Murder at Ravens Edge by Louise Marley ~ Blog Tour

 Publisher: Storm Publishing 

Publication Date: 15th April 2024

Genre: Cosy Mystery

Summary:

When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home of Raven's Edge after eighteen long years away, she finds the perfect English village looks much the same – all rose-covered cottages, nosy neighbours, and chintzy teashops full of scones and gossip.

But her nostalgic visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of Milla’s own mother, whose death was never solved. As she begins to investigate the connection, Milla realizes this adorable village is guarding some dark secrets.

Handsome, grumpy local policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn’t think mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she seems. Why is she really here in Raven’s Edge, and how come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes, causing trouble? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself – or his heart – to the rather distracting Miss Graham?

When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect – from the barmaid at the local pub to Milla Graham herself. It seems that in Raven's Edge, not everybody is as friendly, or as innocent, as they first seem...

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Storm Publishing and Louise Marley for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I do love a cosy mystery so I was really glad to get not just this one in the series but book 2 (that review is coming later this week) I've not read anything by Louise Marley before but very quickly into reading this I know ill be coming back for more.
I seriously love Ben Taylor, he's such a grumpy man and I always find they make the best characters in books i don't know what it is about a grump but they always make my day! And I found myself laughing and smiling at him on a regular basis, I love his relationship with Harriet and how they bounce off each other and have some banter, it definitely makes their scenes fun even when they're on the serious side. I enjoyed the fact that he had secrets that he worked hard to keep hidden, i think it makes him compliment Milla in a way, neither one being overly truthful in their encounters. On the Milla front, she was another interesting character, I was never quite sure if she was who she said she was, I kept flip-flopping between believing her and not.
It's been one of those books that I've just wanted to keep reading, just curl up and ignore this world in favour of theirs with all the murder that comes along with it. Louise Marley has a brilliant writing style that flows so well and just keeps you engaged with the story. 
Definitely not off to go read book 2 now....

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 Love Algorithm by Camilla Isley~Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Boldwood Books 

Publication Date: 26th April 2024

Genre: Romance

Summary:

At 28, with a Ph.D under her belt and a meteoric rise to head of Research and Development at Mercer Robotics, Reese feels her decision to put her career first has worked out pretty well for her. Sure, she doesn’t have many personal relationships to speak of, but she does love her team and they like her too.

So when she’s called to the Big Boss’s office and told she will be looking after his son while he does a rotation in her lab, she’s not thrilled that her hard work and achievements have boiled down to being a glorified babysitter – especially to a billionaire playboy with zero experience of mechanical engineering.

But then tall, blond Thomas walks into her office, and Reese realizes this assignment is going to be even harder than she thought. Because the CEO’s son is not only extraordinarily gorgeous, chiseled, and charming… he’s also on course to become her new boss one day, and so extraordinarily out of bounds. As the pair get to know each other, can Reese hold her nerve and her beliefs, or will she fall victim to the billionaire charm?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Camilla Isley for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
So this is the first book by Camilla Isley I've read, but again I've had a friend recommending her books to me for ages and I so wish I'd listened sooner! This is a fantastically written book, I haven't smiled so much at a book in ages! I think I was going between smiling and giggling for the most part with an occasional laugh-out-loud moment ( mostly provided by K-2P) from the start of this book right through to the last page. The writing style flows so brilliantly and easily that I found myself finishing the book in a day, I got so caught up in the flirting and slow-burn romance of Reese and Thomas that I pretty much speed-read the whole thing only stopping to refresh my cup of tea!
Obviously, I loved the romance between Rese and Thomas, the little post-it notes back and forth were so damn cute! And I loved how Reese sort of gradually started joining in with the flirting, I genuinely loved the slow burn aspect to this book, when normally slow burn is not my favourite in romance but this is really well done.
The other relationship that has to be discussed is K-2P and Thomas, their bromance was fabulous! I loved how he became Thomas' wingman essentially and they had boys' weekends, it was just beautiful.  And the sass that K-2P has was just the best, I had so many laugh-out-loud moments because of him and I seriously want one of my own.
This may have been my first Camilla Isley book but it's definitely not going to be my last, I've got the rest of the True Love trilogy already downloaded on my Kindle.

Krystina xx

The Duke Wins a Bride by Nina Jarrett~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Babooks Publishing 

Publication Date: 11th May 2022

Genre: Historical Romance

Summary:

Her betrothed cheated on her. The duke offers to save her. Can a marriage of convenience turn into true love? In this steamy historical romance, a sheltered baron’s daughter and a celebrated duke agree on a marriage of convenience, but he has a secret that may ruin it all.

She is desperate to escape…

When Miss Annabel Ridley learns her betrothed has been unfaithful she knows she must cancel the wedding. The problem is no one else seems to agree with her, least of all her father. With her wedding day approaching, she must find a way to escape her doomed marriage. She seeks out the Duke of Halmesbury to request he intercede with her rakish betrothed to break it off before the wedding day.

He is ready to try again…

Widower Philip Markham has decided it is time to search for a new wife. He hopes to find a bold bride to avoid the mistakes of his past. Fate seems to be favoring him when he finds a delicious young woman in his study begging for his help to disengage from a despised figure from his past. He astonishes her with a proposal of his own—a marriage of convenience to suit them both. If she accepts, he resolves to never reveal the truth of his past lest it ruin their chances of possibly finding love.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Babooks Publishing and Nina Jarrett for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I instantly liked Annabel from the first page, she's a really well-written character because, from that first moment, you like and connect with her so you're really encouraging her to get out of that first betrothal, he clearly is a complete you-know-what and ill be honest I so wanted her to slap him at the very least. And the lengths she had to go to just to not have to marry someone who had no qualms about being unfaithful to her and had no shame about being caught either was mad. But I loved how determined she was and the bravery she needed to take that step, riding for a day in the hope that Philip might help her, it was a heck of a gamble to take. To be fair though I really loved Philip too, yes his motives for marrying her weren't all brilliant but he's a really lovely guy, you see throughout the book he really does try and make Annabel happy, even if sometimes he doesn't quite always hit the mark for communication, but that just adds in our crossed wires element. The crossed wires I think was brilliantly done, it came in towards the end and I liked that sudden shift where they weren't in an almost forced proximity situation which they'd spent the majority of the book in because they were in Philips country seat.
I've not read anything by Nina Jarrett before and I have to say I loved her writing style so I would definitely happily read more by her. It had a really lovely flow to it and I loved how she wove in other characters that I'm hoping we'll see in other books in this series because we see just enough about them to pique our interest in them.
I think if you're a fan of a historical romance, this should definitely make its way onto your tbr.

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

The Maiden of Florence by Katherine Mezzacappa ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Fairlight Books

Publication Date: 18th April 2024

Genre:Historical Fiction

Summary:

Florence, 1584. Rumours are spreading about the virility of a prince marrying into the powerful Medici family. Orphan Giulia is chosen to put an end to the gossip. In return she will keep her life - and start a new one with a dowry and her own husband. Cloistered since childhood and an innocent in a world ruled by men, Giulia reluctantly agrees, only to be drawn under the control of the Medicis' lecherous minister.

Years later, married and with a growing family, Giulia hopes she has finally escaped the legacy of her past. But when a threat arrives from a sinister figure from her youth, she must finally take control of events - and become the author of her own story.

Based on true events, The Maiden of Florence gives a charismatic voice to a woman cast aside by history.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Fairlight Books and Katherine Mezzacappa for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I've flown through this book, it's been a beautiful one to read. Not only because the cover is absolutely gorgeous, I love the filigree pattern running down it, it perfectly fits the setting of the book. But also because of the way the author writes, I've found it despite the subject matter at times absolutely beautifully worded. We get the book from the point of view of Giulia years after all of this sexual abuse happens when she is a much older woman on the brink of menopause, She is writing as if to her mother whom she has never known and you can feel her need to get all of the trauma and distress she felt and clearly still carries off her chest in this writing. Throughout the beginning of the book, it's so distressing to read how little she understands of being loved, she knows that she's never really had that love and affection from anyone and often comments that "I knew they had no love for me" and it just made me want to hug her if I'm honest, I just wanted her to get to have a husband that will love and care for her.
I love historical fiction and I adore them even more when they are rooted in historical fact, so I loved having the historical note at the back giving me that history and a bibliography to explore (because I do love adding to my tbr!).
I have to say one of my favourite parts of the book was the little quotes at the beginning of each chapter, i loved trying to read the Italian out loud and having the translation so I knew what I was trying to say.
 I definitely want to read more historical fiction by Katherine  Mazzacappa, she has a brilliant way of doing it.

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