Author/poet/journalist Gabriel Hart compresses twenty pieces of his most irreverent ‘world-burning’ fiction spanning 2015-2020, including the previously unpublished novelette-length American nightmare Skattertown.
#blogtour review by Niki Preston for @jailweddings Fallout from our Asphalt Hell @cttb_fiction @henryroi.pr
I will admit from the off that I am not a short story reader but wow, with the phenomenal writing by Gabriel Hart I have done a complete 360. This book is utterly enthralling. Each story leaves you feeling an intensity that I don’t usually feel. Each story is like you’ve read a 400 page book in just a few pages. The characters are expertly created and each story seeming grabs hold of you and drags you along through each page then suddenly its over and you’re left with an utterly awestruck feeling.
A few of the stories that have stuck in my mind are Black Pit Blues and Spun Pendulum to name only two. Black Pit Blues is an extraordinary tale of a town on the edge where old fighting Pit Bulls roam freely. One seems to take to a driver on his home after he stops to try and help the dog. It apparently follows him home and what follows it truly horrific! I was left reeling and had to move on quickly. It is a shocking story but outstandingly written. How a story so short can be so full of horror and gore is testament to Gabriel’s writing skills. By complete contrast the Spun Pendulum left me sad and in awe of the pictures created in my mind’s eye by the effortless and descriptive words that fill the pages. I can honestly say I went through a whole gamut of emotions with this book and is a fabulous collection of crime, thriller, horror, noir, psychological drama genres to name but a few.. A truly well deserved 5 stars From me.
Jess Harper has spent her whole life trying to make her mum, Abigail happy and proud. And everything Jess does, from the clothes she wears, the job she has, the men she dates, are all approved by Abigail first.
The perfect boyfriend…
So when Jess announces that she has a new man in her life – plumber Adam – Abigail is less than impressed. ‘A plumber? Really, Jessica….’ Adam encourages Jess to break free from her mum’s manipulation, can’t she see what’s happening?
The perfect mother….
But Abigail is only doing these things to keep Jess safe, to protect her from getting hurt again…isn’t she?
Jess, caught in the middle, doesn’t know who to believe or trust. And then Adam vanishes without trace.
Now Jess is the police’s prime suspect and they want to know if Jess really is as perfect as she seems….
A gripping new psychological thriller for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland and S.E.Lynes
A nail-biting psychological thriller with a underlying level of tension running right through every word. A slow build
of uneasiness that creates an excellent pace to the story telling.
The relationship between Jess and her mother appears on the surface to be seriously controlling and quite unhealthy. There is a secret that Jess’s mum constantly uses against her. Jess does not know what the secret but the way she is undermined in her every decision is utterly unnerving.
After finding, who Jess hopes is the love of her life things begin to change rapidly. Her relationship with her Mother becomes strained to almost breaking point but is Jess changing for the better? Is she jus allowing someone to control her every waking moment?
The characterisations in The Perfect Daughter are strong and written in such a away that you begin to distrust them all. I flipped from idea to the next trying to second guess what was going on, I was wrong on every thought. A brilliantly written book should keep you guessing and constantly re-evaluating who can be trusted, this book certainly achieves it. Alex stone is a superb writer and I for one would highly recommend The Perfect Daughter to all thriller lovers. This book keeps you guessing right to the end and leaves you with a feeling of intense disbelief . I was left thinking “wow, this is true drama and I really didn’t see that coming”
Author Bio –
Alex Stone, originally an accountant from the West Midlands, is now a psychological suspense writer based in Dorset. This beautiful and dramatic coastline is the inspiration and setting for her novels. She was awarded the Katie Fforde Bursary in 2019 and her debut thriller The Perfect Daughter will be published by Boldwood in October 2021.
Scarred by a tragic past, eleven year old Jamie Walker chooses not to speak.
Consumed with jealous rage, Jimmy Gillespie is driven to violence.
And John Macintyre awakens from a vivid nightmare convinced he is going to kill.
Living high upon the Scottish hills, John and Sarah Macintyre enjoy a serene life until a televised news bulletin sends them on a desperate search for a missing child.
After finding the child and returning him safely to his parents, the Macintyres are approached by the local press, attracting both unexpected and unwanted attention.
But the aftermath of the media coverage changes the course of their lives forever, and events are set in motion that are joyful, heart breaking – and terrifying.
The final instalment to the Sarah Macintyre series really ends the whole series with a bang! In Book 3 the whole of Macintyre family get drawn into the search for a missing child. It is this incident that Sarah realises to “gift” is also strong with in her daughter Claire for it is she that has a vision about where the missing boy is. Claire needs a lot of help and support from her parents to learn how to deal with her new found Gift as does John. The more he opened his mind to the possibly it becomes obvious he to has a “gift” There is a spiritual awakening within John that leads to a deeper relationship with his wife, although at times it does seem beyond all their expectations.
Book 3 “Broken” for me was the best of all the books. I loved the plotline and the characters become much stronger. John has a skill that helps the family build a new life in Scotland. He supports his wife with a huge kindness, his gentleness comes to the fore which is even more shocking that he dreams of killing someone, something?
This is a sensational book, that creates excitement throughout. It creates an amazingly strong feeling of wonder in the reader. The tense moments are strong yet interwoven with joy, love and grief. I would highly recommend this entire series. Its a wonderful series that explores spirituality, auras and the ability to help others in an empathic way. Not always for the better. Overall it#s just brilliant.
Author Bio –
R V Biggs lives in a small ex-mining village near Wolverhampton, England, with his wife Julie and Mags the black lab. He has four grown up children and eight grandchildren.
Walking with the dog is a favourite pastime and much of the story line for his first novel was developed during these lengthy outings.
Robert worked for 35 years in telecommunications but changed career paths to a managerial supporting role within a local Mental Health National Health Service trust. It was during the period between these roles that the concept for his first novel was born.
Robert is a firm believer that destiny and co-incidence exist hand in hand and this conviction extends to his writing. He has a passion for holistic well-being and after first-hand experience of the potential healing powers of Reiki, a form of energy therapy, took a Reiki level 1 training course to heighten his spiritual awareness. Robert’s experiences in these areas helped conceive the ideas that led to Song of the Robin and its sequels Reunion and Broken, novels with central themes of fate, love, and the strength of family. His writing is not fantasy however but is set in modern times involving real people living real lives.
One random, violent act is enough to change Sarah Macintyre’s life forever.
Left unsettled, and yearning for a new beginning, Sarah is unsure of what to do with herself. But one day she discovers an anonymous letter hidden amidst a pile of unopened mail.
The note, however, contains nothing more than a confusing riddle.
Intrigued and excited, Sarah’s hunger for a new purpose compels her to search for the author to understand the puzzle and solve the mystery.
Embarking on a journey that will shape the rest of her life and that of her family, Sarah uncovers a past of which she had no knowledge, a present she must find a path through, and a future filled with intense grief and utmost joy.
Reunion is Book 2 in the Sarah Macintyre series that follows on directly from Book 1 , The Song of the Robin. Another great mystery fantasy novel from R.V. Biggs. A well written rounded plotline that leaves you wanting more.
Sarah begins on her journey to discover her past and find out what her “gift” is and is it going to make her life better ? Or is it really going to be such a burden to her and her adored family that it just brings her down?
Reunion is an enchanting read that leads you on a journey of discovery with Sarah. The beautiful descriptive writing style made me feel that I was walking this Journey right there next to her. It really makes you reflect on your life, past and present. The way Sarah’s empathy comes through is truly captivating and whether she experiences grief or love, she does deal with it all in her stride. Her never ending quest to find out what the mysterious letter is all about and what does it mean for the future of all her Loved ones?
A perfect second instalment in this fabulous series, bring on Book 3.
The whispered voices and unsettling dreams were puzzling enough, but when the visions began, disquiet crept into Sarah Richards heart.
Living a joyless and unfulfilled existence, Sarah’s life, however, is ordered and routine. But one autumn morning she sees a figure waving to her, the figure of a man more ghostly than real.
Several times he appears, but is the spectre harmless, or are his intentions malevolent?
Disturbed and intrigued, Sarah endeavours to understand the mystery, to identify her unknown stalker.
But with each visitation, she becomes ever more bewildered, and as her ordered life begins to unravel, she questions the reality of all that she knows, and with mounting horror, even her own sanity.
A fantasy novel dealing with a gift that the main character Sarah begins to feel after she encounters an attack. She is left in a confused, flux state of mind in which she is no longer sure who she can trust and who exactly is her husband?
This is a spellbinding read that is filled with great friendships but also an awful lot of doubt and dismay. I wasn’t too sure when Sarah’s state and why she is in this odd state is revealed. At first I thought it may have occurred to early in the book , yet I quickly appreciated that the other characters now came into their own and we get to learn more about the people in Sarah’s life. The strong and tight bond she has with her best friend, Rachel is apparent throughout and Sarah hides nothing from her, no matter how hard that may be. I very quickly became drawn in and had a building need to find out what on earth was going on? who were these spectres? and what on earth were the strange visions all about?
A truly riveting and mysterious read full of strange occurrences that seemingly can not be explained. I would highly recommend to those who enjoy the paranormal with a psychological level of thriller thrown in just for good measure.
AUTHOR BIO
R V Biggs lives in a small ex-mining village near Wolverhampton, England, with his wife Julie and Mags the black lab. He has four grown up children and eight grandchildren.
Walking with the dog is a favourite pastime and much of the story line for his first novel was developed during these lengthy outings.
Robert worked for 35 years in telecommunications but changed career paths to a managerial supporting role within a local Mental Health National Health Service trust. It was during the period between these roles that the concept for his first novel was born.
Robert is a firm believer that destiny and co-incidence exist hand in hand and this conviction extends to his writing. He has a passion for holistic well-being and after first-hand experience of the potential healing powers of Reiki, a form of energy therapy, took a Reiki level 1 training course to heighten his spiritual awareness. Robert’s experiences in these areas helped conceive the ideas that led to Song of the Robin and its sequels Reunion and Broken, novels with central themes of fate, love, and the strength of family. His writing is not fantasy however but is set in modern times involving real people living real lives.
In 1903 fishermen find a wrecked boat containing a woman, who has been badly beaten, and a young girl. An ambulance is sent for, and the two survivors are taken to All Hallows, the imposing asylum, hidden deep on Dartmoor. The woman remains in a coma, but the little girl, Harriet, awakens and is taken to an attic room, far away from the noise of the asylum, and is put in the care of Nurse Emma Everdeen.
Two motherless boys banished to boarding school…
In 1993, All Hallows is now a boarding school. Following his mother’s death and his father’s hasty remarriage, Lewis Tyler is banished to Dartmoor, stripped of his fashionable clothes, shorn of his long hair, and left feeling more alone than ever. There he meets Isak, another lost soul, and whilst refurbishment of the dormitories is taking place, the boys are marooned up in the attic, in an old wing of the school.
Cries and calls from the past that can no longer be ignored…
All Hallows is a building full of memories, whispers, cries from the past. As Lewis and Isak learn more about the fate of Harriet, and Nurse Emma’s desperate fight to keep the little girl safe, it soon becomes clear there are ghosts who are still restless.
Are they ghosts the boys hear at night in the room above, are they the unquiet souls from the asylum still caught between the walls? And can Lewis and Isak bring peace to All Hallows before the past breaks them first…
Praise for Louise Douglas
‘A brilliantly written, gripping, clever, compelling story, that I struggled to put down. The vivid descriptions, the evocative plot and the intrigue that Louise created, which had me constantly asking questions, made it a highly enjoyable, absolute treasure of a read.’ Kim Nash on The Scarlet Dress
‘A tender, heart-breaking, page-turning read’ Rachel Hore on The House by the Sea
‘The perfect combination of page-turning thriller and deeply emotional family story. Superb.’ Nicola Cornick on The House by the Sea
‘Kept me guessing until the last few pages and the explosive ending took my breath away.’ C.L. Taylor, author of The Accident on Your Beautiful Lies
‘Beautifully written, chillingly atmospheric and utterly compelling, The Secret by the Lake is Louise Douglas at her brilliant best’ Tammy Cohen, author of The Broken
‘A master of her craft, Louise Douglas ratchets up the tension in this haunting and exquisitely written tale of buried secrets and past tragedy.’ Amanda Jennings, author of Sworn Secret
‘A clammy, atmospheric and suspenseful novel, it builds in tension all the way through to the startling final pages.’ Sunday Express, S Magazine
A suspenseful chill ran right through me whilst reading The Room in the Attic. An eerie tale of All Hallows, once an Asylum in 1903 turned no nonsense Boy’s School in 1993. The two central characters, in 1993, Lewis and Isak are pretty much loners who get thrown together as they share a room in a part of the old School that is only being used because of damage to the dorms. Lewis begins to hear and feel a presence, a “something” that he can not explain. Isak begins to get drawn into this other worldliness and a chilling sequence of events begins.
Nurse Everdeen, appears a calm and caring Nurse in 1903 to a small child whose life is literally in her hands. The lives of all the characters become intertwined and the two worlds collide with some shocking outcomes.
Each chapter deals with a year in turn which lends to a cleverly written story that intricately weaves the characters stories together. creating a wonderfully emotive read with just enough danger to keep your attention. There is a touch of sadness running through everyone’s back story that only leads to a book that is impossible to put down until its finished. A superbly created ending that leaves no loose ends. There was one moment where Lewis has an encounter that literally made me jump so much that I nearly threw my kindle across the room.
I highly recommend this outstanding Novel, for thriller lovers and those who just enjoy a well written intricate book that takes you on an emotional journey, which has clearly been written with love and attention to gripping details that keep you turning the pages until you finish the whole book without realising you’ve been reading for hours. I loved it!!
Author Bio
Louise Douglas is the bestselling and brilliantly reviewed author of 6 novels including The Love of my Life and Missing You – a RNA award winner. The Secrets Between Us was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick. She lives in the West Country. Louise’s first book for Boldwood, The House by the Sea was published in March 2020.
With their wretched life in Liverpool behind them, Julie and Ralph Gold head to London for their next big break. Julie’s had enough of slumming it, she’s ready to quit their life of crime and go legit.
The same old game…
But it seems their reputation had beat them to it, and the underworld is already bubbling with news of the their arrival. And as much as Julie tries to go straight, the more people underestimate them and treat them like fools. And there is only so much Julie can take…
One last trick.
So when they are offered one final big job, Julie knows they should say no. It’s risky and could cost them everything they have. But it could also be their last chance to make it big.
And when fools rush in, the Golds take the spoils.
Read what happens next for Julie and Ralph Gold in another gripping story by Gillian Godden.
Fool’s Gold is my first novel by Gillian Godden. Where has this author been all my reading life? Wow is one word that springs to mind. This truly is a hard hitting gangland thriller with an extraordinary list of characters that all draw you in.
Julie and Ralph are a very likeable couple even though you know they are up to no good. I found myself rooting for them, especially Julie. She has a level of vulnerability about her that she is loathe to show even to her soon to be Gangland husband, Ralph. However she is a feisty woman that certainly takes no prisoners. Ralph has to reign her in quite often. Her mouth sometimes goes all out and you can almost here the voice in her head telling her to stop, but she just can’t help herself. She is the kind of woman that I would want on my side.
Ralph would do anything to protect his Julie but he becomes drawn into the biggest job he has ever been part of and Julie ends up being an integral part of the job. Ralph knows this could be the downfall of his marriage before it has even begun, but the mafia boss Carlos has a hold over Ralph, who he treats as a brother. He has no choice, he just hopes Julie will understand and forgive him, if they survive that is.
Fool’s Gold has crooks abound, they literally fill up every page with shocking deeds that create a tense atmosphere throughout.
I read this book with my eyes practically on stalks, lots of “oh NO that can’t happen” moments. I read it in one day as I absolutely could not put it down, I had to know what happened. They surely can’t get away with this heist? Its crazy, isn’t it? I fell in love with Ralph and Julie, for all their short comings they both have huge hearts of gold, but is in really Fool’s Gold?
Author Bio –
Gillian Godden is a brilliantly reviewed writer of gangland fiction as well as a full-time NHS Key Worker in Hull. She lived in London for over thirty years, where she sets her thrillers, and during this time worked in various stripper pubs and venues which have inspired her stories.
Sasha Hansley hates Christmas. As a child, it was her favourite time of year, but ever since the tragic death of her mother, it has completely lost its magic.
But when she gets an unexpected phone call from her eccentric estranged father, she’s forced to dust off her snow boots.
He has been running a Lapland-style Christmas village in Norway and after suffering a heart attack, he is on strict doctor’s orders to slow down. Eager to reconnect with her dad, Sasha books the next flight out there. Only she has never actually been on a plane before, let alone to the Arctic Circle.
Met at the runway by drop-dead-gorgeous Taavi Salvesen, they sleigh ride through the snow with the Northern Lights guiding their way.
When Sasha uncovers sacks of unopened Santa mail – letters that children and adults from all over the world write to Santa every year – she realises that she can send a little bit of magic out into the world by replying to some of them.
With Taavi on hand to help, will Sasha rediscover her own excitement for Christmas and find love among the letters?
The Post Box at the North Pole is like one big romantic mug of hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and a splash of Christmas magic! Fans of Holly Martin, Sarah Morgan and Heidi Swain will love this novel!
The Post Box at the North Pole is an exquisitely written, super cosy Christmas treat of a novel. Right through I felt like I was right there with Sasha, seeing the wonderful sites she encounters, from the incredible Northern Lights to the candy cane cottages and snow covered surroundings. I must admit to being a tad jealous when Sasha spends the night in an igloo looking up at thje wonderful light show played out in front of her.
Jaimie Admans has a beautifully descriptive style that opens up incredible pictures in your minds eye. I loved the Reindeer and the funny names that Sasha comes up with. I love her absolute resistance to all this Christmas overload she experiences, including her changing view of her estranged father who now seems to be some kind of Father Christmas character to the visitors of the somewhat dilapidated Christmas village. I love her attraction to Taavi, that she just doesn’t want to admit too and I love how she she suddenly seems to find herself not able to walk away from this slightly weird and wonderful place she has ended up in. Creating Christmas miracles to children from all over the world. Can she recapture a long lost love of the festive season?
All in all if you are a Christmas book lover, in need of an early Christmas fix, this in THE book for you. Full of sugary sweet hot chocolate moments, cinnamon pancakes cooked by a super hunky Norwegian and lots and lots of snow covered landscape, this book has it all. I mean come on what more does a Christmas Novel need?
Author Bio –
Jaimie is a 36-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She loves autumn and winter, and singing songs from musicals despite the fact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much time on Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots. She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.
She is the author of several romantic comedies for HarperCollins – The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters, The Little Wedding Island, It’s a Wonderful Night, The Little Vintage Carousel by the Sea, Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm, The Little Bookshop of Love Stories, The Wishing Tree Beside the Shore, The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane, and The Post Box at the North Pole.
Ella and Roly have bright futures ahead of them when they meet as teenagers and strike up an unlikely friendship. She has her career in academia all mapped out, and his star is in the ascendant as member of a manufactured boy band.
But ten years later, neither is where they expected to be. A chronic illness forced Ella to abandon her studies and put her dreams on hold, while Roly got kicked out of the band and lost everything – all his money, his career in music, even the underwear-model girlfriend.
When they cross paths again they’re both ready to start over, and they rekindle their friendship as they each try to get back what they lost.
But Ella didn’t tell Roly what really happened the last time they met. And if he finds out, will it be the end of their new beginning?
A compelling read that keeps you wondering throughout. A will they, wont they scenario runs underneath that keeps you reading, with intrigue right till the end.
The big secret that threatens to damage the budding relationship between Ella and Roly does come out towards the end of the book and it really made me go “oh no, now what”? but there was also a sense of “good for you” in my mind too.
Roly is a character that I couldn’t take to initially and the writing obviously leads you to feel this way, The sign of a fine book that is well written because it evokes strong emotions towards its characters. I did come to really love his character though, he’s a cutie really under all his bluster and I just want to be famous façade.
Ella is an altogether different character, wearing her heart on her sleeve. She tries to help Roly “Reboot” his life with healthy eating regimes and running schedules that they both enjoy. But is she being totally honest with herself and Roly? Is this only going to lead to total disaster? I’ll leave up to you to find out.
I would highly recommend this fabulously written romance come life changing novel. The Characters really try hard to be better in all walks of their lives, a definite page turner that I read really fast, another sign of an excellently written, keeps your interest to the last word, type of book. Love it.
Author Bio –
Clodagh Murphy lives in Dublin, Ireland and loves writing sassy, sexy romantic comedies. She has worked as a bar waitress, cleaner, secretary, editorial assistant, mystery shopper and movie extra. But she always dreamed of being an author, and after more jobs than she cares to remember, she now writes full-time. For more information about her books or to sign up to her newsletter, visit her website at http://clodaghmurphy.com/.
As the clouds of war grow bleaker both at home and abroad, the Tobacco Girls are determined to do their bit for King and Country. To that end Maisie Miles and Bridget Milligan become voluntary ambulance drivers.
As well as coping with the frequent air raids, Maisie is kept on her toes with three new junior employees one of whom is particularly testing.
Bridget’s heart becomes torn between family loyalty and American tobacco tycoon Lyndon O’Neill III, the man she loves.
Meanwhile Phyllis Harvey has joined the WAAF, opting to serve overseas whilst trying to escape her past. Her letters home are upbeat and her friends are initially envious of descriptions of sunshine and blue sea. The truth she hides is that life on the island of Malta is fraught with extreme food shortages, daily air raids and the fear that tomorrow might never come.
The future appears far less certain as the reality of war bites into The Tobacco Girls’ lives.
REVIEW BY NIKI PRESTON~5 STARS
Fire and Fury for The Tobacco Girls is a totally gripping and highly emotional read. One of the best war time based novels that I have read. I particularly enjoy WW2 stories with strong female protagonists and this book has them in spades. There is no nonsense Maisie, who is admired by her friends for her forthright attitude that quite often gets her into trouble. Phyllis Harvey, who desperately wants to escape a life with her in laws after her ill chosen husband is presumed dead. Then there’s Bridget ever the romantic who can’t believe her luck with her rich American boyfriend.
The brutality of war gets brought home to Maisie and Bridget as they train to become ambulance drivers during the air raids over the city of Bristol. Doing there bit for the war effort brings them face to face with gruesome situations and even the death of friends they work with in the tobacco factory. Phyllis who has joined the WAAF to escape her life of, what she thinks will become drudgery has been sent to Malta and endures horrific bombings and food shortages. She writes happy, life is great letters back to her two best friends so that they won’t worry about her. These girls are all strong willed in their own ways and rely on each others happiness more than they seem to realise. An escape perhaps from the horrors of war.
Although this is the third book in a series, it works equally well as a stand alone book. You get to know the characters thoroughly and I didn’t feel I had missed out on anything by not reading the first two. However I am going to go back and read them now. The book ends on a bit of a cliff hanger, yet I didn’t feel there were any loose ends. The ending definitely leaves you wanting more and I for one can not wait to get my hands on the next instalment of The Tobacco Girls.
Author Bio – Lizzie Lane is the author of over 50 books, a number of which have been bestsellers. She was born and bred in Bristol where many of her family worked in the cigarette and cigar factories. This has inspired her new saga series for Boldwood The TobaccoGirls.
Niki Preston, Book Reviewer, Writer, AKA The Two Fingered Gardener 