After visiting the Mob museum last month in Vegas I got super interested in books about the mob – even one of the “beach” reads was mob related. Most of them were really long though so I didn’t read as many books as I thought I would…AND… I was more social than normal during my trip to Jamaica for my birthday.  I had several series I wanted to read but I only ended up reading a handful of them.  All in all it was a good book month but I am still waiting for the next great book that is going to WOW me!

1. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
2. Mob Daughter: The Mafia, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, and Me! by Karen Gravano, Lisa Pulitzer
3. Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones
4. Lucky (Lucky Santangelo) by Jackie Collins
5. Widow’s Wed by Jennifer Estep

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear – (Historical Fiction) While talking books with someone last month they recommended this series and since it’s my sister’s name I went for it and loved it! Based in England after WW1 it is a fun read but also an insider’s look at what it would have been like during that time as a woman.  Maisie is not only breaking into a man’s world but also society. I look forward to reading the rest of this series!

Mob Daughter: The Mafia, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, and Me! by Karen Gravano, Lisa Pulitzer – (Non Fiction) I don’t watch much TV so I didn’t realize she is on TV but I did live in AZ when a lot of the end of this book happened. This book once again showed that we only know part of the story and it’s usually the over hyped and sensationalized part. This book really gives you an insider look into the family side of the mafia. Fast and interesting read.

Fifth Grave Past the Light and Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones – (Paranormal) I LOVE this series!  I was catching up on the series and I wish there were more to read. The main character – Charlie Davidson is the Grim Reaper and the love interest is Satan’s son.  What else do you need… Sarcastic t-shirt and bumper sticker quotes before every chapter!  My favorite one is “I lost my virginity but I kept the box”.  If you like sarcastic people and mysteries…you will LOVE this series!

Cut and Thrust by Stuart Woods – (Mystery) Not my favorite Stone Barrington (#30) but still a fun read even with all of the political mumbo jumbo.

Thread of Death, Widow’s Wed and Deadly Sting by Jennifer Estep – (Paranormal) If you like magic, great fight scenes and assassins then you will love this series.  The girl next store kills for money…or is she retired?

Brownies and Broomsticks & Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates – (Paranormal/Light Mystery) There are lots of food mysteries out there but this one has the added bonus of magic! I love the spellbook club and all the characters of this series. Fun and fast reads.

The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano: The Mafia Story in His Own Words by by Martin A. Gosch, Richard Hammer – (Non Fiction) WOW!  What a book!  The dialogue was real that I could practically hear him speaking to me. This books takes you on a ride from Italy in the early 1900s, to New York during prohibition and then back to Italy in exile with a few stops in Vegas, Cuba and Atlantic City.

Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz – (Light Mystery) Another wild ride with the Spellmans!  Nothing gets past this family.

Lucky (Lucky Santangelo) by Jackie Collins – (Light Mystery) This woman rocks!  She takes care of business.  Lucky takes over the family business while her dad is in exile in Italy.  The dad’s story reminds me of Lucky Luciano’s story but our Lucky is so much more.  I look forward to more.

The Stranger by Kyra Davis – (Romance) Why are all these books written as trilogies and have so much drama?  I really liked the first book but then I started the second and couldn’t take all the drama. If you like the drama…

Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay – (Light Mystery) I like this series so much I want to move to this small coastal city! Fast fun read.