This is the blog of Samie Sands, author of Lockdown. There will be many great books and projects reviewed here. For more, check out thelockdown.co.uk.

Tuesday, 26 February 2019

The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker

The Ragged Edge of Night by [Hawker, Olivia]
For fans of All the Light We Cannot SeeBeneath a Scarlet Sky, and The Nightingalecomes an emotionally gripping, beautifully written historical novel about extraordinary hope, redemption, and one man’s search for light during the darkest times of World War II.
Germany, 1942. Franciscan friar Anton Starzmann is stripped of his place in the world when his school is seized by the Nazis. He relocates to a small German hamlet to wed Elisabeth Herter, a widow who seeks a marriage—in name only—to a man who can help raise her three children. Anton seeks something too—atonement for failing to protect his young students from the wrath of the Nazis. But neither he nor Elisabeth expects their lives to be shaken once again by the inescapable rumble of war.
As Anton struggles to adapt to the roles of husband and father, he learns of the Red Orchestra, an underground network of resisters plotting to assassinate Hitler. Despite Elisabeth’s reservations, Anton joins this army of shadows. But when the SS discovers his schemes, Anton will embark on a final act of defiance that may cost him his life—even if it means saying goodbye to the family he has come to love more than he ever believed possible.

Sunday, 24 February 2019

Bad Decisions by E. M. Smith

Bad Decisions (Agent Juliet Book 1) by [Smith, E. M.]
Jamie Kendrick is known for his colossally bad decisions—jacking a squad car and turning it over in a ditch, for example. But he’s going to show everyone. With some help from his brother—and a court-ordered ankle monitor—Jamie is going to get sober, join the army, and shake his white trash reputation. And he’s actually doing a decent job until someone frames him for the grisly murders of his brother's family.

No one believes that Jamie is innocent. No one but a mysterious blonde with a gun. She gives Jamie a choice: spend the rest of his life in prison or help her take down the man who killed his brother and set him up.

BAD DECISIONS is the first story in the AGENT JULIET series. Now you can get the full series for 40% off with the BAD OPS box set!

Friday, 22 February 2019

To Be His by Terri Austin

To Be His (Beauty and the Brit Book 0) by [Austin, Terri]
A companion novella to the RT Reviewer's Choice Nominee His Every Need, told from the hero's POV
I didn't amass an empire without taking risks, but I'm not a complete arse. So yes, when I offered to trade Allie Campbell three months as my mistress for her family home, it was a joke. Only thing is, she wasn't laughing...and she bloody well took me up on it.
Well, all right then; I could play that game. I figured I'd take her on, we'd have some fun, and in three months, she'd walk away with her family intact and I could get back to what I do best: making money.
But I'd made one mistake along the way. I stupidly assumed that after having her, I could walk away. I was wrong. I don't know how long this feeling-this consuming need-will last, but I'm not ready to let her go.
Not now. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Wednesday, 20 February 2019

The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker

The Ragged Edge of Night by [Hawker, Olivia]
For fans of All the Light We Cannot SeeBeneath a Scarlet Sky, and The Nightingalecomes an emotionally gripping, beautifully written historical novel about extraordinary hope, redemption, and one man’s search for light during the darkest times of World War II.
Germany, 1942. Franciscan friar Anton Starzmann is stripped of his place in the world when his school is seized by the Nazis. He relocates to a small German hamlet to wed Elisabeth Herter, a widow who seeks a marriage—in name only—to a man who can help raise her three children. Anton seeks something too—atonement for failing to protect his young students from the wrath of the Nazis. But neither he nor Elisabeth expects their lives to be shaken once again by the inescapable rumble of war.
As Anton struggles to adapt to the roles of husband and father, he learns of the Red Orchestra, an underground network of resisters plotting to assassinate Hitler. Despite Elisabeth’s reservations, Anton joins this army of shadows. But when the SS discovers his schemes, Anton will embark on a final act of defiance that may cost him his life—even if it means saying goodbye to the family he has come to love more than he ever believed possible.

Monday, 18 February 2019

Ninth and Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver

Ninth and Nowhere by [Deaver, Jeffery]
Seven strangers. Two hours. One tragic moment of violence that changes everything.
In this electrifying short story by New York Times bestselling suspense master Jeffery Deaver, the destinies of seven strangers intersect in ways no one sees coming. It looks like just another gray March morning in the tough urban district nicknamed Nowhere when seven lives converge: a young man intent on buying a gun; the gangbanger who cuts him a deal; a by-the-book police officer on a last patrol; an advertising executive keeping secrets from her husband; a veteran haunted by a combat death; a single dad in a bitter custody battle; and a sharp-looking businessman en route to a new job he desperately needs. Any one of them could have a dark motive. Any one of them could be walking into a trap. When the fog lifts, it will all be much clearer—that a single, shattering act of violence has marked each of them forever.

Saturday, 16 February 2019

Best Seller by Susan May

Best Seller by [May, Susan]

JEALOUSY IS A GREEN-EYED MONSTER, AND HIS NAME IS WILLIAM BARNES

All characters are not created equal. And isn’t that half the fun? In Best Sellerwe meet two very different people, and both have big problems.

Ten-year-old Nem has just witnessed her mother’s brutal murder, and she thinks it was all her fault. Now, her life appears destined for tragedy. Until she finds her mother‘s old green journal which holds an incredible secret.

She discovers it has the power to control others’ luck. But the diary keeps a strange kind of karmic balance; in gifting someone luck, she must steal someone else's first. All it takes is a simple entry.

They say “luck is probability taken personally,” and Nem now has revenge on her mind, and she’s getting personal with her own brand of justice.

Decades later, the literary world hails William Barnes’ debut novel as a masterpiece. His best seller success doesn’t survive his next two books. Readers abandon him, his publisher cancels his contract, and his agent isn’t returning his calls. Life can‘t get any worse.

What really makes his skin crawl too is his undeserving protégé Orelia Mason enjoying a meteoric rise in the charts. This success of hers coinciding suspiciously with his rapid fall from grace.

So William embarks on a plan to win back the life he’s certain she has somehow stolen.

If people die along the way, well, that’s their problem. What he will discover though, is that battling fate when luck is not on your side can be a deadly game.

This is A Star is Born meets A Portrait of Dorian Gray, and the consequences are not pretty. In fact, they’re darn well ugly.

From Susan May, the international best selling author readers are calling the new Stephen King, comes a dark and twisted tale of jealousy, revenge and an extraordinary, unique power.

... and since the eBook is available in KINDLE UNLIMITED and also available in paperback and whisper-synched audible, this is the perfect time to leap into this immersive world of characters, where you won't know who to hate and who to cheer on.


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "It's like Hitchcock meets the Twilight Zone." John Filar  (USA)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "What an insane read! It was unputdownable!" Mandie (GoodReads USA)

"If it were possible to give ten ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐s I would! Possibly the best suspense novel I've read in a year." Doreen Keele

Thursday, 14 February 2019

Unf*ck Yourself: Get out of your head and into your life by Gary John Bishop

Unf*ck Yourself: Get out of your head and into your life by [Bishop, Gary John]

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
This is not the usual self-help book. Make your life one you actually want to live. 

This is blunt force trauma to the way you think life has to be for you. Most importantly, it is designed to give you an authentic leg up - one that feels genuine and right for you, and can propel you to new levels of greatness. Learn how to:

Combat self-doubt
Deal with your inner critic
Stop comparing yourself to others
Break out of your rut

It will teach you not to look to the outside world for answers, but inside yourself. You will learn how to take full responsibility of your life, the highs and the lows, and you'll actually feel good about it - no, in fact, you'll feel f*cking great about it!

Cincopa Gallery

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