Aurora Teagarden is on her way to a meeting when one of her sister-in-laws who should be going with her phones and says she will be late. This is not exactly what Roe expected to hear from Poppy but goes along to the meeting with her other sister-in-law and waits for Poppy to arrive. When the woman doesn't appear Roe and Melinda are annoyed and go to Poppy's house to give her a piece of their mind. Unfortunately all Roe gets to do is call 911.

Who could have killed Poppy? Afterall she was a nice normal mother and wife. Or was she? As Roe tries to get to the bottom of things she comes across alot of secrets she wished would have stayed secrets and it looks like Poppy could have been murdered by one of many people.

To keep Aurora on her toes her half-brother turns up out of the blue and the the guy she is dating brings his mother for Thanksgiving. With all that going on it is a wonder that Roe manages to keep going. Tired and worried Roe does what she does best and asks the right questions to the right people. Hopefully she will come up with the right answers without getting herself hurt.

This is the last book in the Aurora Teagarden series and I will miss it. Poppy Done to Death is due for re-release but I managed to get hold of this copy a while ago. With all that Roe has been through I have to say that Charlaine Harris gave her a perfect ending and one that I had dreamt she would get. I can only hope that the author will visit Roe again someday and let us see how things turn out for her.

Charlaine Harris is an amazing author and I love all of her books. Lily Bard, Sookie Stackhouse, Harper Connelly and Aurora Teagarden are all wonderful characters and should all get together for dinner sometime. If you are a fan of the Southern Vampire series and need a fix between books then it is well worth taking the edge off with some of the other lovely ladies Charlaine has written about.

Labels: Books Read, Charlaine Harris, Cozy Mystery

I absolutely love this series and after watching the TV adaptation 'True Blood' I really wanted to listen to the audio books. With two of them, thanks to a friend, on my shelf I picked up this one to listen to a few weeks ago. Slowly everyday on my way to and back from work I have been enjoying this book again.

I was surprised at how well this book was read. The narrator captured Sookie better than the TV version and made this audio book more enjoyable to listen to. The format of this audio book also made it a pleasure to listen to. Tracks every few minutes instead of one track per chapter meant I wasn't forced to listen to long chapters all the way through or go searching for my place if my listening was interrupted.

It is amazing how much of the story I have forgotten about over the last few years. Listening to this story again was like coming across it for the first time. Sure there were parts that I remembered straight off but there were so many little pieces of information that I had totally forgotten about. It makes me realise that with every book I read, I am losing parts of books I have already read...if that makes sense.

Now I am starting From Dead to Worse in preparation of the new Sookie book coming out soon. If anyone has the chance to listen to these books in audio format then enjoy. I certainly did!

Labels: Audiobook, Charlaine Harris

Aurora Teagarden has never forgotten the first murder case she got involved in. The serial killer terrorized Lawrencetown and she was right in the middle of things. Now the story is about to hit the small screen and a film crew and everything that comes with it is in town to shoot scenes from Roe's life.

Roe isn't pleased about the whole circus but can't help getting involved. Her ex, Robin, wrote the book that was made into the screenplay and her stepson has a role in the production. Also an Emmy award winning actress is playing the part of Roe and wants to get to know her. So of course Roe obliges and then things start to get complicated.

The famous actress is found dead and Roe is threatened. Roe starts to have feelings for Robin again but isn't sure if she really wants to give up her widow status as well as her house. There is never a dull moment in Roe's life and if there is a body to be found you can be sure she is close by. Hopefully this time she won't be the body being found.

Last Scene Alive is a brilliant as the previous books in the series and as always kept me guessing till the end. Roe was different in this book and rightly so after everything she has been through. However this time I found her more likable and not as boring. It was also great to see how the other people in town are getting on and to revisit some of the past. The last few books centered around Roe's new life and it was nice to go back to the good old days.

This book, if I remember rightly, is the last but one in the series that is being re-released and I am now keen to see how the author finishes the series off. Charlaine Harris is an amazing author and even though this series is not in the least paranormal, written before her vampire series raise to fame, it is still worth reading if you like the author.

Labels: Books Read, Charlaine Harris, New Releases

Life has settled down for Librarian Aurora Teagarden. Married life with Martin is going well and she hasn't found any dead bodies for a while. Then one afternoon her handyman goes crazy in her yard and she sees it as a sign of more bad things to come. She is right.

To say Roe is shocked to find Martin's niece Regina on her doorstep is the understatement of the year but to see her standing there with a new born baby is beyond comprehension. Then Regina disappears and leaves the baby behind as well as her dead husband. Left with the baby Roe and Martin go to Regina's hometown in snowy Ohio looking not only for the mother of the baby but also for answers about what exactly has happened over the last few months.

Book six in the Aurora Teagarden series gives the reader alot more information about her new life but also, by the end, takes alot away from it. Charlaine Harris is a wonderful author on many counts but the ending to this book made me wonder what she has planned for this prim, proper and old fashioned librarian. The series has been re-released, most likely due to Charlaine's vampire success, and I am glad that I managed to get hold of a copy of the next book in the series (due out in May) because I am very eager to see what Roe does next.

I am extremely happy that this series has been re-released because it just proves that Charlaine's Vampire success is no fluke. She writes a great story with amazing lead characters and any fan of her books should take the time to read this cozy mystery series as well as her Lily Bard series because you can always see a little Sookie in them.

Labels: Books Read, Charlaine Harris, New Releases

It is time for something a little different! No paranormal author this week because Halloween weekend is just going to be full of them...

This week my guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog is Arlene Russo! Arlene is the editor of Bite Me magazine. If anyone has been following my blog for a while they will know that I wrote the book reviews in the last issue of the mag and Arlene and myself have been putting together a Bite Me Blog to help support the magazine!

So read a bit about the lady and then keep going for the contest!

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Amber - Arlene it is great to have you here on Amberkatze's Book Blog! Maybe you can start things off by telling us a little bit about yourself?

Arlene - I am Arlene and I publish and edit Bite Me magazine. I am also the author of Vampire Nation, about real life vampires in the UK.

Amber - You are founder and editor of the magazine 'Bite Me'. How did Bite Me come about?

Arlene - basically a visit to the 'world's biggest Dracula party' sparked the idea for Bite me. Over 1000 Drac fans converged on Los Angeles in August 1997 for a convention to celebrate centenary of Bram Stoker's immortal novel Dracula. Over 4 days I met a host of interesting characters, Hammer Horror legend Countess Dracula Ingrid Pitt & other Hammer stars, also son of Bela Lugosi. Also the very first man to ever spend a night alone in the real Castle Dracula in Romania, and a psychic vampire.

Back in Scotland, I was on a mission: to produce a publication that would unite fans from all around the world. Fans with one thing in common- a love of Dracula! (I had no prior experience of producing a magazine.) From an initial plan to produce a small fanzine, I decided I wanted to produce a 'proper' mag. One that could sit amongst shelved in stores across the world. So big, glossy, and colourful it had to be. I therefore undertook a self -taught crash course in publishing. I had to teach myself every aspect of an industry I had no experience of. It was very daunting and had elements of a true nightmare! Prior to Bite me, I had a healthy interest in fanged fiends. A mere ten years old, I first became captivated by Christopher Lee, when my parents allowed me to stay up late to watch the horror double bills.


Amber - How long has Bite Me been out on the market? Where can people get their hands on a copy?

Arlene - It launched in 1999.. It is available to order from www.bitememagazine.com. I deliver all over the world. It can also be bought in most Forbidden Planet and Borders stores

Amber - What can readers expect to find inside an issue of Bite Me?

Arlene - anything dark and interesting, from haunted places to visit to the latest research on real vampires plus a load of fun stuff too. I try to keep it light.

Amber - Bite Me isn't released on a regular basis. How often is an issue released? What factors play in the decision? When can readers expect issue 21?

Arlene - It did used to be released 4 times a year, and is so often the case with independent publishers, things get harder. I have to work twice as hard and find twice as much money to fund the mag. But I am always hopeful it will get back to 4 times a year or even more! I do have to say that I have found that people don't seem to buy magazines these days as much as say ten years ago. It's a pity people don't support independent mags like Bite me, as without support they will all die away...

Amber - So are you a vampire? Ever met one? ;)

Arlene - I'm afraid not, I'm quite human! Indeed I have met loads of vampires. You can read all about them in my book Vampire Nation.

Amber - Who is your favourite vamp? Movie, book, TV or otherwise. And why?

Arlene - It's got to be Christopher Lee- as he was the one that caused me to fall for vampires. He has a lot to answer for!

Amber - Do you have any other projects you are working on?

Arlene - I am working on several books, some vampire-related, some not! I will post new info on the new blog when it is hot off the press!

Amber - You are stranded on a desert island. What 5 items do you want to have with you?

Arlene -

1. Lavender Oil- for when things get stressful
2. my laptop and everlasting batteries
3. my entire bookcase (does that count, it is one item but it is crammed full of books)
4. my beloved teddy bear
5. The Bible.

Amber - Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! I look forward to reading more Bite Me!

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Contest time!

I have 4 copies of the latest Bite Me magazine to give away to 4 lucky people! This is the issue with my book reviews inside as well as some other cool stuff!

I am also giving away a copy of Blood Lite! The new anthology with a cool vamp on the cover! With stories inside from Kelley Armstrong, Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher and Sherrilyn Kenyon!

To enter the contest all you have to do is comment on this thread and tell me who your favourite vamp is? Book, film, TV or otherwise.

If you want to get another entry then post about this contest somewhere on the web and leave me a link so I can check it out!

To get another entry you can go to the new Bite Me Blog and leave a message and/or sign up for the newsletter (one entry each).

Also posting somewhere on the web about the new Bite Me Blog or the mag will earn you another entry and buying a copy and emailing me a copy of your order will also get you entries! (If you already have a copy then show me proof and I will also give you an extra entry!)

So with so many ways to enter this contest and 5 prizes to be won this is a big contest! Just warming us up ready for Halloween weekend!

The contest closes on Sunday November 2nd at 4pm CET.

Winners have to check back to see if they have won and I will draw a new winner if a prize isn't claimed within 7 days!

Good Luck!!

Labels: Author Interviews, Bite Me Magazine, Charlaine Harris, Contests, Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, Sherrilyn Kenyon

Aurora Teagarden and Detective Sergeant Jack Burns had never got along but the last thing she wanted to see was him dead and landing in her garden. At least the police know that Aurora couldn't have killed him and seeing as it has been two years since she last found a dead body nobody is making jokes about her.

Even though having a dead man fall into your garden is strange enough other weird things start happening. Some of the things like her cat turning up with a pink bow on her neck are just peculiar while people Aurora knows being attacked are definitely work of someone mad. So once again Aurora is at the center of something and this time she doesn't know if everything is related or if it really has anything to do with her. All Aurora knows is that she needs to find out what, who and why before it is too late.

This is the fifth book in Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and I am loving them even more with each new book. Dead Over Heels takes place 2 years after the previous book The Julius House and Aurora has settled into married life and her rich status. Everything you would expect from this series is there as usual and I love the simplicity of the town and people in this series and the complex plot the author always manages to weave into her books.

Of course this is a 'cozy mystery' and to some people certain aspects will seem silly and ridiculous but it is a fun read and very enjoyable. First released back in 1996 this book shows its age but carries it well. I love this author and yet again she has managed to treat me to a brilliant, interesting and thrilling read. Unfortunately I am not happy with the publishers who are not re-releasing the next book A Fool and His Honey until February.

Labels: Books Read, Charlaine Harris, Mystery/Thriller, New Releases