We’re proud to present the cover for Beneath The Silvern Pond, a dark Frog Prince reimagining by M.A. Brown!
Beneath The Silvern Pond (A Pennies Worth Of Dread Book 2)
Expected Release Date: November 28, 2025
Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Novella/ Fairy Tales
Cover Artist: @julsiji
Beneath the Silvern Pond is a dark summer Frog Prince, reimagining that is eerie, sweet and slightly spicy.
Lucrecia is expected to attract a wealthy suitor whose money can save her family from ruin… but what happens when she becomes obsessed with the creature living in the pond instead?
Happy publication day to author Christy Healy and congratulations on the release of Unseen!
Unseen
Release Date: Aug 26, 2025
Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Fairy Tale Retelling
Fans of For the Throne and Vespertine will love this dark fairy-tale retelling of the Irish fable of ‘The Snow, The Crow, and the Blood,’ about a desperate young queen who makes a dangerous alliance with the dangerous lord of death in order to protect the one she loves, even if it means damning herself.
Riona Ó Conchúir has known death her whole life. The mysterious lord of death has tormented her for years, stealing away the souls of all those she has loved since childhood, demanding that she come and serve him in his shadowy realm, but she has always resisted – until now.
When her daughter falls ill with an incurable disease, Riona at last answers the lord of death’s call and ventures into the hidden realm of the sídhe to offer herself as a servant to him in exchange for her daughter’s life. But when he demands that she use the divine magic of her blood to find three legendary objects of power that were once wielded by the gone gods themselves, Riona soon realizes that she will be forced to make an impossible choice:
Saskia is building a home for herself out of the ruins of an old castle. Surrounded by forest, hidden away from everyone and everything, the place is special – it’s the only connection she has left to her father and it’s a hard-won chance to escape from her difficult past and create a new future. She’s spent her whole life trying to find a way to make this project work and finding someone to help her realise her dream has been almost impossible.
When local builder Owen finally signs up to manage the construction, things get off to a very bad start. But forced to find a way to work together, both realise that first impressions aren’t always the right ones, and when Owen discovers the forest is hiding a secret that could bring work to a halt, he realises he’s much more invested in the project – and Saskia – than he thought . . .
My thoughts: This was a really lovely book, about home and family and what that means to you. Saskia thinks her dad would have wanted her to build a new home inside the ruins of castle at Gair, but comes to realise she’s already home, in her tiny house in the woods. She’s not the only one who finds sanctuary amid the ancient trees and ruins.
Owen is her project manager, unhappy and struggling. His wife wants a divorce, and his priority is his young daughter. He needs steady work and a home, not something Gair offers with all the challenges set against it. He also finds Saskia annoying at first, seeing her as a spoilt rich kid with foolish plans.
As they both try to keep the development on track, against opposition that comes from suspiciously high up as well as local, they get to know each other better and realise they might have rushed to judgement – of each other, and of Gair.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Detective Mike Nash thought that moving back to Yorkshire from London would give him a quieter life. But evil still lives out on the windswept Yorkshire moors — and so does vengeance.
A killer calling in their own crime? DI Mike Nash never thought he’d see the day. Until he gets a call that makes his blood run cold. If you go to the woods on Stark Ghyll, you’ll find a man hanging from a tree. He’s dead, and in hell where he belongs. Nash races to the scene to find the killer’s as good as their word. And they’re not done yet.
A second corpse surfaces at the foot of treacherous Black Fell cliffs. Elsewhere Sammy Rhodes, a promising teen gymnast, is missing. She never came home from training, and her parents are frantic with worry. The clock is ticking for Nash to bring her home alive. With no idea who — or what — he’s up against. A ruthless killer who’s waited decades for a taste of sweet revenge.
Bill Kitson was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire. His father, a wool merchant, was a fan of crime books giving Bill access to his diverse thriller collection from a young age. Educated at Ashville College, Bill worked in the family business before spending over thirty years as a bank executive. A keen cricketer and sportsman, the highlight of his career came when he umpired a one-day international at Lords. He and his wife now live in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, where he writes crime, romance, and general fiction. Bill’s interests include Cricket, Crime, Crete, Cookery, Cryptic crosswords – and also Alliteration.
My thoughts: Mike Nash is back and this is a dark, twisted case he has on his hands. Someone is killing paedophiles, and even Mike’s team aren’t sure they want to solve this one. But their job is to catch killers, not pass judgement, so they begin to investigate.
Whoever is luring these men to their deaths on Mike’s patch hasn’t left much to go on. And then a child goes missing, and the team have a whole second case on their hands, or do they? Could missing Samantha be linked to their murders?
A dark, twisted tale of pain and revenge, as Mike and his team hunt for someone who’s killing some of the worst criminals the team have ever encountered.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Welcome to the tour for Fires of the Forsaken by Stephanie E. Donohue! It’s an epic grimdark romantasy that’s basically like Game of Thrones meets Deadpool…with some extra swoon and Supernatural-esque lore!
Fires of the Forsaken (Across Time Book 1)
Release Date: May 2023
Genre: Sassy Romantic Fantasy
Grumpy x sunshine
Hot Viking warrior
Reluctant hero
Fight training
Banter
Mature (age 30+) FMC
Pop culture Easter eggs
Touch him and 💀
Found family
Action packed
Emotion focused spice (book 2)
She just wanted a gosh-darn pizza. The apocalypse had other ideas.
Addie did not have “getting plucked from the 21st century and thrown into the apocalypse” on her “things to do after work” checklist. Yet here she is, trapped in the hellscape known as Sakar–a world torn apart by a Celestial war. Now she’s dodging soulless Wraiths, getting chased by venomous horses, and trying her darndest to avoid a meltdown.
Thankfully, Cheriour, the gruff and grumpy commander of the human army takes her under his wing. He’s blunt, brutal, and socially awkward. Totally not Addie’s type.
So why does she find him so infuriatingly attractive?
As Addie’s connection with Cheriour grows so does the danger. Wraiths threaten to eliminate the last dregs of humanity and secrets about Addie’s past are about to surface that might just make her the key to saving everything… or destroying it.
Gritty, grimdark and laced with biting humor, Fires of the Forsaken is perfect for fans of Game of Thrones, Deadpool and Supernatural.
Content warnings: violence/gore, sometimes disturbing imagery, scenes depicting the loss of family members/loved ones, scenes showcasing mental health issues (ie, anxiety, depression, etc.), and a very brief mention of violence toward a minor.
It’s been eighteen months since the Enceladons escaped the clutches of an American military determined to exterminate the peaceful alien creatures.
Lennox and Vonnie have been lying low in the Scottish Highlands, Ava has been caring for her young daughter Chloe, and Heather is adjusting to her new life with Sandy and the other Enceladons in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of Greenland. But fate is about to bring them together again for one last battle.
When Lennox and Vonnie are visited by Karl Jensen, a Norwegian billionaire intent on making contact with the Encedalons again, they are wary of subjecting the aliens to further dangers. But when word arrives that Ava’s daughter has suffered an attack and might die without urgent help, they reluctantly make the trip to Greenland, where they enlist the vital help of local woman Niviaq. It’s not long before they’re drawn into a complex web of lies, deceit and death.
What is Karl’s company really up to? Why are sea creatures attacking boats? Why is Sandy acting so strangely, and why are polar bears getting involved?
Profound, ambitious and moving, The Transcendent Tide is the epic conclusion to the Encedalons Trilogy, and a final showdown between the best and worst of humanity, the animal kingdom and the Encedalons. The future of life on earth will be changed forever, but not everyone will survive to see it…
Doug Johnstone is the author of 18 previous novels, most recently Living Is a Problem (2024) and The Collapsing Wave (2024). The Big Chill (2020) was longlisted for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, and Black Hearts was shortlisted for the same award. Three of his books, A Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year.
He’s taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions over the last decade, and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club, and has a PhD in nuclear physics. He lives in Edinburgh.
My thoughts: We reach the end of the story of the Enceledons and their time on Earth, Sandy, Xander and the others have reached a place of safety in Greenland, or so it seems. Lennox and Vonnie are students studying sealife in Scotland, Ava is trying to adjust to life with Chloe, who still doesn’t speak. Heather and the other humans who chose to go with Sandy are slowly changing into hybrid human/Enceledons, deep in the Arctic Ocean.
But danger is coming their way. A billionaire obsessed with the aliens is trying to find them, and reaches out to Lennox and Vonnie. They’re reluctant, but Chloe becomes life-threateningly ill and only Sandy and co can help.
Events take a shocking and horrifying turn and once again the Enceledons and their friends are at risk. Changes have also been taking place in the ocean, the residents of the depths are fighting back (like the whales we’ve probably all seen online tipping fishing boats) and the local Inuit community get involved too.
I was fascinated by the descriptions of the lives of the native Greenlanders, how they have managed to preserve and protect their traditions despite the Danish attempts to colonise them.
I did cry, there are some very sad and upsetting moments and I freely admit to being a typically soppy animal lover, and feeling guilty for occasionally eating meat and fish. I also really love Sandy and his friends, these huge, gentle creatures who come to Earth for sanctuary, and find only violence abd death. I want to press copies of this trilogy into the hands of every corrupt politician and business owner and beg them to remember we aren’t the only lifeforms on this planet.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
When a wary rock star and a cynical reporter fake date to bury a scandalous rumor, will true love be exposed as the real story?
Nick: I do my best songwriting while playing my guitar on the fire escape. Unfortunately, my in-bed-at-ten next-door neighbor, Maddie, is not a fan of my music. She clambers out on the fire escape to yell at me about making “noise.” In bunny slippers, no less. But then she trips and falls into my arms.
That photo of Maddie plastered all over me hits the papers, just as my dream recording company wants to sign my band. Which is a problem, because an obsessed fan is claiming that I’m her boyfriend and now the media is blowing up that I’m two-timing them both. Good-bye recording contract, unless….
Maddie: I’m supposed to cover the story. Not be the story! But when Nick begs me to fake date, I can’t resist the chance to be Nick’s girlfriend—even if fake—the opposite of my life as a city desk reporter. But my ex said I’m a terrible kisser, and there’s no way I want Mr. Hot Rock Star saying the same thing. Hence, clause 11 in our contract: There will be absolutely no physical contact.
Nick: When Maddie receives a threatening photo of the two of us with an X over her face, my desire to protect her suddenly feels all too real. It’s either a troll or her undercover investigation has been compromised. With both our careers at stake, is breaking up the only way to keep Maddie safe?
Kathy Strobos is an award-winning author living in New York City with her husband and two children, amid a growing collection of books, toys, and dollhouses. She took a break from working as a lawyer to write romantic comedies full-time and get in shape. She is still working on getting in shape.
Born and raised in Manhattan, she loves writing about New York City and her smart heroines who live and fall in love there, amidst its vibrant energy and the aroma of homemade chocolate chip cookies. She is the award-winning author of: A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts, Partner Pursuit, Is This for Real?, Caper Crush, My Book Boyfriend, Love Is an Art and My Secret Snowflake.
England, 1715. When society doesn’t understand you, and your family is out of the picture, a strolling theatre company could be your perfect home…
Ambitious lead actor Thomas is determined to reach Drury Lane and prove to his father that he is not a failure. Fierce Caroline has a traumatic past and is determined to protect the company which saved her. Kind-hearted Annie just wants to look after her found family.
So, when their heartbroken manager Robert is injured and decides to fold the struggling company, the players are resolved to change his mind, whatever the cost. Unfortunately for them, the odds are stacked against them. They’ve lost their stage, they still haven’t got a skull for Hamlet, and flamboyant ex-member Piero is hunting them down, with a spot of revenge on his mind…
Is it time for the final bow?
The Players Act 1: All The World’s A Stage gives voice to the forgotten strolling players of the 18th century in this fun, uplifting, and page-turning read.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Energetic, accessible historical fiction Working-class characters Found family Comedy and tragedy Shakespeare LGBTQ+ Neurodiversity Mental health issues Multiple POV Heart and hope
Amy was born in Eastbourne, England, where the sea and South Downs encouraged her love of the outdoors and nurtured her wildness. Her childhood was filled with folk music, caravans and imagination, and she was always dreaming up stories and characters – usually when she was meant to be doing something else.
She enjoys stories that explore both comedy and tragedy. She is a New York Times bestselling author and her work includes THE HOUSE AT THE EDGE OF MAGIC series, and the picture books for BBC’s THE REPAIR SHOP. THE PLAYERS is her debut novel for adults.
Amy now lives in Devon with her husband and six children. When she isn’t writing, Amy enjoys drinking tea, climbing trees and playing the piano, although disappointingly she is yet to master doing all three at once.
My thoughts: I love theatrical history so this was right up my theatre nerd/history nerd street. Travelling companies like the rather unfortunate Ticehurst Players that comprises Robert, Caroline, Annie and new boy Tom.
They need a new patron, and for things to go their way for a change. After being threatened with the Vagrancy Act, Tom suddenly remembers his father is a landlord of an inn and they could go there. Unfortunately, he neglects to mention his father hates actors and isn’t very happy with his errant son.
They head there anyway, and chaos ensues. Former troupe member Piero is hot on their heels and plotting revenge, his new company aren’t very happy being dragged all over the place and getting a bit fed up with him.
It all comes to a head in Tom’s home town, and the Fair, where a new patron could be found and fortunes reversed, if they could all stop trying to sabotage each other for long enough and stay out of the local constable’s cells.
Clever, funny and highly enjoyable, I’m looking forward to the next act.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
It’s been a busy year for Alice Carroll, with her Curiosity Shop opening for business, and not one but two murders shaking things up in her quaint Cotswold village.
She’s looking forward to her first countryside Christmas, complete with traditional Christmas Fair and Santa Run. But her hopes for innocent festive fun are thwarted when one of the Santa Runners steals something from her mum’s knitting stall. His festive outfit makes him hard to spot, until he’s found fatally injured outside the village hall with the stolen item.
Despite what the police say, Alice suspects there’s more to his murder than meets the eye. She’s determined to solve the mystery – including why, once more, a stranger thought something from her Curiosity Shop was worth killing for.
With the help of her charming neighbour Robert Praed, can Alice find the killer before the bells ring out this Christmas?
Debbie Young is the much-loved author of the Sophie Sayers and St Brides cosy crime mysteries. She lives in a Cotswold village, where she runs the local literary festival, and has worked at Westonbirt School, both of which provide inspiration for her writing.
My thoughts: It sometimes feels a bit funny reading Christmas books in a heatwave, and all the talk of jumpers and scarves in this did make me feel a bit warm, but thankfully there’s murder and a missing little bear to find.
It’s all a bit odd as a man steals a five pound knitted scarf from Alice’s mum’s stall (I love that little Laila calls her “Alice’s mummy”) with a curious bear shaped button attached. He then promptly gets strangled with said scarf and the bear vanishes. Only all is not what it seems and the little bear turns out to be far more valuable and important to the case than anyone realises.
Both victim and whoever killed him were dressed as Santa, so that’s really helpful in soliciting possible witnesses. But on checking the register of Santa Run runners, Alice spots that the victim and the most likely suspect didn’t use their real names…conspiracy!
It’s a really fun read, and funny, I enjoy this series, although, I too miss the donkeys from the first book, and I did enjoy how Wendy, Alice’s mum, manages to get to know more about the villagers in a few hours than Alice has ever managed in almost a year. Right, off to sort through the button box in case there’s something priceless lurking in there…
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
We’re proud to present the cover for the final book in Druadan Legacy series by Amelia Cole!
Fatebound (Druadan Legacy Book 4)
Expected Release Date: Spring 2026
Genre: Dystopian/ Why Choose Romance
Dystopian
Deadly Trials
Reverse Harem
Epic Battles
Fated Mates
Final Book
Venovia is gone.
The air’s too toxic to breathe. ITM took everything: our cities, our homes, our future. What’s left of us fled to the sea on ships, waiting for a salvation that won’t come.
I thought it was over. That all I had left was Oriana, my riders, and the weight of everything we failed to save.
Then Marshal told me that my father was alive and might know a way to save us.
He’s on Canna Canna, a remote island no one talks about. Where the air is clean, and tribes of druadan riders have ruled and clashed for centuries. We go, chasing a whisper of hope.
There, I learn a druadan’s bond holds untapped power—power that could tip the odds in our favor. But nothing comes without a cost, and to unlock it, my riders and I must survive a gauntlet of brutal trials. Each one will test our strength, our loyalty, and above all, the love that binds us.
This is our last chance. If we fail, Venovia falls… and the rest of the world won’t be far behind.
ramblingmads 