Archive for January, 2014

The Triple Tour Grand Finale for Jade’s Cowboy Crush!

To post the Grand Finale Book Blast Jan 9 – 14 and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter,

email Tressa at wishfulendings(at)outlook.com with “Jade’s Grand Finale” in the subject line!
The first 50 to sign up and post will receive an ecopy (.mobi or pdf) of Jade’s Cowboy Crush!
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On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Announcing Kimberly Krey’s new release!!
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January6 – Brooke Blogs Demons – Gavin Emerson’s Past

It was just while I was writing a particularly relevant scene, that I heard the song, Demons, by Imagine Dragons. It went along with the scene so perfectly that I bought the album (great album, btw) and played the song each time I was in the car so I could muse on it.

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A little more about Gavin Emerson: – He used to ride bull like nobody’s business and has the scars to prove it. – He left home after an ugly fallout with his father at eighteen years old, got involved with gambling, loan sharks, and later joined the mob he borrowed from. – He’s attracted to redheads and has several different nicknames for Jade, including his favorite, Freckles, due to the splash of freckles across her cheeks. – Last but not least, he’s got a sleeve of tattoos that represent parts of his past. Read more at Brooke Blogs.

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7 – Mythical Books – Jade Miller, Single Mother

Here’s a few facts about Jade Miller: – She has strawberry blond hair, pale skin, and a splash of freckles she’d do anything to hide. – She dunks almost everything she eats in Tabasco sauce. – She’s fiercely protective when it comes to her son. – She lost her loving father to a long battle with cancer when she was young. – She’s secretly in love with cowboys from the past, like Wyatt Earp. – She is snarky, witty, and avoids drama like the plague. – She’s just witnessed the murder of a co-worker and is about to enter a protection program on Emerson Ranch. Oh yeah, and she’s about to fall hard for rebel cowboy, Gavin Emerson. In this excerpt from Jade’s Cowboy Crush, Jade, upon butting heads with Gavin, reconsiders her plan to seek protection at Emerson Ranch: Jade had assumed that a grown, mature man would show up to take her and Luke to some secret hideaway. Instead she’d ended up with an immature, kid-hating, woman-ogling dirt bag. Probably back there hitting on that female cop. Yet as she glanced up to her rearview once more, puzzling as to why she couldn’t see him, two loud thumps tapped at her window. She jerked back in response before rolling it down partway. “What,” she demanded, glaring at him. Or rather – his chest. He was taller than she’d realized. And more muscled too. And there were those tattoos, the near-sleeve of them encasing one well-defined arm. She’d been drawn to that look back in the day. Not any more. With a slow, relaxed movement, he hunched down to look at her. “What are you doin’?” The slow drawl in his low, raspy voice made her blush and actually wonder just what the hell she was doing. His thick, blond hair bordered on unkempt in a way that might make a weaker woman swoon. But she was not a weak woman. Jade didn’t fall for things like that. “I’m leaving,” she announced. Read more at Mythical Books.

8 – I Am a Reader, Not a Writer – Smokin’ Hot Pizza Bomb
Before we get to the recipe, I’m going to start with an excerpt. Here, Jade and her four-year-old son, Luke are instructing Gavin (rebel cowboy offering witness protection on Emerson Ranch) on how to ready the dough:

  Luke’s big brown eyes were pasted on a lump of dough as he smashed it down with his small hands.      “Here. Put a few scoops on,” she said. “Just on one side, remember.”      Luke did as she said, and started piling toppings on next.      “You need help?” Jade asked.
      Gavin held her gaze. “Maybe.”      She smiled, seeming to hold a hint of that playful side she’d shown last week at the pond. “Okay.” Jade walked around the counter and stood beside him. Gavin didn’t miss the warmth of her arm as it grazed his. “You need to start with some flour.” She reached into the small measuring cup, pinching some in her fingers.      “And where does that go?” he asked.      Jade dropped it on the counter. “Here,” she said, “and here.” With movements too quick to stop, she smeared her fingers over one side of Gavin’s face.     Luke busted up.      “Oh,” Gavin said, reaching for the measuring cup next. “Like this?” He sprinkled the flour into his open palm, rubbed his hands together, and cradled her face. With the soft, white powder coating his hands, he ran his thumbs over the light splash of freckles on her cheeks. He liked the way Jade didn’t fight it. Only stood there and smiled as he drew a line from the top of her forehead down to the tip of her nose.      She batted her lashes at him. “Is that all you got?”      But his eyes were already set on something more – those lips. Without breaking his gaze, Gavin traced a finger over the smooth curves of her mouth. The top lip first, followed by that full, bottom pout. The powdery substance barely clung to the softness there, creating the lightest sheen over their pretty, pink color.      He ran a thumb over them next, willing himself to let go and step away, wondering if he’d ever been so hungry in all his life.

Get the recipe at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.
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Jade's Cowboy Crush (Sweet Montana Bride Series #2)Jade’s Cowboy Crush Sweet Montana Bride Series by Kimberly Krey

Paperback, 320 pages
Published December 13, 2013
Single mother, Jade Miller, has just witnessed a murder. Now, set to testify against the cold-blooded killer, Jade must be placed under protection. While she is grateful to the kind folks who’ve offered to take in her and her son, Jade is surprised to find the man escorting them from L.A. to Montana is Gavin Emerson. A womanizing, far-too-attractive-for-his-own-good, rebel cowboy. Jade assures Gavin that she has sworn off men until her son is grown, but all too soon she finds herself fighting back feelings for the man who’s agreed to care for them.
Gavin wants nothing to do with ranch life. Not since the ugly fallout he had with his father over eight years ago. But when he agrees to come back, harboring Jade and her son for a time, Gavin falls in love with life on the land once again. Above that, he finds his heart has been captured by his lovely house guest, Jade Miller.
After reservations on both parts, the two are finally ready to open up and give their new-found love a try. Only they aren’t in the clear just yet, and as a dark and deadly threat falls upon them, Gavin finds that his bad-boy past may have led the danger right to their door.
Note: Though this novel is considered clean romance, it does contain passionate kissing scenes and a few mild curse words.
Purchase from: Amazon * Barnes and Noble

Kimberly Krey’s other books:
Cassie's Cowboy Crave (Sweet Montana Bride, #1)Cassie’s Cowboy Crave
Sweet Montana Bride Series
by Kimberly Krey
Published July 12, 2013

Evie's Knight (The Knight Series, #1)Evie’s Knight by Kimberly Krey Published September 11, 2012
Amazon Barnes & Noble

Writing Romance That’s Clean Without Losing the Steam!

Kimberly Krey

I’m a writer of contemporary clean romance, a lover of home, family, & friends, & the ultimate hater of laundry.
A few of my favorite things: Diet Coke, Cafe Rio, and novels by Marcia Lynn McClure.
I do not go anywhere without: SoftLips Chapstick and Altoids Smalls.

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Giveaway! Enter to WIN $100 Amazon Gift Card! January 6 – 21, 2014
Must be 18 to enter and able to receive winnings.
See Rafflecopter for detailed restrictions.
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Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.
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Raffle button
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Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.
Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour? Go HERE.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Relativity
Proximity Series Book #2
By M.A. George
Publication Date: January 9, 2013
 
No matter the planet, Palta Capal is an alien. 
 
She’s lived a lifetime where she never belonged…but relocating to the “home world” she’s never seen has her feeling more like an outsider than ever. 
 
Teetering between the thrill of newfound love and the despair of family loss—not to mention the looming threat of global war—Palta doesn’t need any more excitement in her life. 
 
But what she needs and what she gets are two entirely different things.
   

(more…)

Freakin Fridays!

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

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With the new year here, I’ve started  implementing my new plans for my blog.

While I’ll still be doing my memes and posting for book tours and giveaways, I’m going to be doing a lot more reviewing.

 I asked you to help me with this. Below are the 5 books I’ll be reviewing for the 5 Fridays in January. You’ve let me know which one you want me to review first. The book with the most votes for my first 2014 Freakin Fridays review was The Little Mermaid of Death!

There is a link further down in the post for my review if you missed it.

Your next pick was Spooky Short Stories. So here is my review.

Don’t forget to explore the next three books afterwards and choose which one I should review next week! Just leave me a comment:)

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Spooky Short Stories

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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Four contemporary spooky short stories:

Ghost Brother… So what happens after you die? Do you go to heaven, or hell? Or do you go to a special place fashioned just for you based on the life you’d lived in the real world? Based on how you treated people? What you did to them? And do ghosts exist? Do they roam the earth and plague the living, persuade them to do things they shouldn’t do? Two brothers and their tale follow; their journey through life and death. Do you believe in ghosts? Some do.

Running with the Train… Sarah has always been lonely. Searching for a love she’s begun to believe will never come. Her family and friends depend, need her…but they can’t give her what she wants. True, eternal love. Like the wolves have. So she goes on an adventure of a lifetime to the Grand Canyon; rides the train from Williams to the South Rim and sees these huge wolves running alongside in the evening twilight; scurrying unbelievably below on the Canyon’s ledges among the trees. She’s told there are no wolves but she hears their haunting cries. No one else sees or hears them. Just her. Has her loneliness made her crazy?

The Banshee and the Witch… What would you do to live forever, stay young forever? To find true love again? And if you were a white witch with the magical powers to make it happen…and the secret of how to do it, would you? So when the banshee comes calling for you one rainy dark night you’ll do what you have to do to get what you desire the most. More time.

Too Close to the Edge… Artist Penelope had been looking forward to going with her husband, sister and brother-in-law to see the Grand Canyon…even though she was terrified of heights and, when she got there, couldn’t bear to get too close to the edge. She watched people balancing on one foot, acting foolish, taking photos, oblivious of the death waiting below them. It scared her. Especially when a woman relates a story of a small child that fell into the Canyon the day before. Over the edge. Then she sees a young girl go over the rim and no one will believe her. For there was no child that had died–that day anyway. Was she seeing things that weren’t there, or was there another explanation?

My Review

At first I was thinking Running with the train was my favorite. Then I thought the Banshee and the Witch. Then I thought..well you know how that goes. I can’t pick a favorite as each of these stories are unique unto themselves and very, very good.

Ghost Brother

A man wakes up in a graveyard one night. He has no memory of how he got there or why.

He trudges home but finds he can’t get in his house, so he sits and contemplates, trying to recall what happened.

Bobby’s dead brother, Gerald, has haunted him for a long time. He’s evil incarnate and goads Bobby into doing some really bad things.

Now Bobby’s done something truly horrid and it’s time to face the music.

I’m always up for something dark and twisted. This story sure is. I tried to guess ahead as to what had happened to Bobby, but when I reached the end of the story, I was way off.

The author pulled one over on me. Not bad Kathryn, not bad at all.

Running With The Train

This one has a mystical feel to it.

Sarah is unlucky in love and all she does is work. Wanting something, but not knowing what, she takes a vacation, going to the Grand Canyon by herself.

Things start getting mysterious while she’s on the train. She sees something, shadowy figures, running alongside the train. But nobody else sees them.While enjoying the view at the South Rim, just before dark, she meets a compelling, and very handsome man. Something about him draws her and she talks with him, telling him about herself. As quickly as he appears, he is gone.

She encounters this man again, and he tells her why he came to her and what he wants. Now she has a choice to make. But what about her family. They need her.

I felt some folklore in this one. The author built up the mystery, making me anxious to see the wonder she would reveal to Sarah and to me.

I couldn’t wait to get to the end and find out what choice Sarah made.

The Banshee and the Witch

Another good one.

Cleona is a witch. The most powerful witch. She has lived a long time.

She’s loved well and lived well, but she’s not ready to leave this world yet. She wants more time.

When the banshee comes calling, she knows she doesn’t have much time left. She’s able to use her magic and send the banshee away several times, but soon that won’t work anymore. There are consequences to using her magic this way. Her familiar, her cat, warns her of this.

So the next time the banshee comes, she has to try something else, something clever.

This was such a fun story. I really like witches. And Cleona’s familiar,Precious, has attitude and all the sass and independence of a cat too. Their exchanges were comical and gave me a few chuckles.

The ending was unexpected. The author caught me completely by surprise. I think you’ll like it too.

Too Close To The Edge

This tale isn’t scary as much as it is haunting.

Penelope has always been afraid of heights. She gets close to the edge and vertigo sets in, along with an irrational fear.

The trip with her husband, along with her sister and brother-in-law, to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon was a step toward getting past her fear. It proves difficult as she sees others clowning around, teetering near the edge, with this it can’t happen to me attitude.

When she spies a little girl, alone, leaning out to clutch a flower, her fears are confirmed when the girl teeters, then slips over and out of sight.

I liked that Penelope tried to get past her fear, to confront it and vanquish it for good.

What she experiences on the rim is haunting and wonderous at the same time.

The very end of the story made me smile. It was perfect.

5 Stars

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Last weeks choice!

The Little Mermaid of Death

by Kevin Richey

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Tired of her life with the other swamp hags, Ariel strikes a bargain to obtain a mask so realistic she could pass for human. But can she trick anyone into marrying her before the mask deteriorates—and all without saying a word?

My 4 Star Review

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Here are the books to choose from for next week. Let me know which one I should review next!

#1

The Monster Man of Horror House

by Danny King

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Local oddball, John Coal is the town oddball. Old, crotchety, pungent and solitary, he lives in a scary old house that is almost as rundown as he and sees out his days shuffling around the streets harvesting his neighbours’ skips for scrap.

The local kids take great delight in plaguing him morning, noon and night but they’ve chosen the wrong old coot to mess with because John Coal is no ordinary man. He knows where the bodies are buried. He’s been to the outer limits. He is a keeper of dark secrets. Murder, monsters, demons and bi-polar vampires, he has seen them all and lived to tell the tale.

Now, if he is to rid himself of his woes he must dig into the deepest recesses of his past and use these terrible experiences to convince his tormentors he’s not just an old man to be pushed around.

He is John Coal – the Monster Man of Horror House.

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#2

Cold Blood

by Donna Ansari

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As the winter holiday season descends on New York City, vampire Emma Hammond is anticipating celebrating with Tammy and David, her witch and werewolf roommates. But when an odd Christmas ornament unleashes waves of the undead from her neighborhood graveyard, Emma finds herself as an unwilling shield between ravenous zombies and an unsuspecting city. Even worse, despite having everyday dealing with supernatural creatures, Emma finds that she has an unnatural aversion to the shambling dead, and must get to their source and stop the invasion before she’s forced to cancel her holiday party!

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#3

Days with the Undead

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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So tell me. Which one should I review next?

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find any sentence, or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

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#1

Why did I commit myself to this? It was just a dog, right? Jerry had died saving this dog, so why was I putting myself in a situation in which the same thing could happen to me? I didn’t even like dogs.

#2

If a hellhound was there – which was likely – it would not only be guarding the cemetery, but also watching, waiting for Jerry’s saintly dog to breathe its final breath.

#3

Whatever I tried would be spotted right away, and I’d be greeted with glowing eyes, huge fangs, and a thirst for living blood.

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Hellhounds

Freaky Jules #3

By Tom Upton 

Hellhounds

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The third volume of the Freaky Jules series.

Julia Dundee (Freaky Jules)
is recruited by her home spirit, a deceased police officer, to retrieve the
spirit of his former partner, Sarge, an aging German Shepherd who will soon pass
away. The only problem is the hellhounds that are bent on corrupting or
destroying the retired canine hero.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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Grab your popcorn and have a seat.

It’s time for the show!

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Cue the theme from Jaws.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse!

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Welcome to my stop on the Book Blast Tour and Giveaway for  Matt Archer: Bloodlines.

This is an exciting series of monster hunting and adventure!

Join me and learn more about Matt Archer and the monsters he hunts.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Matt Archer BloodlinesMatt Archer: Bloodlines

When seventeen-year-old Matt Archer set out on his last mission in the Australian Outback, he thought it would be like every other hunt.

Not even close.

After only two days on the ground, his best friend is possessed, a long-lost family member has returned and hidden truths have come to the surface. Add in a coven of witches bent on bringing about the end of the world and, well, this trip has started to suck. Badly.

As his power and strength continue to grow, so does Matt’s concern that he’s becoming more and more like the creatures he’s been charged to hunt: a monster.

Faced with some of his biggest challenges to date, Matt has to decide what he needs to protect most—his family, his team…or himself.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Smashwords * iTunes/Apple Bookstore * GoodReads

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Matt Archer Legend 680x453Matt Archer: Legend

When Matt Archer was fourteen, he was chosen—by a magic, spirit-inhabited knife—to hunt monsters with a special paranormal division of the Army. When he was fifteen, he was thrown into a global war the rest of the world didn’t know existed.

Now Matt’s sixteen and the war has cost him more than he ever thought it would. He’s also learned that the knife-spirits have an agenda he doesn’t totally agree with. The only problem? The spirits have the upper hand, and they plan to control the fight—and Matt.

Then things get worse: the next lunar eclipse cycle is starting, a prominent physicist has gone missing, and Matt’s best friend is thinking about quitting the team. If he loses Will—after everyone else he’s lost—Matt’s not sure how he’ll fight alone.

As the source of his nightmares starts to creep out of the shadows, Matt knows he’ll need all the help he can get…because being alone could prove deadly.

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Matt Archer: Blade’s Edge

When Matt Archer was fourteen, he discovered monsters are real. As if that wasn’t enough to go on for a few decades, Matt also found out that he’d been chosen to hunt those monsters–with a sentient, supernatural knife. Now fifteen, Matt has spent the last year working with a clandestine military unit, trying to rid the world of monsters, demons and other vicious creatures, all while keeping it a secret from nearly everyone he knows back home in Billings.

Including his mom.

Add in a new girlfriend, family secrets, sibling drama and enough homework to sink an aircraft carrier, and Matt’s life has become more complicated than he ever imagined. Worse, the knife has developed some very definite opinions about Matt’s personal life and it interferes in his business whenever it wants. More and more, Matt’s coming to realize that sharing brain-space with a spirit kind of sucks.

When stories of decimated towns and hordes of zombies start pouring into the Pentagon from Afghanistan, Matt knows he’ll be called up soon. Between the new mission and the knife’s increasing control over his mind, Matt wonders if he’ll survive long enough to take his driver’s exam.

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Matt Archer: Monster Hunter

Fourteen-year-old Matt Archer spends his days studying Algebra, hanging out with his best friend and crushing on the Goddess of Greenhill High, Ella Mitchell. To be honest, he thinks his life is pretty lame until he discovers something terrifying on a weekend camping trip at the local state park.

Monsters are real. And living in his backyard.

But that’s not the half of it. After Matt is forced to kill a strange creature to save his uncle, he finds out that the weird knife he took from his uncle’s bag has a secret, one that will change Matt’s life. The knife was designed with one purpose: to hunt monsters. And it’s chosen Matt as its wielder.

Now Matt’s part of a world he didn’t know existed, working with a covert military unit dedicated to eliminating walking nightmares. Faced with a prophecy about a looming dark war, Matt soon realizes his upcoming Algebra test is the least of his worries.

His new double life leaves Matt wondering which is tougher: hunting monsters or asking Ella Mitchell for a date?

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Author Kendra C. Highley

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to two self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most important job. She believes chocolate is a basic human right, running a 10k is harder than it sounds, and that everyone should learn to drive a stick-shift. She loves monsters, vacations, baking and listening to bad electronica.

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Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle button

Ends 2/2/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Zombies? That’s kids stuff.

Welcome to the ultimate battle of the sexes. Welcome to M-Day…

Available now and on sale from February 7/14!

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Title: M-Day
(MDay#1)

Author: D.T. Dyllin

Genre: Dystopian Romance

Publisher: Tik Tok Press

Cover Artist: Lindsay Tiry

Interior Book Design: The Eyes For Editing

Buy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1fdcqz4

Synopsis:

Before the day… before Mday…
people used to read books and watch movies about zombies.
They used to dress up as zombies; pretend to kill zombies… Basically, zombies had become a
part of popular culture in a very unexpected way.

The highly anticipated zombie apocalypse never came.

What did come was much worse than any city over run with shambling corpses after brains and
flesh. A virus… a virus that only affected men. Nobody knew what caused it, or where it had
come from, not that it really mattered. It’s here and there’s no going back.

Maxine was one of the lucky ones, she got out alive. She and her friends banded together to
survive the new desolate conditions left behind by the virus. When a supply gathering mission
goes awry, Max and company are left with no better choice than to trust a group of uninfected
military men. No longer on the run from her infected husband, Max discovers there could be
worse dangers for her on the horizon… Like losing her heart to her mysterious savior everyone
calls Zee.

About the Author

D.T. Dyllin is a Bestselling Romance Author who writes in both New Adult and Adult genres. She
is a member of the RWA (Romance Writers of America) and also her local chapter, the MCRW
(Music City Romance Writers).

D.T. was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Black & Gold for life, baby!) She
now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two spoiled GSDs.

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?

Survivor Roundup

The Zombie West Series, Book #2

by Angela Scott

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Red always knew she would have to face the man who nearly destroyed her. She just didn’t figure it would happen so soon…

With the plague sweeping across the nation, destroying many and turning others into walking corpses, survivors head West in search of a chosen land, a place designed to keep the infected out, while sealing survivors inside. In theory, the idea seems the only way to keep humanity alive. In practice, it doesn’t matter whether a person is on the inside or the out—there is no humanity.

…And even though John Gatherum hunted her down and instigated their reunion, Red’s no longer the passive girl he once manipulated. This time, she has a hidden agenda of her own.

Kill him. Save her family. Save herself.

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What did you recently finishing reading

Secrets and Lies

Cassie Scot, Book #2

by Christine Amsden 

Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot, #2)

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Cassie Scot, still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can save them.To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness. Book 2 in the Cassie Scot Mystery series.”Christine Amsden unleashes her brilliant storytelling magic as the adventures of Cassie Scot escalate to the extreme. Rife with betrayal and a debt too deep for money to clear, Secrets and Lies plunges the reader into an utterly believable world where villains and heroes spring lifelike from the pages. Brace for a whirlwind ride of sorcery, romance and knife-edge peril. A truly original urban fantasy. Not to be missed!” –Kim Falconer, bestselling author of The Spell of Rosette, Quantum Enchantment Series.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Dead Plains

The Zombie West Series, Book #3

by Angela Scott 

Dead Plains (The Zombie West Series, #3)

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Sometimes, the ones you least suspect are the ones that should worry you the most.People aren’t always what they seem, as Red has experienced all too well. Strangers are feared, towns are avoided, and everyone’s intentions are scrutinized… even those of the people closest to her. Her coveted ability has been revealed to far too many people, and now that a tiny heartbeat thumps and grows beneath her own, the risk has never been greater.

As the group of ten searches for a safe haven, a place to finally call home, the sobering reality of it all finally settles over them: nowhere is safe, nothing is permanent, and death is everywhere. One by one, Red’s reluctant posse grows smaller, as death claims some, and circumstance claims others.

It couldn’t be a worse time to bring a newborn into the world… but the baby is coming.

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So, whatcha readin?

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Rosemary and Crime by Gail Oust

All the elements of a Southern, Culinary, Cozy Mystery. ~Rantin’ Ravin’ and Reading

I really enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and kept me involved from the very beginning. ~Melina’s Book Blog

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Rosemary and Crime

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Cozy Mystery Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: Minotaur Books (December 17, 2013)

ISBN-13: 978-1250011046

E-Book  ASIN: B00DA7A0BO

Synopsis:

Piper Prescott, a transplanted Yankee living in the South, has got her sass back.  She might be down, but don’t count her out.  “Change of life?” she asks.  Bring it on.  Recently divorced, Piper decides to pursue a dream she’s secretly harbored:  owning her own business.  Spice It Up!, a spice shop in her adopted hometown, Brandywine Creek, Georgia.  But Piper’s grand opening goes awry when the local chef who’s agreed to do a cooking demo is found stabbed.  Not only did Piper find the body, she handled the murder weapon and doesn’t have a witness to her alibi, making the case look like a slam dunk to brand new police Chief Wyatt McBride.  Desperate to uncover the truth—and prove her innocence—Piper enlists the help of her outspoken BFF Reba Mae Johnson to help track down the real culprit.  The pair compile a lengthy list of suspects and work to eliminate them using their own creative brand of sleuthing techniques including stakeouts, breaking and entering, and one very unorthodox chocolate pie.  When Piper narrowly avoids being a victim of a hit-and-run, she knows she’s getting closer to the truth, but can she catch the killer and clear her name before she becomes the next victim?

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My Review

Fresh out of a divorce, Piper decides to go into business for herself, opening a spice shop. When Mario, the chef who was supposed to do a cooking demonstration for her grand opening is murdered, Piper becomes the prime suspect.

She discovered the body. She handled the murder weapon. And she was seen arguing with the victim earlier.

The fun begins when Piper and her best friend Reba Mae, a delightfully colorful gal, decide to do their own sleuthing. They are caught doing a stake out by the hunky Chief of Police, Wyatt.

I’m all for character driven stories. These characters are all flawed, all trying to make their way. This leads to lots of hi-jinx and laughs.

Piper is down to earth but also vulnerable. CJ, her jerk of a husband, dumped her for a woman almost as young as her daughter. Starting over at middle age is never easy and she has to contend with a daughter who is acting out, her butinsky ex, and a sexy policeman, while trying to prove her innocence and get her new business off the ground.

The author sets the stage, introduces her characters, drops in the crime, and sets you off to read and discover the clues, while adding in a budding romance and some very believable life situations.

Trying to solve this mystery was vexing. Each time I thought I had my suspect, I was wrong and had to continue sorting out the clues.

When I reached the end it was just what I wanted.

Anyone looking for a new cozy mystery series with an easy flowing writing style, colorful characters, and a crime to solve, should give Rosemary and Crime a go..

4 Stars

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About This Author

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Gail Oust is often accused of flunking retirement. While working as a nurse/vascular technologist, she penned nine historical romances under the pseudonym of Elizabeth Turner. It wasn’t until she and her husband retired to South Carolina that inspiration struck for a mystery. Hearing the words “maybe it’s a dead body” while golfing fired her imagination for writing a cozy. Ever since then, she spends more time on a computer than at a golf course. Author of the Bunco Babe mysteries, she’s currently working on a new Spice Shop mystery series.

Author Links:  www.gailoust.com, Goodreads

Purchase Links: AMAZON      Book World     B&N

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Tour Participants

January 6 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Interview

January 7 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post

January 8 – fuonlyknew – Review

January 9 – Mochas, Mysteries and More – Guest Post

January 10 – A Chick Who Reads – Review, Guest Post

January 11 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Review

January 12 – Books Are Life – Vita Libri – Review

January 13 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview

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An autographed copy of Rosemary and Crime

An apron similar to ont the character wears in her spice shop.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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tale spins tour

For more fun stops on the tour click on the banner above!

I’m delighted to be a part of this tour and to have read Tail Spins!

I was taken back to my younger years and let myself go.

Enjoy my review. And don’t forget to enter the giveaways. Yes, there are two!

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Tail Spins

by Michael Mullin

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Synopsis

A trilogy of alternative fairytales and retellings. Discover the real Snow White story through the eyes of Creepy, the unknown 8th dwarf! Meet a teen princess who hires “The Frog Prince” witch to get revenge on a Mean Girl at school! And learn how the giant, boy thief and magic beans tale truly went down!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

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Praise for Tale Spins

Not usually enamoured of either re-tellings or poetry I was totally taken aback by just how much I relished this trilogy of alternative fairytales and re-tellings aimed at the Young Adult market. ~Tracy (Goodreads)

TaleSpins was like walking into a vintage store and finding a true treasure. This book takes the fairytales we all grew up on and gives them an interesting and modernized version that I enjoyed. ~Rose (Goodreads)

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My Review

Tail Spins was a pure delight to read. Written in poetic form, it was fairly quick reading and the stories flowed smoothly. The author choosing to write these alternate tellings in such a way worked beautifully, making it fun and addictive.

I smiled from beginning to end and loved the different ‘spin’ put on each retelling. Who knew there was an 8th dwarf, what foolish girl would actually steal from a witch, and I do believe money grows on trees.

I wish I had a young child to read these tales to. I did read them to my 19 year old son and we had fun discussing the authors creativity.

Anyone will enjoy Tail Spins and you adult readers will be taken back to younger days when wonder was all around and all things were possible.

5 Stars

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Author Michael Mullin

mike mullin

Michael Mullin is a native New Englander living in Pasadena. He is the author of TaleSpins, a trilogy of alternative fairy tales and retellings for YA readers. TaleSpins stories (in the 1-book collection) are “8: The Previously Untold Story of the Previously Unknown 8th Dwarf”; “The Plight and Plot of Princess Penny”; and “Jack’d”. Michael is also the co-author of the successful “Larry Gets Lost” children’s book series. His screenplay “Zooing Time” was recognized by the WGA’s Written By magazine. Before all this writing, he taught preschool and college, two positions he found disconcertingly similar.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

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Tour Giveaways

Giveaway #1 – Open to US only

Mike Mullin Giveaway

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Giveaway #2

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/21/14

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Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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