BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Summer That Changed Us (Changing Tides Book 1) - Billie Swann

Ellie never stopped loving Jackson. She’s just learned how to live without him.

Seventeen years after the summer that shattered everything, Ellie has built a life she can control. She runs The Beach House Café on the Dorset coast, keeps her world small, and tells herself she’s fine. Love, motherhood, and the future she once imagined all feel impossibly out of reach, buried beneath years of guilt.

Then Jackson walks back into her life.

He’s not the lanky schoolboy she remembers. He’s all grown up now with broader shoulders and striking hazel eyes shot through with gold, but he has that smile that makes her forget to breathe. Despite having every reason to hate her for what she did, he still looks at her like she’s the only person in the room.

The connection between them is impossible to ignore. As old feelings resurface, so does the secret Ellie’s been hiding since they were teenagers – a secret that sent their lives spiralling in opposite directions.

Now Ellie must decide whether she’s brave enough to risk everything for the man she never stopped loving.

Sometimes love isn’t about getting a second chance. It’s about finding the courage to take it.

What did I think?

What a fabulously heartwarming book this is!  The Summer That Changed Us isn't a hearts and flowers love story; it's a romance that deals with some serious issues with grit, sensitivity and warmth.  This is Billie Swann's debut novel and I'm delighted to see that she has more books planned in the Changing Tides series.

Seventeen years ago, Ellie and Jackson were childhood sweethearts but they are driven apart by a shattering event that shaped their lives.  Ellie shies away from relationships and concentrates on running her beach café but when trade starts to fall off she discovers that there's a rival café close by and running it is none other than Jackson.

Oh it's really painful to see Ellie and Jackson skirting around each other as if they are strangers.  The chemistry is clearly still there but they have been hurt terribly before and it looks like neither of them are willing to take the risk of having their heart broken again.  It's like they are both wearing magnets though and as much as they pull away from each other, they are drawn back together.

The history behind Ellie and Jackson is so sad and I struggled to hold in my tears as events played out during their teenage years.  It's a shame they were so young as they might have reacted differently and got through it together rather than alienating each other and working through their pain separately.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing though and you can't turn back the clock.

Whilst this is a romance novel, there's a lot of angst and difficulties for the characters to overcome.  It makes it quite realistic as life is all about the ups and downs and I really warmed to both main characters and others in the periphery.  

Compelling, heartwarming, poignant and uplifting, The Summer That Changed Us is an accomplished and flawless debut novel from Billie Swann and I'm excited to read more in the series.  A very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

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Lochbound - Rebecca Templeton

There is no happily-ever-after . . .

Kilmara, Scotland. 1725. For fifty years, Iris has accepted the curse that blighted her life. By night, she is a heartbroken woman, destined to walk the misty shores of Kilmara without growing older. By day, she is Moireach, a terrifying monster imprisoned in the murky depths of Loch Moine.

When bodies begin appearing on the shore, the villagers are convinced Moireach is responsible. So a hunter - the rugged, ruthless Henry Carver - is summoned to slay the monster of the loch.

Iris must break her curse before she is killed for crimes she cannot believe she has committed. But as Kilmara's hunt for the monster becomes ever more fevered, she and Henry are drawn together in a dangerous game of impossible attraction.

And when a figure from Iris's past suddenly reappears, she must choose what - or who - she is willing to sacrifice to win her freedom.

. . . when you are the monster.

A glitteringly dark reimagining of The Little Mermaid set in eighteenth-century Scotland, this enchanting and gothic historical fantasy is perfect for fans of Rosie Andrews's The Leviathan, Georgia Leighton's Spellbound and anyone who loved Outlander. 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, I adored this beautiful book; it is as stunning inside as out.  Lochbound is Rebecca Templeton's debut novel and it is exceptional.  It is a retelling of The Little Mermaid but it also reminded me of Beauty and the Beast.  

Iris has been cursed to spend her days as Moireach the monster in the loch but by night she becomes Iris again.  The curse can only be broken by true love's kiss but the boy Iris loves disappeared when she became a monster and she is still searching for him.  With mutilated bodies turning up by the loch, time is running out for Iris as the laird has tasked a hunter to find the monster before any more villagers are killed.  

The enchanting story is told from various points of view: Iris, her old friend Duncan, Henry the hunter and Moireach.  It is deliciously dark and, with witches, curses and monsters, it is one of the best adult fairy tales I have ever read.  The writing is so beautiful and spellbinding that I had to double check that Lochbound is Rebecca Templeton's debut - it really is!  Put this exciting new author on your watchlist, readers!

Haunting, mesmerising and atmospheric, Lochbound is a breathtaking debut novel that captivated, entertained and delighted me from the first page to the last.  I couldn't put it down and I will definitely be reading it again.  I would give it more than five stars if I could; it's absolutely exquisite and I can't recommend it highly enough.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

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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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:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

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 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:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

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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BLOG TOUR: The Lost Detective - Elspeth Latimer

On a summer's day, a baby vanishes. The mystery is never solved, leaving a young mother lost in grief.

Twenty-one years later, ex-police detective Dan Hennessy is struggling with his own tragic loss, and when a neighbour disappears and a body turns up at the solar farm, he is desperate for answers.

The haunted landscape is keeping secrets, and there are dangers lurking in the Brecks.

Dan must find the truth.

Can he offer hope to the grieving mother, and also save himself? 

What did I think?

Wow!  The Lost Detective is one of the best debut novels I have ever read.  Do not miss this book, crime fiction fans!  

I had to double check that The Lost Detective is Elspeth Latimer's debut as her writing is so accomplished and the plot is so compelling that I read all but the last few chapters of this fantastic book in one sitting.  I only put it down to go to sleep and I couldn't wait to pick it up the next morning to read the stunning conclusion.

The prologue is haunting and heartbreaking; it is every mother's nightmare to lose their child and Alice has had to live for 21 years without knowing what happened to her six-week-old baby Felix. Dan Hennessy knows all about loss as his fiancée was tragically killed by one of his police colleagues and he lost his future as well as his career that day. 

There's a lot of mystery and intrigue as we read about various events and different characters but they all tie together perfectly into a satisfying and incredibly emotional conclusion.  I may have had something in my eye at the end...

Poignant, evocative and captivating, The Lost Detective is a breathtaking debut novel that is unpredictable and unmissable.  Elspeth Latimer is certainly one to watch based on the strength of this 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:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/lostdetective-zbt

About the author:

Elspeth Latimer is an associate tutor on the prestigious University of East Anglia MA in Creative Writing Crime Fiction, and also the author of Writing the Detectives, an academic study of the protagonist in the contemporary crime fiction series, published by Cambridge University Press.

Connect with Elspeth:

Facebook: elspeth.latimer.7

Instagram: elspethlatimer16

Threads: @elspethlatimer16

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Morph: Demise of Knacc (The MorphEn Files Book 1) - Tim Ferguson

Dan Fletcher was never meant to exist. Now someone wants him dead.

Enhanced at birth without his knowledge, Dan is one of the MorphEns—a covert generation of genetically engineered humans, designed to be faster, stronger, and smarter than everyone else. He’s spent thirty years believing he’s normal. That illusion ends in a brutal ambush in the French Alps.

Hunted across Europe, Dan is forced on the run with his brother and sister as the Apfel—a ruthless organisation with unlimited reach—closes in. Assassins strike without warning. Safe houses burn. And the people chasing him know exactly what he is.

As MI6 fights to keep him alive, the CIA and FSB wage a silent war to seize control of the programme that created him. Trapped between rival agencies, betrayed at every turn, and pursued by enemies who never miss, Dan must rely on instinct, courage, and the few people he can still trust to survive.

No one can be trusted. Nowhere is safe.

And when evolution makes you a weapon, how do you outrun the people who built you? 

What did I think?

Morph: Demise of Knacc is a cracking debut novel from Tim Ferguson.  It took me a few chapters to get into it as the scene is set but once the danger levels ramp up I couldn't put it down.

I can't say too much about the story without spoiling it but the plot is so sharp, intelligent and gripping.  It's like taking a combination of Jason Bourne, Jack Bauer and James Bond and making a family of super-humans.  The best thing is that the Fletchers don't even know they are special until someone tries to kill them.

It's a very accomplished debut novel that is filled with action and danger.  The pacing is blistering and I couldn't read fast enough to try to keep up.  It's definitely a 'just one more chapter' kind of book!

Mixing espionage with genetic engineering, Tim Ferguson has found the formula to create a blistering modern-day espionage thriller.  It's a fantastic start to a new series and I can't wait to read more. 

I received a digital ARC from the author and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Dream Walker - Bruce Martin

 

This gothic retelling of Alice in Wonderland paints a dark yet touching tale of magic and unknown realities, with an eclectic mix of characters, including a host of fantastical creatures alongside the author's own re-imaginings of the Mad Hatter, Rabbit, and the Queen of Hearts.

Between layers of deceit and magic, nothing is as it seems.

Alison Wilde is an ordinary girl in a nearly normal world, until an uncharacteristic turn of events shifts reality, as she knows it, completely upside down.

Plunged into the Netherworld, with little memory of her life back on Earth, she is faced with a host of horrifying fantastical creatures, some more familiar than others.

But as her newfound companions attempt to guide her through their unsettling and tumultuous realm, dark forces are at work which threaten the very fabric of the Universe, and who will stop at nothing to prevent Alison from achieving the potential her destiny holds.

What did I think?

I love Alice in Wonderland so I was very excited to read Bruce Martin's retelling and it is absolutely brilliant.  I didn't want Alison's story to end and it has been left nicely open for a sequel so I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Alison finds herself in the Netherworld where she meets a very colourful cast of characters, some of which are much darker versions of those we know and love from Wonderland.  With so much action and danger, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and I couldn't put this riveting book down.

I can't say anything about the plot as it would spoil it for others but it is a very well written and accomplished debut novel that entertained and gripped me from start to finish.  It's an outstanding retelling of Alice in Wonderland that's imaginative and captivating.

Addictive, dark and mesmerising, Dream Walker is a breathtaking novel that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.  I can't wait to return to the Netherworld and I am on tenterhooks to get my hands on the sequel.

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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BLOG TOUR: The Island King (The Strange Eden Series Book 2) - Gina Giordano

He once destroyed everything she loved. Now, only he can save her from ruin.

Can she forgive, and even love, her enemy?

In this dark, immersive tale, the author of STRANGE EDEN returns to colonial Nassau to continue the story of Eliza Sharpe’s volatile marriage to Charles Sharpe.

1792: In the aftermath of her lover Jean’s death, Eliza harbors a secret that threatens to make her fraught situation even worse. She is carrying his child. But when the clairvoyant slave Cleo comes to her aid, the solution holds devastating consequences.

Charles, meanwhile, is engaged in his own secret dealings. When he reveals his plans to Eliza, she is forced to do the unthinkable: to reframe the man she’s viewed for so long as an enemy, into an ally, perhaps even a friend.

Perhaps more.

Events directed by Lord Dunmore’s insatiable greed threaten to destroy their shaky reconciliation. Clandestine political meetings emerge as the other colonists seek an end to the corruption on the island, and they turn to Charles for leadership. But the governor of the Bahamas wants him dead, and he’s hired the perfect man for the deed.

Can Eliza forgive the man she once viewed as a monster? Or has the desperation and darkness that lurks within the walls of Pleasant Hall finally driven her to madness?

 

What did I think?

After reading Strange Eden, I couldn't wait to continue Eliza's story in book 2 and The Island King does not disappoint.  I couldn't put it down as I devoured every beautifully written word of this outstanding historical fiction novel.

As The Island King is a continuation of the story, it is better to have read Strange Eden but I think it could work quite well as a standalone because it does contain recaps.  It is worth reading the books in order though to really understand the characters and their personalities.  I adore book-loving Eliza but she has some challenges to face as a woman in the 18th century.

Gina Giordano's writing is very vivid and immersive as she draws the reader into her Caribbean saga.  This island is far from a paradise for Eliza with a husband she despises, a corrupt governor, oppressed slaves and vengeful spirits.  

Filled with drama, danger and a sprinkling of the supernatural, The Island King is an epic saga that swept me away to the Caribbean.  After the huge cliffhanger in The Island King, I can't wait to see how the story will conclude in Color of Fire and I don't have long to wait as I'm reading it next.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/islandking-zbt

About the author:

Gina Giordano always had an insatiable curiosity and a penchant for history. Born in New York City, she is a writer, artist, and a conjurer of the past. She holds a BA in history and a master’s degree in historical fiction from New York University, and has traveled to over sixty-five countries across the globe. When she is not climbing ancient ruins or exploring forgotten palaces, she enjoys swimming with sharks in remote pristine waters. Her debut novel, Strange Eden, was longlisted for the 2023 Bath Novel Award.

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BLOG TOUR: A Brotherly Devotion - Jill Bray

York: July 1224

On a hot July night, Brother Clement is savagely murdered when returning from administering to Lady Maud de Mowbray.

Simon de Hale, Sheriff of Yorkshire, is in his office when Abbot Robert visits to inform him of the murder, and request that he take responsibility for investigating the killing.

Simon is unsure whether the murder is a crime against the Abbey, or if it is a more personal matter against the monk.

Commencing their investigation, Simon and his deputy, Adam, ride out to see Lady Maud de Mowbray at Overton - the last person to see Brother Clement alive. When they encounter her son, Roger de Mowbray, they both take an instant dislike to him.

Lady Mowbray reveals to Simon that she intends to leave her money to the Abbey, and Simon can see this being a motive for the monk’s murder, if her son was aware of this.

The investigation gathers pace and a murder weapon is found.

A banquet is held at the castle to honour the Royal Justice - during which, one of the guests is exposed as the murderer and apprehended. But that will not be the end of the story for Simon and his family.

 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed my visit to 13th century York in Jill Bray's debut novel, A Brotherly Devotion.  With a dual storyline of a murdered monk and an arranged marriage, it's intricately plotted and incredibly gripping.  I couldn't read fast enough to both discover 'whodunnit' and how the story would end.

Simon de Hale is the Sheriff of Yorkshire and he is arranging the marriage of his youngest daughter Katherine whilst investigating the murder of Brother Clement.  You'd think the murder investigation would be the most challenging but Katherine is a strong-minded young lady and she wants to marry for love, in fact she has found just the man and it's not the man her father has chosen.  

I loved Katherine from the start but really couldn't see a way out of her arranged marriage as the King's permission had already been granted.  What a quandary for Simon, especially when he is determined to bring the monk's killer to justice.  With a bucketful of red herrings strategically placed in the prose, I didn't guess who it was until very late on and the way that the killer is revealed is very reminiscent of Agatha Christie.

Atmospheric, authentic and riveting, A Brotherly Devotion is a fabulous debut novel and a must-read for fans of historical fiction.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Jill lives on the Island of Guernsey now, but is originally from Yorkshire. She has a love of early medieval history which led her to study the subject at Huddersfield College in the 1980's. Working in Leeds at the time, meant that she had access to the Yorkshire Archaeological Society on their late night opening and following research, she wondered what the lives of the people she read about were actually like. This started a love of writing historical fiction, but her initial stories were never sent to a publisher. Life and work then intervened and writing was put to one side. It was only following a workshop held by the Guernsey Literary Festival in 2024 on writing historical fiction, that her love of writing was reignited. Her first novel 'A Brotherly Devotion' was published in July 2025.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: Jill Bray – Author 

Twitter/X:  @JillBray67

Website: https://www.jillbray.co.uk

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BLOG TOUR: Poole of Light (The Poole Legacy Book 1) - RJ Verity

A coal-mining town. A flicker of light. A boy who dreams of more.

Spennymoor, 1913. When ten-year-old Jem Poole sees a moving picture for the first time, it sparks a fascination that will shape the course of his life. Raised in a northern coal town marked by hardship and loss, Jem begins to dream of more than soot and survival — he dreams of light.

Through war, reinvention and the golden age of British cinema, Jem rises to national success, building a legacy of silver screens and stories that define a generation. But when a figure from his past reappears, long-buried memories resurface, and he must confront the truth of the life he has built – and the memories that never let go.

 

What did I think?

Oh my word, Poole of Light is a fabulous debut novel from RJ Verity!  As soon as I saw that it was set in my local area of County Durham I wanted to read it and I am so pleased that I did as it's a fantastic historical fiction novel.  

The novel starts in the coal mining town of Spennymoor where Jem and Daisy are inseparable childhood friends.  When Jem's widowed father decides to move to Leeds to marry his sister-in-law, Jem doesn't even have time to say goodbye to Daisy.  It's not the end of their story though and I loved the way that they meet years later.

Whilst 1913 doesn't seem like that long ago (to me, at least), it's a stark reminder of how tight money was for most families and the things that needed to be done to put food on the table.  It must have been so difficult to simply exist and that's even before the two world wars depleted the population and the economy.

The film industry setting is unusual and I really enjoyed the insight into the early cinema experience that RJ Verity has clearly researched meticulously.  It's a rags to riches story that reminded me a little of The Greatest Showman as Jem is so driven to succeed, despite the many challenges he must overcome along the way.  

Atmospheric, authentic and entertaining, Poole of Light is a riveting and compelling historical fiction novel.  It's a fantastic start to a new series and I can't wait to read more about the Poole family.  A very highly recommended read and one that is not to be missed by fans of historical fiction.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

RJ Verity grew up in Yorkshire and studied at King’s College London before spending more than twenty years in financial services across Asia. She now lives in Guernsey with her endlessly patient husband and their spirited ten-year-old Labradinger. When she’s not writing or reading, she can often be found exploring the island’s rugged coastline.

She is currently working on The Poole Legacy, her debut trilogy of historical novels. The first book in the series, Poole of Light, is out now.

Social Media Links – 

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRJVerity

https://www.instagram.com/rjverity/

https://x.com/RJVerity

https://bsky.app/profile/rjverity.bsky.social

https://www.pinterest.com/RJVerityAuthor/ 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239076062-poole-of-light

A universal link to Amazon page: https://mybook.to/poole-of-light 

The map: https://www.rjverity.com/1930s-leeds 

The book club kit: https://www.rjverity.com/bookclub 

The blog link: https://www.rjverity.com/blog 

Giveaway:

Giveaway to Win a limited edition print of Poole of Light book (gold foil, high quality paper) (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK 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 a limited edition print of Poole of Light (gold foil, high quality paper) (Open to UK Only)

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