Phoenix Island by John Dixon

Synopsis:  Carl, a young troubled teen who has been found guilty of another assault charge is sent off to a military style boot camp called Phoenix Island.  His need to punish bullies has finally landed him in this hell.  These drill instructors seem to use any means necessary to get these cadets to change their delinquent ways.  As the weeks go by on the island the cadets learn that there may be more going on here than just helping troubled teens.  They realize that the "Old Man" is building an army at any means necessary, beatings, severe punishment, even murder.  Carl must figure out a way to save his friends and himself and escape the island before he too is killed.

My Review:  Two words - Page turner.  This author has a way of writing scenes so vivid you actually feel like you are there.  There is a fight scene between Carl and Parker that I started reading before work one morning and I was so involved in the story I was late to work.  Literally could not put the book down.  I heard there was a review where a woman actually gagged reading one of the scenes, yes there were bugs involved but how well does a scene need to be written that it makes someone actually gag?  To me that is fantastic writing.

Somehow before the book was even released to the public the idea behind the book was picked up by CBS for a TV show called Intelligence.  While I have only seen the first episode of the show these two storied are only slightly related, they are quite different from each other.  It's a shame because I think the book would make a better movie than just just using the concept of the chip implant as the show uses.  I'm looking at you Ridley Scott to make some moves here...

I have had the pleasure of conversing with John over email and Facebook the last few weeks and look forward to one day meeting him in person.  He is currently working on the sequel to Phoenix Island now called Devil's Pocket.  You can bet that I will add that book to the top of my "to read" pile.  I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

My rating:  9
Pages:  320
Author website:  http://www.johndixonbooks.com/

Monsters by Donald Wells

Synopsis:  Consisting of a series of six short stories we learn about two killers, Dave and Jack, that schedule a "boy's night out" every couple of weeks where they hunt down and kill women.  Things seem to be going well for the boys until one of the women escape, and Dave ends up killing his boss in a moment of passion.  It is the combination of these two events that ultimately result in their demise.

My review:  I have to say that the cover alone is one of the most disturbing images I have ever seen.  I didn't quite feel the character development in this book as I did in the Taken series but still very well written, I mean I read this entire book in about three hours (one good thing about being sick over the weekend, plenty of reading time).  I will say Donald Wells writes serial killers so well that he actually has me wondering about him.

What I love about the way the author writes these short stories is that each story has its own climax.  They are not written as chapters, it is almost like you can read them independently of each other and still enjoy the story itself.  I will definitely be checking out the next box set when it is written and released.

My rating:  7
Pages:  140
Author website:  http://www.donaldwells.com/

Sand by Hugh Howey

Synopsis:  The world as we know it is covered in sand, thousands of feet of sand.  Divers venture into the sand to look for artifacts of the lost world, ultimately looking for the lost world of Danvar.  A family of siblings, each with his or her own diving ability must reunite and love each other as a family to overcome the war that is rapidly approaching them.  We see the love between brothers and sisters, the love for a lost father, the love of an absent mother, all of which once finally embraced come together in a story of epic proportions.

My review:  Not in many many moons had I been so excited to read a book.  Hugh Howey has a way of writing something so well that you actually feel like you are a part of it.  In Wool I felt like I was running the stairs with Juliet, In The Hurricane I felt like I was there with Daniel weathering the storm, and in Sand I truly felt like I was diving deep with Palmer or Vic into the sand.  I could see the colors, I could feel the grit in my mouth.  How someone is able to do this so well is beyond me.  I am even someone who takes words and puts them on paper and still I am baffled how Hugh is able to do this better than most anyone else.

Almost all of Hugh's books are written in a world that does not exist.  In Sand, the world has been taken over by years and years of sand, covering the entire world as we know it with thousands of feet of sand.  The idea of diving into sand and exploring the world below is genius, Hugh might be the first guy to think of something like this.  I cannot even comprehend his ability to think of things like this, his imagination amazes me.  I love how he is able to take the simplest of things and make them his own.  Calling money coin.  Coming up with the idea of a sand sailboat called a sarfer.  It's these little things that make you feel like you are part of the story, that you are there with Conner trying to save people in the sand.  It is beautiful.

I truly feel like Hugh Howey is a literary revolutionary.  He is literally changing the book/publishing industry.  Not only is his writing fantastic, his ideas are unparalleled.  How he does it again with Sand, is beyond me.  I will save you the effort of searching the internet to buy a copy.  Buy the kindle version or paperback on Amazon, or like me buy a signed copy from Hugh directly.  You will enjoy this book, this world, this author.  Only issue with reading Hugh's books is that all other books from this point on will be disappointment.  True story.

My rating:  10
Pages:  336
Author website:  http://www.hughhowey.com/

A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash

Synopsis:  Told from the point of view of three different characters in the book, we are told a story of a boy who witnesses a "healing" of his older brother in a strange church where later that same day the boy is found dead after attending a second church service.  Christopher, Stump as he goes by in the book, is a mute and has never uttered a word in his life.  His mother, after hearing what she thinks is him saying "Mama" during the first healing is convinced that this preacher can heal her son and takes him back for the second healing.  We hear some back story of this preacher and why he may not be a healer and may in fact be a murderer.  All the stories told eventually converge towards the end as we see how this tragedy came to be and how each of these characters are involved.

My review:  This is definitely a book club style book and a great read.  My only issue with this book was how it all came together in the end.  It just left me wanting more.  I loved reading this book, and I read it in about three days but I feel like there were unanswered questions and an anticlimactic ending.  There was great conflict throughout the story and I was highly entertained but with a slightly different ending I may have rated this book a 7 or 8.  I will definitely read this authors second book with the hopes of an improved ending.

My rating:  6
Pages:  336
Author website:  http://www.wileycash.com/

How to Write a Novel: 47 Rules for Writing a Stupendously Awesome Novel That You Will Love Forever by Nathan Bransford

Synopsis:  This book contains 47 guidelines on how to develop characters, maintain plot, include conflict to keep the reader involved, deal with the stress of getting or not getting published, and basic writer tips for aspiring and already published authors.

My review:  I have decided to read several books on how to improve my writing skills this year.  This is a great tutorial for beginners and non-beginner writers.  This books lists reasons why conflict is important and how to keep the reader reading while making sure your characters are constantly conflicted and overcoming this conflict.  It gives specific ways to help maintain plot and with tips on what to an what not to do.  I loved that this book was so "user friendly" and easy to read and understand.  Being a complete novice to the writing world I found this a great guide and will definitely use it for reference when and if I ever sit down and write a book.  This book was recommended by an author I read all the time and I recommend this to anyone interested in improving writing skills or anyone who ever hopes to write a book.

My rating:  8
Pages:  150
Author website:  http://nathanbransford.com/

Raw: A Love Story by Mark Haskell Smith

Synopsis:  Sepp Gregory is a reality star hunk with killer abs who has released a fictional memoir of his life.  The book is a smashing success and Sepp sets out on a nationwide book tour, except there is one issue, he didn't write the book nor has he even read it.  Harriet, a popular blogger, sees through the web of lies surrounding this book and sets out to prove that Sepp is an idiot and that there is now way he could possibly write this beautifully written masterpiece of prose.  While on tour, the fame caused by this book spreads not only to Sepp, but also to his ex-girlfriend and reality star love interest Roxy.  Roxy is a beautiful, busty blonde who seems to only care about herself.  Sepp, heartbroken from the breakup is still struggling with his inability to rise to the occasion when it comes to other women, until he meets Harriet.  Although, Harriet wants nothing to do with Sepp except prove he didn't write the book, that is until she meets the actual ghostwriter, Curtis.  Each of these characters embark on a journey that involves a travelling RV with hidden cameras, the Playboy mansion, a dead guy in the shower, a multitude of rest stop rompings, and one killer set of abs.

My review:  This is a really fun read, I liked it a lot.  This is my first book by Mark Haskell Smith and will not be the last.  A sexy, funny, page turner, that again is not meant for everyone.  There is roadside sex, cursing, death, busty babes and a dysfunctional penis.  I read in one of these reviews on Goodreads that Mark is the Carl Hiassen of LA.  What a great description.  His characters are fun, likeable, or unlikeable if they are meant to be such, and the chapters are all very well written.  The story comes together in the end and it just works, and works well.  If you are looking for a funny read with some interesting characters and plot, look no further.  Enjoy.

My rating:  7
Pages:  276
Author website:  http://www.markhaskellsmith.com/