Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

When Christine Lucas wakes up in bed next to a complete stranger, she realizes she has no memory of the night before. When she gets up and goes to the bathroom, she finds out, much to her surprise, that she is 20+ years older than she should be. That is when she discovers that her problem is much more serious than she thought.

The man she woke up next to tells her his name is Ben, he is her husband, and they have been married for years. She is no longer in her twenties, but now middle aged. And years ago she was involved in a hit and run and is now an amnesic who forgets everything when she goes to sleep.

She receives a phone call from a man called Dr. Nash. Apparently she has been meeting him on a regular basis in an attempt to help her regain some old memories and hopefully hold new ones for more than one day. He suggests that she writes in a journal everyday in hope that her memory will improve. One day she wakes up and starts to read this journal, the story of her life. And as she reads she discovers her past and her life, but from an outsiders perspective. But in the front of her journal she finds a disturbing message "Don't trust Ben."

This book brings to light an interesting question: What are we but a collection of memories. And if those memories are taken from us, what happens to us? What do you do when you are an empty shell, a mere shadow of what you once were. What do we become. And more importantly, who do we become?

I have read several books written in the style of daily journals and this was by far the most engaging. This fast paced thriller is a debut novel by S. J.  Watson. I will be looking forward to his books in the future. This book is currently avaiable for sale.

No Evidence of a Crime by S. Connell Vondrak

Detectives Jim Jarrod and Kathleen Jackson are investigating the death of a congressman's aid. But something is not quite right with the analysis of the evidence. The murder weapon was fired from several hundred yards away from the crime scene, but the crime lab identifies the murder weapon as a Glock. The congressman's aid was pregnant, but the father of the child is identified as a gang member. And on top of that, cocaine was found in the blood of the mother, but not in that of the child.

To help them figure out what is going on, detectives Jarred and Jackson bring in a trusted forensic scientist to re-analyze the evidence. The conclusion is undeniable. The evidence is being tampered with. The results can't be trusted. They need to figure out who is manipulating the evidence... and why.

I loved this book. The author is a forensic scientist and it shows. This book is full of real life CSI. Not what you see on television but what actually happens in the real world. I was amazed at how long the preparation for a DNA test takes. If you are interested in forensic science, then this book is definitely for you. All evidence points to this book being a great read.

This book is currently available for purchase.

Wolf Storm by Dee Garretson

Stefan has managed to land the role of a lifetime. Filming on location in Slovakia, Ice Planet Earth is sure to be the next sci-fi blockbuster. If only Stefan didn't keep messing up. Feeling like he can't do anything right, Stefan can't help but feel like an outsider. The fact that his costar Raine is treating him like a second class citizen doesn't help either. And to top it all off, he could have sworn he saw a wolf by the catering truck. But when disaster strikes and the cast becomes snowed in, Stefan assumes the role of leader.

The book was a little slow in the beginning but soon picked up pace and didn't stop. It's a good children's book and I recommend it for preteens. It's fast pace will keep you turning the pages.

This book is not yet available. It will be release August 30, 2011.

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams

When a women in Georgia is found dead in her home, stabbed multiple times with bite marks on her thighs, Lieutenant Aaron Rauser of the Atlanta Police Department calls in his longtime friend, former FBI profiler Keye Street. With the drinking problem that destroyed her career behind her, she's promised to help out when she's not busy with her PI business, Corporate Intelligence & Investigations. When Rauser starts receiving letters from the killer, Keye realizes just what kind of person she's dealing with. A deranged, knife-wielding sociopath.

With multiple crimes in Florida and Georgia being linked to this most recent murder, an isolated incident becomes a serial killer loose in Atlanta. And with clean crimes scenes, APD has no leads. With more murders still to come, Keye and Rauser are about to find out the killer is closer than they think.

I have read many mystery books over the years. I have been introduced to many characters, some more likable than others. But none have spoken to me the way Keye Street did. I don't know what it is, but something about Keye makes you want to like her. This book has plenty of suspense and mystery to satisfy even the most demanding reader. And just when you think you've figured it out, another twist presents itself. All the way to the end.

This is an amazing debut thriller by Amanda Kyle Williams. The Stranger You Seek has suspense, intrigue, comedy, and even a little romance. And although she is relatively unknown, after reading this book, she will become the stranger you seek.

This book is not yet available. It will be available to the public August 30th, 2011.

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore

What do you get when you cross a town full of depressed people with a prehistoric sea creature named Steve? The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove of course. 

Taking place ten years after Christopher Moore's original Pine Cove novel, the sleepy little town has survived the tourist season and is getting ready to wind down and get on with life. But when the town psychiatrist decides to take everyone of their anti-depressants and put them on placebos instead, this cozy little town goes crazy. To make matters worse, an unexplained wave of horniness has overtaken the residents of pine cove. And you know what they say about horny depressed people. Right?

I read this book while at work and I imagine I looked like a crazy person from laughing out loud so much. This book will make you laugh out loud too. Moore is able to expertly mix humor and plot, wit and story. He can make you laugh and keep you reading. Although it's probably best not to do it while on the job. Learned that one the hard way.

This book has been out for over ten years. You should have no problem finding it in your local book store.

The Griff by Christopher Moore and Ian Corson with Jennyson Rosero

The Griffs are coming! The Griffs are coming! After a strange beacon is activated on Earth, alien ships soon show up overhead. After a short time, over 6 billion are dead as the result of an extremely hostile alien race known as the Griffs. After systematically destroying any resistance and crippling communications, the Griffs roam the Earth picking off survivors one by one. One group of survivors comprised of Mo, the goth, Steve, the clueless dork, and Curt, the military man, meet up with Liz, the whale trainer, and they band together in an attempt to save humanity.

Christopher Moore is back! Now with pictures. Christopher Moore and Ian Corson team up to deliver a graphic novel of unusual proportions. Christopher Moore doesn't fail to deliver his famous one-line wonders that are sure to have you laughing out loud. A short and wonderfully illustrated read (thanks to Jennyson Rosero), I finished this book in less than 24 hours. But just because it is short doesn't mean it should be overlooked. This book will keep your attention (it's a giant picture book after all) and is short enough to read all the way through in one sitting. NOTE: Book is intended for mature audiences and rated R for strong language and comic (literally) violence.

This book is not yet available to the public. Book will be released July 19th, 2011.

Please Fire Me by Adam Chromy and Jill Morris

Please fire me. I received this book for free and was asked to review it.

Everyone has a crappy job that they hate (and if not, they're either lying or in denial). This book teaches people with crappy jobs how to make their lives less miserable without quitting. Inspired by the very successful website PleaseFireMe.com, this book not only gives examples of people who have crappier jobs than you, but also gives ways to make your day suck less. Written in the form of a help manual, this book can help teach you and your co-workers to rise up against your bosses that make your life miserable. Whether you mildly dislike your job or want to see your workplace ablaze, this book will help you and should be read by anyone who is currently malemployed.

This book can currently be bought wherever books are sold.

Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact by A.J. Hartley

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt that you were not seeing your own reflection, but looking through a window into another world? That is exactly what happens to Darwen Arkwright after moving from northern England to Atlanta, Georgia. After receiving a strange gift from an even stranger shopkeeper, Darwen discovers his gift is actually a portal to another world. And that is when his adventure begins.

Upon entering the mysterious new world, he makes a new friend, Moth. He learns a little bit about this new world and how things work, after which he returns to his own world. During his first day at his horrible new school, he finds himself counting down the minutes until he can return to this magical land. Upon his return, he learns things have changed and terrible things are happening. Horrible creatures are entering the forest. Over time these creatures slowly start to destroy the forest and consequently, Moth's home. Darwen, along with his friends Rich and Alexandra, realize they are the only ones who can save this land and stop the creatures from destroying not only this world, but also his own.

I think that is a good, fast book for children. I would say 4th grade and up. Its fairy country brings back memories of Oz and Narnia and will hold a young readers attention and keep them turning the pages. A little slow in the beginning and not as focused on the Silbrica as I would have liked, Darwen, Rich, and Alexandra are relatable and likely to win the hearts of young readers and keep them wanting more after the book is over. Looking at this as if I were younger, this is a great book and I would hope a sequel is planned, which judging from the title is very likely.

This book is not yet available to the public. It will be released October 13, 2011.

You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz

You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz is a thriller about a man named Mike Wingate. Mike is a man with a troubled past. Trouble is, he can't remember what it is. Having been abandoned at age four, Mike grew up in foster care. Although he and his foster brother, Shep, got into a bit of trouble in their adolescence, Mike has worked hard and finally achieved the life he always dreamed of. He has a beautiful wife, an 8-year-old daughter, and owns his own construction company, which is about to finish a job that will give them a financially secure future. But things suddenly take a turn for the worst. Some unknown force is coming after him. And this force is somehow connected to a past that he doesn't even remember. When the police prove to be of no help, he turns to his foster brother Shep, who chose an alternate route in life. Shep promises to help Mike, his wife, Annabel, and his daughter, Kat, to find out who is after his family, and why. As the mystery slowly unravels, Mike starts finding out who he is and where he came from. And why his past is coming back to haunt him.

Full of twists with plenty of suspense, You're Next is a great read. Although a little slow at times, this book is definitely worth reading. With characters everyone can relate to and wonderfully written details, this book is a great addition to the thriller/suspense genre.

Welcome to my blog

I have always found it difficult to voice my opinion on books. Then one day it hit me, why not start a book blog and start reviewing books. Let people know what books are out there and review them. Save people the trouble of buying a bad book and let them know what to keep an eye out for next time they are in a bookstore. So here I am. I will be reviewing books not yet avaiable to the public and also books already out. If you like my reviews, please be sure to follow me using the link in the upper right side of the screen. Thank you and happy reading.