The Ack Ack Girl by Chris Karlsen

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Chris Karlsen will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Love and War

A country under attack and the story of one woman’s fight to protect England and her heart.

1941. The German war machine has crushed all of Europe-only England holds fast. To force a surrender, the German Luftwaffe bombs cities and villages the length of the country. As the battle rages, Britain is in desperate need to put more pilots in the air.

To free up more men a new unit is formed: The Ack Ack Girls. These special teams of courageous women will now fight in the anti-aircraft stations. Determined to be part of the effort, Ava Armstrong, volunteers for one of the special teams.

Her unit just happens to be located near an RAF airfield teaming with pilots. Sparks fly, and not just from artillery, when Ava crosses paths with Chris Fairfield, a handsome and cocky pilot stationed there. But nothing is easy in time of war, not even love.

Read an Excerpt

Ava put her new uniform bits away. Someone had left a flyer for a pub called the Two Roses in her stand. Skimming it as she headed toward the mess she ran into a solid body.

“Have a care, watch where you walk. You nearly trod on my foot.”

Startled, Ava looked up into a square-jawed, dark-haired pilot with a dimpled chin, who could pass for Cary Grant’s younger brother. Distracted, apologizing escaped her.

“I’d say I accept your apology had I received one.”

“Sorry, I was reading this flyer.”

He eyed her up and down. “You’re part of the new anti-aircraft branch of the ATS.”

“I am.”

He eyed the length of her again but this time a snort accompanied his comment. “I hope you can see planes better than tall men inches from you.”

The cheek of the man! She wasn’t about to let that comment slide. “Had you considered stepping out of the way when you saw me coming?”

“No, why should I? I was in this spot first. You’re lucky I don’t ask the captain to have your lot stop to salute us.”

“What cheek. Pardon me, I’m hungry and you’re boring.” Ava tucked the flyer into her jacket pocket and whispered, “Wanker” as she pushed past.

The wanker hummed White Cliffs of Dover and got in line behind her.

“Lieutenant Fairfield, it’s good to see you here. Finally on the mend?” the blonde, ATS corporal serving the food asked the wanker in a sugary voice.

“I still have the tail-end of the nasty pneumonia cough hanging on, but I believe I’ll be ready to return to my squadron this week.”

“We might see you around before then. When we have a bit of time to ourselves, my friends and I go for a pint at the Two Roses pub in the village. Come by and I’ll buy you a pint.”

“If they don’t send me off the same day as my orders come through, I’ll do that but I’ll buy.”

Ava made a note to ask what village they were near. No one had indicated so far and she was curious. She didn’t dare ask in front of the arrogant wanker Fairfield. He already thought her a clumsy goose. No need letting him think she was lost too.

She moved down the food line, pausing for a second trying to decide if she wanted the soupy mashed potatoes. Then a long, blue wool uniformed arm reached over her to take a roll, his tray clinking against hers.

“Excuse my reach but you’re taking too long and I’m ravenous.”

“You really are a wanker.”

“You wound me.” He pressed his hand to his chest. “At least I’m not a dawdler.”

He walked away with his roll before she could offer a comeback.

About the Author:

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream.

I’m currently working on the Bloodstone Series, which is historical suspense with romantic elements. I’m also writing a world war two romance series, The Love and War series.

My past series include my historical/time travel romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters.

Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and two wild and crazy rescue dogs.

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A Venomous Love by Chris Karlsen

 

 

A Venomous Love

by Chris Karlsen

Synopsis:

The killer whispered-“A pretty damsel...worth a pretty risk."

A veteran, Detective Rudyard Bloodstone has fought a brutal battle and witnessed war horrors that haunt his nightmares. Now one of those horrors has followed him home from Africa.

A vicious predator, the Cape cobra, can kill a man in thirty minutes. A suspect using the snake as a weapon in robberies is terrorizing London.

When the crimes escalate into murder, a victim’s daughter, Honoria Underhill, becomes the focus of the killer. After several attempts on her life, Scotland Yard threatens to take over the high profile case. With few leads to follow, Bloodstone and his partner must now fight department politics and catch the killer before Underhill becomes another murder victim.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Suspense
Published by: Books to Go Now
Publication Date: February 28, 2020
Number of Pages: TBD
ISBN: 979-8600864139
Series: Bloodstone Series, #3
Purchase Links:

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Amazon.co.uk

BN.com

Kobo.com

Apple.com

Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

Puzzled, Ruddy asked, “You say the body is still in the chapel? Couldn’t the nurse bring an exam table to put him on and start treatment?”
“She did. Young and I attempted to help but he suffered violent convulsions. Because the hospital is for children, they don’t have restraints. The head nurse instructed us to leave him back on the floor. She was afraid he’d fall off the table.”
“Makes sense.” The timeframe of Underhill’s death didn’t make sense. At minimum it usually took an hour and more often, hours for the venom to kill. A horrible thought occurred to Ruddy. What if it was a different suspect with a different lethal snake? “But he died while you were still here?”
“Yes. He convulsed brutally hard a few more times and an excessive amount of drool came out his mouth. Then he lost consciousness. A nurse put a blanket over him and a pillow under his head. He died as she was making him comfortable.”
“Strange. This is abnormally fast even for cobra venom.” Flanders stepped up on Ruddy’s right. “What is it, constable?”
“Shall I leave you to start my search?” Flanders asked.
“Yes. Collect anything, and I mean anything, you find that looks out of the ordinary,” Archie told him. “This case is so unusual we can’t be sure what is important and what isn’t.”
The nurse led them to the curtained-off bed. Honoria Underhill lay on her side softly sobbing. Her legs were curled up so she fit on the short bed meant for a child. The nurses had covered her with a blanket. When she saw Ruddy and Archie, she sat up and swung her legs down to the side of the bed.
“Yes. We know this is traumatic for you but we need to ask you to repeat what happened with as much detail as you can recall,” Ruddy told her.
“I understand.” Her shoulders trembled. She buried her fists in her skirt and kept her head down as she fought to control her emotions.
Ruddy brought the conversation back to the crime. “Did the suspect say anything when he attacked?”
“’A pretty little damsel, worth a pretty risk,’ he said as he rushed toward us. Then he leapt at me with the snake in hand inches from my face. Father pushed me out of the man’s reach and stepped between us. My father tried to knock the man’s hand away and swatted at the animal.”
She dabbed at her nose again and then offered the handkerchief back to Archie who waved off the return. “It happened so fast,” Honoria continued. “In the time it took me to blink, the snake’s throat blew outward, like a fan opening.” She demonstrated the action with her hands. “A second later it lunged and struck.”
***
Excerpt from A Venomous Love by Chris Karlsen. Copyright 2020 by Chris Karlsen. Reproduced with permission from Chris Karlsen. All rights reserved.

Author Bio:

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.
My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.
I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters. The newest is The Bloodstone Series, which is historical suspense with romantic elements. Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.
I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and four wild and crazy rescue dogs.

Catch Up With Chris Karlsen On:
ChrisKarlsen.com, Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook!

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This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Chris Karlsen. There will be Three (3) winners. One (1) winner will receive an Amazon.com Gift Card and Two (2) winners will each receive A Venomous Love by Chris Karlsen (eBook). The giveaway begins on April 1, 2020 and runs through May 2, 2020. Void where prohibited.

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In Time for You by Chris Karlsen - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Chris will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

While horseback riding in the English countryside, sisters, Electra and Emily Crippen find themselves trapped in a tear in time. Thrown back to 1357 England and caught by a local noble, they are in a place that is home but as frightening and unfamiliar as an alien world would be. With no idea how the tear in time came about, the one thing they do know is: they must stay together and stay near to where the event took place in hopes of discovering the way back to their modern life. That certain need to stay together is the first certainty taken from them when one sister is forced to remain in England and one is sent miles away to Wales by royal order.

There is one other hope for help the sisters don’t know exists. It’s Electra’s lover, Roger Marchand. A time traveler himself, he never told her of his past. When he realizes what has happened to the sisters, he enlists the help of a scientist friend to help him open the suspected passageway through time. Any effort to save Electra and Emily will likely cost him his life. This was the time Roger came from, a time when his country, France, was at war with England. If he is discovered on English soil while searching for the sisters, he will either be killed or taken prisoner of war. Any risk is worth saving the life of the woman he loves.

Enjoy an excerpt:

"Just ahead. I have a surprise set up," Roger said as he trotted toward Elysian Fields again.

He led them to an open field where the sunlight was bright and the ground flat. The cafe staff had laid everything out on a red and white checked tablecloth from the restaurant. A platter held cheeses and fruit arranged around chunks of the baguette. The champagne sat chilling in a silver bucket with two flutes at the side. He'd share a flute with Electra.

“Damn,” he muttered, they’d forgotten the flowers.

Everyone dismounted and tied the horses to an oak tree with low hanging branches.

"It's lovely. You are such a romantic," Electra said, kissing him on the cheek.

Emily gave him a sheepish look. "Tell the truth, Roger. You planned for this to be enjoyed by just the two of you. I'm the proverbial third wheel, aren't I?"

Only a lout with a complete lack of chivalry would answer truthfully. "Don't be silly. What man..." he tipped his head at her, "especially a Frenchman, wouldn't be delighted to have two charming ladies at his side?"

"You're sweet to say that," Emily said. "Is there some sort of all occasion book Frenchmen work out of that tells them what to say to women? If not, you should consider writing one. You'd make a fortune."

"Thank you—I think."

Electra turned to Emily. "Want to pick some flowers?"

Emily nodded.

Electra emptied a wicker basket that held honey and butter while Emily took the sharp meat knife from the platter. "We'll be back in a flash," Electra said.

"Where are you going?"

"We passed a blanket of wildflowers not far back. I thought we'd gather a bunch for our table."

"Where exactly is this spot that's not far back?" He asked, anxious to pour the champagne and his heart out and propose.

"By that granite outcropping."

Roger reached for the basket. "You can't go there. That's not Alex's land. It's part of the acreage he donated to Dr. Gordon's group."

Electra held tight to the basket. "So? It's not like Gordon is going to know we were there. What harm are we causing picking a few flowers? None."

"His knowing is not the point. It's the principle. You've no right to go traipsing about on his property without permission." This was a thorny issue for him. In her defense, Electra didn't know that. Over the years, Roger had had his share of trespassers and poachers on his land. He'd never have given poachers permission to cross his land, but the trespassers, had they asked, he'd have let cross.

"Since you're determined to do this, hurry up and get away from there," he told Electra. "I'll open the champagne and have a glass ready for you."

"We'll work double fast," Emily added and the two jogged off.

He'd opened the champagne and was in the process of pouring when Electra's panicked scream came from the spot near the outcropping.

"Roger!"

He dropped the bottle and ran.

Gone. Both sisters were gone. The basket with a handful of flowers inside lay on the ground.

"Electra," he called out. "Emily."

He ran in a widening spiral hoping to find them. When he didn't, he returned and checked the scattered patches where the flowers grew for a clue. He looked for any sign someone had come along and taken them by force. Perhaps one of Dr. Gordon's crew had hustled them back to the trailer that served as their lab. Perhaps they demanded an explanation for what the women were doing.

He was grasping at straws and knew it. Anyone of the Gordon group could clearly see the women were picking flowers. Taking them off to their camp was heavy-handed especially for a bunch of scientists. Nor were there any footprints other than those left by Electra and Emily's riding boots.

What the devil could've happened to them? People don't just vanish without a clue.

He climbed to the top of the outcropping called out again. Only the rustling of the breeze through the trees and the low roll of thunder from the storm miles away could be heard.

About the Author:

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters. The newest is The Bloodstone Series. Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and five wild and crazy rescue dogs.

Website: http://chriskarlsen.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4822048.Chris_Karlsen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCKarlsen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chriskarlsenwriter
Google+: https://plus.google.com/117369224297604815922/posts

PRE-ORDER THE BOOK FOR ONLY $0.99: http://www.amazon.com/Time-You-Knights-Book-ebook/dp/B019JKXR5G/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450544230&sr=1-1&keywords=In+Time+For+You+by+Chris+Karlsen

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Silk by Chris Karlsen - Review and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Chris will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What would you do to stay young: Lie, Manipulate..kill?

London-Fall, 1888

The city is in a panic as Jack the Ripper continues his murderous spree. While the Whitechapel police struggle to find him, Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner are working feverishly to find their own serial killer. The British Museum's beautiful gardens have become a killing ground for young women strangled as they stroll through.

Their investigation has them brushing up against Viscount Everhard, a powerful member of the House of Lords, and a friend to Queen Victoria. When the circumstantial evidence points to him as a suspect, Rudyard must deal with the political blowback, and knows if they are going to go after the viscount, they'd better be right and have proof.

As the body count grows and the public clamor for the detectives to do more, inter-department rivalries complicate the already difficult case.

Silk on the skin—luxurious, luscious..lethal.

Read my review:

I absolutely love Victorian mysteries, so was very excited to have the chance to review SILK by Chris Karlsen. It's the first book in her Bloodstone series.

Detective Inspector Rudyard (Ruddy) Bloodstone are embroiled in another serial killer case as the Whitechapel police are worried about Jack the Ripper. The book is highly unusual, because it begins in the killer's POV with his first, albeit somewhat accidental, killing. From time to time during the book, the author gives us another glimpse into the killer's mind and life, adding another dimension to the story.

You also have the political aspects to the case which add yet another layer as well as getting to see a bit of Ruddy's personal life.

This is a departure from Chris's other books we've reviewed, but no less well-written. Her characters are three-dimensional, fully-fleshed out people with both good and bad points (including the killer). The setting draws you back to Victorian England and, while you are reading the book, you are there. Actually, even after I stopped reading it took me a few minute to re-acclimate myself to the 21st century!

This is definitely a series I'll be putting on my auto-buy list! 5 flowers.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Events of the day and the potential satisfaction of giving Napier a bloody nose dwindled. Questions about the murder crept back into Ruddy's thoughts. Morris joined him at his table in the rear of the pub with a Guinness, the popular beer of choice in hand. “You’ve got the look of a man whose thoughts are a long distance from London.”

“No, sadly my thoughts are fixed here in the city. I’m trying to figure out a clue. Ellis’s roommate said she’d sometimes meet with a well-dressed man, a man of means the victim indicated. They’d meet up at the fountain by the British Museum.”

“Don’t know the spot but then the museum isn’t my cup of tea.”

“Not the point. I’m saying it’s odd. What member of the upper class chooses to stroll through a public garden other than Hyde or Regents, where they can see and be seen by one of their own?”

“I agree the wealthy prefer the parks filled with others of their kind but it doesn’t mean a man can’t enjoy someplace different.”

“We interviewed the guard again. The one that discovered the body walks that half of the building. He told us the majority of their male patrons are natty dressers, but he never saw a man like that loitering by the fountain.”

“My guess is: the man is married and can’t afford to run the risk of being seen by a friend of his wife’s. Or, he might live or work in the area and the spot is convenient.”

“Or, he’s a murderer who’s noticed the victim walking through the park on a regular basis, saw it as an opportunity and cozied up to her.”

Ruddy took another swallow of his ale, mentally debating the merit of each theory. “I don’t think he lives in the area. If so, he’d have cut through the park more and been seen by the guards. Not sure about the married man having a tryst idea."

To Ruddy's way of thinking, if the man was married and looking for a tumble, he’d have met her someplace other than the gardens and at a better hour.

Instinct drew him back to his original sense of the culprit and crime. “I feel like this was a crime of opportunity. I’ve thought it all along and can’t shake the sense.”

“If he was just seeking a victim, then why haven’t you had more murders like this?” Morris asked.

Ruddy downed the rest of his beer and put his tankard on the edge of the table where June would refill it. “Everyone has to start somewhere. She might be number one.”

Enjoy the book video:



About the Author:

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write two different series. My paranormal romance series is called Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4822048.Chris_Karlsen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorckarlsen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chriskarlsenwriter
Website: http://chriskarlsen.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Karlsen/e/B005HYTQQI
BN Author Page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/chris-karlsen

Buy the book at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

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Kinght Blindess by Chris Karlsen-- Interview

Last year we reviewed Journey in Time by Chris Karlsen and we are excited to let you know that the next book in the Knights in Time series is now out. Chris stopped by to talk with us a bit.




Why do you write in your genre?

I write two different genres: paranormal romance and romantic thrillers.

What draws me to it?

My mother was an avid reader and she read many romance authors. From my early teens on, she’d give me her favorite books to read so I grew up with a love of reading and especially romances. My fave genres now are romance, thrillers and historical fiction. I love the fast pace of thrillers and usually the protagonist has a wicked sense of humor, which I enjoy. My father taught history and I grew up with a love of that, which is why I am a fan of historical fiction. For a romance to succeed or resonate with me, I must truly and deeply care about the hero/heroine, more so than in the other genres. If I dislike one or the other, it ruins the story for me.

What research is required?

In my paranormals my characters are from a specific period in English medieval history. I chose the period as it is one I’ve been interested in since I was young. That said, in order to flesh out the setting and the support characters, along with presenting my H/h with problems inherent to the times, I had to go beyond the basics I already knew. I read dozens of books, watched DVD’s from the history channel or Nat Geo or Discovery, sought various articles by experts and on occasion, when I had the opportunity I interviewed experts. I searched the same media sources for my thrillers, which involve nautical archaeology and Bronze or Byzantine history.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

My hero in Knight Blindness, my latest book and part of my Knights in Time series, has returned from battle with a grievous injury. I learned great determination and intestinal fortitude can overcome much of what is thrown at us. From my heroine in the same story, I learned how to have and show a new appreciation of another’s strength of character.

Any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

Honestly, I am not terribly superstitious or possess many quirks. If I had to name one thing I’m superstitious about regarding my writing it would be that I avoid verbalizing negative worries or possible disappointing predictions. I am leery of putting those vibes or negative sound bites out in the universe. To me, it’s kind of like telling someone you’ve never had an accident. I don’t ever do that either for fear it will happen.

Plotter or pantser?

Up until very recently, I’d say a bit of both. I always wrote out an outline but it wasn’t written in stone. I always wound up moving away from it when I felt the need. However, I just started a book that I hope will be book one in a new series. I haven’t come close to writing an outline. So far, I’ve simply sat and wrote what I thought made some of the characters tick. We’ll see how it turns out.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

No one. My desk is in a small niche area between the living room and dining room. The stairs to the second floor are to my right. On occasion, our dog Sammy sits on the rug to my right at the base of the stairs. Usually, he sits behind me and to the left while our little guy, Trooper, sits in my chair with me like a personal fanny pack. It is not the most comfortable for me but he likes it.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I just released Knight Blindness. It is book 3 in my paranormal romance series. It’s a time travel involving a hero who is a medieval knight. I wanted to do something very different. Instead of taking my heroine back in time, I brought the hero forward to our time. What he doesn’t know is the enemy knight he was battling when the time shift occurred has also come forward. The enemy knight believes the hero holds the “key” to time and is pursuing him in hopes of forcing the hero to reverse the shift.

Do you have a question for our readers?

I like asking the readers if time travel was possible where would they go and why. Forward to the future? Back to a past time? Here’s the tricky part, if you fell in love would you stay? I think the initial response is to say yes without hesitation. But thinking on it, much comes into play. What if something happens to your love? Now, you’re in a place that is pretty alien to everything you know and may present remarkable dangers you don’t face in your modern life.

This is a major concern of my heroine in Journey in Time. She and the hero are caught in a time warp that sends them back to medieval England. England is at war with France, and the hero is about to sail with the army to France. If he’s killed in battle, my heroine has no means to make a living and provide for herself, not to mention this was a desperate time for a woman without a protector. She might be thought a witch and burned at the stake or any number of other dangers can plague her. My heroine had no choice. She and the hero were trapped and had no idea how to return to the modern world. But when answering the question of staying, in a circumstance where you have a choice, these are factors to consider.

Ready for battle, Medieval English knight, Stephen Palmer, charges into the French enemy’s cavalry line. Heeding a warning given months before, he hesitates as he comes face-to-face with the knight in the warning. Struck down in the year 1356, he finds himself landing in the year 2013. Grievously wounded, he’s taken to a nearby hospital. Confused by the new world surrounding him, he attempts to convince the staff he’s from another time, only to find they think him mad.

Rescued by friends, who, to his surprise, have also come through time, he must find a way to function in this odd modern England. He is quickly enchanted by the kind Esme Crippen, the young woman hired to tutor him. She too is enchanted by him. Tempted to deepen the relationship, she hesitates thinking him adorable, but mad. He must discover the means for getting her to believe the truth, all the while, unknown to him, he didn’t come forward in time alone. The enemy knight has also traveled to 2013.

French noble, Roger Marchand, doesn’t question why the English knight who charged him hesitated. That fraction of a pause gave him the advantage needed and he brought his sword down upon the Englishman’s helmet hard, unhorsing the knight. He moved to finish the Englishman off when the world changed in a rush of sensations as he is ripped through time.

Seeking a reason for the terrible event, he enters a nearby chapel. There, thinking God has chosen him for a quest to turn French defeat that day in 1356 to victory, he sets out to find the English knight. The man he is convinced holds the key to time. If he returns to the day of the battle, he can warn his king of mistakes that snatched victory from them.

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write two different series. My paranormal romance series is called Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.

Find Chris at her website or Facebook.
Buy the book at Amazon.

Journey in Time by Chris Karlsen - Review tour and Giveaway

(A Full length, historical / time travel romance)  

This review is done in conjunction with the author's virtual tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a digital copy of her thriller, "Golden Chariot" to one randomly drawn commenter at every stop, and a $50 Amazon gift card to another randomly drawn commenter during the tour., so comment today AND follow the tour (if you click on the tour banner above, it'll take you to a list of his tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win an awesome prize!



TRAPPED IN TIME

London attorney, Shakira Constantine, finally agrees to spend the day with her handsome client, Alex Lancaster. While riding in the countryside, the couple finds themselves caught in a time warp and transported back to the 14th century, and an England preparing for war. Everyone believes Alex is the Baron Guy Guiscard...a baron who died in the upcoming battle.

If they can’t discover a way to return to the 21st century, Alex will have to sail with the army to certain death. Shakira will be left alone to survive in the alien and terrifying medieval world.



I thought that this would be just another time travel story. Wow, was I ever wrong. Yes, they did travel back in time, but it was more than that.  First, I want to say that it took me a little bit to get involved with the story, so if you find yourself in the same spot -- stick with it!  It's so worth it!

When Alex, a music producer, meets Shakira, an attorney and a weekend guitar player in a rock band, the sparks fly. He is unable to put her out of his mind, and finally is able to convince her to spend the weekend at his cottage in Gloucestershire.

Their first day is spent relaxing and enjoying the countryside, but the second day is the beginning of their travel back into time. As they are riding, they suddenly find themselves back in the 14th century. They are immediately met by a group of knights who apparently know Alex as Sir Guy Guiscard.

This is where the story really began to grab my attention. Things were not as simple as just being drawn back into time.  The plot is much more complicated than most time travel stories I've read. I had to stop occasionally just to catch my breath and really think about what I was reading. Alex handles the situation well, but Shakira has a difficult time trying to adjust.

I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but I want you to know that I was absolutely in love with this book. I found that once I really got into it, I could not put the book down. I had to know how Alex was going to handle the upcoming battle. I wanted to know what Shakira was thinking when she believed that she was going to be left to handle this situation by herself. Their love story becomes of major importance also. It is very sweet, sexy and romantic.

There are so many twists and turns in this story as they try to find a way to return to the 21st century. I just had to know how this was going to be resolved. I could not even imagine how it was going to end. Every conclusion I came up with was wrong.

I picked this up to read a few pages before I went to bed and couldn’t put it down until I turned the last page. This is really one of the best stories I have read in a long time. I give Journey in Time a definite 5.

5 / 5 Flowers - I really loved it!

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.

Links: http://www.chriskarlsen.com/index.html
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/chriskarlsenwriter
http://pinterest.com/chriskarlsen/

Virtual Book Tour Review and Giveaway: Golden Chariot by Chris Karlsen

(A contemporary romantic suspense novel, self-published )

This review is done in conjunction with the author's virtual tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. Chris is giving away  a $75 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during her tour, so comment today AND follow the tour (if you click on the tour banner above, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

The rare discovery of a ship sunk during the time of the Trojan War has been found off the coast of Turkey, near Troy. Charlotte Dashiell is an American nautical archaeologist and thrilled to be part of the recovery team. The wreck may contain proof of her highly controversial theory about the Trojan War.

Charlotte is present when the Turkish government agent assigned to guard the site is murdered. Her possible involvement and a questionable connection to a private collector of black market relics bring her under suspicion. Atakan Vadim is the Turkish agent sent to investigate her. Unknown to either of them, the smuggler behind the murder plans to steal a valuable artifact and frame Charlotte for the theft...after they murder her.

The mere mention of the Trojan War intrigued me.  I knew I needed to read this book with such a unique premise and I'm glad I did.  The plot was solid, the suspense good, the ending satisfying. 

Charlotte is a strong woman ... occasionally stronger than I would have expected, but her steel spine gets her through some difficult times.  Admittedly, it gets her in trouble a bit too.  And, while I knew Atakan was our hero, it took a while for both Charlotte and I to warm up to him--but he turns out to be quite the hero!

The story begins quickly, with a shipwreck and mayhem.  I felt a bit lost at first, with characters being thrown at me from every direction... it was difficult to know who was who, and which persons were friends with whom.  Still, it definitely hooked me, and made me want to continue reading.  This is very much a plot-driven story, with details galore.  The characters may not have been as easy to get to know as I would have liked, at least not at the beginning.  The story was the focus, and the characters necessary to move the plot forward, but they weren't fully fleshed out right off.

Over time, however, they shared their secrets with me, and I came to care about them, enough that I worried terribly for Charlotte several times, especially at the very exciting ending!  I've not turned pages that quickly in a long time.  I had to know if she'd be okay...

If you like a solid action/suspense story with romantic elements and a solid plot, with heart-pounding excitement and question after question posed (and eventually answered) with an ending that will make your heart sigh, then this is the book for you. 

3.5/5 Flowers

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.

http://www.chriskarlsen.com/index.html
 http://www.facebook.com/#!/chriskarlsenwriter