Death’s Excellent Vacation – Anthology
Book Description:
“The editors of “Wolfsbane and Mistletoe” and “Many Bloody Returns” deliver a new collection-including a never-before-published Sookie Stackhouse story.
“New York Times” bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister, Jeaniene Frost-plus Lilith Saintcrow, Jeff Abbott, and more-send postcards from the edge of the paranormal world to fans who devoured “Wolfsbane and Mistletoe” and “Many Bloody Returns.”
With an all-new Sookie Stackhouse story and twelve other original tales, editors Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner bring together a stellar collection of tour guides who offer vacations that are frightening, funny, and touching for the fanged, the furry, the demonic, and the grotesque. Learn why it really can be an endless summer-for immortals.”
My Thoughts:
As with any anthology with several authors, there were a few stories that I LOVED, some that I really liked, some that were just ok and a couple that just didn’t do it for me, but all in all it was a good read. I also found a couple new authors that I’ll be looking into, so that’s always a bonus!
Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse short, Two Blondes, was excellent and the only thing wrong with it was that it was too short, lol. A full length novel about Sookie is too short for me, I can never get enough of these characters! Sookie and Pam go away for a weekend and while attending an unexpected business meeting they come across unexpected complications.
Jeaniene Frost’s - One For The Money: Cat & Bones’ vacation is interrupted when her uncle needs them to do him a favor. As always, any story about Cat & Bones, it was filled with suspense, danger, action, some smexy time, and great characters including Cat’s mom and Fabian the ghost. I always love a Cat & Bones adventure!
Meanwhile, Far Across The Caspian Sea by Daniel Stashower is about a young aspiring writer/journalist. He takes an entry-level job at a non-fiction publishing house and interacts with some pretty eccentric characters. There’s a surprise at the end.
A. Lee Martinez – The Innsmouth Nook Two men open up a bed and breakfast in a small strange town and strange things occur that lead to a completely unexpected ending. Creepy creatures, that’s all I can say without spoiling it.
Jeff Abbott – Safe & Sound A self involved TV journalist uses the disappearance of a college student in an attempt to boost her career. They all travel to the tropical island where he disappeared, despite a rude awakening of the paranormal kind, she never lets up in trying to put a self promoting spin on things up until the end.
L.A. Banks – Seeing Is Believing A young woman who has the gift of “sight” goes on a working vacation to New Orleans to gather supplies for a werewolf problem at home. She meets a young man who is able to help her and finds out just how special he really is.
Katie MacAlister – The Perils Of Effrijim Aisling Grey’s demon Effrijim or “Jim” as he likes to be called is sent off to be taken care of or supervised, while Ash & her family go on vacation. Calamity ensues when her caretaker’s apprentice banishes him to Akasha. Hilarious!
Christopher Golden – Thin Walls Aman who lost his wife a year ago goes on a “farewell” tour of all the places she loved as a tribute to her. He’s kept awake half the night at the hotel he’s staying at by, shall we say, some overly enthusiastic people in the next room. This story plays out in a surprise ending.
Lilith Saintcrow – The Heart Is Always Right A gargoyle saves a woman that he’s attracted to and then finds out that she’s very special. He’s very conflicted with what he knows he has to do with her and with his feelings for her. As always, Saintcrow’s writing and characters had me enthralled right up to the end.
Chris Grabenstein – The Demon In The Dunes A Man reminisces of a long ago summer when he was in his teens and on vacation for the summer with his family and friends. About a night where he & his friends snuck out to meet some girls and he saw a demon in the dunes. Interesting twist.
Sharon Newman – Home From America A great story of a fourth generation Irish man wanting to go to Ireland to find his roots. He ends up going with his whole family for a family reunion and is in for a big surprise!
Toni P. Kelner – Pirate Dave’s Haunted Amusement Park A newly turned werewolf returns to her favorite childhood vacation spot to be alone & come to terms with her situation. She comes across a vampire who is the owner of the Pirate themed amusement park she loves and the sparks fly!
Buy Death’s Excellent Vacation at:
Chapters, Amazon, Penguin.ca or The Book Depository
