blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Invite – Sheryl Brown

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Kaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks. She’s finally introducing her fiancé Greg to her best friend Zoe, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare…

Staring at the stunning diamond solitaire on her finger, Kaitlin knows her relationship has been a whirlwind… but Greg looks after her, and he loves playing dad to her young daughter. How could she refuse when he’s already planned their romantic elopement?

As the guests arrive, Kaitlin wonders why Greg is suddenly acting so shifty. Is that a flicker of recognition on Zoe’s face? And why does she look terrified every time her phone rings?

Kaitlin watches as Zoe knocks back her white wine and makes a beeline for Greg. Then, after a heated conversation, her best friend stumbles outside without looking back.

Days later, the police knock at Kaitlin’s door – Zoe is missing.

When the police question Greg about the night of the party, Kaitlin knows he’s telling lies. But why would he? Can she really trust the man she’s marrying? And could her precious daughter’s life now be in danger too?

The Invite is an absolutely unmissable psychological thriller, perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife. You’ll be hooked from the first page!

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Audio:UK US

Listen to a sample here

Bestselling Author, Sheryl Browne, writes taut, twisty psychological thriller. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies where she completed her MA in Creative Writing. Sheryl has also obtained a Certificate of Achievement in Forensic Science and – according to readers – she makes an excellent psychopath. Sheryl’s latest psychological thriller THE INVITE comes to you from BOOKOUTURE. Her previous works include the DI Matthew Adams Crime Thriller series, along with contemporary fiction novels, The Rest of My Life and Learning to Love. To find out more about Sheryl. go to www.sherylbrowne.com

My thoughts: this was very clever and also a bit confusing (I totally empathised with Kaitlin), there were several different suspicious characters and threats beyond the sudden disappearance of Zoe during Kaitlin’s party. Greg being suspicious, then there’s Zoe’s ex, Daniel, who isn’t who he claims to be, but neither Greg. Who can Kaitlin trust to find her missing friend and unravel this messy business and is her innocent daughter at risk too?

It all comes down to the old adage – the only man a girl can trust is her dad! Kaitlin’s parents are her rocks, supporting her all the way. She’s trying to find her way through this confusing maze of lies and half truths, feeling at a loss and suffering sudden heartbreak, can she forgive Greg? Will Zoe be ok? Well, I’m not telling.

*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 Killing Crew – Murray Bailey

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Ash Carter and Bill Wolfe are in Israel hunting a group of British Army deserters known as the Killing Crew. Some people think they were a myth, others believe they were the most hated of British soldiers.

In the newly formed state that’s at war with the Arab nations, hated by Jews and despised by Arabs, the two SIB officers think they face an uncomfortable task.

But when they become targets they realise this is more than just a job. It’s life or death.

My thoughts: this was an interesting and gripping thriller, set in the newly independent state of Israel, just after the British handed it over to self-govern. Things are deeply dysfunctional in many ways, there’s a lot of derelict buildings, people are poor and criminal gangs shake people down. Ash Carter is doing his best, but few like or trust the British and he’s not sure who to trust, even Wolfe seems to be behaving suspiciously.

They’ve been given a task, complicated by the fact that not all deserters are considered their jurisdiction, and the lack of information they have access to. They’ve got to identify the men behind the attacks, if they even exist, and then run them to ground, without officially being able to carry any weapons and with checkpoints everywhere.

Ash also manages to get mixed up with some loan shark thugs and has their gang on his tail, making it harder to work out who it is that’s chasing them, gangsters or dangerous terrorists. They’re aided by the very capable secretary Sylvia Rom – who definitely can do a lot more than type up the minutes of their meetings, and a young soldier with an old actor’s name – Albert Finney.

I’ve never been to Israel (although my mum was there for a bit in the late 70s) and I don’t know a huge amount about the period after WW2 there, but the sense of danger and menace is compelling. There’s a lawlessness to the desert and the gangs of deserters and unhappy factions that bring to mind other countries at different times and Ash, always a proper British gent, often seems to be the last good man. And he gets the girl, or in this case, the landlady!

*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 Rebel Daughter – Miranda Malins

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A country torn apart by war. A woman fighting for her future…

Ely, 1643. England is convulsed by Civil War, setting King against Parliament and neighbour against neighbour. As the turmoil reaches her family home in Ely, 19-year-old Bridget Cromwell finds herself at the heart of the conflict.

With her father’s star on the rise as a cavalry commander for the rebellious Parliament, Bridget has her own ambitions for a life beyond marriage and motherhood. And as fractures appear in her own family with the wilful, beautiful younger sister Betty, Bridget faces a choice: to follow her heart, or to marry for power and influence, and fight for a revolution that will change history…

My thoughts: it was interesting to go back to before the events of The Puritan Princess, about Cromwell’s youngest daughter, to this, about his eldest. Bridget’s story takes us through the two civil wars, the execution of Charles I, right up to her father being made Lord Protector. Suddenly you’re seeing a whole different angle on a familiar story. Bridget has quite a radical streak and empathised with the Levellers – wanting a fairer society for all. She actually believed that the new Parliament hasn’t gone far enough. That more could be done, even though it was all rather messy.

This is, at its heart though, a love story. Between Bidding Biddy and her Henry – she even rides to him at a war summit to declare she’ll marry him after all. Even though she finds much about marriage confining, and chafes at the lot of women, being clever and having opinions of her own, she does love him, very much.

As always I enjoy a book about history’s women, so often a footnote to their fathers, husbands, sons, but without whom very little would have ever been accomplished. Biddy was centuries too early for her talents and quick mind to be seen as they should be, instead relegated to running a household and managing a few servants, rather than a country and dozens of MPs.

*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 Blood Tide – Neil Lancaster

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You get away with murder.
In a remote sea loch on the west coast of Scotland, a fisherman vanishes without trace. His remains are never found.

You make people disappear.
A young man jumps from a bridge in Glasgow and falls to his death in the water below. DS Max Craigie uncovers evidence that links both victims. But if he can’t find out what cost them their lives, it won’t be long before more bodies turn up at the morgue…

You come back for revenge.
Soon cracks start to appear in the investigation, and Max’s past hurtles back to haunt him. When his loved ones are threatened, he faces a terrifying choice: let the only man he ever feared walk free, or watch his closest friend die…

My thoughts: following straight on from the events of Dead Man’s Grave, Max and his team are thrown into a new case, investigating several suspicious suicides, a missing person and the murder of two drug dealers. Someone has inside knowledge and the team need to find them, fast. Tam Hardie is also still around, brooding in his prison cell, planning revenge on Max.

A lot happens, and quickly, as the team find more corruption inside the forces meant to keep people safe – this time the NCA, not Police Scotland, and then some. There’s a lot of tracking phone calls and data triangulation – which isn’t the most exciting thing to read about and I’m a bit like Ross – give it to me in the simplest of terms! Thankfully they’ve recruited Norma, a genius tech handler from the NCA to help out and for a doughnut she’ll break it down.

The ending was very satisfying and tied off some plots nicely, wiping the board clean for book three.

*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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Blog Tour: The Last Roman – B.K. Greenwood

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TheLastRoman copy

Welcome to the book tour for The Last Roman: Exile, the first novel in a thrilling trilogy by B.K. Greenwood. Read on for details and a chance to win a copy of this beauty and a t-shirt inspired by the book!

THE LAST ROMAN FRONT LIGHT

The Last Roman: Exile

Publication Date: May 29th, 2021

Genre: Historical Thriller/ Roman Mythology

Some debts you cannot repay, even if you live forever…

Seasoned imperial officer Marcus Sempronius Gracchus leads the 9th Roman Legion into a bloody battle against a fierce barbarian tribe. It’s a battle he won’t survive.

When he awakens three days later, clawing his way from a shallow grave, Marcus must face the reality of his new existence; he will never see the afterlife. But that won’t stop him from dying time and again over the next 2,000 years.

Unfortunately, there are others cursed with immortality, and they are determined to bring the world crashing to its knees. Forced to confront the only brother he has ever known, can Marcus prevent the inevitable and possibly find redemption?

The Last Roman: Exile is a fast-paced, action-packed historical thriller that will have readers coming back for more. Don’t miss out on B.K. Greenwood’s debut novel, the first in this exciting new trilogy.

Available on Amazon

The Last Roman: Abyss is now available too!

Excerpt

Marcus moved along the faltering line and soon encountered the largest man he had ever seen, hacking his way through the thinning ranks. A legionnaire tried to bar his path, but the ogre swung his massive blade, catching the soldier just below his jaw. A crimson arc of blood sprayed from the fatal wound, much of it splattering across Marcus’ face and chest. Behind the giant, more barbarians advanced to exploit the breach.

Marcus grabbed the shield of a fallen soldier and rushed the behemoth, who welcomed the attack with a vicious blow. The force drove Marcus to one knee and nearly knocked him unconscious. Marcus raised the shield to protect his head and shoulders and thrust his sword upward. The point struck metal, so he shoved it harder until he felt the blade dig into the soft underside of a trunk-like arm. Marcus could hear the giant’s howl above the din of the battle and knew that retribution was near. Another thunderous blast crashed into the shield, the metal and banded leather splintering from the attack. The next blow would rip Marcus asunder. 

Desperate, Marcus hastily covered his head with the remains of his ruined shield. He mustered all his strength and drove forward into the beast. The shield thudded against his waist, eliciting an angry grunt. Marcus reached around the barbarian’s leg with the blade of his sword, finding the naked thigh. Never meant as a weapon for slashing, the edge of his sword was still razor-sharp. He drew it across the giant’s hamstring, cutting through flesh and sinew as Marcus pushed forward. The Suebi screamed in agony as the two men crumpled to the ground. The barbarian smashed the hilt of his sword into Marcus’s head, knocking off his helmet. The world was spinning as Marcus stood and staggered away. Blood flowed down his face, blurring his vision. His opponent, writhing in pain, was screaming at him.

Marcus heard several men shout, “The giant is down!” 

A loud cheer erupted from the Romans, but that only encouraged the other barbarians. Marcus somehow raised his sword in time to block another attack, but the force knocked him to the ground. The barbarian raised his sword to strike a death blow when Gaius appeared out of nowhere and ran him through. With great effort, Marcus regained his footing, lumbering forward to rejoin the melee. He lost his balance again and had to lean on his sword to keep from falling. As he stood watching the raging battle, a sharp pain shot through his side.

He looked down and saw the blade of the stricken giant sliding beneath his armor. The barbarian was sitting on his haunches, trying to stab him again. Marcus summoned his remaining strength and, swinging for the neck, felt the cold steel bite into flesh, then bone. A low gurgle escaped the laceration as the colossal body slumped forward, and the barbarian’s head fell to the ground.

Marcus dropped the sword, trying in vain to reach his wound and stem the flow of blood. His breath grew labored, and he coughed, a coppery trace spilling into his mouth. He slumped to his knees as scores of legionnaires rushed past. Marcus watched the reinforcements plug holes in the line and stem the barbarian attack. More cohorts arrived, and the battle devolved into a desperate struggle. Even with both legions engaged, the outcome was uncertain. 

Marcus watched as the ranks dwindled, the men stubbornly giving way to the onslaught. It looked like they may break at any moment when a commotion drew his attention to the right side of the battle. A cheer rose from the legionnaires as the forgotten Roman cavalry rejoined the fight and rolled up the exposed barbarian flank. Within minutes, the Suebi army was in full flight, and the mounted troopers were cutting down the stragglers. As the centurions rushed to put the men back in formation, Marcus slipped to the ground, his gaze fixed on the gray, sunless sky. 

Moments later, Gaius knelt beside him. He tried to undo the bloody clasp of his armor, but Marcus pushed his hand away. Their eyes met.  

“The men did good,” Marcus said.  

“Yes, they did.”

Marcus continued, but it was inaudible.  

Gaius leaned over, and Marcus whispered, “Tell my wife—” He coughed up specks of blood onto Gaius’s soiled cheek. “I’m so sorry…” Marcus swallowed back the warm fluid that was rising in his throat, “sorry I left her.”

“I will,” he promised. “I will tell her myself.” 

Marcus nodded as a white horse arrived, the rider dismounting. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the general’s voice.

“Gaius?” 

The old centurion did not reply, but the answer was written on his troubled face. Quintus knelt to the ground. 

“Marcus, your actions have saved the day. I plan on submitting your name to the Senate…” 

Quintus paused when their eyes met, then shifted to the pool of blood gathering around them. As the general spoke of honor rolls and victory marches, Marcus looked beyond him to the sky above. There was a shimmer in the cloud that resembled a bird. He tried to focus on the form as it grew closer, but he could not keep his eyes open. As he slipped into the darkness, he thought of his wife and the fact that he would never see her again.

About the Author

Author HS

B.K. Greenwood lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and wolfpack of 4 rescue dogs. He loves to travel and has incorporated his experiences into his writing. B.K. enjoys works of fiction and nonfiction, with a heavy emphasis on history, adventure, and classics. His passion for history is on display in his debut novel, The Last Roman: Exile.

B.K. Greenwood | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Giveaway: The Last Roman: Exile and Tee Bundle!

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TheLastRoman copy

Book Tour Schedule

February 21st

R&R Book Tour (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com

@takealookatmybookshelf (Review) https://www.instagram.com/takealookatmybookshelf/

@rosyreadz (Review) https://www.instagram.com/RosyReadz/

Sophril Reads (Spotlight) http://sophrilreads.wordpress.com

February 22nd

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Review) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

  @honeydukesbooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/honeydukesbooks/

Rambling Mads (Spotlight) http://ramblingmads.com

Timeless Romance (Spotlight) https://aubreywynne.com/

February 23rd

I Smell Sheep (Spotlight) http://www.ismellsheep.com/

@jypsylynn (Review) https://www.instagram.com/jypsylynn

B is for Book Review (Spotlight) https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

Haddie’s Haven (Spotlight) https://haddieshaven.blogspot.com

Books + Happiness = Happiness (Spotlight) https://bookscoffeehappiness.com/

February 24th

 @books_inthecity (Review) https://www.instagram.com/books_inthecity/

Jessica Belmont (Review) https://jessicabelmont.com/

The Magic of Wor(l)ds (Review) http://themagicofworlds.wordpress.com

Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com

February 25th

 @softestreader (Review) https://www.instagram.com/softestreader/

 @definitelynotreading (Review) https://www.instagram.com/definitelynotreading/

    @the.suspense.is.thrilling.me (Review) https://www.instagram.com/the.suspense.is.thrilling.me/

@bhaneereads_ (Review) https://www.instagram.com/bhaneereads_/

Misty’s Book Space (Spotlight) http://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com

Book Tour Organized By:

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R&R Book Tours

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: If She Wakes – Erik Therme

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Who do you trust when everyone is lying?

My name is Tess Parker.

Two days ago, I was in a car accident with my sister-in-law, Torrie. Before she slipped into a coma, she asked my husband and me to care for her four-month-old son, Levi.

Yesterday, a woman claiming to be Torrie’s estranged sister knocked on our door. But Torrie has no siblings . . . or so she said. She and my brother were only together a short time before he left, and Torrie has clearly been keeping secrets.

Today, another of Torrie’s “sisters” has come to town. Both say the other is lying about who they are.

Neither of them is telling the truth.

Both of them want Levi.

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Erik Therme has thrashed in garage bands, inadvertently harbored runaways, and met Darth Vader. When he’s not at his computer, he can be found cheering on his youngest daughter’s volleyball team, or watching horror movies with his oldest. He currently resides in Iowa City, Iowa—one of only twenty-eight places in the world that UNESCO has certified as a City of Literature. Join Erik’s mailing list to be notified of new releases and author giveaways.
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My thoughts: the person I felt sorriest for in this messed up family was baby Levi, all these adults wanting him, not for himself but for various reasons dating back far before he was born. Both of his maternal aunts, complete strangers, want him almost as a replacement for his dead uncle, they’re manipulative and fight with each other – both telling Tess the other is a liar and dangerous. She doesn’t know which one to trust and without Torrie awake to fill in the story, not entirely sure of either of them. Her husband Josh isn’t much help, quietly drawing away from her and not communicating.

And that’s before anyone else gets involved, dragging Tess into another nightmarish scenario that puts Levi at risk and further complicates her relationships with Josh and Torrie.

Tense and compelling, this game of mothers, needing a King Solomon-like verdict, or at least Torrie to wake up and decide who gets to look after the baby, is clever and dark.

Click on the image for the rest of the tour.

*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 Dragon Tree – Julia Ibbotson

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Click to go to review of previous title in this series – A Shape on the Air

The Dragon Tree (Dr DuLac series Book 2)
A haunting medieval time-slip.
Echoes of the past resonate through time and disturb medievalist Dr DuLac as she struggles with misfortune in the present. She and Rev Rory have escaped to the island of Madeira on a secondment from their posts, yet they are not to find peace – until they can solve the mystery of the shard of azulejo and the ancient ammonite. Viv’s search brings her into contact with two troubled women: a
noblewoman shipwrecked on the island in the 14th century and a rebellious nun at the island convent in the 16th century. As Viv reaches out across the centuries, their lives become intertwined, and she must uncover the secrets of the ominous Dragon Tree in order to locate lost artefacts that
can shape the future.
For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, Christina Courtenay.

(for A Shape on the Air) “In the best Barbara Erskine tradition …I would highly recommend this novel” -Historical Novel Society
(for the series) “Julia does an incredible job of setting up the idea of time-shift so that it’s believable and makes sense” – book tour reviewer
“The idea of being able to ‘feel’ what happened in the past is enticing … The sense of the island is really wonderful … Julia brings it to life evocatively” – Joanna Barnden
“an engaging and original time-slip novel that keeps the reader turning the pages…the characters are authentic and the mystery is neatly woven between the centuries … seamless time transitions”
– Melissa Morgan
Purchase

A sea boat in Madeira
Madeira mountains
Madeira boats in Camara Bay

Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She sees her author brand as a historical fiction writer of romantic mysteries that are evocative of time and place, well-
researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip/dual-time mysteries. Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language/literature/ history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books (Endeavour) for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s. She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone. Her work in progress is the first of a new series of Anglo-Saxon mysteries (Daughter of Mercia) where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries. Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’,
‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.

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Goodreads

My thoughts: it took me a bit longer to get into this second time travelling adventure, perhaps because it opened on such sadness, or maybe because I haven’t been to Madeira (although I’ve certainly eaten the cake) and don’t know a lot about it or Portuguese history in general. Portugal is that bit further and seems to have wisely stayed out of various mix ups in history that England, France and Spain seemed determined to have. Sensible place really.

But as Viv starts to connect more with the island’s history, Ana and her descendants, finding out more about the turbulent past and the casual erasure of the (most probably) real original settlers – the Moors, and their influences, I enjoyed it more. Viv is reeling for a tragedy and she and Rory are drifting from each other, each in their own private pain.

Moving to Madeira might seem an extreme way to handle grief, but I can see the desire for a place that doesn’t hold the sad memories the way their home in the UK does. Viv’s research has moved forward too – into a later part of the medieval period- the reign of the English Edward III, who doesn’t come across too well in Ana’s memories, shared by Viv. His wife, Philippa of Hainault is an interesting figure and I would have liked a tiny bit more of her.

I didn’t embrace this book as enthusiastically as A Shape in the Air, which is a shame, although I did find it interesting and want to look at some wider medieval history. Book 3, The Rune Stone, will be reviewed later this week, so stay tuned.

*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: A Shape on the Air – Julia Ibbotson

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A Shape on the Air (Dr DuLac Book 1)
A haunting Anglo-Saxon time-slip of mystery and romance.
Can echoes of the past threaten the present? They are 1500 years apart, but can they reach out to each other across the centuries? One woman faces a traumatic truth in the present day. The other is
forced to marry the man she hates as the ‘dark ages’ unfold.
How can Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, unlock the secrets of the past? Traumatised by betrayal, she slips into 499 AD and into the body of Lady Vivianne, who is also battling treachery. Viv must uncover the mystery of the key that she unwittingly brings back with her to the present day, as echoes of the past resonate through time. But little does Viv realise just how much both their lives across the centuries will become so intertwined. And in the end, how can they help each other
across the ages without changing the course of history?
For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, Christina Courtenay.

“In the best Barbara Erskine tradition …I would highly recommend this novel” -Historical Novel Society
“Amazing …a really great book …I just couldn’t put it down” -Hazel Morgan
“Well-rounded characters and a wealth of historical research make this a real page-turner” – Amazon review
“Enthralling” -Amazon review
“Julia does an incredible job of setting up the idea of time-shift so that it’s believable and makes sense” – Amazon review
“Viv/Lady Vivianne … lovely identifiable heroine in both time periods….I love her strength and vulnerability. And Rory/Roland is simply gorgeous!” – Melissa Morgan
“gripping … a very real sense of threat and danger, an enthralling mystery … a wholly convincing romance, across both timelines” – Anne Williams
Purchase

Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She sees her author brand as a historical fiction writer of romantic mysteries that are evocative of time and place, well-
researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip/dual-time mysteries. Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language/literature/ history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books (Endeavour) for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s. She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone. Her work in progress is the first of a new series of Anglo-Saxon mysteries (Daughter of Mercia) where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries. Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’,
‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.

Amazon Author page Author website & blog Facebook Twitter Instagram
Pinterest Goodreads

My thoughts: if you’ve been loitering around here long enough you’ll know by now that I am a massive history nerd, I love historical fiction and have a particular passion for the period between the end of Roman occupation and the medieval period (I will not be using the term that rhymes with fark fages) as well as the medieval period itself. While there isn’t a huge wealth of recorded detail of the period, writing being very primitive, mostly done by priests (the Romans however kept very detailed records) and paper expensive. So we have to use our imaginations a fair bit.

Which is why we get such fun books, like this and Christina Courtney’s books (although they’re set a bit later when the Vikings were settling in Britain) complete with time travel and mythical figures who may or may not have been real to some extent (yes, I’m talking about King Arthur, especially as Viv in this book is related very distantly to Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, who gave him Excalibur).

Viv has just had her heart broken by a horrible little man, when she first starts to time slip, finding herself in the body of Lady Vivianne, a Briton, herself hostage to another horrid man, who plans to forcibly marry her and cement his theft of her lands, titles and people, after her parents’ brutal deaths. But both modern Viv and historic Vivianne are tough women, smart and capable and surrounded by good friends who want to help them get back what’s theirs.

Thankfully Viv’s friends don’t immediately think she’s lost it, although they’re a little sceptical, but less so once hunky vicar (a thing I have never seen despite a lifetime of involvement in various bits of the church, including working for it and being educated by it – supposedly) Rory steps into the frame. Turns out he’s a fellow time traveller, who’s own equivalent avatar is Sir Roland, Lady Vivienne’s handsome friend (convenient that!).

Look, I loved this book, it’s a lot of fun, there’s lots of history, some romance, the women aren’t soppy but strong and stand on their own two feet, with excellent pals around them (even if, like Tilly, they’re a bit nuts) and I can’t wait to share the rest of the series with you – book 2 tomorrow!

*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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Cover Reveal: One Night With You – Laura Jane Williams

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In case you missed it – the cover reveal for Laura Jane Williams new book One Night With You was this past Tuesday – scroll down for more info!

Two strangers. Two cities. One night that changes everything. 

From the queen of the meet-cute comes this summer’s must-read rom com!  

One Night With You by Laura Jane Williams is out 26th May and available to pre-order now.   

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Gifts – Liz Hyder

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In an age defined by men, it will take something extraordinary to show four women who they truly are . . .

October 1840. A young woman staggers alone through a forest in Shropshire as a huge pair of impossible wings rip themselves from her shoulders.

Meanwhile, when rumours of a ‘fallen angel’ cause a frenzy across London, a surgeon desperate for fame and fortune finds himself in the grips of a dangerous obsession, one that will place the women he seeks in the most terrible danger . . .

THE GIFTS is the astonishing debut adult novel from the lauded author of BEARMOUTH. A gripping and ambitious book told through five different perspectives and set against the luminous backdrop of nineteenth century London, it explores science, nature and religion, enlightenment, the role of women in society and the dark danger of ambition.

My thoughts: bits of this book reminded me of Skellig, David Almond’s extraordinary book, but this is far darker, more complex and with large themes and ideas. Women sprouting wings, three in this story, although only two live, perhaps, as Natalya suggests because of the wildness within in them, the fact that they are rejected by society – she for her baby born out of wedlock, Etta for her skin colour and illegitimacy, and then Mary – who does not grow physical wings but does spread her metaphorical ones and fights to save the pair trapped in a terrible place.

I have often been glad that, as much as I like learning about history, that I live in an age of relative freedom for women. That I have far more rights than many who came before me. Women like Natalya, Etta and Mary. Women like Annie and Sarah too. Where society dictates their roles, and gives them rules and even clothing that imprisons and controls them, forcing them to conform or else be outcast and alone.

There is also a loss of religious faith here – Etta, Natalya and Mary have all pretty much given up on church and God. Each of them have been broken by cruel twists of fate and survival becomes much more important than prayer. Edward is the one who prays, but the church he attends is much more about appearances and as he descends into his delusions and cruelty, his faith too starts to warp and suffer. Faith does not offer comfort or support here, just cold blank faced stone.

While the fantastical elements of the story are wonderful, it is the more humdrum stuff and the kindness of others that matters. Jos and George’s kindness in taking in their niece Mary, hers in turn towards Charlie. Those human connections that make us who we are, Mary wants to help Etta and Natalya, not just for the story, but because she is good and kind. She is determined to improve her own situation, but also that of these other women, women she does not even know, and in doing so also helps Annie and Sarah too – the Meakes’ house is no longer a safe place for women – not even for the dog locked in the basement too (also female). A striking, moving story of women and strength.

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