Wednesday 30 September 2015

"This clever story twists and turns...

...moving from Greece to London and back again, and is full of surprises.The wonderfully well drawn character of Joyce Shackleton will make you gasp. I became completely absorbed in the plot and couldn't put the book down."   Amazon reviewer

I'm offering 'A Good Day for Jumping' at the very popular price of 99p until 7th October.  For my American readers it's just 99c.
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I lived on the island of Crete for two years and this is the setting for a drama that plays out between millionaire Steve Firth (born Stephano) and the people he comes into contact with along the way.  He may be rich and handsome, but he has a lot to learn about the human condition and, indeed, his behaviour is morally reprehensible to most people. However, he is still susceptible to integrity, if it hits him between the eyes. When he comes into contact with Roula, he finds himself fascinated by her.  She is poor but ambitious, and willing to sacrifice her dreams for her family.

Steven Firth has a tangled history.  His mother is Greek and his father an advertising tycoon.  The love of his life, May, cannot hold him.  Fast cars and fast women have always been easy options.  Crass, and resolutely egocentric, he may trample on the very people who can help him in his subconscious quest for genuine emotional attachment.




Click on one of these links to look inside and read how Steven Firth's story begins:





Tuesday 15 September 2015

Review: The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack

This is a most intriguing collection.  Reminiscent of Poe’s ‘Tales of Mystery and Imagination’ with a hint of Asimov.  The genres range between science fiction, fantasy and paranormal.  They are dark for the most part, which I like, but each story is highly individual.  There are robots, ghosts, and a fearless little girl who lives near a forest making cabbage soup when she’s not ridding the village of monsters ('The Soup Ladle of Destiny' is my personal favourite, and the funniest of the stories).  All the stories have a twist.  Mostly these are unexpected – although you do catch the mindset of the author after reading a few.  This didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the stories, though.  It just made me wonder what was coming up. 

In the middle of the collection, the author includes an ‘intermission’, where he addresses the reader in person.  I must admit that this is the first time I’ve come across such an approach.  But C. S. Boyack (Craig – if you visit his Amazon Author Page) has an engaging style, and I find the personal touch here adds to my enjoyment of the stories.  It made me click on his author page!

There is an excerpt from one of his YA novels (Will O’ the Wisp) at the end of the collection.  I read this too.  Another charismatic set of characters and a glimpse of an intriguing plot.

I recommend this author.  He’s a real spinner of yarns. 




Tuesday 8 September 2015

Everyone likes a Whodunnit!  




In a small English town, a girl is found murdered in the park.  And she's not the first.  There has been a spate of unusual killings and Chief Inspector Hanson is not used to such high drama.  With the help of his able young colleague, Detective Simmonds, he sets out to track down a criminal who must be stopped before someone else is harmed.  Hanson is particularly touched by the latest murder - a bright young local girl.  He needs a break. There must be something he's missing.  Simmonds finds a lead and Hanson begins to follow a trail that may well lead him to the killer.  Hanson's Hunch. Where will it take him?

Free until Friday 11th September.


  
Reviews welcome!