Thanks to Rachel’s RandomResources

The Gathering

The Uprising Series tells the story of three freedom fighters and their friends in high — and low — places that come together to overthrow a vainglorious Emperor and his militaristic Cabal to restore the city, and the way of life, they once knew and loved. In The Gathering, Jamie Ryan has defected from the Cabal and has joined his former brothers-in-arms — Basile Perrinault and Kanoa Shinomura — to form a collective known as The Uprising. When an explosion leads to him crossing paths with Evanora Cunningham — a product of Jamie’s past — he discovers that The Uprising is bigger, and more important, than he thought.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1980613788/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1980613788/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39279875-the-gathering

 

 

Author Bio

With an impressive list of credentials earned over the course of two decades, Bernadette R. Giacomazzo is a multi-hyphenate in the truest sense of the word: an editor, writer, photographer, publicist, and digital marketing specialist who has demonstrated an uncanny ability to thrive in each industry with equal aplomb. Her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, People, Us Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, and many, many more. She served as the news editor of Go! NYC Magazine for nearly a decade, the executive editor of LatinTRENDS Magazine for five years, the eye candy editor of XXL Magazine for two years, and the editor-at-large at iOne/Zona de Sabor for two years. As a publicist, she has worked with the likes of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and his G-Unit record label, rapper Kool G. Rap, and various photographers, artists, and models. As a digital marketing specialist, Bernadette is Google Adwords certified, has an advanced knowledge of SEO, PPC, link-building, and other digital marketing techniques, and has worked for a variety of clients in the legal, medical, and real estate industries.

Based in New York City, Bernadette is the co-author of Swimming with Sharks: A Real World, How-To Guide to Success (and Failure) in the Business of Music (for the 21st Century), and the author of the forthcoming dystopian fiction series, The Uprising. She also contributed a story to the upcoming Beyonce Knowles tribute anthology, The King Bey Bible, which will be available in bookstores nationwide in the summer of 2018.

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/bernadettergiacomazzo

https://www.instagram.com/bg_takes_pics/

https://twitter.com/bg_writes_stuff

My thoughts and Review:

This was a departure for me. Out of my comfort zone.

But I was pleasantly surprised. Never having read a Dystopian novel before.

This is the first in a trilogy. Set in a future New York. A New York that is ruled by The Emperor. A vainglorious despot, who rules with the help of his private army known as The Cabal. The have a weapon called PSI which turns their opposition into compliant zombies.

It is the story of Jamie who is a defector from the Cabal and the erstwhile leader of the Uprising. An Uprising dedicated to unseating The Emperor.

I found this book a great read. The author pulls no punches and drags the reader along with her. Obviously this book Introduces the reader to all the main characters and sets the stage for the rest of the trilogy.

A great book for the lovers of Fantasy/ Dystopian novels. You will be dragged on the adventure and will turn the pages furiously. Gripping and gritty. A great start to a new series. One that I look forward to reading future instalments

A book that I urge you to get hold of. You will enjoy. 5 stars from me.

Giveaway – Win a paperback copy of The Gathering (Open Internationally)

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

<a class=”rcptr” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494118/&#8221; rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”33c69494118″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=”” id=”rcwidget_1kpbikdd”>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

OR if you don’t like html or are on WordPress

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494118/?

 

 

 

 

 

Advertisements

Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Roger Bray.

Blood Ribbon

When there’s more than secrets buried, where do you start digging?

When Brooke Adams is found battered, bleeding, and barely conscious, the police are at a loss as to who her attacker is or why she was targeted.

Then, PI Rod Morgan turns up convinced that Brooke’s attack is the latest in a string of unsolved disappearances dating back twenty-five years.

The police, however, aren’t convinced, so Brooke and Rod must investigate the cases themselves.

As secrets from the past start unravelling, will they find Brooke’s attacker before he strikes again, or is that one secret that will stay buried forever?

Purchase Link – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Ribbon-theres-secrets-digging-ebook/dp/B07F9CC32X/

My thoughts:

This is the second book written by Roger that I’ve read.

The first being The Picture. So alike and so dissimilar

Alike in that the quality of the writing in both books is top notch, but dissimilar in the fact that both stories are completely different.

This book is much darker in story line. At the onset of the book you are put into the mindset of a disturbed serial killer. Also we are introduced to Brooke who leaving behind her a succession of foster homes and is embarking on a new life.

Told across several time frames and from various points of view, including the killer’s and Brooke’s.

There are several other characters in the book. All are essential to the story-line and are well rounded and fully fleshed.

As I said earlier the quality of the writing  is of a superb quality, not an unnecessary  or wasted word. It draws the reader in and has them turning the pages furiously towards the satisfying conclusion of the novel.

I would urge you to buy a copy on publication day, I am sure you will not be disappointed. Well done Roger 5 stars from me!

About Roger Bray

–  I have always loved writing; putting words onto a page and bringing characters to life. I can almost feel myself becoming immersed into their lives, living with their fears and triumphs. Thus, my writing process becomes an endless series of questions. What would she or he do, how would they react, is this in keeping with their character? Strange as it sounds, I don’t like leaving characters in cliffhanging situations without giving them an ending, whichever way it develops.
My life to date is what compels me to seek a just outcome, the good will overcome and the bad will be punished. More though, I tend to see my characters as everyday people in extraordinary circumstances, but in which we may all find our selves if the planets align wrongly or for whatever reason you might consider.

Of course, most novels are autobiographical in some way. You must draw on your own experiences of life and from events you have experienced to get the inspiration. My life has been an endless adventure. Serving in the Navy, fighting in wars, serving as a Police officer and the experiences each one of those have brought have all drawn me to this point, but it was a downside to my police service that was the catalyst for my writing.

Medically retired after being seriously injured while protecting a woman in a domestic violence situation I then experienced the other side of life. Depression and rejection. Giving truth to the oft said saying that when one door closes another opens I pulled myself up and enrolled in college gaining bachelor and master degrees, for my own development rather than any professional need. The process of learning, of getting words down onto the page again relit my passion for writing in a way that I hadn’t felt since high school.

So here we are, two books published and another on track.

Where it will take me I have no idea but I am going to enjoy getting there and if my writing can bring some small pleasure into people’s lives along the way, then I consider that I will have succeeded in life.

 

 

Hopefully this post will reach my new page.

Thanks for the invite from Rachelsrandomresources.com

1. 

 

Blurb:

Chasing Black Gold   

ROBERT STONE was a serial entrepreneur – an enterprising individual, mostly on the wrong side of the law, who spent twenty-five years operating all over the world, before being arrested in Switzerland as a result of an international manhunt led by an Organised Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. Over the course of his career, Stone earned and lost several lifetimes’ worth of fortunes, went to prison on three continents, used dozens of aliases, saw men die, and masterminded one of the biggest marijuana smuggling operations in criminal history. Fuel smuggling in Africa, trading fuel with generals, rebels and businessman, was both his career high and, ultimately, what brought him down.

Purchase Links:

https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/chasing-black-gold/9780750960335/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Black-Gold-Incredible-Smuggler/dp/0750960337

https://www.waterstones.com/book/chasing-black-gold/robert-stone/9780750960335

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-black-gold-robert-stone/1121230480

https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Black-Gold-Incredible-Smuggler/dp/0750960337

My Thoughts:

A whirlwind read which is fast paced from start to finish. His anecdotes seem a bit absurd at times; artistic license perhaps, but they make for interesting reading

Robert Stone leaves home at 17 years old and with a lot of wheeling and dealing changes a small amount of money into millions.

This was a book I did not want to like. No-one should profit from the proceeds of crime, especially when it involves the smuggling of fuel, drugs and gold.

Stone himself is an arrogant misogynist and downright immoral. And you should not like him, but find yourself rooting for him. He has done wrong but has been wronged and wants to get back to his family. This keeps you reading in the hope that he suceeds.

A very entertaining and different read that is worth the reading.

About the author:

Author Robert Stone first came to Aberdeen Scotland in 1973 as a pioneer saturation diver in the early dangerous days of the North Sea. Retiring from diving in the mid 80’s he became a serial entrepreneur –mostly on the wrong side of the law. He spent the next decade operating businesses all over the world from his Aberdeenshire home.

Stone earned and lost several fortunes, went to prison on three continents, used dozens of aliases, and masterminded one of the biggest marijuana smuggling operations in criminal history. Fuel smuggling in Africa, was only one of his many exploits.

His Scottish wife and young children knew nothing of the dark side of his life until the day they were all arrested in Switzerland as a result of an international manhunt led by an Organised Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Twitter – https://twitter.com/rstonecbg

Twitter https://twitter.com/TheHistoryPress

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

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thehistorypressuk/?hl=en

The author and his family:

The Author:

 

Portraits of the Dead (DI Gravel #1)

 Read over 7 days

by

John Nicholl

Emma didn’t know how long he hid in the large Victorian wardrobe to the side of her single bed. She didn’t know how long he peered between the two heavy oak doors, and watched, as she slowly drifted into fitful sleep. She didn’t know what time he pushed the doors open and crept towards her in the darkness of the night.

Detective Inspector Gravel finds himself faced with a difficult case when a local nineteen-year-old university student is abducted and imprisoned by a sadistic serial killer, who has already tortured and killed at least five young women.

Can Gravel find the girl and stop the murderer?

He will learn that the greater the evil, the deadlier the game…

My Thoughts;

What a delicious, creepy novel this was. From the prologue on. It really sets the tone for this slow burning dark novel. Emma a young, blonde student who is abducted and kept prisoner by an unidentified male who wears a clown’s mask. The abductor/ killer is revealed early on; but that is not the purpose of the book. The author uses his skill as a writer to shape and form characters who live in your mind and sends shivers down your back and makes you invest in their story and his narrative. His Di Grav is a throwback to another age. An unfit man, who eats,smokes and drinks more than is good for him. But he is filled with a desire to do the decent thing. The abductor is a well drawn character who displays all the traits of the psychopath. No remorse, con conscience. It is a book well worth investing in. It will be worth your effort. John’s writing is of a top quality standard. I urge you to read this book. Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the ARC   John Nicholl GOODREADS AUTHOR Born in The United Kingdom  Website http://www.johnnicholl.com Twitter nicholl06 Genre Crime, Suspense, Thriller Member Since June 2014 edit data John Nicholl, an ex police officer, child protection social worker and lecturer, has written six darkly psychological suspense thrillers, each of which has been an Amazon # 1 bestseller. John has publishing deals with Bloodhound Books, W.F. Howes, and Hungarian publisher – Konyvmolykepzo. He is always happy to hear from readers, bloggers or the media and can be contacted via his author website at: http://www.johnnicholl.com.

Thanks to Lovereading.

Stalker

by

Lisa Stone

Someone is always watching…

Derek Flint is a loner. He lives with his mother and spends his
evenings watching his clients on the CCTV cameras he has installed inside their homes. He likes their companionship – even if it’s through a screen.

When a series of crimes hits Derek’s neighbourhood, DC Beth Mayes begins to suspect he’s involved. How does he know so much about the victims’ lives? Why won’t he let anyone into his office? And what is his mother hiding in that strange, lonely house?

As the crimes become more violent, Beth must race against the clock to find out who is behind the attacks. Will she uncover the truth in time? And is Derek more dangerous than even she has guessed?

A spellbinding crime novel from the worldwide bestseller
Cathy Glass, writing as Lisa Stone.

‘Once you start you won’t be able to stop!’
Katerina Diamond, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Teacher

My Thoughts:

This was a good read. it is a story of stalking. But who is the stalker and who is the stalkee, is that a word? The main character is Derek Flint, who is an installer of CCTV equipment. But is he what he seems? Not only does he install cameras but sets them up so he can watch his customers go about their business. He may say he does this with the best of intentions; but Derek has a secret in his past, which if people were to know, it would colour their opinion of him. So Derek is the stalker? This is a book that has you constantly revising your opinions and trying to second guess the author. All characters are well rounded and have an important part to play in the story. The writing is superb and has you eagerly turning the pages. It is a story of the internet, the dark web and the prejudices of people. I enjoyed this book and I’m sure if you picked up a copy you would to. So go on it would be money well spent.The Author: Lisa Stone   As a writer of suspense thrillers I often ask myself what if? What if this happened instead of that? Or why a particular person reacted as they did. So often fact is stranger than fiction and these books start with a fact which I develop. You may be surprised to know, for example, just how many patients experience changes in their likes and dislikes after a transplant operation ~ The Darkness Within. Or how easy it is to look into someone’s home through their CCTV ~ Stalker. Just a little bit about me. I live in England and have three children. I have always been a writer – from when I was at school, with poems and articles in the school magazine. In my teens I began writing short stories, a few radio plays and novels. I finally made it into the bestseller charts with Damaged in 2007 which I wrote under the pseudonym Cathy Glass. Since then I have had 28 books published, many of which have become international bestsellers. Thank you for your time, I hope you enjoy the Lisa Stone thrillers. Buy Lisa’s books on Amazon and all good book sellers.

Thanks to lovereading.

Dark Pines

by

Will Dean

An isolated Swedish town. A deaf reporter terrified of nature. A dense spruce forest overdue for harvest. A pair of eyeless hunters found murdered in the woods.

It’s week one of the Swedish elk hunt and the sound of gunfire is everywhere. When Tuva Moodyson investigates the story that could make her career she stumbles on a web of secrets that knit Gavrik town together. Are the latest murders connected to the Medusa killings twenty years ago? Is someone following her? Why take the eyes? Tuva must face her demons and venture deep into the woods to stop the killer and write the story. And then get the hell out of Gavrik.

My Thoughts:

This is the first in a new series. Tuva Moodyson is a deaf reporter working for her local newspaper. She finds herself invoved in a series of murders that have similarities to murders commited in the in last decade of the 20th century. She finds her during her investigation that everyone and no one are suspects. A read that is sometimes hard to get into. But when it does it grips you and wont let go. A dark, claustrophobic and edgy read. The descriptions of the characters, scenery all add to the brooding presence of the tale . The tension is unrelenting and I’m eagerly waiting on the next in the series. I think if you like your crime dark and edgy then grab a copy.The Author: Will Dean Will Dean grew up in the East Midlands, living in nine different villages before the age of eighteen. After studying law at the LSE, and working many varied jobs in London, he settled in rural Sweden with his wife. He built a wooden house in a boggy forest clearing and it’s from this base that he compulsively reads and writes.