Print Length: 264 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: NeverHaven Press; First edition
Cover Reveal: December 9, 2016
Pre-Order Date: December 9, 2016
Publication Date: March 3, 2017
Language: English
ISBN-13 (Paper Back): 978-0997900415
ISBN-13 (eBook): 978-0997900408
BISAC: Juvenile Fiction / Fantasy & Magic

Summer vacation was never supposed to be like this.
It was bad enough Naomi had to be shipped off to her dad’s home for the summer and deal with her
half-brother Gavin, but when the siblings are forced to spend their break with their greatgrandmother
in upstate New York, everything changes. An investigation into the strange
disappearance of their great-grandfather forces them to retrace his footsteps. They discover a
gateway between worlds and encounter extraordinary creatures in a land where the people are
desperate to escape the coming of a shade lord. To survive their adventure, Naomi and Gavin must
settle their differences and find the elusive shadow gate that will take them home again.

Pre-order –

AMAZONUK 

AMAZON.COM

THE SHADOW GATE CHRONICLES:
Book 1: The Last Shadow Gate
Book 2: A Veil of Shadows (Coming 2017)
Book 3: The Shadow of War (Coming 2018)

Praise for THE LAST SHADOW GATE:

“If this book had been around when I was a kid, I’d have held it right up there with The Chronicles of
Narnia and Lord of the Rings.”
– Sunshine Somerville, Author of THE KOTA SERIES

“You won’t want to miss out on the thrilling yet perilous world beyond the shadow gates!”
– J. Cornell Michel, Author of JORDAN’S BRAINS

*If you love fast-paced, YA Fantasy, THE LAST SHADOW GATE is the book for you.*

Michael W. Garza often finds himself wondering
where his inspiration will come from next and in
what form his imagination will bring it to life. The
outcomes regularly surprise him and it’s always his
ambition to amaze those curious enough to follow
him and take in those results. He hopes everyone
will find something that frightens, surprises, or
simply astonishes them.

Contact & Social Media Information:
mwgarza@yahoo.com
http://www.mwgarza.com
facebook.com/mwgarza
twitter.com/@mwgarza
amazon.com/author/michaelwgarza

FAQ:
Where did the idea for The Last Shadow Gate come from?
This book was in the draft phase for over a decade. I based the characters on my kids
and as they grew and developed their own personalities I allowed the characters in the
book to do the same. It’s been a labor of love and seeing it finally in print has been a
wonderful experience. Every time I read through it I see my daughter and son on every
page.

Where do you get your ideas?
Ideas for stories come from the strangest places. I never sit down and say ‘let’s write a
book’ there’s usually a spark that comes out of nowhere. It’s the littlest things that lead
to the big ideas for me. I’m never in a hurry when it comes to writing so I’ll sit on
something for quite a while and let it build until I can see an entire adventure from
beginning to end. In that way, by the time I sit down to write I usually know exactly
where I’m going.

How do you find the time to write?
As a father of three, time is always a challenge. Writing is a hobby for me. It’s
something I’m passionate about but my focus is usually needed elsewhere. A majority
of my writing is done in the quiet of a late night when everyone else is in bed. I take my
shots whenever I can get them. I’ve been known to disappear for a short time here and
there if I see an opening for a writing opportunity but a majority of the good stuff I get
down on paper is done long after everyone else is snoring.

The Last Shadow Gate
(Sample Chapters)

1

Gavin Walker sat in a dining room chair at the head of the table. His dirty-blond bangs were pushed
to one side revealing a wide-eyed expression. His mouth hung open, and he was at a loss for words,
which was something that didn’t happen often in the twelve-year-old’s daily life.
“The whole summer?”
His father stood at the opposite end of the table resting his hands on the back of a chair. The
similarities between father and son were unmistakable. Mr. Walker’s expression was calm, unlike his
son’s overreaction. Gavin could see his father wasn’t going to back down, so he resorted to
repetition.
“The whole summer?”
Mr. Walker didn’t budge.
“Don’t be so dramatic.”
“But Dad.”
“It won’t kill you,” Mr. Walker said. “You haven’t seen Mama Walker in over two years and she’s not
getting any younger.” His face was stern. “Look, she’s nearly eighty-five and I’m not sure how many
more opportunities the two of you will have to spend time with her.”
Mama Walker was Gavin’s great-grandmother. She lived alone on the outskirts of Albany, New York,
in the town of Gum Springs. To a twelve-year-old boy from Southern California, Gum Springs was on
the far side of the moon. Gavin didn’t know Mama Walker very well.
“But she’s crazy, Dad,” he said. “You said so yourself.”
Mr. Walker’s brow wrinkled.
“I don’t think she’s crazy. She’s lonely since Papa went away and…”
He went on, but Gavin stopped listening. He crossed his arms and sulked. He wanted to protest, but
he already knew his father wasn’t going to give in. He focused on something else he’d heard.
“What do you mean by the two of you?”
Mr. Walker smiled and hesitated.
“Well,” he said, “that’s the rest of the story. I want you and your sister to spend the summer together
with Mama Walker.”
Gavin rolled his eyes. Naomi was his half-sister who lived in Florida with her mother. The two
siblings were forced to tolerate each other over summer vacations and an occasional holiday break.
She was older than Gavin by three years and reminded him of it every chance she could. “What
about football camp?”
He was playing dirty now.
“Already took care of it,” Mr. Walker said, and Gavin’s smile disappeared. “First day of camp is at the
end of August, and it just so happens that you’ll get back with plenty of time.”
“You already bought the ticket?” Gavin asked as his voice filled with dread.
“Yep,” Mr. Walker said, “school’s out next Friday, and you and I fly out on Saturday.”
“You’re coming?”
“I’m flying with you. We’ll meet Naomi in Albany then I’m going to stay a few days and fly back.”
“Very brave of you,” Gavin said.
Mr. Walker got up, came around the table, and took a seat next to his son. He put his hand on
Gavin’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I know I’m asking a lot, but come on, Gavin, do this for
me,” he said. “Your mother and I have talked about this for a while. Mama Walker has been distant
from the family for a long time. This will be good for her and good for the both of you kids too.” He let
go and stood up. “You know, you might even have a good time.”
Gavin doubted that very much.

Destin, Florida is a popular vacation destination. It’s known for white, sandy beaches, and clear, blue
water. That beauty is a part of life for the people who live in Destin and across the bridge in the city
of Fort Walton Beach. Naomi Walker happened to be one of those lucky people.
She sat on the school bus staring out at the clear, blue water counting down the days until summer.
The ninth grade was particularly difficult for Naomi. She calculated she’d spent more days grounded
during this year than all of the years before it combined. She wasn’t a bad student, quite the
opposite, she enjoyed most of her classes.
She’d always had an interest in science and history, but this year she spent more time interested in
gossip and boys than any academic pursuit. Naomi’s mother was forgiving for the most part. She
and her step-father were willing to give Naomi some slack as she dealt with becoming a young
woman. Her father was a different story altogether.
Naomi knew her father lived in California, but sometimes she thought he was somewhere closer to
Mars. Her parents divorced when she was young, but Mr. Walker did everything in his power to keep
a close relationship. Naomi cherished that bond as a little girl; however, her needs had changed over
the past few years. In a short time she’d be shipped off to California while all her friends would be
having the time of their lives.
She decided looking at the beach was only making matters worse and spun around to stare at the
back of the seat in front of her. Chloe, her little sister, sat next to her. All of Chloe’s attention was
focused on the screen of a hot pink, handheld game. Naomi pulled the game from her hand for no
good reason, and the two fought over it for the rest of the ride home.
The walk from the bus stop to the front door felt longer than usual. Naomi passed the time by
snatching her hand away from Chloe as the little girl tried to hold on. At fifteen, Naomi was at a
peculiar crossroads in her life where adulthood and individualism was a goal and childhood just plain
stunk. To Chloe, only seven, holding hands was still all the rage.
“Mom, we’re home.”
Naomi threw her backpack on the sofa and walked to the kitchen with Chloe close on her heels.
“What about peanut butter?” Chloe asked.
“What about no,” Naomi said.
Chloe stuck her tongue out. “Fine then,” she said, “I’ll make one myself.”
The little girl pulled a chair in from the dining room as Naomi poked through the cabinets and settled
on a half-finished bag of chips. Naomi slumped down on the couch, leaving Chloe to make a mess in
the kitchen. She began a never-ending search for something to watch on TV with the chips in her lap
and the television remote secured. The sliding door in the rear of the house opened and closed,
announcing their mother’s arrival.
“We’re home, Mom,” she said.
“Just finishing up the laundry.”
Naomi was convinced her mother did the laundry for the entire block.
“What in the world?”
Naomi grinned. She knew her mom’s outburst had something to do with the mess Chloe was making
in the kitchen. A moment later her mother made it into the living room. Her hair was frazzled and her
eyes were focused in a disapproving glare.
“What?” Naomi asked.
“You could have helped her.”
“She’s not a baby, you know.”
Her mother sat down on the love seat. “I want you to turn that off, Naomi. We need to talk about
something.”
Naomi didn’t like the tone her mother took. This was the tone she used when delivering bad news. It
was that very same tone she’d used to tell her and Chloe their beloved cat, Tinker, was in heaven.
Naomi eyed her mother closely as she hit the mute button on the remote control.
“Your father and I have had a long talk about your summer vacation,” her mother said. Naomi pulled
a handful of chips out of the bag and ate through them in an unnecessarily loud manner. “And…” her
mother’s voice rose to match the chip-chomping, “I believe we’ve come to an agreement.”
“I can stay here for the summer?” Naomi asked.
“No.”
Naomi sank back into the couch.
“Your father wants you and Gavin to spend the summer together.”
“What’s so different about that?” Naomi asked. “I have to put up with him every summer.”
“Yes, but—” Her mother was interrupted by a ring. She pulled the phone out of her back pocket,
looked at the number, and smiled. “I’ll let him explain.”
Naomi took the phone from her mother and answered it. She recognized her father’s voice at once.
“Hey, Dad.” She saw her mother smiling and noted it was the smile you give when you feel sorry for
something. Naomi’s face scrunched as Mr. Walker explained what awaited her on summer vacation.
“But,” she cut in.
Mr. Walker pushed on.
“Mama Walker?”
Mr. Walker continued to talk.
“But, Dad…”
Her father didn’t let up.
Naomi popped up off the couch.
“But, Dad, that old lady’s crazy.”

2

Gavin burst out of the airplane and onto the walkway connecting to the Albany International Airport.
The flight was late, and he’d been caged about as long as he could stand it. He dashed between the
departing passengers, clipping a bag here and there. He’d tripped three times before he reached the
terminal.
“Gavin.”
He heard his father calling for him and glanced back but couldn’t see him through the sea of people.
Gavin poured out into the terminal as quickly as he’d rushed the airplane door. The lady standing at
the desk beside the door gave him a nasty glance which he promptly ignored.
“Gavin.”
He heard his name again, but this time from in front. The high pitched call was not his father. A look
to his right revealed his sister standing by a front row of chairs in the departure area. Her arms were
crossed, but at least she was smiling.
“Wow, you got taller,” he said and then reached out and threw his arms around her.
“It’s only been a few months.” She returned the hug quickly but then pushed him away. “Where’s
Dad?”
“Probably stuck behind everyone.” Gavin examined his sister more closely. “Hey, you cut your hair.”
She pushed her golden bangs away from her eyes and nodded. “Yep.”
Gavin pulled his backpack off and tossed it onto one of the seats. He unzipped it and did a quick
inventory.
“I hope you brought enough to keep yourself entertained,” Naomi said, keeping her eyes trained on
the terminal door, “’cause it’s going to be a long summer.”
Gavin didn’t respond. He was still making sure his laptop and all its pieces were accounted for. He
breathed a sigh of relief, discovering all was well. “Don’t be a drag,” he said. “We have to stay with
Mama Walker whether we like it or not, so we might as well make the best of it.”
Naomi raised a brow and focused back on him.
“Boy, Dad sure has gotten to you.”
“Hey, you guys.”
Naomi’s face lit up with a joyful smile. “Daddy,” she said and ran over to him.
“There’s my baby.” Mr. Walker wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He kissed her on
the forehead and for a moment refused to let her go. “I think you’ve grown,” he said, finally releasing
his grip.
“You always say that.”
They gathered their things and headed for the baggage area. A cool wind rose up the escalator to
greet them as they passed through the security checkpoint. The baggage claim was long and
narrow. An endless sea of people stared up at scrolling flight numbers and their associated baggage
claim locations. Mr. Walker joined in with the other flight number watchers, and the children looked
on with amusement.
The bags came quickly, and Mr. Walker loaded everything up on a cart. A moment later they found
themselves in a four-story parking structure searching for spot B4-39 where the rental car was
waiting. The car was found and packed and they’d driven away from the airport before any real
conversation began.
“Dad, are you serious?” Naomi asked, crossing her arms. She was in the front passenger seat.
Gavin’s head snapped up from the back. “How could you agree to this?”
The car swerved as Mr. Walker jerked in response to the sudden outburst. “What’s the matter with
you? I’m driving here.”
“The entire summer,” Naomi said. She tightened her arms and put on a sour face. “I could’ve spent
the summer at the beach. Sara’s mom invited me to come with them to their beach house and of
course I had to say no.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Mr. Walker asked. “You would have been in California
anyway.”
“Yeah, that’s right…” She cut herself off mid-sentence.
“So, you didn’t want to come out at all?”
“I can’t believe you want us to spend our entire summer vacation out here,” she countered.
Gavin chuckled under his breath as she pointed randomly out the window.
“We’ve been through this, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, sweetheart,” Gavin said from the backseat.
“Shut up,” Naomi said.
“Hey, hey, hey.” Mr. Walker held a hand up. “Enough. You two are going to have to get along.” He
looked from Naomi’s face to Gavin’s in the rearview mirror. “Well, you’re going to at least have to
tolerate one another. I was hoping that maybe you two would come to know each other in a different
way after all this.”
“I’m all for it, Dad,” Gavin said.
“Kiss up,” Naomi countered.
“That’s starting off well,” Mr. Walker said under his breath.
The car went silent and stayed that way until Gum Springs appeared on the mile signs on the side of
the freeway. Gavin picked up on it and realized their destination was drawing closer. He refocused
his attention on the most interesting part of the entire summer adventure.
“So, what does Mama Walker really think happened to Papa Walker?” The sudden break in silence
made the question sound louder than it really was. Mr. Walker’s eyes focused in on him in the mirror.
“What?” Gavin asked. “We’re going to be living with her. Don’t you think it might come up?”
Naomi’s expression read plainly, he’s right you know.
Mr. Walker took a deep breath. “Well, there’s not much time left before we reach Gum Springs so, if
we’re going to get into this, it might as well be now.”
He clammed up for a few moments, and Gavin slid forward on his seat until the seatbelt wouldn’t let
him move any farther.
“Our family history has a long line of explorers in it, supposedly dating back hundreds of years,” Mr.
Walker said. “This is on your great grandfather’s side of the family. Our family line runs through
several fairly well-known members of society. Members of royal courts, you name it and there’s a
family story about it.”
Gavin looked over and smiled at his sister. She was listening so intently that her mouth was open.
“Now to be honest,” Mr. Walker continued, “I don’t know how true this stuff is. These stories were
passed down to my father and from him to me. I never had much interest in it. I was always focused
more on sports and—”
“Yeah, yeah, Dad,” Gavin said, “you were talking about the family history.”
“Oh yeah,” Mr. Walker said. “Papa Walker was a big believer in family history. If my memory serves
me well, his main focus was on a tale about doorways.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure of the
particulars, but he believed some of these doorways led to great secrets or something like that. As
Mama Walker will eventually tell you, I’m sure…” He rolled his eyes. “Papa Walker brought the
family over from England in search of those doors.”
“We’re from England?” Naomi asked.
“Yep, some small town north of London, I think.”
“How come I’ve never heard this before?” Gavin asked but didn’t give his father a chance to answer.
“So, did he ever find the doors?”
“That’s where this all gets a little on the strange side,” Mr. Walker said. “Papa Walker spent the
better part of his life researching and looking for the doors. He bought that house in Gum Springs
because his studies led him to believe there was a doorway on the property.”
“And he found it, didn’t he?” Gavin asked.
“Mama Walker thinks he did.”
“Wait a minute,” Naomi’s look hardened, “are you telling me Mama Walker thinks he found one of
these doors, went in and didn’t come back out?”
“Well, yes.”
Everyone stayed quiet and let the last admission hang in the air. Naomi shrugged and turned back
toward the side window. Gavin, however, couldn’t let the conversation go.
“But he did die right?” Gavin asked, after a long pause.
“Gavin,” Naomi and Mr. Walker said in unison.
“What? He did right?”
“Yes but…” Mr. Walker said.
“There’s a but?” Gavin smiled. He was hoping there would be a but.
“You guys are too young to remember it, and I doubt anyone has ever brought it up,” Mr. Walker
said. “But they never found Papa Walker.”
“Are you serious?” Naomi asked, obviously far more into the conversation than she was letting on.
“He was old you guys,” Mr. Walker said. “He’d wandered off from the house and was missing for
weeks. The local police put on a full search, and they never found him.”
“That’s so cool,” Gavin said. “So, these door things might be real.”
“Come on, Gavin.” Mr. Walker frowned. “You’ve never been out here to the Walker house. It’s
surrounded by miles of forest. He probably fell or got hurt and couldn’t get back. It’s sad really.”
Mr. Walker’s refusal to go on with the story brought the conversation to an abrupt end. Soon after,
the car drove past a Welcome to Gum Springs sign and the open fields were replaced with a wide
road lined with old buildings. The children saw a drugstore, gas station, and an auto parts
warehouse, but as far as they could see, there wasn’t a mall to speak of. It was only a few moments
before the open fields returned.
They turned off the highway onto a small dirt road. A lonely wooden mailbox was the only indicator
that someone might live nearby. Gavin scanned from one side of the road to the other in search of
what awaited them. The day was overcast and the dark clouds didn’t help the first impression of the
Walker house. A patch of woods ran to the north and south behind the residence. Naomi’s
expression soured as the home at the end of the road rose up into full view.
The Walker house was an old colonial-style home. Several rows of windows on the face overlooked
the front yard. Two round peaks that resembled small towers rose from the front corners of the
structure. The exterior was a dull white with tattered patches showing its wear and tear, giving a hint
at its age.
A wide double door sat centered on the front of the house framed by two tall pillars which stood
away from the door by several feet. The result was a good-sized front porch. Gavin focused on the
front door as it opened, but his eyes couldn’t pierce the darkness beyond. Nor could he make out
details of the short, hunched figure standing in the open doorway.

Publisher: The Romance Collective (1st April 2016)

My review

A Passion So Wild has been waiting very patiently on my kindle for a while. Thank you to Louise Rose-Innes for my review copy. I have really enjoyed it.

Lexi was born into a wealthy family. Her parents are well known and successful and she’s about to marry a very suitable man. She wants for nothing! Well, nothing material that is. However, she craves a life of her own, doing what she loves. When she is offered the opportunity of a lifetime, as a vet caring for endangered Gorilla’s, she leaves her fiance at the alter and hops on a plane to the Congo, to start a new life. Her parents are less than impressed of course, but Lexi is happy and determined to live the life she has chosen for herself.

Of course, A Passion So Wild is primarily a romance novel, but it isn’t without a serious side. The sanctuary Lexi helps to run is at constant threat of rebel attacks. They have to be alert at all times and the sanctuary is in desperate need of funding to improve security, amongst other things. This is when we are introduced to Sir Anthony (Tony). Tony is the CEO of a successful company and is keen to invest in the sanctuary. It was obvious that Tony and Lexi would hit it off, but Lexi doesn’t like him initially. To start with, Tony’s main reason for investment is to increase his company’s credibility and he comes across as arrogant and full of self-interest. However, he soon starts to appreciate the hard work that goes in to the day-to-day running of the sanctuary and the risks they all face whilst trying to protect the animals. Lexi soon starts to warm to him and a their love story begins.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the jungle and I can totally understand it’s appeal for Lexi, although I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to move there myself!

I liked the fact that Lexi stood on her own two feet and followed her heart, rather than living the life her parents had envisioned for her and I was hoping all the way through that she found her happiness.

This is a very well written novel with likeable characters, plenty of action and, of course, romance.

I will be adding Louise’s other books to my TBR list.

Buy your copy HERE

Description

Former socialite, Lexi, adores her new, fulfilling life as a gorilla vet in the Congolese jungle. Even the surrounding political volatility can’t dim her contentment – until she meets the sanctuary’s enigmatic benefactor, Sir Anthony. He’s wealthy and arrogant, appearing more concerned with his company’s image than the welfare of the sanctuary he’s endowed. He symbolizes the empty, pampered life she left behind – so why is she falling for him? When rebels attack the sanctuary, Sir Anthony is the only man who can keep her safe – yet he’s also the biggest threat her heart has ever faced.
A fast-paced, romantic suspense novel from Amazon Bestselling Author, Louise Rose-Innes.
Louise writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. Visit her author page on Amazon – amazon.com/author/louiseroseinnes

You will find all of Louise’s books HERE

Enjoy!

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Alli Sinclair 🙂

Happy Publication Day, Alli!

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

I’m Australian born but have spent many years living in other countries, such as Argentina, Peru and Canada. I’m an adventurer at heart, I’ve climbed some of the world’s highest mountains, and I’ve been lucky enough to immerse myself in an array of exotic destinations, cultures, and languages. My stories capture the romance and thrill of exploring new destinations and cultures that also take readers on a journey of discovery.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Oooh, that’s a hard one to answer because each story has its own way of coming to light. I’ve had stories pop into my head while doing the dishes (because let’s face it, doing the dishes isn’t the most exciting thing to do!), while driving a car, reading a newspaper article or watching a documentary … the list is endless. And I love that a story can appear out of thin air when I least expect it and that’s why I always have a pen and paper handy.

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

No, my characters are their own (fictional) people in their own right. They might have an idiosyncracy of someone I know but that’s as far as it goes.

How do you pick your characters names?

Usually my characters choose their own names (they just pop into my head!) but sometimes they need a little help so I go onto baby name websites and type in the year my character is born and find out what names were popular back then. I tend to do this mostly if my character is foreign and my knowledge of names in that chosen nationality is a little limited. I’ve found some amazing names during my searches!

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

I tend to think of a title, then write a two paragraph blurb, then a ten page synopsis (yes, I’m a planner!) then the book. If I’m struggling with getting a handle on a particular character, I often interview them (there are a lot of really great character interview questions on the internet) and I find this interviewing process reveals a great deal about my character which then helps me when I’m writing the actual story.

Do you have a favourite author?

That’s a tough one as I have so many favourite authors across many genres. My automatic buy authors are Monica McInerney, Belinda Alexandra and Michelle Moran and I’m always on the lookout for a new-to-me authors. As my author network is large, I get to discover new-to-me authors almost every day!

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

I would love to meet the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. He often wrote his poems in green ink because it was his symbol for desire and hope. I’d love to ask him about his diplomatic posts in Argentina, Spain and Mexico and how those experiences in such turbulent times, especially during the Spanish Civil War, shaped him as a person and his poems.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Absolutely! I was one of those kids who walked to school with my head in a book and I was able to dodge obstacles without losing my place in the story. The library was my second home and I was lucky enough to have a lovely school librarian who would knew my taste in books and she made sure I always had enough books to get me through each week!

When did you start to write?

I was always writing stories when I was a child but during my teen years and my twenties I was too busy being social and travelling the world. It wasn’t until my early thirties, when I was being interviewed on the radio about my travels, that the seed of writing fiction was planted. After the interview, the journalist said that I had so many great stories I should consider writing a book. I was surprised at his suggestion because it never occurred to me to do such a thing. I saw a travel writing competition and entered and to my surprise, I won and it was such a buzz seeing my name in print I pursued the idea of writing fiction. That’s when I discovered a love for writing and fast forward to ten years and three manuscripts later, I finally landed my first ever publishing deal and since then I’ve been contracted for seven books and counting!

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

Oh, this is such a great question! Hmmm … I don’t want to give away too much about the ending of A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, but I would have loved to have changed the ending to what I WISHED it would be. It is such a beautiful story and I loved every minute of it but one of the characters makes a decision that is absolutely right for what was expected of her but oh, how I wished she’d made a decision that followed her heart!

What are you working on right now?

I’m in the luxurious position of being a year ahead of schedule right now so I am working on a book that is likely to come out in 2019 and also developing a brand new series for young readers. It’s rather exciting to be trying out a new genre and I’m really enjoying the challenge. That’s one thing I love about being a writer—it’s never boring!

Do you have a new release due?

Yes, I do! Under the Spanish Stars has just been released by Kensington Books and is now available worldwide.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I’m rather social and love keeping in contact with readers, so you can find me at any of these social media hangouts:

Website at www.allisinclair.com 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AlliSinclairAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/allisinclair

Instagram: alli_sinclair

Google +: Alli Sinclair

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alli-Sinclair/e/B00MSGMON0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1456709127&sr=1-1

I also have a VIP Club that anyone can join and there are often give aways and competitions especially for members. You can sign up here:

https://allisinclairauthor.wordpress.com/newsletter/

Previously published by Mira in Australia and New Zealand
 
Amid the vivid beauty of Granada, a woman entrusted with unraveling a family secret will discover the truth about her heritage—and the alluring promise of love…

When her beloved grandmother falls ill, Charlotte Kavanagh will do whatever she asks of her—even if it means traveling to a country that broke her abuela’s heart. Can an unsigned painting of a flamenco dancer unlock the secrets of her grandmother’s youth in Spain? To find the answers she needs, Charlotte must convince the charismatic and gifted musician, Mateo Vives to introduce her to a secluded gypsy clan.

The enigmatic Mateo speaks the true language of flamenco, a culture Charlotte must learn to appreciate if she wants to understand her grandmother’s past—and the flamenco legend that has moved souls to beauty, and bodies to the heights of passion. As Mateo leads her into the captivating world of the music and the dance, Charlotte embraces her own long-denied creative gift and the possibility of a future rich with joy…

BUY LINKS:

KENSINGTON BOOKS

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/34060

AMAZON USA

http://www.amazon.com/Under-Spanish-Stars-Wandering-Skies-ebook/dp/B01CWYTJQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478150808&sr=8-1&keywords=9781601838940

AMAZON UK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Under-Spanish-Stars-Wandering-Skies-ebook/dp/B01CWYTJQM/ref=la_B00MSGMON0_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478151030&sr=1-1

Ibooks

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/under-the-spanish-stars/id1128182702?mt=11

GOOGLE:

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781601838940&c=books

KOBO

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-au/Search/Query?q=9781601838940

BARNES & NOBLE

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-the-spanish-stars-alli-sinclair/1123516113?ean=9781601838940

Many thanks to Alli for answering my questions 🙂

I am thrilled to be a part of Rachel Amphlett’s #ScaredtoDeath blog tour! Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to read the book, as yet, but it is very firmly on my TBR list. I do, however, have a Q&A with the lady herself…..

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

I’m originally from the UK, and I’m currently living in Brisbane Australia. Scared to Death is the first in the new Detective Kay Hunter series – a detective with a hidden past, and an uncertain future.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Often it’s from a news article or an overheard conversation – my imagination will go into overdrive and I’ll think “what if?” and it goes from there.

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

Not specifically. Often it’s an amalgamation of traits that I use to create a character. I might see someone with an interesting tic, or a particular figure of speech, and I’ll use that.

How do you pick your characters names?

I did have some fun with this one as there are a couple of characters named after actual people – people that have helped me enormously over the past five years of my publishing journey, and it was fun to give them something back.

Usually though, the majority of characters will have at least a first name that just pops into my head when I start outlining a new story. Scared to Death was hard, in that I had to come up with a name for my lead protagonist that I really liked, because I’m going to be with her for the rest of this series, so it had to be something that resonated with me. Right up to the point that the manuscript was ready to go to beta readers, I had “PROTAGONIST” in place of her name – I was getting a bit worried by that point that I wouldn’t come up with something, I can tell you!

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

Once I have the original nugget of an idea, I’ll flesh it out a bit and then brainstorm the outline of a plot. From there I’ll develop a sentence to describe each scene/chapter and then get stuck in. I probably outline about 50% of the story and let the rest develop with the characters.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Absolutely – both my brother and I could read before we started primary school, and I inhaled books growing up. My favourite place at school was the library!

When did you start to write?

I wrote my first short story at seven or eight years old. My handwriting was so bad, my mum had to type it up, and I did the illustrations.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on the second in the Kay Hunter series, which I’m planning on releasing early in 2017.

Do you have a new release due?

Scared to Death is out on 6 December 2016.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I love hearing from readers, and respond to every email. My contact form is on my website at www.rachelamphlett.com. My social media links are:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelamphlett.author/

Twitter: @RachelAmphlett

Instagram: @RachelAmphlett

Many thanks to Rachel for answering my questions and for inviting me to a part of her fabulous blog tour!

Publisher: Saxon Publishing (6th December 2016)

Order your copy HERE

A serial killer murdering for kicks.

A detective seeking revenge.

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…

Scared to Death is a gripping fast paced crime thriller from author Rachel Amphlett, in a new series introducing Kay Hunter – a detective with a hidden past and an uncertain future…

Make sure you catch up with, and follow, the rest of the #ScaredtoDeath blog tour…..

This is just one week of the tour! Search #ScaredtoDeath for more!

Enjoy!

Allow me to introduce book blogger, Kate Moloney!

Kate has very kindly agreed to answer 20 random questions from you lovely people (Thanks so much for joining in, Kate!) 🙂

If you’re reading this, please do send me a question. It doesn’t have to be book related. Let’s see how random we can make Kate’s interview!

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Cassandra Parkin 🙂

Cassandra’s latest novel, Lily’s House, was published by Legend Press on 15^th October 2016.

I will be sharing all of the book information later on in the post, but first I have a lovely Q&A with the lady herself. Enjoy!

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

I’m a Yorkshire-based writer with Cornish roots and a passion for fairy-tales. I write contemporary fiction with a strong magical flavour, and I love exploring the darker truths about what it means to be a human being.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

Most of my books start with a single image – a particular journey I’ve taken, a view from a high place that I’ve loved, or a dream I’ve had. For my most recent novel “Lily’s House”, it was the walk up the road from the branch-line station in Falmouth to Grove Hill House at the top. Writing the novel that goes with the image in my head often feels like gradually discovering something buried or drowned, as if it always existed and my job is just to discover it. Rather comfortingly, I found out a few years ago that Stephen King has the same experience.

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

Now that’s a terrifying question – I’ll have to tread carefully! I don’t “borrow” people’s lives or personalities wholesale (apart from anything else, I don’t think it would work – they would be themselves, not the person in my book, and I wouldn’t be able to get under their skin). However, like most writers, I’m a bit of a magpie, and I tend to collect snippets of dialogue, small details of how people look or speak, stories people have told me…and these all inevitably find their way into my work. So while Marianne in “Lily’s House” is absolutely not meant to be my daughter, she does have my daughter’s hair, wardrobe and odd food preferences; and all of Finn’s best stories from “The Beach Hut” originally belonged to my brother. Oh, and there is one irredeemably horrible character who is basically someone I used to work with, but I’m not going to say who.

Locations are always really important to my books, and although I never name the towns, landscapes or houses I’m describing, these are always based in reality. Finally, I use small details from my parents’ and grandparents’ houses all the time – patterns on plates, pictures on walls, ornaments on shelves – because so many of these things are gone now, and I love to give them a second life in my fiction.

How do you pick your characters’ names?

I start with the year they were born, and then look at the lists of names that were given to babies born in that year. Depending on what sort of background they come from and what sort of parents they have, I might be looking for something quite unusual, something that’s “of the moment”, or a very middle-of-the-road and conventional choice. Obviously we don’t choose our own names, so I always think about what the character’s parents were like and what they might have wanted for their child.

Then I have to do a reality check and make sure I haven’t got obsessed with one particular sound or name-root. I once had to have it pointed out to me by my lovely, lovely editor that I had not two, not three, but four minor characters whose names were all near-homophones of each other. I have no idea how I managed to do this, but somehow I did.

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

My novels always start with an outline, which I build using post-it notes on sheets of A4 paper (each sheet is one chapter). I never stick to my original plan, but I always need to have one – it gives me a roadmap to follow, so when I wander off into the forest I have some idea of where I thought I was going in the first place. When I’m working on a first draft, I write 2,000 words a day, mostly in the mornings at the dining-table, and quite often in my pyjamas.

My favourite writing mantra is from Ernest Hemingway, who pithily told the world that “the first draft of everything is shit”. And it is! I don’t edit as I go, so my first draft will always be an unholy mess; but that’s okay, because that’s what editing’s for. Editing is the bit when you actually make your project into something that’s fit to be seen.

Do you have a favourite author?

I have so many favourite authors that the best I can manage is a Top Five! Jane Austen, Lewis Carroll, Tove Jansson, W M Thackeray and Jacqueline Susann are the authors I’d smuggle under my jumper to a desert island. But then I’d be leaving behind so many other who I love – Stephen King, Charlotte Bronte, Terry Pratchett, Stevie Smith, Ursula le Guin, Daphne du Maurier, Laura Ingalls Wilder…nope, I can’t do it. It’s just not in me. I’ll have to be locked away in a library instead.

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

I would meet Tove Jansson and ask her to teach me to draw. It’s one talent I really envy.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Oh yes. I read constantly and obsessively. I was lucky enough to grow up just opposite our local library, and it was my second home. If they didn’t close, I’d never have left. I was lucky enough to go back to visit them to talk about “The Beach Hut” last year, and it was absolutely magical to go back to a place I’d loved so much as a child.

When did you start to write?

I’ve written pretty much all my life, but it took me a long time to try and get any of it published. The first thing I can remember finishing was a Doctor Who fan-fiction when I was about nine. Then when I was fifteen I finished my first full-length project – a dystopian sci-fi novel, because I was fifteen, so of course it was. After that, I had some vague idea that I was going to be a writer, but after university I ended up going into marketing instead, because it paid well and student loans are terrifying.

I then spent about fifteen years trying to turn my marketing job into a writing job, by volunteering for every single writing assignment I could find. I wrote website copy, and text for leaflets, and spurious replies to customer complaints, and mendacious personal statements for other people’s CVs. I kept writing fiction too, in my lunch-breaks, and in boring meetings, and in the evenings and at weekends. Sometimes I’d give what I wrote to friends and family as Christmas presents, and they would tell me, “Look, you do know what you really want to be is a writer, yes? I mean, you are aware of this about yourself?”

After a decade and a half of sustained nagging by absolutely everyone who knew me, I finally womaned up and submitted a short story collection to a writing competition. I was truly astounded when it won, and was published later that year. That gave me the confidence to write and submit my first published novel, “The Summer We All Ran Away” to Legend Press.

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

I would re-write the ending to “Fifty Shades of Grey”. In my version, after Ana quite rightly leaves Christian, she would go home, have a good cry, eat several pints of ice-cream and then have a moment of clarity and realise what an utter control-freak wanker he really was and vow never to see him again.

She would then get a sensible job at a place where normal people work (rather than taking some strange and poorly-defined “editoral” role at a publisher with a predatory boss and the vaguest list in the whole world) and build a future for herself where she had enough self-confidence to assert her personal and sexual boundaries. Then, the next time some creepy stalker started turning up uninvited at her place of work, cutting her off from her friends, coercing her into sex she wasn’t comfortable with and getting angry with her every time she wore the wrong outfit or gave some bloke the glad-eye, she would sack him off and ride off into the sunset with Kate, who was clearly the best romantic prospect for Ana in the whole novel. Christian Grey would die when he crashed Charlie Tango into a mountain while trying to have sex mid-flight.

It’s just possible I’ve put a little too much thought into this.

*I just have to say that this is THE best answer I’ve had to this question, so far!*

What are you working on right now?

I’m at the very early stages of writing my next novel, which is set on the East coast of Yorkshire in a village that’s falling into the sea. The cliffs along the coast are basically mud and chalk, so the erosion is terrifying and extraordinary – it’s a beautiful, ghostly, haunting part of the world.

Do you have a new release due?

My novel “The Winter’s Child” will be published by Legend Press in September 2017. It’s set in my home city of Hull, and begins on the last night of Hull Fair in a fortune-teller’s caravan. My heroine Susannah receives an eerily specific prediction – that her son Joel, who has been missing for five years, will come back to her by Christmas Eve.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I’m on Twitter @cassandrajaneuk, and I blog at www.cassandraparkin.wordpress.com.

Thank you so much to Cassandra for answering my questions and to Lucy, at Legend Press, for arranging the interview. It has been a pleasure!

Publisher: Legend Press (15th October 2016)

Buy your copy HERE

When Jen goes to her grandmother’s house for the last time, she’s determined not to dwell on the past. As a child, Jen adored Lily and suspected she might be a witch; but the spell was broken long ago, and now her death means there won’t be any reconciliation.

Lily’s gone, but the enchantments she wove and the secrets she kept still remain. In Lily’s house, Jen and her daughter Marianne reluctantly confront the secrets of the past and present – and discover how dangerous we become when we’re trying to protect the ones we love.

You will find all of Cassandra’s books on her Amazon Author Page

Enjoy!

Today I am delighted to welcome Jane Isaac to my blog 🙂

Jane is a lovely lady. We do chat on Twitter sometimes. Her latest book, Beneath The Ashes (Crime Thriller with DI Will Jackman #2), was published by Legend Press on 1st November 2016.

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

Hi Kerry, Thanks so much for inviting me to your lovely blog. My name is Jane Isaac and I write the DCI Helen Lavery and the DI Will Jackman series. My books have been described as detective fiction with a psychological edge and my latest novel, Beneath the Ashes, was released on 1^st November 2016.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

My fascination lies with people and how they react when you take them out of the realms of normality, so I usually start with my characters. My books are psychological crime thrillers/police procedural crossovers. When I start a new project I usually consider the opening – putting somebody normal, somebody like you or I, in an extraordinary situation. As the mystery unravels and we begin the police chase to solve case and track down the killer, we also explore the perspective from the victim’s point of view.

I guess it derives from a great sense of nosiness. When I was growing up, my mother was always telling me to, “Stop staring!” Even now, I love to sit in cafes, stand in the supermarket queue and wander around the stores watching how people react in different situations. It’s that all important ‘what if’ scenario that captivates me. Most of us tend to live in a little bubble of habits that are tried and tested, that we take for granted. We drift through our days and don’t give them a second thought. But it’s when things go wrong, run differently, that fascinates me. How do we react to the extraordinary?

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

Not really. For DI Will Jackman, the lead in my current series, I pulled on my favourite male fictional characters and analysed their behaviour; writing down the elements I liked and that fitted with what I was trying to achieve, disregarding the ones that didn’t. I also considered the male influences in my own life: my father, my brother, my husband, my friends, and spoke to a lot of serving police officers and detectives to see what their working/home life was like. So, I guess he is made up of elements of lots of different people.

How do you pick your characters names?

Oh, that’s a tricky one. Names are important – they define the character in our mind and form the basis of the many layers it takes to build them, making them feel real. The name has to fit with the story, and the era.

When writing my first novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, I opted for a combination of traditional and conventional for my lead, Detective Chief Inspector Helen Lavery. This mix defines Helen: a strong, independent woman with a passion that pushes her to go that extra mile, occasionally adopting unorthodox methods to make a difference, to keep us safe. Yet, she is also a mother, juggling the challenge of single parenting teenage sons with managing one of the most responsible and demanding jobs in the police force.

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

When I started out I didn’t plan anything and wrote chapter by chapter, researching along the way. My first book, An Unfamiliar Murder, took almost eighteen months to complete.

Beneath the Ashes was my fourth book and written to a deadline, so I needed to be more organised with my writing time. I wrote a four/five page outline in advance to give me a sense of direction, although inevitably some things did change along the way, and the book took a little under a year to complete.

Do you have a favourite author?

Ten years ago I would have answered this question with established favourites like Val McDermid or Peter James. However being a part of the publishing world has exposed me to so many new talents and I tend to read a lot of different authors these days.

I’ve just read a debut called Rubicon by Ian Patrick which is out for submission now, hoping to be signed. It was excellent and really deserves to be published!

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

Arthur Conan Doyle – Why did you kill off Sherlock?

Were you a big reader as a child?

I was one of those children who could be found with a torch under the duvet, reading Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven, desperately trying to get to the end of the book before I was caught!

When did you start to write?

Sixteen years ago my husband and I took a year out to travel the world and a friend gave us a diary to keep. I didn’t think we’d keep it up, but we both wrote in it every day and returned home at the end of the trip with a collection of diaries. Years later, the photos brought back memories, but it was the diary that recreated the true sense of the places we visited. That’s when my love affair with writing began.

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

The Sister by Rosamund Lupton. I loved the book, it’s so beautifully written, but the ending is left hanging and I always wondered what happened.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on the edits for The Lies Within, the third novel in the DI Will Jackman series.

Do you have a new release due?

Yes. The Lies Within is due to be released by Legend Press on 2^nd May 2017.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

I love to hear from readers and writers and can be contacted via Jane Isaac Author on Facebook, @JaneIsaacAuthor on Twitter, or emailed through the contact page on my website at www.janeisaac.co.uk

Thanks so much to Jane for joining me on my blog today and to Lucy, at Legend Press, for arranging the interview. It has been a pleasure 🙂

Publisher: Legend Press (1st November 2016)

Buy your copy HERE

THE SECOND DI WILL JACKMAN CRIME THRILLER

The floor felt hard beneath her face. Nancy opened her eyes. Blinked several times. A pain seared through her head. She could feel fluid. No. She was lying in fluid.

When a body is discovered in a burnt-out barn in the Warwickshire countryside, DI Will Jackman is called to investigate.

Nancy Faraday wakes up on the kitchen floor. The house has been broken into and her boyfriend is missing. As the case unravels, DI Jackman realises that nothing is quite as it appears and everyone, it seems, has a secret.

Can he discover the truth behind the body in the fire, and track down the killer before Nancy becomes the next victim?

A gripping thriller perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, S.J. Watson, B A Paris and Sophie Hannah

DI Will Jackman Series – Amazon Top 5 Bestseller

‘Carefully executed police procedural, that hits all the targets.’ –Angela Clarke, author of Follow Me

‘I thought I d never read a book that came close to the realities of crime and policing. Then I read this.’ –Ian Patrick Writer and former DS with the Metropolitan Police

‘A smart, intelligent and tightly woven police procedural with real depth of human emotion at its heart.’ –Rebecca Bradley, author of Shallow Waters

You will find all of Jane’s books on her AmazonUK author page

Enjoy!

Hi all!

Can you actually believe it’s December?? When did that happen!?

I hope November has been a great month for you. I’d love to know what you’ve been reading.

Are you ready for Christmas? Our tree is up…..

…..but I haven’t written any cards (with the exception of one for the window cleaner!) and I have only bought 3 gifts so far! We have so many Birthday’s in November!!

Anyway…..

Here’s what’s been happening on Chat About Books, in case you missed anything…..

October wrap up…..

Reader / writer events in Stoke-on-Trent @SoTLibraries  You still have time to get your free ticket to the 6×6 Reading Café on 6th December. This will be the third Reading Café I have been to. My friend, Gayle, and I really enjoy this event. Please do come along if you’re local enough.

#TGND Mel Sherratt @writermels @bookouture #helpme #BlogTour *EXTRACT* & *Review*

Q&A with author, Karen King + Extract @karen_king @AccentPress

Love You To Death (Detective Ruby Preston Crime Thriller Series Book 1) by Caroline Mitchell *Review* @Caroline_writes @bookouture

#AskMeAnything with #bookblogger Joanne Baird @portybelle

My name is Lorraine Rugman, #AskMeAnything @ReviewCafe

This is a very personal and powerful post which I re-blogged via Kaisha at The Writing Garnet. Everyone should read it and share it – How @Lesley_Allen_ & Biddy Weir gave me courage to tell my own story – #BullyingAwarenessWeek

While You Were Sleeping by Kathryn Croft *Review* @KatCroft @bookouture #BlogTour

#AskMeAnything with #bookblogger Zoe Williams @WBTBBookReviews

Jenny Kane’s Christmas Collection #BlogTour @JennyKaneAuthor @AccentPress *EXTRACT*

Q&A with author, Colette McCormick @colettemcauthor @AccentPress

Trace This Scar by Jessikah Hope Stenson @JessikahHope @ExcaliburPress #BlogTour #BookReview

Holding by Graham Norton #BookReview @grahnort @HodderBooks

Q&A with author, A J Dalton @AJDalton1

Q&A with author, Kristen Bailey @baileyforce6 @AccentPress Second Helpings #BlogTour

Added to my TBR list, November 2016…..

Thanks as always for reading, liking, commenting on and sharing my posts.

Have a fab December!

Kerry

X

Merry Christmas from me and my Bella Boo Bo’s 🙂

Direct from the author / publisher…..

 (PDF from Jason Hershey)

Self published – 25th October 2016

Thelonious “Theo” Mitchell is a down on his luck teenager, wandering aimlessly through life with no desire or focus. When tragedy strikes, he is taken in by his aunt and uncle. Thrown into a new school with unfamiliar surroundings, he befriends the class “troublemaker”. After yet another tragedy, will Theo fall victim to life, or use the tragedy as a spark and motivation to embrace all that life has to offer?

 (e-book from H. A. Leuschel)

Five stories – Five Lives. Have you ever felt confused or at a loss for words in front of a spouse, colleague or parent, to the extent that you have felt inadequate or, worse, a failure? Do you ever wonder why someone close to you seems to endure humiliation without resistance? Manipulators are everywhere. At first these devious and calculating people can be hard to spot, because that is their way. They are often masters of disguise: witty, disarming, even charming in public – tricks to snare their prey – but then they revert to their true self of being controlling and angry in private. Their main aim: to dominate and use others to satisfy their needs, with a complete lack of compassion and empathy for their victim. In this collection of short novellas you meet people like you and me, intent on living happy lives, yet each of them, in one way or another, is caught up and damaged by a manipulative individual. First you meet a manipulator himself, trying to make sense of his irreversible incarceration. Next, there is Tess, whose past is haunted by a wrong decision, then young, successful and well balanced Sophie, who is drawn into the life of a little boy and his troubled father. Next, there is teenage Holly, who is intent on making a better life for herself and finally Lisa, who has to face a parent’s biggest regret. All stories highlight to what extent abusive manipulation can distort lives and threaten our very feeling of self-worth.

 (e-book from Terry Tyler)

Every serial killer is someone’s friend, spouse, lover or child….

Young women are being murdered in the Lincolnshire town of Lyndford, where five people fear someone close to them might be the monster the police are searching for.
One of them is right.

Juliet sees an expert’s profile of the average serial killer and realises that her abusive husband, Paul, ticks all the boxes.

Maisie thinks her mum’s new boyfriend seems too good to be true. Is she the only person who can see through Gary’s friendly, sensitive façade?

Tamsin is besotted with her office crush, Jake. Then love turns to suspicion…

Steve is used to his childhood friend, Dan, being a loud mouthed Lothario with little respect for the truth. But is a new influence in his life leading him down a more sinister path?

Dorothy’s beloved son, Orlando, is keeping a secret from her—a chilling discovery forces her to confront her worst fears.

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is a character-driven psychological drama that will keep you guessing until the very end.

 (ebook from Julieann Dove)

Dr. Rachel Miller has no recollection of what happened that night she climbed in the car with her husband and he drove recklessly into a tree. She has no clue as to why she survived and he didn’t. Nor does she understand why strangers are coming up to her on the street and telling her things she can’t recall about a life that seems so long ago. But Dane Stone knows.
Dane Stone is Rachel’s business partner…and her deceased husband’s best friend. He knows about the notes, the hotel receipt, and the reason she got in the car that night. It’s for her protection that he keeps the secret, but inside he’s dying to tell her.

 (Paperback from Anna at Reddoor Publishing)

Meet Rachel. She’s trapped in a sleep-deprived world of misery and grief. She used to love being a wife and mum, but now life is a grown-up mess.

Meet Adam. He’s trapped in a world of grief and confusion. It wasn’t always like this, but since the accident, things have never been the same. How can they be when you’ve killed your parents?

Rachel and Adam used to be friends, back in the days before marriage and babies… in the days before loneliness set in. Then along came Facebook. So when Rachel and Adam rekindle their online friendship, what starts as a little harmless flirtation soon becomes an obsession, and slowly the threads of their lives unravel before them.

Because I was Lonely traces the rollercoaster of actions and reactions experienced by a cast of credible, fallible, and ultimately human, characters. Hayley Mitchell carefully captures their emotions and handles the multiple viewpoints deftly, in this cleverly crafted, unputdownable debut novel.

 (Paperback from Anna at Reddoor Publishing)

‘Hi, I’m Angela. My husband ran off with the caterer we hired for our daughter’s graduation party. Pleased to meet you.’

Meet Angie Shepherd who, after 24 years and 11 months of marriage, finds herself divorced and driven by friends and family to move on. From hangover to makeover, Angie steps firmly away from the sensible knitwear, and launches into every adventure on offer from baking classes and book groups, to speed dating, and even ‘The Granny-Okes’, a 1980s tribute act and YouTube sensation.

But Angie needs more than a bar of galaxy and a night in with Murder She Wrote… what she dreams of is entrepreneurial success. Channelling her inner Richard Branson, the light bulb moment happens: it’s time to take the plunge and invest her divorce settlement into The Mercury Travel Club, an exciting new business venture. But as the Travel Club gets going, things don’t go according to plan, and in this digital age a little chaos brings the fame she s been looking for.

Set in present-day Manchester, this classic mid-life journey features the 1980s soundtrack from Angie s youth, and sees her travel the world whilst coping with life after the Ex. Angie’s journey is the catalyst her friends need to examine their own lives; as they start to find their true callings, will Angie find hers? Witty, entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny, this feel-good debut novel shows it s never too late for a second chance.

 (e-book from S. C. Abbey)

Dr. Harvey Nolan, a Nobel prize-winning Columbia Professor, wasn’t expecting the FBI at his office after his first blood-soaking brush with them many years ago. In a dark and damp dungeon, a frightened woman wakes up to find herself chained to her bed, her screams echoes but unanswered. Agent Katie Moulin, a jaded ex-FBI, grudgingly returns to the ground when things get chaotic with a single divergent event.

Caught in a crossfire between a merciless assassin and the FBI for a crime he did not commit, can Nolan clear his name before it is too late? As New York City becomes a hotbed of crime, Harvey’s and Katie’s lives must intertwine once again. Forced to battle enemies and allies closing in alike, they find themselves surprised by the extent of cruelty people can go to.

From Netgalley…..

Pub Date 16 Nov 2016

Description

Bought / free downloads…..

 (Kindle first prime freebie)

Marcy Hammer’s life has been turned upside down. Her husband, the head of a global brassiere empire, didn’t think twice about leaving her after thirty-three years of marriage for a 32DD lingerie model. Now Harvey the Home-Wrecker is missing in action, but Marcy’s through thinking about what a cliché he is. What she needs now is a party-size bag of potato chips, a good support system, and a new dress.

Striking out on her own is difficult at first, but Marcy manages to find traces of humor in her heartbreak. Even while devastated by Harvey’s departure, she still has her indomitable spirit and her self-respect. She has no intention of falling apart, either, even when her adult children drop a few bombshells of their own and she discovers a secret about her new, once-in-a-lifetime friend. Life may be full of setbacks, but by lifting herself up by her own lacy straps, Marcy just may be able to handle them all.

 (Pre-ordered 1st November 2016)

Publication date – 1st December 2016

Countdown to Christmas with your new must-have author, as you step into the wonderful world of Ava Bliss. Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Carole Matthews and Katie Fforde.

On a snowy December evening, Sam Jermyn steps into the life of bespoke hat maker Ava. Sparks fly, and not necessarily the good ones.

Times are tough for Ava – she’s struggling to make ends meet, her ex-boyfriend is a bully, and worst of all, it’s nearly Christmas.

So when Sam commissions Ava to make a hat for someone special, she makes a promise that will change her life. She just doesn’t know it yet…

 (Paperback bought with Birthday gift card)

Snow is falling on White Cliff Bay, where Christmas is magical and love is in the air . . .

Penny Meadows loves her cosy cottage with its stunning views over the snow-topped town of White Cliff Bay, but not even the roaring log fire can keep her personal life from feeling frozen.

That is until dashing Henry and his daughter Daisy arrive at the cottage for the festive season. And between decking the halls and baking delicious mince pies, Penny realises there is more to Henry than meets the eye.

With sleigh bells ringing and fairy lights twinkling, the ice-sculpting competition and Christmas Eve ball are in full swing. Will Penny be able to melt the ice and allow love into her heart? And will she finally have the perfect Christmas she’s been dreaming of?

 (Paperback bought with Birthday gift card)

The No.1 bestselling author delivers an ‘outstanding’ (USA Today) collection of thrilling stories, introducing each one with a fascinating piece on when, where or how he came to write it.

There is a treasure here for every reader: a man who keeps reliving exactly the same life, repeating his mistakes over and over again; a columnist who kills people by writing their obituaries; a poignant tale about the end of the human race and a firework competition between neighbours which reaches an explosive climax. And, exclusive to this paperback edition (and the eBook from 6 September), a brand new story ‘Cookie Jar’.

‘I made them especially for you,’ says King. ‘Feel free to examine them, but please be careful. The best of them have teeth.’

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE BAZAAR OF BAD DREAMS

Introduction
Mile 81
Premium Harmony
Batman and Robin Have an Altercation
The Dune
Bad Little Kid
A Death
The Bone Church
Morality
Afterlife
Ur
Herman Wouk Is Still Alive
Under the Weather
Blockade Billy
Mister Yummy
Tommy
The Little Green God of Agony
Cookie Jar
That Bus Is Another World
Obits
Drunken Fireworks
Summer Thunder

 (Hardback bought with Birthday gift card)

Since they first began making delicious, homemade-quality soups using only fresh, natural ingredients, the New Covent Garden Food Company has continued to create ever more innovative and tasty recipes. Now, a few years on and with hundreds of recipes at their fingertips, they have decided to share their all-time favourites with you in this definitive collection.

Soup is generally easy to make and a great way to use up leftovers, but it can also be exotic and sophisticated, and A Soup for Every Day is packed with ideas for whatever the occasion demands. With a recipe for each day of the year, carefully chosen according to what’s in season, you’ll find tons of inspiration to create a healthy, nutritious meal for all the family, an impressive dish for a dinner party or comfort food for a cold winter’s afternoon.

With all sorts of delicious concoctions – from Butternut Squash and Goat’s Cheese to Pea and Ham, and from Moroccan Lamb and Chickpea to Carrot and Coriander – this wonderful book contains all the recipes any soup lover will ever need.

 (Paperback on Amazon lightning deal)

Hollywood movies are Beth’s passion. She hopes her life will always be filled with ‘movie moments’, where things like serendipity and fate happen every day. Her boyfriend Danny has always been the embodiment of her perfect Hollywood hero – though after seven years together the initial silver-screen romance has settled into something more predictable.

And then, one morning at work, Beth receives an anonymous delivery of a take-out coffee cup with a cryptic message suggesting a meeting at Tiffany’s. From there, she is given a series of clues directing her to some of NYC’s most popular landmarks – a treasure hunt using unique rom-com-related prompts perfect for a movie-lover like Beth to decipher. And Beth is forced to wonder: has Danny realised their relationship needs a boost – or could it be that charming new work colleague Ryan, with his intense gaze, flirtatious smile and almost encyclopaedic movie knowledge, wants to sweep her off her feet? And how would she feel about taking a chance on a new leading man in her life?

 (Free when downloaded)

(Re-Formatted – June 2015).

“Forever Is Over” is a story of love, laughter and loss. It is set in Ormskirk, Lancashire from the 1980s to the present days and is the story of the life of Richie Billingham. In the opening Chapter, we find Richie terminally ill, but the story is then told by several characters, as his life and loves are pieced together.

The book was written to appeal to both males and females. Fictional lives are mixed with real life events as football, gambling, sex, violence, relationships and growing up, all form part of the plot.

“From crying (which I did a lot of reading this – well not crying exactly but proper sobbing) to laughing out loud this book has it all. The characters are compelling… and…if you were brought up in the 70’s/80’s you will relate even more to this book! A definite must read and a book you will not be able to put down – brilliant! ”

**one of the book’s 5* reviews from Rachel Goodwin **

The novel was initially inspired by the song “Sunny Road” by Emiliana Torrini.

 (Free when downloaded)

Mia Maher is nearing forty. She arrives at the funeral of an old friend, Chrissie, who has died suddenly. Happily married, with two school age children, Mia is unaware that this will be the day that changes everything and her life will switch on to an entirely new path.
‘Waiting For The Bee Stings’ is a story about the lives of four friends who met at Newcastle University in the mid-1990s. It is a tale of love, friendship, passion and betrayal.
This is the third fictional novel by Calvin Wade, following his debut, ‘Forever Is Over’ which rose to Amazon’s Top20 ebooks in the United Kingdom and the critically acclaimed second novel, ‘Kiss My Name’.

In the summer of 2013, Calvin Wade, a man with football in his blood and very little in his wallet, decided to embark upon an F.A Cup adventure that he and his father had discussed for over thirty years. The idea was to head to a game in the Extra Preliminary Round of the F.A Cup and then follow the winners of each game, up and down the country, through every round, until eventually reaching the bright lights of Wembley and the F.A Cup Final.
This is not only an autobiographical account of a nine month journey through the 2013-14 footballing season, especially the F.A Cup, but it is also a story about family, friendship, financial struggle and a footballing past. It is about tales new and old with English Peles, a man known as ‘The Casual Hopper’ and football fans of all ages throughout the British Isles.
With a foreword by former F.A Cup winning manager, Joe Royle, ‘Another Saturday & Sweet F.A’ seeks to show that Bill Shankly was right after all and sometimes football can be more important than life and death.
* Fifty pence from the sale of the paperback and Kindle versions of this book will be donated to The Christie Charity. The charity raises money to fund projects at The Christie Hospital, Manchester, which are outside the scope of the NHS.

Everyone says being a teenager is CRAZY. But do they mean crazy hard, crazy fun… or just plain bonkers?

Roughly three people in every class have some kind of mental health issue, but most of them have no idea what’s going on. They think they’re just weak, or shy, or bad, or completely, irreversibly, writing-on-the-walls ‘insane’. But they’re not. They have some form of depression, anxiety, eating disorder or other mental health issue and they will come out the other side.

This is a book of advice, from young people who made it through, to their sixteen-year-old selves.

Do you ever feel like the apocalypse is coming, and it wouldn’t be that bad? Like bed is as far as you want to get today? As though your heart is going to beat right out of your chest and your legs have turned to jelly, at the thought of leaving home or talking to another human being? Or maybe you just feel like when you start worrying, you can’t stop.

Whatever form it takes, this book can help you through it.

Trigger warning: Due to it’s nature, the content of this book may be triggering. Contains personal experiences of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, trichotillomania and other mental health issues, as well as issues such as assault.

Read what people are saying about Hello Me, It’s You:

“IT WAS AH-MAZING!! Every person should read this book at least once in their lifetime.” Flipping Pages

“MOVING, A MUST-READ FOR ALL GENERATIONS… MY GOD! I’m at loss for words… Rating five-stars for a book that is worth a million stars is unfair…an excellent, real and much-needed book for all generations” Veracious Reader

“Warmed my heart…It made me think, a lot, and that’s what good books do.”The Ya Reader

“This is the mental health book that every teen and adult needs“Tales of the Ravenous Reader

“This book is very important. I want to buy 100 copies and give it to every single person I know and force them to read it!… I found myself in many letters. I cried a lot but there were also very funny parts that will make you laugh out loud.” Books Over Humans

“This is one of the most poignant and important books I’ve ever read. A book made up entirely of letters written by young adults to their 16 year old selves, you’ll laugh, cry and reflect on your own journey as you read about these individuals dealing with anxiety and mental health issues.” That Wild Soul

“One of the best books ever…This is a book that your soul is going to devour instantly” 5* Dystopian Citizn

“An inspiring book… honestly so beautiful… such an honest, personal look into the lives of those who have mental illness… deeply represents hope and recovery“ Belle’s Book Nook

“Touching. Honest. Raw… I cannot recommend this book highly enough” 5* January Grey Reviews

“It fills you with hope and strength. Everyone should read it, whether or not you are suffering from mental health issues.” Lois Reads Books

Detective Inspector Dan Hellier returns home to Exeter under a cloud.

The body of a talented young singer is found in the woods.

Hellier needs to redeem himself and solve the murder.

What links her death to the boss of a recording studio, a Latvian gang and a school music teacher?

Before the body count rises Hellier will need to untangle the web of Death and Deception. And the clock is ticking …

This is the first Detective Dan Hellier novel.

If you like Angela Marsons, Helen Durrant, Rachel Abbott, Adam Croft or Mark Billingham you will be gripped by this excellent new crime fiction writer.

Let’s suppose you are a heartbroken woman trying to get over the pain of a failed relationship. You’ve always wanted to see the world. What do you do? Perhaps you would do what Sarah does: travel alone to Dublin and leave your worries behind. She wants to start from scratch, to forget about it all; to enjoy the lush green countryside, the Celtic music, the famous pubs. However, her life turns upside down when she finds herself living under the same roof as Daniel, a handsome yet stubborn Irishman.
Both Daniel and Sarah have their reasons for not falling in love, but love has other plans.

Things become more complicated because love affairs are prohibited between housemates. This is an unbreakable rule that also applies to the three other residents: a shameless womanizer, an absent-minded musician and a new female best friend, intrusive and meddling. It’s a fun and exciting intercultural household for Sarah to adapt to! And as if that wasn’t enough, she also has to deal with Daniel’s heated misunderstandings, with an insistent ex-boyfriend and some compromising situations with a very sexy Frenchman.
This is a new life in Dublin and there is certainly a lot to love!

What blogs have said about the story:
“The story, the characters and the setting have captivated me. The love affair of the protagonist grows little by little and makes me want to learn more and more. Without a doubt, I recommend this book; it’s so fresh and original. The plot contains everything you need to get you hooked: love, jealously, friendship, heartbreak, and passion. Its many characters are so different yet perfectly complement each other and give body to the story.” Naomi from Romanticamente.es

“How could you not love Dublin after reading this story? Amanda Laneley masterfully narrates this journey, allowing us to get to know this enchanting land and captivating us with this lovely couple in which the chemistry is almost unbearably strong.” The Magic of Books and Me.

“I love it! It’s a unique premise and really entertaining. The dynamic of the story makes it a very interesting read.” Cecilia of “Divine Readers”

‘A delicious Christmas delight’ – Katie Fforde

‘All the best things about Christmas wrapped into one gorgeous, romantic read’ – Phillipa Ashley, author of Christmas at the Cornish Cafe

The gorgeous, Christmassy feel-good follow up to the Summer best-seller ‘From Italy With Love’.

Just until Christmas…

That’s what Paris socialite Siena keeps telling herself. She’ll hide away in her sister Laurie’s cottage near London to escape her hot-tempered fiancé.

However, when Jason – gorgeous but a bit of a Grinch – picks her up from the airport, he reveals that Laurie hasn’t lived there for months, complicating Siena’s holiday getaway.

At first, Jason and Siena don’t see eye to eye. But after a weekend in the most romantic city in the world, experiencing all it has to offer – from the magic of a fir-lined Champs-Élysées, lit up by thousands of sparkling fairy lights, to the swoosh of skates on ice at the Eiffel Tower – Siena shows Jason her Paris, and a whole other side to herself. Suddenly Siena’s December deadline seems far too close…

This Christmas, jet off to Paris with Siena and Jason and experience the magic of the holiday season.

An escapist Christmas story set in magical NYC from the bestselling author of THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME, SOMETHING FROM TIFFANY’S & more.
Grab a mug of hot chocolate, sit back and enjoy a fairytale New York Christmas….

When Londoner Penny decides to visit her best friend Kate in New York for the festive season, the surprise appearance of a previous suitor sends her plans for a relaxing, carefree visit into complete disarray.
When she and Mike last saw each other, the timing couldn’t have been worse.

But when Mike decides to show Penny the very best of what a snowy, festive, New York has to offer – resolving to make it a fairytale Christmas – will she be able to resist his charms this time round?

And will finding one other again turn out to be the greatest Christmas gift?

Get ready for Christmas with the first part in a feel-good romance serial from best selling author, Rebecca Raisin!

Clio Winters is finally fulfilling her childhood dream of renovating the gorgeous old Cedarwood Lodge in Evergreen. Turning it into the perfect destination for big celebrations, weddings and parties has brought her back home, but Cedarwood Lodge is in need of a lot of tender loving care.

Perhaps all the work will be the perfect distraction from the real reason she had to leave her glamorous New York life behind.

Will coming home be the best decision of her life… or her biggest regret?

Cedarwood Lodge is a delectable romance told in three parts – following Clio Winters journey back to her hometown of Evergreen. This is Part One.

Holly and Caleb had been best friends as children, growing up on the same street, but as teenagers they couldn’t be further apart. When Caleb unexpectedly asked Holly to help him pick out a Christmas gift for his girlfriend, neither of them anticipated where it would lead.
A young adult romantic comedy, from Stella Wilkinson, acclaimed author of The Flirting Games Series.
A Christmas Gift is a “clean” romance, suitable for ALL ages

“Oh what it is to be young! A funny, light and frothy read.” Janie Oakes, Teen Reader Today

The Seasonal Romance Set is a short story for every season by Stella Wilkinson. Books are all stand alone rather than a series and can be read in any order.
Winter: A Christmas Gift
Spring: The Fake Valentine
Summer: A Summer Thing
Autumn / Fall: All Hallows Eve

‘Brims with laughs, love, family and friendship. You will love this heartwarming read!’ Trisha Ashley. Meet the Reading Group: six women in the seaside village of Little Sanderton come together every month to share their love of reading. No topic is off-limits: books, family, love and loss . . . and don’t forget the glass of red!

Grace knows that the holiday season is going to be different this year. No turkey, no tinsel, no gorgeously wrapped gifts under the tree . . . how on earth is she going to break it to her little boys that Christmas is effectively cancelled? And can she bear to tell anyone her embarrassing secret? Enter the Reading Group: Grace’s life might have turned upside down but there’s no problem they can’t solve.

This book contains all the Christmas books and stories written by Dickens.

The Christmas Books:

– A Christmas Carol
– The Chimes
– The Cricket on the Hearth
– The Battle of Life
– The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain
The Christmas Stories:

– A Christmas Tree
– What Christmas is as we Grow Older
– The Poor Relation’s Story
– The Child’s Story
– The Schoolboy’s Story
– Nobody’s Story
– The Seven Poor Travellers
– The Holly-Tree
– Wreck of the Golden Mary
– The Perils of Certain English Prisoners
– Going into Society
– A Message From the Sea
– Tom Tiddler’s Ground
– Somebody’s Luggage
– Mrs. Lirriper’s Lodgings
– Mrs. Lirriper’s Legacy
– Doctor Marigold
– Mugby Junction
– No Thoroughfare

FIRST COMES LOVE. THEN COMES MARRIAGE. THEN COMES MURDER.
The Sunday Times Top 10 Bestselling Thriller
‘My head’s still spinning from all the twists!’ Mark Edwards

What if your life was built on a lie?

When lawyer Lily marries Ed, she’s determined to make a fresh start. To leave the secrets of the past behind.

But when she takes on her first criminal case, she starts to find herself strangely drawn to her client. A man who’s accused of murder. A man she will soon be willing to risk everything for.

But is he really innocent?

And who is she to judge?

MY HUSBAND’S WIFE is a thriller with so many twists you won’t be able to put it down, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Clare Mackintosh and C. L. Taylor.

When Harold Fry nips out one morning to post a letter, leaving his wife hoovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other. He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof or mobile phone. All he knows is that he must keep walking. To save someone else’s life.

‘The odyssey of a simple man, original, subtle and touching’. – Claire Tomalin
‘From the moment I met Harold Fry, I didn’t want to leave him. Impossible to put down.’ – Erica Wagner, The Times

Zero Day is the explosive first instalment in David Baldacci’s thrilling John Puller series.

Distinguished as a top investigator in the US government, John Puller is called in to conduct an enquiry into the brutal murders of a family in a remote area of West Virginia. It soon becomes clear that the case has wider implications and as the body count rises he teams up with local homicide detective Samantha Cole. As the web of deceit is revealed, it quickly becomes apparent that there’s much more to this case than they had first thought. It is an investigation where nothing is as it seems, and nothing can be taken at face value.

When Puller and Cole discover a dangerous situation in the making, Puller finds he must turn to the one person who can help avert certain catastrophe. A person he has known all his life.

In a breathtaking rollercoaster race against time, Cole fears for the community in which she was raised, and Puller knows he has to overcome the enemies of his country to avoid far reaching disaster.

But in the end, you can’t kill what you can’t see is coming . . .

Added to my wish list…..