Monthly Archives: March 2026

BLOG TOUR – Storm of Mercia by MJ Porter

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Storm of Mercia by MJ Porter!

Here’s the blurb!

Wessex has never been Mercia’s ally, neither has it been her only enemy.

Wessex, AD836

The Viking raiders’ devastation has been halted once more by the shields of Mercia as opposed to Wessex. But their whereabouts are unknown.

King Wiglaf of Mercia is keen to ensure the Viking raiders are swept from his shared border with Wessex but these Viking ships are quick and difficult to track and Icel is once more deployed with Ealdorman Ælfstan warriors to do his King’s bidding. However, Icel’s quest is beset with many more obstacles and it’s not all about the seax and shield.

Worrying news from home overshadows Icel’s every deadly encounter. Will the storms of war keep him away or has he time to make one more desperate journey back to Tamworth?

With raging seas driving him ever further from Mercia’s shores, and the threat of a new conspiracy against the Mercian kingship will Icel overpower the sands of time, or will he be defeated by his deadliest nemesis yet?

Review

We are back with Icel for book 9 in the The Eagle of Mercia series! It feels crazy to see how far we’ve come but things aren’t over yet!

Icel is still reeling from previous battles and near death.. He’s got the wounds to show but do you think he’s got time to rest? Nah.

Merica and Wessex may not be friends but there’s one thing they probably both hate more.. The Vikings! It’s up to Icel and the other Shields of Mercia to ensure any Vikings are pushed from their shores..

The biggest issue is they don’t really know how many their are still, many have perished but some remain.. But where are they? Have they already boarded their ships? 

What always surprises me is how fast the action flows but at a natural, unforced pace.. There’s so much happens but nothing is rushed and you really get the time to feel the depth of the tale..this talent shines through almost immediately..

Icel and the other shields stumble upon the Vikings, they are outnumbered but innocent people are at risk of death/capture.. They have to act.

Heart and honour overpower common-sense and Icel lands in a little trouble! That’s to put it mildly.

Icel has no time to heal.. He’s willing to sacrifice everything for what’s right.

I always try not to give away spoilers but lets just say Icel’s skills as a sailor are called upon… yeah he isn’t one ha ha. 

I really loved how quickly the author managed to put real emotion into the tale, not only battles but pain for the innocent..those left behind.. Eadfrith..this young lad plays a big part in the build-up and emotion of the tale, it’s beautifully harrowing.

Depth and meaning is also added into the mix nicely, the other characters, especially Oswy and Cenred, their relationships with each other, their own fears projected, jokes and sly digs.. But also strong depictions of the area, the ships movements, shrubbery, animals and such..it effortlessly paints a picture.

Giving this is Icel’s 9th outing you can be forgiven for worrying if the series had the legs left in it.. Then again I never worried.. I know MJ Porter’s writing and talent for delivering a cracking series.. Nevertheless I’m always astounded how good the plot is.. Detailed and gripping from the first page to the last.

I think for me the biggest selling point is it ticks all the boxes for fans of the genre.. You prefer plot.. It’s got it.. You like historical details.. It’s got it.. You want pitch perfect character development.. You’ve got it..everything just blends to make the story feel real.. It’s really a series you get invested in and just gets better with each instalment.

5/5 Stars

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour!

Why not follow the tour?

Tempted yet?

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/StormofMercia

Author Bio – 

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to
Eleventh-Century England, and in Viking Age Denmark. Raised in the shadow of a
building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant
that the author’s writing destiny was set.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @MJPorterauthor

Twitter: @coloursofunison

Instagram: @m_j_porter

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/MJPorterNews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mj-porter

With Time to Kill by Frank Ferrari – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing With Time to Kill by Frank Ferrari.

Here’s the blurb

Everyone deserves a second chance, but how far would you go for one?

In the gritty streets of Edinburgh, one man is about to find out. Garry Plumb has always been invisible – a solitary data analyst haunted by a childhood of cruelty and a life defined by aching loneliness. But when a colleague’s sister is murdered, Garry’s world cracks open. A chance encounter with the enigmatic Billy Blunt introduces him to a secret that defies reality: a living device capable of sending its holder back in time, offering the chance to rewrite the past and reshape the present.

As Garry steps into his own history, he discovers the intoxicating power of righting old wrongs and erasing the scars of trauma. But with every change he makes, the line between justice and vengeance blurs.

Meanwhile, Detective Chief Inspector John Waters is closing in on a chilling pattern of murders, his investigation threatening to expose secrets that were never meant to be unearthed.

With Time to Kill: Book One is a gripping blend of psychological suspense and speculative fiction, exploring the price of redemption and the darkness that can grow in the shadows of regret. For fans of dark thrillers and mind-bending time travel, this is a story about the choices that define us, and the consequences we can never outrun.

Review

Billed as a blend of psychological thriller and Scottish crime noir you had me hooked already. Then add a splash of dark sci-fi.. Colour me intrigued! 

Garry hasn’t had the best of upbringings, no father and a mother who simply tolerated him (to a point).. He doesnt find making connections easy.. Introverted and closed..but he’s managed to find a way to survive..but not thrive.. He’s more or less invisible..

He dreams of being more.. Finding love..Finding friendship..Little does Garry know friendship is on its way to find him.

Garry is a creature of comfort and order so when he’s finally noticed by someone that person knows exactly how to contact him.. A little note left on his favourite seat.. An invite to meet..an action that will have lasting effects..

At the same time we start learning of some gruesome crimes being committed in the area.. Even one of Garry’s colleagues is affected.. The police we learn don’t have any clues but could it be a serial killer?

Now we meet Billy..Billy sees a little of himself in Garry and he wants nothing more than to mould Garry.. He’s got plans.. And secrets..

This is where the sci-fi edge comes in…Billy has a way to change the past. I won’t spoil the “how” but I felt it was a really clever way to give the sci-fi edge and the whole idea of how they can travel back  in time, the constraints around it.. Wow..

As Garry travels to the past to better his future he changes himself.. He’s more confident.. But there’s always factors in his life getting in the way of his true potential…or that’s at least what Billy is thinking as he leads Garry along.. Pushing him further and further down a dark trajectory.

All the while the police are struggling as more victims are found and there’s something linking them..

As the story hits its conclusion Billy’s true nature is revealed.. His whole plan rumbled.. But how can Garry sort this mess out.. And can he even forgive himself for the things he’s done.. Even if some of them seem fairly justified..time will tell.

I loved the plot, it pulled me in from the first page. Garry is likable and the author does a great job of making the reader feel empathy towards Garry as he goes down his dark journey.

The whole time travel edge really made you think.. What would you do for the greater good? And where do you draw the line?

With Time to Kill is a smart story, it gives so much more than the standard crime thriller and is the perfect read for fans of crime stories but especially those looking for something a little different.. It’s got a spark but It’s dark and gritty.. The whole mash of genre’s mixed to perfection.

I couldn’t be happier with my choice in book and knowing there’s a couple more stories in the series.. Yeah I’ll be getting on them soon for sure! That ending… It leaves possibilities open to Garry so I’m keen to see where the author takes him.

The easiest of 5* I’ll probably ever give.

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!