The Indie Books & Authors Newsletter #40
New releases, book review, news round-up, link to a free book, and more!
Editor’s Note
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New Releases
Soulstealer Exile (Soulstealer Trilogy Book 3) by Reed Logan Westgate
A new frontier...
After wandering for six centuries, Oxivius Soulstealer has finally found peace with his beloved Valeria. The new frontier's promise of religious freedom, and a new beginning for everyone in a brave new world, provided him with a tranquil life as a husband. The peaceful life that he had built was about to be shattered. Will Oxivius' past sins attract the soldiers of God to his new home, or can he keep his friends and happiness together?
In the Lord's year, March 20th 1623, Pope Gregory XV issues his "Omnipotentis Dei", a Declaration against Magicians and Witches. Pope Gregory, in poor health, entrusted his youngest brother, Orazio Ludovisi, with the command of the Papal Armies. To Orazio, the new colonies represent an unprecedented challenge to the Order's authority. Pagans and magic free to roam across the Atlantic, unencumbered and unchained. The cursed necromancer, the last of the heathen Templars, still walks among men, his presence a blight that threatens the very soul of the colonies. He sends the Heavenly Host to the New World, determined to rid the land of the ancient evil, Oxivius Soulstealer.
What evil will one unleash when all you love is threatened?
Beautiful Death by John Deal
A corpse exposes one of Charleston’s lethal secrets...
Detective CJ O’Hara is finally getting a grip on life. Recently promoted and in a promising relationship, her instincts scream foul play when she responds to a reported heart attack at a bed and breakfast. Smelling a hint of vanilla in the air and noticing scratches on the victim’s back, she suspects she’s looking for a murderess.
After the medical exam reveals poison from a rare plant, surprising links to two similar cold cases appear. As CJ delves deeper, her investigation leads to the darkest corners of the city’s oldest clubs and wealthiest people — and more than one killer.
When her personal life implodes, CJ finds herself juggling her emotions with the increasingly complex case. But with her reputation and another life on the line, time is running out to secure the evidence she needs to stop history from repeating its deadly pattern.
Beautiful Death is the third book in the CJ O’Hara Crime Thrillers Series (books in this series may be read in any order). Following a seasoned investigator through captivating twists and turns, this fast-paced crime novel is filled with suspense and deception… and an ending you won’t believe.
Three Rivers Plague (Continuum Book 1) by Zachary & Joshua Forbes
After a return concert in his hometown, famous rockstar Thomas Wylde witnesses the unleashing of a biological weapon, which forces the nation into anarchy. His band is soon plunged into the post-apocalyptic city of Pittsburgh, now plagued by infection, cults, cocaine junkies, and even the mafia. A member of his band falls victim to the deadly new virus, sending the group spiraling into the mystery of this supposedly Soviet-made bioweapon. But not everyone is convinced of its origins--like Boston police detective Dick Kennedy.
In the following days, it's up to Thomas and his band to discover the truth, not only about this new world, but about his government, his friends, and himself, all the while trying to carve out a slab of survival for everyone and everything he cares about.
This book is a 9-episode story, with each episode divided into digestible chapters. Set in post-apocalyptic 1980s America, Three Rivers Plague will make you fall in love with its charming characters and keep you on the edge of your seat with heart-pounding suspense. It’s a collection of elements from all sorts of genre fiction, including sci-fi, horror, romance, dystopian, and even detective thriller. There’s something here for everyone to sink their teeth into!
Offers of Atonement (Regency Tales Book 5) by Maria Yrsa Rönneus
"We shall need a corpse."
When Captain James Hartcourt’s best friends ask him for an unusual favour, he doesn’t hesitate. Losing fortunes at cards, London’s shady underworld, his mother’s schemes – few things faze him. Until he meets Lady May.
Destitute but determined to retrieve the family estate, Lady May arrives alone in London with a proposition he cannot refuse. She discovers that Captain Hartcourt is a cardsharp with emerald eyes and dangerous kisses, but soon she must wonder whether he is a murderer too.
Mixing the profound with the hilarious in a rare formula, Offers of Atonement brings the early 19th century to life in vivid colours. This literary, romantic comedy comes with a gritty twist.
Inspired by writers like Austen, Wilde, and Wodehouse, this is wholly original story by Maria Yrsa Rönneus. Offers of Atonement is the fifth stand-alone novel in the Regency Tales – a series of captivating and remarkable dramas of love and jealousy, friendship and deceit.
Pre-Order Now
Bound to the Fate of Kings by Jamie Jackson
In the beginning, there is no known year, no known location. There is only Aisa and her two sisters, three witches whose lives are tied to Fate.
She is awakened one night and drawn outside to witness a portent of things to come. Events she and her sisters are expected to bring to pass: to find a king who is not yet king and crown him.
What finds them is Beolin, a lord in service to King Duncan and the king's brother, Malcolm, a man who is marked by blood and the breath of the dragon he wishes he was.
As Aisa leads Beolin along the path that will lead to the crown she believes Malcolm will bear in his brother's place, she will have to choose whether to fight an unstoppable force or follow the only trail she's ever known to take.
News Round-Up
Authors who publish their books through Amazon KDP will now find that they have a box to tick on the Content page of the set-up of each book, in which they are asked whether AI tools were used for the book.
Sue Bavey’s book Lucky Jack, which is about her grandfather’s life, has won a Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal for Best Biography.
Author Luke Richardson’s book The Ark Files was recently in a free promotion and reached the top of Amazon’s free books chart.
Book Review
Ghost Room by Janelle Schiecke, reviewed by Lee Hall
Soon after ‘Jess’ and her family move into a new home, strangeness begins along with some enjoyable tension in Janelle Schiecke’s debut which carries young adult and mystery tones.
There’s some great description throughout which creates depth as the essence of a missing girl seems to attach herself to ‘Jess’ or at least her dreams and when it comes to the stress of a house move – we can all relate, things are unsettled and heightened in this new surrounding. In particular, the attic room of this new place is the central vessel of much tension which slowly burns. Just what is up there and why does it seem to call? Just who is this girl and why has she latched on to our main character?
As some revelations from the previous house owners become apparent its up to ‘Jess’ and her two close friends ‘Max’ and ‘Amy’ to pursue the mystery and find the eventual truth surrounding ‘The Ghost Room’. I was first drawn to this book by the awesome cover art along with the blurb.
Free Book
Sherlock Holmes and the Twins by Ben Stevens
Free on Amazon US and UK at the time of composing this edition of the Newsletter.
The Indie Books & Authors Newsletter is compiled and edited by N S Ford, indie author and book blogger.