Archive for December, 2014

One of my goals for 2015 is to read and review the books I’ve won in giveaways and books I’ve picked up for free from Amazon. So I’m starting now.

Today I’m sharing two books.

I won Ice Massacre in a giveaway some time ago.

The other book, Evil Beach, was a free book from Amazon.

You can click on the covers to buy them.

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Ice Massacre

by Tiana Warner

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My Review

How could I resist a book about mermaids, especially some deadly ones.

This isn’t a whimsical, romantic tale of beautiful mermaids. Yes, they can be beautiful, but when they  change to feed, their true nature is unmasked and they become monsters with red eyes, scaly skin, and teeth like pointed daggers.

No one knows why the mermaids came to the island of Eriana Kwai or why they started to attack the sailors. For many years now, the islanders have sent out ships filled with warriors to try to destroy the mermaids. Year after year the ships don’t return and the mermaids continue to rule the seas, cutting them off from the bounties of the deep, forcing them into poverty and desperation.

No matter what they tried, even training the men to fight blind to resist the hypnotic eyes of the sirens, fails.  Then, what was tossed out as a futile suggestion was implemented and a new ship set sail, armed with twenty young girls, maiden warriors that will not fall to the sirens call of the mermaids.

All hope rests on these maidens. Hope they will succeed. Hope the fishermen can return to the seas. Hope for freedom once again.

I read this book in one evening, completely captured by the characters and action.

A young girl, defying the edicts of her people, ventures to the beach and rescues a young female mermaid. The two become secret friends until a betrayal brings Meela back to earth. These creatures killed her brother, killed so many brave young men. They are a parasite that must be destroyed.

Meela is wise for her years and becomes a fierce warrior. When they maidens set sail to the the mermaids nest, I was confident they would succeed. Until the first encounter.

These mermaids are smart, working together and using the seas resources to battle the humans, and they are relentless.

Some of the descriptions of their change from alluring to lethal really chilled me and the battles were bloody and cold-hearted on both sides, the seas red with blood There’s no room for mercy or humanity against them.

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There’s emotional conflict too. Meela isn’t heartless and is torn between protecting her people and what she can do to change things.

As the girls battle the mermaids, they also battle each other. Being trapped on a ship together in the vast ocean, they are bound to clash and leaderships will be challenged.

 Girls become women become warriors in a bloody battle for survival.

The war is ongoing and I’m looking forward to more high seas action.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

A mermaid’s supernatural beauty serves one purpose: to lure a sailor to his death.

The Massacre is supposed to bring peace to Eriana Kwai. Every year, the island sends its warriors to battle these hostile sea demons. Every year, the warriors fail to return. Desperate for survival, the island must decide on a new strategy. Now, the fate of Eriana Kwai lies in the hands of twenty battle-trained girls and their resistance to a mermaid’s allure.

Eighteen-year-old Meela has already lost her brother to the Massacre, and she has lived with a secret that’s haunted her since childhood. For any hope of survival, she must overcome the demons of her past and become a ruthless mermaid killer.

For the first time, Eriana Kwai’s Massacre warriors are female, and Meela must fight for her people’s freedom on the Pacific Ocean’s deadliest battleground.

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Evil Beach

by Anthony Renfro

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My Review

This is written as a story in a story.

The author opens with an old man sitting in his rocking chair sharing a story with his two grandsons. A story about two young boys and an evil beach.

Seth and Junior stumble upon a cave, and being boys, they dare each other to enter. Inside, it is dark and creepy, but as they continue further into the cave they see light and step through to an isolated strip of pristine beach.

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At first, they are thrilled to have their own secret beach but when they turn around, something written on the rocks invites and warns them. It’s almost like a dare, so of course the boys attempt to do what it says, building something in the sand.

What seemed like a lark became their worst nightmare and and soon they had to return to the cave and the beach, pursued by something out of their nightmares.

I’m very much into character driven stories and am amazed at how well the author developed his in so few words. The old man and grandsons didn’t even have names, yet I could see them sitting on that porch, the boys rapt as their grandfather spun his tale.

And Seth and Junior, the two boys in the tale, reacted just like you’d expect them too. They believe they are invincible and grow up fast when they discover they aren’t.

A well written short story that captured me from beginning, to middle, to end.

The author ‘pulled my leg’ with his twist at the end, tying the two tales together.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

A short story about two boys who discover a hidden beach and the evil deadly secrets that lie within its soft white grains of sand.

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Scary is as scary does!

Happy New year and thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

Everybody has a phobia, right?

In Counterphbobia you’ll be introduced to some creepy ones.

Seven tales, seven phobias, seven reasons to sleep with the lights on!

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My Review

I’ve had the pleasure of reading some of William’s stories and that drew me to read his collection, Counterphobia.

There are seven stories, each with it’s own phobia. I’m choosing to do a short review of each story with an overall rating for the complete book. So here we go.

Welcome Home (Nostophobia)

I like it when I go into a book thinking I’m getting one thing, and I get something totally different. This happened when I began reading Welcome Home. I thought it was going to be a haunted house story.

The story is haunting, but there are no actual ghosts. What’s there is something shadowing John Lester. It’s like when you see something out of the corner of your eye, and when you turn to look, nothing is there. But this isn’t visual so much as it’s memories. They haunt John’s sleep, staying just out of reach of recall.

While this didn’t really scare me, it did surprise me and that’s always a good thing.

A good story for a rainy day.

No One Lives Forever (Thanatophobia)

Jacob thinks he’s being stalked.

He first sees the white haired man in black when he goes to step on the elevator at work. The elevator is already crowded with thirteen people so he waits for the next one.

The next day, while walking to work, he sees the same man again, walking towards him.

Something about the man gives him the chills but he gathers himself and approaches him. The stranger seems to know Jacob but reveals no agenda. Just says, “I’ll be seeing you.”

The next day Jacob catches the news on TV and sees where twelve people died when an elevator crashed. Weren’t there thirteen people on the elevator? Wasn’t the man in black on that elevator?

The next day, the man in black is waiting for him outside his apartment. Jacob has to wonder, who is he, is he alive, what does he want from him?

You’ll be surprised at what he wants from Jacob and who he is.

Great twist.

Chuckles The Clown (Coulrophobia)

Ever since I read Stephen King’s IT, I’ve had a thing about clowns. This only makes that feeling stronger.

Thirteen year old Simon thinks he’s too old for the carnival. His mother, tired of his whining, suggests he go to the arcade and play some games. As Simon walks away she issues a warning, “Watch out for clowns.”

Walking toward the arcade, Simon thinks he catches a glimpse of one, the clown barely discernible as it slips through the crowd, and remembers his mothers warning.

He sees it again, more clearly. It looks like a normal clown, until it smiles, revealing a mouth full of knives, and it’s eyes, yellow and glowing.

Simon’s father sees it too. Good thing he followed Simon to the arcade to watch over him. They arrive safely at home to discover a small clown figure waiting for them. Innocent looking if they hadn’t seen the clown at the carnival.

Is it a warning? Did the carnival clown leave it for them? Will he be coming back?

So creepy.

Porcelain (Pediophobia)

I read and reviewed this earlier this year so I’m adding parts of my review.

I love horror, whether reading it or watching it. There are lots of movies about dolls. Let’s see. There’s all those Puppet Masters movies. How about Chuckie? Now, that’s one messed up doll. I would never have bought that for my kid. And now we have Annabelle. Have you seen The Conjuring? That doll was scary evil and wasn’t even the main plot in the movie.

I can go back much further. Ventriloquists. Their dolls come to life. Seen a few different takes on that idea.

So yes, the whole doll taking on a life of its own has been done before. It’s the author’s ability to take that and hone it to their own tale that reveals their talent and creativity. William didn’t disappoint me.

A weary traveler stops at a bed & breakfast for the night. It’s a rather lovely place with lots of collectibles on display.

The older woman who owns the place explains that each item has a history, it’s own story.

When the woman is pulled away from the conversation by a phone call and the guest kills time looking over the many objects, one in particular catches his eye.

A porcelain doll, quite lovely. His daughter would love it.

When the guest checks out in the morning, the doll travels with him to his condo. There it will wait until he visits his daughter.

But the doll won’t wait for long. It has quite a history and is ready to make a new one.

 I thought I saw the end coming. I was so wrong about that. Once the author revealed the dolls history, it went every which way but the way I thought it would.

The suspense was nail biting. If this were a movie, I’d be peeking through my fingers.

Scary good stuff.

The Shape (Sciophobia)

Kyle Morgan has a severe case of insomnia. He hasn’t had more that two hours of sleep over the past three days. He desperately needs to sleep.

After another night of lying in the dark, wishing for sleep, he gets up to go to the bathroom. Staring at his haggard appearance in the mirror, he sees a faint shape, a shadow, behind him. Nothing’s there when he turns around.

He becomes haunted by the shadow. Could it be hallucinations from lack of sleep? They say you can go insane.

What if it’s real? What does it want?

Lying in the dark, tired, your mind can play tricks on you. Your fears can become magnified. What if those fears are justified?

The Lake (Limnophobia)

It’s a beautiful day and Charlie is spending it at the park, watching the families grilling out and the kids swimming in the lake. The only thing that isn’t pleasing about this setting is the strange smell of bleach hovering around the lake.

While watching a child walk through the tall grass by the shore, he sees something strange and gets a sense of danger. The boy makes it through the grass and wades into the lake. Just when Charlie thinks things are okay, something grabs the boy and pulls him under.

Quickly rushing to save the boy, Charlie doesn’t give up on the tug of war and rescues the boy. As the crowd fusses over the child, the smell of bleach returns and something grabs Charlie and pulls him under.

The smell of bleach, something reaching out to pull you into the water. I know what you’re thinking, but this is something else, something dark, cold, maybe ancient.

Disquieting and chilling.

The Sinkhole (Agateophobia)

It’s June in Florida. That saying about being so hot you could fry an egg on the sidewalk is true. I actually tried it and it worked, though I didn’t eat the egg.

The man catches a ride to the store with his friend Mark, who repairs sinkholes. Mark invites him to come along when he gets a call to inspect a new sinkhole.

When the men arrive they discover the mother of all sinkholes. A huge hole has appeared in the people yard, fifteen feet wide, at least a hundred feet deep, and filled with black water that reeks of sulfur.

As the man gazes into the hole, mesmerized by the inky blackness, he hears a whisper, a voice but not a voice, words but not words. Feeling ill, he snaps himself out of it and gets Mark to drop him off at home.

Later, waking in the dark, the man feels a need to return to the sinkhole, to hear the whispers, the words, to peer into the black water, and find out what lurks there.

He should have stayed in bed.

So there you have it. Seven phobias that will keep you up at night. While not all of these would get a 5 star rating from me, enough of them did to give this collection an over all rating of:

5 Stars

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Synopsis

COUNTERPHOBIA: The pursuit of situations and instances in direct relation to an individual’s fear for the purpose of overcoming this fear, or to find pleasure or excitement in it. Symptoms of counterphobia while subjecting oneself to these fears can include trembling or shaking, shortness of breath, and even panic attacks. You were warned.

WELCOME HOME tells the tale of John Lester, a man who inherits his old family home – and with it a dark secret.

CHUCKLES THE CLOWN delves into Jake’s fear of clowns and gives him even more reason to be afraid of them.

NO ONE LIVES FOREVER follows Jacob as he narrowly avoids a fatal accident though finds out there’s more to it than he thought.

Face your fears as you read through these stories and more in this menagerie of works that includes a little something for all kinds of horror fans.

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Author William Hage

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, William became obsessed with all things horror at a young age. He indulged himself greatly in horror films of all sorts as well as horror literature. Over the years he became heavily inspired and influenced by the likes of H.P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker, and Edgar Allen Poe.

William has recently self-published two stories on Amazon. Welcome Home: A Short Story & Porcelain: A Novelette. He also has 3 stories published in the magazine Sanitarium.

When he isn’t writing, William has a deep love for technology and bides his time researching the latest things and has spent years working with computers.

William also appeared in a few bands writing songs and playing guitar, having recorded two albums with his former band ESM.

Author Links

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Website ~ Twitter

Facebook

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Do these sound scary enough for you? Read them, I dare ya!

And thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Welcome to Ashland, Oregon, home of the world-famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the setting for Ellie Alexander’s debut mystery MEET YOUR BAKER.
MEET YOUR BAKER is a culinary mystery centered in the fictional bakeshop, Torte, with a mother/daughter pastry duo. It includes original handcrafted recipes. Meet Ashland!
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In Ashland you’ll find an eclectic community of artists, outdoor adventure seekers, college students, farmers, retirees and a constant stream of tourists. At nearly 2,000 feet in elevation, its Mediterranean summers make it the perfect spot to watch Shakespeare under the stars or hike one of the surrounding peaks. In the winter, Ashland becomes home to ski enthusiasts with nearby Mt. Ashland, and plenty of backcountry trails. ​
You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a charming English village with Ashland’s Shakespeare-inspired pubs, restaurants and shops.
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Meander through Lithia Park where you’ll pass ancient trees, grassy patches and picnic benches, and wild deer. Be sure to get a glimpse of the towering Oregon Shakespeare Festival buildings, and stop to drink from Lithia’s mineral spring fountains.
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Take Shakespeare’s stairs to “the bricks” where theater lovers and actors gather before performances.
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Finally, end your day with a sweet treat at one of Ashland’s many divine bakeshops.
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Be sure to check out the blog tour that is filled with reviews, interviews and guest posts by the author! The tour starts January 5th and runs through the 16th. Check out the schedule!

 

About MEET YOUR BAKER:

Welcome to Torte—a friendly, small-town family bake shop where the treats are so good that, sometimes, it’s criminal…

After graduating from culinary school, Juliet Capshaw returns to her quaint hometown of Ashland, Oregon, to heal a broken heart and help her mom at the family bakery. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is bringing in lots of tourists looking for some crumpets to go with their heroic couplets. But when one of Torte’s customers turns up dead, there’s much ado about murder…

“Sure to satisfy both dedicated foodies and ardent mystery lovers alike.”

―Jessie Crockett, author of Drizzled with Death

The victim is Nancy Hudson, the festival’s newest board member. A modern-day Lady Macbeth, Nancy has given more than a few actors and artists enough reasons to kill her…but still. The silver lining? Jules’s high school sweetheart, Thomas, is the investigator on the case. His flirtations are as delicious as ever, and Jules can’t help but want to have her cake and eat it too. But will she have her just desserts? Murder might be bad for business, but love is the sweetest treat of all…

“Alexander weaves a tasty tale of deceit, family ties, delicious pastries, and murder.” ―Edith Maxwell, author of A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die

 

About the Author:
Ellie Alexander is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she’s not coated in flour, you’ll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter to learn more.
Links: 
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Giveaway:
Paperback copy of Meet Your Baker, Chai Tea, designer baking liners and a Starbucks gift card.
Open to US addresses only.
Ends 1/6/15
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

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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!

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My Tease for this week is from

Strange Magic

A Yancy Lazarus Novel

by James A. Hunter

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My Tease from 32% in the ARC eBook

I went through the last few things I could remember:

I’d been pumped full of tranquilizers, busted a hole in the back wall of The Full House, got shot in the ass, and had, eventually, passed out in dog pee under a car. Right?

So how’d I end up Saran-wrapped to a table in white-picket suburbia?

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Synopsis

Yancy Lazarus is having a bad day: there’s a bullet lodged in his butt cheek, his face looks like the site of a demolition derby, and he’s been saran-wrapped to a banquet table. He never should have answered the phone. Stupid bleeding heart—helping others in his circles is a good way to get dead.

Just ask the gang members ripped to pieces by some kind of demonic nightmare in LA. As a favor to a friend, Yancy agrees to take a little looksee into the massacre and boom, he’s stuck in a turf war between two rival gangs, which both think he’s pinch-hitting for the other side. Oh, and there’s also a secretive ass-hat with some mean ol’ magical chops and a small army of hyena-faced, body- snatching baddies. It might be time to seriously reconsider some of his life choices.

Yancy is a bluesman, a rambler, a gambler, but not much more. Sure, he can do a little magic—maybe even more than just a little magic—but he knows enough to keep his head down and stay clear of freaky-deaky hoodoo like this business in LA. Somehow though, he’s been set up to take a real bad fall—the kind of very permanent fall that leaves a guy with a toe tag. Unless, of course, he can find out who is responsible for the gangland murders, make peace in the midst of the gang feud, and take out said magical ass-hat before he hexes Yancy into an early retirement. Easy right? Stupid. Bleeding. Heart.

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I’m really enjoying this gritty, freaky story. Lovin Yancy too.

Do you like your hero flawed, damaged, kinda of not so perfect?

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Welcome to My Monday Minis Reviews.

I have two for you today.

One is a fun children’s picture book about Christmas and monsters in the fridge.

The other is a children’s chapter book about a Welsh dragon and the critters that help save all from certain doom.

Lets get to it!

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Billy and Monster’s Golden Christmas

by David Chuka

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My Review

This is a delightful story told with fun, colorful pictures.

Billy loves Christmas and everyone is coming to his house this year to celebrate.

The three things Billy loves most are:

Christmas dinner. That yummy stuffed turkey will the the trimmings and Grandma’s chocalicious desserts.

There’s also the fun games they play after dinner.

And, most special, the surprise present from his Uncle Leland each year.

This year Billy’s Uncle Leland gave him a golden pen knowing he likes to write comics.

Billy doesn’t think much of it and went to play hide and seek. A strange noise coming from the refrigerator makes him open it and reach inside. He keeps reaching until…Boom, he’s drawn into another world. There he meets the Monster family and shares their Christmas.

I applaud the author’s imagination and use of colorful, delightful pictures to tell this tale of Christmas and what it is really about.

What child wouldn’t enjoy this wonderful story of adventure, fun monsters, and the true meaning of Christmas. This is one you’ll enjoy sharing with your children each year.

4 Stars

 

Synopsis

They’re back!

Discover what new adventures Billy and Monster get up to in the latest episode in this exciting series.

It’s almost Christmas and Billy’s looking forward to his present from Uncle Leland from England. On Christmas day, Billy isn’t too excited when Uncle Leland gives him a golden pen but gives Cousin Bob a big monster truck. How could Uncle Leland do this to him? Billy’s not a happy bunny and his ingratitude makes Uncle Leland sad and his Dad mad.

A game of hide and seeks plunges Billy into a world filled with snow, happy monsters and houses made of chocolate.

You will love reading this story to your loved ones as they get to learn the most important thing about this special holiday season. Expect funny illustrations, laugh out loud moments and touching moments in this funny book for kids.

For more about Author David Chuka and his books go HERE.

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And now for

Dewi and the Seeds of Doom

by Maggie Lyons

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My Review

Join nosy Welsh dragon, Dewi, and his critter pals as they try to foil the plot of the dastardly Baron Doom.

If it wasn’t for Bomber, the rat that bounced of Dewi’s snout, and the Welsh dragons habit of sticking his nose into everything, the mad experiments of Baron Doom might never have been discovered. That would have been a terrible fate for all.

Readers young and old will enjoy this adventure. Dewi, the nosy Welsh dragon. Bomber(AKA Taffy the Teeth), the scaredy rat. Jones the huge and brilliant toad. Baron Doom from Castle Gloomsgor. These are just some of the characters you’ll encounter.

Will Dewi and his friends be able to save the rats trapped in the castle? Will they be able to stop the mad Baron before his mutated corm destroys all they hold dear?

Follow the wacky adventures as the gang races to do just that.

There are some ‘corny’ jokes that make you giggle, like this one.

“What do you get when you cross a boy and a rat?”

“A brat!”

This is a fun story for the young and the young at heart.

4 Stars

 

Synopsis

When Dewi is clobbered by a falling rat, the nosy Welsh dragon snoops his way into a challenging predicament. Helped by a toad with a passion for chemical wart cures, Dewi discovers that a megalomaniac baron is secretly breeding mutant corn at an unfriendly castle. To thwart the genetically modified-corn baron’s sickening plan, he must use moxie and firepower in a series of catastrophe-skirting capers.

You can find out more about Author Maggie Lyons and her books by clicking HERE.

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So whatcha reading? Got any suggestions for me?

I’d love to hear them and thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

I love a good ghost story or supernatural suspense.

And what would be the best place for it all to do down but an isolated island.

Looking for something to keep you jumping at shadows and things that go bump in the night?

You should check out Mateguas Island.

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Supernatural Fiction, Ghosts, Suspense, Horror
Date Published: April 2014
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Synopsis
On a remote island, a troubled family is trying to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. But, unbeknownst to them, the property they have inherited is shrouded in ancient magic – magic that could seek to consume and destroy them.
An arcane locked box, a strange and foreboding trail into the woods, a seductive young woman and tales of a malevolent spirit are just some of the perils Karen Andersen must face in order to find a way to save her family.
A spine-tingling tale filled with passion, lies and betrayal, this début novel will have you sleeping with the lights on!

Check out this glimpse inside!

A flash of lightning lit up the sky illuminating the L-shaped room where Sophie and Terri slept. The light was so bright, it startled Sophie awake and she sat up rubbing her eyes. When she could finally focus she was surprised to see their room was suffused by a golden glow that lingered long after the lightning faded. As she gazed about the room in wonder, she saw her twin standing by the window that looked out to the backyard.

“Ter, what ya doin’?” she asked.

Terri turned her head, a bright smile on her face. “Soph, come see. It’s beautiful. It’s like a fairy world.”

Sophie got out of bed and joined her sister at the window. Her eyes widened in amazement when she saw what was happening outside. Scores of fireflies were dancing around one of the bushes in the yard, their light sparkling and shimmering in the wind and rain.

“It looks like Christmas,” said Sophie, her voice filled with awe.

“Yeah, Soph. See how they dance. And listen – I think they’re singing.”

Sophie pressed her face to the glass, straining to hear. “I don’t hear anything.”

“Close your eyes and really listen.”

Sophie did as her sister instructed. In a moment she nodded her head eagerly. “I hear it. I hear it. It’s like magic. It’s so pretty.”

The girls grinned in delight as they listened to the sweet melodic song of the fireflies.

“What language is it?” Sophie whispered. “I don’t understand it but I love it.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never heard anything like it before.”

They stood quietly listening and watching the spectacle taking place before them oblivious to the storm that was raging. But in an instant, their joy was cut short by a loud crack of thunder that shook the house. The room plunged into darkness as the golden glow was extinguished and the fireflies disappeared.

“Look,” whispered Sophie pointing her finger to the yard.

Terri gripped her sister’s hand tightly as she watched a shadowy figure streak across the lawn toward the woods. A flash of lightning lit up the sky, temporarily blinding the girls and when their sight returned, the figure was gone.

They stood transfixed, waiting to see what would happen next. Then a soft mournful sob, barely audible at first, pierced the silence. Stunned, Terri and Sophie hugged each other in fear as the sobs became more desperate. The wind began to howl and mournful cries echoed in the night. Tears streamed down Sophie’s cheeks as she recognized the voice that was now calling out her name.

“It sounds like Mommy, Ter! Is it Mommy? Please, is it Mommy?”

Terri leaned forward, her body rigid as she strained to recognize the voice calling to them. The sound was so familiar but not real, not like her mother. Yet, it was her. “Soph, it is Mommy. She sounds in so much pain. I think she’s hurt. We have to help her.”

Terri gripped her sister’s hand tightly. The cries were becoming more plaintive now as if the caller was losing hope.

“We have to wake Daddy. He’ll know what to do.”

Terri shook her head. “We can’t get Daddy, Soph. What if it’s his fault? What if he hurt her again? You heard them fighting. No, it’s up to us, Soph. We have to help her.”

The girls stood staring at each other for what seemed a lifetime, then Sophie nodded. “You’re right. Let’s go. We have to find Mommy. We have to save her.”

Terri took her sister’s hand and squeezed it. Together they tiptoed out of their room and down the stairs. They stopped briefly at the hall closet and put their slickers on over their nightclothes to try to stay dry and grabbed a flashlight. Then hand in hand, they opened the door and, without hesitation, went silently out into the storm.

 

Buy Links

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About Author Linda Watkins
Born in Norwich, Connecticut, Linda Watkins moved to Michigan when she was four years old. After graduation from college (Carnegie-Mellon University ’70), Ms. Watkins relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area where she lived most of her adult life. A Senior Clinical Financial Analyst at Stanford University School of Medicine, Linda was always writing. At work, she created ‘long forms’ and business plans; at home, she wrote whimsical stories, poems and songs for the delight of her friends and family. In 2006, retired, she moved to Chebeague Island, Maine where she wrote her first novel, MATEGUAS ISLAND.Today, she resides in Western Michigan with her three rescue dogs (Splatter, Spudley and Jasper) and has just completed the sequel to MATEGUAS which she anticipates will be published by Christmas 2014.
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

 U read Dark Waltz, the first book in the Praestani Series and just loved it.

Now I’m thrilled to bring to you the second book, Death Waltz.

I’ve read almost every book the author has written, venturing into her other genres, and I’ve been waiting for this book a long time and now it’s here!

More exciting news. Dark Waltz, the first book, is free! Read on to learn how to get your copy and start this series now!

 

**This is an Adult Romance and is not suitable for younger readers due to its mature content and strong language.**
Dark Creatures have descended upon Earth and Abaddon has taken control. He wants Liasare as his own mate because she is the Key to the Light. With her by his side, he can manipulate her power to unleash his evil across the universe.
Jurek and Liasare’s fight continues to prevent this. Unknown to them, a Praestani traitor resides among them. Can Jurek teach Liasare to wield her immense power in time to halt the traitor’s plans? Or will they end up in Abaddon’s clutches, waltzing to their death in this stunning conclusion to Dark Waltz.

 


Liasare entered their quarters as Jurek poured himself a drink. She stood and watched
him toss back the entire glassful and pour himself another. When he was
finished with the second, he faced her. The anger she’d expected wasn’t there.
In its place was disappointment.
“You could’ve at least warned me. Do you think that was
fair?”
“No. It wasn’t fair. I am sorry for that. But if I had told
you ahead of time, we would’ve fought and argued for hours over it. And the end
result would’ve been the same. We both know it’s coming to a head. I have to
face him sooner or later and the truth is, I’m scared to death. So I’d rather
not sit around and wait anymore, because all this waiting only makes it worse.
The thought of January’s children locked in Abaddon’s realm brings me to my
knees. So I must act.”
“You emasculated me, Liasare. In front of everyone. Those
are my people. My subjects. Our subjects.” He threw his glass against the wall
and she watched it shatter into dozens of tiny pieces. Oddly enough, it was the
glass breaking that made her focus, because that was exactly how she didn’t
want this to end.
“I’m sorry that’s the way it felt to you. To me it’s a way
of drawing the hunter out. He knows we travel together. He may think I’m more
vulnerable without you. My intentions were never to make you feel that way.”
Jurek knew within his heart what he needed to do, but
abhorred the very idea of it. “Nevertheless, I suppose my feelings in this
matter are irrelevant. Liasare, listen to me. Do not, under any circumstances,
let your mind shield slip. He will attempt every trick he knows to cajole you
into thinking you are safe. You are never safe. Understand me? When you
enter Club Down, you will feel the worst brushes of evil abrading your power.
Do not succumb to it. And whatever you do, even if you must sacrifice the lives
of the Praestani that accompany you, keep yourself safe. Our species depends
upon you. You are The Light. This is a great burden you carry, but it is also
one you must protect at all costs. Tell me you understand this.”
His words imparted the gravity of what she would face in the
hours ahead.
“I understand every word.”
Memories forced their way into Jurek’s mind, ones he didn’t
particularly care to think about. They were when Liasare had been held captive
by one of Abaddon’s minions. Then other memories infiltrated his head and
pushed the hideous ones aside.
“Tell me something. Remember back in our early days together
when I asked you never to lie to me?”
Liasare laughed. “How could I not? You scared me half to
death most of the time.”
His voice was gruff with emotion when he said, “But you
never cowered from me. You stood up to me like a soldier going to war, just as
you do now. So tell me, what is the real reason you want me to stay behind?”
She flinched at his question. It wasn’t possible to avoid
the truth, but by answering him, she knew it would cut him to the core. There
was only one thing to do and that was to face him, head on, with brutal
honesty.
“I need you here because I’m fairly certain when I return I
will need all of your powers to heal me. Not only will you have to piece me
back together again, Jurek, I will also need you to tend to Justus while I am
healing. I don’t know what kind of shape I will be in, or whether I will be
able to see him. I don’t want him to see me until I am myself again. At least
if you remain here, you will be able to care for him while I am recovering.”
Though he expected an answer he wouldn’t like, her words
viciously punctured his heart. “Christ, Liasare. And how do you expect me to
send you out there, knowing this?”
“I’m not giving you that choice because it’s not yours to
make.”
He reached out his arm and touched her face. “How can I do
this?”
“This isn’t anything you can or can’t do. Don’t you see?
It’s what must be done. It’s the prophecy, Jurek. It’s been written about
centuries ago. I was born to do this. And either I go to him or he comes to me,
but it will happen, one way or another.”
Their clothes were gone, vanishing like smoke in a breeze.
His hands surfed her body, like he was skimming across the waves of the sea,
memorizing every dip and curve as they moved. His lips followed the path his
hands began, touching, kissing, and tasting every solid inch of her, pressing
into her skin, molding themselves to her as they trailed along. He inhaled her
scent, committed to memory her essence so when she was gone he could call it
forth. The room brightened with his power as a burst of energy danced across
her skin where his hands touched her.
Liasare responded in like, as her fingers weaved themselves
into Jurek’s hair.
Emotion smothered her words as she began to speak but she
forced it back because she wanted him to know what she felt at this moment. Her
hand trembled when she raised it to brush a lock of his hair off his forehead.
“The first time I ever saw you was that night as I sat drinking my beer. I
believe it was in Cosmos. Do you remember?”
She waited for him to nod and when he did, she continued.
“Your skin was so glorious. You looked like an exotic
gladiator, like the kind I had read about from the old history books on Earth.
You were dressed in your leathers and your tawny skin glowed. I could see it
even in that dim club we were in. And I couldn’t stop thinking about how
handsome you were. I had never seen anyone like you before. And there I sat,
holding my beer bottle, and I looked down at my arms as they were covered up
because I was so scarred. I thought to myself then, ‘I wonder how it must feel
to be that beautiful?’” Her hands lightly cupped his neck, thumbs tenderly
pressing the hollow at his throat. Then, following the curves and arches of his
shoulders and arms, fingers spread wide, she outlined every inch of him as if
she were caressing him for the very first time. When she reached his fingertips,
she kissed each one, and then journeyed to his torso, discovering the remainder
of his body.
“I was so afraid back then. Of everything. And then I
remember the first time you took me to the sanctuary, after you found and
healed me. But I couldn’t forget what happened. You came to me that one night
and knelt before me, begging me to talk to you.” Her brow was creased as she
thought back to that night. She touched her lips to the center of his chest
right over his heart before she continued. “I begged you to erase my memories.
I had this burning need for you to make love to me to help me forget. I was
madly in love with you. And I didn’t care if you loved me in return. I just
needed to feel you inside of me. But I was afraid you’d refuse, like you’d done
so many times before. I was slowly cracking into tiny pieces, bit by bit. And
there you were, right in front of me, and I wanted so much to throw myself at
you. I remember thinking again that you were the most beautiful site I’d ever
seen in my life. I couldn’t imagine how any man could be so perfect. And as
much as I was falling apart, I was more afraid that night that you would push
me away one final time. Do you know something? I think if you had refused me, I
would’ve found a way to end it all. But you didn’t. You said to me that if I
consented, there’d be no turning back. That you played for keeps.” She smiled
then. “Those were the greatest words I’d ever heard. I thought to myself,
‘Well, here he goes, saving my life again.’ And now you stand before me and
somehow you’ve become even more beautiful than you were then. You are my heart,
and will always be my heart. Facing the demon isn’t the worst thing I can
imagine.” Cupping his face, she said, “The worst thing for me would be facing
the rest of my life without you. I’m going to come back to you. But when I do,
I’ll need you more than ever. So yeah, I want you here, safe, but also so you
can heal me. Make love to me now, so that just for this little slice of time, I
can forget what I’m about to face.”
Liasare never saw Jurek after he rescued her from near death
or she would’ve recognized this emotion in him. His hands gripped her shoulders
and he looked at her, his lavender eyes heavily laced with silver in their
depths threatened to spill tears. “Liasare,” he began, but had to stop because
he couldn’t go on. Swallowing several times, he began again, “Liasare, when you
say things like this to me, it makes me want to carry you away from this
dreadful place. I … I am afraid. I’m afraid of letting you go. But I’m also
afraid of putting my arms around you. Because if I do, I may not let you
go. I know I must and I know you must do this … this thing you’ve been
charged with, but it’s my duty as your mate to protect you and here I am
sending you to the damn demon himself.”
She didn’t give him a chance to say anything else before she
kissed him, softly tasting and gently nipping at him.
Against his mouth she murmured, “I want to savor this
moment, relish every second. I want it slow and easy, Jurek.”
They stood together, touching each other, as if it were
their very first time.
.
Death Waltz Teaser

 


A.M. Hargrove resides in the south, dividing her time between the
upstate of South Carolina and the mountains of North Carolina. She truly
believes that chocolate, coffee and ice cream should be added to the USDA food
groups.
Her books include Adult, New Adult and Young Adult Romances,
including, The Guardians of Vesturon (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant,
reEmergent and the novella Beginnings); Dark Waltz (A Praestani Novel) Edge of
Disaster, Shattered Edge, Kissing Fire, Tragically Flawed, Exquisite Betrayal
and Tragic Desires.
Please find her at http://www.amhargrove.com
A.M. also writes under the name of Emerson St. Clair. Emerson’s
books include the Dirty Nights novella series.

 

Haven’t started the series yet?  Well Book 1: Dark Waltz is
FREE so get yours today. Just click on the links below and get yours!
 
 
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MY 5 STAR REVIEW
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What do I know? I know I’m lovin this series! It’s a waltz that takes you spinning through space before taking that final dip.

The first thing that captured my attention was this story is about returning to Earth from another planet, not about venturing into space. The Earth of today is overrun with hostile, nasty beings and humans tread carefully when they venture out. We are no longer at the top of the food chain. In fact, we are now on the menu.

What really grabbed me with Dark Waltz was the characters. I love character driven novels and the stars of this novel are exceptional.

Liasare left Earth when she was a young teen and didn’t return for eighteen years. It’s so much worse now. She thinks she’s prepared for what awaits her as she searches for her missing brother, but she is very wrong. She’s going to need help, whether she likes it or not.

What I enjoyed about Liasare is her toughness along with her vulnerability. She’s taken huge risks just in coming to Earth. She’s run into some situations that left her trembling and doubting her resolve. And she now has a mysterious stranger, a magical being, whose magnetism is becoming harder and harder to deny.

There’s a mental connection, but that’s now what has her worried. She fears her bodies yearning for Jurek, it’s demanding ache for his touch. An accident a long time ago left her physically and mentally scarred and she has no idea how to protect herself from these feelings.

This is what Jurek is up against as he becomes more and more drawn to Liasare. He’s never wanted anyone like he wants her, but she’ll have to be handled carefully, if she ever lets him handle her at all.

I enjoyed Jurek’s inner turmoil and frustration. He’s a powerful, demanding being and he’s not used to being snubbed and challenged, especially by a woman. He has his hands full with Lisare, trying to keep her safe and struggling to get past her tough exterior.

Jurek was a favorite character of mine in Determinant. It’s great to read his story here.

Jurek also felt the mental connection to Liasare, but his bodies lust for her comes as a surprise. He has no lack of female partners, but this girl has him feeling things he’s never experienced before. He knows it will be much more than a roll in the hay with her and that’s not all he has to consider.

Dark Waltz is exceptionally written, flowing smoothly and keeping you engaged from first page to last. I found myself wanting to race to the finish and forced myself to slow down. I didn’t want to miss a single thing.

The fight scenes are exciting, the creatures are hideous, the mysteries and secrets keep you guessing, and the sexual tension builds and builds. What a read.

Dark Waltz is a fantastic first chapter in The Praestani Novels. This adult series takes place several years after The YA Guardians of Vesturon Series. You don’t have to have read them, but I would recommend it. Guardians is where it all began. It makes me very happy to know it doesn’t end here.

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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

The Boy Who Drew Monsters

by Keith Donohue

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My 56

 Over her shoulder, he could see his son, small and slight in his little boy’s pajamas. Up and alert when he should have been asleep in his bed. Jip stood there staring right through them, with his inscrutable eyes, as if they were the intruders in his house, the unexpected visitors in the middle of the night.

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Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Child comes a hypnotic literary horror novel about a young boy trapped inside his own world, whose drawings blur the lines between fantasy and reality.

Ever since he nearly drowned in the ocean three years earlier, ten-year-old Jack Peter Keenan has been deathly afraid to venture outdoors. Refusing to leave his home in a small coastal town in Maine, Jack Peter spends his time drawing monsters. When those drawings take on a life of their own, no one is safe from the terror they inspire. His mother, Holly, begins to hear strange sounds in the night coming from the ocean, and she seeks answers from the local Catholic priest and his Japanese housekeeper, who fill her head with stories of shipwrecks and ghosts. His father, Tim, wanders the beach, frantically searching for a strange apparition running wild in the dunes. And the boy’s only friend, Nick, becomes helplessly entangled in the eerie power of the drawings. While those around Jack Peter are haunted by what they think they see, only he knows the truth behind the frightful occurrences as the outside world encroaches upon them all.

In the tradition of The Turn of the Screw, Keith Donohue’s The Boy Who Drew Monsters is a mesmerizing tale of psychological terror and imagination run wild, a perfectly creepy read for a dark night.

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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

Merry Christmas!

Posted: December 25, 2014 in Holidays
Tags:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing Ya’ll A Joyous Christmas.

May It Be Merry And Bright!

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

Head on over and leave a link to your Sunday Post and hop around to visits others.

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Christmas is almost here and I can feel it’s magic and wonder.

All my shopping is done. All the gifts have been wrapped.

I only have a few posts going up before Christmas and they are scheduled.

Now it’s just 3 more days of work and home in time for some eggnog before going to bed. Don’t want to be awake when Santa comes!

Here’s a little something to make you smile.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I’ll be hopping over to check out your Sunday posts so be sure to leave me your link!

~~~

Here are my new books for review.

You can click on the covers to check them out on Goodreads.

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and

And the first book is free til 12/24. Click on the cover to get yours.

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New ones just for me!

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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.

   

     

 

And Anthony Renfro is making all of his stories available as free downloads this month!

Click HERE to check them out!

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Books I reviewed this week.

Click on the covers for my reviews.

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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

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Interesting and fun posts from around the web.

What’s the right price for a book? on Chazz Writes

10 Ways To Tell You’re In A Reading Slump on Cuddlebuggery Book Blog

When you’ve had enough of a book series – My Dear John Letter on Not Yet Read

Women VS Men: Who writes better? on Legends Of Green Isle

How does an ending change a whole story? on Laura Plus Books

You know you have too many books when…on A Daydreamer’s Thoughts

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What I won.

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A big thank you to author Bibi Paterson!

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I won this delightful print book from a giveaway on Kristis Book Nook.

Thanks so much Kristi and thanks to author Sherrill S. Cannon.

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Other Posts this week.

A world from the shadows…Sceadu

The Extraordinary Adventures Of The Original ~ Blast & Giveaway

Teaser Tuesdays #92 ~ Dependent

Lots of good stuff for….No Bad Deed ~ Review, Interviews and Giveaway

A Moat Is Not A Goat ~ Blast & Giveaway

Apple Pie For You And I ~ Blast & Giveaway

Nero’s Fiddle: An Artifact Hunter’s Novel by AW Exley ~ Tour Review & Giveaway

Zoe & Zak ~ Heroes Of The Himalayas ~ Blast & Giveaway

Zombies and Vampires for Christmas? Reviews and Freebies!

Friday Chapter Reveal and Giveaway ~ I Heart Robot by Suzanne Van Rooyen

The Oncoming Storm Series ~ P.I. Dan Landis Brings It!

Cruisin with zombies ~ The Confessions Of Sylva Slasher ~ Tour Review and Giveaway

Beenie’s Search ~ Book Blast and Giveaway

Something for everyone! Fusion ~ Anthology Blitz and Giveaway

A City Full Of Santas ~ Blast and Giveaway

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For all of my 2014 reviews go HERE

For a list of free books go HERE

For all of my giveaways go HERE

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So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

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