What Happened At The Abbey by Isobel Blackthorn~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Independently published

Publication Date: 19th September 2023

Genre: Historical Thriller

Summary:

When Ingrid flees a violent husband to become a housekeeper in the Scottish Highlands, she discovers the family she works for has a much darker history than her own.

Who haunts Strathbairn? Why are the adult McCleod children at each other’s throats? And why does the youngest sneak off at night? As Ingrid searches for answers, she grows ever more fearful that her husband will track her down.

Set in late 19th century Scottish Highlands, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE ABBEY is a gothic mystery brimming with intrigue, ghostly drama, and family secrets.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources and Isobel Blackthorn for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I've really enjoyed this book so far, the first chapter was really intriguing and it made me want to keep reading to untangle all these threads that had already been woven around Ingrid. She's a rather interesting main character, aside from knowing from the blurb why she's now the housekeeper at Strathbairn we know very little about her and the way she's been written does make you want to know more. But from what we do know I think Ingrid is a strong woman to have been able to leave her husband and that clearly she might need that strength in this new role. All the characters I've met so far are really well described, I gain an instant mental image of them from the description and it sort of helps to visualise the encounters Ingrid has with them. You instantly are able to understand from her interactions that not everything is as it seems with her new role but also that something is off with this family, and that seems to centre around Miles. 
It is a really well-written book and although I've not finished it yet I am looking forward to finishing it and finding out what the deal is with Miles and what the family are hiding.

Krystina xx

The Beastly Baron of Beaux Bottom by Jeremy Hullah~Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Digit Publications 

Publication Date: 1st August 2023

Genre: Children's Fiction

Summary:

A cautionary tale about the importance of keeping promises. Step into the world of the Beastly Baron, beautifully brought to life and lavishly illustrated by Zsuzsa. Follow the Baron as his day goes from bad to worse. Meet the Warty Witch of the Wild Western Woods, whose attempts to teach the Baron a lesson go very wrong. Marvel at the never-ending appetite of the Greedy Goat of the Glen as she bites off rather more than she can stomach. And cheer on Greta as she struggles to find a way to save her brother Hal from the sticky clutches of the Gossamer Green Ghost.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Literally PR, Digit Publications and Jeremy Hullah for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
This has been another book I've had the pleasure of sharing with my small human, and it sure made bedtime reading fun! My small one absolutely loved it! They were asking questions throughout as we got to bits that made the illustrations on the front make sense "Oh mummy look he's a big fart" (followed by lots of giggling) and they adored the illustrations on the inside too but mostly they looked forward to hearing what happened next to the Baron (we broke the book into bedtime reading for a few nights)  and once we got to the end all they wanted to know was if we had the next one and if we didn't could mummy now go order it! 
I loved reading this, it was such a fun story that kept my little one interested night after night and it's beautifully illustrated. I have a hardback copy and it's just so lovely and the best bit is the font inside is big enough that when my small one starts to read by themselves this is perfect for them to read to themselves because they can easily point at the words as they go. Much like my little one, I am hoping we have more tales about the Baron because I think this is a lovely addition to a children's bookshelf and it becoming a firm favourite reread is something I can see happening as my small one grows.

Krystina xx

The Knight's Substitute Bride by Melissa Oliver~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Mills & Boon

Publication Date: 23rd November 2023

Genre: Historical Romance

Summary:

Could the wrong bride…

Be right for him after all!

For the sake of his family name, Lord Robert must marry to seal an alliance with an Irish clan. Only, the woman at the altar isn’t who he was promised! Instead, it’s her sister, Lady Mairenn! The sharp-tongued Irish beauty is as reluctant to wed as Robert, but as friction turns to fire between them, she’s further derailing Robert’s plans for this purely pragmatic arrangement…

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Mills and Boon and Melissa Oliver for having me on this tour and sending me the book.

I know I've said it before but I love a good historical romance, I love stepping back in time and reading about Lords wooing their intended or their wife, it just makes me happy. And in this case, we have an arranged marriage that doesn't get off to the best of starts, but gradually we see it get on sure footing and blossom into one of those marriages that makes you smile and sigh happily.
I really loved Mairenn, she's such a strong, forthright woman which is something I love seeing written into historical romances, especially when they're pitted against bullheaded men, which is what Robert is in spades. It makes for such a fiery romance coming off the pages, and we see it from their first meeting where they exchange barbs at each other without actually knowing who the other is, but you see the makings of a fiery romance in that one exchange.
It's been a really easy book to read, I've just been able to sit with my cuppa and step back into Robert and Mairenn's story and devour it in a sitting. It's a really enjoyable writing style, everything flows easily and you never at any point get jolted back out of the story by anything being out of place shall we say.
Now I know I'll pick up a Mills & Boon book again soon, they've been a staple of my reading diet for decades and if I see Melissa Olivers' name on the cover I'll definitely pick it up because I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this one of hers.

Krystina xx

Pass The Cyanide by Karmen Spiljak~Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Karmen Spiljak 

Publication Date: 17th November 2023

Genre: Fiction

Summary:

A deadly feast, a mobster restaurant and a family get-together with fatal results.

Savour the spicy tang of dark and twisted tales in Pass the Cyanide, a follow-up to the award-winning collection of culinary mysteries, Add Cyanide to Taste.

From an old friend hiding a deadly secret to a ravenous house with an appetite for friends, Špiljak masterfully blends the allure of food and the thrill of mystery. Each story is a rich and satisfying serving of crime, with a twist that will leave you wanting more.

A must-read for fans of culinary noir and foodies who love a pinch of danger with their suspense. All recipes included are cyanide-free.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources and Karmen Spiljack for having me on this tour and sending me the book.

I do like having a collection of short stories on my tbr, it's something you can happily dip in and out of when you need a break between genres. And I did bounce back to this one on a couple of occasions to try and read it because when I first sat down to read it I found it difficult to get into the first story so I purposely read something the polar opposite to see if that helped. Unfortunately, it didn't and whilst this is a brilliant set of short story ideas I struggled to get into it. I like a lot of the ideas behind each story, and I think if they were a little longer I might have enjoyed them more because the writing style is enjoyable and they are well-written. I think my problem is I could have done with them being more drawn out, especially the second story with Kathy and her husband. 
It's definitely a nice short story collection and if you love a bit of murder in your writing I think this could be for you. Personally, I'd love to see the author write a full crime/thriller novel because I think it'll be fantastic.

Krystina xx

Dark Dweller By Gareth Worthington~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Dropship Publishing

Publication Date: 28th February 2023

Genre:Science Fiction

Summary:

Captain Kara Psomas was pronounced dead when her research vessel slammed into Jupiter.

More than a century later, the crew of the Paralus, a helium mining freighter, find a pristine escape pod with a healthy young girl nestled inside. A girl who claims to be Kara-and she brings a message of doom.

She says she has been waiting in the dark for that exact moment. To be found by that particular crew. Because an ancient cosmic being has tasked her with a sacred responsibility.

She claims she must alter the Fulcrum, a lever in time-no matter the cost to the people aboard-or condemn the rest of civilization to a very painful and drawn-out demise.

She sounds convincing. She appears brave. She might well be insane.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Partners In Crime Book Tours, Dropship Publishing and Gareth Worthington for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
Now I have to admit Science Fiction is not my usual genre of book, and I've actually not had much luck with the ones I've tried before, normally I wouldn't have jumped on a tour for a book in that genre. But the beautiful cover and the intriguing-sounding blurb made me jump onto this tour and I am so glad I did! I think I've finally found the Science Fiction author for me!
This book just pulled me in from the moment I started reading it, I found myself getting lost in it so easily, at one point my husband asked if I planned on sitting down at any point because I'd got up to make a cup of tea and ended up just stood next to the kettle reading I was so engrossed in it. The writing style is so easy flowing that even when you're moving from one character to the next there's no jolt as you change points of view, which can sometimes drag you out of the world the authors created. I've just felt so invested in the story, I've needed to keep reading, i wanted to know about Psomas and how she came to be where they found her, how she survived for so long and if she was right about it all.
I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it's kept me engrossed way past my bedtime and it's made me want to pick up more books by Gareth Worthington. Also, and this might be odd, the hardback book just feels really nice in your hand and it's a really beautiful book to have, it's definitely going to look fantastic on my shelf!
If you are like me and you find science fiction a little hit-and-miss genre, I really think you should pick this book up and give it a try, bonus is that currently, you can get the beautiful hardback on Amazon for £2.48, I'll pop the link below for you ;)

Krystina xx

Amazon Beautiful Hardback

Always the Bridesmaid by Laura Carter~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 17th November 2023

Genre: Romance

Summary:

A cheeky chappy comedian

Charlie is most comfortable playing the funny man in front of boisterous crowds in London’s comedy clubs. But he’s about to be swapping his routine for wedding speeches. And his new acquaintance Sarah thinks he is anything but amusing.

The woman who’s got it covered

Weddings are always a difficult time for widow Sarah, but you would never tell – she’s too focused on making the week of her best friends’ wedding as perfect as possible. She definitely has no time for the grumpy and surly Charlie, who it's clear her friends are trying to set her up with.

And only one room left at the rental...

When a drunken invitation adds more people to the pre-wedding holiday house than Sarah organized for, she finds herself spending A LOT more time with Charlie than she intended. If only they could both let their guards down, they might find they have more in common than they think.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Laura Carter for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
Ok, so I kinda knew I'd enjoy this book before id even picked it up, I've loved all the Brits in Manhatten series so far and I couldn't see this one being any different. And I was right, I picked it up, read it in one sitting and loved the whole thing! Much like Sarah I disliked Charlie when we met him as he picked her up, he was really rude and if it was me I'd have wanted to slap him at times, and his whole attitude on that first day of them interacting was a little off. But as we moved through the book I loved getting to know the other side of him, he was so sweet and you could understand why he was such a complete pain in the butt to begin with. It was good to get to know Sarah a bit more too, I've read the other books in the series and got to know little bits about her so this was a nice way to fill the rest in, and there are points near the end that made me want to cry and give her a hug.
I love reading Laura Carter's books, I started out of order (Two to Tango) but then enjoyed going back to the beginning, and I honestly can't wait for her next book. I'm hoping its some more to this series.

Krystina xx

A Village Called Christmas by Jodie Homer~Blog Tour

 Publisher:  Independently published

Publication Date: 11th October 2023

Genre: Christmas Romance

Summary:

Is the answer to Holly's broken heart hidden in a village called Christmas?

Holly loves Christmas but when she comes home and catches her boyfriend in bed with her boss she escapes her life and ends up in a village called Christmas. When she meets the Claus family she begins to realise it definitely does take a community to celebrate Christmas. As she gets stuck into the village festivities, can the dashing single farmer Joseph Claus fix her heartbreak? Is the answer to Holly's broken heart hidden in a village called Christmas?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Jodie Homer for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
I absolutely loved the blurb and the idea of this book, it's a perfect-sounding Christmas book. And it's brilliantly written, I really felt for poor Holly and I don't blame her for running away the way she did. I did so enjoy all the little Christmas-themed names of all the villagers, each new one that came up made me smile. 
It's written in a very easy-flowing way, and I enjoyed the writing style. The only issue I had with the book was the pacing, it started off really well and the first section I felt was paced well but as soon as Holly reached the village it sped up too much for me and it ruined my emersion of the story. When we first meet Holly she says its the 1st of November because its when she can officially wear a Christmas jumper at work but then when she's been at the village maybe a week or so it's suddenly the 1st of December and I don't know if i misread that bit but it really jolted me out of the story. I did feel like this could have been a longer book, maybe spaced out over a year so everything isn't crammed into the space of a few weeks. But I will give some more of Jodie's books a read because I did enjoy her writing style.

Krystina xx

The Hytharo Redux by Jonathan Weiss~Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Helixic Books

Publication Date: 23rd October 2023

Genre: Fantasy Science Fiction 

Summary:

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO THE HYTHARO WERE WIPED OUT.

A THOUSAND YEARS LATER SPIRIC WAS SPARED.

Lost among the dune-swept ruins of ancient glass towers, 14-year-old Spiric hunts for his stolen memories. Guided by the exiled scholar that found him, he embarks on a perilous journey across the Droughtlands to uncover his origins.

He’s told his red eyes mark him as a Hytharo, one of the long-extinct storm callers that sealed all water into the air itself before they were erased from history. In the thousand years since, thirst has been quenched simply by breathing, but that hasn’t stopped the surviving runic peoples from wanting water any less.

For without it, there’s no ink, no runes, no magic, and in the vast desert wastes of the Droughtlands, magic means power.

To Spiric, the mantra is eerily familiar.

Word of his presence ripples across the Droughtlands and pressure mounts on him to reverse the Hytharo’s final, sacrificial act. It’s only as his memories begin to return that he realises the true reason his people were wiped out.

With the fragments of Spiric’s memories growing bloodier and more desperate, he must determine whether carrying out his supposed fate will cause history to repeat, or if he can forge a new destiny, both for himself and the Droughtlands.

Review:
Firstly, thank you to Love Books Tours, Helixic Books and Jonathan Weiss for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
So not only did i like the sound of this book from the blurb, but so did my husband, so ive spent my time reading this alongside him and for once he's read quicker than me! So hes awaiting book two and ive finally got the book to myself to finish it! 

It's a really easy book to read, I found myself whizzing through chapters in no time at all both because it was easy to read and because I was enjoying the world-building. Whilst I loved the world-building, there were times that I felt we could have had a little more character development and there were missed opportunities to find out more about their background. The companions especially felt like they lacked a little depth, I would have liked to have points where we found out more about them.

I liked getting the flashbacks of Spirics memories, I just would have maybe liked them to be in Italics or a different font so they were easy to define. Spiric himself is interesting but I just didn't feel he read like a 14-year-old boy, he read like he was older maybe closer to 20.

I found the way that magic was used was really interesting, I liked how they had to use the runes to be able to use it and that a lack of water is making magic a valuable commodity because they just can't make the ink for the runes. But I couldn't pinpoint a system for understanding the power hierarchy. 

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Krystina xx

A Cosy Cottage Escape by Rosie Green ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: 30th September 2023

Genre: Romance

Summary:

When the Little Duck Pond Cafe crew take a break away at Hallowe'en, they're expecting a lovely, relaxing holiday in the picturesque village of Silverbells. But both Ellie and Maddy have challenges to face, and when things start going bump in the night with alarming regularity at the haunted house next-door, it's clear they also have a perplexing mystery to solve. Can they pull together and get to the bottom of the spooky goings-on before their week is up?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and Rosie Green for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I have to say this was an easy book to read, the writing style flowed really well and the story moved along quickly. But I did feel confused about the characters a lot of the way through this,its said to be part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone but having not read any of the other books I had no idea about the character's backgrounds or a full understanding of their relationship to one another. I felt that even though it is part of a series we could have had a little bit more character detail so I could step in at any point of the series and not need to have read the rest to know who everyone is. After about 60% of the book, I went to check how many books were before it because I thought about reading them to get to know the characters better but this is book 30 in the series.
I also felt that maybe we had too much going on at once, we had three of the main group having serious relationship issues at once and personally it felt too much, id have rather focused on one per book and had the others as minor background things.

Krystina xx

Solstice by Helen Steadman ~ Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Bell Jar Books

Publication Date: 18th September 2023

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

England, 1673. Still a world of witches, witch trials and witchfinders.

When a new vicar arrives to take over the parish of Mutton Clog, the village finds itself in the grip of Puritan fever, and suspicious eyes are turned on Rose Driver.

Rose’s mother, brother and grandmother were all put to death by the fanatical witchfinder, John Sharpe.

Almost a quarter of a century after the Newcastle witch trials, Sharpe is no longer a threat. Rose should be safe in her quiet village, but is history about to repeat itself?

Find out in Solstice, the powerful conclusion to The Widdershins Trilogy, which tells the story of one woman’s struggle for survival in a hostile and superstitious world.

The Widdershins Trilogy was inspired by the little-known Newcastle witch trials, where fifteen women and one man were hanged for witchcraft on a single day in August 1650.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Bell Jar Books and Helen Steadman for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
Now when I signed up for this tour I didn't realise this was the last book in a trilogy, and I made the decision to not read the other two and just go into this one not knowing what had gone before.I feel parts of the book may have been a little clearer if I had read the other two books but in general, I didn't think I needed to have read them to understand the characters we encounter in Solstice but I definitely think I will go back and read the other two.
I loved how this was written and that we had alternating chapters from Rose and Patience I definitely liked the Rose chapters more but I think that's because Patience is an incredibly hateful character and that is because she brilliantly encapsulates what you'd think of when you think 17th-century puritan. I frequently got annoyed at her during her chapters about the malice that she has for Rose for no reason other than thinking she is better than everyone else because of her faith. She is a brilliantly written character, all the characters in this are fantastically written and Helen Steadman did a beautiful job stepping the reader back in time to a small northern town in the mid-17th century.
I loved following Rose's story and it's her story that makes me want to go back and read the rest of the trilogy, it also makes me want to some reading about the trial that inspired this trilogy because I have not heard of it and I have done reading about the English witch trails.
The ending really made me smile, I thought it was beautiful and I would love to read more about Rose. Helen Steadman has written characters that you can really care what happens to, and I could believe that they were part of the history books the way she crafted their lives.
I definitely recommend this to any historical fiction fans, but maybe start at the beginning rather than the end ;)

Krystina xx

The Christmas Love Letters by Sue Moorcroft~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 26th October 2023

Genre:Romance

Summary:

A secret romance was just the start of the story…

Tucked into a crook of the Norfolk coast lies Nelson’s Bar – an idyllic village where time seems to stand still. Maddy Cracey has called this beautiful spot home all her life, as had her husband Adey – until an epic row sent him storming out into a blizzard, with no sign of him since that fateful night.

Six years on, and Maddy’s life in the village has settled into a gentle pattern with her young daughter and Great Aunt Ruthie. However, when handsome stranger Raff turns up with a handful of long-forgotten love letters, their quiet life is upended as family secrets from the past are unearthed.

As Raff and Maddy get to know each other, they grow closer and a love story of their own seems inevitable. But when Maddy receives a mysterious message, she can’t help but wonder whether her own past is as distant as she'd thought it was…

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Avon and Sue Moorcroft for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I've not read a book by Sue Moorcroft before but I know she's got a reputation for writing fantastic romances so I knew I was in good hands with this fab Christmas helping of romance. And I've loved it, it's got me in an early festive mood reading about Maddy and Raff and I so loved Ruthie.
It's a fantastically written book and it drew me into the story from the very first letter, and the very quick change of scene confused me until we got our first glimpse of Ruthie and then it slotted into place. Learning about Ruthie and Nigel in little snippets was brilliant, it meant they were still a big part of the story even if they weren't the main focus of the romance.
The whole bit about Maddy's Husband I saw coming, love is never easy so there had to be something to get in their way, but whilst I knew it was coming I was still sat there wanting to know what would happen next.
I've loved every page of this book, it's definitely a re-reader for me and I will be heading to the library to find more books by Sue Moorcroft now.

Krystina xx

Everyday Folklore by Liza Frank~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Murdoch Books 

Publication Date: 26th October 2023

Genre: Spiritual Mysticism

Summary:

For the curious and the adventurous! Turn to any date and you'll find something to learn or do suggested by folklore of the day, the month, or the season.

Some suggestions will take no more effort than sticking your head out the window to look at the clouds, while others might involve knee pads and scouring giant chalk horses cut into hillsides. Taking inspiration from folklore found around the world, each daily entry is a tiny snapshot of what goes on – be it animal or plant lore, love predictions, the zodiac, the supernatural, food, festivals, divination, anniversaries, the weather or luck. By following the customs and traditions of the ritual year, you'll find yourself becoming more engaged with what's happening about you and discover how every month and season creates its own identity.

Dip into this fascinating book at any time of the year and discover something new and intriguing about the world around you. Just beware of the hare...

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Murdoch Books and Liza Frank for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I've really enjoyed flicking through this book, as it's very much a dip-in-and-out kind of book (at least at this time of year), i think if I had it in my home I would probably start by checking every day but then end up just doing it every so often so as to make it last longer. I have spent a good deal of the book chuckling at the author's humour, I've loved searching out the asterisks just to see her comments (for example the please don't do this one next to the flaying a corpse folklore!) and her writing style is so easy flowing that I can't see myself tiring of reading this book.
The folklore key at the beginning was really useful, it meant I could skim the key list next to each day to decide if I wanted to investigate that day's traditions, I didn't want to read them all in one go because I think I might try following the year next year because it had a few fun ones I could try with my small humans ( making your own barometer sounds fun)
The illustrations and page colours I thought were brilliant, very cute and them being all over the cover I loved. I think this is a brilliant addition to any shelf, even if you only flick through and try a couple of new bits of folklore it's worth the shelf space!

Krystina xx