Archive for January, 2015

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Outsider Book Release and Goodies

This week marks the release of Outsider, the second book in Becca J. Campbell’s New Adult Paranormal series Flawed. To celebrate, Becca is hosting a giveaway and a book sale!

The Prize Pack

The giveaway at the end of this post is for a prize pack that includes: one autographed paperback of Outsider, one 12″ x 18″ poster of the cover art, and two square collector’s buttons (one of Empath and one of Outsider). Please note, this giveaway is open to those with an address in US or Canada.

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The Book Discount

The regular price of the Outsider eBook is $3.99, but for the first week, you can purchase a copy for only $2.99 (ends January 12th). On Jan. 13th, the price increases to $3.99, so make sure to get your copy now! Here are the purchase links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

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My Review

I really enjoyed, Empath, the first book in this series, and Pulled, the shorter story about a side character, so I knew I’d enjoy Outsider.

Josh feels like an outsider. His friends and sibling have special abilities, but so far, he has none.

Hiding behind his shyness and low self-confidence, he just knows he’s meant to be special, but nothing has changed. Now out of college, he waits, hoping his ability will appear, hoping to be special like all the others.

Things do change when Alex moves in with his sister. He really likes her. Figures she has a special ability too. Now he really feels left out.

What does the future have in store for Josh? Will he ever gain a special ability? Will he ever get the girl? Will he ever be special?

I felt for Josh. I could see where his low self-esteem came from. It seems everyone around him has a special ability and he’s just plain old Josh. As the story develops and a very nasty villain sets his eye on Alex, he really came into his own.  The author let him grow, mature, become self-confident and brave, even without any abilities.

And Alex was a pleasure to meet. She had some spunk, but missed her friends back home. Moving away from home was never a question, but she was unsure if she’d fit in with this new place and new friends.

There was a sweet romance brewing too. Josh was crushing on Alex. Alex was crushing on Josh. Neither knew how the other felt. Neither felt confident enough to act on it. Made from some tender and funny moments.

And the villain is truly despicable. Ethan can hypnotize with his eyes. He uses it to con people out of their money and possessions, with them never remembering him. How low is that?

A botched attempt on Alex leaves him furious and bent on revenge. He’s planning something terrible and getting closer.

While you could read this before reading the first book, I’d recommend you read Empath first so you would be familiar with the plot and characters. There are some old ones and new ones in this story.

The ending was heart pounding and very satisfying, but it wasn’t the end. There were questions to be answered and a lead on where the story was going next. I felt there were dangerous times ahead for these characters and will be waiting to see what happens.

4 Stars

Was this review helpful?

If so, please consider liking it on Amazon HERE.

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About Outsider (Flawed #2)

After a psychopath tried to kill his friends, Josh Schuyler figured ‘normal’ was far off. The real problem: Josh’s friends have all acquired supernatural abilities, while he’s still the same average guy.

Josh has always believed he was destined for greatness, but he’s been out of college for two years without a clue of his purpose. After watching his friends and siblings develop superhuman traits, he wonders if he might be meant for something grand, too. Can Josh even hope for an extraordinary event in his own future? And how long must he wait for this transformation – if there is one?

When Alex met the Schuylers, she was grateful for new friends to whisk her away from her lonely life in California and give her an escape from her divorced, bickering parents and aimless future. But Josh won’t drop his defenses, and Alex isn’t sure she wants to trade her old life for this new, uncertain one.

Nicodemus has an amazing ability he’s been milking for years to get whatever or whomever he wants. Things are going great until a young woman – Alex – inadvertently busts his latest swindle. Nic is furious when he discovers his power has been disabled, and he vows to find her in order to wreak his vengeance. She will be punished. All he needs is a little help from his friend, Ethan Black.

Josh has been waiting for his big break, or for the chance to be a hero, or just the opportunity to stand out in his own, extraordinary way.

Will Josh discover his purpose in time to stop Nic?

More Flawed Books

Empath eBook cover SMEmpath (Flawed #1)

Supernatural empathy isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Anywhere she goes, Jade’s emotions are replaced by those of the people around her.

Jade grew up in a suburb of Colorado Springs, protected from other people by her parents. Now she faces college—and the world—with nothing to shield her from unwanted feelings.

When Cam, a classmate with a major crush on her, unintentionally hijacks her emotions, Jade struggles to keep from being carried away in feelings of attraction. When Ethan, a psychopath with a thirst for fear, fixates on her, the emotional impact could be lethal.

Caught in a deadly trap, Jade must untangle the emotions and find a way to use her empathic curse to overcome this killer or be overcome by him.

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My 5  Star Review

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Kobo | Inktera | Scribd

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Pulled (A Flawed Short Story)

Pulled_CVR_XSMLEight-year-old Juniper has been labeled many things—troubled kid, orphan, runaway—but none of her foster families have known what she really is: a girl with a unique and brutally inconvenient ability to teleport.

Her spontaneous jumps are not only beyond her control, they get her into trouble. When Juniper disappears, no one believes her wild stories, so she’s stopped trying to convince them.

One day when Juniper gets pulled away, finding her way back is harder than ever. Stranded on the side of a deserted highway, she must rely on her own instincts to determine who is a creepy stranger and who she can trust.

Resourcefulness may get her home, but is getting home enough when you don’t have parents that love you?

Juniper knows something most people don’t: there are others like her with unexplained abilities. Until now, she’s exercised stranger-danger caution, but maybe these people can offer what she needs.

Will Juniper find a family she can share her secrets with?

My 4 Star Review

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Kobo | Inktera | Scribd

About the Author

IMG_9817 a lowresBecca J. Campbell is the author of the Flawed series as well as Science Fiction novels Foreign Identity and Gateway to Reality, and Sub-Normal, a series of short stories.

An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality, Becca looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity. You can find her on her Author Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Amazon.

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Giveaway

Enter the Outsider prize pack giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter 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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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

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

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My Tease for this week is from

AWOL

A Character Lost

by Anthony Renfro

I just learned the author is having a giveaway on Goodreads! Go HERE to enter for a chance to win a print copy!

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My Tease from 1% in the eBook.

I know, not too far in, but I just loved this and it really does tease ya good.

“I don’t like the look of number 1.”

“You probably won’t like what’s behind most of the doors. I don’t write dramas or love stories.”

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Synopsis

Imagine that you are a character in a story.

You have a home.

You have a life.

You have it all.

Then suddenly you wake up alone and afraid in a cold, dark place. Somehow you find your courage and your voice. When you ask for help, words light up on a wall in the darkness. You read them and realize you are in the creative center of your author’s mind. Instead of rescuing you, the author asks you for help.

This book is about the journey of that character, as he moves from story to story desperately trying to find his home.

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I’ve read so many stories by Anthony and this is a longer one. The premise is so unique. I couldn’t wait to dig into it.

I’ll be reviewing this on January 10th. Can’t wait to share!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Besides my Goodreads Reading Challenge that I do each year, I’ve chosen two other ones to join.

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Hosted by Lori at Escape With Dollycas.

The Alphabet Soup Challenge means that by December 31, 2015
your bowls must be full of one book for each letter of the Alphabet.

Each Letter Counts As 1 Spoonful

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This is too fun to resist.

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And I had to join this Horror Reading Challenge.

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Hosted by Tracy at Cornerfolds.

As much horror as I read I’ll have no problem reaching Horror Hound status of 16+ horror books.

You can check out the rules and join these challenges by clicking on the images.

You can follow my progress or join by going HERE.

Wish Me Luck!

Guess what month it is.

It’s Zombie Month!

I’ve been hooked on zombie stories and movies for a long time.

I’ve even got a survival kit started just in case. I add to it when something handy crosses my path.

Don’t laugh. If it happens, I’ll be the one with the last laugh!

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Ready to have some fun.

I received a copy of A Zombie Holiday Trilogy from Anthony Renfro.

There are four stories, each taking place during the winter holidays.

I’ve reviewed them individually and now have pulled all of my reviews together for the complete trilogy.

Come on in and share the holidays with the zombies. They look forward to having you for, oops, over to dinner.

A Zombie Holiday Trilogy

Stuff the turkey, deck the halls, and ring in the New year in a Zombie Apocalypse

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A Zombie Thanksgiving

They say the holidays are no longer celebrated because of the zombie apocalypse.

Try telling that to Dawn. All she wants is to bring a little bit of normalcy into their lives. To remind them they are human, that they are still alive, that there is hope.

Guns and knife in hand, Dawn sets off to the grocery store to see if she can find a turkey. I know, this sounds nuts. But people get desperate for the old days, the easy days.

As Dawn stumbles over dead bodies and crashed, abandoned vehicles, she inevitably runs across some shufflers. She takes care of them coldly, efficiently. This is the new way of life.

Meanwhile, back at the safe place, George is handed a note by another survivor in their group. It appears Dawn has left to get food. Fool girl. Doesn’t she know there are zombies out there. What is so important she’d risk this by herself?

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but somehow the author had me feeling the warmth of Thanksgiving. Even As Dawn and George fought off the ravenous zombies that want them for dinner.

Dawn’s fierce determination has me adding her to my list of top female protagonists. She’s not going to stop until she finds that bird!

And George is just as determined. Determined to find Dawn and get her safely back where she belongs. All limbs attached. I liked how his initial frustration turned to alpha male, to lover, as he set out to find her.

I had my fingers and toes crossed for these two. The ending was not set in stone just because it’s Thanksgiving. Maybe the zombies got a nice dinner. Nobody told them they don’t celebrate the holiday.

A Zombie Christmas

He waited until the zombie messed with Rudolph to take him out. No one messed with his Christmas display. The loud crack of his gun brought more and he took care of them too. Then all was quiet again.

Relaxing in his living room, enjoying the lighted Christmas tree, the silence is shattered by the doorbell. Mike can’t believe his eyes. It’s four zombie carolers, singing songs. Or grunting them. Once he quits laughing he quickly dispatches them too. Their noise would bring others.

The loud knocking on his door is welcome. He’s been waiting for Jim and Fred. He needs them if his plan is to succeed.

The plan. Fight a way through the zombies to reach the mall. There, they will grab goodies for the kids in their neighborhood.  Everyone is struggling to make it through the apocalypse and the winter is brutal. A little something on Christmas morning for each child would bring smiles to their sweet faces. Would help them forget, for a time, what was happening outside.

Fred and Jim had taken some convincing, but when Mike explained his plan and they realized he’d do it alone if he had to, they were in one hundred percent.

As gruesome as this story got, it also cracked me up. Those zombie carolers were too funny. And the zombie shoppers, shuffling in and out of the mall with their packages, I could just imagine that scene, and laughed out loud. Nobody told the zombies they couldn’t have a Christmas.

I really liked Mike. He didn’t hesitate to take out the zombies yet kept his sense of humor. And by selecting the only other single men in the neighborhood, he didn’t risk leaving a family without a father and provider.

I think these three gents got as much joy as the children from their plan. It must have brought a small measure of hope and joy to them, playing Santa when the world was falling apart.

While I was writing my review, I happened to glance up at my Christmas tree, and what I saw cracked me up again. Sitting nestled on a branch was a little zombie mummy I had been given. I swear it winked at me.

A Zombie New Year

This short story is also offered in the authors collection, A Zombie Holiday Trilogy.

It is the longer of the stories and really hit home. Just how important is tradition when an apocalypse has occurred? How far would you go to keep a promise? Is there time for love when the world has crumbled?

Becky and Joe become separated during the zombie apocalypse. Both find themselves in dangerous situations as they strive to get to Acorn Drop, the place they first met, and share their promised New Years kiss.

Becky awakens surrounded by men in fatigues. A rough lot. They make their wants known and she tries to stall while making up a plan of escape.

You now that saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend?” Sometimes it’s true. These guys should have thoroughly cleared the house before letting their minds listen to their lower parts.

Zombies stumble out of one of the bedrooms and in the tussle, Becky makes her escape, only to have to fight her way through the ones outside.

Some of the men,  still pumped up on testosterone, pursue her and she must find a way to lose them. She doubts when they finish with her they’ll just let her go. And she has some place to be. Someone to meet. Something to do. Acorn Drop. Joe. Kiss.

Meanwhile, Joe is out in the open and vulnerable. The zombies are everywhere and he’s been spotted. Searching, he finally sees a house that looks safe and dashes inside.

First things first, he searches the house finding no immediate threat of zombies. Next, he checks the garage and finds a car. Could the keys be in the house? He reenters to search for them. There’s not much time as the zombies will eventually find a way in.

Joe soon discovers he’s not alone in the house. But it’s not zombies and it’s not people. Of all the houses, of all the streets, he had to choose this one. This is one battle he wasn’t prepared for.

He keeps his mind on his goals. Get to Acorn Drop. Find Becky. Kiss her like it’s the end of the world. But New Years is almost here and he’s got a long way to go.

I believe love is all we have when the world falls apart. Even if it doesn’t. Who will mourn you when you die? Who will fight for you, with you? What will keep you going when all seems hopeless?

The dynamics of people when faced with the thinkable has always fascinated me. Sometimes, the threat by man is every bit as deadly as the threat outside.

I’ve read many zombie books and I know there isn’t always a happy ending, but I have hope for Becky and Joe.

A Vampire At Christmas

The story opens in a tomb. All is calm. All is bright. The little Christmas tree in the corner casts a dazzling display reflecting off of the large coffin.

If you put your ear right up against the coffin, you might hear Jimmy Buffet singing Margaritaville. This handsome vampire loves being a vampire, loves Christmas, and is a fan of the southern artist and has been to many of his concerts. His powers enable him to fly to any location and blend into the shadows to enjoy the the shows.

He’s been waiting 364 days for this night and he grabs his bag of goodies and heads out. But first he must feed.

When he was a new vampire he killed at random. But after many years and witnessing the miracle of Christmas, the warmth and cheer of it, he became more selective. Only killing those who deserved it.

I am amazed at the power of this character with the story being just over 20 pages.

He coldly stalks and consumes his prey, yet he’s also gleeful and excited, like a child. He really gets into the Christmas spirit and spreads hope and joy. Not to his prey, of course, but to those who are in need.

I live in the south and have seen Jimmy Buffet in concert. Been to his restaurant. Met him a few times.  While I was reading this story, I hummed Margaritaville and thought, this vampire would like it here.

I loved all of these stories and you can bet I’ll be reading anything everything I can get my hands on by this author.

Each story got 5 Stars from me which added up to 20  Stars. Since I can’t give it that, I give this collection a resounding 5 Stars.

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Author Anthony Renfro

Anthony Renfro

Anthony Renfro lives in Apex, North Carolina. He is a reader, writer, runner, husband, father, and stay at home dad – one of the toughest jobs anyone could ever do. He was born in Bristol, Tennessee, and is a graduate of UNC-Greensboro.

You can find him at many spots on the web, but if you really need to find his center in the social media storm it would be at his blog, apoetryjourney.wordpress.com.

Now reach out, just beyond the light, right into that big black space, and let him take your hand on a journey into cold dark places. You will be scared, and you may even be terrified, but in the end you might just find you liked the ride.

Find him on:

Blog ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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

Another fun way to share your book news and enjoy others is The Sunday Post hosted by

Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Head on over and leave a link to your Sunday Post and hop around to visits others.

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The holidays are over. It seems like we wait forever for them to get here, and then they are gone in a flash.

I’m spending this weekend taking down the decorations, organizing and putting them away and doing a cleaning before I put my regular stuff back out.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and safe and happy New Years.

Are any of you doing any reading challenges this year?

I’ve started my Goodreads Challenge again.

Here is last years.

2014 Goodreads Challenge

 I’d read 125 books and read 188. That’s150% percent towards my goal!

And I’ve set a slightly higher goal for 2015 with 130 books.

2015 Reading Challenge
You have read 4 of 130 books

3%
3 books ahead of schedule

As much as I devour books, I’m sure I’ll blow this years challenge out of the water too. But I’m really going to be

concentrating on reviewing so it might slow me down.

And I’m eying these two challenges also. They could work with my Goodreads Challenge and look fun.

alphabet 2015

This one is hosted by Lori at Escape With Dollycas and looks like a fun challenge.

And this one should be fun as I do love my horror!

Cornerfolds

Hosted by Tracy at Cornerfolds.

I’m also looking at some others and not sure yet which ones I might do.

How about you? Are you doing any reading challenges?

This is Zombie Month on my blog and I’ll be sneaking zombie pics into all of my posts. Keep your eye out!

I’ll be hopping over to check out your Sunday posts so be sure to leave me your link!

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Here are my new books for review.

You can click on the covers to check them out on Goodreads.

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And this ARC of Growl which will be releasing soon.

Click on the cover to check it out or pre-order.

And this one. I’ve read the first two books and loved them. My review for book two will be coming soon in a Tag Team Event with a giveaway!

This one is so new it isn’t even on Goodreads yet. But you can find it HERE on Amazon.

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New ones just for me!

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And here are some freebies for ya!

Click on the covers to get yours and remember to make sure they’re still free before you click that buy button.

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Books I’ve reviewed the past two weeks.

Click on the covers for my reviews.

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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

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What I won.

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I won a print copy from a giveaway on Freda’s Voice.

Thanks Freda and thanks so much to Author Jay Richards

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Thanks so much to Author Becca J. Campbell

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I won this from the Winter Wonder Blog Hop

Thanks to much to Author Zoe Forward

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Other Posts this week.

Happy Release Day for Death Waltz

My Monday Minis Reviews ~ Refrigerator Monsters and a Welsh Dragon

Teaser Tuesdays #93 ~ Strange Magic ~ Some freaky deaky hoodoo

Meet Your Baker ~ A Bakeshop Mystery Release Day Giveaway

Counterphobia ~ A collection of phobias to keep you up at night

Ice Massacre and Evil Beach ~ Beware, Beauty

A Zombie New Year ~ It’s that time of the month ~ Zombie Month!

M9B Books You Might Have Missed Giveaway Blitz

The Getaway Girls ~ Monsters, Moms, and Mayhem in New Orleans ~ Tour Giveaway

In the spotlight ~ American Specter ~ The Seven Sisters Blog Tour

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Have you joined TSU yet?

Click on the widget below to friend and follow me!

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For all of my 2014/2015 reviews go HERE

For a list of free books go HERE

For all of my giveaways go HERE

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So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

I’d love to know and thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

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I’m always on the lookout for a new paranormal mystery.

The cover art for this book grabbed me right away.

Then I read the story takes place in Specter, Georgia and I was sold.

I live in the south and always find it fun to read stories that have a southern location. Sometimes I even recognize the places mentioned in the books and that makes it more real for me.

Come on in and check out American Specter.

I have an awesome trailer for ya and the first chapter too!

American Specter

Rasheedah Prioleau     

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Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Date of Publication: Feb, 2014

ISBN: 978-0692226582 / ASIN: B00IOWGVZY

Number of pages: 248 / Word Count: 72,000

Cover Artist: Roger Raymond

 

Book Description:

 

FBI Agent Audra Wheeler has been haunted for the last thirteen years by a paranormal attack that left her sister, Kendra, in a coma. Mentored by FBI Assistant Director Jonathan Cordero to investigate crimes committed by specters, Audra believes she is on the trail of a ‘serial killer’ specter with a MO very similar to her sister’s attacker.

 

The investigation takes her to a small town of Specter, Georgia; a haven for ghosts who exist among the living.

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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6m6vTxw-Yg]

 

Available at Amazon

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A special Excerpt

 

AUDRA MEETS ELI

 

The state prison that housed Eli Shelley was nearly forty-five minutes away from the small town of Specter, Georgia. Eric Neil must have caught the edge of her mood as he refrained from speaking to her for the entire duration of the trip. When she parked in a visitor’s spot and took the key from the ignition, Eric reached over and placed a calming hand over hers.

She looked at him gratefully. He smiled and winked. Without a word, they exited the car. Audra dispensed with any notion of pleasantry as she impatiently flashed her badge at everything that attempted to talk to her until she was placed in a small room with Eric to wait for them to produce Eli Shelley.

When the door opened, Audra was taken aback by what she saw. If the triplets had been hard to tell apart five years ago, there would be no mistaking one for the other now.

Eli had beefed up in prison. He was at least two hundred pounds of steel muscle, and his tall frame made every ounce of him more intimidating than Audra had anticipated. He had the same dark hair and eyes as his brothers, and she could see the resemblance in the shape of his nose and the set of his mouth, but that was where the similarities came to a screeching halt.

His hands and legs were bound with shackles. A guard, no more than half of Eli’s size, escorted him to the table. He helped Eli take a seat, and hooked his shackles to a lock on the floor.

Eli smiled as if the visit were a welcome surprise. Audra slapped her badge on the table, and the smile fell from his face. The guard stood in the corner to the right.

“Leave,” Audra said.

“But, I have to watch,” the guard began.

Eric grabbed the guard by the collar and pushed him out of the room. “We’ll call if we need you.”

“What happened?” Eli asked.

“Gwyneth Miller was murdered,” Audra said flatly.

She watched as the giant of a man shackled in a prison uniform wilted right in front of her.

“How?” his voice was authoritative but still barely above a whisper.

“We can’t explain how, but her windpipe was crushed by an unknown force.”

“What do you mean force?” Eli questioned.

“That is as much as I can tell you,” Audra said and watched him get angry. “I’m here about Abigail Stevens.”

“What about her?” He looked down and swallowed.

“We recently found a letter from you to her that was unopened.”

“So you think I must have killed her,” Eli stated.

“Did you?” Eric asked.

“No.” Eli looked at Audra when he answered. “I loved Abigail. After all we’d been through…” He allowed a smile as charming as his politician brother’s to touch his lips. “She was a spit-fire.”

“What can you tell us about her?” Audra sat back to read his body language as it relaxed while he conjured up memories of Abigail Stevens.

“She was skinny,” he began. “It was the first thing I noticed about that girl when I was in high school. She was so damned skinny. I wondered if she ever ate. She wasn’t nothing but twelve I guess, and a pretty easy target to pick on cause she was one of those poor kids of the Native people, as we called them. I’m sure there is a politically correct way to say it. Anyway, most little girls ignore stuff like that, or run away crying. But not her. I said something about her chicken legs and she came right back with well, you noticed them didn’t you?” Eli laughed.

“Twelve years old and I guess I was sixteen,” he continued. “I saw her off and on in town, then I went off to college and came back to visit. Kenneth was all geeked up about professor Hawthorne at the high school while he was interning. Brendon and I never really cared for that smarty-pants guy. But, anyway, he went to visit him at the school and took me to meet his smarty-pants boyfriend while he was tutoring some students. And there she was. I recognized her face, but she wasn’t so skinny anymore. She caught me looking at her legs and smiled. Still looking aren’t you?” Eli tried to mock Abigail Stevens’ sixteen-year-old voice.

“Bold girl. I liked it. No games, just straightforward. She got pregnant, and we came up with a plan to elope after I graduated. I had just a couple of months left when her mother found out and tried to make her tell who the father was. She said one of the Shelley boys. But, she never named me. I don’t know why that bothered me. It was like she was saying it was one of us, but really didn’t know which one it was.

“I knew there was no chance that she slept with Kenneth, so I asked Brendon if the baby could be his. He just shrugged and said anything was possible. Now that I’m older I know he was bullshitting. He was drunk or high most of the way through college. Abigail was all about being alcohol and drug free. I couldn’t even smoke around her. Anyway, I asked Abigail if it were possible that it was Brendon’s. She swore no way.

“I asked her why she didn’t name me. She asked me why I didn’t name myself. I know it was a cruel thing to do, but I said I wasn’t sure if I should. The look that girl gave me could freeze water. Next thing I know my parents and her mother made a deal; she’d give up the baby in exchange for money…

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

It was half past noon on Monday when Special Agent Audra Wheeler of the FBI stepped into the apartment of Gwyneth Miller. She’d been in Savannah the prior week but, as a native New Yorker, she was sure that she would never get used to the stifling Georgia heat. She noted that the air conditioner was not on as she walked across the living room, listening to the muffled sounds of country cops inevitably messing up Gwyneth’s room that was now an official FBI crime scene.

Gwyneth Miller was the fifth victim of a suspected serial killer of the specter variety, who had a thing for dark haired, dark eyed women sleeping alone. As she stepped into the crime scene, Audra activated the specter shield she wore around her left wrist to block any specters from getting within five feet of her.

She’d spent nearly four years on special assignments with the FBI investigating specter crimes and bringing them to justice. The biggest problem with catching a criminal specter was that they never left any physical evidence, no DNA, no fingerprints, no calling card, no expository note, and no obvious motive.

In this particular case, all of the hunches that Audra had to go off of were of a personal nature that she was still not entirely comfortable sharing. To her knowledge, this would be the first and only specter that had crossed the line into murder and then into serial killing. This particular specter had taken her from Boston to New Jersey, then Charlotte, Savannah, and finally the small town of Specter, Georgia.

She walked into Gwyneth Miller’s bedroom and immediately noted the scent of candles and perfume. Audra suspected that maybe this woman had, in fact, had a visitor the night before and, perhaps, this would not fit the profile of her four previous cases.

She quickly scanned the room and made note of the cheap, feminine décor. Audra cringed, turning her attention to the body of the victim. Gwyneth was lying in bed, on her side with her hands near her throat, which was singed with strange burn marks. Her fingernails had scratched at her throat as well, peeling away some of the skin. These were the telltale signs of the specter that she was following but, most disturbingly, this victim, like all the others, looked a lot like her sister.

“Shit,” Audra said. She looked over at the side table and took in a large purple candle. “What is this?” She leaned in close.

“A candle from the Daylight Candle Shop.”

Hearing his voice, Audra took a shallow breath before quickly letting it out. She turned as he strolled through Gwyneth Miller’s bedroom door and walked towards her. He wore laid back local Southern clothes; faded jeans with a slightly tattered t-shirt and baseball cap, but there was no mistaking the city attitude in his walk.

When Audra had received the initial fax of a possible fifth victim, she’d read Ethan Cole’s name on top of the report file with disbelief. Now, in front of her, she was wary. His New York City swagger was enough to make a nun forget her vows just long enough to break them four or five times. Audra quickly contemplated the precious few times she’d crossed the line with her ex-partner before he’d been transferred to the American South.

He was six-foot two and maybe two hundred pounds of muscle. Audra remembered the feel of his baby-smooth chocolate skin and the taste of his beautifully full lips. He was six years older than her twenty-seven, but it looked good on him.

She turned her attention away from his large hazel eyes back to the candle and examined the tiny instruction card next to it.

“May love’s embrace meet me at dawn’s face.” She snorted as she became painfully aware of how close Ethan was standing next to her. She had to mentally and physically resist the draw of his cologne as it invited her to lean into him. “The Daylight Candle Shop,” she confirmed.

She had already known there would be no evidence of the killer at the scene, but she’d asked for nothing to be touched, not even the body, before she arrived and took a look around. Audra listened to the coroner’s report; the victim had died of asphyxiation from a suspected crushed esophagus, somewhere near dawn of the previous day, Sunday. She said a prayer for Gwyneth and then left without another word to anyone.

Ethan followed her out of the apartment building.

“Hey, Audra. Wait up.”

She turned as she stepped outside, and he closed the space between them. She ignored the oppressive heat for a moment to address him.

“I’m going to go over to the library and question the people she worked with.”

“I already did that,” he said.

“Well, I’m going to do it as well,” she said, making it clear that the investigation was now hers to control.

“Okay, but listen. This town is full of – ”

“Specters? Yeah, I know.” Audra rolled her eyes at the thought of an entire town, in southern America of all places, which was home to people who had passed away. Ethan placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned to walk to her car, pulling away from his touch in the process, shutting out the wave of feelings that screamed for her attention.

“Don’t worry, I won’t go around zapping your ghostly citizens.” Her specter zapper was safely tucked away in her gun belt, just to the rear of her handgun. “But, you might want to warn the Daylight Candle Shop that they’re next on my list.”

 

About the Author:

american specter author

 

Rasheedah Prioleau is a southern African American writer with an eclectic range of writing and ghostwriting credits. After a few years in the corporate world she started over from the bottom as an unpaid intern for a literary manager and never looked back.

 

“I love to write because there are no limits. All it takes is a finite space of time and I can create a story from infinite possibilities.”

 

Writers who have influenced her include: Judy Bloom, Jude Deveraux, V.C. Andrews, Octavia Butler, Stephanie Meyer, Charlaine Harris, Joss Whedon, William Nicholson, Shonda Rhimes, Quentin Tarantino, Tyler Perry, Mike Kelley, and J.J. Abrams… just to name a few.

 

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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Virtual Book Tour Dates: 12/29/14 – 1/5/15

Genres: Fiction, Paranormal, and Humor

The Getaway Girls

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Blurb:

Four girlfriends on a weekend trip to New Orleans attract the attention of flesh-eating Scavengers. The women must rely on their wits, a cocky Irish movie star, and a dodgy deal with vampires to survive the night during this wild adventure through the Big Easy.

 

Excerpt:

Audrey downed her drink and then stood up saying, “On that note, I’ve got to pee.” She smoothed down the back of her dress, wary of unwittingly flashing the bar and yanked open the enormous front door.
The walls of the cavernous hallway were hung with old paintings, but Audrey barely noticed them as she walked down a threadbare carpet runner toward the back. She passed the old dining room and then the long, wooden bar where two college boys in button-down shirts and khaki shorts were tossing back whiskey.
“Hey, darlin’,” the tall one with floppy dark blonde hair said, as he approached Audrey. He had a deep voice, the kind of Southern accent that suggested lots of money and bourbon, and a cocky grin that reeked of frat parties and date rape. “Why don’t you let me buy you a drink?”
Audrey smiled and said, “Thanks, but I’ve already got a drink and I’m with my friends.”
The boy smiled and reached out a hand to place on Audrey’s elbow. “Aw, sugar, you’re too pretty to hang out with the girls all night. You haven’t visited New Orleans till you’ve had a Tulane man buy you a cocktail.”
Audrey laughed. “You’re cute, but I’m probably old enough to be your mom. Thanks anyway, sport!” She darted into the ladies’ room, leaving Tulane Boy panting and angry on the other side of the door.
“Come on, man,” his friend said, tugging on his arm. “Plenty other bitches out here, let’s get another round.”
“Yeah, sure.” Tulane Boy jerked away from his buddy, saying, “You go order, I gotta take a leak.”
“You come right back, though, y’hear?” The friend asked, looking Tulane Boy as directly in the eye as his drunken state would allow. “We don’t want any trouble, do we?”
“No, man. No trouble.”
Tulane Boy ducked into the men’s room for about sixty seconds, and then he eased the door quietly back open. He stood in front of the ladies’ room door and looked to the right and to the left. He put one large hand on the frosted glass panel of the door, and carefully began to turn the knob with the other hand.
“Leave her alone.” The cultured English voice startled Tulane Boy and he jerked around. A tall, dark-haired man sat in the parlor across the hall from the bar. His face was hidden in the shadowy light of the empty room, but his muscular arm stretched the fabric of his suit coat as he casually turned his highball glass round and round in his hand.
Tulane Boy was certain he hadn’t noticed anyone when he’d slipped into the hall, but maybe he had made a mistake in the murky light.
He smiled his practiced good ol’ boy grin and said, “Leave who alone? I’m just tryin’ to take a piss, brother.” He then pretended to notice that he had the wrong bathroom door and slapped his hand across his forehead. “Oh man, look at that – I almost went into the ladies’ room. Thanks for the heads up.” He nodded to the man who, Tulane Boy could clearly tell did not believe him, and he turned around and headed back to the bar.
The man sat without moving in the dark parlor until Tulane Boy disappeared from sight. He stared directly ahead with black eyes and inhaled deeply of the stale, dusty air. His full lips curved up only slightly as if he’d just thought of something funny.
Then he stood up and placed his empty glass on a table without a sound and with a few quiet steps, approached the ladies’ room door.

 

Buy Link:

Amazon

 

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About the Author:

Deirdre H. Gage is a Texas writer who has claimed half a dozen other places as home, including Kentucky and Chicago – but her heart belongs to the Big Easy. She has been published in Cosmopolitan Magazine, Appalachian Heritage literary journal, the Darker Times Anthologies, and Richardson Living Magazine. The Getaway Girls: A New Orleans Tale of Monsters, Mayhem and Moms is her first novel.

 

Connect With The Author:

Website

Facebook

Google+

Pinterest

Twitter

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Giveaway:

Win one of three $15 Amazon gift cards on this tour! Open worldwide.

This giveaway will run 12/29/14 – 1/5/15.

Click on the link below to enter.

Enter through Rafflecopter.

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

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Hello everyone! Welcome to Month9Books 2014 Books you may have Missed Blitz!

Check out all M9B 2014 titles below and enter for a chance to win 1 of 3 prize packs of eBooks! International

Click on the cover for book information.

 

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Tantrum Titles

 

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(3) winners will receive eBook prize packs of 5 Month9Books of your choice!
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To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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I’ve read many of Anthony Renfro’s stories and was thrilled to receive his book A Zombie Holiday Trilogy.

Inside are A Zombie Thanksgiving, A Zombie Christmas, A Zombie New Year, and a bonus short story, A Vampire At Christmas. I chose to review each story on it’s holiday and this is the last one, A Zombie New year. Some of these are offered as individual stories to purchase and some will be offered again in a new collection coming out this year.

This is my first review for 2015 and what could be more appropriate as January is Zombie Month here on fuonlyknew!

I like to start the year off with one of my favorite undeads and zombies it is.

Who knows what comes next in February.

A Zombie New Year

by Anthony Renfro

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My Review

This short story is also offered in the authors collection, A Zombie Holiday Trilogy.

It is the longer of the stories and really hit home. Just how important is tradition when an apocalypse has occurred? How far would you go to keep a promise? Is there time for love when the world has crumbled?

Becky and Joe become separated during the zombie apocalypse. Both find themselves in dangerous situations as they strive to get to Acorn Drop, the place they first met, and share their promised New Years kiss.

Becky awakens surrounded by men in fatigues. A rough lot. They make their wants known and she tries to stall while making up a plan of escape.

You now that saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend?” Sometimes it’s true. These guys should have thoroughly cleared the house before letting their minds listen to their lower parts.

Zombies stumble out of one of the bedrooms and in the tussle, Becky makes her escape, only to have to fight her way through the ones outside.

Some of the men,  still pumped up on testosterone, pursue her and she must find a way to lose them. She doubts when they finish with her they’ll just let her go. And she has some place to be. Someone to meet. Something to do. Acorn Drop. Joe. Kiss.

Meanwhile, Joe is out in the open and vulnerable. The zombies are everywhere and he’s been spotted. Searching, he finally sees a house that looks safe and dashes inside.

First things first, he searches the house finding no immediate threat of zombies. Next, he checks the garage and finds a car. Could the keys be in the house? He reenters to search for them. There’s not much time as the zombies will eventually find a way in.

Joe soon discovers he’s not alone in the house. But it’s not zombies and it’s not people. Of all the houses, of all the streets, he had to choose this one. This is one battle he wasn’t prepared for.

He keeps his mind on his goals. Get to Acorn Drop. Find Becky. Kiss her like it’s the end of the world. But New Years is almost here and he’s got a long way to go.

I believe love is all we have when the world falls apart. Even if it doesn’t. Who will mourn you when you die? Who will fight for you, with you? What will keep you going when all seems hopeless?

The dynamics of people when faced with the thinkable has always fascinated me. Sometimes, the threat by man is every bit as deadly as the threat outside.

I’ve read many zombie books and I know there isn’t always a happy ending, but I have hope for Becky and Joe.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

This short story is about Becky and Joe ,who are separated in a zombie Apocalypse and risk life and limb in order to reunite for their New Year’s kiss.

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My reviews of the other stories in A Zombie Holiday Trilogy and one more.

Click on the covers to read my reviews.

Evil Beach

A short story about two boys who discover a hidden beach and the evil deadly secrets that lie within its soft white grains of sand.

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A Zombie Thanksgiving

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A Zombie Christmas

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A Vampire At Christmas

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A Zombie Holiday Trilogy

Click on the cover to get the complete trilogy.

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Author Anthony Renfro

Anthony Renfro

Anthony Renfro lives in Apex, North Carolina. He is a reader, writer, runner, husband, father, and stay at home dad – one of the toughest jobs anyone could ever do. He was born in Bristol, Tennessee, and is a graduate of UNC-Greensboro.

You can find him at many spots on the web, but if you really need to find his center in the social media storm it would be at his blog, apoetryjourney.wordpress.com.

Now reach out, just beyond the light, right into that big black space, and let him take your hand on a journey into cold dark places. You will be scared, and you may even be terrified, but in the end you might just find you liked the ride.

Find him on:

Blog ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

And Happy New Year!