Five books for under a fiver!

I've joined with four other writers, Bev Spicer, Carrie Ann Lahain, Wendy Janes and Dylan Morgan (click name for Twitter profile!) to promote five of our novels, in five different genres, on offer from 10-16 June - just 99p or 99c each.  You can't go wrong, as they say!

All have (genuine!) reviews from a variety of sources, and are also available on Kindle Unlimited; please click title for Amazon UK link, and I've also given the Amazon.com link.

Kicking off with my dark family drama The House of York, also on Amazon.com HERE.

Love, loss, jealousy, abduction and murderous intent form the basis of this highly acclaimed, complex family saga spanning the years 1993 - 2014.

"The ending to the story kept me thinking for days." ~ Shaz Goodwin, book blogger and Amazon Top 100 reviewer.

"Best book I've read this year." ~ Joanne Phillips, top selling women's fiction author.

****

I love this guy's books, I've read nearly all of them!  Here's Dylan Morgan's THE SICKNESS.  Amazon.com link HERE.

Forced home to attend his parents' funeral, James Harris returns to a place of childhood torment and gruesome horror.

"If you like your supernatural horror to be dark, gruesome and unequivocally gory, then this is the book for you. It is explosive, expertly written and riveting." ~ Shelley Wilson: author of YA fantasy novels.

"A captivating and suspenseful read . . . a story-telling standard equal to some of the biggest names out there in horror today." ~
Sharon Stevenson: author of The Gallows Novels and the After Death Series.

****

Next, here's Bev Spicer's super creepy psychological drama/thriller What I Did Not Say, on Amazon.com HERE.

Jessica Morley is on her way to meet with a man she has not seen for fifteen years. In her bag there is a package she must deliver.

"Outstanding mystery/thriller.  I was blown away by this novel…" ~ Babus Ahmed, Amazon Top 1000 reviewer and prolific book blogger. 

"Part 2 was the trial, where the pace and tension were excellent. The pages seemed to turn themselves." ~ Amazon Reviewer.

**** 

 

For fans of the cosy mystery, here's Death Times Three by the girl who knows Las Vegas because she lives there ~ Carrie Ann Lahain!  You can find it on Amazon.com HERE.  

A Las Vegas librarian trips over a murdered artist and an amateur sleuth is born. Two short stories and a novella.

"Elinor (Gray) is a wonderful amateur sleuth—she’s whip-smart and determined without coming across as nosy or arrogant." ~ Elizabeth Maria Naranjo, top Amazon reviewer.

"I'm a sucker for stories involving a female
who can't resist sticking her nose into a curious puzzle and the
attractive man who can't stop her." ~ Teri Case.

**** 

Popular with family drama lovers ~ here's What Jennifer Knows  

by Wendy Janes.  On Amazon.com HERE. 

Jennifer Jacobs unwittingly discovers a link between two of her friends. Should she speak out or stay silent?

On half price offer 10-15 June only

"Jennifer is the kind of woman you would want as your friend..." ~ Liz Lloyd, book blogger.

"I started off liking What Jennifer Knows...I finished the novel loving it." ~ Judith Barrow, novelist and creative writing tutor.

****

Hope there's something there that appeals to you.  Please do share this with your friends!  Thanks for your interest, from me, Bev, Carrie, Wendy and Dylan. :)

A possible effect of Kindle Unlimited that no-one's mentioned yet.

......and not a very good one from a writer's point of view, either.

So, Kindle Unlimited, right?  Readers know that they can read/listen to audio books for free for just £7.99 a month, and writers know that instead of (some) sales on their monthly download report, they're getting KU Units, which may or may not financially equal a sale, I haven't a clue, I've never got round to looking.  What happens is that you get one unit if the reader reads past 10%, I think, and more if they carry on reading.  I can't be bothered to work out the sales vs KU units, I really can't; I just look at the units and think "oh good, they liked 'em enough to carry on reading", and that's all. 

In our household we are signed up for Kindle Unlimited.  My husband decided it was a good idea as he listens to lots of audio books, and I buy too many Kindle books.  It's only recently that something's occurred to me, as a reader and purchaser, that must affect us chaps sitting on the other side, too, ie, the writers.

If I've talked to a writer a little (usually on Twitter) and I fancy their book, I generally buy it, not because I think they need my £1.50, but because every sale is good for their Amazon visibility and maybe more so than a KU download (I don't know if it is or not, please don't tell me!).  Those I buy on KU are usually the other ones I fancy (say, that I've read about on a book blog post, or seen on an Amazon browse).

Like most people, I have a Kindlefull of books, some of which I will look at within the next few months, some not for a year or more.

Kindle Unlimited is not actually unlimited at all, of course; you can only have 10 books out at a time.

As the months have gone on, this is what I have noticed.  When I see a book I fancy, I will go to download it on KU.  At this point, Amazon will tell me that I have to return one book before I can do so.  It shows me my list of ten books I currently have on the KU facility.  To download, I must return one.  Now, this is the key thing that affects all people who publish on Amazon, whose books are on KU.... 

...like many people (I imagine), I look at so many books that sometimes, dare I say it, I don't always remember exactly what it was about one in particular that appealed to me.  But, oh, I've just seen another one I really, really want to read.  So in order to download Book A I might give Book B back unread.  Intending to get it again some time, you know?  It might be that intelligent looking post apocalyptic thriller that I spotted when I was looking at Kate Mary or Dylan Morgan's books.  That edgy contemporary drama I read about on A Woman's Wisdom.  Back it will float into the huge, gaping and seemingly limitless vault that is Amazon, never to be seen again.  Never to be read, never to be followed up by its follow up.

If I had bought it, though, like in the olden days before KU, it would have remained on my Kindle.  I would have thought, hmm, nice cover, interesting title, I'll have a look, at some point that year.  I might have loved it. Reviewed it favourably. The author might have been someone I recommended to others, etc etc etc.

Example: I downloaded Dylan Morgan's The Dead Lands soon after it was published.  It wasn't an immediate 'go to' book; I thought I might not like it as the description included the dreaded words science fiction.  I had it for about eight months before opening it, at which point it blew me away.  I am now a big fan.  Had I downloaded it on KU, it might have been rejected in favour of another, and lost forever.

If this is what I, a fairly average Amazon customer, am doing, you can bet that a hell of a lot of others are doing so, too.

My Top 20 books of 2014

I've thought long and hard about these!  

All the books in this list I've given 5* or 4.5* on Amazon and Goodreads.  I've reviewed other books this year, too, many of which might be of interest to you.  Here is my full list of reviews on Amazon UK.  Most of them are also on my book blog, here.

Amazon UK and .com links are provided for each book in my top 20.
 
Notes: 

• I have not included my re-reads of old favourites in this.  If I did so, The Job by Douglas Kennedy would be in the top ten every year.  Etc, etc.
• I have not included wonderful tomes I've read during research for my own books, or those by internationally famous writers; Phillipa Gregory, Stephen Alford and David Starkey don't need any help from me.  
• I will not label a book as 'traditionally published' 'indie press published' or 'self-published' - to me, a book is a book.  I also think that the only way for the second two categories to gain true acceptance is not to make this distinction.  The twenty include a mixture of all three.
• I have not included two books by the same person, which I did think extra long and hard about; instead, I have put links to any other books by that author that I've reviewed.

Here we go!
Numbers 20 - 11 are in no particular order.

20.  A wonderful anthology of short stories about mothers and daughters - every one a winner!  I read it on my Kindle and was so impressed I bought the paperback for my sister-in-law for her birthday.  A Kind of Mad Courage by Wendy Janes, Francine La Sala and others.

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


19.  A fascinating tale about Frank and Chloe, two homeless people who battle against the world and find happiness.  Losing it All by Marsha Cornelius.

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


18.  Here's a terrific long-short story I read a while back; I was very impressed by it.  Psychological drama A Fractured Understanding by Hache L Jones

 

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


17.  Chick lit, me?  One of my least favourite genres, but this is the best I've read, I really enjoyed it!  Much more than a romcom:  Mother of the Year by Karen Ross

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


16.  I didn't even know what 'urban fantasy' was until I read this.  I do now, though, and this was great, really sharp and funny!  Don't Touch (Null City Book 2) by Barb Taub.

 My full review on  Amazon UK   and the Amazon.com link


15.  I loved this, and so did lots of other people too!  17th century witch hunts in The Black Hours by Alison Williams.  Brilliantly researched, not for the faint-hearted!

 My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link  


14.  A bit of light romance and country music in Made in Nashville by Mandy Baggot.  Great fun, and a lovely example of the genre!

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


 13.  A collection of short stories now - Spanish folklore retold.  Tales of the Mantequero by Jenny Twist.  Loved these!  

 My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


I have also read and reviewed An Open Letter to Stephen King and Other Essays  and Doppelganger by the same author this year.


12.  I'm not much of a one for crime thrillers, but I thought this was exceptionally good.  I'd recommend it to anyone who loves the grittier side of this genre.  Killing Instinct by Darcia Helle.

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link 

11.  Here's another one I feared I might not like, but couldn't put down - Court of Conspiracy by April Taylor.  It's a fantasy about what would have happened if Anne Boleyn had not miscarried her son by Henry VIII...

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link

★.:*´`*:.☆

The Top Ten

These are in proper countdown order (very hard making the choices!) because I thought it would be more fun! 

10.  Slipping neatly into the last place in my top ten books of 2014, the best 'how to' book I've ever read, and an essential for all writers.  Twitter for Writers by Rayne Hall. 

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link

9.  Backpacking in at number 9, a fascinating travel memoir about Jo Carroll's time spent in Nepal, Laos and Cuba.  From the Inside Looking Out - I was totally engrossed in this and thought about it a lot afterwards.  Paperback only, it's collection of three books which are all available for some ludicrously cheap price on Kindle!

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link


8.  Now a terrific Native American historical adventure/drama.  Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia, who is an expert on all things pre-Columbian America.  I was so pleased to have discovered this writer's books, and I shall be reading the sequel to this any day now.

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link 

I have also read and reviewed The Highlander by the same author


7.  A tongue-in-cheek Victorian murder mystery at number 7 ~ Honour and Obey by Carol Hedges.  Colourful, witty, atmospheric and fabulously well researched.  

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link 

I've also reviewed the prequel, Diamonds and Dust this year


 6.  I adore historical fiction, and this superb story about two runaway girls in 17th century London really hit the spot for me. The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift

My full review on Amazon UK and here is the Amazon.com link


5.  My number five choice was another big surprise:
 Great Bitten: Outbreak by Warren Fielding.  I didn't realise zombie apocalypse books were actually about people, I thought they'd just be a load of turgid blood and gore stuff and daft monsters.  How wrong was I!  Smart, smart writing.

My full review on Amazon UK and here is the Amazon.com link


4.  Dark and fascinating psychological drama Carla by Mark Barry is at number four - a book I read all in one sitting. Terrific stuff.  How talented is this guy!  A real flair, different from anyone else I've read.  So impressed!

My full review on Amazon UK and here's the Amazon.com link

Earlier this year I also read and loved The Night Porter by the same author.

The Top Three!

★.:*´`*:.☆

3.  The bronze medal goes to the wonderful Inkker Hauser Part 1: Rum Hijack by Phil Conquest.
 

Phil is an amazing writer.  Some people could make a jewellery heist or an escape from a POW camp boring; Phil can make a chap walking down the road and getting irritated because his tie keeps flapping up in the wind, interesting and funny.  Get it.  It's great.

My full review on Amazon UK, and the Amazon.com link

★.:*´`*:.☆

2.  Number two!  The silver medal goes to the magical African Ways by Valerie Poore.  An account of Val's three years living up a mountain in South Africa. Just delightful, an absolute joy to read.  Another reviewer said that it made him feel happy just reading it; I couldn't agree more.

My full review on Amazon UK and the Amazon.com link

This year I also read and loved Watery Ways and Harbour Ways by the same author.

★.:*´`*:.☆

Drum roll.....

1.  Gold medal time!!  If you follow my blog(s) you probably won't be surprised by my favourite book of the year - The Dead Lands by Dylan J Morgan which I've been raving about since I was a third of the way through it!  
 

My full review says it all!  Here on Amazon UK and Amazon.com

I've also loved Flesh by the same author.

★.:*´`*:.☆

I do hope you find something that interests you among these books ~ if everyone who sees this post read just one of the titles, it would go so far to getting some little known authors more well-deserved recognition.  Often, the best writers are not the ones who scream 'bestseller' all over the internet, and so rely on word of mouth and blog posts.  A big thank you to book bloggers Rosie, Bodicia, Cathy, Liz, Liz, Storm, Suzanne, Di, Roy, Claire, Jade, ESR, Charmaine, Sonya, Shaz, Agi, Kerry, Angie, Andy, Sterna, Madi and any others - you do a wonderful job!

Perhaps we could make 2015 'discover a new author' year!