Category Archives: Book Reviews

Ravensworn by Adam Lofthouse – Review

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Today I’m reviewing the soon to be released Ravensworn by Adam Lofthouse!

Here’s the blurb.

It’s been six years since Alaric’s great defeat. Six years of skulking in the shadows, drinking the days away.

He thinks his life over, the glory days behind him. Until a band of horsemen appear on the horizon, eager to recruit the man they still believe to be a lord of war.

And so Alaric must drag himself from his slumber, don his mail once more. For in the far north of Germania lies a tribe in desperate need of aid. They seek an army of bristling spears, a wall of wooden shields with an iron will. What they’ll get is one tired old man.

In the far reaches of the land, for a cause not his own, Alaric will fly the Raven banner once more. In doing so, he will discover if he is still the man he once was, or if he is destined to feast at the Heroes Hall at last.

Review

Firstly I must commend the author for such a versatile character, this may be the 2nd book in the Ravensworn series but we’ve met Alaric before.. If you haven’t already I do recommend you check out the rest of the authors works, you can read Ravensworn without but why would you want to? Ha. Each book is brilliantly written as a standalone but shine even more intensely when you’ve read them all!

Alaric was once the leader of 500 men.. 500 hardened killers.. then one day this was all taken from him. We now see Alaric, older, but just a wily. He’s not really moved on, if anything the past haunts him.. the men he’s lost.

One day a group of visitors arrive seeking the great lord Alaric and his Ravensworn.. but the Ravensworn are no more…Alaric though starts to feel the heat rising.. this could be his time once again.. he makes it out like its for the reward, for saving a tribe from another in war but what is really wants is to feel what he did years ago.. he’s a fighter..he needs the rush.

When Alaric arrives it soon becomes clear things are not as simple as he first thought, there’s secrets hidden, and to top it off one of the men with him on the journey is a traitor.. but who? And why?

There’s no time for that though as Alaric is forced into battle once more, forced to become a leader again.

Ravensworn is Alaric’s redemption tale. Many years ago he lost his way and it cost him those closest to him but now he sees a chance to be the man he really wants to be. It’s not going to change the past but he knows it’s time to stand and fight against a foe that outnumbers him…even if that means losing. He may have earned the name Oathbreaker but he never broke and oath to the Ravensworn!

The Ravensworn don’t know what losing is and while Alaric’s 500 men are a thing of the past a new Ravensworn are born in the heat of battle!

As the tale progresses there’s some lovely twists and turns as the past comes to bite Alaric where it hurts, it was enthralling.

What I really loved was the characters, so much depth added to each. There’s a lot of battle scenes so to get the right mix of detail and depth must be quite hard to do but boy does the author know how to weave a tale.

Eadger for example, oh my what a journey he goes on. It seems like all these men are fighting their own demons.

I particularly liked how some battle scenes were cut short, not to say they aren’t really complete but it’s is Alaric’s tale.. his retelling.. so those gaps worked perfectly and helped add to the depth of the overall tale.

Ravensworn shows us the man Alaric is.. the man we always knew he was.

I won’t lie, reading the authors note I can’t help feel it a shame this will likely be the last time we see Alaric, but it’s a fitting end to such a remarkable character.

Outstanding 5/5 stars!

My thanks go to the author for an ARC copy to aid review. I’ll be ordering a paperback to join Oathbreaker!

To pre-order head to Amazon!

BLOG TOUR – The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kable

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Today I’m glad to be taking part in the blog tour for the newly released, The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler!

Here’s the blurb.

One spring morning, a bus full of children and their teachers from a Cotswolds primary school head off on a much-anticipated day trip.

But as night falls and the well-heeled parents – one or two of them famous, as well as wealthy – wait at the school to collect their weary offspring, it soon becomes clear that something has gone very wrong.

The children and their teachers simply do not come back.

What’s happened doesn’t seem possible.

How can an entire class of children simply vanish?

Review

What a riveting thriller. How could so many children and adults just disappear.. did they have an accident.. or is something more sinister afoot.

These kind of chilling events aren’t common but would be any parents worse nightmare.

What I particularly liked is that the story plays on your emotions. the unknown. We’ve all sat there a some point and have over-thought a situation and the worst possible outcome and this book plays nicely into this fear.

There’s quote a few twists and misdirection to keep you on your toes but as time goes by things start to heat up as revelations are revealed, all this is setup quickly but plays on throughout, smouldering all the way until the truth is revealed right at the end.

With a plot like this I feel it’s hard to really develop the characters as motivations can be hidden but the author did a great job of setting the scenes and injecting detail just when you needed it.

Overall The Vanishing of Class 3B is packed full of suspense and misdirection, leading to an enthralling read.

4/5 Stars.

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

My thanks go to Jackie Kabler, One More Chapter and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I only accept ARCs to aid timely reviews but I’ve already grabbed myself a kindle copy.. at only 99p it was a steal!

Have I tempted you? If so why not enter the giveaway to win a signed copy? Enter below 🙂

Giveaway to Win a Signed Copy of The Vanishing of Class 3B (Open to UK Only)

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio – Jackie Kabler is an Amazon number one and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including The Perfect Couple, Am I Guilty?, The Happy Family and The Murder List. Her novels have sold nearly a million copies around the world and have been translated into eight languages. Previously she worked as a newspaper reporter and then in television news for twenty years, including nearly a decade on GMTV. She later appeared on BBC and ITV news, presented a property show for Sky, hosted sports shows on Setanta Sports News and worked as a media trainer for the Armed Forces. She now combines writing with working as a presenter on shopping channel QVC. Jackie lives in Gloucestershire with her husband.

Social Media Links –

Twitter @jackiekabler

Instagram @officialjackiekabler

BLOG TOUR – Eagle of Mercia by M.J. Porter

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Today we kick off the blog tour for the newly released Eagle of Mercia by M.J. Porter.

Here’s the blurb

A mercy mission in the heart of Wessex is beset with deadly, bloody dangers.

Tamworth AD831

Icel’s profile continues to rise. Lord of Budworth and warrior of Mercia, he’s acknowledged by King Wiglaf and his comrades to keep Mercia safe from the ravages of Wessex, the king-slayer of the East Angles, and the Viking raiders.

But, danger looms.  Alongside Spring’s arrival comes the almost certain threat of the Viking raiders return.

When Lord Coenwulf of Kingsholm is apprehended by a Viking and held captive on the Isle of Sheppey in Wessex held Kent, Icel is implored by Lady Cynehild to rescue her husband.

To rescue Lord Coenwulf, Icel and his fellow warriors must risk themselves twice over, for not only must they overpower the Viking raiders, they must also counter the threat of Mercia’s ancient enemy, the kingdom of Wessex as they travel through their lands.

Far from home and threatened on all sides, have Icel and his fellow warriors sworn to carry out an impossible duty?

Review

Eagle of Mercia is book 4 in the now well established Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. I feel like it was only yesterday I read the first book but so much has happened since.

Icel is a fully fledged warrior now with his days as a healer gone.. but never forgotten. I really loved how the author give little nods to past events, these are perfect reminders for those familiar with the series but also allow new readers to catch up quickly and to understand motivations.

I really felt the depth of Icel in the instalment, you can see he is starting to grow older and sees the world in a different light.

There’s also a dash of secrecy to the tale. Icel still does not know much about his family but he learns he is linked to an old king in some way.. but Icel doesn’t want power or fame, he really just wants to get on with his life, but will people let him? And what’s the connection.. is there more to it than what he is being told.

If that wasn’t enough stress for Icel he’s also torn romantically, unsure of his feelings toward a lady that can never be his.

As you can see from the blurb there’s more at stake than Icel’s difficulties.. Lord Coenwulf is taken hostage by the Viking’s and a rescue attempt must be mounted. These are savagely strong warriors, how can they possibly get Lord Coenwulf back safely?

Add to that the men of Wessex are marching but why, and who is really behind it all…There’s a lot of political intrigue around certain motivations and Icel’s is sort of caught in the middle at times with no rock to hide behind.

What really works well is the balance between character driven plot and the wider plot, it’s a nice way to break up events for the reader but also helps you feel for the characters, I need the realness, to see Icel’s weaknesses as well as his strengths really made me fall in love with the character and this series.

Eagle of Mercia is packed full of adventure, action, hate, lust, intrigue.. the list goes on but safe to say it ticks all the boxes and more. A resounding 5/5 star success!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

My thanks go to M.J. Porter, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I only accept ARCs to aid timely reviews but this will certainly be add a paperback to the permanent collection soon.

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio –

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, and in Viking Age Denmark. They were raised in the shadow of a building that they believed housed the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia – so their writing destiny was set. The first novel in their new Anglo-Saxon series for Boldwood Son of Mercia was published in February 2022.

Social Media Links –  

Twitter https://twitter.com/coloursofunison

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/m_j_porter/ 

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

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

Lily: A Tale of Revenge by Rose Tremain – Review

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Today I’m reviewing Lily: A Tale of Revenge by Rose Tremain.

Here’s the blurb

Nobody knows yet that she is a murderer…

London, 1850. On a freezing winter’s night, a baby is abandoned at the gates of a park only to be saved by a young policeman and taken to the Foundling Hospital.

After suffering years of brutal hardship at the Hospital, Lily is released into the world of Victorian London. But she is hiding a dreadful secret…

When Lily and the policeman meet again, Lily is convinced that he holds the key to her happiness. But might he also be the one to uncover her crime and so condemn her to death?

Review

3 things stood out when I first noticed this book, foremost my daughters middle name is Lily so that actually caught my eye, not just the name but the fact it’s a short, sharp title for a book which intrigued me, I also loved the vivid colours on the book cover, it’s very pleasing on the eye. I picked up the book to check the blurb and after that there was zero chance I could walk away without buying a copy. I imagined a very emotional journey but I had no idea just how emotional it would be and I underestimated greatly how I would feel.

As a young girl Lily is abandoned, only to be saved from certain death.. but as you read on it can I feels like death might have been a blessing from the terrors she will see in her life.

Lily is taken to the Foundling Hospital.. but care is not there primary aim.. it’s obedience and failing to do as commanded has severe consequences.

It’s a horrible cruel journey but one Lily isn’t really aware of yet, she’s too young and at first each foundling has a chance to be fostered for a short time with a real family, but for some this means they form strong connections with the family but these families are bound by rules to return the children.

Lily, among others, loves her foster family.. it’s only when they are to be returned to the hospital that many find out they are a foundling.. they were too young when fostered so the family is all they know and in a split second they are torn from that family comfort and thrust into a life of terror.. beating.. head shaving..I can’t even find the words to describe how horrible the hospital is.. but the worst is yet to come.

At one point Lily makes a very close friend and they plot to escape and go back to their foster families..they manage to escape but being young girls they don’t manage to get far and in that short time they are free they see how cruel the outside world can be.. just a glimpse but a taster of things to come.

When they arrive back at the hospital they are separated and not allowed to comfort each other. I won’t spoil what happens next but to say Lily’s small world is crushed is an understatement, added to mental pain she endures physical pain too as there’s a nurse obsessed with sin, who isnt above a bit of abuse.. you have no idea how bad she is,

When Lily is old enough, she leaves the hospital, finds a job and in time reconnects with the man who saved her.. and he still wants to save her.

The mental heartache continues when a strange connection grows between them..there’s also some striking events that happen when Lily revisits her past that could lead to the end of the connection the pair have.

In the end Lily revisits her past.. as far back as she can go and more heartache awaits her.. but maybe also her chance of a new life, of redemption.. who knows?

You can probably tell as I’ve ranted on so long that I loved the plot, engrossing and so damn emotionally draining..you feel every low with Lily, her heartache.. the moments when she just admits defeat.. the moment she snaps.. a lot of her pain in held inside but as you read the story you kind of take the role of Lily on so when events play out it’s like it’s your own emotions playing out on paper!

I don’t think many books have managed to emotionally connect with me as a reader as much as Lily did. I can’t praise this one enough. There’s a lot of tough moments but I would really recommend this to anyone who wants to feel that connection with a character as I’ve no doubt at all that you’ll love Lily just as much as I did!

5/5 Stars

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads

BLOG TOUR – Caring Conservationists Who Are Changing Our Planet by Kate Peridot

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Today I’m pleased to be taking part in the blog tour for Caring Conservationists Who Are Changing Our Planet by Kate Peridot.

Here’s the blurb

Travel around the world and discover the stories of 20 conservationists and the endangered animals they are helping to save, including the orangutang, blue whale, Indian tiger, rhino, honeybee, Komodo dragon and sea turtle. Positive, uplifting and packed full of information, with 20 fun activities for children to try, this book will show children no one is too small to make a difference.  

Review

Caring Conservationists is a wonderfully colourful introduction to conservation, the people who are devoting their lives and the animals they hope to save.

From the off, the book is perfectly targeted to catch your eye with beautiful illustrations by Sarah Long.

As we work our way through the book it’s the way the detail is presented that just make this a fun read, there’s facts but also fun activities to help engage your little ones, I love the idea of making a bee hotel, along with more in-depth topics such as learning about palm oil. The key message from the book is knowledge sharing. Conservation is a big topic but the book breaks some of this down and helps you learn what you can do to help such as participating in a beach clean-up. Rubbish is one of my pet peeves.. there’s so much litter floating around and a lot of this can be harmful to animals so we all need to be a little better and considerate.

As a parent I believe this a great addition for your children’s book collection, so would certainly recommend you buy a copy or encourage your local schools to do so. We focus so much on skills that sometimes other topics can be overshadowed, it’s all important so we need to give our children the tools to learn and encourage them find their own path in life.

Overall Kate Peridot has given the readers a colourful and engaging book, packed full of detail and the writers love of the topic shines through.

5/5 stars

My thanks go to Kate Peridot, Walker Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I accept ARCs to aid timely reviews but i’ll certainly be adding this one to my purchased collection, I just need to decide if I want paperback or hardback ha.

Extract

Mikaila and the Bees

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio –

About Kate

Kate is an author of both fiction and non-fiction children’s books. Originally from London, she now lives with her family in the South of France. She writes wild and adventurous stories about animals, people and STEM that encourages a can-do spirit, a quest for knowledge and a sense of adventure. 

Caring Conservationists (Walker Books) is her first non-fiction children’s books. A further nine books are in production launching between 2023-2025. Find out more about Kate and her books at www.kateperidot.com .

Social Media Links –

https://www.instagram.com/kateperidot/

https://www.facebook.com/kate.peridot.7/

BLOG TOUR – The Lost Daughters of Ukraine by Erin Litteken

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Today I’m very pleased to be taking part in the blog tour for The Lost Daughters of Ukraine by Erin Litteken.

Here’s the blurb.

A story of the strength of the human spirit, the personal cost of conflict and how love can be found even in the darkest times.

Summer 1941. War rages in Europe. The Germans march towards Ukraine. Halya, Liliya and Vika are no strangers to sorrow. They lost family during the Holodomor, loved ones in Stalin’s purges, and war looms once more on the horizon.

Vika lives in fear for her children. She and her sister survived the terror famine by leaving their whole family behind. Now, years later, many believe the Germans will free them from the Soviets, but she’s not so sure. Should they stay in Volhynia or flee the approaching Eastern front?

Liliya has lost too much in her 17 years. As those around her join the resistance, Liliya wonders how she can fight for her friends, family, and country. When the choice is made for her, can she find the will to survive and protect those still with her?

Twelve-year-old Halya is struggling to discover who she is. But as the war escalates, can her mother Katya’s tactics keep her safe from the Nazi soldiers rounding up slave laborers? How can a child survive the horrors of war on her own?

These daughters of Ukraine will face devastation and loss as they fight to survive and protect the ones they love.

A gripping page-turner of love, loss and resilience for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Review

Everything about the book screamed I’d enjoy this one, the cover, the blurb, the genre.. the question is did the emotion jump off the page for me?

Oh yes..my personal opinion is that for a topic like this emotion is the key, without it the book just won’t hit home, but I need not have worried.

I’ll try to keep the review spoiler free as possible but Liliya’s tale was the strongest for me, the most heart wrenching.. the most emotive.. my heart broke for her as one slave master is replaced with another… the German’s were meant to be liberators.. but the truth is they are far worse than the Russians.

I think the key message from the book is hope.. strength..and with current events in Ukraine I just felt this was a positive message within a hard hitting emotive story.. the pure will the survive.. to keeping moving..to fight.. the cruelty of war but the good that can shine through the dark.

Even throughout the turmoil Liliya still manages to live some form of a life, the day to day jobs to survive and for all the characters I felt this is what hits home the most, the people stuck where they are.. trying to live while under threat each and every day.

The pace of the story flowed well. There’s a changing perspective throughout the tale as the focus shifts from character to character so I do advise you take your time to really feel the characters’ lives develop, but overall the change in perspective helped me as it just kept me gripped.

The author showed real skill with emotions and descriptive scenes, the detail added really helped you imagine the events in real time.. the running.. the burning in the cheat to out run the German draft for example. Just simply beautifully written.

A 5/5 stars from David’s Book Blurg!

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads.

My thanks go to Erin Litteken, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I only accept ARCs to aid timely reviews and I’ll certainly be adding this one to my purchased collection.

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio –

Erin Litteken is a debut novelist with a degree in history and a passion for research. At a young age, she was enthralled by stories of her family’s harrowing experiences in Ukraine before, during and after World War II. She lives in Illinois, USA with her husband and children.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorerinlitteken

Twitter https://twitter.com/ErinLitteken

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/erinlitteken/

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/erin-litteken

BOOK TOUR – Girl with a Knife: Assault by James T. Hogg

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Today is my turn on the book tour for Assault, the first novel in the Girl with a Knife series by James T. Hogg! Read on for more details!

An epic historical novel of love and revenge, good and evil, in seventeenth-century America, spanning five volumes.

Assault (Girl with a Knife #1)

Publication Date: March 21st, 2023

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Mystery/ Thriller

Publisher: All Night Books

Here’s the blurb.

Faythe Emily Wentworth was taught by her father how to fight, and never shies from a conflict, no matter the odds. In her small settlement town, she must always be on guard. She is especially wary of one of the Downing brothers who taunts her, longing to take her, threatening to do so by force…

Faythe’s little sister Chloe is different. She is sweet-tempered, always seeing the good in others, and never suspecting ill intent.

Chloe’s innocence is shattered in a vicious attack, and Faythe is determined to seek vengeance and justice for her sister, and later, her family.  Armed with a knife and a burning obsession, Faythe fights the superstitions and injustices that have led to her family’s destruction.

Review.

If this book were a person I’d be calling it a tease.. oh how you kept me hooked in just enough but never giving away too much.

It’s all about the powerful build up of the plot. Faythe is not like other girls of the time.. she doesn’t want to marry.. she wants to have control over her life but at her tender young age she doesn’t yet know what life will throw at her.

You can tell from the blurb of the book the main event, a vicious attack against Faythe’s sister Chloe. As much as a little distressing to read what I really enjoyed was and scenes weren’t gratuitous, they were pivotal in setting the scene or for the character development, building deep down emotions ready to burst, in both the character and the reader.

The pace was easy to follow and with short chapters it makes for an easy flowing story.

There’s also a little surprise.. there’s an additional story being told.. that of the Indian Nununyi, separated from the man she thought she would marry, Katakuk. At the time the tale is set tensions run high between the Indians and the white men..

During an attack Nununyi is saved.. by a white man…

As she heals physically she goes through a lot mentally.. can she go home? Why did this man save her?

Nununyi’s tale is powerful and emotive highlighting issues at the time and she’s got a lot of healing to go through..

There’s a shared power inside both Nununyi and Faythe and this connection made for a wonderful if teasing read, I needed to know more and had to stop myself from skipping to the end ha.

Overall Girl with a Knife: Assault, is everything I wanted and more, emotive, powerful, fascinating plot, great character development and with a writing style that flows so well.

A thoroughly enjoyable 5/5 stars and I’m eager for more.

My thanks go to R&R Book Tours, the publisher and author for arranging the blog tour. I bought a copy of the book prior to review.. it was just too tempting 😊

To find out more head to Goodreads – Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Bookshop.org

About the Author

James T. Hogg is the pseudonym of one of the most prominent New York City real estate attorneys. As a real-life attorney he has pub­lished two non-fiction books about real estate and business, one of which was a Wall Street Journal best seller.

Girl With a Knife is his first novel, based on a story he told many times to his now-grown chil­dren. His goal was to create a story that the reader simply cannot put down, even when it is midnight and the reader needs to sleep.

In this novel, Hogg has created a world where girls and women of all cultures are equal or superior to the male characters around them, an epic tale that will appeal to women and men of all ages.

James T. Hogg

Why not follow the tour?

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

BLOG TOUR – Odin’s Betrayal by Donovan Cook.

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Odin’s Betrayal by Donovan Cook.

Here’s the blurb.

Two kingdoms destined for war, one boy caught in the eye of the storm…

Francia AD853

After a failed Viking raid on the Frankish coast over 20-years-ago, Jarl Sven the Boar is forced to leave his only son, Torkel, as a hostage and warned never to raid Francia again or his son will die.

In Hügelburg, a small town in East Francia, Torkel and his 9-year-old son Charles are ambushed at home.

Before dying, Torkel thrusts a package into young Charles’s hands and tells him to flee Francia for Denmark in search of his grandfather Sven the Boar’s protection.

But the man Charles eventually finds is not who he expects, and Charles must put his fate in the hands of a man betrayed by Odin.

Together they must uncover the significance of the package and why the Kings of Francia want Charles dead.

Review

I’ve heard good things about Donovan Cook so I was very eager to jump on this series from the start.

As soon as the first page hits the scene is set, a failed Viking raid.. a young boy taken as hostage to ensure the Vikings behave.

Many years pass and Torkel is now a man with his own child, Charles. He’s still young and hasn’t yet learned how harsh life can be so when his farther is murdered he holds himself to blame… little does he know there’s a lot more history behind this murder and  there’s people out there who have yet to rear their ugly heads.

Charles, under his fathers dying request flees in search of his Grandfather. Along the way he makes friends with a slave who aids his escape. There’s a nice bond growing between the two.

We soon meet Sven the Boar..but times have been hard.. he’s not the man he was. Interestingly as the story flows we learn more about his downfall.. and it all stems from the loss of Torkel all those years ago.

The pace of the story flows well and there’s a lot of action as we see Sven warm to Charles and we see the Boar return..and with good reason.. there’s things even Sven didn’t see all those years ago.. hidden secrets.. hidden betrayal. At times you wonder can anyone actually be trusted… those twists are just immense!

Plot wise I can’t fault this, hooked in from the first page. Perfect pace and a great mix of plot versus character development. Sometimes I find not enough time is given to mix the development just right so it doesn’t feel forced but now I know why I’ve been hearing good things about Donovan Cook. It felt like a tapestry, expertly woven.

For fans of historic fiction you’ll love this, action packed with perfect mix of development to suit any type of reader.

Resounding 5*

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads.

My thanks go to @rararesources for having me on the tour, as well as the author and publisher for supplying an ARC to aid my review. As usual though… I’ve bought the book too. It’s too good not too!

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio –

Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series which combines fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world, and is inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology.  He lives in Lancashire and his first title in a new series for Boldwood will be published in Spring 2023.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonovanCookAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonovanCook20

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donovan-cook

BLOG TOUR Of Darkness and Fire (Darkness and Fire Series Book 1) by Amber Palmer.

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I’m thrilled to share my review today Of Darkness and Fire. This is the first book in a trilogy by Amber Palmer!

Here’s the blurb

Of Darkness and Fire #1

Publication Date: February 28th, 2022

Genre: Fantasy/ Romantic Fantasy

Over 100 years ago, Aethion was thrown in the middle of what would forever be known as The Great War. Kingdoms were torn apart, countless innocent lives lost because of the greed and lust for power of one man – Lachlan Roarke. His band of misfits called themselves The Horde. Which was fitting, seeing as they tended to overrun and eradicate everything in their path.

He’s the reason I lost my mother. The reason I can’t sleep at night without constant nightmares plaguing my mind. Every time I close my eyes, all I can see is her. Everything I am today is because of her and the night I was forced to stand by and watch as she was murdered.

Now, as the time draws near when I must fulfill my destiny as queen of Helia, we find ourselves on the brink of war once again. The Horde is back, although with someone unknown at their helm as leader.

The time for revenge is now, and I know it’ll be the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. It’s my duty to save my kingdom. Not only do I owe it to my people, whom I love and swore to protect, but also to make good on the promise I made myself the night I saw the light fade from my mother’s eyes.

I will destroy all those who seek to destroy me. I only hope it won’t be the last thing I do.

Author Note: This book contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, violence, and sexual content. It is not not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.

Review

As soon as I read the synopsis I was intrigued by the author note..I love a bit of fantasy but this would be my first journey into romantic fantasy. Romance just isnt my thing but with that synopsis I just had to give it a go.. and I’m so glad I did.

Something I really enjoyed was the writing style.. it’s emotive. For me with fantasy it’s about setting that scene.. getting the pace just right.. I need to be able to really immerse myself in the authors world and the fast placed plot added to strong emotional scenes really helped me settle into the story.

One of the topics covered that I really liked exploring was the idea of mates, as in there is only one person out there truly for you, it’s not like you can’t care about anyone else but when you find that one.. the power it can produce..

The explicit content within the tale actually helps you understand the characters.. at times powerless to their own actions.. isnt that effect lust/love has on us?

Plot wise the flow was fast but written well and I loved how each character developed. It was almost effortless to read..to find characters you liked, flaws you hated.. traits that made you angry..again it’s all about the emotion..the connection formed with the reader.

The twists and turns really helped give this tale a kick..you can feel the build up coming.. the energy is palpable.

I’m very glad to know there’s the series continues. It’s a great start and I’m looing forward to seeing the character development moving forward. Everything is there is to hook me in so will I be reading more? Definitely.

Overall a lot of promise which I’m looking forward to seeing develop further.

4/5 Stars

To fund out more head to Amazon or Goodreads.

My thanks go to the author and RRBookTours for having me on the tour and for providing an ARC for review. As usual if you follow my blog you’ll know by know.. I’ve bought a copy too.. No free rides at David’s Book Blurg 😊

Interested?

Excerpt

You won’t make it. You’re going to be too late.

The voices in my head continued to torment and taunt me as I raced through the gilded halls of the palace. My home. I slipped around the corner of a corridor, chancing a glance briefly at the sentries standing guard by an archway. They reached out for me, tried to stop me, but their shouts fell on deaf ears; I didn’t have time to stop and explain. I was racing against an invisible clock, counting down the seconds until my life was altered—changed so irrevocably, I didn’t know how I would move on.

Their footsteps echoed off of the stone walls behind me. My heart was racing, aching as I pushed myself further, harder than I ever had before. Decades of training should have prepared me for this type of situation, but I was royally fucked. No amount of killing or training could prepare me for this. The cost of my failure would be far too great if I didn’t make it in time. Dark corridors seemed to stretch on indefinitely, drifting into a never-ending time loop.

The screams of my people rang off the palace walls. Pure, unbridled chaos from the world outside these walls continued to reign around me. Helia was under attack. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop it from happening. They were here, The Horde, and they delighted in the torturing of my people. I was a simple fool to believe we could’ve stopped this from happening. My heart seemed to fracture. One particular scream sounded out above the rest into the chilly night air, the only one that mattered in this moment.

No. No. No.

My head was pounding, aching as my magic coiled underneath the surface of my skin. It begged to be set free, physically hurting me to keep it restrained. But I required every single last drop to do what I needed to do.

The door to the throne room came into view as I rounded the last corner, the golden archway contorting into tight vines above the entry. I kicked open the doors, my breathing erratic as I took in the scene in front of me. My mother was lying in the middle of the room. Her body was broken and battered, but her face remained masked in steely defiance. She was beautiful, even as she laid before me. A masked assailant was the only force holding her body up, one hand solidly gripping her hair. My eyes frantically searched my mother’s, instantly realizing my worst fears were coming to fruition. She had accepted her fate. I was too late. She lifted her neck, meeting my gaze, and I nearly gasped. Her eyes were blazing, two beacons calling to me on the darkest of nights. They held within them a promise Fato guide and haunt me until the end of my days.

“I love you, sweet girl. Never stop fighting,” she whispered to me, right as a blade plunged into her chest and pierced her heart.

About the Author

Amber Palmer is an American fantasy romance author. She was born in Arizona, but raised in Texas. She is the proud parent of three (evil) cats and one puppy dog, and when she isn’t nose deep in a spicy fantasy novel, she’s listening to her bookish Spotify playlists and making notes for her next project! A passionate advocate for mental health, Amber features characters processing various traumas in her work. She is an unapologetic lover of anything spicy, while also making time to game with her husband. 

Amber Palmer | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram | Etsy

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BLOG TOUR – A Magical Moonglow Sleepover by Jocelyn Porter

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Today is my turn on the blog tour for A Magical Moonglow Sleepover by Jocelyn Porter

Here’s the blurb

On the night of the sleepover, Marigold Moonglow revealed a secret that changed Katherine’s life completely. When Katherine found herself flying on a dragon with Charlie Broccoli, she considered that to be the least of her problems. Her friends had turned against her and Katherine was desperate to prove them wrong. “I’m still the same person you’ve always known,” she said.  But was she? Only time would tell. . .

Review

I’ve had a little help with reviewing this one from my 8 year old Georgia!

Katherine and her friends decide to have a little sleepover. The excitement is there from the off but even more so for Katherine.  Her friends might not believe her but she has a fairy godmother called Marigold!

She’s so excited as Marigold has made a promise to visit during the sleepover!!

True to her word Marigold arrives and the girls are transported on a journey to an enchanted carnival.. oh the sights they see.. no one would believe!

When one of the friends disappears she has to team up to search high and low.. the issue is the boy she teams up with isn’t someone she likes so can she set aside her dislike to find her friend?

Georgia really enjoyed the illustrations and the characters. It made her imagine her own adventure with her friends and it was lovely to see the spark in her imagination ignited.

For me I really enjoyed reading it with her, easy flowing and perfectly aimed made this a fun read. I loved that it showed a child dealing with emotions as sometimes Georgia struggles to feel normal at times but Katherine shows emotions are ok.

We used this book for our weekly reading taking it in turns to read to each other and it made for a wonderful relaxing night-time daddy-daughter time.

Georgia is a big fan of FullMedia Ltd and the books they publish and this is another great addition.. now she’s a fan of Jocelyn Porter too 😊

You’ve earned a 5/5 stars!

I would like to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting us to take part in this tour along with the publisher and author.. a pleasure to read.

To find out more head to FullMeida Ltd or Goodreads!

Author Bio –

Jocelyn’s writing career began when she was asked to write a story for a preschool magazine. That story was the first of many. Jocelyn became the writer/editor of several preschool magazines and continued in that role for 15 years. Writing one new story every month, plus rhymes and activities was a tough gig, but very exhilarating. Time is the big difference between writing for a magazine and writing a book. You see your work on the supermarket shelves within a few weeks of completion. A book takes longer – a lot longer. Jocelyn has to be patient now – not something she’s good at. Before becoming a writer, Jocelyn worked in higher education as International Students Officer. It was a rewarding and interesting job even though she was on call 24/7. Jocelyn also trained as a counsellor and volunteered at drop-in centres. She never knew who would arrive for counselling and had to be prepared for anything. This work gave her insight into some of the darker corners of life. Motor sport was one of Jocelyn’s early loves, she had the spine-tingling thrill of taking part in a 24-hour national rally as navigator – those were the days when rallies were held on public roads! Jocelyn worked as an au pair in Paris in her teens. Having visited the city on a school trip, she fell in love with it, and always wanted to return. Jocelyn’s first book published by Full Media is The King Who Didn’t Like Snow, illustrated by Michael S Kane. Finn and Fred’s Arctic Adventure is her second book under Full Media and is illustrated by Leo Brown.

Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/jmpbooks

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