Guest Blog - C.J. West, Author of "The End of Marking Time"

Today, I'm delighted to host author C.J. West, author of an exciting new futuristic thriller, THE END OF MARKING TIME.

This novel, which follows small-time convicted criminal Michael O'Connor as he discovers a bizarre new system of justice after waking from a four-year coma, is an intriguing, spellbinding story that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow Michael as he attempts to readjust to a strange new world.


Are You Afraid of Big Brother?
by C.J. West

When I was young I had a conversation with my father about morality and behavior. He told me that God and I see everything I do. I should act accordingly so that I don’t disappoint God or myself. This was an eye-opening conversation for me at the time. The idea that God’s watchful eye was inescapable was a little frightening. Imagine that every moment, no matter how private, is being observed. Not only that, but I also believe that God can read my innermost thoughts and some of those aren’t exactly pure. Combine this with the anxiety of knowing you are being judged by the Almighty and it is a powerful motivator to follow the straight and narrow.

The other element of this new awareness is that we form our opinion of ourselves based on a long history of deeds both good and evil. There is no escaping our self-knowledge save hypnosis, anesthesia, or amnesia. I wasn’t a troublesome kid. I did my share of stupid boy tricks, but I’m sure my behavior improved for a little while after this talk. Perspective – it’s tricky animal. Even if I was a rotten kid (which my parents assure me isn’t true) could I really picture myself that way? Would I have jumped off a bridge if I thought myself evil? Maybe. I think no matter who we are we have to see ourselves in a positive light to be able to get through our day even if our daily routine involves stealing candy from neighborhood children.

Self-knowledge and constant observation plague Michael O’Connor, the protagonist in The End of Marking Time. Michael has been a criminal since he was very young. He has stolen cars, jewelry, credit cards, cash, all manner of things. After a life financed by criminal pursuits and government handouts, Michael tries to see himself as a good guy. It makes me wonder if maybe we are a poor judge of our own character no matter who we are. If he looked at himself the way I see him, he couldn’t get out of bed in the morning. Then again, if he had my perspective, he wouldn’t be who he is.

During the novel, Michael realizes he is being watched and he slowly realizes that his circumstances are being manipulated to the extent that he cannot tell where his reeducation program ends and reality begins. When I talk to people about this they cringe. Why should it be so disturbing for someone to watch us? Is what we do that different from anyone else? What are we hiding? Are we thinking evil thoughts? Doing evil deeds? Or do we just not want anyone to see us naked?

Could you live with someone watching you 24/7?

About The Author:

CJ was raised in a tiny town in Massachusetts where his family has lived for three generations. When CJ was a boy, the family had a variety of animals and boasted a poultry incubator large enough to hatch a chick for every resident of the town – all at one time. Although it was never a professional enterprise, the family continued to raise animals for many years and CJ developed a love for the outdoors and wildlife. He supports a number of environmental causes today.

CJ wrote his first book in 1979 while bored during school hours, but at that time writing was second to golf. CJ practiced hard daily and eventually entertained hopes of playing professionally. In 1985 he chose Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMASS Dartmouth) over golf and studied Business Management which advanced his career in computer technology.

Twenty years after that first book, CJ plunged back into writing. After six years studying other authors and working at his craft, CJ released Sin and Vengeance in 2005. He currently lives in suburban Massachusetts with his wife and two children.


My thanks to C.J. West for his guest blog today, and for the review copy of "The End of Marking Time." This riveting book would make a great Father's Day gift for the dad who loves adventure and thrillers!

Join C.J. for the virtual launch party for "The End of Marking Time" on June 10th at his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/cjwestfans

Also check out his website at www.22wb.com for information on C.J.'s previous work.

Book Blog Tour for "Indivisible" by Kristen Heitzmann

I'm happy to host the blog tour for Kristen Heitzmann's new book, "Indivisible."

About The Book:

An inseparable bond.
An insatiable force.

Battling his own personal demons, Police Chief Jonah Westfall knows the dark side of life and has committed himself to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, knowing the strange event could escalate and destroy the tranquility of his small mountain town. With a rising drug threat and never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history, Jonah fights for answers—and his fragile sobriety.

But he can’t penetrate every wound or secret—especially one fueled by a love and guilt teetering on madness.

From best-selling author Kristen Heitzmann comes a spellbinding tale of severed connections and the consequences of life lived alone.

My Thoughts: This novel is chocked full of interesting characters whose lives intertwine throughout the story. I wasn't sure what I expected at the onset of the tale, but I found myself drawn into the story of a small town with a big secret. Heitzmann does a wonderful job of building the suspense, and the ending was surely not what I was expecting. Well done!


Biography

While home schooling her four kids, Kristen Heitzmann wrote her first novel. It became one of a five book historical series. Since then, she has written three more historical novels and eight contemporary romantic and psychological suspense novels including The Still of Night, nominated for the Colorado Book Award, The Tender Vine, a Christy Award finalist and Christy Award winning Secrets. She lives in Colorado with her husband Jim, sundry family members, and pets.

Follow Kristen online at www.KristenHeitzmann.com

This blog tour was sponsored by Blogging For Books. For more information on this book, check out www.randomhouse.com

Deception by Jonathan Kellerman

I normally shy away from what I like to refer to as "man" books, but I was asked to review Jonathan Kellerman's new book, "Deception," and I was pleasantly surprised - I liked it, I really really liked it! (ok, sorry for the Sally Fields impression!)


Here's my review - see what you think!

(Warning - the music is a little heavy on this one, but I thought it went well with the book! You must might want to turn your volume down a bit. "Watch This" by Slash featuring Duff McKagan and Dave Grohl)

When the body of Elise Freeman was found in a bathtub full of dry ice, it became a case for Los Angeles Police Department’s homicide unit. But when it’s discovered that Ms. Freeman was a teacher at one of L.A.’s most prestigious private schools and that she had left a DVD message accusing other teachers there of sexual harassment and abuse, Lieutenant Milo Sturgis is brought in to keep the case from exploding into the media’s eye.

Because of the bizarre nature of the death, Sturgis once again turns to his buddy, psychologist Alex Delaware, to help him try and piece together the crime, and figure out who would have so twisted as to commit this heinous act.
As the two enter the hallowed halls of upper-crust education at Windsor Prepreatory Academy, they soon find a bevy of teachers scrambling to clear their names, a mass of spoiled rich kids who seemed oblivious to a teacher’s death, and an administration desperately trying to keep Sturgis and Delaware from digging too deeply into school records and policies.

And to make things more complicated, the police chief’s son is a senior at the Academy, shooting for an Ivy League admission, and the chief wants this case quietly closed, and now. But nothing Sturgis and Delaware are ever involved in is considered quiet, and the two stir up one hornets’ nest after another, trying to find the killer.

They discover the mousy little teacher was not quiet the innocent victim she portrayed herself to be on the DVD, and that Elise Freeman had quite the dark side herself. As clues lead the detective and doctor up and down the California coast, it soon becomes clear that the lifestyles of the rich and famous in education can hide vicious and dangerous secrets. But could those secrets and deceptions lead to murder?

“Deception,” by Jonathan Kellerman, is the twenty-third book in the Alex Delaware series, which began with “When The Bough Breaks,” back in 1985. A psychological thriller, “Deception” contains all the thrills and intrigues of a mystery with a healthy dose of spine-tingling mind games that will have readers captivated from the first page.

To keep a series about two main characters, “Delaware” and “Sturgis,” going for so long and for them to continue to be so popular is an achievement that few authors can boast of. For a first time reader, a lot of the inside jokes and references to past associations and events can be rather confusing, but fans of the good doctor and the flamboyant detective will enjoy the easy camaraderie the two obviously have settled into.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, and I was not obligated to give a favorable review, but I did!)