Review schedule – May to September 2018

Hola peeps, it’s the end of April and this time for me to write the reviewing schedule for May. Except I’m starting my dissertation in a few days, so reviewing is taking a back seat. That doesn’t mean there won’t be reviews. Even I need a break from writing occasionally.

Which reminds me, Charley’s War is on to chapter 30 and is only half done. I’ll get there eventually.

So, what have I got booked in for the next few months?

Edit: It’s npw mid-July and some significant progress has been made with the dissertation so I’ve added some reviews to the schedule.

May

• 6th
  • The Planetsider, by GJ Ogden
  • Alex is reviewing this one. since it’s a YA novel.

June

• 1st
  • When The Water’s Recede, by Graham Smith
  • Crime novel
• 20th
  • Tubing, by K.A. McKeagney
  • Crime thriller

July

• 13th
  • The London Mysteries, books 1 & 2, by Alice Castle
  • Cosy crime set in modern London
• 19th
  • Wrecker, by Noel O’Reilly
  • Historical fiction set in Cornwall
• 27th
  • Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, by Gina Kirkham
  • Humour

August

• 3rd
  • Duck Egg Blues, by Martin Ungless
  • Crime/sci-fi
•  8th
  • The Cheesemaker’s House, by Jane Cable
  • This is to celebrate the novel’s fifth birthday
  • Mystery/women’s fiction (maybe, I’m not too sure)
• 18th
  • Implant, by Ray Clark
  • Crime
• 23rd
  • Love you Stationary
  • A children’s picture book
• 24th
  • Tommy Twigtree
  • Also a picture book

• There will also be a couple of promo posts this month:
• 12th
  • Q&A about ‘The Bespokest Society Guide To London’
• 14th
  • Promo post for ‘The Camberwell Calamity’, by Alice Castle
  • The London Mysteries #3 – Beth’s adventures continue… 

September – Nothing booked in so far.

It’s a bit spartan, I know and mostly crime, but I need to focus on my writing for a few months. As I said, there will be other, unscheduled reviews, because I have a pile of books waiting to be read.

 

 

 

Review: ‘Under The Woods’, by KA Richardson

Published by: Bloodhound Books

Publication Date: 27th April 2018

I.S.B.N.: 9781912604241

Format: Paperback

Price:

Blurb

When a homeless woman, Cheryl Whiffen, hears voices in her head telling her to do bad things, she can’t help but obey.

But when Cheryl becomes the victim of a serial killer who is collecting angels, this time the voices can’t help her. She is deemed not worthy of being an angel and the killer has to find another way to dispose of her body.

TJ Tulley has connections in the police force – her brother Jacob is a digital forensic analyst and her soon to be sister-in-law is a CSI. She knows many of their colleagues so when someone breaks into her house at the riding stables she owns, it’s not a surprise when the police dispatch CSI Jackson Doherty.

Is there a link between a suspicious fire at the stables and the serial killer?

As TJ and Doherty get closer to the truth they don’t realise the danger they are in. He is a killer – he’s angry at their investigation and he’ll do just about anything to protect his angels…

Review: ‘Witchcraft…Into The Wilds’, by Rachel Patterson

Published By: Moon Books

Publication Date: 23rd February 2018

I.S.B.N.: 978-1-78535-459-5

Format: Paperback

Price: £11.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blurb

Witchcraft… into the wilds leads us through the wilds of nature and back to the roots and bones of witchcraft, a natural witchcraft that works with the seasons and all the natural items that Mother Nature provides, drawing on magical folk lore and a little bit of gypsy magic too. No fancy tools or ceremonial rituals, this is about working with the source. Mother Earth provides us with the changing of the seasons and within that turning of the year she gives us everything we need to work magic with, from natural energy in the form of storms, rain and sunshine to tangible items packed full of magical energy such as seeds, leaves and stones.

Review: ‘Everybody Works in Sales’, by Niraj Kapur

 Published By: Independently published

Format: Kindle and paperback

Price: £7.00

I.S.B.N.: 9781527219410

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blurb

We all work in sales. If you work for somebody, you earn a living by selling their product or service.

If you are self-employed, you earn a living by selling your product or service.

When you buy from Amazon, they always recommended other products similar to the ones you are purchasing or have already purchased – that’s selling.

When you download a song, movie or TV show from iTunes, they always recommend more similar products. That’s selling.

When you register for most websites, they sell their products or services to you through a regular email.

When you attend an exhibition at the NEC, London ExCel, Olympia, Manchester or even a local market, everyone is trying to sell you their product.

We all work in sales, yet few people know how to sell. Until now.

Containing 27 valuable lessons, plus 17 interviews with experts, Everybody Works in Sales combines unique storytelling and personal development to ensure you have the tools you need to do better in your career.

Purchase from Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ET89nn

About Niraj Kapur

​Award-winning executive, Niraj Kapur, has worked in corporate London for 23 years.

From small businesses to a national newspaper to FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, he’s experienced it all and shares his insight, knowledge, big wins and horrible failures.

Containing 27 valuable lessons, plus 17 interviews with experts, Everybody Works in Sales combines unique storytelling and personal development to ensure you have the tools you need to do better in your career.

Niraj has also had several screenplays optioned, sitcoms commissioned, kids’ shows on Channel 5’s Milkshake and CBBC. His movie, Naachle London, was released in select cinemas across the UK.

He’s working on his next book while advising companies and coaching individuals on how to improve their sales.

@Nirajwriter

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nkapur

Cover Reveal! ‘Deep Blue’, by Jane O’Reilly

I don’t do many cover reveals but when Jenny at Neverland told me about this book I was excited by the synopsis. Blurb first and then you can see the cover.

Blurb:

Date: 27th September 2188.
Vessel: The Alcatraz 2. Prison Ship
Location: UNKNOWN

Jinnifer Blue opens her eyes to find herself in a ship that is the source of her darkest nightmares. Her plan to expose the horrific truth behind the government’s secret Second Species programme has failed, and now she’s being turned into a weapon by her worst enemy . . . her mother.

At the other end of the galaxy Caspian Dax, ferocious space pirate and Jinn’s sometime lover, is facing an even more terrifying fate. He’s being forced to fight in the arena on Sittan, a pitiless, ruthless alien landscape where blood is the only prize that matters. They will use him, destroy him, change him.

Jinn has only one chance – to go to Sittan and find Dax before his mind is completely destroyed. She must rely on her friends and one old enemy, leave her beloved ship the Mutant behind, and travel to a hostile planet. But hardest of all, she must keep faith that when she finds Dax, there will be something left of the man she knew.

One thing’s for sure: the fight has only just begun.

‘I was addicted from the first page! An intriguing story line with interesting characters and a different view of the future and of space travel.’ Amazon reviewer

‘This is one fabulous sci-fi story with a brilliantly well realised futuristic world’ Reading Revelations

 

Review: ‘Mark Of The Devil’, By Tana Collins

Published By: Bloodhound

Publication Date: 24th April 2018

I.S.B.N.: 9781912604180

Blurb

While Inspector Jim Carruthers and team are busy investigating a series of art thefts they receive an anonymous tip about the body of a young woman on a deserted beach.

The bizarre clues to her identity, and what might have happened to her, include a strange tattoo, a set of binoculars and slab of meat left on the cliffs.

The team’s investigations lead them to a local shooting estate and its wealthy owner Barry Cuthbert. However, Carruthers suspects Cuthbert is not all he seems and the DI soon starts to wonder if the cases of the missing works of art, the dead woman and the estate are connected.

Then when the body of a young gamekeeper is pulled from the sea tensions boil over. The trail of clues lead the team to the unlikely locale of Tallinn and into the sinister world of international crime and police corruption.

Needing answers Carruthers must look further afield than Fife. However, the closer he gets to discovering the truth the more danger he finds himself in.

Since everyone who crosses the vengeful killers seem to end up dead, can Carruthers solve the case with his life in tact?

Book shopping and weekly uni update.

It’s student loan day, and therefore it is also book shopping day for me. This term I took a visit to my favourite independent book shop, Lindum Books, of Bailgate, Lincoln.

I made the decision to just get two books. I could have bought all the ones I wanted, but I definitely have to be more restrained and financially responsible at the moment. I’ve got an historical crime novel and a Sci Fi novel to get my teeth into.

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky is Lindum Books’ May ‘book of the month’ and I’m hoping to get to their evening book club, but it depends on finances, commitments and brain weasels. They also do a lot of author talks, which I can’t get to because of the train times. They all start at 7 pm and the last train is 20:02. Author of Beloved Poison, E. S. Thompson will be there in May, as will Joanne Harris, The gospel of Loki author, with her follow up novel. It’s so frustrating.

I had a ‘walking workshop’ this morning and my hip is terribly painful, so I’ve blown off the 4 – 6 pm seminar to get an early train home where I can rest. During the workshop we walked through the city centre and up to The Collection, a museum. I’ve been several times. It wasn’t the most challenging of days, except physically.

The most important thing I got out of it was a chance to sit and discuss the future with one of my course colleagues, who is interested in a PhD, as am I. First I need to get a distinction in my Masters degree, but still, it’s interesting to talk to someone else who has similar ambitions.

Next week is our symposium, I will be presenting my dissertation proposal. I have made some notes for it, so I’m as prepared as I get.

St.George’s Day? I prefer Shakespeare’s Birthday.

And it comes round once again, the day every English bigot loves, an excuse to wave flags and be openly racist. Although, to be fair to them, they’re usually openly racist anyway. I’m certain there are some people who ardently celebrate St. George’s Day who aren’t bigots, but they’re drowned out by the noisy, ignorant ones. 

Cover Reveal

Today I’m taking part in a cover reveal blog tour for:

Decide to Hope

By June Converse

Bonus Review #2: ‘Conan Doyle For The Defence’, by Margalit Fox

Published by: Profile Books

Publication Date: 28th June 2018

Format: Hardback

I.S.B.N.: 9781781253564

Price: £16.99

Received via Netgalley in return for an honest review

 

 

 

Blurb

Arthur and George meets The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: how the creator of Sherlock Holmes overturned one of the great miscarriages of justice.

Just before Christmas 1908, Marion Gilchrist, a wealthy 82-year-old spinster, was found bludgeoned to death in her Glasgow home. A valuable diamond brooch was missing, and police soon fastened on a suspect – Oscar Slater, a Jewish immigrant who was rumoured to have a disreputable character. Slater had an alibi, but was nonetheless convicted and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment in the notorious Peterhead Prison.

Seventeen years later, a convict called William Gordon was released from Peterhead. Concealed in a false tooth was a message, addressed to the only man Slater thought could help him – Arthur Conan Doyle. Always a champion of the downtrodden, Conan Doyle turned his formidable talents to freeing Slater, deploying a forensic mind worthy of Sherlock Holmes.

Drawing from original sources including Oscar Slater’s prison letters, this is Margalit Fox’s vivid and compelling account of one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in Scottish history.