Currently Reading--

    My husband told me for the remainder of the year I am not allowed to buy any books. His main reason is because I read each book so fast and than I want to go buy some more. So, I have been hitting up the local library once a week and I leave with multiple books in hand. I have already read four of the six I grabbed. The last remaining two include;  First Grave on the Right  by Darynda Jones and The Apprentice  by Tess Gerritsen.

    I am starting with First Grave on the Right. I heard it is hilarious and heart-felt and a wonderful page-turner. Finally, my last book of this library trip will be The Apprentice. I saved it for last because it is more fast paced mystery thriller; instead of, a fun cozy read like many of the other books I brought home. I love the TV show Rizzoli and Isles and as soon as I learned it was loosely based on a book series, I began reading. Anyone else have suggestions to add to my to-be-read pile??

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafron

The year is 1945, and Barcelona is till ridden with wounds from the war. Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer's son is learning to find his passion in life. He is haunted by the fact that he can no longer remember his mother's face, but his father brings him into a world that will haunt his life for years to come. Daniel is amazed by the Cemetery of Forgotten Books and is drawn to one book in particular, The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. Daniel finds himself engulfed in this book for days and when he finally resurfaces he wanted to learn more about the author Carax and why no one ever has read this book. Soon he will find out that the reason only an enlightened few have read these words is because a mysterious man with no face is setting fire to every last one of them. The only copy of The Shadow of the Wind is in Daniels hand. Daniel finds himself opening a dark and horrific secret in Barcelona's past that will tear Daniels world apart. In his search for love he will find murder and madness but most of all he will find his love was forever doomed.

I loved this book from the moment Daniel stepped inside the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. The only way I could disccribe this book was a melodrama filled with murder and doomed love that you see in movies. It tears your heart to pieces but you find yourself watching it over and over again. About halfway through the book I took a few days of a break, which I needed. Sometimes I find myself feeding off the emoitons of a book and if I get too caught up in the emotions I lose interest. I also took a break because I was terrified of what the ending would be. I wanted a happy ending not an everyone dies and is lonely ending. After my break I was able to experience the second half of the book with a clearer head. Carlos Ruiz Zafon captured me from the beginning and this is a book has everything in it. Humor, Love, Murder, and a happy ending. With all of those things combined it is a perfect book for me. I am very glad someone recommended this book to me.

Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris

In this addition to the Harper Connelley series, Harper is asked by professor Dr. Clyde Nunley to cocme to Memphis and give a demonstration on her talent to an "open mind" anthropology class. When her and her brother, Tolliver, arrive at the old cemetery her unique talent neither expect something from their past to come haunting back. When two bodies are found in a grave, Dr. Nunley first assumes that Harper is a fraud. But Harper is never wrong, the body above the marked coffin in Tabitha Morgenstern, an eleven-year-old who was abducted in Nashville two years prior. Harper knew this body because she was hired eighteen months earlier to find the little girl. Tolliver and Harper realize that coincidences never happen. And that Tabitha being in this specific cemetary is very fishy. And when more bodies add up Harper has to try to keep safe without being thrown into a crime she did not commit.

I really enjoy this series, partially because of the supernatural aspect. I do enjoy both characters. Both Harper and Tolliver have a dark past and they find comfort in a brother/sister kind of well. They do have an extremely tight friendship that can at time be uncomfortable for the reader. However, they both are very thorough in their thoughts and because Harper spends so much time questioning in her head the read is able to understand more about her character.

My biggest problem with this book in the series is it is an identical plot to Grave Sight. Almost too identical. At the end of the book all I could think about was the comparison of the two. This book had no intention of standing on its own. I hope in the third book in this series Harris finds a way to use these supernatural aspects of the character to broden the plot. I really hope to not see the same plot again or I will have to stop reading this series

Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris

This story is not quite a cozy mystery but not to hard core either. I was skeptical on if I would like this series because of the story line and Harper's gifts, but I was very suprised. Before I knew I was 3/4 of the way through the book. I read it sooo fast. Every page just kept turning and I wanted to know more. I love the broken past of both Harper and Treville. I am looking forward to the character transformations in future books.