"Club Dead" by Charlaine Harris

Book three in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris is "Club Dead" and its my favorite of the series so far. In this edition of the series, Sookie and her vampire boyfriend Bill are having problems with their relationship (this thrilled me since I don't like Bill). Bill is being even more secretive than usual and is shutting Sookie out and has turned off the sex - much to a frustrated and horny Sookie's dismay.

She knows something is up with Bill, but she doesn't know what and then Bill says he has to leave town for a while. All very mysterious. He says he's going to Seattle, but right away she knows he is lying and she's hurt. At this point I am thrilled with the book! I don't like Bill, I think he's cold (ya, I know he's a vampire but still...), distant, secretive and the only time I see him as affectionate is when he wants something from Sookie or to 'mark his territory' so to speak. I just never liked this guy and have wanted Sookie to kick him to the curb from book one.

(some spoilers ahead)

Sookie is upset with Bill and knows something is going on ...like another woman something, but she still loves Bill. *sigh* Bill is a cheating, selfish monster but because he was her first (in so many ways), she still feels that connection with him and while she's ticked off at him she still loves him. But...(and I love this) that love isn't strong enough to stop her from making out with not one guy but two! Go Sookie! :o)

Sookie agrees to help Eric (sexy, hot Viking looking vampire Eric) and find out what happened to Bill. Is Bill dead? Kidnapped? Or had he run off with another woman ditching Sookie? Sookie is determined to find out, but she needs help. That's were hot, hunky, sexy werewolf Alcide comes in. There's an attraction there between them from the get go, but both are leery of the other at first. They quickly find out that they like each other and get along well, though Alcide being a werewolf has his own problems - a crazy jealous ex and the full moon making him tense and aggressive. Sookie knows at this point that Bill left her for another woman- a vampire woman whom Bill was in love with long before Sookie. So she's feeling very betrayed and angry, but she still thinks she has some love left for Bill (the dirty rotten selfish cheating pig I'd like to stake- can ya tell I don't like this guy?).

While Alcide and Sookie are trying to find out what happened to Bill, Eric is never far from Sookie. He makes it perfectly clear that he wants her and he intends to have her one day (fanning self). While Sookie, Alcide and Eric are at "Club Dead" with assorted other supernatural beings like goblins, shapeshifters, werewolves and more vampires Sookie uncovers a plot to stake a vampire and in an effort to stop the attack ends up being staked herself! Her blood spilled in a club full of vampires and werewolves on a full moon causes a near riot and she is quickly whisked away by Viking Vampire Eric. To help heal Sookie, Eric feeds her his blood and it's such an erotic experience for Eric that he has a orgasm all over Sookie's back as she leans against him wrapped in his arms while he's moaning away in ecstasy. I loved that scene. :o)

When Sookie begins to heal she finds out Bill is alive and being tortured and its up to her to rescue him. After getting a sleeping wounded tortured Bill in the car truck (its daytime and she has to keep Bill out of the sunlight) she drives to an underground parking garage. Once there she goes to check on Bill only to be shoved into the trunk and locked in with him. When Bill wakes up from his slumber he's hungry and nearly kills Sookie as he tears into her throat in a feeding frenzy and begins to rape her until her pleas break through his foggy brain and he realises he has almost raped and killed Sookie. Sookie has very little blood left and is weak, but she survives Bill's attack. As soon as the sun goes down, Eric finds her almost dead and helps her come around by feeding her more blood. Once Bill is free he confesses to cheating on Sookie and planning on leaving her. Sookie leaves him (woohoo) and turns to Eric to help her get home (woohoo again!). On the way Eric and Sookie have quite an adventure and you can see Eric falling more and more for Sookie. I loved every minute of it!

Once home, Sookie and Eric have their first fight - it was looking like a great set up for a passionate kiss when Sookie takes off into her house only to find out she's got company waiting for her and it's not the friendly kind. Sookie takes the worse beating I have ever read a woman take in a fiction book, and both Eric and Bill are beside themselves with worry for her (after they killed and drained all eight of Sookies attackers).

Sookie is sore and badly beat up giving her a LOT of time to think about her life and the vampires in it. She is fed up with them and wants some space to heal and make some major decisions about what's next for her. There is a great final scene in this book that I loved, and that left me hanging for the next book "Dead to the World" (book 4).

Hands down this was my favorite so far of the series and I give it 5 stars out of 5 stars.

I can't wait to read me some more Sookie & Eric!! :o)