Friday, 27 February 2015

M9B Friday Reveal: Chapter Two Reveal: Hunted (Sinners #2) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki


M9B-Friday-Reveal

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!
This week, we are revealing Chapter 2 of
Hunted (Sinners #2) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki
presented by Month9Books!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Hunted

What They Say


HUNTED is the electrifying sequel to the bestselling debut BRANDED, A Sinners Series, by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki.

It’s been three months since the revolt against the Commander’s fifty-year-old regime failed.

Under a new ruler, things were supposed to change. Get better.

But can anyone really be trusted?

Lexi and Cole soon find out, as life takes an unexpected turn for the worse.

In this ever-changing world, you must hunt or be hunted.

Lives will be lost.

Dreams will be crushed.

Fears will be realized.

Secrets will be exposed.

When Cole is once again faced with losing Lexi at the hands of a monster, one encounter will change everything.

Forever.

Connect with BRANDED fans on Instagram at:
#abiandmissy
#Sinnersfandom
#Sinnersseries
#Colexi
#Sinnersseriesbranded
#Brandedofficialfanpage
#Brandedfandom
#Lexihamilton
add to goodreads

Title: Hunted (Sinners #2)
Publication date: March 31, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

Available for Pre-order:
amazonB&N

excerpt

You can read Chapter Two HERE!
Happy Reading and Enjoy!

About-the-Author

Abi and Missy 2



Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.


Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumbler


Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
The book will be sent upon the titles release.


Button

Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Fudge Berries and Frogs Knickers by Lynda Renham




What They Say:

Poppy Wellesley is rich. In fact Poppy Wellesley is very rich, so when her fortunes change from riches to rags Poppy has to start a whole new life. Put yourself in her Guccis as she swaps her penthouse apartment for a run-down houseboat on Regent’s Canal. Meet her dippy friend Chelsea, the infamous Jack Diamond (see The Dog’s Bollocks) and her hunky boat neighbour, Taylor.

Will Poppy hold on to her millionaire fiancé or will Pug-face Pandora steal him from her? Can she avoid the advances from Balls (Lord Balthazar Wyndham-Price) or does she find true love on the canal?

 Fudge Berries and Frogs’ Knickers is a romantic comedy roller coaster ride that will put a smile on your face and a cheer in your heart.

What I Say:

I would like to thank the author and Tay for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When we first meet Poppy she has it all, she is the trust fund daughter of an MP, she also has a millionaire fiancé.  Within in the blink of an eye it is all taken away when her father is arrested for fraud.  Her fiancé unceremoniously dumps her and she is forced to sell all her belongings to make ends meet.

She is forced to move on the houseboat (Lynda had me giggling away at Poppy’s thinking she was moving to a massive yacht. Here she meets the hunky neighbour Taylor.  There are lots of laugh out loud moments in this book.

Poppy is one of those characters you either love or hate, personally I found her amusing, she is a little self-absorbed but it easy to see why when she is brought up in such a privileged way.  Taylor however doesn’t let this come between them.  There are a whole host of other characters, Chelsea Poppy's friend, her mother is so funny and Jack Diamond from another of Lynda's books.

The whole story is fabulously funny and just what is needed to liven up a cold night.  It’s the first of Lynda’s books I have read but will be looking out for more from her.

4 out of 5 stars

About the Author




Lynda Renham is famous for her romantic comedy novels. She has been called A Comedian in a Book, Chicklit Royalty and A Comic Genius. Her writing style has been likened to Sophie Kinsella but is refreshingly down to earth with characters that become your friends. Lynda is a prolific writer, blogger and when not writing can usually be found wasting her time on Facebook.

Lynda lives in Oxfordshire with her second husband and cat. Her web page: www.renham.co.uk and Twitter: @lyndarenham


Tuesday, 24 February 2015

Guest Review of Cover Story by Rach

Today I have the pleasure of bringing you a guest review from Sarah Pritchard




What They Say

Tobi Fletcher's career is going places. Just ask her. Any day now, she's going to write the story for her Sante Fe newspaper that will Make A Difference. Of course, Pulitzer prizes and the like will soon follow.

Unfortunately, her editor doesn't have the same vision. His vision has her investigating a series of gnomicides. Yes, gnomicides—the wanton murder of garden gnomes.

It's a nightmare for Tobi. She's spent her life working towards a career she can be proud of—and proving she's nothing like her mother. She's intelligent, independent and so uptight she can't even let go to sneeze properly—and, unlike her colleagues, she certainly can't appreciate the funny side of the situation. She wants to work on the big story—a cover-up in a senator's office.

Reluctantly, she interviews Simon, the man who reported the 'incident' to the newspaper—clearly a lunatic—his four-year old daughter, and the other residents of the street. Each has their own theory about the murderer, ranging from the slightly possible to the ludicrous and Tobi, unfortunately affected by her pollen allergy and having to repress sneezes regularly, writes the story.

Her editor loves it and demands more; interstate papers pick it up and reader feedback is overwhelming. Apparently, she's not going anywhere just yet—and, dammit, that means facing her pesky attraction to Simon. Along the way, Tobi discovers there are many truths and secrets to be uncovered—other people's as well as her own. The question is, will the truth really set her free?

What Sarah Says:

It was a sweet story that was easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable.  I connected with the characters quickly and found myself drawn into the story.  I loved Tobi the lead character journalist, I felt her frustrations and felt like she was a really person I was friends with.  I also loved Anna the daughter of the person who had raised the terrible gnomicide story that Tobi had been assigned to.  She was sweet and I found myself caring for her and wanting Tobi to warm to her as initially she did say she wasn’t really a ‘child’ person.  I got to know the residents of Los Alamos Court where the story mainly centred and found I was trying to help them solve the mystery based on information I was learning about each resident.  I really felt part of the story and could truly sense the community spirit it emulated.  It made me feel a bit sad and nostalgic that a lot of communities and streets nowadays seem to have lost this sense of spirit.

I really liked that it kept you guessing about who was guilty and not such a predictable tale as some stories turn out to be.  It had a couple of twists towards the end.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable story yet lighthearted which really helped me to overcome the book hangover I was suffering from.  I can not wait to read more by this author.

4 out of 5 stars
About The Author


live with my own personal hero and four dogs on the east coast of Australia. Our house is on my dream property – 10 acres of native trees on the side of a hill, within driving distance to the beach.

I've always loved dogs. I'm extremely fond of all animals, but dogs have a special place in my heart. My current pack is: Dougal the Border Collie (the most perfect dog that ever there was), Oliver, a black Lab x doberman (the Heathcliffe of dogs - all brooding, clingy and likely to snap) and Fergus the Jack Russell (the canine Bart Simpson).







Saturday, 21 February 2015

Announcing His Dark Materials - Readalong


A couple of weeks ago Stephen from Dark Reader tweeted asking for bloggers to help with a read along.  I replied to Stephens tweet to help with the Readalong.  

I'm so happy to announce His Dark Materials Readalong. 
In March, I will be joining bloggers a host of fellow bloggers helping promote anniversary His Dark Materials.   All of us will be leading twitter-based discussions about both the original trilogy; Northern Lights(or The Golden Compass in the US), The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, as well as spin-off novellas Once Upon a Time in the NorthLyra’s Oxford and audiobook The Collectors.

I never read this series, but it has sat on my TBR pile for so long that I couldn't resist an excuse to read.  So if you have already read these or are new to the books why don't you join us, now is the perfect time!

If you’re joining us, make sure to get your copies by March 2nd, which is when it all kicks off, and please use the #HDMreadalong on Twitter! 


Full Schedule

Monday 2nd March – Northern Lights – @ChelleyToy  and @CometBabesBooks



Monday 9th March – The Subtle Knife – @Loopy_Lu_


Monday 16th March – The Amber Spyglass – @FictionThirst





Monday 23rd March – Lyra’s Oxford – @DarkRReviews and @PewterWolf13

Saurday 28th Match – The Collectors (Audiobook listen a long)

Monday 30th March – Once Upon a Time in the North – @DarkRReviews and @PewterWolf13


So why don't you join us, you know you want to?

Blog Barrage - Bitten By a Hellcat by Felicity Heaton

Felicity Heaton's Bitten by a Hellcat Blog Barrage

Bitten by a Hellcat, the sixth book in New York Times best-seller Felicity Heaton’s hot paranormal romance series, Eternal Mates, is now available in ebook and paperback. To celebrate the release, she’s holding a FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY at her website and sharing sneak peeks of the book. This book works as a standalone, so it’s perfect for those new to the series too.

Find out how to enter the Bitten by a Hellcat international giveaway (ends March 1st) and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website, where you can also download a 5 chapter sample of the novel: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/bitten-by-a-hellcat-paranormal-romance-novel.php

Here’s more about Bitten by a Hellcat, including an excerpt from this paranormal romance book.

What They Say:

The sole remaining member of the most famous shifter hunter family in history, Owen Nightingale is a mercenary and a man with a secret held in his closely guarded heart, but when a beautiful rare shifter catches his eye and offers him a job, he has the feeling he’ll be the one paying for helping her—with his heart.

Cait is in a spot of trouble with a capital T. A male hellcat has set his sights on claiming her and she’s one kitty who doesn’t want a collar. When she meets a dark, alluring and mysterious hunter, she sees a chance to rid herself of the male, but the price Owen sets and the fierce passion that burns white-hot between them lures her dangerously under his seductive spell.

Can Owen discover the true intent of the male hellcat and stop Cait from falling into his hands? And can Cait retain control as the heat of desire burns between her and Owen, or will a reckless moment seal both of their fates forever?

Bitten by a Hellcat is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Also available in paperback. Find the links to your preferred retailer at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/bitten-by-a-hellcat-paranormal-romance-novel.php

Excerpt

An ominous whining sound ran through the building, followed by banging and rattling.
Cait forced herself to stay where she was and ignore it. It was nothing. Probably just the house.
What if it was something?
What if it was him?
Her heart exploded into action and she rushed to the large oak table filled with weapons and armed herself with a crossbow. Her hands shook as she loaded it, drawing the string back into position and settling the dart into its cradle. She raised it and looked around the room, pointing the weapon wherever her gaze fell, breathing hard and fighting her ridiculous fear.
The banging came again, louder this time.
Cait raced from the room, tracking Owen’s scent through the building, following it down the green corridor and up another staircase. A softer noise came from ahead of her together with movement on her senses and she bolted in that direction, throwing a panicked glance over her shoulder at the same time, convinced someone was closing in on her in the dark hallway.
A strip of light shone from beneath a wooden door at the end of the corridor.
She shouldered that door open. “I heard something.”
She swung her gaze towards Owen and stopped dead.
The sudden jerk to a halt made her finger depress the trigger on the crossbow and the bolt zipped across the room, shot just above Owen’s left shoulder and thudded into the cream wall behind him where he stood right in front of her.
Naked.
Both of his hands moved in unison, racing to cover himself.
Water dripped from the tangled threads of his dark brown hair, rolled down his sculpted cheekbones and the strong line of his square jaw, and dropped from there to cascade in enticing rivulets down the defined muscles of his chest. Those glistening trails lured her eyes downwards, over the ridges of his abdomen and past the sensual dip of his navel to the dusting of dark hair that captured her gaze and had her face heating as desire flared hotter in her veins.
Cait stared at his hands for long seconds, entranced and dumbstruck, unable to gather her wits or acknowledge the voice in her head that was screaming at her to look away and give him some privacy because she was probably making him uncomfortable.
His fingers flexed where he cupped himself, weakening the spell the sight of him had cast on her, enough that she managed to drag her eyes up to his.
A touch of colour darkened his cheeks.
“I heard something,” Cait muttered, falling deeper under his spell again as her eyes betrayed her and dropped back to his body.
Rope after delicious rope of honed powerful muscles delighted her eyes as she focused on his body rather than the tracks of water and she couldn’t stop herself from gawping at him, drinking in the incredible sight of him naked, even when she tried with all of her will to look away again.
Owen cleared his throat but his voice still came out a little squeaky. “It’s the water pipes. I should have warned you. I took a shower.”
Cait nodded dumbly. She could see that, and she couldn’t help imagining it too. She swallowed hard, heating to a thousand degrees as she stared at him, picturing him standing under a spray of water, rivulets of it coursing down over his muscles in a constant stream.
She shook herself and finally managed to gain enough control to turn away, giving him the privacy he deserved.
“Sorry.” She scratched the back of her neck with one hand and lowered the crossbow she held in the other.
The weight of it brought back her awareness of the weapon.
Gods, she had almost shot him too.
She wasn’t sure what she would have done if she had actually hit him. She cringed. It certainly would have made a terrible impression on him. It was bad enough that she had come sprinting into his room like a scared child, frightened by the sounds of water pipes groaning. She shook her head, despairing as she realised that he probably had a dire opinion of her already and it was completely wrong.
Normally, she was confident and able, a skilled fighter and an independent woman who could stand on her own two feet and didn’t need a male to take care of her. She had survived four centuries of life, most of that in Hell, and had been the victor in too many battles to count and outwitted her opponents in the rest.
Today was not a normal day though.
The ambush had thrown her off kilter and then Owen had knocked her even more off balance.
She set the crossbow down on the dark blue covers of the double bed in front of her and stared at it, slowly gathering her strength and pulling herself back together.
Owen moved around the room behind her.
Cait closed her eyes, because she knew that if she didn’t, she would end up trying to catch another glimpse of him as he dried off and dressed.
Not that he gave her a chance to steal a peek.
“Done,” he said and she opened her eyes and turned to face him, surprised at how quickly he had dressed.
Or hadn’t dressed.
He stood before her wearing only a pair of black jeans that rode low on his hips, rubbing a small pale towel across his short hair.
Cait noticed something other than how honed and godly his body was as she looked at him this time.
She noticed all the dark bruises and the cuts that littered his arms, shoulders, sides and even parts of his stomach. He turned away from her, revealing a particularly nasty bruise on his left side, just above his bottom. She drifted towards him, staring at it and reaching out to touch it.
Owen spun to face her.
Cait jumped and snatched her hand back, her eyes leaping up to meet his pale green ones.
“Where did you get all the bruises?” she said, trying to make it clear she’d had a reason for wanting to touch him, one other than the desire pulsing through her again, steadily building back up towards a crescendo.
“The demon a few fae hired me to kill didn’t take kindly to my opinion that he should die for terrorising them. We had a little bit of an argument about it a couple of days ago.” Owen looked himself over and prodded a small mottled bruise on the ridge of muscle that curved over his right hip. “They’ll be gone in a few days. I just have to keep applying my salve to them.”
She was about to ask what he meant by that when he leaned across to his right, picked up a small black glass pot from the wooden dressing table beside him and opened it.
Cait flinched away as the smell hit her.
Aniseed.
She pulled a face at it. She never had liked that smell.
“It doesn’t stink as bad once it’s on,” Owen said, his deep voice curling around her, making her forget the offensive smell of his salve for a moment.
She looked up at him to find him staring at the pot, a flicker of something in his green eyes. When they leaped back to her, darkening a degree, revealing his desire again, she realised why he was concerned about the smell, and her reaction to it.
The heat inside her exploded into an inferno again, burning up her blood as she stared into his eyes, filled with a need to take him up on his silent offer.
She wanted her taste of him now.
Gods, she hoped he was right and the salve did smell less disgusting when it was on him.
She wanted to tell him to forget it, at least for a while. She could apply it later, massaging it into his bruises and wounds while he lay on the bed, spent from their lovemaking.
He looked as if he was considering such a thing himself but then sighed wearily and stuck his right index finger into the gunk.
He smoothed a little of it over each of his cuts and his bruises, and she couldn’t help but smile when she noticed he was doing his best not to grimace as he rubbed it in. Trying to look strong and manly in her presence? It reassured her a little. After all, she had been worried about appearing like a weak kitten in need of coddling too.
Owen twisted at the waist and grimaced, sucking in a sharp breath through his teeth.
“I can do your back.” The words were out of her lips before she could consider what she was offering.
It wasn’t the smell of the salve that had her regretting her offer as he nodded, because it smelled oddly sweet now that it was on him, as if the properties of it had changed somehow.
It was the fact that she was about to touch him, running her fingers over his bare flesh while standing in the middle of his bedroom.

Bitten by a Hellcat is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Also available in paperback.

Find all the links, a fantastic 4 chapter downloadable sample of the book, and also how to enter the giveaway and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/bitten-by-a-hellcat-paranormal-romance-novel.php

Books in the Eternal Mates paranormal romance series:

Author Bio

Felicity Heaton
Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.
If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.
If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

FelicityHeaton.co.uk | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | GoodReads | Amazon

Follow The Tour!

Feb 14:
From the Shadows
Feb 17: 
Booklovers For Life
Kimmie Sue's book Review
Cherry Mischievous
Eclipse Reviews
Wicca Witch 4 Book Blog
Nellie C. Lind
Night Owl Reviews
Liezel's Book Blog
Feb 18: 
Monlatable Book Reviews
Book Lovin' Mamas
Calling All Bookaholics
Portals to New Worlds
I Smell Sheep
Sassy Book Lovers
shelly's books
Feb 19: 
Book Loving Pixies
The Reading Cafe
My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews
She Hearts Books
Warrior Woman Winmill
Bookin' It Reviews
Proserpine Craving Books
Amethyst Daydreams
Feb 20: 
Souls Readers
Book Lovers Life
Urban Fantasy Investigations
KT Book Reviews
Booked & Loaded
Bookworm Brandee
Yolanda Speaks
Feb 21: 
SnoopyDoo's Book Reviews
Crazy Four Books
The Demon Reader's Book Blog
Riverina Romantics
Eskimo Princess Book Reviews
Swept Away Again
Sapphyria's Steamy Books
Feb 22: 
Archaeolibrarian
Snarky Mom Reads
Aly's Miscellany
My Favorite Things
A Book Addict's Bookshelves
Three Boys and the Adventurous Mom
lushbookreviews
Feb 23: 
The Jeep Diva
Raunchy, Rude Reader's Blog
Imagine a World
Lisa Loves Books
Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
Bex n Books
Lisa's Loves (Books Of Course)
Reading Between the Wines Book Club
Feb 24: 
Yeyas ramblings
Bitches n Prose
Geeks In High School
mlsimmons.booklikes
Marie's Cozy Corner
BookSkater
Vampy and racey
Feb 25: 
Angel's Guilty Pleasures
EBookObsessed
Bitten by Romance
Meet My Character
KissinBlueKaren
Novel Addiction
Readings Sunshine
Feb 26: 
Inner Goddess
Page Flipperz
Just Talking Books
RhiReading
Free Book Promotions
Diaries of 2 Thick Chicks
Feb 27: 
Share My Destiny
A Fortress of Books
Totally Addicted to Reading
Rosanna Leo's Room
A Bookworm 4 Life
Feb 28: 
Books That Hook
Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
Book Reviews by Lynn
pnr book lover reviews
Daria's Views on Books
Book Nook Nuts
Kristina's Books & More
Mar 01: 
AReCafe
Sportochick's Musings
LSK Sweetheart Reviews
Indy Book Fairy
Vampire Romance Books
Nice Girls Don't Read Naughty Books
Words, Words, Words

My So Called (Love) Life by AL Michael


What They Say:

Meet Tigerlily James: romance cynic, North Londoner and die-hard margarita fan.

Tigerlily James has been a member of the Young and Bitter Club ever since she was dumped on Valentine’s day. By her fiancé.

Surviving on a diet of cynicism and margarita-fuelled ‘Misery Dinners’ with her best friends, she’s become a romance free zone…and that’s the way she likes it. Until an invitation for The Ex’s wedding arrives. Suddenly in need of a plus one, Tig has little choice but to bin the takeaways, ditch the greying underwear collection…and start pretending to view the opposite sex as something other than target practise.

Then, she meets Ollie – ie. the perfect solution. No sex. No strings. Fake boyfriend. The only catch is that she has to pretend to be his girlfriend for three whole months.

Dating without the heartbreak: the best idea Tig’s ever had, right? Wrong!

What I Say:

I would like to thank author AL Michael for sending me the link to this book on NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When we first meet Tig she is still down about splitting with her ex-boyfriend just a week before their wedding.  Tig and her friends set up the Young and Bitter club where they would meet and slate all relationships.

Tig then meets the gorgeous Ollie,  he has a proposition for her, pretend to be his girlfriend for three months and he would help her get back into the dating scene, simple Tig thought, plus Ollie agreed to be her plus one when she receives an invite to her ex’s wedding.  Ollie would be leaving after three months so this would be perfect for both of them.

I really liked both Tig and from AL Michaels way of writing I really felt that I knew Tig within a few pages.  Ollie however was different he is an enigma who’s story unfolds gradually as Tig and he get to know each other.  Also with other books that I have read he is hot stuff.

This is a wonderful idea for a book, in parts is was laugh out loud and in others I found myself shaking my head, although the book is set around twenty something year olds this could so easily be set with older characters as I’m sure we have all felt the same as Tig and her friends at some point, especially when it comes to the ups and downs of relationships.

The only downside to this I found the timeline to be a little bit out, maybe me.  This didn’t detect from the story and it’s probably me being pedantic.

5 out of 5 stars

Praise for A.L. Michael
‘I know it’s a good book when I shut the kindle cover and sigh with contentment. The Last Word totally did it for me.’ – 4* from Angela (Goodreads)

This is a funny, funny book.’ 5* to The Last Word from Rosee (Amazon)

‘Fresh, fast and…had that magical romance feeling and a bit of hotness that you just can’t help but love<./b>. Absolutely brilliant!’ 5* to The Last Word from The Book Geek Wears Pajamas

‘I LOVED THIS. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love. All of the emotions were felt in the reading of this book and it is definitely one of the best Christmas releases that I’ve read this year.’ 5* to Driving Home for Christmas from Erin’s Choice

‘I laughed, I cried and I was left with that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you read something wonderful.’ 5* to Driving Home for Christmas from That Thing She Reads

About The Author



A.L. Michael is a twenty something writer from London. She works as a creative facilitator, running workshops in creative writing, writing for wellbeing, and children's lessons. She has a BA in English Literature with Creative Writing, an MA in Creative Entrepreneurship, and is working towards an MsC in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes. She is not at all reliant on her student discount card.

When she's not writing or talking about writing, she bakes, runs, plays with her puppy, and gets continually distracted by shiny things on etsy.





Friday, 20 February 2015

Silent Scream: (Detective Kim Stone crime thriller series Book 1) byAngela Marsons


What They Say

Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood … 

Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country. 

But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades. 

As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late? 

Fans of Rachel Abbott, Val McDermid and Mark Billingham will be gripped by this exceptional new voice in British crime fiction. 

What I Say

I would like to thank Kim Nash and Bookouture for approving me to read this book on NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

First I would like to say that this is only the second thriller/crime book I have reviewed and if all the rest are anything compared to this then it won’t be my last one.

Where to do I start with the brilliant book without repeating what so many other bloggers have already said, I really don’t think I can.  As far as I’m aware this is Bookouture’s first crime novel (all the other books they bring have been bloody wonderful) and if this is the standard they will be bringing to us for crime novels  then I can’t wait to read more.

Angela brings us together with DI Kim Stone, Kim is a ballsy detective with a reputation for getting crimes solved even if it means upsetting her bosses in the process.  Kim is a complex character with a hard of nails exterior, but somewhere inside there is a vulnerable edge to her.  Her side kick is Bryant who knows her well enough to tell her things she would allow know else to say but doesn’t know the full Kim.

The story is fast paced with a series of murders that at first seem unconnected. DI Stone is convinced there is a connection and is determined to find out what it is.  Angela also deals with a sensitive subject that is currently the main topic of every news bulletin, this is handled very well, going into detail but not too much for anyone who would be squeamish.

I loved the dynamic of Kims team and although she expected a lot for them she did also look after them in her own way.  As I was reading the book, there were plenty of clues along the way, some I guessed at and others, especially towards the end.  I though yeah I knew that was what was going to happen and then bam, Angela turned it on its head with two major plot twists.

As a fan of detective TV series (Rizzoli and Isles is one of my favourites) I really enjoyed reading this book and I am looking forward to book 2, once this is announced I will be heading over to NetGalley.  I can not recommend this book enough and if you don’t like crime thrillers, I would suggest you give this a try and will find like me that you really enjoyed it.
5 out of 5 Stars


Watch out for more from D.I. Kim Stone



A Detective hiding dark secrets, Kim Stone will stop at nothing to protect the innocent. Silent Scream is the first book in the series – watch out for EVIL GAMES coming soon. 

What people are saying about Silent Scream


‘A superb debut by an assured new writer. Blending sharp wit with emotion, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride alongside DI Kim Stone and look forward to the next outing.’ Mel Sherratt 

'I absolutely loved it! ... This one is one of the best crime thrillers I've read in a long time, and that includes mainstream authors such as James Patterson! I would seriously put this book in the same league.' Fiona’s Book Reviews 

‘I have not been so impressed by a debut novel in a long time, and I'm actually now itching for more from D.I. Kim Stone and the rest of her squad. …D.I. Kim Stone is like the British Jane Rizzoli. She's so ballsy and doesn't understand the meaning of the word no. I LOVE heroines who just do what they want and sod the consequences and Kim did that, right from the beginning as people keep turning up dead, people who are all connected to a children's home that burned down. 

If you were ever wondering how to write a gripping, wholly engaging crime novel, just have a read of Silent Scream and marvel at how Angela Marsons has done it. I can't wait for the second book, because this one was a top-notch crime thriller.’ Leah Loves 

‘I started reading ‘Silent Scream’ thinking I would just read a few chapters. I ended up reading it all… I love it when an author chooses a dark topic and does it incredibly well… An excellent read and one I would happily recommend.’ Northern Crime 

‘This is a fantastic debut novel by Marsons. The blurb said that if you were a fan of Val McDermid and Mark Billingham you would love this book and being a huge fan of both I thought I would give it a go and I was pleasantly surprised… With lots of twists and turns this is a real page turner and I would highly recommend it.’ The Laughing Librarian

About The Author


Angela Marsons lives in the Black Country with her partner, a bouncy Labrador and a swearing parrot.

She first discovered her love of writing at Junior School when actual lessons came second to watching other people and quietly making up her own stories about them. Her report card invariably read "Angela would do well if she minded her own business as well as she minds other people's".

After years of writing relationship based stories (My Name Is and The Middle Child) Angela turned to Crime, fictionally speaking of course, and developed a character that refused to go away.

In September 2013 she was signed to Bookouture.com in a 4 book deal starting the DI Kim Stone series in SILENT SCREAM to be published 20th February 2015.




Silent Scream excerpt
Five figures formed a pentagram around a freshly dug mound. Only they knew it was a grave.

Digging the frozen earth beneath the layers of ice and snow had been like trying to carve stone but they’d taken turns. All of them.

An adult-sized hole would have taken longer.

The shovel had passed from grip to grip. Some were hesitant, tentative. Others more assured. No one resisted and no one spoke.

The innocence of the life taken was known to them all but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried.

Five heads bowed towards the dirt, visualising the body beneath soil that already glistened with fresh ice.

As the first flakes dusted the top of the grave, a shudder threaded through the group.

The five figures dispersed, their footprints treading the trail of a star into the fresh, crisp snow.

It was done.

PRESS RELEASE

Five figures gather round a shallow grave. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made … bound in blood.  

Silent Scream launches exceptional new series heroine D.I. Kim Stone onto the British crime writing scene – determined, uncompromising … and trying to forget an unimaginable tragedy in her past.

Fans of Sarah Hilary, Sharon Bolton and M.J Arlidge will be hooked
by this outstanding debut.