Betrothal & Betrayal by Janet McGiffin Blog Tour

 I do like a good book series, although I'll be honest, I prefer to wait until all books in a series have been released before I start reading them as I am a tad inpatient.

However, I'm making an exception for Janet McGiffin's novel Betrothal & Betrayal which is the first book in the Empress Irini Series.

Seventeen-year-old Thekla needs her quick wits and knife to track down her betrothed, a soldier who has left her at the altar for the third time. Elias the monk travels with her to Constantinople where she meets Irini of Athens, an extraordinarily beautiful orphan her same age who has been brought by powerful Emperor Constantine to marry his son, Co-Emperor Leon. The two women join forces to survive this vigorous capital of the Roman Empire of the East which is rocked by religious and political strife. But will Thekla help the ambitious and ruthless Irini of Athens find the power that she craves?

War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson Blog Tour

 I've always been a fan of middle-grade/young adult fiction, so when I was asked if I would like to join the blog tour for Victoria Williamson's latest book War of the Wind, I couldn't turn down the opportunity to read and review the book.

First, have a read of the blurb to wet your whistle:

On a remote Scottish island, fourteen-year-old Max’s life changes forever when he loses his hearing in a boating accident. Struggling to make sense of his new life and finding it hard to adapt in school, he begins to notice other — even stranger — changes taking place when a new wind farm appears off the island’s coast.

With the help of three school friends with additional support needs, Max discovers that a sinister scientist, Doctor Ashwood, is using wind turbines to experiment on the islanders. They must find a way to shut down the government’s secret test before it spins out of control…

My Top 23 Books in 2023

 What a year 2023 was for books. So many great releases from debuts to follow ups in series and go to authors that continue to write fantastic stories.

In total, I read 150 books (a nice even number) so it was difficult to pick just 23 books as my stand-out favourites. But I did it so read on to see which novels I loved. Let me know if you've read any of them or if you perhaps still have them on your tbr list.

Top 23 books in 2023

In no particular order . . .