Archive for October, 2016

Killer In The Band ~ Author Interview & Giveaway

Posted: October 12, 2016 in giveaways, Mystery
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It’s always a pleasure to have Lauren Carr back on my blog. I’m thrilled to share her new book, Killer In The Band. I’ve read several of her books and this one lived up to my expectations. I’ll be reviewing it for the tour in November.

For now, I have a wonderful spotlight and interview with Lauren.

And a giveaway, so don’t forget to enter!

Killer In The Band

A Lovers In Crime Mystery #3

by Lauren Carr

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Genre: Mystery

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Synopsis

Summer of Love & Murder

Joshua’s eldest son, Joshua “J.J.” Thornton Jr., has graduated at the top of his class from law school and returns home to spend the summer studying for the bar exam. However, to Joshua’s and Cameron’s shock and dismay, J.J. moves into the main house at Russell Ridge Farm, the largest dairy farm in the Ohio Valley, to rekindle a romance with Suellen Russell, a onetime leader of a rock group who’s twice his age. Quickly, they learn that she has been keeping a deep dark secret.

The move brings long-buried tensions between the father and son to the surface. But when a brutal killer strikes, the Lovers in Crime must set all differences aside to solve the crime before J.J. ends up in the cross hairs of a murderer.

Praise for Lauren Carr’s Mysteries:

“Lauren Carr could give Agatha Christie a run for her money!”

​- Charlene Mabie-Gamble, Literary R&R

“As always, Lauren Carr brings an action-packed story that is almost impossible to put down. Her mystery plots have so many twists and turns that I didn’t know if I was coming or going. And the action just didn’t stop from the very beginning till the very end.” – Melina Mason, Melina’s Book Reviews

Buy the Book:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble

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Interview with Author Lauren Carr

 

  1. Lauren, Killer in the Band is full of murder and intrigue in what appears to be a more sedate setting than your previous best-selling mysteries of a horse farm and orchard. What made you shift gears with this latest Lovers in Crime Mystery?

LC: For each mystery, I chose the setting after coming up with the murder plot. I tailored the characters to fit with the mystery. Lovers in Crime is a small town setting. I grew up in Chester, West Virginia, and there are quite a few farms in and around the Ohio Valley.

I introduced readers to Joshua Thornton in my first book, A Small Case of Murder. Readers of that book may remember that Joshua’s mother grew up on a dairy farm and I remind readers in Killer in the Band that Joshua comes from a long line of farmers. Therefore, it was destined that eventually, a Lovers in Crime Mystery had to be set on a farm.

  1. Did setting Killer in the Band on a farm present any challenges that you didn’t encounter with your other series?

LC: Every book presents its own challenges. As a writer, I embrace them. That’s why I love writing.

The setting sets the tone of the book. I myself grew up on a farm. So I was familiar with the setting in that aspect. However, I did not grow up on a quarter horse farm. Therefore, I had to do a lot of research into that part of the setting.

  1. You always have such interesting characters in your series—especially furry four-legged ones. There’s Gnarly in the Mac Faraday Mysteries, Irving and Admiral in the Lovers in Crime Mysteries. Are there any new four-legged characters that readers will meet in Killer in the Band?

LC: What’s a farm without critters! Since I created Gnarly, based on my own Australian shepherd named Ziggy, people are always telling me stories about their animals and animals they have heard of.

Gulliver, an appaloosa horse, is based on a horse who I saw in a YouTube video who would let himself out of his stall and then let all the other horses loose, except for one—a mare who happened to be his mother! Seeing this video, I cracked up and called a friend of mine who has a horse farm to ask about it. She said Houdini horses are really not that uncommon, but suggested that this one must have some mommy issues since he doesn’t free his mother.

Charley, the Watch Rooster, is based on a rooster who used to belong to a friend of mine. Yep, his name is really Charley. My friend said that he was given to her niece as a chick at Easter and grew so big that they couldn’t keep him at their suburban home, so they sent him to live with relatives who lived in a small town in southern West Virginia. I’m sure you heard of the neighborhood dog who chases everyone and who everyone is afraid of. Well, that became Charley the Rooster. She said one day a store keeper decided he’d had it with Charley and went after him with a broom. The fight between the store owner and Charley spilled out into the middle of the street in this small town where the editor of the local newspaper snapped a picture of it. The next day, Charley and the store owner ended up on the front page of the newspaper.

When I heard that, there was no way I couldn’t put Charley in my book.

 

  1. What led to the decision to bring J.J. Thornton, the identical twin of Murphy Thornton from the Thorny Rose Mysteries, by the way, home to Chester? Is he going to remain with the Lovers in Crime?

JJ.’s character came about in my first mystery book, A Small Case of Murder, a Joshua Thornton Mystery. At that time, he was seventeen years old. I knew then that he would be a lawyer, like his dad. As his age, it was time for him to come home. But notice that J.J. is not simply a younger version of Joshua, nor is he a duplicate of his twin Murphy. Yes, he is identical in looks, but that’s it. J.J. is the intellectual of the twins. He is into the arts. We find out that he was a musical prodigy. He’s a bleeding heart, which leads to conflicts between him and both Joshua and Cameron.

 

  1. How about with his twin Murphy? Do you have any plans to bring J.J. and Murphy together in their mystery?

Oh, yes! But you’ll need to stay turned for that.

 

  1. Your Mac Faraday series, the Thorny Rose Mysteries, as well as the Lovers in Crime series, have all garnered a loyal following. We will still be seeing these series continue as well, won’t we?

Each series will continue to grow on their own with interconnecting mysteries occasionally. In January, there will be a new Thorny Rose Mystery, A Fine Year for Murder.

In A Fine Year for Murder, Jessica Faraday and her husband, Murphy Thornton, dive into the cold case murder at a family owned winery.

After ten months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.

When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family living near a winery owned by distant relatives she was visiting and suppressed the memory.

Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple?

As long as readers are clamoring for mysteries, I’ll be writing them.

~~~~~

~~~~~

Author Lauren Carr

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Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with Lauren: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

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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 kitty below!

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Fairly Safe ~ A Love Of Fairs Tale by Deborah Ann Davis

Posted: October 12, 2016 in Excerpt, New Adult, Romance
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We’re happy to have Deborah Ann Davis, author of the new adult novel, Fairly
Safe, here with us today! Please leave a comment to let her know you stopped
by!

Title: FAIRLY SAFE
Author: Deborah Ann Davis
Publisher: D&D Universe
Pages: 356
Genre: New Adult Romance

Fairly Safe (Love of Fairs Book 2) by [Davis, Deborah Ann]

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Synopsis
When Mistaken Identity collides with Secret Identity, who wins?
JACOB HAS COME A LONG WAY FOR AN ORPHANED FOSTER KID.
He has a mentor, a great job, and has finally fallen in love. Granted, she
mistook him for a stalker when they met, but every relationship has its little
problems. Unfortunately, for the past few years, as the object of his affection
pops in and out of his life, she has refused to share any personal info, like
where she’s from, or her real name. Regardless, Jacob is ready to take their
relationship to the next level. Now, if only he can locate her so he can tell
her.
CASEY’S FAMILY IS IN THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM. Safety
has to be their only priority. Their cover has been blown before, so Casey
knows at any given time they could be forced to disappear again. Obviously, a
shy young man with hopeful eyes cannot possibly be added to the mix. You cannot
build a relationship like that. Now, if only she can stop thinking about him.
JACOB’S AND CASEY’S WORLDS UNEXPECTEDLY COLLIDE when
Jacob inadvertently helps hide her family. Exposed to their 24-7 vigilance,
Jacob realizes he must come up with a plan to keep them out of harm’s way,
because this time if Casey disappears, she will be taking with her Jacob’s
heart, and his hopes of finally having a family of his own.
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For More Information
  • Fairly Safe is available at Amazon.
  • Discuss this book at PUYB
    Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

 

Book Excerpt:

Wipeout!
Jacob Kent stepped out of his car as he scanned
the fair on the other side of the parking lot, his heart pounding. As with many
country fairs, the parking lot was no more than an abused pasture. This one was
about the size of two football fields. Fair employees decked in bright yellow
directed the early trickle of cars to their temporary berths. Jacob ignored
them, choosing instead a parking spot near the exit. Anticipating the possible
need for a quick getaway outweighed a pimply teen’s futile attempts to redirect
him.
He regarded the rides twirling and
spinning above and around the strolling families. Despite the morning sun, the
lights flashed merrily, beckoning to all. At 11 a.m. it wasn’t crowded, but he knew that would soon change.
Locking his car, he slowly picked his way through the beaten grass, combing all
directions for a clue the girls were there. As the unmistakable sound of
carnival music floated toward him on the warm summer breeze, he reviewed
his plan.
First, he would walk through the fair to
familiarize himself with the layout they had printed out. Then he would adjust

~~~~~

their escape route to where he parked the car. After assessing the grounds, he
would plant himself somewhere along the concourse, and watch the crowd. That’s
how he had always found Casey in the past, and that’s how he was going to find
her again.

A voice came over the loudspeaker, momentarily
dimming the carnival noise. “Would the owner of a red ford truck, license plate
AIP537, please return to your vehicle? Your lights are on.”
Jacob tensed. Was that some kind of clue? He
looked over the parking lot. No, he could see the lights of the red truck from
here. He smiled ruefully to himself.
Get a grip, Kent, he thought as he
watched a portly balding man march exasperatedly toward the truck.
He sighed. Intellectually, he had to
acknowledge they might have pieced together a bunch of randomly forgotten items
into a fantastical story, but emotionally, he couldn’t help but believe the
items served an ultimate purpose. If The Herd was here, he was going to find
them. He also knew if he wasn’t careful, he could spend the entire day jumping
at shadows and following dead ends.
Like that little commotion over by the edge
of the fair. To his over-active
imagination, that game of tag could look like a child trying to escape from the
evil clutches of—
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, WIPEOUT!” sang out over the
loudspeaker.
His head jerked up. As the pounding drums
from the familiar song drowned out the carnival music, all doubt was erased.
The loudspeaker was sending out a warning. His eyes darted back toward the
commotion he had noticed. That was no game of tag. That was a child trying to
escape a man in hot pursuit. Jacob couldn’t be positive at this
distance, but it sure looked like Robin.
With his heart in his throat, he broke
into a run, zigzagging between cars, trying to intercept the fleeing child as
it headed toward the side of the parking lot. In this surreal moment, the same
song they had used for obstacle course training was being piped out like
background music to a scene in a movie. But this scene was real, where a real
menace was gaining. Caught in his own nightmare, Jacob was watching Robin run
for her life, and he was not close enough to help.
As the predator and prey crossed the area
between the fair and the parking lot, the longer legs of the adult closed the
gap between them, but once they reached the cars, the advantage became hers.
Robin’s small size and training put some distance between them as she dodged
around vehicles. However, her constant change of direction made it difficult
for Jacob to maintain a course of interception.
Watching Robin’s progress, Jacob realized she
was trying to head back toward the fair. Silently applauding Robin’s decision
to get closer to other people who could help her, Jacob altered his course
accordingly.
So did Robin’s pursuer.
Suddenly, her stalker eliminated the space
between them by clambering up and over two pickup trucks, and landing an arm’s
length away. Skidding, Robin veered around another vehicle with the man on her
tail. As Jacob frantically tried to reach her, a brunette Sam suddenly popped
out from behind a car and neatly took the man out with one magnificent sweep of
a skateboard to the head.
Where did she come from? A stunned Jacob skidded to a stop, gasping for breath, his
chest burning.
With a quick high-five, the sisters raced back
to the fair. Jacob tried in vain to get their attention, but he hadn’t quite recovered
enough breath to formulate sounds louder than gasps. He shook his head as he
tried to calm the burning in his lungs. He was a wreck, but they were able to run
off.
And I was going to save them? He weakly chuckled. What was I thinking?
Sobering, he trotted over to the man who
was staggering to his feet. With rage marshalling all of his strength, Jacob
drew back and smashed his fist into the man’s face. The unexpected pain in his
fist was nothing compared to the satisfaction of watching Robin’s former threat
drop like an anchor.
Shaking the pain out of his hand, Jacob aimed a
vindictive kick at the ribs of his girls’ attacker. Any qualms he might
ordinarily have about hitting a man when he’s down were nonexistent when it
came to someone threatening his family.
Satisfied the man was no longer a danger,
he took off in the direction he had seen his girls disappear, trying to
calm the fear rising in his chest. He doubted this man had come alone. The
girls probably knew that, too, and would be hiding. How was he going to find
them before their pursuers did?
The light glinting off the speaker perched atop
a telephone pole caught his eye. Jacob skidded to a stop and stared at it. Of
course. When Robin had been trying to escape, that speaker had been
blasting out WipeOut, but now he only heard carnival music. With a grin,
Jacob decided it was time to stop believing in coincidences. Someone at the
fair must be helping them. If he found that person, he’d be able to find the
fugitives.
About the Author
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DEBORAH ANN DAVIS has
been writing since she was assigned to keep a Journal in her 5th grade
English class. She began to look around for writing inspiration. Lo and
behold, she found her world was full of funny stories just waiting to be told.
As she grew older, occasionally she could manipulate one into
some school assignment, but it never occurred to her to pursue writing,
not even when she discovered her flare for telling stories at college parties.
After a string of college majors, she realized she could
have a captive audience EVERY DAY in the public school system. As it turns out,
teenagers love to laugh, and what could be more entertaining than Biology,
Earth Science, and Environmental Science? Then there’s the added bonus
that once kids know you like to laugh, they want to make
you laugh.
Go figure.
In addition to Writing, she is also an Educational Speaker
and a Certified Personal Trainer. She taught for 25+ years,
although somewhere in the middle of all that educating, she stepped out of
teaching for 6 years to do the Mommy Thing, and run the office for their family
construction company.
Even though they had followed separate paths, Deborah
reunited with, and married her childhood sweetheart, twelve years after their
first kiss.  Together they coached their daughter’s AAU Basketball
Team, which swept States two years in a row. (Yay!) Then, for several years
their daughter and their money went to college.
They currently reside on a lovely lake in Connecticut. She enjoys dabbling with living a sustainable life,
writing novels for her Love of Fairs series, dancing, playing outside,
and laughing really hard every day. She promotes increasing the amount of
movement throughout your day via Wiggle Writer posts on Merry
Meddling, her blog at www.DeborahAnnDavis.com. Follow her @DeborahAnnDavis.
Remember, you can do anything if you set your mind to
it— including becoming an author at any age— but it’s way more fun if you are
grinning back when the Universe smiles down on you.
.
For More Information
 ~~~~~

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 kitty below!

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Check Out The Lucy Trilogy by L.M. Pruitt

Posted: October 11, 2016 in Paranormal or fantasy, Romance, Uncategorized, urban fantasy
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This looks and sounds like such a thrilling series. I’m so happy to share it with you.

Check out the Lucy Trilogy from the Winged Series.

Such gorgeous cover art!

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Burden

Lucy Trilogy Book 1

Winged Series Book 11

L.M. Pruitt

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Genre: Urban fantasy/paranormal romance

Publisher: SP Press

Date of Publication: July 26

Word Count: approx. 90K

Cover Artist: Najla Qambler

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Synopsis

 

All my life, I’ve had plans.

Dying the day before beginning the final year of my surgical residency wasn’t one of them.

Finding myself drafted in the eternal war between good and evil wasn’t one of them, either.

And dealing with friends, enemies, and lovers I don’t remember?

Definitely not in my plans.

Amazon

~~~~~

 

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Curse

Lucy Trilogy 2

Winged Series Book 12

L.M. Pruitt

 

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Publisher: SP Press

Date of Publication: August 27

Word Count: approx. 90K

Cover Artist: Najla Qambler

 

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Synopsis

 

The problem with plans?

Even the best ones can go awry. And when they do… all hell breaks loose.

If I’ve learned only one thing in the last few months, it’s the past never dies.

Four plagues down. Six more to come.

We need more than a plan.

We need a miracle.

Amazon

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 redemption

Redemption

Lucy Trilogy Book 3

Winged Series Book 13

L.M. Pruitt

 

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Publisher: SP Press

Date of Publication: September 29

Word Count: approx. 90K

Formats available: ebook

Cover Artist: Najla Qambler

 

Synopsis

The problem with miracles?

They require a deity who cares.

And if you don’t have one of those… you need a sacrifice.

Or the world ends.

~~~~~

Author L.M. Pruitt

L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She knows this because she’s killed bamboo. Twice.  She is the author of the Winged series, the Plaisir Coupable series, Jude Magdalyn series, the Moon Rising series, and Taken: A Frankie Post Novel.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads

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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 kitty below!

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Teaser Tuesday #174 ~ POOP

Posted: October 11, 2016 in Children's books, reviews, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: , , , ,
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Teaser Tuesday | BooksAndABeat.com

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

Poop

by A.J. Cosmo

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Genre: Children’s Book

My teaser from page 62 in the paperback.


Some people are scared of getting on a plane, others are afraid of the dark. Me, I’m terrified of blank paper. What did Miss Primm expect me to say? What are you expecting me to say?

I also want to share the author’s Dedication with  you:

“This book is dedicated to everyone who ever turned down a food because it might hurt them, to everyone who ever dreaded destroying a bathroom, and to everyone who ever stayed lonely because they didn’t want to embarass themselves.”

“You are not alone.”

~~~~~

I have a fun picture of the book to share with you, along with my review!

Read on if you want to know more.

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My Review

I couldn’t stop reading this once I started. But, I did. I went and got my 21 year old son and we sat down to read it together. He experienced plenty of bullying in school and expressed how lucky he would have been to have this book when he was younger.
We took turns reading it out loud and got into a couple of giggling fits whenever one of us said the word Poop. A fun character is Poop. Look at that cover. Isn’t he kind of cute? How creative of the author to use something people whisper about to engage young readers on a touchy subject.

5 Stars

Synopsis

Poor Liam. On the very first day of fifth grade, in a strange new town, and a large new school, he interrupts everyone to bolt out and into the girl’s bathroom. There, down in the far stall, in pain from a horrible stomach condition, he meets a new friend: Poop. The cheery little guy says he’s there to help Liam through a tough time in his life. But what does Liam need help with? And who, in their right mind, would want Poop for a friend?

AMAZON

I cracked up when I set up this picture. I have a bunch more books by this author and plan to share reviews for all of them between now and Christmas. Be sure to keep an eye out for my posts. You’ll want to grab the books for your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews……etc., or maybe for yourself!

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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 kitty below!

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The Raveners ~ A Paranormal Thriller by LD Towers ~ Giveaway

Posted: October 10, 2016 in giveaways, New Release, Paranormal or fantasy, thriller
Tags: , , ,
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Ooh, do I have a good Halloween read to share with you. Well, it can be read any time of the year, but tis the season!

Check out the creeptastic cover.

Enjoy the excerpt.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway.

The Raveners

Book #1

by LD Towers

32176150

Genre: Paranormal Thriller

Publisher: BadBird Publications

Date of Publication: September 20, 2016

Word Count: 100k

Cover Artist:  Pranav Lohani

Photo by Blackbird Photography

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Synopsis

On 26 May 1897, Bram Stoker brought us the story of Dracula; an undead creature who terrorised the living by drinking their blood. He based his creature on the legends of Ireland and Eastern Europe, bringing it to life with all the pomp of Victorian literature. What if his concept was correct, but the execution was not? What if there was not one creature, but a band of twenty-four? Crusader knights who committed such a terrible act that the Pope of Rome and the Rabbis of Jerusalem joined together in petitioning God to bring a terrible curse upon them.Sentenced to eternal life as punishment for their crimes, yet hounded by both the clerical and the secular as they struggle to live them. The Jews called them Ga’ashekelah: the Raveners. To the Catholic Church, they are the Accursed Ones. Feasting on the bodies of the living to maintain their power.

What starts as a simple trip on the Eurostar to the buried trenches of World War One in Northern France is going to take Imperial War Museum expert Dr. Alexandra Horne on a journey she could never have conceived. From the bustling streets of Paris to the azure waters of Collioure and the very Vatican itself, Lexa will discover the Raveners and those who have sworn to hunt them down.

Grab Your Copy Here

Amazon    BN    iBooks    Google Play    Kobo

 

Enjoy the Excerpt:

She found herself going from map to map. This was sometime around the second phase of the battle, before Beaumont-Hamel was finally taken. Thiepval as well. “This must be from the middle of September 1916. Maybe October. It’s obvious from this that he was trying to bring men around to penetrate the Allied lines from the areas they couldn’t budge.” She found herself gnawing on a thumbnail. “Dear God! With a counteroffensive like this, he might have shifted them. It’s a bold plan. Whether or not he could have managed it, with the Germans bleeding to death at Verdun, would have been the question. But damn! This might have changed the battle. Maybe even the war.”

“I wondered about that.” Another voice behind her.

Lexa turned and coloured, realising that in her wonder she had completely ignored the stranger in the room. “Oh! I am Sorry! Dr. Lexa Horne of the Imperial War Museum.” She held her hand out.

“Dr. Jack Bennett. Pleased to meet you.” Bennett was a large, fit man in his mid fifties with close-cropped, iron grey hair and a face lined from years digging in the sun. He had a bit of the George Clooney about him and Lexa was sure that all the archeology undergrads wanted him as a prof. He was a trifle swoon worthy. “Call me Jack. It was great that you could come out here at such short notice. We will be wrapping all this up in the next week or two.”

“The pleasure is entirely all mine,” Lexa told him in all earnestness. “This is simply unbelievable. This is like walking into heaven for me.” Ok. A small lie. Dead men and unexploded ordinance aside, it was heaven.

Bennett gestured back with his head and stepped aside. “I doubt the major there would agree.”

Lexa gasped as she saw the body at the desk. He was perfectly mummified, just as Darby had told her. He was hunched over, as if sleeping, and his golden hair gleamed in the light. His skin was the colour and texture of tanned leather, and his lips under a large moustache had pulled back to show his teeth. His head lay on on crossed arms, sunken eyes closed in eternal repose. The fingers were slightly curled; a large ring on one hand and a wedding ring on another. His light blue uniform hung on what was left of his frame, but was in decent condition through the shoulders. In fact, there were no real decomposition of the fabric. His side arm rested on the chair, the belt having slid down with time. The silver bullion on his uniform had a dull tarnish and the aiguillettes on his shoulder seemed suspended as if by magic. Beside him, his uniform cap was on the desk.

“Oh dear God!” Lexa exclaimed. “You’ve just left him there? How could you do that?”

“The question is how to get him out of the trapdoor without disturbing him. We have another specialist coming in from Germany. He is one of theirs, after all,” Bennett shrugged. “And you know the Germans. They are trying to find the right person. I would move him, but he is perfectly preserved. Outside of this environment, I expect he would not last long. It seems a shame to compromise his remains unnecessarily.”

The body rooted Lexa to the spot. She felt a terrible weight on her chest. “I’ve never seen a dead body before.”

Darby walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s ok. He can’t hurt you.”

“It also feels a bit indecent to be looking at him.” But she found she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

“We treat all remains with the greatest respect,” Bennett said quietly. “As you know, there is a lot we can learn from him. He is so perfectly preserved. When we have learned from him, we can return him to his family, if they still exist. He can be reburied with honour. He was lost and we found him. There is nothing indecent about that.”

“I just feel so strange with him there. I feel like a thief in his home.”

“The first time you see remains is always the hardest,” Darby told her. “Just remember that he is gone. What made him a person is gone. He is in a better place.”

Lexa nodded and walked closer to the desk. Her mouth was rather dry but now curiosity was getting the better of her. They were right. She was just being a ninny. Yes. This man was dead and he couldn’t hurt her. “Yes. I suppose you are right.”

Bennett quirked up a little smile. “Just don’t touch him.”

It was the moustache. The moustache was so familiar. Even in death, it had that upwards curl which was so familiar. A vain bushiness. When she had seen it in pictures, it always made her smile. “I think I know who this is!” Lexa exclaimed and reached into her bag for her iPad.

Author LD Towers

L.D. Towers

LD Towers travels the world like a rootless vagabond! A military historian, she searches out places of conflict to find a deeper insight to the things she writes about. Presently enjoying the warm weather and azure seas of Central America, she has lived all over Western Europe, including 5.5 years in the incomparable Berlin.

Primarily working in Historical and Military Fiction, LD sometimes sneaks in the odd Dystopian or Modern Thriller piece. In fact, her new book is a complete redo on the vampire concept. Look for The Raveners; coming September 20, 2016.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

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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 kitty below!

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What’s New On My Bookshelf #176 and The Sunday Post

Posted: October 9, 2016 in Freebies!, giveaways, What's New on My Bookshelf
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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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It’s Sunday again! I can never get over how quickly a week flies by.

I didn’t have much exciting happen this week. But I sure have been stocking up on scary reads and movies. My Netflix Que and On Demand list is brimming with creepy good movies. And my kindle and bedside table are stocked with plenty of scary reads to give me nightmares.

I’m gearing up for the return of my favorite show, THE WALKING DEAD! Are you ready?

I came across this fun video to tickle your funny bone.

I was busy over on Amazon hunting down some freebies for ya’ll. I got a bunch and I bet there’s some for everyone. Make sure you check them out further down in my post!

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.

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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.

Home Is Where The Start Is (Roseland Book 1) by [Ugland, Eric]  Mystery: Double Cross (Mystery Crime Thriller and books murder mystery suspense) by [VASHIST, V.S.]  Black Out (Evie Black Book 1) by [Nicholls, Adam]

Under the Legend by [Carter, Carolina]  Nefertiti's Heart (The Artifact Hunters Book 1) by [Exley, A. W.]  The Dream Diaries by [Smith, Becca C.]

Room of Tears by [Merlino, Linda]  Along Came A Spider by [Lovett, Kristina]  Salem's Vengeance (Vengeance Trilogy Book 1) by [Galvin, Aaron]

Sliced Up: A Cozy Murder Mystery by [Cole,Lyndsey, Gold,Ginny]  The Arrangements- A Cozy Mystery Box Set: The Flower Shop Mystery Series (Books 1-3) by [Adams, Annie]  Darcy Sweet Mystery Box Set One: Books One to Six by [Emrick, K.J.]

A Halloween Hookup: A Between the Pages Novella (The Page Turners Series) by [Marts, Jennie]  Summer at Sea by [Labonte, Beth]  The Middle Finger of Fate (A Trailer Park Princess Cozy Mystery Book 1) by [Harris, Kim Hunt]

Mason Black Collection (Volume 1): Books 1-3 by [Nicholls, Adam]

Blackmoore Sisters Cozy Mysteries Books 1-3 (Blackmoore Sisters Cozy Mystery Box-Set) by [Dobbs, Leighann]

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Books I reviewed this week. Click on the covers for my reviews.

 

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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

Beyond the Rising Tide Audio

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Other posts on my blog this week.

The Young Adult Book Heist 2016 ~ Free Books and a Giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #173 ~ Putting On The Witch

Win a Haunted House Jigsaw Puzzle ~ Masking For Trouble

Video Teaser & Giveaway ~ Extraordinary October

The Grotesques ~ Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Book Blast & Giveaway ~ Cooking For Ghosts

Could They? Should They? ~ Save The Last Dance ~ Review

The Friday 56 #122 ~ The Appeal Of Evil

Tangled Up In Brew ~ Review and Giveaway

Free Book! A Long Journey Off A Short Pier

The game is on….Dawn Of The Vie ~ Blitz & Giveaway

Putting On The Witch ~ Review & 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 kitty 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.

Putting On The Witch by Joyce and Jim Lavene ~ A Cozy review and Giveaway

Posted: October 9, 2016 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
Tags: , , , ,
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It has been so sad, losing both Joyce and Jim LaVene. They are two of my most cherished authors and I had many a fun email chats with Joyce. Having read so many of their books in several different series, I can say they are also at the top of my list of cozy mystery authors.

I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review their latest book. And this is the first print copy of theirs that I have owned. It will always be a special book for me. Thank you, Joyce and Jim, for the many cozy hours I spent being charmed by your stories. You’ll be missed.

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Putting on the Witch
by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Epic. One word to describe this book.
From the first book in this series I was spell bound.
~Karen’s Reviews

PUTTING ON THE WITCH

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Putting on the Witch (Retired Witches Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Berkley (October 4, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425268278
E-Book – ASIN: B01AHKXHTS
goodreads-badge-add-plusShop Indie Bookstores

My Review

Having read and enjoyed so many books by these two wonderful authors, I never had a doubt whether I’d enjoy this one too. Losing both Joyce and Jim within the last year, the reading community is feeling the loss, as am I. I’m thrilled to be able to share my thoughts about their newest release.

What a fun story. I was particularly happy to have both female and male witches in this one.  And there’s some witches that are getting ready to retire that are still discovering new powers. I think I’d be hard pressed to quit if I still had something new brewing inside me. And that’s where one character finds herself.

The Grand Witches Council is throwing a big gala at a hidden mansion. The Who’s Who of witches are all present and our rag tag group joins the festivities. They’re not liked by the upper crust and that is made apparent when one of the council members is found dead.

Bring on the Spanish Inquisitor. He used to persecute witches. Torture and burning were his trade. Now he’s bound by the witches and used to sniff out their own kind when one goes bad. There’s a delightful twist with him. One I didn’t see coming, and it really made for more fun reading.

There were too many suspects with their own agendas for me to have a smidgeon of a chance of figuring out who the killer was, so I just relaxed and let the authors show me.

Now, what’s a cozy without some critters. Most of the witches in this story have a cat as their familiar. And one of the familiars has a big, naughty secret. Bad kitty.

Some other fun stuff is a witches beauty shop where you go for a complete makeover from head to toe. The glamour only lasts for one night, but think how easy it would be to get ready. And there’s a haunted bracelet that causes some sticky situations.  The scene with it’s eyes kind of creeped me out.

Plenty of mystery abounds, with some fun twists and witchy shenanigans to keep you engaged. This would be a good one for your Halloween reading list.

I have this very bad habit of jumping into a series anywhere. I’ve not read the first two books, but the authors, as is their norm, made it easy and fun for me to join in here. I did stumble a wee bit until I got all of the character’s sorted out. Then it was all fun to the finish.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

With their coven’s spell book still missing, Molly and Elsie—along with their ghostly friend Olivia, her daughter Dorothy, and her boyfriend Brian—are all on edge, especially now that Dorothy’s infamously wicked father is back in the picture. So when they receive an invitation to an exclusive Witches Ball, the ladies jump at the chance to dress up and have some fun.

The castle locale is spectacular and the party is hopping, but the festivities come to a swift end when a member of the Grand Council of Witches is murdered. With the whole place on lock down, the coven is determined to find the cunning killer, even with an angry council and a real Spanish Inquisitor breathing down their necks…

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I just love this picture of Joyce and Jim

About The Authors

Joyce and Jim Lavene wrote award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They had written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. Joyce passed away October 20, 2015 and Jim passed on May 5, 2016. They are missed by family, friends and their many fans.

www.joyceandjimlavene.com

www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene

Purchase links:

Amazon – Barnes and Noble 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Other books in the series.

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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 kitty below!

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The game is on….Dawn Of The Vie ~ Blitz and Giveaway

Posted: October 8, 2016 in Dystopian, giveaways, Science Fiction, YA
Tags: , , ,
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Dawn of the Vie
Laura Diamond
(Immortal Aliens, #1)
Published by: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication date: October 3rd 2016
Genres: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Since their Arrival less than 30 years ago, immortal Vie rule the planet like the super-predators they are. Enslaved humans are their servants…their entertainment…and their food. Anemies—humans with various types of anemia—are simply exterminated. Their nutritionally deficient blood is useless to the Vie.

Or so it’s thought…

_________

Alex, an Elite Vie, is a bit of a Renaissance Alien. Part scientist, part Raid Specialist, part drug addict, he knows Anemie blood is valuable. Rather than blindly carrying out his boss’s kill order, he convinces some colleagues to spare a few Anemies, not only for study, but also to reserve a secret stock.

The more Anemie blood Alex drinks, the more he slips into delusion, and the more his double life threatens to crumble. But quitting Anemie blood is not an option. Every Anemie has their own personal flavor. Each gives a unique high.

When Alex takes a hit of Justin’s blood, his hallucinations bleed into reality…

_________

Anemie Justin knows his little sister, Sammie, and he are living past their expiration dates. It becomes a guarantee when they’re bitten by a Vie named Alex during a raid. (The bite is fatal, thanks to a toxin carried in Vie saliva.) Alex adds insult to injury by promising Justin a second chance—an antidote in exchange for agreeing to be a lab rat.

And a mule…of his own blood.

When Justin says no, Alex takes off with Sammie.

All Justin has to do is find them, beat Alex, and cure himself and Sammie. All he has is a stake and serious lack of self-preservation.

No problem.

_________

Alex wants Justin’s blood.

Justin wants his sister back.

GAME ON.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

I hated afternoons the most. Soon after came darkness—the time when a raiding squad could snatch you out of bed and drain all the blood from your body. It was amazing that any Anemies survived with the extermination campaign ridding the world of us red blood cell-deficient freaks.

I gently squeezed my sister’s hand to make sure she kept up. Dirt caked under her fingernails like it caked under mine. The cuff of her torn sleeve had stains like mine. Her pant cuffs were rolled up six times… also like mine. A younger version of me—mouthiness and all—in girl form. Unlike me, Sammie tended to dawdle, and since we held onto the last rung of the society ladder by the tips of our fingers, giving in to distraction could get us hurt—or killed.

My gaze jumped to the pale, indifferent sky then jittered to the partially constructed biodome edge as I walked. Large, clear panels filled the metal framework in a beehive of hexagons. Eventually, the damn thing would cover the entire city, including the river surrounding the island and part of the ocean capping the south side. The project had been progressing since before I was born.

Once the construction workers completed the biodome, Vie wouldn’t have to fear the destructive UV rays of our sun and could wander freely during the day. We’d have no safe period whatsoever. Vie could get us any time.

 

Author Bio:

Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist currently specializing in emergency psychiatry. She is also an author of all things young adult—both contemporary and paranormal. An avid fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and anything magical, she thrives on quirk, her lucid dreams, and coffee. When she’s not working or writing, she can be found sniffing books and drinking a latte at the bookstore or at home pondering renovations on her 225 year old fixer upper, all while obeying her feline overlords, of course.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

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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 kitty below!

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Free Book! A Long Journey Off A Short Pier ~ Add it to your Halloween reading list!

Posted: October 7, 2016 in Freebies!, horror, Short stories and collections
Tags: , , ,
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Looking for something scary for your Halloween reading list?

I have just the thing for ya.

And it’s free!

Just click on the links at the bottom of the post to grab your copy!

A Long Journey Off A Short Pier

6 Short Stories

by Anthony Renro

A Long Journey

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Synopsis

EXCERPT: SHe

Flara, who knew that tone, who knew what that tone meant when most guys sounded like that, got dressed, grabbed the cash; and, without saying a word to Tim, stepped out into the humid night. She stood there a moment, cash in hand, fighting back tears, looking into the darkness of a nearby alley. There was a soft yellow glow coming from that direction. She went down to investigate it, and that’s when the man slinked out of the darkness, and grasped her in his warm tight grasp. She was powerless to move, as he sank his rainbow colored fangs into her neck, and drained her of her estrogen. When he was finished, he snapped her neck and then walked out of the alley with her body. He walked up to Tim’s door and knocked.

“I told you to go away!” Tim screamed from the bathroom.

He heard the knock again.

“Dammit. Some people just won’t listen,” he replied, as he rushed out of the bathroom to the front door. He opened it, ready to scream at Flara for not leaving him alone, but stepped back in shocked surprise instead. Flara was leaning against the wall beside his door, dead lifeless eyes looking up at him.

A second later, Tim saw movement, a golden glow; and then his world turned black.

 

Story 1 of 6: SHe
Synopsis: A short story about a monster who stalks the city of Tampa Bay. This monster is only attacking women taking only the one thing it needs. Tim Roberts, a detective, is hot on this monster’s trail. Will he catch this monster in time or will this monster feed until it has its fill? Be careful Tim, this monster has a secret yet to be revealed.

Story 2 of 6: A Haunted House Tale
Synopsis: This short story is about five college students on Halloween night who set out to discover the secrets of the town’s most infamous haunted house. Will these students live to see the morning or will this house claim five more victims?

Story 3 of 6: Sandy and The Stranger
Synopsis: A road racing champion meets his match in the form of a stranger who may or may not be the ghost of James Dean himself.

Story 4 of 6: Demon Energy
Synopsis: A short story about 1 man possessed and tormented by a 1000 demons who must fight for a soul he is starting to lose. Will he ever find salvation or is his body now an eternal host of hell?

Story 5 of 6: Killer Treads
Synopsis: A short story about a man who sees a flashy ad online advertising a twenty dollar treadmill. He buys the machine, too cheap to be scared, and realizes much to his dismay that this machine has a taste for blood. Big Bob better run like his life depends on it because in many ways it does.

Story 6 of 6: Joyride
Synopsis: A Joyride in a Chevy Chevelle. The car was just sitting there for the taking. What could possibly go wrong? Vinnie and Mike are about to find out what can and will go wrong once they turn the key. Evil awaits.

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 kitty below!

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Tangled Up In Brew ~ Pull up a stool and enjoy the review and giveaway!

Posted: October 7, 2016 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
Tags: , , , ,
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Tangled Up in Brew (A Brewing Trouble Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Berkley (October 4, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425277706
E-Book ASIN: B01AHKXIAQ

TANGLED UP IN BREW
goodreads-badge-add-plus

My Review

When I read this was about brewing beer, I knew I wanted to read it. We have many micro breweries around my neck of the woods. No, not bootlegging. LOL I always enjoy sampling the new ones and often find some that are really good.

What’s a good beer without a murder, eh. What’s supposed to be a friendly competition at the Three Rivers Brews and Burgers Festival turns into something else when the beverage critic drops dead from an apparent poisoning. Let the sleuthing begin. This one was full of suspects and it wasn’t easy to figure out the who and why.

I enjoyed meeting these characters and visiting the town of Three Rivers. Much of it felt like somewhere I visited before and that’s something I always enjoy about cozies. That and the colorful characters that roam the pages.

I should mention this is the second book in the series. I had no trouble following along and liked it a lot, so I’ll be going back to catch the beginning now.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Another intoxicating mystery featuring brew pub owner Maxine “Max” O’Hara—from the author of To Brew or Not to Brew.

BEER TODAY, GONE TOMORROW…

Brew pub owner Maxine “Max” O’Hara and her chef/boyfriend, Jake Lambert, are excited to be participating in the Three Rivers Brews and Burgers Festival. Max hopes to win the coveted Golden Stein for best craft beer—but even if she doesn’t, the festival will be great publicity for her Allegheny Brew House.

Or will it? When notoriously nasty food and beverage critic Reginald Mobley is drafted as a last-minute replacement judge, Max dreads a punishing review. Her fears are confirmed when Mobley literally spits out her beer, but things get even worse when the cranky critic drops dead right after trying one of Jake’s burgers. Now an ambitious new police detective is determined to pin Mobley’s murder on Max and Jake, who must pore over the clues to protect their freedom and reputations—and to find the self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner.

Author Joyce Tremel

JOYCE TREMEL

Joyce Tremel was a police secretary for ten years and more than once envisioned the demise of certain co-workers, but settled on writing as a way to keep herself out of jail. She is a native Pittsburgher and lives in a suburb of the city with her husband and a spoiled cat.

Her debut mystery, To Brew Or Not To Brew has been nominated for the 2015 Reviewers’ Choice award for best amateur sleuth by RT Book Reviews. The second book in the series, Tangled Up In Brew is scheduled for release in October 2016.

 

Author Links

Webpage / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Link

Amazon – B&N 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow the tour.

October 3 – A Date with a Book – REVIEW*

October 3 – The Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT

October 4 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW

October 4 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW

October 5 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary – REVIEW

October 6 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

October 7 – fuonlyknew – REVIEW

October 7 – Queen of All She Reads – SPOTLIGHT

October 8 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW

October 8 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW*

October 9 – Mystery Playground – GUEST POST

October 10 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, &, Sissy, Too! – REVIEW

October 11 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

October 12 – Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes – REVIEW*

October 13 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW  

October 13 – Author Annette Drake’s blog – REVIEW

October 14 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW

October 14 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW

October 15 – MysteriesEtc – REVIEW*

October 16 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW

October 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

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To Brew Or Not To Brew

A Brewing Trouble Mystery #1

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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 kitty below!

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