Title: Lacybourne Manor

Series: Ghosts and Reincarnation #2

Author: Kristen Ashley

In 1522, the very night they were wed, Royce Morgan and his new bride, Beatrice Godwin, were murdered on their way home to Lacybourne Manor. After the cruel deed was done, a local witch came across their bodies, witnessing firsthand the tragedy of star-crossed lovers. Vowing that Royce and Beatrice would someday uncross those stars, using magic mixed with murder as well as true love, she linked their spirits together with hers (because someone had to protect them) forever… or until their reincarnated souls find happily ever after.

Now arrogant, forbidding Colin Morgan lives at Lacybourne, knowing, from lore (as well as the portraits of Royce and Beatrice that hang in Lacybourne’s hall and the small fact that he looks exactly like Royce Morgan), that he is the reincarnated soul of his ancestor.

One stormy night, flighty, free-spirited, scarily kind-hearted Sibyl Godwin comes to Lacybourne and it doesn’t escape Colin’s notice that Sibyl is the spitting image of Beatrice. However murder, magic, a warrior’s heart beating in a modern man’s chest, a woman bent on doing good deeds even if they get her into loads of trouble, a good witch whose family has vowed throughout the centuries to protect true love, distrust and revenge make a volatile cocktail.

This means the path to happily ever after is paved with tranquilizer darts, pensioners on a rampage, Sibyl’s bad morning moods, heartbreaking misunderstandings and all kinds of magic, good… and bad.

The myth that ill fated lovers, Royce and Beatrice will be reincarnated is coming to pass….

Colin and Sibyl are next up!

Oh gawd it was delish! I inhaled this monster of a book in a day, couldn’t put it down!

It was beautiful, the going back in time stole my heart.

Sibyl was crazy and chaotic……’Her mother and father both told her that her big heart would be the finish of her one day. This was that day.’

Colin was a typical KA male and I loved him!

Mallory and Bran were utter perfection!

Brightrose Cottage and Lacybourne Manor are 2 places I want to visit (and I loved the setting was Bristol!)

The fight part with the carrier bags. I was howling!

These are just some of the things I loved about this book and now I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

I grabbed this idea from Lucy (with permission!) from Bookworm Blogger! Go check out her blog!

I always hope that I read new-to-me authors every month and getting book box subscriptions really helps with that so thought it would be nice to look back and see what new authors I’d read this month.

In April I read 3 so that’s 14 new-to-me authors I’ve read so far this year!

Rebecca Ross

Emery Lee

Emily Henry

Have you read any new to you authors this month?

Title: Forging Silver into Stars

Series: Forging Silver into Stars #1

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

When ancient magic tests a newfound love, a dark fate beckons . . .

Magic has been banished in the land of Syhl Shallow for as long as best friends Jax and Callyn can remember. They once loved the stories of the powerful magesmiths and mythical scravers who could conjure fire or control ice, but now they’ve learned that magic only leads to danger: magic is what killed Callyn’s parents, leaving her alone to raise her younger sister. Magic never helped Jax, whose leg was crushed in an accident that his father has been punishing him for ever since. Magic won’t save either of them when the tax collector comes calling, threatening to take their homes if they can’t pay what they owe.

Meanwhile, Jax and Callyn are astonished to learn magic has returned to Syhl Shallow — in the form of a magesmith who’s now married to their queen. Now, the people of Syhl Shallow are expected to allow dangerous magic in their midst, and no one is happy about it.

When a stranger rides into town offering Jax and Callyn silver in exchange for holding secret messages for an anti-magic faction, the choice is obvious — even if it means they may be aiding in a plot to destroy their new king. It’s a risk they’re both willing to take. That is, until another visitor arrives: handsome Lord Tycho, the King’s Courier, the man who’s been tasked with discovering who’s conspiring against the throne.

Suddenly, Jax and Callyn find themselves embroiled in a world of shifting alliances, dangerous flirtations, and ancient magic . . . where even the deepest loyalties will be tested.

This story follows on from the Cursebreaker series with Rhen, Grey, Harper and Lia Mara and here we have Kings Courier, Tycho, along with some newcomers, Callyn, Nora and Jax.

Tycho stumbles upon Cal and Jax on his travels and a whole plot is revealed to defeat the King (Grey), from a group called the Truthbringers who want to see an end to magic. And our leads find themselves on opposite sides!

I really enjoyed this story because Tycho is one of my faves! He and his newfound love made my heart soar! It’s a big book and it’s a bit slow in places but exploded with action in the last 30%!

The character I loved the most though was Nora. Although she has had a hard life she is bright, cheery, positive and speaks the truth always.

Although I had a gripe about pacing, I did enjoy this and will read the next book as I love this world but am hoping its faster paced!

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: One Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I Read

This was really fun to do!

1) Black Witch by Laurie Forest = witchy-goodness!
2) Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare = superb!!!!
3) Death by Laura Thalassa = conclusion
4) Galatea by Madeline Miller = short
5) Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning = annoying!

6) Cafe Con Lychee by Emery Lee = sweet
7) Gallant by VE Schwab = dark
8) Famous in a Small Town by Kylie Scott = hot
9) Lacybourne Manor by Kristen Ashley = hotter
10) Red Sister by Mark Lawrence = slow!

Title: Book Lovers

Author: Emily Henry

One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

‘One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…’

To say I loved this story is an understatement! So much so that I immediately went and preordered a signed edition! Do yourselves a favour and do the same!!!!

Sisters Nora and Libby go off for a vaccay together to a small town where their favourite novel was set with a checklist of stuff they have to do.

I cackled a lot reading this and spent most of my time with a smile on face, my son asking me what was so funny!

Now let me talk first about Nora and one of my fave things…..a checklist……apart from the dating checklist, Nora is me:

‘Do you really have the emotional resilience to leave a checklist unchecked?
Something in me twitches. I really do love a checklist.’

I loved Nora and Libby, their love, their sisterhood, their banter and the fact that they want the best for each other, always.

Charlie is everything I always want in a male lead, broody, sarcastic and cutting! Their banter was golden, he was basically Nora’s other half, they fit and I was rooting for them from the get go!

The story coupled with the fabulous humour, small town vibe setting and heartwarming romance made my life!

This truly the ultimate book for books lovers and defo on my reread pile!

Happy May! Have a great month!

‘May, more than any other month of the year, wants us to feel most alive.’ ~ Fennel Hudson

‘You are as welcome as the flowers in May.’ ~ Charles Macklin

Title: Gallant

Author: VE Schwab

Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.

Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home—to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.

Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.

Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?

This book was just what I wanted to read!

I wanted dark, morbid and strange and this is what I got! I really enjoyed it!

Olivia is in an orphanage and the only thing she knows is her name and the only thing she owns is her Mum’s journal. That is until a day when a letter arrives for her to tell her to come home. To Gallant.

And then she finds out a lot!

I loved the journal entries,
I loved Matthew,
I loved the idea of her father,
I would love to see Gallant in real life.

This was a superb read and I would totally recommend!

Title: Spark of Ash

Series: Ember of Night #3

Author: Molly E Lee

The Seven―the Divine beings meant to protect the world―just declared war. On me. They took Ray, my baby sister, and now they’re using my boyfriend to do their dirty work.

Well, screw that.

I may not be able to wipe them off the face of the earth now, but I know what can.

Thanks to an Ather connection, I know about the Seven Scrolls. An ancient incantation made by the Creator to counteract the Seven’s great power, scattered into pieces across the world.

With the help of my new crew, we’re on the hunt. And with each located scroll, I face new battles, bloodier and harder than I’ve ever known before. But now the stakes are even higher, because Ray has always been my bright light in the darkness, and Draven is my hope when all seems lost, and if I don’t get them back?

Well, then I might just become the scariest legend the world has ever known.

Have been loving this series so couldn’t wait to get my hands on this!!

The conclusion! So The Seven have Ray and Harley needs to take action. And that she does!

Harley and Draven made my heart sing and after the bombshell of the last book, I needed to know what happens! Does Harley accept her birthright? What happens with Draven and Ray? I got all my answers and more!

It was heartbreaking, heartwarming with schexy scenes, twists and action that had me sitting up straight in my chair!

A great end to this story and personally I would love some spin offs in this world!

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic – Books with [___] On the Cover
I’m going easy and picking plants or flowers!!!

🌸 The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
🌸 The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
🌸 Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow
🌸 Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw
🌸 From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout
🌸 Crave by Tracy Wolff
🌸 Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
🌸 The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
🌸 The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni
🌸 Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

What would you pick for your subject?

Any books with plants or flowers you would pick?