This series just gets better and better, if that’s at all possible. Ryker is undoubtedly one of my favourite fictional characters and Rob Sinclair is undoubtedly one of my favourite authors.

If you haven’t read the other books in this series then I highly recommend you do so, in order, if for no other reason than you are seriously missing out if you don’t!

The Green Viper (book 4) finds Ryker in receipt of a coded message at a secret location. A secret location only he and one other person knows about and that other person is his ex-boss who is now dead! When he realises the message is from his ex-boss’s widow, he accepts her death bed plea to help their son, Campbell, who has managed to get himself involved with some seriously dodgy criminals who hide their extra income behind seemingly successful, legitimate, businesses. These people are obsessed with money and power. Certainly not the kind of people I would choose to associate with, but Campbell is already involved with one of their daughters and finds the lure of thousands of pounds at a time and fancy cars too much to resist, despite having his reservations. Feuding ‘business men’, full of greed, want what the other has and Campbell finds himself in the middle of it all with Ryker trying to discreetly find a way of extricating him from the volatile situation, but it was never going to be an easy task.

This book is extremely fast-paced and full of action. Sometimes quite brutally violent! I do love the fight scenes. Ryker certainly knows how to handle himself. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this series needs to be on TV. I think it would be awesome.

I was totally captivated, as with the previous books in the series. I loved the very last line of the book! I’m so glad I’m able to start book 5 straight away! Watch this space for my review of The White Scorpion.

Via AmazonUK…..

James Ryker is back and better than ever.

I need your help. Call me.

Ex-intelligence agent James Ryker receives a coded message through a secret drop point, a means of communication known only to him and one other person. The problem is, that person is his ex-boss, Mackie… and he’s already dead.

But the cry for help is real, and it’s a request Ryker can’t refuse.

Travelling to New York alone and without official sanction, Ryker has a single goal in mind, yet even he couldn’t have bargained for the violent world he’s soon embroiled in. Caught in the middle of a spiralling chaos, with the FBI on one side and warring underworld bosses on the other, Ryker must put all of his skills to the test in order to come out on top and keep his word.

In a world full of lies and deceit, loyalty is everything, and it’s time for James Ryker to pay his dues.

Also available in the international best-selling James Ryker Series:

The Red Cobra

The Black Hornet

The Silver Wolf

What everyone is saying about The Green Viper:

“Amazing story. Amazing ending. Well worth reading.” G. Silvers

“fast-paced, utterly absorbing and … totally believable.” Judith”

“An all-action fast-paced thriller with James Ryker doing what he does best.” Mark Gardner

“Excellent book, loved the pace, action, twists & turns.” Pete Strange

Rob Sinclair is the best-selling author of The Enemy Series, Dark Fragments and Sleeper 13. The Green Viper is a fast-paced, globe-trotting thriller full of breathless action. It can be read as the 4th book in the best-selling Ryker Series or as a thrilling standalone. It will appeal to fans of books like Mark Dawson’s The Cleaner, James Swallow’s Nomad and L.T. Ryan’s Noble Beginnings.

ICYMI…..

The Red Cobra #BlogTour @RSinclairAuthor @Bloodhoundbook #BookReview #bloghounds @sarahhardy681

The Black Hornet (James Ryker Book 2) by Rob Sinclair @RSinclairAuthor @Bloodhoundbook #BookReview

The Silver Wolf (James Ryker Book 3) by Rob Sinclair @RSinclairAuthor #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

Welcome to my stop on Clare Johnston’s From the Outside blog tour with Love Books Tours!

Many thanks to Kelly @ Love Books Group Tours for arranging the following interview with Clare Johnstone…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I’m Clare Johnston and I’m a journalist from Edinburgh. From the Outside is my second novel. The first, Polls Apart, was published in 2011.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Firstly I think of themes I want to write around. I love politics, but in particular I love the drama around it and the characters within the soap opera that is Westminster so that’s why I decided to write a political thriller in Polls Apart.
The inspiration for From the Outside came from my long-held belief that death is not the end. I’ve had several instances in my life where I felt I have connected with loved ones who have passed away, and that made we wonder whether they can influence our lives and decisions from beyond the grave in some way.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

My characters often reflect people I know, have met or have observed in some way over the years. The two central characters in From the Outside, twins Harry and Ben Melville, are I guess reflections of myself. One is shy and lacks self-confidence, the other is outgoing, controlling and has a big ego. I think many of us can have that kind of dual side to our personality so that’s something I wanted to explore. We can be deeply flawed but it doesn’t necessarily make us bad people, particularly if we try to make amends. The strengths, humour, vulnerabilities and quirks of friends and family also tend to find their way into my work. Sometimes they recognise situations that we’ve been in together and it’s lovely when they text or call to tell me they spotted it.

How do you pick your characters’ names?
I think it’s a little like picking the names of children or pets. You have a sense of their personalities and what they look like and you try to pair that with names you think would suit them. Sometimes a character is just a real type and so you think of similar people you know and come up with a similar name (never the same name though, in case you offend them!).

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?
I start with a core idea; in Polls Apart it was about the leader of the opposition and his actress wife who separated during an election campaign and every move each made had an impact on the polls. To win the election he had to win his wife back. In From the Outside, the idea was to explore whether we can in death make amends for the wrongs we have committed in life. I chose to create a man with a complex, dual personality in Harry Melville, and his twin emerged almost immediately in my mind as his alter ego. Once I have my core idea and central characters I start writing. I might map out the next few chapters ahead as ideas come, but I don’t map out the entire novel – I feel my way. New characters emerge and grow with the story.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?
Tough, because I read a lot and they can change. Ian McEwan is up there, as is Donna Tartt, Jodi Picoult tells a great story, and I’ve read and enjoyed a lot of Maggie O’Farrell’s work. I’m also going to say Irvine Welsh because his writing is electrifying and I’ve also had the pleasure of interviewing him and he’s an all-round good sort.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?
I would love to meet Ian McEwan. I so admire him. It’s clear whenever you read one of his novels that he was right inside that story. He is able to create an atmosphere so vivid that you feel as though you are inside the story right with him. I’d actually like to do an interview with him, finding out which novels he’s most proud of, if he has any regrets, how he works, whether he is ever blinded by self doubt. So many of the most talented people I know are.

Were you a big reader as a child?
The short answer to that is yes. I enjoyed reading as a child and I also enjoyed writing stories, but I didn’t get any encouragement from teachers in school. I was hopeless at maths and science so I was written off and put into all the bottom sets. Then, I would say from around 12, I started to read a lot. I read newspapers, I read whatever I could lay my hands on and it transformed my writing abilities. The only As I got in school were for English and Modern Studies (political studies) – purely based on reading.

When did you start to write?
I was lost in my imagination as a child and did a lot of acting so I was always creating shows and comedy sketches. I really enjoyed creative writing in school in my teens and that was when I got the bug. I went into journalism (it was a bit of a no-brainer based on my skills) so in that sense I became a professional writer as soon as I left university. I started writing fiction around 11 years ago when my kids were very young and I had a bit of time in the evenings because they went to bed at 7 – which they don’t do now they are in their teens!

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?
It’s a bit of a sell-out answer really, but I could never re-write the ending to anyone else’s book. There are those books that you race through because they’re such page turners and you can’t wait until the final twist at the end only to find it’s a bit of a damp squib – I guess they peaked too soon. A lot of books don’t give you closure (which personally I like) but each has been carefully crafted by the author so you have to take them as they come – and make up your own ultimate endings in your mind if you’re not satisfied with them!

Is there a book you wish you had written?
I thought We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver was off-the-scale good. It was so carefully considered, it posed so many questions. I thought about it long after I finished reading it.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?
That’s another fine mess I got myself into

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?
I’m going to go for Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus because he lives near me so we could meet at the local Costa, and I could grill him on all those grisly murders and what’s going on in his personal life, though I think he’d thank me for the coffee and leave.

What are you working on right now?
I am half-way through a novel about sex-trafficking and why loneliness makes you vulnerable to bad choices, that I’m making very slow progress on.

Tell us about your last release?
My last release was Polls Apart, which although it had a political setting, was really about a relationship that was put under intense scrutiny. Life-held values and principles got lost in the race for public support. I liked the idea of going behind the scenes of a general election campaign and exploring the impact of a person’s every move being put under the microscope. Just a few ill-chosen words could blow your chances of becoming Prime Minister and that made for very fertile ground for a novel.

Do you have a new release due?
From the Outside will be published by Urbane Publications on July the 4th. It follows the aftermath of the death in a car crash of multimillionaire philanthropist Harry Melville and the impact it has on his twin brother, Ben and wife, Sarah. As we watch them struggle with grief and their guilt over their individual relationship issues with Harry, we begin to learn that he was not quite the golden boy he was portrayed as in the press. There are lots of twists and turns along the way, and a few laughs too hopefully. I’d never want a reader to be bored for a second so I keep up the pace, along with the suspense. There are also a lot of tender moments in there and it’s a chance to reflect on whether there may just be life after death.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?
Last time I had a book launch at a local branch of Waterstones, and this time around – on July 4th – Blackwells are hosting a launch for From the Outside which I’m really looking forward to. I’ll be giving a bit of a talk to begin with, then taking questions before doing a signing.

How can readers keep in touch with you?
They can reach me via my Facebook page – http://www.facebook/honestclare, or on Twitter @clareS_J or through my website http://www.honest.scot

Is there anything else you would like us to know?
Only that every time someone tells me they’ve read my work it makes my heart sing. It’s special to know you have that shared connection with a person who has entered your world for a few hours of their life and that you have been able to suspend them in time with you for a little while.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Clare 🙂

Blurb

When internet millionaire and philanthropist Harry Melville dies in a car crash at the age of forty four, the lives of his wife, Sarah, and twin brother, Ben, are thrown into turmoil.

Harry seemed to have it all; a close-knit family and a happy marriage – along with all the trappings of wealth. Yet as he recalls his past from the afterlife, a story emerges of the unspoken and bitter jealousies between brothers and of an unhappy wife burdened by loneliness and guilt.

When Ben takes over the running of Harry’s charity foundation he begins to find purpose for the first time in years. But the arrival of a talented young artist brings a series of revelations that expose Harry’s complex and dual personality in full. As he learns his part in the suffering of those he left behind, is it too late for Harry to make amends?

A tale of regret and redemption in this world and the next. From the Outside looks at the futile rivalries that can destroy sibling relationships and the lost opportunity for happiness when ego is allowed to reign over emotion.

Author Info

Clare Johnston is a journalist and content specialist, and a frequent contributor on radio and TV, having appeared on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, The Kaye Adams Programme and comedy satire show Breaking the News on BBC Radio Scotland, along with STV2’s Live at Five. She is a former editorial director of Press Association Scotland and commercial editor and columnist with the Daily Record. She is currently working with the DC Thomson media group and supports businesses with communication and content creation. Clare is based in Edinburgh.    

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2ZbThH8

happy reading 🙂

Welcome to my stop on K.H. Irvine’s A Killing Sin blog tour with Love Books Tours!

Many thanks to Kelly @ Love Books Group Tours for arranging the following interview with K.H. Irvine…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

Hi Kerry thank you for asking!

I am Scottish but have lived in or around London for over 30 years. I have worked all over the world focussing on what really makes people tick – how do we get to be at our best and what derails us from getting there. I am totally fascinated by people, why they do what they do and what they might do in extreme circumstances.

I am married with two daughters and in a few weeks about to be the proud owner of ‘Dorothy Barker’ (Dotty) a Cavapoo.

The book was my 50th birthday gift to myself (never too old to give something a go).

In summary:

Amala Hackeem, lapsed Muslim tech entrepreneur and controversial comedian, dons a burqa and heads to the women’s group at the Tower Hamlets sharia community. What is she doing there?

Ella Russell, a struggling journalist leaves home in pursuit of the story of her life. Desperate for the truth. She is about to learn truth is the first victim in the war on terror.

Millie Stephenson, a university professor and expert in radicalisation arrives at Downing Street to brief the prime minister and home secretary. Nervous and excited she finds herself at the centre of a nation taken hostage. And then it gets personal.

Friends since university, by the end of the day and all three women’s lives are changed forever. They are about to find out if friendship is stronger than fear.

And who is Nusayabah? The damaged and strategically brilliant terrorist holding the nation hostage.

She strikes at the centre of power, the establishment and the lives of the three friends.
For her it’s personal. But who is she?
How can she know so much?
How far will she go?
Can they find her before it’s too late?
I hope it is an audacious first novel, gripping from start to finish, full of hairpin twists and turns and with some thought-provoking insight.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

The first idea was about being a feminist. I worry that even now we don’t have equality. We are reluctant to talk about the impact of extremism on women. I worked with a very senior professor at the LSE and we were in Lebanon and Jordan. One night we were watching the flares over the Gaza strip and she told me about her work with women in Afghanistan. Three generations of women in one family; the Grandmother showed her photos of when she was a young woman – she looked exactly like Dusty Springfield (all eye liner, big hair and a mini skirt), the Mother was deeply traumatised by having lost her job as a teacher when the Taliban had arrived and the Daughter was swathed in a niqab and had bought the whole idea that she didn’t need an education. I couldn’t get that story out of my mind.

I also spoke to soldiers who had been undercover in Afghanistan for years and the whole idea about the way the world could be moving as we sleep walk into a return to medieval ideas fascinates me.

I hear a lot of secrets through my work and secrets are what drive many stories. Keeping them, fearing them and sharing them drives a story. The core of the story is really vulnerability – vulnerability exploited is what radicalisation is. When we are vulnerable we create a ‘cognitive opening’ and it can be manipulated by charismatic people with an agenda (doesn’t matter if it’s terrorism, drugs or sex…its all exploitation)

I also like the idea that women are the main characters – they are funny, flawed, vulnerable and strong and that they can be in big roles and be great friends (one agent rejected the book on the basis of that not being realistic – bah!)
Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

Yes, but loosely. I am sure everyone writes a little bit of themselves into characters – both how we are, how we might like to be and how we would be if some our traits were amplified or we found ourselves in unexpected circumstances. Millie is closest to me but only in parts. Through work I have met hundreds of people who share their deepest secrets with me …I have stolen quite a few of those.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

Some for what they mean. Millie is ‘loud and brash’, Amala ‘makes you laugh and has your back’. Nusayabah is the first woman to fight side by side with Allah. Some just seem to fit…I change them quite often as the character develops.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I have a house on the north coast of Ireland and I go for a week at a time. I buy a big box of Celebrations (other chocolates are available) and on the first day I sleep and re read what I have then I walk along the beach trying to immerse myself back in the story. I have a playlist that always has ‘Take me to Church’ on it as it was out when I first started the book and always makes me think about the lyricism of the Irish and how they tell great stories. I play it really loudly and dance and sing with no one looking!

I then write with no editing for a few days and then go back through with notes for research. Sometimes I can write 5,000 words a day and sometimes 500 and some days zilch.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Really – that’s like asking you to pick your favourite child???
So….
Margaret Atwood (she is awesome and so able to tell a story that makes you think!)
Khaled Hosseini (A Thousand Splendid Suns could be my favourite book in the world)
Martha Gellhorn (no one wrote about the waste of war better than her)
Jo Jo Moyes (best escapism)
Ken Follett

Our well being is, in part, linked to learning. All of these authors help you learn something quite often without feeling like you are until you reflect on it later.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Maya Angelou – because I couldn’t fit her into the top 5! I would ask her what has enabled her to remain so gracious and what does she see as her legacy?

Were you a big reader as a child?

Ridiculous – I was always the one with the torch under the covers and my idea of heaven was Enid Blyton!

When did you start to write?

Not until I was 50 – I didn’t have the confidence before then

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?
Is there a book you wish you had written?

My oldest daughter who read English Literature stunned me when she told me that the ending of The Road by Cormac McCarthy was not a happy ending – I had lived in blissful ignorance that the boy was saved.

A Handmaid’s Tale – it is fabulous. It is a wake up call, it stands the test of time, the characters are amazing and it still disturbs me having read it half a dozen times.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

Live your own big life

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

Catherine Earnshaw and I would ask her if she fast forwarded to today what would she do differently and it would have to be Betty’s tea room for Yorkshire tea.

What are you working on right now?

Book number 2 is a few years further on from a Killing Sin and is about the rise of the Alt Right. There is a tit for tat war on the streets of the UK and we have normalised some pretty appalling views. Two characters return Millie and Alex plus some new ones. Again, it meshes the personal and the political in a female led thriller.
Number 3 I have in mind to call 11 Days – maybe apocryphal but that’s how long it can take any one of us to fall through the net and end up on the streets, I want to write it backwards from day 11 to day 1 so it’s hard to guess who it is that is begging for money in the prologue.
Tell us about your last release?

This is my first

Do you have a new release due?

Not yet

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

It’s still to come but I feel wine may be involved

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Twitter and Instagram
KHIrvineAuthor

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

It’s a fast paced, page turner that I hope makes your heart beat faster.
Let me know what you think of it!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!

Thank you, Kerry

‘This impressive debut is a tense, taut thriller straight out of today’s headlines.’ – Natasha Harding, The Sun

‘An audacious first novel, gripping from start to finish, full of hairpin twists and turns.’ – Nik Myers

Would you surrender your secrets to save a life?

London. It could be tomorrow. Amala Hackeem, lapsed Muslim tech entrepreneur and controversial comedian, dons a burqa and heads to the women’s group at the Tower Hamlets sharia community. What is she doing there?

Ella Russell, a struggling journalist leaves home in pursuit of the story of her life. Desperate for the truth, she is about to learn the true cost of the war on terror.

Millie Stephenson, a university professor and expert in radicalisation arrives at Downing Street to brief the Prime Minister and home secretary. Nervous and excited she finds herself at the centre of a nation taken hostage. And then it gets personal.

Friends since university, by the end of the day the lives of all three women are changed forever. They will discover if friendship truly can survive secrets and fear.

happy reading 🙂

Hi and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature!

On the first Friday of each month I like to have a little look back at what I was reading during the same month in previous years, since starting my blog.

Please do join in if you have the time. I’d love to see your posts 🙂

Here are my reviews from July 2018 (plus a link to a previous FBF post)…..

Raise The Blade by Tess Makovesky @tessmakovesky @caffeinenights #BookReview

Unshackled by Rachael Stewart @rach_b52 #BlogTour #BookReview #Giveaway @rararesources

White Is The Coldest Colour by John Nicholl @nicholl06 #BookReview

How To Mend A Broken Heart by Anna Mansell @AnnaMansell @bookouture #BookReview #Netgalley

The Power Of Dog by Andrew G. Marshall @andrewgmarshall @RedDoorBooks #BlogTour #BookReview

The Summer Getaway by Tilly Tennant @TillyTenWriter @bookouture #BlogBlitz #BookReview

Gone to Ground #KayHunter6 by @RachelAmphlett #BlogTour #BookReview #damppebblesblogtours

#FlashbackFriday with @KatyHogan @ConradDebby @MishaHerwin #BookReviews

Have you read any of the above?

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Dick Wybrow to Chat About Books!

His most recent book, The InBetween, is OUT NOW! (Purchase link to follow.)

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I’m a lifelong story-teller. In my youth, this helped me get out of trouble on occasion. Now, my mother would call these lies… however, I’d prefer to say this was merely honing my craft.

A Canadian who moved to the US around the age of ten, for most of my life, I’ve been an outsider. I found the best way to attract friends (and not get beat up by the bigger kids) was to be entertaining. Or at least interesting. I then took that to the page and at the age of 17, I wrote my first book.

It was terrible.

But, I kept writing and eventually found a way to get “instantly published.” That what stand-up comedy. Around the age of 20, that was my career. In Minneapolis, I worked with some amazing people like the comedian Louis Anderson. Later, I would perform with pros like Kevin Pollack and Larry the Cable Guy.

I made the switch to rock radio deejay (this is obviously they play a big part in my stories) for about a dozen years. Then I worked at CNN for a while and now, when I’m not writing, produce a live, comedy-news show in New Zealand.

My hope is always that my books entertain. I’m not really trying to “make a point”, other than maybe we should be nicer to each other. And don’t underestimate how great people can be (especially those who we do habitually underestimate).

A very nice best-selling author summed up my writing like this: Dick, you’re a humor author who likes his reality to be a little bit unreal. Your characters and stories exist in worlds that look like ours, but often a layer is peeled back to reveal there is something extra underneath.

That nice descriptor has become a part of my bio the last year.

I currently have four books The Mentor, The Swordsmen (of Fifty Shades of Gray Matter), Hell inc, and The InBetween.

The latter published on July 1st.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

This is an author’s most dreaded question because the answer is basically, I don’t know. They just show up. I’m lucky.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

I like to say that I “plagiarizer life.” While no character is directly someone I know, I’d say most are a combination of friends, family and just people I meet.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

I just sort of reach out with my mind and take what’s given to me. The InBetween‘s main character Painter Mann is a bit different but for the most part, it’s just what hits me. For some of the side characters, they are often people I know.

On occasion, I’ve put in a sort of place holder for a name with the thought of changing that later. I’m hit and miss with this strategy. A fun stoner character in The Mentor was originally named Melon because I picture a guy with a mess of curly hair (yes, this made sense to me at the time). Later, I changed that to Pavan because it fit better.

In The InBetween the character name Jan Jorgensen was supposed to be a place holder. It’s a mash-up of names I’d heard back when I lived in the Minneapolis area (the first name is Norwegian, pronounced like “Yahn”). In truth, it’s a cumbersome name but in the end it just sort of worked, so I left it.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I get up each morning at 4:45, make coffee for my beautiful wife and crawl into my office to write. I now use Scrivener, so I can track my words. I tried to bang out at least 1500 a day.

Another thing: I try to not end a day’s writing at the end of a scene. It’s hard to kick start a new scene at 5am, so it’s best that there’s something already happen that you can finish. I always try to wrap up the morning’s writing in the middle of something. It’s just easier to pick it up again.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

That changes all the time (and it probably should), but as for modern authors, I love these guys:

Douglas Adams

Carl Hiaasen

Janet Evanovich

Dean Koontz

Johnny Shaw

Of course folks like Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and others taught me heaps as a young writer.

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Douglas Adams. I’d just ask how he determined something was funny versus just absurd for the sake of being absurd. He was brilliant. He was taken from us far too young.

Were you a big reader as a child?

At the age of six, I was given my first book by my father. It was Wind in the Willows. Naturally, that put me off reading for several years.

After discovering The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, I caught the reading love bug. And with it came the compulsion to get lost worlds like Douglas had created.

When did you start to write?

Probably pre-teens. But my first novel was written when I was 17. As I said before, it was terrible.

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

Hopefully, stories are crafted in a way that the characters dictate. So, with that in mind, I wouldn’t be so bold as to tell any of them they’re wrong.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

As a kid, I fell in love with Dune. Frank Herbert’s style dazzled me. I can’t do what he does.
If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

To be honest, I have far better stories to tell than my own. I can’t imagine ever taking the time to write one.
If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

My love for Hitchhiker’s runs deep. I’d love to meet Ford Prefect and do a pub crawl.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on Book 2 of the Painter Mann series. The plan is to have that available to readers by December 1st.
Tell us about your last release?

The InBetween is about a dead private investigator. He’s a ghost. His job is to help other ghosts move on, those who are stuck in “The InBetween.”  You get there if you’ve been murdered, and the killer isn’t known.

Painter investigates the death of his clients and once the murder is revealed, those ghosts are “cleared,”– that is, they move on to whatever is next (Heaven? Hell? A big ghostly shopping mall?).

Our hero stumbles upon the case of a serial killer. Revealing that murderer would clear dozens of ghosts, something he’s sworn to do. However, Painter realizes this is the person who also killed him!

So will he reveal the name of the killer, if that means he will also clear… leaving behind all of those lost souls in The InBetween with no one to help them?

(hint: you have to read it to find out)

Do you have a new release due?

The InBetween publishes July 1st.
What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

To be honest, nothing much special. I should do something, right?  But, for now, I just keep writing the next one.
How can readers keep in touch with you?

Email or Instagram. I don’t really pay much attention to Twitter or Facebook.  All those details are on my website: dickwybrow.com

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

As you’ll learn in the new book, Painter has three rules to live by for the living and the dead. The first one is basically be nice to people. As a rule, I think we should all strive to do that.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Dick 🙂

Thank you for asking.  Good luck with Chat About Books. Nice site!

The InBetween (Painter Mann Series Book 1)

Painter Mann is a one-of-a-kind private investigator. He may even be the world’s best, but mainly that’s because he’s dead.

Assisted by his “Temps”— a select few of the very old who are so close to death they can actually hear him— Painter has sworn to help the murder victims stuck in The InBetween by revealing their killers so they can move on.

But, a new mass murder case threatens everything after Painter recognizes the killer’s face as the person who murdered him.

Exposing them will free dozens of ghosts but will also clear Painter, leaving no one to help the souls trapped in The InBetween.

Also, he’s really into the whole private investigator thing. When alive he was never really good at much. Dead? He’s a hell of a PI.

Is Painter willing to risk it all to save those he’s sworn to help?

happy reading 🙂

Happy Publication Day, Virginia Heath 🙂

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed, The Disgraceful Lord Grey by Virginia Heath, back in March, I was keen to read The Determined Lord Hadleigh and I am so glad I have. I really must read the first two books in this series. I wish I had discovered this author sooner as Virginia Heath really knows how to write characters you will fall in love with.

Penny is an instantly likeable character and one I initially felt sorry for given her circumstances, but it is soon obvious she needs no-one’s pity. She’s a feisty, determined lady, but also scared to trust again. Totally understandable given what she went through with her abusive husband.

Lord Hadleigh is a successful lawyer and is, in my mind, quite easy on the eye! He is quite blatantly taken with Penny. He does his best to help her, but only seems to insult her independence so when the opportunity arises for him to help her, in a less direct way, he takes the chance and she accepts, agreeing to be the housekeeper of his estate.

The romance that blossoms between them during this time isn’t at all straight forward, but is passionate and powerful all the same. I was willing them both to give in to their obvious desire and to allow themselves to be deliriously happy, as I knew they could be. Their love and respect for one another is quite beautiful. I have loved joining them on their journey to happiness.

It was lovely to briefly catch up with Lord Gray and Thea once again also.

If you love historical romance you will love this book, and the others in the series, I’m sure.

The Determined Lord Hadleigh

Haunted by Penny Penhurst’s courage on the witness stand, meticulous barrister Lord Hadleigh offers her a housekeeper position at his estate. Despite trying to stay detached, Hadleigh is charmed by her small child and surprised by how much he yearns for this proud woman! Can this he break through his own – and Penny’s – barriers to prove he’s a man she can trust…and love?

Purchase Link –

http://viewbook.at/kingselite4    

happy reading 🙂

Author Bio –

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Despite that, it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virginiaheathauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VirginiaHeath_

Giveaway

Win one of two e-copies of The Determined Lord Hadleigh by Virginia Heath (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

The Teeth Of Giants

In the brutal war on Elephant poaching in Africa one man takes a stand against a ruthless international ivory smuggling syndicate. A stand that almost costs him everything.

Jason Green never for one minute expected the appalling violence and horror he would endure when he returned to Africa to pay his respects to an old friend.

A profound sense of guilt and nostalgia prompts London based ex soldier Jason Green to return to Africa for the funeral of an old friend killed in suspicious circumstances in The Zambezi Valley. He is about to be sucked into the murky and brutal underworld of the illegal ivory trade. Grave injury and a burning desire for revenge thrust Green from the blistering heat of The Zambezi Valley to the tropical coast of Mozambique and beyond. Every tortured step of this journey is fraught with extreme danger and the ever present threat of death.

The Teeth Of Giants is the second novel by Gordon Wallis featuring his main character Jason Green. Readers of thrillers set in Africa will devour the frenetic pace and sheer brutality of this gritty crime thriller.

Pick up The Teeth Of Giants today and prepare for the ride of your life.

Purchase Link:
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07QHY66Q2
US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QHY66Q2

Author Bio –

Gordon Wallis is a 50 year old author based in Zimbabwe , Southern Africa. Born of British parents he has lived there all his life. A keen reader of thriller novels , particularly those set in Africa , he has travelled extensively in Africa , Europe , The Middle East and Asia. He runs a number of businesses in Zimbabwe and is single.

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/gordon.wallis
https://twitter.com/zimbabaloooba

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happy reading 🙂

The Silver Wolf is book three in the James Ryker series and it has been every bit as fast-paced and full of action as the previous two books. If you love an action thriller then you really need to read these books, if you haven’t already. There is something about Rob Sinclair’s writing that just draws you in from the very first page and compels you to keep turning those pages.

I have half read, half listened to this book (as I recently joined audible) and I have thoroughly enjoyed both versions. I have to say that the narrator chosen for the audible version suits the book perfectly. I could happily listen to his voice all day.

In either version this story is a highly entertaining thriller which would suit the big or small screen. I have probably said before that these books would make a great series or film. I’d love to see Ryker on the big screen!

Without spoiling the previous books for those of you who haven’t read them yet, book three finds Ryker seeking revenge. During his quest for revenge he also finds himself investigating an attack on the JIA (his previous employers). A lot has happened in Ryker’s recent past and one name seems to link them all -The Silver Wolf. But, who is the Silver Wolf and what does he have against Ryker and his colleagues?

I love Ryker’s character. I love his slight cockiness. He’s confident in himself and his abilities, for the most part, but is not at all conceited. He’s still quite mysterious though, although we learn a little bit more about him as the series continues. His story has kept me gripped once again.

I can’t wait to read book four.

Via AmazonUK

Ryker wants blood, and one way or another he’ll get it…

Still tormented by the disappearance of his wife, ex-intelligence agent James Ryker sets out on a personal mission of revenge, prepared to go to any lengths in search of the truth.

The trail takes him from the crystal waters of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, back to a place he thought he would never set foot again – his country of birth, England. But there he discovers more than even he bargained for. Stumbling across a terrorist attack targeted against his old employers – the secretive Joint Intelligence Agency -the faint clues to many events in his recent past are all seemingly linked to one mysterious character; The Silver Wolf.

But just who is the Silver Wolf, and why is he hell bent on punishing not just Ryker, but his closest allies at the JIA too?

Has Ryker finally met his match?

The Silver Wolf is a globe-trotting thriller that sees James Ryker at his hard-nosed best as he fights the ghosts of his past. As skilled as Jason Bourne, as no-nonsense as Jack Reacher, James Ryker delivers in another heart-pounding thriller which. Fans of authors like LT Ryan and Mark Dawson will love this explosive and best-selling series.

Also available in the James Ryker Series:

The Red Cobra

The Black Hornet

The Green Viper

What readers are saying about the international best-selling James Ryker Series:

“He is a man on a mission and I love his passion and tenacity! He is my total action man!!” Claire Knight – Crimebookjunkie

“With the build-up to the finale, it is a gritty read with an enthralling ending.” Alexina Golding – Bookstormer

“The Silver Wolf is an exciting and thrilling read that sent my heart racing.” Sarah Hardy – By The Letter Book Reviews

“Sinclair has generated a lovable, yet deeply flawed, character who readers instantly champion.” Lisa Harrison – Segnalibro

“If you love The Bourne series then you absolutely have to read The James Ryker series. I promise you won’t be disappointed!” Joanne Robertson – My Chestnut Reading Tree

“There’s just something about the writing that makes a film play in my head so I can see the action playing out, it’s quite brilliant!” Kate Noble – The Quiet Knitter

“The Silver Wolf offers everything you could need in a thriller, it’s dark and heavy hitting which gives it an edge…” David Baird – David’s Book Blurg

“It has everything you’d want in an espionage thriller – a tight twisty plot, great characters, horrible villains and surprise twists.” Cathy Ryan – Between The Lines

“Another absolutely brilliant read from an author that never disappoints.” Jill Burkinshaw – Books n All

“OMG what a story….. Once again the author draws you in straight from the start and doesn’t let you go until the very last page.” Shell Baker – Chelle’s Book Reviews

ICYMI

The Red Cobra #BlogTour @RSinclairAuthor @Bloodhoundbook #BookReview #bloghounds @sarahhardy681

The Black Hornet (James Ryker Book 2) by Rob Sinclair @RSinclairAuthor @Bloodhoundbook #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

Another Shot is a sad, but compelling story about Freddie and Jo-Jo. They are pretty much inseparable until Jo-Jo leaves for University. Freddie begs her to stay, but she needs to spread her wings. She also needs for him to call and be there to support her, but he doesn’t. He always thought he was punching above his weight and feels it’s right to cut all ties to allow Jo-Jo the chance to live a good life. How different things could have been if he had just called when he said he would. Thirty five years later, Jo-Jo makes contact. She feels the need to see Freddie one last time before emigrating to be with her daughter. It’s obvious they have never stopped loving each other, despite living very different lives, but is there any chance they can re-kindle their romance after such a long time? They are very different people now.

The story is a series of flashbacks which reveal the truths of the past and highlight how they both allowed true love to pass them by. I felt quite sorry for them both. No-one knows how things would have worked out if they had have stayed in touch all those years ago and they will never know if they missed out on true happiness.

This book is full of regret and raw emotion. These characters are very real and believable. I’m sure many readers will relate them in one way or another.

The ending certainly left me wanting to know more, so I’m looking forward to reading book 2.

Many thanks for my review copy.

Another Shot

“It used to make me feel special, the fact that they knew me, knew what I wanted, but it had soured with repetition. I’d become my drink order – that’s what it felt like. But it was okay. People watching in this place made me feel part of the world, got me away from the house for a few hours. And it was here she came back to me. I hadn’t seen her for three decades and suddenly there she was, standing next to my table. ‘Hello, Freddie’.”

Another Shot tells the story of Freddie and Jo-Jo, who are reunited in a coffee shop thirty-five years after the end of their teenage romance. Jo-Jo finds Freddie through a mutual friend, and tells him that she is emigrating following the death of her husband. She gives him a photograph of the two of them on their first weekend away, a trip to Blackpool.

How they originally met, why they parted, what happens in their lives apart is all told through a series of flashbacks. These memories feed into events when they meet up again and explain why, despite the passage of time and the intensity of their still simmering love, there is no future for their relationship.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Another-Shot-Stephen-Anthony-Brothertonebook/dp/B077S1ZHPC
US – https://www.amazon.com/Another-Shot-Stephen-Anthony-Brotherton-ebook/dp/B077S1ZHPC

Author Bio –

‘I was born in Walsall, grew up in the West Midlands and now live in Telford with my two cats, Boris and Tai. After working in the health and social care sector for over thirty years, I have now taken early retirement to write the trilogy that has been rooted in my head for most of my life.
Another Shot is the first book in the Shots trilogy, which is based on a first love relationship I had as a teenager. It tells the story of Freddie and Jo-Jo, who are reunited in a coffee shop three decades after the end of their teenage romance. How they originally met, why they parted, what happens in their lives apart, and what happens when they reunite is all told through a series of first person vignettes. The second book, An Extra Shot, will be published in July 2019. I am currently working on the final instalment.
Getting these stories down on paper has been a cathartic process. I hope you enjoy them.

Social Media Links –

Instagram @freddiejojoreunited
Twitter – https://twitter.com/FreddieJoJo1

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happy reading 🙂

Passport to Happiness

An inspiring and escapist read – Eat, Pray, Love meets Bridget Jones!

Will the trip of her dreams…
Everly Carter is bored.
With her job, with her single status and with the never ending line of rubbish men on Tinder. Tired of going through the motions of seeming happy, Everly wants to be happy!

So, in a spontaneous moment of bravery (perhaps spurred on by a few cocktails) Everly books a holiday. Time away, alone, to find out what she really wants from life.
Become the journey of her lifetime?
Everly’s search for happiness takes her to picturesque Swiss villages and the sunsets of glamourous Bermuda. But with every new stamp in her passport, Everly still feels as though something is missing…
Could it be that true happiness is hard to find, until she finds herself?

PRICE DROP ALERT!

Passport to Happiness now just 99p!

Grab your copy –

http://hyperurl.co/passporttoeb

Author Bio –

Carrie was born and raised in London, but her love for travel and adventure has seen her spend the last fourteen years living and working internationally. She is currently based in Spain alongside her husband, young daughter and adopted Indonesian dog, Bali.

Carrie is a traditionally published author with Harper Impulse, as well as an independently published author. When not writing, she works as a Psychic Medium & Spiritual Coach (www.carriebattley.com). To find out more about her, connect on Facebook (Carrie Stone) or Twitter @CarrieStoneUK

happy reading 🙂