Blog Tour: The Married Man by K.L. Slater

 

publication November 1, 2024

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Everyone thinks my husband is dead. Just like we planned…

Eleven years ago, my husband disappeared. Eleven long hard years I waited, my heart breaking for our son, who didn’t know his father was coming back.

Today, my hands shake as I try to understand what I’ve just learned: my husband has a new wife. This wasn’t part of our plan.

Eleven years ago, my husband made a terrible mistake. I sacrificed everything to help him fix it. But now he’s put our son and me in danger again.

We had a plan. He broke the rules. But who will pay the price?

A completely gripping and addictive thriller from the number 1 ebook bestselling author K.L. Slater, The Married Man will have you glued to the pages until the very last twist. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden.

My REVIEW:

The Married Man by K.L. Slater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

11 years ago Liv and Rich had a good marriage and a son. Then Rich went missing. They had plans and now it seems to be unraveling.
Kait is pregnant and her husband is acting strange and keeping secrets. She finds a note and investigates, Does he have another family and having an affair?
The story is told from a couple POVs but you do know who the POV is.
I thought I knew what was going on but then there is a twist and a couple of them I was like wow, I didn't see that one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ebook to review.

View all my reviews

For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents but never made it off the slush pile. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating, she received five offers of representation from London literary agents which was, as Kim says, ‘a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’

Kim is a full-time writer and lives in Nottingham with her husband, Mac.

https://klslaterauthor.com/

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https://www.instagram.com/klslaterauthor/

https://twitter.com/KimLSlater

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Book Review: A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson

 

 publication November 1, 2024

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The fate of a cursed nation depends on a princess who must outwit a mortal enemy and outlast the trials of a death-defying ritual in a thrilling adventure by USA Today bestselling author Sariah Wilson.

Lia is the princess of Locris, a dying desert nation cursed centuries ago by an earth goddess—one still worshipped by the thriving and adversarial nation of Ilion. Every year, Ilion offers the goddess a sacrifice: two Locrian maidens forced to compete in a life-and-death race to reach her temple. In a millennium, no maiden has made it out of Ilion alive. This year, Lia is one of the hunted.

An education in battle gives her a fighting chance, but the challenges are greater than she feared: Lia’s beloved but untrained sister Quynh has been put in the path of danger. The winding streets of Ilion itself have been transformed into a labyrinthine maze of countless choices and dead ends. And if the risks weren’t significant enough, Lia is reluctantly drawn to the commandingly attractive Jason, an Ilionian sailor she loathes to trust and desires like no man before.

The tribute game is on. It’s up to Lia to lift the goddess’s curse, restore Locris to its former glory, and change the fate of every young woman destined to follow in her path.

MY REVIEW:

A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book of a new series. Starts out like a little bit of Hunger Games, where 2 girls names will be chosen ad they have to fight men to get the Eye of the Goddess.
Lia is a princess and she paid to have her name drawn so had a mentor teach her how to fight. She is also betrothed to a prince but doesn't want to marry him,
Lia meets up with Jason on a ship and he wants to help her. The chemistry s there between them. We meet him several more times throughout the book.
There was a twist at the end and I had a small feeling about it but figured I was wrong. but I wasn't.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ebook to review.

View all my reviews

Sariah Wilson

Blog Tour: Stuck Together by Lily Joseph

  

publication October 29, 2024

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The hate is real. So is the chemistry.




Annie is heading into the holidays alone. And as a confirmed singleton, she decides to open a shop selling the kind of treats every single woman would want to find under the tree. After all, who doesn’t like to get a ‘Premium Sensual Lifestyle Product’ for Christmas, right?




Penn is in a bind. He needs to come home for Christmas with a girl, or his parents will set him up with someone ‘suitable’. Nothing is too good for the Honourable Peregrine Burton-Edwards after all. But that’s not what Penn wants. He just wants to sell vintage records in his shop and meet a nice, normal girl.




The first time Annie and Penn meet, Annie feels a flutter in her chest – he’s tall, dark and handsome, with cheekbones you could sharpen a blade on. So when he offers to share the shop with her to save on rent, she gladly accepts.

Huge mistake… Annie and Penn are poles apart and butt heads at every turn. But with the holidays looming, Penn will soon need to ask for a big favour, and Annie, with no plans to speak of, is the only girl who can help. As the arguments get more heated, so do the sparks flying between them. Will they put their differences aside and come together? And could it be for more than just Christmas?




A completely addictive, utterly hilarious and totally swoon-worthy romantic comedy, Stuck Together will make you fall head over heels for Annie and Penn. The perfect holiday read for fans of Catherine Walsh, Emily Henry and Mhairi McFarlane.

MY REVIEW:

Stuck Together by Lily Joseph
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Annie and Penn were ridiculous sometimes but the banter was fun and getting to know the characters and their family dynamics was great,
Annie's mom would try all kind of schemes to sell things so she has a room in her house full of all kinds of products so Annie decides to open up a store.
Penn also wants to open up a viny, record, store and they end up looking at the store at the same time. Things get funny after that and decide to share the store. She has half and he has the other half.
Someone is out to destroy Annie and it wasn't who I thought it was at first.
Penn comes from money and his family wants him to settle down so he brings Annie as his girlfriend. I did not like his mother at all or his ex girlfriend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC to review.

View all my reviews

Lily Joseph

BornThe United Kingdom

Website

https://www.lilyjosephauthor.com/

Twitter

lilyjowriter

Genre

Romance, Humor and Comedy, Chick Lit

Lily Joseph is a romantic fiction writer from North East England, a setting which appears regularly in her writing. Her work has been shortlisted for the Lindisfarne Prize, an award for northern authors. She lives in North Yorkshire with her partner, two teens and two cats, none of whom are interested in books whatsoever. At least the cats have an excuse.

Book Review: What Courses Through Her Blood by Ashley R O'Donovan

 

publication October 29, 2024

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The future of the realms rests within her hands.

After her impressive victory, the threats Lyra faces only seem to mount. Darkness is spreading. Monsters roam freely. Old enemies resurface. The realms are on the brink of collapse, and a heart-wrenching decision between Colton and Nyx could decide the fate of it all. But the prophesied light to match her darkness is not as simple as it seems.

Even if a path exists to protect the people of Eguina and unite her with the man she loves, there's the little detail of her dark magic teetering on the edge of chaos. Will her untamed power forge a lasting peace or unleash total destruction?

Immerse yourself once again in the world of What Lies Beyond the Realms for this epic final installment.

Please This book contains sexually explicit content, mature language, and elements of violence. It is intended for mature audiences and is not suitable for readers under the age of 18. This is book three in a series.

MY REVIEW:

What Courses Through Her Blood by Ashley O'Donovan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The final book of this series and it did not disappoint.
Realms are on the brink of collapse and Lyra is trying to fix things. She is in love with Colton and Colton loves her but his brother Onyx is also in love with her. I liked getting to know these characters and if they could all work together for the greater good.
As I got nearer to the end I thought there was no way this book was going to be the last but Ashley ended up finishing it perfectly.
Thank you to the author for the ARC to review.

View all my reviews

Blog Tour: Snow Going Back by Emma Tallon

 

Published October 24, 2024

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Everyone is heading home for the holidays. Everyone except Kate. Having just run away her boyfriend Lance’s unexpected proposal (in front of her entire family), Kate was the only person in her office happy to take an unexpected last-minute work trip posting to Boston.

Arriving in the snow-covered, fairy-light-filled city, Kate feels immediately at home. That is until she meets Sam, a cross between a lumberjack and an Abercrombie model standing in the kitchen of her new place. Which also happens to be his home thanks to a work mix-up. Given that it’s Christmas and there is nowhere else to stay, they agree to make it work.

But pretty soon it’s clear that Sam is not the ideal house mate. From drinking all the milk, turning the hot water off whilst she’s showering, and insisting she stay in her room for the entirety of ‘game night’ with the boys, Kate thinks Sam is the absolute worst. And he thinks the same of her.

When Sam surprisingly comes to her rescue, his frosty exterior finally thaws and when they open up to each other, they realise they have more in common than they thought. But when Lance unexpectedly arrives, Kate’s heart is torn. Go home with Lance or spend the holidays with a man she hardly knows, but who could turn out to be the one…

Opposites attract in this heart-warming and truly laugh-out-loud, enemies-to-lovers forced-proximity book. If you enjoy Catherine Walsh, Emily Henry and Beth Moran, you will love Snow Going Back!

MY REVIEW:

Snow Going Back by Emma Tallon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a cute enemies to lovers romance. II am not used to reading a romance by Emma Tallon. She is one of my favorite authors and did not disappoint.
Kate's boyfriend proposed to her and she accidently accepted. Now she wants out of it but doesn't want to disappoint anyone. She is a lawyer and is told that she has to go and take care of an estate and only she can do it. She meets up with a grumpy guy letting her know that the house she is in is his. The banter between these 2 was funny and they act like teenagers at first trying to up one another.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC to read.

View all my reviews

Emma Tallon is a British author of gripping, gritty, organised crime thrillers. With a number of bestsellers published by Bookouture since early 2017, Emma continues to write full time and has many ideas in the pipeline for future novels.


For more information on Emma or to join her mailing list, please go to: www.emmatallon.com

Book Review: Saving Us by Krista Swanson

 

publication October 23, 2024

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Grumpy billionaire.

Sunshiny flower shop girl.

When their two worlds collide, sparks fly, but will love bloom?

Gage

Gage is too busy and power-hungry for love. Heir to a billion-dollar empire, he has a string of failed relationships in his past. With one divorce and another love triangle gone bad, finding love is not on his horizon. But when he literally runs into the flower shop girl before their meeting, something seems to change for him. He can’t get her, or her body, off his mind, and his days as a bachelor might be numbered.

Harper

Harper dreams of owning her own flower shop. But that and living in NYC takes more money than a shop girl can make, so she moonlights as a server in a fancy club. Her jobs are from completely different worlds and she likes it that way. When the grumpy client from the shop, the one she shared a steamy one-night stand with, finds her working at the club, things get messy. As she starts chipping away at his tough exterior, she realizes she is setting herself up for failure. And she can’t live with another.

But when their new relationship seems to be on the right track, it gets tested in the toughest of ways and they’re left fighting for each other.

Who will save who?

MY REVIEW:

Saving Us: The Billionaire Brothers of NY Duology Book One by Krista Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book and could not get enough.
Harper works in a florist shop and loves making flower arrangements. Her dream is to open her own business. Gage is a billionaire who runs his family business with his brother.
The brothers end up going to the flower shop to look at arrangements for their office. You can feel the chemistry between Gage and Harper almost from the beginning.
Neither one was looking for anything and the banter between these 2 was a lot of fun.
Thank you to the publisher for a great book.

View all my reviews

Krista Swanson

BornThe United States

Website

https://www.kristaswansonauthor.com/

Genre

Romance

Krista Swanson lives in New Jersey with her husband. They have three children, but only one is left to get out of the nest. Once they do, travel across the US and Europe is in their plans. She loves the beach, mainly the Jersey beaches, which she feels don’t get the love they deserve.

When she’s not writing, she is most definitely reading. Her lifelong love of reading romances gave her all of the ideas busting to get out of her brain. While doing either, though, the mug in hand will not have coffee in it. The blasphemy—it will be tea!

She’s newish at the social media thing, but working hard at it. You can find her on TikTok and Instagram at kristareadsandwrites. Also hop on over and join her Facebook reader’s group, Krista Swanson’s Booklover’s Besties. You can also sign up for her newsletter on any of those platforms.

Book Review: If I stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens

 

published October 15, 2024

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An enemies to lovers romance with a spooky twist where two feuding writers end up on a writers retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland

It's been months since horror author Penelope Skinner threw a book at Neil Storm. But he was so infuriating, with his sparkling green eyes and his bestselling horror novels that claimed to break Native stereotypes. And now she’s a publishing pariah and hasn’t been able to write a word since. So when her friend invites her on a too-good-to-be-true writers retreat in a supposedly haunted Scottish castle, she seizes the opportunity. Of course, some things really are too good to be true.

Neil wants nothing less than to be trapped in a castle with the frustratingly adorable woman who threw a book at him. She drew blood! Worse still, she unleashed a serious case of self-doubt! Neil is terrified to write another bestselling “book without a soul,” as Pen called it. All Neil wants is to find inspiration, while completely avoiding her.

But as the retreat begins, Pen and Neil are stunned to find themselves trapped in a real-life ghost story. Even more horrifying, they’re stuck together and a truly shocking (extremely hot) almost-kiss has left them rethinking their feelings, and… maybe they shouldn’t have been enemies at all? But if they can’t stop the ghosts pursuing them, they may never have the chance to find out.

Full of spooky chills and even more sexy thrills, If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is the funny, fast-paced romp romance readers have been waiting for!

MY REVIEW:

If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I started reading this book I almost DNFd it.
Penelope was so rude and such a bully that I could not stand her. She is an author and hates Neil, who she believes is writing garbage instead of what he should be writing.
We find out how the publishing companies had treated Neil. He is a Native American and had written a great story with Native Americans in it and set in that community but the publishing companies all said no. Penelope does not know that. They both suffered in their careers for a couple of years until they got to a writer's retreat at a haunted house.
I ended up enjoying this book and I really liked Neil. Penelope was still hard to warm up to.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ebook to review.

View all my reviews

Colby Wilkens

Website

Https://colbywilkens.com/

Twitter

colbywilkens

Genre

Romance, Horror, Young Adult

A white/Native and queer PNW author of YA and Adult romance and horror, Colby Wilkens lives for cozying up on the couch with her cats, tea, and a good book. She is an active bookstagrammer with a fondness for candles and dark stories.

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.

Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessthornebooks

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

Website: http://www.rflong.com/jessicathorne/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ruthfranceslong?lang=en

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

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

Buy on Amazon

 

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NishaJT

Website: https://nishajtuli.com/

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

Second Sky email signup: www.secondskybooks.com/nisha-j-tuli

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\

Buy on Amazon

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,

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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.

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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,

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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.

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