Stealing the Marbles by E.J.Knapp

Title: Stealing the Marbles
Author: E. J. Knapp
Publisher: Rebel e Publishers
Published: August 2010
ISBN: 0986973173 (also in ebook)
Author's Website: http://www.ejknapp.com

Rating: 4/5

The cover on this is eye catching and true to the storyline, what the cover can't express is how detailed the book is, no detail is left to chance and it's very thorough.  Stealing the Marbles is witty from the outset, as Danny goes about creating allies to aid him in his task to steal and return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Danny is a thief of epic proportions, possibly wanted by various agencies including Interpol.  He steals for the thrill of the chase, and as a reader you soon discover that he's not as heroic or brave as he might at first seem.  I was surprised by some of his dislikes, these made the story even more interesting.

This book kept me on my toes...it's got car chases, gun fights and a really good plot, menacing in places with twists and turns.  I did guess what the outcome was going to be to some extent, but the book was well paced none the less, with touching scenes of vulnerability and grief, that you possibly wouldn't expect from a thriller.

This was a can't-put-it-down read, which was totally absorbing and enjoyable from start to finish.  I was surprised at the end to read that although Danny's story is not real, the Parthenon Marbles and their story, is in fact true.

Book Synopsis:
"When does a wrong become a right? Danny Samsel has defeated the finest security systems in the world. Interpol wants him, the FBI wants him, the CIA wants him. He is a Master Thief - even the White House could not prevent him from liberating one of their paintings. Now, after a year languishing on Kefalonia, he has turned his attention to his greatest adventure: the heist of the century. In the 19th century Lord Elgin stole pieces of the Parthenon and shipped them to England. In the 21st century Danny Samsel is going to steal them back. He has decided to return the Marbles to Greece. His motives are not entirely altruistic: having enraged and estranged Kastania, his beautiful and extraordinary girlfriend, who just happens to be able to access and overcome any computer system, he wants her back in his life. She never left his heart. And he needs her help to steal the Marbles from the British Museum. With help from old friends worldwide plus a few new, surprising ones, Danny and the Marbles endure a perilous journey across Europe to their Hellenic home. With dire, vicious interventions from Interpol and avaricious underworld art collectors, betrayal from a trusted friend, Danny conquers all obstacles with grit and humour. At great cost to himself and grievous loss to his accomplices, Danny rights an international wrong, settles a few other scores, foxes old foes, and guarantees the future of his chosen career."



Source: Author -  for an honest review.

Reads Like Murder in Kahala by Georgina Donovan



Title: Reads Like Murder in Kahala

Author: Georgina Donovan
Publisher: Dream Books LLC 
Published: 29 Oct 2010 (ebook format)
Author's Website: http://georginamdonovan.com/

Rating: 4/5

The cover on this shows up as somewhat dark on my blog, the picture of it on Amazon is a lot clearer.  I found the cover to be interesting, and tranquil overall.

I liked the beginning of the book, there's a glossary page for some of the words used throughout the book, this proved really helpful...I would have prefered the relevant word/translation to be on the bottom of the page it appeared on though, purely  so I didn't have to keep flicking back to the start for an explanation (I read this ebook on my pc, I suspect reading it on an ereader would be easier if using the glossary).

The book itself is delightfully descriptive, in a wish-I-was-there way.  As a reader I could feel the Hawaiian sun beating down through the pages of this book.  There's a definate feeling of coming home for the main character, Hayley.  I enjoyed the references to Magnum P.I., I enjoyed the re-runs of them ;p  I am a fan of this kind of mystery book.  It's an easy, gently paced read which kept me guessing all the way through.  In many respects it's familiar, as I enjoy Agatha Raisen and Hamish MacBeth mysteries.  It was a refreshing setting, with the plot weaving in Polynesian legends and both spiritual and heritage elements.

To begin with I have to admit I was puzzled by Hayley and Chases' relationship.  Hayley on one hand is thinking of marriage and being with Chase, Chase is so laid back he's horizontal, but there's not much action, or confirmed passion, or love, up until the last chapter really, which is when we get a sense of what's happening in their relationship.  I'm betting their relationship will develop leaps and bounds over the series, however I found their relationship to not hold much meaning in this one.

All in all, an enjoyable and relaxing read, gently paced until the action scenes.  Most definalty a page turner for me, both to hear about the legends, and also to find out 'who dunnit!'

Book Synopsis from Amazon:
"Inheriting a beachfront estate! On the same island with her boyfriend! What could possibly go wrong for Haley Wyndham?

How about theft, annoying real estate agents, demonstrations, and murder! Not to mention haunting Hawaiian ghosts!

Looks like paradise comes with a few rogue waves!"

Source: Publisher

Celebration Giveaway - 4 prizes, book voucher/books :)

Giveaway now closed - Winners are now being chosen.
I really appreciate the fact we're now over 100!!! - followers strong...

(we've just had our first month anniversary!!)...since we've reached our target of 100+ followers, I've added another prize to the pile :)

If we reach 200 followers (including Networked blogs)- before Wednesday I'll add another International prize to the pile

As a big thank you to our followers, I'm offering you the chance to win one of three four prizes 

Prize 1 - £10 voucher to Book Depository (check your country is sent to)

Prize 2 - Bloodline by Kate Cary (international) Thanks to Egmont UK

Prizes 3 & 4 - Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes (Hardback so UK only) Thanks to Amulet Books.

**************Now Closed**************
*********Winners to be announced shortly*********

Bloodline is gently used as it was my review copy.

Interview with Jessica Chambers, author of Voices on the Waves & giveaway

I've not long finished reading Voices on the Waves, and couldn't resist inviting the author, Jessica Chambers over to have a chat :)

Jessica, please could you tell readers about yourself......

First, Michelle, let me say a huge thank you for inviting me on your blog today to talk about my debut release, and to all of you for stopping by. I’m especially excited because I’m giving away a free ebook copy of Voices on the Waves. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is leave me a comment, so good luck!

I’m a UK born author currently living with my family and crazy Staffordshire bull terrier in the English town of Windsor, most famous for its castle and nearby Eton College. At the age of five, I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pitmentosa, a degenerative eye condition that has left me almost totally blind.

Clichéd as it sounds, I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. As a shy person, I love being able to escape into another world, and the sense of power that comes with controlling everything that goes on in that world. I especially love writing women’s fiction centred around memorable characters that leap off the page, something I hope I’ve achieved in Voices on the Waves.

My husband says you've got taste supporting Liverpool FC (I don't do football - he's the Liverpool fanatic!) how long have you supported them (that's him asking over my shoulder!)

Um, actually, this is rather an embarrassing story. When I was quite young, around eleven or twelve it must have been, I had this major crush on my brother’s best mate’s older brother. My brother has always been a staunch Arsenal supporter, but both Olli and Joe were fans of Liverpool. Well, I kind of got it into my head, as you do at that age, that if I also became a Liverpool supporter, this would really impress Joe and he’d fall madly in love with me. Needless to say, this isn’t how things turned out. Still, despite my dubious beginnings as a Liverpool fan, I’ve remained faithful to them ever since, even in their current disastrous run of form!

When did you first start writing?

I’ve invented stories for as long as I can remember, but I wrote my first novel, all thirty pages of it, when I was seven. Based on the Enid Blyton adventures I devoured at the time, it bore the highly original title “The Mystery of the Strange Telephone Calls”. As any lovers of The Famous Five can probably guess, my characters were plunged into all sorts of excitement, from robbery to kidnap. I even recorded it on cassette, which is now safely hidden away from prying ears!

How long did it take you to write Voices on the Waves?  The characters and their stories are so intricate and well thought out.

That’s a good question. In it’s original form, written several years ago, I‘d say it took about a year to complete. Since then, though, it’s been through so many changes and rewrites that it’s barely recognizable from my first draft and I’ve lost count of the hours, not to mention the blood and tears, that have gone into it.  

Where did you get inspiration from for each character?  Are they based on real people?

I never base my characters on anyone I know. For me, one of the best things about writing is creating complex characters that readers can relate to, even if they might not necessarily always like them. I had particular fun inventing my cast for Voices on the Waves. Because this novel is all about characters, I felt it was vital that they should really come alive for the reader and that there should be as much tension and conflict between them as possible. Once I’d decided this, I sat down and solely from my imagination came up with ten individuals from all walks of life, each with their own flaws and quirks. That done, all I had to do was let the words flow and the sparks fly!

Do you have any plans for future books?

I’m currently working on a novel, which will be written as part of a series with a group of my fellow authors at Red Rose. The idea is that we each write a book based on a reality TV show, and I’m taking the inspiration for mine from talent shows such as American Idol and The X Factor. Tentatively titled “Chasing Dreams”, it follows three brothers as they’re introduced to the fickle and often unforgiving world of fame, and is shaping up to be really great fun! With any luck, it will be released some time next year.

When you're not writing, what books do you read, and do you have a favorite author or genre?

Oh, I’m a total book junky and will read pretty much anything — women’s fiction, thrillers, historicals, fantasy, young adult… Just so long as it involves vivid, memorable characters who I genuinely care about, I’m there. There are also so many authors I love, but my particular favourites are J. K. Rowling, Jilly Cooper, Philippa Gregory, Cassandra Clare, James Patterson and Penny Vincenzi.

If you had to choose between writing or reading, which would it be?

Wow, this has to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever been asked. Both reading and writing play such an important part in my life, and I can’t imagine existing without either of them. I suppose it would be fair to say writing is the activity that gives me the most satisfaction, but I can’t think of many things that give me more pleasure than losing myself in a good book.

The Voices on the Waves giveaway has now ended, pending a winner.

Voices on the Waves by Jessica Chambers

Jessica Chambers interview and giveaway for Voices on the Waves is HERE

Title: Voices on the Waves
Author: Jessica Chambers
Publisher: Red Rose Publishing
Published: Sept 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60435-786-8 (ebook)
Author's Website: http://www.jessicachambers.co.uk/blog/

Rating 5/5 with merits!!

The cover on this is very tranquil and inviting, and is a fabulous reflection of the book. Warm, peaceful and completely inviting, this book reeled me in and had me fascinated from start to finish.  As a reader the warmth within the pages invites you to delve in and read more, if you enjoy people watching, then you really should read this!

All the characters are unique, with their own stories to tell, I could give you a really good in depth peek into each and every character in the book, I've come to know them well and have empathy with all of them through the compassionate, believable storyline.  I don't want to ruin the characters or the plot in any way, so I'll let you know that my favorite character is the very perceptive Karenza, whose no nonsense approach and bold behavior was enjoyable and refreshing.

Voices on the Waves has a lot within it's pages, it's so detailed and well thought out.  Every character comes to life and they reveal their own lives as the story unwinds.  It's really compassionate, and tinged with tangible regret and longing which is touchingly real, as it touches on a lot of subjects...illness, grief, character traits, and a full spectrum of experiences to get your teeth into.  The thing I come away most with from this book is the empathy with each and every one of the characters.  A thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring read, which is well researched, and a book I could happily read again.

Book Synopsis:

"When Faye Wakefield runs a competition offering nine lucky winners a two-week holiday at her beautiful farmhouse retreat in Cornwall, she promises an experience they will never forget. However, even Faye could not have imagined how bringing these people together would change their lives forever.

Just as she hoped, the competition yields a diverse mixture of characters: a shy young woman with troubled eyes, a womanizing business tycoon, an interior designer ruled by her need for independence, a retired nurse, and an Irishman with an affiliation for the whisky bottle. Yet, as sparks begin to fly and the guests share their long-suppressed secrets, only Faye knows of her ulterior motive for inviting them all under her roof."

You can read an excerpt and buy the ebook at Red Rose Publishing

Source: Author

Scourge Officially Released today! (& personalised!)

Scourge is Officially Released Today.


Scourge is the first novel in the Grim Doyle Adventure series by author, David H. Burton.

I love the cover on this, really bright and vibrant.

The book synopsis:

Two dads, five siblings, and goggles!

Grim Doyle has always known his life was not exactly "normal", and things get even more curious when he discovers a set of stones that sweep him and his family to the fantasy, steampunk world of Verne - a place they had escaped from years ago. Now that they've returned, Grim and his siblings hide from the evil Lord Victor and his minions. And while learning about Jinns, Mystics, and the power of absinth they try to discover who is trying to kill them with the deadly Scourge.



David is offering a personalized ebook version of Scourge at at his site. With it comes an autographed dedication page as well as a fun feature where I alter the name of one of the minor characters in the story with the name of the purchaser.



Print version should be released in 2 weeks time.

Interview with Katie M. John, YA author, and giveaway.

Having just finished reading The Forest of Adventures which is a YA Arthurian novel, by a UK author, I'm pleased to say Katie M. John agreed to be interviewed.

My review of The Forest of Adventures can be seen HERE.

Katie is offering 6 lucky readers the chance to win a copy of The Forest of Adventures...1st prize is a copy of the book (currently being printed, so it'll be hot off the press!) the other 5 lucky readers will receive The Forest of Adventures as an ebook.

Katie, welcome to Clover Hill Books Reviews, it's lovely to have you here!

How long have you been writing?
Growing up I was always more into writing poetry than stories. There was something about the way that poetry condenses ideas and crystallizes complex emotions into imagery that fascinated me. I  think this was a good discipline for my more recent venture into novel writing and I think that the poet is still very evident in the novelist.

How long did it take you to self publish?
I set about self publishing six months ago when I discovered, (the hard way) that the more traditional publishing route is an incredibly locked world unless you have contacts.

Is this your debut novel?
This is my debut novel. It was a pledge to myself to have written and completed a novel by the end of my thirtieth year.  - For those of you taking part in Kristi's 2010 Debut Author Challenge, I've checked with Kristi, and The Forest of Adventures can be included in the 2010 challenge!

Where did you draw the inspiration for your characters?
My obsession with pre-Raphaelite art and Tennyson’s poetry as well as the other Romantic poets. Most importantly the work Morte De Arthur by Mallory has been a major influence and throughout the novel there are direct passages that act as a homage to Mallory; especially the combat scenes. I found it fascinating how Mallory could convey such energy in his descriptions of battle. More recently Stephanie Myer’s Twilight has been a great influence on my work.

Who is your favourite character from the book?
You don’t know her yet as I know her, and you might not possibly do so until the end of Book Two, but the character I have most affection for and would class as my favourite character is Delta. I love her attitude and complexity. Of course Morgan is awesome in that she gets to be all the evil I could never be but sometimes fantasize about.

If the book was made into a film, who would play the key character?
Blake would have to be someone like the very handsome Adam Brody and Emma Watson would make an excellent. Mina. Kiera Knightly could make a brilliant Morgan Le Fay in a slightly left field kind of way.

When not writing what are you reading?
I love the modern flux of Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy, Fitzpatrick, Kate and Meyer etc. I also love Dystopia and political science fiction; I grew up on the works of Orwell, Huxley, Golding, Margaret Atwood and that kind of stuff. I’ve always been a bit of a Goth at heart and have great fondness for the original Gothic literature movement.

What are you reading at the moment?
Crescendo book 2 in the series of fellow Goodreads author, Becca Fitzpatrick. Just read Shiver, Linger, Hush Hush, Fallen, Wings, Forest of Hands and Teeth and Ash in the last month, all of which were really good..

Chocolate or books?
Books – no contest. If you’d said books or good rare steak, that might have been a different matter.

Any tips for budding writers?
Firstly, writing is primarily about discipline and having the understanding that writer’s have a responsibility to their readers to write the best that they can.( I know both those words don’t kind of work with the whole Romantic notion of authorship) It takes me on average 2 ½ years from draft to final edit (3years if you include research time.) It’s about crafting and refinement – that’s the poet in me I suppose – don’t splurge outpourings and then offer them up. The splurging is just the first part.
Secondly – Be aware of the dreaded purple prose – a trap for most new writers. Don’t use ten words when three well executed ones are better. I always set my challenge to trim my word-count rather than expand it. True beauty is found within simplicity.
Thirdly - read from a broad range of genres and times – learn from the best. .

When is the next in the trilogy released?
It’s written as is the third. It now has to go through the rigor of editing – knowing me this could take a while. I am hoping to have it ready by Autumn 2011.

Any plans for future books?
The complete trilogy is drafted and so I have just started to think about what might come after. I have the seedling of two ideas but we’ll have to see when the time comes.

To enter to win one of six copies of The Forest of Adventures, please leave a comment and

Fill in this Form   Entries close on 6th December.  Entries now closed, thank you!

The Forest of Adventures by Katie M. John

Title: The Forest of Adventures
Author: Katie M. John
Publisher: Little Bird Publishing House
Published: Dec 2010 (currently available as ebook)
ISBN: 0956739520
Author's Website: http://www.theknighttrilogy.com/

Rating 5/5

The cover on this is eye catching, I like the hues of purple in the background between the forest.  This book is packed to the brim with Arthurian legends, something that I really enjoy, and is beautifully descriptive from the outset. I felt the anticipation as the storyline unfolded, not knowing what was to come.  The characters are really well presented.  I like Morgan for her wickedly sinister, corrupt and menacing character, very well penned. Mina, the female caught between two worlds (both of love and that of the real world and magic) is a curious teen, playing out her part under peer pressure and parental pressure, whilst still remaining true to herself.  Blake...<sigh - swoon> is a smoulderingly handsome knight in shining armor...chivalry isn't dead.

I found this to be a compulsive read, it's fairly fast paced, for me the book heralds a natural storyteller, and the research that's gone into shines through each page.  I felt as if I were stepping into the pages of history, immersed in tradition within the pages of The Forest of Adventure.  I love the sense of community and the attitude towards mothering in this book.  The Realm within the pages is made very appealing, giving a sense of belonging, and of honesty and integrity to the characters.  I did feel a few things were missing - like when Mina has an out of body type message and her room is in a mess, she drops her cup of coffee...yet before the scene is finished her mother comes in and nothing is said about it...the story also suggests that there is a prophecy, but we're not made aware of what exactly, the prophecy is, which is a shame. I was left feeling there had been no closure to this book, as it ends abruptly.and the only reason it's not been rated a 5/5 with merits.

The book did take my breath away in places at the cruelty within some of the acts and twists of the storyline, it's very bittersweet in places.  Morgan is portrayed as having a heart of ice...yet she's in love with (or wants) most of the characters throughout the book.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy, in the meantime I can add this to my completed Author Debut Challenge 2010 over at The Story Siren.

Synopsis from Author's website:

"FORBIDDEN LOVE IS ALWAYS THE SWEETEST.

For Mina Singer, falling in love with a knight on white horse was never the plan.
That was until the arrival of the devastatingly beautiful Blake Beldevier.
With his intense air of secrecy, Mina finds herself drawn to the mystery behind the boy,
risking all that she loves.  

As the mystery unravels, Mina finds her self in a place from which she can never return.
Written into an ancient prophesy she finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old
battle between the forces of good and evil with events seeming to do
everything in their power to destroy, not only the prophesy, but
everybody in it. "

Enter to win The Forest of Adventures, giveaway open til 6th December HERE

A  hauntingly beautiful exploration of the destiny and responsibility of true and forbidden love.The Forest of Adventures is a  fairytale for our modern times.

Source: Author

Interview with Amanda Hocking & Switched giveaway

Please join me in welcoming Amanda Hocking here, author of My Blood Approves vampire series and the new Trylle trilogy.

Amanda's here to tell us more about the second book in her Trylle Trilogy, Torn, following my review of Switched which I rate a 4.5/5  - and Amanda's giving away 2 ebooks of Switched, which you can enter after the interview.

Amanda, could you tell us more about yourself?
I'm a lifelong Minnesotan obsessed with John Hughes and Jim Henson. In between making collages and drinking too much Red Bull, I write young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance. The first two book in the new paranormal romance the Trylle Trilogy - Switched  and Torn - are out now, and the third book - Ascend - will be out Fall 2010. The first four books in her series - My Blood Approves, Fate, Flutter, and Wisdom - are available now.

When did you start writing?

As soon as I could write. When I was little, I used to fill up notebooks with story. I was always writing.

How long did it take you to write Switched and Torn?

It took roughly 2 weeks to write Switched, and 3 weeks to write Torn.

Where did you get the inspiration from for characters? -and how did you come up with the titles?

It depends. But I specifically wrote the character of Oren in Torn based on Michael Wincott, on the off chance the series get turned into a movie so Michael Wincott can play him. He’s the ultimate villain.

What is your favorite book you've written, and who's your favorite character?

I don’t know if he’s my all time favorite, but I really like Loki in Torn. I usually like the bad guys, and I’m plugging Oren hardcore from Torn. 

What's your favorite food?

Japanese food and sushi. I love seafood. And Sweet Tarts and Red Bull if they count as food.

Would you choose chocolate or books?

Books, but I’m not big into chocolate, so it was a no brainer, ha.

When you're not writing, who are your favorite authors and genre?

Lately, I’ve been on a re-reading craze. So I’ve been re-reading Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, Bret Easton Ellis, J. D. Salinger, and Douglas Adams. I also read a lot of graphic novels (I’m crazy about Batman, but I love anything Alan Moore or Jeph Loeb do). In the paranormal romance, I love Rachelle Mead and Claudia Gray. I’m not big into fairies, but I did like Wonderous Strange. Oh, and I really love Shakespeare. It’s cliché, but true.

Any future plans for books?

Millions. Too many to list. I have a YA series about witches starting next month with Honalee.

Could you also tell us more about Torn?

Torn is the dark middle child of the Trylle trilogy. It’s a lot of growing pains as Wendy matures and takes more control of her life. Her romantic life gets more complicated. Some questions get answered, and some new ones get asked. 

To be in with a chance of winning one of 2 ebooks of Switched, the first in the Trylle series, 
Please leave a meaningful comment and then......

 Enter here! Giveaway has now ended and is pending communication from Amanda, sorry for the delay folks.

Amanda's blog is here 

Switched by Amanda Hocking

Title: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: July 2010
ISBN: 1453688935 available in ebook format also
Author's website: http://amandahocking.blogspot.com/

Rating 4.5/5

The jacket on this is gorgeous!  I really, really love the shades used, and it's simplicity blended with the unusual font for the title on the cover.  To start with, I found Wendy, the main character very childish, she has temper tantrums and doesn't act her age...reflectively this is more to do with the fact she knows something is not right, and a huge part of that has got to be because her mother tried to kill her on her sixth birthday, which is the horrifying start to the story which had me want to keep reading more.  What mother could possibly want to murder her own child?! I just didn't get it....but it was enough to keep me wrapped in the book from the start, and didn't disappoint when the reason finally came to light.

Switched is about discovery, coming home, learning, acceptance, and letting go.  I found it stepped outside the boundaries of what I expected.  Trolls are normally depicted as ugly, grotesque, snot fueled  little people who have no manners or consideration.  This certainly is not the case in Switched, and this really adds to the charm of the story.  Trolls here live in beautifully kept abodes, the main troll habitat in the book is very vividly described, I felt as if I was there, looking around in awe at the gorgeousness of everything inside (and no, I'm not going to tell you what's there...I don't want to spoil the view for you!).  The trolls are like nothing I've read about troll wise before, which is very refreshing.

The characters are believable.  Wendy, the main character, acts like a completely spoilt brat for the first part of the story, in an attempt to gain approval and attention. Her character goes through so much, both emotionally and mentally.  It's depicted and described really well.  Finn, the smoldering, seemingly moody and abrupt character from the start, evolves into a really kind considerate protector, surprisingly most of the way through the story, Finn has managed to keep his distance and his talents and emotions stay in check as he fights to keep within the heirachy of their world.  I found the heirachy and monarchy to be very interesting, and a really essential part of how the characters came together and worked together.  The tension between characters is really well done.

There's a few really good twists, in both the plot, and the characters which I didn't see coming.  I found this to be an absorbing read, and it actually had me in tears in a few places.  I enjoyed the action and fighting scenes, and the emotional twists that Wendy was subjected to throughout the book.  I can't wait to read and review Torn which is on my to-be-read pile!  Torn has just gone live to buy today through Amazon and other sources.

Synopsis from Amazon:
When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right.With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it. 

For a limited time only, Switched is $0.99 on Amazon.com



Source: Author, with thanks.

Author Interview & Mega Giveaway - John Brinling

I'm pleased to announce two premiers for us - an author interview, and an international ebook giveaway...in fact John's been very generous and is giving away 10 copies of both The Ghost of a Flea and The Watcher to reviewing followers. Now closed.

Please welcome John Brinling, author of four mixed genre Indie published books and screenplays. 

John, how long have you been writing for?

I have been writing all of my life. I wrote my first novel when I was sixteen.  “Black Dawn.”  It dealt with segregation and the KKK. Whatever happened to it I don't know.

What have you been doing since Black Dawn?

Since then, earning a living has preempted long periods of my life when I wrote very little.  My wife and I are both in data processing (IT nowadays) and we usually work long hours when we are on a contract, which meant I spent little time writing fiction when gainfully employed.  The birth of my daughter offered me another excuse for not writing, but that's what it was: an excuse.  Writing is hard.   But it's in my DNA and I keep returning to it, despite some part of me that prefers the lazy life.  However, not writing is unthinkable, and I am constantly exploring ideas even when I'm not committing them to paper.

I lived and worked in Europe for seven years.  I met my wife In Italy where we both worked for the same company, and were married in 1975.  The contract we were working on ended that year and we took two years off to live in England, in a 300 year old farmhouse in Wiltshire.  It was in that farmhouse that I wrote “The Ghost Of  A Flea,” as well as another book titled “Quarantine,” which is a science fiction thriller.

When you're not writing, what do you like to read?

I like fast moving stories.  Action/adventure/mystery.  My favorite authors are Ian Fleming, Alistair MacLean, John Grisham, Dean Koontz, Robert Parker, JK Rowling, Robert Ludman, etc.

What are your favorite characters?

My favorite character is Atticus Finch, though James Bond and Harry Potter are close seconds

Could you tell us more about your inspiration for Ghost of the Flea?

The Ghost of the Flea has a strong autobiographical component.  I was a programmer/analyst.  The office ambience in the novel is similar to life in my New York office, although the intrigues were of an entirely different nature.  I had a good friend who lived in Sparta. I lived for a time near the George Washington Bridge.  The building manager was an Irishman, who became a good friend, and an integral character in the book.

How did you come to self-publish?

I had an agent back then who marketed both this and "Quarantine" , and came very close to selling them to both Doubleday and St. Martins.  Unfortunately he died before completing the sale and I put the books on a shelf and forgot about them for 35 years.  Only this year did I resurrect them and publish them on Amazon's Kindle and Smashwords.

Have you got any other books planned?

I have several other books in the works. One titled "Alone," which I thought I had lost but just rediscovered in hard copy, so I have to read it into digital for updating and editing. I also need to change the title since it has now been used by a best selling author. The book deals with a man who suffers a head injury and is slowly slipping into a vegetative state.  The effect of his suffering is reflected in the actions of his family and friends and how he  tries to affect what is happening to them, as he comes to grips with the growing realization that he will never get well. 

 

I have a mystery series also in the works called "The Valley Mysteries," which may end being my tour de force because of its sheer length.

I also have a bunch of screenplays that I'm trying to market.  I put one of them out on Amazon to see how it would be received.  Its titled: "Chromosome 47."

Who are your favorite characters from Ghost of Flea?

Roger, who becomes a man during the course of the book, and his paramour Peggy.  I also like the villain, who will go unnamed. 

Giveaway has now ended,

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Enter The Watcher Giveaway further down!! 

Who is your favorite character from The Watcher? 

Janet, the heroine who is confined to a wheelchair, and her detective friend who falls in love with her.

Book Excerpt for The Watch:

The horror was starting again....

Just like last Tuesday and the Tuesday before that.
An unnatural quiet outside the hundred year old Connecticut
farmhouse. A sullen, all too familiar, resonance of previous
encounters.
Janet Stapleton gripped the arms of her wheelchair tightly,
her belly detecting its coming before her other senses, a low-grade fear more akin to disquiet than outright terror.
A shimmer of tears came to her bright hazel-blue eyes.

She arrived without warning and hovered over the death scene like some avenging angel, yet never ventured in close enough for him to see her clearly, get a feel for who she was or what she was doing there.
She posed a serious threat and had to be disposed of. His work needed to be done in secret and no meddling voyeur could be allowed to interfere.
But how could he find her?
She only appeared when he killed. Only arrived during the last few seconds of the sacrificial act.
For a moment tonight she'd actually thought to follow him home. Then, abruptly, pulled back, afraid, knowing he was on to her and she would die.
He grinned. It was only a matter of time until he identified her, until she felt the cold steel of his switchblade, and joined the others in hell!
Of that he was sure.
There was no way he could fail.
Not with his father's guidance.

 

To Enter The Watcher Giveaway:

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Giveaway has now ended.

Kind thanks to John Brinling for taking part in the interview and giveaway :)  The Giveaways close on 30th November.

More on the Ghost of Flea....

The Ghost of a Flea is a mystery/suspense/action/ thriller that tests the endurance and love of a man and a woman, and threatens the security of a great city. It is a tale of greed, passion and death centered on a painting of haunting beauty and mystifying significance.  “The Ghost Of A Flea,” painted by William Blake 200 years ago.

 

Book Synopsis:

Time: 1975.

Location:  New York City.

The murder of Roger’s musician friend, Gideon Whiting, turns Roger’s world up-side-down.  His wife, Natalie, lies to him.  His best friend, Ted, lies to him.  His boss and U.S. Senate candidate, Charlie Holt, lies to him. And Lieutenant Tarrington, a homicide detective, is convinced Roger killed Gideon—but is Tarrington who he claims to be, or is he lying, too?

Peggy Curtis, the blond bombshell who dropped into Roger’s life one snowy night after he left Gideon’s apartment, might be the only person who can unravel the Gordian knot facing Roger, yet she has serious credibility problems, and is the last person he would want to rely on with his life and freedom on the line.

The drug cartel masterminding much of the chaos seeks an address book it thinks Roger took from Gideon.  As their ruthless pursuit intensifies, the police learn of the book and join the chase.  The problem is, Roger doesn’t have what they want and he must get it before they decide he is expendable.

In a climax not unlike the best of today’s action thrillers—Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, others—Roger and Peggy face-off against the surprise mastermind of the drug cartel in a fight to the death!

Killerbyte by Cat Connor

Title: Killerbyte
Author: Cat Connor
Publisher: Rebel e Publishers
Published: April 2010 ebook/mobipocket/book
ISBN: 0981425690
Author's Website: http://catconnor.wordpress.com/

Rating 5/5 with merits

The jacket on this gives you a good idea of what to expect...however what it can't do is tell you how addictively good it is!!  I thoroughly enjoyed this humorously captivating story, from start to finish. Ellie Conway, the bold as brass, butt kicking main character starts the story in her own unique way.  I have no doubts as to why she's a Sagittarius (yep, I'm one too!).  Her smart-arse comments and choice words are splattered throughout the book, making her character very refreshing and lively, and Mac is just as good and knows how to have fun.

Killerbyte is chillingly suspenseful with a very convincing storyline...at points I didn't know whether to hide behind the sofa or close my eyes...but I couldn't stop reading.  The characters' lives are turned upside down as the killing spree escalates...this book is packed with action, and full on with unexpected and shocking twists to the plot.  I also enjoyed mention of some retro shows, such as A Team and Starsky and Hutch. I thought the end a very good one, leaving the reader on a high note.

If, like me, you enjoy suspense, FBI thrillers and shows such as CSI or Dexter, then you really can't miss this book (or ebook).  Killerbyte is the beginning the Ellie Conway series.  There is also Terrorbyte and Exacerbyte, due out March 2011.  Can't wait!!!!




Source: Author.

Book Synopsis from Amazon:
"Ellie Conway is an FBI agent who works serial crime cases. As a hobby, she runs an internet poetry chat room. When someone tries to kill her, it soon becomes obvious it's linked to her after-hours pursuits on cyberspace. Matters become complicated when her assailant turns up dead in the trunk of her car. As the chat room's patrons starts dropping like flies, she realizes there is something far deeper going on than first thought. Despite an abundance of crime scenes, no evidence can be found to identify a motive or perpetrator. The death toll rises and eventually includes her best friend and her own mother, before a chance remark from twelve years prior surfaces to provide the first real clue, which unravels the killer's twisted goals."