The ultimate gift [self-contained digital audio]
    Stovall, Jim.
This story was all hugs and kisses and had a feel good kind of ending.  The patriarch of the family has died, within the first chapter we find ourselves sitting in the lawyer's office as he reads off the will to his less than deserving children and extended family.  As each person finds out what the Old Man has left them, they are escorted from the room until everyone but one great grand nephew is gone.  This book is a journey through the next year of the g-g nephew's life as he has to perform monthly tasks set by his uncle before his inheritance can be given.  I'm pretty sure there's a movie out there that has been done along the lines of this storyline and if not already, I'm sure it has a spot on the Hallmark channel sometime in the near future. ~ VW 

The abortionist's daughter [self-contained digital audio] : a novel
    Hyde, Elisabeth.
This wouldn't have been a book I would have read, but since it was an audio book read to me, I went ahead and listened to the over eight hours of story.  I did not like the main character, the 'abortionist's daughter', she was a spoiled, rich kid little brat that whined more than a drunk with no money and outta liquor. Although, i do have to admit, I didn't peg down who the killer was until near the end of the book when all the right pieces began to fit together.  The confession though, happened about three chapters from the end and I really could have done without the additional fluff the author finished with.  Not my cup of tea, I'm afraid and I don't for-see me getting anymore novels by this author in the future. ~ VW 

Wicked prey
    Sandford, John, 1944 Feb. 23-
I cannot do anything but admire this author, he pumps out half a dozen books per year and yet continues with his series books continuing to build on old characters and plot lines that he has been building on for  years.  This is a Lucas Davenport book, one millionth book in this awesome series.  I love the way that Mr. Sandford can take a book, twist it into three plots yet have at the end of the book make everything come to a final resolution. If you haven't visited the ''Prey' books done by John Sandford, I suggest that you do so. ~ VW

Slummy mummy [self-contained digital audio]
    Neill, Fiona.
Hillarious from beginning to end.  This English author (the audio reader as well) really does a great job of delving into the life of a mid thirties wife with three children and how life in general revolves not around her but everyone from the hubby, the kids and her misfit friends. I don't know if Ms. Neill used her own life as the backdrop for this wonderful book, but if she didn't she has done a fantastic and realistic job of capturing what life as a domestic (at home) goddess is. ~ VW 

Of mice and men
    Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968

Publisher:	Penguin Books,
Pub date:	2002.
Pages:	103 p

What can be said about a John Steinback novel that hasn't already been said?  Though this is a short story,  part of the book club short stories books I picked up, it was a great reflection on what America was like in the mid 1930's.  This book is the original ''Green Mile' and it was well written, giving a glimpse into what life was truly like for the lower class citizens of the early twentieth century. This book took me back to a time and place that I have only read of, and yet, I'm afraid is what exactly life in the grand ole US of A is possibly heading toward. ~ VW

Dead and gone
    Harris, Charlaine.
I have yet to see the HBO series that this group of books has given birth to, but if the cable TV people have been able to keep true to the storyline that Ms. Harris presents then we're taking some serious awards in their HOBo future. Heh.  I love Sookie, she's so funny, compelling and thrust into a world that (at the very least) accepts her for what her psychic abilities makes her.  I love the fact that she and Eric have begun to make something more of their lives together, yet at the same time wonder if this knight in shining, vamperic armor is really the good guy that Ms. Sookie so badly needs. ~ VW

Skin trade
    Hamilton, Laurell K.
Normally, I have to be in the right frame of mind to read a LKH novel. Her stories rock and she gives wonderful descriptions and builds so well on all of her characters, but as I'm sure some people will agree she tends to overdue it when it comes to the sex scenes she sets up for Anita and friends.  This time, I had to read nearly 90% of the book before there was full penetration involved!  This book takes me back to beginning Anita, when she was young and unsure of herself.  And of course, Edward, my favorite bad good guy is in almost every page of this intriguing tale.  Although Ms. Hamilton tends to get wordy, I've come to the conclusion that she has to in order to explain all the metaphysical stuff she's got going on in her world. ~VW

Bad to the bone
    Smith-Ready, Jeri

Publisher:	Pocket Books,
Pub date:	2009.
Pages:	356 p

This was a great follow up to the first book and the characters are progressing along nicely.  I was surprised to find that Ms. Smith-Ready is willing and more than able to kill off a main character and considering the circumstance, even the good guys take a hit or two when the chips are down. Rock and roll will never be the same as long as this series keeps on a goin'. ~ VW

Grayson [self contained digital audio]
    Cox, Lynne, 1957-
This was a heart filled real life story of a young woman out for an early morning ocean swim when she finds that a lost baby gray whale has adopted her as his swimming partner.  During the hours that she avoids the beach (fearing that the whale will beach itself on the sand if he follows her) she forges a connection with the eight foot, gray skinned behemoth.  This tale is a feel good kinda story that reminded me that we're not the only ones on this vast planet of ours and even if we don't understand each others languages, we can still find a happy ending for all.  ::cue the cheesy music:: ~ VW

Dead man's bones [self-contained digital audio]
    Albert, Susan Wittig.
A cute little story about a small town in Texas and murder.  The characters in this tale are really colorful and I do believe that this isn't the first book that Ms. Albert has written with them, though I'm not 100% sure.  It reminded me of a grown up Nancy Drew book.  I had to smile at the sometimes obvious, sometimes less than obvious storyline... I had just figured out who the villain was and had hoped for the natural bad guy goes to jail ending when all of a sudden there was a curve ball thrown and wow... the ending made me think, yeah - this is really how real life works. ~ VW 

Wicked game
    Smith-Ready, Jeri.
Lovely, fun and a ROCKING book.  It's a great joining of the music scene and vampires mixed together to provide a very entertaining read.  I am shocked at the number of ways authors can incorporate the undead into their fantasy worlds to create a whole new genre of modern day myths. And it helps that the main female character isn't a goody two shoes, she's got a wicked background and yet believable all at the same time. ~ VW 

The ghost writer
    Harwood, John

Publisher:	Harcourt,
Pub date:	c2004.
Pages:	369 p

If you like short stories, then this is the book for you.  If you like short stories that -obviously- connect to each other, then again - you might want to avoid this novel.  I found it hard to get through not only because the author seemed to jump between each chapter with no forewarning about what was to come or how the next paragraph connected with the preceding one, but because of the long winded descriptions that had nothing to bare upon with the actual storyline.  No, wait back that up - what storyline?  I continued to read because I thought surely everything would come together by the end of the book - and although it did somewhat, the ending left me going WTF... no way, it was starting to make sense and it ends like this?!  I seriously doubt if I'll ever pick up a book written by John Harwood again... ever. ~ VW

Quiet strength [self-contained digital audio]
    Dungy, Tony.
This is an in depth biography about the NFLs first African American coach to go to the Superbowl and win.  I never realized how religious Coach Dungy is, in nearly every chapter there is quotes from the bible and how those particular verses meant to how this man lives his life and teaches others.  The Quiet Strength he refers to is not about Dungy, but about God.  I began to wonder halfway through the playaway (like an MP3 player with the audio book loaded onto it) if I was listening to a football book or if I was at a church sermon. Tony Dungy touches on the early days of when he played football for the Steelers all the way through to the winning Superbowl champs, the Colts. He is a man with more than just football on his mind. ~ VW

The hunger games
    Collins, Suzanne.
This book was a fast read because it was so compelling in it's story.  The scene is post ravaged North America (wars, natural disasters, etc.) and the government has taken it upon itself to stamp down on human rights across what is left of the nation.  Once upon a time, citizens tried to rise up and overthrow the fascist state but were beat down and segregated into various working groups across what was left of the land.  Once every year, in order to remind the people that they simply can't overthrow the government, they have what is called the Hunger Games where two children between the ages of 12 and 18, a boy and a girl, are lottery drawn from each of the twelve districts to go and fight to the death. Twenty four children sent to play in the games and one is left to go home as a 'winner'.  This book opens with the 42nd Hunger Game and what a mind bender it becomes.  Though the other books have yet to be written, this is the first of what I believe will be a great trilogy and/or series. ~ VW

We're just like you, only prettier : confessions of a tarnished southern belle
    Rivenbark, Celia

Publisher:	St. Martin's Griffin,
Pub date:	2005.
Pages:	p. cm

Maybe I've read too much of Ms. Rivenbark but it seems like one book is much like the other but don't get me wrong!  The stories and entertaining tales of this southern belle are still as cut and funny as ever.  This book seems to base itself on the author's experience with her first child and the wonders of being an at home mom all the while trying to type out a book and work on her newspaper column.  ~ VW

She's three months old and looking for a nice family to live with, please give me a shout either through live journal or via e-mail if you or someone you know is interested.

Fool moon
    Butcher, Jim

Publisher:	Roc,
Pub date:	c2001.
Pages:	342 p

I wonder where I have been for the last eight years and why in the world have I never picked up on this series before?  Book Two was just as good as book one and the characters are fleshing out very nicely.  In this sci-fi novel, Mr. Butcher takes the opportunity to introduce werewolves into his world. Based in Chicago, I think I'm going to add this author and these books to my list of series' to follow when I new book comes out.  ~ VW

Michael and Richard have tapped into what could be one of the healthiest secrets to a lasting relationship - that they should enhance each other's lives, not become each other's lives.  While interested in each other's work, they still maintain their individuality, which has enabled them to be successful on their own as well as being a couple. ~ Corey Taylor