Archive for July, 2014

What’s New On My Bookshelf #72 ~ Now that’s a lot of books!

Posted: July 27, 2014 in Cover Reveal, Freebies!, giveaways, New Release, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
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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 plus all things new on fuonlyknew.

A 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, A Knife And A Quill. It’s all about horror.

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Here’s some I picked up to review on both blogs. Double exposure!

No new ones. Working on catching up on my TBR!

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Some I grabbed just for fun.

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Got some freebies for ya!

Click on the covers to get yours. Remember to check the price. Were free at time of posting.

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And a few more! Tried to find something for everyone.

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You can also find more free books HERE.

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Books for review.

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I keep telling myself I won’t accept any new books for review until I catch up on my backlog. But I just had to read this one. I’m a huge fan of cozy mysteries and this looks so fun.

I’m sure I’ll lapse and accept more. I just can’t help myself!

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Books I won.

I didn’t win any books but I did win some Gift Cards and plan on buying some great books and a new eReader!

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Reviewed this week

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You can read my review and enter the giveaways HERE.

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You can read my review HERE.

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You can read my reviews and the authors guest post on HERE.

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You can read my reviews and enter the giveaways HERE.

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You can read my review and find out how to get your FREE copy HERE.

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Reviewing this coming week

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You can read my review and enter the giveaway on Wednesday, July 30th.

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You can read my review and enter the giveaway on Wednesday, July 30th.

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You can read my review and enter the giveaway on Thursday, July 31st.

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Other posts this week.

A true story ~ Strangers on a Bus by Bob Manary ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

30 Days Of Summer ~ Feature and Giveaway for Archangel by Misa Buckley

Could this be our future? Isolation by Denise R. Stephenson ~ Tour Review and Two Giveaways

Review Blitz for Dark Secrets by Madeline Pryce ~ I’ll never tell. Well maybe just a little!

The Pestas are growing bolder, their numbers increasing. Time of Ruin by Shauna Granger ~ Book Blitz and Giveaway

Author Denise R. Stephenson shares with us what drove her to write Isolation

Sharpen your wits and claws with the Klepto Cat Mystery Series ~ My Reviews and a Guest Post from Patricia Fry

Tad sees auras. Gray-green being the most evil. Khaki=Killer by Connie Corcoran Wilson ~ Reviewing The Color Of Evil Series

Who will get who first? The Eyes Die Last by Teri Riggs ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway

So adorable! Have You Seen My Tail? Book Blast and Giveaway

The Friday 56 #29 ~ Not Juliet by Ella Medler

Friday Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Fire in the Woods by Jennifer M. Eaton

Knock-out cover art for Demons by K.F. Breene ~ Highlight and GIveaway

Tag Team Freebie Event ~ Fanged princess by Elisabeth Wheatley ~ My Review and how to get your FREE copy!

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

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

 Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Tag Team Freebie Event~ Fanged Princess by Elisabeth Wheatley ~ My Review and how to get your FREE copy!

Posted: July 27, 2014 in Freebies!, Novella, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Romance, Vampires, YA
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This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry.

 Elisabeth Wheatley has some exciting news to share with you about her YA Paranormal Novella, Fanged Princess. Read on to learn how you can get your free copy!

After reading my review, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental for more from Elisabeth and check out Sherry’s review!

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And now here’s Elisabeth!

After much consideration, I have finally made the first book in my Young Adult vampire novella series free. Why? Because all the cool kids are doing it and I know how much I adore freebies, so why not?
Fanged Princess is what I like to call a vampire love story from the perspective of the third wheel. It’s told in first person present tense by Haddie, the sister of a vampire prince who’s had the misfortune to fall in love with a human. (Though she has a bit of her own romance, don’t worry.)
I got the idea for Haddie’s story reading another vampire series and thinking how much it sucked (no pun intended) that the vampires I read about really tended to have crappy sibling relationships. As a tragically unsocial little country girl, my brothers were some of my closest friends and I thought it would be fun to transpose that onto vampires. Hence, the idea for Fanged Princess was born.
As always I am very excited to share this story with the world and it is my hope that through this I will be able to reach more people than ever before. So grab a copy at your favorite eBook retailer and tell your friends. Tell lots and LOTS of friends.
Thank you Laura for hosting me on your blog! It’s fun as always.
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It’s a pleasure having you Elisabeth!

Check out Elisabeth on her blog and tell her hi!

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My Review

Haddie gets it. Love chooses you and you’re powerless against it.  She doesn’t want to though. Like her brother Damian, she too fell in love with a human. And she wears the scars for her transgression.

Her father is the Vampire King and he’s okay with dallying with and feeding on humans, but draws the line at love.

So Haddie rushes to her brother’s side, determined to save him from the same horrific events she went through. And to save the life of the girl he loves, Madelynn.

Haddie (Princess Hadassah) won me over quickly. She went through a horrific punishment for her sin of loving a human. Her father extracted a terrible price and she wants to protect her brother from the same fate.

She knows the enforcers will be coming, led by the most feared one of all, her Uncle Devin. He’s cold, remorseless and efficient, always getting the job done. And he’s brought along the twins, Jerome and Ayden.

The author did an excellent job with the little details that make a story feel real, like this scene:

“I recognize them as Jerome and Ayden Thatcher, twin brother’s who’ve been working for my uncle for years. I’ve always had trouble telling which was which. They even smell the same.”

Even smell the same. That right there struck me. The author stayed in character, referencing their smell, something a human wouldn’t notice, but a vampire would.

There’s some humor here too. Take this scene when Haddie arrives to help her brother:

“Come off it Damian,” I say, dismissively waving my hand. “I didn’t come out here to eat your girlfriend.”

As the enforcer’s tightened the circle, getting closer and closer to these three, I couldn’t help but wonder how they’d survive. That’s where the author threw me a bone. A stranger who just might help them, if he doesn’t kill them too. I won’t mention a name, but I kind of hope Haddie and the handsome stranger get together. They’re a good match. Both fiercely loyal, tough as nails, and just as stubborn.

I could see this union infuriating her father even more. But, I’ll have to read Fanged Outcast to find out what happens with these two. And I’m hoping we get to meet some of the other beings mentioned in this first book. The rusalkas, makaras, koschei, harpies, ogres…and whatever else exists in Elisabeth’s world.

I read this in one sitting, racing to the explosive finale.

Who will survive?

Will family kill family?

The answer awaits.

5 STARS

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Check out this awesome trailer for Fanged Princess.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_HaRcOwYaY?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent]

Synopsis

I will not let my brother suffer the same loss…

Hadassah’s father, the Vampire King, punished her harshly for her choice to love a human. Now her brother, the only person in the world who still matters to her, has fallen for a human girl. Determined to keep the girl safe, the three of them flee from their home in New England and find themselves cornered with their father’s minions closing in. If they want to escape, their only hope may be to join forces with the mortal enemies of their kind…

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Author Elisabeth Wheatley

 

Elisabeth Wheatley

Elisabeth Wheatley is a teenager of the Texas Hill Country. When she’s not daydreaming of elves, vampires, or hot guys in armor, she is reading copious amounts of fantasy, playing with her little brothers, studying mythology, and training and showing her Jack Russell Terrier, Schnay.
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For more about Elisabeth and her other books use the links below.
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Click on the links below to get your free copy of Fanged Princess!

This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry at fundinmental.

You can visit Sherry’s blog for her review and more from Elisabeth Wheatley  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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Knock-out cover art for Demons by K.F. Breene ~ Highlight and Giveaway

Posted: July 25, 2014 in Book Promos, Excerpt, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, Romance, Series
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Title: Demons

Author: K.F. Breene

Series: Darkness #4

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publication: July 21st, 2014

It’s been a long road, but Sasha has finally claimed her role as the least knowledge mage in history. She’s also acquired a new, incredibly grumpy bodyguard, and a spunky new BFF. With her team by her side, she learns the ropes of this new profession.

Her experience level is about to be fast-tracked, however.

On a routine trip to check out a perimeter breach, she encounters a hideous demon called by an experienced magic worker. It is this terrifying discovery that unlocks a deeper problem: Stefan’s troubled past and the reason he gravely mistrusts the Mata.

While Sasha struggles to fight the physical demons, Stefan struggles to fight the demons of his past. If he fails, his future in Sasha will be lost.

 

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Amazon | B&N | iTunes
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Twitter | Facebook | Website
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As I got halfway through the open
space, a vulgar feeling began to crawl up my skin like tiny insects scrabbling
under my clothes. The sickly-sweet smell of rotting flesh tickled my nose.
 
“I’ve never felt anything like this
before,” I said quietly, passing my hands through the air. “Although, granted,
I haven’t had a lot of experience.”
 
Shapes took form within the shadows
toward the back wall the closer I got. On the right, near the corner of the
building, lay a pile of grayish sticks, charred and blackened by fire. Scorched
fabric was glued to the various elements of the pile.
 
Three more steps had me halting,
sucking in a huge breath. 
 
It was a body! They weren’t sticks,
they were bones coated in masticated skin!
 
Did that moan come from me?
 
A face, twisted in an endless scream
of agony, lay on the backside of his calves. One arm had been ripped out of the
socket and lay flat under his back. One leg, obviously broken at the thigh, lay
over the other. He was broken and twisted, as if he’d been made of match-sticks
and sporadically snapped and tossed to the ground.
 
“No human could have done this,” I
whispered. “His back was broken in half.”
 
“A bear could have,” Jonas’ voice
echoed around the crouching walls.
 
“Not without opposable thumbs,” I
retorted into the hush.
 
A few more steps and I could see
another fire site, only this time, there was a large black pot overturned
against the wall. A round camping stove, smudged with soot, half lay under it.
 
“This has got to be a few days old,
at least…”
 
“You’re not here to investigate,”
Jonas growled. “You’re here to feel for magic. We have experienced clan that’ll
go over this site and give us more conclusive findings.”
 
 “Oh. Well, you could’ve made
that more clear before I looked at the body.”
 
I let my magic drift, sensing for
spells and pitfalls within the area. This was something I practiced every day
per Toa’s instruction. A large part of my job was sensing other magic and
possible dangers. I still had trouble doing this on the fly, but here, in the
quiet settings, the building almost feeling as if it was holding its breath, I
had nothing else to do but concentrate.
 
The black glow of my magic, hardly
discernable in the gloom of the warehouse, drifted over the overturned pot.
Like a match to kerosene, a circular fire lit up, climbing into the sky like
fairy lights. Sparkles danced and played in a shimmering orange halo lazily
drifting toward the right. Toward the body.
 
I could not help that squeak. Or holding
my breath afterwards.
 
Still it drifted. Reaching for that
death. What would it do when it got there?
 
I don’t want to know!
 
A blast of rotten flesh crawled up my
nose, prompting a gag. That smell didn’t come from the body, it came from the
disgusting magic corroding this area. Magic that was still active. Lingering,
waiting. But for what? Whatever spells had been laid, they weren’t used to
create rainbows. They were also extensive and intricate. Beyond my training.
 
“Not good magic over here…” I
mumbled.
 
My magic spread like a fog over the
body. For a second, nothing happened.
 
“Sasha?” Tim asked into the din.
 
“Don’t go in there, mong—“
 
Jonas’ voice cut off as my magic
started to sizzle and pop. Like water splashing into hot grease.
“What’s it doing?” I asked Jonas with
a quiver in my voice.
 
“This isn’t normal…” Jonas’ voice
drifted away.
 
“Back out of there, Sasha,” Tim urged
from the door.
 
Something tugged at my magical
senses. It was like undertow, rolling and fierce, sucking. Consuming. As fast
as magic surged into my body, elements desperate to get in, something in that
area stole it again, using my draw to fuel itself.
 
But what the hell kind of spell was
it?
 
 “Oh shit,” I mumbled,
scrabbling to pull my power back.
 
“What is it?” Jonas asked, stepping
into the building, his tattoos lighting up like a Christmas tree. A great,
gleaming sword swung into his hand, the blade glowing orange.
 
“Get out of here, Jonas! I need to
tie off this weird spell. It’s sucking magic to it.”
 
Jonas took a hasty step back, his
body once again receding out of the doorway. Tim backed out with him, but
hesitantly.
 
I got to work, sweat beading my brow,
fighting the draw both of that corner, and from the elements fighting to rush
into my body.
 
 “Nasty spell-working, this,” I
said under my breath, sensing the elements within the casting. “They’re, like,reaching for me. Feeding off my magic. I’ve
never dealt with a spell like this. I didn’t even know this was possible.”
 
“Dark magic,” Jonas whispered. “Hard
to work. Harder to control. Someone has balls of steel.”
 
“Well, it’s not me,” I wheezed.
 
I snubbed out the elements that made
up the spell, like soldering wires, closing the spell in a sort of circuit. The
question was, did I just lock all that power in, or would it fray and
disintegrate like it had been, needing someone with magic to come along and fan
it higher?
 
“I don’t think the wielder knew
exactly what he was doing,” I murmured, analyzing the lacy structure of the
orangy incantation. It hovered within a shaky line spilled on the cement floor. Spilled because it looked suspiciously like blood,
sticky and slick, gleaming in the soft light from the window.
 
As I was about to turn away toward
Jonas, wanting to talk about what I’d done and see what he thought—we’d
probably have to go get Toa—the lacy spell cleared away like mist. In its place
grinned the head of a black monster, staring at me like a hungry lion would a
fresh steak.
 
“You did not call me.” Sharp, ragged
teeth filled a mouth too big for its face.
 
Terror jolted me back as a stringy
leg stepped forward.
 
“Sasha?” Jonas’ voice held hard
fibers of alarm.
 
The monster slapped into an invisible
barrier. Orange sparks rained down on its head. It glanced up, and then around,
noticing the hazy orange circle trapping it. And then its face straightened
out, staring right at me out of black pits instead of eyes.  “We can rule,
you and I. Our power, combined, will be indestructible. Join me.”
 
“Oh lovely, one of you. Fantastic.”
 
I eyed his cage as it did, sensing
the weakness of it. The shaky spell, barely held together. Even as I stood
there, the thing was starting to eat away at its cage.
 
Super.
 
Was this terrible spell by design, or
some sort of failed attempt?
 
“We gotta get out of here!” I
roared at Jonas, backing away as quickly as possible. “This thing is way, waystronger than other Dulcha I’ve seen. It’s feeding off of the
magic containing it, somehow. We need Toa for this one.”
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Mini – Tablet

(Android operating system)

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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Hosted by Good Choice Reading Blog Tours

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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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The Friday 56 #29 ~ Not Juliet by Ella Medler

Posted: July 25, 2014 in Meme, Romance, The Friday 56
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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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“You want a tour, then?”

She nodded, grateful for the delay.

Luca took her hand and proceeded to tow her from room to room at high speed, prattling all the way.

“This is the study, but I rarely use it. Too many books. Claustrophobic.”

“Through here is the dining room, which again I don’t use.”

Luca grinned at her and took the stairs two at a time. Reilla had to run to keep up.

“But we’re going to use this room, here.”

He pulled open the doors to reveal the master bedroom.

“Hey. Are you all right? It’s only a bed, not a torture device.”

Slowly Luca guided her to sit down on the bed, then knelt in front of her.

“See? It doesn’t bite.”

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Such a good love story!

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Not Juliet

 by Ella Medler 

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Synopsis

Riella Smith, an unconventional Romany Princess, travels to Tuscany on the trail of her father’s challenger, to delay him and prevent unnecessary bloodshed and humiliation. What she expects is trouble from a fearsome rival. But life is rarely that easy.
The trouble she finds is of a different kind. Soon, she faces the toughest decision of her life – again – though it should really be a no-brainer. All she has to do is choose between her people and a myth.
After all, there’s no such thing as love at first sight.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Friday Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Fire in the Woods by Jennifer M. Eaton

Posted: July 25, 2014 in Cover Reveal, giveaways, Romance, Science Fiction
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Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Fire in the Woods by Jennifer M. Eaton

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presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

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When a plane crashes in the woods near Jess’s home, the boy of her dreams falls out of the sky—literally. But David’s not here to find a girlfriend. He’s from another planet, and if Jess can’t help him get back to his ship, he’ll be stuck on Earth with nothing to look forward to but the pointy end of a dissection scalpel.

But her father runs their house like an army barracks, and with an alien on the loose, Major Dad isn’t too keen on the idea of Jess going anywhere. Ever. So how the heck is she supposed to help the sweetest, strangest, and cutest guy she’s ever met?

Hiding him in her room probably isn’t the best idea. Especially since her Dad is in charge of the squadron searching for David. That doesn’t mean she won’t do it. It just means she can’t get caught.

Helping David get home while protecting her heart—that’s gonna be the hard part. After all, she can’t really fall for a guy who’s not exactly from here.

As they race through the woods with Major Dad and most of the U.S. military one breath behind them, Jess and David grow closer than either of them anticipated. But all is not what it seems. David has a genocide-sized secret, and one betrayal later, they are both in handcuffs as alien warships are positioning themselves around the globe. Time is ticking down to Armageddon, and Jess must think fast if she’s to save the boy she cares about without sacrificing Earth—and everyone on it.

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add to goodreads

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Title: Fire in the Woods
Publication date: September 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Jennifer M. Eaton

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Chapter-by-Chapter-header---About-the-Author

Jennifer M. Eaton

Corporate Team Leader by day, and Ranting Writer by night. Jennifer M. Eaton calls the East Coast of the USA home, where she lives with her husband, three energetic boys, and a pepped up poodle.

Jennifer hosts an informational blog “A Reference of Writing Rants for Writers (or Learn from My Mistakes)” aimed at helping all writers be the best they can be.

Beyond writing and motivating others, she also enjoys teaching her dog to jump through hoops—literally.

Jennifer’s perfect day includes long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but her greatest joy is using her over-active imagination constructively… creating new worlds for everyone to enjoy.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway

An eBook copy of Fire in the Woods and a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

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(Winners will receive their book on release day)

 

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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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So adorable! Have You Seen My Tail? Book Blast and Giveaway

Posted: July 24, 2014 in Book Blast, Children's books, giveaways
Tags: , , ,
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Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for the adorable picture book “Have You Seen My Tail?” by Kathryn Harper.

Have You Seen My Tail? by Kathryn Harper

About the Book

Title: Have You Seen My Tail? (Katie-Jane, Book #2) | Author & Illustrator: Kathryn Harper | Publication Date: July, 2014 | Publisher: Green Cup Publishing | Pages: 36 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8

Summary:

Anyone who has ever struggled to accept – or longed to experience – change of any kind will be able to relate to Katie-Jane’s second story, “Have You Seen My Tail?” Using rhyming verse, and laugh-out-loud moments, Katie-Jane begins this story feeling bored. She is surprised and shocked as she meets a butterfly, a frog and a snake; who are all struggling to accept the recent big changes in their lives. Different perspectives help all four characters to accept their own situations, and embrace change in the way life offers it to them. “Have You Seen My Tail?” is the second book in the six-part Katie-Jane series, designed to encourage the reader to ‘be the very best version of you.’

 

Sneak Peek

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Have You Seen My Tail? by Kathrn Harper - Inside Page

 

Purchase

Amazon | Book Website

You can also purchase the first book in the Katie-Jane Series, “Am I a Chameleon?” by clicking the book cover below:

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Am I a Chameleon by Kathrn Harper

 

Early Buzz About the Book

“Author Kathryn Harper offers insightful questions and answers at the end of the book explaining how she feels about change. I love how these insightful thoughts give the reader a chance to verbalize their own feelings. Like her other books, the illustrations are beautiful and vivid. Each of the animals has a wonderfully rich texture, color, and personality. The Katie-Jane books continue to not disappoint, I look forward to seeing the next books in the series.” ~ 5 Star Review, Katherine R., Amazon

“Katie-Jane is a very sweet character in “Have You Seen My Tail?” She helps to explain change in a gentle and unsuspecting way. This is the second book in the series for Author, Kathryn Harper. She writes a relatable story that children all over the world can grasp and understand. ” ~ 5 Star Review, Mary Jo P., Amazon

 

About the Author: Kathryn Harper

Kathryn HarperI have always loved to write, draw and create, but my books are inspired by more than my love for their medium.

As a child I was selective mute. Both my struggles and my breakthroughs are a source of inspiration toward creating Katie-Jane and her stories.

I grew up in the UK, after living in Johannesburg between the ages of two and five. Today I live in Wanaka, New Zealand, with my two gorgeous children and partner, Simon. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to call this place home, where an adventure can begin every time we step outside.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Amazon 25 gift card

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Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)

Contest ends: August 21, 11:59 pm, 2014

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Click on the Rafflecopter widget below.

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Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Kathryn Harper and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

 

MDBR Book Promotion Services

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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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Who will get who first? The Eyes Die Last by Teri Riggs ~ Blog Tour and GIveaway

Posted: July 24, 2014 in Blog Tour, crime thriller, Excerpt, giveaways, Mystery
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Welcome to my stop on the tour for The Eyes Die last by Teri Riggs.

I’m always ready for a new murder thriller. This one is particularly exciting as we get to go to Vegas! I’ve never been there.

The cover art has me intrigued. Is the girl on the cover Detective Kennedy (Kenny) O’Brien? The eye color works. Or is it a victim? One of the murdered prostitutes?

What do you think?

Read the excerpt and let me know.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

eyes die last Cover

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The Eyes Die Last

by Teri Riggs

BLURB:

 

The Las Vegas Mayoral race is heating up, and the incumbent doesn’t have a prayer. Wealthy real estate speculator Nick Campenelli, who wants to legalize prostitution in Clark County, and former pastor Louis St. Louis, running on a ‘clean-up-Vegas-by-getting-rid-of-the-whores’ platform, are the front runners.

 

They’re also front runners on the suspect list for a string of murders. Kennedy O’Brien, four-year detective with cop blood running in her veins, and her partner Wilder “Wild Thing” James, a veteran, are determined to find the man who’s murdering prostitutes who work the wrong side of the street, and they don’t care how important or politically active he is.

 

The killer is a man with a mission. He stalks the women before he kills them, leaving a “BEFORE” photo on their bodies, and sending an “AFTER” shot to the local news hound. Ed Hershey, an aging newscaster with just the right amount of grey in his hair, is determined to turn this story into a network gig, and his interference, along with the LVTVS legal team, are making Kennedy and Wilder look bad. Campenelli’s good looks and charm, and St. Louis’ vitriolic hatred of prostitutes are muddying the waters too, and now the killer seems to have taken a liking to Kennedy.

So the big question remains. Can she get him before he gets her?

 

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Eyes Die Last Button

Enjoy this glimpse inside The Eyes Die Last

Leaving the downtown area, Wilder and Kennedy drove past the now defunct Pioneer Club with the ever smiling, famous Vegas Vic sign sitting high on its perch. At one time, the forty-foot-tall neon cowboy had greeted visitors with a waving arm and a moving cigarette that blew smoke rings.

“Kenny, check out Vegas Vic. He’s winking at you.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Wilder? It’s a damn sign.”

“I’m just screwing around. You really need to lighten up some.”

Kennedy refused to respond.

“When I talked to Sparky and Lenny, they said you were still at Metro when they came in this morning.”

“And your point is?”

“You should have gone home and gotten some rest. Like a normal person.”

“I did go home. I slept and I showered. I am a normal person.” One that has a few issues, but hey, who doesn’t?

“Did you update your home murder board and spend hours studying it?”

She cringed. Her partner knew her too well. “I may have looked it over once or twice. But, I didn’t spend hours on it, not that it’s any of your business.”

“You need to have a life outside the job. Hell, even Vegas Vic has a girlfriend and he’s a damn neon sign. When’s the last time you even had a date?”

She looked out the window at the neon cowboy, then at the neon cowgirl sign on top of the Glitter Gulch topless club, and back at Wilder.

“Vegas Vicky? Give me a break, here.”

“Oh yeah, Vegas Vicky. What a neon babe.” His voice deepened, almost to a whisper. Then Wilder had the balls to wink at her. “I dig her cowgirl boots.”

“You’re sick, Wilder.”

He glanced sideways at her.

“Keep your eyes on the road.” She hadn’t meant to snap.

“What are you so sour about, Kenny?” He laughed. “You just realizing a freaking neon babe has a boyfriend and you don’t?”

She couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at her mouth and had to look away before he saw. “Wilder, this conversation is so over.”

“Look on the bright side.” She faced him again, just in time to see his wicked

“There’s a bright side?”

“Oh, yeah.” He winked at her. “At least you don’t have to worry about some other neon babe shining your guy’s bulbs.”

“Like I said, Wilder, you’re one sick puppy.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

eyes die last teri.riggs_

 

Teri Riggs was destined to be a writer. As a small girl she didn’t read bedtime stories, she made up her own. Who needed Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs when there were so many great tales bouncing around in her head? When she grew up and became a mother to three little girls, she continued the tradition of making up bedtime stories. On the occasions she chose to tell conventional fairytales, Teri usually gave them a bit of tweaking here and there or added a new ending. Her girls loved it.

 

After her daughters had the nerve to actually grow up and leave home, Teri discovered she had a passion for writing and jumped right in. It came as no surprise she chose to write mysteries and happily-ever-after’s since that’s the genres she loves to read.

 

Teri lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, one of her daughters and two dogs that seem to think they rule the world. And some days Teri thinks maybe they do.

 

Teri still frequently tells herself stories as she falls asleep. The only difference now is she wakes up the next morning and turns her bedtime stories into books.

 

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Tad sees auras. Gray-green being the most evil. Khaki = Killer by Connie Corcoran Wilson ~ Reviewing The Color Of Evil Series

Posted: July 23, 2014 in Blog Tour, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Series, thriller
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I’m excited to tell you about all three books in The Color of Evil series.

It’s been thrilling, chilling, and intense reading them.

I’m starting out with Khaki=KIller as it’s the most recent release. But I’ve also reviewed the first two books, so you can skip down and read my reviews in order if so inclined.

Beware. As of the third book, Pogo the Clown was still free, still prowling, looking for his next victim!

Have fun and fasten your seatbelts!

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Khaki = Killer (Book 3 of the Color of Evil Series)

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Publisher: Quad Cities’ Press (April 22, 2014)
Category: YA, Psychological Paranormal Thriller
ISBN: 13: 978-0982444825
Tour Dates: June 23-August 1, 2014
Available in: Print and E-book, 235 Pages

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MY REVIEW

Being the third book in this series, this may contain spoilers from the other books.

The author drops you right back into the story.

Michael Cray,AKA Pogo the Clown, is still roaming free, still plotting to kill Tad. So that was always in the back of mind. Especially when some local girls go missing.

Tad once again teams up with retired police officer Charlie Chandler to find the missing girls. The whole town joins in the search. Fear hangs over the small town like a fog bank.

Tad and Jenny are still working out their relationship.

One girl is clinging to life in the hospital.

Some bad guys are still plotting and caring on.

New romances start and others struggle.

And under it all, Pogo still prowls, still waits to pounce.

This third book and the entire series have something in common. They start fast, pick up speed, drop you in without a parachute, leaving you flailing and maybe, just maybe, give you a safety net.

So many different things are happening with different people, but the author blends it all together into an easy to follow chiller thriller.

4 Stars

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The Color of Evil series first two books (The Color of Evil and Red Is for Rage) were named: PageTurner of 2013 by Shelf Unbound magazine; Best Indie Cover of 2013; NABE Pinnacle Thriller winner; E-Lit Gold Medal winner (Horror); and Connie is a 2 time Silver Feather (IWPA) winner (2012, 2014, Chicago chapter).

The Color of Evil series describes the adventures of the young man (Tad McGreevy) with the power to detect auras around others (Tetrachromatic Super Vision) and to relive the crimes of those with “the color of evil” in his dreams.

Khaki = Killer, the third book in the Color of Evil Series, picks up where Red Is for Rage left off, answering the question, “What happened to Melody (Harris) Carpenter?”

Readers of Red Is for Rage, [Book #2], will remember that Melody was involved in a rescheduled UNI (University of Northern Iowa) football game, cheering for the Sky High Eagles. Rushed to the hospital with injuries suffered in a fall from atop the human pyramid [formed by fellow cheerleaders Heather, Kelly, Janice, Angie, and Jenny, Melody is hospitalized and fighting for her life as Khaki = Killer opens.

The budding romance between Janice and Stevie continues to grow more serious, but Janice’s parents oppose her relationship with the son of a murderer. There are more revelations about Earl Scranton’s motives, and other romance s develop (Tad and Jenny; Charlie and Andrea).

When Heather Crompton and Kelly Carter mysteriously disappear while ice skating on the Cedar River, the tension in town ratchets to a fever pitch. The entire town is involved in the search. Retired police officer Charlie Chandler reorganizes the rag-tag team that helped find Stevie Scranton and bring him back to Cedar Falls, Iowa (Book #2).

In the background lurks Michael Clay (aka, Pogo), still searching for Tad McGreevy, still hoping to permanently silence “the boy who can see the future.”

Tensions run high and the stakes run even higher in KHAKI = KILLER, Book #3 in THE COLOR OF EVIL series~~~~

Praise for THE COLOR OF EVIL series:

“Wilson makes all this count and mixes the ugly and the good in ways that can turn out to be rewarding for readers…There are moments of a real gift here…deft touches…especially between Stevie (Scranton) and his girlfriend, that are quite touching and even inspired…So, I remain happy to follow this series. I am assuming this series will reach a conclusion, and I cannot wait to see how Wilson writes it.”- Andy Andrews,True Review

“Connie Corcoran Wilson weaves a deftly fine scalpel in an age where a crude blade is more the norm. Her work is a smooth, subtle hybrid mix of science fiction, thriller, and horror that realizes a unique and pointed vision in the great tradition of Phillip K. Dick and Ray Bradbury. Her voice is a wonder to behold, at once dark and somber while maintaining a glimmer of hope that shines in the hearts of her heroes, who cling to the light. Like Stephen King, nothing escapes her discerning eye, the result of which is tale after tale that bleed life onto the page, both literally and figuratively.”—Jon Land, bestselling author of the Caitlin Strong Series

“Connie Wilson is back—-She’s good! She’s DAMN good! In a world of mainly bad-to-fair writers, she stands above the crowd with plot, description , and strong character. Believe me, you’ll enjoy her latest! That’s a guarantee!…She’s a born storyteller!”—William F. Nolan, Living Legend in Dark Fantasy, “Logan’s Run,” “Logan’s World,” “Nightworlds”

“Wilson’s characters come alive on the page. Comparisons to Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Philip K. Dick aside, Wilson has spent 33 years teaching students in this age range. She knows what she is talking about.”—Gary Braver, author of “Flashback” and 8 other thrillers.

“THE COLOR OF EVIL series is old-school psychological horror, artfully blended with new-school shocks and twists. ..Bravo!” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author, multiple Bram Stoker winner

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 Color of Evil (Book 1 of The Color of Evil Series)

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MY REVIEW

When Tad McGreevey opens the door, he falls back in fear. Standing before him is Pogo the Clown, hired to entertain the kids at his eighth birthday party.

It’s not the clown suit that terrifies him. It’s the aura that surrounds him. Tad can see auras, or colors, around people. Different auras show whether that person is good or bad. Pogo’s aura is gray-green, or khaki, the worst color.

Nothing happens at his birthday party, but Tad suffers 53 days of nightmares. Pogo is a serial killer and Tad sees each violent killing in his dreams.

Night after night he wakes up screaming and no one is getting any sleep. His family doesn’t believe in his visions and Tad spends a brief time in a psychiatric hospital before Pogo the Clown is caught and his horrific deeds are revealed.

The author then takes you forward eight years. Tad’s nightmares ended when Pogo was caught and his biggest problem now is that Jenny, one of his best friends, is hot for bad boy Jeremy, while Tad’s feelings for her have changed from platonic to to romantic. He is falling for her.

Tad’s nightmares begin again. This time he can’t see the crime as clear. Can’t quite tell who the killer or victim is. And his dreams don’t tell him whether the crime is going to happen, whether it’s happening now, or whether it’s yet to occur. But it will happen. And his biggest fear is not being able to do anything about it.

Something this author does and does well is catch you unawares. You’ll be reading a scene, and suddenly, with no warning, it turns ugly. It rocks you back on your heels. And it happens often, catching you again and again.

The atmosphere of pending danger is felt the whole time you are reading, even in scenes that seem innocuous. Not that they stay that way for long as the evil in this small town is rampant. Hiding in plain sight. Happening to many different people. It’s as if the town harbors evil.

As I neared the end of the book, I knew there were going to be many issues left unresolved. So when I read the title for the last chapter, Loose Ends, I feared the author would cram all of the unfinished scenes into this last chapter.

The author does tie up some of the loose ends. But some really big ones are still hanging wide open. I’ve never read a book with so many things left unfinished and I still loved the ending.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Tad McGreevy has a power that he has never revealed, not even to his life-long best friend, Stevie Scranton. When Tad looks at others, he sees colors. These auras tell Tad whether a person is good or evil. At night, Tad dreams about the evil-doers, reliving their crimes in horrifyingly vivid detail.

But Tad doesn’t know if the evil acts he witnesses in his nightmares are happening now, are already over, or are going to occur in the future. He has no control over the horrifying visions. He has been told (by his parents) never to speak of his power. All Tad knows is that he wants to protect those he loves. And he wants the bad dreams to stop.

At Tad’s eighth birthday party (April 1, 1995) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the clown his parents hire to entertain Tad’s third-grade classmates is one of the bad people. Pogo, the Killer Clown (aka Michael Clay) is a serial killer. So begins 53 nights of terror as Tad relives Pogo’s crime, awakens screaming, and recites the terrifying details to his disbelieving family. The situation becomes so dire that Tad is hospitalized in a private institution under the care of a psychiatrist–who also does not believe the small boy’s stories.

And then the police arrest Pogo, the Killer Clown.

Flash forward to the beginning of Tad’s junior year in high school, 8 years later. Tad is 16 and recovered from the spring of his third-grade year. When Michael Clay was caught and imprisoned, the crime spree ended and so did Tad’s bad dreams.

Until now, in the year of our Lord 2003, when evil once again stalks the land.

This is a terrifying, intense story of the dark people and places that lurk just beneath the surface of seemingly normal small-town America. As one reviewer says, “Wilson nails the darkness beneath the surface of small-town Midwestern life with an intense story based on fact.”

Tad must wage a silent war against those who would harm the ones he loves. A battle to the death.

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Red is Rage (Book 2 of The Color of Evil Series)

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MY REVIEW

I should warn you this is the second book in The Color Of Evil series in case I can’t avoid spoilers from the first book.

In book one, Tad suffered horrendous nightmares until the serial killer, Pogo the Clown was caught and put behind bars.

Moving on to highschool, Tad begins to have the nightmares again. They are tied to the aura’s he sees around people.

In the end of the first book, Tad’s best friend, Stevie, is still missing, and Tad will not stop until he finds out what happened to him.

With the help of a retired police officer, he follows the clues and encounters someone every bit as evil as Pogo the Clown.

I had a feeling Tad wouldn’t be getting any relief from his nightmares. Especially when I learned that Pogo, AKA Michael Cray, had escaped and immediately set about to find Tad and kill him, believing if he did this, he could remain free to do his evil deeds.

This second book takes place a few months after the first and moves at a fast pace. You are dropped right back into the middle of small town terror.

I feared Tad wouldn’t be able to get a handle on his special powers. Wouldn’t be able to use them to save the people he cared about.

As I was reading, I felt like an observer, like I was privy to different character’s thoughts and actions. This made for more thrills and tension as evil plotted and Tad raced to catch up or get ahead of them.

Not as horrific as the first book but more intense, more suspenseful.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

RED IS FOR RAGE is the second book in the award-winning THE COLOR OF EVIL series. It was named the winner in the Thriller category of the Pinnacle book award by NABE (National Association of Book Entrepreneurs) in 2013.

At the end of Book One (THE COLOR OF EVIL), Stevie Scranton, best friend of Tad McGreevy, went missing. Best friend Tad McGreevy, who has the ability to see auras around others that lead him to “see” the crimes of the evil-doers, vows to do everything he can to find Stevie. In their search, they discover a monster every bit as dangerous as Pogo, the killer clown, and must confront him in order to save Stevie.

Pogo, from Book One, still is a threat, hoping to kill Tad to keep his freedom, since he thinks Tad has the power to turn him over to the police. Now, Tad must learn to harness his unique gift. Stevie’s fate hangs in the balance as well as his own life.

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”I didn’t find this book as scary/creepy as I did The Color of Evil. It was more eerie. I knew that something was going to happen, I just didn’t know what or when. Ms. Wilson introduced a number of side stories that each could have been the ‘big one’. Again, I found myself wanting to continue reading to find out which of these stories would develop furthest. I wasn’t able to complete the reading in one sitting, but I was back up early in the morning to finish.”-Heather Pearson, Books and Quilts

“Connie Corcoran Wilson has become another favorite go-to storyteller. The Color of Evil and Red is for Rage, are reminiscent of a Stephen King novel. Mr. King has a knack for making the all American small town a nest of unimaginable horror. Well, Ms. Wilson has also accomplished that in her tales.

The incredible twists and turns the author takes the reader on; the in-depth characterizations that Author Connie Corcoran Wilson employs is exceptional; the reader becomes intimate with the characters, an affectionate bond grows, with the reader finding those characters to root for.

Red is for Rage was a good story, disturbing in spots but this was due to the author’s skill at creating a very realistic plot line. The story flowed smoothly, the action was steady.”-Michelle Cornwell-Jordon, Author of “Tormentin”, “Night School Vampire Hunter Trilogy”, “Chrysalis”

“I have not read the first book in this series, The Color of Evil, but I had no problem picking up on what was going on in Red is for Rage. It was suspenseful and Intriguing. After I started reading, I quickly became absorbed and anticipating what would come next . Connie does a great job of bringing it all together in one book that. I highly recommend reading .”- Heather Beldon, Saving for Six

” If you’re looking for a book full of adventure and action, then this is the one for you. I can say that Ms. Wilson did a wonderful job with Tad, and his unique abilities, which we learn more about in this novel. I also think that she knows her characters quite well. She left me craving the next book, which says something. Especially since I tend to avoid these types of tales where there is so much darkness. But I could see that little glimmer of hope, the little bits of light through the darkness and it left me wanting more.

We also get to see a bit more of Stevie in this book which was nice since he had gone missing early in Book #1. And Michael Clay, (aka Pogo the Clown), just reinforced my hatred of clowns! He doesn’t have as big a role in this book, but he still plays a part in continuing the story line. He is a great character whom we all love to hate!

I recommend it to ages 16 and older. While it deals with some sticky situations, it does it in such a classy manner that it will suck you into the world she has created.”-CondyGirl, Recent Reads

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About Connie Corcoran Wilson

Connie (Corcoran) Wilson (MS + 30) graduated from the University of Iowa and Western Illinois University, with additional study at Northern Illinois, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Chicago. She taught writing at six Iowa/Illinois colleges and has written for five newspapers and seven blogs, including Associated Content (now owned by Yahoo) which named her its 2008 Content Producer of the Year. She covers politics and entertainment and has over 1,000,000 “hits.”

She is a member of ITW (International Thriller Writers), where she is a writer for their online newsletter, and a member of IWPA (Illinois Women’s Press Association, Chicago chapter), which awarded her its Silver Feather Award in 2012 and 2014, MWA (Midwest Writers Association), AWP (American Writing Program) and MWC (Midwest Writing Center), which named her its Writer of the Year in 2010. She has won numerous E-Lit awards, a NABE Pinnacle award, an ALMA (American Literary Merit Award), Lucky Cinda competition and two IWPA Silver Feather Awards (2012, 2014).

Her stories and interviews with writers like David Morrell, Joe Hill, Kurt Vonnegut, Frederik Pohl, William F. Nolan, Anne Perry, r. Barri Flowers, Valerie Plame, Allen Zadoff and Jon Land have appeared online and in numerous journals.

Her work has won prizes from “Whim’s Place Flash Fiction,” “Writer’s Digest” (Screenplay) and she has 25 published works. Connie reviewed film and books for the Quad City Times (Davenport, Iowa) for 12 years, wrote humor columns and conducted interviews for the (Moline, Illinois) Dispatch and maintains her own blog, www.WeeklyWilson.com, while also twittering (@Connie_C_Wilson), Connie Wilson Author.

Connie was a presenter at the Spellbinders Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii over Labor Day (2012) and at Love Is Murder in Chicago (February, 2014). She has three ongoing series: THE COLOR OF EVIL, HELLFIRE & DAMNATION (short stories organized around the crimes or sins punished at each of the levels of Hell in Dante’s Inferno) and THE CHRISTMAS CATS, which she writes for her granddaughters. (www.TheColorOfEvil.com; www.RedIsforRage.com; www.KhakiEqualsKiller.com; www.HellfireAndDamnationTheBook.com; www.TheXmasCats.com)

Connie lives in East Moline, Illinois with husband Craig and cat Lucy, and in Chicago, Illinois, where her son, Scott and daughter-in-law Jessica and their five-year-old twins Elise and Ava reside. Her daughter, Stacey, graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, and is currently in training in Dallas to become a Southwest Airlines stewardess.

 Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

Buy Khaki=Killer:

Amazon– Paperback
Amazon– Kindle

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Follow the Tour:

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus June 20 Spotlight & Giveaway
Books & Quilts June 23 Review
Room With Books June 24 Review
Let’s Talk About Books June 25 Review
Cassandra M’s Place June 26 Review & Giveaway
The News in Books June 30 Review
BK Walker Books July 8 Interview
Like a Bump on a Blog July 12 Review & Giveaway
Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author July 14 Excerpt
Giveaways and Glitter July 18 Review
Bound 4 Escape July 21 Review
The WormholeJuly 22 Review
fuonlyknew July 23 Review
Cheryl’s Book Nook July 28 Guest Post
Paranormal Romance July 29 Review

Sharpen your wits and claws with the Klepto Cat Mystery Series ~ My Reviews and a Guest Post from Patricia Fry

Posted: July 22, 2014 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, reviews, Romance
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I’ve found a new cozy mystery series! I just eat this genre up and am always on the lookout for more fun mysteries.

For today, I’ll be reviewing three books in the Klepto Cat Mystery Series by Patricia Fry.

Catnapped, Cat-Eye Witness and The Colony Cat Caper.

Good, clean romance, lots of colorful characters, more than one mystery to solve per book, and a wonderful cast of furry friends.

But before we get to my reviews, the author is here to talk about her writing experiences and how she came to be an author.

Take it away Patricia!

The Not So Accidental Career Path of a New Mystery Writer

I guess I was destined to be a writer. By sixth grade, I thought I knew my career path. I would be a dress designer…or maybe a model…or an artist. Instead, while still in my teens, I became a young wife and mother. My creative outlet—driven by the typical impoverished lifestyle of young marrieds in the 1960s—was writing poetry. Instead of buying holiday and birthday cards, I’d make them and feature my original poetry. My family and friends enthusiastically encouraged my efforts.

            As my children grew into toddlers and beyond, I wrote stories that I read to them. They, too, were a willing audience and it didn’t take me long to decide a new career path. I would become a writer!

            For the next ten years, I wrote for myself. I studied the art of writing and became fascinated with article-writing. And so it was that, when my three daughters became teenagers, I sat down at a borrowed manual typewriter in a corner of my bedroom and wrote my first magazine article. That was the beginning of a forty-year career that I have no intentions of ending anytime soon.

            Many people today are career-changers. It’s rather trendy to initiate a career change every ten or fifteen years. In my world, there was never any question of changing professions, but my focus shifted every so often. I wrote magazine articles for a living for many years. I developed and wrote a business column for a local newspaper. And, along the way, I wrote books. My first one was Hints for the Backyard Rider, which was published by a New York publisher in 1978. Then came a real labor of love, The Ojai Valley, An Illustrated History—a 300-page local history that was five years in the making. In 1983, I established my own publisher company to produce this book—and many to follow. From there, I wrote various books now and then related to things of interest to me—presenting a Hawaiian luau on the mainland, youth mentoring, long-distance grandparenting…

            And then, one day, I was asked to present a workshop to teach others what I had learned over the years about establishing a writing business. I was hooked. I LOVED teaching. And I began presenting workshops throughout the US and writing the books my students hungered for. Thus, most of my books, ebooks, booklets are on writing, publishing, and book promotion. (I currently have 45 published books.)

Over the years, I have presented seminars and workshops—and I’ve been keynote speaker—at some major writers’ conferences in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Washington, North Carolina, Arizona, etc., as well as all over California. What fun!

            Another shift within my career occurred when authors began asking me to edit their manuscripts. I balked at this idea for several years. When I finally agreed to take on an editing project, I fell in love with the process. Naturally, I continued writing (I’ve found that I can’t not write). I continued teaching about the business of writing—publishing and book promotion. And now I was also editing the works of some amazing authors and guiding them in their publishing pursuits. I was a happy camper.

            This brings us up to 2012. It was time for another career assessment. I was getting ready to celebrate another birthday—if you do the math, you’ll know it was a kinda big one. I realized that most of my same-age friends were retired. I thought, “But I don’t wanna stop writing. I love my work.” Along with that, I asked myself, “Do you have any writing dreams that haven’t been fulfilled?” The answer came in one word: FICTION.

            Other than those little stories I used to write for my children, I had never written fiction. But it sounded like it would be fun. So I gave myself a birthday gift that year—the time and space to write a novel.

            The idea for my new novel series came rather quickly, as did the first story idea. And within a relatively short time, I was the author of a published novel, Catnapped, the first in the Klepto Cat Mystery series.

            Why the Klepto Cat Mystery? Well, I’d been reading cozy mysteries. Some of them involved cats. I love cats—have always lived with cats and am owned by three very spoiled indoor cats as we speak—all formerly feral and some still with untamed tendencies (bad habits carried over from their wild beginnings).

I am fascinated by the habits cats develop. Our sweet tabby Lily, for example, decorates the house with her toys. When I prepare to vacuum the carpeting, I’ll pick up around a dozen toys—tiny stuffed bears, a furry spider toy, a baby possum, little lion, a hedgehog, birds, etc. Within a few hours, these toys are spread all around in strategic locations of Lily’s choice again. Some of the toys in her toy basket are things she has “taken” from the grandkids’ toy box or a shelf where I had it on display. Her antics got me to thinking about true kleptomaniac cats—those that bring home things they find in the neighborhood—bathing suits, dog toys, head bands, shoes, sunglasses, etc. I thought the kleptomaniac cat could be helpful in solving crimes. And this is the premise I decided to go with for my stories.

            I patterned the main cat, Rags (Ragsdale) after my mother’s cat, Smokey because of his sense of confidence. Smokey is cool. He has what’s known as cattitude, and so does Rags. And guess what? People love Rags. He’s funny, unpredictable, and not always cooperative. Well, he’s a cat, after all.

            In my stories, cats don’t talk. Nor are we privy to their thought-process. They’re just cats doing what ordinary—and extraordinary—cats do to delight and entertain their people and my readers. My human characters also have fans. Reviewers love Aunt Margaret because she’s a little outspoken and feisty. Readers like Savannah, a veterinarian who adopted Rags and puts up with his unusual behavior, and her eventual husband, Michael, who is also a veterinarian. Each new story involves or focuses more heavily on someone new.

            This is a series. Each story builds off the last one and sets the stage for the next one. But many agree with me that each one is also a good standalone book. If you love cats and light mystery stories, pick up one of the Klepto Cat Mystery series. For the most satisfying experience, I recommend reading them in order: Catnapped, Cat-Eye Witness, Sleight of Paw (all of these are currently available for Kindle and also in print), Undercover Cat and The Colony Cat Caper are for Kindle only, but will be in print before the end of the year. And don’t worry, book number six is in the works. http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2 will take you to the Klepto Cat Mystery page at Amazon.

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Catnapped

A Klepto Cat Mystery #1

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My Review

 Savannah, taking time away from her job as a vet tech,  arrives in Hammond to help take care of her Aunt Margaret after she broke her foot, bringing along Ragsdale, her klepto cat. Rags is a thief and immediately he’s up to his antics, stealing Margaret’s glasses and even her underwear.

I’m more of a dog person but I’ve recently inherited a cat, and while she’s not a klepto, she does have her own quirky personality.

I live in a small town and we also have a Cat Coalition. Veterinarians and the community work together to take care of our colony of feral cats living on the bluff by the bay. Offering neuter and spay services and making sure the cats are kept healthy and fed.

When cats start disappearing, Savannah, along with the Hammond Cat Alliance and the whole town, are determined to get to the bottom of it.

Savannah’s stay becomes more complicated when she starts getting cozy with the sexy local vet, Michael Ivey.  A long distance relationship usually doesn’t last.

There’s more than one mystery in this book. Savannah is kidnapped and her Aunt Margaret is being threatened. While cats are still disappearing.

There are lots of colorful characters, more than one kindling romance. and a serious mystery but not too dark. The story is easy to follow and reads quickly.

You don’t need to be a cat lover to enjoy this cozy mystery. But you might be after meeting the furry characters.

4 Stars

Synopsis

When Savannah Jordan agrees to help her aunt while she recovers from a broken foot, she doesn’t expect to walk into a mystery, become part of a not-quite-legal surveillance team, be kidnapped by a deranged stranger and meet a steaming hot veterinarian. Beloved neighborhood cats are missing—the community can only guess at their fate—and Aunt Margaret’s life is being threatened. Is it because she has a clue to the missing cats or is it something more sinister?

If you like light mysteries with only a little terror, if you’re infatuated by interesting cats and if you love a love story, you must read this book.

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Cat-Eye Witness

A Klepto Cat Mystery #2

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My Review

This is the second book in the Catnapped Mysteries. Just want to warn you as it may contain spoilers.

Savannah never left Hammond. She helped in the rescue of the missing cats, along with some abused horses from the catnappers, and fell hard for Michael, the local vet and now her fiance, helping him in his practice.

When Savannah and her Aunt Margaret host a fundraiser for the recovered cats and horses at their home, the money goes missing and someone is killed.  Klepto cat, Rags, witnesses the theft and murder, but he ain’t talking, and Savannah’s best friend Iris comes under suspicion.

As the mystery unravels, you’ll bump into some favorite characters, add new ones to your list, including one that has an impact on Michael and Savannah, and read about more new romances in the works.

I really enjoyed that Savannah and Michael shared a love of horses. I’ve always adored the handsome animals and used to rush home to go riding as often as I could. It was very emotional to read how the two vets struggled to nurture a pregnant mare. One of the rescued horses. They tried to build up her strength for the delivery to come, but it started earlier than they’d like and mare and foal were both in danger.

I mustn’t forget to mention the furry companions. The cast of cats continue to grow, in all shapes, sizes, and personalities, and Rags has a big role in the mystery. He has an uncanny knack for finding clues, that even Detective  Sledge might have missed.

A perplexing cozy mystery. Multiple love stories. Loveable characters, human and furred.  There’s so much fun in these pages and I’m happy to recommend this series!

4 Stars

Synopsis

Savannah and Aunt Margaret open the old Forster home to the Hammond Cat Alliance for a fundraiser to help rehabilitate the abused horses rescued months earlier from the catnappers. Before the afternoon is over, the collected funds go missing and someone is murdered in an upstairs bedroom.
Suspicion surrounds Iris, a local waitress and Savannah’s new best friend. The only witness to the murder is Rags, Savannah’s cat. With the assistance of a cat psychic and Rags’s good friend, Charlotte (the young girl with Downs), the cat helps to “paw” the killer…but not before an attempt is made on Rags’s life. The case is solved only after Rags comes face-to-face with the killer for the second time.
Detective Craig Sledge is new to this book, as is Damon, Iris’s errant son. Sledge finds this to be one of the muddiest cases he has ever worked, with inconsistent clues and no apparent motive. He’s constantly surprised, perplexed and impressed by the cat’s uncanny ability to come up with clues he has missed. His fascination with the attractive Iris Clampton also mystifies the detective.
In this story, one of the rescued horses goes into labor and there’s a night of high drama at the ole corral as veterinarians Savannah and Michael work to save the foal. This experience renews Savannah’s deep interest in horses and riding, which ultimately serves to help her bond with a very important surprise character who finds his way into her life and Michael’s just as they prepare to say their wedding vows.

While Rags is the animal star, he isn’t the only animal featured in this story. Layla is back in all of her tangerine beauty. And Rags makes friends with Buffy, a perky almost Himalayan and the inseparable duo, Walter, an all black cat and his sidekick, Lexie, a charming afghan mix. Savannah’s new ride, Peaches, also debuts in this story. An incident with this mare adds another dimension to Savannah’s and Michael’s relationship. Can he hold her with open arms?

Some say this is a love story with a mystery in the background. And it’s a story of family and friendship as newlyweds Margaret and Max continue to be a meaningful part of Savannah’s and Michael’s world.

~~~

The Colony Cat Caper

 A Klepto Cat Mystery #5

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My Review

*** Spoiler Alert***

This is the fifth book in the Catnapped Mysteries so spoilers will be hard to avoid.

This mystery starts out with a bang. Margaret and her friend Colbi are trussed up in an old building with little hope of rescue.

From there, the author takes you back to what leads up to this scene.

Savannah, now happily married with a baby on the way, is one maternity leave. She joins up with her Aunt Maragaret and reporter Colbi Stanton to help a cat colony at an old abandoned building.

There’s a mystery surrounding the building. Some believe it’s haunted by something supernatural.

As with her other books, Patricia Fry gives you several mysteries to solve and Savannah’s klepto cat, Rags, really ups the ante with his exciting discovery.

What did Rags unearth? Who or what lurks in the building? Are the cats safe? This and more will be revealed as you dive in and mingle with a diverse cast of characters, good and bad, human and furred.

I’ve read the first two books in this series, so I felt comfortable in skipping to this fifth book. While I had no trouble following the story and catching up on early events, I’ll be picking up the third and fourth book so I can experience them first hand. This series is that fun!

4 Stars

Synopsis

Savannah Ivey, a veterinarian out on maternity leave; her aunt Margaret, the founder of the Hammond Cat Alliance; and Colbi Stanton, a reporter for the local newspaper take on a cat colony at an old, abandoned building. Odd activity around the place makes them wonder if it actually is vacant; some believe it’s occupied by something other-worldly. When a stranger comes to town and suggests the Alliance open the old building to a fund-raiser, everyone gets involved, including Rags, Savannah’s kleptomaniac cat. He finds something that day that stirs a lot of people—both law-abiding and crooks—into action. Are the feral cats and their caretakers in serious danger? What (or who) lurks inside the old building? What secrets does it hide? And who has the key that unlocks the mystery?

~~~

Other Books in this series.

20640750  21801584

You can find all of Patricia’s books here:

Amazon ~ Goodreads

~~~~

Patricia Fry, author, book editor, consultant:
http://www.patriciafry.com/
Books by Patricia Fry:
http://www.matilijapress.com/

Author of novel series: Klepto Cat Mysteries
Available now: “Catnapped,” “Cat-Eye Witness,”
“Sleight of Paw,” “Undercover Cat” and NEW “The Colony Cat Caper” at Amazon.com

Blogs: http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog
http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades

Author Denise R. Stephenson shares with us what drove her to write Isolation

Posted: July 22, 2014 in Blog Tour, Dystopian, giveaways, Guest Post, Science Fiction, thriller
Tags: , , , ,
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Yesterday I shared my thoughts about Isolation by Denise R. Stephenson.

Today, I’m thrilled to turn over my blog to the author for a guest post.

Be sure to check out the rest of the post for more about the book and how to enter the giveaways. There’s two.

So Denise, tell us.

What drove you to write this book?

 

I was driven to write this book by a little boy who found a pornographic image in his mother’s garage. Before that all I had were ideas from contemporary events suggesting I had something to write. The germs of my novel Isolation came from the fear of a swine flu epidemic in the fall of 2009, the CDC changing our behavior by teaching us to sleeve the sneeze, and my concerns about the overuse of 99% bacterial killing soaps and sanitizers. But it was hearing this line in my head: “and laying a finger aside of his nose” that told me I had something worth pursuing. In that line, I suddenly imagined a world in which face-touching had been outlawed—an outrageous idea, one worthy of a dystopia.

 

The gift of a sabbatical in the Spring of 2012 gave me the time to create this particular world torn apart, not by a virus, but by a variety of bacteria no longer within medical control. I did a great deal of research, some over the two years of gestation and lots during the first month of the actual writing. I probably spent at least a couple of hours every day researching food-borne bacterial contaminants, produce recalls, genetically modified foods, and the practices of agri-business. I watched many documentaries and a few fictional movies like Contagion. I also read many, many dystopias, discovering intuitively how to build a world falling apart.

 

I consider myself an organic writer, meaning I don’t outline, but rather, allow a story to grow organically from the seed of an idea or the voice of a character. Typically I have no idea where a story is going and find ways to push myself to just keep writing until plot develops, usually through characters’ interactions more than through exterior devices like chase scenes or explosions.

 

My characters reveal their lives to me. Sometimes they do so in excruciating detail that I have to sift through, discovering which aspects are important to a particular story. Other times characters show me only a swipe of the canvas and I need to imagine what fills the rest of it. Either way, I don’t plan or outline. I find myself sitting in a coffee shop, walking along a beach, or reading for pleasure and suddenly needing to take notes or capture a line of dialog. Once I have an opening, I’m at the computer drawing the characters actions in words, making sure to capture the emotional tone of the details.

 

In the case of Isolation, though Gary was a tweener who found The Night Before Christmas children’s book in his mother’s old belongings and recognized that Santa Claus touching his own nose was an illicit image, it was taking Gary into adulthood which became a driving force that kept me working toward a novel. Isolation is epic in scope, spanning three generations. Figuring out that I could use Gary both in his adolescent years and then as an adult really helped me develop that timeline.

 

In the end, Gary was only one of a cast of six characters who form the central story of the novel. He was the first I imagined, but not the first I wrote. In fact, the first character I developed ended up being cut from the novel altogether. And in the end, Gary’s was one of the story-lines that took the longest for me to close. I think I wanted something for Gary that a dystopia couldn’t give him, so it took me awhile to be willing to end his story as it had to end.

 

No spoilers, so I’ll stop there. The drive to write Isolation was a combination of world events and a line from a children’s book which brought with it a concept I’d never imagined and wouldn’t want to live with—a world without touch.

 

Thanks so much Denise. I just wanted to add that the ending was special. I’m glad you stayed with it.

~~~~

isolation cover

Publisher: Mill City Press (April 15, 2014)
Category: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic, Political Thriller, Medical Thriller
ISBN: 13: 978-1-62652-760-7
Tour Dates: June 15-July 30, 2014
Available in: Print and ebook, 383 Pages

Isolation depicts a bleak but recognizable future in which the fear of contagion reaches a fever pitch as a bacterial epidemic catapults the US into an apocalyptic crisis.

Touch is outlawed. Mothers like Maggie bind their infants’ hands, terrified they might slip fingers into mouths. Gary, a Sterilizer, uses robots to scour the infected, avoiding all contact with human flesh. Trevor, the Chief Enforcer, watches, eager to report any and all infractions.

One inadvertent touch will change all of their lives.

For those of you who missed my post yesterday, click HERE to read my review and enter the giveaways.

~~~~~

About Denise R. Stephenson:

DENISE R. STEPHENSON resides in Oceanside, CA, but she has lived in all the isolated locales of this novel at one time or another. Her publishing history is primarily academic, though as a member of Attention Deficit Drama, she has written and produced monologs and short plays. This is her first novel.

Website: http://denisestephenson.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeniseStephensonIsolation
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookArts_Denise

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Buy Isolation:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository

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I have two giveaways!

You can enter both!

The first one is for an eBook copy of Isolation (Open Internationally)

Now for the second giveaway!

5 Print copies of Isolation

Go HERE to enter.

~~~~

Follow the Tour:

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus June 16 Excerpt & Giveaway
Library Educated June 17 Review
Creating Serenity June 18 Review
Room With Books June 18 Interview & Giveaway
Reviews From The Heart June 19 Review & Giveaway
Paranormal Romance & Authors June 24 Review
Always a Book Lover June 25 Guest Post
Lightning Chronicles June 27 Review
Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author July 1 Interview
Deal Sharing Aunt July 2 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt July 3 Interview & Giveaway
Books & Quilts July 9 Review
Mary’s Cup of Tea July 10 Review & Giveaway
Manic Mama of 2 July 10 Review
TreeHouseJuly 12 Giveaway
Book Talk With Alana July 14 Review
Book Talk With Alana July 14 Interview
Nerdophiles July 15 Review
Nerdophiles July 16 Interview & Giveaway
She Treads Softly July 17 Review
Kritters Ramblings July 18 Review
fuonlyknew July 21 Review, Guest Post, & Giveaway
Open Book Society July 23 Review & Giveaway
Cassandra M’s Place July 24 Review & Giveaway
Giveaways and Glitter July 25 Review
Two Children & a Migraine July 28 Review, Guest Post & Giveaway
JeanzBookReadNReview July 30 Interview & Giveaway
Heart of a Philanthropist July 31 Review, Interview & Giveaway

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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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