Best Avalon Graphics Cover Award

Throughout the year Cathy Helms of Avalon Graphics, along with graphics designer, Tamian Wood, has very kindly judged our Cover of the Month (and Year) award. This has meant, however, that Cathy's historical fiction author clients have been exempt from the award - which is a shame, for Cathy and the authors, so... I asked Tamian to judge Cathy's covers for a separate  'Cover of the Year' Special Award.

(I have included my covers because Cathy's work deserves to be 'shown off' - but I've exempted myself from the award.)

The 'entries', in no particular order :
(Note: where no a 'Read the Review' link is shown Discovering Diamonds has not had the book submitted for review.)

runner up of the RONE cover design award for 2017

article; What If'? by Richard Tearle

(as I'm also connected with this book
it's exempt from the award)

Read the review

Amazon UK Amazon US
Amazon CA

Amazon UK  Amazon US
Amazon CA

read the review

Read the Review

Amazon UK  Amazon US
Amazon CA

Amazon UK  Amazon US
Amazon CA

Amazon UK  Amazon US
Amazon CA

Amazon UK 
Amazon CA

Amazon UK  Amazon US
Amazon CA

Amazon UK  Amazon US
Amazon CA

Amazon UK  Amazon US
Amazon CA

available form the author

* * * 

My books

www.helenhollick.net

* * * 

And the Winner is:

Amazon UK  Amazon US
Amazon CA

Runner Up Honourable Mention

Amazon UK  Amazon US
Amazon CA

* * * 

For My Books, Tamian Chose

Winner

runner up

A huge thank you Tamian - and Cathy!

When the Mermaid Sings by Helen Hollick

note from Helen: Yes, I know this is my book, but I had a space to fill and I thought the only way to show no cronyism favouritism was to put up one of my own books - I hope it is acceptable to #DDRevs visitors to post this genuine review here.

This novella is not eligible for cover or book of the month.

e-book

Amazon UK £0.99

Amazon US $0.99

Amazon CA $na

nautical / fantasy / novella

18th Century

Caribbean

This is where the story begins. A young Jesamiah has been trapped on his family's plantation in Virginia, at the mercy of his cruel older half-brother Philippe, and now is orphaned. His somewhat haphazard father has followed his beloved Spanish mother to the grave and Jesamiah has no one to turn to. Having burned bridges in return for a burned ship, Jesamiah discovers that there are people in Virginia and further afield willing to help him. He leaves his home and finds himself following in his father's wake and goes to sea.

There is just one thing wrong with this story - it is not long enough. I wanted to keep reading and following Jesamiah's adventures on the high seas, sailing around the Caribbean and the Sargasso Sea. There is still so much to tell between the ending of this and the start of the first in this saga, Sea Witch. 

As it is, this novella is deeply satisfying for all lovers of Jesamiah Acorne. We learn so much about how he began the journey that takes him to the man he is as we know him from the Sea Witch books, the trials he has faced and the talents he begins to demonstrate, and how others view the growing boy. 

There is also a lot of background squeezed into this volume about pirates, real ones and fictional, about how pirate ships operated, how the Royal Navy viewed them and the fine line between legitimate privateers and the fully fledged pirate ship. Jesamiah may be a fictional character, but he is firmly rooted in fact.

A fantastic little book that delivers in spades. More please!

© Nicky Galliers

< previous   next >

Diamonds: in sound and song...

We have reached the end of our selection of Diamond Tales
but here are some more Diamonds - in Sound and Song!
Links are to You Tube

(most of these  open with adverts - you can click 'skip' on each one)

* * * 

Diamonds and Rust  - Joan Baez

Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey

Neil Diamond
appropriate for a historical novel review site - where we have reviewed several novels on this topic!

To The Neil Mobile... an excerpt from The Big Bang Theory
(the episode features a competative treasure hunt - although Howard and Amy don't seem to be taking it as seriously as the others...)

Rhianna - Diamonds
'Shine bright like a diamond 
Shine bright like a diamond 
Shining bright like a diamond 
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky…'

Marilyn Monroe.... and her best friends...

Hawk Nelson is making diamonds out of dust...

and what about 'tangerine trees and marmalade eyes' with Lucy still in the sky with diamonds...
(rumours that this song was about drugs were very wrong - in fact it was inspired by a painting John Lennon's young son produced: "What is it?" John asked...
"It's Lucy in the sky with diamonds [stars]" came the reply

Pink Floyd... shining with a crazy diamond

and finally: Jet Harris and Tony Meehan...
Who remembers this  diamond of a track? (and did you read our fabulous story by Richard Tearle relating to this? No? See the list below to catch up!)

If you missed any of our Diamond Tales, here's the full list:

3rd December     Richard Tearle Diamonds

4th December     Helen Hollick  When ex-lovers have their uses

5th December    Antoine Vanner  Britannia’s Diamonds

6th December    Nicky Galliers  Diamond Windows

7th December    Denise Barnes  The Lost Diamond

8th December    Elizabeth Jane Corbett A Soul Above Diamonds

9th December    Lucienne Boyce Murder In Silks

10th December    Julia Brannan The Curious Case of the Disappearing Diamond

11th December    Pauline Barclay Sometimes It Happens

12th December    Annie Whitehead Hearts, Home and a Precious Stone

13th December    Inge H. Borg  Edward, Con Extraordinaire

14th December    J.G. Harlond The Empress Emerald

15th December    Charlene Newcomb Diamonds in the Desert

16th December     Susan Grossey A Suitable Gift

17th December     Alison  Morton Three Thousand Years to Saturnalia

18th December      Nancy Jardine   Illicit Familial Diamonds

19th December      Elizabeth St John The Stolen Diamonds

20th December      Barbara Gaskell Denvil Discovering the Diamond

21st December        Anna Belfrage   Diamonds in the Mud

22nd December       Cryssa Bazos    The Diamonds of Sint-Nicholaas

23rd December        Diamonds … In Sound & Song 

Discovering Diamonds will be taking a short break over the Christmas festivities 

we will return on 27th December

Have a Diamond of a Christmas everyone!

May the December Stars shine bright like Diamonds for you - wherever you are.