#473 ~ In the Blood

In the Blood by Steve Robinson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#1 in the Jefferson  Tayte Genealogical Mystery Series




I've gone for 5 stars on book from Kindle Unlimited.

Overall whilst it was well written and kept my interest it was slightly on the predictable side as far as plot goes. However, the writing and grammar were accomplished (a refreshing change from some of the rot out there) and therefore I rounded up the 4.75 I'd allotted in my head to a 5 stars.

I have downloaded the others in the series, and will be interested to see how JT gets on finding his own family connections.


Hugs

Kay






View all my reviews

#463 ~ The Glassblower

The Glassblower by Petra Durst-Benning

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#Book 1 in the Series



I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, I don't usually pick foreign authors with translations.

The cover originally drew me in, and as I do the odd bit of glass lampwork there was no harm, I thought, in giving it a go - after all I could just use the 'Return' button if this Unlimited Kindle offering and I didn't get on.

It was a little sluggish at the beginning, but after that turned into a delightful offering. It isn't all light stuff contained in this book, there were dark under-tones; it certainly wasn't as clear as the glass the girls work with. The author has also left strands behind to be woven (or better still embroidered) into future work, which I am very much looking forward to picking up.

The subject matter is a worthy one, that of the empowerment of women; the author dealt with it well, but there was still room for a little bit of growth and playing around with the darkness offered, especially with the strand about the wholesaler. I am hoping that she will play around more with this more in the coming books.

I docked-off 1 star for the use of 'gotten' throughout the book. If you can write well, and this author certainly can, then there is no excuse for using it. That word is a disgusting plague on the written word. A shame, as that took the score to 4 stars rather than 5.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Apart from "gotten" there was nothing truly ugly in this book, and there didn't appear to be an blatant errors.

The good, though were things like this passage:

"... they called them "plum-cake days".  All summer long the songbirds had trilled in the pear tree outside the kitchen window but they were gone now.  The only sound these days was that of a blackbird chirruping or the high piping of a lark, and soon the mists would fall and silence even these."  (Durst-Benning, P (2003 - translated version 2014) Page 7).

The cover image, was also beautiful, which I believe was designed by Marc Cohen (see link below to Amazon page if you require more details on this).

Bibliography

Durst-Benning, P 'The Glassblower', 2003 Ullstein, Germany (2014 Translated from German by Willcocks, S AmazonCrossng, Country Unknown

Book was purchased via Kindle Unlimited HERE.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay 

xoxo

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Run Away Home

Kate Harris

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Historical > Romance

Indie Writer (Self-published)

Another new'ish release, which obviously hasn't had any reviews yet, so it's take it on face value:

Elizabeth is an heiress on the run. She refuses to marry a murderous man and embarks on a desperate escape for freedom. As she flees toward the Scottish coast to find passage on a ship to France, she gets waylaid by brigands.

Enter Laird Jamie Graham. He rescues her and then falls for her, hard. Elizabeth is mysterious, fiery and definitely not placed in his path by his meddlesome, matrimony-scheming mother. That’s a boon he can’t ignore. To best protect Elizabeth, Jamie escorts her to the safety of his clan. Although he pledges to help her, he has no intention of losing her to faraway France.

Elizabeth’s resolve slips as Jamie plies her with charm and seduction. She soon wavers between seeking freedom and seeking the comfort of Jamie’s arms, but can she ever be safe in Scotland?

No reviews, but it's shortie at 165 pages, oh go, go on, go on .........click HERE to download.

On Amazon today my rating is (<) to 4,552. I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day ....... so if you find the Daily Kindle Downloads info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback  on some of my reviews (which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks).

Hugs

Kay

#369 - Cold Courage

Cold Courage

Pekka Hiltunen

Books > Fiction > Crime > Mystery

Description:

When Lia witnesses a disturbing scene on the way to work, she, like the rest of the city of London, is captivated and horrified. As details unfurl in the media the brutal truth transpires - a Latvian prostitute has been killed, her body run over by a bulldozer and then placed in the trunk of a car to be found. As the weeks pass and no leads are found, the story quickly disintegrates but Lia can't easily forget. So when she meets Mari in a late night bar one night she feels fate might have brought them together. Like her, Mari is a Finnish woman in London finding her way, somewhat of an outsider, very independent. But there is much more to Mari than meets the eye: she is a psychologist who possesses an unnatural way of being able to 'read' people, see into their inner most thoughts and pre-empt their actions. She uses her 'gift' to try to help people and has formed a close unit she calls the Studio, a kind of team of investigators, who are not beyond breaking the law to put the worlds to rights. Mari and Lia strike up a firm friendship and when Lia shares her plaguing thoughts about the murder, Mari thinks she and the members of the Studio can help where the police have failed. But Mari and Lia are about to step foot into extremely dangerous territory, especially as Mari has a will to control others, take vengeance on those she deems deserve it and use the Studio to unscrupulous ends.

Product Details:

* I was provided with a hardback copy of this book by the First Reads Scheme on Good Reads.

Hardback and Kindle HERE.

* * * * *

Summary/thoughts:

{This review may contain a few spoilers}

My first impression of the cover was that it might well prove to be a very dark and forbidding read, and I wasn't particularly looking forward to it. So, I opened it not with a little trepidation.

Having just finished, I am happy to report that it exceeded my expectations, and then some. It just shows, one should not really judge a book by its cover!

I cannot deny that it wasn't difficult subjects being dealt with: murder, fraud, brutality, prostitution, domestic abuse and manipulation of a political party for personal gain and exploitation. However, it was dealt with very sympathetically.

Quite simply the writing was an exceptional quality, with well formed characters. We are treated to a well thought through plot and a nice pace that keeps the pages turning.

Lia in particular was written well. There were glimpses into her past, but the reader is not left to feel not that there wasn't sufficient back story to judge her abilities and vulnerabilities.

As far as Mari was concerned I was left with the distinct impression that there was much more to her than met the eye. She had a darker side, and it left me feeling more distrustful of her motives as the plot moved along. I still am not completely sure in my own mind whether she was likeable. Certainly she came across as somewhat manipulative, but was that really for the good of mankind of by way of her own self-service? Was it due to her past or her complex personality? Without a doubt Pekka wrote a multi-layered and complex personality, and maybe that Mari was intentionally written to be a 'shifting sands' character, with the reader making up his or her own mind about her.

The quality of the writing made me hope he will go on to write something more that will reveal further Mari and her work (be it for good of bad).

Having felt invested in Lia too, I'm left with a strong need to know more of her future. 



Rating:

Five stars for me for this book, highly recommended. Kudos to Pekka for an exception piece of writing, and fingers crossed he goes on to write a sequel.

Errors / Bug Bears:

None - kudos to the Author and Publisher for a fabulous product.

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Vampnesia

Kate Shay

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Fantasy > Vampires

Indie Writer (Self-published)

I'm keeping it short today, much like my selection.

A little vampire offering:

She once was a vampire. . . 

Capturing a human is not the same as capturing what it is to be human. There are only two escapes from a vampire life: extinction, or something entirely familiar. 

Nia is human again, but not for long. Will she make the same mistakes again? Will she still love and remember the one who has always loved her for time, eternity and beyond?

Vampnesia is what Nia has to fight!

No reviews, but it's short at 138 pages, so give it chance ...... click HERE to download it.

On Amazon today my rating is (<) to 4,537. I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day ....... so if you find the Daily Kindle Downloads info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback  on some of my reviews (which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks).

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

One Glass is Never Enough

Jane Wenham-Jones

*NEW AUTHOR

Kind Store > Books > Fiction > Contemporary > Romance

Indie Writer (Self-published)

You might think that picking the Number 1 Best Seller on Amazon's Free list doesn't take much imagination .... but, you would be wrong, really you would.  I initially looked at it, rejected it for just that reason, but gravitated back there.  Reason:  yesterday's pick was a bit heavy and I just fancied something with more light  than shade as it where.

In case you were wondering ......... yes, I do read my own selections, although, I'm woefully behind (currently there's a medium hillock of books, which from here on in I will be referring to as my "slush" pile, that have been sent to me by authors' and publishers' to read and review in both actual to goodness books and ebooks.  I'm not complaining, keep them coming, as I will literally read the back of a packet if I don't have a book to hand.  I love books pure and simple, always have and always will.

Any how back to the matter in hand, my light and frothy selection for today:

Three women, one bar and three different reasons for buying it. Single mother Sarah needs a home for her children; Claire's an ambitious business woman. For wealthy Gaynor, Greens Wine Bar is just one more amusement. Or is it? 

On the surface, Gaynor has it all - money, looks, a beautiful home in the picturesque seaside town of Broadstairs, and Victor - her generous, successful husband. 

But while Sarah longs for love and Claire is making money, Gaynor wants answers. Why is Victor behaving strangely and who does he see on his frequent trips away? What's behind the threatening phone-calls? 

As the bar takes off, Gaynor's life starts to fall apart. Into her turmoil comes Sam - strong and silent with a hidden past. Theirs is an unlikely friendship but then nobody is quite what they seem in this tale of love, loss and betrayal set against the middle-class dream of owning a wine bar. As Gaynor's confusion grows, events unfold that will change all of their lives forever.

With a bag of 32 mixed reviews, give it a chance.  Click HERE to go to the download.

By the way, I've had a couple of comments from friends of mine recently that read the blog, that they've missed out on the free download.  It happens to me sometimes too, if I decide on a certain book and it goes off free listing ... very frustrating I know.  Get it when I mention it, I check before I post to the blog, or you may miss out.  What's the worse thing that could happen, they're free ..... if you don't like it, delete it off the Kindle again.  Did that sound condescending?   It didn't mean to be, I always tell it the way it is.  What I'm trying to say, is get it or risk losing it basically, take a chance on a book, new author or different genre as the results can be quite surprising.

This has been a far wordier chat with you all than I expected .... I do go on sometimes ....... it might just be that I'm putting off the daunting prospect of sitting through the Headmaster's speech at Lou's Prizegiving Lunch today .... like the curates egg:  yay, lunch ..... not so yay, he apparently managed a 2 hour speech last year!

On Amazon today my rating is (<) to 4,522. I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day ....... so if you find the Daily Kindle Downloads info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback  on some of my reviews (which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks).

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

The Soul Bearers

Sylvia Massara

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Gay & Lesbian

I realise that today's choice might not be for everyone, but reading the description this sound like an intriguing read:

Partly inspired by real life events, this is a story of courage, the gift of friendship and unconditional love. The story involves three people whose lives cross for a short period of time and the profound effect which results from their interaction. Alex Dorian, freelance travel writer and victim of child abuse, arrives in Sydney in an attempt to exorcise the ghosts of her past. She shares a house with Steve and the disturbing Matthew, a gay couple. Alex finds herself inexplicably attracted to Matthew, and she must battle with her repressed sexuality and her fear of intimacy.

Matthew, extremely good looking and an inspiring actor/model, lives with Steve, who is dying of AIDS. Matthew has his own battle, that of dealing with the rejection of his socialite parents, and facing a future without his partner. Steve is the rock to which the troubled Matthew and Alex cling as they examine their lives and beliefs. Steve finally dies, but his legacy lives on in the strength which both Matthew and Alex find to face their own pain. Alex learns to love again, thanks to the gift of friendship from Matthew; and in turn, with Alex’s love and support, Matthew learns to forgive the past and move on to follow his dream.

It's a pretty cover anyway, and my challenge is all about expanding my reading horizons.  You can get a copy by clicking HERE.  

On Amazon today my rating is (>) to 4,512. I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day ....... so if you find the Daily Kindle Downloads info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback  on some of my reviews (which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks).

Hugs

Kay

Justice: Deck of Lies Trailer

Justice: Deck of Lies

Jade Varden

*NEW AUTHOR

Fiction > Young Adult

Indie Writer (Self-published)

I just love this trailer, and am hopefully going to get the chance to read it very soon for a Review.





In the meantime, if you are interested you can purchase a copy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.

You can also read Jade's Blog HERE.

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Pirates Bride

Lynette Vinet

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Historical > Romance

I'm sorry ...... I think ......... I've weakened and gone for an Historical Romance today .... I know, I know, some of you will be thanking me and others will be less than pleased!  It's a pirate one: does that make it better?

Young Bethlyn Talbot, daughter of the Earl of Dunsmoor, is forced into an arranged marriage with brash colonial Ian Briston, who abandons her after the wedding ceremony. Seven years later, Bethlyn has blossomed into a beautiful and alluring young woman, with a husband in name only. 

Wishing for the marriage to be annulled or force her errant husband to make her his wife in all ways, Bethlyn leaves England for America on one of her father's ships. But when the ship is captured by the infamous American privateer, Captain Hawk, he mistakes her for a prostitute.

Fighting her attraction for the masked pirate, Bethlyn becomes Hawk's prey and succumbs to nights of passion in the arms of the buccaneer. What will happen when she finally arrives in Philadelphia to claim her wayward spouse now that she's known the ecstasy of being the pirate's bride?

You can get a copy by clicking HERE.  Personally, I'm really looking forward to reading it, but as I discussed with a friend yesterday, my own personal reading is falling further and further behind.  I've had so many books sent in to review and requests to look at more ..... don't get me wrong, it's lovely and I really am excited about it, especially as I have a change to extend the genres that I read.  However, I need an extra 9 or 10 hours a day to get through it all.  I think I'll have to stop doing the housework and concentrate on getting my pile down a bit.  Here's hoping that the weather will cheer up and I can use that as an excuse to read.

On Amazon today my rating is (>) to 4,970. I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day ....... so if you find the Daily Kindle Downloads info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback  on some of my reviews (which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks).

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Returned (Pendle Hill #1)

Keeley Smith

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Fantasy > Witch Craft > Magic

Indie Writer (Self-published)

I'm always interested in anything to do with Pendle Hill.  I think it was after the Most Haunted Series that came from there, that was seriously spooky.

I was therefore mega excited to find this book by Indie Writer Keeley Smith in the New Release section.  There are 14 (mostly very good reviews), so I think it might just be showing in that section as it's currently a free download:

17 year old Cora Hunt has one wish, to live the life of a normal teenager. Her wish never comes true.

After her reluctant move to a sleepy village in the middle of Lancashire Cora's life is turned upside down when she discovers she is a witch. Cora is not just any old witch, she is the daughter of Alizon Device who was one of the most powerful witches of her time.

Dealing with her new found powers is quite a challenge, but when the past she didn't know about unearths new complications in the form of Jack Thomas, her life becomes increasingly dangerous with each waking minute. Jack also has a secret past, a past that clashes with Cora's. 

A confrontation between the two results in a life or death situation. The brutal events of 1612 happened hundreds of years ago, but what Jack and Cora face is a definite déjà vu.

The only question is, will their fate be the same as those who perished in 1612?

You can get a copy by clicking HERE.

On Amazon today my rating is (<) to 4,975. I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day ....... so if you find the Daily Kindle Downloads info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback  on some of my reviews (which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks).

Hugs

Kay

Bonus Free Download for Kindle for today

How I Overcame My Trauma and and PTSD

Philippe Izmailov

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Non-Fiction > Self-help

Indie Writer (Self-published)

My friend Philippe Izmailov on Goodreads kindly sent me a link to his new book, which is available on Amazon until Monday.

Why not take the chance to download it HERE (I got my copy from Amazon UK, but it's also available on the main site).

Here's what he has to say about it:

Two years ago I was diagnosed with depression and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I suffered from anxiety, different fears, nasty feelings (especially sadness and anger), flashbacks and re-experiencing my traumas. I also used to experience plenty of stress, irritability, feelings of guilt, memory problems, sleeping problems and changes in mood. I tried to avoid these nasty experiences and to forget my bad memories but it did not help. My efforts were in vain.

My traumas were caused by different traumatic events with were full of violence, physical and emotional abuse, aggression, emotional blackmail, bullying and mobbing (pestering). Most of these events happened during my childhood. For some time I have been treated by a psychologist, who applied several cures like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). As I was not satisfied with my progress, I developed and employed a successful self-help treatment to recover from psychological traumas and PTSD. I named it Mindfulness Based Trauma Treatment (MBTT). In my self-help workbook I describe step by step my treatment method based on the experiences with my own traumas. 

Mindfulness Based Trauma Treatment (MBTT) consists of elements from Mindfulness, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Buddhism and Psychology.

I have succeeded in healing more than 100 different traumas using MBTT. I’m changed. I do not suffer from anxiety, fears, nasty feelings, flashbacks and other things any more. They’re all gone. I can recall my traumas without experiencing nasty emotions, fears and stress. They do not bother me anymore. Now I’m able to experience positive feelings again, such as happiness and love.

It's always a pleasure to feature non-fiction self-books, and I hope somebody can get something positive out of his experiences ..... I am certainly looking forward to reading it.

Hugs

Kay

In My Mailbox

Crypto-Punk

George Traikovich

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Fantasy

I was a lucky girl the other day to receive a paperback copy of this new book by Geroge Traikovich, via the Good Reads First Read/Giveaway Scheme:

Summer school wasn't supposed to end with a bang—but when the Zero Avenue kids bring Bixby Elementary’s water tower down during a class experiment gone wrong, they find their troubles are just beginning. Join Drew, Clementine, Grady, Newton, and Spider as they unravel the threads of an arcane conspiracy that blurs the line between science and magic, between friends and enemies, and draws them into an adventure that tests their character, and their loyalties to each other. Fight along side them as they defend their school, and their neighbourhood, from the growing menace of the Crypto-Punks.

Super cool cover, which I am eagerly looking forward to getting to on my reading list.  Books are coming in thick and fast from Authors and Publishers at the moment.

If you are interested you can purchase at Amazon HERE.

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Bewitched in Time

(Salem Moon #1)

Scarlet Black

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Romance > Time Travel > Witchcraft

Recently, I seem to be comfortably ensconced in the time travel genre, and this one took my eye from a book of completely different genre that had been my first pick.  It's a revised edition of Salem Moon (see the reviews are apparently being switched over by Amazon at the moment).  

Apart from the fact that it's a really beautiful cover, the description seemed to grab me, as I am fascinated with Salem:

Gabriel Blackstone, a young man living in Salem Massachusetts in the year 1692 is found guilty of witchcraft,and sentenced to death.

While he lies dying under the crushing weight of stones, a mysterious man appears to him, promising to change his fate if he will take his hand and go with him. Gabriel agrees, having no idea of the price he'll pay for this decision!

Miraculously, Gabriel is transported to 21st century Salem, where he escapes his fate and meets his destiny. He falls in love with Lily Snow, an avid historian and a direct descendant of the very family who accused him of witchcraft! 

Over 300 years later, the two families still hate each other. Gabriel and Lily know their love is forbidden, but the choice to love is not a choice at all. They cannot deny how they feel about each other.

Gabriel is shocked when he learns that the man who saved his life is an evil Fallen Angel, named Lucien who wreaks havoc on the city of Salem with his unbridled lust and violence. He wants Gabriel’s very soul- and he wants Lily! 

Gabriel and Lily come together in a love that transcends time, brutal injustice and evil itself; a love they must fight for with everything they’ve got!

You can get a copy by clicking HERE and see what you think.

On Amazon today my rating is (<) to 4,958. I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day ....... so if you find the Daily Kindle Downloads info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback  on some of my reviews (which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks).

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Earthspan

Tony Passarelli

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Science Fiction

Indie Writer (Self-published)

Today I'm selecting a short story by my Good Reads Friend, Tony Passarelli.  

Delia would consider herself to be the perfect woman, living in a perfect world. She has a beautiful daughter and they share a wonderful life. Today could turn out to be quite special, possibly even the perfect day. After all, this was her time.

This was Delia time!

He's an Indie Writer ..... and we need all the help we can get putting our work out there, so please download it HERE and give it a go .... what have you got to lose!

On Amazon today my rating is (<) to 4,950. I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day .... so if you find the Daily Kindle Download info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback - which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks.

Hugs

Kay

In My Mailbox

Cold Courage 

Pekka Hiltunen

*NEW AUTHOR

Amazon > Books > Fiction > Contemporary > Crime

I was a lucky girl the other day to receive a hardback copy of this new book by Pekka Hiltunen, via the Good Reads First Read/Giveaway Scheme:

When Lia witnesses a disturbing scene on the way to work, she, like the rest of the city of London, is captivated and horrified. As details unfurl in the media the brutal truth transpires - a Latvian prostitute has been killed, her body run over by a bulldozer and then placed in the trunk of a car to be found. As the weeks pass and no leads are found, the story quickly disintegrates but Lia can't easily forget. So when she meets Mari in a late night bar one night she feels fate might have brought them together. Like her, Mari is a Finnish woman in London finding her way, somewhat of an outsider, very independent. But there is much more to Mari than meets the eye: she is a psychologist who possesses an unnatural way of being able to 'read' people, see into their inner most thoughts and pre-empt their actions. She uses her 'gift' to try to help people and has formed a close unit she calls the Studio, a kind of team of investigators, who are not beyond breaking the law to put the worlds to rights. Mari and Lia strike up a firm friendship and when Lia shares her plaguing thoughts about the murder, Mari thinks she and the members of the Studio can help where the police have failed. But Mari and Lia are about to step foot into extremely dangerous territory, especially as Mari has a will to control others, take vengeance on those she deems deserve it and use the Studio to unscrupulous ends.

I absolutely love the cover image, and can't wait to start reading it .... there are a huge amount of books ahead of it, but I like to try and bring books received for review ahead of Daily Kindle Selection, etc.  Maybe I will start it after my current read.

If you are interested you can purchase at Amazon HERE.

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

The Last Rogue

Connie Mason

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Historical > Romance

I've been good recently, and there hasn't been too much Historical Romance ...... soooooooo, today guess what?  A nice good old fashioned romance:

All London was stunned when the infamous rake Lucas, Viscount Westmore, vowed to give up the fair sex and exile himself to St. Ives. The infamous rake was known for his love of luxury and his way with the ladies, just as the rugged Cornish coast was known for its savagery, its fearsome gales and its smugglers.

But Luc was determined to turn away from the seduction of perfumed flesh that had ended in tragedy and make his atonement. He never guessed the stormy nights of Cornwall would bring unlooked-for danger, the thrill of the chase, and a long-legged beauty who would tempt him like no other.

Click HERE to get the download, and  enjoy!

On Amazon today my rating is (>) to 4,939 (I know .... go me!!!!!). I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day .... so if you find the Daily Kindle Download info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback - which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks.

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Chasing Kindle

Michael Spears

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Non-Fiction > Contemporary > Marketing > e-business

Indie Writer (Self-published)

Anything with the word Kindle is going to catch my eye .... you may be quite aware by now, just how attached I am to "My Baby" LOL!  So, I paused in my search to read the description:

If you've ever wondered if all of those so called Kindle gurus are really out to help you sell your book, you may be mistaken. Chasing Kindle dispels the myth of most of the Kindle experts. You'll see why you don't need any of the those "tools". You're going to find out what you really need to write a book. See what the experts don't want you to find out. They're lining their pockets with your hard earned cash. When you finish this book, you and your wallet will thank me.

Having recently featured Mark Coker's Smashwords Marketing Guide, I thought it would be nice maybe to feature a possible flip side of the coin as it were.  If anything it should be an interesting read.  Click HERE to get the download.

On Amazon today my rating is (<) to 5,456.  I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now.  I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day .... so if you find the Daily Kindle Download info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback - which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks.

Hugs

Kay

#366 - Mail Order Mayhem (Brides of Beckham Series)

Mail Order Mayhem 

(Brides of Beckham Series)

Kirsten Osbourne

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Historical > Romance

Indie Writer (Self-published)

Description 

When Maude is told she must marry a repulsive man, she instead responds to an Iowa farmer who is looking for a mail order bride. After sneaking out of town on a train, she goes to Iowa and marries. She quickly falls for the wonderful man she marries, but does he feel the same? And will she be able to escape her past?

Product Details:

I downloaded this as a free Kindle download in March, but at the time of writing this post it's listed at 77p.  Click HERE to get a copy.

Short Story really at 91 pages (338KB).

Forms part of the Brides of Beckham Series:

Book 1 - this one
Book 2 - Mail Order Mama
Book 3 - Mail Order Madness
Book 4 - Mail Order Mix Up
Book 5 - Mail Order Mistake
Book 6 - Mail Order Maternity

* * * * *

Summary/thoughts:

Over in the blink of an eye, but it was actually quite a sweet little story.

I feel that at 91 pages, it's too short to be considered a novella, more like short story classification.

Maude certainly struck lucky, she could have got herself in to a horrid situation ... still, maybe desperation drives us to take chances, and hope should be the underlying message from this.

I enjoyed it enough to add the remainder of the series to my "Want to Read" list at Good Reads.

Rating:

Overall, I was left with the feeling that this could have been given a little bit more flesh on its bones to make a novella rather than a short, or with more jeopardy, into a full length piece of work.  A 3.5 would be the appropriate rating. 

Errors/Bug Bears:

None really, apart from the odd mistake, but I'd left my note notebook downstairs, and it was over before I found the will to get up and collect it.

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Waiting for Summer's Return 

Kim Vogel Sawyer

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Historical > Romance > Religious

This cover caught my eye, so I decided I'd give it a go for today's selection:

All alone on the Kansas prairie, Summer Steadman has few options. With her husband and children lost to illness, she has no desire to continue on farther west to where she and her husband planned to build their future. Instead, she seeks employment in a small Mennonite community in order to be near the graves of her family.

Widower Peter Ollenburger, the local gristmill owner, needs someone to teach his young son. When he hears of a "learned woman" in town, he believes she is the answer to his prayers. He soon discovers, however, that helping this outsider may have troublesome consequences.

There is little this father will not do for his son, but as the boy begins to look at Summer as more than a teacher, Peter must make a choice. Does he marry this woman to give his son a new mother, or does he marry only for love? 

Will Summer's broken heart ever be able to love again?

Don't be put off by the "religious" tag, we've had books like that before that still turned out to be very good.  With 17 reviews and 5 stars like it could be a reasonable read.  Click HERE to get the download.

On Amazon today my rating is (<) to 5,435.  I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now.  I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day .... so if you find the Daily Kindle Download info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback - which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks.

Hugs

Kay