FREE book and a pre-order offer

Fantasy novel, The Gifting, is FREE at Amazon for this weekend ONLY. You can find it at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Simon Hartstongue is a mind-reader, and branded a coward and a murderer. When his overlord and lover Ralph Tregannon turns against him, he is forced to embark on a treacherous journey to the distant and magical land of Gathandria in order to save his country and his own soul. During a series of terrifying trials, Simon must encounter the trickery of the deadly Mind Executioner and the secret dealings of those he ought to trust. 

The Gifting is an Awesome Indies novel, and is showcased at the Awesome Indies website. 

Reviews: 

"The Gifting is a unique fantasy where mental and physical worlds merge in a flight of unrestrained imagination. Unlike much fantasy I've read lately, this book soars with hope. It's a story of redemption gained through a mystical journey through earth, air, fire and water that tests the deepest recesses of a man's soul." (Awesome Indies Reviews) 

"The Gifting is merely the introduction to the Gathandrian Trilogy; it's a big world, filled with intrigues and magic, loss and redemption. It's a fantastical place where almost anything is possible, where a coward can become a hero, where the promise for more excitement and enchantment are guaranteed, and I look forward to seeing where Anne Brooke will take us next, as well as discovering what Simon's future holds." (Top2Bottom Reviews)

Not only that, but you will now find anti-bullying childhood book, The Origami Nun, available for pre-order at Amazon US and Amazon UK for only 77p! Help your child to start their new school term with a fresh and magical perspective!

Happy reading

Anne Brooke Books
Lori Olding Books
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy

The Origami Nun: now available for pre-order!

I'm happy to announce that children's book The Origami Nun will be published by Untreed Reads on 8 September and is now available for pre-order at Omnilit Books.

Seven-year old Ruth can't speak, but that doesn't mean she can't think. She knows her birthday is going to be good as her beloved great-aunt has exciting plans for her. What she doesn't expect is a magical paper nun, an encounter with a bully who may not be what she seems or a school day to remember. Because, before her special day is over, Ruth is in for some very big surprises.

Here are some early reviews:

"What a delightfully written book! This is one I plan to share with my daughter at some point because I think she would like it, too! I love the fact that the author featured a mute heroine, and magic is infused in such a wonderful way. In addition to that, it deals with a subject with which our youth are very familiar - bullying! … I connected with the character, the story, and I enjoyed the magical nature of the story … I hope the author writes several sequels!" [From a 5-star review at My Devotional Thoughts]

"I really enjoyed reading this shorter story. The author portrayed the characters well and had a great story line … This is a terrifically inspirational and uplifting story for children and adults alike." [From a review at The Cover Books]

"Magic is in the air. Come see how Ruth and others learn the importance of respect for each other even though they are different and that each person has a different story or reason for being different. I recommend this book for ages 6 and up." [From a 4.5 star review at Fire and Ice Reviews]

All best!

Lori Olding Books

Gay fantasy discount: today only!

Gay fantasy Tuluscan Six and the Time Circle is HALF-PRICE for TODAY only at Amber Quill Press. So hurry along and snap up a bargain today!

Here's the blurb:

Whilst finishing up a good day’s work in the Earth Interplanetary Administration Office, Karlan Staithley is disturbed by the appearance of a strange alien called Tuluscan Six. Tuluscan tells him that in one year’s time, Earth will make contact with his people, the Lamarians, and unwittingly destroy them due to an anomaly in the planetary timelines. He, himself, has come back to warn Karlan, partly to save his people and partly as in the real timeline Karlan and Tuluscan will become lovers. Here and now, he declares his love for Karlan.

At first, Karlan refuses to believe him, even though he finds himself powerfully attracted to the Lamarian, but he's eventually convinced by the in-depth knowledge Tuluscan reveals about his life—facts nobody else knows.

The two men join forces to try to save their futures, but can they in fact change time? And, if they do, how can their mutual passion ever survive?

And some reviews:

“...A fast pace, appealing hero, and a light, comic touch make the story a fun read.”--Obsidian Bookshelf

“4.5 Stars!...This short story is equal parts romantic comedy, with its snappy dialog, and space opera, and should please even those readers who normally avoid science fiction. The fast pace, clear vivid writing, and light comic touch keep the reader engaged...In addition, Tuluscan’s ability to keep Karlan flustered and off-balance is amusing. Recommended!”—Val Kovalin, Reviews By Jessewave

"...a short story with a light comic touch that may appeal to many readers, even those who tend to avoid science-fiction. The fast pace, comical details, and the single viewpoint from an appealing hero make for an immediately engaging reading experience...perfectly contains an ingenious plot for Karlan and his mysterious visitor to carry out, and still manages to work in a playful sex scene!" -- Val, ARE Café

Happy reading!

Anne Brooke Books
Gay Reads UK
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy

Bleeding Hearts by Jack Harvey (Ian Rankin): long-winded thriller

A TV reporter is murdered with a single bullet wound to the heart. The twist in the tale is that, this time, it's the man who fired the bullet who's asking all the questions. Michael Weston wants to know why the police were on his tail so quickly. His first task is to find the writer of his pay cheque, the second is to make sure he doesn't get caught. Because one thing's for certain: the longer he sticks around to find out, the bigger the risk of making mistakes, revealing his cover and maybe losing his life.

Goodness me, this is a too long and too wearisome crime thriller. There’s a lot of pursuing the criminals and running away from the good guys, or running away from the criminals and pursuing the good guys, depending on whose point of view you’re in at the time. Not that anyone is really good at all, by any measure. There are two leads – the private detective and the hit man – but neither is hero or villain. This of course is a very realistic approach to take, but it does mean that the reader roots for neither – or possibly both, but for me it was neither as I didn’t find either of them likeable or interesting.

I did quite enjoy the fact that the hit man was a haemophiliac though as that was a nice twist. But that’s as about as good as it got – though I do accept I’m probably not the prime target for this novel. It’s best classed as a boys-with-toys thriller. Because there are a lot of guns in all sorts of different scenarios and it was exhausting trying to keep up with the technicalities of them all. So in the end I didn’t bother. I didn’t bother much with the plot either as it was very clichéd and had – again – lots of different groups in different countries up to no good and running around a great deal. Sigh.

Really, by about a quarter of the way through, I was just glancing over the bare outlines of what might have been going on, and trying to finish the pesky beast as quickly as I could. There’s a girl (who is far more boring than she ought to be as the female lead) and a dead father, a journalist or several, various gun suppliers and some police. Please add your own plot as you expect it to be and you won’t be far wrong.

That said, Spike’s niece, Jazz, was great fun and I wished for more of her, but it was not to be, alas. To cap it all, the ending is the ultimate cliché to end all clichés and not worth the getting there.

2 stars. Disappointing.

Anne Brooke Books

The Gathandrian Trilogy

Gay Reads UK

FREE book: The Singing Road and Other Stories

Literary short story collection, The Singing Road and Other Stories, is now FREE at Amazon today and tomorrow ONLY. You can find it at Amazon UK and Amazon US, amongst other countries.

A woman listens to the song of the road and wonders if she has the strength to stay with her husband, this time. A journalist visits the opera and discovers a bitter history of failure alongside the music. An angry young boy finds the beach is not always a place of healing, and two lovers face their last day together with something like courage. 

In this collection of twelve thought-provoking stories, a variety of very different characters confront the brokenness and despair of their lives, and begin a tentative journey towards the possibility of hope. Can they ever find their way back to the people they used to be? 

I hope you enjoy the read.

Anne Brooke Books
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy
Gay Reads UK

FREE fiction: comic romance

Comic romance Rosie by Name is FREE at Amazon UK and Amazon US this weekend ONLY, so hurry along to snap up your copy!

Rosie (AKA Alison) works at a high-class escort agency as a receptionist. When her boss asks her to be the special birthday present for his favourite nephew, she can't help but agree. The boss is the boss after all. 

However an evening of surprises, unexpected parents and even the odd spider awaits her. By the end of the night, will she have fulfilled her mission or is her potential pay-rise nothing but a distant dream?

Happy reading!

Anne Brooke Books
Gay Reads UK
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy

Giveaway competition: gay erotic romance

There are 3 copies of gay erotic romance, Entertaining the Delaneys, on offer in my latest Booklikes competition:

Since his initial encounter with the Delaney twins, Liam has found his thoughts turning back to them time and time again, and he can’t help hoping for another meeting. His chance happens one night when Mark Delaney rings, needing an evening's entertainment.

At the Delaney residence, Liam discovers that a business associate of the twins has agreed a deal with them, and part of that deal is Liam himself. How will the evening end and will Liam be able to handle the challenges thrown at him this time?

Reviews:

“This is a well written humorous small morsel of a story with convincing characters and scorching sex ... Anne Brooke has created an extremely arousing as well as especially enjoyable snippet. I adore the main characters and wish for a much longer version of them together.” [From a 5 star review at Literary Nymphs Reviews]

“What I’ve enjoyed most about both books in this series has been the cheeky humour of the first person narrator, Liam. He seems to have a knack of getting himself into awkward situations, whether it’s accidentally attacking the limo driver or being unable to stop opening his mouth and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. He’s a likeable chap and I found myself cheering him on all the way ... I also enjoyed the fact that Liam is less frightened of the brothers in this book, and more comfortable with perhaps pushing their relationship and going after what he wants. It led to some tense drama amongst the light-hearted narration, but also added a great deal to the story in terms of the connection between the three men.” [From a review at Brief Encounters Reviews]

“This short story is pure erotic fantasy escape but what sets it apart from other similar stories is the overall writing, and in particular the writing of Liam ...Entertaining The Delaneys by Anne Brooke offers up another well written, witty and angst-free erotic romp, with a pinch of relatively light BDSM for spice, and is a good reading escape in particular if pressed for time.” [From a review at Three Dollar Bill Reviews]

So, head on over to Booklikes and good luck in the competition!

Anne Brooke Books
Gay Reads UK
The Gathandrian Trilogy (gay-themed)

FREE book: The Apple Picker's Daughter

Novel of childhood, The Apple Picker's Daughter, is FREE on Amazon for today only. You can find it at Amazon UK and Amazon US. Here's the blurb:

Born in the 1960s on a UK apple farm, Clare Rivers is a girl out of time, living in a family and a world that makes little sense to her. Determined to carve out her place somehow, and with her deep love of her father to see her through, Clare begins a unique journey to discover the reasons for her own existence. If she can. However, accompanied by the oddities of family, school and the strange lyrical life of the apples, can Clare really find a place within herself to call home? 

This novel will appeal to lovers of rural life, recent history and a child's quirky but clear-sighted view of the adult world.

Happy reading.

Anne Brooke Books
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy
Gay Reads UK

The Singing Road and Other Stories: of love, loss and journeys

Literary short story collection, The Singing Road and Other Stories, is now available on the Kindle. Here's the blurb:

A woman listens to the song of the road and wonders if she has the strength to stay with her husband, this time. A journalist visits the opera and discovers a bitter history of failure alongside the music. An angry young boy finds the beach is not always a place of healing, and two lovers face their last day together with something like courage. 

In this collection of twelve thought-provoking stories, a variety of very different characters confront the brokenness and despair of their lives, and begin a tentative journey towards the possibility of hope. Can they ever find their way back to the people they used to be? 

You can buy direct at Amazon UK or Amazon US. I hope you enjoy the read.

Anne Brooke Books
Gay Reads UK
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy

FREE book: The Executioner's Cane

Gay-themed fantasy, The Executioner's Cane (Gathandria *3) is FREE on Amazon this weekend. You can find it at Amazon US and Amazon UK, and indeed any other nationality of Amazon there might be. Depending on which review you read, it's either the best thing since sliced bread or the most boring book known to humankind. No middle ground there then, hey ho.

Here's the blurb:

Simon Hartstongue, accompanied by the mind-cane and the snow-raven, must travel back to the land he came from to offer support to the people he once tried to kill. From Gathandria, Annyeke Hallsfoot endeavours to help him but her attentions are focused on rebuilding the city after the wars.

Alone and faced with the anger of his people and hindered by the fragility of Ralph Tregannon's leadership, Simon has to find a way to bring healing to a dying country and to renew his relationship with Ralph. But the odds and time itself are stacked against him.

Have a great weekend.

Anne Brooke Books
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy
Gay Reads UK

Monday to Friday Man by Alice Peterson: nice plot, shame about the menfolk

This is a pretty decent example of comic romance though it does take a while to warm up. The female characters are far stronger than the male ones who aren't terribly interesting, sadly. Personally I would have preferred less airtime for Jack and Guy, and a greater focus on Gilly's friends and her marvellous boss - I think that would have made for a far more gripping read.

That said, aspects I very much enjoyed and which were very well written were Gilly's relationship with her twin brother and his irritating wife, and also her relationship with her life-limited sister. Really, the sister story is a tour de force of writing, and it made me cry on several occasions - and I don't even like families or children, so you can see just how powerful it was!

One plot line I found irritating or nonsensical, however, was the "deep, dark secret weekend life" Jack keeps from everyone, and which - in the Big Reveal - is supposed to make us like him even less. Um, I'm sorry? The kind of secrets he's keeping are actually rather sweet and he should definitely be congratulated for his compassion and sense of duty. I have no idea why Gilly and Guy think Jack is so dreadful for what he's done here. He most certainly is not - and I began to lose a great deal of interest in Gilly and Guy, and certainly in their opinions, at that point.

I also groaned very deeply indeed when Gilly's confusion about her lack of career is miraculously solved by her instantly becoming a best-selling writer - honestly, this was a cliche when it first arrived as a plot solver in the 1980s, and I wish writers would stop it! It's dull, unrealistic and a serious cop-out of the storyline. Besides of which, if writers were actually being realistic about the writing life, then Gilly would need to endure ten years of serial rejections, several nervous breakdowns, one or two scam publishing deals, at least one sweet-talking but ultimately useless agent, an incident involving foreign lawyers and a nasty email campaign, poor reviews (amongst some good ones), the silence of her family and the embarrassed sympathy of her friends. Put that in your pipe, Gilly, and smoke it is what I say. Harrumph already! So, writers: please get over yourselves and stop writing about writing. For the sake of all our sanities. You've got an imagination - venture outside your own heads once in a while and stop being so damn lazy.

Verdict: some good writing, but a tendency to laziness. 3 stars.

Anne Brooke Books
Gay Reads UK
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy