Archive for September, 2014

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Welcome to my Monday Minis Reviews.

For today I bring you:

Jezebel

by Gordon A. Kessler

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My Review
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He figured he’d die of old age. Not with his throat in the mouth of his beloved Jezebel, his beautiful coal-black Great Dane.
Jezebel lover her master. Until she didn’t. And now she’s loose in the streets, in the dark.
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Something is wrong with the dogs. They are turning on their masters, ripping and tearing, no trace of man’s best friend left in them.
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We think we’ve tamed the long ago wolf that crawled out of the dark to share man’s fire. But it’s still in there, and now it’s at the fore. The sweet dog you cuddle with could rip off your face.
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What could be the cause?
It’s up to Animal Control Officer Tony Parker to get to the bottom of it as more people are savaged and more die.
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As a dog lover, I was worried about this story. I knew that the dogs would have to be stopped, that some would have to be destroyed, and that’s a bitter pill to swallow. But the author knew what he was doing. He put you right in the character’s shoes as they fought to survive. There could be no tender feelings, only kill or be killed.
And the animal control officer, Parker, was still humane, he still didn’t want to kill any dogs he didn’t have to.
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The cause of all this was very interesting. You won’t be able to guess until the author gives you enough clues. It’s really quite creative and adds it own terror to the tale.
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Imagine it. Every other house has at least one dog. We feed them, love them, trust them. What if they turned? What if that pet became a killing machine? And what if they travelled in packs? No one would be safe.
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This book puts you there. There’s no mercy from the dogs. They will not stop. Many die. Add in a few sub plots and it gets disturbing on many levels. A tough story, written so you can handle it.
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5 STARS
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I love my horror and this book had plenty of it. But. I still I prefer my dogs thus:
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Synopsis
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Sleep lightly tonight…A madman has come to town seeking a diabolical revenge and large dogs begin attacking their masters for no apparent reason and with heinous results. Animal Control Director Tony Parker must find out why and stop the murderous attacks. Meanwhile, Jezebel, a huge black Great Dane has killed her master and is loose, terrorizing the city and stalking Parker and his family. Parker and Sarah Hill, his beautiful and seductive young assistant, attempt to unravel the mystery and stop the terrible carnage while dealing with their own demons and lusty desires. The attacks must be stopped. Jezebel must be found-and soon, you see–there is one other complication. Parker seems to have come down with an annoying little virus. No, it’s not one of those irritating summer colds. It’s certain death. She’s a murderess, huge and black as a hell-bound night. Beware. Jezebel is on the loose!
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Author Gordon A. Kessler

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Gordon Kessler is a thriller novelist living in the Kansas City metro area with his golden retriever, Jazmin (Jazzy Brass). He’s taught novel writing for several community colleges, worked over twenty years for the BNSF Railway, and is a former US Marine Recon Scout, Super Squad team leader, parachutist and troop handler. He enjoys SCUBA, sailing, snow skiing and sharing time with his kids and grandkids.

His thriller novels Jezebel, Dead Reckoning, and Brainstorm are all in both paper and eBook. His latest men’s action/adventure thriller series, “The E Z Knight Reports,” include the novels Knight’s Big Easy, Knight’s Late Train and Knight’s Ransom. Four or five more in the series are scheduled for release yet this year. These novels are about half the size of his big thrillers and are fast, fun reads.

Gordon’s also published two short story eBooks: a humorous piece called “Toothpick for Two” and a nostalgic romance called “Jack Baron”. Please check them out.

As a consultant and editor on numerous book and eBook projects over the past twenty years, Gordon has published three books for writers. Novel Writing Made Simple is a great primer for beginners and an excellent refresher for the experienced wordsmith. EBook Writing Made Simple focuses on the actual writing of eBook novels and how they can be crafted more effectively for the eBook novel reader rather than as a work written for the traditional publishing industry. How to Write a Novel–Storytelling, the Writer and the EBook Novel is his latest work, published especially with the beginning eBook novelist in mind.

Gordon is a founder and past president of the Kansas Writers Association, a seventeen-year-old organization of some very special people, and a current member of the Kansas Authors Club as well as a past president of their District Two. Last year, he started a group to help support independent authors called the Indie Writers Alliance–another group of great people.

Go HERE for more about Gordon and his books.

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Shinigami Eyes

Shinigami Eyes #1

by Cheree & Adam Smith

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Cover Design by Silvia Paoletta

Coming October 31st, 2014.

Just in time for Halloween!

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Synopsis

Most children hope to grow out of their imaginary friends.

17-year-old Rin Waters’ only hope is that hers doesn’t kill someone, especially when said imaginary friend puts a boy in a coma. Finding herself shipped half-way around the world—to Japan, of all places—she is forced to live with grandparents she hasn’t seen for ten years and a cousin she can’t even remember.

Rin would rather just forget about the one night that ruined her life and pretend her imaginary friend doesn’t exist—if it was only that easy. When manga-obsessed otaku, Matt, won’t stop pestering her about a manga that sees the future and the tragic accident she’ll be involved in if she doesn’t listen to him, pretending becomes quite a challenge.

Suddenly mysterious accidents begin to happen to students in her school, and Rin has to wonder what length Matt is willing to go to prove his manga is real. Is it all a sham or is there really something that wants to see Rin and her new friends dead?

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Author Cheree Smith

Cheree Smith

Cheree Smith lives in a country town in Australia as a high school English teacher where she writes paranormal, horror and dark stories for young adults. She enjoys listening to and learning about legends and myths, watching scary movies and dreaming up new worlds where monsters can come alive. When she is not in her writing cave she can be found listening to music, even dabbling in the occasional writing of music or reading.

Website ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

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Author Adam Smith

Adam Smith

Adam Smith has always loved the Japanese culture, which began with his love of anime and manga. This helped him accomplish his goal of moving to japan to become an ALT (assistant language teacher) in I wate, Japan. When he’s not reading, writing or speaking Japanese, he is working on paranormal, horror and dark stories for young adults with his sister, Cheree.

Goodreads

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Host List

Shinigami Eyes Hosts’ list:

Darkest Sins | E.M. Havens | Emma’s Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction
Fuonlyknew | Happy Tails and Tales | Justified Lunacy | Lusty Penguin Reviews
Mean Who You Are
| Mind Reader | Proserpine Craving Books | The Avid Reader
(un)Conventional Bookviews | Vaempires

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So, about the cover art… what do you think? Do you like it? Does it scare you?

And the synopsis… did you ever have an imaginary friend?

October is just around the corner and this would be a great Halloween read.

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This is my own version of a weekly book haul and all things new on fuonlyknew.

I got a few new books this week, some free, some I won, some for review, and some because I just had to have them.

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Books For Review

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I recently read and reviewed Bones: The Complete Apocalypse Saga by Mark Wheaton and LOVED it. The author was so cool. He sent me a signed print copy of his Bones Omnibus!

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It is a huge book and has several more fun adventures with my favorite police dog Bones! I can’t wait to get reading and want to thank Mark for the beautiful book!

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Books I won

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I won both Tortured Souls and the Pandora Boxed Set from Sherry on her blog fundinmental.

Thanks so much to the authors and thanks Sherry!

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And I won the Signed Copy of Dependent.

Thanks so much to the Publicity Team at Jolly Fish Press

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These I picked up just for me!

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And here are some freebies for ya. Just click on the covers to get yours.

And remember to check the price before you click that buy button.

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And a few more.

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I didn’t do any reviews this week. I took a little break. But I did read a bunch of books and have several reviews coming next week. Here are a few that I’ll be reviewing.

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Other posts this week.

Cover Reveal for The White Devil of Dublin ~ An O’Clery Mystery by P.M. Terrell

It’s Release Day for Silent Partner by Stan Schatt

Teaser Tuesdays #80 ~ Unbroken Ties by M Latimer-Ridley

I call it life literature ~ Jubilee’s Journey by Bette Lee Crosby ~ Book Blast and Giveaway

A killer in a small town ~ Vision by Lisa Amowitz ~ Blitz Giveaway

Henge: The Le Fay Series by Realm Lovejoy ~ Cover Reveal and Giveaway

Moth ~ A Max Hollingsworth Paranormal Mystery ~ Book Tour and Giveaway

I ain’t scared a no ghost! ~ Phobic by Cortney Pearson ~ Book Blitz and Two Giveaways

Cover Reveal ~ The Soul Thief by Majanka Verstraete ~ Releasing in November

Friday Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Where the Staircase Ends by Stacy Stokes

The Friday 56 #36 ~ A Crafty Christmas by Mollie Cox Bryan

Enter the September Kindle Fire Giveaway

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For all of my 2014 reviews go HERE

For a list of free books go HERE

For all of my giveaways go HERE

September $229 Giveaway

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It’s time for September’s $229 Kindle Giveaway Hosted by I Am A Reader.

We are giving away 2 great prizes both valued at $229.

Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash!

The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below.

The 2nd is available only to those share this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.

Win a Kindle Fire HDX 7″, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7″ Kindle Fire HDX (US Only – $229 Value)

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

Each of these bloggers/authors paid to help sponsor this giveaway.

Sponsor List

I Am A Reader
Feed Your Reader
A & E Kirk, Author
Inspired Kathy
Lori’s Reading Corner
Talia Jager, Author
Mother Daughter Book Reviews
Krysten Lindsay Hager
Every Free Chance Books
Romance Under Fire
I Love to Read and Review Books :)
Christine’s Blog
Elizabeth Isaacs
Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Pauline Creeden, Author
Author – Cindy A Christiansen
Mama Monkey Craftology
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My Devotional Thoughts
Author Suzy Turner
Jenn @ Bookreviewsandgiveaways
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Danielle @ Coffee and Characters
Author D.E. Haggerty
C Family of 6
Bella Street Weird Romance
Bonnie Blythe’s Pure Romance
Sid Frost
YA Author Fabio Bueno
Read for your future
Jennifer Laurens Author
Laurie Here – Contemporary Fiction and MORE
Reviews from a Bookworm
Helen Smith (author)
Author Deb Atwood
Author Claudia Burgoa
Start Publishing
Elizabeth Isaacs
True North Publishing
Whiskey Creek Press
Deanna Lynn Sletten, Author
Luthando Coeur
Bette Lee Crosby
Against Idleness & Mischief (BOOKTUBE)
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Victoria Allred


Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Giveaway here:

http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups

Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7″ HDX (US Only – $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle button

Ends 9/30/14

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 and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. 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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Welcome to 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 a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

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“I saw an e-mail from Paige. What the hell is going on with that cruise? Someone was killed? We need to get them off that ship!”

“Calm down, DeeAnn,” Annie said. She pictured DeeAnn’s face red with worry.

“They are on a ship with a killer,” Dee Ann said. “And guess what? I just saw a weather report that one of those freaky storms is heading for the Mexican coast. Right where they are supposed to be in two days.”

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I admit it. I’m a cozy mystery addict. The quirky titles and colorful cover art are irresistable for me.

I received a print copy of this ARC for my review which you can read on October 14th.

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A Crafty Christmas

A Cumberland Creek Mystery

by Mollie Cox Bryan 

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Synopsis

Christmas is just around the corner, and the ladies of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Crop are thrilled when Sheila wins the first place prize in a scrapbooking design contest: a ten-day scrapbook-themed cruise in the Caribbean. Vera and Paige decide to tag along, which should pose the perfect opportunity to learn some new techniques, mingle with fellow croppers, and get in some rest and relaxation before the chaos of Christmas. But when Sheila finds a famous crafter dead, and investigators determine she was poisoned, the luxury cruise veers toward disaster as Sheila becomes the number one suspect–or was she really the intended victim? Just as the croppers begin un-wrapping the truth, a storm strands them at sea, and they’ll find it’s harder than ever to survive the holidays with a killer on deck. . .

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56!

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Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Where the Staircase Ends by Stacy Stokes

Doesn’t that title just grab you?

After I spotted it I became curious what the cover would look like.

I can’t wait for you to see it.

It’s spectacular.

You’ll love it!

I’ll shut up and let you see it. LOL

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

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Where the Staircase Ends

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After her best friend orchestrates the lie that destroys her reputation, Taylor wants more than anything to disappear from her life. But when an accident turns this unspoken wish into reality, instead of an angel-filled afterlife, Taylor must climb a seemingly endless staircase into the sky.

Instead of going up, the journey plunges her into the past. As she unravels the mystery behind her friend’s betrayal, she must face the truth about life and find the strength to forgive the unforgivable — unless the staircase breaks her first.

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add to goodreads
Title: Where the Staircase Ends
Publication date: April 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Stacy Stokes

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

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Stacy Stokes attended the University of Texas at Austin and The Wharton School of Business. She grew up in Dallas, TX, and currently lives in San Francisco with her husband. WHERE THE STAIRCASE ENDS is her first novel.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway

An eBook copy of Where the Staircase Ends.

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

Raffle button

(Winners will receive their book on release day)

 

Button

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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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I love doing cover reveals. It’s fun to share the spectacular artwork and I enjoy seeing how the cover ties into the story.

The Soul Keeper is glamorous and ethereal.

It looks like she’s standing in the clouds at Heaven’s Gate.

Is she the angel of death or a savior?

What do you think?

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The Soul Thief by Majanka Verstraete

Expected Release: November 11, 2014

Publisher: Booktrope

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

When Riley is injured in a car crash and sees a girl stealing a boy’s soul, she’s convinced she’s hallucinating. But when she sees the same girl at the hospital later, she knows she wasn’t dreaming. That’s when Riley learns her secret heritage and who she really is: a halfling Angel of Death.

Riley must come to terms with her new reality and supernatural abilities, but before she can do this, girls her age start dying in mysterious circumstances. It’s up to Riley to figure out why, what the innocent victims have in common, and what she can do to stop them.

Add to Goodreads

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The Soul Thief - full cover

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About the Author

majanka

Majanka Verstraete begged her Mom to teach her how to read while she was still in kindergarten. By the time she finished fifth grade, she had read through the entire children’s section of her hometown library. She wrote her first story when she was seven years old, and hasn’t stopped writing since. With an imagination that never sleeps, and hundreds of possible book characters screaming for her attention, writing is more than a passion for her. She writes about all things supernatural for children of all ages. She’s tried to write contemporary novels before, but something paranormal always manages to crawl in. Majanka is currently studying for her Master of Laws degree, and hopes one day to be able to combine her passions for law and writing. When she’s not writing, reading or studying, she likes watching “The Vampire Diaries” and “Game of Thrones,” spending time with her friends, or playing “World of Warcraft.” http://majankaverstraete.com

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So, what caught your eye?

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Aside from the creepy cover art, which I love, the idea of a haunted house just grabbed me.

This is going to be a chilling read and I can’t wait!

Check out Phobic.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaways. Ye[, there’s two!

Phobic
 by Cortney Pearson
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Phobic
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(The Forbidden Doors #1)
Publication date: September 8th 2014
Genres: Horror, Young Adult
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Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Piper Crenshaw knows her house is strange. It’s never needed repairs since it was built in the 1800s, and the lights flicker in response to things she says. As if those things aren’t creepy enough, it’s also the place where her mother committed murder.

To prove she’s not afraid of where she lives, Piper opens a forbidden door, which hides a staircase that leads to the ceiling. That’s when the flashbacks of the original residents from 1875 start, including a love affair between two young servants. Each vision pulls Piper deeper into not only their story, but also her house. Piper confides in her best friend, Todd, whom she’s gradually falling for, but even he doesn’t believe her. At least, not until her house gets axed during a prank, and the act injures Piper instead, cutting a gash the size of Texas into her stomach.

Piper realizes her house isn’t haunted—it’s alive. To sever her link to it, she must unravel the clues in the flashbacks and uncover the truth about her mother’s crime, before she becomes part of her house for good.

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Purchase: Amazon ~ B&N
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Author Cortney Pearson
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phobic Cortney
Cortney Pearson is a book nerd who studied literature at BYU-Idaho, a music nerd who plays clarinet in her local community orchestra, and a writing nerd who creates stories for young adults. She lives with her husband and three sons in a small Idaho farm town.Author links:

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I have two giveaways!

The first giveaway is for an eBook copy of Phobic.

Open Internationally

Ends September 16th

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question:

“Have you ever had a ghostly encounter?”

The second giveaway is for a $15 Amazon Gift Card

Open Internationally

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle button

Ends September 16th.

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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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Moth Book Tour & Giveaway

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When I spotted the cover art for Moth, I was intrigued. When I read the blurb, I was hooked. And I’m always looking for a new paranormal mystery.

I’ve got lots to share with you, so let’s get to it.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for some awesome prizes!

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 Moth

Social worker Max Hollingsworth is no stranger to monsters. Supernatural or human, he’s faced all kinds. But when he’s called upon to investigate a missing child, he may have met his match.

Children are vanishing, not just from the streets, but from their parents’ memories. Max’s investigation leads him to a gang of neo-Nazi vampires running a child slavery ring. There, he comes face to face with the deadliest enemy he’s ever met, their charismatic and powerful leader Boone.

Running low on hope and options to find the missing children, Max turns to his friends for help. But even they aren’t enough. Forced to face the darkness of his own past, Max forges an alliance with the least likely ally of all. An enemy whose cruelty was almost his end, and haunts him still.

Rated 18+ for language, violence and sexual content.

You can buy Moth at these retailers:

Amazon     |     Barnes & Noble     |     Kobo

 

tourabouttheauthora

Sean T. Poindexter

Sean P Author picThough born in Mesa, Arizona, Sean has spent most of his life in Missouri. After college, Sean went into social and investigative work, primarily with disabled adults and seniors. Sean’s background in sociology, criminology, and philosophy and his experience as an investigator for the State of Missouri, are heavy influences in his writing.

While Sean has been writing most of his life, he did not consider doing so professionally until he was inspired by a terrible vampire movie. During the film, Sean amused himself by imagining the vampires being attacked by a dragon. His imagination resulted in his series, The Dragon’s Blood Chronicles, featuring dragons and vampires.

Sean enjoys watching and reading science fiction, fantasy, horror, and thrillers. His hobbies include playing Xbox, fantasy role playing games and collecting firearms.

 

Moth is Book 1 of The Max Hollingsworth Paranormal Mysteries. Sean’s other books include The Shadow of Tiamet and The Will of the Darkest One, both from The Dragon’s Blood Chronicles.

 You can find Sean at these links:

Website     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Goodreads

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I’ve got Chapter One to share with you.

“Don’t you usually come in pairs?”

Officer Unruh smiled and nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Max grinned. “You just get out?”

“Yes, sir. US Marines.”

“Ah…yeah, I recognize the haircut.” It wasn’t just that. Max stood a foot over him at six feet, but the patrolman made up for it with broad arms and a big chest. He didn’t look like he needed a partner. And then there was this “sir” business…

“Have you been doing this long?”

“I’ve been with the Joplin PD for five months. And you?”

Max drummed his fingers on the bag hanging from his shoulder. “I’ve been a social worker long enough to know which house on this street we’re going to, even without looking at the numbers.” It was the one without siding, just bare insulation boards nailed to the outer wall.

“Yes, sir.”

Max didn’t resent Unruh’s presence; he just didn’t think it was necessary. He’d taken cops with him lots of times, and on a few of those instances, it turned out he’d needed them. But Brian insisted the workers take cops with them anytime an allegation of drugs was involved in a hotline. It irritated him for a number of reasons, not the least of which happened to be that Brian’s job used to be his.

That was another story…

The lawn was overgrown and the wooden porch sagged, but they arrived at the door without incident. Max knew the drill. The burly young policeman stepped to the side of the locked screen door and knocked. A few seconds later, an interior door opened and a man’s face appeared behind the filthy fly screen. Max had been expecting a woman.

“Is Donna here?” The man looked at Max with bulging, bloodshot eyes that darted back to the cop as though expecting a friendlier face. Whatever look Unruh gave, it wasn’t what he’d hoped. He returned to Max, who repeated the question.

“She’s not here.”

It was eight thirty in the morning, so if she worked she might have been there. Max didn’t have employer information for the mother. Also, he kind of doubted she had a job.

Unruh rattled the latch a bit, but it didn’t budge. “Sir, could you unlock the door please?”

“What’s this about?”

Max stepped to the screen and held up his plastic ID badge. It said Max Hollingsworth in big letters under a rather unflattering picture of him. The bulging-eyed man looked at the ID then back up at Max. He looked surprised. He shouldn’t have been.

“Sir,” repeated Unruh, “Could you unlock the door please?”

He looked back to Unruh and nodded. After a click, the door swung open. Max and the patrolman entered the home.

The look on Unruh’s face implied disgust. Max grinned, he really hadn’t been doing this long. The home was a mess, but Max had seen worse—far worse. In a very short time, so would Unruh. Places like this would become normal for him. Max remembered when this kind of mess would have bothered him, too.

The term “shithole” was tossed around so much, but it wasn’t that bad. The awkwardly rectangular living room smelled like dog and had a few plastic microwave food boats piled on an old coffee table. Despite the smell, there was no dog in sight. The most expensive piece of furniture in the room, probably the house, was a flat screen television. It was paused on an image of a video console football game. The wireless controller rested on a ratty couch covered by a slightly less ratty blanket.

“Donna’s sleeping—”

“You said Donna wasn’t here.” Max glanced over his shoulder. The man wore dirty grey boxer shorts and a plaid robe. He’d forgone the courtesy of a shirt, so his guests were treated to ribs poking through the mole-speckled, pasty skin of a man who rarely left the house.

“Yeah,” he replied with a dirty chuckle. “I saw the cop and said that.” He looked at Unruh like he thought the cop would be amused. The cop was not, so he looked away.

Max produced a small notebook and pen from the bag hanging at his side. “Who are you?”

“I’m Jim…I live with Donna.”

“You sleep on the couch?” He gestured to it. Jim shook his head.

“Only in the day.”

Must be nice, Max thought, sleeping in the day. “You work nights, then?” Max had perfected the art of over-tact, being a complete dick without getting punched. The people he dealt with didn’t tend to get subtlety. Unruh’s grin showed he got it—the cops usually did. They both knew the answer already.

“Naw, I’m what you’d call unemployed.”

He thought about asking him to elaborate: What exactly do you mean by, unemployed, sir? But that might be overdoing it. White trash will only tolerate so much subtle condescension.

“Would you call Donna unemployed?” Max asked, after collecting pedigree information; Jim’s last name, date of birth, social security number. Max was always surprised when people gave all that to him, especially the social security number.

“No, she works at Macey’s.” That was not to be confused with Macy’s, the retail giant. Macey’s was a chain of convenience stores/gas stations. Joplin had ninety of them or something.

“Is Madolla in her room?”

“No, she sleeps downstairs.”

Max crooked an eye. “Donna or Madolla?”

“Madolla. She’s around the corner, in the kitchen.”

Max stopped writing. “The baby sleeps in the kitchen?” He looked at the entrance to the dining room. Presumably the kitchen was beyond that, behind the stairs.

“The baby keeps us up if she’s in the room.”

“Yeah, they’ll do that.”

Max walked around the corner. The stairs were wooden and covered with peeling brown paint. A few of them were cracked. They ended in a carpeted second floor. The dining room lacked a table, and the kitchen beyond was full of dirty dishes and flies. A few feet from a neglected refrigerator sat a playpen, apparently doing double-duty as a baby bed.

“Let me get Donna’s ass out of bed…”

Unruh stepped in from of Jim as he tried to leave.

“Not just yet.” Max approached the pen. Jim followed, but Unruh stopped him at the dining room entrance.

“I think Donna should be here, I can’t just let anyone see her kid you know—”

“I’m not ‘just anyone’…I work for the State.”

“She’s sleeping.” He seemed to be gauging his chances of darting past Unruh without being tackled…or perhaps his odds of survival if it occurred. He chose the prudent path. “If you wake her up, Donna’ll be pissed. She cries a lot.”

“They’ll do that, too.”

“She was crying for like, hours last night.”

Aside from the slight dirty-diaper smell, Madolla and her pen were clean and well taken care of. The report said she was six months old, but she looked like a newborn. She was lying on her belly, still and peaceful. Max started to smile…

“She was bawling all night, until about four this morning.”

“When was the last time you or Donna checked her?” Max lowered his hand into the pen and pressed his fingers to her little scalp.

“Checked her?”

“To see why she was crying.”

“I turned up the TV and she cried herself out.”

“When?”

“When what?”

“When did she stop crying?”

Jim scratched his scalp through greasy brown hair. “Like three or something. It usually takes longer.”

Max withdrew his hand from the pen and wrote all that down. The tap of pen on paper competed evenly with the soft hum of the refrigerator condenser.

“Officer Unruh, can you call an ambulance please?”

Jim’s eyes widened. “Ambulance?”

Unruh didn’t ask any questions. The distraught look on his face showed he didn’t need to. Unruh stepped away from Jim to the living room and pressed the button on his shoulder communicator.

“Oh, shit… Should I wake Donna?” Jim stepped closer to Max so he didn’t interrupt the stream of ambulance-summoning cop jargon.

“That would be a good idea,” Max kept his voice as flat as possible, but under the circumstances his bile filter was a little taxed.

“Shit! What do I tell her? Is Madolla okay?”

Max turned his eyes to the pen.

“She’s dead.”

~~~~~

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Giveaway

This Giveaway is open Internationally, with this exception: The winner of the Signed Print copy of THE SHADOW OF TIAMAT  must live in the USA. 

You must be 18+ to enter. 

2 Winners will receive an eCopy of THE SHADOW OF TIAMAT  by Sean T. Poindexter

1 Winner will receive a Signed Print copy of  THE SHADOW OF TIAMAT (USA only)

1 Winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card

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cover_reveal_banner_HENGE

I’m thrilled to be a part of the cover reveal for Henge by Realm Lovejoy. Henge is a YA Fantasy that is a modern spin-off of the Arthurian legends featuring Morgan le Fay as the protagonist. It is due to release this fall. The cover art is by the author, Realm Lovejoy.

I love the graphic look to this cover and the colors are bold.

It looks fun.

What do you think? What catches your eye?

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About the book:

Modern-day Camelot. Where knights no longer carry swords. Magic is dangerous. And those who seek control are not to be trusted.

Sixteen-year-old Morgan le Fay is a fire user. An ordinary girl with an extraordinary skill, she has the ability to create and command fire at will. Her dream is to become the Maven—the right hand of the future King Arthur. In the chance of a lifetime, Morgan is selected to join Arthur’s Round, an elite group of young magic users from which the new Maven will be chosen.

Along with the other fire, water, and wind users in Arthur’s Round, Morgan is rigorously trained and tested. The handsome Merlin, a brilliant water user, takes a particular interest in her. Is his friendship to be trusted, or is Merlin simply trying to win the position of Maven for himself? Among the many rivals Morgan faces is the current Maven, Mordred, who seems determined to see her fail.

But Morgan has a secret—years ago, her mother was executed for using fire magic, and Morgan’s desire for justice makes her more than ready to take on the challenge before her. Can she prevail in Camelot’s tests of survival and magic? Only time—and Morgan’s powerful fire—will tell.

Realm Lovejoy’s modern Arthurian series features one of literature’s most complicated and powerful female figures. Henge is the first book in the LE FAY series, and—like Morgan le Fay’s magic—it is sure to dazzle and amaze.

 

Add it on Goodreads!

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About the Author:

Realm Lovejoy is an American writer and an artist. She grew up in both Washington State and the Japanese Alps of Nagano, Japan. Currently, she lives in Seattle and works as an artist in the video game industry. CLAN is her first book. You can find out more about her and her book at www.realmlovejoy.com

 

Find the Author:
Webpage | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

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$30 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

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