BLOG TOUR: The Age of the Artificial Person - Alastair Waterman

Could this be the last book written solely by a human? The Age of the Artificial Person by Alastair Waterman redefines the boundary between the natural and artificial, offering a fresh perspective on human evolution and AI. Far from suggesting AI will replace us or that humans are outdated, this book celebrates humanity as a technology that has shaped itself through culture for millennia. AI is our next step— not a replacement, but a partner in crafting our destiny beyond biological limits.

Explore five eras of cultural evolution, ponder if machines can feel, and discover 'Dark Science'—AI’s potential to transcend human bias. From digital immortality to rethinking consciousness, this thought-provoking read invites tech enthusiasts, philosophers, and futurists to embrace our role as architects of the future. Grab your copy to join the conversation!

 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed learning more about AI in Alistair Waterman's The Age of the Artificial Person.  I was quite suspicious of it beforehand but I feel more comfortable now, after considering how much it can improve our lives.

There is a lot of information in the book and I have to say that the large font size made it much easier to read; not just because it's easier on the eyes but because it slows the pace and allows the information to seep into your brain.

I have only really heard of AI being misused, such as writing a 'review' of a book that really just regurgitates the synopsis as the AI hasn't read it, so it was good to see the wider picture.  I was actually quite surprised how much AI had crept into my life without really standing back to consider it: predictive text for example.

To move forward as a species, we do need to embrace AI as it could make our lives easier.  I don't think it will ever fully replace a person but rather than being negative towards AI it is worth thinking about what you could be doing while AI is doing any mundane tasks.

The Age of the Artificial Person is an informative and thought-provoking book to debate and discuss.  I'm glad that I have read The Age of the Artificial Person as it has made me so much more receptive to AI.  It's coming whether we like it or not anyway!  

I received a gifted ARC from Literally PR to read and review for the blog tour and this is my (not AI) honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOGATHON: Anything For Her - Jack Jordan

For my stop on the Compulsive Readers blog tour, I am reposting my review of Anything For Her from July 2015, updated with the stunning new cover.  

The unputdownable debut from bestselling author Jack Jordan.

Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you.

Louise Leighton's life has fallen apart, all because of one fateful night. Her husband is an adulterer, her sister is his mistress, and soon, Louise will lose everything she owns. But she never imagined she would lose her daughter.

Eighteen-year-old Brooke Leighton is missing. It's up to Louise and the Metropolitan Police to find her. Has Brooke run away? Or has she been taken against her will? And can Louise aid the investigation without mentioning the night where all of her troubles began?

If she mentions that night, she will incriminate her daughter for heinous crimes. But if she doesn't, she may never find Brooke; and if she has been abducted, the person who took her may come for Louise, too.

Sometimes the past comes back to kill you.

What did I think?

Louise Leighton is happily married to Michael with two happy carefree children, Brooke and Dominic, when an unfortunate event shatters her world.

Wow!  This book fell through my letterbox and didn't even hit the bookshelf - once I picked it up, it refused to be put down!  It gripped me from the very first page when Michael revealed that he had been having an affair with his sister-in-law.  He blames his actions on Louise, as she has changed after “that night”.  “That night” is the hook that had me turning page after page, long after I should have been asleep and dreaming of books, beer and cheese.

Jack Jordan has very cleverly chosen a mindless act for “that night” that sets in motion a series of events with cataclysmic consequences, resulting in a shared secret between Louise and her daughter, Brooke.  The tension was palpable as more details of “that night” emerge and the past doesn’t just come back to haunt them, it comes back to get even.

This is an exceptional debut novel; the writing is sublime with an abundance of magnificent metaphors that had me mentally applauding on every page.  This is definitely a contender for my book of the year.

I received a copy of the book from the author; this is my honest and unbiased opinion. 

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Slow Burn - Oti Mabuse

Filled with scenes of sizzling passion, plot beats of swoon-worthy romance, and a cast of Black female characters that you’ll fall in love with, the unputdownable debut novel from Oti Mabuse brims with heat and heart. Perfect for fans of Talia Hibbert, Laura Jane Williams, Tia Williams, Farrah Rochon, Hannah Grace and Bolu Babalola.

For dancer Lira, Latin Ballroom is everything. Whilst her dreams of fame were cut short aged 19, she’s never forgotten the connection she felt dancing with a stranger at the Paris World Championship afterparty 13 years ago.

 

Now, with her younger sisters pursuing their own successful dancing careers, and the responsibility of running the family dance studio falling to her, Lira’s ambitious flame is about to flicker out. Until a chance encounter sees her secretly auditioning for Slow Burn, a new dance show about to embark on a 6-week European tour, and coming face to face with a blast from her past that sends her reeling.

 

Gabriele is the quintessential bad boy of the Latin Ballroom scene. Slim of hip, with long, lean muscles that pop, a chiselled jaw, dark eyes, obscenely long lashes, and a mouth that just won’t give, it's no surprise when he lands the principal male lead role on Slow Burn. But, with just a few weeks to go till the tour starts, he still hasn't found his female co-star. All it takes is one audition to set his world on fire... 

 

On the dance floor they’re smouldering, off it, they’re on fire.

 

What did I think?

Wow!  Slow Burn is a breathtaking debut novel that swept me off my feet and I absolutely loved it.  I only planned on having a quick peek of Slow Burn when it dropped through my letterbox but once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.  If my stomach hadn't rumbled I would have read it in one sitting!

I adored the main characters of Lira and Gabriele who have such sizzling chemistry on the page that I wouldn't have been surprised to find my fingertips burnt (I still wouldn't have put the book down though!).  Lira met Gabriele briefly 13 years and they had a night of passion without knowing each other's full names.  Lira gave up her dancing career due to family responsibilities but fate throws her back into Gabriele's arms.

Oh my goodness, this fabulous book is filled with so much passion, emotion and drama that I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page.  The dancing scenes are so vivid that I could easily visualise them in my mind and the characters are so well-drawn that they danced out of the book and into my heart.  I loved Slow Burn so much that I could have easily read it again the second I turned the final page.

Passionate, evocative and mesmerising, Slow Burn is THE hottest book of the year.  Unputdownable and unmissable.  Oti Mabuse is definitely an author to watch and I will certainly be looking out for her next book.

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: An Academic Affair - Jodi McAlister

 

The Love Hypothesis meets The Hating Game in a new standalone romcom from New York Times acclaimed author and romance academic Jodi McAlister.

From rivals in the classroom. . . to partners in real life? 

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have known each other for fifteen years – and they’ve disliked each other for every one of them. It started with a minor altercation in an undergrad literature class, but as their academic careers developed, so did the intensity of their arguments. By the time they graduate with their doctorates, they’re embroiled in a full-on rivalry.

So when a position comes up that Sadie and Jonah are both perfect for, their ongoing enmity explodes into a red-hot competition. But as Sadie fights to secure her future, she realises there might be a way for both of them to get their dream job. There's just one catch – they'll have to get married first.

When things get personal, though, Sadie will have to keep her eye on the prize. A fake marriage isn't worth jeopardising her real career over, is it?

What did I think?

An Academic Affair is the first Jodi McAlister novel I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I really enjoyed the academia setting and the longstanding rivalry between the two main characters who are clearly meant to be together.

Sadie and Jonah are rivals who can't seem to escape each other.  The hand of fate is working overtime to push them together but their academic brains are refusing to see what is meant to be.  When they both go for the same job, Sadie has an idea that means they could both get what they want and she goes one better than fake dating by coming up with a fake marriage plan.

What Sadie doesn't know is that the reader is privy to Jonah's thoughts (and cute footnotes) and he loves her!  The footnotes do interrupt the reading flow a little but it makes the academia theme more authentic. Whilst Jonah is being honest about his feelings for Sadie (on the page, at least), Sadie is keeping her cards close to her chest.  Of course the fake marriage puts them in such close proximity that they have to accept their feelings for one another, but who will be the first to show their hand?

The author has an academic background which makes the way that Sadie and Jonah are treated in the workplace quite shocking.  Their intellectual property is brazenly stolen and I was absolutely furious on their behalf.  Just as well Jodi McAlister has written such a lovely love story to put out the flames of my fury.

Completely charming and incredibly romantic, An Academic Affair is a delightful novel that had me rooting for the main characters to be honest with each other and to grab hold of their happy ending.

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 Hidden Eye (The Merseyside Crime Series Book 4) - Malcolm Hollingdrake

The Hidden Eye is the breathtaking fourth novel in the thrilling Merseyside crime series from Malcolm Hollingdrake, author of the best-selling Harrogate crime series.

Antisocial behaviour is on the rise on the streets of Liverpool. Swift and silent, a sinister gang is patrolling the city on electric motorbikes, scouting for opportunities to steal.

DI April Decent and her trusted team of detectives are facing a complex series of crimes including the cold case of a young woman who died almost a year earlier. The perpetrator remains in the shadows, a traumatised past leaving them hell-bent on atonement, hoping to find a way to cleanse their soul of guilt.

‘The Controller’ of the gang pulls their strings, their orders becoming ever more ambitious and demanding, until a robbery goes wrong, and a gang member is arrested.

Can DI April Decent’s trusted police team manage to piece together the fragmented trail of evidence and track down this malevolent puppet master? Can they make Liverpool’s streets feel safer once more?

The Hidden Eye is ideal for fans of Simon McCleave, J M Dalgliesh and Ian Rankin.

 

What did I think?

The Hidden Eye is the fourth book in The Merseyside Crime series but I think you can read and enjoy it as a standalone, however, you will definitely want to read the earlier books once you have read it.

DI April Decent is the main character who links the series together but the crime itself is a self-contained storyline and what an absolute belter it is.  It had me riveted from start to finish as April and her team scour the streets of Liverpool in search of the mastermind behind the latest crime wave.

The city of Liverpool is brought to life and feels almost like a character itself.  I have been to Liverpool, although I'm not familiar with a lot of the places mentioned in The Hidden Eye, but I could easily visualise it in my mind.  

Filled with intrigue and packed with suspense, The Hidden Eye is an outstanding crime novel in a magnificent series.  I love Malcolm Hollingdrake's descriptive writing; he creates such vivid scenes with such carefully considered words and it's a real joy to read his books.  A 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:

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Hobeck Books

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Fawning - Dr Ingrid Clayton

Often mistakenly labeled as codependency, fawning can present as being more of who someone is: smart, generous, successful, funny, or beautiful, while for others it's about being less: vocal, ethnic, creative, self-assured, or boundaried. Fawning can be visible or invisible, it can take the shape of sex, money, or the perpetual emotional regulation of others but one thing remains constant: it is about finding safety in an unsafe world, often at our own expense.

Written by fawning expert and clinical psychologist Dr. Ingrid Clayton, Fawning will be the first of its kind, shining a light on this under-represented, but extremely important piece of the trauma puzzle. Clayton draws upon both personal and clinical experiences of the trauma response and provides resources and tools for anyone who has lost intrinsic parts of themselves by constantly orienting to safety through self-abandonment. This book is for those who want to finally lessen their shame about patterns that haven't served for a long time. It is for doctors, therapists, and all those in the helping professions who need to understand this form and function of how the body seeks to survive trauma. This book is for the cycle breakers who don't want to carry unprocessed trauma down to future generations or foster another generation of fawners who aren't entitled to the full spectrum of human emotion, shrinking in the face of what caregivers can tolerate. It is for those who have been told to read all the literature on codependency and still don't see themselves reflected. Fawning is for anyone who has felt stuck in relationships, longing for meaningful, reciprocal connections and most importantly, a true relationship to Self.

 

What did I think?

I knew I had to read Fawning when I answered yes to the below questions on the proof cover and it really felt like the book had been written with me in mind.

• Are you a people-pleaser?
• Do you avoid conflict?
• Do you tend to take the blame?
• Do you take care of others at the expense of yourself?
• Do you live in a state of hypervigilance?

Dr Ingrid Clayton is an expert on fawning as she is a fawner herself and she uses her own example and those of some of her clients to illustrate how you can break the fawning cycle yourself.

It's a long road to break a habit of a lifetime but the first step for me is recognising that I am a fawner and, more importantly perhaps, recognising when I am fawning.  The first time I actually stopped myself from fawning was a massive step and I felt really proud of myself as I would have definitely taken the blame for the thing that wasn't my fault before reading Fawning.

Interesting, accessible and understandable, Fawning is a well-written and engaging self-help book that could change your life.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still a massive fawner but I have definitely seen an improvement since reading this book.  If you recognise yourself as a fawner then you really do need to read this book. 

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: All Feathers and Hats: Rookscroft - Book One - Jayne Siroshton

It began one morning in late summer, when a pheasant appeared at my studio window. At first, I was startled - "but my surprise quickly turned to delight when I noticed he was wearing a top hat, pulled down quite low.

I hurried to the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of him as he fled. But to my astonishment, when I opened it, he was standing there on the mat. There was a pause. He looked me over, blinked - and then, he began to speak.

He introduced himself as Vernon Cotterill and asked if I would be willing to paint his portrait, an offer I joyfully accepted, and that, my friends, is how this whole adventure began.

 

What did I think?

What an absolutely delightful book!  All Feathers and Hats is an illustrated book that is aimed at readers aged 6 to adult and it's a book that everyone will enjoy.  If you think it looks stunning from the outside, just wait until you see inside.  The illustrations are exquisite and they seem to capture the very essence of the characters themselves.

Jayne Siroshton has both imaginatively written and beautifully illustrated the book showing there is no end to her creative talent.  Jayne is also a character in the book which adds an air of authenticity and makes you believe that it could be real...if you believe in talking animals of course and who doesn't?

Vernon Cotterill, a hat wearing pheasant, appears at Jayne's door one day asking her to paint his portrait.  Vernon is so pleased with the result that it isn't long before other animals are appearing at Jayne's door.  As well as lots of fun elements to the story, there's also a sprinkling of romance that is simply lovely.

All Feathers and Hats has the feel of a timeless, ageless classic and it's the first book in a series so there are more delightful tales to come.  Jayne Siroshton reminds me of a modern-day Enid Blyton and I wouldn't be surprised to find Rookscroft books on myriad bookshelves for many years to come.

A very highly recommended read for readers of all ages.  I certainly plan to read it again and it is going straight onto my favourites shelf. 

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

My rating:

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Rookscroft

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