I love the concept of Christmas in July. It’s a great time to get a jump start on your holiday shopping and who wouldn’t love a Christopher Radko ornament at 40% off?
That’s why I decided to review Wolfsbane and Mistletoe on the 4th of July. I absolutely love the theme of this anthology: short stories about werewolves that take place during Christmas.
These 15 short stories provide an interesting insight into the lives of some of our favorite characters: Sookie Stackhouse, Kitty Norville and Cal Leandros as well as new characters. Here’s a peek at a few of the stories in the book:
Gift Wrap by Charlaine Harris
Sookie, alone for the Christmas holiday, decides to take a walk through the woods. She comes upon an injured werewolf who needs her help. She soon learns that good things come in all sizes and shapes.
The Haire of the Beast by Donna Andrews
This is a light-hearted story involving revenge. A witch starts out researching a spell to turn her brother into a werewolf, but also decides to make some magical brownies for Christmas to feed her ex. The result is unexpected and funny.
The Werewolf Before Christmas by Kat Richardson
This wicked tale features Mathias, a werewolf who’s been naughty, but not so nice. After Mathias chows down on Rudolph, Santa makes him the lead reindeer. This story was lots of fun to read.
Fresh Meat by Alan Gordon
The inseparable team of werewolf and dog work together to fight evil and show the world that harmony is possible between the unlikeliest of creatures. This is an intelligent and entertaining story where justice is served up nicely.
Il Est Ne by Carrie Vaughn
Can’t a girl just enjoy her pancakes in peace? Popular werewolf radio DJ Kitty meets a werewolf newbie at a Waffle House and ends up working with him to solve a murder mystery. Along the way they learn a bit more about themselves.
The Perfect Gift by Dana Stabenow
Two police officers are tracking down serial killers in Alaska. One is a werewolf and the other one isn’t. You have to guess who’s who.
Christmas Past by Keri Arthur
This is a sensual story of rekindled passion that involves two ex-lovers who are forced to work together to find a murderer. In the process the hunky werewolf and the beautiful psychic find romance.
SA by Joe Konrath
Shapeshifters Anonymous (SA) includes were-turtles, were-coral and more twisted but highly imaginative characters. This Christmas tale is wildly amusing and outrageous and will change your image of Santa forever.
The Star of David by Patricia Briggs
The human daughter of a werewolf comes to her father for help despite his violent past involving her mother. This poignant piece is a touching Christmas story about reconciliation and forgiveness.
You’d Better Not Pyout by Nancy Pickard
What if you discovered that Santa is actually a vampire that uses the cover of Christmas to enter homes and snack on humans? Well, if you’re two ex-Soviet vampires you decide you want a piece of the action as well. Unfortunately, these guys aren’t the smartest vamps around and end up embarking on an outrageously funny adventure.
Milk and Cookies by Rob Thurman
The author of the Cal Leandros series delivers a wickedly amusing tale of werewolf kids and what they’re really hoping to find under the Christmas tree. It’s not what you would expect.
Keeping Watch Over His Flock by Toni L. P. Kelner
Jake is a young shapeshifter who becomes a hero overnight after rescuing a missing girl. But to protect his pack, Jake has to shapeshift into something completely unusual and unexpected.
The stories in Wolfbane and Mistletoe run from eerily scary to laugh out loud funny. It’s definitely got something for everyone. It can be purchased from online retailers like Amazon.
A Touch of Dead is a compilation of the short stories written by Charlaine Harris that feature Sookie Stackhouse. The great thing about this book is that it will include all of the short stories in one place. This will be great for people who have already collected the books as well as those who haven’t.
Here’s a list of the current Sookie Stackhouse short stories and the books that they appear in:
| Short Story Title | Book Title | Gift Wrap | Wolfsbane and Mistletoe | Dracula Night | Many Bloody Returns | Fairy Dust | Powers of Detection | One Word Answer | Bite | Lucky | Unusual Suspects |
Here’s the entire listing (including A Touch of Dead) at Amazon: Sookie Stackhouse Short Story Books. A Touch of Dead will be released October 6, 2009.
Stay tuned: I plan to review each of the current books that contain Sookie Stackhouse short stories.
Here are all of the Sookie Stackhouse books in the Southern Vampire Mystery series starting with the most recent:
#9
Title: Dead and Gone
Description: The shifter community comes “out of the closet” to the world; a shifter is killed outside Merlotte’s; a new vampire king wants to use Sookie to his advantage. Check price
#8
Title: From Dead to Worse
Description: Sookie tries to help the vampire queen of Louisiana and ends up being targeted for murder; a werewolf war is brewing; we learn some secrets about Sookie’s background. Check price
#7
Title: All Together Dead
Description: Sookie attends a vampire summit and dead bodies start piling up; Sookie spends time with hunky Quinn; Sookie attends an hilarious vampire wedding. Check prices
#6
Title: Definitely Dead
Description: Sookie travels to New Orleans to close the apartment of a recently deceased relative; we learn the real reason for Bill’s betrayal; we learn more about Sookie’s heritage. Check price
#5
Title: Dead As a Doornail
Description: Someone is killing members of the local shifter community; Sookie gets pulled into Alcide’s werewolf pack politics; fingers point at Sookie regarding the recent disappearance of a female shifter. Check price
#4
Title: Dead To The World
Description: Eric loses his memory and temporarily moves in with Sookie (yum); Jason is kidnapped; a group of dark witches comes to town. Check price
#3
Title: Club Dead
Description: Bill disappears and Sookie sets out to find him; Sookie meets the hunky werewolf Alcide; Bubba, our golden-voiced vampire crooner, helps Sookie; Sookie learns that Bill has betrayed her. Check price
#2
Title: Living Dead In Dallas
Description: Sookie gets called to Dallas to help locate a missing vampire; we’re introduced to the radical group The Fellowship of the Sun; Sookie almost loses her life. Check price
#1
Title: Dead Until Dark
Description: We meet: Sookie, a telepathic waitress; Bill Compton, a sexy vampire; Sam Merlotte, Sookie’s boss who has a secret; and Jason, Sookie’s womanizing brother. Check prices
The NEW 8-Book Sookie Stackhouse Box Set is ON SALE!
Get Books 1-8 in the Sookie Stackhouse series instead of paying for each one individually. The box set is now ON SALE!