Summer Hastings hates Christmas. She loves sunshine, the beach and running her travel agency, sending people off to their dream destinations – even if she doesn’t get to see the world for herself. For Summer, Christmas is nothing but a reminder of all the things that have gone horribly wrong in her life, so when handsome Noel Pritchett moves his pop-up Christmas shop in the store next to hers, Summer is livid.
Noel loves Christmas…and he also has a sneaking suspicion that he might be falling in love with Summer, if only he could break through the armour she has surrounded herself with. Just why does Summer hate Christmas so much? And can Noel be the one to prove to her that life can be sweet all year round?
Summer Hates Christmas is available in ebook now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I’m a huge fan of Christmas so I really enjoyed this festive, heartwarming read, which will be perfect for curling up with a hot cuppa this winter.
The story follows Summer who hates Christmas with a passion and tries to plot ways to avoid it. When she meets the lovely Noel who has opened up a pop up Christmas shop, the sparks fly as Noel tries to change Summer’s opinion.
Summer was a great main character that I enjoyed following throughout the book. The love/ hate relationship she has with Noel is very interesting and leads to some hilarious moments that had me laughing out loud. The development of their relationship was great fun to watch change and to see how far they had come.
This was a thoroughly absorbing read which I found hard to put down as I was so involved in the story. The author has done a great job in her vivid descriptions which helped me to picture the scene perfectly. There were a few twists which I wasn’t expecting and helped add to my overall enjoyment as everything doesn’t run smoothly.
Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
I am a writer and teacher, living in West Yorkshire with my husband, our two sons, and our furry pets.
In July 2015, I won the Prima magazine and Mills & Boon Flirty Fiction Competition, with my entry, The Chic Boutique on Baker Street, out now in ebook and paperback. The Flower Shop on Foxley Street followed this in 2017 and both books hit the Amazon top 200. Chic Boutique got to #2 in the rural life humour chart and is regularly in the top 100 of that chart. The Wedding Shop on Wexley Street came out in ebook on 10th August and the paperback 1st November 2018.
I am the winner of the Writers Bureau Writer of the Year Award in 2016 and I have had work published in the UK and overseas in various magazines.
My standalone soldier book, The Long Walk Back, came out in January 2018 and I am currently writing the next book in the Westfield series. My first book with Manatee Books, Nice Guys Finish Lonely, came out in April 2018 in ebook and paperback. I love to write romantic fiction, both rom-com and harder hitting women’s fiction.
I am also a post 16 teacher and am undertaking an MA in Creative Writing at Teesside University.
I love to chat on twitter so come say hi! @writerdove
I also run a blog (very occasionally these days): racheldoveauthor@wordpress.com
I was lucky enough to be on the Random Things blog tour for this fabulous book in April so I thrilled to be re-sharing my review for the paperback publication day!
Book Synopsis:
A thriller with a killer hook, and an ending that will make you gasp!
Wilbrook in Western Australia is a sleepy, remote town that sits on the edge of miles and miles of unexplored wilderness. It is home to Police Sergeant Chandler Jenkins, who is proud to run the town’s small police station, a place used to dealing with domestic disputes and noise complaints.
All that changes on a scorching day when an injured man stumbles into Chandler’s station. He’s covered in dried blood. His name is Gabriel. He tells Chandler what he remembers. He was drugged and driven to a cabin in the mountains and tied up in iron chains. The man who took him was called Heath. Heath told Gabriel he was going to be number 55. His 55th victim.
Heath is a serial killer.
As a manhunt is launched, a man who says he is Heath walks into the same station. He tells Chandler he was taken by a man named Gabriel. Gabriel told Heath he was going to be victim 55.
Gabriel is the serial killer.
Two suspects. Two identical stories. Which one is the truth?
55 is available in all formats now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.
My Review:
55 is a fantastic, twisty and gripping story that I really enjoyed! I’ve always been a fan of stories set in Australia. There is something about the extremely hot oppressive heat that adds an air of danger and unpredictability to the story which really adds to the atmosphere.
55 is a very intriguing, gripping story that I managed to read in two days which is no easy feat with three children. The reader is taken on a fantastic twisty journey whilst trying to put together all the clues to work out who is telling the truth. This is superbly plotted and the author slowly builds the suspense in the book until it is almost impossible to put down as I wanted to find out what had really happened.
Alongside the serial killer mystery is the equally interesting mystery of what happened between Chandler and Mitchell two of the cops investigating the case. The story is told in two timelines to uncover this mystery one dating from when they were both new police officers and the other on the present day as they try to solve the serial killer case. Out of the two of them I much preferred Chandler who seems very dedicated and hard working, compared to Mitchell who is an extremely unlikeable, arrogant person only interested in getting the praise for solving the case.
The story builds to a brilliant, shocking and just unbelievable ending which took me completely by surprise. All the theories I had built up proved to be untrue and the truth was something I hadn’t even considered. I think I would like to re re-read the book now I know the ending to see if I should have guessed earlier!
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Simon & Schuster for my copy of this book whowh I received in exchange for an honest review. If you like gripping, twisty crime thrillers set in Australia then you’ll love this book?
About The Author:
James Delargy was born and raised in Ireland and lived in South Africa, Australia and Scotland, before ending up in semi-rural England where he now lives. He incorporates this diverse knowledge of towns, cities, landscape and culture picked up on his travels into his writing. 55 is his first novel.
Rama, the Hindu god who maintains dharma – or the balance of all things – is in terrible trouble, and only Barnabas and Wilfred can save him!
Private detectives to the gods, Barnabas Tew and Wilfred Colby, believed they’d discovered the secret to taking charge of their destinies. Unfortunately, nothing is as it seems and taking control is easier said than done.
Fresh off their most challenging case to date, the two detectives step into a cenote: an otherworldly portal that connects worlds and can take them anywhere. Each is hoping to be reunited with someone he left behind, but they soon realize that something has gone terribly, disastrously wrong. Unexpectedly, they find themselves in a Hindu temple, together with Kamadeva, the Hindu god of desire.
Kamadeva asks them to save his friend Rama, who is in grave danger. It seems an innocent enough request, but Barnabas and Wilfred have learned that not everything is at it seems, and the right thing to do is not always so obvious.
The detectives have faced dangerous deities before, but the Hindu gods are different. Otherworldly, wise, and full of shadowy motivations, they all seek to manipulate the hapless detectives to suit their purposes.
Can Barnabas and Wilfred see through the illusions and the lies to uncover the truth of the matter? Or will they fail, and choose the wrong side?
Barnabas Tew And The Case Of The Enlightened Cow is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I have to admit the unusual title and synopsis for this book instantly appealed to me as it sounded like a bizarre, fun story. This book definitely didn’t disappoint as this was one of the most unusual books I’ve read.
The story follows Barnabas and Wilfred who are two detectives to the gods as they embark on a mission to find Kamadeva’s friend. What follows is a completely mad adventure that leads to some strange events like the pair being turned into fish at one point and encountering talking crabs. This makes the book very enjoyable and there were moments which had me laughing out loud as they were so funny.
I felt that the book started off quite slow as there is a lot about the detectives relationship at the start and a lot of arguing between them. It soon picks up though as the story continued and I soon found myself completely engrossed in the story. As mentioned before the story is quite unusual and you have to just go with the story and not think too much about it, but this didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
I didn’t realise this was a series when I started but I think it can easily be read as a standalone, like I did, as anything you need to know is explained. This reminded me a bit of Haruki Murakami’s books at times as it was that kind of magical, fantasy adventure.
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Columbkill Noonan is the author of the bestselling “Barnabas Tew” series, which features the bumbling-yet-lovable Victorian detective Barnabas and his trusty sidekick, Wilfred. Columbkill combines her love of mythology and her affinity for period fiction to craft unique cozy mysteries that will leave you guessing (and chuckling!) till the very end.
In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored and utterly out of place.
But her quiet existence is shattered when she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page reveals more impossible truths about the world, and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.
Ten Thousand Doors Of January is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
This was a beautiful, compelling and highly original story that I absolutely adored. I loved books about traveling to different worlds when I was a kid so this book really appealed to me from the start. It’s a book that might be hard to review as I want to do the book justice but, at the same time, not give away any spoilers.
January was a fantastic main character who I warmed to instantly and I enjoyed following her throughout the book. She goes through a huge journey which was very interesting to follow her on. She starts off as quite a meek, sheltered little girl, but a few hard knocks and meetings with some mean characters soon rubs the naivety off her turning her into a confident women who’s able to stand up for herself. I actually felt very sad when I finished the book and had to leave her behind.
This book was beautifully written and so well constructed that it seemed like it could actually have happened. The author has an amazing imagination and it was wonderful to see the world she had created. She manages to build an intriguing new world whilst also including some great historical detail which makes the story seem real as the world seems familiar. It’s a lot of different genres mixed together which works incredibly well and results in one of the best books I’ve ever read!
Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orbit for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
Alix E. Harrow is an ex-historian with lots of opinions and excessive library fines, currently living in Kentucky with her husband and their semi-feral children. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards. The Ten Thousand Doors of January is her debut novel. Find her on Twitter at @AlixEHarrow.
Accused of murder, Alejandra flees her home, escaping to the southern edge of Spain, where she faces a life of poverty and destitution.
Seduced by the power of the rich and the anonymity that waits across the water in Tangier, Ale makes a bid for a new start. But it will come at a cost: a life of deception. Because Ale’s new friends want to know what she is running from, they want to know who she is and whether they can trust her.
Fifty years later, a young American writer wanders the streets of Tangier, searching for inspiration. When he stumbles across a trace of Ale’s life, he finds himself tangled in a story of scandal, love and danger that has not yet reached its end.
An Echo Of A Scandal is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I’m a huge fan of this author so I was hugely excited to discover she had a new book out and be invited onto the blog tour! This author never disappoints and I found I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful dual timeline mystery set in Tangier.
One of my favourite things about this author is the way she vividly described the scene so the reader feels like they are actually there, experiencing everything alongside the characters. I loved the descriptions of hot, bustling Tangier and the way of life there which has made me want to visit the country in the future. The descriptions of the wonderful food were equally brilliant and I often found my mouth watering as I read. There were some food I hadn’t heard of before and it was interesting to learn more about the food from Tangier.
This story gripped me from the start with its intriguing opening and hints at something not quite right. I enjoyed the gentle way the mystery unfolded and how real it seemed with no huge coincidences or strange connections. Instead the story unfolded at a great pace with lost of twists or revelations that kept me glued to the page. I found it hard to put this book down as I was so absorbed in the story and what I would discover.
I’ve read every book this author has written and in my opinion she keeps getting better and better. This book was slightly different from her previous books as it wasn’t based on real historical events ( I don’t think) but I still adored of and can’t wait to read more from her in the future.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Hannah Bright for my copy of this book. If you like absorbing dual timeline mysteries then you’ll love this book!
About The Author:
After a childhood spent acting professionally and training at a theatre school, Laura Madeleine changed her mind, and went to study English Literature at Newnham College, Cambridge. She is the bestselling author of The Confectioner’s Tale, Where the Wild Cherries Grow, The Secrets Between Us and An Echo of Scandal, which have been translated into over a dozen languages. She lives in Bristol, but can often be found visiting her family in Devon, getting up to mischief with her sister, fantasy author Lucy Hounsom. You can find her on twitter @lauramadeleine.
The Beltane Choice “…combines a very human and personal story with a very believable vision of Late Iron Age society in Northern Britain.”
AD 71 Northern Roman Britain Lorcan of the Brigantes knows that unity of the northern tribes is essential when the Ancient Roman legions advance northwards to Brigantia. Yet, everything comes at a price. Using his captive, Nara, as a political bargain with the Selgovae comes with impossible stipulations. Battle at Whorl – Iron Age tribes against the Romans – is inevitable.
Will Nara have her Beltane choice?
The adventures of the Garrigill Clan begin…
The Beltane Choice is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I’m not sure what I was expecting when I started this book but it definitely wasn’t what I found between it’s pages! This was a fantastic historical novel with a wonderfully engaging romance at its centre.
The story is set in Roman Britain which is a period I always enjoy, especially as it’s so broad a subject. I hadn’t read much about when the Romans threatened the Celtic culture so found learning more about this very interesting. The author has obviously done a lot of research and I enjoyed the in-depth details that the author includes as it helped to set the scene vividly in my mind.
The two main characters in this book are wonderfully evoked and I enjoyed reading about their progression throughout the book. Nara starts off as a fierce warrior who would rather die than submit to the enemy, however by the end she has become a much softer, emotional person which was great to see. Lorcan also changes a lot going from a horny warrior to a man conflicted by demands of love and honour that are expected by his tribe.
This book starts of fairly slow but a twist early on helped to keep my attention and the book soon picked up pace as the story continues. I so enjoyed watching the story develop and felt sad when the book ended.
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Nancy Jardine writes contemporary mysteries; historical adventure fiction and time travel historical adventure. She regularly looks after her grandchildren so her garden can sometimes look quite creative. She’s a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, the Scottish Association of Writers, the Federation of Writers Scotland and the Historical Novel Society. She’s published by Crooked Cat Books and has delved into self publishing.
You can pay a terrible price for keeping a promise…
Evelyn Taylor-Clarke sits in her chair at Forest Lawns Care Home in the heart of the English countryside, surrounded by residents with minds not as sharp as hers. It would be easy to dismiss Evelyn as a muddled old woman, but her lipstick is applied perfectly, and her buttons done up correctly. Because Evelyn is a woman with secrets and Evelyn remembers everything. She can never forget the promise she made to the love of her life, to discover the truth about the mission that led to his death, no matter what it cost her…
When Evelyn’s niece Pat opens an old biscuit tin to find a photo of a small girl with a red ball entitled ‘Liese, 1951’ and a passport in another name, she has some questions for her aunt. And Evelyn is transported back to a place in Germany known as ‘The Forbidden Village,’ where a woman who called herself Eva went where no one else dared, amongst shivering prisoners, to find the man who gambled with her husband’s life…
A gripping, haunting and compelling read about love, courage and betrayal set in the war-battered landscape of Germany. Fans of The Letter,The Alice Network and The Nightingale will be hooked.
My Name Is Eva is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.
My Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling dual time line novel about a part of the second world war I didn’t know much about.
Firstly I loved the brilliant main character Eva who is a clever, brave and intelligent woman. The author does a great job of letting this characters personality shine from the page. I really enjoyed the fabulous descriptions of her trying to deceive everyone at the retirement home and of her life during the war. I’d never heard of The Forbidden Village before so enjoyed learning more about it.
The bravery shown by ordinary people during the war is always incredible to read about and the fact that this book is based on the author’s family history adds weight to the story, making it more gripping to read about. I enjoyed following Eva on her high risk mission which made the book very difficult to put down.
I’ve read most of this author’s books and always find them to be fantastic, atmospheric reads. I am really looking forward to reading more from her in the future.
Huge thanks to Sarah Hardy for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
Following an eventful career as a public relations consultant, specialising in business and travel, Suzanne Goldring turned to writing the kind of novels she likes to read, about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Two of her novels have been placed in the Winchester Writers’ Conference First Three Pages of a Novel competition. Her novel The Way We Lied, can be read as a serial on her blog site, suzannegoldring.wordpress.com. She is currently working on a novel about delusion,deception and death, set in Corfu.
Suzanne drew on her experiences of living in a timbered 14th century house, where she raised two daughters and a variety of livestock, to write Powerless. All her other novels are pure fiction and any resemblance to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
When you read this book, you will think you know every twist in the tale.
Maria is on trial for attempted murder.
She has confessed to the crime and wanted her husband dead.
Lottie is on the jury, trying to decide her fate.
She embarks on an illicit affair with a stranger, and her husband can never find out.
You will think you know who is guilty and who is innocent.
You will be wrong.
A gripping, sexy and twisty novel for readers who devoured ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL, APPLE TREE YARD and HE SAID/SHE SAID.
Degrees Of Guilt is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I thought this was a fast paced, gripping book that was a fantastic read!
The reader is pulled into the story from the start with an intriguing introduction to Maria and the crime she has just committed. From this opening the reader soon ascertains that this case will not be straight forward and there is more to it than meets the eye.
The story is told in alternate chapters from the point of view of Maria and Lottie who is serving on the jury. This means the reader is able to see both sides of the case and therefore draw their own theories which I always enjoy. Despite the circumstances in which we meet her I actually warmed to both women quite quickly and found myself sympathising with them. On the surface the two woman seem quite similar and it was interesting to find out more about them as the book develops.
This is the first book I’ve read which describes a court case in so much detail which I found quite fascinating. The reader is is taken through the case exactly as it would develop in a court case which made me feel like I was there watching everything unfold. As well as being able to assess all the evidence alongside the jury, we are also given an insight into Maria’s thoughts and feelings which was fabulously done. I found myself constantly changing my mind about what had happened and my opinion on the case throughout the book which I always really enjoy. I found this book quite hard to put down because of this as I really wanted to find out what had really been going on.
Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Trapeze for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
HS Chandler is the pen name of Helen Fields. AS HS Chandler I write psychological thrillers and legal thrillers. With a background as a criminal and family law barrister, I now run a media company and write the Callanach crime series.
The Postmaster looked over my shoulder. As I turned to look I saw a flicker of movement from across the street. I felt unseen eyes peer at me. He walked away without another word. I watched as he climbed onto his bicycle and sped away down the street. I turned back and looked over my shoulder. Someone had been watching us.
1904. Thomas Bexley, one of the first forensic photographers, is called to the sleepy and remote Welsh village of Dinas Powys, several miles down the coast from the thriving port of Cardiff. A young girl by the name of Betsan Tilny has been found murdered in the woodland – her body bound and horribly burnt. But the crime scene appears to have been staged, and worse still: the locals are reluctant to help.
As the strange case unfolds, Thomas senses a growing presence watching him, and try as he may, the villagers seem intent on keeping their secret. Then one night, in the grip of a fever, he develops the photographic plates from the crime scene in a makeshift darkroom in the cellar of his lodgings. There, he finds a face dimly visible in the photographs; a face hovering around the body of the dead girl – the face of Betsan Tilny.
A Shadow On The Lens is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
A Shadow On The Lens is a creepy, atmospheric and supernatural thriller that I really enjoyed. It’s the type of book that would be great to curl up with on a cold winters night, though might make you jump at every noise you hear!
The author does a great job describing the village in this book so it was easy to imagine what it was like living there. The small village mentality with its fear of strangers and anything new helped add to the unease I felt whilst reading. Every character there seems to have a motive for the murder and this, along with the creepy village description, adds to the tension in the book. It also ensured that I had no idea who the murder was so I enjoyed trying to work it out alongside Thomas.
This book starts off fairly slow but soon picks up pace so do stay with it. I enjoyed learning more about forensic photography and the equipment involved as well as finding out more about what life would have been like in 1904. It is a supernatural read so is quite scary in places, though I felt the historical elements of the book balanced it up nicely.
This unbelievably is the author’s debut novel and I’m excited to read more from him in the future.
Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orion for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
Sam Hurcom was born in Dinas Powys, South Wales in 1991. He studied Philosophy at Cardiff University, attaining both an undergraduate and master’s degree. He has since had several short stories published, and has written and illustrated a number of children’s books. Sam currently lives in the village he was raised in, close to the woodlands that have always inspired his writing. A SHADOW ON THE LENS is Sam’s debut novel.
With Saddam Hussein deposed and an entire country in need of rebuilding, former Royal Marine John Pierce hears the siren call of adventure and opportunity. His fledgling UK business is struggling to support his young family and he has connections in the Iraqi capital – fate seems to point one way.
In early 2004, Pierce rolls the dice when he jumps into a taxi in Jordan and heads for the turmoil of postwar Baghdad to grab a share of the reconstruction gold rush. But when Iraq spirals into the hell of a full-blown insurgency, he must rely on his wits and his local friends if he’s to evade the rampant bloodshed.
As the action rolls across the blood-stained Iraqi landscape and embraces London’s seedy underbelly, Pierce tangles with the authorities at home and finds himself thrust into the heart of British and American covert operations against Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Having set out with little more than ambitious goals and an appetite for risk, can a determined ex-bootneck survive the mounting chaos unscathed and succeed in hitting the jackpot?
Appetite For Risk is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
Extract:
The opening scene from Chapter 1 is based on a similar incident that happened to me in identical circumstances. Soon after the events of that day, I vowed that it would be the opening scene if I ever tried to write a novel.
Chapter 1
Basra, Iraq – November 2004
‘Alpha Victor Two-One-Alpha: static vehicle right, six hundred metres, over.’
‘Two-One-Bravo: roger static vehicle right, out.’
I peered over the driver’s shoulder and spotted the car ahead through the heat shimmer rising from the tarmac. It sat alone at the agreed location: parked on the verge along a stretch of empty desert road between two shallow berms.
Our Land Rover approached with caution and rolled to a halt ten metres short of a black BMW saloon; the vehicle description and plate number matched my notes. The Two-One-Bravo Land Rover stopped twenty metres behind us and three soldiers emerged to scan the car and surrounding area through the magnified sights on their SA80 rifles.
We’d left the sanctuary of the large military base at Basra Airport a few minutes earlier, nipping out just before an inbound armoured patrol would have delayed our exit. This spot was out of sight from the base, but still close enough to sense an invisible cloak of protection from the resident British forces. Apart from the black car there were no other signs of life, and only the rhythmic rattle of the Land Rovers’ diesel engines disturbed the silence of the bleak desert landscape.
I waited until one of the BMW’s rear doors opened and a familiar figure appeared. He held up his hand in greeting and shielded his eyes from the sun’s glare.
‘Okay, here goes,’ I said through the headrests to the patrol commander up front, my long-time friend, Ian.
He turned to me with concern etched on his tanned face. ‘We’ll see you at Khor Az Zubayr this afternoon. Call me if you run into any issues. Be careful, John.’
‘Any issues’ might mean bad news for me, but Ian’s army officer career would also be at risk if his unofficial support for my activities was revealed, especially if the revelation came courtesy of my being kidnapped, shot, or otherwise compromised in downtown Basra.
Judging by the banter over the last week, his men thought it likely I was a spook of some kind. Ian’s last, familiar comment sparked interested glances in my direction.
‘Roger that mate, thanks.’
I nodded to the other guys, clambered over the tailgate, and dropped onto the road. When I neared the car, my eyes roved across the rough ground for any sign of IEDs before I stepped off the tarmac.
Clear.
A bead of sweat trickled past my left eye before I caught it with my sleeve. Admittedly I was apprehensive about the impending meeting, but it must have been over eighty degrees in old money, despite being November.
Ian’s young translator, Hassan, stood by the open door of the BMW wearing his usual smile. A slim, friendly graduate in his early twenties, he was dressed in polished shoes, black trousers, and a white shirt without a tie. Business casual – like me.
‘Morning, Hassan. Are we all set?’
‘All set, Mr John.’
‘Good. Let’s get this show on the road.’
After tossing a wave towards the two departing Land Rovers, I removed my sunglasses and slid into the BMW, taking a moment to adjust from the searing sunlight to the darker interior.
‘Gentlemen. John Pierce, good to meet you.’
Hassan climbed in and shut the door. The central locking clicked and an unexpected silence engulfed the car, putting me on edge and causing the smile to drop from Hassan’s face.
‘Are you a spy for the Israelis?’
Where the hell did that come from?
The dust cloud kicked up by Ian’s patrol grew smaller ahead as they raced off along the stark, black thread of road; my link with safety slipping away. Little sign of the invisible cloak of protection now. A shock of alarm pulsed deep inside.
Hassan on my right, a large stony-faced guy on my left. If this was an abduction, I needed to force my way out of the car, as fast as possible and as violently as necessary.
The fuse lit by the question burned.
Stolen glances round the car detected no obvious weapons, but impossible these guys were unarmed – no-one was in these parts. Not the friendliest-looking bunch I’d met either. I doubted they were unfamiliar with the sight of bloodshed or the use of violence. Useful if they were on my side, not so good if they weren’t.
The Land Rovers dropped out of sight once they passed the sandy berm. I tried to hold on to a composure wanting to disappear with them and focused on the forty-something questioner glaring from the front passenger seat. With a dodgy suit, shiny black hair, thick moustache, surly expression, and personal hygiene enhanced by a strong cologne, he was rocking the same look as stony face on my left and what I had seen of the driver.
A former bootneck, or Royal Marines Commando, I’d been around a bit myself, although accusations of spying were a first. Time to roll the dice: stay put or make a run for it?
Images fast-forwarded through my head: orange boiler suit, sharp knives, unwanted TV stardom – switching to a violent struggle, haring down the main drag, locals asking, ‘Why did the crazy Brit attack us?’ – switching again to questions, answers: ‘We’re so sorry, Mr John, but we had to ask.’ Hassan apologetic on their behalf.
The last option worked for me. ‘Stay put’ it was then. Best the old bootneck charm worked its magic.
With the silent tension needing to be punctured, I blurted out, ‘No.’
Not much charm there, not much composure either.
About The Author:
Jack Leavers is a former Royal Marines Commando with over thirty-years’ experience in the military, private security, corporate investigations, maritime counter-piracy, and risk management. His varied career has included numerous deployments to conflict zones around the world such as Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, trouble spots in Africa, and the Somali pirate-infested waters of the Indian Ocean.
He continues to work in challenging environments and has now begun to pen novels inspired by some of the more enterprising projects that got the green light, and other audacious plans that didn’t.
When knuckling down to write, he’s normally based in London, UK.
Over The Rainbow Blog 