In a fusion of past and present, Catherine’s world spirals into chaos when a mysterious childhood memory unveils haunting recollections of a life she never lived. The mesmerizing saga of Merwynn, a defiant 9th-century Saxon beckons from deep within her psyche. Every revelation from Merwynn’s era sends ripples through Catherine’s existence. Connected across millennia, Catherine grapples with the weight of their entwined destinies, as she confronts stark parallels in their quests for love and liberation. With each layer of Merwynn’s history, Catherine’s own life frays, driving her to a precipice: will she succumb or muster the strength to redefine her destiny through understanding the truth about her past?Delve into a moving narrative that examines the essence of identity, the scars of generational trauma, and the transformative effects of empowerment. Catherine’s fervent pursuit of truth amidst illusion and reality stands as a compelling symbol of human resilience and the perpetual hope that links souls across the ages.
In her debut novel, Mary Turner Thomson (international best-selling author of THE BIGAMIST and THE PSYCHOPATH) draws upon her personal experience of being victimised to tell an inspiring story about powerlessness, learning from the past and taking back control.
OCEAN’S 8 meets Janet Evanovich, this fast-paced crime caper features one badass mother, with a certain set of skills who is forced to come out of retirement to protect her son, and teach a few men a few lessons!
Ex-con artist Bee Cardello is going legit. Divorced from her mafia boss husband, she is determined to stay on the straight and narrow. So, when ex-hubby Charlie steals $37.5 million from a dangerous kingpin, who puts out a hit on Bee and her ten-year-old son Oliver, she finds herself pulled back into the life she’s worked so hard to escape.
Part of that old life being one Adam Gage – an old flame and all-round sexy badass who Charlie’s now employed to keep her and Oliver safe . . . well, that’s what he tells her. Bee has been in this game long enough to know that everyone is in it for themselves, and she’d be stupid to trust Adam . . . again.
When Oliver is snatched from right under their noses, rather than risk losing him forever, Bee gathers her old team, dusts off all her old grifting tricks, and comes out of retirement to get her son back!
AUTHOR BIO
S.K. Golden writes cozy mysteries and crime capers. Born and raised in the Florida Keys, she married a commercial fisherman. The two of them still live on the islands with their five kids (one boy, four girls — including identical twins!), two cats, and a corgi named Goku. Sarah graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Administration and has put it to good use approximately zero times. She’s worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an executive assistant at her father’s church. Sarah is delighted to be doing none of those things now.
On their 18th birthday, twins Ellie and Tom each receive a surprise—a legacy from the paternal grandmother they never knew existed. When the twins find themselves stalked by a mysterious figure, they feel the need for a change in scenery.
A trip to the countryside to meet the father they believe abandoned them seems to be the perfect solution to the stalker problem. The twins soon realise there’s more to their father than meets the eye.
They discover he is a member of an ancient sect dedicated to tracking down ‘The Jaded Hart’—a demonic stag of legend. Meanwhile, The Jaded Hart is intent on finding the twins for its own reasons.
For Ellie and Tom, a simple trip to meet their father soon turns into a deadly hunt. The only problem? They have no idea who is the hunter and who is the prey!
MY REVIEW
I flew through this book in a couple of days and it is a great addition to the YA Fantasy genre.
From the stories ending I’m hoping this will be a series and if so I can’t wait until the next instalment.
As they turn 18, Ellie and Tom discover a grandmother they never knew has passed away leaving an inheritance for them on the condition they visit their father who they also never knew.
On meeting Tracker and his friends, the twins world unravels as they discover the legend of the jaded hart and reluctantly become involved.
The story didn’t end as I though it would and I need to read more now to see what’s next for Ellie and Tom.
AUTHOR BIO:
D B Carter lives with his wife on the edge of a small town nestled amongst the rolling hills of rural Devon, England.
The son of two nomadic artists, he grew up in a world of creativity, studying painting techniques under his parents’ tutelage. In his 20s, he went to university and followed a career in science and later commerce, running his own business for twenty years.
A lifelong bibliophile, he is firmly of the opinion that there is no such thing as too many books, only insufficient shelf space. It was his love of classical literature, of Dickens, Brontë and Conan Doyle, which inspired him to become a writer.
His philosophy is, “If we look for the good, we will find it.
Rabbit Heart: Book 1 of the Terrafolk Trilogy by Francesca Crispo
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Pages: 268
OUT NOW
BACK OF THE BOOK
Quirky and adventurous Mycel had ventured away from her home in the mystical forest realm of Yannava to immerse herself in the eccentricities of human society. While creating a new life in the city of Seattle – complete with a job and human roommate – she meets Earwyn, a charming but mysterious ocean conservationist. As their relationship heats up and their bond deepens, Mycel finds her magick fading fast. Her unassuming, quiet lifestyle takes a dangerous turn and she is forced to face truths she thought she had left behind. To save herself and those she loves, she must search for answers between the human world, her homeland and her own past.
AUTHOR BIO
Francesca Crispo is an aspiring fantasy/romance author living near Seattle, Washington. She received her B.A. in English Literature from ASU in 2016 and her M.Ed. from ASU in 2018. In addition to her writing and running a business full-time, she stays busy with her two young children!
Alicia Silver is spending her first Christmas holiday with her handsome new husband Jack and his family in their remote, luxurious lodge in the snowy Irish mountains.
The Silver family are wealthy and beautiful, and Alicia is determined to live up to their high expectations for her marriage. But with the festivities in full swing, Alicia quickly discovers that behind their perfect image, her new in-laws are hiding plenty of secrets…
The gorgeous husband
The jealous sister-in-law
The glamorous step-mother
The controlling father-in-law
Before the holiday is over one of them will be dead.
Who would kill to protect their secret? And will Alicia survive this Christmas?
MY REVIEW
Having read books by Mikayla Davids before I had an idea what to l expect and I was not disappointed.
The story is written from the points of view of Alicia, Yasmin, and Jack. Alongside these chapters there are also chapters told after the body has been found but without giving away to much detail which we slowly get as we read along.
The story is about the Silver family coming together for Christmas to holiday at the family lodge. Alicia has recently married Jack and this is her first Christmas with the in laws and is trying to make a good impression. Yasmin is married to Jacks brother and is having her first Christmas with there new child.
As the story progresses we find out more about the different members of the family and the secrets they hold. But how does this relate to the dead body later found and which of them was involved.
I have read 2 of Mikaylas books now and am a definite fan for life.
When Pete leaves Chloe for another woman she is forced to raise their family alone. When an impromptu internet pop-up leads her to a dating site, she naively believes she has found the perfect way of finding love again. After meeting a string of unlikely suitors she finally meets Mel, but unbeknown to her Mel is fighting his own demons, and things are about to get a lot more complicated.
Plenty More Fish pushes the boundaries as it follows Chloe on a dark and dangerous journey that sees her wade through a sea of sociopaths in her desperate quest to find her soulmate. As she ventures into deeper waters, friends and colleagues become increasingly concerned for her safety, but will she listen to them before it’s too late?
AUTHOR BIO
Dawn was born in London, England in 1962 and trained as a Registered Nurse in 1986. She currently lives near Portsmouth, Hampshire with her husband and two Boxer dogs and she works part-time as a nurse practitioner in a GP surgery in Portsmouth.
Dawn’s writing style has been described by many as quirky and unique, and she’s not afraid to break the rules along the way. Dawn is naturally competitive and isn’t afraid to push boundaries so her stories often contain unexpected twists and unpredictable endings. She considers herself to be a realist, so if you’re looking for a happy-ever-after type storyline you might have to keep on looking.
Plenty More Fish is the author’s debut novel and forms part of a trilogy. Her second book, His Other Child will follow soon and the third book which currently has no title, is still a work in progress.
An American professor discovers the diaries of John Ledbury, known as the counterfeit detective, a minor poet who, in Victorian London, is employed to reply to the mail that comes addressed to Sherlock Holmes at 221b Baker Street.
Through the diaries, he unearths a series of baffling unsolved murders. He travels through England and Scotland but he realizes that, in order to solve the mystery, he has to travel further, back through time itself.
MY REVIEW
The Counterfeit Detective tells the story of an American professor who finds notes from John Ledbury detailing his involvement in a case with Scotland Yard investigating the murders of women.
The story goes between the 2 timelines which to begin with felt unnecessary however it becomes very clear why we are seeing both of these gentlemen’s stories and I definitely didn’t see the ending coming.
Although the story mentions Arthur Conan Doyle and the Sherlock Holmes character it is not a large aspect of the story allowing this crime novel to stand out on its own.
I struggled a little with some of the language but this is not a fault of the author who has written it perfectly for the language used for the time the story is set. This will definitely be a fan for crime novel lovers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SIMPSON GREARS was born in Glasgow and studied at the universities of Strathclyde, Glasgow and Edinburgh before following an academic career in Scotland, England, Wales and the United States. His first work of crime fiction – a collection of short stories titled The Foot of the Walk Murders – was longlisted for the prestigious Dagger award of the Crime Writers Association. He lives in Perth, central Scotland.
When an attempt is made on the life of Ashara, Keeper of Yurr, his young, hapless advisor Edvar must uncover and stop those behind it.
With enemies in the capital city and the belligerent Tesh, Keeper of neighbouring nation Karrabar stirring trouble in the Borderlands, can Edvar hold together Ashara’s brittle reign?
The troubles ripple throughout Yurr, affecting an ancient race of people known as the Amast, who in their time of utmost need, turn to pariah Isy for salvation. Rejected by society, kith and kin, can Isy guide the Amast to safety during the greatest turmoil Yurr has known since the War of the Damned?
Pariah’s Lament will take you on a rollercoaster of an adventure ‘that will keep you spellbound as you traverse the world alongside Isy and Edvar’ (Books Behind The Title). And along the way you’ll experience ‘intense fighting scenes, a little romance and flawed characters’ (Sarah Lillian Books).
If you love to explore fantasy worlds, this book won’t disappoint. Part of a shared universe populated by other authors, the setting in Pariah’s Lament has proven a huge hit with readers, with some praising the ‘insane level of detail’ (The Book Suite) and vividness of its descriptions.
BOOK EXCERPT
He sucked in air, steadying his breathing, while the wheels rolled over the loose stones. It was times like these he lamented having spent much of his life with his nose dipped between the covers of books. Now he regretted it.
Over the slate roofs loomed the parapets of the first of the keep’s three walls. The torches of the gatehouse lit up the teeth of the iron portcullis, transforming it into the gaping mouth of some beast from the depths of the Green Deep. Edvar jumped down as the carriage veered right, steadying himself with his hands as he hit the ground.
“Cheeky bastard,” the teamster called out after him.
Edvar ran for the gate. At seeing somebody charge toward them, the two guards hefted the spears from their shoulders and crossed them to bar his path.
“Woah, woah, woah,” called the smaller of the two, a stubby-nosed man with a thick brown beard. “What’s your business?”
“There’s no time for this. I passed you little over an hour ago. Just let me through!”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Richie Billing writes all kinds of stories, but mostly fantasy fiction. His tales often explore real-world issues, zooming in on his characters and their troubles.
His short fiction has been widely published, with one story adapted for BBC radio. And his debut novel, an epic fantasy called Pariah’s Lament, was published by Of Metal and Magic Publishing in March 2021.
Richie also hosts the podcast The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, a venture inspired by the requests of readers of his acclaimed craft book, A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook.
When not writing, Richie works as an editor and digital marketer and teaches creative writing both online and in his home city of Liverpool.
Most nights you can find him up into the early hours scribbling away or watching the NBA.
Embark on an exhilarating journey with Lizzie Levine, the beloved character from the award-winning novel Call Her Janie. In this riveting sequel by S.R. Fabrico, set against the picturesque backdrop of Southport, North Carolina, the stakes soar, twists abound, and the drama intensifies.
Reuniting with her daughter, Janie, should be the start of Lizzie’s picture-perfect life. Behind the scenes, however, is a different matter. The happiness of having her daughter back is overshadowed by the fear and distrust of her ex-boyfriend, billionaire Gray Stone.
Amidst the tapestry of wedding preparations, the custody fight looms. The story unfolds in a battleground of secrets, lies, and deception. In this gripping narrative, love and lies entwine, danger lurks in the shadows, and the courage to confront one’s past becomes paramount. Can Lizzie gain custody of her daughter, marry the man she loves, and have her happily-ever-after, or will the mistakes of their past destroy them all?
The Seam of Eternity (The Veins of Eternity 1) by Rocco Levitas
Genre: Epic Fantasy
BACK OF THE BOOK
Shadow cripples all realms, magical and physical. A single chosen one isn’t enough.
Callan failed to save his sister from the plagued swamps blighting the land. When darkness threatens his home, he ventures on a daring quest to find the one mage who can help. But it is he who must grow in courage and power.
Across the vast ocean, Vasha excels at sealing breaches. Though other realm-shifting monks call her a prodigy, she panics over her progress. Then a devastating omen alters her destiny.
Hidden evil looms as Callan and Vasha discover lost magic, make unlikely friends, and fulfill a prophecy from ages long forgotten . . .
Not all will survive.
Eye of the World meets Way of Kings in The Seam of Eternity, an imaginative blend of sword and sorcery fantasy adventure with the hero’s journey. If you like The Wheel of Time, The Stormlight Archives, or The Lord of the Rings, you’ll love the fantastical world of The Seam of Eternity.
AUTHOR BIO
As the official storyteller for his nephews and nieces, Rocco loves building fantastical worlds. His outlet became a passion, and he spent eight years studying creative writing and honing his author craft. He believes the best epic fantasy books reveal human connection–and conflict–with a healthy dose of magic and battle. This he delivers with fast-paced adventure. Discover a diverse, new world in his latest book, The Seam of Eternity.
Dunfermline Reads 