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.

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home by Dane Cobain

Eyes Like Lighthouses is Dane Cobain’s first book of poetry, distilled from the sweat of a thousand memorised performances in this reality and others. It’s not for the faint-hearted. “I’ve never seen anyone do a stream of consciousness piece as talented as that. Very impressed.” – Mark Allsard-Will, author of Saskatch-A-Man and co-founder of Cuckoo’s Nest Press “Dane’s poetry is a multi-layered spiral of the macabre, quirky humour and disjointed imagery. Not only does he make you think, he captures the small forgotten moments of everyday life.” – Nikki Dudley, co-editor of Streetcake Magazine “…[Dane] combines concrete detail with socioeconomic concerns.” – Lorna Wood, associate editor of Gemini Magazine.
Review: Wow, this is a set of really though provoking poetry. It's hard to read in places, but that makes it much more interesting. Unlike anything I've read before.

How The Duke Was Won by Lenora Bell

James, the scandalously uncivilized Duke of Harland, requires a bride with a spotless reputation for a strictly business arrangement. Lust is prohibited and love is out of the question.
Four ladies. Three days. What could go wrong?
She is not like the others . . .
Charlene Beckett, the unacknowledged daughter of an earl and a courtesan, has just been offered a life-altering fortune to pose as her half-sister, Lady Dorothea, and win the duke's proposal. All she must do is:
* Be the perfect English rose (Ha!)
* Breathe, smile, and curtsy in impossibly tight gowns (blast Lady Dorothea's sylph-like figure)
* Charm and seduce a wild duke (without appearing to try)
* Keep said duke far, far from her heart (no matter how tempting)
When secrets are revealed and passion overwhelms, James must decide if the last lady he should want is really everything he needs. And Charlene must decide if the promise of a new life is worth risking everything . . . including her heart.
'A debut that reads like an instant classic. Message to my readers: You'll love Lenora Bell!Eloisa JamesNew York Times bestselling author
'How the Duke was Won is exciting and emotional - evocative of the best of the genre. If you've been looking for a bold, new voice in historical romance, the search ends here. Lenora Bell is it!' Sarah MacLean
'Fresh, flirty, and fabulous! The new Belle of Historical Romance!' Kerrelyn Sparks
'RWA Golden Heart winner Bell's debut romance, the first in her Disgraceful Dukes series, is a knockout with its seductive combination of breathtakingly sexy romance, a refreshingly unconventional hero and heroine, and clever writing infused with droll wit.' Starred review from Booklist
'Everything that made me first fall in love with historical romances while still being new and different. Trust me...you've been waiting for Lenora Bell.' Sophie JordanNew York Times bestselling author
'Hooked me from page one with its humor, emotion, and captivating characters. Lenora Bell is a true delight to read.' Lorraine Heath, USA Today bestselling author
'A winning tale in which disreputable but charming protagonists bond over a shared passion for righting social injustices....Colorful supporting characters, plentiful plot twists, and the trials of star-crossed lovers make for a sizzling and heartwarming page-turner." Starred review from Publishers Weekly
'Fierce and full of surprises... this spicy romance will delight fans of the genre. Bell has found a new avenue to the happily-ever-after of the Regency era. Bold and sweet as good chocolate, this debut romance will give Regency fans a new author for their must-read list.' Starred review from Kirkus
Review: I love historical romances with characters that surprise me, and this was definitely one! I loved Charlene, and her unexpected attitude. Her journey had me gripped right until the end, and I already cannot wait to read more of the series. 

Bet On Me by Mia Hoddell

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Title: Bet On Me
Author: Mia Hoddell
Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 23, 2016
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Blurb:
It’s all a game until they’re betting with their lives.
Alaya Matthews is in search of freedom. Tired of her mundane life, she packs everything she owns into two bags and heads for Europe. Her plan is simple: see the world and be adventurous, don’t get tied down, don’t settle for less than her heart’s desires, and never fall in love.
However, Alaya didn’t plan for Cole Ashford.
Drawn to her love of life, Cole wants to know how to live again. For seven years he’s been dead inside, and the numerous threats hanging over his head have finally caught up with him. What Cole doesn’t realise is accepting Alaya’s help will mean confronting every part of his tainted past. Alaya is desperate to know what haunts him, and she’s so certain he’ll reveal it she invents a bet he can’t refuse.
One is never enough though, and as they grow closer together, the more daring their wagers become. Neither of them will back down from a challenge, but the stakes are being raised. Gambling on Cole may cost Alaya her heart, or even worse, her life.
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Buy Links:   Bet On Me is 0.99 for the release week only!
Universal Amazon Link: http://mybook.to/betonme
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Exclusive Bonus Scene:
Buy Bet On Me within the first week and you can also claim an exclusive bonus scene. Just fill in the form here: http://www.miahoddell.com/bet-on-me.html
What Others Are Saying:
“One of the best stories I've read this year … I rarely get chance to sit and read a book from start to finish, but this is one of those that you just have to make time for.” ~ Author Keren Hughes
“A romantic suspense full of intrigue right from the start that had me on the edge of my seat.” ~ Anne @ Bookaholics Reading Haven
“This book is full of suspense and the chemistry between Alaya and Cole is scorching.” ~ Author Sharon Stevenson
Excerpt:
He shook his head in despair. “I’m beginning to think I made a mistake trying to save you. You’re not going to make my life easy, are you?”
I clutched my hands to my chest, giving him my best dreamy-eyed swoon. “Aww, you were trying to save me. You’re so sweet! And for the record, no, I’m not going to make your life easy. But hey,” I shrugged, “it was your choice. You could always save me by boxing him against the window and leaving me in peace.”
“Oh really? Maybe I’ll just go to the toilet instead and leave you to fend for yourself.” He kicked one leg out into the aisle, moving to stand. When his body shifted, it gave me another glimpse of the greasy-haired man who watched us from the corner of his eye and reached for his bag, as if ready to pounce as soon as Hazel … uh, Cole moved.
Throwing away all self-respect, I reached out and grabbed his wrist. “No!”
He sniggered and collapsed back against the seat with a smirk. “So you do need saving.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re cruel.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t know me, remember? Don’t sound so surprised.”
My jaw dropped at his words and my gaze shifted nervously around the carriage. Maybe I was better off taking my chances with the other guy. I swallowed hard.
“I’m not your sweetheart.”
“Would you prefer it if I called you Ice Queen or Gingernut instead? Because I didn’t think those would go over as well.”
Glowering at him for flipping my line back around on me, I folded my arms across my chest. I refused to rise to his teasing and ask why those names. Gingernut obviously came from the way my hair changed colour in the sun. However, Ice Queen could have been because of a number of things.
“This is the part where you’re supposed to give me your name,” he prompted when I didn’t respond.
“You could always not talk to me. Problem solved.”
“Sweetheart it is.”
Release Party:
To celebrate the release of Bet On Me, Mia is hosting an online release party.

There will be plenty of takeovers, giveaways, games, and more so make sure you join the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1580661675580890/
 Teaser 3
Meet the Author:
#1 Amazon bestselling author Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything romantic, and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.
Mia has written over ten titles including her Seasons of Change series, the Chequered Flag series, the Elemental Killers series, and her standalone novels False Finder, Not Enough, and Bet On Me.
Her favourite genres are contemporary romance or romantic suspense, and with an ever growing list of ideas she is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them. She also designs book covers on her website M Designs.
Social Media Links:
Giveaway: ($5 Amazon Gift Card) - a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, 22 May 2016

The Dead Survive by Lori Whitwam

Sometimes the shambling animated corpses aren’t the worst things out there. Sometimes the monsters are human…
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It should be easy to tell who the monsters are in the middle of a global zombie pandemic…
The blank-eyed swarms of animated corpses who want to gnaw on your flesh. Well, those are the obvious choice, of course.
In reality, though, it’s not always that simple.
In the early days of the global zombie pandemic, Ellen Hale learned a brutal lesson. While trying to survive the hordes of zombies, Ellen was abducted by a band of marauders and subjected to abuse almost beyond her ability to endure.
She is broken both mentally and physically, and fears she is on the verge of becoming a monster herself…
Until she is rescued by a growing band of survivors and given a second chance.
Ellen is taken to “The Compound.” Where she meets ex-convict, Quinn.
He’s everything she’d ever been taught to fear, but his presence is the only thing that makes her feel safe.
Will she be able to look past his rough exterior and learn to trust him? Or will the memory of the men who subjected her to such sadistic horrors ruin her chance at a new life?
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Connect with Lori:
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Thursday, 19 May 2016

Shutter Man by Richard Montanari

Billy is an excellent killer: strategic, methodical, ritualistic. If only he knew what his victims looked like.

Plagued with a rare disease that prevents him from recognizing faces, Billy carries a photograph in his pocket that is his only way of identifying his next target. Killing is in Billy's bloodline, as a member of Philadelphia's dangerous Farren crime family.

While Billy stalks Philadelphia, Detective Kevin Byrne is assigned to a series of bizarre home-invasion cases and is joined by his former partner-turned-assistant district attorney, Jessica Balzano. Their investigations circle Byrne's childhood neighborhood of Devil's Pocket, and they find themselves revisiting a crime from Byrne's past that has haunted him for decades. What Byrne witnessed as a child in Devil's Pocket jeopardizes the Farren family--which makes him the next target on Billy's hit list.

A multigenerational story of hardship, guilt, and redemption, Shutter Man is Byrne and Balzano's most tense and personal case to date.
Review: Shutter man is one of the most chilling books I've ever read! Billy is a cold, calculated killer and as the plot unravels, and the reader sees more of him, the worse he becomes. Highly recommended for horror and thriller fans.

Valley of the Dolls 50th Anniversary Edition

The 50th Anniversary Edition of Jacqueline Susann's All-Time Pop-Culture Classic

At a time when women were destined to become housewives, Jacqueline Susann let us dream. Anne, Neely, and Jennifer become best friends as struggling young women in New York City trying to make their mark. Eventually, they climb their way to the top of the entertainment industry only to find that there’s no place left to go but down, into the Valley of the Dolls.
Review: Not only is the cover of the book absolutely stunning, the book is brilliant too! It may have been written 50 years ago, but the characters, the situations and the plot is still really gripping, relatable and very exciting! I absolutely loved this book from the very first page.

ON DRY LAND by Rebecca Barber

ON DRY LAND by Rebecca Barber
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Release Date: June 14, 2016
Cover Designer: WICKED BY DESIGN
——— SYNOPSIS ———

Tyler Andrews, Olympic swimming superstar, has always gotten his way—until he falls in love.
 
 

Living in the spotlight was just part of Tyler’s life. Magazines, paparazzi, and being the topic of every sports radio show in Australia…it was either adjust or be driven insane. He’d gotten used to his fame. Hell, he even enjoyed it. But there is one thing he can’t get used to—his girlfriend, Ava Jacobs, hates being the center of the public’s attention.

 
Ava has lived her life in the shadows—and that’s exactly how she likes it.
 

 
But after fulfilling her lifelong dream to have her debut novel published, her world is turned on its head by Tyler’s fame. She writes novels for a reason—it’s a quiet, peaceful profession. The last thing she wants is to be thrown into the spotlight. 

 
Love and life don’t always fit as well as fame and fortune.
 

 
Frustrated by Ava’s continuous reluctance to publicly embrace their relationship, Tyler takes every opportunity to make his own declarations—social media posts, visiting her at work, and even crashing her first television promotional appearance, which she grudgingly accepted as part of her publishing deal.
 
So when something changes and Tyler abruptly pulls away, Ava knows something is terribly wrong.
 

With Olympic selection looming, Ava’s publisher eagerly awaiting a sequel to her hit novel, and day-to-day life taking a toll, Tyler starts to see that life is much easier in the pool than… 
On Dry Land.
 

 
 
——— AUTHOR: REBECCA BARBER ———
Rebecca, one of four kids to her parents who are both primary school teachers, was born in Wollongong on the south coast of Australia before moving to the country with her family. After a few years of embracing all that country life had to offer, the family relocated to Port Macquarie with its white sand beaches. After a brief period enjoying the sun and the surf they finally settled in Canberra where Rebecca still lives today. But all through her childhood a notepad and a book where never far away. These days Rebecca is an avid reader, and when she isn’t buried in a book or cheering on her beloved football team she’s spending time with her husband Robert and their overly spoilt dog Levi.
 

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