Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid 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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Free Computer Seeks photo and picture

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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 Girlfriend

by R.L. Stine

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Genre: Horror / YA

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MY REVIEW

Scotty did that bad thing that many young men do. He cheated on his girlfriend, Lora. And now he’s gonna pay for it. The other girl, Shannon. won’t leave him alone. She’ll go any lengths to keep him. “You’re my baby now.”

Scotty made me angry. He cheated on his girlfriend. I was surprised that he turned into a sympathetic character for me. It was a common mistake where you whether you were young or older but not wiser. I started to feel sorry for him. Especially when Shannon got more and more determined to make him hers.

R. L. Stine always promises a good scare. Beware…… This one is scary good.

4 STARS

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Synopsis

She’s bad. So bad…

Scotty has the perfect life. And the perfect girlfriend. But one weekend while she’s away, Scotty goes just a little…astray.

Suddenly he has a new girlfriend. One who won’t go away. His one wild night has become a nightmare.

Because his new girlfriend has decided that she loves Scotty…to death.

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.

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot
on the HOUSE OF ELEPHANTS by Claribel A. Ortega Blog Tour hosted by 
Rockstar Book Tours.

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Check out my review and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

HOUSE OF ELEPHANTS (Witchlings #3)

Author: Claribel A. Ortega

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Pub. Date: October 1, 2024

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 432

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Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/HOUSE-OF-ELEPHANTS 

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From New York Times bestselling
and award-winning author Claribel A. Ortega: The third bookin the spellbinding
Witchlings series!

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It’s been months since the end of the
Golden Frog Games, and a cure for the hex that turned young witches to stone
still hasn’t been found. Seven and Thorn want nothing more than to find a way
to heal their friends, but everything they try ends in failure.

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When the Black Moon Ceremony arrives
earlier than expected, Seven and Thorn take it as a chance to welcome any new
Spares into their coven. But rather than welcoming a few Spares like they
thought, all the witchlings in the ceremony are chosen to
enter the Spare coven!

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The new Spares are met with anger
from the Hill Society. They create more unfair laws that ban Spares from using
magic and being equals in Twelve Towns society! On top of all that, Spares
start disappearing. And no one seems to care.

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As Seven and Thorn struggle to find a
cure for the stone hex and to stop the Twelve Town’s unfair treatment of Spares
once and for all, they discover a piece of hidden history that will change
everything-if they can get anyone to listen to them.

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Grab the first 2 books in the
WITCHLINGS series now!

 

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MY REVIEW

Such a magical, fun read. There was magic, witches, danger, silliness and fun characters. I started reading this on a Saturday morning and my cuppa hot tea was cold when I finished. Read it straight through. And had a smile on my face.

The cover is bold and exciting. And I love the fun illustrations at the beginning of the chapters.

This was my first foray into the Witchlings series and I had so much fun. I easily jumped into the series without having read the prior books and it would be great to go back and read from the beginning. Whether you are a young reader or an adult, you’ll have a blast with it.

4 STARS

 

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About Claribel A. Ortega:

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Claribel A. Ortega, New York
Times bestselling author of
Ghost Squad, Witchlings, and Frizzy (Pura
Belpre Award-winner), is a former reporter who writes middle grade and young
adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. When she’s not busy turning
her obsession with eighties pop culture, magic, and video games into books,
she’s cohosting her podcasts Write or Die and Bad Author Book Club
and helping authors navigate publishing with her consulting business, GIFGRRL.
Claribel has been featured on BuzzFeed, NPR, Good Morning America, and
Deadline. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at
@Claribel_Ortega and on her website at claribelortega.com.
 

Sign up for Claribel’s newsletter!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest | Tumblr | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

 

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/30/2024

Daily
Waffle

Excerpt

10/1/2024

Fire
and Ice Reads

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10/2/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

10/3/2024

onemused

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10/4/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

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10/5/2024

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Week Two:

10/6/2024

@_lbee2ndl_

IG Review

10/7/2024

@katherinebichler

TikTok Post

10/8/2024

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review/IG Post

10/9/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

10/10/2024

foxingontheedges

Review/IG Post

10/11/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

10/12/2024

@parkhopandpages

IG Review

Week Three:

10/13/2024

@mjreadsmagic

Review/IG Post

10/14/2024

thefashionistfiles

Review/IG Post

10/15/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Review

10/16/2024

avainbookland

IG Review

10/17/2024

FUONLYKNEW

Review

10/18/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/19/2024

Two Points of Interest

Review

Week Four:

10/20/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/21/2024

The Litt Librarian

Review/IG Post

10/22/2024

Deal sharing aunt

Review/IG Post

10/23/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

10/24/2024

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

10/25/2024

@pagesforpaige

IG Review

 

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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.

 

THE BLUFF
by Bonnie Traymore
October 15-18, 2024 Book Blast

 

 

Synopsis:
“What do you have to lose, Kate?” Ryan asked me, as we stood on the bluff looking out on Lake Michigan.
Turns out, almost everything.

When I first moved from Manhattan to this small town six years ago, I worried about many things. I worried about finding a job. I worried that I’d be bored. I worried that my relationship with charming photographer Ryan Breslow was moving too fast. But I never worried about whether the ground beneath my feet would crumble—both literally and figuratively. My marriage didn’t go as I’d imagined. A year ago, Ryan met his untimely death in a car accident that’s still under investigation. Isolated and alone, all I wanted was to sell my home and leave Crest Lake and its painful memories behind. But with my home inching ever closer to the edge of the crumbling bluff, the property has become unmarketable. All of us on the lakefront have lost chunks of property, and tempers are at a boiling point about what to do next. And now, on the evening of a contentious vote about how to fix this pressing issue, my nemesis on the shoreline committee has been murdered. I know how it looks, but it’s not what it seems. But I have to get my plan passed and cash out. Because I do have secrets. And they won’t stay buried forever.

Praise for THE BLUFF:

“With a slow-burn intensity that explodes into a jaw-dropping finale, this psychological thriller is both bingeworthy and delicious. Traymore is a master of layered tension, and she left me guessing until the last page.” ~ Noelle W. Ihli, #1 bestselling author of Gray After Dark “With its high-stakes plot and complex characters, the novel is a masterclass in building tension and intrigue.” ~ NetGalley “Gripping and full of surprises, The Bluff is a clever psychological suspense with layered characters and an atmospheric setting. Traymore masterfully ratchets up the tension little-by-little until the shocking, explosive end.” ~ Tracey Devlyn, USA Today bestselling author “This was a slow burn psychological suspense that heated up to a twisty, thrilling finale. A domestic thriller with a timely topic in the background. Great setting. Highly recommended.” ~ NetGalley

 

Book Details:

Genre: Domestic Thriller, Psychological Thriller

Published by: Self/ Pathways Publishing imprint Publication Date: September 1, 2024 Number of Pages: 277 PRINT ISBN: 979-8218417543

Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Enjoy this peek inside:
PROLOGUE
Doug Mitchell takes in the shoreline of Lake Michigan, letting his Sundancer drift around in the currents. The sight of his house high atop the bluff reminds him of what’s at stake. The vote is tonight, and it’s sure to be a doozy of an evening. There’s a cool wind whipping up what little sand remains on the shrinking beach, and he can see the bare patch of earth where the southern stairs collapsed two years ago. But he feels safe and warm on the deck with the soon-to-be-setting sun still overhead, beaming down on him. It’s not the same shoreline it was decades ago, but then the world is an ever-changing place. He knows this, although he doesn’t let on about it to most people. Right now, his mind is drifting to another place, and he feels a delightful stirring. He pictures the curve of her back. Her slender, graceful neck. The look on her face when he makes her moan. He takes another sip of his cocktail, closes his eyes, and sinks into it. After a few minutes, a different kind of feeling washes over him. He’s dizzy. And tired. Way too tired. He’s barely had one drink. He opens his eyes, and the world appears blurry. He feels clumsy. Almost immobile. Shaking his head, he tries to snap out of it, but everything’s… Fuzzy. Confused. Off. He came out here alone, he thought, although he didn’t check the cabin before leaving the dock. A figure is standing on the deck now, too far away from him to make out who it is. It’s someone, though, and even with his mind dulled, he knows this isn’t good. Seized with panic, he struggles to pull himself out of the quagmire. Finding a last burst of strength, he attempts to spring up and go on the offensive, but his legs are like rubber. His body rocks forward a bit, accomplishing nothing. He sinks back into oblivion as the figure approaches. You?

ONE

Kate
I arrive five minutes late, breathless from my run in from the parking lot. The proceedings haven’t started yet. I rush in, whip off my scarf and coat, and take a seat. Just in time. The stage is set for a contentious evening. Tonight, the town council will vote on the pressing issue of the failing bluff. I head up the shoreline committee, and I’ve been invited here this evening to present my plan, one of two the board will consider. “Hi Kate,” the board member next to me says. “Glad you made it.” She gives my shoulder a squeeze, confirming that I’ve got her vote. “Of course,” I say. “Sorry I’m late.” A tingling sensation creeps up my spine, and a feeling of dread squeezes my stomach like a vise. Perhaps it’s the weather. It’s early fall, but it may as well be the dead of winter. It’s bitter cold and gray, with intermittent downpours. The howling wind whipping off Lake Michigan has been keeping me up at night. It’s the same kind of weather we were having when my husband met his untimely death a year ago, which is likely stirring up some buried feelings. A widow at forty-one. Not the way I expected my life to go when I moved here six years ago. “The meeting of the Crest Lake Township board of directors is now in session,” the president proclaims, banging his gavel with the countenance of a man desperate for power and relevance. Sam Bolger’s his name. Sam takes role, and it’s lost on nobody that Doug Mitchell is absent. I fiddle with a strand of hair, twirling it between my fingers. It looks darker in this light, almost auburn. My eyes search the room, and hushed tones fill the silence as people whisper to each other. Where the hell is Doug? Are we really going to start without him? I hope he’s okay. His allies look concerned, naturally, but even his opponents seem troubled, although that could be an act. It would be unacceptable to show their glee, in the event they were feeling it. But I’m not feeling smug or excited or victorious. I’m feeling nervous. Doug is scheduled to present the opposing plan, and there’s no way he would miss this meeting. Tempers have been flaring over the issue of what to do about the eroding bluff. The police had to be called during the last public hearing. And there have even been a few death threats, anonymous posts that most of us brushed off. Silly, really. We’re all on the same team, trying to fight mother nature. Desperate to give ourselves the illusion of control. Struggling to keep our large, lakefront luxury homes from plummeting onto the shrinking shoreline that hugs the massive body of water eighty feet below the fragile bluff. On some level, we all know that whatever we do will only be a stop-gap in the big picture of geological time, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s what’s making people so angry. Humanity’s stubborn insistence that we can bend the planet to our will. Because it’s obvious that we can’t, and perhaps it’s easier to blame each other than to face the realization that humans are at the mercy of forces we don’t really understand and can no longer control. The president seems to be stalling, fumbling with his computer as he tries to pull up the agenda and project it onto the TV screen. The board member to my right shares a theory with me. Perhaps Doug’s pulling a stunt for dramatic effect, she whispers in my ear. Maybe the president’s in on it—he’s on Doug’s side—and Doug will come bursting in at the last minute, waving some new study in his hands. But after a few moments, it’s clear to everyone that’s not going to happen. Sam tables the vote for the time being and moves on to other issues. The board gets to work. There are a handful of mundane items on the agenda aside from the one that matters to me. What to do about the shoreline. I wait patiently as the board members work through other business, waiting for Doug’s arrival. He’s a board member and I’m not, and I’m surprised that they didn’t ask me to sit outside. I wonder what will happen if he doesn’t show. Will they postpone the vote, or will it go my way by default, with my proposal the only option? Item after item is addressed, and I can feel my pulse starting to race as they tick them off. Parcel tax proposal. New library budget. Changes to the vacation rental rules. My stomach is in knots. Because if the vote goes my way, it will be a Pyrrhic victory, inflicting massive economic consequences on my lake front neighbors. Doug’s plan to simply shore up the bluff at the toe, the spot where the waves hit and wear it down, is the simple one. The less expensive one. But it’s got the environmental groups up in arms. They’ve grown increasingly vocal over the last few years. The environmentalists want to force the removal of all existing seawalls, like the one Doug Mitchell installed in front of his home, and ban all such structures. Let nature take its course. Force lakefront owners to move back their homes or demolish them if they are in danger of falling off the bluff. But none of them are on the shoreline committee, and none are on the board. And they’ll be upset whichever way it goes tonight. My plan is a compromise of sorts. But if I win, there will be consequences. Expensive ones that will dramatically reduce some people’s property values and limit beach access for everyone. And lots of visceral anger, much of it directed at me, especially from my wealthy lakefront neighbors who will absorb most of the cost. Several million dollars, split between ten of us. Sweat beads form at my temples as the minutes tick along to the rhythm of the cheap wall clock mounted above my seat. Why do they keep it so hot in here? The council meets at the town center, a small, institutional structure that used to serve as a middle school. The chairs are small and uncomfortable. I sit up and twist from side to side, trying to stop my lower back from cramping up. After an hour or so, there’s nothing left on the agenda but the bluff, and I’m wondering if they’ll postpone my presentation and the vote. A knock at the door startles us. Police, a voice calls out. The door opens, and a young officer enters tentatively, crouching his way into the room. It’s a tight community, and he’s likely a bit intimidated. We’re a powerful bunch. If he ran into one of us around town, I imagine he’d be deferential. But this isn’t a coffee shop or a grocery store, and this isn’t a social call. After a moment, he straightens up, and his face registers the requisite look of authority. “Doug Michell’s been reported missing,” he says. “He went out on his boat earlier today and never returned. The Coast Guard is conducting a search.” My stomach sinks, and gasps echo around the room. We all sit with the shocking news for a few moments as the officer bites his lower lip. He continues. “We’re going to need to interview all of you. Detective Whittaker is on his way. Please stay seated and be patient.” And with that, the vote is delayed. *** Travis Whittaker leans back in his chair, eyeing me. I can see tension lines in the detective’s forehead. He seems to have aged since I last saw him, although his thick, dark head of hair reveals few strands of gray. It’s his eyes. They look heavy and full, like the weight of the world sits behind them. He’s been working his way through the group, and I’m second-to-last. It would have been better to get it over with. Waiting around only increased the tension. Nobody really knew what to say to each other, so there was nothing but awkward silence filling the space between us as we stood in the hallway waiting for our turns to go in and be interviewed. “So, Ms. Breslow. You arrived five minutes late,” he says. “I just said that,” I reply, immediately regretting my sharp tone. The detective’s nostrils flare, ever so slightly. He’s an attractive man for his age—early fifties or so—with a neatly trimmed beard and dark, haunting eyes. Right now, though, he looks menacing. “Yes. I was about five minutes late,” I say, in a softer tone. My throat feels as if it’s about to close. He narrows his eyes on me and I look away. I catch myself absent-mindedly stroking my neck and stop myself, placing my hands on the table top. This feels all too familiar. “And why were you late?” “The rain,” I offer. “It got heavy when I was driving down Lakeside.” I tap my fingers on the table top as I search for something to add. “I had to drive more slowly.” He nods and jots something down on his notepad. Almost everyone at the meeting had to drive down that road in the rain. It’s not a very good excuse, but it’s all I can give him. “Did Doug Mitchell give you any indication that he was planning to miss the meeting tonight?” he asks. “No, not at all,” I say. “We were all shocked when he didn’t show up tonight.” “Have you heard from him today?” he asks. I shake my head no. “When’s the last time you had any contact with him?” he asks. I look off to the side, struggling to keep myself focused and calm. I turn back to him. “In person?” I ask. “In general,” Whittaker replies. “We’ve been on the same email and text chain over the last week or so. Exchanging information, in anticipation of the vote.” “You didn’t answer my question.” I swallow. He’s already seen our text stream, I assume. “Yesterday. Around seven in the evening.” “Was that an email or a text?” “It was a text.” “And what did it say?” I pull up my phone, hold it in my palm, and let him read the exchange. His eyes rest on my last line to Doug Mitchell.
If you do that, I’ll bury you.
It would have been less stressful for me if Whittaker’s face had registered some kind of surprise. Instead, he closes his notepad and puts his pen down. I struggle to keep a neutral look on my face. Then he informs me that I can leave and asks me to send in the next board member. I start for the door but then turn back to him. “In paperwork,” I offer. “I meant I’d bury him in paperwork.” Then I turn away again and continue to the door. “Don’t leave town,” he calls out. “We’re sure to have more questions as the investigation develops.” I nod and keep walking. *** As my car winds up the dark, curvy road to my lakefront home, I struggle to steady my shaking hands. This night already had me on edge, and I can feel my pulse racing as I reach the bend in the road, near the top. The part where the drop-off is the steepest. They replaced the guardrail with another one that looks exactly the same. What was the point of that? Sometimes I can ignore it and drive right past. On sunny days, when the sky is bright and the birds chirp and all is well in the universe. It looks so different in the daylight. But tonight is foggy and foreboding, and I drive slowly. So slowly, I’d probably get a ticket if an officer was behind me. I don’t look to my right though, because then I have to picture it, and imagine the look of terror on his face as he plunged through the rail and over the side. What was he thinking? Or was he not thinking at all? Did he scream? Or was there no time? A chill runs up my spine as I turn carefully around the bend and breathe a sigh of relief. Sometimes, I get a sensation that he’s in the car with me, and I can almost feel his breath on my neck. And now Doug’s missing, and I have no idea what to do next or what this means for me and my shoreline plan. All I know is I have to sell my house get out of this town, before I lose my mind. Or worse. *** Excerpt from The Bluff by Bonnie Traymore. Copyright 2024 by Bonnie Traymore. Reproduced with permission from Bonnie Traymore. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Bonnie Traymore:

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Bonnie Traymore

Bonnie Traymore is the Amazon International Bestselling author of six domestic/psychological thrillers. Her “popcorn thrillers” feature strong but relatable female protagonists who peel back the layers of suburban American life and give readers a peek inside. The plots explore difficult topics such as jealousy, infidelity, murder, and the impact of psychological disorders, but she also includes bits of romance and humor to lighten the mood from time to time. She’s an active status member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America.

Catch Up With Bonnie Traymore: www.BonnieTraymore.com Goodreads BookBub – @btraymore Instagram – @bonnietraymore Threads – @bonnietraymore Twitter/X – @btraymore Facebook – @bonnietraymore

 

 

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TThis is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Bonnie Traymore. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

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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.

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Penalties and Proposals

by Anne Kemp

 

 

 

(Love on Thin Ice)
Publication date: October 17th 2024
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

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It only takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch. When life hands me reformed hockey star Noah Beaumont, AGAIN, am I supposed to make cider or is there a sweeter surprise in store?

Willa: I never wanted to see Noah Beaumont again. EVER. When I kicked him off my set after he showed up intoxicated, his PR team tried to blacklist me. I made it over that hurdle, made a name for myself, and I’m heading to Maple Falls to cover a charity ice hockey team that’s making headlines…only to find out I have to work with HIM.

But this Noah seems different. He’s reformed and seems to be determined to show me he’s changed. Can I trust him, or will he be the same disaster I remember?

Noah: I’ve spent years trying to make amends for my past mistakes, questioning if I still belong in the world of hockey or if it’s time to step back, be ‘normal’. But seeing Willa again brings everything into sharp focus. She’s the woman who’s haunted my thoughts since the day I met her.

Now, she’s here in Maple Falls, and I’m determined to prove I’m not the same man she remembers. I want her to see the real me, the man I’ve worked so hard to become. Can I convince her to give me a second chance?

Penalties and Proposals is part of the Love on Thin Ice sweet small town hockey romcom series. It’s a second chance enemies to lovers story with forced proximity in this small town romance with all the sizzle and chemistry, but none of the spice.

Content warning: This IS a lighthearted and fun romantic comedy, but there are subjects mentioned in this book like parents passing away and former substance abuse.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“Is this the only table you have available?”

My eyes cannot be deceiving me. I’m standing in a restaurant with no one else in it, save another couple at the opposite end of the room. Surely the only table they have for me to sit at is not the one that happens to be directly beside Noah? Not to mention the fact the place is small enough I’d practically be sitting at his table anyway, the tables are that close to one another.

The young girl looks at me woefully. “I’m really sorry, but we’re full with reservations tonight.” Her tone is apologetic, and she’s young, so I’m not going to debate the situation … but still. The odds. I flex my hands, stretch my fingers, and take a deep breath, trying to fight back my irritation when I see a sliver of my tattoo under my sleeve.

Believe. Ha. I almost snort out loud. How about I believe I’m Harry Potter and I cast a quick spell to time travel to another restaurant in another town altogether?

“What about the bar?” I nod my head toward the old wooden bar where an older woman is busy making drinks and watching me through narrowed eyes. “Looks like there’s space there.”

“Our bartender isn’t on duty for another hour.” When I shoot her a questioning look, obviously confused by the woman pouring herself a soda from the beverage gun, the young girl stammers. “I’ve been asked to not have anyone sit there until his shift begins.”

So this fact leaves me to be seated by the blight that plagues me. Yes, I’m being ridiculously overdramatic, but the thought of chewing my dinner and having to stare at Noah, or work hard to look anywhere in this room besides at Noah, turns me off in the biggest way. Like a light switch after a big night out. I didn’t go to that party tonight because I wanted some time alone, time to myself to plan out the schedule I need to juggle in the days ahead.

“Fine,” I say with a sigh, pulling out my notebook and phone. When I look Noah’s way, he’s watching me, his expression frozen. I can’t read him, but he could be as weirded out that I’m about to be seated beside him as I am. I’ll save us both the trouble. I pick the chair where my back will be facing him and pull it out and settle in.

The hostess hands me the menu and asks for a drink order before she disappears from sight. I make a mental note to apologize to her. Poor thing. It’s not her fault she’s seated me next to the devil.

“Hi, Willa.” Of course his voice is like hot chocolate. The devil’s would be velvety and delicious. My instincts tell me to ignore him, but I’m here to work. I can hear my mom’s voice in the back of my mind telling me to play nice.

I pick up the menu and fake peruse it. Fake because of course I can’t think about anything else right now except that he’s right there.

“Hello, Noah. Fancy running into you at dinner.”

“A man’s gotta eat,” he responds.

“No doubt, but when I heard about the party happening in town tonight, I figured you’d be the first one signed up to be there.” I flip a page of the menu a little more aggressively than intended and manage to rip it a tiny bit. Must. Breathe.

“Contrary to past reports, I’m not the guy who goes to all the parties any longer.”

I want to turn around and face him, see the look on his face, but the stubborn part of me refuses. He’s the one who is engaging me; I can only imagine that eventually my lack of wanting to chat will catch on and he’ll focus on something else.

“So, you’re telling me a leopard can change his spots. That’s nice,” I manage to say, doubt dripping with each word. Holding my menu up in the air for him to see. “But, the jury’s still out as far as I’m concerned. If you’ll excuse me, I need to decide on my meal.”

There’s a pause before he answers. “Of course, sorry. I’ll leave you to it.”

A weight slides off my shoulders. Was it really that easy? I decide it has to be and go about choosing my meal, landing on the lasagna, then turning my attention to my notebook. This was to be a planning session for Noah’s photos amongst other work, and I intend to stay focused, even if he is right behind me and I can hear him breathing.

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About Author Anne Kemp:

Anne Kemp is a bestselling author of romantic comedies. She loves reading (and she does it ridiculously fast, too!), gluten-free baking (because everyone needs a hobby that makes them crazy), and finding time to binge-watch her favorite shows. She grew up in Maryland but made Los Angeles her home until she encountered her own real-life meet-cute at a friend’s wedding where she ended up married to one of the groomsmen. For real.

Anne now lives on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand, and even though she was married at Mt. Doom, no…she doesn’t have a Hobbit. However, she and her husband do have a terrier named George Clooney and when she’s not writing, she’s usually with them taking a long walk on the river by their home.

You can find Anne on her website – come say hi! She’d love to hear from you: www.annekemp.com

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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 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid 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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Free Computer Seeks photo and picture

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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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 Savage

by Thomas E. Sniegoski

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Genre: Horror / YA

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MY REVIEW

The synopsis and cover had me itching to read this. Had my fingers and toes crossed that it would live up to those. Sadly, I wasn’t wowed. It was okay. Just didn’t quite give me what I needed.

A violent storm is headed for the island. People were scrambling to find safety from it. But, there was more than the weather to worry about. Animals started running amok, attacking anyone they encountered. The deaths piled up. What caused the animals to act so strangely? Would anyone survive?

As I mentioned, the story didn’t wow me, but I did like it. There were some exciting attack scenes. Just needed something else. Not sure what though.

3 STARS

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Synopsis

Sidney and her friends must race to find the origin of a storm that has hit their small island home—turning every animal into savage weapons—in this suspenseful thriller from New York Times bestselling author, Thomas E. Sniegoski.

The future is looking bright for Sidney Moore as she as she gets ready to leave the small island of Benediction behind for one of Boston’s top veterinary schools. Only a few small bumps in the road to navigate before she can go—her father’s recovery from a debilitating stroke, and her own guilt for ending her relationship with her high school sweetheart. But she’s always been strong willed, and she’s not about to let anything stop her from achieving her goals.

Now a storm is bearing down on Benediction, a hurricane that will bring devastating winds and rain, rising tides…and something else. Something deadly; something that will transform all the things that creep, crawl, and flutter into instruments of terror and death.

The future is looking bright for Sidney Moore…if only she can survive the storm.

Amazon

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Murder on the Page (A Literary Dining Mystery)
by Daryl Wood Gerber

 

Murder on the Page (A Literary Dining Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – North Carolina
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies (October 22, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496748174
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496748171
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CTDKHJ4G

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Featuring twin hooks that cozy readers can’t get enough of—classic books and delicious food—this new series from the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling author of several much loved series, including the Fairy Garden Mysteries and the French Bistro Mysteries, is a delicious treat for mystery lovers, especially fans of Ellery Adams, Krista Davis, and Lauren Elliott.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a genuinely top-notch party must be in want of a theme. Allie Catt, caterer and personal chef in the beautiful mountain community of Asheville, North Carolina, has devised a winning formula by using her clients’ favorite books as inspiration. Her first themed event is based on Pride and Prejudice (Allie’s cat, Darcy, approves), and it’s so popular that soon she has grand ideas for future parties based on Rebecca, The Great Gatsby, Babette’s Feast and more.

Business is booming, and a rival catering company is fuming. But there’s a sting in the tale when the aunt of one of Allie’s clients and best friends, Tegan, is murdered. Tegan is the victim’s sole heir, and quickly becomes the main suspect. Allie has no doubts about her friend’s innocence, but how to prove it?

Once again, her love of literature comes to the rescue, and with some guidance from her favorite fictional detectives, including Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, Allie sifts through the clues.

With a little luck—and the kind of pluck that would make Elizabeth Bennett proud—she may be able to stop a killer from serving up a second course of murder . . .

About Daryl Wood Gerber

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Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author of the Literary Dining Mysteries, the Fairy Garden Mysteries and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense including the well-received The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, and the popular Aspen Adams suspense novels. Recently Daryl, who loves a challenge, published a Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays.  Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website: httsp://darylwoodgerber.com

Author Links: Website / Facebook / BookBub / YouTube / Instagram

Goodreads / TikTok / Amazon / Newsletter

Purchase Links 

AMAZON    BARNES AND NOBLE     BOOKSHOP.ORG    KOBO      MYSTERIOUS GALAXY

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 15 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

October 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

October 15 – Deal Sharing Aunt – REVIEW

October 16 – Reading With Mrs Leaf – RECIPE

October 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

October 16 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

October 17 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

October 18 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

October 18 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

October 19 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

October 19 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

October 20 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

October 20 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

October 21 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – REVIEW

October 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

October 21 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

October 21 – Ascroft, eh? – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

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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

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Transference

by Ian Patterson

 

Publication date: October 1st 2024
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

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Nicholas Fiveboroughs is a Sicko, someone that takes on others’ illnesses. In a city where diseases can be transferred, the rich buy longer lives without pain, and the poor get a short life of constant sickness. Maybe it was fate, or maybe someone is looking out for him, but after Nicholas barely survives his latest affliction, he gets the chance to try and change things. To finally stop the whole disease transfer network.

Tensions escalate as Nicholas infiltrates a higher society he doesn’t understand, and starts to fall for the very person he needs to manipulate to be successful. And between run-ins with a talking animal and genetically modified humans, the world around him just keeps getting stranger. Can Nicholas tear down the disease transfer architecture? And can he do it without losing his own humanity along the way?

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The Disease Transfer Machine, or the Box as we call it down here, was invented some time before the city. It’s always existed here, the primary thing shaping our lives. It sounds noble at first, the elimination of disease, until you realize it only works that way if you can afford it. For those of us in the lower levels, it’s the thing killing us. It’s the only job we can find. It’s the poison that we can’t stop eating.

Do I know how it works? Not a fucking clue. One person sits on each side of the giant metal box, various tubes extend from it and connect to each of them. There’s a giver’s seat and a receiver’s seat, and no one else in the room when they turn the thing on. It’s a strangely intimate thing, sitting across the room from your destroyer. There’s a feeling of great suction all over your body, and then the misery sets in. The symptoms start like a bucket of ice water dumped on your shoulders. I’ve always wondered what a great relief it must feel like on the other side.

The backbone of our economy is built on it. The very rich trade their diseases to the very poor for appropriate compensation agreed on by both parties. But realistically, when you’re poor enough you’re too constrained to know what appropriate compensation is. Some people have tried to create laws around it, establishing contractual requirements and base pay for different diseases. They don’t mean much though, there was always someone willing to go under the base pay, there was always someone that needed the money badly enough to take the risk. Laws just give the illusion that what’s happening is fair. Of course, it’s not.

This new caste of people, the perpetually ill, were lovingly nicknamed Sickos. The working poor hated them for the ease they got their money, the middle class decried the horrors of rampant capitalism they represented, and everyone tried to buy their services when their own bill came due.

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About Author Ian Patterson:

Ian Patterson is many things. Importantly here, he’s the author of Transference, Book One of the Narrator Cycle. He’s also an engineer, cyclist, foodie, coffee lover, cat dad, human dad, and reader of books. Preferably, thick books that deal with strange things and big ideas. He’s dreamed of being an author for decades, but finally began the journey with the birth of his first daughter. This is an objectively terrible time to start work that requires quiet concentration, and he knows it, but he loves the chaos nonetheless. He lives in Colorado with his wonderful family.

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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 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid 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!

.

Free Computer Seeks photo and picture

.

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!

~~~~~

 Camp Twisted Pine

by Ciera Burch

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Genre: Horror / Middle Grade / Mystery

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MY REVIEW

It’s weird how much I’m drawn to stories that involve summer camp. Probably because I never went to one. The author made me feel like I had after reading this book. Took me back too. To when we’d go to the summer cabin on the lake. “She hated how the trees blocked out the rest of the world, branches overlapping like the fingers of clasped hands, absorbing light and sound.”  I really felt that situation. That excitement and mystery and little bit of trepidation when I’d go for walks in the vast woods behind the cabin.

Naomi was a gem. She put on a brave face and tried to make the best of it when her parents announced they were getting divorced and the kids were being sent to summer camp. It didn’t seem so bad at first. But then people started disappearing. Something was out there in the woods. Naomi stepped up her game to save everyone. I’d like to think I was as brave as Naomi. Had her ingenuity. Who knows what I’d do. I’m thinking maybe I was lucky I never went to camp. LOL.

This was incredibly engaging. The characters were well written and spoke to me in their appropriate age voices. The adventures were fun. And the suspense and sense of danger had me burning the midnight oil to get to the end. Super fun for all ages.

5 STARS

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Synopsis

Whispering Pines meets Small Spaces in this spooky middle grade novel about a girl whose first summer camp experience is disrupted by a menacing creature abducting her fellow campers.

Eleven-year-old Naomi loves all things outdoors—birds and beetles, bats and bunnies—in theory. She explores nature in the best possible the cold, hard facts in books. So when her parents’ announcement of their impending divorce comes hand in hand with sending Naomi and her younger twin brothers to summer camp while they figure things out, it’s salt in the wound for Naomi and her avoidance of hands-on experience. Camp Twisted Pine could be worse. The counselors are nice, and Naomi likes her cabinmates, especially Jackie, whose blunt personality and frank dislike of the camp draws Naomi in quickly. Jackie is also hard of hearing and uses a hearing aid, and the girls quickly develop a routine of sign language lessons in their free time, which Naomi sees as a welcome break when all the s’mores-making and nature walks get to be a bit much. But the campers aren’t the only ones who roam the grounds of Camp Twisted Pine. When people start to go missing, including Jackie, Naomi has to find a way to save everyone—and herself. Her practical knowledge of the outdoors may still be rudimentary at best, but she has years of studying and the scientific method to fall back on. Can Naomi identify and stop the dangerous predator before it’s too late?

Amazon

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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A spin-off from the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series! The Redemption Detective Agency is a
funny, twisty cozy mystery series set in the 1990s featuring silver sleuths
solving cold cases. Great for fans of the Thursday Murder Club.

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The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive

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The Redemption Detective Agency Book 1

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by Michele Pariza Wacek

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Genre: Cozy Mystery

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When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or maybe a gin and tonic.

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Emily Hildebrandt has run into a bit of a rough patch. She’s lost her job, her
fiancé and her apartment. Still, she never expected to be desperate enough to
accept an invitation to live with her eccentric Aunt Tilde in Redemption,
Wisconsin.

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But, beggars can’t be choosers. Even if part of the deal is she has to pretend
to work at her aunt’s latest hair-brained scheme, The Redemption Detective
Agency.

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Seriously, the woman is a retired nurse. Why does she think she’s remotely
qualified to run a detective agency, especially in a creepy little town like
Redemption?

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But, when a strange phone call suddenly thrusts them into an actual case, Emily
finds herself hoping her aunt really does know what she’s doing … or an
innocent person may be the one to suffer the consequences.

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A spin-off from the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series! The Redemption Detective
Agency is a funny, twisty cozy mystery series set in the 1990s featuring silver
sleuths solving cold cases. Great for fans of the Thursday Murder Club.

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Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Chapter 1

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This couldn’t possibly be my life.

There was no possible way that I, Emily Hildebrandt, who graduated with honors from high school and then from the University of Wisconsin-Riverview with a 3.8 GPA … who, as of ten days ago, had a solid job with a good paycheck, a lovely apartment, new car, and fiancé … was now sitting in a dirty, smelly bus station in Redemption, Wisconsin, trying not to glance at the clock yet again as I continued to wait for my chronically late Aunt Tilde.

On second thought, I realized I should hope she was just late, rather than having mixed up the time I was arriving. Or the day.

Or maybe, she forgot I was coming altogether.

Oh, dear lord. I scrubbed at my face, torn between laughing and crying.

My Aunt Tilde was a character—crazy, lovable, chaotic. In so many ways, she drove me nuts. She was my complete opposite in just about every way.

Yet … I had always felt a connection with her. She made me feel seen–despite, or maybe because of, her craziness. When I was with her, I felt loved, just as I loved her. But I never felt like I could live with her.

Talk about the Odd Couple. But worse, because it would be MY life, not a television show.

That said, it was a moot point. No way should I be about to move in with my nutty Aunt Tilde. People like me didn’t go through the implosion of their lives and consequent upheaval of everything they’ve known while being forced to live with their relatives. I was a responsible adult. I had done all the responsible, adult, right things. I went to school, studied hard, and picked a useful degree as a business major so I could land a good-paying, solid job … even if it was a little dull. But work is supposed to be dull, right? That’s what “being adult” means—going to work, paying bills, keeping the house neat and tidy. None of these things are fun, but they’re all necessary in terms of being a responsible adult, like me.

And responsible adults don’t need to move in with their Aunt Tilde. Or have their Aunt Tilde give them a job. That isn’t how life works.

I must be dreaming. Or trapped in a coma. Otherwise, none of this was making any sense.

If only I hadn’t decided to take a closer look at that spreadsheet. Then, I wouldn’t have realized something was off. If I had just left it alone, none of this would have happened.

But even as I thought those words, I knew deep down that if I had to do it all over again, I would. Even if it meant losing everything—my job, my home, my car, and my fiancé. Even if it meant I would have no one to turn to except …

“Emily!” Aunt Tilde flung open the door of the station and beamed at me. Her bright-orange hair sparkled in the sunlight and perfectly matched her orange-rimmed glasses, although both clashed horribly with her bright-yellow and red striped shirt. “I’m so sorry I’m late. Traffic was dreadful.”

“It’s fine. I only just got here,” I lied. I seriously doubted small-town Redemption was a snarl of traffic problems, but at that point, I didn’t care. I was just relieved she remembered. I got to my feet and started to reach for the suitcase and duffle bag I had tucked under my feet.

But before I could get my hands on them, Aunt Tilde grabbed them. “I can take these if you want to get the rest.”

A tight knot seemed to settle in my chest. When I had first moved in with Geoff, my ex, he’d encouraged me to give away most of my belongings. He already had a fully stocked household, so why would we need duplicates of things like plates and towels? Not to mention the apartment was so small, it didn’t make sense to clutter it. As usual, he sounded so reasonable, so I ended up selling or donating most of my belongings, including the antique dresser my grandfather had refurbished for me. That, I instantly regretted, along with the set of crystal vases my grandmother gave me as a graduation gift. Now, that regret was doubled. I wondered if Geoff had always viewed me as simply a guest in his space rather than an actual life partner.

I gave my head a quick shake as I reached for the duffle bag. Enough of that. “You don’t have to do that. I’ve got them.”

“Nonsense,” Aunt Tilde said, trying to juggle both bags. “Go get the rest of your stuff.”

A mental image of myself packing what few personal items I had—mostly clothes and bathroom products—flitted across my mind. “This is all I brought. Let me at least take one of them.”

I braced myself for questions or condemnations. What do you mean this is it? I thought you said you were moving here? Who can fit their entire life in one suitcase and one duffle bag? 

But Aunt Tilde just shrugged as she swung the duffle bag toward me. “Smart thinking. Who wants to mess around with a bunch of luggage on a bus anyway?” She started dragging the suitcase to the door, leaving me staring after her in shock.

She paused at the door to glance back at me. “Coming?” I quickly closed my mouth and hurried after her, lugging the duffle bag.

Hot, humid air immediately smacked me in the face as I stepped outside. I shoved a few strands of hair that were sticking to my cheeks back as I increased my pace. For an elderly woman, Aunt Tilde was surprisingly fast, even with my suitcase. “Here we are,” she sang out as she approached a light-pink Cadillac that was taking up two spaces, thanks to a very crooked parking job.

I stopped walking, my stomach twisting in on itself. “You have a pink Cadillac?”

She grinned. “I do. Isn’t she a beaut?” She patted the trunk lovingly.

Oh no. This was getting worse and worse. “I thought only Mary Kay beauty reps were able to get a pink Cadillac.”

“Yep. Isn’t it wonderful?” She set my suitcase down and started fiddling with her keys to open the trunk.

This was turning into a nightmare. Was this the job Aunt Tilde had promised me? Helping her with her multi-level marketing business? Was that the reason she was being so cagey about my new job? The idea of sitting in a kitchen surrounded by people I didn’t know as I revealed the latest eyeshadow colors was making me break into a cold sweat. “Are you selling Mary Kay?“

She popped the trunk and looked at me like I was crazy. “Heavens no! Do I look like someone who should be giving makeup tips?” She gestured toward her face, which was bare of any color other than a little smeared, pink lipstick, before letting out a rusty laugh. “Good grief.” Shaking her head, she turned back to her overflowing trunk.

I didn’t move. “If you’re not selling Mary Kay, then how did you get one of their cars?”

She waved a hand airily at me. “A friend gave it to me.”

A million questions rose up inside me, like how did this “friend” end up with a Mary Kay car? Were they the ones selling Mary Kay? And if they were, why weren’t they driving it?

But I forced myself to swallow those questions. Knowing my aunt, I wasn’t going to get a straight answer out of her if she wasn’t in the mood to give me one. What I needed to do was focus on the positives … like how my mysterious new job wasn’t selling makeup, to start. That was a good thing.

Although if I was being honest, beggars couldn’t be choosers. Whatever my aunt had in store for me, I really had no choice but to take it and be grateful for it.

And I was grateful. Truly. When I finally called Aunt Tilde three days ago, I was desperate and nearly in tears. Geoff had given me five days to pack my things and move out. “And that’s being generous,” he told me, his voice sounding so reasonable as he explained how, when couples break up, it’s customary for one to leave immediately. Of course, in my case, not only did I not have a job, but I also had no money or legal right to the apartment I had faithfully spent every single Saturday morning cleaning while Geoff lazily enjoyed the newspaper and home-cooked breakfast I made. My name was not on the lease, even though Geoff had assured me it was. Not only that, but the so-called “joint” checking account that I had deposited every one of my checks into wasn’t actually joint. It was solely his, and I had merely been a signer on it. Needless to say, that privilege had also been removed.

The only money to my name was the twenty-seven dollars in my wallet and $333.96 in my personal savings account that I had for years. Geoff knew nothing about it. He had promised to send me a check once he deducted my half of the last set of bills, but the whole setup had left me feeling uneasy. I reminded myself that despite all his faults, he had always been fair, and there was no reason for him not to be in this situation. It wasn’t like he was a thief or anything. He was just thorough, which was something I had always appreciated about him. I was the same way. And I was sure once he found a few minutes to go through all the bills, he would make it right.

No question.

Unfortunately, though, that meant until I got squared away, I only had access to a few hundred dollars, which wasn’t going to get me far. Especially if I had to rent a hotel room. It was 1993, after all … even staying in a cheap, rundown hotel wouldn’t last long. Both my mother and sister refused to let me stay with them. Well, to be fair, my mother was the one to outright refuse, which I had expected, although it still hurt. My sister told me I was welcome to sleep on her couch for a few days until I got my feet under me. I had a terrible feeling it was going to take longer than a few days to find a job and an apartment I could afford, though. Between that and the exhaustion in my sister’s voice as my two nieces screamed at each other in background, I knew it wasn’t an option. I thanked her and told her I would figure something out.

My friend Deena, on the other hand, immediately offered me her couch for as long as I wanted. “It will be fun, like a sleepover,” she gushed. As much as I appreciated the offer, Deena had a small, one-bedroom apartment with a boyfriend who stayed over more often than not. Not only that, but he happened to work in the same law firm as Geoff. While Deena might be fine with me staying with her, I suspected her boyfriend wouldn’t be nearly as enthusiastic.

And that’s how I found myself standing in a parking lot in Redemption, with the noonday summer sun beating down on my head and sweat dripping off my neck, about to get into a pink Cadillac that I was half-convinced Aunt Tilde had stolen from some nice Mary Kay lady.

When I had called my aunt, there was zero hesitation in her voice as she immediately instructed me to pack up my bags and move to Redemption, where she would not only provide me with a place to live, but a job, as well. I was so grateful and relieved, I nearly burst into tears. Finally, I had somewhere to go that would allow me to lick my wounds and figure out my next steps. I was going to be fine. It was all going to work out.

I should have known there would be a catch.

Aunt Tilde was busy trying to shove my suitcase into her trunk, on top of the mishmash of wrinkled clothes, crumpled fast-food bags, magazines, and cat litter bag, but it wasn’t fitting. “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” she muttered as she tried rearranging things. “Oh, my library books! I need to return them. Emily, can you remind me to do that?”

“Of course,” I said, trying not to wince. Please don’t let my job be trying to keep my aunt organized. Maybe becoming a Mary Kay lady wouldn’t be so bad after all.

After a little more pushing and shoving, she finally managed to get my suitcase into the trunk. “Aha! It fits.” She turned and gestured toward me. “Here, let’s get that other bag in.”

I took a few steps forward, still clutching my duffle bag, my eyes fixed again on the bag of cat litter as my stomach filled with a growing sense of horror.

Don’t get me wrong … I liked cats. From a distance, and owned by other people. I didn’t have any desire to deal with the mess and hair and everything else that came from owning a pet. Plus, I was fairly certain cats inherently hated me. I had been snarled at and scratched by them more often than not, even from the ones whose owners swore were the friendliest around. “I don’t understand what’s going on with Princess,” my elderly neighbor had fretted a few weeks ago when I stopped by to drop off her mail. “She’s the sweetest cat I’ve ever had,” she insisted as Princess hissed and spat at me from the corner.

Again, I reminded myself that beggars couldn’t be choosers. If my aunt had a cat, I would just have to figure out a way to not be in the same room with it. With any luck, the cat litter belonged to the Mary Kay lady who was now out of a car. “It doesn’t look like there’s much room. I can just put it in the backseat.”

My aunt clicked her tongue. “Nonsense, there’s plenty of room. Besides, Sherlock is in the back.”

Sherlock? I craned my neck to peer into the back of the car, but as far as I could tell, it was empty. “Who’s Sherlock?”

“Oh, she’s one of my partners in my new venture,” Aunt Tilde said, taking the duffel bag from me and attempting to shove it into the trunk. “You two will love each other.”

I glanced at the backseat again but still didn’t see anyone. “New venture?” I asked cautiously.

“You’ll see,” Aunt Tilde answered mysteriously, giving my bag a final push before slamming the trunk shut with a grunt of relief. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

I followed her to the front passenger side, still trying to get a peek at the elusive Sherlock. All I saw was what looked like a long, black duffle bag similar to mine. Was Aunt Tilde getting a little senile? I didn’t think senility ran in my family, but I was no longer so sure. “Aunt Tilde, I don’t see anyone …” I said as I opened up the passenger door.

Just then, the head of a feline popped up from inside the duffle bag, and I let out a shriek.

“Emily, meet Sherlock,” Aunt Tilde said with a flourish, getting into the driver’s seat.

I didn’t move. “Sherlock is a cat?”

“Obviously.” She patted the passenger seat next to her.

I still didn’t move. “And you’re telling me this cat is your partner?”

“I said she’s one of my partners,” Aunt Tilde corrected.

“How can a cat be a partner?”

“You’ll see. You just need to have a little faith. Now, let’s get you home,” she repeated.

I could do nothing but look at her in horror. “What sort of venture is this?”

Aunt Tilde beamed at me. “Trust me. You just have to wait a little bit, and then it will all make perfect sense. Now, get in. We need to get going.”

Sherlock blinked at me and yawned, revealing rows and rows of very sharp teeth.

What had I gotten myself into?

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A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years
old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some
detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories. Mystery
stories, to be exact. They’re clean and twisty, and range from psychological
thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the
mix. If that wasn’t enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including
short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com.

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Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and
still visits regularly, but she herself escaped the cold and now lives in the
mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband and southern squirrel hunter
Cassie.

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When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or
watching the Food Network and imagining she’s an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert,
she’s not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)

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Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Print Copy of The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive – 2 winners, US only.

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$20 Amazon Gift Card – 1 winner, WW.

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The Con: An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery
by Jackie Layton

 


The Con: An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Georgia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books (August 27, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1685127266
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1685127268
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DDBFJGPK

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Professional organizer Kate Sloan is hired by Ben Houser to organize his office at Seaside Hideaway Resort on Fox Island. Ben tells everybody he’s planning to revamp the resort. Ben throws money around and convinces people to invest with him. The first problem is, Ben’s a con man. The second problem is, Kate finds his dead body.

The killer believes Kate has incriminating evidence, and she must solve the mystery before she’s next on the hitman’s list.

About Jackie Layton

Jackie Layton is the author of cozy mysteries with Spunky Southern Sleuths. Her stories are set in Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. She lives on the coast of South Carolina, where she enjoys walks on the beach and golf cart rides around the marsh. Reading, gardening, and traveling are some of her favorite hobbies.

Jackie always keeps a notebook handy to write down ideas for future stories. Dateline and American Greed are two ways she gets ideas. She’s also a people watcher, and that can giver her ideas for stories or even a thread in a book.

Author Links: Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter/X / Instagram 

Threads / Goodreads / BookBub / Website

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 10 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST

October 10 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 11 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 12 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

October 12 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 13 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

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October 15 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 16 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 18 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – AUTHOR GUEST POST

October 18 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

October 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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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.