Two to Tango by Laura Carter~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 11th September 2023

Genre: Romantic Fiction

Summary:

The secret to Brooks’s success as a Manhattan gym owner? Being motivated to disprove everyone who ever doubted him. So he’s not about to let a perky newcomer like Izzy tarnish his reputation. Even if watching her lead a salsa class on his premises gets his own heartbeat raised…

His beautiful British rival

Every time influencer Izzy slams Brooks in her fitness blog, her book sales soar. But when their escalating media feud forces them to be up-close-and-personal for two weeks, she realizes there’s much more to Brooks than that lean and muscled body.

And a competition that’s got their hearts racing…

Soon Izzy and Brooks are finding all kinds of creative ways to work up a sweat. A passionate workout is easy, but can their rivalry give way to a lasting partnership?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Laura Carter for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
I do love a good romance and the enemies-to-lovers troupe is always a fun one to get stuck into. I laughed out loud so many times reading this one, their banter was brilliant. Both Izzy and Brooks had points where they weren't very likeable but a lot of that was perception and often once we'd seen both perspectives we suddenly realised that they weren't so bad. I got so into reading it that I actually finished it in an evening, it was such an easy read that I flew through it enjoying every page. I enjoyed it so much that I've gone back and got book one and I really regret not signing up for the tour of book three! But I  guess ill just have to buy it when it comes out.
The group of friends Brooks has and then Izzy gains were brilliant, I loved the banter and ribbings that Brooks often got and how welcoming of Izzy they were. I really hope we get to see more of them in future books.
I did spend a lot of time telling Izzy off about her healthy weight loss ideas, I'm most definitely on Brooks' side with that one!
As I said I loved reading this book and gaining a new series to read and I will definitely be recommending it to anyone thats a romance fan.

Krystina xx

A Marriage to Murder For by E.V. Hunter~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 7th September 2023

Genre: Crime

Summary:

The high society wedding…

Social media influencer Crystabel Hughes is determined her wedding to Giles Preston Smythe will be the talk of the town. No matter the cost or the upset, nothing will stop this wedding!

A cheating groom…

But for Alexi Ellis and the rest of the staff at Hopgood Hall, Crystabel’s demands are becoming increasingly extreme. And when Alexi spots the groom getting up close and personal with one of the bridesmaids, she fears trouble is only a bouquet toss away.

A killer bride caught red-handed?

And Alexi’s fears are confirmed when the groom is found dead on the night before the wedding, stabbed through the heart - the person holding the dagger. his beloved bride-to be Crystabel.

Hopgood Hall doesn’t need any more bad press, but the race is on to find the killer and close the case before Crystable live streams her dilemma.

Can Alexi, Jack and Cosmo find out why Giles was killed? And, more importantly, can they stop the killer before they strike again?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Boldwood Books and EV Hunter for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
I was completely hooked on this book before I had even got to the end of chapter one, I did not want to put it down(thankfully I had the day to read it uninterrupted) and I enjoyed reading every page.
It was really well written, I instantly connected with and loved Alexi, her relationship with Jack was lovely, I enjoyed reading from both perspectives. And they worked well together as a crime-solving team, they each had their strengths and both had opportunities to use them, and the fact that the local police seemed quite fine with them helping was amusing to read and see play out.
Shockingly I had no idea who the killer was! Normally I have some kind of inkling of who it might be but id dismissed the killer early on in favour of someone else stupidly, though I blame the good writing and not my being oblivious to the signs.
I had no idea it was part of a series when I started reading it, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it anything that I might have needed to know from the previous books was slipped into this one so you definitely don't need to read them in order. But I do plan on going back and reading the other two whilst I eagerly await more in this series.

Krystina xx

Murder on the Farm by Kate Wells~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 4th September 2023

Genre: Crime/Thriller

Summary:

Lambing season always brings the unexpected… But no one expected murder

Jude Gray never thought she’d find herself widowed and running a working farm full-time, but here she is, living in the small Malvern village her husband Adam spent most of his life in.

After a particularly gruelling lambing season, she is looking forward to some time off, but there’s no rest for the wicked, especially when she finds the body of one of Adam’s oldest friends on her farm.

Unimpressed with the local constabulary's efforts, Jude starts an investigation of her own. But as the body count rises, danger creeps ever closer to Malvern Farm.

A killer is on the prowl. And all that stands in their way is one woman – and her dog.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Kate Wells for having me on this tour and sending the book to me.
It was a very slow start to this book I actually read a few chapters and put it down again for a few days because it was such a slow start I didn't have that want to keep reading that I usually have with crime/thriller books.
It was a well-written book but I felt it lay a little flat, I kept reading but I had no want or need to know what was going to happen. Even in the bits where Jude was in jeopardy, I didn't feel worried if she would be fine, I had no sense of concern for her.
I did enjoy the puzzles throughout the story and the subplot of the stolen goods, I liked following that throughout the book. And I did like that the ending tied everything up nicely, we got everything explained and any loose threads were woven back in it felt like a good ending to what had happened.

Krystina xx

No More Faking It by Magda Kay~Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Independently published

Publication Date: 25th April 2023

Genre: Health and Wellbeing

Summary:

No More Faking It: A Woman's Guide to Getting the Love, Pleasure, and Fulfillment She Deeply Desires

Are you tired of pretending everything is okay in your relationships? Do you find yourself putting others' needs before your own and feeling unfulfilled? Do you feel stuck in the same dynamic where your needs always come last? No More Faking It is your ultimate guide to breaking free from this cycle and embracing the love, pleasure, and fulfillment you deserve.

Written specifically for women seeking dating advice and relationship advice, this powerful guide teaches you how to live your most authentic life, honor your needs, and reclaim your power. Intimacy coach and founder of the School of Intimacy, Magda Kay, shares her revolutionary "F" power method to help every woman stop settling – because you deserve to get everything you desire in your relationships, in the bedroom, and in life.

Inside No More Faking It, you'll discover:

• Practical advice for choosing the right partner and building healthy, loving relationships
• Inspiring stories that demonstrate the power of authenticity and self-love
• Guided exercises to help you honor your truth, needs, and boundaries
• Strategies for making sure your needs are met and living a truly fulfilling life
• Empowering insights to break free from the cycle of bad relationships

With No More Faking It, you'll learn how to prioritize yourself and your own needs, ensuring that you never again settle for less than you deserve. Say goodbye to picking the wrong partners or giving bad partners too many chances – it's time to take control of your love life and embrace the power of authenticity!

Whether you're single, dating, or in a committed relationship, this insightful book is a must-read for every woman who wants to experience the love, pleasure, and fulfillment she deeply desires. Don't wait any longer to transform your relationships and start living your best life 

Review:
Firstly thank you to Love Books Tours, and Magda Kay for having me on this tour and sending me the book.

I wanted to read this book because of one specific line in the blurb "Do you find yourself putting others' needs before your own..." because, as I'm sure other mums will attest, when you become a mum you do then tend to put yourself to the back of the queue when it comes to importance. And you have a habit of using up all your spoons making sure others get when they need and then not having enough for your own self-care. So I thought this might be a good book to help me refocus and reorganise my internal importance list.

It is an interesting method and not one I've heard of before, and think it sounds like a good way to reconnect with yourself. We all have points in our lives where we feel disconnected from ourselves and working through each of the four Powers I think would definitely help with that. It's written in a very easy-to-read and digest style, Magda wanted it in an informal chatting-with-your-friends style and she has achieved that, it reads as such.
The quiz in the middle of the book was fun, but I didn't feel it pinpointed anything for me Personally I'm not sure the book is for me. Whilst it was interesting and written in an easy-to-digest way, I really struggled to connect with it, i read it from cover to cover but I'm not sure I would go back and do any of the meditations again.

Krystina xx

Blood Sisters by Rebecca Frost~Blog Tour

Publisher: Aesthetic Press

Publication Date: 22nd August 2023

Genre:  Thriller

Summary:

For almost a decade now, Brent Wright has been in prison for the killing of seven women - unless the surviving twin sister of one of his victims is right and Brent didn't kill anyone at all.

If the theory is true, a presumed survivor of his is more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. No one will be entirely satisfied or safe until they find out for certain.

Review:

 Firstly thank you to ZooLoos Book Tours, Aesthetic Press and Rebecca Frost for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I love a good thriller and this is definitely a good thriller!
As always I'll do my best to avoid spoilers so you have a reason to pick it up and read it.
I love the dynamic between Nessa and Josh and how you gradually learn about their relationship in a sort of drip-feed manner, getting bits of backstory filled in at just the right moment. It was nice to have bits from Josh's point of view at critical moments but there was no obvious subtitle or heading to let you know you'd changed the narrator it was just an easy flow from one to the other. I enjoyed the writing style a heck of a lot, Normally I don't like the switch without it being clearly mentioned but it just seemed to work so well.
It kept me on my toes, I kept getting left turns I wasn't expecting which made me so engrossed with the book that I didn't want to put it down. If it hadn't been for the school holidays I suspect this one have been a read-it-in-one-sitting kind of book.
The ending had everything tied up, which was really nice and I enjoyed the sort of sum-up created into one conversation between two characters, I also enjoyed their development together and how their relationship altered over the course of the book.
This was a really well-thought-out and written book and I definitely plan to read more by Rebecca Frost in the future.

Hopefully, I've said enough to make you want to pick this one up without giving anything away.

Krystina xx

Way Points:My Scottish Journey by Sam Heughan~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Octopus Books

Publication Date: 22nd June 2023

Genre: Biography

Summary:

Waypoints is a memoir with a difference! I wanted to tell the stories and share the experiences that have shaped me, but to do that I needed to challenge myself and spend some time in my own company, away from the distractions of everyday life. And for me there's no better place to reflect than in the wild Scottish Highlands.'

In this journey of self-discovery, Sam Heughan sets out along the West Highland Way to explore his heritage and reflect on the personal waypoints that define him. The result is a love letter to the wild Scottish landscape that means so much to Sam, and a charming, funny, wise and searching insight to the world through his eyes.

The walk itself is the backdrop for this narrative, which tells the story of Sam's life while exploring his outlook, values and interests. Sam is a figure of fascinating contrasts, a Hollywood star with deep roots in rural Scotland, he's both outgoing and content in his own company. He has strong connections with his fans while recognising the fragility and value of anonymity, and in My Peak Challenge he has created a network that brings people together as they chase individual goals. In his new book, while charting a path through a stunning wilderness, Sam maps out the moments that shaped his views on dreams and ambition, family, friendships, love and life.

Waypoints is a deeply personal journey that reveals as much to Sam about himself as it does to his readers.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, San Heughan and Radar for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
I haven't to admit when I got the book I knew nothing much about Sam other than he was in Outlander(which I don't watch, sorry Sam!) but the blurb sounded fantastic and I wanted to read about the West Highland Way, which I didn't even know about.
I love that it started with a quote from Lord of The Rings, It is my favourite fantasy book and that quote just started me off in a brilliant frame of mind and that stayed throughout the book. I've enjoyed the way it's been written, It kind of feels like you sat having a cuppa with Sam as he's telling you this brilliant yarn about his adventure along the WHW, it's a really easy writing style to connect with.
And the way it's laid out, sections of the WHW split between bits of Sam's childhood and how he got into acting flowed really well and I enjoyed getting to know him a bit through it, as I said when I picked this book up what I knew about him was minimal so it made it a very interesting read.
Now I'm not much of a hiker but the descriptions of everything that he encountered along the walk, the beautiful views and sights, I mean Scotland is stunning that I already knew but his descriptions made even me feel tempted to give it a try. It's very unlikely I will, so instead I've enjoyed it through Sam's writing.
This is a book I'm definitely going to recommend to a few people, I know they'll love it, and I'm hoping Sam has a few more books like this in him.

Krystina xx

The Forgotten God by Andrew Rylands ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Andrew Rylands

Publication Date: 30th May 2023

Genre: Myths and Fairytales

Summary:

An exiled immortal.

A stolen lover.

A mystical world on the brink of war.

Apollo was once a powerful deity. Now, he lives among the ruins of Delphi, trapped in a feline body with his memories magically repressed.

When his lover Olympia is kidnapped, Apollo is forced to break his life of blissful seclusion and take a perilous journey to Athens, where cat life is cheap and enemies with old grudges conspire to destroy him and his kind.

Plunged into the brewing conflict between the city’s feline tribes, he finds himself on a collision course with two immortal-led gangs and another deity seeking a mysterious artefact that could restore the gods’ ancient power. Or destroy it completely.

Can Apollo reclaim his almighty glory and save Olympia? Or will he ignite a conflict that risks bringing down the whole of Olympus?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Love Books Tours and Andrew Rylands for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
When I first read the blurb for this book I wasn't sure about the Greek gods being cats( being more of a dog person probably didn't help) and how that would really work but I very quickly got rid of that unease about it once I started reading it.
It's actually a really clever concept, I've enjoyed reading all the little quirks that cats have played out by gods, it was fun to see the gods not always knowing who they were/not remembering that they are in fact, gods. I do enjoy reading Greek mythology (I've had a fair few retellings on my reading pile over the last few years)  so I loved all the wider mythology than just the gods that were thrown in and the gang rivalry between the gods and titans was a fun addition. The descriptions of the setting are really well done, Despite not having been to Greece I can clearly picture the scenes he's describing which is always good when the setting plays a major role in the book. 
I haven't quite finished the book(I'm very close to the end) but I am enjoying reading and I'm very glad I stepped into the world Andrew created after being unsure of the whole concept, to begin with, in fact, I've actually already got book two lined up for when I do finish.
If you like your mythology retellings with that added hint of weirdness, you'll enjoy this.

Krystina xx