Welcome to the tour for the third book on the Heroes of the Empire series, The Emperor!
The Emperor (Heroes of the Empire #3)
Publication Date: November 24, 2024
Genre: Young Adult/ Epic Fantasy
Character Driven
Found Family
Slow Burn Romance
Foretold Prophecy
War For The Throne
Unlikely Allies
Unique Magic System
Morally Grey Characters
Chosen One
“Because this is your destiny.”
The crown prince of the Empire, Honzio Hartinza, has become a prisoner within his own palace. Uluzar control has overtaken Hearcross, and with the Tariqin threat remaining too, the battle is far from over. To restore order, Honzio allies with a Savorian warrior and darkness itself in the form of a despised adversary, but it’s belief in himself that will be key to saving his land, people, and crown.
Velamir chooses between his great love and best friend, leaving Jax’s fate in Coralie’s hands until he can track down Natassa’s captors. His desperate search leads him to Devorin. In the icy kingdom, he encounters a group proclaiming him the hero they’ve been searching for and learns the last words of a father he barely knew, whose own past reveals the course of Velamir’s future and knowledge that could end the war and bind the lands forevermore.
Natassa evades her abductors and finds refuge with the Elders. She seeks the order’s aid in battling her shadows, but when she’s forced to wield them to her advantage, she learns of a pact made with them long ago. The shadows want something from her. The Golden Phoenix, the Elders call her, telling her of a prophecy. Natassa must accept her role in it and cross one of two paths: risk everything to destroy evil for good or open the portal to a realm of spirits and burn the world to ashes.
Beneath the tranquil surface of Whidbey Island, a sinister force lurks. When a ruthless polygamist cult leader and his deadly enforcer unleash chaos, Deputy Sheriff Roger Wilkie is drawn into a relentless game of cat and mouse. He knows the truth—but capturing these cunning killers may be his toughest challenge yet.
With the help of the island’s eccentric residents—including a formidable ex-con who’s always in the thick of trouble—and two sharp-witted German Shepherds, Wilkie navigates a world of danger, dark humor, and razor-sharp sarcasm. Fast-paced and gripping, this thriller will keep you hooked until the final, heart-stopping twist.
Part of the Whidbey Island series, but can be read as a standalone
Ted Mulcahey has lived most of his life in the Pacific Northwest. He is an Army Veteran, sales and marketing VP, entrepreneur, business owner, avid reader, one of nine children, and proud husband who attributes his sense of humor to his mother and his wife.
The cabin was rustic and smelled of old wood. A queen bed was shoved against a pine-clad wall, and a small writing desk with a lamp and a chair sat opposite. He presumed a stained, knotty pine door on the far side of the room led to the bathroom. One other item was shoved in the corner on the far side of the bed—a puffy, plaid dog bed.
Francis seemed unsure of his next move, but Henry…not so much. The three-year-old eighty-pound GSD vaulted into the center of the bed, turned three circles, then plopped down and stared expectantly at his human.
Jesus, he thought, what have I gotten myself into? He rested his muscular body on the small chair and looked at his new friend. “What do you think, Henry? What’s going through that brain of yours?”
The shepherd perked his ears even higher and twisted his head, seemingly trying to understand. He held that pose for a few seconds, then lowered his head on his two front paws, his eyes never leaving Francis.
He had heard dogs could be smart, but this one almost scared him with its intelligence. He was out of his league, so he did what he always did when unsure—he took action.
He stood up, and as he did, so did Henry. “Come on, buddy, let’s take a walk.”
The large rust and black mass of fur jumped from the bed, stopped at his feet, and sat, still looking up.
“What? What is it?” Francis sensed the dog wanted something…but what?
After a few seconds of staring at each other, he got it. “The leash, right? The leash?”
Two sharp barks answered his question. Francis shook his head in wonderment at this marvelous animal as he snapped on the leash and headed out the door. “Let’s go, boy, c’mon.”
At dusk in Kanab, the surrounding rocks and mountains gave off an unearthly, deep red glow. Francis and Henry took one of the many trails through the boulders and small crevasses surrounding Dogtown. The temperature was a comfortable seventy degrees, and the wind was nonexistent. The quiet was broken only by the swish of Francis’s boots through the sand and the rapid huffing of Henry.
He found himself talking to his companion, asking him about the case, where Driggs was, and what made Mullins such an evil man. Every time he paused, so did Henry. He was astonished at the animal’s awareness and constant search for threats. He started to understand why GSDs were the workhorses for police, search and rescue, and the military. Still, though, as much as he liked him, he wasn’t inclined to take care of a pet.
They circled back to the cabin just before dark. Opening the door, he saw a brown paper bag on the desk, several grease stains providing clues to its contents. On the floor next to the dog bed was a large bowl of water and another with kibble piled high. Francis had never heard of this place, but it was clear they had their shit together.
He scarfed down the still-warm hamburger and fries while Henry did the same with his dinner. Francis knew enough to take his pal for a short walk after eating to do his business.
They returned to the small TV-less cabin, with only each other for company. Francis thought it was silly for people to talk to their pets like humans, but now he found himself doing precisely that. He was tired from the day’s events and the exhilarating walk and was looking forward to crashing early.
Making sure Henry was in his bed, he showered, brushed his teeth, shaved his head, and returned to the bedroom. Henry’s bed was empty, and he was once again perched in the middle of the bed designated for humans.
“Henry…down, boy.” Francis snapped his fingers as he said this.
The large shepherd dutifully stepped from the bed and went to his designated sleeping place. Francis climbed under the covers, switched off the bedside lamp, and immediately fell asleep in the room’s pitch darkness.
At some point in the middle of the night, he turned over to get up to relieve himself but found Henry nestled next to him. The dog seemed determined to sleep in the same bed, so Francis turned the opposite way to get to the bathroom rather than protest. He wondered what thoughts were going through the dog’s mind and why he seemed to latch on to someone like him.
He stumbled back to bed in the darkness, climbed back in, even pushing the animal over a few feet so he could fit, and soon fell back asleep. He didn’t stir until daylight crept through the curtains the next morning.
Reaching over, he found Henry was no longer lying next to him. He sat up to see his new best friend sitting alertly in his dog bed, apparently awaiting instruction. “Ya know, Henry, you sure are an interesting fellow. How about I get you a little food? Then we can get to finding these Barlow people.”
After Henry finished the last of his kibble, they headed for his truck. Francis opened the rear door of the crew cab and urged his companion to jump up into it, but the dog just sat there staring at him.
“What? You can’t jump?”
When Francis attempted to help the animal up, he pulled away.
“C’mon, Henry, what’s the problem? We gotta get going.”
Frustrated, Francis opened the front passenger side to put his duffle in. Looking like an Olympian, Henry launched himself inside the truck and onto the passenger seat. He sat there alertly, looked down at his partner, and barked sharply as if to say, close the damn door, buddy.
Shaking his head, Francis threw his duffle into the back, closed both doors, and headed for the Best Friends Welcome Center. They arrived to find Terri standing by the entrance.
“Well, Francis, how was your night with Henry?”
They were standing on the step, Francis holding the leash and Henry practically glued to his leg.
“I’ll admit, he’s an amazing animal. He sure has a mind of his own, but we got along well.”
“Would you like to adopt him?”
“I think he’s wonderful, Terri, but I don’t see me having a dog.”
She looked disappointed but accepted his decision. “I understand. If you still want to talk to the Barlows, you can find them in the cafeteria, across the street.”
He thanked her, handed her the leash, and turned to leave. As he did, Henry began a high-pitched keening that nearly buckled his knees. He stopped momentarily but then continued walking to find the two men who might be able to help him find Driggs.
Abe and John Barlow were not brothers, but if looks meant anything, they could have been. They were both slightly built and somewhere in their mid-twenties. They seemed to be gentle souls and appeared to love their jobs working with the animals at Best Friends. Unfortunately, they were of little help in supplying any information that might help locate Joseph Driggs.
The two men had discovered that caring for animals and spending time with others of like minds was far more rewarding than living with the FLDS’s strict and sometimes bizarre rules and practices. According to the Barlows, Driggs may have had altruistic intentions at one time, but their impressions were that he grew increasingly greedy and self-absorbed as the years passed. They felt he would never be far from Shane Mullins, especially if money were involved.
Disappointed but determined, Francis returned to his rented truck across the street. As he opened the door to get in, he heard Terri yell, “Henry…HENRY, come…get back here.”
He turned just in time to witness what a full-grown German Shepherd traveling at thirty miles per hour looks like. In a blur, Henry vaulted into the pickup, hopped over the console, and sat in the passenger seat.
Terri rushed over and said, “I’m sorry, Francis. He pulled the leash from me as soon as he saw you. Let me get him out of there.”
Francis looked up at the dog, sitting silently and alert, his intelligent eyes begging to stay. He melted. He’d never had a dog or even a goldfish, but there was a connection with Henry he’d never felt with anyone before, human or animal. “Never mind, Terri.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“It seems I don’t have much choice here. I think he’s adopted me, not the other way around. What do I need to do to take him with me?”
The paperwork was taken care of on the hood of his truck while Henry supervised and never moved from his shotgun position. Francis had planned to return his ride to the Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport, but now, with his additional passenger, he opted to make the seventeen-hour drive back to Whidbey Island. He figured they’d make Twin Falls by nightfall, then do the ten-hour stretch the following day.
A little over an hour after leaving Kanab, they merged onto I-15 and settled in for the next four hundred miles. Henry had finally curled up on the passenger seat and was snoring quietly. Every time he glanced at his new pal, he felt a little twinge in his gut. He knew his buddy, O’Malley, owned a German Shepherd and was rarely seen without her. He began understanding how attached this breed could become to a single individual or family. He recalled what Terri had told him: “Remember, these dogs are pack animals, and if you and your family are their pack, they will defend and protect you until they die. It’s their sole purpose in life.”
She also told him how important it was to socialize Henry with others, including other canines. As the miles passed, the more he thought about it, the more he realized he was now responsible to and for another creature. It was the same way he felt about his brother…sort of. This was a little different. He wondered what Jake would have to say about his new roomie.
Author Interview
On writing:
How did you do research for your book?
Much of the background for Ferry Tails is the result of my travels in Southern Utah and Arizona. My friendship with a retired Ferry Captain was invaluable in detailing the inner workings of the Washington State Ferry System
Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?
The most difficult was the leader of the breakaway religious cult. The easiest, of course, was Roger Wilkie.
How did you come up with the ideas for your books?
Because of many hours spent on the ferries to Whidbey Island, I had always entertained the idea of a murder on one of my trips. Ferry Tails was my chance to bring the thought to life.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
Mostly the quirky characters I bump into while living on an island.
What makes your books different from other cozy mysteries out there?
The locales and perhaps the sarcastic sense of humor from the principal characters.
What advice would you give budding writers?
Sit down and write. Then when you’re done for the day, think about what you’ve written, but write without thinking first—that’s when the real you happens.
Your book is set in the Puget Sound area. Have you ever been there?
I live there.
If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would you be?
There’s a good deal of Kevin O’Malley in me, but he’s likely an improved version.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
Nope.
How long have you been writing?
Off and on since my high school newspaper.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?
Not block, per se, but sometimes it’s difficult coming up with a satisfactory resolution that is somewhat unique.
What is your next project?
A mystery surrounding a murdered CEO of a pharmaceutical company whose demise is the result of an unknown organism.
What genre do you write and why?
Cozy Mysteries, mostly for an enjoyable humorous journey that takes the reader somewhere else, if only for a little while.
What is the last great book you’ve read?
It’s an old one, but Word of Honor by Nelson DeMille made an indelible impression. Probably because I was a junior officer in the US Army during the same period as the story.
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
“I really had fun reading it”, is always my favorite.
How are you similar to or different from your lead character?
Similar in life experiences but I have considerably more foibles than Kevin O’Malley.
If your book were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?
Paul Rudd and Sandra Bullock.
If your book were made into a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?
“Ripple” by the Grateful Dead
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing your book?
The reward is in solving the riddles and completing the story.
In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like?
Long.
Which authors inspired you to write?
Justin Scott, DeMille, and Rosenfelt.
On rituals:
Do you snack while writing? Favorite snack?
Not much
Where do you write?
In my basement office.
Do you write every day?
Pretty much. Unless I’m playing golf.
What is your writing schedule?
Every morning about 9 am until I get too stiff to sit in the chair.
Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?
Not really, I try to do a HIIT workout in the early afternoon.
In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
Not since thirty years ago.
Fun stuff:
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
Not sure I want to do that, really.
Favorite travel spot?
Ireland
Favorite dessert?
Pie
If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?
Three that I haven’t read yet.
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you? The scariest? The strangest?
Brushed my teeth with glue instead of toothpaste as a kid. (I think that’s the answer for all three questions)
What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Exposed my books to criticism.
Any hobbies? or Name a quirky thing you like to do.
Love golf.
If there is one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?
I tried to lighten their day.
What is something you’ve learned about yourself during the pandemic?
Being home alone with my wife is really, really nice.
What TV series are you currently binge watching?
Slow Horses
What song is currently playing on a loop in your head?
Still waters run deep in this baffling new case for the Charity Shop Detective Agency!
Wild swimming in February? No, thank you . . .
To Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue, the retired ladies behind the counter at Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop, it sounds like torture. Still, no one ever died of plunging themselves into the icy sea waters. Until now.
When the body of Colin Barclay — retired PE master and wild-swimming fanatic — washes up in a secluded cove, the ladies begin to realize just how dicey this wellbeing trend can be.
Especially when a shifty new customer comes calling at their charity shop. Is this where you solve murders? She asks, her eyes darting wildly round the shelves of bric-a-brac. I think I have one . . .
This woman knows Colin better than most. And she’s convinced his death was no accident. It was murder. But she’ll need the ladies to dive in and help her prove it . . .
After studying to be an architect, Pete realised he wasn’t very good at it. He liked designing buildings he just couldn’t make them stand up, which is a bit of a handicap in an industry that likes to keep things upright. So he switched to advertising, writing ads for everything from cruise lines to zombie video games. After becoming disillusioned with working in ad agencies, he switched to writing thriller novels (or was it because he just wanted to work at home in his pyjamas?). He soon realised there’s no magic formula. You just have to put one word in front of the other (and keep doing that for about a year). It also helps if you can resist the lure of surfing, playing Nintendo Switch with his son, watching America’s Next Top Model with his daughter and drinking beer in a garden chair.
My thoughts: The Charity Shop Detectives are back, and this time with a strange case that’s been ruled death by misadventure, but a friend of the victim insists it must be murder.
So Fiona, Partial Sue (I love Partial Sue) and Daisy start learning about wild swimming, tides, currents and surfing as they look into the death of a member of the local wild swimming group (those rather crazy people who swim in the sea when it’s freezing cold) who supposedly drowned.
Fiona takes up swimming with the group, all of whom seem to be rather nice. She also talks to the owner of the local surf shop, not exactly a successful business, but another fairly benign person. Daisy’s neighbour, a surfer, helps them out with some technical knowledge (and eats a lot of cake).
It’s a really clever case that requires a lot of local knowledge and understanding of human nature. When the trio put together the clues, and the information they’ve gathered to crack the case and find a killer.
Another brilliant outing from the Charity Shop Detectives.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
I first saw her on the platform on my way home from work a few weeks ago. She had an aura about her that made people stop and stare. Then I saw her again. And again. Our twice weekly commute into London Waterloo insync. She was always so poised, so pretty, so perfect. Everything I’m not.
In my head, her name’s Lucia, and she’s a glamorous catwalk model from Milan who commutes from Winchester to attend casting calls in the city. But this morning she’s late, barely making the train as the doors close. She doesn’t take her usual seat, instead staying close to the doors…
Then it hits me – she looks terrified. I feel compelled to help her, and against my better judgement I stand up and move towards her. It’s then the illusion crumbles. Her name’s not Lucia, but Allie. Not a model, but a woman in need of dire help. She tells me she’s in danger, that she’s done something dreadful and I don’t know why I do it, but I promise to keep her safe. But I shouldn’t make promises I know I can’t keep.
Because my life isn’t as picture perfect as I like to pretend, and I can’t stop wondering if maybe I’m not the only one pretending…
M.A. Hunter is the author of psychological and crime thrillers, including The Boat Party, One Wrong Turn, and Every Step You Take. Born in the north-east of England, he now lives in Southampton where many of his stories are set, allowing him to use his insider knowledge to deliver realistic and unsettling suspense on every page. Away from writing, M.A. loves to read anything that will keep him awake at night. He’s also a passionate advocate for contemporary cinema and binge-watching the latest offerings from streaming services. He is married with a son and a daughter, and two dogs. M.A. also writes under the name Stephen Edger.
My thoughts: when I used to commute across London for work, aiming to get the same train every day, I did sometimes recognise some of my fellow passengers (the 8am pigeon for example) but I never spoke to any of them. Unlike Jenna who offers assistance to a woman she recognises when she sees her in distress.
Unfortunately for Jenna, Allie isn’t the innocent victim she pretends to be, she’s a cuckoo in the nest. She uses Jenna’s fears, her struggles to read people (she’s autistic) and her family’s mental health issues (her mother is sadly very unwell) against her. Or is Jenna just paranoid?
This is a twisted psychological thriller, is Jenna the victim or the aggressor? Is Allie who she claims to be or there to destroy Jenna? As Allie seems to be taking over her life, can Jenna fight back or will she lose everything?
The twists are so good, you won’t see them coming. Promise. I gasped at the ending. So good.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
We’re celebrating the release of Even Vampires Bleed with a tour! This is the next book in The Even After series and if you enjoy paranormal/ shifter romance, you are going to want to read it!
Even Vampires Bleed (The Even Ever After Series Book 2)
Expected Publication Date: March 28, 2025
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
🦇She is a bat-shifter/he is a cockatoo
🦇Forced proximity
🦇One bed
🦇Who did this to you?
🦇Grumpy/sunshine
🦇Amnesia
🦇Female rage
They have deceived the humans, led them to believe they’re archangels, ruling over the world for far too long.
But the bird shifters have nothing angelic or good.
They maim, they torture, they kill.
When they don’t toy with people’s brains…
That’s what happened to my father. That’s what happened to my other half, Léandre.
I found the first, his skull open on an operation table, after he was taken prisoner, and the second still has a chip in his brain, ready to blow up his mind.
My world is one thread away from unraveling.
But I won’t let them win.
My name is Cassiopé. I’m a bat-shifter, a vampire, as humans like to call us, and those birds are going to pay for what they’ve done to the men I love.
A perfect sunny getaway with no drama. Or so they’d hoped…
BREAKING NEWS
Woman Taken in for Questioning in Death of Actress’ Husband Police in Portugal this morning told reporters that a woman is being questioned in connection with the murder of the film producer Jason ‘JT’ Kenda, who was married to award-winning actress Ariella St Gerome. Mr Kenda, who was found dead in the swimming pool of the couple’s villa, was initially thought to have died following an accident, but now police believe the American was killed intentionally. The villa is next door to where Lady Beatrice, the Countess of Rossex, is currently holidaying with family and friends at the villa of TV’s Sir Hewitt and his wife, Lady Grace.
Who can say no to Lady Grace? When the daughter of Lady Grace’s housekeeper is suspected of murder, her ladyship requests that Bea and her friends prove the maid’s innocence. But with time running out, can they navigate the tangled web of lies, betrayal, and hidden motives before an innocent woman is imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit? Because even on holiday, the sleuthing never stops!
Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cosy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise. I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it. It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes.
My thoughts: I love this series, I love the terrible pun titles, I love Daisy (you know I’m a sucker for a crime solving pet, or any animals really) and I love the gang. I mean Lady Bea and her entourage.
Even on holiday they manage to find themselves involved in a murder, when the film producer next door drowns in the pool while drunk. Or did someone kill him and shove him in? At first the local police think it was a terrible accident, but something doesn’t add up and they arrest the housekeeper. Except her mother (who looks after the house Bea and co are in) swears her daughter had no reason to kill the man. But someone in that house did.
I felt bad for Rich, even detectives should be allowed to have a holiday, and Bea desperately wants a quiet break, which when a teen social media star is just down the road and her son is obsessed with her, isn’t going to happen. Teenagers are impossible to control after all.
In fact, the best behaved member of their villa is Daisy. She only chases one rabbit and unearths an important clue in the process. Obviously. Canine (and feline) detectives are just better. We all know that!
Bea and Rich’s relationship is in a good place, even when his ex-wife and very estranged father start talking to the press. Gross. But Bea worries it might make Rich want to cool things off, he’s not used to being in the public eye after all.
I enjoyed this so much and can’t wait for the next one, this series is so much fun and my sister even asked me what I was laughing at so much (Perry mostly, he’s hilarious).
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
One murdered millionaire. Two suspects, with every reason to want him dead. A haunted detective, who can’t outrun his past . . .
A body hangs beneath the rotten boards of Southend Pier. Strung from a rusted beam and twisting in the chill February air. In life, wealthy entrepreneur Adam Golding had the Midas touch — coining a fortune from his chain of tawdry seaside arcades — but now his luck’s run out.
Detective Edison Kane — still grieving a loss of his own — stares into the dead man’s eyes and wonders . . . who left him like this?
Was it the wife Adam cheated on, over and over? Lavishing his mistresses with gifts, while she waited for him at home. Or the brother who’s never forgiven him for being their father’s favourite son. Disinherited, Tony Golding dabbles in petty crime to pay the bills. Both had means and motive. Who is guilty of the ultimate crime?
Kane’s closing in on his prime suspect when a second body washes up on the shores of lonely Two Tree Island. And the victim’s identity changes everything . . .
Max Manning is a former national newspaper journalist. He started his career as a news reporter on regional newspapers before moving on to Fleet Street. There he worked for several national titles. The Killer In Me is his latest psychological thriller and is published by Joffe Books. Now You See is his debut crime novel. It was published in the USA by Sourcebooks under the title Don’t Look Now. His second novel, The Victim, was published in August 2019.
My thoughts: Hitting the ground running from the opening scene and a body strung up under Southend’s pier, why has someone killed local millionaire businessman Adam Golding? Was it his estranged brother or his unhappy wife? They seem the most likely suspects, but all further killing throws a spanner in the police case, and forces them to dig deeper and cast a wider net.
The killer is injecting his victims with insulin, causing a massive drop in their blood sugar levels, so why string them up? What is the murderer saying? Getting inside their head might just explain everything. Things take a darker twist when a local journalist disappears, and now the race is on to find her alive.
Twists and turns galore in this clever and enjoyable crime thriller.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Audrey Wade longs to escape her domineering father and the bleak streets of post-war Yorkshire. Hollywood glitters with glamour, freedom, and the promise of a life with her best friend Freddie. But when Freddie abandons her, Audrey is left to chase her dreams alone.
A Heartthrob with secrets
Rex Trent is more than Hollywood’s leading man. Charismatic and dangerously handsome, he’s adored by millions and watched by powerful enemies in a paranoid 1950s America. One wrong move could destroy him.
A romance born of ambition and betrayal
When Rex proposes, Audrey is swept into Hollywood’s glamour and high-stakes secrets. But she soon discovers Rex’s dark side and faces a choice: cling to a man who may never love her, or risk everything to forge her own path?
A gripping new historical novel from a wonderful new voice. Perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins-Reid, Wendy Holden and Allison Pataki.
Alexandra Weston writes historical fiction. She has a MA in Creative Writing from York St John University. She has a lifelong passion for history and loves visiting stately homes, museums and old churches. She also writes fantasy as Alys West. She lives with her partner and a ginger cat called Wilf in East Yorkshire. She sings with her local community choir and loves live music, hanging out in bookshops and eating cake.
Facebook: Alex Weston Historical Fiction Writer Twitter: AlexWeston46
My thoughts: I recently watched the mini series about Cary Grant’s life, and this reminded me of that, with the setting and the look inside a Hollywood marriage. Obviously, Grant wasn’t gay and hiding, and the author was inspired by Rock Hudson’s marriage to his agent’s secretary, but Grant’s marriage wasn’t happy.
Swept up in the magic of Hollywood, Audrey agrees to a “lavender marriage”, usually entered into by two people hoping to hide their true sexuality, during a time when being out could destroy your career and your life, but doesn’t understand what she’s really getting into.
Her new husband is drinking too much, throwing parties that the press would love to know about and treats her appallingly. He’s deeply unhappy and missing the man he loves, and soon so is she. Especially when she falls for prop builder Jack, but can they ever build a life together while she’s tied to her heartthrob husband?
Life isn’t as glamorous as the movies, and even though Hollywood is a lot better than being miserable in dreary post-war England, there’s a dark underbelly and Audrey is deeply naive about how things really work. She’ll need to be strong and brave to weather this.
Bringing the reality of 50s Tinsel Town during Mccarthyism and the HUAC trials, when keeping your secrets was everything, to life, this is an interesting and enjoyable read.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Welcome to the tour for The Sons of Echidna by Athena M. Bliss! Read on for more details!
The Sons of Echidna
Publication Date: March 5, 2025
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Greek Mythology
✨️ Umbrella Academy meets A Series Of Unfortunate Events
✨️ Greek Mythology
✨️ Slow-burn Romance
✨️ Cozy but Morbid
✨️ Nuisance to Lovers
✨️ Found Family
✨️ Top Tier Banter
✨️ Smutty Pirates
✨️ LGBTQ+ Rep
✨️ Toxic Relationships
✨️ Spice
Welcome to the family.
In a disheartened attempt to get her life back on track, Lucy takes up a live-in nanny position only to realize that the advert was misleading, sending her world spinning violently out of control.
She was meant to look after kids and animals, not a menagerie of mythical monsters––of human and beast kind alike.
Little does her mysterious new employer know Lucy has her own dark secrets, and faced with the realisation that she needs to grow her abilities to survive, she pushes herself too far, destroying the delicate balance between magic and technology.
To seize control of her new world and save herself Lucy must choose––Her life, or her humanity.
Athena M. Bliss’s debut novel, THE SONS OF ECHIDNA, is a fast paced blend of The Umbrella Academy meets The Addams Family. A non-stop series of toppling dominoes, this book promises to keep you on your toes from the first page to the last. A hefty dash of spice brings the diverse and colorful cast to vivid life, along with exquisitely detailed illustrations sprinkled liberally throughout the book. The first in the series, THE SONS OF ECHIDNA is followed by THE SIRIN SISTERHOOD, THE HUNTERS CURSE, and THE GOD GENOME.
I’d rather punch myself in the face than work with that thunderous oaf.
When the messengers of the resistance vanish and ritualistic killings appear on their doorstep, all eyes turn to the unknown presence lurking in the woods. Convinced it’s the remnants of a murderous cult—one that exists because she failed to stamp it out—Penny vows to end them.
But as much as she wishes she could be a one-woman army, she needs backup. Voted “most likely to stab someone in the face,” making friends was never her strong suit, and in the midst of a war, her options for allies are limited. So to get the manpower for a search party, she agrees to a partnership with the giant, hulking, infuriating Mal—the general of the resistance. Her general and “commanding officer” (barf). But she doesn’t intend to play nice.
With each step into the deep, dark woods, a tangled mystery unfolds, launching Penny and her team into a cat-and-mouse chase to uncover the truth about the insidious company, Pharmatrox. But as the threats ramp up, so does the tension between Penny and Mal, putting them on a collision course where they’ll either crash and burn or discover they’ve met their match.
To end the war and stop Pharmatrox before it regains power, the nation’s future hinges on Penny’s choice—will she remain loyal to the resistance and to Mal? Or will she give up everything in her ruthless quest to take down the company that destroyed her life.
Megan Boley is a dystopian and urban fantasy author (and, alas, a former redhead). Her stories are full of ragtag teams, strong women, grumpy but lovable men, and some steamy romance to keep things nice and interesting.
My thoughts: We’re back in the nightmare that is Pharmatrox ravaged America (see this post for book one) and Penny is determined to wipe out the cult that has sprung up and is murdering people, draining them of their blood and still taking the drugs that will eventually turn them into flesh eating zombies.
They’re also contending with the remnants of Pharmatrox’s soldiers, who seem to have a new leader and some new horrible drugs too. And there’s the Watchers, whoever they are – friend or foe?
As the war enters its death throes, with the Faction getting more ground and possibly support from Canada and other allies, it’s up to those inside the city to cut off Pharmatrox’s head at the source, no more evil corporation and Penny is spoiling for a fight. First she just has to sweet talk the general, Mal, into letting her do things her way, the opposite of what he’s ordering her to do.
Agnes and Silas are working on a cure for the drugs Pharmatrox has been poisoning so many with, but they could really do with a friendly scientist to help them. Will any of the remaining Pharmatrox ones defect and help them or is this doomed too.
And everyone’s favourite teenage boy/puppy dog Quentin gets to play with explosives – cos that’s a great idea!
I actually liked this a lot more than book one, probably because I was more familiar with the characters and the situation, and I liked the whole Team Outpost, working with the good guys to get things done, no one on zombie drugs, thing that was going on. It was more wholesome. And I love Quentin, he’s such an adorable nuisance, scaling buildings, eating everything in sight, blowing stuff up, making new friends, he would be a great diplomat (apart from the explosions and fires).
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 