Archive for August, 2016

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:

Save The last Dance

by Eric Joseph and Eva Ungar Grudin

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Genre: Romance

From page 56 in the paperback.

Since we started writing I too have been awash in memories – and intense feelings – actually I’ve been unable to concentrate on anything else – nervously waiting for your replies.

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Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

In Save the Last Dance the reader is allowed to eavesdrop on correspondence among people caught in an extraordinary situation- the sudden intrusion of long-ago love into the humdrum lives of older people.

Adam Wolf and Sarah Ross were teenage sweethearts who grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in the late 50’s and early 60’s. They set a wedding date when they turned fifteen. The day came and went. For most of their lives the two were out of contact.

With their 50th high school reunion approaching, Adam and Sarah reconnect. Email exchanges- after the first tentative “hi”, then a deluge- five, ten- by the end of the week twenty emails a day. Soon Sarah admits, “All my life I’ve been looking for someone who loves me as much as you did”.

In their late sixties now, the couple are far apart geographically, but again inseparable, at least virtually. They feel ageless. Adam dances around the house, no longer “zombie-walking to Waldheim Cemetery”. The two weave from nostalgia and reminiscences to plans and possibilities. They giggle and fantasize. They trust each other with secrets never revealed before.

Too soon, harsh disapproval besieges the couple’s dream world. Adam is married to Lola, a frustrated and hypercritical wife. His employer, Amanda, grows obsessively possessive of him. Divorced from her arrogant husband, Professor Harold Weinstein, Sarah has just entered into a relationship with Gordon, whom she once thought of as “a keeper”. Can Adam and Sarah’s newly-rebuilt romance withstand the pummeling from the people whose lives they’ve derailed?

AMAZON

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This story is told through emails and text messages. I’m having fun with it. Always looking for that ‘something different.’

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

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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Things to be happy about:

flannel pajamas

dachshunds

tiered jewelry boxes

remembering when all soda came in glass bottles and had sugar in it

someone laughing

It’s been a very quiet week for me and I couldn’t think of what to post today. So, I pulled together a short review and am asking for your help on which book to review next.

I’ve read a bunch of books and really need to get some reviews written before I forget the stories. You can choose from the ones I’ll be showing below or I’m open to suggestion!

The Army Of The Night

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Review

The great thing about short stories is they aren’t that expensive and you get a sample of the author’s writing to see if they are a good fit for you.

And now and then you find that little gem that just wows you.

This is tagged as a historical horror and that’s what you get. But when Napoleon needs to find a safe passage to retreat through the mountains, the author gives you a supernatural solution. You can bet the solution comes with strings. Some horrific ones.

The writing pulls you right in and the historical setting comes through as the anticipation builds. Once the secret hidden in the mountains is revealed, the action really gets going and the horror comes out.

So glad I tried this story and would love it if the author chose to write more about the characters and beings that haunt these pages.

4 Stars

Synopsis

It’s 1813. Napoleon’s army needs to retreat from Spain and return to France, but the main pass across the jagged peaks of the Pyrenees is within easy reach of the British forces.
In his search for an alternative escape route, Alaine Bellanger discovers more than just an ancient mountain trail. High up, in a cleft between two peaks, he finds something very strange indeed — and someone even stranger.
But who can he tell?
And who would believe him?
(A long short story: 17,000 words.)

If you want to read this one, it’s free right now on Amazon. Just click on the cover to grab a copy!

***

And now for some I’ve read and need to review. Let me know which you want to read next or suggest something else!

Pale Rider: Zombies Versus Dinosaurs #1

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This is also free on Amazon. Just click on the cover to grab your copy!

Synopsis

“I am often left to wonder why a zombie, walking around in the sun, smells better than a pooping dinosaur.”

Two worlds collide in this action novelette. Zombies have destroyed civilization. Gasoline fuel is no longer an option, but humanity must find a way to survive. In response to trying to restore our way of life, we engineer franken-monsters. Because of their small brains and massive sizes, these beasts make quick work of farming and clearing land. These large creatures are immune to the zombie virus and perform excellently in loud conditions. They are easy to train. They behave like war horses, prone to help charge in and defend our livelihood.

In honor of the past, and to help build our future, we named these creatures dinosaurs.

***

Turning Grace

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Synopsis

**Medal Winner of the 2014 New Apple Book Awards in the E-Book Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Category**

Life or death?
It all seems to be the same for Grace…

Some of us have been there before — falling for the hot, popular jock who just so happens to be dating the hot, popular girl in school.

Your snarky-but-always-right bestie insists you make a move, but you’re not so much into putting yourself out there.

Then it happens, and suddenly you find yourself eating a cat on your neighbor’s porch.

No? Never happened to you?

Well, Grace Watkins can’t say the same. Her hunger is growing with each day that passes and her urges are getting harder to control.
No one can explain why her body is changing, except one man.

***

Hell’s Gate: A Victorian Monster Novel

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Synopsis

Uncle Howard went looking for Hell. No-one imagined he might find it.

The locals say he sacrifices girls to demons at his estate on the remote coast of Victorian Ireland. But no-one has seen him for weeks before Hope and her family arrive to visit.

Did he leave on another quixotic quest, or does he have something more dangerous than fairies living at the bottom of his garden?

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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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Alway You

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Always You

by Ruth Roberts

After tragedy strikes, Diana Mathison finds herself back in her home town of Magnolia Falls, sharing custody of her baby sister with her step sister. Reeling from the death of their parents, the three sisters have to learn how to lean on each other and live life without their two pillars of strength. Diana is full of doubts in her ability to raise a little girl and run her father’s law firm. The last thing she needs is to have Zack Connelly back in her life. The last time she let him in she ended up hurt and broken hearted.

Zack has given up on true love. It’s not for him and it’s certainly not with Diana Mathison. He came back to Magnolia Falls to heal after losing his sweet wife and their unborn child at the hands of a drunk driver. Hannah never had a chance at the love and happiness she deserved, therefore neither should he. His life plan is to take care of his sister and niece for as long as they need him, and to be the best veterinarian the town has ever had. That’s enough for him…or is it?

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Excerpt

He handed her a glass of red wine then busied himself at the stove with dinner. Diana watched him as she slowly sipped the wine. She enjoyed watching the muscles on his back stretch the fabric of his shirt when he bent over. A perusal of the view further down was even better.

He closed the oven, turned, and looked at her. A smile played on his lips as he slowly walked to her. He had caught her staring at his very sexy backside. “Miss Mathison, I do believe you were checking me out,” he said.

She held his piercing gaze. “And what if I was?”

He wrapped his arms loosely around her waist. “I have absolutely no objections. However, I’d say that entitles me to at least a kiss.”

“That sounds like a fair trade.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. He leaned down and captured her lips in a slow, teasing kiss meant to set her on fire. She was certain that was his goal because she felt herself being slowly consumed by heat only Zack could evoke in her. If he could do this to her with a kiss, she was afraid of what would happen if he made love to her. She’d probably go up in flames leaving a pile of ashes in his bed. That thought made her smile, almost making her laugh.

“Do you find my kisses laughable?” He asked.

“Not even remotely,” she said.

“Dare I ask why you were smiling when I was kissing you?”

She shook her head. “Believe me, you don’t want to know—well, maybe you would. But I’m not telling.”

“Ah, so it was something good. A fantasy that included me perhaps?”

Just then the timer on the oven began beeping. “Saved by the bell,” she said, lifting her glass of wine to her lips.

He shut off the timer and pulled dinner out of the oven and set it on the counter. “You aren’t getting off that easy. I’ll find out. Question is, should I use bribery or coercion?” He asked.

“Go for bribery,” she replied, outrageously.

“In that case—” He lifted a small bite of filet mignon to her lips with his fingers. She took the bite he offered, it tasted better than anything she ever had, possibly because it also had a taste of Zack.

“That is delicious. Anymore of that and you’ll soon have me revealing all my thoughts to you.”

“I want to know your thoughts, especially if they include me. I want to know what’s in your heart, particularly if there is a place for me. Because my thoughts and my heart are filled with you. Only you. Always you.”

add to goodreads

 

Ruth RobertsAuthor Ruth Roberts

Romance novelist Ruth Roberts lives in the Big D, where city life abounds but the wide open spaces Texas is famous for are within easy reach. Her books transport readers to the glittering life of high-society, while making the characters normal, fun people we would all like to have as friends. She loves reading, writing and Gilmore Girls. She and her teenage daughter call themselves the real life Gilmore Girls. Her very own romantic hero of twenty years is her greatest inspiration and support.

Website

 

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Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 8/26/16

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 

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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Teaser

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB at Books And A Beat.

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

 

My Teaser for this week is from

Mummy’s Little Angel

by J.W. Lawson

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Genre: Psychological Thriller

My teaser from 10% in the eBook.

You also mentioned that he treated Gran, the head case. Is she still insane, Mum, or did he perform a miracle on her – as he’ll need to with me?

Only time will tell, Dr. Jonathan.

I wish you the best of luck.

~~~~~

Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

Joanne didn’t believe that her life could become worse than it already was. She had lost everybody and everything she had loved. Surely she had suffered enough? The press had called Joanne’s identical twins psychopaths. Her Maggie. Her Annie. But she still loved them, even though one of them had killed her husband, Jeff. Joanne believed that his murder had been an accident. How could one of her girls be a murderer? She knew them better than anybody else; they were good girls really. She just had to prove it… The brutal murder of Joanne’s goddaughter, Laura had never been solved. Items had been missing when Laura’s remains were discovered: clues that could lead to the capture of her killer. One of them was Laura’s doll … the doll that Joanne later discovers in her home. Joanne is facing the most horrific dilemma of her life. Has the wrong woman been imprisoned? Could her child have used such brutality against her best friend? Or could both women be innocent after all? Joanne needs to find somebody for her daughter to confide in; somebody she will trust. She needs a miracle. There is only one person who can help. He is compassionate and caring, with an amazing ability to gain the trust of the most difficult patients. He is Joanne’s only hope. He is Jonathan Davies.

AMAZON

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Check out my list of reviews 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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Things to be happy about:

wrought-iron birdcages 

summer vegetable gardens

cookie cutters

jeweled necklines

painted turtles

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Address To Die For

by Mary Feliz

Right off the bat, I enjoyed the tempo of author Mary Feliz’s writing. No wasted words or dragging scenes. Just a fast paced story both well written, and thought out.
~Lisa K’s Book Reviews

The author did a great job with the characters and setting you can easily imagine you are a part of the story.
~Sleuth Cafe

Ms. Feliz’s writing style is engaging and made for a most enjoyable read.
~Back Porchervations

With fresh new characters and a strong story, you won’t be able to put this one down.
~Shelley’s Book Case

Be sure and get yourself comfortable as you read this hard to put down book.
~Texas Book-aholic

The plot was interesting and developed at an even pace, with a few unexpected twists leading up to the story’s resolution. All in all, a nice light read.
~Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes

I thought this book had some really interesting characters and it was different from other cozies I have read…
~Storeybook Reviews

Rich in detail and vivid descriptions, the story takes place in the small town of Orchard Valley, in the hills above Silicon Valley. This captivating and fast-paced whodunit tale has enough quirky characters, witty humor, drama, intriguing twists and turns, and conspiracy theories that will keep you guessing.
~Jersey Girl Book Reviews

I thought this was a well written book with a good plot. It kept me turning pages and guessing up until the end.
~Melina’s Book Blog

ADDRESS TO DIE FOR

New Series
Cozy Mystery
Lyrical Underground (July 19, 2016)
E-book – 320 pages
ASIN: B01B0KK5P8
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My Review

Maggie has a lot on her plate right from the beginning. Her and her husband and two sons have just arrived at their new home and it’s turned out to be much more of a project to get ready to live in than they thought. While doing a run through to see what needs to be done, they find a dead man in their basement. What a way to say hello to your new neighbors. Their front lawn is soon filled with emergency vehicles and flashing lights.

I’m huge on making lists and enjoy checking it and crossing off the items I’ve accomplished. I need those lists to keep from spinning in circles. Now to remember to take them with me. LOL To say Maggie makes lists is a huge understatement. Her business, Simplicity Itself Organizing Services, is making lists for clients and organizing everything for them. Who would have thought, with so much going wrong right from the first day in their new home, that she might need help herself.

I better not forget to mention the vandalism. It seems someone has targeted Maggie’s new home and is trying to either drive her family out, or burn the place down. The vandalism spreads to her son’s school and it seems to be connected. All trails lead back to home.  As vandalism turns to violence, fear and danger escalate. More than hopes of a new life are at stake.

 I enjoyed the tips for organizing that Maggie offers at the beginning of each chapter. Not sure I’d ever be that organized, but I’ll be using some and there are others I already do. Good to know I’m not the only one who thinks and thinks again.

There are lots of characters to meet, and while you don’t get to see some of them that often, they are easily recognizable. The author really does a great job of fleshing them out with just a few words here and there about their attitudes and the way they carry themselves. That was wonderful, because I’m huge on character driven stories.

It took me a bit to start adding some people to my own suspect list. One was fairly obvious pretty quickly, but I had a feeling that one was too obvious. I had lots of fun getting to the end and especially enjoyed reading about how the family adjusted and settled in to a new way of life while coping with one thing after another that obstructs their efforts.

Almost forgot to mention, many of the character’s have pets and I found it fun to see what kind each one had. My home is a mix of cats, dogs, and a parrot, and is quite lively and loud.

I’m a quick reader and read this in about two hours. I’d suggest you set aside some time when you start it. You’ll find it quite hard to stop when you do.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

For professional organizer Maggie McDonald, moving her family into a new home should be the perfect organizational challenge. But murder was definitely not on the to-do list . . .

Maggie McDonald has a penchant for order that isn’t confined to her clients’ closets, kitchens, and sock drawers. As she lays out her plan to transfer her family to the hundred-year-old house her husband, Max, has inherited in the hills above Silicon Valley, she has every expectation for their new life to fall neatly into place. But as the family bounces up the driveway of their new home, she’s shocked to discover the house’s dilapidated condition. When her husband finds the caretaker face-down in their new basement, it’s the detectives who end up moving in. What a mess! While the investigation unravels and the family camps out in a barn, a killer remains at large—exactly the sort of loose end Maggie can’t help but clean up . . .

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Mary Feliz Photo Credit Dylan Studios

About The Author

Mary Feliz has lived in five states and two countries but calls Silicon Valley home. Traveling to other areas of the United States, she’s frequently reminded that what seems normal in the high-tech heartland can seem decidedly odd to the rest of the country. A big fan of irony, serendipity, diversity, and quirky intelligence tempered with gentle humor, Mary strives to bring these elements into her writing, although her characters tend to take these elements to a whole new level. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and National Association of Professional Organizers. Mary is a Smith College graduate with a degree in Sociology. She lives in Northern California with her husband, near the homes of their two adult offspring. Visit Mary online at MaryFeliz.com, or follow her on Twitter @MaryFelizAuthor.

Purchase Links

Amazon –  B&N

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow the tour

 July 19 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

July 19 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

July 20 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

July 20 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &,Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

July 21 – Sleuth Cafe – REVIEW

July 22 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW

July 23 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

July 23 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

July 24 – Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes – REVIEW

July 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

July 25 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

July 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW

July 26 – Tea and A Book – REVIEW

July 27 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW  

July 28 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

July 28 – Bookjunkie’s Book Blog – INTERVIEW

July 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

July 29 – Booklady’s Booknotes – REVIEW, GUEST POST

July 30 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

July 31 – Book Babble – REVIEW

August 1 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

August 1 – fuonlyknew – REVIEW

August 2 – The Girl with Book Lungs – REVIEW

August 2 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

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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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From my list of fun things:

when you build a fire outside and it pops

“Have a nice day” from a checkout person

tiny tomato juice cans

water’s shiny surface

tabby cats