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Middle Grade Portal Fantasy

Date Published: 10-27-2026

Publisher: Harmony Press

Seventh grader Max plots a brilliant way to forge friendships, dodge
bullies, and cover up his limp by excelling at soccer. His plan flourishes
splendidly until fate intervenes, and a freak accident sidelines him with a
foot injury, grounding him from soccer indefinitely. In a moment of
exasperation, he bats a baseball, and his neighbor’s window is
shattered, which thrusts him into an unwanted alliance with the last person he
ever wished to befriend: Ti. The boy who is a bully magnet!

Ti’s aunt presents Max with a daunting choice to either confess to his
parents about the broken window or assist Ti in testing his invention, the
Quantum Locator. Little does Max know that the Quantum Locator possesses the
extraordinary ability to locate anyone, anywhere.

Together, with Max’s dog Ralphie, they stumble through a portal into a
realm teeming with supernatural wonders. From a forest ruled by a colossal
snake emperor to a mysterious Tree. Now, the boys must navigate their way
through this enchanting land. Will they survive to get home?

In this captivating middle-grade thriller, Leslie Cole examines friendship,
choices, and loyalty, maintaining suspense until the last page.

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About Author Leslie Cole

 Leslie Cole is the author of the Max & Ti series, including her latest
book The Snake and the Tree. She writes wholesome, hearty, and humorous middle
grade fiction for kids who wonder where they belong and feel too embarrassed
to ask. She feels a passion for the kids, including the adult kids, who need a
kind and encouraging voice of support. Her stories remind readers that our
deepest wounds don’t define us and that no one must face life alone. Her
publishing credits include publishing poetry in the Nashville paper “The
Contributor;” reading her poetry as the “Poet of the Month”
at the Scarritt-Bennett Poet’s Corner; having her poetry named
“Critic’s Pick” in “The Nashville Scene;”
publishing two nonfiction books as a physician in her fields of medicine; and
publishing a research paper as first author in the field of addiction
medicine. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband Tim and their
dog. They enjoy the company of their adult children, grandchildren, nieces,
nephews, and extended family. She paints landscapes and still lifes, as well
as drawing the occasional illustration for her books. She continues to work as
an addiction medicine physician, where she witnesses the power of connection,
repair, and humans overcoming unbelievable odds.

 

Contact Links

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Purchase Link

 

https://mybook.to/TheSnakeandtheTree

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That Touch…

By Christi Snow

 

Publication date: September 10th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

A swoon worthy, he falls first, love story filled with laughter, tears, and a surprisingly romantic work trip to the Colorado mountains where late night revelations change everything.

Izzy and Leo have been best friends since second grade.

Leo…

He’s been in love with Izzy almost ever since, and was sure someday she’d see him the same way he saw her…as more.

But someday never came and now Leo is twenty-seven years old and ready to shed his virginity, and heartbreak. It’s time for him to find someone else…besides Izzy.

But when she needs a last-minute photographer for the biggest advertising campaign of her career, he can’t let his best friend down. He’s already decided this will be their last job together.

Izzy…

She grew up in the fantasy world of romantic comedy movies that her mom idolized. That “ideal” man was so much better than the disappointing reality of her philandering father.

That same father is now Izzy’s boss, making her work her way up through the misogynistic ranks of his executive team at the family advertising firm. When her dream account wants to hire her, she takes it on, without consulting anyone else in the company.

This is her account, her chance to prove her worthiness.

Escape to romantic Colorado…

But she’s working under a time-crunch, which can make things dangerous on a snowy mountainside. This work trip to Colorado for a last-minute photoshoot has the potential to change everything when Leo and Izzy are faced with having to share a hotel room and the confusing world where attraction becomes a distraction.

They say never fall for your best friend.

How has Izzy never noticed Leo, the man, before? Unfortunately, that discovery may be too late, because he already has other plans, and they don’t include Izzy.

A snowy mountain small town never looked so romantic before, but family drama has a way of ruining everything…

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Izzy

I paused Pillow Talk and crawled out from under my piles of blankets I’d cocooned myself in for my day of self-care so I could answer the door. Hopefully, my UberEats guy had known I needed my regular order from Tommy’s Tacos tonight, even if I hadn’t called and ordered it yet.

At this point I ordered so much, he could probably foresee my needs like that.

Maybe—and I knew this was sudden—I should date him. God, that was an idea. Forget the tall, dark, and handsome losers I kept dating who treated me like shit.

I glanced over at Rock Hudson, frozen on the screen. I should just accept my dream guy was an impossibility of fiction.

It was time to try something else. Give me a guy who could foresee my needs for tacos. Now that would be the perfect match.

I’d built this idea up in my head so much in the last few seconds crossing the room that my shoulders dropped when I opened the door and didn’t find the UberEats dreamboat.

“Oh, hi, Leo.”

I left the door open for him to come inside while I shuffled back to the couch.

“Wow, I feel the love,” he said from behind me as he followed me inside. “I’m overwhelmed by that welcome. Now, I’m sure I made the right decision to skip the wrap party of the West Coast Babes show to bring my sad friend her favorite Tommy’s Tacos.”

At the sound of my two favorite “t” words, I swung back around and realized that yes, Leo held the distinctive red and green greasy bag from Tommy’s.
I reached for it. “Oh my god. Forget my UberEats guy, you’re my dream guy.”

His eyes widened comically for a minute until I laughed. “You should see your face. Don’t worry, Leo, definitely no romance between us. You will always and forever be my BFF. I decided that twenty years ago. I will not change my mind about it this late in the game.”

Something weird flitted through his gaze before he frowned at me. If I weren’t spending the night wallowing in my broken heart, I might have considered it more.

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About Author Christi Snow:

As an avid reader her entire life, Christi Snow always dreamed of writing books that brought to others the kind of joy she felt when she read. But…she never did anything about it besides jot down a few ideas and sparse scenes.

When her husband retired from the Air Force, Christi decided it was time to chase her dream and she started writing. She hasn’t stopped since. With twenty-two published books in various romance genres, she’s found her passion. Now she spends her days with her laptop writing about sexy, alpha heroes and the loves of their lives.

Writing, Christi has fulfilled her dream… filling the world with more romance and suspense.

Her tagline is… Passion and adventure on the road to Happily Ever After. She loves this adventure and has truly found her tribe!

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A Matti Baker Thriller

Thriller

 

 

Rated as a top political and medical thriller author by
BestThrillers.com – Packard delivers again in this newest thriller.

 

Baker’s dedication to safeguarding America faces its ultimate test as
fundamental freedoms teeter and artificial intelligence reshapes destinies.
With corrupt forces threatening existence, she must expose them before time
runs out. Can she prioritize the greater good over personal survival? Join her
pulse-pounding journey as she confronts insurmountable odds, unveiling the
climax of an epic struggle for justice. Will she defy the odds or make the
ultimate sacrifice?

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The Full AESOP Series

AESOP: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 1

FABLE: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 2

TELLER: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 3

CounterIntelligence: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 4

DEFCON: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 5

BAKER: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 6

 

About Author Michele Packard

 

Known affectionately as “AESOP” by her family and friends due to her
penchant for embellishment, Packard weaves her experiences and sharp wit into
engaging narratives that resonate with readers.

Growing up in a household where her father devoured the works of acclaimed
authors like Patterson, Child, Flynn, Clancy, and Woods, Packard developed an
affinity for conspiracy theories and stories featuring resilient protagonists
in psychological, political, and military thrillers. With a masterful blend of
sarcasm and intricate plot lines, she seamlessly intertwines current and
historical events, crafting thought-provoking stories that keep readers on the
edge of their seats.

Acknowledged as one of the top political thriller authors of the year,
Packard’s literary prowess has garnered her widespread recognition and
positioned her as an author to watch closely. Embracing every moment of her
literary journey, she revels in the acclaim and the joy of sharing her
compelling narratives with a growing audience.

Contact Links

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The Amalfi Wish

By Rosie Donlin

 

(The Lucky Year, #1)
Publication date: October 31st 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Women’s Fiction

Laurel McBride knows how to make other people’s dreams come true. She just has no idea what to do with her own.

As an event planner at a Florida resort, Laurel can rescue beachfront weddings, soothe impossible clients, and solve disasters before anyone notices. But six weeks after she and five other women split an $84 million lottery jackpot, she is still answering emails, fixing everyone else’s problems, and postponing her own life.

So Laurel does something wildly out of character: she walks away from work, crosses the Atlantic, and spends July on the Amalfi Coast with the other winners.

The plan is simple—sunshine, spectacular food, beautiful views, and one glorious month in which nobody needs anything from her.

Then she meets Tore.

With him, Laurel cannot hide behind schedules, competence, or the carefully controlled version of herself who always knows what to do. And as the women settle into their lucky year, Laurel begins to wonder whether the dependable life she built was ever truly hers—or whether being needed has simply kept her from risking what she really wants.

For the first time, Laurel has enough money to choose almost anything.

Now she must decide what would actually make her happy.

Sun-drenched, romantic, and full of friendship, food, and second chances, The Amalfi Wish is the first interconnected standalone novel in The Lucky Year series.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The condo was quiet at seven, and the orange was still on the cutting board.

Laurel McBride had paid four ninety-nine for it at Whole Foods, then left it there for days, sticker still on the peel. She hadn’t eaten it or put it away.

Outside the sliding door, the courtyard sprinkler was drowning the same azalea again. Laurel caught herself planning what to tell the superintendent, then remembered she wasn’t at Mariner’s Crown. The superintendent could handle the azalea on his own.

Over Memorial Day, a storm at Mariner’s Crown had stranded six women at the Compass Bar long enough for them to buy a Powerball ticket and make a promise. The ticket had left each of them with fourteen million dollars. The promise had given them a year of places to go together, beginning with Laurel’s month on the Amalfi Coast.

Six weeks after the money reached her account, Laurel still hadn’t bought herself a thing. She had paid bills, shifted money among accounts, and stared down every question about what came next. Then she’d spent four ninety-nine on an orange and left it on the cutting board like incriminating evidence. Fourteen million dollars, and produce made her nervous.

She’d been excellent at spending other people’s money. Give Laurel a wedding budget and she could tell you where to save, where to splurge, and which upgrade a bride would remember after the flowers were gone. This money belonged to her rather than a client, free of deadlines and finalized floor plans. It was hers whenever she chose to want something.

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About Author rosie Donlin

Rosie Donlin writes destination women’s fiction about complicated friendships, second chances, and women figuring out what they truly want. Her books blend escapist settings, grown-up romance, humor, memorable meals, and plenty of reasons to pour another glass of wine.

Rosie lives in San Francisco.

Website / Instagram / TikTok

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Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2026! I’m 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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 Freeze

By Daniel Pyle

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Genre: Horror

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MY REVIEW

I can’t resist stories, especially the horror kind, where the weather plays a role in the survival of the characters. Especially when they’re isolated because of it.

I read the synopsis and immediately felt for Tess and Warren. When her life threatening injury forced Warren to brave the snowstorm in order to get help each of them were put in precarious situations. Tess was left alone with no power or heat. Warren had to battle freezing temperatures and blinding snow. I wasn’t sure which situation would be worse. Even more so when the creatures began their assault.

About Tess and Warren. I found it easy to emphasize with them. They’re middle aged and just your normal average people. They weren’t prepared for the chaos that was coming for them.

And the creatures. I was hoping for something horrific. Got that and then some. I love surprises.

Freeze had me checking all of the boxes on my list of requirements for a great horror recipe. Anxiety that builds and builds. A new monster that makes it hard to predict. Genuine characters. And a fast paced plot.

4 STARS

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Synopsis

A raging snowstorm has stranded Tess and Warren in their mountain home with no power and little heat. When an accident leaves Tess coughing up pools of blood, Warren has no choice but to brave the storm in search for help.

He’s afraid he’ll be too late.

But what he should be afraid of are the creatures slinking through the blizzard and watching his every move.

Amazon

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A Classic Case of Murder (A Literary Dining Mystery)
by Daryl Wood Gerber


A Classic Case of Murder (A Literary Dining Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – North Carolina
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 27, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496748239
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496748232
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496748256
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GMTK2XTM

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Personal chef and caterer Allie Catt combines her love of fiction with her love of food in the scenic North Carolina mountains—but amid her latest themed event, based on Dickens’s beloved classic, A Christmas Carol, a rare-book expert’s goose is cooked…

In the charming town of Bramblewood, not far from Asheville, Allie’s preparing for a special seasonal soiree: a literary-themed dinner party that’s a tribute to Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. It’ll take place at the Amber Lantern, the quaint inn recently opened by her best friend’s mother, Noeline—and the holiday spirit has even led a Scroogelike local businessman to lend his prized first edition of the nineteenth-century novella for the event.

With the voices of carolers ringing in the air and the community theater staging a special performance, it looks like it will be a happy Christmas—until the priceless book disappears and someone murders the expert who authenticated it. And if the police have their way, Allie’s lawyer friend Freddy will be dragged away in chains like Marley’s ghost…

The crime has also cast a shadow over Noeline’s fledgling business, so Allie feels doubly obliged to find the real killer among the gathered guests and local visitors—and put an end to this nightmare. It’s time to investigate them all, every one . . .

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About Author Daryl Wood Gerber

daryl wood gerber

Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Literary Dining Mysteries, the Fairy Garden Mysteries, the French Bistro Mysteries, and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, as well as the Cheese Shop Mysteries written under the name Avery Aames. She also writes standalone suspense novels and the Aspen Adams Novels of Suspense. Prior to her career as a novelist, she was an actress with roles in television shows including “Murder, She Wrote,” and she wrote for the popular TV sitcom “Out of this World.” Originally from the Bay Area, she now lives in Southern California where she likes to cook, garden and spend time with her frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky. Visit her online at 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 26 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

October 26 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 27 – Romance Novel Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT

October 27 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW

October 28 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

October 29 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

October 30 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

October 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

October 31 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

October 31 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 1 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT

November 1 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

November 2 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – Caboodle of Cozies – REVIEW 

November 3 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

November 4 – Twirling Book Princess – RECIPE

November 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 5 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

November 5 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

November 7 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT  

November 8 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2026! I’m 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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 They Hunger

By Scott Nicholson

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Genre: Horror

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MY REVIEW

I’ve been reading Scott’s books for years. This book is another winner for me. It’s like four stories in one.

The first revolves around a couple of FBI agents searching for a dangerous couple involved in bombing some abortion clinics. The agents were written so well. They worked like a well oiled machine. Laser focused and grounded in reality.

There’s the couple on vacation. They’re totally oblivious to any dangers. It’s all hotdogs and s’mores for them. Little do they know.

And next were the cocky, adrenaline seeking group looking to show off their skills and one up each other. I was excited to see who would step up and who would tuck tail.

I did mention four scenarios didn’t I? That would be the bomber and his girlfriend. Curiosity had me wondering if either one would have even a smidge of redeemable character. I had my doubts.

So, we have four groups scattered throughout the Appalachian Mountains. All have their own agendas. And none of them are looking at their surroundings as anything more than trees. This was my favorite part. The part where they realized something else was out there among those trees. Something with it’s own agenda. They stepped into it’s territory and became part of the food chain. The creatures could be called vampires. They could be called man eating bats. I called them both. Whoa, were they creepy, nasty buggers.

This author has thrilled and scared me in equal measures with his other books. The experience continued in They Hunger.

5 STARS

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Synopsis

In the rugged wilderness of the Appalachian Mountains, the treacherous Unegama River holds more than its share of mortal dangers. But something deadlier than any force of nature is about to be awakened. Something both unnatural and immortal.

Driven from their ancient hunting grounds, they have dwelt in their cave for hundreds of years… hiding, waiting – and hungering. Now, a group of whitewater rafters has made the mistake of passing through their hunting grounds, and for these awakened creatures of the night, their first blood is about to be unleashed.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO FEED…

Amazon

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Safe in Sound

By Ania Ray

 

(A Blue Spruce Hills Novella)
Publication date: October 29th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

She’s “happy,” but someone might say she’s “settled.” What happens when the life that makes you feel safe is also the one keeping you small?

Thirty-four-year-old piano teacher Riley O’Connor believes her chance to become a world-class musician has sailed. She’s content-ish with her life in Blue Spruce Hills, a quaint mountain town that is safe, quiet, and predictable. Instead of performing on stages, she teaches the neighborhood kids, hangs out with her best friend Clara, reads books surrounded by her houseplants, and rehearses like she’s about to be called to join the London Philharmonic.

Though she’d be too scared to go. Grammy called her ’Fraidy Cat, after all.

When what Riley thinks is a break-in turns out to be a dog who won’t leave, she’s thrust into a series of events that challenge her to confront her anxiety. First, the social kind: the veterinarian is incredibly handsome. And kind. And grieving his wife. And looking for someone to give his son piano lessons.

She agrees.

Suddenly, Riley is on a winter hike with a man where bears, snakes, and fatal injury are possibilities. And when an opportunity arises to accompany renowned violist Albi Drechsler, the dream she’d long ago decided was out of reach is suddenly within it. To get what she wants, she must prove that fear doesn’t have the final word. But could she actually leave the safety of Blue Spruce Hills?

Safe in Sound is a story about overcoming fears, leaning into friendship, and trusting that even when the night feels darkest, love can hold you through. If you miss your loved ones a little extra during the holidays, you’ll love this redemptive story that proves those we miss most can still find a way to make us courageous.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

I exhale, the breath in front of me a wisp reminiscent of the steamed milk Clara’s grandmother would mix into the hot chocolate we’d share after school. While I waited for Grammy and Pappy to come home from the Mom and Pop store they owned and ran together, Clara was my safe place.

I stuff my gloved hands in my pockets. This morning I am hanging an angel on a doorknob with someone who risked social status by befriending me. The school playground was too giant a target for a skinny eight-year-old with fiery hair. Grammy always said I’d grow into my hair one day, but I’m pretty sure the “big-tempered redhead” myth fell apart with me. Maybe because Clara has always been my fire. I’m more like old embers buried under kindling.

So way back when… gosh, has it really already been over two decades? Way back when Clara asked if I wanted to skip on the sidewalk with her—and my answer was a genuine yes—we began our friendship.

Basically, I’ll do whatever Clara asks. She knew I was the new kid and approached me anyway. Anyone who does that—when kids seem to feel most powerful when they’re being mean and exclusive—deserves to have their best friend wake up early.

And even though I’d love to still be sleeping right now, three blissful hours remaining in my regular schedule, I feel a thrilling anticipation at seeing my best friend. Sure, I see her in passing every weekday, and we catch each other up in text messages all the time, but to sit down and really connect usually only happens when she comes over once a month. And we’ve missed a lot of those lately because she’s doing big baker things.

And I do little piano teacher things.

It’s fine. I’m happy.

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About Author Ania Ray:

Hi, I’m Ania Ray, an author of women’s fiction that dives into the raw, transformative journeys of complex female characters. My books force each protagonist to confront the worst of herself before she evolves into the hero of her own story.

The Cromwell Rules trilogy features interconnected standalones, so you can enjoy each book individually or follow Lily Cromwell’s entire arc from start to finish. In The Cromwell Rules and Breaking the Rules, I explore how boundaries can feel stifling or nonexistent, and how we each must find our sweet spot of self-respect.

When I’m not writing, I lead Quill & Cup, a writing community that helps authors finish the stories that matter to them. Outside of writing, I’m a wife, a mom to a toddler who’d live outdoors if she could, and a tea lover (Cinnamon Apple Spice is my favorite).

If you love reading novels with relatable, complex characters and emotionally gripping stories, you’re in the right place.

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Beneath the Burning Sky

By Ruby Valladares

 

(The Ashfall Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: October 6th 2026
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance

He never wanted a wife. But marrying her is the only way to keep his little sister alive.

Five years after the world ended, David has one job: keep Grace alive.

Food is rationed. The water is contaminated. Marauders roam beyond the fences. And the Drange is turning ordinary people into violent, purple-veined monsters.

When a deadly infection breaches their refugee camp, the rumored Sanctuary may be her only chance of survival.

There’s just one problem: Passage is reserved for families.

So David makes an impossible choice: he marries his nemesis.

She doesn’t trust him. He doesn’t trust her. Their marriage is supposed to be nothing more than a means of survival.

But once they leave the fences of Camp Orange, surviving each other becomes the least of their problems.

Because the wasteland is hungry.

Beneath the Burning Sky is a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel blending survival horror, a deadly outbreak, infected humans, forced marriage, reluctant allies, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

So this is what the end of the world looks like.

The thought ran through David’s mind as he trudged along next to his father and sister, bumping shoulders with hundreds of other desperate survivors who had escaped the wrath of Yellowstone.

Just fourteen days ago.

His dad had driven them hundreds of miles before the gas stations ran out of fuel.

It hadn’t been far enough.

They’d been walking ever since.

They’d crossed into Kentucky two days ago, but it didn’t look any different than Wyoming. Any different than Missouri four days before that.

The fingers of devastation reached here as well. The volcanic eruption had come out of nowhere, shattering the land and blanketing everything in gray.

Ash rained down from the sky, a silent, relentless shroud that smothered everything in its suffocating grip. The smell of sulfur and smoke lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the chaos and destruction that had been unleashed upon the world.

David opened his bag and pulled out a granola bar. Three days ago the group had run into a military unit handing out bags of food, urging them to keep going.

“We’re setting up camps in the south,” they’d said. “We’ll have shelter, food, everything you need until we can get back on our feet.”

David counted the bars he had left. Five. That was it.

He dropped the bar back into his bag.

His feet dragged through the ash like freshly fallen snow, leaving deep imprints behind. The horizon was filled with ruins of buildings and broken trees, the sky a gloomy mix of gray and red as the sun attempted to peek through.

East. Go east. And then south. Get to Georgia, Alabama, Florida.

That’s what everyone around him said. Like somewhere magical and untouched by the eruption existed if they just went far enough.

His home, his entire life, had been taken from him in an instant.

His mom.

Don’t think about what you’ve lost.

Fabric stained with soot and sweat covered his mouth. He trudged on, his mind numb and his body achingly tired.

Thirteen days of walking.

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About Author Ruby Valladares:

Ruby Valladares writes adult speculative fiction filled with catastrophic disasters, impossible choices, complicated relationships, and ordinary people discovering just how far they’ll go to survive.

Her worlds are dark. Her characters are messier. And hope—when it comes—has to be fought for.

Website / Instagram / TikTok

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2026! I’m 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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 Stinger

By  Robert McCammon

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Genre: Horror / Science Fiction

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MY REVIEW 

Author Robert McCammon has been on my go to horror list for many years. I’ve read many of his books and still have my copies. Stinger is one of my favorites. Let me tell you why.

 What was this creature? Where did it come from? Why Inferno, Texas? And how bad was it going to get?

It got insane. So many horrific, skin crawling scenes had me wishing I could actually “see” them. Yeah, I’m a glutton for punishment.  The mutations. Awful. Maybe it’s a good thing they remain described on the written page. If I’d viewed them on the telly, I’m sure I would have missed a lot since I’d be peeking through my fingers.

Stinger is beyond dangerous. How do you fight something that has so many tricks up it’s sleeve? Lucky for the people of Inferno, there is something. Wait til you meet Daufin. The battle is out of this world.

Robert showed me, not told me, his story and it was killer.

5 STARS

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Synopsis

spider web photo: Spider Hanging from Web webwht.gifIn the remote Texas town of Inferno, a creature of evil beyond anything the world has ever encountered descends. He traps the town and ravages the land with grisly executions and horrible mutations . . . until the people rise up in a final, desperate battle.

Amazon

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The above cover is from Amazon. Here is the older hardcover copy I own.

And here are some other covers.

   

   

Which do you like better?

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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.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.