The Blame Game by Sandie Jones

Hello everyone. I hope you're having a great day.

I can't think of any story that has anything to do with today's book, so I'll just have to rant.  Eggs are now $4.50 for 18.  That is insane, I didn't want to buy the chicken, her house, and 20 of her closest friends just a couple of eggs.  Also, hubby keeps leaving things off the grocery list that he maintains we don't need but are actually desperately short of.  This requires extra grocery buying visits and, of course, you never just buy what you need.  I end up buying eggs for the price that should be enough to feed my whole street omelets for a month!  Okay, enough housewifery.

I recently read The Blame Game by Sandie Jones.  I have read and enjoyed all her books; this is no exception. This is the story of a psychologist, Naomi, who specializes in domestic violence.  Naomi is currently treating Jacob who is mistreated by his wife.  Jacob is afraid of what she might do to him and of snapping himself and hurting her in return.  After letting Jacob stay in her rental property when he decides to leave his wife, he goes missing.  Strange things start happening as the police believe he is in grave danger and the evidence points to Naomi as a possible suspect.

This book was fantastic.  First of all, it's short, 244 pages.  This means that the author has no time to waste.  Most descriptions and connecting information are omitted to leave room for action.  This story races through the plot like it's on fire and running for its life.  I literally had to go back and reread sections as two words like "she imagined" changes everything.  You know how I hate bric-a-brac in books, this is devoid of everything but exactly what you need to know, so you better pay attention.  I wish all thrillers were written like this!

This book would be a great way to start you day, perhaps with your breakfast.  Given the cost at the grocery store, the book might be the cheapest thing.

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin

Hello everyone. I hope your week is going well so far.

One gets to be a housewife by being a wife.  My husband is the kindest person you'd ever meet but upon getting married he did have some things I had to get used to...male things.  First there is the air that comes from places that I didn't know exist, frankly I think the male body has more openings than the female.  Next, despite being evolved, smart, and truly nice, at times he will still objectify women.  If he is talking about some woman we don't know by name, the first thing he uses to describe her is her chest size.  Then there is the snoring.  Certainly lots of people snore, but my husband has it down to a fine science...just ask our neighbor three doors down!  He usually goes to sleep before me, as I've stated before I am a bad sleeper.  I will try, try being the optimal word there, to watch TV.  I find it impossible to hear the dialog over his snoring.  I've even recorded it and played to back for him, showing him that he really does possess a world class talent.  Not only am I wide awake if he's snoring, it's been going on for so much of my life, now I think there is something wrong if he sleeps peacefully.  Yep, I'm awake either way.

I recently read Stay Awake by Megan Goldin.  This is the story of Liv Reese, who wakes up in the back of a taxi in New York City.  She doesn't know how she got there or why there is this bizarre writing on the back of her hand telling her to stay awake.  What is even odder is that she discovers not only doesn't she know what happened the night that landed her in the taxi asleep, but she doesn't remember the last two years.  While trying to figure out what is going on she finds out that someone has been murdered and the murderer has written, in blood on the window, a message about remaining awake.  Could she have done something terrible?

Holy cow does this book move.  Honestly, don't start this unless you can finish it.  The story boasts short chapters, often ending with terrifying revelations, bouncing between two years ago and the present day.  This suspenseful thriller fills the reader with the urgent need to know what has happened to Liv.   I don't want to give anything away but turn on Netflix for your kids, order take out, and clear your schedule, this one is wild.

By the way, hubby wants to read this book.  Finally, I have something to keep him awake!

The Big Dark Sky by Dean Koontz

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a great day.

You would think living near the North Carolina coast, where millions of people flock to for their annual vacations, that I would think of nothing else.  No, I always have to be the oddball.  I have been incredibly homesick lately.  Hubby and I have even considered moving there.  Unfortunately, although he was willing, the property taxes and school taxes for upstate New York are terrifying! I don't mean cute little kid dressed as any political figure on Halloween scary.  I mean a girl, usually with big boobs, in baby doll pajamas (for no reason) and high heels, in a haunted house with a serial killer chasing her, with all phone lines cut, and the lights go out... terrifying.  Hubby was surprisingly into the idea of fall spent wandering the pumpkin farms, the cider mill, high school football games and stunning leaves.  I even had him primed for snow filled Christmases.  Darn, I don't think I can convince him to drive ten hours to pick apples and see fall leaves.

I recently read The Big Dark Sky by Dean Koontz.  This is the story of Joanna Chase who grew up on a ranch in Montana.  She starts getting bizarre phone calls and tv broadcasts telling her to go to her childhood home, the theme of returning home invades her dreams as well.  Unable to resist, Joanna heads home determined to see a childhood friend still in the area and find out what is going on.  However, Joanna isn't the only one going to Montana as several other people have been implored for one reason or another to converge at her childhood home. All find themselves in danger as there is a madman nearby, determined to clean the planet by killing everyone, beginning with them.

I don't know why but I never look forward to a Dean Koontz book like I do others.  I really should though, as I can't remember ever being let down by one of his stories.  Koontz books are rarely about what I think they will be, are usually a bit kooky, always feature great writing, and never fail to keep me entertained.  What else could you want?  The Big Dark Sky will have you mesmerized until the end. 

Oh, one more thing.  Amazon currently has this book rated 4.5 stars.  I tell you that so you'll know and NOT be tempted to read any of the reviews.  Many of them mention topics revealed in the book, making them spoilers for the many twists.