#BlogTour The Teeth of Giants by Gordon Wallis

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Teeth of Giants by Gordon Wallis. It's wildlife conservation fiction and an action thriller.

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

Follow @zimbabaloooba on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads,
Buy The Teeth of Giants

About the book

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

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

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

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

Review
It has the feel of Wilbur Smith action adventure to it. The storyline doesn't just give the reader the imagery of the surroundings and the people, the author also delves into the dangers of said surroundings. This applies to the wildlife and those intent on profiting from the wildlife.

The beginning of the book is especially well-written, and one wouldn't be remiss for thinking the story was going to be a military action read.

Poacher seems to be such a misnomer nowadays. It used to describe people poaching for food and to live, but today it is an industry. A criminal industry, but a very profitable industry no less, which is also an incredibly cruel one. Leaving young animals orphaned, slaughtering adult animals for their tusks, horns and so on. I think the worst part of this brutality is knowing that they are murdered to appease the egos of mankind or become an ingredient in a ridiculous potion. Potions that are known to be complete nonsense.

Nearly two decades into the 21st century and we have already reached the statistical reality of many animals becoming extinct or nearing extinction, which makes this story even more pertinent.
When
Jason Green hears about the death of his close friend and travels home for his funeral, he has no idea that it is the start of an all out war against ruthless criminals, who care zero for the living, regardless whether they are animal or human.

I think there was a slight continuity mistake in regards to how old Hannes and/or Jason were in the present, bearing in mind that the book starts with the two of them as, I assume, seasoned scouts in 1979. Just a small thing - it doesn't detract from the rest of the story.

It's wildlife conservation fiction and an action thriller. A fast-paced read about revenge and justice, one man and his journey to uphold the memory of his friend.

Buy The Teeth of Giants by Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour The Red Word by Sarah Henstra

Today it is a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour The Red Word by Sarah Henstra. It's literary fiction with elements of mythology, sexual politics and rape. It's a brilliant read.

About the Author
Sarah Henstra is a writer and professor of English literature at Ryerson University, where she specialises in 20th Century British Fiction. She lives in Toronto, Ontario. The Red Word is her debut adult fiction novel.

Follow Sarah on Goodreads, Visit sarahhenstra.com. Buy The Red Word

About the book
The Red Word asks a bold question: what if women weren’t content to wait for the next assault to take action? What if they got tired of the his-word-against-hers stalemates? Set against the sex wars of the 1990s and the birth of third-wave feminism, the result is a smart, dark, take-no-prisoners look at the extremes to which ideology can go.

As her sophomore year begins, Karen enters into the back-to-school revelry—particularly at a fraternity called GBC. When she wakes up one morning on the lawn of Raghurst, a house of radical feminists, she gets a crash course in the state of feminist activism on campus.

GBC is notorious, she learns, nicknamed “Gang Bang Central” and a prominent contributor to a list of date rapists compiled by female students. Despite continuing to party there and dating one of the

brothers, Karen is equally seduced by the intellectual stimulation and indomitable spirit of the Raghurst women, who surprise her by wanting her as a housemate and recruiting her into the upper-level class of a charismatic feminist mythology scholar they all adore. As Karen finds herself caught between two increasingly polarized camps, ringleader housemate Dyann believes she has hit on the perfect way to expose and bring down the fraternity as a symbol of rape culture—but the war between the houses will exact a terrible price.

Review
This is the kind of book you need a highlighter for. There were so many things Henstra got right, despite it being such a divisive and controversial premise. There are strips of paper throughout my book to note certain paragraphs and sentences.

Fair warning, I am probably going to talk about this one for a bit.

The story begins with Karen meeting the Raghurst women, after a long boozy night at the GBC fraternity (Gang Bang Central). Concerned that she has been assaulted she is drawn into their protective group. The group consists of strong young women with loud and proud views on themselves and their fellow women. They are especially driven by the need to change the rape culture, which is promoted and protected by our patriarchal society.

Fraternities and sororities aren't just an American thing, however they are predominantly found in the US. Becoming a member can ensure or give an extra lift up the career ladder. Plenty of companies and institutions scout Ivy League colleges/unis for the right candidates.

One of the problems referred to in this story is the way colleges function almost like independent countries within a bigger setting. They police their own crimes and offences, which also means they have the power not to discipline or punish, and of course an academic disciplinary action isn't a suitable punishment for a rape or gang-rape culture. The result is plenty of sexual predators being able to prey without fear of punishment and even more victims who suffer the consequence of this system. A system that prefers to protect the privileged, rich and influential.

In Karen the author gives us a character that represents perhaps the smaller percentage of women, the as yet to be assaulted, abused or harassed female. She perceives herself to be someone 'it' couldn't happen to, because she just isn't that kind of girl. Her mind-set isn't unusual, and often part of the victim shaming group. Those who shout about the short skirts, make-up, being in the wrong place and acting a certain way being to blame for any assault.

I enjoyed the frank and brusque dialogue between all of the characters. There is no talking around the bush. They think it, they say it. As a woman, I do believe how other women relate and react to this topic will be in direct correlation to age. The same applies to the way the plot and the characters evolve.

As young adults there is a burning fire inside and often a desire to rebel. To stand up and force change. As an older woman you have learnt that the fire can burn with less intensity and still effect change. The other side of the coin is the acceptance of the status quo and a lifetime of compromises.

It's literary fiction with elements of mythology, sexual politics and rape. It's a call to arms, and yet at the same time a call to think and regroup. Intellectual discourse and stimulation as a weapon and manipulative tool. It's so many things, but above all it is a brilliant read. Kudos to Henstra for this intellectually stimulating story.

Buy The Red Word at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Published by Tramp Press in trade paperback, 21st March 2018, £12.99. Buy at Amazon com.

About Tramp Press
Tramp Press is an independent publisher based in Dublin; recent successes include Notes to Self by Emilie Pine, Sara Baume (Spill Simmer Falter Wither, A Line Made By Walking) and Mike McCormack (Solar Bones). More information can be found at tramppress.com

#BlogTour The Road to Cromer Pier by Martin Gore

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Road to Cromer Pier by Martin Gore. This is a nostalgic read, and it's historical fiction, an homage to showbiz and family.

About the Author
I am a 61 year old Accountant who semi-retired to explore my love of creative writing. In my career I held Board level jobs for over twenty five years, in private, public and third sector organisations. I was born in Coventry, a city then dominated by the car industry and high volume manufacturing. Jaguar, Triumph, Talbot, Rolls Royce, Courtaulds, Massey Ferguson were the major employers, to name but a few.

When I was nine year’s old I told my long suffering mother that as I liked English composition and drama I was going to be a Playwright. She told me that I should work hard at school and get a proper job. She was right of course.

I started as an Office Junior at Jaguar in 1973 at eleven pounds sixty four a week. I thus grew up in the strike torn, class divided seventies. My first career ended in 2015, when I semi retired as Director of Corporate services at Humberside Probation. My second career, as a Non Executive Director, is great as it has allowed me free time to travel and indulge my passion for writing, both in novels and for theatre.

The opportunity to rekindle my interest in writing came in 2009, when I wrote my first pantomime, Cinderella, for my home group, the Walkington Pantomime Players. I have now written eight. I love theatre, particularly musical theatre, and completed the Hull Truck Theatre Playwrite course in 2010. My first play, a comedy called He's Behind You, had its first highly successful showing in January 2016, so I intend to move forward in all three creative areas.

Pen Pals was my first novel, but a second, The Road to Cromer Pier, will be released in the Summer of 2019.

I’m an old fashioned writer I guess. I want you to laugh and to cry. I want you to believe in my characters, and feel that my stories have a beginning, a middle, and a satisfactory ending.

Follow @AuthorGore on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads,Visit martingore.co.uk
Buy The Road to Cromer Pier

About the book

Janet’s first love arrives out of the blue after forty years. Those were simpler times for them both. Sunny childhood beach holidays, fish and chips and big copper pennies clunking into one armed bandits.

The Wells family has run the Cromer Pier Summertime Special Show for generations. But it’s now 2009 and the recession is biting hard. Owner Janet Wells and daughter Karen are facing an uncertain future. The show must go on, and Janet gambles on a fading talent show star. But both the star and the other cast members have their demons. This is a story of love, loyalty and luvvies. The road to Cromer Pier might be the end of their careers, or it might just be a new beginning.

Review

I can imagine this read will evoke quite a nostalgic feeling in many readers. More so because of the Pier and times at the seaside. Enjoying the compulsory trip to the seaside and the something that reminds us not only of the past, but also our recent past.

Gore presents an accurate and realistic picture of the world of theatre. In this case theatre in a perhaps less than glamorous setting, a place that is filled with memories of the glory days of old.

The interactions between organiser and artists, and lesser known actors or actresses with more famous ones, it reminded me of Jonathan Creek. More specifically the way Creek and the illusionist interact with each other in regards to the stage tricks, the public and being in the public eye. The banter, the know-how and the very tight world of those on stage and behind the curtain.

This is a nostalgic read, and it's historical fiction, an homage to showbiz and family. In this case the very special type of family the stage brings together. They understand each other and support each other, then in equal measures they are determined to rise higher than those at their sides.

In a way the story is synonymous with that feeling of Britishness that seeps through now and again, something we seem to have lost in such divisive political times. The seaside tale is something the majority of us have in common.

Plunking copper pennies in amusement arcade machines, catching crabs off the side of the pier, paddling in the icy and drabby looking sea (as a kid it looked ocean adjacent) and doing so in multiple weather variations.

For me Cromer Pier captures that part of the past. I think it will conjure up different things for each of us depending on our frame of references.

Buy The Road to Cromer Pier at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour The Sentinel's Reign by Suzanne Rogerson

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Sentinel's Reign by Suzanne Rogerson. It's the second book in the Silent Sea Chronicles trilogy and the second book on this two book tour.

For the duration of the BlogTour all the books in the series are 99p/c.

About the Author
Suzanne lives in Middlesex, England with her hugely encouraging husband and two children.

She wrote her first novel at the age of twelve. She discovered the fantasy genre in her late teens and has never looked back. Giving up work to raise a family gave her the impetus to take her attempts at novel writing beyond the first draft, and she is lucky enough to have a husband who supports her dream - even if he does occasionally hint that she might think about getting a proper job one day.

Suzanne loves gardening and has a Hebe (shrub) fetish. She enjoys cooking with ingredients from the garden, and regularly feeds unsuspecting guests vegetable-based cakes.

She collects books, loves going for walks and picnics with the children and sharing with them her love of nature and photography.

Suzanne is interested in history and enjoys wandering around castles. But most of all she likes to escape with a great film, or soak in a hot bubble bath with an ice cream and a book.

Follow @rogersonsm on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon, on Bookbub,
Visit suzannerogersonfantasyauthor.com
Buy The Sentinel's Reign

About the book
The Sentinel’s reign is doomed to failure unless Tei can prevent the Kalayan people from plunging into war.

With the new Sentinel initiated and the magic restored on Kalaya, life is flourishing for Tei and the exiles. But Rathnor’s plans for war soon escalate and thwart any chance of peace.

Brogan’s position on the Assembly is uncertain as rumours circulate that he is an exile spy.

After an attempt on his life, Farrell is more determined than ever to build a home for his people on Stone Haven. But the council have their sights set on Kalaya and Farrell struggles to steer them from war.

As trouble brews within and outside forces gather against them, can the exiles keep their hold on the magic, or will this spell the end of Kalaya and its people?

Review
I would recommend reading the first in the Silent Sea Chronicles. You can read this as a standalone, but the first adds so much context to the read that I would read them in order. Just a suggestion.

In this book, as opposed to the first one that consists of the search for the Sentinel, things are beginning to change because of her. What's interesting is the fact her time alone, fighting to stay hidden, has helped her develop into the strong person she is now.

There is no reverence to the Elders or to Tei for that matter. Callisa is so used to making her own decisions based on what she believes to be the best way to protect everyone and move forward. The question is whether it actually is the best thing for Turrak and the magical community. Is Callisa putting everyone in danger? Are the Elders going to intervene in some way?

Speaking of the Elders, they have what I think is safe to call a minor Handmaids Tale moment. They call all the unattached women together to remind them of their duty. It's time for them to connect with the single male members and procreate, thereby ensuring the survival of the community. I mean, really?

Of course Tei falls into this category, which infuriates her and makes her think about the man she loves even more. Brogan, the man outside of the magical community, and yet part of him belongs there. He is trying his best to battle the people inciting the hatred and discrimination towards those with magic. It's an honourable task, but is it a futile one?

This is the second part of an intriguing high fantasy series with a compelling premise and characters. Rogerson delivers a solid read, which isn't always easy when it comes to the genre. I am enjoying the read so far and look forward to the third book in the series, the Sentinel's Alliance.

Buy The Sentinel's Reign, book 2 of Silent Sea Chronicles at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Bookbub.

Buy The Lost Sentinel, book 1 of Silent Sea Chronicles
The Sentinel’s Alliance, book 3 of Silent Sea Chronicles is now available on pre-order.

#BlogTour The Body Lies by Jo Baker

Today it is my turn, and also the end of this fantastic BlogTour The Body Lies by Jo Baker. It's a literary crime thriller, but also fits into the category of a contemporary psychological thriller.

About the Author
Jo Baker is the author of the acclaimed and bestselling Longbourn and A Country Road, A Tree.
Her new novel, The Body Lies, is a thrilling contemporary novel that explores violence against women in fiction but is also a disarming story of sexual politics.
Jo Baker lives with her family in Lancashire.

Follow @JoBakerWriter on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Visit jobakerwriter.com,

Buy The Body Lies

About the book
When a young writer accepts a job at a university in the remote countryside, it’s meant to be a fresh start, away from the big city and the scene of a violent assault she’s desperate to forget. But when one of her students starts sending in chapters from his novel that blur the lines between fiction and reality, the professor recognises herself as the main character in his book - and he has written her a horrific fate.

Will she be able to stop life imitating art before it's too late?

Review
This was a cracker of a read. It delves into the world of sexual politics in the workplace and in this case specifically in a university environment. The boundaries are clear when you're in a school environment, but what happens when it's consenting adults instead?

There were so many things about this book that I liked. The subtlety, which gave it a more realistic feel. The style and the element of writing as a tool to intimidate, scare and malign. Then having the woman in a position of authority, thereby being in a position to abuse the power in an unequal relationship, but also being a potential target for someone willing to manipulate the system.

The boldest move however was writing the story in first person and leaving the narrator unnamed. In doing so the author allows her main character to become all women, her thoughts and fears are synonymous with women all over the world.

This is especially evident in the first part of the story, when she is assaulted in front of people in a public area. This event sets certain coping mechanisms in motion. Her inability to comprehend her trauma, including the assault, chips away at her life and relationships. Her reaction or lack of it, says a lot about the systemic violence and abuse against women in our society. The reactions of those around her speaks volumes.

It's a literary crime thriller, but also fits into the category of a contemporary psychological thriller. The author gives us the depth and style of literary fiction, and simultaneously the thrill of a more contemporary read. A perfect combination of the two.

Buy The Body Lies at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.Publisher: Doubleday; pub date 13 Jun. 2019. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Distant Signs by Anne Richter

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Distant Signs by Anne Richter.Translated from German by Douglas Irving. It's literary and historical fiction.

About the Author
Anne Richter was born in 1973 in Jena, in the former German Democratic Republic. Her degree in Romance languages and English included study periods in England, Italy and France. In 2011, Anne was nominated for the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize, a highly regarded German-language literary award. Her debut novel, Distant Signs, was published in Germany in 2013. Anne is currently writing her second novel.
Buy Distant Signs

About the book
Historic fiction and family saga from East Germany post WWII to just after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Distant Signs provides us with an intimate portrait of families across three generations. In 1960s East
Germany, Margret, a professor’s daughter from the city, meets and marries Hans, from a small village in Thuringia. The couple struggle to contend with their different backgrounds, and the emotional scars they bear from childhood in the aftermath of war. As East German history gradually unravels, with collision of the personal and political, acutely observed vigne Kes quietly reveal their two families’ hidden truths.

Review
I spent over three decades in West-Germany or BRD (Bundesrepublik Deutschland). I was a few years older than the author when the Berlin Wall came down. It's hard for people outside the country to understand how much of an impact the division of the country has had on the German people.

Even now, years after the fall of the wall, they still make the distinction between East and West.
As I was growing up it was referred to as Dunkel Deutschland - Dark Germany, mainly because of the oppressive regime the other side of the wall lived under.

I can remember a young girl joining our school, her family was from East Germany, she turned up in her Young Pioneers uniform. She sat there in a uniform donned with a blue neckerchief in the midst of a room full of kids dressed in a variety of clothes and colours. It never dawned on me at the time to question the how or the why.

It's also important to know that the focus in history lessons and books was on the division of the country, whereas the sordid details of WW2 weren't a focus in the curriculum. In the last few decades this has changed and there is a lot of reflection by younger generations determined to deal with the past.

I digress. (As per usual)

Although the above may seem like my usual meanderings, it is important to comprehend that everyone suffers in wartime. I think the author has purposely started this story in the aftermath of the war, so the focus will be on the Germans, as opposed to the Allies and the victims of the Nazi regime.

The attempt to get the reader to envision the characters as victims, and not just as perpetrators or part of said regime. This is especially evident in the stories of Friedrich and Johanna. Friedrich's account of the Trümmerfrauen and their children, of Johanna and their children starving and without a home.

The same can be said for Hans and Margret, who experience the trauma of war in a completely different way and are both defined by their experiences. As we move further into the future the insidious nature of East Germany becomes almost synonymous with the oppressive regime they thought they had left behind, but wasn't too different - barring the genocide of course.

It's literary and historical fiction. Relationships built on the fraught emotional remains of traumatised children, young people and adults. I think it's probably better to have some historical references or knowledge going into the read, if only for the reason mentioned above.

It's hard to separate the more horrific narrative from the simple fact that Richter wants the reader to experience the characters and their story as individuals without the added connotations of mass-murder. It can however be done. I would love to read it in the original language too.

Buy Distant Signs at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com. Publisher: Neem Tree Press Limited pub date 21 Feb. 2019. Hardback Price £14.99, eBook price £8.99

About the translator - Douglas Irving
Douglas Irving is Scottish. He studied German and Spanish at Aberdeen University. In 2014 he completed a Masters in Translation at Glasgow University. His first translation, Crossing: A Love Story by Anna Seghers was published in 2016 in the US to positive reviews. His translation of Anna Seghers’ last work published in her lifetime, Three Women from Haiti, is set to follow.

Neem Tree Press
Visit neemtreepress.com, Follow @neemtreepress on Twitter or on Facebook

#BlogTour Kill for Me by Rebecca Bradley

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Kill for Me by Rebecca Bradley. It's a fast-paced crime thriller.

About the Author
Rebecca Bradley is a retired police detective. She lives in the UK with her family and her two cockapoo's Alfie and Lola, who keep her company while she writes. Rebecca needs to drink copious amounts of tea to function throughout the day and if she could, she would survive on a diet of tea and cake while committing murder on a regular basis, in her writing of course.

She writes the DI Hannah Robbins police procedural series and has also released a standalone novel, Dead Blind, about a cop who acquires prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness.

To receive a free novella sign up to her readers' club and you will be able to download the prequel to Hannah Robbins series. Find it on the blog at rebeccabradleycrime.com.You'll also be provided exclusive content and giveaways.

Follow @RebeccaJBradley on Twitter, On Facebook, on Instagram, Amazon Author page, on Goodreads, Visit rebeccabradleycrime.com
Buy Kill for Me

About the book
A deadly game. An unstoppable killer. The perfect alibi.

Lucy Anderson is late collecting her daughter from nursery. A mistake that could prove fatal.
Her daughter is gone and there is only one way Lucy can get her back. The ransom is simple, she has to kill someone…

And this is just the beginning. A deadly game with a domino effect has started as the real killer forces others to do his bidding.

Can detective inspector Hannah Robbins find the killer’s next puppet before they’re forced to strike or will this be the case where her opponent has found the perfect way to kill?

Pick up Kill For Me for impossible choices and moral dilemmas and see where you would fall.

Review
This is the fifth book in the DI Hannah Robbins series and can absolutely be read as a standalone novel.

This is a domino effect crime. Pressure person A to kill unknown variable, blackmail person B to get rid of the evidence aka person A, and so on. Seems to be the kind of crimes that remain motiveless and perhaps even unsolved. The person at the helm, who is controlling the kills and the narrative is sure nothing can lead straight back to the source.

Would you kill to save a loved one? Would you go against every instinct in your body and kill an innocent person? Weighing the life of an innocent against your own or that of your child. Would you, could you?

The other recurring storyline is Robbins dealing with the way her boss is treating a member of her team. Whilst I absolutely support a diverse and inclusive work environment, and abhor mobbing and/or discrimination, there is a point I want to make. Given the fact that their boss is only privy to fifty percent of all the information, and said colleague decides to keep his disorder and disability a secret, both Robbins and said colleague shouldn't expect special treatment.

As far as their commanding officer is concerned the colleague is being rude and disrespectful, and there is no way he is completing his job correctly with earphones in his ears. The fact that they might be a medical or mental health necessity may not cross his mind, because he can't make assumptions. In this case I felt he had a point, at the same time I understand the need to keep certain issues private, but if it is something so in your face then it has to be addressed in the work environment.

It's a fast-paced crime thriller. The perpetrator appears to be ahead of the police all of the time, except of course the truth is everyone makes a mistake, even if it just a small one.

Buy Kill for Me at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any retailer. Published in ebook and audio formats on 14th February 2019. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of the Twisted Web by Rebecca Bradley.

#BlogTour The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Library of the Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick. It's an intricate contemporary read, a mystery.

About the Author
Phaedra Patrick studied art and marketing and has worked as a stained glass artist, film festival organiser and communications manager. Her short stories have won competitions run by Penguin and Darley Anderson and she now writes full time. She lives in Saddleworth with her husband and son.

Follow @phaedrapatrick on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads,Visit phaedra-patrick.com
Buy The Library of Lost and Found 

About the book
Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people--though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her superhero-themed notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she's invisible. All of that changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep.

Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her best friend--her grandmother Zelda--who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda's past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.

Filled with Phaedra Patrick's signature charm and vivid characters, The Library of Lost and Found is a heart-warming reminder that even the quietest life has the potential to be extraordinary.

Review
Martha does everything for everyone. Their laundry, sewing, fixing costumes, baking and any other thing she thinks will help others. Except there is a fine line between helping and be taken advantage of.

That's is the crux of Martha's problems, she is unable or unwilling to stand up for herself. A lifetime of being oppressed and of kow-towing to her father, putting her needs last and playing by rules made by others. It has made her a target for those who like to bully, use and abuse.

The other side of her helping out is the way her inability to say no impacts her living situation. It appears to be quirky and eccentric at first, but the truth is perhaps more serious.

Her life changes when a mysterious package is left outside her place of work. It leads her to questions she didn't know existed or that she needed to know the answers to. To a world behind the truth she knows, the only truth she knows.

Read me, I'm yours.

Would you be able to resist a book with a post-it note reading the aforementioned? I am certain I wouldn't be able to. The question is why someone would do that. To share the love of reading, to create an invisible thread to the source or is it ego-centric?

It's all connected to the stories Martha wrote as a child and the fact that she stopped writing them.
This story is all about finding your inner mojo, especially when it has been repressed and locked away for many years. Martha comprehends the level of emotional and coercive abuse her mother suffered, but it takes meeting Zelda to finally understand what her father did to her.

It's a beautiful and heartfelt story about mental health, self-discovery and the kind of secrets that change lives. It's an intricate contemporary read, a mystery. A family full of secrets, hidden heartache and the soul of a little girl lost in the body of grown woman. The story has a hint of mystique, which in the end is perhaps just the culmination of human mistakes and a love for the written word.

Buy The Library of Lost and Found at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.

#BlogTour The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North

Happy Publication Day to The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North, and it's also my turn on the BlogTour today! It's a psychological thriller, and in equal measures a story about grief and mental health.

Copyright Lindsay Wakelin Photography

About the Author
Lauren North writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.

Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside.

Follow @Lauren_C _North @TransworldBooks on Twitter, or Lauren on Facebook, on Goodreads,
Buy The Perfect Betrayal

About the book
After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she’ll do anything to protect him – but she’s struggling to cope.

When grief counsellor Shelley knocks on their door, everything changes. Shelley is understanding and kind, and promises she can help Tess through the hardest time of her life.

But when a string of unsettling events happens and questions arise over her husband’s death, Tess starts to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe – but she’s at her most vulnerable, and that’s a dangerous place to be.

Review
I'm going to try and be careful not to give away anything that might reveal the plot in its entirety, because the emotional crescendo at the end and psychological aspect of the story is what makes it such a captivating read.

When Tess loses her husband unexpectedly her grief envelopes her whole world. She becomes fiercely protective of her young son Jamie, almost to the point of being paranoid and self-destructive. A grief counsellor called Shelley tries to help Tess deal with her loss, but ends up making her doubt herself and her surroundings even more.

The paranoia Tess experiences is magnified tenfold by her brother-in-law Ian. He is pushing Tess to deal with the financial aftermath of the death, pushing entirely in his favour of course. His greed and the fact there seem to be discrepancies and unanswered questions about the death of her spouse make Tess even more sensitive to the odd things that start happening around her.

The author captures the intensity of the grief process and how it manifests differently in each of us. In some people it manifests in feelings of anger, guilt, fear, perhaps even relief depending on the circumstances of the loss. Grief isn't necessarily rational and can cause an altered state of mind.

I think the most difficult thing is that the people outside of that intense inner ring of grief often lack compassion, empathy and understanding about the way a grieving person may react. They expect the grieving person to deal with it, get over it and just move on to the next chapter of their lives. It isn't that simple. Grief is a pit of embers that alights when triggered. Those embers may be less likely to precede a fire with time, but make no mistake they are always hidden somewhere deep inside.

It's a psychological thriller, and in equal measures a story about grief and mental health. How the emotional turmoil caused by despair, death and losing the people you love the most can drive a person to the brink.

North brings the story full circle at the end, and in a way brings the most realistic element of this tale into the last few pages. Tess makes a decision for her own well-being, perhaps not what everyone thinks is best, but in that moment in time it's the right thing for her or is it?

Buy The Perfect Betrayal at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Published in paperback format by Corgi Books on 27th June 2019. (also available in ebook and audio formats). Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Kobo. Buy at Waterstones. Buy at Book Depository. Buy at Hive.

#BlogBlitz Three: Deception Love Murder by K. J. McGillick

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Three: Deception Love Murder by K.J. McGillick. It's a crime and mystery thriller, emerging readers into the world of modern crimes.

Three will be 99 p/c for the duration of the tour!

About the Author
K. J. McGillick was born in New York and once she started to walk she never stopped running. But that's what New Yorker's do. Right? A Registered Nurse, a lawyer now author.

As she evolved so did her career choices. After completing her graduate degree in nursing, she spent many years in the university setting sharing the dreams of the enthusiastic nursing students she taught. After twenty rewarding years in the medical field she attended law school and has spent the last twenty-four years as an attorney helping people navigate the turbulent waters of the legal system. Not an easy feat. And now? Now she is sharing the characters she loves with readers hoping they are intrigued by her twisting and turning plots and entertained by her writing.

Follow @KJMcGillickAuth on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Facebook,Visit kjmcgillick.com
Click here to watch the Book Trailer for Three

Buy Three: Deception Love Murder

About the book
Inviting a stranger into your home can be dangerous. Inviting a stranger into your life can turn deadly.

How would you feel if you discovered your death was meticulously planned by someone you loved? You didn't know how or when or even why. All you could do was wait. Emma has it all-a job she loves and a man who professed to love her. Or did she? How could she be so blind?

When her lover’s car is found burned and abandoned in another state, the police come asking some hard questions. What she discovers upends her world completely. Jude had been living a double life right under her nose. A deceitful life, a treacherous life. Who was this man that had already groomed another woman to take over Emma's life? A woman who was Emma's body double and now dead.

Why had she so easily trusted this psychopath with her heart? Betrayed on every level, consequences not of Emma’s making were nipping at her heels. Tick. Tock.

THREE is a gripping crime thriller that will have you hooked. A fast-paced psychological thriller that has been compared to the works of Dan Brown. It can be read as a standalone and serves as the first book in the Path of Deception and Betrayal series.

Review
Aunt Mary absolutely steals the show in this story. On meds or off meds she is always a hoot. You just never know what's going to come out of her mouth next. When she isn't on high alert and on the look out for Russians and spies, she is actively engaged in sourcing the right man for Emma.

The day starts out with some confusion about Emma owning a safety box she has no knowledge about. Her domestic partner is missing, her career has taken a turn for the worst and for some reason she has become a person of interest to law enforcement.

The amount of strange events seems to be in direct correlation to Jude's disappearance, but that has to be some kind of coincidence, right? Surely there is no way the man who loves her so deeply can't be involved. Hmm then again, when Emma thinks about it perhaps things haven't been so hunky-dory between them lately.

It's quite interesting how Eloise and Mary draw all the attention and give the reader the best moments in the book, as opposed to the main character Emma, who sometimes seems to be completely lost in the chaos of her life.

The romantic element of the story was a bit bada bing bada boom at the end with little bada in the middle, again Emma floats along whilst others swim.

It's a crime and mystery thriller, emerging readers into the world of modern crimes. A story of betrayal, deceit and a relationship built on a mountain of lies.

Everyone needs an Aunt Mary, especially if you inadvertently end up in the middle of a global scam with possible terrorist links. This is the first book in the A Path of Deception and Betrayal series, which hopefully means we will soon be hearing from Emma and Aunt Mary again very soon.

Buy Three: Deception Love Murder (A Path of Deception and Betrayal #1) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: KJRM Publishing LLC; pub date 5 Jan. 2018. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Sister of Mine by Laurie Petrou

Today it's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Sister of Mine by Laurie Petrou. It's a murder mystery with the vibe of a psychological thriller, and it's women's fiction.

About the Author
Laurie Petrou has a PhD in Communication and Culture, and is an Associate Professor at Ryerson’s RTA School of Media in Toronto, where she is also the Director of the Masters of Media Production program. She has given several TEDx talks on subjects including gender and rejection. Laurie was the inaugural winner of the Half the World Global Literati Award in 2016, a prize that honours unpublished work featuring female protagonists, for her novel Sister of Mine. She now lives in a small town in Ontario wine country with her husband, a wine maker, and their two sons.

Follow @lauriepetrou on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Facebook, Visit lauriepetrou.com
Buy Sister of Mine

About the book
Two Sisters. One Fire. A Secret that won't burn out.
The Grayson sisters are trouble. Everyone in their small town knows it. But no-one can know of the
secret that binds them together. Hattie is the light. Penny is the darkness. Together, they have balance.

But one night the balance is toppled. A match is struck. A fire is started. A cruel husband is killed. The potential for a new life flickers in the fire’s embers, but resentment, guilt, and jealousy suffocate like smoke. Their lives have been engulfed in flames – will they ever be able to put them out?

Review
The relationships between sisters are often complicated and fraught with emotion. When it comes to Peggy and Hattie it is also a bond created through guilt, anger, fear and the need to protect each other.

Peggy always feels as if she has to keep Hattie safe, despite being the typical older sister who finds her little sister annoying. Hattie is the unpredictable hothead with a penchant for getting into trouble.

They have a dysfunctional codependent relationship, which starts to disintegrate when the secrets they share start to take their toll on the two of them. What are they hiding? Will Peggy let Hattie blackmail her into the ultimate sacrifice?

Petrou delivers a nice little double-twist at the end, which puts the whole story into perspective. It’s a whirlwind of emotions and filled with haunting feelings of inadequacy, but also takes on difficult topics like domestic violence, misogyny and surrogacy.

It's a murder mystery with the vibe of a psychological thriller, and it's women's fiction.

It’s an engrossing read, especially in regards to the sister’s relationship. The animosity, bitterness and paranoia is countered by the sisterly bond the two of them share. It’s definitely a book I recommend, because I know exactly what it’s like to share that type of bond. Messed up and hard to sever.

Buy Sister of Mine at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: No Exit Press pub date 20 Jun. 2019. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at No Exit Press.

#BlogTour Death Of An Angel by Derek Farrell

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Death of an Angel by Derek Farrell. It's highly entertaining crime fiction, urban crime with a solid set of characters.

About the Author
Derek Farrell is the author of the Danny Bird Mysteries, ‘Death of a Diva,’ ‘Death of a Nobody’ ‘Death of a Devil,’ and ‘Death of an Angel.’
He was educated in Dublin, and, whilst waiting to become a writer of fabulous crime novels has passed his time being a burger dresser, bank cashier, David Bowie’s paperboy, and an Investment Banker in New York’s World Trade Centre (a bit like The Wolf of Wall Street, only with fewer hookers and more midgets, since you ask).

He is married and divides his time between London, West Sussex and Dublin. Derek loves to hear from his readers, and can be contacted at his sparkly new website Derekfarrell.co.uk

His books can be purchased as paperbacks or ebooks direct from the publisher Fahrenheit Press at: fahrenheit-press.com/books

Follow @DerekIFarrell on Twitter, on Amazon, on Instagram, 

Buy Death of an Angel

About the book
A woman is found dead in a London street - the evidence suggests she plummeted to her death from a nearby tower block – but did she fall or was she pushed? And why does she have Danny Bird’s name written on the back of her hand?

So begins this 4th magnificent outing for Danny and the gang from The Marq.

In the frame for a murder he didn’t commit, London’s self-proclaimed Sherlock Homo has no choice but to don his metaphorical deerstalker one more time to prove his innocence and uncover the truth about the tragic death of Cathy Byrne.

With the indomitably louche Lady Caz by his side, Danny plunges headlong into a complex investigation while at the same time trying to be a dutiful son to his increasingly secretive parents, and still find the time to juggle his frustratingly moribund love-life.

Review
It's not easy to write crime and make it snarky funny. A lot of authors let it veer into cheese, slapstick or crudeness for instance. Farrell hits the perfect balance between compelling crime story and an amusing sleuthing duo.

This is crime upon crime woven together to present a bigger picture of corruption, neglect and murder. Accidents, suicides and a host of other crimes all begin to show a connection, when Danny starts to investigate the death of a woman. A possible suicide, except nobody believes it was suicide.

Why is he investigating? Well, because the local police think Danny had something to do with her death. He seems to be their go-to scapegoat for the majority of crimes that come their way.

I'll admit I laughed quite a lot, especially at the dialogue between Danny and Caz. Lady Caz has a very acerbic tongue. She is a bit like Tuppence (Christie) or Mrs Bradley with the connections of a Kray gal and the temerity of a street fighter. She is bold, smart and you can always expect the unexpected.

It might say Danny Bird on the sign above the mysteries, but Lady Caz plays a leading role. In fact she gives the series an edge and many comedic moments. The combination of the two makes this a really good read.

It's highly entertaining crime fiction, urban crime with a solid set of characters. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to buy or recommend the series.

Kudos to the author for the beginning of the book. I loved the imagery of the scenery.

Buy Death of an Angel (The Danny Bird Mysteries #4) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Published by Fahrenheit Press in paperback and eBook formats on 27th February 2019. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Fahrenheit.

Buy Death of a Diva (The Danny Bird Mysteries #1
Buy Death of a Nobody (The Danny Bird Mysteries #2)
Buy Death of a Devil (The Danny Bird Mysteries #3)

Death of a Diva is also available as a deluxe edition Hardback limited to only 50 Copies worldwide. Purchase it here.

#BlogTour The Case by Leopold Borstinski

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Case by Leopold Borstinski. It's pulp fiction with a noirish vibe.

About the Author
Leopold Borstinski is an independent author whose past careers have included financial journalism, business management of financial software companies, consulting and product sales and marketing, as well as teaching.

There is nothing he likes better so he does as much nothing as he possibly can. He has travelled extensively in Europe and the US and has visited Asia on several occasions. Leopold holds a Philosophy degree and tries not to drop it too often.

He lives near London and is married with one wife, one child and no pets.

Follow @borstinski on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon,Visit leopoldborstinski.com
Buy The Case

About the book
One Private Eye. One Case. One sackful of trouble.

When Jake agrees to take a package across America, he doesn’t know if he’ll live to tell the tale. If the CIA, the Feds and the British Secret Service don't get him then the mob will. How's a cowardly private dick going to survive in these bloody times?

The Case is a stand-alone pulp noir novel. A wry take on the jaw-dropping violent side of private investigator life by Leopold Borstinski, writer of the six-book Lagotti Family series.

Review
I'll admit I got confused and had to go back and check I was reading correctly, because the timeline goes backwards in time instead of from the past then forwards. In fact it jumps back and forth between the 70s, 50s 60s and 90s ect.

It's a pulp fictiony type of read. What is pulp fiction? The term is taken from the pulp magazines of the 30s/40s, printed on low quality paper. Pretty on the outside and a little dingy on the inside. The term as it applies to fiction nowadays often goes hand in hand with pretty women in trouble and the handsome men trying to save them. Although in this case it's more of a stumbling through each scenario and trying to survive kind of guy.

How does it relate to this story? Jake veers into the dingy side of his business, although to be fair being a private eye isn't the shiniest job in the world. He delves deep into the world of the mob and the reader is dragged with him through his often tasteless, banal, dangerous and intrusive jobs throughout the years.

I think it's worth adding that Jake has the demeanour and attitude of someone from more less politically correct times, which means he uses certain phrases and words. The story starts in the late 70s, but as we return to the past it becomes apparent that the aforementioned were considered the norm then.

It's pulp fiction with a noirish vibe. It's a lot different from the Lagotti Family series, but clearly the author likes to play with the murky depths people are willing to go to, especially when it's something they want.

I kinda liked the last few pages. It gave the story a noirish send-off, a middle finger to them all. It leaves the rest of us wondering about the Jake we thought we knew and the Jake who presents himself to us at the end. Did we ever know him at all?

Buy The Case at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Published in paperback and ebook formats by Sobriety Press on 23rd June 2019. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of Mama's Gone by Leopold Borstinski.