Was expecting something else...

Beth Fantaskey is a wonderful writer and gracious and kind woman.   I don't "know" her but I have met many authors over the years and meeting Ms. Fantaskey was a delight.   Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, Jessica Rules the Dark Side and Jekel Loves Hyde were books that I absolutely loved.  I couldn't put them down.  It has been so long since Fantaskey had a book, I just couldn't wait to read Buzz Kill. 
I had expectations that were way too high and that was very unfair.  That's why I didn't rate this as high as her other books. 
Buzz Kill can't be compared to Fantaskey's other books.  This one is completely different.  While the others were paranormal, fantasy-type stories, this one is a mystery that will appeal to those who like the Red Blazer Girls or the Gallagher Girls or the newer, Also Known As series by Robin Benway.  For me, it just didn't work.  Millie is seventeen, the only child of the mayor of their small, Pennsylvania town.  Her father is also the assistant football coach.  The head coach is murdered and her father is one of the main suspects.  Millie is determined to prove her father innocent and find out who the real murderer is. 
I will buy it though, because I know it will appeal to others.  I hope that Fantaskey will return to her paranormal writing.  I would love to hear how Jessica is doing!  Millie was sort of the anti-Jessica.  Very unappealing and whiny. 

Coming Soon!

So I was lucky to get my hands on an ARC of Jessica Rules the Dark Side but everyone else doesn't have too much longer to wait. We've waited long enough, right! Next Tuesday Jessica Rules will be out everywhere! If you loved Jessica 1 and Jessica 1.5, I would go ahead and put your order in now, because this book rocks.

I get some completely swept up in Fantaskey's books. She writes wonderful, original stories that avoid stereotypes, but it is more than that. She's just a darn good writer!

Now Jessica and Lucius are married and Jessica is learning that living the life of vampire royalty isn't easy or safe. No one can be trusted it seems.

One of the coolest parts of the book is the intro of Ronnie, a cousin of Lucius who is more like a brother. He has given up the royal vampire life and chosen to live on the beach in California, eating tacos and surfing. Mindy, Jessica's best friend from back in PA has a complicated relationship with him.

Loved everything about this book and hope there's more of Jessica to come!

A Royal Wedding

Just finished The Wedding of Antanasia Jessica Packwood and Lucius Valeriu Vladescu and although no one could ever accuse me of being a romantic, this little story was dreamy.

Jessica and Luscious Lucius get married and become an official, royal couple, prince and princess vampires. There's a lot of intrigue as well, in this short story, which is offered for free online.

Now I can't wait to read the next full book in the series!

If it's on facebook, it must be true!

Ms. Fantasky and Lobster!

And so yesterday when I posted Ing Loves Jekel Loves Hyde and You Will, too.  It was true.  It is still true!


J Loves H is a romance/supernatural/horror novel with two very intriguing and sympathetic but complicated main characters.  It is set in a fictional town in Pennsylvania, not too far from Philly.  Jill Jekel is mourning the loss of her father who was brutally murdered.  Tristan Hyde is new in town, the son of a famous psychiatrist.  He is tall and mysterious and somehow descended from the fictional character of Mr. Hyde.  And yes, Jill Jekel is somehow descended from Dr. Jekyll. Even if you haven't read the original Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you will still understand and love this book.  I would also recommend reading this graphic novel version of the story because it is really good!  I think I read it at the end of last year so I couldn't count it in my book read this year deal. 

Fantaskey is an amazing new author and I'm not just saying that because she agreed to pose for a picture with Lobster! 



Team Lucius

I have written about Twilight before and made it clear that "I like my men with a pulse, thank you", as they say, but after reading Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side I may have changed my mind...Team Luscious Lucious, indeed! (I do have to note though...that Lucious does have a pulse. He can also go out in daylight without sparkling.)
This book is yet another romance...but with a dark side.
Jessica is just about to turn eighteen, living with her adoptive parents in Lebanon County, PA. Her life is pretty grand. She doesn't know much about her birth parents except that she was adopted in Romania because her bio-parents had died.
Her life is pretty good, save the jerky cheerleader, Faith, and the lumpy football player, Frank, who pick on her because she isn't the thinnest of the thin girls in school.
Jess has a best friend, great parents, a budding romance with the farmer boy down the road. Things are decent!
Until...Lucius arrives...posing as an exchange student, Lucius claims to be her betrothed. Their wedding was set up back in Romania at the time of their births and would result in the joining of two very powerful families, thus ending years and years and years and years of feuding. I mean years. Because Lucius is a vampire and so, apparently is Jess.
I won't give anymore away, just read this book and you won't be sorry. I found it actually much better than Twilight...maybe because it was a bit more gruesome!