Mechaniek: King of Tartessos by J C Compton ~ Blog Tour

Publisher: Independently published

Publication Date: 8th July 2022

Genre: post-apocalyptic sci-fi steampunk

Summary:

Power has changed hands in Toweren: after the assassination of King Viryankar and the arrest of

Rufus Doreabris, Nex Denisov has taken the throne through a coup, and the kingdom is at war

with the island kingdom of Tartessos. He and King Byryam of Tartessos both rely on a

personality cult and militias to secure their power and are racing to create hybrids from the DNA

of giant creatures found in the ruins of ancient civilizations.

Arnau Donovan transfers to the Royal School of Mechanics from a remote region at the age of

eighteen. The son of a lumberjack but a genius mechanic, he immediately attracts the jealousy of

his classmates. As he struggles with bullying and a conservative school board trying to make the

school more religious, he finds solace in his friendships with Alistair, Miro, a relative of the

king, and his teacher Goram, whom he falls in love with. But Nex Denisov is not ready to let his

former rival have such a genius by his side...

Review:

First off thank you to Pride book tours and  J C Compton for having me on this blog tour and sending me a copy of this book to review.
So once again I judged a book by its cover (I mean let's face it this book has a beautiful cover) and decided I had to be on the book tour for this one, the blurb backed up the cover's beauty and thankfully I got onto the tour.  Beautiful cover aside I really love how the author has written this, the switching between different points of view has a nice easy flow to it. I very quickly got invested in the characters and what's going on in their lives, so much so that I really can't wait to dive into the next book in the series.
I really felt for poor Arnau in his first few weeks in the school being bullied and treated so poorly but there were also parts where I was yelling at him to not make the bad choices(Don't leave Goram!)
I did feel the marriage was quite quick but then again soldiers were known to quickly marry their sweethearts just in case they died at war so I guess from that point of view it makes sense.
I loved the representation in this book the author has done a brilliant job of creating the characters but not making them archetypal versions of transgender/gay/etc. I've just really loved reading this book, and I'm definitely going back for more from J C Compton!

Krystina xx
 

Finding your way Home by Victoria Nielsen ~ Blog Tour

 

Publisher: The Unbound Press

Publication Date: 2nd March 2023

Genre: Mind-Body Medicine

Summary:

You're more than your miscarriage, mama.

When a routine OB appointment brought tragic news in 2018, Victoria was left shocked, shaken, and cleaved in two. Instead of letting it make her feel small, she used this sacred loss as a catalyst to expand. To blossom. And to give herself the love she always deserved.

Find Your Way Home takes you through Victoria's journey of choosing joy, connecting with her intuition, and honoring her inner child after miscarriage, so you can learn to do the same.

This book of inspiring words, energy, and embodiment practices comes from Victoria's heart to help you navigate whatever part of the motherhood journey you're currently on. Allowing you to realize you are your own medicine and healer, and that you are so much more than the things that have happened to you. You can move through and come out the other side better than you ever thought possible. You can find the light again.

Review:

Thank you to Love Books Tours, Victoria Nielsen and The Unbound Press for having me on this book tour and for sending me a copy of the book to review.
I was slightly apprehensive about reading this book, myself having had miscarriages and not knowing how I would react to the book. And actually, I really connected with it and parts resonated with me. I really liked how it was written and the spiritual aspects to it, in fact, though I did like the poetry I felt there could have been fewer poems and more on Akashic Records and the journalling.
Personally, I feel a book with a journal aspect to it, using the practice that Victoria mentioned would be something that would benefit those struggling with the loss and grief of miscarriage. And I would definitely buy it, because this book brought forward things for me, and I'm grateful it did.
I have to say the cover drew me in first, it is beautiful and very much suits the book.
It's well-written, personal and beautifully spiritual, a book id defiantly recommend.


Krystina xx

The Four Horsemen by Rupert Stanbury ~ Blog Tour

 Publisher: Independently published

Publication Date: 17th April 2023

Genre: Humorous fiction

Summary:

ALL THE ROYALTIES RECEIVED BY THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVEN TO SUPPORT THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE

The Four Horsemen is the second book in the Gods Galore series about the Olympian Gods in the 21st Century AD.

The gods are still trying to control what we humans are up to. Unfortunately, they’re not being particularly successful. The world is experiencing both plague and famine which Zeus and the Gods’ Council never approved. What’s going on?

Athene’s determined to find out, but before she can get going the God of War initiates an attack on Poseidon’s realm. It’s now all out conflict and the gods are taking sides – one side, in particular.

Wherever there’s a fight, Hebe’s involved. She soon signs up to an army regiment which is full of soldiers even smaller than she is. But war these days involves brains and not just brawn and there’s plenty of both ready to be deployed in this fight!

Review:

First off thank you to Random Books Tours and Rupert Stanbury for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book to review.
I have to say I loved it! I wasn't sure I would because if I'm honest I wasn't keen on the cover ( and yes I prejudged on the cover and I know I shouldn't) But once I started it I devoured it. I've really enjoyed the writing style, it's so easy to just sit and read and the humour in it really reminds me of Terry Pratchetts Discworld books. 
I've enjoyed having moments of "OMG that's who that is" because the author has cleverly woven in historical figures and other literary works into it that which just meant I spent the book smiling at the references and laughing out loud( Zeus and modern technology is a constant giggle)
Now I don't normally add spoilers but I just want to highlight some of my favourite little bits in the book. I so enjoyed having Vlad in Impaler as head of torturing in the underworld, and the Renaissance painters as the painting team in the construction department, as I said it's so very cleverly written.
We start off with the brilliant notion of Death (one of the four horsemen and hard worker of the underworld) telling Hades that he'd quite like to someday have a Mrs Death and maybe retire to Bournemouth and pass the family business onto Mister Death, and it was just so absurd that it was brilliant and I can't wait for more of this series.
In fact, I've got book one in my basket awaiting payday! And I'm looking forward to the day I can share the books with my small ones because this is such a fun read.

Let me know if you've read this book and if you have tell me your favourite bits!

Krystina xx

Just Like That by Nina Kaye ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Canelo Escape

Publication Date: 1st June 2023

Genre: Romance

Summary:

Is fur-ever on the cards for these enemies-at-first-sight?

Jess is smashing her Edinburgh events management job right now. Her boss is talking about a promotion, her clients love her and other companies want her. But all of that comes to an abrupt halt when her brother has a sudden stroke. Jess doesn’t think twice about stepping in as his carer, but her boss is not so understanding.

Demoted to managing low-end events, Jess is less than thrilled to be assigned to a small animal park in need of raising funds. She’s even less happy when she clashes with arrogant head keeper, Nick. He's frustrated with her squeamishness; she thinks he’s a lech. Nick wants a baggage-free life; Jess has so much drama going on, even the Kardashians can’t keep up.

But maybe saving the animals of East Lothian Wildlife Park will help these op-paw-sites find some common ground…

Review:

Thank you to Love Books Tours, Canelo Co and Nina Kaye for having me on this tour and for sending me a copy of the book to review.
No, messing about , I loved it! The cover caught my eye and drew me to read the blurb, which instantly made it on my I have to get on the tour for this list, and it didn't disappoint. 
I loved how it was written, I really got on with the writing style and the characters were so well-rounded that I fell in love with them (well most of them but no one is meant to like Craig right).
It has this fun start, which quickly throws you in a spin when Seth has his stroke, and you really feel for poor Jess. I absolutely couldn't understand her parent's attitude, cold-hearted good-for-nothing waste of space ( like I said the characters are really well written!)
The romance between Nick and Jess is fantastic, I really enjoyed their first meet-cute the whole mistaken situation was brilliant and it was a great almost slow burn to romance, helped along by Lauren whose mischievous nature is a good giggle.
I was yelling at Jess to just tell Nick at times, I was so invested in what was going on.
It was a really lovely ending, that kind of leaves it open for a second book to come and revisit them and the Park (fingers crossed) 

Krystina xx

Tails of Two Spaniels by Heather Peck ~Blog Tour

Publisher: Ormesby Publishing

Publication Date: 11th May 2023

Genre: Childrens

Summary:

Springer Spaniel Patch has four puppies on the farm where she lives with Marigold the House Cow, Gertie Goose, Sally-for-short the Sow, and lots of worried woollies. But the puppies can't stay forever and they have a lot to learn.

A story of the antics of puppies, told from the puppies' perspective and brought to life by charming illustrations. For animal lovers aged 6-9.

Review:
Thank you to Random Books Tours, Ormesby Publishing and Heather Peck for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book to review.
This is a very cute book, it has some lovely illustrations and I think any 6-9-year-olds will love diving into it. It's a sweet story of two puppies heading from the farm they were born on to their forever home all from their point of view. I think it's really good in giving children an idea of what's involved in having a pet and that it's a lot of work and commitment, and I like her adding in a bit to teach them about looking after the environment and the importance of it.
It's just a very sweet story that I think children will love.

Krystina xx

Identity Crisis by Clayton Pulsipher ~Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Clayton Pulsipher

Publication Date: 19th January 2023

Genre: Science Fiction

Summary:

"Through the winds of change, we stand tall as trees."

Jag has always wondered why he’s different from the other Rixxonians. So when strange visitors show up in the jungle, he can’t help but follow.

He could’ve never predicted his search for answers would propel him off planet and into the middle of a galactic conspiracy.

Aided by the mysterious Arbiters and their advanced technology, Jag and his brother, Sixxis, travel to astounding new worlds as they assemble a team to oppose the Prospectors’ Guild and its violent operations run by the fiendish Advocate. But each success only brings more chaos. And the more things unfold, the more Jag can’t help but think it’s all connected.

Will Jag discover the truth behind his identity—or has fate already decided his path?

Review:

Thank you to Love Books Tours and Clayton Pulsipher for having me on this blog tour and sending me a copy of the book!
I really liked the cover of the book and the cover combined with the blurb is what first drew me to want to read this book. I haven't read much science fiction and this seemed like a good one to dip my toe in ( I'm a firm believer in giving any genre a try at least twice!). It had an interesting start which was promising and it was an easy-to-read book but unfortunately, the writing style just didn't resonate with me. I do think it's a good fit as a young adult science fiction reader though as it's something easy to dip in and out of and I can defiantly see a younger reader being able to read it in a few sittings.
If you're a fan of young adult fiction I think this might be a book you'd enjoy, it just wasn't for me.

Krystina xx

Marvel Heroine's Mockingbird: Strike Out by Maria Lewis ~ Blog Tour

 Publisher: Acontye

Publication Date: 20th of June 2023

Genre: Superhero Fantasy

Summary:

S.H.I.E.L.D. super-spy Bobbi Morse spreads her wings and dives into a brand-new espionage thriller from Marvel Heroines

S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Bobbi Morse needs to get out of LA. Like, yesterday. With her painful divorce from Hawkeye still being hashed out, Bobbi could do with a new job to take her mind off the mind-numbing mediations. Luckily, an old friend and mentor of Bobbi’s is missing, so a jaunt to the UK might be the perfect distraction. What Bobbi isn’t anticipating is having to team up with the snarky and handsome Lance Hunter, but her options are limited if she wants to solve this mystery. Someone is trying to recreate and weaponize the original Super-Soldier Serum which could spell global disaster. To save the world, Bobbi will have to face her past, put her problems behind her, and let the Mockingbird take flight.

Review:
Thank you to Love Books Tours, Maria Lewis and Aconyte Books for having me on this blog tour and sending me a copy of the book to read. I'm a Marvel fan and was sold on wanting to read this book because I didn't know Hawkeye had an ex-wife ( I've watched the films but until now hadn't ventured into reading Marvel), so I just needed to know about her!
Chapter one is so fast-paced and full of so much stuff happening and I loved it, the first chapter cemented my absolutely loving Bobbi and actually hating Clint (he comes over as such an arsehole) which threw me because having only watched the films I really liked him in those.
It's Marvel so you'd expect plenty of action and you get it in spades, ill be honest I didn't want to stop reading this, I got so engrossed I almost missed picking my small one up from school(I didn't but it was close id got to a really good bit!).
The interactions between Bobbi and Lance were just brilliantly written and I loved every single bit of banter, Tem is just Fabulous!
I did see one the surprise twists coming a few chapters before it was revealed but I think that just because I watch too many crime dramas and the choice of wording alerted me to something being amiss. But the other one surprised me!
I have to say one of my favourite bits of the book, hands down has to be Bobbi's last interaction with Clint it was beautiful *chef's kiss*.
I've already ordered more Marvel heroines books from my library because this was so damn good. If you're even remotely a fan of Marvel you should give this a read( heck even if you are just a fan of kick-ass women you should give this a read)

Krystina xx