#BlogTour #Review Dropzone by Stewart Giles @stewartgiles @Books_n_all

Title: Dropzone by Stewart Giles

Date Published: 31^st May 2019

Genre: Police Procedural

Description:

From #1 best-selling author: Stewart Giles comes book 2 in the very popular DS Jason Smith and DC Harriet Taylor series.

Brandon Stone is doing his first Accelerated Free Fall Skydive. He has done the training and his instructors are with him so nothing can go wrong…. Can it? A double malfunction and Brandon is staring death in the face. A very rare accident. Or is it?

Jason is returning to work after 3 months recovering from injuries at the hands of Boronov. Light duties? Not if Jason can help it.

DC Harriet Taylor is taking a well deserved holiday with Jon Finch that includes tandem skydiving. Out of all the planes in the country they were on the same one as Brandon.

With a detective as a witness this should be an easy case to solve. Wrong! Jason and the team need all the help they can get to unravel the lies and find the clues before more bodies turn up.

This is a gripping story with twists, turns and intrigue all the way through. A fast moving page-turner you will not be able to put down.

THE DETECTIVES

DC Harriet Taylor had only been married for 2 years when her philandering husband was killed in a car crash. It is common knowledge around the station that the woman who died next to him was his latest lover. Harriet transferred to Trotterdown to escape the gossip and sympathetic looks. She is now finding her way around Cornwall and getting to know the other members of the team.

DS Jason Smith is an Australian who was sent to York to live with his Grandmother when his sister disappeared from a beach. He has suffered many losses in his life and is now a dedicated detective. He is a bit of a loose cannon he has his own way of doing things and that doesn’t always mean following orders and procedures.

ALSO BY STEWART GILES

DS JASON SMITH SERIES

Book 0.5 – Phobia

Book 1 – Smith

Book 2 – Boomerang

Book 3 – Ladybird

Book 4 – Occam’s Razor

Book 5 – Harlequin

Book 6 – Selene

Book 7 – Horsemen

Book 8 – Unworthy

DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES

Book 1 – The Beekeeper

Book 2 – The Perfect Murder

Book 3 – The Backpacker

Trotterdown – A Box Set of books 1-3

DS JASON SMITH & DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES

Book 1 – The Enigma

Book 2 – Dropzone

Stand Alone Thrillers

Miranda – A psychological thriller

Review:

So this is the second in the DS Jason Smith & DC Harriet Taylor series, (you can read my review of the first novel The Enigma here), I would highly recommend you read at least The Enigma first, just because Dropzone contains a couple of spoilers for the other book.

Smith is still recovering from incidents in the last book and wants to get back to work. An intriguing case comes in where a skydiver’s parachute fails to deploy plunging him to his death but was it an accident or something more sinister?

As with all Stewart Giles’ books you are dropped straight into the action from the very first chapter! It’s fun, fast paced and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

You can really tell the author has done his research of sky diving thoroughly, with lots of terminology incorporated into the story. But don’t worry if like me you don’t know much about the subject, there’s a handy little guide at the front explaining the skydiving terms that are used.

I have to be honest, I would have preferred this to be a Smith novel as I don’t think that DC Harriet Taylor added a whole lot to the story, apart from causing a bit of tension between Smith and his wife Whitton, but of course that’s just my opinion.

If you’re looking for a novel with plenty of fast paced action and heart in your mouth moments, I think Dropzone is the book for you.

About The Author:

After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live. After Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later. 3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor Cornwall series. The Beekeeper hit the shelves and hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well. The third in the series, The Backpacker I have self-published and there are plenty more to come. Unworthy, the ninth Smith instalment was followed by a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers. Entitled The Enigma, it brings together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor. Miranda is something totally different. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. Dropzone, book 2 in the Smith/Harriet series is now available and the 10^th Smith instalment will be released later in the year.

Website: www.stewartgiles.com

Twitter: @stewartgiles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewart.giles.33

You can join the Stewart Giles reader club by completing this form: https://mailchi.mp/a64f6de4c541/sgreadersclub

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#BlogTour #Promo The Dinner In The Sky by Anne John-Ligali @AnneJohnLigali @rararesources

Hi lovelies, today I have a book spotlight for The Dinner In The Sky, the third in the Online Friendship series by Anne John-Ligali.

Title: The Dinner In The Sky (Friendships Online Series 3) by Anne John-Ligali

Date Published: 31^st May 2019

Genre: Romantic Comedy/Chicklit

Description:

After a shocking confrontation with an unexpected encounter, Constance tries to piece her life back together and is on a mission to finally move on.

The thought of having her friends near is comforting as they take time out of their busy online lives and meet up at their favourite place, A Cupful of Dreams Café. Everyone seems happy enough until cracks begin to show and all is not as good as it seems. Constance tries desperately to keep positive as there’s so much to look forward to: shopping for posh frocks, dinner at The Shard and a movie premiere.

As things start to look rosy, a few odd tweets begin to pop up from nowhere. At first, they seem innocent, but as the weeks go by and premier night draws near, not only do the tweets increase but they become more obnoxious.

By the time Constance and her chums arrive on the red carpet, she’s determined to work out who the troll could be and to keep them from spoiling her evening. However as Constance soon learns, the troll wants to destroy far more than that!

Breathtaking views of London.

Posh frocks and Paparazzi

But there’s definitely trouble in the air …

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dinner-Sky-Friendships-Online-Book-ebook/dp/B07QYJX7VR

US – https://www.amazon.com/Dinner-Sky-Friendships-Online-Book-ebook/dp/B07QYJX7VR

Book Trailer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-qRJaZdgjs

Spotify Playlist of the whole series –
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lYuwzrSYvz77Iuq6NymVY?si=b7FFD0EURuy-jhIdr5amZQ

About The Author:

Anne John-Ligali is a writer and found of Books and Authors UK, a website that features author interviews, cover reveals, blog posts, features and reviews. She loves all things books, going to book events and meeting other book worms. She has written her first series and is currently writing her first novel.

When Anne is not writing she is likely to be playing with her kids, going for walks in the park, watching Netflix or thinking up more stories. Originally from Peterborough, Anne now lives in London. After moving to London she studies graphic design at the University of Arts and held a number of IT jobs in the city. Anne continues to write romantic comedies, women’s fiction, and has the desire to write a non-fiction book and a few children’s books.

Author Social Media Links –

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

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnneJohnLigali

Author FB: https://www.facebook.com/annejohnligali/

http://www.annejohnligali.com

Anne’s Book Blog Links – Books and Authors UK

Books and Authors UK: www.booksandauthors.co.uk

Books and Authors UK Twitter: https://twitter.com/BooksNAuthorsUK

Books and Authors UK Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Books-and-Authors-UK-674729805905507/

#BlogTour #Promo The Birth of Gemini (The Signs of the Stars #1) by CS Johnson @RRBookTours1

Hi lovelies, today on my blog I’m hosting a book spotlight for Manga inspired novel The Birth Of Gemini by CS Johnson with a chance to win a copy of the novel (see bottom of this post) but first a bit about the book:

Title: The Birth of Gemini (The Signs of the Stars #1) by CS Johnson

Publication Date: July 2018

Genre: Manga/ Graphic Novel

Length: 42 Pages

Description:

Years and light-years away, one father must find the courage to do whatever it takes to protect his children …

As a surgeon for the Mercy Interplanetary Alliance, Micheel Reshi is no stranger to difficult choices. But when his wife, Nabelle, gives brith to their twins, Micheel is horrified to find Callox and Pasher bare the Sign of Gemini on their arms. The bright constellation marks them as carriers of the hidden code Earth’s last generation had engineered into human DNA—and marks them as targets by the Collectors, a group of people determined to wipe out all memory of Old Earth and its existence.

When Count Lux, Nabelle’s cousin and a member of the Collectors, arrives on their starship, Micheel knows he must do something to save his family—even if it means breaking them apart.

THIS IS THE SHORT STORY GRAPHIC NOVEL VERSION OF THE PREQUEL TO “THE SIGNS OF THE STARS”, A SPACE OPERA ADVENTURE SERIES FROM C. S. JOHNSON.

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40696366-the-birth-of-gemini?ac=1&from_search=true

Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Gemini-Science-Fiction-Space/dp/1948464136/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=the+birth+of+gemini+by+c.s.+johnson&qid=1555940780&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

About the Author

C. S. Johnson is the award-winning, genre-hopping author of several novels, including young adult sci-fi and fantasy adventures such as the Starlight Chronicles, the Once Upon a Princess saga, and the Divine Space Pirates trilogy. With a gift for sarcasm and an apologetic heart, she currently lives in Atlanta with her family. Find out more at http://www.csjohnson.me

Website: http://www.csjohnson.me

Twitter: https://twitter.com/C_S_Johnson13

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

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/writercsjohnson/

Click the link below to win yourself a paperback copy of The Birth of Gemini!

a Rafflecopter giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0e7c6a8f89/?

Blog Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Link: http://rrbooktours.com

 

#BlogTour #Review The Friend Who Lied by Rachel Amphlett @RachelAmphlett @BOTBSPublicity

Title: The Friend Who Lied by Rachel Amphlett

Date Published: 9^th June 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

What she doesn’t know might kill her…

Lisa Ashton receives a last-minute reprieve from death two weeks before her birthday. Regaining consciousness, she is horrified to learn one of her friends has been killed – and saved her life.

As she recovers, she uncovers a trail of carefully guarded reputations, disturbing rumours, and lies. Soon, Lisa begins to wonder if one of her friends is hiding a terrible secret.

Because five of them entered the escape room that day, and only four got out alive.

And someone is determined to cover their tracks before she can find out the truth.

Can Lisa find the killer before someone else dies?

The Friend Who Lied: a twisted psychological thriller from USA Today bestseller Rachel Amphlett – perfect for fans of The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley and Friend Request by Laura Marshall.

Purchase Links:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/en/ebook/the-friend-who-lied

Apple Books

https://books.apple.com/book/the-friend-who-lied/id1461832054

Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rachel_Amphlett_The_Friend_Who_Lied?id=59OVDwAAQBAJ

Review:

I want to thank Sarah at Books On The Bright Side Publicity for inviting me on this tour and providing with a ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Friend Who Lied is psychological thriller centres around Lisa Ashton and her friends Simon, David, Bec and Hayley. As a last hurrah Lisa and her friends go to an escape room but not all of them come out. She wakes up to find she’s had a life saving kidney transplant but the terrible news that one of her friends has died.

Unable to remember what happened, she tries to find out what happened but what will she do once she finds out the truth?

So this is my first Rachel Amphlett book, I’m late to the party as usual, but it certainly won’t be my last!

The Friend Who Lied is an addictive and tension packed read that I just couldn’t get enough of!

This is one of those novels were everyone is a suspect, which is difficult to pull off, especially with so few characters. I usually have the killer pegged down in the first half of the book but the friend who lied really kept me guessing.

There are several POV’s throughout the book from Lisa and her friends, each character really comes alive. They are flawed, realistic, which at times makes them not all that likeable but you can understand why they are way they are.

My only real complaint was that near the end it dragged a little and I got a little impatient waiting for the big reveal but of course that’s just my opinion.

The Friend Who Lied is a taut, tension packed psychological thriller and a must read for anyone who loves this genre.

Author Bio:

Before turning to writing, USA Today bestselling author Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor and English Spy Mysteries espionage novels and theDetective Kay Hunter British police procedural series.

She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore’s TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.

Social Media Links:

Email: info@rachelamphlett.com

Website: www.rachelamphlett.com

Twitter: @RachelAmphlett

Instagram: @RachelAmphlett

Facebook: Rachel Amphlett

#BlogTour #Review A Face In The Crowd by Kerry Wilkinson @bookouture

Title: A Face In The Crowd by Kerry Wilkinson

Publisher: Bookouture

Date published: 6^th June 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

Lucy gets the same bus every day.

She hopes to get a seat to herself, tries to avoid eye contact, and, if she’s really lucky, reads a chapter of her book.

But it’s a Friday – and the bus is always crammed at the end of the week. Personal space doesn’t exist. She keeps her elbows close and clings to a pole at every juddering stop.

When she gets off, something feels different.

An envelope stuffed with thousands of pounds is in her bag.

Is it the answer to her prayers, or the beginning of a nightmare?

Because, in the end, everything has a price.

A compulsive read that will have you absolutely hooked and reading late into the night.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B07R9RNFZLSocial

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2XUWFoq

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2GLbe6K

Googleplay: http://ow.ly/CQRX30oAg2C

Review:

Lucy is struggling to make ends meet, often skipping meals just so she can feed her dog Billy. Her prayers seem to have been answered when an envelope of cash is slipped into her bag. She’s faced with a moral conundrum, should she keep the money or give it into the police?

Her life starts to rapidly spiral out of control and Lucy feels like she’s being followed. Who gave her the money and what do they want with her?

So I really enjoyed Kerry Wilkinson’s stand-alone thriller The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker (you can read my review here) last year, so when I saw he had another book out, I just couldn’t wait to read it.

A face in the crowd is a real tension packed read that pulled me in and didn’t let me go until the end.

Lucy is one of those characters who you root for. She seems to have been dealt a bad hand in life but still tries to be kind and help out where she can.

What I really did admire about this novel the fact that though is the fact most of the characters didn’t have a lot of money but they weren’t portrayed as criminals, just people trapped by circumstance. It also made a change from the usual more middle class characters you see in psychological thrillers.

Truthfully I did sort of see the big reveal coming but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the novel.

A face in the crowd is intriguing and well written psychological thriller with flawed yet realistic characters.

Author Bio:

Kerry Wilkinson has had No.1 bestsellers in the UK, Canada, South Africa and Singapore, as well as top-five books in Australia. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States.

As well as his million-selling Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written the Silver Blackthorn trilogy – a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults – a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.

Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry has spent far too long living in the north of England, picking up words like ‘barm’ and ‘ginnel’.

When he’s short of ideas, he rides his bike or bakes cakes. When he’s not, he writes it all down.

Author Social Media Links:

http://kerrywilkinson.com

http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks

#BlogTour #Review Dead Inside by Noelle Holten @nholten40 @BOTBSPublicity @KillerReads

Title: Dead Inside by Noelle Holten

Publisher: Killer Reads

Date Published: 31^st May 2019

Genre: Police Procedural

Description:

‘Kept me hooked … excellent pace and a very satisfying ending’ Angela Marsons

‘An excellent read’ Martina Cole

‘A brilliant debut – gritty, dark and chilling. Noelle Holten knows her stuff’ Mel Sherratt

A dark and gripping debut crime novel – the first in a stunning new series – from a huge new talent.

The killer is just getting started…

When three wife beaters are themselves found beaten to death, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she is facing her toughest case yet.

The police suspect that Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood – who is connected to all three victims – is hiding a dark secret. Then a fourth domestic abuser is brutally murdered.

And he is Lucy’s husband.

Now the police are running out of time, but can Maggie really believe her friend Lucy is a cold-blooded killer?

Review:

I want to thank Sarah at Books On The Bright Side Publicity for inviting me on this tour. I received a free arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So this is Noelle Holten debut novel, and wow, Dead Inside is some hard hitting stuff! A little warning before you read this book the main focus of the story is domestic abuse from the beatings to the more sinister psychological torment that victims endure but I felt it was handled with honesty and sensitivity.

I feel like this book is part police procedural, part psychological thriller, which are my two favourite genres. It is a multiple POV story, the main viewpoints are from DC Maggie Jamieson and probation officer Lucy.

Lucy is one of those characters who seems strong on the outside but on the inside she’s struggling. Her husband Patrick is abusive but she can’t bring herself to leave him. The irony of it is that she deals with men like him on a daily basis as part of her job as a probation officer.

Maggie has started a new job in the DAHU which stands for the domestic abuse and homicide unit it after being transferred. She’s dumped in at the deep end when a body shows up, tortured, that was on the police’s watch list as an abuser.

What I like is I feel there is room for Maggie’s character to grow and I look forward to getting to know her better as this series goes along.

My main issue was I felt the book was more focused on the domestic abuse aspect, which is admirable, I feel like it needs to be talked about and victims not stigmatised but as a woman it makes it no easier to read about other women suffering such horrible things.

Dead Inside is an insightful debut, that is faces some thorny issues head on and will send you on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout. The ending has left it open for a sequel which I’m looking forward to.

About The Author:

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of cases including those involving serious domestic abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle’s hobbies include reading, author-stalking and sharing the booklove via her blog. 
Dead Inside is her debut novel with Killer Reads/Harper Collins UK and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.

Links:

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

Twitter: (@nholten40) https://twitter.com/nholten40

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18489795.Noelle_Holten

Blog: https://www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk

Instagram: @crimebookjunkie

#Review Dirty Secrets by Janice Frost @JoffeBooks

Title: Dirty Secrets by Janice Frost

Publisher: Joffe Books

Date Published: 25^th June 2018

Genre: Police Procedural

Description:

Looking for a gripping crime thriller which you won’t want to put down?

DISCOVER THE NEW MYSTERY FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHOR JANICE FROST

Val Marsh gets home to find her husband Russell shot through the head. Russell’s ‘angel investment’ company had made him many enemies. His business was struggling and his family and friends weren’t all on his side. But did any of them really want him dead?

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ARE EXPLOSIVE SECRETS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO TEAR FAMILIES APART.

Detectives Jim Neal and Ava Merry are called in to investigate a very complex murder.

Another body is found in the woods and the case gets much murkier.

There are some very dirty secrets hidden behind the seemingly happy lives of the families involved.

Then a drug dealer is shot and fatally wounded in London. It seems the murders are connected, but how?

THE TRAIL WILL LEAD THEM INTO A VERY DANGEROUS WORLD INDEED. AND DI JIM NEAL IS FACING A FAMILY CRISIS OF HIS OWN.

Great for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham.

Review:

This is the fifth in the Neal and Merry series (you can read my review of the previous book Their Fatal Secrets here) but can easily be read as a stand-alone without feeling like you’ve missed too much.

This is another book that it’s taken me almost a year to get round to, oops, but I heard that Janice Frost has another book out very soon (which I believe is a stand-alone) so it gave me the kick up the bum to actually read this one.

Dirty Secrets is a solid police procedural that really focuses on the investigation of the crime and everything that goes into it.

It centres around two families, the Cornishes and the Marshes, who put the dysfunctional in dysfunctional families, each relationship toxic in some way. Russell Cornish is found dead in his study, a gunshot to the head which sends both families into chaos, exposing deep buried family secrets.

We got a little bit more about Jim Neal’s background in this book, his ex and the mother of his son turns up out of the blue which complicates things between him and Merry. I don’t know if it was me but there seems to be a little something between the two police officer which I hope is built on in the next book.

I have to be honest, it was a little slower paced than the previous book and there weren’t as many shocks and surprises along the way, which made me zone out at times but of course that’s just my opinion.

I’d recommend Dirty Secrets to anyone who loves police procedurals revolving round toxic relationships.

About The Author (Taken from Amazon):

I am the author of five crime/mystery books featuring Detectives Jim Neal and Ava Merry. My novels are set in the fictitious East Midlands cathedral city of Stromford.

Dead Secret sees Jim and Ava pairing up to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. It is their first major case together and the two soon discover that they have very different personalities. Neal is intellectual and considered, Ava clever and occasionally reckless. Both are passionate about the job they do but have to work hard at being an effective team.

Dead Secret reached #13 in the Amazon Kindle Store, and the first sequel, Dark Secret reached #10. Both books spent several weeks in the Top 100. Her Husband’s Secret was published in November 2016, and the fourth book in the series, Their Fatal Secrets, in November 2017. The fifth book was launched in June 2018 and reached #55 on the day of its release.

I am originally from West Lothian in Scotland but moved to London in my early twenties. I lived and worked in the East End for ten years before moving to Lincolnshire where I currently live with my husband and two grown-up sons. When not reading or writing, I enjoy walking in the hills absorbing the scenery.

I am delighted to be published by the wonderful Joffe Books.