My Review for The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham, read by Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis

'She was going to make the inn feel welcoming again, one cosy bite at a time.'

I really enjoyed listening to this, even though there is a massive miscommunication overload! Madison and Zack are loveable, cute and so right for each other, but they are also very, very annoying. Talk to each other, stop running away and stop being pig-headed! OMG they are so frustrating, I needed to bang my head against a wall, never mind theirs! 😂

The Cinnamon Spice Inn has a huge autumnal vibe, it's gorgeous, with the vivid descriptions as the leaves on the trees change their colours and the mouthwatering cooking and baking that's going on. You'll be popping on that autumn jumper and running out to buy a pumpkin before you can say 'pumpkin latte'!

The book is a dual narration, with Andi and Brandon playing the parts of Madison and Zack brilliantly. I felt welcomed into Maple Falls, right from the beginning, and loved their interpretation of the characters.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham.

About the Book

Love is the sweetest spice of all.

A fiery, coffee-loving city girl. A laid-back handyman with irresistible hazel eyes. Is this a recipe for disaster? Find out in this totally cozy and unputdownable enemies-to-lovers romance in the small town of your dreams! Gilmore Girls + spice + everything autumn = 🔥

Self-confessed coffee addict and food writer Madison has convinced herself she belongs in NYC. But then she’s called back to the small town of Maple Falls to save her childhood home, The Cinnamon Spice Inn. She’s NOT looking forward to seeing her ex, Zach—now a sexy bearded handyman who knows exactly how to push her buttons. But she won’t let anything distract her from the inn’s relaunch… right?

Zach is frustrated in more ways than one when his latest job brings him face-to-face with the girl who got away. He’s already agreed to renovate her family’s inn and he’s nothing if not a man of his word. But the last thing he wants is to work side-by-side with that stubborn, infuriating—fine, totally gorgeous—red-head.

Sparks fly as they prepare for the big Halloween opening. Will Madison save The Cinnamon Spice Inn and have a second chance at love, or will it all go up in flames?

About Harper

Harper Graham lives with her mischievous spaniel in a cozy small town in Connecticut. Her quirky neighbours may or may not have inspired the residents of her Maple Falls series. When she’s not hiking with her daughter, baking her grandmother’s recipes or reading in her favourite coffee shop, Harper can be found writing the sweet and spicy romance stories of her own dreams.

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My Post for Shadowslayers by Colin Sephton

'She is your darkest thoughts, your darkest fears. She will feed off your fear and hatred and grow stronger.'

The second book and another mission for the Union Jacks, only these time, there appears to be more than one of each of them! Doppelgängers, spirit doubles, alter ego or ethereal twin, call them what you like, but ultimately it means double the trouble, or double the support, depending on whose point of view you're looking at!

Shadowslayers is a fast-paced, exciting second book from new author, Colin Sephton. The many battles are charged with excitement, blood-soaked detail, and nail-biting anticipation, as Indigo, Ignatius, and their allies fight to uncover the elusive Book of Shadows, contain its horrors, and keep each other alive. 

With a tense and open-ended finish, we are left with the potential for another mission. What will come next for our Union Jack agents? Can just the two of them be expected to keep the entire universe safe.

Thank you to Colin Sephton and Cinnabar Moth Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Shadowslayers.

About the Book

When doppelgangers start appearing in Oxford, Union Jack agents Ignatius and Indigo find themselves on another cosmic quest, one they didn't set out to investigate.Drawn into the search for the elusive and dangerous Book of Shadows, they find themselves traveling across the cosmos once again, racing against other versions of themselves, and visiting the Oracle to be given prophecies of terrible destruction that will engulf the cosmos in darkness. Only these two heroes-or their doubles-can open the book, which would lead to dreadful consequences for themselves, the world and the whole of creation. The agents must outwit their own mirror souls and invade the impregnable Administorium, which holds the answers they need but also fearsome enemies of both the Union Jacks and the entire cosmos. In this quest, Ignatius and Indigo must protect not only England and the Empire, but the world and the cosmos.

About Colin

Colin was born in Coventry and worked in the automotive industry for over twenty years before becoming an Engineering teacher. Obtaining his first library card at the age of thirteen, he became an avid reader of Fantasy and the mysteries of the Universe. He has an inbuilt curiosity for lost knowledge and ancient texts that may help to unlock the secrets of consciousness and the universe. Living in Oxford for many years, he has now moved back to his home county of Warwickshire where he enjoys creating and working with his wife on their garden in which he writes and entertains their two grandsons. He has always been an artist and writer and is inspired by the worlds created by Robert E Howard and Michael Moorcock, with the artwork of Frank Frazetta.

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My Post for I Found You by Lisa Jewell, read by Helen Duff

“I’d been secretly fantasising about you waking up fully restored back to factory settings.”

I Found You is another one that I'm just catching up with my review for. I listened to this in the summer of 2024 and I remember so much about it, which is unusual - I usually forget about a story as soon as I finish it!

I definitely wouldn't have done what Alice did, and invited a stranger inside my house to stay with me and my kids! But her heart is in the right place and thankfully, she has the support of her friend to keep an eye on her!

The story is written from three points of view, two from the present day and one from 1993, from the point of view of two kids who holidayed in the same place where Alice now lives. 

I really enjoyed listening to this, I thought I'd worked out who the man on the beach was, and then there was another twist and I was back to the drawing board!

About the Book

In a windswept British seaside town, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on the beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside.

Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, twenty-one-year-old Lily Monrose has only been married for three weeks. When her new husband fails to come home from work one night she is left stranded in a new country where she knows no one. Then the police tell her that her husband never existed.

Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. Their annual trip to the quaint seaside town is passing by uneventfully, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable—and it’s not just that he’s playing the role of protective older brother.

Two decades of secrets, a missing husband, and a man with no memory are at the heart of this brilliant new novel, filled with the “beautiful writing, believable characters, pacey narrative, and dark secrets” (London Daily Mail) that make Lisa Jewell so beloved by audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

About Lisa

Lisa Jewell is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of nineteen novels, including The Family Upstairs and Then She Was Gone, as well as Invisible Girl and Watching You. Her novels have sold over 10 million copies internationally, and her work has also been translated into twenty-nine languages. Connect with her on Twitter @LisaJewellUK, on Instagram @LisaJewellUK, and on Facebook @LisaJewellOfficial.

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My Review for Luminiferous: The Darkness Within #2

'But bear in mind, using a dragon as a weapon comes with the risk of its bite'.

I'm hooked! When is the next one out? The Luminiferous series is fast becoming my favourite fantasy series. I adore Lilly. She's sassy, she's fearless, she's brave and she doesn't suffer fools. In this one, Lilly sets out on some more adventures with her friends, in an attempt to find the second emanation of Luminiferous. On the way, she encounters enemies, many, many enemies, some who may become friends and inevitable death - thankfully not hers because we still have another five more books to go!

After the world-building in book one, we are catapulted straight back into all the worlds that Lilly travels through, and of course she has Hairito by her side once again, such a cheeky, yet loyal gargoyle! Lilly is being forced to grow up fast and for a nineteen-year-old, she really is doing an awesome job of carrying the world's outcome on her shoulders! The book is full of selkies and sirens, and all sorts of fantasy creatures. Each with their own role and each bringing their own set of skills - sometimes good ones and sometimes, very, very bad! 

I cannot recommend this series enough. It's soooooooo good. If you love Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, The Serpent and the Wings of Night and anything in between, please give it a go. It's honestly incredible, there are apparently five more books to go - get writing Yana. I need more Lilly, Will and Faolen in my life!

Thank you to Yana Metro for the gifted copy of Luminiferous: The Darkness Within.

About the book

The riveting second book in the seven-part LUMINIFEROS saga of romance, self-discovery and two worlds on the brink

CURSED. HUNTED. CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO LETHAL SHAPESHIFTERS

Lilly White is poisoned. Venom marks on her wrists spread daily, threatening to consume her body and soul. As the last hope against Noxohit’s destruction of the Human and Spirit Worlds, Lilly must find a cure before she turns into one of his monsters – or her own allies kill her first.

Her one beacon is Will, a Raven Guardian with deadly power and seductive charm. He is her sworn protector, but he’s also duty-bound and hiding secrets of his own.

As they race against time and despair, Lilly falls under the jade gaze of a being so powerful, he can bend reality at will. His touch is as cold as dragon scales and just as lethally beguiling.

With his perilous guidance, Lilly might find salvation. But to break the curse, she must embrace the darkness within, risking her life… and testing her love.

About Yana

A PhD in Physics, Yana spent years as a nano-researcher before diving into exploration of existential mysteries through fictional characters and magical worlds. Her debut series LUMINIFEROS unites contemporary fantasy and romance in a thrilling seven-part journey of self-discovery. She lives in the urban jungles of London but dreams of lush coniferous forests stretching beneath leaden clouds that almost constantly curtain the sky.

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My Review for Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown, read by Millie Bobby Brown

“I couldn’t, I won’t take this second chance from you. … Just go! Be happy!”

It's been a while since I listened to Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown, but I'm finally catching up with my reviews. This was one we chose for one of my Instagram book clubs and, as always, I went into it completely blind. I had no idea what it was about, or that it was based on true events, but I'm oh so glad I listened to it. It was so, so good. 

I adore historical fiction, set in and around World War II. Nellie Morris was so lovely, as our protagonist, but she had to deal with so much, as the bombs rained down around her. My emotions ranged from happy to sad, to happy again and then to devastated as the love with her American airman looks so idyllic and positive, until the world caves in around them both. 

There are hundreds of thousands of stories which could be told about people's experiences during WWII. I'm so pleased that Millie Bobby Brown decided to tell the world about this one, which has been passed down to her from her family.

If you have even an ounce of interest in this time period, give this a read. I hope you love it as much as I did.

About the Book

It’s 1942, and London remains under constant threat of enemy attack as the second world war rages on. In the Bethnal Green neighborhood, Nellie Morris counts every day lucky that she emerges from the underground shelters unharmed, her loving family still surrounding her.

Three years into the war, she’s grateful to hold onto remnants of normalcy—her job as assisting the mayor and nights spent at the local pub with her best friend. But after a chance encounter with Ray, an American airman stationed nearby, Nellie becomes enchanted with the idea of a broader world.

Just when Nellie begins to embrace an exciting new life with Ray, a terrible incident occurs during an air raid one evening, and the consequences are catastrophic. As the truth about that night is revealed, Nellie’s world is torn apart. When it seems all hope is lost, Nellie finds that, against all odds, love and happiness can triumph.

Nineteen Steps is a deeply affecting, mesmerizing page-turner inspired by the author’s family history. An epic story of longing, loss, and secrets, Millie Bobby Brown’s propulsive debut introduces an unforgettable, brave young woman and boldly portrays the strength in the power of love.

About Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown is a British Emmy Award–winning actress. She has been featured in the TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Nineteen Steps is her first book. 

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My Review for Scythe and Sparrow by Brynne Weaver, read by Samantha Brentmoor and Eric Nolan

“Memories take hold in the silence. Pain dulls with time, but can still linger, waiting to be polished so it can shine once more.”

Encouraged by finally writing my reviews for the first two books in this trilogy, I grabbed an audiobook copy of Scythe and Sparrow from Libby and listened to it over the weekend. For me, this was by far the best of the three. I liked Fionn, I adored Rose and the circus was just a cutesy added extra for me. I've loved reading circus stories since I was younger, so throw one into the mix and I know I'll jump straight in there!

Scythe and Sparrow isn't as gory as the other two but the s*x is hotter and steamier for sure. Both Lachlan and Lark and Rowan and Sloane make various reappearances throughout this one, and it's great to see how they are and what's going on in their lives. 

If you haven't read these, and you're a dark romance lover, then what are you waiting for? Grab these as soon as you can and dive right in!

About the Book

Doctor Fionn Kane is running from a broken heart, one he hopes to mend in small-town Nebraska, far away from his almost-fiancé and his derailed surgical career. It’s a simpler life: head down, hard work, and absolutely no romantic relationships. He wants none of the circus he left behind in Boston.

But then the real circus finds him.

Motorcycle performer Rose Evans has spent a decade on the road with the Silveria Circus, and it suits her just fine, especially when she has the urge to indulge in a little murder when she’s not in the spotlight. But when a kill goes awry and she ends up with an injured leg, Rose finds herself stuck in Nebraska, at the home of the adorably nerdy town doctor.

The problem is, not every broken heart can be sewn back together.

. . . And the longer you stay in one place, the more likely your ghosts are to catch up.

About Brynne

Writing has always been a hobby for Brynne. Even as a young child, she loved typing out stories on her grandmother’s typewriter. She wrote award-winning poetry and essays, and dabbled in various forms of fiction over the years. In 2019, Brynne committed to publishing more of her works, and released her first non-fiction book (under her real name!). She then began focusing on her first fantasy-romance (or ‘romantasy’) series, The Diviner. Next up was the three-part Shadow Realm paranormal dark romance series. Brynne then partnered with author Alexa Harlowe on the contemporary dark standalone romance, Black Sheep. 

Brynne aspires to write female-focused stories about complex, resilient, imperfect characters who struggle with anger, trauma, fear, courage, and love. 

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My Review for Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver, read by Samantha Brentmoor and Eric Nolan

“A snow globe,” I say slowly, waiting for her to look up, which she doesn’t do. “You made a severed finger into a feckin’ snow globe.” “It was almost Christmas,” she says with a shrug. “It felt … festive.”

A listened to this one, straight after Butcher and Blackbird, another combination of gruesomeness, murder and some hot and spicy! It was good, maybe not quite as good as the first one, but it came pretty close. I adore both of these narrators and Samantha Brentmoor especially, is fast becoming a favourite - and she has a great name too!

For me, the story is a little slower than the first book, it's a lot more laid-back - if you can call a dark romance laid-back. I did want to chuck them both in the trunk of the car at one point and tell them to just sort themselves out. 😂

There was definitely humour, and both narrators capture it perfectly. Lark especially has an incredibly dry sense of humour and I loved this, she made the book a lot of fun. 

Having finally found the time to write these reviews, I grabbed a copy of Scythe and Sparrow on Libby this weekend, so that review will be coming soon.

About the Book

Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first. 

And they can’t stand each other. 

Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be. 

As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them. 

There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep. 

And this one has come for blood.

About Brynne

Writing has always been a hobby for Brynne. Even as a young child, she loved typing out stories on her grandmother’s typewriter. She wrote award-winning poetry and essays, and dabbled in various forms of fiction over the years. In 2019, Brynne committed to publishing more of her works, and released her first non-fiction book (under her real name!). She then began focusing on her first fantasy-romance (or ‘romantasy’) series, The Diviner. Next up was the three-part Shadow Realm paranormal dark romance series. Brynne then partnered with author Alexa Harlowe on the contemporary dark standalone romance, Black Sheep. 

Brynne aspires to write female-focused stories about complex, resilient, imperfect characters who struggle with anger, trauma, fear, courage, and love. 

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