Sookie Stackhouse 8-copy Boxed Set (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is no typical Southern belle. She can read minds. And she’s got a thing for vampires. Which, in a town like Bon Temps, Louisiana, means she’ll have to watch her back—and neck… This title will be released on September 29, 2009.

Includes:

• Dead Until Dark
• Living Dead in Dallas
• Club Dead
• Dead to the World
• Dead as a Doornail
• Definitely Dead
• All Together Dead
• From Dead to Worse

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A Touch of Dead (Sookie Stackhouse)

A Touch of Dead, a compilation of previously published Sookie Stackhouse stories, will be on the shelves on Oct. 6, 2009.

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Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9)

Telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse braces herself for trouble when another group of supernatural beings goes public in her disjointed eighth adventure (after 2008′s From Dead to Worse). Following the vampires’ lead, the shape-shifters decide to step out of the woodwork and announce their existence to the world.

While the initial reveal goes smoothly, the brutal crucifixion of a young werepanther behind the local bar makes Sookie wonder if the people of Bon Temps, La., are as tolerant as she thought. Meanwhile, the FBI is asking questions about Sookie’s uncanny ability to locate survivors after an explosion, and trouble is brewing among the secretive fae. Harris tries to cram too much into a single story, and even die-hard fans of Sookie’s adventures in print and on HBO’s True Blood will complain about the plot gaps. (May)
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Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9) Review

After reading the negative reviews on Amazon site, I could only think of one thing… People, stop over analyzing this book and series. As readers, we need to be open to the author’s vision, not our desire for the story line. Dead and Gone is a purposeful book that moves the story line along as the author wants to tell the story. The Sookie series is an entertaining fantasy/mystery that is meant to be enjoyed, not poured over looking for inconsistency and minutiae. Enjoy this series for what it is and not what you ‘want’ it to be and you will have a wonderful time!

I have read all the books and just finished in the newest one in one evening.
Its entertaining, sassy, dark, a little scary, sexy and downright enjoyable. Read the book and be taken away for a few hours into another world. This book will not disappoint and you may even find yourself eagerly awaiting the next installment.

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Angels & Demons: A Novel (Robert Langdon)

It takes guts to write a novel that combines an ancient secret brotherhood, the Swiss Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, a papal conclave, mysterious ambigrams, a plot against the Vatican, a mad scientist in a wheelchair, particles of antimatter, jets that can travel 15,000 miles per hour, crafty assassins, a beautiful Italian physicist, and a Harvard professor of religious iconology. It takes talent to make that novel anything but ridiculous. Kudos to Dan Brown (Digital Fortress) for achieving the nearly impossible. Angels & Demons is a no-holds-barred, pull-out-all-the-stops, breathless tangle of a thriller–think Katherine Neville’s The Eight (but cleverer) or Umberto Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum (but more accessible).

Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is shocked to find proof that the legendary secret society, the Illuminati–dedicated since the time of Galileo to promoting the interests of science and condemning the blind faith of Catholicism–is alive, well, and murderously active. Brilliant physicist Leonardo Vetra has been murdered, his eyes plucked out, and the society’s ancient symbol branded upon his chest. His final discovery, antimatter, the most powerful and dangerous energy source known to man, has disappeared–only to be hidden somewhere beneath Vatican City on the eve of the election of a new pope. Langdon and Vittoria, Vetra’s daughter and colleague, embark on a frantic hunt through the streets, churches, and catacombs of Rome, following a 400-year-old trail to the lair of the Illuminati, to prevent the incineration of civilization.

Brown seems as much juggler as author–there are lots and lots of balls in the air in this novel, yet Brown manages to hurl the reader headlong into an almost surreal suspension of disbelief. While the reader might wish for a little more sardonic humor from Langdon, and a little less bombastic philosophizing on the eternal conflict between religion and science, these are less fatal flaws than niggling annoyances–readers should have no trouble skimming past them and immersing themselves in a heck of a good read. “Brain candy” it may be, but my! It’s tasty. –Kelly Flynn

Angels & Demons: A Novel (Robert Langdon) Review

Next to Britt Gillette’s “Conquest of Paradise”, this is the best book I’ve read in a long time. I’m a first time Dan Brown reader but I’m hooked! I stayed up all night and didn’t quit until I finished, blurry eyed and sleepy. I found myself believing every word and had to stop and remember that it’s just fiction! I was amazed at the inside information about the Vatican (especially the library), and I finally got out a map and books from my trip to Rome to see if I could find all the churches. Anti-matter, illuminati, choosing a pope – all of it was fascinating. When I finished, I had to laugh thinking about the fact they never ate, slept or made comfort stops and neither could I. The ending was a total surprise! Anyone who enjoys non-stop action and information shouldn’t miss this one.

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Deception Point

Penzler Pick, December 2001: In the world of page-turning thrillers, Dan Brown holds a special place in the hearts of many of us. After his first book, Digital Fortress, almost passed me by, he wrote Angels and Demons, which was probably one of the half-dozen most exciting thrillers of last year. It is a pleasure to report that his new book lives up to his reputation as a writer whose research and talent make his stories exciting, believable, and just plain unputdownable.

The time is now and President Zachary Herney is facing a very tough reelection. His opponent, Senator Sedgwick Sexton, is a powerful man with powerful friends and a mission: to reduce NASA’s spending and move space exploration into the private sector. He has numerous supporters, including many beyond the businesses who will profit from this because of the embarrassment of 1996, when the Clinton administration was informed by NASA that proof existed of life on other planets. That information turned out to be premature, if not incorrect. (This story is true; I repeat, Dan Brown’s research is very, very good.) The embattled president is assured that a rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice will prove to have far-reaching implications on America’s space program. The find, however, needs to be verified.

Enter Rachel Sexton, a gister for the National Reconnaissance Office. Gisters reduce complex reports into single-page briefs, and in this case the president needs that confirmation before he broadcasts to the nation, probably ensuring his reelection. It’s tricky because Rachel is the daughter of his opponent. Rachel is thrilled to be on the team traveling to the Arctic circle. She is a realist about her father’s politics and has little respect for his stand on NASA, but Senator Sexton cannot help but have a problem with her involvement.

Adventure, romance, murder, skullduggery, and nail-biting tension ensue. By the end of Deception Point, the reader will be much better informed about how our space program works and how our politicians react to new information. Bring on the next Dan Brown thriller! –Otto Penzler

Deception Point Review

After becoming familiar with Brown’s religious thrillers, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that ‘Deception Point’ was entirely different–but JUST as much fun. If you enjoy stories about conspiracies that are as big as they come, this story is definitely for YOU. Rachel Sexton works for the Intelligence Community compiling information for the President. The odd twist in this story is that we are coming up on election time and the man poised to snatch the White House from under the feet of current President Zach Herney is none other than Rachel’s own estranged Father, Senator Sedgewick Sexton. It takes some time to figure out who is indeed the bad guys in this tale–and trust me, you will probably be wrong anyway–but finding out certainly IS a great deal of the fun here. Rachel is contacted by the President and asked to confirm for his current staff the existence of a Meteor found near the Top of the World. Not just ANY Meteor, either. At first Rachel is stunned that the President would be so forward and ask this of the daughter of his biggest rival. Senator Sexton has been THE single largest thorn in the side of NASA because of their chronic overspending and multi-billion dollar failures–screw-up’s that have cost the American taxpayers dearly over the years. President Herney has been one of NASA’s biggest supporters, much to his own detriment in the polls lately. Rachel actually HAS been chosen specifically because of her relationship to his rival to make this report. President Herney believes that this discovery will come with a great deal of skepticism, even from his own staff. So who better to make this announcement than the daughter of the man who wants to TAKE the White House from President Herney? Rachel agrees under a few stipulations and is off to an Ice Shelf at the North Pole. This sets the stage for the Mother of ALL Conspiracies, and when you find out the source of WHY it was all hatched, and WHO is behind it, the surprise ought to be rather big (at least it was for me).

Is the Meteorite in fact real, and if not, how could NASA have possibly tricked some of the most brilliant scientific minds of the country? Is the President IN on this possible scandal, or is he a pawn of someone infinitely more devious? And what about Senator Sexton? Is he who he says he is? Are his motives clean and pure, or is he just as bad as those attempting to fraud the world? There are some honest-to-goodness twists & turns you can expect in ‘Deception Point’ and a few genuine surprises along the way. Always fun and actually quite educational about the workings of NASA and it answers the question of why don’t we see more privately funded companies winning contracts to launch into space? Get to know Dan Brown, do it today! You will NOT be disappointed. Highly Recommended.

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The Da Vinci Code

With The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown masterfully concocts an intelligent and lucid thriller that marries the gusto of an international murder mystery with a collection of fascinating esoteria culled from 2,000 years of Western history.

Brown’s latest thriller (after Angels and Demons) is an exhaustively researched page-turner about secret religious societies, ancient coverups and savage vengeance. The action kicks off in modern-day Paris with the murder of the Louvre’s chief curator, whose body is found laid out in symbolic repose at the foot of the Mona Lisa.

Seizing control of the case are Sophie Neveu, a lovely French police cryptologist, and Harvard symbol expert Robert Langdon, reprising his role from Brown’s last book. The two find several puzzling codes at the murder scene, all of which form a treasure map to the fabled Holy Grail. As their search moves from France to England, Neveu and Langdon are confounded by two mysterious groups-the legendary Priory of Sion, a nearly 1,000-year-old secret society whose members have included Botticelli and Isaac Newton, and the conservative Catholic organization Opus Dei. Both have their own reasons for wanting to ensure that the Grail isn’t found. Brown sometimes ladles out too much religious history at the expense of pacing, and Langdon is a hero in desperate need of more chutzpah. Still, Brown has assembled a whopper of a plot that will please both conspiracy buffs and thriller addicts.

The Da Vinci Code Review

I was introduced to the books of author Dan Brown only three weeks ago, but have quickly absorbed all four of his published works. It is easy to see why some are comparing the work of Dan Brown and James BeauSeigneur (THE CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY). Both Brown and BeauSeigneur deal masterfully with the more mysterious features of religion, politics, and science. Both bring to light amazing bits of information, which they weave into the intricate patterns of their stories. Both are highly imaginative and write with a ring of authenticity that makes for a compelling read. While Brown compresses labyrinthine plots into brief time periods to provide page-turning suspense, BeauSeigneur trilogy is of epic proportion, covering several decades. While Brown applies the mysteries of history to the drama of “today,” BeauSeigneur uses both history and prophecy (from perhaps a dozen major world religions) to transport the reader from the world of today, to the very dawning of a new age in a story reminiscent of the scope of Asimov’s classic, FOUNDATION.

One other difference is that BeauSeigneur has taken the novel (pun intended and forgiveness is asked) approach of including footnotes in his books of fiction. By doing so, he all but eliminates the necessity of suspending disbelief. Few authors employ such strong factual grounding as to make footnotes useful, but I believe Brown’s work (and his readers) would benefit from BeauSeigneur’s innovation.

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The Lost Symbol

Dan Brown’s new novel, the eagerly awaited follow-up to his #1 international phenomenon, The Da Vinci Code, which was the bestselling hardcover adult novel of all time with 81 million copies in print worldwide, will be published in the U.S. and Canada by Doubleday on September 15, 2009.

The Lost Symbol will once again feature Dan Brown’s unforgettable protagonist, Robert Langdon.

“The Lost Symbol is a brilliant and compelling thriller. Dan Brown’s prodigious talent for storytelling, infused with history, codes and intrigue, is on full display in this new book. This is one of the most anticipated publications in recent history, and it was well worth the wait,” said Sonny Mehta, Chairman and Editor in Chief of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

Brown’s longtime editor, Jason Kaufman, Vice President and Executive Editor at Doubleday said, “Nothing ever is as it first appears in a Dan Brown novel. This book’s narrative takes place in a twelve-hour period, and from the first page, Dan’s readers will feel the thrill of discovery as they follow Robert Langdon through a masterful and unexpected new landscape. The Lost Symbol is full of surprises.”

“This novel has been a strange and wonderful journey,” said Brown. “Weaving five years of research into the story’s twelve-hour timeframe was an exhilarating challenge. Robert Langdon’s life clearly moves a lot faster than mine.”

“The Lost Symbol” will have a first printing of 5 million copies, and it will once again feature Dan Brown’s unforgettable protagonist, Robert Langdon. Brown’s longtime editor, Jason Kaufman, Vice President and Executive Editor at Doubleday said, “Nothing ever is as it first appears in a Dan Brown novel. This book’s narrative takes place in a twelve-hour period, and from the first page, Dan’s readers will feel the thrill of discovery as they follow Robert Langdon through a masterful and unexpected new landscape. The Lost Symbol is full of surprises.”

Dan Brown’s popularity continues to grow. The film of The Da Vinci Code was a #1 box office smash when it was released by Columbia Pictures in May 2006 with Ron Howard directing and Tom Hanks starring as Robert Langdon. Box office receipts were $758 million. The same team will release Angels and Demons theatrically worldwide on May 15, 2009.

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The Apostle: A Thriller

Every politician has a secret. And when the daughter of a politically-connected family is kidnapped abroad, America’s new president will agree to anything – even a deadly and ill-advised rescue plan – in order to keep his secret hidden.

“The Apostle: A Thriller” Master of suspense and #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor returns with his most riveting international thriller yet.

A new administration and a new approach to dealing with America’s enemies have left covert counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath without a job. But when American doctor Julia Gallo is kidnapped in Afghanistan, the terms of her ransom leave the president with only one course of action.

In a dangerous assignment that the United States government will deny any knowledge of, Scot Harvath must secretly infiltrate Kabul’s notorious Policharki Prison and free the man the kidnappers demand as ransom – al-Qaeda mastermind, Mustafa Khan.

But when Harvath arrives, he quickly learns that there is more to the kidnapping than anyone dares to admit. And as the subterfuge is laid bare, Harvath must examine his own career of hunting down and killing terrorists, and ask himself if he has what it takes to help one of the world’s worst go free.

Brimming with the kind of ripped-from-the-headlines authenticity Brad Thor’s internationally bestselling novels are known for, The Apostle doubles down on the blockbuster success of The Last Patriot and reaffirms Thor’s status as the master of the political thriller.

The Apostle: A Thriller Review

Stephen King once said that “hell was spending eternity reading Danielle Steel novels”. If that is indeed the case then let me say that “heaven is eternity reading Brad Thor novels”. A little dramatic? Maybe. But if you’ve read anything by Mr. Thor then you understand exactly where I’m coming from. If you haven’t… well I pity your life. (not really).

I love how Thor brings in current headlines and issues that we have a country and weaves them brilliantly into the storyline. I actually laughed when he talked about a “president who promised change”,his administration and their asinine policies that just decimated our intelligence community. Gee, golly, gosh, I wonder who he could be talking about? This President has as a best friend, a woman who is a true ball-buster in every sense of the word. This woman has a daughter working overseas and she is kidnapped by the worshipers of the religion of peace. And because of this President’s “Dr. Phil approach” to dealing with terrorists he’s caught between a rock and a hard place. He can’t just go in there and get her because that would go against everything that he spewed during his campaign. If he doesn’t go in there, his ball-busting pit bull of a best friend will expose him and one HUGE secret that could bring him down.

What is a hypocrite President to do? Enter Scot Harvath. Thus enter blood. Enter pain. Enter controlled mayhem. Enter doing what it takes to get the job done. Tell political correctness to take the rest of the week off! Of course Scot has strong mixed feelings about this, because it was THIS idiot President who stripped him of his job. True, all Scot does is protect American from the animal thugs who use children to carry out their terror while they hide in bunkers. He really doesn’t do anything but put his life on the line to keep our cities free from dirty bombs, chemical weapons, and WMD’S. I mean why keep a guy around who was born to see the unseen and anticipate the impossible? Stupid if you ask me. Unfortunately the moronic President in this story can’t sense my sarcasm and, therefore, doesn’t see the plain common sense in keeping a man who lives for protecting America!

Showing a rare form of common sense and penchant for making the right decesion, the President calls on Scot to serve his country, (more rather his cause), one more time. I will say that this book doesn’t have the usual extremely high adrenaline action that we’ve come to expect from Brad. Oh, there is violence and death but on a smaller scale and I’m spoiled so I want a high body count! In spite of my obsessive need for bodies to fly and blood to burn, fans will absolutely love this one!

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Finger Lickin’ Fifteen (Stephanie Plum Novels)

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, June 23, 2009

EVENT: The next Stephanie Plum novel, in which complications arise, loyalties are tested, cliffhangers are resolved, and donuts are eaten.

WHERE: Wherever books are sold across America

WHAT TO BRING: Sunglasses, insect repellant, a flotation device, suntan lotion, cheez-doodles, extra-large towel, fire extinguisher, baseball bat, lip balm, monkey leash, sixty three pieces of chewing gum, and one canister of oxygen (don’t ask). Hey, it’s a Stephanie Plum novel!

Finger Lickin’ Fifteen Review

I don’t think that anyone really picks up a Janet Evanovich book for a serious read. I buy her books because I don’t want to think much. I want to relax, and laugh, and enjoy meandering through another chapter of Stephanie Plum’s unrealistic life. The novels are not believable, nor likely, however, I have laughed and enjoyed myself.

The novel begins with Lula’s encounter with two of the world’s dumbest and most inept killers. Amazing that they were able to slay a celebrity with no one other than Lula witnessing it, but I guess the paparazzi were taking a day off. Then, they seem to develop a keen ability to track Lula down, but cannot seem to manage to kill her.

Stephanie Plum, meanwhile, is still stuck between Morelli and Ranger. She’s shacking up with Ranger, yet seemingly hung up on Morelli, even though they’re still broken up. Joyce, the Burg’s version of superwoman with an attitude, is back on scene, too, so it seems Morelli’s in the same situation as SP. The likelihood of many of the events that take place in this novel are pretty much zilch. (For example, when Lula enters a national cooking contest at the last minute because she used to do one of the head honchos, during a practice session she knocks over the barbecue and sets a tree on fire, meanwhile a random pack of dogs just happens to be racing through Stephanie’s parents’ backyard and they scoop up the intended chicken dinner, so Stephanie and Morelli decide to go to dinner together at Pino’s.) Yeah, more of that. And how many cars does SP go through in this book? Several. Most of them not hers, but Ranger’s. However, Ranger, who never seems to tire of chasing SP’s tail, just brushes it off and more Porsches magically appear. It’s just so unlikely. (Insert sigh here.)

With all that being said, though, I did enjoy this book. It was funny and I did laugh out loud several times. Every author needs a Lula or a Grandma Mazur to be able to say whatever crazy thought they might happen to have. Although, Lula’s burping and farting do cross the line into just plain disgusting. I’ll be leaving this novel with a different view of Lula, and it’s not the fun, silly, in-your-face image that I have of her. That part is a shame. I used to like her.

It’s definitely a better book than the last few. I’ll probably continue to purchase her next novels, but I am finding that I, too, really want SP to make a decision and pick a man and a path in life. The series has to be nearing the end. (Can’t beat a dead horse forever.) Come on, though, can you just imagine the comedy a Stephanie Plum wedding would be? I wonder who the guests would be…

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