Monthly Archives: October 2012

Passenger 13 by Scott Mariani

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Five years before the events of The Alchemist’s Secret… 

June 2003: the world is still on fire in the aftermath of 9/11. Fresh from the bloody conflict of the Second Gulf War, SAS soldier Ben Hope returns to Britain for some R&R leave, only to find himself embroiled in an intrigue deadlier than anything he’s encountered on the battlefields of Iraq. 

When a passenger aircraft piloted by Ben’s former army comrade Nick Chapman crashed off the Cayman Islands killing everyone on board, the official line was that Chapman committed suicide. But things don’t add up, and Ben’s old friend is barely in his grave before unfolding events point to something far bigger and more sinister going on. What did Chapman witness that powerful forces would do anything to suppress? Who was the mysterious thirteenth passenger on board the doomed flight? 

Following the trail of clues from the rugged Welsh borders to the Caribbean paradise that Chapman had made his home, Ben quickly discovers that some kinds of knowledge will get you killed – fast. Knowledge that threatens to unmask a global conspiracy of shocking proportions and change the way we view the world… and its masterminds have just made Ben Hope their principal target.

My Thoughts

I’ve read a couple of Scott Mariani’s books before and very much enjoyed them. When I was searching through ebook/ Novellas on Amazon, I came across Passenger 13 and as it was a ‘Ben Hope’ book, I downloaded it without hesitation. I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest.

Ben Hope is a great hero for the book and I love the fact that he has his flaws as well.  Although Passenger 13 doesn’t have the historical references that some of the later books have, it’s a great read and gives some background to Ben Hope which was nice to find out about. Lots of action, fast paced, twists and turns in the plot as always, stuff that really keeps you on your toes.

Links for Scott Mariani

Webpage : http://www.scottmariani.com/index.html

Amazon link : Passenger 13

Darcie’s Dilemma by Sue Moorcroft

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How do you weigh one love against another? 


Things haven’t been easy for Darcie Killengrey; left with the responsibility of her troubled teenage brother Ross and a past of unhappiness and heartbreak.

And then Jake Belfast strides back into her life, as acerbic and contrary as he is exciting and handsome— he also just happens to be her best friend’s brother. 

Having parted on bad terms two years previously, Darcie and Jake now find themselves flung back together. Tensions reach new heights when they’re forced to work in the same place and the pair struggle to put the past behind them.

And, all the while, Ross is becoming increasingly involved with a dangerous influence, which looks set to make Darcie’s problems with Jake pale into insignificance …

My Thoughts

This is the fist novella I’ve read by Sue Moorcroft and it was really enjoyable.

I really empathised with Darcie, having constantly to swap roles of sister and mother but ultimately being left somewhere in between the two.  Not only that but having to deal with the return of her best friend’s brother, Jake – each with their own idea of what had happened in the past.  Would they ever see eye to eye about it?

I liked the fact that the novella didn’t just deal with Darcie and Jake but it also told the story of  Darcie’s brother, Ross, and from his point of view. A teenager who had a heck of a lot on his plate to try and deal with.  I felt his character was very well written and realistic.

An entertaining read where you find yourself very much involved with the characters’ lives and willing them on to a happy ending.

Links for Sue Moorcroft

Webpage http://www.suemoorcroft.com/

Blog : http://suemoorcroft.wordpress.com/

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sue.moorcroft.3?fref=ts

Twitter : @suemoorcroft

Darcie’s Dilemma available at Amazon UK

Published by ChocLit : http://www.choclitpublishing.co.uk/

Spellbindingly Fun Party Spell

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Today Janice Horton’s Novella, How Do You Voodoo? is officially released – YAY!

And it’s Free to download today, Friday 26th October – see links below

Here’s my review

How Do You Voodoo? is a novella of approximately 20,000 words and what a fun 20,000 words it is.

I really enjoyed the light-hearted tone of the novella and the humour that Janice Horton brings to it.  There’s a little bit of everything, romance, intrigue, mystery, black magic and fun. It touches on a few more serious issues, but all in keeping with the style and genre. The story takes a trip to Scotland and it was really great reading about the area.

A really fun and heart-warming read to curl up with over Halloween or, indeed, any time for that matter.

To celebrate, Janice is hosting a Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party. My spell this month would have to be for a family party where we are celebrating several special birthdays that have happened this year. 

1 x 70th

2 x 50th

1 x 40th

1 x 21st

2 x 18th

So lots of balloons, cake and champagne for us all

Janice Horton lives in Scotland and writes contemporary romance with humour. Her novels ‘Bagpipes & Bullshot’ and ‘Reaching for the Stars’ are both Amazon Kindle bestsellers. Her latest title ‘How Do You Voodoo?’ is a romantic and humorous novella for Halloween and out now!

Find out more about Janice and her novels:

Author Blog: http://www.janicehortonwriter.blogspot.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter: @JaniceHorton
Like her Author Facebook Page
Featured Author & Associate Editor at: Loveahappyending.com

Link to her ebooks on Amazon.co.uk

Link to her ebooks on Amazon.com

Security : What Every Girl Should Have

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Cover reveal – Mandy Baggot : Security 

*** For Your Eyes Only  ***

Before Bond, meet Regan…Nathan Regan

 
The new Bond film, Skyfall launches tomorrow – but why wait until then for a military intelligence hottie? Let me introduce you to the lead male in Mandy Baggot’s new romantic thriller, Security and reveal the eye-catching 007-style book cover!
 
 
Lies hurt, but the truth can get you killed
Autumn Raine is a pop vocalist at the very top of her game. She’s a style icon, the paparazzi’s darling and everyone wants to be her friend. But when her safety is threatened, her whole life starts to unravel.
Enter Nathan Regan, an ex-elite soldier who is assigned to protect her. He’s a good man doing bad things but what drives him? Passion? Madness? Or grief? Demons from his past are threatening to consume him. Can he win the fight alone or will he have to admit he needs help?
As the threat deepens, Autumn starts to find out who she really needs in her life. Is there still room for personal assistant Janey or rapper boyfriend Rockweiler? When everyone around her is feeding her lies, how does she work out the truth? Does her record producer know more than he’s letting on? What is her mother, the British Foreign Secretary’s involvement in the situation? And can Autumn put her faith in a forty-something Jamaican woman who handles an automatic weapon as expertly as she cooks?
Eluding kidnap and trying to stay alive, can Autumn find the strength to be the person she longs to be? And can two people, poles apart, forge something strong enough to survive anything?
 
Security is coming from Sapphire Star Publishing on 4 April 2013! If you can’t wait until then to find out more here is the link to the teasing trailer!
 

Find out more about Mandy’s books at www.mandybaggot.webs.com or check out her author page with Sapphire Star Publishinghttp://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/mandybaggot

Collect the Bond film titles and WIN a signed paperback copy of Strings Attached!

FIVE paperback copies of Mandy’s novel Strings Attached are up for grabs! All you have to do is collect the Bond films. On each of the websites featuring the Security cover reveal there will be Bond film mentioned (NOT Skyfall). Once you have all the titles, drop Mandy an email mandybaggot@sapphirestarpublishing.com – competition closes on 1 November – and you will go into the draw for one of the books! Easy! Here are the website links you need!
*   *   *   *   *
Sharon Goodwin (Jera’s Jamboree) http://jerasjamboree.wordpress.com/
Carol (Dizzy C’s Little Book Blog)http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Kate (Me, My Books and I) http://memybooksandi.wordpress.com/
Sue Fortin (Love Reading, Love Books) https://lovereadinglovebooks.wordpress.com/
Lindsay Gentles (TTP Book Reviews) http://www.turningthepages.ca/
Eve Chong (Eve’s Chicklit Reviews) http://www.chicklitevexx.blogspot.co.uk/

Marry In Haste by Christina Courtenay

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‘I need to marry, and I need to marry at once’ 

When James, Viscount Demarr confides in an acquaintance at a ball one evening, he has no idea that the potential solution to his problems stands so close at hand …
Amelia Ravenscroft is the granddaughter of a earl and is desperate to escape her aunt’s home where she has endured a life of drudgery, whilst fighting off the increasingly bold advances of her lecherous cousin. She boldly proposes a marriage of convenience. 

And Amelia soon proves herself a perfect fit for the role of Lady Demarr. But James has doubts and his blossoming feelings are blighted by suspicions regarding Amelia’s past. 
Will they find, all too painfully, that if you marry in haste you repent at leisure?

My Thoughts

This novella has all the ingredients I enjoy in a book; romance, adventure and tension. For a book of 117 pages there is quite a lot going on, but it all blends in so easily and effortlessly that you just get drawn into it.  There is the main story of James and Amelia but there is also more than one sub-plot running throughout.

I liked Amelia’s determination and the fact that she wasn’t a push-over and James although not perfect, was a great hero.

I always enjoy Christina Courtenay’s writing style and this was no exception – I felt transported into the era and caught up in all the happenings.  A thoroughly good read, one which I would quite happily have read as a full length novel.

Webpage http://christinacourtenay.com/

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/christina.courtenay.9?fref=ts

Twitter : @PiaCCourtenay

Published by Choc Lit Publishing : http://www.choclitpublishing.com/

Marry In Haste is available to purchase as an e-book on Amazon.co.uk  …. HERE

How Do You Voodoo? by Janice Horton

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Loveless fashion model Nola Nichols thinks being beautiful is a curse; that is until she is cursed and her looks begin to fade just a week before the most important photo shoot of her career.

Nola rejects all rational explanation on what might be causing her lost looks and decides she has to find a way to get uncursed. This imaginative quest takes her from the Caribbean to Glasgow’s own City of the Dead. Along the way, she finds herself taking part in a rather unconventional funeral, involved in a voodoo ritual, reveals one or two unrests in her own past and falls madly in love with a doctor. Erm, that would be a witch doctor, right…?

My Thoughts

How Do You Voodoo? is a novella of approximately 20,000 words and what a fun 20,000 words it is.

I really enjoyed the light-hearted tone of the novella and the humour that Janice Horton brings to it.  There’s a little bit of everything, romance, intrigue, mystery, black magic and fun. It touches on a few more serious issues, but all in keeping with the style and genre. The story takes a trip to Scotland and it was really great reading about the area.

A really fun and heart-warming read to curl up with over Halloween or, indeed, any time for that matter.

How Do You Voodoo? is available to purchase on Amazon now and will be officially launched on 26 October 2012 when Janice is having a Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party, click here to join in the fun.

Links for Janice Horton

Janice Horton blog http://janicehortonwriter.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/janicehortonwriter?fref=ts

Twitter : @Janicehorton

Amazon.co.uk here

Amazon.com here

Cells by Harriet Grace

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One woman. Two men. A last chance for happiness. Peak time on the Features Floor of a national newspaper and the computers crash. Martha Morgan, Features Editor, is losing control of her job. Head pounding she looks up and there is Jon. Is he the saviour she needs? Past and present combine into an explosive future in this literary novel.

My Thoughts

Cells is told through the eyes of three different people, Martha, her husband Grant and a colleague Jon.  It delves deeply into their lives and thoughts, not only as individuals but as they interact with each other and those around them.  Different points of view over the same issues are clearly shown the reader gets to know each character in intimate detail.

The main issue of the novel is fertility problems suffered by Martha and Grant, but other issues in their lives are examined, some going way back to their childhood.

At one time or another I found the characters to be as equally frustrating as they were likable which I feel was a true reflection on how people are in every day life. A thought provoking novel dealing with the challenges of the situation and the fickleness of human nature brought clearly to life.

Links for Harriet Grace and her novel ‘Cells’

http://www.harrietgrace.co.uk/Harriet_Grace/Home.html

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/harriet.grace.50?fref=ts

Twitter : @Harrietgrace65 https://twitter.com/#!/Harrietgrace65 

Amazon.co.uk  here  Available in paperback and e-book