Year of the Book: Lie of the Tiger – John Martin Welcome to the third of my ‘Year of the Book’ posts, in which I take the books I received in my 2025 book advent – each cover representing an animal from the Chinese Zodiac – and review them for you! March is the TIGER and the book is Lie of the Tiger by John Martin. Read on to find out more…

March's #YearOfTheBook review is #LieOfTheTiger by John Martin

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #YOTB #March #tiger #mystery #TasmanianTiger #humour #Tasmania

Blog Tour: Shake Out the Ghosts – Al Hess *I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and Angry Robot. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: A brutal assault nine months ago left eccentric portrait artist Micah with facial scars and PTSD. He’s struggled to leave his apartment ever since, and he can’t let anyone in. Then his only sanctuary is disrupted by signs of a haunting.

#BlogTour: World Running Down by @al_distortion @al-distortion.bsky.social

@angryrobotbooks #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #love #romance #80smusic #synthpop #ghosts #trauma #PTSD #LGBTQIA #ShakeOutTheGhosts

Catch-Up Quickies 112 First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Short #reviews of #AHappyBeginning #HellesHounds #TheStormborneVine #TheBonesBeneathMySkin #TheSpiritCollectionOfThorneHall

#NetGalley #bookreviews #bookblogger #bookshine #romance #fantasy #LGBTIA #murdermystery #magic #dragons #aliens #spirits #paranormal #horror #Gothic

Blog Tour: Nine Missing Girls – Steena Holmes *I received a free DRC of this book with thanks to the author, Joffe Books and Zoé of Zooloo’s Book Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: From two-million-selling author Steena Holmes, nine dark and gripping stories featuring Detective Meri Amber. Nine missing girls.Nine investigations that refuse to stay buried. Detective Meri Amber hunts the cases other people walk away from — the girls who vanish without a trace and the secrets no one wants uncovered.

#BlogTour: Nine Missing Girls by @steenaHolmes

@ZooloosBT @joffebooks #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #mystery #crimethriller #psychological #suspense #missingchildren #NineMissingGirls #SteenaHolmes #JoffeBooks #ZooloosBookTours

#BlogTour: Key Lime Sky by @al_distortion
@al-distortion.bsky.social

@angryrobotbooks #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #love #romance #scifi #aliens #LGBTQIA #pie #KeyLimeSky

bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2026/03/14/b...

Blog Tour: Key Lime Sky – Al Hess *I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and Angry Robot. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: An alien invasion hits the town of Muddy Gap, but a disgruntled pie aficionado is the only one who seems to remember it… Denver Bryant’s passion for pie has sent him across Wyoming in search of the best slices.

#BlogTour: World Running Down by @al_distortion @al-distortion.bsky.social

@angryrobotbooks #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #love #romance #scifi #aliens #LGBTQIA #pie #KeyLimeSky

Catch-Up Quickies 111 First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Short #reviews of #TheDarkLordsGuideToDating #ADeadlyClue #IntoTheMidnightWood #TheViewFromDownHere #ApparentlySirCameronNeedsToDie

#bookshine #catchupquickies #NetGalley #fantasy #romance #villains #humour #mystery #HunterAndClewe #LGBTQIA #nonfiction #analysis #memoir #disability #feminism

Blog Tour: World Running Down – Al Hess *I am participating in this blog tour with thanks to the author and Angry Robot. I purchased the book myself and the decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: A transgender salvager on the outskirts of a dystopian Utah gets the chance to earn the ultimate score and maybe even a dash of romance. But there's no such thing as a free lunch…

#BlogTour: World Running Down by @al_distortion @al-distortion.bsky.social

@angryrobotbooks #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #postapocalyptic #love #romance #scifi #AI #LGBTQIA #bodydysphoria #WorldRunningDown

Year of the Book: Ox Tales – Various Authors Welcome to the second of my ‘Year of the Book’ posts, in which I take the books I received in my 2025 book advent – each cover representing an animal from the Chinese Zodiac – and review them for you! Up next in February is OX and the books are the Ox Tales series of short story collections, Ox Tales: Earth; Ox Tales: Air; Ox Tales: Fire and Ox Tales: Water…

February's #YearOfTheBook review is the #OxTales series of short story books by various authors in aid of #Oxfam

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #YOTB #February #ox #Earth #agriculture #Air #climatechange #Fire #conflictaid #Water #waterprojects #charity #shortstories

Blog Tour: A Most Unsuitable Suitor – Emma Orchard *I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Kelly Lacey of Love Books Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: She must marry for her family’s future. He must never marry at all. Spring, 1805. Nineteen-year-old Allegra Constantine is under pressure to choose a husband, but none of her suitors inspire her.

#BlogTour: A Most Unsuitable Suitor by @emmaorchardbooks

@BoldwoodEverAfter @BoldwoodBooks @LoveBooksTours @LBT.Crew #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #AMostUnsuitableSuitor #romance #RegencyRomance #RegencySpice #Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview

Blog Tour: The Case of the Christie Conspiracy – Kelly Oliver *I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: Mesopotamia, 1930: When Agatha Christie invites fellow members of the Detection Club to witness the famous excavations at the ruins of Ur, Dorothy L. Sayers, her quick-witted assistant Eliza Baker, and Theo Sharp expect ancient wonders – not fresh corpses.

#BlogTour: The Case of the Christie Curse by @KellyOliverBooks

@BoldwoodBooks @rararesources @theboldbookclub #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #TheCaseOfTheChristieCurse #boldwoodbloggers #AgathaChristie #TheDetectionClub #chess #archaeology #murdermystery

Catch-Up Quickies 110 First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Short #reviews of #CleverLittleThing #WaterMoon #DeathInTheArctic #TheVulpine #MurderInBloom

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #NetGalley #domesticthriller #parenting #neurodivergence #Japan #Isekai #whimsicalfantasy #mystery #airship #YAdystopian #disability #cosymystery #gardening #murder

Catch-Up Quickies 109 First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Short #reviews of #YourBestFriend #YouWillSpeakForTheDead #Nettle #BloodOverBrightHaven #MysteryOnTheTracks

#bookreviews #bookblogger #bookshine #NetGalley #crimethriller #friendship #sporror #bereavement #fairytale #darkfantasy #magic #puzzles #murdermystery

Catch-Up Quickies 108 First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Short #reviews of #TheDaysOfOurBirth #TheresSomeoneInReception #HowToMurderYourDearWife #ATraceOfDNA #TheEndlessNight

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #catchupquickies #romance #localjournalism #memoir #mystery #humour #TiggyJones #TheInnerLands
#epicfantasy #indieauthors #SupportIA

Jerk Chicken Magic – Noel-Andrew Bennett & Roxanne Bennett *I received a free DRC of this book with thanks to the authors, Coconut Milk and Ashley Kurland - Entertainment PR.  The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: A love letter to immigrant families everywhere! Jerk Chicken Magic is a heartwarming story of a multi-generational immigrant family (The Higgins), through the eyes of a charming 6-year-old girl named, Lizzy — as she explores the culinary magic of Jamaica's most famous cultural export, jerk chicken.

Jerk Chicken Magic by Noel-Andrew Bennett & Roxanne Bennett

@coconutmilk.co #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #minishine #babybows #family #immigration #multiculturalism #cooking #childrensbook #picturebook #JerkChickenMagic

Year of the Book: King Rat – China Miéville Welcome to the first of my ‘Year of the Book’ posts, in which I take the books I received in my 2025 book advent – each cover representing an animal from the Chinese Zodiac – and review them for you! Up first in January is RAT and the book is King Rat by China Miéville. Read on to find out more…

January's #YearOfTheBook review is #KingRat by China Miéville

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #YOTB #January #rat #darkhorror #urbanhorror #fantasyhorror #London #DrumAndBass #PiedPiperOfHamelin #oldgods #anthropomorphism #redintoothandclaw

Catch-Up Quickies 107 First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Short #reviews of #WhatWeSacrificeForMagic #TheUndeadComplex #TheGreatWhen #TheVillageDetectivesAndTheLittleBlackBookKiller #MagicMapsAndMischief

#bookreviews #bookblogger #bookshine #catchupquickies #magic #comingofage #mystery #paranormal #fantasy #cosy #neurodivergence #NetGalley

Blog Tour: The Locked Room – Holly Hepburn *I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: Join Harriet White in 1930's London for another glorious Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery, for fans of Nita Prose and Janice Hallett. After a very close call on the Norfolk Fens, Harriet White is about ready to hang up her deerstalker and settle back into her normal life, working in a bank on Baker Street.

#BlogTour: #TheLockedRoom by
@HollyH_Author

@BoldwoodBooks @rararesources @theboldbookclub #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #crime #historicalfiction #detective #mystery #BakerStreet #Holmes #BakerStreetMysteries #boldwoodbloggers #NetGalley

Blog Tour: Healing in (Re)Verse – BS Casey *I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: A short, mixed style poetry collection about not dying just yet - exploring chronic illness, depression, trauma and finding moments of joy and love in a painful world.

#BlogTour: Healing in (re)Verse by @on_bees_bookshelf

@randomthingstours #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #poetry #poems #chronicillness #depression #trauma #disability #healing #healinginreverse

Catch-Up Quickies 106 First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Short #reviews of #TheExaminer #SorryHumansEspeciallyGreg #Gorse #HemlockBay #HexAndHexability

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #catchupquickies #NetGalley #mystery #epistolary #humour #romance #aliens #folklore #darkfantasy #RachelSavernake #romantasy #witches

Blog Tour: The Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting – Naomi Kuttner *I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: Assassin. Gardener. Reluctant cat adoptee. All Dante wants is to be left alone in the small New Zealand town no one’s heard of. No drama. No bodies. No questions.

#BlogTour: The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting by @naomikuttner

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine @rararesources #mystery #NewZealand #cosymystery #foundfamily #ghosts #gardening #exassassin #orchids #humour #romance #TheRetiredAssassinsGuideToOrchidHunting

Calendar Chaos: And So This Is Christmas – Brian Bilston Welcome! We have made it to the end of 2025 and to the twenty-fourth and final of my ‘Calendar Chaos’ posts, in which I take the books I received in my 2024 book advent – each cover representing a different period of time – and review them for you! Closing the year and my calendar theme is Christmas and the book is 

Ending the year's #CalendarChaos with #AndSoThisIsChristmas by Brian Bilston

And wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #bookadvent #Christmas #poetry #humour #seasonal #festive #stockingfiller

Calendar Chaos: One Day in December – Josie Silver Welcome to the twenty-third of my ‘Calendar Chaos’ posts, in which I take the books I received in my 2024 book advent – each cover representing a different period of time – and review them for you! Up first in December is DECEMBER and the book is One Day in December by Josie Silver. Read on to find out more…

The first of December's #CalendarChaos with #OneDayInDecember by Josie Silver

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #bookadvent #December #contemporaryromance #romance #Instalove

***Christmas Hiatus*** Dear Readers, You may have noticed Bookshine blog has been a little quiet of late? Unsurprisingly for someone with a long-term chronic illness, I have been grappling with a bout of ill health and after weeks of chastising myself for the resulting lack of review activity, I have finally decided to (temporarily!) throw in the towel. In other words, I am clocking off early for Christmas this year to get some proper rest.

***Christmas Hiatus***

Bookshine is taking a break (aside from pre-scheduled posts) but will be back to share more #booklove in the New Year!

#bookshine #hiatus #Christmas #chronicillness #MECFS #spoonie #bookblogger #amreading #stillreading

Calendar Chaos: The Winter Spirits – Bridget Collins, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Natasha Pulley, Jess Kidd, Andrew Michael Hurley, Elizabeth Macneal, Laura Purcell, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Stuart Turton, Catriona Ward, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Susan Stokes-Chapman Welcome to the twenty-second of my ‘Calendar Chaos’ posts, in which I take the books I received in my 2024 book advent – each cover representing a different period of time – and review them for you! Closing November (better late than never!) is WINTER and the book is The Winter Spirits by Bridget Collins, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Natasha Pulley, Jess Kidd, Andrew Michael Hurley, Elizabeth Macneal, Laura Purcell, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Stuart Turton, Catriona Ward, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Susan Stokes-Chapman.

Rounding off November's #CalendarChaos with #TheWinterSpirits by various authors

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #bookadvent #Winter #shortstories #Christmas #horror #ghosts #paranormal #ghoststories

Blog Tour: The Author’s Guide to Murder – Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig & Karen White *I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author, Harper 360 UK and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: Agatha Christie meets Murder, She Wrote in this witty locked room mystery and literary satire by New York Times bestselling team of novelists: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White.

#BlogTour: The Author's Guide to Murder by @authorbeatriz @laurenwillig & @karenwhitewrite

@RandomTTours @harper360UK #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #mystery #lockedroommystery #humour #literarysatire #TheAuthorsGuideToMurder

Blog Tour: A Most Curious Christmas – Katherine Black *I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author, Bloodhound Books and Kelly Lacey of Love Books Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: Christmas in Blackheath has never been bloodier… May Morrigan was hoping for mulled wine and minimal drama this festive season. But when your eccentric mother asks you to hide a bloody knife, your estranged twin sister moves in, and your housemate is staging a chaotic pantomime starring a washed-up TV actor with a stalker… a quiet Christmas is off the cards.

#BlogTour: A Most Curious Christmas by @KJBlack71

@LoveBooksTours @Bloodhound.Books #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview #AMostCuriousChristmas #cosymystery #humour #Christmas #LBTVirtualBookTour

Catch-Up Quickies 105 First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Short #reviews of #OnTheEdge #TheDeadFriendProject #TheHouseWhereDeathLives #WhereIsAnybody #TheMurdersInGreatDiddling

#NetGalley #bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #family #romance #murder #addiction #death #shortstories #horrorfantasy #urbanfantasy #GideonSable #booksaboutbooks #murdermystery

Calendar Chaos: November 9 – Colleen Hoover Welcome to the twenty-first of my ‘Calendar Chaos’ posts, in which I take the books I received in my 2024 book advent – each cover representing a different period of time – and review them for you! Up first in November is NOVEMBER and the book is November 9 by Colleen Hoover (and can we all please just politely pretend that I got this review out for 9th November, like I planned?

The first of November's #CalendarChaos with #November9 by Colleen Hoover

#bookreview #bookblogger #bookshine #bookadvent #November #family #contemporaryfiction #romance #suspense

Catch-Up Quickies 104 First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Short #reviews of #IllustratedGirl #LoveLettersToASerialKiller #AShortWalkThroughAWideWorld #CursedUnderLondon #ACaseOfLifeAndLimb

#bookreviews #bookblogger #bookshine #catchupquickies #NetGalley #fantasy #romance #humour #crime #mystery #series #booklove #amreading