Blog Tour: A Crown of Darkness by Jessica Thorne

 

Published

October 8, 2024 by Second Sky

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The enemy has her. And the man she loves seems intent on using her dark magic to destroy her kingdom…

In the chaos of the magical assault on Pelias, Wren has been swept far from home. She is now a prisoner, in the heart of enemy territory. At least she has the man she loves beside her, keeping their passion alive during the cold nights in this unfamiliar place.

Or so she thought…

Finn has changed since returning to his father’s kingdom. Instead of serving the princess he’s proven his loyalty to time and again, he is keeping her under guard in a tower. Desire still lights up his eyes when he looks at her. But is he enamoured by Wren, or her power?

With the unfamiliar castle calling to her dark magic, Wren is fighting every minute to keep her growing power in check. And she struggles to ignore the still-smouldering heat between her and Finn every time their fingers touch – even as he keeps her under lock and key…

Is everything she believed about Finn a lie? Or is he under the influence of the dark power here too? And will she have time to figure it out before she’s forced to turn her magic on her own kingdom?

You will not be able to put down this gripping and unputdownable romantic fantasy! Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Stacia Stark and Rebecca Yarros.

MY REVIEW;

A Crown of Darkness by Jessica Thorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The last book of the series and oh so good. We are still foll0wing Wren, Finn, Elodie, and Roland.
Finn returns to his kingdom but is it really Finn? Elodie is missing and Roland is on a hunt for them.
Lots of emotions and a great ending to the series. It was a little slow at one point but well worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC to read,

View all my reviews

Jessica Thorne watched far too much sci-fi and read far too much fantasy at an impressionable age. And it was awesome. She writes fantasy and sci-fi romance with a steampunk edge and just refuses to face reality.

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Blog Tour : Storm of Ink and Blood by Nisha J Tuli

 

Book: Storm of Ink and Blood

Author: Nisha J. Tuli

Pub Day: Oct 4th 2024

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Dark magic courses through Zarya's veins-magic that could save countless lives... or doom her world.

Shattered by Rabin's betrayal, Zarya vows to leave all thoughts of him behind. In the dangerous city of Ishaan, she joins an ancient struggle for freedom.

Ishaan is a city of violent contrasts. Nobles and scholars live in golden luxury. But thousands of vanshaj workers are born into magical slavery-in punishment for a crime forgotten centuries ago.

Zarya is outraged, and certain that the fate of the vanshaj is linked to her own forbidden magic. She joins a band of rebels battling for their freedom, and with Yasen at her side she throws herself into the fight.

On a deadly raid, Zarya uncovers the key to freeing the vanshaj forever. But to use it, she must harness a power that could tear her apart.

Only one person can give Zarya the strength to reach her destiny. The one who ignited her magic. Who brings her more pleasure and more pain than any other. The last person she wants to see right now. Rabin.

The Nightfire Quartet is a fast-paced and addictive fantasy romance that's perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Carissa Broadbent, and Rebecca Yarros. If you love slow-burning passion and razor-sharp banter, dive in to discover your new fantasy obsession.

MY REVIEW:

Storm of Ink and Blood by Nisha J. Tuli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I can not get enough of this series.
Zarya has dark magic and she wants to free vanshja. They have a special ink around their necks and they are slaves. The ink hids their magic.
Zarya is also getting over Rabin as she thought he had betrayed her. She is also in the city where her half siblings live and they don't know anything about her and they are royalty. She is finding out that she does not like her siblings and once wanted to know them and now she doesn't.
I love this world and the characters and how Zarya is growing as a person.
I can't wait for the next and last book of this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ebook to review.

View all my reviews

Nisha J. Tuli is an Amazon Top 50 and International Bestselling author of romantasy and contemporary romance.

Her novel Trial of the Sun Queen—the first in the Artefacts of Ouranos series—became a BookTok hit and has gone on to be published in over a dozen languages around the world.

Look for her debut romcom, NSFW (Not Suitable for Work), a workplace rivals to lovers romance publishing with Forever in May 2025.

When she’s not writing or reading, Nisha can be found enjoying travel, food, and camping with her partner, two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed, Mora.

She's also the author of Heart of Night and Fire, a South Asian-inspired fantasy romance and the first in a four-book series.

Social Media

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/NishaJT

Website: https://nishajtuli.com/

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Book Review: Illicit Temptations by Katee Robert

 

Published September 10, 2024

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From the New York Times bestselling author of Neon Gods comes two emotionally intense and dangerously sexy novels in one volume.

What if the one person you shouldn’t want is the one you can’t resist?

Make Me Yours

Becka Baudin gets what she wants, and she wants Aaron Livingston—but only for a quick affair. Weeks later, her coveted freedom starts to disappear thanks to a plus sign on a pregnancy test. Aaron insists she move in to his penthouse and commit to a relationship, but Becka demands he give her space without pushing for more. They are total opposites—with different jobs, interests, lives. But their chemistry keeps pushing them together…for better or for worse?

Make Me Need

Trish Livingston desperately needs her new job. Which means putting up with the world’s grumpiest boss—who is also her brother’s best friend and business partner, Cameron O’Clery. The way he looks at her is pure disdain…but when he touches her, it’s pure fire. With family and business ties at stake, they are not supposed to be together. There’s a fine line between hate and lust, and they are going to cross it…but at what cost?

Previously published as Make Me Yours and Make Me Need.

MY REVIEW:

Illicit Temptations: The Make Me Series: Volume 1 by Katee Robert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Becka only does one night stands and she sees Aaron at a wedding and have a one night stand.
Weeks later she finds out she is pregnant and feels that he should know. He has her move into his penthouse since her apartment is small and run down. She feels stifled though but the chemistry is great. I really liked Aaron and after getting to know Becka more she started to grow on me.
The 2nb book in this book is about Aaron's sister Trisha . She gets hired from her brother and works with his partner who is a very grumpy person and very blunt with people. She starts to grow on him and they have such chemistry together but he fights a lot of it. SHe is always happy which he doesn't get but sometimes it is just a cover up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ebook to review.

View all my reviews

Katee Robert

Website

http://www.kateerobert.com

Twitter

Katee_Robert

Genre

Romance, Fantasy

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of spicy romance. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over two million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

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Book Review: Here One Moment - Liane Moriarty

 

published September 10, 2024

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If you knew your future, would you try to fight fate?

Aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed.

Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.

How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight (the bride and groom, the jittery, possibly famous woman, the giant Hemsworth-esque guy who looks like an off-duty superhero, the frazzled, gorgeous flight attendant) but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.”

Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable.

A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.

If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny?

Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world. A modern-day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery, Moriarty asks profound questions in her newest I-can’t-wait-to-find-out-what-happens novel.

MY REVIEW:

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The story was great but I felt it dragged a little bit and each chapter is a different POV but you don't know whose it is until you are reading. They should have had a title of whose POV with the chapter number.
An elderly lady gets up during a flight in Australia and points to each person telling them when they will die and from what. Some people are pleased and some horrified.
When the flight is over some of them start dying but the lady doesn't remember doing this and the ending was great. I wanted to give it a 4 star but like I said it dragged just a little bit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ebook to review.

View all my reviews

Liane Moriarty

Born Sydney, Australia

Website

http://www.lianemoriarty.com

Genre

Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary

Liane Moriarty is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Big Little Lies, The Husband’s Secret, and Truly Madly Guilty; the New York Times bestsellers Apples Never Fall, Nine Perfect Strangers, What Alice Forgot, and The Last Anniversary; The Hypnotist’s Love Story; and Three Wishes. She lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children.

Blog Tour: My Sister's Boyfriend by Nicola Marsh

 

Published September 9, 2024

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Brooke’s face lights up and the corners of her eyes crinkle as she smiles brightly at her new boyfriend. He gently pulls her in, nestling her cheek on his chest. But when he turns his head towards me, my blood runs cold. I know my sister’s life is in danger…

I would recognize that face anywhere. Handsome and chiseled. The perfect mask. I prayed I would never see Noel Harwood again, but here he is, sneering at me over Brooke’s shoulder.

I want to protect her, but I remember the last time I saw her. Voice dripping with venom, she said she would never forgive my betrayal. I want to scream at her to run and tell her that Noel has done terrible things, but the words die in my throat. I’ve lied too often for her to believe me over her knight-in-shining-armor.

I need to be smart if I want to save my sister. Noel might think he’s one step ahead, but he has no idea what I’m capable of. He could never imagine the darkness that lurks in our family. Or the truth about what happened on the jagged clifftop, all those years ago.

I nearly lost Brooke once, and I’ll never let that happen again. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her…

MY REVIEW:

My Sister's Boyfriend by Nicola Marsh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book had me from the beginning, I could not put it down. You have different families that seem dysfunctional. They don't know each other.
Brooke starts seeing someone and he happened to have spent time in prison. He accidently killed his brother. As we get to know these 2, Brooke's sister does not want them together. She doesn't trust Noel and gets bad vibes from him. Her family also is reeling from a secret that they are trying to overcome.
As we get to know Noel and his background and family, I liked him.
I did starts to see some of the twists that happened near the end,
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for ebook to review.

View all my reviews

USA TODAY bestselling & multi-award winning author Nicola Marsh writes page-turning fiction to keep you up all night.

She has published 80 books, sold over 8 million copies worldwide and been translated into 25 languages.

She currently writes contemporary romance and domestic suspense. You can find some of her series romance under the pseudonym Nikki North.

A physiotherapist for 13 years, she now adores writing full time, raising her two dashing young heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, barracking loudly for her beloved North Melbourne Kangaroos footy team, and her favourite, curling up with a good book!

Twitter: @nicolamarsh

Instagram: @nicolamarshauthor

Website: www.nicolamarsh.com

Blog Tour: A Touch of Shadows by Jessica Thorne

 

publication September 5, 2024\

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A spark of passion between hunter and hunted has the power to end everything… fans of Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout will be completely gripped by this addictive and enchanting fantasy romance!

The shadow magic has always whispered to Wren. The same power that once ravaged her home kingdom of Asteroth. She must keep her magic hidden, only using it to help people in need in the remote border village she calls home. Discovery of her gifts would mean death.

Noble knight Finn has sworn to serve the kingdom by hunting down those who use shadow magic. But sword and armour cannot save him when he is attacked by dark creatures in the woods near Wren’s village.

Wren has no choice. She risks exposing her secret – and saves this handsome stranger’s life. But as her skin gently brushes his, Wren’s magic – and an uncontrollable desire – floods through both their veins. But is their passion real? Or are the shadows tempting them?

There’s no time for Finn and Wren to untangle their feelings from the seductive call of the darkness. Because Finn was not attacked by chance. Enemy soldiers are on the move, closing in on Asteroth.

Both believe Wren’s magic to be dangerous. But what if it’s the only way to save the kingdom? And with dark days coming, can they learn to trust each other – or will giving in to their desires destroy everything they know?

MY REVIEW:

A Touch of Shadows by Jessica Thorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wren has been brought up by a woman who she assumed is her mother. They never called ach other mother or child so she was never sure. They got seperated and Wren ended up meeting with Flynn.
Magic has been outlawed and Wren and her mother use it for healing powers.
Finn was brought up in one kingdom but is helping another kingdom. It seems that Wren and Finn's destinies are interwoven.
There is also spice n this book.
I enjoyed the banter between these 2 and the kingdoms.
I received this from NetGalley and Second Sly for the ebook to review,

View all my reviews

A Kiss of Flame

They want her on the throne. But the closer she gets, the deadlier her magic becomes. And an ancient power gets closer to breaking free…

Wren’s gone from being a parentless girl with a free life in the forest, to the daughter of the lost queen of Asteroth. Trapped in the capital, she’s surrounded by people who would kill her if they discovered her shadow magic. And the strength of her dark power is growing out of control…

Though Finn considers Asteroth his home, as the son of the enemy king he has never been fully at ease in the capital. But now, it’s torture. Keeping Wren’s magic hidden goes against every vow he’s ever taken. But whenever they’re apart, the strange ache in his chest becomes unbearable.

Snatching moments together in quiet corners of the castle, the solace Wren and Finn find in each other is bittersweet. The Regent’s Council want to keep the control they’ve held since the queen was lost – but their plan to use Wren as a puppet could see the kingdom torn apart by her dark power. And with the enemy preparing to invade, danger is growing outside the city walls too…

With their loyalty to each other tested at every turn, can Finn and Wren find safety in their love? And can Wren escape from the power play inside the castle and save the kingdom: even if it’s from herself?

The second book in the Lost Queen series, this stunning and unputdownable romantic fantasy is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Stacia Stark and Rebecca Yarros.

Jessica Thorne watched far too much sci-fi and read far too much fantasy at an impressionable age. And it was awesome. She writes fantasy and sci-fi romance with a steampunk edge and just refuses to face reality.


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book review: Songlight by Moia Buffini

 

published September 3, 2024

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Star-crossed lovers, against-all-odds friendship, and a brutally unforgiving world make this first in a trilogy utterly unforgettable.

We’re two songs joined. And there’s a word for that. A harmony.

Elsa is used to hiding the most important parts of herself—her feelings for Rye, her distaste for a world ruled by men, and, most crucially, her gift of songlight. She buries that secret deep inside. In Brightland, those with songlight are called Unhumans and are abhorred. Rye is the only other person Elsa has known with songlight, and their shared bond has brought them together.

Elsa’s world begins to fall apart one desperate, heart-wrenching day and she doesn’t know where to turn until a girl appears before her. But the girl isn’t really there—her songlight has been drawn to Elsa’s frantic grief.

Elsa lives in a remote seaside village; Nightingale, her new friend, lives in a city hundreds of miles away with her father, a government official responsible for rooting out Unhumans. The two never expected to connect via songlight. But when they do, and when they realize the extent of their power, they’ll be thrust in the middle of a war that threatens their very existence.

MY REVIEW:

Songlight by Moira Buffini
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story was different than others. It is like Telepathy and in singing. Even able to "talk" to someone you have never met or lives miles away. How the world outcasts them and call them unhumans and is punishable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ebook to review.

View all my reviews

Moira Buffini

BornCarlisle, The United Kingdom

Moira Buffini (born 1965) is an English dramatist, director, and actor.

She was born in Carlisle to Irish parents, and studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths. She subsequently trained as an actor at the Welsh College of Music and Drama.

For Jordan, co-written with Anna Reynolds in 1992, she won a Time Out Award for her performance and Writers' Guild Award for Best Fringe play. Her 1997 play Gabriel was performed at Soho theatre, winning the LWT Plays on Stage award. Her 1999 play Silence earned Buffini the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for best English-language play by a woman. Loveplay followed at the RSC in 2001, then Dinner at the National Theatre in 2003 which transferred to the West End and was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Comedy.

Buffini wrote Dying For It, a free adaptation of Nikolai Erdman's classic, The Suicide, for the Almeida in 2007. She followed it with Marianne Dreams, a dance play with choreographer Will Tuckett, based on Catherine Storr's book. Her play for young people, A Vampire Story was performed as part of NT Connections in 2008.

Buffini is said to advocate big, imaginative plays rather than naturalistic soap opera dramas, and is a founder member of the Monsterists, a group of playwrights who promote new writing of large scale work in the British theatre. She has been described by David Greig as a metaphysical playwright. All her plays have been published by Faber.

Buffini is also a prolific screenwriter. In 2010 her film adaptation of Posy Simmon's Tamara Drewe was released followed by her adaptation of Jane Eyre for BBC Films and Ruby Films in 2011. The script appeared on the 2008 Brit List, a film-industry-compiled list of the best unproduced screenplays in British film. It received nine votes, putting it in second place. Buffini also adapted her play A Vampire Story for the screenplay of Neil Jordan's film Byzantium released in 2013.

She took part in the Bush Theatre's 2011 project Sixty Six for which she wrote a piece based upon a chapter of the King James Bible.

Blog Tour: Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

 

publication September 3, 2024

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Welcome to Phantasma.

There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish.

Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals.

Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain.

Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.

Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer.

Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart…

A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Caraval in this seductive fantasy adventure. With steamy romance, a sexy morally gray love interest, OCD rep and jaw-dropping twists, Phantasma is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Nisha J. Tuli and Carissa Broadbent.

MY REVIEW:

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this ebook from NetGalley, paperback from publisher and the audiobook from NetGalley.
So I listened to the audiobook for the first half and really enjoyed the narrator. Then read the ebook for the last half while looking at the beautiful cover of the paperback.
It says it is part of a series but it felt like a standalone.
Ophelia and her sister just lost their mother and then found out about a large debt on their house. Ophelia has also inherited her mother's powers. Then her sister goes missing when she decides to enter Phantasma to pay off the debt. Ophelia goes and learns if she wants to see her sister then she has to compete in everything that is put her way. It is kind of like Hunger Games and the rule is not to fall n love.
Thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky for all the copies to review,

View all my reviews

Kaylie Smith is a writer and lover of all things magical and fantasy. She grew up in Louisiana where she frequently haunted bookstores and practiced her writing craft. After getting her degree in graphic design, she decided to fully pursue her dream of being an author, and the first book in her YA fantasy series, A RUINOUS FATE, debuts in January 2023 from Disney Hyperion. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found at home with her menagerie of animals, fussing over her houseplants, or annoying people about astrology.

Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaylsMoon

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Website: https://www.kayliesmithbooks.com/

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Book Review: Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb

 

Expected publication September 3, 2024

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Is love on the small screen better than the real thing?

Brynn’s happy ending has gone up in flames. She’s newly divorced and living with a roommate – Josh – to afford her mortgage. At least she’s got Carson’s Cove to binge - her beloved 90s teenage soap.

So when a birthday cake shows up on her and Josh’s doorstep, Brynn makes a wish for her own happily-ever-after.

The next morning, she doesn't wake up in her apartment. She's in Carson's Cove... and Josh is there too. Except they're not Brynn and Josh; they're the sweetheart and the bad boy.

Will they stick to the script, or will real love change the story forever?

A young divorcee finds herself in the ideal world of her favourite 90s nostalgia TV show, in this second-chance romantic comedy from the author of This Spells Love.

MY REVIEW:

Prime Time Romance: The brand new, magical rom-com full of 90s nostalgia, from the author of This Spells Love by Kate Robb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was so different and why I really enjoyed it. Think 90210 within a Hallmark town and that's the vibe this gives off.
Brynn is divorced and to help pay her mortgage she has a roommate. They don't spend time together or really know each other. One night she is at the bar where he works, Wants to call a cab to go home but can't find her purse so she asks the roommate for money but he ends up walking her home and that's when everything happens. It was such a fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ebook to review.

View all my reviews

Kate Robb

Blog Tour: King of Flames by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

 

Publication date August 26, 2024

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KING OF FLAMES

Bound to a dark king…

Everyone in the world of Under has magic. Everyone belongs to one of the six ruling houses.

Everyone except me.

When all of Under gathers for the ancient Ceremony of the Fall and my weakness is revealed, hungry eyes turn my way. For some I’m unique, a mystery to be solved. For others I’m prey.

From now on, every day will be a fight to survive.

Most dangerous of all, I’ve drawn the attention of Aon, the mysterious king who rules the House of Shadows. Dark and seductive, he appears in my dreams, igniting a desire I can’t control.

They say Aon is a monster, a killer, and worse… So why do I find myself drawn to him? His face is hidden behind a mask, but his voice and his touch enchant me.

When the magic of Under begins to change, the six houses are thrown into a struggle for power and I begin a deadly game of cat and mouse with Aon’s rivals. Because if they discover our bond, they will stop at nothing to destroy me.\

MY REVIEW:

King of Flames by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First book of new series.
2 people from Earth are taken and go into another world. While there you are thrown into like a pool and it decides what kind of creature you are going to be. Then you are sent to a like kingdom, which there are several. You have marks on your body or you wear masks depending on your rank within that kingdom..
I had originally planned on a 3 star review but the more I got thinking about it I ended up giving it a 4 star.
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ebook to review.
#KingofFlames #NetGalley

View all my reviews

As an USA Today Bestselling Author and award-winning designer, Kat has always been a storyteller. She delights in spinning stories of the sweetest nightmares to delight her readers with her unique twist of fantasy, horror, and romance. With ten years in script-writing for performances on both the stage and for tourism, she has always been writing in one form or another.

Also on her list of skills are artistic direction, scenic painting and props, special effects, and electronics. A graduate of Boston University with a BFA in Theatre Design, she has a passion for unique, creative, and unconventional experiences. In her spare time, she builds animatronics and takes trapeze classes.

Social Media

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Book Review: Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe

 

publication August 20, 2024

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The hardest thing for a paranormal conspiracy theorist and a web series producer to believe in is finding love in this swoony debut romantic comedy.

Hallie Barrett's life has imploded after she's dumped by her hotshot ex, who also happens to be her coworker and the star of the online series she was producing. Without a new show to present for the company competition, she’ll be out of a job. But inspiration can come from the strangest places . . . like the most handsome guy she’s ever seen passionately discussing Bigfoot on a late-night docuseries.

Hayden Hargrove made a name for himself as a cryptid expert on his hit podcast, and is intrigued by the plucky, blue-haired producer who offers him the opportunity to lead his own web show. When the production team sees that Hayden’s solo on-screen presence is bad enough to make a ghost blanch, Hallie jumps on camera too, hitting him (and his cryptids) with a healthy dose of skepticism—and enough chemistry to electrify their show to the top of the competition.

As Hayden and Hallie investigate the unknown, they unearth feelings for each other that shake their beliefs to the core. In their search for Mothman, aliens, and the truth, the most elusive discovery might just be learning to love again.

MY REVIEW:

Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun read. The banter between Hallie and Hayden was so much fun and had me laughing out loud. Hallie is trying to win the next online show and is competing against her ex, who treats her horribly. She has no self esteem because of him.
Hayden is trying to make her believe in the cryptids and ghosts, aliens and anything else that she does not believe in.
The feelings start when they are kind of forced to work more closely together and they made a great team.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc to review.
#LoveandOtherConspiracies #NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Mallory Marlowe

Website

https://mallorymarlowe.com/

Twitter

mallory_marlowe

Genre

Romance

Mallory Marlowe is a professional writer and creator based out of Los Angeles, CA. Seriously right-brained since childhood, her love of telling stories began with highly elaborate plots for her Barbie dolls and taking elementary school writing projects a touch too seriously. She went on to study Writing for Film and TV at Emerson College and moved to Los Angeles after college to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

She has experience in writing fiction, scripts for film and television, and interactive media. Mallory’s truest love is writing romance novels, from contemporary to paranormal, and has a real weak spot for “enemies to lovers” and “there’s only one bed”. When she isn’t writing, she loves reading (most likely some kind of kissing book) and playing video games… but realistically, she’s probably brainstorming whatever meet-cute she’s planning to write next.

Book Review: This is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter

 

publication

August 20, 2024 by William Morrow

buy on Amazon

Everyone here is a liar, but only one of us is a killer…

A secluded cabin retreat

For GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton, McAlpine Lodge seems like the ideal getaway to celebrate their honeymoon. Set on a gorgeous, off-the-grid mountaintop property, it’s the perfect place to unplug and reconnect. Until a bone-chilling scream cuts through the night.

A murderer in their midst

Mercy McAlpine, the manager of the Lodge, is dead. With a vicious storm raging and the one access road to the property washed out, the murderer must be someone on the mountain. But as Will and Sara investigate the McAlpine family and the other guests, they realize that everyone here is lying….Lying about their past. Lying to their family. Lying to themselves.

Who killed Mercy McAlpine?

It soon becomes clear that normal rules don’t apply at McAlpine Lodge, and Will and Sara are going to have to watch their step at every turn. Trapped on the resort, they must untangle a decades-old web of secrets to discover what happened to Mercy. And with the killer poised to strike again, the trip of a lifetime becomes a race against the clock…

MY REVIEW:

This is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The 12th book of the series. I had only read one other book in the series but you didn't need to read the rest if you are just looking for the mystery. But if you want to know the characters then you should start from the beginning.
Will is on his honeymoon with Sara. He is an investigator and she is a medical examiner. They are both also married to their jobs.
Will made this honeymoon happen and got this secluded cabin retreat where you have to hike to get there. Luggage and other deliveries are taken there by a small back road.
Mercy has been running the resort for quite awhile. Her father is in a wheelchair, and makes her fell like shit along with her mother.. Mery's brother and ex husband also work there. She is raising her son there and wants to be able to run it with h. Someone wants to buy the place but Mercy doesn't want to sell. There is a big blowup and nasty things are said to her. Then that night she is killed.
There are several other couples renting the cabins and it seems like everyone is lying who they are and what they do.
I loved getting to know all the characters and what they are thinking. Trying to figure out who would want to hurt Mercy the lost was on my mind and I was wrong.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the book to review.
#ThisIsWhyWeLied #NetGalley

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Karin Slaughter

Bornin The United States

January 06

Website

https://linktr.ee/karinslaughter

Twitter

@slaughterKarin

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Fiction, Thriller

Karin Slaughter is the author of more than twenty instant NEW YORK TIMES bestselling novels, including the Edgar–nominated COP TOWN and standalone novels THE GOOD DAUGHTER, PRETTY GIRLS, and GIRL, FORGOTTEN. She is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. PIECES OF HER is a #1 Netflix original series starring Toni Collette. The Will Trent Series is on ABC (and streaming on Hulu in the U.S and Disney+ internationally). THE GOOD DAUGHTER and FALSE WITNESS are in development for film/tv. Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.

Facebook: Facebook.com/AuthorKarinSlaughter

Website: http://www.karinslaughter.com/

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

Blog Tour: The Haunted Child by Dawn Merriman

 

Expected publication August 16, 2024

Buy on Amazon

A young mother is being framed for a crime she didn’t commit. And only I can free her.

I’m Rylan Flynn. I hunt for ghosts and restless spirits, and solve the mysteries that make them haunt the living.

The police found Andrea Evans with a bloody knife in her hands and her boyfriend dead at her feet. But she swears she’s innocent. And I can tell from the desperation in her eyes that she’s telling the truth.

I first met Andrea at Camp Lakewood when we were just kids. That summer was meant to be one to remember, with hikes in the forest and canoeing on the lake. Instead, it’s one I try to forget.

Because Camp Lakewood is the place I saw a ghost for the very first time—the ghost of a murdered girl.

My long-time crush Ford Pierce was also at camp that year. Today, he is the detective who arrested Andrea. Ford is certain she’s guilty and he warns me off. But if he’s wrong the real killer is still walking free.

As I begin to investigate, everything seems to lead me back to camp. How is Andrea’s case linked to the summer we shared, and to that other killing decades ago?

To free Andrea and reunite her with her child, I must return to Camp Lakewood. Even if that means coming face to face with the darkest and deadliest secrets of my past…

With jaw-dropping twists, mesmerizing suspense, and a touch of romance, the Rylan Flynn series is your new paranormal mystery obsession. Fans of Noelle W. Ihli, Heather Graham and Wendy Wang will be hooked from start to finish.

MY REVIEW:

The Haunted Child: A completely unputdownable paranormal mystery thriller by Dawn Merriman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

the 4th book in this series and still keeping my interest.
Andrea Evans is found at her dead boyfriend's body with the knife in her hand. She swears she is innocent and asks Rylan to help her.
Rylan can see and talk to spirits and help them cross over and she has been known to help the local police. Rylan also has a crush on the cop, Ford Pierce.
This series reminds me of the TV show the Ghost Whisperer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC to review.
#thehauntedchild #netgalley

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Dawn Merriman writes creepy small town murder mysteries from her small farm in northeast Indiana where she lives with her husband and teenage children. You can often find her with muck boots on her feet and a story in her head. She enjoys animals, auctions, snorkeling and archaeology.

Dawn Merriman grew up a small town farm girl, on a small time pig farm in Indiana. She spent her young adulthood sitting on her bedroom floor scribbling stories in notebooks. She won the "Northeast Indiana Young Writers" award as a sophomore in high school.

After battling severe depression, she wrote her debut novel "How Murder Saved My Life" as therapy, mixing her love of murder mysteries and farming with climbing out of the darkness of illness.


Social Media
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Blog Tour: Bloodlust Bites by Luanne Bennett

 

#bloodlustbites

Published August 9, 2024

Buy on Amazon 

Welcome to Crimson, Georgia. I’m Charley Underwood—witch, bar owner, and accidental demon hunter.

Crimson isn’t a regular town. With vampires, shifters, and humans living side by side, tensions always run high. I try to keep the peace, and most of the time nobody gets hurt. Most of the time.

Right now, Crimson is one bite away from all-out chaos.

A dangerous new wolf is stirring up trouble. A sexy vampire is on the hunt, with a gun full of sunlight bullets. And thugs from Atlanta are threatening my friends.

As if that wasn’t enough, my magic is running wild. One second it’s throwing bad guys through windows, the next it fizzles out to nothing. There’s only one way to get it under control—by taking lessons from Crimson’s terrifying old-school coven of witches.

I need to get a handle on it fast. Way out in the woods, someone is attacking young women, leaving them bitten and bloody. Is it a stranger or one of our own?

When police pin the attacks on one of my bartenders, it’s clear that none of this is random. Someone is coming after me and the people I love.

I’ll do anything to protect my crew. Even strike a deal with a vicious old enemy.

Because when I see what I’m fighting against, it’s clear I need all the help I can get.

Bloodlust Bites is a fast-paced urban fantasy that will leave you breathless. With thrilling action, slow-burn romance, humor, heart, and found family, it’s perfect for fans of Kim Richardson, Charlaine Harris and Patricia Briggs.

MY REVIEW:

Bloodlust Bites: An addictive and action-packed urban fantasy by Luanne Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Charley is a witch and a bar owner. She didn't know she was a witch until recently and now has to learn how to get and use her powers. Meanwhile bad things are going on and she needs to help fix them.
I love the town and characters. There are the witches, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters and humans all living in 1 town and trying to coexist with each other.
Thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ebook to review.

View all my reviews

Luanne Bennett is an author of fantasy and the supernatural. Born in Chicago, she lives in Georgia these days where she writes full time and doesn’t miss a thing about the cubicles and conference rooms of her old life. When she isn’t writing or dreaming up new stories, she’s usually tending WAY too many orchids or a herd of felines.

Social Media

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