This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
In 1915 California, Dr. Asa Wolf was a specialist in female hysteria. Sadly, some weren’t happy with his particular skills, and now he’s dead. Come along with snoopy Sadie Brown, aviatrix & newspaper columnist, for a delightful, historical romp to discover the killer’s identity. There’ll be a fiery ending you won’t soon forget.
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area and now living in Southern California, P. Austin Heaton writes what she loves to read, murder mysteries and historical fiction. A member of Mystery Writers of America, she’s also an amateur genealogist and history lover — both find their way into her fast-paced novels. Her books contain unforgettable storylines, vivid & quirky characters, and small bits of history. If you like twists and turns and wondering what comes next, you will find her writing addictive.
Zoe just wanted to help. Now she may have a killer in her home.
Zoe is happily married to Ethan until the day a 13-year-old boy shows up on their doorstep. He says his name is Micah and that Ethan is his father. Distressed because his mother is missing, Micah has come to them for help.
Ethan is wary – he didn’t know anything about Micah – but kind-hearted Zoe feels she can’t possibly turn her back on the boy. She welcomes him into their home and does her best to make him part of the family.
But there’s something off about Micah.
He lies constantly, creeps silently around the house and towers over Zoe, observing her every move. And his growing bond with Anna, Zoe’s young daughter, feels all wrong.
So when his mother’s body is found and the police start looking for the murderer, Zoe realizes something terrible…
He might already be in her home.
The Better Mother – the stunning psychological thriller from the best-selling author of Her Husband’s Secret.
Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.
My thoughts: file this under; children are creepy. When Zoe opens the door to a young teenage boy who claims to be her husband’s son – conceived before they met, and whose mother never admitted his existence, she welcomes him in. His mum is missing and he has nowhere else to turn. He quickly bonds with his half sister, Zoe’s daughter Anna, but Zoe is convinced something isn’t quite right about Micah.
His story doesn’t quite add up, then his mother’s body is found, and after snooping on his laptop, it looks like he’s been stalking his dad’s family, and particularly her, for a while. Did he kill his mum?
Unfortunately Zoe’s husband, Ethan, doesn’t seem to be listening to her. And then he admits his ex, Micah’s mum, had been hassling him for money. Did he know he had a son?
Zoe knows she needs to protect Anna at all costs, but who from – Ethan or Micah? With shocking twists and turns, this is a sinister tale of family and fear.
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*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
Lincoln 1997. Veteran customs investigator Frank McBride has been targeting gangs of drugs smugglers for decades. Taking out John Pyke’s team of Lincoln-based criminals is just another operation until suddenly things become interesting. Why has Pyke’s team suddenly become so professional? How has it become so adept at evading surveillance? And who is the mysterious figure who is pulling the strings? McBride relishes having found a worthy opponent. But who is he? And what game is he playing? Michael Butcher wants to know why his grandfather, a retired brigadier living in a tiny Rutland village, has decided to become an international trafficker in narcotics. Involving him in an elaborate game where the price of losing is life in prison. McBride and the Brigadier become enmeshed in a private duel, but only one of them knows the rules of the game.
Michael Dane spent over ten years as an officer in the Customs and Excise National Investigation Service investigating drug trafficking, VAT fraud and smuggling of all kinds. He later retrained as a lawyer and joined the private sector where he investigated fraud and corruption all over the world. He is retired and lives in the Vale of Belvoir.
My thoughts: I’d never really thought of Customs and Excise being involved in and running investigations like this, but it does make sense, as without a national police force, you do need an organisation able to join the dots from point of entry onwards.
The investigation is clever and gripping, with the team following their suspects around the country, wanting to catch them in the act and make arrests, but also follow the links in the chain to the people at the top – take the whole organisation down once and for all.
But an elderly brigadier interferes with their straightforward operation, by getting involved in a bit of old fashioned espionage and helping the drug dealers evade their shadows. Or is he? He might be retired and a little odd, but he might also be playing a completely different game. I felt a bit sorry for Michael, running risks but not knowing exactly what’s going on. I hope we come back to him and see how he gets on in future.
Meanwhile Frank McBride, who does work out what’s going on, because he knows everyone, and his team are closing in on the gang, but not on the mysterious “Peter”, who McBride decides to ignore in favour of busting the dealers, not hard to do when without help, they’re relying on sheer luck to stay out of jail.
A clever, tense and really enjoyable crime thriller featuring interesting characters and a different angle on the genre.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Milton Fisk was a good man, once.
Then came the day when he discovered his gift.
He can heal with a touch.
He can resurrect the dead.
Now known as Elijah Zion, Miracle Man, he is worshipped by billions. Kings and presidents bow before him. He is the most powerful man on Earth.
But it is not enough…
There was only one other man in history with Elijah’s powers, and Elijah Zion hates Him with a passion.
He will tear down the old gods if it takes him an eternity, and from that day onward, the world will know only the name, Elijah Zion.
Milton’s best friend from boyhood and the woman he once loved are the only ones who know the truth. They have vowed to stop him, but do mere mortals stand a chance against the Miracle Man?
Ken Stark is a Vancouver-based horror writer known for his chilling tales of terror and suspense. He grew up in a small town in British Columbia and developed a love for horror at an early age, devouring every Stephen King novel he could get his hands on.
In 2016, he released his debut novel, the first book in the on-going “Stage 3” series, which quickly gained a following among horror fans and established Ken as a rising star in the genre.
Since then, Ken has also published several stand-alone horror novels, including “Arcadia Falls,” “Gaia’s Game,” and “Miracle Man.” His stories often feature supernatural elements and explore the darker side of human nature. Ken’s writing has been praised for its vivid descriptions, complex characters, and spine-tingling suspense
When he’s not writing, Ken enjoys exploring the forests and mountains of the Pacific Northwest, drawing inspiration from the natural beauty and haunting landscapes of the region. He is also an avid reader and movie buff, with a deep appreciation for classic horror films.
This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Eve has never seen the light of day, nor known the beauty of a living world. Marooned on the dark side of an unforgiving planet, Eve and her parents, Eli and Nisma, scavenge the remains of their colony ship, the Eternity, with the hope of building their own means of escaping their post-apocalyptic prison.
But with time running out and constant setbacks and delays pushing everyone beyond their limits, Eve and her family soon find themselves at each other’s throats. Will they manage to pull together and flee their living hell? Or would they be doomed to a life of decay in an eternal night?
Zachary Moulder is an average bloke who likes to write stories, paint very small miniatures and enjoy the company of his friends and family over a few beers. A former bartender, he was born in Brisbane, Australia, and presently resides in Townsville where he lives in constant dread for the inevitable arrival of North Queensland’s insufferable summer.
London, 1927: One house. Three lives. A decision that will change everything. A powerful, unique timeslip story, perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Miniaturist, and Lucinda Riley. On the morning of Friday 5th August, 1927, Miss Agnes Humphries – the landlady of the attractive, if-slightly-shabby, white-fronted townhouse at Number 23 Burlington Square – has a decision to make. The rooms of the second floor lie empty, since poor Mr Blandford’s unfortunate demise, God rest his soul. And Agnes must make up her mind as to who will be her new lodger… Will it be her spirited, young niece Clara, who drifts through the glamorous world of London’s Bright Young Things? Or Stephen, the sensible, church-going, respectable banker who seems just be too good to be true? Or the timid war widow named Mercy, who is clearly running from something – or someone…? Agnes must choose between them. But what will her decision lead to? One of the choices could result in scandal, one in devastation, and one could even lead to happiness. If only she gets it right… As all three lodgers enter Number 23, in alternate timelines, relationships are formed and destroyed, feathers are ruffled, and secrets are exposed. Three different choices. Three very different paths. And Agnes is to discover that nobody – including herself – is quite who they seem… Purchase
Jenni Keer is the well-reviewed author of historical romances, often with a mystery at their heart. Most recently published by Headline and shortlisted for the 2023 RNA Historical Romantic Novel of the Year, her first book with Boldwood The House on Burlington Square will be released in October 2023.
My thoughts: as landlady Agnes weighs up which of her new prospective tenants to accept, we get to see what happens depending on who she chooses. Will it be her niece Clara, full of secrets and choosing to drown them in partying and drinking every night? Or Mr Thompson, who says he’s a bank clerk and churchgoer, but has his own darkness, that might threaten another resident. The final applicant is Mrs Mercy Mayweather, a widow from Suffolk, currently working as a shop girl in a department store. She also has secrets of her own, but they’re only dangerous to her.
Agnes has her own story too, how she ended up running her home as a boarding house, why she never married, and there’s also the current tenants – both with their own stories to tell.
A fascinating read and interesting premise, with enjoyable stories and likeable characters (although not all of them).
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Every bite Kendra takes is a battle. Rosie can’t control her mouth. Alex struggles to keep his head above water. Tyler’s world has come crashing to his feet. Ricky’s anger threatens to spill over.
Told through a series of shifting perspectives, five strangers, nothing but blurred faces in a crowded high school hallway, come together in search of solace, support, and comfort. Together, they help each other realize that although life may not be perfect, the world around them can still fall perfectly into place.
But one of them may be beyond help. Will they be able to reach out in time to pull their friend out of the darkness, or are they already too late?
Sarah McKnight has been writing stories since she could pick up a pencil, and it often got her in trouble during math class. After a brief stint teaching English to unruly middle schoolers in Japan, she decided she wasn’t going to put off her dream of becoming a writer any longer and set to work. Her books tackle real-world issues such as anxiety, depression, and letting go of the past – with a little humor sprinkled in, too. A St. Louis native, she currently lives in Pennsylvania with her wonderful husband and three cats. You can find her on Twitter @mcknight_writes, Instagram and TikTok @sarahmcknightwrites, and Facebook at Sarah McKnight – Author
Two families at war and Alice finds herself caught in the middle. Can she re-write a story as old as time? When cutbacks force Alice out of her assistant manager role at a Devonshire stately home, she turns her sights elsewhere: the picturesque hills above the historic city of Parma. An aristocratic Italian family are looking to open their medieval castle to the public, and Alice is just the woman for the job. Four years ago, a life-changing accident pushed Alice into depression, but the beauty and charm of the Italian countryside works its magic in brightening her days. Especially when she keeps bumping into handsome Luca… But rivalries run deep in the town, and Alice’s work – not to mention her potential love life – are caught in the middle of a long-standing feud between two families. With her job and future happiness in peril, can Alice save the future of the castle, and bring two warring families together?
I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I did languages at university a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to Italy for seven years as a teacher of English. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only ten years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract. The fact that I am now writing escapist romance is something I still find hard to explain. My early books were thrillers and historical novels and I now also write cozy crime, but my first love has always been romance. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations and descriptions of food to make you drool.
My thoughts: another marvellous escape to beautiful Italy from one of my favourite writers of fabulous romances. Alice has taken a job at a medieval castle in need of new income streams. The family are broke and the castle needs a lot to restore it and keep it theirs. Alice has lots of ideas of ways to bring new life to the town and the castle.
There’s also a handsome architect with a lovely Labrador (always a bonus) who catches her eye. He’s the estranged son of the town mayor, locked in a never-ending feud with the Baron’s family dating back centuries.
Luckily Alice is made of tough stuff, and while her relationship with the lovely Luca and his dog Frank, is going well, the castle is a bit tricky. Thankfully the family, even the initially unsure baron, are happy with all her ideas – alpacas, clearing some of the trees and selling the wood, a museum.
I really enjoyed this book, I liked Alice, despite her accident and the injury she now lives with, she’s good at her job, and makes new friends easily. It was just a really lovely, fun story and left me with a nice warm feeling.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
A WOMAN IN A DESPERATE SEARCH
Adella’s life had been peaceful on the frontier of Valenna. But when mysterious raiders attack and burn her town down, her brother goes missing. Leaving everything behind, she sets off in a desperate ride across the plains to find him.
A MERCENARY IN DIRE NEED OF HER HELP
Kol, a highly-skilled Sornian soldier, needs Adella’s help if he wants to live to see another day. A traitor to his country with nowhere else to turn, he agrees to guide Adella across the wilderness of the Campos.
A HIGH-SEAS ADVENTURE
When Adella is captured by the enemy, she inadvertently lets a powerful artifact fall into the wrong hands. Risking everything to find her, Kol takes a gamble and joins forces with the mysterious Captain Declan, a notorious reaver known for plundering Sornian ships.
Each must face the same choice: Save the life of someone dear to them, or retrieve the artifact and prevent the awakening of Mundil and the rise of the Twelve Calamities…
In a world of intrigue, mystery, and betrayal, will the choices they make lead to disaster?
A. M. Portman lives in Michigan with her husband, sons and goats. Her interests include horse riding, 18th century re-enactment, wilderness survival and classical literature. When not at home writing, she can likely be found at her 54 acre equestrian facility. The Legends of Andolin series began when the author’s sister requested an original novel for her birthday. Taking inspiration from her favorite classic authors such as Kipling, Stevenson, and Burroughs, Portman endeavored to craft a new tale filled with adventure, mystery, and humor featuring unique and memorable characters.
Maria always wanted a family. Now she’s found one.
Imogen has never been so busy – she’s juggling two jobs, has a young family and now she’s pregnant again.
Enter Maria, the perfect housekeeper. Hard working and capable, she seems like the ideal solution to Imogen’s chaotic life. But Maria isn’t at all what she seems – she has a sinister agenda of her own.
Little by little, she installs herself at the heart of Imogen’s family – doing the school run, cooking meals, caring for Imogen’s little girl.
But once she has won the family’s trust, Maria starts to do some digging. And discovers that Imogen has been keeping a terrible secret, a secret which Maria threatens to reveal unless Imogen starts to run this home the way Maria sees fit.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Imogen has no choice but to comply.
A terrible mistake. Because as the full scale of Maria’s horrifying plan becomes apparent, Imogen realises that everything she holds dear – her marriage, her family, her friends – all may fall victim to The Homemaker.
The Homemaker – the chilling psychological thriller from the best-selling author of The Visitors and What She Knew.
Miranda Rijks is a writer of psychological thrillers and suspense novels. She has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre.
She’s been writing all of her life and has a Masters in writing. A couple of years ago she decided to ditch the business plans and press releases and now she’s living the dream, writing suspense novels full time.
She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband, musician daughter and black Labrador.
This is her twentieth psychological thriller with Inkubator Books.
My thoughts: this turned creepy really fast and all Imogen wanted was an extra pair of hands. Instead she got Maria – a dream of a housekeeper at first, then a steadily worsening nightmare.
Imogen runs a B & B out of her home, 2 nicely decorated bedrooms with ensuites, a freshly cooked breakfast in the morning. Allowing her to raise daughter Ava, and still offer a hotel consultancy service from home. Despite her husband telling her they don’t need the money, she wants to be independent. But the workload is increasing and she needs some help.
Hiring Maria, who can’t seem to do enough, should be great, but Maria forces her way further into their home and lives. And then Imogen’s friend Tom is killed in a hit and run, and events get worse and worse. Could Maria be behind it all?
Exploiting Imogen’s desire to find her biological parents, isolating her, harming Ava. There seems to be no extreme Maria won’t go to to get what she wants. With shocking results. Imogen needs to stop her, to save her family, but can she?
Twists and turns and shocking moments abound, and it turns the home into a terrifying place, the family might be sharing it with a killer.
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*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 