Archive for November, 2013

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Learn more about Drowning, Rachel Firasek’s New Adult Romance, and read her guest post about writing to music.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win the book, some swag bags, and a Kindle Paperwhite!

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A fun Guest Post by Rachel Firasek

Writing to Music

Hi everyone! Thank you for having me on the blog today and letting me share a little about my writing process.

I think most creative minds enjoy music, so it’s not a big surprise to hear that “another” author wrote a book to a song…or a group of songs. Here’s a link to my Drowning playlist if you’d like to hear the inspiration to the words. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqwJvVojAxIx9zWY3Nq3p24xr0JAand4E

There’s one song that really hit home for this book. Apex Predator by Otep. Wow, what a powerful piece. It’s twisted and dark and scary. During a scene with Alice and her father, I listened to this song on repeat. It’s definitely the perfect mood setter for some of the darker parts in this novel.

And when I really needed to pull myself out of the evil that underlies the base of my plot, I turned to Volbeat for their Cape of the Hero to remind me that there would be a HEA. Seth is what I consider a normal hero. He doesn’t have super hero powers. He’s not good with guns or knives. But like the father in the video, he wants to be there for Alice, even when he’s physically not.

And Pink’s, Just Give Me a Reason is the perfect balance for Seth and Alice’s love story. He’s pretty straight forward about his interest, but she’s always in her head. It’ll take a lot of patience and a lot of love to get them past her pain. But he knows she’s worth it, and he has to try.

So…that’s just a few songs on my playlist that I loved to use while writing this book. I’d love to find out your favorite song…or one that inspires you in life. So, for a chance to win an eCopy of Drowning, name your “go-to” song.

Oh, and thanks for stopping in today! J

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Drowning

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Drowning by Rachel Firasek
Publication date: October 26th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Synopsis:

*Drowning is a New Adult Contemporary Romance suited for 18+ due to some violence, language, and sexual content*

“I dare you.”

Those words would change adrenaline junkie, Alice Harrison’s life  forever. She’s a party girl that doesn’t believe in love until she meets a man that only writes about it.

Seth James escaped his overbearing father and moved into one of the  James family’s vacant condos, hoping to create the music he loves in  peace. But the fragile calm he’s envisioned shatters when a tiny woman  with a world full of energy bounces out of the elevator and nearly takes him out.

With the patience of a saint, Seth seeks the dark that keeps Alice  from enjoying life. He challenges her to exorcise the demons in her past in order to discover the true meaning of love. But when the walls fall  down, the hidden deceptions will bare the ugly truth about a woman  drowning in sorrow and a man who may not know how to be her hero.

LINKS:

GOODREADS / AMAZON / B&N

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About Rachel Firasek
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drowning Rachel
Rachel Firasek spends her days daydreaming of stories and her nights putting the ideas to ink. She has spent a dull life following the rules, meeting deadlines, and toeing the line, but in her made up worlds, she can let the wild side loose. Her wonderful husband and three children support her love of the written word and only ask for the occasional American Idol or Swamp People quality hour.
She has a philosophy about love. It must devastate or it isn’t truly worth loving. She hopes that you all find your devastating love and cling to it with all your heart!
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I have two giveaways today.

I have one ebook copy of Drowning to give away

To enter, please leave your email address so I can contact you and answer this question:

“Are you cooking your Thanksgiving dinner or chowing on someone elses?”

and the next giveaway.

Five swag Gift Bags and A Kindle Paperwhite!

To enter click on the rafflecopter link below.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

Click on the turkey to see all of my giveaways.

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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?

Days With The Undead: Book One

by  Julianne Snow

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It’s a journal of survival.Five people set out to escape the Undead who have risen too close to home. Join the emotional and physical struggle as they began on the third day after the awakening of Brooks VanReit, as they are recorded from the point of view of Julie, a former pathologist and part-time survivalist.Each entry is geared toward helping those who want to help themselves and maybe give a few that don’t a swift kick in the ass.Join our group of survivors on their journey through these Days with the Undead.

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What did you recently finish reading?

Controlling the Dead

by Annie Walls 

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Synopsis

With the help of her new companions, the path Kansas follows leads to more knowledge of the ever adapting famished.

The team finds help in unlikely places, meeting more survivors, and discovers the possibility of a new beginning.

When the team experiences a devastating loss, Kansas struggles to keep her humanity from fading and distorting like that of the surviving society around her. It begins with knowing who to trust and who to leave behind. First, she must trust herself – she won’t make the same mistakes twice.

As the answers to her questions are revealed, Kansas begins to understand the knowledge comes with a heavy price and great responsibility of controlling the dead.

In a trilogy plot thick with twists and turns, this adult dark fantasy is as emotional as it is horrifyingly gripping.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Liar’s Harvest

The Emergent Earth, Book Two

by  Michael Langlois

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Abe put an end to the threat of the Devourer once and for all.So why does the world keep getting more dangerous?Unsettling events pile up one after another: animal corpses appear on the front porch each night, an abandoned graveyard in the North Carolina woods is now home to something unnatural, and wooden men with eerily familiar faces are spotted lurking in the nearby town of Halfway.Abe finds himself caught in a game set in motion long before the rise of mankind. A game in which even the Devourer was merely a pawn and where losing means the death of every man, woman, and child on earth.Standing with him are the survivors of Belmont: Anne, Chuck, Leon, and his old squadmate, Henry “The Professor” Monroe. Together they intend to hold the line against the encroaching darkness and prove that there are still things in the light to be feared.

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So, whatcha readin?

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Happy days! Halloween may be over but it’s always zombie time on fuonlyknew!

Just check out Emma Shortt’s Waking Up Dead

I’m loving her cover art and the poster makes me think MOVIE!!

I have a fun giveaway for ya too.

You could win a Waking Up Dead T-shirt!

Keep reading to learn all!

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 Waking up Dead

End of Days Love

Book One
Emma Shortt

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Genre: Horror romance

Publisher: Entangled Select

Date of Publication: 22 October 2013

ISBN: 9781622660353 / ASIN: B00BMKRLXG

Number of pages: 372 / Word Count: 104,000

Cover Artist: TK Designs

Amazon /  BN

Book Description:

You know your life has hit rock bottom when you’re living off cooked rats and showering once every few months—if you’re lucky. But for Jackson Hart things are about to get a whole lot worse. When her best friend, Tye, disappears hunting for food, kick-ass Jackson’s ‘head south to safety’ plan looks like it’s dead before it’s even begun. But then she meets ex-mechanic Luke Granger, who takes her to his bunker, feeds her with non-rat based food, and offers her protection against the zombie hordes—not that she needs it. She knows how to use a machete and isn’t afraid to.

Jackson was tempted to stay in the city with her rescuer. Food, shampoo and the possibility of finally getting laid, what more could she ask for? But the flesh eaters are getting smarter and the bunker is compromised, so Jackson and Luke have no choice but to make the journey south.

Luke and Jackson team up to find other humans in a road-trip romance for the ages. They travel for thousands of miles with zombies shadowing their every move. They must utilize every resource at their disposal…and then some. On the way, they discover that even if flesh eating zombies are knocking down their door, there’s always time for sex and even love.

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About the Author:

Image of Emma Shortt

As a kid Emma wanted to be an astronaut, or maybe Captain Janeway. Because she didn’t really think her career choices through very well she ended up in an everyday geek job, crunching numbers and sighing over syntax. It seemed a long way from the stars, and in an effort to escape Emma decided to get serious about her other passion. Writing.

Several years later and Emma has yet to walk on the moon or sit in the Captain’s chair, but she is still writing. She scribbles stories in all sorts of genres, contemporary, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, historical, sci-fi…if she hasn’t tried it yet she will before long. The only common theme is the romance. A hopeless romantic, everything Emma writes has a love story in there somewhere.

She lives on the west coast of England with her very Greek husband and teenage kiddos. Apart from all things geek reading is her main hobby and she likes nothing better than getting home from a hard day at work and curling up with a book, though sometimes she gets home and writes one instead.

www.endofdayslove.com

www.facebook.com/AuthorEmmaShortt

www.twitter.com/EmmaShortt

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You can win a Waking Up Dead T-shirt!!!

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways click on the zombie survival plan below.

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Finally, it’s my turn to tell you about Controlling the Dead, but first I’m going to tell you about how I recovered from the emotional storm this book stirred in me.

Tequila! Yep, Tequila will cure what ails ya.

Just pour a shot, then another and …..well you know.

Pretty soon you’re whistlin Dixie and everyone is your friend. You won’t be worrying about being ripped apart by zombies. You’ll be worrying about being the one to get that worm.

Tequila isn’t Tequila without that little worm. I did some research and not wanting to shock you, I didn’t include a close up!

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See. He wants to be your friend.

Now, I prefer my shot of Tequila with a chaser. I like a cold Heineken to help wash it down. After finally reaching that worm, my memory leaves me.

The next morning, the hangover is a killer. If an undead stumbled upon me I couldn’t beat his zombie shuffle. I’d be lucky to be able to open my eyes.

Personally, I think it’s the worm.

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Available now!

Amazon / B&N

Goodreads

Title: Controlling the Dead (The Famished Trilogy #2)

Author: Annie Walls Published: Oct. 27, 2013

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Blurb:

With the help of her new companions, the path Kansas follows leads to more knowledge of the ever adapting famished.

The team finds help in unlikely places, meeting more survivors, and discovers the possibility of a new beginning.

When the team experiences a devastating loss, Kansas struggles to keep her humanity from fading and distorting like that of the surviving society around her. It begins with knowing who to trust and who to leave behind. First, she must trust herself – she won’t make the same mistakes twice.

As the answers to her questions are revealed, Kansas begins to understand the knowledge comes with a heavy price and great responsibility of controlling the dead.

In a trilogy plot thick with twists and turns, this adult dark fantasy is as emotional as it is horrifyingly gripping.

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My Review

I’ve been waiting and waiting for this book. Kansas is in my top five of kick butt gals and I missed her. I missed her, and Rudy, and yes, even Mac.

But the Kansas I meet in this book is changed. She’s on the verge of losing it. After all she’s been through I don’t know how she keeps moving forward, but she does, albeit unsteadily. She can’t stand to be idle, to have time to think. So any down time she has she spends plinking zombies.

After Kansas and Reese finally reach New Orleans, and finally get to meet the elusive Mago, they get answers they didn’t count on. And it just gets worse from there.

While Kansas is teetering on the edge of a brain meltdown, Rudy has his own problems, so he’s not much help. And Mac is, well, Mac, so definitely not much help for her there.

There was so much happening that I was on the edge too. The suspense was acute, the violence was awesome zombieness, and the back and forth dialogue was as witty as ever.

Part of the suspense, for me, was waiting to see whether the heat between Rudy and Kansas would be ignited. But, guess that’ll have to wait.

When you do read Controlling the Dead, brace yourself. Annie Walls pulls no punches, keeping you in a perpetual state of suspense and fear, putting you right in the bloody thick of things, and squeezing your heart til you want it to stop.

But don’t.  The author does give you a reprieve at the end. Something from Rudy. You’ll love it! After all, you did survive the book!

When things get this bad, they can only get better, right? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. It’s all in the author’s hands, or mind, and we can only go where she takes us.

5 Freakin Stars!

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Annie Walls

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Author of dark fantasy and sub-genres of horror. Voracious Reader and Googler. Lover of dark humor. Horror Buff. Zombie Apocalypse Enthusiast. Loyal Cracked follower. Pinterest Addict. Wife of adoring husband. Mother of a seven year old Bruce Wayne. Cook. Maid. Kisser of boo-boos. Ultimate Time Waster. Perfect Procrastinator. Lolly Gagger. Trubie. Cake Decorator. Tea Drinker. Sculpey Sculptor. Girl Gamer. Perfectionist in the art of Facebook stalking. And now, God help me, a blogger. Oh yeah, and a twitter, twatter, tweeter. Well yeah, I’m one crafty bitch.

Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter / Blog

Purchase Book One on Amazon!

Taking on the dead

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MY 5 STAR Review

Life for Kansas was perfect until the day the world changed.

She has been hiding out for four years in solitude. It’s the only way to survive. The only way not to draw the living dead. Helping a small group of people, she learns the new world might not be what she assumes. Venturing out of her refuge and comfort zone, she meets Rudy, who helps her find a greater purpose. She realizes that the world has moved on without her. Only it’s not what she expects. Her knowledge of the living dead grows and only makes her more curious as humanity continues to hang on by a thread. While on her search for answers she finds comfort in new friendships and love, but her past seems as if it will haunt her forever.

Kansas takes it upon herself to help other survivors, which would be easy if the famished were the only obstacles.

In a trilogy plot thick with twists and turns, this adult dark fantasy is emotional as much as it is horrifyingly gripping.

*Not intended for a young audience. Mature content.*

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2 Controlling the Dead Prize Packs!!

Includes a signed copy of Controlling the Dead, swag, and a Famished Trilogy inspired zombie survival kit

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways click on the zombie survival plan below.

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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 Teaser for today is from Bad Radio (The Emergent Earth Series, Book One)

by  Michael Langlois

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My Tease from %5 into the story

His eyes widened, and his voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. At first they only came every couple of days, but now they’re here all the time. They’re always here.”

“Who?”

“Baitbags, Sarge. I can smell ’em.”

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Synopsis

Sixty years ago Abe Griffin saved the world and gained eternal youth.

Or so he thought.

Now, a man that Abe thought long dead is killing the surviving members of Abe’s old squad in order to reclaim the relics that they have kept hidden for decades.

The relics form an ancient beacon that must never be used, in a ritual that must never be completed.  But the end of the world requires more than just activating the beacon.

It requires Abe.

With help from the granddaughter of his oldest friend, Abe must learn the truth about his immortal body, while at the same time trying to stop a horrifying series of supernatural opponents from sweeping away everything that he cares about.

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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I had to be a part of this tour organized by Dragonfairy Press

Just wait until you feast your eyes on the stunning cover art.
This is an exciting series and I’m itching to tell you all about it.
Check out my reviews for all three books!
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Book one of the P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy

New Adult Paranormal Romance

299 pages

by D.T. Dyllin

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For P.J. Stone, being a “Seer” who has never seen anything is less than fun. And P.J. isn’t known for her patience.

To make matters worse, she must choose a suitable mate to continue the Seer bloodline. Duty always comes before her heart…at least that’s what her parents taught her. When she finds herself wanting someone who is considered off-limits, P.J. is forced to question everything she believes.

As if navigating her love life isn’t complicated enough, P.J. finally receives a vision—of a threat to her world that only she can perceive. But no one will believe a fledgling Seer’s warnings. With nowhere else to turn, she may decide to trust a stranger with her life, her world, and maybe even her heart.

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My Review

Poor P.j. She knows she’s going to have to submit to her mother and begin Suiridhe. It’s a form of courtship, like debutantes being introduced to eligible young men at a ball.

In P.J.’s world, as  a Seer, she can only marry another Seer. Parents arrange dates between them, hoping the results are a marriage to continue the bloodlines.

Problem is, P. J. loves another, someone forbidden, and she’s no way, no how, going to marry someone just because her mother says so.

On top of that, P.J. finally has a vision. She gets a glimpse of mysterious life forms slipping through the portal into her world. She feels something terrible is looming in the future, but when she tells others about her vision, they shrug her off, saying if something came through the portal, all Seers would have had the vision.

As events unfold, P.J. will have to make some hard choices. Her forbidden love, a mysterious stranger with glowing eyes, and beings from another world threaten hers.

First things first. There is one heck of a love triangle in this story. Not your typical one where the girl can’t decide which one she wants. P.J. knows who she wants but her choice is forbidden.

I can’t tell you who the guys are, but I can tell you they are all alpha’s, fine specimens, and I’m glad I’m not P.J. Each one of them has their own magnetism, drawing responses from P.J. she’s ill prepared to control.

Young hormones run rampant, keeping the sexual tension flowing without being too explicit. Boy did this bring back memories. Of course, I never had three hot guys vying for me. Jenna is P.J.’s best friend and would love to trade places with her. But even she gets fed up with the guys postering.

“No kissing and no fighting in my car? We’re on a mission here, people, and it doesn’t include a sword fight over who gets to mouth rape P.J. first!”

My favorite part of the story is the tangled relationships. The author keeps you worked up, hopping back and forth, never knowing for sure who will end up with P.J.

I had a favorite, or so I thought. Then the hot stranger with the glowing eyes had me thinking twice. And the other Seer had his own special charm.

I think I was as torn up and confused as P.J. but I could laugh about it. P.J. had to deal with it.

Character driven stories are my favorite and there are many in Hidden Gates. Each is well written with distinct voices, easy to tell apart.

There are many surprises in this first book. Lots of secrets. Some are revealed, and some continue into the next book. The author reveals just enough to satisfy you, while keeping you itching for more.

When I finished this book, I immediately began reading the next one, Broken Gates. I had to know what was going to happen next.

I gave this 5 stars because I felt compelled to keep reading long after I should have been asleep, thought about it while at work the next day, and went to bed early to finish it.

5 Stars

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Book two of the P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy

New Adult Paranormal Romance

241 pages

P.J. Stone is a Seer who saw too little, too late.

In the past, her biggest worries were boys and school—but war has a way of changing things. Now, the alien Riders are trying to overrun the world. As the last of their kind, P.J. and her friends must find a way to save humanity before there’s nothing left to save.

After choosing a mate, P.J. hoped she’d have time to enjoy her love life. But with everything changing so quickly and major secrets revealed, who knows what the future will bring?

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My Review

So now you’ll know who P.J. chose as her mate, but war has found her world. The aliens that slipped through the portal, the Riders, are bent on destroying all of the Seers, Guardians, Gatekeepers, and Speakers, leaving no one to defend the innocents.

This is an excellent continuation into P.J.s story.

More secrets are revealed, some puzzling events are explained, and the love triangle is broken.

P.J. learns some startling things about herself. I don’t know how she kept her head from spinning around with so many revelations.

There were several things that happened that stole my breath. I just couldn’t believe it and kept turning the pages, seeking an explanation.

Broken Gates will tear you down, carry you along, and lift you up as you read it. At times I felt helpless, just like P.J.

The authors writing is compelling. I can’t explain it well, but I couldn’t have stopped reading this if I wanted to. Something kept me glued to this story, reading until the wee hours and finally reaching the end.

What an ending! I just couldn’t believe it!

But the war is not over. It continues into Open Gates. And that’s where I went next.

5 Stars

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Expected Publication Date: December 19th, 2013 by Dragonfairy Press

Book three of the P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy

New Adult Paranormal Romance

by D.T. Dyllin

Bryn is gone. Jenna isn’t…herself, and the world has been taken over by the alien Riders. The only constant in P.J.’s life is Khol. But even he might not be able to help her pick up the shattered pieces of her life.

P.J. finally gets the answers to all of her questions, but will she be able to handle the truth? And will she be strong enough to face her own destiny when the time comes?

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My Review

You finally get all of the answers you’ve been seeking, just as P.J. does.

The war is raging, many people are lost, and P.J. struggles to fulfill her destiny.

I’m going to warn you, the beginning is a shocker, it happens so fast.

  P.J. is devastated. Her world is being destroyed and her heart has been shredded.

Her best friend Jenna is unavailable, so she turns to the one person who is always there, always

offering his shoulder to lean on, Khol.

How do you go on when all you love is being destroyed and taken from you?

P.J. has no idea how to continue. How she’ll find the strength to face the fight that is coming.

They’ve fought a tough battle, but things don’t look good for them. There is a clue to getting rid of the

Riders and P.J. has to draw on all that she is to find the one thing that can save them all.

I got everything I was looking for in this final book.

You’ll need to set aside enough time to read this straight through. I read this in about 3 hours, but

I’m a fast reader. I also reread a few parts that really touched me.

You’ll get a huge surprise with the ending. I haven’t read one that left me feeling like this

one did for a long time, maybe never.

I read it twice, then read it again, always thinking, “How did the author come up with this ending? Did

she know when she was writing the books that the end would be this?”

I liked it. I really liked it. And I’m still thinking about it. Still wondering…..

5 Stars

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Thanks go out to Dragonfairy Press and D.T. Dyllin for gifting me this series.

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About D. T. Dyllin

Cynical-Optimist. Chocolate-holic. Sarcasm Addict. Paranormal Believer. Self-Imposed Insomniac. Sci-Fi Geek. Animal Lover. Writer…are just a few words to describe D.T. Dyllin. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two very spoiled GSDs.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

SupernaturalSix_BoxSet

Just check out all of these awesome novels!

This set includes 6 novels by 6 authors at a special sale price of .99 cents!

The regular price for all of these stories is $16.79, so you save a whopping $15.80!

Let’s learn more about these stories shall we?

I have one excerpt for you and a giveaway!

Read on!

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Supernatural Six
Allie Burton, Brenda Pandos, Elle Casey, Juli Alexander, L.G. Castillo, Tawny Stokes
Publication date: November 1st, 2013
Genres: Supernatural, Young Adult
Synopsis:

Secret powers, genies, mermaids, angels, vampires and demons. There’s something for every paranormal enthusiast. Supernatural Six brings you six novels from six authors who know how to raise the stakes and tame the darkness.

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Duality by Elle Casey (New York Times Bestselling Author) – Malcolm’s had a problem for as long as he can remember. No matter where he goes or what he does, he leaves misery in his wake. But then Rae shows up in his life, and everything changes. Darkness cleaves to light. Anger yields to joy. The question is whether she’ll be his salvation or his destruction.

Three Wishes by Juli Alexander – Not every seventeen-year-old girl works part time granting wishes, but when you’re a genie, you have obligations. Jen finally gets a shot as a drummer in her brother’s band.  Just when it’s looking good for her, Leo Fuller shows up, and this bad boy genie’ s after more than just her drummer gig.

Atlantis Riptide by Allie Burton – Teen runaway Pearl craves anonymity, but when she saves a toddler from drowning she draws attention to her special water skills. Unknown to her, a war rages under the ocean and each side wants to use her powers for their cause. Pearl must choose her own destiny—ignore the churning seas or swim into battle.

Lash by L.G. Castillo – Banished angel Lash seeks to redeem himself by protecting Naomi, a woman who has lost her faith. But when danger threatens — and his passion for her swells — will he choose his cherished home or his heart?

The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos – Julia Parker would trade her ability to feel others emotions in a heartbeat, especially half the boys in school. When a vampire hunter rescues her before she’s devoured by a bloodthirsty stalker, Julia discovers no one is safe. Unsure how to help, she seeks the advice of a psychic, only to find out she alone is the key to stopping the madness, problem is it’ll require her rescuer’s life.

Static by Tawny Stokes – Salem, a teenage groupie for the punk band Malice, gets more than she bargained for after a night of partying with the band–a headache, a stomachache and a sickness that’s turning her into something inhuman. Only Trevor, the roadie, can help her navigate her new world of danger, darkness, and love.

Buy Links

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

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I have a great excerpt for you.

I had to choose just one from any of the novels so I did eenie meenie minie moe and landed on:

Duality by Elle Casey

My name is Malcolm.  For as long as I can remember I’ve brought nothing but misery to those around me.  Pain.  Sadness.  A loneliness so bone-deep it smothers any thoughts of joy or hope that might try to seep in from reality.

I don’t do this on purpose.  In fact, I’d do anything to change it, this effect I have on people.  Some kids might think they want to be an agent of darkness, so they dress up in black clothes and dye their hair and do drastic things to their wardrobes, shocking people with their angry, outlandish attitudes.  But if they were to walk a day in my shoes, they’d change their minds in a second.  They’d join the Latin club and study hard and do everything they could to make their parents proud.  No one truly wants to be me; they just think they do.

I call myself that – the agent of darkness – but I don’t really know what I am or what my problem is.  What I do know is that it’s real and it’s nothing I can control …

…I’m just Rae.  And for as long as I can remember, I’ve had this problem.  It follows me everywhere like a faithful dog at my heels.  People who get near me become happy. Too happy.  They become so full of joy, they eventually get to the point that they can’t not be around me.  And in their need to be close, they get too close.  They smother me.  They scare me.  They become a danger to everyone.

Or at least, that’s what my dad thinks.  The problem is, he suffers as much as the strangers do from the effects of being in my presence.  He thinks he’s just being a protective, loving father, but I know the truth.  He’s under my thrall.  He can’t be without me, just like my mom can’t.  Just like the kids at my last school and the one before it and the one before that one…

The only thing keeping my parents from homeschooling me on an island in the middle of nowhere is my threat that I’ll leave them.  It’s a threat I have to reissue every time they pull me from another school.  Eight times in the last three years, I’ve stared my parents in the face and warned, “If you don’t enroll me in a public school somewhere, I’m going to disappear and you’ll never see me again.  Ever.”

And so they enroll me, because they have no choice.

Neither of them wants me to leave.  In fact, they both believe they’d die if I ever did.  It’s been a burden of mine that I’ve been unable to shake, try as I might, since I was old enough to understand what was going on.  I hate to say this even just to myself, but one of these days, I am going to leave.  I’m going to disappear forever and never look back.

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On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Exotic Tour Grand Finale

  

Happy Festival of Lights!

 

diwali lamps
Diwali

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An Incurable InsanityAn Incurable Insanity

by Simi K Rao

Paperback, eBook, 376 pages

Published October 8, 2013 by Tate Publishing

Her heart fluttered when she heard the sound of the key turn in the lock. She quickly adjusted her maroon silk sari with the yellow border, the one that had caught his eye, and waited eagerly for his footsteps.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven… Yes, exactly seven steps before he stopped, hesitated for a few moments, then removed his shoes one by one and arranged them neatly side by side on the shoe rack.

She smiled. He had been mindful of taking his shoes off every day now… 

 

* Read an Excerpt *

We offer flowers in traditional welcome.

You are our honored guest on our tour…

 

10/20: Launch – Tressa’s Wishful Endings

 

In Rao’s debut novel an arranged marriage sets the stage for an intimate look at the exasperating madness of love….An often intoxicating…will-they-won’t-they tale.”- KIRKUS REVIEWS

 

10/21:

#Dawat-Recipe Intriguing Reads

 

No discussion on India would

be complete without mentioning its food which is as rich and colorful as its

residents. And I am not kidding when I say that travelling from one region to

another will not only introduce you to different

languages and dialects but

also to markedly varied cuisines.

 

I still have very fond

memories of my Grandma’s kitchen where food used to be prepared the way it

should be—from scratch. It was labor intensive but also a lot of fun. I know

because I used to help.

10/22:

#Vivaah-Marriage Ritual

The Wonderings of One

Person

 

Exotic wedding_handsHindu marriages are

all about customs and rituals. There are several both before and after the

wedding ceremony making it a very elaborate affair. But the most important of

them all is the Seven Vows or Saath Pheras which occur during the ceremony

because they are said to contain the essence of the practice of marriage.

Without them a marriage is considered meaningless.

 

‘Ruhi quietly and

blissfully followed Shaan around the sacred flames carefully listening to and

reciting the Saath Pheras in her mind.’ – An Incurable

Insanity

10/22: #Desi-Indian Culturevvb32 reads

 

 

Indians in general are deeply rooted in tradition. Our culture

gives us our identity. Most of us (especially those living away from the

homeland,) cling to it, even though several aspects especially in these modern

times, make no sense at all.

10/24: #Vivaah-Marriage Ritual Giveaway Breaking News for  Indonesia

 

Cherish your

wife as a blessing sent to you from heaven; let the kindness of your behavior

endear you to her heart.

 

10/25: #Desi-Indian CultureChristy’s Cozy Corners

“Unclasping the sacred marriage necklace from around her neck, she

laid it down carefully on the counter. Then, wiping off the vermilion dot from

her forehead, she examined her face again.



She smiled. Finally, she knew who

she was. She was Ruhi Sharma, and there was no looking

back.” –  An Incurable Insanity

 

10/25 – #Desi – Shakti “the Divine Woman” – A Casual Fling with the Keyboard

 

She is bold and liberated. She speaks her mind. She is tough and vibrant. She knows what she wants and doesn’t compromise on her values.

 

10/26: #Dawat-Recipe Book Babe

“Chai?”


“Huh? Yes please with just a pinch of sugar. Thanks!” He took the cup from her hands, careful not to touch her fingers. – An Incurable Insanity
 

 

A cup of this refreshing brew served piping hot, awakens the senses and drives the blues away.

 

10/27: #Dawat-RecipeBrooke Blogs

Kheer“It was the best puddinghe’d ever tasted…for obvious

reasons.” ~ An Incurable Insanity

 

After all the spicy heat of chai and parathas, let’s cool the

tempers with something sweet and delish!

 

10/28: #Dawat-RecipeLiving a Goddess Life

 

“Standing in front of

the large bathroom mirror, she combed her long thick hair. Should I leave it

loose or braid it? Should I put on makeup or go bare? Should I wear all my

bangles or just a couple of them? So many questions! Why don’t all men come with

a user guide?”

 

10/29: #Desi-Indian Culture Sun Mountain Reviews

She had gone through all the

miscellaneous ceremonies associated with the typical grand Indian wedding—the

engagement, the Mehendi, the Sangeet, the Haldi, and the grand finale; her

father had spared no expense… – An Incurable

Insanity

Wedding Henna

Mehendi

(Henna) is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word Mendika. The tradition of

applying it is several thousands of years old and is perhaps the most

traditional form of body art. It is meant to ‘awaken the inner

light’.

10/30: #Vivaah-Marriage RitualMel’s Shelves

 

The bombshell had dropped on their wedding night. He had walked into the room late as she sat there, a shy bride in all her wedding finery waiting, nervous yet excited at the same time, to meet the man she had hardly spoken to or looked at. What would he say, talk about, or do?

She had heard a lot of stories about what to expect, some factual and some fabricated (her friends had prepared her well), but she wanted her own to be special, unique, and it was…

 – An Incurable Insanity

10/31:

#Desi-Indian Culture Shannon McDermott

 

“Go ahead, Shaan,” Bee said softly, giving him

permission.

 

He pinched a small amount of the red powder and placed it firmly in

the parting on her forehead. Not entirely certain why, but this makeshift

ceremony appeared more meaningful to him than the one on his wedding

day.

“Perfect! Now my mishti

bon looks like a bride, a very

beautiful bride.”

 

11/1: #Dawat –  Beck Valley Books

Paratha [par-AA- THA] Hindi पराठा is one of the most popular types of unleavened flat breads in Punjabi North Indian Cuisine and Pakistan.

 

Prepared from pan frying whole wheat dough which usually has ghee (clarified butter) or cooking oil in it, parathas are often stuffed with vegetables such as mashed boiled potatoes or aloo, cauliflower (gobhi), radish (mooli), other vegetables and or paneer (fresh Indian cheese).

 

Parathas, particularly the stuffed ones, are simply eaten with pickles, chutneys and or yogurt on the side and make for a wholesome meal at any time of the day.

 

In my book ‘An Incurable Insanity’ my protagonist Ruhi, when she first arrives in America, longs for home, the feel of her mother’s pallu (sari’s edge) and for the taste of fresh homemade parathas and piping hot chai. 

 

11/1 – #Dawat – “Bashful Bride” – A Casual Fling with the Keyboard

She sits on the rose strewn bed

A bashful bride

In all her jeweled splendor

Hennaed hands resting on drawn up knees

Innocent and uninitiated

Awaiting the approach of her beloved

the shy bride

 

11/3 – 11/5: Grand Finale – Giveaway runs through 11/11

Happy Diwali!

Go read the #Talk on Simi’s Facebook 

as she has walked us through the beautiful backdrop to her amazing book… 

Simi K. Rao

Simi K. Rao was born in India and has been living in the United States for several years. The inspiration for An Incurable Insanity came from what she has seen transpire among and within the immigrant community. Some of the experiences included are her own; some have been garnered from friends and casual conversations with acquaintances…

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Giveaway:

$100 Gift Card to Amazon

5 eCopies of An Incurable Insanity

October 18 – November 11, 2013. International giveaway. Must be able to download winnings. Must be 18 to enter. See Rafflecopter for additional restrictions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grand Finale design by Laura of Colorimetry

Content by Simi K Rao

Quotes from blog posts

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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 Shed

by Paul Levas

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I picked this up as a free download while looking for short stories to review on my Monday Minis post.

There are two different covers for this book.

I like this one from Goodreads the best.

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And here is the one from Amazon.

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My Review

The last thing Steve wanted to be doing was cleaning out the shed. He’d rather be sitting on the couch watching football, but his wife is counting on him.

He does odd jobs in the yard, stalling entering the shed.

Vivid flashbacks to what happened in there almost knock him to his knees.

No, he doesn’t want to go in there.

As you can guess, Steve does go in the shed.

It goes from weird to bad very quickly.

While I enjoyed this story, I felt the ending was just a bit disjointed or rushed. I seemed to stumble a little while reading it. Could be just me.

However, I did enjoy it, and even though I had an idea of what would happen to Steve, I had no idea how. The author got creative.

This is Book Two in a series, but from what I can tell, they don’t need to be read in any order. Each is a separate story with different characters.

I’ll read more from this author.

3 STARS

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Author Paul Levas

Paul Levas

Paul Levas was born and grew up in Antioch, IL, but has lived in Phoenix, AZ, for the past twenty years. He is a writer specializing in the horror genre, and cites Stephen King and Dean Koontz as his major influences. He has three short stories published: The Shed, Sweet Temptation, and Shadows. He is also included in the anthology titled Grave Robbers. His story in that is titled Richie’s night out at The Hills Cemetery. He is currently working on a novel titled SHADOWLANDS, and a short story collection.

Go HERE for more about the author and his books.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Click on the turkey to see all of my giveaways.

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TIARA TROUBLE banner large

An excellent first in a series and I will look for more of Destinee Faith Miller. ~Rantin’ Ravin’ and Reading

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TIARA TROUBLE

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Tiara Trouble: A Destinee Faith Miller Mystery

New Series  Publisher: Cozy Cat Press (August 27, 2013) Paperback: 230 pages ISBN-13: 978-1939816160 E-Book File Size: 609 KB  ASIN: B00EWSB3GG

Synopsis

What happens when Dynasty meets Honey BooBoo, they have a baby, and that baby is raised by Charlie’s Angels? You get TIARA TROUBLE, a bedazzled cozy mystery full of gritty glitz.

One foreign policy question five years ago sent Destinee Faith Miller’s dreams of being Miss American Universe up in flames and landed her back in her hometown of Phenix City, Alabama, with her tail between her legs. But like the mythological bird that her hometown is misspelled after, she rose from the ashes to create Destinee’s Dolls, a thriving pageant consulting business knee-deep in pink, prints and tulle.

A death at the local level of a national event lands her the job of pageant emcee, and Destinee dares to dream of bigger things—maybe even a reality TV show! But when judges start dropping like flies, she has her hands full keeping herself alive long enough to see those dreams come true. Contending with catfights, car bombs, and the camouflage-colored funeral of a redneck’s dream, Destinee gets a little help from her friends, family, and a pit bull named Clarabelle.

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My Review

I’ve never been much for watching the beauty pageants so I wasn’t sure about Tiara Trouble.

It turns out I really enjoyed it.

The story opens seven years earlier,  as Destinee recalls how far one slippery contestant would go to win the crown. Then you flash forward to one year ago and the fun begins.

You’ll learn everything there is to know about beauty pageants, all the tricks, training, and preparation it takes. I never knew some of this and found it very interesting. The lengths these women go to is astonishing.

It takes a very brave, confident, or crazy woman to try to sell themselves as the product. When I look in the mirror, I see my flaws and I imagine, no matter how beautiful a woman is, they experience the same thing.

Destinee won my heart. She’s a southern gal, with all of the grit, humor, and sass that goes with it. I live on the Gulf Coast and always love reading books that revolve around it. She is whip smart, very competitive, and an astute business woman.

Tiara Trouble was told from Destinee’s point of view and it worked very well for me. I felt like we were friends. She is full of quips and slips of the tongue that had me laughing out loud and thinking, “I wish I’d said that.”

Cozy mysteries are a genre I’ve been reading for many years. The quirky titles and the charming, colorful covers just draw me to them.

Add in plenty of colorful characters and some amateur sleuthing and you get books like this.

Good clean fun, lots of belly laughs, and a mystery you think you know, but you don’t, until the surprise ending.

4 Tiaras

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Thanks so much to Lane Buckman and Great Escapes Book Tours for gifting me a copy of this delightful book and a fun tour.

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About Lane Buckman

tiara trouble author mebw

Lane Buckman is a former beauty queen from Phenix City, Alabama. Growing up, she wanted to be Miss America, a criminal lawyer, a super model, the President, a Bond girl, a brain surgeon, a journalist, a back-up singer for Duran Duran, and a college professor of Medieval Literature. In order to fulfill those dreams, she became a writer. She lives in Texas with her family, and enjoys every miserably hot second of it. Her solo debut novel, TIARA TROUBLE, is available from Cozy Cat Press on October 28, 2013, with a sneak peek launch the week prior at the BOSTON BOOK FESTIVAL. TIARA TROUBLE, a light-hearted cozy mystery, marks a departure from Lane’s earlier works in the darker horror/fantasy genre.

The well-received THE ORDER OF THE BLOOD (Black Bed Sheets Books, April 09, 2011), co-authored with Nicole Vlachos, was Lane’s first novel. She has ghost written and consulted on two others. Follow Lane on Facebook and Twitter, and keep up with her world on her blog.

Facebook / Twitter / Website

Purchase Links:

AMAZON  /  B & N

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

For all of my giveaways click on the Tiara below.

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