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.

Allan Hudson recommends Jason Lawson

Book title and author: The Fix by Jason Lawson

What genre is it? Mystery/thriller

Quick description: Retired horse trainer Marshall Reid has seen more than his share of trouble. Years ago, after a battle with a mob boss who was fixing horse races, his daughter went missing. Now his granddaughter needs a kidney. Marshall is a perfect match, the problem is he’s only got one. Marshall decides to make the ultimate sacrifice, his life for hers. But before he can pull the trigger, his old mob adversary re-enters his life, with a secret to reveal. A secret that could save Marshall’s family, or destroy them all…

Why I recommend this book:
I enjoy Jason’s stories. There is always an interesting twist to them, they’re witty and I like his style of writing.

Links for people to buy it:
Amazon

Guest reviewer’s latest title or project: My second novel in the Drake Alexander series is titled Wall of War and will soon be available for publication in the later spring/early summer of 2017. An international action/adventure story.

You may read more about Allan Hudson and his writing here. Allan is also a valued member of the Reading Recommendations Revisited as well as an All-Star Author!

Amy M. Reade – a new novel update

Amy M. Reade has previously been featured on Reading Recommendations in April 2015 and April 2016. She returns now to tell us about a new mystery novel.

The House on Candlewick Lane
by Amy M. Reade
Published by Lyrical Underground
Genre: Fiction, Mystery/Suspense

It is every parent’s worst nightmare. Greer Dobbins’ daughter has been kidnapped—and spirited across the Atlantic to a hiding place in Scotland. Greer will do anything to find her, but the streets of Edinburgh hide a thousand secrets—including some she’d rather not face.

Art historian Dr. Greer Dobbins thought her ex-husband, Neill, had his gambling addiction under control. But in fact he was spiraling deeper and deeper into debt. When a group of shady lenders threatens to harm the divorced couple’s five-year-old daughter if he doesn’t pay up, a desperate Neill abducts the girl and flees to his native Scotland. Though the trail seems cold, Greer refuses to give up and embarks on a frantic search through the medieval alleys of Edinburgh—a city as beguiling as it is dangerous. But as the nightmare thickens with cryptic messages and a mysterious attack, Greer herself will become a target, along with everyone she holds dear.

Where to purchase Amy’s book:
Amy’s website

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

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

Amy M. Reade – update on a new novel

Amy M. Reade was previously featured on Reading Recommendations in April 2015. She’s back now to tell us about a new novel being released today!

House of the Hanging Jade
by Amy M. Reade
Published by Lyrical Underground (Kensington Publishing)

A dark presence had invaded the Jorgensens’ house. On a spectacular bluff overlooking the Pacific, something evil, something wary and watchful, had shattered the peace.

Tired of the cold winters in Washington, D.C. and disturbed by her increasingly obsessive boyfriend, Kailani Kanaka savors her move back to her native Big Island of Hawaii. She also finds a new job as personal chef for the Jorgensen family. The gentle caress of the Hawaiian trade winds, the soft sigh of the swaying palm trees, and the stunning blue waters of the Pacific lull her into a sense of calm at the House of Hanging Jade—an idyll that quickly fades as it becomes apparent that dark secrets lurk within her new home. Furtive whispers in the night, a terrifying shark attack, and the discovery of a dead body leave Kailani shaken and afraid. But it’s the unexpected appearance of her ex-boyfriend, tracking her every move and demanding she return to him, that has her fearing for her life …

Where to purchase Amy’s book:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
KOBO
Kensington Publishing
iTunes

Allan Hudson – Reading Recommendation Revisited

Allan Hudson has been featured previously on Reading Recommendations in Feb. 2014 when he published his first novel. Since that time, he’s been a great pal to me, to the blog, and to the other authors who have been featured here. I’ve been interviewed and have guest posted a couple of short stories on Allan’s blog, where he highlights writing by other authors, and I’ve also met a few new-to-me authors through his tireless promotion of others on social media. Allan has definitely earned a place among these special authors due to his good humour and championing of writing and books in general. Here’s Allan to tell you what he’s been up to since first appearing on this blog.

Since I’ve been featured on Reading Recommendations I have completed my debut novel, Dark Side of a Promise. I’ve made it available in both electronic and print. There was a successful book launch in September of 2014 and while sales are slow, I am still selling copies of this novel and extremely happy with the results to date. This month will see the novel in Chapters bookstores in New Brunswick and I’m very happy for this opportunity.

I have published three collections of short stories, each one dedicated to my grandchildren. Simply titled SHORTS, Vol. 1, 2 & 3. I love reading and writing short stories. My latest short story – Funeral Food – is featured this week on my blog South Branch Scribbler. I also host guest authors and 4Q Interviews with a variety of different artists on a weekly basis.

I’ve completed multiple drafts of my second novel – Wall of War –and after input from several beta readers, I am preparing it for the editor and am hoping for a launch in the fall of this years. Wall of War features my protagonist Drake Alexander and picks up where Dark Side of a Promise left off. The unlikeliest of characters, Father Suetonius Graft, is an amateur rock climber and while scaling a sheer cliff in the Andes of Peru, he makes a startling discovery, forgotten Incan gold! He retrieves an ancient artifact from the caves, proceeds to document his find, but before he can finish, events lead to his early demise and the secret remains hidden for another fifty years.

The papers and relic are discovered in 2014 and within hours, a plot is developed to assassinate the finder and steal the papers. Spanish raiders arrive in Peru once more. Can Drake Alexander save the day?

Other than writing, I am renovating a century old farmhouse near the Cocagne Bay in New Brunswick. My wife Gloria has recently retired and we are looking forward to living in the country once more. I still toil away as a jewellery consultant at my work, hoping for the day that I can sell enough books to put supper on the table.

I have no secrets or wonderful examples of new ways to market my books other than persistence. I use three social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to spread the word but it takes patience and time. It also takes good writing. I use my blog to showcase my work while helping other authors reach a new audience. Keep writing, keep publishing and keep your fingers crossed that the next one might be the biggest one!

There are two authors I have taken special notice of from Reading Recommendations (TY Susan) and one of my favorites is Lockie Young. Lockie’s novels are mainly for young adults but are a good read. I truly enjoy his short stories and recommend them to any reader. He posts much of his writing to his website.

Another RR author I am looking forward to reading is Seumas Gallacher. I follow him on Facebook and enjoy his wit and writing style. I have no doubt that his novels are worth reading. Here is Seumas’s website.

One of my favorite authors is Beth Powning and I have recently finished her latest novel, A Measure of Light. This book is one of the three finalists for the first annual New Brunswick Book Awards. The Sea Captain’s Wife is one of her best works. Beth’s website is here.

Thank you, Allan!

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