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Forever Fredless by Suzy Turner

As many of you already know, I'm a fan of Suzy Turner and her fantastic YA paranormal novels. So I was excited when I found out she'd written her first chick lit novel, Forever Fredless. Here's a little bit about it, plus I managed to wangle an excerpt!

Kate Robinson has spent the past two decades yearning to find her soul mate, the boy she found and then lost during a family holiday.

Shortly after her twenty-eighth birthday, however, she inherits a fortune from an old family friend and becomes something of an overnight celebrity. Can her new-found fame lead her to him after all this time?

 EXCERPT:

Thank God for anti-perspirant, I thought as I sat on the couch and waited for the countdown to begin. I clutched at my hands until they were white and looked across at the two people sitting opposite, both completely at ease in front of the cameras.

Five, four, three, two, one...

'Welcome back to this morning's edition of Good Morning GB,' announced Ireland Rothschild, the blonde-haired, blue eyed darling of morning TV. 'I'm here with Fergus O'Reilly and we've a special guest with us this morning. None other than Britain's love-struck multi-millionaire, Kate Robinson. Welcome, Kate,' she said with a dazzling smile aimed more towards the camera than at me.

As my cheeks began to heat up, I was so grateful to the make-up artist, who had insisted on caking on the foundation before the show had started. In fact, I had so much make-up on that I was hoping once I'd removed it, nobody would recognise me when I headed to the airport in my now rather stupidly chosen car. I couldn't exactly blend in driving a pink Mini could I?

'Good morning,' I whispered shyly.

Fergus grinned back at me, tilting his head as if he was about to speak to a child. 'Now, tell us, Kate dear, how does it feel to never have to worry about money ever again?' he asked, his toothpaste advert  teeth twinkling beneath the heat of the studio lights.

'Erm, well, I guess it's... erm, kind of... erm,' I felt so bloody stupid. Great time for my brain to stop working. 'I - erm. Great,' I nodded. 'Great, really great.' Idiot.

Ireland glanced across at her grey-haired colleague and pouted before nodding. 'Tell us how you knew this man. This,' she glanced down at the iPad on her lap and continued, 'Samuel?'

I cleared my throat and lifted my head, feeling like my brain was back in action. 'He was a very good friend of the family, some years ago,' I answered.

'Just a friend? Why did he leave you all his money and his property?' asked Fergus.

'He didn't have any family and I guess you could say that my mother and I were the closest he ever had to a family.'

'Isn't that lovely?' pouted Ireland. 'You certainly are a lucky woman. But what about your mother? Didn't she receive any of his inheritance?'

'No,' I said before swallowing hard. 'My mother lives a rather... nomadic lifestyle, in Africa. She doesn't want any of it. All she asked of me was to donate a sum to charity which, of course, I have done.'

'She lives in Africa? A nomadic lifestyle? That sounds intriguing. Perhaps we should interview her one of these days,' laughed Ireland and Fergus together.

'Have you splashed out on anything since receiving your inheritance back in June?' they asked, leaning forward eagerly awaiting my answer.

'Yes I have actually. I bought a car and a new house.'

'Well good for you, Kate. But now, most of us are curious about this boy you lost. Tell us about him?'

Oh no. Why did I agree to this?

Taking a deep breath, I knew I had no choice. Several articles had been printed since the one in Liberty; everyone wanted to know more and nobody was going to leave me alone until I told them everything. 'He was just a boy who I had a connection with when I was much, much younger. It was at Skegness. At an afternoon disco for kids. I was dancing and I felt someone touch my back and when I turned around there he was.  The most beautiful boy I'd ever seen,' I said, stopping and smiling as I reminisced. ‘It was one of the happiest memories of my life.'

Sighing, I continued, 'We just looked at each other and it was like everything else just disappeared into the background. We stood staring, for what seemed like ages. I could barely move. And then, almost as soon as it had begun, my dad appeared and took me away. I couldn't do anything as we walked to the car. I looked around for the boy but he was gone. And then, just as we were driving away, I turned around in my seat and there he was. He had a daffodil in his hand. I always assumed he'd gone to pick it for me, but that's just a childish fantasy, I guess. The whole thing is probably nothing but a childish fantasy, really.'

Ireland was very carefully dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, pretending to be moved, while Fergus smiled sadly.

'What a beautiful story, Kate. I don't believe for one second that this is a childish fantasy. It's romantic and beautiful,' Ireland said.

'Now, tell us, Kate. Why did you call him Fred?' asked Fergus.

Smiling, I explained about the Right Said Fred song, just as the music began in the background.

'What a wonderful tale. Thank you, Kate, for joining us today. It's been a pleasure having you with us to share your story,' said Fergus.

'Thank you,' I whispered before the camera moved back to Ireland as she straightened her skirt and looked alluring. 'Do you remember this moment in time?'she asked. 'Are you the elusive Fred? We'd love to hear from you. You can contact us at...'

Before I could hear anything else, I was ushered off the couch and back behind the scenes where Jo stood, waiting patiently for me, with open arms.

~ 

Want to read more? Course you do. Here's where you can pick up a copy:  

AMAZON

SMASHWORDS 

Coming to more outlets very soon.

Suzy Turner has worked as a journalist, assistant editor, features editor and magazine editor. Early in 2010 however, she began writing full time and has since completed six books for young adults (the Raven Saga and The Morgan Sisters series) and one chick lit novel, Forever Fredless.

Although Suzy is a Yorkshire lass at heart, she left her home town of Rotherham, UK, to move to Portugal with her family when she was ten. The Algarve continues to be her home, where she lives with her childhood sweetheart and husband of 15 years, Michael, and their two neurotic dogs and a cat who thinks she's a princess.

For more details about Suzy and her books, visit:

Website: http://suzyturner.com

Chick Lit Blog: http://www.fictiondreams.com

YA Blog: http://suzyturner.blogspot.com

Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/suzyturnerbooks

Twitter: http://twitter.com/@suzy_turner

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/suzyturnerbooks

THE PERIMETER (Outside Series #3) - COVER REVEAL . . .

 

In this fractured world, a sinister force is coming for Riley, and the only things keeping her safe are a perimeter fence and the people she loves. As her life is threatened, she must make impossible choices. But help comes from the most unlikely of places, and all Riley needs to know is: who can she really trust?

Meanwhile, a repentant killer searches for salvation, but what he gets is the exact opposite. Now he'll have to make the hardest decision of his life.

The Perimeter is a darkly captivating dystopian tale of adventure, danger, love and redemption that will have you on the edge of your seat and up at night turning the pages to find out what happens next . . .

THE PERIMETER

(Outside Series #3)

Coming November 18th 2013 

About the Outside Series:

Set in the near future, the Outside Series follows Riley as she overcomes the murder of her younger sister by tracking the killer across a post-apocalyptic Britain. At the same time, she is forced to take on the might of a twisted regime intent on conquering the nation.
Book 1 - OUTSIDE
Book 2 - THE CLEARING
Book 3 - THE PERIMETER

Links to all books:

Shalini's US Amazon page
Shalini's UK Amazon page
Barnes & Noble page
Smashwords page
itunes page

Dystopian Thriller, OUTSIDE, is Free for Two Days Only

OUTSIDE
A post-apocalyptic romance thriller

The world of the future is divided by Perimeters: high-security gated communities where life goes on as normal. If you’re inside you’re lucky, if you’re outside life expectancy takes a nose dive.

Riley is fortunate to have been born on the right side of the fence. But her life of privilege comes crashing down when someone breaks through the Perimeter and murders her sister. She forsakes her own safety to go in search of the killer. Luc decides to go with her otherwise she’ll be dead before she’s past the security gate. But what awaits her outside is more unbelievable than she ever expected.

Cut to the present day where Eleanor's world is falling apart. This time next year, civilisation won't be quite so civilised . . .

Praise For OUTSIDE:

I was completely shocked at how all the events unfolded at the end. I really did not see it coming ... If you like post-apocalyptic books, this story is for you. Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews.

Outside is written in a way that kept me flipping through the pages, biting my fingernails and that good old 'one more chapter' feeling was ever-present.

The Aussie Zombie.

  

UK Kindle - Download OUTSIDE free for 2 days only: 18th & 19th Sep

US Kindle - Download OUTSIDE free for 2 days only: 18th & 19th Sep

Greenwood Tree Mystery Tour - Post 6

Do you enjoy solving puzzles, mysteries and treasure hunts?

Want to win a special edition of Treasure Island or a signed copy of Greenwood Tree?

Grey Cells Press has put together a light-hearted vintage murder mystery tour, featuring detective novelist Julia Warren, as she tries to track down some very elusive treasure, and to prevent any more murders being committed as well!

Follow the Tale of the Mad Gorgon, from the High Seas in the days of 18^th century piracy to a not so innocent countryside manor house in the 1920s, in a mad hunt for buried treasure – but can Julia find the treasure before any more murders are committed? Can you?

Previous episodes: Greenwood Tree Mystery Tour

Click here for rules and prizes.

And now for episode 6 . . .

‘Silly little fool must have making her face up again and didn’t realise somebody was right behind her.’  This from her cousin Roderick, showing typical familial restraint, combining distress with mild insult.

The doctor and the constable were called for; nobody was allowed to leave the house, and later the next day, Inspector Lovell arrived from Scotland Yard with assistant in tow. Questionings followed; nobody was anywhere near the gallery; nobody saw anyone come in or out of the house – but the back entrance had been left open some considerable time, through which an assailant might have been able to enter, steal upstairs and attack Abigail.  

‘Had she followers?  A fiancé? Jealousy perhaps ….’ Abigail had had any number of men chasing after her; ‘whether any of them would have the energy to be actually jealous enough to kill her though, is quite another matter,’ commented Roderick, ever with cousinly concern.

James coughed politely. ‘If I may, Inspector: I believe what my cousin is trying to say is that Abigail was not exactly the kind of girl to make enemies on such a grand, passionate scale.’ 

Suggestion was made that a vagrant had broken in, and been surprised in the act of purloining valuables by Abigail. 

Nobody mentioned the treasure hunt, by some form of tacit agreement. Julia did not realise until after the Inspector had left, and raised concerns about it.

‘No, dash it all, if we even hint at it, they’ll put a stop to the whole thing – let us finish the hunt at least and then we’ll see..’ was the only response she got.

The hunt continued. 

Julia returned to the gallery, convinced more was to be found.  Abigail had been found lying in the middle of the floor, mirror in hand … and … Julia scanned the area and spotted a dash of white. A piece of paper; torn off a page or a notebook. Notebooks were not something one would normally associate with Abigail. It might just be coincidence after all. Julia looked around the walls. On the one side, the portrait of Captain Redheart – on the other, the Italian copies. She looked from one side to the other, then walked up to the portrait and began to study it. A little while later, she returned to the other side to look at the Da Vinci engraving. 

Dinner was a sober affair; Laetitia had soup and sandwiches made, and left the table early. Abigail had hardly been a favourite of hers, but even so – two deaths in less than a week was a little more than she felt entirely comfortable with. She locked her door and advised Julia to do the same.

‘Whoever it was, mad or not, we don’t want a repetition,’ she said as she went upstairs.

Julia followed her advice, puzzling over the various events. The painting was surely the clue to the whole affair of the hidden treasure. She considered what she had seen for herself in the portrait: Captain Redheart in red coat, holding a sextant in one hand, with the other placed on the scroll with the strange symbols; the window with the statutory red curtain drawn back, and the Mad Gorgon Folly in the garden beyond. Ruminating on various possible solutions, she drifted off to sleep.

Breakfast was a make-piece affair; people drifted in and out, and nobody realised Eugene Orb was absent until lunch time. It took a little searching to discover him in the library, stabbed with an Oriental paper-knife from Ezrard’s writing desk. He was holding a sextant; gripping it, in fact; the doctor was unable open the fingers. Rigor mortis had set in some considerable time before: ‘I would say he died in the early hours of the morning,’ was the doctor’s diagnosis.

‘I don’t suppose anyone would care to explain about the sextant?’ enquired Inspector Lovell heavily on his second visit to the house. ‘Nobody ? I thought not. Constable Gormley has informed me of the treasure hunt, he thought it unlikely that anyone would have such poor taste as to continue it.’ Lovell paused for effect before adding: ‘How very trusting of him. He will be so disappointed when I tell him. Needless to say, you are all advised to desist immediately in any such  activity . I shall conduct a second round of interviews in the study.’ And holding his hat in hand, he marched across the hall floor, followed by assistant and James.

Naturally, Inspector Lovell’s warning was ignored – the hunt simply became more furtive and circumspect. 

Julia went back upstairs again to look at the portrait. The landscape depicted through the window was very detailed and clear: a round pavilion with pillars, topped off with a cupola; the statue of the Mad Gorgon figure head occupied a position of prominence, facing the observer, serpent locks raging about her ferocious face, caught in petrified fury for eternity.  In the foreground, Redheart was holding the sextant up, as if about to take a measurement. Was he engaged in navigating his way about the house? Or was he about to measure the view from the window? The parchment, curling at the edges, displayed its author’s signature(if signature it was) in  very clear, if ever unintelligible runes:  s u q  ‘squiggle’ o, n u q 6 L ? 6 what?  And above that  more symbols, that might have been Greek. Altogether it looked like an angry spider had walked across in ink:

Julia moved away from the portrait, still puzzling. As she passed one of the windows overlooking the grounds,  a movement caught the corner of her eye – it looked like James, and unusually for him, he had a suspicious air about him; this was not alleviated by the fact he was evidently trying to hide something under his coat. Where was he going ? She watched him cross the lawn; he was walking in the hesitant fashion of one unused to subterfuge, while not wanting to be seen; he darted behind some bushes and was soon out of sight. She stood on tiptoe. She couldn’t be sure, but wasn’t he going in the direction of the family vaults? What else could lie there?  Or a secret tryst, or perhaps even a gambling debt – after all, what did anyone know about him, aside from the façade he chose to put on in public? The same could be applied to most of them; she only really knew Laetitia, and that through Aunt Isobel.  Roderick for instance, came across as a complete wastrel – yet perhaps there was cunning beneath that never-do-well charm of his; then there was William; not apparently over endowed with intelligence, but desperation could drive such characters to wild risks… 

There were few at dinner that evening, which made the rest of them rather ill-at-ease and jumpy. Only Laetitia, Julia, Rebecca and Roderick. Laetitia excused herself early on and made her way upstairs, drooping a little; Julia accompanied her to her bedroom door.

‘That was kind of you, my dear. I hope to feel better in the morning; I wonder where James has got to… and that rogue Hubble; never could understand why Ezrard invited him here – not as though he even liked the fellow.  And where has William got to ? I do hope we are not in for another unsightly corpse on the carpet. The stains are a devil to get out…’ Wearily, Laetitia patted Julia on the shoulder and retired with her cup of camomile.

You can discover more about author, B. Lloyd, and her books here.

COVER REVEAL! - Forever Fredless by Suzy Turner

I'm proud to be part of author Suzy Turner's exciting cover reveal for her new chick lit novel. And here it is . . .

Forever Fredless by Suzy Turner

 

Kate Robinson has spent the past two decades yearning to find her soul mate, the boy she found and then lost during a family holiday. Shortly after her twenty-eighth birthday, however, she inherits a fortune from an old family friend and becomes something of an overnight celebrity. Can her new-found fame lead her to him after all this time?

 

Forever Fredless will be available from online bookstores from October 2013

 

To discover more about Suzy and her books visit:

http://suzyturner.com

http://suzyturner.blogspot.com

http://facebook.com/suzyturnerbooks

http://twitter.com/@suzy_turner

http://pinterest.com/suzyturnerbooks