Review: The 19th Element by John Betcher

I really enjoyed this book - straight from the off I liked John Becker our main character. Now in a small town where he can finally live in peace using his own name after being with Special Operations for years, but being a lawyer isn’t always the most interesting of jobs for him. When a university professor is found murdered he goes for a look round but finds more than he bargained for!

With missing scientific equipment, his daughter in danger and a feeling in his ‘gut’ that this could be terrorists behind it all he sets off trying to convince his local police contact to believe him. And luckily for John, his loving wife Beth and friend Bull are backing him completely.

This book has plenty of action, drama and suspense. I also liked the way that the author described some of the more ‘technical’ aspects mentioned in the book so I had a real understanding about what could happen and how it was happening, for me this made it even better.

It was a fast paced book which towards the end I just couldn’t read quick enough - the build up to those final few chapters just made me want to find out how this book was going to end. I will definitely be getting the next book in the series.

To grab yourself a copy visit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TXS2VY/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Review: Drive A Hard Bargain by Ian Ashe

Drive a Hard Bargain is the story of a girl at the wheel, a guy in the trunk and the pair of gold-plated handcuffs that brings them together.

Inez Gold is looking for cash. Her neighbour’s friend is willing to pay handsomely for a simple favour. Combine the two elements—along with a luxury coupe, an unpaid debt and thirty thousand dollars negotiated for services rendered—and you’re off on a wild ride blending humour, crime and a pair of gold-plated handcuffs.

It is a 12,600-word short story which is packed full of action! For a short story it has a lot in there!! It is a great little read which has a good storyline, I enjoyed reading about Inez’s quick thinking and humour, it made me laugh a few times, and I just had to feel sorry for Jack Rooney at times. I almost think that it’s a shame that it’s a short story as I would have been able to read more about the characters. It’s hard to write much more without giving too much away about the story. It’s well worth a read though.

Get a Copy from: http://www.amazon.com/Drive-a-Hard-Bargain-ebook/dp/B006M270VM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Review: Gold Train by Lada Ray

For the fans of The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure comes this gripping new thriller, based on true historic events! 1918: Civil war in Russia. The entire Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire vanishes without a trace. Today: journalist Jade Snow travels to Russia to uncover a dangerous conspiracy, find the world's largest treasure and experience forbidden passion, defying time and space.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - the opening chapter gives us a little insight into the Gold Train in 1918 and then goes to present day where we meet Jade Snow, it’s been her lifelong ambition to visit Russia, a promise she owed to her Grandma’s memory.

I found myself quickly engrossed into this book as I needed to find out the mystery of the Gold Train. I don’t want to give much more away about the plot lines but they were brilliantly written and the story is just fantastic - there is layers that go deeper and deeper as we go along and I just loved it.

I love the relationship between Jade and Alexi - you can sense they’re feelings from that initial meeting as he was her rescuer when she was mugged. This was the start of the real action in the book, I thought the action scenes were once again brilliantly written - especially the one at the station. I also enjoyed the suspense in the book, I just had to carry on reading to get to the end.

I found that the way the author described the scenery and landmarks of Russia was just amazing - it made me want to go and visit myself. I was as interested in reading about the landmarks as I was about the actual storyline!

This book had it all, not only a great mystery, and action but a little romance and even some humour. It really was superb, fast paced and well written. For me it was also one of those books that gets you thinking about things - even after you finish reading.

I really hope that we get to here more from Jade Snow and also Alexi

Grab yourself a copy now: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NPVTH4/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Giveaway: The 19th Element by John L Betcher

Al Qaeda plans to attack Minnesota's Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant as a means to return the down-trodden terrorist organization to international prominence.

In addition to their own devoted forces, the terrorists enlist some homegrown anarchists, and a Three Mile Island survivor with a pathological vendetta against the nuclear establishment, to assist in the assault.

James "Beck" Becker is a former elite U.S. government intelligence operative who has retired to his childhood hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota -- just six miles down the Mississippi from the Prairie River nuclear facility.

Possessing wisdom born of experience, Beck suspects the terrorists' intentions as soon as the body of a university professor turns up on the Mississippi shore -- the clear victim of foul play.

He recognizes connections between seemingly unrelated incidents -- the murdered agronomy professor, a missing lab assistant, an international cell call, a stolen fertilizer truck, an explosion in the street in front of City Hall -- but can't piece it together in enough detail to convince government authorities that a larger threat exists. Only his American Indian friend, "Bull," will help Beck defuse the threat.

So it's Beck and Bull versus international terror.

May the better men win

GOLD MEDAL - 2011 Readers Favorite Book Awards


The lovely John Betcher has offered me a copy of this ebook to give away on my blog - to enter just fill in the rafflecopter ~ Good Luck

CONGRATULATIONS to May Richard on winning xx

Review: Family Jewels by N.L.Wilson

Absolutely Brilliant - A MUST Read

I enjoyed the first book of this series - The Case of The Flashing Fashion Queen and to be honest although I was eager to read the next instalment I was hesitant as I sometimes find that the second one just isn’t as good.

I’m glad to say that I was wrong - this book was brilliant!! I was up until 4am reading this as I just needed to see Dix Dodd our wonderful Private Investigator unfold the mystery.

We start off with Dix in her new office with all new modern gadgets, still with the delightful Dylan as her trusty sidekick. Her new fax machine brings news that her Mother, Katt Dodd is a person of interest in recent jewel thefts at the Wildoh retirement community!! Not to mention the disappearance of Katt’s boyfriend Frankie!

Dix and Dylan set off for Florida - with Mrs P in tow - I laughed so much at the car journey to Florida with Mrs P and her ‘crossword’ clues. There was lots of wit in these scenes, very well written. And also a theme which re-occurs later on in the book.

Once we meet Katt and some of the other resident’s of the Wildoh things really started to get good - plenty of undercover work from both Dix and Dylan - although Dix wasn’t expecting to go undercover on this occasion, I think she did well! There are some great scenes in this book - one of my favourite one’s is Dix in the restaurant with Deputy No Nuts - just brilliant!

As I was reading I was convinced who the jewellery thief was, then changed my mind, and then changed it again!! Maybe its just me assessing each and every one of the new characters with scrutiny but I could see motives in them all!! I did however guess correctly how they were disappearing (once I knew who it was!) So I felt a bit better for that!

I loved the fact that Dix and Dylan get close in the book - I really do hope that they get together soon!!

I was literally laughing out loud towards the end - and at 4am in the morning you know that it’s a good book!! The only problem I have is that I have to wait for the next book in the series - I hope I don’t have to wait long because I’m missing Dix Dodd already!

Go and buy yourself a copy now: http://www.amazon.com/Family-Jewels-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B005DRWOEK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323993660&sr=8-1

Ebook Bundle Giveaway Winner

Well it's time to announce my first ever giveaway winner

Congratulations to Humble Bee

Your ebooks will be winging they're way to you shortly

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Tom Raimbault for being so generous and offering the books in the first place - he really is a fantastic author - if you would like to find out more about Tom and his books please visit: https://sites.google.com/site/tomraimbaultwritings/ and you can follow him on twitter @TomRaimbault

Thanks once again Tom

Hales
xx

Review: Masks and Malice by Ronald S Barrios

When Rey is hired by Pam Lorado to find out about her fourteen year old daughter's boyfriend, Carter, he learns that the kid is a drug dealer. But that takes a backseat when Carter is found murdered in his own car. Then Pam's ex husband Peter, who would rather be a friend to his daughter than a parent, is gunned down in front of Rey's office. Both Carter and Peter have a connection to another drug dealer named Seth who is crazy enough to kill a kid.

I instantly liked Rey, there was something about him, to look at he probably looks like a thug yet there is a great big heart inside, his need to have every loose end tied up also appealed to me because as soon as I read that bit in the book I knew that I wasn’t going to be left wondering about things after I’d finished reading. I especially enjoyed the scenes with Rey and Travis later on in the book, it was lovely to read.
The storyline was great - fairly fast paced with lots of action and lots of people in the mix - It’s one of those that I didn’t guess the ending and I always enjoy those more. There is some very well placed sub plots in here alongside the main one and I really enjoyed them too. I hope that we get to hear more from Rey in another book?

To get yourself a copy visit: http://amzn.to/vtcbkv

Review: All Jacked Up by L A Tripp

This fun little read had me literally laughing out loud at one point! It may only be 20,000 words but there sure is some action packed into there.

Our main character Jack is trying to make it on his own but with interfering parents, a work colleague from hell, a crazy stalker and a crush on a librarian he has alot going on in his life!!

Well worth a read and I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment

Go on grab yourself a copy: http://www.amazon.com/All-Jacked-Up-ebook/dp/B0060M6VY6/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1323475819&sr=1-3

Review: The Look of Love: The Sullivans, Book 1 by Bella Andre

This book is so full of passion and romance, it starts straight into the story and just flows along nicely. We see our main character Chase driving in a storm, he spots a car in the hedge and then someone walking along the road, stopping to offer his assistance he finds Chloe - soaked wet through, scared, shaken and untrusting - you can tell from there that Chase is going to have his work cut out!

His brothers winery is nearer than a motel so they head there, and then the love story starts to blossom. I love the looks that Chase and Chloe share, the way the author writes perfectly describes those little moments where nothing is said but the words speak volumes.

I enjoyed the fact that there was no chapters going back in time to reveal they’re background stories - we found out about them as they were finding out about each other. This book is loaded with passion throughout. Well written and I loved the ending - I can’t wait to read the next in the Sullivan Series

Review: Midnight Sun by M J Fredrick

A wonderful story full of passion, suspense and action - even with a few pirates thrown in!

I love the way it started with Brylie running out on Marcus and I imagined that the story was going to see him try and track her down - I didn’t imagine that she was going to be the head chef on the boat owned by his family that they have sent him on to try to keep him from getting into trouble. Unfortunately for Marcus, trouble was on it’s was to find him.

I love the first introductory scenes especially when Marcus finds out that Brylie is also the Captains daughter! You can see that there is going to be some really great scenes between them, but I’d never of guessed the amount of action that was about to unfold.

I don’t want to give all the details away but I will say that the action that came as the pirates took over was great, Marcus’s quick thinking managed to keep himself and Brylie out of harms way - but for how long? I enjoyed the early scenes where they were struggling at trying to follow orders from each other as they are both headstrong, independent individuals.

I read this virtually all in one sitting as it’s fast pace and strong storyline just swept me along and I wanted to find out how it ended. I really enjoyed the different genres in this book and think that the author did wonderfully blending them together so well. For me it’s definitely a Must Read
To buy a copy visit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0054QZPD2/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

or http://www.amazon.co.uk/Midnight-Sun-ebook/dp/B0054QZPD2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323194823&sr=8-1

Review: Light Under The House by Aaron L

Light Under the House is the saga of an American family—the Levis, a family of secrets. None greater than the secret of what lies under their house, a secret that could destroy them. A secret that an ancient evil will stop at nothing to uncover. The novel follows the Levi family line for a generation, exploring lives lived in the aftermath of the cultural rebellion of the late 1960's.

I mean bizarre in a good way. This book is full of mystery and suspense, I literally had no idea where this book was going or where it was going to end but that made me enjoy it even more. I enjoyed the balance of history and travelling through the different periods of time across the generations. I foune that the more I read, the more I wanted to read.

I enjoyed reading about the different heads of the Levi family and the different stories that came with them. I loved reading about Sarai and Tanis and seeing how the help offered to Sarai from Tanis soon transformed into something very very different and enjoyed seeing how this developed.

I especially liked the ending and enjoyed seeing John’s realisation and couldn’t help but hope that everything worked out for him.

To grab yourself a copy visit: http://www.amazon.com/Light-Under-the-House-ebook/dp/B0060C2O92

Best Books of the Year 2011 (And Giveaway)

I thought I'd like to share my two most favourite books of the year with you, I have read lots and lots of wonderful books this year but my favourite two have to be:

My Name is Death by Alan Cass - this is a fast paced supernatural thriller with a twist - i loved reading every word of this book, it was well written and I really enjoyed Alan's unique writing style - check out my full review Here

Dead Game by Claire Kinton - this book was truely breathtaking, a unique storyline by a wonderful author. It really makes you think about what else may be out there, and realising that Hope is always with you. Read my full review Here

Because I enjoyed these books so much I have decided that I would like to share them with you - I will give two lucky winners a chance to win a signed copy of either My Name is Death or Dead Game so that they could become your best book of the year too!

Good Luck

Please Note: I'm running it until the 31st December because with Christmas coming up I will be too busy to post them out to the winners and I don't want to keep you waiting so thought I'd give you time to get extra entries in :-) xx

A Look Back at November

I just thought I'd put together a little post to have a look back at November.

November saw me discover The Kindle Book Review and I'm really glad that I did, it has helped feed my love of reading and has renewed my love of blogging too. I have read some fantastic books, met some great authors that otherwise I may of taken years to find - and I have a reading list as long as my arm! I love it!!

So just a little recap - in November I was lucky enough to read:

• Montana Dawn by Caroline Fyffe
• The Bastard by Brenda Novak
• Misconception by Christy Hayes
• In The Presence of Gods by Vincent Alascia
• The Case of The Flashing Fashion Queen by Norah Wilson
• Steps to Heaven by Wendy Cartmell
• Broken Promise by Laura Landon
• Chill Run by Russell Brooks
• Henry Wood Detective Agency by Brian Meeks

November also saw me start my first giveaway on my blog - with special thanks to Tom Raimbault for offering a bundle of some of his great books - if you haven't entered already then visit my giveaway post:  Here and enter now.

I'm not sure if I'll manage to read as many books this month as things get a little hectic for me at work but I will try to read as many as I can and will hopefully continue adding to my reading list as I go along - after all you can never have enough books :-)