blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Stepmother – Sally Rigby & Amanda Ashby

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She’ll do anything to protect her family…
Libby Curtis never wanted children, until she met Nathan, a gorgeous widower with two young children. Now ten years later she can’t imagine her life without Sam and Sienna – she’d do anything for her precious kids. Anything….
So when a missing teenager is found lying on the side of the road, Libby’s first thoughts are for her own kids. Are they safe? Are they home?
What Libby doesn’t expect is for her children to be involved in the girl’s disappearance. But when she discovers an item in her stepson’s car linked to the victim Libby’s fears increase.
She can’t believe that the sweet boy she’s raised could do something like that. But if not Sam….who?
Libby must discover the truth before her family is ripped apart. But someone is determined to make sure their secrets stay hidden – even if the consequences are deadly…
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Amanda Ashby and Sally Rigby are a crime writing partnership. Both authors live in New Zealand, have been friends for eighteen years and agree about everything (except musicals). They decided to collaborate on a psychological thriller which they then entered into a competition, run by Boldwood, and which they won!

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My thoughts: I knew from the authors that this would be good, full of twists and turns, with characters you want to trust but aren’t sure of. And boy, does this deliver.

Libby is a paramedic and step-mum to teenage twins Sam and Sienna. Her marriage to Nathan seems solid but recently she thinks he’s been hiding things. Then a young woman is attacked, and Libby is first on the scene – the victim is a friend of her children and she can’t help but see her own kids in the same situation.

Being secretive is part of being a teenager, but Libby’s worried. Is Sam involved with what happened to Heather? Is Sienna up to something, having been spotted hanging around Heather’s house.

Then there’s Gemma, arrived in town investigating a serial killer from years ago, that might have links to Libby’s family. Can Libby keep it together and protect her family if one of them is a criminal?

The plot gets intense, twists and turns abound, I was totally hooked, utterly gripped and there were a few “no” gasps, especially towards the end as all the secrets came to light.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic – Breanne Randall

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For fans of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls this charming debut novel and TikTok sensation is packed full of romance, charm and plenty of magic…
Revelare witches are cursed. As long as they use their magic, they are doomed to four heartbreaks.
So far, Sadie Revelare has experienced three – the devastating departure of her mother and the loss of her brother. And the most painful heartbreak of all: Jake McNealy, her first love. Ever since, Sadie
has done everything she can to protect herself from more pain.
But now Sadie’s beloved grandmother is sick. And without her, Sadie isn’t sure she will have the strength to keep her family and her magic together.
As Sadie’s carefully structured life begins to unravel, Jake returns to town after a decade away. And in the face of a final heartbreak that could tear Sadie apart, she must decide once and for all: is love more important than magic?
The perfect read for anyone looking for a cosy and warm, witchy novel to curl up with this autumn.
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Breanne Randall is a freelance writer by trade and an author by vocation. She
graduated with honors with degrees in English Literature, Psychology, and Religious Studies, and her articles have been published in national magazines such as Parents, Fit Pregnancy, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle et al. as well as regular contributions to sites such as Disney Family, SheKnows, Bustle, et al. A seasoned traveler, she imbues her stories with the magic and culture collected from the over forty countries she’s visited.
Breanne lives in the sleepy foothills of Northern California with her husband, two daughters, and a slew of farm animals. When she’s not writing, you can find her wandering the property searching for
fairy portals or serving elaborate stuffed animal tea parties.
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My thoughts: this was a very sweet and charming book about family, love and letting go. Sadie has to keep control of everything, she can’t let life just happen. But when her beloved grandmother, Gigi, is diagnosed with end stage cancer, she has to finally realise she can’t control everything.

With her family members – including her estranged brother, and long lost mother, finally coming home, and her ex-boyfriend back in town, can Sadie learn to love again, and banish her family’s curse for good?

Sadie’s family all have witchy gifts, some more useful than others, and there’s a curse to go with it. But Sadie can save herself and twin Seth, if she can figure out what she needs to do by the full moon.

Interspersed with the recipes Sadie uses in her cafe, there is a gentle love story as well as that of Sadie and her family, rebuilding their bonds after years apart. Super cosy and lovely.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books

Blog Tour: To Be Continued – Grace Woods

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ToBeContinued copy

Welcome to the book tour for spicy romance, To Be Continued by Grace Woods. Read on for more details!

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To Be Continued (To Be Continued Series #1)

Publication Date: July 2023

Genre: Billionaire Romance

They are worlds apart.

He’s a billionaire. He’s handsome. He leads an international oil company. She’s a teacher. She’s practical. And she’s an environmentalist.

They’re from different worlds, but when they come together, they forge a sensual, edgy world of their own—a world of play and pleasure, a steamy romance with an intimacy so intense that even the logical, independent Ashley Barris loses track of what is real.

Almost.

What is true? What is fantasy? Does it matter that lines are blurred as Luke opens her world and she opens his?

Ashley must choose between rapture and righteousness, between her values and a love so real that everything is perfectly unreal.

Get ready for a spicy romance where smart meets sexy!

Available on Amazon & Audible

About the Authors

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Grace Woods is the nom de plume for two female authors brought together by a desire to deliver wildly sensual, unexpected love stories steeped in respect and revelation. They are mentors, mothers, wives, risk-takers, businesswomen, avid readers, and lovers of nature. Individually, like the women they write for, they contain multitudes. Together, as Grace Woods, they are a force for telling smart and sexy stories.

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BBNYA Semi-finalists: Immortal Revenge – F. Anne Fischer

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This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

400 years ago, a single event sparked a long-simmering feud between John and Renphor. Now, the two vampires’ lives will become impossibly intertwined in modern-day Philadelphia, leading to a final showdown. As the two try to adapt to a quickly changing world, everyone around them will get swept up in their schemes.

The feud will only end when one of them is destroyed – but as they lose the support of friends and lovers, which one will successfully navigate a world where everyone is lying?

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F. Anne Fischer is a biochemist by day, and author, poet, and dragon collector at night. She lives in Czechia with her very opinionated cat, Agatha, and visits the local castles as often as possible.

Her writing covers a range of topics, but a recurring theme is “what would really happen if you took these extraordinary creatures, and made them exist in the world as it currently is?” She hopes that her readers enjoy her take on it.

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Blog Tour: Moroccan Traffic – Dorothy Dunnett

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Upwardly mobile and smart Wendy Helmann, Executive Secretary, is in Marrakesh with her mother while her boss, Chairman of Kingsley Conglomerates, conducts very delicate if slightly dubious takeover negotiations.

But while Morocco is a romantic place, Wendy finds herself side-tracked from its attractions by the antics of Rita Geddes and a few peripheral problems such as kidnapping, explosions, industrial espionage, murder and car chases across the High Atlas mountains . . . Enter Johnson Johnson and his yacht Dolly.

Dorothy Dunnett (1923-2001) gained an international reputation as a writer of historical fiction. She later turned to crime writing with the acclaimed Dolly books, aka the Johnson Johnson series. She was a trustee of the National Library of Scotland, and a board member of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. In 1992 she was awarded an OBE for her services to literature. A leading light in the Scottish arts world and a renaissance woman, Dunnett was also a professional portrait painter and exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy on many occasions.

My thoughts: the final Dolly book, and it brings the return of Rita Geddes from the first book – Tropical Issue – but now she’s the head of a large corporation and not a make up artist. Whose company is the target of a hostile takeover. But first there’s total chaos, with kidnappings, car chases and other crazy things.

Secretary Wendy Helmann, and her crazy mother, who might actually be a spy or something, are in town too, to assist with the takeover, until they get dragged into the nuttiness. It might be Johnson Johnson’s most outrageous outing yet.

Packed with references to the previous books in the series, this is a hilarious, totally over the top and delightful 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.

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BBNYA Semi-finalists: Heliotrope – Palmer Pickering

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This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Teleo is a retired soldier descended from Mages, who were cast out of power generations ago. After years of war and sorrow, he wants nothing more than to live a quiet life on his farm and work his stonemason’s craft.

His wife and daughter had been murdered during a war raid several years earlier and his young son stolen by the enemy side. He spent years unsuccessfully searching for his son and returned home broken-hearted. At the local castle, he comes upon a war orphan stolen by his side from the enemy and rescues him from abuse, adopting him as his foster son.

Teleo is working at the castle when he finds himself in the middle of a coup. This launches a journey to protect his new family, uncover the secrets of the ancient ways, and reclaim the magic of the Mages.

A cast of lovable characters:

Teleo – A gritty warrior who would do anything for you, unless you cross those he loves, then you will meet his blade.

Dinsmora – A reclusive herbalist who weaves shadows.

The fosterling – Orphan who forms a family and softens the toughest of hearts.

The animals – Characters in their own right who carry burdens and bring glory.

Magic:

Magic was outlawed generations ago but lingers in the blood of the kingdoms. There were good reasons it was outlawed and reasons it must rise again.

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Palmer has been writing fiction since she was eight. She received her BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University, with concentrations in Religion and Race Relations.

She currently works in Silicon Valley in the gaming industry and high tech. In addition, Palmer holds a certificate in Chinese Acupressure, is a certified solar panel installer, and studied Tibetan Buddhism with the 14th Dalai Lama.

She lives and writes in the magical redwood forest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, California.

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BBNYA Semi-finalists: Idriel’s Children – Hayley Reese Chow

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This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Reaping darkness, the Shadow slicked steel with judgment and danced with death…

Sixteen-year-old Aza inherited the power of shadow to rid the land of evil as Odriel’s cold-blooded assassin. With her growing strength, Aza discovers the Shadow Plane—a realm of wraiths where screams haunt the winds, calling to her. Although her father forbids her from entering the dark realm, Aza can’t ignore the beckoning whispers.

When a dangerous new breed of monster attacks, Aza believes the Shadow Plane holds the answers they need to defeat them. With the unwanted help of a snarky cat and a cursed beast, Aza seeks out the monastic Wraith-Called for answers. But the deeper Aza delves into the dark realm, the further she drifts from the world she knows.

As Aza uncovers evils new and old, she must decide if the ends really do justify the means… and how many lives she’s willing to pay.

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Hayley Reese Chow is the author of Odriel’s Heirs, the 2020 winner of the Florida Author Project and fifth place finalist in the 2021 Book Blogger Novel of the Year Awards. She’s also the author of Into the Churn, a romantic YA sci-fi released by Whimsical Publishing in April 2023.

When not falling head over heels into fictional worlds, her hat collection includes mother, wife, engineer, reservist, fencer, ultramarathoner, triathlete, world traveler, book inhaler, and super nerd. Hayley currently dodges hurricanes in Florida with two small wild boys, her long-suffering husband, and her miniature ragehound.

To find Hayley’s other stories and see what she’s working on next, check out hayleyreesechow.com. You can also find her on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram @HayleyReeseChow.

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Book Review: The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond – Louise Davidson

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After a terrible tragedy, governess Julia Pearlie finds herself with no job, home, or references. When she’s offered a position as companion to Miss Olivia Richmond, her luck appears to be turning. But Mistcoate House is full of secrets.

Olivia has a sinister reputation. The locals call her the Mistcoate Witch, thanks to her tarot readings, and her insistence that she can speak to the dead. Her father, Dr Richmond, believes this to be girlish fantasy and is looking to Julia to put a stop to it.

Determined to prove herself and shake off her own murky history, Julia sets to work trying to help Olivia become a proper young lady. However, as she becomes a fixture at Mistcoate, it is soon clear that there may be more to Olivia’s stories than Dr Richmond would have Julia believe – not least because somehow, Olivia seems to know something of the darkness that Julia desperately hoped she had left behind.

As the danger grows, and the winter chill wraps around the dark woods surrounding Mistcoate, Julia will have to fight to uncover the truth, escape her past – and save herself.

Original and engrossing, this chilling Victorian Gothic ghost story is an outstanding piece of storytelling, perfect for fans of Sarah Perry, Erin Morgenstern and Jessie Burton.

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Louise Davidson was born in Belfast and has always worked in the creative arts in some capacity – from assistant to theatre directors to teaching scriptwriting classes in prisons to teaching English and drama to A-Level students. Growing up in Northern Ireland backgrounded by the Troubles led to a fascination with history, and this combined with her love of all things gothic inspired her to write her first book, a dark Victorian thriller set in a neglected and isolated mansion. Louise lives in London with her husband and step-son, and in her spare time is working on fulfilling her ambition to visit every museum in the city. The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond is her debut novel.

My thoughts: set in a suitably Gothic and somewhat sinister house, buried in the woods, this is a perfect Halloween read. Unreliable narrators, characters with buckets of secrets, ghosts, a violent figure hiding in the forest, suspicious locals, and a young woman who says she can see spirits, and reads the tarot to some of the townspeople, causing friction.

Julia must make her own way in the world, having inherited nothing useful from her mother, and with a brother who doesn’t want to help. So she was working as a governess, but after a terrible incident at her last post she’s floundering.

Hired as a companion to doctor’s daughter Olivia Richmond, at Mistcoate in Norfolk, she’s fully aware this is her last chance to get a good reference and earn some money. Her employer wants her to prepare his troubled daughter for the Season in London, where he hopes to find her a husband.

But things are not right at Mistcoate, Olivia is known locally as a witch, claiming to see the dead and be able to divine the future. She’s been looked after by the housekeeper since her mother died when she was very young. But the housekeeper, Mrs Hayes, isn’t all she seems, and is bitterly jealous of Julia’s relationship with Olivia.

As events unfold and take a dark turn, Julia becomes afraid of the household, apart from old Captain Reynolds and the maid of all work Marian. She also becomes close to the local vicar Ed and his sister Alice. These friendships keep her sane as things get stranger and more volatile. Her employer, Dr Reynolds, insists on holding “examinations” of his daughter, assisted only by the housekeeper, and threatens Julia with the sack.

The book amps up the tension and you really feel for Julia, although she also has secrets and the ghosts seem to cling to her, symbols of her guilt, perhaps.

The ending is ambiguous, will Olivia be alright in her new life in London and will Julia and Ed make a go of it? Have they truly escaped the ghosts and demons of their pasts?

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions remain my own.

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BBNYA Semi-finalists: Hazelhearth Hires Heroes – D.H. Willison

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This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Welcome to Hazelhearth: our picturesque city is nestled in a tranquil corner of the empire. Fitness lovers enjoy vigorous nature walks in the surrounding forest (don’t forget your sword!) Foodies savor rich, robust walnut-based cuisine. Or visit the gnome quarter for a walk on the wild side! Local mines and orchards beckon with plentiful employment opportunities, while workers sleep safe knowing that stout city walls keep mythic monsters at bay. A select few may even be chosen for exciting quest opportunities.

The onslaught of subterranean hordes? Oh, that’s happening miles away. And the elves have it completely under control.

Inquire today at the Hazelhearth board of tourism, employment, and heroics!

How could Sam and Lee say no? Lee is bored to tears as a telegrapher. His only excitement in life is the revolutionary new board game he’s creating. And of course constant disruptions at work by Sam, whose high voltage experiments wreak havoc with nearby electric systems. These two best buddies… colleagues… acquaintances are ready to escape from 19th century America into a more exciting world!

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D.H. Willison is a reader, writer, game enthusiast and developer, engineer, and history buff. He’s lived or worked in over a dozen countries, learning different cultures, viewpoints, and attitudes, which have influenced his writing, contributing to one of his major themes: alternate and creative conflict resolution. The same situations can be viewed by different cultures quite differently. Sometimes it leads to conflict, sometimes to hilarity. Both make for a great story.

He’s also never missed a chance to visit historic sites, from castle dungeons, to catacombs, to the holds of tall ships, to the tunnels of the Maginot Line. It might be considered research, except for the minor fact that his tales are all set on the whimsical and terrifying world of Arvia. Where giant mythic monsters are often more easily overcome with empathy than explosions.

Subscribe to his newsletter for art, stories, and humorous articles (some of which are actually intended to be humorous).

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Blog Tour: Chasing Dreams at the Wagging Dogs’ Home – Sarah Hope

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After a difficult break-up, Poppy is keen to put the past behind her and what’s better than some relaxing time with her aunt in the picturesque Cornish village of West Par.
But life at her aunt Flora’s Dogs’ Home is anything but relaxing. When a poor little pup is stranded at the gates, Poppy takes them for a check up at the local vet, hoping against hope they’ll be fine.
And there she meets Mack: the vet who is so charming and experienced with the dogs, but selfish and – dare she say it – money-grabbing with his clients.
But underneath that cold exterior, she’s sure there’s more to the story. If only she could convince him to open up. Because without him, the future of Wagging Tails isn’t so assured…
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Sarah Hope is the author of many successful romance novels, including the bestselling Cornish Bakery series.

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My thoughts: a book full of my favourite things – animals, Cornwall, romance, charming characters, yes please. Oh and it’s set at Christmas, which is a bonus if you’re into it.

Poppy moves in with her Aunt Flora, who runs the Wagging Tails Dog Rescue, and offers to help out while she gets herself together, after an ugly breakup. Bonding with Flora’s enthusiastic team, and the cute pooches, especially Dougal, abandoned in a box by the gate, Poppy soon realises that despite everything appearing to be ok, there’s a serious problem Aunt Flora has kept secret.

Falling for, and bickering with, new vet Mack, can Poppy help out Wagging Tails, save Aunt Flora, adopt Dougal and build a new life for herself in West Par? With some help, human and canine, she might just be able to do so!

Delightful, sweet, funny and full of doggos. What’s not to like? Go on, treat yourself.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.