I am a thirtysomething from London, with a cat, a husband, bookshelves which keep threatening to crush me under their load and chronic health conditions. Basically your average over stressed millennial. Welcome.
We’re proud to present the cover for The Blood Assassin by Samantha Shaye! Pre-order your copy today!
The Blood Assassin
Expected Release Date: February 3, 2026
Genre: Upper YA/ Dark Fantasy/ Vampires
Vampires who are assassins
Forbidden love
Found family
Secret society
Strong friendship
Betrayal
Hidden truths
No spice
In the shadows, the truth awaits, ready to shatter reality.
As a member of the prestigious vampire coven, the Assembly of Shadows, Bria Allen has trained her entire life to become an elite assassin, following in the footsteps of her revered parents. But when her best friend Luna and an entire sect mysteriously disappear, Bria’s loyalty is tested like never before.
Amidst the doctrines and surveillance of the coven, Bria must navigate a treacherous path filled with ancient rituals, frenzied vampires, and hidden conspiracies.
Will she keep the secrets to herself and follow safely in her family’s footsteps or dare to unveil the truth and stand alone against the Assembly?
We’re thrilled to announce the release of Venomous, Venom and Ivy’s story in the Visceral Love duet by Kayla Marie!
Venomous: Venom & Ivy (Visceral Love Duet Book 2)
Release Date: October 30, 2025
Genre: Dark Romance
•Hate to Love
•Morally Grey Antihero
•Assassin/hitman
•Captive/Captor
•Touch-Starved
•Revenge/Vengeance
•Sadomasochist
•Pain-play/ BDSM
•Dubcon
•Touch Her and ☠
•Snake Play
•Redemption Arc
•Found Family
He doesn’t just love, he claims and consumes….
They call me The Southern Poisoner—contract killer, legend, monster in a tailored suit.
I was supposed to be on vacation. Two years of blood and bodies had earned me that much.
Then I found her.
Chained. Feral. Spitting fire even as she begged for freedom.
I should’ve walked away. I’m not the hero.
But I set her free.
Now she haunts me. Fights me. Tempts the monster in me to play nice.
I thought I was the one in control.
I am The Southern Poisoner.
But somehow… I think I’m the one being poisoned.
*Although Venomous is focused on Venom & Ivy, it is still recommended to read The Bone Reaper first, where Venom is first introduced and plays an important role in Reaper & Charlotte’s story. In the author’s opinion, this will assist in having full context and a better experience when reading Venomous.*
*Please be aware of content warning before divining in. Some content may be disturbing or triggering to some. Reader discretion advised.*
Graphic murder, violence and gore, physical assault and abuse, SA and noncon; including of a minor (one scene shared in detail from past memory), physical and emotional child abuse by a family member, death, explicit sex scenes, dubcon, human trafficking, BDSM, snakes.
In the spirit of Practical Magic and First Frost, a modern-day magic folk tale weaves a fantasy of love, secrets, spellbooks, and family bonds into evocative prose ….
It’s common knowledge in Duran Hill that some women in the Kinley family have certain gifts … and certain curses … running through their bloodlines. But for three sisters in all but name — Rachel, Juliette, and their cousin Sylvia — the ties that bind them close as ivy throughout their childhood are pulled apart in adolescence when both the gift and curse of that power is revealed between them.
Since that fateful incident, sensible Juliette has tailored a perfect and perfectly ordinary life which unravels after she marries — and loses — the love of her life. Sylvia, drawn to the dark side, sets up a shop that caters to all the mystical powers the latter generations of the Kinley family shunned. And Rachel, the wild child, in whom its magic seems to create a charmed life, is a carefree wanderer who finds herself suddenly drawn home again. Her arrival will stir old rivalries and test forgotten bonds in the brief span of a few weeks.
But when an old friend in desperate trouble seeks her out, she will impulsively unleash the dangerous secret behind their power: one which has lain forgotten in the Kinley house for two generations. From the Siren’s song of a dead man’s violin to a jar full of harmless-looking buttons, nothing under the shadow of the family’s roof is what it seems — nothing in their bloodline is safe from the dangerous past.
For Juliette, it brings a test of whether love that has withered can bloom again. For Sylvia, a question of whether a dangerous mistake can only be endured until it destroys you. And for Rachel, the choice is the price between the future of the souls she loves most in life and a powerful force that both makes her the enigma she is — and makes to destroy her like embers caught in a firewind.
Against the backdrop of Southern charm, Scottish superstitions, and bewitching romance, ABRACADABRA casts a spell which cannot be undone, from the ache of lost love to the familial links between souls which go as deep as blood and bone.
Evanne Hardin Gray has spent most of her adulthood (and part of her childhood) writing novels, short stories, and screenplays. She has family roots in both New England and the South, which is where she currently writes (sometimes as a ‘ghost’), gardens, and collects books and ideas for them.
Twitter: Evanne Hardin Gray (@Abracadabrabook) / X Facebook
My thoughts: As a child I was terrified of Baba Yaga travelling in her pestle and mortar with her house on chicken legs surrounded by a fence of bones. As a teenager I loved Practical Magic (still do) so this book really felt like it was written for me.
Juliette, Rachel, and their cousin Sylvia were close as children but had grown apart as teenagers and adults. When Rachel returns to their hometown, where Juliette now lives in the family’s old house and Sylvia runs a magic shop selling charms and tarot readings, trouble follows.
An old friend, Angela, asks for help, and Rachel and Sylvia oblige, but their help backfires and draws the spirit of an angry, half-forgotten ancestor back into the world. Their great-great-grandmother Ana is not a kindly ghost, she’s a vengeful, rage-filled monster. The three women must find a way to contain and stop her before she wrecks too much havoc and destroys the three of them.
Dark, filled with tragedy but also tinged with the hope of a brighter future, this is a story of sisterhood, the ties of the past, inherited chaos and redemption. I loved it.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Former prosecutor Jordan Monroe thought estate law was safe. Then her mentor dies, leaving her to defend Dr. Mallory James in a double-murder case that could resurrect her career—or destroy what’s left of it.
Dr. Ian Stratton, a respected Harbor Point surgeon, and his pharmaceutical-rep mistress are dead from lethal injections. The evidence points straight to Mallory: a volatile affair, public threats, and a mountain of motive. But as Jordan builds her defense, she uncovers something bigger—a hospital drowning in secrets, cover-ups, and dangerous enemies.
Inside Harbor Medical, three shadowy suspects emerge: Dr. Blake Rowe — Stratton’s betrayed best friend with deadly drug knowledge Evelyn Grant — a disgraced tech stalking Jordan’s niece Sarah Rowe — Blake’s wife, lying about her access to the victim
When Grant’s obsession turns violent and surveillance evidence leaks, Jordan must protect her family while fighting manipulated witnesses, missing evidence, and a system built to bury the truth. The deeper she digs, the more she questions Mallory’s innocence—and her own role in defending her.
In a world where everyone lies, Jordan must decide how far she’ll go to win. Because the most dangerous predator… is the one you never see coming.
Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Lisa Gardner, and Melinda Leigh, Contagion of Lies delivers a relentless legal thriller where courtroom drama collides with psychological suspense—and every decision carries a cost.
From the bustling courtrooms of Atlanta to the vibrant tapestry of 16th-century England, Kathleen McGillick’s life and career have been a captivating blend of legal expertise, artistic passion, and a thirst for adventure.
Fueled by an undergraduate and graduate degree in nursing, Kathleen built a foundation of compassion and care. This dedication to service later led her to pursue a Juris Doctorate, allowing her to navigate the intricacies of the legal system for nearly three decades. Her courtroom experience now breathes life into the intricate details of her legal thrillers, ensuring every courtroom scene crackles with authenticity.
But Kathleen’s story does not end there. A deep fascination with art history led her to delve into the world of renowned artists and captivating eras. Her particular passion for 16th-century British history allows her to transport readers to richly detailed historical settings, immersing them in the culture, politics, and societal nuances of the time.
Driven by an unwavering dedication to her craft, Kathleen has independently published twelve thrillers since 2018. Her commitment extends beyond solo creation, as she actively engages with the writing community, honing her skills through workshops and courses led by renowned authors.
And when she’s not crafting captivating narratives, Kathleen embarks on international journeys, soaking in diverse cultures and experiences that further enrich her writing. This global perspective adds another layer of depth and realism to her stories, allowing readers to connect with characters and settings that transcend geographical boundaries.
My thoughts: This was so good, totally gripping. Jordan was a great protagonist and I hope there are more cases for her to tackle.
After a prominent doctor is murdered and one of his many girlfriends is as well, his former partner is arrested and charged with killing them both. The drug used is one that is tightly controlled, but as a trauma surgeon, Dr Mallory James would be able to access it fairly easily. She says she’s innocent, but even her attorney isn’t sure that’s the truth.
There are other potential suspects, and all Jordan has to do is cast enough reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case for the jury to find her client not guilty. The other suspects include the deceased’s former friend, his ex-wife, and a patient with a serious grudge. Any one of them could have theoretically killed him, as could her client, but Jordan really isn’t sure.
When she and her niece become stalking victims, and the stalker is one of the other suspects, things take a dark turn. Can Jordan still do her job and defend a possible killer while fearing for the safety of her ward?
Clever, full of twists and turns, with the feel of a legal drama (this would make a great film), and utterly compelling, the ending was so unexpected and I want more!
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
We’re celebrating the release of the first book in a brand-new series by Angela van Liempt called Shattered Secrets Between Us, available October 28th!
Shattered Secrets Between Us (The Willow Grove Series #1)
Release Date: October 28, 2025
Genre: Mafia Romance/ Suspense
Stangers to lovers
Slow burn romance with spice
Secret identity
Hidden interwoven pasts
Morally gray MMC
Grumpy sunshine vibes
Forbidden love
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
She saves lives. He ends them. Their love might free them both.
Francesca Roscoe had no intention of staying in Willow Grove. But after her younger brother’s tragic death, she returned home and never left. Now, despite having a nursing career she adores, Frankie is alone and convinced that a can’t-live-without-each-other love doesn’t exist.
Until a stranger’s quiet charm draws her in.
Rhett Marshall didn’t plan on moving to this small town, but when your mob past hunts you down, you don’t get to make plans. That was before Frankie. The literal girl-next-door. He knows he doesn’t deserve her, but he can’t tear himself away from the woman who makes him feel… alive.
Frankie is unaware of their deeply entwined past. But Rhett will never forget her grief-stricken face the night her brother was murdered. And when she becomes a target, the dangerous man he used to be resurfaces to protect her.
Shattered Secrets Between Us is a spicy romantic suspense where danger and passion collide. Dive into this emotionally layered mafia-romance-with-a-twist today!
This book contains mature themes, dark elements, and explicit content, and is intended for an adult audience. Read at your own discretion.
Triumphs of Tenacity: From Struggle to Success is an inspirational memoir of resilience, women’s empowerment, and immigrant success that will uplift anyone facing challenges in life.
Born in Bangladesh and moving to the UK at just seven years old, Yusra Mariyam faced enormous obstacles—adapting to a new culture, overcoming academic failures, and balancing the demands of motherhood. As a homemaker raising six children, her dream of higher education seemed impossible. Yet, through sheer perseverance, determination, and self- belief, she transformed her life, graduating with a First-Class Honours degree in International Business Management from Anglia Ruskin University.
This powerful true story of courage and transformation explores the struggles of immigrant women, the challenges of adult education, and the journey of personal growth against all odds. It is a moving testament to resilience, empowerment, and the triumph of hope—a memoir that shows how tenacity can turn even the hardest struggles into success.
Readers looking for: ● Women’s empowerment books that inspire change ● Memoirs about overcoming adversity and finding strength ● Immigrant success stories filled with courage and hope ● Motivational books about education, resilience, and self-belief …will find this memoir unforgettable and deeply motivating.
If you enjoy inspiring biographies, personal growth journeys, and real-life stories of achievement, this book belongs on your shelf.
Yusra Mariyam is a London-based Business Growth Executive, writer, and mother of six. Born in Bangladesh and raised in the UK from the age of seven, she brings a rich cross-cultural perspective to her writing. Before entering the corporate world, she devoted many years to raising her children full-time, without ever imagining she would have the chance to pursue higher education.
That dream became a reality when she returned to university as a mature student, juggling family life, full-time work, and academic study. In 2024, she graduated with First-Class Honours in International Business Management—an achievement that inspired her debut memoir.
Triumphs of Tenacity is more than a traditional memoir. It’s a deeply personal account of one woman’s journey to reclaim her identity through grit, growth, and determination. Yusra shares how she balanced motherhood, career, and education in pursuit of self-empowerment. Her voice is honest, unflinching, and ultimately hopeful—inviting readers to see obstacles not as dead ends, but as turning points.
She hopes her journey inspires everyone—regardless of gender, age, or background—to believe that it’s never too late to redefine their path and pursue long-held dreams.
My thoughts: This was an interesting read, Yusra came to the UK as a young child, and her father’s gentle advice and inspiring words helped her cope with life’s little rejections and failures. As a mother of six, she didn’t imagine university was for her, until a woman in the careers service encouraged her to apply to study for a business degree.
She chronicles her time as a mature student, with the support of her family, especially her husband and children, and with her father’s continued love and support, she achieves her goal and graduates. She credits not only the people around her, but also her Muslim faith for helping her through the difficulties and hard work.
While her life has not always been easy, and those early knockbacks affected her confidence for a long time, she overcame the many challenges and struggles along the way. It’s an inspiring and encouraging – reminding us all, regardless of our background, that you can do whatever you set your mind to, whatever your age or life.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Detective Norman is out of retirement and back on the beat in a rainy Welsh seaside town. Llangwelli might be short on sunshine, but it’s certainly not short on murders . . .
Norman may seem a bit old-fashioned, but he’s always willing to learn from his band of misfit recruits.
A body in the forest. An ancient pagan ritual. A baffling mystery.
On Halloween night, the body of a young woman is discovered buried in a shallow grave in the Dragon Forest, a popular local beauty spot. The only clue to her identity is the number 37 tattooed on the sole of her foot.
Detective Norman’s new boss, Acting Superintendent Evans, is convinced the murder is connected to a group of pagans who were performing a secret ritual in the forest that night.
Norman’s not so sure. The one thing he does know is that he’d make much faster progress without the insufferable Evans breathing down his neck.
Something is off about this case. Norman knows he’s missing something important — but he can’t seem to see the wood for the trees.
Then the discovery of a second body in the woods turns everything on its head.
Peter Ford always dreamed of becoming a writer, but a dream is easily stifled without support from those around you. It was only when his old, unhappy life fell apart and he met his new partner (now wife) Mary, who believed dreamers should be encouraged, that he finally got the chance to live that dream. Fast forward a few years and you find a man transformed. Now, blissfully happy, settled in a quiet corner of Wales with wife Mary and their rescue dogs, P.F. Ford is living proof that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.
My thoughts: A young woman’s body is found badly concealed in a hasty grave in the forest. The temporary Superintendent thinks that the local Pagan group is carrying out human sacrifices, because he’s clearly a total idiot. Thankfully the rest of the team is not so ignorant or willing to guess rather than find actual evidence.
When cadaver dogs find more human remains buried in the same part of the forest, it suggests that there’s something much darker going on.
While Norman and the team follow what little evidence there is and attempt to find out who the first body they found is, teams across the country are checking their missing persons cases to help identify the others.
A gripping and dark crime case in the Welsh woods.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Mystery novelist Radhi Zaveri has a new job, teaching spoiled kids at Mumbai’s prestigious North Star High School. But, little does she suspect, things are about to veer wildly off-syllabus . . .
When fiery teacher Ms Venus is found slumped across her desk, the school insist she died of natural causes. But Radhi’s not convinced. The Ms Venus she knew was in rude health, quite literally, stirring up drama and discord at every turn.
What if someone — a disgruntled parent, a disgraced ‘D’ student — decided to silence her acid tongue for good? And the last person to clash with Ms Venus is mysteriously missing . . .
Can Radhi piece it all together — before the killer’s ruthless red pen strikes again?
Meeti is an award-winning copywriter, content writer and mother (though no awards for this yet). When she isn’t busy writing ads that make toothpaste sound like an aphrodisiac, Meeti can be found with a cup of ginger tea, gazing contentedly at the yellow gulmohars outside her window and plotting the murder of perfectly innocent people.
In 2016, Pan Macmillan India published her memoir, Do You Know Any Good Boys? – a funny guide to the Indian arranged marriage – based on the awkward arranged dates she had with 40 different men, before she met her husband. Meeti lives with her daughter and husband (yes, the same one she took such pains to find) in Mumbai.
My thoughts: This was a clever whodunnit set at an elite school in Mumbai, where the students are under intense pressure to perform and where the teachers all have secrets.
When English teacher Ms Venus is found dead, visiting author/teacher Radhi suspects foul play – there are a few things about the scene that suggest it might be murder. She and the local police detective dig into Ms Venus, the other teachers and the students (and their parents) who might have had reason to kill.
Radhi is also avoiding her own issues, the complicated relationship with her sister, her growing attraction to a married man she went to college with, and her grief at her parents’ deaths. She’s drinking too much and worrying the people closest to her.
As she investigates the school’s goings-on and worries about the party her sister is throwing for her birthday, it all starts to come to a head. Can she fix the problems in her life and catch a killer?
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
We’re proud to present the cover for the English edition of Omniscius Wholehearted by Natalie S. Gille!
Omniscius Wholehearted
Expected Release Date: December 11, 2025
Genre: Urban Romantasy/ Witches & Demons
Witch
Demons
Second Chance
Battle
Chaos
Slow Burn
Magic
A little Spice
When the heart is torn apart, there is nothing but darkness …
While Zonya tries to find out what dark force is threatening her Clan, she faces doubts from within her own ranks.
Questioned by her Coven, she struggles more and more with herself.
Moreover, Kieran remains stubborn and Xalus remains inscrutable to her. Has her fiancé been telling the truth all these years, or is he becoming increasingly entangled in his lies?
In the midst of the chaos, an old friend of her mother’s reveals a shocking secret to Zonya that throws her entire existence into turmoil.
All the while, the true enemy in the shadows threatens not only her Clan, but everything in this world …
A bundle of old, what appear to be recollections and witness statements, are discovered in an attic by a son following the death of his father.
They tell the tale of three teenage school friends who are involved in a prank that almost costs the life of one of them. Whilst they all follow different and diverse career paths, the incident creates a lifelong bond of trust.
Some two decades later, that trust is put to the test when Gordon Shawcross helps another and in doing so, puts himself under suspicion of treason. Gordon’s ordinary life touches, for a brief moment, extraordinary heights.
Set in the dying embers of the Cold War, A Life Quite Ordinary tracks the mundane life of Gordon, who is catapulted into the challenging threats of the late 1980s with the Cold War, AIDS and homosexual rights in the armed forces. The novel covers the East-West interface of the British Commanders-in-Chief’s Mission to the Soviet Forces BRIXMIS, mixed with burlesque cabaret and church architecture.
A Life Quite Ordinary is a fact-based novel that deals with serious matters in a gripping but plausible manner.
Bryan Campbell Johnston was raised and schooled in North Yorkshire and returned with his wife, Wendy, to live in Richmondshire in 2020. Bryan has three children, two step-children and he and Wendy have two grandchildren. Between leaving North Yorkshire and returning, Bryan had both a military and legal career.
His military career started at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and ended as a Major commanding an infantry company during Gulf War I. In-between he served in Germany and Northern Ireland and other outposts around the shrinking globe.
His legal career started at The University of Westminster and the School of Law and ended as a Solicitor and Managing Partner of a law firm.
In-between Bryan was involved in the arts as a Director and Trustee of a regional theatre for six years. He has been, among other appointments, Chair of a charity and Chair of a Chamber of Commerce. Bryan is a trained Mediator.
Bryan wrote articles for a business magazine for several years; he had a play performed at Brentwood Theatre and his adaptation of Northanger Abbey was performed in over 31 locations by a professional touring troupe.
Bryan’s hobbies include writing, theatre, horse racing, sailing, golf, trekking and skiing.
My thoughts: I wasn’t sure what to make of this at first, there are multiple narrative view points that build up the story of three old school friends and a brush with the world of espionage in the age of the Cold War. It was really interesting and clever, and I was hooked. I liked the little facts between each section too.
Gordon Shawcross saves the life of a school friend at a party, and years later that same friend – known as Jaffa, comes to ask a favour. It seems quite innocent but ends with Shawcross being threatened with arrest for treason.
His friends Geordie and Jaffa contribute their narratives, along with a few others, to explain how Gordon ended up in that situation. It’s a story of mistaken identities, people trying to do the right thing, a little paranoia and the bonds of friendship.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 