John W. Howell

John W. Howell

What is your latest release and what genre is it? I am re-releasing my first book My GRL due to my desire not to re-new my publisher’s contract. It is Thriller Fiction

Quick description: The first book in the John J. Cannon Trilogy where John J. Cannon, successful San Francisco lawyer, takes a leave of absence from the firm and buys a boat he names My GRL. He is unaware that his newly-purchased boat had already been targeted by a terrorist group. John’s first inkling of a problem is when he wakes up in the hospital where he learns he was found unconscious next to the dead body of the attractive young woman who sold him the boat in the first place. John now stands between the terrorists and the success of their mission.

Brief biography:
John began his writing as a full-time occupation after an extensive business career. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. His first book, My GRL, introduces the exciting adventures of the book’s central character, John J. Cannon. The second Cannon novel, His Revenge, continues the adventure, while the final book in the trilogy, Our Justice, launched in September 2016. All books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

John lives in Port Aransas, Texas, with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

Links to buy John’s book:
Amazon Author Page
Print edition
Kindle edition

John’s promo links:
Blog: Fiction Favorites
Facebook
Twitter
Authors db
LinkedIn
Google +
Goodreads

What are you working on now?
I am currently editing my next book titled Circumstances of Childhood and will be launching it in September of 2017. I have begun a yet unnamed thriller which will available in 2018.

John’s reading recommendation:
I have finished reading Letting Go Into Perfect Love by Gwendolyn Plano. The story of Gwen’s personal challenge is very uplifting.

Bob Van Laerhoven – update and a special offer

Belgian author, Bob Van Laerhoven, has returned to Reading Recommendations to tell us of a new English translation edition of his novel, Baudelaire’s Revenge, and a special price for the eBook at Amazon for the rest of December.

Baudelaire’s Revenge: A Novel
by Bob Van Laerhoven
Translated by Brian Doyle
Published in English by Pegasus Books
Genre: Fiction – mystery, thriller, suspense

Winner of the Hercule Poirot Prize for Best Crime Novel – Winner of the USA Best Book Award 2014 in the category Fiction: mystery/suspense

Paris police commissioner Paul Lefèvre, robust and hirsute, hardly seems like a poetry lover. Nonetheless, he instantly recognizes the messages accompanying murder victims killed in flamboyant ways as excerpts from poems by the scandalous, recently deceased poet Baudelaire. Is this gruesomely inventive serial killer exacting revenge on Baudelaire’s enemies? Paris is in an uproar in 1870. The Franco-Prussian War is on full boil, the poor are hungry and insurrectional, and the decadent rich are partying. As Lefèvre and longtime comrade Inspector Bernard Bouveroux—they served together as soldiers in Algiers—seek to stop this diabolical, perhaps otherwordly serial killer, the philosophical Lefèvre is haunted by traumatic memories of war and a childhood abomination. He is also longing for his sharp-witted beloved, the now-missing prostitute Claire de la Lune. In this superbly crafted Hercule Poirot Prize–winning mystery, Belgian writer Van Laerhoven vividly and astutely evokes a city under siege and keenly portrays the complex and controversial Baudelaire. But he also constructs a wildly convoluted and sexually explicit gothic tale of monstrous urges and violently broken taboos.

Some great news: Amazon has selected BAUDELAIRE’S REVENGE for their Kindle 100 promotion for the month of December. From 12/1 to 12/31, it will have a promotional price of $0.99, and it will receive featured placement on the Monthly Kindle Deals page and in Amazon merchandising materials. (Availability of this special may be limited to North America.)

Amazon Canada

JP McLean – the release of the fifth novel in the series

J.P. McLean is back to tell us about a new novel in her series, The Gift Legacy. J.P. Has long been a friend and supporter of this blog. There are also reviews of her books posted over at reading recommendations reviewed.

The Gift: Betrayal
by J.P. McLean
Published by Windstorm Press
Genre: contemporary thriller with a touch of fantasy

The Gift: Betrayal is Awakening Redux. Jackson Delaney was Emelynn Taylor’s love interest in Awakening. His role was controversial, pivotal and demanded to be told. Love him or hate him, you won’t forget him. Betrayal is his story.

When his wife leaves him for his half-brother, Jackson Delaney flies into high gear to find them. He dives headlong into dangerous intrigue involving the feared Tribunal and unscrupulous thugs from his past, in a quest for justice at any cost. When that quest leads him to a mysterious young Flier with no knowledge of her arcane gift, Jackson’s vengeance gets the better of him and may cost him something worse than his life.

Where to purchase copies

For more information about all of J.P. McLean’s books, visit her blog.

Seumas Gallacher – update on a new Jack Calder novel

Seumas Gallacher has been an online friend and supporter of Reading Recommendations almost since the beginning of the blog. He’s a self-published author who definitely promotes his fellow authors and we all thank him heartily for that!

Deadly Impasse – Jack Calder Crime Series #5
by Seumas Gallacher
Genre: Thriller/Suspense

The team at specialist security firm, International Security Partners (ISP), ex-SAS officers, Jack Calder and his mate Malky McGuire; Jack’s Asian wife, former Anti-Triad fighter, May-Ling; and former London Serious Crimes Squad commander, Donnie Mullen, take on international crime barons and people-traffickers.

An explosion in the vaults of a private bank in the calm backwater of Luxembourg links to the shores of Libya and the perils of migrants in the Mediterranean, before crossing continents to drug-running cartels in Central America.

Jack and his ISP squad pitch their lethal black ops skills to combat the callous greed and brutal actions of the syndicates as they move to break the deadly impasse.

*From Susan: I have read all five of the novels in this series and I highly recommend every one! But I just wanted to add something that came up after I read this latest novel. It’s not giving away too much to say that part of the story involves human trafficking along the northern coast of Africa with desperate migrants trying to make the arduous journey to the southern shores of the Mediterranean. Shortly after I finished reading this book, and in an eerie “art imitating life” situation, an article came to my attention and I shared it with Seumas.

Hundreds dead in shipwrecks off Libya

To which Seumas replied, “Did you read the poem I wrote about migrants?” He had published it on his blog in the post,
… Authors … getting ‘touchy-feely’ with yer writing is okay …

I’ve posted the poem here with Seumas Gallacher’s permission:

How many more migrants must we lose?

Hold on tight, don’t cry, my son,
This will not last too long.
Listen how your Mama sings
Your favourite nursing song.
This water will not harm us now
We’re nearly at the shore.
Be strong and brave, my boy
And we’ll be wet no more.

Yes, yes, that wave was huge, I know,
But hang on tight, be safe with me.
This darkness merely hides the land
We’re getting closer now, you’ll see.
The sea is wild but brings us fast.
This wind behind our back
Will blow us into land quite soon.
Watch us veer and tack.

No, please don’t cry, my lad,
I’m here to hold you tight
This angry sea won’t harm you
We’ll be safe ere blows the night
Talk to Papa, tell me things,
All the things you’d like to say.
Tell me how we’ll live our lives
On the shore we near this day.

Papa, truly, truly I am scared
These waves are far too tall.
And this darkness blinds my eyes.
I hate this, hate this all.
Papa, Papa, the boat is tipping over,
Papa, Papa, where’s your hand?
Papa, Papa, catch me please.
Papa, Papa……….. Papa?

Seumas Gallacher
October 16th, 2016

Where to purchase:
Amazon

Tim Baker – Update on a new Flagler Beach novel

Tim Baker is back with another new novel, and his wonderful character Ike is in it!! Tim has been associated with Reading Recommendations since the beginning and I’ve been pleased to announce each new novel as they are released. I’m also pleased to have been a beta-reader of this novel and I can honestly say this is the best Tim Baker novel I have read yet – and I’ve had the great pleasure of reading every one!

Blood in the Water
by Tim Baker
Genre: Suspense/Thriller

Blood in the Water – my ninth novel – tells the story of Bob “Oscar” Oscarson, who finds a 300-year-old Spanish coin while SCUBA diving. Naturally he thinks his find is only the beginning. Unfortunately, he’s right—it’s the beginning of trouble the likes of which he never imagined.

In the book, we also see the return of Flagler Beach P.I. Steve Salem and his partner Val Casey (Backseat to Justice), who are investigating the disappearance of a retired architect from Rhode Island. Somehow their investigation connects them to Oscar and his mystery coin, and before long…there’s blood in the water.

Available in paperback and Kindle.

Also, to celebrate this new publication, Tim is offering a couple of his earlier books FREE!! for a limited time … The True Meaning of Free Choice

Douglas Morrison

Douglas Morrison

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Course Correction – A thriller set in Eastern Europe

Quick description: A young Canadian, Michael Barrett, on his first trip overseas, has the misfortune to be aboard a flight hijacked to Kiev, Ukraine. After a double case of mistaken identity Michael finds himself on the run from the Mafia along with fellow passenger, Dmitri. Alone in a strange country he has no choice but to put his faith and trust in the mysterious Dmitri as the two men race for the border, hoping to keep one step ahead of the men hunting them.

Brief biography:
Still unable to decide what I want to be when I grow up I’ve held jobs ranging from restaurant manager to accountant to charter pilot and flight instructor, but the one constant in my life has been the love of books and a good story. Over the years I’ve made 15 trips to Ukraine and Eastern Europe doing volunteer work with children and young people. Despite my Scottish heritage I’m now thought of as an honorary Ukrainian by many of my friends over there who now refer to themselves as my “Ukrainian family”. During those trips I often wondered what it might be like for a Canadian to be unexpectedly dropped into the middle of Ukraine with no knowledge of the culture or the language, much like I was on my first trip. As I sat in the villages and looked over the fields of my adopted country the idea for the story of Course Correction began to form.

Links to buy Douglas’s book:
Stonehouse Publishing
Indigo/Chapters

Douglas’s promo links:
Facebook
Twitter

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on two books. One is a continuation of the story of Michael and Dmitri set a year after the hijacking. Its working title is Collision Course.

The second is set during WW II and follows the story of a Norwegian Merchant Marine sailor who falls victim to a Nazi spy working undercover as an evangelist in New York Harbor. It is based on a real-life German spy named Bruckner who posed as an anti-Hitler preacher in order to disrupt the vital flow of supplies from North America to England.

Douglas’s reading recommendation:
I’m usually reading anywhere from four to six books at any one time. At the moment I’m reading Starfire by Dale Brown; The Last Great Victory by Stanley Weintraub (A day-by-day account of the last days of WW II leading up to the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima); and Louis Riel by George F.G. Stanley.

I’ve also just completed the other four books recently released by Stonehouse Publishing and recommended all of them to my friends and family. (All promoted on Reading Recommendations: Pam Clark, Melanie Kerr, Danika Stone, N.R. Cruse.)

Don Massenzio

Don Massenzio

What is your latest release and what genre is it? My latest release is called Blood Orange. It’s a terrorism thriller.

Quick description: There is a terrorist attack during the men’s college basketball championship game. The story deals with the aftermath and bringing those responsible to justice.

Brief biography:
I was born in Syracuse, New York to first generation Italian American parents. I’m an avid reader. Some of my favorite authors are Harlan Coben, David Morrell, Stephen King, Jonathan Kellerman, John Grisham, and Hugh Howey. My favorite book of all time is To Kill a Mockingbird.

I started writing as a way to combat the long hours of travel and numerous hotel stays that are part of the ‘glamorous’ world of corporate life. I use writing as a therapeutic outlet to combat my homesickness.

I moved to Jacksonville, Florida 20 years ago where I currently live with my wife, children, and three dogs.

Links to buy Don’s book:
Amazon

Don’s promo links:
My web site
My Author Facebook Page
My blog

What are you working on now?
I just turned in the fourth novel in my detective series to my editor and I’m already laying out the fifth. I’m also writing a serial thriller on my blog with new chapters coming out each week.

Don’s reading recommendation:
I’ve been reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books and short stories. I’ve finished A Study In Scarlet and The Sign of the Four. I’m currently engrossed in The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Seumas Gallacher – a few thoughts on returning to self-publishing

Seumas Gallacher has been a long-time pal of Reading Recommendations and has done a great deal to promote (and become friends with!) many of the other authors I promote, as well as with me, and of my writing! He has been featured in the group, Reading Recommendations Revisited, and has returned to tell us of his recent publishing experience and why he switched back to self-publishing, a story that is best told in the Kind Sir’s very own inimitable style.

The Jack Calder Series
by Seumas Gallacher

… having recently returned to the ranks of the self-published author brigade, I’m delighted to report that the joy of being able once more to track my Amazon Kindle activity on a daily basis makes me a much happier scribbling bunny

… I traipsed into the realm of the ‘housed writers’ for a year, and although the good people at Crooked Cat Publishing, Stephanie and Laurence Patterson, are delightful folks, and easy to communicate with, I missed
the complete ‘control’ over my own literary destiny via the promotional push program that every author needs

… I know many authors are content to let that part of the ‘business of writing’ remain with a publisher, but I felt I needed to be closer again to the action, hence the parting of ways

… result? … my ability to monitor the movement on my sales downloads has been productive, and my titles are selling regularly, if modestly, but have certainly picked up pace from the last several months

… the most recent launch in August 2015, KILLER CITY, is doing well, but astonishingly to me, the earliest two titles, THE VIOLIN MAN’S LEGACY and VENGEANCE WEARS BLACK have each found a new lease of readership life

… strange ol’ business, huh!…

…the universal buying links are:

THE VIOLIN MANS LEGACY

VENGEANCE WEARS BLACK

SAVAGE PAYBACK

KILLER CITY

Seumas’s Website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

And here’s the man himself with a poetic tribute he made to me on the occasion of Reading Recommendations‘s 2nd Anniversary!

PS. On a personal note, I have had the great honour to read all of Seumas’s novels and enjoyed every one of them, so much so that his books were included in my annual Best Books Read list – two years in a row! smt

Glen R. Stansfield

Glen R. Stansfield

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Fishing for Stones – Crime/Action

Quick description: Steve and Andy are the best of friends. Steve’s loyalty to Andy means he will do anything to help him, even if it means breaking the law.

When Andy’s wife leaves him she leaves a mountain of debt. Andy is about to lose the house and is to be made bankrupt. Steve decides he must do whatever it takes to help him.

He learns of a diamond deal that’s about to take place in the highlands of Scotland, and hastily concocts an audacious plan to steal them.

Brief biography:
Glen R. Stansfield is a qualified aircraft engineer, a profession he has pursued for over forty years. A lifelong interest in crime, in particular forensic psychology, led him to write his debut novel, Fishing for Stones. When not writing, he can usually be found on two wheels, often using his motorcycle to raise money for charity. His work has taken him to Bahrain, where he lives with his wife, Jess.

Links to buy Glen’s book:
Amazon.com Paperback and Kindle
Amazon UK Paperback and Kindle
My online store

Glen’s promo links:
Website
Twitter
Facebook

What are you working on now?
My second novel, Harry, is set in Kuwait and London. A plague of brutal beatings of the homeless has hit the Tower Hamlets district of London. One attack soon turns into a murder inquiry. Before long, other bodies begin to appear in the borough, but this time it isn’t the homeless who are suffering. Someone is killing the criminals. A serial killer is on the loose. This book is firmly in the Crime Genre.

Glen’s reading recommendation:
I particularly like Lin Anderson, a Glasgow-based author who created the series about forensic scientist
Rhona MacLeod.

Eric J. Gates

Eric J. Gates

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Outsourced is fiction, a thriller.

Quick description: Outsourced features a New York-based writer of thriller novels who receives a mysterious package from a fan. That fan turns out to be a professional killer. That’s just the start of the writer’s problems; problems that escalate way beyond anything he could have imagined on the pages of his novels, as death and destruction follow rapidly.

Just when matter cannot get any worse for the novelist, he learns a high-tech Intelligence agency has been tasked with obtaining the contents of the package too, and they will stop at nothing to achieve that goal. They have their own global agenda. The agent assigned to the task is out of her depth working on US soil and her methods are unsuited to a civilian environment. As pressure mounts for her to achieve results, she becomes more and more radical in her approach.

And, if that’s not enough . . . the sender wants it back, and his methods are even more direct and violent! He believes the contents of the package were used to try to kill him and his aim is to recover them and exact his revenge on the writer.

Brief biography:
Eric J. Gates has had a curious life filled with the stuff of thriller novels. Writing Operating Systems for Supercomputers, cracking cryptographic codes under extreme pressure using only paper and pen and teaching cyber warfare to spies are just a few of the moments he’s willing to recall. He is an ex-International Consultant who has travelled extensively worldwide, speaks several languages, and has had articles and papers published in technical magazines in six different countries, as well as radio and TV spots. His specialty, Information Technology Security, has brought him into contact with the Military and Intelligence communities on numerous occasions.

He is also an expert martial artist, holding 14 black belt degrees in distinct disciplines. He has taught his skills to Police and Military personnel, as well as to the public.

He now writes thriller novels, drawing on his experiences with the confidential and secret worlds that surround us.

Links to buy Eric’s book:
Global Amazon

Eric’s promo links:
Website
Amazon Author page
Blog
Twitter
Facebook

What are you working on now?
After all the emails I received following the publication of Outsourced I am currently working on a sequel, entitled Primed, which brings back Nic Stiles, Phil Beasley and Major Bridget Mason as they face another strange puzzle and take on the Russian mafia. Primed should be out on Amazon for Christmas, 2015.

Eric’s reading recommendation:
There are two ladies whose thrillers stand out in my mind: Medical thriller writer Judith Lucci for putting me on the streets of Nawlins in her engrossing tales, and Romantic suspense writer Fiona Quinn for her outstanding Lynx. series.