Amelie has always been a survivor, from losing her parents as a child in Paris to making it on her own in London. As she builds a career for herself in the magazine industry, she meets, and agrees to marry, Ned Hawthorne.
NOW
Amelie wakes up in a pitch-black room, not knowing where she is. Why has she been taken? Who are her mysterious captors? And why does she soon feel safer here, imprisoned, than she had begun to feel with her husband Ned?
In true B.A. Paris style, The Prisoner is a gripping survival story, a twisted tale of love and at its dark heart a thriller to keep you up all night.
My thoughts: this was really good, a #MeToo thriller from the point of view of a woman caught in the middle of a terrible scandal. When Amelie agrees to marry Ned, she has no idea what he’s done and that he’s using her too. It’s only after they’re married that she learns what a monster he is, being kidnapped is actually almost a relief.
While held in the dark she replays everything over, she’s only twenty and naive, vulnerable because she has no family, only her best friends and something might have happened to them.
She’s determined to find out who is behind their kidnapping and escape their clutches, but Ned can stay right there, she’s safer away from him.
Gripping, clever and packed full of unexpected twists, this was a can’t put it down, stay up all night read.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
I think this could be author’s grocery list and I would still buy it just for the cover! Thankfully, there’s a amazing story beneath it. Read on for more details about Queen and Conqueror by Isabelle Olmo!
Stay tuned for the book tour in 2023!
Queen and Conqueror (The Queen’s Guard #1)
Publication Date: August 2022
Genre: Fantasy/ Romantic Fantasy
How does one conquer a kingdom without spilling blood? You offer your hand in marriage to the king who killed your husband.
Almira’s father raised her in political cunning. Since childhood, she’s prepared for this moment. She lays out the players one by one like pieces on a board.
One. King Alton, the brother-killer. The spare heir who killed his brother for the throne.
Two. The perfect seamstress. The people must admire a queen and welcome her with open arms even when she arrives with a deadly armada behind her.
Three. The Queen’s Red Guard. These warrior women have one purpose; to protect the queen at all costs. Even from her husband. Even from herself.
Queen & Conqueror is the first book in an epic feminist fantasy series told from the perspective of the women who rule and shape the future.
“Men will never be ready for women like us and it is not our job to ready them.”
He cleared his throat. “The High Lord seeks aid from Istok. Your native country hasn’t been plagued with war like we have. Perhaps if your father–“
“Istok did not begin a war. My father will not risk Istokian lives because my husband has a vendetta against a king that toys with our Suidian forces. We should retreat and regroup. Sit with King Alton and negotiate,” she said with a steady voice.
She surprised herself. She’d never challenged a messenger as such. But she was damn tired of sitting like a protected porcelain plate, while the world crumbled.
He looked at her incredulously. “My lady, forgive me, but shouldn’t you let your father decide that?”
His words filled Almira with sudden anger, but she controlled and subdued it. She moved slowly as she stood and faced the captain. He was a large man, and she was small even for a woman. That mattered little.
“Captain, your job is to deliver news of the front. You’ve done that. But to presume I would take advice on state matters from you is insulting.”
He stepped forward and opened his mouth.
“Apology accepted,” she said and raked him over in disapproval. “You didn’t mean to insinuate anything. You have, after all, the utmost respect for my house. However, you will deliver a message from me, captain. Each day I sit in this room while my husband fights a war that drags on and continues killing our soldiers. Each day more lives are lost. At first it was fifty. Now, you tell me 2,000. Inform High Lord Edgar that I want the number.”
He blustered. “The number?”
“Yes. I want the number.” She pressed her index finger against the map. “I want the exact number of deaths we must reach to determine this cause is folly. It’ll give me something to look forward to while I practice my half-stitch.”
She sat and pushed her dinner plate away with disgust. The time had finally come for her value to be placed on the table. Even at a young age she knew he married her because of her connections to Istok. Her father wisely kept their country out of the squabbles and in the years since the war started, her home country grew rich with trade.
“That means you’re dismissed, captain,” Sanaa said.
Clearly astounded at being addressed in such a manner, he left. Not before his helmet slipped and rolled about on the stone floor. It caused a great deal of noise. He rushed after it, while the women watched the display.
Isabelle Olmo was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and was raised on a steady diet of 80’s fantasy films and Sweet Valley High. Her love of literature was developed at an early age when her grandmother gifted her a poetry collection. Queen & Conqueror will be her first published novel.
She graduated with a degree in English Literature and a minor in Political Science from the University of Central Florida.
When she’s not writing she loves to travel, cook, and drink wine. One day she hopes to live in Barcelona, her favorite city in the world.
“I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions-much good it did me.”
So begins Kaikeyi’s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on tales of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the devout and the wise. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, listens as her own worth is reduced to how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.
Desperate for some measure of independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With this power, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen, determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her.
But as the evil from her childhood stories threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. And Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak-and what legacy she intends to leave behind.
A stunning debut from a powerful new voice, Kaikeyi reimagines the life of the infamous queen from the Indian epic the Ramayana, weaving a tale of fate, family, courage, and heartbreak-of an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.
My thoughts: featuring characters from the epic Hindu tale the Ramayana, which tells the story of Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, and his quest to rescue his kidnapped wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. This is actually set before the events of the Ramayana, inspired by a tiny plot point where Rama is exiled by his stepmother Kaikeyi.
By giving Kaikeyi a voice and a story of her own, growing up a princess and marrying a king as his third wife, this creates a rich and fascinating world in which to explore gender and caste dynamics as well as the complex family life that Rama and his brothers were raised in.
Kaikeyi is clever and kind, but sometimes misguided. Convinced the gods do not care for her, she attempts to learn some magic and manipulate matters and people around her.
As she ages and becomes a wife and mother, her desires change. She wants to make the kingdom better, happier, and help women to find their voices. But as she makes these changes and improves some things, there are those who oppose her and their power over her beloved sons is dangerous.
I was utterly fascinated, I vaguely know the story in the Ramayana from school, but it isn’t a myth cycle I know as well as some others. Possibly because it is part of the founding stories of Hinduism and is taught in RE and not as literature, like Norse or Greek myths are.
Which is a shame as the epic stories of gods, monsters, heroes and battles that make up not just the Ramayana are incredible and deserve a wider audience. Hopefully more retellings of these stories like Kaikeyi will introduce new readers to them. Kaikeyi is a wonderful character, a real force of nature and all too human, even as she meets gods and sees demons slayed, making this not just a myth but a human story of one woman trying to do what she believes is right.
Thank you to Orbit Books and Nazia for my gifted copy of this book.
A stunning gothic historical hybrid genre story perfect for Halloween!
Max Fould, an aristocrat from the Fould banking family, goes off to war under the leadership of Napoleon.
While stranded in Russia, he encounters a creature that sets his life on an unimaginable path based on Russian folklore.
Follow Max Fould from post-revolutionary France to the First World War, where his past and present come full circle. Buy Link
Alan Derosby, a Maine native, has spent the past several years focusing on his passion: writing. Alan has created original and spooky short stories, having several published in a variety of anthologies. MAN OF CLAY is his debut novel.
When not writing, Alan is teaching history at Messalonskee High School in Oakland, Maine, spending time with his wife and daughter, or watching the New York Mets suffer through another disappointing season.
My thoughts: Maximilian Fould makes a Faustian pact with the devilish immortal bird Katkh, a creature that sows chaos and destruction. Linked together forever, Max attempts to outwit the creature and die – thus ending its power. His only friend through the centuries is Death.
From revolutionary France, to post Industrial Revolution Britain, the freezing fields of Russia to the First World War, Max lives a life far longer than he should and encounters terrible losses in his attempt to stop the raven of chaos destroying everything.
A clever and interesting exploration of history – from Napoleon to the First World War, via the palaces of Russia. Max can’t predict the bird’s next terrible plot (hint: it involves creepy monk Rasputin) and what monstrous things it will do but he knows it must end.
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*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
Congratulations to author K.C. Smith on her stunning debut, A Lust for Blood! Read on for details and a chance to win a book box complete with a copy of the book!
When Oriana awakens in a field of blood and bodies, she is devastated to realize the patchwork of death was caused by her own hand. A curse lingers in the air, and there is only one option to save herself from further bloodshed. Oriana uses her magic to create an enchanted forest imprisoning the monster responsible for the massacre–herself.
Garren has built a career around slaying demons. When he learns of a centuries old creature locked away in the strange Phantom Wood, the opportunity is too great. He will stop at nothing to destroy the demon filth that lurks in those shadows if only to satisfy his own haunting memories.
Oriana soon finds herself caught in a cat and mouse game, fighting to keep her identity secret. As the two grow closer, secrets unravel. But could they each be the answer the other has been searching for?
A gender bent reimagining of the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde meets the Witcher! The first in the Realm of Curses series, this book is full of monsters, curses and dark forests! Perfect for the autumn and spooky seasons!
K.C. Smith is a writer of Adult Fantasy from Maryland where she lives with her husband and their chihuahua, Tank. Writing allows her to escape from her busy life as an Accountant and small business owner. When not writing or reading, she can be found rock climbing or traveling the world! A Lust for Blood is K.C.’s debut novel and will be releasing November 1, 2022!
My thoughts: I liked Oriana, cursed to be a monster, she tries everything she can to stop that side of her from killing, turning the forest into an elaborate labyrinth. When monster hunter Garren comes to find the creature terrorising the local village, he finds instead a beautiful woman – Oriana.
Can she trust him with her secret or will it lead to her death? As they become close, and the blood moon approaches, it becomes a terrible weight. The truth could set her free but it could also cost everything.
If you enjoy a darker spin on fairy tales, Upon a Wicked Tide is for you! Read more about the first book in this beautiful duology by Kate Craft!
Upon a Wicked Tide (Wicked Tides Duology #1)
Publication Date: October 31st, 2022
Genre: Fairy Tale/ Dark Fantasy/ Romance/ Mermaids & Pirates
In a world of sirens, pirates and unspeakable danger, one might crave a quiet life on the Garden Isle…but not this blue-eyed girl.
Upon the death of her guardians, Emerelda Mirabel comes to inherit three curious things:
A book…
Not a diary or fable, but something almost sentient. This riddlesome book hums with power, each page offering strange warnings and temptations…Perhaps speaking to a future already written?
A desire…
Adventure calls to the young captain, a hunger for something more than a simple fisherwoman’s life. Upon her ship, The King’s Arcana, she will sail the eight seas, venturing to strange lands with strangers amongst her crew. But at what cost?
A heartless prince…
Seemingly cursed with no heart, Prince Ryder could not care less about his kingdom, his family or even life itself. But when the king insists his son travel with Emery to find a cure for the affliction, something finally stirs within. Something he cannot explain. Something binding him to the blue-eyed girl.
Dark Fantasy / Slow Burn Romance / Adventure on the High Seas / Fairy Tales / Sirens / Pirates / Mermaids / Cannibals
Kate Craft is a British, fantasy author who debuted in March 2022 with her first book in The Chaos Covenant series. Stepping into the world of indie publishing, she continues to chase her dream of weaving new tales filled with love and mayhem.
Born and raised travelling the world, Craft finally settled in the United Kingdom to complete a BSc in Psychology and Criminology, before joining the British Army in 2016. She is always eager to hear from readers and writers, so feel free to reach out!
She was lying as if asleep on the wooden kitchen floor, beneath the fridge covered with a child’s colourful crayon drawings. But her frozen expression showed she would never wake again…
When Detective Jackie Cooke is called out to the scene, she’s expecting a routine check. The bottle of pills on the kitchen table, next to the note with the single word SORRY written in a shaky hand, make it seem obvious what’s happened. But Jackie is shocked when she recognises her old schoolfriend Claire – and she is convinced Claire would never take her own life.
Determined to dig deeper, Jackie soon discovers evidence that proves her right: a roll of notes has been thrust down the victim’s throat. And when she finds another woman killed in the same way, she realises someone may be targeting lonely single mothers. As Jackie talks to Claire’s distraught children, one of them too young to understand his mummy is never coming home, she vows to find answers.
Both victims were in touch with someone calling himself Nice Guy – could he be the killer? Pursuing every clue, Jackie is sure she’s found a match in dead-eyed Tyler, part of a dark world of men intent on silencing women for daring to reject them. But just as she makes the arrest, another single mother is found dead – a woman who never dated at all.
Forced to re-evaluate every lead she has, with her boss pressuring her to make a case against the obvious suspect, Jackie knows she is running out of time before another innocent woman is murdered. And, as a single mother herself, she cannot help but wonder if she is in the killer’s sights. Can she uncover his true motivation and put an end to his deadly game… or will he find her first?
A completely unputdownable crime thriller that will have you reading long into the night. Perfect for fans of Kendra Elliott, Rachel McLean and Val McDermid.
Marnie Riches grew up on a rough estate in north Manchester. Exchanging the spires of nearby Strangeways prison for those of Cambridge University, she gained a Masters in German & Dutch. She has been a punk, a trainee rock star, a pretend artist and professional fundraiser.
Her best-selling, award-winning George McKenzie crime thrillers were inspired by her own time spent in The Netherlands. Dubbed the Martina Cole of the North, she has also authored a series about Manchester’s notorious gangland as well as two books in a mini-series featuring quirky northern PI Bev Saunders.
Detective Jackson Cooke is Marnie’s latest heroine to root for, as she hunts down one of the most brutal killers the north west has ever seen at devastating personal cost.
When she isn’t writing gritty, twisty crime thrillers, Marnie also regularly appears on BBC Radio Manchester, commenting on social media trends and discussing the world of crime fiction. She is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Salford University’s Doctoral School and a tutor for the Faber Novel Writing Course.
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My thoughts: Jackson and Dave are a great duo, racing round Manchester bickering, eating a lot of junk food, Jackie worrying about her kids, Dave grateful his wife Hannah’s holding down the fort. That they’re also excellent detectives isn’t in doubt. Jackie knows that this case isn’t a suicide, or misadventure. This is murder.
Diving into the online world of incels – men who feel women owe them sex and that they’re overlooked for more attractive, successful men, and unfortunately sometimes turn to violence as a result. Jackie and Dave are sure their killer is posing on dating sites and apps too, using a photo from an overseas modelling agency, catfishing women.
Finding several other deaths and carefully weeding out the links between the victims, looking at the men around them, throwing up potential suspects. There’s a lot of deeply unpleasant men out there, but only one is their killer. And when a second one of Jackie’s old friends is put at risk of being the next victim, she dives into action. Against orders. Her charming Inspector boss (who seems to hate her) isn’t happy at all. But when Cooke and Tang go after their man, they’re all in.
This series just keeps getting better. The characters feel more bedded in now, you know them better and feel for Jackie, she’s supposed to be on maternity leave but they’re short staffed. Her ex is a pathetic time waster who needs to get a job and put a bit more effort in with the kids, her mother’s acting like a teenager – out every night, and she really needs a good night’s sleep. If only the killers of Manchester would comply.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
On holiday in Egypt with Sidney and Dean, young writer Maisie is—in her mind—on top of the world. Her long-labored manuscript is finally going to be published, she and Sidney are deeply in love, and the future looks bright on every level. In one moment, however, it all changes. Tragedy leads to overwhelming loss that Maisie can’t even begin to process. As the world itself turns upside down, there’s no solace for Maisie from the growing sense that her wonderful future is finished. No dream about to come true. No certainties of new chances in life. No Sidney. Even if the first two did not break her, the last one is determined to. It’s up to Maisie to find her strength and determination to find a new future, even if—unthinkably—it may be nothing like the one she dreamed of. Purchase
Laura Briggs is the author of several feel-good romance reads, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller ‘A Wedding in Cornwall’. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, caring for her pets, gardening, and seeing the occasional movie or play.
Giveaway – Win an e-copy of The Girl of Lost Petals and Possibilities (Open Internationally).**T&Cs below.
My thoughts: if you’ve read the Little Hotel in Cornwall series, you’ll know these characters, but it also works as a standalone book. Maisie and Sidney are so happy, after a wonderful trip to Egypt with their snarky pal Dean, they’re back in Cornwall and looking forward to the rest of their lives.
But when Sidney has a terrible accident (heart in my mouth, because I kind of love Sidney) and they’re separated (his poor dogs, subjected only to the vicar’s mad housekeeper’s cooking – I love her too), it’s heartbreaking. And the blows keep coming- the publication of Maisie’s book is delayed, then Covid hits and the hotel shuts its doors. The staff all move in to deep clean the place and stay employed.
Will Maisie ever leave the Penmarrow? Will Sidney and Dean be ok? Who is feeding the dogs now? And will Riley and Brigette kill one another or finally admit they’re clearly mad about each other?
Utterly heart rending and sad, but with funny and sweet moments (the girls movie night, the crazy cocktails, Maisie’s mum coming to visit, Dean’s cranky emails), this is lovely and moving and I very much enjoyed it.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
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When you’re a kid, you imagine monsters to have horns and fangs. That they hide under the bed or in the wardrobe. And you believe they can only come after you when it’s dark. You don’t expect them to look like everyday people or that they may be someone you already know… The summer in question started out with hot, fun-filled days and new friendships. We had just turned thirteen and had our whole lives ahead of us. But that was before her… Before we became known as the Hixton Six and our lives become defined by one night. It’s hard to believe twenty years have passed since she was locked away. But now she’s free and strange things have started to happen. When I close my eyes, the creeping anxiety and fear is overwhelming and all too real. Because the monster is back, and I know she has a score to settle with us. Purchase
Keri Beevis is the internationally bestselling author of Dying To Tell, Deep Dark Secrets, Trust No One, Every Little Breath and The People Next Door. Dying To Tell reached no. 1 in the Amazon chart in Australia and was a top 25 hit in the UK. Keri wrote her first novel at age twenty, but it was a further twenty years before she was published, after winning a contract in a competition run by a small press. She lives in Norfolk, along with her two naughty kitties, Ellie and Lola, and a plentiful supply of red wine (her writing fuel).
My thoughts: at first I wasn’t sure what the creepy Mrs W (more sinister, like De Maurier’s Rebecca, by her absence), had done to a group of young teenagers.
Eventually the story comes out and boy, she is awful, and her son Bill has some serious issues too. Poor Hannah and Rosie and Jill. Not so much Lauren and Tash who didn’t seem to suffer. But Hannah is still tormented by nightmares, Rosie’s never been ok since and Jill lost her brother.
I was a bit suspicious of Liam, but he wasn’t as monstrous as whoever it is writing the italicised sections – Mrs W, Bill or someone else? They were not messing around. No spoilers.
I was hooked after the slow start, by wondering who was targeting everyone after so long. And why? Mrs W did her time, surely sleeping dogs and all that. But no, someone has decided to settle old scores.
Also there are dogs, mostly Liam’s slobbery Tank, but also Hannah’s dog walking clients and two cute cats as well. And we all know pets in books make them better. Tank’s a hero too. Read it to find out why.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
Welcome to the big reveal of the cover for upcoming medical thriller, The Panacea Project by Catherine Devore-Johnson! Read on for more details!
The Panacea Project
Expected Publication Date: February 28th, 2023
Genre: Medical Thriller
A timely exploration of bodily autonomy set in a classic medical thriller
Calla Hammond has always been a loner―a product of the foster system and avoided by others because of a skin condition. When doctors discover her immune system holds the key to curing cancer, she struggles to advance lifesaving research in a world that sees her only as a means to an end. Yet along the way, Calla gains the one thing she has always longed for: a chosen family.
When a group of unscrupulous people join forces to sell Calla’s blood to the highest bidder, she digs deep to find the strength to retake control of her life, her body, and her story.
The Panacea Project is a layered examination of self-sacrifice, implicit bias, and the juxtaposition of bodily autonomy with high-stakes capitalism―for those who love fiercely strong characters and deep themes infused with heartwarming moments of love and humor.
Catherine Devore Johnson is a former attorney turned writer. Her work has won or placed in competitions held by the Houston Writer’s Guild and the Writer’s League of Texas, and she has published an essay in The Houston Chronicle about caring for her mother after two strokes. She works as a writer and editor at a children’s hospital and lives in Houston with her husband and two children. The Panacea Project is her first novel.
ramblingmads 