter that he is the man who kidnapped and enslaved Charis years before.

Everyone who knows me knows I love a good Viking story, for the historical side and because Loki is my Patron God. I loved the first book in this series  Éire’s Captive Moon by Sandi Layne so I was very excited to dig into the second book to see what Agnarr and Charis and Cowan would get up to again.

I can say I was not disappointed.

Once again we delve deep into a wonderfully written story of war, love, loss and dealing with emotions and learning forgiveness. The story is centered mostly on Aislinn and Agnarr and the story that becomes their love. Not only their love but what Agnarrs love for the land that is Ireland. Aislinn was one of the children from the tunnels in the last books, so her family was slaughtered by the raiding party and she held anger to the men from the North, which is fully understandable. However through her faith in her God she is able to slowly forgive.

As with the last book you can tell that a great deal of research went into this book and the blending of the cultures and histories is fantastic. While the one point I didn’t really like was when Agnarr converted ( I won’t give spoiler details as to what goes on.) , I know that is a personal preference. As a reader I fully understand why he did aside from it being one of the points of the stories, how Ireland came to be not taken over but settled, so it makes sense for the actual story and I appreciate that.

Personally for me this was another triumph of work from Sandi Layne and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into the third installment. I love when a book makes me feel like I am visiting old friends and that is how I felt throughout the whole of this one.

My Gemstone Rating:

So here is my final wrap up for the 2013 challenges, and how they shook out. Overall I have no complaints because I completed all of my challenges. Including reading a total of 109 books this year. Not a bad year at all if you ask me. Bring on 2014!

2013 Historical Fiction Challenge Hosted by Historical TapestryI have chosen to do the Ancient History Level which is 25+ historical Fiction Novels for the year.1. The Forgotten Queen by D.L Bogdan
2. A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith
3. Mistress for the Crown by Isolde Martyn
4. The Season by Sarah MacLean
5. The Notorious Lady Anne by Sharon Cullen
6. The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson
7. The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
8. Blood Sisters by Sarah Gristwood
9. Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith
10.The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne
11.The Borgias by G.J. Meyer
12.Bound to Be a Bride by Megan Mulry
13. Written on Silk by Linda Lee Chaikin
14. A Secret love by Stephanie Laurens
15.Widow of Gettysburg by: Jocelyn Green
16.One more kiss by Mary S. Blayney
17.Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
18.Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett
19.The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd
20.The Seduction of Emily by Rachel Brimble
21.Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley
22.Widow of Gettysburg by: Jocelyn Green
23.Emperor The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden
24.The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall
25.Lover be Mine by Nicole Jordan
26.Revenge of the Rose by Nicole Galland
27.Mistress Shakespeare by Karen Harper
28.Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson
29. The Secret Bride (In The Court of Henry VIII #1) by Diane Haeger
30.The Quarryman’s Bride (Land of Shining Water #2) by Tracie Peterson
31.Trouble in Store by Carol Cox
32.Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer
33.The Lost Letters Of Aquitaine (Alais Capet #1) by Judith Koll Healey
34.Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss by Deb Marlowe
35.Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
36.The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory
37.Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister by Gregory Maguire
38.The Miners Lady by Tracie Peterson
39.Winter Solstice Winter by E.J Squires
40.A Lady of Secret Devotion (Ladies of Liberty #3) by Tracie Peterson41.  Lightborn (Darkborn #2) by Alison Sinclair

Challenge complete

2013 Immortal Challenge hosted by Under the CoversI am going to take part in two categories and I may update it as the year goes on. I have some werewolf books on the Kindle just can not break my Vampire love to read them yet. May change in 2013 though! ** Feb Update I have added a new category thanks to reading Witches of East end.Category 1: Vampires I have selected to read at least 5 Vampire books in 2013
1.Burned by P.C & Kristin Cast
2.The Vampire Academy by Rachelle Mead
3.Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley
4.Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
5. Real Vampires Don’t Sparkle by Amy Fecteau
6. Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead
7.The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #2).
8.The Lunatic Cafe (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #4) by Laurell K. Hamilton
9.Bloody Bones (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #5) by Laurell K. Hamilton
10.Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6) by J.R. Ward
11.Awakened (House of Night #8) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
12.Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods #5) by Melissa de la Cruz
13.The Killing Dance (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #6) by Laurell K. Hamilton
14.Bloody Valentine (Blue Bloods #5.5) by Melissa de la Cruz
15.Destined (House of Night #9) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
16.Lost in Time (Blue Bloods #6) by Melissa de la Cruz
17.Burnt Offerings (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #7) by Laurell K. Hamilton18. Lightborn (Darkborn #2) by Alison Sinclair19.Obsidian Butterfly (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #9) by Laurell K. Hamilton20.  Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods #7) by Melissa de la Cruz21. Shadowborn (Darkborn #3) by Alison Sinclair22. Revealed (House of Night #11) by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast23. Hidden (House of Night #10) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast24. Blue Moon (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #8) by Laurell K. Hamilton25.Vampire Kisses (Vampire Kisses #1) by Ellen Schreiber

Category 2: Angels and Demons I have selected to read at least 3 Angel & Demon books in 2013
1.Covet by J.R. Ward
2.Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco
3.Aura by Rebecca Lynn Talley
4.Girls and Monsters by Anne Michaud
5.Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Category 3: Fae and Magic At Least 3 of these as well
1.Witches of East End by Melissa De la Cruz
2.Spellbinding by Maya Gold
3.Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
4.The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison
5.Faerie Wars (The Faerie Wars Chronicles #1) by Herbie Brennan
6.The Goddess Chronicle (Canongate Myths #13)
7.Winter Solstice Winter by E.J Squires
8.Serpent’s Kiss (The Beauchamp Family, #2) by Melissa de la Cruz
9.Winds of Salem (The Beauchamp Family #3) by Melissa de la Cruz

Challenge Complete

2013 What an Animal Challenge Hosted by Socrates Book Reviews The rules are to read at least 6 books that include an animal. The animal can be of any kind including (from the challenge page): dog, cat, monkey, wolf, horse…dragon, mermaid, centaur, vampire, werewolf…you get the idea…

1.Noor by Milton C. Toby
2.The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson
3. Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen
4.Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley
5.Girls and Monsters by Anne Michaud
6. Blood and Roses by A.K. Alexander7. Yip/Tuck (Pampered Pets Mystery #4) by Sparkle Abbey8.Dragonwich9. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Challenge complete

2013 Ebook Challenge hosted by Workaday ReadsI am honestly trying hard to get more in touch with my Kindle that I got as a gift. I am..so I am doing an EBook Challenge. There are several levels and I have chosen the CD level to read 10 Ebooks.6/18/13 Update: Alright I am putting the level of this swap up for the year. I am taking on the Memory Stick level having already gone past the DVD level. The Memory stick level is 50 e-books.1. The Forgotten Queen by D.L Bogdan
2. Front page Fatality by Lyndee Walker
3.Mistress for the Crown by Isolde Martyn
4.The Notorious Lady Anne by Sharon Cullen
5.Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco
6.Buyer Beware by Diane Vallere
7.The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson
8.The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson
9.Spin the Plate by Donna Anastasi
10.Blood Sisters by Sarah Gristwood
11.Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco
12.The Pleasure Project by Cassie Ryan, Jenna McCormick
13.Working with Bitches by Meredith Fuller
14.Spellbinding by Maya Gold
15.Aura by Rebecca Lynn Talley
16.Bound to Be a Bride by Megan Mulry
17.The Borgias by G.J. Meyer
18.The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne
19.Widow of Gettysburg by: Jocelyn Green
20.One more kiss by Mary S. Blayney
21.Girls and Monsters by Anne Michaud
22.Table for Seven by Whitney Gaskell
23.Replacing Gentry by Julie N. Ford
24.Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich
25.The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd
26.The Seduction of Emily by Rachel Brimble
27. One more kiss by Mary S. Blayney
28.Widow of Gettysburg by: Jocelyn Green
29. Letters to Katie by Kathleen Fuller
30. The Lost Husband: A Novel by Katherine Center
31. The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison
32.Lover be Mine by Nicole Jordan
33.The Quarryman’s Bride (Land of Shining Water #2) by Tracie Peterson
34.Trouble in Store by Carol Cox
35.Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer
36.The Book of Secrets by Elizabeth Joy Arnold
37.Confessions of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson
38.Lacey’s House by Joanne Graham
39.Real Vampires Don’t Sparkle by Amy Fecteau
40.The Goddess Chronicle (Canongate Myths #13)41. Dragonwich42. Yip/Tuck (Pampered Pets Mystery #4) by Sparkle Abbey43. Blood and Roses by A.K. Alexander44. My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White45. The Miners Lady by Tracie Peterson46. Winter Solstice Winter by E.J Squires47. Good Ghost Gone Bad by Janiera Eldridge48. Starry Night by Debbie Macomber

Challenge Completed

2013 TBR Pile Challenge hosted by Evie BookishAnything from your TBR pile that has been there for a while. Must be published 2012 or earlier. I have picked 11-20 – A Friendly Hug level for my challenge.

1. Covet by J.R. Ward
2. The Season by Sarah MacLean
3. Burned by P.C & Kristin Cast
4. Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen
5. Witches of East End by Melissa De la Cruz
6. A Secret love by Stephanie Laurens
7. The Family that couldn’t sleep by DT Max
8. Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley
9. Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett
10. Alice Hartley’s Happiness by Philippa Gregory
11.Emperor The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden
12.The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall
13.Revenge of the Rose by Nicole Galland
14.Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult
15.Mistress Shakespeare by Karen Harper
16.Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson
17.The Secret Bride (In The Court of Henry VIII #1) by Diane Haeger
18.The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
19.The View from Garden City by Carolyn Baugh
20.The Lost Letters Of Aquitaine (Alais Capet #1) by Judith Koll Healey
21. Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Shopaholic #3) by Sophie Kinsella
22. Starry Night by Debbie Macomber
23. Bloody Valentine (Blue Bloods #5.5) by Melissa de la Cruz
24. Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods #5) by Melissa de la Cruz
25. Awakened (House of Night #8) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
26. Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6) by J.R. Ward
27. A Lady of Secret Devotion (Ladies of Liberty #3) by Tracie Peterson
28. Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister by Gregory Maguire
29. The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory
30. Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss by Deb Marlowe