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Blog Tour: Murder on the Italian Riviera – T.A. Williams

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A brand-new cosy crime series set in gorgeous Tuscany…It’s murder in paradise!

An ex-con…
Private investigator Dan Armstrong is no stranger to working with criminals, but when he’s approached for help by Bianca Moretti, he’s on high alert. Bianca is intelligent and beautiful, and Dan likes her, but he also once sent her to prison…

A suspicious death…
Bianca explains that a guest has been found dead at her father’s luxurious and private retreat on the beautiful Italian Riviera. The police are sure the death is accidental, but Bianca is convinced the
man’s been murdered. Dan’s sure he can get to the bottom of things…as long as Bianca is telling him the whole truth.

A very revealing case!
But when Dan arrives at the resort, he’s in for a shock. He finds that the place is a naturist retreat, and everybody is walking around stark naked! Dan is determined to discover the truth, but this is going to mean revealing a whole lot more of himself than he expected.
Can Dan sniff out the truth about this case before Oscar’s cold wet nose causes havoc?

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I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn’t possibly comment. Ask my wife…

I’ve written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I’m enjoying myself hugely writing romance and whodunnits. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it.

Murder mystery is all very well, but it needs to put a smile on your face, so that’s why I like to inject some humour. I’m having a lot of fun writing the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series set in sunny
Italy. They are all standalone books but if you really want to do it properly, start with the first one in the series, Murder in Tuscany. If my books can whisk you away to gorgeous locations, put a smile on
your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.

I’ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in south west England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in many of my
books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador.

I’ve been writing since I was 14 and that is well over half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up.
I hope she’s right.

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My thoughts: return to lovely, sunny Tuscany and Dan Armstrong (and obviously the wonderful Oscar) has a new case. One that will take him to Liguria, right at the top and along a bit of the boot that is Italy.

Amid the winding roads and mountain vistas, is a naturist camp where a suspicious death has tragically taken place. The police think it’s an accident, but the resort’s owner and his daughter think differently. Recruiting Dan to help out, they forget to tell him that everyone, guests and staff, will be naked. Oops.

Dan gets digging, and with a little help from friends back in the UK police and intelligence services, realises the dead man was more than he appeared to be. After a second death, almost identical to the first, it’s clear to Dan, and the local police, that there’s a killer in the resort. But who? There’s some suspicious types letting it all hang out by the pool.

Another funny, witty and rather ingenious case for the former DCI and his canine sidekick (who manages not to stick his snout anywhere unmentionable).

*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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Cover Reveal: The Pudding Lane Witch – A.W. Jackson

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Happy cover reveal day to author A.W. Jackson! The Pudding Lane Witch will be hitting retailers this fall! Pre-order now!

Pudding Lane Witch_WEB FRONT_Final

The Pudding Lane Witch

Expected Publication Date: September 24. 2024

Genre YA/ LGBTQ+ Fantasy

“They killed her! They tied her up and burned her!”

On the run from the mob who killed her mother, young pyrokinetic witch Gweneviere Baxter is running out of options. Surviving as an unmarried young woman in the 17th century is challenging enough, let alone when you are a witch. So, when the opportunity to wed the local baker is presented to her, Gweneviere feels she has no other choice, if she wants to survive.

Tragically, marriage is less peaceful than Gweneviere had envisaged, and she struggles to keep her witch identity hidden as she suffers through her husband’s daily abuse. But everything changes with the arrival of a young slave woman, Kambili, and Gweneviere falls hard and fast, her love for Kambili shining brightly in her otherwise hellish life.

But with both witches and mortals working against her, will Gweneviere ever be able to make a life for herself and her true love? Will she ever have her paradise?

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Blog Tour: The Quality of Love – Ariane Banks 

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When her mother Celia Paget died, Ariane Bankes inherited a battered trunk stuffed with letters and diaries belonging to Celia and her twin Mamaine. This correspondence charted the remarkable lives of the Paget sisters and their friends and lovers, including Arthur Koestler, Albert Camus, Sartre and de Beauvoir, and George Orwell. 

Out of this rich archive, The Quality of Love weaves the story of these captivating and unusually beautiful identical twins who overcame a meagre education to take 1930s London society by storm and move among Europe’s foremost intellectuals during the twentieth century’s most dramatic decades. Above all, it is a sparkling portrait of the deep connection between two spirited sisters.

Ariane Bankes had a long career in publishing, including at John Murray and V&A Publishing, before becoming a writer, critic and curator. Her writing has appeared in the Spectator, TLS, Financial Times, Country Life and Slightly Foxed. She is Honorary President of Koestler Arts, and runs the Hatchards & Biographers’ Club First Biography Prize and the Elizabeth Buccleuch Prize.

My thoughts: I found this book, a biography of the author’s mother and aunt, utterly captivating. They lived through some of the most tumultuous years of the twentieth century, loved and were loved by some of the most extraordinary characters and lived an incredible life.

The Paget twins were beautiful, clever (but not exactly educated  – school wasn’t really a priority) and well connected. They were feted by society magazines and fashion pages alike.

They had many long and complicated love affairs and counted people like George Orwell (who proposed to Celia) and Albert Camus (who had a long affair with Mamaine) among their closest friends and admirers. At times it reads a little like a Who’s Who of the mid twentieth century, which I found delightful, seeing as so many of the writers and figures are ones I’m interested in.

Orphaned young, they had a strange childhood, and despite being very bright, little formal education – something I don’t think you’d be able to do now. They were presented at court (twice!) and lived the sort of life that doesn’t sound entirely real, moving around Europe, lunching with the literary elite of London, Paris and beyond.

But they both suffered terrible health problems – related to chronic asthma and possibly as a result of the trauma of their parents’ deaths. In and out of hospitals and sanatoriums in places like Switzerland, for the air. It’s amazing they managed to fit so much living in. Mamaine sadly died quite young, but Celia went on to marry and have two children – the author and her brother, settling into domesticity after all her adventures.

Using her mother’s archive of letters, photos and other documents, as well as the stories she was told growing up, Ariane Bankes has created a beautiful snapshot of a period of time lost to us now but also a love letter to the bond between two extraordinary sisters. It’s really moving and tender at times, as the letters travel back and forth between sisters separated by geography, love affairs and health worries.

*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: Smuggler’s Valour – T.D. Wilson

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SmugglerValor copy

We’re thrilled to announce that the first two novella’s in the Reese Daniels Smuggler Series are now available and the third will be released soon! To start, check out Smuggler’s Valor!

Smuggler's Valor_cover-min

Smuggler’s Valor: A Sci-fi Action Adventure (Reese Daniels Smuggler Series Book 1)

Publication Date: June 2023

Smuggling precious cargo to a remote colony was supposed to be easy. I was dead wrong.

Smuggling is a dangerous business and Reese Daniels has the score of a lifetime within his grasp; however, getting shot down on one of Uranus’ moons wasn’t in his plan. Stranded and on the run in the middle of an alien invasion, Reese must work with a group of Marine cadets to escape a grisly fate.

AMAZON

About the Author

T.D. Wilson was born in 1968 in Troy, Ohio and has been an avid fan of science fiction and fantasy from a very young age. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and has supported the systems and networks in several of the largest Supercomputing data centers in the world. His early thirst for adventure in reading began as he explored many of the great stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As his reading scope expanded, Mr. Wilson was fascinated by strange new worlds from the magical of Middle Earth and Narnia to the far reaches of space in Star Trek and Babylon 5. As a science fiction author, he strives to integrate a realistic flavor to his worlds by providing his readers a feel for the real science in science fiction. A topic he loves to discuss with his friends and readers. Mr. Wilson still lives in Ohio with his wife and their two sons.

TD Wilson

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Cover Reveal: To Bind the Dusk – Amanda McCauley

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We’re pleased to present the cover of To Bind the Dusk by Amanda McCauley. You’ll want to preorder this one right away!

ToBindTheDuskEbookCover

To Bind the Dusk

Expected Publication Date: June 14, 2024

Genre: Fae Fantasy Romance

When the gods fell they cursed the land with their dying breath. The magic was gone and with it so too were the High Fae.

Twenty-five-year-old Liora has lived her entire life in the Spinebacks, outside the Courts of Faerie. But when her village is attacked and secrets revealed she finds herself a pawn in a war that began before she was born.

Now thrust into a world of magic and intrigue she must learn to survive the hidden dangers that lurk in the shadows and resist the call of its alluring beauty.

But Calais, the powerful Fae King now holding her captive is proving to be the real temptation.

Guarding her heart will only get her so far as war threatens to tear Faerie apart while forcing Liora to face the hidden truth of who she is.

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Raven Kennedy,To Bind The Dusk is a seductive fantasy romance with pulse-pounding adventure, Fae magic, and heart-breaking betrayal.

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Blog Tour: One Long Weekend – Shari Low

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When all seems lost, hope remains…

Val Murray has mislaid her most precious mementoes of the people she’s loved and lost. Can her family, the wonders of technology and a little divine intervention somehow mend her shattered heart?

Sophie Smith had to take a rain check on a marriage proposal. Will her bid to turn back the clock lead her to her greatest love or yet another heartbreak?

Alice McLenn stood by her husband, Larry when a scandal cost them everything. When he hits the headlines again, Alice has an opportunity to leave – but can she find the strength to finally walk away?

Rory Brookes was forced to turn his back on his parents to save his career and marriage. Now, he’s lost his job and wife on the same day. Is it too late to make amends with the one person who never
let him down?

Three days. Four broken hearts. Just one weekend to make them whole again.

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In January 2021, Shari Low celebrated 20 years as a best selling novelist. In that time, she has published over 25 books, including A Life Without You, The Story Of Our Life, Temptation Street, My One Month Marriage, One Day In Summer and her non-fiction collection of parenthood memories, Because Mummy Said So.
In late 2020, her first novel, What If? (originally published in 2001) was updated and re-released and became a best seller. In January 2021, the sequel, What Now? was released and joined What If? on
the best-seller charts.

In real life, once upon a time she met a guy, got engaged after a week, and twenty-something years later lives near Glasgow with her husband and a labradoodle. Her two teenagers have now left home, so she spends an inordinate amount of time on video calls checking if they’re eating well and keeping up to date with their laundry.

For all the latest news, visit Shari on Facebook, twitter, instagram or at http://www.sharilow.com

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My thoughts: we’re back with Val, Cathy and Carol – characters who pop up in several of Shari’s other books, and who always put a smile on my face.

Sadly Val’s lovely husband Don has passed away and she’s off to London to stay with her beloved nieces. But as she’s rushing out the door, she panics and adds her most precious possessions to her handbag.

The four rings – her ring from Don, his wedding ring, her late daughter’s and her best friend Josie’s – more like tiny pieces of them than jewellery. Losing them somewhere between Glasgow and London is heartbreaking and Carol and Cathy decide to harness their Instagram fame and find them for her.

Meanwhile Sophie Smith is headed in the opposite direction. After turning down a proposal to take care of her dying mother, she’s hoping lightning strikes twice and she can find her ex.

Then there’s Alice, married to a really horrible man, and her son Rory, who I rooted for as they dealt with the worst week of their lives and decided to just be happy, and meet the rest of the gang for a fancy hotel lunch. Nice.

I love the way Val becomes more and more a matriarch of an extended family of unrelated but equally beloved people in these books, she has so many people she sees as family, that despite how utterly sad she’s been, she’s surrounded by so much love and joy, it helps her carry on.

Once again, a lovely, magical story from Shari, a hug in a book basically. I read these lovely stories when I need a shot of comfort, laughter and they never fail to make me smile – even the sad bits are OK.

And Val’s story is inspired by Shari’s own – one she brackets the action with. Which, despite not being as happy an ending as Val’s, is a rather sweet snapshot of the life of the author.

*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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Cover Reveal: The Obsidian Blade-Beka Westrup

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We’re thrilled to present the cover for the next book in the Winged Spirits series, The Obsidian Blade!

Seldom wings book 2 ebook gold copy-2

The Obsidian Blaze (Winged Spirits #2)

Expected Publication Date: August 20, 2024

Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance

Sia has returned to her father’s floating city, and now she must face the promise and arranged marriage she’s been running from for the last several years. She can no longer hide from her magic or from the seraph she’s been bound to. However, the Halcyon crown prince, Alezandral, has no interest in forcing her into an unwanted marriage. So they strike a deal: he’ll help her search for the answers she so desperately needs, and she’ll help him fool his country about the legitimacy of their engagement until they can find a way to break the heart bond tying them together. But these tasks may prove more difficult than they anticipated. There’s an army of sutilis bearing down on their continent, seraphim are going missing, and the closer Sia gets to the truth, the more she learns about the powerful male who owns her heart—and the stronger their bond becomes.

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Blog Tour: The Musician and the Monster – Megan Van Dyke

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If you’re looking for a gothic romantasy that’s a fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast, this book is for you! Pre-order The Musician and the Monster today!

The Musician and the Monster: A Gothic Beauty and the Beast Retelling (The Castamar Duology Book 1)

Expected Publication Date: May 7, 2024

Genre: Gothic Romantic Fantasy

 Forbidden love
☑️ Morally grey MMC
⚔️ Determined heroine
 Music is powerful
 Slow burn to steamy
❄️ Wintertime
鹿 Gothic vibes
❤️‍啕 Hurt/comfort
️ Touch her and 
✨ Magic
 Masquerade

Music says things words never can. I love you. I miss you. I’m sorry I killed you.

Every night, Ceridwen Kinsley plays music on her rooftop for the spirit of her dead mother. A peaceful if odd ritual, until she witnesses a murder by something not quite human. The monstrous encounter earns her notoriety within the city and a visit from the reclusive Lord Protector Drystan Winterbourne.

Charged with protecting the backwater city of Teneboure by the king, Drystan is failing at his task, and he can’t afford another slip up. But when fate and the very monster he means to conquer bring Ceridwen to his notice, he seizes the opportunity and presents her with an offer: play music for him at his manor in exchange for the money her impoverished family desperately needs. Music eases the strain of his magic, and who better to hire than the woman whose tunes he secretly listens to at night?

At first, Ceridwen is put off by Drystan’s unkempt appearance and harsh demeanor, not to mention the odd ailment that plagues him. But as he embraces her passion for music and she draws the recluse out of his lonely tower, the two develop an unlikely attachment. Class lines begin to blur as fearful indifference shifts to unexpected desire, and Ceridwen yearns to help Drystan subdue the monster as well as provide for her family. However, the monster prowling the night isn’t their only enemy, and as terrible secrets come to light, protecting those they love may risk their lives and their hearts.

This retelling of Beauty and the Beast incorporates themes and motifs from Phantom of the Opera, and is set in a gaslamp fantasy world with strong gothic vibes. It should appeal to fans of romantic and atmospheric retellings and fairy tales by authors such as Hannah Whitten, Tessonja Odette, and Stephanie Garber.

 

Goodreads

 

Preorder Here  Amazon 

 

About the Author

Megan Van Dyke is an award-winning fantasy romance author with a love for all things magical and romantic, especially fairytales and anything with a happily ever after. Many of her stories include themes of family (whether born into or found) and a sense of home and belonging, which are important aspects of her life as well. When not writing, Megan loves to cook, play video games, explore the great outdoors, and spend time with her family. Megan currently lives with her family in Florida.

Megan Van Dyke

My thoughts: this was a really enjoyable re-working of Beauty & the Beast, yes he does still have a fabulous library, don’t worry.

Ceridwen (there’s quite a few Welsh names here) is a flautist and nightly plays the flute into the air – to her dead mother’s spirit. Overheard by Lord Winterbourne, he becomes captivated by the music.

After she’s attacked by the terrifying creature haunting the town, his Lordship visits her family and offers her a job playing for him, only she can’t leave his home, not even to visit her family. She agrees, his fee will help her sick father and allow her sister Bronwyn to stop worrying so much.

You all know how it goes, there’s a few added twists to the tale, which make it more interesting a read, and a chance for Drystan to make amends and save the kingdom.

It’s a really clever, inventive re-imagining, as the author does so well, and I really enjoyed it. 

 

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Tags:

#rrbooktours #rrbtthemusicianandthemonster #TheMusicianAndTheMonster #romantasy #fairytaleretelling #beautyandthebeast #beautyandthebeastretelling #forbiddenlove #gothicromance #meganvandyke #gaslampfantasy #morallygrey #gothicfantasy

*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: Alder King Spring – Talia Greer

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AlderKingSpring copy

It’s release week so you don’t need to wait any longer for Talia Greer’s latest book, Alder King Spring!

ebook (3)_edited

Alder King Spring (Wild Wanderings Book 2 – Standalone)

Publication Date: April 30, 2024

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Shifter Romance

⛈️Grumpy/Sunshine
🌲Small Town Wooded Setting
✨Woodland Magic
🔥Slow Burn
💭Sentient Forest
🏳️‍🌈Demisexual and Bisexual Rep
🕰️Loose Beauty and the Beast Vibes
📖German Folklore Inspiration

As his curse’s deadline approaches, Kaspar and his beloved enchanted forest stand on the brink of doom.

Deep in the snowy forests of Germany, the Alder King of legend runs short on time. Cursed by a vengeful sorceress for his father’s misdeeds, Kaspar’s desperate quest for the one elusive remedy–love–becomes increasingly dire. Each passing day, his hope dwindles, for who could ever see past his face, marred by the scars of ancient magic?

Eliza Wilson has two missions: write her dissertation, and savor her fleeting days of freedom. Her fiance considers her interests pointless, and while her family loves him, Eliza longs for a deeper connection. With their wedding on the horizon, this research trip is her last chance to indulge her interest in all things mythical.

Though the country house she rents a room in is breathtaking, the surly landlord–who covers his face and seems reluctant to acknowledge her unless they’re discussing literature–soon becomes more fascinating than her research.

As her determination to unravel his secrets brings them closer, Eliza unearths the grim destiny of the ailing king and realizes that she holds the sole key to his salvation–if only he would allow himself to be saved.

Will she make a dutiful return to her indifferent fiancé? Or will she choose the risk of a lifetime and indulge her forbidden attraction to a stubborn and lonely mythical king who refuses her help at every turn?

Perfect for readers of Kathryn Moon and Lillian Lark, Alder King Spring is a dual-POV, full-length paranormal monster romance that draws inspiration from German folklore. It has a guaranteed HEA and features a grumpy/sunshine dynamic and a loose Beauty and the Beast retelling. See author’s website for more detailed content warnings.

Alder King Spring is the second in a series of small town standalones, each set in a different location and season. All books in the Wild Wandering series can be read in any order.

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Book Blitz: A Flare Above – Julia Janis

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AFlareAbove copy

It’s release day for author Julia Janis, and A Flare Above the Dawn is now available! The series is complete!

The Rhythmist Cycle is a YA epic fantasy series perfect for those who want a teen version of Lord of the Rings with a music magic system and swoony romance!

A Flare Above the Dawn NEW ebook cover

A Flare Above the Dawn (The Rhythmist Cycle #4)

Publication Date: April 30, 2024

Genre: YA Epic Fantasy

✨European-inspired setting
✨Epic Adventures
✨Music magic
✨Dark magic
✨Elves, dwarves, fairies, and made-up race
✨Magic battles
✨Monster fights
✨Multiple POV
✨Found family
✨Swoony romances
✨Complex characters

Darkness is rising.
Two armies are growing.
A war is coming.

Derrick and his friends are on the brink of ending Darkness from the world. But it requires going on life-threatening quests to retrieve the only power to destroy it: the Phoenix amulet.

There’s one problem though. The amulet is broken into two pieces with one lying in the Highland Mountains across the High Realm and the other lost in the Dark Realm–an unknown place the first Dark one accidentally created when Darkness was brought to the world. Now Derrick’s group must split apart to reclaim the pieces and unite them together. Failure to do so, and Killian will go to war, killing every last living Rhythmist and letting Darkness win.

Join Derrick, Kota, Elias, and Zamora in the final book of The Rhythmist Cycle where they travel through treacherous lands, fight savage monsters, and uncover truths that change them for good…or for worse.

Available on Amazon & on KU

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