The Death & Life of Lucy Westenra by Rosie Fiore~Blog Tour

 

Publisher:  Independently published

Publication Date: ‎ 2nd May 2025

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Summary:

What desperate steps will Lucy Westenra take to save her own life?

Hillingham in Hampstead, once the home of the well-to-do Westenra family, now divided into apartments. When teacher Kate Balcombe sets about renovating her flat in the attic, she finds an unsent letter, written 130 years before by Lucy, the nineteen-year-old daughter of the house.

You may know Lucy from Bram Stoker’s Dracula... a pretty, flirtatious girl with three ardent suitors, she is Mina Harker’s best friend. When Lucy falls mysteriously ill and dies, Van Helsing identifies her as a victim of the vampire.

But what if the monsters who hunt Lucy are much closer to home?

As Kate begins to investigate Lucy’s story, she meets James Harker, Mina’s great-great grandson, and together they uncover a long-hidden story of deception and murder.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and Rosie Fiore for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.

So I'm a big fan of Dracula and as soon as I saw Lucy's name in the title of this book I knew I wanted to read it. Lucy in Dracula is always seen as a really giddy and often silly "Little Girl" despite being 18/19 and she's just cast to one side as a Victim of Dracula, a point to move the story forward and drive Mina towards him. And I really liked the idea of her being so much more than that. In this we get to see Lucy as more than just a silly girl that's a victim, she's a very intellectual woman that takes far more pride in her mind than how she looks which makes her very modern in a sense. She becomes a more relatable character to a modern audience and you get far more invested in her story and what happened to her than you do in Dracula.
I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that we went between the different time periods and that the way Kate finds out more about Lucy is though national census, it makes her more than just a character from Dracula which I adored. I found the switches between timelines very easy, I wasn't ever jolted by the switch so I kept engrossed in the story throughout. Rosie Fiore has a very easy going writing style, it never made me feel like I was working to get the next stage of the story, I found pages and time slipping away from me with ease.

I absolutely loved being able to get to know this version of Lucy Westenra, she's a far more dynamic and honestly likeable version of the original character. I don't think it matters if you've read Dracula or not to be able to dive in and enjoy this book, I enjoyed having the knowledge of who the characters were when reading but the connections are made clear enough that I don't think its a requirement. But if you do love Dracula I think you will thoroughly enjoy this and it should be added to that tbr!

Krystina xx

The Cardinal by Alison Weir ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Headline Review

Publication Date: 22nd May 2025

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

AN EXTRAORDINARY RISE TO POWER. A TRAGIC FALL FROM GRACE.

It begins with young Tom Wolsey, the bright and brilliant son of a Suffolk tradesman, sent to study at Oxford at just eleven years old.

It ends with a disgraced cardinal, cast from the King's side and estranged from the woman he loves.

The years in between tell the story of a scholar and a lover, a father and a priest. From the court of Henry VIII, Tom builds a powerful empire of church and state. At home in London, away from prying eyes, he finds joy in a secret second life.

But when King Henry, his cherished friend, demands the ultimate sacrifice, what will Wolsey choose?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Headline Review and Alison Weir for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.

Well first off I have to say the cover of the book is beautiful! I mean Alison Weirs books are always beautiful but we normally have the portrait of the subject on the cover and I really like that we don't have Thomas Wolsey on this one, I think the crossed keys sum him up very well. I always adore Alison Weirs books, she has such and evocative way of writing that it just draws you immediately into Tudor England and emerses you into the story.  Its safe to say that i knew this would be a glowing review before i even picked the book up!

Thomas Wolsey is a fascinating historical figure, his rise from the lower ranks of society to the highest position bar the King is one of the best know from the Tudor court and I'm not surprised that he was who Alison Weir chose to write about, this being only the second of her books about a male figure from Henry VIII's court. She's made stepping into his shoes and story so easy and I've been able to look at his story from a more sympathetic view than I have before. Often he's cast in a very negative light as a power hungry and money grabbing man that manipulated Henry for his own benefit (at least in most on screen representations of him) and little is shown about his care for his mistress and children, whereas in this we get to see that side of him. Yes he is a man who wants power and social standing along with the wealth that comes with it but he is not that one dimensional character, there are many fascinating sides to him. I loved that we got to see his struggles over not being able to acknowledge his children and his internal struggles with his need and want to be in a position where he is respected, has power and prestige and his want to be able to call his mistress his wife and have his children with him. Its a side to him that I have enjoyed discovering because generally his mistress is used to portray him as a bad priest when looking at his downfall. This book has made me want to get a few biographies about him out and immerse myself in finding more about someone I've never looked deeper at when reading about the Tudor period.
If you love the Tudor period I defiantly think this book should be on your to buy list.

Krystina xx

Eerie Exhibits by Victoria Williamson ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Silver Thistle Press

Publication Date: 8th March 2025

Genre: Horror

Summary:

Five unnerving tales of the weird and uncanny from award-winning author Victoria Williamson.

A room full of screaming butterflies.

An unsettling smile on the face of a carved sarcophagus.

A painting that draws its viewer into the disturbing past.

A stuffed bear that growls in the dead of night.

And a shell that whispers more sinister sounds than the sigh of the sea…

Dare you cross the threshold of the old Museum and view its eerie exhibits?

Review:
Firstly thank you to TheWriteReads, Silver Thistle Press and Victoria Williamson for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, each story in this collection only had a single line description which admittedly drew me in immediately but also left me curious as to what level of horror i was about to dive into.
I do enjoy a well written horror and a well written on can stay on your mind days after you've finished it, and i have to say these stories stayed bouncing about in my head well after id finished them. Its an aptly named collection because these stories are Eerie, sinister at times and have a way of making you think unexpectedly. I actually had to put the book down after id read The Screaming Room, its ending made me sit back and think it was so brilliantly crafted to leave you not fully putting all the pieces together until that final chapter and then having to sit back and reflect on the story as a whole. I thoroughly enjoyed having to sit with the thoughts it gave me.
The pacing throughout each of the stories is perfect, it gradually leads you to that sinister twist dropping breadcrumbs of foreshadowing as it does so you get that smallest hint of what to expect without the end being spoiled in anyway.
I've really loved Victoria Williamson's witing style, she has a knack for writing this genre and i defiantly need to check out her back catalogue for more by her because I've enjoyed this book so much. I'd already recommended it to several friends, before id even finished reading it, anyone who enjoys the horror genre needs to give this a read.

Krystina xx

What Goes Around by Michael Wendroff ~Blog Tour

Publisher: Head of Zeus

Publication Date: 10th October 2024

Genre: Thriller

Summary:

EVIL HAS MANY FACES

Chilling murders terrorize a town and bring together two detectives to face the hardest tasks of their lives. Jack Ludlum, who relies on his brawn to get things done, is now paired with his archenemy, Jill Jarred, a brilliant investigator with keen intuition. As they delve into the secret world of incels and white supremacists, and conflict between local authorities and the FBI rages, a media frenzy further complicates the mission.

Is there a serial killer on the loose? Or something entirely different? Will the detectives' clashing personalities be their undoing, or can they unite to stop the killer before they kill each other?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Partners in Crime Book Tours, Head of Zeus and Michael Wendroff for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.

The blurb of this book had me hooked, i always love a thriller when we have clashing personalities from the off it brings something extra to it. You often focus less on the case and then miss things making the end more of a surprise than normal because you focus on the developing working relationship.
I really liked out two MC's Jack and Jill, they are really strong characters and when they are on the page they dont half take up space. And when they are working well together they control situations and even though that element of jeopardy is often there you know that they will handle whatever is thrown at them.
Michael Wendroff's writing is fantastic, it draws you into the story and makes you want to keep reading. Something that threw me a little at first was the shortness of the chapters, some being as short as a paragraph and others being a few pages at best but i actually really enjoyed that. It made it feel like you were progressing through the story at a really good pace, it also made it easy to keep saying "oh just one more chapter..." and find yourself reading half a dozen more at least.
I really enjoyed Jack and Jills partnership, their different ways of working really complimented each other and i enjoyed watching them start to work together and use each others strengths instead of constantly trying to compete and id really like to see them working on another case together.

Krystina xx

Catch a Falling Star by Laura Carter ~Blog Tour

 Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 14th April 2025

Genre: Romance

Summary:

It’s never too late…

Lyra Clarkson has built a career capturing other people’s perfect moments. She loves her work as a wedding photographer – despite her family’s disapproval – but she’s never quite found her own path.

Guy Walker, former rock star turned wedding singer, has hit a new low. Desperately needing cash, he’s agreed to take any gig his manager can get him, even if this new form of entertainment isn’t just singing.

As Lyra and Guy’s paths cross – in the most bizarre way possible – an unexpected kiss will change everything. But was it simply a chance encounter or is fate bringing them back together?

Now forced into each other’s lives for the entire wedding season, the unlikely pair may just figure out together how to realise both their dreams…

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Laura Carter for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
Its a bit like cheating but i knew i was going to love this book from the moment that i read the blurb, that added with the fact that i already know that i love Laura Carters writing style meant this book was a winner for me.
I wasn't wrong, I've loved every single page of this book. I instantly loved Lyra, she was like all my university friends rolled into one and she was so easy to connect with that i was invested in her from the first page. 
I adored getting to know Guy through his chapters, he did frustrate the heck out of me though, his deciding that he wasn't good enough for Lyra was annoying. Don't get me wrong i did fall in love with him very quickly and i spent at least 75% of the book wanting to give him a hug and the other 25% yelling at him (out loud much to the confusion of my family) and i was rooting for them from that first moment they became reacquainted. I really disliked Lyra's family to start off with, the way they kept putting her down, and the fact that she just took it!, made me so angry at times. But i did enjoy seeing how their relationship changed throughout the book and i loved how their support came though at the end. I think the contrast in family dynamics between our two MC's was really well done and i liked seeing their different upbringings portrayed so brilliantly.
I've always loved Laura Carters writing style she makes characters that are so relatable that its easy to get drawn  into their lives and care for what is going on and their happiness. What i really loved about this book was that it wasn't just about the romance element, both MC's needed to work on what made them happy without each other as well. I loved that they both had a fulfilling relationship and career by the end of the book.
As usual Laura Carter has hit it out of the park with this book, and i cannot wait for her next book!

Krystina xx

Anyone But Him by Ronali Collings~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Embla Books

Publication Date: 11th February 2025

Genre: Romance

Summary:

He's the one she shouldn't want . . .

Ingrid has spent her life being everything to everyone: the dependable daughter, the supportive wife, the one who never steps out of line. But when her husband returns from a sabbatical abroad with divorce papers in hand, her carefully planned life unravels.

Needing to reclaim control, she books a week's stay in the Lake District to escape it all. Though a muddy hiking mishap lands her straight into the arms of a charming stranger who reignites a spark she hasn't felt in years. A little holiday flirtation seems harmless enough - until she returns home and discovers Jacob is the new consultant on her work project.

Juggling a messy divorce, a demanding job, and her daughter's needs, Ingrid knows getting involved with Jacob is a bad idea. He's younger, her colleague, and everything she's been taught to avoid.

Will Ingrid dare to risk it all for love or retreat to the safety of the life she's always known?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Insta book tours, Embla books and Ronail Collings for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I have to say i was really looking forward to diving into this book, it seemed like the perfect book to dive into between a couple of non-fictions i was reading. And i really love reading romances that aren't all young woman in their 20s , its nice to have a more mature woman finding romance. Ingrid felt so much more rounded and real to me because of all the things she was juggling whilst trying to sort her divorce and then happening to find romance on top of her jugging act, with all the additional stress and joy it brought with it. I found it a really well written book, the characters were all so well crafted that i think you could probably find people like them if you looked around you. The family dynamic i loved! The way the sisters supported each other and had code red made me smile. I hated Matt from the first moment he appeared on the page. He was such a self centred waste of space, and how he treated Ingrid was infuriating. I did often though get angry at Ingrid for not standing up for herself and i was cheering every time she took a step forward in doing that, it was really nice to see her growing in herself alongside her new relationship.
I loved the teasing banter between Jacob and Ingrid, it was lovely to read, as was him pushing her outside of her comfort zone but not forcing her out of it. The climbing activity is a really good example of this, he didn't push her when she expressed her fear he just stayed with her and put no pressure on her. I found the writing style easy to slip into, stepping into the book and walking alongside Ingrid was effortless and i enjoyed how it flowed.
I really enjoyed this book and i would happily pick up another book by Ronali Collings in the future.

Krystina xx

How to get on with anyone: Even the difficult ones by Catherine Stothart ~Blog Tour

 Publisher:  Pearson Business; 2nd edition 

Publication Date: 26th August 2024

Genre: Teaching/self improvement

Summary:

A practical guide to the knowledge, principles and skills you need to improve your personal and professional interactions, build your confidence and change your life.

Learn how to flex your style of interaction to get on better with other people – how to build rapport, reduce conflict, and develop collaborative relationships with positive outcomes for everyone.

• Relate more successfully to other people, both at work and at home
• Flex your style of interacting with others to suit the individual
• Increase your confidence as a communicator
• Develop your skills as a leader
• Get more out of virtual communication

This book will help anyone to be more confident in their relationships with people, both at work and outside work.

New to this edition

• New chapter: this new edition contains a brand new chapter on leadership
• Updated and refreshed: refreshed to include new material on getting on with people digitally/when working remotely, and on communicating inclusively and tackling unconscious bias
• Practical tools, techniques and activities: material to help you put your learning to use right away
• Free online content: new online workbook for readers to download, in addition to free supplementary templates, self-assessment quiz and videos

Review:
Firstly thank you to Literally PR, Pearson and Catherine Stothart for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
So i was really looking forward to getting stuck into this book, im currently having to deal with a difficult person so this seemed like the perfect book at the perfect time. I loved chapter one "your brain and you" and learning about emotional intelligence and the importance of perception with both how you look and how you sound and the effects it has. I found it really interesting and i think id like to do a little more reading around that. I came a little unstuck with finding out my style, i really struggle to fit myself into one of the four and found myself straddling two, even after asking friends and family i got an even amount for two different styles so i decided to read the relevant chapters for both as i was doing the dip in and out method that the author suggests in the introduction.
Its a really well written book, i found  it easy to follow and everything was explained really well so i didn't ever feel lost in the text and i came away having learnt a few things. I found the work sheets really useful in working through things and whilst i struggled to pinpoint my style i found everything that i read useful in some way.
I defiantly think this is aimed more at people in more corporate positions, i can see this being very helpful if you're leading a team of people with a variety of styles to work with but whilst i found it interesting and i learnt things I'm not sure i found it as useful as i could have.
But its defiantly a very interesting book and I'm glad that I've read it.

Krystina xx