August 1, 2016 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW The Scottish Diamond (novella) by Helena Fairfax

The Scottish Diamond is a contemporary, romantic suspense novella by Helena Fairfax, which follows on from Palace of Deception. However, both books can be read as stand-alones. With a little more darkness and mystery in The Scottish Diamond, we find Elizabeth and Léon in Edinburgh as Elizabeth’s life returns to the norm, after having to impersonate to be the royal Princess Charlotte in Montverrier (Palace of Deception), albeit with her bodyguard in tow!

Title: The Scottish Diamond

Author: Helena Fairfax

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Mystery

Release date: March 12, 2016

Length: 104 pages

Blurb: A powerful, intense and dramatic Scottish romance novella – one that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page…

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair…” When Lizzie Smith starts rehearsing Macbeth with her theatre group in Edinburgh, she’s convinced the witches’ spells are the cause of a run of terrible luck. Lizzie’s boyfriend, Léon – a former bodyguard – is mysteriously turned down for every job he applies for, until he’s finally offered the job of guarding “The Scottish Diamond,” a fabulous jewel from the country of Montverrier.

But the diamond’s previous guard has disappeared in mysterious circumstances. The people of Montverrier are known for double-dealing and skulduggery, and the Scottish Diamond has a history of intrigue and bloody murder. Lizzie is plagued by nightmares in which Macbeth’s witches are warning her of danger.

Then Lizzie discovers she’s being followed through the streets of Edinburgh, and it seems her worst fears are about to be realised!!!!

The Scottish Diamond is a standalone story. Lizzie and Léon first met in the romantic suspense novella Palace of Deception, which is set in the Mediterranean country of Montverrier.

BUY LINKS: Amazon UK & Amazon US

Review ***** (5* rating)

Although a romantic suspense, Helena Fairfax takes us on a darker mystery than we are used to with The Scottish Diamond novella. Now back in Edinburgh with Léon, her former bodyguard, Lizzie’s life has to return to her normal routine with working with her theatre production company, rehearsing and preparing for term time when the schools open up after their summer break. And, what a huge difference it is being back after spending the summer impersonating and covering for the Royal Princess Charlotte of Montverrier, with the beautiful scenery and a suspenseful meeting of her bodyguard in Palace of Deception!

Lizzie notices Léon’s faraway looks as he stares from her bedroom window, not to mention the intensity he radiates. Wild thoughts go through her mind about whether he will enjoy being in Edinburgh, or whether he even loves her enough to stay. To make matters worse, the play she is to rehearse for is the dreaded MacBeth. Isn’t it just a whole load of bad luck, especially to those performing it?

The superstitions worsen as Lizzie overhears suited men speak in the language of Montverrier, possibly mentioning Léon’s name. Is she being paranoid? Meanwhile, Léon is struggling to find work and failing at interviews. Everything seems bleak and solemn. The mood of The Scottish Diamond is in complete contrast to Palace of Deception in terms of the setting, the emotional closeness of Lizzie and Léon, and where Palace of Deception focussed on uniting the two main characters and their success, in The Scottish Diamond there seems to be something between them. The reader fears that they will be pushed apart, and feels the negativity that is swamping Lizzie.

“… the truth is I was frightened of discovering the truth – that he bitterly regretted coming to Edinbugh and he didn’t love me enough to want to stay. During the day there was a thin sheet of glass between us, keeping us apart. At night, though, it was different. Our barriers melted – but even then, there was an intensity to Léon’s love-making that was new, as though each time were going to be our last.”

For a brief moment, this feeling lifts when Léon finds work. Strangely, after having a conversation with some fellow Montverrians he is given the chance to protect The Scottish Diamond. With the diamond about to be exhibited, the previous guard gone missing, and Montverrians that appear to be following Léon, what will become of the diamond? And, what will become of Lizzie and Léon as they get tangled up in the whole fiasco?

Regardless of the fears and mystery that the story holds, one of the enjoyable aspects is knowing that it’s very handy (and HOT), having a bodyguard in Léon around. And, I love his protectiveness of Lizzie; his masculinity ready and waiting for any threat. At the same time, he also allows Lizzie to be independent with her work and doesn’t suffocate her.

Told in first person from Lizzie’s point of view, the reader shares exactly the same worries as Lizzie; the main hope throughout is that they both come out alive, and together! However, there are twists and ordeals to get through which will keep you turning the pages, desperate to find the outcome.

Suspenseful from the beginning, and increasingly as the story unfolds, you’ll love this short adventure that can be read as a stand-alone, or following on from Palace of Deception. It is a story to be read until the very end to be appreciated fully.

A copy of The Scottish Diamond was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

You can check out our review of Palace of Deception (which also includes an interview with the author), along with reviews of Helena’s previous books below:-

PALACE OF DECEPTION – review and author interview

The Silk Romance – Tina’s review

The Silk Romance – Caroline’s review

The Antique Love

A Way From Heart to Heart

July 27, 2016 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Beneath Broken (Imperfect Heroes #2) by C.J. Pinard

C.J. Pinard has provided us with a new beautiful, military romance with Beneath Broken. The characters and storyline will reach any romance fan in a very natural way, being written with a perfect balance of tragedy, romance and suspense. Beneath Broken is certainly my favourite of the series so far!

Title: Beneath Broken (Imperfect Heroes #2)

Author: C.J. Pinard

Genre: Contemporary, Military Romance, Chick-lit

Date released: July 5th, 2016

Length: 322 pages

Blurb: He’s a clean-cut cop who loves a good challenge.
She’s a smart executive with no interest in falling in love.
It won’t take long for the flames of desire to scorch them both, forcing them to either douse the blaze, or succumb to the fire.

MASON
I don’t give up easily. My personality and training taught me that failure is not an option, and getting the attention of the beautiful executive president Harper Mathis is going to be my biggest challenge yet. But first I’ve got to find out why she’s so withdrawn. A woman that stunning must have secrets and I’m going to find out what’s hiding behind those baby blue eyes of hers. She’ll quickly see how much I love a good game of chase.

HARPER
I’ve gone through hell and am not ashamed to admit that I’m broken. Damaged goods. Used up and empty. I want nothing to do with men or love, especially not a cop and a veteran – one who puts his life in danger every day. I’ve been there, done that, and my heart has no interest in someone like Detective Mason Oliver. Even if he’s the hottest thing I’ve laid eyes on in a very long time. I get the feeling Mason always gets what he wants, though. Well, he hasn’t seen my stubborn side.

Beneath Broken is book 2 in the IMPERFECT HEROES series and is for readers 18+.

REVIEW ***** (5* rating)

The second book of the Imperfect Heroes series, Beneath Broken, brings us two new love interests to follow in Mason and Harper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and feel that it is even stronger than the first of the series, Above Protection. Mason and Harper are perfect for each other, and despite their fears and doubts, the story is written extremely well whereby the characters are so compatible in a very realistic way.

For the best part of 18 months or more Harper Mathis has been spending her evenings watching bad tv and eating ice cream since the death of her military husband, Keith. It takes all the energy she has to go to work, but her private life has hit rock bottom. If it wasn’t for her best friend, Adria, dragging her to the gym some evenings she really wouldn’t be doing anything with her personal time, apart from wallowing. Adria is the one person she can truly depend upon.

“… Adria, she was still here when everyone else had left and things were dark and ugly, when all the other friends had disappeared. She was a true friend, and had proved it.”

Her job, working at the company that Keith and herself had set up, helping veterans ‘find jobs, get counselling, and reintegrate back into society’ was the one area of her life she gave her all to; partly in remembrance for her husband, and partly to help these courageous guys at a very sensitive point in their life. And, when her non-profit organization is targeted by a thief it is Detectives Oliver and Jenkins that arrive to investigate the situation.

The story is told from both Harper and Mason’s point of view. I am a fan of this style as the reader can understand the thoughts and actions of the main characters in this way. While Harper is still grieving and extremely low, Detective Mason Oliver, ex military himself, has his own demons to deal with. One of which was his last love. He has a way of dealing with his anger issues with his detective partner at the gym when they spar (sometimes quite aggressively).

However, both Harper and Mason find something else to keep their minds occupied after their first meet… each other. A little unsure at first just how the other sees them, it isn’t too long before they begin to spend more and more time together. Mason is aware that Harper is holding back. Meanwhile, Harper begins to go on an emotional rollercoaster; feeling a sense of happiness when with Mason, and yet with this comes guilt. Mason handles the situation well, in my opinion, by giving her the space she needs even though he isn’t aware of her situation to begin with. Although being urged to almost throw himself at her by his partner, Jenkins, Mason treats her with respect and patience, whilst still being attentive. The balance is perfect.

One of my favourite aspects of Beneath Broken is how the author has written Harper’s feelings towards her deceased husband, Keith. Even as the story progresses and Harper appears to be moving on from the death of him at times, there is still a connection that she has with her memories of him as well as good contact with his family. This , above all other areas of the story, really stands out and struck a nerve with me as being extremely real. It reads quite natural as one would expect a friend of theirs to deal with a situation like this in exactly the same way. We read about the guilt, the awkwardness and the doubt that Harper feels when she thinks of being with Mason. Is she betraying Keith? His family?

Beneath Broken is ultimately a story of strength and love. The strength of a woman to deal with the death of a loved one. To be able to love again. And also, to support a friend who has always been supportive of her through thick and thin. I cannot wait to read the next in the series as we follow Harper’s best friend, Adria, who was a strong character in this story and provided Harper with the rock she really needed to lean on. I’d certainly recommend this read for any romance fan.

A copy of Beneath Broken was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

You can also check out my reviews for previous releases of the Imperfect Heroes series:

Antihero (Imperfect Heroes prequel) (please note that Antihero is now sold only alone, and not part of the advertised limited edition box set)

Above Protection (Imperfect Heroes #1)

July 17, 2016 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW ~ November Rain (Bad Bloods #1), Shannon A Thompson

Young Adult

#dystopian, #urbanfantasy #scifi #paranormal

Book Blurb

Seventeen-year-old Serena isn’t human. She is a bad blood, and in the city of Vendona, bad bloods are executed. In the last moments before she faces imminent death, a prison guard aids her escape and sparks a revolt. Back on the streets determined to destroy her kind, Serena is spared by a fellow bad blood named Daniel. His past tragedies are as equally mysterious as her connection to them.

Unbeknownst to the two, this connection is the key to winning the election for bad bloods’ rights to be seen as human again. But Serena is the only one who can secure Vendona’s vote. Now, Daniel must unite with her before all hope is lost and bad bloods are eradicated, even if it means exposing secrets worse than death itself. United or not, a city will fight, rain will fall, and all will be threatened by star-crossed love and political corruption.

My Review ~ 5 stars

Dark and Insightful Dystopian read

November Rain is the first instalment in the Bad Bloods series, available for pre-order, alongside November Snow the next book in the series. It is a real treat to read –fast-paced, character driven and eerily prescient. Originally conceived by author Shannon A Thompson over a decade ago, it has now been re-released by Clean Teen Publishing.

The story is set in a world where the divisions between those in power and those who are reviled by the status quo are chilling and stark. This future dystopia echoes current world events where we are witnessing many societies becoming more and more fearful and intolerant of those who are different and where there is talk of walls, both physical and metaphorical being put up to keep people apart. The story is told through the eyes of young adults and children and I feel that the issues raised are all the more poignant for it.

Serena the heroine, a bad blood, condemned to death by the authorities, escapes her fate after being unexpectedly freed by a prison guard. Exhausted and injured she is on the run and is saved and healed by Daniel, a fellow bad blood who is leader of a rival ‘flock’ (a group of bad bloods who join together for survival). As the plot unfolds we learn that Serena and Daniel are linked in some way and that Serena has a pivotal role to play in ensuring that the result of the impending election is favourable to her kind, giving them a place in human society, rather than them being exterminated.

There is no love lost between Robert, the leader of Serena’s flock and Daniel. The two have a history, although neither the reader nor Serena is privy to the details. Both Serena and Daniel know that pursuing their friendship will undoubtedly lead to a confrontation, but nevertheless they are drawn to one another. Daniel and others know that Serena and her powers are special in some way. What is her role in safeguarding the future of the bad bloods at this crucial time of an impending election which pits those who would protect her kind against those who hanker after their destruction? Is she up to the challenge? Who will survive the approaching storm? Not all of these questions will be answered. Indeed, there is plenty of suspense and the scene is set for more revelations and plot twists in book #2 which I am impatient to read!

I am familiar with the work of Shannon A Thompson and she is an immensely talented writer. She does a fantastic job of painting the picture of the dystopian society which her characters inhabit. It is a world where the bad bloods, those who possess unpredictable and special abilities, are feared and persecuted. It is chilling in parts, often hinting at horrors, rather than describing them in detail. It is a reminder of how societies can sometimes turn against others, perceiving them as a threat purely on the basis of them being different. I was reminded of events from history such as the witch trails and the Holocaust, not to mention contemporary events surrounding the modern day diaspora of those from war torn countries which has resulted in the pressure of immigration on other nations, which some are fearful of.

A top read for readers of Young Adult fiction and/or for those who are seeking a thought provoking read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, an ARC of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6880615.Shannon_A_Thompson

https://shannonathompson.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorShannonAThompson/

May 31, 2016 by Tina Williams

Release Blitz ~ Hold You Against Me, by Skye Warren (plus excerpt and $50 gift card giveaway)

Discover the dark contemporary romance of the summer from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren. HOLD YOU AGAINST ME is a brand new standalone romance that you can’t miss!

“Hold You Against Me quite literally grabs a hold and refuses to let go until the end. Truly one of the first Mafia books I’ve read that sucked me in with a completely original and brilliant storyline that had me guessing the entire time!” – #1 NYT Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken

Book Blurb

Once upon a time the daughter of a mafia king fell in love with a foot soldier…

This fairy tale didn’t have a happy ending.

My sister and I barely managed to escape alive, and we’ve lived in relative hiding ever since. I’m safe now, but I can never forget the boy who gave his life to save mine.

Except there’s a chance that he’s still alive. And he’s fighting a war.

Even knowing the risks, I have to find him. I have to find some way to protect him, the way he protected me. But he isn’t the boy I left behind. He’s a violent man. A criminal. And he’s been waiting for me—the final pawn in a dark game of survival and love.

“Suspenseful and sexy, Hold You Against Me will leave you gasping for breath and wanting more. Skye Warren is the queen of dark reads and she comes through once again with Hold You Against Me. An absolute must read.” – USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Shea

Kindle ➝ http://amzn.to/1qSrcBW

iBooks ➝ http://apple.co/1Xqwtxl

Nook ➝ http://bit.ly/1X1eWNT

Google ➝ http://bit.ly/1TI8wT4

Kobo ➝ http://bit.ly/1TNyvXj

Print: http://amzn.to/22sZQjL

Excerpt from Hold You Against Me by Skye Warren

Something moves me gently, constant and rhythmic like waves. I’m warm. There’s something soft curling around my arms, wrapped inside my fists. Padding beneath my cheek that smells like home.

An unnatural darkness weighs down on me, keeping me from waking up—a demon’s whisper in my ear. You’re warm, you’re safe. Sleep.

But something is wrong.

I remember falling asleep, so suddenly, remember drinking water that I hadn’t filled. And I remember the phone call from Amy telling me that Giovanni’s alive. Impossible.

Awareness pricks my skin like a cold breeze. Wherever I am, I’m not alone.

I blink rapidly, forcing my eyes open. They adjust to the darkness quickly, taking in the tinted windows on either side and the wide leather bench curving beneath me. I’m in a car. A limo, to be exact. And it’s moving.

On the opposite side of the long space, a large body reclines. I can see the wide stance of his legs, the pale white of his shirt. A suit jacket tossed beside his hip. His face is hidden in the shadows of the vehicle.

I was raised by the head of the Las Vegas mafia, the capo. I grew up around guns and violence, so I know when a man is armed. It’s the way he holds himself, the warning shimmering around him like a dark halo.

This man is armed and extremely dangerous.

Every muscle in my body tenses. My mind still swims in thick water, because I must have been drugged. He drugged me, this faceless man. Why did he take me? It won’t be anything good, that’s for sure.

Even worse, I suspect this has something to do with my past, with my family. It’s messed up that I’d rather be taken by some random psycho. But at least then I’d have a chance of getting away.

“Who are you?” I demand, my voice hoarse from whatever drugs they gave me.

There’s a long pause, the weight of his regard as heavy as a finger trailing down my neck.

“Have I really changed that much, bella, that you don’t recognize me?”

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May 24, 2016 by Tina Williams

RELEASE BLITZ ~ Do You Remember?: A Sweethearts Novella, by V.L. KING

Genre: Military Romance/Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

When you can’t find the words to say, write them down instead…that’s something that you always told me, something that saved me from my own thoughts on more than one occasion during our years together.

You were the geeky guy…the guy who didn’t just sweep me off my feet on the first day we met, but the guy who stole my heart, too.

Now the day I always thought of is here before me and I can’t find the words to say, so I’ll do what you told me to and write from my heart.

Wyatt Epson, do you remember…?

Goodreads TBR link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29890214-do-you-remember Author FB page: https://www.facebook.com/author.V.L.Brock/

May 18, 2016 by Tina Williams

Tamworth Literary Festival ~ Romancing The Word

Saturday 11th June, Tamworth, 2016, Staffordshire

Both Caroline and I will be attending Tamworth LitFest’s Romancing The Word event on Saturday 11th June and we are SO excited! Tamworth will be playing host to a bevy of Romance authors from around the West Midlands and further afield! The Tamworth Literary Festival has organised a whole day dedicated to the wonderful world of romance. There will be author talks, readings and a workshop in St Editha’s Church, with tickets priced at £3 per author session (or £8 for the whole day) and a free Meet the Authors/Book Signings in the adjacent library.

If you live in the area or want to visit it would be lovely to see you there. ❤

Tickets available to purchase in person from Tamworth Information (TIC) or to reserve telephone the TIC on 01827 709581/709618. Alternatively reserve via email at tamlitfest@gmail.com

Scroll down to find out about more about the participating authors and details about the full programme for the day.

Authors appearing in St George’s Chapel, St Editha’s Church:

Helena Fairfax will be delivering a Workshop – How to Write a Great Romance: The role of conflict in fiction, and at how to create that vital romantic tension in a romance novel to keep the reader glued to the page.

Helena is a contemporary romance author. Her first novel, The Silk Romance, was published after passing through the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme, where her reader taught her the importance of romantic conflict – a lesson she’s never forgotten. Helena’s latest romance, A Way from Heart to Heart, is set on the Yorkshire moors. Helena walks the moors every day with her rescue dog, finding this romantic landscape – and strangely, even the rain and mud – the perfect place to dream up her heroes and heroines. You can find Helena on Facebook (where she’s the only Helena Fairfax), on Twitter @helenafairfax, or on her blog at www.helenafairfax.com.

There will also be a Meet the Author talk and signing with Julia Ibbotson, author of the Drumbeats trilogy and A Shape on the Air (a Dark Ages time slip romance).

Julia lives in the heart of England in a renovated Victorian rectory. She read English and Sociology at Keele University after a gap year in Ghana. She was a school teacher, before gaining her PhD and becoming a university lecturer. Apart from academic research texts, Julia has written a memoir, The Old Rectory: escape to a Country Kitchen (with recipes), a children’s book S.C.A.R.S, and her Drumbeats trilogy. She is currently completing a new novel, A Shape on the Air, a historical/romance time-slip story. Apart from reading, she loves travel, singing, swimming, yoga, Pilates, and walking. http://juliaibbotsonauthor.com/

Bestselling author Rosie Goodwin will also be delivering a Meet the Author talk and signing.

Before becoming a writer Rosie was a Placement Support Worker and foster carer, and worked in the social services department after completing a teacher training course. Rosie lives in Nuneaton, where many of her books are set, with her husband, Trevor, and their beloved dogs. Rosie is one of the Top 100 most borrowed authors from UK libraries and loves meeting and hearing from her readers. http://www.rosiegoodwin.co.uk/

The sessions will close with an author reading and signing by Gareth J Wood, ‘The cold side of the pillow: Romance’s ugly face.‘

Gareth J Wood was born in Birmingham and, barring spells in Wales and the Far East, he’s lived there ever since. He went to university in Birmingham and Lampeter, completing a degree in literature, after which he went over to Taipei with his partner, Claire, and tried teaching. Sadly it didn’t work out. He and Claire now share their home with two angry terriers. Gareth used to perform live, forming a collective called The Blue City Project. He has written many short stories and completed two full-length novels, The Malignant Man and The Master’s Marionettes. He writes all the while and can often be seen riding on late-night buses grumbling into torn notepads. http://www.kensingtongorepublishing.com/gj-wood/4590419807

FREE Meet the Author/Signing Event at Tamworth Library 11.00 am – 3.00 pm

Lucy Felthouse (Erotic Romance): Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of, and an Amazon bestseller) and Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award, and an Amazon bestseller). Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 140 publications to her name. She owns Erotica For All, is book editor for Cliterati, and is one eighth of The Brit Babes. Find out more about her writing at http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk, or on Twitter and Facebook. You can also subscribe to her monthly newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

S.J Warner lives in the north of England with her husband and three children. An avid reader from an early age she knew she always wanted to write but life got in the way and she put all thoughts of writing to one side until one day in 2012 she was challenged to write a short story. That story led her on a journey into poetry, more short stories and finally to producing three collections of her poetry and her first full length novel. She enjoys reading many different genres her favourites being erotica and horror. http://www.amazon.co.uk/S-J-Warner/e/B00J4NPDXS/

http://m.facebook.com/sjpoetica/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7824986.S_J_Warner

L A Cotton (Contemporary Romance), L.A is author of contemporary romance novels ranging from sweet with just a hint of steam, to suspenseful reads full of angst, tension, twists and turns. Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time mum to two little people with writing. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find L. A immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life. www.lacotton.com www.facebook.com/authorlacotton www.twitter.com/authorlacotton

Pat Spence (Contemporary, Young Adult and Paranormal Romance), Pat Spence is a freelance writer and ex- magazine editor. She has worked as a copywriter in advertising agencies, a freelance trainer teaching personal development and a massage therapist/aromatherapist. She is married with a daughter, has a degree in English Literature, and spends her spare time practicing yoga, learning banjo, reading and gardening.Books:

‘Abigail’s Affair’ is a quirky love story about a woman coming to terms with having an affair. Set against a colourful Australian backdrop, with flashbacks to the UK, and a host of emotionally dysfunctional characters, the story reveals how the experience of travel becomes a voyage of self-discovery, with surprising results, for 30-year old Abigail Aske.

‘The Blue Crystal Trilogy’, (comprising ‘Blue Moon’, ‘True Blue’ and ‘Into The Blue’) a supernatural love story about a strange family, with an ancient secret, that arrives in a Midlands village to renovate an old manor house. When local girl, 17-year old Emily Morgan, falls for glamorous and mysterious 19-year old Theo de Lucis, she must change every perception she has had about live, love, ageing and death.

J A Heron (Romance, Erotic Romance, Thriller) in her own words: I live in a small town called Burton on Trent, Staffordshire in the middle of England. This lovely little town is famous for making beer, and I have called it home since I was born. I have a daughter called Shelby and although I was a young mother, I couldn’t be more proud of the beautiful young lady I have raised, I was eighteen years old when she came into my life, and I love her more than anything in the world. I am quite a positive person, and with some of the hardships I have encountered over the years has made me a stronger person. I lost my mum to cancer over ten years ago, and although I lost my best friend that day I believe in my heart that she would be proud of me.

I started writing because of my love for books, but also, because of my disability. I was a bit of a medical miracle you see, I survived, when I really shouldn’t have. And whilst my illness left me with some lasting effects, it also left me with a new outlook, determination and confidence that I could do it, so I did! I have loved reading for a number of years now, and my only regret is that I wish I had read more as a youngster. I believe it is very important to teach children the love of books from an early age, the earlier the better in my opinion. I am in a relationship with a wonderful man called Ian. He is very supportive of my writing and calls me ‘his clever girl’, for some reason this always makes me blush. Ian and my daughter know when to give me some space to write, they know that I can become quite tetchy when in the zone. But they also know that I need an endless supply of coffee, and maybe some chocolate thrown into the mix. I believe in my work, I believe in my stories, and I hope you do too…trust me, there’s a lot more to come!

http://janeheron1.wix.com/jaheronauthor

https://www.facebook.com/JAHeronAuthor

Katharine Swartz is the USA Today-bestselling author of 35 romances with Harlequin Presents, hundreds of short stories, and several historical novels and anthologies now available on Kindle. Her first women’s fiction with Penguin/NAL, Rainy Day Sisters, will be out in August 2015. She likes to read romance, mystery, the occasional straight historical and angsty women’s fiction; she particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots. Having lived in New York City, she now makes her home in a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, with her husband, five children, and an overly affectionate Golden Retriever. You can read about her life at http://www.acumbrianlife.blogspot.co.uk.

AA Abbott is an English writer. “Mostly, I write thrillers set in the world of big business,” Abbott says. “Men enjoy my books just as much as women do, and I guess that’s why I chose a gender-neutral pen name. After all, if JK Rowling can pretend to be a guy – twice – then why shouldn’t I?” Abbott is better known in her day job as Helen Blenkinsop. “I work in interim roles in large companies, and then take time off to write,” she says. “I’ve always loved entertaining others with a story, and my work gives me loads of inspiration. Demanding bosses, frauds, affairs – I’ve seen it all!”

Helen has lived and worked in several English cities. “I aim to convey a strong sense of place in my writing,” she says. “Three cities I know particularly well are London, Bristol and Birmingham. London is awash with foreign money and frenzied work patterns. It’s hectic and exciting. By contrast, you can lose a lot of time in Bristol sipping cider and watching the world go by. Birmingham is where my heart lies – it’s busy, friendly and simply fun to be there. Often, I write about the tensions between different places and people. My characters explore themes of change, darkness and redemption, just as we all do in our journeys through life.” Any last words? “Yes,” Helen says. “I write great short stories too. There are loads free on my website, and when you sign up for my newsletter, I’ll send you a free e-book packed with terrific tales. What are you waiting for?”

http://aaabbott.co.uk/ https://twitter.com/AAAbbottStories https://www.facebook.com/AAAbbottStories

Laura Morgan (Dark Paranormal Romance), describes herself as “a hopeless romantic with a dark side.

I have worked in many administrative roles over the years thanks to a life on the move, and am a self-confessed computer and gadget geek. I’ve always had a wild imagination and a sense of creativity that often runs away with me, engrossing me for days in many a story that haunts my thoughts until it eventually makes it to the page. An avid rock music fan, I spend much of my free time listening to music at home or going to concerts with my friends, and this love of music often makes its way into my creative writing. I love edgy, gritty books that strip your heart and soul bare, and leave you with an epic book hangover at the end. That’s what I aimed to do with mine, and I think my readers agree! At times they’re dark and controversial, but that’s also what makes them unique.

Like many authors, my dream of writing was pushed aside for a long time. I was too busy, too tired, enough—so I kept my stories to myself. Then, one day in the summer of 2013 I began thinking up a new story. It haunted me, and eventually I felt compelled to write it down. I’m so glad I did, because that story quickly turned into my first novel, Embracing the Darkness. Since then I’ve written seven more full-length novels, numerous short stories, and I have a handful of works in progress on the go. I love edgy, gritty books that strip your heart and soul bare, and leave you with an epic book hangover at the end. That’s what I aimed to do with mine, and I think my readers agree! At times they’re dark and controversial, but that’s also what makes them unique.

I also have a YA science fiction series written under my pen name L.C Morgan, of which the first novel is out with a second to follow in June 2016. It’s a story set a thousand years in the future, in which humans have used and abused the planet beyond repair to both the earth itself and to society. Close to cataclysm, an alien race called the Thrakorian’s step in to save our planet, and us, but at a price. The human race is enslaved to their new masters, albeit willingly, and this is the story of a young girl and her journey into adulthood beneath their reign.

www.facebook.com/lauramorganauthor/ www.twitter.com/lauram241

http://author.to/LauraMorgan http://author.to/LCMorgan

Christina Smee (Historical): Originally from Birmingham, I have lived in Tamworth for 35 years. I am a self- employed historical interpreter working mainly at Bosworth Battlefield Centre. I also give talks on Medieval Herbal Medicine to local groups. My son, Dominic was involved in a Channel Four Documentary, Richard 111: The New Evidence in 2013/2014. Dominic has the same medical condition as King Richard and participated in scientific and historical research for the program.

The Rose of Middleham is my first published novel about life at Middleham castle in Yorkshire where Richard 111 lived, as a child and as owner upon his marriage to Anne Neville, daughter of The Earl of Warwick. I have planned to write a sequel when time permits. Both Dominic and I are members of a Living History group based at Bosworth Battlefield Centre where I have the role of Wise Woman. Since the documentary we have travelled the country with the armour commissioned by Channel Four where Dominic gives a presentation on his experience making the program.

Carol E Wyer (Humour, Romantic Comedy): Carol is an ex-teacher and linguist who lives in rural Staffordshire. Having written a series of educational yet amusing books for children, she turned her attention to the adult market in 2010 when her son flew from the nest.

Her first two novels attracted much attention from the media. Since then, she has appeared on over fifty BBC radio stations, several international radio stations, NBC television and BBC Breakfast discussing age-related subjects such as ‘Irritable Male Syndrome’. Her writing style has been described frequently by the media as ‘witty’ or ‘humorous’ and has even been compared to the acerbic wit of Jeremy Clarkson and the humour of Robin Williams.

Last year she won the People’s Book Prize Award for Grumpy Old Menopause which also was featured on BBC Breakfast television

Carol has written articles for and featured in several national women’s magazines including Take A Break, Choice, Woman’s Weekly and Woman’s Own who also wrote about her journey to becoming a best-selling author.

Recently, she signed a two-book deal with publishing house Bookouture. Currently writing a series of novels and articles aimed at the ‘older’ woman, Carol is also engaged in writing by-line articles and posts for magazines and websites including the Huffington Post and is a regular Loud Mouth on BBC Radio Derby. When not writing, you might find her performing her stand-up routine “Smile While You Still Have Teeth”.

Winner of the People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction

www.carolewyer.co.uk www.facing50withhumour.com www.grumpyoldmenopause.com

PLUS Tamworth Writers Group and more…

The Full Programme

Facebook Events Page or Tamworth LitFest Webpage or Tamworth LitFest Facebook Page

May 2, 2016 by Tina Williams

SUPER FREEBIE ~ Alias by J A Heron

Don’t delay! Get hold of this super hot erotic romantic suspense from the AMAZING author J A Heron while it’s FREE!

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 FREE 

 2nd-4th May ONLY 

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*** CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE ***
 

#1click #eroticromance #ebooks #suspense

‘I laughed with this book and also cried. What a life this young girl has lived and to be as strong as she is awesome!’

5☆ Review https://goo.gl/Jl1BaS

Buy it http://smarturl.it/AliasJA
 
 

April 18, 2016 by Caroline Barker

Cover Reveal Unforeseen Secrets boxset by N. Nieto

TITLE: Unforeseen Secrets Boxset

AUTHOR: N. Nieto

GENRE: Romantic Suspense

IMPRINT/PUBLISHER: Edge, Bison Publishing

RELEASES: May 3rd, 2016

UNFORESEEN SECRETS – N. NIETO – BISON PUBLISHING

SYNOPSIS

Resurrected Secrets, Book 1

Mandy Miller is a broken woman trying to keep everything together. She lost her will to love when a drunk driver took her husband and two children away from her. She is sick of all the sympathetic looks she gets in her hometown of Cottonwood Alabama, so she makes the drastic change and moves across the country to L.A to follow her dreams and become a lawyer. She thinks she finally has everything together and can leave her horrific past behind. That is until she meets her new assistant who turns her world upside down. Joshua Rodgers is new to town and is looking for a job to help him pay his way through Law School. He finds the perfect job as an assistant at one of the best law firms in L.A. Joshua quickly becomes smitten with his new boss and vows to never hurt her. But what happens when he is the very reason for her pain?

Dispirited Heart, Book 2

Sandra sees all she will ever want when she looks at her best friend Mandy and her fiancé Josh. She wants that. She wants true love. With her 30th birthday quickly approaching she is certain it will never happen for her. Is she destined to be the crazy cat lady and be forever alone? She finds herself getting unwanted attention from a stranger in a night club. Will he turn out to be her one true love or her one true regret…Secrets Of A Shattered

Heart, Book 3

Collin Morrow has 4 days before he is deployed back overseas. When the love of his life goes missing he has to choose between saving her or going AWOL… There is no choice he will save her at all cost. Sandra Jones finds herself broken and alone with no one to turn to for help when she needs it the most. She fights for life in this gripping tale of love and obsession. Can Collen save Sandra not only from her capture but from herself?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Let me tell you a little bit about myself…. I am a true southern belle. I like my sweet tea and I like blessing hearts. I was born and raised in a one stop light town in North Alabama. As a child I was a bit of a tomboy. I loved riding bikes and playing basketball and volley ball. I have 2 younger sisters and although I never had a brother my older cousin was the closest thing to that than anyone.

As a teen I loved to read. My favorite author was Lurlene McDaniel, I loved and still love all of her books. I think I have made it through all of them by now. Lol. Although I have added several authors to my favorites list I still enjoy her writing style. But she isn’t the reason I became an author. That is all my cousin LeAmbra’s fault. Y’all may know her better as Author Salice Rodgers. I had a dream one night about an unplanned and secrets filled relationship between a broken women and even more broken man and I asked Amber to write a book about it. She refused and said she wouldn’t write my story that I should. So that’s how Resurrected Secrets was born and Author N. Nieto.

These days I spend my time chasing kids and cleaning house. I somehow find time to read and write in the middle of all of that crazy. I always say as long as one person likes my stories then it is worth it in the end for me.

FOLLOW THE AUTHOR

Facebook: http://bit.ly/1RUIj0M

Twitter: http://bit.ly/1qSv46W

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1Vqep7y

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

Facebook: http://bit.ly/bisonpubfb

Twitter: http://bit.ly/bisonpubtw

Website: http://bit.ly/bisonpubweb

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/bisonpubnews

April 10, 2016 by Tina Williams

Blog Tour ~ Sins Against the Sea by Nina Mason

#paranormal #mythology #romance

Nina Mason’s new release, Sins Against the Sea, looks like a fabulous read!

“If the merfolk were real, imagine how they might feel about the way we humans treat the ocean. That was my premise for Sins Against the Sea, a story deeply steeped in the mythology and folklore of the Scottish isles.”

–Nina Mason, author

Title: Sins Against the Sea

Author: Nina Mason

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Mythology

Heat Level: Moderately steamy

Format: Kindle and Paperback

Cordelia Parker, an oil company spokeswoman, has never believed in magic, despite her late mother’s fanciful stories. Then, during an oil spill in Scotland’s mysterious Minch, her reality is shattered when she stumbles upon a merman in a hidden cave. Even more shocking, she feels the same soul-level connection to him she felt for the ocean before it claimed both her parents. A fish out of water in his sexist culture, Cuan feels a powerful attraction to Cordelia, but, because she knows what he is, he is duty-bound to kill her. If humankind discovers the Blue Men of the Minch are real, they will destroy them the way they destroy the ocean, whose abundance belongs at once to all and none. Thus, the only way he can have a life with her is to prove she is more than she appears, trust her with his secrets, and give up his undersea world. With so many obstacles to overcome, they will need a miracle to be together…or maybe just a splash of ancient island magic.

Here’s more about the author of Sins Against the Sea:

Nina Mason is an incurable romantic who strives to write the same kind of books she loves to read: those that entertain, edify, educate, and enlighten. She has one series out at present, Royal Pains, which follows a Scottish duke and duchess through the events of the Restoration period. Born and raised in Southern California, Ms. Mason currently lives with her family in Woodstock, Georgia. When she isn’t writing, she works as a consultant for Pure Romance, a line of relationship-enhancement products. Nina combines author readings with in-home Pure Romance parties. She also does Pure Romance parties on Facebook. For more information, email her at ninamasonauthor@gmail.com.

Nina is the author of two other series: Royal Pains, an erotic historical romp set in the Restoration era, and Knights of the Tarot, a paranormal romance/urban fantasy featuring shapeshifting faery heroes and various forms of divination.

Here’s where you can find Nina on social media:

Visit Nina’s website: http://ninamasonauthor.com Follow Nina on Facebook: http://facebook.com/ninamasonromance Follow Nina on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ninamasonauthor

Find Nina on Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/ninamasonauthor Subscribe to Nina’s newsletter: https://vr2.verticalresponse.com/s/authorninamasonsnewsletter

February 25, 2016 by Tina Williams

**SALE BLITZ* ~ Forced Disappearance, by Dana Marton

Romantic Thriller

Dana Marton’s international romantic thriller FORCED DISAPPEARANCE is on sale at Amazon UK for the month of February for just £1.00. It has had many, many positive reviews (a 4.6 rating on 10 reviews at Amazon UK and a 4.5 rating on 145 reviews on Amazon US) and is highly recommended for readers of the genre. 🙂

Blurb:

When wealthy American businessman Glenn Danning goes missing in Venezuela, investigator Miranda Soto volunteers to track him down. It’s her first assignment for the Civilian Personnel Recovery Unit, but this mission is about more than salvaging the remnants of her shattered military career. Glenn was Miranda’s best friend and first lover, and she’ll do anything to save him from danger…especially since she just lost everything that mattered to her.

Glenn barely survived being kidnapped and tortured as a suspected spy, but the shock of seeing Miranda again gives him a new lease on life. Their still-simmering attraction grows hotter as the couple races through the treacherous jungle. Determined to reach safe ground, they must stay alive long enough to stop the terrifying enemy who still hunts Glenn. And even if they survive, Miranda’s dark past could jeopardize their future together…

Amazon UK: amzn.to/1UCVBOk

And Dana’s first book in her Broslin Creek romantic suspense series, DEATHWATCH, is currently free! It’s a fast-paced, heart-pounding romantic suspense, with 4.4 stars on 31 reviews at AmazonUK, and 4.4 stars on nearly 500 reviews at AmazonUS.

Blurb:

Murphy Dolan is returning to his small-town cop job from his 2nd tour of duty with the Army Reserves, only to find a stranger hiding in his house. Kate Bridges is running for her life–the only person who can identify the most notorious hit man in the country. She’s scared spitless. He’s completely burned-out on violence. Neither of them has any trust left to give. The best of the FBI couldn’t protect her. Does a small-town cop stand a chance?

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1REjtiM