I am SO excited to be joining in with Bookouture’s cover reveal for Louise Jensen’s new book, which is to be released on 27th September and is available to pre-order now!

THE SURROGATE by Louise Jensen

‘You know that feeling? When you want something so badly, you almost feel you’d kill for it?’ 

Be careful what you wish for…

Kat and her husband Nick have tried everything to become parents, and are on the point of giving up. Then a chance encounter with Kat’s childhood friend Lisa gives Kat and Nick one last chance to achieve their dream.

But Kat and Lisa’s history hides dark secrets.

And there is more to Lisa than meets the eye.

As dangerous cracks start to appear in Kat’s perfect picture of happily-ever-after, she realises that she must face her fear of the past to save her family…

From the no. 1 bestselling author of The Sister and The Gift, this is an unputdownable psychological thriller which asks how far we will go to create our perfect family.  

And here it is…..

Pre-order your copy HERE

About the author…..

Louise Jensen always wanted to be Enid Blyton when she grew up, and when that didn’t happen she got a ‘proper’ job instead.

Several years ago an accident left Louise with a disability and she began writing once again, to distract her from her pain and compromised mobility. But writing turned out to be more than just a good distraction. Louise loves creating exciting worlds, dark characters, and twisted plots.

Louise lives in Northamptonshire with her husband, sons, a puppy and a rather naughty cat, and also teaches mindfulness.

www.louisejensen.co.uk

Previous posts featuring Louise Jensen and her books…..

The Sister by Louise Jensen

The Gift by Louise Jensen @Fab_fiction @bookouture #BlogTour #BookReview

I am thrilled to be joining in with Kerry Wilkinson’s Two Sisters blog tour! 🙂 

Mine is one of the last two posts, sharing my day with the very lovely Sarah at By The Letter Book Reviews. Make sure you catch up with the others posts, if you haven’t already…..

Thanks to Kim Nash, at Bookouture , for the opportunity to take part.

UK 🇬🇧 http://amzn.to/2pZjCXk
US 🇺🇸 http://amzn.to/2oH4YCO

They told us he had been missing for nearly two days, that he probably drowned. They told us a lie.

Megan was ten years old when her older brother, Zac, went missing among the cliffs, caves and beaches that surround the small seaside town of Whitecliff.

A decade later and a car crash has claimed the lives of her parents.

Megan and her younger sister Chloe return to Whitecliff one summer for the first time since their brother’s disappearance. Megan says it’s to get her parents’ affairs in order. There are boxes to pack, junk to clear, a rundown cottage to sell. But that’s not the real reason.

Megan has come to confront her family’s past after receiving a postcard on the day of her parents’ funeral. It had a photograph of Whitecliff on the front and a single letter on the back.

‘Z’ is all it read.

Z for Zac.

A totally gripping psychological thriller that will have fans of Louise Jensen, Sue Fortin and The Silent Child absolutely hooked.

My review…..

This is the first book I’ve read by Kerry Wilkinson, but I can guarantee it won’t be the last.

Two Sisters follows the story of Megan and Chloe who have returned to Whitecliff, to a cottage they now own since the sudden death of their parents in a car crash. They weren’t particularly close to their parents, having been sent away to boarding school. They don’t know each other that well, as they always went to different schools, but they are all each other has now and Megan (being the oldest) is very protective of Chloe. Their brother went missing 10 years previously and is presumed dead, but they want answers. Or, at least, Megan wants answers and she knows the people of Whitecliff must know something. However, their presence in the village and the questions Megan asks of the locals just seems to unnerve everyone. Why is everyone acting like they’ve forgotten Zak? 10 years is a long time, but surely such a small community would remember such a tragedy.

Megan isn’t the most likeable of characters. She doesn’t go out of her way to make friends and/or be particularly nice to people. She’s very blunt and a bit standoffish, but she has problems. She has an eating disorder. She is very aware of how she is, but can do nothing to stop her behaviour. She seems to relish the control she has over food. She doesn’t seem to see much pleasure in life. I did warm to her though.

Chloe is the complete opposite. A typically happy-go-lucky teenager, happy to make the most of a week at the beach. She’s less inclined to push people about Zak. She seems to just want to move on.

The people of Whitecliff seem a bit dodgy in general, with the exception of a few, including Arthur. People obviously know more than they’re letting on and Megan isn’t prepared to let it drop and I found myself as determined as her to find out what happened. I could totally understand her need for the truth as I couldn’t cope with the not knowing either.

The truth is just shocking! The end left me totally gobsmacked! Brilliant!

If you like a good psychological thriller with an interesting mix of characters, and plenty of suspense, then you will love this book.

Many thanks, as always, to Bookouture for my auto-approval status on Netgalley and to Kim Nash for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour.

About the author…..

I am delighted to be joining in with Jodi Taylor’s cover reveal for her upcoming release, White Silence.

*The first instalment in the new, gripping supernatural thriller series from international bestselling author, Jodi Taylor*

“I don’t know who I am. I don’t know what I am.”

Elizabeth Cage is a child when she discovers that there are things in this world that only she can see. But she doesn’t want to see them and she definitely doesn’t want them to see her.

What is a curse to Elizabeth is a gift to others – a very valuable gift they want to control. When her husband dies, Elizabeth’s world descends into a nightmare. But as she tries to piece her life back together, she discovers that not everything is as it seems.

Alone in a strange and frightening world, she’s a vulnerable target to forces beyond her control.

And she knows that she can’t trust anyone…

White Silence is a twisty supernatural thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.

And here it is…..

The ebook is publishing 21/09/2017 with the paperback to follow in Spring 2018.

Available to pre-order HERE

About the author…..

Jodi Taylor is the author of the bestselling Chronicles of St Mary’s series, the story of a bunch of disaster-prone historians who investigate major historical events in contemporary time. Do NOT call it time travel!

Born in Bristol and educated in Gloucester (facts both cities vigorously deny), she spent many years with her head somewhere else, much to the dismay of family, teachers and employers, before finally deciding to put all that daydreaming to good use and pick up a pen. She still has no idea what she wants to do when she grows up.

You can keep up with all the latest developments at St Mary’s on her Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJodiTaylor

Jodi Taylor’s Amazon Author Page

Enjoy!

I am delighted to welcome Helena Fairfax today 🙂

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

I live in the village of Saltaire, near Bradford, and I write contemporary romance/women’s fiction – and sometimes romantic mysteries, because I love reading them so much myself! I’m also an editor, and I love reading other writers’ manuscripts and helping them develop their stories. Basically, I love anything to do with books and reading!

When not immersed in a book, I’m generally out walking on the Yorkshire moors, near where I live, with my rescue dog, Lexi. We’re out there every day, rain or shine, and we both love it. It’s great to watch the changing seasons and the wildlife, and to blow the cobwebs away.

Besides reading, I also knit all sorts, from babies’ cardies to adult pullovers – once even knitting an entire Royal Wedding! I do my knitting whilst binge-watching box sets on Netflix.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

My ideas come from so many different places. It’s hard to pinpoint just when a story comes together. I quite often have the seed of an idea while watching a film or TV programme. I had the spark of inspiration for my latest release, Felicity at the Cross Hotel, after watching a Bollywood film. I’ve become a big fan of Bollywood – I love the romance and drama of it – and the heroine of a film called Jab We Met inspired my own heroine. Of course our settings are totally different – you couldn’t get more different than the Lake District and Delhi! – but the heroines share the same characteristics of cheerfulness and liveliness.

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

My first ever novel, The Silk Romance, is set in Lyon, where I once worked as an au pair. My downstairs neighbour was an incredibly good-looking man – dark and tanned in that southern French way. He already had a girlfriend (of course!) and I was very much in love with my boyfriend in England at the time, but I based the hero of The Silk Romance on him.

How do you pick your characters names?

I love symbolism and I often pick a name that suits the character’s personality. The hero of The Antique Love is called Kurt Bold – he’s a quiet man, and also brave. “Kurt by name and curt by nature”, as the heroine says!

I loved giving the hero and heroine of Felicity at the Cross Hotel names which are definitely symbolic. Felicity means “happiness”, because she’s lively and cheerful, and Patrick Cross is the owner of the Cross Hotel – a place that’s been dogged by bad luck and tragedy.

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

I write contemporary romance, and the most important thing in a romance is to work out what it is that’s keeping the hero and heroine apart. Why can’t they be together from page one? The thing driving them apart is called the romantic conflict. Before I start a book, I work out just what it is that’s going to keep my two characters from being together and then I think up a series of situations that are going to make it as hard as possible for them to admit they are in love. Forcing them apart is a cruel way to treat them – but they do always get their happy ending!

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

That is such a difficult question! Jane Austen definitely has to be on the list (the best romance writer ever), Georgette Heyer (I grew up on her books, and re-read them often), Mary Stewart, who writes gripping romantic suspense, Charles Dickens, whose books are full of drama and brilliant characters, and a sci-fi author called Stanislaw Lem, who wrote one of my favourite romantic heroes in a book called Return from the Stars.

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

I would love to meet Shakespeare. I’ve always been curious to know what he was like. How did he dream up these amazing stories, with characters who still seem real today? I don’t know what I’d ask him. It would be great to ask him something personal, like whether he was truly in love with his wife, but I’d probably be too tongue-tied to speak.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes, books were an escape for me. I came to England from Uganda when I was six, and I found everything cold and bewildering. I began reading at a very young age and I found books helped me make sense of the world.

When did you start to write?

I’ve been writing on and off for years, but I didn’t sit down and write my first novel until about five years ago. I wish now that I’d started much earlier.

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

I’d love to change the ending to Gone with the Wind. I remember the first time I saw the film, and being so disappointed that it ended in this way. Perhaps it really couldn’t end any other way – but I’d love to rewind the story so that Rhett Butler has the happy ending he deserved.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

Books are quite personal things, so I don’t think there is any book I wish I’d written. Those books belong to their own authors. I’m always looking to the next book I’m going to write – and wishing it was already written!

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

I’m not sure I’d write my own autobiography. I don’t think I could make my life interesting enough. I find it much more fun writing about fictional characters!

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

I love the Poldark books and I’ve been loving the TV series. I think I’d take Demelza for a coffee in my local café. She seems like she’d be really good fun and she could do with a break from all the stresses and tragedy in her life. I’d love to buy her a massive piece of hot chocolate fudge cake and whipped cream and talk about the trials of being married to Ross Poldark.

What are you working on right now?

This year I started working on a non-fiction book about the lives of women in Halifax, Yorkshire, from 1850-1950. The book is due for release next year, to coincide with the anniversary of the first women getting the vote. Working on this book has given me the idea for a novel, loosely based on some of the brilliant women I’ve discovered while doing my research.

Do you have a new release due?

My latest release is Felicity at the Cross Hotel. It’s a feel good summer read, set in the Lake District. Fliss Everdene works for her father, who owns a global chain of corporate hotels. Fliss and her dad have been having several rows, and she’s conflicted about his ruthless way of taking over ailing hotels. She decides to take a break for a while, to stay at the Cross Hotel in the Lakes.

Patrick Cross is the Cross Hotel’s new owner. His father has recently died, and he’s inherited a business with lots of problems, a runaway barmaid, and a grumpy chef. Patrick is glad of Fliss’s help – until he learns she’s a member of the notorious Everdene family, and her dad is waiting in the wings…

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

It’s varied each time, but to be honest, I’m generally exhausted by publication day, and I’d be happy having a quiet glass of wine at home!

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I have a newsletter that readers can subscribe to, and I love it when people reply. I reply to every email I receive. I’m giving away a free story to all new subscribers at the moment, and you can subscribe here: http://eepurl.com/bRQtsT

If you are interested in my editing services, I have a website here: www.helenafarifax.com

Besides the above, I also post photos of the moors and other places I’ve visited on social media.

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/HelenaFairfax

Pinterest https://uk.pinterest.com/helenafairfax/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/helenafairfax/

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

Thanks so much for having me, Kerry, and for your great questions!

Publisher: Helena Fairfax (7th July 2017)

“Helena Fairfax writes feel good romances that are guaranteed to leave a smile on your face!” Elaine Everest, Sunday Times bestselling author

A quaint hotel in the Lake District. The Cross Hotel is the perfect getaway. Or is it?
Felicity Everdene needs a break from the family business. Driving through the Lake District to the Cross Hotel, past the shining lake and the mountains, everything seems perfect. But Felicity soon discovers all is not well at the Cross Hotel …
Patrick Cross left the village of Emmside years ago never intending to return, but his father has left him the family’s hotel in his will, and now he’s forced to come back. With a missing barmaid, a grumpy chef, and the hotel losing money, the arrival of Felicity Everdene from the notorious Everdene family only adds to Patrick’s troubles.
With so much to overcome, can Felicity and Patrick bring happiness to the Cross Hotel … and find happiness for themselves?

Praise for Helena Fairfax: “Ms Fairfax’s writing is lovely, romantic, evocative and sweet with a hint at an old fashioned love story…” Anita Davidson, Author
“Helena Fairfax spins a romantic tale…” Robbi Perna Phd. Author and lecturer
“Who can resist Helena’s reasons for writing romances, which include her optimistic view of humanity?” Kenneth Hicks, Author

Pre-order your copy now…..

Enjoy!

I am delighted to be joining in with Bookouture’s cover reveal tonight for Carol Wyer’s The Missing Girls.

THE MISSING GIRLS by Carol Wyer

Pre-order now…..

Are you ready…..

What readers are saying about the DI Robyn Carter series:
‘This book was fantastic and it kept me gripped from the first page and I read it in a day, I really, really didn’t want to put it down – it’s one of the best I’ve read so far in 2017 … Would not hesitate to give the book 5 stars!!’ Donna’s Book Blog

‘Fantastic! So good to the point that I finished it in just over a day! … Wow, wow, wow. This was a great book!! … kept me hooked from page one … genuinely didn’t guess who it was until it was revealed! There are lots of twists and turns, and a great ending! I can’t wait for the next book!!’ Stardust Book Reviews 5*

‘I loved every page … captivating and unputdownable. The tension, twists and turns, kept me flipping the pages … 5 shining stars … I loved it!’ Write Escape

‘What a page-turner! Wow. My head was spinning from the first page to the last. I was so gripped by the introduction to the characters and then just pulled right into the meat of the thriller until the very last page! Five Stars!’ Jersey Girl Forever

‘The suspense was fantastic … the drive to keep turning pages was overpowering … really well written I want more!’ The Belgian Reviewer

‘This book totally gripped me from start to finish. It is a very cleverly crafted thriller which leaves no loose ends. Five stars!’ Sincerely Book Angels

If you haven’t read the first two books in the series as yet, you will find them here on Carol E. Wyer’s Amazon Author Page

Enjoy!

I am thrilled to be joining in with Paul Mathews’ We Have Lost The Coffee blog tour! 🙂

Many thanks to Emma Mitchell for the opportunity to take part.

We Have Lost The Coffee will be released on 28th June and is available to pre-order now!

Q&A with Paul Mathews…..

Did your writing skills come natural or did you have to attend courses to help you develop that creative side?

I’ve had a creative streak for as long as I can remember. I loved reading the classic comics of the 1970s and 1980s: The Beano, Dandy, Whizzer and Chips, Whoopee etc. And I started writing and drawing my own comics from the age of 11-years-old. It was very time-consuming, and involved plotting stories and planning each frame. But, when I think about it, it was great practice for writing a novel: creating characters, devising a storyline and writing dialogue.

I also enjoyed choose-your-own-adventure books as a kid (which involved making decisions, rolling dice and battling monsters) and wrote a couple of my own, which I loaned to school friends.

I was also a member of my primary school drama club. And in my late 30s, I acted in a local amateur dramatics group and that helped me enormously to understand what works and what doesn’t in dramatic terms.

Before I became an author, I wrote plays for amateur production and did a lot of research about story structure, characters, plotting etc. And writing plays taught me how to write good dialogue, which is a central part of all my books. Writing a novel was a progression from those years of writing stage plays.

So, it’s been quite a long journey!

What books/authors inspired your writing journey?

I read Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series as a teenager and loved it. I try to carry over some of his quirkiness into my work. I also include lots of references to the number 42. You’ll see We Have Lost the Coffee has 42 chapters – that’s not a coincidence!

I also enjoy John Farrell’s comedy novels. He employs fewer characters than me, and more one-liners, but our sense of humour is very similar.

How does it feel to know that your books inspire others? Whether readers with a response to the content or other aspiring authors?

I’m not sure if I’ve inspired anyone – if I have and you’re reading this, please get in touch! My main motivation is to entertain people and make them laugh. I know from all the Goodreads and Amazon ratings that the majority of my readers are happy bunnies and that’s what counts.

Do you have any writing rituals? What are they?

I try to write a chapter in a day (about 2,000 words), when I am in full novel-writing mode and then I stop – unless I’m nearing the end of the novel and then I might squeeze out a few more words. I usually plan a couple of months with a break when I’m about halfway through. I do this Monday to Friday and then take a timeout at the weekend. I’m not a believer in the ‘write something every day’ mantra. You need days where you switch off and get away from it all.

If you could have written any literary character, who would it be and why?

Marvin the Paranoid Android from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – his depressive take on life is just so comically British. Only an Englishman could have created a robot that is so permanently cheesed off with the universe!

Within your genre, is there a subject that you would never write about? What? Why?

I would never write about something that wasn’t funny. No point making your own life difficult!

London, 2045. Three months into the Coffee Wars and Britain’s caffeine supplies are at critical levels. Brits are drinking even more tea than usual, keeping a stiff upper lip and praying for an end to it all.

A secret Government coffee stockpile could save the day … but then mysteriously disappears overnight.

One man is asked to unravel the missing-coffee mystery. His name is Pond. Howie Pond. And he’s in desperate need of a triple espresso. Meanwhile, his journalist wife, Britt, is hunting royal fugitive Emma Windsor on the streets of the capital.

Can Howie save the British Republic from caffeine-starved chaos? Will the runaway royal be found? And just what will desperate coffee drinkers do for their next caffeine fix? Find out, in Paul Mathews’ latest comedy-thriller set in the Britain of the future…

‘We Have Lost The Coffee’ is packed with dry British humour, political satire, dozens of comedy characters and enough coffee jokes to keep you awake all night. It’s full of crazy action and adventure in London, and beyond, and is guaranteed to set your pulse racing faster than a quadruple espresso.

So, join Howie, Britt and friends – as well as some enemies – as you travel forward in time to 2040s London.

Buy a copy…..

For your chance to win one of two e-book copies…..

 a Rafflecopter giveaway 

I am delighted to welcome Rebekah Louise today! 🙂

Rebekah Louise self-published Love, Life & Dreams: A cocktail of five short stories on 25th May 2017.

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

Hi, I’m Rebekah Louise. I am 32 and live in Worcestershire with my family. The things I love to do the most when I’m not writing is to spend time with family and friends. I enjoy cups of coffee with a large slice of cake (preferably chocolate). I also am a fan of yoga and going out for a cocktail or two.

My book is called Love, Life & Dreams and is a collection of five short stories. The idea behind the book was for women (men too if they like a bit of chick lit) to be able to sneak away for 10 minutes to read a full story in one go. Each story is unique so hopefully there is something for everyone.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Various places. An idea may have been sparked from something I have watched on T.V. or a conversation I’ve been part of (or overheard). I have formed some of my stories using a title or a theme, using this to create ideas and a plot.

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

Yes, when I am bringing my characters to life I often think about people’s traits, mannerisms, likes and dislikes and I may form a person from that.

How do you pick your characters names?

They have to suit the individual so I imagine what they would look like and choose an appropriate name. Other times it may be a name I like and I pair it with the best character in that particular story.

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

Idea, jot down notes, turn the notes into a bubble diagram, start writing, research, write some more and then edit.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

In no particular order I would have to say:

Sophie Kinsella

Jane Fallon

Holly Seddon

Liane Moriarty

B.A. Paris

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

I think it would be Sophie Kinsella. I would like to know where her inspiration comes from and the key to her success in the literature world. I am quite nosey so I would also want to ask her about what her life is like behind closed doors – what does she enjoy doing? Favourite foods, that kind of thing.

Were you a big reader as a child?

No, not really. I enjoyed Malory Towers and Sweet Valley High books when I was a teenager.

When did you start to write?

I started a blog about four years ago and I enjoyed connecting with people through my writing and sharing my experiences. I then began writing stories about a year ago.

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

I think I would choose ‘Behind Closed Doors’ by B.A. Paris. As much as I enjoyed the story, the ending was too abrupt. I wanted to know what happened next. I would want to see her husband brought to justice in the public eye. I would also like to know what happened to the main character (Grace) and how she re-builds her life?

Is there a book you wish you had written?

No, I think the ideas behind each book and story is personal to each author.

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

Mmm something like, The Life of a Chicholic.

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

I would invite Sex & the City character Charlotte. I think I would enjoy settling down in a cute tea shop with her, sipping tea from china cups whilst eating cream scones.

What are you working on right now?

At the moment I am planning my next story. I am thinking of taking one of my short stories and continuing the journey the character is on.

Do you have a new release due?

No, not yet. Within the next year would be great.

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

On the release of Love, Life & Dreams it was just me and my little boy at home – we had cheese sandwiches and went to the park. So hopefully with my next book we will do something a bit more grand.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I love to hear from readers, I am on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and have a website too.

You can find them all here: www.rebekahlouiseauthor.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebekahBe4

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebekahlouiseauthor/

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Just a big thank you to those of you who have read Love, Life & Dreams and if you haven’t yet, I hope you will enjoy reading it.

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

Love, Life & Dreams is a collection of five short stories. Each story is unique and is ideal for enjoying whilst on holiday or for escapism.

In Doctor’s Orders, meet sisters Emma and Alice. Alice comes to her sister’s rescue after her marriage breaks down. Little does Emma know what the future holds for her.

In Julie, meet Tom, a successful businessman and a loving father, that is until Julie shows up at his office.

In Live the Dream, meet Louis and Emma. Share in their moving story about the wonders of love and imagination.

In Off the Record, meet James. He is a top radio DJ who makes a mistake that leads him to consider his behaviour.

In Suite 200, meet Ania, a cleaner of a five-star hotel. Life for Ania is arduous and her future looks bleak, that’s until she meets a guest that will challenge her view.

Buy a copy…..

Enjoy!

I am very honoured to be taking part in Lesley Welsh’s blog tour for The Serial Killer’s Daughter.

Many thanks to Kim Nash for the opportunity to join in.

My review…..

Wow! This Don Tyler is a piece of work! To say he’s disturbed would be the understatement of understatements.

I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I started The Serial Killer’s Daughter. Obviously I wasn’t expecting a lovey dovey romance, given the title, but I was not prepared for the truly awful crimes committed by this evil psychopath. This story isn’t for the faint-hearted or for anyone who is easily offended by vulgar language, but it is an interesting insight into the mind of a serial killer who kills for no other reason than just because they can and because they continually manage to avoid capture. I know this is fiction, but we all know there are people like this roaming our earth.

Don comes across to me as being an average looking bloke, but one who is successful with the ladies because he has the gift of the gab and is able to switch on the charm when it suits. He has no regard for human life, just his own selfish and sadistic desires and the need to do whatever it takes to get him what, who and where he wants. He has serious Mummy issues and he doesn’t even love his own children.

When his daughter, Suzanne, is contacted by Rose (Don’s current partner), as Don has passed away and she has some personal belongings to pass on, she has no idea of the situation she is walking into or the danger she will face thanks to her own father.

There are lots of characters, all with their own integral part to the story. Don is a scarily intelligent, manipulative character. There are twists and turns galore which kept me gripped from start to finish. The story flows perfectly with numerous shocking truths uncovered along the way. Brilliantly written with excellent characterisation. I highly recommend.

Publisher: Bookouture (14th June 2017)

Suzanne Tyler barely knew her father. But when she’s given a series of secret diaries and eight mysterious photographs of women from his possessions, she knows she won’t be able to rest until she knows the truth about him.

To Suzanne’s shock, one of the photos is of her friend Sophie, who died ten years ago in an unexplained and devastating fire.

But Don only met Sophie once, on an unsettling visit he paid Suzanne just days before Sophie’s death… So why did he have a picture of her?

Unable to let Sophie’s memory alone, Suzanne begins to dig into her father’s life. What horrors is she about to unearth in his diaries? And who is it that’s out there, watching her every move?

Buy a copy…..

About the author…..

Lesley Welsh sadly passed away in April this year.

Lesley was born in Strawberry Field children’s home and raised on a notorious council estate in Liverpool. Later she moved to London where she studied English and Drama and worked as a freelance writer specialising in alternative lifestyles. Her articles appeared in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Red, Bite, Time Out and many others before she established Moondance Media, a magazine publishing company. Her dark and compelling short story Mrs Webster’s Obsession was turned into a film.  Lesley moved to Spain and sadly passed away in April.

Rest In Peace, Lesley. x

Publisher: Saxon Publishing (3rd December 2016)

“If you want to see your daughter alive again, listen carefully.”

When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong.

But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession.

When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst fears are realised.

With her career in jeopardy and desperate to conceal a disturbing secret, Kay’s hunt for the killer becomes a race against time before he claims another life.

For the killer, the game has only just begun…

My review…..

Well, I recently joined in with Rachel Amphlett’s blog tour for Book 3 in this series, so I thought it was about time I bumped Book 1 to the top of my list and I am so glad I did! Why have I never read a book by Rachel Amphlett before now??

Scared to Death is a brilliant start to a new series. I warmed to Detective Kay Hunter immediately. There’s a back story there that hasn’t been fully explained as yet, which I find very intriguing. She seems to be up against her fair share of negativity at work, via certain colleagues, although others very much seem to have her back. We also get an insight in to her personal life and her relationship with her partner, which I like as it shows a softer side to an otherwise professional character.

Kay and her team are faced with the difficult task of investigating the death of a local 17 year old girl who had been kidnapped whilst her parents were on a business trip. A ransom had been demanded, her parents had paid and not reported the kidnapping as requested, as they believed their daughter would be spared if they cooperated. When they arrive at her location, however, their worst fears are realised. Every parents worst nightmare. The way this poor girl met her end is nothing short of horrific and these parts of the story are very upsetting. Her killer is a very disturbed character.

When a second girl is kidnapped, Kay and her colleagues race against time to figure out where she is being kept before it’s too late and this time it’s personal. There is a very sick game being played which makes this a very dark crime thriller. Just brilliant!

Scared To Death is a very cleverly written police procedural with a tense and fast-paced storyline. There are many plot twists and shocks along the way. I was totally gripped and I’m very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you add this to your reading list. It’s definitely one I would happily buy as a gift for family and friends.

Many thanks to Rachel Amphlett for my review copy. It’s very much appreciated, as always.

Buy a copy…..

https://payhip.com/b/uSiM/af5b3d2b8972e61

(Please note this is an affiliate link)

About the author…..

Rachel Amphlett is the bestselling author of the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the popular new Detective Kay Hunter series, as well as a number of standalone crime thrillers.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel’s novels appeal to a worldwide audience, and have been compared to Lee Child, James Patterson, and Chris Chibnall.

She is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold, being sold to Fanucci Editore’s TIMECrime imprint in 2014, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag in 2017.

You can keep in touch with Rachel by signing up to her mailing list via her website (http://www.rachelamphlett.com), or via Facebook (http://on.fb.me/TN7rpu) and Twitter: @RachelAmphlett

Rachel Amphlett’s Amazon Author Page

Previous posts featuring Rachel Amphlett and her books…..

#ScaredtoDeath (A Detective Kay Hunter Novel) @RachelAmphlett #BlogTour Q&A

One To Watch #BlogTour @RachelAmphlett @emmamitchellfpr #Extract

I am very pleased to let you all know that Simon Maltman has a new release, out today! Happy Publication Day, Simon 🙂

From the Bestselling author of A Chaser on the Rocks and More Faces, comes the noir novella series: Bongo Fury. Follow Maltman’s new protagonist as he tries to balance a music shop, his paramilitary family, a newborn, a little drug dealing and a spot of private detection.

A black comedy from the fresh new voice in Northern Irish Crime Fiction.

Previous press:

“A flair for adrenalin-packed action and unpredictable characters.”
Murder, Mayhem and More

“The mood is cynical, the wisecracks are plentiful.”
The High Window

“You hit the ground running and it’s a sprint finish.”
Crime Book Junkie

Buy your copy…..

About the author…..

Simon Maltman is a Best-selling crime fiction author from Northern Ireland.

Please check out the books available on his Amazon Author Page and stay in touch through the links below.

Facebook.com/simonmaltmancrimefiction
@simonmaltman on twitter
simonmaltmanblogs.blogspot.co.uk/

Previous posts featuring Simon Maltman and his books…..

Political Suicide by Simon Maltman

**Blog Tour** Q&A with author, Simon Maltman #AChaserOnTheRocks

More Faces by Simon Maltman @simonmaltman @Solsticepublish #NewRelease #ShortStories