Book Extract: House of Twisted Shadows By J.H.Mann
It’s so exciting to be welcoming J.H.Mann to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest book, House of Twisted Shadows.
A HOUSE ON THE EDGE
A DAUGHTER DRIVEN TO OBSESSION
A FORBIDDEN LOVE
Winter 1962. Amelia Tremayne has spent the past ten years in London trying to forget the lonely clifftop house where her father was killed. Tyler House was built shortly before the Second World War on Cornwall’s stormy coast by a wealthy German outsider. Its most unsettling feature is a vast glass dome that bends the light, casting twisted, elongated shadows across the walls.
Amelia’s father, Douglas Tremayne, a noted historian, was researching a controversial book about Tyler House’s Nazi origins – and its links to powerful figures in the local community.
As Amelia begins to uncover the truth about her father’s death, she is pulled into a web of buried secrets – and into a forbidden love that could destroy everything she holds dear.
INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY.
J.H.Mann has shared an extract from House of Twisted Shadows with us today. You know the drill… grab that drink, find that comfortable chair and enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
Amelia Tremayne has returned to the lonely clifftop estate of Tyler House to uncover the secrets behind her father’s death. Convinced that vital papers were blown from the collapsing house during a recent landslip, she risks everything to recover them before they are lost forever…
She stuffed her hands in her pockets and strode through snow flurries to the abandoned cliff footpath, past a handwritten sign: ‘Danger. Path closed.’ Far below, a cold sea heaved and dragged at the rocks. She started down at once, not giving herself time for second thoughts.
The top of the path was choked with riotous bushes and rough grass. Nobody had been mad enough to use this path for years. Parts of it had fallen away, leaving precipitous drops. Amelia slipped and slid downwards, grabbing hold of thorny brambles to keep her balance. The route was even worse than she expected – overgrown, crumbling and slick with ice. Below, waves, flecked with spume, crashed and roared.
Halfway down, she tripped on a rock and pitched forward. A gorse bush provided a lifesaving handhold. It scratched and ripped her hands, but she clung on grimly, coming to a halt, sprawled across the path, her left side bruised. She sat up trembling, her breathing short and fast. For a few moments, the world was nothing but the ragged pull of her breath and the thud of her heart. That had been close.
Go back?
No.
by 
Book Extract: Ten to the 405 By Kevin R. Andrade
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Kevin R. Andrade to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on his book, Ten to the 405. When disgraced investigative journalist Jake Hansen accepts a missing person case in Los Angeles, he uncovers a conspiracy linking organized crime, political corruption, and a powerful family determined to keep its secrets buried.
Kevin has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
INT. TROTTER’S TAVERN- BACK BAR AREA- MORNING
JAKE HANSEN, 35, a half-Latino and half-white male is asleep on the bar top of the dark tavern. Jake is smart, funny and a lovable rogue but also a disaster of a person. He lies on his back with one leg off of the bar. Jake has two black eyes and scrapes on his face with puffy red eyes.
A 60-inch TV above the bar is on.
INSERT TELEVISION – NEWS CONFERENCE
MAYOR ALEX VILA, 45, a handsome Latino male, dressed in a sharp suit, speaks behind a podium. To the right of Alex Vila is LILY VILA, 35, his beautiful wife. She wears a stunning green dress.
ALEX VILA
(ON TV)
I wish I could answer that question, Rick, but it really is premature.
Jake, groaning, opens his eyes and looks at the television.
JAKE
(Grumbling)
Asshole.
REPORTER
(O.S. On TV)
by Book Extract: The Book Lover’s Bucket List By Hannah Claire
I’m very excited to be welcoming Hannah Claire to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Book Lover’s Bucket List.
A bucket list to change her life.
Gabriella Brookes has spent years quietly loving Zach Osborne, knowing he only sees her as his best friend’s bookish little sister. He’s charming, successful, and only back in their Derbyshire village for the summer before his next big move.
When Gabby stumbles across her long-forgotten teenage bucket list, Zach proposes a deal: together, they’ll tick off her book-inspired challenges, if she helps him complete a few fun tasks of his own.
What starts as a perfectly sensible plan quickly turns into something far more complicated, when real life refuses to stay neatly tucked between the pages.
But as Zach’s past resurfaces and his future pulls him away, Gabby is forced to face a harder truth: dreams don’t come true if you only ever read about them.
Ticking off the challenges was meant to be easy.
Admitting what your heart wants is the real risk.
A cosy, small-town romantic comedy about courage, love, and rewriting your own ending.
Hannah has kindly shared an extract from The Book Lover’s Bucket List with us today. Find that comfortable reading spot, the refreshment of your choice and enjoy, as we head to Millbrook.
*****beginning of extract*****
It was late afternoon at Millbrook Library, and the only sounds were the hushed murmuring of voices, the turning of pages and the occasional clank from the ancient heating pipes. Gabriella Brookes cast her eyes over the display she was working on and gave it a nod of approval. Every summer they had a table for recommended holiday reads and, this year, Gabby was determined to make it bigger and better than ever. She adjusted the bucket and spade, sprinkled a little more sand around and reached for the large stack of books she had selected.
As far as Gabby was concerned, one of the best bits of her job managing the library was helping people find the perfect book for their current need or mood. For the summer Read Yourself Happy display, she had chosen novels set in far-flung and exotic locations, as well as sweet English villages beset by murders; some laugh-out-loud comedies and twisty, turny thrillers and, of course, a handful of swoon-worthy love stories with gorgeous romantic heroes. All novels you could relax with, and enjoy a much-needed break from reality. Too much reality was definitely a bad thing, Gabby decided, appraising the display.
by Book Extract: Mandarin Road By Ann Bennett
I’m so pleased to be welcoming Ann Bennett to Novel Kicks and the blog blitz for her book, Mandarin Road.
A gripping, emotional saga of family secrets and the power of love, set during the Vietnam War…
North Carolina, 2015: Nicole has always idolised her successful father, Ed. But on his deathbed, he reveals a devastating secret he’d guarded for a lifetime. He served in the Vietnam War, fell in love, and fathered a child there. A child he never had the courage to acknowledge.
Huế, South Vietnam, 1968: While her village is rocked by the explosions of the Tet offensive, seventeen-year-old Mai finds a wounded American hiding in her family’s chicken shed. Mai faces an agonising choice. Will she report the soldier to the Viet Cong, who have a stranglehold on the village, or will she risk her life and that of her family to help him?
In 2015, Nicole embarks on a journey into the unknown, travelling to Vietnam on a quest to uncover her father’s long-buried truths. Helped by Greig, an ageing Vietnam vet and his journalist son, Long, she delves into the shocking world her father wanted to forget, plumbing depths of resilience and courage she never knew she possessed.
Will Nicole find her long-lost sister, or will the Vietnam War guard its shameful secrets for ever?
If you are a fan of page-turning, emotional historical fiction like The Women, The Home Front and The Mountains Sing, you will love Mandarin Road.
Mandarin Road is a dual-timeline, standalone book by bestselling historical fiction author, Ann Bennett. Discover this moving, compelling read today.
There’s a chance to win a copy of Ann’s novel, The Bookseller of Kathmandu, below but first, she has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
PROLOGUE
FEBRUARY, 1968
The Citadel, Huế, South Vietnam
CLUTCHING HIS RIFLE, Ed ran down the rubble-strewn street through the gunfire and smoke, his heart in his mouth as bullets pinged around him. They’d been fighting all day and now it was early evening, but the enemy showed no signs of easing the attack.
by Book Extract: A Blighter is Bumped Off By Helen Golden
I’m very happy to be welcoming Helen Golden back to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her book, A Blighter is Bumped Off.
The only thing worse than a persistent suitor? A dead one on your lawn.
London, 1892. Alice, Duchess of Stortford, has returned to town determined to enjoy her first Season as a wealthy widow. But instead of balls, flirtation, and whispered gossip, she finds herself besieged by ambitious bachelors—none more persistent than the insufferably smooth-talking Miles Fonthill. When Alice firmly refuses his sudden proposal, she assumes the matter is settled.
Instead, he turns up dead in her garden.
The police are happy to call it a tragic accident. Alice is less convinced.
Why was Miles climbing over her garden wall in the middle of the night? Why had he become so determined to win her favour? And what did he really want?
As Alice begins to dig into Miles’ final days, her search leads her into the glittering heart of London society, where old loyalties run deep, secrets are guarded fiercely, and reputation matters more than truth. But when whispers of the mysterious Order of the Golden Key begin circling dangerously close to her own late husband’s name, Alice realises this death may be far more complicated than one unwelcome suitor meeting an unfortunate end.
And if someone is willing to kill to keep their secrets…this Season may prove positively deadly.
Perfect for fans of feisty female sleuths, Victorian High Society, and secret scandals, all served with a dash of humour and a cup of tea.
Helen has shared an extract from A Blighter is Bumped Off with us today. Grab that comfortable chair, a cup of whatever you fancy, a snack and enjoy.
*****beginning of extract*****
In this opening scene, Alice, Duchess of Stortford, is enjoying a quiet afternoon at Darby House when one of her more persistent admirers, Miles Fonthill, decides the time has come to propose. Unfortunately for him, Alice has very different plans for her future…
*****
“I understand that you are still technically in mourning,” Miles said, his voice softening to a tone that she supposed was meant to convey respect but somehow missed the mark. His fingers moved to the signet ring on his right hand, turning it idly as he spoke. “But soon you will be required to rejoin society fully, and a woman of your standing needs a husband by her side.”
by Book Club
