Today I am on the tour for Ouija by Zoé-Lee O’Farrell, 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: 189
Synopsis: The only thing for certain is the deaths were no accident.
Rayner High School once a prestigious school stands in ruins after such a terrible event.
A year later, a group of friends return to the abandoned school and their nightmare begins.
Something wants to get out and won’t take NOfor an answer…
My Thoughts: this book had me in a chokehold, I devoured it in one sitting I just couldn’t put it down.
It starts with action and just doesn’t let up, I’ll be honest I did immersion reading for this as I already had the kindle version and requested an audio copy.
It meant I was fully in the story, it made it feel so real & almost like I had no escape.. I’ll be honest though the narrators voice was weirdly relaxing which lulled me into a false sense of security, so the hard hitting parts made me squeal and jump out of my skin.
Horror isn’t really a genre I reach for very often but this one was utterly terrifying in the best way possible & makes me want to read more.
I cannot wait to see what Zoé comes out with next.
Today I am on the tour for The First by Frances Fleur, 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 my copy.
Pages: 189
Synopsis: Turning eighteen sucked! I had to return home to England from the UAE because Dad lost his job; great!
So, I did what any newly turned eighteen-year-old with ID does. I went to the pub. Little did I know, I would meet the most gorgeous man there, and share the most panty-wetting kiss with his perfect god-like face.
He was what all my wet dreams were made of.
But the sexy man, with the perfect tongue that was rammed down my throat, turned out to be my new flipping A-level music teacher – insert, dig a hole and drown myself in it.
So, what do I do now? Do I go all up in his face and lick him a little bit more, or do I pretend it never happened? Decisions, decisions!
P.S. Did I mention he has an accent? I’m always a sucker for an accent!
My Thoughts: if you’ve been here a while you’ll know I started this series a while ago.. but now I’m here with a review of book one.
It’s fairly short but wow it packs a punch.
I love a taboo romance when it’s approached correctly and Frances did this one so well.
We’re following Cora, just turned 18 and had to move back home after her dad lost his job, she goes for a few drinks to drown her sorrows and meets Zach..
What follows is fun, flirty, sexy & should be wrong but weirdly feels so right! 🫣
It had me hooked, I devoured the whole thing in one sitting & weirdly left me wanting/needing more whilst also being happy with how it ended which makes absolutely no sense!
Today I am here to help Bella Ellwood Clayton celebrate the cover reveal of her new book… The Swimming Group, but before I show you it let me tell you a bit about the book and the author!
Synopsis: Can cold water heal broken hearts?
12 months. 162 cold water swims. 1 missing woman.
We call ourselves the Tragic Wives’ Swimming Group, well, because . . . we’ve all had something bad happen to us.
The man I thought I was going to marry did the unspeakable with a cute young florist. Not long after, my sister drowned on a family trip. Now I’m at my ex’s beach house in Cape Cod, hoping to get past my heartache and figure out what to do next with my life.
Three mornings a week our swimming group meet at sunrise and plunge into the ice-cold depths of the Atlantic.
But then we find out that Rachael, the one who’s always late, has written a tell-all book exposing our darkest secrets. Word spreads that she’s uncovered something so juicy — so twisty and unexpected — the book will be a bestseller.
A few days later, Rachael disappears . . . leaving just a pile of clothes on the sand.
A SEXY BLEND OF TENSION AND SUSPENSE WITH AN ENDING YOU WON’T SEE COMING.
About The Author:
Dr. Bella Ellwood-Clayton holds a BA from Concordia University in Montréal and a PhD from the University of Melbourne in sexual anthropology. Her debut novel, Weekend Friends (Post Hill Press/Simon & Schuster, 2023), was hailed as “unputdownable” by bestselling author Nicola Moriarty. She is also the author of a nonfiction book, Sex Drive: In Pursuit of Female Desire (Allen & Unwin, 2012). Her short stories, poetry, and articles have appeared in Huffington Post and Daily Life, and she has been featured in a National Geographic documentary and given a TEDx talk. Married to an Aussie, she lives in Melbourne with her two spirited—eek—teens and a mini Maltese who’s convinced he’s a pit bull. When not on her laptop, you can find her downward dogging, coaxing her offspring to go outside, and randomly blurting out, “Oh, that’s a good story idea.”
Now for the cover..
If you like the sound of this it can be preordered here! It will be released on the 22nd April!
Make sure you come back to me on the 23rd April to read my review!
Today I am helping to promote You Know The Drill by Dr Bill on publication day! – thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 269
Synopsis: Welcome to my life. The life of a reluctant dentist. This book charts the course of a nervous student dealing with people from all walks of life, from exploding angry abscesses to exploding angry people, both in and out of the chair. When I was a wet-behind-the-ears school sixth former, it seemed like a really good idea to go to university and study the teeth, gums and mouth. I’m still trying to work out why I thought that was a good idea.
The definition of a dentist mentions competencies in biomedical knowledge, surgical dexterity, and critical thinking. What it fails to include is being an unpaid therapist, getting splattered in pus, coaxing nutters out from under the dental chair, having the police storm your surgery, and dealing with patients who think a crown is something you put on your head, then try and sue you when you say otherwise.
Written as a form of therapy – to offload on paper – this book gives a frank account of life both in and out of the surgery. So, take a seat in the waiting room and I’ll see you shortly in Chapter One…
My Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book, it made me laugh, it made me cringe, it made me hide behind my hands! But I tell you what… I absolutely couldn’t put it down.
It’s made me look at dentists completely differently & almost reevaluate myself as a patient, I am one of those annoying people who is terrified and even more annoyingly one of the ones who gets vertigo when laid flat 🤣 although I’ve never complained I just make them aware.. I’m laughing as I’m writing this but I’m absolutely mortified and feel like I should apologise to my dentist!
I think sometimes people forget that people that work with the general public have feelings too and this book really was an eye opener, he helps us to see the things that happen behind closed doors, the games they play between colleagues, the real feelings they get depending on various situations & the absolutely horrendous things that they have to deal with.
Parts of this book was so open and honest that I’m not ashamed to admit that it made me tear up, I wanted to jump into my kindle and give those involved a big hug.
I really enjoyed this one and will be recommending it to my friends who enjoy non fiction.
Today I am on the tour for Heir Of The Beast by F.R. Black, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and invite me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 389
Synopsis: “All you must do is sign on the dotted line, and all your romantic dreams will come true,” the Fairy Godmother says with a twinkle in her eye.
This is what happens when you do not read the fine print in a very detailed contract. You miss all the things that are immediate deal breakers.
Viola, a proud resident of New Orleans, lives on the top floor of an old Victorian mansion on a very normal street. But normal is no longer a word she can use to describe her life since signing the official contract of Fairy Godmother Inc. They forgot to tell her that she would be competing against other women in a very dangerous game. A game where she would be thrust into an alien world for the mere hope of catching the dashing Prince’s heart.
And let me say this: this prince is one hot alpha male with a serious attitude problem. We do not get along, save for the fact that he can turn my insides to mush with one look. But the silver lining here is that you can have a happily-ever-after if you survive. You can’t fall in love if you’re dead. It tends to spoil the romance.
My Thoughts: every now and again you read a book that has everything you’re craving, it’ll draw you in and it’ll get its hooks in you and have you so invested that you just can’t put it down. Heir Of The Beast was that book for me. I absolutely adored it and cannot wait to continue with the series when I get chance.
It’s fairytale retelling with a twist, it’s dark at times, it’s funny, it’s sexy & just absolutely incredible.
The characters were brilliant, I loved Viola and Laura, the idea of them being each others competition didn’t really sit right with me so I was glad when the story took a turn and changed that.
I’m not sure anything I can say in this review will give the story justice, just know it had me feeling real emotions, I laughed, I cried, I laughed again. I squealed with excitement.
It’s not often I’m speechless when I’m trying to write a book review, but please just pick this one up. I promise you won’t be disappointed and you might just find yourself a new binge worthy series!
Today I am on the tour for Crown of Hearts by Leané Giliomee, 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: 323
Synopsis: War could take what it wanted from me, but it could not take him.
A young queen raised as a commoner and forged by rebellion enters a dangerous dance of burning desire, court politics and survival in the face of war.
In a kingdom torn by rebellion and betrayal, Elara must navigate a court filled with deceit, assassination attempts and dangerous alliances.
With enemies closing in on every side and the threat of war looming on the horizon, she knows making a risky bargain with King Cai of Norrandale is her only chance to survive. Even though she knows he’s not to be trusted.
But is she willing to risk her heart to ensure the fate of the kingdom and save everything she holds dear?
My Thoughts: I loved being back in this world, Elara and Cai have my heart, individually they are strong characters who know that they want but put them together they are a force to be reckoned with..
The constant will they/ won’t they slow burn romance had me on the edge of my seat and almost shouting at my book for them to just get on with it 🤣
It was just about the romance though, we follow Lara whilst she comes to terms with now being Queen, whilst also trying to wrap her head around the fact that a lot of people feel she doesn’t deserve the title. (A feeling she also shares but they don’t need to know that, right?
Cai is also trying to work out what’s best for his kingdom.. can they both make it work before it’s too late?
I was thoroughly drawn into the book and really struggled to put it down! I have a feeling that book 3 is going to be where all the action happens though and I personally can’t wait for it.
Today I am on the tour for Stardust by Hope C. Tarr, thank you to Hannah at Hygge Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 454
Synopsis: 1938, Paris.
War is looming and 18-year-old Daisy Blakely arrives in Paris as apprentice to the renowned fashion designer Coco Chanel. Enchanted by the beauty and glamour of the City of Light, Daisy’s life is a whirlwind of couture and culture. And when she meets charming and enigmatic Jean-Claude Jacob, a Jewish doctor, an instant connection cements Daisy’s happiness.
Everything changes when the Germans march into the city. Daisy and Jean-Claude join the resistance. But her world comes crashing down when Jean-Claude is taken by the Gestapo. Learning to live with her loss, Daisy’s life becomes one of secrets and danger as she works tirelessly to undermine the Nazi regime.
The arrival of German soldier Fritz causes Daisy to question everything she thought she knew about life, and love, as she’s drawn to a man tied to the enemy she has vowed to defeat. But Fritz may not be all that he seems . . .
At a time when the world is torn apart by secrets and betrayal, how will Daisy know who to trust? More importantly, how will she know who to love . . .
My Thoughts: stardust was a beautiful story that had me engrossed the whole time which is impressive for a historical fiction as it’s not a genre I reach for often.
We’re following Daisy, who is taken to Paris by her grandmother for an 18th birthday present, what Daisy doesn’t know is that Rose has an ulterior motive and has secured her an apprenticeship with Coco Chanel!
Daisy soon realises that although it’s only supposed to be for a few months that Paris is where she belongs – an opinion that doesn’t change once the war starts and Daisy finds ways to help!
After falling for a doctor at The American (a hospital she volunteers at) she finds out there is a whole underbelly that is helping the people that the Germans are trying to get rid of.
The story is heartbreaking and honest yet oddly positive and uplifting too! – had me feeling real emotions. I guess because although it was fiction you know it was someone’s reality.
Daisy and everything she went through will stay with me for a long time.
Today I am on the tour for Don’t Make Me Laugh by Julia Raeside, thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 333
Synopsis: Don’t Make Me Laugh balances anger and humour with the deftest of touches. It is a story about power and control and manipulation, about gendered roles in both the workplace and our personal lives, and about how women are set up in competition with each other. And ultimately – satisfyingly – it’s a story about fighting back.
My Thoughts: what an important book this was, I went in expecting a light hearted book with added humour that was easy to get lost in and to start with that’s what I got, I was drawn into Ali’s world whilst the tried to find herself a cohost for a new radio show.
the one she was tasked to enroll isn’t as nice as she was led to believe as she has people whispering in her ear that he has a reputation for making girls feel uncomfortable! – she then finds Ed, and has an instant connection with him, he’s the one she wants for the job, but can she find away to convince her boss that it was his idea?
Before we know it the story gets darker, but in a way so subtle that you almost don’t notice it until you’re right in the thick of it and wanting to help the ones involved get the justice they deserved and help them get their stories out there.
I really feel that this book will stir up a lot of conversations, conversations that need to be had, it shows the underbelly of the entertainment industry whilst also showing the importance of friendship and sticking together.
Today I am on the tour for Delectable Sins by Shauna Richmond, 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 my copy.
Pages: 38
Synopsis: They call me many things—murderer, mob boss, monster. I prefer to think of myself as a necessary evil.
Katie and I recently returned from Hawaii, sun-kissed and newly united by vows exchanged on a secluded beach. Romantic, isn’t it? Too bad the homecoming is less honeymoon, more courtroom circus. They want me to answer for David Walsh’s murder—and the others. Those men who thought taking Katie from me was a good idea.
Moore believes the tail he put on me will keep me in check, keep me from slipping back into the shadows to do what I do best. He’s wrong. You can’t catch a killer who doesn’t want to be caught.
Let them try, let them build their case, let them pin their hopes on rules and reason. They’ll all learn the same hard lesson soon enough: I’m AJ Quinn. And I don’t play by their rules—I write my own.
My Thoughts: firstly can we all just take a moment to appreciate how beautiful this cover is?! – draws you straight in! it’s subtle yet eye catching and perfect for the book.
Secondly oh it was nice to be back in the world of AJ Quinn, this one picks up pretty much from where book 1 left off, AJ and Katie are in court on murder charges & although you know the way it’s going to go because it’s the start of the book, it’s not all black and white and was very cleverly done.
The book is just as graphic and gory as you expect but with a bit of tongue in cheek humour with it which makes you forget that actually what you’re reading is actually someone being murdered or tortured 🤣
I live for the banter in Shauna’s writing AJ and Katie have it & we also got a snippet of Raven and Ciara’s in here to set us up for the next book!
It’s hard to put into words just why and how much I adored this book, the representation of certain conditions is on point, which as a disabled person, although I don’t have the same as said character in the book it warms my heart to see it.
It’s not all blood and guts, there’s a lot of spice/smut whatever you want to call it and it is perfect, which almost feels weird to say, but I’ve said it now so…
Shauna’s writing is so descriptive and so immersive that you almost feel like you’re right in the middle of the action & experiencing it for yourself in fact at one point I had to put the book down and take my anti dizziness meds because Shauna had set my vertigo off 🫣 now if that’s not a sign of a fantastic author then I don’t know what is!
Today I am on the tour for The Outsider by C.R. Howell and I have a spotlight for you, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part.
Pages: 295
Synopsis: A passionate affair. A marriage in crisis. A painful family secret.
Megan’s marriage is hanging on a knife-edge. The remote Welsh farm she loved so much when she and Noah were newlyweds has become a millstone around their necks. After thirteen years, Megan still feels like an outsider. People round here look at her strangely. They make it clear she doesn’t belong.
It’s not only lack of money that’s threatening Megan’s relationship. After three failed rounds of IVF, her longing for a child is all-consuming.
It’s then she meets Gethin, an intense, complicated young man almost twenty years her junior.
Against her better judgement, Megan embarks on a passionate affair. But this unhappy farmer’s wife is unleashing forces she cannot control.
Because there are secrets in her husband’s family. Unwittingly, Megan has unearthed long-buried tensions that lurk within this isolated, fiercely proud community. The dark past is about to come to light. And there’s far more than Megan’s marriage at stake . . .
About the Author:
C.R. Howell is a writer of psychological women’s fiction, exploring themes such as motherhood, family, trauma and abuse. Her first novel, The Woman in My Home, was published by Joffe Books in 2024. She is completing an MLitt on women’s lament in the poetic tradition and lives in northwest Wales with her partner, three children and two dogs.
If you like the sound of this it can be bought here! and is also available on KU.
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