The Wronged Daughter by Mary Wood @Authormary #Bookreview

I am delighted to share my thoughts on The Wronged Daughter by Mary Wood. Any regulars to my blog will be aware that I am a huge fan of this author and I have enjoyed every one of her books whether she writes as Mary Wood or Maggie Mason.

The Wronged Daughter is part of a series and is the third book, though all can be read as stand-alones… though I would suggest reading them in order.

Let me show you what this one is all about…

Can she heal the wounds of her past?
Mags has never forgotten the friendship she forged with Flora and Ella, two fellow nurses she served with at the beginning of World War I. Haunted by what she experienced during that time, she fears a reunion with her friends would bring back the horror she’s tried so desperately to suppress.

Now, with her wedding on the horizon, this should be a joyful time for Mags. But the sudden loss of her mother and the constant doubt she harbours surrounding her fiancé, Harold, are marring her happiness.

Mags throws herself into running the family mill, but she’s dealt another aching blow by a betrayal that leaves her reeling. Finding the strength the war had taken from her, she fights back, not realizing the consequences and devastating outcome awaiting her.

Every time I pick up a but by this author I am hoplessly addictied within the first page or two, The Wronged Daughter was another one that I immediately felt invested in.

This is the third book in the series and yes you could read it as a stand-alone! But why would you? The series has followed three friends Flors, Elle and Mags, this latest instalment focuses on Mags.

Mags is a fabulous character who showed her resolve when she trained as a nurse and then went to help in Belgium during World War I. On her return she went back to her home and to help in the running of the family business. She is also being swept off her feet by Harold. He is the brother of Flors, and her friend has warned her to be careful of him, but love is blind and he is Oh so charming!

Oh Mags! What a fabulous character she is, one minute I am watching on awe inspired as she deals with the mill and looking after peoples welfare and then the next minute I want to shout into the book to tell her to stop and listen to what other peoples hinting at! My goodness she infuriated me at times! All credit to the Author who brought out such a range of emotions in me while I was reading.

It didn’t take long for me to become interested in the world that had been created for Mags. I got to meet her family and her friends, Betsy, by the way was another brilliant character and in some ways this story was as much about Betsy as it was Mags. Both are entwined in each other as long term friends and so they know each other so well.

Both women have tragedy befall them, while what happens to the women is horrid it is also something that was believable for the time and so it worked well. How vague is that? Oh the pain of not giving out spoilers!

There are various things that happen in the story that are relevant for the time and also the way of things. Even though things have changed, it still annoys me that women became an asset or possession of their husband when they marry. Thank goodness for her forward thinking father! There you go another vague sentence!

The trials and tribulations of Mags seems never ending, when you think she may just find what she wants, the author then does what she does best, and that is to side step the reader and take another unexpected route.

If you have read this author before you will know exactly what I mean. She has a wonderful ability of throwing so much at her characters, it makes the reader care about them but she gets the balance just right. The author delivers a plot that her character can deal with without giving them too much, it keeps the believe-ability of the story flowing.

While the author does put Mags through an awful lot of pain, it has been carefully balanced so that there is also a glimmer of hope and that Mags will indeed have a happy life. Each time you think she will achieve it there is something else to rock the boat. Mixing in other characters and their own problems gives a good perspective of things going on in the lives of others. So it is not just about Mags, I liked how the author mixes various other in as well and it gives different opinions and viewpoints.

I have read a few of Mary’s books, and also books under her other name of Maggie Wood. Whenever I come to write a review I struggle to find the right words to convey just how good her books are. Simply put her books are fabulous, addictive, emotional and definitely fall into the “Must Read” category every time.

With The Wronged Daughter, the author has woven a story that delves into the heartbreaking side of loss within families, also manipulation within marriage and also some surprises from slightly minor characters. She has successfully created a story that shows how women of the 1920’s had to deal with discrimination and stigma.

If you like historical fiction then you will love The Wronged Daughter. It is a book and series I would Highly Recommend.

Born the thirteenth child of fifteen to a middle-class mother and an East End barrow boy, Mary Wood’s family were poor, but rich in love. Over time, she developed a natural empathy with the less fortunate and is fascinated by social history. Mary raised four children and has numerous grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. An avid reader, she first put pen to paper in 1989, and is now a full-time novelist.

Visit Mary on – WebsiteTwitterFacebook

See what other Book Bloggers think by checking out their stops on the Blog Tour…


Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be fabulous
🙂 xx

It’s Not PMS, It’s You by Rich Amooi @RichAmooi @rararesources #Bookreview #Giveaway ( Open Int)

I am delighted to share my thoughts on It’s Not PMS, It’s You by Rich Amooi. This is a fabulous read and I was delighted to have a spot on the Blog Tour for this book. My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my date on the Tour and also for arranging my e-copy of the book.

Let me show you what it is all about…

Ruth “Ruthless” Harper is on the verge of becoming managing partner at her all-male consulting firm and she won’t let anything stand in her way. That includes men, relationships, and that dreaded F word, FEELINGS—distractions she eliminated long ago.

After the worst day ever (a near-death experience and a public wedgie, for starters), Ruth realizes she doesn’t want to live and die alone. She puts together a business plan to find the perfect man and dives head first into the murky online dating pool. All she wants is a high-powered executive who understands how important her career is. If only it were that easy.

Problem is most men are intimidated by Ruth’s confidence and shocked by her bluntness. The exception being her landscape designer, Nick, whose cool demeanor and unsolicited dating advice are driving her nuts. He’s the antithesis of the business-oriented man Ruth envisions for herself, so why do all signs keep pointing back to him?

Purchase Links

Amazon USUKCanadaAustralia

Goodreads page for book

Yes! It’s Not PMS, It’s You is utterly brilliant.

Reading a book where the main character is a female who works within the high-powered world of men and can hold her own and yet is still not taken seriously was just perfect.

Ruth was the ultimate workaholic, her focus on getting to the top in her career was her focus. It left very little time for anything or anyone else. She was professional and takes no nonsense from the male dominated workforce.

I immediately liked Ruth and her assistance Dee. The two made such a brilliant combination. Dee was the organiser and go to woman for information, meeting details, and travel plans. It was almost like Ruth had a more happy-go-lucky side and she was called Dee.

As Ruth is so busy she engages the services of a landscape gardener, Nick… mmm, again another brilliant character who was the total opposite of Ruth. He seems to have the measure of Ruth and has a cheekiness to him that catches Ruth by surprise.

This is a fabulous rom-com by an author who really does know how to create a story-line that has tension, romance, surprises and funny little asides. I have read one of Rich’s books before and loved it. I really must find more time to sit and read more by him because he is brilliant.

The way the author has brought together two total opposites is just brilliant, nothing goes as planned, nothing is guaranteed and so the will they won’t they is constantly hanging in the air.

As Ruth is all about work, Dee decides that it is time that Ruth went on dates, and so their enter online dating and meetings. I suppose they are a little cliched, but you know what I loved them and they just fit wonderfully into this authors writing style.

Having a hunky landscape gardener working for Ruth is actually a good thing, there is more to Nick than meets the eye. He gives Ruth tips on how to relax and de-stress and though it takes a while, she does start to pay attention to him.

In case you may not have realised already, I loved this story a huge amount. It was an easy book to read in one sitting and I was laughing within the first few pages. If you have not come across Rich Amooi yet, then go and discover him because he is a wonderful author. It’s Not PMS, It’s You is a book I would definitely recommend.

P.S. Carry on reading after the story, it is quite enlightening!

Rich Amooi is a former radio personality and DJ who now writes romantic comedies full-time in San Diego, California. He is happily married to a kiss monster imported from Spain. Rich believes in public displays of affection, silliness, infinite possibilities, donuts, gratitude, laughter, and happily ever after.

Social Media Links – FacebookTwitterInstagramAuthor Website

Giveaway – Open Internationally

Giveaway to Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (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.

Rafflecopter Entry Here

Good luck 🙂 xx

See what other Book Blogger thought by checking out their stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be fabulous 🙂 xx

Magic Under the Mistletoe by Lucy Coleman @LucyColemanAuth @rararesources #Bookreview #Giveaway (UK only)

I have been waiting for so long to share my review for Magic Under The Mistletoe by Lucy Coleman and finally my spot on the Blog Tour has arrived! 🙂

My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this fabulous book. I have read a few books by this author and also under her real name of Linn B Hatton she is a fabulous author and I adore her books.

Now, let’s have a look and see what it is all about…

How gorgeous is that cover… let me tell you the story inside is just as gorgeous! 😍

Christmas and romance are in the air…

It’s December 23rd and while everyone else is rushing home for the holidays, workaholic Leesa Oliver is dreading switching on her out-of-office for the festive season. And it seems her equally driven boss, Cary Anderson, isn’t relishing spending Christmas at his family’s country estate either.

So together, they draft an unexpected Christmas contract: They’ll spend half of the holidays with each other’s families, pretending to be a couple. Leesa knows the insufferably good-looking Cary will make her Christmas more bearable, but what happens after the last of the mince pies have been eaten…?

Leesa signed off on a sensible business agreement, but somewhere, amongst the fairy lights and carols something seems to have changed… It seems there might just be some magic under the mistletoe this Christmas!

Purchase Link HERE

Leesa is not having the best day before Christmas Eve, stuck on a flight with an energetic child, then when she finally get to the airport she weather has taken a turn for the worse. It was fortunate that her client is on the same flight, but if her client didn’t keep moving the boundaries in a video shoot she had done, then she would have been home a few days earlier.

But sometimes fate intervenes.Her client Cary, has a proposition for Leesa and it is something that could benefit them both. Leesa would get a to stay in a gorgeous house overnight, but only if she agree’s to pose as Cary’s girlfriend.

In a world of deals, contracts and clauses, this agreement seems to be quite workable and it has surprising benefits as far as their respective families go. A handy pact to fill in the plus-one gap if you like.

This author has created a wonderful setting for this story that has characters who are stubborn and quite happily dig there heels in. Some are quite justified, but ramifications and truths will always rear their heads. Not everything that goes on in families is straight forward, and I gradually found out some surprising details within the families of this story.

Past loves and relationships leave there mark, it can affect how people react to others, how easy they trust people and also take advice. There are a few strong characters who don’t always want to listen to advice or suggestions. Sometimes it is what is not said that is the important bit to listen out for. There have been several things that had been skirted around and tey do have a little habit of popping up and spoiling things.

This is another fabulous, one-sitting read read from a wonderful author. It is a heartwarming story that at times took me by surprise, a fabulous story with brilliant characters and completely gripping from start to finish. Magic Under the Mistletoe was just that …Magic and I would definitely recommend it.

From interior designer to author, Linn B. Halton – who also writes under the pen name of Lucy Coleman – says ‘it’s been a fantastic journey!’

Linn is the bestselling author of more than a dozen novels and is excited to be writing for both Aria Fiction (Head of Zeus) and Harper Impulse (Harper Collins); she’s represented by Sara Keane of the Keane Kataria Literary Agency.

When she’s not writing, or spending time with the family, she’s either upcycling furniture or working in the garden.

Linn won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award; her novels have been short-listed in the UK’s Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards.

Living in Coed Duon in the Welsh Valleys with her ‘rock’, Lawrence, and gorgeous Bengal cat Ziggy, she freely admits she’s an eternal romantic.

Linn is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Society of Authors. She writes feel-good, uplifting novels about life, love and relationships.

Social Media Links – WebsiteFacebookTwitter

There is a fabulous #GIVEAWAY for you to enter…

Giveaway to Win a Signed paperback copy of Snowflakes over Holly Cove and Christmas Pamper Pack. (UK only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK 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.

Enter Here via Rafflecopter

Good Luck xx

See what other Book Bloggers think of this book by checking out their stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing. If you entered the #Giveaway I wish you all the best 🙂 xx

Revolution by Piet Hein Wokke #histfic #Bookreview

I am delighted to share my thoughts on Revolution by Piet Hein Wokke today with you. This is a book that I chose to review, let me show you what it is all about…

Do we ever really fight over religion?

Or do we use religion to fight?

Escape to the Middle East in this thrilling tale about Khalid, Abdullah and Jalal – young men who try to shape the kingdom of Beledar.

While the nearest battlefields of WWII are hundreds of miles of away, on the streets of Mayasin, the capital of Beledar, Abdullah struggles to survive. In a remote village, Khalid sets out in search of his father, and must face the brutal laws of the desert.

Jalal, the young king, wants to break through nepotism and corruption, but in a conservative, Islamic country, change doesn’t come easy. That the western world preys on his country’s oil fields, doesn’t make his life any easier either.

In this exciting book, Wokke expertly and poignantly shows the roots of modern conflicts in the Middle East, through the people and ideas that inhabit it.

This is a wonderful story that pulls together ideals, politics and culture to create a story that is set in the Middle East. It charts the stories of Abdullah and Khalid two boys from different parts of the region who grow up to have very different roles and also of a man who is to become King.

This was such an interesting read and one that I found quite addictive. It has quite a lot going on and so I took a little more time with it. It covers many different aspects of life in the Middle East and uses politics and religion quite a lot to add intrigue and suspense to the story.

The lives of the two boys are really interesting as well. One is a a boy who is struggling to make enough money so that his family can eat. The other decides to follow his brother and leave school. While the man who becomes King has ideas to help the people of his country.

I loved the way the author made me feel completely immersed within this story and while I do not have a great knowledge of the Middle East I did understand all the things that were going on. Life in the royal palace was like a game, a very dangerous game. Distrust, spies, backstabbing and conspiracy were very evident. I liked this notion of not really knowing who could be trusted.

The cultural aspects were interesting and I liked the author showed the differences from where the boys started to where they ended up. Also the differences in how men and women where expected to behave and how some where trying to bring changes to a male dominant society.

The story is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Abdullah and Khalid. I liked how I was able to follow their own journeys and how they changed and reacted to various situations as the story gradually unfolded. Jalal also has a few chapters and seeing how he coped with power was really interesting.

The story delves into other aspects of human nature such as trust, loyalty, truth, expectation and a matter of faith. These become tested in various ways through the story and it is interesting to see how the characters deal with the challenges they face.

This is a book that I read over three days and was one of those books that I found I better grasped with the extra time I spent reading it. There are various plots and conspiracies going on through the story that I needed time to digest so I didn’t get myself confused. The author has a background in politics and also Middle Eastern History and I think this has definitely helped with the story-lines.

By the end of the book I found that many things had been answered and felt complete but, there were also some new questions that I had and I hope that there will be another book to follow on from this one. The ending of this one has an ending that just begs for another book and the story to continue.

This is a book that I think readers of historical fiction would enjoy and it is one I would recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Children of Fire by @cw_beatty @rararesources #Bookreview

I am delighted to share my thoughts on Children of Fire by Paul CW Beatty as part of the Blog Tour with Rachel’s Random Resources. My thanks to Rachel for my spot on the Tour and for organising my e-copy of this book.

Lets see what it is all about…

Can Josiah solve the puzzle before more people die, or is he out of his depth?

In 1841, at the height of the industrial revolution in the North West of England, Josiah Ainscough returns from his travels and surprises everyone by joining the Stockport Police Force, rather than following his adopted father’s footsteps into the Methodist ministry.

While Josiah was abroad, five men died in an explosion at the Furness Vale Powder Mill. Was this an accident or did the Children of Fire, a local religious community, have a hand in it. As Josiah struggles to find his vocation, his investigation into the Children of Fire begins. But his enquiries are derailed by the horrific crucifixion of the community’s leader.

Now Josiah must race against time to solve the puzzle of the violence loose in the Furness Vale before more people die. This is complicated by his affections for Rachael, a leading member of the Children of Fire, and the vivacious Aideen Hayes, a visitor from Ireland.

Can Josiah put together the pieces of the puzzle, or is he out of his depth? Children of Fire won the Writing Magazine’s Best Novel Prize for 2017

Purchase Links – Amazon UKUS

This is a historical fiction and crime novel that is set in the North West of England in 1841. Josiah is a constable who is asked to go to see a local religious group called the Children of Fire to see if they had anything to do with a recent explosion at the powder mill.

I will say that this book took me a few chapters to get into, there were several characters I had to get my head around and for some reason this took me a while. Gradually I started to become familiar with the names and their roles in the story and things started to fall into place and became easier to follow. There is quite a few things going on in the book as I followed Josiah into his investigation, met the Children of Fire members and also the local families.

I gradually started to find my interest in the book increasing, and I like the slower pace, it seemed to suit the slower pace of life for the setting. Being a hist/fic novel I like to come across things relevant to the time a book is set. This took me into some interesting facts about the powder mills and gunpowder. There were some really interesting facts that were given as part of Josiah’s investigation. The author had worked these facts and other issues into the story very well.

As I said this is a slower paced book, but there was a good amount of intrigue Josiah’s case continued, it often seemed that as he was starting to make headway something else would crop up only to add more mystery. As I passed the half way point of the story I noticed a slight shift in the pace and then things were starting to link up and took me to quite a dramatic conclusion.

This was a book that I enjoyed and is full of interesting history relevant to the time. If you like a slower paced historical fiction that has an intriguing crime element then give this one a try. It is one I would recommend.

Paul CW Beatty is an unusual combination of a novelist and a research scientist. Having worked for many years in medical research in the UK NHS and Universities, a few years ago he took an MA in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University emerging with a distinction.

His latest novel, Children of Fire, is a Victorian murder mystery set in 1841 at the height of the industrial revolution. It won the Writing Magazine’s Best Novel Award in November 2017 and is published by The Book Guild Ltd. 

Paul lives near Manchester in the northwest of England. Children of Fire is set against the hills of the Peak District as well as the canals and other industrial infrastructure of the Cottonopolis know as the City of Manchester.

Social Media Links – Twitter

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 24th nov) #booknews #bookupdates

Welcome to my weekly update for the books I have read. I am back to feeling hooman after my bout of bronchitis, thank god, and apart from a bit of a head cold I feel loads better.

I had some good news this week. I finally got my Top 500 reviewer badge from Amazon. I put all my book reviews on there as well as review any purchases and have been in the 700-800 reviewers for about 3 years. But when I decided to check where I was listed I suddenly saw I had jumped into the top 500. I dare not check again in case it was all a mistake 🙈😂

So let me share the books I have read…

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

This was such a lovely book to read, a whimsical fantastical book that I got on with really well. There were so many things that caught me by surprise with this book. At times it felt like a magical mystery journey as I followed January on her travels, it also felt a little bit like a historical fiction read. It is the story of January finding out who she is and what she wants to do with her life. A truly captivating read and one I would recommend to readers who like books of discovery with a literary fiction feel to it.


The Poker Game Mystery by Peter Bartram

I am a big fan of Peter’s books and his latest book is brilliant. Colin Crapmton is a journalist for The Chronicle. Colin is a fabulous character and I love the dry humour and wit that the author has injected into him. Another favourite character is Shirley, Colin’s girlfriend and between them they investigate a murder. The banter that these two have is great reading. Even though this is part of a series, each book can be read as a stand-alone, but in my opinion you are missing some of the dynamics that make Colin and Shirley work so well. Fabulous read and highly recommended.


The 24-Hour Cafe by Libby Page

This is one of those “quiet books” and I thoroughly enjoyed the comings and going of the customers and staff of Stella’s a 24-hour cafe. The book is set out in chapters that are titled by each hour of the 24 hours that the book is set in. It switches perspectives between the main customer at each hour and also the tow main waitresses. It is a really laid out story that I found very captivating. Even though you only get a snapshot of each customer, I found it emotional, but not the full blubbering eyes watering kind. It felt very representative for its setting. It is a story that I can describe as “people watching” and it is a book I would definitely recommend.


Fighting Back by Rachel Churcher

This is the fourth instalment in Rachel’s YA dystopian series and “Boy Oh Boy” is the intensity building! This is such a brilliant series and it is proving to be so addictive, I am going to be so lost when it ends 😦 This is set just after Brexit and in an Independent Scotland scenario and so it feels very relate-able.

Rachel doesn’t put her books up on Goodreads until publication date, so this is why I have not included the book cover, I have seen it and it it does follow the same format of her previous ones.


It Started With A Secret by Jill Mansell

Confession time… This is the first book I have read by this author! I do have a couple of her books on my kindle and on my bookshelves and, like every reader knows, they have just got lost amid the other books on the shelves. But now I have read one her books I will most definitely be reading more. This book is just fabulous and I made the mistake of planning to read just a couple of chapters at 11pm… What a fool I was, and I now know the error of my ways when picking up a book by this author. I was yawning and feeling rather tired when I decided to glance at the clock and see what time it was… 01:17 and reluctantly put in the bookmark and went to bed. I then finished it yesterday afternoon and I loved it sooooooooo much! 😁


My next read will take me back to my scheduled reading for a blog tour…

Six Steps To Happiness by Suzie Tullett

This for me sees a return to an author whose books I have not read enough of. The couple of books that I have read by Suzie have been fabulous and I have enjoyed them so much. So when I saw the Blog Tour shout out for this book I was right there asking if I could join up 🙂


A good reading week for me this week and I am really pleased with that because some of these books were 400+ pages.

I also decided to be brave and hop over to Netgalley and check to see if I needed to add reviews for any books that came via there for Blog Tours. I was good and didn’t request any 🙂 When I arrived I was sitting at 83% and left with a 89% Feedback Ratio… happy days!

My Goodreads Challenge is almost complete, currently at 197/200 but as Fighting Back has not been listed it is actually 198/200. I have actually read more than 198 books this year, but have not put all the books on as yet. I read a few Amazon Vine Children’s books and also a couple of manuscripts So very pleased indeed :).

Well that me done for yet another week.

Wishing everyone a good week ahead, Happy Reading Folks

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be wonderful and greatly appreciated 🙂 xx

Sorcery Reborn by Steve McHugh @SteveJMchugh #RandomThingsTours @annecater #Bookreview

I am so delighted to join in the Blog Tour for for Sorcery Reborn by the fabulous Steve McHugh. I was delighted to see an email asking if I would like to be part of the the Tour for this new series – The Rebellion Chronicles, it has links to the last series The Avalon Chronicles and also Hellequin. But don’t worry if you have not read all the previous books as this is the start of the next chapter if you like and so you will soon be brought up to speed.

I would like to thanks Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot and also a huge thanks to Steve for my signed review copy xx

He doesn’t need a weapon. He is the weapon.

After losing his powers in an epic battle between good and evil, former sorcerer Nate Garrett finds himself living as a humble human in Clockwork, Oregon. While the world thinks Nate is dead, his friends continue to fight against Avalon and the evil it’s intent on spreading.

Avalon’s forces turn up in Clockwork, and Nate’s frustration grows with every passing day his magic doesn’t return. He finds himself trying to stop Avalon’s plans while hiding from enemies who would destroy everything in their path to see him dead.

Avalon’s darkness begins to threaten the people Nate cares about, and an old nemesis returns; magic or no magic, he has no choice but to fight. But will Nate see his magical powers reborn before the entire town—and everyone he loves—is destroyed?

I had previously read the Avalon Chronicles by this author and I absolutely loved it. So when I saw there was a Blog Tour for a new series I was eager to get on board.

Sorcery Reborn is a brilliant book that is action packed from start to finish. The main protagonist is Nate, he had lost his powers and was now in hiding in the town of Clockwork. Only a select few know he is alive and the less people know of him the better.

While the bulk of this story is about Nate and what is going on in and around the town, there is also a secondary story line. This one involves Layla and a small group who are in another realm working against the forces of Avalon.

So yes this is a new series, but one that still has links with the previous ones. I do think that having a list of characters and what role they play listed at the front of the book is a great idea. One because it is a great memory jogger and two it gives the tiniest glimpse as to what or rather who, a new reader to the series can expect.

Right from the get go, this book is fabulous and full of action, mystery and intrigue. As Nate worries about when he will get his powers back and if they will return in time to help in the fight against Avalon, he also has some new comers to deal with. They seem hell bent on causing trouble for Nate and his friends.

The author weaves a fabulous world of mythological beings and legends from folk lore into his stories. He has an ability to take a any number of gods, deities, dwarfs, were-beasts and give them very unique and memorable characteristics and traits.

This is a brilliant start to a new series and as I am so glad that there is more to come. The fight against good and evil is one that spans the centuries and this series brings characters ancient legend, religion and myth into a modern world. What can mere humans do when they are confronted with the powers of the gods? Just as well humans are protected by the likes of Nate and Layla as well as a whole host of fabulous other characters.

This is a fantasy series that, if the previous one is anything to go by, will be just as action-packed and be brilliant reading. It already has that addictive feel and in case you wondered whether I liked Sorcery Reborn… yep I loved it and yep I would absolutely recommend it.

Here is the link to Amazon so you can check out Steve’s books.

Steve’s been writing from an early age, his first completed story was done in an English lesson. Unfortunately, after the teacher read it, he had to have a chat with the head of the year about the violent content and bad language. The follow up ‘One boy and his frog’ was less concerning to his teachers and got him an A.

It wasn’t for another decade that he would start work on a full length novel, the result of which is Crimes Against Magic.

He was born in a small village called Mexborough, South Yorkshire, but now lives with his wife and three young daughters in Southampton.

Social Media – TwitterWebsite

Check out the other Book Bloggers who are part of the Blog Tour and see what they think…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Louise Fawley Symphony by Rikki Evans @RikkiAuthor @rararesources #Bookreview #Giveaway (Open Int)

I am delighted to share my thoughts for The Louise Fawley Symphony by Rikki Evans. This is a modern romp of a read, there is also a giveaway at the end of my post to tempt you with 🙂 My thanks to Rachel for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book.

Meet Louise Fawley – the newest, sassiest and sleaziest agent in Her Majesty’s Secret Service. 

Follow Louise as she burgles and bungles at Melusine Plastics, gets flirtatious and salacious in Vetchley Castle, grows amorous and glamorous in Sainte-Modeste, and finally, hooks and sinks her villainess on the super-yacht Bonquonne.

The Louise Fawley Symphony contains material of a sexually explicit nature, so will not be to the taste of every adult reader.

Purchase Links Amazon UK or US

This is a book I saw and thought I would give it a go. It kind of falls outside what I would normally pick, but it did look like mad-cap fun. Louise Fawley is a lottery winner and has left her old job. She decides to break into her old bosses factory to cause mischief, unfortunately she gets caught in the process. She is given a choice and the result of her decision is to be a member of a little known department of the secret service.

This at times, a tongue in cheek read with several references to bigger well known brands, such as the supermarket Pennypinchers and social media platform Scrapbook and I am sure there are some that I have missed!

Louise Fawley is a character that just cannot seem to help getting into trouble and soon finds herself out of her depth as she is plunged into her assignment.

This is fast paced and I did feel at times that I was running to catch up. The author has a distinctive writing style especially in her conversations. This occasionally caught me off guard and I back tracked and re-read the odd sentence. The style of writing is quite modern and and I think this adds to the pacing of the book.

As the synopsis suggests Louise is a sleazy and sassy so I did expect some steamy scenes, and that is what I got and then some!

Overall I did enjoy this book and I am glad I took a chance on it. It is a modern, fun romp into the world of Louise Fawley who is a bit of a whirlwind. I would recommend this book as I did chuckle quite a few times with some of the antics.

After more than twenty-five years in accountancy, Rikki quit the profession to care for a parent whose health had deteriorated, and to give more time to those interests and hobbies which had helped render accountancy almost bearable.

Rikki’s interests include all things historical, from castles to candlesticks, music of many genres, from Gregorian Chant to Brit Pop, and above all, like HE Bates, is happiest when working and whiling in a garden.

Social Media Links FacebookTwitter

Giveaway to Win 1 x Signed Paperback of The Louise Fawley Symphony (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.

Here is the Rafflecopter Link

Good luck xx

See what other Book Bloggers think by checking out their stops on the Blog Tour

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be wonderful 🙂 xx

The Raided Heart by Jennifer C Wilson @inkjunkie1984 @rararesources #histfic #Bookreview #Giveaway (open Int)

I am delighted to share my thoughts with you today for The Raided Heart by Jennifer C Wilson. I would like to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the tour and also for arrnaging my e-copy of this story.

Check out the #Giveaway later in the post to be in with a chance of winning an e-copy of The Last Plantagenet. You can read my review HERE

Let me show you what it is all about…

Meg Mathers, the headstrong youngest sibling of a reiving family on the English-Scottish border, is determined to remain at her childhood home, caring for the land and village she’s grown up with. When an accident brings her a broken ankle and six weeks in the resentful company of ambitious and angry young reiver Will Hetherington, attraction starts to build. Both begin to realise they might have met their match, and the love of their lives, but 15th century border living is not that simple, as Meg soon finds herself betrothed to the weakling son of a tyrannical neighbour, Alexander Gray. When tragedy strikes, can Meg and Will find their way back to each other, and can Will finally take his own personal revenge on Gray?

Purchase Links Amazon UKAmazon US

The author took me back in history to meet Meg Mathers. She is an essential part of her village and helps organise so many different things in daily life. When she gets accidentally injured by a horse, the owner is charged with helping her. Will isn’t keen to me at the beck and call of Meg, but he also knows it is something he has to do. They have a tentative relationship that gradually grows into a respect for each other and then into something else.

This is a fabulous read that immersed in the setting and time of the story. This is a time where people are wary of being raided and they form alliances for protection.

The author weaves a tale that shows the bond of family as well as of arrangements that are in place to provide support and safety for others. Raiding parties are a constant threat and so marriage is a good way of cementing alliances.

I loved how the author managed to pack quite a lot into her tale and yet kept up a pace that was so suitable. She has successfully woven intrigue and mystery into a story as well as giving the reader a snapshot of history at that time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found myself eager to keep flipping the pages. If you like historical fiction that has a addictive story-line, had doubt and intrigue and is a great all round read, then grab a copy of The Raided Heart. It is a book I would definitely recommend.

Jennifer C. Wilson is a marine biologist by training, who developed an equal passion for history and historical fiction whilst stalking Mary, Queen of Scots on childhood holidays (she has since moved on to Richard III). Enrolling on an adult education workshop on her return to the north-east of England for work reignited her pastime of creative writing, and she has been filling notebooks ever since. In 2014, Jennifer won the Story Tyne short story competition, and has been working on a number of projects since, including co-hosting the North Tyneside Writers’ Circle. Her Kindred Spirits novels are published by Crooked Cat Books and her time-slip novella, The Last Plantagenet?, by Ocelot Press. She lives in North Tyneside, and is very proud of her approximately 2-inch sea view.

Social Media Links – WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter

#GIVEAWAY to Win 2 x e-copies of The Last Plantagenet? (Open Internationally)

*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.

Enter Here

Good Luck 👍😊

See what other Book Blogger thought of The Raided Heart by following the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be wonderful 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 17th Nov) #MeAndMyBooks #BookNews

Well what a week this has been! One that I don’t want to repeat that is for sure. I had a ridiculous cough that really wasn’t shifting and left me feeling… well like crap if I am honest. After a few days of it not getting any better I finally went to the Doc’s and been diagnosed with Acute Bronchitis, never had it before and never want it again. I am still struggling with shortness of breath, sleepless nights and feeling rough. I was hoping the steroid tablets and inhaler would help more than they are but at least I am not coughing as much.

So as my husband finally gets the thumbs up to go back to work after being signed off on Sick Pay since the beginning of August, it is now my turn to go off sick! Roll on January that is all I can say!!!!

I have still managed to just about keep up with NaNoWriMo and my short stories, though I have missed a couple of days, I just didn’t feel any motivation. Also I decided that it would probably be better to complete the on-line courses that I am required to complete as part of my job.

So enough of my whinging and moaning, after all you are here for the books 🙂

What I read this week…

It’s Not PMS, It’s You by Rich Amooi

If you have not come across Rich Amooi then take my word for it whern I say you should. This is the second book I have read by Rich and he is fabulous. He is on point with his stories and also the humour he injects into his writing. Keep an eye out for the Blog Tour for my review.


The Wronged Daughter by Mary Wood

This is an author who I adore, whether she writes under Mary Wood or Maggie Mason it makes no odds I love her books. They are historical fiction that are full of emotion, surprises, twists and are simply fabulous reading. Again another Blog Tour review, for the end of the month.


The Blog Tours that I have agreed to take part in for November are now all read, so instead of ploughing straight into Decembers Tour books I decided this was the ideal time to beta read a couple of manuscripts. I don’t beta read often, and I am always a little nervous about doing it. But I also like to get the chance to give a reader opinion.


My Next read…

The Poker Game by Peter Bartram

I have read a few of Peter’s books and always enjoy them. I am looking forward to getting stuck into Book 4 of the Deadline Murder Series ready for the Blog Tour in December.


I also had a sneaky peep at this book …

When Stars Will Shine – Helping Our Heroes One Page At A Time

I read the first short story in this compilation… OH WOW! What an amazing start to what is going to be a fabulous book. PURCHASE LINK CLICK HERE

IT WILL BE THE BEST FIVER YOU EVER SPEND

Here is the synopsis for it…

When Stars Will Shine is a collection of short stories from your favourite authors who have come together to deliver you a Christmas read with a twist.

With true war tales that will break your heart, gritty Christmas crimes that will shake you to your core, and heart warming tales of love lost and found, this anthology has something for everyone. And, with every penny made being sent to support our troops, you can rest assured that you’re helping our heroes, one page at a time.

From authors such as Louise Jensen, Graham Smith, Malcolm Hollingdrake, Lucy Cameron, Val Portelli, and Alex Kane, you are in for one heck of a ride!

Go and pre-order your copy now and Help Our Heroes! If you don’t want to use my link then just go to Amazon UK and type in When Stars Will Shine.


That is me done for another week, and it’s getting closer to the festive season, this means that it is closer to next year and Spring and hopefully some warmer weather 🙂

Have a great week folks, and wrap up warm

Take Care, Yvonne xx