The Housemates by Iain Rob Wright

Description:

“Ten days, twelve competitors, two million pounds cash.

What at first appears to be a wonderful opportunity for Damien Banks turns out to be the worst nightmare he can imagine.

Trapped inside a house with eleven strangers, and a booming voice known only as 'The Landlord' controlling his every move, Damien will be forced to compete not only for the money, but for his life.

Let the games begin…”

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I can’t put it into words how much I enjoyed this book. There are only a select few books that I can’t help talking about with my family and work colleagues, whether they want to hear about it or not, but this is one of them … I just couldn’t help myself!

Be warned, there is gratuitous violence throughout!

I’m not going to give anything away about the story-line but basically, it’s a twisted Big Brother with a bit of Saw thrown in for good measure where the contestants have to take part in tasks and eliminations with the last person standing having the chance of walking away with £2 million.

The contestants inside the house are a mix of characters some of which more likeable than others and some thoroughly despicable … we learn more about each person as time goes on and it can be a bit of an eye-opener in some cases.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that this is going to put your brain cells to work extra hard nor am I going to say that the twist is a massive surprise but what I will say is that if you, like me, are a little bit sick of the raft of reality TV programmes being rammed down our throats and just wish they would up the anti just a little, then this is the book for you!

Thank you to the author for sending me a copy in return for an honest and unbiased review. I will, most definitely, read more from Mr Wright as I do like a bit of gore every now and then 😃.

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Author Website: Iain Rob Wright

Author Twitter:  @IanRobWright

Silent Fear by Lance & James Morcan

Description:

“Scotland Yard detective Valerie Crowther is assigned to investigate the murder of a student at a university for the Deaf in London, England. The murder investigation coincides with a deadly flu virus outbreak, resulting in the university being quarantined from the outside world.

When more Deaf students are murdered, it becomes clear there is a serial killer operating within the sealed-off university. A chilling cat-and-mouse game evolves as the unknown killer targets Valerie and the virus claims more lives.

A stunning, claustrophobic, "whodunit" murder mystery, Silent Fear (A novel inspired by true crimes) is the eighth novel by father-and-son writing team Lance & James Morcan. Included is a commentary by Deaf filmmaker Brent Macpherson on the unique aspects of Deaf culture the story covers. Together, the Morcans and Macpherson are currently developing a feature film adaptation of Silent Fear.”

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First off, I want to thank the authors for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review; please be reassured that receiving this book for free in no way influenced my review in any way.

What a fantastic read that was!

Excellent characters, brilliant and unique story line, gripping and full of suspense … what more can you ask for? Well, throw in a serial killer and a deadly flu virus and you have Silent Fear! But that’s not all … the Morcans write in a way that immerses you into the story so that you become absorbed into the lives of the characters and the dire situation they have found themselves in through no fault of their own.

I have to admit that it was quite daunting to find my Kindle copy was 708 pages long!! That’s one heck of a beast, however, you quickly forget that as you are swept along from chapter to chapter with ease picking up the subtle clues dropped along the way that you don’t initially recognise as being clues until the excellent twist at the end when all is revealed.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good whodunnit or mystery or thriller or serial killer story or … actually, anyone who loves reading a great book and I would urge you to check out the Morcans other works some of which I have been lucky enough to have also read.

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Please click on the links to take you to more information and my reviews:

Click here for my review

Click here for my review

Click here for my review

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Author website:  Morcan Books & Films

Twitter:  James Morcan and Lance Morcan 

When We Were Alive by C.J. Fisher

In the minority ... once again!

Blurb from Goodreads:

"When we first meet Bobby, he is a shy, twelve-year-old magician who falls in love with his best friend.

William is consumed with self-hate and drinks to escape the memories of his father’s sadness and his mother’s death.

Myles is writing letters to a mother he has never met.

Three different people from three different times each explore the dark side of relationships, search for beauty in sadness and try to bear the burden of guilt from living in a world we are powerless to fix."

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First off, I want to thank Legend Press for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review. Secondly, I want to apologise to Legend Press and the author for not actually finishing the book because, sadly, it just didn’t grab me in the way I think books should.

Now having said that I didn’t finish it, I will say that what I did read was well-written and the author definitely has a gift for description but, for me, it was a little too descriptive and long-winded and I found myself losing the thread part-way through a paragraph and having to go back and start again or skipping it totally. On reflection, I think this was part of the problem - doing this resulted in me losing interest and I had to force myself to read on and there were times when I would do anything other than pick it up. It was at this point, that I decided not to continue reading it - I hate doing that but life is too short and my “to-be-read” pile is massive!

I definitely think the fault is with me rather than the book - I just love getting lost in a book that excites me and gets my heart racing and my brain buzzing but, unfortunately, this book didn’t do that for me, then again, it isn’t being sold as such so this isn’t surprising.

After reading other reviews, it looks like I am in the minority (once again) so I would suggest that people who enjoy literary fiction and are tempted by the excellent cover and blurb, give it a go.

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Publisher website: http://www.legendtimesgroup.co.uk/legend-press

Author website: http://oldhotradio.com/

Author needs help

"Author needs help"

Hi everyone

I am asking for help on behalf of an author, Kevin R. Doyle, who has been let down by people who have said they would review his book and they are never heard from again.

He has given me permission to pass on his email address to anyone who would be willing to read and post a review of his book on Amazon and anywhere else.

I have read it and you can find my review here - The Litter

Is anyone interested? If so, please contact Kevin direct and he will arrange an e-copy is sent to you; his email address is kevinrossdoyle@gmail.com.

Thank you.


Hazel

x

The Debt by Simon Kernick

"A short but enjoyable read"

Description from Amazon:

“‘A debt is a debt is a debt.’

It’s not your debt. It’s your cousin’s. And he’s done a runner.

So now the local gangland bosses have come to you for repayment. They aren’t taking 'no' for an answer, but they will take your fingers - one by one - if you don’t get hold of the money. Very soon.

You’ve got to think fast. You’ve got to act fast. And then you’ll have to get out of here – as fast as you can.”

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Simon is one of my all-time favorite authors so when I heard there was a free download available of one of his books, I jumped at the chance. Now, I have to admit that I've had this on my Kindle since 2013 only to be rediscovered when I was looking for something quick to read in between "longer" books.

The story was originally written for BMW to promote a new car but don’t let that put you off - although the car features and there are a few obvious “selling pitches”, it’s not the star and, for me, didn’t detract from the story that much - Simon had already been open and honest about why the story was written so I was actually expecting a bit more to be honest.

As I said, the story is a short one - around 29 pages on the Kindle - so can be read in no time at all - it will probably take you as long to find it, download it, open it and read the introduction as it will reading it but despite this, I was soon immersed in the story and the characters. I admit that it is too short to really get much feeling about it and it doesn’t really showcase Simon’s talent as a fantastic author but I would still recommend it to anyone who enjoys a quick read and there is also the bonus of a sneak preview of “Ultimatum” so if you haven’t yet read it … where have you been?

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Author website - http://www.simonkernick.com/

Author's Twitter - @simonkernick

You can download a free copy of this short story from Amazon UK and US, Barnes & Noble, WHSmith and many others.

Fade to Black(Awake in the Dark Book 1) by Tim McBain and LT Vargus

Description from Goodreads:

"Live. Die. Repeat.

Dying violent deaths over and over again totally blows. Loner Jeff Grobnagger has learned this the hard way. Every time he has a seizure, he dreams that a hooded man strangles and kills him. He runs. He fights. He hides. No matter what he does, his efforts end in a pretty bad case of death.

But when someone tries to kill him in real life, he realizes that what happens with the hooded man isn't just a dream.

"Dude, please stop trying to kill me."

Who is the hooded man? And who tried to kill Grobnagger in real life? His quest for answers leads to a missing girl, cults obsessed with astral projection, an arcane puzzle sphere, an evil book, a private detective named Louise and a mustached man named Glenn that makes 'the best martini you've ever tasted.'

Yep. If it weren't for all of the horrific deaths, Jeff Grobnagger would be having the time of his life."

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I really don't like writing bad reviews but I think honesty is the best policy and this book was not for me. I didn't connect with the characters at all and I just couldn't get into the story. It started off really well but went downhill soon after and I quickly became annoyed with the characters, particularly Jeff whom I found irritating. Jeff is supposed to be 27 but, to me, he comes across as a teenager - either that or he's just quite immature for his age.

As I have said, the story starts off well but then goes nowhere apart from all over the place and then stops with no conclusion.  I hate it when that happens.  Yes, I know it's book 1 in a series but, even so, I expect some insight which will make me buy the next book not just an ending which forces you to buy the other books just to get the rest of the story.  I would rather just read one large book than 3 smaller ones.

I can imagine this might appeal to teenagers/young adults but me, a slightly more mature lady (!), not so much but it has received quite a few 4 and 5 star reviews so what do I know? Give it a go and judge for yourself, you've nothing to lose at it's free on Amazon, I may well have missed something that is totally obvious to others.

Although I was directed by one of the authors to Amazon to download a free sample of 3 books in the series, I did actually have a full copy of this 1st book on my Kindle and so I didn't bother downloading the free sample and, given how I felt about this, I don't think I will be reading the other 2. 

Bite by Nick Louth

Description from Goodreads:

“Tomorrow should be the greatest day of Erica Stroud-Jones's life. In just 24 hours this brilliant young scientist will present her secret work to a conference in Amsterdam - research that promises to revolutionise the battle against a deadly tropical disease. Millions of lives could be saved; a Nobel Prize beckons.

Arriving to watch her are sceptics and rivals, admirers and enemies. Erica's own eyes will be on sculptor Max Carver, her American new love to whom she will dedicate her achievement.

Tomorrow never comes.

Erica vanishes during the night. Max, desperate, terrified, sets out to find her, descending into an underworld full of malice and cunning. But even he is shocked by the dark terror he finds in the heart of the woman he loves.

Discover the massive number one bestseller that thousands of readers have said is the most addictive, page-turning novel of the year. “

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I really quite enjoyed this book. I have never read anything by this author before so took a punt and requested a copy via the publisher, Sphere an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, and NetGalley. Now it does purport to be “the most addictive, page-turning novel of the year” and "the most gripping thriller you'll ever read" and although I would disagree with this as I have read a few books which are better, I was entertained by this novel and gripped from start to finish. I admit that it is a little OTT at times but books aren’t always supposed to be believable and sometimes it’s nice to just go along with it and enjoy the ride!

The storyline has a few threads to it and once you get your head around them, everything slots into place. The main themes are malaria and the hunt for Erica and in amongst all that is a glimpse into Erica’s past. I did particularly like the entries from Erica’s diary when she was in Africa and feel this could have made a pretty good novel in itself albeit rather disturbing. The pace is pretty relentless from start to finish with some twists, turns and surprises along the way.

The characters are an interesting bunch of people some more likeable than others but all are well described and believable … well mostly … that is where the OTT comes in as Max seems to go from a normal bloke to a superhero and what he does goes slightly beyond the realms of possibility but don’t let that put you off reading this, like I said … just shake your head and go along for the ride.

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Author website - http://www.nicklouth.com/

Twitter - @NickLouthAuthor 

The Orphan Uprising by James and Lance Morcan

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“In this explosive conclusion to The Orphan Trilogy, the ninth-born orphan’s dramatic story resumes five years after book one, The Ninth Orphan, ends.

Having eluded his former masters at the Omega Agency and escaped his past life as an operative, Nine has married his soul mate, Isabelle. They’ve carved out a new life for themselves, off the grid, in the remote islands of French Polynesia.

The contented couple have a five-year-old son, Francis, who is a chip off the old block and who has inherited his father’s unique DNA. Francis will soon have a sister as Isabelle is about to give birth to a baby girl.

Their idyllic lifestyle is shattered when Francis is abducted by operatives in the employ of the Omega Agency, the shadowy organization that brought Nine into the world and once controlled every aspect of his life. The terrified boy with the unique DNA is dispatched to one of Omega’s underground medical laboratories for scientific testing and experimentation.

Nine is desperate to find Francis before Omega can harm him. He soon finds he’s up against his fellow orphans – all elite operatives as he once was – who are under orders to kill him on sight. To overcome them, he must call on all his former training and skills. His search takes him around the world – from Tahiti to America, Germany, Greenland and the Congo.

To add to Nine’s worries, he has a serious heart condition that requires immediate surgery. The clock is ticking and he knows he’s on borrowed time. It’s a race against the clock to find his son before Omega can harm the boy – and before his heart gives out.”

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As the synopsis says, this is the final book in the trilogy and, I have to say that I am a little sad about that as I have grown to really like Nine and Seventeen and I will miss their exploits which have been expertly written about by James and Lance Morcan. I feel you really need to have read the first book - The Ninth Orphan and the second - The Orphan Factory - to really appreciate this one but you won’t be disappointed and I would highly recommend that you buy all three.

The description of this, the third book, says it all so I won’t go into the ins and outs of the story but will say “what’s not to like?” You’ve got brilliant characters, a fantastic story which is excellently written and is easy to read with flowing text that seamlessly changes from the different perspectives of the main characters. The locations are expertly described as are the various unsavoury characters that Nine utilises to help his cause in the search for his son which include a motorcycle gang from Greenland, African Militia and the American Mafia. These may be shady people but are nothing in comparison to the Omega Corporation that Nine is going up against who think that horrendous experiments against children are perfectly acceptable!

The entire book is just great and although it’s a traditional story of good against evil; hope against despair it's so well written that it feels fresh, new and exciting and I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone and would encourage you, yes you who are reading this, to go and buy the trilogy right now … you won’t be disappointed and if you are, well you wouldn’t know a good book if it came up and hit you in the face!



Disclaimer: I was sent an eBook copy of this book direct from the authors in return for an unbiased and honest review - this in no way influenced my review whatsoever.

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Authors Website:  http://morcanbooksandfilms.com/

Twitter:  MorcanJames and sterlinggate

Adrift 2: Sundown by K R Griffiths

Description from Goodreads:

"1 night. 1 city. 8 million people. No warning. No safety...

Having survived the massacre aboard the doomed cruise ship Oceanus, all Dan Bellamy wants is peace; a chance to go home and attempt to put his life - and his mind - back together.

He's not going to get it.

Dragged back to the UK by the remaining members of the Rennick family, Dan finds himself once more pitched into a nightmare. Vampires are rising, gathering in force for an assault on London which could blow the secret of their existence wide open, and Dan's captors are convinced that he alone holds the key to defeating them.

Dan knows he has some strange connection with the creatures. Trouble is, as chaos erupts on the streets and the bodies begin to pile up around Dan, it looks like the vampires know it, too…"

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I am fast becoming a fan of Mr Griffiths’ work having read 2 of his previous novels - Survivor and the first in this series, Adrift. I highly recommend you read Adrift as it introduces the main players and background to the story; I wouldn’t say it was essential but you would lose out massively on a highly entertaining read.

As with Adrift, this is excellent from start to finish. The pace is flowing and it is very well written and easy to read. The characters are interesting and believable and the “monsters” are so well described, they could be in the room with you! Be warned however, there is a smattering of blood and gore throughout so if you don’t like that sort of thing, that’s a shame because you will be missing out on what is a fabulous book and I for one can’t wait to read the next installment - hint hint Mr Griffiths ;)

This and Adrift - need to be made into a film or series of films as I definitely feel that with good actors on board, they could be as good as the Alien franchise.

Disclaimer: I received a free eBook copy from the author in return for an unbiased review.

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Author website: http://www.krgriffiths.org/

Click here to join Mr Griffiths free mailing list and be the first to discover new releases, launch-day discounts and bonus content

Twitter: KRGriffiths1

Three Sisters by Helen Smith

Description from Goodreads:

"Three Sisters introduces twenty-six-year-old amateur sleuth Emily Castles in this entertaining new mystery series from best selling British author Helen Smith.

Emily receives an invitation to a party in a large house at the end of her street, hosted by a mysterious troupe of circus performers. She accepts, despite her misgivings, because her dog has died and she needs cheering up. But when she witnesses a murder in the midst of the surreal entertainment, no one will believe what she has seen. Is Emily befuddled with grief at the loss of her pet? Or has something wicked happened in plain sight of all the party-goers? Emily and her eccentric neighbours attempt to discover the truth in a charming story that will have you giggling at every funny line.

"Readers of M C Beaton or Alexander McCall Smith will enjoy discovering a new mystery author."

Chosen as a "Book of the Year" by Elizabeth at The Frugal Ereader.

This short mystery is a standalone story set in London. The Emily Castles mysteries can be read in any order. "

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Thank you to the author for send me a copy of this book in return for an honest review - this in no way influenced my review as you will see.

I had absolutely no expectations with this book having never heard of the author or of the main character, Emily, but have to say that I was a little disappointed especially having seen the many 4 and 5 star reviews it has received.

Maybe it’s me but I just found too much wrong with it to enjoy it and I’m sorry about that. I found nothing redeeming about Emily, I didn’t warm to her at all nor did I find any of the other characters particularly likeable or interesting - they were just all a bit weird. I found the dialogue between the characters was stilted and unnatural. The “mystery” the story claimed to be was given away by the title [why would you do that?] and, in fact, the only mystery for me is what significance does the recently deceased dog have to the story [baffled].

I really don’t like leaving bad reviews for anyone as I know how much of themselves, blood, sweat and tears the authors put into their writing but I really can’t find anything positive about this book apart from that I was glad it was only a short story.

I realise that I am in the minority with my review so I may have missed something so I suggest you give it a go and make your own mind up.

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