Today I am on the tour for A Body In London by Michael G. Katakis, thank you to Palamedes PR for inviting me to take part & providing me with a copy of the book.
Pages: 234
Synopsis: On September 31, 1948, a body is found near Borough Market. There are signs of foul play. During the autopsy, the coroner finds a note in the dead man’s pocket. ‘My dear Sir Thanatos; Shall we play? Yours, Makris.’ So begins a deadly cat and mouse game with an unseen killer who taunts the famous detective Sir Thanatos Boyd, never considering that his prey might be a far more brutal killer than himself.
My Thoughts: this one really surprised me, historical fiction isn’t a genre I reach for often, but I love a crime book and a mystery so I was sold.
I loved Thanatos as a character, at first I thought he was a bit brash and a bit standoffish, but as the book progresses you see different sides to him, you see the man who gives money to make strangers smile & the man who loves his friends even if it’s quietly.
A body turns up with a note for him, so he knows it’s personal and he knows it’s murder despite it looking anything but!
I found myself getting very attached to all the characters. I was so invested in the whole story, I’m pretty sure I wanted to know who Makris was more than the characters 😂
This may seem like a really silly thing to say but it kind of felt like a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Midsomer murders and I just loved it so much!
Very different to my normal reads but I’m glad I took a chance
Today I am on the tour for The Father of Shadow and Death by T.J. McKay, thank you to Hannah at Hygge Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part.
Pages: 238
Synopsis: Beneath the splendor of empires, there ever beats a poisoned heart.
In the city of Naemralda, a glorious capital of untold wealth and glamor, the people of Ceremai live in exile — content but loathed, and ever dreaming of the homeland they left behind. Only a scorned arbiter and failed priest, Braddock Tuzzein, knows the truth.
That the lands they seek, the lands their ancestors escaped at great cost, are home to a fallen god.
Hakaz, the Dark One, whose waking spirits nearly shattered Braddock’s mind with a single touch.
And now, the wolves of the fallen god are coming for them all.
A tale of grisly murders, monsters, and madness, The Father of Shadow and Death follows one man’s doomed quest to save his people — from the wrath of a vengeful god, and the traitors who hound his every step.
But woe to those who would break a man’s soul.
For the shame of the father begets wrath of the son.
Dar’shenna Cere Ma’z. “Glory to the children of wrath.”
About The Author:
Tim McKay is an author, editor, and part-time writing professor from Ottawa, Canada. A lifelong pursuer of meaning and joy through the written word — with a small helping of thrills and adventure on the side.
He has degrees in history and public policy, along with a diploma in professional writing, but likes nothing more than hiking in the woods, running along the Rideau Canal, and connecting with the people he loves.
Oh, and reading a good book.
If you’re interested in this book it can be bought here!It’s also available on Kindle+
Today I am on the tour for He Loves Me (Not) by Máire Zepf, thank you to Dave at The Write Reads Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 224
Synopsis: A chilling YA thriller told in verse about online romance, obsession and the dangers hiding behind a screen.
He made her feel seen. Then she vanished without a trace.
Daisy has always been quiet – the kind of girl who fades into the background. So when she meets a boy online who really sees her, she falls fast. He listens. He understands. He makes her feel special in a way no one at school ever has. Soon, Daisy’s world shrinks to a glowing screen. Her mum worries. Her best friend Erin is pushed aside. But Daisy doesn’t notice – she’s in love.
Then Daisy goes to meet him in real life. And she never comes back.
Left behind with guilt and unanswered questions, Erin is forced to confront the truth Daisy never saw. In a world where screens can lie and love can be faked, how can anyone know who to trust?
My Thoughts: this book made such an impact on me, I’ll be honest I didn’t read the whole synopsis before reading because I didn’t want to know anything, I literally only read the first sentence and was like “yep, this is for me”
Because of that I didn’t know where the story was going and I was so hooked in that I forgot through this, I was hoping for the best but expecting the worst!
It’s such an important story especially with the internet being such an integral part of life now, it’s so so easy to fall into the trap of thinking you know someone because you ‘know’ them online.
It took me back to my early teens where I was adding everyone on MySpace & MSN (really showing my age here) and never even had a second thought to what I was putting on the internet.
I’m not the target audience for this book at the age of 35, but in a way I feel like it made it so much more raw and real, because I truly understood the consequences of Daisy’s actions, I could see it unfolding but yet felt powerless to stop it (obviously).
Poetry isn’t normally my thing, but I loved it in this book, it was fast paced, kept you engaged and made the story flow really well.
I think He Loves Me (Not) should be a required read in secondary schools to really prepare and open everyone’s eyes.
Today I am on the tour for Codex Of The Gods by Murray Bailey, thank you for organising it, inviting me to take part and thank you for my copy.
Pages: 366
Synopsis: A murdered billionaire. A vanished relic. A conspiracy older than the pyramids
When Alex MacLure takes the job of curator of a private collection, little does he know that the billionaire owner has a mysterious stone. Or that things will rapidly spiral out of control. Competing parties want the stones and will do anything to obtain them. Special Agent Charlie Rebb is called upon to prove MacLure’s innocence as he is drawn into a web of murder, deceit and conspiracy. Does MacLure hold the key to exposing the stones’ power? If if he does, what will it mean for humanity?
My Thoughts: it’s no secret if you’ve been following my review for a while that I absolutely adore Murray’s writing and at this point it genuinely feels like this man can do no wrong when it comes to his story telling!
Codex of The Gods is the final book in the Egyptian Stones trilogy and my word does it go out with a bang! this time Alex is doing something a little different, he’s been invited to work on a private collection, all seems to be going well until the man who employed him ends up dead and they somehow have video evidence that Alex is the murderer.. the only problem being he wasn’t there even though the evidence says otherwise!
I really appreciated that this book was more mystery thriller heavy because as I’ve stated in my reviews of the previous books the whole Egyptology aspect normally goes straight over my head 🤣
All I know this time is that some very precious stone had been stolen and Alex stands to lose more than just his freedom if he can’t tell people where it is.
We again get to spend sometime with Charlie, she is a formidable woman and a force to be reckoned with, if she can’t prove Alex’s innocence then no one can!
I was on the edge of my seat trying to work out where the story would go. At times it all felt a little too real, especially with the use of AI. it’s really scary how easily things can be altered now.
This is definitely a book that will keep you guessing right until the end!
Today I am on the tour for The Christmas Clause by Sharon Ibbotson, 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: 361
Synopsis: Warning: This is not your average Christmas romance! 🎅🎄❄
Mrs Claus wants a divorce.
And she’s hired the one lawyer who doesn’t believe in Christmas.
Somer Henshaw believes in facts. Winning arguments. And never, ever losing her head.
Then a woman in vintage clothing sweeps into her London office and files for divorce — from Santa Claus.
Now Somer is in an ice palace at the top of the world, arguing the most impossible case in legal history. She’s facing judgemental elves. A reindeer custody claim. A prenup drafted by Abraham Lincoln. North Pole jurisdiction issues no court has ever ruled on. And tinsel . . . So much tinsel!
But the real problem is Reuben Winter.
Santa’s lawyer. Ruthless. Insufferable. Built like something the North Pole ordered specially for under her tree. And undefeated across a negotiating table.
Neither will back down.
But every argument leaves them standing a little closer. Every late-night discussion gets a little too heated. And somewhere between the candy-cane negotiation and the pumpkin-spiced hot chocolate scandal, they stop pretending the tension is about the case at all.
Somer Henshaw has never lost a case.
This Christmas, she might just lose her heart.
My Thoughts: now I just have to say that Sharon is fast becoming one of my favourite romance authors, I’ve read quite a few of her books and I know they’re always going to be a fun time, normally with laugh out loud moments too & this one was no different.
I loved Somer as a main character, she was very driven, she knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go out of her way to get it, she didn’t like to step on people’s toes to get there, she had morals but wasn’t shy about making things known.
Then there’s Reuben, all of the descriptions in this book made him seem hot headed, cold hearted and not afraid to destroy other people’s lives to get results, but right from the off I had a feeling there was more to him than that..
This book had a lot of whimsical aspects, I mean we’re literally following Santa and Mrs Clause, were introduced to head elves and the North Pole! – but looking under the surface there is more going on than just a jolly Christmas time.
I honestly struggled to put this one down. I wasn’t a fan of having to stop reading to go to work, I couldn’t wait to stop adulting so I could pick it back up.
We deal with a lot of serious topics in this book, my heart broke for every single one of the characters for different reasons, I’m not ashamed to admit that this made me cry & really made me think about short life can be, about how nothing is guaranteed so you need to hold on to anything that makes you happy and brings you joy even if other people don’t agree.
This might just be my favourite book of Sharon’s so far, it’s definitely the only one I haven’t rushed to finish because I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the characters.
Today Iamon the tour for The Witching House by John Everson, 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: 366
Synopsis: Angry and alone, Gianna tests urban legend and writes the name Madelyn in blood on the mirror of the Witching House. When the ghost actually answers, she gains an unexpected friend. But soon Gianna learns friendship isn’t what the dead girl wants the most. Madelyn wants revenge for her murder. Can Gianna stop her before half the town is dead?
My Thoughts: I don’t read a lot of horror because I’m always worried it’ll either feel too real or it’ll give me nightmares 😂 this one hit the nail on the head for feeling too real, but so far no nightmares.
We’re following Gianna, she feels both invisible and taken for granted within her family, they’ve just moved to a new area, she had no friends and her stepmum is pregnant so Gianna is expected to pick up the slack when it comes to housework and other errands.
So when she hears a story of the shell of a burnt out house behind her is haunted she can’t help but to check it out, she thinks the rumours are just a it of fun, so is equally fascinated and terrified when the ghost of Madelyn appears to her in the mirror!
Drawn in by the idea of friendship and someone having her back Gianna keeps going back, it all seems fun at first until people are getting hurt and others are dying, now she’s stuck and struggling to escape Madelyns clutches, she sees only one way out unless she can get some help.
This is so perfectly executed, short snappy chapters help to keep the action permanently at the front of your mind whilst also building tension and suspense.
The setting itself was eery and the descriptions in the book were so intricate that I found myself feeling like I was being watched and had me checking over my shoulder whilst reading.
There were parts of this book that had me holding my breath and feeling claustrophobic, an absolutely fantastic read, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up another horror book for a while.
Today I am on the tour for Fallowfield by Nicole Swengley, thank you to Anne at Random Things Touts for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 349
Synopsis: Fallowfield Hall: once an avant garde art college, now abandoned and decaying. To journalist Rowan Woodhouse it is the fabled backdrop to her parents’ 1970s love story. But is there more to Fallowfield – and her family – to uncover?
Seeking solace after the loss of her artist-teacher father, Rowan accepts a research project to interview college alumni, hoping this may reveal more about him – and her enigmatic mother who died tragically young.
But Rowan soon discovers that Fallowfield had a darker side than hedonistic student life and idyllic picnics on its famous daffodil lawns. Jealousies, betrayals and rivalries emerge when she learns of the mysterious death of one young woman and the unsolved disappearance of another.
As part and present become dangerously intertwined, how will the suspicions sparked by her investigations impact Rowan’s own troubled life?
My Thoughts: You can tell I don’t often fully read a synopsis because this book was a lot darker than I expected!
We’re following Rowan who has been approached by someone who works at the college her dad attended and then later worked at, to find some pieces for them to display, and then later asked to see if she can put something together with anecdotes from others.
Whilst searching her dad’s things she finds a newspaper article about a girl who went missing not long before they left the area.
She doesn’t really think anything of it until she starts trying to collect anecdotes and nobody wants to talk about Fallowfield, they believe the past should stay in the past.
So what starts as a way for Rowan to get to know her dad as more than just dad ends up her realising that everyone was keeping secrets from her for most of her life.
The dark and twisted undertones of this book really leave you feeling like the story could go in any direction, no one can really be trusted and you’re left wondering if digging into the past will become dangerous!
The writing style had a haunting feel to it that left me unable to stop reading, definitely recommend this one it drew me in from the beginning and didn’t let go until the very end.
Today I am on the tour for The Official Catchphrase Puzzle Book, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 192
Synopsis: Decode hundreds of familiar sayings and sharpen your mind with The Official Catchphrase Puzzle Book.
Based on the popular TV game show Catchphrase, this official puzzle book includes:
8 fun-packed rounds with over 200 official catchphrases introduced by Mr Chips
‘Say what you see’ puzzles where images and symbols reveal hidden sayings.
Hidden catchphrases to test your knowledge of classic phrases.
Super Catchphrase rounds for fast-thinking, competitive fun.
Full answers and score sheets at the end of the book.
Whether you dip in for a quick brain boost or settle in for a longer solve, there’s always a new phrase waiting to be discovered . . .
Think you know the phrase? Pick up your pencil and prove it.
My Thoughts: Now this is something that’s a little bit different for me, but as a lover of catchphrase and someone who tends to be pretty good at “saying what they see” I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity!
As soon as it arrived I dove straight in, I loved the way it was done as I was a bit dubious as to how we make a moving picture from a screen translate into a book, but I was honestly blown away by how well it worked!
I had loads of fun with family members seeing who could get the answer first! It really made us laugh and brought out the competitiveness that we don’t often see.
There’s different rounds and levels to dip in and out of, the perfect activity for you to wind down in your own with some chocolate and a cup of tea, or bring the family or a group of friends together, put the book between you, set a timer and see who wins!
Today I am on the tour for When The Sky Burns by Isla Lockwood, 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: 370
Synopsis:
Twelve perilous nights of Yule.
One ancient curse.
Two men who sought to contain her.
Until she became the weapon they feared.
The phoenixes are dying. The kingdom that worshipped them has fallen. When rebel spy Aliwen steals a sentient grimoire, she uncovers a truth the witches buried. The curse that destroyed the phoenixes was never meant to be broken.
But hidden within it is a single flaw.
Her.
On the run with the rebel leader who believes she holds the key to reclaim their kingdom — and hunted by an enemy Rider whose fire would destroy her with a single touch. Aliwen has the twelve nights of Yule to unravel the spell that reshaped kingdoms.
Or burn with it.
When the Sky Burns is a fast paced, action packed dark romantic fantasy with cursed phoenix riders, sentient books, ancient magic, dangerous secrets, and a slow-burn romance. Set over the twelve nights of Yule.
Perfect for fans of One Dark Window, Road of Bones and The Wolf King (but with no wolves!).
Tropes Christmas fantasy romance Cursed phoenix riders Yule reimagined Winter wonderland Touch = 💀 Sentient books Morally grey…everyone Slow-burn romance Forced proximity One horse Captor / captive Second-chance romance Countdown to catastrophe
My Thoughts: fast paced and full of adventure from the beginning. Aliwen is a spy, everything her people have worshipped is gone and she is determined to find a way to get it all back!
The book opens with death and sneaking around and that is really just a taste of what the rest of the book contains.
This book really reignited my love for fantasy, the world building was incredible it draws you in and consumes you entirely, I couldn’t help but feel that none of the characters were really trust worthy, but to me that added to the tension and the intrigue of the story.
I thought the element of Christmas or Yulemas was really cleverly done, it added almost like a whimsical feel whilst putting pressure on the whole thing because you know that by the time it gets to 12 days it’s all done one way or the other.
I found myself reading faster as we got closer to the end, almost feeling like if I didn’t I would run out of time myself 🤣
I was so immersed in the story that everything felt so real, the amount of times I gasped, closed the book in shock is unreal and don’t talk to me about that ending! – I need book 2 now, I need resolutions!
Today I am on the tour for Assassins Can’t Do It Alone by Shesh, Thank you to Hannah at Hygge Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for having me.
Pages: 284
Synopsis: He was once a CEO. He is now an assassin. He kills people who deserve to die. Ishmael Dollah is back!
He excels in his new role for exactly the reasons he excelled at the old one.
When a Singapore family tortures their domestic worker to death and looks certain to walk free, Ishmael adds a mother and her son to his list. Then he runs into the limit every founder runs into: the job is bigger than one man.
So he does what any competent leader would. He builds a team. Starting with the police inspector assigned to catch him.
Because even assassins can’t do it alone.
What follows is a lesson in delegation and control, taught by a man who knows that the most dangerous thing you can give someone is your trust.
The third novel in the Corporate Assassin Series. A dark thriller that is also, unnervingly, the best management book you will read this year.
Assassins Can’t Do It Alone follows Sixty Is the New Assassin and Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets, both of which have delighted readers across the world.
About The Author:
For many years, Shesh was an author in denial. He wrote stories and articles but shared them only with his family and close friends, and felt like an imposter doing so.
Two years ago, Radhika, his wife and muse, gave him an ultimatum. Publish or perish, she said.
Given that her kitchen was stocked with sharp implements and unlabelled bottles containing suspicious powders, Shesh began writing in earnest. When Earnest objected, Shesh moved to his laptop.
Sixty Is The New Assassin is the first of 12 novels – The CEO Assassin series. Featuring Ishmael Dollah, an unremarkable retired CEO, the series traces the evolution of a corporate honcho into a remorseless assassin. Set in Singapore, the ‘safest country in the world’, Ishmael’s targets find their misplaced complacence fatal. Ishmael Dollah finds that he is well suited to graduate into his new vocation. In his years as a CEO, he has learnt to be amoral, relentless and goal-focussed. The perfect qualities for someone who needs to take a life and then attend a cocktail reception.
Shesh is a voracious reader. He has always been irritated by protagonists ruled by angst or past tragedies. Ishmael has no such qualms. He is a happy, well adjusted assassin with no dark secrets. Ishmael loves his family, his country, and his life. Murder is just icing on the cake.
The second book in the series, “Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets” came out in January 2026, and the next in the series is slated for September 2026.
Shesh can be reached only if you have an assignment for Ishmael Dollah.
