Tag Archives: Reading

BLOG TOUR – The Custard Corpses by MJ Porter

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Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for The Custard Corpses, the 1st book in The Erdington Mysteries series by M J Porter.

As a fan of the author I jumped at the chance to be on the blog tour, no review copy needed.. I had this one already 😊

Keep reading for the chance to win a copy of the book too!!

Here’s the blurb

A delicious 1940s mystery.

Birmingham, England, 1943.


While the whine of the air raid sirens might no longer be rousing him from bed every night, a two-decade-old unsolved murder case will ensure that Chief Inspector Mason of Erdington Police Station is about to suffer more sleepless nights.

Young Robert McFarlane’s body was found outside the local church hall on 30th September 1923. But, his cause of death was drowning, and he’d been missing for three days before his body was found. No one was ever arrested for the crime. No answers could ever be given to the grieving family. The unsolved case has haunted Mason ever since.

But, the chance discovery of another victim, with worrying parallels, sets Mason, and his constable, O’Rourke, on a journey that will take them back over twenty-five years, the chance to finally solve the case, while all around them the uncertainty of war continues, impossible to ignore.

Review

MJ Porter is a master of style and wit. Porter manages to perfectly add her edge to a wonderful historical mystery.

Set during the war the people are suffering..suffering shortages, suffering grief..suffering fear…but that’s not all.

A body is found with striking similarities to a case back in 1923. Is this a 2nd chance to catch the killer?

The Custard Corpses is a well crafted tale showing the constraints of the time and shows gritty determination law enforcement would have needed at the time to solve crimes with little evidence.

Chief Inspector Sam Mason is on the case and must painstakingly look to the past to find clues.

The characters feel real, the relationships natural and the flow prefect.

As the case develops the plot thickens and takes a disturbing direction.. could there be more victims?

I’m a big fan of police procedural stories but this has MJ Porter’s style infused, which just kicks it up a notch and makes it unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

I’d certainly describe the book as delicious.. You’ll get hooked into the dark world and you’ll devour this tale in no time!

Grab a cup of tea and get stuck into this 5* read!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon

Why not follow the blog tour –

Author Bio – I’m an author of historical fiction (Early English, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest) and fantasy (Viking age/dragon-themed). I’ve recently written a relatively modern mystery novel set in 1943. I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it’s little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!

I write A LOT. You’ve been warned!

Find me at http://www.mjporterauthor.com and @coloursofunison on twitter.

Social Media Links – https://twitter.com/coloursofunison

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

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7163404.M_J_Porter

Giveaway to Win 2 x copies of The Custard Corpses (Open INT)

For a chance to win head to http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494455/?

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

The Bear of Britain (Warrior Druid of Britain Book 4) by Steven A. McKay – Review

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Today I’m going to be reviewing The Bear of Britain, book 4 in the Warrior Druid of Britain series by Steven A McKay.

This review is well overdue so I hope it’s been worth the wait!

Here’s the blurb

AD 432. BRITAIN. The winter snows are melting at last, but spring will bring more than just rebirth this year. The Saxons are coming, and that means war.
Bellicus, Duro and Cai have travelled south to join the warlord, Arthur, and his growing army of Britons. New friendships have been made and exciting adventures await the warrior-druid and his companions, but the threat of Hengist and his invaders casts a dark cloud over all. For years, the Saxons have been content to remain mostly confined to the eastern parts of the country, but now they are marching west, and Hengist has amassed the biggest army seen on these shores since the Romans left over twenty years ago.
Arthur – dubbed the Bear of Britain by his advisor, Merlin – has never truly felt he’d earned such a grand title, but now he will have a chance to prove himself. The addition of a new, crack unit to his ranks will, he hopes, be enough to sweep the Saxon threat from Britain once and for all, and herald a generation of peace and prosperity for his people. But nothing in war is straightforward and even their own countrymen can turn violently against them at any moment, as Bellicus discovers to his cost…

Review

The Saxons are ready to attack.. War is coming to Britain.. the only thing standing in their way is Arthur, the Bear of Britain… well not just Arthur. He’s got help from the big warrior druid Bellicus!

A lot has happened to Bellicus and his faithful companion Duro but the upcoming war is going to push them to their limits.

As Arthur sets about raising an army to face the Saxons Bellicus manages to get himself into scrape that nearly costs him his life. I really enjoyed seeing Bellicus’s vulnerability as he recovers.

Vulnerability is probably the word I’d use to best describe the development in this instalment as the author manages to show the human toll paid during war. Duro is a fine example, there’s a sadness to him, still haunted by the past when his wife was brutally murdered… will this be his chance to heal those wounds?

Character development is key to a series.. you need to keep things fresh and boy does the author know how to keep the readers hooked. My favourite character had to be Sulinus. Arthur needs cavalry to win the war.. and Sulinus is the man to train them, he’s a former Roman solider and knows his stuff.. unluckily for him though Arthurs men are not trained to the same standard as the legions.. they aren’t soldiers so he’s got his work cut out for him. It’s Sulinus’s humour that really makes you love him.. you can’t help but smile.

For fans of history, you see the author take on some well know figures, we have Arthur, Merlin and Lancelot…how can you not get excited when you hear those names. Each of these characters felt perfect.. it’s hard to explain but you have expectations when you think of historical names but McKay knows just how to tackle big characters and do them justice!

I don’t want to spoil anything too much but I can’t write my review without talking about one scene.. Merlin and the Sword in the Stone…wow. I’m not going to say any more than that.. wow!

The Bear of Britain is a wonderfully written book. I’m kind of in awe of the author and how he manages to keep offering up gripping tales, weaving his skill and imagination throughout history. His tales are exhilarating, the characters believable and exciting and the action hard hitting.

I can’t give the book any less than a 5*…when’s the next book?? Ha. This series is a must!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

BLOG TOUR – The Score by Kerry Kaya

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David’s Book Blurg has been a bit quiet over the last few weeks while I enjoyed some much needed down time with the family… that being said I’ve got a bumper load of reviews to get through for you lucky people to read 😊.

Today is my turn on the blog tour for The Score by Kerry Kaya

Here’s the blurb

He did the crime…


Twenty years ago, Fletch avenged the gangland killing of his younger brother, Spencer and accepted his guilt. But his actions meant he had to leave his precious children, Austin and Kitty to fend for themselves. He thought they would be looked after…

Served his time…

Now a free man, Fletch returns to find his family in chaos, devastated by his prolonged incarceration. Kit is married to notorious gangster Rosco Taylor, while Austin seems hell bent on doing everything he can to create a turf war.

Fletch knows he has to do something to get his kids under control, but he also knows that the seeds of this disaster were planted long ago by his own reckless actions.

Now Fletch is back and it’s time to settle the score.

Review

Kerry Kaya previously offered up the awesome novel The Price which followed the life of Fletch and his brother Spencer. After some grisly events Fletch has been in prison for 22 years but is now back out as a free man.

Firstly, do you need to have read The Price to fully enjoy The Score you might ask? Not at all. The author has written the tale so well, with the little details, meaning you could pick this up and read as a standalone no problem.

Truthfully though I’m glad I had read the previous book as the author builds on the character development of Fletch and having that prior background just elevated the development and helped me understand Fletch’s motivations better.

After 22 years behind bars Fletch wants nothing more than to keep his nose clean but history has a way of repeating itself.. His children, having grown up without his influence Kit and Austin have found themselves drawn into the gangster life themselves.. and it’s not been an easy ride thanks to the despicable Rosco Taylor.

We learn more about Kit and Austin’s upbringing.. the downfall of their mother and the things they did to survive and within this the author manged to throw in some very good twists.. you know something is coming but the efforts some men will go to in the name of vengeance is unreal.

Fletch is thrown into the deep end to save his kids. With the help of old friends Fletch battles his past and does whatever he can to keep his family safe and make amends for past deeds… but can he fix things without getting blood on his hands?

What I really enjoyed about this offering was the character development. I didn’t always like Fletch in the previous tale.. his emotions didn’t scream gritty gangster to me.. but added to this offering I understand him so much better now, it’s family.. you’ll do anything for those you love.

The Score is a family orientated gangland tale that packs a punch. What gives it the 5 star is simply the character development which couldn’t have been more perfect.

5/5 Stars

My thanks go to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the blog tour and for the ARC to allow me time to have my review ready for the blog tour, I’ve already bought myself a copy too! No free rides for me 🙂

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

Author Bio –  

Kerry Kaya is the hugely popular author of Essex-based gritty gangland thrillers with strong family dynamics. She grew up on one of the largest council estates in the UK, where she sets her novels. She also works full-time in a busy maternity department for the NHS. She has signed a nine-book deal with Boldwood for both new and backlist titles. Her first book The Price will be published in July 2021.

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/KerryKayaWriter on Twitter

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kerry_kaya_writer/ on Instagram

BLOG TOUR – The Price by Kerry Kaya

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Today is the last day and may stop on the blog tour for The Price by Kerry Kaya.

Have you been following the tour? Why not? Check out the blogs below to catch up 😊

Here’s the blurb on the book:

Break the rules…

Harry Fletcher – Fletch to his friends – has spent his life surviving the tough streets of the East End. He knows working for notorious gangster Billy King is dangerous, and sleeping with Billy’s beautiful wife, Susan is deadly…but rules are meant to be broken.

Pay the price.

If Billy discovers the affair, Fletch is a dead man. But the closer he gets to Susan the more reckless Fletch becomes. And soon, Fletch realises that every one – even him – must pay the price for his actions.

But just what is Fletch prepared to lose…and will the cost be too high, even for him?

Review.

Fletch, his brother Spencer and their best mate Stevie are local lads up to no good. They soon get noticed by Billy King. King’s not a man to be messed with and little do the lads know they will soon be joining the ranks of Billy’s gang.

Billy takes a shine to Fletch and it shows, money flows and loose lips talk and the trust grows. This trust is put to the test when Fletch catches the eye of Billy’s wife, the attraction is mutual and given Billy really doesn’t deserve his wife Fletch soon finds himself head over heals.

While Fletch is preoccupied, King’s gang is like a pressure cooker waiting to go off, local rivals are pushing their weight around and Billy has to make a statement.. although he’s smart.. he doesn’t actually want to get caught.. he just wants these guys to know you can’t cross Billy King and live!

The pressure ramps up when King has Spencer take out one of the rival crew. Fletch is very protective of his brother and this further adds to the stress Fletch is under, but why is he so protective? His brother is big enough to look after himself after all.

The bombshell twist hits home hard and Fletch has to do everything he can to stop his brother learning the truth.. he’s also got to work hard to keep his relationship a secret still if he doesn’t want his boss to kill him.

Inevitably for a gangster Fletch’s  world comes crashing down and his life is spiralling out of control. Can he keep his family safe?

The Price is a super fast paced and easy flowing gangland tale focusing on family and hidden secrets. The twists came just when you needed them to keep you sucked in. A fun enjoyable read.

4/5 Stars

My thanks go to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the blog tour and for the ARC to allow me time to have my review ready for the blog tour, another I’ll be adding to my kindle purchased listed very soon. 😊

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

Author Bio –  

Kerry Kaya is the hugely popular author of Essex-based gritty gangland thrillers with strong family dynamics. She grew up on one of the largest council estates in the UK, where she sets her novels. She also works full-time in a busy maternity department for the NHS. She has signed a nine-book deal with Boldwood for both new and backlist titles. Her first book The Price will be published in July 2021.

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/KerryKayaWriter on Twitter

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kerry_kaya_writer/ on Instagram

BLOG TOUR – The Winter of Winters (The Histories of Sphax Book 2) by Robert M. Kidd.

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Today is my turn on the blog tour for The Winter of Winters (The Histories of Sphax Book 2) by Robert M. Kidd.

I eagerly signed up for the blog tour after reading the first instalment in the series so let’s see if it lived up to expectations :).

Here’s the blurb

Genre – Historical Fiction

218 BC. Hannibal’s exhausted army staggers down from the last Alpine pass like a rabble of half-starved savages, the remnants of a once magnificent army that had set out from the Rhodanus with such hope. Now there is no way back. With the legions of Consul Publius Scipio closing fast, Carthage needs its Gaulish allies like never before. But where are the Insubres? Where are the Boii? Where are the thousands of warriors pledged by solemn oath?In the maelstrom of battle, Sphax, nephew of Hannibal, forges a reputation as the scourge of Rome. But will his ingrained recklessness and quest for honour set him at odds with the forbidding genius of his uncle? Only one thing is certain in this winter of winters, a great battle is coming that will decide the fates of Rome and Carthage

Review

We are back with Sphax, former slave and nephew to Hannibal, as the Carthage army and their allies march on Rome!

Sphax suffered a lot in the first instalment, a slave to Rome who manages to escape to freedom to find love only for it to be taken away so cruelly. The pain of which is still raw with him at the beginning of the story..but there’s no time to dwell on this for long.. Rome must pay.

Soon enough Sphax has his chance to shed blood, the action is fast paced but subtle enough for any reader of the genre to enjoy and get engrossed.

As with any war, people will get hurt.. many will die and it’s only a matter of time before Sphax gets himself on the wrong end of a spear thrust..it could have been a lot worse but as young men do.. he ignores that.. rather he wants to get back out there.

The time to prove himself is now. Hannibal’s army lost many men in the last big battle and food is running low. Sphax sets out to see what can be gained from the immediate area.. he has two jobs, secure food.. and allies where possible.

Along the way Sphax will meet some interesting new characters, the most intriguing being Corinna, a prisoner of Rome, her husband killed and her son held hostage. The dynamic between the two was electric at times.

The addition of Corinna also allowed Hannibal to use his cunning. His words say one thing but there’s hidden meaning.. he’s a very clever man… when you get him in the right mood.

Battles will be fought.. blood will be shed and men will die. It’s one rough ride for Sphax with a few twists along the way to keep his mind sharp.

Overall I really enjoyed the latest instalment. You can see the progression since the first book, more development of the established characters and good additions but the author maintains his style of storytelling, its fast paced and flows super easy. There’s detail when needed but the author doesn’t let it outshine the plot, rather compliment it.

4/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon

My thanks go to the author, the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the blog tour! I received an ARC of the book as part of the tour but I’ll be adding this to my purchased collection too 🙂

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio – Robert M. Kidd

When Cato the Censor demanded that ‘Carthage must be destroyed,’ Rome did just that. In 146 BC, after a three year siege, Carthage was raised to the ground, its surviving citizens sold into slavery and the fields where this once magnificent city had stood, ploughed by oxen. Carthage was erased from history.

That’s why I’m a novelist on a mission! I want to set the historical record straight. Our entire history of Hannibal’s wars with Rome is nothing short of propaganda, written by Greeks and Romans for their Roman clients. It intrigues me that Hannibal took two Greek scholars and historians with him on campaign, yet their histories of Rome’s deadliest war have never seen the light of day.

My hero, Sphax the Numidian, tells a different story!

When I’m not waging war with my pen, I like to indulge my passion for travel and hill walking, and like my hero, I too love horses. I live in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

Follow the author –

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Want the chance to win a signed book?

Giveaway to Win Book 4 in The Histories of Sphax series to be dedicated to the winner, & a signed dedicated copy too (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

BLOG TOUR – Insider by Owen Mullen (The Glass Family Book 2)

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Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for Insider by Owen Mullen, an author who is a firm favourite here on David’s Book Blurg! It just so happens to be release day so without further ado…

Here’s the blurb

Someone’s playing both sides and now they have a score to settle…

When the family business is crime, you can never be sure who to trust. And when three of their businesses are hit in one night, the notorious Glass family close ranks. Either someone is sending them a message or a war is coming…

With trouble coming from all sides, the heads of the Glass family have more than enough to deal with, but all bets are off when a stranger from the past enters the game, causing division and mistrust.

Crooked cops, rival gangs and old enemies are bad enough, but when the trouble comes from the inside, loyalties are tested, with deadly consequences.

Review

We are back with the Glass family for book 2 in this gritty gangland series. Luke is now head of the family after events in the previous installment, he never wanted this life..he was ready to walk away.. but once it’s got hold of you, you’re not getting out.

Jazzer and his friends are hired to hit some of Luke’s investments little do they know the world of trouble this will bring them. George Ritchie the gangster is back and working for Luke and you just know when he gets the scent there’s nowhere safe to hide . No one might have been hurt but George is old school… payback will be swift.

What happens next rocks the Glass family.. firstly the club is hit and this time there’s a body count..then someone from the past shows up.. a stranger.. but someone who wants a piece of the family action.

Soon it becomes very clear the hits were not carried out by the same crew.. and the Glass family are systematically under attack..and with little to no clues to go on Luke turns to Mark Douglas. Douglass is an ex cop who helped stop the hit at the club becoming worse than it was.. this guys good and he brings his own crew in the sort the family mess out.

Nina, Luke’s sister is still in the family business but she’s a loose canon.. can Luke, George and Mark tame her… no chance.. but can they calm her down enough to stop her getting in serious trouble.. or worse..

Things heat up a lot and the bodies start to pile up. Luke’s more shady customers start to become concerned, especially when they end up potential targets themselves.

Now Luke has his own connections,  he’s got a policeman on the payroll but Oliver Standford has his own issues when he becomes a target too. He wants out of the life but he’s stuck..if he goes down so does the Glass family. The main issue is there is no chatter on who is after the family, but why? Surely someone knows?

Things come to a dramatic EXPLOSIVE conclusion in what has to be one of the best new series I’ve read in a long time. I never thought gangland thrillers would be my kind of story.. I’m a historical fiction guy through and through but Mullen knows how to suck the readers in, knows just how to write to get you invested and In customary fashion the author leaves you desperate for more.

The thing I enjoyed the most about this offering was the character development..we already know some of the main players and their motivations and this left the author time to bring in some fresh blood, even though it’s unlikely they will make it through this one alive.. the fresh blood helped keep things lively and exciting..and bloody fun to read.

5/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon

My thanks go to the author, the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the blog tour! I received an ARC of the book as part of the tour but I’ve had the book pre-ordered since February so you’ll see that verified tag on Amazon 🙂

Why not follow the tour?

About the author

Owen Mullen is a highly regarded crime author who splits his time between Scotland and the island of Crete.  In his earlier life he lived in London and worked as a musician and session singer. He has now written seven books and his first gangland thriller for Boldwood, Family was published in January 2021.

Social Media Links

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OwenMullen6

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owenmullen6/

Newsletter Sign Up Link: https://bit.ly/OwenMullenNewsletter

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/owen-mullen

Assassins by Rob Sinclair (A Ryker Returns Thriller Book 2) – Review.

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Today I’m celebrating the kindle release of Rob Sinclair’s latest book, Assassins (A Ryker Returns Thriller Book 2). What better way to celebrate than to give the book the David’s Book Blurg treatment!

Here’s the blurb

He’s never going to stop…

Stalking the streets of Prague, James Ryker is on the hunt for justice when he hears a news report of a murder in rural England. Big problem. He knows the victim. Ten years ago, in Qatar, Ryker led a team of assassins to kill him. He thought they had.

So how has a man Ryker thought dead for over a decade suddenly resurfaced?

Travelling across the globe, Ryker sets off on a quest to discover the truth from that fateful night in Qatar. When he realises that his old team members are now under threat from a ruthless female assassin, he knows his problems have only just started.

In a race against time, Ryker must work out who is behind the killings and evade the assassin before he becomes the next victim…

Review

Firstly I’m going to get this off my chest! How bloody awesome is Ryker? I mean seriously this guy has been beat up more times than I can count but he doesn’t stay down for long. Credit to the author Rob Sinclair who continues to offer up riveting espionage thrillers. The author has found his way of refreshing his main character Ryker, keeping things interesting and turning the energy up to the max.

In this instalment we learn of mission from Ryker’s past.. it didn’t go to plan but the end result was the same.. a dead body… this dead body though turns up a decade later..he’s been alive and well all this time.. but how? And why has someone killed him now?

Ryker only works for himself now and the JIA his former employers are no more..well at least on paper.. this means he’s got his work cut out for himself. He’s not stayed alive this long without learning some skills and more than one trick to hide up his sleeve.

Things spiral fast and it soon becomes clear there’s more going on…. and the body count rises.. there’s a new assassin on the scene but who is she? And what’s the motivation?

The only way Ryker can solve this riddle is to find out what really happened 10 years ago.. but this assassin isn’t going to make it easy for him.

As thrillers go you can’t go wrong with Rob Sinclair, the pace is perfect, there’s action when you need it and it’s balanced superbly with the plot and character development.. the flow is so natural you just end up devouring the story. To say it’s action packed is an understatement.. it’s got the action….the blood and guts..and the twists you just don’t see coming… there’s some pretty decent explosions too 🙂

Ryker finds it hard to trust anyone because everyone that gets close to him either dies.. or can’t be trusted.. what’s your bet on this instalment ha.

I can honestly say I really do get excited when I hear Rob’s got a new book coming out, without fail I know I’m going to enjoy it.

5/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

My thanks go to the author and the publisher Bloodhound Books for the ARC to assist with my review, I’ve had the book pre-ordered as soon as it was announced so you’ll see that verified purchase tag 🙂

Matilda’s Eye Patch – A book for young children, to support, explain and encourage young children to patch

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You know here at David’s Book Blurg we like to do a little bit of free promo.

Today I’d like to highlight a book I found via Instagram, and the account that brought the book to my attention.

The Book Fairies NE England (@bookfairies_ne on Instagram) hide books around the North East on England for people to find. I’ve followed them for a while because I love this idea but I really enjoy the messages they share with the books they pick. If you are on Insta do give them a follow!

Matilda’s Eye Patch is a book that aims to support young children who need to wear an eye patch. Many children suffer from amblyopia (commonly called a lazy eye), there are treatments out there but the best and easiest is to simply wear an eye patch on the non affected eye, this in turn makes the other eye work harder, and with a little bit of luck..boom, no more lazy eye… simple you’d think but young boys and girls struggle with the idea of wearing a patch, people do stare.. especially other kids.

Why I’m a highlighting this book you ask? Well one of my girls had to wear a patch for quite some time for this very reason. She loved it some days… hated it most days..It was tough to try an explain why she had to wear it, and ultimately you can’t force these kind of things so when I noticed this book I just had to do a little post for it. We didn’t have anything to help us..something that brings it down to the child’s level to encourage them to wear the patch..To see a book like this out there now is amazing.

It may seem like a small thing but all parents will understand seeing your child struggle or be upset, even over the smallest thing isn’t nice so anything that we can do to support and encourage them is a big help.

Interested in buying a copy? Head to Amazon

You can follow Matilda’s Eye Patch on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter so do take a look 🙂

Blog Tour – Games People Play by Owen Mullen

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Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for Games People Play by Owen Mullen! Followers of the blog should know the name well 😊

I didn’t need an arc of this one, I had the book per-ordered as soon as it hit Amazon!

Let’s ger started!

Here is the blurb –

Genre – Crime Thriller

When a baby is stolen from a Scottish beach, private investigator Charlie Cameron reluctantly agrees to take the case.

While her parents are just yards away, thirteen-month-old Lily Hamilton is abducted from Ayr beach in Scotland. Three days later, her distraught father turns up at private investigator Charlie Cameron’s office. Mark Hamilton believes he knows who has taken his daughter. And why.

Against his better judgment, Charlie takes the case—and when bodies are discovered, he suspects this may not be an isolated crime. Is there a serial killer whose work has gone undetected for decades? Is baby Lily his latest victim? Charlie won’t be able to give up on this case. Memories and guilt from his childhood won’t let him…

Review

When a child goes missing after a day at the beach with her parents, the case ends up with PI Charlie Cameron. The dad is convinced he knows who took her and against his better judgement, knowing this will coincide with a ongoing police investigation Charlie decides to take on the case.

Charlie has is own issues to work through at the same time as we find out more about the PI’s past and his motivations which give him depth and made him very likable, he’s flawed, you want him to succeed but you know it’s not going to come easy for Charlie.. he’s just not that lucky!

The story shifts focus between the investigation and Charlie’s life, this balance was perfect, it kept it fresh and encouraged me to keep reading as I just had to find out what happened next. While the main story line is very serious the chapters around Charlie’s life and his interactions with those he knows allowed for some dark humour which was a joy to read.

I loved Charlie’s style, one clue leading to another, the characters, the setting, everything fit the image that I have in my head of an old school, down on his luck PI out to solve a case.. and you just can’t help but root for the guy.

The story was well written and planed out. I must admit I did not see the ending coming until the author put the pieces together for me.. it really had a wow finish..the hand over mouth moment when you finally see what Charlie has figured out.

Suspense is the word that best describes this book.. it’s all about the build-up and Owen Mullen did this superbly. Some books make suspense plain boring but not this book!

For me this is one of the best Crime Fiction novels I’ve read, the development of the characters natural, the flow of the plot perfect. Owen Mullen is a master at his craft, I could not help but be hooked in.

Owen Mullen has a lot to offer the reader, so grab a copy now. With a cover like that I’m sure some of you already have 😊

5/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or  Amazon!

Why not follow the rest of the tour?

Author Bio:

Owen Mullen is a highly regarded crime author who splits his time between Scotland and the island of Crete.  In his earlier life he lived in London and worked as a musician and session singer. He has now written seven books and his first gangland thriller for Boldwood, Family  will be published in January 2021.

Social Media Links

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OwenMullen6

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owenmullen6/

Newsletter Sign Up Link: https://mailchi.mp/boldwoodbooks/owenmullennnewsletter

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/owen-mullen

Publication Day – Heir to the Darkmage by Lisa Cassidy

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Today is publication day for Heir to the Darkmage by Lisa Cassidy. i’ve been lucky enough to get an ARC so what better way to celebrate the release than for me to give the story the David’s Book Blurg treatment!

Here’s the blurb –

Twenty years have passed since the Darkmage was destroyed and the war between mages ended. For Lira Astor, the single living heir to the Darkmage, escaping her name is impossible. People still fear what is long dead, and they see in her the rise of another dangerous mage with deadly ambition. Desperate to claw her way free of her grandfather’s shadow, to make her own name amongst the world of mages, Lira is willing to do whatever it takes. Even if that means joining the secretive rebel group looking to restore his vision.


Survival is a lesson Lira learned early and often, yet when she is abducted and held prisoner in a deadly game of cat and mouse, she finds herself facing a nemesis she may be no match for. Forced to band together with unlikely allies who challenge everything she believes about what it means to be a mage, she will have to rely on every bit of ruthlessness she possesses.


Because the war may only just be beginning…
…and Lira Astor intends to come out on top.

Review

Lira hasn’t had it easy, she’s heir to the Darkmage and learns from a very young age not to trust anyone.

Her upbringing is brutal as she struggles to survive, she suffers beatings and betrayals along the way and you can see how this effects the individual she has become.

As the years pass we see Lira has harnessed her power and is now a mage apprentice at Temari Hall.

Life isn’t exactly great, her connection to the Darkmage precedes her and the other students aren’t about to let her forget, i don’t think she helps herself as she’s not the most open person but with her upbringing you can see where this stems from.

We soon see Temari Hall attacked and students taken captive, but why, how, nothing make sense…Like Lira the reader is left utterly confused around what is happening.. there’s killer monsters, people have disappeared, what is going on and who is behind it?

A cat and mouse type game develops as Lira and some other students struggle to keep ahead of their would be captors/killers.. but it’s almost like they are being played with, like it’s a game for someone.

Most of the story revolves around this mental torture of the chase as Lira tries to figure out what is happening and who is after her, she also needs to decide which side she is really on. She’s a loner and making friends isnt easy.. but can she figure out who to trust.. if anyone can be trusted that is.

The Darkmage himself is mentioned alot, and after reading up I see there’s a preceding series, The Mage Chronicles, I’ve not read the series previously and can honestly say it didn’t hinder me, no prior knowledge is expected but it has certainly made me want to look up the series so I can get to know the Darkmage more 🙂

I really enjoyed this one, Lira is fierce! The story kept me guessing all the way through and has left me with a taste for the authors work.

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon

My thanks go to the author, the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources on this one for allowing me to take part in this publication push, You’ll see that verified tag on Amazon for me very soon 🙂

Author Bio –

Lisa is a self-published fantasy author by day and book nerd in every other spare moment she has. She’s a self-confessed coffee snob (don’t try coming near her with any of that instant coffee rubbish) but is willing to accept all other hot drink aficionados, even tea drinkers.

She lives in the Australia’s capital city, Canberra, and like all Australians, is pretty much in constant danger from highly poisonous spiders, crocodiles, sharks, and drop bears, to name a few. As you can see, she is also pro-Oxford comma.

A 2019 SPFBO finalist, Lisa has published the YA fantasy series The Mage Chronicles, and is currently working on her latest epic fantasy series A Tale of Stars and Shadow. She has also partnered up with One Girl, an Australian charity working to build a world where all girls have access to quality education. A world where all girls — no matter where they are born or how much money they have — enjoy the same rights and opportunities as boys. A percentage of all Lisa’s royalties go to One Girl.

Social Media Links –

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LisaCassidyWrites

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lcasswrites

Website – https://www.tatehousebooks.com/Lisa-Cassidy