BOOK TOUR: Crone - Keith Rosson

 

A haunting, fearsome story of a father searching for his missing daughter and finding darkness—both human and not—at every turn, from the author of the “exciting, suspenseful, horrifying” (Stephen King) Fever House. 

Eli Lamp is a broken man. An ex-detective, ex-addict, and long-grieving father whose daughter, Hannah, disappeared a decade before, Eli decimated his old life investigating her abduction and is now indebted to the Crooked Wheel, a local drug gang, as an enforcer. 

But when the son of the Crooked Wheel’s boss is viciously murdered, Eli is met with a simple demand: Find out who killed him and your debt to the Wheel is clear forever. You’re free. This pursuit brings him into the orbit of Avery Bryant, Hannah’s best friend and the last person to see her before she went missing. Soon, Eli and Avery are entwined in a hunt for answers that spans decades and brings churning to the surface a conspiracy linking not only these current tragedies, but the buried sorrows of Eli’s past. 

And though none of them dare say the word "witch," at least not out loud, something lurks in the woods, bent-backed and black-eyed, clawed and vengeful, looming ever closer. . . .

What did I think?

Crone is my first Keith Rosson book and it certainly won't be my last; it's absolutely fantastic!  It's a horror but it's also a crime thriller with a missing girl mystery at its heart.

Nobody knows what happened to Hannah Lamp after she got into a van and left her friend Avery out in the rain.  Avery has to live with the guilt and Hannah's ex-detective father Eli is haunted by the one case he couldn't solve.  I can understand why Eli turned to drugs as his life has crumbled to dust around him, first losing his wife in childbirth and then losing his only daughter, closely followed by his job.

With motorbike gangs and creepy creatures it's like a cross between Sons of Anarchy and Supernatural.  It's certainly dark and there's a bit of gore but it's not gorey for the sake of it; I did get a bit stomach clenchy at times but I loved it and there was no way I was tearing my eyes away from the page for a single second.

Crone is a book that is impossible to put down once you pick it up.  I was hooked from the very first page and raced through it in order to find out what happened to Hannah.  It was worse than I imagined though and I was both devastated and furious.

This is one OUTSTANDING book; it's dark, gritty and filled with fury.  I absolutely loved it and really can't recommend it highly enough.  This isn't just horror, this is Black Crow horror and it is simply magnificent.

I received a gifted hardback proof to read and review for the UK Book Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Circle of Shadows - Marisa Linton

It's 1904, and being a detective - let alone an occult detective - is no profession for a woman. But that won't stop Evie Winstanley.

When her father, a collector of occult books, dies in strange circumstances, Evie is determined to investigate. Her only lead: a cryptic mention of the 'Circle of Shadows.' From a chilling séance on the lonely Yorkshire moors to the sinister, hedonistic halls of Oxford's elite, Evie hunts for answers, stalked by whispers of an ancient monster and an ever-shifting, ominous symbol.

But when a young woman's body surfaces in the Cherwell, bearing that same mark, Evie uncovers a truth far more terrifying than a single murder. Now, Evie isn't just seeking justice; she's fighting to save her sister, in a dark and twisted adventure where gilded boys unleash hell and defiant women must pick up the pieces. Nothing will stop her investigation, not outraging Edwardian notions of female propriety, and certainly not offers of romance.

Blending historical fantasy with Golden Age classic crime, Circle of Shadows is a dark and twisty adventure through an occult Edwardian England where wealthy boys toy with powers they don't understand, and a lone woman takes a stand against them. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, The Frozen People and Rivers of London.

 

What did I think?

Circle of Shadows is Marisa Linton's debut adult fiction novel and it is a cracker.  I loved every single page of it and didn't want to end...it does actually end like it's the start of a series and I hope it isn't the last we've seen of Evie Winstanley.

It does have hints of Sherlock Holmes about it but with a very strong and tenacious female main character who I absolutely loved.  It's Edwardian England where women should be seen and not heard but Evie Winstanley is determined to break that mould.

Marisa Linton takes the reader on an atmospheric journey from the rugged landscape of the Yorkshire moors to the historic streets of Oxford.  The séance that Evie attends is one of the most vivid scenes I have ever read and I almost jumped out of my seat when I was reading.  I love how sceptical Evie is though and she is determined to investigate to find out the truth.

It's a fabulous mystery as well as a haunting historical fiction novel and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.  I read it in two sittings and would have easily read it in one if I didn't have to sleep!

Circle of Shadows is an evocative and compelling historical mystery that surprised and delighted me.  I really enjoyed it and hope to read more of Evie's adventures in the future.

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

My rating:

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REVIEW TOUR: We Are For The Dark - Gretchen McNeil

 

An isolated town. A missing priest. An ancient, hungry darkness. 

When Father Shane Ryan is summoned to a meeting with His Eminence Cardinal Jacobs, he’s confused. A recently ordained priest at a small Maryland parish, Father Ryan has no idea why His Eminence would want to meet him. When he arrives, the Cardinal opens by laying out Father Ryan’s past as an FBI analyst. It seems a priest has gone missing, and the case is…unusual. 

Weeks ago, Constable Miriam Rideout from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary fielded a frantic call from a priest on a remote Newfoundland island. He begged for help, but then the line went dead, and no one has since been reported missing. When permission to perform a wellness check is denied by her superiors, Miriam takes some vacation time and books a ticket on the ferry. 

Thrown together with friendly but cagey locals, Miriam and Father Ryan soon learn that something about the island isn’t right. There’s a fishing port without boats, a town with no stores and no cars, and strange, bulbous purple wildflowers are growing everywhere. The two don’t trust each other, but they begin to learn that an alliance, however uneasy, is a necessity. Because something evil lurks beneath the island—something ancient, eternal, hungry—and neither it nor the uncanny islanders have any intention of letting these newcomers leave. A growing sense of dread intensifies until it explodes in this pulse-pounding supernatural horror.

What did I think?

WOW!  I just couldn't put this book down; We Are For The Dark is an absolute belter from Gretchen McNeil.  I used to say that I didn't read horror but I'm so glad that I changed my mind as it would have been a travesty to miss this brilliant book.

It begins with a bit of a mystery when Constable Miriam Rideout receives a phone call from a priest about a missing person on an island nobody has heard of but Miriam doesn't take it seriously until he utters Miriam's mother's dying words and the call ends...  Talk about goosebumps!  Eeeeeeek.

At the same time, newly ordained priest and former FBI agent, Father Ryan is summoned to see the Cardinal and asked to visit Bale Island to investigate a missing priest but to keep his investigation under wraps.  Father Ryan meets Miriam on the ferry and as much as they each want to keep their investigations separate, they need to join forces against a bigger evil than they imagined.

The writing is mesmerising as Gretchen McNeil drew me into the story and, just like the residents of the creepy island can never leave, my eyes couldn't leave the page.  The characters are so vividly drawn that I could easily picture them in my mind and it feels like even the island itself is a living, breathing character.

I devoured this book like it was my last meal and, although it's incredibly creepy and scary at times, I put on my big girl pants and resisted hiding behind the virtual sofa because I was desperate to see what was going to happen next.  This book would be AMAZING on the screen and I wouldn't be surprised to see it made into a film or series.

Deliciously dark and incredibly addictive, We Are For The Dark is an unmissable novel that I will be recommending for a very long time.  I loved it so much that I could pick it up right now and read it all again.  An easy five stars.

I received a gifted hardback for the Black Crow PR review tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Wonderful - Louise Beech

A Hollywood idol. The Virgin Mary. An everyday girl from Hull.

Three women, three eras, surprising things in common...

On 4th August 1962, the night she should have died, Marilyn Monroe – the biggest star in the world – receives a visitor who changes the course of her destiny. The Virgin Mary appears in her kitchen with a curious message. Inspired, Marilyn abandons her home, her life, her fame, and disappears into the night…

Fifty-four years later, in a Hull kitchen, Flora Baker finds Mary, bathed in light. She has a similar message for the working class woman who is on the poverty line and dreaming of a better life. Flora begins to make changes that impact not only her life but the lives of those around her…

Do Marilyn and Flora have more in common than just Mary’s visit? Are they somehow linked across time? And is Mary’s message for all the women of the world?

Wonderful is about the way women are portrayed in both history and the world of celebrity, about women not being quiet, and about women united by the shared stories that shape them.

 

What did I think?

I do love turning the first page of a Louise Beech book as you just never know what you're going to get and Wonderful is certainly unusual with characters including Marilyn Monroe and The Virgin Mary.  It sounds crazy but it really works and I absolutely loved it.

Louise Beech writes with such warmth, wit and passion as she brings Marilyn Monroe back to life on what would have been the star's centenary year.  I think it's the first time that I have read about Marilyn and not felt such devastation at her early demise as this alternative history is a much better story.

The way the characters link together is nothing short of magnificent as the threads of the story weave a magical 'what if' tale that entertained and delighted me.  Marilyn Monroe is iconic (as is The Virgin Mary, of course) and it was so refreshing to see the side of her that was often hidden from the cameras.

Incredibly powerful and thought-provoking, Wonderful is an unforgettable and unmissable novel.  Louise Beech scoops all the stars again; an easy five stars for 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:

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BLOG TOUR: The Conservatory (The Aunt Lily Yorkshire Dales Mysteries Book 1) - Anthony Aberford

Some secrets are best left buried; others are better never planted!

In a restored Victorian conservatory, four grieving women from the local wellness centre discover that their friend's mysterious death, amongst her toxic plants, was not an accident.

When eccentric homoeopath Aunt Lily arrives on her tricycle, she seems just the person to help uncover answers. But who is she really, and why is she there?

A sixteenth-century journal hidden in the conservatory holds dark secrets that could change everything. And an enigmatic stranger will stop at nothing to find it – making false promises and real threats.

Can the friends resist his temptations and unlock the book's hidden secrets in time? Do they have the strength to make an impossible choice before it is too late?

A creepy tale of intrigue and suspense, full of witty and charming characters, this brand-new cosy mystery novel is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Jill Johnson and Janice Hallett who like their tea with a twist of tension.

 

What did I think?

I have to start my review of The Conservatory by mentioning the amazing cover.  It is absolutely stunning and it entices the reader to discover the dark but enchanting story inside.

Aunt Lily is a wonderful character; she is so mysterious, quirky and vividly described that she virtually pops out from the page.  Aunt Lily reminded me of Mary Poppins the way she turns up in such an unusual and unforgettable way so I loved her the moment I met her.  She has arrived just in time to help a group of women investigate the death of their friend.  It looked like an accident but it was murder!

The story is interspersed with extracts from a mysterious 16th century book and I loved how Anthony Aberford weaves this into the story.  It does get quite dark with almost a good versus evil tussle to get hold of the book and I really enjoyed this imaginative and tense supernatural element.

Incredibly intriguing and completely captivating, The Conservatory is a fantastic introduction to a new series and I can't wait to meet up with Aunt Lily again.  This is pure escapism and I loved it.

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

My rating:

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Hobeck Books

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BLOG TOUR: The Devil's Magus - Marius Creed

 

When Mark Benedict receives a cryptic warning that his brother James is in mortal danger, he and James’s estranged wife, Sam, are drawn into the hidden world of a secret society led by the charismatic and ruthless occultist, Sir Giles Worsley.

Worsley, a Magus, commands an order steeped in ritual magic and esoteric doctrines inspired by The Golden Dawn and Thelema. James, once his brightest protégé, has risen swiftly through the ranks – until he discovers the horrifying truth behind Worsley’s ambitions. Attempting to escape, he is killed in a demonic confrontation… but his astral form endures.

As forbidden rites threaten to unleash unspeakable forces, Mark and Sam – unknowingly aided by James – join a psychically gifted woman and a sceptical mercenary unprepared for the horrors that await them.

An electrifying blend of psychological thriller and supernatural horror, The Devil’s Magus is a gripping descent into arcane terror, where sacrifice and salvation walk hand in hand.

What did I think?

I really enjoyed reading The Devil's Magus; it's dark and disturbing and very entertaining.  Horror isn't a genre I would normally read but I'm so pleased that I picked up The Devil's Magus as the supernatural thriller element completely drew me in.

The two brothers who have supernatural powers reminded me a little of the TV show Supernatural and there's demons to be fought in this book too.  The characters (both human and demon) are depicted so vividly that they almost pop out of the page and I was frightened to look behind me when I was reading; not that I could tear my eyes away from the book to even glance elsewhere for a second.

The gripping plot is filled with peril and my heart rate rose as the danger levels increased.  There are some scary and gory scenes to both delight and repulse the reader so you need a strong constitution when you're reading this thrilling book.

Riveting, scary and very fast-paced, The Devil's Magus is a very impressive debut novel. Marius Creed's writing is very evocative and descriptive but you can't hide behind the sofa when you're reading a book, as much as I may have wanted to.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Marius Creed spent much of his life interpreting unseen forces — as a science teacher, naval officer, training specialist, meteorologist, and oceanographer — before turning his gaze inward, toward the darker mysteries of the human mind and spirit. Having lived in Hong Kong and the United States, he has now retired to his native Cornwall, where the brooding moors, rugged coastlines, and enduring folklore provide endless inspiration. The Devil’s Magus is his debut novel — a beautifully written tale where forgotten rites, forbidden knowledge, and personal sacrifice collide. Rich with arcane detail and existential dread, it marks the culmination of a decades-long fascination with what lies beyond the veil — and those who dare to peer through it.

Website: www.mariuscreed.co.uk

Instagram: @mariuscreed

X: @CreedMariu97855

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BLOG TOUR: The Man Who Ran - Mark Stibbe

When he saw it, it was like a shotgun discharging in Jake’s face. His unbeatable hand had been beaten. 

When Jake Graystone becomes addicted to poker, he decides to abandon his family and indulge his new-found craving without restraint. Running away to a northern city on Christmas Eve, he discovers the Arcadia Casino and starts to play. With the help of a rare gift for reading his opponents, he quickly gains fame and fortune.

One year later, again on Christmas Eve, Jake is challenged to a heads-up match by a player called the Undertaker. When his adversary tilts him, Jake finds himself on the run again. With the help of a German Shepherd and a homeless friend, Jake outfoxes the gunman who pursues him - until one fateful night when they come face to face.

I didn’t want to put this down. A heartwarming story that would be great as a film. I hope this book reaches addicts and helps turn their lives around - Angela Lee

If you like Christmas, you’ll absolutely treasure this book - Jimbo Sun

A thoroughly gripping, enjoyable read that tugs on all the right emotions - Jules Loveland

Winner of the 2020 Page Turner Award for Fiction, Mark Stibbe is a full-time novelist specialising in exciting supernatural stories. The Man Who Ran is the new, expanded version of King of Hearts. 

What did I think?

Well this was an unexpectedly poignant tale.  The Man Who Ran is like a mixture of your favourite Christmas movies and festive books all rolled into one.  Think the ghosts of A Christmas Carol, the dire straits of It's a Wonderful Life and the charity of strangers in Home Alone, to name but a few.

Jake is a maths teacher who is at risk of redundancy when he finds he has the skills to play poker.  Seeing an easy way to make money, he becomes addicted to gambling but there's a cost to winning at the tables and it's a price his wife and sons must pay.  Jake doesn't seem to care though, all he can think about is the next game so he walks out on his family without a backwards glance.

Oh Jake, I was so disappointed in him as he headed off to the bright lights of Casino City that sounded remarkably like Newcastle with an angel statue standing guard on the outskirts.  As we know, the house never loses and I thought Jake deserved everything he got when things inevitably turned to sh*t so I was surprised to feel empathy towards him the further down he fell.  I think Mark Stibbe has sprinkled a bit of the magic of Christmas inside the book as I was wishing peace and goodwill to all men (apart from the Undertaker) towards the end.

Incredibly poignant and thought-provoking, The Man Who Ran is a modern-day festive fable that really makes you stop and think about your own life and the rest of humankind.  It is entertaining but also compassionate and it has a hint of the supernatural to add an extra touch of magic over the festive period.

I'm putting The Man Who Ran on my book shelf alongside A Christmas Carol so I will be reminded to read it every December.  A highly recommended read.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Love Books Tours Bookstagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Darker Days - Thomas Olde Heuvelt

When the darker days fall, the debt must be paid, . . . get ready for the chilling new folk horror from the Hugo Award-winning, bestselling author of HEX - from the publisher of The Exorcist and perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Stephen King.

In Lock Haven, a quiet little town in Washington State, there is a very special street.

Bird Street. The residents of Bird Street are all successful, wealthy, healthy and happy. And their children are all well-mannered and smart and high achievers.

At least they are for eleven months of the year.

In November, however, the ‘Darker Days’ begin. For November’s the month when things take a turn for the worse: accidents, bad luck, familial conflict and illness take hold. And it is in November that a stranger comes to Bird Street to collect the debt owed by the residents.

Because, you see, there is a price that must be paid for all the happiness and good fortune they enjoy for the other eleven months of year. And that price is one human life. Every November. Without fail.

And so it has been for over a hundred years. To ease their guilt, the residents of Bird Street seek out individuals – usually the elderly or the terminally ill – who wish to die with dignity and are content to be helped on their way.

But this year, things don’t go to plan. This year events take a terrifying turn . . .

Propulsive and haunting, Darker Days is a devastating modern take on the Faustian pact, and begs the question: how far would you go for your own happiness?

 

What did I think?

Darker Days is the perfect book for spooky season; it is dark by name and dark by nature so it's not a book for the faint-hearted and does contain some upsetting scenes of assisted suicide.  

The residents of Bird Street have all made a deal with the devil, who they refer to as 'The Accountant', and he turns up every year during the 'Darker Days' to take repayment in the form of a human life.  The residents don't just kill people at random; they seek out people who are ready to die and help them to commit suicide.  It sounds like a simple plan, until the sacrifice changes their mind...

My heart was pounding as I was reading Darker Days and I'm not sure whether I was rooting for the victims to change their minds or the residents to finally pay their debt as time started to run out.  It is very creepy when The Accountant turns up and the death scenes are incredibly upsetting and disturbing.  I was shocked and devastated on occasion, which just goes to show the strength of the writing and Thomas Olde Heuvelt's amazing ability to paint haunting pictures in the reader's mind with his vivid words. 

Dark (as the title suggests), disturbing and chilling, Darker Days is a fantastic horror novel that will stay with me long after I turned the final page.  It left me wondering what I would do if I was in any of the characters' positions and I honestly can't answer that.  Wrap up warm when you read Darker Days as it will chill you to the bone.  Highly recommended.

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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BLOG TOUR: The Phantom's Bride - H. K. Sears

Her fate lies with one of two brothers, but whether it’s the murdered or the murderer, only she can decide.

Camilla Verne has secured the match of the season with her engagement to Valentin Steinbauer, the Duke of Anhalt. But there are disturbing rumours about her betrothed which she can’t ignore.

The delights of the Frost Fair come to London, and Camilla crosses paths with Finley Renwick, a storyteller struggling to make ends meet. They get off on the wrong foot, and Finley twists the rumours about Valentin into a story of murder and betrayal.

But Finley is no ordinary performer. He is a gifted word weaver, who has the power to spin ghost stories into life. The ghost of Valentin’s brother slips through the veil, and he has come for revenge.

When the ghost reveals his brother’s darkest secret, Camilla, once so excited about her upcoming wedding, is now determined to ruin it.

The Phantom’s Bride is a fast-paced historical fantasy that re-imagines Regency England as a world full of ghosts and magic. It is the first instalment of a YA trilogy, and is perfect for fans of Bridgerton and The Phantom of the Opera.

 

What did I think?

Wow!  The Phantom's Bride is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read.  It's an outstanding debut from H. K. Sears and a cracking first book in a trilogy - I hope she writes quickly as I am chomping at the bit to read more. 

Set in winter 1814 where The Frost Fair is being held on a frozen River Thames.  Although you wouldn't catch me walking on ice, it sounds completely magical and I loved the inventive and vivid depictions of the various sights and sounds a visitor to the fair would experience. 

The class divide is evident when Camilla Verne, who is set to become a duchess, meets word weaver Finlay Renwick.  Finlay throws Camilla's engagement into doubt when he releases a spirit during his storytelling about the duke and his brother.  Camilla doesn't know what to believe as there are disturbing rumours about the duke and we all know that there's no smoke without fire.

Ooooooh this book is so good.  It's scary, dangerous and riveting; some of the scenes would have had me hiding behind my virtual sofa if I could have torn my eyes from the page.  I loved the characters, the Regency era and the imaginative plot that is like a supernatural Bridgerton.  The writing is sublime and very accomplished for a debut novel.

Beguiling, compelling and incredibly entertaining, The Phantom's Bride is an incredible debut novel and a very exciting start to a magical trilogy.  A very highly recommended read; if you don't usually read fantasy The Phantom's Bride might make you change your mind.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Messenger (The Jennifer Hattley Mysteries) - Claire Bamford

How do you bring a murderer to justice when the only eyewitness is a ghost?

Jennifer has returned home after a relatively amicable divorce to discover her family’s big secret — the maternal line has the ability to talk to ghosts. Before Jen has time to digest this revelation, tragedy strikes, leaving both her and her mum Jacqui to navigate their gifts in ways they could never have imagined.

When a new ‘visitor’ is a missing woman from thirty years ago, Jen is determined to help her; but what will her choices cost, and can she keep her family’s past from coming back to haunt her?

Although loss is inevitable and not everything in life, or death, can — or, perhaps, should — be explained, the strength of a mother’s love and the power of trust can pull us through any hardship. Almost.

 

What did I think?

What an outstanding debut novel!  Claire Bamford is going straight on my authors to watch list after reading her fantastic debut, The Messenger.

It's a refreshing take on a mystery when Jennifer Hattley, a woman who has just found out that she can talk to ghosts, helps the police to solve a 30 year old cold case.  Naturally, the police are sceptical when Jen calls with information about a missing person but they can't turn a blind eye to the evidence that is presented to them.

I was immediately drawn into the story by the intriguing prologue set in 1972 where the family gift is passed down through the generations.  It's incredibly poignant and surprisingly heartwarming when Jen learns that it is now her turn to wield the family gift.  Written with a mixture of humour and pathos, the first ghosts she encounters set me off an emotional rollercoaster as I laughed and cried when they revealed their messages.

This isn't just a ghost story though, it's a cracking mystery and an incredibly emotional one as Jen does everything she can to reveal the final resting place of Helen Swift's body.  I loved Jen's dogged determination to not just get the police to believe her but to also reassure Helen's ghost that she was safe.

Intriguing, moving and highly original, The Messenger is a fantastic supernatural mystery that evoked many emotions in me.  I am delighted that this is not the last we will hear of Jen and I can't wait to read more of The Jennifer Hattley Mysteries series.  A magnificent debut and a very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Howling: Volume 3 (The Annie Jackson Mysteries) - Michael J Malone

Two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf. 

One is burned at the stake.

Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.

And Annie Jackson is about to find out why…

Vowing once again to remove herself from society, Annie is back living alone in her little cottage by the shores of a loch. But when an old enemy – now locked up in a high security hospital – comes calling, begging her to find the son that she was forced to give up at the age of seventeen, Annie is tempted out of seclusion. The missing boy holds the key to ending Annie’s curse, and he may be the only chance that both she and Lewis have of real happiness.

Annie and Lewis begin an investigation that takes them back to the past, a time etched in Scottish folklore, a period of history that may just be repeating itself. And what they uncover could destroy not just some of the most powerful people in the country, who will stop at nothing to protect their wealth and their secrets, but also Annie’s life, and everything she holds dear…

Dark, immersive, and utterly compelling, The Howling is a story of deception, betrayal, and misplaced power, and a reminder that the most public of faces can hide the darkest of hearts…

 

What did I think?

The Howling is the third book in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series and although you could enjoy it as a standalone, it is absolutely brilliant when read as part of the series.  If you thought the first two books were dark, just wait until you read The Howling.

Annie Jackson has a curse that gives her a vision of the impending death of someone with whom she has come into contact.  There is nothing she can do to prevent the death so she has chosen to isolate herself in a remote cottage to keep her murmurs quiet.  Annie is drawn out of isolation when an old adversary dangles a carrot in front of her that is too impossible to resist: find her son and the curse will be broken.

Interspersed with chapters from a dark and dangerous past, I was completely hooked from the start and the historic storyline is both horrifying and heartbreaking.  I could very easily visualise every scene in the book as it played out in my head as I was reading.

I just can't get enough of Michael J Malone's writing; he immediately draws you into the story and I dived in headfirst to submerge myself in the vivid and haunting words.  As much as I wanted Annie and her twin Lewis to succeed in their mission to break the curse, I also don't want the series to end so what a quandary that puts the reader in as we race to the dramatic conclusion.

Deliciously dark and incredibly haunting, The Howling is a fast-paced and completely unmissable novel.  Very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Caio (The Limerent Series Book 1) - LS Delorme

Sarah Baker is a paralegal in a law firm in modern-day Brooklyn. Her life is bouncing between her abusive lawyer boyfriend, the voices she hears in her head and her soul-sucking work at the law firm. On a New York spring day, she meets Caio as he plays basketball on a street court.

He is alluring, intriguing and young. Yet that’s the least of his mystery, for Caio was beaten, thrown into a hole and left to die. In 1905.

Sarah tries to understand this enigmatic stranger while juggling the dubious ethics of her law firm and the ghosts in her head. As she struggles with loss, grief, love, beauty… and lawyers, she will need to summon the strength to break all of society’s rules, save several lives and step into a new and potentially magical life.

Caio is the opening book of a new series of supernatural romantic thrillers that will pull on your heartstrings, challenge your perceptions and lead you on a singular journey of discovery and revelation.

 

What did I think?

Caio is the first book in the Limerent Series but it's the fourth one I have read so I was very eager to read more of Caio's story as he has become one of my favourite characters in the series.  It's a great story and I don't think it was spoiled in any way by me sort of knowing the ending.

Caio may look like a teenager but he's older than you might think...a LOT older.  Sarah Baker is in her forties so she is confused by her attraction to this basketball playing teen but Caio is persistent and when he trusts Sarah completely he finally shares his incredible secret with her.

Sarah hears voices in her head and they help and advise her throughout her life.  I just wish they'd advised her to stay clear of Karl who abuses Sarah both mentally and physically.  I was so mad at how he treated Sarah but her life is so entangled with Karl's that it's almost impossible to leave him.  Until Caio makes an appearance in Sarah's life and changes it in ways she could have never imagined.

Spellbinding and mind-blowing, Caio is a brilliant start to a highly original series that will entertain and delight readers of many different genres.

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

My rating:

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