Heathcliff

Author – Sue Barnard.

Sue Barnard is a British novelist, editor and award-winning poet whose family background is far stranger than any work of fiction. She would write a book about it if she thought anybody would believe her.

Sue was born in North Wales but has spent most of her life in and around Manchester. She speaks French like a Belgian, German like a schoolgirl, and Italian and Portuguese like an Englishwoman abroad.

Her mind is so warped that she has appeared on BBC TV’s Only Connect quiz show, and she has also compiled questions for BBC Radio 4’s fiendishly difficult Round Britain Quiz. This once caused one of her sons to describe her as “professionally weird.” The label has stuck.

Sue’s first novel, The Ghostly Father (a new take on the traditional story of Romeo & Juliet), was officially released on St Valentine’s Day 2014.  Since then she has produced five more novels: Nice Girls Don’t (2014), The Unkindest Cut of All (2015), Never on Saturday (2017), Heathcliff (2018), and Finding Nina (2019).

Sue now lives in Cheshire, UK, with her extremely patient husband and a large collection of unfinished scribblings. 

Social Media Links –

Blog: http://broad-thoughts-from-a-home.blogspot.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suebarnardauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorSusanB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suebarnardauthor/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sue-Barnard/e/B00IF4ZJJU/

RNA: https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org/rna_author/sue-barnard/

Publisher – Crooked Cat Books

Pages – 169

The Blurb –

It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now…”

Cathy’s immortal words from Wuthering Heights change Heathcliff’s life.  At just seventeen years of age, heartbroken and penniless, he runs away to face an unknown future.

Three years later, he returns – much improved in manners, appearance and prosperity.

But what happened during those years? How could he have made his fortune, from nothing? Who might his parents have been? And what fate turned him into literature’s most famous anti-hero?

For almost two centuries, these questions have remained unanswered.

Until now…

Today is my stop on the Heathcliff blog tour.  Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – I was really happy to review this book after reading the author’s previous book The Ghostly Father which concentrated on the story of Romeo and Juliet, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

This book concentrates on Wuthering Heights published by Emily Bronte in 1847, the main characters being Cathy and Heathcliff.  I always think it is brave to tackle such a well known book and put your spin on it, but Sue Barnard does this extremely well.  It is not a rewriting of the book, none of the elements change.  This book looks at Heathcliff in the three year break in Wuthering Heights.

The book is written from various points of view which I found really good as you get everyone’s perspective which, for me, adds something.

Even if you haven’t read Wuthering Heights, this is well worth a read, you get the gist of the story .  This is a re imagining of a classic that changes nothing of the original but adds elements to it.

Purchase Links – Heathcliff

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Chloe – Never Forget

Author – Dan Laughey.

Dan Laughey is a lecturer at Leeds Beckett University where he teaches a course called ‘Youth, Crime and Culture’ among other things. He has written several books on the subject including Music and Youth Culture, based on his PhD in Sociology at Salford University. He also holds a BA in English from Manchester Metropolitan University and an MA in Communications Studies from the University of Leeds.

Dan was born in Otley and bred in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, a hop and a skip away from the Leeds setting of his Chloe novels.

His crime writing was purely academic to begin with. He’s written about media violence and tackled the age-old concern about television and video games influencing patterns of antisocial behaviour in society. After years of research and theoretical scrutiny, he still hasn’t cracked that particular nut.

He’s also written about the role of CCTV and surveillance in today’s Big Brother world, the sometimes fraught relationship between rap and juvenile crime, football hooliganism, and the sociocultural legacy of Britain’s most notorious serial killer – the Yorkshire Ripper.

All in all, Dan’s work has been translated into four languages: French, Hebrew, Korean and Turkish. He has presented guest lectures at international conferences and appeared on BBC Radio and ITV News in addition to providing expert commentary for The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph.

Dan Laughey

Social Media Links –

Twitter: @danlaughey – Facebook: fb.com/laughey

Publisher – Creativia Publishing

Pages – 258

The Blurb –

An off-duty detective gunned down. A dead woman. A student missing, feared dead. And now, a former policeman in search of his past. All these people, dead or alive, have one thing in common. D.I. Carl Sant must discover what it is.

A series of cold-case enquiries leads D.I. Sant and his colleagues to investigate a botched assassination plot dating back to the 1980s. The deeper they dig into the case, the more secrets are revealed, including shocking connections to the infamous National Front.

Meanwhile, the memory of former P.C. Tanner, survivor of the assassination horror, is beginning to recover. Sant must find Tanner, and find out who is behind it all – before his superiors lose their rag and more lives are lost.

Today is my stop on the Chloe – Never Forget blog tour.  Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – This is the follow up to Chloe – Lost Girl, and I really recommend that you read that book first, so you get up to speed with all that has happened in the story so far.  This book starts to connect all the loose ends we were left with, as D.I Carl Sant and the team start to figure out the connections between the dead policeman, a missing girl and a dead woman.

This book delves further into the past as Sant finds clues that not everyone wants investigating.  A great follow up to the first book, with lots of twists and turns.  Highly recommended.

Purchase Links –

US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PH2MXQR

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07PH2MXQR

The Body In Belair Park

Author – Alice Castle.

Before turning to crime, Alice Castle was a UK newspaper journalist for The Daily Express, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Her first book, Hot Chocolate, set in Brussels and London, was a European hit and sold out in two weeks.

Death in Dulwich was published in September 2017 and has been a number one best-seller in the UK, US, France, Spain and Germany. A sequel, The Girl in the Gallery was published in December 2017 to critical acclaim and also hit the number one spot. Calamity in Camberwell, the third book in the London Murder Mystery series, was published in August 2018, with Homicide in Herne Hill following in October 2018. Revenge on the Rye came out in December 2018. The Body in Belair Park will be published on 25^th June 2019. Alice is currently working on the seventh London Murder Mystery adventure, The Slayings in Sydenham. Once again, it will feature Beth Haldane and DI Harry York.

Alice Castle

Social Media Links –

https://www.alicecastleauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alicecastleauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DDsDiary?lang=en

Links to buy books: http://MyBook.to/GirlintheGallery

http://myBook.to/1DeathinDulwich

http://myBook.to/CiC

http://myBook.to/homicideinhernehill

http://myBook.to/revengeontherye

Publisher – Darkstrokes Publishing

Pages – 292

The Blurb –

Beth Haldane is on the verge of having everything she’s ever wanted. Her son is starting secondary school, her personal life seems to have settled down – even her pets are getting on. But then the phone rings.

It’s Beth’s high maintenance mother, Wendy, with terrible news. Her bridge partner, Alfie Pole, has died suddenly. While Beth, and most of Dulwich, is convinced that Alfie has pegged out from exhaustion, thanks to playing with Wendy for years, Beth’s mother is certain that there is foul play afoot.

Before she knows it, Beth is plunged into her most complicated mystery yet, involving the Dulwich Bridge Club, allotment holders, the Dulwich Open Garden set and, of course, her long-suffering boyfriend, Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Harry York. The case stirs up old wounds which are much closer to home than Beth would like. Can she come up trumps in time to stop the culprit striking again – or does the murderer hold the winning hand this time?

Today is my stop on The Body In Belair Park blog tour.  Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – I really love this series of books, having already read Homicide in Herne Hill and Revenge on the Rye, it was good to catch up with Beth again and see what trouble she gets herself in to this time.

This book sees her looking into the death of her mother’s bridge partner.  What I love about these books is how they are written, they always have a good story told well and are full of humour.

Purchase Links – http://mybook.to/BodyinBelair

Game of Crones

Author – Jay Raven.

Jay Raven is the author of Gothic chillers and historical horror reminding readers that the past is a dangerous place to venture, full of monsters and murderous men. He blames his fascination with vampires, witches and werewolves on the Hammer Horror films he watched as a teenager, but living in a creepy old house on the edge of a 500-acre wood may have something to do with it.

If you would like to be informed of new releases, enjoy free short stories and access exclusive giveaways and competitions, please subscribe to Jay’s monthly newsletter on his website at www.jayraven.co.uk

Jay Raven

Social Media Links –

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/fantasywriterjayraven/

Twitter: @JayRavenAuthor

Website: www.jayraven.com

Pages – 117

The Blurb –

Game of Crones: Tales of Witchcraft and Wickedness

Welcome to a world of cruelty, hexes and treachery, where malicious magic rules and you are but a single necromancer’s spell away from eternal terror.

From malevolent medieval magicians  to Wild West witches, this spellbinding volume by a master of the macabre is packed with frightening fables guaranteed to send a supernatural chill down your spine.

Amongst the haunting historical horror stories, you’ll meet:

• A half-crazed girl locked up in a high security mental hospital by those accusing her of causing a devastating earthquake.
• An impoverished French noblewoman who’ll stop at nothing to marry her daughter to a wealthy prince – even if it means dabbling with a dangerous love potion.
• The hated public executioner Pandora whose fabled box has already killed 55 men – without leaving a trace of violence on their bodies.
• Wily witch Merta who uses all her wits and trickery to turn the tables on the corrupt Mayor who wants her burnt alive at the stake.
• A faery mage without conscience or pity with the perfect plan to make Mankind turn on itself – and all it takes is one innocent baby.
• A drought-stricken frontier town that seeks magical help from the local Indian tribe to make it rain, but learns it comes at a terrible cost.
• The doubt-ridden King, plagued by nightmares of his death, who consults an enchantress to learn the most of hidden of secrets: just when the Grim Reaper will claim him.
• A Mid Western widow who is convinced her homesteading husband is still alive, held hostage by a sorceress.

If you’re thrilled by exciting dark fantasy tales, with cunning twists, edge-of -the seat tension and unexpected shivers, you’ll love Game of Crones. Pick it up today. If you dare…

Today is my stop on Game of Crones blog tour.  Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – This is a great collection of short stories, which you know by now I love.  Firstly the title, I love a good pun and this one is clever.

All the stories contain, as the title suggests, witches or some form of magic within them.  There are eight tales in total and although they all have a common thread, they are all very different in tone.  I enjoyed them all but my favourite was Suggestion of Evil, which I thought was very captivating.  In this story Pandora, has all but wiped out crime from every town she visits, simply by the method she uses to execute prisoners.  What is her secret?

Purchase Links –

https://www.amazon.com/Game-Crones-Tales-Witchcraft-Wickedness-ebook/dp/B07QKMJV5N

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Game-Crones-Tales-Witchcraft-Wickedness-ebook/dp/B07QKMJV5N

Son of the Moon

Author – Jennifer Macaire.

Jennifer Macaire lives with her husband, three children, & various dogs & horses. She loves cooking, eating chocolate, growing herbs and flowering plants on her balcony, and playing golf. She grew up in upstate New York, Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. She graduated from St. Peter and Paul high school in St. Thomas and moved to NYC where she modeled for five years for Elite. She met her husband at the polo club. All that is true. But she mostly likes to make up stories.

Jennifer Macaire

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimeforAlexander/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jennifermacaire/

twitter @jennifermacaire

https://jennifermacaire.wordpress.com/

Publisher – Accent Press

Pages – 261

The Blurb –

Alexander the Great journeys to India, where he and Ashley are welcomed with feasts and treachery.

With their son, Paul, being worshiped as the Son of the Moon, and Alexander’s looming death, Ashley considers the unthinkable: how to save them and whether she dares to cheat Fate?

Today is my stop on the Son of the Moon blog tour.  Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – This is the third in the Time for Alexander series and I was really happy to catch up with Ashley and Alexander again.  You can read my reviews for the first two books, The Road to Alexander and Legends of Persia.

Although this is part of an ongoing series, it can also be read as a stand alone, although I recommend starting with Book One.

This book sees the couple concentrating on their son and his ‘powers’, hence the title of the book.  The author has successfully succeeded in making Ashley and Alexander a believable couple and some of the things in this book, highlight this.

Another good addition to the series.

Author Giveaway –

Giveaway to Win a $10 Amazon gift certificate and a mug (Open INT)

Look how lovely the mug is!

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

To enter click here

Purchase Links –

http://getbook.at/SonOfTheMoon

https://accentpressbooks.com/collections/historical-romance/products/son-of-the-moon

One Last Summer

Author – Victoria Connelly.

Victoria Connelly studied English literature at Worcester University, got married in a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales and now lives in rural Suffolk with her artist husband, a young springer spaniel and a flock of ex-battery hens.

She is the author of two bestselling series, Austen Addicts and The Book Lovers, as well as many other novels and novellas. Her first published novel, Flights of Angels, was made into a film in 2008 by Ziegler Films in Germany. The Runaway Actress was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Comedy Novel award.

Ms Connelly loves books, films, walking, historic buildings and animals. If she isn’t at her keyboard writing, she can usually be found in her garden, with either a trowel in her hand or a hen on her lap.

Victoria Connelly

Her website is http://www.victoriaconnelly.com, and readers can follow her on Twitter @VictoriaDarcy and on Instagram @VictoriaConnellyAuthor.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312085782631729/

Twitter: @VictoriaDarcy

Instagram: @VictoriaConnellyAuthor

Publisher – Lake Union Publishing

Pages – 296

The Blurb –

They have the whole summer ahead of them. Is it enough to rekindle the friendship they once shared?

Harriet Greenleaf dreams of spending the summer in a beautiful ancient priory on the Somerset coast with her two best friends—but her dream is bittersweet. On the one hand, it’s a chance to reconnect three lives that have drifted apart; on the other, she has a devastating secret to share that will change everything between them forever.

First to arrive is Audrey—the workaholic who’s heading for a heart attack unless she slows down and makes time for herself. Then Lisa, the happy-go-lucky flirt who’s always struggled to commit to anyone—or anything. Ever the optimist, can Harriet remind them of the joy in their lives and the importance of celebrating good friendship before it’s gone?

Through the highs and lows of a long, glorious summer, these three women will rediscover what it means to be there for each other—before they face the hardest of goodbyes.

Today is my stop on the One Last Summer blog tour.  Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – What a beautiful book about friendship.  It is well written and shows how a diagnosis of a serious illness can affect not just the person but the people around them.

Harriet is dying, but only her daughter knows.  She has kept her secret from her lifelong friends and her ex husband, but now she has to tell them the truth.  She goes to extraordinary lengths to make this last summer, her best and for them, one never to be forgotten.

I love how the author shows the relationships between all the parties change, as they come to terms with their friends secrets.  How being so close to a terminal illness, makes them reevaluate their lives.

A beautiful weepy.

Purchase Links –

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Last-Summer-Victoria-Connelly-ebook/dp/B07G38S71K

US – https://www.amazon.com/One-Last-Summer-Victoria-Connelly-ebook/dp/B07G38S71K

 

 

The New Achilles

Author –

Christian Cameron (Also Miles Cameron, author of the ‘Red Knight’ and ‘Fell Sword’) was born in the US, in Pittsburg PA, in 1962 and grew up in Rochester, NY and Iowa City, Iowa, as well as Rockport MA. He attended high school at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester NY and got an honours BA in Medieval History at the University of Rochester. After University, Mr. Cameron joined the United States Navy as an Ensign, serving in VS 31 as an air intelligence officer and gaining his Air Observer wings before going to spend the rest of his military career as a humint officer, first with NCIS and later with DHS, serving in the first Gulf War, Somalia, and central Africa on numerous occasions. Mr. Cameron left the US military in 2000 as a Lieutenant Commander.

While still serving in the Navy, Mr. Cameron proposed his first novel with his father (Kenneth Cameron, American novelist and playwright) to Harper Collins UK, which was published in 1996 as ‘Night Trap” in the UK and “Rules of Engagement” in the United States. In 2002, Mr. Cameron wrote his first solo novel, “Washington and Caesar,” published by Harper Collins in the UK and Random House in the US. Also in 2002, Mr. Cameron moved to Canada and married his wife, Sarah. They have one child, Beatrice. They live in Toronto.

Mr. Cameron is a passionate historical re-enactor, with interests in the American Revolution (www.csmid.com) and the Persian wars (www.plataians.org) and the Middle Ages.

Social Media Links

Author website – www.hippeis.com.

Author website at Miles Cameron – www.traitorson.com

Publisher – Orion Publishing

Pages – 416

The Blurb –

Alexanor is a man who has seen too much blood. He has left the sword behind him to become a healer in the greatest sanctuary in Greece, turning his back on war.

But war has followed him to his refuge at Epidauros, and now a battle to end the freedom of Greece is all around him. The Mediterranean superpowers of Rome, Egypt and Macedon are waging their proxy wars on Hellenic soil, turning Greek farmers into slaves and mercenaries.

When wounded soldier Philopoemen is carried into his temple, Alexanor believes the man’s wounds are mortal but that he is not destined to die. Because he knows Philopoemen will become Greece’s champion. Its last hero. The new Achilles.

In Christian Cameron’s latest historical novel the old orders of the world begin to fall apart as Rome rises to supremacy – and Greece struggles to survive.

Today is my stop on the The New Achilles blog tour.  Many thanks to Tracy Fenton for the chance to read and review.

My thoughts – What a fantastic book.  You can tell that the author is an expert on the subject as his knowledge is weaved through the story.  His writing really conjures up the period and it is easy to picture the characters and situations.

I found it really immersive, and really liked that the main character Alexanor was a man of peace.

Purchase Links –