Book #30 - Shakespeare's Christmas

ISBN: 0440234999

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 242 pp

Pub. Date: March 1, 2005 (reprint)

Genre: Mystery

#3 in the Lily Bard Series

Bookring started by Amberkatze... sent to me by Maurean... next to innae!

From the Publisher

Lily Bard is going home for the holidays. More comfortable in baggy sweats than bridesmaid's frills, Lily isn't thrilled about attending her estranged sister's wedding. She has moved to Shakespeare, Arkansas, to start a new life, cleaning houses for a living, trying to forget the violence that once nearly destroyed her. Now she's heading back to home and hearth - just in time for murder.

The town's doctor and nurse have been bludgeoned to death at the office. And Lily's detective boyfriend suddenly shows up at her parents' door. Jack Leeds is investigating an eight-year-old kidnapping and the trail leads straight to Lily's hometown. It just might have something to do with the murders... and her sister's widowed fiance. With only three days before the wedding, Lily must work fast to clean up the messy case before her sister commits... marriage!

My Opinion of the Book

Still loving this series and unfortunately don't know where I have put books 4 & 5... ack!!! I hope they show up soon! Lily is a great character and I'm really loving her boyfriend, Jack, as well. I hope that Harris continues on with this series beyond book 5 in addition to her other series.

Book #29 - Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris

ISBN: 0425213102

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 206 pp

Pub. Date: December 5, 2006 (reprint)

Genre: Mystery

#2 in the Lily Bard Series

Bookring started by Amberkatze... sent to me by Maurean... next to innae!

From the Publisher

When Lily stumbles upon the well-built corpse of a local body builder-his neck broken by a barbell-the town's underlying racial tension begins to boil over. The white victim was somehow connected to two unsolved murders of black residents of Shakespeare-and a dogged policeman is determined to stop the killing. But it is Lily herself who may have to decide whether to stay and fight for justice, or run away one more time.

My Opinion of the Book

Yet another great Harris book! This book ended up more interested than I had assumed it would from the prologue as it ended up being based around a much bigger problem then just one murder. Again, Harris continues with a lot of character advancement (though I've also come to terms with the fact that Lily is quite the little nympho... LOL!!!) I do like the "new guy" though. I think he's much better than Marshall and Claude. I can't wait to find out what becomes of him come book 3. Shakespeare's Christmas, which I will be starting VERY soon!

Book #28 - Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris

ISBN: 0440224187

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 245 pp

Pub. Date: July 7, 1997

Genre: Mystery

#1 in the Lily Bard Series

Bought at New Albany Library booksale for 50 cents

From the Publisher

To Lily Bard, the sleepy town of Shakespeare, Arkansas was the perfect place to hide from the violence that nearly destroyed her life years before. Today Lily is strong, confident in the martial arts she studies, her looks disguised by her closely cropped hair and baggy clothes. Working as a housecleaner, Lily comes and goes without anyone noticing - until she witnesses a murder.

What Lily Bard saw on that dark night has stripped away her anonymity and earned her the unwanted attention of a homicide detective and a suspicious community. And with her intense, married karate instructor showing a passionate interest of his own, Lily's plan of a private, well-ordered life is coming unhinged. The killer of an unlamented landlord is lurking close by. And while Lily knows the inside dirt on her neighbor's dust, drawers, and private lives, she must admit to a secret of her own: that in the shadow of a brutal murder, she is coming alive again...

My Opinion of the Book

Harris is one of my favorite authors. Her Sookie Stackhouse series is her best series, (though I'm also partial to vampires so that might make me a bit biased *grin*) but I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the Lily Bard series. There were many twists & turns in the book that kept me guessing on who the killer was and I never did figure it out. I also love the way Harris does her character development throughout the books. Poor Lily has been through so much, even before coming to Shakespeare, but yet she still manages to get in the midst of all the trouble. I admire her... she is one strong gal! Looking forward to learning more about Miss Lily! :)

Book #2 - Roses Are Red by James Patterson

ISBN: 0446605484
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 378pp
Pub. Date: January 2002
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Dates Read: 01/01/07-01/09/07 (9 days)
Series: Alex Cross Series, #6
Bought book at New Albany library sale (assuming either $0.50 or $0.25 depending on if it was mystery sale day or not)

From the Publisher

In this heart-pounding but touchingly romantic new thriller, Detective Alex Cross pursues the most complex and brilliant killer he's ever confronted— mysterious criminal who calls himself the Mastermind.

In a series of crimes that has stunned Washington, D.C., bank robbers have been laying out precise demands when they enter the building—and then killing the bank employees and their families if those instructions are not followed to the letter.

Detective Alex Cross takes on the case, certain that this is no ordinary bank robber at work—the pathological need for control and perfection is too great. Cross is in the midst of a personal crisis at home, but the case becomes all-consuming as he learns that the Mastermind is plotting one huge, last, perfect crime.

With twists and reversals that only the mind of James Patterson could create, Roses Are Red is by far the most explosive, surprising, and fast-paced novel of James Patterson's extraordinary career.

What I thought of the book

I received "Mary, Mary" by James Patterson as a gift in the book relayer's Boxing Day exchange this past Christmas and it made me realize how much I've been wanting to get back to this series as I had read the first 5 books back in 2004. I'm really glad I picked this book up because I still love this series! I was a bit frustrated with the ending as I had planned on trying to read a couple of bookrings that I have waiting for me, but with the way this book ended I HAVE to read "Violets Are Blue" next. Hopefully it won't leave me hanging so badly that I can't then go on to a bookring or two that I need to be reading. :P So... a special thanks goes to alsgal for getting me back hooked onto this series! I've been reading nothing but paranormal stuff for so long that this was a refreshing change (although I LOVE my paranormals!). Of course, I have heard that "Violets Are Blue" contains a vampire so that should be quite interesting. I'm curious to see what Patterson does with that! :)