Book Review!! The Unquiet Spirit (Spirited Encounters Book 1) by Penny Hampson #TheUnquietSpirit #paranormal #Romance #blogtour #YardeBookPromotions #cosymystery @penny_hampson @maryanneyarde

 

The Unquiet Spirit 
(Spirited Encounters Book 1) 
By Penny Hampson

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the start, I was drawn into the story, with its mix of mystery, romance and emotional healing.

Kate is a really easy character to root for. After a personal loss, she moves to Cornwall and inherits an old house, hoping for a fresh start. Naturally, the house has other ideas.

The house is one of the highlights of the book. It’s quietly creepy, full of history, and feels as though it has a character of its own. The atmosphere is so well done that I could easily picture the rooms and feel that constant sense of unease in the background.

Tom was another character I liked a lot. He comes across as reserved at first, but there’s much more to him as you get to know him. The romance between him and Kate is swoon worthy, but never in an over-the-top kind of way.

When I reached the final page, I was genuinely a bit sad it was over. If you enjoy paranormal stories with heart and strong characters, I’d definitely recommend it.

Trigger warning: emotional abuse by partner.

She wasn’t home alone...

With her love life in tatters, Kate Wilson needs a fresh start, and where could be better than the old Cornish house that had belonged to her godmother?

There’s just one problem – it comes with a ghost as a sitting tenant.

Her grumpy new neighbour, the broodingly handsome Tom Carbis, is another fly in the ointment – he seems to turn up wherever Kate goes. His dog might be friendly, but he’s definitely not.

Then the discovery of a hidden diary points Kate to a romantic mystery with links to both Tom’s family and her house’s past – a mystery that might explain the reason for her spectral lodger.

The downside? Kate needs Tom’s help to solve it and has to convince him that she is not his foe.

But working with Tom to unravel long-buried secrets has unexpected consequences, and Kate discovers far more than she bargained for.

The Unquiet Spirit is a spooky, suspense-filled, enemies-to-lovers romance.

Praise:

“The Unquiet Spirit” by Penny Hampson is an enthralling paranormal romance that weaves together elements of mystery and the supernatural. In this captivating tale, readers are drawn into a world where love transcends the boundaries of life and death, unveiling a profound connection between the living and the restless spirits that linger in the shadows.

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You can pick up your copy on Amazon. This book can also be found on #KindleUnlimited.

Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. There are now four novels in the series, with the latest, An Adventurer’s Contract, released in November 2024. Penny also enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with a hint of the paranormal, because where do ghosts come from but the past? The Unquiet Spirit, a spooky mystery/romance set in Cornwall, is the first in the Spirited Encounters Series. Look out for A Plethora of Phantoms coming soon.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).

If you’ve enjoyed any of Penny’s books please leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads, and let other readers know!

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Book Review!! Rough Diamond - Rough Justice by Avien Gray

Rough Diamond – Rough Justice 
By Avien Gray

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rough Diamond – Rough Justice by Avien Gray hooked me pretty quickly. From the start, it felt clear this wasn’t going to be a story with easy answers or neat resolutions. The whole book sits in that uncomfortable space between what’s legal, what’s right, and what feels fair, and I liked that it didn’t shy away from that.

The characters were the biggest strength for me. They’re flawed, messy, and feel like real people rather than heroes or villains. The main character especially made some choices that had me stopping and thinking about what I’d do in the same situation. Even when I didn’t agree with certain decisions, I still understood where they were coming from, which isn’t always easy to pull off.

The pacing worked well. There were tense moments that made me want to keep reading, but also slower parts that let the story sink in instead of rushing from one dramatic moment to the next. The darker tone gave the whole book a sense of realism, and the way justice was handled felt complicated in a good way — not everything is fair, and not everything gets wrapped up cleanly.

The ending really stuck with me. It didn’t give that simple, satisfying feeling, but instead left me thinking about the characters and their choices long after I finished. This is the kind of book that lingers in your head. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes morally complex stories, flawed characters, and books that don’t treat justice as black and white.

Trigger warnings: violence, murder.

After a first kill, MI5 Agent and erstwhile photographer Cain becomes an undercover, extra-judicial killer for a secret Bureau.

Recovering from injuries sustained protecting the Royal Family, Cain embracesa new life and romance in sun-drenched Australia, leaving his past life behind.

But when tragedy strikes, he is on the move again. This time to a new career in the world of diamond dealings in Florida.

Curiosity takes Cain to the diamond world in South Africa, where his past finally catches up with him, the criminal world allies against him and he becomes a killer again.

In Cain's action-packed escapades, a spectacular betrayal takes him into the rigours of a Chinese prison where the truth about his past begins to unravel.

Aided by a loyal band of friends from the shadowy world of intelligence, he delivers his own particular brand of rough justice.

However, with enemies closing in on all sides, will Cain prevail?

Praise

“Rough Diamond, Rough Justice” by Avien Gray is a riveting spy thriller that seamlessly blends electrifying elements of espionage, adrenaline-charged action, and daring escapades.

 

Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion

“A gripping high-stakes thriller, “Rough Diamond - Rough Justice” by Avien Gray is driven by the urgent question of whether one can ever truly escape a dark and violent past.”

The Coffee Pot Book Club

“Avien Gray’s Rough Diamond, Rough Justice is a gritty and cinematic thriller that follows Cain, a former professional photographer turned MI5 surveillance agent, as he navigates a world of espionage, betrayal, and violence.”

Literary Titan

You can pick up a copy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books.

Avien Gray, the English author behind Rough Diamond – Rough Justice, brings a wealth of experience to his gripping debut novel. Born in the UK, Gray has led a dynamic, bachelor’s life marked by an impressive array of skills and global adventures. He has a driver’s license, motorbike license, and pilot’s license. His physical discipline extends to martial arts, where he earned a karate black belt, complemented by a lifelong passion for photography that captures the world through his discerning lens.

Gray’s rumoured travels paint the picture of a man unbound by borders. He is said to have spent many months in Saudi Arabia, Australia, the USA, South Africa, Europe and China. This rich tapestry of experiences infuses his writing with authenticity, lending a vivid, worldly edge to the thrilling narrative of his complex protagonist: a man called Cain.

Avien and his best friend shared a flat and went out with various female friends together. They had a great time. As it says in the book when Cain is talking with his best friend: a Royal Protection Officer.

 ‘We will have to write that book when we retire,’ Cain said.

 They looked at each other with knowing smiles – for a long few seconds.

 ‘All those secrets,’ said Jerry. ‘Perhaps we will.’

 And time moved on.

But in real life, his best friend tragically died – leaving Avien to write their book alone.

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Blog Tour - Poinsettia Girl by Jennifer Wizbowski

 Poinsettia Girl 

By Jennifer Wizbowski

Publication Date: October 18th, 2025

Publisher: Historium Press

Pages: 336

Genre: Historical Fiction

Venice, 1710

Poinsettia Girl is based on the story of Agata de la Pieta, an orphan musician of the Ospedale de la Pieta.

Ten-year-old Agata's world is shaken at the sudden death of her mother. Left only with her egregious father, a working musician in Venice, her ailing grandmother sends her to the well-known orphanage, hidden from everything she's ever known.

Agata auditions for the conservatory style music school where music is both salvation and spectacle. Hidden behind ornate metal grates, adorned with poinsettias in their hair, the singers are veiled in mystery, their ethereal music drawing noble audiences, including gilded young men who see them as treasures-not only for their sound but as coveted marriage prizes.

Just as she reaches the height of her musical journey, a marriage proposal from someone outside the audience tempts her with the promise of a new life-a return to the old neighborhood she's longed for and a home she barely remembers. Torn between the music that has defined her and the hope of belonging to a family, Agata must confront the most profound question of her life: is her purpose rooted in the music that shaped her, or in the love that might free her?

Excerpt

Margarita closed the door to her bedroom and entered the hall with some of her spunk back in her step. She needed those afternoon naps more than she had in all her years in the Pietà. Every day, when early afternoon came, she’d feel her shoulders slumping and her patience waning, ready to shut out the worries around her and blow her bedside candle out.

She would never admit that to anyone. It would make her sound old, and then there would be all their fussing. While her schedule no longer consisted of classes, private lessons, or choral rehearsals, it was as full as the girls in new lace collars. She still had hers, that lacy shawl, a little more cream than stark white- one could never stop the cycle of aging. She would wear it when special occasions called for it: a full choir for a dignified guest or a celebration, but mostly, it hung in her closet, a trophy of her femininity, not the public image of virginal and ethereal but the honest image: persevering, unruffled and wise.

The Pietà took careful measures in recording the names, titles, entrances, and exits of every woman who spent any time behind its protective walls. Some listings were short, poor, sick babes that only lasted a night or diseased women who spent their final days cared for with the dignity society did not give them—others, like herself, whose decades were sub- marked by all her different roles in the Pietà. The path was different for everyone. Some women did not possess the musical predisposition to train for the Coro, which is why they tested every foundling’s aptitude by the age of eight.

The less musically inclined girls trained in textile arts or medicine, with the potential of working in the Pietà’s ground-floor ventures in their later years. The hospital administered vaccines and cared for the unwanted, while the textiles area had a successful laundering and hat-making business.

In her current assignment, she was listed as Discrete, a nice way of inferring: a retiree with no more obligations to the Coro—and as Margarita internally joked, whom they decided to keep around a bit longer instead of shipping off to a convent. Indeed, she was worth more than the average old woman slippering around.

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Jennifer Wizbowski

Jennifer Wizbowski spent her childhood days lost among the spines of her favorite books. Inspired by the daffodil fields of Wordsworth and the babbling brooks of Shakespeare, she earned her bachelor’s in English literature, a minor in music, and a secondary teaching credential, then wrote freelance for local business journals, taught in classrooms, and authored a Teen and Tween column for a parent magazine—all while raising her family.

As those years ended, she knew it was the right time to pursue her lifelong aspiration of bringing her own books to life. She now devotes herself to illuminating everyday women’s stories often lost in the shadows of history, revealing how they became heroines of their own time and place.

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Book Review!! The Alpine Fortress by Rowena Kinread #TheAlpineFortress #thriller #suspense #blogtour #YardeBookPromotions @RowenaKinread @maryanneyarde

 

The Alpine Fortress 
By Rowena Kinread

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When I first opened The Alpine Fortress, I expected a straightforward thriller, but what struck me almost immediately was how character-driven the story actually is. Ivanna’s discovery of her grandfather's map has far reaching consequences not just for her but for other members of the cast in this book. When she goes to the police with her discover is when things start to become very frightening for her, for she is being stalked and her house was ransacked. Hoping to escape these unknown criminal she takes her friends place at a training camp, which turns out to be a disastrous move. I found her blend of vulnerability and stubborn resolve compelling. And although some of her choices are questionable, it makes for a thrilling read

Matteo, the mountain guide who trains the federal police, of which he is also a member of, fascinated me even more as the story unfolded. He brings a grounded, steady presence to the novel, and I loved how his expertise in the Alps is not just a plot device but an expression of who he is — disciplined, quiet, perceptive. His internal tension becomes clearer as danger mounts: the conflict between his sense of duty and his instinct to protect those around him, especially his wife as she gets dragged into the danger. What made him stand out for me was his moral clarity. Even in moments where loyalties blur, Matteo remains tethered to a personal code, and watching him navigate that treacherous terrain — both literal and psychological — added an unexpected emotional dimension to the book.

The antagonist, known as the Lizard, is drawn with disturbing subtlety. Kinread avoids making him a caricatured villain; instead, he is shaped by a chilling blend of cultured intelligence and ruthless ambition. His connection to the Nazi officer who once guarded the hidden treasure makes him feel like a modern echo of the past the novel is determined to uncover. For me, what made him unnerving wasn’t just his violence but his patience — his ability to move people like chess pieces while remaining largely invisible. Even the secondary characters orbit him in ways that reveal more about his influence: their fear, their greed, their silence. Each disappearance in the story feels like an extension of his reach, making him a constant, if often unseen, threat.

What impressed me most was how each character, no matter how briefly described, seemed to carry the weight of the Alps themselves: shaped by secrets, history, and the harshness of choices made under pressure. By the end, I felt as if the novel’s characters were as much a part of the mountain landscape as the stone, snow, and caves they traversed — weathered, resilient, and defined by their actions.

Trigger warnings: violence, murder, stalking, rape, trauma

In the shadow of the Bavarian Alps, a forgotten map leads to an unsolved mystery buried for decades. When Ivanna discovers the sketch among her late grandfather’s belongings, she stumbles upon a secret that connects her family’s harrowing past to the Nazi regime's stolen treasures.

What begins as a curious family discovery quickly escalates into a perilous adventure, drawing the attention of law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and dangerous criminals.

The Alpine Fortress is a thrilling tale of survival, betrayal, and redemption. From the chilling depths of Nazi conspiracies to the breathtaking heights of the Alps, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat as the past and present collide in an unforgettable race against time.

Will Ivanna uncover the truth—or will the secrets of the fortress remain buried forever?

You can pick up your copy on Amazon. This novel is available on #KindleUnlimited

Rowena Kinread grew up in Ripon, Yorkshire with her large family and a horde of pets. Keen on travelling, her first job was with Lufthansa in Germany.

She began writing in the nineties. Her special area of interest is history, after researching her ancestry and finding family roots in Ireland with the Dalriada clan, particularly this era. Her debut fiction novel titled “The Missionary” is a historical novel about the dramatic life of St. Patrick. It was published by Pegasus Publishers on April 29th, 2021 and has been highly appraised by The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post and the Irish Times.

Her second novel “The Scots of Dalriada” centres around Fergus Mór, the founder father of Scotland and takes place in 5th century Ireland and Scotland, and is published by Pegasus Publishers.

The author lives with her husband in Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Lake Constance, Germany. They have three children and six grandchildren.

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Audio book club book review: Murder at Millar's Hotel: Lady Ellen Investigates, Book by Kelly Mason

 Murder at Millar's Hotel: Lady Ellen Investigates, Book 

By Kelly Mason

It’s 1924. Lady Ellen of Ashcombe Hall is on a relaxing hotel break to recuperate. Her nemesis is found dead in the restaurant, face down in his pea and ham soup. Can she confront her past to solve the mystery?

Lady Ellen seeks respite in the charming seaside town of Branden Bay, whilst her home, which was used as a convalescent home for war veterans, is being refurbished to its former glory. Her peaceful break takes a dark turn when she unexpectedly crosses paths with her arch-nemesis, the enigmatic Major Albert Coltrane. Major Coltrane is found lifeless, his face submerged in his own soup after a heated and public confrontation with Ellen who finds herself accused of murder.

Determined to clear her name, she forms an unlikely alliance with Lottie Penny a hotel chamber maid and Captain Ernest Hamilton, a former patient at her convalescent home.

With her faithful Irish setter, Prince, by her side, Lady Ellen embarks on a riveting journey through hidden alley bars and the opulent music hall of Branden Bay. They strive to unravel the threads of the mystery, in race against time to expose the real killer before Lady Ellen becomes the next victim.

If you love the glitz and glamour of the era and a twisty plot, then step back in time to the roaring 1920s, where jazz-filled evenings and clandestine secrets collide. Murder at Millar’s Hotel is the first book in the Lady Ellen Investigates series.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Murder at Millar’s Hotel: Lady Ellen Investigates is an absolute delight from start to finish, earning a full five stars for its charming blend of mystery, wit, and elegance. Kelly Mason crafts a wonderfully atmospheric tale, placing listeners squarely in the middle of a stylish yet shadowy hotel where secrets drift through every corridor. From the very first chapter, the story grips your attention and refuses to let go, balancing intrigue with a classic whodunit charm that feels both nostalgic and refreshing.

Lady Ellen herself is a standout—sharp, intuitive, and endlessly engaging. She brings a level of sophistication and cleverness to the narrative that elevates the entire investigation. Her interactions with the supporting cast are lively and layered, each encounter adding depth to the mystery while also revealing new facets of her character. It’s easy to root for her, and her presence brings a delightful sense of grace and intelligence to every scene.

The audiobook narration enhances the experience beautifully. The narrator’s pacing, tone, and expressiveness bring the characters vividly to life, capturing every ounce of tension, charm, and humor embedded in Mason’s writing. The voice work makes the setting feel richer and the mystery more immersive, turning what is already a great novel into a full auditory treat. It’s one of those audiobooks that makes you want to linger in the world it creates.

Overall, Murder at Millar’s Hotel is everything a cozy mystery lover could hope for: clever plotting, engaging characters, and a setting that wraps around you like a warm, suspenseful blanket. Kelly Mason has delivered an irresistible entry in the Lady Ellen series, and the audiobook format only adds to its appeal. A must-listen for fans of elegant mysteries and polished storytelling.

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#BlogTour - The Yanks are Starving: A Novel of the Bonus Army by Glen Craney @glencraney @cathiedunn

 

The Yanks are Starving:

A Novel of the Bonus Army

By Glen Craney

Two armies. One flag. No honor.

The most shocking day in American history.

Former political journalist Glen Craney brings to life the little-known story of the Bonus March of 1932, which culminates in a bloody clash between homeless World War I veterans and U.S. Army regulars on the streets of Washington, D.C.

Mired in the Great Depression and on the brink of revolution, the nation holds its collective breath as a rail-riding hobo named Walter Waters leads 40,000 destitute men and their families to the steps of the U.S. Capitol on a desperate quest for economic justice.

This timely epic evokes the historical novels of Jeff Sharra as it sweeps across three decades following eight Americans who survive the fighting in France and come together fourteen years later to determine the fate of a country threatened by communism and fascism.

From the Boxer Rebellion in China to the Plain of West Point, from the persecution of conscientious objectors to the horrors of the Marne, from the Hoovervilles of the heartland to the pitiful Anacostia encampment, here is an unforgettable portrayal of the political intrigue and government betrayal that ignited the only violent conflict between two American armies.

Awards:

Foreword Magazine Book-of-the-Year Finalist

Chaucer Award Book-of-the-Year Finalist

indieBRAG Medallion Honoree

Praise for The Yanks are Starving:

"[A] wonderful source of historical fact wrapped in a compelling novel."
~ Historical Novel Society Reviews

"[A] vivid picture of not only men being deprived of their veterans' rights, but of their human rights as well.…Craney performs a valuable service by chronicling it in this admirable book."
~ Military Writers Society of America

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Glen Craney

GLEN CRANEY is an author, screenwriter, journalist, and lawyer. 

A graduate of Indiana University Law School and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he is the recipient of the Nicholl Fellowship Prize from the Academy of Motion Pictures and the Chaucer and Laramie First-Place Awards for historical fiction. 

He is also a four-time indieBRAG Medallion winner, a Military Writers Society of America Gold Medalist, a four-time Foreword Magazine Book-of-the-Year Award Finalist, and an Historical Novel Society Reviews Editor's Choice honoree. 

He lives in Malibu and has served as the president of the Southern California Chapter of the HNS.

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