Archive for July, 2013

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Check out this series I just found!

The cover art blows you away and when you read the blurbs for these books you’ll be just like me, saying, “Gimme, Gimme!”

Welcome Helen Harper and her Blood Destiny Series.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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BLOOD DESTINY SERIES

by Helen Harper

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BLURBS:

Bloodfire

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Mackenzie Smith has always known that she was different. Growing up as the only human in a pack of rural shapeshifters will do that to you, but then couple it with some mean fighting skills and a fiery temper and you end up with a woman that few will dare to cross. However, when the only father figure in her life is brutally murdered, and the dangerous Brethren with their predatory Lord Alpha come to investigate, Mack has to not only ensure the physical safety of her adopted family by hiding her apparent humanity, she also has to seek the blood-soaked vengeance that she craves.

Bloodmagic

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After escaping the claws of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the Brethren, Mack is trying to lead a quiet lonely life in Inverness in rural Scotland, away from anyone who might happen to be a shapeshifter. However, when she lands a job at an old bookstore owned by a mysterious elderly woman who not only has a familiar passion for herbal lore but also seems to know more than she should, Mack ends up caught in a maelstrom between the Ministry of Mages, the Fae and the Brethren.

Now she has to decide between staying hidden and facing the music, as well as confronting her real feelings for the green eyed power of Corrigan himself.

Bloodrage

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Mack begins her training at the mages’ academy in the hope that, by complying, the stasis spell will be lifted from her old friend, Mrs. Alcoon. However, once there, she finds herself surrounded by unfriendly adults and petulant teenagers, the majority of whom seem determined to see her fail.

Feeling attacked on all fronts, Mack finds it harder and harder to keep a rein on her temper. Forced to attend anger management classes and deal with the predatory attentions of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the shapeshifter world, her emotions start to unravel. But when she comes across a familiar text within the walls of the mages’ library, which might just provide the clues she needs to unlock the secrets of her background and her dragon blood, she realises that her problems are only just beginning…

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EXCERPT  from Bloodfire:

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I scanned the bookshelves again, looking for something that might help and was about to pull down a precious gems and magical objects encyclopaedia when I suddenly heard voices and the slamming of doors from outside.  Bugger it.  Quickly closing down the computer, I stepped back into the outer office.  I was just in time because Staines came suddenly striding in with the Lord Alpha.  They were in mid conversation and didn’t see me at first.

“My lord, we need to focus on the magic trail before anything else,” Staines was saying.

The Alpha growled.  “The mage can do that better than us.  It’s the tree markings that interest…” his voice trailed off as he saw me and his green eyes narrowed.

“Hi!” I said brightly.  “Found it!”  I held up my mug for display.

They both just stared at me silently.  I cleared my throat.  “Well, I’ll get out your way then.”  I moved towards the door but the Alpha was blocking it.  I looked up at him, waiting for him to move out my way.  He folded his arms and continued to stare.

I felt a flicker of irritation from my bloodfire.  This was my keep, not his.  I moved to brush past him, registering the hard steely curve of his muscles as my arm touched his.  He moved further back, blocking the doorway completely.

“Miss Mackenzie,” he drawled softly.

 

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Giveaway

Helen will award a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here.

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Helen Harper is an English teacher currently living abroad in Malaysia. As a long time reader of urban fantasy, she finally bit the bullet and began to develop her own series of novels.

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland. “I always loved the escapism provided by those genres,” states Helen. “No matter how bad life gets, you can always find a route out, even if only temporarily, in the pages of a good book.”

The growth of urban fantasy fascinated her – the mix of reality and fantasy along with strong heroic female characters appealed from the very beginning, and inspired her to write her own.

Facebook Author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Helen-Harper/101590660022586

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarperFire

Amazon.com buy links: Just click on the Amazon button below the covers.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways go here.

WWW Wednesday

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Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

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What are you currently reading?

Creatures of Appetite by Todd Travis

Creatures of Appetite

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They call it The Heartland Child Murders.

Everyone else calls it a nightmare. Locked doors don’t stop him. He leaves no trace behind. He only takes little girls.

His nickname… The Iceman.

A deranged serial killer roams wintry rural Nebraska with a demented purpose no one can fathom. Special Agent EMMA KANE, a former DC cop and damaged goods now with the FBI, is assigned to babysit burnt-out profiler JACOB THORNE, once the best in the business but now said to have lost his edge, as they both fly to Nebraska to catch this maniac.

Thorne is erratic, abrasive and unpredictably brilliant, but what he and Kane find in the heartland is much more than anyone bargained for, especially when the Iceman challenges them personally.

The clock is ticking and a little girl’s life is on the line.

And maybe even more with that, once they find out what he’s really up to.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Dark Deeds by Susan Fleet

Dark Deeds: Serial killers, stakers and domestic homicides

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True crime: 12 chilling case studies. Meet the victims, their killers and the bloody consequences of their deeds.

No one knows how many serial killers are roaming the United States. Some experts believe they murder as many as 180 people each year. Others say the count may be much higher because some serial killers hide the bodies and they’re never found. A pretty farm girl fed her victims to the hogs

Stalkers far outnumber serial killers. Each year they threaten 3.4 million people in America. Although stalkers may profess love for the objects of their obsession, many seriously injure or kill their “love object.”  Eg: You’re the one that I want … to kill.

Domestic homicide is rampant in the US. Women and children rarely kill family members. Men commit the majority of domestic homicides. Some are crimes of passion. Others are carefully calculated. Why bother with a divorce when you can kill your spouse?  A cross-dressing doctor murdered his wife to keep his millions.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Nibble, Nibble, Crunch by Willow Rose

Nibble, Nibble, Crunch

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Warning: After reading this story you’ll never be able to look at a snowman the same way again.

In the beginning she thought it was sweet, this snowman who emerged as if from nowhere, but soon the six-year old Emma realizes that this snowman is different … very different.

NIBBLE, NIBBLE, CRUNCH is a horror novella from Willow Rose, author of the International Bestselling horror-series starring the Danish reporter Rebekka Franck. It is not for the faint at heart.

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So, whatcha readin?

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Nerd Blast

I couldn’t resist being a part of this Book Blast organized by Book Nerd Tours.

Over the Rainbow sounds amazing!

And look at this cover art.

I can see a little bit of the Oz there, but what’s that in the sky?

Not a bird, not a plane. Nope, a dinosaur!

And that pooch isn’t Toto.

I have to find out what is going on here.

Please read on to see why.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Synopsis

Zippy Green never meant to fall in love with a girl, but when she does, her ultra-conservative father tries to send her to anti-gay camp. At the Kansas City airport, however, she hides inside a giant suitcase and sneaks onto an airplane headed not to the camp, but to Seattle, where her online love Mira lives. Halfway through the flight, the plane barrels out of control and crashes into the ground, knocking her unconscious.

When Zippy awakens, she finds that most of the passengers have vanished. She doesn’t know what’s happened, but she’s determined to find out. She begins a quest on foot toward Seattle, and along the way, she meets a teenager with a concussion  a homeless man with a heart condition, a child without a shred of bravery, and a terrier named Judy. Together the group discovers that more than two-thirds of the world’s population has mysteriously disappeared. But that’s only the beginning…

All Zippy wants is to find her Mira, but before she can she has to contend with two outside forces. The first is her homophobic father, who does everything in his power to keep her from the girl she loves. And the second is extinct creatures of all shapes and sizes, including living, breathing dinosaurs, which have replaced the missing population.

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About Brian Rowe:
Website

Brian
Brian Rowe is a writing fiend, book devotee, film fanatic, and constant dreamer. He’s written nine novels, dozens of short stories, five feature-length screenplays, and hundreds of film articles and essays. He is one half of the blog Story Carnivores, where he reviews the latest in books and film. He is currently pursuing his MA in English at the University of Nevada, Reno, and is hard at work on his next novel.
GIVEAWAY is International
5 Winners will receive a Signed Copy of Over the Rainbow by Brian Rowe.
12 Winners will receive an E-Copy of Over the Rainbow by Brian Rowe.
1 Winner will receive a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card by Brian Rowe.
Must be 13+ to Enter
To enter, click on the rafflecopter link below.
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Related articles

Legacy-Series-Banner

I know it may seem intimidating that this is Book #9 in this series. I was.

Then, I did a little research and was happy to discover that these books can be read as stand-alones!

I’ve decided to start from the beginning though. That’s what’s so fun about a series, following characters, meeting new ones, and remaining in the moment.

Follow the tour, learn more about the Halo Legacy Series, and don’t forget to enter the awesome giveaway!

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Legacy Reborn

by Genie Gabriel

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BLURB:

An attorney devoted to social causes and a burned out women’s advocate help save their home town while struggling not to fall in love. However, an unintended pregnancy and a gift from the heart lead them on a journey to new possibilities and love.

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Excerpt

Once more dressed in jeans and her well-worn cowboy boots, with a jacket thrown on to ward off the chill evening air, Phoenix walked.

Against a backdrop of blue-green mountain peaks and the lightly wooded hillsides closer to the farm, the hens were settling in their coop, with only an occasional soft clucking.

Inside the boldly painted red barn, horses whickered in their stalls. She breathed deeply of the scents of horse and hay as she ambled through the dusty structure, then opened the side door and walked into the llama’s pasture.

The male immediately approached her and nuzzled her cheek as she slung her arm around him. “I love you too, Romeo.”

She closed her eyes and relaxed against the animal’s woolly neck. However, her relaxation ended abruptly when the animal stiffened and emitted a shrill cry.

Following the animal’s gaze, Phoenix saw CJ standing on the other side of the corral with his arms folded on the top board. “Will your llama spit in my face?”

“It’s alright, Romeo.” Phoenix patted the llama, then walked slowly toward the man who had occupied too much of her thoughts lately. “What brings you out this way?”

“You left the Governor’s presentation right after you talked to Mitch. I wanted to be sure you were okay.”

All the memories she had been trying to walk off slammed into Phoenix once more. “What is okay? I’m not sure I’ve ever been okay or ever will be. How can I find normal or happy when I don’t think I’ve experienced those things?”

“You come up your own version of what makes you happy.”

“A woman is dead because of me. How can I ever be happy knowing that?”

“Mitch said Swaggerty was waiting for Charlene. If it hadn’t been that night, he would have killed her another way.”

Phoenix let that statement sink in. One part of her brain knew that was true. So why did she cling to the blame for Charlene’s death? Maybe she was afraid to move forward.

 

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About the author and links

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I’m an optimist whose rose-colored glasses have bent frames and cracked lenses. When life kicks me in the teeth, I find miracles and lessons I refused to learn an easier way. In fact, I live with a small herd of miracles in the furry forms of dogs, who are constantly trying to teach me to forgive, to play more, and to love without limits. I write about people who find courage and integrity in the darkest times of their lives, who rescue stray dogs and kittens, who find a person they would willingly give their lives for, and who make their little corners of the world a better place. People have remarked my stories “aren’t what they expected.” With rose-colored glasses firmly in place, I take that as a compliment. I invite you to share a piece of my world in the pages of a book, and hope you find some surprises, some tears, some laughter, and always a happy ending.

My Web site: http://www.GenieGabriel.com

My blog: http://oshealegacyseries.blogspot.com

****NOTE: All nine books in the Halo Legacy Series will be $0.99 the day of the tour!****

http://shop.roguephoenixpress.ieasysite.com/category.aspx?categoryid=82

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Giveaway

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Genie will be awarding nine $9 Amazon GCs — eight will be awarded to randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and one will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.

Make sure you follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways go here.

 

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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My tease for today is from Creatures of Appetite by Todd Travis

Creatures of Appetite

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“Tammy Sue Paulson, how many times do I have to tell you about wandering off – “

Maureen stopped. The Crock-Pot fell from her hands and broke on the ground. Her face froze in mid-sentence for an instant, and then melted into a horrendous scream.

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Did I get your attention? The author sure got mine!

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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What’s inside the Box of Infernos?

That’s what I want to know.

Join me on this tour of discovery organized by Bewitching Blog Tours and lets find out together!

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The Chronicles of Darkness: The Box of Infernos

The Chronicles of Darkness Book One

Matthew Head

Genre:  Supernatural Mystery

ISBN:  978-1-78299-263-9

Number of pages:  204

Word Count:  85,000

Cover Artist: Matthew Head

Teaser trailer: http://youtu.be/STsB96OFZfw

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Book Description:

In the south of England, in the city of Monks-Lantern, events are starting to unfold which have the potential to threaten all of creation. Isaac Jacobs is a young university student with a haunted past who has long been fighting the supernatural monsters of this world and now he fights them alongside his four friends; Gabbi Gurtpasha, Billie Stamford, Laura Henley and Ben Pokeley.

What starts off as a disturbing but relatively low key investigation soon explodes into something much larger, darker and more fearsome than any of them could have imagined. Just what is behind the slow but steady disappearance of people from the city? Who is the much feared Imperator? What is the worst thing you can hope to see beneath a door in an empty building? How do you define a good man from a bad one? And what terror lies within the Box of Infernos?

A plan which has been in motion for millenia is now coming to fruition and Isaac had better be ready as his life will never be the same again from now on.

Something is coming.

Here is a peek inside!

It is said by some that all of creation can be divided into good or evil. Light or dark. Right or wrong. True or false. Those who say this say it as a comfort to themselves, as they are undoubtedly the ones who will claim to be good, light, right and true and it makes their lives just a little easier if they can believe that those adjectives really apply to them.

It is said by others that all of creation can be classed together – that every being is a combination of good and evil, that there is in fact no true good and no true evil in existence. Those who say this say it also as a comfort to themselves, as it means they can sleep better in their beds believing that there is no true evil lurking in the world, or perhaps in the shadows of their own bedroom.

It’s an unfortunate truth then for both of those groups of people that they are both wrong in their beliefs. There is pure good, there are beings of pure light in existence. And there is pure evil, and rest assured there are many beings of pure darkness in existence. But then there are also creatures who straddle both camps, which are impossible to class one way or the other.

The beings of light are predominantly the angels who sing and blaze in the higher realms, radiating love and beauty. They live their lives in what we as humans have decided to call heaven but that isn’t to say that they don’t make their presence known still in our world from time to time. They aren’t the only beings of light however – there are the Witches of the Veil who pass through worlds offering help and kindness, and legends also tell of ancient beings that swirl in the deserts of the east of the world – always happy to show love and friendship to any who need it.

The beings of darkness can be loosely tied together with the common term of demons, however this broad term does their numbers an injustice. There are many creatures of hate and lies – soul dwellers, ghouls, the Children of Despair, the Ar’karnak, the shadows, malignant fairies – the list can continue almost indefinitely as the dark realms have spawned infinite monsters in the time since the dawn of creation. Higher up than simple demons there are also the primordial beings of chaos and hatred that have long been forgotten by our world although that is not to say that they have forgotten us.

It might seem on the face of it that the beings of darkness outweigh the beings of light, but then it must be remembered that a single match shines brightest when surrounded by the pitch blackness and that a single truth if properly wielded can topple a whole tower of lies.

Still there is another group to look at, the beings that fall in between. Those gloriously grey beings that refuse to be either the deepest black or the purest white. Humans. People. Grey is often seen as a boring, drab kind of colour but in the case of humanity it shines brilliantly. Many people in the world would resist being painted with the grey brush – some may claim to be pure good, some may well claim to be pure evil. But whatever you may think of an individual you must remember the truest truth there is in the whole of the world – they are all grey. They are all somewhere in-between. No person is wholly right ever, everyone has their own faults and everyone makes mistakes and does wrong from time to time. And equally no person is wholly wrong ever, behind the most wicked people you will always find some glimmer of good – a shadow of the person they once were perhaps or an indication of some terrible event which once turned them down darker paths.

The greatest strength of humanity is its ability to comprehend and exhibit the emotion we’d loosely call love. Love binds people, binds families, binds friendships together and holds them close. It pulls you close to people and keeps you with them and through that it can be a source of great joy and great happiness. But despite being the greatest strength love can also perversely be the greatest weakness of a person too. For many it never becomes an issue because their lives are too ordinary. But for some who find themselves dealing with those creatures who dwell purely in the darkness then love can twist and turn. Before long it can lead to terrible choices, awful deeds and heartbreaking consequences.

So then, we can see that there are beings of true light, beings of true darkness and beings of the in-between. All are important and all will play a crucial part in the story which is about to begin before the final move is made and we see whether creation ceases to exist or if it will continue to flourish in all its diversity. For there is one more truth to impart.

Something is coming.

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Giveaway

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Two signed print copies of The Chronicles of Darkness:

The Box of Infernos by Mathew Head – open worldwide!

To enter, click on the rafflecopter link below.

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About the Author:

My name is Matthew Head and I’m a writer from Surrey. Well, I say from Surrey – I was born in Kent, moved to London for a bit and then moved out to Surrey to live with my partner Andrew. I was born in the eighties, raised in the nineties and then I was inspired in the noughties during my time at university where I studied Theology.

Theology is quite possibly the most fascinating subject in the world. Sounds boring I know, sounds like church and everyone knows that church is boring. But it’s not like that at all. It’s packed full of myths and monsters, gods and goddesses – mad, bad, sad ones alive in stories which rival many blockbuster movies in terms of how epic they are. It doesn’t matter whether it’s all real or not – it’s the story that counts. Stories are beautiful because absolutely anything is possible within them. That’s why I love writing because I love the idea of contributing to that and creating stories. Stories that will make you cry, make you laugh, make you scared. Because I think there is some magic in writing – that simple words have the power to make us feel and react so strongly to them.

When I’m not writing or doing my day job then I really enjoy going out and exploring new places. I love going somewhere I’ve never been before, especially if there’s some history linked to the place. Old places are the best – the older the better. You just get this sense that so much has happened there, so many different people have come and gone and yet the place remains.

A few more random facts about me – my favourite pet is the humble goldfish, my favourite dinner is macaroni cheese, I love banana flavoured things but I strongly dislike bananas and the only real phobia I have is a phobia of frogs. Yeuch.

Web: www.chroniclesofdarkness.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheChroniclesOfDarkness

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chronofdarkness

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Chronofdarkness

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6536000.Matthew_Head

Unraveling of Lady Fury VBT

Every now and then I step outside my reading box and read something different.

I usually read horror and suspense, but how could I resist The Unraveling of Lady Fury!

The title caught my attention and when I saw this cover art, I had to have it.

I was reminded of my younger years, lying on the pier, reading a smexy romance while the waves lapped at the shore. I became lost in the adventure.

I’m looking forward to reliving that experience.

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Rule One: There will be no kissing.

Rule two: There will be no touching…

Widowed Lady Fury Shelton hasn’t lost everything—yet. As long as she produces the heir to the Beaumont dukedom, she just might be able to keep her position. And her secrets. But when the callously irresistible Captain James “Flint” Blackmoore sails back into her life, Lady Fury panics. She must find a way to protect herself—and her future—from the man she’d rather see rotting in hell than sleeping in her bed. If she must bed him to keep her secrets, so be it. But she doesn’t have to like it. A set of firm rules for the bedroom will ensure that nothing goes awry. Because above all else, she must stop herself from wanting the one thing that Flint can never give her. His heart.

Ex-privateer Flint Blackmoore has never been good at following the rules. Now, once again embroiled in a situation with the aptly named Lady Fury, he has no idea why he doesn’t simply do the wise thing and walk away. He knows he’s playing with fire, and that getting involved with her again is more dangerous than anything on the high seas. But he can’t understand why she’s so determined to hate him. He isn’t sure if the secret she keeps will make things harder—or easier—for him, but as the battle in the bedroom heats up, he knows at least one thing. Those silly rules of hers will have to go…

Unraveling of Lady Fury VBT

Excerpt:

Fury sat down and dipped the quill into the ink. She detected the faintest trace of nerves. It must be the fact Thomas lay in the cellar. Why else would a man, so great, so stalwart, so worldly as Captain Flint be nervous of her?

“Well, yes,” she said, listening to the pleasing scratch of the nib on the soft paper.

“Babies are not always made in a night. Of course, you wouldn’t know that, being you. It will take time.”

“All the more reason then to just get going. After all this time, sweetheart, you don’t know how eager I am.”

He strode across the tiled floor and the ink trailed a long dark path across the paper as he dragged her to her feet. Had it blobbed it might have been something to worry about. But she was very set on this. And calm. As calm as one could be having this man in her bedroom, knowing what was coming next out of dire necessity, her husband in a box in the cellar and her cast off, potential lovers on their way out the door.

“No, James.” She held a hand up between their lips. “There will be no kissing.”

“No kissing? Why in hell not?”

It displaced her calm to see him grin. She would have preferred that he was indignant. Especially as he was a man who thought he could settle all his arguments—with women anyway—with a kiss. But she kept her face cold, blank.

“Because.” In some ways she was cold. Cold with rage.

“Aw, come on Fury, didn’t you like my kissing? Hmm?” His breath, hot and male, brushed her fingertips. He wrapped his arms around her, splaying his hands across her back, so her hand might as well not have been there for all the protection it was.

But she was calm. Didn’t she have to get into bed with him after all? So, even the impulse to squirm was one she would squash. When she thought of all he had done to her, she would give him nothing. Not even the knowledge she found his proximity so unsettling that she sought to pull away.

“Your kissing was fine, in its way, I suppose. But kissing is a sign of affection.”

“How do you make that out?”

She knew exactly why he scratched his head. Their love-making had been torrid. It had been sensual. It had been shaming. And it had been absent of any affection. Certainly on his part. So, why on earth would a kiss be a sign of anything? To him anyway. She was the damn fool who had thought it had. Who even now was forced to concede the pleasure it would be to take her hand across his face to assist his understanding of her feelings. The impertinence of the damn man, the stinging ignorance.

“It just is.” She eased the distance between them a whisper. “So there will be none. Not now. Not at all.”

“All right then. Saves time. It means—”

“Rule two.” She saw his eyes freeze as he readied himself to yank off his shirt. She persisted anyway. Why not? In many ways she walked a tightrope here. If she paused it might be to her detriment. “You will be fully dressed at all times.”

“What? How the hell am I meant to—”

“I am sure you will manage. You managed plenty before. But I do not desire to look at your body before, during, or after. Nor in any shape or form wandering about this house in just your breeches. Is that understood?”

He dropped his hands from his shirt and glared, so he must have. “You wanted to look at it plenty before. In fact, it makes my head spin, just how often you—”

    True. But that was then. “Rule three.” Clasping her fingers around the cool edge of the dressing table to create another inch of distance, she continued.

   “Rule three? You mean there’s more?”

    “I will not touch you in any place, intimate or otherwise. I will lie. You will perform.”

Buy Links:   Amazon   Barnes and Noble   All Romance Ebooks

About the Author: 

Shehanne Moore, a Scottish author, who writes gritty, witty, as much risky as risqué, historical romance, set wherever takes her fancy. Stories that detail the best and worst of human behaviour, as opposed to pouts and flounces. For years she worked at various things, while pursuing her dream of becoming a published writer, so she was gobsmacked to sell her book, The Unraveling of Lady Fury, written in three months,  to U.S. publishers, Etopia Press,  six days after subbing it.

Shehanne still lives in Scotland,  with her husband Mr Shey. She has two daughters. When not writing intriguing historical romance, where goals and desires of sassy, unconventional heroines and ruthless men, mean worlds do collide, she fantasizes about cleaning the house, plays the odd musical instrument and loves what in any other country, would not be defined, as hill-walking.

Author Links:  Site      Facebook      Twitter       Pinterest

SOR Tour Host 3

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I love discovering new authors and their exciting stories.

Book tours are a fun way to do so.

How else would we find gems like Reconnaissance (Paradise Reclaimed #2)

Look at this cover art!

It creeps me out, but at the same time it pulls me in.

Lets see what its all about and don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a lovely jeweled necklace!

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Reconnaissance (Paradise Reclaimed #2)

by Aubrie Dionne

YA Sci-Fi/Futuristic Romance

Categories: Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian

Publisher: Inkspell Publishing

Release Date: May 1, 2013

Heat Level: Sweet

Word Count: 50,000

Available at:

Amazon | ARe | B&N | Inkspell Publishing | Kobo

Description:

Nova Williams has lost her one shot at Lieutenanthood and at love. Lieutenant Crophaven has promoted her rival, Andromeda, all because her lifemate, Sirius, sacrificed their mission to win back Andromeda’s love.

While sneaking out to prove Andromeda is a fake, Nova finds an alien ship hovering over their colony. Lieutenant Crophaven assigns her to a reconnaissance mission, giving her a second chance to redeem herself. Sirius must fly her and a research team to the vessel to decide if they are a threat. Thrown together with the lifemate that betrayed her, she battles with her own jealousy while her team battles for their lives.

Can she forgive Sirius in order to save her team and warn her colony?

Aubrie grew up watching the original Star Wars movies over and over until she could recite and reenact every single scene in her backyard. She also loved The Goonies, Star Trek the Next Generation–favorite character was Data by far–and Indiana Jones. But, her all time favorite movie was The Last Unicorn. She still wonders why the unicorn decided to change back to a unicorn in the end.

Enjoy this Excerpt:

A drone, as deep and low as the growl of a primordial beast, resonated in my gut and I yanked my hand away. My heart sped like someone had fired a starter gun to a race, and my chest tightened until I couldn’t breathe.

That blaring blasphemy wasn’t from my ship.

The sound tapered off, leaving me in silence. I stared at the bones, wondering if I’d imagined it, or if I should hide here in the ruins in case the sound came back.

What am I doing? I’m a team expedition leader, for crying out loud!

I pulled myself back together. Everyone else was attending the ceremony on the ship. The thick hull, designed to protect us from deep space, blocked all sounds from the outside world. I was the only one who would have heard it. The only one who could investigate. I thought about going back for help, but every second I delayed, the source of the sound could disappear. Besides, I didn’t want the credit taken away from me. Not this time.

I scrambled to the window and climbed over the ledge, throwing myself down so fast my ankles exploded in pain. Cursing, I hobbled up the embankment of the excavation site. The sound boomed around me, vibrating the crystals underneath my feet. I fell to my knees and covered my ears. It reminded me of warping metal, growling monsters, and screeching alarms all at the same time.

The sound came from the jungle. I pulled myself up the incline and peered over the edge. A dry, fiery breeze blew my hair back, and I looked above the rustling canopy.

My heart stammered then beat into a frenzy. A massive ring of a ship, twice as large as the New Dawn, hovered over the jungle. Spires jutted from the top and the bottom, like a two-sided pin cushion. Blinking reddish lights adorned the ends. The hull was a dull gray shield of impenetrable metal with no sight panels or markings of any kind.

The buzzing sound made my eardrums throb. I pressed my nose up against the crystal ledge and peered over as my whole body shook. The lowest spire, thick as a nuclear reactor, lengthened from the belly of the ship until the tip hovered a meter from the jungle canopy. A trap door opened, and a beam of white light seared a hole in the foliage. The smell of burnt vines choked my throat, and I cowered against the side of the ledge.

I have to warn the ship.

 

About the Author:

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Aubrie wrote in her junior high yearbook that she wanted to be “a concert flutist” when she grew up. She majored in flute performance at the University of New Hampshire on a full scholarship, then secured two teaching jobs at a University and a local community music school. While playing in orchestras and teaching, stories popped into her head, and she used them to make the music come alive for her flute students. Her students said they were so good, she had to write them down! Maybe they were right, who knows? Two careers seems to keep her busy. For now.

She is represented by Dawn Dowdle and writes sweet and adventurous fantasy, science fiction, and contemporary romance.

Connect with Aubrie Dionne:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Giveaway

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 Contest ends July 13.

Follow the tour and check out what’s happening at the other stops here!

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways go here.

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Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review very short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about The Rain Wouldn’t Take Away The Pain

by Cedrix E. Clarke

The Rain Wouldn't Take Away the Pain

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The cover left me clueless, but it did catch my eye while browsing for a short story.

I downloaded this for free and want to say thanks to Cedrix and to all of you wonderful authors for your free books.

How else could I afford to sample so many different stories.

What was supposed to be a lovely drive to my parents house for Thanksgiving was turning into something more serious.

Mary, a brilliant and lovely young woman and possibly the love of my life, was showing an unusual side of herself.

I never realized she was so insecure about how strangers would feel about her.

I was trying to figure this out, but the odd noise coming from under my car was a distraction. I should have got that looked at before we left.  Also, as I was behind the wheel, I needed to pay attention to the road.

I admit, I was a bit over it with her worries, but I felt a need to reassure her, and to find out what she was so afraid of.

Meanwhile, I’m worried about those noises still coming from under the car. They seem to be caused by turning to the left, so I baby the car around those turns. The tunnel ahead, created by a canopy of thick trees, is a straight shot and we are almost to my parents, so I feel safe to speed up.

There, smack dab in the center of the road, stands a magnificent buck. Expecting him to move, I’m surprised when he calmly gazes at me, standing motionless.

I keep expecting him to move as I draw nearer. If he doesn’t, maybe I can go around him.

I apply the brakes, not knowing what the deer will do….

So much in such a short story.

The conversation between these two lovers and the introspection by the narrator make you feel like a fly on the wall, viewing and listening to everything.

The conversation flowed so naturally and the scenes were depicted in visual detail.

As the story progressed, I became curious about Mary and what was going through her mind to make her so worried. But, then I felt this creeping sense of dread, of suspense. Somehow, without really mentioning it, the author weaved in this calm before the storm feeling. I began to anticipate what could be coming.

What came, was so different from what I was thinking. I actually wasn’t sure what would happen, but I never saw this coming.

The Rain Wouldn’t Take Away the Pain will make you think. It will make you ask yourself some poignant questions and it will push the limits of believability.

This is a very short story that left me with a “what do I know” feeling.

4 Stars

About the author

Cedrix E. Clarke is a pseudonym for a Kentucky writer that has written his entire adult life, but only recently began publishing. Cedrix has a professional day job in a small town in Kentucky and writes at night, and like most comic book heroes, he must protect his identity. Cedrix does not fight crime…not yet, anyway.

For more about the author and his books:

Amazon / Website

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This is my own version of a weekly bookhaul post where  I’ll be telling you about all of the books I got this week, whether print or e-book plus all things new on fuonlyknew.

I got a few books this week, some free, some for review, and some I purchased just for my reading pleasure.

I also post reviews on another blog aknifeandaquill . It’s all about horror. If someone doesn’t die, we don’t do it here!

Here’s some I picked up to review on both blogs. Double exposure for the author:)

Ravage: An Apocalyptic Horror Novel

Here are some I picked up to review on fuonlyknew.

Sledge  Heartless (Tales of Goldstone  Wood #1)

Got some good ones!

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Books for Review.

Getting Back to Normal  My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy, #1)  Resilient

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The Eyes of Love by Angelina Rose

You’ll have to wait to see the cover.

I had to have these!

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Books I won.

I didn’t win anything this week:(

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Reviewed this week.

Accendo (The Light-Bearer, #3)

A Tag Team Event – Two blogs, two reviews, two giveaways!

Enter the giveaway here.

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Halo of the Madonna

Reviewed on my Monday Minis post here.

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Black Door

Reviewed on Freakin Fridays here.

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Dawn of a Dark Knight

My review and enter to win a signed paperback here!

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Scheduled reviews for next week.

The Rain Wouldn't Take Away the Pain

Reviewing on my Monday Minis post.

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On a Wing and a Dare (Flying Horse Books, #1)  In the Winds of Danger (Flying Horse Books, #2)

Reviewing both books on Wednesday, July 10th.

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Welcome to Adelheid (Adelheid #1-3)

Cameron's Law (Adelheid, #1)  When Forever Died (Adelheid, #2)  Voracious (Adelheid, #3)

Review of all three books in one and giveaway on Thursday, Jully 11th.

Several more reviews and awesome giveaways coming this next week. Be sure to stop by!

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Other posts this week. Just click on the links to see the posts.

Giveaway ~ Chasing Invisible

Release Day ~ For Nick

Teaser Tuesdays ~ Extinct 

Giveaway Blast ~ The Devil Drinks Coffee

WWW Wednesday

Giveaway ~ High Witch

Thursday Theatre ~ Fourth of July

Giveaway and Cover Reveal ~ Reap

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Go here to find all of my giveaways. Enter one or enter all of them!!

Go here for a list of free e-books.

Busy, busy, busy. So many delicious reads! Some I’ve read and will be posting my reviews soon.

So what did you get this week? See something you like? Do you have any of these? Leave a comment and let me know.