Archive for July, 2016

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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

Sunday Post

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 sure is good to be back. My internet was down for quite some time and I missed everyone. I got lucky and the repair person was able to get out to my house much sooner than scheduled, or I’d still be down. What’s weird is the internet came back up on its own just hours before he arrived. I still had him check everything inside and outside of the house and he found nothing wrong. Go figure. LOL

I did manage to have some posts scheduled that went up on time. And I sure did get a lot of reading done with no emails to contend with. LOL Looking forward to visiting with ya’ll today!

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.

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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.

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Other posts on my blog this week.

Book Blast & Giveaway ~ Bring Your Own Baker

4th Of July Summer Of Reading ~ Huge Giveaway

Hump Day Reviews ~ Onyx Webb

The Deepest Black by Rainy Kaye ~ Review and Giveaway

Freebie Friday ~ A Haunted House Tale

The Friday 56 #113 ~ Scar Tissue

Blitz and Giveaway ~ Driving Me Mad

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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.

Driving Me Mad BlitzBanner-2
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Driving Me Mad
by Lindsay Paige
(Sanity #1)
Publication date: July 6th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance
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DMM
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Synopsis:

He was my therapist.

She was my client.

He’s the person I lean on and turn to.

She’s the person who brings me relief when there seems to be none.

He makes me smile and laugh when anxiety and depression consume me.

She helps me breathe when depression is choking me.

I don’t know how to live without him.

I don’t know how to be honest with her.

Are we driving each other mad?

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Kobo / iBooks
Author Lindsay Paige
Lindsay

Lindsay Paige is the author of multiple Young Adult, New Adult, and Sports romances. She also coauthored sports romances with Mary Smith. Along with writing, she loves reading, watching hockey, especially the Pittsburgh Penguins, and finding funny terrible puns and recipes on Pinterest. All the while, she is also focused on completing college.

Lindsay resides in North Carolina and is inspired by the world around her and the people in it. She is currently working on numerous solo works.

Author links: Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

 

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:

Scar Tissue

by M C Domovitch

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Genre: Mystery

From page 56 in the paperback.

“Except for you, I don’t know anybody who really loves me. You should have seen the look on Dominique’s face when she saw me yesterday. She was….repulsed. She couldn’t get out of her fast enough.”

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Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

When successful model Ciara Kelly wakes up in hospital, remembering nothing of the weeks she has been missing, her only clues are the ugly words carved into her skin. According to the police she was a victim of the Cutter, a serial killer who has already murdered three women. For her protection the police and her doctors give a press conference, announcing that because her amnesia is organically caused, her memory loss is permanent. But, whether her memory returns or not is anybody’s guess. Overnight, Ciara’s glamorous life is gone. Her scars have killed both her modelling career and her relationship with her rich boyfriend. With nothing to keep her in New York, she returns to her home town of Seattle, moves in with her sister and goes about building a new life. But when her sister lets it slip that Ciara’s memory is returning, the killer comes after her again. If Ciara is to stay alive, she must keep one step ahead of the Cutter.

AMAZON

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I’m reviewing this for a tour in September. I opened it to take a peek and finished it in one night. I’m excited to share with you, but have to wait!

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

Until the next time…

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews 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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Gotta love a freebie! Anthony has a creepy short story for you.

Just click on the links at the bottom of the post to get yours.

A Haunted House Tale

by Anthony Renfro

Genre:Horror Short Story

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My Review

They must have seen the movies, read the books. Yet these five friends think it won’t happen to them.

Clearly something will and does.

The legend is, if you survive the night, you receive untold riches.

The temptation lures them in.

There’s safety in numbers, right?

Then it all goes south and everyone is scrambling to get out.

I never get tired of these stories. I was thinking of Scream, the movie, where they go over all of the rules of what not to do.

If these characters had any sense, they’d know not to go in that house, but then I wouldn’t have had such fun reading what happens to them.

3 Stars

Synopsis

This short story is about five students on Halloween night who discover the secrets and terrors of the town’s most infamous haunted house. Will they live to see the morning?

Links

Amazon – US / UK / AU / CA

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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new release rk

Today, we’re celebrating the release of THE DEEPEST BLACK by USA Today Bestselling author Rainy Kaye. THE DEEPEST BLACK is 99 cents for a limited time! Check it out, then scroll all the way down to enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card!

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ipad tdbEmber has a little problem…fairies want her dead.

Ember spends her Friday nights lurking in the bad parts of town, killing fairies. It’s either that, or become a victim to their flesh-eating hunger.

Then she meets Remy, a fae who, despite getting on her nerves, isn’t evil. He tells her that a shadow has been consuming his world, changing its inhabitants and letting destructive beasts into his city. He is searching for his brother who went missing during the catastrophe.

When a team of mercenaries come for Ember, she has little choice but to join Remy in his quest. Together, they decide to bait a trap. What they find reveals the destruction of the fae world means the end of the human world, too–and it’s Ember’s fault.

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My Review

The blurb gives you a pretty good idea what you’re in for as far as the plot in this book. So, I’m going to share with you how it made me feel.

To begin, you meet Ember while she’s doing what she does best, killing Fae. She’s tough and smart. I like that about her. But talk about being an extreme adrenaline junkie. These Fae are bad to the bone and they’ve got wind of Ember. Not so easy to sneak up on them now, and they even begin to set traps for her.

When Remy entered the picture I feared it would become all about romance. Nope. More action, some snappy back and forth dialogue, and plenty of sarcasm. Gotta love that!

This is my first book by Rainy Kaye. Been wanting to try her books, but you know how that goes. So many books, so little…. I finally got to read one and sure got my money’s worth. Plenty of action, strong writing with no frills, and characters that are believable and likable.  I’m huge on character driven stories, and these came to life for me.

For all of you fantasy/urban fantasy lovers, grab this one! It’s a kick ass read from beginning to fiery finish!

4 Stars

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rk16

Rainy Kaye writes paranormal novels from her lair somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona. She is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA, and her Summoned series was acquired by Bastei Lübbe. In 2014, she reached the USA Today Bestseller list. Today, she’s taking care of her small zoo of furry animals and trying to remember where she left her coffee.

Twitter | FacebookWebsite
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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What day is it? It’s Hump Day! And I have three awesome books to share with you.

I’ve been hooked on the Onyx Webb series from the first episodes and have just finished the third, fourth and fifth books containing Episodes 7 thru 15.

Onyx Webb

Book Three – Episodes 7 thru 9

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My Review

As the author’s promised, these next three episodes start tying together the characters from past to future.

I knew things were going to be revealed. I knew it would get darker, scarier. And I knew there would be new mysteries and questions.

What I didn’t expect was for this story to explode. I couldn’t believe how excited, grossed out, and happy I became. I can’t begin to imagine

Every time I thought I knew something, especially about Onyx, I was given another enigma. It’s no secret  that Onyx is dead, it’s the how that I can’t seem to put my finger on. And every time I started to feel bad for her, something horrific happened and I remembered the Onyx I met in the first episodes.

As old characters entered the story, and new ones were introduced, I got more excited to read what was in store for them. These authors pull no punches and I bet they laugh and high five each other when something particularly dastardly culminates when they put their heads together.

So many breath stealing scenes make these some excellent new episodes. My non writer description of the Onyx Webb series so far: scattered, covered, and smothered in dark delicacies.

I hope I’ve teased you enough to give this series a go. I promise you, it’s hypnotic and unpredictable. Oh, and addictive. I should also point out, it’s meant to be read in order so make sure you start at the beginning.

5 Stars

Synsopsis

Welcome Back to the World of Onyx Webb. This is Book Three. (Episodes 7, 8, and 9) One reviewer describes it as: “A suspenseful ghost story with a light touch of horror, a heavy dose of gruesome, and a cast of characters where some, but not all, are exceptionally creepy.”

The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times. The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series. Written like a book version of a supernatural soap opera, each character’s story moves forward with most every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

In Book Three… It’s in the late 30’s and Onyx and Ulrich have started a new life in Crimson Cove, Oregon. It’s 2010, and Koda Mulvaney is picking up the pieces of the latest tragedy and still looking for the girl in the mirror. Paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge have a run in with a ghost at the Open Arms. It’s the 60’s and Declan Mulvaney is building the family fortune – a good intent with horrible consequences.

AMAZON

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Onyx Webb

Book Four – Episodes 10 thru 12

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My Review

With each new book, I think the same thing. This is the best one yet. And it’s true.

What I loved most about these next episodes were the ghosts. There were plenty and all were so different. Oh, how I wish I could tell you all about them.

And I’d also love to tell you what’s happening with the characters. Their stories are getting louder, with even minor characters becoming larger and more important to the series. After reading so many horror stories and watching all of those horror movies, it’s nothing new to me for authors to kill off their characters or put them through some hellacious ordeals. These two authors should feel lucky their characters can’t retaliate. LOL I’d love to have been a fly on the wall while they were cooking up some of the scenes I read. Just hope they don’t have a fly swatter.

I’m crossing my fingers some aspiring film maker spots these stories and makes Onyx Webb into a series. How cool that would be!

5 Stars

Synsopsis

More questions get answered in Book Four. A darkness is building and more supernatural twists occur. Onyx Webb is a series you will enjoy reading more than once. After you finish Book Four, consider a complete re-read of the series!

A multi-genre mash-up that combines elements of supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more.

The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times. The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series. Written like a book version of a supernatural soap opera, each character’s story moves forward with most every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

AMAZON

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Onyx Webb

Book Five – Episodes 13 thru 15

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My Review

Things are ramping up even more in this next book in the series. The past and present are getting closer together and you begin to see how the different character’s stories are connected. Not to say that there aren’t still a lot of unknowns.

And watch out for those got ya’s the authors spring on you. Plenty of shocking surprises await you, along with their trademark horror and suspense.

It continues to amaze me how these authors keep the reading flowing so smoothly with so many characters. Especially as their actions have a ripple affect on each other from past to present.

It was also fun to get some answers while more were raised. My brain worked overtime trying to guess what was coming.

Let’s not forget the horror. The ghosties are all through this book and the eerie atmosphere is palpable. You really do want to look over your shoulder to see what might be there. You will jump at the slightest noise. And the anticipation is killer.

I’m lucky if I finish a series. I read so many and they often have so many books in each one. Plus, sometimes the series never gets finished. I honestly was reluctant to start this one. But, the author’s promised they would complete their series. And to be honest, I fell in love with the cover art and couldn’t resist a scary story. That being said, I’ve stocked up on Doritos and Hershey’s Chocolate Bars, my required reading staples, and am waiting anxiously for the next installment.

5 Stars

Synopsis

Welcome Back to the World of Onyx Webb! This is Book Five. (Episodes 13, 14 & 15) Haven’t Gotten Entangled Yet? Please Start with Book One. Readers of the series will see the web tighten in this book, the past and present are slowly starting to catch up to each other and shocking connections continue to be made.

Onyx Webb is a complex multi-genre mash-up that combines elements of supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times.

The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series. Written like a book version of your favorite tv series (think: supernatural soap opera like American Horror Story) each character’s story moves forward with most every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

In Book Five: It’s the 1980’s and Bruce Mulvaney starts his own family while a killer watches from afar. It’s 2010, and the Mulvaney’s are dealing with Koda’s accident. Onyx Webb fights to keep her way of life.

AMAZON

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I’m sharing my previous reviews of the first two books so you don’t have to leave this page.

Onyx Webb

Book One – Episodes 1 thru 3

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My Review

I loved everything about this book. From the different points of view to the different dates in time to the fantastic illustrations and the hair raising creepiness.

When I reached the end of this book, Onyx Webb was still an enigma to me. I know there are many more episodes to come and I’m sure I’ll figure her out. The jury is still out about her right now.

Ever wanted to know how it felt to be a ghost? From what I learned in this book, it’s no fun. Can’t taste, can’t feel, and can’t love. Why stick around? This story will tell you why.

Taking place in different time periods, all of the characters start their stories here and it’s promised by the authors that following episodes will reveal their full stories and bring all of the characters together.

For now, I’m just getting to know Onyx and her father Catfish, rich boy Koda Mulvaney and his best friend Dane, Quinn Cole and his missing sister Juniper, and a slew of secondary characters.

I’ve read other books written in episodes but not quite like this. The characters stories span many centuries but it’s easy to follow them as their voices speak clearly. And there are several mysteries happening at different times and I have no clue how they’ll all come together.

I also knew there wouldn’t be an ending in this book, so no surprise there. And that’s the ‘hook.’ I was hooked from the first chapter, compelled to keep reading, and in no hurry to finish.

The illustrations are spectacular and the writing is easy to follow. Not what you’d expect at all with the story occurring in several different time periods and told from many points of view.

Trying to label this, I’d call this a ghost story and a mystery. Maybe adding a dash of historical too. With lots of showing and some telling. Short chapters that make the read fly. And I believe I already mentioned the illustrations. They are all through the book and ‘tell’ a story too.

There are several more books to come, each containing three episodes. You can bet I’m off to grab the second book now and will be watching for others as they are released.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Delectably Creepy. Gripping. Fascinating.
Onyx Webb is a multi-genre mash-up that combines supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. So the story… Onyx Webb is a ghost. Billionaire playboy Koda Mulvaney becomes obsessed with a girl he sees inside a mirror. Juniper Cole is on her way to the prom and… well, we don’t want to spoil anything – we’ve probably told you too much already. How all these events are related is part of the mystery that is, Onyx Webb.

The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times. The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series. Written like a book version of a supernatural soap opera (think: American Horror Story) each character’s story moves forward with most every episode.

It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

AMAZON

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Onyx Webb

Book Two – Episodes 4 thru 6

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My Review

As with the first book, you get three episodes.

I’m starting to get a feel for Onyx now. She kind of creeped me out in the first book. Now, I’m learning more about what she went through and why she wound up where she was. I wish I could have told her to leave that no good husband of hers.

Rich boy Koda is still obsessing over the girl in the mirror. His father and grandfather finally drill it into his head to get back to work or lose his job and all that money. When his good friend Dane suggests he go see a psychic, Koda’s skeptical. Yet, he gives in and boy does it go wrong on so many levels. This could be the end of their friendship.

I swear, what happened to Koda with the psychic came out of left field. I didn’t see it coming and it was just so awful, yet funny too. Can I get a, “There’s a sucker born every minute?”

I’d love to share more of the characters but then I’d be telling you everything. I’m becoming quite attached to all of them. They’re revealing more of their stories, their circumstances, and it’s really getting exciting.

I was worried I’d forget who was who and have trouble jumping forward and back in time, but the authors made it easy. I fell right back in and became lost in the pages.

The authors are starting to tie in some of the characters from future and past events. I got really excited as I saw this happening. And they also through me for a loop with one tragic event. I couldn’t believe it. Why? It’s just so sad. I’m sure they will string it into upcoming episodes. I’m kind of curious how they plan to do that.

Here’s where I wish I was a writer so I could express how this series makes me feel. How these next three episodes got to me. It seemed like every page had something vital to tell or show me. I couldn’t read fast enough. Before I knew it there were only a few pages left. And then, none.

With several points of view and places in time, this is not a book to be read by itself. You really need to start this series at the beginning. That being said, I hope you try them. It’s a thrilling experience that keeps you engaged and hungry for more.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Best-Selling Authors Fenton & Waltz Welcome You to the World of Onyx Webb. This is Book Two. (Episodes 4, 5, and 6) One reviewer says, “Fabulous. Different. Odd. Crazy. Wonderful. I’ve never read anything like it. You’ve created the weirdest, coolest new genre of fiction and I love it.”

The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times. Written like a book version of a supernatural soap opera, each character’s story moves forward with most every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer And this is especially true in Book Two. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

In Book Two… It’s the 30’s and Declan Mulvaney and best friend Tommy Bilazzo learn to survive at the Open Arms Orphanage despite the adults who run the place. It’s 2010, and Koda Mulvaney is insane trying to see the girl in the mirror again. Onyx Webb is finds herself living all over the country married to the crazy German, Ulrich, with no way out.

Special Note: All the pictures and graphical memes can be found in our Onyx Webb Series pinterest catalog.

AMAZON

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About Andrea Waltz and Richard Fenton:

Andrea Waltz and Richard Fenton

Richard Fenton & Andrea Waltz are best known as the authors of the #1 Amazon Sales & Selling book, Go for No!  They are professional speakers who travel internationally speaking to audiences about how to overcome fear of failure and rejection.  Although they have written several business books over the last fifteen years, Onyx Webb is their first fictional series.

They are married and manage to write to together while staying happily married, a fact they are very proud of. Richard and Andrea live in Central Florida along with their cat, Courage.

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Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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FinishedSummerofReadingGiveaway$100GC
Welcome to the 4th of July Summer of Reading Giveaway!

The authors below are offering up a $150 Amazon Gift Card so you can get your read on!

Please check out the books below, some are Free, Free with KU, or Inexpensive.

Young Adult

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New Adult

LovesSecretTorment_Amazon[3]

Sweet Romance

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Contemporary Romance

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Women’s Fiction

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Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy

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Science Fiction

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Want to win a $150 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the authors in the rafflecopter below for a chance. Open WW 18+ Ends July 20, 2016 @ 11:59 PM EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

summerGWfinished

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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BRING YOUR OWN BAKER book blast large banner 640

Bring Your Own Baker
by D.E. Haggerty

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BYOBCV

Bring Your Own Baker (Death by Cupcake Book 2)
Cozy Mystery
Self Published
Print Length: 166 pages
Publication Date: June 20, 2016
ASIN: B01FJVGWXI
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Synopsis

Anna just wants to earn enough money on the side to buy into the bakery, Callie’s Cakes, where she works together with her best nerd pal, Callie. The last thing she expects to see when she walks into Arthur’s apartment to do some moonlighting is a blood bath. Callie’s ready to jump into the investigation of Arthur’s murder, and she’s bringing another bakery worker, Kristie, into their hijinks whether Kristie wants to or not. But things aren’t as they seem. There are gang affiliations, illegal gambling dens, and ladies of the night to wade through. Will Anna and Callie discover who murdered Arthur, or will Callie’s detective boyfriend and Anna’s self-appointed protector put a stop to such aspirations?

Come join us at Callie’s Cakes, where murder investigations are on the menu, but make sure to bring your own baker, because Anna’s a bit preoccupied at the moment.

Warning: This is NOT your mom’s cozy mystery. Bring Your Own Baker may be a ‘clean’ read, but if gangs, illegal gambling, and pimps make you turn your nose up at your e-reader, you might want to skip this one. Although you’ll be missing some sizzling chemistry between Anna and her protector. Not to mention a whole bunch of witty dialogue.

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Check out this glimpse inside!

I grasp the weapon in my hand and throw it with all my might at him. The weapon makes a ‘tee-hee’ sound as it hits his stomach.

“Did you just throw a Pillsbury dough boy at me?” His voice carries a hint of humor. The Pillsbury dough boy was probably not the best item to grab from the kitchen to use as a weapon. Obviously, I’m totally losing it.

I inch backward into the kitchen searching for a more appropriate weapon. Dag nab it! The knives are way over on the other side. I have no choice. Without taking my eyes of the man, I grab a perfectly formed and probably fricking delicious muffin from the tin and throw it at the intruder. It seems my fastball needs some work as he just catches the muffin as if I merely lobbed it in his direction. He smiles and, not bothering with the paper liner, takes a huge bite.

“Mmmm…,” he groans around a mouthful. “This is really good.”

“Seriously?” I throw my arms in the air before planting my hands on my hips. “If you want my muffins, just come to the bakery. You don’t have to break in.” Uh oh, I nearly forgot that he broke in. I start backing up again, getting ever closer to those knives.

The man’s eyes narrow as he notices me shuffling my way towards the potential weapons. He stalks me and, when he’s only an arm’s length away, reaches around me and grabs the knife block. He keeps his eyes steady on me as he places the block on top of the refrigerator. Somewhere I can only reach if I get out my step ladder.

“Who are you? And what are you doing here?” I may be terrified and my voice may stutter a bit, but I’m not backing down. Not. One. Bit.

“You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you?”

“Who you calling little?” Apparently, I have no regard for my safety at all as I’m now goading an intruder.

The man chuckles. His smile shows a perfect set of teeth. Huh, not exactly what I expected from Mr. Piercings and Tattoos. “For a pink-haired pixie, you sure aren’t afraid, are you?”

~~~~~

DENA

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although I did manage every once in a while to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. Another job change, this time from lawyer to B&B owner and I was again fed up and ready to scream I quit, which is incredibly difficult when you own the business. Thus, I shut the B&B during the week and in the off-season and started writing. Several books later I find myself in Istanbul writing full-time.

 

Author Links:

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Google + / Pinterest / Goodreads

Buy links:

Amazon / Smashwords / B&N / Kobo

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July 5

Back Porchervations – Review

Babs Book Bistro

fuonlyknew

Bookjunkie’s Book Blog

The Girl with Book Lungs

Kaisy Daisy’s Corner

Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews

Island Confidential

Socrates’ Book Reviews

3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!

LibriAmoriMiei

JULY 6

Community Bookstop – Review

Laura’s Interests – Review

Sleuth Cafe

Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review

Brooke Blogs

Tea and A Book – Review

StoreyBook Reviews

Christa Reads and Writes

Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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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

Sunday Post

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! You’re going to notice a very different post today. No books! LOL

My internet got taken out by lightning on Monday and I haven’t been able to do anything. I drove to Pensacola to my sister’s house to clear out emails and set up this quick post.

Sure do miss ya’ll, but it will probably be around July 11th before I’m up and running again.

Until then, have a wonderful July 4th weekend. Stay safe and see ya soon!

Laura (sad and missing ya!)

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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.

Welcome to the release event for Caught Bread Handed by Ellie Alexander! This is the fourth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series and releases June 28th by St. Martin’s Press. You can buy it from your local bookshop or order a signed copy from the authors local bookshop.

Guest Post: Baking Behind the Scenes

Welcome to Torte, where the bread is always served warm with a pat of hand-churned butter, and a side of love. Torte, the artisan family bakeshop in my culinary mystery series, is a gathering place for the community. Locals and tourists stop in for fresh raspberry scones, slices of decadent double chocolate cake, and to talk about all the gossip and news around town. I love getting to create a comforting and welcoming bakeshop and writing about food. However, I’m not a trained pastry chef which means that I spend a lot of time visiting real bakeries and interviewing professional chefs. It’s a rough job, I know.

I thought it would be fun to give you a taste (pun intended) of the research that goes into learning the inner workings of the culinary world.

For starters I think about the actual space. Because Torte is located in Ashland, Oregon, home of the world famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival, it has to have a touch of Shakespeare and whimsy. It’s painted cheery red and teal blue with corrugated metal siding, bistro tables, and a chalkboard menu. One of my bakery inspirations is a place called Cake Happy in Camas, Washington. It’s a family run shop with gorgeous window displays, a rustic elegant vibe, and plenty of cozy couches to curl up with a red velvet cupcake and steaming hot latte.

Another thing that I do when I’m working on a book is interview pastry chefs. I’ve learned so many tricks of the trade, quick tips for baking, and even gotten a few new ideas on how to bump someone off in a bakeshop from chatting with chefs. I’ve been so impressed to watch how they orchestrate a blur of staff, a frenzy of chopping knives, and plate after plate of styled food. One of the most amazing experiences that I’ve had behind the scenes in a professional kitchen was at the NW Culinary Institute where I spent an evening watching chefs-in-training at work as they prepared a six course meal that almost too pretty to eat and tasted even better.

Speaking of taste, I can’t even begin to count how many pastries and baked goods I’ve sampled in the last few years. Don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining, but my waistline might be in trouble. Whenever I travel I ask for recommendations on the best places to score a sweet eat in town. I’ve never been disappointed in my search and I try to find unusual flavor combinations and exotic delicacies when I’m exploring a new place, some of which have even found their way into the pages of the books. One standout tasting memory was at the dessert buffet in Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I still dream of the miles of cakes, macaroons, chocolate dipped strawberries, and petit fours. Yum!

Lastly, one of the most rewarding and humbling things about writing the series has been connecting with local bakers. They have welcomed me into their kitchens, championed the books, and created stunning masterpieces like this cakescape from the book release party for the third book in the series, On Thin Icing. My local pastry muse is Kristina with Tier Catering who treated the audience to a hands-on icing demonstration and a tutorial on the best way to cut a cake. Seriously, I think I have the best job ever!

Here’s to all the bakers—whether in your home kitchen or in a 5-star restaurant—I hope you enjoy my fictional bakeshop in Caught Bread Handed.

Happy Baking!

~Ellie

About the Book:
Welcome to Torte—a friendly, small-town family bakeshop where the oven is heating up as high as the body count…

Jules Capshaw is still chewing over her husband Carlos’s return to Ashland, Oregon. Could there be too many cooks in the kitchen? Whatever is stirring between those two will have to wait. Despite the Oregon Shakespeare Festival being dark for the winter, the bakeshop is bustling, the dough is rolling, and there’s no rest for the weary… especially when murder is thrown into the mix.

When Mindy Nolan, the owner of a new restaurant in town, turns up dead, the batter at hand thickens. Jules knows that there was bad blood between Mindy and others in town, and tracking the killer could prove to be an unwelcome treat. And to top it all off, there’s Carlos, who is pleading—with those delicious dark eyes and sexy Spanish accent—for Jules to take him back. Is home where the heart is or will she make a fresh start… and risk getting burned?

About the Author:
Ellie Alexander is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she’s not coated in flour, you’ll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter to learn more.

 
 

GIVEAWAY:

 

 

Signed copies of all 4 books in the Bakeshop Mysteries, Cupcake tea towel and pot holder, Love cake topper, Bakeshop page flags, Assortment of gourmet lemonade and Triple Chocolate Chunk cookie mix.
US only.
Ends July 20th
Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 18. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

 

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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