Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

The fourth book in the Southern Vampire Series is by far my favorite. It starts on New Years Eve. Sookie is waiting tables and her wish for the new year is to NOT be beaten or harmed by supernatural creatures. Her heart is still hurt by what happened with Bill and her body still misses the many pleasures that Bill offered her, but she is not at all sad when Bill announces he is off to Peru to do research for the Queen.
It seems as though Sookie may get her peaceful beatings free year after all. Then on the way she almost runs over Eric-Bills immediate superior in the confusing Vampire hierarchy. Eric has been attacked by witches and has no memory of who he is. Sookie takes him and contacts the local vampires. What follows is very interesting. Sookies brother disappears. Sookie is courted by the patriarch of a small southern town of inbred were-panthers. Sookie falls for Eric. Eric is much nicer, sweeter, vulnerable without his memory. Sookie is lonely and horny and sad over what happened with Bill. He is staying in her house and it all seems to grow from there. I know it can not last, Eric is too important of a character to remain without his memory and it when it comes back I feel very sorry for Sookie.
~~~~Where ever you go, There you are!