Dead of Winter ~ Lee Weeks ~ Book Review

 

TITLE - Dead of Winter

AUTHOR - Lee Weeks

BOOK SERIES - Willis/Carter book one

BUY LINK - Click here

SYNOPSIS - 

Victim, suspect, policeman. When the lines blur, who do you trust?
When two bodies surface in the garden of a rented house in North London, Forensics discover fingerprints which link back to an unsolved crime that no one in the Metropolitan Police wants to remember.

More than a decade ago, in an isolated holiday cottage in Sussex, a family was found brutally slaughtered. The prime suspect was Callum Carmichael, the father of the family and a police officer from the Met's own ranks. But without enough evidence to arrest him, the case was hushed up and the trail left to go cold.

Now, with fresh proof that the killer is still out there, rookie DC Ebony Willis is sent to find Callum Carmichael. But Carmichael is an unknown entity and, with every piece of information she tells him, she risks leading a dangerous man closer to his prey.

It's been some time since I read a Lee Weeks book, but I liked the blurb on this one so couldn't resist it. I don't know wny I hadn't picked up this authors books for some time as I really enjoyed The Trophy Taker, which was my first read by the Author, followed by Kiss and Die; The first and last books in the Detective Mann series. 

This again, was a gripping read. My heart broke for ex Policeman Callum Carmichael who's Wife and Daughter were brutally murdered. He was the main suspect and it destroyed his life. 

Dead of Winter is the first book in the series with DC Ebony Willis, who's the new DC. She's a smart cookie; enthusiastic, determined and people seem to really trust her, especially Callum Carmichael. 

This was Ebony's first big case. How was she going to handle it? Who could she call on to assist? Would she cope on her own? 

This was my kind of thriller. Gritty, engaging storyline and powerful characters. If you've never tried this author you really should. She knows how to keep her readers hooked. I look forward to reading the rest in the series. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born - Devon, The United Kingdom

Website
http://www.leeweeks.co.uk

Twitter
leeweeksauthor

Genre
Crime, Mystery, Thriller

I was born in Devon of Welsh parents. My father was a detective, my mother a nurse. I left school with just one O level in Art and by seventeen I was living in Sweden.

I loved reading Henry Miller whilst listening to Neil Young. I travelled in France and settled in Germany at twenty-one, where I worked in a bar. I came back to the UK to study for a year or two and then went to live in Hong Kong. There I fell into the hands of triads.

A detective once told me to go home and I really should have listened him, I would have saved myself a near-death experience, but then I would never have had the material for my books.

Years later, one marriage down and two children fledged, I am writing my stories. Some are based on my life, all carry a part of me and my experiences.

The Life We Almost Had - Debut novel from Amelia Henley ~ Publication Day! Book Review

 

TITLE - The Life We Almost Had

AUTHOR - Amelia Henley

BUY LINK - Click Here

SYNOPSIS -
This is not a typical love story, but it’s our love story.

Anna wasn’t looking for love when Adam swept her off her feet but there was no denying their connection, and she believed they would be together forever.

Years later, cracks have appeared in their relationship. Anna is questioning whether their love can really be eternal when a cruel twist of fate delivers a crushing blow, and Anna and Adam are completely lost to one another. Now, Anna needs Adam more than ever, but the way back to him has life-changing consequences.

Is a second chance at first love really worth the sacrifice? Anna needs to decide and time is running out…

A beautiful and emotional love story that asks, how far would you go for a second chance at first love? Perfect for fans of The Man Who Didn’t Call and Miss You.

‘A love story with a definite difference . . . intensely emotional’
Best

‘Beautifully written and plotted. Get ready for the final chapter – you have been warned’
Candis

‘Intriguing, unusual and intensely romantic’
Sunday Mirror

This is the debut novel from Amelia Henley It is a romance novel but with a real difference. 

I've been looking forward to this as the Author also writes under the name of Louise Jensen, but in the psychological thriller genre. How easy was it going to be to switch genres? I looked forward to finding out. I wasn't disappointed at all. 

This isn't your run of the mill "boy meets girl". It starts of with a wedding that never was, and a honeymoon that wasn't a honeymoon. Following me so far? 

This is the story of Anna, a character I took to from the start; vulnerable; caring and a good friend. Then introduce Adam; smart; good looking and also caring. The ideal man. 

This book has you going through all sets of emotions. The core of the book in an intriguing subject. One reviewer described it as far fetched, but is it? Who knows? Technology exists I'm sure. It's certainly a subject that I'm off to look at and I'm sure the Author thoroughly researched it to. Her passion in it shines through in her writing. 

It was a really enjoyable read and a good move for the Author into a different genre. I look forward to more Amelia Henley Novels. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Amelia Henley is a hopeless romantic who has a penchant for exploring the intricacies of relationships through writing heart-breaking, high-concept love stories.

Amelia also writes psychological thrillers under her real name, Louise Jensen. As Louise Jensen she has sold over a million copies of her global number one bestsellers. Her stories have been translated into twenty-five languages and optioned for TV as well as featuring on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestsellers list. Louise's books have been nominated for multiple awards.

'The Life We Almost Had' is the first story she's written as Amelia Henley and it's out now.

Catch up with Amelia on her Website; Facebook; Twitter

Blog Tour ~ Act of Betrayal by Matthew Dunn ~ @HarperCollins @HarperCollinsUK

Act of Betrayal

by Matthew Dunn

on Tour October 23 - November 30, 2017

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller

Published by: William Morrow

Publication Date: October 24th 2017

Number of Pages: 320

ISBN: 0062427229 (ISBN13: 9780062427229)

Series: Spycatcher #7

Purchase Links: Amazon UK  Amazon  | Barnes & Noble  | Goodreads 

Synopsis:

In this riveting entry in the celebrated thriller series, former intelligence operative Will Cochrane—a "ruthless yet noble" (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram) man from whom "Bond and Bourne could learn a thing or two" (Madison County Herald)—comes out of hiding to expose a conspiracy involving a past assassination that reaches to the highest echelons of the U.S. government.

Three years ago, intelligence officer Will Cochrane was brought in by a Delta Force colonel to assassinate a terrorist financier in Berlin. After the job, the commander vanished, and hasn’t been heard from since. The details don’t quite add up, and one of the CIA agents who was involved has been investigating the mission. He reaches out to Will for help, but before they can connect, the CIA man is poisoned.
Will is determined to uncover the truth about Berlin, even if it means putting himself in the crosshairs. Framed for multiple murders, the skilled former spy has gone deep underground to evade his enemies and the feds. But honor and loyalty to his old colleague thrust him into danger once again.
When Marsha Gage at the FBI discovers that Cochrane—one of America’s Most Wanted—has resurfaced, she immediately launches a manhunt, and she won’t stop until she brings the former CIA/MI6 operative in.
With time running out, Cochrane will use all of his training and formidable skills to outmaneuver the FBI and uncover a shocking conspiracy that will rock the foundations of our nation . . . if he can stay alive.

Read an excerpt:

IT WAS PAST midnight as wind and rain pounded the exterior of the tiny bookstore in Chicago. The store was closed and its owner was sitting at his desk checking the week’s receipts. The task wouldn’t take long—his store specialized in rare works that he sourced from around the world. He had some loyal customers, but they were few. This week seven people had made purchases.
The only light in the room came from his green desk lamp, old-fashioned in design to match the ambience of the shop. Aside from some electronic devices on his desk and recessed lights that cast a discreet yellow glow when turned on, the place looked like it could have been a purveyor of fine works established and un- changed since the eighteenth century. He’d constructed it that way: dark maple bookshelves; many of the books leather bound, all of them hardcover; two armchairs for customers to sit in when perusing potential acquisitions; an urn for his more discerning patrons who valued his loose-leaf tea collection; and a cage for his two lovebirds.
He was an old-fashioned guy at heart.
And though he could have done with more cash coming in, he’d deliberately established a business and identity that drew little attention. He playacted a shy man, his trimmed beard intended to put up barriers between him and others, his shoulders artificially stooped during the day as if he were ashamed of his six-foot-four physique, his cropped blond-and-gray hair functional because he had no woman in his life to impress, and his unneeded glasses covering one green eye, one blue. He was always in a smart three-piece suit because the attire was good at hiding his athletic frame and scars. Customers thought he was Edward Pope, a gentleman scholar from the South. They’d probably estimate his age was late forties. They’d be wrong about that and most other things. He’d led a hard life and was forty-five.
His name wasn’t Edward Pope.
It was Will Cochrane.
The assassin. The one Sapper and Kane were terrified of.
He wasn’t from the Deep South. He was raised in Virginia and earned a double first-class degree at England’s Cambridge University. And he’d been a bookseller for only under a year.
But he had to be Pope. In the eyes of the world, Will was a murderer. He’d killed people as a special forces French Foreign Legionnaire and assassinated targets in French intelligence black operations. He had been the West’s prime joint operative with the CIA and Britain’s MI6 for fourteen years, until he went crazy and killed a lot of cops and civilians in the States before throwing himself off the Brooklyn Bridge and dying.
His death was essential. He was America’s Most Wanted. He wasn’t what some thought of him—a psychopath. But he was a former special operative and killer. Had been all his adult life. It started when he was seventeen and walked in on four criminals suffocating his mother and about to kill his sister. His mother died; sister didn’t, because he grabbed his mother’s carving knife and ended the criminals’ lives before fleeing to the Legion. He wished he didn’t know how many people he’d killed since. It would be a lie. He knew every victim. Their souls lingered around him, taunting him, reminding him of who he was.
All 263 souls.
But the souls of the people they say he killed in the States didn’t hassle him.
Because he didn’t kill them. He never killed innocents, only those who needed to be killed.
But in the eyes of the law, that’s not the case and that’s why he had to fake his death and reinvent himself. A year ago, his situation was desperate, despite all of his training and covert operations experience in hostile countries. He’d received only one bit of help, but it was significant. Russia’s most formidable intelligence officer, code name Antaeus—now, thanks to Will, a defector living in the States—had cleverly managed to get $300,000 into Will’s pocket. Will didn’t know exactly why he’d done it. After all, Will had accidentally killed his family with a car bomb when in fact he’d intended only to kill the spy. But he suspected he knew why the Russian had become his benefactor: Antaeus wanted his generosity to plunge the knife that was Will’s guilt deeper.
Regardless of Antaeus’s motives, the cash helped set up Will’s new life.
Will’s family and close acquaintances were all dead. He’d be given the needle if cops found out who he was. The West he’d served with unflinching duty had hung him out to dry. He thought of himself as a scavenging dog, kicked out of its owner’s backyard and left to fend for itself. He was resigned to that, every day expecting the Feds to rush into his store and put a bullet in his skull. That’s what they’d do. No attempt to arrest. No negotiations. Execution only. Will wouldn’t blame them. They knew he’d cause carnage if given the slightest of chances.
He finished his accounts, took a swig of Assam tea, and frowned as he heard the female lovebird make an unusual sound. Like her male companion, she resembled a small parrot, her plumage green and yellow, face and beak red, large eyes pure white with black pupils. He’d taken the birds off the hands of an old lady who frequented his store. Her son, a merchant marine officer, had brought them back from exotic climes, though she couldn’t remember where because she was suffering from dementia. And she could no longer look after them, particularly now that the male had broken his wing. Will hated seeing animals in cages. But the female wouldn’t leave the male’s side. And for the time being, the male had to be kept in the cage until he was fully recuperated. Then Will would release them to a large aviary or the wild.
Their previous owner couldn’t remember their names, so Will called the male Ebb and the female Flo. Flo was now agitated, hopping about as opposed to what she usually did, which was nestling her face against that of her lover. Will opened the cage, knowing Flo wouldn’t go anywhere while Ebb was there. The former special operative bowed his head. Ebb was all wrong, flopping on the base of the cage, his good wing twitching, his broken one immobile. Will knew he was dying and there was nothing he could do about it. What goes through a bird’s brain? He didn’t know. And he didn’t know whether lovebirds were in fact lifelong lovers or if that was a myth. But Will knew how he felt. He had to give Flo closure, let her be free, not allow her to think there was hope that Ebb would return to her. Gently he lifted Ebb. His body was warm but now limp. He carried him to the store’s backyard. Flo followed him. Will had hoped she would.
Will looked at Flo, who was perched close by on the branch of a tree. She was watching. It seemed she and Will didn’t know what to do.
“I have to let you know this is the end,” Will said to her. Actually, he was saying it to himself.
He snapped Ebb’s neck and buried him.
Flo looked at him before flying into the darkness. As tears ran down his face, he wondered if she hated him. Or maybe she understood. Of course, he’d never know.
He returned to his desk and stared at the birdcage. After brushing soil off his fingers, he looked at his laptop and saw he had a new e-mail. Nobody sent him mail apart from spammers.
But this one was different. And shocking. It was from CIA officer Unwin Fox, the man who, alongside Will, had been one of those involved in the Berlin operation. Aside from Colonel Haden, Will didn’t know who the other people on the small team were.
His heart was beating fast as he read the mail. Its tone was desperate. There was no way Fox could know that Will was alive. Something was terribly wrong. Fox wanted to meet. Tomorrow. In Washington, D.C.
In all probability it was a trap. Lure Will out, then bam! Swooped on by cops. But then again, Will knew what happened in Berlin. The law didn’t. This would have been far too implausible a tactic to entrap him.
What to do?
He looked at the lovebirds’ empty cage. The door was open. He glanced at the entrance to his store.
What to fucking do?
He opened the drawer in his desk, pulled out his handgun, grabbed his bag containing all he needed if he ever had to run, and left.
He knew he’d never return.
***
Excerpt from Act of Betrayal by Matthew Dunn. Copyright © 2017 by Matthew Dunn. Reproduced with permission from William Morrow. All rights reserved.

 

Author Bio:

As an MI6 field officer, Matthew Dunn recruited and ran agents, coordinated and participated in special operations, and acted in deep-cover roles throughout the world. He operated in environments where, if captured, he would have been executed. Dunn was trained in all aspects of intelligence collection, deep-cover deployments, small-arms, explosives, military unarmed combat, surveillance, and infiltration. Medals are never awarded to modern MI6 officers, but Dunn was the recipient of a rare personal commendation from the secretary of state for work he did on one mission, which was deemed so significant that it directly influenced the success of a major international incident. During his time in MI6, Matthew conducted approximately seventy missions. All of them were successful. He currently lives in England, where he is at work on his next novel.

Learn More About Matthew Dunn On harpercollins.com!

Tour Participants:
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Giveaway ~ Love, Secrets and Absolution by @K_L_Loveley ~ Psychological family drama @_Globeflower_

An emotional and gripping psychological, family drama

TITLE - Love, Secrets and Absolution

AUTHOR - K L Loveley

Publisher: Globeflower Books / The Globeflower Agency (www.globeflower.co.uk)

Publication day: Wednesday, 1 November 2017

Love, Secrets, and Absolution is available as a pre-order from all Amazon websites UK  // USA

SYNOPSIS

People in the village gossip about Grace’s son, Alfie.

He’s a lonely boy full of secrets, lies, and obsessive thoughts.

How far can a mother’s love go? Will she ultimately sacrifice her life for his?

Set in Nottinghamshire, this family drama follows the lives of Grace and Alfie as he transforms from a naïve, young boy into a teenager spiralling out of control.

Love, Secrets, and Absolution is a coming of age story with a difference.

Deceit, betrayal, love, and addiction, a family falling apart in the midst of teenage angst and torn loyalties; will anybody find absolution?

BOOK TRAILER 

A cinematic book trailer for Love, Secrets, and Absolution is available on YouTube at:

EXCERPT

Love, Secrets, and Absolution: An emotional and gripping psychological, family drama.

By K.L Loveley

Grace lifted Alfie out of the royal blue carrycot and gently rocked him in her loving arms, kissing each tear stained cheek, she whispered, ‘I love you, Alfie, I love you with all my heart and I always will.’ Her heart filled with such overwhelming love and devotion, and a determination to be the best possible mother she could be. However, she was already questioning whether she would be good enough for her darling boy.

‘Now, my sweetheart, it is time to leave the hospital. Your father has been working hard to make a nursery for you to sleep and play in.’ She cuddled him and then sighed ‘we are going home, and I for one am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, with your father next to me. I haven’t slept well here, with all those screaming babies’, Alfie whimpered, and Grace reassured him, ‘Don’t worry, I will always keep you close by.’

She returned Alfie to the carrycot, covering him in the afghan blanket her parents had brought him. He cried immediately, and it got louder and louder. It was a piercing cry that hurt her ears and made her head spin. She began to panic. As Paul made his way towards them, he looked worried and asked, ‘Are you alright, Grace? Whatever is wrong with Alfie, his face is scarlet red, he looks very hot!’ Paul removed the afghan blanket, but Alfie continued to scream. ‘Perhaps he is in pain, what shall we do?’ Paul asked. Grace did not answer at first, and when she did, her voice was high-pitched and shaky.

‘I’m not sure, he has been fed and winded, his nappy changed. I really don’t know, it’s the first time this has happened.’ She tried hushing Alfie but no avail. ‘I don’t know what to do,’ she confessed, ‘perhaps I am not going to be any good at this. I feel all stressed and panicky over the smallest thing.’

Paul hugged his wife and took the carry cot from her, ‘Perhaps he will be settled when we get home, come on let’s go to the car.’ As they left the hospital, a fierce wind was blowing outside, so Paul put the hood up on the carrycot and secured the blanket again. Alfie continued to scream fiercely. With his free hand he held his wife’s tiny trembling hand, ‘Come on, Grace, let me drive you home.’

ABOUT THE AUTHOR K.L Loveley is a former nurse, who has seen, heard, and dealt with a wide range of medical, social and family dramas. She has used her nursing experience, along with her excellent

people watching skills to create fascinating characters and intriguing scenarios within her books. She writes contemporary fiction, psychological dramas and poetry.

Her debut novel ‘Alice’ was published in February 2017, and the story tackles alcoholism head-on, and presents the reader with an empathetic account of a spiralling addiction and the resulting pattern of hopelessness that many fall into.

K.L Loveley’s second novel ‘Love, Secrets, and Absolution: An emotional and gripping psychological, family drama’ is a coming of age story with a difference. Deceit, betrayal, love, and addiction, this story is about a family falling apart in the midst of teenage angst and torn loyalties.

If you enjoy reading authors like Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain, you will enjoy K.L Loveley!

K.L Loveley lives in Nottinghamshire, England and loves socialising with friends and family. She is an avid reader and enjoys a variety of genres including psychological, thrillers and historical fiction. Her favourite authors include John le Carré, K.L Slater, Marian Keyes and Philippa Gregory.

You can contact the author in a variety of ways

Website  Goodreads  Google +      

Twitter    Facebook     LinkedIn:    Publisher Globeflower Books 

               

 GIVEAWAY!        

Win a signed copy of Love, Secrets, and Absolution by K.L Loveley and a book (tote) bag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Showcase ~ Nearly Dead by Conrad Jones ~ Detective Alec Ramsay Novel

TITLE - Nearly Dead

SERIES - Detective Alec Ramsay

AUTHOR - Conrad Jones

BUY LINK - Click here

SYNOPSIS - The renovation of a remote farmhouse on the outskirts of Liverpool uncovers a chamber of horrors but the crimes are historical. DI Alec Ramsay must sift through the evidence to identify both the victims and the perpetrators, while trying to dismantle the dangerous drug gangs that plague the city. The prequel to The Child Taker, this book is a must for fans of the Alec Ramsay series.

The Child Taker is currently free for the kindle at the time of writing. Click here

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Conrad is the author of 18 novels, 8 author guides and 2 biographies. He has three series;
The Detective Alec Ramsay Series; 7 books Gritty Crime Thrillers
The Soft Target Series; Gritty Thrillers 6 books (Reacher Style)
The Hunting Angels Diaries; 3 books Horror Thrillers
You can find out more; www.conradjonesauthor.com
jonesconrad5@aol.com

From the Author Himself
I am Conrad Jones a 50-year-old Author, originally from a sleepy green-belt called Tarbock Green, which is situated on the outskirts of Liverpool. I spent a number of years living in Holyhead, Anglesey, which I class as my home, before starting a career as a trainee manger with McDonalds Restaurants in 1989. I worked in management at McDonalds Restaurants Ltd from 1989-2002, working my way up to Business Consultant (area manager) working in the corporate and franchised departments.

Conrad's the one on the left. Name who's on the right.

On March 20th 1993 I was managing the Restaurant in Warrington`s Bridge St when two Irish Republican Army bombs exploded directly outside the store, resulting in the death of two young boys and many casualties. Along with hundreds of other people there that day I was deeply affected by the attack, which led to a long-term interest in the motivation and mind set of criminal gangs. I began to read anything crime related that I could get my hands on.
I link this experience with the desire to write books on the subject, which came much later on due to an unusual set of circumstances. Because of that experience my early novels follow the adventures of an elite counter terrorist unit, The Terrorist Task Force, and their enigmatic leader, John Tankersley, or `Tank`and they are the Soft Target Series, which have been described by a reviewer as ‘Reacher on steroids’ ; You can see them here;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Target-Series-Length-Mystery-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B00JEN607Q 

Catch up with Conrad on Facebook  Amazon  Twitter Goodreads Website

In my opinion he's an author who needs to be read if you're into crime fiction.

Lily Alone by Vivien Brown ~ Q & A with the Author ~ @HarperImpulse

Welcoming Vivien Brown to my blog today following  the "Publication Day" of her Paperback "Lily Alone". She has been kind enough to answer a few questions for me. Welcome Vivien. 

TITLE - Lily Alone

AUTHOR - Vivien Brown

PUBLISHER - Harper Impulse

PUBLICATION DATE - Paperback 5th October 2017

PAGES - 416

BUY LINK - Click here

SYNOPSIS 

What sort of mother would leave her daughter alone? Would you leave a very young child at home on their own – knowing that terrible things can happen in the blink of an eye?

Lily, who is not yet three years old, wakes up alone with only her cuddly toy for company. She is hungry, afraid of the dark, can’t use the phone, and has been told never to open the door to strangers. In the flat downstairs, a lonely and elderly woman keeps herself to herself but wonders at the cries coming from upstairs. Lily’s grandmother frets that she can no longer see her granddaughter since the child’s parents separated. Lily’s father hasn’t seen her for a while. He’s been abroad, absorbed in his new job and his new girlfriend. A young woman lies in a coma in hospital – no one knows her name or who she is, but in her silent dreams, a little girl is crying for her mummy… And for Lily, time is running out.

QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION WITH THE AUTHOR

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? 
I started writing poems at about the age of sixteen, and only moved on to fiction in my thirties. Writing was important to me but for too long it remained a hobby, a side line, and although I did start to have a few successes with short stories in magazines, I had no idea just how hard it would turn out to be to get myself, and my work, noticed once I made the decision to take it all seriously. So, if I could go back, the big message would be: Start earlier, treat writing as a job, and give it your all. Don’t let work or family or doubt get in your way, and never use them as an excuse.

What is your favourite childhood book?
I absolutely love picture books. I worked with the under-fives for many years, reading them stories in libraries and children’s centres, organising fun book-related events like outdoor story walks, giving out free Bookstart packs, and advising parents on reading at home. So, I have read literally thousands of picture books, some of them many many times over, and I never tire of them. Picking favourites is hard, but my choices change with circumstances – whether I want to laugh, cry, enjoy the fun rhythm of a great rhyming text, or use a story to help a child deal with one of life’s problems, like loneliness, moving house or grief. I still love the simple magic and old-fashioned world of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, almost 50 years after it was first published, and anything by Julia Donaldson, especially Stick Man, which is a brilliant concept and so cleverly done. My own childhood favourites were the Mr Pinkwhistle books from Enid Blyton, which seem to have been forgotten nowadays in favour of her better known characters like Noddy and The Famous Five.

Do you read your book reviews?
How do you deal with good or bad ones? There is a horrible fascination with reviews that I find it impossible to get away from. Of course, I know that not everyone is going to love my books, but when a one star rating appears on Goodreads with absolutely no written review or comment at all, it’s hard not to want to scream! Not only do I want to ask why, but it lowers the average rating quite dramatically, especially in the early days after publication when the book may only have a handful of reviews. Five star reviews are fantastic, but having too many of them tends to look like an author has enrolled all their friends and family to write them, so I am quite happy to see a good mix of comments and star ratings, provided they are honest and genuine. Being criticised is part and parcel of being a writer, and does sometimes show up a fault or annoying habit that you aren’t aware of but that can be taken on board when writing later books!

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
I have only actually been Vivien Brown since I got re-married three years ago. I spent many years before that writing as Vivien Hampshire, so I am slowly getting used to living, working and writing under more than one name and trying to remember which one I am in any given circumstance! It actually comes in handy now as Lily Alone is a new genre for me and the change of name has helped me to separate my writing into two distinct halves – magazine fiction, non-fiction and lighter rom-coms as Vivien Hampshire, and the new domestic drama novels as Vivien Brown. I also have another (secret!) identity as Rosie Kent, writer of funny poems for children.

What’s the best money you ever spent as a writer?It’s all very well spending lots of money on laptops, notebooks and fancy pens (the traditional idea of what a writer needs), but there is nothing quite as useful as meeting other writers and industry professionals and learning your craft. No amount of expensive equipment will give you talent or teach you what you need to know to become a competent and successful writer in the current publishing climate. Many years ago I took a risk and spent about £300 to go away on a writer’s holiday to Caerleon in Wales, and I learned so much, and met so many useful contacts and new friends, in that one week that I went back almost every summer for years! Nowadays I attend the annual Romantic Novelists Association conference, where I first met my editor at Harper Collins (so it is where Lily Alone in published form was born!), and I am an active member of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. The membership fees of both organisations are worth their weight in gold.

Have you ever googled yourself and if so what did you find?As Vivien Hampshire, and especially when I was a fairly new writer, I googled often. With such an unusual name, most of the results (and they ran to at least 3 pages) were actually about me! I discovered several things I had been unaware of, including that a poem of mine, ‘The mother of the groom’ which had won a Marriott Hotels competition had now found its way (unofficially) onto a wedding website where it was suggested as a reading at weddings. There was also a subsequent totally fabricated interview in an online magazine, purporting to be with me, announcing me as ‘Londoner of the Day’, and discussing my own feelings as the mother of a groom – even though I have no sons, let alone married ones! I also found that a short novel opening I had written and that had won a Mail on Sunday competition was being used in a Cambridge University Press study workbook for adult learners of English. I couldn’t resist buying a copy out of curiosity! As Vivien Brown, it seems I have a namesake who is a renowned doctor and author of medical books in Canada.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vivien Brown lives in Uxbridge with her husband and two cats. She worked for many years in banking and accountancy, and then, after the birth of twin daughters, made a career switch and started working with young children, originally as a childminder but later in libraries and children’s centres, promoting the joys of reading through story-based activities and training sessions.

As Vivien Hampshire, she has written many short stories for the women’s magazine market and a range of professional articles and book reviews for the nursery and childcare press, in addition to a ‘how to’ book based on her love of solving cryptic crosswords. Now a full time writer, working from home, Vivien is combining novel-writing and her continuing career in magazine short stories with her latest and most rewarding role as doting grandmother to two-year old Penny. 

Connect with Vivien on Social Media ~ Facebook; Twitter; 

The Whisperer by Elsa Winckler - Book review - Contemporary Romance @elsawinckler

TITLE - The Whisperer

AUTHOR - Elsa Winckler

PAGES - 163

BUY LINK - Pre-order - Click here

PUBLISHER - Harper Impulse 

SYNOPSIS -

Loving him could destroy her…

High school teacher Cilla Stevens has always been different, especially in how she connects with animals. When she calms a stray dog during an incident at school, she’s asked to help a nearby farm with a difficult horse.

Cameron Rahl has had a very different relationship with animals since his mother died in a horse riding accident. But now he's inherited his family’s farm, he's determined to never let anyone affect him that way again.

Until he meets Cilla. He tries to stay away from the gorgeous horse whisperer with the potential to tame him, but something keeps pulling him close. And as much as Cilla tells herself she can keep it casual, she knows they're too connected to be 'just a fling.'

Will Cilla's heart win out? Or will it take history repeating itself for Cameron to realise just how much he needs her?

This isn't the normal type of book I'd read, although I am a horse lover, but I wanted to give it a go, as it looked a light hearted read, and I wanted a break from my usual crime novels. 

I was enchanted by this book, set in South Africa, and got so I couldn't put it down. It led you on a series of emotions including "Wonderment", in the way Cilla could speak to horses and how she connected with them, and they with her and "Frustration" with Cilla and Cameron as they appeared to have a real dislike to each other but something was smoldering underneath. I got frustrated at times with Cameron but that just added to the story itself, and I think the author meant you to feel that way. 

I loved the way that the author managed to merge the story of the connection with horses, and the relationships between all the characters. The story flowed well and I felt a real connection with the characters themselves. This is a quick and cosy read and one that is perfect to curl up with.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Taken from her blog (Tea with Elsa) 

"I have been reading love stories for as long as I can remember and when I ‘met’ the classic authors like Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James The Brontë sisters, etc. during my studies, I was hooked for life.

I married my college boyfriend and soul mate and after 38 years, 3 beautiful children and three grandchildren, he still makes me weak in the knees. We are fortunate to live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty’s Bay, South Africa with the ocean a block away and a beautiful mountain right behind us.

And although life so far has not always been an easy ride, it has always been an exiting and interesting one!

I like the heroines in my stories to be beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong.  And the heroes must be strong but possess a generous amount of sensitivity. They are of course, also gorgeous!  My stories typically incorporate the family background of the characters to better understand where they come from and who they are when we meet them in the story.

I was fortunate to win the best romance award for an Afrikaans story  in 2010 and again in 2014".

Elsa writes in both English and Afrikaans. She is also a Member of the Australian Romance Readers Association and a member of the Romance Writers Organisation of South Africa.

Connect with Elsa on Facebook // Twitter  // Pinterest // Blog // Goodreads 

My Hearts Desire by Andrea Kane - Historical Romance

My Heart’s Desire by Andrea Kane 

 

Book DetailsGenre: Historical Romance
Published by: Bonnie Meadow Publishing LLC Publication Date: September 20, 2016
Number of Pages: ~ 402 Series: Book 1 in "Barrett Family Series
Purchase My Heart’s Desire at: Amazon Barnes & Noble or Add it to your reading list on: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Lady Alexandria Cassel scorned London's frivolous social whirl, seeking adventure as a stowaway aboard a merchant ship. Drake Barrett was the vessel's powerful captain—and a cynical duke who disdained a noble's shallow life. At sea he revealed neither his origins nor his wealth, and to Alexandria he was simply a man who made her cool reserve fly with the winds… whose desire for her was as wild as the ocean they sailed.
Caught in the crossfire of war, they were shipwrecked on an idyllic island, where they tasted perfect passion… and tenderness. But Drake dreaded the day of their rescue—when his love would discover that the virile man she adored was at the pinnacle of the aristocracy she despised. Hardly did they suspect the base treachery that would soon threaten them… and the dangers each would brave to join forever their hearts and lives!

Read an excerpt:

"WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY CLOTHES?"
No storm could be as fierce as the one that raged in Alexandria’s flashing eyes as she faced Drake across the cabin. Her expression was murderous, her small hands clenched at her sides, her tone lethal.
Drake closed the door behind him with a firm click. “By ‘your clothes’ I presume you mean that dusty gown and shredded chemise you discarded on my cabin floor?” He leaned nonchalantly against the wall, regarding her with amusement.
Alex was too angry to be shocked at his casual mention of her undergarment. “You know damned well what clothes I mean!”
“Now, now … such language, my lady. I am truly shocked.”
She looked as though she might strike him.
“I demand that you return my things at once!”
His brows went up. “You demand? Careful, princess, your snobbish airs are showing. Remember, on this ship the only one who demands is me.” He crossed the room, ignoring her as if she were no more than an annoying child.
She stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
“Did you want something, my lady?” He paused, studying her livid expression. She was as transparent as glass, her anger and exasperation clearly evident on her beautiful face.
Drake grinned. “Your clothes are no longer with us.”
The color in her face deepened. “What?”
“They were torn from your adventure.”
“Liar!” she shot back. “There was no reason for you to discard them … at least not for the reason you just gave.”
Her accusing tone made him chuckle. “You are quite correct, princess. The real reason is that I cannot have you parading around in your finery. My men are already lusting after you quite openly. We wouldn’t want to further intoxicate their senses, now would we?”
“The only one on this ship who has treated me with any disrespect is you!” she retorted.
“Then be grateful that I have limited you to men’s attire. Perhaps you will be safe from my lecherous advances.”
Drake moved away, and Alex turned her back as he took off his shirt and tossed it carelessly onto the chair. Tossing his breeches next to his shirt, he put an end to her torment by climbing into his berth.
The cabin was silent. Drake could sense Alex’s presence nearby, and he knew instinctively that she was not in bed.
“Princess?”
He heard her jump. “What is it?”
He cleared his throat. “Is there some problem?”
“No … yes …” She paused. “May I use your basin and some water to wash the dirt from my face?”
Drake smiled in the darkness. “Go right ahead. And, princess … if you can find your way around in the dark, help yourself to one of my shirts. They are clean and more than large enough to protect your modesty.”
Again, silence. Then, “Thank you, Captain.”
Her bare feet padded across the room. Drake listened to her opening the heavy chest, taking out one of his shirts, and slipping it on. Splashing sounds told him she was washing, followed by her soft footsteps as she returned to her cot. Then a thud and a cry of pain.
Drake was out of bed in an instant, moving toward the sound of her choked cry.
“Alexandria? What is it?”
“I walked into the cot,” she whimpered.
“Are you badly hurt?”
In truth she was not. It had been a sudden painful blow, yet already the pain was subsiding to a dull throb. But it was more than she could withstand after her emotionally taxing day. Hot tears filled her eyes, spilled down her cheeks. Try though she would, she could not control the sobs that shook her.
“I’m sorry,” she gasped. “I never cry … and it is not that bad a bruise … I just can’t …” She shook her head helplessly, covering her eyes with trembling hands.
There was no forethought. Drake reacted instantly, pulling her into his arms.
“Shhh,” he soothed, pressing her head against his chest. He felt her tears drenching his bare skin, her narrow shoulders shaking. “It’s all right, sweetheart … don’t cry,” he murmured, raising her chin with his forefinger, wishing he could see her face. He stroked his other hand down her back, pressing her closer to him.
They became aware of each other at the same moment. He was totally naked. She was clad only in a thin white shirt. She needed comfort. He needed more.

 

Author Bio:

Andrea Kane is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-seven novels, including thirteen psychological thrillers and fourteen historical romantic suspense titles.
With her signature style, Kane creates unforgettable characters and confronts them with life-threatening danger. As a master of suspense, she weaves them into exciting, carefully-researched stories, pushing them to the edge—and keeping her readers up all night.
Kane’s beloved historical romantic suspense novels include My Heart’s Desire, Samantha, The Last Duke, and Wishes in the Wind.
With a worldwide following of passionate readers, her books have been published in more than twenty languages.
Kane lives in New Jersey with her husband and family. She’s an avid crossword puzzle solver and a diehard Yankees fan. Otherwise, she’s either writing or playing with her Pomeranian, Mischief, who does his best to keep her from writing.

Connect With Ms. Kane on Facebook, Twitter, or her website.

 

Tour Host Participants:

BLOG TOUR & REVIEW - My Girl by Jack Jordan - Thriller

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I'm taking part in the blog tour for this great book from Jack Jordan.


TITLE - My Girl

AUTHOR - Jack Jordan

GENRE - Crime/Thriller

Available in Paperback or Kindle - Click here

Synopsis -

Paige Dawson: the mother of a murdered child and wife to a dead man.

She has nothing left to live for… until she finds her husband’s handgun hidden in their house.

Why did Ryan need a gun? What did he know about their daughter’s death?

Desperate for the truth, Paige begins to unearth her husband’s secrets.

But she has no idea who she is up against, or that her life isn’t hers to gamble – she belongs to me.

From the bestselling author of Anything for Her, Jack Jordan's My Girl is the new chilling thriller that you won't want to miss.
MY REVIEW






I had read Anything for her by Jack Jordan and when the opportunity came up to read this book, I jumped at the chance! I've always been one for a good Thriller and Crime novel, and until a few years ago I have to admit I wouldn't read a book by an author I hadn't heard of. I'm glad I don't make that mistake now, or I would be missing out on a really talented author like Jack Jordan. His books have more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. This book is one rollercoaster of a ride!

Paige lost her Daughter in the most awful way imaginable. All that was recovered from her body were her fingers, found in a river. As if this was not bad enough, her Husband then committed suicide. Her life then took a bad turn and she turned to substance abuse to try and deaden the pain. It was heartbreaking to read, and heartbreaking for those who cared for her, including her Father and her Brother Maxim.

Jack Jordan

Then she started uncovering things that left her confused but determined to find out. This gets her into serious trouble and it seems as if there is no way out.

I can't say much more as it would give too many spoilers away and I don't want to do that as it would seriously ruin this edge of the seat thriller. What I will say though is if you like a book that you can't put down and makes you sit on the edge of the seat, then this one is for you. I will say there are some very upsetting and graphic moments in this book, so be aware of that. I would say if you read one Thriller this year, make it this one!

Book Showcase & Competition - A Country Practice by Judith Colquhoun - Win an Amazon Fire TV stick and books!

TITLE - A Country Practice

AUTHOR - Judith Colquhoun

TO BUY - Click here for UK readers/here for US readers/ or here for Australian readers

SYNOPSIS
A heart-warming, poignant and engaging tale about the doctors, nurses and patients of the Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital, and their friends and neighbours. 

A Country Practice follows the dramas, loves, secrets and dilemmas of the people in an Australian small country town. There is romance, humour and tragedy for the medical staff of the local hospital, and the rural community it serves. 

A desperate woman arrives at the Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital in the final stages of labour. Can Dr Terence Elliott overcome his demons to save both mother and baby? 

Simon Bowen, the newest doctor in town, is frustrated at being seen as an outsider by the tight knit country people. Will he succeed in winning them around ‒ especially young vet Vicky Dean? 

Vicky’s mum, Sister Shirley Dean, is courted by widowed police sergeant Frank Gilroy. But is he the man for her? 

Young married couple, Brendan and Molly Jones arrive in Wandin Valley. Are they prepared for the realities of country life? 

Meanwhile, a teenager in love clashes with her father and a serious car accident reveals a surprising secret about two of the town’s residents. 

EXCERPT

The sun rose, bringing new hope to several of Wandin Valley’s residents and continuing despair to others. Away to the west, on the banks of the Murray just upstream from Swan Hill, Brendan and Molly Jones embraced hope after a short struggle. They had booked into a camping ground for the night and had stayed in a grandly named ‘chalet’, a one-room bunkhouse whose mod cons included a bathroom of sorts, a two-burner stove and quite the most hideous lino either had ever encountered. They sat outside now on two plastic chairs which constituted the ‘barbecue area’, drinking tea, listening to the dawn chorus and feeling pretty much at peace with the world. Well, Brendan was.

‘Didn’t the agent say there was lino in the kitchen, Brendan?’ Molly was thinking forward to their new house.

‘I think he might have.’

‘Well whatever the pattern, it couldn’t be worse than that one, could it?’ She nodded towards the chalet. ‘I’m taking comfort from that.’

Brendan grinned but Molly went on in more serious vein than he’d expected. ‘I suppose we were totally mad, weren’t we? Buying the place sight unseen.’

‘Not exactly sight unseen. We got a brochure, remember? And two maps. And half a dozen extra photos.’

‘Not the same as walking through it though, is it? Getting a real feel for it. I mean, what if it’s a terrible dump?’

Brendan leant forward, took her cup out of her hands and held them tightly. ‘Molly, we know it’s a terrible dump. That’s why we could afford it. Surely you’re not getting cold feet? Now that we’re only a day away?’

‘No! No, I’m not. Honestly.’

‘Darling, it’s going to be fine –’

‘Of course it is. I just had a moment of panic, that’s all. Lying in bed last night, with the moonlight on that awful lino, I got to wondering how bad the house really is. You know how your mind plays games at three o’clock in the morning …’

Brendan, who’d had a few moments of panic himself, pulled her close.

‘Even if it’s a pigsty, we’ll turn it into a palace, Molly Jones. I promise you.’

But Molly shook her head. ‘No, you’ve got to earn a living. I’ll turn it into a palace.’ She smiled at him. ‘We do actually have a pigsty, remember. Not to mention a pig.’

‘Ah yes, what’s her name? Dorothy?’

‘Doris.’

‘Can’t wait to meet her. I’ve been reading up on how to make salami.’ He ducked out of Molly’s clutches and backed quickly away.

And a couple of chapters later...

For Molly and Brendan Jones, it was all just beginning: a new life in a new place a long way from the City of Churches. And they were wondering if perhaps they hadn’t made a terrible mistake. They hadn’t yet unpacked the station wagon. They hadn’t dared. Their tour of inspection had left them momentarily wanting to climb back into it. The trouble was that the farm had become too much for old Fred Davidson years before he finally gave in and moved to live with his daughter on the central coast of New South Wales. Now it looked rundown, worn-out and totally unloved. Fences sagged, paint peeled, windows gaped open and weeds ran riot. The outdoor dunny was clearly attempting to rival the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

‘Character. That’s what that cop said. I think I could find a different word.’ Molly sounded close to tears and Brendan felt he should make an effort before they both fell apart.

‘The house isn’t that bad. At least it’s clean.’ And it was. The agent must have attended to that. Barely liveable, but clean. ‘And whatshername, Doris, she seemed friendly enough.’

‘She barely blinked when I said hello.’

‘Moll? We’re tired. Let’s get the stuff inside and put the kettle on. We’re here in one piece, it’s going to be good, I know it is.’

‘I’m sorry. I’m being silly. It’s not that bad really. I mean – we knew it was rundown and everything … we’ll fix it up.’

‘Of course we will.’

‘And at least the lino isn’t so bad.’

‘Almost tasteful.’

Just as well the two of them had vast stores of optimism, they would find it useful in the days ahead. A couple of hours later, the car was unpacked and the house was full of boxes. A van would arrive with the rest of their stuff the next day.

‘Where on earth is it all going to go?’ Molly wondered.

Brendan had been opening Caroline’s farewell present. ‘More to the point – where on earth is this going to go?’ From dozens of layers of packaging, he finally extracted a large chandelier. Molly stared in amazement. Brendan handed her the card that came with it and she read aloud: ‘To Melissa and Brendan ‒ Just remember, even in the boondocks, style’s the thing! Love, Caroline.’

‘I worry about your mother,’ said Brendan.

‘I’ve got just the spot for it,’ said Molly. ‘Didn’t you notice how dull Doris’s sty is?’

Based on the award-winning, international hit television serial A Country Practice, this new series of novels follows the lives and loves of the rural community of Wandin Valley, South-Eastern Australia. Set in the early 1980s it is a nostalgic look at country life, yet with all the same joys and problems we face today.

Competition

The "A Country Practice" series of novels set in sunny Australia are perfect for curling up with on a cold winter's day or evening! And to celebrate the release of the first two books in the series, Corazon Books is offering you the chance to win something else to keep you entertained on a cosy night in! One lucky UK-based winner will receive an Amazon Fire TV stick* - which lets you stream loads of TV programmes, films, games and music through your TV. To be in with a chance to win simply answer the following question, and send your answer to acp@greatstorieswithheart.com by midday UK time on December 11th 2015. The winner will be announced on December 14th at www.acountrypractice.info.

Q. What is the name of the young married couple who have just moved to Wandin Valley?

PLUS Please state the name of the blog where you read about the competition - all visitors' names from each blog on the tour will be put into a hat and the first name pulled out for each blog will win paperback copies of the first two A Country Practice novels!

*This competition is organised and run by Wyndham Media Ltd. Judges decision is final. Amazon Fire TV Stick only available for UK residents. If the overall winner resides outside of the UK they will receive instead a bundle of Corazon Books paperbacks to the same value as the UK prize. Entrants details won't be kept or shared with third parties. Good luck!

BOOK REVIEW TO FOLLOW 

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