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Blog Tour: House of Sticks – Marc Straw

remember, not all girls are made of sugar and spice. Welcome to the tour for House of Sticks, the sequel to House of Straw by Marc Scott. Read on for more details!

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House of SticksPublication Date: February 2022Genre: Psychological ThrillerThey are united now, two sisters who were kept apart by the cruel twists in their lives. And, despite the fact these siblings grew up at the opposite end of the social ladder, they have discovered that they share an unbreakable bond. It is like a modern-day fairy tale coming to life.However, the pathway to their shared happiness is littered with misgivings and depraved memories from which they can never escape. Brianna is still haunted by the tragic death of her twin brother while Poppy finds it hard to let go of the ghosts of her abusive childhood.It seems that the forces around them will never leave them alone. Neddy, a ruthless drug dealer is hell-bent on revenge. A worried mother who is desperate to unlock the darkest of secrets. A stranger with tattooed fingers who must face retribution for his evil sins. These women must be strong to survive.But remember, not all girls are made of sugar and spice. Be prepared! This is not a fairy tale…

Excerpt

Liver and Lights never did visit Lucy on that bitter cold and frosty night, but the myth was enough to buy the silence of at least a dozen of the victims of the sadistic caretaker. A lifelong warning that would forever disturb the minds and souls of even the strongest of them.

The loud commotion at the back gate that night was that of Lucy’s father, who, following his release from prison, had driven south from Cumbria for eight hours in heavy snowstorms to be re-united with his daughter. The pair enjoyed a hearty breakfast the following morning before driving up to Kendal in the north of England. Life returned to normal, or at least as normal as it would ever be for young Lucy.

She never did tell her rescuer about the atrocities that went on behind closed doors in that Childrens Home. She feared that if she did, her father would over-react, as he had done with the ‘touchy-feely’ teacher at her school and beat the living daylights out of Sean Donovan. She did not relish the idea of her father going back to prison. But neither Lucy nor her father were surprised when they discovered that the Bluebridge Childrens Home was closed some years later, following several abuse allegations against members of its staff. Justice final caught up with the wicked caretaker more recently when a Paedophile Hunting Group caught him red-handed grooming two thirteen-year-old girls. He has served almost two years of the seven-year sentence he received for his crimes and had recently been placed in the isolation unit of the prison for his own safety.

Lucy Jones had carried the unwelcome burden of being an exceptionally pretty child. Her shiny blonde hair, silky soft skin and piercing blue eyes made her stand out in a crowd. It also made her a target for every sick pervert that crossed her path when she was placed into the care system. However, the girl had coped better than most did and is now a strong-minded survivor of the torturous nightmares she endured during those eighteen months.

She is twenty-seven years old now and is married to the manager of a clothing store. She lives two streets away from her doting father who visits her at least three times each week. She is a mother herself, twice over, two daughters, one of which she named Poppy, in memory of a brave young girl who had once put her own safety at risk to protect her.

She never fails to read her daughters bedtime stories, telling them tales of handsome princes and fairy queens who live idyllic lives in beautiful surroundings. But sometimes, just sometimes, when she slips those magical books back into the drawer, it all comes back to her. She remembers Donovan’s frightening tale of his phantom accomplice Liver and Lights. And on those nights, she will always watch over her children until they are soundly asleep. Occasionally, she finds herself caught up in the moment. And on those nights, she can be seen staring out of her children’s bedroom window, up at the surrounding darkness, shouting a few words she keeps locked away inside her head.

Available on Amazon

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House of StrawPublication Date: November 2018Genre: Psychological ThrillerTraumatised by the tragic death of her twin brother, Brianna falls into a state of deep depression, isolating herself from the world and all those that care about her. When a twist of fate reveals that she has a half-sister she finds a new purpose in her life and sets out to find her sibling, desperately hoping she can fill the void left in her world.Poppy has not enjoyed the same privileged lifestyle as her sister while growing up. Abandoned into the care system at the age of eight, she has encountered both physical and sexual abuse for most of her life. Passing through the hands of more care homes and foster families than she can remember, the damaged product of a broken upbringing, Poppy has never found a place to feel truly safe. Kicking back at society, she turns to drug abuse and acts of extreme violence to escape from reality.When the two siblings are finally united, they discover that they have much more in common than their DNA. Their paths are shrouded with sinister secrets of betrayal and regret and both girls share a deep-rooted hatred for one of their parents. As the dark truths of their lives are unveiled they realise that nothing can ever be the same again…CW: Dark chapters involving child abuse and brutality, adult themesAmazon

About the Author

IMG_4614Marc Scott was born and raised in the heart of the East End of London. He spent more than 25 years working in the video and film industry, including a 12-month spell on a project in Los Angeles. More recently he has been involved with assisting at the rehabilitation section of the UK court service, working predominantly with young offenders. It was here where he met the people that would inspire him to write his first novel House of Straw.He is unapologetic for the dark backdrop and raw brutality in his books. ‘You can’t sugar-coat some of these damaged individuals that live in a broken society and make excuses for them.’ he says. ‘Not everyone wants the chance to redeem themselves.’His gritty writing style has earned him much praise from reviewers and bloggers. The second book in his trilogy, House of Sticks, will be available later this year. A story that Marc describes as, ‘An even darker and more twisted journey into the depths of depravity.’Marc lives in Halstead in England. He has a son and two daughters, who, he says, have given him the proudest moments in his life. He lists his favourite author as Kazuo Ishiguro, and his favourite book as ‘Birdy’ by William Wharton. He sums up his reading choices with a method which he applies to his own works. ‘When I read a book, I want to feel like a bystander, watching on, as an ‘extra’ as everything unfolds. If any of the characters in the book are bland and don’t affect you in some way, the author has wasted an opportunity.’Marc Scott

My thoughts: this is a very dark read, Poppy, has suffered and it’s left her damaged beyond belief. Her childhood is the stuff of nightmares, neglect, abuse, addiction. She’s being released from prison for assault and murder, into to care of her half sister Bree, herself a strange woman.

They’re a toxic combination, and Poppy’s desire for revenge and destruction threatens to overwhelm them both. Bree has a lot of her own issues, grieving her twin brother’s death, she’s vile to her mother and manipulative and cruel to her friends.

As events spiral out of control, there seems little opportunity for redemption or hope till the very end. Can they change their ways and become decent people?

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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.

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Blog Tour: The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams – Victoria Williamson, illustrated by James Brown

In a strange little village called Witchetty Hollow, eleven-year-old Florizel is the first to run into the curious visitors who’ve come to open a brand new Daydream Delicatessen and sack-baby factory.

At first, it seems the daydream confection and cheap sack children are the best things that could have happened to the poor folk of the Hollow – after all, who has the money to rent their child from Storkhouse Services these days? But after a few weeks, Florizel starts to notice something odd happening to the adults of the town. First, they seem dreamy, then they lose all interest in their jobs and families. Soon they’re trading all their worldly goods in the newly-opened Pawnshop for money to buy daydreams. With no money for rent payments, the children of Witchetty Hollow are being reclaimed by Storkhouse Services at an alarming rate. Florizel needs to act.

A magical tale of intrigue and adventure from award-winning children’s author Victoria Williamson

About the Author

Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon, and a teacher trainer in Malawi.

As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese, she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs in Education. In the UK she works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with a range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.

She is currently working as a full time writer of Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive worlds where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.

Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a school with many families seeking asylum inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.

Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: http://www.strangelymagical.com

My thoughts: this was a fun, magical story for independent readers, known as Middle Grade in publishing terms (which makes little sense in the UK, I know). I think a 9-10 year old would enjoy this as Florizel and Burble are about that age.

It’s a story about finding your place, your family, and defeating the evil Gobbelinos who turn all the adults into idiots and risk the children being taken away from them forever. Thankfully Florizel is clever and resourceful and Burble, helps. Their relationship is sweet, he’s a bit like a talking dog – he eats everything and is a bit clueless but loveable. Gently entertaining.

*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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Book Trailer Reveal: The Pen Thief and the Division of Destiny – Tasha Madison

Book Trailer Banner“The Pen Thief will draw you in and take you on a journey toward self-discovery, friendship, and forgiveness.” – Kary Oberbrunner, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author

Happy publication day to Tasha Madison and congrats on the release on The Pen Thief and the Division of Destiny! Check out the book trailer and details below!

The Pen Thief and the Division of Destiny - eBook Cover

The Pen Thief and the Division of Destiny (The Pen Thief Series -Prequel)

Publication Date: June 6, 2023

Genre: YA Fantasy/ Grade 6 to 12

Gifted with Magic.
Tempted by Power.
United by Destiny.

A king with an appetite for absolute power. A magician with abilities he doesn’t fully understand. Future guardians torn between past prophesies, forgotten secrets, and a sworn oath to protect and defend.

A rebellion rises. As fates intertwine, a mysterious magic fights to find the true heirs of its enchantment. But, danger lurks in the shadows of the past. A dark force, determined to possess the mystical relics of the world for itself, seeks to destroy the veil of truth hidden by time.

Will destiny prevail or fall prey to the gluttonous desires of mankind?

Available Here!

About the Author

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Tasha Madison is a book nerd, editing ninja, and design geek. She has degrees in journalism, business, and law. She is the award-winning author of Fabric of a Generation and Pharaoh’s Shadow. When she’s not scrapbooking or competing in epicurean competitions with family members, you can find her writing poetry or jotting down story ideas about delicious family drama, humorous dialogue, unexpected twists, or tear-jerker surprises.

FIND YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE: linkin.bio/thetashamadison

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Blog Tour: Seat 97 – Tony Bassett

SEAT 97: wrong place, wrong time: the mystery of a very public murder
A man who had it coming, or mistaken identity?
People are finding their seats for a soul concert when a shot rings out. David Barron crumples to the floor. Next to him, journalist Nick Colton and his wife, Greta, step in to help.
The assassin quickly escapes from the building. Realising this might be the scoop of his life, Nick rushes after him.
Although the man evades him – perhaps a good thing, seeing as he is holding a gun – Nick is determined to find the killer. Despite the misgivings of the police.
So who was David Barron and why was he shot? Why was he holding the lethal ticket for Seat 97?
Can you work out the mystery?
This is a totally gripping standalone crime mystery set in London that will keep you guessing.

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Author Bio – Tony Bassett, a former Fleet Street journalist, has had seven crime novels published so far.
This latest book, Seat 97, introduces Nick Colton, a journalist who is swept up into a murder investigation. It is a standalone novel which may possibly lead to a series. The book is published by London-based independent publishers The Book Folks, who specialise in crime fiction.
Tony is best known for his Midlands series of crime novels featuring DCI Gavin Roscoe and DS Sunita Roy (Murder On Oxford Lane, The Crossbow Stalker, Murder Of A Doctor and Out For Revenge, all published by the Book Folks).
He first developed a love of writing at the age of nine when he and a friend produced a magazine called the Globe at their junior school in Sevenoaks, Kent. When he reached his teenage years, growing up in Tunbridge Wells, his local vicar staged one of his plays, about Naboth’s Vineyard.
At Hull University, Tony was named student journalist of the year in 1971 in a competition run by Time-Life magazine and went onto become a national newspaper journalist, mainly working for the Sunday People in both its newsroom and investigations department.
His very first book to be published, the crime novel Smile Of The Stowaway, was released in December 2018. It concerns a Kent couple who harbour a stowaway and then battle to clear his name when he is charged with murder.
Then, in March 2020, the spy novel The Lazarus Charter, was released. It involves foreign agents operating in the UK. The book has kindly been endorsed by Marina Litvinenko, widow of the murdered Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko, and by Stan and Caroline Sturgess, parents of the innocent mother-of-three poisoned with novichok in Salisbury in 2018.
Tony has five grown-up children. He is a Life Member of the National Union of Journalists. He lives in South-East London with his partner Lin.

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My thoughts: this was a really interesting, fast paced and clever crime read. When the man next to him at the Royal Albert Hall is shot dead, chaos erupts, but smart thinking journalist Nick gives chase to the gunman. He ever gets a snap of the getaway car.

The story of a lifetime, or so it seems, as Nick carries out his own investigation, despite the police disapproval. He seems to be able to get a lot more information out of people – even though he’s a journalist, his proximity to the victim seems to make people willing to open up. He gets a lot more than the police do.

A second murder muddies the waters, the victim was also at the fateful concert, but Nick carefully untangles that one too. The police come across as a little bit slow, Nick’s finding the clues and answers on his own, and their whole team aren’t getting anywhere as fast. Luckily he’s a nice guy and shares his findings.

I really enjoyed this book, and could see it easily becoming a series. Nick’s a great protagonist, and clearly has a nose for investigating knotty cases.

*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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Blog Tour: When We Lost the Moon – Samantha J. Won

Welcome to the tour for When We Lost the Moon by Samantha J. Won. This one is perfect for fans of K-Drama, enemies to lovers, and werewolves!

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When We Lost The Moon (Moondust #1)

Genre: YA Paranormal/ Paranormal Romance/ Asian Literature

Publication Date: April 30, 2023

He’s her childhood nemesis – and she’s the only one who can save his life.

When 17-year-old Aera Song mysteriously develops the power to foresee death, nobody believes her – not even herself. But after she’s haunted by disturbing visions of her childhood nemesis meeting a gruesome end, she begins to realize that she’s the only one who can save his life.

Gray Yoo has been in love with Aera for years. But there’s one big problem: the older they get, the more she can’t stand him. The werewolf and young alpha has enough on his plate, without trying to woo the heart of his cousin’s ex – like keeping his pack together and trying to stay alive when fate seems determined to kill him.

Nemesis or not, Aera can’t watch Gray die. Forced into a desperate struggle to protect him and prevent her shocking visions from coming to pass, she begins to wonder whether her power is a gift… or a terrible curse.

To save Gray’s life, she’ll need to cheat fate itself. But it will come at a price – one that she might not be willing to pay…

As a thrilling enemies-to-lovers paranormal contemporary romance that expertly blends exhilarating action with edge-of-your-seat suspense and drama, Moondust: When We Lost The Moon is a page-turning read that you won’t want to miss. Perfect for fans of K-drama!

Available on Amazon

About the Author

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Samantha J. Won was born and raised in the Philippines. She now resides in Los Angeles, California with her family. She is a registered nurse but has always felt the urge to dive into writing. What started as a childhood hobby, sparked by her love for the classic The Baby-Sitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin—eventually turned into full length scripts, fanfictions, and children’s stories. Samantha J uses her writing to fill those literary voids she stumbles upon when struggling to find her next great read. She enjoys roller skating, spending time with her dog, and devouring her favorite shows.

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Blog Tour: A Dead Herring – Helen Golden


BREAKING NEWS Urshall United FC Owner Dies at Drew Castle.
Details are sketchy at this stage, but it is believed businessman Ben Rhodes (38) was found dead in his bathroom at the king’s Scottish home by his twin brother Max, where the pair were guests at a
shooting party hosted by Lord Frederick Astley (39), brother of Lady Beatrice (36). The cause of Mr Rhodes’ death is not known, but he started receiving death threats from football fans after his
controversial takeover of the club and had recently employed his own personal security.
How unlucky can a girl get? Is fate playing a cruel trick on her for boorish Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam to be the only person who can get to the snowed-in castle to investigate Ben Rhodes’s death? And with no other external resources available to him, he now needs her, her smart dog, and her best friends’ help to catch the killer. Can they put their issues behind them and
work together to find the murderer before the weather improves and the perpetrator is free to leave?
Another page-turning cozy British whodunnit with a hint of humour from author Helen Golden.
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Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in a small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two
dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.
I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.
It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a
lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes.

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My thoughts: another fun royal romp as a millionaire drowns in the bath at the family’s Scottish Castle and Lady Bea, Perry and Simon are needed to help DCI Fitzwilliam out once more.

Cut off by snow, the killer can’t leave, and neither can anyone else. So they have a perfect country house murder mystery to unravel. Who killed Ben Rhodes and why?

Aided by Daisy’s sharp canine nose (vital clues are always her wheelhouse) and with Bea’s ability to get people to open up, it shouldn’t take too long for them to find their killer. But it’s a lot more complicated when there’s so many possible suspects and they’re trying to keep the Queen Mother (Bea’s grandmother) in the dark too.

Lots of fun, at times very silly, and clever. This series just gets better and better.

*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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Blog Tour: Blackjack – Gail Meath

A lifetime game of solitaire turns into a vicious family feud.

New York City 1923

Back in the city after a nightmare vacation, PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, just can’t catch a break when three quick and easy cases explode into a massive mess of unrelated major crimes with victims, dead and alive, piling up.

Laura Graystone’s career soars as she rehearses for her new Broadway musical. Yet, she senses something’s amiss when Jax spends more time with a new buddy aboard a steamboat than solving crimes. With the help of their friends and a mysterious stranger, Laura and Ace set out to get to the bottom of it.

It’s a whirlwind of twists and turns as Jax discovers there is far more to a family than just blood relatives. And who knows? They may just solve the biggest case of his life.

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Award-winning author Gail Meath writes historical romance novels that will whisk you away to another time and place in history where you will meet fascinating characters, both fictional and real, who will capture your heart and soul. Meath loves writing about little or unknown people, places and events in history, rather than relying on the typical stories and settings.

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My thoughts: Jax has so many different cases on the go in this book, and gets distracted by the charismatic cruise ship owner Nick, so Laura and Ace do a fair bit of investigating with the help of Carla and Jeanie. They’re trying to help Jax out and they’re worried about him.

Some of the cases seem very tightly connected to Jax, and the orphanage where he grew up. Who is the mysterious woman Laura keeps running into? Will Jax finally get some answers about his parents and who he really is?

Obviously Ace does a lot of the heavy lifting again, emotional support, catching bad guys, finding evidence. He’s the hardest working dog in crime fiction. But Laura comes a close second, she should be the detective really, Jax completely fails to get much done.

I really enjoy this series, it’s a lot of fun and clearly well researched, you get a real feel for the 20s, and the friends Jax has made come to life. Really enjoyable and entertaining. With a cute dog, what more do you need!

*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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Book Blitz: Earl of Griffith – Aubrey Wynne

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Earl of Griffith by USA Today bestselling author Aubrey Wynne, is now available. If you enjoy sweet Regency era romance, this one’s for you!

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Earl of Griffith (Once Upon a Widow Book 6)

Publication Date: June 1st, 2023

Genre: Regency Romance/ Clean Romance

Sorrow and Regrets…

Lady Helen was a young, naïve girl when she gave up everything for a charismatic Irishman and eloped. Finding herself a widow after a few short years, she is disillusioned with love and raising a three-year-old daughter alone. Her homecoming will be bittersweet as she faces her family, asking forgiveness for the lies and the worry she has caused. But her first encounter in England isn’t a family member. Helen’s brother has sent a handsome Welshman to fetch her, and he soon charms both her and her daughter.

An unexpected ray of sunshine…
Conway, Earl of Griffith assumed his title and Welsh estate at birth. His world is gray, full of responsibility, and lonely. Griffith agrees to help a friend, escorting his sister from Bristol to London. At first sight, Lady Helen illuminates his dull world, and her daughter adds laughter to his life. But he senses the woman’s haunted eyes are not only from grief and wonders what secrets she holds close to her heart. As his affection turns to love, Griff must find a way to convince the beautiful widow that love is worth another chance.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

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USA Today Bestselling author Aubrey Wynne resides in the Midwest with her husband, dogs, horses, mule, and barn cats. Obsessions include wine, history, travel, trail riding, and all things Christmas. Her Chicago Christmas and Regency series have received multiple awards and nominated numerous times as a Rone finalist by InD’tale Magazine.

Aubrey’s first love is medieval romance but after dipping her toe in the Regency period in 2018 with the Wicked Earls’ Club, she was smitten. This inspired her spin-off series Once Upon a Widow. In 2020, she launched the Scottish Regency series A MacNaughton Castle Romance with Dragonblade Novels. Her Regency detective series, Paddy’s Peelers, will launch early 2024.

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Blog Tour: Tales From Beyond the Rainbow – Pete Jordi Wood

Ten captivating stories of adventure and resilience celebrating LGBTQ+ characters, published as an illustrated collection of queer classics for the first time.

These are the fairy tales that history forgot – or concealed. Tales in which gender is fluid and where queer stories can have a happy ending.

From the humble sailor who finds his handsome prince to the transgender market girl who becomes queen, from Europe to Asia via the African savannah, LGBTQ+ folklore researcher Pete Jordi Wood has combed through generations of history and adapted ten unforgettable stories, each illustrated by an artist who shares heritage with the culture from which the stories were born.

Pete Jordi Wood (he/him) is a British author, illustrator and screenwriter from Cornwall, U.K. Pete has written original drama for Channel 4 and the BBC and was a recipient of The John Brabourne Award from the Film and Television Charity. He describes himself as a ‘fairy tale detective’ who has dedicated himself to the academic study of queer folk tales, myths and legends.

My thoughts: what a great book to start Pride Month off with, ten stories from around the world collected here in this beautiful book. Each story has an LGBTQ+ protagonist and they’re illustrated too.

From modern day Benin (then the Kingdom of Dahomey) to Russia, China, India and beyond, these are traditional tales featuring characters that are either explicitly Queer or could be read as such.

Modernising the language but not altering the content, making them more accessible for younger readers as well as folklorists means this is a collection that could sit easily alongside a collection of Grimm tales on either a child’s shelf or a researchers. Or just someone like me, who loves fairy tales and folklore (and ok, I do have an academic background in this) but any reader would find these enchanting.

*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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Blog Tour: Balloon Days – Kristi Strong

Welcome to the book tour for genre-bending novel by Kristi Strong, Balloon Days. Read on for an exclusive excerpt!

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Balloon Days

Publication Date: January 25th, 2023

Genre: Psychological Fiction with Literary Bent

Let Your Perception Be Your Guide…

At the Manhattan-based Center of Balloon Days, you will find a psychotherapy unlike any that came before it. Imagine unlocking your desires and fears and manipulating them in an unparalleled lucid-dream-like state.

Bookish Elliott Bailey, a psychologist at the Center, struggles to prove the perfect life exists, all while helping others with their own troubles. Love-starved Howard Nor’s use of Balloon Days may be allowing him to live in a fantasy while his real life falls apart. Top lawyer, Orson Thatch, develops an obsession with Balloon Days-even if it puts his career and his relationship, with his young son, at risk. All three face a choice: Continue to live a life rooted in illusions or overcome the challenges of reality.

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Excerpt

“We ensure that all our patients who undergo Balloon Day therapy are ready. And you are ready. Your grief is fresh, your emotion is raw. It is the perfect time to work on your healing.”

Dr. Heller passed the tablet, consent form open, over to Orson. The limit was three Balloon Day sessions per week, ninety minutes maximum per experience. An in-person check-in session at least once a month was required or else the Center would suspend any further appointments. Scrolling down, he noted at the bottom, as Dr. Heller mentioned, the risks stopped when the patient wanted them to stop.

“I’m in full control then.”

Dr. Heller slowly nodded, smiling. “Precisely.”

Images of Madison overwhelmed him. It felt right, as if she was telling him to sign on the dotted line and go with it.

He thought of life without her. He thought of Ryder.

He signed.

Dr. Heller nodded, taking the tablet back. “Your Elite Day Room, B107, is on floor ten. You will take the blue elevator. This will be yours to return to as you please for your scheduled Balloon Day sessions. In addition to the delightful perk of Elite Day Rooms being grander in size, we stagger the appointments, so you will not have to wait for anyone, but there is still a pre-room with the bathroom for you if need be.”

“Thank you.”

“Let your perception be your guide.” Dr. Heller smiled and shook Orson’s hand.

Orson’s waiting room, or the “pre-room” rather, was gleaming white and cozy. As he stepped into the restroom, he noticed an immaculate toilet and sink, complete with a beautiful brass waterfall faucet.

No mirror? Strange.

Although there wasn’t necessarily any reason why he would need to see himself at this moment, not having a mirror there gave him a feeling of invisibility; nothing to reflect his existence, no feedback for his mind. Maybe that was the point. Soon, as he was told, all sensory input would be stripped from him, allowing his brainwaves to shift into a blank canvas. Whatever the hell that meant.

He stepped back out. Slipped his Day Room card into the slot, selecting to use four out of his ten credits. Dr. Heller had suggested buying credits in bulk; Orson figured he would stick with the ten to see how things panned out.

The stunning blue, ice-like door slid open. Orson’s gaze fell to the floor first—the same thick white carpet as in Dr. Heller’s office. He took off his shoes and sunk his feet into the plush, delicate material. The softness against his silver socks, peppered with race cars for Ryder, put him at ease. The air smelled of mulled cider. Soothing sounds of a crackling fire filled the room. White angelic feathers covered all four walls. To his surprise, he suddenly wanted to create art, romantic, dreamy art, the art Madison had inspired. His Day Room was divine.

Scanning the sizable but quaint square room, everything was white save for the cobalt blue of the sky-like ceiling matching the pillows atop the velvety-looking sofa lining the back wall. The ethereal hammock in the middle of the room, hanging diagonally, the thin, clear wires of it barely noticeable, giving it a look of invisible suspension, was pure luxury.

Next, he discovered the control in a small white pocket hanging on the wall to the right of the door. He clutched it in his hand as the lights dimmed further, the white of the room now snow, in the dark.

The button glowed. His promise of refuge. He closed his eyes and envisioned his beautiful wife’s face, as he had remembered her long before she had become bedridden, mostly skin and bones. He pushed it. Instantly, he was as weightless as one of the feathers on the wall.

Opening his eyes, astounded and sitting on the edge of his bed inside his old college dorm, he recognized where he was immediately. The room Orson had during his second year—the year he met Madison. He hopped off the bed.

Everything was as it had been. His desk a mess of pens and papers from studying, political science textbooks opened to random chapters on the floor. A mirror hanging on his closet door showing his reflection, which startled him. Orson was his young and handsome nineteen-year-old self.

Hair darker and thicker, body less muscular in his green t-shirt and jeans—he had been scrawny in his youth. Minor wrinkles around his umber-brown eyes smoothed over. All in all, he was impressed at how little he had changed over the years.

Orson left his room and ambled down a path between the fellow residence halls. He didn’t feel quite in control of his actions. Not quite out of control either.

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About the Author

Biophoto
Kristi Strong was born and raised in (or how we prefer to say it here: on) Long Island. She considers herself to be the human version of her dog—the exceptionally weird and affectionate Rat Terrier named Sophia. Kristi loves to wander the planet with her wonderful hubby as much as she loves being nestled in the same spot of her couch most evenings, curled up with a good book.
Kristi’s writing draws upon her professional experience as a trauma- informed mental health therapist. Highlighting the human condition and the power of resilience—whether it be through fiction or non-fiction—is Kristi’s calling and passion. She has the honor of witnessing all facets of what it means to be human, and she wrote her first novel Balloon Days to remind readers they are worthy and capable of change.

Kristi Strong

Book Tour Schedule

May 29th

http://rrbooktours.com – Kick-Off

https://lshadowlynauthor.com/ – Review

https://www.instagram.com/brandikaedesigns/ – Feature

https://breakevenbooks.com – Feature

https://www.instagram.com/bingingbooksandcoffee/ – Feature

May 30th

https://www.instagram.com/get.outside.and.read/?r=nametag – Review

https://www.instagram.com/paulalearmouth/ – Review

https://instagram.com/beckerbingesbooks?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= – Review

https://www.instagram.com/fictionandme/ – Review

May 31st

https://www.instagram.com/fathomsamidstthelines/ – Review

https://www.instagram.com/silkybookloverfun – Review

https://www.instagram.com/sabireads1984 – Review

https://christinebialczak.com/ – Feature

June 1st

http://blackcoffeebrowncow.blogspot.com/ – Review

https://www.instagram.com/bookqueenbee/ – Review

https://rissreviewsx.wixsite.com/website – Review

http://ramblingmads.com – Feature

June 2nd

https://www.instagram.com/countrymamaswithkids/ – Review

https://www.instagram.com/ems.readsandreviews/ – Review

https://www.instagram.com/jlreadstoperpetuity – Review

http://readsandreels.com – Feature

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Button

R&R Book Tours