Day: Aug 28, 2019

Book reviews

Cover Reveal for Scorched Earth by Rachael Blok

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This is a cover reveal for the fabulous sounding – The Scorched Earth – Rachael Blok, but first a little about the book and Rachael…..

PUBLISHERS BLURB

 

Who really killed Leo Fenton?

Two years ago, Ben Fenton went camping with his brother Leo. It was the last time they ever saw each other. By the end of that fateful trip, Leo had disappeared, and Ben had been arrested for his murder.

Ben’s wife Ana has always protested his innocence. Now, on the hottest day of 2018’s sweltering heat wave, she receives a phone call from the police. Leo’s body has been found, in a freshly dug grave in her own local churchyard. How did it get there? Who really killed him?

St Albans police, led by DCI Jansen, are soon unpicking a web of lies that shimmers beneath the surface of Ana’s well-kept village. But as tensions mount, and the tight-knit community begins to unravel, Ana realises that if she wants to absolve her husband, she must unearth the truth alone.

 

 

About the author

Rachael Blok grew up in Durham and studied Literature at Warwick University. She taught English at a London Comprehensive and is now a full-time writer living in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.

 

Follow Rachael:

Twitter: @MsRachaelBlok

Website: rachaelblok.com

 

NEARLY THERE !

Pre-order links:

 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2H7abzi

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

Google Play: https://bit.ly/33ztA5t

 

COVER REVEAL 

How stunning are these…….the left version is the eBook and the right is the Hardback…

 

 

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Website: www.headofzeus.com

Twitter: @HoZ_Books

Facebook: @headofzeus

Instagram: @headofzeus

Book reviews, Fantasy

Balance Of The 12 by Ania Bo – Book Review

lel2403

 

PUBLISHERS BLURB 

The universe was created by 12 energies which turned into the 12 races on earth. Eleven of these races live in secret among mankind, coexisting in precarious harmony and dependent on the Balance between them to keep the universe alive. If one race falls, the universe falls.

With war at the door, a domino effect of events is about to begin that could bring about universal annihilation. Only Jane, a Reader, and Samuel, a human, have the power to save the threatened races and protect the Balance. Unsure of each other and what lies ahead, they have one chance to learn about the true nature of the 12 races. One chance to witness the last Great War of the 12 races. But what they uncover reveals more than they ever believed possible.

Brought together by the Balance, Jane and Samuel must choose to follow the legacy left to them, or watch as the 12 races erupt in a war that will destroy them all.

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MY REVIEW

Balance of 12 by Ania is a thoughtful fantasy tale.

The premise is that the universe was created by 12 energies which became 12 races on Earth ( 6 year old Amy explains it much better than I can – string theory of 12 dimensions and not 4). These races live in hiding amongst humans, with everyone relying on the balance of the 12 to keep the universe safe.

But, a War is coming that could wipe out all existence. Can Jane, the visionary Reader and her Protector, Samuel, along with Shasta and Wade save the threatened races and so prevent annihilation…..? 

This is not your usual sword and sorcery fantasy, it seems to have a wisdom about a balance to humanity itself. It has many little sayings that bring a sense of hope to the story….’A storm always leads to a sunny day’ and ‘live today, fight tomorrow’.

Will the Balance be restored? Will the universe and Earth survive?

I found this to be an immersive read, with interesting and likeable characters. I love the font too, which gave this the feel of a manuscript. 

My only bugbear is the spine of the Book, on a bookshelf the 12 makes it look like it’s number 12 of a series and not part of the title…(a tiny flaw and my opinion only).

Thank you so much to Ben Cameron of Cameron Publicity and Marketing for a copy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.

 

Book reviews, Police procedural

The Upper Hand by A.L. Fraine – Book Review

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PUBLISHERS BLURB 

A murder with all the trappings of an occult sacrifice. It’s DC Kate O’Connell’s first case. 

Will it also be her last? 

Keen to prove herself to her superiors Kate fights to break through the lies that surround the victim’s life. But the ritualistic nature of the crime dredges up disturbing memories of a past tragedy.

While wrestling with the demons of her past, Kate learns that her partner has a few skeletons in his own closet. His reputation threatens to taint the investigation and ruin her career before it starts.

Kate must break the silence surrounding the victim to get to the truth before it’s too late, and the death toll rises.

Join Kate as she descends into a murky world of murder and conspiracy in the English Home Counties, in a Thriller that bestseller J D Kirk describes as: “An exciting new voice in British Crime fiction.”

Readers of J D Kirk, L J Ross, David Blake, and Daniel Cole, and fans of True Detective and Seven should enjoy The Upper Hand.

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MY REVIEW 

This is #1 in a new series and features DC Kate O’Connell on her first case on the Murder Investigation Team. She is partnered with DS Nathan Halliwell, a slightly disgraced former DCI….he sees conspiracies everywhere!

A body has been found by a dog walker in the woods, tortured, murdered and left bound to a tree…..with strange symbols left at the scene……is this a ritualistic killing?

What follows is a thorough and gripping investigation, with secrets and lies a plenty in this twisty, gruesome and creepy thriller. Is there a link between the victims? And who are the sinister group behind the scenes?

I love the characters of O’Connell and Halliwell and their growing working relationship and I really want to read more…..can’t wait to read Book 2….

Thank you to Sarah at Book On The Bright Side for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.

You can buy a copy here 

https://amzn.to/2MHjwSB

 

 

Author Bio:

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A L Fraine lives in Surrey in the UK, just outside of London, with his wife, kids, cat and dog.

Having enjoyed reading thrillers and watching gripping drama for years, it was the influence of a couple of more recent shows that spurred him on to put pen to paper and write his first thriller, The Upper hand.

The Upper Hand was inspired by True Detective, and Se7en, and the creepy vibe that they had. 

The prequel to the Upper Hand, “First Hand”, is available for free for those who sign up to his mailing list, here; https://dl.bookfunnel.com/dbeuremmfr

The Sequel to The Upper Hand, titled “Idle Hands”, is available for Pre-Order now.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VJBCF2W/

If you would like to know more about A L Fraine and his books, you can find him at http://www.alfraineauthor.co.uk

Or on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/ALFraineAuthor/

twitter @AndrewAuthor1