  AD 495, Wessex, Briton.
If all you had left was your heart, would you give it to your enemy? A generation after Arthur Pendragon ruled, Briton lies fragmented into warring kingdoms and principalities. The powerful Saxon King, Cerdic of Wessex, has spent the last twenty years hunting down Arthur’s noble knights. He is determined to secure his kingdom against any reprisals for killing their legendary leader. The knights who have survived the genocide are destined to spend the rest of their lives in hiding, never revealing who they really are. The only knight who refused to be intimidated by this Saxon invader was Lancelot du Lac. Lancelot and Cerdic formed a fragile truce, but Lancelot has been dead these past eight years and it has fallen to his sons to protect Briton from the ambitions of the Saxon King. Alden du Lac, the once king of Cerniw and son of Lancelot, has nothing. Betrayed by Cerdic, Alden’s kingdom lies in rubble, his fort razed to the ground and his brother Merton missing, presumably dead. Cerdic has had Alden tied to a post and ordered his skin to be lashed from his back. In the morning, if Alden is still alive, he is to be executed. Annis, daughter of King Cerdic of Wessex, has been secretly in love with Alden for what seems like forever. She will not stand by and see him die. She defies father, king, and country to save the man she loves from her father’s dungeons. Alden and Annis flee Wessex together. To the horror of Alden’s few remaining allies, he has given his heart to the daughter of his enemy. Alden’s allies see Annis, at best, as a bargaining chip to avoid war with her powerful father. At worst, they see a Saxon witch with her claws in a broken, wounded king. Alden has one hope: When you war with one du Lac, you war with them all. His brother Budic, King of Brittany, could offer the deposed young king sanctuary—but whether he will offer the same courtesy to Annis is far less certain.  Release date - 6th September 2016
Book length - 283 pages Available on - www.amazon.com | www.amazon.co.uk Calista Thorne has always been destined for a king. And with her parent's negotiations, she is betrothed to King Magnus, an older man that she has yet to meet. But when her home, Blackbriar Keep, is attacked by The Bastard Brotherhood, she will not sit idly by and let these notorious monsters tear apart her home. Injuring their leader, Torch, with her crossbow, gives her a small amount of pleasure, even though in the end, her father was forced to hand over their stronghold to this man. Torch has dreamed of Calista through the power of his scrying stone, and he declares that he will marry her just before he collapses. Calista knows that she must nurse this mercenary back to health if she is to keep her parents and her people safe. But the more time she spends with Torch, she learns that he does not live up to his murderous reputation, and when he touches her she yearns to be his. For Torch is not only the leader of The Bastard Brotherhood, and he wants vengeance for what was stolen from him as a child. But King Magnus will never let this insult stand and with traitors within the walls, and the truth of an old feud finally brought to light, can Calista and Torch trust the magic of the stone that has brought them together? And can they really trust their feelings for each other? DESTINED FOR A KING by Ashlyn MacNamara is an action-packed, steamy, historical romance that reeled me in straight away. Calista is a strong heroine who will follow her heart and do what she must, to protect her people. Torch has hidden his identity for so long but as his relationship with Calista develops, we can see him become more powerful as he realises she believes him. But with danger from all sides, betrayal, and new powers, they must try to find a way to fight for their freedom and for each other. DESTINED FOR A KING by Ashlyn MacNamara is a great beginning to what is sure to be an enthralling series. BOOK RATING - 📖📖📖📖 4+ Author Bio: They say that once you reach your forties, you undergo some sort of mid-life crisis. That must have been what happened to Ashlyn Macnamara when she finally made up her mind to set down some of the stories that had been accumulating dust in the dark recesses of her brain for years. As space becomes available, other plots and characters have developed the pesky habit of moving in to take their place. Ashlyn lives in the wilds of suburbia outside Montreal with her husband, two teenage daughters, and one loudmouth cat. When not writing, she looks for other excuses to neglect the housework, among them knitting, reading and wasting time on the internet in the guise of doing research. For more information: Website - ashlynmacnamara.net Facebook - www.facebook.com/AuthorAshlynMacnamara/?fref=ts Twitter - twitter.com/ashlyn_mac *Book received from Netgalley.com  Release date - 1st September 2016
Book length - 288 pages Available on - www.amazon.com | www.amazon.co.uk Mr. David Smith may be a common-born farmer's son but that has not stopped him from working his way up in Parliament and becoming one of the chief speakers seeking Reform. Intelligent, handsome, and kind, David will do anything to help those in need. So when he comes upon a woman being attacked by ruffians, naturally he steps in to help her. What he didn't expect to find was Faith, the widowed Duchess of Ashedon, his old friend, and the only woman he has ever loved. But this Faith is not the happy, lively, inquiring girl from his past. And David will do whatever it takes to see her smile once again. Even though it breaks his heart that they can never be anything more than friends. 
Title: Always the One
Author: C.C Monroe
Release Date: August 25
TBR: Goodreads
Follow CC on her Author Page: CC Monroe
Synopsis
Friendships are defined as a bond between two people, a building of a strong connection and like for one another. Usually excluding romantic or sexual feelings. Now what occurs when the typical doesn't happen and friendship turns to love?
Trey Adams spends his days working with music and pining over his longtime best friend, Shayla Donovan. The only thing holding him back is his past, a past where love only hurts and leaves you. To love Shayla the way he desires may be a long, arduous road.
Shayla Donovan has lived thirteen years of her life with a secret she is ready to confess. Pushing her fear aside may be the only way she can move forward in helping Trey learn the meaning of true love.
On their journey to finding love, these two souls will fight battles bigger than they could ever imagine.
*This novel contains mature subject matter, such as explicit sexual situations and coarse language, please refrain from reading if these things offend you. This story is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18. Hot, sensitive, alpha male, with an HEA.
Excerpt
Tonight proved our love is stronger than anything—the feelings and emotions all real. The only light in the room is the burning fireplace, crackling across the way from the bed. I watch the orange and yellow flames mesh, regaining my bearings. Shay’s warmth on top of my chest is welcoming, helping me relax. I notice she’s been silent for a few minutes, and when I look down I'm met by her sleeping form. Everything that has happened in the past twenty-four hours wore my girl out. But I'm more than happy just sitting here listening to her light breathing as she sleeps. She looks beautiful, like nothing in this world could disturb her. I want this moment to last forever. I want my time with her to last far past the time we are given here on earth. I don't know if I believe in eternity, but she sure makes me hopeful that there will be one. She makes me feel like the day I was born only half of me entered the world while the other half of me waited with her and the day we met was the day I became complete again. Lightly, I move the backside of my fingers down her cheek, and when my thumb makes it to her lips I graze the round edges. Remembering the way she kissed me back when I took away her virginity. Looking at her now, I feel a sense of completion. I’m not only falling, but in essence, also surrendering my heart, soul, and body for the chance to love someone. This is the moment that changes a boy into a man. The moment one falls in love. Not only am I responsible for loving this woman, but I'm also now in charge of protecting her heart and honoring any promise I give her from here on out. For women, virginity is the one thing that they give to someone that they’ve fallen in love with. Well, most women. The one thing they give away as a symbol of their love and commitment to their partner. But what virginity is to women, is what a heart is to a man. We save that shit with us until the right woman comes along to claim it. That's when we then give it away, without a second thought or regret. Shayla took my heart, and I will never be able to get it back. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Her voice is soft and laced in a sleepy rasp. “You look beautiful when you sleep.” She searches my eyes, seeing if I’m lying or hiding anything from her. Letting her gaze falter for a second she moves on, accepting my answer. She stretches before placing her head back on her spot above my heart. Teasers 
About the Author
 Hello Readers,
Ever since I was a young girl, I have loved the idea of love. Now that I'm older and have love in my life, I still love the concept of LOVE. More so, I believe in the power of love on paper. Writing the stories of the characters in my head.
RELEASE DAY TAKEOVER
Author CC Monroe is excited to share her debut novel, Always the One with the indie world on Thursday August 25th, from 12:30 AM - 10:30 PM in MDT
We will be having many giveaways and author takeovers from some amazing authors!
Invite readers, bloggers, and authors!
Giveaway
(2) Signed Paperback & $25 Giftcard
 Release date - 2nd September 2016
Book length - 309 pages Available on - www.amazon.com | www.amazon.co.uk DI Frank Farrell knew that returning to his hometown of Dumfries was sure to bring back memories, most of which he would rather forget. But when the local parish priest is murdered, Farrell, a former priest, will do everything he can to catch the psychotic killer regardless of his personal feelings for the victim. But is Farrell's troubled past with the Church a key factor in the case? And when the abduction of two little boys occurs soon after, is there any connection? As the past returns to haunt the present, Frank knows that some of the locals are hiding something. Add in threatening notes, a secretive young priest and estranged family relationships, and life just seems to get more complicated for Frank. But with time running out on all fronts, old and new friendships being tested, and shocking secrets coming to the forefront, can Farrell solve the case before the next victim is claimed? DEAD MAN'S PRAYER by Jackie Baldwin is the debut novel from this author and will keep you hooked from beginning to end. Captivating characters, a thrilling plot, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, are just some of the reasons why I couldn't put this novel down. The author creates an intense atmosphere that really had me sitting on the edge of my seat. When Frank starts to receive ominous letters from the murderer, he is forced to relive his past and the demons that have haunted him, in order to figure out the next move of this killer. The other characters in the novel, such as DC McLeod and DCI Lind, are also compelling and I look forward to learning more about them in the rest of this series. DEAD MAN'S PRAYER by Jackie Baldwin is a gripping thriller and a truly killer read! BOOK RATING - 📖📖📖📖📖 5+ Author Bio: Jackie Baldwin practiced as a solicitor in a rural town for twenty years specialising in family and criminal law. She then trained as a hypnotherapist and now works from home. She is married with two grown up children and loves to walk with her two dogs in local forests. She is an active member of her local crime writing group. For more information: Facebook - www.facebook.com/Jackie-Baldwin-Author-1702452086684407/ Twitter - twitter.com/JackieMBaldwin1 *Book was received as a prize in an online competition  Release date - 6th September 2016
Book length - 314 pages Available on - www.amazon.com | www.amazon.co.uk Meg Delaney knows that she made the right decision two years ago when she dumped her cheating ex-fiance, Matt, at the altar. Does she wish that she hadn't hurt his family who she had loved? Yes. Does she wish that she had some closure since it happened? Yes. So when she hears that Matt is in hospital having some routine procedure, Meg decides to bite the bullet and visit him and try to achieve some level of civility in consideration for the fact that they had been together ten years. But nothing ever goes according to plan, and when she arrives she is confronted with Kyle, her former close friend, and Matt's younger brother, telling her that Matt has died. And when Matt's distraught family converge on her at the hospital, she knows it is her cue to leave. As the days pass, Meg is confused by her feelings of grief for someone who wasn't a part of her life for two years, and who had made little of her on several occasions during their relationship. But more confusing are the feelings she is having for Kyle - someone she shouldn't want, someone she can never have. Or can she?  Release date - 1st September
Book length - 400 pages Available on - www.amazon.com | www.amazon.co.uk Alex's life has always been a struggle. He has struggled with guilt since his brother died when they were children. He has struggled in a job he hates. He has struggled in his marriage with Jody. And he has struggled with his relationship with his eight-year-old son Sam, who is autistic. In his thirties, his life seems to have imploded. Jody requests a trial separation, he has been made redundant, and he is sleeping on an air bed in his best friends spare room. And as time passes, Alex fears that he will never get a grip on his life. When Jody needs Alex to step up and spend more time with Sam, Alex is terrified. Terrified that he will do the wrong thing and upset Sam, terrified that he won't be able to handle it if Sam has a meltdown, and terrified that he will never find a way to connect with his little boy. He longs to solve the puzzle that is Sam and worries that that will never happen. When Sam takes an interest in a video game called Minecraft, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel, even though there are bumps along the road. But as Alex begins to understand a little bit about his son's world, he soon realises that they are not that different - they both want control over every element of their lives, they both struggle with the realities they are faced with, and they both love with everything that they have, even if it is lost in translation sometimes. With new schools, disastrous play-dates, camping trips, friendship, and the possibility of re-entering the dating scene, Alex starts to learn about himself, but will he be able to find his way back to his family? Or is it just too late? A BOY MADE OF BLOCKS by Keith Stuart is a powerful and emotional novel that kept me gripped from the very beginning. Showing us a snippet of what life is like for so many on the spectrum - the frustrations and the joys - this story will make you smile and well-up in equal measure. I was so invested in these characters that I could not sleep until I finished it (3am!). Alex and Jody are exhausted with life and as they spend time apart, they are forced to figure out what it is they both want. Sam and Alex's journey as they try to bond is truly a beautiful thing to behold and I cannot convey properly, how compelling this novel is, so my advice is read it! A BOY MADE OF BLOCKS by Keith Stuart is a poignant story about love and family. It could be anyone's family, yours, a neighbour's, a friend's, but in the end, we are all just shapes and colours, as Sam would say, trying to build our lives block by block. BOOK RATING - 📖📖📖📖📖 5+ Author Bio: Keith Stuart is games editor at the Guardian. He started out as writer and features editor on the highly influential magazine Edge before going freelance in 2000 to cover games culture for publications such as The Official PlayStation Magazine, PC Gamer and T3, as well as investigating digital and interactive art for Frieze. He also writes about music, film and media for the Guardian and is a regular on the Tech Weekly podcast. He is married with two sons. He lives in Somerset. For more information: Website - www.boymadeofblocks.com Twitter - twitter.com/keefstuart?lang=en *Book received from Netgalley.com  Release date - 8th September 2016 Book Length - 208 pages Available on - www.amazon.co.uk | www,wordery.com | www.bookdepository.com El Greco, aka Tony, and JJ Walsh are more than just best friends. Growing up together in small town America during the late 60's, with all of its trials and tribulations, has made them blood brothers. What JJ lacks, El Greco more than makes up for, and together they create trouble and havoc around them. Throughout this story, we learn about life and all of its complexities - death, sadness, abandonment, illness, heartbreak - as the two young boys face their emotions and disappointments. When they travel on a road trip with JJ's father, they unearth a new world, one outside of their usual restrictions, and while its beauty and novelty enamour them, the harsh reality of US history at the time is brought to light through the eyes of these children. And at times of tragedy, the ever-burning question of God and humanity comes to light. But through all of their highs and lows is the dust, constant in its existence.
DUST by Mark Thompson is a powerful novel centred around two young men who are both at different crossroads in their lives. JJ, who longs to be more like his best friend, questions everything and yearns for more from life. El Greco believes that they will all have to face a test in their lives and that that will determine everything. Through highs and lows their friendship remains strong, and through their actions, we, as the readers, get to see American life come alive at that time - in all of its beauty and viciousness. DUST by Mark Thompson left an impact on me. He is a gifted storyteller and after I turned the last page I could not get the imagery and the characters out of my mind, and I found myself re-reading parts of the story. DUST is a truly special book and one that everyone should read. BOOK RATING - 📖📖📖📖📖 5+ Author Bio: Feeling motivated to write is the first step on an amazing journey of self-discovery. Taking the boundaries of imagination in both hands then, with considerable fear of the unknown, deciding to tear a hole and step through an invisible fence is both exhilarating and daunting... and leads the writer to places he may otherwise never have experienced. I would be delighted to have you share that journey with me. Raised in Stockton-on-Tees, England, the author spent many years living in London before moving to Andalucia in southern Spain. He has travelled extensively throughout the United States over many years, harvesting material for writing both literature and songs. He plays guitar in a rock band, and now lives happily in the wilds of North Yorkshire with his partner Liz and three wonderful children, two rabbits, two tortoises and a bunch of fish. For more information: Website - www.markthompsonwrites.com Facebook - www.facebook.com/mark.thompsonauthor Twitter - twitter.com/marktwrites *Book received from Red Door Publishing in exchange for an honest review |
WelcomeHi fellow bookworms. My name is Linda and I'm a reviewer & blogger, wife & mother who loves all things books! 
Currently Reading
UPCOMING BLOG TOURS
Privacy PolicyNo-one may use Books Of All Kinds content without my permission. Books Of All Kinds does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store information about your visit to this blog for use other than to analyse content performance through the use of cookies, which you can turn off at anytime by modifying your internet browser's settings. Books Of All Kinds is not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without our permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice.
Archives
May 2023
|
Photo used under Creative Commons from slightly everything
