📖 Book Review ~ The Herb Knot by Jane Loftus

HQ Digital
8 May 2025
My thanks to the publisher for the copy of this book

 

The Hundred Years' War comes to life in this spellbinding tale of love, betrayal and conspiracy …

A quest born on the battlefield will change a young boy’s destiny… 

Rafi Dubois is five years old when his mother is murdered after the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Alone and lost, Rafi is given a token by the dying Englishman who tried to save his mother’s life: a half-broken family seal which he urges Rafi to return one day to Winchester.

Years later, when Rafi saves a wealthy merchant’s wife from a brutal robbery, he is rewarded with the chance to travel to England, taking the seal with him.

But when he reaches Winchester, Rafi finds himself in a turbulent world full of long-held allegiances, secrets and treachery. His path is fraught with danger and with powerful enemies working against him, Rafi falls in love with Edith, a market apothecary. But in doing so, Rafi unleashes a deadly chain of events which threatens to overwhelm them both…

📖My Review..

In the aftermath of the battle of Crécy five year old, Rafi Dubois not only witnesses the disappearance of his mother but also the death of an English soldier. Just prior to his death the soldier entrusts Rafi with his family seal which he entreats the young boy to return to his family in England. Years later, as a twenty year old, Rafi finally has the opportunity to travel from Ghent to Winchester, and his quest to return the seal finally begins. This is a task not without risk and Rafi soon discovers that he is faced with more questions than there are answers plus there is also an assortment of people who seem intent to do him harm. His ambitious search for the owners of the seal will bring Rafi into contact with a powerful Winchester merchant, and it is this connection which will lead him into great danger.

With impeccable research medieval Winchester springs to life, its dark and dangerous corners are filled with malice, its mean and moody streets are littered with the detritus of daily life and the sights, sounds and scents of a medieval town are described in realistic detail. That there is trouble ahead for Rafi is evident from the start however, the characters he meets, some inherently good, some downright evil, all add a realistic edge to this beautifully written story of family, friendship and the ultimate need to fulfil a duty promised.

The Herb Knot gives us a fascinating glimpse into a medieval world which is filled with intrigue and danger, whilst at the same time offering shreds of hope and love in a compelling story which lingers long after the last page is turned.

About the Author

Jane Loftus studied 16th Century European history before taking a postgraduate degree in modern political history. As a lone parent, she worked in Winchester Waterstones before taking a job in IT. This novel was written in the evenings while she was raising her son. Hugely passionate about the Middle Ages, she drew inspiration for this novel from the medieval layout of Winchester which has been painstakingly documented.

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📖 Blog Tour ~ Booked for Summer by Kathryn Freeman

One More Chapter
30 April 2025

Thanks to the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to the tour

 

A love story she didn't see coming…

When book lover Jade Taylor applies to manage the Little Bay Book Shack on Nantucket Island over the summer, the last thing she needs is the distraction of billionaire resort owner, Liam Haven.

But things take an unexpected turn when Liam becomes Jade’s boss – a man who only reads contracts for pleasure…

In a bid to save the bookshop from being absorbed into the Haven resort, Jade is determined to teach Liam that there’s more to life than acquiring real estate. And if she can make him realise happily ever afters do exist, might she be able to save the island’s bookshop in the process?

📖My Review…

Jade Taylor arrives on Nantucket Island to fulfil a lifelong dream of running a bookstore and the aptly named Little Bay Book Shack seems the ideal opportunity as not only does she get to spend three whole months with books, she also meets the deliciously handsome, Liam Haven who sweeps her off her feet as soon as she arrives in the resort. However, there is more to Liam than Jade realises and when she finds out exactly who he is, well, let’s say things don’t go to plan for either of them.

The affluent resort of Nantucket Island comes to life, from the millionaire clientele who holiday at Haven resort, to the beach side bars serving colourful cocktails there is never a moment when the story doesn’t pull you into this world which the author has recreated with such joyous detail. Jade is a force to be reckoned with and it’s been a real delight to see her relationship with Liam develop. Watching the spark of passion ignite between them, especially at the start of the book, gives the story a real sexual sizzle, however, there is so more to their personalities than what happens between the sheets. 

Such a lovely read, Booked for Summer made me laugh out loud especially as Jade attempts to remind Liam that having money is no guarantee of happiness and the poignant reminder that love and friendship are what are truly important. A delightful, light-hearted story which makes for perfect summer reading.

About the Author

A former pharmacist, Kathryn now writes romantic comedies. Feel good books that are sexy and sweet, funny yet heart-warming. Mr Right Across the Street won the RNA Award for Romantic Comedy in 2022.

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), the romance in her own life is all in her head. Then again, his unstinting support of her career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Twitter: @kathrynfreeman1

Facebook: facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Instagram: kathryn.freeman_author

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

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📖 Blog Tour ~ The House at River’s Edge by Rachel Burton

Boldwood 
3 May 2025

Thanks to the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of the book
And the invitation to the blog tour.

1914: Anticipating a long summer of freedom at her friend's family estate in Cambridge, Grace Villiers is disappointed by an unexpected addition to their party. Then the new arrival offers to teach Grace to swim, and she is forced to see there is more to Algernon Lake than his reputation. But, with war brewing across Europe, this will be a summer that changes everything.

1997: Following her father’s sudden death, Barbara finds herself living with her mother in a house that is, literally, falling down around them. As she tries to put their new home in order, she discovers a photograph of her grandfather as a young man with his friend – two soldiers at the start of the First World War. Setting aside her grief, Barbara becomes determined to uncover their story, hoping it will bring her closer to the family she feels slipping away.

But when her search for answers opens up truths she isn’t prepared for, Barbara will come to realise, some secrets may be best left alone.

📖My Review..

A group of close friends spend the long summer of 1914 enjoying their last chance of freedom before the onset of WWI. This bittersweet time is especially poignant for Grace Villiers as she meets the charismatic Algernon Lake, a young poet, who will have such an effect on her life going forward. 

In 1997, Barbara is facing a crossroads in her life, her father has recently died and she lives with her elderly mother in a house which requires much renovation. When Barbara discovers a photograph of two young WWI soldiers, and a trunk containing letters and other artefacts, she is determined to discover more about the past and her family’s connection to the two young men. 

This is a lovely dual time story which flips back and forth so seamlessly that I found I enjoyed spending time with Grace, and her friends back in 1914, whilst at the same time uncovering hidden family secrets with Barbara in 1997. The story flows really well with neither time period outshining the other although I found the inevitable change brought about by Grace’s wartime experiences to be particularly poignant. I found the story quite moving, love and loss feature strongly in both time frames, and there is a quiet sense of ghosts from the past sharing their secrets which have been hidden away for so long. I loved how the story evolved, sharing its secrets so eloquently, I felt as if I were a quiet bystander watching as tragedy unfolded. 

All the characters be they in 1914 or 1997 struck a chord with me and I felt a quiet satisfaction when the story came to an end, all the beautiful threads had been woven together in an emotional story which lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned.

About the Author

Rachel Burton is the bestselling author of historical timeslip novels and romantic comedies. Rachel was born in Cambridge and studied Classics and English Literature before starting a career in law. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, a variety of cats and far too many books.

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🎉🎉 Blogoversary 2025 🎉🎉

Fourteen years ago I started a blog I thought no-one would ever read, and I was quite comfy with that idea, and then gradually things started to change and Jaffareadstoo started to gain the attention of authors and publishers and pretty soon I was invited to read and promote more and more books. During this time I have been delighted, thrilled and really privileged to read some amazing books whilst at the same time getting to know other enthusiastic bloggers who all do what they do in order to share the joy of reading. Fourteen years has seen many changes in the blogging world not least in the rise of social media and the various ways of sharing information. Jaffareadstoo occupies just a little corner of this exciting world, enjoying all the book promotions and the lovely banter between readers. I get most of my book recommendations from fellow book bloggers and posts I see online.

Fourteen years ago I read predominantly physical books and I must admit that I still love the look, feel and smell of a new book however, small print and less good eyesight has necessitated the transition to digital and audio books which I have embraced wholeheartedly and I am immensely grateful to authors and publishers who now mostly send digital books for me to read.

Huge thanks, as always, goes to the authors, and publishers, who continue to support Jaffareadstoo, it’s still a tremendous privilege to review early copies of books, something I’ll never, ever take for granted.

And to all those who pop by to read my reviews, ~ thank you, and happy reading 📖 

📖 Blog Tour ~ Manhattan Down by Michael Cordy

Bantam Books/ Transworld
8 May 2025

My thanks to Sophie Ransom PR for my copy of the book
and the invitation to the blog tour

A propulsive rollercoaster high concept international thriller which dares to take the world to the edge of oblivion.

THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS JUST SAID GOODNIGHT.

On the anniversary eve of the 9/11 terror attack, New York swelters under a heat dome of record temperatures. Even the global leaders assembled at the UN HQ are forced to admit that the climate crisis has reached boiling point and the world’s time is running out.

That same day, at precisely 5:25 p.m., everyone on Manhattan Island – every man, woman and child, including all the world leaders at the UN – falls unconscious. Everyone that is, except for Samantha Rossi, a single mother reeling from devastating personal news and Nick Lockwood, a wounded NYPD detective who wakes from a coma just as the City That Never Sleeps falls into one.

📖 My Review..

Literally, in the blink of an eye, at 5:25pm on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary the entire island of Manhattan goes to sleep. Four million people fall, and remain where they fell, be that on the pavement or at their desk in an office block or whilst walking in the street and as Manhattan goes eerily silent there are only a handful of eco-warriors who know precisely what is going on and they are about to put their ambitious plan into action.

The story hits the ground running and doesn’t let up pace until the whole of this clever plot is revealed. With  a real sense of time and place Manhattan, lost in time, becomes another fascinating character in this daring story and I followed with a real sense of trepidation watching as the plot unfolded and the perpetrators started to reveal their true personalities. There’s a real sense of disquiet, rather like the deserted streets of our towns and cities during the recent global pandemic, an otherworldliness starts to evolve, with streets and building littered with bodies, there’s a glimpse of a futuristic world which could, however frightening it seems, be just around the corner.

This is a really accomplished thriller, from its scarily realistic setting, to the well thought out characters particularly those of the terrorists and also Samantha Rossi and Nick Lockwood who become real champions and who under normal circumstances would never have met and interacted. I flew through the story in a couple of sittings, reluctant to leave the sleeping Manhattan to its own devices and fascinated to see what would happen next in this fast action thriller.

Beautifully written, with such incredible and believable detail, I can well imagine Manhattan Down being picked up and made into a movie, it really is that good.

About the Author

Michel Cordy is the best selling author of 6 high concept thrillers, including the Sunday Times international bestseller The Messiah Code, The Lucifer Code  and the Sunday Times best seller, The Miracle Strain.  Having taken time off from writing novels to work in film, Michael Cordy is back with Manhattan Down. His novels have been translated into several languages and four have been sold to Hollywood. Michael lives in London with his wife and daughter.

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📖 Book Review ~ The Devil’s Draper by Donna Moore

Fly on the Wall Press
1 May 2025
Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book 

When whispers of abuse at Arrol's department store reach Mabel, a determined policewoman, she knows she must act. Enlisting the help of Johnnie, a cunning thief, and Beatrice, a savvy businesswoman, they embark on a perilous journey to uncover the truth.

Set against the backdrop of 1920s Glasgow, where women's voices are often silenced, this thrilling tale weaves together crime, justice, and the fight for equality. As the trio inches closer to exposing the scandal, they realize that in a world where women are rarely believed, their very lives may be at stake.

📖 My Review..

After reading The Unpicking in 2023 I was delighted to be given the opportunity of reading this second book in the series which takes us into the heart of Glasgow and to a department store which is abusing its female employees.

The 1920s was very much a period of social change particularly in the aftermath of The Great War when women were pretty much sidelined in favour of men especially in the work place and even Mabel Adair in her role as a policewoman is very much relegated to a minor role, so when an opportunity presents itself to get to the bottom of what is going on at Arrol’s department store in Glasgow Mabel is determined to do her very best. With the help of a skilful thief and a methodical business woman they start to uncover a web of deceit and violence against vulnerable women and are determined to bring the perpetrator to face justice.

Beautifully written, the story flows well and I was soon caught up with the intrigue and immersed in the Glasgow scene of the 1920s. I enjoyed meeting up again with some of the characters from The Unpicking and thought that Beatrice and Johnnie were worthy additions to this story about strong women doing what they can to fight for those women who are all too easy prey for unscrupulous individuals.

About the Author

Donna Moore is the author of crime fiction and historical fiction. Her first novel, a Private Eye spoof called Go To Helena Handbasket, won the Lefty Award for most humorous crime fiction novel and her second novel, Old Dogs, was shortlisted for both the Lefty and Last Laugh Awards. Her short stories have been published in various anthologies. In her day job she works as an adult literacy tutor for marginalised and vulnerable women, facilitates creative writing workshops and has a PhD in creative writing around women’s history and gender-based violence.

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📖 Book of My Month ~ Death on Wolf Fell by Nick Oldham

Severn House
6 May 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

 

A tense and utterly addictive police procedural set on the Lancashire moors featuring Sergeant Jessica Raker.

Former Metropolitan Police firearms officer Sergeant Jessica Raker is on a mission to bring down a brutal organized crime group operating in the idyllic Ribble Valley.

The OCG's leader, Mags Horsefield, is determined to make one of the members pay for getting caught by the police, using her contacts to make sure he’s released from prison early . . . into her waiting clutches.

Jess knows Mags from their school days, but their lives now couldn’t be more different. A fire at a local mill puts Jess on the tail of Mags’ OCG; is this her opportunity to catch the Ribble Valley’s most wanted criminal? The battle lines have been drawn, but when Jess is called to an incident at Wolf Fell Hall, a series of terrifying events follow…

📖My Review..

I love a good crime novel where I can instantly be familiar with the characters and also picture the setting in which they go about their nefarious business. Death on Wolf Fell intrigued me particularly because it’s set in my home county of Lancashire and some of the places mentioned I have visited so can easily put everything into context. The story begins with a dramatic opener which gets this pacy police procedural off to an explosive start with a gangland madam determined to succeed and a feisty police sergeant who is equally ferocious in her determination to stop crime boss Mags Horsefield in her tracks.

Nick Oldham is a new author for me and whilst I haven’t read the first book in this Jessica Raker series, this second book hits the ground running with enough back story included so that I never felt as if I was floundering in a sea of what happened before. It’s gritty and occasionally violent without being gratuitously so which makes everything feel authentic, if rather gung-ho at times. I feel DS Raker is a central character who will grow more into her lead detective role as the series progresses.There was enough bad stuff going on to keep me guessing and I enjoyed the insight into Jess’s personal life, with her kids and mother, and her burgeoning interest in fireman Joe.

I raced through the story pretty quickly as once started I could put the book down eager for the final outcome and hoped that Jess Raker would sort the good guys from the bad. The story ends on a real cliffhanger which gave me hope that there will be another DS Jessica Raker novel following in the not too distant future and in the meantime I can read the first book in the series Death at Dead Men’s Stakes so I’m all caught up. I am delighted to make Death on Wolf Fell the Book of my Month for May.

About the Author

Nick Oldham was born in Belthorn, Lancashire, in 1956. He has been a police officer since the age of nineteen, spending the majority of his service in operational roles, before retiring in 2005. He lives with his partner, Belinda, on the outskirts of Preston.

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📖 Blog Tour ~ Dangerous by Essie Fox

 

When fiction is fatal…

Living in exile in Venice, the disgraced Lord Byron revels in the freedoms of the city

But when he is associated with the deaths of local women, found with wounds to their throats, and then a novel called The Vampyre is published under his name, rumours begin to spread that Byron may be the murderer…

As events escalate and tensions rise – and his own life is endangered, as well as those he holds most dear – Byron is forced to play detective, to discover who is really behind these heinous crimes. Meanwhile, the scandals of his own infamous past come back to haunt him…

Rich in gothic atmosphere and drawing on real events and characters from Byron's life, Dangerous is a riveting, dazzling historical thriller, as decadent, dark and seductive as the poet himself…

📖My Review..

Mad, bad and dangerous to know is the epithet by which we view George Gordon Byron whose poetic genius is often overshadowed by his public exploits. This deliciously creepy gothic novel takes us directly into the life of this charismatic English poet during his exile in Venice in 1818. 

With impeccable research, Lord Byron comes so realistically to life that we stroll alongside him as he gains entry into a high class brothel, a place to seek pleasure and oblivion only to discover that he wakes to a nightmare scenario. When Byron’s name becomes inextricably linked to the gruesome deaths of local women he must do everything he can to discover who is trying to discredit him in such a terrible way, especially when a publication known simply as The Vampyre is published fraudulently in his name. 

Beautifully imagined, and with a cleverly contrived murder mystery at its heart, the story pulls you into a world of subterfuge and deceit whilst at the same time issuing a tantalising invitation to joint Byron in his hedonistic pursuit of pleasure, watching as he seduces beautiful women who are easy prey to his charm. Rich in detail, strong on atmosphere, and by cleverly blending fact and fiction, we are immediately immersed in Byron’s nineteenth century life in Venice, from visiting grand palazzos on the Grand Canal, to the dark underbelly of a city hiding terrible secrets, whilst at its centre is a man tormented by dark thoughts who is determined to clear his name.

About the Author

Essie Fox was born and raised in rural Herefordshire, which inspires much of her writing. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London where she worked for the Telegraph Sunday Magazine, and then book publishers George Allen & Unwin, before becoming self-employed in the world of art and design. Essie now spends her time writing historical gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4’s TV Book Club. The Last Days of Leda Grey, set in the early years of silent film, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. Essie’s Victorian gothic novel, The Fascination, debuted at number 10 on the Sunday Times bestseller list, and was widely acclaimed. Essie is also the creator of the popular blog: The Virtual Victorian. She has lectured on this era at the V&A, and the National Gallery in London. She lives in Windsor.

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📖 Blog Tour ~ Did You See Evie? by Miranda Smith

Bookouture
25 April 2025

My thanks to the publisher for the book
and the invitation to the blog tour

I blink awake to the sound of whispering, and look around. Automatically, I do a count. And then I am upright, my heart racing. I count again. “Girls,” I say, trying to sound calm. “Did you see Evie?” 

It was meant to be a celebration. A team sleepover in the school movies, pizza, hot chocolate. I walk among the girls, checking they’re ok. They collect in groups and giggle, play truth or dare.

Then there’s Evie. Always the outsider, just like I was. She sits apart, fiddling with her long blond hair. It seems like she wants to speak to me, but there’s a never a good time.

And when we wake up the next day, stiff and groggy, Evie is gone.

I know the girls are lying about something. I see it in their averted eyes, their sullen silences. But how can I challenge them, when I’m the worst liar of all?

Because the truth is, I’m desperate to find her. I’d do anything to protect these girls. But it’s also true that the longer she’s missing, the more risk I’m running.

You see, the night she vanished, I did something no one can ever know…

📖 My Review..

An exciting sleepover to celebrate the elementary school’s success as local basketball champions goes horribly wrong when one of the young team players goes missing. With hardly any explanation as to why Evie has disappeared Coach Cass is determined to discover where her star player has gone but with the police also investigating the disappearance Cass is worried that some of her own secrets may get uncovered.

This is a lovely slow burner of a thriller which sets the scene perfectly. We get to know more about the girls in the team, their privileged backgrounds no excuse for bad behaviour and yet there is far more to this clever mystery than team rivalry. I enjoyed piecing together the pieces of the puzzle, especially as we get to know more about Cass, who is an extremely good basketball coach and yet she is held back by shadows from her past which threaten her judgement and fill her with indecision.

Cleverly done, with several twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and an ending which brings all the complicated strands of the plot together, Did You See Evie? captured my imagination and I finished the book in a couple of sittings as I couldn’t put it down until I knew just what had happened on the fateful night that Evie disappeared.

About the Author

 

Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.

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📖 Book Review ~ Ten Poems for Wellbeing from Candlestick Press

Candlestick Press
March 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this pamphlet 

 

There’s an expression: to be comfortable in your own skin. The words contain the idea that it’s possible to be at ease with yourself and your life – and that there’s fulfilment to be found in feeling this way.

These thoughtful poems offer moments of pleasure in uncomplicated things – flowers in a window box or eating toast at midnight – and remind us that we don’t always need to look very far to experience a sense of calm and wellbeing. The world can be a place that we know and trust:

“There’s a dream I have in which I
love the world. I run from end to end like fingers
through her hair. There are no borders, only wind.”

from ‘Meditations in an Emergency’ by Cameron Awkward-Rich

This is a selection to enjoy when we want to be reminded that if we look carefully, we have all we need to experience a sense of serenity and peace.

Edited by Vanessa Lampert who likes to walk on a windy hill and hasn’t grown out of building dams on beaches.

Poems by Laurie Bolger, Em Grey,Paula Jennings,Vanessa Lampert, Alden Nowlan,Cameron Awkward-Rich, Sara Teasdale, Jerrold Yam,Luke Samuel Yates and Dean Young.

Cover illustration by Sara Boccaccini Meadows.

📖My Review..

In our hectic world we all need a little help now and then, and this insightful collection of ten poems certainly helps to bring a sense of perspective. I find that reading poetry is especially therapeutic and is essential to my wellbeing which is why I have found this collection particularly special. Each of the poems are beautifully written, quietly introspective, with a real sense of quiet reflection.

I’m always delighted to see the work of Sara Teasdale and in Wood Song we are reminded of the comfort of nature:

“ I heard a wood-thrush in the dusk
Twirl three notes and make a star -
My heart that walked with bitterness
Came back from very far..”

The other poets. all equally talented, share the gift of their imagination in poems which resonate and capture a particular moment in time as in this lovely poem by Vanessa Lampert:

“ Tonight, it’s as if the rain was told
to wash away all
but the unwrapped gold of evening..’

Ten Poems for Wellness is beautifully designed, to a high quality, with a beautiful cover illustration which highlights the general empathic feel of the collection. It would be a beautiful momento, or a special gift,instead of a card for anyone who needs a bit of TLC.

About the Publisher 

Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously produced poetry pamphlets that serve as a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Their subjects include Mountains, Clouds, Walking, Birds, Wine and Happiness. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.

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Blue Sky @candlestickpress.bsky.social

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📖 Blog Tour ~ Shadows in the Spring by Christina Courtenay

Headline Review
24 April 2025

Thanks to the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of the book
and the invitation to the blog tour

AD 80

Duro of the Iceni tribe escaped life as an enslaved gladiator and is now finally home in Britannia with one thing on his mind: vengeance. For 20 years he has sought the Roman legionary who destroyed his family. What he didn’t expect was Gisel: a fierce Germanic woman with long white-blonde hair, forced into slavery by the Romans. Hypnotised by her spirit and her beauty, Duro frees Gisel and slowly tries to win her trust as they work together to complete his quest.

Present Day

Mackenna Jackson returns to Bath with a broken heart, thanks to rockstar Blue Daniels. Luckily she can still count on Blue’s former bandmate Jonah Miller as a listening ear. But Jonah has secretly been fighting stronger feelings, drawn to Mac’s quiet confidence and gorgeous white-blonde hair. As they explore the area, memories they can’t quite explain flood them both.

Is the spark between Mac and Jonah in fact a sign of something much deeper – a love enduring through millennia – or can it all be an illusion?

📖My Review..

In AD80 and after many years as an enslaved gladiator, Duro has returned to his homeland of Britannia to seek revenge on the Roman who was the cause of his family’s downfall. When he rescues a beautiful young woman from slavery their lives are bound together not just in their current life but also far into the future.  In the present day, Mackenna has recently split with her rockstar boyfriend only to have a deepening attachment to Jonah, another band member who, it seems, shares a connection to the past which can’t easily be explained.

The dual timeline is done really well so that it is perfectly possible to explore Ancient Rome in the footsteps of Duro and Gisel, whilst at the time time feel comfortable in modern day Bath with Mac and Jonah. I loved the intertwining of lives and the parallels between relationships which the author describes with her usual imaginative flair for even the smallest of details. History comes alive as we follow Duro in his quest for revenge but also enjoy the modern day dilemma which Mac faces as the ex-girlfriend of a very famous rockstar.

The shadowy element of past lives is described seamlessly so that I never felt like one timeline intruded on the other and enjoyed spending time with all the characters. There’s a good blend of history and also a light romantic theme which helps to make Shadows in the Spring into a really lovely dual time story.

About the Author

Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. Christina is a former chairman of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association, now a Vice President, and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014) and the RNA Fantasy Romantic Novel of the year 2021 with Echoes of the Runes. SHADOWS IN THE ASHES (dual time/timeslip romance published by Headline Review 18th January 2024) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).

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📖 Blog Tour ~ The Cornish Witch by Elena Collins

Boldwood Books 
20 April 2025

Thanks to the publishers for the copy if the book 
And to Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to the tour

 

When Megan’s father gets a letter containing a secret from the past, he asks her to go to the Cornish village of St Mawgen Cove to get to the bottom of the mystery. Megan is happy to take a holiday after a challenging year but as soon as she checks into The Ship Inn something feels amiss. There are noises in the room above, the locals tell tales of smugglers and shipwrecks and she can’t escape the story of the witch who waits and watches, weeping on the top of the cliff.

1625: Susanna and her daughter Katel live a contented life, but without the protection of a husband and father, Susanna fears for Katel’s future as she blossoms into womanhood. The fishing community of St Mawgen Cove is close knit but when misfortune arrives in the cove, it’s not long before villagers are looking for someone to blame. And when talk turns to witches, Susanna knows she and Katel are no longer safe.

Can Megan bring peace to St Mawgen and to two women who have been broken-hearted for centuries?

📖 My Review…

When Megan takes a holiday in St Mawgen Cove in Cornwall she discovers that her hotel, The Ship Inn, has rather more activity that she bargained for, especially when the ghostly sounds of troubled souls start to make their presence felt. Back in the seventeenth century, Susannah and her teenage daughter, Katel, live in their tiny cottage and eke out a meagre living in the tiny fishing village of St Mawgen. Susannah tends the sick with her herbs and potions, whilst Katel, works at the sea front helping with the fishing. However, superstition and gossip is rife and before too long whispers of witchcraft start to circulate and no-one is above suspicion.

This is a cleverly crafted time slip novel which not only focuses on Megan’s modern day dilemma but also brings the legend of the waiting witch to life. Supernatural elements of the past sit very comfortably alongside modern day St Mawgen, with both time frames equally fascinating, and with strands overlapping, there is always something interesting to discover. I raced through the story in one sitting in order to discover more about Susanna’s and Katel’s troubled time in St Mawgen, whilst at the same time wanting everything to work out well for Megan, and her family, as they discover secrets from the past.

Beautifully written, as always, from this talented author, The Cornish Witch is perfect escapism from start to finish. 

About the Author

Judy Leigh writes dual timeline stories under the name of Elena Collins: the name is a tribute to her grandmother who was a teller of stories and fortunes, and she had healing hands.

These novels combine three of her passions: delving into rich historical tales, exploring stunning locations, and evoking the supernatural. They weave together stories of people's lives both past and present, with some spine-tingling moments along the way. She loves writing these novels and hopes readers enjoy them as much as she does. The characters and settings are particularly close to her heart.

Writing under the name of Judy Leigh, she is also the author of uplifting novels that explore the lives of older women and the possibilities of second chances, change, and happiness. Under this name, she writes the Morwenna Mutton/Seal Bay cozy crime series, set in Cornwall, featuring a sixty-something sleuth who enjoys solving crimes and getting into mischief.

Outside of writing, Leigh enjoys traveling, reading, music, and theatre. She holds an MA in Professional Writing. When she's not at her desk or spending time with her two black cats, she's often researching her next novel in some of the country's most beautiful locations and beyond.

Twitter @JudyLeighWriter #TheCornishWitch

@BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers 

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📖Book Review ~ The Spring Pond by Miriam Darlington (Candlestick Press)

Candlestick Press
March 2025

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this pamphlet 

 

Spring can creep up on us; it’s easy to miss the early signs that a new season is on the way. In her lyrical evocation of a pond on Dartmoor, leading naturalist Miriam Darlington pays close and loving attention to the quiet changes that take place – from the first shoots of flag iris to the “shivery delta” of frogspawn as it starts to wriggle with tadpoles.

There is an abiding sense of the enriching connection between humans and the wild landscape:

“The moor in spring can be an absorbent place. It takes you and your mood and enfolds you beneath its wing. Low sun brushed the grass tips, and in the pearly sky something subtle was happening. It was reflected in the water surface that was all a-glimmer, shining cloud on cloud as if sending it all back skywards…”

This beautiful pamphlet will delight readers at any time of year – a reminder that nature is always there, waiting to beguile us with its wonders.

Poems by Diana Hendry and Edward Thomas

Cover illustration by Sarah Young.

📖My Review…

This lovely pamphlet by Miriam Darlington has been especially written to conjure the beauty of a spring pool which is so beautifully described I could feel the silken tap of water, the cool green of the mire, the plaintive cries of curlews and the tumble of lapwings.  I was reminded of a pool I played near as a child, a place I wasn’t supposed to visit, but together with friends we would go to catch tiny fish to put in an old jam jar and laugh with joy when we found a newt or a tiny green frog to run on our hands, all carefully placed back into the pond at the end of the visit. 

It’s a very restful piece of writing, bringing to life all the glory of the natural world, and an ideal way to escape the stresses of everyday life. At the start is a lovely poem by Edward Thomas who was sadly killed during WW1, I find his poetry very emotional and The Pond certainly gets the pamphlet off to a good start. The end poem What is the Pond Doing? by Diana Hendry made me smile as it reminded me of the questions that children invariably ask when you don’t always have the answers.

The Spring Pool is a timely reminder of the beauty of nature and is perfect ‘instead of card ‘ for anyone who appreciates the natural world or who simply enjoys reading about nature in all its glory.

About the Publisher 

Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously produced poetry pamphlets that serve as a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Their subjects include Mountains, Clouds, Walking, Birds, Wine and Happiness. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.

Twitter/X @poetrycandle

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📖 Blog Tour ~ The Cure by Eve Smith

Living forever can be lethal... 

Ruth is a law-abiding elder, working out her national service, but she has secrets.

Her tireless research into the disease that killed her young daughter had an unexpected the discovery of a vaccine against old age. Just one jab a year wards off age-related diseases, guaranteeing long, healthy life.

But Ruth' s cure was hijacked by her colleague, Erik Grundleger, and his elderly billionaire backer, who hunger for immortality, and SuperJuve – a premium upgrade – was created, driving human lifespan to a new high. The wealthy elite who take it are the Supers, and the population begins to rocket.

Then, a perilous side-effect of SuperJuve emerges, with catastrophic consequences, and as the planet is threatened, the population rebels, and laws are passed to restore life ends at 120. Supers are tracked down by Omnicide investigators like Mara, and executed.

Mara has her own reasons for hunting Supers, and she forms an unlikely alliance with Ruth to find Grundleger.

But Grundleger has been working on something even more radical and is one step ahead, with a deadly surprise in store for both of them...

📖 My Review…

There are endless possibilities of living for a long time, free from the troubles of old age and illness, and with enough energy to live the life you always wanted but with a cut off point in which you can take your leave of family and friends in meaningful way. Doctor Ruth Hammond is a research scientist determined to discover a cure for the aging illness which killed her daughter however, in doing so she inadvertently discovers a vaccine which allows people to live forever.  

Longevity isn’t without its problems and when this vaccine lands in the research laboratories of the worst kind of people a frightening scenario becomes a reality when an upgraded vaccine allows the super rich to live forever, with disastrous consequences. The intricacies of the plot, the imagined existence of an over populated environment, the gloomy places where AI generated green spaces are the only view of a once verdant planet, all help to create a dystopian world which pulsates with energy. Moving forwards and backwards over time we learn more about Ruth’s background, and also about a strong female character called Mara who, in her role as an Omnicide investigator, is determined to track down those flawed individuals who flaunt the rules by cheating death.

This fascinating story takes us deep into a terrifying world of greed, corruption and raw ambition and is so scarily realistic that days after finishing the story I can’t stop thinking about it and fervently hope that this fictional reality doesn’t actually ever come true.

About the Author

Eve Smith writes speculative thrillers, mainly about the things that scare her. Longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize and described by Waterstones as ‘an exciting new voice in crime fiction’, Eve’s debut novel, The Waiting Rooms, set in the aftermath of an antibiotic resistance crisis, was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and was a Book of the Month in the Guardian, who compared her writing to Michael Crichton’s. It was followed by Off-Target, about a world where genetic engineering of children is routine, and ONE, about survival in a world ravaged by climate change. Eve’s previous job at an environmental charity took her to research projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas, and she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places. She lives in Oxfordshire with her family.

X @evecsmith #TheCure

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X @RandomTTours