Lost in Time by A.G. Riddle – Blog Tour Book Review
About the Book
‘Amazing! One of the twistiest time-tales I’ve ever read.’ Diana Gabaldon
‘Many japes and high jinks ahead.’ The Times – A Science Fiction Book of the Month
From the worldwide bestselling author of The Extinction Trials, Departure, and The Atlantis Gene comes a new kind of sci-fi thriller: a time-travel murder mystery with a twist you’ll never see coming…
An absolute must for fans of Hugh Howey, Clive Cussler, and Michael Crichton.
Dr. Sam Anderson is one of the most celebrated scientists in history. Ten years ago, he invented Absolom – a device that changed the world forever. Now his life is about to be ripped apart – and his own creation may be to blame.
One fateful morning, Sam discovers that his girlfriend has been murdered and that his daughter, Adeline, is accused of the crime. Believing her innocent, but without proof, there is only one option – he must confess. But in the future, murderers aren’t sent to prison. They’re sent to the past, forever, back to the time of the dinosaurs, where they live out their lives alone.
In the present, Adeline embarks on a mission to find the person who framed her – uncovering more questions than answers. With conspiracies and secrets afoot, Adeline soon finds herself in the midst of a mystery that stretches across the past, present, and future – and leads to a revelation that will change everything.
Control the Past. Save the Future.
About the Author
A.G. Riddle spent ten years starting internet companies before deciding to pursue his true passion: writing fiction.
His novels have sold over five million copies worldwide and been translated in twenty-four languages. Several of his works are in development for feature films.
He lives in North Carolina with his wife, daughter, and eccentric dog.
What I Thought
I raced through the first 60% of this in one sitting and would have quite happily finished it all if it wasn’t for needing pesky sleep.
From the rug pulling opening to the dinosaur encounters I think readers might end up letting out breaths they fully know they were holding more than once.
Things I found myself thinking of when reading this first section – The Fugitive, Demolition Man, Jurassic Park, Bear Grylls.
Interestingly when I picked the story back up it changed pace slightly to focus mostly on Adeline’s point of view moving forward. I did slightly miss the to and fro of the alternating chapters although the pace was still pretty breakneck but with some quieter and more emotional moments.
Time travel is such a slippery thing and my head was spinning a bit at all the explanations of causality, etc. I always find it best not to delve into the mechanics too deeply (mainly because I don’t understand it – ironic when one of the books I’ve written features time travel). I definitely got pulled in by the twists and turns though, and wanted to know what had happened and if we would ever get Sam back from the Triassic.
This is however a story of grief and what you would do for a second chance to connect with missing loved ones and I found myself so connected with both Sam and Adeline, invested in the murder mystery and wondering how on earth they would solve getting back the unreachable. There’s also plenty of secrets and lies, mentions of drug abuse, gambling, chronic ill health and much more – the book really explores both sides of humanity.
The story presents two contrasting ways to use time travel and I can’t help thinking that exploring the ethical dilemmas both options present would make a great book club discussion.
This book was a Goldsboro GSFF pick of the month (and I’m luckily a member) – now I’ve read it understandably so. I signed up for the blog tour but reading from my own copy. Thanks to Black Crow PR and Head of Zeus for having me along for the thrilling ride. My thoughts and opinions are as ever my own.
The copy I have has an entirely different cover – which I also love – and I found it super satisfying that the stencilled edges artwork split right in the middle of the story (pg 225/450) but that is not as satisfying as the story which I would highly recommend.
Do follow along with the blog tour to see what everyone else thought too.
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The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston – Blog Tour Book Review
About the Book
Florence Day is a ghost-writer with one big problem. She’s supposed to be penning swoon-worthy novels for a famous romance author but, after a bad break-up, Florence no longer believes in love. And when her strict (but undeniably hot) new editor, Benji Andor, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye.
Although when tragedy strikes and Florence has to head home, the last thing she expects to see is a ghost at her front door. Not just any ghost, however, but the stern form of her still very hot – yet now unquestionably dead – new editor.
As sparks start to fly between them, Florence tells herself she can’t be falling for a ghost – even an infuriatingly sexy one.
But can Benji help Florence to realise love isn’t dead, after all?
About the Author
Ashley Poston writes stories about love and friendship and ever after a. A native to South Carolina, she now lives in a small grey house with her sassy cat and too many books. You can find her on the internet, somewhere, watching cat videos and reading fan fiction.
AshPoston.com
Facebook and Instagram- HeyAshPoston
Twitter – AshPoston
What I Thought
Well. What can I say. Ashley Poston has done it again – I’m not sure I was ready for a book with a squatty potty reference 😂 – but I’m here for it (it’s good for the digestion!).
I am a huge fan of Ashley’s YA Geekerella series which uses fandom as a backdrop to her romances. Now with this foray into adult fiction we have publishing as our backdrop but with some additional supernatural goings on. This makes this a perfect spooky season read.
This is the second book recently I’ve read where I can reference Ghost Whisperer as a comparison (see my review of middle grade book The Whisperling) and I’m not at all mad about that – what with it being one of my favourite shows.
Florence Day has grown up around death – literally. Her family run Days Gone Funeral Home (excellent name) and both her father and her see dead people walking around like regular people! Hounded out of her small town because of this gift, Florence headed to the big smoke and tried to turn her love of writing smutty X-Files fan fic into a career in romance fiction. After her first novel doesn’t take off in quite the way she’d hoped she ends up ghostwriting (lol) for a hugely successful romance writer. We meet her as the last book on that contract is due – but the thing is she has writer’s block. How can you write romance when you’ve had your heart smashed?
Florence’s ex is a despicable piece of work who deserves much worse than he gets in my opinion. Seriously he makes my blood boil.
Pulled back to her home after a family tragedy she finds a ghost on the doorstep of her family home but this ghost is very out of place and unwelcome. After all he didn’t give her an extension on her novel! Rude. It’s her very hot editor Benji Andor who on first meeting him the words “climb him” were screamed by her inner voice – although sadly that turns out not to be possible when you can’t touch a ghost. But is it possible for the spirit of romance to be reignited? No spoilers here but I was satisfied with the journey Florence went on.
I will say that this was perhaps a slightly slower start than we’ve grown used to but the payoff makes it worth it and Ashley’s writing is easy to read and comforting.
This mixes the best echoes of Christmas Hallmark movies (but with Halloween vibes in April – and not Christmas), Sweet Home Alabama and A million funerals and a wedding! I loved this exploration of complex family relationships, small town gossip and an incorporeal romance. Poston brings her humour and pop culture references naturally across into the adult sphere where she can be a little more spicy (although only in small doses – we don’t actually get any of the X-Files smut on the page! More’s the pity).
The small town of Mairmont with its doggie Mayor (this needs to become a thing – the world would be so much kinder) becomes a character itself and I fell in love with it too. I loved the incidental non binary and queer characters because there was no negative focus on this – they just were and this is what the world should be.
If the Reader Discussion questions are anything to go by keep your fingers crossed for a sequel and more Mairmont. I’d equally be happy with other books following some of our side characters.
Although grief is a big theme in this story the book itself is hopeful and not macabre and focuses very much on death as part of life. In the author’s note Ashley Poston talks about her fear of death which I very much share – so to write such a book must have been a therapy session as much as it was reading it.
A huge thank you to Ashley for this piece of magic and to HQ Stories for the gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review. Do check out what everyone else on the tour thought.
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The Whisperling by Hayley Hoskins – Blog Tour Book Review
About the Book
When you’re dead, you’re dead. When you’re gone, you’re gone. Unless, of course, you’re not. And that’s where I come in.
The year is 1897, and Peggy Devona can speak with ghosts.
She hides her gift from those afraid of a girl with such powers, terrified of the secrets the dead could reveal through her. But when her best friend is accused of murdering her rich mistress, Peggy knows only she – a whisperling – can save her.
Peggy escapes to her uncle’s psychic emporium in the city, seeking out new ghosts to help her solve Sally’s case.
Yet time is running out, and each step towards uncovering the truth also brings Sally one step closer to the gallows. . .
About the Author
Long listed for the Bath Children’s Novel award, Hayley Hoskins writes in the space between family and work, with much support from her writing group.
Mum to a teenage boy, she spends a disproportionate amount of time hoping that her son’s life is far less complicated than those of the characters in her books, and trying to ensure he becomes a ‘good egg’.
Originally from the Forest of Dean, Hayley lives with her family and hairy breezeblock of a dog in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/HayleyHoskins
What I Thought
Spooky season is upon us and The Whisperling is a great addition to a spooky TBR. Set in Bristol in the Victorian era we start with Peggy (Margaret Devon’s) and her best friend Sally having a disagreement and then Sally goes silent on her. But it’s not just a case of Peggy being sent to Coventry, instead Sally has been charged with murdering her mistress and is set to hang.
Peggy is a Whisperling and she can see and speak to ghosts and witness their burn (where they head to the next plane of existence) but although signs around town suggest that people are to accept any Whisperlings amongst them people still remember when witches roamed and dictating inclusion does not inclusion create. Especially not with judgemental clergy spouting about the devil.
For her own “safety” Peggy joins her estranged uncle in the city and is set to work at his Psychic Emporium with Oti and Cecily. The Victorian fascination with Spiritualism led to a lot of hokey seances but what happens when a real Whisperling is added to the mix?
The thread of mystery runs alongside with the urgency of solving the murder to clear Sally’s name before she hangs. There’s a Q&A with the author at the back of the book that talks about her inspirations and some of the real life cases of young girls receiving a death sentence. Add in the threat of ‘The Righteous’ – Whisperling Finders and there is plenty of peril for a middle grade tale.
The villain of the piece may be who you expect but there’s enough red herrings along the way to keep you guessing. In fact there’s a really early gasp inducing moment that gets twisted (although I think it would have also made an interesting story to go with what I thought had happened).
I really liked the family story alongside this too. With Peggy’s father not having trusted her with the family secrets, mysterious pictures of her uncle and mother and a generational line of whisperlings – not to mention the not quite spectre with raven hair.
This is like a middle grade Ghost Whisperer and it is left open for more stories of whisperlings past, present and future. I’ll definitely check them out when they appear.
A nod must also go to Kristina Kister for the stunning cover design which makes me hope to see this as an animated film.
A huge thanks to Blue at Kaleidoscopic Tours and the publisher Puffin for the gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review. Do check out the rest of the tour stops to see what everyone else thought or to read some extracts.
kirstyes 