New 'book review' Book!

I finally remembered to buy a new 'book review' book.

In honour of this auspicious occasion I'm going to write down a list, call it a wishlist, if you like - of books I'm going to endeavour to read over the holidays.  That's from NOW until late February 2013!

These books have already been acquired, but I just have not had the time to read any one of them.

And because I've lost my first 'book review' book, I'm going to have re-read some, which are earlier books in a series.  Very frustrating!

This list is not going to be alphabetical, because that would just take forever and I don't have that kind of time.

Justin Somper

Justin Somper is the British author of the children's horror novel series Vampirates.Justin Somper is the British author of the children's horror novel series Vampirates. He was born in St Albans and graduated from Warwick University. He worked as a publicist before starting his writing career.

Vampirates

Dead Deep (2007)
1. Demons of the Ocean (2005)
2. Tide of Terror (2006)
3. Blood Captain (2007)
4. Black Heart (2009)
5. Empire of Night (2010)
6. Immortal War (2011)

Nancy Fairbanks

Culinary Mystery with Recipes - I have read a few of these books and they are excellent, very entertaining.  Because I don't have my trusty books I don't remember which ones!

1. Crime Brulee (2001)  2. Truffled Feathers (2001)  3. Death A L'Orange (2002)  4. Chocolate Quake (2003)  5. The Perils of Paella (2004)  6. Holy Guacamole! (2004)  7. Mozzarella Most Murderous (2005)  8. Three-Course Murder (2006)  9. Bon Bon Voyage (2006)  10. French Fried (2006)  11. Turkey Flambe (2007)  12. Blood Pudding (2009)

Rachel Caine

Weather Warden

I started reading this series, but unfortunately due to time constraints I had to stop. I'm now going to re-start with Ill Wind - it looked promising when I was reading it before ;-)
1. Ill Wind (2003)
2. Heat Stroke (2004)
3. Chill Factor (2005)
4. Windfall (2005)
5. Firestorm (2006)
6. Thin Air (2007)
7. Gale Force (2008)
8. Cape Storm (2009)
9. Total Eclipse (2010)

This Author also writes the Morganville series - I have a friend who has read this series and she swears they are great, so while I don't actually own any of these books I am going to buy them and start reading!  Check out the Book Depository for great prices on books and best of all FREE delivery to anywhere in the world!

Morganville Vampires

1. Glass Houses (2006)
2. Dead Girl's Dance (2007)
3. Midnight Alley (2007)
4. Feast of Fools (2008)
5. Lord of Misrule (2008)
6. Carpe Corpus (2009)
7. Fade Out (2009)
8. Kiss of Death (2010)
9. Ghost Town (2010)
10. Bite Club (2011)
11. Last Breath (2011)
12. Black Dawn (2012)
13. Bitter Blood (2012)
14. Fall of Night (2013)

Becca Fitzpatrick

Becca Fitzpatrick grew up reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden with a flashlight under the covers. She graduated college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she's most likely prowling sale racks for reject shoes, running, or watching crime dramas on TV. She lives in Colorado.

Hush, Hush

1. Hush, Hush (2009)
2. Crescendo (2010)
3. Silence (2011)
4. Finale (2012)

I've read the first one in the series and it was fantastic.  I've also purchased 2 & 3 in the series but have not had time to read them.  Over the next few months, I plan to re-read 1 and then read on to the next 3 (once I've purchased the final one in the series - that is!)

Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.  Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in all over the world. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called "a star on the rise".

White Rabbit Chronicles
1. Alice in Zombieland (2012)
Intertwined
1. Intertwined (2009)
2. Unraveled (2010)
     aka Unravelled
3. Twisted (2011)
Tales of an Extra-ordinary Girl
1. Playing with Fire (2006)
2. Twice as Hot (2010)

Robert Gregory Browne

Robert Browne is an AMPAS Nicholl Award-winning screenwriter who ran screaming from the movie industry and jumped into writing novels.

His first novel, KISS HER GOODBYE, was recently produced in Chicago as a pilot for a CBS Television series tentatively titled THE LINE, by Sony Pictures and Timberman/Beverly Productions, with a script written and directed by Michael Dinner.

Novels

Kiss Her Goodbye (2007)

Whisper in the Dark (2008)
Kill Her Again (2009)
Down Among the Dead Men (2010)
The Paradise Prophecy (2011)
Trial Junkies (2012)
I have to admit I've read 'Kill Her Again' and it was great.  The twist at the end was so unexpected that I still can't believe it!  I would definitely read more of this authors books, which is why I have purchased 'Down Among the Dead Men'.

Alex Duval

Alex Duval was born and raised in Paris, before moving to California to pursue a career in fashion photography. Alex loves all sports, especially surfing. When not writing books, Alex loves watching movies, especially The Lost Boys, and visiting art galleries around the world. Alex has homes in both Paris and LA.

Vampire Beach

1. Bloodlust (2006)
2. Initiation (2006)
3. Ritual (2007)
4. Legacy (2007)
5. High Stakes (2008)
6. Hunted (2008)

Thomas Emson

Maneater

1. Maneater (2008)
2. Prey (2009)

Vampire Babylon

1. Skarlet (2009)
2. Krimson (2010)
3. Kardinal (2012)

Novels

Pandemonium Road (2011)

Darren Shan

Darren is a massively successful author of numerous fantasy and horror books for both young people and adults.His most famous works include the 12 books of The Saga of Darren Shan; the 10 books of The Demonata, The City Trilogy; The Thin Executioner and his most recent series of 4 books, The Saga of Larten Crepsley. A movie of Cirque Du Freak was completed in 2009. 

By the start of 2010, Darren's books were on sale in every continent, in 39 countries, in 31 languages, and have been children's bestsellers in America, Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and other countries. The books have topped adult bestseller charts in Hungary, Japan and Taiwan. In total, his books have sold close to 15 million copies worldwide.

Saga of Larten Crepsley

1. Birth of a Killer (2010)
2. Ocean of Blood (2011)
3. Palace of the Damned (2011)
4. Brothers to the Death (2012)

Nikki Gemmell

Nikki Gemmell has written four novels, Shiver, Cleave, Lovesong and The Bride Stripped Bare, and one non-fiction book, Pleasure: An Almanac for the Heart. Her work has been internationally critically acclaimed and translated into many languages.

Bride Stripped Bare

1. The Bride Stripped Bare (2004)
2. With My Body (2011)

Veronica Roth

Veronica Roth is from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote DIVERGENT, her YA dystopian thriller (Katherine Tegen Books, May 2011!), while she was supposed to be doing homework. This was a decidedly good choice that will unfortunately make it difficult for her to someday lecture her future children on how important it is to get your homework done.

Insurgent Trilogy

1. Divergent (2011)
2. Insurgent (2012)
Free Four: Tobias Tells the Divergent Story (2012)

Steven Dunne

Steven Dunne is 50 years of age and have been writing since he left university in Kent in 1979. He spent some time being a freelance journalist writing for The Times, Independent and Guardian.

D. I. Damen Brook

1. The Reaper (2007)
2. The Disciple (2010)
3. Deity (2012)
4. The Unquiet Grave (2013)

Rachel Vincent

A native of the dust bowl, Rachel Vincent is the oldest of five siblings, and arguably the most outspoken of the bunch. She loves cats, devours chocolate and lives on flavored coffee. Rachel's older than she looks--seriously--and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.

Werecats

1. Stray (2007)
2. Rogue (2008)
3. Pride (2009)
4. Prey (2009)
5. Shift (2010)
6. Alpha (2010)

Soul Screamers

My Soul to Lose (2009)
1. My Soul to Take (2009)
2. My Soul to Save (2009)
3. My Soul to Keep (2010)
4. My Soul to Steal (2011)
5. If I Die (2011)
6. Before I Wake (2012)
7. With All My Soul (2013)
Reaper (2010)
Never to Sleep (2012)
I've read some of the Soul Screamers books and they are great - that one will be the first series from this author I will be tackling!  Just in case I run out of time!

I think that should do for now.

I plan to start reading as soon as possible.  What I want to do is write a review as I finish each book and hopefully do a little research about each author and story as well, but we'll see how I go - no promises!

The information about the authors is taken from the Fantastic Fiction website.  I find this site great for information about authors, their books and also new release books.  My friend put me onto this site and I don't know how I ever got along without it!

Zombie Books!

In the last Zombie post I mentioned that I would post on here some information about Zombie books.  Like I said, I've read a few of these and they are awesome.  My method is usually to read the first few chapters of a book and if it grabs me then I keep reading, but if it doesn't then I just stop.  I don't read the last chapter to see how it ended - nothing - I just put it down and move on!

Once, I started reading a book and after the first page I just couldn't bring myself to pick it up again.  It's sad but true :-(

So here is my list - I'll try and so a small summary of each book, but I may not be able to especially if I haven't read it.  I'll try and find out also any new Zombie books which may be coming out shortly.

Houston - we have a problem!  It appears that my 'book review' book has gone AWOL.

Yes, I know I'm a bit weird, but I do keep a 'book review' book.  There are 2 reasons for this:

1. I read so many books that it was getting hard to keep track of all the books which I have read and which I haven't.  So, I started this A4 alphabetical ruled hardcover notebook which allowed me to write down the books that I finished reading; and
2. because I also read books which sometimes comprise multiple volumes - keeping a book allows me to note which book it is and write a brief review noting the characters and their roles.  This also allows me to keep track of which volume I am up to in the series.

I also keep an A5 size book to note down future books which I would like to read.  This system has gotten a bit out of hand and it is now all over the place.  I have several books which perform this function, until recently that is.  I recently discovered this website called Good Reads and I am slowly transferring the title of the books there.  It's an awesome website.  You can search for books and either rate it if you've read it or put it in your reading now or read later sections.  According to good reads I've rated 51 books, but that's just the ones I could remember, because my 'book review' book is missing.

HELP!!!!!

If I don't find it soon I'll start hyperventilating and not to mention I can't remember all the Zombie books I've read.  

I'm going to use good old Google and see what that turns up!  Here goes...

Zom-B (Zom-B #1)

by Darren Shan

Zom-B is a radical new series about a zombie apocalypse, told in the first person by one of its victims. The series combines classic Shan action with a fiendishly twisting plot and hard-hitting and thought-provoking moral questions dealing with racism, abuse of power and more. This is challenging material, which will captivate existing Shan fans and bring in many new ones. As Darren says, "It's a big, sprawling, vicious tale...a grisly piece of escapism, and a barbed look at the world in which we live. Each book in the series is short, fast-paced and bloody. A high body-count is guaranteed!"

A Very Good Man (Dead End) - I haven't read this one, but research seems to suggest there are mixed reviews out there.  Here is a link to a free sample from Amazon.com, have a read and make up your own mind.  I'm going to.

A Very Good Neighbor (Dead End) - This book seemed to received reviews more in line with each other.  Looking forward to reading it!  Here is a sample!

Zombie Tales: Primrose Court Apt. 205 - I just got this one off Amazon for free to read on my kindle reader.  It's only 3 chapters long, so interested to see if its the full story.  Hope so, I love Zombie books!
Theodore Granger believes he’s cursed. He’s spent the last ten years locked away inside his apartment. But today is his day, the day he is to venture out into the world again. There is only one simple task on his agenda: walk one block, cross the street, and have a cup of coffee with his shrink. The only problem is, he chose the wrong day.

Enjoy this short story based in the world of my novel Don of the Living Dead.

Zombie Tales: Primrose Court Apt. 305 - This one is for free as well.  These 3 Zombie Tales just appear to be short stories.  Hopefully still a good read!
Charles Grimly has marital problems you wouldn't believe and his mommy issues are a little too much for him to handle. He may not be all there, but he has to hold it together if he's going to make it through this day in one piece.

Enjoy this short story based in the world of my novel Don of the Living Dead.

Zombie Tales: Primrose Court Apt. 502 - This too is free!  Another short story.

Tommy's world is falling apart. It's the worst day of his life, but it's about to get much worse.

Deadlocked - Pretty good reviews on this one.  Everyone commenting seems to like it.  So hope it's as good as they all say.

David was caught in the middle of the city when the zombie outbreak started. His wife and daughters were at home, stranded on the roof as zombies waited below. He would have to fight through hordes of undead, merciless other survivors, and a series of death defying stunts to get home. However, even if he makes it there, how can he be sure they're safe?
Deadlocked puts you into David's head as he struggles to get home. Then a final confrontation occurs that could guarantee his family's survival, but at what cost?

Download it to Kindle for free here!

Circus of the Dead - Again this is a short story of just over 10,000 words.  The reviews seem to be pretty positive.  This too can be downloaded for free here!

Twenty years ago, the dead destroyed the world of the living. The survivors scattered in the wake of the Scourge, erecting small towns in the worlds' most sparsely populated areas.

For young Gabriel, the walking dead are merely the memories that haunt the eyes of those old enough and lucky enough to have survived. He is more concerned with his hard life in America's desert, where his chores keep him busy and the husks of books stashed beneath the cellar of the library are his only freedom.

Until the circus comes to town.

"Circus of the Dead" is a novelette of approximately 10,748 words.

Zombie Britannica by Thomas Emson

I love Thomas Emson's books all of them so far.  Zombie Britannica was the first Zombie book I ever read, and I normally do not go in for guts and gore, but I could not put this book down.  From the moment I finished reading Thomas Emson's book I fell in love with Zombie books.  Please read his books, they are fantastic.  He has also written a trilogy of vampire books and they are also great.  I've read the first 2 and can't wait to get my hands on the final 3rd one.  I promise to write a review on his other books as soon as I have time.

In 2009, Canadian researchers warned that a zombie plague would wipe out civilization … unless we were ready – WE WEREN’T!  As temperatures reach unprecedented levels, the dead rise – and eat the living. There is no warning. There is no time to prepare. And with tens of thousands dead or infected, another waking nightmare comes to terrorize the survivors – THE UNDEAD’S VICTIMS NOW RISE UP, A NEWWAVE OF ZOMBIES HUNGRY FOR HUMAN FLESH!  As the nation teeters on the edge of extinction, those who survived the onslaught fight for their lives, and for the lives of their loved ones …CARRIE ASHER must battle her way across the blood-soaked streets of London to save her six-year-old daughter who is locked in the basement of their home – with her zombie-infected father upstairs.  VINCENT MASKELL is trapped in a Welsh castle with the girl he loves. But how can he be her knight in shining armour with a zombie army besieging the medieval fort and the humans inside slowly losing their minds?  CRAIG MURRAY and his family are stuck in a traffic jam in Scotland when the zombies attack. But when his younger sister is kidnapped, he is forced to confront a human monster as well as the undead hordes.  The odds are against us. The zombie throng is growing. Our numbers are dwindling – WELCOME TO ZOMBIE BRITANNICA!

This book is great!  There are no bad reviews here!

Sundered (A Zombie-ish Apocalypse, Book 1) [Kindle Edition] 

Shannon Mayer

The reviews on Amazon seem to be all positive - can't wait to start reading!  I've downloaded my free Kindle version.

Obviously there are thousands of Zombie books out there in the market and I don't have the time or the space to put up every single one here.  If you have a suggestion, please send it through the comments.  I'd love to hear what other people have read out there.  I'm always open to reading new and exciting books and it doesn't just have to be about Zombies!

Thank you