Welcome to the tour for The Place of Her Name by SC Makepeace. Read on for more details!
The Place of Her Name (Fires of Irkalla #1)
Release Date: December 2024
Genre: Romantasy
– High stakes romantasy
– Enemies to lovers
– Morally grey FMC
– Dual POV
– He falls first
– Magical realism
– Found family
– Mesopotamian Mytholog
One killer, one rebel leader, and a web of lies that could shatter a realm.
Bound by vengeance and duty, Erisa Anzû’s mission is clear: infiltrate enemy territory, establish her position, and spy from within. The only way to protect her beloved ruler and realm is to bring down rebel leader Theo Lusilim and his district of traitors.
But as Erisa uncovers more about her handsome adversary and her passion for him shifts to something other than anger, she faces a series of impossible choices.
With each step, Erisa finds herself drawn into a game of deception, brutality and harsh truths, and the line she walks between loyalty and betrayal grows ever more treacherous.
Can she turn her back on everything she believed, or will her mission lead to devastation for all?
Contains mature themes, suitable for ages 18 and over.
Triggers: – Extreme violence – Death – Torture – Sexual scenes – Mention of human trafficking (not in detail)
A charming literary-themed novel about a young woman determined to save her great-aunt’s beloved bookshop from extinction by the shiny new competition—which also happens to be run by the handsome son of her family’s rivals.
The cute, seaside town of Portneath has been the home of Capelthorne’s Books for nearly a hundred years… The shop, in the heart of a high street that stretches crookedly down the hill from the castle to the sea, may be a tad run-down these days, but to Jules Capelthorne, the wonky, dusty world of literary treasures is full of precious childhood memories.
When her great-aunt Florence gets too frail to run it alone, Jules ditches her junior publishing job in London and comes home to make the bookshop’s hundredth birthday a celebration to remember. Jules quickly discovers things are worse than she ever imagined: The bookshop is close to bankruptcy, unlikely to make it to its own centenary celebration, and the lease on the building is up for renewal. With a six-figure sum needed, the future looks bleak. To make matters worse, the owner of the property is the insufferable Roman Montbeau, from the posh, local family who owns half of Portneath.
The Montbeaus and Capelthornes have feuded for years, and Roman has clearly not improved since he tormented Jules as a child. Fresh from a highflying career in New York, he is on a mission to shake things up, and—unforgivably—proves his point about Capelthorne’s being a relic of the past by opening a new bookshop directly opposite—a shiny, plate-glass-windowed emporium of books.
Jules may not be able to splash the cash on promotions and marketing like the Montbeaus, but she’s got some ideas of her own, plus she has a tenacity that may just win the hardest of hearts and the most hopeless of conflicts. Let the battle of the bookshops commence…
Poppy Alexander is the author of The Littlest Library, Storybook Ending, and 25 Days ’Til Christmas. She wrote her first book when she was five. There was a long gap in her writing career while she was at school, and after studying classical music at university, she decided the world of music was better off without her and took up public relations, campaigning, political lobbying, and a bit of journalism instead. She takes an anthropological interest in family, friends, and life in her West Sussex village (think The Archers crossed with Twin Peaks), where she lives with her husband, children, and various other pets.
My thoughts: If you (like me) like You’ve Got Mail, you’ll love this. There are also plenty of Romeo & Juliet references too, because Jules and Roman are very aware of the whole star-crossed lovers from two warring families. Thing is, they’re not entirely sure why their families have this ancient feud.
Although Roman’s new bookshop right across the street from Jules’ hundred years old family run, slightly down at heel shop, is definitely going to reignite the family war. But then they realise how much they like each other. Even as they battle for bookshop dominance.
It’s cute and funny and a bit silly, and altogether rather charming. Perfect for a grey day’s reading.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Amy Hardy once lived a life full of colour, but a tragic accident has turned her world to shadows. Determined to embrace her new life, Amy sets off on the famous Compostela pilgrimage, hoping to find light in the darkness and a new path.
Accompanying her on her journey is Luke Patterson a man whose own troubled past casts dark shadows over his life. He’s hoping that guiding Amy will be a distraction from his own troubles.
But as Luke and Amy travel through the stunning scenery of Northern Spain, following in footsteps of those travellers before them, they feel a connection to each other. And as their bond grows, a love story from the distant past emerges before them, forcing them to confront their own secrets, pain and feelings for each other. Can a story of courage and bravery help them both to emerge from the shadows into the light once more?
Under A Spanish Sky is an enchanting novel about the search for happiness, fulfilment…and above all love.
Please Note: This book was previously published as Chasing Shadows
T. A. Williams is the bestselling author of the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series. Trevor studied languages at University and lived and worked in Italy for eight years, returning to England with his wife in 1972. Trevor and his wife now live in Devon.
My thoughts: Amy and Luke are both historians, specialising in the Middle Ages, following in the footsteps of generations of pilgrims on the Santiago Compostela into Spain.
As they travel, with Luke acting as Amy’s eyes, they build a story of previous pilgrims – Luc and Aimee, who were in a hurry to reach the end of the pilgrims’ route and avoid the church’s soldiers, carrying something precious.
The two narratives weave together as the modern day duo traverse the mountains and snow in a way that would seem impossible for the Middle Ages pilgrims who travelled on foot and if they were rich, on horse back.
Amy and Luke have been paired up by a mutual friend who thinks they would be good for each other. Both have been through terrible things and carry a lot of pain. As they get to know each other, they share details of their lives and begin to fall for one another.
I really liked Amy and Luke, and their Middle Ages alternates – Luc and Aimee, the Santiago Compostela is something I find fascinating – it is still walked by modern day pilgrims – not all of them religious, and it was a huge undertaking before modern day travel options.
I’m a big fan of T.A. Williams’ crime books and his romance novels too. The stories, like this one, are clever, moving and enjoyable. It was a really great book to cosy up with one windy evening and transport myself to a wintry Spanish adventure.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
R&R Book Tours proudly present the stunning cover for Bound by the Sky by Megan G. Elisabeth. Pre-order now – Available January 28th!
Bound by the Sky (Aether & Industry Book 1)
Expected Release Date: January 28, 2026
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Sky pirate romantasy
Steampunk world
Found family
Morally grey MMC
Touch her and die
Dual POV
Forbidden romance
Treasure Planet vibes
The sky brought them together.
The storm could tear them apart.
While pirate ships and floating cities soar overhead, Amaya Sinclair’s feet are planted on the ground. But when a violent tragedy results in her abduction by a villainous Sky Lord, her once-clear path vanishes underfoot. In its place, she finds a beautiful, unforgiving world that challenges everything she believes about herself and her future.
William Lexington has spent over a decade carving out a space for himself among the clouds, at the cost of his identity and ideals. When a twist of fate lands Amaya on his airship, he writes her off as a pretty inconvenience—until he realizes she’s the only thing standing between his monstrous former mentor and a brutal new era.
Caught in a fight to live on their own terms, Amaya and Will’s growing connection calls every priority into question. As the enemy’s looming shadow darkens, their race to control forces best left untouched reveals that much more than their lives are at stake.
Welcome aboard the Maelstrom. Enjoy the view—and don’t get killed.
Treasure Planet meets Final Fantasy in this fast-paced romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Rebecca Yarros.
Daisy’s career hasn’t exactly been going to plan and the last thing she wants to do is stay home and wallow in self-pity. So, when an opportunity arises to escape her London home, and make some money working a fancy event at a stately home, she jumps at it.
Determined to make the most out of the situation, she decides a road trip to the Scottish Highlands would be the perfect way to reset and take control of her life.
When devilishly handsome Evan finds himself stranded at the event following a cancelled flight to Scotland, Daisy does the kindest thing she can think of and invites him to join her. As they embark on their journey north, will the scenic trip help them rediscover themselves, and possibly even find something they weren’t expecting…
Pre-order Links
Publication Date: 29th January 2026
Author Bio – Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance.
As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies. Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags.
She has two sons and a Romanian rescue pup, Cooper.
Journey to the Scottish Highlands is Julie’s fourteenth novel.
Guess what? The Moonshine Hollow series is now available to read on Kindle Unlimited!
Must Love Moss and Moonshine (Moonshine Hollow Series)
Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance
Tropes:
Grumpy/sunshine romance
Super cozy cottagecore & forestcore vibes
Spice
One bed
Touch-starved hero
Forced proximity
Magical creatures
Small-town vibes
HEA guaranteed
One lonely dryad in denial.
One Sylvan elf with amnesia.
And one sentient forest that absolutely ships them. Desperate to quit the vagabond life, traveling enchanted jewelry artisan Tansy Foxglove is determined to get to the autumn market in the village of Moonshine Hollow. Nothing will stand in her way… except an ancient forest that has its own plans.
When Tansy sets off for the village, she definitely doesn’t mean to get lost in an enchanted wood. She certainly does not intend to lose her memory. And she wasn’t planning to be irresistibly drawn to the ancient glade’s dryad caretaker.
Kellen’s life is one of solitude. He has no interest in interacting with the outside world. He’s perfectly happy with his solitary life. Right? When a beautiful Sylvan elf who has lost her memory appears in his forest, he has no choice but to take care of her. But when taking care turns to simmering attraction, will this loner change his ways? What happens when her memories return? Will their magical connection survive?
My thoughts: When Sylvan Tansy Foxglove gets lost in an enchanted forest, hits her head and develops amnesia, she’s lucky that the forest’s guardian, dryad Kellen finds her and nurses her back to health. The pair find themselves falling in love, but Tansy still needs to make her way to the market in Moonshine Hollow once she starts to remember who she is and reunite with the closest thing she has to family.
Can their bond endure if Tansy returns to her life or will Kellen remain alone?
A sweet romance full of magic and some spice.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
From New York Times bestselling author Tricia O’Malley, Charmed meets The Pumpkin Spice Café in this cozy romantasy about a witch returning to Scotland to break a family curse—only to clash with one grumpy Scotsman determined to protect his town from her haywire magic.
She’s hexed. He’s vexed. And for Scotland’s most magical small-town, their feud might just spell disaster.
Sloane MacGregor swore she’d never return to Briarhaven, but with her twenty-fifth birthday looming—the day witches come into their magic—her grandmother summons her and her sisters back for one tiny task: break the centuries-old curse haunting their bloodline.
Knox Douglas, Briarhaven’s grumpy mayor, has worked tirelessly to make his town a haven for magical folk. The last thing he needs is a cursed MacGregor wreaking havoc. It doesn’t matter he once crushed on her. For the sake of Briarhaven, Sloane has to go.
But magic has other plans—and in Briarhaven, love really is a witch.
My thoughts: The MacGregor sisters have returned to their hometown of Briarhaven to take care of their grandmother, Broca, who is recovering from hip surgery. But in doing so they bring a spell of really bad weather, part of the family curse that generations of MacGregors have had to deal with, and Briarhaven isn’t happy about it.
Specifically the town’s provost – Knox Douglas, whose family have been looking after the town for about as long as the MacGregors have been cursed. But his teenage crush on the eldest sister, Sloane, hasn’t gone away, in fact it’s now full on lust.
And that doesn’t bode well, considering it’s his job to make them leave town.
Of course Sloane thinks he’s a nightmare…at first.
As the sisters attempt to find a way to end the curse, Sloane needs to learn to control her newly blossomed magick and stop Knox from making them leave. Sparks fly and things get spicy.
A fun, quirky rom com in a Scottish town replete with fae, dragons, witches and wood trolls, perfect for any Charmed fans (like my sister) or just lovers of a little romance.
Also, how do I get my own emberwolf? Half puppy, half dragon? Yes please!
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
In Wynbridge, the scent of autumn is on the breeze and love is in the air…
Clemmie Bennett has been renovating beautiful Rowan Cottage on the outskirts of the small town of Wynbridge, for eighteen months following a very public heartbreak back in her childhood hometown. The popular Instagram influencer, lost her husband, sold their home, and has been cosied up the Fens and living a very private life, but now she feels it’s time for a change.
A chance encounter with co-owner of The Cherry Tree Café, the bubbly Lizzie Dixon, pulls her into organizing Wynbridge’s first-ever Autumn Festival, and her once quiet life is soon a distant memory. With the whole town rallying behind the event, she discovers a new sense of purpose.
And when local vet Ash falls hard for Clemmie, she begins to wonder if she’s ready to move even further on from her past and fall in love again…
This autumn, cosy up with Heidi and this perfect seasonal romance.
My thoughts: Heidi Swain’s books are basically a warm hug in paperback. This is no exception, we are back in Wynbridge, the setting of several of Heidi’s books, this time with Clemmie, who has spent a while in the village without actually being a part of it. Hiding out and decorating her new cottage means she doesn’t know anyone or anything about where she now lives. But that’s all about to change.
Asked to organise the inaugural Autumn Festival, she originally says no, but gallery owner Lizzie and hunky vet Ash win her over, as does her new sidekick, cute puppy Pixie.
Soon she’s coming up with lots of ideas, and for the most part, the community is on board. It all sounds fun, festive and pumpkin-fuelled. Not much like my autumn so far which seems mostly damp and windy, a conker hit me in the head the other day! Get me to Wynbridge!
This was a lovely romance, but also about being true to yourself, opening up and making friends, I liked Clemmie a lot, and empathised with her, Pixie was an excellent start in being willing to let others in again. A seasonal story full of charm to get you in the cosy mood.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
In Nazi-occupied Italy, keeping secrets could be deadly…
Genoa, 1944: Widowed and alone, Anna Pastorino has been surviving on her wits since the Germans invaded. The daughter of a prominent Jewish antifascist, Anna lives a hidden life in her small flat near the harbour… until an RAF bomb destroys her only shelter.
When a Jesuit priest approaches her offering help, she has no choice but to accept. She follows her new friend, Father Vittorio, to a safe house above a printers’ shop in a quiet street near via Assarotti. But the Tipografia Guichard is more than just a refuge. It’s a forgery workshop: a key part of the secret rescue operation headed by Massimo Teglio, the “Scarlet Pimpernel” of Genoa’s persecuted Jewish population.
Drawn into a world of clandestine resistance, Anna discovers a new sense of purpose, a circle of friends, and a passion that brings her alive. Soon, the little flat above the shop holds more secrets than anyone could imagine. As Anna grows closer to both Teglio and Vittorio, she must confront a past trauma of her own: a secret that might endanger her and everyone she loves.
Kat Devereaux was born near Edinburgh, and lived in the United States, Russia, France, Chile, Germany, and the Czech Republic before finally settling in Italy. She is a writer and translator with a special focus on Italian literature.
My thoughts: I’m not usually keen on war novels, but I found this one both interesting and enjoyable. Inspired by real events and real people who worked tirelessly under risk of arrest and death to help Italy’s Jewish community escape the Nazis and fascists during World War Two.
Blending fact and fiction together through the characters of Anna and Father Vittorio who help the real life Massimo Teglio and don Francesco to forge identity papers to help fleeing families leave occupied Italy for safety in places like Switzerland, Britain and the US.
Father Vittorio wrestles with his health and with the fact he is falling in love with Anna – not only is he a priest, but she’s Jewish, there is no world where they can ever be more than friends and allies. And that’s before he learns something about her that blows up his world.
Anna meanwhile falls for the handsome pilot turned hero Massimo, widowed like she is, their relationship is fleeting but leaves a deep impact Anna feels for the rest of her life. In reality, Massimo continued to risk his life to save Jewish people from the Nazis and went on to live a long life reunited with his daughter and family, despite the deaths of his sister, brother-in-law and their children in Auschwitz. He is rightly remembered as a hero.
This is a bittersweet romance amid the horrors of the war, the risks everyone in this book is taking to help save the lives of innocents brought to life, while also bringing the real-life heroes to a wider audience.
*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 highly-anticipated release of Blackwicket by Bea Northwick this week! Make sure to treat yourself to a copy on September 9th. It’s the perfect read for the ‘Ber months!
Blackwicket (Dark Hall #1)
Release Date: September 9, 2025
Genre: Gothic Romantasy
Gothic Romantasy
Enemies to Lovers
Morally Grey Everyone
Monstrous LI
Female Rae
Slow Burn to Spice
Magical Organized Crime
Gothic Horror
Home is where the curses are.
In the coastal town of Nightglass, Blackwicket House looms on the cliffs, far from the charming streets bustling with wealthy visitors seeking to experience a bit of real magic. Once an esteemed Inn with a reputation for healing, it now serves only as a grim warning to anyone tempted by curses. With Fiona Blackwicket, its sole caretaker, newly deceased, it stands empty – a dangerous thing for Blackwicket House to be.
Compelled out of hiding by the sudden death of her sister, Eleanora Blackwicket is forced back to her infamous family home with hasty intentions to bury Fiona and return to her life on the run. Her plans are waylaid when the Brom, an underworld organization specializing in black-market magic, catch wind of her presence and turn an interested eye on her rumored affinity for curse eating.
To complicate things, Victor Harrow, a ruthless yet alluring inspector for the anti-magic government agency, The Authority, has arrived in Nightglass. His one job: to cripple the Brom and anyone associated with them, including, and especially, the last Blackwicket.
But there’s something more sinister to Inspector Harrow than his government agenda, a violent history intrinsically linked to Eleanora’s darkest secret, one that could jeopardize her life and open a long-hidden door to the worst kind of magic, setting all the monsters free.
Contains scenes of consensual sexual intimacy, moments of graphic gun violence, magical violence, endangerment of children (no on-page graphic violence against children), mentions of past sexual assault (no graphic on-page assault), retribution, and sibling death.
ramblingmads 