#BlogTour Under the Cloud by B.R. Erlank

It’s my turn on the BlogTour Under the Cloud by B.R. Erlank.

About the Author

Boris Erlank grew up in Southern Africa and Namibia. He has lived and worked in places as diverse as Luanda, Cape Town, Singapore and San Francisco. Boris recently gave up his job as Global Privacy Manager with a Fortune 100 company to focus on writing full-time. 

He has an extensive background in IT, data privacy and cybersecurity, and has drawn on that experience to craft his latest novel, “Under the Cloud”. 

Boris lives with his family and two dogs in the foothills of Mount Diablo, east of San Francisco. In his spare time, he likes to cycle, hike, sing in a choir, and listen to audiobooks. Visit brerlank.wordpress.com or B.R. Erlank on Facebook

About the book

They call themselves The Settlement Bureau. A faceless, soulless organization coercing Americans with threats to expose their improprieties and vulnerabilities. Inhumanely persistent, they’ve secretly driven hundreds of victims into bankruptcy, despair – and several even to suicide.

But when this organization tries to blackmail IT expert Terry Reynolds, they make a serious mistake. Terry is down on his luck. He is penniless, divorced and in a dead-end job. Yet, the abuse of his personal information stirs Terry out of his lethargy, and he fights back. He embarks on a digital game of cat-and-mouse with the cold, calculating minds behind The Settlement Bureau – and in doing so, uncovers a sprawling criminal conspiracy.

Review

At the core of this read is religion and the fine line drawn between Christians and the posers using religion it to earn a dime. Zealous pseudo-Christians and in particular the big Evangelists – the TV evangelists. Talk about the world’s greatest con. People want to believe and are eager to send their money. Talking of fine lines – there is also an invisible one many of these pseudo religious groups cross, and often it isn’t even invisible – the line into being a cult.

I think the author makes some interesting comparisons to already existing groups and individuals who are willing to be ruthless, criminal and blatantly devoid of any morals or suggested religious values. People are easy pickings for those working the long con under the guise of a religion – willing to give or do anything only to be embraced by the faux lord and get a key to the door in the sky.

When you combine that with cyber-crime, which is one of the biggest threats the world is confronted with in this era, then you have a perfect collusion between crime, vulnerability and the manipulation via media outlets.

I thought this was quite clever, especially when it waded into more controversial topics. Giving both sides or positions without taking a definitive stand, very diplomatic indeed and yet simultaneously also presenting a no-holds-barred picture of the issue. It’s an engrossing and fast-paced read.

Buy Under the Cloud at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: ‎Khanya pub date 15 Sept. 2022. Buy at Amazon com.

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#BlogTour The Dream that Held Us by Rhiannon Jenkins Tsang

It’s my turn on the BlogTour The Dream that Held Us by Rhiannon Jenkins Tsang.

About the Author

Rhiannon Jenkins Tsang is a British author whose work focuses on cultural and historical fault lines and has strong international themes.  Rhiannon was born and grew up in Yorkshire and has studied, lived and worked in Europe and Asia.  She read Oriental Studies (Chinese) at Oxford University and speaks Mandarin and Cantonese.  Rhiannon lives in a former farmhouse in rural England with her family.

Follow @rhiannonjtsang on Twitter, on Instagram, on Goodreads, on Youtube, on Facebook, on Amazon, Buy The Dream that Held Us

About the book

Another stunning Anglo-Indian love story from the author of The Last Vicereine, Penguin Random House 2017. 

October 1985, Ash Misra leaves a blood-stained Delhi for Oxford University. Haunted by a terrible secret, he just wants to forget. Music and fresh violence bring him to fellow student and amateur violinist, Isabella Angus, but duty and the burden of history keep them apart. A quarter of a century later against the background of the global financial crisis, Sir Peter Roberts, former Master of Woodstock College, receives a letter from Ash for Isabella. They are no longer young but they had made a tryst with destiny; old terrors and suppressed desires return. 

Review

Is it true that there is nearly always a person who could have been more to you than they actually were, but it just wasn’t the right time or place. Circumstances keep people apart, but if given the opportunity is there something from the past worth rekindling? In a sense that is the story of Ash and Isabella.

Isabella has always felt as if her life was one she wasn’t supposed to have lived. One of missed moments, but as a reader I think we see things with more clarity than the woman who lives and feeds off a dream and the past.

Her counterpart doesn’t appear to have given her the same afterthought though. He has taken different paths, lived normal male clichés and perhaps more by accident returned to a love once lived. It’s story of beginnings, endings and reconnection. Driven mainly by Isabella who has let herself become immersed in what could have been and the pain of loss.

The writing weaves in and out of beautiful prose and then into a more contemporary story and language mode. It’s a hard one to pinpoint – as a reader you can feel that the author is on the verge of the kind of book you always remember and are in awe of the lyrical sound as the words meld together to become one harmonious song. Not quite there yet though. Two sides of the coin are vying for pole position, which gives the read the feeling of being drawn in by the serenity and then being thrust out again by a different style entirely.

I think Tsang is certainly an author worth revisiting. Eventually the walls will fall and the story waiting to be told will out.

Buy The Dream that Held Us at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Bunny Publishing; pub date 18 Jan. 2021. Buy at Amazon com. Hive. Bookshop org. Waterstones.

Other books by Rhiannon Jenkins Tsang – Novels: The Woman Who Lost China, Open Books 2013, The Last Vicereine, Penguin Random House 2017, Short Story Anthology: Hong Kong Noir, Akashic Books 2019

#BlogTour It Will Be Quick by Karl Drinkwater

Today it’s an absolute pleasure to take part in the BlogTour It Will Be Quick by Karl Drinkwater.

About the Author

Karl Drinkwater writes thrilling SF, suspenseful horror, and contemporary literary fiction. Whichever you pick you’ll find interesting and authentic characters, clever and compelling plots, and believable worlds.

Karl has lived in many places but now calls Scotland his home. He’s an ex-librarian with degrees in English, Classics, and Information Science. He also studied astrophysics for a year at university, surprising himself by winning a prize for “Outstanding Performance”. Karl is an active member of the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA), the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).

When he isn’t writing he loves guitars, exercise, computer and board games, nature, and vegan cake. Not necessarily in that order.

Follow @karldrinkwater on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, on Facebook, on Instagram, Visit karldrinkwater.uk, Buy It Will Be Quick

About the book

A single decision can save – or ruin – a life.

An opportunistic baby theft by a young woman in pain. Two strangers shipwrecked on a lifeless rock, unable to speak the same language. An isolated cycling holiday descends into terror. One woman seeks the courage to destroy her life. A miracle unites a community, and teenagers take a stand against hypocrisy.

Karl Drinkwater presents characters to root for – and characters to dread – in sixteen tales of humanity, endurance, and spirit.

Review 

This is a collection of sixteen contemporary short stories. Each story wanders into a different landscape of emotional confusion, distress and the pain of not being heard. Simultaneously there are also stories that shine a light on the manipulation and control by big tech, the fraught political scenery we are trying to navigate and often simply just the story of life in general.  

Obviously talking about each story would be a lot and leave nothing for potential readers to discover, however I will mention two of them.

Fire in the Hole – A tragic tale of desperation, mental health issues and how too many are falling through the cracks of the system. How perception is everything and misconceptions frame the way we view certain individuals.

SenSor OS is an incredibly clever tongue-in-cheek swipe at the stronghold technology has on us. We have literally become slaves to the variety of devices and screens we interact with each day. Certain software companies have made it impossible to make independent choices. Others manipulate politics and the law to steal and profit from the public domain. I loved this one by the way. 

Short stories aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, perhaps because it isn’t as easy as it sounds to create something small with enough pull, drive and content to captivate like a full novel.

Whilst the ventures into Speculative Dystopian Sc-Fi by Drinkwater are intriguing reads, this book of short stories is much more indicative of the creative and versatile talent he harbours. Each story is a potential novel in the making, each character has a story worth telling. Each brief moment fulfills the satisfying expectation of a longer tale.

Buy It Will Be Quick at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Organic Apocalypse pub date 1 Nov. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. Hive. Bookshop org. Waterstones.

#BlogTour The Viscount’s Convenient Bride by Josie Bonham

 Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour The Viscount’s Convenient Bride by Josie Bonham.

About the Author

Josie lives in the English midlands, surrounded by towns full of history such as Evesham, Stratford-Upon- Avon, Warwick and Worcester. Which is perhaps why her favourite reads are historical. Out of all the periods to choose from the Regency Era stirs her imagination the most. The true Regency lasted from 1811 until 1820 but dates as wide as 1789 to 1837 have been included in the extended Regency period. For Josie the true flavour of this period emerges after the iniquitous hair powder tax of 1795, unsurprisingly, scuppered the fashion for hair powder almost overnight. 

Josie has always dabbled in stories but it took the combined efforts of her sister and eldest niece to set her on the path to writing novels. Her Regency romances, with a dash of adventure and intrigue, are the result.

There is more information on her website at  www.josiebonhamauthor.com  

Follow @BonhamJosie on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, on Facebook, Buy The Viscount’s Convenient Bride

About the book

Luke, Viscount Enstone’s, resolve to avoid a love match is tested to its limit when he accepts responsibility for the Davenport family.

Luke has found it hard to sort out his late father’s affairs. A dishonest secretary and ailing land agent have left the family estates in disorder. With new people in place, he sets off to one of his smaller properties to discover the extent of an obligation that seems out of keeping with the cold-hearted father he remembers. Who is the young woman living at Shepley Hall and what was her connection to his father?

Miss Kitty Davenport has waited for a long time to find out if the new Viscount Enstone will continue the support his father gave to her family and her patience is wearing thin. Will he carry on paying for her young brother’s education and even assist him in finding a career? For herself, all she needs is help to find a suitable position as a companion and to escape from the unwanted attentions of a persistent suitor.

Review

Kitty is a victim of societal rules and structures, in a world where women have to rely on the men for everything and are also at the beck and call of said men. Trying to keep herself afloat and her brother in his expensive school is proving hard, and her predicament has made her the target of an unsavoury gentleman wishing to exploit her vulnerability.

Luke arrives at Shepley Hall with the sole purpose of finding out what connection Kitty has or had to his father. Is he walking into some strange illicit arrangement or is it simply a case of not having all the information to understand the situation. He feels responsible for the young woman and her already damaged reputation, which is the beginning of a relationship that is fraught with misunderstandings and insecurities.

Bonham gives readers the climax readers expect from this kind of historical period romance. The tussle, the pull and the physical attraction. The inevitable, which is delayed by the ever evolving obstacle course of emotions and the rules of the upper echelon.

This is the second book in the Reluctant Brides series, both of which can be read as standalone novels.

Buy The Viscount’s Convenient Bride at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Pitcheroak Press; pub date1 Nov. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. 

#PublicationDayPush Sleepless by Louise Mumford

Today its the Publication Day Push for Sleepless by Louise Mumford.

About the Author

Louise was born and lives in South Wales. From a young age she loved books and dancing, but hated having to go to sleep, convinced that she might miss out on something interesting happening in the world whilst she dozed – much to her mother’s frustration! Insomnia has been a part of her life ever since.

She studied English Literature at university and graduated with first class honours. As a teacher she tried to pass on her love of reading to her students (and discovered that the secret to successful teaching is… stickers! She is aware that that is, essentially, bribery.) 

In the summer of 2019 Louise experienced a once-in-a-lifetime moment: she was discovered as a new writer by her publisher at the Primadonna Festival. Everything has been a bit of a whirlwind since then. 

Louise lives in Cardiff with her husband and spends her time trying to get down on paper all the marvellous and frightening things that happen in her head.

Her debut thriller, Sleepless, will be published by HQ on 11th Dec 2020.

Follow @louise_mumford on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Instagram, on Amazon, Buy Sleepless

About the book

Don’t close your eyes. Don’t fall asleep. Don’t let them in.

Thea is an insomniac; she hasn’t slept more than three hours a night for years. So when an ad for a sleep trial that promises to change her life pops up on her phone, Thea knows this is her last chance at finding any kind of normal life.

Soon Thea’s sleeping for longer than she has in a decade, and awakes feeling transformed. So much so that at first she’s willing to overlook the oddities of the trial – the lack of any phone signal; the way she can’t leave her bedroom without permission; the fact that all her personal possessions are locked away, even her shoes.

But it soon becomes clear that the trial doesn’t just want to help Thea sleep. It wants to control her sleep…

Review

Thea is coming to the end of her tether. Trying to survive on only an hour of sleep a day or none at all is taking its toll on her, so when an ad for sleep therapy turns up she can’t wait to grasp the straw held out to her.

Shipped off to isolation, when she agrees to take part in a scientific sleep trial, to what appears to be a new age health resort, Thea starts to experience the advantages of the ideas this strange cult like company suggests. However something isn’t quite right in the sleep lab or with the sleep community. Something rabid lurks just outside waiting for someone or something.

I can imagine it is quite hard for someone who has never had to endure insomnia to understand what it is like to be completely and utterly exhausted, and yet unable to sleep night after night. No warm milk, honey, soft music or lavender will help. Staring into darkness as others regenerate and enjoy their slumber.

Mumford uses the utter desperation insomniacs feel as they are willing to grasp at any possible remedy and turns it into a game of illusions, control and mind games.

Buy Sleepless at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: HQ Digital; pub date 10 Dec. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. At Hive. At Bookshop.org. At Waterstones.

#BlogTour Blood Brothers by Heather Atkinson

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Blood Brothers by Heather Atkinson.

About the Author

Heather Atkinson is the author of over fifty books – predominantly in the crime fiction genre. Although Lancashire born and bred she now lives with her family, including twin teenage daughters, on the beautiful west coast of Scotland. Her new gangland series for Boldwood, set on the fictional Gallowburn estate in Glasgow begins with Blood Brothers which will be published in December 2020.

Follow @HeatherAtkinso1 on Twitter, on Instagram, on Bookbub, on Facebook, on Amazon, Visit heatheratkinsonbooks.com, Buy Blood Brothers

About the book

When you’re running the streets, loyalty is everything…Gangs rule the streets of the rough Gallowburn Estate in Glasgow, but the deepest rivalry of all is between Jamie Gray and his friends, known as the Blood Brothers, and their enemies, the Lawsons.

The two gangs clash frequently, but when a phone containing incriminating evidence disappears after a particularly brutal run-in, the stakes are higher than ever.

Jamie’s mother Jackie is as hard as nails and is not going to let anyone hurt her boy – even if she has to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in. What she wants more than anything though, is to see Jamie turn his back on the street life. And when he meets spoilt rich-girl Allegra, who has a penchant for shoplifting, Jackie thinks she could be Jamie’s way out.

But with the Lawsons closing in, and everyone taking sides, there is only one way out for Jamie, and to triumph he must take out his biggest enemy…

Review

It’s an urban crime story with the type of estate flair that can only come from certain places. Where gangs run amok and rule the streets, where violence begets more violence. Young men find pleasure in bloody fights and vicious taunts. They think themselves larger than life and indestructible.

For some it isn’t enough though. Greed makes people impulsive and lack the caution needed to survive on the streets. The Blood Brothers rule their part of the neighbourhood until an encounter and a missing phone puts everyone in jeopardy. Someone stumbles on information that was supposed to stay hidden. Their rivals the Lawsons are out for blood.

I think Jamie’s mother probably deserves a book of her own. Life before Jamie – Jackie as a young woman, who learns to be the tough protector and the kind of girl who wouldn’t hesitate to take down someone who threatens her own. Just Saying.

Atkinson writes a Top Boy gangland kind of story, but in more of a lesser criminal league and with a tough Scottish vibe. Atkinson gives the read a bit of a young adult feel, despite the subject matter. Young men on a dead end path to nowhere, which makes some people willing to do dangerous and drastic things. It’s a fast-paced read with a realistic vibe.

Buy Blood Brothers at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Boldwood Books; pub date 8 Dec. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. At Hive.

#BlogTour Heading over the Hill by Judy Leigh

 Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Heading Over the Hill by Judy Leigh.

About the Author

Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset. Click here to sign up to Judy’s newsletter

Follow @judyleighwriter on Twitter,  on Amazon, on Facebook, on Bookbub, on Goodreads, Visit judyleigh.com, Buy Heading Over the Hill

About the book

Growing old disgracefully and having a grand old time…Billy and Dawnie may be in their seventies, but that won’t stop them taking chances or starting again. Their grown-up children have families and lives of their own, so now it’s Billy and Dawnie’s turn, and a life near the sea in Devon beckons.

But the residents of Margot Street (or Maggot Street as Dawnie insists on calling it), don’t quite know what to make of their new neighbours. Billy’s loud, shiny and huge Harley Davidson looks out of place next to the safe and sensible Honda Jazz next door, and Dawnie’s never-ending range of outrageous wigs and colourful clothes, means she’s impossible to miss.

As new friendships are formed and new adventures are shared, Billy and Dawnie start winning their neighbours’ affection. And when life teaches them all a terrible lesson, the folks of Margot Street are determined to live every day as if it’s their last.

Judy Leigh returns with a soul-warming, rib-tickling, timeless tale of true love, true friendship and happy-ever-afters.  

Review

Billy and Dawnie have done their parenting and now in their 70s they have decided to reboot their lives and start over – in Devon. However the two of them are the kind of people who stand out in a crowd, a biker and someone with a garish sense of style and fashion.

The people who live in Maggot Street, sorry Margot, are convinced the dregs of society have moved in. Truly a case of judging both Billy and Dawnie purely by their exteriors. As the community gets to know the people behind the stereotypical preconceptions some of them are completely surprised that the new neighbours aren’t a serial killer and a cheap tart.

In this entertaining and compassionate read the author spreads the message about not judging a book by its cover. Very much a message of the times we live in. Our reactions to the exterior reflects our own judgements and pre-conceived ideas.

It’s nice to read a story with characters who are experiencing the last leg of the life race. Middle-aged and elderly characters tend to play a secondary role in stories, so it’s a pleasure to see them take the main stage and give us a nice read.

I like the fact Leigh isn’t just catering to what the mass market wants from a character perspective and instead gives readers a bit of niche read, despite it being a completely relatable and enjoyable one.

Buy Heading over the Hill at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Boldwood Books; pub date 3 Dec. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. At Hive. At Waterstones.

#BlogTour The Sound of Your Soul by Anna Cookson

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour The Sound of Your Soul by Anna Cookson.

About the Author

Anna Cookson is an award winning TV and radio presenter, currently hosting the breakfast show on BBC Radio Kent. She can also be heard on BBC Radio London and in her work as a voiceover artist.

Anna has broadcast for some big names including Radio 1, QVC, Magic, Kiss, LBC, Capital and Heart. She won a New York Award for her chat show, Girls Talk, which was also nominated for a Sony Academy Award.

When she’s not talking or writing, you’ll find her travelling the world, climbing mountains and running marathons. She also enjoys practicing yoga, reiki and painting.

Follow on @annacookson Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Buy The Sound of Your Soul

About the book 

There are no fish, in the future. We killed them. But it’s not just the ghosts of the shoals making artist Cally Dune unhappy. Her husband has gone. Vanished, after being called up for the President’s new ‘Training Scheme’.

 “No body ever comes back the same.” Worried whispers drift through the pubs, gathering like rainclouds to drip their paranoia into Cally’s mind, which is already marinated in grief for Simon and fear about being called to Training herself.

 Letting the wine flow into the places where it hurts, Cally stumbles into the arms of a clammy banker and unwittingly discovers a disturbing and painful secret. She is propelled on a journey through the dust of Africa and the hidden tunnels deep below London…unravelling the fading scrolls of the ancient Egyptians and illuminating their lurid hieroglyphics.

 And ultimately towards a heartbreaking choice…to save her marriage or save her soul. Because now there’s something else at stake. They are coming for it. And it’s inside her.

Review

The story follows Cally as she tries to come to terms with loss and grief. Her husband has vanished, although some whisper otherwise. On top of that she also grieves for someone she was never destined to meet. 

Driven by an almost paranoid feeling that something isn’t quite right, the rumours that others haven’t returned as the same person from the same place where Simon disappeared. A chance encounter opens her eyes to a truth that seems almost impossible to believe.

I didn’t enjoy the first person narrative, combined with the artistic dramatic pauses and dialogue, it leaves the reader wanting someone to fill in the blanks. Third person would have given the story more direction and a less disjointed feel. Literary prose with a poetry vibe – an attempt to give a dystopian read an intellectual feel, although to be fair there are one or two successful moments.

The premise itself is interesting. It gives a different perception to the idea of souls, their importance and value. Also perhaps to the imagined thought that we may be connected to someone to an extent we can feel them and said connection. Then again the power of our imagination often plays games with us.

 Buy The Sound of Your Soul at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers; pub date 27 Sept. 2018. Buy at Amazon com. At Hive. At Bookshop.org.

#BlogBlitz Stolen Kiss with her Billionaire Boss by Susan Meier

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Stolen Kiss with her Billionaire Boss by Susan Meier.

About the Author

Susan Meier is a lover of a great story and a fabulous turn of phrase. What better home for her than Mills and Boon where stories touch the heart? She found her bliss when Harlequin published her first book and hasn’t looked back. A mom of three and wife to the best guy on the planet, she loves reading almost as much as writing, and thanks the heavens for the internet and YouTube which have made research so much fun.

Follow @susanmeier1on Twitter, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit susanmeier.com, Buy Stolen Kiss with her Billionaire Boss

About the book

Christmas has arrived… And she’s spending it with her boss! New Yorker Erin is intrigued when Hugo Harrington asks for her help on a hotel renovation in London, just weeks before Christmas! But Erin soon discovers how personal this project is to her brooding boss. Watching him wrestle with the memories of his past uncovers a side to Hugo she’s never seen. And then a stolen snowbound kiss changes everything…

Review

This is the third book in the Christmas at the Harrington Park Hotel series. All three books can be read as standalone novels, however they are interlinked via characters who appear in all the books. What’s slightly different about the series is the fact each one is written by a different author. I would recommend reading the first two because it gives a better idea and backstory to the relationship between siblings.

This one features the eldest brother, Hugo. The broody, serious man who has a bit of a negative reputation when it comes to his siblings and similarly he felt just as slighted for his own reasons. Now he is determined to prove something to himself and his family, and for that he really needs Erin.

Erin however has different priorities, so when Hugo suggests a job overseas for big money and she says no – well he has a hard time accepting it and sets out to find out why she would even think of saying no to him. That’s the beginning of a connection, which hinges on the insecurities and lack of trust of one, and the often thoughtless audacity of the other.

I was intrigued by the different author for each book in the series approach. It sort of guarantees a completely different feel for each book, despite it being the same genre and similar subject matter. It’s also an excellent way of introducing readers to more than one author, because series often tend to be a one author for all the books kind of thing.

It’s a romantic endeavour, an escapist read, which captures some serious moments when it comes to putting family before work and mending broken bridges from the past.

Buy Stolen Kiss with her Billionaire Boss at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Mills & Boon True Love pub date 12 Nov. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. At Hive. At Bookshop.org. At Barnes & Noble.

#Blogtour Frank Penny and the Last Black Stag by Jeremy Elson

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour and also Publication Day for Frank Penny and the Last Black Stag by Jeremy Elson.

About the Author

Jeremy Elson found that most of his education went on outside the classroom. Learning things that he was interested in, away from normal lessons, was far more valuable. Now he and his wife home educate their son; Frank Penny was borne out of a desire to bring life to a home-educated child, as well as tell a compelling adventure story.

Jeremy lives in Guildford, UK. Apart from writing, his passions includes the outdoors, The Smiths, Chelsea Football Club and Star Wars Battlefront (apart from when he’s being comprehensively beaten by his son!).

Follow Jeremy @ElsonAuthor and @FrankPennyBooks on Twitter, on Amazon, on Goodreads, on Facebook, Visit frankpennybooks.com, Buy Frank Penny and the Last Black Stag

About the book

Power is not for the weak or faint-hearted. If Frank, Cas, Gabby and Anya want to find the next two guardians of the Simbrian and keep them safe, they need to journey across the dangerous borderlands and into the dark and shadowy world of Kzarlac, sworn enemy of Byeland.

Ruled by the fearsome Etamin Dahke, Kzarlac is no place for four naïve teenagers. Keen wits and a large helping of luck are no guarantee they will succeed and return safely.

Driven by their desire to protect the delicate peace that has existed since the time of Kester, their quest is about to take a deadly turn, and the exposure of an inconceivable secret may make Frank regret ever having started.

Frank Penny and the Last Black Stag is the third book in the Frank Penny series.Book 1: Frank Penny and the Mystery of Ludlow HumsBook 2: Frank Penny and the Kzarlac Spy

Review

This is the third book in the Frank Penny series. This can be read as a standalone novel, however I would recommend reading the others in the series, not necessarily for the backstory – the author adds enough to get the gist, but for the read itself.

On their quest to find the guardians of Simbrian the group of teens must venture beyond their own safe borders and into the dangerous area of Kzarlac. Discovery could mean death or worse for themselves or anyone who decides to aid them.It’s hard to determine who to trust and when, but Frank seems to have an instinct for the when to do the right thing, as opposed what others think is right. I think it solidifies the way he makes decisions and his confidence going forward.

It will be interesting to see whether the young woman Frank has set his sights on will create a rift between the team, betray his trust eventually or become part of the bigger picture. Not everyone is enamoured by the pretty young thing and the budding relationship.

Elson does an excellent job of balancing the genre, the readership he is writing for and hooking the audience. The result is a read that will engage multiple age groups and readers eager to discover the secrets along with this intrepid team.

It’s a Young Adult/Teen fantasy series. An adventure which gets a little more complex as the story goes on. One filled with secrets, betrayal and danger in every corner. Now that Frank has finally had his eyes opened what will he do with the knowledge he has acquired. I guess we will have to wait until the fourth book to find out.

Buy Frank Penny and the Last Black Stag at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Eyrie Press pub date 30 Nov. 2020. Buy at Amazon com. At Hive. At Eyriepress.co.uk