Book #9 - The Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame-Smith
This book was so fun to read! It's completely fiction (or is it?:)) but it is the account of a vampire named Henry (the same one I met in Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Killer) and his involvement in several events throughout the course of history. Henry was part of the lost colony of Roanoke and suffered the tragedy of losing the love of his life and being changed into a vampire. Henry adjusts to his immortal life and joins a group of vampires called the Union. He is then given the task of hunting down probably the most evil and dangerous of all vampires by the mysterious name of A. Grander VIII. Henry's quest to find this horrible vampire takes us around the world and gives us a different look at the history of 20th century America. It's pretty gory in some parts (it's really hard to kill a vampire) but is also filled with humor and appearances by several historic figures including Arthur Conan Doyle, Nikola Tesla, and a few presidents. Henry eventually tracks down A. Grander VIII and there is an exciting twist at the climax when it is revealed who that murderous vampires is. I found myself cheering Henry on in hopes that he would come out victorious. It was hard for me to put down.
Book #10 - Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
This was a nice change after reading a book about vampires. Winter Garden is about two sisters, Meredith and Nina, that are as different as night and day and their relationship with their mother, Anya. When their father becomes ill, the sisters are reunited and find that their distant and cold mother offers no comfort. Their only warm memory that includes their mother is her fairy tales she used to tell them when they were children. One story Anya tells never finds a conclusion, and the girls' father makes her promise to finish the fairy tale for them. Anya reluctantly agrees. Little by little, Anya reveals more of the story and the girls soon realize why their bond with their mother has been so broken. The truth about Anya's past brings the daughters closer together and softens their hearts towards their mother. The pace of the book is slow but the story is beautiful. I have a sister myself and there were times where I felt I could really relate to Meredith and Nina. I was hopeful the family would find a happy ending to Anya's fairy tale and it didn't disappoint.
Book #11 - In the Woods by Tana French
In the Woods beings with three children playing in the woods beside their neighborhood. Something they did often. One day, two of the children go missing and the third is found alone, standing in shoes filled with blood, and no memory of what has happened. I was intrigued! When another girl is killed in the same woods, 20 or so years later, Detectives Rob Ryan and his partner/best friend, Cassie Maddox, are put on the case. They investigate to solve the girl's murder, but Detective Ryan finds himself also searching his mysterious past to find out what happened to the children in the woods years earlier. Unlike other mysteries I've read, this one wasn't a page turner for me. I wanted to find out what happens but the author used a lot of big words in her descriptions and I had a hard time following the story. I also couldn't really bring myself to root for the characters in this book. They were likable enough, but a little boring. Once I finished the book, I was a bit unsatisfied with the ending. I still had a lot of questions.
This was a nice change after reading a book about vampires. Winter Garden is about two sisters, Meredith and Nina, that are as different as night and day and their relationship with their mother, Anya. When their father becomes ill, the sisters are reunited and find that their distant and cold mother offers no comfort. Their only warm memory that includes their mother is her fairy tales she used to tell them when they were children. One story Anya tells never finds a conclusion, and the girls' father makes her promise to finish the fairy tale for them. Anya reluctantly agrees. Little by little, Anya reveals more of the story and the girls soon realize why their bond with their mother has been so broken. The truth about Anya's past brings the daughters closer together and softens their hearts towards their mother. The pace of the book is slow but the story is beautiful. I have a sister myself and there were times where I felt I could really relate to Meredith and Nina. I was hopeful the family would find a happy ending to Anya's fairy tale and it didn't disappoint.Book #11 - In the Woods by Tana French
In the Woods beings with three children playing in the woods beside their neighborhood. Something they did often. One day, two of the children go missing and the third is found alone, standing in shoes filled with blood, and no memory of what has happened. I was intrigued! When another girl is killed in the same woods, 20 or so years later, Detectives Rob Ryan and his partner/best friend, Cassie Maddox, are put on the case. They investigate to solve the girl's murder, but Detective Ryan finds himself also searching his mysterious past to find out what happened to the children in the woods years earlier. Unlike other mysteries I've read, this one wasn't a page turner for me. I wanted to find out what happens but the author used a lot of big words in her descriptions and I had a hard time following the story. I also couldn't really bring myself to root for the characters in this book. They were likable enough, but a little boring. Once I finished the book, I was a bit unsatisfied with the ending. I still had a lot of questions.
