Archive for November, 2014

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

TeaserTuesdays2014e

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

~~~

My tease is from

Rehab Is For Witches

by Multiple Authors

23480947

 

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

There were so many good teasers in this book I couldn’t choose which one to use.

So I’m going to give you this from the very beginning.  I am having so much fun and having a lot of laugh out loud moments.

So here is my tease:

A hint about this book…

This book doesn’t stick to time as though it was Velcro. It moves in the same direction, but it flits back and forth, because this is a journey of six witches aiming to get through magical rehab. So it’ll follow all of them on their journeys…and then the journey they take together.

So, sometimes you’ll go back, and sometimes you’ll go forward. We guess that’s just the nature of magic. You’ll get the hang of it.

We’d also like to note that in the making of this book there were many jokes about names for spells, giggling, epic bouts of brainstorming, and that one brilliant joke about the Kracken…er…well, you’ll see. So we hope you enjoy this book, and we take no responsibility for the swearing, giggles, romance, or unadulterated drama you’ll find. Just don’t drink anything for a few pages. Nobody likes coffee snorted all over a clean table.

~~~

I was given this ARC to review for an upcoming tour. I don’t know what might have been changed since I read this. Hopefully they left this beginning in. It does a great job of preparing you for the fun inside.

Keep an eye out for my review on December 3rd.

~~~

Synopsis

Welcome to Little Raven: an unsullied, beautiful woodland hamlet in the heart of the Midwest. The sort of place where furry creatures romp about and spend their days bursting into song.

Actually, that’s a giant pack of lies.

Little Raven is a town…for witches.

And some of those witches might have bent the rules. A teensy bit. When six magical miscreants dabble with black magic, they end up together at Incantations, the town’s rehab center for witches gone awry. It’s a slap on the wrist for naughty witches. Pretty much a daycare center so they don’t wander off and start turning people into newts on a whim. Each witch must work through her addiction to black magic, and follow the tenets designed to lead them back to the path of the straight and narrow, as boring as that sounds. Even if following the tenets sucks worse than a group round of kum-bay-ya. Which sucks. Horribly.

We will admit we are powerless over magic—that our lives have become unmanageable.

We will make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of the Goddess as we understand Her.

We will make a searching and fearless moral and magical inventory of ourselves.

We will admit to the Goddess, to ourselves, and to another being the exact nature of our magical wrongs.

We will make a list of all persons or beings we have harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all.

We will make direct amends to such beings whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

We are entirely ready to bow before the Goddess and have Her remove all our defect of character, even at the risk of being entirely stripped of our magic.

But this is just the start. There’s something rotten in Little Raven, something that seeks to take all the magic it can, and devour the inhabitants in the process. It will take the strength and power of all the witches to defeat the darkness seeping into their town, beat it back, and be rid of it forever…and maybe just make it through rehab while they’re saving the world.

~~~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

stick out tongue photo: rr-sticking-out-tongue roadrunner-stick-out-tongue.gif

I was supposed to review this for the tour hosted by Novel Publicity but had blog complications and wasn’t able to post.

Now that I’m up and running again I’d love to share Devil Music with you.

A special thanks goes out to Naomi. She posted my review as a Guest Post on her blog Naimeless during the tour. Stop by and check out her blog and say hi.

Devil Music

by Carly Orosz

22018588

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

I’m fascinated by demons. Fascinated and terrified by them. After reading the description for Devil Music, I was intrigued.

Cain is a demon. His master, Warwick, uses dark arts to bind him with a slave collar, and uses him for power and financial gain.

Under Warwick’s thumb, Cain is sent on errands. After which, his memory is wiped clean. He has no memories of the errand he’s been sent or of his previous life.

On his current errand, Cain impulsively buys a guitar and discovers a hidden talent. He skyrockets to rock music fame and breaks free from his master.

I wasn’t too keen on Cain at first. He seemed kind of wimpy for a demon. Then, I put together his wiped memories and the horrible abuse he suffered at the hands of his master, and came to understand the weight of his hopelessness. I was thrilled with his rise to stardom and his freedom. He even got a girlfriend and some solid friends. He had a life of his own.

Then, a serial killer starts stalking the music scene and Cain, along with his friends, must move quickly to discover the killer’s identity as the victim count rises and the killer draws near.

This was a huge book at over 700 pages. The beginning was a fast read as I met the characters and entered the author’s world.

The pace slowed down in the middle. Not much happened and I felt it would have been a great place to give us some background on the secondary characters, flesh them out more so I could connect better.

My curiosity kept me going as I started to get an idea who the killer might me. I needed to know what his motive was and had fun reading how the characters discovered the identity of the killer.

I didn’t get answers to all of my questions at the end. I did get enough to wrap up this plot but was left needing more. I wanted to know more about the other character’s lives. I wanted to know about Cain’s previous life and how the slavery changed him. Perhaps I’ll get those answers in the next book.

I was looking for a different kind of demon story and found one.

4  Stars

Thanks so much to Novel Publicity and Carly Orosz for the opportunity to read and review Devil Music and for being so understanding while my blog was down.

About the book

  Cain Pseudomantis leads a miserable life. Bound to the mortal world by a powerful spell no demon could hope to break, he must obey his human master’s every command or face harsh punishment. He finds solace in the rock music which he listens to when he isn’t running unsavory errands for his master. Then everything changes. While on a mission in a seedy section of 1980s Los Angeles, Cain impulsively buys an electric guitar and discovers an unusual talent for music, a talent that catapults him to hair metal stardom. With three super-powered human band mates and his beautiful girlfriend Michelle by his side, his life starts to look a lot better. But Cain soon finds that even rock stars have troubles. The crusading televangelist Nathaniel Breen—who happens to be Michelle’s father—accuses him of turning the city’s youth to Satan worship. Meanwhile a mysterious killer known only as the Engineer terrorizes the Los Angeles rock scene with a series of brutal murders. When Cain and his friends attempt to unmask the killer, they discover a deadly secret that could cost Cain his hard-won freedom, and possibly his life.

Get Devil Music through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes.

~~~

About the author

Carly Orosz

Carly Orosz lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan with her husband. She graduated from Kalamazoo College and went on to earn an MFA in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College. Her poetry has been published in Wavelength Journal and SpoutMagazine. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, weaving on a hand loom, and studying the art and cultures of pre-Columbian Mexico.

Connect with Carly on her website, Facebook, Twitter,or GoodReads.

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

This is my own version of a weekly book haul and all things new on fuonlyknew.

Another fun way to share your book news and enjoy others is The Sunday Post hosted by

Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

~~~

I’m back. Those of you who follow my blog probably noticed that WordPress shut me down. I was guilty of violating their Terms Of Service. I admit, I was. But still not too sure what all I did wrong. They don’t go into detail, so I suspect it’s like a form letter they send out when they shut you down.

So, now I’m self-hosted and free to do as I please, at some cost.It was worth it to be able to transfer all of my content. I was horrified when I was shut down. All those lovely posts and reviews, gone! But, I have them back and now I’m looking forward to sharing more with ya’ll. Still trying to figure out how to change to Leave a reply thingie at the bottom. Is it odd for you to comment and does anyone know how I can personalize it? I’ve searched everywhere in my dashboard and can’t find a way to change it.

Last Sunday Post I mentioned rearranging my living room and now having no place for my Christmas tree. I took Katherine’s and Trisha’s advice and moved some things into the guest room and now have the perfect spot! But first, I had to get the new bed for my sons room out of there, so I finally finished his room and everything looks good.

I had a huge dilemma at the grocery store. They were out of my favorite tea, Twinings Irish Breakfast and also the English Breakfast Tea I fall back on. So, I bought some Earl Gray and it tastes odd. There’s a lingering aftertaste, spicy and heavy that I can’t figure out. Not liking it much but since I spent the money on it, I’ll probably drink it.

My oldest brother and my mother came down from Michigan last week and they brought that winter vortex with them. We had some frigid days here on the Gulf Coast and it brought back memories of the ice age we experienced last year. LOL Now it’s blustery and cloudy and humid as hell. Around the 70’s and sticky! Funny how quickly the weather shifts near the water.

I hope you all had a great week and lets get to some of what I’ve been doing book wise. Not as much as I couldn’t post, but I did a lot of reading.

~~~

Here are my new books for review.

20737767  23308727

~~~

New ones just for me!

18298413  22011876

~~~

And here are some freebies for ya!

Click on the covers to get yours and remember to make sure they’re still free before you click that buy button.

12430013  10241239  21690183

17377553  18892284  12757262

22896422    http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41udpKqE19L.jpg

~~~

Books I reviewed this week.

Click on the covers for my reviews.

20702316 

22741384  20737737

~~~

Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

22018588  18711778

22576187  16292113

 

I have a few more, just not sure which ones I’ll post about this week. And working on some others.

~~~

What I won this past couple of weeks.

18406503

I won a print copy from the giveaway on Beckie’s blog Bittersweet Enchantment

Thanks so much Beckie and thank you Barbara Holstein

~

721012

I won a print copy of this book from a giveaway on Shellie’s blog Layers of Thought

Thanks so much Shellie and thank you Washington Irving.

~

16292113

I won a print copy of this book from a giveaway on Erin’s blog Jump Into Books

Thanks so much Erin and thank you Kerry Smith

~~~

Other Posts this week. Not too many as I’ve just started up my new blog.

Christmas in Dogtown ~ Blitz Review and Giveaway

M9B Friday Reveal and Giveaway ~ The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl

The Friday 56 #45 ~ Torn ~ A Fire Born Novel

The Afterworld Series ~ Recruitz & Alibiz ~ Tour Giveaway

Twinkle by S J Parkinson ~ A Sci Fi Thriller Review

Blitz Giveaway ~ Come celebrate Tony Bertauski’s new release ~ Flury: Journey of the Snowman #3

Christmas, Actually ~ Mistletoe Kisses Grand Finale Blitz Giveaway

~~~

For all of my 2014 reviews go HERE

For a list of free books go HERE

For all of my giveaways go HERE

~~~

So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

I’d love to know and thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

A themed tour through Prism Book Tours.

It’s the MISTLETOE KISSES TOUR Grand Finale for
Christmas, Actually
By Anna Adams, Anna J. Stewart, and Melinda Curtis
Three Harlequin Heartwarming novellas, where a sweet kiss takes place under the mistletoe.

Did you miss any of the excerpts, guest post, or reviews on the tour?
Feel free to go back and check out all the stops now!

Launch – Intro to the Collection

Christmas, Actually – three holiday stories about three siblings living in Christmas Town, Maine, where tradition has it that a kiss on Christmas Eve in the town square gazebo will lead to wedding bells in the new year!

Christy’s Cozy Corners – An Interview with Anna Adams

How was it decided that the story would take place in Christmas Town, Maine?

We were looking for a setting that spoke of the holidays, and I’d lived in Maine in a town that decorated the green for Christmas. I described it, and someone suggested Christmas Town as a name for our fictional village.

Coffee Books & Art – Excerpt

Snowflakes hit the windshield and splayed into star shapes while Bing Crosby crooned his dreams of a white Christmas. Sophie Palmer tried to sing along, but her mind was already racing up the icy interstate to Christmas Town, Maine, where the father of her unborn child now lived.

The Book Lovers’ Lounge – Christmas Town by Anna Adams

And I imagined my own broken hero, Jack Banning, watching from the sidewalk, there in the town, but watching from the boundaries because he doesn’t belong any more.

Getting Your Read On – Review

“Yeah, I really loved my time in Christmas Town with the Banning family. Each story was unique and romantic. I loved all the characters. They were real and identifiable. It is the perfect book to curl up with as the days get colder and we get closer to Christmas.”

Colorimetry – The Power of a First Kiss by Anna Adams

He’s at her house, killing time because he can’t go home and face his brother’s happiness when another friend calls to offer him an investment opportunity. Mary is leaning against George, also listening on the phone, when finally, he admits to his feelings. He takes her in his arms for a kiss he clearly doesn’t want even as he desires nothing in the whole wide world more than the hometown love of his life.

Southern Chelle – Review

“I don’t think I’ve read anything by any of these authors before, but these novellas have me falling hard for their work! I used to receive the Harlequin Heartwarming books monthly, but I didn’t have room for anymore paperback books in my house and had to give it up. I’m so glad they’ve continued these offerings!”

Kelly P’s Blog – An Interview with Anna J. Stewart

  1. What do you hope readers will take with them after reading your story?

There’s nothing better than a happily ever after–that’s why I write (and read) romance, but that’s kind of the easy answer. I think at its core, the story is about learning how to be open with others, to tell them how you’re really feeling about situations that are emotionally damaging them. Dean, Callie and Eliza all have to do this at some point during the story and once they do, the happily ever after is possible.

My Love for Reading Keeps Growing – Excerpt

“Is this a bad time?” The combination of sympathy and amusement shining in green eyes, along with the tamed Irish lilt, called to mind fields of clover dotting rolling hills. She’d spent many a night and more than a few days dreaming of traveling to the Emerald Isle. Now it seemed as if Ireland had come to her.

Shoulder-length, golden-streaked hair brushed the worn leather of the bomber jacket he wore over snug jeans, the hint of a plain white T-shirt peeking from under the collar.

The Wonderings Of One Person – Dream Cast for The Christmas Wish

There are some actors who just “hit” from the second I lay eyes on them. When looking for images of my Dean, I did not have to look much further than Chris Hemsworth.


Casting my heroines has always been problematic for me. Typically, I use another medium for inspiration (I’m a doll collector), but when I saw this picture of Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries), I knew that was Callie.

Christian Chick’s Thoughts – Review

“The Christmas Date: The instant I started reading this story, I knew I was going to love it. There’s just something about those You’ve Got Mail-esque stories that I love. Nick and Gina are both so likeable, and their chemistry lept off the page. This was easily my favorite of the three stories!”

Bookworm Lisa – Review

“Each of the author’s did a great job in telling their story. I liked the descriptions and the characters.

This book is a fun way to get into the holiday season and find a little clean Christmas romance.”

fundinmental – My Top Ten Christmas Traditions by Anna J. Stewart

I LOVE Christmas time. Truly, from about Halloween on, I’m all about the tinsel, the trees and the music (why do they have to stop the Xmas carols on the 26th?!). For years now it’s just been my mom and me during the holiday season, but we’ve got our traditions…and they start early…even before we carve the Thanksgiving turkey.

Beck Valley Books – An Interview with Malinda Curtis

What’s your favorite aspect of the story?

One of my favorite aspects is Gina’s parents. They’ve tried for years to do what they thought was right and it strained their character and their relationship. This year, they rejoin the pageant and the town’s festivities in a very public way. It’s a small part of the story, but a set of vignettes that I love.

Mel’s Shelves – Review

“I loved seeing the siblings in each other’s stories and enjoyed getting to know them. These stories are quick, easy reads which are perfect to get you in the mood for Christmas. I love that they’re all clean so I can recommend it to everyone! Christmas Town was a fun place to visit!”

Painted Words – Review

“But what I truly loved about this book was that it didn’t feel at all repetitive which can be a big hindrance to books like this especially if written by multiple authors. It was an absolutely beautiful story, one that I look forward to reading again next year at this time and it was the perfect way to start off the season.”

I Am A Reader – Melinda Curtis’s Favorite Treat at Christmas Time (with recipe)

My mom is a fan of Jell-o salad. At Christmas, she’d serve us a slice of Jello salad on a leaf of lettuce with a dollop of mayonnaise on top. The first time Mr. Curtis had this dish, he happily took a big bite, expecting it to be whipped cream on top. Kudos to him for keeping his disappointment to himself.

Deal Sharing Aunt – Excerpt

In the wee hours of Christmas Eve morning, Gina stood at the edge of the town square and traced the deep, jagged scar that ran from her left temple to her jawline with the tip of a gloved finger, as if her touch could erase the past. The small ball of worry, the one that hadn’t let her sleep last night, expanded like bread dough in her chest, pressing against her lungs.

I should have told him.

Wishful Endings – Excerpt (4-star review here)

“Are you kidding? You’re beautiful. Why would he do that?

“You have to say that. You’re standing in my kitchen.” With me practically in your arms. Nevertheless, she hugged his words to her heart. No one had ever called her beautiful before.

JoJo’s Corner – 10 Gifts Ideas for Your Teen/Young Adult & Review

I’m a little bit anal about the holidays. I have a basic list I work from that my kids will enjoy or find useful. They’re all in college now, but that doesn’t mean they want a package of socks for Christmas. Here’s a list of 10 suggested gift giving categories for your teen/young adult…

Review: “Christmas, Actually is the perfect collection of stories to cuddle up and enjoy on a cold wintry night!”

Undercover Book Reviews – Review

“Three stories in one book, a great way to start the Christmas season off! Anna Adams takes you on three separate journeys in the life of Jack, Callie, and Gina as each tells their own story. The plot is good in each one.”

Katie’s Clean Book Collection – Review

What a fun story! The reader is taken on a journey through Christmas Town, Maine and we get to see snippets of what makes this town special through the eyes of three different characters.

Christmas, Actually
by Anna Adams, Anna J. Stewart, & Melinda Curtis
Clean Contemporary Romance
Paperback & Ebook, 202 pages
November 1st 2014 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Discover the magic of Christmas Town, Maine!

Three lonely strangers come to Christmas Town, Maine, and find love with three Banning siblings in the town that celebrates the holidays by decorating its square with lights and ribbons and a holiday pageant on Christmas Eve. Tradition has it that a kiss beneath the mistletoe that night means marriage for the couple in the new year.

The Christmas Gift by Anna Adams:
Jack Banning promised to support the mother of his unborn child… But she doesn’t need money, she only needs him.

The Christmas Wish by Anna J. Stewart:
Callie Banning’s student has declared war on Christmas, so it’s up to her to help the little girl—and her widowed father—believe again.

The Christmas Date by Melinda Curtis:
Gina Vernay is about to meet her online mystery date…and she’s in for the surprise of a lifetime!

AmazonBarnes & NobleHarlequiniTunes

About the Authors

Anna Adams wrote her first romance in wet sand. The Atlantic Ocean washed it away, but Anna kept going. Her stories are of love, like the proverbial stone in a lake, making ripples that spread and contract and involve. From Iceland to Hawaii, and points in between, Anna and her own hero share with children and family and friends who’ve become family. All this living and loving gives Anna plenty of fodder for stories of love set in real life. Come along and live them with her!

WebsiteGoodreadsFacebookTwitterPinterest

Anna J. Stewart can’t remember a time she didn’t have a book in her hand or a story in her head and credits her mother never saying no to a book for turning her into a writer. Anna lives in Northern California with an overly attentive cat named Snickers and is happiest when setting her heroes and heroines on their road to happily ever after amidst family, fun and laughter.

WebsiteGoodreadsFacebookTwitterPinterest

Melinda Curtis grew up on an isolated sheep ranch, where mountain lions had been seen and yet she roamed unaccompanied. Being a rather optimistic, clueless of danger, sort she took to playing “what if” games that led her to become an author. She spends days trying to figure out new ways to say “He made her heart pound.” That might sound boring, but the challenge keeps her mentally ahead of her 3 kids and college sweetheart husband.

WebsiteGoodreadsFacebookTwitterTumblrPinterest

 

~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Tour-Wide Giveaway

– Gift Card Prize Pack: $20 Amazon gift card and ebook of Christmas, Actually (open internationally)
– US Prize Pack: Paperback of Christmas, Actually and three Christmas ornaments (US only)
– 3 ebooks of Christmas, Actually (open internationally)
Ends November 30th

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

~~~

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

christmas sleigh photo: Christmas abulb22.gif

Through Prism Book Tours.

We’re celebrating the RELEASE of
Flury: Journey of a Snowman
By Tony Bertauski


An Introduction to Flury

Frosty had a magic hat.

There was no explanation, just a special hat that turned a pile of snow into a walking, talking best friend. Flury is more than that. And doesn’t smoke.

Born on the North Pole, Flury was created by an ancient race of elven that evolved during the Ice Age and continues to live in the polar ice today. Technologically advanced, they sustain themselves with innovation and wisdom. But even the most peaceful settlements encounter danger, such as polar bears. That’s why they invented abominables.

What we call snowmen.

The life of an abominable doesn’t magically spring from a top hat. The heart of an abominable is a metal orb—an intricately carved sphere that generates an electromagnetic field and builds a body of snow around it. Abominables are intimidating and selfless. They run, they fly. Above all else, they protect.

In the late 1800s, Malcolm Toye was part of an arctic voyage that ended in disaster. The survivors of the expedition never saw him again. Malcolm had wandered into the snowy landscape to be saved by a patrolling abominable he would come to know as Flury.

His rescue, however, became more of a curse than a blessing when the elven refused to allow him safe passage back home, insisting they remain secret from humanity. Malcolm was destined to live out his days among the elven, pining for home.

Longing for his wife.

Malcolm escaped by stealing the metal orb of Flury. Quietly, he arrived back in the United States to settle down and resume a normal life. But there was nothing normal about it. As the years went by, his estate becomes shrouded in mystery and rumors.

A hundred years will go by before the mystery is solved.

Oliver Toye, a teenage type 1 diabetic, will discover the magic hidden on his grandmother’s property. He’ll read about Malcolm Toye’s journey when he finds a set of leather bound journals. He’ll see the snowman trapped on the property, and the other things that haunt the forest. Most importantly, he’ll uncover Malcolm Toye’s master plan to harm others. And why he wants to.

Flury will come to Oliver’s rescue more than once.


 

Flury: Journey of a Snowman
(Claus #3)
by Tony Bertauski
YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Holiday

Life hasn’t been kind to Oliver Toye.

As if juvenile diabetes isn’t enough, he’s forced to live with his tyrannical grandmother in a snow-bound house. He spends his days doing chores and the nights listening to the forest rumble.

But when he discovers the first leather-bound journal, the family secrets begin to surface. The mystery of his great-grandfather’s voyage to the North Pole is revealed. That’s when the snowman appears.

Magical and mysterious, the snowman will save Oliver more than once. But when the time comes for Oliver to discover the truth, will he have the courage? When Flury needs him, will he have the strength? When believing isn’t enough, will he save the snowman from melting away?

Because sometimes even magic needs a little help.

AmazonBarnes & Noble

.

About Tony Bertauski

During the day, I’m a horticulturist. While I’ve spent much of my career designing landscapes or diagnosing dying plants, I’ve always been a storyteller. My writing career began with magazine columns, landscape design textbooks, and a gardening column at the Post and Courier (Charleston, SC). However, I’ve always fancied fiction.

My grandpa never graduated high school. He retired from a steel mill in the mid-70s. He was uneducated, but he was a voracious reader. I remember going through his bookshelves of paperback sci-fi novels, smelling musty old paper, pulling Piers Anthony and Isaac Asimov off shelf and promising to bring them back. I was fascinated by robots that could think and act like people. What happened when they died?

I’m a cynical reader. I demand the writer sweep me into his/her story and carry me to the end. I’d rather sail a boat than climb a mountain. That’s the sort of stuff I want to write, not the assigned reading we got in school. I want to create stories that kept you up late.

Having a story unfold inside your head is an experience different than reading. You connect with characters in a deeper, more meaningful way. You feel them, empathize with them, cheer for them and even mourn. The challenge is to get the reader to experience the same thing, even if it’s only a fraction of what the writer feels. Not so easy.

In 2008, I won the South Carolina Fiction Open with Four Letter Words, a short story inspired by my grandfather and Alzheimer’s Disease. My first step as a novelist began when I developed a story to encourage my young son to read. This story became The Socket Greeny Saga. Socket tapped into my lifetime fascination with consciousness and identity, but this character does it from a young adult’s struggle with his place in the world.

After Socket, I thought I was done with fiction. But then the ideas kept coming, and I kept writing. Most of my work investigates the human condition and the meaning of life, but not in ordinary fashion. About half of my work is Young Adult (Socket Greeny, Claus, Foreverland) because it speaks to that age of indecision and the struggle with identity. But I like to venture into adult fiction (Halfskin, Drayton) so I can cuss. Either way, I like to be entertaining.

And I’m a big fan of plot twists.

WebsiteGoodreadsFacebook

~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Blitz Giveaway

– $25 Amazon gift card and ebook of Flury: Journey of a Snowman (open internationally)
Ends November 22nd

Click on the link below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

.

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

I was supposed to review Twinkle for a blog tour hosted by Premiere Virtual Book Tours.

Unfortunately, right before the tour, my blog was shut down and I had to research some self-hosting sights to find one that would fit my needs.

Now that I’m back up and running, I’m thrilled to share this book with you.

Check out the super trailer and my review.

~~~

Twinkle by S J Parkinson

 This book would be rated PG.  This is what SJ said about the rating, “I don’t incorporate overt sex, profanity, or extreme violence in any of my writing. I prefer the story to be the main focus and want my novels to be accessible by all mature readers.”

 


 Twinkle

Publisher: SJ Parkinson (July 14, 2014)
Category: Science Fiction, Thriller
Available in: Print & ebook, 600 Pages
.
22741384
.
.
c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack
.

 My Review

Twinkle is tagged as a science fiction thriller. That’s true. I’d also tag it as a wake up call.

Some of my best fiction reads were the ones without aliens or supernatural elements. The ones that tell a story that could happen.

Billions of people inhabit the planet and all eyes are focused on the skies. The richest man in the world celebrates the 4th of July with a never before done fireworks display launched from space. It’s a spectacular display and goes off without a hitch.

The following day, all those who witnessed the event begin to go blind.

Imagine it. Imagine what would happen as everything slows down, grinds to a halt. It falls on the few who didn’t watch the fireworks to care for those who did. From the highest levels of government to the farmer, all are affected.

The questions would be many. How did it happen? Was it planned? Who was behind it? What came next?

Mr. Parkinson has written a chilling plot of global disaster. The research is phenomenal. The writing, crisp and comprehensive. The story, at over 500 pages, is fast, addictive, and believable.

An excellent read I highly recommend.

I received this book from premiere Book Tours and the author for my honest review.

Thanks so much for the fantastic read!

5 Stars

*****

Synopsis

In the newest book from award winning author, SJ Parkinson, The richest man in the world wants to celebrate the July 4th holiday as never before. In a bid to get into the record books, a global fireworks show is staged from orbit. Satellites drop pyrotechnics into the atmosphere, thrilling everyone from the Arctic to the Antarctic with their rich colors and massive explosions in every time zone.

 

The next day, people around the globe begin to lose their sight. Governments crumble, society degenerates, and infrastructure falls into chaos. Humanity finds itself stumbling in the dark and losing all hope.

 

A few fortunate individuals retain their vision. Attempting to deal with the growing despair around them, they come together to discover the true purpose and origin of the affliction. They race to find a cure before the world is subjugated under an invading power.


 About SJ Parkinson:

 

Mr. Parkinson was an Air Force avionics technician, a decorated veteran of the Persian Gulf War, and several United Nations peacekeeping missions. He has lived overseas in numerous countries and travels extensively. His novels have been praised for their realism and sold in fourteen countries, winning multiple international awards.

Awards: Three “Outstanding in Genre” Gold Seal awards from Red Adept Publishing and Kindle Book of the Month award Oct 2013 by the People’s Choice Book Awards. 

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google +

.

~~~

Click on the book below to get your copy.

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

thanksgiving photo:  thanksgiving-wreath-glitter.gif

 

AfterworldTourBanner1

.

I’m so excited. I have a new zombie series to tell you about. This one is a little different. The story takes place a few months after the apolcalypse. Life is struggling to get back to normal. Kind of. Sort of.
Have I teased you enough? Okay, come on in and check out Recruitz and Alibiz, books 1 and 2 of the Afterworld Series.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
.
Afterworld Series by Karice Bolton
Genres: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic
.
Alibiz RecruitZ
.A
My Review
.
Being a lover of all things zombies, I knew I had to read this series.
The first thing I loved was the cover and title.
Rebekah, the kick ass protagonist, is front and center.
Then there’s that catchy title, RecruitZ. Love how the author replaced the s with a z.
The next thing that made me love this book was the beginning.
Imagine you and your husband are sitting in the car in your driveway. Here come the zombies. They aren’t supposed to be there. The area has been cleared of the shufflers, but there they are.
When you make the decision to mow them down with your car, there’s a problem. It’s self-driving and keeps saying there are obstructions in the way. It won’t hit them.
What happens next is tragic and horrifying.
This beginning is so powerful, so traumatic.  And this is where I first fell in love with this author’s writing.
She keeps it coming as Rebekah struggles with the loss of her husband, and tries to look like she’s pulled herself together to her friends.
As she digs to find out why the zombies were waiting for her and her husband and who sent them, she forms a reluctant alliance with a mysterious man. Everything about him screams, don’t trust him. But, she needs help and he’s offering. Plus, she’s pretty sure he knows more than he’s telling. Rebekah has to rely on her instincts as she gets deeper into the conspiracy.
The other thing I loved about this book was the protagonist being female. So many movies and books have men as the lead protagonist. Nothing wrong with that. I love Daryl Dixon, Rick, and Glenn and many more in The Walking Dead. But  you also have Carol, Maggie, and Michonne, to name a few, always stepping in to get dirty and take down some zombies.
I almost forgot. There’s something fishy about the zombies. The author threw in a new spin on them. As if they aren’t scary enough already. I like it.
Rebekah uses her grief to fuel her anger. She’s determined, gutsy, and accepts help when it’s offered. The author makes her believable and you can’t help but fear for her and cheer her on.
You don’t have to love zombies to love this book.  The conspiracy powers the book as much as fear of being eaten. That and the reckoning to come when Rebekah discovers who killed her husband. The zombies are the bloody icing on the cake. Keep it coming.
5 Stars
I won this book in a giveaway. What a great prize!
Synopsis book 1 – RecruitZ:

Scientists are the new rock stars. The infection has been contained for nearly three months, and the world is celebrating. But humans are still dying. Rebekah Taylor has seen it firsthand. Her husband was killed right in front of her by the very creatures that humans were told they no longer had to fear.

Rebekah is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of her husband and the obvious cover-up. Fueled with revenge, she begins to find answers that lead to one frightening conclusion. The apocalypse might be over, but the battles are just beginning.

~~~

AlibiZ

My Review

I was hoping I could get the ARC of Alibiz read in time to post a review, but due to circumstances I had no control over, I didn’t get my review ready in time. So stay tuned.

Rebekah is back in town. And I’ll be back to tell you what’s what!

Synopsis book 2 – AlibiZ:

The outbreak might be over, but the nightmare is just beginning…

Rebekah vows to expose the truth behind the RecruitZ that are killing the innocents. These creatures must be stopped, but so should the people controlling them. When Rebekah uncovers who is behind the uprisings, her own life becomes in danger.

Rebekah knows that she is not alone in this fight but vengeance alone won’t help her and the others to victory. It is up to her to uncover the truth for the public before the world is turned over to an elite few.

Regardless of what may happen to her, she knows it’s a race against time to destroy these creatures and the monsters controlling them before there is no one left worth saving.

Add to Goodreads

Purchase:
—-
 
AUTHOR BIO
.
Alibiz Karice
Karice received an MFA in Creative Writing from the U of W. She has written fifteen novels and has several exciting projects in the works. Karice lives with her husband and two English Bulldogs in rainy Washington.Books currently available:
Luke Fletcher Series: Hidden Sins (Book 1), Buried Sins (Book 2) – coming soon
Beyond Love Series: Beyond Control (Book 1) Beyond Doubt (Book 2) Beyond Reason (Book 3) Beyond Intent (Book 4) Beyond Chance, Beyond Promise, and Beyond the Mistletoe coming soon
Afterworld Series: RecruitZ (Book 1) AlibiZ (Book 2) – October 2014
The Witch Avenue Series: Lonely Souls (Book 1), Altered Souls (Book 2), Released Souls (Book 3) Shattered Souls (Book 4)
The Watchers Trilogy: Awakening (Book 1), Legions (Book 2), Cataclysm (Book 3), Taken Novella (Watchers Prequel)
The Camp
Author Links:
.
~~~
giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png
.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

~~~

 

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

This is a really fun meme!

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!

.

.

.

My 56 for this week is from

Torn

 Fire Born #2

by Laney McMann

 

 

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My 56

 The dull ache in my skull throbbed and threw me off balance, reminding me of the like concussion I’d suffered. My wrists remained bound by ropes behind my back; I was positive the right one was broken given the pain in it.

~~~

I won this in a giveaway and started reading it to see what it was about. I was soon hooked and am really enjoying it. I haven’t read the first book but am having no difficulty jumping into this series.

~~~

Synopsis

Find Max.

That’s all Layla cares about. Not healing from the Fomore attack. Not finding answers to how she survived a fall that nearly killed her. Nothing will stop her. She will find him. She’ll even pair up with an overbearing Fallen Angel who’s hell bent on making everything harder than it needs to be if she has to.

Protect Layla.

For Max, nothing else matters. Not the bruises covering his body. Not the pain radiating from his broken bones. Not even his hands tied behind his back. He will find a way to save Layla, and the Fomore will pay if they’ve hurt her.

Every. Single. One of them.

In the second installment of The Fire Born trilogy, a new breed of villain looms—one Layla and Max will never suspect, and this killer has nothing to lose. Better yet, with Max and Layla’s deaths, victory is in the grip of the enemy.

Will Max and Layla find each other in time, or is it already too late for them both?

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56.

M9B-Friday-Reveal

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are revealing the first chapter for

The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl by Leigh Statham

presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

.

The Perilous Journey

.

Lady Marguerite lives a life most 17th century French girls can only dream of: Money, designer dresses, suitors and a secure future. Except, she suspects her heart may be falling for her best friend Claude, a common smithie in the family’s steam forge. When Claude leaves for New France in search of a better life, Marguerite decides to follow him and test her suspicions of love. Only the trip proves to be more harrowing than she anticipated. Love, adventure and restitution await her, if she can survive the voyage.

add to goodreads

Title: THE PERILOUS JOURNEY OF
THE NOT-SO-INNOCUOUS GIRL
Publication date: 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Leigh Statham

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Excerpt

The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl

Leigh Statham

Chapter One

Marguerite held the brass cricket gingerly in her hands. She kept it tucked under the table while she turned it over, her fingers blindly memorizing every feature. She knew it was childish for a sixteen-year-old to have a favorite toy, but she couldn’t help it. The design fascinated her. Occasionally she would trip the mechanism and the cricket literally sprang to life, launching itself against the underside of the table with a loud knock.
“What was that?” Madame Pomphart cried.
Marguerite caught the little metal bug with one hand and tucked it into the folds of her skirts. “Nothing,” she lied.
“I heard a noise.” The sour-faced governess slapped the desk with her pointer and stepped closer. “What are you hiding?”
Marguerite didn’t flinch. “You must be hearing things again. You are getting rather old.”
Madame Pomphart swung her pointer, making sound contact with Marguerite’s shoulder.
“Ah!” Marguerite grabbed her shoulder and jumped to her feet, knocking her chair over. She quite forgot about the little toy cricket which launched right at the governess’s face.
“What? Oh!” Madame Pomphart batted the air and stumbled backward, dropping her stick as the cricket ricocheted off her nose and landed at Marguerite’s feet. “How dare you bring vermin into my classroom? Your father will hear about this. Lord Vadnay will not be pleased!”
Marguerite scooped up her prize and ran for the door, grateful for the chance to escape.
“Get back here or you’ll receive double lashings!”
It was too late. Marguerite ran much faster than her teacher and was already halfway down the wide corridor. Lined with portraits of long-dead relatives and her father’s collection of modern weaponry, each display tempted her with thoughts of challenging the governess to a duel. She could easily scoop up one of the automated cat-o-nine-tails and turn back to the classroom. She rather fancied the idea, actually. But it wasn’t the right time or the right way to handle her heavy-handed caretaker, and honestly, she wasn’t quite brave enough to do more than talk back—not yet.
Her fear began to lift as she lightly descended the grand curving stairway to the ballroom, sprinting over the marble tiles and through the large doors to the gardens. The French summer sun blinded her. Marguerite blinked as she continued to run around the fountain filled with automated koi. A servant perched on the edge of the large pool, brass fish in hand. Its tail clicked furiously back and forth as he tried to oil it. The late-summer roses bloomed bright with color all around her. Butterflies seemed to flit merrily on every blossom, cheering her on. Human and automaton servants worked side by side grooming the large hedges … They jumped out of her way and bowed. None of them seemed surprised to see the young lady of the house running out of doors and they all knew where she was headed.
She tried to slip away to the cool shelter of the small glen beyond the lavender fields every chance she could, but since her father came up with the idea that she needed to be a “real lady,” it had become more difficult to sneak away.
At this point, she could have stopped. Pomphart wouldn’t follow her now, but it felt so good to move quickly after being at a table all morning. Her heart beat like an auto-hammer in her chest by the time she reached the work fields. More automatons and human servants stopped and bowed to the master’s daughter. Marguerite paid them no attention.
Finally reaching the small grove of trees, she flopped merrily on the soft grass and took a deep breath, then giggled to herself. She was safe, for now. The wind picked up and tousled the leaves overhead, sending bits of sunlight swimming wildly around her. The grass outside the glen rustled under the heavy thud of work boots: Claude.
“Hullo!” His voice sounded merry as he peered through the low branches that poked and tickled at the earth, surprised to see her there so early. “How’d you manage to beat me?” His wavy, light brown hair was just shaggy enough to soften his strong jaw and angular nose. His cheek was smeared with gear oil, right up to the corner of his smiling blue eyes. He was too tall for his work trousers and his chest had grown too broad for his cotton shirt. The buttons tugged a bit, but he wasn’t the type to care about his clothes. He pulled his welding goggles off of his head and wiped the sweat on his brow with the arm of his shirt.
“I ran.” She smiled wickedly.
Claude flopped down in the grass beside her. “That’s not very ladylike, and Pomphart doesn’t usually let you out till half past.”
“I had to run after this marvelous toy you made for me attacked her.” She held up the cricket like a prize gem freshly plucked from the earth.
“Marguerite!” he cried. “I asked you to keep it safe, not use it to get yourself tossed out of ladyhood!”
“It was an accident. I swear. The lessons are just so boring. I needed something to do, so I had it under the table. She’s such a brute. You should have seen how she hit me with her blasted pointer.”
“She struck you again?” his face turned dark.
“Yes, but it’s nothing, just a welt on the shoulder.” The last thing she wanted was to be the damsel in distress.
“Still.” Claude’s brow furrowed. “It’s not right. Ladies don’t strike other ladies. Please keep good care of that little bug. It took me a long time to build and I didn’t record the plans. I may need to borrow it back someday.”
“All right.” Disappointed at his lack of enthusiasm for her naughtiness, she carried on. “But you should have seen her face! If only I could have a portrait made of that. I’d hang it over my bed and have a miniature made to keep by my heart.”
A nasally voice attached to a pointy-faced, pale girl in bright pink skirts burst through the cool glen. “Whose miniature are you keeping by your heart? You haven’t even had your ball yet.”
“Hello, Vivienne.” Marguerite sighed without enthusiasm.
“Marguerite has just sealed her doom,” Claude chimed in. “She threw the cricket I made her at Pomphart’s face today, so there may not be a ball.”
“That’s rubbish! I did no such thing. It just got away from me and bounced right off her nose.” Marguerite laughed again while recalling the image, but Claude’s words made her a bit nervous.
“Oh dear,” cried Vivienne. “What are you going to do?”
Of course Vivienne would make a big deal out of it, Marguerite didn’t expect anything less from her childish neighbor.
“I’m not sure. That’s why I came straight here.” She turned pointedly to Claude. “I thought you’d want to celebrate my freedom and take the rest of the day off.”
Claude was quick to reply, “I’m afraid I can’t. Lots to be finished at the forge and I am on stall-mucking duty with the bots.”
“What do you possibly have to finish at the forge that’s so important?”
Claude raised his eyebrows at her. “A certain girl’s father has requested automatic serving dishes made of twenty-four-karat gold for her introduction to society.”
“Oh my!” Vivienne drew a dramatic breath. “How elegant. I so wish I were old enough to come.”
“Don’t worry,” Marguerite patted the girl’s knee, “I’m sure you can borrow them for your own ball.”
“Marguerite … ” Claude hissed at her.
It wasn’t a very kind thing to say, but Marguerite had never been very fond of Vivienne. She mostly endured her company because she was the only girl within a hundred miles that was close to the same age and station as Marguerite. That, and Claude had insisted she be kind to her.
“You’re right, Claude.” Marguerite smiled in repentance. “I’m sure your father will have loads of wonderful things for the guests to marvel at when your time comes, Vivienne. Still, it would be nice to have both of you there. I suppose I will be forced to talk to strangers.”
“I can’t believe you’re not excited!” Vivienne chattered. “New dresses! Handsome suitors!”
“I am excited,” Marguerite cut her off, “to have it over and done with! Dressing up might be fun, but dressing up to catch a man is not my idea of a good time.”
“Don’t be vulgar.” Vivienne blushed. “It’s not like that at all.”
Claude cut in, “I’d love to stay and discuss this matter with you girls, but I do have a few chafing dishes waiting for their motors in the shop.”
Marguerite tensed at the thought of not only being left alone with Vivienne, but also being without Claude’s protection should Pomphart come looking for her. “Do you think I could come help you at the forge today?”
“Not if you want me to get anything done.” Claude smiled merrily.
“Stop it! You know I’m a whiz with gear-work.”
“When you are actually interested in the work, yes, but I’m afraid that auto-spoons and brass tureens would bore you to death.”
Marguerite tried to make her eyes look large and beseeching, but she knew it was no use.
“No. But you can walk me there. I forgot my lunch anyway,” Claude said as he reached to help Marguerite up.
“I didn’t exactly have time to grab a snack as I fled the dungeons,” Marguerite quipped.
“Oh! I know!” Vivienne was bursting. “Let’s have lunch in town today. You’re not going back to your lessons are you? And Claude is busy with work. It will be such fun girl time!”
Marguerite sighed, but Vivienne was right. There was no way for her to return to the estate house without being trapped by Pomphart, and she had nothing to do if Claude insisted on finishing his chores. Still, she was uneasy about the idea of being on her own with Pomphart’s wrath hovering around an unknown corner waiting to pounce. The woman was ruthless when no one of importance was watching. She had a way of getting Marguerite off on her own and exacting whatever form of punishment she felt was suitable for the crime. Marguerite tried to complain to her father, but he wouldn’t listen, he thought Marguerite just didn’t want lessons anymore.
Claude knew all of this and sensed her fears in her quiet gaze.
“Come with me, both of you. I have someone I want you to meet.” Claude smiled.
Marguerite jumped up at his tug, tossed her wavy brown hair, and set her skirts aright, glad someone was helping her make up her mind. “Very well.”
“Hooray! Oh, I know just the place,” Vivienne said. “There is a new little patisserie I saw the other day I’ve been aching to try.” She skipped up the hill ahead of the other two, babbling on about buns and cakes and half sandwiches.
Claude reached for Marguerite’s arm and squeezed a bit. He used this gesture when he was about to chastise her, but she didn’t think she’d been that rude to Vivienne. The girl got on her nerves with every word, but her intentions were good and Marguerite wasn’t cruel by nature, just impatient.
“What?” she hissed.
“I have some news, but I wanted to tell you first.”
“Oh?” Relieved not to be in trouble, but also perplexed, Marguerite wished more now than ever that Vivienne would just skip into oblivion with her bouncy blonde curls and scattered thoughts.
“Yes. You know how we spoke a few weeks ago about my plans?”
“Did you find a position in Paris?” Marguerite could scarcely contain herself. Her friend was so talented, and she knew better than anyone that he was wasted working as a bondservant on her father’s estate. If he could secure an apprenticeship in Paris he could come back to La Rochelle as a master tradesman. Plus she could visit him there. Still, apprenticeships were hard to come by.
“No, I think it’s better than that.”
“What could be better than Paris?” In her mind, crowds of well-dressed ladies paraded down glittering avenues while the latest autocarts passed by in a blur of technology and innovation. Paris was the hub of all things Marguerite admired.
“I’ve signed into His Majesty’s service. As of next week, I’ll be an official member of the Royal Corp of Engineers.”
“You what?” She was stunned. It took her a moment to sort out her emotions. How could he have made this type of decision without consulting her? They had shared everything since they discovered each other as bored children on the estate a decade ago.
“I knew you’d be angry with me for not telling you beforehand, but an opportunity just presented itself and I knew it was right—I had to take it.”
“No, I’m not angry at all. Just shocked. You know how my father feels about the military.”
“But you see, that’s just it. I won’t have to worry about your father anymore, I won’t owe him anything. My first assignment is to New France.”
“Are you two coming or not? I’m starved!” Vivienne had doubled back when she realized she was talking to herself.
Marguerite wasn’t sure she could eat or talk at that moment. She wasn’t sure she could even take another step.

 

 

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---About-the-Author

L. Statham

Leigh Statham was raised in the wilds of rural Idaho, but found her heart in New York City. She worked as a waitress, maid, artist, math teacher, nurse, web designer, art director, thirty-foot inflatable pig and mule wrangler before she settled down in the semi-quiet role of wife, mother and writer. She resides in North Carolina with her husband, four children, five chickens and two suspected serial killer cats. If the air is cool and the sun is just coming up over the horizon, you can find her running the streets of her small town, plotting her next novel with the sort of intensity that will one day get her hit by a car.

Connect with the Author: Website |Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

.

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

The book will be sent upon the titles release.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Button.

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Christmas in Dogtown Banner 851 x 315

I have a wonderful Christmas story to share with you.

Christmas In Dogtown is a quick read. Didn’t take me too long. I loved it and wished it were longer.

Come on in and check it out.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

~~~

Christmas in Dogtown

Suzanne Johnson

Dogtown-New Cover

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

Genre: Sweet Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Story Vault

Date of Publication: December 2012

ASIN: B009RBKTSG

Number of pages: 30 / Word Count: approx. 11,000

AmazonBarnes and Noble

~~~

My Review

I love short stories. Christmas in Dogtown is wonderful.

Right from the beginning you are connected to Resa. She’s lost her job and been dumped by her boyfriend.

When her Uncle Emile calls asking her to come help him at Madere’s Meats in Paulina for the holidays, she figures why not. It would pay a few house notes and she’d be with her family for Christmas.

Life seems to be conspiring against Resa. She just wants to go back to New orleans, but her family and fate may have other plans.

Resa has to decide what she really wants.

I live on the Gulf coast and am always on the lookout for stories with a southern voice.

Suzanne had me at boudin!

I had a roommate years ago who grew up in Houma, Louisiana. Every Christmas she’d go see her family and come back loaded down with Boudin sausage and gator balls.

Her mother and father made the best boudin. My eyes would water, my mouth would drool, and I’d stuff myself as full as the pork casings!

The gator balls are not what you think. They are punched out plugs from the tail meat of a gator. You can grill them or steam them. They are a lot like scallops and melt in your mouth.

Resa is a perfect cover girl for bayou life. She can clean and cook gar with the best of them.

For those of you who don’t know, a gar is actually a fish, an alligator gar, named as such because they get as big as some of the gators and resemble them when you see them rise to the surface.

I was told that the best way to cook and eat a gar is to nail it to a 2×4, roast it, then throw away the gar and eat the 2×4. In Dogtown, it sounds like they have a better recipe.

The fun begins immediately when Resa arrives in Paulina, called Dogtown by the residents. All 50 of them. Her family is up to their old tricks, trying to set her up with Chandler Caillou, a childhood friend.

When she opens the door to her little trailer, she’s face to face with him and he sure has grown. I knew before I read it that she was thinking, maybe she should rethink her protests about the matchmaking.

You’ll like Chandler too. At first you think he’s shy, but he’s really just self-contained. He’s certainly not a wuss. Afterall, he’s the towns gator man. His job is to catch and remove the troublesome beasts when they eat someones pooch or become too bold.

I found myself wishing Resa and Chandler would fall in love. I wanted my happy ending. They seemed perfect for each other.

But there’s a huge secret in Dogtown. I didn’t see it coming, and it makes me so happy. It leaves this story open to be developed into more stories. Don’t get me wrong, there is an ending. But there’s also an opening to follow this town and it’s folks.

I hope the author pursues this short story and gives us more. Dogtown opened it’s doors and made me feel warm and welcome. I want to return someday.

5 Stars

 

Book Description:

 

A woman who spent years escaping her rural past learns that Dogtown, Louisiana, hides more family secrets than just the recipe for boudin blanc…..

 

Resa Madere’s on the verge of losing it all. The boyfriend’s gone. The job’s history. Her beloved house is on the brink of foreclosure. She’ll do anything to save it—even spend a long Christmas holiday working in St. James Parish, Louisiana, helping her uncle run the family meat business. But the community of Dogtown, which has been home for seven generations of the Madere and Caillou families, has deep roots and deeper secrets. For Resa, going home is one thing.

Getting out might not be so easy.

 

Here is a short Excerpt:

 

“You are stupid,” Resa told her reflection in the tiny, scratched mirror of the White Castle’s rose-pink bathroom. “Stupid, ridiculous, and absurd.”

          She’d been wrestling with her curly black hair for a half hour, and the brown eyes that stared back at her from beneath freshly plucked brows and carefully applied eyeliner looked more jittery than sexy. “And idiotic.”

          First, it had been almost a week since Chan had asked her to the Saturday night community dance, popping the question almost shyly as they hacked at the bodies of gigantic dead fish. They’d both been covered in blood and smelled like they’d been rolling in bait, which should have tipped her off that anything in Dogtown reeking of romance, well, reeked.

          Second, her potential date had left immediately after asking her out so he could catch an alligator that had eaten somebody’s poodle in one of those backwater houses near the swamp. He burned rubber out of the Madere’s driveway after making sure he had enough duct tape to wrap around the gator’s jaws. Adequate duct tape was not an attribute she’d ever sought in a man.

 

 

About the Author:

Suzanne Johnson writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance (under the name Susannah Sandlin) from Auburn, Alabama, on top of a career in educational publishing that has thus far spanned five states and six universities—including both Alabama and Auburn, which makes her bilingual. She grew up in Winfield, Alabama, halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis’ birthplace, but was also a longtime resident of New Orleans, so she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of SEC football, cheap Mardi Gras trinkets, and fried gator on a stick. She’s the author of the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series and, as Susannah Sandlin, the Penton Legacy paranormal romance series.

Website and blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg