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Soldier’s Stand (Rifleman Book 2) by Griff Hosker – Review

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Today I’m reviewing Soldier’s Stand (Rifleman Book 2) by Griff Hosker!

Here’s the blurb

Defeat is a moment; victory is a legacy.

In the blistering heat of the North African desert, the air crackles with tension as the unrelenting Desert Fox, Erwin Rommel, closes in on the beleaguered forces of the Allied troops.

Private John ‘Hawkeye’ Sharratt, a battle-sharpened soldier weathered by loss but fuelled by an indomitable spirit, finds himself once again hunkered down with his brothers in arms. After a series of defeats, the veterans of Libya who learned to fight through hardship must now endure a desperate retreat across the unyielding sands. As the shadows of fallen comrades haunt their every step, they grapple with the weight of loss and the flickering flame of hope.

Just when the situation seems hopeless, a new commander arrives – General Montgomery is a man whose reputation for bold strategy ignites a newfound sense of purpose in the weary hearts of Sharratt’s unit. The order is clear: stand and hold the line at El Alamein. As the rumble of panzers grows closer, it becomes clear that survival is not simply a matter of soldiering on; it is an act of relentless bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. With past sacrifices bearing down upon them, the men of the Eighth Army must decide whether they will falter or fight for their futures.

Soldier’s Stand is not just a story of war; it is an exploration of camaraderie, resilience, and the human spirit’s capacity to rise above adversity. As readers follow Hawkeye and his fellow soldiers through the trials of battle, they will be drawn into a gripping narrative that encapsulates the raw emotions of fear, courage, and the unwavering hope that binds us, even in our darkest hours.

Review

Soldier’s Stand picks up where Conscript’s Call, Book1 leaves off. Private John ‘Hawkeye’ Sharratt is no longer a raw recruit.. his mind and body now show the scars of war.

The war isn’t over yet and Sharratt must channel his personal pain into unmoveable determination to make sure others have a chance to survive.

Hosker weaves a wonderful plot around the brutality of war, you almost forget the reality, that many have lost their lives in history to give others a chance..

When reality does hit, it packs a punch.. it’s brutal.. men cut down and basically forgotten.. it’s sobering at times.. a man killed, no time to recover them, sometimes not even enough time to grab their dog tags.. then fresh recruits arrive to fill the holes left and it all starts again.. the almost never-ending back and forth of death…the feeling those lost were simply a number when nothing could be further from the truth!

I really liked the portrayal of weapons, ammo etc, How the men had to conserve there supplies, some weapons failed, tanks are great but can be taken out with one hit to their tracks, the reality of the trenches showing their importance but also how little protection they really had.

I think the most poignant thing for me was learning about the mine fields, and how dangerous a task was to clear them.. how time consuming a task and how many men could be lost to gain very little.

Saying I loved the story feels a little wrong..it’s horrendous what happens but at the same time you feel pride too..it swells as Sharratt and his brothers in arms continue to move forward, never giving up…knowing that real people did exactly this, their heroic actions buried in time.

I’m not going to pretend I know what the reality of war is like but the pace and plot made me reflect a lot on how lucky I am.

The plot is very clever too… yes it’s very moving at times but there’s also a lot of excitement.. the near misses, the guile of the men when it looks like there’s no way out.. it’s the perfect mix of hard hitting reality and excitement.

The biggest surprise for me was how the author managed to add character development in such a fast paced plot driven tale. There’s real depth added to Sharratt as we see him become a leader, those last couple of chapters will stay with me that’s for sure.

I’m not going to spoil anything but Bowler..brilliant.. those who read the book will understand.. what a great pivotal addition to the story..

5/5 stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon, Or ask your local bookseller to get a copy in for you 🙂

10 Questions With… Frank Ferrari!

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After reading With Time to Kill, (and loving it might I add!) I was very lucky to be given the chance to ask the author a few questions.

Firstly I’d like to thank Frank for taking the time to answer my questions, I still always get a buzz when an author agrees to one of these posts!

Without further ado I give you 10 questions with Frank Ferrari!

Q: What hit me first when reading With Time to Kill was how unique the story felt. Where did the inspiration for the series come from? You must like some science fiction yourself? My favourite even got a mention… I’m a massive Stargate fan. Did you find blending the genres together difficult or did it slot nicely?

Initially, With Time to Kill was supposed to be a short story about a guy who, after obtaining the ability to travel back in time, kills everybody who stood between him and his ambitions. He was going to be a corporate type (probably influenced by the environment I was working in back then!) and he was going to be very unlikeable. But I intended to make the story funny. I wanted it to be really dark humour, and the way the guy’s kills evolved was going to be ridiculous. For instance, I saw a scene in my mind in which his thirst for blood had reached such a high level that a person who jumped in front of him in the queue at Starbucks or Costa or something would become his victim.

As I say, it was supposed to be a short story – a little project to get me back into the swing of writing, having been away from it for a number of years.

Then, during a trip to the local supermarket with my wife, I spotted a guy perusing the flowers. A few days later, having forgotten to pick up something or other, my wife and I went back to that same supermarket, and there he was! The same guy checking out the flowers again. I don’t know who he was – have probably walked past him in the street several times since then – but what made me recognise him from one day to the other was his uniform: he was a local bus driver. In the car on the way home, I made a comment to my wife saying, ‘Imagine that guy has become obsessed with one of his passengers, and he’s trying to find the perfect bunch of flowers to leave at her doorstep…’

My wife literally shivered and said, ‘Ugh! That’s creepy!’

And that’s when I knew my story had to evolve. So, in essence, the inspiration was two ideas that came together to make something altogether different.

I really like science fiction – I was, once upon a time, a scientist myself! I lean more towards the works of Michael Crichton and Blake Crouch over the likes of Stargate and Babylon 5, however. In saying that, I thoroughly enjoyed Cixin Liu’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy (the first of which is The Three-Body Problem). I have never read such a vast, expansive story.

Blending the sci-fi element into what is essentially a Scottish crime tale just sort of happened! To begin with, I thought I was writing a science fiction story, but as I got to know the characters and I watched them develop, I knew the police had to get involved somehow. 

Q. What has surprised you the most since becoming a published author? I know there’s hurdles along the way but has anything good really stood out?

It’s a lot harder than I realised it would be! Like countless others, I read everything I could find about publishing a novel. Eventually, I settled on the self-publishing route for With Time to Kill and its successors. Legend has it, unless you’ve got 25k followers, or your name is James Patterson, traditional publishers will leave the bulk of promotion up to the author, all the while taking a healthy slice of the royalties. I figured – as many before me have – that if I’m going to have to promote my books myself, I might as well keep as much of the royalties as I possibly can. Flipping the switch from storyteller to marketer/salesperson is very difficult, though. Despite having a decade’s experience in pharmaceutical sales and marketing, I have not yet mastered this side of publishing.

Q. What motivates you to keep writing? I mean, what keeps it exciting? Do you lock yourself away for hours at a time? How do you avoid any writing slumps?

I write full time and have done so since day one. I was made redundant from my previous career and took the opportunity to explore my lifelong dream of writing. That first day in which I didn’t need to go to the office, or log onto the company Teams account, I sat behind my desk at home at 8:30am and I started writing. I wrote like it was a full-time 40+ hour job, and I’ve done so ever since. Keeping that routine has helped me avoid any slumps (so far!). In terms of what keeps it exciting, that part’s easy: I love writing, and the way I do it (see my answer below!) keeps me hooked.

Q. It must take a while to flesh out your ideas/timeline? I was really struck by how well you humanised the characters.. Did you do many rewrites? Do you outline the story in full or let the story lead you?

I’m glad the characters in With Time to Kill resonated with you. I firmly believe the best stories are the ones driven by how you feel about the characters. Plot is fine, but if you don’t feel something about the characters, it just isn’t the same.

My writing process blends the two approaches (outlining, and being led by the story). I often have certain points or places where the story must go, but how we get there, and what occurs along the way, is all organic. That’s what keeps it exciting for me – often it’s like I’m discovering the story as a reader would at the same time as I’m writing it.

When the day’s writing is done, I go over it in my head while out with the dog or making dinner, then at night I think about what’s going to happen next as I drift off to sleep. That helps me hit the pages running the following day. Once the first draft is complete, I let it sit for a while – a few weeks at least – and I go do something else. When I come back to it, I read through, then give it a comprehensive rewrite, fixing plot holes or inconsistencies, etc. When that’s done, I pass the draft to my wife, and we both read it through. She comes back to me with points and suggestions that invariably make the story better, and I implement those. After another read through, it’s ready for the professional eyes of my editor. After another few weeks, I incorporate his comments and suggestions, and then – after a final full read – it’s ready for wider consumption.

Q. I know I’m new to the series (I’ll make amends for that quickly!!) Do you think your writing evolved over the course of the series? Did you learn any lessons along the way?

My writing has definitely evolved. The editor I work with now was not the one who worked on With Time to Kill, but I’ve since gone back and incorporated his teachings into it. He taught me many things. For example, anyone reading the With Time to Kill books will see there’s some humour in them. Sometimes, in the early drafts, the jokes didn’t sit well amongst the darker goings-on around the characters. That’s one thing I’ve learned to manage. It’s perfectly okay to be funny, but there’s a time and a place! Upon reading The Last Trip for Good (the final instalment of the With Time to Kill trilogy) my editor said: ‘the writing has come on in leaps and bounds since the first manuscript I saw’, which showed me how far I had come.

Q. Were there any messages you were trying to get across to the reader through your words? It’s a fascinating idea to think about what we would do if we had the power to influence the past.. Did you expect it to be as thought-provoking as it is? 

As I started writing, I didn’t for one moment think I was going to come out with anything worthy of deep thought! I just wanted to write a story that, initially, was supposed to get me back into the groove. Later, it became an exercise in whether I could write a novel-length manuscript. As the story evolved, however, I found myself absorbed by the characters. What started as a pretty one-dimensional killer became a more complex, broken soul who, in order to realistically do the things he does, had to be the kind of person who could be nudged by outside influences. I became fascinated by Garry. He’s this morally blank canvas who, after a lifetime of loneliness, is suddenly caught between two opposing influences – one overwhelmingly ‘good’, and one very much not good! I suppose the question I wanted to answer was: what would drive somebody to kill in order to improve their life? With Time to Kill and its siblings is my answer!

Q. I can’t do one of these posts without asking you about how you feel about reviews? Do you take much notice? 

I’m supposed to say: ‘Nah, I don’t pay attention to reviews. Reading is incredibly subjective, and one person’s five stars is another’s zero stars…’ but I’m human! Of course I notice, especially in these early days. Pleasantly, most reviews for my books have been positive, which is a massive confidence boost. If I had to pick a favourite Amazon review for With Time to Kill, it would have to be one from a lady in the US, who expected something very different… She wrote: 

‘A psychological thriller that became part science fiction. I was so annoyed as I do not like sci-fi, I almost stopped reading. Glad I stuck with it. Turned into a fairly enjoyable read.’ And she gave it five stars! The fact that this avid psychological thriller reader was, in the end, convinced by a Scottish crime/sci-fi mash-up made me very happy indeed!

On top of that, seeing the feedback from people like yourself – and others with a similarly significant presence in the social book world – is very humbling. You, and others, have shown me that my books can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those of more established writers, and that makes it all worthwhile.

Q. One of the things I find the hardest about loving books is there’s so much out there. How have you found promotion? Do you enjoy the whole social side?

Good promotion is the Holy Grail – everybody’s searching for it, but it’s the hardest thing to find. There’s also a danger with it: every writer gets bombarded with emails and messages from so-called ‘experts’ in book marketing, all promising to get your book ‘the attention it deserves’. For a price, of course. It’s all absolute nonsense, and any aspiring writer reading this should take heed: these people will take your money and give you nothing of value in return. The truth is: there is no magic bullet. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. We just need to stay resilient and keep trying.

I haven’t been great at the social media side of things. My time always seems to be taken up by writing the next book, editing the previous one, studying with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) as I’m currently doing, all while learning how to be a dad! I need to invest more time into social media and I have a list of videos/posts that I want to create (one video series is going to be defining some of the more Scottish terms in the With Time to Kill trilogy for non-Scottish readers).

In addition, blogs like this one, where indie authors are given a fair chance, are so valuable – on behalf of writers everywhere, thank you!

Q: Do you read a lot yourself? If so, what have you been reading or what genre do you go to?

I read every day, right before bed. Always have done. I like lots of different genres and, as is the case with music, I tend to fall in love with a writer/artist rather than any particular genre. For instance, my favourite author is Stephen King, although I wouldn’t class myself as a ‘horror’ fan. I recently read his Dark Tower series for the third time, and loved it just as much as the first. I also read ‘Salem’s Lot for the first time not long ago. It’s out-and-out horror but, man, some of the writing in that novel is just beautiful!

I also recently read John Grisham’s The Guardians, Karin Slaughter’s This is Why We Lied, and I’m currently reading The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci (the first of his works I’ve read).

Other writers I really like are John Marrs (anything by him is well worth a read), Blake Crouch (he’s got grounded sci-fi down to an art), JD Kirk (a fellow Scot and master of crime fiction), Andrew Mayne (his Theo Cray/Jessica Blackwood books are brilliant), and I’m a real sucker for the dystopian classics – Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We, and of course George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Q. I really need to know… What’s next? What can we expect to see from you?

A few weeks ago, I finished the first draft of my next novel, which is unrelated to the With Time to Kill trilogy. It’s a tale of found family and rebellion set amidst a bleak, totalitarian dystopia. It came from an idea that has been knocking around in my head for over a decade, but always felt too big for me to tackle. The first draft needs a lot of work, but I’m pleased with the story and it’s going to spawn more books – probably a trilogy or quadrilogy, we’ll see. I’m letting it sit for now while I complete my accreditation with the CIEP, but I hope to have news about later in the year.

As regards the With Time to Kill trilogy, the covers are getting a bit of a facelift/revamp, bringing them more in keeping with the Scottish crime genre, so watch this space!

About the author.

Frank Ferrari is a Scottish writer of speculative fiction, where science fiction collides with suspense and intrigue, and memorable characters lead you through dark, thrilling atmospheres. He is the author of With Time to Kill and its sequel The Dying of the Light, as well as Water of Sorrow, co-written with his late father.

Educated in science, Frank was a bench chemist, then spent over a decade working in the commercial pharmaceutical industry before returning to the passion that had gripped him as a child: writing stories. After years of short fiction, he turned to novel-writing during a difficult period in his life, finding therapy and purpose in the process. Out of that challenge, With Time to Kill was born.

Frank writes because he loves to read, and he seeks to offer readers the same escape and immersion that books have always given him. Originally from Perthshire and now living in the Borders – settings that feature in some of his novels – he finds inspiration in the landscapes around him. When not writing, he can often be found walking the hills and forests with his dog, or enjoying time with his wife and young daughter.

Want to know more about Frank and his books? Why not visit https://frankferrari.com/

The Game by Danny Dagan

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Today I’m reviewing The Game by Dann Dagan, here’s the blurb

Five heirs. One island. A deadly game. A group of billionaires face the ultimate reckoning in this twisty psychological thriller.
When the adult children of five billionaires are abducted by a shadowy group, their parents face an unthinkable ultimatum: pay the highest price or lose their loved ones forever. But as fortunes crumble and alliances fracture, secrets rise to the surface.
On a remote island prison, the hostages are pushed to their limits while the manipulative mastermind pulls the strings. Time is running out, and the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined.
How far would you go to save your child? What is the price you’d be willing to pay?

Review

This book was recommended to me by my daughter after she heard about it on a school trip to Holy Island.. she thought it looked like something I’d like and damn she was spot on!

When five adult children are abducted, their well off families gather expecting a ransom demand.. the thing is the demands aren’t exactly the typical request.. these kidnappers want to play a game.. it’s now a competition to see which parents will do the most for their child..

Alex Czerniak is hired with their team to help locate the children but things are much more complex all too soon as each parent is pitted against the others.. win the competition and you’ll she your child again..loose and they will be gone forever.

We switch between perspectives as we see events through the hostages eyes too, where they are treated well enough on a isolated island but it’s all a bit of a phycological mind bashing where we explore their lives, and how they got here.. the relationships they have with each other and with their parents..

This is where the super clever twists are thrown in… I’m not sure anyone is 100% the person they claim to be.. everyone seems to have a secret you just don’t know the motives behind hiding the truth.. some are more devious than others..

I felt the kidnappers were probably the best part of the story.. the physiological torture they put everyone under..forcing their hands.. forcing them to give up everything for them to give to those more deserving..its not just money either.. it forces them to bare all.. confront the truth they hide from.. to find out who they really are.

The pace is steady and while the book changes perspectives it’s written in a easy flowing style meaning you are never lost, or bored.. I felt the changing perspectives is what makes it even more gripping as it builds the suspense.

Very enjoyable, will definitely see what the author comes up with next.

4/5 stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

BLOG TOUR – Shield of Mercia by MJ Porter

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Today is my turn on the blog tour for Shield of Mercia by MJ Porter!

Here’s the blurb.

Mercia is triumphant. Her king is safe. But Wessex was never Mercia’s only enemy.
Tamworth, AD836

Following a brutally cold winter, King Wiglaf of Mercia is in the ascendancy. Even Wessex’s Archbishop of Canterbury extraordinarily ventures to Mercia to broker a religious accord. But, can the hard-won peace prevail?

Viking raiders threaten Wessex. These blood-thirsty warriors are fast, skilful and have no reticence about killing those who stand in their way. Their aim isn’t to rule but to overwhelm, slaughter and take ill-gotten wealth.

King Wiglaf is no fool. As the Vikings push to overwhelm Wessex, Mercia’s lands look insecure. King Wiglaf needs the shields of Mercia’s warriors to prevent the overwhelming advancement of their deadliest enemy yet.

To save Mercia, Icel must first prevail over the two men who mean to end his life; King Ecgberht of Wessex and his son, Æthelwulf of Kent and only then the marauding Viking army for whom boundaries have no meaning.

An action packed, thrilling historical adventure perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy.

Review

We are back with Icel for the latest instalment in the The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles series!

Boy it’s been some journey.. but Icel cant rest yet. There’s still a lot of bad blood and political tension following invents of the last book.. is that threat gone forever… hmmmm.

There’ still the shadow hanging over him.. the truth of who he really is and what that could mean for Mercia… but Icel just wants to be a warrior…

There’s not much time to contemplate this though as a Viking army needs to be contended with. The country may be divided but can the King’s put differences aside to battle their common foe? .

Icel has barely had time to recover too, he’s been through so much already, but there’s little time to heal, both mentally and physically as it’s time for Icel to serve his King once again, to stop the advancing threat.

What I really enjoyed was the balance, the build up of political tension..showing sometimes battles are done with words, subtle movements putting the pieces om the boardgame for the perfect setup…only to have the reader then smashed from their feet with the battle and gore.. I mean sometimes the only answer is a bloody sword!

Development wise I loved that we had the addition of new characters such as Aldhelm, but also revisit some firm favourites in Cuthred and Wynflaed..

The first chapter for me was a beautiful piece of writing, not only did it set the scene.. set the tension and fear for the remainder of the novel it also reminded followers of the series of previous events.. even the mention of the name Wine takes me back to the first novel and the death of Icel’s uncle…that’s the power the authors words hold..the reader really is mesmerised and transported to another life.

Wynflaed is older now and for me the fear I have for her was mirrored in the fear of the Viking threat, the tension she builds so eloquently with her words mirrored the tension between the Kings of the land..

The tension just builds and the pace is superb.. as the battles and blood flow the pace increases and you find yourself hungry for more and more.. I devoured those last few chapters as you are just left with no choice but to keep reading! Wowza.

MJ Porter shows us why they are one of the best in the genre! Shield of Mercia is rich in detail, rich in development and rich in gore… what more could you want from an MJ Porter novel?

I’m always amazed looking back to how much happens in each novel.. and Shield of Mercia doesn’t disappoint. I never feel safe… who will survive.. where will the next battle come from.. who can be trusted… you are kept on the edge of your seat!

You could jump into the series now if you wanted as the author provides enough detail for new readers to understand the flow and motivations but for me it’s a series to enjoy from the beginning to really feel that development… it’s just that good you need to read it from yourself!

Easy 5*

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour!

Why not check out the rest of the stops on the tour?

Tempted yet?


Purchase Link –
https://mybook.to/ShieldofMercia

Author Bio –

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, and in Viking Age Denmark. Raised in the shadow of a building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant that the author’s writing destiny was set.

Social Media Links

Facebook: @MJPorterauthor

Twitter: @coloursofunison

Instagram: @m_j_porter

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/MJPorterNews

Bookbub profile: @coloursofunison

BLOG TOUR – I Will Find You by Jessica Huntley

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for I Will Find You by Jessica Huntley!

Here’s the blurb

Annalise saved them from certain death. But she does want something in return…

Bonnie and her husband Steffan are hiking in the beautiful Swiss Alps when they are caught in a freak snowstorm. Fearing they may not survive, the couple are overjoyed when they stumble across an isolated cabin occupied by a lone woman, Annalise.

But their joy soon turns to unease as they realise that Annalise may have a sinister agenda.

And she’s not the only one with something to hide. Trapped together in a nightmarish pressure cooker, the cracks in Bonnie’s marriage start to show as she discovers that Steffan has been leading a secret life.

All the while Annalise becomes more and more menacing. What does she want from them? And what is she willing to do to get it?

Bound ever tighter in a horrifying web, Bonnie is finally forced to confront one terrifying truth – someone is going to die on this mountain.

Review

This is my second foray into the authors works and I already knew I’d love this one.. I just didn’t know how much!

I Will Find You is told form the point of view of two characters, Bonnie and Annalise. What I immediately loved is the authors suspenseful style of storytelling.. the plot is never drawn out too much, rather twisted and engrossing as it plays out… it gives you instant tingles as you know something isn’t right.. but you don’t know what.

The majority of the story focuses around a trip to the Swiss Alps, as Bonnie and her husband Steffan set out on a trek that will push them both to the limits.

Things take a turn when a storm hits forcing them to seek refuge in a remote cabin where they meet Annalise.

The characters compete for the readers attention as the author moves the point of view from now, to explore the past and what brings them to this moment.. the great thing is neither overshadow the other… they both just demand that attention with their own tales.. you are sucked in.. so moving from one to the next while you enjoy the chapter you can’t wait to get back and see where the previous will take you.. but then you are sucked into to that perspective… ahhh you’re honestly just hooked easily making it an easy read too as it just flows effortlessly.

I’ll try to keep this spoiler free but there’s so many creepy vibes that come off multiple characters.. Bonnie has her own trauma but there’s more to her being in the alps than we know.. Steffan.. he’s a dark horse.. you always feel there’s something you don’t quite understand.. hidden just under the surface.. and Annalise.. how did she end up here and why…

The plot is captivating and deliberately full of suspense and I just bloody loved it.. I never felt I quite knew who was good or bad.. each have their own darkness and it was just simply enthralling.

The first 20% of the book is pure build-up which then dials up a notch when they arrive in the cabin..Bonnie feels the creepiness as soon as the door closes but is she going mad? is Annalise just a lonely old woman?

There’s a subtle message through the tale as it develops.. don’t judge a book by it’s cover.. either that or everyone has skeletons in the closet..

The author got the setting prefect to as it added a claustrophobic feel that ramps up the building tension.

There’s so much more to the story than the synopsis suggests.. trust me..it goes way further and those twists are perfectly timed and hit just the right notes.

Jessica Huntley is the queen of the suspenseful thriller for sure!

A heart pounding 5*

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on the tour!

Who is Jessica Huntley?

Jessica Huntley is an author of dark and twisty psychological thrillers, which often focus on mental health topics and delve deep into the minds of her characters.

She has a varied career background, having joined the Army as an Intelligence Analyst, then left to become a Personal Trainer.

She is now living her life-long dream of writing from the comfort of her home, while looking after her young son and her disabled black Labrador. She enjoys keeping fit and drinking wine (not at the same time).

Where can you find them?

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/jessica.reading.writing
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/jessica_reading_writing
X (formerly Twitter)https://twitter.com/jess_read_write
Websitehttp://www.jessicahuntleyauthor.com

Book Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236600768-i-will-find-you

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/willfindyou-zbt

Why not follow the tour?

Blog Tour – One More to Die by Joy Ellis

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Today we kick off the blog tour for One More to Die by Joy Ellis!

Here’s the blub

Detective Kate Carter is called out to a fatal car accident on a remote fen lane.

At first glance it looks like a drunk driver simply lost control and crashed headlong into a ditch. But nothing about the scene adds up. The number plate is fake. The driver’s licence doesn’t belong to the dead man in the car. One tyre doesn’t match the other three. And what is a vinyl 1960s pop record doing in the glove box?

A neat puncture wound to the driver’s neck reveals this was no accident.

The following day, the body of a young woman is found in an old barn out on the fens. She’s been dead at least two years. Placed on the body is another vintage pop record.

And then the nightmare becomes personal. A mysterious package arrives at the station addressed to Kate: a 45-rpm record, and a chilling note scrawled in block capitals: ONE MORE TO GO.

It’s just the start. Sinister phone calls, creepy notes left on her car, unwanted gifts on her doorstep: Kate can no longer deny that she’s being pursued by an obsessive stalker . . .

Is she next in the killer’s sights?

Review

One More To Die follows Detective Kate Carter as her personal and work lives clash in spectacular fashion.

It all starts when Kate is called to a crime scene, a car accident.. but before she even sets off she finds a creepy note on her car.. being in a rush and not thinking much of it in the moment Kate heads off to the crime scene.

Things don’t add up at the scene of the accident and it becomes clear there’s more too it, who is the victim? why does the car have fake plates?.. and what’s the deal with the record found in the car.. bit of a strange find.

When another body turns up Kate is sent to do the groundwork before handing it over to another Detective… little does she know this case will soon be hers… another record has been found with the body.. what’s the connection with the first victim?

While the pressure mounts at work, stress is also building at home…after the initial note found on the car there’s also been a box of Kate’s favourite chocolates left and a very creepy phone call.. this is the last thing she and her family need…she could have a stalker! She needs to keep her family safe.. they could be watching.. waiting..

This is my first foray into the writing style of Joy Ellis and I must admit I loved it. The plot was intriguing, and progresses at a steady pace. I loved the clash of personal and work lives and the humanity added to the development of the characters given the situation they face.

I really enjoyed how the plot developed too, the people, the reasons behind the murders.. oo it gave tingles as you could see the pieces of the puzzle slotting together but at the same time the author kept little nuggets of info/twists for just the right moment to give the tale a real punch!

So can Kate find a way to deal with do situations? You’ll have to grab a copy of the book and find out! you won’t be disappointed.

Super fun and fast read. 5*

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on the tour!

Who is Joy Ellis?

I was born in Kent but spent most of my working life in London and Surrey. I was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the Sixties and Seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! I swore then, probably whilst I was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that I would have a shop of my own one day. It took until the early Eighties, but I did it. Sadly the recession wiped us out, and I embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss!

And now I live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with my partner, Jacqueline, and three Springer spaniels and four little rescue, Breton spaniels. I had been writing mysteries for years but never had the time to take it seriously. Now I write full-time, and as my partner is a highly decorated retired police officer; my choice of genre is a no-brainer! I have an on-tap police and judicial consultant, who makes exceedingly good tea!

I have set my crime thrillers here in the misty fens because I sincerely love the remoteness and airy beauty of the marshlands. This area is steeped in superstitions and lends itself so well to murder!

I am lucky enough to be one of the amazing Joffe Books team of authors and am really enjoying being able to spend time doing what I love… writing!

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Where can you find them?

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/Joyellisbooks
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/joyellisbooks/

Books Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217410403-one-more-to-die

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/onemoretodie-zbt

Why not follow the tour?

Release Day Review – The Druid’s Prey by Steven A. McKay!

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Today is release day for The Druid’s Prey by Steven A. McKay!

The Druid’s Prey is book 7 in the exhilarating Warrior Druid of Britain series.

Here’s the blurb

A vicious attack. An enraged warrior-druid. A relentless hunt for vengeance!

Following a cowardly raid on Dun Breatann the Saxon attacker, Saksnot, rides back to rejoin his bretwalda, Hengist, in far-off Garrianum. Bellicus, outraged by the savage attack on his people and his closest friend, follows the perpetrator with just one thing on his mind: bloody justice!
As the towering druid hunts his prey across the summer fields and streams, Arthur, Bear of Britain, seeks to make a lasting peace with the new immigrants from across the sea. Hengist has no such plans however, instead working alongside his terrifying volva, Thorbjorg, to bring only blood, fire, and death to the embattled Britons.

As the brutal struggle for supremacy rages between the two warlords and their armies, Bellicus will find himself drawn into an adventure he could never have foreseen. An adventure that may seal the fate of Britain for generations to come.
An adventure that fans of Bernard Cornwell, Griff Hosker, David Gemmell, and Joe Abercrombie will love!

Review

After the events of The Vengeance of Merlin we know peace isnt going to last for Bellicus.. he might have everything he wants.. the family he always wanted, the love of Queen Narina and his daughter, but someone is on their way to shatter this dream and pulls Bellicus back into action.

The Saxon, Saksnot, who murdered the previous Merlin sets out to rid the world of Bellicus and the Roman Duro.. these two have thwarted Hengist’s plans and Saksnot will not rest until they are dead by his hands.

Saksnot may be young and cocky, but he’s also clever and resourceful, managing to worm his way right to the heart of Dun Breatann. His actions have an immediate effect on Bellicus and he sets out to ensure justice comes to the Saxon.. or is it simple vengeance Bellicus is after? I’m not going to spoil it but the pain Saksnot causes is felt by many.

While these events play the warlord Arthur is making plans on how to keep Hengist at bay… one of which is convincing the Saxon’s who have settled in Britain to stand with him against Hengist and the Saxon raiders… or at least for them to agree to not take up arms to support their brethren.

It’s a great idea but obviously not everyone agrees.. or wants this..and soon leads to one of Arthurs closest companions to be captured.

It’s time to take the war to Hengist.. Arthur can’t just standby any longer.

Events put Bellicus and Arthur on a converging path.. but can they complete their missions without too much bloodshed?

Looking back to Dun Breatann, Queen Narina has her own problems, her closest neighbours have ceased trading with them but why. Narina is smart and sees this for what it is.. The Saxon’s influence is growing.

There’s only one course of action as Narina leads her warriors against King Cunneda and the Votadini… but this leaves Dun Breatann wide open to attack..

Dun Bretann is not as undefended as it seems though.. Again I can’t spoil it but those last few chapters have to be the best I’ve ever read!

Lets get down to the nitty gritty… Characters.. I really feel The Druid’s Prey is the most balanced book we’ve been given for development..the plot itself allows characters to shine and the author doesn’t hide from this to force the book in another direction.. I mean Saksnot! Wow.. He may be the enemy but I loved him.. and his part in this did not disappoint.

I think what I loved the most was the plot allowed Narina, Gavo, Lancelot and Bedwyr to come to the foreground, while others naturally took a back seat…

It was about time to see Narina stand up and shine, without her protector there it was the perfect time..and boy does she shine through and show what she’s made of!

There’s some very fun and light-hearted moments too such as a very humorous scene with Cai where Bellicus needs a distractions.. bloody funny and brilliant but the tone also fits with the tale.

Now I can’t finish the review without mentioning the ending… wow..I love how the author manages to keep bringing fresh ideas into the tale.. you never know what will happen next but I’m already super excited!

5/5 Stars.

My thanks thanks go to the author for allowing me a sneak peak, I had a book on pre-order and it was well worth paying £3.99.

BLOG TOUR – The Bodies by Sam Lloyd

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Today we kick off the blog tour and celebrate the release of The Bodies by Sam Lloyd!!!

Here’s the blurb!

Blurb

How many times would you let your child get away with murder?

When you look down at your newborn baby, you realise they were right, those smug parents you’ve always rolled your eyes at: you’d do literally anything for your child. To make them happy, keep them safe.

So when Joseph Carver wakes one night to find his teenage son Max scrubbing the kitchen, hands wet with blood and panic flooding his voice as he promises it was an accident, he didn’t mean to do it, Joseph does the only thing he can. He helps Max bury the body.

Joseph thinks that’s the end of the nightmare. Until he finds Max with stricken eyes and bloody hands once again . . .

You’d do anything for your child – even cover up a murder.

But how many times?

Review

After reading the authors previous offering The Memory Wood I had high expectations, but also knew I wouldn’t be disappointed… just look at the synopsis!!

Joseph Carver is a broken man trying to keep things together..we soon learn Joseph and his partner were brought together through grief.. he’s failed protecting his family once.. he won’t let it happen again.

When his son Max arrives home one night covered in blood Joseph’s vow is put to the test. Max is going to medical school soon and he’s not a monster afterall.. he’s just lost.. Joseph needs to protect him.

It’s not an easy task, how does he get rid of a body? Where?

Joseph hides the body at his late mothers bungalow while he tries to figure things out but things go from bad to worse.. first he needs to act like everything is ok when it’s not.. and second things keep getting in the way.. how does he do things without leaving a trace? And has anyone already noticed something? Doesn’t help either that Max seems to be hiding things from him about the man he killed? Can he really trust Max and the story he’s been told?

I’m not going to give the plot away but one thing I loved when reading The Memory Wood was the twists and turns.. smart and exhilarating.. and I’m glad to see those twists were here in The Bodies too..there’s betrayal, blood and bodies at every turn.

The plot isn’t rushed either, although you feel the urgency pouring from Joseph who shows the lengths he will go to in order to keep Max safe…but there’s something he’s not seeing.

When someone close to the victim turns up the heat is really on… what do they know..what’s going to happen… eeek.

It’s a real page turner..it flows easy but really has some detail packed in too revealing the stress of the situation. Nothing is quite what it seems and its that feeling that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Super exciting 5* read!

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on the tour!

Sam’s Bio

SAM LLOYD grew up in Hampshire, where he learned his love of storytelling. These days he lives in Surrey with his wife, three young sons and a dog that likes to howl. His first three thrillers, The Memory Wood, The Rising Tide and The People Watcher were published to great critical acclaim.

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Sam’s Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/samlloydwrites

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Book Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220246417-the-bodies

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/thebodies-zbt

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Why not follow the tour?

Legionary X: Devotio by Gordon Doherty – Review

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Today I’m reviewing Devotio, the tenth and final instalment in the mesmerising Legionary series by Gordon Doherty!

Here’s the blurb.

AD 391: in the aftermath of civil war, the Roman Empire lies broken. The emperor is missing. Rumours fly that he has lost his mind. Sensing weakness, the Goths rise in revolt. All to the delight of the dark hand who orchestrated the civil war… and plots to stoke another.

Far out at sea, Pavo stands watchfully at the prow of the Justitia, running cargo between distant lands. At every port, he hears of the empire’s swelling troubles. Of fire and zeal and panic. Of legions, bristling for battle. But his days of protecting the provinces with sword and shield are over. He, his wife and his lad will soon have enough funds to make a home on a quiet island, far from the madness.

Yet the empire is an ever-hungry beast, and Pavo is about to sail straight into its jaws…

It is a journey that will take him to the brink, and throw down before him the question to which there is only one answer: what would you sacrifice to save your loved ones?

Review

After the events of Legionary IX: The Emperor’s Shield I honestly didn’t know if we would ever see Pavo again. That man has been through so much for the empire.. all he wants now is to live out his days with his wife and son.

You know Devotio is going to be an emotional read right from the start, the meaning behind the word, a vow of self sacrifice..

Little does Pavo know the threats he fought so hard against are still ever present.. and the enemies are knocking at the door..They have been plotting but now is the time to enact their plan… and even he isn’t safe.

When a visitor arrives with a gift from Emperor Valentinian himself Pavo can’t help but be reminded of all he has done, the battles, the friends he’s made.

The gift is a trojan horse that will start this most emotionally nerve racking adventure!

SPOILER ALERT. Please skip if you don’t want to know the detail but I’ll keep it as brief as possible without giving too much away.

Lets just say the gift is a poisoned chalice of sorts and Pavo is in need of a healer…but he also needs to know why his friend would have done this.

Things aren’t quite as they seem… they never are for Pavo.. the healer he needs has been captured by Alaric, the leader of the Vesi rebels.. Goths that still wish to live without Roman rule.

How the hell will he manage to find him?

When we get about 50% through the book it seems like everything has worked out.. Pavo has what he needs, and Alaric has been convinced to work with the Romans.. peace at last..

Yeah that’s never going to happen.

Peregrinus the Stranger, a dark hidden force from the past steps out from the shadows.

Do Pavo and his Claudian brothers have what it takes to foil this dastardly plan and save the empire once again from internal conflict?

The forces of the Eastern and Western empires will clash…but who will be the victor?

I’m deliberately leaving a lot of detail out so you can really enjoy this one yourself (Although if you want to compare thoughts after just hit me up).

Devotio gives us exactly what we expect from the author… and some! There’s betrayal of the worst kind, clever plots/twists and humorous moments a plenty along with the blood and gore for the fans..

So what’s different you ask? There’s raw emotion packed into this one from the very first page.. its intense and you can feel the energy.. there’s a meaning behind the journey Pavo is going on and you feel it.

Those last few chapters put ice in my veins, a lump in my throat and brought tears to my eyes.

You can really see how the author poured his personal emotion into the tale, how much the series meant to him and gives the series the send off it really deserved.. I can’t think of a more suitable ending.. there’s excitement throughout as we yearn for Pavo to succeed, and crushing devastation to really bring the story home.

One of the most moving bits is when Pavo remembers those lost along the way during battle.. it brought back so many memories.

One really beautiful thing the author did was finally answer the question.. who is the old crone who has followed Pavo throughout his life..I don’t know if this was always the plan but wow.. that was a lovely touching moment of realisation for the reader.

Pavo is real to me..

Pavo will always be a hero.

5/5 Stars – Do yourself a favour and grab a copy today.

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

The Stone Veil by Keith Nixon – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing The Stone Veil by Keith Nixon.

Here’s the blurb

A body entombed in concrete, a missing cop, a bizarre death. Three investigations, one chilling mystery.

When a man’s body is found amidst the wreckage of a crashed car abandoned on a back road, Detective Inspector Solomon Gray initially believes the death to be the result of a tragic accident, the aftermath of a collision with a driver who then fled the scene. But Gray soon unravels a chilling truth: the man died before the collision.

Meanwhile, one of Gray’s colleagues, the usually dependable Desk Sergeant Dai Morgan, has disappeared. Morgan had apparently been on the brink of unraveling a decades-old cold case – the identity of a recently discovered corpse that had been buried under the concrete foundations of a farm building over twenty years ago, a case Gray had a personal connection to.

As Gray delves deeper he finds these mysteries are in fact intertwined and, amidst the darkness, one truth remains clear: someone is determined to keep the past buried at any cost.

Review

The Stone Veil is book 11 in the Solomon Gray series by Keith Nixon. Lets get the tough question out of the way first.. can you read this book as a standalone or do you need to have read the rest of the series… Such a great question. Honestly Keith Nixon is a very conscious writer, each tale is written so well with little bits of info planted not only to help new readers understand the characters and motivations but also to remind fans of the series of pivotal events.. each bit of information takes the reader back and reminds us of what Sol has been through… and he’s not going to get any peace just yet. Personally I’d say read the rest of the series.. well because it’s bloody good but it will also just help you get that little bit more invested in Sol and his life.

Plot wise I felt this one worked beautifully.. there’s a current case that’s landed but not only that but one of Sol’s colleagues is missing… the further we dig further in the past we go…and there’s links to one of Sol’s biggest enemies.. Frank McGavin! Sol can never seem to shake the man no matter what he does.

The dual timeline story worked exactly the way you’d want it..the flow from past to present is flawless for the development, nothing ever needed forced .. it’s hard to explain but as a reader i like to feel like I’m learning something rather than simply being told something.. and it’s that style of storytelling Nixon does best.. he weaves the tale, directing you without you feeling any change in focus.. the development is natural and steady.. oh Mr Nixon you do know how to hook your readers in!

The backstory really sheds light on McGavin and Sol.. it explains more of the history between the two and shows you what kind of guy Sol really is.. we always knew it but to finally have this piece of the story.. wow! I think this was the first time I really loved McGavin.. he’s always been a love/hate kind of person but this time… oh my.. loved him!

Sol has other worries more closer to home during this one and has a knock on affect in his work as much as he doesn’t want to admit it… he tries to just carry on but we soon learn what pieces of the puzzle have been missed..and wowza.. what a storyline.

I really can’t spoil it as it wouldn’t do the series justice but this was a very fitting and fulfilling tale packed with emotion. The plot is clever and gripping…rich in detail but it’s sometimes the words unspoken that speak more in The Stone Veil, you feel the guilt and pain pouring off Sol as he battles his demons.

Character wise this was a clever offering.. not only do we see growth in Sol, we also see more of Mackintosh who showed up in a pervious case.. the issue is him and Sol don’t mix too well yet.. Mackintosh is a very cool character.. but a bit too much for Sol.

My gut tells me it can only get worse for Sol.. the influx of new faces within his life brings freshness to the storyline which is great for the reader but if we’ve learned anything about Sol so far is that he’s not really a people pleaser.

Then there’s Dai Morgan..Dai while missing during this story is probably the one I’d say developed the most. He’s flawed like Sol and it’s kind of like looking at what might have befallen Sol should he have taken a different path…

The Stone Veil has a darker tone from the very first page which you’ll very much understand after reading the author’s note! word of warning.. if you are prone to tears get a tissue ready, it’s a very moving piece. The events in the authors personal life clearly had an effect but he was able to channel that emotion into the tale.. you can feel the pain and as much as I hate to say it…it really added something extra to the tale.. we see Solomon struggle.. and I mean really struggle.. you might be lucky and have never felt this way but I can almost guarantee you at some point you will feel this powerless..

An emotional 5*…While doing my review I read the authors note again and it’s still hits hard!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!