Life Expectancy - Dean Koontz

This is definitely one of my favorite Dean Koontz novels. I think this book rivals Intensity for excitement and suspense. I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to find a book that was as good as that one, but this proves me wrong.

The day Jimmy Tock is born his grandfather dies but not before predicting 5 terrible days for Jimmy. Five dates, Jimmy will have to prepare himself for. While those dates prove something terrible does happen we also learn that there are other things that come from them. The last prediction may be the end.

This book is clearly not for everyone as there are psycho clowns throughout the story. Who here loves clowns? I didn't think so. Anyway, if you can look passed that as I could you'll find a truly well thought out book. I would probably give this 10 stars if I could. You can just tell that Dean put a lot of thought into this book. Everything just comes together in the end with a twist of course.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast paced well thought out books. I've said before Koontz is a hit or miss but this is a home run. I laughed, I cried and I laughed some more.

Torment - Jeremy Bishop

I'd just like to start off by saying, WOW. I found myself up at 3am with blurry vision trying to read through the book. Unfortunately, it didn't work. Still, it was so good.

It's basically about Mia who's fiance was just considered MIA but what's worse is that there is a tape of him on the news telling everyone he's a sniper and was sent to kill the Russian president. Mia wants more answers, she doesn't believe it. Matt was a truck driver not a sniper. Not getting anything from anyone, Mia fakes a letter to the president from her 7 year old niece and gets invited to the White House.

Russia declares war on the US while Mia and her niece are there and they get orbited into space while a nuclear war erupts. When they get back to Earth things are very different.

This novel is filled with more than just zombies. There are so many different kinds of horror that just chase you down the entire way. It's a bit religious and that definitely isn't my cup of tea but this was done superbly. I'm very glad I read it. It was exciting, suspenseful and shocking the entire way. So good.

Deceit: A Novel - Brandilyn Collins

I wasn't really excited to read this one but because I was in the middle of nowhere and I didn't want to buy a new book just yet, I decided to go for one I'd already purchased. Once I started reading this I really got into it.

Skip tracer, Joanne, has been trying to find her best friend for 6 years. She knows Linda's husband Baxter had something to do with her disappearance and likely death. After Baxter's second wife died under questionable circumstances Joanna searches for the foster daughter, Melissa, that lived with Linda and Baxter. Now someone is after Joanne and Melissa and she's on the run and hunt of her life.

This book went from the present to the past and brought both together. The past is mainly about Baxter, Linda and Melissa's life together and the circumstances that lead up to Linda's disappearance. The present focuses on Joanne running for her life while simultaneously searching for Melissa.

Very suspenseful. It was very exciting and in the beginning it left you with lots of questions. It was fairly easy to piece together once you got into it but it was still an excellent book. I enjoyed it tremendously. Lots of deceit going on with everyone.

The one thing I didn't enjoy was all the Christianity. It wasn't a religious book but most of the characters were religious. Really mainly the ending was the most annoying with the religion. I see how some people would be into it with the questions that the book raised but for me it was too much.

Shadowfires - Dean Koontz

With Dean Koontz for me it's either win or lose. Either, I really enjoy his books or I don't. Shadowfires for me was not a great book. It's about Rachael Leben who's divorcing her husband Eric. In a rage because Rachael wanted nothing from him he storms off into a garbage truck. When his body goes missing from the morgue Rachael knows exactly whats happened.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this one. The description of this book wasn't that great. It didn't really depict what was going to go down in this one. Although, there were several sections of this one that I enjoyed and even laughed at. It just sort of fizzled out for me. Mainly because Koontz has to describe every last thing. I understand why it paints a pretty picture but at points it was so annoying. I think it actually detracts from the book. I heard somewhere that once you've made a sale stop selling it. I feel like all the description really ruins the flow.

The descriptions in this one became so repetitive and annoying. It was sort of the same thing over and over again. Eric's changing. Rachael didn't really seem real. I'm not sure who was supposed to be the main character. When this one ended I was glad. It wasn't like some of his other books that I have enjoyed. I didn't get this one.

The Face of Fear - Dean Koontz

The Face of Fear by Dean Koontz was a thrill ride for sure. A clairvoyant, Graham Harris has been living in fear ever since he fell from Mount Everest. It left him limping and emotionally scarred as well as psychic. Although, the clairvoyance only plays a small role in this novel I was sort of hoping for more.

While the host of a talk show is trying to defraud Harris in front of a live audience, he has a vision of the "Butcher" killing his next victim. Now the Butcher has Harris on his radar and wants to teach him a lesson. While working late Harris and his girlfriend are seeming trapped in a very large building while the Butcher stalks them. Not being able to outrun him with his limp leg Graham will have to do the unimaginable or risk losing Connie forever.

I have to admit, less than halfway through I thought I had this all figured out. I knew what was going to happen and I was a little disappointed. Did I turn out wrong or what. This book was really good. It had tons of action. I was so nervous for Graham and Connie that I was all worked up over their choices. It was almost like yelling at a victim as she runs up the stairs. "Don't run up!!!"

This was fast paced and entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. The only thing I have to complain about is that it seemed too short. I've read many Koontz books and most of them are twice as long. Or at least they seem that way to me. I have to say, not my top favorite but really good.

Me & Emma - Elizabeth Flock

Emma and Me by Elizabeth Flock was about two sisters, Emma and Carrie. Age 6 and 8. They've fallen upon some hard times. Their mother seems depressed and at her wits end and their stepfather is an abusive drunk. Very abusive.

I thought this book was going to be one of those books that you finish and you say, WOW. I can't believe that was such a good book. I expected a lot more than what I actually got out of this one. Was it emotional, yes. Was it amazing, no. Once you get to the end you're wondering ok? Now what?

I was really into this book, I thought it was going places, and then it sorted of drifted into watching two little girls go about their daily life. It actually got repetitive and boring after a short time. Not to mention the ending that I really didn't like. Maybe because there seemed to be no growth for the characters. You usually expect to see characters learn and grow but I didn't get that from this one.

For me this was just an alright book

With This Ring - Amanda Quick

With this Ring is about Beatrice who ends up on the Earl of Monkcrest's doorstep in the middle of the night. She went seeking his help in finding the Rings of Aphrodite. She believes her Uncle Reggie died after purchasing them. Thinking they were stolen and the only thing she had left of her cousin's dowry she enlists the help of Leo Drake "the mad monk" an antiquities expert.

This book was quite an interesting mystery. The suspects kept showing up dead and I couldn't figure out who was at the heart of it. Although, this book did not incite strong feelings one way or the other for me I still enjoyed the story.

There were attempted kidnappings, prostitutes, murders, brothels, even manly elixirs, and a hound that kept getting mistaken for a wolf. Some of the scenes seemed convenient and not particularly plausible but still they did not detract from the story in the least. It was enjoyable and mysterious and kept me wondering until the end.

Dark Lover - J.R. Ward

I read this on a recommendation from a review on Amazon. They mentioned how it was comparable to Sherrilyn Kenyon's books and I do love her stories so I figured, hey, why not.

Although, the story was good. I'm not going to debate that. I think the problem lies in the fact that I started this as an audiobook. The narrator was just not good in my opinion. He would be doing voices and all of a sudden the male would stop speaking in a Spanish accent or the main characters voice would change into the female part even though it was clearly still the main character, Wrath, speaking. It was so very frustrating.

Also, one other thing that bothered me about this novel is the fact that Wrath is pretty much blind. He can see shadows and outlines but more often than not he was looking into Beth's eyes. That didn't seem possible from the earlier descriptions. That was pretty frustrating.

About 70% through this one, I realized I already had a copy of the book and finished reading it on my own. Not only can I read faster, but I don't annoy myself with sucking spit the entire time I'm reading. Just, not a good narrator in my opinion.

I also thought the huge climatic battle at the end left a lot to be desired. I think it could have been described better and I also think it could have been better in my opinion. I think the main reason it was such a quick fight in the end was because the author had so much story to get through because this is the first in the series. I think she tried to explain so much.

I enjoyed the secondary characters. I am interested in reading their stories and would like to know more. I'll skip the audiobook and hopefully won't be as disappointed.