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Book Details:
Book Title: Grandpa Day: Nurturing Grit, Smarts, and Love in the Next Generation by Perry Solomon
Category: Adult Non-fiction 18 yrs +, 196 pages
Genre: Self-help
Publisher: Lighthouse Family Press
Release date: Feb 4, 2026
Content Rating: G:
The Champagne Crush
By Caroline O’ Connell
(Les Femmes Series)
Publication date: August 20th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
AUDIOBOOK PRODUCTION DETAILS:
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Enjoy this peek inside:
Chris McDermott’s Family Ranch in Napa, CA
(Dinner after an all-day TV shoot in the vineyards)
When they were finishing the fig tart dessert with freshly whipped cream from their dairy, his dad leaned over to Chris. “Why don’t you show Catherine our current operation? It’s not much yet, but she’ll be able to say she saw a world class winery in its early stages.” He stood up and grabbed his plate. “I’ll help Maura clear the dishes. You two can take off.”
Chris didn’t need prompting. He was feeling inexplicably drawn to Catherine. The temperature outside dropped quickly, so he bundled her up in one of his warm leather jackets. It was three sizes too big, which only made her look more adorable.
They stepped onto a moonlit path and walked a short distance to the temporary winery: an aluminum-sided structure that held rudimentary winemaking equipment next to cases of empty bottles. A walk-in cooler held samples of the wines they’d already produced laid horizontally on racks. On the far end of the room, a partial wall separated the “office”—an old metal desk, a long table with office equipment and a computer, one file cabinet, shelves brimming with books and magazines, and a large bulletin board with articles and graphs clipped on it.
“I know it doesn’t look like much yet,” Chris said. “But it’s the genesis of our dream. My dad and I have been working toward this moment for many years, the chance to create our own family wine.”
He held out his hand. “Let’s go sit outside. It’s such a clear night, we should be able to see the stars.”
They sat on hay bales near the barn, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders to keep her warm. He pointed up to the sky. “Most nights you can see the constellations and major stars, unless there’s cloud cover.” He pulled her closer. “There’s Venus . . .”
“Named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty . . .” Catherine chimed in.
Seems the beauty is right here, sitting next to me. “How about you, Catherine Reynolds? What are your dreams?”
She tucked her hands into the jacket pockets. “Unlike you, my dreams have changed over time. When Vanessa and I were teenagers, we went into modeling.” She made a face. “It’s not as glamorous as people think. Now, I’d like to pursue a career in the hospitality sector.” She sighed. “Still working that out.”
“I’m sorry I doubted you in the beginning. I think you’re a wonderful asset to the company.” And to my life.
He stood up and silently offered his hand, pulling her up to face him. An owl hooted nearby, momentarily jarring him from his intent to steal a kiss. He took a deep breath and gazed into her upturned face. Her long-lashed eyes blinked as she looked into his questioningly.
“We’d better get going.” He turned her around and draped his arm over her shoulders as they walked back. When they reached the guest cottage, he gave her a warm hug and walked off. She’s too appealing. I’m falling fast.
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About Author Caroline O’Connell:
Caroline O’Connell is the author of numerous travel guides, including Affordable Paris Hotels. The Champagne Crush is the first novel in the Les Femmes Series. In conjunction with the launch of the audiobook version, the ebook is discounted to $1.99 (from $9.99) on all platforms. Her website is https://carolinestraveltips.com/.
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For a list of my reviews go HERE.
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Children’s Book
Date Published: March 7, 2026
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When their mother entrusts them with a special task, the girls are whisked
into a world of imagination through the story of Alexander, a boy who
discovers friends on magical planets and learns the wonders of creativity,
courage, and kindness. From ordinary afternoons to extraordinary adventures,
this enchanting story celebrates family, imagination, and the little moments
that make growing up magical.
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About Author Vlora Morina
My name is Vlora, I am an Albanian from Kosovo and work as admin for
Whittington Hospital in London.
My inspiration and idea to write this book comes from my nieces and nephew who
I love them dearly.
Contact Link
Purchase Link
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
For a list of my reviews go HERE.
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Some wounds don’t heal. They take over.
A Beverly Hills psychological thriller about grief, female
rage, fractured identity, and revenge.
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Dark Ugly Places
by Ashley Mansour
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Domestic Suspense
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Some wounds don’t
heal. They fester. They whisper. They take over.
In Dark Ugly Places, trauma isn’t something you
survive — it’s something that survives you.
Thirty-four-year-old Nicola Holiday loses everything in a
hit-and-run: her husband dead, her body broken, her fourteen-year-old daughter
Emmy forever changed. With no one held accountable, she spirals into grief,
panic attacks, and financial ruin — awakening a hereditary darkness she’s spent
her life trying to outrun.
That darkness has a voice now. Her name is Martha, and she
aches for revenge.
As Nicola’s grip on reality loosens, Martha slips into
another life — one of wealth, glamour, and moral rot. When she crosses paths
with the wife of a famous actor, Nicola’s suspicions ignite.
Pulled between vengeance and annihilation, Nicola and Martha
collide with a woman whose secrets may be the key to everything — or the thing
that destroys them both.
Dark, provocative, and deeply unsettling — a haunting
psychological portrait of female rage, obsession, and the terrifying lengths
the mind will go to survive unbearable pain.
Because sometimes the most dangerous place isn’t the past.
It’s inside your own head.
“A suspenseful and relentless tale of troubled
Californians.”
– Kirkus Reviews
“A tense, viciously readable psychological thriller about
the violence that lurks beneath polished surfaces.”
– BookLife Reviews
“With fast-paced thrills and gripping psychological drama,
Ashley Mansour’s Dark Ugly Places serves up vengeance for morally complex
characters.” – Indiereader
**Releases September 15 – PreOrder Now!**
Amazon * Author’s Site * Apple
* B&N
* Google
* Kobo * Bookshop.org
* Bookbub
* Goodreads
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PROLOGUE
No one likes to be kept in the dark.
In the dark, everything is murky, even the Los Angeles sky.
But the day of Nicola’s accident, I had a pretty clear view of
things. It tends to be that way—clear—when Nicola isn’t.
Nicola, Ben, and their daughter, Emmy, were walking holding
hands, something the three of them hadn’t done since Emmy was a little kid. I
felt the itch in Nicola’s palm, like she didn’t want to hold hands. But Emmy
insisted. She was between them, arms outstretched, making that little humming
sound she sometimes made when she was nervous or lost in thought. Ben walked on
slightly ahead, his head down, eyes focused on the phone in his hand. I could
almost hear his teeth grinding.
Up ahead, the road was clear. The sun covered everything in
butter-yellow light. Crows perched in the bare-barked trees and made long,
scratchy cries like a group of smokers laughing. They rustled leaves and
crossed the pavement before them. But the trees were still, like the air had
been sucked out of the city. Up ahead, the road was clear.
The three of them approached the corner, Emmy and Nicola
chatting aimlessly. Ben narrowed his eyes and squinted at the screen as if the
sky was too bright. He stepped out into the road first. Emmy, next. She skipped
slightly—braids flying—and pulled her mom’s arm.
Nicola looked up and saw one of the crows overhead, its beak
open, making a dreadful sound. When she looked back at the road, her gut pinged
with a horrible dread she couldn’t place.
Then she—we—saw it.
From the middle distance, something large and hurtled into
view, its body glinting in the sun. Emmy screamed. Nicola tried to pull her
back, but one by one, her fingers slipped out of her grasp.
It was too late.
Nicola’s body collided with the big, thing, and in the
next moment, she was airborne, tumbling through the air as if she had been
taken by a tornado. Her thoughts spiraled with her, spinning out of control.
I’m going to die.
I’m going to live.
Don’t let me die.
I’m going to die.
She kept spiraling, around and around, until I stopped her with
a simple suggestion: Breathe, Nicola. Breathe. We have this power, those of us
who live in the darkness.
The asphalt grated her spine. It must have hurt, but Nicola did
not cry. Perhaps because the air was too full of Emmy’s screams.
She rolled to her left, her left arm pinned against her chest
like a piece of limp fabric. Her left leg lay stretched out before her
perfectly straight, but dead. Cold. Frozen in place. She rolled to her side and
saw Emmy, blood coating half of her face as though she were wearing a mask.
Five feet away, Ben lay in the road unmoving, his body contorted, his face
turned away.
Overhead, the stretch of blue sky angled down Beverly Boulevard
and went on forever. Cars passed, some honking, others slowing to stop and help
or to get a better look. Nicola grunted and heaved herself along the ground,
her jaw gritting with pain. She reached for Emmy, reached for Ben.
The body of the car stirred. A door opened. A black
polished shoe emerged onto the asphalt as the driver leaned out, then
disappeared again as the door shut. I heard the engine as the car started and
rolled backwards, slow at first, then picking up speed until it was gone.
/
Ashley Mansour writes dark, cinematic psychological suspense
and domestic suspense about dangerous relationships, buried truths, and the
chaos waiting beneath the surface of ordinary lives.
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For a list of my reviews go HERE.
To see all of my giveaways go HERE.
Key 13: And other Stories
By Rose Titus
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Publication date: October 6th 2017
Genres: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror
Rose Titus, author of The Vampire Next Door Trilogy, now brings together a collection of her best short stories. Here in this book you will find tales of vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts, space aliens, and even a few angels. These stories answer questions such as where do we go after we die? What is the future of this planet? And what is the future of humanity? There are also stories of young runaways, old hippies, worried mothers, troubled families, love gone horribly wrong, selfish billionaires, people who find themselves suddenly homeless, old men with their recollections of days gone by, and girls gone wild! There may even be a murder or two.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble
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About Author Rose Titus:
Rose Titus resides somewhere in cold, dreary New England with two manipulative cats and a very out of date computer with which she creates horror and fantasy fiction. She also has a restored classic Buick to ride around in while in search of adventure.
For travel she has stayed the night in an allegedly haunted castle, has taken a boat ride on Loch Ness, and has visited the Bermuda Triangle — without getting lost.
Her work has previously appeared in Lost Worlds, Lynx Eye, Bog Gob, Mausoleum, Weird Terrain, Descend, The Dead River Review, and other literary magazines. She also writes regularly for Blood Moon Rising Magazine.
When she’s not working or writing or messing with her old car, she waits by the mailbox for her Fortean Times to arrive.
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Key 13: And other Stories Blitz
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
For a list of my reviews go HERE.
To see all of my giveaways go HERE.
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Mummy’s Locket (Mallory Grayson Mysteries)
by Nan S. Russell
Mummy’s Locket (Mallory Grayson Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York State
Publisher : Next Chapter
Publication date : May 25, 2026
Print length : 308 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 : 482417029X
ISBN-13 : 978-4824170293
Paperback
Publication date : May 1, 2026
Print length : 306 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8195110321
ASIN : B0GZ8JW9P4
Digital
ASIN : B0GZ6XLDDB
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The truth doesn’t stay buried forever.
After losing everything, Mallory Grayson retreats to a quiet town, hoping a vintage shop and a fresh start will help her rebuild her life. But when the mummified body of her long-missing great-grandmother is discovered, Mallory is pulled into a mystery.
Clues hidden in heirlooms, a secret room, and a past lover’s return offer answers … if she’s willing to risk everything to uncover them. In a story steeped in secrets and history, her courage may be the only thing that can break the curse.
The past and present collide in MUMMY’S LOCKET, the first book in the Mallory Grayson Mysteries series by Nan S. Russell.
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With both a bachelor’s and master’s in psychology, Nan S. Russell was fired from her first professional job. Taking a minimum wage position to pay the rent, sixteen promotions later, she decided to end a successful corporate career as a Vice President of a multibillion-dollar East Coast company, to pursue a life dream to live and write from the Rocky Mountains, first in northwestern Montana and now along the Front Range of Colorado. With a desire to help others live their dreams, too, she turned her real-world experience into writing award winning non-fiction career and business books and articles, and became a speaker and consultant on leadership, trust, and culture development. But she always knew she wanted to write fiction, too. That point arrived during the pandemic pause which provided the catalyst for rethinking her writing and its purpose, sparking the decision to move towards fiction with more time to study the craft, take online classes, hone skills and work on her first novel. Now, she is living her second dream: Writing mysteries. Mummy’s Locket is her debut novel and the first in her Mallory Grayson series. More at www.nanrussell.com.
Author Links: Website / Blog / Facebook / X / Threads / Instagram
BlueSky / LinkedIn / Pinterest / Etsy / Goodreads
Purchase Links:
Universal Link to 8 book sellers: Mummy’s Locket | Universal Book Links Help You Find Books at Your Favorite Store!
Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Books
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TOUR PARTICIPANTS
August 17 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
August 17 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 18 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
August 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 19 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 20 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 20 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 21 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
August 21 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 24 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
August 25 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 26 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT
August 26 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT
August 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 28 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
August 29 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
August 30 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
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For a list of my reviews go HERE.
To see all of my giveaways go HERE.
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A private eye with a badge, a bottle, and a little bit of magic…
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Justice, Or Something
Like It
The Jake Bishop Files Book 2
by Doc Blalock
Genre: Noir Paranormal Sleuth Suspense
In Solomon City, everybody keeps secrets. Secrets are Jake
Bishop’s job.
When a harmless old drunk is caught standing over a corpse,
murder weapon in hand, the case looks open and shut—but he won’t say why he
pulled the trigger. Just that it had to be done.
Bishop knows better. Digging deeper, he uncovers a blackmail
scheme, a shadow war in the Irish underworld, and a threat aimed at the one
person his old friend has left to lose—forcing Bishop to bend the law, and his
own conscience, to see something like justice done.
Amazon * Edgeweaver Books * Bookbub
* Goodreads
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“Secrets.
Everyone has them. Some folks keep them for good and noble reasons, others, not
so much. All kinds of secrets. Personal, professional, valuable, harmful or
embarrassing. People will go to extremes to keep them safe. Some folks have
been willing to die for them. Some will kill to protect them. I’m Jake Bishop,
private investigator. Secrets are my job.”
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A Damned Dirty Thing
The Jake Bishop
Files Book 1
The explosion should have killed him . . .
Jake Bishop is back on the streets of Solomon City, ten
months after a mob bombing destroyed his office and murdered his partner and
secretary. But Bishop isn’t just any private detective—he’s a “ditch wizard”
able to step through shadow and bend reality to his will.
When the beautiful and mysterious Portia Vance answers his
ad for a new secretary, Bishop thinks his luck might finally be changing.
Together, they begin hunting Vito Morelli, the mob boss who ordered the hit
that nearly ended Bishop’s life.
Their investigation leads them through the city’s darkest
corners—from strip clubs to shadow banking operations, from corrupt cops to
magical wards. But in a world where bullets and spells are equally deadly, and
where everyone has secrets worth killing for, Bishop discovers that the line
between hunter and hunted is thinner than he thought.
Some cases require a gun. Others need magic. This one
demands both.
In the shadows of Solomon City, justice comes with a
price—and revenge wears a beautiful face.
A gritty noir fantasy that proves sometimes the most
dangerous magic is the human heart.
Amazon * Edgeweaver Books* Bookbub * Goodreads
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Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been a lifelong reader of great literature. Writers like Hemingway, Tolkien, and Tom Clancy shaped how I think about storytelling—the efficiency of Hemingway, the poetry of Tolkien, and the attention to detail and complexity of Tom Clancy.
As a counselor, I’ve spent a lifetime listening to people talk—not just what they’re saying, but how they say it, where they hesitate, and what’s happening underneath the words. That sensitivity to voice and subtext is where I think the real strength of my writing lies, particularly in characterization.
When I retired, I finally had the time to dedicate myself fully to writing. Bringing together those literary influences with years of close listening felt like a natural progression.
What inspired you to write Justice, or Something Like It?
It started with a single question: What could push a gentle, broken man who wouldn’t hurt a fly into cold-blooded murder? That tension between vulnerability and sudden violence felt like pure noir territory. I’ve always loved the classic hard-boiled tradition—the rain-soaked streets, the weary detective, the moral gray zones—and wanted to blend it with a touch of the supernatural while keeping the story grounded and human. The result became the darkest, most personal Jake Bishop case I’ve written so far.
Convince us why you feel your story is a must read.
Justice, or Something Like It is the most emotionally charged Jake Bishop book I’ve written. It delivers classic hard-boiled atmosphere, sharp dialogue, and a tightly wound mystery, but it hits harder and goes darker than anything else I’ve written. I hope readers will be invested in the characters and genuinely shocked by where the story lands. If you want a noir novel that stays with you long after the final page, this is it.
Christopher “Doc” Blalock is a US Navy veteran Corpsman and retired
counselor. He is a prolific fine artist, illustrator, musician, sculptor and
writer, cursed with the itch to create. He draws inspiration from sources
ranging from JRR Tolkien to Tom Clancy. He additionally draws from his love of
classic black-and-white noir films, infusing their moody aesthetic and
storytelling into his writing. A helpless coffee addict, he lives in the
Atlanta suburbs with his childhood sweetheart and a dog of dubious moral
character.
Website * Facebook * Facebook * X * X * Instagram * Amazon
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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
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Enter the Justice, Or Something Like It Giveaway
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For a list of my reviews go HERE.
To see all of my giveaways go HERE.
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Sometimes grief sneaks up on you and hunts you down.
Sometimes it walks right up and punches you.
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Holes in the Somewhere
by Richard R. Brown
Genre: Speculative Fiction, Horror Stories
Holes In The Somewhere is a collection of short works,
anchored by a personal memoir of the author’s own experience with grief and
loss after the passing of his father from cancer, by speculative fiction author
Richard R. Brown.
A single mother encounters insanity in the worst possible
person; an estranged parent loses his reunited family to a mysterious bathroom
wall; a group of strangers come together to fight a fungal pandemic; college
students prepare for the extinction of the Sun… these are a few of the
challenges faced by the desperate characters in Holes In The Somewhere. The
choices they make, the dilemmas they wrestle with, all have very supernatural
consequences, but are felt with very human emotions.
These stories will tug at strings your heart thought were
too well-hidden for anyone to know about, and cause the mind to probe the gray
areas between wrong and right. Between normal and paranormal. Behind what’s
real and only to the side of what’s unreal. A perfect mix of quick, unsettling
reads, and longer, heart-wrenching escapes.
What readers
are saying:
“The debut is speculative fiction in form: weird,
unsettling, occasionally cosmic. But it reads less like a genre exercise than
like grief that has been given permission to take unusual shapes.” –
Justine Castellon, Author/Reviewer
“I guarantee there is a ‘gotcha’ story in there for
just about anybody, and if you don’t find at least one that bothers you just as
you’re about to fall asleep, you’re made of sterner stuff than I am.” –
Kenneth Crist, editor-in-chief, Black Petals Magazine
“These stories are weird and creepy and heart-wrenching
in all the best ways. If you enjoy fiction that makes you question everything
and wrecks you emotionally, this is for you!” – Valerie S., 5 star Amazon
Review
Amazon * B&N
* Kobo * IngramSpark
* Bookbub
* Goodreads
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Excerpt from ‘Death’s Demons’, a story in ‘Holes In The
Somewhere’
The
darkened sky descended into the depths of a dismal dusk, and Jason and Abby
returned to the church. The priest met them at the looming front door and
offered his aging hand in greeting.
“I look forward to hearing your story
again, Jason. I am Father Gregory. I see you have brought a friend. Excellent.
Miss?” The tall, slender man turned to Abby.
At the utterance of his name, Abby
turned white, despite her tan. When he offered his hand to shake, she
reciprocated like a zombie in that old music video. She couldn’t manage to
vocalize an answer to him, though. She winced and visibly recoiled when the man
brought her hand to his lips and kissed the backs of her fingers.
“This is my best friend, Abby. She’s
pleased to meet you,” Jason said, curious at Abby’s unexpected frigidity.
The priest smiled at Abby, then
produced an oversized key ring from his coat pocket. He found a very large iron
key and used it to unlock the gargantuan portal into the church.
“Please, follow me to my office,” he
said, and led them toward the altar. He climbed the three small steps to the
altar and turned left, heading for a door much like the door to the
confessional. As Jason and Abby approached the altar, Abby clutched Jason’s arm
and clung to him. Jason turned his head to ask if she was all right, but was
cut off by Father Gregory. “Please, make
yourselves comfortable,” he said.
Abby chose a chair in the corner,
leaving the chairs in the middle of the room open for Jason and Father Gregory.
As Jason sat down, he heard Abby scoot her chair next to his and felt her hand
slide under his and grasp it tightly.
The priest closed the office door and
sat in the unoccupied chair. “Would either of you care for a glass of water?”
he asked.‘Either’ came out as ‘eye-thur’, and Jason imagined that snakes would
pronounce it in the same way if they spoke English.
They both shook their heads in
refusal, and Father Gregory sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. “All
right, then,” he said, and looked at Jason with an expectant smile curving his
thin lips.
Jason squirmed under the priest’s gaze
and started the discussion. “Well, I told you about my seeing Death…” he began.
“Yes. Please recount your experiences
for me,” Father Gregory prodded.
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What are some of your pet peeves?
I actively, intentionally, put effort into not complaining about things. If I didn’t, I’d never shut up. But let’s talk about a few of my biggest pet peeves!
I’m mostly blind. Really restrictive tunnel-vision, and what I can see is cloudy and distorted. That’s not the pet peeve. I’m a man. Also not the pet peeve. But you know how men can’t find things in the fridge or cupboards unless it’s beer or leftover pizza? Well, make that man mostly blind and the fridge itself becomes hard to find, let alone specific things in it. My biggest pet peeve (after all that set-up) is when anyone, including myself, moves my things around without telling me.
For eight years, I had a service dog, a Guide Dog, who would steer me around obstacles or tripping hazards away from the house. He retired last summer, and is living his best life on the other side of the country from me now, while I wait for his replacement to finish training. Another pet peeve is when people, friends and foes alike, offer my dog attention and/or especially treats while he’s working. Even these highly-trained dogs are easily distracted, and doing that not only interrupts whatever errand I was on, but it also sets back the dog’s training quite a few steps. I am not the world’s best dog trainer, I have found. Please don’t make me try to retrain my service dog.
I live alone in the upstairs of my mother’s house. She’s almost as old as a certain current U.S. President, so that gives some indication of how much help we have to give each other. Thankfully, they can both still identify pictures of giraffes. I digress. Upstairs. Alone…except, not quite. There’s a ghost (or maybe two) who also like to hang around. Sorry if that’s offensive to them – I’m not aware of how they died, so that may have been insensitive. Anyway, they are able to vocalize. I heard one, in a childlike voice, whisper “Come here, Edison!” (my last service dog’s name) while Edison and I were in our respective beds. I also saw Edison raise his head and look at the spot where I heard the whisper come from, so he heard it, too.
Recently, a much more adult-sounding voice has been heard (by me) saying my name in a sharp, commanding tone, like it’s trying to wake me up. Here’s the pet peeve: It’s trying to wake me up. I hear it around five or six in the morning. Far too early to get up.
If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
If I knew I would die tomorrow, I would spend my last day doing what I love most. I would call my kids (both teenagers) and hopefully they’d answer. I would find somewhere sunny and warm (low 80s…ah, hell, it’s my last day…make that mid-80s!), hope there’s only a very slight breeze, play my favorite music loud, and sing along with it until I fall asleep, then sleep under the hot sun. Sunburn? Who cares? It’s my last day!
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Richard R. Brown is a legally-blind author of speculative
fiction, horror, and thrillers. He writes from experience, having lived through
paranormal events, alien attacks, and cosmic horrors — at least, in his mind
and in the books he listens to. He and his Guide Dog live in the Pacific Northwest.
Richard is between Guide Dogs at the moment as Edison retired last summer.
Edison was at Richard’s side through every story in his book. Richard has no
such guidance for his current novel, but will likely have one for editing help.
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The Secret in the Sampler: A Plain Truth Mystery
by Abigail B. Hartwell
The Secret in the Sampler: A Plain Truth Mystery
Amish Adjacent Cozy Mystery with Slow-Burn Romance
1st in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher : Plain Truth Press
Publication date : May 31, 2026
Print length : 358 pages
Digital ASIN : B0GX372D82
Paperback Coming Soon!
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What would you do if the family heirloom hidden in your aunt’s estate could expose a stolen inheritance—and make you the next person someone needs silenced?
Two years after losing her husband, Nora Bell returns to the quiet Ohio Amish-country town of Briar Creek to settle her late aunt’s estate. She expects dusty type drawers, unpaid bills, and enough sympathy casseroles to survive a minor siege. Reopening The Bell & Quill, Aunt Lenora’s old letterpress and stationery shop, is supposed to be a temporary project—not the beginning of an entirely new life.
Then Nora discovers an antique hand-stitched sampler concealed inside a cedar trunk.
Its mismatched initials, reversed border, and nearly invisible name suggest that the sampler is more than a family keepsake. It may be the only surviving record of a child erased from Briar Creek’s history—and an inheritance quietly stolen decades ago.
Before Nora can uncover what her aunt knew, a local estate appraiser is found dead. He had been asking questions about the sampler, searching for a missing auction ledger, and meeting privately with someone determined to keep an old land transfer from being examined too closely.
Now Nora is following a trail of altered records, old letters, disputed property, and carefully guarded family secrets. Her unexpected ally is Eli Yoder, a reserved Amish widower and auction clerk who knows Briar Creek’s family histories almost as well as he knows when people are refusing to tell the truth.
Eli’s dry humor and steady presence make him useful. The grief he recognizes in Nora makes him dangerous in an entirely different way.
As suspicion spreads through the Amish farms, antique shops, auction houses, and polished tourist businesses surrounding Briar Creek, Nora realizes the sampler does not simply reveal what happened in the past. It threatens someone’s money, reputation, and future.
And the person who killed to keep its secret hidden may already know Nora has begun to unravel the pattern.
Readers will discover:
The Secret in the Sampler is the first novel in The Plain Truth Mysteries, a gentle Amish-adjacent cozy mystery series about old objects, hidden histories, rural grudges, and the truths people leave behind on paper and cloth.
Perfect for fans of Amanda Flower’s Assaulted Caramel, Laura Bradford’s Hearse and Buggy, and Vannetta Chapman’s Falling to Pieces.
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Short – Abigail B. Hartwell, aka Abby, writes warm Amish-country-adjacent cozy mysteries rooted in rural Ohio, where handmade clues, old family secrets, quiet faith, and plainspoken women bring buried truths into the light.
Long – Abigail B. Hartwell writes gentle Amish-adjacent cozy mysteries rooted in the small towns and wooded backroads of east-central Ohio. Though she is not Amish, she lives near Amish communities and draws inspiration from the region’s quiet rhythms, close-knit families, old stories, and rural traditions. She shares a modest home on five wooded acres with her long-haul truck driver husband. They have two grown daughters and three grandchildren. When she is not writing, Abigail enjoys church activities, family time, and the peaceful beauty of the Ohio countryside.
Social Media Links: Instagram / Facebook / Website / Amazon
Purchase Links – Amazon Book Amazon Series
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For a list of my reviews go HERE.
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Fiction/Science Fiction
Date Published: June 28, 2026
Publisher: Sapphire Stories
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When Nichola Rodale stumbles upon information suggesting her father—a
renowned scientist and brilliant puzzle maker—may not have died during
The Great Drought, she embarks on a perilous journey across the desolate
American Southwest to discover the truth.
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Kelly Lydick’s writing has appeared in Natural Awakenings, Co Yoga +
Life, True Blue Spirit, American Art Collector, Western Art Collector, and
many others. She has been featured on NPR’s The Writers’ Block and
the Word podcast, and on iHeart radio. She is the author of the experimental
Mastering the Dream, a contributing author to the anthology Dreams That Change
Our Lives, and the author of Dream Incubation for Greater Self-Awareness: A
Handbook. Everything That’s Left Behind is her first novel.
https://mybook.to/EverythingLeftBehind
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
For a list of my reviews go HERE.
To see all of my giveaways go HERE.
