|
LONDON BLOOD A bomb explodes at Angel Underground Station. Two years later the survivors are being brutally murdered. MI5 begin searching for a terrorist mastermind. While Matt Ross, a detective with PTSD and a guilty secret, believes that it is linked to the drug case he is investigating. Neither realise that they are actually in the middle of a vampire vendetta. Only Edward Jago understands that London could soon be overrun by new vampires. Nobody wants that – least of all its old vampires. And as the line between mortal and immortal becomes increasingly blurred, will Ross find the truth or will he pay for his curiosity with his own blood? |
|
||||||||
London Blood Scouse Gothic 1 - The Pool of Life... and Death Scouse Gothic 2 - Blood Brothers... and Sisters Scouse Gothic 3 - All you need is blood? | ||||||||||
Category Archives: fiction
London Blood
Scouse Gothic 2
Ian McKinney
|
Sheryl wakes; why can’t she move? Where’s Lee? – Is he safe? Return to the bizarre world of Scouse Gothic where Melville mourns another lost love and searches for clues to her disappearance. Where Lathom decides to have a fresh start in Liverpool but finds his past waiting to haunt him and where Peter finds love but is having trouble with some ‘psycho’ mice. Meanwhile Frank finds that being a pigeon can have its drawbacks. But, two questions remain to be answered: who is the man in black? - And is blood really thicker than water? Books by Ian McKinney... London Blood Scouse Gothic 1 - The Pool of Life... and Death Scouse Gothic 2 - Blood Brothers... and Sisters Scouse Gothic 3 - All you need is blood? |
and Kindle e-books Pay with PayPal £9.99 (+ £2 postage) |
||||||||
Reader Reviews...
Amazon Review: Maz
I really enjoyed Scouse Gothic 2, even more than Scouse Gothic 1 which I loved ... Ian McKinney has certainly found a niche combining humorous fiction, intelligent plots and interesting history all set against the backdrop of Liverpool, the place and especially the people. It is a real page-turner.
Scouse Gothic
Ian McKinney
|
But as their lives converge, who will be expected to atone for past sins? Books by Ian McKinney... London Blood Scouse Gothic 1 - The Pool of Life... and Death Scouse Gothic 2 - Blood Brothers... and Sisters Scouse Gothic 3 - All you need is blood? |
and Kindle e-books Pay with PayPal £9.99 (+ £2 postage) |
||||||||
Reader Reviews...
Amazon Review: Sarah Barnett
If you've never read any gothic fiction, then Scouse Gothic by Ian McKinney is a great place to start. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters are many and varied, and held my interest throughout. The plot lines weave teasingly from chapter to chapter, and the characters move effortlessly backwards and forwards through different times and places in history.
Amazon Review Mr. A. K. Tierney
I really liked this book. It weaves the seemingly different stories of a strange group of characters together ... with classic human feelings of love hate malice, avarice, revenge and lust for power. It does so with a lovely blend of light and dark humour ... the characterisations are believable and the plot has for me the right amount of complexity with out trying to be too clever.
Scouse Gothic 3
Ian McKinney
|
Life can be difficult – even when you’re dead. Lathom lies awake. His nights are plagued by nightmares and his days by hallucinations and cravings for blood. Worse still he’s stone cold sober all the time - immortality has its drawbacks. Melville has decided to put his past behind him and live for the future - unfortunately his past has other ideas. Peter is worried that his research might create human vampires - and also that he may already know one. Frank ponders how to make an omelette without breaking your favourite egg. And Sheryl wonders if it’s unnatural for vampires to live together. Perhaps, love isn’t all you need – perhaps all you need is blood. Books by Ian McKinney... London Blood Scouse Gothic 1 - The Pool of Life... and Death Scouse Gothic 2 - Blood Brothers... and Sisters Scouse Gothic 3 - All you need is blood? |
and Kindle e-books Pay with PayPal £9.99 (+ £2 postage) |
||||||||
Reader Reviews...
Adela Basset
Joanne McShane
|
Adela Basset In this, the sequel to Mistress Whiddon, we find ourselves in December 1611. The Basset family of Umberleigh has been bankrupted as a result of Robert Basset’s misguided notion to lodge a claim to the throne of England after the death of Elizabeth I. When a daughter is born just nine months after his return from exile both he and his traumatised wife refuse to acknowledge the child. She is rescued from an uncertain fate by her older sister, Anne, who names her Adela. When Anne leaves Umberleigh in 1614 to marry Jonathan Rashleigh of Menabilly in Cornwall, she takes her young sister with her. As a child Adela struggles with feelings of rejection and, as she enters her womanhood, with the conflicting emotions she feels for the two men in her life; her childhood friend, the woodcutter’s son, Gilbert, and her dashing Cavalier cousin, Thomas Basset. Her story is told against the backdrop of the tumultuous politics of 17th century Cornwall and Jonathan Rashleigh’s own close involvement with the Royalist cause during the Civil War. |
UK Only £9.99 (+ £2.50 postage) Number of copies: Available on Amazon For Australia and USA, order from Amazon.com | ||||||||
|
Joanne spent her childhood on a sheep and cattle farm in Tasmania, Australia. After marrying and raising a family in Tasmania she moved to Wales in 2003 and still lives there, close to the Herefordshire border.
Always a keen historian, she became fascinated by her own family history and by the lives of her ancestors - some of whom she discovered to be very colourful indeed. This led her to begin writing. Honora and Arthur - The Last Plantagenets is her first published book. In her own words 'I am the end product of a melting pot ranging from convicts to Royalty. There are so many stories waiting to be told. I just hope I live long enough to do it.' Books by Joanne McShane... Honora and Arthur - the Last Plantagenets Mistress Whiddon Lillias Adela Basset Miss Jane |
||||||||||
|
Reviews... |
Mistress Whiddon -The Memoirs of Nora Basset of Umberleigh
Joanne McShane
|
Mistress Whiddon The Memoirs of Nora Basset of Umberleigh Young Nora Basset has no memory of her father, John, as he died when she was very young. Her first years are spent at Umberleigh in Devon with her family. When she is three years old, she meets her grandmother, Honora Lisle, who has returned from imprisonment in Calais and has been tragically widowed. Nora and her grandmother form a close bond, as the child unwittingly assists the older woman to come to terms with her loss. The following year, Nora’s mother, Frances Plantagenet, remarries. Her new husband is Thomas Monk of Potheridge and the family leaves Umberleigh to begin their new life. Nora spends a mostly happy childhood at Potheridge until she is called away at the age of eighteen to become a companion for her grandmother who has once again been visited by sadness. The bond between the two women becomes stronger than ever. |
UK Only £14.99 (+ £3 postage) Number of copies: Available on Amazon For Australia and USA, order from Amazon.com | ||||||||
|
When she is twenty-seven Nora meets William Whiddon, the love of her life. They marry and the next years are blissful ones for the two soulmates.
When tragedy strikes, Nora must find a way to move forward in her life. The story is set against the backdrop of life in Elizabethan England and the continuing saga of the Basset family.
Books by Joanne McShane... Honora and Arthur - the Last Plantagenets Mistress Whiddon Lillias Adela Basset Miss Jane |
||||||||||
|
Reviews... Bill Clewer: Truely, Joanne McShane is a great writer. Can't wait to start Lillias. It was William's forethought to make his will, giving Nora the means to have the life "she" wanted. The book flows, and it is as if the writer is telling the book in your head. I usually read a chapter and put the book down. Mistress Whiddon was the first time that I could not put it down, because I wanted to know what was in the next chapter. 5 out of 5 stars A marvellous read Reviewed in Australia on 3 December 2020 What a marvellous read. It is amazing how much it speaks to the woman of today. Many of the same prejudices are still found in many areas of today’s many societies. Accepting that Nora was wealthy, educated and privileged she still showed great forthrightness in demanding a life of her own choosing. Indeed she was most fortunate to be born in the Elizabethan era of change which allowed such women able to thrive. Mistress Whiddon is a book that will nourish the positivity, creativity and self confidence to be one’s own person in the many challenges our daily life presents us. |
Honora and Arthur – the Last Plantagenets
Joanne McShane
|
Honora and Arthur - the Last Plantagenets At the age of 18, Honora Grenville, daughter of a wealthy Cornish landowner, is swept off her feet by Arthur Plantagenet, the handsome, illegitimate uncle of Henry VIII. Since childhood, her dreams have been of a handsome gentleman who would whisk her away to live in far-off palaces and to wear fine clothes. Now, in Arthur Plantagenet, it seems that her dreams are about to come true. Alas, it is not to be. Henry VIII orders Arthur to marry Elizabeth Dudley Grey, Viscountess Lisle, and poor Honora is cast into an abyss of despair. Whilst still trying to put Arthur from her mind, she reluctantly marries John Basset, a Devonshire widower twenty-eight years her senior. After thirteen years of what turns out to be a tranquil and fruitful marriage, John Basset dies and Arthur Plantagenet, also recently widowed, re-enters Honora’s life. The passion, which has never died for either of them, is rekindled in an instant. They marry, and she leaves Devon to begin her new life as a grand lady at the court of Henry VIII. |
UK Only £14.99 (+ £3 postage) Number of copies: Available on Amazon For Australia and USA, order from Amazon.com | ||||||||
|
But the times are changing as Henry seeks to
divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. When King Henry orders Arthur to take on the role of Governor at Calais, the couple find themselves at the centre of the fast-changing and tumultuous political climate of the English Reformation. That which began as a dream turns into a terrifying battle for survival. Books by Joanne McShane... Honora and Arthur - the Last Plantagenets Mistress Whiddon Lillias Adela Basset Miss Jane |
||||||||||
|
Hi Jo - Just finished your book, it is brilliant, I have so enjoyed it and looking forward with great anticipation to the next one. Reviews... Amazon review: Well researched and beautifully written Honora and Arthur takes you back in time to experience life as it would have been for a woman of status in the turbulent Tudor times. The evocative text paints such a strong picture in your mind that you feel as though you are spying through a window as this true story unfolds. The tale is gently told and suitable for all ages and stages. For those that love history, and a good love story, this is a 'must read'. Chris McShane 5 Stars - And they said history was boring. You will not be able to put this book down. What an amazing book. A superbly entertaining historical novel, that brings the characters and the era to life. I found it very difficult to put this book down. It is very difficult not to become emotionally involved with the fortunes of the many characters portrayed. Katrin Schlattmeier 5 Stars - A thrilling read about a fascinating person, full of historical facts and information. I have devoured the novel. I bought it in a rush, and thought nothing at all about it being written in English. The story is, however, written so grippingly that one really forgets the language in the reading of this exciting family story. I have at the same time, learned very much about British history. I can warmly recommend this book and look forward to another book by Joanne. London-Nanny - (Amazon reader) 5 Stars - Superb research, I could not put this down...when is the next book? Nothing to dislike, the like was in the content of the book, well researched in immaculate detail. If you are a fan of phillipa Gregory, this book fills in the details of many characters in her books, once you have read Joanna’s book, lady lisle comes to life in a way that this does not happen in pg books. LEO EVANS - (Amazon reader) 5 Stars - A good read A good story, based on actual events. Well-written, and holds the reader's interest throughout. The writer has obviously done a lot of research into Tudor times, and the characters and their lives really 'come alive'. David Hartland - (Amazon reader) 5 stars - A great read, i didn't want to put it down. It brought that period of history alive from a different perspective. I have always loved the Tudor period, but this book brought the real problems of living in those difficult times to life. I am looking forward to Joanne McShane's next book. Amazon reader 4 Stars - A pacy read, this book tells the story of the life of a woman who lived through tumultuous times. Obviously well researched and based on fact, the book is a personal interpretation of the life of Honora who was close to and sometimes drawn into the dangerous machinations of the royal courts in and around the reign of Henry VIII. |
Lillias
Joanne McShane
|
Lillias Joanne McShane Lillias Hepburn’s life spanned ninety-six years from 1817 until 1913. It was a full life with more than its fair share of ups and downs. But there is more to Lillias’s story than simply the details of her own life, for her very existence was due to a strange combination of events. The only clue to these events was contained in a preamble which her father, Robert Hepburn, wrote to his will. The Preamble to the will of Captain Robert Hepburn RN (1782-1866) This is the last Will and Testament of me Robert Hepburn of Roy’s Hill in the District of Fingal in Tasmania Esquire (Lineal descendant by my father Captain Hepburn of the family of Hepburn of Keith East Lothian Scotland, and by my mother Mary Ann Roy, great grandson of Rob Roy McGregor, and by my grandmother Isabella Princess of Diabenti, daughter of the King of the Koromantic Nation of the Gold Coast of Africa I am Prince of Diabenti Lineal descendant of the King of that nation in Africa.) |
UK Only £9.99 (+ £2.50 postage) Number of copies: Available on Amazon For Australia and USA, order from Amazon.com | ||||||||
|
For the historical details of Lillias’s life and the lives of the other people featured in the story I have used information available online and in historical documents. The rest is conjecture. It is a story, not a historical document. Books by Joanne McShane... Honora and Arthur - the Last Plantagenets Mistress Whiddon Lillias Adela Basset Miss Jane |
||||||||||
|
Reviews... Eve Schumann I want to thank Joanne McShane for this beautifully written escape into another era. A breath of fresh air from our current pandemic reality. This book was masterfully written and researched. The author's talent proved itself by the hold and engagement it took of my mind, while making me feel as if I were right there, witnessing the story and experiencing the events. Wonderful way to hit the pause button in this nutty reality we're all sharing. Thank you, beautiful Joanne. You're a true gift. Cynthia Brock Loved the book. Humanity depicted as it should be lived. All its diamonds and warts on show. Power, fear, compassion and abiding love and trust. Wonderful research and engaging writing. Thank you, Joanne. Reviewed on Amazon Australia on 23 November 2020 I found this historical novel very difficult to put down, I became totally engrossed with the lives of our family ancestors. Joanne McShane’s research has once again produced amazing results, and her interpretation of the day to day lives of all these characters, who together form our family tree, gives the reader a wonderful grasp of how their achievements and failures have influenced the lives their descendants. ★★★★★ Lidwina Taylor, 25 May 2021 Great read! I really enjoyed reading “Lillias”. The characters were very real and engaging. It gave such a vivid insight into the migration stories of people from Ireland, England, Africa, and Jamaica who ended up in Tasmania Australia. ★★★★★ EmJay, 24 May 2021 Loved the putting some flesh on the bones of my ancestral relations both Wood and McShane. Thank you for your wonderful work ★★★★★ Jeannie, 10 June 2021 Wow, what a delight to read such an extraordinary history. |