Posts Tagged ‘Short story’

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Tentacle Tied

by Zeina Khalem

Genre: Erotic Short Story

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A cabin getaway gives one traveler more than she bargained for when she finds something lurking in the hot springs nearby…

This is an erotic 18+ mature short story featuring tentacles and sexual themes.

**Only .99cents!!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Author’s Site * Goodreads

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As I considered giving up on chasing that elusive peak, I noticed the tendrils of grass tangling around my ankles. I fluttered my legs to break free but they seemed to get tighter. The frustration broke through and I moved to sit up – except something tugged on my waist, keeping me anchored to where I sat.

I twisted around with a start only to feel the vines tighten around my calves and thighs, constricting my movements. Despite being just chest deep, being restrained underwater made me panic and I began to thrash. To my surprise, the tendrils emerged from the water with an undeniable will in their movement, as if they were limbs clinging to my own. I watched in shocked awe as the long, warm, thick appendages wrapped around my arms, while a thicker trunk tightened around my midsection.

 

I gave one last longing look at the spring, now rippling softly. Absently, I followed the ripples to a pair of dark eyes peeking from out of the water.

I gasped, tripped backward over a root, and scrambled to the tree line. Was I intoxicated again? Was it something in the air? A gas leak from a nearby mine? The eyes followed me but the figure did not move, its head poking out of the water up to the bridge of its nose.

The sound of my breath filled the clearing, hard and fast. Then it dawned on me that if this was a hallucination, a figment of my mind’s creation, then it couldn’t hurt me. Probably.

“Who… what are you?” I called across the clearing.

The creature emerged enough to speak over the water. “Rude.”

Though its voice was deep and quiet, I heard it as if from beside me – a deep, slow rumble that didn’t fill the clearing but vibrated through my body. I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“First, you wake me by rutting up against me. I was having the most remarkable dream before the interruption. Then, just as things get interesting, you run off like a frightened jackrabbit. Now, these rude questions. I have never understood you humans.”

“So you’re… not human.”

The creature stirred but I held my ground. It stepped closer, water trailing down its elongated chest and the curve of its belly before disappearing onto the surface of the pool. I swallowed hard. It stretched out its arm as if examining itself and leaned in a way that brought to mind a shrug. “I suppose I was human once.”

I stifled my next questions. What are you now? What made you this way?

“Is this your home?” I ventured instead, taking a step forward.

The creature stretched towards the banks of the spring. Its… their body was even longer than I realized, their torso ridged with muscles drawing my eyes down, lower until they were foiled by the reflection of the water. “I dwell here from time to time.”

I steeled myself and stepped forward again, balling my trembling hands into fists at my sides. Something deep and primal screamed at me to run, but a deeper curiosity compelled me forward still. The creature watched me without blinking, their facade as still as a stone. How many humans had they sucked in like this, to be consumed? Would I face ecstasy or oblivion if I kept going? Would it change a thing if I knew?

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What is something unique about you?

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I’m polyamorous, so that’s bound to make my idea of a happily ever after different than monogamous romances. Having practiced ethical non-monogamy for nearly a decade, being polyamorous isn’t this wild, strange thing to me. It’s just my life!

Just like any other relationship, sometimes my relationships can get hard. My partners and I have conflicts we must work through just like anyone else. But overall, I’d like to challenge the idea that non-monogamy must be inherently difficult. I’ve got an amazing polycule with partners and metamours whom I love. I wouldn’t want my life any other way.

So I try to reflect my polyamorous life in my works. Tentacle Tied is a short story and a bit of a dark romance, considering it involves, well, a monster. I won’t spoil anything, but I think the ending is purposefully open-ended in a way that reflects polyamory. For example, you may have a comet partner who only comes into town twice a year. You care for each other and set bounds and expectations for your relationship that work for both of you. Who wouldn’t want a sexy hot springs monster to visit whenever they need a good tangle?

What kind of world ruler would you be?

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In the deepest, darkest depths of my man-eating heart, I am the GIF of Galadriel proclaiming, “All shall love me and despair!” (Would I have turned down the ring and passed the test? Unclear!) Whose ego doesn’t wish to be adored and feared by all?

But I like writing about utopian societies – think Star Trek, not Middle Earth. A pansexual, socialist, post-scarcity, space-faring future sounds pretty rad to me, which is why I’m writing a sci-fi romance novel in that setting. The other alternative to this question would be me ruling the galaxy as a consciousness transferred into an all-powerful, algorithm-based AI that optimizes society. (Except, of course, such systems rarely work as intended.)

What can we expect from you in the future?

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I’m currently working on an anthology of sexy short stories titled Sexy Shorts! Two of the stories are free to read online on my website and I’ll be releasing more on my Patreon as I go.

The unofficial theme of the anthology is “On the Edge,” focusing on sexy situations that may happen barely outside of the public eye, falling just shy of exhibitionism. The two stories that are currently available to read are Up the Stairs and On the Beach.

I’m also working on a sci-fi romance novel set in a technologically advanced, post-scarcity future called Bound by Stardust that follows a mismatched Earther and Spacer through some galaxy-scorching adventures. Think Star Trek but significantly sexier, gayer, sluttier, and a little kinky to boot, with replicators, holodecks, and sexytimes in space!

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Tentacle Tied?

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Neither of the characters in Tentacle Tied has a name. I imagine the first-person narrator to be an independent, outdoorsy femme who has a long trail of well-worn hiking boots behind her and a camping setup ready in her trunk for her next weekend trip up the mountains. She’s not afraid to explore on her own, even into the woods where mysterious creatures may live. In other words, she’s not like me at all! (I’d be happy if I never camp again a day in my life.)

The tentacle monster, on the other hand, is a bit of a mystery. All the narrator knows is that the creature lives in a hot spring. You’ll have to read the story to learn more about them.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

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Tentacle erotica is a niche topic. I’ve actually never written this type of erotica before, but I really enjoyed being able to play within a new and unfamiliar set of scenarios and tropes.

I also really enjoyed diving into a character who’s neutral or ambiguous like the creature. The rules are different when you’re dealing with unfathomable monsters from the deep, you know?

Pen or typewriter or computer?

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My writing process involves a mix of handwriting and typing. I love handwriting first drafts because I get too obsessive with editing if I type. When I’m handwriting, I have to move forward because it’s a lot harder to edit while I write, especially if I’m working with pen and paper.

I also love the tactile feel of pen on paper, specifically extra fine sharpies. I have a couple dozen notebooks and legal pads filled with my scribbles. But eventually, I started handwriting on my tablet with a note-taking app. Even though the tactile feel isn’t the same on my tablet, I can organize all of my notes and drafts and keep working on them wherever and whenever I want.

I also enjoy handwriting first drafts because the act of transferring my handwritten draft into a typed document helps me do a first round of edits as I go!

What are you currently reading?

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I usually read romantic fiction, but recently I picked up a non-fiction book called The Art of Gathering, which considers why and how people gather.

I’ve always enjoyed hosting and organizing gatherings and events amongst friends. Whatever I know about hosting, I learned mostly from the women in my family – my mother, my aunt, and my grandmother. They gave me a solid foundation to build on, but The Art of Gathering goes deeper into the heart of what brings us together and how to best cater our gatherings to the kind of experiences we want them to be. The more I think about it, the more I realize just how pivotal gathering is to our lives – and the book delivers many gems of wisdom on the topic.

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Zeina lives in the wild west and marvels at the weather every day. She tries to avoid cliches but sometimes can’t resist. She likes pole dancing, drawing, and feminism.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Things That Go Jack In The Night
by TG Wolff
September 11-15, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

 

Things That Go Jack In The Night by TG Wolff

 

Synopsis:
Mysteries To Die For: Season 6

In the English language, there are a few, very special words that can function as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. One word goes further, creating new words from old. That word is JACK. The brandy distilled from hard cider was the first applejack, the word now synonymous with a children’s cereal. There is the nefarious one-eyed jack of playing card fame. Animals from the jackdaw to the jackrabbit to the elusive jackalope roam all the ranges. There are the ever growing number of people named Jack, birth named or nicknamed, heroes to villains. The way the word “jack” is used in the English language is truly unique, inventive, and too numerous for us to count. For your puzzle solving pleasure, Mysteries to Die For presents: Things That Go Jack in the Night. Pepper jack cheese. Lumberjack. Wolfman Jack. Jack be Nimble. One-eyed Jack. Jackass. Jacking Off. Jackalope. Jack-in-the-box. Jackknife. Jackpot. Audio jack. Twelve stories arranged for you to deduce the truth. Twelve “jacks” that should definitely not be taken at face value. It’s a race between you and the detective to find the killer amid the jack in the night.

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MY REVIEW

I love a good mystery and there were many good ones in Things That Go Jack In The Night. And collections are a fun way to discover new authors, as are short stories. The author’s are challenged to develop their characters and plot in a limited amount of words.

I zipped through these. What I found most fun was the opportunity to try the solve each case myself. There’s a recap provided giving you the list of suspects and why they might have come under suspicion. Most of the time I chuckled and shook my head. I was wrong the majority of the time. I did manage to guess one right and came close a couple more.

If you like to test your brain pan and try to solve a mystery, there’s plenty to go around in this collection. You can read a few and take a break, or read them all in one sitting, which is what I did. Was having such fun trying to guess the villains that I didn’t want to stop.

4 STARS

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Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Short Story

Published by: Mysteries To Die For Publication Date: September 2023 Number of Pages: 288

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Mysteries to Die For

 

About Our Authors:

TG Wolff and Jack Wolff co-host the podcast Mysteries to Die For. This storytelling podcast combines with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. Each season, authors craft whodunnit mysteries around a theme. Season 6: Things that Go Jack in the Night features: KM Rockwood, Chuck Brownman, Nikki Knight, Ed Teja, Erica Obey, Kyra Jacobs, Ken Harris, Susan Wingate, TG Wolff, and Jack Wolff.

Get More Mysteries to Die For: Mysteries to Die For Goodreads BookBub – @TG_Wolff Instagram – @tg_wolff Twitter – @tg_wolff Facebook – M2D4Podcast

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!  

 

JOIN IN ON THE GIVEAWAY:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for TG Wolff & the Mysteries to Die For crew. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2019! I did this the last couple of years and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

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I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

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 The Town That Feared Dusk

by Calvin Demmer

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Genre:  Horror / Short Story

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My Review

I very much enjoyed Demmer’s, The Sea Was A fair Master. I don’t usually like every short story in a collection, but I did with those. I prepared myself for another quick punch to the gut, and got it.

Sylvia dreams of that one big story. The one that could make her as a journalist. Browsing through some old files, she comes across one her former colleague had started putting together. It struck her as peculiar that no red flags were raised in a small town where thirty-six people jumped to their deaths in a ten year period. It was worth a drive out there to investigate Suicide Bridge. The more she pursued the story, the weirder it became and it was already too late when she realized her hunger for fame put her in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 It’s always fun when I think I know which direction the story is going and the author takes it another way. And a scene near the end of the story reminded me of another book I’d read some time ago. I wish I could recall that title as I still think about it now and then. I still picture it in my head. The Town That Feared Dusk was a quick trip to the dark side and I think it would be even more fun as a full length book.

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Synopsis

Sylvia Bernstein doesn’t want to end up on a dead-end path like a former journalism colleague. She begins searching the tabloid’s archives for a story that can get her career back on track. A strange bridge, with an abnormally high rate of suicides, seems like the perfect place to start. She journeys to the little town, eager to investigate, but encounters a tale far more sinister than she ever expected…

Amazon

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Click on the covers for more Thrills And Chills reviews.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2019! I did this the last couple of years and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

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 Murderous Little Darlings

by John Hennessy

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Genre:  Horror

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My Review

Whenever kids are involved in a horror story it makes things extra creepy for me. Make them vampires, and even creepier.

Three siblings go on a killing spree. How could such young ones even do that? And get away with it? That’s an even bigger question.

This book sucked me right in. It’s fast paced with no wasted words. I kept wondering, are they really vampires. That would explain how they could do what they did. Vampires or not, they acted like any other siblings. Fighting among themselves but also protecting each other when it was needed. They felt very genuine.

Murderous Little Darlings was one I couldn’t put down. It’s a short read with a big bite and I started and finished it in one sitting. I sure liked it.

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This little gem was free at time of posting. Click on the cover or link below the synopsis to grab a copy.

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Synopsis

Three siblings. An endless list of victims. A whole lot of time to kill.

With two specimens of the undead on either side of her, Juliana knew there was no escape. Kill the one they had selected for her, or be killed, and become one of them. What had the neighbours in the road called them, back when their childhood pranks were just that?

Oh yes, she remembered now. Murderous Little Darlings. They had the faces of angels, but possessed the very soul of the Devil.

Marcus had fully embraced his vampire side from the moment he was born. Rocco was the second eldest, and had fought the temptation all of his life. Then Marcus finally broke him.

That just left Juliana. Will she resist them, or join in the hunt?

Amazon / B&N

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Click on the covers for more Thrills And Chills reviews.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that thrill and chill!

Today I have a twisted nibble of a read for ya!

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After reading my review and checking out the synopsis, you might want to give this a go. It’s FREE on Amazon. Waiting for you! Click on the cover to get your copy.

One Star

by The Behrg

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Genre: Horror / Short Story

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My Review

I started reviewing books many years ago. A friend encouraged me to start a blog. I never looked back. When I spotted this book on a friend’s blog, I was intrigued. Anyone who writes reviews knows what a one star rating is like to write. I haven’t written one in a long time. Probably because I do more research before choosing to read a book now.

When I read the description I knew I had to read this.  A blogger posts a one star review on their blog.  Something horrible comes of that review. The author takes it personal.

I remember one of the first one star reviews I wrote. It was for a review book I accepted from an author. I contacted the author to let them know what my rating would be. They argued with me in several emails, saying I didn’t get what they wrote. I did, though. I explained why I gave it the rating I did but they continued to argue with me. So, that review wasn’t posted. I knew the emails would continue and I couldn’t win with the author. I’m tougher now and wish I’d published that review. It was an honest one and wasn’t mean. I just didn’t want the hassle of dealing with an author that couldn’t accept my rating.

I thought I knew what I was getting when I started reading this short story. Not what I got, for sure. In a good way though. I felt unsettled from the get go. Knew something was off. Thought I knew what that was. Boy, was I wrong. The Behrg socked it to me. What a twisted bit of fun.

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Synopsis

Every action has a consequence. But when Li posts a one-star review of a novel on her book blog, the results are far more frightening than she could ever have imagined.

Not every story was meant to have a happy ending.

ONE STAR is a previously unpublished horror short story, being released in The Behrg’s upcoming short story collection–“The Passengers You Cannot See.” It is the author’s love letter to book bloggers and reviewers, and thus is being offered as a free download to any book reviewer in part to thank all those who have been a part of the author’s journey. And if you haven’t yet been a part, there’s no better time than now to jump in that car and ride along. Oh, the vistas you will see.

Amazon

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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If you’re like me, you have a pile of books beckoning to you from your lists. Carole hosts this fun feature where you can share some of those older books and perhaps nudge you to finally read them. If you want to join in on the fun, head over to Carole’s Random Life In Books and leave a link to your post.
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Megalodon

  by Eric S. Brown

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Genre: Horror

Synopsis

Dr. Leia Carpenter arrives aboard Sonar Platform 1 as the biggest storm of the season is closing in on the top secret research facility. Her job to confirm or debunk the results of the experiments being conducted there quickly becomes a desperate battle for survival. Carpenter finds herself pitted against not only the raging storm and enemy agents but against a prehistoric creature that should not exist- a giant Megalodon with an equally large appetite and a burning desire for vengeance against those who have held it captive.

Amazon

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I added this book back in June of 2016. I’ve read a bunch of Eric’s books and had so much fun. Can’t believe I overlooked this! I’ll take care of that immediately. This is a short story series like some of his Bigfoot ones. If I enjoy this, I’ll read the rest.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2018! I did this last year and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

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The Tent

by Kealan Patrick Burke

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Genre:  Horror / Short Story

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My Review

While browsing my Kindle for something creepy to read I came across this book. What? A Kealan Patrick Burke book that has been hiding from me. I’m sure you know what happened next. I immediately started reading it.

We begin with an old man and his dog on a porch. The quiet is shattered by the dog’s piercing barks. It won’t shut up so the man enters the woods to see what’s what. There, he finds a tent, and the story truly begins.

Being told from two perspectives, that of the man and that of a family of campers, worked great for me. I wanted to know what would happen to the man and his dog, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened to the not so happy couple and their boy.

There’s a reason scary stories are told around campfires. One, to scare you. Two, to warn you not to go camping. And Kealan gives us an all new monster to worry about.

I loved this spooky tale. Would have loved it as a longer book too. The attention to detail, character development and atmosphere of doom was just right. No easy thing with fewer words. The author did it so well.

Grab your insect repellent and join us around the campfire. Just ignore the rustling sounds from the woods. I’m sure you parked your tent in the permitted area.

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Synopsis

The perfect getaway…

The perfect place to hide…

Hocking Hills, Ohio is an oasis for campers, hikers, nature enthusiasts, and for those who just want to get away and lose themselves in the wild.

And as long as you follow your guide’s advice and stay within the permitted areas, you can expect to survive the night.

Because deep within the dark woods, something insidious awaits, something few have ever seen, something ancient, unknowable, and insatiable.

If you go down to these woods today, you won’t live to see the sunrise…

A brand new novella from the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of THE TURTLE BOY and KIN.

Amazon / B&N / Kobo

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The above cover is the one I own.

Here is a newer version.

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Which do you prefer?

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’ll be sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to

get those scares on for the 31st!

Welcome to Freakin Fridays, where I share my reviews of books that scare you, thrill you, and get those endorphins pumping.

Today I’m sharing a short horror story, The Doll. Grabbed it free from Amazon. It’s still free. If you want a copy click on the cover.

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The Doll

by J.C. Martin

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Genre:  Horror / Short Story

My Review

I watched a movie about dolls hanging in trees. Can’t remember the name of it. Actually, I think it was like a mini series. While the legend behind the dolls was different from this book, it stayed with me, making it an easy choice to read The Doll.

This is a short story, coming in at around 30 pages. Just long enough to put the scare on ya.

Joyce and her young daughter, Taylor, visit The Island of the Dolls while on a vacation. It’s got dolls of all kinds hanging in the trees and comes with a creepy legend.  Taylor falls in love with one of the dolls and soon she starts to change. What followed her home? What does it want? Need? How far will it go?

 I kept thinking of that short film with Karen Black in the Trilogy Of Terror. You know it? The ugly tribal doll. It’s chain falls off. It stalks her in her apartment. You can hear the pitter patter as it runs after her. Super creep!

This might not have a doll chasing the girl, but it oozes tension. You keep waiting for something bad to happen. The combination of eerie dolls and Palo Mayombe, the dark practice of Santeria, ensures something bad will occur.

The author got creative with this little tale, filling it with atmosphere and suspense. And it’s got a ‘killer’ ending.

   4  Stars

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Synopsis

The Island of the Dolls is a strange and eerie tourist destination in Mexico, where hundreds of decomposing dolls hang from trees like grisly Christmas ornaments. On a trip to the island, Joyce Parker’s daughter falls in love with a beautiful but sinister doll. Soon after, she starts developing strange mannerisms that concerns Joyce. Her research into the doll’s past reveals a dark history, and the curse of a lonely child spirit.

Amazon

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Dolla are such creepy things. They are perfect for horror stories. Here are some other books I’ve read with creepy dolls in them.

Porcelain

by William Hage

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My Review

As a little girl, I wasn’t crazy about dolls. Sure, I had my barbies, but those bigger dolls, the ones that were almost actual size, with those creepy eyes, nope. I didn’t like them. It always felt they were watching me, their eyes following me. Now, all grown up, I still don’t like them.

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.

Once the doll began it’s rampage, I asked myself what I would do. Would I take it back where I got it from? I had a feeling either the old woman or the place wouldn’t be there anymore. Or, the doll would just return to get me so why bother. I’d just have to figure out how to deal with it.

 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.

5 Stars

Amazon

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This one is free on Amazon too. Click on the cover to get your copy!

Rag Doll

by Troy McCombs

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My Review

At about 14 pages, I hardly blinked before I was finished reading Rag Doll.

Lucas’s young daughter Lucy just has to have the rag doll. She discovered it in a pile of stuff at a yard sale.

The thing is frayed and battered, ugly actually, but she wants it and so Lucas buys it for her.

Here’s where the author sets the tone. It’s dark now and a thunder storm is raging. A must for most horror settings.

The rag dolls name is Sandy and it will come as no surprise that the she comes to life.

The author even throws in a babysitter. Poor thing. She must be the sacrificial lamb.

There are some creepy scenes that reminded me of Dean Koontz’ Tick Tock and voodoo dolls.

You get just enough to connect with characters, kind of recognize them, and then the fun begins. There are no wasted words. The author goes straight to the gut.

I never get tired of this kind of horror story. I suspend my disbelief and dive in, getting all kinds of creeped out and having fun.

The ending is deliciously horrific.

4 Stars

Amazon

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Bad Juju

by Dina Rae

Bad Juju

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Genre: Horror

My Review

Tom and Jessica Novak are proud to be doing God’s work. They’ve traveled to Port au-Prince as part of a missionary group with others of their church. They’re going to help with rebuilding the island after the 7.0 earthquake that shook all of Haiti, causing massive destruction.

Their 15-year-old son Henry’s Asperger’s Syndrome had them questioning their decision. He’s intelligent and quite functional, but changes in routine, surroundings and new faces could cause problems. Henry doesn’t communicate well or understand social interaction.

But Henry’s the one that urged them to go. He’s been obsessed with Haiti. So here they are, the whole family, including Henry’s younger sister Natalie, who’d rather be back home. This is not her idea of a great summer vacation.

Since Henry’s been doing so well, they decide to extend their stay. If they had only left earlier, they wouldn’t be searching for their missing son. Henry has simply vanished and wandering away from the protection of the armed camp is dangerous. There are a lot of bad people out there and he wouldn’t stand a chance against them.

If they had only known the reason Henry wandered away, they never would have brought him there.

My favorite character is Jake. He befriends Henry when they meet in detention class. They aren’t really bad boys, just a couple of kids who got in a little trouble.

Jake is a kind-hearted boy, helping out the elderly residents in his trailer park. He does odd jobs, cleans house and run errands for the less able ones. You wonder how he turned out so well when you learn he suffers violent beatings from his uncle. After losing his parents he came to live with his aunt and uncle and his aunt suffers the same abuse.

Jake brings Henry home with him after school to introduce him to his favorite neighbor, Lucien.

Lucien is a powerful bokor, a voodoo priest, and with his black skin, unruly, long white hair and piercing eyes, he looks every bit the part.

It becomes a regular routine for the boys to visit with Lucien after school and after much pleading, he begins to teach them about Vodun, the voodoo religion, beginning with simple spells and hexes.

Lucien feels death coming for him and can’t bear the thought of all his vast knowledge and power going with him to the grave.

After Jake receives another very brutal and bloody beating, the three decide to create a voodoo doll to rid Jake of his uncle.

This is where it all starts to go weird.

Bad Juju was a surprise. I thought it was going to be all about voodoo, raising the dead, and voodoo dolls. Well, it was. I learned how to do voodoo, what the religion is about, good and dark arts of it, and how to raise someone from the dead. Some of it creeped me out, but a lot of it was really funny.

Having the characters as teen-age boys made this story. Boys will be boys and they had me rocking and  rolling! I can’t wait for you to meet the dead guy.

Getting back to the surprise part, there were several deeper subjects tackled throughout this book and I could tell the author did a lot of research and included that knowledge in the story to make it believable and engaging.

If you’re looking for something different, look no further. Bad Juju has plenty of interesting characters, some tough topics, plenty of laughs, and lots of scary voodoo magic. Oh Yeah, I almost forgot the zombie!

I felt like I got a crash course in voodoo, like voodoo for dummies.

4 Stars

Currently unavailable.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

Anthony has a new zombie story, just released. Can’t wait to tell you all about it.

And he’s offering it free today. Click on the cover or links below to grab your free copy!

Come on back every Sunday until The Walking Dead Series is over. There will be a different free zombie book by Anthony every Sunday.

The Dead Of Winter

by Anthony Renfro

This is the original cover art. Wanted to use it in case it’s still this one posted on Amazon.

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My Review

You never know what you’re going to get when you meet this author’s zombies. In one book, they were singing Christmas carols. LOL At one point in the story I thought I knew what they’d be doing. But nope, it was something else. Still made me laugh, until I took the time to picture them. Then it was pretty creepy.

The story beings with two strangers meeting on a brutally cold winter’s day. They decide to stick together. The odds are better for survival that way. Two pairs of eyes and ears to warn of approaching zombies.

It’s not long before they run into trouble, narrowly escaping with their lives. It’s now become vital that they find a place to hole up. The zombies don’t get tired. They don’t feel the cold. And they do not stop coming.

From the mind of Anthony Renfro comes a new kind of zombie,. A smart zombie, kind of. They do think, but that doesn’t necessarily make them that smart. Several scenes have me laughing and cringing.

The characters are few. Just two men and a cat. Not including the hoard of zombies.

It’s these characters and their struggles to survive that drive this short story. Make it a deep experience.

The harsh environment of cold winter makes their struggles even harder. It’s bad enough they have to worry about food and warmth. There’s also those zombies who don’t feel the cold.

Not one to shy from gory details, you get plenty here. And the author’s macabre sense of humor shines in the end. You won’t see it coming. Just like one of the characters didn’t. Since it made me laugh, I guess I have a macabre sense of humor too.

5 Stars

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And this is the new cover.

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THE OPENING

Eric surveyed the road ahead and behind him. The world was filled with death. The highway was littered with silent, rusting cars sitting on rotting tires, waiting on drivers who were never going to drive them again. Ripped apart, torn open and partially eaten corpses littered the ground in various forms of decay. The corpses ranged from children to elderly adults. The zombies had done a number on them when they went into their “feeding frenzy.” The bodies that weren’t on the ground or pulled from their cars were still seated, and most of them still strapped into their seat belts, like they were still driving to whatever destination they had been going to before the world fell into death’s harsh embrace.

Eric breathed in deep and felt the cold air settle into his lungs. Bitter winter winds whipped at his face and tore at his clothes, trying to get inside the protective layers. Flakes of snow fell from the sky, nothing more than flurries.

“It’s something,” Eric replied, looking down at the white and grey cat in its carrier. He then put his eyes back on the man sitting with his back against a car.

Synopsis

Will they be food for the zombies?

This short story is about two men trying to survive an apocalyptic nightmare in a harsh frozen landscape. Hoping to find warmth and shelter. Hoping to ride out the night. Hoping the zombies don’t find them first.

Links on Amazon: US / UK / AU / CA

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And a surprise freebie.

Click on the cover or links below to grab a free copy while it lasts!

Also with a new cover.

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Synopsis

Dawn stopped at the edge of the parking lot. What she saw in front of her was an apocalyptic nightmare. It was a picture of mass panic frozen in a time of chaos.

The parking lot looked like a war zone–cars burned to metal bodies, cars crashed together, cars turned over, shopping carts everywhere and in all kinds of positions, (food and supplies in these carts long since looted), and bodies, lots and lots of dead bodies. Most of them had been laying out here rotting in the hot sun for far too long, and they were now decayed and gooey, slipping back into the Earth one second at a time.

She closed her eyes, held the gold cross on a chain around her neck, prayed, and then crossed the parking lot.

GET IT HERE FREE TODAY

Amazon

EBook: US / UK / AU / CA

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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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

Forest Of Memory

by Mary Robinette Kowal

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Genre: Fantasy / Science Fiction

My 56 from the paperback.

If you’ve been paying attention, you know he lied about how long I was unconscious.

If you expect me to tell you what happened during that time, I hate to break it to you, but I don’t know.

And yes, I had to pee.

Read on if you want to know more.

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Synopsis

Katya deals in Authenticities and Captures, trading on nostalgia for a past long gone. Her clients are rich and they demand items and experiences with only the finest verifiable provenance. Other people’s lives have value, after all.

But when her A.I. suddenly stops whispering in her ear she finds herself cut off from the grid and loses communication with the rest of the world.

The man who stepped out of the trees while hunting deer cut her off from the cloud, took her A.I. and made her his unwilling guest.

There are no Authenticities or Captures to prove Katya’s story of what happened in the forest. You’ll just have to believe her…

Amazon

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This is a short read. Only 88 pages. But so fascinating. I’ll be reviewing it soon.

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

Until the next time….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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