Archive for December, 2025

The Christmas Cardinal By Aida Juodis ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: December 18, 2025 in Children's books, Excerpt, giveaways
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for The Christmas Cardinal organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Aïda Juodis will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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The Christmas Cardinal

By Aida Juodis

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Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Synopsis

The Christmas Cardinal, written by Aïda Juodis, is a soft and whimsical tale that was gently crafted to help provide children who have lost a loved one with comfort and warmth during the holiday season.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Remember, the cardinal is always there. It’s your loved one who will always care.

From the North Pole and from close by they’ll watch over you with gentle eyes.

So, when you hear the cardinal sing…

remember you’re protected under your loved one’s wing.

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About Author Aida Darija Juodis:

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Aïda Darija Juodis is a storyteller who blends comfort, wonder, and gentle magic in her writing. The Christmas Cardinal reflects her belief that love endures, guiding us from near and far.

Amazon / Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ The Skeleton Faerie By A.P. Mobley

Posted: December 18, 2025 in Dark Fantasy, Excerpt, giveaways
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The Skeleton Faerie

By A.P. Mobley

 

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(Children of the Death Gods, #1)
Publication date: November 8th 2025
Genres: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Mythology

Faerie folklore meets a nuclear postapocalypse in this dark mythological fantasy woven with secrets, treachery, and star-crossed love.

Ninety-nine years after the Nuclear War of 1989, twenty-one-year-old Gus Brandon should only be interested in the survival of humanity and the expansion of his compound. But he’s obsessed with legends from the distant past, superstitions of an expired people.

While searching forbidden ruins for the scraps of stories lost to time, he stumbles upon a mysterious young woman covered in scars. Her name is Saoirse, and their meeting sets off a bloody chain of events—one in which Gus discovers that the folklore he loves just might be real, and that it’s tied to mankind in ways he could have never imagined.

Soon the lines between myth and reality blur, as do the lines between realms.

Gus will have to rely on his knowledge—and Saoirse—to survive the horrors awaiting him… in this world and the next.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

When Gus and his teammates were a mere mile from the compound, the sun had almost finished setting, and the temperature had dropped significantly. A breeze grazed the back of his bare neck and arms, sending chills through his body. In every direction, all that was visible were trees, the only noises those of his and his companions’ boots and their animals’ hooves crunching against shriveled grass and fallen leaves. Occasionally, crows—some of them genetically altered, their feathers stained a pinkish color—flapped from branch to branch, their harsh caws piercing the quiet.

Maybe it was because of the extensive amount of folklore he’d been reading, but these days, the dark played tricks on Gus’s eyes, making him see monsters when nothing was there.

Nothing could be there, after all, as the stories he so loved weren’t real.

And even if there was a chance that they were real (and he knew there wasn’t), his compound was on the western side of a mountain range called the Black Hills, located within the fallen United States of America—far, far away from the places those magical tales took place.

Yet he still found himself imagining all manner of malevolent faeries prowling the woods at night. He saw them skulking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

In masses of collapsed cottonwoods, he imagined there were redcaps hiding, plotting to slaughter any stray travelers passing by.

In murders of crows, he imagined there were sluagh flying, scouring the forest floor for the next unlucky fellow whose soul they might devour.

In fast-moving streams, he imagined there were kelpies biding their time, anticipating the moment a person came close enough to drown and eat.

Thankfully, the logical side of his brain knew he had nothing to worry about—even as far as nonfictional threats went. The worst anyone on scavenge-duty had encountered in the last year was a couple of mountain lions and some rattlesnakes, and although he and his teammates had never run into anything like that, they knew how to take care of it as easily as the other people of the compound had: with bullets.

No one left the compound without a loaded gun and extra ammo.

Gus and his team were safe.

The sun dipped below the horizon, and if it weren’t for the smog blanketing the sky (a lingering effect of the Nuclear War, which the elders said should clear up any decade now), the moon and stars might have lit up the night. The temperature fell even further, clouds of breath filling the air in front of Gus’s face and fogging up his glasses.

“Guess we should have packed our coats,” Nancy remarked as she walked in front of Gus, guiding her pig along. She began to shiver. “I hate when the weather gets like this. Hot during the day, cold at night.”

Twigs cracked to the left. Hand flying to his holster, Gus looked that way, his goat bleating, Nancy’s pig squealing.

A flash of movement in the trees, there and gone in an instant.

“What the . . . ?” Oliver tossed his bundle of birds over his shoulder and retrieved his flashlight, his teeth chattering. He and Adam stood several feet to Gus’s right. “Did you guys see that?”

Adam drew his handgun. “Probably a mountain lion. We’re almost home, so just keep your eyes peeled and your weapons ready.”

“Maybe speed it up a little too,” Gus added, and he and Nancy pulled out their handguns. The team continued toward the compound.

Not five minutes had passed before more branches snapped behind them. Again, the goat bleated, and the pig squealed.

Everyone swung around, preparing to shoot. Oliver shined his flashlight into the trees.

The glow revealed a creature that made Gus’s skin prickle with goose bumps.

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About Author A.P. Mobley:

A. P. Mobley is the Halloween-loving, rock-music-obsessed author of dark fantasy inspired by mythology. She doesn’t only write about her favorite myths, folktales, and fairy tales in books, though; she discusses them on her podcast, Myths (& Folktales & Fairy tales), as well as on her blog and newsletter. She grew up in Wyoming and Nebraska and currently lives in South Dakota, and when she’s not up to her elbows in research for her next project, she can be found consuming dangerous amounts of coffee, reading speculative fiction, or rewatching The Good Place.

Never miss an update from A. P. by signing up for her newsletter. Full list of books and Content Warnings on her website.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Newsletter

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The Skeleton Faerie Blitz

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Voices Beyond The Creek By Curt Richards ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: December 17, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, YA
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Voices Beyond The Creek organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Curt Richards will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Voices Beyond The Creek

By Curt Richards

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Genre: Vintage Young Adult

Synopsis

Set in the foothills of the Appalachians, fourteen-year-old Caleb Austin and his friend Marlee (Mary Lee) Patterson face poverty and prejudice in their small rural town. Confronted with the “creek people” who live in the hollow and the wild child Annabelle Pruitt, their lives take an exciting turn.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Marlee hurried to the edge of the creek and stopped before her shoes touched the water. Any other time, Caleb knew that she wouldn’t have hesitated to splash through the creek, but if she came home with wet shoes and a muddy dress today, her mother would have a few good words for her, to say the least.

“Hello!” Marlee called into the doghobble thicket on the opposite bank. Caleb stood, sheltered by a poplar tree, and watched, expecting Smoky Pruitt and his hounds to come crashing through the brush any minute.

“Annabelle. Are you there?” Marlee bent and studied the undergrowth. Suddenly, Annabelle appeared next to a large hickory tree. The girl stood motionless, like a rabbit spotted in a briar thicket. Her hair was shoulder-length and unkempt, and she wore a dirty dress that draped to mid-calf, ending a few inches above her leather shoes.

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About Author Curt Richards:

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Curt Richards is a retired public school teacher from Upstate South Carolina. He has taught various science courses for forty years, from middle school to college. He believes there is no higher calling than guiding young people and adults through their education. In his free time, Richards enjoys studying nature, gardening, hiking, reading, socializing with family and friends, and writing in multiple genres.

Books by Curt Richards:

Voices Beyond the Creek (2025, Young Adult Fiction)
Circle the Stones (scheduled for release in 2026, YA fiction)
Misguided Passions and the Lord’s Prayer (2024 Non-fiction)
30 Insights for New Teachers to Thrive (2023 Non-fiction)

Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Dug To Death ~ A Vivien Brandt Mystery By Gianetta Murray ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: December 17, 2025 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Dug to Death: A Vivien Brandt Mystery
by Gianetta Murray


Dug to Death: A Vivien Brandt Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in the Series
Setting – South Yorkshire, England
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Catmom Press
Publication Date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 294 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1739547330
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1739547332
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1739547325
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DZ3PV2SP

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“Wicked stepmother” wasn’t something Vivien wanted on her resume (or CV!).

But six months after moving from California to join her British husband in a quiet Yorkshire village, Vivien and her cat Sydney are confronted with a volatile 24-year-old stepdaughter and the sparks begin to fly.

It certainly doesn’t help when they join a local protest and a body turns up.

In this sequel to Moved to Murder, Vivien must once again work with her enterprising neighbors to solve a murder and clear her family’s name. Which isn’t easy when you’re dealing with people who “Ear all, see all, and say nowt”!

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Vivien’s Playlist

If music be the food of love, play on!

If you’ve read any of the Vivien Brandt Mysteries, you know Vivien is a devotee of classic pop culture, be it music, film, or repeats of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Now you too can relive the glorious songs from the sixties or thrill to the soundtrack of Gone with the Wind or Starsky and Hutch with Vivien’s Playlist and Vivien’s Soundtrack. The links are to YouTube, but you can also find the lists on Spotify, just search on “Vivien Brandt”.

Can’t remember when these songs were mentioned in the books? Well then, it might be time to consult your copy of Moved to Murder or Dug to Death. And if you haven’t yet indulged in the adventures of our California librarian bravely facing the murderous impulses of a quaint English village, you can always get them at https://gianettamurray.com.

Happy listening!

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Vivien Brandt’s Playlist:

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Vivien Brandt’s Soundtrack:

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About Gianetta Murray 

Gianetta Murray grew up in California in the heady days of Silicon Valley, but for the last twenty years has lived a slightly more peaceful existence in England with her husband and a minimum of two cats. She enjoys rewatching Hollywood musicals and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, plays guitar and ukulele, and stresses about using all the pears provided by the tree in her back garden. She dreams about one day being spit on by Jonathan Groff.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads / SubStack / BlueSky

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – More Stores

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 8 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 

December 9 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

December 10 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 10 – Baroness Book Trove– SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author -SPOTLIGHT

December 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 14 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 16 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH MUSIC PLAYLIST

December 18 – Sarandipity’s -AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 18 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

December 19 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

December 20 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 21 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

One Gold Ring ~ A Century Cottage Cozy Mystery By Dianne Ascroft

Posted: December 16, 2025 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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One Gold Ring (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries)
by Dianne Ascroft


One Gold Ring (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
Novella related to the main Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries Series
Setting – Fenwater – a fictional small town in rural Canada.
Independently Published (November 1, 2025)
Paperback
Print length ‏ : ‎ 104 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8272391599
Digital
Print length ‏ : ‎ 102 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FYX6KXGD

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A busy shopping street, a cozy coffee klatch, a missing ring: Marge Kirkwood has no desire for anyone to gift five gold rings to her. She just needs to find one elegant gold ring sparkling with dainty diamonds and rubies: the one that was stolen due to her carelessness.

When Marge Kirkwood meets her friend Bruce Murray at the Honey Pot diner to reassure him about his choice of an engagement ring for her best friend Lois Stone, she couldn’t be happier for the couple. But a few moments of her inattention could scupper Bruce’s plans for a romantic Christmas proposal. A cunning thief seizes the opportunity Marge’s lapse affords to snatch Bruce’s family heirloom. Soon afterwards Lois arrives and joins Marge and Bruce in the search for the ring. Three heads may be better than one or two but Lois can’t find out that it’s her engagement ring they are hunting for.

And so the week before Christmas begins with dashing through the snow without a sleigh, tangy gingerbread muffins and cinnamon scented apple cider, clever calico cats, slippery snow-sheathed sidewalks, glittering gems set in gold, hazardous high-heeled boots, rushing thieves and bustling Christmas shoppers set against a cheerful holiday clad shopping street, sultry Christmas songs serenading shoppers in the market, the sweet scent of carnations, roses and baby’s breath bouquets in the florist’s window and a mantlepiece twinkling with shiny baubles and lights woven through holly in a comfy century cottage.

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About Dianne Ascroft

Dianne Ascroft is a Canadian who has settled in rural Northern Ireland. She and her husband share their small farm with some elusive wild creatures. She is currently writing the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series. She believes that part of the enjoyment of reading a cozy mystery is losing oneself in a pleasing setting so she fictionalized a small town she knew and the first novel in the Century Cottage Cozy Mystery series, and the town of Fenwater evolved from there. She wanted to create a place that beckons readers to step in and stay a while, and characters that readers would remember. Cozy mysteries allow her to explore the characters and the place, as well as the mystery at the heart of the story. Writing stories set in her homeland, Canada, has also been a nostalgic journey for her and she enjoys every minute of it.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Newsletter / Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon US     Amazon UK

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 12 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

December 13 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

December 14 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

December 15 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

December 16 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

December 18 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 19 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 20 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

December 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 21 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

December 21 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Fabulously Flawed By Lynne Hancock Pearson ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: December 15, 2025 in Contemporary Romance, Excerpt, giveaways
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Fabulously Flawed

By Lynne Hancock Pearson

 

Publication date: November 15th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Small town. Big dreams. One renovation that changes everything.

After three years of climbing the corporate ladder, Carl can practically taste the corner office with his name on the door. However, caring for his injured grandmother takes precedence, forcing his return to Keeney. But not to stay. Career-wise, the small town is a dead end, and others have their eye on that corner office.

Trading boardroom strategy for work boots and hard hats, Carl rejoins Keeney Building Supply to work as a general contractor—temporarily. He’s made that clear to everyone, including Sylvie.

Years ago, they parted ways before their mutual attraction could ignite, and Sylvie moved on, partnering with a charming developer who shared her excitement for flipping houses. However, charm can be deceiving—the developer wanted only her money, not her heart, leaving her plans in ruins.

Carl steps in, offering friendship, ice cream, and a new opportunity for her own home renovation business. Sylvie’s spark returns, and their attraction kindles, but Carl keeps his distance.

With his grandmother well on her way to recovery, there’s nothing to keep him in the small town. His future is waiting, and it’s not in Keeney.

Or is it?

A workplace romance, Fabulously Flawed is a story of the messy beauty of falling for someone who challenges everything you thought you wanted: a would-be house flipper who clashes and connects with the driven project manager determined to escape the confines of small-town life.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Hoping Carl would indeed wind up at her place, Sylvie had spent the morning in a cleaning frenzy, and her kitchen shone. There were fresh, fluffy towels in the sparkling bathroom, vacuum tracks on the carpet, and most importantly, clean sheets on the bed. Afterward, she’d collapsed on the couch.

But then she didn’t like the placement of the living room furniture, so she’d arranged and rearranged it to look cozier, and placed candles artfully around the room. To say she was nervous was an understatement. Images of Carl naked and hovering over her had haunted her dreams. She had no doubt the reality would be even better.

Part of her dream came true about twenty minutes later.

Having told Carl to get comfortable, she’d gone into the kitchen to assemble a late-night snack. From the fridge, she pulled the cheeseboard she’d assembled that morning and the wine. And not her usual box of Okanagan Porchbanger. For this momentous night—at least she hoped it would be—she’d splurged on a higher-end bottle. On a waiting tray, she arranged the cheeseboard, plates, napkins, and two glasses of wine.

Carl sat on the couch, one arm draped along the back of the cushions. She’d been right about the candles because the soft light made his dark eyes shine. Transfixed by the invitation in his smile, she walked into the living room and promptly tripped.

Moving quickly, Carl leaped from the couch to catch the falling glasses, but not before the contents splashed across his face, to drip down his chest. Cheese, crackers, cornichons, and cured meats were scattered across the coffee table that Sylvie had relocated earlier that day. Holding the two glasses, Carl blinked drops of wine from his lashes.

Sylvie’s mouth hung open as she stared at him in dismay. “Oh my God! I am so, so sorry!”

“It’s okay,” he said, smacking his lips. “I like a good rosé.” He set the glasses on the tray and took it from Sylvie’s hands. “Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

Pain radiated from where her knee had connected with the stupid coffee table. It wasn’t bleeding, but she’d have a lovely bruise tomorrow. “No,” she replied, bending her knee experimentally. “I’m fine, but your shirt isn’t.” Soaked through in spots, the fabric was rapidly turning pink.

He took the tray into the kitchen and returned, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it from the waistband of his trousers. “It’ll wash. But do you have a towel? I’d like to clean up a bit.”

After guiding him to the bathroom and handing him a towel, Sylvie went to clean up the mess. The good news was that nothing had broken, and only Carl had gotten wet. The bad news was…she sucked at seduction. He probably had an Uber on the way, ready to make his escape. She scooped the remains of her carefully planned evening off the coffee table and got down on her knees to retrieve tiny pickles from under the couch.

She turned to look when Carl returned, and her mouth hung open again. Hands shoved into his trouser pockets, and shirtless, he was a sight to behold. A smattering of hair covered his pectoral muscles and arrowed down his taut belly. The slopes and dips that defined the muscles of his arms and chest called to her, and she rose from the floor, knowing she was staring and not caring a bit.

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About Author Lynne Hancock Pearson:

Lynne Hancock Pearson writes fun, flirty, feel-good fiction that simmers at low heat. Set in the Pacific Northwest, they are stories of people finding their way, even if it takes a while to get there.

She lives near Seattle with two and a half finicky felines and one long-suffering husband. She is a left-handed middle child who grew up in the Great White North and is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Canada.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

 

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Fabulously Flawed Blitz

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Holidays & Homicides ~ A Short Story Collection

Posted: December 13, 2025 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, Holidays, Short stories and collections
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Holidays & Homicides: A Short Story Collection
by Rosalie Spielman, Catherine Bruns, Gin Jones, Annie McEwen, Lena Gregory, Jennifer Fischetto, Anne Marie Stoddard, Kelly Rey, Misty Simon, Christine Knapp, Jamie L. Adams, Erica Wynters


Holidays & Homicides: A Short Story Collection
Holiday Cozy Mysteries
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 2, 2025
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FSNH17GM

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From twelve USA Today bestselling and award winning authors, comes a short story collection stuffed full of mirthful mysteries, clever criminals, and holiday cheer! These short holiday bites are perfect for enjoying between rounds of wrapping or binge-reading over a cup of cocoa!

Stories include:

A Hometown Christmas Caper (Hometown Mysteries)
by Rosalie Spielman

Gossip, Guilt & Gingerbread (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory

Larceny & Twinkle Lights (Jamie Winters Mysteries)
by Kelly Rey

Holidays & Heists (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries)
by Anne Marie Stoddard

Ornaments, Surprise & Dead Guys (Gianna Mancini Mysteries)
by Jennifer Fischetto

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief (Northwoods Mysteries)
by Annie McEwen

You Can’t see the Forest for the Christmas Trees (Modern Midwife Mysteries)
by Christine Knapp

Jingle Bell Rocker (Sunny Side Up Mysteries)
by Misty Simon

Holly, Handcuffs, and Hearsay (Camelot Flowers Mysteries)
by Erica Wynters

Search for the Silent Santa (Ghost Town Mysteries)
by Jamie L. Adams

Nothing But Truffle (Cookies & Chance Mysteries)
by Catherine Bruns

A Heartland Homicide (Bourbon B&B Mysteries)
by Gin Jones

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About the Authors

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Catherine Bruns is the USA Today bestselling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries. She lives in New York with her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a B.A. in English and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. She also writes the Italian Chef mysteries, Cindy York real estate and Carrie Jorgenson (Aloha Lagoon) culinary series. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the 2019 Daphne du Maurier award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.

Get a free ebook when you sign up for Catherine’s Newsletter.

Please feel free to connect with her on social media as well:

Facebook / Twitter/X

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Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, and the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

To learn more about Lena and her latest writing endeavors, visit her Website and be sure to sign up for her Newsletter.

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Rosalie Spielman is a mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She was thrilled to discover that she could make other people laugh with her writing and finds joy in giving people a humorous escape from the real world. Her cozy mystery novels are set in locales that have chickens—such as sunny Kauai and rural Idaho—writing for the multi-author Aloha Lagoon mystery series and her own Hometown Mystery series.

She currently lives in Maryland with her husband in a rapidly emptying nest. For more information on her books or to subscribe to her newsletter, go to www.rosalie-spielman-author.com, follow her Facebook page (Rosalie Spielman author), or join her Facebook group (You Know The Spiel). Rosalie strives to provide you a cozy escape…one page at a time.

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From her first discovery of Nancy Drew, USA Today bestselling author Kelly Rey has had a lifelong love for mystery and tales of things that go bump in the night, especially those with a twist of humor. Through many years of working in the court reporting and closed captioning fields, writing has remained a constant. If she’s not in front of a keyboard, she can be found reading, working out or avoiding housework. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime and lives in the Northeast with her husband and a menagerie of very spoiled pets.

 


Gin Jones is a retired lawyer who specialized in ghost-writing for other lawyers. She prefers to write her own books, though, since she doesn’t have to worry that her sense of humor might get her thrown into jail for contempt of court. In her spare time, Gin makes quilts, grows garlic, and advocates for patients with rare disorders.

 

 


Jamie L. Adams fell in love with books at an early age. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott opened her imagination and sparked a dream to be a writer. She wrote her first book as a school project in 6th grade.

A graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature as well as member of American Christian Fiction Writers, The Writing Desk and several critique groups, she spends most of her time writing, reading or learning more about the craft near to her heart.

The parents of three very active children, she and her husband live in the Ozarks surrounded by forest and wildlife.

 


Erica Wynters started as most authors do – as an avid reader. Cozy mysteries and romantic suspense offered her just the escape she was looking for! The combination of great love and great danger keeps her turning pages late into the night.

Now they keep her writing pages late into the night. Her goal is always two-fold: help you fall in love with love all over again and take you on an adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Falling in love has never been so fun…or so dangerous!

 

Misty Simon always wanted to be a storyteller…preferably behind a Muppet. Animal was number one, followed closely by Sherlock Hemlock… Since that dream didn’t come true, she began writing stories to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time.

Touching people’s hearts and funny bones are two of her favorite things, and she hopes everyone at least snickers in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her husband in Central Pennsylvania, where she is hard at work on her next novel or three.

 

 

 

Christine Knapp practiced as a nurse-midwife for many years. A writer of texts and journal articles, she is now thrilled to combine her love of midwifery and mysteries as a fiction author. Christine currently narrates books for the visually impaired. A dog lover, she lives near Boston. Visit thoughtfulmidwife.com

 

 

Annie McEwen is the author of the Northwoods Mysteries Series, set amongst the tall pines and sparkling lakes of northern Wisconsin where she spent vacations as a kid. Because of a sweet love story between her youngest sister and a local Wisconsin boy (storyline idea!), she’s still been able to keep on visiting the beautiful place that means so much to her.

Annie and her husband are empty nesters—their son is married to his high school sweetheart, and their daughter is married with two adorable toddler boys. Being grandparents is definitely the best gig ever! They also have four fur babies who just might make some special appearances in Annie’s books.

When Annie isn’t writing, playing with her grandsons, or tackling trash-to-treasure projects, she works as a radiological technologist, aka, she takes pictures of bones…you can’t hide much from her! Writing, though, is her first love.

 

Jennifer Fischetto is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of the Gianna Mancini paranormal cozy mystery series, as well as a dozen other titles. She writes family-centric murder mysteries and things that go bump in the night.

A lover of rainstorms and snow, she prefers fiction over reality and longs to live in a world where French fries grow on trees, chocolate appears whenever desired, and every day is October. She watches too much television and movies, which fuel her never-ending supply of plot ideas, and is a rabid fan of suspense, horror, and everything supernatural.

You can learn about her next book by subscribing to her newsletter at  https://jenniferfischetto.com/newsletter/

Visit Jennifer at: Website / Facebook / Twitter/X 

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Anne Marie Stoddard is a USA TODAY bestselling author and former Amazon Mover & Shaker. She writes supernatural suspense and humorous cozy mysteries with an edge. Her Amelia Grace Mystery series, inspired by her years working in radio, and concert venues and music festivals across the U.S., has won several awards, including the 2012 AJC Decatur Book Festival Writing Contest, the 2013 Book Junkie’s Choice Award for Best Debut Fiction Novel, and nominations for the 2014 & 2016 RONE Awards Best Mystery/Thriller Category.

Aside from writing, Anne Marie loves her husband and their dog, college football, hula hoops, music, coffee, and anything pumpkin-flavored.

For more details about Anne Marie’s upcoming projects, giveaways, and more, visit her online and subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.amstoddardbooks.com/.

Connect with Anne Marie on social media!

Facebook / Twitter/X

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Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Apple
Kobo
Smashwords

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 2 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

December 2 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

December 3 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 4 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 5 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 5 – Hall Ways Blog – SPOTLIGHT

December 6 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW

December 6 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

December 7 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – Bea’s Book Nook – REVIEW – INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

December 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 9 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

December 10 – Caboodle of Cozies – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

December 11 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

December 12 – Salty Inspirations – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 13 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT

December 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 15 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Hotel Guru’s Journey By Robert Rauch ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: December 12, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for The Hotel Guru’s Journey organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Robert Rauch will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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The Hotel Guru’s Journey

By Robert Rauch

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Genre: Nonfiction

Synopsis

For over half a century, Robert Rauch, referred to as “The Hotel Guru”, has witnessed and made history within the evolution of modern hospitality. From performing night audits on Sweda cash registers in the 1970s to utilizing AI-enabled revenue strategies today, he has seen it all. The Hotel Guru’s Journey combines his fascinating behind-the-scenes narratives with proven operating insights.

This unique operations guidebook shares both the “war” stories and the systems that matter. Rauch shares lessons learned the hard way in trust, crisis management, technology adoption, and leadership. And aside from the entertaining personal experiences, you’ll gain access to tried-and-true frameworks, in-the-trenches checklists, and practical guidance for all aspects of hotel operations.

Whether you’re breaking ground on your first property, expanding a hospitality portfolio, or seeking to avoid costly mistakes, Rauch’s five decades of experience provide your competitive advantage in building a successful and sustainable hotel.

For up-and-coming hoteliers, veteran general managers, and hospitality investors, The Hotel Guru’s Journey is your map to long-term success.

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Enjoy This Peek Inside:

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Striving for trust and integrity is essential. Trust is particularly challenging, especially in business, where it’s crucial to trust your partners. Trusting a life partner or spouse is foundational—choosing the wrong spouse can lead to everything else collapsing like a house of cards. But choosing a business partner is more difficult, often happening quickly without an engagement period. My first business partner, Bob Graff, and I worked together at The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, where I’d been transferred after stints in Atlanta, Orlando, Memphis, Chicago, Los Angeles, Scottsdale, and Denver. We both managed restaurants in that 711 room hotel and often dined together after closing. While my hotel industry knowledge was broader, my partner had excellent business acumen and food and beverage expertise. We were both eager to leave our jobs. Hyatt wasn’t bad; it was and still is a great company. But we had an entrepreneurial itch. So together, we launched a company, buying a restaurant out of bankruptcy and adding a talented chef to our team. And our initial success allowed us to acquire two additional restaurant management agreements.

From January to April 1981, business was great. But unlike today, where there’s a year-round base of residents and travelers, back then, the Phoenix Metro Area’s tourist business halted at the end of April. And the season ending abruptly forced us to make changes. We needed to make more revenue and cut costs. First, we needed a liquor license for our own restaurant, BLD’s Eating Emporium. Despite good revenue, our margins were too thin without that license, limiting our customer base. We investigated why our predecessor didn’t acquire one and found out it had been rejected by the church across the street. It was within 100 feet, and they had the right to reject any liquor service at our site. We approached the pastor at the church, requesting a limited liquor license for wine and beer. He offered to send more business for our Sunday brunch but firmly denied our request. We moved on from that outcome but agreed the next step was to cut our expenses. In addition to our own BLDs (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), the owners of the two restaurants we managed hired us to make profits, not lose money. But by the end of August, after losing money all summer at all three restaurants, the business reality was grim. During these tough times, I sought a mentor, and I met the perfect person through mutual friends. He brought me into a consulting assignment and mentioned an opportunity for me to open a hotel as General Manager for one of his clients. That fall, after the tough summer, we left the restaurant business. It was grueling, losing money for us, and didn’t seem like a great career path. Instead, I called my mentor and took the job as a hotel General Manager. We joined the team at the Camelhead Granada Royale Hometel, a 228-suite hotel opening soon. My mentor and I collaborated on projects for many years until his passing after a 30-year friendship.

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About Author Robert Rauch:

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With a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration from Western International University and a master’s degree in Tourism Administration from Arizona State University, Mr. Rauch has served as president and on the board of numerous tourism organizations. Mr. Rauch is a recently retired faculty member at Arizona State University and taught Tourism Industry Entrepreneurship. He is widely quoted on television and radio and in numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Los Angeles Times. He speaks at industry conferences regularly and has developed several leading brand hotels, three of which the firm still owns and manages, and has been a finalist for CEO of the year in San Diego, CA, and Phoenix, AZ.

Mr. Rauch currently utilizes his private company, R. A. Rauch & Associates, Inc., to provide management services for his owned hotels, consulting services for various Wall Street firms and selected litigation support clients, and asset management services designed to provide hotel owners with oversight and review of potential and currently operating hotels. He also serves as Chairman and Chief Strategist of Brick Hospitality, a company formed by his management team to operate hotels in California. Mr. Rauch recently sold RAR Hospitality, a leading hospitality management firm with 20 hotels under management or development, retaining management of selected hotels where he serves as an owner in San Diego. As a student, teacher, and mentor in the hospitality industry over a six-decade period, Mr. Rauch continues to be active at industry conferences, in key meetings, and when needed to support the hospitality sector.

Website / LinkedIn / Twitter/X / Goodreads

Purchase Link: Amazon

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Spotlight On Rewind To Us By Shells Walter

Posted: December 12, 2025 in Romance, YA Fantasy
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Rewind to Us
by Shells Walter


Rewind to Us
Young Adult Romantic Fantasy
Setting – In a small town, then to California, and part in South Korea 
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2025
Paperback
Print length ‏ : ‎ 283 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8267898584
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FTDTGBGW

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Rewind to Us is a heart-pounding K-Pop romance that asks the ultimate question: Would you choose fame, or the one you love?

Big is the shining star of the hottest K-Pop groups in the world. On stage, he’s adored by millions. Off stage, he’s trapped in a career that no longer feels like his own. Then fate intervenes and he meets Kelly, an ordinary person whose warmth and honesty ignite a spark he never expected. She doesn’t know who he is at first as he is in hiding.

Instant chemistry turns into something deeper, but tragedy soon strikes, forcing Big to make an impossible deal. His career, his freedom, and his love all hang in the balance. Will he ever see Kelly again, or will the choice he makes change both of their lives forever?

Perfect for fans of K-Dramas, BTS, Blackpink, and heartfelt celebrity romances, Rewind to Us is a story of passion, sacrifice, and the courage to fight for love in a world built on fame.

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About Rewind to Us

Shells Walter has been writing for several years, creating stories that span across multiple genres, from mystery to fantasy to contemporary romance. Her work has been recognized in the Top Ten of the Preditors and Editors competition for Dead Practices, showcasing her ability to captivate readers with compelling characters and unforgettable plots.

An avid K-Pop fan, Shells brings her passion for music, fandom culture, and emotional storytelling into her latest work, Rewind to Us. She currently lives on the East Coast with her three cats, where she continues to write, dream, and connect with readers who love stories about resilience, love, and chasing dreams.

Discover more at www.shellswalter.com.

Purchase Links  -Author Site –  Paperback – Ebook   Amazon Paperback    Amazon Digital

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 8 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

December 10 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

December 12 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 13 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT

December 14 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

December 15 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

December 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

December 17 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Reclamation By Kristen Zimmer ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: December 11, 2025 in Dystopian, Excerpt, giveaways, Science Fiction
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Reclamation

By Kristen Zimmer

 

(Dark Horse Series, #1)
Publication date: December 9th 2025
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, New Adult, Science Fiction

Kristen Zimmer, author of The Gravity Between Us, When Sparks Fly, and Forbidden Girl takes readers on an adrenaline-fueled dystopian journey into the future where a scrappy band of rebels rise up to bring down an unequal and unrelenting government.

This is your future.

The United States of America has been gone for over a century.

In its place, The Unified American Territories—a nation divided, the impoverished and the wealthy are separated by a looming steel wall. In the Northern Territories—The Vault, as it is known by its inhabitants—the government rules with an iron fist: All citizens are tested for intelligence and aptitude, thrust into compulsory higher education and saddled with insurmountable debt. All student loans are granted and controlled by a branch of the regime called The Federal Bureau of Education. Failure to repay their debt consigns borrowers to the Knowledge Reclamation Process, a mysterious government-sanctioned brainwashing program that strips them of their education with dire mental and physical side effects.

Fletcher Daniels is a recent college graduate struggling to stay ahead of her arrears. After a visit from Reclamation Agents, she knows her life is about to change for the worse. Enter Youth Opposed to Reclamation, a scrappy band of rebels who try in their own small way to bring some relief to the people of The Vault by smuggling as many potential Reclaimees to safety as possible. When Fletcher meets and falls for fellow female YOR member, Sparrow, her world is twisted away from the one she once knew even more radically. The group offers Fletcher a chance to escape her fate, but through them, she sees the promise of bringing real change to The Vault. History has taught her that even the smallest rebellions can trigger revolutions. It’s time for history to repeat itself.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks

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Enjoy this peek inside:

FLETCHER HAD BEEN ENJOYING the luxury of her sole day off work, reading The Scarlet Letter. Happily. Quietly. Until some unknowable thing, a strange tug in her chest, made her look up. She shut down her antiquated digireader with a tap of the cracked screen and watched from her bedroom window as a sleek, silver sedan pulled to a stop at the curb outside of her dilapidated row house. Agents.

She couldn’t see them through the car’s blacked-out windows, but it was obvious. The simple fact that the vehicle had the shine of something new was enough to give the Agents away. Being from The Vault, or The Northern Territories, as Fletcher’s part of the country was known officially, she rarely saw any cars on the road at all; cars in such impeccable condition were all but complete anomalies. Why do they even bother plastering the Department of Reclamation’s seal on the doors? She wondered.

That hideous seal. Words failed to capture how much Fletcher both loathed and feared it. The great red and black per bend crest, showcasing a scroll of parchment in one half and a tasseled mortarboard in the other, had always been reviled by citizens of The Vault. It meant that someone hadn’t paid their dues, and The Department of Reclamation had come to collect.

The Department of Reclamation employed the Agents who did the strong-arming for The Federal Bureau of Education. While the BOE housed the bookkeepers, The Department of Reclamation’s Agents handled the unseemlier work… and their work was generally quite unseemly. The Governing Council of The Unified American Territories had long ago authorized Reclamation Agents to use brute force “in the event of necessity.” More often than not, visits from Agents did end in violence—if not on their first visit, when a potential Reclaimee received their Notification of Violation, then most definitely on their second visit, when the Agents returned to take the Reclaimee into custody. Reclaimees seldom initiated said violence, of course; Fletcher had heard that most cried or begged for just a few more moments with their loved ones. They would be flogged once or twice and give up or otherwise be knocked out with narcotics. Occasionally, a Reclaimee would try to escape. Those individuals had it much worse. Fletcher closed her eyes and, although it pained her to do it, allowed herself to envision the brutality Agents inflicted upon braver people: Arms twisted so violently that shoulders snapped out their sockets, fingers bent backward with such force that the metacarpals fractured, skulls cracked against living room floors. She shuddered as if her skin had been kissed by an icy wind.

Reclamation Agents were no strangers to The Vault, considering it was the part of the country reserved for the impoverished, the destitute and the disillusioned—those who needed “excessive assistance” from the Government. Those like Fletcher. She would need at least ten more fingers to be able to count the number of times she had seen Agents in her neighborhood in the last week alone. Watching these two men march toward her home, she couldn’t help but wonder if they had come for her this time.

“Fletcher,” her father’s voice boomed through the dimness of her room. “Can you come out here, please?”

“I’ll be right there.”

She peered into the tarnished mirror atop her bedside table. Using the remnants of daylight to aid her vision, she pulled her long blonde hair up into a ponytail. “Alright,” she sighed to herself, her sharp jawline clenching and her hazel eyes burning with angst. “If they are here for you, you’ll find out soon enough.”

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About Author Kristen Zimmer:

Kristen Zimmer is the author of The Gravity Between Us, which spent 12 weeks as the number one best-seller in both the Lesbian Fiction and Lesbian Romance genres on Amazon. It was listed as one of USA Today’s “10 Best books to read for Pride 2018” and in December 2021 was named one of Reader’s Digest ’50 Best Romance Novels of All Time’

That same year, her follow-up novel, When Sparks Fly, debuted as the best-seller in Lesbian Fiction and Lesbian romance, and clung to the spot for four weeks.

Her latest novel, Forbidden Girl, a dark mafia sapphic romance, is available now.

Kristen lives in Salem, Massachusetts— yes, where the witches were.

Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Amazon

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Reclamation Blitz

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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