BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Princeweaver - Elian J Morgan

Their marriage is to save a warring kingdom. But in the process, it might destroy them both

Born with forbidden, nature-infused magic in an occupied land, anxious apothecary Meilyr survives by keeping his head down. Until he ends up engaged to invading prince Osian in order to save his brother's life. Now, he is in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse to hide his true self.

When nobles in Osian's court are gruesomely murdered by the same magic that flows through his veins, Meilyr realises someone is seeking revenge for his homeland. As suspicion towards him grows, he and the prince work together to uncover the killer or risk losing the crown - or their lives.

Between court politics, unwieldy magic and a murderer on the loose, Meilyr must keep his wits about him. Especially as his feelings for Osian grow deeper with every passing day...

Combines the court intrigue and slow-burn yearning of A Taste of Gold and Iron with the folkloric grounding and lore that readers of Naomi Novik and Stephanie Garber will enjoy.

 

What did I think?

I can't start my review of Princeweaver by Elian J Morgan without mentioning the absolutely stunning cover on the beautiful hardback edition.  It has the feel of a fairy tale for adults and there are certainly some magical elements in the book to back that up.

I adored Meilyr whose story is very intriguing and links to the fox on the front cover.  Meilyr is an apothecary after being trained in the herbal arts by his adopted family.  There's a lot of conflict in the kingdom and Meilyr is just trying to keep his brother out of trouble when he finds himself crossing paths with Prince Osian.  Prince Osian saves Meilyr from prison by coming up with a plan to marry him.  

There's much more to this story than meets the eye and, as the fake marriage progresses, it is clear that Meilyr and Osian have deep feelings for each other.  There's a lot of treachery in the palace too as the siblings all covet the crown and I was on the edge of my seat with Meilyr caught in the crossfire.

I loved the excerpts from letters and documents at the start of each chapter that added authenticity to the story.  Anyone familiar with Welsh folklore (unfortunately, I'm not) will pick up some references to myth and legend.  

Princeweaver is a vivid and imaginative story with a lot of intrigue, a good helping of romance and a sprinkling of magic.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait for the sequel, Princebreaker.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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Strange Buildings - Uketsu

The addictive mystery taking the world by storm, from the author of Strange Pictures

Eleven strange buildings. One terrible secret.

A lonely hut in the woods.

A hidden chamber.

A mysterious shrine.

A home in flames.

A nightmarish prison...

Each of the buildings in this book tells a chilling story. Each one is part of a puzzle.

Look closely... and you'll see that everything is connected.

All leading to a revelation so horrifying you won't want to believe it.

Millions of readers have become addicted to solving Uketsu's dark mysteries.

Strange Buildings is the strangest, and darkest, so far.

 

What did I think?

I had noticed a lot of excitement online about Uketsu's books so I chose to read Strange Buildings.  I wasn't really sure what to expect but I didn't expect it to be THIS good.  I simply couldn't put it down!

The books may look linked but I don't think they are and you don't have to read Strange Pictures or Strange Houses before reading Strange Buildings.  Strange Buildings is the first one I have read but I definitely want to read the others now.

It reads like a podcast or true crime show as the author shares 11 files relating to mysterious buildings.  Just like a real case file, there are floor plans and diagrams to really make the reader feel like they're part of the investigation.  As you read each one you start to see little links appearing, which makes the book even harder to put down as I was busy gathering all of the clues.

Prepare to meet your new addiction; Strange Buildings is one of the most bingeworthy books I have read in a long time.  It's a fantastic and addictive mystery novel that hooked me from the start and made me crave more of Uketsu's books.  An easy five stars and it's a book I will be recommending for a long time.

I received a gifted paperback from the publisher and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Like Me (The Millingham Series book 1) - Katharine Light

When exhausted single-mum Jess returns to Manchester for her twenty-year school reunion, she’s hoping for nothing more than a well-deserved break from reality. What she’s not expecting is to bump into her secret teenage crush, hot single-dad Sam, or to remember quite how much they have in common. 

But they live so far apart, their kids aren’t always easy, and there are events in their shared past it’s best not to revisit. Surely the idea of a future together is just a crazy dream in their messy, adult lives? 

Though when Sam invites Jess to accompany him to a mutual friend’s high-profile wedding, the years they spent apart once again melt away. What will it take for them to be together? Can they use their second chance to finally get it right?

 

What did I think?

Like Me is a superb debut novel from Katharine Light that is filled with drama, insecurities and romance.  You could call it a slow burn as the chemistry between the two main characters smoulders from start to finish.

Jess has always had a crush on Sam since they were at school together.  They have a bit of history as teenagers but it is very much a what might have been.  The school reunion brings Jess up from London to Manchester and her attraction to Sam has clearly not waned over the years.

I had my fingers crossed that Jess and Sam would finally get together this time but old insecurities resurface and it's almost like they revert back to having the feelings they had as teenagers.  With secrets and traumas buried in their pasts, neither of them have the confidence to declare their feelings.

Katharine Light's characterisation is outstanding and I was really invested in both characters as if they were real people that I knew.  Like Me isn't a simple love story; it is reminiscent of the trials and tribulations of real life and I couldn't put it down until I found out how it would end.

Like Me is an engaging and emotional romance novel that held my interest and introduced me to characters that I genuinely grew to care about.  It's well worth a read and I'm glad that the author has decided to make it into a series with another set of characters taking centre stage in the sequel, Me Too.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/3XRgWwC

About the author:

Katharine Light was born in Glasgow and lived there until her family moved to Manchester when she was ten. While in her teens, she began writing stories for her younger sister Emma. These mostly centred around a naïve heroine and a 1980s pop star (some would say the hero was modelled on John Taylor of Duran Duran).

She did a degree in psychology at University College London, and after a year travelling, worked in corporate film production for several years, before taking a break to raise her children. 

For many years she wrote mainly during the holidays, around her busy work for a local church.

Her first novel Like Me, published in 2023, was shortlisted for The Selfies Book Awards 2024. Her short story My arms are empty which is based on an episode from her second novel Me Too recently won the City University competition City Writes. 

She is a director of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, with responsibility for organising their conferences, gatherings and awards ceremonies. 

Katharine lives in London with her husband and quite often at least one of their adult children. She loves singing, walking, painting, looking at art, and going to the theatre.

Social Media Links – 

Instagram/Threads – katharinelightwrites1

Facebook – Katharinelightwrites

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Realm Walker: Somewhere Between Mayhem and Madness (Dream Walker 2) - Bruce Martin

 

The mortal world and Netherworld collide in a twisted fight for power and freedom.

Still haunted by his fears for Alison and desperate to uncover the truth behind the hospital attack, John digs deeper into a mystery that grows more dangerous by the hour.

Meanwhile, realms away in the shadowed depths of the Netherworld, Alison fights to survive a place that was never meant to claim her, burdened by a destiny she never asked for.

With so much at stake, and mythological forces coming at them from all sides, will the two best friends find their way back to one another, before it's too late?

What did I think?

Having recently read Dream Walker I couldn't wait for this sequel and I was not disappointed.  I absolutely loved my second visit to the Netherworld in Realm Walker and it has left me eager to return.

It is the second book in the series and I probably wouldn't recommend reading it as a standalone as the world building has already been done in the first book and this book both carries on and runs concurrently with Alison's story.  I wish I'd read both books back to back as I was a little lost sometimes and I had read the books in order.

I love that it is inspired by Lewis Carroll's Wonderland but it is a LOT darker, although equally as bonkers.  Anyone who has read Alice in Wonderland will recognise some of the characters but they are very different thanks to Bruce Martin's vivid imagination.

Filled with action and adventure, Realm Walker is a fun and highly original book that follows on nicely from Dream Walker but also leaves me excited to see what happens next.  It's not a retelling of Oliver Twist but please Mr Martin, can I have some more?

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

About the author:

Bruce loves to write about other realms, alternate realities, monsters and mayhem. He likes to make people think about their own lives while getting lost in someone else’s. He loves nothing better than to sit down at his computer and play with his imaginary friends. He was obsessed with horror and monsters from a very early age, and always knew he was different to everyone else, but never knew why! He never felt like he fitted in. As a result, Bruce has always strived for perfection in everything he has done, and through working in the leisure industry for many years, he has his own unique take on the human psyche.  

Bruce was born and raised in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He graduated from Humberside University with a degree in Exhibition & Museum Design, but soon fell out of love with design, due to him constantly thinking outside the box. He worked in many fields before finding great success as a multi-award-winning public house manager and brewer. After the infamous Covid lockdowns and personal tragedy in 2022, Bruce turned his attention to writing, crafting his first eagerly anticipated novel Dream Walker – Somewhere Between Realm and Reality. He now lives in Lancashire with his daughter.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: What Fools We Have Been - Hank Williams

Morecambe Bay, Lancashire: After his father’s death, a son clears out his parents’ house. When he finds a series of haunting photographs of Morecambe Bay, taken by his father towards the end of his life, it sparks a journey through the scattered memories and broken connections of five generations of family history.

Flowing from the vibrant post-war Jewish community of London's east end, to the quiet suburban streets of Stanmore, and back to the Lancashire coast, the story cascades down through each generation’s shifting perspective. A wife appeases her charismatic yet destructive husband; a son reimagines the jigsaw of his mother’s life; a granddaughter tries to heal the traumas of the past.

What Fools We Have Been is an exploration of memory, identity, and the trail of damage left in the wake of wartime trauma. It asks: What is it that makes us who we are? Is it possible to repair the wreckage of the past?

 

What did I think?

What Fools We Have Been is a lovely change of pace from my usual type of book but it is just as compelling.  I loved reading this interesting story from the various points of view with a dual timeline.  It's quite short at 139 pages so it's a quick read, not just because of the page length but also because it is incredibly captivating.

I felt quite nosey looking back over the family history in the book with all of the skeletons bursting out of the closet.  It is so sad when disagreements fracture families and it's really difficult for those caught in the middle of it.  People can be so stubborn and unfortunately, it does need effort from both sides to repair the damage.

I have to share a quote from the book as Hank Williams has perhaps written my favourite phrase ever regarding memories.  When one of the characters is eating something that reminds him of a different time, he says that it tastes good to him because it is "seasoned with memories."  That is such a beautiful phrase and one I will never forget as it is so true.

Beautifully written, nostalgic and enthralling, What Fools We Have Been is a gentle, easy read and a very thought-provoking one.  

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Hank Williams was born in 1955 in London to Jewish parents. After university, he moved to the north west of England. For most of his career, he has worked as a management development consultant and has published three books on the subject. Since 2002, he has lived on the edge of Morecambe Bay.

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The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice (Major Gask & Erroll Rait Mysteries Book 4) - David Cairns of Finavon

Uncover the secrets history tried to bury…

The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice thrusts readers into the shadowy aftermath of one of America’s darkest moments—the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

Perfect for fans of historical fiction, political thrillers, and courtroom drama, this gripping tale blends high-stakes intrigue with razor-sharp suspense. Meticulously researched and brimming with unexpected twists, unforgettable characters, and haunting questions of justice and morality, this is a story that lingers long after the final page.

Join Major Gask and Erroll Rait as they unite with the Pinkertons to unravel the sinister secrets of the Hydegild Sacrifice—a case that threatens to shake the foundations of a nation still reeling from war.

History holds its breath. Will the truth finally be revealed?

The Major Gask Mysteries return in this fourth, pulse-pounding installment—a series already showered with 5-star acclaim from the Readers’ Choice Book Awards, the Historical Novel Society, and more. Praised by Aspects of History as “bursting with mystery, action, and adventure … a gripping, fast-paced read,” and hailed by Reader’s Favourite as “a thrilling mix of mystery, adventure, and conspiracy that keeps readers guessing until the very end,” these novels have become essential reading for fans of historical intrigue.

Cairns delivers a journey through history that grips from the first page to the last.

Dare you journey back in time and step into the mystery? 

What did I think?

If you like historical fiction you will love The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice.  I don't know a great deal about American history so it was really interesting to read historical fiction set during the Abraham Lincoln era.  You think you know what happened to Lincoln?  Think again...

I have to admit that it took me a little while to get into the book because of all of the footnotes.  Some of the footnotes clearly show the depth of research that has gone into writing this novel but it was the footnotes that reference earlier books in the series that I found a little irrelevant to me (as I hadn't read those books).  You don't need to have read the earlier books in the series to enjoy this one though as it's my introduction to the series and I think it's brilliant.

I thoroughly enjoyed the telling of the story and even though I knew what was going to happen (as it is based on real events) I was completely riveted.  I found myself inspired to learn more about the events in the book and asking myself questions about things that I had never even considered before.

I must also mention Major Gask and Erroll Rait, who are a kind of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson and happen to be in America when Lincoln is assassinated.  Together with a Pinkerton agent that they met on their voyage over, they help to investigate first the assassination plot and then the assassination itself.  What they find is most unexpected and questions everything I thought I knew about this event.

Impeccably researched and incredibly entertaining, The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice is a fantastic historical fiction novel based on real life events.  David Cairns of Finavon brings the period and the characters to life in this compelling, informative and fascinating novel.  A very highly recommended read.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Practical Regeneration - Professor Paul Lee

Practical Regeneration is a clear and accessible guide to living longer, moving better and taking control of your health. Professor Lee introduces his Four Pillars of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Time, showing how small, intelligent choices can transform the way the body heals and adapts. He explains how tiny misalignments build into bigger issues, how movement patterns shape long-term strength and how simple changes can shift the future of your joints, muscles and nervous system. 

The book also presents tools developed directly from his clinical work, including:

• MAI-Motion, a breakthrough movement analysis system that helps readers see what the eye cannot.

• The Regen PhD Pod, an integrated regenerative model used in clinical practice to support recovery and resilience. 

This is not a book about hacks. It is a book about systems, science and results.

“No hacks. Just science, systems and results.”

 

What did I think?

Professor Paul Lee's new book Practical Regeneration makes a lot of sense.  It is very easy to read and understand but most importantly it is filled with invaluable hints and tips to improve your health and wellbeing.

The book is set out in four parts representing four pillars: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Time.  Starting with Physics, the book resonated with me from the start as I have lived with back pain for most of my life.  There are SO many useful tips and ideas to improve your body and mind so it is worth having a notepad beside you as you read, although there are summaries and invaluable practical sections at the end of each chapter.

It is very refreshing to read about a surgeon who doesn't automatically reach for their scalpel but instead uses their scientific knowledge to find a non-invasive solution.  Professor Lee has designed some helpful digital tools (MAI-Motion and Regen PhD Pod) for further improvement but the reader isn't pushed into parting with their hard-earned cash; it's just good to know there is further help if you need it.

I have poor posture and alignment from spinal surgery in 2003.  I also had a wide excision on my right leg a few years later, which left me further listing to the left to take the weight off my right leg.  Using some tips in the book, I can now balance on my right leg whilst brushing my teeth, something that would have previously made me fall over the moment I lifted my left leg off the floor.  I was amazed that I saw a noticeable improvement in just a few days and within a week I wasn't wobbling at all.

Written clearly and informatively, you will be surprised how quickly you get results from this life-changing book.  You do need to invest some time and effort as it's called Practical Regeneration for a reason but it's well worth it.  I can't recommend this book highly enough and I want to thank Professor Lee for sharing his knowledge to give me the tools to improve my posture, balance and alignment (among other things).

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Professor Paul Lee, "The Regeneration Man," is a double professor and double Board-certified surgeon with a PhD in medical engineering. With a long history in sports medicine, bioscience ad regeneration, he seamlessly blends his expertise as a Surgeon, Scientist, and Engineer. His revolutionary approach to regenerative medicine empowers you to stay young, be strong, and live forever. Discover how cutting-edge science and innovative engineering can transform your health and vitality, helping you achieve superhuman strength and longevity. Embrace a vibrant, pain-free future with his groundbreaking strategies.

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