BLOG TOUR: Lady of Lincoln (The Nicola de la Haye series book 1) - Rachel Elwiss Joyce

A true story. A forgotten heroine. In a time when women were told to stay silent, could she become the saviour her people need?

12th-century England. Nicola de la Haye wants to do her duty. But though she’s taught a female cannot lead alone, the young noblewoman bristles at the marriage her father has arranged to secure her inheritance. And when an unexpected death leaves her unguided, the impetuous girl shuns the king’ s blessing and weds a handsome-but-landless knight.

Harshly fined by Henry II for her unsanctioned union, Nicola struggles to salvage her estates while dealing with devastating betrayals from her husband… and his choice to join rebels in a brewing civil war. Yet after averting a tragedy and gaining the castle garrison’s respect, she still must face the might of powerful men determined to crush her under their will.

Can she survive love, threats, and violent ambition to prove she’s worthy of authority?

In this carefully researched and vividly human series debut, Rachel Elwiss Joyce showcases the complex themes of honour, responsibility, and freedom in the story of a remarkable heroine who men tried to erase from history. And as readers dive into a world defined by violence and turmoil, they’ll be stunned by this courageous young woman’s journey toward greatness.

 

Lady of Lincoln is the gritty first book in the Nicola de la Haye Series historical fiction saga. If you like richly textured female heroes, courtly drama, and fast-paced intrigue, then you’ll adore Rachel Elwiss Joyce’s gripping true-life tale. 

What did I think?

I am so pleased that I decided to read Lady of Lincoln as it is an exceptional piece of historical fiction and I absolutely loved it.

I have never heard of Nicola de la Haye and I won't be alone in that but we really should know about this strong and resolute woman from English history.  When her father died without any sons, Nicola inherited the post of constable of Lincoln Castle.  Of course she is only a woman so any husband she acquires will expect to take over the role.  Not if Nicola has any say it in, they won't!

Nicola is such a feisty and strong-willed character and I loved the way that Rachel Elwiss Joyce has not only brought her to life but brought her to the attention of a multitude of readers.  Lady of Lincoln is just the start of Nicola de la Haye's story and I have been inspired to do my own research so I could read more about Nicola while I wait for the next book in the series.

So beautifully written, vivid and immersive, you won't read a finer historical fiction novel than Lady of Lincoln and I really can't recommend it highly enough.  It's one not to be missed by readers of historical fiction and readers of various other genres will love it too.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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The Charmed Library - Jennifer Moorman

With her signature blend of magical and heartfelt storytelling, USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Moorman returns with The Charmed Library, a love letter to libraries, favorite childhood stories, and readers who have fallen for fictional heroes.

Like many other public libraries, the one in Blue Sky Valley, North Carolina, is a haven for readers. But it's also unlike any other. In this library, fictional characters step off the page into real life. Assistant librarian Stella Parker has no idea. Still reeling from her father's death and--more recently--a breakup, she hasn't noticed. All she knows is she's stuck in a job she's overqualified for and stumped about what to do with her life.

Everything changes when she burns her beloved journal.

Words matter to Stella. For as long as she can remember, she's seen them. Words appear--in varying colors and fonts--rising from surfaces, bouncing over objects, and even wiggling out of people. Words give her insight into emotions and untold stories. But the words change for Stella after she burns her journal. Suddenly they're demanding, urgent--and painful.

Then Stella stumbles upon strange characters in the library after hours. One is an oddly familiar World War II soldier who introduces himself as Jack--Jack Mathis, the main character from her favorite book. A fictional hero and Stella's first crush. Standing in front of her in the flesh.

Jack tells Stella about the magic hidden in the library. Skeptical, Stella rashly invites a villain to visit, and chaos ensues. As she discovers the importance of protecting the library's secret and gets to know the real Jack, words continue to appear. What are they trying to tell her?

Much too quickly, Stella is faced with the reality that all stories must end, and magic comes at a price. The characters who visit the library can only stay for fourteen days. And Jack's time is almost up.

A cozy, Hallmark-esque rom-com, The Charmed Library invites readers to escape to a world where words come alive and book boyfriends leap off the page.

 

What did I think?

What an absolutely fabulous story Jennifer Moorman has written to delight readers and book lovers!  As a life-long reader I've always thought the library was magical and clearly Jennifer Moorman does too as the magic of books shines out from every page of The Charmed Library.

I adored Stella from the start.  She is feeling very lost and alone; not even her job in the library excites her.  No, this isn't a horror novel!  When Stella returns to the library one evening she meets some very familiar characters but they can't be real, can they?

Although I've never had a book boyfriend, I totally get why Stella is drawn to Jack as he has been there for her whenever she has needed him, she just needed to open his book.  It's like all her dreams have come true when she can see, touch and (eeeek) kiss him.  The downside of this is that like all library books, Jack can only be checked out for 14 days.  

My heart was breaking as the chemistry between Stella and Jack is clear for all to see but to say that they come from different places is an understatement.  There's a real element of magic in the book as Stella can see words in different colours and, whilst some colours are obvious, there are some mysterious purple words that the reader has to collect like bits of a jigsaw in order to see the finished picture.

Charming by name and charming by nature, The Charmed Library is a beautiful and unusual love story with a sprinkling of magic and a lot of books.  It's the first book I have read by Jennifer Moorman and I will definitely be looking out for more now.  Don't miss this one, book lovers!

I received a gifted paperback for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Realm of Fear (Mirror Wars Book 3) - Alan Bayles

After cheating death with the aid from a mysterious cosmic entity, Dave Barnes and Claire Tulley find themselves on the parallel world of Terra, where the sudden appearance of Claire’s supposedly deceased twin sister, a revered Terran resistance leader throws them off balance.

A former enemy, now potential ally, may hold the key to returning home and continuing their battle against the sentient AI, Oracle.

New threats emerge, forcing Claire and Dave to make an impossible choice: keep the portal sealed, stranding them on Terra with a hostile inhuman presence, or do they jeopardise the whole multiverse just to get home?

GRAB YOUR COPY OF REALM OF FEAR NOW TO DISCOVER THEIR FATE!

 

What did I think?

Even though I don't usually read science fiction, I am really enjoying the Mirror Wars series and Realm of Fear is the thrilling third book in this gripping series.  It's a book I wouldn't advise reading as a standalone as you need to have read the earlier books to understand the various worlds and how they and the characters link together.

What links all of the worlds is Oracle, a scary AI that sends chills down my spine.  When you take emotions out of the equation, you really can't predict what Oracle will do next.  I loved how the Tulley sisters are reunited in this book but they have some unfinished business to deal with first to do with the last time they saw each other.

It's quite thought-provoking to see different versions of people in each world and it is surprising how similar they actually are.  I like to think that would be the case if I ever did run into another version of me from another world.

The pacing really ramps up in this instalment and especially so at the end where the reader is left right on the edge of the cliff with a beady eye out for book four.  I can't wait to read the conclusion. 

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Shotley Bridge Murders (Shotley Bridge Thrillers Book 1) - Bobby Cussens

Four bodies. Two weeks. One secret that's waited forty years to surface.

This is the case that could cost Detective Heather Hudson everything.

When DC Heather Hudson finds Boz's throat-slashed body on a frozen riverbank, she's plunged into a chilling murder case. As the body count rises and winter storms batter County Durham, Heather spots a pattern nobody else can see.

With DS Roberts undermining her at every turn and a team of sceptical detectives dismissing her theory, Heather must race against time to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.

The case seems solved—until it spectacularly unravels.

In a violent final confrontation, Heather risks everything to stop a serial killer seeking revenge.

A gripping British detective series powered by a female sleuth, filled with authentic Geordie voices, workplace drama, and cold cases that refuse to stay buried.

Perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, and LJ Ross who love police procedurals with complex female protagonists and the atmospheric beauty of England's North East.

SHOTLEY BRIDGE MURDERS is Book 1 in the Detective Heather Hudson series. One killer is caught—but in the chilling epilogue, another threat emerges...

What did I think?

I absolutely loved this fantastic debut novel by Bobby Cussens.  Shotley Bridge Murders is such a good read and it is set in my local area, although I have to say that I have never actually been to Shotley Bridge but I really enjoyed my virtual visit (despite all the murders).

This is an outstanding police procedural that hooked me from the start and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.  The chapters are date and time stamped so I really felt as if I was part of the police investigation, although I would have been suspended for giving DS Roberts a piece of my mind.

DC Heather Hudson is the real star though, both in terms of being the main protagonist and the brains behind the police investigation.  DS Roberts seems more interested in putting Heather down and bigging himself up than solving the murders.  He's a character that I loved to hate and it just goes to show the author's talent when such feelings are evoked in the reader.

The village of Shotley Bridge is beautifully depicted through Bobby Cussen's vivid writing and it is easy to imagine the scenery, even if you've never been there.  I was completely gripped by the hunt for the murderer and I enjoyed virtually meeting all (well, most) of the villagers.  I am so pleased that there are more books planned as there is some unfinished business in this book and I am keen to see how it plays out.

Gripping, authentic and atmospheric, Shotley Bridge Murders is an amazing debut novel and a very impressive start to an exciting new series.  I can't wait to read more and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the release of Shotley Bridge Revenge.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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About the author:

Bobby Cussens lives in County Durham with her husband and Stan, their labrador. When she’s not dreaming up ways to despatch characters in her novels, she’s hiking or cycling across Muggleswick Moor and around Derwent Reservoir.

Bobby has been an aspiring crime writer for decades, but this is her first novel. She's also written an anthology of poetry and two other books, which will be available soon. The next instalment of Heather Hudson’s adventures is nearly complete and scheduled for publication in the summer of 2026.

Website: https://www.bobbycussens.com/

Instagram: @bobbycussens

Facebook: BobbyCussens

TikTok: @bobbycussensauthor

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BLOG TOUR: The Lost Girls (Mary Shelley Investigations book 2) - Donna Gowland

Don’t miss this page-turning historical mystery! For fans of Mary Shelley, Daphne Du Maurier, Diane Setterfield and Laura Purcell.

Is someone snatching dead bodies…?

1814, London

After triumphantly solving a murder case in Paris, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin and Percy Shelley return to London penniless.

As Percy is still married to his estranged wife, he and Mary are shunned from polite society for living together out of wedlock.

Isolated and trapped in squalid lodgings, Mary finds herself alone while Percy escapes to the tavern. And one evening when she goes looking for him, a dead body is found.

But when Percy and Mary arrive at the scene the dead girl is gone…

When she receives a note from an old friend and discovers another girl is missing, Mary wonders if the crimes are connected.

What happened to the body? Was it taken by the murderer?

Can Mary and Percy come together to solve another tricky case…?

THE MARY SHELLEY INVESTIGATIONS SERIES:

Book One: The Missing Wife

Book Two: The Lost Girls

Book Three: Death at the Altar

What did I think?

I absolutely loved The Missing Wife, the first book in the Mary Shelley Investigations series, so I couldn't wait to read The Lost Girls and I was not disappointed.  You can definitely read it as a standalone if you have just discovered this fascinating series.

Mary and Percy have returned from their elopement to France but the scandal has followed them back to London.  Now Mary is pregnant, ignored by her family and living well below the standard to which she had become accustomed.  Whilst they have little money for food, Percy certainly seems to find money for drink.

I love the way that Donna Gowland brings these historical characters to life and weaves fact with fiction so that the reader learns about Mary and Percy Shelley in a very entertaining way.  I have new respect for Mary as Percy is so exasperating and I couldn't live with him.  Mary's stepsister Claire is a strange one; it's good that she provides support to Mary but she is clearly enamoured with Percy so I worry that Claire's motives are entirely selfish.

The missing girls storyline is incredibly intriguing and atmospheric as the dark underbelly of Georgian London is described.  I felt as if I was there following in their footsteps as Mary, Percy and Claire investigate this puzzling case.

Entertaining, captivating and authentic, The Lost Girls is a thrilling instalment in this completely unmissable series.  I can't wait to read more so look out for my review of book three, Death at the Altar, very soon.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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A Stranger in Corfu - Alex Preston

On the Greek island of Vidos the past lingers like salt in the air. The inhabitants - former members of MI6 - are sent here to be forgotten. Exiled. Either too damaged or too compromised to be allowed to live freely.

For years, residents make the best of their fate - old enemies reconcile, long-lost friends swim together in the warm sea and estranged lovers share a bed once more. But secrets bind tightly. And when one of their own washes up dead, alliances fracture and a tide of suspicion begins to rise.

A vivid reimagining of a real, hidden slice of the British Intelligence Service's history, A Stranger in Corfu is an exquisitely tense and masterfully spun novel about shadowy morality, unravelled secrets and the futility of trying to outrun the past.

 

What did I think?

It was really interesting to read A Stranger in Corfu because although it is fiction it did make me wonder what happens to spies when they are no longer active.  Are they trusted to they keep their secrets or are they too much of a risk?

These former spies are exiled on the island of Vidos in Corfu and they live together rather like a dysfunctional family.  The Greek police have their work cut out when one of the ex-spies is found dead.  Is it an accident or was it murder?  The spies know better than most that it's a dangerous world out there and you don't know who you can trust.

The timeline flips back and forth between the current setting and previous assignments and although the pacing is quite slow I was mesmerised by the eloquence of Alex Preston's writing. 

Atmospheric, poignant and intriguing, A Stranger in Corfu is an enthralling literary thriller that I really enjoyed reading.  It's well worth a read if you enjoy spy thrillers as it's something a bit different from the norm.

I received a gifted hardback for the Adventures With Words readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: The General's Wife - Suzanne Dana

 

Some secrets don't stay buried, even beneath military honors

Margaret Stone appears to be the perfect military spouse—supportive, resilient, and respected as the wife of Brigadier General George "Rocky" Stone. But beneath her carefully composed exterior lies a past shadowed by tragedy and one fateful night that could destroy everything she's built.

When a blackmail letter signed "Swimbuddy1980" arrives, Margaret is forced to confront the truth about what really happened during a late-night swim at Coronado Beach nearly thirty years ago. As the threats escalate and her husband faces a career-defining deployment to Afghanistan, Margaret must navigate the complex loyalties of military life while fighting to protect the life she's crafted from the ashes of her troubled youth.

From a San Diego tattoo parlor to the formality of Marine Corps ceremonies, Margaret's journey reveals the resilience of the human spirit and the unique bonds forged through shared sacrifice in the military community.

In this compelling narrative of love, betrayal, and redemption, one woman discovers that while the past shapes us, it need not define us—and that true strength comes from facing the most painful truths of all.

What did I think?

The General's Wife is a wonderful debut novel that gives the reader a glance into US military life from a side you don't often see: that of the wives and partners.  The armed forces have such an important and difficult job but so do those they leave behind when they're deployed.

With reference to a secret in chapter one, I was immediately drawn into the story and just had to find out what was haunting Maggie from her past.  Maggie is a Brigadier General's wife and any scandal would be a detriment to his career progression.  That's why Maggie agrees to pay a blackmailer to keep her secret hidden but this means that she is hiding something else from her husband.

The secret is revealed to the reader through flashbacks to Maggie's youth and it broke my heart to see Maggie carrying this burden for so many years.  Secrets can fester if you try to bury them and it's true what they say about a problem shared but Maggie is terrified of the consequences and she doesn't know who she can trust.

I love secrets in a novel so I was hooked from the start and as much as I wanted to know what the secret was I was enjoying the whole story of Maggie's life, both past and present, just as much.  Maggie is such a strong character that I really came to care about her and she would definitely give us Brits a run for our money in the stiff upper lip stakes.

Completely captivating and incredibly intriguing, The General's Wife is filled with love, honour and respect.  It's a riveting story and it's so beautifully written that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

I received a gifted paperback for the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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About the author:

Suzanne Dana is both a general’s daughter and a general’s wife. She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in journalism and a secondary education credential in English. As a general’s wife, she moved nineteen times and supported her husband through eight deployments, including those to Iraq and Afghanistan. She currently sits on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation board as an Adjunct Director. She enjoys photography, travel, water sports, and volunteering at a local women’s shelter. She resides in Arizona with her husband. 

The General’s Wife is her debut novel.

Social Media Links – 

Website: http://suzannemdana.com/

Facebook: suzannemdana

Instagram: @authorsuzannedana

Giveaway:

Giveaway to Win 10 x signed copies of The General’s Wife (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam 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.

Win 10 x signed copies of The General’s Wife (Open INT)

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