Book Review: Eagle and the Flame by Adam Lofthouse
It’s exciting to be welcoming Adam Lofthouse back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, Eagle and the Flame.
Rebellion is in the air at the far reaches of empire.
Wall of Hadrian, Britannia, AD 367. Tribune Sixtus Victorinus is scouting north of the Wall when he first sees the smoke. Riding south he finds a province in chaos, the local populace in flight, the soldiers absent.
Britannia is ablaze, overrun with barbarians and Valentia is the word on everyone’s lips. But no one seems to have the first clue what it means…
Victorinus may have let his life run to ruin and drunk his youth away, but now he must forge himself into the soldier he always wanted to be, the hero his children think he is.
Because his family are among the missing, and traitors lurk much closer than he could ever believe.
To save his family, he must first save an empire.
EAGLE AND THE FLAME will sweep you through the tumultuous years of the late Roman Empire.
*****
Having read books by this author before, I was intrigued by his latest book, Eagle and The Flame.
This book is the first in a new series and features Tribune Sixtus Victorinus, a man relegated to patrolling the lands north of Hadrian’s Wall. When the flames of rebellion start to burn around him he must pull himself out of the rut he has been living in and become the solider that Rome needs.
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Book Review: Could It Be Magic? By Fay Keenan
I’m excited to be welcoming Fay Keenan back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Could It Be Magic?
Thea Ashcombe, a fiercely independent single mum, is about to face her toughest challenge yet: Christmas on a shoestring. As the festive season looms, Thea’s feeling a little like their old family Christmas tree – tired and lacking in sparkle!
Nick Saint, the quiet and devoted farm shop manager in the idyllic village of Lower Brambleton, has secretly liked Thea for years. Trapped in the friend zone since high school, he’s given up hope of Thea seeing him as anything more than reliable ‘Saint’ Nick…
But when Thea steps into Nick’s world to help at the bustling farm shop, something unexpected happens. Suddenly, her sensible head is spinning with a schoolgirl crush she never saw coming! Is it just the enchanting glow of Christmas, the twinkling lights playing tricks on her mind?
As they work side-by-side preparing for the magical Christmas market, and as Nick’s thoughtful gestures – like a perfectly fresh Christmas tree appearing at her door – begin to melt her defences, Thea starts to wonder – maybe all she really needs for Christmas… is Nick!
*****
Thea loves her children. As a single mother, money is tight and the Christmas season is approaching. When she accepts an offer from a childhood friend to work in the local farm shop, Thea sees it as a lifeline. Could love be closer to home than she thinks?
I can never get enough of Christmas themed novels so I couldn’t wait to get started on the latest book by author, Fay Keenan and was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour for Could it be Magic, book two in the Brambleton series.
by Book Review: A Very Merry Murder by Kate Wells
It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Kate Wells back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, A Very Merry Murder.
Mistletoe, mince pies… and murder
When Jude Gray inherited Malvern Farm, she never thought she’d become so used to farm life, let alone be good at it! But now a beloved national TV show is coming to film their Christmas special on her land, celebrating the charm of rural living and all Jude’s achieved so far.
At least, that’s the plan… until one of the crew is found dead in suspicious circumstances.
At first, it looks like a tragic accident, but when alibis start to crack, it seems like anything but. With a growing list of suspects and enough behind-the-scenes drama to rival anything the cameras are capturing, Jude must dig deep to uncover the truth.
Because someone on her farm is hiding a deadly secret – and this year, the season of goodwill may come with a killer twist…
*****
Jude Gray is looking forward to the festive season, mostly due to her sister’s upcoming wedding.
What she’s not looking forward to the presence of a TV crew taking over her farm.
When one of her visitors is found dead, Jude finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation. Will the murderer be found before someone else turns up dead?
by Book Review: A Billionaire for Christmas by Jo Lyons
I’m so pleased to be welcoming Jo Lyons to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, A Billionaire for Christmas.
When talented chef Molly’s best friend and business partner, Ava, passes away, she leaves Molly their beloved restaurant – and a wild, impossible bucket list to complete. But thanks to a legal mix-up, Molly’s inheritance is at risk unless she ticks off every outrageous item before the Christmas Eve deadline: just twelve days away.
Determined to honour Ava’s wishes and desperate to save her dream, Molly searches for a billionaire willing to share Champagne with her in a hot tub – one of the more extravagant challenges on the bucket list. She’s in a luxurious ski resort in the French Alps so it might just be doable. But then she meets Levi. A devastatingly handsome billionaire, yes, but infuriatingly resistant to getting involved!
As the snow falls and sparks fly, Molly is entangled in a series of increasingly embarrassing escapades. With time running out, can she pull off the impossible – and maybe even find love along the way?
Hot enough to melt the Alpine snow, this romantic comedy is perfect for fans of Portia MacIntosh, Olivia Spring and Sophie Kinsella.
*****
Molly has been a ghost of herself since she lost her business partner and best friend, Ava. With the ownership of their restaurant tied up in Ava’s will, Molly finds herself needing to finish Ava’s bucket list before Christmas Eve. Not sure how to do this, especially the one including Champagne, A billionaire and a hot tub, Molly meets Levi. Maybe this list won’t be as hard to finish after all…or will it?
Having a chance to be on the blog tour for this novel was exciting for me as it would be the first chance to discover author, Jo Lyons. Plus, it’s a novel based at Christmas. I know, it’s not even the end of August but I don’t care. Haha.
by Book Review: Bad Girl Pie by Marilyn Horowitz
Bad Girl Pie is a dark comedy set in New York City. Dorothy Sherlock, a prolific ghostwriter, shares her running commentary on the absurdity of the human condition as she navigates her future.
Until now, she’s spent her life crafting other people’s success stories and mourning a failed romance. After a nearfatal encounter with her abusive father and his sudden death, Dorothy resolves to write her own book, blending her expertise in dieting and dessert. A whirlwind trip to a tango festival in Mexico reignites her passion for love through a romantic tryst with a tango dancing firefighter.
Hopeful and happy, Dorothy returns home, only to discover that her agent has stolen the manuscript and sold it to a new client, and her late father has cut her out of his will. As if this weren’t enough, Dorothy reconnects with her exboyfriend, but after a night of bliss, she finds out that he’s living in sin with his cleaning lady. The triple whammy drives her to despair.
Can Dorothy’s sense of humor and talent save her and help her find success?
*****
Dorothy makes a living as a ghost writer. However, when her father dies, her latest book idea is stolen and her boyfriend walks out, it has Dorothy hitting rock bottom. Can the dance of Tango pull her back up?
Bad Girl Pie was my introduction to Marilyn Horowitz and I was delighted to be asked to review this novel.
by Book Club
