Wednesday 31 May 2023

Murder at the Ball (Lady Felicity Quick#4) by Rosie Hunt (2023)

 

The party at Grimstow House promises tremendous fun, with cocktails, games, costumes … and a killer on the loose!

England, 1922. Lady Felicity Quick’s success as a sleuth has upended her reporting career, yet she simply must answer a relative’s plea for help. Sinister letters are threatening her cousin’s reputation — but who’s the sender?

Posing as an innocent party guest at a remote country manor, Felicity investigates her cousin’s clique for hints of guilt. Amid raucous games, free-flowing champagne, and some ghastly squabbles amongst supposed friends, Felicity finds a trail of revealing clues.

But when a body is discovered, a dangerous web of intrigue is revealed, and a new deadly game begins… Can Felicity unravel the tangle of motives and alibis to identify the killer and avert another slaying? Or will the party finish with the wrong kind of bang?

If you love puzzling country house murders set in the old-fashioned elegance of 1920s England, then you will love this cozy mystery series!


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A 1920s house party murder mystery with plenty of shady characters to muddy the waters and keep me guessing.

Felicity and Alex attend a house party for the purpose of helping Felicity's cousin discover who is sending her threatening letters. However, it isn't long before events escalate to murder. Adding to the trouble, there is no working phone to call for help and with freezing conditions outside it isn't safe to drive. The party guests are forced to stay where they are even though there is a murderer amongst them. 

Felicity has the unenviable task of interviewing the guests and keeping the peace until the police can be summoned the next day. There are plenty of suspects and suspicious circumstances to wade through before Felicity finally untangles the problem. I certainly didn't see where her mind was going until the big reveal. I enjoyed following her lead and discovering the truth along with her. It was very fast-paced and entertaining reading. She certainly found herself in more than one dodgy predicament but with the lucky knack of getting out of scrapes without much to do. Alex took more of a back seat in this investigation but he wasn't far away when needed.

In this instalment, Felicity seems to be considering all her options regarding her career in journalism and it will be interesting to see what comes of her conversation with her brother on the topic. Alex and herself also seem to be on the way to developing an understanding so it will be fun to watch this space. 

The next book in the series Murder on the Coast will be out in November.

Murder at the Ball is out now. Amazon

Sunday 28 May 2023

BLOG TOUR ~ A Laird For The Highland Lady (Lairds of the Isles book 3) by Catherine Tinley (2023)

 




A Laird for the Highland Lady
A sparkling, witty Regency set in the Scottish Highlands. Becoming a laird...worthy of the Highland lady? After an unexpected encounter with Eilidh MacDonald, Max Wood thinks this shockingly beautiful woman is unlike anyone hes ever met! Working to restore the Scottish estate long neglected by hisfamily, Max is achieving more than he thought possible. As a carefree second son, hes never considered marriageuntil now...But is shaking off his decadent persona enough to win the flame-haired lady whos captured his heart?

🌟 🌟 🌟🌟 🌟

A heartwarming and emotional conclusion to the Lairds of the Isles series. Experiencing the events from A Laird in London through the eyes of Max and Eilidh was welcome and lovely as I had been left wondering what had happened between them behind the scenes. I really enjoyed revisiting some of my favourite scenes from book two. The engagement of Isabella and Angus takes the reader to the halfway mark and then it's off to Scotland where Max learns a lot about himself and gains confidence in his own potential. The plight of the islanders and the hardships they faced because of an English absentee landlord made for emotional reading and I could feel Eilidh's hope and wish that Max would step up and make a long-term commitment to the estate and to her. I loved watching Max getting more and more involved with the locals, learning Gaelic and making amends for the long-time neglect of the estate. It was particularly gratifying to see him stop an eviction. My only gripe with Max, endearing as he was, he couldn't make up his mind about staying or leaving and I felt that a little more making up to Eilidh at the end was called for after all the hanging around she did. 



Author Bio  

Catherine Tinley is an award winning author of historical romance. She writes witty, heartwarming Regency romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon. Her first book, Waltzing with the Earl, won the Rita® Award for Best Historical Romance 2018, while Rags-to-Riches Wife won the RoNA Award for Best Historical Romance 2021 as well as the HOLT Medallion, and A Waltz with the Outspoken Governess has won the RoNA Award for Best Historical Romance 2022.

She has loved reading and writing since childhood, and has a particular fondness for love, romance, and happy endings. After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, Sure Start, maternity campaigning and being President of a charity, she now manages a maternity hospital. She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, cats, and dog and can be reached at catherinetinley.com, on facebook, twitter, and instagram

Giveaway to Win a Signed copy of A Laird For The Highland Lady (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Saturday 27 May 2023

Mystery at Farfield Castle (An Eve Mallow Mystery Book 10) by Clare Chase (2023)




 




Beautiful Farfield Castle is opening its grounds for a party, and everyone in Saxford’s invited. But as the champagne flows, the owner takes a fatal fall. Fortunately, amateur sleuth Eve Mallow is on the case!

When novelist 
Julian Fisher buys Farfield Castle to turn the charming old building into a writers’ retreat, he wants the neighbours onside. But he has his work cut out: Saxford St Peter locals tried to buy the castle for the village, and are furious that only the very rich will be able to enjoy it.

At the lavish launch party, Fisher treats the villagers like royalty, but 
Eve Mallow is distracted by the tension in the air. She watches as Fisher’s wife Kitty argues with several guests, almost in tears, before she disappears altogether…

Later that evening, when Kitty is found dead in the castle’s icehouse, it’s quickly proved to be no accident. With dozy Detective Palmer on the wrong track, Eve can’t resist getting involved. Convinced the answers lie inside Farfield Castle, Eve questions an overly inquisitive journalist, Kitty’s less-than-loyal husband, and his prickly PA.

But when it emerges that a family heirloom and Julian’s computer both went missing on the night of the party, Eve is sure that solving the theft will solve the murder. Who is behind this deadly tale… and can Eve find the killer before she gets written off?

A completely charming English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and J.R. Ellis.

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The tenth book in the series and Eve has another mystery to solve. The story is character driven and the complex mystery kept me completely stumped the whole way through. Eve is a nice character with the ability to mingle in any setting with ease and has a way of ferreting out the truth when something doesn't seem right. She spends a lot of time talking and asking questions and that got a little bit monotonous for me at one stage but the drama and suspense towards the end was exciting.

Her dog, Gus, is adorable and I enjoy it when he's involved. Robin didn't feature much in this instalment but he is also a firm favourite character.
This was a clever mystery and I'm glad to see that book 11 will be out in November.

Friday 26 May 2023

The Spirit Girls (A Rylan Flynn Mystery Book1 ) by Dawn Merriman. (2023)


“Where are you taking me?” Rylan follows the figure through the trees. The girl’s dark ponytail swings as she turns back, then walks on without answering. Deep in the woods, she disappears… and Rylan finds her body, mouth wide in a silent, final plea for help.

Rylan Flynn has always been able to see what others don’t—the restless spirits haunting Ashby, Indiana. She’s learned to live with her “gift” but sometimes she longs to escape.

The woods have always been a peaceful place for Rylan. But on a visit to her aunt’s cabin, she catches sight of a spirit in the trees. The ghost of a young woman approaches, leading Rylan to her body.

With a flood of horror, Rylan realizes that the girl, 
Celeste Monroe, has been murdered. An outgoing newcomer to town, Celeste had no enemies. Who on earth would want to see her dead?

When a coin carved with strange symbols is discovered in Celeste’s throat, it’s clear that a 
twisted, cold-blooded killer is at work.

Rylan’s abilities could be the only way to prevent further deaths. But Ashby’s handsome head detective, 
Ford Pierce, has made it very clear that he doesn’t want her help.

And any unexplained knowledge of the case could make Rylan 
the perfect suspect.

When another body is discovered and blood at the scene points to Rylan’s family, she is more determined than ever to uncover the truth. She must race against time to untangle a web of dark secrets… 
but can she find answers before the murderer claims another victim?

A heart-pounding mystery with a touch of romance, The Spirit Girls begins a new series of paranormal thrillers that are impossible to put down. If you love urban fantasy or psychic thrillers by Heather Graham and Wendy Wang, this book will grab you from the first page and never let go.

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I absolutely loved this paranormal mystery. The author manages to blend the lighthearted with the darkness to make the whole story sound very normal and realistic.

Once I started I couldn't put this book down and I listened to it in one go. I couldn't move with the excitement of the suspense and tension. The ritualistic murders were creepy and dark. The supernatural aspect was spooky but also poignant when helping the ghosts cross over.

There was enough humour in the book to offset the darker elements and I loved the banter between Rylan and Ford. Both characters were very endearing and fun to watch. I can't wait to find out what happens in book two.

I really enjoyed the narration of the audiobook. The characters were brilliantly performed and it really enhanced my enjoyment of the story.


      The Spirt Girls is out now Amazon 

Thursday 25 May 2023

#BLOG TOUR~Her Unforgettable Knight (Mills & Boon Historical) (Protectors of the Crown, Book 3) by Melissa Oliver (2023)


 

Her Unforgettable Knight

She never forgot him…

Can she ever forgive him?

Part of Protectors of the Crown. Marguerite never expected to see Savaric again—let alone to have to help him when she finds him outnumbered in a fight. He’s the brooding knight she fell for two years ago, until he left her unexpectedly. Now Marguerite is a hardened spy, and wary of trusting him again. But how long can she resist their connection when they must work together to protect the Crown…?

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At the beginning of this book Savaric and Marguerite haven't seen each other for two years as Savaric decided to run away from his feelings and protect Marguerite from the bigotry and racism he experiences daily. 

Marguerite in the interim has become a spy, well trained in self-defence and skilled at throwing daggers. She is working for the same man as Savaric but is also pursuing her own personal mission of clearing her father's name and getting back her family's land. She is definitely not the damsel in distress that Savaric left behind two years earlier.

Unravelling the plot against the crown is dangerous for the pair but they make a good team although they are reluctant to spend time together. The attraction is still there but Savaric fights his inner turmoil and is determined not to act on it for Marguerite's sake. 

It isn't long before the mission takes a very dangerous turn for Maraueirite and Savaric and it's a race against time to save themselves, capture the traitors and save the crown from the Duo Dracones. It makes an exciting read as the pair fight for their survival.

This is the third book in the series. I haven't read the previous ones but found that this worked well as a standalone although the back stories do sound very interesting and I would like to read the series from the beginning. There are characters from the previous books that appear here so fans of the series will enjoy seeing their favourite characters again.  


 Purchase Links

Books2Read https://books2read.com/HerUnfogettableKnight

Harper Collins- bit.ly/3ZzsEdC

Amazon UK- https://amzn.to/3ERygYB

Amazon US- https://amzn.to/3J5AdmJ

Author Bio 

Melissa Oliver is from south-west London where she writes sweeping historical romance and is the WINNER of The Romantic Novelist Association’s Joan Hessayon Award for new writers 2020 for, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight.

Website www.melissaoliverauthor.com

Social Media Links Instagram @melissaoliverauthor Twitter @melissaoauthor 

Facebook @melissaoliverauthor

www.melissaoliverauthor.comwww.melissaoliverauthor.com

                                                  

Wednesday 24 May 2023

~SPOTLIGHT~ Maybe It's About Time by Neil Boss

 




Today it's a spotlight for Maybe It's About Time by Neil Boss as part of the #TheWriteReads blog tour.
Check out the tour on Twitter as it's still going strong and there are lots of lovely reviews popping up each day.



Maybe It’s About Time by Neil Boss

Book Info

Genre: Satire Fiction

Length: 742 Pages

Published: 5th September 2022

Amazon

Goodreads

Blurb

Two people trapped in their different worlds. One by wealth and one by poverty. Twenty years working for The Firm has given Marcus Barlow everything he wants but has taken his soul in return. Finding a way to leave has become an obsession.

Claire Halford’s life hits rock bottom when she is caught stealing food from Tesco Express. Left alone by her husband with two small children and an STI, her suicide music is starting to play louder in her head.

A chance meeting brings them together. As a mystery virus from China starts to run riot across the country, their world’s collide and they find they have more in common than they knew.

Set in the early months of 2020, Maybe It’s About Time is a story about the difficulty of changing lives for the better. Starting as a funny and satirical view of the egocentric world of professional services, it gives way to a heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship that rejuvenates Marcus and Claire, giving them both hope for a better future.


About the Author

I retired from a career in the corporate world in November 2019 with three objectives. To travel around the world and fly fish in the most exotic locations, to play my electric guitar better than I do and to write a novel that I could be genuinely proud of. The pandemic and lockdown in March 2020 put my first two objectives on hold leaving me no option but to start writing. Two and half years later, 'Maybe It's About Time', my first novel, was published.

As a piece of work, I am incredibly proud of it. It makes me laugh and cry in equal measure. I am even more proud that readers seem to be enjoying it just as much and it is getting great reviews.

Travel and fly fishing has now started again, my guitar playing is improving and a sequel to 'Maybe It's About Time' is planned to start in 2023!

Sunday 14 May 2023

Arvia: Heart of the Sky (Tales of Arvia #3) by D.H. Willison


 




Blurb

It takes great courage to stand against a ferocious mythic monster.

It takes far greater to stand WITH one who’s at her most vulnerable.

Tremors rock the land. Wild magic and creatures from the abyss ravage a formerly bountiful forest, while a creeping magic ailment spreads among the harpies. A fragile peace between harpy and human teeters on the brink.

Darin and Rinloh, oddest couple in all the land. They must become the oddest of heroes to save the land.

Heart of the Sky. A charming blend of whimsy, terror, and a lot of heart.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Arvia: Heart of the Sky is the third book in the Tales of Arvia series and best enjoyed having read the previous books. The author does include a little section at the beginning with a synopsis of what happened previously and I have to say that I smiled all the way as it was so witty and lighthearted. This fits the general feel of the series overall; charming, witty and lighthearted. The story is heartwarming even when the characters are in over their heads fighting scary monsters as the villagers and the harpies form an unlikely alliance to defeat a shared threat. The fragile friendships and bonding that take place between the villagers and the harpies make this a very relatable story.

I loved the humour in the book and the harpies are the source of much of it. They have an endless repertoire of slights and insults that they hurl at each other as terms of endearment. They play tricks on one another and they love a challenge.

I found myself reading through this book very quickly as the writing is so smooth and the story fast-paced. There isn't a dull moment in Arvia!

It would be terrific to see this series made into animated movies.

Heart of the Sky is out now. AMAZON

About the Author

D.H. Willison is a reader, writer, game enthusiast and developer, engineer, and history buff. He’s lived or worked in over a dozen countries, learning different cultures, viewpoints, and attitudes, which have influenced his writing, contributing to one of his major themes: alternate and creative conflict resolution. The same situations can be viewed by different cultures quite differently. Sometimes it leads to conflict, sometimes to hilarity. Both make for a great story.

He’s also never missed a chance to visit historic sites, from castle dungeons, to catacombs, to the holds of tall ships, to the tunnels of the Maginot Line. It might be considered research, except for the minor fact that his tales are all set on the whimsical and terrifying world of Arvia. Where giant mythic monsters are often more easily overcome with empathy than explosions.

Subscribe to his newsletter for art, stories, and humorous articles (some of which are actually intended to be humorous).

Thursday 11 May 2023

Harpyness Is Only Skin Deep (Tales of Arvia #1) by D.H. Willison

 


PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

On a world where death lurks around every corner, is friendship the strongest survival tool of all?

Darin: bored with his paper pusher existence, he accepts a questionable deal for the LARP adventure of a lifetime. A jump through a dimensional portal strands him on the mythical world of Arvia, where everything is gigantic. Except the life-expectancy of newcomers.

Rinloh: a mere ten meters tall. Life in the harpy flock has never been easy for her. Determined to become full-fledged at the upcoming human-hunt, nothing is going to stand–or fly–in her way.

A chance encounter between these two–what could possibly go wrong?

Humans consider consorting with a harpy a capital offense. Harpies consider the human citizens a tasty part of a balanced diet. Yet the two must overcome a most monstrous conspiracy as the citizens of the city begin disappearing, with a list of suspects as big as the inhabitants of Arvia.

Harpyness is Only Skin Deep blends endearing characters and whimsical fantasy adventure in a uniquely witty, charming style. Contact your neighborhood dimension broker, or download Harpyness, and jump into the world of Arvia today.


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When it comes to reading don't be afraid to try something new. You might just find a gem. Fantasy is not my usual genre but I loved Harpyness is Only Skin Deep and I'll be diving into the next book straight away. The novel's three main elements of adventure, humour and friendship combine to make an exciting and charming read. The friendship between Rinloh and Darin is so cute and endearing. They are like children learning to play together.
Aside from their loveable friendship, there is much to sink your teeth into in this book. Both Darin and Rinloh have obstacles to overcome if they are to keep their friendship secret and there is a mystery to solve when citizens begin disappearing from the city. Not only that but, in addition to harpies there are other dangerous mythical beasts roaming the land and sea that make life very perilous for all concerned. Luckily, Darin and Rinloh have a tight bond and they need each other's strengths to get each other out of tight spots.
This was a very entertaining introduction to the world of Arvia and I'm itching to get back to it! 

The Tales of Arvia series is available now Amazon also available in Kindle Unlimited.