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 have the perfect book for your October TBR, the fully casted audiobook edition of The Violet Raven by E.E. Star! Now available at your preferred audiobook retailer!
The Violet Raven (Warriors of the Raven Queen #1)
Release Date: October 14, 2025
Genre: Gothic/ Dark Historical Fantasy
Narrators: June deBorahae, James Joseph, John Hartley, J.F. Harding, & Robert Hatchet
He Falls First
Forbidden Love
Brother’s Best Friend
Epic Adventure
Male Yearning
Scottish Heroes
Irish Mythology Magic System
For Fans of Outlander
The Violet Raven is a slow-burn, he-falls-first, high-stakes historical fantasy romance rooted in ancient Irish mythology—perfect for fans of Outlander, The Last Kingdom, and A Discovery of Witches—where forbidden love ignites in the shadow of prophecy, gods walk among mortals, and a girl bound by fate must rise to claim the legacy of the Raven Queen.
1823
Triona Sinclair was never meant for an ordinary life.
A spark of something powerful has always lived within her—silent and still, until the moment it finally woke.
A moment of fire and ruin.
With her world shattered, Triona escapes into the wilds of Scotland—flanked by four allies, each loyal in their own way.
But none of them challenge her quite like Finn MacGregor.
Her fiercest defender. The one who’s always been there—in shadows and in silence—and wanted her long before she ever looked his way. A bond as sure as the stars.
But fate is written with ink no one can rewrite.
Hunted for a power she doesn’t yet understand, Triona must seek allies in a world brimming with myth and memory. Survival is no longer enough.
A buried magic is calling.
To protect her world and the people she loves, she must decide if she can embrace the destiny that calls to her.
Paige Dawson: the mother of a murdered child and wife to a dead man.
She has nothing left to live for… until she finds her husband’s handgun hidden in their house.
Why did Ryan need a gun? What did he know about their daughter’s death?
Desperate for the truth, Paige begins to unearth her husband’s secrets.
But she has no idea who she is up against, or that her life isn’t hers to gamble – she belongs to me.
My thoughts: This was a dark and twisted read, it seemed to be going in one direction, and then veered off somewhere unexpected and far more sinister.
Paige’s daughter was kidnapped ten years ago and all that was found was her left arm, and then her husband recently committed suicide. She’s drinking too much, trading sex for drugs with her GP, and struggling to hold her life together.
Things keep happening to her – her husband’s clothes disappear, her daughter’s room is cleared. She’s positive it isn’t her doing this, but who else could it be?
Thankfully her brother, a vicar, is available to offer her support and a hot meal when she hasn’t eaten. But his support might come at a terrible price.
The plot seems like it might be about Paige following up on her late husband’s attempts to hire a hit man, to find out who he suspected of their daughter’s abduction and murder. But then it goes, way, way off from that plot into disturbing places.
If you like your crime thrillers twisted and dark, this is one for you.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
In the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7th attack on Israel, Mossad’s London station chief Eli Amiram is fighting battles on all fronts. When his ambitious rival plans an assassination on British soil – supposedly authorized by Trump supporters – Eli suspects a deeper conspiracy.
Meanwhile, British intelligence asset Petra is hunting for redemption. Tasked with recruiting Wasim Al-Arikhi – whose sister she failed to save from becoming a suicide bomber – Petra’s drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Can Wasim be trusted or has she become a target?
As Eli and Petra’s paths converge, they discover that in the shadow world of international espionage, the greatest threats often come from within. They must confront not just their enemies, but their own moral choices.
A sophisticated spy thriller that weaves together tradecraft, betrayal and the human cost of intelligence work.
Merle Nygate is a screenwriter, screenwriting lecturer and novelist. Her career has taken her from working on BAFTA winning TV to New York Festival audio drama to writing original sitcoms. She previously worked for BBC Comedy Commissioning. She has been a writer and script editor across multiple genres. Her first espionage novel won the Little Brown/UEA Crime Fiction award. Her second was a Sunday Times Thriller of 2024.
My thoughts: A very timely read, concerning itself with the immediate aftermath of the October 7th attack in Israel and the Mossad agents stationed in the UK.
Eli is an interesting figure – he’s worried about the temporary head of the Washington office, who is all gungho for an assassination to take place on British soil, but his information is a bit suspect and Eli needs to prove it’s a bad call.
He’s also attempting to recruit a student – Wasim who he thinks might be a good source of information. But after being rebuffed he sends in Petra, who knew Wasim’s sister. Unfortunately Wasim has to come to the attention of a rather troubling individual and now Petra has to resolve things.
There’s a bit of sneaking around in the countryside, meetings in coffee shops and restaurants with spies from other countries – and their own side, and personal problems for Eli and his number two.
It was a really interesting read, and managed not to be too weighted or lecturing. Even the Mossad agents are at a loss as to how to react to the events unfolding in their home country, they just have to try to focus on their jobs. It was a clever, intelligent thriller and the characters are engaging and realistic.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Gordon Slee fears he was never meant to be born. Anxious since childhood after hearing he was an accident, the forty-two-year-old is still struggling to escape the shadow of his high-achieving family.
But a glimmer of hope is on the horizon – a huge promotion within his hotel group is up for grabs, and he is sure that his time has come to make a mark on the world.
However, within his own department, redundancies are afoot. He may lose his job before he gets the chance. Until he learns of a historic covenant that preserves the right for sheep to run through the company’s top London hotel. Could he convince his boss that he’s the man to save the hotel from catastrophe?
Up in Bryn Nefyn, North Wales, live the descendants of the covenant owner. The elderly sheep farmer and his aging hippy brother could use the money the hotel might offer. But along with their strong-willed American shepherdess, they laugh at Gordon’s attempts to negotiate a deal. Surely, they couldn’t use a covenant that’s been forgotten about for over a hundred years. Or could they?
For lovers of upmarket commercial fiction with a touch of romance and comedy, The Approval of Sheep is an uplifting story about family and love, overcoming adversity and discovering our reason for our place in this world.
Karen Storey is an award winning fiction writer and has been featured on the acclaimed book podcast, The Bestseller Experiment. As well as a novelist, she is a prolific short story writer. Her stories have been published in various anthologies and placed in several international competitions. Her memoir pieces have also been published within the New York Times bestselling book series, Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Originally from New York City, Karen lives in Warwickshire, England and has written articles for American in Britain magazine. She lives with her husband, whose surname Storey was the perfect wedding gift. They share their home with a snarky cat who writes Karen’s monthly author newsletters and a crazy little Bichon Frise dog who barks at his own reflection. You can visit her website and subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.karenstoreyauthor.com
Win a signed copy of The Approval of Sheep and a luxury Welsh chocolate bar featuring a sheep by the award winning Welsh chocolatier, Sarah Bunton. (Open to UK Only) Enter Here
Karen Storey is also running more giveaways over on her Instagram / Newsletter – take a look here for more details
My thoughts: This was very entertaining, and features lots of sheep. Gordon wants to impress his boss and secure a promotion by buying off a Welsh sheep farmer whose family own an ancient right to drive sheep through the hotel where he works. Obviously this is a bit of a peculiar thing, and Gordon heads off to Wales to attempt to do a deal that will satisfy his boss, stop the farmer complaining and secure his future.
While in Wales he gets to know the family, the sheep and the land. He discovers that some things are more important than money and job titles, and that perhaps that world isn’t for him anymore.
I liked Gordon, he’s a pretty nice man and just a bit lost in his own life, his relationships with the Priddys and their sheep, and especially his growing love affair with shepherdess Jenna is a delight and the moment when he bonds with sheep Molly and solves the issue of her head butting is sweet.
It’s a funny, heartwarming book with a sweet romance and a protagonist that deserves nice things.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Gleam box below. The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.*
It’s the one piece of evidence that will crack the case . . . but is it too shocking to reveal?
A murdered student. A secret buried in the past. A killer who’s still watching.
Detective Steph Warwick is halfway through her Christmas shopping when she gets the call. The body of a young man has been pulled from the icy River Witham. The victim is Max Barsby, a quiet, hardworking archaeology student with no enemies – or so it seems. But Max didn’t drown. He was murdered. Bludgeoned over the head and left for dead. With the university all but deserted for the holidays, Steph finds herself with few leads and even fewer witnesses.
Meanwhile, Special Constable Jane Bell is investigating a routine break-in when she stumbles across an unexpected link to Max. As Jane and Steph’s paths cross once more, Steph reluctantly brings the warm-hearted mother-of-two into the fold – knowing Jane can reach people – and places – that she can’t.
Their enquiries unearth a mysterious girlfriend, a controversial dig site, and a discovery someone will kill to protect. But when Jane finds a piece of evidence too explosive to share, her silence may prove deadly – for both of them.
Janice was born and grew up in West Lothian, Scotland. After completing an English degree at St Andrew’s University, she moved to London where she lived for ten years doing an assortment of jobs. Her passions are reading, writing and walking in Scotland and the Lake District. She lives in Lincolnshire with her husband and two sons.
My thoughts: A young man has been bludgeoned to death, he’s a student at the university, and doesn’t seem to have many dark secrets. But someone still saw fit to kill him. Is his death connected to the archaeology dig he was volunteering on? Or was it something else?
It’s almost Christmas, there’s no one on campus, the few people the police do manage to speak to only have nice things to say, or didn’t really know Max that well. The police are a bit stumped.
Special Constable Jane Bell and her son Patrick, who is friends with the victim’s cousin, are doing a bit of digging outside of the official investigation and they do find a few things out, including Max’s only real secret. Was it serious enough though to lead to his death?
DI Steph Warwick comes across as pretty prickly, easily annoyed by Jane and Patrick’s unofficial investigation, despite giving them the ok to ask a few questions. If the case were a bit clearer, she’d probably be a bit less cross.
The police follow a few dead ends, but everything has to be checked and ruled out to find the truth and get justice for Max.
Despite how much everyone focuses on the archaeological dig and the warring personalities of two historians Max knew, which is diverting, and adds to the successful solve rate of the police, it distracts from Max’s murder and almost allows a killer to get away with it. But between the two strands of investigation, some CCTV footage and asking the right questions, they do get the truth in the end. Very satisfactory.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Winter storms lash the Isles of Scilly, when DI Ben Kitto ferries the islands’ priest to St Helen’s. Father Michael intends to live as a pilgrim in the ruins of an ancient church on the uninhabited island, but an ugly secret is buried among the rocks. Digging frantically in the sand, Ben’s dog, Shadow, unearths the emaciated remains of a young woman.
The discovery chills Ben to the core. The victim is Vietnamese, with no clear link to the community – and her killer has made sure that no one will find her easily. The storm intensifies as the investigation gathers pace.
Soon Scilly is cut off by bad weather, with no help available from the mainland. Ben is certain the killer is hiding in plain sight. He knows they are waiting to kill again – and at unimaginable cost.
Kate Rhodes is an acclaimed crime novelist and an award-winning poet, selected for Val McDermid’s New Blood panel at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival for her debut, Crossbones Yard. She has been nominated twice for the prestigious CWA Dagger in the Library award, and is one of the founders of the Killer Women writing group. She lives in Cambridge with her husband, the writer and film-maker Dave Pescod, and visited the Scilly Isles every year as a child, which gave her the idea for the critically acclaimed Isles of Scilly Mysteries series.
My thoughts: I really like this series, and I have a deep love for Cornwall, but have never visited the Scillies, and considering how many murders there are, I don’t know if I would!
Ben Kitto and Shadow find the remains of a young woman buried in a shallow grave on the uninhabited (unless you’re a sea bird) island of St Helens. She’s a victim of people trafficking, and there might be another young woman out there.
The story is full of shocking twists, and big changes are coming for the islands’ police force, and Ben has to keep the team focused even as they worry about their colleague. The outcome of this case might also have implications for Ben’s private life. It’s a real game-changer of a book, reshaping what we know about this version of the Scillies.
I was totally hooked, especially as the weather worsened and events went from bad to worse, it all seemed hopeless and there were still shocks to come. Absolutely cracking.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
She came to Scotland for a fresh start — but found a love she never expected.
When Roxanne Carr accepts a job as a companion to elderly Amynta Baxter, she hopes the beautiful Highlands of Scotland will offer peace after the heartbreak of losing her father and her family farm. But her arrival doesn’t go as planned. Her first meeting with Amynta’s son, Ciaran, is anything but welcoming.
Ciaran Baxter is a dedicated dairy farmer with no time for complications — especially not a spirited young woman who disrupts his routine and challenges his guarded heart.
But as winter sets in and Christmas approaches, Ciaran begins to see a different side to Roxie: capable, kind and as passionate about the farm as he is.
Soon their relationship turns from wary allies to something deeper. But when Roxie is called back to Derbyshire to save her brother’s failing farm, she must choose between the family who cast her aside and the man who makes her believe in second chances.
This heartwarming romance is perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Nadine Dorries, Rachael Lucas, Natalie Fergie, Anne Douglas and Emma Blair.
All my life has been connected to farming, first in Yorkshire and then in Scotland, so authentic farming details help colour my writing in most of my thirty published books.
The family sagas feature two, and sometimes three, generations, with changing times, clothes and customs, transport, communication, or lack of it, with life’s joys and problems, plus love of course. We all need some love in our lives despite the ups and downs. They have believable characters and settings. A few are shorter romances. The sagas are available as audio books as well as in print, and all are now available as e-books.
I was born on a Yorkshire farm and went to school there. After attending agricultural college and a short spell working for the Ministry of Agriculture in England, I have spent most of my adult life on a Scottish dairy farm with my late husband, who was a well-known breeder and judge of Clydesdale horses. We have three children and now another generation to keep me up to date with changing times and customs. I enjoy gardening, local history, cookery, and of course reading, as well as my writing.
We’re proud to present the cover for Above the Ashes. A dark dystopian fantasy by K.M Lister!
Above the Ashes (Survivors of the Smoke #1)
Expected Release Date: January 12, 2026
Genre: Dark Dystopian Fantasy
🏜️Post-apocalypse
🔮Deadly curse
🖤Slow burn
🚫Can’t touch
🛏️Forced Proximity
💘He Falls First
✨Reluctant Allies
🧭The Quest
🤫Hidden truth
She’s running from her curse. He’s running from his past. Neither can outrun Fate.
In a ravaged world torn apart after The Darkest Day, Eleri Fos, the half-Fae, half-Witch Princess of The Underworld, finds herself stranded in the desolate Upperworld and cursed with a deadly touch. Eleri’s only hope is to journey East in search of a rumored entrance back to her realm. Along the way, she crosses paths with a wanted trio of humans—Kai Eogeum, a mysterious protector; Jaycen Ryuk, his troubled companion; and Rina Yarrow, a faithful young woman—who are on their own perilous mission. Despite the fear and distrust her heritage evokes in herself and others, Eleri gradually finds herself drawn into their quest. Feeling an inexplicable pull toward Kai, the group’s enigmatic leader, she struggles to conceal her deadly gift and true identity.
Kai Eogeum is a man burdened by his own secrets and a haunting past. Carrying the guilt of those secrets, Kai feels a connection to Eleri he doesn’t quite understand. As they navigate a landscape filled with danger—from cannibalistic foes to the search for a sinister figure known as The Siren—Kai must confront his growing feelings for the mysterious being in their midst.
Together, Eleri and Kai’s intertwined journeys reveal a deeper connection and a destiny that neither can deny. As they face old wounds and new revelations, they must decide whether their fragile alliance can withstand the truths that come to light and whether love can bloom even in a life defined by ruin and fear. The end of the world was only the beginning.
In a waiting room hidden high away from everyone, six disgraced celebrities are desperate to recover their heavily tainted reputations. An incredibly controversial new gameshow is offering them a route back to the big time, along with a $7.2 million cash prize. But with no consolation prizes and serious consequences every time someone loses out, will signing up prove their salvation or their downfall?
Half-Mexican, half-Welsh and growing up in London, Alex Raphael was surrounded by different influences and interests. But it was always books that spoke to him most and had the greatest impact.
He started writing when at college, where his love of reading evolved into a desire to write, in particular focusing on poetry and short stories. Studying English and American Literature at university meant he took a break from writing, as well as giving him the chance to see more of Mexico on his travels. He concentrated on his journalistic career while working on different writing projects, but his favourite genre of literature has always been short stories as they are what first inspired him to write.
That’s why his first book was The Summer of Madness, a romantic short story that tells of a guy who goes out to try to win his ex-girlfriend back. Will you be rooting for Kurt and his big public gesture or is it more complicated than that and you don’t want her to date him again? Either way you’ll get to know a memorable set of characters along for the ride.
His second book Illusions, Delusions reflects Raphael’s love of alternative short stories from the writers of his childhood and challenges the idea of the narrative. Will your favourite be the story in the form of a questionnaire, a poem or a set of jokes, among the seven very different styles?
Alexander Raphael’s third book is Always Never, Rarely Sometimes, featuring original premises and distinctive characters with his trademark imagination, humour and memorable dialogue. Among others, meet a sinister magician with an array of pranks, a long-suffering husband finally becoming more decisive and a group of young guys intrigued by a pretty woman at another table.
Alexander Raphael’s latest offering is The Gameshow, about six disgraced celebrities who are unaware of just how much trouble they are in, having signed up for the most provocative of television shows. His satirical debut novel is a look at the constant decision-making needed by stars to remain popular and relevant, and just how desperate they can become when the wrong decisions are made.
My thoughts: Six disgraced celebrities, including an American football player, a comedian and a singer, are offered the opportunity to reclaim their spotlight by going on a mysterious new gameshow.
With a spin of the wheel one of them will face their biggest fear – there can only be one winner, it’s all a game of chance and under constant camera surveillance, will one of them crack before they face their fears?
It gets controversial and the enigmatic producer, Selina, refuses to step down the game, pushing the contestants to their limits and amping up the tension.
Even the end of the game comes with a twist, one you won’t expect.
Clever and with a sinister undertone, this is one show you won’t want to miss.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
To get ready for the Halloween release of the final book in the Belladonna trilogy, we’re going back to the beginning! Check out The Sharp Edge of Fate!
The Sharp Edge of Fate (The Belladonna Trilogy Book 1)
Winner: Best Fantasy – Page Turner Awards 2024
Genre: Gaslamp Fantasy
🗡️ Flawed Protagonists
🗡️ Fierce FMC
🗡️ Assassins & Mages
🗡️ Strong Friendships
🗡️ Found Family
🗡️ High Stakes
🗡️ Mysterious Disappearances
🗡️ Reluctant Hero
🗡️ Very Slow Burn Romance
🗡️ Touch Them and Regret It
The Belladonna is a shadow; an assassin who leaves purple-black berries on the bodies of her victims. No one knows her name, or her face.
Piper is desperate to keep it that way.
When an assignment goes spectacularly wrong, Piper’s carefully separated lives begin to converge. Her target becomes a reluctant ally as they search for clues to the disappearances haunting the city of Silversdale; disappearances that include Piper’s close friend, and a member of the empire’s ruling family.
With two children in her care and time running out before she is due to deliver on her contract, Piper will soon find she has only scratched the surface of a plot that threatens everything she holds dear.
Perfect for lovers of Throne of Glass, Six of Crows and Lady of Darkness, The Sharp Edge of Fate is the first in this gripping new fantasy series from TF Johnson. If you love warrior women, cinnamon roll MMCs and powerful friendships, you will love this addictive fantasy trilogy.
ramblingmads 