A young woman with a sketchy history tries to go straight. Looking for a respectable job, she interviews as an intern at a radio station. But the job has a lot of odd requirements, such as:

-the DJs don’t work during the day
-she can never enter the locked room in the basement, and
- each DJ is uncannily aware of his/her decade of music

Thus begins a great novel titled Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready. Meet Ciara Griffin, reformed grifter who needs a job badly and who’s willing to take on the strange crew at WWMP in order to make ends meet.

What she doesn’t know is that the reason these DJs know their music genre so well is that they are vampires that were turned in the decade of the songs they play – that’s why they’re such experts.

Just when Ciara gets into the groove of her new job a nationally syndicated radio giant decides to buy WWMP, ruining the life that these vampires have built for themselves. so Ciara comes up with a radical idea – tell the world that the DJs are vampires as a marketing gimmick and hope they can make enough money to hold off the wolves. Changing their name to WVMP, the vampire DJs pretend to be vampires for their human listeners and it’s a rousing success. Unfortunately, their ruse attracts the attention of an ancient vampire cult whose members are less than happy at the visibility WVMP is generating for their kind . . .

Wicked Game is a cleverly written book with lots of unique and interesting characters that keep you engrossed. From the very beginning, Ciara is attracted to Shane, the DJ for the grunge rock era, but she’s also quite wary of him – seriously, can a human truly have a relationship with a vampire? Adding the other fun characters in the story, from bizarre vampires who only live in their decade to the mystery buyer who wants their radio station, Jeri Smith-Ready brings us an excellent tale of friendship, mystery, and love. Pick this book up and be prepared to be reading for a while, it’s hard to put down.

Turncoat is the 11th book in the Dresden Files series but for this reviewer it was the first. I had never read any of the books but I have watched the television show and absolutely loved it. Usually, if I come across a book based on a TV show I only read it after I’ve first watched it on TV. I am officially breaking my usual routine because I am going to read every book in the Dresden Files series even though it’s not on TV any more. Also, you should know that although I’ve not read the first 10 books in the series, I perfectly understood what was happening in this story.

The book opens with Dresden answering a knock at his front door finding his worst enemy, the Warden Morgan, injured and begging for help. The most fun was reading the thoughts that popped into Dresden’s head because I would have been thinking the same things had I been in his situation. In the end, his constant need to do what is right takes over and he decides to give the guy a chance to explain himself. Once his enemy has recovered enough to talk, he tells Dresden that he has been falsely accused of murder and he needs Dresden to investigate what is going on. Dresden decides to help, for now…

Dresden knows this case is going to be tough but, when he is attacked by a Native American skin walker that no one can defeat, he knows that he has bitten off more that he can chew. He barely escapes from this attack and loses some very good friends in the process. But, he knows that the Warden is innocent now and he will do whatever it takes to keep an innocent man from being executed – even if that same innocent man tried to have him executed years earlier for a crime he did not commit. There is a traitor on the Wizard White Council and Dresden has to find out who it is to clear Warden Morgan and prevent a war between the councils that could turn everything they know upside down.

The author did an excellent job of keeping the reader informed of who people were and how they fit into the overall picture, which is why I was able to completely understand the story as I read. I had seen the television show based on the books but there is absolutely no comparison between the two. The books are much better than the show ever was so, as I mentioned earlier, I am quite glad that I finally read one of the books. I can now read the other 10 books in the series and I’m happy in the knowledge that the author, Jim Butcher, has mentioned the possibility of over twenty books in this series before he is done. Nice to know that my reading pleasure will continue for some time to come.

This year, because vampires are so darn popular, I’m getting my friends gifts that are vampire-themed. If you have friends that love the undead, check out these cool stocking stuffers:

	Amazon Kindle. Read your vampire books on the Kindle. Now ON SALE!
	True Blood DVD: The Complete First Season (HBO Series). Give the True Blood DVD to friends who don’t have HBO! They’ll definitely get hooked!
	Twilight (Twilight Saga Book #1). This is the first Twilight book that started it all.
	Sookie Stackhouse Box Set (Books 1-8). Get your True Blood fix – the books and the TV show are VERY different!
	Twilight The Movie DVD, 2-Disc Special. The Bella and Edward craze started with this movie.
	J.R. Ward Box Set (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series) (Books 1-6). These books have smokin’ hot vampires and a great fantasy storyline!
	New Moon (Twilight Saga Book #2). This is the book that the current movie is based on.  Hot werewolves!
	True Blood 2010 Wall Calendar . Each month showcases a scene from the show!
	A Touch Of Dead by Charlaine Harris. This book is a compilation of Sookie Stackhouse short stories.
	Vampire Diaries: The Awakening & The Struggle (Books 1-2 ). This is a great young adult vampire series.

NOTE: most items on this list qualifies for free shipping. That means no tax, no shipping costs and it gets delivered right to your doorstep!

Marked (House of Night, Book 1)

Enter the dark, magical world of The House of Night, a world very much like our own, except here vampires have always existed.  Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has just been Marked as a new vampire and is sent off to the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampire.  It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average vampire-in-the-making. She has special powers. To add to her stress she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters (the school’s stuck-up elitist group), is misusing her powers. Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to challenge those that do harm to others.

Betrayed (House of Night, Book 2)

Young vampire Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night school. She’s come to terms with the vast powers that have been bestowed upon her finally feels like she belongs.  She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. In this installment Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world. Note: I just ordered Marked (House of Night, Book 1) the first book in the House of Night series. This is a young adult series that sounds really interesting.

Chosen (House of Night, Book 3)

Zoey Redbird is a teenage diva in every respect, well, almost. She doesn’t get along with her mom and she hates her stepdad. That’s normal. She adores her sweet grandmother. That’s normal. What makes her different from the average teenage girl is that she is a vampire. In fact, two of her three boyfriends are vampires, her best friend is one of the ghoulish undead creatures that walks the streets at night preying on homeless people, and all of the students at the private boarding school she attends (called the House of Night) are vampires-in-the-making. Plus, Zoey is the president of the student body, if you consider being in charge of the Dark Daughters a leadership position. Filled with secrets, Zoey’s life becomes harder and harder to handle as she tries to juggle what she has to do with what she is expected to do. Her main obstacle is the high priestess, who reigns over both the “vampire” community and the boarding school. In this third book of the “House of Night” series, Zoey finds strength to challenge the priestess, who she believes is not what she appears to be.

Untamed (House of Night, Book 4)

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two friends Zoey has left are the undead and the unMarked. And a powerful goddess has declared war on humans. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey’s adventures at the House of Night School take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened.

Hunted (House of Night, Book 5)

The good news: Zoey’s friends are talking to her again. The bad news: an ancient evil with the face of an angel has been let loose, Grandma Redbird is in trouble, Heath is in trouble, and The House of Night is in trouble. Okay, let’s face it – Zoey’s whole world is in trouble! But when the trouble comes from a creature who looks like a male model will the world believe it? Especially when Zoey and a group of misfits are the only ones who really understand the danger he brings. Will Zoey have the strength and wisdom to reveal the truth? Especially when, in the House of Night, the truth is often hard to come by…

Check out the House of Night books. These books are great for adults as well as teens. I just started reading “Marked” and I can tell it’s going to be a good read. Stay tuned for more recommended books for teens and young adults!

NOVEMBER 1st

Hunter’s Moon by David Devereux

Jack works for a secret organization whose mission is to defend England from evil supernatural forces. They’re currently engaged in a battle with some of the nastiest creatures the dark world has to offer. It’s truly a job with benefits: if you do your job well you get to live. Jack is a jack of all trades (sorry) who knows magic, can beat down a bad guy with his bare hands, and knows his way around guns. This is a fast paced action thriller that urban fantasy fans are sure to like. Check prices

NOVEMBER 4th

Grave Peril (Dresden Files Book 3) by Jim Butcher

Called to Cook County hospital to deal with an enraged ghost, Harry Dresden, Chicago’s resident wizard, is puzzled and disturbed not by the ghost’s wrath but by the fact that someone had cast a torture spell on it, goading it into action. Harry’s disturbance increases when he discovers that the same spell has been cast on one of his friends. Harry begins to realize that he and his friends may be targets of a vengeful spirit, and as he desperately tries to discover which of his many enemies has it in for him, his friends are attacked one by one. The spirit, whom Harry refers to as the Nightmare, continues to torment Harry’s friends until he manages to cast a spell preventing it from harming anyone else until it kills him, which leads to a showdown that Harry might not survive. Check prices

Better Off Undead by Martin H. Greenberg

From vampires to mummy con artists, this lively collection explores the many forms the undead can take in stories that range from the chilling to the hysterical. There are those who people the Afterlife, others who wander the lands of the living in ghostly form, and even those who walk about in the flesh.

For anyone who’s ever wondered if the grass is greener on the other side of this mortal coil, this collection will provide a wide range of intriguing answers from those who are undead…and loving it! Check prices

NOVEMBER 14th

The Moon-Calves and Other Tales From the Calves by John D. Swain

Editor John Gregory Betancourt has assembled a witch’s dozen — 13 — tales from the classic pulp magazines of the early 20th Century in this collection by long-lost pulp writer John D. Swain. Swain’s powerful characterizations always raised his stories above other tales, and these selections will not disappoint readers new to his work. Check prices

NOVEMBER 19th

Blood+ (Volume 3: Boy Meets Girl) by Ryo Ikehata

The monsters are winning. Saya Otonashi thought she could battle against the chiropterans, defeat the undead monsters, and avenge the life of her adoptive father. But the creatures, led by Saya’s twin sister Diva, have struck a fatal blow: their attack on Saya’s adopted brother Riku has left him infected with the vampiric curse and destined to transform into a chevalier, a half-human abomination with an unquenchable bloodlust. Saya finds herself drawn to the papers of nineteenth-century explorer Joel Goldshmidt, and his long-forgotten journal. As Saya reads Joel’s diary she learns more about her past of murder and horror, the perverse origins of the Red Shield organization, and the destiny she and Diva must share. Check prices

NOVEMBER 25th

New Tricks by John Levitt

Former enforcer Mason would normally be concerned with finding ghosts and vampires stalking the Castro section of San Francisco. Fortunately, Halloween provides the perfect explanation for the abundance of ghouls. But someone is trying to possess his old flame, Sarah. Now, with the help of his magical dog Louie, Mason must uncover the black magician responsible. Check prices

The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

Red-headed witch Rachel Morgan has a demon after her, but that’s nothing unusual for Rachel. Elf politician Trent Kalamack wants her to go to the Everafter on a dangerous mission. Rynn Cormel, Cincinnati’s new master vampire and ex-leader of the free world, is interfering in her life. Her friend, former demon familiar Ceri, is unexpectedly pregnant, by an unexpected partner. On top of all this, Rachel worries she may have had a too close encounter with a vampire and soon becomes concerned about her own abilities with demon magic. With the help of her feisty mother, Alice, and her pixy partner, Jenks, Rachel boldly tackles every challenge amid a cascade of plot twists that will delight Harrison’s fans. Check prices

See also:

Bestselling Vampire Books for September 2008

Best Fantasy Books of 2008

Here are the bestselling urban fantasy books for September 2008 in which vampires play a central role:

1. Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 1)
2. Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 5)
3. All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7)
4. Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6)
5. Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1)
6. Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1)
7. Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3)
8. Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1)
9. Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2)
10. Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
11. Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, Book 2)
12. Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5)

See also:

New Vampire Books for August and September 2008

July 8, 2008		The Shadows (Vampire Huntress Legends) by L.A. Banks Damali and her lover Carlos unite with Yonnie and Val to fight evil and prevent Nuit, a powerful vampire councilman, from rebuilding Blood Label, a record company he’s using to brainwash humans for the dark lord. L.A. Banks vampire books are always steamy and chock full of action.
July 8, 2008		Vampyres of Hollywood by Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott When I first saw the cover of this book I thought “this is an insider’s book on the unsavory side of Hollywood.” Well, it does take an insider’s approach but this is actually an urban fantasy vampire book about vampires in the film industry who have deliberately misled moviegoers about vampires in order to hide their true nature.  The main character is Osvanna Moore, a B-movie actress and producer.  When both humans and vampires start mysteriously dying around her she realizes that her secret life is in danger of being exposed.  She’s got to find the killer before she’s found out.  Or killed. The storyline is nicely balanced with humor and adventure.  You’ll enjoy this interesting twist on urban vampire fantasy.
July 29, 2008		The Last Angel (A Kayla Steele Novel) by Natasha Rhodes When an angel is found dead on Sunset boulevard it sparks a media frenzy.  However to the monster assassin group the Hunters, it’s a simple murder case that requires investigating.  But Kayla hopes this helps unlock the secret to bringing her fiance back from the dead . . . . The previous vampire books in this series are well-written, suspenseful, and worth checking out.
July 29, 2008		Nightwalker (The First Dark Days Novel) by Jocelynn Drake Mira is a nightwalker, a vampire enforcer working for a secret organization that’s unknown to most humans.  However she’s just come up against a human that usually kills her kind.  A vampire hunter.  A gorgeous vampire hunter. Mira finds herself in the midst of a battle that requires her to make a choice that will change her life forever.

See also:

Bestselling Vampire Books

The list itself is generated by book sales reported by Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com.

Links are included to make it easy to purchase the books from either Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com.

May 1, 2008

Lover’s Bite (Wings in the Night, Book 2) by Maggie Shayne “Before she joined Reaper in hunting Gregor’s gang of rogue bloodsuckers, privileged princess Topaz was gunning for just one vamp: Jack Heart. The gorgeous con man had charmed his way into her bed, her heart and her bank account, taking her for half a million dollars and vanishing without a word.” Check Availability: Barnes and Noble | Amazon.com

May 6, 2008

Darkness Everlasting (Guardians of Eternity, Book 3) by Alexandra Ivy “TWO MEN. Darcy Smith always sensed she was different from everyone else-if only she knew how different. Possessing a secret strong enough to end an entire race of demons, Darcy unwittingly becomes a pawn in an epic battle between the vampires and the weres as she discovers a new world filled with ecstasy-and dark passions.ONE DESIRES HER LOVE.Consumed with lust for Darcy, Styx-the Anasso of vampires-will do everything in his power to keep her out of the lair of Salvatore Giuliani, the deadly leader of the weres. But protecting the woman he loves could cost Styx the ultimate price. Check Availability: Barnes and Noble | Amazon.com

May 6, 2008

From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8 ) by Charlaine Harris “After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the manmade explosion at the vampire summit, everyone—human and otherwise—is stressed, including Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who is trying to cope with the fact that her boyfriend Quinn has gone missing. It’s clear that things are changing—whether the weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie—Friend to the Pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, leader of the local vampire community—is caught up in the changes.” Check Availability: Barnes and Noble | Amazon.com

May 6, 2008

Vampire Wars by Steven Savile “The Von Carsteins are the most infamous vampires to stalk the Warhammer Old World. This three-book saga chronicles their rise and fall in one bumper omnibus edition.” Check Availability: Barnes and Noble | Amazon.com

May 13, 2008

Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready Late Night Radio You Can Sink Your Teeth Into “Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin is trying to live the straight life, even if it means finding a (shudder!) real job. She takes an internship at a local radio station, whose late-night time-warp format features 1940s blues, ’60s psychedelia, ’80s goth, and more, all with an uncannily authentic flair. Ciara soon discovers just how the DJs maintain their cred: they’re vampires, stuck forever in the eras in which they were turned.” Check Availability: Barnes and Noble | Amazon.com

May 20, 2008

Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole “A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can’t resist… Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.” Check Availability: Barnes and Noble | Amazon.com

May 27, 2008

The Touch of Twilight (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 3) by Vicki Pettersson “On the surface she’s a sexy, sophisticated socialite, at home among the beautiful people of the Las Vegas upper crust. But Joanna Archer inhabits another world: a place ordinary humans can’t see and could never enter … a dangerous dimension where an eternal battle rages between the agents of Light and Shadow. And Joanna is both.” Check Availability: Barnes and Noble | Amazon.com

May 27, 2008

Blood Noir (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter, Book 16) by Laurell K. Hamilton “A favor for Jason, vampire hunter Anita Blake’s werewolf lover, puts her in the center of a fullblown scandal that threatens master-vampire Jean-Claude’s reign—and makes her a pawn in an ancient vampire queen’s new rise to power.” Check Availability: Barnes and Noble | Amazon.com

See also:

Best Vampire Books for November 2008

Best Vampire Books for July 2008