Release Date: 26/03/15
Publisher: Cornerstone Publishing
SYNOPSIS:
Boxing day, late shift. On duty: Flub, Dullas, Vince and Thrush. The new guy: Sergeant Martin Finch. What begins as a routine shift policing a football match rapidly descends into chaos. But how far will new guy Martin go to fit in? One thing is for certain: the lives of everyone on the Ugly Bus - and the life of a young woman drawn into their orbit - will change for ever.
REVIEW:
The new book in the delightfully addictive Viral’s series that has had me glued (as well as my Mum) from the very beginning.
If you want a crime novel that’s very different then you have to take a ride on Mike’s quirky and delightfully dark “Ugly Bus.” It has some great characters, top notch prose and when added to the humour alongside an overall arc that really does keep the pages turning generates a book that is hard to put down.
All round a thoroughly enjoyable title that was a pure joy to read and one that has really turned me on to Mike’s writing so much so that future titles will move up the TBR pile very quickly. Cracking.
Release Date: 26/03/15
Publisher: Conerstone Publishing
SYNOPSIS:
This is a terrifying new Virals adventure for Tory Brennan - great niece of Dr Temperance Brennan - and the Virals team as they come face to face with their greatest enemy. From the producer of the hit TV series Bones and No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Temperance Brennan series. Tory Brennan and the Virals are forced to confront the existence of a rival pack - The Trinity - who wants them off the scene - declaring war by engraving 'One Territory. One Pack' on a local landmark. What's more this pack's powers seem stronger and their eyes glow red rather than golden when they flare. Chance Claybourne, who now owns his father's pharmaceutical company, shares The Trinity's powers - he accidentally infected himself and his ex-lab tech Will Speckman. Chance claims he's on Virals' side but can they trust him? And if Speckman is one of The Trinity, who are the other two? As the tension mounts between the two packs an even greater threat looms. Covert government agents are closing in on them, determined to find out exactly how their powers work, to experiment on them. Have The Trinity pack given them Virals to save themselves? Or are both packs at risk?
REVIEW:
The new book in the delightfully addictive Viral’s series that has had me glued (as well as my Mum) from the very beginning.
As you’d expect the plotline is fast moving, the characters a sheer joy to hang around and when added to a story arc that really does keep on giving for the reader will leave you in no doubt that Kathy’s UF series has serious legs for readers.
Back this up with some great dialogue, a few twists and all round, you’ll have a great time. Just don’t blame me for lost sleep or for a sick day due to exhaustion. LOL
Release Date: 31/03/15
Publisher: Conerstone Publishing
SYNOPSIS:
A closely fought race, treachery in a back alley, a visit to the shrine of an Egyptian Goddess. A Roman centurion discovers that Fate will always hold him in her power.
The German frontier, spring 6 BC. When Lucius Cominius Tullus, a recently promoted centurion, gambles on a foot race between rival legionaries, he has no idea that his wager will endanger his very life, and that the streets of an Empire border town can be as deadly as the bloodiest battlefield.
A prequel to Ben Kane’s dramatic new trilogy, Eagles at War, The Shrine also includes a sample chapter from the first book in the series.
REVIEW:
A cracking short story from Ben Kane that delves into the past of a hero to be. Its definitely quirky, has a lot going for it and in some parts is reminiscent of David Gemmell’s fortune telling for Druss the Legend. All round, a read that not only drew you into Ben’s world but one that will act as a great way to start the cracking series. Back this up with solid prose and of course an author who knows how to weave a story and all round you’re in for a treat.
(The Shrine is available for Free on Amazon,.co,.uk, Kobo, I-tunes)
Release Date: 29/01/15
Publisher: Hammer/Cornerstone Publishing
SYNOPSIS:
This is the final book in the enthralling Engelsfor's trilogy. After the terrible events in Fire, the Chosen Ones are reduced from seven to six. Will they be strong enough to face the final showdown with terrifying the demons? In The Key questions are answered. Secrets are revealed. Loyalties are tested. Only one thing is certain: Everything will change.
REVIEW:
Ah a satisfying conclusion to the Engelsfors Trilogy, a series that blends elements of Buffy with more witchcraft and one that works very well. The characters are realistic, have real world worries and when added to their ability to grow through the series, not just in power but emotional aspects all round gives the reader a book that more than hits the spot.
Back this up with solid prose and of course dialogue that just buzzes through your imagination, for me generates a book that I had not only plenty of fun with but thoroughly enjoyed. Top Notch.
Release Date: 15/01/15
Publisher: Cornerstone Publishing
SYNOPSIS:
'Hell is other people.' This is a chilling, page-turning Hammer novella by the Booker-Prize-winning author of Vernon God Little. The setting: a faded, lonely guesthouse on the Essex coast. Outside, it's dark, and very foggy. Inside there's no phone or internet reception, no connection with the outside world. Enter Ariel Panek, a promising young academic en route from the USA to an important convention in Amsterdam. With his plane grounded by fog at Stanstead, he has been booked in for the night at the guesthouse. Discombobulated and jetlagged, he falls in with a family who appear to be commemorating an event. But this is no ordinary celebration. And this is no ordinary family. As evening becomes night, Panek realises that he has become caught in an insidious web of other people's secrets and lies, a Sartrian hell from which for him there may be no escape.
REVIEW:
A book that is hard to define and one that whilst well written with good language skills alongside prose, personally I felt that it was a title that was a let down rather than something that could have been grander. Don’t get me wrong as a reader I found it a book that had some thought provoking moments in it, but for me it felt rather short and with no real character development within left it feeling 2D. All round a book that I’d recommend to borrow from your library rather than lay out the cash for.
Release Date: 25/10/12
SYNOPSIS:
For the last twenty years Sir James Monmouth has been a gentleman adventurer, journeying all over the globe in the footsteps of his hero, the great pioneering traveller Conrad Vane. One rainy winter night, Sir James returns to London. Orphaned at five, it is now time to find out more about his family and origins, and also to learn about the early years of Conrad Vane. But at every turn James is warned off his investigation into Conrad Vane. Do these warnings explain his flashes of intense fear and feelings of being watched? And what of the boy who has started haunting his every step and the mysterious mirror with its inexplicable reflections? Eventually, Sir James' quest leads him to the old lady of Kittiscar Hall, and deep into a past that binds him to his hero in ways he never could have imagined.
REVIEW:
Whilst I haven’t always seen eye to eye with Debbie’s writing, this title more than grabbed my attention as it brought a whole host of elements to my attention that I just couldn’t ignore, after all when a tale brings crime alongside urban fantasy you know that all bets are off and that anything can happen.
What Debbie brings to the fore is a tale that has quite a few twists, brought together with solid pace and cracking dialogue. Yet whilst this all works extremely well what really made this stand out was the principle character who was a strong woman with brains, some street smarts and of course an attitude that has her facing her own demons head on. It’s definitely a book that I had fun with and one that I had a hard time putting down. All in a cracking title all round.
Release Date: 13/12/10
BOOK BLURB:
“Behold, Simon Pegg as you’ve never seen him before! Marvel as his superhero alter-ego traverses the continents in his customized Pegg Jet. His mission: to prevent the destruction of all life on earth.
A hilarious and brilliantly crafted graphic novel featuring the escapades of Simon Pegg, a ruggedly handsome superhero (with a body a bit like Brad Pitt’s from Fight Club and an almost constant thirst for Coke Zero) and his ever faithful robotic manservant, Canterbury, as they fight to stop the world from exploding. Will they get to Hendon in time to stop evil criminal Lord Black from carrying out his plan to fire his ancient Egyptian laser beam into the sun? Will Simon finally capture the heart of flame haired French cat burglar, The Scarlet Panther? And, perhaps most importantly, will Canterbury manage to provide appropriate refreshments for all visiting guests/informants? There’s only one way to find out …”
REVIEW:
Fans of the Horus Heresy will absolutely love this title as the Space Wolves take to the fore in this epic story. Add to the mix the typical Abnett charm, a good dollop of combat meted out alongside some seriously good dialogue and prose which will leave the reader sated at the tales conclusion.
Finally add the fact that this title really adds to the overall story arc of the Heresy in such a way that its going to follow key events and the readers will find that they’ve got that something special that only Abnett can bring to the table. A great title and a serious Science Fiction title to kick off the New Year with.
