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Rowan Mayfair was known for her ability to heal with her touch as well as know when and where a person is bleeding. This made her an exceptional surgeon but a difficult person to everyone else. She was well liked but still different.  Her trips on her boat were her only salvation. Her beloved Christine was sea worthy and she preferred to go out alone since being around people made her uncomfortable. While out on one of her excursions, Michael Curry came into her life. He was clinically dead but Rowan knew there was a spark inside him by her gift, and revived him.

Michael Curry woke up with power in his hands that everything he touched, he knew all about it. It was driving him crazy and the visions he saw while he was dead wouldn’t let him be at peace. He knew that the visions meant something and he was brought back for a purpose but he couldn’t remember what he was to do.

The history of the Talamasca is a group of scholars and those who have abilities that study abnormal people and their lives. Which is how the history of the Mayfair Witches is kept. It seems that a being or ghost of some sort has been haunting the women of the Mayfairs for a long, long, time. Suzanne Mayfair had called up this being and he has attached himself to this family. He has helped them become very wealthy but when one dies, he takes his place by the next female witch in line. At long last there is Rowan.

Rowan gets a letter from Michael Curry that says he wants to meet her and lay hands on her boat to see if he could find his purpose of the visions. She wanted to meet with him since she has been dreaming of him for some reason.

Michael was born in New Orleans and walked by the Garden District and had fallen in love with a house there when he was a boy. Going back, he still could see “the man” or ghost of the house. It was the Mayfair house on First Street. When Aaron, a member of the Talamasca entices him to join him to learn more about the Mayfairs and Rowan herself, Michael couldn’t resist. Having fallen in love with Rowan when they first met, he wanted to know everything he could about her. It seems that the Talamasca knew the whole story back to Suzanne and her witch daughter, Deborah, which has ties with Peter, another member of the Talamasca.

This history is lengthy and very informative but it seems that it goes on forever but then at times this story flies by very quickly. I really enjoy this book. I have read it more than once. Actually the first time I read this series, I had started with Lasher. While at the bookstore, I was told that this book was first in the list, so I bought this one and read all them in order again. I was able to make sense of it by itself but much better with the whole series. I have a love of Louisiana now that’s for sure. You need to sit down with a cup of coffee and step into New Orleans back in the day. It is well worth it. I could write so much but it seems that I wouldn’t stop. There’s so much to tell and then again there is so much that I don’t want to reveal. Anne Rice has proven herself as a worthy vampire author but on to the witches and she’s magnificent.

Meet Elena Gilbert. Miss Perfect. Can get any guy she wants, is beautiful beyond believe, and has everything. The kind of girl that every boy wanted and every girl wanted to be. There is only one problem. Elena might have everything everyone else wants but there is something missing and she can’t seem to figure out what that something is. She lost her parents but lives in the same house she always has with her Aunt and her little sister Margaret. Her best friends are Bonnie, who is a little psychic and bighearted, Meredith is closest to her and the stead fast and calm one. Elena has felt that something strange was going to happen since coming back from vacation in France. Although her friends were the same, except Caroline, she couldn’t figure out what was amiss. Caroline isn’t a friend in my book or in this one either. Then comes a dark headed stranger that doesn’t even bat an eye at Elena. Elena hasn’t ever had that happen before. She vows to have him one way or another.

Stefan is the dark stranger that doesn’t even look at Elena. Although something about her reminds him of the past. There is more than meets the eye when it comes to Stefan. He’s mysterious and extremely good looking. Also he’s a vampire. He has promised himself not to use his powers unless absolutely necessary. He is a good vampire. Then you will meet his brother Damon, also a vampire. He is just as good looking but has a wild side that is hard to resist. He does whatever he wants and doesn’t care about the consequences. Damon has held a grudge against Stefan from the past. He’s out to get his revenge one way or another. He decides to have Elena for himself and the struggle begins.

I know they are making a series out of these books but I haven’t watched it yet. I always read the books first and then am usually disappointed with the movie or in this case series. I did get into this book though. Every girl wants to be Elena and to have what she has. I could relate to the something that she needs but can’t figure out what.  I enjoyed the rivalry from the supposed friends for popularity and the vampire brothers with Elena torn between them.

I think you will enjoy this book as well as the series. Smith is a talented writer which I think highly of. Her skills  bring the characters alive and draw you into the story with ease. Her style is flawless and you’ll lose yourself while reading. I am a big fan of this author in many other books of hers as well.

Happy Reading!

This vampire series has quite a twist in it. There are misfits and there are rich kids in the New York City area. They all go to a private school, Duchesne. Schuyler Van Alen doesn’t fit in with the others at school. She still received an invitation to join The Committee. The Committee consists of the wealthy, powerful, and unhuman.

At 15, Schuyler finds out she is among the 400 and is immortal, so they say. They are known as the Blue Bloods. After I got through the beginning and started learning about the few characters, I started to like it. I had to buy the others in the series out of curiosity and it gets better. Not the best series out there but I have read worse.