Must Love Hellhounds Recommendation Read

From Publishers Weekly via Amazon.com

Four well-known fantasy writers bring magical dogs into the plots of otherwise standard paranormal novellas. Harris's urban fantasy, The Britlingens Go to Hell, pits bodyguards Batanya and Clovache against demons, wolfwomen and two hellhounds guarding some unusual prisoners. In Singh's paranormal romance, Angels' Judgment, vampire trackers Sara and Deacon must discover who is murdering vampires; one suspect owns a hellhound. In Andrews's sexy Magic Mourns, Andrea, a knight who helps people with magic problems, links with a shape-shifter to find a stolen corpse, but first they must get by a three-headed dog. In Brook's page-turning romance Blind Spot, Maggie Wren, CIA operative turned vampire's personal assistant, teams up with a hellhound to find her boss's kidnapped niece. Only the most obsessive dog fanciers will be really enthralled by the passing mentions of canines. (Sept.)
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Product Description

Four big names in paranormal-four adventures starring man's worst friend...

In these four original novellas, readers follow paranormal bodyguards into Lucifer's realm, where they'll encounter his fearsome four-legged pets; seek out a traitor in the midst of a guild of non-lethal vampire trackers, one who intends to eradicate the entire species of bloodsuckers; find out why the giant three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades has left the underworld for the real world; and embark on a perilous search for the kidnapped niece of a powerful vampire alongside her blind-and damn sexy-companion and a hellhound.

Order on Kindle at Amazon.com for $7.99

Pre-Order the Sookie Stackhouse Companion

Product Description via Amazon.com

The #1 New York Times bestselling author presents the definitive guide to the world of Sookie Stackhouse.

Charlaine Harris has topped the bestseller charts and has become a nationwide phenomenon, thanks to the unconventional-and otherworldly- life of Sookie Stackhouse. Now, in her own words, Sookie gives readers a look at her family, friends, enemies, adventures, and-of course-the lovers who set her world on fire...

Readers will:

• Tour Bon Temps, the small Louisiana town that Sookie calls home, and visit the houses of her Gran and her sometime vampire lover, Bill
• Prowl around the werewolf and were-panther communities
• Browse through her best friend Tara's dress shop
• Belly up to the bar in Merlotte's, where Sookie works
• Get must-have Bon Temps recipes-including Caroline Bellfleur's famous chocolate cheesecake
• Test themselves with trivia questions from the series

About the Author

Charlaine Harris writes both fantasies and mysteries.

Pre-Order at Amazon.com Available August 30th, 2011 On sale currently for $17.16

Book Signing For "Dead Reckoning"

On a cool, rainy Sunday afternoon in May people line up at Barnes & Noble in Indianapolis. The reason for this flock of over 250 people was the creator of one the best selling series and current Number One Best seller holder, Charlaine Harris. Ms. Harris is the renowned author of a multitude of mystery series, but is probably best known for her latest works, The Southern Vampire Mysteries, which are the inspiration for HBO’s hit show True Blood.

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Barnes & Noble’s staff was ready like a well oiled machine for the event. At 10 a.m. they began to hand out wristbands with a character’s name on them. 25 people per group starting with Sookie. I arrived at 10:30 and was in group Jason. By the end of the day there would be 10 groups total, Sookie, Eric, Bill, Pam, Jason, Sam, Alcide, Quinn, Calvin, and Claude. At 2:15 p.m. we all began to line up for the signing at 3 p.m. Everything was calm and professional as each group was called and followed a bouncing red arrow to indicate where they should stand. The line eventually wrapped through aisles back to the Starbucks.

At 3 p.m. Ms. Harris was introduced. She appeared on a platform, so she was up off the ground, giving most everyone a good view of her as she spoke. Some what surprised at the number of people she talked about how she was lucky to have 10 people at a book signing before, then she decided to try a new mystery. One for the 10, then add vampires for the Sci-fi people, werewolves for the fantasy people, and a graphic sex scene to bring in everyone else. This got a laugh from the crowd.

For about 45 minutes after her brief talk, she took questions from the audience, unfortunately one questioner gave away a big plot point which upset several in the crowd who had not read the newest book “Dead Reckoning”. We did learn this:

In response to if Ms. Harris could guess as to how many books she thinks there will be in the Sookie series she replied: She didn't have to guess. There will be 2. She stated that Sookie takes up a lot of her time and she has several ideas about other stories that she would like to explore. She wishes to stretch herself more as a writer.

To a question about the twist in the book playing a role in the end of the series she said that it would. That it is too cool to not end up using it, but did not specify further.

One fan asked if she had any say as to casting on True Blood and if she did could she recommend Peter O’Toole for Niall. Ms. Harris said, You know who would be great as Niall, David Bowie. He would be amazing.

As far as regrets in the series, Ms. Harris says she has several, but the big one she would do over is killing Claudine. She was later told that she killed two pregnant women in that book which basically resulted in a face palm moment. She stated she was in a “clear the decks” mood when she wrote it, but if she could do it over, she would not have killed Claudine.

Lastly, a fan asked if she was Team Eric or Team Bill, her response was perfect. Stating that it doesn’t really apply to her because she IS Bill and Eric.

After the Q & A she sat for autographs and would take short questions when we approached her. The line moved nicely and we all chatted while waiting. People had come from all over, some local, some drove, one woman near me was married to a pilot for United and opted to use the employee option and fly down from Illinois. The crowd was as diverse as their hometowns. Young, old, male, female a large diverse group that resembled a cross section of Bon Temps itself.




As everyone inched closer a Barnes & Noble staff member put post-its on the items you would liked signed so that everything was spelled correctly and just showed how smooth they were determined to make this experience.

Finally my turn came. Ms. Harris couldn’t have been nicer. She was kind and funny. I didn’t feel rushed at all and felt that she was truly appreciative of all her fans. It was an amazing experience. I got my items signed and my pictures that the staff was kind enough to take for me. They didn’t just wait for the one either, they were sure to capture several of the whole time I was up there.




I said my thanks to Ms. Harris and departed the stage for the next person. Despite another signing in Michigan the next day, plus meetings, Ms. Harris was determined to stay until everyone who had come out to see her got their chance. Not only is she an amazing talent, she is an amazing person.

If you are interested in attending a book signing or just wish to learn more about Ms. Harris, visit her website at http://www.charlaineharris.com/

Dead Reckoning Review

Description via Amazon.com: With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

About the Author: Charlaine Harris writes both fantasies and mysteries. She lives in southern Arkansas with her family.

Review: Poor Sookie Stackhouse, always finding herself wrapped in one catastrophe after another and "Dead Reckoning" is no exception. After the fire bombing of Merlotte's, Sookie just wants to spend time with her, be it originally by deception, vampire husband, Eric Northman. She finds that the normalcy she craves is impossible and he is busy dealing with a heap of problems stemming from the new regent of Louisiana and liaison to King Felipe de Castro of Nevada, Arkansas, and Louisiana, Victor Madden. Victor continues with his plans of destroying Eric Northman and making life hell for him. Also finding a way to reach into her life beyond the grave are her Gran, Debbie Pelt, and Eric’s maker, Appius Ocella. All this drama while trying to plan a baby shower for her friend, Tara Thornton-Du Rone. This book is as good as any of the others in the series. Page turning, though at times there is more house cleaning than sexy Viking than I would like, overall it is a must read for any Sookie fan. I began to truly care about the character of Dermot and appreciate Pam in a whole new light. The book remains funny, mysterious, and sensual, keeping the reader fastly flipping pages to find out what will happen next. For the die hard Bill fans, much to my disappointment he does appear. As does, praise the saints and fuck a zombie in celebration, our good pal Bubba! Don’t miss out on the newest installment of the Southern Vampire Mysteries with its brilliant twist that could bring about a very happy end to the series.

4 out of 5 stars

Dead Reckoning Kindle edition at Amazon.com

Cost: $12.99