BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Age of Fury - John Stephens

A fierce seventeen-year-old Irish girl joins forces with a notorious gangster to hunt down her sister's killer.

1907. New York City. A glittering world built on lies - and one murdered girl who could expose them all.

Caitlin Quinn crosses the ocean from Ballykelly with nothing but a desperate letter from her missing twin, Mary. New York is meant to hold answers - but instead it offers danger: a sprawling metropolis with a brutal underbelly of crooked deals, criminal empires and forces who'd kill to keep Mary's truth hidden.

Then there is William Furey - a feared gangster haunted by a rage he can't explain. He has his own orders to find Mary, and when his search collides with Caitlin's, their unlikely alliance sparks something fierce and undeniable.

As the walls close in, Caitlin and William realise the truth will cost them far more than they ever imagined. To uncover what happened to Mary, they must risk everything: their loyalties, their futures, and the fragile trust growing between them. Because love, like justice, exacts a price. And some sacrifices are paid in blood . . .

The producer, director, and writer of shows including Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, The O.C., and Gotham turns his attention to the underworld of Gilded Age New York in this riveting suspense novel that blends tension and humanity - and deftly showcases a heart-stirring exploration of truth, identity, and love.

 

What did I think?

FIVE HUGE STARS!  The Age of Fury is one of the best books I've read this year, if not this decade.  Absolutely outstanding!

Billed as 'Peaky Blinders meets Brooklyn', I have never watched Brooklyn but I definitely got Peaky Blinders vibes.  It's published by Hot Key Books, which is a teen and YA imprint of Bonnier, but it is a fantastic historical fiction novel for adult readers too.

The haunting prologue is a letter from Mary to her twin sister Caitlin asking her to leave Ireland and come to New York to help her.  Caitlin doesn't think twice and immediately sets sail for America, writing to Mary about her journey.  Caitlin's unique, funny and strong voice shines through the prose as she is constantly talking to Mary in her head and telling her everything that is happening, making me laugh out loud along the way.  Caitlin is determined to find out what has happened to Mary and so is gangster William Furey.

I absolutely adored the two main characters, Caitlin and William, whose points of view are told via their own chapters.  The chemistry between the two of them doesn't just sizzle on the page, it erupts like fireworks.  As their paths keep crossing and their feelings grow, William has to decide what is most important to him: Caitlin or his very dangerous boss.

I don't think I can really put into words how much I enjoyed this book.  It is action-packed, blisteringly fast-paced and completely binge-worthy.  I want to read it again so I can experience it all over again.  Unforgettable and unmissable, The Age of Fury is definitely going on my favourites shelf.

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

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Ice Flower Herbarium - Dzena Andersone (Author), Žanete Vēvere Pasqualini (Translator)

When he wakes to find a body in a sack on the roadside outside his home, police chief Vincents sets off a chain of events that threaten to overwhelm him and the sleepy, Latvian backwater town he has lived in his whole life.

A reluctant and unlikely hero, Vincents grapples with his failing marriage, a domineering former police partner and an ever-growing number of strange and bewildering cases. As the body count rises and Vincents' precariously constructed world crumbles around him, the focus of his investigations closes in inexorably on a troubled young man, Jens, whose odd behaviour can no longer be contained by his controlling Aunt Erika. 

Ice, Flower, Herbarium is a haunting psychological story of inherited guilt and the consequences of raising a child without love or human touch. Will Vincents uncover the truth and find the strength to stand up to the town, or will his resolve melt away with the snow?

 

What did I think?

If Ice Flower Herbarium was any more atmospheric I would have had to put my woolly hat and gloves on!  Wow!  What a fantastic piece of crime fiction from Dzena Andersone, beautifully translated by Žanete Vēvere Pasqualini.  It is certainly one of the best translated crime fiction novels I have read.

From the very first page I was thrust into the snow and ice of the isolated Latvian location and could easily visualise the scenery through the vivid and evocative writing.  It's plotted quite differently as the reader knows what has happened to the missing woman and how the body ended up outside Vincents' house but it is more about why this happened and it is heartbreaking.  I didn't think I would ever sympathise with a killer!

It speaks volumes that I am still thinking about the book after I finished reading it and I have even been talking about it to family and friends.  I can't really go into what I have been talking about as it would spoil it for other readers but it really did make me grateful for the life that I personally have had.

Ice Flower Herbarium is the first Latvian novel that I have read and what an absolute cracker it is!  It's a book I couldn't put down when I picked it up and couldn't stop thinking about when I put it down.  Very highly recommended.

Many thanks to Fly on the Wall Press for a gifted ARC; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: What Happened in Beulah - Christy Scott Cashman

A teenage girl uncovers the dark secrets of her Smoky Mountain town while searching for a missing classmate in this gripping coming-of-age mystery perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing.

Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Beulah has always seemed steady—rooted in tradition, shaped by generations, and slow to change. But in 1986, the ground has shifted, and no one feels that more than fifteen-year-old Barrett Childress Owens. Between her parents’ unraveling marriage and a school full of kids she can’t connect with, she feels invisible in her own hometown.

When Lacy Gunderson, the captivating new girl everyone is curious about, suddenly vanishes, the town’s calm surface fractures. Search parties comb the woods. A police investigation begins. Rumors multiply. Families close ranks. And Barrett begins to sense how much the adults around her choose not to say. As Beulah clings to its usual rituals—including the annual Miss Kudzu pageant, which has shaped local girlhood for decades—Barrett is forced to navigate a community where loss lingers in the air and secrets are carefully kept. Her journey through the uncertainty reshapes her understanding of friendships, family, and the complex place she calls home.

A rich coming-of-age story with a pulse of mystery and a budding romance, What Happened in Beulah explores the fault lines of a small town and the courage it takes to face the truths people would rather bury.

 

What did I think?

I got a lovely surprise when I opened the cover of What Happened in Beulah as there's a map!  I love poring over maps in a book and it really helped to visualise the town of Beulah before I had even read a single word.

The main character is a teenager and I loved her unique and evocative voice that seemed to speak to me through Christy Scott Cashman's beautiful prose.  Seeing the world through Barrett's eyes is very refreshing and honest as she navigates friendship, family and her first crush.

It is so much more than a coming-of-age story though as someone in Beulah is hiding a dark secret from the past.  When one of Barrett's classmates goes missing, the community start pointing fingers rather than rallying together.  As awful as it is that a young girl has gone missing, it is perfectly balanced by Barrett being very entertaining and often amusing.

What Happened in Beulah is a haunting, poignant and compelling tale steeped in mystery and atmosphere.  I couldn't put it down once I picked it up and I really couldn't have predicted the ending.  Fantastic!

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Novel Tours Instagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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INSTAGRAM TOUR: Future Song - Tim Kindberg

Near-future Bristol. When the daughter of Laia, a climate refugee, is kidnapped, who can she trust as she desperately searches for her baby girl? Francis, the mysterious private detective who turns up out of the blue, has his own reasons for helping her scour the city. Then there’s Shalott, the folk figure with flowers in her hair – surely she and her many followers could help? But up close, her motives are sinister.

Above all, is Laia’s stolen daughter, rumoured to be the ‘child of the future’, the key to survival that this climate-ravaged city is so desperate for? Or a sacrifice for the witches in business suits? Laia’s running out of time to find her.

A compelling story of fusing hope, realism and justice as we live through the time of climate change.

 

What did I think?

I have been enjoying speculative fiction so I was immediately drawn to Future Song from the intriguing blurb.  I knew I would enjoy it but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did; it is simply breathtaking.

The story is split into four parts and I couldn't read it fast enough; devouring every word as if I had been starved of reading for weeks.  Much like the Bristol of the future where food is scarce and anyone who is perceived as being different is targeted. 

It is very thought-provoking, not just the climate change effect but also the power of social media and the way that people are manipulated and influenced by what they see and hear online.  I felt my own fury bubbling under the surface on several occasions as Laia's story really got under my skin.

Future Song is very well written and easy to read so it will appeal to readers of all genres.  It's incredibly compelling, difficult to put down and impossible to forget.  Very highly recommended.

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

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INSTAGRAM TOUR: What We Leave Behind (Sammy and Facey book 2) - Siôn Scott-Wilson

A gripping tale of redemption and the power of love set against the backdrop of a historical crime-ridden London...

In this highly-anticipated sequel to Some Rise By Sin, Sammy and Facey are pulled back into the gritty world of London's criminal underworld. This time, the stakes are higher than ever as the fate of Sammy's young adopted son hangs in the balance. Coerced into the hunt for a notorious gemstone, Sammy and Facey are torn between their moral code and their desperate desire to save the boy.

As they navigate the dangerous streets of London, they are forced to confront the weight of their actions and the legacies they will leave behind. Will they make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the stolen child—and can they rise above the sins of their past?

 

What did I think?

Wow! Siôn Scott-Wilson has really raised the bar with What We Leave Behind, the fantastic sequel to Some Rise By Sin.  I think you could read it as a standalone and still enjoy it though.

I love this little group of characters and it was great to catch up with my favourite resurrection men once again.  Sammy and Facey may have run from their past but they cannot hide and they are forced back into their old ways when John, Sammy and Rosamond's adopted son, is kidnapped; the ransom is a rare gemstone that has been buried with its owner.

As I had read the first book, I was familiar with Siôn Scott-Wilson's amazing ability to write so colloquially.  It really immerses you into the story and brings to life the Regency period of the early 19th century.  I absolutely loved some of the words and phrases used and even though I didn't know what some of the meant, I could guess.

The action is non-stop as the clock is ticking to save John and the tension ramps up until it is as taut as a bow string.  I simply couldn't read fast enough to reach the breathtaking conclusion and although I was sad for the book to finish, I am delighted that there is a third book, What Mortal Flesh has just been published.

Historical fiction fans, do not miss this outstanding book!  What We Leave Behind is incredibly atmospheric, gripping and entertaining.  I can't wait to read more!

I received a gifted paperback for the Novel Tours instagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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INSTAGRAM TOUR: Then There's Trust (Blossoming of Trust book 3) - Susan Gray

A forbidden love…a relationship in jeopardy…a tested trust

Darcy Dukas is fearless and feisty – but can she be trusted? Left bereft after a personal disappointment, her vulnerable mindset causes her to seize an opportunity to pursue her dream career. When Marcel Duval arrives in Durham to establish his detective agency, she agrees to work with him. But is she prepared for the risks she will encounter? Risks for her safety…risks for her young marriage…and risks affecting her family’s trust?

In 1952 Josh Smallwood, Darcy’s brother, returns home after completing his national service. Trying to sort his future, he begins working on the family farm and befriends Judy, a young nurse. He is baffled to discover any liaison with her is forbidden by her family. This mystery fuels an intense, secret relationship…can they overcome obstacles to be together?

A shroud of guilt clings to Chantal Martin – will she ever be free from its taint? As an unmarried mother, her once tenacious trait seems to have deserted her. Striving towards the final hurdle, an unexpected decision and an untimely event threaten to blight her resilience…can her trust be rewarded?

Then There’s Trust is a gripping, emotional story of love, fidelity and trust set in 1950’s northeast England.

 

What did I think?

I discovered this wonderful series at book two, Hope on Hope, so I was very excited to catch up with the Smallwood family again in the third book, Then There's Trust.  Although it's part of a series I think you could read it as a standalone and still enjoy it, but when read as part of the series it is outstanding.  

There's a family tree at the start of the book, which is really useful even if you're already familiar with the characters but will be invaluable for any readers new to the series.  As it's a family story, there are a lot of characters but they are so well developed that it never gets confusing as I feel like I know each character personally.

As with real life, there are a lot of ups and downs in the book and some parts of the story had me laughing and at other times I was struggling to hold back my tears.  It just goes to show the strength of the author's talent to generate such an emotional response from the reader.

Filled with family drama, Then There's Trust is an emotional and heartfelt read that captivated me from start to finish.  I am missing the characters already but I have book one, Blossoming of Truth, on my Kindle so I hope to visit them again soon.  It's an easy five stars for this simply magnificent novel.

I am reposting my review for the Hygge Book Tours instagram tour as I loved this fabulous book; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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About the author:

‘Never too old to follow your dreams’ has become Susan Gray’s mantra since beginning to write novels after celebrating a significant birthday. Susan endeavours to entwine the genres of mystery and romance and sets her books in the Twentieth Century. She lives with her husband in northeast England, setting her books in this picturesque area. She has a son and daughter, both married, two granddaughters and a grand dog. When not writing she loves to spend time reading, puzzling, walking and catching up with friends over a coffee. She enjoys travelling and tries to include many of the places she has visited in her books. Her plots are inspired by ‘life’ and how her characters navigate the waters. She loves to ‘people watch’ and creates her characters based on the many strangers she has observed. She has written eight novels, but only four are published so far. SPANISH HOUSE SECRETS was her debut novel. BLOSSOMING OF TRUTH, HOPE ON HOPE and THEN THERE’S TRUST are a series.

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Beastwoven - A.B. Hamilton

Two girls forced to share a body as they hunt and destroy beasts. The irony? They're the very beast they must destroy. The first in an incredibly written and dazzlingly original YA fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Tomi Adeyemi.

Lia and Ali are trained to use their elemental weaving powers to destroy burl beasts - mindless, bloodthirsty monsters created when the threads of their world tangle together. Their secret? They themselves are a burl beast: twin sisters, forced to share one body. Quiet and reserved Lia controlling by day. Outspoken and abrasive Ali leading by night.

When news arrives that an elusive criminal is creating bespoke burl beasts by practising the illegal magic that could finally separate them, the girls jump at the chance to join the team sent to investigate. But as the girls get closer to their new flock and, more importantly, two different boys, it becomes harder to hide who - or what - they really are.

Delving deeper into the dangerous world of flesh-weaving and political intrigue, the girls get closer to the answers they so desperately seek. But is the price of their separation truly worth the risk?

 

What did I think?

Wow!  I could not put this book down!  I was completely hooked by the dark and dangerous world of burl beast hunting and totally invested in the story of Lia and Ali.

To their fellow burl beast hunters, Lia and Ali are one person but they are actually twins who have been bound together by elemental magic to keep them safe.  What a massive secret to keep hidden!  Revealing this secret makes them one of the very beasts that they are hunting to destroy.  

A.B. Hamilton's writing is mesmerising and the beautifully drawn characters virtually pop out from the page.  It's very exciting to read such an amazing debut novel and it makes me very keen to see what will come next.

Beastwoven is aimed at a YA audience but will appeal to adult readers too; it is a stunning fantasy novel that immersed me in a magical world that I didn't want to leave.  I loved every single page of it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

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

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