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Today I am on the tour for The Secrets of Sweet Blessings Bakery by Michele Dunaway thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 314

Synopsis:

🍁 Small-town
🍁 Emotional
🍁 Dual POV
🍁 Second chance
🍁 Bakery vibes
🍁 First love
🍁 Matchmaking

Welcome to Sugar Gap, Tennessee. Population: complicated.

Brick storefronts, a white gazebo on the square and the scent of cinnamon drifting from Sweet Blessings Bakery.

Mariah Dyersburg used to live above that bakery. Twelve years ago she ran from it, leaving her family and first love behind.

Now she’s an award-winning chef in Seattle. A new name. A designer wardrobe. A reputation for reducing her staff to tears. The freckled bakery girl is long gone, and Mariah likes it that way.

Then her grandmother’s lawyer calls.

The terms of the will are simple. Mariah and her two estranged sisters must return to Sugar Gap and complete fifteen seasonal tasks set by their grandmother. A scavenger hunt that sends them chasing memories all over the town they grew up in.

There’s just one problem. The handsome county sheriff roped into helping is Sam Jenkins. The boy whose heart she broke when she left all those years ago.

Fifteen tasks. Two sisters who haven’t forgiven her. One stubborn sheriff who never stopped loving her. And her grandmother’s chocolate bourbon pie . . . Suddenly Mariah finds Sugar Gap may be a lot harder to leave.

Grab a spiced latte, order the pie and stay a while. Sugar Gap has been waiting for you.

My Thoughts: I honestly flew through this one, I am a sucker for a small town romance & this one ticked all my boxes and more!

I did find that the romance wasn’t front and centre all the time which is something I actually appreciated, I was so swept up in the whole aspect of the tasks, the inheritance and the sisters finding common ground again that when Sam and Mariah started getting closer I found myself internally squealing and kicking my feet.

The little insights into the girls past that we got helped to make the book hit emotionally, you felt the resentment that Sarah Grace had for Mariah although she didn’t want to show it.

This was so much more than a romance, there is a lot of sensitive topics dealt with, it gives the book a lot of heart and a lot of depth.

Thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Sugar Gap and can’t wait to return in the future.

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Today I am on the tour for the Greek Retreat Dreams Trilogy by Stephanie Wood, although if you’re eagle eyed you’ll notice I’m not actually on the poster. I’m just here to help and support 😂

A Greek Escape

Pages: 119

Synopsis: Fotini enjoys her job working as a maid at The Greek Retreat, where she has the chance to meet many of the interesting guests who visit on a monthly basis for their refreshing holiday. She takes pride in completing her duties to a high standard and is always ready to lend a hand when the need arises.

Her good nature means that she has very little time to socialise, finding that her willingness to help has forced her into a routine where she is always rushing from one job to another and, as she approaches her thirtieth birthday, she wonders if she will ever have the opportunity to meet her ideal partner and create a happy future.

Panayiotis has just joined the team and he seems happy to flirt with her suggestively, but she believes that he treats everyone the same way, even though he is actually already spoken for. She knows they can only be friends, but why does her heart race every time he looks at her?

A Greek Proposal

Pages: 120

Synopsis: Korina sees an opportunity to create a successful new business with the holidaymakers who visit Kynos, but she needs her brother’s help to get things started by recommending her services to the guests who stay at The Retreat, as he provides a regular taxi service to the property.

Octavius is her brother’s friend and he has the opportunity to assist her with some of her ideas, but she becomes distracted whenever he is around and she has to fight the way she is beginning to feel about him because they’ve always been just friends.

She expected to chase her dream independently, but Octavius has proved to be an asset so she is tempted to include him more formally, although she wonders if that might lead her to chase a completely different dream…

A Greek Rescue

Pages: 120

Synopsis: Sophia is the owner of The Greek Retreat, but she also owns a Beach House which she similarly rents to holidaymakers who visit Kynos.

Between the two properties, she becomes a little out of her depth with all the maintenance and housekeeping involved, but she needs something to keep her mind off the loneliness and desolation she feels as an ageing single woman.

Nestoras is a local estate agent and seems to be interested in her property portfolio, but it isn’t clear if he is trying to sell her another rental opportunity, act as a go-between to provide information for expansion, or create a completely different kind of relationship altogether…

About The Author:

Stephanie Wood writes contemporary fiction in the form of novels, novellas and short stories and her books explore a wide range of life’s challenges, dreams and responsibilities. The stories are all character based, so she has fun expressing each unique personality and the reasons behind their actions in a setting which always has a strong sense of community.

She published the AEGEAN SUN series of books as a fly-on-the-wall vision of life in a Greek resort during the summer season, using her extensive experience as a holiday rep to bring some unusual incidents to life on the page. The series began as an exploration of the various ways in which tourists make the most of their holidays and how they interact with the locals while they are visiting. The later books in the series have taken a closer look at the locals themselves to show how their lives and relationships are sometimes changed by the regular influx of seasonal visitors.

The CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSE series is set in a British suburban cul-de-sac over the festive period and visits each house individually to discover how the neighbours who live there celebrate the season in their own special way.

The GREEK RETREAT trilogy is a new release of women’s fiction with romantic themes, which creates a relaxing escape full of sunshine and surprises, with GREEK RETREAT DREAMS as a fun-filled sequel.

Stephanie lives in Lancashire where, apart from reading and writing, she loves gardening and cycling and is a huge fan of the soaps Emmerdale and Neighbours.

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Today I am on the tour for Vow Of Fire by Gemma Ford, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 405

Synopsis: A ruthless mafia boss. A woman marked for death. A love that could destroy them both.

Dante

The order is simple. Find Evelyn Cruz. Eliminate her.
I’ve carried out impossible missions before. Killing has never kept me awake at night.
Until now.
She doesn’t beg. She doesn’t break. She looks me in the eye like she’s daring me to pull the trigger.
One look is all it takes to destroy every rule I’ve ever lived by.
Now the woman I was sent to execute is the only one I want to protect, even if it means turning my back on my family.
Because if anyone wants Evelyn, they’ll have to come through me first.

Evelyn

Dante Marcelli is everything I should fear. Cold. Controlled. Merciless.
The kind of man mothers warn their daughters about.
I should hate him. For what he’s done. For everything he represents.
Instead, I see the cracks beneath the monster. The man fighting a war inside himself.
Every touch pulls me deeper into his darkness. Every kiss makes leaving impossible.
Because falling for a mafia king is far more dangerous than being hunted by one.

Vow of Fire is the explosive first novel in the Blood & Vows series. A dark mafia romance featuring a morally gray hero, a fearless heroine, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, forbidden love, found family, obsessive devotion, sizzling chemistry, shocking twists, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Perfect for readers who love:

• Mafia Romance
• Morally Gray Hero
• Enemies to Lovers
• Touch Her and Die
• Forced Proximity
• Possessive Hero

My Thoughts: what a book to start on after a break from reviewing!! – I’m not sure I’ll be able to put my thoughts into words in a way that will do this book justice but I will give it a go.

This book really was the perfect dark romance, in real life someone like Dante would scare the life out of me, but in this book I just adored him.

I should’ve hated him, his anger his brashness, his ability to find his way into Evelyn’s home, absolutely terrifying. But my word there was just something about him.

You just knew that he always got what he wanted & let’s just say he had Evelyn in his sight.

Evelyn was a force to be reckoned with, she has dealt with a lot of shit in her life, but she was determined and not afraid to speak her mind, I loved her right from the off, the way she stood up to Dante even when he had a gun to her head had me internally high fiving her, whilst also shaking my head at her when she melted like an ice pop for him too 🤣

Put the 2 together and you had the ultimate power couple who shouldn’t work, but they really did!

This book just had something about it, it was just impossible to put down. At one point it gave me so much anxiety that I had to put it down because my heart was beating so fast & I honestly just needed to remind myself how to breathe and pull myself together.

405 pages wasn’t enough, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Dante or Evelyn, but I can’t wait for the next book to meet another member of the Marcelli family.

This is the first book I’ve read by Gemma but she has already cemented herself as an autobuy author for me!

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Today I am on the tour for Ghost Notes by Doug Johnstone, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 303

Synopsis:

A heart attack at a funeral, blackmail, murder, grief bots, affairs, the power of music and ghosts of every kind, who threaten the Skelfs’ very existence. The Skelfs are back in another gripping, heartfelt and irresistible mystery.

The Skelf women have been keeping their heads down, running the family’s funeral directors and private investigation businesses. But when a woman collapses at her husband’s funeral and is saved by Dorothy, she finds herself drawn into the murky world of ‘grief tech’ – a booming new industry that creates digital avatars of the dead.

Jenny’s latest case – a simple blackmail job for an old school friend – quickly spirals into chaos as the woman’s tangled love life pulls Jenny towards dangerous old habits.

Meanwhile, Hannah and her wife, Indy, are confronted by the unexpected arrival of Indy’s ex-boyfriend, claiming to be dying and eager for the Skelfs to arrange his funeral. But his arrival uncovers more ghosts from the past, and threatens to upend everything they’ve built.

As their cases collide and their personal lives spiral, the Skelfs face danger from all sides. How far will they go to protect one another, and what will it cost to finally silence the ghosts?

Warm, tense and full of heart, Ghost Notes is another masterful instalment in Doug Johnstone’s award-winning, addictive Skelfs series, and the stakes are higher than ever…

About the Author:

Doug Johnstone is the author of eighteen novels, many of which have been bestsellers. The Space Between Us was chosen for BBC Two’s Between the Covers, while Black Hearts was shortlisted for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, The Big Chill longlisted for the same prize. Four of his books have been shortlisted or longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Doug has taught creative writing or been writer in residence at universities, schools, writing retreats, festivals, prisons and a funeral directors. He’s also been an arts journalist for twenty-five years. He is a songwriter and musician with ten albums released, and drummer for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club.

Please bear in mind that this is the latest book in a well established series, I highly recommend starting from the beginning with A Dark Matter.

Ghost Notes will be released on the 13th August and can be bought here!

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Today I am on the tour for The Deadly Mooring by Michael K Foster, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part.

Pages: 333

Synopsis: The deeper you dig, the deadlier the game … 
Deciding to put his past behind him, DCI Jack Mason is finding it difficult to conceal a secret from his partner. Sent to investigate a Tyne River cruiser fire, emergency services have unearthed charred remains. While authorities suspect arson, Mason holds a different view.

Caught in a web of deceit and brutal homicide, the one person who can help this seasoned detective lies gravely ill in hospital. Going it alone won’t be easy. This cunning predator, a master of disguise, has a long history of targeting law enforcement.

Will Mason trust his own instincts? And what secrets do people take to the grave?

Lives are at stake, and time is fast running out.

About The Author:

Michael K Foster has been writing bestseller crime thrillers since 2006, all of them based in and around the North East of England. His bestselling debut novel, ‘The Wharf Butcher,’ was released in 2015 and offers a unique insight into this rugged landscape. Since then, he has written five more full-length novels featuring the hard-hitting DCI Jack Mason and has garnished an army of loyal readers.

Michael was born in Plymouth, England. After ten years’ service in the British Army, he moved to Newcastle where he earned his master’s degree. A former Magistrate and lifelong fan of the mystery and crime thriller genres, he now lives in County Durham where he enjoys travelling, walking, and two Siamese cats.

Readers can find out more about Michael via his website: https://www.michaelkfoster.com or find him on Facebook.

If you like the sound of this it can be bought here! And is also available on Kindle Unlimited.

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Today I am on the tour for Selecting my Soulmate by E.Masson and Julie G. Henry, thank you to Hannah at Hygge Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part.

Pages: 147

Synopsis: She thought fairy tales were over, until love gave her a second chance…
Yet was it real this time, or just déjà vu?

Amber’s world collapsed the day Levi walked away, leaving her with nothing but broken dreams and a son who needed her to be strong.

Single mother. Two jobs. Zero time for fairy tales.

This wasn’t the life she’d planned.

She was supposed to be living her happily ever after, not struggling to pay rent while her ex-husband started over with someone new. Love was a luxury she couldn’t afford anymore. She’d learned the hard way that princes were just wolves in designer suits.

But destiny has a way of rewriting even the most broken chapters.

Then fate decided to test her resolve…

One collision with a stranger changes everything. Rian’s gentle touch awakens something she thought was dead forever. His warmth melts the ice around her heart, makes her remember what it feels like to be cherished instead of used.

But Amber doesn’t want gentle. She wants to stay safe.

Rian is anything but safe. Gorgeous, devoted, everything Levi pretended to be. When he looks at her like she’s worth fighting for, Amber feels dangerous emotions stirring. Hope. Trust. The terrifying possibility of love.

However, some families don’t play fair…

Just when Amber starts believing in second chances, Rian’s powerful dynasty decides she’s not worthy of their golden boy.

Now she’s caught between the man who’s healing her broken heart and a family with unlimited resources and zero conscience. They want Rian back, and they’ll destroy anyone standing in their way.

Including the single mother who dared to love their heir.

Meanwhile, James is still there. Still waiting. Still believing she deserves better than the scraps life keeps throwing her.

But some wars can’t be won with love alone. And Amber’s about to discover that fighting for happiness might cost her everything she’s worked to rebuild.

Some love is worth fighting for. But can Amber survive a war against people who have everything to lose and nothing to fear?

Will she risk it all for the love that saved her, or will she lose the only man who ever saw her true worth?

Will Amber risk her heart for love, or be destroyed by the merciless grip of wealth and power?

An unforgettable tale of sacrifice and desire, of second chances and shattered dreams, this is a sweeping romance that will break your heart, heal your soul, and remind you of the courage it takes to believe in love again.

About the Author: Hello lovely readers! Welcome to my corner of the literary world, where fiction comes alive in all its glory! I am E. Masson, a captivating romance author with my pen dipped in dreams and a heart full of romance, I set my readers on the path of unforgettable journeys through the depths of the human heart. From whirlwind romances to slow-burning love stories, each page of my books are infused with warmth and emotion, leaving readers yearning for more.

I have a talent for creating characters you’ll adore while feeling like old friends and settings that transport you to new worlds. I am here to sweep you off your feet with every word. So, get ready to rediscover the joy of falling in love with my enchanting romance novels. Welcome to the adventure!

If you like the sound of this it can be bought here!

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Today I am on the tour for The Novel Detective by Teresa Dovalpage, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part.

Pages: 280

Synopsis: A twisty, genre-bending metafictional mystery set in Cuba past and present about a writer returning to her long-lost hometown to seek the buried truth about two suspicious deaths at her Havana high school, perfect for fans of Chanel Cleeton and Jean Hanff Korelitz

2020: Teresa, a Cuban-born mystery writer now living in America, gets an unexpected call from her childhood best friend, Estrella, inviting her to Havana. Estrella is determined to get answers about a case that has haunted them both for decades: the purported dual suicides of a teacher and student at their high school. Though Teresa doesn’t quite understand why Estrella is taking the story so personally, she’s along for the ride—as she always wanted to write a novel about this case.

1980: Fourteen-year-old Teresita, bespectacled, awkward and mystery novel–obsessed, is “nosy, but not a tattletale.” She knows who’s been skimming off the top of the amphetamine stash in her mother’s pharmacy, which teacher keeps cyanide in his cabinet at school and that their classmate Yoyi is sleeping with their English teacher. Over the course of one fateful day, Teresita gets closer than ever to learning the “Truth of Life”—her catchall term for the intricacies of adult existence—even if it means coming face to face with death.

Drawing upon the tradition of Latin American magical realism and directly inspired by the author’s own childhood in Cuba and adult life in the United States, this resonant tale is at once personal and universal, full of nostalgia, candor and danger.

About the Author

Teresa Dovalpage was born in Havana, Cuba, and now lives in New Mexico, where she teaches at the college level. She holds a PhD in Hispanic Literature from the University of New Mexico.

She is the author of thirteen novels and four short story collections published in English and Spanish. Her Havana Mystery series, published by Soho Crime, has earned critical acclaim, including an NBC News selection among the year’s ten best books by and about Latinos, an Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense, and praise in The New York Times. Her latest novel, The Novel Detective, was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.

Her Spanish-language work has been published by Anagrama, Renacimiento, Egales, and other presses in Spain. 

A lifelong lover of books, languages, and travel, Teresa draws inspiration from the places she has called home. She lives in southeastern New Mexico, where she teaches, writes, and is always at work on her next novel.

If you like the sound of this book it can be bought here!

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Today I am on the tour for Kiss of The Raven Witch by Ines Gray, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part.

Pages: 394

Synopsis: Careful, Sunshine. You can only provoke a feline shifter so many times.”

Exiled and hunted by her coven, Breezy finds refuge with Nightshade Charters, an Australian witness protection program for shifters. When her grumpy copilot disappears, she breaks the one rule meant to keep her safe: Never return to your old life.

Haunted by his past, Cruz Alejo keeps everyone at arm’s length. But after being paired with Breezy, his brooding self-punishment begins to crumble. When he’s abducted and thrown into underground fighting pits, he’s forced to realize the truth. He’ll break through every wall for the one thing he must have before dying—Breezy’s kiss.

When Breezy’s rescue mission goes awry, she finds herself bound to the same warlock holding Cruz captive. Her only bargaining chip? A deadly quest tied to an ancient prophecy. Now tangled up with a shifter as dangerous as he is irresistible, Breezy must decide how far she’s willing to go to save Cruz, even if it means she must die.

About The Author

Ines Gray is an award-winning dark fantasy romance author who specializes in writing about fated mates and forbidden love. Drawing on twenty years in social work and law enforcement, she weaves gritty suspense into her stories of fallen angels, demons, shifters, witches, and other immortals who lurk in the shadows of our world. A fascination with reincarnation and mythology fuels her multicultural cast and the supernatural worlds she builds. When she’s not crafting high-stakes romance, Ines indulges in action and horror movies, travels with her husband, or answers to her rescue cat with cerebellar hypoplasia. Her mission? To write as many stories as possible about mystical humans and the immortals who shouldn’t love them.

If you like the sound of this it can be bought here! And is also available on Kindle Unlimited.

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Today I am on the tour for Meet The In-Laws by Emily Shiner, thank you to Sarah at Bookouture for organising it and inviting me to take part.

Pages: 343

Synopsis: They say you’re welcome in this family. They’re lying…

Gina Whitlock was never close to her parents. Standing on the porch of her childhood home with her new husband, Dr Owen Whitlock, Gina nervously adjusts his shirt before he tugs his arm away with a sharp look. This is the first time he’s meeting her family. Gina needs everything to go perfectly. More than her marriage is at stake. What happens this weekend could save her life…

But as her mother, Carol, welcomes them inside with a wide smile, Gina notices the newly renovated kitchen and expensive gold watch on her father’s wrist. Things her parents shouldn’t be able to afford. Oozing charm, Owen greets her mother with an unexpected familiarity that sends a chill down Gina’s spine.

Gina didn’t bring Owen here to play happy families. And she didn’t marry him for love. Gina wants revenge. But if her new husband is no stranger to his in-laws, is she more alone than she realized? And in more danger than ever?

About the Author: Emily lives in the mountains of North Carolina and loves hiking with her dogs–only when she’s not thinking up twisted tales, that is. She has tens of thousands of bees, a handful of chickens, and could definitely help you dispose of something vaguely adult-man-sized (but totally hasn’t, so don’t freak out).

If you like the sound of this it can be bought here!

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Today I am on the tour for She Stole My Baby by Jessica Huntley, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part.

Pages 277

Synopsis: I race to the nursery gates to pick up my baby daughter. I’m ten minutes late because I’ve been stuck at work.

The receptionist seems puzzled. ‘I think there’s been some confusion. Your daughter was picked up hours ago.’

‘By my childminder?’ I ask.

‘Uh . . . no, Ms Banks. By you.’

My whole world seems to collapse in an instant.

They show me the CCTV. The woman collecting my daughter looks just like me.

Except she’s not.

My worst nightmare has just begun. Someone stole my baby.

About the Author:

Jessica Huntley is an award-winning and best-selling psychological thriller author. She’s an ex-British soldier and Personal Trainer and has been writing almost non-stop for the past five years.

She is now the author of twenty-one books and is both self-published and traditionally published with Inkubator Books and Joffe Books. 

She writes books for thriller readers who like their stories dark and twisty with complex, yet memorable characters, who often suffer from relatable mental health disorders. 

When she isn’t writing, Jessica is either keeping fit, walking her dog or looking after her young son. 

Sign up to her email list to receive news about her upcoming book releases, get a first look at covers and some thriller recommendations. Visit her website where you’ll also be able to download a short story called “You Die … I Die”.

If you like the sound of this it can be bought here!

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