Month: Aug 2025

blog tour, books

Blog Tour: Curse of the Crown – V.B. Lacey

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We’re celebrating the release of V.B. Lacey’s new fantasy romance with a tour this week. Make sure to check out Of the Curse or the Crown!

Of the Curse or the Crown (A Veridian Empire Novel)

Release Date: July 24, 2025

Genre: Fantasy Romance/ Standalone

👑 Princess Diaries 2 meets King Midas

✨ Forbidden love

👑 No spice but swoon worthy romance

✨ Single dad

👑 She’s a fox shifter

✨ Mysterious curse

👑 Meddling Fates

✨ They’re stuck in a cave

👑 Mental health rep

✨ Witty banter

An heir. An Empress. A Queen.

As a former rebel leader, Clarissa Aris is no stranger to power. She’s ready to reclaim the throne of the Veridian Empire and is eager to guide her people out of a past of violence and into a better future.

But when a mysterious king unexpectedly asks for her hand in marriage to restore peace between their two lands, she chooses to accept. Clarissa travels to meet him in Mysthelm, a realm they had been cut off from for centuries, and is thrust into a foreign kingdom with secrets around every corner, a betrothed she isn’t sure she can trust, and brewing tension with his handsome best friend and advisor.

Clarissa’s search for answers uncovers the truth behind a deadly blight sweeping Mysthelm and a centuries-old curse threatening to destroy the people she’s come to care for. When she learns her magic may be the only cure, she’s determined to both rescue this kingdom from danger and keep her Veridian Empire safe from meddling forces.

Time is running out. Which will fall first: the curse or the crown?

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Blog Tour: One Snowy Day – Shari Low

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On a cold winter’s day, a storm is brewing in the village of Weirbridge…

Georgie Dern has the chance to swap her empty nest for the job of a lifetime in Los Angeles. Can she chase her dream if it means letting down the woman who has given her the world?

Jessie McLean should be counting down the hours until she jets off to spend her retirement years in the sun. But when a devastating betrayal resurfaces, she has to choose between a fresh start and staying behind to settle old scores.

Alyssa Canavan has spent years building the business she adores. Now a legal letter has threatened her home and livelihood, but how does she fight a family that doesn’t give a damn?

Lachlan Morden is forced to return to Scotland to face the people who almost destroyed him. Will coming home reopen old wounds, or will a memory from the past lead him to the perfect revenge?

One snowy day, four lives, but who will have a bright new future when the snow is gone?

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Shari Low is the multi-million copy bestselling author of over 30 novels, including the #1 bestsellers One Day with You, One Midnight with You and One Day and Forever.

Facebook: @sharilowbooks
Twitter: @ShariLow
Instagram: @sharilowbooks
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Bookbub profile: @ShariLow

My thoughts: Those of you who read my reviews regularly will know I love Shari’s books, and this one, filled with some familiar faces, is another charming, hug in a book.

Jessie and her husband Stan are due to jet off to a retirement in the sun, or are they? It’s Jessie’s birthday and there’s a party to get ready for, but a few things need sorting out before the cast of characters can dance the night away. An unwelcome reminder of past indiscretions, a rubbish ex-husband, a job offer, an eviction and other distractions mean before Jessie, her pals Val and Cathy, and her family, can don their gladrags, there’s some tough conversations to have, some decisions to make and before midnight strikes, everyone’s lives might be a bit different.

Loved it, of course I did, there are some very naughty triplets, lots of snow, cake, cups of tea, glasses of wine, confessions, heart-to-hearts and hugs doled out by the various members of Jessie’s family and friends, some of it while Shania Twain is being given a remix on the dance floor!

Shari’s books always have lots of twists and turns, but there’s a HEA not far away, so you know you’re in safe hands, it might currently be August outside, but in here it’s December, the snow is falling, and we’re getting cosy.

*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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Cover Reveal: The Croatian Island Library – Eva Glyn

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Where books are borrowed, and friendships are forged…

When her beloved grandfather dies, Ana Meštrović buys a catamaran in his memory, which she names Dida Krila – Grandad’s Wings.

For the summer months, it will be transformed into a travelling library, delivering books to children living across the Croatian islands.

Joined by crew members Natali, a young mechanic afraid of her own shadow, and Lloyd, an older widower who needs a fresh start, the newly-formed trio all have their own reasons for needing the floating library to be a success.

Embarking on an adventure that will change them for good, they each discover that a new chapter is only a boat ride away…

Pre-order Link

Publication Dates – 16th January 2026 (ebook) 29th January 2026 (paperback)

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Set mainly in Croatia, her contemporary stories are more about friendship than romance, the coming together of people through shared interests, and the opportunity to make fresh starts in their lives. A love of books is a common theme too, so her publisher, One More Chapter, has christened them the Bookish Escapes collection which currently includes The Dubrovnik Book Club, and The Santorini Writing Retreat, with The Croatian Island Library to be published in January 2026.

In addition Eva has written two Second World War dual timeline romances, An Island of Secrets and The Collaborator’s Daughter, and a new beginnings novel entitled The Olive Grove. All are set in Croatian, a country she loves.

Although she considers herself Welsh, Eva lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with more than thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.

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Twitter: @JaneCable

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Book Blitz: The Seer – Liliyana Shadowlyn

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We have a fantastic book rec for you all today and a HUGE box of goodies for one lucky person! Check out The Seer by Liliyana Shadowlyn!

The Seer by Liliyana Shadowlyn (Tales Vs Time Book 1)

Release Date: May 28, 2025

Genre: NA Contemporary Fantasy

  • LGBTQIA+ Rep
  • Non-Binary BFF
  • Witch
  • Prophecy
  • Chosen Duo

You can’t outrun your family curse.

I thought high school was hard enough. At least I had my BFF Andy by my side, and we’d be attending the same college in the fall. What started with a family reunion has turned into the adventure from hell.

I didn’t ask for this. The prophecies. The magic. The obsession. The dragons. The warring deities. I just wanted to be a normal teenager. But because of who I am, the family I was born into, I’ve been caught up in a story that began centuries before I was born. It’s up to me to break the family curse, and I will let no one, man nor god, stop me.

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Blog Tour: The Fastest Girl on Earth – Lisa Brace

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1922, London. Evelyn Bloom lies dying in her Mayfair flat.

A decade earlier, she had the world at her feet – a dazzling celebrity who socialised with royalty, ignited scandalous love affairs, and filled headlines with her daring exploits.

Now, surrounded by the faded mementoes of a brilliant life cut short, Evelyn is left to
wonder: How did it all go so wrong?
And why, when she had everything, has she been left to die alone?

A breath-taking and unputdownable WWI historical novel, perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, Natasha Lester, and Mandy Robotham.

Goodreads Purchase

Lisa Brace is an award-winning writer, who combines penning novels with running her own business in the beautiful surroundings of West Sussex.

Her third novel The Fastest Girl on Earth, is out now.
Her second book, SWIM, a historical fiction novel was finalist in Best Historical Fiction and Best General Fiction in the New Generation Indie Book Awards 2025 and runner up as Historical Novel of the Year 2024 (Eyelands Book Awards).
Her debut novel, The Fame Trap, a dark women’s fiction novel was published in March 2024.

Lisa runs writing retreats and workshops in West Sussex with fellow author and friend, Daisy White. In between running her PR company and thinking up ideas for historical novels she can be found wandering in the woods with her dog and baking elaborate cakes (though not at the
same time)

My thoughts: I thought this was great, inspired by the exploits of a couple of real life daredevil female drivers and pilots, the story of Evelyn Bloom, the fastest girl in the world, breaking records and winning races on land and sea, who takes up flying, becomes a spy during the First World War, and somehow loses everyone she loves, is smart, funny, surprising and bittersweet.

Evelyn thinks she’s been hired as a secretary, but instead becomes a race car driver, showing off the cars and boats her employer makes, before deciding to learn how to fly. Her terrible contract means she doesn’t get to keep the prize money, and her affair with the boss breaks her heart.

She’s co-opted into the spy trade by the man she eventually marries, and runs some risky missions, including flying into occupied France and having to escape from enemy soldiers. Her husband is reported missing and she spends the rest of her days (and money) trying to find him. Leaving her penniless and alone at forty.

Her exploits are a delight, she’s a darling of the pre-war years, but even her closest friends fall away. A bittersweet ending to an eventful, adventurous life.

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*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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Cover Reveal: The Paris Spy – Sarah Sigal

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A world on the brink of war. One woman whose courage could change everything.

Paris, 1938. As the world teeters on the edge of war, Lady Pamela More knows her latest assignment is her deadliest yet.
Her days as a London society columnist are merely a cover. She must infiltrate the decadent Parisian circles of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor as they openly cavort with fascists and voice dangerous Nazi sympathies.

The nation’s security could be compromised — and Lady Pamela must uncover what, or whom, they might betray.
In the glittering salons of Paris, amidst the clink of champagne glasses and careless gossip, dark allegiances fester. The Windsors are charming — and cunning — and Pamela walks a delicate line between loyalty and deception.

But as she steps back into a life of shadows, old temptations resurface, including charismatic American Sid White, whose presence reawakens more than just memories.

Surrounded by spies, traitors and the ghosts of her past, Lady Pamela must decide: how far is she willing to go to protect a country that may never thank her before the city falls to the Nazis?

Originally from Chicago, Sarah Sigal works across theatre, film and fiction. She has a BA in Theatre Arts and English Literature from Gettysburg College and an MA in Writing for Performance and a PhD in Theatre and Performance, both from Goldsmiths College University of London. She teaches at a number of universities across the UK and is the author of WRITING IN COLLABORATIVE THEATRE-MAKING (Bloomsbury, 2016), as well as numerous plays and 2 short films. THE SOCIALITE SPY (Lume Books, 2023) is her first novel, the first in a series about the lead character, the socialite spy herself–Lady Pamela More.
She lives in London.

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Cover Reveal: A Poem Penned in Poison – R. Dugan

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We’re thrilled to present the cover for A Poem Penned in Poison by R. Dugan! Pre-order today!

A Poem Penned in Poison (Tales of Wonder and Woe Series)

Expected Release: October 31, 2025

Genre: Dark Romantasy/ Fantasy Horror

  • Enemies to Lovers
  • Forced proximity
  • Grumpy x sunshine
  • Assassin x healer
  • Reluctant partners
  • Masquerade ball
  • He falls first AND harder
  • Villain romance
  • Social Recluse x social butterfly
  • Touch her and die
  • Poet x muse

NAOMI WEATHERS is running from something—and no one knows it.

THE POET POISONER is on the hunt…and Naomi has just stepped into his path.

In the enchanting and deadly third installment of the TALES OF WONDER & WOE, a healer and a poisoner clash in a wicked struggle for survival…a struggle that might be a blade in both of their hearts.

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Blog Tour: Death of a Ghostwriter – Gaynor Torrance

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They say sharing is caring, but sharing a husband? That’s a grave mistake.

And Hell hath no fury like three widows with a murder to solve . . .

Albert Franklynn’s sudden and mysterious death leaves everyone in the pretty village of Monksworthy in shock — especially his wife Sylvie, who runs the local tearoom.

But the real surprise comes at the mortuary, where not one, but three grieving widows show up to identify his body.

It turns out that Albert wasn’t just a devoted husband to Sylvie . . . He had two other wives as well.

As everyone reels from the revelation of Albert’s double — or triple — life, three widows reluctantly team up to investigate a mystery more tangled than the village’s gaudy bunting: who killed Albert — and why.

It turns out Albert’s list of enemies is longer than the village bake sale sign-up sheet. Can these three unlikely sleuths resolve their differences to become partners in crime-solving . . . before
the killer writes them out of the story for good?

The start of an unmissable cosy crime series, this gripping mystery about murder, mayhem and marital mischief is perfect for fans of Faith Martin, the Reverend Richard Coles, Kristen Perrin,
Veronica Heley or Fiona Leitch.

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Gaynor Torrance lives near Cardiff with her husband and their rescue cat, Cleo. The area is the setting for her Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley Crime Thriller series of books. Like Gaynor, Jemima has a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Though, apart from them both having a keen
interest in human behaviour, that’s where any similarity ends. When she’s not writing or glued to her Kindle, Gaynor enjoys listening to music, playing the piano, walking, travelling, and eating far too much chocolate.

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My thoughts: This is a very funny and rather clever book. Albert has (at least) three wives – Sylvie and Harriet, and the mysterious Tess, who does a bunk after identifying his body.

But Sylvie and Harriet find common ground, not least because they have children (all grown up) to think about. Albert has a list of secrets as long as his arm, including what he actually did for a living, and the fact his mother and brother are very much alive.

As Sylvie and Harriet carry out their own investigation, along with Sylvie’s friend and business partner Liz, they think they may have found a black widow in the absent Tess, with multiple identities and presumably in search of a new victim. With a little help from pal Barney, they alert well to do men on their own to be wary of this woman and try to get the police to take them seriously.

I really enjoyed this book and if the trio are going to be having more adventures – then I’ll be there to read them!

*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: The Stardust of Dawn – D.L. Houpt

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Welcome to the book tour for the newest swoon-worthy release by D.L. Houpt, The Stardust of Dawn! Read both books now on Kindle Unlimited!

The Stardust of Dawn (The Heir of Darkness #2)

Release Date: July 10, 2025

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

💛 You will cry
💛 Slow burn
💛 Bodyguard romance
💛 Villain origin/prequel to book 1
💛 He’d burn the whole damn world for her (duh)
💛 The juiciest f*ck it moment
💛 Did I mention you’ll cry?

Even the most beautiful flowers have petals that rot.

Tethys, Patron Goddess of Venia, has always lived a life of duty—until she meets Araes, an honorable yet infuriatingly ambitious mortal lieutenant. When children begin vanishing from Venia, she is forced to set aside her hatred. But the deeper she searches for answers, the more secrets she uncovers—from her sister Polaris’s self-imposed isolation to the hidden histories of the primordial gods.

Inspired by Ares and Aphrodite, the second installment in the Heir of Darkness trilogy is an epic prequel of love and the fight for freedom, exploring the delicate balance between following one’s heart and the true power of a woman scorned.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

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Blog Tour: The Legacy of Ophelia – Nicola Platania

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We’re celebrating the release of this epic finale with a tour and giveaway! The Legacy of Ophelia is available on August 7th, and you can read the entire series on Kindle Unlimited!

The Legacy of Ophelia is the fifth and final book in the epic romantic fantasy series, The Curse of Ophelia. Start the quest today with book one The Curse of Ophelia where we follow a cursed warrior on a quest with her found family to try to find the boy she loved and restore her clan to glory before her curse takes her life, but she ends up exposing ancient prophecies and political schemes instead.

🪽 Meddling angels
🏛️ Curses & quests
🪽 Warrior clans
🏛️ Found family
🪽 Multiple slow burn romances
🏛️ High stakes fantasy

*SPOILERS*

A forgotten myth resurrected. A legacy to conquer them all.

Ophelia and Malakai have been ripped from their loved ones and are at the mercy of a vengeful god.

But they quickly discover that in order to uncover secrets buried among realms, that may be precisely where they need to be. Even if it jeopardizes all they have fought to become.

Meanwhile, their friends receive a surprise visit from a potential ally that spurs them to rekindle partnerships, deny the bounds of power, and push love to the brink of destruction.

With myths resurrected and the very fabric of Ambrisk at risk, can the warriors survive their final battle against the deities? Or are they fated to become the legends stories are written of?

Everything culminates in this high-stakes, realm-shattering conclusion to the Epic Romantic Fantasy series, the Curse of Ophelia. With a loveable found family, scorching slow burn romances, and inspiration from Greek mythology, this series introduces a universe full of twisted lore and ancient battles that is perfect for fans of Chloe C Penaranda, Sarah J Maas, and Melissa K Roehrich.

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