Archive for February, 2019

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That Which Grows Wild
by Eric J. Guignard
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Short Stories
 
That Which Grows Wild collects sixteen dark and masterful short stories by
award-winning author Eric J. Guignard. Equal parts whimsy and weird,
horror and heartbreak, this debut collection traverses the darker
side of the fantastic through vibrant and harrowing tales that depict
monsters and regrets, hope and atonement, and the oddly changing
reflection that turns back at you in the mirror.
Discover why Eric J. Guignard has earned praise from masters of the craft such
as Ramsey Campbell (“Guignard gives voice to paranoid vision that’s
all too believable.”), Rick Hautala (“No other young horror
author is better, I think, than Eric J. Guignard.”), and Nancy
Holder ( “The defining new voice of horror has arrived, and I stand
in awe.”)
Stories include:
• “A Case Study in Natural Selection and How It Applies to Love” – a
teen experiences romance, while the world slowly dies from rising
temperatures and increasing cases of spontaneous combustion.
• “Dreams of a Little Suicide” – a down-on-his-luck actor unexpectedly finds
his dreams and love in Hollywood playing a munchkin during filming of
The Wizard of Oz, but soon those dreams begin to darken.
• “The Inveterate Establishment of Daddano & Co.” – an aged undertaker
tells the true story behind the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, and
of the grime that accumulates beneath our floors.
• “A Journey of Great Waves” – a Japanese girl encounters, years later,
the ocean-borne debris of her tsunami-ravaged homeland, and the
ghosts that come with it.
• “The House of the Rising Sun, Forever” – a tragic voice gives dire
warning against the cycle of opium addiction from which, even after
death, there is no escape.
• “Last Days of the Gunslinger, John Amos” – a gunfighter keeps a decimated
town’s surviving children safe on a mountaintop from the incursion
of ferocious creatures… until a flash flood strikes.
Explore within, and discover a wild range upon which grows the dark, the
strange, and the profound.
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My Review
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I usually find that when reading a collection of short stories, some of them are great, some are okay and some miss the mark. I was thrilled to find that I was happy with all sixteen tales in That Which Grows Wild.

The book begins with A Case Study in Natural Selection and How It Applies to Love.  I’m a huge fan of dystopian and apocalyptic tales and this one adds human combustion to the mix. The fact that the author made it seem like something that could actually occur was like sprinkles on an ice cream cone. Tasty.

From there I went on to devour the book. I was expecting to need a break somewhere. For my interest to taper off. But, no. I kept right on to the end, encountering tormented beings, creatures big and small, aliens and ordinary people facing difficult and fantastical situations. But that wasn’t all I found. There were some deeply moving scenes and some characters I wanted to tuck under my wing and keep safe from harm.

I was going to list my favorites but I found myself adding another and then another. The writing is powerful and the stories intoxicating. Eric is a storyteller in the true sense of the word.

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Eric J. Guignard is a writer and editor of dark and speculative fiction,
operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles. He’s won the
Bram Stoker Award, been a finalist for the International Thriller
Writers Award, and a multi-nominee of the Pushcart Prize. His stories
and non-fiction have appeared in over one hundred genre and literary
publications such as “Nightmare Magazine,” “Black Static,” “Shock Totem,”
“Buzzy Magazine,” and “Dark Discoveries Magazine.” Outside the glamorous
and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and
college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children,
cats, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles.

 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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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:

Silver River Secrets

  by Linda Hope Lee

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Genre: Mystery / Contemporary Romance

From page 56 in the paperback.

She opened the cover and idly flipped the pages.

Excitement rippled down Lacey’s spine. Perhaps her mother had written on the days leading up to the murder and her own death. Maybe she’d recorded something on that very day.

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Synopsis

Tragedy made them strangers. The truth could change that…

Lacey Morgan’s grandmother is the only reason she has to ever set foot in Silver River. Her hometown is populated with too many ghosts and memories. Too many painful reminders. Including Rory Dalton.

In all her brief visits over the past ten years, they’ve barely spoken. Locked on opposite sides of the tragedy that tore their lives apart, they buried their feelings along with their parents. But this trip is different. She will stay a little longer. Dig a little deeper. And try to solve the mystery that has kept them from the truth…and each other.

Amazon / B&N

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

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You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

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Obedience
by Michael Potts
Genre: Horror
 
It is a lazy summer day in the Appalachian foothills of Tennessee; much
like the day before, and the day before that. Everything seems normal
– at least on the surface; like an idyllic, pastoral painting; the
sky dyed with pastels of blue and white, the ground carpeted with
dark green fescue and bluegrass, a clapboard farmhouse resting on top
of a hill, sugar maples, oaks and Eastern red cedars providing
welcome shade from the heat of a Tennessee summer sun. You can almost
see moving images of little children running barefoot through the
grass; an era before tweeting and texting and the triumph of
technology over all.
Alas, appearances lie.
Behind the clapboard farmhouse sits a red barn, all bright and new looking;
fresh enough to lull a casual observer into believing it the benign
keeper of hey for cattle and shelter for goats. A closer look reveals
the color to be not barn red, but blood red.
Locals tend to close their eyes when passing by that barn. Something is just
not right about it. Some say it is unnatural. Some say it’s obscene
and evil. But they don’t say such things out loud, for the owner of
the barn is Sheldon Sprigg, a well-respected man of the cloth, the
preacher at Hare’s Corner Church of God Incarnate. Sheldon is the
most upright man in these parts. He keeps the law religiously, and
makes sure his wife and teenaged daughter do too. After all, to obey
is better than sacrifice.
Still, there’s just something that not right about that barn.
 
 
 
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Michael Potts grew up near Smyrna, Tennessee and is currently Professor of
Philosophy at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
His undergraduate degree (in Biblical languages) is from David
Lipscomb University. He also holds the Master of Theology from
Harding University Graduate School of Religion, the Master of Arts
(in Religion) from Vanderbilt University, and the Ph.D. in philosophy
from The University of Georgia. Michael has twenty articles in
scholarly journals, nine book chapters, six encyclopedia articles,
six book reviews, and he co-edited the book, “Beyond Brain
Death: The Case Against Brain Based Criteria for Human Death,”
which was published in 2000 by Kluwer Academic Publishers. He also
has over fifty scholarly presentations, including one presented at
the Pontifical Academy of Sciences at The Vatican in 2005. Michael is
a 2007 graduate of The Writers Loft at Middle Tennessee State
University and a 2007 graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop at St.
Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. His poetry has been
published in Journal of the American Medical Association, Iodine
Poetry Journal, Poems & Plays, and other literary journals. His
poetry chapbook, “From Field to Thicket,” won the 2006 Mary
Belle Campbell Poetry Book Award of the North Carolina Writers
Network. His creative nonfiction essay, “Haunted,” won the
Rose Post Creative Nonfiction Award, also sponsored by the North
Carolina Writers Network. Besides reading and writing, he enjoys
vegetable gardening, canning, and ghost investigations. He and his
wife, Karen, live with their three cats, Frodo, Rosie, and Pippin, in
Linden, North Carolina.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
 

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 go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs

Spells & Caramels #9

by Erin Johnson

44000860

Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs (Spells & Caramels)
Cozy Mystery
9th in Series
Self Published
Details TK

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A bakehouse in the making. A dangerous ghost in the tower. Will their welcome to the neighborhood be short-lived?

Imogen wants nothing more than to complete her sweet dream. With her adoring fiancé Hank at her side, the witch and her friends dive into renovations for their new home and soon-to-be bakery. But all their efforts seem futile when they wake to find the house eerily ripped apart all over again…

As Imogen examines her humble abode’s shady history, she discovers evidence for a malevolent spirit living inside. But with less-than-welcoming neighbors keeping a close, suspicious watch, she wonders if it’s not the dead but the living who pose the biggest threat…

Will Imogen root out the culprit, or will her culinary future collapse under the weight of an unsolved murder?

Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs is the ninth book in the charming Spells & Caramels paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like lovable characters, chilling twists, and enchanting adventures, then you’ll love Erin Johnson’s marvelous tale.

Buy Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs to solve a magical whodunit today!

Author Erin Johnson

Erin Johnson is a native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh. In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Link – Amazon

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GIVEAWAY

I have one eBook copy to give away. Entry is simple.

Just answer this question.

Have you ever been in a haunted house?

Giveaway ends February 28th.

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 18 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

February 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

February 19 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

February 19 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

February 20 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

February 20 – This Is My Truth Now – REVIEW

February 21 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 21 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

February 22 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

February 22 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

February 23 – CelticLady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT

February 24 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

February 25 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

February 25 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT

February 26 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – SPOTLIGHT

February 27 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 28 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

February 28 – Valerie’s Musings – 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 go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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I am so excited that AWAKENED by Stacy R. Collins is available now and that I get to
share the news!
If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Stacy R. Collins, be sure to check out all the details below.
This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $10 Amazon GC courtesy of Stacy and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.
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Title: AWAKENED (The Gatekeepers Book 1)
Author: Stacy R. Collins
Pub. Date: February 21, 2019
Publisher: 48fourteen
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 410
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon
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When seventeen-year-old DEVYN CARTER arrives at school, she expects the day to be as boring and mundane as usual, but when she meets the new, hot substitute teacher, and the even hotter transfer student, Devyn’s life transforms into anything but normal.
With these newcomers, also come some harrowing revelations that thrust Devyn into a group of warriors, the Order, dedicated to ridding the world of the monstrous creatures
known as Moon Children.
It quickly becomes clear that Devyn’s role in the Order is more than anyone had thought. Pressed
into training the skills she never knew she possessed, Devyn finds herself faced with the toughest decision she has ever had to make: leave the Order and return to her life for what little time humanity has left, or give up all she has ever known to assume a role she never chose and risk her life to save the world.
From the author of Grave Little Secrets comes this EPIC new fantasy series that tests limits,
explores love, and unveils a world hiding in plain sight. Hold on to your seats!
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Exclusive Excerpt!

 

 

About Stacy:

 

Stacy has always enjoyed writing stories that are creative and packed with suspense. As a child she would write short stories to share with her friends and teachers. As she got older, she dabbled in poetry and even tried her hand at writing song lyrics, but her passion was for novels.
Her debut novel, Grave Little Secrets, is a suspense filled novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering who is behind all the threats. Who could know the secret that Alex has sworn to take to the grave with her. Grave Little Secrets is scheduled to be released early 2017, so be sure to snag your copy.
Apart from writing, Stacy enjoys spending time with her family. She also loves to read and
listen to music. If she’s not running around the yard with her kids, she is curled up on the couch with a book in her hand, getting lost in the magic of the words. Stacy currently resides in a small town in South Carolina with her husband, Richard, her four lovely children, and one fur baby.
 
 
Giveaway Details:
All International
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1 winner will receive an 10 Amazon Gift Card, International.
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Ends on February 28th at Midnight EST!
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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 go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to The Kid’s Korner.

I decided to do this feature as I have so many great children’s books to share. From picture books, to books for beginning readers, to middle graders, I have plenty of fun ones.

Today I’m sharing another spooky fun tale from Nancy Gray’s Spine Chillers!

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The Firefly (Spine Chillers)
by Nancy Gray

The Firefly

Genre: Horror
Age category: Middle Grade
Release Date: November 19, 2018

My Review

The fireflies appeared in autumn. Strange, as they’re only supposed to appear during the summer. Leila asked her mother for a net and jar to capture some in. They didn’t act like normal fireflies because… they weren’t. She spies something lurking in the woods. A bug man with skin the color of charcoal. She soon learns what it wants and has to make the toughest decision of her young life. Lives hang in the balance.

This book would have given me such shivers of delight when I was young. It did a pretty good job of doing that now. Leila was a brave little girl. Her love for her baby sister and her sense of right and wrong put her between a rock and a hard place and I admired her bravery.

The bug man was creepy as all get out. The author’s description had me visualizing a cross between a praying mantis and The Crooked Man. Once Leila confronted the thing I knew she couldn’t defeat it by herself and was excited when she discovered the Spectral Investigator’s Society. It’s supposed to be a boys club but exceptions are made. Supernatural creatures don’t distinguish between boys and girls.

The story really picks up the pace as Leila realizes she doesn’t have to fight this battle alone and a plan is formed to stop the creature.  This is fiction, but how they kids rallied together and executed their trap reminded me so much of my childhood and how my friends and I would stand by each other, even when scared.

A good campfire tale to raise the goosebumps and make you jump at those bumps in the night.

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Synopsis

Leila’s sister has come down with a terrible fever that the doctors can’t explain. It started with the fireflies that mysteriously appeared in November, and then when she was visited by “the bug man.” When Leila confronts the FIREFLY that has made her sister sick she must make a terrible choice to save her sister or offer it another victim to satiate its terrible appetite! The monster needs to feed on blood and it needs another body to inhabit. His eyes are set on Leila!

You can find The Firefly on Goodreads

You can buy The Firefly on Amazon

Nancy GrayAbout the Author:
Nancy Gray has published a number of works including her young adult fantasy series Blood Rain. Her short story “Chosen” appeared in Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Author Quest: a Penguin Special from Grosset & Dunlap. Her work also appears in various anthologies.
Nancy Gray has been writing for over ten years. Gray lives in South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys books, video games, anime, manga, and horror.

Other Works by Nancy Gray:
Blood Rain
Blood Moon
Blood God
Spine Chillers: The Scarecrow
Spine Chillers: Big Bad Wolf
Spine Chillers: The Beast of Black Pond
Spine Chillers: Empty Eyes
Spine Chillers: The Firefly

You can find and contact Nancy Gray here:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Goodreads

banner Lola's Blog Tours

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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 go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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The Puppy Who Knew Too Much

A Dog Club Mystery

by V.M. Burns

43354588
The Puppy Who Knew Too Much (A Dog Club Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Lyrical Underground (February 12, 2019)
Paperback: 190 pages
ISBN-10: 1516107918
ISBN-13: 978-1516107919
Digital ASIN: B07D233MVK

My Review

Lilly is eager for a fresh start. Three months ago her cheating husband was murdered and she was the prime suspect. She’s finally cleared of suspicion and moves to Chattanooga and a new beginning, Her tiny poodle, Aggie, isn’t so keen on the move and finds creative ways to make it known. Fate is on Lilly’s side and she finds the perfect rental house and a great new job at the museum. But her rosy new life hits a bump in the road when she stumbles upon a dead body. Then her new house is ransacked. She won’t sit idly by when her new beginning is threatened.

I was surprised when I reached the end of this book. It felt like I’d just started it. I was immediately charmed by the characters. Lilly is so authentic and likable and would be such a great friend to have. Some other favorites are her boss and co-worker at the museum. I loved how they welcomed Lilly, made her feel at home, and how they actually used some of the antique pieces. Dixie is the perfect best friend. And her daughter and son-in-law are very supportive and a great couple. As for the grouchy neighbor, I couldn’t wait to see if she could win him over. The author brought them all to life and I had such fun getting to know them.

I don’t want to forget the other characters. The four legged ones. So many dogs in this book. I say, the more the merrier. Each have their own personalities and charms. And the part where Lilly’s daughter rescues a stray golden retriever had me almost in tears. So sweet.

The mystery here wasn’t easily solved. There were some obvious suspects and then some that lurked off the radar. I picked my culprit and followed the story closely, sniffing out clues, wandering off the obvious paths, and I was wrong. What a fun surprise.

This is my first book by V. M. Burns and I’m thrilled to discover another cozy author and series. I’ll be following these characters to their next adventure and I’ll miss them til we meet again.

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Lilly Echosby and her toy poodle Aggie find a fresh start in Chattanooga, Tennessee, spoiled by the scent of murder . . .

Having solved the shooting death of her cheating husband, Lilly’s left behind the drama of Lighthouse Dunes, Indiana, to start over in the hometown of her best friend, Scarlett “Dixie” Jefferson. As she gets settled in her new rented house, Lilly gives Aggie, short for Agatha Christie, her own fresh start by enrolling her in the Eastern Tennessee Dog Club, where Dixie is a trainer.

But drama seems to hound Lilly like a persistent stray. Her cranky new neighbor appears unfamiliar with Southern hospitality and complains that Aggie barks too much and digs up his prized tulips. But what the poodle actually unearths is the buried body of a mysterious man who claimed ownership of the lost golden retriever Lilly recently rescued. Now it’s up to Lilly and Dixie to try to muzzle another murderer . . .

Author V.M. Burns

V.M. Burns was born in Northwestern Indiana and spent many years in Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs, British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the Midwest, she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Eastern Tennessee with her poodles. Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and a lifetime member of  Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com

Author Links:

  Website / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links – Amazon –  Barnes & Noble – IndieBound:  – Books-A-Million – Kobo

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GIVEAWAY

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 11 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

February 11 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

February 12 – Mythical Books – GUEST POST

February 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

February 13 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

February 14 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

February 15 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

February 15 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – GUEST POST

February 16 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 17 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 18 – Carla Loves to Read – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 19 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW

February 19 – Reading Is My SuperPower – GUEST POST

February 20 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST

February 20 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT  

February 21 – RUFF DRAFTS – GUEST POST  

February 21 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

February 22 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 22 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

February 23 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 24 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

 

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This counts towards my They Call It Puppy Love Challenge

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 go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Thanks for stopping by. I’m excited that CLOUDED BY ENVY by Candace Robinson is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Candace Robinson, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $10 Amazon GC courtesy of Candace, The Parliament House Press, and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

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CLOUDED BY ENVY
Author: Candace Robinson
Pub. Date: February 19, 2019
Publisher: The Parliament House
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 215
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonB&NiBooks

Brenik has always been envious of his twin sister, Bray. Growing up as fairy-like creatures, known as bats, everything came easier to Bray. While Brenik spent his time in her shadows, never feeling he was enough. After escaping their world of Laith, and living on Earth for ten years, Brenik attempts to strike a deal with the Stone of Desire to become human. Though true humanity is not an option, he will accept the curse that will alter him to get as close as he can.

Living in a tree trunk for the past year hasn’t been easy for Bray, more so after her brother disappears again. When a human boy and his brother, Wes, find her, a new friendship is struck. Through Wes, Bray learns there can be more to life than waiting within a tree. But worrying over where Brenik has vanished to always remains in the back of her mind.

When Bray reunites with Brenik, she realizes she must help him break the curse after she discovers the need for blood is beginning to overpower him. The curse not only damages those who get close to Brenik, but it could also destroy whatever is blooming between Bray and Wes.

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Enjoy this exclusive excerpt!
Bray wasn’t sure how long she had drifted off for, but there was a puddle of wetness against her cheek when she woke up—okay, so it was only drool from herself. Lifting a hand up toward her cheek, she swiped the saliva away and rubbed it on to the hammock. Classy, she thought, but there was already some gathered there anyway.
Remembering the events from earlier, Bray headed straight to the hole and peeked out. She shifted her head from left to right. Nothing. Bray looked up and down—she could see a few bushes had already been planted in the dirt.
Then she saw it: a circular stone bowl filled with water sitting on top of a long thick stem, attached to a circular bottom. A birdbath! Almost giddily, Bray stepped on the ledge of the hole and leaped off, flapping her wings hurriedly to the nearest pink and yellow peach. Opening her jaw wide, she bit into the thin skin. A juicy one. The fruit filled her mouth with delicious pleasure, and she took one more long bite before diving down to the birdbath.
The top of her newfound treasure was a perfect circle with tiny mounds around it resembling hills. Bray landed on the ceramic and bent down to take a seat, before placing her bare feet into the warm water that had been perfectly heated from the shining sun.
Peering down at the clear water, Bray saw no sign of intrusion from other creatures yet. She rotated her head in every direction, as if she would be caught just by thinking about slipping into the water—still no sign of life.
Flicking her braid over her shoulder, Bray pursed her lips together to hide the smile aching to shine against her face and jumped into the water. The splash echoed. Her bare feet scraped the rough bottom, while her dress inflated and then clung to her body as she shot to the surface. She let out a small giggle to herself. It was sad that the only highlight of the past year was hopping into a shallow pool of water with no one around except for her.
She leaned back into the liquid, letting herself float and moving her arms slowly up and down, while swimming in figure-eight circles.
Bray closed her eyes and let the water cover her ears, so it felt like nothing in the world existed, except for the muffled vibrations from the liquid.
A loud booming sounded from above, and her eyelids thrust open, meeting dark brown eyes, light brown skin, and that black bowl hair. Tiny human. Luca.
Freeze, Bray thought to herself, not even blinking her eyes. She held them wide open, thinking he wouldn’t notice her, or maybe he would just assume she was a bird. Even though he was staring at her and had spoken something she didn’t hear clearly.
Nope. That isn’t going to work. He hovered closer, his eyes scrunched halfway closed to examine her more thoroughly. Unable to hold her eyes open any longer, Bray blinked several times.
“What are you?” he asked, genuine amazement creeping into his words, lips slightly parted.
“A bat!” Bray yelled, and she jumped up from the warmth of the water, darting straight for the tree hole.
Breathing heavily, Bray landed inside and collided with the floor. She rolled to her back, running both hands down her face. “Why did I come out without paying attention? I know not to!” Ruth had always told her this.
A quake trembled through the tree, causing shivers to run up and down her spine. What is the little beast doing? Oh no, what if he is trying to chop down the tree? My home—the peaches! Bray didn’t know why she was thinking about stupid peaches when there was another fruit tree directly next door.
Despite the thunderous rumbling, Bray grabbed the needle from underneath her hammock and dodged toward the window. If the little beast thought he could take her down, then he had another thing coming. She would prick his eye—actually, she would poke both of his eyes to protect her and Brenik’s home.
When Bray reached the edge of the window, the sound stopped. She peeped her head out of the hole, right as a face met hers, his black hair falling forward over a hazel eye—an eye she was going to poke. Startled, she jumped back instead of toward him.
A broad smile crossed the little beast’s face. “Hello.”
Freezing once again, until she remembered that the staying-still-as-a-statue strategy didn’t work in the birdbath, she meekly said, “Hi.”
Bray brought the needle up toward his smiling face, just in case.
“Are you planning on sewing something?” He tilted his head at the needle.
“Yeah, your eyeball.” She gave him a hard glare.
“What?” he asked while laughing hysterically.
He was laughing? Not scared? Bray brought the needle closer. “Yeah, you need to leave and never come back. This is my home.”
“No. Technically, it’s my brother’s home,” he said, still smiling.
“What brother? You mean your dad out there who was planting this morning?”
Luca shook his head, and she didn’t miss the wince before he spoke. “No, that’s my brother, Wes. I don’t have a mom or dad.”
Crestfallen, Bray lowered the needle. “Oh. Me neither. I only have a brother, but he will be gone for a while.” She paused and glanced at the note Brenik had left behind, her chest tightening. Then she shrugged it off and shifted her gaze back to the boy. “By the way, my name is Brayora, but you can call me Bray.” For some reason, she wasn’t worried anymore about the human.
“I’m Luca Duran.” He plopped his thin fingers on the edge of the hole.
“Yeah, I heard your name this morning, little beast. I mean, Luca.” She thought little beast suited him better than Luca.

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About Candace:
My name is Candace Robinson. I’m just your average hemiplegic migraine sufferer. My days are spent writing, book reviewing and traveling through books for my blog, Literary Dust. I live just outside of Houston, Texas, where it feels like the hottest place on Earth with the crazy weather. No, seriously, one day it’s 30 degrees and the next it’s 70 degrees! I live with my husband and awesome daughter!
You can also follow me on my review blog Literary Dust
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Instagram | Goodreads

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GIVEAWAY

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 go HERE

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dead and delu ban

Travel Diaries of the Dead and Delusional
by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: February 18th 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
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Synopsis
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Nineteen-year-old Langley is crazy…like get out the straight jacket and prepare the padded room kind of crazy. She knows it, and the kicker is—she’s choosing to stay that way. She clings to the persistent and intrusive hallucination of her dead sister by choice. Sure, it might be nice to live life in the real world. But not if it means she has to let Sarah go.

Tupper’s life is charmed. He has loving adoptive parents, and several athletic college scholarships on the table. But his passion is for the arts, for the beauty of solid ink lines on paper. His illustrations are eerily similar to a keepsake from his birth mother, Anna: comic-book-style drawings scrawled across an old map…her version of a travel diary. At eighteen, Tupper sidesteps his planned future and starts his journey where Anna’s ended—following her map from Kansas City to Canada. His travels will put him on a collision course with Langley, and their bond is palpable from the start. But secrets will push between them—Sarah and Anna, two ghosts who could sink their icy fingers into the teens and tear them apart.

Perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover’s Hopeless and John Green’s Paper Towns, TRAVEL DIARY OF THE DEAD & DELUSIONAL is a unique and robust novel that explores themes of mental-illness and self-discovery from three distinct perspectives. Lauren Nicolle Taylor is the award-winning and best-selling author of Nora and Kettle and the beloved Woodlands series, among others.

“A story of love and loss, adventure, and coming into one’s own, Travel Diaries of the Dead and Delusional is a thoughtful, poignant road trip adventure that delivers hope through its melancholy.” ~Hannah Williams, Foreword Reviews Magazine

 
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Purchase: Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo
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Author Lauren Nicolle Taylor
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Lauren is the bestselling author of THE WOODLANDS SERIES and the award-winning YA novel NORA & KETTLE (Gold medal Winner for Multicultural fiction, Independent Publishers Book Awards 2017).

She has a Health Science degree and an honors degree in Obstetrics and Gynecology. A full time writer, hapa and artist, Lauren lives in the tucked away, Adelaide hills with her husband and three children.
Author links: Instagram / Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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GIVEAWAY

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 go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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

I’m also linking up with The Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

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Some chit chat.

Did you notice something in the title to today’s post? I’m so excited! Hard to believe I’ve done 300 Sunday Post’s!  It’s been a grand experience. I’ve met some wonderful bloggers and book lovers. Found some fabulous new authors and books. And made some awesome friends. I started blogging by joining Twitter and meeting other book lovers. A few people reached out to me and encouraged me to start a blog. I never looked back! I discovered some fun memes along the way and The Sunday Post is a favorite. I love sharing what I did and discovered each week. And I try hard to visit as many other posts as I can to see what everyone else has been up to. Let’s hear it for Kimberly! She’s an amazing host and blogger. Always cheerful, eager to give tips and help when you have something techie needs fixing, and she shares some wonderful books.

Thanks so much for being such a fabulous host all these years, Kimberly. I’m looking forward to many more! And have a lovely Sunday everyone.

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My new books this week.

Landshark by [Tormanen, Brian]  Terror Mountain by [Griffiths, Gerry]

Freedom (A Hidden Hearts Novel Book 9) by [Crawford, Mary]  Silver River Secrets by [Lee, Linda Hope]

Darkness Rising: A Horror Novella by [Moreland, Brian]  The Thing in the Woods by [Quinn, Matthew W., Fiction, Digital]

And once again I grabbed a couple of books after reading Chuckle’s reviews!

Wildlife - A Dark Thriller by [Menapace, Jeff]  Wildlife: Reckoning - A Dark Thriller by [Menapace, Jeff]

Thanks to Sherry at fundinmental for sharing her review for this one. It was free so I had to grab it! Click the cover to grab a copy. Just be sure it’s still free.

Environmentally Friendly by [Zanbaka, Elias]

And Huner Shea’s newest book, Antarctic Ice Beasts was just released! Had to grab this beauty!

antarctic ice beasts cover

Click the cover to grab your copy!

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And here are some FREEBIES for ya.

Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.

Flowers in the Snow (The Edenville Series Book 1) by [Stewart, Danielle]  A French Girl in New York (The French Girl Series Book 1) by [Adams, Anna]  The House on the Beach (Pilgrim Cove Book 1) by [Barrett, Linda]

Waterkill (Dave Henson Series) by [Donovan, Mark]  Black Diamond Death (Sloane Monroe Book 1) by [Bradshaw, Cheryl]  Charming Academy by [Elliott, Jessica L.]

Fakers (Canaan Island Book 1) by [Collett, Meg]  Growing Season: a novel (Book 1) by [Lageschulte, Melanie]  Holly Freakin' Hughes by [Kingsley, Kelsey]

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Click on the covers for this week’s reviews.

 

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Other posts on my blog this week.

Grand Slam Murders by R.J. Lee ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Two Witches And A Whiskey ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

The Chef’s Secret by Crystal King ~ Author Interview and Giveaway

Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Strange Blood

Adventures With Annabelle And Maisie ~ Delightful Excerpts and Giveaway

Queen To Ashes ~ Pre-Order Blitz and Giveaway

Books From The Backlog #1 ~ Kin by Kealan Patrick Burke

In The Dog House by Traci Hall ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway

The Hell Bound Series by Kathy Dinisi ~ Tour and Giveaway

Freakin Fridays #68 ~ Unidentified by Michael McBride

Tour and Giveaway ~ Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers

Hot Diggity Dogs!

We’re In For It Now! Antarctic Ice Beasts by Hunter Shea ~ Now Available

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Leave your link and I’ll come visit you.

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 go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.