A woman who’s lost everything. A demon without a care. And a chance encounter that sparks an unwanted passion.
Lena Sommer can’t win. Her marriage is a failure. The yoga studio she founded no longer needs her. And she just lost her grandma, the only family she’s ever known. Alone, grieving, and determined not to repeat the mistakes of her past, she tries to ignore the advances of a rakish singer she meets on the beach. But his carefree nature is infectious, and his mesmerizing voice proves too seductive to resist.
Elias Georgiou has it all—a loving family, the endless ocean, and, most importantly, his independence. Constrained by nothing but the pursuit of pleasure, the last thing he’s interested in is a relationship with any of the countless admirers he charms with his song. Until he meets Lena, and a future with the resilient and courageous woman becomes more tempting than freedom.
Can Lena learn to trust herself and Elias in the face of past betrayal? Or will the enchanted song of a consummate bachelor ruin all hope for a future filled with love?
Enter a world parallel to our own. A world touched by the supernatural. A world where demons live among us.
Each novella in this contemporary paranormal romance series delivers a guaranteed HEA between sexy demons and ambitious, professionally-driven women. With mature characters and vibrant settings, the Demons Among Us series explores the erotic connections between our modern world and its demonic shadow.
When Kiara is dumped by text and then ghosted by her boyfriend, she resolves to concentrate on her successful artist career and leave dating to those who can handle that heartbreak. But the chance to dress up as a teacup work of art and participate in a scavenger hunt at the New York City modern art museum to win her favorite artist’s painting has her pairing up with a stranger dressed as a Rembrandt. He may not know much about modern art, but he certainly knows how to make her heart beat. Can Kiara take a chance on love again?
Kathy Strobos is a writer living in New York City with her husband and two children, amid a growing collection of books, toys and dollhouses. She previously worked as a lawyer before switching careers to write romantic comedies full-time and get in shape. Born and raised in Manhattan, she loves writing about NYC and the accomplished heroines who live and fall in love there, amidst its vibrant energy and the aroma of Levain Bakery chocolate chip cookies. She is the author of A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts, Partner Pursuit, Is This for Real?, Caper Crush, and My Book Boyfriend. She is still working on getting in shape.
My thoughts: this novella is short and sweet, as dejected artist Kiara, dressed as a furry cup and saucer, joins forces with lawyer Finn, dressed as a Rembrandt self portrait, to take part in an art scavenger hunt. But they find more than they bargained for as they bond and begin to fall for one another. Can she get past her ex and her broken heart to see the man in front of her?
Cute and charming, this is part of an interconnected series of romance stories, all available now.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own
Welcome to the tour for Squeeze Plays by Jeffrey Marshall. Read on for more details!
Squeeze Plays
Genre: Financial Thriller
Publication Date: June 2022
A modern tableau about money and power set in New York and London.
Two powerful men, a bank chief executive and a New York tabloid publisher, are at odds over a loan that would keep the publisher afloat. Enter a ruthless Russian oligarch with an offer of a financial life raft to the publisher – a gambit uncovered by a dogged financial reporter who senses a big story.
In Squeeze Plays, Jeffrey Marshall whisks us into the paneled boardrooms and lavish penthouses of the New York elite and shows us their lifestyle, their desires and their foibles. Using his background as a financial journalist, he carefully details the reporter’s story, which ties the central characters together in what becomes a stunning front-page expose. Along the way, the reader visits New York, London, Nantucket and the English countryside and sees not just financial skullduggery but sexual blackmail, strong and principled female characters, and a brisk and often satirical take on the corrupting influences of wealth and power.
Jeffrey Marshall is a writer, novelist and poet from Scottsdale, AZ. He’s the author of five books, including the novels Squeeze Plays, Little Miss Sure Shot and Undetected; Undetected and Squeeze Plays were named ShelfUnbound Notable 100 Indie books in 2020 and 2022, respectively, and Squeeze Plays also was named a Book Excellence Award winner in 2023. A retired journalist and the former editor of two national business magazines, Marshall has freelanced to more than 30 publications as varied as The New York Times, High Country News and Tail Fly-Fishing Magazine, and his short fiction has appeared in online magazines like Bright Flash Literary Review, Ariel Chart and Vocal.com, among others. A short story he wrote took first place in the 2022 Arizona Authors competition.
“The Genius Killer” is, at its core, a confrontation of powerful characters. A psychological battle between DCI Theodore “Tex” Deacon and the purest psychopath he has encountered, Karl Jackson. Local journalist Debbie Pilkington rides shotgun with the Lake District DCI. Their lives intertwine as the hunt begins. The novel is set in the mountains of Cumbria/Lancashire.
Tex Deacon is a legendary hunter of serial killers, but, following the death of his wife, he’s hit a kind of “detective’s block”. Deacon is close to a breakdown. The Chief Constable, Barbara Bracewell, dilutes his duties. She wants Deacon to host a new venture, “The Sir Robert Peel Lecture”, and then to follow that up by helping with the cadet training programme. Deacon’s subject at the lecture is murder, and it’s titled, “How to Catch a Killer”. Deacon’s a humble local hero, and the lecture hall is packed.
At the lecture, Deacon encounters local chemistry teacher, and serial killer, Karl Jackson. The incognito Jackson asks a question from the floor, and the relationship begins. Deacon needs help though. He’s been instructed to step back from hard core police duties, and, of course, he has his “detective’s block”. A young journalist, Deborah Pilkington, wants to do Deacon’s life story for the local paper, as part of a series on “Great Lancastrians”. Deacon persuades Debbie to help him. Deacon can now work covertly. He draws on Debbie’s strong journalistic capabilities, and couples them with his own natural, but currently hampered talents.
Mark has been a journalist and broadcaster for over 30 years. Working almost exclusively in sport. Mark was employed for 15 years by SKY Sports, and 11 years by the BBC. Elsewhere he worked, on significant national contracts, for ITV, Eurosport and Premier Sport.Mark has been been involved in BAFTA and Sony award winning, and nominated, documentaries and programmes. Mark worked on these productions as a writer/reporter. For the last 10 years Mark has focused on rugby commentary with SKY, as well as Premier Sport and Eirsport. Mark was working on the Six Nations Rugby when all sport stopped due to the pandemic, so he decided to write his first novel.
My thoughts: Karl Jackson thinks he’s a genius, he’s pretty sure he’ll never get caught, even when several of his victims are members of his own family. He doesn’t watch enough crime shows, only interested in the killers, you should pay more attention to how they get caught.
DCI “Tex” Deacon and journalist Debbie Pilkington put the pieces together, and with a little help from a surprising source, finally gather enough evidence to go to Deacon’s boss and get a warrant for the so-called genius’ arrest.
Written with a dark sense of humour and by a writer who clearly has studied the TV and literary classics (I spotted some lovely little references, including a “Mother of God” for all the Line of Duty fans out there), the characters are all intelligent but only one of them is using his brains for murder. And that last twist, ooh, nice. Highly enjoyable and clever writing. I hope there’s more in a similar vein to come.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
It’s November, 1947, and Jeanne and John, two newspaper journalists, fall in young love as they travel from Chicago to New York to witness the momentous vote of the United Nations to partition Palestine and create the State of Israel. When they discover an assassination plot meant to swing the outcome, they must put their personal lives on hold and race the clock to stop it, uncovering elaborate details of international politics along the way.
Fifty years after the vote, having gone their separate ways, the two reconnect in Italy. Set against a stunning pastoral backdrop, Jeanne and John relive those turbulent days together and explore whether their love has stood the test of time.
International thriller meets operatic Italian romance in this intricate tale of love, politics, and misunderstandings. Come November is a celebration of history, family bonds, redemption, and second-chance love sure to please fans of thrillers and romance alike.
“What a magnum opus! And so riveting! The gallery of personae, the major and minor plots woven together, the delving deep into emotions and attachments and ideas, not to speak of highlighting the historical resolution of the partition of Palestine on November 29, 1947. And Jeanne—a glowing star in the firmament!”—Yael Medini, daughter of Moshe Sharett; author, Pale Blue Valley
Scott Lord is a longtime Los Angeles trial lawyer, writer, and librettist. He is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz and Santa Clara University School of Law. He is married, father of six children, and lives in Santa Monica, California.
My thoughts: this was a really interesting read, a blend of fictional romance and real life historical action. Having won a trip to New York, aspiring journalist Jeanne meets handsome newspaper man John and together they are drawn into a web of intrigue and assassination, centring on the UN vote about the formation of the state of Israel in 1947.
They try to prevent a tragedy that might just destroy the nascent country from ever existing, and along the way meet real life political figures, like future Israeli Prime Minister Moshe Sharett.
They also fall in love. But it’s not to be and life takes them on separate paths until they reunite in Italy, years later. John lives there and Jeanne is visiting with her family as her daughter-in-law is performing in an opera not far from his home. Can this reunion succeed where other attempts have failed and bring these lovers together again after a lifetime apart?
Full of high tension moments, and sweet gentle ones, family life and sacrifice, this is a moving and intelligent book about a tumultuous time in geopolitical history that nevertheless is also a bittersweet and heartwarming romance.
*I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for a review but all opinions remain my own.
She didn’t go to the jungle to meet the man of her dreams. Luckily, Dr Logan Spencer is NOT the man of her dreams!
As epic meet-cutes go, travel photographer, Winter Knowles thinks finding a gorgeous naked man outside her Thailand villa is pretty perfect. But then she discovers the naked heartthrob is none other than Dr Logan Spencer, her gruff standoffish (but sexy as hell) jungle expedition leader. Dr Logan is on the mission of a lifetime. There’s a lost city of gold to discover and he doesn’t need any distractions – especially not the stubborn, sassy beautiful photographer type! His reputation is on the line. These arch rivals get off on the wrong foot. But when the heat rises in the jungle, Winter and Logan are forced together in the face of danger. Is trusting someone with your life the best meet-cute of all?
A sassy, enemies-to-lovers rom-com perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood! Please note that this title was originally published as From Thailand With Love. Purchase
Camilla Isley is an engineer who left science behind to write bestselling contemporary rom-coms set all around the world. She lives in Italy and her first title for Boldwood, The Love Theorem, a Hollywood-meets-STEM romance, was published in June 2023.
My thoughts: this series of interlinked romances is really fun. This time we’re swapping LA for the Thai jungle and a quest for a lost city of gold. Throw in a pretty photographer, a grumpy archaeologist, some dodgy mercenaries and a team of enthusiastic experts and you’ve got the adventure of a lifetime.
Winter Knowles wasn’t planning on getting lost in the jungle and having to put the skills she learnt on her grandparents’ ranch into use but when she and the oh so handsome and oh so annoying Dr Logan Spencer get stranded and need to rescue the rest of their team, just call her Lara Croft!
So much fun, and a bit silly, but I really enjoyed this rom com. Can’t wait for the next one.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
Experience true love, and discover hidden heart desires, but beware of the allure of illusion.
Blossom and Bone (The Libra Witch Series #1)
Genre: Gothic Romance w/ Fantasy Vibes
🌺Tim Burton Vibes
🌺Standalone
🌺Plus Sized/ Loveable Plant Witch FMC
🌺Deadly Forced Proximity
🌺He Falls First
🌺Murder Mystery
🌺Fated Mates
Experience true love, and discover hidden heart desires, but beware of the allure of illusion.
Amé is a vegetation witch with a knack for soil cultivation and plant genetics.
She develops flower mates that mimic true love.
Amé is a dreamer and finds it difficult to say no, even when common sense dictates she should. After her life’s work is stolen, she must go on a quest to recover her magic seeds.
Xephriel is a bone witch with a magic condition that causes empathic dissonance.
It’s torture because one touch might mean his death.
Now, he’s been forced into proximity with his crush to clear her name of murder.
Xephriel is put through the ultimate test of valor. Can he overcome his affliction, or is he doomed to lurk in the shadows forever?
Mary E. Jung is the worldwide author and publisher of the Etrucian Royals and the Libra Witch Series. She lives with her two sons and husband in Pennsylvania. She received her bachelor’s degree in Arts Studies with an emphasis in Arts Management and Opera from Shenandoah University.
Mary is an anthology writer for New York Times # 1 Bestselling Author Sherrilyn McQueen’s fanfiction. She was a featured Publisher’s Weekly Spotlight Indie Author for their February 7th, 2022, edition. When Mary isn’t writing her next adventure, she’s lost in a book.
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A baffling mystery sets an FBI agent on a dangerous path… Park rangers are puzzled when a child is found wandering alone in the a forest near Seattle. middle of Stranger still, he speaks a peculiar language that sounds a little like German, and is dressed in clothes people wore in the Middle Ages.
With no one having reported him missing, FBI Special Agent Will McCord assembles a dedicated unit to investigate the case, placing Detective Ilona Farris at its head. Their relationship is edgy. They used to be an item. But McCord knows Farris is the best person for the job. Especially when more children turn up in similar circumstances. Farris isn’t convinced that she is in fact the right person. Memories of a traumatic incident in her own childhood begin to emerge, and threaten to cloud her judgement. Can she bury her demons and solve the mystery of these children, seemingly lost in time?
Born in Sydney, Australia, Iain worked for many years in print media production for newspapers, magazines, and direct marketing agencies, and as a writer for small business websites. He has written fiction from a young age. Somewhere in his framed copy of his first published story, a ‘5house, there is still a minute fiction’ tale in Woman’s Day. Since then, he has never looked back, having short stories published in various magazines worldwide, and now his suspenseful thrillers and mysteries . Commenting on what influenced his writing journey, he describes a moment that has stayed with him.
On his first day in his first job, as a teenage messenger boy, he left the office via a back exit into a narrow alleyway where he saw the body of a man crumpled on the ground. He had just jumped out of a window from the neighbouring building. The paramedics were already approaching. When Iain returned an hour or so later, the body and the surrounding activity were gone, there was just a chalk outline on the ground where the body had been. Ever since he has wondered who that man was, what led him to suicide, and what his future might have been had he lived. Decades later, that chalk outline is often on the writer’s mind when telling the stories of his characters’ lives. Authors who have inspired Iain include Daphne Du Maurier, Ken Follett, Michael Crichton, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Robotham, and Harlen Coben. He lives on the New South Wales coast with his wife.
My thoughts: I really enjoyed this creepy and clever thriller. A lost child who appears dressed and speaking like he’s from medieval Germany in the middle of an American forest sparks the FBI’s interest. He’s clearly traumatised but they can’t work out what’s going on. He says he’s from Hamelin and followed a piper. The Pied Piper, but that was several hundred years ago, and is considered fiction. So where did he come from?
When more children appear with the same story, the investigators are intrigued and worried. Ilona also has her own private investigation, but could they be connected?
The mysterious figure of the Piper is spotted and the children disappear again. The tension builds and the team suspect each other. Will and Ilona’s past relationship adds to the tension and as she is put into danger by her personal case, could all be lost or will this all turn out to be more complicated and twenty-first century in origin than they thought?
Very clever, full of twists and turns, with characters that charm (I loved Zach and Zoe) and the folktale links were right up my alley thematically. I hope this becomes a series, each case more ingenious and fiendish than the last. There’s a lot of potential here.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous tales ever told, but what if their violent delights did not end in such woe? What then for the star-crossed lovers, once doomed to burn so bright and brief?
Against the turbulent backdrop of early fifteenth century Italy, Romeo and Juliet return home after twenty years in exile. Accompanied by their two grown children and a bold young soldier, they arrive in a city still plagued by the bloody feud of their families. With old Lord Montague now dead however, is there a chance to finally end the bloodshed or will old enmities and new interests mean the death of all they love?
Blending fact, fiction and homage, against the backdrop of Duke Visconti’s campaign to dominate northern Italy, Shakespeare’s characters act in conjunction with real-life figures to ask “what if?” and forge a whole new future for the beleaguered city.
Tom Lloyd was born in 1979 in Berkshire.
After a degree in International Relations he went straight into publishing where he still works.
He never received the memo about suitable jobs for writers and consequently has never been a kitchen-hand, hospital porter, pigeon hunter, or secret agent.
He lives in Oxford, isn’t one of those authors who gives a damn about the history of the font used in his books and only believes in forms of exercise that allow him to hit something.
My thoughts: I know of Tom Lloyd as a fantasy writer and a good one but this is something a bit different. What if Romeo and Juliet didn’t die? What if Romeo’s poison was a dud and Juliet woke up and found him still alive? Then they ran away, to Milan, where they found safety with the Duke and Romeo became a lawyer and now it’s twenty years later and they’re returning to Verona for the first time.
Accompanying their friend who has been sent to act as Governor of Verona by the Duke of Milan, Visconti (a real figure of the time), as advisors. They’re bringing their children, Estelle and Mercutio, to see their home city and potentially, maybe, reconcile with their families.
Verona is still a city divided between Capulet and Montague. Juliet’s parents still live and her father’s brutality seems to know no limits. Romeo’s parents are dead and a cousin now holds the title of Lord Montague. Street brawls and duels are still the norm and the ordinary folk live in fear.
But the return of the heirs to the houses offers a new way forward if the city is willing to try.
Capturing the essence and language of Shakespeare isn’t easy, I know, I’ve tried it, but this flows and is full of clever little references to not only Romeo & Juliet but other plays and poems, a delight for a nerd like me, but for the lay person too. Blending historical fact into Shakespearean fiction, this is an enjoyable and intelligent read.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
A mysterious First Lady. The intrepid journalist writing her biography. And the secret that could destroy them both. Tired of covering the grating dysfunction of Washington and the increasingly outrageous antics of President Henry Caine, White House correspondent Sofie Morse quits her job and plans to leave politics behind. But when she gets a call from the office of First Lady Lara Caine, inviting her to come in for a private meeting with Lara, Sofie’s curiosity is piqued.
Sofie, like the rest of the world, knows little about Lara – only that she was born in Soviet Russia, raised in Paris, and worked as a model before moving to America and marrying the notoriously brash future president. When Lara asks Sofie to write her official biography, and to finally fill in the gaps of her history, Sofie’s curiosity gets the better of her. She begins to spend more and more time in the White House, slowly developing a bond with Lara. As Lara’s story unfolds, Sofie can’t help but wonder why Lara is rehashing such sensitive information.Why tell Sofie? And why now? Suddenly Sofie is in the middle of a game of cat and mouse that could have explosive ramifications.
Anna Pitoniak is the author of The Futures, Necessary People, and Our American Friend. She graduated from Yale, where she majored in English and was an editor at the Yale Daily News. She worked for many years in book publishing, most recently as a Senior Editor at Random House. Anna grew up in Whistler, British Columbia, and now lives in New York City
My thoughts: this was so good, a mystery, a thriller, political and personal, all blended together. Why is Sofie hiding out in Croatia? What did she do that meant she and her husband had to flee America?
Slowly the story is revealed. And it isn’t Sofie’s alone, it’s also Lara’s. And a few other people’s too. Her mother, Irina, her lost love Alex, her sister, her father and Russia’s as well. What seems like an amazing opportunity, to get up close and personal with the First Lady, ends up being so much more and Sofie realises she’s a pawn in a much larger game.
Beautifully written, totally gripping and so clever it shocks you, this is a fantastic read.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 