Spotlight Series: Wings

Critically acclaimed, internationally best-selling author Aprilynne Pike has been spinning tales since she was a child with a hyper-active imagination. At the age of twenty she received her BA in Creative Writing from Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. When not writing, Aprilynne can usually be found out running; she also enjoys singing, acting, reading, and working with pregnant moms as a childbirth educator and doula. Aprilynne lives in Arizona with her husband and four kids; she is enjoying the sunshine.

Wings was the first YA faerie book I truly loved. Aprilynne Pike has perfected the unique origin of the creature that makes there faeries unlike any other you've read about in the past. The Wings series is an exciting quartet of books that will take you on a fantastic ride and eventually give you the closure you desire.

Important Characters to Know
Laurel - You're average teenage girl who learns she's not only a faerie, but an important one at that.

Tamani - Laurel's personal guard. Faerie. Has loved her since childhood.

David - Laurel's human boyfriend.

Wings (in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Wings
2. Spells
3. Illusions
4. Destined
   

If you like the Wings series, you should try:

The Wondrous Strange series by Lesley Livingston

The Need Pixies series by Carrie Jones

The Faeriewalker series by Jenna Black

The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr

The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa

Spotlight Series: Fool's Gold

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them. Publisher’s Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” While Susan appreciates the critical praise, she is most honored by the enthusiastic readers who write to tell her that her books made them laugh, made them cry, and made the world a happier place to live. Susan lives in Seattle with her husband and her tiny but intrepid toy poodle. She’s there for the coffee, not the weather.

I don't read much contemporary romance, but when I read the synopsis for Only Mine, I knew I had to read it. I started with the beginning of the series and was immediately hooked. There is something so magically about the town of Fool's Gold and the characters who live there.

Important Characters to Know
Charity Jones - City planner hired by the Fool's Gold town council to get more eligible men interested in moving to the area.

Josh Golden - Professional cyclist and considered by many to be a town hero.

Pia O'Brien - Plans all the town's many festivals and events.

Ethan Hendrix - Contractor. Man who got Liz Sutton pregnant many years ago.

Liz Sutton - Professional author who moved away from Fool's Gold when she became pregnant.

Raoul Moreno - Commitment phobic former professional football player who offers Pia O'Brien an unconventional arrangement.

Fool's Gold (in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Chasing Perfect
2. Almost Perfect
3. Finding Perfect
4. Only Mine
5. Only Yours
6. Only His
7. Summer Days
8. Summer Nights
9. All Summer Long
   

If you like the Fool's Gold series, you should try:

The Lone Star Sisters series by Susan Mallery

The Most Eligible Bachelors series by Carly Phillips

The Chesapeake Shore series by Sherryl Woods

The Donovan Brothers Brewery series by Victoria Dahl

The Virgin River series by Robyn Carr

Spotlight Series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8

Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon (born June 23, 1964), is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, occasional composer and actor, and founder of Mutant Enemy Productions. He is best known as the creator and showrunner of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Angel (1999-2004), and Firefly (2002), which have also seen popular comic book adaptations, published by Dark Horse Comics and IDW.

I "discovered" the TV show around season 3 and immediately fell in love with the characters. I continued to be obsessed until the very end and often rewatch the DVD sets. Finding season 8 was awesome in itself. The fact that it had the same vibe as the TV show only made it even more exciting. I lust after season 9 without shame.

Important Characters to Know
Buffy Summers - Spent many years being the only (or just about only) vampire slayer. Now leader of a group of slayers. Unlucky in love. Big on puns. Superhero strength.

Willow Rosenberg - Originally shy and mousy. Very powerful witch. Lesbian. Also unlucky in love.

Xander Harris - Used to be kind of dorky. Lost an eye. No superpowers. Knowledge of military strategy. Also unlucky in love (see a pattern here?)

Dawn Summers - Former ball of energy turned human. Buffy's little sister. Whiny.

Rupert Giles - Buffy's former watcher and father figure. Slightly less stuffy than he used to be. British. Used to dabble in dark magics.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8 (in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. The Long Way Home
2. No Future For You
3. Wolves at the Gate
4. Time of Your Life
5. Predators and Prey
6. Retreat
7. Twilight
8. Last Gleaming

If you like the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8 series, you should try:

The Angel: After the Fall series by Joss Whedon

The Fables series by Bill Willingham

The Serenity Graphic Novel series by Joss Whedon

The Y: The Last Man series by Brian K. Vaughn

The Runaways series by Brian K. Vaughn

Spotlight Series: Stephanie Plum

Janet Evanovich is the #1 bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and graphic novels, Wicked Appetite (the first book in the Lizzy and Diesel series,) and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.

I had heard great things about the Stephanie Plum mystery series for years, but still found myself surprised at how well the humor and the mysteries mixed. Stephanie is a wonderful character in that she can be strong, independent and sassy even while having no clue what she's doing.

Important Characters to Know
Stephanie Plum - Former lingerie buyer turned bounty hunter. Smart mouthed and usually in over her head.

Joe Morelli - Police officer and Stephanie's on-again-off-again boyfriend.

Ranger - Sexy bounty hunter that helps Stephanie out and tempts her physically whenever possible.

Lula - Plus-sized former prostitute turned office assistant and occasionally Stephanie's partner

Grandma Mazur - Stephanie's grandma, who always manages to get herself into trouble.

Stephanie Plum (in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. One for the Money
2. Two for the Dough
3. Three to Get Deadly
4. Four to Score
5. High Five
6. Hot Six
7. Seven Up
8. Hard Eight
9. To the Nines
10. Ten Big Ones
11. Eleven on Top
12. Twelve Sharp
13. Lean Mean Thirteen
14. Fearless Fourteen
15. Finger Lickin' Fifteen
16. Sizzling Sixteen 
17. Smokin' Seventeen
18. Explosive Eighteen

If you like the Stephanie Plum series, you should try:

The Max Holt series by Janet Evanovich

The Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton

The Goldy Shultz Culinary Mystery series by Diane Mott Davidson

The In Death series by J.D. Robb

The Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson

Spotlight Series: Kinsey Millhone

Sue Grafton is published in 28 countries and 26 languages—including Estonian, Bulgarian, and Indonesian. She's an international bestseller with a readership in the millions. She's a writer who believes in the form that she has chosen to mine: "The mystery novel offers a world in which justice is served. Maybe not in a court of law," she has said, "but people do get their just desserts." And like Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald, Robert Parker and the John D. MacDonald—the best of her breed—she has earned new respect for that form. Her readers appreciate her buoyant style, her eye for detail, her deft hand with character, her acute social observances, and her abundant storytelling talents.

The Kinsey Millhone novels, also known as the Alphabet series, was the first mystery series I read that featured a female lead. It was refreshing to read about a woman who could be tough, survive on her own, and have the same commitment issues all the leading mystery men I'd read had.

Important Characters to Know 
Kinsey Millhone - Private investigator

Henry Pitts - Kinsey's friend, elderly neighbor

Rosie - Owner of the diner Kinsey frequents

Jonah Robb - The sometimes married, sometimes not detective Kinsey is occasionally romantically involved with

Kinsey Millhone (in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. A is for Alibi
2. B Is for Burglar
3. C Is for Corpse
4. D Is for Deadbeat
5. E Is for Evidence
6. F Is for Fugitive
7. G Is for Gumshoe
8. H Is for Homicide
9. I Is for Innocent
10. J Is for Judgement
11. K Is for Killer
12. L Is for Lawless
13. M Is for Malice
14. N Is for Noose
15. O Is for Outlaw
16. P Is for Peril
17. Q Is For Quarry
18. R Is for Ricochet
19. S Is for Silence
20. T Is for Trespass
21. U Is for Undertow
22. V is for Vengeance

If you like the Kinsey Millhone series, you should try:

The V.I. Warshawski series by Sara Paretsky

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich

The Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell

The Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman

Spotlight Series: Jaine Austen

Laura Levine is a former sitcom writer (The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, Three's Company, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman). As an advertising copywriter, she created Count Chocula and Frankenberry cereals for General Mills. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. 

She and her husband live in Los Angeles.

I came across the Jaine Austen mysteries years ago, back when mystery only meant James Patterson or Agatha Christie to me. I found I loved the light, sort of fluffy tone to these books and the chick-lit feel of Jaine's dating life. This series was one of the ones that introduced me to cozy mysteries, which I've loved ever since.

Important Characters to Know
Jaine Austen - Freelance writer and occasional amateur sleuth.

Kandi - Jaine's best friend.

Lance - Jaine's next door neighbor.

Prozac - Jaine's cat.

Jaine Austen (in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. This Pen for Hire
2. Last Writes
3. Killer Blonde
4. Shoes to Die for
5. The PMS Murder
6. Death by Panty Hose
7. Killing Bridezilla
8. Killer Cruise
9. Death of a Trophy Wife 
10. Pampered to Death

If you like the Jaine Austen series, you should try:

The Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke

The Molly Forrester series by Sheryl J. Anderson

The Flower Shop series by Kate Collins

The Bad Hair Day series by Nancy J. Cohen

The Lucy Stone series by Leslie Meier

Spotlight Series: Dirk Pitt

Clive Cussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. 

Cussler is an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history.  In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler is also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has been honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration. 

Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. Clive Cussler lives in Arizona.

The Dirk Pitt series were the first books that I read that I consider Guy-Lit. They're full of action, adventure and men being men. Of course, that means in the older books the men (Dirk especially) get away with being chauvinistic and kind of jerky to the ladies, but such was the time. I was drawn to the series because of my interest in the Titanic, which was deeply examined in the 4th book of the series, and knew I had to read the others in the series.

Important Characters to Know
Dirk Pitt - Adventurer. Marine engineer for NUMA. Collects antique cars.

Al Giordino - Dirk's life-long best friend. Air Force captain. Works at NUMA.

James Sandecker - Director of NUMA. Dirk's boss.

Rudi Gunn - Deputy director of NUMA.

Loren Smith - Dirk's long time love interest. Special Project Director for NUMA.

Hiram Yeager - Computer specialist for NUMA. Something of a hippie.

Dirk Pitt (in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Pacific Vortex!
2. The Mediterranean Caper
3. Iceberg
4. Raise the Titanic!
5. Vixen 03
6. Night Probe!
7. Deep Six
8. Cyclops
9. Treasure
10. Dragon
11. Sahara
12. Inca Gold
13. Shock Wave
14. Flood Tide
15. Atlantis Found
16. Valhalla Rising
17. Trojan Odyssey
18. Black Wind
19. Treasure of Khan
20. Arctic Drift
21. Crescent Dawn

If you like the Dirk Pitt series, you should try:

The Independent series by Dale Brown

The Patrick McLanahan series by Dale Brown

The Jake Grafton series by Stephen Coonts

The Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy

The Op-Center series by Tom Clancy

Spotlight Series: Alex Cross

James Patterson has written over 77 novels at last count and is an largely known for his series about psychologist Alex Cross. Patterson also wrote the Michael Bennett, Women's Murder Club, Maximum Ride, Daniel X, and Witch & Wizard series, as well as many stand-alone thrillers, nonfiction and romance novels.

James Patterson knows how to tell a story. The writing is never beautiful, but it's always action packed and full of unforeseen twists. The Alex Cross series is one of my go-to series to read when I want something that sucks me in immediately, doesn't make me think too hard and can still manage to surprise me.

Important Characters to Know
Alex Cross - Detective and psychologist living in Washington DC with his family.

John Sampson - Alex's best friend and partner at the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia.

Kyle Craig - Alex's close friend who becomes his biggest nemesis.

Damon Cross - Alex's oldest son.

Janelle Cross - Alex's daughter.

Alex Cross Jr. - Alex's youngest son.

Nana Mama - Alex's grandmother. She raised Alex when his parents died. She lives with Alex and helps him raise his children.

Alex Cross (in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Along Came a Spider
2. Kiss the Girls
3. Jack and Jill
4. Cat and Mouse
5. Pop! Goes the Weasel
6. Roses Are Red
7. Violets Are Blue
8. Four Blind Mice
9. The Big Bad Wolf
10. London Bridges
11. Mary Mary
12. Cross
13. Double Cross
14. Cross Country
15. Alex Cross's Trial
16. I, Alex Cross
17. Cross Fire 
18. Kill Alex Cross

If you like the Alex Cross series, you should try:

The Lucas Davenport series by John Sandford

The Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell

The Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman

The Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson

The Stone Barrington series by Stuart Woods

Spotlight Series: The Hunger Games

Bestselling author Suzanne Collins first made her mark in children’s literature with the New York Times bestselling Underland Chronicles series for middle grade readers. Her debut for readers aged 12 and up, The Hunger Games (September 2008), immediately became a New York Times bestseller, appealing to both teen readers and adults. It was called “addictive” by Stephen King in Entertainment Weekly, and “amazing” by Stephenie Meyer on her website, and was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2008 and a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice.

Suzanne Collins has also had a successful and prolific career writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. She received a Writers Guild of America nomination in animation for co-writing the critically acclaimed Christmas special, Santa, Baby!

Suzanne Collins lives with her family in Connecticut.

The Hunger Games was so hyped that I was sure I'd hate it. It ended up being one of the very few books I have ever read that the huge hype ended up being nothing compared to the magnificence of the series. This is perhaps the very best dystopian trilogy ever written. With The Hunger Games movie coming out next year, I can't wait for all of the non-readers to experience the awesomeness I already know.

Important Characters to Know
Katniss Everdeen - 16 years old. Goes to The Hunger Games in place of her sister, Prim.

Peeta Mellark - 16 year old baker's son who competes in The Hunger Games with Katniss.

Gale Hawthorne - 18 years old. Katniss's best friend and hunting partner.

Primrose "Prim" Everdeen - Katniss's younger sister.

Haymitch Abernathy - Previous Hunger Games winner. Always drunk. Mentor to Katniss and Peeta.

Cinna - Katniss's stylist for the Hunger Games.

President Coriolanus Snow - Ruler of Panem. Evil.

The Hunger Games
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. The Hunger Games
2. Catching Fire
3. Mockingjay

If you like the The Hunger Games series, you should try:

The Maze Runner series by James Dasher

The Forest of Hands and Teeth series by Carrie Ryan

The Seven Kingdoms series by Kristin Cashore

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

The Caster Chronicles series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Spotlight Series: Harry Potter

J K (Joanne Kathleen) Rowling was born in the summer of 1965 at Yate General Hospital in England and grew up in Chepstow, Gwent where she went to Wyedean Comprehensive. Jo left Chepstow for Exeter University, where she earned a French and Classics degree, and where her course included one year in Paris. As a postgraduate she moved to London to work at Amnesty International, doing research into human rights abuses in Francophone Africa. She started writing the Harry Potter series during a Manchester to London King's Cross train journey, and during the next five years, outlined the plots for each book and began writing the first novel. The Harry Potter books have sold 400 million copies worldwide. They are distributed in over 200 territories and are translated into 67 languages.

The Harry Potter series is THE fantasy series of a generation. I borrowed the first books from my cousin right around the time Sorcerer's Stone was released and instantly fell in love with the world created within the pages. People have many reasons to love the series, but the thing that always holds me spellbound during a reading of the series is the atmosphere itself. All the tiny little details that make up the wizarding world make me absolutely love the series.

Important Characters to Know
Harry Potter - Orphaned wizard. Only person to survive a deadly attack by Lord Voldemort.

Ron Weasley - Best friend to Harry and Hermoine. Born to pureblood wizards. Youngest boy in a family of seven siblings.

Hermoine Granger - Best friend to Harry and Ron. Born to Muggles (non-wizards). Very intelligent.

Lord Voldemort - Primary bad guy of series. Dark wizard. Attacked Harry when he was a baby. Obsessed with purebloods, although not a pureblood wizard himself.

Albus Dumbledore - Headmaster of Hogwarts, a wizarding boarding school. Harry's mentor.

Severus Snape -Professor at Hogwarts who takes an instant dislike of Harry. There is always the question as to whether he is good or evil.

Rubeus Hagrid -Half-giant friend to Harry, Ron and Hermoine. Isn't supposed to use magic as he was expelled from Hogwarts before graduating.

Draco Malfoy - Student at Hogwarts. Bully. Obsessed with purebloods.

Harry Potter
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

If you like the Harry Potter series, you should try:

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

The Earthsea Cycle series by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis

The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer

The Bartimaeus series by Jonathan Stroud

Spotlight Series: The Women's Murder Club

James Patterson is the creator of the top-selling new detective series of the past dozen years, featuring Alex Cross and including the Hollywood-adapted "Along Came a Spider" and "Kiss the Girls," starring Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. He is also the creator of the #1 new detective series of the past five years, featuring Lindsay Boxer and the Women's Murder Club, from which the ABC television drama series was adapted. He has authored books behind six films on the Hollywood fast-track, including the upcoming Maximum Ride movie forthcoming from Avi Arad, the producer of X-Men and Spiderman.

He is the author of novels — from The Thomas Berryman Number (1976) to Honeymoon (2005) — that have won awards including the Edgar, the BCA Mystery Guild's Thriller of the Year, the International Thriller of the Year award, and the Reader’s Digest Reader’s Choice Award. And, he has won a Children’s Choice Book Council’s Children’s Choice Awards “Author of the Year” award (2010).

James Patterson novels are often dismissed as short fluff, but Patterson's Women's Murder Club novels were the books that really got me into crime fiction beyond Agatha Christie novels. I love this series, even if it's easy reading. Patterson has always had a flair for unforeseen twists and you can always count on at least one in every Women's Murder Club book.

Important Characters to Know
Lindsey Boxer - Homicide inspector for the San Francisco Police Department.

Dr. Claire Washburn - Medical examiner.

Cindy Thomas - A reporter for the San Fransisco Chronicle.

Jill Berhardt - Assistant D.A.

Yuki Castellano - Assistant D.A.

Warren Jacobi - Lindsey's partner.

Joe Molinari - Lindsey's major love interest. Works for Homeland Security.

The Women's Murder Club
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. 1st to Die
2. 2nd Chance
3. 3rd Degree
4. 4th of July
5. The 5th Horseman
6. The 6th Target
7. 7th Heaven
8. The 8th Confession
9. 9th Judgment
10. 10th Anniversary

If you like the The Women's Murder Club series, you should try:

The Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell

The King-Maxwell series by David Baldacci

The Alex Cross series by James Patterson

The Michael Bennett series by James Patterson

The Lucas Davenport series by John Sandford

Spotlight Series: The Mortal Instruments

Cassandra Clare was born to American parents in Teheran, Iran and spent much of her childhood travelling the world with her family, including one trek through the Himalayas as a toddler where she spent a month living in her father’s backpack. She lived in France, England and Switzerland before she was ten years old. Since her family moved around so much she found familiarity in books and went everywhere with a book under her arm. She spent her high school years in Los Angeles where she used to write stories to amuse her classmates, including an epic novel called “The Beautiful Cassandra” based on a Jane Austen short story of the same name (and which later inspired her current pen name).

After college, Cassie lived in Los Angeles and New York where she worked at various entertainment magazines and even some rather suspect tabloids where she reported on Brad and Angelina’s world travels and Britney Spears’ wardrobe malfunctions. She started working on her YA novel, City of Bones, in 2004, inspired by the urban landscape of Manhattan, her favourite city. She turned to writing fantasy fiction full time in 2006 and hopes never to have to write about Paris Hilton again.

Cassie’s first professional writing sale was a short story called “The Girl’s Guide to Defeating the Dark Lord” in a Baen anthology of humor fantasy. Cassie hates working at home alone because she always gets distracted by reality TV shows and the antics of her two cats, so she usually sets out to write in local coffee shops and restaurants. She likes to work in the company of her friends, who see that she sticks to her deadlines.

My love of The Mortal Instrument series came as a complete surprise. It was yet another highly hypes series I didn't believe would live up to the expectation. The world-building was phenomenal and the characters immediately drew me in. I read the first three books in rapid succession and am impatiently waiting the next installment.

Important Characters to Know
Clarissa "Clary" Fray - Shadowhunter raised as human.

Jace Wayland - Orphaned shadowhunter, living with the Lightwoods.

Simon Lewis - Clary's human best friend.

Alec Lightwood - Oldest Lightwood sibling. Shadowhunter. Gay.

Isabelle Lightwood - Middle Lightwood sibling. Shadowhunter. Described as beautiful.

Magnus Bane - High warlock of Brooklyn. Bisexual. Dating Alec. 800 years old.

Luke Garroway - aka Lucian Graymark. Clary's mother's best friend and a father figure to Clary.

Valentine Morgenstern - Powerful and evil shadowhunter. Main bad guy.

The Mortal Instruments
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. City of Bones
2. City of Ashes
3. City of Glass
4. City of Fallen Angels
   

If you like the Mortal Instruments series, you should try:

The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr

The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare

The Immortals series by Alyson Noel

The Evernight series by Claudia Gray

The House of Night series by P.C. Cast

The Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz

The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead

Spotlight Series: Gallagher Girls

Ally Carter is the author of the best-selling Gallagher Girls series and Heist Society. She loved school so much she kept going...and going...and going...until finally she had to graduate. Now she has degrees from Oklahoma State University and Cornell University and a house and a job and other very grown-up things.

Her life is either very ordinary or the best deep-cover legend ever. She'd tell you more, but...well...you know...

I fell in love with Ally Carter after reading her two adult novels, Cheating at Solitaire and Learning to Play Gin. I first picked up I'd Tell You I Love You, But I'd Have to Kill You not knowing it was a YA novel. I was immediately swept up in the idea of a school for teen girls, shaping them into spies. This is one of those series that cemented by love for YA.

Important Characters to Know
Cameron "Cammie" Morgan - aka Chameleon. Daughter of the headmistress. Very good at being unseen.

Rebecca "Bex" Baxter - aka Duchess. British. Very outgoing and up for any mission.

Macey McHenry - aka Peacock. Daughter of a senator and an heiress. Comes off like a tough girl.

Elizabeth "Liz" Sutton - aka Bookworm. Genius, but clumsy. Parents are unaware what type of school she attends.

Zach Goode - Student at the Blackthorne School for Boys. Possible boy spy. Seems to have some romantic interest in Cammie.

Josh Abrams - Civilian boy Cammie gets involved with.

Gallagher Girls
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
2. Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
3. Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover
4. Only the Good Spy Young

If you like the Gallagher Girls series, you should try:

The Heist Society series by Ally Carter

The Avalon High series by Meg Cabot

The Ruby Oliver series by E. Lockhart

The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz

The Young Bond series by Charlie Higson

Spotlight Series: Lucy Valentine

Heather Webber grew up in a suburb of Boston, where she learned early on how to ride the T, skip rocks in the ocean, and root for the Red Sox. As a young mother, she tried her hand at writing novels and hasn’t looked back. These days she lives in southwestern Ohio with her high school sweetheart and their three children. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.

I fell in love with Lucy Valentine within the first few pages of Truly, Madly. Her genetic psychic ability got mixed up in her youth, preventing her from being the perfect matchmaker her father is. Still, she uses the ability that remains to help people as best she can. Since her ability is different than those who came before, can she avoid the curse that's plagued the romantic lives of her family for generations? Fun and sexy, this series is an absolute joy to read.

Important Characters to Know
Lucy Valentine - Descended from a long line of psychic matchmakers, yet unable to see auras that would enable her to make perfect matches. Has the ability to find lost objects.

Sean Donahue - Once a fireman, now helping out a a private detective firm. Lucy's boyfriend.

Lucy Valentine
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Truly, Madly
2. Deeply, Desperately
3. Absolutely, Positively

If you like the Lucy Valentine series, you should try:

The Sugar Maple Chronicles series by Barbara Bretton

The Hearts of Gold series by Emily Carmichael

The Samantha Shaw Mystery series by Jennifer Apodaca

The Harper Connelly Mystery series by Charlaine Harris

The Psychic Eye series by Victoria Laurie

Spotlight Series: Bailey Weggins

Kate White is the veteran editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, and also a critically acclaimed author of both fiction and nonfiction books, including 9 Secrets of Women Who Get Everything They Want, Lethally Blond, and Hush. White currently resides in Manhattan with her husband and two children.

The Bailey Weggins series was one of the first chick lit-esque mystery series I read. Bailey works at a women's magazine, something Kate White obviously knows a lot about and it shows. I really enjoyed this series and hope someday there will be more Bailey Weggins books. The last book, Lethally Blonde, was published in 2007, so outlook not so good.

Important Characters to Know
Bailey Weggins -30ish career woman working for a women's magazine. Often finds dead bodies.

Bailey Weggins
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. If Looks Could Kill
2. A Body to Die for
3. 'Til Death Do Us Part
4. Over Her Dead Body
5. Lethally Blond

If you like the Bailey Weggins series, you should try:

The Molly Forrester series by Sheryl J. Anderson

The Blackbird Sisters Mystery series by Nancy Martin

The Maddie Springer series by Gemma Halliday

The Jaine Austen Mystery series by Laura Levine

The Heather Wells Mystery series by Meg Cabot

Spotlight Series: Women of the Otherworld

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers’ dismay. Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

I "discovered" the Women of the Otherworld series years ago and immediately loved the way each book was narrated by a different woman. It gives the series the unique ability to really get into the different situations each species of paranormal faces.

Important Characters to Know
Elena Michaels - Werewolf. Only known female werewolf.

Paige Winterbourne - Witch. Leader of the American Coven. Private investigator and web designer.

Savannah Levine - Powerful witch. A witch/sorcerer hybrid. Daughter of Eve Levine. Being raised by Paige Winterbourne.

Jaime Vegas - Necromancer. TV spiritualist.

Eve Levine - Half-demon. Witch. Angel. Mother of Savannah.

Hope Adams - Half-demon. Craves chaos.

Cassandra DuCharme - Vampire. May be in her final years of life.

Women of the Otherworld
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Bitten
2. Stolen
3. Dime Store Magic
4. Industrial Magic
5. Haunted
6. Broken
7. No Humans Involved
8. Personal Demon
9. Living with the Dead
10. Frostbitten
11. Waking the Witch
12. Spellbound

If you like the Women of the Otherworld series, you should try:

The Hollows series by Kim Harrison

The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

The Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance

The Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn

The Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton

Spotlight Series: Meredith Gentry

Laurell K. Hamilton is a full-time writer and mother. She is the author of the bestselling Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels and also the author of the Meredith Gentry. She lives in a suburb of St. Louis with her family. 

Laurell K. Hamilton introduced me to a world of vampires beyond Anne Rice's angsty characters with her Anita Blake series. After devouring the series, I moved on to her Meredith Gentry series and was introduced to both the faerie world and idea that a series could mainly revolve around sex. Yes, there is a lot of sex in this series, but it's good sex. It carries the story line and while graphic, it never seems gratuitous.

Important Characters to Know
Meredith Gentry - Faerie princess and private investigator. Will become Queen of the Unseelie court if she proves fertile. 33 years old. Mortal.

Rhys - Merry's guard/lover. Over 2000 years old. Former death god.

Galen Greenhair - Merry's guard/lover. 100 years old. Mix of fey and pixie.

Doyle - Merry's guard/lover. Over 1700 years old. Captain of the Queen's Ravens.

Sholto - Merry's lover. King of the Slaugh. Over 200 years old.

Frost - Merry's guard/lover. Over 2000 years old. Doyle's second in command.

Andais - Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of the Unseelie Court. Merry's aunt. Over 1000 years old. Infertile.

Meredith Gentry
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. A Kiss of Shadows
2. A Caress of Twilight
3. Seduced By Moonlight
4. A Stroke of Midnight
5. Mistral's Kiss
6. A Lick of Frost
7. Swallowing Darkness
8. Divine Misdemeanors

If you like the Meredith Gentry series, you should try:

The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

The Hollows series by Kim Harrison

The Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K, Hamilton

The Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong

The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

Spotlight Series: Sookie Stackhouse (Southern Vampire)

Charlaine Harris writes mysteries in addition to her Sookie Stackhouse books. She lives with her husband, three children, two dogs, two ferrets, and a duck. An avid reader, mild cinemaphile, and occasional weightlifter, her favorite activity is cheering her children on in various sports while sitting on uncomfortable bleachers.

By now everyone on the planet has at least heard of, if not read, the Sookie Stackhouse series. I had heard fantastic things about the series, but it sat on my shelves unread for years. I actually watched the first two seasons of True Blood, the show based on the series, before actually starting the series. The first two books were very close to the TV show, but as both the series and the show continue, the storylines diverge greatly. They both become rather different, but each is great in its own way.

Important Characters to Know
Sookie Stackhouse - Waitress and telepath.

Jason Stackhouse - Sookie's older brother. Very good with the ladies.

Eric Northman - Vampire. Sheriff of Area Five. Over 1000 years old. Viking.

Sam Merlotte - Shapeshifer. Sookie's boss.

Bill Compton -Vampire. Confederate soldier in the Civil War.

Pam Ravenscroft - Vampire. Eric's vampire child and second in command.

Sookie Stackhouse (Southern Vampire)
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Dead Until Dark
2. Living Dead in Dallas
3. Club Dead
4. Dead to the World
5. Dead as a Doornail
6. Definitely Dead
7. All Together Dead
8. From Dead to Worse
9. Dead and Gone
10. Dead in the Family
11. Dead Reckoning
    

If you like the Sookie Stackhouse (Southern Vampire) series, you should try:

The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

The Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton

The Hollows series by Kim Harrison

The Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn

The Queen Betsy (Undead) series by MaryJanice Davidson

Spotlight Series: Casa Dracula

Marta Acosta received a degree in English literature and creative writing from Stanford University. She is a regular contributor to The San Francisco Chronicle and the Contra Costa Newspapers. Her debut novel, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, was a Book Sense Pick.

I'll admit that I picked up the first Casa Dracula based on the name alone. I like happy hour. I like vampires. It was like destiny. Marta Acosta writes with such intelligent humor that you can't help but love lead character Milagro's way of viewing everything around her. I fell in love with this series immediately.

Important Characters to Know
Milagro de los Santos - Fiesty aspiring writer who finds herself drawn into the world of "vampires."

Oswald Grant - Milagro's "vampire" boyfriend. Plastic surgeon.

Edna Grant - Oswald's grandmother and the head of their "vampire" family.

Ian Ducharme - Sexy and dangerous "vampire" that rivals Oswald for Milagro's affections.

Casa Dracula
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Happy Hour at Casa Dracula
2. Midnight Brunch
3. The Bride of Casa Dracula
4. Haunted Honeymoon

If you like the Casa Dracula series, you should try:

The Glory St. Clair series by Gerry Bartlett

The Dead End Dating series by Kimberly Raye

The Garnet Lacey series by Tate Hallaway

The Immortality Bites series by Michelle Rowen

The Broken Heart Vampires series by Michele Bardsley
The Queen Betsy series by MaryJanice Davidson

Spotlight Series: Temperance Brennan

Kathy Reichs, like her fictional creation, Temperance Brennan, is forensic anthropologist for the province of Quebec. She is Vice President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, serves on the Canadian National Police Services Advisory Council, and is one of only fifty-six forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. A professor of anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Reichs now divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal. Deja Dead, her debut novel, brought her fame when it became a New York Times bestseller and won the 1997 Ellis Award for Best First Novel. In 2007 Break No Bones was short- listed for the Ellis Award for Best Novel. Kathy Reichs is the inspiration for the television drama Bones.

I honestly can't remember whether I watched the TV show Bones or read my first Temperance Brennan novel first. The books and the show are so vastly different that it's very easy to enjoy both without becoming confused. The Temperance Brennan series was the first forensic mysteries I read and caused me to immediately fall in love the with genre. Tempe is strong and intelligent with a realistic moral code. She cares deeply for her family and friends and takes her job very seriously. Romantic elements do show up occasionally, but Tempe never lets it interfere with her work.

Important Characters to Know
Temperance Brennan - Tempe is a recovering alcoholic and forensic anthropologist splitting her time working with the police in North Carolina and Quebec. She also occasionally teaches at the University of North Carolina.

Andrew Ryan - A Quebec detective Tempe often works with. They have an on-again-off-again romantic relationship.

Luc Claudel - Another Quebec detective Tempe works with. They don't especially like each other, but have a grudging respect for one another.

Pierre LaManche - Tempe's boss in Quebec.

Temperance Brennan
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Déjà Dead
2. Death du Jour
3. Deadly Decisions
4. Fatal Voyage
5. Grave Secrets
6. Bare Bones
7. Monday Mourning
8. Cross Bones
9. Break No Bones
10. Bones to Ashes
11. Devil Bones
12. 206 Bones
13. Spider Bones

If you like the Temperance Brennan series, you should try:

The Grant County series by Karin Slaughter

The Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell

The Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles series by Tess Gerritsen

The Alexandra Cooper series by Linda Fairstein

The Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffrey Deaver