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: The Ice Angels - Caroline Mitchell

Ten years ago, in the depths of the Finnish winter, Detective Elea Baker’s daughter was taken—and never found.

Now, in the quiet streets of Lincoln, girls are disappearing again. When one is found on the cathedral steps, clutching a chilling clue linked to the decade-old abduction, there’s only one person who can solve the case: Elea.

Dragged back into her nightmare, she’s determined to bring her daughter home this time—no matter the cost.

But is she chasing a ghost, or on the verge of uncovering a truth that will shatter everything?

 

What did I think?

I always set aside some dedicated reading time when it comes to Caroline Mitchell's books as they are impossible to put down and The Ice Angels is no exception.  The cover must be coated in virtual super glue as this fantastic book wasn't leaving my hands until I'd read every word.

It's the first book in the Detective Elea Baker series and what an absolute belter it is.  It has a dual timeline and a dual setting following Elea's daughter Liisa's abduction 10 years ago in Finland and the current police investigation into a spate of similar abductions in Lincoln, UK. 

Elea is linked in many ways to both cases, not just through her daughter's abduction but also through her estranged husband Richard Swann who is investigating the disappearances in Lincoln and invites Elea to consult on the case.  Oooh I loved the tangled, messy history between this pair that added an extra layer of intrigue to the already gripping storyline.

Caroline Mitchell's history in CID makes the storyline authentic and realistic and her talent as an author creates a razor-sharp and blisteringly fast-paced plot filled with drama, tension and suspense.  I am so excited to read more in this series and will definitely keep my eyes open for more. 

Unpredictable, incredibly gripping and completely unmissable, The Ice Angels is an exceptional police procedural and a outstanding start to an exciting new series.  An easy five stars and a very highly recommended read.

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:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Caroline Mitchell is a New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and international #No. 1 bestselling author who has sold over 2 million books . She originates from Ireland and now lives in a woodland village outside the city of Lincoln. A former police detective, she has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high-risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences. She now writes full time.

Her books have won first place as ‘Best Psychological Thriller’ in the US Reader’s’ Favourite Award Contest, been shortlisted for the International Thriller Writer Awards in New York and been shortlisted for ‘Best Procedural’ in the Killer Nashville awards and the Audie awards. Her crime thriller, Truth And Lies is a No.1 New York Times bestseller and has been optioned for TV.

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BLOG TOUR: Hope on Hope (Blossoming of Truth book 2) - Susan Gray

Can hope become… a lifeline…a defining attitude…a powerful reality?

In WW2 as her homeland France is occupied by enemy forces, Chantal receives a letter with a missing page – what wartime secret did her beloved Sam want to divulge? She is drawn into the French Resistance network and when the war ends, she embarks on her quest to trace her lost love.

On the cusp of womanhood, Darcy is headstrong, impulsive and outspoken. It’s 1946 and reuniting with her aunt, Chantal, the two strong women form a tight bond. But soon conflicting opinions force a wedge in their relationship.

Can secrets from the past and life altering circumstances refine Darcy’s attitudes?

Sadness has blighted Henri’s young life, but a chance encounter heralds a brighter future. Moving to northeast England he begins a new career and finds romance – only for his hopes to be dashed with an unexpected discovery.

From war-torn France to post war northeast England, engage in this romantic drama as Chantal, Darcy and Henri discover how the presence of hope can transform their lives.

 

What did I think?

I picked up Hope on Hope as it is set in my native north-east England and I really enjoyed it.  It's a cross between a family saga, historical and romance novel so it's a multifaceted story that keeps the reader entertained.

There's a great hook with a missing page from a letter that Sam sends to Chantal before he goes missing during the war.  Chantal has never given up hope of Sam returning to her, despite what her family and her niece Darcy might think.  I loved Darcy though, she certainly doesn't hold back from giving her opinion and she has some challenges to overcome when she dabbles in the world of dating.

I actually didn't realise that Hope on Hope is a sequel to Blossoming of Truth, which is Darcy's parents' story, but it works perfectly well as a standalone.  The secrets kept me riveted and the romance warmed my heart as I turned the pages of this incredibly charming novel.

Uplifting, poignant and enchanting, Hope on Hope is a beautifully written novel with family and love at its heart.  It's well worth a 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 it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Susan Gray writes uplifting character driven fiction, set in the twentieth century. She is intrigued by family secrets, mystery and romance so she endeavours to entwine these genres in her writing. Her books are set in northeast England, where she lives with her husband.

She enjoys travelling, reading, puzzling and people watching. Her plots are inspired by life issues and how her characters handle the twists and turns which ensue. Writing a novel was an unfulfilled dream, until celebrating a significant birthday five years ago.

To date she has penned eight books but only three are published. SPANISH HOUSE SECRETS was her debut novel and HOPE ON HOPE is the sequel to BLOSSOMING OF TRUTH.

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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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BLOG TOUR: Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane - Holly Hepburn

Maura has everything she ever wanted from life – a quirky cottage in Edinburgh’s picturesque Dean Village, a thriving career as a potter and a contented relationship with her childhood sweetheart, Jamie. Never mind that the cottage is damp, her pots aren’t selling and Jamie prefers a night down the pub with his rugby mates to an evening in with her.

But everyone wishes things were just a tiny bit better, right?

When Maura reunites with Fraser Bell at a Hogmanay party, she’s instantly transported back to her school days. And when he proposes she makes ceramic ghosts to complement his city ghost tour business, she’s tempted. At first, everything goes smoothly but it’s not long before their new partnership causes problems that ripple through every aspect of Maura’s life. The ghosts go viral, so she has more orders than she can fulfil and Jamie is not thrilled that she’s spending all her time in her studio. But when Edinburgh Castle shows an interest in Maura’s work, things begin to spiral out of control.

Can Maura really have it all or will she regret wishing for more?

 

What did I think?

Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane is just the kind of book you need to warm your heart on a chilly winter's day and I absolutely loved it.  It is wonderfully uplifting and incredibly romantic.

Written with a dual point of view and a past and present timeline, this is Maura and Fraser's story.  Maura and Fraser went to the same school and, although they were aware of each other, their paths barely crossed.  Many years later, Maura is a talented potter and Fraser is an actor who has returned to Edinburgh to run ghost tours of the city.  When they run into each other at a party the chemistry virtually sizzles off the page but neither of them are single, however, it is clear to the reader that they are both with the wrong people.

Oh this is just a gloriously heartwarming book with an entertaining storyline and fabulous characters.  I loved Fraser's idea for Maura to make ghosts for his business and if you thought the scene with with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost was romantic, just wait until you read about Maura teaching Fraser to make a ghost.  Will either of them be brave enough to declare their feelings?  You will have to read the book to find out.

Bursting with romance and filled with charm, I adored Healing Hearts on Thistledown Lane from the very first page.  Holly Hepburn always brings locations to life and this is her love letter to Edinburgh.  An unmissable read for fans of romance and very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOGATHON: A Woman Scorned - Jack Jordan

I'm taking part in the Compulsive Readers Jack Jordan Blogathon and I'm resharing my review of A Woman Scorned from 2018. 

Are you afraid? You should be.

The husband: in over his head with no way of knowing the truth.

The mistress: blinded by love, betrayed by her family...

The neighbour: will stop at nothing to protect the life he has fought to create.

The wife: a woman bent on revenge, but how far is she willing to go...?

Dark as night, this is a brilliantly plotted, gripping short story from the bestselling author Jack Jordan.

What did I think (in 2018)?

Jack Jordan is one of my favourite authors so it was like having a trip to 'excitement city' when he released a novella as I waited patiently for his next novel.  The writing as usual is superb but this book is SO good that the pages flick by so quickly and, being a novella, the whole experience is over far too quickly.  Yes, I'm a greedy reader and I want more Jack Jordan books!  I can almost hear Jack's fingers whooshing over the keyboard...as my wishes do sometimes come true!

So...A Woman Scorned...wow!  What a book, it is absolutely gripping and full of surprises.  I certainly wouldn't want to cross this scorned woman!  I positively whizzed through the book and although I wanted to savour every single word, I just couldn't read it fast enough.  Jack Jordan has that knack of giving you just enough Hansel and Gretel crumbs to follow whilst also releasing the handbrake on the runaway train so you can't read it fast enough before the breathtaking conclusion.  

Amber is one of those women that I would love to have as a friend but at the same time I would be frightened of saying the wrong thing to her.  At the flick of a switch she can go from being the perfect wife to a cold calculating woman bent on revenge.  I loved that about her though, how she gave the illusion that everything was fine when behind the scenes she was like 'I'll get you, you cheating b*stard'.

Having read as many books as I have, I did guess a little of the big reveal but I still enjoyed every single second of it.  Nobody can write with as much drama and unbridled tension as Jack Jordan and if you haven't discovered him yet, I urge you to pick up, not one but, all of his books right now!

A Woman Scorned is an absolute belter; thrilling, gripping and completely riveting, you won't be able to put it down!

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon




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