Mortiswood Tales; Kaelia Awakening by Gina Dickerson Extract & Giveaway!

 

I’m taking part in Neverland Blog Tours’ weekend blitz for Mortiswood Tales: Kaelia Awakening by the amazing Gina Dickerson! Here’s an extract from the fab book itself.

 

The path meandered through tall pine trees different to the trees of the woods outside. After thirty minutes of walking, a four-storey high, stone and granite building drew into view. Its crenellated parapet cut castellated shadows in an overcast, pregnant sky but despite the dreary weather, laughter and chatter tinkled in the air. An expanse of lawn spread before the grand building and a cluster of students, ranging in age from the young to the old, peppered the grass, practising what looked like some form of self-defence.

‘We’d better see if there’s an office.’ Calix propped the motorbike under a tree and nodded towards wide, stone steps curving up to double entrance doors.

Large raindrops plummeted from the swollen sky, splatting atop their heads and making Kaelia shriek with laughter. She grabbed Calix’s hand, dragging him behind her as they made a mad dash for the doors.

‘Ow!’ Kaelia slapped a hand against the back of her neck as something stung her. ‘Cut it out!’

‘Cut what out?’

‘Ow!’ Kaelia dropped Calix’s hand and jabbed him in the side. ‘Whatever you’re doing, stop it!’

‘I’m not doing any—ow!’ Calix rubbed at the back of his own neck. He cast his eyes around them. ‘You two!’

Two young women, about Kaelia’s age, smirked. Huddled together underneath a mushroom umbrella, one woman prodded the other.

‘Newbs,’ the first said in a mock whisper to her companion. ‘I bet they don’t even know how to cast a glamour spell.’

The other girl, who was holding the umbrella, laughed. Her poker straight, white-blonde hair shone the colour of liquid metal. ‘You’re right, Cadence. I bet they’re norms.’

Cadence, head framed by a severe, chestnut hued bobbed haircut, agreed. ‘We hate norms, don’t we, Jade?’

Jade nodded enthusiastically. ‘Norms shouldn’t be allowed in Mortiswood Academy. It isn’t right.’ Her voice rose haughtily. ‘What are you even doing here?’

Kaelia bit her lip. She’d had more than her fill of superiority way back at school and college. ‘Come on, Calix, ignore them.’

Calix laughed. ‘Norms?’ he asked Kaelia as they climbed the six steps to the front doors. ‘What are they if we’re normal?’

Cadence and Jade followed them, pressing the canopy of the umbrella into Kaelia’s back. Kaelia clenched her hands; the familiar warmth radiating from her palms. One flick of light would melt the plastic umbrella like a crisp packet in an oven.

Blurb

‘Mortiswood: Kaelia Awakening‘ is the first book in the Mortiswood Tales Series.

Published by Authors Reach

“They’ve been waiting lifetimes for you, Kaelia. They want you and will stop at nothing to have you.”

The warning’s rung in Kaelia’s ears since she discovered she’s far from the ordinary girl who grew up in the coastal town of Margate. She has power. The first time she shows it, death strikes, the second, she loses someone special, and on the third, her mother disappears.

Destiny is coming for Kaelia and there’s nowhere she can hide. THEY have stepped out of the shadows to find her. For generations, there have been whispers of The Chosen One. They speak of a name – Marrock – whose destiny entwines with that of The Chosen One.

Kaelia must avenge the wrongs, uncover who Marrock is, find her mother, and . . . FIGHT

Facing forces of depraved evil, magic, and myth, Kaelia’s search leads her through magical forests and unearthly realms.

Who, or what, can Kaelia trust? Is she strong enough to survive the horror? All she knows is her life will never be the same again . . .

Amazon UK   Amazon.com   Authors Reach

Author Bio

Gina Dickerson lives by the Thanet coast on the north-eastern tip of Kent with her family and playful Siberian husky. She writes dark fiction and is the author of the dark fantasy, adventure, romance series Mortiswood Tales, and Always Golden – a dark, twisted fairy tale, among others. She is a full-time author and has also been a columnist for her local newspaper. She designs under the name RoseWolf Design and is also part of Authors Reach, a co-operative formed with four other authors.

Giveaway

One signed paperback copy of Mortiswood: Kaelia Awakening

One Kindle (mobi) copy of Mortiswood: Kaelia Awakening and Mortiswood: Kaelia Falling

 

Gina’s Links

Website: http://www.ginadickersonwriter.co.uk/

Authors Reach: http://www.authorsreach.co.uk/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GinaDWriter

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/ginadickersonwriter

Amazon UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gina-Dickerson/e/B007819GBS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Gina-Dickerson/e/B007819GBS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5819047.Gina_Dickerson

The Girls in the Woods by Helen Phifer Review

Blurb

Don’t go into the woods. Because you’re in for a big surprise…

In an old album there is a beautiful Victorian photo that captures three young sisters, staring silently at one another. Only the trained eye can see the truth hiding in plain view. One of the sisters is already dead.

Annie Ashworth is currently off duty. With her baby bump growing fast, she is under strict instructions to stay away from police work and look after herself, especially as she has a history of leading danger right to her door. So when her police officer husband, Will, is called to the discovery of a skeleton buried out in the local woods, Annie tries to keep out of the investigation. But as another body is discovered and her own niece suddenly goes missing, staying away just isn’t an option.

As Annie is soon to discover, a picture really does tell a thousand stories. But which one leads to a killer?

The gripping new detective thriller that will haunt you

Review

I am a HUGE Helen Phifer fan and having read The Ghost House, the first book in her Annie Graham series, I jumped at the chance to read this one. All the book in the series can be read and enjoyed as standalones.

To say this book was scary is a gross understatement. There were many times I yelled OH MY CHRIST when something happened that I didn’t expect and it’s fair to say I didn’t sleep very well while I was reading this book. Helen Phifer skilfully balances the chilling moments with some lighter ones, such as the interaction between Annie and her husband Will, to create a book that sits just the right side of unsettling. There’s always that anticipation of something about to happen and the book definitely delivers on shock value. I’ve loved Annie as a character since I first met her in The Ghost House and I love her even more now. Her relationship with Will is so sweet and endearing. They’ve come a long way from the first book, but I didn’t feel out of step with any of it by jumping straight to The Girls in the Woods. With Halloween rapidly approaching (how on earth is it September already?!) I’d definitely recommend picking up The Girls in the Woods for a spooky treat!

Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28217989-the-girls-in-the-woods?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girls-Woods-Annie-Graham-Book-ebook/dp/B0175WV0FE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472813259&sr=8-1&keywords=the+girls+in+the+woods+helen

About the author

Helen lives in a small town called Barrow-in-Furness with her husband and five children and has done since she was born. It gets some bad press, but really is a lovely place to live. Surrounded by coastline and not far from the beautiful Lake District. She has always loved writing and reading, she loves reading books which make the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Unable to find enough scary stories to read she decided to write her own.

Her debut novel ‘The Ghost House’ was published by Carina UK in October 2013 and went on to become a best seller along with the rest of the Annie Graham series. The Secrets of the Shadows, The Forgotten Cottage, The Lake House and The Girls in the Woods. Her next book The Good Sisters which is a stand alone, ghost story is released on the 13th October 2016.

Author links:

Website: www.helenphifer.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/helenphifer1

Facebook: www.facebook.com/helenphifer1

Tempting Isabel by Rissa Brahm Review

Blurb

Luck. Lust. Love.

Wedding planner Isabel Ruiz is cursed. Her hometown of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico agrees, considering her tragic track record. Alone and loveless, she creates fairy-tale weddings for others. Her only distraction? The occasional anonymous fling. So to avoid further tragedy, her rule, one–night–only, is never broken…

Until Zack.

Self-made millionaire Zack James is in town for his brother’s wedding, when a sudden spell of depression hits. Maybe burned out by his fast and luxurious lifestyle? Not even his two female companions hold any interest.

That is, until he meets Isabel.

She humbles and captivates him, reigniting his thirst for life. With her, Zack feels more alive than ever. To his delight—and her dismay—they share a deep bond, a sensual connection, and one mind-bending night.

Zack must have her – to complete him. And Isabel must escape him – to save him.

Their game of catch and chase leads to lust-turned-love. For Isabel, it’s fate’s cruelest joke. But Zack won’t quit, positive he’s the cure to her curse. Can he convince her to risk everything with him? Or will it all go south…in paradise.

Review

This sexy, sweet book provided an excellent escape for me during a really crazy time. I so enjoyed the will-they-won’t-they romance that Zack and Isabel shared and I couldn’t even say right up till the end what the outcome would be. I love how they each brought to the table what the other one had been missing- Isabel gave Zack his zest for life back while he challenged all the rules she’d made for herself. The relationship between them was written so well and struck just the right balance between sizzling chemistry and a genuine connection. Rissa Brahm has created two believable and relatable characters you can really root for, along with a fast-paced story that’ll have you hooked from page one.

This book can be completely devoured in just a few sittings. It’s engaging, thrilling and poignant in places too. It delivers so much on a lot of levels and was a really great book to read. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a romance between two compelling characters that you’ll completely fall in love with!

GIVEAWAY

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bf63305799/?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29409739-tempting-isabel?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/ref=x_gr_w_bb?keywords=9781944557027&index=books&linkCode=qs&tag=x_gr_w_bb_uk-21

About the author: Contemporary romance writer Rissa Brahm grew up in New York and has since lived in all four corners of the United States, and beyond. e beautiful paradise of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico—the core setting of her hot & heartfelt debut series, Paradise South—is Rissa’s most recent and beloved home.

When not chained-by-choice to her MacBook, she is embarking on out- door adventures with her husband and little girl, laughing to tears with a good rom-com, eating amazing Indian food with something chocolate for dessert; reading good, hot scorchers in bed; biking, long walks, and yoga; zoning out to killer music from across the decades and the globe; and getting lost only to discover a new exciting route home again. You can connect with Rissa on Facebook, Twitter or by email any time by heading to www.RissaBrahm.com.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rissa_brahm

 

The Irish Inheritance by M J Lee Review

Blurb

June 8, 1921. Ireland.
A British Officer is shot dead on a remote hillside south of Dublin.

November 22, 2015. United Kingdom.
Former police detective, Jayne Sinclair, now working as a genealogical investigator, receives a phone call from an adopted American billionaire asking her to discover the identity of his real father.

How are the two events linked?

Jayne Sinclair has only three clues to help her: a photocopied birth certificate, a stolen book and an old photograph. And it soon becomes apparent somebody else is on the trail of the mystery. A killer who will stop at nothing to prevent Jayne discovering the secret hidden in the past
The Irish Inheritance takes us through the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Irish War of Independence, combining a search for the truth of the past with all the tension of a modern-day thriller.

It is the first in a series of novels featuring Jayne Sinclair, genealogical detective.

Review

I always love trying something new book-wise, so when the opportunity came up to read M J Lee’s The Irish Inheritance, I jumped at the chance. Having read his Inspector Danilov novels previously, I was sure I’d enjoy this and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest!

Jayne SInclair is tasked with tracking down the rightful parents of an American billionaire who doesn’t have long to live. She has precious little to go on though: a photocopy of a birth certificate, a book and a photograph of the billionaire taken shortly before his adoption. This mystery would baffle even the most experienced of genealogists! Luckily, Jayne has her keen police intellect to help her though. What she doesn’t count on, however, is someone else wanting to solve the mystery. Someone with a murderous secret to hide…

This genealogical mystery was both enthralling and baffling in equal measure. I had no idea what the end result would be, which kept me gripped and meant I read the book in about three sittings. Jayne was a great character to lead us through the story. Sometimes with detective stories, the main protagonist can come off as nosy or interfering, but this didn’t happen here. Her genuine interest in genealogy shone through and she was the perfect person to solve this mystery. I really enjoyed it and will look out for more in this series.

Links

 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30237191-the-irish-inheritance?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01FR5PP9S/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_uk-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738

Author bio

Martin has spent most of his adult life writing in one form or another. As a University researcher in history, he wrote pages of notes on reams of obscure topics. As a social worker with Vietnamese refugees, he wrote memoranda. And, as the creative director of an advertising agency, he has written print and press ads, tv commercials, short films and innumerable backs of cornflake packets and hotel websites.
He has spent 25 years of his life working outside the North of England. In London, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai, winning awards from Cannes, One Show, D&AD, New York and London Festivals, and the United Nations.
Whilst working in Shanghai, he loved walking through the old quarter of that amazing city, developing the idea behind a series of crime novels featuring Inspector Pyotr Danilov, set in 1920s and 30s.
When he’s not writing, he splits his time between the UK and Asia, taking pleasure in playing with his daughter, practicing downhill ironing, single-handedly solving the problem of the French wine lake and wishing he were George Clooney.

Author links:

 Twitter: www.twitter.com/WriterMJLee

Website: www.writermjlee.com

We’ve Come to Take You Home by Susan Gandar Review

Blurb

Samantha Foster and Jessica Brown are destined to meet. One lives in the twentieth century, the other in the twenty-first century

April 1916 and thousands of men have left home to fight in the war to end all wars. Jessica Brown’s father is about to be one of those men. A year later, he is still alive but Jess has to steal to keep her family from starving. And then a telegram arrives – her father has been killed in action.

Four generations later, Sam Foster’s father is admitted to a hospital’s intensive care unit with a suspected brain haemorrhage. A nurse asks if she would like to take her father’s hand. Sam refuses. All she wants is to get out of this place, stuck between the world of the living and the world of the dead, a place with no hope and no future, as quickly as possible.

As Sam’s father’s condition worsens, her dreams become more frequent – and more frightening. She realises that what she is experiencing is not a dream, but someone else’s living nightmare…

We’ve Come to Take You Home is an emotionally-charged story of a friendship forged 100 years apart.

Review

I so enjoyed this timeslip novel of two different women facing very similar struggles. In 1916, Jessica Brown loses her father, whilst many years later, Sam Foster faces a similar fate as her father lies critically ill in hospital. The two girls’ stories become linked in magical ways that you just won’t see coming, making for an engaging and thrilling read.

Both Jessica and Sam’s points of view were distinctive and I connected with both characters equally. It was fantastic to see two such compelling stories woven into the one book and I really felt drawn into the world that Susan Gandar created. This read was a little outside my comfort zone, but I’m so glad I signed up to be part of this tour as it allowed me to read this quirky, charming book. The short, bite-sized chapters kept it pacey, while the characters and story drew me in immediately. I couldn’t for the life of me fathom how Sam and Jessica would meet, but it’s fair to say I was very impressed!

Have a read of this great book! You won’t regret it, that’s for sure.

Giveaway!

Win a signed copy of We’ve Come to Take You Home!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bf63305796/?

Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weve-Come-Take-You-Home/dp/1785890409

http://www.amazon.com/Weve-Come-Take-You-Home/dp/1785890409

http://www.troubador.co.uk/book_info.asp?bookid=3632

Author Bio

My father, John Box, was a film production designer, working on ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘Dr. Zhivago’, ‘The Great Gatsby’, ‘A Man For All Seasons’ and the musical ‘Oliver’. (Click here for more on John ) Our house was always filled with people, usually eccentric, always talented, invariably stroppy, discussing stories. My mother put my father’s four Oscars to good use as toilet roll holders, doorstops and hat stands.

A major chunk of my childhood was spent loitering around on film sets. Who needs an ‘English education’ when you have the polystyrene-coated streets of downtown Moscow, ten miles outside of Madrid, to explore?

But then the years of ‘Who Will Buy My Sweet Red Roses’ came to a rather abrupt end. Reality knocked on the door in the guise of the Metropolitan Line to Shepherds Bush and the BBC. Working in television as a script editor and story consultant, I was part of the creative team responsible for setting up ‘Casualty’. I became known for going after the more ‘difficult’ stories at the same time successfully racking up viewing figures from 7 to 14 million.

I went on to develop various projects for both the BBC and the independent sector. The period I enjoyed most was working with Jack Rosenthal, a wonderful writer, on the series ‘Moving Story’ – ‘That’s a situation, a good situation, but now you need to make it into a story.’

Martin, my husband, was made an offer he couldn’t refuse and we left England to live in Amsterdam. ‘Ik wil een kilo kabeljauw, alstublieft’ will, if all goes well, buy you a piece of cod – I decided to concentrate on my writing rather than my Dutch pronunciation.

My debut novel, ‘We’ve Come to Take You Home’, set in the present and in 1918, a crossover aimed at the adult and young adult women’s popular fiction market, was published on 28^th March by Matador.

www.susangandar.com

Twitter @Susan_Gandar

https://www.facebook.com/susangandarauthor

 

Now and Then Friends by Kate Hewitt Review

Blurb

The USA Today bestselling author of Rainy Day Sisters returns to Hartley-by-the-Sea…

Childhood best friends Rachel Campbell and Claire West have not only grown up, but after fifteen years, they’ve also grown apart…
After her father left, Rachel had to dedicate her life to managing her household: her two younger sisters, her disabled mother, and her three-year-old nephew. When Rachel’s not struggling to look after all of them, she makes her living cleaning the houses of wealthy families—inclulding the Wests, where a surprise now awaits her. . . .
A lifetime of drifting in other people’s currents has finally left Claire high and dry. First it was her parents, then the popular crowd in school, and finally her fiancé. Now she’s returned to Hartley-by-the-Sea to recover. But running into Rachel brings back memories of past mistakes, and Claire wonders if she now has the courage to make them right.
Soon Claire’s brother, Andrew, asks Rachel to keep an eye on Claire, which is the last thing either woman wants. But as their lives threaten to fall apart, both Claire and Rachel begin to realize what they need most is a friend. The kind of friend they once were to each other, and perhaps can be again. . . .

Review

I love books about friendship, particularly those that might have taken a bit of a battering over the years. Life gets in the way sometimes and it’s always lovely to read about people reconnecting after perhaps growing apart.

That’s what happens with Claire and Rachel. Fifteen years has seen their once-close friendship fall apart as circumstances put them on different paths. Claire, who was once the most popular girl and wealthiest girl in school with the world at her feet, has now been abandoned by everyone she held close. Rachel, meanwhile, has looked after her family since her dad left. Fate brings them back together and it’s time to see if they can rekindle their old friendship and support each other through difficult times.

It was lovely to return to Hartley-by-the-Sea after reading Rainy Day Sisters, and I enjoyed how this book focused on the aspect of friendship this time. Both Rachel and Claire were distinctive characters to root for in getting their respective happy endings- life really hadn’t been kind to them! It was really enjoyable to see them reconnect and rediscover their once-solid friendship. I’m lucky enough to have a best friend I absolutely adore, so it was nice to see them find that in each other. Overall, the book was nicely paced, had good solid characters and kept me engaged throughout.

Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28811359-now-and-then-friends?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Then-Friends-Hartley-Sea-Novel-ebook/dp/B016VRFU6E?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb_uk-21

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Then-Friends-Hartley—Sea-Novel/dp/0451475593/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467723541&sr=8-1&keywords=now+and+then+friends

About Kate Hewitt: Kate is the USA Today-bestselling author of over 40 books of women’s fiction and romance. She is the author of the Hartley-by-the-Sea series, set in England’s Lake District and published by Penguin. She is also, under the name Katharine Swartz, the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell. Other series include the Emigrants Trilogy, the Amherst Island Trilogy, and the Falling For The Freemans series.

She likes to read romance, mystery, the occasional straight historical and angsty women’s fiction; she particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.

Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in the English Cotswolds with her husband, five children, and an overly affectionate Golden Retriever. You can read about her life at http://www.acumbrianlife.blogspot.co.uk.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/katehewitt1

Website: http://www.kate-hewitt.com/

Giveaway:

1 paperback copy of Rainy Day Sisters (INTERNATIONAL)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bf63305795/?

What is Emma Butler’s Life Plan by Julia Wilmot Review

Blurb

Emma Butler doesn’t know it but she is about to get bit more angelic help than she was banking on. Someone has messed up, or have they?

It appears that Emma is about to be ‘recalled’ to heaven but has completed none of the tasks she had set herself for this life time. They must be completed before she is recalled and time is running out. Arch Angel Gregory decides to take over. He will be her Guardian Angel to ensure it all gets done.

There’s a lot to do and a very short time to do it in. Gregory is determined that it will all be completed by hook or by crook. But where does that leave free will and what about Jack who has been chosen to be Emma’s love interest? How will this impact him? Jack and Emma have no idea what is going on, but it’s not going to be plain sailing.

Review

This book provided the perfect escape for me after sending Book Number Three off to my editor. It was sweet, funny and lighthearted with a good plot and some really loveable characters. It reminded me a little of a film I love to watch at Christmas, Three Wise Women. The guardian angel in that reminded me a lot of Arch Angel Gregory!

Emma Butler is about to be recalled to heaven, but hasn’t completed all the tasks she set herself yet. That’s when Arch Angel Gregory gets involved: he decides to appoint himself Emma’s guardian to make sure she completes her life plan by her recall date. He also decides to do a little meddling in her love life, which leads to some pretty dramatic consequences…

I really enjoyed this book, it blended some quirky elements with a really cute love story. Jack was a great love interest for Emma; they were really compatible and I looked forward to seeing how their story would pan out. How can it possibly work out when she’s about to go back to Heaven? Read the book to find out!

Author Bio

Julia Wilmot began her exploration of the spiritual life as a teenager at school. She was fortunate to meet a wonderful family who all practised Transcendental Meditation (TM) and her future was set. At the age of 15 Julia learnt TM and felt she had found her path in life. She was so sure that this path was the only one for her that she decided not to go to University and study law as she had previously planned but to devote herself to teaching TM and working within the charity that teaches the technique.

At 20, Julia was one of the founding members of a 300 people strong TM community in Skelmersdale, Lancashire and at 28 Julia became the Centre Chairman of the largest teaching centre for TM in Europe, which was based in Central London. Teaching Transcendental Meditation to people from all walks of life.

Julia began this novel in 1995 but it remained in a drawer for many years. She came across it again in the early 2000s and fitting in with becoming a mother in 2002 it took until 2015 to finish it.

Julia currently focusses her attention on her writing, blogging and looking after her family. Forty years on and she still practises TM, as do her husband and son and they live in the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire, UK.

Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28240011-where-is-emma-butler-s-life-plan?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Where-Emma-Butlers-Life-Plan-ebook/dp/B019HC4C7S?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb_uk-21

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Emma-Butlers-Life-plan/dp/1519190719/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465998556&sr=8-1&keywords=where+is+emma+butler%27s+life+plan

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/julia_wilmot

Website: http://www.justjulias.com/