The Book Magnet: August 2025

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Thursday, 28 August 2025

BLOG TOUR: A Billionaire for Christmas - Jo Lyons

When talented chef Molly's best friend and business partner, Ava, passes away, she leaves Molly their beloved restaurant – and a wild, impossible bucket list to complete. But thanks to a legal mix-up, Molly's inheritance is at risk unless she ticks off every outrageous item before the Christmas Eve deadline: just twelve days away.

Determined to honour Ava's wishes and desperate to save her dream, Molly searches for a billionaire willing to share Champagne with her in a hot tub – one of the more extravagant challenges on the bucket list. She's in a luxurious ski resort in the French Alps so it might just be doable. But then she meets Levi. A devastatingly handsome billionaire, yes, but infuriatingly resistant to getting involved!

As the snow falls and sparks fly, Molly is entangled in a series of increasingly embarrassing escapades. With time running out, can she pull off the impossible – and maybe even find love along the way?

Hot enough to melt the Alpine snow, this romantic comedy is perfect for fans of Portia MacIntosh, Olivia Spring and Sophie Kinsella.

What did I think?

Well this fabulous book has certainly got me in the festive spirit! It also got my pulse racing, but more about that in a moment. Jo Lyons writes the funniest romantic comedy books and A Billionaire for Christmas is an absolute Christmas cracker! It is almost impossible not to laugh out loud when you're reading it.

I adored the main character of Molly who is going to lose her restaurant if she doesn't complete the bucket list left by her late business partner. In order to inherit the restaurant, Molly has to tick of the funniest, most daring and completely outrageous set of tasks that Ava has left her. Even more daunting, Molly only has a few days left to do it in - eek!

Although Ava's untimely death is very sad, the rest of the story is hilarious and I couldn't read fast enough to see which item Molly would attempt next. The task that most eludes her is the one that got my pulse racing as there is so much chemistry between Molly and billionaire businessman Levi. With misunderstandings, sizzling passions and the inevitable will they/won't they, this is a fabulous romance story with a lot of laughs.

Funny, flirty and festive, A Billionaire for Christmas is a fabulous romcom from a fantastic author who really knows how to tickle my funny bone. This is the book you want to find in your Christmas stocking this year - a very highly recommended read.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy link: https://mybook.to/BillionaireChristmas

About the author:

Jo Lyons is the bestselling author of six novels and was shortlisted for the prestigious Comedy Women in Print Awards in 2021. She spent years working abroad in sunny destinations like Turkey, Spain and the south of France at a vineyard (trying her best not to drink them out of business). Jo writes uplifting, laugh-out-loud, warm-hearted romantic comedies, including Girls Just Want to Have Sun.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @JoLyons

Twitter: @J0Lyons

Instagram: @hinnywhowrites

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JoLyonsNews

Bookbub profile: @joannalyons

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Monday, 25 August 2025

Ghost Girls and Rabbits - Cassondra Windwalker

Flush with the victory of winning the election as Alaska's first Athabaskan Senator, Noni Begay wakes to find herself buried alive. When her coffin lid opens, though, it's not to rescue but to six years of captivity, betrayed by the one person she trusted most. Escape will require not only all her strength but all the strength and stories of the ancestors she had until now imagined were only a useful device, an accessory she wore to win votes and social media followers.

Mary Nelson's only daughter, Ryska, went missing ten years ago, with no one but her mother to search for her. Having used up every favor and chit she has, Mary is willing to risk everything on one last ploy to save her daughter from the monsters-even if she has to become one herself.

A chilling psychological horror novel excoriating the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in North America, Ghost Girls and Rabbits is an unforgettable read perfect for fans of Scandinavian noir and literary horror, told by two fractured minds in the trappings of myths truer than mirrors.

What did I think?

I love reading Cassondra Windwalker's books as you just never know what to expect and Ghost Girls and Rabbits is no exceptions. It was a bit like falling down the rabbit hole as I didn't know what on earth was going on at first but it all becomes clear as you read on.

Mary Nelson will do anything to keep her missing daughter's face at the front of people's minds and she has a very cunning plan to do just that when Senator Noni Begay goes missing. It is no surprise that Mary's mental health has taken a beating and I'm surprised she managed to function as well as she did for so long.

It's a very claustrophobic story that is beautifully written both from the captive and the captor's points of view. The scenery also plays a part as it's set mainly in an isolated cabin in Alaska and the snow feels very menacing and traitorous as it shows up every footprint.

Inspired by missing Alaskan native women, Ghost Girls and Rabbits is an incredibly poignant and powerful book. Cassondra Windwalker's prose is lyrical and poetic as she takes the reader deep into the minds of her main characters. It's an unforgettable and important book that I highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author for sending me a digital ARC to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Friday, 22 August 2025

BLOG TOUR: The Forest Hideaway - Sharon Gosling

Saskia is building a home for herself out of the ruins of an old castle. Surrounded by forest, hidden away from everyone and everything, the place is special - it’s the only connection she has left to her father and it’s a hard-won chance to escape from her difficult past and create a new future. She’s spent her whole life trying to find a way to make this project work and finding someone to help her realise her dream has been almost impossible.

When local builder Owen finally signs up to manage the construction, things get off to a very bad start. But forced to find a way to work together, both realise that first impressions aren’t always the right ones, and when Owen discovers the forest is hiding a secret that could bring work to a halt, he realises he’s much more invested in the project – and Saskia – than he thought . . .

What did I think?

The Forest Hideaway by Sharon Gosling is as beautiful inside as out and I absolutely adored it. It's the perfect autumnal read to leave readers with a lovely warm glow.

Saskia is an architect who is determined to do the impossible: convert a castle ruin, complete with an oak tree growing in the middle of it, into her home. The local historical society are determined to stop her as they are convinced she is set on destroying the castle and the tree. They couldn't be more wrong.

The preservation of the castle and the tree really is lovely to see and it made me think of a local beautiful tree that was cruelly chopped down in its prime. I was surprised and delighted that it does actually get a mention in the book and I was moved to tears by the way that Sharon Gosling refers to it. It was never 'just a tree' to anyone who loved it.

I loved the characters that are so wonderfully drawn they virtually leap from the pages. Saskia has a very large heart and her builder Owen starts to see the real Saskia as they work together and get to know each other. It is so heartwarming to read about Saskia's compassion and kindness, especially when she has faced challenges in her past. Will she get her happy ever after?

Incredibly heartwarming and wonderfully uplifting, The Forest Hideaway is a beautiful novel that I wholeheartedly recommend. I loved it so much that I plan to read it again and it's going straight onto my favourites shelf so I can escape to the forest this autumn.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHZ2LNFR/

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Thursday, 21 August 2025

COVER REVEAL: My Rock Star Neighbor - Kathy Strobos

I'm delighted to be taking part in the Rachel's Random Resources cover reveal for My Rock Star Neighbor by Kathy Strobos. Scroll down to have a look at the cover and to find out more about the book.

This sounds like great fun to read and there's not long to wait as it's published on 10th October 2025.

Here's a little bit about the book:

When a wary rock star and a cynical reporter fake date to bury a scandalous rumor, will true love be exposed as the real story?

Nick: I do my best songwriting while playing my guitar on the fire escape. Unfortunately, my in-bed-at-ten next-door neighbor, Maddie, is not a fan of my music. She clambers out on the fire escape to yell at me about making "noise.” In bunny slippers, no less. But then she trips and falls into my arms.

That photo of Maddie plastered all over me hits the papers, just as my dream recording company wants to sign my band. Which is a problem, because an obsessed fan is claiming that I’m her boyfriend and now the media is blowing up that I’m two-timing them both. Good-bye recording contract, unless….

Maddie: I’m supposed to cover the story. Not be the story! But when Nick begs me to fake date, I can’t resist the chance to be Nick’s girlfriend—even if fake—the opposite of my life as a city desk reporter. But my ex said I’m a terrible kisser, and there’s no way I want Mr. Hot Rock Star saying the same thing. Hence, clause 11 in our contract: There will be absolutely no physical contact.

Nick: When Maddie receives a threatening photo of the two of us with an X over her face, my desire to protect her suddenly feels all too real. It’s either a troll or her undercover investigation has been compromised. With both our careers at stake, is breaking up the only way to keep Maddie safe?

Preorder links:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FHZ2LNFR/

https://books.apple.com/us/book/my-rock-star-neighbor/id6748830148

About the author:

Kathy Strobos is an award-winning author living in New York City with her husband and two children, amid a growing collection of books, toys, and dollhouses. She took a break from working as a lawyer to write romantic comedies full-time and get in shape. She is still working on getting in shape.

Born and raised in Manhattan, she loves writing about New York City and her smart heroines who live and fall in love there, amidst its vibrant energy and the aroma of homemade chocolate chip cookies. She is the award-winning author of: A Scavenger Hunt for Hearts, Partner Pursuit, Is This for Real?, Caper Crush, My Book Boyfriend, Love Is an Art and My Secret Snowflake.

Social Media Links –

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathystroboswriter/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathystrobosrewrites

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathy-strobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kathystrobos9451

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21826543.Kathy_Strobos

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kathy-Strobos/author/B09GGB2G1B

Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/Kathy-Strobos/B09GGB2G1B

BLOG TOUR: Peter Miles Has To Die - Katie Collom

“What happens when three women decide to avenge the murder of their best friend? In her riveting debut, Katie Collum explores what we owe the ones we love, and how ordinary life can change in an instant. I couldn’t put this thriller down.”—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters

Peter Miles has to die. And Dylan Darcy, Priya Shah, and Isabel Guerrero—a bartender, a nurse, and a student—have to be the ones to kill him. As they see it, this local cop deserves death for murdering their best friend and getting away with it. All they need to do to pull off the perfect crime is stick to their carefully prepared plan.

So that’s exactly what they do. Murder, it turns out, is surprisingly easy when you’re fueled by revenge. What comes after is the hard part.

As the dry Texas heat gives way to cooler weather, their blazing rage is replaced by a chill fear. Because there’s a fallout that comes from settling the score against someone like Peter, and it could cost them more than they’ve bargained for. When the lead investigator on the case starts sniffing around for a cop killer, the three friends are not feeling as confident as they did on that fateful night. And when they start receiving death threats, it weakens their resolve even further . . . but it’s too little too late.

What they don’t realize is that this detective has her own reasons for wanting to get to the bottom of Peter’s murder. Reasons that don’t involve them at all. The investigation ramps up, and so does the pressure, leaving Dylan, Priya, and Isabel to wonder if ending his life may end up costing them theirs.

As the guilt of what they’ve done settles in their bones, they realize there’s no going back. Someone is going to have to take the fall.

What did I think?

Wow! I raced through this book and read it in two sittings as I simply couldn't put it down. It's a page-turning thriller without a whodunnit as we know why Peter Miles has to die and we also know who killed him but what we don't know is who is in prison for his murder.

The story is told from various points of views over different timelines but it never gets confusing and it's very easy to follow. Dylan, Priya and Isabel plan the murder of Peter Miles, who got away with murdering their friend Beck. Peter Miles got away with it because he's a cop and cops stick together, even when one of them is rotten.

Bree is the detective who is investigating Peter's murder and it's not a straightforward case as there are so many people who would have wanted to kill him. It obviously looks like Beck's three friends avenged her death but there is no evidence and that's when the intimidation tactics begin as some cops take the law into their own hands. Bree's case just got a lot more complicated as the spotlight turns on her colleagues.

I couldn't read this book fast enough and although I wanted them all to get away with murder, I knew that one of them went to prison for it. The abuse of power is infuriating as the cops think they can do what they want to the suspects (who are innocent until proven guilty) and unfortunately, this does sometimes happen in real life.

Blisteringly fast-paced and impossible to put down, Peter Miles Has To Die is an outstanding debut novel (I actually had to double check that this was Katie Collom's debut). Take note, thriller fans: Katie Collom is definitely one to watch and I am excited to see what she writes next.

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

My rating:

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Aspasia - Florence Wetzel

“In an idyllic Cretan village, a darkness lurks. A brilliantly unsettling yet compelling read.” C. Fitton, author of Her Dead Boyfriend

A peaceful mountain village in 1990s Crete. Katerina is an American woman who lives a tranquil life with her husband Dimitris and their daughter Aspasia. But when Dimitris leaves to work on a cargo ship, a terrible secret shatters Katerina’s world. Suddenly, life in the village turns claustrophobic, threatening both Aspasia’s safety and Katerina’s sanity.

Drawing inspiration from Sophocles' timeless play Antigone, Aspasia is a gripping tale of two shocking crimes. The novel delves into the depths of a mother's love and the extraordinary lengths one woman will go to safeguard her child.

What did I think?

I almost didn't read Aspasia as I'm not familiar with Sophocles' play Antigone but you don't need to know anything about Antigone to read Aspasia as I think it's brilliant.

There are some difficult subjects broached in Aspasia and, although difficult to read, they are very sensitively and respectfully portrayed. These disturbing events lead to a mother plotting revenge to ensure the safety of her daughter.

My heart went out to Katerina as she is left to deal with things on her own while her husband is working away. The village is a close-knit community and Katerina will always be an outsider so she has to be very cunning when planning her vengeance. There are some surprisingly humorous scenes that perfectly balance the serious nature of the story.

The characters are so well developed that I could visualise them in my head and I could even imagine the picturesque village in Crete. For such a short book (221 pages), it just shows the quality of Florence Wetzel's writing to be able to describe such vivid scenes with her carefully selected and beautifully crafted words.

Dark and disturbing but so beautifully written, Aspasia is a hidden gem of a thriller and I would highly recommend that you discover it for yourself.

I received a gifted paperback to take part in The Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Wednesday, 20 August 2025

BLOG TOUR: No One Keeps a Secret - Denise Brown

In a town full of whispers, silence speaks volumes…

When three teenagers track down a missing chihuahua to an abandoned theme park, they discover a corpse strangled by his own camera strap and find themselves caught up in a murder investigation. The victim was supposed to be 400 miles away in London. He'd promised a lot of people a lot of money. And every single one of them has an alibi. Haigh, Cherry, and Sunrise soon discover that their rural village isn't quite as dull and predictable as they thought it was.

What did I think?

Well this was a surprisingly fast-paced read; I read it cover to cover in a couple of hours as I couldn't put it down.

The story is told from alternating points of view of 16 year old Haigh and his friend Cherry. I loved both main characters: Haigh is neurodivergent, always hungry and a little accident prone and Cherry is biracial, fiercely loyal and missing her late mum every day. There's a non-human character who almost steals the show: Wolfie the chihuahua who treats people like Marmite - he either loves them or hates them.

When Wolfie goes missing, Haigh and Cherry promise his owner that they will find him. Wolfie is found terrorising a sheepdog who belongs to Sunrise's gran. Sunrise (such a great name) is staying with her gran for the summer and she quickly becomes friends with Haigh and Cherry when Wolfie runs off and discovers a dead body at the old theme park.

I loved the friendship that forms between the trio as Haigh and Cherry welcome Sunrise into their select little group. They have something to keep them occupied over the summer when they decide to investigate the murder themselves. I couldn't read fast enough as the investigation progresses and I really didn't guess the outcome at all.

Fast-paced, addictive and intriguing, No One Keeps a Secret is a superb YA thriller that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It's so vividly written that my eyes were on stalks near the end and I can totally see it being made into a film. It's well worth a read, even if you don't usually read YA books.

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

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Tuesday, 19 August 2025

Ever After - Amanda Prowse

From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner and Swimming to Lundy, comes a hopeful and inspiring story about the possibilities that await when you dare to start again.

If you’re given another chance at love, shouldn’t you take it?

Enya’s life has become small. Her husband’s death has left her bereft, and though she’s only in her early fifties, she’s happiest looking after her son, Aiden, his childhood sweetheart, Holly, and her beloved cat, Pickle.

So the spark she feels for the stranger who bumps into her car in the airport car park is a complete shock. But Enya can’t stop thinking about him.

Then, when Aiden makes a life-changing decision, Enya suddenly finds her close-knit community thrown into chaos. Her best friend, Jenny, isn’t speaking to her, Aiden’s future hangs in the balance, Holly is devastated, and the stranger from the car park is suddenly in her life.

Torn between family, love and loyalty, Enya faces a dilemma: stay safely where she is, or take a leap into the unknown? Because maybe her happily-ever-after could have one more chapter yet…

What did I think?

Amanda Prowse writes with so much heart that her books always move me to tears...every single time! Ever After is no exception and I have to say I was reaching for the tissues when I read the dedication! I finished the book with a little tear in my eye...oh ok I'll admit it, it was a veritable torrent of tears but I absolutely loved it.

Family and friendship is at the heart of the book and even though Enya is grieving the loss of her husband she is surrounded my friends and family who love her, until her son Aiden makes a decision that makes everyone pick a side. My heart went out to Enya when people seemed to be taking out their anger and disappointment on her. Enya had nothing to do with Aiden's decision, but she is the nearest one available to blame.

With her life in disarray, Enya has a little bit of enjoyment left in the form of an unexpected flirtation with the man who crashed into her car. Of course, he's not being completely honest with her and there are more complications that may prove insurmountable.

There is so much warmth and heart in the book that made me really start to care about the characters and it was lovely to see them evolve and grow as each page was turned. I didn't realise how much I cared about them until near the end when my emotions threatened to spill over (and ultimately did end up spilling over). It's just a lovely yet realistic story and it makes a refreshing change to have a main character in her fifties.

Heartwarming, emotional and uplifting, Ever After is a fabulous book that really pulled at my heartstrings as I lived the ups and downs of life with Enya and her family. Amanda Prowse is such a wonderful writer and Ever After is a wonderful book. Very highly recommended.

I received a gifted paperback to take part in the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Saturday, 16 August 2025

BLOG TOUR: The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp - Krystal Evans

When Krystal Evans was 14, the house that she shared with her mother and little sister burned down. Narrowly escaping by breaking a window and jumping out head-first Krystal suffered burns, smoke inhalation, and the unimaginable tragedy of losing her sister. That Evans has written such a warm and disarmingly funny memoir about what led the family to that fatal night, and how they coped with its aftermath, is nothing less than astonishing.

This is a spellbinding story of growing up poor in America, living with a mentally ill mother, and having a wolf for a pet (really). From the indignities of being rejected from a summer camp for burn victims, to putting up with a succession of her mom's increasingly shady friends and partners, Krystal and Katie's childhoods were marked by adult chaos, inappropriate behaviour, and never knowing what the next day would bring.

But, writing with joy, skill and candour, we witness Krystal growing as a person from the ashes of disaster into the confident, funny, and (reasonably) well-hinged adult, mother and comedian that she is today.

At the same time, funny, tragic and inspiring, it is the story of a family dangerously close to the edge, and of a girl struggling to make her way into adulthood, once the smoke clears.

What did I think?

Krystal Evans is a stand-up comedian so it's comforting to know that it all turns out ok in the end for her as her memoir is completely heart wrenching. I wanted to reach into the book and give young Krystal a big hug as her family suffered such a devastating tragedy.

When I was reading this true story, I really wished it had been fiction as it broke my heart when Krystal lost her little sister Katie in the fire that destroyed their home. It must have been very cathartic for Krystal to write this book and I was in tears at the end as her story really got to me. It will be heartening for Krystal to know that Katie's memory will live on in the hearts of every reader who picks up this book.

It's often difficult to read Krystal's story but she makes it as lighthearted as she possibly can with a sprinkling of humour here and there. It's not a funny story by any means but it is written in such an entertaining way that it is very easy to read.

Heartbreaking and inspirational, The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp is an emotional and powerful true story that will stay with me long after I turned the final page.

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

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Thursday, 7 August 2025

BLOG TOUR: The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge - Rachel Hore

Uncovering secrets that span generations, Rachel Hore delivers intriguing, involving and emotive narrative reading group fiction like few other writers can.

Nancy Foster has harboured a devastating secret that shattered her professional and personal life. On meeting her, journalist Stef Lansdown realizes that she has the power to restore Nancy’s reputation and to heal the wounds, if only Nancy will trust her. But someone else wants to get to the bottom of the story first, someone who doesn’t want it to be told.

Set in the beautiful environs of the Norfolk Broads in 2010, and in London in the '40s and ‘50s, when life for career-driven women was so different, The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is Sunday Times multi-million copy bestselling author Rachel Hore’s utterly compelling new novel, interweaving the past and the present.

What did I think?

This is the first book by Rachel Hore that I have read and I absolutely loved it so I'm already looking to add more of her books to my TBR. The writing is exquisite and it completely captivated me from start to finish.

The story revolves around two women: Nancy and Steph. Steph is writing a book and wants to tell Nancy's story but Nancy and her family are suspicious of Steph's intentions. There is no hidden agenda to Steph; she simply wants to tell Nancy's story and Nancy soon begins to trust Steph and open up to her.

I loved the Norfolk community spirit that weaves its way through the story; although they aren't quite so welcoming to Steph at first, but then she is a journalist. There are a lot of intriguing elements to the plot, both past and present, and I couldn't tear my eyes from the page.

I was halfway through when I felt that it had a distinct ring of truth about it so I wasn't surprised to learn that the author was inspired by a story from her own family. It's just so infuriating to read how women were treated in the not so distant past. I mean things just as simple as referring to a woman who has earned the title of 'Doctor' as 'Miss' - it's so patronising and misogynistic. Nancy definitely needed one of those mugs with "It's Dr, actually" printed on it!

So beautifully written, The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is a powerful, thought-provoking and completely mesmerising novel. I adored it and would highly recommend it.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Tuesday, 5 August 2025

BLOG TOUR: The Voodoo Series - J.L. Hancock

Voodoo, a gifted military technician, struggles with harrowing memories of war and the emptiness that comes with loss. To cope, he’s thrown himself into his work for a secretive military research organization, purposefully leaving little time for anything else. Until one night, a familiar voice from Voodoo’s past interrupts his recurring nightmares with a cryptic prophecy.

At the same time, across the ocean in Japan, two world-renowned scientists go missing along with the secrets behind a powerful form of artificial intelligence called the “God Algorithm.”

To Voodoo’s surprise, he soon finds himself on the front lines of an A.I. arms race with the future of freedom at stake. Will Voodoo find the scientists in time? Or will the “God Algorithm,” a piece of code so terrifying it has the potential to shift global power, fall into the wrong hands. Find out in this mind-bending, relentlessly paced techno thriller sure to please fans of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Jack Carr’s James Reece.

What did I think?

I really enjoyed The Hawk Enigma. It's not one of my usual genres so it took me a little while to get into it but once I did I couldn't put it down.

As it's a technothriller with a military slant, there are a lot of acronyms in the book but they are explained straight away so you don't even have to look them up yourself. I even learned the meaning of some common acronyms that I had heard before but had never really thought about what the letters actually stand for (such as RHIB - rigid-hulled inflatable boat).

There are some very intriguing flashbacks in the book and I loved the way it all came together with a number of shocks and surprises along the way. The action never stops and the characters are brought to life via J.L. Hancock's wonderfully vivid and descriptive prose. I really enjoyed the banter between the characters and the humorous way they referred to certain situations and items.

Grisly, evocative and action-packed, if The Hawk Enigma isn't made into a film it will be an absolute travesty. It's a very well-written and accomplished debut novel and I would highly recommend giving it a read.

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

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An escaped prisoner. A lab hidden in western China develops an AI weapon. A Russian special operator investigates a heinous crime scene.

In the stunning sequel to The Hawk Enigma, Voodoo and his team of special operators are thrust back into the heart of a global conflict. The stakes have never been higher as China’s Belt and Road Initiative pushes into Central Asia, exposing dark ambitions and a secret lab advancing AI warfare.

Set against the vast steppes of Kazakhstan, this story unfolds in the shadow of the former Soviet Union. Tensions rise as Voodoo’s team embarks on a covert mission. New team members add to the friction as more troubles from Voodoo’s past return to the present.

They soon find themselves on the brink of a perilous future the Western world is unwilling to face: a world where AI reigns supreme, and there's no turning back. Fans of Jack Ryan, Tom Clancy, and Clive Cussler will snatch this thriller and refuse to let go.

Will Voodoo’s team succeed? Or has his luck finally run out?

What did I think?

Voodoo is back! Having read The Hawk Enigma, I raced straight onto the sequel, The Spear and the Sentinel. Whilst I have read the books in order, you could pick up The Spear and the Sentinel as a standalone as the author includes a quick recap of The Hawk Enigma for anyone who hasn't read it.

The reader is plunged straight into the action and the pacing never lets up as the story progresses at an impressive rate of knots. There are a lot of close shaves that had me holding my breath in anticipation as I have really come to care about Voodoo and his team.

Some of the technology went way over my head but I still enjoyed the book and I really appreciated the way the author explained the myriad acronyms so quickly after they were mentioned.

The Spear and the Sentinel is a cracking sequel that is filled with tension, suspense and action. A highly recommended read that is unmissable if you love a military thriller and/or technothriller.

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

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