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Aisling Grey #4.5 - The Perils of Effrijim
Death's Excellent Vacation
Because everyone - and everything - needs a break from the routine, Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner return with an all-new story collection of postcards from the edge of the paranormal world...
It really can be an endless summer - if you're immortal. Though a vampire would be ill-advised to take a cruise to Bermuda, the possibilities for getting away from it all - and maybe snacking on some unsuspecting tourist - are many...
Sookie Stackhouse and her vampire friend Pam take a weekend getaway to Mississippi in #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris's "Two Blondes." And when they end up in a shady gentleman's club, to escape in one piece they need to do something that wasn't on their itinerary - something involving a stage, a pole, and very little clothing.
New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister's "The Perils of Effrijim" follow a demon whose vacation in Paris is disrupted when he's banished to another plane, thus kicking off a crazy dimension-hopping road trip across Europe.
Protecting an heiress from supernatural hit men isn't Cat and Bones's idea of a relaxing vacation in New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost's "One for the Money," but it could get worse. And it does - when Cat's mother shows up.
With ten more original tales, editors Harris and Kelner bring together a stellar collection of tour guides who offer vacations frightening, funny, and touching - for the fanged, the furry, the demonic, and the grotesque.
339 pages, Hardcover
First published August 3, 2010
About the author
Charlaine Harris
279 books36.3k followersCharlaine Harris has been a published novelist for over thirty-five years. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up in the middle of a cotton field. Charlaine lives in Texas now, and all of her children and grandchildren are within easy driving distance.
Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was writing poetry and plays. After holding down some low-level jobs, her husband Hal gave her the opportunity to stay home and write. The resulting two stand-alones were published by Houghton Mifflin. After a child-producing sabbatical, Charlaine latched on to the trend of series, and soon had her own traditional mystery books about a Georgia librarian, Aurora Teagarden. Her first Teagarden, Real Murders, garnered an Agatha nomination.
Soon Charlaine was looking for another challenge, and the result was the much darker Lily Bard series. The books, set in Shakespeare, Arkansas, feature a heroine who has survived a terrible attack and is learning to live with its consequences.
When Charlaine began to realize that neither of those series was ever going to set the literary world on fire, she regrouped and decided to write the book she’d always wanted to write. Not a traditional mystery, nor yet pure science fiction or romance, Dead Until Dark broke genre boundaries to appeal to a wide audience of people who simply enjoy a good adventure. Each subsequent book about Sookie Stackhouse, telepathic Louisiana barmaid and friend to vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, was very successful in many languages.
The Harper Connelly books were written concurrently with the Sookie novels.
Following the end of Sookie's recorded adventures, Charlaine wrote the "Midnight, Texas" books, which have become a television series, also. The Aurora Teagarden books have been adapted by Hallmark Movie & Mystery.
Charlaine is a member of many professional organizations, an Episcopalian, and currently the lucky houseparent to two rescue dogs. She lives on a cliff overlooking the Brazos River.
Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was writing poetry and plays. After holding down some low-level jobs, her husband Hal gave her the opportunity to stay home and write. The resulting two stand-alones were published by Houghton Mifflin. After a child-producing sabbatical, Charlaine latched on to the trend of series, and soon had her own traditional mystery books about a Georgia librarian, Aurora Teagarden. Her first Teagarden, Real Murders, garnered an Agatha nomination.
Soon Charlaine was looking for another challenge, and the result was the much darker Lily Bard series. The books, set in Shakespeare, Arkansas, feature a heroine who has survived a terrible attack and is learning to live with its consequences.
When Charlaine began to realize that neither of those series was ever going to set the literary world on fire, she regrouped and decided to write the book she’d always wanted to write. Not a traditional mystery, nor yet pure science fiction or romance, Dead Until Dark broke genre boundaries to appeal to a wide audience of people who simply enjoy a good adventure. Each subsequent book about Sookie Stackhouse, telepathic Louisiana barmaid and friend to vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, was very successful in many languages.
The Harper Connelly books were written concurrently with the Sookie novels.
Following the end of Sookie's recorded adventures, Charlaine wrote the "Midnight, Texas" books, which have become a television series, also. The Aurora Teagarden books have been adapted by Hallmark Movie & Mystery.
Charlaine is a member of many professional organizations, an Episcopalian, and currently the lucky houseparent to two rescue dogs. She lives on a cliff overlooking the Brazos River.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 791 reviews
March 15, 2019
An overall good book. Couple of the stories were kinda boring because it did not make sense. It's an easy relaxing read. Recommend??? No not really.
May 9, 2023
This is a mostly entertaining anthology of supernatural fantasy stories united more or less by the theme of vacationing. Many of them are parts of series, but they stand alone pretty well. I enjoyed the two from editors Kelner and Harris, a very amusing A. Lee Martinez story, and two from writers with whom I was unfamiliar but had heard a lot about, Katie MacAlister and Jeaniene Frost. Nothing too memorable, but still fun.
January 10, 2022
I've only read One for the Money (Night Huntress #4.5) by Jeaniene Frost.
5 stars, highly recommended! Review here.
5 stars, highly recommended! Review here.
September 12, 2010
I am back to reading only the stories by the authors I know and like in anthologies, after my recent (yet again failed) attempt to read an anthology in its entirety. Thus the rating and review are for Charlaine Harris's story Two Blondes only.
Pam suddenly invites Sookie on a weekend getaway to enjoy some gambling while running an "errand" for Eric - which, of course, means Sookie's telepathic powers will be put to use (Is it just me, but it seems Sookie is used by Eric left and right?) What follows is although a not very clever, but super entertaining romp involving some mystery, some ass-kicking, and some double-girl stripping.
Once again I find Sookie a little tartier in this short story than in the books (see Gift Wrap in A Touch of Dead for another example of tartiness), but no matter, the story itself is a lot of fun.
Pam suddenly invites Sookie on a weekend getaway to enjoy some gambling while running an "errand" for Eric - which, of course, means Sookie's telepathic powers will be put to use (Is it just me, but it seems Sookie is used by Eric left and right?) What follows is although a not very clever, but super entertaining romp involving some mystery, some ass-kicking, and some double-girl stripping.
Once again I find Sookie a little tartier in this short story than in the books (see Gift Wrap in A Touch of Dead for another example of tartiness), but no matter, the story itself is a lot of fun.
November 28, 2010
Here are a few things that I did like about this anthology:
1) Each author had a short introductory paragraph outlining their biography and their work. What a great idea. I now have a few authors to look into.
2) The vacation theme was kind of fun. I liked all the different takes on vacation stories.
3) There was a nice mix of authors. I recognized Jeaniene Frost, Charlaine Harris, and Katie MacAlister. The rest were new to me authors and some I will definitely look up.
My favorite stories in this anthology were:
1) One for the Money - Jeaniene Frost. I've missed Cat and Bones, the sexy, loving, happily married, Cat and Bones. Loved them in this story and I now have high hopes for the next book.
2) Safe and Sound - by Jeff Abbott. This is a "new to me" author and I really enjoyed his story about a boy who goes missing on an island vacation. Very well done.
Honorable mention goes to Charlaine Harris' story Two Blondes. I didn't really like it for a Sookie story, but I enjoyed it for Pam's character. Katie MacAlister's story The Perils of Effrijim was also entertaining and makes me want to start reading the Aisling Grey series.
1) Each author had a short introductory paragraph outlining their biography and their work. What a great idea. I now have a few authors to look into.
2) The vacation theme was kind of fun. I liked all the different takes on vacation stories.
3) There was a nice mix of authors. I recognized Jeaniene Frost, Charlaine Harris, and Katie MacAlister. The rest were new to me authors and some I will definitely look up.
My favorite stories in this anthology were:
1) One for the Money - Jeaniene Frost. I've missed Cat and Bones, the sexy, loving, happily married, Cat and Bones. Loved them in this story and I now have high hopes for the next book.
2) Safe and Sound - by Jeff Abbott. This is a "new to me" author and I really enjoyed his story about a boy who goes missing on an island vacation. Very well done.
Honorable mention goes to Charlaine Harris' story Two Blondes. I didn't really like it for a Sookie story, but I enjoyed it for Pam's character. Katie MacAlister's story The Perils of Effrijim was also entertaining and makes me want to start reading the Aisling Grey series.
March 6, 2017
Two Blondes is a short story in the Sookie Stackhouse series by popular American author, Charlaine Harris. Pam and Sookie go to Tunica on vacation. The plan is a bit of sightseeing, gambling, see a show…. Oh, and run a small errand for Eric. But in the course of said errand, the pair finds themselves tangled up in Vampire politics, the object of a plot that is bound to end in their deaths, via much unpleasantness. Of course, the two blondes are ever resourceful, escaping their fates with a gun, some brute force, a quick change of costume and a bit of dancing. Very entertaining!
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October 8, 2014Two Blondes - Charlaine Harris - (Sookie Stackhouse #10.1) - Sookie and Pam head off to the riverboat casinos to mix business with some fun. DNF - I can't go on with this charade anymore. Sookie annoys the crap outta me. Ms. Harris' writing is slow and tedious with innumerable mundane details about clothes, cleaning, and other bullshit I don't care about it. I just have no interest what even happens to these people anymore.
The Boys Go Fishing - Sarah Smith - A crotchety old superhero's lonely exile is invaded - he longs for death, but may yet discover how to truly live. 2 stars - The description is accurate... yet sounds way more exciting than this story actually is. It was a good idea but was executed in an odd way that didn't allow me to get into it . There were several conversations between Green and Lan where I got what they were supposed to be conveying, but the overly deep and attempted philosophical way it was done often left me saying, "Huh?"
One for the Money - Jeaniene Frost - (Night Huntress World #4.5) - Cat and Bones pull guard duty for a human heiress targeted by supernatural hit men. - Eh, the narrator made it hard for me to get into this one. I usually love Cat and Bones but in this, Cat was a little too Sookie-esque and Bones was apparently Australian because the Bitish accent was terrible.
Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea... - Daniel Stashower - An author takes his job as researcher to a new level. -
The Innsmouth Nook - A. Lee Martinez - Owners of a bed and breakfast rewrite their business plan to accommodate an unexpected demographic in their clientile. -
Safe and Sound - Jeff Abbott - An ambitious and less than scrupulous TV reporter milks the investigation into a young man's disappearance for ratings. -
Seeing is Believing - L A Banks - After 'seeing' that the cause of several local deaths is a supernatural predator, a young woman heads off to New Orleans to gather what she needs to fight the beasts and there she gains an ally in an unusual young man. -
The Perils of Eferjim - Katie MacAlister - (Aisling Grey: Guardian #4.5) A short starring Aisling Grey's demon newfie sidekick Jim - With Aisling on vacation, Jim's off to grab some R&R as well when he gets forced into human form and banished to Abaddon. -
Thin Walls - Christopher Golden - A man is on a memorial tour honoring his dead wife, but an eye opening encounter with a seductive woman is what it takes to help him move on. -
The Heart is Always Right - Lilith Saintcrow - A gargoyle's vacation in the sun is preempted when he discovers that the young woman he's been drawn to is the key to gaining his ultimate dreams if he's willing to pay the price. -
The Demon in the Dunes - Chris Grabenstein - A man remembers a long ago summer vacation from his youth and a ghostly encounter. -
Home from America - Sharan Newman - A man of Irish descent, has a chance to visit the old country when his family gets invited to a family reunion. -
Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park - Toni L P Kelner - A recently turned werewolf returns to a childhood vacation spot to ponder her future. A visit to a favorite amusement park offers her the chance to pursue the pirate of her teenage fantasies and a chance to make use of her new abilities. -
The Boys Go Fishing - Sarah Smith - A crotchety old superhero's lonely exile is invaded - he longs for death, but may yet discover how to truly live. 2 stars - The description is accurate... yet sounds way more exciting than this story actually is. It was a good idea but was executed in an odd way that didn't allow me to get into it . There were several conversations between Green and Lan where I got what they were supposed to be conveying, but the overly deep and attempted philosophical way it was done often left me saying, "Huh?"
One for the Money - Jeaniene Frost - (Night Huntress World #4.5) - Cat and Bones pull guard duty for a human heiress targeted by supernatural hit men. - Eh, the narrator made it hard for me to get into this one. I usually love Cat and Bones but in this, Cat was a little too Sookie-esque and Bones was apparently Australian because the Bitish accent was terrible.
Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea... - Daniel Stashower - An author takes his job as researcher to a new level. -
The Innsmouth Nook - A. Lee Martinez - Owners of a bed and breakfast rewrite their business plan to accommodate an unexpected demographic in their clientile. -
Safe and Sound - Jeff Abbott - An ambitious and less than scrupulous TV reporter milks the investigation into a young man's disappearance for ratings. -
Seeing is Believing - L A Banks - After 'seeing' that the cause of several local deaths is a supernatural predator, a young woman heads off to New Orleans to gather what she needs to fight the beasts and there she gains an ally in an unusual young man. -
The Perils of Eferjim - Katie MacAlister - (Aisling Grey: Guardian #4.5) A short starring Aisling Grey's demon newfie sidekick Jim - With Aisling on vacation, Jim's off to grab some R&R as well when he gets forced into human form and banished to Abaddon. -
Thin Walls - Christopher Golden - A man is on a memorial tour honoring his dead wife, but an eye opening encounter with a seductive woman is what it takes to help him move on. -
The Heart is Always Right - Lilith Saintcrow - A gargoyle's vacation in the sun is preempted when he discovers that the young woman he's been drawn to is the key to gaining his ultimate dreams if he's willing to pay the price. -
The Demon in the Dunes - Chris Grabenstein - A man remembers a long ago summer vacation from his youth and a ghostly encounter. -
Home from America - Sharan Newman - A man of Irish descent, has a chance to visit the old country when his family gets invited to a family reunion. -
Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park - Toni L P Kelner - A recently turned werewolf returns to a childhood vacation spot to ponder her future. A visit to a favorite amusement park offers her the chance to pursue the pirate of her teenage fantasies and a chance to make use of her new abilities. -
February 4, 2011
I picked up this collection solely for the new Sookie Stackhouse story, but I found quite a few stories in here that I enjoyed.
Recommended:
Two Blondes by Charlaine Harris | The Sookie story; Sookie and Pam go to a strip club. As strippers.
The Boys Go Fishing by Sarah Smith | Great story about aging superheros. Fabulous.
Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea by Daniel Stashower | Researcher is recruited to shadow conspiracy. Good, but the ending falls a little flat.
The Innsmouth Nook by A. Lee Martinez | So, two guys (only one gay!) open a bed and breakfast in Innsmouth. And then something tentacled walks out of the sea. Very funny.
Safe and Sound by Jeff Abbot | Opportunistic journalist clashes with new vampire when she refuses to let his past human life rest in peace.
Not... Recommended:
One for the Money by Jeaniene Frost | Married couple vampires bodyguard annoying teenager. Crap.
Seeing is Believing by L.A. Banks | Something about witchy werewolves down south. Meh.
The Perils of Effrijim by Katie MaCalister | Shapeshifting dogs; humor very flat.
Thin Walls by Christopher Golden | Well, the story opens with four pages of the narrator listening to sex sounds from the next hotel room over and goes downhill from there.
The Heart is Always Right by Lilith Saintcrow | A gargoyle goes to WalMart. Oh, excuse me: "EvilMart."
The Demon in the Dunes by Christ Grabenstein | Nostalgic look a 1970s beach vacation, with demons. Crap.
Home from America by Sharan Newman | Young American called home to Ireland for family gathering, finds out he's a leprechaun, later gets eaten by cannibals. Meh.
Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park by Toni L.P. Kelner | Young werewolf has hots for costume pirate. Crap.
Recommended:
Two Blondes by Charlaine Harris | The Sookie story; Sookie and Pam go to a strip club. As strippers.
The Boys Go Fishing by Sarah Smith | Great story about aging superheros. Fabulous.
Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea by Daniel Stashower | Researcher is recruited to shadow conspiracy. Good, but the ending falls a little flat.
The Innsmouth Nook by A. Lee Martinez | So, two guys (only one gay!) open a bed and breakfast in Innsmouth. And then something tentacled walks out of the sea. Very funny.
Safe and Sound by Jeff Abbot | Opportunistic journalist clashes with new vampire when she refuses to let his past human life rest in peace.
Not... Recommended:
One for the Money by Jeaniene Frost | Married couple vampires bodyguard annoying teenager. Crap.
Seeing is Believing by L.A. Banks | Something about witchy werewolves down south. Meh.
The Perils of Effrijim by Katie MaCalister | Shapeshifting dogs; humor very flat.
Thin Walls by Christopher Golden | Well, the story opens with four pages of the narrator listening to sex sounds from the next hotel room over and goes downhill from there.
The Heart is Always Right by Lilith Saintcrow | A gargoyle goes to WalMart. Oh, excuse me: "EvilMart."
The Demon in the Dunes by Christ Grabenstein | Nostalgic look a 1970s beach vacation, with demons. Crap.
Home from America by Sharan Newman | Young American called home to Ireland for family gathering, finds out he's a leprechaun, later gets eaten by cannibals. Meh.
Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park by Toni L.P. Kelner | Young werewolf has hots for costume pirate. Crap.
September 5, 2010
Two Blondes by Charlaine Harris -4/5: Fun story with Sookie and my favorite character Pam. As soon as I knew Pam was going to be in story, knew I would like it. One character that is awesome in both the books and the TV show.
"Somehow, I got the feeling you really didn't think enough of humans to want to claim one as a friend." (Sookie)
"You're not as intolerable as most," Pam said Lightly
The Boys Go Fishing by Sarah Smith - 3/5: This one didn't do it for me. Found myself confused with what was going on. Good writer, really can set a mood, but the story was so so
"Robin grew up, came out, moved to San Fransico, he's in politics now. The Bat retreated into "scientific experiments."
One for the Money by Jeaniene Frost -5/5 Frickin awesome as usual. Outstanding, especially for a short story. I adore Cat and Bones. Loved the scenes between Bones and Cat's Mom.
"Of course, Bones always looked good enough to eat. Whoever said don't play with your food sure hadn't been a vampire."
Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea... by Daniel Stashower -5/5 I absolutely loved this story and was extremely disappointed when it ended, because I just wanted to know more. Must go find out more about this author. This one grabbed your attention from the first line and never let go. This story alone is worth the price of the book
"he radiated a sense of wary befuddlement, as though someone kept hiding his stapler."
The Innsmouth Nook by A Lee Martinez - 4/5 Delightful story, reminded me a little of some of Stephen King's short fiction (the good stuff). Awesome beginning and nice light dry humor. Loved the two main mail characters and the dialogue between the two.
"It was just a tentacle, reaching out from the great unknown, from that horrible place where credit card bills, junk mail and despair were spawned."
"They've made some terrific advances in gaydar, dude."
Safe and Sound by Jeff Abbott - 3.5/5: Good story, drags a little and some of story doesn't make sense, but still enjoyed it. Great characters and author great at setting mood
"Someone went shopping at the unsolicited opinion store"
Seeing is Believing by L A Banks - 3/5: Not bad, was sorta of irritated with the manner of speaking of some of the characters and was a little confused at times on who was being discussed. Author has incredible talent with setting a scene and the mood of the setting. Loved the characters though
"Boy, I used to change your diapers, so don't sass me."
The Perils of Effrijim by Katie MacAlister - 3.5/5: Loved this authors writing and her wit, but found myself lost in the world she was creating. I think I would have given this a higher rating if I had read one of her novels first. Natasha agrees with me on this point. Must say I really enjoyed her dialogue though and will be checking out some of her other works. Loved the part about My Humps -- funny stuff!
"It's just not a good idea for me to take on girl form. 'Cause if I did, all I'd do is jump up and down and watch by boobs bounce."
Thin Walls by Christopher Golden - 3/5: Old fashioned horror sort of story. Author quite exceptional at setting mood of story quite quickly. Very sexual.
"Honey, trust me, I'll make you forget your own name."
The Heart is Always Right by Lilith Saintcrow -4/5: Interesting and quite different. Never read a story about gargoyles before. Main character is quite sweet and the story was just really enjoyable.
"And the shell shocked look in her swollen red-rimmed eyes was enough to make me feel as if I'd stepped on a fluffy helpless kitten."
The Demon in the Dunes by Chris Grabenstein -4/5: Good old fashioned nostalgic "horror" story, really enjoyed it and the ending was unexpected. Again another author who really knows how to set the mood and landscape for his story.
"The critics always label my impossibly busty Amazon in her tight, revealing costume as "nothing more than an adolescent sexual fantasy."
Home from America by Sharan Newman - 2/5: Just couldn't get into this one and really didn't like the ending. Also didn't like the main character, which probably really affected my enjoyment of the story.
"What the hell..?" he said, reading the titles of the seminars. "How to keep your pot of gold in trying times." "Invisibility, the best defense." "Which end of the rainbow." "To jig or not to jig, fighting the stereotypes."
Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park by Toni L P Kelner - 4/5: Delightful and fun. Excellent dialogue. Looking forward to reading some of the authors' other works.
"After all the diets I'd endured and the exercise regimens I'd abandoned, it had taken being turned into a werewolf to give me the figure I'd always wanted."
4/5 Dewey's - Worth the price, just for the Jeaniene Frost and Daniel Stashower stories!
I received this from Penguin in return for an honest review
"Somehow, I got the feeling you really didn't think enough of humans to want to claim one as a friend." (Sookie)
"You're not as intolerable as most," Pam said Lightly
The Boys Go Fishing by Sarah Smith - 3/5: This one didn't do it for me. Found myself confused with what was going on. Good writer, really can set a mood, but the story was so so
"Robin grew up, came out, moved to San Fransico, he's in politics now. The Bat retreated into "scientific experiments."
One for the Money by Jeaniene Frost -5/5 Frickin awesome as usual. Outstanding, especially for a short story. I adore Cat and Bones. Loved the scenes between Bones and Cat's Mom.
"Of course, Bones always looked good enough to eat. Whoever said don't play with your food sure hadn't been a vampire."
Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea... by Daniel Stashower -5/5 I absolutely loved this story and was extremely disappointed when it ended, because I just wanted to know more. Must go find out more about this author. This one grabbed your attention from the first line and never let go. This story alone is worth the price of the book
"he radiated a sense of wary befuddlement, as though someone kept hiding his stapler."
The Innsmouth Nook by A Lee Martinez - 4/5 Delightful story, reminded me a little of some of Stephen King's short fiction (the good stuff). Awesome beginning and nice light dry humor. Loved the two main mail characters and the dialogue between the two.
"It was just a tentacle, reaching out from the great unknown, from that horrible place where credit card bills, junk mail and despair were spawned."
"They've made some terrific advances in gaydar, dude."
Safe and Sound by Jeff Abbott - 3.5/5: Good story, drags a little and some of story doesn't make sense, but still enjoyed it. Great characters and author great at setting mood
"Someone went shopping at the unsolicited opinion store"
Seeing is Believing by L A Banks - 3/5: Not bad, was sorta of irritated with the manner of speaking of some of the characters and was a little confused at times on who was being discussed. Author has incredible talent with setting a scene and the mood of the setting. Loved the characters though
"Boy, I used to change your diapers, so don't sass me."
The Perils of Effrijim by Katie MacAlister - 3.5/5: Loved this authors writing and her wit, but found myself lost in the world she was creating. I think I would have given this a higher rating if I had read one of her novels first. Natasha agrees with me on this point. Must say I really enjoyed her dialogue though and will be checking out some of her other works. Loved the part about My Humps -- funny stuff!
"It's just not a good idea for me to take on girl form. 'Cause if I did, all I'd do is jump up and down and watch by boobs bounce."
Thin Walls by Christopher Golden - 3/5: Old fashioned horror sort of story. Author quite exceptional at setting mood of story quite quickly. Very sexual.
"Honey, trust me, I'll make you forget your own name."
The Heart is Always Right by Lilith Saintcrow -4/5: Interesting and quite different. Never read a story about gargoyles before. Main character is quite sweet and the story was just really enjoyable.
"And the shell shocked look in her swollen red-rimmed eyes was enough to make me feel as if I'd stepped on a fluffy helpless kitten."
The Demon in the Dunes by Chris Grabenstein -4/5: Good old fashioned nostalgic "horror" story, really enjoyed it and the ending was unexpected. Again another author who really knows how to set the mood and landscape for his story.
"The critics always label my impossibly busty Amazon in her tight, revealing costume as "nothing more than an adolescent sexual fantasy."
Home from America by Sharan Newman - 2/5: Just couldn't get into this one and really didn't like the ending. Also didn't like the main character, which probably really affected my enjoyment of the story.
"What the hell..?" he said, reading the titles of the seminars. "How to keep your pot of gold in trying times." "Invisibility, the best defense." "Which end of the rainbow." "To jig or not to jig, fighting the stereotypes."
Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park by Toni L P Kelner - 4/5: Delightful and fun. Excellent dialogue. Looking forward to reading some of the authors' other works.
"After all the diets I'd endured and the exercise regimens I'd abandoned, it had taken being turned into a werewolf to give me the figure I'd always wanted."
4/5 Dewey's - Worth the price, just for the Jeaniene Frost and Daniel Stashower stories!
I received this from Penguin in return for an honest review
August 11, 2010
It's kind of sad that I judge an anthology as successful when I enjoyed 5/13 of the stories in it. I've had such rotten luck in the past with anthologies, that I usually lower my expectations going into the book.
Favorite stories in this anthology for me:
- Sookie story -- Two Blondes
Pam and Sookie take a vacation together. Quite a setup ;) I love Sookie Stackhouse and I was happy with this story. Plus, even though Eric isn't really in the story, we got plenty of Eric-love. Yay!
- Bones/Cat story -- One For the Money
This contains characters from one of my favorite series -- Night Huntress. I liked this story, but I recommend reading the first four books in the NIght Huntress series before reading this short story. Otherwise, it will likely spoil some events that take place in book 4.
- Effrijim story -- The Perils of Effrijim
One of my favorite characters from the Aisling Grey series by Katie MacAlister. I highly recommend reading the Aisling Grey series before reading this series to appreciate Jim in all his glory.
- Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park
How can you resist a pirate vampire? It's hard. ;) I might read more by this author.
- The Innsmouth Nook
Such a bizarre story. I couldn't help but be intersted. It made me chuckle a couple times. I might read more by this author.
Favorite stories in this anthology for me:
- Sookie story -- Two Blondes
Pam and Sookie take a vacation together. Quite a setup ;) I love Sookie Stackhouse and I was happy with this story. Plus, even though Eric isn't really in the story, we got plenty of Eric-love. Yay!
- Bones/Cat story -- One For the Money
This contains characters from one of my favorite series -- Night Huntress. I liked this story, but I recommend reading the first four books in the NIght Huntress series before reading this short story. Otherwise, it will likely spoil some events that take place in book 4.
- Effrijim story -- The Perils of Effrijim
One of my favorite characters from the Aisling Grey series by Katie MacAlister. I highly recommend reading the Aisling Grey series before reading this series to appreciate Jim in all his glory.
- Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park
How can you resist a pirate vampire? It's hard. ;) I might read more by this author.
- The Innsmouth Nook
Such a bizarre story. I couldn't help but be intersted. It made me chuckle a couple times. I might read more by this author.
August 16, 2010
There were three good stories, a lot of mediocre ones, and one or two bad ones.
C. Harris - This was her best short story so far. Normally I'm highly disappointed in her shorts, but this one was fun. Probably because Pam was involved. I would have loved to hear Eric's reaction to what Sookie and Pam did.
S. Smith - I was bored.
J. Frost - I love Cat and Bones and this was still good. The only problem, and it's the same that I have with every Bones book, was that it didn't keep going for thousands of pages.
D. Stashower - On the border between interesting and bored. I'd like to try one of his books before I make a decision on him.
A.L. Martinez - Odd. I'm not sure what else to say.
J. Abbott - This story was interesting. I'm slightly curious about the author now.
L.A. Banks - Rather funny. I think I'll move her up on my TBR list.
K. Macalister - Not bad. I'm always on the fence with her stories. I find them annoying and yet slightly entertaining.
C. Golden - I was definitely curious. I might try something else of his later.
L. Saiintcrow - Ehhh.
C. Grabenstein - Interesting. Had a theme I didn't expect.
S. Newman - It was okay.
T. Kelner - Cute. I'm interesting to see what else he's written.
C. Harris - This was her best short story so far. Normally I'm highly disappointed in her shorts, but this one was fun. Probably because Pam was involved. I would have loved to hear Eric's reaction to what Sookie and Pam did.
S. Smith - I was bored.
J. Frost - I love Cat and Bones and this was still good. The only problem, and it's the same that I have with every Bones book, was that it didn't keep going for thousands of pages.
D. Stashower - On the border between interesting and bored. I'd like to try one of his books before I make a decision on him.
A.L. Martinez - Odd. I'm not sure what else to say.
J. Abbott - This story was interesting. I'm slightly curious about the author now.
L.A. Banks - Rather funny. I think I'll move her up on my TBR list.
K. Macalister - Not bad. I'm always on the fence with her stories. I find them annoying and yet slightly entertaining.
C. Golden - I was definitely curious. I might try something else of his later.
L. Saiintcrow - Ehhh.
C. Grabenstein - Interesting. Had a theme I didn't expect.
S. Newman - It was okay.
T. Kelner - Cute. I'm interesting to see what else he's written.
August 5, 2010
3.5 stars
This review is only for "One for the Money" by Jeaniene Frost
Gosh, how I missed Cat and Bones. They only appeared as cameo in the two Night Huntress World books, so I totally welcome this novella. This time, Cat and Bones must postpone their vacation to help protecting a heiress, as a favor for Cat's uncle Don. There are also Cat's mom, Justina, and the ghost, Fabian, making appearance. I think the story is entertaining, funny at some point (especially in regards to Cat's behavior towards the spoiled heiress) but also tender on others (when Bones teaching Justina how to fight vampires). It's all good as a tease before the 5th book coming next year. Hurry up, Ms. Frost, I miss the full-length adventure of Cat and Bones.
This review is only for "One for the Money" by Jeaniene Frost
Gosh, how I missed Cat and Bones. They only appeared as cameo in the two Night Huntress World books, so I totally welcome this novella. This time, Cat and Bones must postpone their vacation to help protecting a heiress, as a favor for Cat's uncle Don. There are also Cat's mom, Justina, and the ghost, Fabian, making appearance. I think the story is entertaining, funny at some point (especially in regards to Cat's behavior towards the spoiled heiress) but also tender on others (when Bones teaching Justina how to fight vampires). It's all good as a tease before the 5th book coming next year. Hurry up, Ms. Frost, I miss the full-length adventure of Cat and Bones.
January 27, 2011
I bought this book for the sole purpose of Jeaniene Frost's book
One For The Money.
A Short story of Cat and Bones.
As Always Frost manage to give a story that satisfies her fans. Altough it was short you get a glimpse of the love and chemistry between the couple. I loved it!
Ahhhh...Love me some Bones"
Can't wait til Feb 22 for the next book!!!
One For The Money.
A Short story of Cat and Bones.
As Always Frost manage to give a story that satisfies her fans. Altough it was short you get a glimpse of the love and chemistry between the couple. I loved it!
Ahhhh...Love me some Bones"
Can't wait til Feb 22 for the next book!!!
August 3, 2010
I enjoyed all of the stories, but I have to admit that the Bones and Cat story, "One for the Money", was such an incredible read. I felt like an addict getting my fix of Bones and Cat. It was fantabulous!!!!
Want to read
November 15, 2009Jeaniene Frost's short story "One For the Money" will feature Cat and Bones and is set after the events of "Destined For an Early Grave" in the Night Huntress series.
February 23, 2020
I only listened to Two Blondes by Charlaine Harris. Great Short Story.
September 10, 2010
This was my first collection of stories by different authors to read. I've read short stories in a collection all by the same author before, but never a book full of different styles. It was interesting. I found some new authors to try and some authors I will be staying far, far away from. I've also discovered that I am just a full novel girl. I need that story to keep going more than 30 pages. Oh hell, honestly I need that story to be one of many in a series. I'm a serious series addict, I've even joined the 'support' Group SOS to help full my need for series.
Back to the book. Loved the Sookie story, Two Blondes. It was a satisfying little blip of Sookie and Pam. Oh how I love Pam. While reading it I kept flashing between the Pam I've imagined all this time and the Pam from the HBO series, True Blood. I prefer my Pam, but I love the TB Pam's voice. Oh, of topic again, anyways - the story was typical Sookie and thank Goddess no one major died. Not that no one died, cause it wouldn't be a Sookie story with out death, but just no one major. 4 STARS
The Boys Go Fishing by Sarah Smith. Eh, nope. Didn't care for it. I felt like I had picked up a book and just started reading it where it fell open. I was lost from the beginning and I kept feeling like I was missing some part of the story that would eventually be revieled, but never was. I never completely understood the fishing trip. It just wasn't a story for me. 1 STAR.
One For the Money by Jeaniene Frost. I liked it. I've never read any of her books before so I will be adding her series with Cat and Bones to my to-read list. Actually I already have. I want to learn more about these characters, I liked the writing, it worked for me. 3 STARS.
Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea... by Daniel Stashower. Not terrible, but I didn't quite get the point. What the hell was Thaddeus Palgrave? He chose to 'change' or whatever he was going to do to Jeff because Jeff worked hard at finding sources? Not my kind of story. 1 STAR.
The Innsmouth Nook by A. Lee Martinez. This story was cute. Vance and Philip are business partners and own a Bed & Breakfast together. The whole part about Philip learning Vance was 70/30 gay was funny. "But I've seen you with women." "That would be the 30 part of the equation." Then when the supernatural part of the story kicked in it was equally entertaining and original. It was cute. 3 STARS.
Safe and Sound by Jeff Abbott. This story was ok. I didn't find it fabulous or thrilling. But it wasn't terrible or mind numbing. I kept reading it because I wanted to see something horrible happen to that snarky bitch reporter. Unfortunately nothing terrible happened to her. I won't ruin it or spoil it but I wanted more blood. 2 STARS.
Seeing is Believing by L.A. Banks. Another author I've added to my to-read list. I liked this story and the characters. I enjoyed watching the attraction develope between jess and Justin. 3 STARS.
The Perils of Effrijim by Katie Macalister. I love this author and her dragon series. I've loved Jim since book 1 and I was very excited to see a story dedicated to him. I giggled all through the story - Jim singing 'My Humps', getting arrested for nakedness, the codpiece...I could go on, but I won't. 4 STARS.
Thin Walls by Christopher Golden. Creepy. Good story for travelling husbands who contimplate cheating. Also, if the chick is HOT beyond belief and normally way out of your league but begging you for sex, STAY AWAY. She might suck you dry, literally. Or milk you dry, however you want to look at it. Disturbing, disgusting, gross. BUT - the dude is a good writer. Not my kind of story, but he put it together well and I will prob will check out some of his other stories, maybe. 2 STARS.
The Heart is Always Right by Lilith Saintcrow. Another author I like. This is the second story of hers I've read and I guess she does all her action scenes in 'skim-action'. It was the same in her story Strange Angels, but the writing is so good, I'm able to look over it and just skim along with the action. 3 STARS.
The Demon in the Dunes by Chris Grabenstein. Not my kind of story but again a good story to scare the hell out of any kid considering smoking or even current smokers. 2 STARS.
Home from America by Sharan Newman. Not my kind of story again. I didn't get a whole lot of anything from this story or even know why it was in here. Actually felt that way about several of the stories in this book. Anyways, 1 STAR.
Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park by Toni L. P. Kelner. I liked this story. I was happy the book got back to the supernatural in a good way at the end. I liked the characters and wouldn't mind reading a book about them. 3 STARS.
Well, that was it. After the book was finished I had to ask myself why I read it and wondering if it was a waste of time. But, there was Sookie and Jim. Also I found 2 new authors and 1 maybe so I guess in the end it was worth it. So read it for yourself, you might like the exact opposite stories I do or you might totally agree with me.
Back to the book. Loved the Sookie story, Two Blondes. It was a satisfying little blip of Sookie and Pam. Oh how I love Pam. While reading it I kept flashing between the Pam I've imagined all this time and the Pam from the HBO series, True Blood. I prefer my Pam, but I love the TB Pam's voice. Oh, of topic again, anyways - the story was typical Sookie and thank Goddess no one major died. Not that no one died, cause it wouldn't be a Sookie story with out death, but just no one major. 4 STARS
The Boys Go Fishing by Sarah Smith. Eh, nope. Didn't care for it. I felt like I had picked up a book and just started reading it where it fell open. I was lost from the beginning and I kept feeling like I was missing some part of the story that would eventually be revieled, but never was. I never completely understood the fishing trip. It just wasn't a story for me. 1 STAR.
One For the Money by Jeaniene Frost. I liked it. I've never read any of her books before so I will be adding her series with Cat and Bones to my to-read list. Actually I already have. I want to learn more about these characters, I liked the writing, it worked for me. 3 STARS.
Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea... by Daniel Stashower. Not terrible, but I didn't quite get the point. What the hell was Thaddeus Palgrave? He chose to 'change' or whatever he was going to do to Jeff because Jeff worked hard at finding sources? Not my kind of story. 1 STAR.
The Innsmouth Nook by A. Lee Martinez. This story was cute. Vance and Philip are business partners and own a Bed & Breakfast together. The whole part about Philip learning Vance was 70/30 gay was funny. "But I've seen you with women." "That would be the 30 part of the equation." Then when the supernatural part of the story kicked in it was equally entertaining and original. It was cute. 3 STARS.
Safe and Sound by Jeff Abbott. This story was ok. I didn't find it fabulous or thrilling. But it wasn't terrible or mind numbing. I kept reading it because I wanted to see something horrible happen to that snarky bitch reporter. Unfortunately nothing terrible happened to her. I won't ruin it or spoil it but I wanted more blood. 2 STARS.
Seeing is Believing by L.A. Banks. Another author I've added to my to-read list. I liked this story and the characters. I enjoyed watching the attraction develope between jess and Justin. 3 STARS.
The Perils of Effrijim by Katie Macalister. I love this author and her dragon series. I've loved Jim since book 1 and I was very excited to see a story dedicated to him. I giggled all through the story - Jim singing 'My Humps', getting arrested for nakedness, the codpiece...I could go on, but I won't. 4 STARS.
Thin Walls by Christopher Golden. Creepy. Good story for travelling husbands who contimplate cheating. Also, if the chick is HOT beyond belief and normally way out of your league but begging you for sex, STAY AWAY. She might suck you dry, literally. Or milk you dry, however you want to look at it. Disturbing, disgusting, gross. BUT - the dude is a good writer. Not my kind of story, but he put it together well and I will prob will check out some of his other stories, maybe. 2 STARS.
The Heart is Always Right by Lilith Saintcrow. Another author I like. This is the second story of hers I've read and I guess she does all her action scenes in 'skim-action'. It was the same in her story Strange Angels, but the writing is so good, I'm able to look over it and just skim along with the action. 3 STARS.
The Demon in the Dunes by Chris Grabenstein. Not my kind of story but again a good story to scare the hell out of any kid considering smoking or even current smokers. 2 STARS.
Home from America by Sharan Newman. Not my kind of story again. I didn't get a whole lot of anything from this story or even know why it was in here. Actually felt that way about several of the stories in this book. Anyways, 1 STAR.
Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park by Toni L. P. Kelner. I liked this story. I was happy the book got back to the supernatural in a good way at the end. I liked the characters and wouldn't mind reading a book about them. 3 STARS.
Well, that was it. After the book was finished I had to ask myself why I read it and wondering if it was a waste of time. But, there was Sookie and Jim. Also I found 2 new authors and 1 maybe so I guess in the end it was worth it. So read it for yourself, you might like the exact opposite stories I do or you might totally agree with me.
September 20, 2013
Two Blondes is book 9.25 in the Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris. In this story, Pam and Sookie are on vacation…sort of.
Merged review:
Death's Excellent Vacation is an awesome anthology with stories from some of my favourite urban fantasy authors.
One for the money by Jeaniene Frost is a novella within the anthology 'Death's Excellent Vacation'.
Two Blondes is book 9.25 in the Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris. In this story, Pam and Sookie are on vacation…sort of.
Merged review:
Death's Excellent Vacation is an awesome anthology with stories from some of my favourite urban fantasy authors.
One for the money by Jeaniene Frost is a novella within the anthology 'Death's Excellent Vacation'.
Two Blondes is book 9.25 in the Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris. In this story, Pam and Sookie are on vacation…sort of.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2010
Most Excellent" mix of vacation themed shorts
Death's Excellent offers a variety of vacation themed shorts. I enjoyed the mix of stories - a few with a touch of romance and some with a touch of horror - and even found a couple of new authors on the way, but I have to say that some of these vacations make finding a new travel agent, or safer still, taking a 'staycation' at home seem like a really good idea.
1. Two Blondes - Charlaine Harris - A Sookie short - Sookie and Pam head off to the riverboat casinos to mix business with some fun - For fans of the books this is something completely different for Sookie (for fans of the show probably not so much) - when the business part of the vacation goes bad while Sookie and Pam are in a strip club, the pair hide in plain sight as 'Sugar & Butterscotch'.
2. The Boys Go Fishing - Sarah Smith - A crotchety old superhero's lonely exile is invaded - he longs for death, but may yet discover how to truly live - I really really liked this story, it had some powerful and poignant moments and a hopeful ending. I'll be keeping out an eye for more by this author.
3. One for the Money - Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress short - Cat and Bones pull guard duty for a human heiress targeted by supernatural hit men - This is a nice little Night Huntress fix for fans (there's even a few steamy bits)
4. Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea... - Daniel Stashower - An author takes his job as researcher to a new level.
5. The Innsmouth Nook - A. Lee Martinez - Owners of a bed and breakfast rewrite their business plan when the inn is invaded by legendary guests.
6. Safe and Sound - Jeff Abbott - An ambitious and less than scrupulous TV reporter milks the investigation into a young man's disappearance for ratings - I figured the twist to this one early on, but the reporter is so unlikable that no tears are shed when she gets what she deserves.
7. Seeing is Believing - L A Banks - After 'seeing' that the cause of several local deaths is a supernatural predator, a young woman heads off to New Orleans to gather what she needs to fight the beasts. There she gains an ally in an unusual young man and discovers that both of their pasts are linked to what she hunts - a nice little story with appealing leads and a promise of romance.
8. The Perils of Eferjim - Katie MacAlister - A short starring Aisling Grey's demon newfie sidekick Jim - With Aisling on vacation, Jim's off to grab some R&R as well when he gets forced into human form and banished to Abaddon - If you love Jim there's lots of him here and some funny moments, I particularly like how he escapes from the hellish demon dimension.
9. Thin Walls - Christopher Golden - A man is on a memorial tour honoring his dead wife, but a brush with the supernatural is what it takes to help him move on - This one was creepy, but since it was horrorish I guess that was the intent.
10. The Heart is Always Right - Lilith Saintcrow - A gargoyle's vacation in the sun is preempted when he discovers that the young woman he's been drawn to is the key to gaining his ultimate dreams if he's willing to pay the price - There is just something about gargoyles which appeals to me.
11. The Demon in the Dunes - Chris Grabenstein - A man remembers a long ago summer vacation from his youth and a ghostly encounter - The ending to this one surprised me.
12. Home from America - Sharan Newman - A man of Irish descent, has a chance to visit the old country when his family gets invited to a family reunion - I didn't particularly like the ending of this one.
13. Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park - Toni L P Kelner - A recently turned werewolf returns to a childhood vacation spot to ponder her future. A visit to a favorite amusement park offers her the chance to pursue the pirate of her teenage fantasies and to use her new abilities to save the park from a vandal trying to shut it down - Sexy pirates and supernatural creatures? What's not to like.
Death's Excellent offers a variety of vacation themed shorts. I enjoyed the mix of stories - a few with a touch of romance and some with a touch of horror - and even found a couple of new authors on the way, but I have to say that some of these vacations make finding a new travel agent, or safer still, taking a 'staycation' at home seem like a really good idea.
1. Two Blondes - Charlaine Harris - A Sookie short - Sookie and Pam head off to the riverboat casinos to mix business with some fun - For fans of the books this is something completely different for Sookie (for fans of the show probably not so much) - when the business part of the vacation goes bad while Sookie and Pam are in a strip club, the pair hide in plain sight as 'Sugar & Butterscotch'.
2. The Boys Go Fishing - Sarah Smith - A crotchety old superhero's lonely exile is invaded - he longs for death, but may yet discover how to truly live - I really really liked this story, it had some powerful and poignant moments and a hopeful ending. I'll be keeping out an eye for more by this author.
3. One for the Money - Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress short - Cat and Bones pull guard duty for a human heiress targeted by supernatural hit men - This is a nice little Night Huntress fix for fans (there's even a few steamy bits)
4. Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea... - Daniel Stashower - An author takes his job as researcher to a new level.
5. The Innsmouth Nook - A. Lee Martinez - Owners of a bed and breakfast rewrite their business plan when the inn is invaded by legendary guests.
6. Safe and Sound - Jeff Abbott - An ambitious and less than scrupulous TV reporter milks the investigation into a young man's disappearance for ratings - I figured the twist to this one early on, but the reporter is so unlikable that no tears are shed when she gets what she deserves.
7. Seeing is Believing - L A Banks - After 'seeing' that the cause of several local deaths is a supernatural predator, a young woman heads off to New Orleans to gather what she needs to fight the beasts. There she gains an ally in an unusual young man and discovers that both of their pasts are linked to what she hunts - a nice little story with appealing leads and a promise of romance.
8. The Perils of Eferjim - Katie MacAlister - A short starring Aisling Grey's demon newfie sidekick Jim - With Aisling on vacation, Jim's off to grab some R&R as well when he gets forced into human form and banished to Abaddon - If you love Jim there's lots of him here and some funny moments, I particularly like how he escapes from the hellish demon dimension.
9. Thin Walls - Christopher Golden - A man is on a memorial tour honoring his dead wife, but a brush with the supernatural is what it takes to help him move on - This one was creepy, but since it was horrorish I guess that was the intent.
10. The Heart is Always Right - Lilith Saintcrow - A gargoyle's vacation in the sun is preempted when he discovers that the young woman he's been drawn to is the key to gaining his ultimate dreams if he's willing to pay the price - There is just something about gargoyles which appeals to me.
11. The Demon in the Dunes - Chris Grabenstein - A man remembers a long ago summer vacation from his youth and a ghostly encounter - The ending to this one surprised me.
12. Home from America - Sharan Newman - A man of Irish descent, has a chance to visit the old country when his family gets invited to a family reunion - I didn't particularly like the ending of this one.
13. Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park - Toni L P Kelner - A recently turned werewolf returns to a childhood vacation spot to ponder her future. A visit to a favorite amusement park offers her the chance to pursue the pirate of her teenage fantasies and to use her new abilities to save the park from a vandal trying to shut it down - Sexy pirates and supernatural creatures? What's not to like.
April 23, 2011
**2.5?**
All stories considered, this anthology is probably one of the more balanced collections of its kind (that’s really not saying much). There are several taken from currently running series. Unfortunately, these were the least entertaining. Still, I was able to find a few authors I’d never heard of whose writing was intriguing enough for me to add them to the TBR.
“Two Blondes” - A Sookie-verse story from Charlaine Harris. With Pam and Sookie as the main characters, this should have been a winner. Instead, it was stale and poorly executed, with several ludicrous plot elements that robbed Pam of the snarky efficiency we’ve come to love. I was sorely disappointed.
“The Boys Go Fishing” - A strange tale of a superhero who no longer has a purpose in the modern world, becoming a bitter hermit as a result. Melancholy and distant, this one was different enough to capture my interest, but I‘m not sure I‘d seek out more by the author.
“One for the Money” - Cat and Bones find themselves on protection detail. Filled with arbitrary powers, abundant references to Bones’ lust-worthy looks, and a lot of action, this story reminds me of why I liked the Huntress series…and why I’ve given it up. For those who are still fans, this one further develops Justina and Bones’ relationship.
“Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea” - Written in a conversational tone, this one was a favorite - until the some what anti-climactic unveiling. I’m all for leaving some things to the imagination, but I felt the resolution could have used a little more fleshing out.
“The Innsmouth Nook” - In typical A. Lee Martinez fashion, this one is quick, light, and very amusing. Calling to mind horror movies of the 50s as well as Lovecraftian themes, Martinez’s story left a smile on my face and the thought that as long as a person remains practical and flexible, they can make the best out of a bad situation.
“Safe and Sound” - The wrap-up and its implications are far more entertaining than the story itself. This one was rather tedious.
“Seeing Is Believing” - I’ve read a few shorts by Banks and none of them have been my cup of tea. While the ideas behind this are solid, the pacing is completely off and the ending is abrupt and unsatisfying.
“The Perils of Effrijim” - Set in the Aisling Grey universe, this is told from Jim’s point of view. It’s more a mish-mash of events rather than a real story, but fans of the series will probably enjoy the mess Jim gets himself into.
“Thin Walls” - I’m a fan of Christopher Golden, but this one didn’t do the trick. Following a widower seeking forgiveness, the creep-factor lacked any of the subtlety I usually ascribe to his writing.
“The Heart Is Always Right” - I’m guessing this is set in an existing universe. Though the idea of a gargoyle involved in a war between good and evil should capture my interest, this doesn’t do an effective job of pulling me into the world. Also, the gargoyle is a little too angsty and forlorn for my taste.
“The Demon in the Dunes” - A mundane recounting of an adolescent crush, with a preachy and ghoulish ending.
“Home from America” - An Irish-American is eager to find his roots - and learns far more than he bargained for. Quite entertaining, with a crazy ending that prompted a gleefully morbid squeak.
“Pirate Dave’s Haunted Amusement Park” - Entertaining in the way of MJD’s earlier books. A newly-made werewolf tries clear her head by revisiting her childhood vacation spot. A little romance, a little mystery, and a few laughs make this an enjoyable, fluffy read.
All stories considered, this anthology is probably one of the more balanced collections of its kind (that’s really not saying much). There are several taken from currently running series. Unfortunately, these were the least entertaining. Still, I was able to find a few authors I’d never heard of whose writing was intriguing enough for me to add them to the TBR.
“Two Blondes” - A Sookie-verse story from Charlaine Harris. With Pam and Sookie as the main characters, this should have been a winner. Instead, it was stale and poorly executed, with several ludicrous plot elements that robbed Pam of the snarky efficiency we’ve come to love. I was sorely disappointed.
“The Boys Go Fishing” - A strange tale of a superhero who no longer has a purpose in the modern world, becoming a bitter hermit as a result. Melancholy and distant, this one was different enough to capture my interest, but I‘m not sure I‘d seek out more by the author.
“One for the Money” - Cat and Bones find themselves on protection detail. Filled with arbitrary powers, abundant references to Bones’ lust-worthy looks, and a lot of action, this story reminds me of why I liked the Huntress series…and why I’ve given it up. For those who are still fans, this one further develops Justina and Bones’ relationship.
“Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea” - Written in a conversational tone, this one was a favorite - until the some what anti-climactic unveiling. I’m all for leaving some things to the imagination, but I felt the resolution could have used a little more fleshing out.
“The Innsmouth Nook” - In typical A. Lee Martinez fashion, this one is quick, light, and very amusing. Calling to mind horror movies of the 50s as well as Lovecraftian themes, Martinez’s story left a smile on my face and the thought that as long as a person remains practical and flexible, they can make the best out of a bad situation.
“Safe and Sound” - The wrap-up and its implications are far more entertaining than the story itself. This one was rather tedious.
“Seeing Is Believing” - I’ve read a few shorts by Banks and none of them have been my cup of tea. While the ideas behind this are solid, the pacing is completely off and the ending is abrupt and unsatisfying.
“The Perils of Effrijim” - Set in the Aisling Grey universe, this is told from Jim’s point of view. It’s more a mish-mash of events rather than a real story, but fans of the series will probably enjoy the mess Jim gets himself into.
“Thin Walls” - I’m a fan of Christopher Golden, but this one didn’t do the trick. Following a widower seeking forgiveness, the creep-factor lacked any of the subtlety I usually ascribe to his writing.
“The Heart Is Always Right” - I’m guessing this is set in an existing universe. Though the idea of a gargoyle involved in a war between good and evil should capture my interest, this doesn’t do an effective job of pulling me into the world. Also, the gargoyle is a little too angsty and forlorn for my taste.
“The Demon in the Dunes” - A mundane recounting of an adolescent crush, with a preachy and ghoulish ending.
“Home from America” - An Irish-American is eager to find his roots - and learns far more than he bargained for. Quite entertaining, with a crazy ending that prompted a gleefully morbid squeak.
“Pirate Dave’s Haunted Amusement Park” - Entertaining in the way of MJD’s earlier books. A newly-made werewolf tries clear her head by revisiting her childhood vacation spot. A little romance, a little mystery, and a few laughs make this an enjoyable, fluffy read.
September 13, 2010
Two Blondes by Charlaine Harris
A short Sookie Stackhouse story; Sookie and Pam are on their way for a holiday weekend, mixing fun with some business. Their business part goes bad when they are visiting this strip-club and the manager has other things on his mind.
The boys go fishing by Sarah Smith
An old superhero longs for death after he lost everyone around him, but he gets a visit from a bunch of “talented” kids, who are in need for some training/guiding.
One for the money by Jeaniene Frost
Cat and Bones need to guard a spoiled human heiress, who has been targeted by supernatural hit men.
Far across the Caspian Sea by Daniel Stashower
This is about an author who has lived for many centuries and shares his experience with the world thru his novels. But when he meets this new researcher he knows that this one is special.
The Innsmouth Nook by A. Lee Martinez
Two friends have started a Bed and Breakfast. They are about to find out what the Island secret is and they new legendary guests.
Safe and Sound by Jeff Abbott
A young determined TV reporter will do anything to keep the investigation open of a young man and his disappearance. Everything is working against her, even the missing man himself.
Seeing is believing by L.A. Banks
A young woman goes to New Orleans to fight the beasts, when she discovers several of the deaths are supernatural. There she meets this young man and learns they are linked somehow.
The perils of Eferjim by Katie MacAlister
Demon Jim has some free time coming up, now his boss is away. So he wants to spend some time with his demon girlfriend in Paris. But he’s forced into his human form and banished to Abaddon, where he has 10 days to escape.
Thinwalls by Christopher Golden
A man has lost his wife to cancer and has been travelling around the world to see all their favourite places. During that tour he meets a young woman with a creepy secret.
The heart is always right by Lilith Saintcrow
A gargoyle rescues a young woman from a supernatural attack and discovers she might be his key to his ultimate dream. But will he sacrifice her?
The demon in the dunes by Chris Grabenstein
A dying man thinks back at that one summer where he met his summer love and their strange adventure with ghostly encounters.
Home from America by Sharon Newman
A young man wants to visit his homeland Ireland for some time now and when the opportunity comes it’s not exactly what he expected.
Pirate Dave’s haunted Amusement Park by Toni L.P. Kelner
A recently turned female werewolf returns to her childhood favourite vacation spot to think about her future. At the amusement park she discovers that her teenage crush on pirate Dave is still there…just like pirate Dave.
Death’s Excellent Vacation Anthology has a theme…vacation. I saw some of my favourite authors in here, but also met a few new authors.
Jeaniene Frost, Katie MacAllister and Toni L.P. Kelner were my favourite of this anthology. Their stories were fabulous and I really liked them.
Charlaine Harris, L.A. Banks and Lilith Saintcrow’s stories were okay. A long with the stories from the authors above they made the book worth to read.
But the rest of the short stories weren’t really my kind of reading. Of course I liked one story better than the other, but I have to say some of them were a little weird.
This anthology was overall good to read, I really think that some of the stories were to short for them to tell the story. Sometimes you were missing the clue, so maybe next time they can cut some of the authors and concentrate of getting more pages for the stories.
A short Sookie Stackhouse story; Sookie and Pam are on their way for a holiday weekend, mixing fun with some business. Their business part goes bad when they are visiting this strip-club and the manager has other things on his mind.
The boys go fishing by Sarah Smith
An old superhero longs for death after he lost everyone around him, but he gets a visit from a bunch of “talented” kids, who are in need for some training/guiding.
One for the money by Jeaniene Frost
Cat and Bones need to guard a spoiled human heiress, who has been targeted by supernatural hit men.
Far across the Caspian Sea by Daniel Stashower
This is about an author who has lived for many centuries and shares his experience with the world thru his novels. But when he meets this new researcher he knows that this one is special.
The Innsmouth Nook by A. Lee Martinez
Two friends have started a Bed and Breakfast. They are about to find out what the Island secret is and they new legendary guests.
Safe and Sound by Jeff Abbott
A young determined TV reporter will do anything to keep the investigation open of a young man and his disappearance. Everything is working against her, even the missing man himself.
Seeing is believing by L.A. Banks
A young woman goes to New Orleans to fight the beasts, when she discovers several of the deaths are supernatural. There she meets this young man and learns they are linked somehow.
The perils of Eferjim by Katie MacAlister
Demon Jim has some free time coming up, now his boss is away. So he wants to spend some time with his demon girlfriend in Paris. But he’s forced into his human form and banished to Abaddon, where he has 10 days to escape.
Thinwalls by Christopher Golden
A man has lost his wife to cancer and has been travelling around the world to see all their favourite places. During that tour he meets a young woman with a creepy secret.
The heart is always right by Lilith Saintcrow
A gargoyle rescues a young woman from a supernatural attack and discovers she might be his key to his ultimate dream. But will he sacrifice her?
The demon in the dunes by Chris Grabenstein
A dying man thinks back at that one summer where he met his summer love and their strange adventure with ghostly encounters.
Home from America by Sharon Newman
A young man wants to visit his homeland Ireland for some time now and when the opportunity comes it’s not exactly what he expected.
Pirate Dave’s haunted Amusement Park by Toni L.P. Kelner
A recently turned female werewolf returns to her childhood favourite vacation spot to think about her future. At the amusement park she discovers that her teenage crush on pirate Dave is still there…just like pirate Dave.
Death’s Excellent Vacation Anthology has a theme…vacation. I saw some of my favourite authors in here, but also met a few new authors.
Jeaniene Frost, Katie MacAllister and Toni L.P. Kelner were my favourite of this anthology. Their stories were fabulous and I really liked them.
Charlaine Harris, L.A. Banks and Lilith Saintcrow’s stories were okay. A long with the stories from the authors above they made the book worth to read.
But the rest of the short stories weren’t really my kind of reading. Of course I liked one story better than the other, but I have to say some of them were a little weird.
This anthology was overall good to read, I really think that some of the stories were to short for them to tell the story. Sometimes you were missing the clue, so maybe next time they can cut some of the authors and concentrate of getting more pages for the stories.
July 26, 2010
This was my latest book to review for a magazine on young adult literature. It is an anthology of stories about supernatural creatures on vacation- vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters,etc. It was an uneven collection, of the 13 stories a third of them were predictable, the bulk were interesting if not exceptional and three excelled. The trio of outstanding stories are "Safe and Sound" by Jeff Abbott (about a missing college student in a tropical paradise who may not want to be found and the manipulative news reporter sucking every ratings point she can from the tragedy), "Two Blondes" by Charlaine Harris (a new story featuring Sookie Stackhouse, the basis of the popular TV series "True Blood") and the explicit but chilling story of a sexual succubus, "Thin Walls" by Christopher Golden. "Thin Walls" is reminiscent of a Stephen King story in the vein of "Gerald's Game". Several of the stories are strongly sexually explicit, while I am reviewing the book for a young adult audience I would only recommend it for the oldest and most mature teen readers- the primary audience for this story collection is adults.
December 23, 2010
Only reading Charlaine Harris' Two Blondes and Jeaniene Frost's One for the Money.
* Two Blondes ~ 3 stars.
It was ok. I enjoyed Sookie and Pam but it would've been much nicer with more Eric. The "mission" Sookie and Pam went on was a little hokey and I would never believe that Eric would send them on something like that without back up. But it is a short story and it is what it is.
* One For the Money ~ 4.5 stars.
Bloody Hell! that was some hot stuff but not enough...that's why it's not getting 5 stars. Loved all the action between Cat and Bones ~ and not just the hotness but the fighting as well. It was also great having her Mom thrown in the mix. Definitely a nice little fix till the next book comes out!
* Two Blondes ~ 3 stars.
It was ok. I enjoyed Sookie and Pam but it would've been much nicer with more Eric. The "mission" Sookie and Pam went on was a little hokey and I would never believe that Eric would send them on something like that without back up. But it is a short story and it is what it is.
* One For the Money ~ 4.5 stars.
Bloody Hell! that was some hot stuff but not enough...that's why it's not getting 5 stars. Loved all the action between Cat and Bones ~ and not just the hotness but the fighting as well. It was also great having her Mom thrown in the mix. Definitely a nice little fix till the next book comes out!
August 7, 2010
This is the last hardcover volume like this I will ever buy, because I always end up hating 90% of the stories in here.
The Sookie Stackhouse story is completely forgettable. If you are thinking about buying this book for just that, it's not worth it. Read it at the library or something. No Eric (except for a phone call).
The Jeanine Frost story was GREAT. Cat and Bones are my second favorite series (behind Ward's BDB) and this story didn't disappoint. I wanted MORE as per usual. This story is the only thing that saved this book from a one-star review.
The rest of the stories are boring and or cliche, basically. Save your money on this one.
The Sookie Stackhouse story is completely forgettable. If you are thinking about buying this book for just that, it's not worth it. Read it at the library or something. No Eric (except for a phone call).
The Jeanine Frost story was GREAT. Cat and Bones are my second favorite series (behind Ward's BDB) and this story didn't disappoint. I wanted MORE as per usual. This story is the only thing that saved this book from a one-star review.
The rest of the stories are boring and or cliche, basically. Save your money on this one.
January 30, 2012
Basic Premise: Supernaturals on vacation!
Not a bad little collection of stories. Nothing knocked my socks off, mostly 3-star stories that were enjoyable but forgettable, and a few 4 stars that made me smile, but weren't enough to pull up the total book rating. Thankfully, there were no 1 star stories, and the closest to a 2 star story was the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse offering. It seemed added as an afterthought since Harris was editing the volume. The best gem in the collection is close to the end, and is about leprechauns of all things.
Not a bad little collection of stories. Nothing knocked my socks off, mostly 3-star stories that were enjoyable but forgettable, and a few 4 stars that made me smile, but weren't enough to pull up the total book rating. Thankfully, there were no 1 star stories, and the closest to a 2 star story was the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse offering. It seemed added as an afterthought since Harris was editing the volume. The best gem in the collection is close to the end, and is about leprechauns of all things.
April 13, 2011
I bought this only for the Bones and Cat short-I needed something to pick me up after the fighting and distance from their 4th book Destined for an Early Grave. I know I'll get to the rest of the short stories, but for now, I'm done.
I'll update as I read the rest.
I'll update as I read the rest.
October 7, 2010
Only read "One for the Money" to get my Cat and Bones fix which was awesome! I can never get enough of those two!
Favorite Quote:
"By the time Bones announced it was Tammy's turn, I'd fallen in love with him all over again. Flowers and jewelry worked for most girls as a romantic gesture, but here I was, misty-eyed at watching him show my mother how to stab the shit out of him."
August 22, 2010
"Two Blondes" by Charlaine Harris - Three stars. Sookie's not sure why Pam has invited her to come along for a girls' getaway, and why they're going to the land of casinos and strip clubs. Sure enough, their vacation is a pretense for yet more vampire politics. While the story was interesting, nothing new happened. It could have been titled "Yet Another Adventure in the Sookie Saga." Good enough to tide you over between novels but nothing you need to rush out for.
"The Boys Go Fishing" by Sarah Smith - Two stars. Bill Green is a retired superhero mourning the loss of his mortal wife. When a girl knocks on his door and asks him to train the next generation of "Talents", he agrees, on one condition. The story draws from a variety of sources: superheroes, Ranma 1/2, the Loch Ness monster. Unfortunately this makes it feel confused and mish-mashed, with no unifying theme or explanation. There's no real character development, and the ending seemed to come out of nowhere. The themes of isolation and mortality could have been interesting, but they weren't.
"One for the Money" by Jeaniene Frost - Five stars. Cat and Bones return for a well-deserved vacation. Unfortunately, they are interrupted by a lady in distress (heavy on the "distress" and light on the "lady") and then again by Cat's acerbic mother on an interrupted vacation of her own. This is Cat and Bones at their best with action, drama and steamy sex. The relationship between Bones and Justina is developed a little further here and made me smile at one crucial moment.
"Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea..." by Daniel Stashower - Five stars. The nameless narrator takes a job researching for an encyclopedia publisher, only to run into conflict with a senior editor who has never taken a vacation. The author bio says he is a mystery writer and it shows. The story glides along, each clue dropping smoothly into place. I especially loved the contrasts running throughout the story, some done so subtly they're not picked up until a reread.
"The Innsmouth Nook" by A Lee Martinez - Four stars. When Philip and Vance open a bed and breakfast in a dreary New England village, it does not become the vacation hotspot that they had hoped for, and the insular locals are closemouthed and unhelpful. Cute and clever short. There were some hints dropped that I didn't understand, but I'm sure that they would have explained a lot about the story if I was more familiar with THE classic of this genre. I especially loved the dynamic between Philip and Vance.
"Safe and Sound" by Jeff Abbott - Three stars. When an American college student goes missing during a vacation to a small South American country, an opportunistic news anchor jumps on the story as ratings gold - especially since no one can recognize or locate the exotically beautiful woman he disappeared with. The opening was intriguing, since who doesn't love to hate people like Nora Dare?, and the ending was quite fitting, but the middle part dragged.
"Seeing is Believing" by L A Banks - Three stars. Soon after a local psychic inherits her mother's job of police consultant, she makes an incredible claim that has the sheriff believing her "overtired". At the urging of him and her supportive brother, she travels to New Orleans and meets a young man also involved in the psychic community. For some reason Jessica is never described, which bothers me. I'm still not even certain what race she is, especially blatant when compared to everyone else's descriptions. And while there's not enough of Ralph seen to make him a stereotype, he edges dangerously close. The story was also bogged down by a habit of repeating plot points and switching perspectives mid-paragraph without warning. Still, the characterization was vivid and I enjoyed Grand's dialogue.
"The Perils of Effrijim" by Katie MacAlister - Four stars. A demon's vacation is jeopardized when a jealous apprentice witch banishes him back to Hell, and he must scramble to salvage it before his owner returns from hers. I believe this is part of an ongoing series, but I don't follow this author. The short is high-energy and quite silly - a torture scene includes singing "My Humps" over and over again. I know some people will find the last sentence incredibly amusing but I just found it frustrating.
"Thin Walls" by Christopher Golden - Five stars. The walls of Tim's hotel room are painfully thin, and his neighbors keep him up at night with their sexual escapades. But that's not all he hears through their walls. Is it Freudian of me to observe that when female authors show a beautiful woman enjoying sex, this is portrayed as a positive thing, but with a male author it's negative? Maybe, or maybe this story aims to hit men in their most immediate fears. But despite my discomfort with the implications, this is a compelling and well-written short.
"The Heart is Always Right" by Lilith Saintcrow - Five stars. A gargoyle with a crush on a department store checker soon finds that she has become a focus for magic, with the forces of evil scrambling to possess her before the good does. I found the repeated use of Heart distracting - it seems to have three or four different meanings so I was never quite sure what it meant this time. But the story is sweet and the nameless gargoyle is adorkable. In retrospect, the title is quite fitting.
"The Demon in the Dunes" by Chris Grabenstein - Five stars. Sixteen-year-old David is having a summer fling at the beach, but his trysts are interrupted by a scary figure only he can see. Genuinely creepy story with a poignant ending, as any good ghost story should have. It's filled with nostalgia both for the innocence of youth and for the era he grew up in, wrapped up in the tale of his first love.
"Home from America" by Sharan Newman - Two stars. All his life, Patrick has dreamed of going to Ireland to find his roots, but when he finally does he gets the shock of a lifetime. I found this short to be just generally unlikeable. The protagonist is petulant and self-centered, more of a teenager than a twenty-something. His family is nonchalant to the point of negligence. And the ending infuriated me, as it came out of the blue and left a bad taste in my mouth.
"Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park" by Toni L P Kelner - Four stars. After becoming a werewolf, Joyce retreats to her childhood theme park for a much needed break. But even that relaxation is denied here, because something is wrong at Pirate Dave's. Cute, lighthearted short. I had to laugh at Joyce's sarcastic competence, raising an eyebrow as she points out the villain's flaws. It was the perfect piece to end the anthology on.
"The Boys Go Fishing" by Sarah Smith - Two stars. Bill Green is a retired superhero mourning the loss of his mortal wife. When a girl knocks on his door and asks him to train the next generation of "Talents", he agrees, on one condition. The story draws from a variety of sources: superheroes, Ranma 1/2, the Loch Ness monster. Unfortunately this makes it feel confused and mish-mashed, with no unifying theme or explanation. There's no real character development, and the ending seemed to come out of nowhere. The themes of isolation and mortality could have been interesting, but they weren't.
"One for the Money" by Jeaniene Frost - Five stars. Cat and Bones return for a well-deserved vacation. Unfortunately, they are interrupted by a lady in distress (heavy on the "distress" and light on the "lady") and then again by Cat's acerbic mother on an interrupted vacation of her own. This is Cat and Bones at their best with action, drama and steamy sex. The relationship between Bones and Justina is developed a little further here and made me smile at one crucial moment.
"Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea..." by Daniel Stashower - Five stars. The nameless narrator takes a job researching for an encyclopedia publisher, only to run into conflict with a senior editor who has never taken a vacation. The author bio says he is a mystery writer and it shows. The story glides along, each clue dropping smoothly into place. I especially loved the contrasts running throughout the story, some done so subtly they're not picked up until a reread.
"The Innsmouth Nook" by A Lee Martinez - Four stars. When Philip and Vance open a bed and breakfast in a dreary New England village, it does not become the vacation hotspot that they had hoped for, and the insular locals are closemouthed and unhelpful. Cute and clever short. There were some hints dropped that I didn't understand, but I'm sure that they would have explained a lot about the story if I was more familiar with THE classic of this genre. I especially loved the dynamic between Philip and Vance.
"Safe and Sound" by Jeff Abbott - Three stars. When an American college student goes missing during a vacation to a small South American country, an opportunistic news anchor jumps on the story as ratings gold - especially since no one can recognize or locate the exotically beautiful woman he disappeared with. The opening was intriguing, since who doesn't love to hate people like Nora Dare?, and the ending was quite fitting, but the middle part dragged.
"Seeing is Believing" by L A Banks - Three stars. Soon after a local psychic inherits her mother's job of police consultant, she makes an incredible claim that has the sheriff believing her "overtired". At the urging of him and her supportive brother, she travels to New Orleans and meets a young man also involved in the psychic community. For some reason Jessica is never described, which bothers me. I'm still not even certain what race she is, especially blatant when compared to everyone else's descriptions. And while there's not enough of Ralph seen to make him a stereotype, he edges dangerously close. The story was also bogged down by a habit of repeating plot points and switching perspectives mid-paragraph without warning. Still, the characterization was vivid and I enjoyed Grand's dialogue.
"The Perils of Effrijim" by Katie MacAlister - Four stars. A demon's vacation is jeopardized when a jealous apprentice witch banishes him back to Hell, and he must scramble to salvage it before his owner returns from hers. I believe this is part of an ongoing series, but I don't follow this author. The short is high-energy and quite silly - a torture scene includes singing "My Humps" over and over again. I know some people will find the last sentence incredibly amusing but I just found it frustrating.
"Thin Walls" by Christopher Golden - Five stars. The walls of Tim's hotel room are painfully thin, and his neighbors keep him up at night with their sexual escapades. But that's not all he hears through their walls. Is it Freudian of me to observe that when female authors show a beautiful woman enjoying sex, this is portrayed as a positive thing, but with a male author it's negative? Maybe, or maybe this story aims to hit men in their most immediate fears. But despite my discomfort with the implications, this is a compelling and well-written short.
"The Heart is Always Right" by Lilith Saintcrow - Five stars. A gargoyle with a crush on a department store checker soon finds that she has become a focus for magic, with the forces of evil scrambling to possess her before the good does. I found the repeated use of Heart distracting - it seems to have three or four different meanings so I was never quite sure what it meant this time. But the story is sweet and the nameless gargoyle is adorkable. In retrospect, the title is quite fitting.
"The Demon in the Dunes" by Chris Grabenstein - Five stars. Sixteen-year-old David is having a summer fling at the beach, but his trysts are interrupted by a scary figure only he can see. Genuinely creepy story with a poignant ending, as any good ghost story should have. It's filled with nostalgia both for the innocence of youth and for the era he grew up in, wrapped up in the tale of his first love.
"Home from America" by Sharan Newman - Two stars. All his life, Patrick has dreamed of going to Ireland to find his roots, but when he finally does he gets the shock of a lifetime. I found this short to be just generally unlikeable. The protagonist is petulant and self-centered, more of a teenager than a twenty-something. His family is nonchalant to the point of negligence. And the ending infuriated me, as it came out of the blue and left a bad taste in my mouth.
"Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park" by Toni L P Kelner - Four stars. After becoming a werewolf, Joyce retreats to her childhood theme park for a much needed break. But even that relaxation is denied here, because something is wrong at Pirate Dave's. Cute, lighthearted short. I had to laugh at Joyce's sarcastic competence, raising an eyebrow as she points out the villain's flaws. It was the perfect piece to end the anthology on.
May 25, 2019
3.5 Stars
I read Two Blondes by Charlaine Harris, in which Pam and Sookie take a sort of working holiday. Boy, oh boy is it a) hilarious, b) fucking disgusting. I know this series is on the violent side, but the image of someone ... PUKE. I enjoyed it, though, because of Pam. I'm always up for more Pam. It's just a shame that rather than Harris focusing on this interesting character and her potential for such humour, we instead have to focus on melodrama, politicking and Sookie the Walking Disaster Magnet.
I read Two Blondes by Charlaine Harris, in which Pam and Sookie take a sort of working holiday. Boy, oh boy is it a) hilarious, b) fucking disgusting. I know this series is on the violent side, but the image of someone ... PUKE. I enjoyed it, though, because of Pam. I'm always up for more Pam. It's just a shame that rather than Harris focusing on this interesting character and her potential for such humour, we instead have to focus on melodrama, politicking and Sookie the Walking Disaster Magnet.
March 1, 2023
Two Blondes by Charlaine Harris: (3.5 stars)
(Sookie Stackhouse, #10.1)
I actually liked this Sookie novella better than some others I've read. I have only read the first Sookie book and I didn't like it that much so didn't continue the series. But, I may in the future.
In this story Sookie and her vampire friend Pam go on a vacay to Las Vegas. They have a little errand to do for Eric though while they're there, so it's not all fun and games. When the errand they have to do gets a little crazy, they have to do some things they never thought they'd end up doing -- like auditioning to become strippers.
This was actually kind of fun and I was teetering between 3.5 and 4 stars. I really probably only gave it 3.5 because I'm still leery of the Sookie world in general. But, I must say that I liked Sookie in this story MUCH more than I did in the first book, so perhaps her character has evolved and gotten better throughout the series? I'm not sure, but it's made me curious to look into it more and perhaps pick the series back up.
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The Boys Go Fishing by Sarah Smith: (2.5 stars)
This is a story about superheros. However, the time of superheros has kind of passed and Green (a.k.a. Bill) is all alone. He is immortal so he doesn't age or die naturally, but he has watched his friends, immortal and mortal, die throughout his life. He is old and bitter, and more than anything, he wants to die and pass on from this life. He is then approached by a woman named Lan who asks him to help her with some Talents (people with extra abilities). He refuses at first, but eventually gives in.
This was an interesting concept. I'm not really into the whole superhero thing, but it seemed like it could have been an interesting story. However, her writing style was a little hard to visualize at times and I found myself a little confused by some of the story. I probably won't be reading anything by this author anytime soon, but it was kind of an interesting, albeit a little confusing, story.
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One for the Money by Jeaniene Frost: (5 stars)
(Night Huntress, #4.5)
This story was the reason I picked up this anthology. First off, I want to mention that if you're a Night Huntress fan and like to read the series and it's spinoff, Night Huntress World, in order, this novella actually comes before the first two books in the Night Huntress World series. It was published after, but for some reason it takes place before -- based on the events that happen in this one and the two spinoff books.
In this story Cat and Bones are hired by her uncle Don to protect a human female named Tammy. This totally interrupts their planned vacation, but they agree to it anyways. Tammy is annoying and is constantly "channeling her inner Paris Hilton", but what makes it even more interesting is that the hideout they planned on staying at, Cat's old house, turns out not to be empty. When they get there, none other than Cat's mom, who hates Bones, is there. Talk about a full house!
I thought this was really good! Although the new book is out and I have yet to read it, it was still nice to be able to see Bones and Cat fighting side by side once more and happy again. After the last book, Destined for an Early Grave, it's nice to see. I thought this was really fun and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It also gave me a new found appreciation for Cat's mom. Although I'm still not her biggest fan, I like her a lot more after this story. Overall a great read if you're a Night Huntress fan!
Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea by Daniel Stashower: (3.5 stars)
This story was a bit different than the others in the anthology. It sort of doesn't fit at first, but by the end you realize why it's in the anthology. I've never read anything by Daniel Stashower, but I liked his writing style for the most part.
In this story a man named Jeff gets a job at a publisher as a fact checker. The strangest thing about this new job is a man named Thaddeus Palgrave. He is a very strange man who has a lot of mystery surrounding him -- including what might have happened to the person who used to have Jeff's job.
Overall this was really different from what I'm used to reading, but I liked a lot of it. I liked the subtle and dry sense of humor and the mystery. The only thing preventing me from giving this four stars was that it was still a little confusing. They never really explain what Thaddeus is exactly and I'm curious to know.
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The Innsmouth Nook by A. Lee Martinez: (4 stars)
This is about a couple of guys (who are totally straight -- they swear) that open up a B&B in the small town where Phillip's great grandparents used to live. The town is quite strange and the people in it even stranger. When they find out what secrets the town has in store, they realize they've gotten more than they bargained for with this B&B idea.
This is really actually pretty funny. I found myself laughing out loud at many moments and it was refreshing to read something light and fun for a change. This is a new author for me, but it's kind of a different genre than I usually go for. It's kind of humorous paranormal fiction, sort of making fun of paranormal fiction in general. But, I liked his writing, it was funny and different and I could definitely see myself reading more by him.
Favorite Quote:
Philip laid his head on the table and thought about it for awhile. "So eight percent gay?"
"Remember that week you went around humming, 'Hello, Dolly'?"
"That's worth eight percent?"
"That, and the fact that you did want to open a bed-and-breakfast. Even I had my doubts when I first heard you mention the idea."
"Bed-and-breakfasts are not an innately gay enterprise," countered Philip.
Safe and Sound by Jeff Abbott: (3.5 stars)
This is a story about a young man named Jason Kirk who is missing. He was last seen on a small island on vacation with his parents. Nora Dare is covering the story, but she seems to be taking things a little too far. When she drags Jason Kirk's parents back to the island where he was last seen, she's in for a few surprises.
This was kind of good. The beginning was a bit slow, but I liked the ending a lot. I hated the main character Nora, she was really annoying and a total bitch. Overall though it was pretty interesting and the ending made up for Nora. :) I might check out more by this author in the future.
Seeing is Believing by L.A. Banks: (2 stars)
This is about a girl named Jessica, who is psychic. There's been killings in the city she lives in -- strange killings that look like people have been eaten. When she tells the police what she knows based on her psychic abilities, they don't believe her. So, she must go to New Orleans to take matters into her own hands. While there she meets Justin and his grandma, who help her with her task.
I didn't really like this at all. It was a bit dry and boring. But the thing that really bugged me the most was the language. I get that the main characters are African American and that's fine, I have no problem with that. But the language was a mixture of down south and hip hop kind of slang. Not all African American's speak like that and I found it kind of hard to read because of that. In addition, the POV between Jessica and Justin would randomly change without the warning of a divider or space and it was confusing as hell. I also thought the end was a bit lacking and could have used a bit more closure as well. I don't think I'll be reading more by this author anytime soon.
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The Perils of Effrijim by Katie MacAlister: (4.5 stars)
(Aisling Grey: Guardian, #4.5)
This is a story about a demon named Effrijim (a.k.a. Jim). He is guarded by Aisling, but when Aisling and Drake go on a vacay, they allow Jim to take a vacation too. But, before he's able to really enjoy himself, a series of events cause him to not only miss out on his vacation, but run around all over the place trying to get out of trouble he seems to keep falling into.
Loved this! I have the Aisling Grey series on my to-read list, so this was a nice preview of that. I've heard it's light and fun reads, and that's what this was. It's really funny, I laughed a lot, and Jim was a really likable and hilarious character. I'm really looking forward to reading this series now!
Thin Walls by Christopher Golden: (4 stars)
This is about a man named Tim who is staying in a hotel. He's on a vacation going to the places him and his late wife used to go to in her memory. However, one night he is awakened by the sound of heavy lovemaking in the room next door. The walls are so thin that it almost seems like they are right there in his room. He tries to resist listening, but he eventually fails and eavesdrops the hell out of it. When he meets the woman who's voice he heard the night before on the balcony the next morning, he realizes he may be in for more than he bargained for.
I thought this was pretty good! I've never read anything by this author before, but this was really sexy, but had a really interesting twist at the end. I thought I had it figured out, but it ended up being quite a bit different than I thought it would in the end. This story sucked me in from page one, so I definitely think I will look into more from this author.
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The Heart is Always Right by Lilith Saintcrow: (3 stars)
This is about a gargoyle who has a bit of a crush on a girl that works at EvilMart (hmm, wonder which store that's referring to lol). Anyways, one night when she's checking him out (his items, not him), he follows her out to her car to make sure she gets there safe. But she doesn't, she attacked by other creatures from the "Big Bad" and he has to save her. When he finds out she's a candidate for the Heart, he is both intrigued and heartbroken.
This was alright. It was kind of entertaining but like with other Lilith Saintcrow stories I've read, the imagery is blurry and the world she builds in general is also confusing. I've only read short stories by her, but it seems like she doesn't really explain the world and the creatures we're reading about. So, not fully understanding what's going on really gets in the way of enjoying the story. For example, in this one she never really explains what exactly the Heart is. I guess we're just supposed to know. However, I did like this better than other shorts I've read by her and it was entertaining enough.
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The Demon in the Dunes by Chris Grabenstein: (4 stars)
This is about a man named Dave who is reminiscing about the summer of 1975 when him and his friends went out to the dunes to hang out with three totally out of their league college girls. It was where he met Brenda. He's not sure why this summer is coming back to him, being that it's been so long since it happened and is a distant memory now. But, for some reason tonight it is.
This was awesome! It's entertaining, but the thing that is best about this is the ending. I didn't expect it at all! I'm truly impressed and it's made me very curious about more of this author's work.
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Home From America by Sharan Newman: (2.5 stars)
This is about a man named Patrick who is Irish by heritage, but lives in America. He longs to go see Ireland -- for he's never been -- but his family strangely doesn't want anything to do with their heritage. Then one day they get a letter about a family reunion in Ireland and all of a sudden, the entire clan is excited to go back. So he get's his wish to go see his homeland. However, when he gets there, he's in for some big surprises.
I thought this was a pretty cool concept. It's very different from a lot of paranormal stories I've read so I've got to hand it to her for originality. However, I was a little bummed by the ending. Sometimes I like endings like this and get a little (sick and twisted) giggle over them, but this time it just made me feel sad and empty. I didn't like it. So I'm probably not going to go out searching for more stuff by this author, but I didn't hate her writing either.
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Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park by Toni L.P. Kelner: (5 stars)
Other than the Night Huntress novella (which I'm kind of biased towards), this was my favorite short in this anthology! It's about a woman named Joyce who's a newly turned werewolf. She's still kind of getting used to it so she decides to take a vacation back to where she used to go as a kid -- Pirate Dave's Amusement Park. She always kind of had a crush on Pirate Dave so she's curious if the new version of him still looks just as good.
This was so much fun! I enjoyed this story immensely. It was funny and witty and I really loved both the main characters. I also didn't solve the mystery and was a bit surprised by it.
Favorite Quote:
Then he picked up a power drill from one of the workbenches. "I understand you heal quickly, but I wager that this would still hurt."
"It would if you had an extension cord," I pointed out.
(Sookie Stackhouse, #10.1)
I actually liked this Sookie novella better than some others I've read. I have only read the first Sookie book and I didn't like it that much so didn't continue the series. But, I may in the future.
In this story Sookie and her vampire friend Pam go on a vacay to Las Vegas. They have a little errand to do for Eric though while they're there, so it's not all fun and games. When the errand they have to do gets a little crazy, they have to do some things they never thought they'd end up doing -- like auditioning to become strippers.
This was actually kind of fun and I was teetering between 3.5 and 4 stars. I really probably only gave it 3.5 because I'm still leery of the Sookie world in general. But, I must say that I liked Sookie in this story MUCH more than I did in the first book, so perhaps her character has evolved and gotten better throughout the series? I'm not sure, but it's made me curious to look into it more and perhaps pick the series back up.
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The Boys Go Fishing by Sarah Smith: (2.5 stars)
This is a story about superheros. However, the time of superheros has kind of passed and Green (a.k.a. Bill) is all alone. He is immortal so he doesn't age or die naturally, but he has watched his friends, immortal and mortal, die throughout his life. He is old and bitter, and more than anything, he wants to die and pass on from this life. He is then approached by a woman named Lan who asks him to help her with some Talents (people with extra abilities). He refuses at first, but eventually gives in.
This was an interesting concept. I'm not really into the whole superhero thing, but it seemed like it could have been an interesting story. However, her writing style was a little hard to visualize at times and I found myself a little confused by some of the story. I probably won't be reading anything by this author anytime soon, but it was kind of an interesting, albeit a little confusing, story.
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One for the Money by Jeaniene Frost: (5 stars)
(Night Huntress, #4.5)
This story was the reason I picked up this anthology. First off, I want to mention that if you're a Night Huntress fan and like to read the series and it's spinoff, Night Huntress World, in order, this novella actually comes before the first two books in the Night Huntress World series. It was published after, but for some reason it takes place before -- based on the events that happen in this one and the two spinoff books.
In this story Cat and Bones are hired by her uncle Don to protect a human female named Tammy. This totally interrupts their planned vacation, but they agree to it anyways. Tammy is annoying and is constantly "channeling her inner Paris Hilton", but what makes it even more interesting is that the hideout they planned on staying at, Cat's old house, turns out not to be empty. When they get there, none other than Cat's mom, who hates Bones, is there. Talk about a full house!
I thought this was really good! Although the new book is out and I have yet to read it, it was still nice to be able to see Bones and Cat fighting side by side once more and happy again. After the last book, Destined for an Early Grave, it's nice to see. I thought this was really fun and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It also gave me a new found appreciation for Cat's mom. Although I'm still not her biggest fan, I like her a lot more after this story. Overall a great read if you're a Night Huntress fan!
Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea by Daniel Stashower: (3.5 stars)
This story was a bit different than the others in the anthology. It sort of doesn't fit at first, but by the end you realize why it's in the anthology. I've never read anything by Daniel Stashower, but I liked his writing style for the most part.
In this story a man named Jeff gets a job at a publisher as a fact checker. The strangest thing about this new job is a man named Thaddeus Palgrave. He is a very strange man who has a lot of mystery surrounding him -- including what might have happened to the person who used to have Jeff's job.
Overall this was really different from what I'm used to reading, but I liked a lot of it. I liked the subtle and dry sense of humor and the mystery. The only thing preventing me from giving this four stars was that it was still a little confusing. They never really explain what Thaddeus is exactly and I'm curious to know.
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The Innsmouth Nook by A. Lee Martinez: (4 stars)
This is about a couple of guys (who are totally straight -- they swear) that open up a B&B in the small town where Phillip's great grandparents used to live. The town is quite strange and the people in it even stranger. When they find out what secrets the town has in store, they realize they've gotten more than they bargained for with this B&B idea.
This is really actually pretty funny. I found myself laughing out loud at many moments and it was refreshing to read something light and fun for a change. This is a new author for me, but it's kind of a different genre than I usually go for. It's kind of humorous paranormal fiction, sort of making fun of paranormal fiction in general. But, I liked his writing, it was funny and different and I could definitely see myself reading more by him.
Favorite Quote:
Philip laid his head on the table and thought about it for awhile. "So eight percent gay?"
"Remember that week you went around humming, 'Hello, Dolly'?"
"That's worth eight percent?"
"That, and the fact that you did want to open a bed-and-breakfast. Even I had my doubts when I first heard you mention the idea."
"Bed-and-breakfasts are not an innately gay enterprise," countered Philip.
Safe and Sound by Jeff Abbott: (3.5 stars)
This is a story about a young man named Jason Kirk who is missing. He was last seen on a small island on vacation with his parents. Nora Dare is covering the story, but she seems to be taking things a little too far. When she drags Jason Kirk's parents back to the island where he was last seen, she's in for a few surprises.
This was kind of good. The beginning was a bit slow, but I liked the ending a lot. I hated the main character Nora, she was really annoying and a total bitch. Overall though it was pretty interesting and the ending made up for Nora. :) I might check out more by this author in the future.
Seeing is Believing by L.A. Banks: (2 stars)
This is about a girl named Jessica, who is psychic. There's been killings in the city she lives in -- strange killings that look like people have been eaten. When she tells the police what she knows based on her psychic abilities, they don't believe her. So, she must go to New Orleans to take matters into her own hands. While there she meets Justin and his grandma, who help her with her task.
I didn't really like this at all. It was a bit dry and boring. But the thing that really bugged me the most was the language. I get that the main characters are African American and that's fine, I have no problem with that. But the language was a mixture of down south and hip hop kind of slang. Not all African American's speak like that and I found it kind of hard to read because of that. In addition, the POV between Jessica and Justin would randomly change without the warning of a divider or space and it was confusing as hell. I also thought the end was a bit lacking and could have used a bit more closure as well. I don't think I'll be reading more by this author anytime soon.
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The Perils of Effrijim by Katie MacAlister: (4.5 stars)
(Aisling Grey: Guardian, #4.5)
This is a story about a demon named Effrijim (a.k.a. Jim). He is guarded by Aisling, but when Aisling and Drake go on a vacay, they allow Jim to take a vacation too. But, before he's able to really enjoy himself, a series of events cause him to not only miss out on his vacation, but run around all over the place trying to get out of trouble he seems to keep falling into.
Loved this! I have the Aisling Grey series on my to-read list, so this was a nice preview of that. I've heard it's light and fun reads, and that's what this was. It's really funny, I laughed a lot, and Jim was a really likable and hilarious character. I'm really looking forward to reading this series now!
Thin Walls by Christopher Golden: (4 stars)
This is about a man named Tim who is staying in a hotel. He's on a vacation going to the places him and his late wife used to go to in her memory. However, one night he is awakened by the sound of heavy lovemaking in the room next door. The walls are so thin that it almost seems like they are right there in his room. He tries to resist listening, but he eventually fails and eavesdrops the hell out of it. When he meets the woman who's voice he heard the night before on the balcony the next morning, he realizes he may be in for more than he bargained for.
I thought this was pretty good! I've never read anything by this author before, but this was really sexy, but had a really interesting twist at the end. I thought I had it figured out, but it ended up being quite a bit different than I thought it would in the end. This story sucked me in from page one, so I definitely think I will look into more from this author.
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The Heart is Always Right by Lilith Saintcrow: (3 stars)
This is about a gargoyle who has a bit of a crush on a girl that works at EvilMart (hmm, wonder which store that's referring to lol). Anyways, one night when she's checking him out (his items, not him), he follows her out to her car to make sure she gets there safe. But she doesn't, she attacked by other creatures from the "Big Bad" and he has to save her. When he finds out she's a candidate for the Heart, he is both intrigued and heartbroken.
This was alright. It was kind of entertaining but like with other Lilith Saintcrow stories I've read, the imagery is blurry and the world she builds in general is also confusing. I've only read short stories by her, but it seems like she doesn't really explain the world and the creatures we're reading about. So, not fully understanding what's going on really gets in the way of enjoying the story. For example, in this one she never really explains what exactly the Heart is. I guess we're just supposed to know. However, I did like this better than other shorts I've read by her and it was entertaining enough.
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The Demon in the Dunes by Chris Grabenstein: (4 stars)
This is about a man named Dave who is reminiscing about the summer of 1975 when him and his friends went out to the dunes to hang out with three totally out of their league college girls. It was where he met Brenda. He's not sure why this summer is coming back to him, being that it's been so long since it happened and is a distant memory now. But, for some reason tonight it is.
This was awesome! It's entertaining, but the thing that is best about this is the ending. I didn't expect it at all! I'm truly impressed and it's made me very curious about more of this author's work.
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Home From America by Sharan Newman: (2.5 stars)
This is about a man named Patrick who is Irish by heritage, but lives in America. He longs to go see Ireland -- for he's never been -- but his family strangely doesn't want anything to do with their heritage. Then one day they get a letter about a family reunion in Ireland and all of a sudden, the entire clan is excited to go back. So he get's his wish to go see his homeland. However, when he gets there, he's in for some big surprises.
I thought this was a pretty cool concept. It's very different from a lot of paranormal stories I've read so I've got to hand it to her for originality. However, I was a little bummed by the ending. Sometimes I like endings like this and get a little (sick and twisted) giggle over them, but this time it just made me feel sad and empty. I didn't like it. So I'm probably not going to go out searching for more stuff by this author, but I didn't hate her writing either.
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Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park by Toni L.P. Kelner: (5 stars)
Other than the Night Huntress novella (which I'm kind of biased towards), this was my favorite short in this anthology! It's about a woman named Joyce who's a newly turned werewolf. She's still kind of getting used to it so she decides to take a vacation back to where she used to go as a kid -- Pirate Dave's Amusement Park. She always kind of had a crush on Pirate Dave so she's curious if the new version of him still looks just as good.
This was so much fun! I enjoyed this story immensely. It was funny and witty and I really loved both the main characters. I also didn't solve the mystery and was a bit surprised by it.
Favorite Quote:
Then he picked up a power drill from one of the workbenches. "I understand you heal quickly, but I wager that this would still hurt."
"It would if you had an extension cord," I pointed out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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