Blog Tour: Escaping Demons by Killian Wolf (with giveaway!)

One phone call landed me the perfect job. Too bad it didn’t come with life insurance.

I didn’t think this job would be anything special. Sure, the first phone call was weird, and yeah, maybe it wasn’t the smartest idea to come to someone’s house before I met them in person, but Dax seemed nice. All he wanted was a caretaker for his sick father.

Oh, and an exorcist for the spirits haunting his family’s estate. Now he’s left me alone with his father, and the ghosts know my name. Caring for an old man with dementia, I can do. Fighting evil spirits? That’s way above my pay grade.

But Dax has disappeared so I have to learn on my own or both Orlando and I might not live to see tomorrow...

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B089QWK9MZ
US- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089QWK9MZ

Review

Addison desperately needs a job so when a job offer as a live-in nurse comes out of the blue. Too bad the beautiful old house is almost certainly haunted. There's a room full of creepy dolls, a mysterious voice keeps calling her name, and she's pretty sure that was a demon she saw upstairs.

Diving deep into the magickal and the supernatural, this book had a lot of twists I didn't see coming. It quickly takes a turn into horror, it's a wonder that Addie didn't turn tail and run two nights in. I certainly would have! It all culminates in a reveal had me flipping back to see what I missed. To be fair, I missed quite a lot. There's so much going on, important clues and meaningful asides are mixed in with the seriously creepy.

I especially enjoyed the chapters from the point of view of Ambrose, once I understood who and what he was. (From the looks of it, there's a prequel story that might give context). Ambrose is delightfully new at being human(ish) which is both charming and entertaining.

The first person present tense narration may put some off - it does take a while to get used to and naturally lends itself to a bit more stream of consciousness. The limited point of view keeps the reader just as confused as poor Addie, though perhaps I would've appreciated a bit more around the 'rules' of this world (as Addie perceives them) and maybe a bit less Santeria (which kinda came out of nowhere to muddy the waters).

There's a lot in this book - ghosts, demons, eternal politics, magick, Santeria - but if you're looking for horror-lite/paranormal that's a bit more out of the ordinary, give this one a go.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own.

Author Bio 

Killian Wolf is a Miami, FL native who enjoys pirates, rum, and skulls as much as she loves writing about dark magick and sorcerers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology and Sociology and a Master of Science in Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoeconomy.

Killian writes books about obtaining magickal powers, and stepping into other dimensions. She lives in England with her husband, a tornado of a cat, and the most timid snake you'd ever meet.

When she isn't writing, you might find her at an Archaeological dig, rock climbing, or sipping on dark spiced rum while working on a painting.

Social Media Links
FB: https://www.facebook.com/killianwolfauthor/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/killian_wolf_author/
Twitter: @killian_wolf22
TikTok: @Killian_wolf_author
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/killian-wolf
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/killianwolf
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEQvyqjMZxhQ6U_N-iS4L5w?view_as=subscriber

Giveaway to Win a £25/ $25 Amazon Gift Card (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter 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.

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The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea by Kerrelyn Sparks

Raised on the magic-seeped Isle of Moon, Maeve is used to unusual powers--and the way they fuel the politics of her world. But when she discovers an ability to shape-shift at will, she knows who she wants to share it with first. Brody, the enigmatic, infuriating shifter-spy has always made time for Maeve. But it's been almost two months since she's seen him. And though no one else believes Brody is in danger, Maeve is more than ready to rescue him herself.

The rumors Brody's investigating are terrifying: a secret army of magic-users, in the service of the cruel Circle of Five. But when he uncovers the identity of one of the Five, the mission becomes personal. Cursed as a boy by the Sea Witch, Brody can spend only two hours a day in his human form, a restriction that limits his future and muzzles his heart. Plus Maeve teases him for being such a pretty doggy instead of appreciating his manly charms. To win his freedom, he must take on a terrible disguise. And when Maeve finds out, she'll unleash a tempest like no other . . .

Review

It's been quite a while since I've read a book by Kerrelyn Sparks and none of those were from this series. This is the fifth book in this series and it really shows - all Maeve's sisters are happily married (all to kings no less!) and Maeve is the baby sister left behind.

The author does a great job of sketching out the family relationships and pressures that drive both Maeve and Brody. As a fantasy romance this was a great light read with a good balance of plot and  romance. It does suffer a bit for being so far along in a series that I felt like I needed both a map and a character list to keep track of all the names, and having come in at this late stage, I was less invested in the character moments from previous books. I enjoyed this book, but I definitely think I would've enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

Blog Tour: Raven Storm by Emma Miles

Fear walks with those in power.

 Divided, the land of Chem hangs in the balance. In the west the Ravens seek to bring safety to women, and an end to slavery. In the east the remaining covens cling to their power, refusing to give up their way of life to foreign invaders. Across both lands the priests whisper and plot, their gods a shadowy threat hanging over them all.

To protect their young family, Kesta and Jorrun have made their home in the Raven Tower of Elden. Unable to abandon their responsibility or friends, they remain embroiled in the fight to the north. Whilst peace and friendship blossom between the Fulmers, Borrows and Elden, the arrival of strangers turns the court of Taurmaline upside down. 

The history of the Fire-walkers is about to catch up with them, and the Fire-spirit’s truth will be revealed.

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raven-Storm-Fire-Walker-Book-3-ebook/dp/B08BWK1QJZ
US - https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Storm-Fire-Walker-Book-3-ebook/dp/B08BWK1QJZ

Review

Intrigue, magic, and tangled relationships

Are you a fan of high fantasy but tired of the grimdark anyone-can-die and everyone-is-awful trends running high at the moment? Do you yearn for clashes between good and evil and quests of fire-forged friends through enemy lands? Well, I have a book I think you're going to love.

To be honest, this is the third book in a series I hadn't heard of before, which is an absolute travesty that I plan to rectify. Happily, the author gave enough context that I could jump right in, even with multiple narrators, without drowning the book in explanations.

Kesta and Jorrun are ostensibly the main characters, but this is far more of an ensemble, with old friends and family across the continent. Kesta's mom Dia, her friend Rosa, Jorrun's friend/king Bractius, and so many more fill the pages. A character list might have been useful, but I managed without it (lbr, scrolling back to character lists is a pain in ebooks). The lack I felt more was that of a map, as there was an awful lot of travelling between places and I couldn't visualise any of it.

There are two conflicts in this book - the ongoing war against misogynistic Eastern Chem (as West Chem was obviously freed in an earlier book) and a mysterious delegation from Geladan following the trail of prophecy. These play out over a number of smaller clashes and storylines across the lands. Hopefully without giving too much away, one is brought to a conclusion but the other sets up a future book (without a cliffhanger, don't worry!).

The prose flows nicely, the engaging plot clips along at a steady pace, and the characters were varied and interesting. I really enjoyed this read and will not only track down the previous but look forward to the next!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own.

Author Bio

I often get asked when I knew I was a writer; the answer is always. A writer is what I am, it's in my soul. There have been times in my life when I couldn't write, and times when my writing has been the only thing that kept me going. I think I always longed for something deeper from life, something more meaningful, and I found it in my imagination and in the music of words.

It was poetry which first caught my attention, and whilst my younger cousins called for ghost stories it was animals I first wrote of. I think I gravitated toward fantasy because of the freedom it gives, I could create my own worlds and decide my own rules. My Wind's Children trilogy was born from an image that came to me whilst daydreaming, of a young man sitting alone below a bridge. I didn't know who he was; it turns out neither did he, but we found out together.

I'm now working on my seventh book and love writing more than ever, it's an addiction, an obsession, but one I now share with my wonderful writing family. My beta readers, my editor, and you, my readers, having you with me on my journey means the world to me.

I write as much as I can around work, but I also try to squeeze in a ridiculous amount of hobbies! I'm a wildlife photographer and do a little archery. I paint, sculpt with clay, withies and driftwood, preferring to be outdoors if I can. I still have a love for the theatre, having started out in life studying backstage crafts, and a great love for language. I speak a little French, Romanian and Italian, ma non molto bene!

Thanks for reading this. If you read any of my books and love them, please come say hello and tell me, you'd be surprised at how much that means to an author.

Take care of yourself.
Em x

Social Media Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emma-Miles/e/B0071BY45I
https://www.facebook.com/EmmaMilesShadow
https://twitter.com/EmmaMilesShadow

Blog Tour: The Heart of a Peach by Jess B Moore

Olivia Hamilton can do no wrong. Or at least that’s what the community of Fox River, North Carolina thinks of the odd but sweet young lady. She’s hiding a past she’d rather forget, engaged to the town’s most eligible bachelor, and longing for someone to see past the mask she wears. Olivia wants to find herself, forgive herself, and fall in love with someone who sees and embraces her flaws. 

Denver MacKenna grew up the fiddle-playing prodigy of not only his hometown of Fox River but of North Carolina and the surrounding states. He plays obsessively and tours as often as possible, escaping a life of loneliness at home. Until he meets a beautiful siren who calls to him and has him making plans to settle down. Denver knows it’s wrong to covet the elusive Olivia, but finds himself inexplicably drawn to the brief glimpses she gives him of her true self.

Purchase Link - http://mybook.to/foxriversix

Review

A sweet and fluffy romance

Olivia Hamilton is the perfect daughter - pretty and compliant, she lives with her parents as she plans her wedding to the man they selected. When she looks to the future, her own dreams are notably absent, right until she meets Denver McKenna. Denver is rather tired of rattling around the old homestead he grew up in with his four brothers. When he meets Olivia, he knows better than to pursue her but cannot stay away.

While I was afraid this would be an angsty love triangle, I was pleasantly surprised at how sweet and wholesome this was. In my opinion, Olivia and Denver skate close to but do not cross those lines and her fiance makes it easy to discount the legitimacy of their engagement. Best of all, I loved how Denver's attention made Olivia reassess her life and choices.

I also really appreciated the relationship between Olivia and her mom, so that a character who could've been a caricature instead had her own growth and character arc. Most of the other characters are past leads already in their happily ever after, but I liked the strong female friendships that support Olivia as she takes charge of her own life.

It's a little light on plot, but if you're feeling like a fluffy character-driven romance, pick this one up.

Four stars

Author Bio – 

Jess B. Moore is a writer of love stories. When she's not writing, she's busy mothering her accomplished and headstrong children, reading obscene numbers of books, and knitting scarves she'll likely never finish.  

Jess lives in small town North Carolina with her bluegrass obsessed family. She takes too many pictures of her cats, thinking the Internet loves them as much as she does. She is a firm believer of swapping stories over coffee or wine, and that there should always be dark chocolate involved.  

The Fox River Romance novels combine her interests in family, music, and small towns into thoughtful tales of growing up and falling in love. These books can be read as stand-alone, or as a series starting with The Guilt of a Sparrow. 

Follow Jess on social media @authorjessb

Please consider leaving a review to let other readers know what you think

Social Media Links

Facebook:  http://facebook.com/authorjessb

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/authorjessb/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/authorjessb

Website:  https://jessbmoore.com

Warping Minds and Other Misdemeanors by Annette Marie

Some time this year, I stumbled across Annette Marie. The audiobooks of her Guild Codex novels got me through many an evening in lockdown. They're all about relatable, likeable characters caught up in a world of magic and danger. I have now caught up and eagerly await each new release.

Also, her release schedule is incredible. They're almost one a month at the moment, though September is release-free and October has two series finales to make up for it. Her books are funny, engaging, and extremely entertaining. Not only that, but she sets up situations that leave me on edge but never lets my fears come to pass - I'm not sure exactly what I'm dreading, second-hand humiliation perhaps, but it doesn't happen. It's wonderful.

Her latest Guild Codex book is the first in a new subseries - Warped - and her first with a co-writer. Despite many other books to read and review, I couldn't resist picking this one up.

If you’re looking at this, odds are that you've read other Guild Codex books. If you have, you'll love another side to the mythic world and how it fits into the stories we've already seen (after Three Mages, if you're wondering)

If you haven't read the other series, this is a great place to start, as Kit is an engaging and sympathetic POV with a lot to learn. You will encounter minor spoilers for Three Mages and a Margarita (Spellbound #1) but nothing too serious.

I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too! Can't wait to see what Kit does next...

Blog Tour: The Saturday Morning Park Run by Jules Wake

This is the story of two women.
One old, one young.
One looking for new adventures. One looking for a purpose.
Both needing a friend.
And this is how, along with two little girls in need of a family, a gorgeous stranger, and a scruffy dog, they bring the whole community together every Saturday morning for love, laughter and a little bit of running…(well, power walking).
Some people come into your life when you need them the most.

Pre-order Links:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Peony-Place-Jules-Wake-ebook/dp/B07K2MGMN9/
https://www.amazon.com/Peony-Place-Jules-Wake-ebook/dp/B07K2MGMN9/

Review

A fabulous story about found family, community, and the joy of little things.

When Claire quite literally runs into fellow high-flier Ashwin, the sparks are immediate and intense. Fast forward one month, and it's a completely different story. Ghosted by Ash, sent home from work with stress, and manipulated into caring for her nieces, a despondent Cliare has no idea that the only place to go is up.

I absolutely loved how this story really focussed on Claire realising her life was uncomfortable and unsustainable, and subsequently learning how to pick battles and set boundaries. Her identity, once bound up in her job, becomes multi-faceted. She honestly finds a new lease on life.

Despite the focus on Claire, the romance with Ash is both believable and charming. He is supportive and caring, but very much an individual with his own character arc, and when he screws up, owns it. In fact, all of the supporting characters - feisty old Hilda, and Claire's nieces Poppy and Ava - get growth and have their own story to tell. The only character I didn't like was their mother and I dare anyone who reads the book to disagree.

The prose is light and fun, the challenges entertaining but not insurmountable. If you want a feel-good found family with romance and dare I say it, running, please give this book a go.

Five stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio 

Jules Wake announced at the age of ten that she planned to be a writer. Along the way she was diverted by the glamorous world of PR and worked on many luxury brands and not so luxury brands. This proved fabulous training for writing novels as it provided her with the opportunity to hone her writing and creative skills penning copy on a vast range of subjects from pig farming and watches, sunglasses and skincare through to beer and stationery. 

She writes best-selling warm-hearted contemporary fiction for One More Chapter as Jules Wake and under her pen name Julie Caplin, she writes the Romantic Escapes series.

Between them, the two Js have written fourteen novels, The Saturday Morning Park Run being the latest.

Social Media Links
Twitter @Juleswake
https://www.facebook.com/juleswakewrites/
Instagram: juleswakeauthor

The joy of fantasy - two free reads!

While my reading tastes in recent years have shifted towards romance, fantasy has and always will be my first love. This year, I was able to attend CoNZealand: WorldCon 78 - a fully virtual convention celebrating science fiction and fantasy. This was my first big convention and there was so much to see and do, it was rather overwhelming. I'm still working through the backlog of panels but I'm loving the wealth of story recommendations shared by the panelists and presenters. I'm discovering incredible new-to-me authors. My TBR pile, already sizeable, is now HUGE.

To this end, I'd like to share a couple of stories I've really enjoyed in the last week. Best of all, both are free to read online! Watch this space for more recommendations as I slowly work through my list.

Now, with no further ado:

Synner and the Rise of the Rebel Queen by Phoebe Wagner - a dystopian short story featuring skateboards, and

A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djeli Clark - murder mystery in a magical alternate Cairo