BBNYA Spotlight - The Stars Within by Alex Arch

This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Blurb

Thomas fights to beat cancer. Colette fights to save the human race.

A colonial miner crippled with debt, Thomas must flee his home to cure his recurring cancer. With his health declining at an alarming rate, his options are limited. Spend his last days surrounded by his loved ones or leave them behind for a slim chance to live. The choice is impossible, the prospect grim, and not for him alone.

A pragmatic military hero, Colette enrolls in a mission to thwart an alien invasion. She always gets the job done… unless Mia’s involved. She must then put her feelings aside as always or risk jeopardizing her assignment for the woman she once loved.

Two battles. Two realities. For one to succeed, the other must fail.

Author Bio

I grew up in Canada, as most would expect, playing hockey. Always willing to give the best of myself, I added mountain biking, firefighting, and now, unexpectedly, writing to the list.

Loving all things science-fiction and fantasy, I decided to create worlds where I could make people think outside the usual boundaries. Fast-paced, crisp, and intense stories with meaningful parallels to our own realities await readers who can only be certain of one thing: world-shattering twists are inevitable.

Book Details

Length: 188 pages

Genre: Romance, Science Fiction

Age Category: Adult

Date Published: 18 July 2022

Amazon Link: https://amzn.eu/d/86pmFtl (UK)

https://a.co/d/cN4cVxK (Canada)

https://a.co/d/ddHP5dw (USA)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61434947-the-stars-within

TheStoryGraph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/0f1e448b-affc-4a35-adaf-f40daeed1bce 

What Happened at the Abbey by Isobel Blackthorn ~ BLOG TOUR~

When Ingrid flees a violent husband to become a housekeeper in the Scottish Highlands, she discovers the family she works for has a much darker history than her own.Who haunts Strathbairn? Why are the adult McCleod children at each other’s throats? And whydoes the youngest sneak off at night? As Ingrid searches for answers, she grows ever more fearfulthat her husband will track her down.

Set in late 19th century Scottish Highlands, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE ABBEY is a gothic mystery brimming with intrigue, ghostly drama, and family secrets.

                                                        🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What Happened at the Abbey is the first book in a trilogy. I found myself fighting sleep to stay up late reading this tense and atmospheric mystery. From the opening pages, there is an intense gothic feel to the setting which is made more so by the cool reception Ingrid receives from the few people employed there. The McCleod siblings are equally strange and are constantly arguing. Mr McCleod is never at hand to talk to or to shed any light on the strange situation and Miles, the youngest collects moss during the day to study but he wanders off somewhere at night.

Nightmares, strange noises, smells, and windows closing by themselves add an unsettling ghostly feel.

Ingrid has to unravel the mystery of what is happening at the Abbey as well as navigate the running of the staff below stairs who don't want her there and who make it clear that orders come from the cook and not her, the new housekeeper.

There is a satisfying conclusion, but as is to be expected with a trilogy, the cliffhanger at the end of this book will leave you ready to begin book two.

Purchase Links 

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Author Bio 

Isobel Blackthorn is a prolific novelist of unique and engaging fiction. She writes across a range of genres, including gripping mysteries and dark psychological thrillers. The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Reader's Favorite book awards. A Prison in the Sun was shortlisted in the LGBTQ category of the 2021 International Book Awards and the 2020 Readers' Favorite Book Awards. Her short story ' Nothing to Declare' was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. Her dark thriller ALegacy of Old Gran Parks won a Raven Award in 2019. The Cabin Sessions was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2018 and the Ditmar Awards 2018. Isobel holds a PhD in Western Esotericism from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking study of the texts of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey. Her engagement with Alice Bailey’s life and works has culminated in the biographical novel The Unlikely Occultist and the full biography Alice A. Bailey: Life and Legacy. Isobel carries a lifelong passion for the Canary Islands, Spain, her former home. Six of her novels are set on the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These standalone mystery novels are setting rich and fall into the broad genre of travel fiction. Isobel has led a rich and interesting life and her stories are as diverse as her experiences, the highs and lows, and the dramas. A life-long campaigner for social justice, Isobel has written, protested and leant her weight to a range of issues including asylum seekers and family violence. A Londoner originally, Isobel currently lives in the Canary Islands, Spain.

Social Media Links – https://isobelblackthorn.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Author.Isobel.Blackthorn/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768657.Isobel_Blackthorn

https://twitter.com/IBlackthorn

https://www.instagram.com/isobelblackthorn/

Thank you to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for organising the blog tour.

BBNYA Spotlight - The Soul's Aspect by Mark Holloway

This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Blurb

A healer forced to become a killer for an empire that would grind his country to dust.

Kehlem, the sickly son of a widowed physician, has devoted his life to learning his father’s craft. Wanting to finally step out of his father’s shadow, he embarks on a project of his own, seeking out the help of Themia, the town's newly arrived Alchemist and a rare wielder of magic.

But Themia has secrets of her own, secrets carried from the heart of the empire itself, secrets that would steal Kehlem away from his home and into the empire’s Academy for magic users.

The Isale Academy beckons, but can Kehlem survive the academy and its brutal regime? And if so, what would he have to become?

Author Bio

Mark Holloway is an indie fantasy author from the UK. With a keen interest in the weird and esoteric, and a day job in medical science, these interests filter into the epic fantasy series, The Aspect. You can find Mark on most social media platforms IG:@markholloway.author/Twitter:@markholloway_1

Book Details

Length: 312 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Age Category: Adult

Date Published: 13 August 2021

Amazon Link: https://amzn.eu/d/isZ4fd8 (UK) 

https://a.co/d/eoG8TGN (USA)

https://a.co/d/cBzarpM (Canada)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60167970-the-soul-s-aspect

TheStoryGraph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/083d42cb-ba1e-45fd-8003-e67c5aead9be 

The Pantomime Murders: Miss Clara Vale, Book 2 by Fiona Veitch Smith (2023)

 

Someone is killing fairy godmothers in Cinderella... Can Miss Clara Vale crack the case before the clock strikes twelve?

1929, December: Snow is falling, and Miss Clara Vale is wrapped up against the cold as she braves the icy streets of Newcastle in her latest investigation.

When a young actress from the touring pantomime of Cinderella arrives at her door, Clara isn't sure what to make of her request. Sybil Langford, the legendary fairy godmother in their production, has mysteriously vanished. Could Clara help track her down?

But a few days into Clara's search, Sybil's body is pulled from an icy river, and Clara finds herself in the middle of yet another murder mystery.

With scheming stepsisters waiting in the wings, handsome princes who aren't all they seem, and clues as elusive as glass slippers, Clara will need every one of her scientific skills to catch the killer...

And when Sybil's replacement meets her own tragic end, Clara is in a race against time before the murderer sends a third cast member to their unhappily ever after...

The perfect Golden Age mystery to curl up with by the fire. Fans of Agatha Christie, Helena Dixon and Verity Bright will be gripped by this historical crime novel from the very first page

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The Pantomime Murders is book two in a very entertaining and well-researched cozy mystery series. Set in 1929, Clara is an independent woman with an education in science who has also inherited her late uncle's enquiry agency. This makes Clara unique in a few ways compared to similar lady detectives in the genre. 

The story takes place during pantomime season giving a festive feel to the book. Fairy godmothers from Cinderella are being killed. This aspect really intrigued me. What kind of character would kill a fairy godmother and what would their motivations be?

Clara does a great job investigating and she is able to use her scientific knowledge to guide her. Not everyone appreciates a woman being involved in these matters but Clara has a couple of friends who assist and encourage.

This was very easy to get into and read in a few hours. It isn't necessary to read book one to enjoy it but you will miss out on another good book if you don't.

BBNYA Spotlight - The Shareholders by H.S. Down

This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Blurb

In the late 21st century, Earth is ravaged by climate change. The billionaires have bioengineered immortality, fled to Mars, and rule Earth's last biospheres as their personal shares. Those left on Earth struggle as the planet tumbles into its terminal years of habitabilty.

Ian Gateman, a bureaucrat, is tasked with finding a buyer for fledgling colony of ecological refugees. As Ian travels to the estates of several visitng shareholders, it becomes clear the shareholders have other plans for humanity's future.

Author Bio

An earnest scribe born at 348.65 ppm of atmospheric CO2. An unreliable narrator, feral but mostly harmless. The Shareholders is my debut novel and it is attempt to wrestle with the human drive to live forever, both figuratively and literally, amidst widespread ecological extinction. I swear, I'm a little less of a kill-joy in person. Keep an eye out for my next novel, Children of the Fall. Coming Fall 2023.

Book Details

Length: 268 pages

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Category: Adult

Date Published: 20 March 2022

Amazon Link: https://amzn.eu/d/7iXRnQm (UK)

https://a.co/d/0AT1pU2 (Canada) 

https://a.co/d/fxUYO7f (USA)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60649418-the-shareholders

TheStoryGraph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b8c71797-3a5c-48de-9faa-03bf703f5fa3 

BBNYA Spotlight - The Raven Tower by Emma Miles

This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Blurb

How much would you sacrifice to save your people? Your freedom, your home … power … love … your life?'

Four lands beneath the sky. A haven of peace, a kingdom of plenty, ravaged islands, and a nation of cruel, dark magic. One will try to devour them all.

Spring brings the ruthless Borrow raiders much earlier in the year, their attacks more ferocious, more desperate. When Kesta uses her magic to see in the flames who is really behind the raids the Independent islands of the Fulmers seem doomed to fall.

Their only hope is to cross the sea to seek the help of the King of Elden and his dangerous sorcerer, the Dark Man; but what price will the king demand for his aid?

Wild Kesta has been raised to be a leader, trusted, loved, with the freedom of her cherished Islands. Can Kesta subdue her fiery nature and work with a man she hates, a man she fears, to stop the evil that will consume their lands and enslave them all?

Author Bio

I often get asked when I knew I was a writer; the answer is always. A writer is what I am, it’s in my soul. There have been times in my life when I couldn’t write, and times when my writing has been the only thing that kept me going. I think I always longed for something deeper from life, something more meaningful, and I found it in my imagination and in the music of words.

It was poetry which first caught my attention, and whilst my younger cousins called for ghost stories it was animals I first wrote of. I think I gravitated toward fantasy because of the freedom it gives, I could create my own worlds and decide my own rules. My Wind’s Children trilogy was born from an image that came to me whilst daydreaming, of a young man sitting alone below a bridge. I didn’t know who he was; it turns out neither did he, but we found out together. 

I’m now working on my seventh book and love writing more than ever, it’s an addiction, an obsession, but one I now share with my wonderful writing family. My beta readers, my editor, and you, my readers, having you with me on my journey means the world to me. 

I write as much as I can around work, but I also try to squeeze in a ridiculous amount of hobbies! I’m a wildlife photographer and do a little archery. I paint, sculpt with clay, withies and driftwood, preferring to be outdoors if I can. I still have a love for the theatre, having started out in life studying backstage crafts, and a great love for language. I speak a little French, Romanian and Italian, ma non molto bene!

Book Details

Length: 521 Pages

Genre: Fantasy

Age Category: Adult

Date Published: 23 September 2018

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/hGGCyPL (Canada) 

https://a.co/d/fuEFS3M (USA)

https://a.co/d/fuEFS3M (UK)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49115149-the-raven-tower

TheStoryGraph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b2f4039c-03b4-4c1a-b8fd-c4af20ea0e54