Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

I read this book in 3 days. If that says anything about how much I liked the book. Which is wierd, because I wouldn't guess that I would like a teen book about a normal high school girl who falls in love with a vampire. Seriously. Not kidding about the vampire part. The book moves really fast, and is really easy to read.

Bella has to move from living with her mom in Phoenix to living with her dad in Forks, Washington. When Bella starts her new school, she seems drawn to gorgeous but distant Edward, even though he alternates between acting like he wants her dead, and acting as if she's not even there. In a freak accident, Edward saves Bella's life using inhuman strength and speed. Bella knows something is up with Edward (and his 4 adopted siblings), but can't figure it out. A friend shares a legend with Bella that Edward and his family are vampires, and have been living in the area for many, many years.

In the meantime, Edward seems drawn to Bella, despite the way he acts. Edward once again saves Bella's life by being in the right place at the right time, and they begin a tentative friendship. As they become closer, Bella knows that Edward and his family are vampires, but she can't seem to stay away from them. Edward comes clean about being a vampire, and tells her that although his family still crave human blood, they quench their thirst with animal blood.

About three things I was absolutely positive:
First, Edward was a vampire.
Second, there was a part of him–and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be–that thirsted for my blood.
And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Edward keeps his darker vampire tendencies in check, and falls in love with Bella. His family accepts Bella, because they can see his love for her. Bella's life is in jeopardy towards the end of the book when another pack of vampires travel through Forks and discover the odd relationship between Bella and Edward's family.

The Collectors by David Baldacci

The camel club strikes again!

This book took me a while to get into, just like the camel club did. And though I liked the book, I never felt like I couldn't put it down.

You follow a group of con artists who pull a "long con" for $40 million on a casino king in Atlantic City. In the meantime, you read of an assassin who targets different people in Washington DC. And finally, you also read of the camel club and their quest to research a conspiracy theory regarding different deaths in DC. You know that the 3 storylines will converge at some point, you just don't know when, or how they will. It turns out that the mastermind con artist (Annabelle) is an ex-wife of a murdered co-worker of a camel club member. Confused? I was for a while!

Annabelle works with the camel club to uncover the plot behind the seemingly unrelated murders. The camel club discovers that the reason for all the murders is that people are selling secrets to various enemies of the US. They discover the complicated plot to get the secrets from government agents through to the people who are buying the secrets. During all of this, the casino king is hunting down Annabelle to make her pay for her mistake of conning him.

The book ends with the spy plot revealed, but the casino king is hot on Annabelle's trail. Can't wait for the next camel club installment to find out if Annabelle will be discovered...

The Camel Club by David Baldacci

It took me quite a while to get into the book - I was halfway through before I really got into it. But once I did, I couldn't put the book down. Literally. I started at the halfway point reading before bed, and didn't stop until I had finished the book in the wee hours of the morning.

Oliver Stone and his rag-tag group of friends are on a quest for the "truth" about the government. They keep track of the comings and goings of the president and other higher-ups and they have their own conspiracy theories about things that happen. They accidentally witness a murder and then spend the rest of the book trying to find out who is responsible for the murder, and how to expose that person or group of people.

In the meantime, a very complex plot to kidnap the president is underway. The camel club again happens to be in the exact location when the plot is put into action. Kidnapping the president causes a chain reaction that ultimately leads to the brink of nuclear war.

As you can guess, the camel club uncovers the kidnappers, find the president, and does this all before war breaks out. After the slow beginning, the book does keep you at the edge of your seat, and it does make me want to read more camel club books by Baldacci.

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

I seem to recall my parents telling me long ago that I should read this book because they believed I would like it. Something about my parents recommending a book didn't sit well with me at the time, so of course I didn't read it. But I should have - I loved it!

The book follows James right after he finishes veterinarian school and gets a job in the farming community in the Yorkshire Dales in England. The book takes place in the 1934's, I believe. It is full of funny accounts of what a country vet in the early 1900's had to do. Each story is wonderfully told, and you definitely feel like you are right there with James as he travels across the country, tending animals and meeting very colorful characters in the process. James is in a vet practice with two brothers, Sigfried and Tristan, who also contribute to the lively stories.

The book also has a bit of a love story, but it was refreshing that the book wasn't about the love story between James and his wife-to-be Helen. I think the book was almost 3/4 of the way through before you even met Helen.

I can't wait to read the next installment of life as a veterinarian in the Yorkshire Dales - All Things Bright and Beautiful!