Archive for July 5, 2017

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The Freedom Broker
by KJ Howe
Genre: Thriller
 
KIDNAP & RANSOM
IN-DEPTH RESEARCH FOR CANADIAN AUTHOR’S DEBUT INTERNATIONAL THRILLER
There are twenty-five elite kidnap negotiators in the world. Only one is a
woman. And she’s the best in the business. Meet Thea Paris in THE
FREEDOM BROKER.
With over 40,000 reported kidnappings every year—which
translates to five people every hour
—the
world of kidnap and ransom is taking on a newsworthy role across the
globe. Displaced military and police in third world countries have no
way to put food on the table, but they do have security skills, so
they have turned to kidnapping as a way of making a living. Also,
terrorists are using kidnapping as a fundraising enterprise, filling
their coffers with over 125 million dollars since 2009. Kidnappers
used to only abduct high net-worth individuals and executives of
multi-national organizations. Not anymore. Journalists, aid workers,
and family members of executives have now become high value targets.
Kidnapping is a growing international crisis. What tools do we have to fight
against this increasing threat? There are twenty-five elite kidnap
negotiators who travel to the globe’s hotspots to bring hostages
home, through negotiation or recovery, and they are called response
consultants or freedom
brokers
. Local to Toronto, author K.J. Howe has immersed herself in the world
of kidnapping for the last three years, interviewing kidnap
negotiators, former hostages, kidnap and ransom insurance executives,
hostage reintegration experts, psychiatrists specializing in the
captive’s mindset, and the Special Forces soldiers who deliver
ransoms and execute rescues.
Howe’s research culminates into her debut thriller, THE FREEDOM BROKER,
published by the Hachette Book Group under the Quercus imprint in the
US, Canada, U.K. and many foreign territories. The book has reached
attention North America wide, and has led to reviewers such as #1
NYT Bestseller James Patterson
calling
it “fact and fiction at its best.”
K.J. Howe’s novel has received positive and international acclaim from some of North
America’s most influential mediums and authors including:

TIME Magazine called the book a “Dark Delight.”

#1 NYT Bestseller Lee Child endorses
the book: “Razor sharp and full of you-are-there authenticity—a
superb thriller.”

NYT Bestseller Linwood Barclay shares, “Breathless
action, great characters, and convincing details make Howe’s debut
a surefire rocket to the top of the lists.”

In The Providence Journal,
USA Today Bestselling author Jon Land reviews,
“The
Freedom Broker is a blisteringly original, superbly crafted thriller
that promises to be one of the major debuts of 2017. K.J. Howe’s
gut-wrenching foray into the world of hostage negotiation turned
upside down propels her straight into the league of Linda Fairstein,
Tess Gerritsen, Lisa Scottoline, and Karin Slaughter, thanks to a
tale framed by an emotional complexity and structural elegance both
rare for the genre. As riveting as it is bracing, this is reading
entertainment at its absolute best.”
 
 
 
 
Born in Toronto, Canada, K.J. enjoyed a nomadic lifestyle during her early
years, living in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Caribbean,
which gave her an insider’s view into many different cultures.
While abroad, she read every book she could find, which triggered in
her a desire to create her own stories.
She attended Salzburg International Preparatory School, Neuchâtel Junior
College, and Albert College before earning a Specialists Degree in
Business from the University of Toronto. K.J. found success in the
corporate world, but her passion for travel, adventure, and stories
drew her back to school where she earned a Masters in Writing Popular
Fiction from Seton Hill University. She also won several writing
awards, including three Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in
Mystery and Suspense.
While honing her fiction skills, K.J. worked as a medical, health, and
fitness writer. She then became involved with the International
Thriller Writers as the executive director of ThrillerFest, the
organization’s annual conference held every July in New York City.
In preparation for writing THE FREEDOM BROKER series, which focuses on
elite kidnap negotiator Thea Paris, K.J. spent extensive time
researching the dark world of kidnapping. She has interviewed former
hostages, negotiators, hostage reintegration experts, Special Forces
operatives, and K&R insurance executives.
K.J. is an avid tennis player, cyclist, and swimmer. Travel and adventure
still rank high on her priority list. She has had the pleasure of
riding racing camels in Jordan, surfing in Hawaii, zip lining in the
Costa Rican jungle, diving alongside Great White Sharks in South
Africa, studying modern combat in the Arizona desert, and
working with elephants in Botswana. Home is in Toronto, Canada, but
she is often missing in action.
K.J. Howe is available for interviews and appearances along with
presentations about kidnapping and travel safety. For media
appearances, interviews, speaking engagements, and/or book review
requests please contact mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com by email or by
phone at 403.464.6925.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
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!
 
 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

28436674  35396610

Welcome to The Kid’s Korner.

I decided to do this feature as I have so many great children’s books to share. From picture books, to books for beginning readers, to middle graders, I have plenty of fun ones.

I’ve got a couple of bedtime stories to share this week.

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 The Wishing Whale

  by Miks Valdbergs

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Genre: Illustrated Bedtime Story

Ages 2 – 6

Grade Level: P – 2

My Review

In Dreamland, the Wishing Whale dives deep to the bottom of the sea, plays with many fun creatures and has many fun adventures.

This one is sure to delight your little ones. I was charmed by its beautiful colored illustrations. And reading this with your child at bedtime, I can only imagine what adventures the Wishing Whale will take them on when they fall asleep. Under the sea, what wonders they will see. I was partial to the turtles.

Simply written in rhyme, it will be easy for young ones to read and will become a favorite bedtime story. The only hitches I see, and they’re good ones, are that kids will want to read it all over again before going to sleep, and you might be shopping for a stuffed whale soon.

  4  Stars

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Synopsis

If you were in dreamland what would you dream for? Read along as the wishing whale swims through the ocean surfing waves, exploring shipwrecks, jumping with dolphins, and watching birds in flight. This beautifully illustrated and rhyming children’s bedtime story is sure to delight beginner readers with colorful illustrations and easy-to-read vocabulary.

I’d dive in the deep.
I’d leap by the shore.
Just think of all the wonderful
things I’d explore.

Amazon

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Naughty Monsters

by Mia Mason

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Genre: Illustrated Rhyming Bedtime Story

Ages: 3 – 6

Grade Level: P – 4

My Review

Kids like monsters and these are some fun ones. Nothing too scary.

Stompy is a good monster and friends with the human kids. He does what he should and is kind and fun. Then a new family of monsters move in. They are smelly and mean. No fun at all. Stompy’s parents worry about him playing with the other monter’s kids, as they should. Soon Stompy changes, he’s rude and scary and the kids run away from him.

As parents, we’ve all worried about peer pressure and our kids being influenced by bad behavior.

Naughty Monsters is a cute illustrated rhyming book about kids learning to take care of themselves and not follow others when they know it’s a bad decision. The pictures are colorful and it’s written so even the youngest ones will understand its message.

A good bedtime story and just the right length to help your child to sleep.

3 Stars

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Synopsis

A little Stompy has a great family and he is a very well brought-up one. He brushes his teeth before bedtime and likes multicolored pajamas.
His family has some friends and invites them for tea during weekends. Everything goes nice and well before another monsters’ family comes to live next door.
They are very angry and badly behaving monsters. Little Stompy makes friends with new neighbors and starts to turn bad. He won’t use nice pajamas to sleep in and starts to frighten people.

This kind story will help your little monster to realize how important it is to keep evening routines and choose friends wisely.
The book is a great fit to read before bedtime. It is filled with truly amazing characters that will keep a child captivated from beginning till the end of story.

Amazon

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE