The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Swift Press

Publication Date: 10th September 2026

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

Ireland, 1535.

The sea is no place for a girl.

Least of all Grace O’Malley, the only daughter of a powerful chieftain and the family’s best hope of securing a strong alliance through childbirth. But something wild and unexpected stirs within Grace, a yearning that neither her father nor her mother – nor even the brutal warrior she is eventually forced to marry – can suppress for long.

1586. Over the past half-century, the determined young girl has defied all expectations. Now heir to clan O’Malley’s mighty fleet and a formidable mother, Grace is prepared to kill to protect what is hers. So when Queen Elizabeth’s incursions into Ireland grow bolder she must fight to defend her land, her ships and the people she loves most.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Swift Press and Ariel Lawhon for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
Now i really wanted to read this because female pirates are a subject that has always interested me so the opportunity to learn a little more (even though this is a historical fiction) wasn't one i could pass up. And its one hell of a book, almost 500 pages spanning her whole life and giving us a brilliant view of just how formidable and interesting she was.
Now i have really enjoyed this, i think its beautifully written and its so easy to get lost in. I kept going "just one more chapter" and frequently loosing track of time while reading this, which i always find as a mark of a good book. There was only one problem i had with it, i found the skipping between Grace's ages a little jarring. Whilst i understand using the Maiden, Mother and Matriarch to break up the different phases in Graces life and the connecting to the Celtic Triquetra i found it a very jarring jump and it took me until a third of the way through the book to somewhat get used to it. Personally i would have preferred a linear approach because it is just one story of her life but i can understand the authors choice.
Some of my favourite parts of the book were when men were underestimating Grace, i loved just how much they really didn't anticipate the responses or action that she took and for a woman in that time it was something to make her stand out.
I defiantly enjoyed Ariel Lawhon's writing style, her way with descriptions was really lovely to read and i think id pick up her books again.

Krystina xx

Walking on Sunshine by Heidi Swain ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date: 23rd April 2026

Genre: Romance

Summary:

A Summer in Suffolk could be just what she needs…

When Tilly heads to the river in Willowell, Suffolk, to scatter her dad’s ashes, she’s in need of some rest and relaxation. Life has been tough lately, and she wants a new start.

Constance has lived in Fernside forever. She owns the beautiful Willowell Woods – but she can’t manage them alone, and they’re now up for sale.

Her nephew, James, has always loved Willowell Woods – and he doesn’t want anyone taking them over. So when Tilly asks to buy them, with an exciting idea for the land, sparks begin to fly… the problem is, they’re already falling in love.

Can Tilly and James find a way to turn sparks into fireworks? And will Constance finally realise that letting in the new doesn’t have to mean getting rid of the old…?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Simon and Schuster and Heidi Swain for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I adore Heidi Swains writing and i haven't read a book of hers yet that i haven't loved from the first page, Walking on Sunshine is no exception. I genuinely loved Tilly from the first page, she felt like that friend you've known for years it was that easy to just sit in on her story. And it was a beautifully written story, i enjoyed how it was paced out, nothing felt too rushed it all seemed to flow seamlessly. Oh and the characters we got to know were all gorgeous, and i don't just mean in how they were described (we had a lot of good looking people in this story) ,but in their personalities. I loved watching their different dynamics with Tilly and how those friendships grew and created a mini community within the wider community.Its one of the things i really enjoy about Heidi Swains books, her ability to create these beautiful communities of people that makes you wish you could visit that place and met those wonderful people. Whilst the romance between Tilly and James is there running through this book (and is was brilliant to cheer on) the relationship that was focused on the most, and which was beautiful to read, was the friendship between Tilly and Constance. It was a really lovely friendship that turned into family and maybe im a sucker for that but im all for celebrating friends that are more like family.
I could go heaping praise on this book but really i think you should give it a read and get lost in Willowell yourselves.

Krystina xx

Catherine by Essie Fox ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication Date: 12th Febuary 2026

Genre: Gothic Fiction

Summary:

With a nature as wild as the moors she loves to roam, Catherine Earnshaw grows up alongside Heathcliff, a foundling her father rescued from the streets of Liverpool. Their fierce, untamed bond deepens as they grow – until Mr Earnshaw’s death leaves Hindley, Catherine’s brutal brother, in control and Heathcliff reduced to servitude.

Desperate to protect him, Catherine turns to Edgar Linton, the handsome heir to Thrushcross Grange. She believes his wealth might free Heathcliff from cruelty – but her choice is fatally misunderstood, and their lives spiral into a storm of passion, jealousy and revenge.

Now, eighteen years later, Catherine rises from her grave to tell her story – and seek redemption.

Review:
Firstly thank you to random Things Book Tours, Orenda and Essie Fox for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
Ok so confession time, i have never read Wuthering Heights. I tried once and i was not in the right headspace for it and reverted back to one of my favourite comfort reads instead. But i think that reading this without the knowledge of what occurs in Wuthering Heights is a good thing, hear me out. So i was completely invested in Cathy's story, pulled along from the first pages and because i had no idea exactly how the story went just vague bits from seeing film trailers here and there i had to keep reading because i wanted to know what happened next and how we got to that opening scene. Which, without spoiling anything, is kind of the end of her story really, so my lack of prior knowledge drove me to not put the book down and keep reading. 
At times i have to say i really didnt like Cathy, some of the things she does whilst to her they are coming from a good place are quite cruel. I do understand that this is set in a  time period where her attitude isnt uncommon and in fact is the common attitude but it doesnt make her actions excusable. But it does make Essie Fox's writing very clever because it has to be hard to write without adding that modern spin to a classic story.
I really enjoyed everything about this book, the way that Essie Fox writes is lovely and i found it so easy to just keep reading. I even loved the chapter headers, the use of roman numerals and a gothic looking framing was just so perfect for this book.
Im now going to go back and read Wuthering Heights just to see how the story compares and see if the bits i enjoyed the most from this retelling are still my favourites bits in the classic.

Krystina xx

Your Twin Flame Journey by Theresa Cheung ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Godsfield Press

Publication Date: 5th Febuary 2026

Genre: New Age

Summary:

Every relationship has lessons to teach you, but none more so than the Twin Flame relationship. Meeting your Twin Flame is the most powerful soul encounter you can ever experience. Often marked with an irresistible familiarity and heart-breaking intensity, your Twin Flame serves as a mirror to both the best and the most unlikeable and unhealed parts of you. The Twin Flame relationship has an ancient, multi-cultural history behind it, and is accompanied by many immortal expressions across art and culture. But unfortunately, it is also often very misunderstood.

From debunking the myths around Twin Flames to offering practical advice for navigating these passionate connections, Your Twin Flame Journey is a comprehensive guide to intimate relationships from a psychological and spiritual perspective.

With Theresa's expert guidance, you will learn how to heal your broken heart and make empowering decisions for yourself, as Theresa knows best of all: you cannot find your Twin Flame until you spiritually awaken to the power of self-love first.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Godsfield Press and Theresa Cheung for having me on this blog tour and sending me a copy of the book.

Ok so first off i am still reading this book, and thats not because im finding it hard to read but because im taking the time to fully throw myself into the exercises and new practises (like the reconnecting with your heart) that Theresa Cheung is asking you to do. Whilst yes i am on this tour to review this book and normally i would have finished it cover to cover by now, this book doesn't feel like one that should be rushed.
Now i have always held the belief that we have can have multiple soul mates and that those connections don't have to be romantic ones, that platonic ones can be just as strong and meaningful. And this book has added to my thoughts on this and added in the whole concept of Twin Flame connections, which is not something i knew much about other than having heard the term in passing. I have to say ive loved what ive read so far and i especially like that we've started off by explaining what a Twin Flame is and how it differs from Soul Mates. I like that Theresa has gone into this expecting us to either not fully understand the term or have preconceived ideas of what it means that might not be necessarily correct and begins by giving us that firm footing of knowledge to build upon with the rest of the book.
Ive found her writing style to not only easy to read and digest but, most importantly, not to be condescending which can occasionally happen with some new age/spiritual books. She come across as very knowledgeable and happy to share that knowledge freely with everyone and not gatekeep. As i said im still finishing this book and i know im going to finish it and ill come away with having gained something from it. This book has come along at the right point in time for me because its message about the power of self love is one i defiantly have needed to hear and one i have struggled with greatly so far this year (and last year if im honest) and this book is forcing me to stop and listen to my heart.
No matter if you're searching for your Twin Flame or you perhaps just need to let in the ability to love yourself a little more, i think that its worth you picking up this book and spending the time over it.

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

A Couples Guide to Menopause by Kate and Neil Usher ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Hero

Publication Date: 2nd August 2024

Genre: Self-Help

Summary:

The menopause can challenge even the most stable, loving and supportive relationships: here’s how to make sure yours can survive – and thrive.

As a woman, are you:

• In a relationship?
• Know you are – or think you may be – menopausal?
• Fearful of the possible impact of the menopause on your relationship – and don’t know what to do?
• Expecting (or hoping) your partner will support you through the menopause?

As a man, are you:

• In a relationship?
• Know – or think your partner may be – menopausal?
• Fearful of the possible impact of the menopause on your relationship – and don’t know what to do?
• Wanting to know how you can support your partner manage her menopause?

Then this book is for you. And for you both.

Written by leading gender equity and menopause coach Kate Usher and her husband, Neil, a highly experienced workplace and change leader, this unique book looks at the menopause from a female and male perspective.

In a refreshing, candid, positive and accessible guide drawn from their personal experience in learning about and managing Kate’s traumatic menopause, it helps couples to successfully manage the experience together and emerge stronger.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Hero and Kate and Neil Usher for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
So I'm closer to menopause than I am away from it with 40 being a mere 3 years away and the average age a woman experiences menopause being 45. Most women will remember their mums going through menopause and complaining about hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings, but that's usually the most we know until it's us going through it, because let's face it we aren't taught about it at school (though as this book taught me it is now on the curriculum thankfully). And if we, the people who go through it, aren't taught about it, the men we marry are taught even less so when it happens they are just as sideswiped as we are. So it's really refreshing to not only have a book about menopause that gives lots of information that is not being sandwiched in at the end of a book on female health but also gives information for both men and women. I really enjoyed hearing Neils's voice throughout this and knowing that there was someone that my partner could listen to the experience of and maybe learn from when I do need his support going through the menopause.
It has been an eye-opening book in many ways and I have come away from it feeling so much more prepared for menopause when it does come rolling my way because Kate has smashed through all the preconceived notions that we learn about menopause and give us a twisted perception of what to expect.
I really enjoyed the way the book was set out, each of the chapters was broken down really well which means that you can just take a chapter at a time if you needed, especially if you are reading it with your partner, it gives you a good chunk of information to read and discuss together.
I'm definitely keeping this on my shelf reading for when I need to revisit it and the information inside and I'm defiantly recommending it to my friends at a similar stage in life, it's a book that has been needed I think and I'm so glad someone took the time to write it.

Krystina xx

The Virtue Season by L.M Nathan ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: 4th July 2024

Genre: Dystopian fiction

Summary:

The world didn't end all at once but drip by drip...

Manon Pawlak has just turned eighteen, a debutant at the start of the Virtue Season: a process that will result in a match with a suitable genetic mate. Her best friend, Agatha, has been decommissioned, forbidden to partake in the season and unite with the boy who has had her heart since they were children.

When Manon's mother wades out into the waters of Penn Vale with stones sewn into the lining of her coat, Manon's genetic purity is called into question and she's forced to rely on the fisherman's son, Wick, to keep her secret. But as they dance, the truth about their world starts to unravel, and Manon finds herself at the centre of it all. And the council is watching.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Scholastic and L.M Nathan for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
Gotta start off by saying that the cover of this is really pretty, it definitely set off my magpie tendencies and looks gorgeous on my shelf. And the blurb really drew me in, no that's a lie it wasn't the whole blurb I was hooked by that first line "The world didn't end all at once but drip by drip" It completely made me need to read this to find out how.
So I really loved the writing style of this, it kind of reads like it's a YA book even though I don't think it is, but that makes sense as the Main characters in it are all 18, and all the adults are really just supporting characters. You know me I love a dual POV book and I really enjoyed getting everything from two contrasting points of view, Manon who's going through everything as a Debutant and Agatha who's been decommissioned and gets a very limited view of proceedings. The only thing about this book is the ending doesn't feel finished, it feels like you've got to the end of a binge-worthy TV series with a massive cliffhanger leaving you eager for series 2. I feel like this is book one in a series and we've laid the groundwork for more from both Manon and Agatha as the fight to change things carries on, a fight which as we leave them in book one feels like an uphill struggle.

I definitely feel like it has strong elements of The Handmaid's Tale in a really good way. It's a dystopian fiction that I've really enjoyed I kept wanting to keep reading it and seeing what happened next, and if it is part of a series I will definitely be reading the rest to see where it takes us.

Krystina xx

Under Your Spell by Laura Wood ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date: 20th June 2024

Genre: Romance

Summary:

She only wants three things. He isn't one of them... 

Dumped by her cheating ex, fired from her dream job, about to lose her flat: Clementine Monroe is not having a good day. So when her sisters get her drunk and suggest reviving a childhood ritual called the breakup spell, she doesn’t see the harm in it.

 

But now Clemmie has accidentally ruined a funeral, had her first one-night stand, and she’s stuck with a new job she definitely doesn’t want - spending six weeks alone with the gorgeous and very-off-limits rock star, Theo Eliott. 

 

He’s the most famous man on the planet. Her life’s a disaster. When it comes to love, Clemmie is learning you should be careful what you wish for...

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Simon & Schuster UK and Laura Wood for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
So I've been wanting to read this for months, I saw it on NetGalley and I couldn't get a copy so I've been eagerly awaiting its publication. And I've seen so much hype about it, which if I'm honest normally puts me off a book but it's been a lot of hype from people on Instagram that I know have a similar taste in books to me and don't give 5-star reviews willy-nilly.
I have to say this really has lived up to the hype, I devoured it in a few hours because I so did not want it to end but at the same time, I just didn't want to stop reading it because I wanted to find out how Clemmie and Theo found a way to make it all work. I really loved how their relationship developed, Theo was so sweet in the way that he just was there for Clemmie and gradually showed her how much he cared even if she didn't fully notice it! I did want to shake her at times when she just didn't clock how much he was putting himself out there for her, i was with her sisters when they were giving her exasperated looks. On the subject of her sisters, I adored their relationship it was just so fun and Clemmie was right when she called them her soulmates, they are just brilliant I can't think of a better way to describe them. The mums and the three sisters I think are an amazing group of female characters in this book, they make the men side characters for most of it I feel anytime they are in a scene they own it.
It is a brilliantly written book, and I definitely can't wait to see what she writes next, especially as she put in so many childhood favourites in film and music references that had me smiling from ear to ear (The 1999 cinematic masterpiece The Mummy for one) and I have a hope that we get to revisit Clemmie and Theo, maybe.

Krystina xx

Boys Who Hurt by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication Date: 20th June 2024

Genre: Nordic Noir

Summary:

Fresh from maternity leave, Detective Elma finds herself confronted with a complex case, when a man is found murdered in a holiday cottage in the depths of the Icelandic countryside – the victim of a frenzied knife attack, with a shocking message scrawled on the wall above him.
 
At home with their baby daughter, Sævar is finding it hard to let go of work, until the chance discovery in a discarded box provides him with a distraction. Could the diary of a young boy, detailing the events of a long-ago summer have a bearing on Elma’s case?
 
Once again, the team at West Iceland CID have to contend with local secrets in the small town of Akranes, where someone has a vested interest in preventing the truth from coming to light. And Sævar has secrets of his own that threaten to destroy his and Elma’s newfound happiness.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Blog Tours, Orenda books and Eva Björg Ægisdóttir for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.

I absolutely love Nordic Noir and I truly think Scandinavian crime writers write the best crime fiction because they always take me til about 50 pages before the end before I think I'm 100% sure who the killer is, they just keep me guessing and intrigued from start to finish far more than most other authors. This is my first in the Fobbiden Iceland series and Eva Björg Ægisdóttir is a new author to me but I can defiantly tell you it won't be my last (the previous four books have magically ended up in my shopping basket) because I've adored her writing style like I said I have been kept intrigued the whole way through the book, the various threads of the case entangling with what Saevar finds was so brilliant to follow. I liked that we heard from different characters' points of view throughout the book, mostly we hear from Elma and Saevar but it was good to hear from their boss, Hordur, too and I really enjoyed the back-and-forth between the different time periods(before and after the murder and back to 1995) it both rounded out our information and at the same time gave nothing away, I spent most of the book wondering what was on the video camera tape for instance because we got glimpses of it being filmed or it being watched but never a full picture until almost the end. It really heightened my need to keep reading the book so I could find out what happened and I really loved that. I'm going to have to stop reviewing now before I give anything away because I really do want people to go out and read this for themselves, it's a fantastic book both in terms of its storyline and its writing style and if you love a bit of crime this should definitely be on your reading list this year.

Krystina xx

Hera by Jennifer Saint ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Wildfire

Publication Date: 23rd May 2024

Genre: Myths/Historical Fiction

Summary:

When Hera, immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronus, helps her brother Zeus to overthrow their tyrannical father, she dreams of ruling at his side.

As they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera suspects that Zeus might be just as ruthless and cruel as the father they betrayed.

She was always born to rule, but must she lose herself in perpetuating this cycle of violence and cruelty? Or can she find a way to forge a better world?

Often portrayed as the jealous wife or the wicked stepmother, this retelling captures the many sides of Hera, vengeful when she needs to be but also compassionate and most importantly, an all-powerful queen to the gods.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Wildfire and Jennifer Saint for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I knew I'd love this book before I'd even read it, there hasn't been a Jennifer Saint book that I haven't loved, she's one of my auto-buy authors!
Now that's out of the way let me tell you why Hera is just fantastic. For a start, the cover is just stunning! It's so beautifully eye-catching and if you take the sleeve off the hardback it's a gorgeous purple on the inside, and we have beautiful peacocks on the inside, I've loved all the covers of her books but I think this one is by far my favourite. Inside we have an amazingly written book, Jennifer Saint just has such a way of writing Greek Mythology retellings, everything flows so beautifully that you easily get absorbed in the book and happily lose hours reading it and I spent hours reading and finishing this book in a day. I couldn't bear to put it down, we get to know Hera in her own words rather than the typical narrative of through tales of heroes. It completely changed my opinion of her! I could never understand why in all the mythology she took her anger out on the women that Zeus cheated on her with when he tricked them into being with him, they were just as much victims as she was. But the way that Jennifer Saint has written Hera and shown us why she might have done that, it now makes sense to me why she chose that path. She's far more than the vengeful Queen of the gods that we've all come to know her as and I think now when I read the mythology I'm going to be seeing them in a very different light.
Every woman that Jennifer Saint has chosen to write about has been a brilliant, largely forgotten about or misrepresented woman of Greek Mythology and I can't wait to see who she's going to write about next because she has so many choices and I know whoever she picks is going to get a fabulous retelling.

Krystina xx

Mary I Queen of Sorrows by Alison Weir ~Blog Tour

Publisher: Headline Review

Publication Date: 9th May 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

A DESTINY REWRITTEN. A ROYAL HEART DIVIDED.

Adored only child of Henry VIII and his Queen, Katherine of Aragon, Princess Mary is raised in the golden splendour of her father's court. But the King wants a son and heir.

With her parents' marriage, and England, in crisis, Mary's perfect world begins to fall apart. Exiled from the court and her beloved mother, she seeks solace in her faith, praying for her father to bring her home. But when the King does promise to restore her to favour, his love comes with a condition.

The choice Mary faces will haunt her for years to come - in her allegiances, her marriage and her own fight for the crown. Can she become the queen she was born to be?

MARY I. HER STORY.

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.
Now anyone who knows me knows I love Alison Weirs' books, fiction and nonfiction alike i will happily devour her books. And I've loved the other books in this trilogy, as always Alison Weir delivers when it comes to historical fact with her ideas of what thoughts might have been going around their heads at the time. I'm really pleased that she chose Mary for this book rather than Elizabeth or Edward ( though a book from either point of view of course would be brilliant) because Mary often has a bad reputation, especially with her moniker of "Bloody" Mary when in reality I think both of her siblings cause more deaths during their reigns than she did. So I really wanted to get that whole period from "the king's great matter"  to her eventual death from her perspective because we mostly get it from the Mary was bad/evil point of view and I really don't believe she was, not wholly.
As always Alison Weir's writing style is beautiful, it is so easy to read and flows beautifully across the page, I can so easily get drawn into the time period and fully see the scene she creates in my mind's eye like I'm looking back in time.
The book makes you look at Mary I from a different angle, yes she was a religious zealot and firmly believed that she was doing God's work burning heretics but she was also a child who suffered a lot of trauma in her formative years and who had a lasting effect on her and choices from that point onwards.
If you love the Tudor period then I definitely recommend picking this book(and trilogy) up and on a side note, the covers for this series are stunning.

Krystina xx

 

Finding Happiness When It Hurts by Lisa Brett~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Compass-Publishing UK

Publication Date: 17th November 2022

Genre: Self Help

Summary:

Discover the hidden blessings within these pages to unlock your inner joy

By the time Lisa realised she was in the grip of enormous, life-transforming emotional pain, she was in no position to help herself get out of it. That was until a chance meeting with someone in a field changed everything.

She now wants to help others who find themselves in the same situation and who fear they’ll never be happy again.

This book reveals that not only is happiness within reach but also you can change your life for the better immediately. It provides comfort, reassurance that you’re not alone, and practical ways to help you flip how you see and think about dark moments.

Storytelling, nuggets of wisdom and beautiful illustrations gently but profoundly lead you along the path where happiness is the final destination.

There are also real-life stories from people around the world who, in the darkest of places, found hidden blessings that led them to feel at peace and to be happy and fulfilled once again.

Lisa’s aim is that this becomes your go-to book in time of need.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Compass Publishing UK and Lisa Brett for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I was really looking forward to this book, it sounded like it would be really good for helping during moments when you needed to see a silver lining in situations.
I'm not sure it's a book that was meant to be read from cover to cover unfortunately, but that is how I read it. Reading it in one go makes for a very disjointed read, it was very jarring at times and that made me want to skip through passages and move along to the next story. I definitely got the point of the book, that even in the worst of situations there can be something good to come from it and that's what you need to focus on instead of the bad thing that's occurred, which is a pretty good way to look at life and far more positive way than dwelling on the bad. But maybe it's a case of reading the relevant story/section and taking the message from it.
I do love that she gathered people's stories together for the book and kind of put them into sections but I'm not sure they all fit together in one book, it didn't feel like a cohesive book.
The sections written by Lisa were well written, I liked how she did the conversations between characters which was really interesting. 
But overall I'm not sure this is the book for me, though I do think that maybe it's because I read it in one go.

Krystina xx

One Of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Publication Date: 25th April 2024

Genre: Thriller

Summary:

Years after a breakdown and a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder derailed her historical preservationist career, Kenetria Nash and her alters have been given a second chance they can’t refuse: a position as resident caretaker of a historic home. Having been dormant for years, Ken has no idea what led them to this isolated Hudson River island, but she’s determined not to ruin their opportunity.

Then a surprise visit from the home’s conservation trust just as a Nor’easter bears down on the island disrupts her newfound life, leaving Ken trapped with a group of possibly dangerous strangers—including the man who brought her life tumbling down years earlier. When he turns up dead, Ken is the prime suspect.

Caught in a web of secrets and in a race against time, Ken and her alters must band together to prove their innocence and discover the truth of Kavanaugh Island—and their own past—or they risk losing not only their future, but their life.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, William Morrow Paperbacks and Alyssa Cole for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
This had me hooked, I seriously didn't want to put it down! I'll admit it took me a chapter to get used to all the changing of the different Headmates, and I used the Bad Day System list at the front of the book a lot to keep track of who was who but after a while it was automatic. And I loved how Alyssa Close signified the different conversations occurring, she made it so clear and easy to follow so I always knew when Ken was talking internally to a Headmate without having to think about it.
Much like with the getting used to the headmates bit it took me a chapter or two to get into this book, we start off with Ken waking up and not knowing what's going on so we have the same issues and find out what situation she's in with her rather than having any prior knowledge which made it a slow start for me. I really loved all the journal entries from the different Headmates, it really helped solidify them as individuals and to some extent Ken as well because they are all parts of her whilst still being completely different characters.
If I'm honest I think what I enjoyed most about this was getting to know Ken, the headmates and more about  Dissociative Identity Disorder through the book than the thriller aspect, though the journal entries from Grace I adored and I really wished we had more of them.
I have not read anything by Alyssa Cole before this and based on this I think I need to dive into her back catalogue because her writing style is fantastic and I'm pretty sure I'm going to love the rest of her books too.

Krystina xx

The Heart of Winter by Shona Kinsella~Blog Tour

 Publisher: FLAME TREE PRESS

Publication Date: 16th April 2024

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology

Summary:

When Brigit is faced with a forced marriage to Aengus, god of Summer, she flees into the highlands in search of the Cailleach, the Queen of Winter. There, she hopes to learn how to live on her own terms, without the need for a man to speak for her, but can she persuade the Cailleach that she is worthy? Caught between two gods and finding an unlikely ally in the Fae witch, Nicnevin, Brigit will be tested to her limits and beyond.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Thing Book Tours, Flame Tree Press and Shona Kinsella for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
Once again my magpie tendencies came into play because I kind of went for this book mostly based on the cover, but I did also love the Celtic mythology basis of it. I love mythology and it is rare at the moment to find books that aren't using Greek mythology, which don't get me wrong I love it, but there is something about Celtic mythology that makes my heart sing. I really enjoyed that we saw the turning of the wheel of the year with this book and the balance that's needed for that to work, especially as I sat reading this with Hailstone falling in April! Spring seems to have lost its way this year a little and it made me smile to read/see the personification of those seasons and watch Brigit's understanding, especially of winter, broaden as the book progresses.
The writing style is just beautiful, it flows so well and we get the emotions coming off the pages so easily as you read them. The connection between Brigit and Cailleach is beautiful to watch grow, I thought it might progress in a different direction than where it went but I still adored the ending and how Brigit grew and matured throughout the book which spans a time frame of just over a year.
I've already got a list of friends that I think need to read this book, but they're going to have to buy their own copy because I know I want to read this again, and I'm pretty sure it's going to be soon.

Krystina xx

Lords of Uncreation by Adrian Tchaikovsky~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Tor

Publication Date: 11th April 2024

Genre:Sci-Fi

Summary:

He's found a way to end their war, but will humanity survive to see it?

Idris Telemmier has uncovered a secret that changes everything – the Architects’ greatest weakness. A shadowy cartel scrambles to turn his discovery into a weapon against these alien destroyers of worlds. But between them and victory stands self-interest. The galaxy’s great powers would rather pursue their own agendas than stand together against this shared terror.

Human and inhuman interests wrestle to control Idris’ discovery, as the galaxy erupts into a mutually destructive and self-defeating war. The other great obstacle to striking against their alien threat is Idris himself. He knows that the Architects, despite their power, are merely tools of a higher intelligence.

Deep within unspace, where time moves differently, and reality isn’t quite what it seems, their masters are the true threat. Masters who are just becoming aware of humanity’s daring – and taking steps to exterminate this annoyance forever.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Tor and Adrian Tchaikovsky for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
Now I wanted to be on this tour for two reasons, one I wanted to try more Sci-fi having only just found a Sci-fi writer I've enjoyed the writing of I wanted to add to that and two because Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my friend Piper's favourite authors and so I wanted to read something by him.
I didn't realise this was book three of a trilogy and because of the size of the books I didn't have time to read the other two before starting this one but actually that wasn't needed because the author does a brilliant section at the beginning of the book called "The Story so far" and it gave me exactly what I needed to know to read this without having read the others. I hit the ground running and immediately was drawn into the story, and he cleverly added in additional background information that told things that probably were mentioned in the other books but in a way that if you had read the others it wouldn't be too repetitive. I can tell that he also writes Fantasy books because his writing has that fantasy style to it, but not so much that you don't read this as sci-fi, it's definitely that but with a fantasy edge.Im loving the story so far and im liking getting to know the crew of The Vulture God, finding out about they all fit within the society/galaxy and just generally diving into this sci-fi read.
I will admit I'm still reading this one, it's a long book that I'm enjoying taking my time over plus I do keep stopping to tell my husband about it, though he's told me to stop that so he can read it himself! I definitely want to go back and read the other two in the series and probably the rest of his back catalogue because I am thoroughly enjoying every page of this.

Krystina xx