blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Broken Darkness – Theresa Braun

TheBrokenDarkness copy

Welcome to The Broken Darkness book tour! Read on for more info about this gorgeous collection and visit one of our instagram hosts for a chance to win a paperback copy of your own!

The-Broken-Darkness-eBook

The Broken Darkness

Publication Date: January 26th, 2023

Genre: Dark Fiction/ Spec Fiction/ Short Story Collection

Publisher: Gorgon Blood Press

In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire—forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors, or else suffer the consequences.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

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Theresa Braun has a Master’s degree in English literature and lives in South Florida where she has taught literature and writing for over 20 years. Traveling, ghost hunting, and all things dark are her passions. In 2018 Unnerving released her horror novel Fountain Dead, a coming of age ghost story. Her short works have appeared in The Horror Zine, Sirens Call, Hardened Hearts, and Best Indie Speculative Fiction: November 2018, Double Barrel Horror (Volume 3) and Emporium of Superstition.

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My thoughts: these short stories are sinister and creepy, dark and compelling. From ghosts who keep reliving the moments of their deaths, to haunted places, things that go bump in the night, vampires and other sinister goings on, there’s something for every horror fan here. And of course, there’s exactly 13 tales, fitting perfectly into the theme of the book as a whole. Satisfying chilling.

Book Tour Schedule

February 13th

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

@amber.bunch_author (Review) https://www.instagram.com/amber.bunch_author/

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

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

@r.c.thomson (Review) https://www.instagram.com/r.c.thomson

@plungeintobooks (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/plungeintobooks/

February 14th

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

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

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

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

@read.em.if.you.got.em (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/read.em.if.you.got.em/

February 15th

@word.addict914 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/word.addict914/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

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

@dreaminginpages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/margiebythebookcase/

Book Reviews by Taylor (Review) https://www.bookreviewsbytaylor.com/

@better_0ff_read (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/better_0ff_read/

@itsabookthing2021 (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/itsabookthing2021/

@mels_booksandhooks (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/mels_booksandhooks/

February 16th

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

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

@what.kerry.reads (Review) https://www.instagram.com/what.kerry.reads/

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

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

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

Freelance Writer, Janny C (Spotlight) https://freelancewriterjannyc.com/

February 17th

The Scary Reviews (Review) https://thescaryreviews.com

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

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

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

@honeybee.reads (Review) https://www.instagram.com/honeybee.reads/

@itputs.the.book.upon.the.shelf (Review) https://www.instagram.com/itputs.the.book.upon.the.shelf/

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*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: Heroes of the Empire – Israh Azizi

HeroesoftheEmpire copy

We’re thrilled to share the first novel in the Heroes of the Empire series, The Cavalier by Israh Azizi! Read on for more details!

heroes of the empire book 1 - ebook

Heroes of the Empire: The Cavalier #1

Publication Date: November 22, 2022

Genre: YA Fantasy

She calls the Empire home. He pledges to bring its downfall.

Death is Velamir’s close acquaintance. As a student in the Chishman academy, he cannot escape the brutal war. When he’s sent on a mission with three fellow academy cadets, Velamir returns to the Empire, the land of his birth. Calamity befalls the group as they trek through enemy territory, and Velamir learns a part of his past that makes the mission far more personal. Burdened with the deaths of the unavenged and the chance of losing his own life, Velamir must decide if revenge is worth the cost.

Natassa knows her role well: The silent and obedient girl. The one who looks away from the torture her father, the emperor, inflicts on the Empire’s inhabitants. The princess. But she’s a shackled prisoner, and somewhere under the mask is a spark of rebellion. When she learns of her father’s intention to marry her to a man she loathes, Natassa crafts a risky plan of her own—one dangerous enough to get her killed.

Two searching hearts. Two perilous paths. Velamir must find the courage to face his past and Natassa must find the strength to face herself before the war consumes them both.

Available at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon

About the Author

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Israh Azizi resides in the land of ten thousand lakes with her family and five cats. Since she was a little girl she has been a lover of words and fanciful tales. It was her dream to one day share a story of her own with the world. With sheer determination, lots of love, and a decent amount of caffeine, she managed to make that dream come true. Besides reading and writing, she has a dizzying number of hobbies, some of which include bossing around her younger siblings, experimenting with new baking recipes, and playing board games with her family and close friends. When life’s plot twists don’t cross her path and her fingers aren’t dancing across the keyboard building a fantastical adventure, she can usually be found in a quiet corner with a good book and a steaming cup of coffee.

Page Turner Press | Instagram | Goodreads

Book Tour Schedule

January 13th

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

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

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

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

@itsabookthing2021 (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/itsabookthing2021/

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

January 14th

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

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

@word.addict914 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/word.addict914/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

January 15th

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

Bunny’s Reviews (Review) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/

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

@amber.bunch_author (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/amber.bunch_author/

January 16th

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

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

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

Riss Reviews (Review) https://rissreviewsx.wixsite.com/website

@mels_booksandhooks (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/mels_booksandhooks/

January 17th

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

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

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

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

@read_dog_reviews (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/read_dog_reviews/

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Blog Tour: Fatal Secrets – Anita Waller

Nothing is more important than family . . .
Matt Forrester has followed in his dad’s footsteps, climbing the police ranks to become a DI. But when he receives an urgent call for help, Matt has to rethink his career. His dad has been murdered, and Matt’s not going to let this case go. It doesn’t help that his current boss is sleeping with his ex-wife.
Hermia Forrester didn’t follow her brother into the police force, instead she works in research at the university. But, she’s not going to let that stop her from helping her brother find out what happened to their dad.
But the siblings soon find themselves surrounded by more danger than they ever imagined. Can they both survive this case or will there be more of their family in the morgue?
The thrilling first instalment in the Forrester Detective Agency Mystery series.
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Anita Waller is the author of many bestselling psychological thrillers and the Kat and Mouse crime series. She lives in Sheffield, which continues to be the setting of many of her thrillers, and was first
published by Bloodhound at the age of sixty-nine. Her first book for Boldwood will be published in August 2022.

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My thoughts: I can already tell that this is going to a be a corker of a series. This book online sets off at a blistering pace and we’re thrown into a shocking and terrible case. Matt’s father and business partner are brutally attacked and killed by unknown assailants. Was it to do with their past careers as police, their current PI business, or something completely different?

Matt hands in his badge to be able to investigate and when his beloved sister Hermia, is also attacked, he and best friend Steve, as well as his former police partner Karen, step up the case. They will stop at nothing to find the perpetrators and land them where they belong – in prison.

Gripping and totally thrilling, this book rattles along at a fair clip, and what the gang uncover is dark and disturbing but if they can survive and solve the case, will change things forever. And then there’s the small matter of a bit of romance too!

*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: Death by a Cornish Cove – Fliss Chester

A seaside party at a Cornish mansion with plenty of fizz, what could be more perfect? But something fishy is afoot… a killer lurks among the guests, and only Cressida Fawcett can stop them.

When Cressida Fawcett is invited to stay at Penbeagle House on the Cornish coast for a fancy-dress ball, she is looking forward to sipping rum cocktails clad as a pirate, watching the red-sailed boats go by and relaxing in the sea air with her good friend Dotty. But before they can raise their glasses to toast Cressida’s former flame Lord Canterbury’s engagement, he drops dead in front of the horrified guests.

The local doctor determines that Lord Canterbury was poisoned, and soon Detective Chief Inspector Andrews is on his way from Scotland Yard. But Cressida is dismayed by the murder of the intrepid explorer who once asked for her hand in marriage, and she cannot simply leave the case to the police. Together with Dotty and her little pug Ruby, Cressida searches for clues only to discover that many of the guests have a motive for murder. Did an irate journalist or a bitter fellow explorer send Lord Canterbury on his untimely final journey?

And when a young maid is found dead, floating in the shimmering waters of the cove, Cressida knows time is running out to catch the killer. Could aclue hidden among some rather pungent crab sandwiches help her solve the case before there is another murder?

A witty and totally addictive cozy mystery packed with intrigue and glamour. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss.

Amazon

Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter.

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My thoughts: this was so much fun, starting at a roaring 20s fancy dress party in a Cornish mansion, Cressida, Dotty and pug Ruby roar up in Cressida’s car dressed as pirates (Ruby’s a parrot – love it!) where a terrible event happens, Cressida’s ex fiancé Lord Canterbury, newly engaged to the host’s daughter, collapses. Poisoned. But who did it and why? There’s plenty of hijinks as Cressida investigates, despite detective Armstrong from Scotland Yard being on the case. There’s secrets, smuggling, another terrible murder and more.

This series just keeps getting better, I love Cressida, Dotty and Ruby. Ruby finds squirrels and clues, Dotty’s a real brick and Cressida is always dashing about, rooting out the truth. Marvellous stuff.

*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: Last Known Location – Eva Mackenzie

LastKnownLocation copy

Eva Mackenzie is back with a brand-new psychological thriller called Last Known Location and it will be available on February 9th! Read on for details and a chance to win a 8GB Kindle Paperwhite!

Mackenzie_LastKnownLocation_Ebook

Last Known Location

Expected Publication Date: February 9th, 2023

Genre: Thriller/ Psychological Thriller

The past has a killer obsession…

Gwen’s life has turned into a nightmare after an ongoing feud with her neighbor turns volatile. Malicious allegations and police intervention drive Gwen out of her home for a long weekend, where she meets a mysterious, handsome stranger named Noah on the local hiking trail.

Gwen’s never fallen for someone so quickly, but when he’s gone by morning, she never expects to see him again.

Three days later, Gwen is working in the ER when Noah is brought in with unexplained injuries and no memory of what happened to him.

Soon, Gwen can sense someone stalking her home and vandalizing her things. She can’t help but think her ex will never let her go, or is this mysterious man’s past catching up with him?

How can she protect herself from an enemy she can’t identify?

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Get Last Known Location on Amazon!

About the Author

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Eva Mackenzie is an author who enjoys twisty, emotionally engrossing tales. She is a wife and mother living on the east coast. When she isn’t writing, she is spending time with her family, training for her next marathon or reading stacks of suspense novels. Some of her favorite authors are Minka Kent, Dean Koontz, Tami Hoag, and Lisa Jackson.

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My thoughts: this was a clever, gripping thriller with a heck of a twist at the end, which I didn’t see coming at all.

Nurse Gwen is working in the ER when an unconscious man is brought in, she’s met him briefly and is able to tell the police that his name is Noah. Unfortunately he’s lost his memory and doesn’t know what he was doing in the woods. Can Gwen help him remember?

When his fiancée shows up, claiming to have been waiting in town for him for a week, the detective on his case is suspicious, as is Gwen. And then there’s the problems she’s been having with her ex too. Is it all coming to a head?

Twists and turns galore, you’ll be totally hooked and desperate to know what happens next!

Book Tour Schedule

February 6th

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

@amber.bunch_author (Review) https://www.instagram.com/amber.bunch_author/

Emerald Reviews (Review) https://www.emeraldreviews.co.uk/

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

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

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

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

February 7th

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

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

@infinite.readlist (Review) https://www.instagram.com/infinite.readlist/

@excavating.my.tbr (Review) https://www.instagram.com/excavating.my.tbr/

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

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

@bookish_tk (Review) https://www.instagram.com/bookish_tk/?hl=en

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

February 8th

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

Riss Reviews (Review) https://rissreviewsx.wixsite.com/website

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

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

@honeybee.reads (Review) https://www.instagram.com/honeybee.reads/

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

February 9th

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

@books.and.salt (Review) https://www.instagram.com/books.and.salt/

@itputs.the.book.upon.the.shelf (Review) https://www.instagram.com/itputs.the.book.upon.the.shelf/

@r.c.thomson (Review) https://www.instagram.com/r.c.thomson/

Bunny’s Reviews (Review) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/

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

February 10th

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

Chery’s Book Nook (Review) https://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/

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

@addictedtobooks86 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/addictedtobooks86/

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

Books Blog (Review) https://www.booksblog.co.uk/

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*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 Rose Girls – Jennifer Chase

Like a precious doll, the girl leans against the towering pine tree with her long bare legs stretched out and her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her head tilts towards the sky, but this innocent child will never feel the warm glow of morning sun again; her fragile little body is cold, her tender heart is still.

When Detective Katie Scott receives a plea from neighboring Coldwater Creek to help with a tragic murder, she doesn’t hesitate. Fifteen-year-old Ivy Miller’s naked body was found tied to a tree, a freshly inked pink rose tattoo on her arm. The word “MORE” carved into her back means sweet Ivy could be the first of many…

Katie’s heart aches for the young girl whose life ended before it had even begun. But she has her work cut out with the inexperienced police department fumbling the case at every turn. There hasn’t been a murder in this small town for as long as anyone can remember, but why will none of the locals cooperate? Katie’s only lead is a blurry photograph of Ivy’s long-missing mother found in Ivy’s bedroom. If she can find out where it was taken, Katie knows she’ll have the first clue in a mystery that has been haunting Coldwater Creek for years.

But Katie’s world crashes down when Ivy’s two best friends are found murdered in the same woods days later. Inked with the same pretty flower, the rose girls were keeping a deadly secret. Katie will never forgive herself for not making the connection in time. As mothers cling to their daughters, terrified to let them out of their sight, Katie’s search leads her to an abandoned building deep in the forest where the last photo of Ivy’s mother was taken. But will she survive long enough to stop more heart-shattering tragedies?

A totally nail-biting, keep-you-up-all-night crime thriller from a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. Prepare to pick your jaw up from the floor at that final twist! Fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh will be absolutely gripped!

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Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells.

In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

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My thoughts: this was so good. A terrible murder of a teenage girl, a town full of secrets, Katie and Gav on the scene as their car breaks down, world’s best canine officer Cisco finding important clues, it’s all here.

Utilising her extensive knowledge of forensics, k9 training criminology and basically all round awesome skills, Jennifer Chase has once again created a totally gripping, terrifying and intriguing case for some of my favourite fictional cops to solve.

Small towns can be creepy, everyone knows everyone, secrets fester below the surface and outsiders get little response. Which makes solving the series of murders and disappearances in this small town harder than it needs to be. The few people willing to help will only go so far, for their own safety mostly, and warning off Katie makes her more determined to stay put.

Luckily she and Gav have excellent back up and skills their enemies don’t know about. Also Cisco. Who is my favourite character, he’s so good.

Cannot wait for book 10, this series just gets better and better.

*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: Expectant – Vanda Symon

The shocking murder of a heavily pregnant woman throws the New Zealand city of Dunedin into a tailspin, and the devastating crime feels uncomfortably close to home for Detective Sam Shephard as she counts down the days to her own maternity leave.

Confined to a desk job in the department, Sam must find the missing link between this brutal crime and a string of cases involving mothers and children in the past. As the pieces start to come together and the realisation dawns that the killer’s actions are escalating, drastic measures must be taken to prevent more tragedy.

For Sam, the case becomes personal, when it becomes increasingly clear that she is no longer safe, and the clock is ticking…

Vanda Symon lives in Dunedin, New Zealand. As well as being a crime writer, she has a PhD in science communication and is a researcher at the Centre for Pacific Health at the University of Otago. Overkill was shortlisted for the 2019 CWA John Creasey Debut Dagger Award and she is a four-time finalist for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel for her critically acclaimed Sam Shephard series. The fourth in the series, Bound, was shortlisted for a Barry Award. Vanda produces and hosts Write On, a monthly radio show focusing on the world of books at Otago Access Radio. When she isn’t working or writing, Vanda can be found in the garden, or on the business end of a fencing foil.

My thoughts: Vanda Symon is back, Sam Shepherd is back, but not for long. Maternity leave calls for the detective, but she’s determined to solve this awful case first. Because babies always stick to the timetable.

A murdered woman, her unborn baby taken from her body, rocks the New Zealand Town of Dunedin – it’s so horrific most people can’t imagine it. The hunt for the baby is key, but so is finding the killer.

Sam, up against her terrible boss as usual, refuses to accept desk duty and sets about investigating who would want to take a newborn. A desperate woman? Stolen to order or something far sadder but also something that could have been avoided.

Without giving much away, I actually immediately knew why once a few key bits of info fell into place, and it is heartbreakingly sad. I used to work in a DNA blood typing lab and yeah, this needs to be something that’s done every time. DM on Twitter to discuss once you’ve read it if you like. Drawing on her scientific background, Symon has once again crafted a clever, intense, compelling read.

Hopefully Sam and baby will enjoy their time off, there’s a great nursery nearby and Sam will be back with more cases soon.

*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: Death and the Conjuror – Tom Mead

In 1930s London, celebrity psychiatrist Anselm Rees is discovered dead in his locked study, and there seems to be no way that a killer could have escaped unseen. There are no clues, no witnesses, and no evidence of the murder weapon. Stumped by the confounding scene, the Scotland Yard detective on the case calls on retired stage magician-turned-part-time sleuth Joseph Spector. For who better to make sense of the impossible than one who traffics in illusions?

Spector has a knack for explaining the inexplicable, but even he finds that there is more to this mystery than meets the eye. As he and the Inspector interview the colorful cast of suspects among the psychiatrist’s patients and household, they uncover no shortage of dark secrets—or motives for murder. When the investigation dovetails into that of an apparently-impossible theft, the detectives consider the possibility that the two transgressions are related. And when a second murder occurs, this time in an impenetrable elevator, they realize that the crime wave will become even more deadly unless they can catch the culprit soon. 

A tribute to the classic golden-age whodunnit, when crime fiction was a battle of wits between writer and reader, Death and the Conjuror joins its macabre atmosphere, period detail, and vividly-drawn characters with a meticulously-constructed fair play puzzle. Its baffling plot will enthrall readers of mystery icons such as Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr, modern masters like Anthony Horowitz and Elly Griffiths, or anyone who appreciates a good mystery.

Tom Mead is a UK crime fiction author specialising in locked-room mysteries. 

He is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the International Thriller Writers’ Organization. 

His debut novel is DEATH AND THE CONJUROR, featuring magician-detective Joseph Spector.

My thoughts: this was a lot of fun, harking back to my beloved Golden Age detective stories (honestly still some of the best crime fiction) with a magician turned “consulting detective” called Spector (excellent name) assisting the police investigation into the locked room mystery death of the psychiatrist Dr Rees (think Freud, complete with the large house in North London and dysfunctional family). The suspects are his three patients, his daughter and her fiancee.

As the pair delve into the lives of the Doctor and his patients, more mysteries appear, who was the man in the alley, what happened to the lift operator and who was the mysterious visitor the housekeeper couldn’t identify? No spoilers here, so grab a copy and follow the sleights of hand, the misdirection and try to guess where the case will go next!

*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: And I Was Like November – Rachael Biggs

AndIwaslikeNov copy

Welcome to the book tour for And I Was Like November, a “beautifully writtern bummer” by Rachael Biggs. Read on for more info!

And-I-Was-Like-November-RCB-Front-EBOOK-COVER

And I Was Like November

Expected Publication Date: January 31, 2023

Genre: Womens Fiction/ Black Humor/ Short Stories

20 October 2022… In a world where hyper-positivity and woke culture abounds, Rachael Biggs’ And I Was Like November offers a glimpse of the other side, while navigating themes of isolation and longing.

These are stories of what happens to the women that didn’t get their happy ending—the ones who don’t believe the cliches about family being everything and who know that live-laugh-love isn’t the cure all. Taboo topics that embrace a gritty reality include transactional sex, romantic obsession, maternal disdain and teenaged drug dealing are linked by the need to survive in the midst of questionable sanity and deep loneliness.

“This is what happens when things don’t work out and the consequences and feelings we have in private as a result. They’re stories about women whose lives aren’t glossy, filtered, and Instagram ready, and the contrast of their brushed-under-the-rug realities is maybe more interesting and relatable. In a world where we’re bombarded with shiny fallacies, this is the beautiful side of ugly,” said Rachael.

Available on Amazon starting January 31st!

About the Author

Rachael Biggs is an author, screenwriter, copywriter and journalist. She studied creative writing at UBC, UCLA, and with masters of the craft Syd Field and Robert McKee. In 2016 she earned a screenwriting diploma from Vancouver Film School with a focus on television.

Her memoir Yearning for Nothings and Nobodies debuted to critical acclaim and was adapted for the screen as Behind the Eight Ball.

She is a frequent contributor to print and on-line publications and her short fiction appears regularly in literary magazines including Door is a Jar, Angel City Review and Charge Magazine.

She divides her time between Vancouver and Los Angeles.

Rachael Biggs

Book Tour Schedule

January 30th

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

Stine Writing (Spotlight) https://christinebialczak.com/

@read_dog_reviews (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/read_dog_reviews/

Riss Reviews (Review) https://rissreviewsx.wixsite.com/website

January 31st

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

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

Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews (Spotlight) https://heidilynnsbookreviews.blogspot.com/

February 1st

@wolves_perception (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/wolves_perception/

@vinamkent_author (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/vinamkent_author/

The Faerie Review (Review) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

February 2nd

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

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

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

@latishaslowkeylife (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/latishaslowkeylife/

February 3rd

@booknerd_jen22 (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/booknerd_jen22/

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

@the.brooke.library (Review) https://www.instagram.com/the.brooke.library/

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Blog Tour: The Marriage Season – Jane Dunn

‘It’s not a fair world I’m afraid. Beauty or fortune carries the day. You have the beauty and I the fortune, so there’s every chance we’ll succeed’
In Regency England, marriage is everything. For young widow Sybella Lovatt, the time has come to find a suitable husband for her sister and ward Lucie. Male suitors are scarce near their Wiltshire estate, so the sisters resolve to head to London in time for The Season to begin.
Once ensconced at the Mayfair home of Lady Godley, Lucie’s godmother, the whirl of balls, parties and promenades can begin. But the job of finding a husband is fraught with rules and tradition.
Jostling for attention are the two lords – the charming and irresistible Freddie Lynwood and the preternaturally handsome Valentine Ravenell, their enigmatic neighbour from Shotten Hall, Mr Brabazon, and the dangerous libertine Lord Rockliffe, with whom the brooding Brabazon is locked in deadly rivalry.
Against the backdrop of glamorous Regency England, Sybella must settle Lucie’s future, protect her own reputation, and resist the disreputable rakes determined to seduce the beautiful widow. As the Season ends, will the sisters have found the rarest of things – a suitable marriage with a love story to match?
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Author Bio –
Jane Dunn is an historian and biographer and the author of seven acclaimed biographies, including Daphne du Maurier and her Sisters and the Sunday Times and NYT bestseller, Elizabeth & Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens. She comes to Boldwood with her first fiction outing – a trilogy of novels set in the Regency period, the first of which is to be published in January 2023. She lives in Berkshire with her husband, the linguist Nicholas Ostler.

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My thoughts: if, like me, you’re a fan of Regency romances and Bridgerton, then you’ll love this – trust me.

Sisters Bella and Lucie are headed to London, to stay with Lucie’s Godmother, “Lady God” as Bella’s hilarious son puts it, for The Season. Having lived out in the countryside, they’re both feeling a bit like fish out of water. Even with their neighbours Mr Brabazon and his cousin Lord Lynwood as acquaintances and increasingly friends.

Of course every man they meet has a reputation and most of them bad. Bella might be a widow but she’s a bit naive, not willing to just believe the things she’s told and besides, her husband was a paragon. A Dragoon captain he died in the Peninsula War (the endless fight against Napoleon’s global ambitions) and few could measure up.

And that brings us to my favourite character – Bella’s totally hilarious, very adorable little son, who loves horses more than almost anything else. He’s also the source of the funniest lines, having learnt most of his speech from the groom Gem and his late father’s batman George. Not exactly Society speech. But he’s brilliant. I want whole books featuring him and his many horse based interactions. He reveals the softer side of many of the dashing rakes the sisters meet, most of them are horse lovers too and can’t resist a small pudgy hand asking to have a ride.

This book was really enjoyable, lots of fun, and quite funny. So do yourself a favour and return to the Regency and the Ton.

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