No Humans Involved (Women of the Otherworld # 7) by Kelley Armstrong

The seventh book in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series focuses on Jamie Vegas.  Jamie is a necromancer but pays the bills with her day job as a psychic medium.  Wanting to get some exposure, Jaime joins two other spiritualist for a reality TV show.  The show is filmed in Marilyn Monroe's house to attempt to raise the dead actress's ghost.

Marilyn's house is haunted but not by the actress.  Jamie encounters strange entities in the garden she believes are children trapped between two planes. Jamie is determined to help these children and find out what happened to them and to prove her worth in the supernatural world.

In No Humans Involved we read about the relationship with Jamie and Jeremy and get a little better insight to Jamie.  She is very self-conscience and awkward and constantly looking for approval and reassurance. 

No Humans Involved has a pretty good storyline.  You get a better understanding of how non-supernaturals fit into the supernatural world.  There isn't a lot of action but enough to keep it interesting.

A Night at the Circus

Hey There Reading Grove Followers,

I know, Tessa and I have been MIA for a few weeks but y'all know how it is.  One thing lead to another and before I knew it I had neglected the blog for 3 weeks.

Anyway, both Tessa and I were able to find the time to read Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Its a fabulous book but, I think its better for a potential reader to begin the book without any preconceived ideas so, I'm not going to give a review.  Just know that it has an original storyline with a beautifully written setting.

Tessa and I loved the book so much we decided to attend a signing at our favorite indie book store, Murder by the Book.  We had a wonderful time and learned that Night Circus has been optioned for a movie so be on the look out. 

Upcoming: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Earlier this month Erin Morgenstern's highly-anticipated novel The Night Circus was released.  Thankfully, it appears that thus far Morgenstern's debut is living up to all the anticipation that has been building around this novel for months.  Among its accolades thus far, The Night Circus, is included on Amazon's Best Books of the Month list and is already #2 on The New York Times Best Seller's list.  I think part of its appeal is the variety it seems to offer readers.  Reviews range from those enthralled by the magical aspect of the book to those enticed by its mystery and romance.  Overall, it seems the common ground is that Morgenstern has created a masterpiece that truly draws the reader into the story through her descriptive, narrative talents.  Suffice to say, those of us at The Reading Grove are very excited to enjoy this adventure ourselves.  We also have plans to attend a discussion with the author in October and look forward to sharing that experience with all of you, as well.  Stay tuned for the full review next month on The Reading Grove!

My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

Angel Crawford has been dealt a bad hand in life. Her mother committed suicide and her father is a drunk.  And how does Angel cope?  By dropping out of high school and getting drunk and high herself. She is on a fast track to nowhere. Until she gets a second chance...as a zombie. 

Did you know zombies are the new vampires?  My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland is the first in the new series White Trash Zombie and is the first zombie book I have read.  It wasn't too gruesome and had lots of mystery.  Angel isn't a mindless flesh-eating machine, although, it seems to take her awhile to figure things out that are pretty apparent to the reader.  My Life as a White Trash Zombie is a good start to a new series and I can't wait for the next installment.

Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost

The Night Huntress Series features Cat who is half vampire-half human.  She was born to a mother who was raped by a newly turned vampire.  Cat's sole purpose in life is to avenge her mother's rape and kill all those evil blood suckers.  On one of the nightly hunts for vampires Cat meets Bones.  Bones is a vampire bounty hunter and recruits Cat to help him bring down the unruly undead.

The Night Huntress Series was on my wish list for quite a long time. Boy was that a mistake.  I should have started this series a long time ago.  There are currently five books in this series, Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, At Graves End, Destined for an Early Grave, and This Side of the Grave.  Once I started the series I couldn't put it down.  I was able to read one right after the other.  All the characters in the Night Huntress Series are brilliant.  There is even an appearance from Vlad the Impaler.  I am impatiently awaiting One Grave at a Time due out August 30, 2011. 

Redux: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Diana Bishop is a historian of science.  Sounds boring, right?  Did I forget to mention she is also a witch?  Well, she's not a very good witch.  She has attempted to live her life as a human, not using any magic.  During her research Diana unknowingly request a bewitched alchemical manuscript at Oxford's Bodleian Library.  Wanting nothing to do with the magic Diana sends the manuscript back to the stacks.  But the fact that Diana summoned this long lost manuscript sends the underworld into a tizzy. Every creature wants their hands on it.

A Discovery of Witches is the first book in the All Souls Trilogy.  Co-blogger Tessa has also reviewed A Discovery of Witches (See Tessa's review).  I completely agree with her review.  This book grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go.  Its got a little bit of everything; witches, vampires, demons, romance, suspense, history.  You name its in there.  If you don't read this book you are missing out.

Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #4) by Chloe Neill

It is really, really difficult for me to write a review of Hard Bitten without spoilers but I'm going to try my best. 

Vampires and shifters have been outed to the general public.  Now its time to deal with the repercussions.  To make matters worse, a drug used by vampires is circulating the vampire houses that lowers their inhibitions making them aggressive and dangerous.  Merit needs to calm the natives, find out where the vampire drugs are coming from and decided what to do about Ethan. 

Ethan is the Master of Merit's house.  Their relationship has run hot and cold from the beginning.  As far as Merit is concerned the last time Ethan broke her heart was the last time.  But Ethan is persistent and Merit's resolve is wavering. 

Hard Bitten was excellent.  There was a twist at the end I was not expecting.  I can't wait to read Drink Deep due out November 1st to find out what happens next.

Bite Club (The Morganville Vampires #10) by Rachel Caine

ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE??? A vampire run gym opens in Morganville and Shane can't wait to join for martial arts training.   But the more time Shane spends at the gym the weirder he acts.  When Clarie decides to go check things out she discovers that humans are pitted against vampires in mixed martial arts style fighting.  You would think with vampire strength humans would be no match but something isn't right.  Shane is unusually strong and very aggressive.  Is it roid-rage or something else?

Bite Club is not my favorite in the series.  While there is a lot of action and you get a better understanding of Shane it is still missing something.  This makes me sad because I don't think there are many books left in the series. 

A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness

I have to confess that I am not someone who jumps on the bandwagon of monster bestsellers.  I often find myself disappointed in some of those that get the most hype.  But, in some cases I am just plain wrong (don't get used to that statement).  A Discovery of Witches provided a unique and refreshing look into the world of witches and vampires.  Descended from a long line of powerful witches, Dr. Diana Bishop has rejected magic her whole life.  Instead, Dr. Bishop spent her life entrenched in academia, until one day her research uncovers a magical manuscript.  This discovery holds the potential to unlock answers that could completely disrupt the magical world.  Unfortunately for Bishop, every creature seems to realize what she has found and she finds herself unable to escape her magical identity any longer.  Luckily she seems to have a very powerful friend on her side by way of Matthew Clairmont.  The book is loaded with simple details that bring the story to life, right down to Clarimont's use of a classic Montblanc writing utensil.  Dr. Deborah Harkness did not just write another story about the supernatural; instead she created an intellectual powerhouse of a book.  A Discovery of Witches is historical, scientific, and fantastic.             

New Poll: Favorite TV Show Based on a Book Series

This weekend marks a very exciting occasion.  No, I do not think I will win the lottery or solve world peace.  My announcement is even bigger than that (insert eye roll here).  This weekend marks the start of Season Four of True Blood!  The show is based on the Sookie Stackhouse book series by Charlaine Harris.  This had me thinking, what is your favorite TV show that began as a book series?  Scroll down to the bottom of the page and take the poll to show us what you think.  Leave us a comment if your favorite is not on the list.

Broken (Women of the Otherworld #6) by Kelley Armstrong

Elena is going stir crazy. Why?  Her pack mates won't let her leave their sight.  Elena is the only known female werewolf and she is pregnant.  That can be dangerous in the supernatural world.

However, work must go on and she is needed to retrieve a letter that is believed to be written by Jack the Ripper.  The job seems easy and would provide a much needed distraction.  Who would have thought the letter contains a portal that releases zombies, cholera, typhus and possibly Jack the Ripper himself.  Anything that can go wrong does as the pack attempts to close the portal and set the city of Toronto right.

 Broken is not the best of the Women of the Otherworld series but still worth the read.    

The Cassandra Palmer Series by Karen Chance

Mages, Vampires, Clairvoyants - Oh My!  In quick succession this year, I have knocked out the first three books in Karen Chance's fast-paced fantasy series starring clairvoyant Cassandra Palmer.  Having spent her childhood living in the world of vampires Palmer finds herself in hiding from those who once protected her.  The first three books in the series, Touch the Dark, Claimed by Shadow, and Embrace the Night, focus on events surrounding Palmer's reentry into the supernatural community.  Her growing powers make her a target to...well, pretty much everyone.  With the help of war mages, fey, vampires, and even stars of Greek mythology, Ms. Chance welcomes her readers into a world where the possibilities seem endless.  Fans of Kim Harrison, Kelly Armstrong, Jeaniene Frost, and the early years of Laurell Hamilton will really enjoy this series.