Hi all!

Today I am very pleased to welcome Joanne Baird to my blog 🙂

Joanne very kindly agreed to answer 20 random questions from you lovely people. (A big thanks to all who sent a question!)

About Joanne…..

I am a married mum of two teenagers and live in Portobello, which is by the sea in Edinburgh. I’m a book lover (obviously!) and a keen cook and baker (I love the Bake Off!). I love that I live in a city but can see the sea from my window and can be in the countryside in about ten minutes. You can find me wittering on about books on Twitter @portybelle, on my blog portobellobookblog.com and on my Facebook blogpage https://www.facebook.com/portobellobookblog/

• What started your love for reading?

I can’t remember not reading. I used to go to the library with my dad every week when I was little and couldn’t get enough of books. I remember being very excited when I was old enough to get a ticket for the main part of the library, not just the children’s section, and had access to a whole new range of books.

• What books did you read as a teenager?

As I was moving from children’s fiction to more ‘grown-up’ choices, I remember absolutely loving the Virginia Andrews Flowers in the Attic series. I always think I must go back to re-read and see if I would still enjoy them. I had a bit of a phase of reading horror books, which I never read now, and read a lot of Stephen King and James Herbert. I also read lots of the Sweet Dreams series of books which were romances for teenagers.

• How does living where you do affect your reading choices?

I’m not sure it affects it too much except that I do love reading books set in Edinburgh. I suppose like most people, I find it adds an extra depth when I know exactly where the action is taking place. I do also enjoy books where the sea is strongly featured.

• What is the one classic book you haven’t read yet, but wish you had?

I haven’t read much Dickens and feel I should but I am going to choose Persuasion by Jane Austen. I would describe myself as a huge Austen fan but haven’t read this one.

• Sue Shepherd would like to know what food you are going to make for her when she comes to admire your sea view?

Is she coming for a three course meal? We’d start with scallops and chorizo with some salad, then we’d have fillet steak in a red wine jus, with asparagus and dauphinoise potatoes. And for dessert I’d probably make a raspberry and chocolate cheesecake. I hope she’s not vegetarian! (WOW, can I come too?)

• What sort of book would you write yourself (or maybe already going to write)?

People often ask if I would write a book since I read so much but being honest, I have no ideas! I’d be worried that I’d be influenced by the many books I’ve read. If I did come up with an idea I expect it would be some kind of contemporary fiction. Or I might write about something inspired by my family history research. There are so many interesting stories in my family, as there are in every family, that I’m sure I could find a story somewhere. One which particularly fascinates me is a great great great great grandmother who committed suicide in 1859 on the same day one of her daughters gave birth to an illegitimate child. It would love to have known the circumstances and if there was a connection between them.

• What’s your favourite TV programme?

I can’t choose only one, although actually I don’t watch much tv! Programmes I’ve enjoyed recently are The Great British Bake Off, Strictly Come Dancing, QI, House of Cards, Fargo and Poldark.

• What makes you choose a book? Cover? Blurb? Author? And tell us a little more about why?

It can be a bit of all these things really but the main thing is definitely the blurb. A cover can be deceiving both ways. It could look great but be disappointing or it could look a bit dull but be a fantastic story. Although I would of course look at books by authors I’ve read before, I’ve read some amazing debut novels too. So it’s definitely the blurb for me.

• What’s your favourite foodie book (fiction or non-fiction)?

I’ll give you one of each. My favourite non-fiction foodie book is The Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson. I have all her books but this is my favourite and very well used. My two favourite recipes from it never fail and are always complimented: lemon drizzle cake and banana bread.

My favourite fiction foodie book is probably The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella. It’s about a young British military officer in Italy who is supposed to be discouraging the allied soldiers from marrying local girls. The local girls have other ideas though and one of them becomes his cook. Love blossoms between them and there is a lot of passion! The food descriptions are mouthwatering and so sensual as well.

• How do you relax in your spare time (if you have any)?

I read of course! On holiday I love going for walks through forests and by streams.

• What’s the best thing about being a Scottish blogger (or do you feel more like a blogger of the world)?

The best thing has been connecting with lots of Scottish authors who I probably wouldn’t have come across if I hadn’t started my blog. Lots of meet-ups or book events take place in London, Leeds or Birmingham which are really too far for me to get to easily. Even though I can get there by train, unless I buy tickets way in advance it’s really expensive. And it would take a long time to get there which means making arrangements for childcare too. So I set up a Facebook group for authors and bloggers who might be able to get to Edinburgh occasionally and we have met a couple of times now. It has been lovely to make these connections and I’ve now read and reviewed quite a few of the author members’ books. Sao I feel I’ve been able to spread the word a bit about their work too.

• How do you feel about Nicola Sturgeon?

Ah, diplomatic answer required! I tend to steer clear of politics on social media. I agree with a lot of the policies the Scottish Government have but not all of them. She is very popular in Scotland and I think she is a very talented politician.

• What’s it like living in such a popular setting for books?

This is quite hard to answer because I’ve always lived in Edinburgh and know it’s a wonderful place! So it seems quite natural that authors set their books here. As I mentioned above, I do enjoy reading books set here. One of the Rebus books had him investigating a murder in Portobello and I think I worked out that it was probably in a house just round the corner from me! Portobello itself features in quite a few books such as Alison Baillie’s Sewing the Shadows Together and Doug Johnstone’s Gone Again.

• What keeps you awake at night?

Nothing. I’m one of these people who has no problem dropping off at night. In fact, and especially at this time of year when it’s dark in the morning, I have more problems waking up!

• Can you sell me your favourite book in six words?

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks – emotional, sensual, powerful, hard-hitting, romantic, unforgettable.

• If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be and what would you be doing?

I would be in Perthshire admiring the beautiful Autumn colours and going for a walk either at the Hermitage near Dunkeld or Killiekrankie. Then if I could stay at the Crieff Hydro with a swim in their gorgeous pool and have a massage, that would be a perfect way to round off the day.

• Which five books would you take with you on a desert island and why?

Birdsong – as mentioned above, it’s my favourite book ever. It’s a beautiful, passionate love story but at the same time a powerful look at the futility of war.

Is there a Complete Works of Dickens? – I could take that as I would no doubt have time to finally read some. I suspect it would need to be on Kindle as it would be massive otherwise. Now all I need is for someone to invent a solar-powered Kindle….

Sense & Sensibility – it’s my favourite Jane Austen book and I’ve re-read it loads of times.

Gone With the Wind – I’ve always loved the story of feisty Scarlett and her disastrous love-life. I saw the film first and was surprised when I read the book to find how many differences there were. For example, she had children with all her husbands not just Rhett. An early lesson in how book and film versions often differ.

How to Thrive on a Tropical Deserted Island by Mike Riley – well, I’ve got to be practical!

• Cheese or chocolate?

Always chocolate!

• Which character in any novel would you like to be?

I have this as the final question in my set of author or blogger spotlight questions and have enjoyed reading everyone’s answers. When I answered the questions myself, I chose Elinor from Sense & Sensibility and I think I’d stick with her. It takes a while and a lot of heartache but her kindness and sensitivity wins out in the end and she gets her happy ending. I would like to be her in the Emma Thompson film version, though, so I can admire all the lovely men in that cast!

• If you had 5 minutes with Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton, what would you like to say to them?

I’m answering this after the rather surprise result that America has elected Donald Trump! I rather fear that this would be a waste of time but I would urge him to please do something about gun control in his country. Far too often we hear about tragedies in the news due to what seems to be very lax gun ownership laws. Given all the racist and sexist things he has said during the campaign, I’d also probably want to try to convince him how wrong he is!

 Thank you so much for joining in with my #AskMeAnything feature, Joanne 🙂

*If you’d like join in, please feel free to email me – bellaboobos11@outlook.com*

Publisher: Bookouture (11th November 2016)

OH MY DAYS!!!

I finished Love You To Death late last night and I think I pretty much held my breath through those last few chapters!!

Definitely not for the faint-hearted, this is probably one of the most disturbing and creepy books I’ve ever read. I LOVED it! Caroline Mitchell, if you’re reading this, you are an incredible storyteller!

Love You To Death is the first in a new series and introduces us to Detective Ruby Preston. I warmed to Ruby straight away. She has an important and demanding job which she loves and does well. However, she’s only human and a very believable one. She has her flaws, secrets and weaknesses, one of which is Nathan. Nathan had a difficult upbringing and is part of a known criminal family, which is not ideal for Ruby, given her job, but I could totally see why she loves him and always feels safe when he’s around, although she tries her best not to need him. Their relationship is far from straight forward! Nathan was one of my favourite characters.

Ruby and her team find themselves investigating a series of murders. They soon realise the women being targeted are those who have given up babies for adoption, many years previously. When the third victim disappears, along with her little girl, the investigation picks up some serious speed as they race to find them both alive. Could the killer really be a child given up for adoption, twenty years previously, seeking revenge? Is Ruby’s past catching up with her? They are certainly dealing with a seriously disturbed individual! The scenes with the killer and the victims made my flesh crawl and I think the scariest thing is that it’s not at all far fetched!

Will they find Mum and daughter before it’s too late and succeed in putting this sick individual behind bars? You’ll just have to read it for yourself to find out!

Love You To Death is very cleverly written. There are twists and turns a plenty and it’s packed full of action and suspense. I was totally and utterly gripped! And that ending!!! Just brilliant! I can’t recommend this book highly enough and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Ruby!

Many thanks to the author and to Bookouture for my auto-approval status on Netgalley.

 Love You To Death will be published on 11th November 2016 and you can order your copy HERE

Get clicking! You won’t be disappointed!

Description:

Twenty years ago you were forced to give your daughter up. Now she’s back. Or is she?

Women who’ve had to give up children for adoption are being killed. A knock at their front door begins a nightmare from which they will never wake up.

East London Detective Ruby Preston and her team must hunt down a disturbed individual before someone else is taken. But when bodies start turning up, staged in perfect, domestic scenes, it carries the echo of a memory in Ruby’s mind. The tinkling of a music box. A mother and child reunion…

Then just as Ruby thinks they’ve made a breakthrough, she receives a sinister email, and the case takes a terrifying personal twist.

Can Ruby catch the killer before they strike again? Or will her troubled past catch up with her first?

What everyone’s saying about Love You to Death:

‘I was completely HOOKED! … Amazing five stars from me.’ Feminisia Libros Reviews

‘Oh my God……. this book blew me away!! Absolutely loved this, and here’s to many more Ruby Preston books!!! … kept me hooked right till the last page :)))’ 5* The Book Guzzler

‘Oh my friggin God! This book….thisssss booooook! Eeeeeek! I mean…come on! … Su-bloody-perb! …a quadruple #HellYeah recommendation from me! Tantalisingly terrifying, twisted, and dark … a definite #TopRead of 2016!’ 5* Crime Book Junkie

‘I couldn’t put it down … kept me awake half the night … The hairs stood up on the back of my neck.’ Mrs Bloggs Books

‘Just superb!! I can tell you, you will NOT know the ending until you get there!! It’s a shocker! … I was through this book in 3 days! I just gobbled it up.’ 5* Next Book Review

‘This crime thriller is beyond perfection, disturbingly amazing and impossible to put down! Looking forward to more of the author’s works. I already love her. Just…perfect.’ 5* Goodreads Reviewer

‘I loved this book, it twisted and turned me until I was as tightly wound as a corkscrew! A chilling tale that will have you terrified to answer a knock at your door. I mean seriously don’t read this book in the dark on your own! … I literally could not put this book down.’ 5* Chapter In My Life

‘OMG what a corker of a book … I absolutely love Ruby. What a fantastic character … I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough … Loved it, loved it, loved it.’ 5* By The Letter Book Reviews

‘The ending was…whoa … a twist I DID NOT SEE COMING!’ Goodreads Reviewer

Love You to Death is a serial killer thriller packed with twists. If you like Karin Slaughter, Angela Marsons and Val MacDermid, discover Caroline Mitchell’s new series today – at a special launch price.

About the author:

A former police detective, Caroline has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences. Originally from Ireland, Caroline lives with her family in a pretty village on the coast of Essex. She now writes full time.
Published by Bookouture, her DC Knight crime thriller series reached the number one position in the Amazon crime charts. Love You To Death, the first in her new series featuring DS Ruby Preston is due for publication 11th November 2016.

Her new psychological thriller, Witness, is published with Thomas & Mercer and due for publication 20th December 2016.

Sign up to join her Reader’s club for access to news, updates and exclusive competitions and giveaways. http://eepurl.com/IxsTj

My review of Caroline Mitchell’s true story, Paranormal Intruder – Caroline Mitchell – Paranormal Intruder: The true story of a family in fear

I am very pleased to welcome Karen King to my blog today! Karen very kindly agreed to an interview and has also provided an extract from The Millionaire Plan for you all to enjoy.

For those who don’t know you, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your book, please?

I started my writing career with the teenage magazine, Jackie and spent many years writing for various children’s magazines such as Thomas the Tank Engine and Winnie the Pooh before concentrating solely on writing children’s books.

I turned my hand to writing romance about ten years ago. I’ve had several short stories published in women’s magazines and The Millionaire Plan was my second published romance novel. It was published under the pen-name Kay Harborne by a US publisher, Astraea Press, and was nominated for the RONE Award. After attending my first RNA conference in 2014 I wrote my chick-lit, ‘I do?…or do I?’ which was published by Accent Press. They contracted me to write two more chick-lit novels and republished my two backlist romances, The Millionaire Plan and Never Say Forever, this time in my own name, Karen King.

Where did you get the inspiration for The Millionaire Plan?

I read about a website called SugarDaddy.com for women who wanted to marry a rich man and that gave me an idea for a heroine who hatched a plan to marry a millionaire. I wanted her to be likeable and to have a good reason for wanting to marry a millionaire so I decided it would be to save her parents having to sell the Tudor house that had been in their family for generations. Amber, my heroine, feels that it’s her fault her parents are in a financial mess because her ex-fiancé persuaded her dad to invest his life savings in dodgy shares. I had fun devising Amber’s ten point plan to hook a millionaire.

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

Some of my children’s books have been inspired by things my own children have done. They’re grown up now and are still an inspiration … 

How do you pick your character’s names?

Sometimes the character pops into my head complete with their name, as Amber did. Or I see or hear a name I really like so note it down for future reference. Other times I Google babies’ names websites, look in the magazines or the newspaper. It might take me a while to find the name I want, and sometimes I’ve been known to change a character’s name half-way through the story because I’ve thought of another name that suits them better.

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

For me characters make stories so I usually start with the characters. I think about them for a while, fleshing them out a bit in my mind, then I fill in a character profile for them. I note down as much information as I can, what they look like, favourite colours, foods, places, their family and friends, what bugs them, etc, etc. Then I start to think about the plot. I write a short outline so I have a base to work with then start writing straight onto the computer.

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

Sharon Shinn, the author of the Samaria series. I’d ask her how she managed to dream up such a captivating and unique world with such credible, mesmerising characters.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes. I was lucky enough to live around the corner from the library and would take out four books a day in the school holidays. My favourite at the time were the Just William books which used to make me laugh out loud. And Enid Blyton, of course.

When did you first start to write?

I’ve written stories and poems for a long as I can remember. I had my first poem published – in the children’s corner of the local paper – when I was eleven. However, it was some years later, when I was married with four children, before I started writing for a living.

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

I’d change the ending to Gone with The Wind so that Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler stay together.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on three books. First, and the most urgent one, is my third chick-lit for Accent Press which has to be finished by the end of January, second is a YA and third is a psychological drama. I also have several ideas for short stories I want to write up.

Do you have a new release date?

My second chick-lit for Accent Press will be released in the Spring. They are also republishing my YA Perfect Summer which will be released around Spring time.

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Here are my social media links.

Website: http://www.karenking.net/

Twitter: @karen_king

Karen King Romance Author Facebook Page

Karen King Children’s Books Facebook Page

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkingauthor/?hl=en

Thanks so much for interviewing me, Kerry.

Many thanks for answering my questions, Karen. It has been a pleasure! 🙂

Publisher: Accent Press (8th July 2016)

Amber Wynters is on a mission to find a millionaire to marry – and fast. Her parents are nearly bankrupt and being forced to sell their family home, a beautiful Tudor house that has been in the family for generations, thanks to Amber’s ex-fiance persuading them to invest in his dodgy shares. Armed with a self-help book and a ten-point plan, she sets off to hook herself a rich husband. On a millionaire’s yacht, she meets the drop-dead gorgeous Jed Curtess. The attraction between them is sizzling. It’s a shame that he is only a hired hand. Can Amber ignore her heart and follow her plan?

*EXTRACT*

Chapter One

Rule number 1: Make sure you’re seen at the right places

Great. Here she was, dressed to kill and without a clue what to do, Amber thought, tugging self-consciously at the hem of her dress. Everyone else was walking around in groups, or at least in pairs, chatting and laughing together and making her wish that she’d taken up Callie’s offer to go sailing with her and Simon instead of wandering around Coombe Bay Marina alone. Honestly, dressed in this skin-tight, short white designer dress, high heels, and the pile of make-up Callie had insisted she wore, she might as well have the words ‘gold-digger’ written on her forehead.

Well, that’s what she was, wasn’t it?

Not for the first time she wondered how she’d let Callie talk her into coming here to try and hook a millionaire. It was mad. Insane. Immoral.

And her only option if she didn’t want her parents to lose their home as well as their business.

Spotting a café overlooking the marina, she bought herself a latté and was making her way over to one of the tables when a white yacht caught her eye. It wasn’t huge or brash, like some of the yachts in the marina, but it was definitely classy. The sort that a millionaire would have for his own use, to sail around in rather than show off and entertain his friends. As she peered over at it, trying to read the name painted on the side, she collided into something hard. Her coffee cup went flying off the saucer, emptying its contents over a pair of cut-off denim shorts that were hugging lean, definitely male, hips.

‘Whoa!’ Strong, suntanned arms held her steady. ‘You want to try looking where you’re going,’ an incredibly sexy voice drawled in an unmistakeably American accent.

‘Sorry.’ She looked up into a pair of twinkling tawny eyes that laughed at her from a ruggedly handsome face, topped by thick, light brown hair with sun-kissed highlights. Phwoarr! was her immediate reaction, but she quickly pulled herself together. She’d just spilt coffee over this guy, for goodness sake, the least she could do was apologise instead of drooling over him like a lunatic.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she apologised again. ‘I was looking at that yacht over there. It’s fantastic, isn’t it? I’ve never seen one like that before.’ Not the thing to say, Amber, she scolded herself. You’re supposed to be acting smart and sophisticated as if you come to these sort of events all the time, not twittering away like an idiot and letting the first person you bump into know that you’ve never seen anything bigger than a dinghy before. Then she remembered that she had quite literally ‘bumped’ into this man and drowned him in coffee in the process.

‘Gosh, I’m so sorry,’ she said, fully aware that this was the third time she’d apologised but unable to stop herself gabbling. She looked down at his wet denim cut-offs, trying not to let her gaze linger on the sun-tanned legs below them, then shifted her eyes hurriedly back to his face. ‘Er, I’ll go and get a cloth so you can clean up.’

‘No need. I’m working on that yacht you were admiring so I haven’t got far to go and get changed,’ he replied. ‘Perhaps you’d like to join me and clean yourself up too? You don’t want to leave that to stain. It’ll ruin your dress.’

What? She glanced down in confusion and saw that coffee was splattered all over the bottom of her – or rather, Callie’s – dress and running down her legs. How could she have not noticed? Because I was too busy gawping at him, that’s why.

She hesitated. He had said he was working on the yacht, which meant he didn’t own it – more’s the pity. So his boss could well be on board. And whilst the ‘How to Hook a Millionaire’ book Callie had brought and insisted she read from cover to cover had declared she should ‘seize any opportunity to mix with the seriously rich’ – and let’s face it, anyone who owned that yacht was seriously rich – meeting them with a coffee-stained dress and legs was not a good idea. ‘Always be perfectly made up and elegantly dressed’ was another rule.

‘Is your boss on board?’ she asked.

‘No, only me.’ He was looking at her intently. ‘Perhaps I should introduce myself, I’m sure your mother drilled it into you to never go off with strangers.’ He held out his hand. ‘Jed Curtess.’

She took his hand. It was strong and warm and his touch sent tingles running up her arm. ‘Amber Wynters,’ she told him.

‘Now we’ve been introduced, Amber Wynters, would you like to come on board and get cleaned up?’ he asked, a playful smile hovering on his lips.

She most definitely would but should she? She didn’t even know this man, although she had to admit that she definitely found him appealing. Should she risk going onto the yacht with him? He might not be as harmless as he seemed. She saw the teasing twinkle in his gorgeous tawny eyes and her heart flipped. Cancel harmless. This guy was a danger to her blood pressure if nothing else.

‘I promise I won’t try to seduce you,’ he said solemnly. ‘Unless you beg me to, of course.’ His eyes danced with humour and she thought there was probably a queue of women who would love him to do just that.

Oooo, make sure you click HERE to buy a copy!

Enjoy!

I am over the moon to be a part of Mel Sherratt’s The Girls Next Door blog tour! I absolutely LOVED this book!! I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Now, I have the pleasure of sharing part 4 of a wonderful extract. If you haven’t read parts 1-3 as yet then please make sure you do before reading this one. (The links will open in a new browser)

Here’s the right order:

Part 1 @ The Book Review Cafe

Part 2 @ Bibliophile Book Club

Part 3 @ The Suspense Is Thrilling Me

THE FIGHT (Part 4) – APRIL 2015

The enormity of what had happened began to dawn on Nathan, and he gripped the collar of Katie’s jacket. He pushed his face close to hers.

‘If you say anything, you’re dead, do you hear me? I’ll come after you and then I’ll come after your family.’ He let go and began to run.

‘She needs an ambulance!’ Katie yelled. But Tom and Craig followed Nathan’s lead and ran too.

Left with Deanna in her arms, all Katie could do was cry.

Please don’t let her die.

Deanna gasped, blood pouring from her mouth.

‘Try not to speak,’ Katie whispered, as she retrieved her phone from her jacket pocket. ‘The ambulance will be here soon. They’ll sort you out and get you better again.’

Please don’t let her die.

‘Ambulance please,’ Katie sobbed. ‘My friend has been stabbed.’ As she told the operator where they were, she gasped as Deanna’s eyes glazed over. She felt her body go limp in her arms. ‘No, Deanna, please! Deanna!’ She hugged her close, tears dripping into her hair.

It felt like hours but it was a matter of minutes before she heard the siren of the emergency services.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she repeated, looking down at Deanna. ‘I have to go too. I can’t stay here or else I’ll be in trouble.’

As two paramedics came into view at the top of the hill, she waved to alert them. They rushed down the bank towards her.

Katie gently laid Deanna’s head down on the grass. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she repeated. Then she too stood up and ran.

Publisher: Bookouture (27th October 2016)

One warm spring evening, five teenagers meet in a local park. Only four will come out alive.
Six months after the stabbing of fifteen-year-old Deanna Miller, someone is coming after the teenagers of Stockleigh, as a spate of vicious assaults rocks this small community. Revenge for Deanna? Or something more?

Detective Eden Berrisford is locked into a race against time to catch the twisted individual behind the attacks – but when her own niece, Jess Mount, goes missing, the case gets personal.

With the kidnapper threatening Jess’ life, can Eden bring back her niece to safety? Or will the people of Stockleigh be forced to mourn another daughter…?

A terrifying, compelling police procedural which will thrill fans of Angela Marsons, The Teacher, and Rachel Abbott.

Buy your copy HERE

*My review*

Wow, this is one to get your heart racing!

First of all, anyone who knows me well enough will know that I am a HUGE fan of Mel Sherratt and I’m proud to call her my friend. She is a lovely lady and the most fabulous writer. This in no way influences my reviews of her work though. I would be honest if I didn’t totally love one of her books, but anyone who has read Mel’s books before will know that this is unlikely to ever be an issue! I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all of Mel’s books and The Girls Next Door is right up there with them all. In fact, I think each book is slightly better than the last, if that is at all possible.

The Girls Next Door is due to be published by Bookouture on 27^th October, so you know it will be fab because Bookouture have some of the most fabulous authors on their books.

I feel like I can’t find the right words to properly do this book the justice it deserves, but I’ll do my best…..

Detective Eden Berrisford is a new character and one I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know. She’s a feisty character who is obviously very good at her job. Her colleagues have a lot of respect for her and she has strong family values which shine throughout this story. She has a good relationship with her teenager daughter and is very close to her sister, Laura, and her niece’s, Jess and Sarah.

Eden, her team and the residents of Stockleigh are shocked when local teenagers are subjected to horrific and demoralising attacks. Are they revenge attacks or is there more to it?

Local teenager, Deanna, was fatally stabbed 6 months before and her murder case is coming up soon. I felt so sorry for her mother. Losing a child is every parents worst nightmare, let alone in such horrific circumstances. I also felt for Katie, who had been caught up in the tragedy and was now facing possible charges for a crime she didn’t commit. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but they can’t send her down when she didn’t do it. Can they? I could feel her mothers pain, seeing her daughter locked up for a crime she didn’t commit, when she had only been trying to help Deanna. As a parent of teenagers, I worry every day about these sorts of scenarios. It must be terrifying to live it!

Even more terrifying to find your daughter has been kidnapped! I just don’t know what I would do. I’d be hysterical so, for me, Laura’s reaction is totally believable when Jess is taken and time starts ticking on. Eden’s too as she battles to keep her emotions in check, as much as possible, to have the best chance of finding Jess alive.

My heart was racing as the search for Jess picked up pace. Would Eden and her team find her before it was too late?

The Girls Next Door is described as “a gripping, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller” and as far as I’m concerned this is spot on! The first page draws you in and the short chapters, each one of which ends in a way that makes you NEED to read the next, makes it a fast-paced and engaging read.

Just brilliant!

As with all of Mel’s books these characters are very real and (mostly) very likeable and I’m sure a lot of readers will relate to them and their stories. I have enjoyed getting to know the new characters as well as catching up with old friends from previous visits to Stockleigh.

I have to say also that although the actions of the kidnapper are horrendous, his story is heart-breaking.

If you’ve never read any of Mel’s books before you honestly don’t know what you’re missing. Why not give this one a go? I can guarantee you will be buying her others afterwards!

Many thanks to Mel Sherratt and Bookouture for my ARC of this fabulous book via Netgalley. I am very grateful and I will be recommending it to everyone!

Proud as always to be part of #TeamSherratt 🙂

Review originally published on 13th October here – The Girls Next Door (Detective Eden Berrisford crime thriller series Book 1) by Mel Sherratt *Review* @writermels @bookouture 

Mel Sherratt – Bio

Mel Sherratt writes gritty crime dramas, psychological suspense and fiction with a punch – or grit-lit, as she calls it. Shortlisted for the CWA (Crime Writer’s Association) Dagger in the Library Award 2014, she finds inspiration from authors such as Martina Cole, Lynda la Plante and Elizabeth Haynes. Since 2012, all nine of her crime novels have been bestsellers. Four of her books are published by Amazon Publishing’s crime and thriller imprint, Thomas & Mercer and she has a new series out with Bookouture.

Mel lives in Stoke-on-Trent, with her husband and terrier, Dexter, named after the TV serial killer, and makes liberal use of her hometown as a backdrop for some of her books.

Make sure you catch up with and follow the rest of this fabulous blog tour…..

https://chapterinmylife.wordpress.com/

https://emmathelittlebookworm.wordpress.com/

https://lindasbookbag.com/

https://booksfromdusktilldawn.wordpress.com/

https://bytheletterbookreviews.com/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/

http://chellesbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/

https://bibliophilebookclub.com/

http://www.bestcrimebooksandmore.co.uk/

https://seansbookreviews.wordpress.com/

https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com/

https://thesuspenseisthrillingme.com/

(I can’t find a link for I Love Reading, sorry)

https://damppebbles.com/

https://mychestnutreadingtree.wordpress.com/

#TeamSherratt

#helpme

Enjoy!

Friday 4 November, 7.30pm

Travels With My Great Aunt Kate

Tickets: £3 (including refreshments)

City Central Library, Hanley. Tel: 01782 238455. Email: central.library@stoke.gov.uk

 

Katrice Horsley has been telling stories professionally for over 30 years. Her work has taken her to Festivals all over the world, from Singapore to Kenya, Gaza to Glasgow! She delights in fusing to gather traditional tales to enthuse her audience with a new passion for the old stories.

In Travels of My Great Aunt Kate, she links her Irish and Scottish heritage with her English and the result is a linked collection of tales that will have you laughing and crying in equal measure. She is well known for her lyrical and poetic style, often using slam poetry techniques and heightened language to alter the mind states of her audience. Come and be beguiled and bewitched, entranced and enchanted by the words and tales of the former National Storytelling Laureate.

 

Tuesday 6 December, 7pm

6X6 Reading Café – Winter

City Central Library, Hanley. Tel: 01782 238455. Email: central.library@stoke.gov.uk

Submissions are open for the next 6X6 Reading Café. The café will feature six-minute readings from six local writers.

If you’d like to be considered for the cafe, you have until 14 November to submit your story. More details are here:

https://6x6writingcafe.wordpress.com/2016/10/02/submissions-for-winter-6×6/

And don’t forget to read the writing guidelines – available here: https://6x6writingcafe.wordpress.com/writers-guidelines/ )

Anyone is welcome to attend the reading café, and hear the best writing from the local area. Contact City Central Library to book your free ticket.

This is a new tag, recently started by The Tattooed Book Geek. Thank you Drew for my tag 🙂

The Rules:

• Credit  Drew @ TheTattooedBookGeek as the creator of the tag, either use the created tag name graphic or create your own and link back to The Tattooed Book Geek Blog.
• Answer the questions.
• Tag as many people as you want.

No long list, simple really!

 1). What’s your favourite genre?

I enjoy all sorts of genres, but crime thrillers would have to be my favourite.

2). Who’s your favourite author from the genre?

Mel Sherratt

She is a awesome!

3). What is it about the genre that keeps pulling you back?

Gripping, fast paced storylines with brilliantly written characters.

4). What’s the book that started your love for your favourite genre?

Oh wow, I can’t remember that far back!!

5). If you had to recommend at least one book from your favourite genre to a non-reader/someone looking to start reading that genre, what book would you choose and why?

This is the first DS Allie Shenton book and the first of Mel’s Books I read (I have since read them all!)

6). Why do you read?

I read because I love all of the brilliant stories these fabulous authors keep coming up with and it would be rude not to read them! 😉

I tag:

Joanne @ https://mychestnutreadingtree.wordpress.com/

Kate @ https://bibliophilebookclub.com/

Sarah @ https://bytheletterbookreviews.com/

And anyone else who would like to take part!

Direct from the author/publisher…..

 (ebook from Stephanie Harte)

The tree-lined street in the affluent suburb of Chigwell, Essex was made up of extravagant mansions. Peppermint Park looked picture perfect on the outside, but behind closed doors, it was a different story. It concealed a life of torment, where family secrets were hidden from public view.
In the swinging sixties, Violet boards a plane bound for San Francisco with her boyfriend Bradley, to start a new life at Happy Acres, a hippie commune. Once they stepped inside the boundaries, they entered a different realm, one without clocks and calendars. Where naked yoga sessions and howling at the moon were compulsory activities, and people experimented with marijuana, magic mushrooms and moonshine as a daily pastime.
Violet and Bradley were having the most amazing time of their lives. They were living the dream. But was their amphetamine-fueled existence about to come crashing down around them? Surely you can never have too much of a good thing, can you?
Join Violet and Bradley on their journey as they take a leap of faith into unknown territory in search of a new beginning, set against the stunning backdrop of Northern California.

 (ebook from Rob Sinclair)

Murder. Money. Revenge.

Outwardly, Ben Stephens appears to be a normal, hardworking family man. In reality his life has been in turmoil since the murder of his wife, Alice, seven years ago. The killer was never caught. Now remarried – to the woman he was having an affair with while still married to Alice – Ben’s life is once again spiraling out of control, and he’s become heavily indebted to an unscrupulous criminal who is baying for Ben’s blood.

When Ben’s estranged twin sister, a police detective, unexpectedly returns to his life, asking too many questions for comfort, it becomes clear that without action, Ben’s life will soon reach a crisis point from which there will be no return. In order to avoid falling further into the mire, Ben must examine the past if he is to survive the present – but just how much pressure can one man take before he breaks?

 (ebook from Mark Carey)

“You were born to this path! This quest is your fate.” Imagine a raven appearing out of thin air and guiding you to an exquisitely carved icon that glows with ancient light and pulses with shamanic power. This is how the adventure begins for Nadia and Aidan Shaw, thirteen-year-old twins, who live in idyllic Cold Spring, New York, on the banks of the Hudson River. Armed with the power of the Ravenstone and their own special gifts, they embark on a harrowing quest across centuries, at the bidding of a mysterious old shaman. They must depend on their courage, their faith in their friends, and luck. Or is it destiny? If they succeed, what they bring back could change the course of human existence. ************************************** “Solomon and Carey’s imaginative storytelling sweeps you into a fascinating tale of mystery and adventure. Young twins Nadia and Aidan stumble upon an ancient power that could help their family in the future, or trap them in the past forever.” ~ Linda Zimmermann, successful author of 30 books about hauntings, the paranormal, and mysterious stone sites. ************************************** ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Diane Solomon has had a wonderfully diverse career path that has included her own variety show on BBC TV in England during the late seventies, and major tours with Glen Campbell and Kenny Rogers. She is also a published author with a successful book entitled, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a guide to the homeopathic treatment of CFS/M.E. Co-author, Mark Carey, is a retired biologist, naturalist, and voiceover artist. Diane and Mark live in southern New Hampshire on 55 acres of woods and streams, where they write, create gardens, and watch wildlife.

 (ebook from Sue Shepherd)

Love Them and Leave Them: Sometimes you have to leave the one you love … sometimes you’re the one who’s left behind. The new heartwarming and heartbreaking romantic comedy from the No.1 bestselling author of Doesn’t Everyone Have a Secret?

On his way home, Ed makes a split-second decision that changes the lives of all those who love him.

Six years on, Ed’s daughter, Jessie, is stuck in a job with no prospects, her dreams never fulfilled. It will take more than her unreliable boyfriend, Chris, and temperamental best friend, Coco, to give her the confidence to get her life back on track.

But what if Ed had made another decision? It could all have been so different …

Six years on, Ed’s daughter, Jessica, has a successful career, loving boyfriend, Nick, and a keen eye on her dream home. But when new clients, a temperamental Coco, and her unreliable boyfriend, Chris, walk into her life, Jessica’s perfect world soon starts to unravel.

Love Them and Leave Them is a story of love, families, friendship and a world of possibilities. Whichever decision Ed makes, the same people are destined to come into his daughter’s life, sometimes in delightfully different ways. And before they can look forward to the future, they will all have to deal with the mistakes of the past.

 (ebook from H N Wake)

A mission. A conspiracy. Two veteran agents face-off in a daring cat-and-mouse game that could change the nation.

Gritty, gutsy Mac Ambrose is a twenty-year veteran of the CIA with a penchant for risk-taking and a strong moral conscience. She is recruited by her closest friends to run a dangerous domestic operation: bring down the powerful gun lobby so the Senate can pass new legislation. In four weeks.

From Washington’s corridors of power, to Kentucky’s rolling hills and New Orleans’s wealthy suburbs, Mac baits the snares for a corrupt lawmaker, an unscrupulous lobbyist, and a crooked gun manufacturer. From a safe house in Philadelphia, she begins to rebuild the life–and to reconnoiter the love–forsaken years ago in the name of national security.

But Cal Bertrand, the dogged ATF agent with a checkered past and a lot to prove, is hot on her trail. Will he uncover Mac and the conspiracy before the traps go off?

Corruption, sabotage, and intrigue combine into one gratifyingly taut and intricate novel that could only have been written by an insider.

 (ebook from Kenneth Eade)

Meet terrorism’s worst enemy in BookLife Award’s 2016 Quarter Finalist

From the best-selling & award winning author critics hail as “one of the strongest thriller writers on our scene” comes an unforgettable story of an unlikely “anti-hero.” Robert Garcia was an unremarkable man, tapped out of a promising military career to become a death squad assassin for the CIA. Retirement was not in the cards for Robert, so he disappeared instead. After he comes out of the cold to answer the call to aid a fellow soldier facing a bum rap, he is thrust back into the spotlight when he is in the wrong place at the wrong time and kills a terrorist, thereby saving dozens of lives. He finds gainful employment in the slaughter of jihadists, which sparks an urban legend that Robert, a dangerous and unfeeling assassin, is a living paladin, whose mission is to rid the earth of evil for the betterment of mankind. Social media gives him the name: “Paladine” and God help whoever gets between him and his next target.

 (ebook from Endeavor Press via initial contact from Vena Cork)

Single, childless and reduced to writing celebrity profiles, investigative journalist Suzannah Quinn’s life is not going to plan…

Then, during an interview with top publisher Roland Winterbourne, she meets Jamie Davis.

It’s love at first sight and within hours she has agreed to marry him.

But Jamie insists on inviting no friends or family to the wedding and Suzannah’s millionaire father quickly suspects him of being a fortune hunter.

At first the couple are blissfully happy.

Suzannah’s only worry is Jamie’s mysterious past, which he refuses to talk about.

However, when Suzannah suddenly inherits a flat off Portobello Road, everything changes.

Whilst she is eager to reconnect with her happy childhood roaming the market before her father made his money, Jamie loathes Notting Hill.

The move quickly triggers a change in their relationships and it’s not long before the arguments start.

Then one morning, after a particularly bad row, Jamie goes to work and doesn’t return.

Suzannah thinks he’s sulking, but when he still hasn’t returned after several days, she fears something’s happened to him.

His colleagues are unconcerned because his job as a sales rep often takes him off the radar, but Suzannah becomes increasingly frantic.

When she finds a scrap of paper in his jacket pocket with a name and address in North Devon, she is eager to investigate.

What she discovers when she goes there brings her world crashing down.

After a visit from a mysterious woman, who brings even more life-changing revelations, she realises that in order to move on she must find her missing husband and discover the truth about him once and for all.

If Jamie is not what he claims to be then neither is her beloved Notting Hill, beneath whose perfection beats a dark and rotting heart that is finally exposed over a horrific Carnival weekend.

 (ebook from Endeavor Press via initial contact from Vena Cork)

When you come home to one life but find yourself in another…

When Persey Delaney returns to Britain after working abroad, everything has changed.

Her mother is newly-divorced and her younger sister Meg is still struggling to recover her confidence after a horrific accident.

Together, they have moved from their long-envied, prime address in Mayfair to a seedy block of flats in Willesden.

Soon Persey lives there, too.

And within weeks of Persey’s return home, strange goings-on begin to upset her already unsettling new life.

It seems that Yew Court has become a malevolent witness to secret lives.

The horror begins as the residents are subjected to a series of dreadful events, each getting more and more frightening as the days progress.

The local paper dubs Yew Court the unluckiest block of flats in London, but Persey fears that luck has nothing to do with it.

Dark forces are at work and there’s a race against time to prevent a catastrophe…

Toxic tells of how so many lives are woven by Fate into a tapestry of terror in this gripping thriller.

 (ebook from Roma Brooks)

Limited pre-order special 99c/99p
Christmas has come to Cape Harriet, and this year, it’s all about second chances! Christmas Morning is an emotionally gripping novel in the tradition of Clipper Beach and Wicked Summer.
James & Sandhya have found unexpected love, but their future will be decided by a tormented child. A newly married couple find their vows tested to the limit. A wounded vet finds himself in a Christmas nightmare.
Zadie’s dishing up special Christmas treats, and the town is decked up for the holidays. As the mercury dips, everyone eagerly awaits Christmas Morning.
Stoke up the fire, have a warm drink at hand, and snuggle up to enjoy this sweet contemporary romance, spiced up with a dash of intrigue.
*includes festive recipes from Zadie’s kitchen

Giveaway/competition wins…..

 (paperback)

Embrace a healthy attitude towards sudden outbursts of laughter; oh and maybe grab some tissues as you escape into the lives of three remarkable friends, as they each navigate their own catastrophic mess. Discover the strength of friendship while you submerge yourself in suspense, fury and humour. Let the drama unfold… Emma’s doing her best to raise the adorable Amy while hanging on to the ghost of her past. But is she really the crazy, deranged woman she eventually feels compelled to be? Beneath Siobhan’s picture perfect exterior, the struggle of deception is exhausting. However when life slaps her in the face with an unforeseen twist, will she be able to salvage any of her future, perfect or not? With mounting money problems and an unwanted visit from his expertly suppressed past, Jack must confront his inner demons for once and for all. Can he defeat them and emerge as the true person he really is?

From Netgalley…..

Pub Date 01 Dec 2016

Nancy is four, nearly five. She talks all the time: in the car, on the way to nursery, to her brother, to her collection of bears. And then one day everything changes. Nancy’s mum and dad split up, her father moves across the country, and Nancy stops talking.

Eva is forty-four, nearly forty-five. She always knew marrying a much older man meant compromises, but she was sure it was worth it – until Mickey dies suddenly, leaving Eva with only his diaries and a voice in the back of her mind telling her that perhaps she’s sacrificed more than she meant to.

While Nancy’s parents negotiate their separation, the question of weekend contact is solved when her father volunteers his sister Eva’s house. As spring turns to summer, a trust slowly begins to form between a little girl with a heartbreaking secret, and a woman who has realised too late that what she yearns for is the love of a child.

Pub Date 06 Dec 2016

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…

Pub Date 11 Nov 2016

‘I’m not your mother. You’re a monster. I don’t want you’

Women who gave a child up for adoption are being killed. A knock at their front door begins a nightmare from which they will never wake up.

For Detective Ruby Preston and her team, it is a race against time to connect the dots before the killer can strike again. But when Ruby receives a sinister email, the case takes a terrifying personal twist.

Could the clues to the identity of the killer lie in Ruby’s own past?

Who can she trust with her secrets?

And could Ruby be next?

Love You to Death is a serial killer thriller packed with twists.

Pub Date 20 Dec 2016

To Rebecca it was a brave decision that led to her freedom from domestic abuse. To Solomon it was the ultimate betrayal.

It’s been ten years since Rebecca’s testimony saw Solomon locked away. Enough time for the nightmares to recede, the nerves to relax; enough time to rebuild her life and put the past behind her.

Then one day a phone rings in her bedroom—but it’s not her phone. Solomon has been in her home, and has a very simple message for her: for each of the ten years he has spent in jail, Rebecca must witness a crime. And, to make matters worse, she has to choose the victims.

Fail to respond and you get hurt. Talk to police and you die. Ready to play? You have sixty seconds to decide…

As the crimes grow more severe, the victims closer to home, Rebecca is forced to confront a past she had hoped was gone forever.

Purchased/free downloads…..

 (Kindle first Prime member freebie)

Peace of mind is all Greg Cole has wanted since the murder of his twin sister, Scarlett.

In his new sun-soaked Florida life, he thought he had found it. But when Scarlett’s killer is released early from prison with a cast-iron alibi, Greg realizes that his past is about to explode into his present, with terrifying consequences.

To expose the truth he must open up old wounds. As a talk therapist, Greg knows all about dark secrets, but when a childhood friendship comes to the fore and the police turn their spotlight on him, the thought of analyzing his own psyche is a disturbing prospect. How far can he trust his own memories?

With his life coming apart at the seams, and his grip on reality beginning to unravel, Greg must face the ghosts of his past if he hopes to prove his innocence and live to see another day.

 (Free)

Has Georgia landed an obnoxious lodger for her London house, or the perfect companion?
A bite of fiction – a complete story to fill your break.

 (Free)

Will she survive her relatives’ demands to meet Massimo, the new man in her life? Food, chats and cigarettes at an Italian family’s festive table in Turin.
A bite of fiction – a complete story to fill your break.

 (Free)

Betty, an English woman in her fifties, struggles to keep up with her elderly parents’ needs while coping with her job, a workaholic husband, a teenage son and her snobbish brother. What now?
A bite of fiction – a complete story to fill your break.

 (Free)

Rakesh and Rossella: a London office affair. Questions answered with questions. Answers which might be too late.
A bite of fiction – a complete story to fill your break.

 (Free)

No matter how sophisticated her cooking, or what amazing ingredients go into her dinners, her middle-class, middle-aged, middle-England friends have other things on their minds.
A bite of fiction – a complete story to fill your break.

 (Free)

An intimate conversation in Palermo between a father and his adult daughter who is finally ready to hear about his first love.
A bite of fiction – a complete story to fill your break.

 (Free)

Marta Brooke has slipped discreetly in and out of many London kitchens. Mrs Rose seems just like all her other clients. But is she really?
A bite of fiction – a complete story to fill your break.

The genteel façade of London’s Hampstead is shattered by a series of terrifying murders, and the ensuing police hunt is threatened by internal politics, and a burgeoning love triangle within the investigative team. Pressurised by senior officers desperate for a result a new initiative is clearly needed, but what?

Intellectual analysis and police procedure vie with the gut instinct of ‘copper’s nose’, and help appears to offer itself from a very unlikely source – a famous fictional detective. A psychological profile of the murderer allows the police to narrow down their search, but will Scotland Yard lose patience with the team before they can crack the case?

Praised by fellow authors and readers alike, this is a truly original crime story, speaking to a contemporary audience yet harking back to the Golden Age of detective fiction. Intelligent, quirky and mannered, it has been described as ‘a love letter to the detective novel’. Above it all hovers Hampstead, a magical village evoking the elegance of an earlier time, and the spirit of mystery-solving detectives.

Guy Fraser-Sampson is an established writer best known for his series of ‘Mapp and Lucia’ novels which have been featured on BBC Radio 4 and optioned by BBC television. This is his debut work of detective fiction, and the first title in the Hampstead Murders series.

 (Free)

Murder from the Newsdesk
Seven Crampton of the Chronicle mystery stories
By Peter Bartram

Join Colin Crampton, ace crime reporter on the Evening Chronicle in 1960s Brighton, in seven more cozy crime mysteries.

The Mystery of the African Charity: Amateur sleuth Colin discovers greed – and a murder mystery – behind what looks like a good deed.

The Mystery of the Two Suitcases: Colin interrupts a romantic Valentine’s date with girlfriend Shirley Goldsmith to unravel a case where love will find a way.

The Mystery of the Single Red Sock: Colin’s act of heroism plunges him into the hunt for one of the most violent criminals he’s ever confronted.

The Mystery at the Beauregard Hotel: Colin investigates when two guests disappear unexpectedly in this humorous crime mystery.

The Mystery of the Precious Princess: Colin finds that it’s not only a dog’s life for the canines up at the Greyhound Racing stadium.

The Mystery of the Clothes on the Beach: in another cozy crime story, a local fisherman helps Colin land a surprising catch.

The Mystery of the Phantom Santa: Colin uncovers more than he bargained for when he goes in search of a front-page crime story with a Christmas theme.

This book of cozy mystery stories will keep you smiling to the very last page.

 (Pre-ordered)

Publisher: Bookouture (16 Nov. 2016)

You wake up to find the man beside you is dead.
He is not your husband. This is not your bed.
What do you do?

Tara Logan lives a quiet life with her husband, Noah, and two children, teenager Rosie and eleven-year-old Spencer.

But her peace is shattered when she wakes in her neighbour Lee’s bed, with no memory of how she got there or what happened between them.
And worse – he has been stabbed to death.

Convinced she didn’t kill Lee, Tara stays silent, fearing the truth will rip her family apart.

But as her daughter spirals out of control, and her husband becomes increasingly distant, Tara soon realises that someone in her life knows what really happened to Lee. She must get to the truth before they do.

Tara made a mistake … but will one night cost her everything?

A gripping, shocking psychological thriller, with a twist that will take you by surprise.

The West Pennine moors, endless miles of unspoilt, windswept beauty. A haven for the weekend walker, and nature lover. A playground, for those with disposable income.
Though when the mutilated remains of a fourteen-year-old boy are discovered, it becomes apparent someone is using the desolate landscape as a killing field.

When seventeen-year- old Jenna Fotheringay writes to author Patrick Fossey, she hardly imagines he will take an interest in her research. Unlike many of the girls in the nearby town, she is in no hurry to lose her virginity and gain a cocaine habit. Rather, she spends her days at the local library, searching old microfiche films, and devouring all she can about the Radfield family. Weekends are spent with her grandfather scouring the local countryside. Searching for clues, which will shed light on the powerful landowners who once owned great swathes of the countryside, including the farm, she now calls home.

When Fossey agrees to pay her a visit, Jenna is in some kind of heaven. Although when she takes Fossey to the old gamekeeper’s cottages, neither of them is prepared for the horror that lies within.

Ronnie Fotheringay is a farmer to the core, dark earth beneath his fingernails, money in the bank and bailer twine holding up his trousers. A man raised on the land who adores his only granddaughter. He sowed the seeds, which instilled in her a love of the past. Now in his twilight years he lives for the times they share, the long walks and imparting of knowledge which Jenna, absorbs with relish.

At first, he is delighted when Fossey takes an interest in her research. Yet as fear begins to grip the local community, Ronnie begins to wonder if it was a mistake, as the writer starts to delve into a history Ronnie would sooner lay buried.

Like the town, DS Lasser feels jaded, frayed around the edges, and losing interest in a job he no longer sees as relevant. Families live hand to mouth, fathers spending years on the dole, mothers eking out an existence, supplemented by the occasional win on the bingo, and their offspring running wild.
A town on the skids, no jobs no money, and no hope.
So, when Billy Jones fails to return home it is hardly earth shattering news. A family of thieves, and piss artists, the father and eldest son are doing time and young Billy is rapidly following suit.

As clues are unearthed that lead directly to the Radfield family, Lasser becomes convinced they have found their man.
Ashley Radfield, last of the local aristocracy, a man who has led a life of privilege and undeserved respect. Now along with his ageing father he lives in the rambling manor house. Paint peeling from the windows and weeds in the gutter, mothballed rooms, and a huge kitchen like the cutting room of an abattoir. For the Radfields the days of prosperity and huntsman’s balls are a distant memory.
However, when another body is revealed, Lasser’s convictions are thrown into turmoil. It is all too easy, the clues too convenient, someone is playing a vicious game, someone with a burning hatred for the Radfield family.
As the long hot summer ends and the nights grow longer, Lasser finds himself in a race against time as he tries to unravel the dark secrets that bind the two families. Secrets stretching back over four decades, blackmail and murder reaching out to ensnare the innocent as well as the guilty.

You don’t know him. But he knows you.

Soon he would be able to touch her, to feel the warmth of her blood. And when the time came, nothing would stop him.
As D.C. Jennifer Knight investigates a routine stabbing in the quiet town of Haven, she is shocked at what seems like a personal message from beyond the grave.

When more bodies are found, Jennifer is convinced the killings are somehow linked. What she discovers is more chilling than she could possibly imagine. The murders mirror those of the notorious Grim Reaper – from over twenty years ago. A killer her mother helped convict.

Jennifer can no longer ignore the personal connection. Is there a copycat killer at work? Was the wrong man convicted? Or is there something more sinister at play …

With her mother’s terrifying legacy spiralling out of control, Jennifer must look into her own dark past in a fight not only to stop a killer – but to save herself and those she loves.

A heart-stopping supernatural thriller to engross fans of Rachel Abbott, Paul Finch and James Oswald.

Discover the other books in the DC Jennifer Knight series:

1. DON’T TURN AROUND
2. TIME TO DIE
3. THE SILENT TWIN

 (pre-ordered)

Spring is in the air at Cliffs House, the charming Cornish estate that Julianne Morgen has come to think of as home. Her next big event is a personal favor to her employer: coordinating the perfect wedding for Lady Amanda’s friend and mentor, artist Constance Strong, whose late-in-life courtship is worthy of the storybooks themselves.

But as if helping Lady Amanda isn’t enough to occupy her mind, Julianne finds herself distracted by personal matters. Her long distance romance with Matthew Rose, the handsome and brilliant horticulturist has been on the rocks for weeks now – and when Matthew suddenly returns to Cornwall, he brings news with him that could change everything between them.

Can Julianne help Lady Amanda pull off the perfect surprise wedding for a case of true love? And no matter the odds they face, will Julianne and Matthew finally find their own happily ever after?

A gorgeous country house hotel, a liberal dusting of snow, a cosy weekend away…what more could Lizzie ask for at Christmas?

Every Christmas Lizzie promises herself that things will change and she will leap into the new year a new woman. And yet here she is again, at the beginning of December and nothing is different. Her girls have grown up and left home, her husband Henry is slumped in front of the TV and she is alone in the kitchen, seeking refuge in the cooking sherry and talking to her Gary Barlow calendar. She’s also been very diverted by handsome new neighbour Marcus and she knows she shouldn’t be …

So when best friend Ann suggests a weekend away in the country, Lizzie jumps at the chance. Will this Christmas escape give Lizzie some much needed perspective and allow her to mend her marriage? Or will Marcus prove to be too much of a distraction?

A funny feel good festive read about rediscovering the magic of Christmas – just the thing to curl up with on a cold winter’s night.

Detective Inspector Denis Hamilton is tasked with apprehending a brutal murderer stalking the streets of London – and leaving not a shred of DNA evidence. As the suspect list mounts, his frustration and pressure from his superiors intensify.

Grace Murphy, who is dealing with the recent loss of her beloved grandfather, falls deeper into despair when her friends’ bodies are discovered. Fearing she may be the killer’s next target, she begins to question if her horrifying nightmares are the key to unravelling the murderer’s identity.

How far would you go to uncover the truth? Would you venture into the shadows to unmask a killer?

Action, terror and a heroine with second sight! You’ll find all of that and more in White Witch. This novella opens Lyn Horner’s award-winning series, Texas Devlins.

Jessie Devlin is what her Irish ancestors might call a “white witch.” She has a disturbing ability to glimpse the future. When she foresees Chicago on fire, it’s a soul-searing experience. Far worse is the terrible night in 1871 when she and her family and thousands of Chicagoans run for their lives from the towering flames. Worst of all are the horrific nightmares Jessie suffers for months after the destruction.

However, when Jessie’s dreams suddenly begin showing her a strange man with gentle, loving eyes who saves her from a fiery death, she becomes convinced they are destined to meet and fall in love. But will her father give her time to find her dream hero or will he force her into marriage with the wrong man? How can she save herself from such a fate

Charlotte has one desire in life – she wants a daughter. But you can’t choose what you have… can you?

Desire soon turns to obsession as Charlotte embarks on a difficult and controversial journey to sway the odds to have a girl.

How far is she prepared to go, and at what cost?

Added to my wish list…..

                                                                                   

Publisher: Bloodhound Books (8th November 2016)

Wow, what an ending! I genuinely did not see that coming.

I have been a fan of Rob Sinclair since reading The Enemy series, so I was over the moon when Rob offered me an early copy of Dark Fragments!

Dark Fragments is completely different to The Enemy series, but equally gripping.

Ben Stephens seems like your average bloke. He is married to Gemma, with two children he adores, but I felt he was still grieving for his first wife, Alice, who had been murdered seven years previously. Her killer was never found.

We soon discover that he had, in fact, been having an affair with Gemma before Alice’s murder. Alice herself had been unfaithful too, so their relationship had been far from perfect. He had adored Alice though. He isn’t quite sure he’s ever felt the same about Gemma, but they are basically happy.

That is until Ben finds himself in debt to a dangerous criminal and his life starts to spiral out of control. His twin sister, Dani (a police detective), who he hasn’t been close to for years, is back on the scene asking questions he doesn’t want to answer and Ben soon becomes desperate to put his past behind him, once and for all.

I can’t say much more without giving too much away, but I was totally fascinated by Ben’s story and I almost felt sorry for him at times. Almost!

Brilliant writing from Rob Sinclair once again. Dark Fragments is fast paced and full of suspense with great characters, some more dodgy than others! Things do get quite violent at times, but this is to be expected considering the storyline. I was totally hooked and I’m sure any fan of a good psychological thriller would be. I highly recommend to all! I’m looking forward to whatever Rob writes next.

A big thank you to Rob Sinclair for my ARC.

Dark Fragments will be published on 8th November 2016. You can pre-order your copy HERE 

Get clicking!

Description:

Murder. Money. Revenge.

Outwardly, Ben Stephens appears to be a normal, hardworking family man. In reality his life has been in turmoil since the murder of his wife, Alice, seven years ago. The killer was never caught. Now remarried – to the woman he was having an affair with while still married to Alice – Ben’s life is once again spiraling out of control, and he’s become heavily indebted to an unscrupulous criminal who is baying for Ben’s blood.

When Ben’s estranged twin sister, a police detective, unexpectedly returns to his life, asking too many questions for comfort, it becomes clear that without action, Ben’s life will soon reach a crisis point from which there will be no return. In order to avoid falling further into the mire, Ben must examine the past if he is to survive the present – but just how much pressure can one man take before he breaks?

About the author:

Rob began writing in 2009 following a promise to his wife, an avid reader, that he could pen a ‘can’t put down’ thriller.

Rob’s first novel, Dance with the Enemy, was published in June 2014 and is the first in the Enemy Series following embattled intelligence agent Carl Logan. Rise of the Enemy, the second book in the series, was released in April 2015, with the third book, Hunt for the Enemy, being released in February 2016. The Enemy series has received widespread critical acclaim with many reviewers and readers having likened Rob’s work to authors at the very top of the genre, including Lee Child and Vince Flynn.

Rob worked for nearly 13 years for a global accounting firm after graduating from The University of Nottingham in 2002, specialising in forensic fraud investigations at both national and international levels. He now writes full time.

Originally from the North East of England, Rob has lived and worked in a number of fast paced cities, including New York, and is now settled in the West Midlands with his wife and young sons.

Rob’s website is http://www.robsinclairauthor.com and he can be followed on twitter at @rsinclairauthor

You will find all of Rob’s books on his Amazon author page, HERE

Enjoy!

Allow me to introduce author and book blogger, Christina Philippou.

Christina very kindly offered to answer 20 random questions from you lovely people (thanks to all who sent a question).

Here is her interview…..

1 – I’d like to know just how Christina created those awful characters in Lost in Static, especially the foul Yasmine please!

I thought about the stereotype characters in fiction – the self-obsessed one, the good-looking one, the nervous one, the clueless one… and then I made then raw and real, gave them some angst and stupidity, and took away their understanding. I did try to give each character at least one redeeming feature, but I seem to have failed in that with Yasmine!

2 – Having loved your debut, can you tell us what you are currently working on at present and when can we look forward to seeing it?

Aww thank you! I’m currently editing Novel 2 (I know, catchy title!), which is darker – a suspense novel about immigration and the worst sides of love. I again play with perspective, this time looking at similar events from the rose-tinted glasses of youth and then through the (older and wiser but nevertheless) deep scars of recession and displacement. My poor protagonist really goes through the wringer… And I will keep you posted on the when!

3 – Cake or biscuits?

Is saying ‘both’ cheating?

4 – You’re an energetic, unselfish promoter of other authors as well as of your own books. Have you found any particular promotional strategy to be a) more effective and/ or b) less time consuming than others?

Great question. Unfortunately, there’s no easy or time-saving strategy as far as I can tell. I share what I find interesting, I share reviews of books I’ve enjoyed on my blog, and I write about my journey. All of this takes time, and I really wish I had more of it!

5 – What was it like making the leap from blogger to author? Was being on the opposite side of the blog tour and being the author at events what you expected based on your blogging experience?

Terrifying! Reviews have, on the whole, been great, and I think the blogger in me was able to deal with the less favourable ones far better than I would have done otherwise. The beauty of books is that, like the events in Lost in Static, they can be viewed in so many different ways, and what works for you may not work for others. Being the centre of attention at the launch and having to sign books is a very strange feeling, especially when one is normally used to be on the other side!

6 – What is your favourite movie genre?

I do like my action movies. I’m also a sucker for terrible rom coms…

7 – What was your inspiration for becoming a book blogger?

I’ve always loved reading and, once I realised the importance of reviews, I ensured I reviewed everything I read. I then found myself wanting to shout about books I loved, so I started sharing my recommended reads on my blog.

8 – Cats or dogs?

Dogs, although I do like cats too.

9 – What is your favourite TV programme?

Match of the Day. My apologies to those who expected something inspirational here!

10 – Have you seen any singers/bands live in concert?

Too many to list. London is brilliant for that, and I used to love going to gigs before I had kids. Now I rarely find the time…

11 – Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Morning person – I’m a miserable sod in the evenings.

12 – What has been your favourite read, so far this year?

There’s a few: The Black Orchid by Celine Jeanjean (fantasy), The Little French Guesthouse by Helen Pollard (feel-good fiction), Caught Inside by Jamie Deacon (young adult romance), Deadly Harvest by Michael Stanley (crime), Euro 2016 by Lloyd Pettiford and Ronan Fitzsimons (non-fiction), and Clanless by Jennifer Jenkins (part dystopian action, part romantic fantasy).

13 – Do you ever re-read books?

I do – although, more often, I re-read particular passages that resonate with me. I normally keep a copy of my favourite reads on my kindle so that if I’m feeling overwhelmed, uninspired, or upset, I can be drawn back into my favourite novels.

14 – If you had to be stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it be?

Lionel Messi!

15 – If you were to write an autobiography what would your title be?

Hectic…

16 – Who would you most like to meet for coffee?

Gillian Flynn – I love her writing and I’d love to pick her brains, but I’d be scared to be stuck in a lift with her…

17 – What is your favourite sport?

Football – I love to play it, watch it, coach it…

18 – Do you have pets?

Sadly, no.

19 – What is your idea of a perfect holiday?

Sunshine, action (mind out of the gutter- I mean the healthy exercise kind… Wait, that’s not sounding any better. Aaaargh!), sea, and my family. Yes, all of them. Preferably with a few hours a day to read, but now I really am asking too much!

20 – What is your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?

Read, preferably in front of an open fire…

🙂

Many thanks to Christina for joining in with my #AskMeAnything feature.

Lost in Static

Sometimes growing up is seeing someone else’s side of the story.

Four stories. One truth. Whom do you believe? 

Callum has a family secret. Yasmine wants to know it. Juliette thinks nobody knows hers. All Ruby wants is to reinvent herself. 

They are brought together by circumstance, torn apart by misunderstanding. As new relationships are forged and confidences are broken, each person’s version of events is coloured by their background, beliefs and prejudices. And so the ingredients are in place for a year shaped by lust, betrayal, and violence… 

Lost in Static is the gripping debut from author Christina Philippou. Whom will you trust?

Links

Lost in Static is available from, amongst others, Amazon UK, Amazon US, and direct from the publisher, Urbane Publications.

Author Bio

Christina Philippou’s writing career has been a varied one, from populating the short-story notebook that lived under her desk at school to penning reports on corruption and terrorist finance. When not reading or writing, she can be found engaging in sport or undertaking some form of nature appreciation. Christina has three passports to go with her three children, but is not a spy. Lost in Static is her first novel.

Christina is also the founder of the contemporary fiction author initiative, Britfic.

You can connect with Christina on her website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google+.

If you haven’t already and would like to, you can read my review here – Lost In Static by Christina Philippou *Review* @CPhilippou123 @urbanebooks

If you would like to be featured on #AskMeAnything please feel free to email me – bellaboobos11@outlook.com