blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: False Witness – John Carson

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Some killers are caught.
Others simply go into hiding…

DCI Liam Brodie is no stranger to horror. Seven years ago, he led the hunt for a murderer who killed seven women, leaving their bodies out on display like some kind of morbid exhibition. Never any
witnesses; never any clue as to who he was. The press called him The Embalmer. Brodie called him a monster.

Now, seven years later, the killings have started again. Same method. Same pattern. Same nightmare.
Brodie is called back to Fife to lead the investigation. But this time, the killer isn’t just repeating the past—he’s rewriting it. And Brodie isn’t just hunting a serial killer… He’s being hunted.

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Originally from Edinburgh, I moved to NY in 2006 with my wife – who is American – and my two daughters, who were 10 and 7 at the time. I met Debbie, my second wife, online in 2001. My daughters are from my first marriage, and Debbie has an adult son. I have been writing for a long time, writing my first crime novel in 1997.

After being taken on by an agency in 2012, the agent then abruptly left the agency in 2013. A year later, in November 2014 I decided to self publish my books.

I started with the DI Frank Miller series, followed by DCI Harry McNeil and DCI Sean Bracken. I decided on writing DCI James Craig and have him move from London to Fife. I have also written two
Calvin Stewart books (from the McNeil series) and four US – based thrillers.

Social Media Links –
Facebook: @johncarsonbooks
Twitter: @JCarsonAuthor
Instagram: @johncarsonauthor
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Bookbub profile: @JohnCarson

My thoughts: The twist in this book is *chef’s kiss*, you honestly won’t see it coming, it’s so cleverly done. And now you’ll be trying to guess, but no spoilers.

This is a cracking case, a supposedly dormant killer has started again, leaving dead women on the beach, but were they ever truly dormant? Or did they just kill elsewhere? As Brodie and his team dig into the case, both the new victims and the old, they put themselves in harm’s way, the killer is watching their every move.

Gripping, enjoyable and fiendish, this was truly a great crime read.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Blog Tour: When Her Power Awakens – Brenna Bustamante

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Welcome to the tour for When Her Power Awakens and meet Kenna and Zander!

When Her Power Awakens (Saving Taiamen Book 1)

Release Date: October 2025

Genre: Epic Dark Romantasy

– Fantastical beasts
– Elemental powers
– Discovering one’s powers
– Reluctant hero
– Escape into forbidden forest
– Friends to lovers
– Slow-burn romance
– Feminine rage
– Multiple POV
– One bed

In Taiamen, where worth is measured by bloodline, and power is held by the elite, an outsider carries the spark that can shatter an empire built on cruelty and silence.

Kenna has spent her life unseen. Forced to protect her siblings under the violent hand of her adoptive father in the starving district of Madyor, she has learned to trade pieces of herself just to live. One day, a brilliant light erupts from her body, awakening something ancient and terrifying, forcing her and her best friend, Zander, to escape into the world outside the only home they know.

Now hunted by the government, Kenna discovers she’s not just any Conjurer—she’s a Dominum, the first in five hundred years to wield all four elements.

Haunted by fear of what she is and what she must become, Kenna must choose whether to keep running from her power or embrace it—even if it consumes her.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Triggers: poverty, abandonment, adoption abuse, anxiety, self-harm, sex work and sex slavery, child abuse, violence, trauma, death and dying, sexism and misogyny, classism, torture, gambling addiction, starvation and dehydration, disappearance of a loved one, kidnapping, massacres and mass murders, earthquakes, bushfire, tornadoes.

 

BOOK TOUR ORGANIZED BY:

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Blog Tour: The Divorce Lawyer – McGarvey Black

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Divorce can be murder . . . and divorce lawyers can get murdered.

I’m Kim DeLuca – assistant to Ollie Spalding, Connecticut’s most successful divorce lawyer.
I’m the one who keeps his empire running while he charms his way through every courtroom in the state.

Ollie isn’t just my boss. I was a foster kid – he’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to family. My mentor. My protector. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him.
He’s also the most feared divorce lawyer in the state. He took on people with money, power – and tempers that scared even the police.

Now he’s dead. And the police want to know who his enemies are.
He had more than I can count.
But I’ll find out who killed him.

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, T.M. Logan, Patricia MacDonald and Shari Lapena

Goodreads
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McGarvey studied voice at Manhattan School of Music and was later a theatre major in college. She pursued an acting career but later moved into a magazine and digital media career.

During that time, she sold advertising and managed sales teams for companies like
Conde Nast, WebMD and worked for brands including GQ, Travel + Leisure, and
Allure.

In between, she took a year off and backpacked alone around the world. Later, after having two children, she left media and became an executive recruiter for internet companies. In 2017, she began writing full time and has since published six novels.

Instagram X Website

My thoughts: When her boss, Ollie, is murdered Kim determines to help the police find his killer. At first she thinks that it could be the angry former spouses of one of their clients, Ollie was considered one of the best divorce lawyers in the state, and several of the unhappy parties have made threats.

As the police and Kim dig into the lives and connections of these threatening men (and women, but they seem to lack the wealth and connections needed), they narrow it down to two possibilities.

But as always the police must look closer to home as well, Ollie had two adult children and a younger wife. She has inherited a fortune, a fortune that just might be worth killing for….

Can Kim and the detective, Fitz, find out who killed Ollie and devastated his family, as well as Kim? Or will there be more victims?

Clever, with a huge twist, and some others along the way, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. You will be too!

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

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Blog Tour: Dance of the Asuras – N. Patel Baxi

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We’re touring Dance of the Asuras this week and if you’re looking for a romantasy read that ticks all these boxes, then we recommend you pick this one up!

Dance of the Asuras

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Genre: Romantasy

  • Forced Proximity
  • Morally Grey
  • Karmic Retribution
  • Gods & Anti Gods
  • Hidden Powers
  • He Falls First
  • Tension, Banter & Spice

Freedom was her final dance, until the devil stepped onto her stage.

Niya is the most famous dancer in Khoya, bound by a contract to a kingdom that has stolen her independence. With her servitude nearly over, she is closer than ever to gaining safe passage to the revered city of Varnasi—and a life of her choosing.

But when Zehan, the Prince of Hell, witnesses her final performance, he claims her as his Chosen and drags her to the realm of demons.

Now, to gain her freedom, Niya strikes a new bargain: serve in Zehan’s court and use her magic to help him uncover who is stealing the souls of his subjects. The culprit proves elusive, and the more time Niya spends in Zehan’s world, the more her heart betrays her vow to leave.

Whirling between deceitful anti-gods and an unraveling prophecy, Niya finds a surprising source of power as she steps into an unexpected destiny…and an inescapable love.

AMAZON

 

TW:

Off-page sexual assault (not to the main character) and is only alluded to

 

BOOK TOUR ORGANIZED BY:

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Blog Tour: The Pledge – Sarah Yarwood-Lovett

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A MYSTERIOUS OFFER
When Thea deciphers a cryptic invitation, she can’t believe it’s real. Yet the next moment she’s on a jet, being whisked off to a private Caribbean island.

BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY HOLIDAY
Her fellow guests are richer than rich – billionaires, tech bros, even royalty; all in paradise to sign a global deal. So what is Thea doing here?

THERE IS NO ESCAPE
By the morning, their host is dead – and so is any hope of getting off the island.

NO GETAWAY
As guests are picked off one by one, the group’s suspicions turn on Thea.

ONLY A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
But the killer isn’t the only threat on the island – and escape means facing her worst fears . . .

My thoughts: Summoned to a deserted island, Thea is at a loss as to why she, a defence barrister, is there. The other guests include a minor royal, her MP husband, several entrepreneurs and billionaires, a pop star, a supermodel and a journalist. Her husband seems to be involved with their host Olga, and that really throws Thea, who invites their lover’s wife to their super secret summit?

Unfortunately things go from bad to worse when Olga is found drowned in the swimming pool the next morning. Their phones were confiscated on arrival, the WiFi is off, the staff have been sent away, there’s no way off the island and no way to call for help.

As the group squabble and try to work out which one of them is a killer, the situation continues to deteriorate. Thea tries to be rational, but the things really aren’t. Someone there is a murderer, there’s a hungry panther roaming the island (big cats do not make good pets) and then more bodies show up violently murdered. Can she survive the weekend? Can any of them? Will help ever arrive? And why did Olga invite them all there?

Clever, funny (if you’re a bit dark and twisted like me), but with an interesting point to make, this was a really enjoyable, smart read from a writer whose previous books I really like.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

books

Cover Reveal: Cursed by Blood – Monique Shepherd

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Cursed by Blood  

Available 10/20/2026

Dark Vampire Romance/ Slayer x Vampires Why Choose

⛓️ Slayer x Vampires
🩸 Reverse Harem / Why Choose
⛓️ Enemies to Lovers
🩸 Forgotten Past Life
⛓️ Fated Bonds
🩸 Possessive Immortals
⛓️ We@pon play
🩸 Forbidden Desire

Some loves are worth killing for. And some are worth becoming a monster for.

I’m the Council’s best weapon. A slayer born to hunt the darkness.

They lied.

Brielle Thorne has staked more vampires than she can count, but the nightmares won’t stop—visions of blood-soaked victims and three faces she shouldn’t recognize. When the legendary Crimson Veil rises, weakening the barrier between life and death, three ancient vampires emerge from the shadows with a terrifying claim: she belongs to them.

Cazamir, the Primordial. A possessive monster powerful enough to make entire kingdoms kneel.

Dayden, the Shadow Walker. He’s beautiful and broken. And burning with a hatred for her that tastes like obsession.

Sin, the Illusionist. He’s snarky, dangerous, and far too good at making her forget why she should run.

They say she was theirs once, in a life she can’t remember. They say the Council cursed her, stole her, and turned her into their weapon. When the blood moon reaches its peak, she’ll have to choose: remain the hunter or reclaim her throne as their queen.

But as their touch awakens something dark and ravenous inside her, Brielle realizes the most dangerous thing isn’t the curse.

It’s how badly she wants to surrender.

Pre-order: https://books2read.com/u/38aGkV

Content Warnings: Violence, Degradation, Dub-con/CNC, Weapon play, Unaliving


IG: @moniqueshepherd_author @rrbooktours

TIKTOK: @monique.shepherd6 @shannon_of_rrbooktours

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#rrbooktours #cursedbyblood #vampireromance #whycoose

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Cover Reveal: Rum and Raisins – Ashley J. Vinson

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We’re thrilled to present the cover for Ashley J. Vinson’s next book, Rum and Roses!

Rum and Roses

Expected Release Date: June 6th

Genre: Dark Romance

Designer : @niro_ignius

🍓 Biker x ballerina
🍓 Cinnamon roll stalker
🍓 Consensual BDSM + dom/sub relationship
🍓 Forced proximity
🍓 He ☠️ every douchebag that hurts her
🍓 He kidnaps her to ‘protect’ her
🍓 They’re baristas together
🍓 He’s tatted, pierced & plays violin

Meet Silas: an ordinary man whose world spirals into darkness the moment he lays eyes on Rosalie. Her radiant smile, that infectious laugh, and carefree spirit ignite a burning fixation within him. What begins as innocent admiration quickly morphs into a twisted obsession. One where he lurks silently in the shadows of her life, convinced that their connection is fate.

When Silas kidnaps Rosalie to shield her from a world he believes threatens to tear them apart, a complex relationship takes shape within their hidden refuge. Fear gives way to understanding, and love begins to bloom in the unlikeliest of places. Rosalie, initially terrified, starts to see glimpses of Silas’s desire to love and be loved; no matter how dark the path may be.

As they navigate a maze of fear, passion, and obsession, their story challenges the very meaning of love, blurring the lines between devotion and danger.

Dark, seductive, and utterly unpredictable; this is a story where love knows no bounds, even if that love is deep rooted from obsession.

 

Triggers: Stockholm syndrome, kidnapping/locked up, murder, manipulation, BDSM aspects, Dom/sub themes, stalking, masked men, ownership, violence, blood/gore, orphan, psychotic men, brief mention of cheating ex, praise kink, possessive MMC, graphic sex, abandonment issues, bloodlust, anal, oral, bondage, gruesome violence obsession, graphic depictions of death, mention of child abuse (backstory), holding hostage, and abduction.

BDSM aspects, anal, double penetration, choking, use of sex toys, bondage, dom/sub relationship, oral, ball gag, bloodlust

The Chapters in the book that include sexual related activities are 16, 19, 21 and 24.

 

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Book Blitz: Beautiful Nightmare – L.C. Son

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We’re thrilled to announce the release of the Beautiful Nightmare deluxe digital edition boxset by L.C. Son!

This digital set comes fully loaded with:

  • All three books: Beautiful Nightmare, Awaken, Dawn of Descent
  • Two bonus stories: With Hearts Like Fire & With Clipped Wings of Butterflies
  • Bonus chapters & dialogue not included in standard retail editions
  • An exclusive immersive reader website to take you deeper into the universe- see QR code on receipt
  • Character guides

Beautiful Nightmare – Dark Paranormal Romance

Tropes: love triangle (leads to why choose), runaway bride, dark family secrets, vampires, wolf shifters, fated mates, she saves herself, touch me and d!e

Designer: @coversincolor


It all starts with love. Then it becomes a nightmare. But soon it becomes something quite beautiful.

Damina Nicaud, a beautiful, successful art buyer in Washington, D.C., has been plagued by hauntingly romantic dreams of a mystery man every night. While she knows she shouldn’t consider her dreams to be anything more than anxiety brought on by her upcoming nuptials, she can’t help but be lured into its entreat. Unbeknownst to her, the dreamscape that plagues her mind will be all that carries her through eventual heartbreak and learning the truth of her orphaned lineage.

She is more than human.

Escaping to New Orleans on the heels of her broken heart, she begins to unravel the mystery of her life while discovering a love powerful enough to unleash an ancient power residing within herself. Weaving through a world of artistic passion, vampires, wolves, and the supernatural, Damina Nicaud begins to take hold of her Beautiful Nightmare.

Purchase: https://payhip.com/b/EXkdQ

Tags:

@author_l.c.son @rrbooktours

#rrbooktours #bookbox #darkparanormalromance #beautifulnightmare #booktrilogy

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Blog Tour: Love and Other Revenge Plots – Liliana Woodland

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We’re celebrating the newly released romance Love and Other Revenge Plots by Liliana Woodland this week with a tour!

Love and Other Revenge Plots (Love in Louisville)

Release Date: March 16, 2026

Genre: Contemporary Romance

  • Co-workers in a medical setting
  • Class differences
  • Reformed bully
  • Groveling
  • Hidden identity
  • Emotional authenticity
  • Feminine anger
  • Dual POV

I never wanted to see him again. How am I supposed to work with my worst enemy?

I’ve hated Grant Wyndham for as long as I can remember. Back in our hometown, he was my tormentor. The source of my worst angst.

So when he shows up at my clinic, it shakes my world. How can that awful man be a doctor now? And how can I make it through the next three months with him?

I can’t let him get to me. I’m no pushover, and I can make him regret his treatment of me.

Except—it seems like he’s changed, and it’s clear he wants me. There’s a part of me that wants him, too.

When things start to heat up between us, I have to ask myself some important questions. Can I ever forgive him? Has he really redeemed himself?

And when attraction turns into something deeper, I’m forced to confront the past. What happens when the man who hurt you so badly is the one who sees you most clearly?

I do know one thing—no matter how sexy he is, falling for my high school bully was never part of the plan.

A slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers redemption romance about choosing love despite old wounds.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

 

Trigger Warning:

  • Explicit sexual content and swearing
  • Bullying (only in prologue, otherwise off page)
  • Fatphobia (only in prologue)
  • Discussion of unintentional weight loss
  • Discussion of childbirth complications
  • Frank discussions about poverty and food insecurity
  • Some explicit detail involving surgical procedures
  • Parental abandonment

 

BOOK TOUR ORGANIZED BY:

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Blog Tour: I Am You – Victoria Redel

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A mesmerising historical novel, I Am You is a meditation on gender, an ode to artistic creation, and an unforgettable love story that reimagines the life of renowned painter Maria van Oosterwijck during the Dutch Golden Age.

At eight years old, Gerta Pieters is forced to disguise herself as a boy and sent to work for a genteel family. When their daughter Maria sees through Gerta’s ruse, she insists Gerta accompany her to Amsterdam and help her enter the elite, maledominated art world.

While Maria rises in the ranks of society as a painting prodigy, Gerta makes herself invaluable in every way: confidante, muse, lover. But as Gerta steps into her own talents, their relationship fractures into a complex web of obsession and rivalry, until the secrets they keep threaten to unravel everything.

Victoria Redel is a first-generation American poet and novelist. Her work has been widely anthologized, awarded, and translated in ten languages. Her debut novel, Loverboy (2001) was adapted for feature film directed by Kevin Bacon. Redel’s short stories, poetry and essays have appeared in Granta, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Bomb, One Story, Salmagundi, O and NOON. She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, The National Endowment forthe Arts and the Fine Arts Work Center. Victoria is a professor in the graduate and undergraduate Creative Writing programs at Sarah Lawrence College.

My thoughts: I actually found this a very sad book in many ways, Gerta is often unhappy and mistreated by her mistress Maria, who mocks her in public and is hot and cold with her in private.

The two women live a strange life, Maria is feted by society for her artworks but the men of the art world are dismissive of her talent, because she’s not a man, while also hoping to make her their wife or mistress. 

She and Gerta become a couple, but must keep it secret from everyone. And as Gerta learns to paint and assist Maria, who suffers from what I think is Parkinson’s, unable to use her hands unless the tremors she suffers become apparent, their relationship changes.

Gerta narrates the story, and we see her pain and misery first hand. From being forced to dress and behave like a boy, to being raped by Maria’s horrible nephew. She finds little love in her life, often rejected by Maria, who toys with her and ultimately she is forced to make a decision that will affect them both.

Powerful, compelling and fascinating, this story of women in a man’s world, creative and cruel (Maria) and incredibly loving (Greta) is moving and intriguing, recreating a vanished world in Amsterdam.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.