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Blog Tour: Time Marked Warlock – Shami Stovall

Adair Finch is the most powerful warlock in the world, and one of the best
private investigators for hire. He has dealt with corporate vampires, murderous werewolves, and even fae royalty. Everything was perfect until he lost one case—the case where he also lost his brother.

So Finch retired. From magic. From PI work. From everything.

Bree Blackstone, a twelve-year-old witch, doesn’t know or care about any of that except Finch’s reputation. In the middle of the night, she bangs on Finch’s door. Her mother has been murdered, and now the assassin is after Bree as well.
Reluctantly, Finch agrees to help, only to discover something sinister has been brewing in town while he ignored the world… He’ll need to dust off all his old skills and magic before it’s too late.

Goodreads

Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found  playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.

If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations:
Website Twitter Facebook
Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com

My thoughts: with a mix of The Dresden Files, Bane from the Shadowhunter books and a sarcastic sidekick in the form of a shape shifting mischief spirit (maybe Calcifer from the Studio Ghibli version of Howl’s Moving Castle, the closest I can think of), this was a fun, entertaining and funny crime busting adventure.

Adair Finch can manipulate time, which comes in very handy when investigating a murder, a kidnapping, police corruption and a witch coven war. Which is what he finds himself doing after a child appears on his doorstep and shakes him out of his grief malaise.

With her help, and that of the aforementioned mischief spirit, Finch digs into the case of Bree’s parents’. Her mother was a witch and her dad is a minor  warlock. Bree is the only witness – she saw someone kill her mother and abduct her father. But her mum knew Finch, and told her daughter if anything ever happened to find him.

What Finch and Bree find is so much bigger than it seems – and with his ability to manipulate time he can relive the same time over and over again, changing things in order to solve the crimes, and rescue a dog, unlock a door and other very important things.

It’s a really fun adventure and I loved the characters, Finch is so grumpy and can’t deal with Bree’s irrepressible nature and endless questions, especially when they’ve actually been solving the crime for multiple iterations of the same day. Hopefully this unstoppable team will be back with more adventures.

*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 Jagged Scar – Nick Rippington

The Jagged Scar is a spin-off from Nick Rippington’s much-acclaimed Boxer Boys series. 

Troubled schoolgirl Red and her best friend Marc visit London for a Valentine’s party but they get separated and she ends up in a police cell.

While behind bars the teenager befriends mysterious glamour girl Kat who negotiates her release and invites her to a 70s Soho awash with strip clubs, porn shops, shady characters and bent cops.

Unhappy with her home life back in Wales, she opts to stay and lands a job in the nightclub empire of former stripper Blaize and her porn king husband Jack.

Before long she has made friends, settled into the lifestyle and forgotten all about the problems at home.

That is until her world is turned upside down by a sequence of tragic events. It leads her to question those around her and brings her to the notice of some leading players in London’s dark underbelly who will stop at nothing to keep their unlawful activities under wraps.

And as she closes in on the truth, Red is about to make the shocking discovery that her new life is inextricably linked with the past she’s so desperate to leave behind.

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Nick Rippington would like it to be known that although he once worked for the News of the World he has never hacked a mobile phone. For that matter, most of the time he can’t even remember his own passcode.

 A national sports journalist with a wealth of experience, Nick took the plunge and began writing crime thrillers when Rupert Murdoch shut down Europe’s biggest-selling Sunday newspaper in 2011 as a result of the phone hacking scandal.

 His debut novel Crossing The Whitewash came out in 2015, receiving an honourable mention in the Writers’ Digest Self-publishing eBook awards.

 That launched the Boxer Boys series, which has found a niche in the growing UK gangland market. To date, there are four books in the series – Crossing The Whitewash, Spark Out, Dying Seconds and Bare Lies.

 Nick’s creation of the notorious Dolan family, their associates and enemies has been greeted with acclaim by some of the country’s most prestigious book bloggers.

 Meanwhile, his standalone psychological thriller Rabette Run has been described as ‘Alice in Wonderland… with tanks and guns’ with a twist you didn’t see coming. Rabette Run (published by Red Dragon) and Crossing the Whitewash are both available as audio books while the first three novels in the Boxer Boys series are available in digital format with Amazon as a box set.

 The Jagged Scar, Nick’s 6th novel, is a spin-off of the Boxer Boys which can be read as a standalone, as can all his books. It is based in 1970s Soho, London, and you may notice a few characters that appear much later in the saga.

 Nick has now moved out of East London to the wilds of Suffolk with wife Liz and daughter Livvy.

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My thoughts: two teenagers run away from a small Welsh village to London in the 70s. Separated they follow their own paths – Red finds work in a Soho club as the assistant to the owner, Blaize. She’s naive and doesn’t really understand what business her new friends are in.

Things take dark turns and her naivety is soon worn away, and after a friend is killed in police custody, she vows revenge.

Meanwhile, the siblings the friends left behind in Wales start looking for them, following tiny clues to track down their beloved sister and brother.

This was a really fascinating and gripping look at the dark side of 70s London life through the lens of several young and innocent souls. There’s a lot that happens to them and some shocking, terrible things come to light. Red in particular goes through an enormous amount and Marc’s story was heartbreaking.

*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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Book Blitz: Rough Edges – Elsa Jacobs

RoughEdge copy

Rough Edges by Elsa Jacobs is now available! If you enjoy single parent romance, this one’s for you! Read on for more details!

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Rough Edges

Publication Date: April 25, 2024

Genre: Contemporary Romance

  • Cute & Steamy
  • Princess/ Daddy
  • Found Family
  • Teens Play Cupid
  • Single Parents
  • Love After Loss

What happens when your son and the brooding widower’s boy bond over their shared passion for basketball? Sparks fly, naturally.

In Meadows Creek, basketball is about to rewrite the tales of two single parents. Teenagers Daniel and Marcus become unlikely matchmakers as their friendship blossoms on the court, igniting a slow-burning connection for their parents, Laura and Bennett.

Peeling back layers of grief, loss, and smoldering desire, Laura and Bennett navigate a path to a shared future, juggling the complexities of their pasts and their children’s emotional well-being. Confronting biases and embracing hope, they discover an extraordinary power in second chances.

For readers craving a blend of spice and emotions, “Rough Edges” promises a rollercoaster of laughter, tears, and the thrill of passion. Will Laura and Bennett overcome their rough edges and seize the second chance fate has woven for them? Join them on a journey that proves the most beautiful love stories arise from unexpected beginnings.

Get ready for a love story with a slam dunk!

For more about the tropes and TW in “Rough Edges,” check Elsa Jacobs Author’s website.

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#TeamLyons Blog Tour: Last Witness – Lucie Whitehouse

One murder, three families destroyed
And a detective guilty of a crime of her own

When 18-year-old Ben Renshaw is found dead in city woodland, DCI Robin Lyons is plunged into one of Birmingham’s most controversial cases.

Months earlier, Ben and his best friend gave testimony that sent a former classmate, Alistair Heywood, to prison for a vicious sexual assault. Before the trial, the boys and their families endured months of brutal witness intimidation, for which the Heywoods, a privileged and influential local family, faced no legal repercussions. Instead, they vowed revenge.

Is Ben’s murder the fulfilment of that vow, the beginning of a bloody new chapter that will go on claim lives on all sides? Or is the truth – as the Heywoods claim – something entirely different?

To solve the case, Robin has to negotiate the city’s networks of power while walking a dangerous line: her own daughter, Lennie, has a secret that could threaten her liberty – and, if it comes out, Robin’s, too. Before long, Robin comes to question whether she knows what justice is at all.

About the Author

Lucie Whitehouse grew up in Warwickshire. After studying Classics at Oxford, she moved to London where she worked briefly in journalism before finding her niche in publishing. She writes full time and has contributed features to the Times, the Sunday Times, the Independent, Elle and Red Magazine. Lucie now lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.

My thoughts: While the Lyons family wait for her brother’s trial, Robin has a complicated and heartbreaking case to deal with. Ben Renshaw, 18, an A Level student who set up a website for victims of rape and sexual assault after his friend was raped, was found murdered in the woods. 

During the trial against his friend’s rapist, he, and another friend, Theo, were targeted, supposedly by the perpetrator’s family. But as Robin and her team dig into the case, and following another murder, it seems much more complicated than it appears and dates back to a previous generation whose pain and guilt have carried through.

This is probably the most complicated and upsetting case for Robin and her team, involving as it does teenagers only a few years older than Lennie, and the sins of the father. And with Luke’s case hanging over her, Robin is tense.

But she never takes her eye off the ball and while justice is hard and the truth brutal, destroying several families, the team do find it, even with the hours and hours of CCTV they had to trawl through. 

*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: A Duke of One’s Own – Emma Orchard


Summer, 1816.

A notorious rebel is about to meet her match…

Lady Georgiana Pendlebury is no stranger to breaking the rules of polite society. But when a so-called ‘friend’ invites her to a clandestine party, Georgiana is shocked to discover the event is more scandalous than even she could have imagined. So when a mysterious stranger offers help, she accepts, not realising their encounter will turn her life upside down.

Later that summer, Georgiana is invited to attend a house party at an infamous castle in Yorkshire.

The gathering is a loosely veiled effort to arrange a marriage for the Duke of Northriding, who desperately needs an heir. Duke Gabriel Mauleverer has a terrible reputation as a rake, and Georgiana is happy to be a guest purely for the entertainment, but upon arrival, she is shocked to discover that the Duke is none other than the stranger who rescued her weeks earlier.

As the other ladies vie for the Duke’s attention, Georgiana is desperate to avoid their shocking secret getting out. But she finds herself caught, unable to avoid Gabriel’s gaze. Are they a threat to each
other? Or could they be the answer to each other’s greatest desires?

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Emma Orchard is the author of several well-reviewed regency romance novels published by Allison & Busby. In her other life she is a literary agent. Her first book with Boldwood is a raunchy romp set in
Regency London.

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My thoughts: Georgiana and Gabriel are very well suited to each other, despite her determination not to fall for him. But after getting caught in a compromising clinch at the Duke’s ball, they have no choice but to announce their engagement.

But despite feeling like they’ve been forced  into it, they can’t deny their feelings and even when threatened at literal gunpoint, they stick together, proving a strong united front that will stand them in good stead as the Duke and Duchess of Northriding. 

A fun, frothy, spicy Regency romance with two strong willed protagonists destined to be together.

*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: A Bond of Fate – Stephanie Duley


Welcome to the tour for A Bond of Fate by Stephanie Duley! Read on for more details!

A Bond of Fate

Publication Date: March 23, 2024

Genre: YA Fantasy

🗣️Witty Banter
💕Fated Mates
🥨Plot Twists
🐺Fey, Werewolves, & Vampires
🥰Love Triangle

“A Bond of Fate” presents a captivating narrative about two destined young mates in a world where supernatural beings coexist with humans. The tale follows the incredible journey of Evelyn Latham, a strong and self-reliant young woman, and Liam O’Leary, a compelling and resilient young man.

One fateful night, Evie and Liam’s paths cross, revealing an ancient prophecy that designates them as the world’s saviors. Unaware of a looming malevolent threat rising from Hell, endangering both humans and supernatural beings, they embark on a dangerous quest guided by destiny. Together, they seek to unravel their origins, unlock their latent powers, and confront the encroaching darkness.

As their bond strengthens, Evie and Liam navigate through the challenging landscapes of the Fey lands, facing formidable foes and battling their inner demons. To restore balance to the realms, they must embrace their true selves, wield their unique abilities, and confront the impending darkness.

This enchanting story blends romance, fantasy, and adventure, delving into themes of love, sacrifice, and the timeless clash between good and evil. Will Evie and Liam fulfill their destined roles, triumph over evil, and bring light to the world, or will darkness prevail, casting the realm into eternal gloom?

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My thoughts: Evie is at her best friend’s wedding when she hits a strange massive dog or wolf and then a strange man shoots her in the head…or does he?

When she wakes up, things are very different, she’s discovering that she’s not quite human after all and is part of an ancient prophecy involving the fae and werewolves and vampires – oh, they’re all real. 

As Evie learns about the strange new powers she has and explores the bond between her and Liam –  all part of the prophecy, war is imminent and they’re running out of time.

Evie takes all the new information in her stride, even the stuff that seems completely impossible, mastering her new powers, adapting to everything thrown at her. Liam, despite having lived his whole life in this world, seems to be struggling more.

It’s the start of an action packed series, with missing parents, terrible creatures summoned to hunt the heroes down, love, jealousy and complicated relationships.

IG: @stephduley_author @rrbooktours
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#rrbooktours #rrbtabondoffate #abondoffate #yafantasyromance #yafantasy #romantasy #fatedmates #mythicalcreatures #yabookstagram #ireadya

*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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Book Blitz: Death Gasp – Carter Pugh

DeathGasp copy

If you enjoyed Death Rattle by Carter Pugh, you’re going to want to check out the newly released prequel, Death Gasp!

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Death Gasp (A Death Book Series Prequel Novella)

Publication Date: April 10, 2024

Genre: Horror/ Drama/ Suspense

TROPES:

🫀Dual POV
🫀Hidden Identity
🫀Prequel
🫀Romance
🫀Paranormal
🫀Twist Ending
🫀Spicy

TRIGGERS:

Abusive Relationship
Alcohol Abuse
Vehicular Manslaughter
Cheating
Explicit Sexual Scenes

“I felt like I wanted to run away, flee the feeling and situation. I wanted to run and hide somewhere safe until the storm was over, but I couldn’t because I was in the storm, and the storm was my life.”

You might think you know how her story ends, but looks can be deceiving. Plunge into the prequel to Death Rattle and learn more about Heather Dunn, the girl who died too soon.

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Blog Tour: Umbra – Amber Toro

Umbra copy

We are celebrating the release of Amber Toro’s space opera UMBRA: Sentient Stars this week! Read on for more details!

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Umbra: Sentient Stars

Publication Date: April 24, 2024

Genre: Sci-Fi Fantasy/ Space Opera

Enemies-to-Lovers
Found Family
Multiple POVs
Intergalactic Adventure
Slow Burn
Militaristic Society
Fully Sentient Starships

Earth That Was has faded into myth. After millenia spent wandering, humans are no longer nomads. Twelve tribes stand allied under the United Tribal Axis; but there is a signal in the darkness that threatens to destroy everything.

All Skyla wanted after leaving the Navy was to be left alone. Just her ship, the stars, and a new adventure. But when a strange virus disables her ship, she is thrown into the middle of a conflict she doesn’t understand, forcing her to take on responsibilities she swore she never would again.

Hinata always followed the rules, honor above all else. He always won, until he didn’t. Sentenced to exile for his failures, he is determined to prove himself, until a mysterious woman arrives on his station and chaos threatens to break already fragile alliances.

Freyja was always angry, an outcast, playing the part of admiral and black ops operative. But she is tired of being a pawn in the Empress’ games and when she’s stranded on the wrong side of enemy lines after a vengeful battle, she’s forced to ally with her adversaries to clear her name.

A Rogue.
A Commander.
And an Admiral.
Brought together by circumstance, held together by duty.
Can they find a way to work together to save humanity?

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About the Author

Amber Toro is the director of data science at a machine learning startup working to make the world a better place with AI. She is a big believer in using tech for good.

Always dreaming Amber writes epic sci-fi and fantasy.

Amber grew up in Seattle with a great love of the outdoors. She now calls Utah her home and when she is not writing or coding you can find her biking, hiking, and camping in the mountains with her amazing partner and two tiny humans, or curled up with a good sci-fi/fantasy book.

AMBER TORO

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Book Blitz: Scars of his Wrath – Zoey Ellis

Scars of His Wrath copy

Happy release day and congratulations to author Zoey Ellis! Make sure you grab a copy of Scars of His Wrath today!

Scars of His Wrath full wrap

Scars of His Wrath

Publication Date: April 23, 2024

Genre Dark Romance/ Dark Fantasy

Bound by fate to the man she’s sworn to defy.

Revered for her magical ability, Naya is the most treasured omega in her parents’ empire. Her birth marked the arrival of peace in the land, and her people eagerly await her reign.

But Naya is haunted by a tragedy.

Finding her mate is the key to banishing the shadows plaguing her. Yet no matter how hard she searches, Naya can’t find the one who ignites the profound attraction her mate is destined to arouse.

Then one night, she is stolen.

Akoro, an alpha dominated by vengeance and violence, takes her to a distant land where her powers are useless. A cold-hearted king, he demands she help him conquer her empire.

Naya vows to safeguard her people, but she is horrified when Akoro awakens the primal craving that confirms he is her true mate.

Devastated, she endures his cruelty and growing obsession with her, certain they could never be together.

But Akoro has scars of his own.

His secrets might help her oppose him, but as she digs deeper, the desire between them erupts into an irresistible, heated torment.

Scars of His Wrath is book 1 in a steamy dark romance series set in a dark fantasy world. This book ends in a cliffhanger and contains dark romance situations. Please see author’s note for warnings. For fans of faithful alpha anti-heroes, omegaverse, and captive romances.

Purchase: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYCW5XB7

About the Author

Zoey Ellis is a Dark Romance author who unites Epic Fantasy and Omegaverse into intensely primal romances. With her signature blend of high steam, dark angst, and magical worlds, her work satisfies a thriving international community of bold-hearted, antihero lovers.
She lives in London, England, and spends most of her free time with family, collecting pretty fountain pen inks, and wrangling her TBR pile.

Zoey Ellis

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Book Blitz: Forever Reign – V.B. Lacy

ForeverReign copy

Happy release day and congratulations to author V.B. Lacey! The final book in the Elementals of Iona duology is here!

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Forever Reign: An Elemental Magic Fantasy Romance (The Elementals of Iona Book 2)

Publication Date: April 23, 2024

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

✨Elemental Magic
✨Ballroom Scene
✨Touch HIM and 💀
✨He Falls First
✨No Spice Romance

Nothing could have prepared Sebastian and the elementals for what occurred on the beaches of Iona three months ago. In the aftermath of loss and betrayal, they’re left to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives, recovering in their separate corners of the world. That is, until the long-lost kingdom invites them back to their shores for a festival of peace.

Isolated to the spirit plane, Isla Vasileia has received a quest from the ancient gods.

Ever since Isla took the magic from the elementals, the balance of nature has been greatly altered. Violent disasters have wreaked havoc across the kingdoms, decimating villages and tearing families apart. To bring the world back into balance, what was taken must somehow be restored.

When Isla finds herself back on the beaches of Iona, she reunites with Bri, Sebastian, and the former elementals, and they are thrust into a world of secrecy, fear, and lies. Danger lurks around every corner, but so does new love and a chance for a happy ending. Isla is once again caught in a game amongst gods, racing against fate and time to save the kingdoms from destruction, forced to make a decision that will change her world forever.

One way or another, the end will come for all.

Forever Reign is the second and final book in the Elementals of Iona duology, an epic fantasy romance that follows the journey of a young woman overcoming loss and anxiety and four immortal beings learning how to forgive and love again after their dark past. This enemies-to-lovers series is full of morally grey characters, witty banter, unique elemental magic, romantic tension, and twists you won’t see coming. The Elementals of Iona duology is perfect for lovers of epic quests and character-driven stories, especially fans of Carissa Broadbent, Elise Kova, and Sarah J Maas.

Purchase: https://books2read.com/u/4N71v8

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