Second Life by Karl Tearney @KarlTearney BLOG TOUR @fly_press #SecondLife #RandomThingsTours

As a newcomer to poetry and writing Karl has made quite an impact with his succinct and thought-provoking style. Encouraged by Emma Willis MBE after he’d sent her a thank you poem, Karl’s work has been coveted by many. His work has included appearances at festivals and readings around the country. He is hugely passionate about encouraging other sufferers of mental issues to look toward the Arts as a means of therapy.

Second Life by Karl Tearney is published by Fly on the Wall Press on 26 July 2019

I'm delighted to be taking part in the #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour today and am sharing a poem from the collection.

The Leaf

I’m a leaf without much colour

I look as if see-through

My contours start to dissipate

I’m not sure what to do

I’m in a world of colour

The vibrancy quite vast

The flash of colours everywhere

But mine have faded fast

I cover myself with paper

Use sticky bits of glue

Make myself look colourful

 It makes me look like you

But bits ‘n’ bobs will never last

They crumble, fall like dust

I’ve tried that option many times

To all my friends’ disgust

So what I need is nurturing

A nice safe place to stay

A place that I find comfortable

So I don’t fade away

Then I can grow my leaf again

To make it nice and strong

Give it a tint, a subtle hue

So then I will belong

It wont be quick nor easy

It’s going to take some time

With all of you supporting me

My leaf will be sublime

Karl Tearney enlisted into the British Army at 16 and dedicated 35 years of his life as a pilot in the Army Air Corps. 

He was medically retired in early 2016 and found great solace in writing and especially a new-found passion for poetry. he demand for his style of writing has led to National and local Television as well as Radio. In 2018, he was a panelist at the Hay literature festival, helped with a Poetry workshop at RADA and also exhibited some of his work at the ‘Art in the Aftermath’ Exhibition in Pall Mall.

Twitter @KarlTearney

Tightrope by Marnie Riches @Marnie_Riches BLOG TOUR @TrapezeBooks #Tightrope

What happens when a private investigator ends up being the one uncovered?

Having lost everything after a failed marriage, Beverley Saunders now lodges in the basement flat of a house owned by her best friend Sophie and her husband, Tim. With Bev's former glittering marketing career in the gutter, she begins to do investigative work for other wronged women, gathering dirt on philanderers, bosses and exes.

But when Beverley takes on the case of Sophie's friend Angela, who is seeking to uncover grounds for divorce from her controlling husband, Jerry, the shadow Science Minister, she soon discovers that she isn't the only one doing the investigating...

Beverley has a secret history she doesn't want coming out - but will she manage to stay hidden long enough to give Angela the freedom she deserves?

Marnie Riches is back in this darkly comic thriller, perfect for fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers.

Tightrope by Marnie Riches is published today; 11 July 2019 by Trapeze. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review, and who invited me to take part on this Blog Tour

Forgive me Marnie, for I have sinned. I haven't read one of your books before Tightrope. I have no idea how that happened!

I've been around the crime fiction scene for a long time now, and have met Marnie Riches many times, yet her books have passed me by.

All rectified now! I totally devoured Tightrope; from the toe-curling, vicious and gasp making prologue, right through every single twist and turn until the end ... which knocked me for six.

The author introduces a new female Private Investigator; Beverley Saunders. Beverley is very new to the game; in fact she's veering towards desperation as her previous life as a successful marketing manager, and wife, has disappeared. She's now living in a dank, damp basement flat, courtesy of a mate and her husband; driving a clapped out old banger and creating a mountain of unpaid bills.

What an absolute cracker of a character she is though. Through this clever author's skilful creation, the reader soon comes to love Beverley; there's a whole lot to love; she has many issues; some of them are a little bit funny, some of them are downright dirty, and dangerous, and some are sad and quite heart-wrenching.

Beverley's first case is to assist Angela; abused, beaten, anorexic wife of the Shadow Minister for Science, Jerry Fitzwilliam ; and what a vile and totally objectionable character he is! Whilst the case may seem pretty cut and dried, it's not long before Beverley finds herself totally immersed in a dangerous world, with secrets a plenty and folk who will do anything to prevent those secrets from being exposed.

There's some excellent characterisation in this book; but don't expect to like many of them. With the exception of Beverley herself and her sidekick Doc, there are not many lovable rogues in here! However, this just adds to the compelling and intense story that is both witty and frightening in equal measures.
Marnie Riches writes meticulously and unflinchingly; my jaw dropped, my eyes popped and the tension gave me a headache!  It's brutal and dark, but brilliant. I loved it and would highly recommend.




Marnie Riches grew up on a rough estate in north Manchester. Exchanging the spires of nearby Strangeways prison for those of Cambridge University, she gained a Masters in German & Dutch. She has been a punk, a trainee rock star, a pretend artist and professional fundraiser. 

Her best-selling, award-winning George McKenzie crime thrillers, tackling the subject of trans-national trafficking, were inspired by her own time spent in The Netherlands. Dubbed the Martina Cole of the North, she is also the author of Born Bad and The Cover-Up - the critically acclaimed hit series about Manchester's notorious gangland. 

Tightrope is the start of a brand new series, set mainly in the famous footballer-belt of Hale, Cheshire, and introducing flawed but fearless northern PI, Bev Saunders who risks everything to fight the corner of her vulnerable client. A second Bev Saunders novel will follow in early 2020. So far, Marnie has sold an impressive 250,000 books and counting...

When she isn't writing gritty, twisty crime-thrillers, Marnie also regularly appears on BBC Radio Manchester, commenting about social media trends and discussing the world of crime-fiction.

Website : www.marnieriches.com
Twitter : @Marnie_Riches
Author Page on Facebook

Needlemouse by Jane O'Connor @JaneOConnor100 BLOG TOUR @EburyPublishing @TessHenderson1 #Needlemouse

Sylvia Penton has been hibernating for years, it's no wonder she's a little prickly...

Sylvia lives alone, dedicating herself to her job at the local university. On weekends, she helps out at a local hedgehog sanctuary because it gives her something to talk about on Mondays - and it makes people think she's nicer than she is.

Only Sylvia has a secret: she's been in love with her boss, Professor Lomax, for over a decade now, and she's sure he's just waiting for the right time to leave his wife. Meanwhile she stores every crumb of his affection and covertly makes trouble for anyone she feels gets in his way.

But when a bright new PhD candidate catches the Professor’s eye, Sylvia’s dreams of the fairy tale ending she has craved for so long, are soon in tatters, driving her to increasingly desperate measures and an uncertain future. 

Sylvia might have been sleep walking through her life but things are about to change now she’s woken up…

A quirky, charming uplifting novel perfect for fans of Gail Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Sarah Haywood's The Cactus. The feelgood bestseller about unrequited love, loneliness and the redemptive qualities of hedgehogs featuring the most unlikely heroine of 2019.

Needlemouse by Jane O'Connor was published in paperback by Ebury Publishing on 27 June.

As part of the Blog Tour, organised by Tracy from Compulsive Readers, I'm delighted to be offer three paperback copies as prizes.

Entry is simple. Just fill out the competition widget at the end of this post. 

UK Entries only.

GOOD LUCK!

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT NEEDLEMOUSE

'An eccentrically heartwarming tale of steeping out of your comfort zone. I was rooting for Sylvia' - Lottie, Netgalley

'I was charmed by this tale. A feel-good book' - Heather, Netgalley

'A lovely story with delightful characters. Would highly recommend, especially if you are a fan of Ruth Hogan and Gail Honeyman' - Mary, Netgalley

'An absolutely superb novel about someone who is dissatisfied with her life but feels it's difficult to change. I would highly recommend to anyone who likes a quirky novel to entertain them' - Sue, Netgalley

'Oh how I adored this book which is reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' - Justine, Netgalley

'I like a book that makes me feel uplifted, that soothes the soul, and this book certainly did that. Sylvia is definitely one of my favourite fictional characters' - Joanne, Netgalley

Three paperback copies of Needlemouse by Jane O'Connor




Jane O’Connor is a former primary school teacher turned academic and writer. 
She was born and brought up in Surrey and lived in London until she moved to the West Midlands in her mid-thirties. 
Jane’s PhD was about child stars and she is now a Reader at Birmingham City University where she researches children’s experiences of celebrity, media and everyday life. 
Jane lives in Sutton Coldfield with her husband and two young sons in a house full of pirates, dinosaurs, superheroes and lots of books. 
She really likes all animals, especially hedgehogs. 
Needlemouse is her debut novel.

Twitter @JaneOConnor100

The Missing Wife by Sam Carrington @sam_carrington1 BLOG TOUR @AvonBooksUK @Sabah_K #TheMissingWife

You think you know those closest to you. You are wrong…

A sleep-deprived new mother approaching her fortieth birthday, the very last thing Louisa wants to do is celebrate.

But when her friend Tiff organises a surprise party, inviting the entire list of Louisa’s Facebook friends, Louisa is faced with a room full of people she hasn’t spoken to in years – including someone she neverexpected to see again: her ex-boyfriend, Oliver Dunmore.

When Oliver’s wife Melissa goes missing after the party, everyone remembers the night differently. Someone knows what happened to Melissa, and Louisa is determined to find them. But the truth could be closer, and the deception more devastating, than she’d ever imagined…

A gripping psychological suspense novel, perfect for fans of Samantha Downing’s My Lovely Wife, Lucy Clarke’s You Let Me In and Linda Green’s The Last Thing She Told Me.

The Missing Wife by Sam Carrington was published in paperback by Avon Books on 27 June 2019. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review and who invited me to take part on this Blog Tour

I've read and enjoyed all of Sam Carrington's previous novels so had been looking forward to The Missing Wife very much.

I have not been disappointed and read this in almost one sitting; I was absolutely hooked by the short but shocking prologue that sets the scene for what becomes a compelling and cleverly written story with twists that I certainly didn't anticipate.

Once past the prologue; the story slows down as the reader is introduced to lead character Louisa.
Louisa is having a difficult time; she's approaching forty and is mother to a very small baby. She really had thought that she'd left the days of dirty nappies and sleep deprivation behind as her first child Emily is now a teen, but along came baby Noah and put paid to all of that.
Not only is Laura's life quite difficult, but she can be a character who is difficult to like. I understand the raging hormones and the lack of sleep, but there's something that it's hard to put a finger on about her.  However, this is testament to the author's skill in creating characters, because whilst I wasn't the biggest fan of Louisa, I was totally invested in her story.

I could have cried for the poor woman as she's offered a night in a nearby hotel, with her best mate, without the kids, so that she can sleep. The pulling power of that offer to Louise was palpable, but the reality was that it was a screen for a surprise birthday party. Thrown by her mate and her husband and the guest list is made up of the whole of Louisa's Facebook friends list.  A recipe for disaster? Yes, I think so, and so does Louisa.

The Missing Wife of the title is the new wife of Louisa's first boyfriend, Oliver. They've not seen each other for over twenty years, yet here is is, all of a sudden best friends with her husband and seemingly becoming part of the fixtures and fittings in her life. There are secrets between them though, and the reader is never really quite sure who to trust here. I suspected everyone at some point during the story.

The author cleverly explores the psychological effects of new motherhood on an older woman, and builds the plot slowly and surely. The latter part of the story seems to go off like a speeding bullet, in stark contrast to the beginning and the pace of the action leaves the reader quite breathless.

It's clever and unexpected and I really enjoyed getting to know these, on the whole, not so nice characters. Sam Carrington's best book to date, without a doubt. Recommended for those who like a head spin of a story populated by well crafted characters.

Sam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband and three children. She worked for the NHS for 15 years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a Psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist.

Author Links: Twitter | Website

The Last Stage by Louise Voss @LouiseVoss1 BLOG TOUR @OrendaBooks #TheLastStage

At the peak of her career as lead singer of a legendary 1980s indie band, Meredith Vincent was driven off the international stage by a horrific incident. Now living a quiet existence in a cottage on the grounds of an old stately home, she has put her past behind her and come to terms with her new life.

When a body is found in the manicured gardens of her home, and a series of inexplicable and unsettling events begins to occur, it becomes clear that someone is watching, someone who knows who she is … Someone who wants vengeance.

And this is only the beginning…

A dark, riveting and chilling psychological thriller, The Last Stage is also a study of secrets and obsessions, where innocent acts can have the most terrifying consequences.

The Last Stage by Louise Voss is published in paperback by Orenda Books on 11 July 2019. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review, as part of this Blog Tour.

Please do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour.

The short, but incredibly tense prologue of The Last Stage is a huge hint of what's to come for the reader. Three paragraphs that intrigue and grip; I defy anyone not to continue to read on once they've been terrified by those few words.

The Last Stage is very well structured; I have to admit for a huge liking for a story set in different periods and was especially fond of the scenes set in the 1980s; my own era and I was exactly the same age as lead character Meredith. Although she and I, as adults are in no way alike, I too was brought up in a small, unexciting village whilst watching the women of Greenham Common on the TV and dreaming of joining them. Unlike Meredith, I didn't and by the end of this tense and complex thriller we will realise that running away to join the CND cause was Meredith's biggest mistake, and regret in life.

The present day finds Meredith living quietly in a small cottage in the grounds of a stately home. She's lived there for years; managing the gift shop in the grounds and keeping herself to herself. Her only close relationships are with her boss and his wife and her twin brother Pete. It's clear though that Meredith has a 'past' which the reader is reminded of every time the deep and unsightly scar on the back of her hand is mentioned.

Meredith is unsettled by strange things that have been happening recently; a dead rat in her fireplace, the heads cut off the flowers in her garden, and she can't help but link it with a phone call from the past. She's also terrified that the person who hurt her years ago may have found her.

Whilst this is a relatively short book at just under 300 pages, this author has packed an extremely complex and detailed story into those pages. However, it doesn't feel 'busy' or too much and she is incredibly skilled in crafting characters that have a real depth to them; from Meredith, as lead voice, to the elderly volunteers in the gift shop. 

I had no idea where this story was going, but I was totally gripped throughout as Louise Voss conjures up mystery after mystery and twisty turns a plenty. 

The Last Stage is a taut and compelling story; dark and dangerous, with murderous happenings in the most English of settings; the historical and traditional stately home.

Excellently written, creepy and cleverly plotted; The Last Stage is a thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Over her nineteen-year writing career, Louise Voss has had twelve novels published and has sold more than 350,000 copies. Her six solo titles and the six co-written with Mark Edwards are a combination of

psychological thrillers, police procedurals and contemporary fiction. 

Her last book, The Old You, was a number-one bestseller in ebook. 

Louise has an MA (Dist) in Creative Writing and also works as a literary consultant and mentor for writers at www.thewritingcoach.co.uk and as a crime fiction coach. 

She lives in south-west London and

is a proud member of two female crime-writing collectives, The Slice Girls and Killer Women.

Follow Louise on Twitter @LouiseVoss1

Jacob's Ladder by Charlie Pike @CharliePike12 BLOG TOUR @CameronPMtweets @OBrienPress #JacobsLadder

We have heard your callYou no longer need to fear.You will receive five messages, of which this is the first.The last message will inform you of the time and place of your salvation.

Two hundred years from now, the earth is dying, scorched by powerful flares from the sun. A series of messages from an alien civilization sent to humanity over two centuries promise rescue to those strong enough to survive on their planet.

Initiate Leon is a member of the True Path warrior culture and preparing for his Rising. But when his test comes - to kill in cold blood - he cannot do it. To redeem himself, he must journey to find the earth’s fifth and final message from the Saviours, with the help of his resourceful servant, Martha.

Out in the wild, Leon discovers alarming changes in his body - he can drink water through his skin, and has poison barbs buried deep in his flesh. Martha reveals to him the secret that the True Path

have kept from him all this time: Jacob’s Ladder, an adaptation for life on the alien planet, has lain dormant in his genes and is now being activated. He is part alien and part human, and he is in grave danger from those who wish to take what is in his body.

An ambitious YA novel for fans of Patrick Ness, Rick Yancey and James Dashner.

Jacob's Ladder by Charlie Pike was published by O Brien Press on 1 April 2019. I'm delighted to be able to offer one reader the chance to win a copy today, as part of the #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour.

Praise for Jacob's Ladder

original elements … excellent premise … Pike squeezes a lot of information and world-building into the first few chapters, which are gripping and well crafted … Pike can certainly write and there is a lot of potential here

(Irish Independent)

an immediately-believable 23rd-century dystopia … Unsettling though Leon’s perspective is, it is also convincing and serves to reinforce the brutality of this future world … The action zips along, introducing us to several unexpected elements, including a delightfully creepy quasi-zombie worm infestation. A notable debut from a writer we are sure to hear more from

(Irish Times)

a unique, incisive voice brings us on a journey filled with tension, drama and thought-provoking action. The descriptive power of the writing gives a clear picture of what the planet has become; the landscape scorched and threatening; the people violent and desperate. The story-telling is gripping, fast-paced and it takes the reader on a journey that they do not want to be on. But it is impossible to turn away from this. The reader is locked in Leon’s intense perspective as he tries to cling to his beliefs and teachings, but struggles to marry those with the things happening before his very eyes. This is a coming-of-age dystopia of the highest quality, but is quite violent in places; so may not be one for more sensitive readers. It is the stuff of nightmares made real. 'Prepare To Be Born Anew', indeed. Original, energetic, shocking, consuming...extraordinary in every way

(Fallen Star Stories)

Fast, original and action-packed

(Peadar Ó Guilín, author of The Call)

One copy of Jacob's Ladder by Charlie Pike



Charlie Pike started his writing career when he lived in Turkey, teaching English to adults and children. 
When he returned to Ireland he worked as an advertising copywriter and freelance journalist, writing feature articles for Irish newspapers, until an opportunity came along to work for an Internet start-up. 
In 2003 he formed his own web company, Usable Design. 
He met his wife, Birgit, in Turkey and they now live in County Wicklow. 
They have two children. 
Charlie is a graduate of Trinity College.

Twitter @CharliePike12