Carol E. Wyer, Carol Wyer, crime writer, Crime/Thriller, Novels

An Eye for an Eye by @carolewyer @AmazonPub @damppebbles

February 7, 2021 Melanie 6 Comments

An Eye for an Eye

An Eye for an Eye (Detective Kate Young #1) by Carol Wyer #AnEyeForAnEye @DetectiveKateYoung @carolewyer @AmazonPub @damppebbles #damppebblesblogtours

An Eye for an Eye

A new series. A new detective. The Detective Kate Young series starts with a bang with An Eye for an eye.

Book Blurb:

A killer running rings around the police. A detective spiralling out of control.

DI Kate Young is on leave. She’s the force’s best detective, but her bosses know she’s under pressure, on medication and overcoming trauma. So after her bad judgement call leads to a narrowly averted public disaster, they’re sure all she needs is a rest.

But when Staffordshire Police summon her back to work on a murder case, it’s a harder, more suspicious Kate Young who returns. With a new ruthlessness, she sets about tracking down a clinical, calculating serial killer who is torturing victims and leaving clues to taunt the police. Spurred on by her reporter husband, Young begins to suspect that the murderer might be closer than she ever imagined.

As she works to uncover the truth, Young unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide. But with her own competence—and her grip on reality—called into question, can she unmask the killer before they strike again?

Review:

I enjoyed meeting the characters in Carol Wyer’s new series starting with An Eye for an Eye. They were well-rounded, some were flawed (and some of those more than others).

It took some time to really get into the book, I think it was because it was so different from the DI Robyn Carter and DI Natalie Ward series, but once I did, I was loath to put it down.

I’m looking forward to more Detective Kate Young stories.

About Carol Wyer:

@carolewyer

USA Today bestselling author and winner of The People’s Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer writes feel-good comedies and gripping crime fiction.

A move from humour to the ‘dark side’ in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in LITTLE GIRL LOST and demonstrated that stand-up comedian Carol had found her true niche.

To date, her crime novels have sold over 750,000 copies and been translated for various overseas markets.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing ”Irritable Male Syndrome’ and ‘Ageing Disgracefully’ and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines ‘Woman’s Weekly’, featured in ‘Take A Break’, ‘Choice’, ‘Yours’ and ‘Woman’s Own’ magazines and the Huffington Post.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr Grumpy… who is very, very grumpy.

When she is not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.

Social Media:

Website www.carolwyer.co.uk

Blog www.carolwyer.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolEWyer/

Twitter https://twitter.com/carolewyer

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/carolwyer

Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/carolewyer

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-wyer-407b1032

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14925467.Carol_Wyer

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj5O-lvkAYO19S0AMW8VqJQ

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2LdJpdV

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/35y4g2j

Publishing Information:

Published in paperback, digital and audio formats by Thomas & Mercer on 1^st February 2021.

bagpipes, haggis, Robbie Burns, Scotland, Tradition, whisky

Jan 25 ~ Robbie Burns Day #haggis #poetry #bard

January 25, 2021 Melanie 4 Comments

Jan 25, 1759 – Jul 21, 1796

What better place to celebrate the life of Scottish Bard, Robbie Burns, than in a tartan chair in front of a crackling, wood fire, and a wee dram of single malt in your hand?

I’m remiss this year in getting an online Burns Day celebration together. I’ve hosted some crackers in the past. Shame on me. But, I have a valid excuse. I’ve had my head down editing my third book in the “It Happened Series”.

On this Jan 25, will you celebrate the bard today with haggis, champit tatties (mashed potatoes) and bashed neeps (mashed turnips)?

With COVID throwing a spanner into everything, I was unable to buy a wee haggis for supper, not that I’ve had the inclination to go anywhere to get one. Something in the one-pound size or smaller suits us fine here at Chez King. Basically, I’m the only one who eats it, although my husband will have a spoonful along with me. And turnip? Definitely, only me.

So this Jan 25, I’ll fry up my last slice of frozen haggis, warm up some potatoes (if there are any left from Sunday dinner) with whatever else I make for supper. I don’t even have a single finger shortbread in the house. No sticky toffee pudding. Things will be on the lean side this year. But what I do have is whisky. So the big decision will be which single malt will I have a dram of?

With this Jan 25 falling on a Monday, celebrations will have to remain somewhat muted. After all, I have to work the next day. Okay, I’ll be working in my kitchen office, but still don’t want to do that with a sair heid.

Address To A Haggis

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o’ a grace
As lang’s my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o’ need,
While thro’ your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An’ cut you up wi’ ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn,
they stretch an’ strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve,
Are bent lyke drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
“Bethankit!” ‘hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi’ perfect sconner,
Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him ower his trash,
As feckless as a wither’d rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro’ bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He’ll mak it whissle;
An’ legs an’ arms, an’ heads will sned,
Like taps o’ thrissle.

Ye Pow’rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o’ fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer,
Gie her a haggis!

And a wee bit of light reading for ‘after the feastie’.

Enjoy your Robbie Burns celebrations no matter how/where you celebrate.

#sweetromance, emotional therapy dog, It Happened at Percé Rock, It Happened in Gastown, It Happened on Dufferin Terrace, It Happened Series, Novels, PTSD

I’ve chosen my name!

January 17, 2021 Melanie 5 Comments

I need help choosing my name. I want to thank everyone who offered suggestions either here, via email, or on social media.

You might think I misbehaved with my doleful expression and am in trouble for it, but I assure you that’s not the case. I’m just sad because I don’t yet have my name.

Here is the complete list that Melanie’s fans and readers have come up with:

Bruno
Buddy
Carrot
Celtic
Cooper
Copper
Danbie
Dexter
Dilis
Fergus
Hero
Ivy
Jerry (named for a man who had PTSD)
Jesse
Luke (associated with the saint of healing)
Murtagh
Percival (Percy for short)
Red
Rollo
Rooster
Rufus
Rufus the Red
Rusty
Sadie
Sergeant
Thor
Trevor
Tyson

There are three that I’m rather partial to and a couple that won’t work. One is because I’m a boy, and it’s a girl’s name (Sadie). I’m an emotional support dog. I don’t want to need one of my own.

The other that won’t is Buddy. He’s already a doggo in the book. His breeder name is Frankfurt’s Champion Beauregard, and he’s a wee black and tan Dachshund who looks much like this chap below.

You can’t have two characters with the same name in one book. It just doesn’t work.

So which ones are my favourites?

They are:

Jerry
Luke
Percival (or Percy for short)

Which of these three names do you think suits me best? Do I look like a Jerry, a Luke or a Percy?

I’ve decided I’m a Percy. Actually, it was Gareth who eventually came up with my name. It seems fitting since he and Melissa met in the town of Percé. You might think it’s strange using a name so close to the setting where “It Happened,” but you pronounce them differently.

This previous post includes the doggos in the series (although not all with photos).

Carol Wyer, DI Robyn Carter, short story

ENDGAME by Carol Wyer #bonusstory

December 15, 2020 Melanie 2 Comments

DI Robyn Carter’s story concludes in Endgame.

Endgame

The last novel in the DI Robyn Carter series ended in an explosive fashion leaving loads of unanswered questions. But today marks the release of the story, Endgame, which ties up those loose ends.

My review of Endgame

When I settled in to read, Endgame, it was like reacquainting with friends I’d not seen in a long time. Being we’re in 2020, and seeing friends and family in faraway places, it’s become the norm.

However, I have to say I loved the story. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ it!

It answered the questions left hanging at the end of The Chosen Ones. Packaged them up nicely, tied up in a bow.

Now this story won’t be sold or be a standalone read. But don’t despair, if you haven’t already purchased your copy of The Chosen Ones, Endgame will be included as a bonus at the end of the book.

You can buy your copy of The Chosen Ones, including the Bonus story, Endgame at these links:

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chosen-Ones…/dp/B07BLK65CN
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Ones…/dp/B07BLK65CN
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/en/ebook/the-chosen-ones-24
Google Books https://books.google.co.uk/…/about/The_Chosen_Ones.html

And as an added bonus, beginning today (Dec 15) and continuing for a week, you can watch Carol read it a chapter at a time on YouTube.

Authors, Lizzie Lamb, Novel covers, Novels, romance, romantic fiction

Harper’s Highland Fling by Lizzie Lamb

November 12, 2020 Melanie 17 Comments

It’s publication day for Harper’s Highland Fling, the latest offering from friend and author, Lizzie Lamb.

Harper's Highland Fling

BLURB

After a gruelling academic year head teacher Harper MacDonald is looking forward to a summer holiday trekking in Nepal. Her plans are scuppered when her wayward niece, Ariel, leaves a note announcing she’s running away with a boy called Pen. The only clue to their whereabouts is a scribbled footnote: I’ll Be in Scotland.

Cue a case of mistaken identity when Harper confronts the boy ‘s father – Rocco Penhaligon – accusing him of cradle snatching her niece and ruining her bright future. At loggerheads, Harper and Rocco set off in hot pursuit of the teenagers, but the canny youngsters are always one step ahead. And, in a neat twist, it is the adults who end up in trouble, not the savvy teenagers.

Can cupid convince Harper and Rocco that they have found their soul mates?

Faster your seatbelt for the road trip of your lifetime –

It’s going to be a bumpy ride

Buy Link

mybook.to/HarpersHighlandFling

Meet Lizzie

Harper's Highland Fling

Hi, I’m Lizzie and I like writing about ‘that moment’ when the hero and the heroine fall in love. That, and trying to track down that all elusive hero-in-a-kilt, is what gets me in front of the computer every morning. In 2012, I published Tall, Dark and Kilted quickly followed by Boot Camp Bride, Scotch on the Rocks, Girl in the Castle and Take Me, I’m Yours. My sixth novel – Harper’s Highland Fling is now available on Amazon to download as an ebook or to order as a paperback. I hope to start work on number seven – Dark Highland Skies very soon. I belong to the Society of Authors and co-organise the Leicester Chapter of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. I present workshops on indie publishing, and deliver an annual ‘state of publishing’ lecture to Creative Writing students at De Montfort University, Leicester. Luckily the skills I learned over thirty-four as a teacher haven’t deserted me.

My feel good/uplit novels would be very happy to sit on the bookcase alongside Jilly Cooper, Jenny Colgan, Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews. And, as for writing for Scottish themed romance, it’s given me the chance to celebrate everything I love about my homeland and the opportunity to share those feelings with you.

Slainte Mhath.

Connect with Lizzie

viewAuthor.at/LizzieLamb

www.facebook.com/LizzieLambwriter

lizzielambwriter@gmail.com

website: www.lizzielamb.co.uk

https://twitter.com/lizzie_lamb

Newsletter – http://tinyurl.com/ELNL-2016

Linked in: uk.linkedin.com/pub/lizzie-lamb/18/194/202/

Goodreads http://tinyurl.com/cbla48d

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lizzielamb/

Harper's Highland Fling

General, Little Shop of Borrows, Novels, Suzy Turner, Winterbourne Witches

The Little Shop of Borrows by Suzy Turner

October 31, 2020 Melanie 5 Comments

The Little Shop of Borrows is the first full-length novel in the Winterbourne witches series.

Blurb

After spending a year perfecting his knitting skills in the Peruvian mountains, Taren Winn-Jones returns to England to transform his late Nanna’s house into a yarn shop. But when he discovers it has quite literally vanished, he doesn’t know what to do. Luckily for him, he has just befriended a strange young woman heading to the mysterious hamlet of Willow Tree Farm…

Sadie Thornton is following her father’s instructions. “If I disappear, you must find your way to the Winterbournes of Willow Tree Farm.” Well, her father has gone, so she’s had no choice but to leave the Tibetan monks behind and fly halfway across the world to start afresh with a family harbouring a badly kept secret—that they are, in fact, witches.

When it becomes apparent that a murder has been committed, a house has been stolen, and ghosts are hanging around, three generations of the Winterbournes will do everything in their power to protect their new friends and if that means waging a war against Cinnamon Grove’s obnoxious Mayor, then so be it.

Little Shop of Borrows is the first full-length novel in The Winterbourne Witches series. If you like quirky characters, magical mysteries and moments that will have you laughing out loud, then you’ll love Suzy Turner’s Little Shop of Borrows.

Buy Links

Little Shop of Borrows – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LSFY2TD

A short, prequel novella, Willow Tree Farm, is available on Amazon for FREE.

Willow Tree Farm – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L43BJM4

My Review

A house that’s larger on the inside than it appears. A quirky family. Meet the Winterbournes of Willow Tree Farm! Should I mention they’re witches? Not wart-covered and casting evil spells requiring ‘eye of newt’ and other ghastly ingredients. These are good witches who use their powers to help people.

I loved this book! The characters were well-developed and likeable. Even the obnoxious Mayor has some redeeming qualities and is the perfect candidate for the Winterbournes to use their powers.

And then there’s the Power of Three, but I won’t say any more than that. If you want to find out, you’ll have to read Little Shop of Borrows.

About Suzy

little shop of borrows

Suzy Turner wrote her first chick lit novel in her early twenties, but it wasn’t until much later that she decided to focus on writing full time. It was during a visit to Canada in 2009 when the ravens within the dark eerie forests of British Columbia called to her. The story of Lilly Taylor was born soon after and the first novel in The Raven Witch Saga was created. Suzy has since published several more urban fantasy books and contemporary women’s novels.

Having lived in Portugal since childhood, Suzy, who is originally from Yorkshire in England, loves to travel. She finds inspiration wherever she goes. Old decrepit buildings, graveyards, cathedrals and castles are just a few of the things that can be found within the worlds of her urban fantasy books, and her contemporary women’s fiction novels are filled with fun friendships, ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and quirky characters you’d want as friends.

Suzy lives in the Algarve with her husband, three cats and a dog, where she does yoga every morning and bookish stuff for pretty much the rest of the day!

For more books and updates, visit www.suzyturner.com

You can follow Suzy at these links:

Website: www.suzyturner.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/suzyturnerbooks
Instagram: www.instagram.com/suzyturner
Twitter: www.twitter.com/suzy_turner
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/suzyturnerbooks

#Spookpendous, #Spooksational, #spooktacular, giveaway, Halloween

Big Halloween Contest! multi author/book/swag giveaway

October 22, 2020 Melanie 1 Comment

It’s that time of year again! The Big Halloween Contest is on!

Big Halloween Contest

Check out the books and swag on offer over at Marie Lavender’s blog.

Big Halloween Contest

You can enter to win ebooks, print books and lots of book swag!

Big Halloween Contest

If you like horror, shifters, monsters, hauntings, and other thrills and chills then this is the contest for you!

Big Halloween Contest

Don’t delay! All the giveaways are through Rafflecopter so the more entries you have, the better chance of winning!

Everyone likes prizes.

Prepare to get spooked!

#amwriting, dog, emotional therapy dog, It Happened at Percé Rock, It Happened Series, novella, Novels, PTSD

It’s all in the name #servicedogs #therapydogs

October 5, 2020 Melanie 11 Comments

I need a name.

I can’t go through life as the dog with no name. Once upon a time, there was a horse with no name, but that was a song.

But first, let me tell you a bit about myself. I’m a male and about a year old. I’m about to become an Emotional Support Dog for Gareth Young, a former soldier who has PTSD, in Melanie’s current novel. It Happened at Percé Rock.

Here’s some of Gareth’s story and the root of his PTSD. He and his best friend since like forever, Normand Levesque, enlisted in the Canadian military and assigned to the Vandoos. They were deployed to Afghanistan, where Normand was killed when a roadside bomb exploded and destroyed their armoured vehicle. Gareth took quite a bit of shrapnel in his right arm from the shoulder to his hand, so he has the physical and the emotional scars. Normand didn’t have a mark on him.

Lately, things have been getting much worse for Gareth. Medication, counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy aren’t working. That’s when he psychiatrist suggested an Emotional Support Dog. It took some persuading on the doctor’s part, but eventually, Gareth went along with the idea, and I’m thrilled he chose me. I’ve been working with Gareth for a while now, getting to know him, his needs and his triggers.

So you see, I’ve got my work cut out for me.

Anyway, if you think you’ve got the perfect name for me, please leave it in the comments. I’d love to hear your suggestions. I can’t be forever known as Dog.

Teddy Bear Day

It’s Teddy Bear Day! Hip Hip Hooray!

September 9, 2020 Melanie 2 Comments

Teddy Bear Day!

Hooray for Teddy Bear Day! Do you have a favourite stuffed animal, whether it be a bear, a dog, a moose, a beaver, or a raven?

I happen to have all of the above along with a beaver, two foxes, a couple of tigers, polar bears, a seal, and the list goes on. I even have a hippopotamus.

teddy bear day

This cute guy is actually an eyeglass holder. You put your glasses in his mouth to store them. It’s all nice and soft in there like the cloths you clean your glasses with so no scratches.

The largest of my stuffed friends stands about 6′ tall. Definitely taller than I am, but that would be hard because I’m short. Now that’s what I call a teddy bear.

Teddy Bears Around the World

In this year of coronavirus, teddy bears have been getting up to all sorts. The Coronabears in Largs, Scotland have their own
Facebook page. My big guy is about the same size as Hope and Sunshine but he’s dark brown.

Holly Saunders, also from Scotland, had her teddy bears doing all kinds of fun things, too. Their most recent appearance on Facebook was to remind everyone to wear their masks when inside stores and other confined public places.

The Scots have quite the imaginations when it comes to their teddy bears and bringing smiles to people’s faces during these uncertain times. Another woman, Elaine, has a Facebook page called It’s A Bear’s Life.

What fun!

And this family of bears is my favourite of all (after my personal collection, of course). These guys hang out in La Fudgerie’s Boutique on 16 rue du Cul-de-Sac in the Petit Champlain District of Old Quebec City. The biggest is almost twice the size of my huge bear.
The one wearing the apron and the sign telling you not to touch the bears, would be about the same size as mine, mabye a bit smaller.

teddy bear day

So no matter how you celebrate Teddy Bear Day, just remember our stuffed friends. If you don’t have any now that you’re grown up think back to when you were small and what your favourite stuffed animal was.

#amreading, #amwriting, Children's author, Children's Chapter Book, children's picture book, Chris Longmuir, contemporary romance, cosy mystery, cozy crime, crime writer, crime writing, Crime/Thriller, Novels, Read a Book Day, time-travel, Wendy H. Jones, YA fiction, Young Adult

Hooray for Read a Book Day! #amreading #amwriting

September 6, 2020 Melanie 7 Comments

Hooray for Read a Book Day!

Hooray for Read a Book day! Here in North America, it’s our Labour Day weekend, so we can extend our “bookish” holiday into another full day of reading enjoyment.

What’s your preferred medium for reading? Are you a fan of ebooks or do you prefer print, either paperback or hardcover?

And then there are genres? Which do you like to read? Crime? Thrillers? Horror? Romance? Historical? Or a blend of all of the above.

I’m lucky in that being an author, I’ve met authors from other countries around the world – England, Scotland, Australia, France, the US, and back here at home in Canada.

I write in a number of genres, but my favourite is romance. You can see my books here. To find out more about any particular title, click on the cover and you’ll be taken to the book’s page where you’ll be provided with the description and buy links should you be so inclined to purchase.

possibly a title or two you might be interested in?

My brand “where fact and fiction meet” stems from the fact I take real events and spin fictional stories around them, changing place and characters’ names to protect the ‘guilty.’ 😉

Now before you think this blog post is all about me, I’m going to introduce you to two authors you might not have heard of before.

I’ll start with Chris Longmuir. Chris and I first met virtually in early 2001 when she contacted me asking permission to use a photograph. We met in person later that same year and see each other as often as possible.

Another is Wendy H. Jones. I’ve not known Wendy as long, but she Chris and I make up the Princesses of Pandemonium. While their books are crime – gritty, humourous or historical – we have a great time when we get together.

Here we are outside the Old Town Jail in Stirling, Scotland.