(Blog Tour) Tropical Punch – S.J Jensen

What is it all about:

“Strippers, Drugs, and Headless Corpses…

All in a day’s work for Bubbles Marlowe, HoloCity’s only cyborg detective.

What do an anti-tech cult, a deadly new street drug, and the corrupt Chief of Police have in common?

It’s a question Bubbles can’t afford to ask. Last time she got curious it cost her job, a limb, and almost her life.

She vows to stay out of police business. But with a newly minted cybernetic enhancement, a semi-legal P.I. license, and a knack for asking the wrong kind of questions… Vows are made to be broken, right?

When a seemingly straightforward contract takes a dark turn, heads literally roll. Unless she wants to take the fall for the murders Bubbles needs to cut town on the double. Too bad she’s flat broke.

And now, she’s being hunted.

In a world where dreams can be made real for the right kind of dough, nothing is as it seems. One thing is clear, though. The dream is becoming a nightmare.

As the body count stacks up, Bubbles realizes she’s made a terrible mistake.

Can she figure out who is behind the murders before she loses her head?

Warning: Don’t read this book if you hate fun, glitter, sassy robotic pigs, or hard-boiled badassery. Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett are rolling in their graves, but this is all their fault.”

My Thoughts:

Hi listeners welcome back to another review, I must confess to you all I love cyberpunk in many shapes and sizes, and I’m very pleased to say this did not disappoint.

I loved everything about this story, the setting, the characters both good and bad, the simplicity mixed with the complexity of it all, like a beautiful dance of words.

Enter Bubbles Marlowe our sassy cyber nearly p.i, she is a brilliant character, someone I would happily have a drink with but not want to owe any money to.

Bubbles is larger than life and in this dark and weird world she inhabits thats important but even as she is so big, the cast of characters supporting this story shine equally as bright, each and every one is fleshed out and feel like they have an interesting back story.

Speaking of back stories I immediately wanted to know bubbles, her interesting personality kept me glued to the book and would love there to be an origin story at some point.

The scene setting and the emotions portrayed are wonderfully done, it makes me want to look more into this author who I shamefully confess is not known to me, but that will now change.

The narrator of this shiny cyber adventure is Jennifer Blom, who combined with Jensen’s exquisite writing together they make an excellent team and Jennifer’s narrative brings it all to life in living technicolour, I hope they work together again.

If you like all things quirky, this is for you, if you are a cyberpunk fan, this is for you, if you just want a fun story and then find the rest, then I highly recommend this, I will definitely be keeping an eye on this series in anticipation of book two.

You can buy it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tropical-Punch-Bubbles-Space-Book-ebook/dp/B08WRD2LTY/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=bubbles+in+space+book+1&qid=1630359851&sr=8-2

You can follow S.C Jensen here: @scjensen_author or http://www.scjensen.com

Or follow Jennifer here: @jenblom or http://www.jenblom.com

Coopers promise – Timothy Jay Smith

What’s the story:

In the story, Cooper Chance, army sharpshooter and gay deserter from the war in Iraq, wants to go home, but can’t because he’ll be jailed and he’s acutely claustrophobic. He’s ended up adrift in Africa in a gritty world of thugs, prostitutes and corrupt cops. When the CIA offers him a way home without jail time if he carries out a risky high-stakes operation, Cooper balks until a teenage prostitute he’s vowed to rescue is trafficked and disappears. Cooper agrees to carry out the risky operation if the CIA helps find the missing girl.

My thoughts:

Hello everyone, I know what your going to say, I have been a way for far too long, but don’t worry I am back and I come bearing something that I hope will have you all saying “we forgive you”.

I was contacted by Timothy asking if I would be interested in reviewing his new book, this could not have come at a better time as I had been thinking of starting back up , so onto the book.

First thing that grabbed me about this book is that it’s set in a far flung place, I enjoy a good story especially one set in a foreign land and this fits very nicely into that box , set in an African country there is a lot of good things to say about this book.

First off. This book does contain mature subject matter, but it is done in a tasteful and respectful manner.

The writing style really grabbed me , as you all know I’m a very visual reader so the more I can imagine the better, and this story definitely didn’t disappoint, have never been to Africa but after this I really want to.

The hero of this tale is one Cooper Chance a brilliant name in my opinion he is quite a character, in fact every character had enough depth and substance to make them believable, which if I’m honest is something that brings the book alive for me.

This book left me wanting to know more about Cooper , his back story , the reasons he ended up where and how he did. You find out a-bit, which as I said left me really hoping there is a prequel.

Back to the writing style , the descriptions of people , places and things were just so cinematic I could see myself walking beside the characters through the dusty warm streets, so badly wanting ice water.

The narrator for this story is Ryan Brophy, his style is very easy to follow and the story is told in a way that it’a a pleasure to listen to.

I must mention the artwork it’s very interesting , I’ve come across very few books that show you what the main character looks like , it’s not a bad thing at all , there is so Much to picture in this book that it just works.

I loved this book, and I know we can’t really go anywhere at the moment, but if you want to take a trip without leaving the comfort of your couch then I recommend giving this a try.

You can buy it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coopers-Promise/dp/B0933DHGHJ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=timothy+j+smith&qid=1622178653&sprefix=timothy+j+&sr=8-3

you can find out more about Timothy here: @TimothyJaySmith and at: www.timothyjaysmith.com

(Book Tour) Son’s of Darkness – Gail Z. Martin

What’s it all about?:

“We are the Night Vigil.

We keep the Vigil, looking for the ones who can still be saved, the ones who aren’t too far gone. We’re the misfits and the muck-ups, unwanted by Heaven or Hell, given one last chance to atone for all the mistakes and missed chances, the pain we’ve caused others and ourselves, the good things we were afraid to do, and the bad things we embraced with open arms.

Unfinished business ties us to the mortal world, to make atonement, find absolution, satisfy retribution, get things right. You won’t find a sorrier group of halfway-house heroes. No illusions left – about ourselves, humanity, or what’s really out there in the darkness. Just a purpose, to go down fighting the good fight. Because this is our last chance.

One final chance to make it right, the thin red line of humanity against the evil that goes bump in the night, your best hope to make it through the hour of the wolf.

When a series of disappearances, suicides, and vengeful spirits cause havoc and death along a remote interstate highway, demon-hunting ex-priest Travis Dominick teams up with former special-ops soldier and monster-hunter Brent Lawson to end the problem with extreme prejudice”

My Thoughts:

After taking a rather longer than expected break from blogging, I am back and I bring you a book tour stop that I decided to take a chance on, and I can say i was not disappointed.

Welcome to the book one in an exciting new series Night Vigil. Not had much exposure to urban fantasy so this is a fairly new genre to me, so as little as i have to compare this too i really enjoyed this first in the series.

A fairly easy to follow storyline, mixed in with believable action and if there was music I could hear a rock soundtrack from start to finish

Both leading characters were troubled but very well written and although we find out a little about each man, I would love to know more and hope than we learn more back story as this series progress.

As you all know I’m a very visual listener and this was a journey , the scenes and locations all came alive in my imagination as I listened along.

Let’s talk about the artwork for a second, so vivid as you can see from the banner and picture, it’s a visual feast.

Let’s welcome the narrator of this fine tale , a new name to me but someone I will definitely want to hear more from, Jeffery Kafer, his tone and way he reads the story and characters, every word sets the scenes perfectly.

Gail is a new author to me , but I like her writing style is straight to the point and weather the research was real or fictional a lot of work went into the background and characters and creatures . If you are looking for something that bit different to distract you from wherever your head may be then I recommend this as a good starting point.

You can buy it here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sons-Darkness-Night-Vigil-Novel/dp/B08L43C7YV/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

You can find Gail here: @GailZMartin, and here: https://ascendantkingdoms.com/

Queen of The Warrior Bees – Jean Gill

Book Blurb:

“Epic eco-fantasy from the award-winning author of The Troubadours Quartet 
One misfit girl and 50,000 bees. Together they must change the world. As the Mages of the Citadel fight amongst themselves and prepare for war against the Forest, Mielitta, a despised servant, has her own battle to face. Bastien and Jannlou, the boys who terrorised her as a child, have grown into their status as Mages and she cannot escape them forever. 
   In desperation, she flees to the forbidden Forest and its dangerous attractions. Her scent angers thousands of bees and, although she survives their attack, she has changed. A strange bee symbol glows on her thigh and her senses are altered. She learns that her connection with bees enables her to summon their aid and gives her the power to shift shape. 
   This new-found bond works both ways and the bees need Mielitta’s help as the rift widens between Forest and Citadel. Can one girl and a colony of bees reunite Man and Nature, or is the split irreversible? 
Block Nature out and she’ll force a way in.”

My thoughts:

Welcome back dear listeners and readers, anyone who knows me will know that I am not a fan of anything yellow and black and striped that stings.

But I was completely engrossed by this book, yes believe it or not , I was listening to it every chance I got, I loved everything about this enchanting, and beautiful story.

I want to start with the cover art, it’s mystical and magical, draws you in and makes you want to discover what lies within the forest, but shows enough as not give too much away.

The characters were another strong point in this book, our leading lady is Mielitta a servant with a secret but this servant turned unlikely saviour , i instantly connected with, as I did with all of them, even minor characters had a big personality in this story.

The story is also strong , man versus nature, man thinking they can bend nature to his will, and well nature saying , “eh no” (pick any accent here you like). You will have to listen to it to see how it ends.

The narrator for this magical tale was Jannie Meisberger new name to my ears but defiantly someone I want to hear more from.

So if you want a break from crime stories (and why would you?) I highly recommend this little gem, this is book one so who knows one day you might see book two on here , keep your eyes peeled.

You can buy it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Queen-Warrior-Bees-misfit-Natural-ebook/dp/B07PZ212M8

And find out all about Jean Gill here:

https://jeangill.com/

The Clock Keeper – Melissa Delport

Book Blurb:

“Since the beginning of life on Earth, seven powerful families have protected time. From within their bloodlines, one person is selected every decade to make the ultimate sacrifice. 

When Anna Kennedy is selected by the Tempus Guild as the new Clock Keeper, she commits a crime so heinous that it could cause time itself to unravel. Now, it falls to her sister, Clarke, to right the wrong and restore honor to the Kennedy family. The only problem is that in order to do so she must send her best friend to his grave.”

My thoughts:

This was a wonderful wibbly wobbly, Timey wimey story.

It was so well written and fast paced. Without losing any of it’s written beauty.

The main character Clarke is a brilliant well rounded lead with an attitude of don’t cross me but with a heart of gold, and the bond with her sister Anna is so real that I actually felt sorry for the two of them.

Enter the maybe villain of this tale Fletcher I say maybe because he isn’t intentionally being mean more misguided, but I enjoyed how it all worked itself out in the end, the slight romantic element usually puts me off but it was done in such a way that it actually weaved through the story largely to me unnoticed.

The narrator for this story was Vivian Swain, did an excellent job narrating the very twisty subject of time travel, but she made it a joy to listen to and the time flew by, her pace was good and it made me invest more in some characters than I probably would have.

So if time travelling adventures are your thing or if your looking to dive into a new genre then I would give this a look and a listen, you won’t be disappointed.

You can buy it here:

https://www.amazon.com/The-Clock-Keeper/dp/B07NSBN3Q5#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1552817010960

And follow Melissa here: @melissadelport

Also her website: http://www.melissadelport.com

Her Mother’s Daughter – Alice Fitzgerald

Book blurb:

“1980: Josephine flees her home in Ireland to start a new life in London – but can’t leave her traumatic childhood behind. 

Seventeen years and two children later, her sister calls: their mother is dying and wants to see Josephine. It’s a summons she can’t refuse…. 

1997: Ten-year-old Clare can’t wait for the summer holidays, when she will meet her grandparents in Ireland for the first time. She hopes this trip will put an end to her mum’s dark moods – and drinking. But family secrets can’t stay buried forever, and following revelations in Ireland, everything starts to unravel. Have Josephine and her daughter passed the point of no return?”

My thoughts:

Here is second review I am behind on and my tour of the uk takes me from Scotland onto England and Ireland, and this is a real heart wrencher. 

I keep having to remind myself that this is not a true story, it easily could be.

The main characters in this sorry tale are Josephine and her daughter Clare, lots of other minor rolls but this story revolves around them.

families are messy messy things and closure is a transparent and hard to grasp thing and all throughout this story, it’s something for both Josephine and Clare that seems to be just out of reach.

This might be a bit of a shorter review than normal, not because it wasn’t a good book, it was great but it was difficult subject matter with not alot of light at the end of the tunnel, I so wanted the best for all concerned, but it just never seem to happen.

The Narrator for this tale of woe is Caroline Lennon who does a fantastic job given the bleakness of the story she has to tell, the accents are spot on for every character and tells the story at a good pace.

So if you are looking for something bright and airy then this isn’t it, but don’t mishear me dear readers,for all the darkness contained with this story, the one thing I can say shines through brighter than anything is that Alice Fitzgerald and Caroline Lennon has managed to capture beautifully is the overwhelming humanity and frailty of everyone represented. A job that’s not always easy to do.

So if you want something not light and fluffy but something real then give this a listen.

you can buy it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07HWY4KNT/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1547724634&sr=8-1

Follow Alice here: @AliceFitzWrites

Devils Kitchen – Stephen Puleston

Book blurb:

“When two bodies are found sprawled at the bottom of the Devil’s Kitchen in the mountains of Snowdonia, it looks like a murders/suicide. But something doesn’t feel right to Detective Inspector Ian Drake and his gut instinct has never let him down before.

Drake suspects at least one of the deaths could be suspicious, but who would kill such an ordinary couple and why? This might be Drake’s first murder inquiry, but his years as a detective have taught him one thing – every murder has a motive, and every killer leaves a trace.”

My thoughts:

Coming into this not having listened to any previous stories, it was great to go back to the very beginning and find out how it all began for Drake.

There is something about stories set in Wales , the accent ,the scenery it just makes crimes seem that little bit grittier.

Drake for me is tenacious,like a puppy with a stick ,not prepared to leave anything unchecked to find the answer to the case, when everyone else is telling him to close it. I can see his tenacity only getting stronger.

I loved the descriptions of the scenes, the names of the towns, I can could never hope to pronounce but i really want to visit,

The supporting cast of characters were brilliantly written and complemented/annoyed drake in a believable way, Drake himself the well groomed, fussy cop, did he keep himself well groomed because he wanted to or was to hide deeper feelings, maybe more will be revealed in later books.

The voice behind this fine tale is Richard Elfyn and he does the story absolute justice, great pace and keeps things interesting the whole time.

Despite this book is only two hours twenty one minutes long, it holds nothing back from the very beginning to the end.

In all honesty I loved this, I loved the writing style, none of the characters annoyed me, if your looking for a new series to start, then definitely start this.

You can buy it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Kitchen-Inspector-Prequel-Novella-ebook/dp/B01DOB25I6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539976466&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=devils+kitchen+stephen+puleston&dpPl=1&dpID=518s7N5OoPL&ref=plSrch

You can follow Stephen here: @stephenpuleston

Ready Player One – Ernest Cline

 

Book Blurb:

“Imagine a dystopian future where citizens are forced to live in a virtual reality just to escape the unsettling state of the present. Narrated by actor Will Wheaton, this thrilling story is a fast-paced adventure that pits thousands of desperate members of humanity against each other in the ultimate race for the winning prize.

It’s the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. We’re out of oil. We’ve wrecked the climate. Famine, poverty, and disease are widespread. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be, where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. And, like most of humanity, Wade is obsessed by the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this alternate reality: OASIS founder James Halliday, who died with no heir, has promised that control of the OASIS – and his massive fortune – will go to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that the riddles are based in the culture of the late 20th century. And then Wade stumbles onto the key to the first puzzle. Suddenly he finds himself pitted against thousands of competitors in a desperate race to claim the ultimate prize, a chase that soon takes on terrifying real-world dimensions – and that will leave both Wade and his world profoundly changed.

Narrator Wil Wheaton is an American actor and writer best known for his role as Wesley Crusher in the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and for playing Gordie Lachance in the film Stand By Me. More recently, he has appeared in several episodes of the TV series The Big Bang Theory as himself.”

 

My Thoughts:

Well ladies and gentlemen get comfy in your haptic chairs, put on your visor and get ready for a rewind to the 80’s, that you will remember for a very long time.

I was born in 1981 so growing up I missed most of the best things of the 80’s but listening to this it makes me want to step back in time. And through this story you can re-live some classic moments.

I loved Wade, the unlikly hero of our tale, as he realises the enormity of his situation he faces a number of interesting and retro tasks he seems well suited for.

I loved all the 80’s references some I got, like the Atari 2600 (I had one), Commodore 64, Douglas Adams, Monty Python, all which I loved and still do, some good things just never leave you.

There was alot of detail in this 15 hour epic, each glorious hour was a crossroads where past and the future regulary had near miss collisions.

As with all good sci-fi stories there is a faceless evil organisation trying to get everything for itself, and I was concerned that sometimes they could have.

It’s funny how competition can bring the best and worst out in people, and as Wade and his new friends forge ahead with the ultimate quest, things inevitably get in the way.

The line between reality and virtual reality keep a healthy distance from each other, online you can be whoever you want, but is it who you really are?

Will Wheaton narrates this brilliant book, the young ensign crusher has come along way from the bridge of the enterprise, a great storyteller.

This was a brilliant audiobook, fantastic detail, narration and writing, I wait eagerly now to see the movie, hoping it will live up to what I have heard.

You can buy it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ready-Player-One/dp/B007ROETX6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528349270&sr=8-1&keywords=ready+player+one+book

You can Follow Ernest Here: @erniecline

and his website is: http://www.ernestcline.com

How I lose you – Kate McNaughton

Book blurb:

“When Eva and Adam fall into bed one Friday night, tired and happy after drinks with friends, they have their whole lives ahead of them. But their story ends on page twelve.

That’s no reason to stop reading though, because How I Lose You is a story told backwards – and it’s all the more warm, tender and moving because we know it is going to be interrupted. It’s a story Eva thought she knew – but as you and she will discover, it’s not just the ending of the story that she got wrong.”

My thoughts :

It is my pleasure to welcome Kate McNaughton to my blog and her debut novel “How I lose you”.

Where do I begin, there was so much packed into this 11 hour story, I have so many thoughts, I will try and make sense of them for you all.

First of all this story doesn’t play out in the normal way of beginning, the middle and the end.

Instead this turns everything on it’s head and tells you events from a point in time somewhere near the middle and goes backwards, this was a brilliant piece of writing.

The two characters, Adam and Eva, seemed so real I have to remind myself this is just a fictional story. Eva I immediately could get behind, Adam at first I found whiney and annoying but he slowly grew on me.

The story jumped between present and past frequently but it was easy to follow and didn’t leave me lost. This book shows how you think you know family, till you find out the truth.

In the same way I really enjoyed the past/present moves I also found the descriptions of London and later Berlin where the majority of Eva’s story takes place.

And speaking of Berlin, brings me nicely onto the teller of this amazing tale, Jessica Ball I found her narrative mesmerising I could close my eyes and in my mind picture everything she was describing, also she did a very good German accent, look forward to hearing more from her.

An all round amazing listen and a fantastic debut, easily one of my favourites of 2018, can’t wait to see what is to follow.

You can find it here : https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B1HNRXQ/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1522042707&sr=8-1

You can follow her on Twitter here : @katemcnaughton

Roam – Erik Therme

Book Blurb:

“When three lives intersect in an unsavory hotel with a bloody history, each will struggle to exorcise their personal demons, unaware that a bigger threat is looming . . . and waiting for the right moment to strike.

Like Joshua Gaylord and Daniel Kraus before him, author Erik Therme explores the angst of disconnected youth in his enthralling and powerful Roam. Therme’s darkly tinged novel is an unforgettable tale of three errant souls brutalized by life’s cruel circumstances, and a remarkable night of discovery and violence that will change them forever.”

My thoughts:

If you are looking for something different then I may have saved you a search, this is so different from my last Erik Therme review of ‘Rest Haven’.

It’s not the way I would want to spend my birthday as Sarah’s evening goes from bad to worse. But through an unlikely ‘knight in shining armour’ Sarah embarks on a night she will never forget for quite some time.

The other main characters in the story are Kevin who gifts the biggest act of kindness he ever has. Then there is Scotty, what is wrong with him? Even he doesn’t know. There are a few other minor characters who pad out the story nicely.

The teller of this tale is Joe Hempel another new name to me and tells the story well, a name to watch.

A brilliant mysterious book, that your really not sure what is going to happen but makes you want to keep listening to find out.

You can find it here:

A Looming of Vultures – Richard Storry

Book blurb:

“While an ugly war with its neighbouring realm continues to rage, the insulated members of Ruritania’s upper class laugh and dance their way through their superficial lives. Some people, increasingly disillusioned by the pointless conflict, start to consider how the King might be persuaded – or forced – to end it.
Meanwhile, an increasing number of items of great value are going missing from those attending these high society gatherings. At whom will the finger of suspicion point? Who can be trusted? With so many competing, yet intertwined, agendas, what will be the outcome of this looming of vultures? “

My thoughts:

Let your imagination run free through this brilliant story of fiction. I love how the characters interact with each other and if you want a tense, edge of your seat tale, then listen to this.

The land of Ruritania is laid out in vivid and colourful descriptions, showing both the good and bad sides, even the upper classes aren’t as safe as they think they are, even from their own kind.

The narration is brought to us by the gifted Jake Urry, who I’m convinced can turn his vocal talents to almost anything, even intriguing animal sounds.

A tale of thievery, deception, trust and friendship awaits you, and yes you’ll even meet a vulture.

You can find it here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=A+looming+of+vultures

A Mind to Kill – John Nicholl

Book Blurb:

The hunters become the hunted…

‘I’m in here. Come on. I’m in here. Come and play with me. I’ve been waiting for you…’

When Rebecca’s childhood abuser avoids prosecution, it sets her on a path to revenge, revenge on any man who preys on the innocent. Twenty-three-year-old Rebecca poses as a child online and sets her trap, luring one predatory paedophile after another to their deaths. When a man’s severed head is found washed up on a windswept estuary beach, the police begin their investigation.

The internationally bestselling author of White is the Coldest Colour is back with an electrifying psychological thriller packed with suspense.

Brilliantly gripping, A Mind To Kill will have you hooked from the very first page and holding your breath to the heart-racing and shocking ending.

 

My thoughts:

Ahhh! Where did I put my torch, oh this story is dark, no rainbows or unicorns here, oh how I miss them.

Well what does this story have to offer, revenge, death and hiding in plain sight, I guess you never know a person really and in this story the person on the inside you really don’t want to know.

Part of me agree’s with reasons for what happens in this book but another part of me runs screaming from it’s blood soaked tendrils, there were a few times I decided I wasn’t going to finish as the subject of the book made me squirm from the inside, but I persevered and I’m glad I did.

The subject matter might not be to everyone’s tea, some graphic torture descriptions. But the story is well researched and the writer  gives the material the respect it deserves.

Onto the writer, once again it is John Nicholls who has other great books, remember google is your friend (or this blog which i have reviewed Bully Boy Blue). Anyway John Nicholls teams up with that Welsh terror Jake Urry a force to be reckoned with indeed if you combine John’s writing and Jake’s narration then you are onto a winner.

A well written and a well told story, as I said at the beginning if you are of a weak constitution then the subject matter might not be for you, but if you can see past it you are in for a good listen.

You can find it here:

Wretchedness – Ambrose Ibsen

“There is no hope.

A peculiar tablet unearthed in a Middle Eastern ossuary provokes madness in those who encounter it. One by one people come under the tablet’s sway and are subjected to horrific visions and dreams. In time, the tablet’s true purpose becomes clear: It is the harbinger of an eons-dead god whose reemergence will steep the world in terror and suffering. Having put the pieces together, two men race against the clock and attempt to disrupt the terrifying work of an ancient cult.”

My thoughts:

First thing I have to say about this book is if you are a visual person be prepared to get very uncomfortable very quickly, that’s not a bad thing, in fact it makes this book all the more special, for everyone else you will still get the impact.

I found myself at several points actually turning it off and putting something lighter and cheerier on because this story is no sunshine and lollipops, that’s why it took me so long to get to the end but glad to say I did keep going back to it.

Fear is a funny thing, it can manifest itself in many ways and in this book it was something truly horrific, I ‘enjoyed’ it and it terrified me in equal measure, not many books can do that.

If I find a stone tablet anywhere I am definitely going to leave it well alone after learning many lessons from this story.

I found the characters engaging and felt sorry for them at times, the narrator was the welsh terror Jake Urry, he did a fantastic job keeping the intensity dialed up to eleven! His descriptions of the people, places and things meant I could visualise everything.

It left me wanting to know more about the old lady, more about her past, how did she come across that tablet.

If you are looking for something with a dark side then this is the story for you, just don’t listen to it alone at night…

You can find it here:

Harvest Festival – Karl Drinkwater

 

 

 

Book blurb:

“How Far Would You Go To Save Your Family?

First the birds went quiet.

Then the evening sky filled with strange clouds that trapped the heat below.

Now Callum wakes, dripping in sweat. Something has come to his isolated Welsh farm. If he’s going to keep his family alive during this single night when all hell breaks loose, he’ll have to think fast. And when he sees what he’s facing, he suspects even that may not be enough.

This blast of a book can be read in one nail-biting session.”

 

My review:

How much fear, action and horror can you fit into 2 hours and 5 minutes? If this book is anything to go by rather alot.

Callum an ordinary family man with a wife and 2 teenage kids, his life on his farm is about to be turned upside down.

I liked the fast pace of the story, it grabbed you by the scruff of the neck and dragged you right along till the end.

The descriptions of the narrator R J Alldred are detailed and terrifying, you do not want to meet one of these things on a dark night.

I really hope there is a sequel as I want to know more about the origin of the “things”.

If you want a scary, sci-fi, short story then I highly recommend this one.

You can find it here:

Those eyes – Marc Richard

 

Book Blurb:

“Archangels in the sky have one job: Making sure our souls get to new bodies. But sometimes they screw up.

Ronnie Jones is an ambitious teenage boy about to ask his Helen to marry him, till an accident cuts his life short. Like that annoying joker someone forgot to take out of that deck of cards before shuffling, his soul ends up where it doesn’t belong; miles away. When he reawakens as Freddy, his spirit is on a mission. He must find the girl that has his heart.

The good news: He finds her again!

The bad news: It’s thirty years later, and she’s a baby. Seriously. He can’t catch a break.

Baby Katey’s parents meet their end when their plane crashes into a Tahitian moose. Freddy steps in and adopts her. His love for Katey/Helen is of a different variety now. He’ll do anything to protect her. But does this include shielding her from the truth?

Those Eyes is a surrealist romantic comedy originally penned by a group of Benedictine monks in a trailer at a maple syrup protest rally. The manuscript went through several revisions, and even one book burning demonstration, and is now nothing like the original text. It has been translated into one language: This one. It’s packed with extra comedy, a whole lot of love, a splash of the ghastly, and more than a touch of the bizarre.”

My Review:

I stumbled across this one from the great folks at Audiobook Boom, they sent me this free copy for an impartial review, so here it is…

Where do I begin with this love story, you all know the story of boy meets girl, girl meets boy yada yada, well that is pretty much where the similarity ends. This is dark, yet over flowing with comedy moments, it’s a story of love lost, family, friendship and back to love again.

But the road poor Ronnie finds himself on is not a straightforward one. Through a series of humorous, bizarre and twisted events he is reunited with his soul mate, but not how you might think.

The narrator David S Dear, brings the story to life giving each character a unique identity.

For me this was a direction change from my usual crime genre. If you want something a little different and a bit light-hearted then this surrealist romantic comedy will definitely be a winner.

You can find it here:

 

The memory of water – JT Lawrence

Book blurb:

“Slade Harris will do anything for a story, including murdering the woman he loves.

Slade doesn’t think twice about jumping out of a plane or conducting disastrous love affairs to gather material for his work, but his self-indulgent life is catching up with him. Stumbling through his late thirties hopeless and a little drunk, Slade has a dazzling, dangerous idea which will change his life forever. It’s going to be Slade’s ultimate story … and all he’s hoping for is to survive it.”

My review:

To say this is good wouldn’t be doing it justice, such a well crafted story, so many twists, turns and roundabouts.

The main character and teller of the story, Slade Harris, finds himself in a writers slump getting used to his own success and the perks that brings. Now struggling to write anything, the secret he hides threatening to tear him apart.

As the story goes on Slade dreams up a plan to shift his writers block, he plans the perfect murder.

There are some graphically described sex scenes and if this bothers you then it might not be your cup of tea.

At first I wasn’t taken by the narrator J. Austin Moral II,  I thought his narration was very monotone and samey, but I stuck with it and it in the end it worked well for the style of story.

As I said when I opened this review there are so many twists and turns and colourful characters at times I had to wind back slightly to fully understand some bits as there is a lot happening at the one time.

If you don’t mind some of the steamier descriptions then you will be rewarded with an intriguing story which gives the listener a disturbing insight into the mind of a writer, although I’m sure all writers aren’t that dark 😉

you can find it here:

The One – John Marrs

 

The blurb:

How far would you go to find THE ONE?

One simple mouth swab is all it takes. A quick DNA test to find your perfect partner – the one you’re genetically made for.

A decade after scientists discover everyone has a gene they share with just one other person, millions have taken the test, desperate to find true love. Now, five more people meet their Match. But even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking – and deadlier – than others…

 

My review:

Well what can I say about this book that hasn’t been said already? After reading rave review after rave review I had an audible credit to use and I thought ‘why not’, and I’m pleased to say I wasn’t disappointed in fact I enjoyed every minute of it.

The 5 main characters were believable and you invested yourself in each one throughout, even the characters who played a minor role in the book are well crafted and fitted in perfectly. The narrators read the parts well, at a good pace, drawing me in with just the right amount of suspense that kept the story moving.

The themes touched on in the book relate to what is happening in today’s world, love, loss, homosexuality, divorce and affairs, it paints a very dark picture.

 But if you can stick with it, there is light at the end of this tunnel, as you step over every body in the 103 chapters you are rewarded with a brilliantly crafted story that’s both dark as night and bright as day.

 In my opinion it is well worth the journey and I am looking forward to exploring more of John Marr’s work.

You can find the book at: