Winner of the Yorkshire Post Author of the Year Award:Lesley Glaister spins a couple's ordinary domestic problems into a riveting tale of psychological suspense Nadia is a sculptor driven by a single obsession: to conceive a child. Her husband, Simon, a geography professor, is on a quest to uncover new worlds beneath the earth's surface. Each consumed by private passions, the two live a blinkered coexistence, unable to see the bigger picture until it's too late. Simon's latest project, the exploration of an unmapped cave, is fraught with danger, taking him on a journey to plumb the most secret of places. Alone, Nadia is left to ponder her own interior mystery of being unable to bring a baby to term. When she learns that Simon has acted as a sperm donor to his former lover, who is now pregnant with his child, Nadia views it as the ultimate betrayal. With a cast of unforgettable characters, including an eccentric clairvoyant, and a... Views: 70
Sugar, spice, and everything nice: this sweet, steamy collection of erotic romance stories features hot alpha males, headstrong heroines, smokin’ hot sex scenes, and that all-important love connection. Warning: this anthology contains explicit content, but it might also melt your heart! Featured authors: Livia Alba, Harley Baker, Veronica Hardy, Miranda Lawrence, Aleena Stark, and Vivian Wood. Views: 70
This is the new Shardlake mystery from the No 1 bestselling author of "REVELATION". Summer, 1545. England is at war. Henry VIII's invasion of France has gone badly wrong, and a massive French fleet is preparing to sail across the Channel. As the English fleet gathers at Portsmouth, the country raises the largest militia army it has ever seen. The King has debased the currency to pay for the war, and England is in the grip of soaring inflation and economic crisis. Meanwhile Matthew Shardlake is given an intriguing legal case by an old servant of Queen Catherine Parr. Asked to investigate claims of 'monstrous wrongs' committed against a young ward of the court, which have already involved one mysterious death, Shardlake and his assistant Barak journey to Portsmouth. Once arrived, Shardlake and Barak find themselves in a city preparing to become a war zone; and Shardlake takes the opportunity to also investigate the mysterious past of Ellen Fettipace, a young woman incarcerated in the Bedlam. The emerging mysteries around the young ward, and the events that destroyed Ellen's family nineteen years before, involve Shardlake in reunions both with an old friend and an old enemy close to the throne. Events will converge on board one of the King's great warships, primed for battle in Portsmouth harbour: the Mary Rose...From Publishers WeeklyStarred Review. Few contemporary authors are as adept as Sansom at blending a whodunit with a sweeping historical epic, as shown by his fifth mystery featuring English attorney Matthew Shardlake (after 2009's Revelation). In 1545, as a French fleet threatens invasion, the English queen, Catherine Parr, asks Shardlake to look into a matter for an old servant, whose son committed suicide shortly after filing a protest about the wardship of a boy the son had tutored. Soon after accepting this assignment, Shardlake is assaulted by a gang of thugs, who warn him to drop the matter. On his own, he also probes the past of a Bedlam inmate, Ellen Fettiplace, who was institutionalized 20 years earlier after being raped. Both cases turn out to be extremely complex, and Shardlake, who puts justice above his personal interests, ends up with several murders to solve as well. Strong prose makes Tudor England instantly accessible, and the clockwork plotting sustains deep interest throughout. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. From BooklistStarred Review In 1545, times are perilous for London counsel Matthew Shardlake and for his country. While the English, heavily taxed and with their coinage debased by Henry VIII, prepare for a naval attack from the French at Portsmouth, Shardlake takes on a case at the request of Catherine Parr on behalf of her former servant, whose son committed suicide after discovering “monstrous wrongs” against a teenage ward he once tutored. As the 43-year-old, hunchbacked Shardlake seeks to uncover secrets in the ward’s household, he also investigates the past of a presumably sane woman kept for years in Bedlam. Even with the queen’s patronage, the dogged Shardlake is threatened bodily while pursuing answers to both cases, which ultimately pit him against his old court nemesis, Sir Richard Rich. The heft of this fifth in the Shardlake series may be intimidating, but Sansom’s supple and action-packed prose should keep readers engaged. The novel vividly captures the Tudor scene, from its corrupt politics to the stench of its streets and the horror of battle. Historical mystery at its finest. --Michele Leber Views: 69
Ciaran and Madeline haven’t chosen power. Power comes with great responsibility. They’d rather fight for happiness. And Eudaiz is the universe that offers them just that. Happiness. But to be in Eudaiz and save the lives of millions, they must pass the Daimon Gate tests—the most stringent tests of bravery and worthiness. Tests they might not survive to see the light of happiness they long for. This final installment in an urban fantasy thriller series, filled with romance and science fiction twists and turns, will take you to the heart of those who dare to embrace the dark side of human mind.A SHADE OF MIND - COMPLETE SERIES1-4 Random Psychic 2-4 Forever Mortal 3-4 Elusive Beings 4-4 Imperfect Divine Views: 69
For centuries, the Furies have lived among us. Long ago they were called witches and massacred by the thousands. But they’re human just like us, except for a rare genetic mutation that they’ve hidden from the rest of the world for hundreds of years.Now, a chance encounter with a beautiful woman named Ariel has led John Rogers into the middle of a secret war among the Furies. Ariel needs John’s help in the battle between a rebellious faction of the clan and their elders. The grand prize in this war is a chance to remake the human race.Mark Alpert's The Furies weaves cutting-edge science into an ingenious thriller, showing how a simple genetic twist could have inspired tales of witchcraft and sorcery, and how the paranormal could indeed be possible. Views: 69
The doctor and the firefighter! A&E doctor Heather Cooper isn't looking for love. She's got her career and her daughter to keep her busy. But when she crosses paths with a daring firefighter, she's frightened by the strength of her emotions—she doesn't want another hero in her life. As a firefighter, Ross Tanner isn't afraid of danger. Heather may be held back by her fears—but he is not. To Ross, life is too short not to live it to the fullest, and he's determined to prove to Heather that his love for her and her daughter is too precious to ignore. Views: 69
Meet Detective Sergeant Alicia Friend. She’s nice. Too nice to be a police officer, if she’s honest. Now assigned to DI Donald Murphy’s team, the annoyingly-perky detective finds herself in the grip of a northern British winter, investigating the kidnap-murders of two young women - both strikingly similar in appearance. When a third is taken, they have less than a week to chip away the secrets of a high-society family, and uncover the killer’s objective. But Richard - the father of the latest victim - believes the police are not moving quickly enough, so launches a parallel investigation, utilising skills honed in a dark past that is about to catch up with him. As Richard’s secret actions hinder the police, Alicia remains in contact with him, and even starts to fall for his charms, forcing her into choices that will impact the rest of her life. For a chilling serial killer thriller with a quirky main character, pick up His First His Second today! *Note for readers: contains graphic violence and mild but frequent bad language ˃˃˃ Reviews CrimeFictionLover.com “An intriguing mix of police procedural and serial killer thriller, that will tease, involve and unnerve you. An entertaining and intriguing debut.” Undercover Book Reviews: “Want a book with twists and turns? This is the one. It will not disappoint.” AUTHOR Q&A Q: Alicia Friend is kind of an oddball, isn’t she? A: I’d say she’s unique. She knows who she wants to be and she doesn’t compromise, but most police officers she meets are dour and grumpy, and she sees how that impacts their personal lives. She doesn’t want to be as hard-nosed as many women sleuths in fiction, so radiates the sort of perkiness that sometimes grates on her fellow officers. But it’s who she is. Q: Despite having a quirky woman sleuth as main character, the novel goes to some dark places. A: Yes. I found that at one point I was trying to include ALL my research, and I’m really aiming for a thrill ride as much a straight police procedural. I originally included the sort of forensic details you get with Patricia Cornwell or Kathy Reichs, but it wasn’t right for this book. I keep it as accurate as possible, but it’s about the characters and how they uncover secrets, both externally and within the police. Q: So who is your ideal reader? A: Fans of serial killer books in general. If you like James Patterson, PJ Tracy or Steven James, Mark Billingham or Ian Rankin, Alicia Friend’s series could be worth checking out. Q: What levels of violence and bad language are there? A: Some of the violence is graphic, but the language ... that goes as strong as references to one’s posterior and some faecal synonyms, if you get my meaning. No “F” or “C” words, as I don’t think Alicia’s audience appreciates that. Q: And how, exactly, do you come up with a character like Alicia? A: She is based on a real person. But very loosely. The essence is there, although I had to invent certain aspects for dramatic effect. The parts from real life are: a ditzy, perky outer shell, yet possesses a fierce intelligence, true dedication, and being brilliant at her job. Q: So the real Alicia Friend isn’t a serving police officer? A: No, she isn’t. And if she was, I certainly wouldn’t say so here. Alicia Friend Books In Order: His First His Second In Black In White In Courage In Fear Views: 69
