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Today I’m on the tour for Fly by Jacob Moore, 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: 281

Synopsis Will, is a normal 12 year old boy. He dislikes school, doesn’t get good grades, thinks about girls, and dreams of escaping his ordinary life by flying away. He is totally unremarkable until he discovers he has special powers which he cannot control and does not yet understand.

With the guidance of his principal, who recognizes his gift, he joins three other ‘special’ classmates on a magical journey to a fantasy world. This strange, unique place is extraordinary in every way. Reality and time are fluid and can change at any moment, space can be warped and manipulated in the blink of an eye, and the four young adults begin to learn how to control their powers for good. When they are confronted with an evil more powerful than they can imagine, three of the classmates are sucked in and cannot escape, and Will and his powers alone can save them.

In order to do so, he must first learn to control his powers as he grows from a child into an adult. Until he can harness his unique abilities in this magical world, he cannot properly function in any reality and the evil only grows stronger. The fate of his three classmates depends on whether he can let go of his childhood in time.The first book in a series from debut author Jacob Moore, FLY is a coming of age fantasy built on real life values and experiences. It is appropriate for teens 12 and up, and also designed to be appealing for adults and parents. The adventures of Will and his friends are a thrilling, fun, and educational way to encourage kids to read, or for adults to enjoy a good story. FLY successfully manages to transcend age as it develops the concepts of self-belief and self-control, mindfulness, and the hardships of growing up.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: sometimes I struggle to review books that are aimed towards the younger end of YA because at the age of 31 I know I am definitely not the intended audience, so was I a little dubious about going into this one? absolutely!

I thoroughly enjoyed this, I am however struggling to get my thoughts into words because it was just so magical. We’re following Will who always just seems to be lost in his own little world, always thinking a lot more than he should or at least that’s what his dad tells him.. he should be present more.

He’s not the smartest kid in school, he struggles academically but none of that matters once he discovers he can move things with his mind… or is he imagining it?

I loved the messages in this book.. that being different isn’t always a bad thing. This one in particular is one I would’ve benefitted from in school ❤️

That the people who seem to have your best interests at heart don’t always mean well.

That you can’t change the past no matter how much you try.

And to always believe in your dreams.

Sometimes you read a book and it just resonates with you and will stay with you for a long time.. Fly is one of those for me & I can’t wait to pass it on to the older children in my life.

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Today I’m on the book tour for Stone Ruins and City Smoke by Charlie Martin, 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.

Firstly I have to be honest and admit that I haven’t actually finished the book yet. joys of a chronic illness I fell asleep after work 🤦🏻‍♀️ it will be finished tonight and I’ll come back tomorrow and finish my review but I didn’t want to miss my stop and I’m over 60% of the way through so here are my thoughts so far.

Pages: 331

Synopsis: Recovering agoraphobic, Tom Maynard, runs a converted Cornish tin mine in Sennen Cove as a rural retreat for the rich and famous. Melanie Taylor runs a successful London hotel, and wants to buy shares in the property he developed in his late wife’s memory, but he refuses her offer.

Sensing a connection between the pair, his daughter, Amy, sets them up on a blind date. But while together in London, during a storm, Amy goes missing. As they battle the elements to save her, they must decide if the distance between them is also worth fighting.

My Thoughts: i instantly had a soft spot for Tom, you could tell he was uncomfortable at the awards ceremony and I just wanted to give him a cuddle. Kelly is just like the best friend that everyone wants, she pushes Tom out of his comfort zone whilst also being there todistract him and make him laugh when things get a little too much.

I didn’t like Mel, she was rude standoffish and I just got the feeling that she thought she was better than everyone else.

And that didn’t change for a while, she was sent to Toms hotel on the pretence of a business deal, little did she know that her dad had an ulterior motive.. can she fall in love with somewhere that isn’t London whilst also softening her heart that seems to be made of stone?!

We soon find out that there is a very sad undertone to both Tom and Mel’s personalities and we’re just getting to the point now where they’re starting to relax and open up.. for those that have read the book Marcus has just turned up at the hotel and shit has hit the fan 😂😂

I’m absolutely loving this story so far, I’m so invested but have a feeling this isn’t going to be the straight forward love story we’re all used to and that the best is still yet to come!

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Today I’m on the blog tour for The Children of Pisces by R E Lewin, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part.

I have an extract for you today but first let me tell you about the book!

Synopsis: At that moment, the seeker hurtled towards them at great speed.

‘Run!’ Mikie shouted.

It’s 2070 and our post-apocalyptic world is different. Aliens secretly invaded with a lethal biological weapon. A terrifying virus annihilated almost every living creature in its path. People still believe it was a natural virus, oblivious to aliens and the truth. Humanity’s survival is in the hands of the alliance, a team of humans and aliens who stand against the evil arch-enemy alien leader. Orphaned children are raised in army-style schools. But from this barren wasteland, a few shall rise…

Tammy and Mikie are half-human and half-alien siblings, with immense metaphysical powers and a crystal weapon. Their powers are extraordinary alone, but together they are unstoppable. At twelve, these two are already too powerful to ignore. Can Mikie overcome his inner conflict? Will his compulsion to protect put those closest to him in even more danger? Can Tammy rise above her animal instincts and maintain her humanity? This adventure will take them across the world and maybe into the stars beyond. They must reunite their family and decide where their loyalties lie. The seekers are coming…

About the Author: Rachael has loved writing since she finished her first book at age thirteen. Since then she has broadened her experiences by becoming a project manager, energy healer and helping animals with applied zoopharmacognosy, as well as helping nurture creativity in others, including her twins, who are the primary age group for this, her debut.

Extract:Prologue

A Mother’s Protection

Winter 2058, South West England
The creature threw back its head as a long howl bellowed through the forest, sending waves of terror through Sarah. It was giving a new set of orders to the rest of the pack. Sarah’s legs buckled and she plunged headfirst to the forest floor. She raised her head, spitting leaves and gasping for breath as she looked behind her. The fear made her want to vomit.
‘Get up, Sarah! Get up!’ she told herself.
She’d been on the run for two days and they were very close behind her. Could she outstrip them? Grabbing a tree for support, she hauled herself to her feet, looking around desperately as she caught her breath. She must find somewhere to hide, and hiding from them would not be easy. She felt movement and placed her trembling hand over her huge stomach. She must protect her babies.
Grunting with determination, she left the support of the tree and stumbled deeper into the forest, desperately searching as she passed. Then she saw it – so small and hidden she almost missed it – behind a huge and ancient tree was a shallow hole, almost concealed by undergrowth. It was just big enough for her to hide in. She ran past the area, doubled back, and retraced her steps a few times, expertly covering her tracks.
She eased off her rucksack and reached inside. Where was that fire blanket she had taken? It might not look much and was very small, yet it had many special qualities. Would it be soundproof? Would it prevent them and their machines from hearing her or her unborn children? She hoped so. She snuggled into position, wrapped the blanket around her and dragged leaves and twigs over the blanket, ensuring the undergrowth covered her completely. Only a small fraction of her face remained uncovered, which she smeared with soil and spit to make a mud mask. With sheer willpower, she slowed her breathing down, placed a reassuring hand on her stomach and waited.
The first two appeared from within the trees so suddenly that Sarah jumped with surprise at not having heard them. She had excellent hearing – they were super silent. They were dressed all in black, just like ninjas, and could have passed for humans except for their large eyes, far more menacing than any human ones. They were black and looked as if they had been plucked from the eye sockets of a seal before being placed into the head of a ghost: bulging and shimmering in the pale grey skin like a dark nightmare whenever the light caught them. Her heart raced and she again felt the sickness rising within her. She heard the footsteps of the others. There were about twenty of them now, scanning the environment for any traces of her existence as they moved through the forest.
They came to a halt a few yards from where Sarah was hiding, looking and listening intently, trying to sense her presence. One was holding a small glowing machine in his hand. This was the machine they used to sense the unborns – her babies. They moved back and forth, the machine’s colours changing as they went.
And they moved closer to Sarah.

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

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Today I’m on the blog tour for You Only Live Thrice by Karl Perry, 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: 322

Synopsis: Sometimes, the Universe goes out of its way, to invite the opportunity of not just a second, but a third incarnation of life.You Only Live Thrice is a sometimes comic, but brutally honest account of surviving cardiac arrest at home, embracing the chance for a second life, struggling to get balance in that second life, only to be forced to close a well-established event business, due to Covid-19.You’ll be taken on the rollercoaster journey of diagnosis, resuscitation and recovery, to considering parallel Universes, the administration processes of an afterlife, how to survive experimentation by oversized insects, dealing with a parent’s death and managing the mixed emotions attached to a business closure.Ultimately, learning to appreciate that not knowing what to do next, can be a wonderful opportunity. Uplifting, frank and irreverent, this isn’t a self-help book. But in testing times, it can help to realise that your own perspective on life, is sometimes your greatest Superpower.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this book 🥺 I thought to myself when I picked it up on Friday after work “it’s only just over 300 pages I can get that finished tonight” boy was I wrong.

It’s a very honest, hard hitting emotional book that I found myself having to put it down and step away more than once.

Don’t get me wrong, the overall message of the book is positive but it doesn’t shy away from any of the details and the chapter told from Karinas perspective about the CPR had tears streaming down my face so much that the pages became very blurry so that one took a while to read 😂

There were some very funny moments in here too, the bit about the other leg having to be scanned made me actually laugh out loud & again a second time when it was mentioned later in the book.. if Karl learnt anything from his experience it’s that when you go into hospital for the most part the word dignity doesn’t exist!

Thank you Karl for putting your experience into writing and allowing us all to share it, the awareness you’ll raise with this is incredible.

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Today I’m helping to close the book tour for The Perfect Family by Lorna Douneva, 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: 313

Synopsis: They seem like the perfect family. Until you discover their secret.

For Victoria, image is everything. And on the surface, she has it all – a big house, a successful husband and two beautiful children.

But behind the scenes, things are very different. Because Victoria and her husband have a dark secret and she lives in terror of it being discovered, of her perfect facade being shattered forever.

Under massive stress, but still desperately trying to keep up appearances, this is a family that is falling apart.
Husband Kit is unable to work. Teenage daughter Anna grows ever more rebellious. And nine-year-old Joey seems increasingly different from other kids.

Victoria realises she has to act now or she will lose everything. And that’s when she has to ask herself – how far is she willing to go, how much is she willing to do, to preserve her perfect family?

The answer is beyond shocking and will plunge them all into a nightmare from which they may never wake.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I love a psychological thriller to pull me in from the first chapter and this one definitely did that!! – I felt uneasy and wanting to jump inside the book to help right from the beginning. The truth is it happens isn’t fiction.. it happens all the time & that made it all more shocking.

After the intense first chapter the book slows down a lot, but in a very fitting, eerie way that you don’t realise to begin with, but before you know it you’re pulled in and wanting to know where it’s going to take you next!

We’re following Victoria, wife to Kit and mum to Anna and Joey.. they’re living the perfect life. Or at least that’s what Victoria wants you to believe, and you do to begin with.. Kit has a high flying job, Anna is doing A level Latin at the age of 14 and Joey? He’s quiet but he’s gifted.

It’s not long until the cracks start to appear though and you being to see you the facade that Victoria has so expertly created, they’re all keeping secrets.. some bigger than others but that can’t be kept forever…

I thought this was bloody brilliant. The writing seemed effortless, I didn’t see any of the twists coming but every time I thought that was it another one got thrown in.

As someone with a family member with autism I thought the representation in this book was as spot on. At certain points within the book I just wanted to shake Victoria whilst also wanting to protect Joey at the same time.

Cannot recommend this book enough if you like your thrillers more character based and slow burn. I will definitely be looking out for Lorna’s next book in the future.

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Today I’m on the blog tour for Guilty Women by Melanie Blake, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 416

Synopsis: Can they get away with murder?

On a beautiful island off the English coast, four TV actresses gather.
Their fifth member is missing – and only they know why she was killed.
As the secret between them threatens to come out, tensions on set run high.
The women are determined that the show must go on – no matter what it costs.
But one of them is on the edge of telling the truth – and no show in the world could survive this scandal…

All of the women have something to hide – but the question is, are they all guilty?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed being back with all these ladies, after the ending of the first book I was left wanting more and this provided exactly that!

I didn’t find the story lines as gripping, but I almost feel like a slightly tamer approach was needed!

Everyone at Falcon Bay is coming to terms with the death of one of their lead stars but unexpected and horrific as it was their a tv show & as they say ‘the show must go on.” But can they bring it back after what happened at Christmas? – the live show got all the views they wanted but not necessarily for the right reasons!

All of these women are guilty of something and they all have their secrets and as we all know secrets never stay buried for long!

There was so much action in this book, another person dead, an unexpected pregnancy, old faces returning where they’re not wanted.. just when you think that’s it something else happens!

Lots of humour, lots of steam and spice.. just the way we like it 😂😏

I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as the first book, but it definitely filled the Melanie Blake shaped hole I had been left with, a book I would highly recommend 🙂

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Today I’m on the blog tour for Twelve Days In May by Niamh Hargan, 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: 400

Synopsis: Lizzy Munro is working at the Cannes Film Festival, in a job that involves a lot more admin than red-carpet glamour.

There, Ciaran Flynn is the man everyone is talking about: heartthrob of the moment and director of the most romantic movie of the year.

What nobody knows is that twelve years ago, they were best friends . . . and they haven’t spoken since.

But when Ciaran’s film runs into trouble, there’s only one person he can turn to.

Is twelve days enough to save not only Ciaran’s film, but also the spark he and Lizzy once shared?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: i really enjoyed this book, a lovely easy read that provided the perfect escape from a wet miserable day.

We’re following Lizzy who is working at the Cannes film festival, she’s trying (and failing) to order lunch at a local café when she sees someone from her past.. but it can’t really be him, can it?

Enters Ciaran , the guy from Lizzys past who also can’t quite believe his eyes when he sees her! What is she doing here?

After the first sighting we’re left feeling like something major happened in the past that we’re not yet aware of, why else would he snub her when she tried to say hello?!

Ciaran is now a hotshot director who’s second film is now featuring at Cannes its based on a year he spent in Bordeaux with Lizzy, but there’s another director saying he’s copied her work and threatening legal action, can he swallow his pride and ask Lizzy for help?

This story is told from two different timelines, present day, which is full of drama and tension and 12 years ago in Bordeaux which is full of humour and and the early days of love.

I read this book in one sitting in just a few hours, the writing flowed so easily that I couldn’t stop myself from turning the pages and couldn’t bring myself to put it down and walk away.

I was rooting for Lizzy and Ciaran because they were just so perfect together, but in typical romance style the journey wasn’t that straight forward!

A brilliant debut novel and I can’t wait to see what Niamh comes up with next!

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Today I’m on the book tour for Don’t Play Dead With Vultures by Jack Leavers, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos book tours for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 574

Synopsis: Summer 2008 sees former Royal Marine John Pierce lured from running convoys in Iraq to a lucrative contract in the steamy jungles of French West Africa. He soon discovers this new theatre is even more dangerous than the war zone he left behind. Corrupt officials, drug cartels, and competing military factions rub shoulder-to-shoulder in a melting pot of greed and intrigue… And a sadistic foe lurks in the shadows.

When old intelligence contacts take an interest, the situation gets complicated fast. Dark forces emerge and events spiral out of control. Pitched into a desperate race against time, can Pierce’s makeshift team of soldiers and civilians fight fire with fire and outwit vicious enemies?

One thing’s for sure, Pierce won’t leave anyone to the mercy of a brutal adversary he knows only too well no matter what it takes

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: welll this was a chunker, Amazon says this is 300 pages.. Amazon lies 😂

This is book 2 in the John Pierce series and although I have read them both this could be read as a stand alone, you just miss a bit of the context and the back story!

I loved being back with John, so much action and really kept me on my toes! Who would have thought diamonds and or her gems could cause so much drama?

One thing I will say is that although it’s a truly gripping read, it’s very detail heavy so not one I’d recommend reading in one sitting!

I loved the banter and camaraderie between John, Luke, Ryan and Mike. The fact they were willing to lay their lives down for each other made me want to support them and I was really hoping they’d all make it through!

Manny is a Favourite of mine, he just supports John and always has his best interests at heart!

Lots of strong characters, lots of things that make you turn the pages so quickly you might end up with paper cuts, I can’t go into details because where’s the fun in that?! 😏

I had my heart in my mouth at times & bit my lip so much that I made it sore, I almost didn’t want it to end I’m not ready to say goodbye to John and his team!

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Today I’m on the book tour for Earth 101 by Emae Church, 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.

Synopsis: At Hill Derry High School…

…students were vanishing from existence.

Why was Jayne the only one who could remember them?

At 17-years old, Jayne excels at math and science, hangs out with the goth crowd and has a new crush. The new boy at school, Aithen, is cute, but there’s something else about him she can’t quite put her finger on.

There was only one problem.

Laura, her friend turned nemesis, just vanished in front of her eyes.

It didn’t seem possible and must be some sort of hallucination. Was it the bump on the head from last year or something else? She just couldn’t figure it out.

But why doesn’t anyone believe her?

With a reputation for getting into trouble, Jayne will need to convince the boy she likes to help her save the ones she loves. But he has a secret, and nothing is as it seems.

Will life ever get back to normal in time for graduation?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: this was a really interesting listen, the premise really intrigued me, students going missing, well more than that.. it’s like they never even existed.. so why can Jayne remember them? & why is there a couple of people at school who seem to act like they know something every time she mentions the names of the missing girls?

The first 1/3 of this book was quite slow paced and I felt like it was aimed at younger side of YA, but then the action really starts and it pulls you in quite quickly after.

I actually loved Aiten and Erek, they were quite complex characters with a lot of layers you had to peel back, but it made for interesting reading.

I found Jayne a little dramatic and whiny to begin with, but she found her strength once she had no choice (no spoilers here)

It’s been a while since I read a sci-fi spacey read and I really enjoyed this, it was definitely a solid start to what I’m hoping will be a new series because that ending.. 🤯

I loved listening to this on audio it felt really immersive and had a lot of depth, not sure I would’ve enjoyed it as much if I had physically read it!

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Today I’m closing the blog tour for Life Sentence by A.K. Turner, 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: 337

Synopsis: Mortuary technician Cassie Raven believes the last thoughts of the dead linger like static in the air…

Cassie has always had a strange affinity with death, ever since her parents were killed in a car crash when she was four. At least that’s what she grew up believing…

But that was a lie. Cassie’s father is alive. He was convicted of murdering her mother and spent years behind bars. Now he’s out – and he’s looking for her.

He swears he didn’t do it. And Cassie wants to believe him.

To find the truth, she must turn detective. As she seeks answers, help is to be found in inexplicable places – for the dead are ready to talk.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I loved being back with Cassie, she’s a mortuary technician with a difference, she believes they speak to her, not physically obviously but she tends to get a feeling, an inkling about how they died and then she can’t help herself but to investigate getting herself in trouble along the way 😂

This time she’s working on the body of a Bradley a 15 year old who was found in his bedroom with the cable from his laptop around his neck.. but Cassie doesn’t feel it’s that simple.. can she get to the bottom of it and give his family some good news?

She’s also trying to deal with the revelation her gran gave her at the end of the first book, her parents didn’t die in a car crash, her dad killed her mum and is now out of prison.. will he try and find her? does she want him too?

After speaking to her best friend Kieran about her parents her dad gets in contact and is adamant he didn’t do what he was accused of, so Cassie and Kieran take it upon themselves to find out the truth.

As Cassie goes on a trip down her parents memory lane we meet a few people from their past..

This book gave me so many mixed feelings, I didn’t know who to trust through the whole thing. So many moments where I was on the edge of my seat. It made me feel sick with nerves at times and also broke my heart in others. But I absolutely loved it & have everything crossed that there will be a third instalment in the Cassie Raven series! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

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