Archive for August, 2019

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Stir Up

A Lark Davis Mystery

by Annabelle Hunter

Stir Up (Lark Davis Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Independently Published (July 1, 2019)
Print Length: 178 page
Digital ASIN: B07SGH94K4
GoodReads Link Coming Soon!

Peace and quiet is underrated.

After her last brush with murder, Larklyn Davis is relieved to be spending her time with the talented new horse at her stables instead of tripping over body parts. While she’s trying to figure out why her newest horse has lost his mojo, she’s also puzzling over her relationship with the brooding, uncommunicative Detective Brecken Wilson.

But then, disaster strikes, and both Lark’s reputation and business are on the line. Once again she finds herself pulled into a murder case and in close proximity to the handsome Detective. Throw in a dashing veterinarian plus a matchmaking town and Lark’s life spins out of control. As clues pile up and all evidence leads back to her barn, Lark gets saddled up to solve another mystery.

Who knew life in Barrow Bay would stir up so much trouble?

About Author Annabelle Hunter

Annabelle Hunter is a stay-at-home mom and an avid fan of classic mystery shows and dressage. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and too many animals.

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 12 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW

August 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT   

August 13 – I’m All About Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 14 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

August 15 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 15 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 16 – The Self-Rescue Princess – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 17 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

August 17 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

August 18 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

August 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 20 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 20 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

August 21 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

August 22 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW

August 23 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

August 23 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 24 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT

August 25 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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If you’re like me, you have a pile of books beckoning to you from your lists. Carole hosts this fun feature where you can share some of those older books and perhaps nudge you to finally read them. If you want to join in on the fun, head over to Carole’s Random Life In Books and leave a link to your post.
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Sawfish

  by Rick Chesler

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Genre: Horror

Synopsis

Marine biologist Dr. Mason Rayman is experimenting with gigantism in sea creatures when he accidentally creates a monstrously large sawfish. When it grows so big he can no longer keep it in his Miami lab, he is preparing to have it destroyed when he learns he is being terminated from his position. By way of revenge, he dumps the oversized shark relative into the ocean, where it soon roams out of control, slaughtering bathers at nearby trendy South Beach.

Dr. Rayman doesn’t let on that it’s his fish responsible for the killings, but someone knows what he did, and she’s blackmailing him. He plays along for a while but then decides she needs to be eliminated. Breaking into a lab at his former workplace, he deliberately creates more monster sawfish and releases them into the local waters.

Rayman then attempts to get his job back by stepping forward as the expert on how to stop the scourge of gigantic predators now ravaging swimmers and water sports enthusiasts on South Florida beaches. But his blackmailer will not let up, leading to an ultimate confrontation between woman and beast, and finally, woman and man.

Amazon / B&N

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I added this book back in February of 2016. I find loads of scary books through other people’s suggestions and two people I go to often for new ones both read this and gave it very different ratings. That made me curious to try Sawfish. Now I’ll finally get to it.

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You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

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Healing Heather

by Tinsley Sellers

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(Beckley’s Daughters Romance #1)
Publication date: July 20th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis

She’s going 120mph in a 65 zone—and if driving even faster could change history, Professor Heather Harris would floor it. She’s on a collision course with Sergeant Brian Daniels, a state trooper determined to enforce the speed limit and slam the brakes on his own heartache. Can a fast-moving physicist find love with a laid-back law officer, or will ghosts from their pasts keep driving them apart?

“All relationships come with an expiration date. All of mine just happened to fall on the same two days.” —Heather Harris

After a long year of tragedy and loss, Dr. Heather Harris is finally ready to come to terms with the deaths that have left her devastated and alone in the world. Spending summer break at the lake cottage she inherited from her grandparents is the first step in coping with her crushing grief, but she soon finds herself on a collision course with Sergeant Brian Daniels, a police officer whose passion for classic cars won’t stop him from enforcing the speed limit.

Brian Daniels embraces his small-town, laid-back, lakeside life. After years of heartbreak at the hands of his first love, he’s finally free—and a fast-driving, karaoke-singing physics professor offers an exciting diversion. Opposites attract, but the sudden appearance of a blonde on a Harley threatens to throw a monkey wrench in the works. Will the pull of his past be stronger than the promise of his future?

Welcome to the small-town world of Beckley, Michigan. The two-lane roads are long and winding, the many lakes are cool and blue, and the dense forests are green and shaded. Summer days are warm and sunny and summer nights are clear under the glittering stars. The people are warm, friendly, smart, funny–and very, very real. When you need a place to call home, Beckley welcomes you—and sometimes the family you choose is as strong as the bonds you’re born with.

Purchase:
99¢ for a limited time only!

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Accepting Aerin

by Tinsley Sellers

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(Beckley’s Daughters Romance #2)
Publication date: November 16th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis

Former Chicago Cubs third baseman Chet Coakley needs a quiet place to write the last novel in his best-selling series.

When a freak accident ends his baseball career, Chet finds his second chance writing a series of retro-detective novels. He’s on a deadline and can’t afford a distraction—especially not in the form of a vivacious blonde innkeeper who challenges everything he believes about himself.

Professional chef Aerin Buckholtz owns a vintage lodge and fifteen cabins on a secluded lake in the Michigan woods.

Betrayed by her best friend and self-conscious about her appearance, Aerin believes that romance isn’t meant for her. She’s building her business—and working to earn good reviews seems safer than admitting her attraction to a handsome former athlete who feels far out of her league.

Can Aerin and Chet learn to see themselves through each other’s eyes and accept a love neither one saw coming?

Welcome back to Beckley, Michigan! Autumn is in the air and as the days get shorter, the air gets cooler and the trees begin to turn every shade of gold and red. The people are just as warm, friendly, smart, funny, and real as you remember. When you need a place to call home, Beckley welcomes you—and sometimes the family you choose is as strong as the bonds you’re born with.

If you like small-town romance, you’ll like Beckley. If you like smart heroines who balance demanding professional careers with a commitment to family, friends, and finding love, then you’ll definitely like it here. If you like strong, sexy, hard-working heroes who have not-so-secret soft spots for kids, kittens, and classic cars, you may find that you never want to leave!

Accepting Aerin is the second in the Beckley’s Daughters Romance series. This series is recommended for adult readers and contains explicit language and intimate situations.

 
Purchase:
99¢ for a limited time only!

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About Author Tinsley Sellers

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Tinsley Sellers grew up in Chicago, spending her summers with her grandparents in a tiny town a lot like Beckley, Michigan. Life took her to Arizona, Washington, and Idaho before she finally found her home in Arkansas. She is married to an amazing, supportive (and handsome!) man, with whom she has rescued three dogs and two cats. When she’s not writing, she teaches physics and engineering at the local university. When she’s not writing or teaching, she’s probably trying new recipes. She enjoys fast cars, loud music, fine whisky, and big books. In no particular order.
Author links: Website / Instagram / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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The Time For Murder Is Meow

A Purr N Bark Pet hop Mystery

by T.C. LoTempio


The Time for Murder is Meow (A Purr N Bark Pet Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Midnight Ink (August 8, 2019
Paperback: 312 pages
ISBN-10: 0738760366
ISBN-13: 978-0738760360
Digital ASIN: B07HL4F1Z6

Shell and her two furry sidekicks must cat-ch a killer to save their pet shop

Crishell “Shell” McMillan sees the cancellation of her TV series as a blessing in disguise. The former actress can now take over her late aunt’s pet shop, the Purr N’ Bark, and do something she loves.

While getting the shop ready for re-opening, Shell is asked to loan her aunt’s Cary Grant posters to the local museum for an exhibit. She finds the prospect exciting—until a museum board member, who had a long-standing feud with Shell’s aunt, votes against it. When she discovers the board member dead in the museum, Shell becomes suspect number one. Can she, her Siamese cat Kahlua, and her new sidekick—her aunt’s Persian Purrday—find the real culprit, or will her latest career go up in kitty litter?

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Enjoy this peek inside:

After I hung up from Max I flopped down in the worn chair behind the register and leaned back, my hands laced behind my neck.  Max’s parting words bothered me more than I cared to admit, and a twinge of guilt arrowed through me at the thought I might possibly cost Gary this job.  Kahlua hopped up on my lap and swatted my chin with her paw.  “You’re right, Kahlua,” I said.  “Max might have been exaggerating, hoping to play on my sympathy. Gary’s a big boy and a good actor.  He’ll push through no matter what the role.”
It was high time I thought about what was best for me for a change.  As Aunt Tillie used to say, “If you don’t put yourself first, it’s a sure bet no one else will.”  Well, it was high time I did that. I’d put everyone else’s needs above mine, far too often, most recently with disastrous results.  I glanced at my hand – the empty third finger of my left hand, specifically – and a small sigh escaped my lips.
Everything happens for a reason.
A mental picture of Patrick rose in my mind’s eye, and I resolutely pushed it away. I’d been so certain he was the one.  I’d spend hours in my trailer between scenes, fantasizing about the perfect life we’d have together and then, in one afternoon, it had all come crashing down. I’d flung my four-carat diamond ring at Patrick and the script girl he was in bed with, stormed out of the apartment and never looked back. A month later the show was cancelled, and three weeks after that I was on a plane to Fox Hollow. And now here I sat, sorting through boxes of catnip balls and doggie chew toys. Go figure.
The bell above the shop door tinkled, jostling me out of my reverie and reminding me once again I’d forgotten to lock the door.  “I’m sorry, we’re not open for business yet,” I began, and then stopped short.  Three people stood grouped in the doorway, two women and a man. One woman was short and stout. She had flame colored hair (think Lucille Ball, only REDDER) teased up off her head and anchored with what had to be at least a pound of hairspray. She wore an aqua and orange flowered caftan a size too small which served to accentuate her generous frame instead of hiding it. Her age was hard to judge but I placed her as approximately ten years older than myself, late forties to mid-fifties. The man was around the same age. He had a brown beard shot with streaks of grey, and kind eyes behind large, tortoise framed glasses. His jeans were neat and pressed, and held up by multicolored suspenders with a thread of glitter running through them.
The other girl was a good bit younger than either of her companions.  I placed her a bit younger than myself, late twenties, early thirties tops. She had long, luxurious dark brown, almost black hair that flowed across her shoulders like a waterfall. I couldn’t see her eyes behind the massive Jackie O sunglasses she wore, but I was betting they were the same color as the hair. Her slender frame was accentuated by the skintight Capri jeans and tank top she wore. Toenails painted a bright blue peeped out from flip-flops of the same color. The girl carried a massive basket wrapped in yellow cellophane.
“Welcome to Fox Hollow,” they chorused, almost as if they’d either rehearsed it or else done it a million times before. It was hard to tell which.  “We know you’re not open yet,” the redhead added.  “But we saw the light on, so we figured maybe this was as good a time as any.”  She held out her hand. “Rita Sakowski.  I run the coffee shop up the block.  Sweet Perks.”
“Oh, yes.” I gave an enthusiastic nod. “I did notice your shop.  I’m rather a coffee nut.  Sorry I haven’t had time to stop in yet, but I’ve been busy.”
“Oh, we know,” Rita gushed. “You’re Crishell Marlowe, the actress, Tillie’s niece. I’ve always loved that name. It’s so unusual. How did you think of it, or did some Hollywood bigwig do it for you?”
“Nope. If anyone’s to blame, it’s my parents.” I took the hand she shoved in front of me and let her pump it up and down. “They couldn’t decide between Shelley and Christine, so they invented Crishell. It’s kind of a mouthful for most people, though, so I go by my nickname. Shell.” I paused. “I should also mention I’m using my real last name now. McMillan.”
“Oh.”  Rita dropped my hand abruptly. Her smile faltered just a bit and then it was back in place. “Well, I have to tell you everyone in Fox Hollow is just thrilled you’ve decided to keep Tillie’s legacy alive.”
I smiled back. “It’s my pleasure.”  I waved a hand around the store.  “I’ve been taking inventory.  I wanted to open it next week, but I doubt I’ll be ready much before the end of the month. As you can see, there’s still a lot of work to be done.  I have to restock a lot of items, and, of course, get some pets in here.”
Rita nodded.  “Of course.  Tillie did let things slack off a bit those last few months.  I guess we should have been quicker to take that as a sign something was wrong.  Your aunt never slacked off. Never.”
We were all silent for a few seconds, and then the man reached out and took my hand. “Well, I’m pleased to meet you, Shell McMillan. I’m Ron Webb. Webb’s Florists.  My store is right next door to Rita’s.” He grinned. “Sure comes in handy during the slow hours when I need a cup of java or a fresh baked scone to pick me up.”
The brunette reached up to brush a strand of hair from her glasses. I noted the blue polish on the fingernails had added glitter. “And I’m Olivia Niven,” she said. “My claim to fame is running the dance academy on Main Street.” She wrinkled her nose at me and looked pointedly at my feet. “Do you dance, Shell?”
“Not very well. I turned down Dancing on Air because I have two left feet. My co-star, Gary Presser was on last season though. He came in second.”
“I know. I voted for him. He got robbed.” Olivia looked me up and down. “I bet I could make a passable dancer out of you,” she laughed and flicked her hand dismissively. “If I can train the Boswell twins to win last year’s annual competition, I can train anyone.”
“That’s true,” Rita’s red hair swayed to and fro as she nodded. “Talk about left feet, those girls had ‘em, and now, well, you should see them foxtrot.”
Olivia shot me a mischievous grin. “Come by the studio. My girls will be thrilled to meet you.  The boys even more so.  They were all big Spy Anyone fans.” She shifted the basket to her other hand and whipped off the sunglasses, and I saw her eyes were indeed the same color as the hair, maybe even a shade darker. “So,” she reached out to tap the top of the basket. “We just came over to give you this small token to welcome you to the shop community, and to offer any help you might need.”
Rita gave Olivia a small nudge, and the younger woman held out the basket to me. Through the cellophane I saw cookies, cakes, an assortment of gourmet teas and coffees, and a small plant.
“Some treats Rita, Ron and I put together,” Olivia said, with a sidelong glance at her companions. “To be honest, it was mostly Rita. Enjoy.”
“Thanks.” I had to grip the basket hard. It was really loaded down. “This was very nice of you.”
Rita waved her hand carelessly. “Oh, don’t mention it sweetie. We all loved your aunt, and this store is one of the most popular in Fox Hollow. When the tour buses come through, they always make a stop here. Nothing people like better than to take a little souvenier home to their pets. Oh, and you might want to give Kathleen Power a call.  She knits the most darling doggie and kitty sweaters and booties.  Your aunt used to sell them for her all the time, on consignment.”
“Thanks, I’ll do that.” I smiled. “I hope I can live up to my aunt’s reputation.”
“I’m sure you will, dear.” Rita hesitated and then added, “I have to say, we were all surprised when we heard that you would be moving here and taking over the store.”
“Oh, don’t be so coy, Rita,” Olivia cut in. She turned to me. “We were shocked. After all, Fox Hollow’s no Hollywood.”
I nodded. “Thank God for that.”
Now that her arms were free, Olivia crossed them over her well endowed chest. “So, you’re really planning on staying and making a go of this? Or is this just a pit stop before your next series?”
Apparently Olivia wasn’t the type to pull any punches. Personally I found that refreshing after living in the phony Hollywood community for so long. “I assure you, I’m here to stay. I’ve retired from show business.”
Olivia’s perfectly arched eyebrow skyrocketed.  “Retired? Really?  I would think that would be hard.  Isn’t it in your blood? I mean, your mother’s an actress too, right?”
I shot her a wry smile. “If that’s true, then I want a transfusion.”
“I was sad to hear about your series,” Rita cut in. “I always watched Spy Anyone. It was one of my favorite shows.”
“Mine too,” said Ron and Olivia nodded. “I watched it for your co-star,” Olivia said with a shrug. “I hope he’s not retiring from show business too.”
“Gary? I doubt it. He’s too much of a ham.”
Olivia leaned one arm on the counter. “Frankly, I’m disappointed. I thought your moving here had something to do with that breakup of yours, you know with that director—OW!” She rubbed at her side and glared at Rita.
“No sense in rehashing things I’m sure Shell must be sick of hearing, right Shell?” Rita said smoothly.
“Oh, for pity’s sakes, the woman lived in Hollywood, the gossip capital of the world. She’s used to it, aren’t you Shell?” Olivia demanded.
“Now now Olivia, don’t put her on the spot,” chided Ron. “She might not want to talk about it.”
“Oh, don’t be silly Ron. Shell’s a public figure. Her life’s been an open book for years,” snapped Olivia. “Besides, I’m curious about this retirement.  What made you decide to give up the bright lights to follow in your aunt’s footsteps?”
“Those bright lights aren’t all they’re cracked up to be,” I said.  “When you’re on a hit show, your life isn’t your own.  As for taking over Aunt Tillie’s business, well, I’ve always loved animals.  I think if I hadn’t been pushed into going into acting, I probably would have gone for a career in veterinary medicine.  And I feel I owe it to my aunt. She was always there for me when I was growing up.  One of my biggest regrets is not having had much contact with her before she passed. No one in our family even knew she was ill.”
Rita made a sympathetic noise. “Don’t beat yourself up over that, dear. No one did. Tillie could be quite close-mouthed when it came to certain things, and her health was one of them.  I doubted she’d have ever told you anything anyway. Tillie never liked folks worrying or fussing over her.”
“But she did enjoy fussing over others,” Olivia put in. “Take her roommate, for example.”
My head swiveled in Olivia’s direction and I let out an astonished gasp. “Roommate? My aunt’s lawyer didn’t mention anything about her having a roommate.”
“No?” Olivia shrugged. “Maybe it slipped his mind.”
“Kind of an important detail to slip up on, don’t you think?” I placed my hands on my hips. “Are you sure about this? I mean, I find it a bit hard to believe my aunt would take in a boarder. She didn’t need the money, and as you’ve already pointed out, she valued her privacy.”
Olivia chuckled. “That’s because you never saw the two of them together. He doted on your aunt, and she was a sucker for him.”
He. A male boarder. A sudden thought occurred to me. “Were my aunt and this boarder involved?”
“Oh, absolutely!” Olivia nodded. “There was nothing Tillie wouldn’t do for him. He had her wrapped around his little finger. Or maybe I should say paw.”
“Paw?”
Eyes twinkling, Olivia reached toward the basket I’d set on the counter, undid the cellophane and crinkled some of it between her fingers. “That should bring him running, see! There he is now.”
I turned and caught a blur of white out of the corner of my eye. The next instant, the blur streaked past me and with one graceful leap landed on all fours right in the center of the counter.
“Oh my God,” I cried. “What is that?”
“Merow,” said the blur. “Owww.”
The others started to laugh. “That,” choked out Olivia. “Is the store mascot and your aunt’s roomie.
Shell, meet Purrday.”

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About Author T.C. LoTempio

 

While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic.  She and her cat pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime and the Cat Rescue series from Crooked Lane.  Her latest, the Pet Shop Mysteries, makes its debut August 8 with The Time for Murder is Meow.

You can cat-ch up with them at ROCCO’s blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com or her website, www.tclotempio.net

Where to find them:

ROCCO’s blog / Website

Purchase Links:  Amazon   B&N   IndieBound 

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GIVEAWAY

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 8 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

August 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 8 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

August 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

August 9 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

August 9 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 9 – My Devotional Thoughts – REVIEW

August 9 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

August 10 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

August 10 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

August 10 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

August 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

August 11 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW

August 11 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 12 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

August 12 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 12 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 13 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 13 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

August 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 14 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

August 14 – Books Direct – GUEST POST

August 14 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 15 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – REVIEW

August 15 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – SPOTLIGHT

August 15 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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About Apples and Alibis

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Apples and Alibis (A Down South Cafe Mystery Book)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Grace Abraham Publishing (August 13, 2019)
Print Length: 188 pages
ASIN: B07V1X8SW3

That’s the last time Amy agrees to do a favor for a stranger…

Down South Cafe owner, Amy Flowers is in over her head. Operating a cafe while hosting the first Farmers’ Market in Winter Garden has her swimming in apples. And when an elderly woman calls the cafe, pleading for a delivery for her upcoming party, Amy relents, feeling compelled to help the desperate customer.

But when she arrives, the woman is slumped over her kitchen table, and Amy is catapulted into the middle of a small town crime. Guilt-ridden for not arriving earlier to save the woman, she sets out to unravel the mystery surrounding the woman. Now, between running the cafe and dealing with the chaos of the farmers’ market, Amy is squeezing in a murder investigation, a run-in with her boyfriend’s mom, and her own mother’s quirky life decisions. Life can’t get any worse…or can it? This cafe owner needs a break–in the case.

About Gayle Leeson

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Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. I also write as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, I write the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee, I write the Embroidery Mystery series.

The cake decorating series features a heroine who is starting her life over in Southwest Virginia after a nasty divorce. The heroine, Daphne, has returned to her hometown of Brea Ridge to open a cake baking and decorating business and is wrestling with the question of whether or not one can go home again. She enjoys spending time with her sister, nephew, and niece, but she and her mother have a complicated relationship that isn’t always pleasant. Daphne has also reconnected with her high school sweetheart and is pursuing a rekindled romance while desperately trying to put her past behind her.

Kerry Vincent, Hall of Fame Sugar Artist, Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show Director, and Television Personality says the series is “a must read for cake bakers and anyone who has ever spent creative time in the kitchen!”

Says Dean Koontz, #1 New York Times bestselling author, “One day I found myself happily reading . . . mysteries by Gayle Trent. If she can win me over . . . she’s got a great future.”

The Embroidery Mystery series features a heroine who recently moved to the Oregon coast to open an embroidery specialty shop. Marcy Singer left her home in San Francisco, along with the humiliation of being left at the altar, in order to move to Tallulah Falls and realize her dream of owning her own shop. She takes along her faithful companion, a one-year-old Irish wolfhound named Angus O’Ruff. She makes many new friends in Tallulah Falls, but she also makes a few enemies. Thankfully, her best friend Sadie MacKenzie and her husband Blake run the coffeehouse right down the street from Marcy’s shop, the Seven-Year Stitch; and Detective Ted Nash always has her back.

Publishers Weekly says, “Fans of the genre will take kindly to Marcy, her Irish wolfhound, Angus O’Ruff, and Tallulah Falls. This is a fast, pleasant read with prose full of pop culture references and, of course, sharp needlework puns.”

Pat Cooper of RT Book Reviews says, “If her debut here is any indication, Lee’s new series is going to be fun, spunky and educational. She smoothly interweaves plot with her character’s personality and charm, while dropping tantalizing hints of stitching projects and their history. Marcy Singer is young, fun, sharp and likable. Readers will be looking forward to her future adventures.” (RT Book Reviews nominated The Quick and the Thread for a 2010 Book Reviewers’ Choice Award in the Amateur Sleuth category)

I live in Virginia with my family, which includes her own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. I’m having a blast writing this new series!

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Purchase Links – Amazon      B&N    Kobo

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Welcome to My Monday Minis where I share short reviews about books I’ve read.

Today I’m sharing a book from one of my favorite series!

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Fire Devil

Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #11

by J.L. Bryan

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Genre: Horror / YA / Paranormal

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My Review

I’ve been loving this series and the character’s from the very first book. This final showdown was a long time coming and I was excited and a bit sad to read it.

So, I settled in, prepared to read about half the book and then go to sleep. Ha! I read this, no, devoured this, in one sitting. There’s very little let up in action when it begins and the scary parts were very scary. I feared for the lives of many of these character’s. Ellie’s nemesis is frightening and would do anything to tear her down, before then destroying her.

Talk about edge of your seat reading and hair raising scenes. It’s a race across the country and against time and the suspense over what was coming what kept me up til the wee hours, having to know. Wish I could tell you how it ended.

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Synopsis

Ellie’s pursuit of a possessed friend and her own worst enemy takes her across the United States into forgotten corners of the countryside through haunted hotels, ghost towns, and strange highways, and toward the site of a horrific fire haunted by hundreds of spirits.

Together with her team, plus help from an eccentric exorcist from Texas, she prepares for the fight of her life, a fight destined since her own childhood.

Ellie’s past and present collide in a final confrontation that will give her a chance to finally be rid of her most dangerous personal demon—if he doesn’t kill Ellie first, along with the people she cares about the most.

Amazon

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways 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.

Well, my son’s computer died. I knew it was coming. I’d even been shopping around for a new one. He’s using mine right now and really liking it so I ordered the newest version for him. It’ll be around Thursday before it gets here so you might notice I’m hit or miss on visiting and commenting this coming week. He’s quite the computer hog. LOL

I went crazy on the books again. I can’t help myself. LOL Just wait til you see what I got!

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

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My new books this week.

 

Uncanny by [Fine, Sarah] 

 

  Vampire on the Orient Express by [Carrow, Shane]

One Star: A Short Horror Story by [Behrg, The]  Terror on the Tundra (Terror Series Book 1) by [Miller, J. Esker]

Marred: Grafton County Series: #1 by [Coletta, Sue]  Cleaved: Grafton County Series: #2 by [Coletta, Sue]

Scathed: Grafton County Series: #3 by [Coletta, Sue]  Racked: Grafton County Series, #4 by [Coletta, Sue]

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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.

Death Trap: A Murder Mystery (A Paradox Murder Mystery Book 1) by [Thayer, Charles]  Magical Cool Cats Mysteries Boxed Set Vol 1 (Books 1, 2 & 3 & A Christmas Feral) by [Matthews, Mary]

The Harvest - A Mermaid Fantasy: Call of the Sirens Book One by [Benson, KB]  Murderous Little Darlings: A Tale of Vampires - Book One by [Hennessy, John]

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Click on the covers for my reviews.

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Other posts on my blog this week.

Spotlight and Giveaway ~ Rest, Relax, Run For Your Life by Katherine Brown

Wild Horse by Kyle Richardson ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Excerpt and Giveaway ~ The Secrets Of Hawthorne House

Fun reading all year long with The McKinley Mystery Series by Carolyn Arnold

Books From The Back Log #17 ~ Megalodon

The Friday 56 #218 ~ Marred

A Chain Across The Dawn by Drew Williams ~ Review

Frankenstein by A.D. Wayne ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

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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.

,
Frankenstein
Supra Project Book 1
by A.D. Wayne
Genre: Horror, High Science Fiction 
 
Frankie is a 21st-century computer programmer, turned ufologist when she is
approached by the members of the LSS Slicer crew. The starship being
commanded by Captain Caldwell. She becomes their most significant
asset in the temporal war. Their enemies were ready to die for a
spectre of her DNA. The Dome and Rakes in the Scorpius Quadrant
forged a betrothal with the Orion Quadrant’s defence, the Alliance.
Nowhere is safe anymore. Within Frankie’s DNA, is the infinite
knowledge of the Greys. It hides within it how to revive their
technology and share their knowledge. Frankie had to remain safe.
Like her life, if compromised, could easily mean the end of the Milky
Way. Life as she knew, completely shredded. Caldwell promised to keep
Earth’s history safe by using Frankie’s knowledge of her home,
untainted by the Dome’s time traveling. Caldwell would use Frankie
to re-establish her timeline and all others until the Dome’s
complete alienation. Not everyone believed Caldwell deserved trust.
The mission: save time and space from the 26th century at all costs.
**Only 99 cents!!**
 
 
 
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Picture

The ship now seemed entirely emptied, and she got a message on her earpiece, “Frank! Answer me! Did we hear an explosion, are you, all right? For fuck sake, Frank answer!” She turned on her vocal emitter, and said, “Yes, I caused the explosion.” Her superior officer, Commander King, had orders to keep Frankie safe at all costs, and right now, she was several hundred meters away from him in a ship full of very hungry Rakes, “How the fuck do you suggest coming back? You blew up the only passage to their working teleportal beam!”
Frankie, with a cool tone in her voice, answered, “It was a risk I was willing to take.” The Commander didn’t find it one bit amusing, “That’s funny because see. I am the Commander, and you’re the Lieutenant. I make the decision, you follow my orders.” Frankie followed a curving corridor and decided to slow down, “Yeah, well I came here to chew bubblegum, and kickass. I have two plasma guns with a few shots left, and no bubble gum. You do the math.”
Frankie knew Commander Nakamo King wouldn’t understand her reference. Nobody on her ship understood her puns from the twenty-first century since she was the only one out from her timeline. She then turned off the device entirely. Frankie knew she would find her crewmates approaching the place where they were ambushed by Rakes, that according to King, weren’t supposed to be onboard the abandoned ship. The air was heavy and humid, the stink of the place burned inside Frankie’s nostrils who wanted to beam out of the ship as soon as she could. But first, she had to free her men.
Frankie might not have been military material, or at least she thought so until saved by Icefall II’s Captain. But she had proven herself time, and time again. All those hours spent playing warfare video games were suddenly paying off, and helped protect herself from something she possessed that made her quite precious to the Captain of her ship.
The cries were loud, long, and agonizing. The mumbling, and what sounded like the chewing sounds of animals crawled its way to Frankie’s ears who feared what she was about to see when turning to the room on her right. She looked at her forearm bracer where it displayed a monitor screen of all Icefall II members. She saw the fainted life signs of her crewmates and then turned on the 3D holographic blueprint of the ship showing that on her left would be the feasting room.
She closed her eyes, knelt to the ground as slowly as she could, and crawled close to the entrance of the room. Once opened, what she saw, created a sudden gag reflux. There was no more time to be discreet, as she threw up bile on herself. She jumped on her feet and shot the two crewmates. Both of them hung from the ceiling by metallic hooks resembling ones used by fishermen. It pierced through the bruised flesh on their backs. Denuded, the two men were hanging, their head falling forwards. A wide X incision covered their abdomen, buckets at their feet, letting the blood drip down as Rakes exposed their tongues.
When Frankie saw the scene, she expected as much, but not for both crewmen to lift their heads up, orbits emptied from their eyeballs, and screaming without a tongue to articulate their pain. She shot them both between the eyes, and their heads fell forward instantly once she shot them both out of their misery. Twenty-eight Rakes came forward, angry, as they showed their long curving claws perfect to grip their prey as she stepped back. Frankie analyzed the situation rapidly and calculated her chances of survival if she ran through the ship. 9%. Not high enough. She thought to herself, she needed another strategy.
Frankie noticed a tall man with a black uniform, and a helmet covering his head. Impossible to see through, she blinked and hoped her ocular scanning lenses took a picture. She noticed his belt with a scarab looking device attached to it. “You’ll have to do mate!” She propelled herself onto the man, elbowed his head, and then his stomach before injecting herself with the decoding serum, and entered the code, “Sextans A, NGC 3115, Slicer LSS, Authorization Code 05bw3d.”
Frankie shot at the Rakes coming her way until she felt her body dematerializing leaving a sensation of absolute relaxation. Then everything disappeared until she felt stretched out into a tube and instantly rematerialized.
What was the idea, Lieutenant Stein?”
Yes, I’m happy I’m alive too.”
Lieutenant!”
Frankie got back on her feet. The man covered in a black military suit was about to lift himself up, so Frankie kicked his head and knocked him out for the third time. She walked down the circular Decoder pedestal, holding her head with one hand. She was covered in soot and sweating like she just went for a hundred-kilometer marathon. King was yelling at her. She had to follow his orders when away on missions. Then Frankie felt shivers grabbing onto her spine crawling its way to the back of her neck when he walked in the room.
Lieutenant Stein, what is this Khe Agent doing on my ship?”
It seemed as if Frankie lost her words, the entire language indeed. She walked back to the Khe Agent, grabbed his teleportal device also known as a PBU, and unlocked his helmet. She then caught on to its ocular lenses on his eyeballs and retrieved the chip placed in his bracer. She walked down the Decoder and handed it to Captain Caldwell, who had turned forty-nine years old the week before.
This Khe Agent was the relic we were looking for.” Frankie admitted, “I read his signature when we teleported about the supposedly abandoned ship.” She mentioned slowly looking at her superior officer with a frowned as he affirmed the wrecked ship deserted by the crew. “These objects, once I analyze them, will prove to be the missing parts of previous encoded Grey artifacts left behind. It also proves our theory of the Rakes working alongside the Dome…um…Sir.”
Frankie looked down when her Captain asked with his grave, and commanding voice, “How were you able to use the PBU? You needed access to a Rake code.” Frankie wasn’t about to reveal all of her secrets to her Captain, and so she answered, “As for the Portable Beaming Unit, I…um” She cleared her throat before King said, “She disobeyed my orders, and went on a silly mission to—” Caldwell raised his hand before King, and uninterestingly nodded, his eyes fixed on Frankie, “Yes, yes, yes, subordination, who gives a fuck Commander. We’re at war.”
He had Frankie look into his eyes, “How did you get that code?” She had to think fast, “I hacked their system, and copied one of their codes when I knew a Khe Agent was onboard the ship.” Captain Caldwell smiled, “Moved the prisoner to the brig until Dr. Gillman can start the rehabilitation process.” Before leaving the room, Caldwell glanced at Frankie one last time, subtly winked, and grinned before saying, “Good work, Lieutenant.” Followed by, “Both of you take a shower, and report to Dr. Gillman.”
Frankie couldn’t help but smile, and with the objects in her hands, about to walk out she felt King’s grip on her shoulder. She knew he would again lecture her about how the Captain was a weirdo, and not to let him inside her head. He tried his best to have the Captain lose interest in Frankie, but it never worked. She would get away with many things, but then again, “I’m not a real soldier, Nakamo.” She said. ​​
Picture
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A.D. Wayne started writing before she knew how. Always surrounded by books
and encyclopedias, she was curious about what treasures lay hidden
within each page. Wayne wrote her first novel when she was only
twelve years old and continued to come up with new spooky stories
almost every day. Her passion for vampires and history, had her
fulfill her dream of becoming an author, who would make “monster
nerds” like herself happy. A.D. Wayne is obsessed with research,
dark sciences, writing, and always learning. She has diplomas in
editing, blogging, social media, self-publishing, creative writing,
novel writing, ufology, and astronomy. She is a Paranormal Expert
by Quora standards. She has a passion for learning, and her novels
reflect her ever-growing desire to know more about ancient history
and parapsychology. She writes twisted horror stories but doesn’t
forget to add the passion.
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

A CHAIN ACROSS THE DAWN
BY DREW WILLIAMS

Publishing 8th August 2019
£20.00 | 9781471171154 | Hardback

My Review

Almost immediately upon starting this book I realized it wasn’t the first in the series. My bad for not taking a closer look at the title. But, that didn’t take away from the fun. I quickly connected with the main characters and gleaned some facts about what happened prior to this act.

Jane and Esa are a hoot. They are working out the kinks in their team work and learning to trust each other in some really crazy situations.  There’s this ongoing joke about Jane’s age. Esa keeps upping it and Jane denies it. I got so curious as to just how old Jane was.

And their ship, Scheherazade, Schaz for short, became a favorite character for me. Artificial intelligence with personality and humor.  If I ever traveled in space, I’d want to be on that ship.

The action is immediate and continues throughout, making this a super fast read. So much happening and so unpredictable. At one point I was thinking I was glad I hadn’t read the first book after all as the unpredictability made guessing how the character’s would respond to events even more suspenseful.

I recommend this to science fiction fans who like the ride without getting bogged down in lots of tech stuff. Those who just believe and enjoy the trip, like I did.

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Amazon

Goodreads

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Bigger spaceships. Bigger explosions. Bigger planets. Bigger problems.

It’s been three years since Esa joined the ranks of the Justified after her rescue from the fanatical murderers the Pax. Together, Esa and her mentor Kamali travel from planet to planet, searching for children with supernatural abilities. It’s hard work, but Esa has never felt more assured of her place in the universe.

On a visit to a planet so remote that its inhabitants never learned that the Sect Wars ended over a hundred years ago, they learn that the Justified are not the only people searching for gifted children. There is a creature with unexpected powers who will stop at nothing to get its hands on the children that Esa and Kamali are trying to rescue.

With their latest recruit in tow — a young Wulf child named Sho — Esa and Kamali will travel halfway across the galaxy in pursuit of answers. But the answers only lead to more questions, and the danger will only increase as their terrifying nemesis turns his eyes on them.

* * * Praise for Drew Williams and his debut novel, THE STARS NOW UNCLAIMED* * *

‘The only thing more fun than a bonkers space battle is a whole book packed with bonkers space battles. Come for the exploding spaceships, stay for the intriguing universe’ Becky Chambers, author of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

‘A total blast’ Rob Boffard, author of Tracer

Pirates, smugglers, soldiers, spies, snarky spaceships, and really big guns . . . and that’s just the first chapter. The action gets bigger, the stakes get higher, and I loved it!’ Claire North, author of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

‘A  rollercoaster of a read’ Jamie Sawyer, author of The Lazarus War

‘A massive, galaxy-spanning tale of war, betrayal, friendship, and the kind of commitment people make to a better future even at the cost of their own lives. You don’t want to miss this amazing, kick-ass book’ K.B. Wagers, author of Behind the Throne

‘Kamali is a kick-ass heroine who gets the job done and never loses her sense of humor . . . The action is non-stop, and filled with brilliant and unexpected laugh-out-loud moments… a sci-fi thrill ride from start to finish’ Catherine Cerveny, author of The Rule of Luck

‘A fast, fun, and heartfelt adventure through a truly unique universe. From the first page to the last, it’s impossible to put down’ K.S. Merbeth, author of Bite

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About Author Drew Williams

Drew Williams Author pic

Drew Williams was born and raised in Birmingham,
Alabama, in the southern United States of
America. He is a bookseller at the Little Professor
Book Center in Homewood, Alabama. A Chain
Across the Dawn is his second book.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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:

Marred

Grafton County #1

  by Sue Coletta

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Genre: Suspense / Thriller

From page 56% in the eBook.

To eliminate forced entry she checked for tool marks on the front and back doors. Then she scrambled upstairs to the master bedroom and searched for anything that resembled blood.

The place was spotless. No sign of assault. Or worse, a murder.

As Frankie rounded the corner, she smelled the bleach.

I just got my hands on the entire series and can’t wait to read them!

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Synopsis

When a serial killer breaks into the home of bestselling author, Sage Quintano, she barely escapes with her life. Her husband, Niko, a homicide detective, insists they move to rural New Hampshire, where he accepts a position as Grafton County Sheriff.

Sage buries secrets from that night—secrets she swears to take to her deathbed.

Three years of anguish and painful memories pass, and a grisly murder case lands on Niko’s desk. A strange caller torments Sage—she can’t outrun the past.

When Sage’s twin sister suddenly goes missing, Sage searches Niko’s case files and discovers similarities to the Boston killer. A sadistic psychopath is preying on innocent
women, marring their bodies in unspeakable ways. And now, he has her sister.

Cryptic clues. Hidden messages. Is the killer hinting at his identity? Or is he trying to lure Sage into a deadly trap to end his reign of terror with a matching set of corpses?

Amazon

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

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.