Archive for June, 2016
New Release! This Night Sucks by Elizabeth J.M. Walker
Posted: June 20, 2016 in comedy, New Release, Paranormal or fantasy, Vampires, YATags: Author Elizabeth J.M. Walker, comedy, This Night Sucks, vampires, YA paranormal fantasy
Welcome to the Book Tour for Elizabeth J.M. Walker’s new novella, This Night Sucks!Follow the tour each day to read reviews, guest posts, and exclusive excerpts.
Book Details:
From the author of She Dreamed of Dragons
Title: This Night Sucks
Author Name: Elizabeth J.M. Walker
Genre(s): Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Vampires, Comedy
Release Date: June 17, 2016
Synopsis
Lana is a high school senior enrolled in Vampire Education – a class to teach students about the very real presence of vampires in the world. Lana and her classmates don’t really expect to meet up with any undead bloodsuckers. Vampires are a lot like other scary things that supposedly exist but you hope you’ll never come across: nudist colonies, mad cow disease, and your parents’ sex life.
What is part of Lana’s everyday reality is navigating through one last year of high school while desperately trying to be less nerdy. She still loves spaceships, fantasy novels, and cat stickers, but she also recently got her braces removed, grew boobs, and is working on the makeup thing. She never expected her crush-of-a-lifetime Pete to even notice her – let alone ask her out on a date.
The date is going great until Pete’s ex-girlfriend Katy shows up, all bloody and pissed off. Lana quickly realizes that Katy is not just her ordinary bitchy self – she has been turned into a vampire. After a near death experience, Lana learns that she is changing into a vampire too.
Lana needs answers, and the only way to get them is to find the vampire who started the chain of events – and to find him before sunrise…
Meet the Author:
Elizabeth J. M. Walker lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She has always loved books and writing. As a teen she discovered zines, which inspired her to publish her own litzine of odd fairy tales for over a decade.
She Dreamed of Dragons is her first novel.
Connect with Elizabeth J.M. Walker:
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
What’s New On My Bookshelf #162 and The Sunday Post
Posted: June 19, 2016 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My BookshelfTags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book news, The Sunday Post
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
Kimberly 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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Some chit chat.
Hello everyone and Happy Sunday!
It’s good to be back. Went out of town with family last week and had bunches of fun! It went by too fast. LOL Got back to some serious heat waves. Heat index warnings around 110. Yikes! That pool never felt better!
I was thinking about my fur babies the other day. All of them are getting up there in years. My dog, Quigley, is going to be 11. He no longer will jump up into the SUV. I have to practically pick him up and at 90+ pounds, it’s a chore. LOL
My cat, Sheba, is over 23 years old. She no longer likes to jump up into her chair, and prefers to snuggle up on the couch. Still a seat stealer though. I swear, I get up off the sofa and don’t make it three steps before she’s moved into my spot. And she now sits at Quigley’s bowl when I’m preparing his food, and she actually eats some of it before she’ll let him eat it. I think it’s the gravy she’s liking. He will lay nearby and wait for her to be done, even though he’s so much bigger than her. Cute!
And my little parrot, Spot, (my son named him!) is in his twenties. He no longer builds nests in the paper on the bottom of his cage but he still makes these cute high pitched chirps to his girlfriend in the mirror.
Seeing how they’ve changed and mellowed with age has me reflecting on how I’ve changed. I no longer want to rush out and stand in line for a premiere showing of movies, or go to loud concerts. Certainly don’t miss the pub scene. I’m more content to be at home, enjoy the pool, binge on shows and movies, and, of course, read my books!
I try not to fret so much at how my body looks different. Those wrinkles that stare back at me in the mirror. The crepe skin that’s starting to appear. I’m concentrating more on trying to like myself. And I quit smoking! It’s been two months now. I know that doesn’t sound long, but if you’ve smoked for as many years as I have, it’s a lot.
Enough about me. Let’s get to all of the books from the last two weeks!
I’ll be hopping over to check out your Sunday posts so be sure to leave me your link.
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New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.
Print books.
New eBooks
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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 reviewed the passed two weeks. Click on the covers for my reviews.
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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.
And I meant to post reviews for these two last week but got super busy. I’ll also be reviewing the fifth book along with these two if I get it finished in time.
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Other posts on my blog this week.
Blurb Blitz and Giveaway ~ Cozy Mysteries From Lyrical Press
How To Draw Cool Stuff by Catherine V. Holmes
The Healer’s Rune by Lauricia Matuska
Fixin’ To Die by Tonya Kappes ~ My Cozy Review and a Giveaway
The Friday 56 #111 ~ Headed For Trouble
Cooking up something for a….Friend Of The Devil ~ Author Interview and Giveaway
So Twisted…So Good…Sister Dear ~ Author Playlist, Review, and Giveaway
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For a list of my reviews go HERE
For a list of free eBooks go HERE
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
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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.
So twisted…So Good ~ Sister Dear ~ Author Playlist, Review, and Giveaway
Posted: June 17, 2016 in giveaways, Mystery, reviews, suspenseTags: Author Laura McNeill, giveaway, mystery, review, Sister Dear, suspense
I have so much to share with ya’ll today, so lets get to it.
First, please welcome Author Laura McNeill. She has an awesome play list to tell you about.
Great tunes.
And then I’ll be sharing some things about Sister Dear along with my review.
Also, there’s a great giveaway, so don’t forget to enter.
Take it away Laura!
Guest Post / Play List
Music can fill your soul with so many emotions. Beautiful words, melodic notes, and just the right harmony can emit happiness, longing, and feelings of nostalgia.
For my most recent novel, Sister Dear, I spent some time on Spotify listening for just the right songs to represent Allie’s journey in Alto and Brunswick, Georgia. She has strong ties to her small community in the Coastal South, so I wanted the music to embody that.
Here’s my playlist for Sister Dear. Hope you love it!
- Home, Michael Buble – I love his voice and the passion with which he delivers this gorgeous song. I think of Allie and Caroline’s relationship with this one – the strain that Allie feels with not being able to see and hold her daughter. “I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you. Each one a line or two…I would send them but I know it’s just not enough.”
- Georgia On My Mind, Ray Charles – This is such a classic song that conjures up the gorgeous green Georgia landscape, especially that by the ocean and the forests throughout the state. “Comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.”
- Walk On the Ocean, Toad the Wet Sprocket – Unless you are a child of the ‘80’s, you might not immediately recognize this song. It’s perfect for this story and Allie’s journey. She loves the ocean so much and that adoration is represented so well in the lyrics. “Walk on the ocean, step on the stones. Flesh becomes water.”
- Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You), Kelly Clarkson – This song by Clarkson epitomizes Allie’s strength. I love Clarkson’s voice. She seems to channel Allie’s tenacity with her words. “Stand a little taller. Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone.”
- Sister, Lenny Kravitz – This is a surprisingly soulful song about a sister who falls in love with the wrong man. It’s so much Emma’s story, especially after Allie discovers the truth of the affair. “Sister. Did you have to go away? You left your home and the things you had to say.”
- Home, Phillip Phillips – I really adore this song. It’s impossible not to sing along to the lyrics. “Hold on to me as we go. As we roll down this unfamiliar road. And although this wave is stringing us along, just know you’re not alone. I’m going to make this place your home. Settle down, it’ll all be clear. Don’t pay no mind to the demons they fill you fill you with fear.”
- Come Home, One Republic – This seems like Caroline’s song. A pleading to the world to listen to her perspective – she’s simply trying to figure out this new life with her mother, her aunt, and her friends. “Hello world, hope you’re listening. Forgive me if I’m young and speaking out of turn.”
- Sunrise – Nora Jones – Jones has such an amazing voice. This song seems to represent Allie’s hope for a brighter future and brighter tomorrow. Near the end of the story, she rediscovers her feelings for her ex-fiancé Ben. “Surprise, Surprise. Couldn’t find it in your eyes, but I’m sure it’s written all over my eyes.”
- Come on Get Higher – Matt Nathanson – One of my favorite performers gives life to this song. It definitely represents the longing between Allie and Ben at the end of the story. “I miss the sound of your voice. And I miss the rush of your skin. And I miss the still of the silence as you breath out and I breathe in. If I could walk on water, if I could tell you what’s next, make you believe, make you forget.”
- Sisters – Thomas Newman – This brief instrumental song seems a fitting ending to Allie and Emma’s journey. The song is from The Shawshank Redemption soundtrack, and echoes the pain and loss Allie feels as she loses Emma but gains her freedom.
Here’s the Spotify playlist link if you’d like to listen along. Just click on the widget below.
Hope you love it!
Xo,
Laura
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Sister Dear
by Laura McNeill
Genre: Suspense / Mystery
My Review
I’m sure all of you word lovers know how it feels when you try a new author, crack open that book, and get swept up right from the get go. I have a list of must read authors. They’re the ones I follow closely, watching for their next new release. Laura McNeill easily added herself to that list.
From the opening, the author put me in Allie’s shoes. As she took me back into the past and forward to the present, I could only feel badly for Allie. All she was trying to do was protect the innocent and expose the one doing selfish, terrible things. Instead, someone winds up dead and she’s lost ten years, locked up for a murder she didn’t commit.
Released from prison, she has much to adjust to. Her parents handle her with kid gloves and make themselves scarce. Her sister, Emma, looks at her like she’s come back to ruin her life. To take away what she holds most dear. That being Caroline, Allie’s daughter. Emma took her in when Allie was sent to prison. Raised her. Loved her. And now she may be asked to let her go.
And poor Caroline. Scared of what will happen to her life now. Will her friends stand by her after learning her mother’s returned? It’s one thing to have a parent locked up, far away. It’s another thing altogether when that person reenters your life. How many teens are tough enough to stand up to peer pressure, to ignore the petty prejudices, to be the friend Caroline needs?
This author sure knows how to build up the suspense and excitement. As she maneuvers her characters, brings them together, you’ll get a taste of that talent.
Her characters are large as life, no cardboard figures here. You’ll feel some sympathy for all of them, good and bad. Told in multiple points of view and different time periods, the author makes the transitions smooth and easy to comprehend. It works great for this plot.
I’ve never cheated and skipped ahead in a book to get answers. What’s the fun in that? I would rather deal with the anticipation and crow when I finally get to the finish. But, boy, I was sorely temped to read ahead with this book. Even the mundane becomes suspenseful. You know it won’t be calm for long.
The suspense at 25% into the book had me on edge, especially trying to figure out who had hidden agendas.
50% in, the manipulations were fascinating and disturbing. There were shining moments followed by dips into ugliness.
At 75%, it was a free for all. I was rooting for some characters, a few were still questionable, and some I wanted to drop kick.
At 100%, the end finally let my mind stop whirring with questions. I got plenty of surprising answers. Couldn’t have asked for a better finale.
If you like some psychological suspense along with your mystery and a not as obvious as you think plot, you’ll love Sister Dear.
Oh, I almost forgot! There’s some fun discussion questions at the end. I enjoyed answering them and thinking more about the characters. One question had me thinking for quite some time. I surprised myself by how I answered it.
5 Stars
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Synopsis
All Allie Marshall wants is a fresh start. But when dark secrets refuse to stay buried, will her chance at a new life be shattered forever?
Convicted of a crime she didn’t commit, Allie watched a decade of her life vanish – time that can never be recovered. Now, out on parole, Allie is determined to clear her name, rebuild her life, and reconnect with the daughter she barely knows.
But Allie’s return home shatters the quaint, coastal community of Brunswick, Georgia. Even her own daughter Caroline, now a teenager, bristles at Allie’s claims of innocence. Refusing defeat, a stronger, smarter Allie launches a battle for the truth, digging deeply into the past even if it threatens her parole status, personal safety, and the already-fragile bond with family.
As her commitment to finding the truth intensifies, what Allie ultimately uncovers is far worse than she imagined. Her own sister has been hiding a dark secret—one that holds the key to Allie’s freedom.
BUY LINKS:
Twitter | Amazon | BN.com | BAM
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Author Laura McNeill
After six years behind the anchor desk at two CBS affiliates, Laura McNeill moved to the Alabama Gulf Coast to raise her family. Her accolades in broadcasting include awards from the Associated Press, including Best News Anchor and Best Specialized Reporter.
She holds a master’s degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and a master’s in Interactive Technology. Laura works at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as the school’s Instructional Design Manager.
Under the pen name Lauren Clark, Laura has published four novels, Pie Girls, Stay Tuned, Stardust Summer, and Dancing Naked in Dixie. She recently began writing suspense with HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson. Her debut novel in that genre, Center of Gravity, was released in July of 2015.
Visit Laura’s website at www.lauramcneill.com.
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Laura McNeill is giving away one signed copy of Center Of Gravity!
US ONLY. Sorry to my International friends.
To enter, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and show the author some love. Leave her a comment about the book or ask her a question!
Giveaway ends June 25th.
The Prize:
Synopsis
The truth could cost her everything.
Her whole life, Ava Carson has been sure of one thing: she doesn’t measure up to her mother’s expectations. So when Mitchell Carson sweeps into her life with his adorable son, the ready-made family seems like a dream come true. In the blink of an eye, she’s married, has a new baby, and life is wonderful.
Or is it?
When her picture-perfect marriage begins unraveling at the seams, Ava convinces herself she can fix it. It’s temporary. It’s the stress. It’s Mitchell’s tragic history of loss.
If only Ava could believe her own excuses.
Mitchell is no longer the charming, thoughtful man she married. He grows more controlling by the day, revealing a violent jealous streak. His behavior is recklessly erratic, and the unanswered questions about his past now hint at something far more sinister than Ava can stomach. Before she can fit the pieces together, Mitchell files for divorce and demands full custody of their boys.
Fueled by fierce love for her children and aided by Graham Thomas, a new attorney in town, Ava takes matters into her own hands, digging deep into the past. But will finding the truth be enough to beat Mitchell at his own game?
Center of Gravity weaves a chilling tale, revealing the unfailing and dangerous truth that things—and people—are not always what they seem.
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
Cooking up something for a… Friend Of The Devil ~ Author Interview and Giveaway
Posted: June 17, 2016 in Author Interview, Blog Tour, giveaways, thrillerTags: a culinary thriller, Author Mark Spivak, Friend Of The Devil, giveaway, Q&A
What do you think of that cover art? I love it. Wicked. Funny. Kind of sexy. All of these things make me excited to read Friend Of The Devil.
For today, I have an interview with Author Mark Spivak and a glimpse inside his book.
There’s also a giveaway, so don’t forget to enter!
Enjoy the Interview
What are four things you can’t live without?
First and foremost, love and affection (two things, but we’ll count them as one). Then, in no particular order: sushi, Bourbon and dogs. The world would be a very sad place without any of those.
What is your favorite television show?
I don’t watch a great deal of TV, except during a major election season—I’m a political junkie. On a regular basis, I do keep up with several reality shows, particularly Survivor. I think it’s the most interesting of the batch. They obviously put a lot of effort into choosing the cast, and always include enough dysfunctional personalities to make it worth following.
If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be? Why?
That’s a tough question, but I’d be tempted to say Huck Finn. He was fortunate to grow up on the American frontier, and he made the most of it. And of course, we all have an Aunt Sally that we’re running away from.
What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?
I’ve actually completed drafts of two different novels. The first is a political thriller set during the invasion of Iraq. The second is titled The Secret Life of Sylvia Epstein. It’s told from a female point of view. The main character is a woman who stumbles on some very disturbing revelations about her mother after her mother’s death, and struggles to reconcile them.
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I’d have to say Hemingway. While there are things he could be legitimately criticized for, his prose is a model or clarity and directness that is often lacking in many “classical” writers.
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Friend Of The Devil
by Mark Spivak
Genre: Thriller (Culinary)
Synopsis
In 1990 some critics believe that America’s most celebrated chef, Joseph Soderini di Avenzano, cut a deal with the Devil to achieve fame and fortune. Whether he is actually Bocuse or Beelzebub, Avenzano is approaching the 25th anniversary of his glittering Palm Beach restaurant, Chateau de la Mer, patterned after the Michelin-starred palaces of Europe.
Journalist David Fox arrives in Palm Beach to interview the chef for a story on the restaurant’s silver jubilee. He quickly becomes involved with Chateau de la Mer’s hostess, unwittingly transforming himself into a romantic rival of Avenzano. The chef invites Fox to winter in Florida and write his authorized biography. David gradually becomes sucked into the restaurant’s vortex: shipments of cocaine coming up from the Caribbean; the Mafia connections and unexplained murder of the chef’s original partner; the chef’s ravenous ex-wives, swirling in the background like a hidden coven. As his lover plots the demise of the chef, Fox tries to sort out hallucination and reality while Avenzano treats him like a feline’s catnip-stuffed toy.
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Excerpt
Several years after the opening of Chateau de la Mer, the triumvirate of Avenzano, Walsh and Ross appeared to be one big happy family, although there were rumors of strains in the relationship. One night, at the height of the Festival of Champagne, there was an incident. Ross, a notorious womanizer, was sipping Cristal with a redhead at the restaurant’s corner table. His wife slipped through the front door of the mansion, unannounced. Walking slowly through the dining room, past the Medieval memorabilia and dramatic cast-iron griffins, she strolled up to Ross’s table, took a revolver from her evening bag, and calmly shot him through the heart.
The ensuing chaos did more to establish Joseph Soderini di Avenzano in the American imagination than his designer pasta, his Bedouin-stuffed poussin, his recipes transposed from Etruscan or Old Genoese, or his library of 10,000 cookbooks. This was more than a good meal, after all. This was sex and death in Palm Beach. Even more intriguing was the Chef’s refusal to comment on Ross after his death, except for informal and effusive eulogies in his famous baritone.
“Watch that Cristal,” David’s friend Bill Grimaldi told him before he left Manhattan to do an assigned story on the 25th anniversary of Chateau de la Mer. “It’s a killer.”
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Author Mark Spivak
Mark Spivak is an award-winning writer specializing in wine, spirits, food, restaurants and culinary travel. He was the wine writer for the Palm Beach Post from 1994-1999, and was honored by the Academy of Wine Communications for excellence in wine coverage “in a graceful and approachable style.” Since 2001 has been the Wine and Spirits Editor for the Palm Beach Media Group; his running commentary on the world of food, wine and spirits is available at the Global Gourmet blog on www.palmbeachillustrated.com. He is the holder of the Certificate and Advanced diplomas from the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Mark’s work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report, Men’s Journal, Art & Antiques, the Continental and Ritz-Carlton magazines, Arizona Highways and Newsmax. He is the author of Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History (Lyons Press, 2012) and Moonshine Nation: The Art of Creating Cornbread in a Bottle (Lyons Press, 2014). His first novel, Friend of the Devil, is published by Black Opal Books.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Amazon/ B&N
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Click on the banner below to follow the tour and comment.
The more you comment, the more chances to win!
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
For a list of free eBooks go HERE
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
The Friday 56 #111 ~ Headed For Trouble
Posted: June 17, 2016 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways, The Friday 56Tags: Author Shiloh Walker, contemporary romance, Freda's Voice, Headed For Trouble, The McKays #1
Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.
This is a really fun meme!
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.
Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!
My 56 for this week is from
Headed For Trouble
The McKays #1
by Shiloh Walker
Genre: Contemporary Romance
My 56 from the paperback.
“If Granny calls here and asks if you ate anything, do you really think I want to tell her no?” she asked, her red-tipped nails tapping her hip.
“Ah…” Neve plastered a smile on her face. “Have at it. I’m probably hungrier than I think.”
I won this book along with a few others. The cover is stunning and it sounds really good. It mentions that the sex is sizzling, so I better be prepared to blush. LOL I often squirm when reading sexy scenes. I feel like I’m peeking through a keyhole!
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Read on if you want to know more.
Synopsis
SHE’S A SMALL-TOWN GIRL WITH BIG DREAMS.
Nine years ago, Neve McKay fled her small Southern town and disapproving family to seek a career in the big city. Now she’s finally coming home – and hoping for a fresh start. But the relationship that shattered her world still haunts her. And even among her nearest and dearest, she doesn’t feel safe.
CAN THIS BAD BOY BE THE ANSWER TO HER PRAYERS?
Ian Campbell is a pure Scottish muscle – as hard and handsome as they come. But when Neve walks into his bar, his heart melts . . . and he vows to have this gorgeous and somewhat vulnerable woman in his life – for better or for worse. What is Neve’s tragic secret? And how can Neve expect Ian to protect her, when doing so could put his own life at risk? The only thing Ian knows for sure is that he will do whatever it takes to keep her out of harm’s way – and in his loving arms.
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Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56.
Until the next time…
Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
Fixin’ To Die by Tonya Kappes ~ My Cozy Review and a Giveaway
Posted: June 16, 2016 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, giveaways, New Release, reviewsTags: Author Tonya Kappes, cozy mystery, Fixin To Die, giveaway, Kenni Lowry Mystery series, New series, review
Fixin’ to Die
A Kenni Lowry Mystery #1
by Tonya Kappes
Fixin’ To Die was a hilarious, well-written mystery with entertaining characters and a touch of the paranormal that is sure to please.
~Moonlight Rendezvous
Tonya Kappes have filled her story with the requisite quirky characters and wonderful Southern charm with plenty of humor.
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
Fixin’ to Die by Tonya Kappes is the first book in the brand new Kenni Lowry Mystery Series and I absolutely adored it!
~Brooke Blogs
Fixin’ To Die (A Kenni Lowry Mystery)
New Series
Cozy Mystery
Henery Press (June 14, 2016)
Print Length: 179 pages
ASIN: B01D20UR34
My Review
Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres and I’m always excited to start a new series.
Having read Tonya’s Ghostly Southern Mystery series and started on her Laurel London series, I knew I’d be reading more of her books. She has so many different ones too. Check them out. I bet you’ll find some you want to read.
Kenni Lowry follows in her grandfather’s footsteps and gets elected as sheriff in the small town of Cottonwood, Kentucky. Crime has been nearly non-existent, until the local doctor is found murdered.
With re-election coming up fast, Kenni has got to prove to her voters that she can do her job, and do it quickly and to their satisfaction.
And that’s Just one part of this story.
Everywhere Kenni goes, it seems someone is urging her to go see her mother. Not something Kenni is looking forward to. They used to have an easy, close relationship. That is, until Kenni took the job of Sherriff. Her mother thinks it’s no fitting job for an eligible single woman and makes her point every chance she gets. Kenni doesn’t want to deal with the aggravation and you can see where that is going.
Kenni’s also hearing things. A voice no one else hears. It has a familiar ring to it. And when she’s doubting herself and her capabilities to handle a murder investigation, that voice supports her with simple advice. I kept waiting for Kenni to accept that the voice was her long dead Poppa. That he’d come back from beyond to help her. Once she finally did, the story got even more fun.
Kenni is easy to like. She’s funny and outgoing, with just enough tough stuff to make you want to vote for her. I could see her navigating the town in her old jeep, her dog’s head hanging out the window, ears and jowls flapping in the breeze, cruising for trouble and dodging her mother.
Kenni has even more reason to avoid her mother now that there’s a possibility of romance. Boyfriend material is slim to none in the small town until help in the investigation arrives in the guise of the handsome, tall, drink of water, Officer Finn Vincent. He’s on loan to Kenni until she gets a new deputy, and I think he’s a perfect fit for her, as does her mother. Lots of fun with that. The scene with the towel full of holes in all the wrong places was too funny.
I also loved how genuine the small town felt. Like how Luke shows movies in his basement, using a sheet for a screen. I live in a small town and we sometimes have movies projected onto a large screen in the park. Everyone brings blankets or chairs and settles in. Doesn’t matter what the movie was, though I liked some that Luke was showing.
I hope you get a chance to read Fixin’ To Die. You’ll get in on a brand new series from the beginning and probably snort and giggle here and there as you get to know these characters up close personal like.
4 Stars
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Synopsis
Sheriff Kenni Lowry likes to think the zero crime rate in her small town in Kentucky is due to her being sheriff, but quickly discovers her grandfather’s ghost, who happened to be the town’s retired sheriff, has been scaring off any would be crime. Poppa has come back from the great beyond to be Kenni’s deputy after the beloved town doctor is found murdered.
Ghost or no ghost, time is of the essence. After all, re-election isn’t far away and Kenni doesn’t want to look for a new job anytime soon.
About Author Tonya Kappes
For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been self-publishing her numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plotlines and quirky characters, but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans. Be sure to check out Tonya’s website for upcoming events and news and to sign up for her newsletter! Tonyakappes.com
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Kenni Lowry Mystery Series
Also by Tonya Kappes
Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery Series
Magical Cures Mystery Series
A CHARMING CHRISTMAS (novella)
Grandberry Falls Series
A SUPERSTITIOUS CHRISTMAS (novella)
A Laurel London Mystery Series
A Divorced Diva Beading Mystery Series
Bluegrass Romance Series
Women’s Fiction
Young Adult
A Ghostly Southern Mystery Series
Enjoy a free ebook from Tonya when you sign up for her newsletter by clicking here.
Visit Tonya:
Facebook at Author Tonya Kappes
Purchase Links
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I have one eBook copy to give away!
To enter, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win, and answer this question:
“What’s your favorite thing about a cozy mystery?”
Giveaway ends June 23rd.
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TOUR PARTICIPANTS
June 14 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW
June 14 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
June 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
June 15 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
June 15 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
June 16 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
June 16 – fuonlyknew – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
June 17 – Bubble Bath Books – REVIEW
June 17 – Mystery Playground – Drinks with Reads
June 18 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
June 18 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
June 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 20 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
June 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
June 21 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
June 21 – Bab’s Book Bistro – GUEST POST
June 22 – Book Babble – REVIEW
June 23 – Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my! – REVIEW
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
The Healer’s Rune by Lauricia Matuska ~ Book Blast and Giveaway
Posted: June 15, 2016 in Book Blast, Fantasy, giveawaysTags: Author Lauricia Matuska, fantasy, giveaway, The healer's Rune
The Healer’s Rune
by Lauricia Matuska
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis
Three hundred years after a great war shattered the Council of Races, the warriors of Rüddan have all but eradicated their cousins, the faerie Aethel. In so doing, they decimated the Dryht sages and enslaved mortal Humanity. Now a voice rises above the chaos and calls her people to rebel. Young Sabine, one of the Human slaves, must learn to overcome centuries of lies and prejudice to forge an alliance between four enemy races. But what chance does she stand to overthrow the Rüddan with her dangerous secret, a secret that threatens not only her own life but the existence of all the races on the planet?
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Enjoy this peek inside.
A tall, slender figure stood before the wall, a dim shadow outlined in sharp angles by the golden light. Prompted by some silent cue, it stepped into the light and seemed to shrink, as if walking away. Suddenly, it disappeared, and the yellow light began to fade. Before Sabine knew what was happening, the glow winked out so abruptly that bright spots danced through her vision. She waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.
When she could see once more, the wall looked normal, each brick placed upon another in its ordinary manner.
Magic! Sabine began to tremble.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Lauricia Matuska has taught high school literature and creative writing classes for more than ten years. She first discovered the realm of fantasy by traveling with Lucy through the wardrobe to Narnia. Since then, she has established dual-residency between that world and this one, and she currently serves as an ambassador to contemporary youth and young adults. The Healer’s Rune is the first novel in her Ceryn Roh trilogy.
Contact Info:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest
Buy Links:
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The more you comment, the more chances to win!
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
How To Draw Cool Stuff by Catherine V. Holmes ~ Enter for a chance to win!
Posted: June 14, 2016 in Book Blast, giveawaysTags: art, Author Catherine V. Holmes, giveaway, How To Draw Cool Stuff, non-fiction
I used to draw all of the time. Give me a pencil and a piece of paper and anything could emerge. Life got in the way and I haven’t drawn anything in a long time.
I’m currently reading this book and will be sharing some of my drawing attempts along with my review later this month.
For today, I’m sharing the fun cover and blurb and a little something about what you’ll find in these pages.
There’s also a giveaway, so don’t forget to enter!
How To Draw Cool Stuff
Holidays, Seasons and Events
by Catherine V. Holmes
Genre: Non Fiction
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Synopsis
How to Draw Cool Stuff: Holidays, Seasons and Events is a step-by-step drawing guide that illustrates popular celebrations, holidays and events for your drawing pleasure. From the Chinese New Year to April Fools’ Day, Father’s Day to Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Eve – this book covers over 100 fun days, holidays, seasons and events, and offers simple lessons that will teach you how to draw like a pro and get you in the spirit of whichever season it may be!
Some Book Details
Inside you will find specific exercises that offer step-by-step guidelines for drawing a variety of subjects. Each lesson starts with an easy-to-draw shape that will become the basic structure of the drawing. From there, each step adds elements to that structure, allowing the artist to build on their creation and make a more detailed image.
Each art project comes with a chart including information that the artist should be able to KNOW (facts, basic skills), UNDERSTAND (big ideas, concepts, essential questions), and therefore be able to DO (final assessment, performance, measurements of objectives) by the end of the lesson.
This additional information gives these pages more power than just ‘art for art’s sake’ – not that you need it – because art is important enough on its own! Artists are learning about themselves as expressive souls through the process of creating beautiful and interesting work.
The best part is, this is stuff that artists want to draw.
Information for Teachers using this Book:
Teachers can feel confident that they are using instructional time in ways that make a difference for their students when using this guide. Each lesson includes easy-to-follow instruction where the whole process is viewed through a sequence of detailed illustrations that can be linked to historical connections, your curriculum learning standards or adapted into an arts integration lesson. You decide how intense to make each project.
The projects can be differentiated to respond to students’ diverse learning styles through a mixture of visuals and text.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Catherine V. Holmes is an art/ELA teacher and visual artist from historical Plymouth, Massachusetts. She studied at Boston University and at Bridgewater State College where she earned her BFA and MA in ED. She is currently working towards her second Master’s from the University of Scranton. Catherine Holmes specializes in portraits, architecture and illustrations. Her art is inspired by her feelings, ideas, and experiences, whether they are found in nature, the media or in man-made structures. Catherine is also heavily influenced by the interests and suggestions of her students. “To see success through their eyes inspires me to be a better teacher and creator of art.”
Links:
Facebook / Website / Amazon / Series On Amazon
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The more you comment, the more chances to win!
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
Blurb Blitz and Giveaway ~ Cozy Mysteries from Lyrical Press ~ Gotta love them!
Posted: June 14, 2016 in Blitz, Creatures, Excerpt, giveawaysTags: Authors Janet Finsilver and Lynn Cahoon, cozy mysteries, giveaway, Lyrical Press
I love my cozies and have some fun ones to share today.
Fun titles and colorful, whimsical covers!
Check them out.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Murder At The Mansion
A Kelly Jackson Mystery
by Janet Finsilver
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Synopsis
Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .
It’s whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson’s battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter’s lifeless body, menial tasks don’t seem so terrible.
Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly’s on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion’s glamorous façade and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!
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Excerpt
“Welcome, everyone. My name is Lily Wilson, and I’ll be leading the tour today. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask them. There’s a sign-in sheet on the check-in counter. We’ll be starting at one o’clock, which is in five minutes.” She turned in my direction and said, “I’d like to introduce the manager of one of Resorts International properties, Kelly Jackson. She’s in charge of Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast.”
The members of the group smiled an acknowledgment. A short man in a denim shirt and khaki pants raised his hand. Lily smiled at him and asked, “Is there something you’d like to know?”
He pointed to the entrance to the parlor. “What is that shield above the doorway?”
“Redwood Heights was built by Reginald Brandon. That’s the family coat of arms,” Lily said. “There is an official Brandon crest on file. However, Mr. Brandon wanted to design his own to reflect life in the West. On his shield he chose to put the silhouettes of two rearing stallions, symbols of strength. Rifles instead of swords crossed over the top of them—the weapons of that era. Tall redwood trees filled in the area behind them and were the source of his wealth. You can see his motto for loyalty and honor on the banner.”
I enjoyed her explanation. It added another dimension to an object that had just been an interesting piece.
A tall woman with a long brown braid down her back pointed to a picture. “Is this Mr. and Mrs. Brandon?”
“Yes, that picture is of the Brandons,” Lily replied. “The woman in the picture is the second Mrs. Brandon. As with many wealthy families and historic estates, there are questionable stories in their past. Redwood Heights is no different.”
“How so?” asked the woman.
“We don’t have any pictures of the first Mrs. Brandon. She was the belle of glittering New York high society who found herself in remote Redwood Cove. She disappeared not long after arriving. Some say she ran off with a lover. Rumors cropped up that she took a sizeable amount of Brandon’s money, changed her name, and left to enjoy San Francisco’s growing attractions.”
The cadence of Lily’s voice took the story beyond a runaway wife. Her tilted head and arched eyebrow led you down a path of mystery and intrigue. The visitors moved a little closer.
Lily leaned toward them and whispered, “Some say she never left at all.” Her words lingered in the dead silence.
Everyone was still—frozen in that past time. Goose bumps popped up on my arms. Someone coughed, and the spell was broken.
“After a time, Brandon married again. They had no children and, alas, the house went to a distant cousin.”
I’d been mesmerized by the tale. Snapping out of it, I looked around. Sylvia still wasn’t there.
“The tour will meet in the parlor. Restrooms are down the hallway to your right,” Lily instructed the group.
I walked up the carpeted stairs to the second floor, running my hand over the smooth oak railing. It had taken hundreds of polishings to develop the fine patina and rich glow.
Sylvia’s room was the first door at the top of the staircase. I knocked quietly. When there was no response, I knocked harder. She must really be a sound sleeper. I tried the door, but it was locked. I rushed downstairs, retrieved her room key, and glanced at my watch. If Sylvia hurried, she’d still have time to make the start of the tour. Arriving back at her door, I knocked again.
“Mrs. Porter, it’s Kelly. The tour is starting in a couple of minutes.” I got no response, so I unlocked the door and peeked in. Sylvia was sitting in front of her dressing table, her back to me.
I opened the door a little farther. “Mrs. Porter?” I stepped inside the room. In the filtered light from the curtained windows, Sylvia’s image reflected in the mirror. Her eyes were closed, and her head rested on her shoulder. She must have dozed off before making it into bed for a nap.
My attention was drawn to a brooch on the left side of Sylvia’s blouse as I approached her. I hadn’t noticed it before. It was a lovely piece—a large egg-shaped pearl surrounded by a burst of red.
I touched Sylvia’s shoulder. No response.
“Mrs. Porter?” I gently shook her.
Sylvia’s head rolled forward and hung down. Her dangling hair covered the side of her face.
I gasped, and my heart began to pound. I looked more closely at her. The burst of red wasn’t part of a pin—it was blood.
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Author Janet Finsilver
Janet Finsilver and her husband live in the San Francisco Bay Area. She loves animals and has two dogs—Kylie, a Rhodesian ridgeback, and Ellie, a boxer/coonhound mix. Janet enjoys horseback riding, snow skiing, and cooking. She is currently working on her next Redwood Cove mystery.
Website / Kensington Books / Facebook / Twitter
Buy links:
TEA CUPS AND CARNAGE: amazonkindle, Apple, Google, Kobo, Nook
MURDER AT THE MANSION: amazonkindle, Apple, Google, Kobo, Nook
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Tea Cups And Carnage
A Tourist Trap Mystery
by Lynn Cahoon
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Synopsis
The quaint coastal town of South Cove, California, is all abuzz about the opening of a new specialty shop, Tea Hee. But as Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner is about to find out, there’s nothing cozy about murder . . .
Shop owner Kathi Corbin says she came to South Cove to get away from her estranged family. But is she telling the truth? And did a sinister someone from her past follow her to South Cove? When a woman claiming to be Kathi’s sister starts making waves and a dead body is found in a local motel, Jill must step in to clear Kathi’s name–without getting herself in hot water.
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Excerpt
Limping home, I saw Greg’s truck parked at City Hall. I went in through the side door that took me to the police station. Amy kept going, heading home to shower before returning to her job as city hall receptionist.
Greg stood by Esmeralda’s desk and raised his eyebrows when he saw me. “Rough workout? I’m glad I was too busy to go today.”
“Oh, you’ll get yours. Don’t think demon trainer didn’t notice you were gone.”
“Okay. So why are you here?” He pushed a curl back out of my face. “Too far to walk home after the workout?”
“You’re just mean, you know that right?” I sank into the couch. It did feel amazing just to veg for a second or two. Okay, so Greg could have been right about my real motives for the impromptu visit. “Actually, I wanted to know about your call-out last night. I’m assuming this was a murder and not an old guy dying in his sleep.”
“And you deduced that from?” He watched me closely.
Shrugging, I sank deeper into the cushions. No wonder Greg didn’t mind sleeping in his office every so often. The couch was amazing. “No one blabbed, if you’re thinking of blaming Toby. You didn’t call, and you’re still wearing last night’s clothes.”
He chuckled. “You’re right. I guess I’m more transparent than I thought. We don’t know much about the murder, except the guy checked in a few days ago under a false name. Of course, the motel doesn’t ask for any verification or even a credit card. Cash only out there.”
“So he’s not a local.” For some reason, this made me feel better. Sure, it was sad someone had died, but people died all the time. I just didn’t want it to be one of my friends.
“Not that I can tell. But I think it’s the biker who’s been racing up and down Main Street. He fits the description.” Greg shrugged and grinned. “And, there’s a bike parked outside his room. Yep, I’m a trained investigator, I notice these things.”
“Big guy?” I thought about how the elderly woman had almost been smashed by the rider just a few days ago.
“Nope. He’s tall, maybe six feet, but if he weighs more than a hundred fifty soaking wet I’ll buy you dinner.” Greg groaned as he stood and walked across the room to his desk. He pulled me to standing. “I hate it when you do that.”
“Do what?” Now that I was upright, my stomach growled reminding me I hadn’t eaten all day. I dug into my tote and pulled out a protein bar.
“Trick me into telling you more than I should.” He pointed to the door. “Out of here. I’ve got work to do.”
I took a bite of my protein bar as I walked out. Pausing at the door, I turned back to look at him. He was already typing into some document. “I take it I won’t see you for dinner?”
“Not tonight. But I’ll be over on Sunday at the latest.” He paused. “Are you working the festival that day?”
“Just the morning shift. We’re closing the main store and only running the food truck that day.” I adjusted the strap on my tote, feeling the weight on my screaming shoulder blade. I walked out of the office and wondered how bad the murder had been. Just because it was a stranger that lay in the morgue, didn’t mean someone from South Cove hadn’t been involved or known the guy.
Or why else would he have been here?
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Author Lynn Cahoon
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho expat. She grew up living the small town life she now loves to write about. Currently, she’s living with her husband and two fur babies in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. Guidebook to Murder, Book 1 of the Tourist Trap series, won the 2015 Reader’s Crown award for Mystery Fiction. Visit her at www.lynncahoon.com.
Kensington Books / Twitter / Facebook / Website
TEA CUPS AND CARNAGE: amazonkindle, Apple, Google, Kobo, Nook
MURDER AT THE MANSION: amazonkindle, Apple, Google, Kobo, Nook
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Click on the banner below to follow the tour and comment.
The more you comment, the more chances to win!
~~~~~
Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!