Wednesday 28 October 2020

Bane's Choice (Vampire Motorcycle Club #1) by Alyssa Day (2020)

 


Vampires are back for a reason! Meet the sexy, dark hero Bane in New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day's smokin'-hot romance.

Bane lost his humanity ages ago. Nothing is more important than protecting his Vampire Motorcycle Club from the death magic invading his territory. The most ancient of vampires, he seeks cold, unfeeling, bloody vengeance...until a frustratingly sexy human doctor is thrust into his path. She tempts Bane to distraction. And distraction is deadly in his world.

Buttoned-up and meticulous Dr. Ryan St. Cloud never thought she’d find herself in the mix of a motorcycle club, let alone one full of terrifyingly badass vampires. Or how intrigued she is by their dark and enigmatic leader, who seems balanced on the knife’s edge of killing her...or claiming her.

But Bane’s choice is harder than it seems because when that danger hits too close to home, he’s forced to choose between her life and everyone else’s.


Initially, I felt that this book read like it was a spin-off to another series and I was expected to be familiar with Bane, his people, and the dangers he faced. Maybe a prequel novella could be an option in the future. 
I was, however, quickly distracted by all the action in and in Bane's attraction to Dr Ryan St. Cloud. Aspects of Bane's past was explained as the story developed and I got to know him and his sister Meara a little bit better. I really liked Ryan's character. She wasn't afraid of the paranormal world she found herself thrust into and she didn't hesitate to fight on their behalf. There was good banter between her and Bane and quite a lot of humour. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with Edge and Meara and I'm also intrigued by what the future holds for Hunter. How will he be different from the other vampires? Maybe the motorcycle club will feature more in the rest of the series as well.

Bane's Choice is out now.






Monday 26 October 2020

Hunter Circles Series by Jessica Gunn, Narrated by Shannon Condon (2020)


This is a complete five-book series urban fantasy adventure bundle. 

Bound by duty. Marked by fate. 

I’m Krystin Blackwood, and I’ve only ever been good at one thing: killing demons of Darkness.

But at 24, I’m about to face my toughest challenge yet: shifting from working alone to joining a team of three other Hunters. Newbie Hunters. They don’t know their magik, they barely know their place in the world, and when they find out the secrets I’ve been carrying, they’ll definitely decide it’s safer if they don’t know me. 

But unfortunately for them - and me - Darkness has other plans. Lady Azar, Darkness’s heir, stole my new team leader’s son two years ago. Now, she and her lackeys are rallying to exchange Ben’s son for me because of the power I wield. I’m one-half of a prophecy to save an ancient city the Powers of Good lost centuries ago. And if I fail or die before that happens, the destruction of that city will be felt across all planes of existence. 

If we can’t find Ben’s son before All Hallows’ Eve and somehow save him without putting my life at risk, that existential explosion will absolutely happen. But it’ll be nothing compared to the destruction wrought if Lady Azar changes Ben’s son into a demon...and her minion. 

Because the only thing more dangerous than me with a blade is a father’s wrath. 

This complete series bundle contains all five books of the Hunter Circles series: The HuntedThe Traitor, The Changed, The Hero, and The Power. All are full-length 60,000-plus-word urban-fantasy adventure novels full of nonstop, action-packed adventure and demon-fighting, magic, gray anti-heroes, a slow-burn romance, and a story full of heart from the very first chapter. 

#UrbanFantasy #Magic #Witches #Demons



 
#1  The Hunted 
The first book introduces us to the characters and sets the scene for battles the Hunters will face against the demons as they struggle to fulfil a prophecy to save a lost city. The fight scenes are very dramatic, tense and suspenseful as the group try to rescue the kidnapped infant of their group leader. The evil or bad characters I found to be very intriguing and I enjoyed Giyano's interactions with the Hunters. He appears to be a complex character and one bad boy I quite like! 
The story held my attention all the way to end and left me looking forward to the next instalment.
 

Saturday 17 October 2020

Garden of Hope (Garden of Love #1) by Daphne Bloom (2020)

 


Can two lost causes find love in the arms of one another?

Lily, the peculiar youngest daughter of an earl, would rather spend her life as a spinster, tending to her garden—alone. But when her father falls critically ill, she suddenly faces the possibility of becoming a penniless relation living on the charity of her sisters, unless she can find a husband—now. But facing her fifth Season and feeling unable to meet the requirements of a proper wife, Lily despairs of finding a kind and patient man she can trust enough to marry.

Henry, the war-wounded second son of an earl, needs to have a son to secure his family's future. But worried his condition could worsen and leave him crippled, he fears turning any future wife into a mere companion and nursemaid.

Both are unable to resist the pressure from their families to attend the Season and at least try to find a spouse. Can these two lost causes see past their own limitations and let love in?

Garden of Hope is a sweet, clean Regency romance and book 1 in the Garden of Love series! It is a STANDALONE romance novel. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.


A beautifully written romance. Lily and Henry are deemed flawed by society but are determined to follow their own paths to happiness instead of meekly following everyone else's agenda.
I couldn't help but feel for Lily, A sweet girl on the spectrum who finds peace and solitude in her garden. To find herself being thrust into the social demands of the season could only have been torturous, not to mention the added indignity of gossip and the impression people had of her that she was an oddity and bit of a loon. It was obvious from the beginning that she and Henry would be perfect for one another and I couldn't help but hope that things would work out for them. They both have their insecurities but they had a few sweet scenes. In the garden during the ball springs to mind and when Lily sent Henry a thoughtful gift at the same time he was sending one to her. I thought it was adorable the way his servants gave him encouragement.
This was a quick and very enjoyable read and certainly put a smile on my face. 
I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. I'm also wondering if Lord Astley will make an appearance in one of the future titles. 

Garden of Hope is out now. Amazon

Thursday 15 October 2020

Meet Me In London by Georgia Toffolo (2020) AUDIOBOOK BLOG TOUR

 


What do you do when your fake engagement starts to feel too real…

Aspiring clothes designer Victoria Scott spends her days working in a bar in Chelsea, and her evenings designing vintage clothes, dreaming of one day opening her own boutique. But these aspirations are under threat from the new department store opening at the end of her road. She needs a Christmas miracle, but one is not forthcoming.

Oliver Russell’s Christmas is not looking very festive right now. His family’s new London department store opening is behind schedule, and on top of that his interfering, if well-meaning mother is pressing him to introduce his girlfriend to her. A girlfriend who does not exist. He needs a diversion. Something to keep his mother from interfering while he focuses on the business.

When Oliver meets Victoria, he offers a proposition: pretend to be his girlfriend at the opening of his store and he will provide an opportunity for Victoria to showcase her designs. But what starts as a business arrangement soon becomes something more tempting, as the fake relationship starts to feel very real. But when secrets in Victoria’s past are exposed will Oliver walk away, or will they both follow their hearts and find what neither knew they were looking for.




This is so good it will melt your heart.
Funny and heartwarming with a cute, romantic storyline and a whole host of wonderful characters.
Oliver is adorable and totally swoon-worthy.  I loved how he didn't think twice about helping Victoria with her students and her fashion show. 
The emotional depth of the story comes from Victoria's friendship with her childhood friends and the consequences of a serious car accident they were all involved in. I would love to see more of her friends and read their stories next! 
Oliver's lovely family also add warmth to the story.  They didn't hesitate in welcoming Victoria to their family and I could feel their anxiety and worry over Oliver's dad's illness.
I enjoyed the narration of the book by the author. Tone and pacing were just right allowing me to get lost in the story straight away. I enjoyed every minute.

Meet Me In London audiobook is out now! Audible


Sunday 11 October 2020

A Bachelor's Pledge (Gentlemen #3) by Penny Hampson (2020)

 



The woman who haunts his dreams

Secret agent Phil Cullen is upset when he discovers that the young woman he rescued from Mrs Newbody’s establishment has absconded from his housekeeper’s care without a word. Thinking he has been deceived, he resolves to forget about her… something easier said than done.

The man she wants to forget

Sophia Turner is horrified when she is duped into entering a notorious house of ill-repute. Then a handsome stranger comes to her aid. Desperate that no one learns of this scandalous episode, Sophia flees to the one friend she knows she can trust. With luck, she will never see her mysterious rescuer again.

But fate has other plans…

Months later, Phil is on the trail of an elusive French agent and Sophia is a respectable lady’s companion when fate again intervenes, taking their lives on a collision course.

Traitors, spies, and shameful family secrets - will these bring Sophia and Phil together… or drive them apart?
 


This story was non-stop excitement from start to finish and so difficult to put down!
Sophia unwittingly gets caught up in the machinations of French agents and is the target for abduction on more than one occasion. Phil is the protective agent of the Crown who pledges to keep her safe. 
There were so many heartstopping and suspenseful scenes throughout the book. I loved every minute of it.

The romance between Phil and Sophia was very endearing. Sophia was very wary of him initially especially as he was so highhanded in his plans for her. However, I enjoyed watching them begin to respect and admire each other. I loved Sophia's independent streak and how bravely she set out to determine her own future especially as a young woman who had never before ventured further than her own village.
The side characters were great, especially the Pridhams who were a very likeable and kind couple. I was happy to see Sophia find good friends. There were a few other slightly shady characters who added drama and intrigue. Lieutenant Ashdown was one such character where there was more than meets the eye to him. I'm hoping he gets his story told in the next book!

This was a wonderfully exciting and romantic read. Not to be missed!!


A Bachelor's Pledge is out now Amazon 




Saturday 10 October 2020

Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay by Katie Ginger (2020) BLOG TOUR

 


Grab your cosiest jumper and escape to the beautiful Swallowtail Bay!

Christmas and romance are in the air and Nell is obsessed! She can’t stop watching her favourite Christmas romcoms and dreaming of the day when she meets her own romantic hero, especially as she is hosting the first ever wedding at her small hotel, Holly Lodge.

Nell’s best friend, Tom, has been in love with her ever since they met. But Nell has never seen him that way, and he’s always kept his feelings a secret in case it ruins their friendship.

After the opening of the glamorous Langdon Mansion Hotel in the bay, Nell’s hotel is struggling for survival and she must fight, with Tom’s help, to keep Holly Lodge open. Can the magic of Christmas help two old friends save Holly Lodge and open Nell’s eyes to a love that was always there the whole time?

Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is the hilarious new romantic comedy from Katie Ginger, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Veronica Henry and Holly Martin!


A feel-good romantic comedy choc-full of Christmas charm and characters to fall in love with.

Nell and Tom are a delight and I couldn't wait to see them get their HEA. Their journey is sweet and charming. A thoroughly cosy read perfect for that day when you have the house to yourself, a glass of wine and a roaring fire.

I absolutely adore this series. Katie Ginger delivers a heartwarming story with a perfect blend of romance and comedy. 


Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is out now!   Amazon

KATIE GINGER lives by the sea in the south-east of England, and apart from holidays to very hot places where you can sit by a pool and drink cocktails as big as your head, she wouldn’t really want to be anywhere else. Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is her sixth novel. She is also the author of Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay, Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay, Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage and the Seafront series – The Little Theatre on the Seafront, shortlisted for the Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year award, and Summer Season on the Seafront.

When she’s not writing, Katie spends her time with her husband and two kids, and their dogs: Wotsit, the King Charles spaniel, and Skips, the three-legged Romanian rescue dog. (And yes, they are both named after crisps!)

For more about Katie, you can visit her website: www.keginger.com, find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatieGAuthor, or follow her on Twitter: @KatieGAuthor..

Thank you '#rareresources for including Just Book talk in the Blog Tour.

Monday 5 October 2020

Strangers by C.L. Taylor. Narrated by Clare Corbett (2020) BLOG TOUR

 

Three strangers. Three secrets. And one big lie.

First, there’s Ursula. Unable to face up to the tragedy that consumes her, her world has shrunk to an almost unrecognisable state. But a string of missing people – and her housemate’s permanently locked basement door – set off a chain of events that she soon has no control over.

Then Alice, who’s in the first flush of her relationship with Simon, a man she met by chance, and who seems perfectly normal – except that he flinches at the slightest touch.

And Gareth, who lives a humdrum life as he struggles to cope with his mum’s increasing dementia. She can’t remember much about her days – not even when a postcard from his long-dead father comes through the door.

None of these three strangers have ever met, but their worlds will soon collide in the most dramatic way possible, as the lie that has been told is finally answered for....

The master of suspense is back! Prepare yourself for the latest nail-shredding, heart-in-mouth roller coaster ride from the Sunday Times best seller.

©2020 C.L. Taylor (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited


Wow! Absolutely gripping. 
There are a few creepy characters who were the cause of some very tense and suspenseful scenes. Totally brilliant.
I loved the main characters, Gareth, Ursula and Alice. They were all living very ordinary and relatable lives but got mixed up in extraordinary situations.
The twists and turns kept everything very exciting and led to a very satisfying conclusion.
The narration is fabulous. The narrator did an incredible job of performing all the different voices which made it really easy to visualise the story as I listened. 


Strangers audiobook is out now Audible
  • By: C.L. Taylor
  • Narrated by: Clare Corbett
  • Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Release date: 02-04-20
  • Language: English
  • PublisherAvon