Author Archive

Up The Creek ~ A Culver Creek Mystery Thriller by Alissa Grosso

Posted: January 14, 2021 in giveaways, Mytery/Thriller
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Up the Creek by Alissa Grosso Banner

 

 

Up the Creek

by Alissa Grosso

January 11 – March 12, 2021 Tour

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Synopsis:

 

 

An unsolved murder. Disturbing dreams. A missing child.

Caitlin Walker hasn’t had a dream in nine years. But now nightmares torture her son Adam and awaken in Caitlin buried memories and a dark secret. Her husband Lance has a secret of his own, one that his son’s nightmares threaten to reveal.

In Culver Creek newly hired detective Sage Dorian works to unravel the small town’s notorious cold case, the grisly murder of a young girl.

How are Caitlin and Lance connected to the horrific crime? And how far will they go to make sure their secrets stay hidden? Find out in this riveting thriller.

 

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Published by: Glitter Pigeon Press Publication Date: January 12, 2021 Number of Pages: 356 ISBN: 9781949852080 Series: Culver Creek Series, Book 1

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

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Caitlin emerged from a black, dreamless sleep to screams. Adam’s tortured cries sounded almost otherworldly. They turned her blood to ice and made her heart race. She sat straight up, then bolted from bed, blinking sleep from her eyes as she raced toward the door, banging her shin on the dresser as she went. She yanked on the doorknob and almost toppled over when it didn’t yield as she expected. Goddammit. Lance had locked the door again. She spared a glance toward the bed, but her husband wasn’t there. Instead he was standing, looking out the window. For a moment she thought she was mistaken. Were the screams coming from outside? “Lance?” she asked. He turned to her, but his eyes looked past her at some point on the wall. “What’s going on?” he mumbled, barely awake. “Adam’s having a nightmare,” she said. “Again?” he asked. “Maybe we should just let him sleep it off.” The screams had subsided now, but she could still hear her son’s whimpers from down the hall. Sleep it off? Could Lance really be that clueless? She unlocked the door and flung it open. It bounced almost silently off the rubber doorstopper, which didn’t really give her the dramatic exit she was hoping for. She still couldn’t quite wrap her head around her husband just standing there looking out the window while Adam cried for them. Usually Lance was the one who woke up first. Maybe he had already gone to comfort Adam and came back to their bedroom by the time she awoke. He seemed so out of it, though. Well, that’s what a lack of sleep could do to a person. Adam sat on his bed in a nest of tangled sheets. His face was damp with tears and sweat, his dark hair plastered to his forehead. The hippo nightlight cast large, ominous shadows when she stepped into his room. He looked up with a start, then relaxed when he saw it was her. She sat down beside him and pulled his small body to her, wrapping her arms around him and rocking him gently back and forth. The tears subsided, but he still felt tense. “Mommy, I’m scared of the bad boy,” he said. “The bad boy’s going to hurt me.” “Nobody’s going to hurt you,” she assured him. “You’re safe. It was just a dream. Look, you’re safe in your bedroom.” At this, Adam pulled away from her a little to study the dimly lit bedroom. Maybe they should get a different nightlight. She had never realized how spooky that hippo light made everything look. “There were trees,” Adam said, “and a river. She was playing in the river.” Caitlin stiffened. Adam noticed it and looked up at her. She smiled at him. “It was just a dream,” she said, as much to reassure herself as him. “It wasn’t real.” There were lots of rivers out there, and wasn’t Adam just watching a cartoon show with cute animals that had to get across a river? That was probably where that detail came from. Plus, she reminded herself, it hadn’t been a river. It had been a creek. She wasn’t sure Adam knew the difference between a river and a creek, though. But a little girl playing in a river? No, wait, was that what he had said? He said only “she.” For all Caitlin knew, this she could have been a girl river otter. Maybe he had been having a cute dream about river creatures. And a “bad boy,” she reminded herself. She remembered his bloodcurdling screams. There was nothing cute about the dream he had. Still, she clung to the “bad boy” detail. Was he talking about a child? If so, then the river was just a coincidence. She wanted to ask him more about the bad boy, but this was the worst thing she could do. He was already starting to calm down, starting to forget the details of his nightmare. She couldn’t go dredging things back up again. “Mommy, can I sleep in your room?” Adam asked. # Lance was fully awake and in bed when Caitlin returned with Adam in her arms. “Hey there, champ,” Lance said. “Have a bad dream?” “Daddy, he hurt her,” Adam said. “He hurt her head. She was bleeding.” Her son’s tiny body stiffened again in Caitlin’s arms, and she gave Lance an exasperated look as she set Adam down in the middle of the bed. “We’d already gotten past that,” she said in a whispered hiss. “Obviously,” Lance said with a roll of his eyes, “which is why he’s sleeping in our bed. Again.” She slid into the bed beside Adam and adjusted the covers, ignoring her husband. She petted Adam’s head and made soft, soothing noises. “Remember, that wasn’t real, just make believe, like a movie.” She didn’t want him to get himself worked up again talking about the dream, but it wasn’t just that. She didn’t want to hear any more details from the nightmare because the bit about the bad boy hurting the girl’s head and the blood felt a touch too familiar. She stroked his face, and his eyelids slowly drooped closed. He looked so calm and peaceful when he slept. “I thought we said we weren’t going to do this anymore,” Lance said. Even whispering, his voice was too loud. She held her finger to her lips. He continued more quietly, “I’m just saying, I think it would be better for him if he sleeps in his own bed.” “It’s already after three,” she said. “It’s only for a few hours.” “That’s not the point,” Lance said. “He’s nearly five years old. We can’t keep babying him.” It was like the school argument all over again, and Caitlin didn’t want to get into it. Not now. She was still tired and groggy and needed more sleep. “I want to get him a new nightlight,” she said to change the subject. “The one he has makes these creepy shadows.” “A new nightlight,” Lance repeated in a skeptical voice. “Sure, that will solve everything.” “The important thing,” she said, “is that we have to remind him that his dreams are not real. That they’re make believe. We have to be united on this.” Lance made a dismissive noise and lay back down on his pillow, turning his body away from her and Adam. He muttered something, but his voice was muffled by the pillow. “Lance, this is important,” she said. “We have to make it clear that his dreams are not real. He has to know they aren’t true.” He sighed. “What kind of moron do you think I am? Do you really think I’m going to start telling him his dreams about boogeymen are real?” He squirmed around and pulled the covers up in an attempt to get comfortable. She thought he was done, but he stopped shifting around long enough to add, “It’s not exactly like you’re the foremost expert in dreams.” *** Excerpt from Up the Creek by Alissa Grosso. Copyright 2021 by Alissa Grosso. Reproduced with permission from Alissa Grosso. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Alissa Grosso

Alissa Grosso is the author of several books for adults and teens. Originally from New Jersey, she now resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Find out more about Alissa Grosso and her books at: AlissaGrosso.com Goodreads BookBub Twitter Facebook

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!

 

 

 

Giveaway!:

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Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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The Ultimate Betrayal ~ A Maximum Security Novel by Kat Martin ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Posted: January 13, 2021 in giveaways, Romance, suspense, thriller
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Join us for this tour from Jan 6 to Jan 26, 2021!

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Ultimate Betrayal (a Maximum Security Novel) by Kat Martin
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 yrs +),  464 pages
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Thriller
Publisher:  HQN
Release date:   December 29, 2020
Tour dates: Jan 6 to Jan 26, 2021
Content Rating:  R. The “F” word is used 12 times in the book. There are some explicit consensual sex scenes.

“With plenty of suspense, The Ultimate Betrayal is exactly the kind of escape you’ve been craving.” – BOOKTRIB

Book Description:

When her father is accused of espionage and treason, journalist
Jessie Kegan has no doubt the man she looked up to her entire life is
innocent. Worse yet, before Colonel Kegan can stand trial, he’s found
dead of a heart attack…but Jessie knows it was murder. Forcing aside her
grief, she’s determined to use her investigative resources to clear her
father’s name. But going after the truth means Jessie soon finds
herself in the crosshairs of a killer who wants that truth to stay
buried with her father. Protecting Jessie Kegan is a job bodyguard
Brandon Garrett can’t refuse. Jessie isn’t just a client at Maximum
Security—she’s the sister of his best friend, Danny, who was killed in
Afghanistan. With dangerous enemies gunning for Jessie from every angle,
keeping her safe will mean keeping her close, and Bran finds their
mutual attraction growing, though being Danny’s sister puts Jessie out
of bounds. With their backs against the wall, Jessie and Bran will have
to risk everything to expose her father’s killer—before his legacy dies
with his daughter.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Indiebound
kobo ~ Google ~ Apple
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Bestselling author Kat Martin, a graduate of the University of
California at Santa Barbara, currently resides in Missoula, Montana with
Western-author husband, L. J. Martin. More than seventeen million
copies of Kat’s books are in print, and she has been published in twenty
foreign countries. Fifteen of her recent novels have taken top-ten
spots on the New York Times Bestseller List, and her novel, BEYOND
REASON, was recently optioned for a feature film. Kat’s latest novel,
THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL, a Romantic Thriller, was released in paperback
December 29th.

Connect with the author:  website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

 

Tour Schedule:

Jan 6 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 6 – BookishKelly2020 – book spotlight
Jan 8 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 11 – Books Lattes & Tiaras – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 12 – Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 13 – FUONLYKNEW – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 13 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 14 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 15 – Christa Reads and Writes – books spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 15 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 19 – Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 20 –The Obsessed Reader – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 21 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 25 – 100 Pages A Day – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 26 – I’m All About Books – book spotlight / giveaway

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 Enter the Giveaway:

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Fetching ~ A laugh out loud romantic comedy by Kylie Gilmore

Posted: January 12, 2021 in comedy, giveaways, Romance
Tags: ,
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Fetching
Kylie Gilmore
(Unleashed Romance, #1)
Publication date: January 12th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

He’s her knight in shining armor. Only she’s no damsel in distress.

Wyatt
I’m a self-made billionaire with a soft spot for damsels in distress, so when I move to the quirky lakeside community of Summerdale, I immediately zero in on the woman I most want to…ahem, rescue. Only the stubborn woman refuses to cooperate.

Sydney
When Satan, aka Wyatt Winters, moves to town, I do my best to be welcoming. After all, I’m the owner of the historic restaurant and bar that he keeps showing up at, despite criticizing nearly everything about it. Deep breath. I might’ve lost my cool and made a rude gesture in his direction. And told him off. How was I to know he was considering investing in my place?

Did I mention I’m in debt up to my eyeballs and every bank has turned me down?

Still, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell I’d ever work with him. Or admit he fires me up in every way.

And then a snowstorm traps us together and—

I’m melting.

This romantic comedy stands alone with a swoonworthy happy-ever-after! No cliffhangers.

NOTE: A portion of Fetching’s book sales will go to Pets for Vets, a nonprofit that trains shelter dogs to be therapy companions for military veterans with PTSD.

Unleashed Romance Series
Fetching (Book 1)
Dashing (Book 2)
Sporting (Book 3)
Toying (Book 4)
Blazing (Book 5)

Goodreads / Bookbub / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Sydney

Wyatt catches my eye. “Appetizers are good.”

Pleased that he finally said something positive about my place, I close the distance, stopping at his table. “Glad you’re enjoying them.”

He leans back in his chair. “Have you ever thought of upgrading the dinner menu?”

My temper flares, but I manage to keep a civil tone. “No. Locals love it.”

“Not saying it’s bad, just unoriginal. I mean, every meal comes with either French fries or baked potato. A new chef might bring some life to the place. Isn’t that what tonight’s fundraiser’s all about? Keeping this place open?” He taps the table. “With the right management, a better chef, this place has potential.”

I manage this place, and the chef is a family friend. I bare my teeth. “Seems you know a lot about the restaurant business.”

“Not at all. I just appreciate a good one.”

I jam my hands on my hips and glare at him. Obviously he thinks we’re a bad one! I’m so furious I can’t even speak.

He cocks his head. “Cindy, are you cross with me?”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” I snap. “Coming in here and insulting my place left and right! If you don’t like it, don’t come back.”

He arches a brow. “Since you own the place, maybe we could talk about some serious improvements. You don’t know what you don’t know, am I right?”

I bristle. “This place was my great-grandfather’s, passed down the generations, and now it’s mine.” I leave out that Drew is the one who actually inherited it and declared it a lost cause because of the debt dragging it down. I took it over rather than let him sell it. “It’s an institution in this town, and we’re doing just fine without your city snark. How dare you walk in here and spew your judgment over all of us!”

He smirks. “I don’t recall spewing.”

My heartbeat roars in my ears, anger clouding all good reason. I desperately want to smack that smirk off his face.

He gestures to his ale, which he barely touched. “I didn’t like this one. Could I get one of those local Connecticut ales you mentioned?”

I stare at his glass of ale. I want to throw it in his face and watch his shock as it drips down his beard, fancy sport coat, and dress shirt.

He chuckles. “That’s an evil look in your eye, Cindy. You’re thinking about dumping this drink on my head, aren’t you?”

How did he know? “Not at all,” I lie.

He leans close and smirks. “I dare you.”

 

Author Bio:

Kylie Gilmore is the USA Today bestselling author of the Unleashed Romance series, the Rourkes series, the Happy Endings Book Club series, the Clover Park series, and the Clover Park STUDS series. She writes humorous romance that makes you laugh, cry, and reach for a cold glass of water.

Kylie lives in New York with her family, two cats, and a nutso dog. When she’s not writing, reading hot romance, or dutifully taking notes at writing conferences, you can find her flexing her muscles all the way to the high cabinet for her secret chocolate stash.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub / Pinterest / Newsletter

 

GIVEAWAY!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Artistic License To Kill ~ A Fine Art Mystery by Paula Darnell

Posted: January 11, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Artistic License To Kill

A Fine Art Mystery

by Paula Darnell

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Artistic License to Kill (A Fine Art Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Campbell and Rogers Press (January 15, 2021)
Hardcover: 384 pages
ISBN-10: 1887402136
ISBN-13: 978-1887402132
Paperback: 258 pages
ISBN-10: 1887402128
ISBN-13: 978-1887402125
Publisher: Campbell and Rogers Press (January 5, 2021)
Digital Print length: 211 pages

ASIN: B08MWVYDLD

Artist Amanda Trent, accompanied by her beloved golden retriever Laddie and her persnickety calico cat Mona Lisa, is determined to start a new life after her husband divorces her to marry a younger woman, but it isn’t easy.

 

After a disastrous interview at the prestigious Roadrunner Gallery in Lonesome Valley, Arizona, far away from her previous home in Kansas City, Amanda’s afraid that she’ll fail at her new career. But her prospects begin to improve when she’s accepted as the newest member of the cooperative gallery.

 

Then, on her very first day, she discovers Janice, the stern director, has been murdered right in the art gallery, and the Roadrunner’s members, including Amanda herself, become suspects. Which gallery member murdered the unpopular director? Or was the killer an outsider with an ax to grind?

 

About Paula Darnell

Award-winning author Paula Darnell is a former college instructor who has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in English and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Reno in English with a Writing Emphasis. Artistic License to Kill is the first book in her Fine Art Mystery series. She’s also the author of the DIY Diva Mystery series and The Six-Week Solution, a historical mystery set in Nevada. She resides in Las Vegas with her husband Gary and their Pyrador Rocky.

Author Links: Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Bookbub

Purchase Links

Amazon – Apple Books – Barnes & Noble – Kobo

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 11 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 11 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

January 11 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 11 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 12 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – Laura’ Interests – REVIEW

January 13 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 14 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW

January 14 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT  

January 15 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

January 15 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – GUEST POST

January 17 – Thoughts in Progress – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 17 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – GUEST POST

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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.

What’s New On My Book Shelf #389 and The Sunday Post

Posted: January 10, 2021 in Freebies!, giveaways, What's New on My Bookshelf
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Reading, Read, Peaceful, Woman, Dusk, Outside, Outdoors

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

Sunday Post

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

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Some chit chat.

It’s freezing here! It always surprises me when we get this cold. It’s the south, after all. LOL I did get some things accomplished this week. Cleaned out a bunch of junk drawers and organized my book shelves a bit. I also got both bathrooms in good working order again, along with the kitchen sink. Lawn guys came and cleared out a bunch of overgrown stuff. And the crew will be arriving soon to put on the new roof. I also got new furniture for the living room. They delivered it yesterday. I already slept in the recliner. It’s so comfy!

Stay safe and have a great new week!

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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.

To Hell in a Handbasket by [Willow Rose]  Girl in Trouble (An Alex Mercer Thriller Book 1) by [Stacy Claflin]  October's Gone: A Thrilling Post-Apocalyptic Survival Story by [Sean Platt, David W. Wright]

Witchnapped in Westerham (Paranormal Investigation Bureau Cozy Mystery Book 1) by [Dionne Lister]  Death Takes A Break: Light-hearted clean cozy mystery with a pie-baking sleuth (A Taylor Texas Mystery Book 1) by [Vikki Walton]  Condos and Corpses (Sapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by [Angela K. Ryan]

The Things you find in Rockpools: A psychological Mystery and Suspense Thriller by [Gregg Dunnett]  The Lornea Island Detective Club (Rockpools Book 2) by [Gregg Dunnett]  The Appearance of Mystery (Rockpools Book 3) by [Gregg Dunnett]

Jasmine Steele Mystery Series Collection Books 1-3 (The Jasmine Steele Series) by [Kimberly Amato, David Maddux] The Sean Wyatt Series: Books 1-3 Box Set: A Sean Wyatt Archaeological Thriller (Sean Wyatt Adventure Book 1) by [Ernest Dempsey]

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Other posts on my blog this week.

Crime Scene Connection ~ Love Inspired Suspense by Deena Alexander

Eventually Evie ~ An adult comedy romance by Cat Lavoie

The Things That Last Forever by Peter W. J. Hayes ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Saint Vandal’s Day ~ A Death By Cupcake Mystery by D.E. Haggerty

The Friday 56 #235 ~ Chosen

The Odd And The Strange by Harvey Havel

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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.

The Odd And The Strange by Harvey Havel

Posted: January 9, 2021 in giveaways
Tags:
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The Odd and the Strange:
A Collection of Very Short Fiction
by Harvey Havel
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Surrealist, Fabulist
A Collection of Very Short Fiction from a variety of genres, including but not limited to horror, science fiction, politics, and the surreal. These celebrated very short stories have been collected over a number of years and have been published in a variety of online e-zines and posted on various websites.
THE ODD AND THE STRANGE by Harvey Havel is a collection of urban tales that toe the line of reality.
The subtitle of Harvey Havel’s THE ODD AND THE STRANGE is A Collection of Very Short Fiction. A better one would be A Very Long Book of Normal-Sized Short Fiction. There are 89 stories in all, most 5-10 pages long (though a few stretch to nearly twenty), with unassuming titles like “Visitation,” “Girlfriend,” and “Daughter.” Though set in the real world, the stories tease reality with nameless characters–the candidate, the doctor, the Big Man–and fantastical occurrences, similar to the parables of Jorge Luis Borges (Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet and translator, and a key figure in Spanish language literature).
Being a librarian, I was eager to read the story “The Librarian.” A young male librarian–unnamed, naturally–looks into a mirror in his office and sees not his reflection but a woman with “walnut hair luxuriously long and her skin as supple as a young girl’s.” He has seen her many times, and though the two cannot touch, they can talk. What do they talk about? The books he steals from the library and passes into the mirror for her to read. Eventually, his boss confronts the librarian over the missing books only to be told that the latter he gave them to his mirror-world girlfriend. To prove this claim, the librarian tries to summon the woman, and when she doesn’t appear, the librarian smashes the mirror. You can imagine the rest.
Some stories are less Borges and more Stephen Crane (author of The Red Badge of Courage): bleak, violent. Like “Lightning Love,” narrated by a wife whose husband changes into . . . something (the twist at the end is brilliant). Others are political fables, like “Santa Claus and Madam Secretary,” which makes Havel’s proclivities as clear as the image on a 98-inch TV. His style can be clunky–one woman’s breasts are described as “shaped like a queen’s”–and some endings are telegraphed. A few stories, like “Sex Toy,” are more like story fragments. Yet THE ODD AND THE STRANGE is quite an accomplishment: unusual, provocative, and honest.
Mixing the fabulism of Jorge Luis Borges with the bleakness of Stephen Crane, the tales contained in Harvey Havel’s THE ODD AND THE STRANGE draw the reader into a world they won’t soon forget.
~Anthony Aycock for IndieReader
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**Get this book at 50% off at Smashwords and check out Harvey’s other books
– a lot of them are FREE or on sale at Smashwords too!**
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Harvey Havel is a short-story writer and novelist.
His first novel, Noble McCloud, A Novel, was published in November of 1999. His second novel, The Imam, A Novel, was published in 2000.
Over the years of being a professional writer, Havel published his third novel, Freedom of Association. He worked on several other books and published his eighth novel, Charlie Zero’s Last-Ditch Attempt, and his ninth, The Orphan of Mecca, Book One, which was released several years ago. A full trilogy of this work had been completed a few years after Mr. Big is about a Black-American football player who deals with injury and institutionalized racism. This book was published in 2017. It’s his fifteenth book.
The Wild Gypsy of Arbor Hill is his sixteenth book, and his seventeenth is a non-fiction political essay about America’s current political crisis, written in 2019. He has just now published his eighteenth book, The Odd and The Strange: A Collection of Very Short Fiction.
Havel is formerly a writing instructor at Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey. He also taught writing and literature at the College of St. Rose in Albany as well as SUNY Albany.
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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
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$15 Amazon giftcard,
ebook of choice from author
– 1 winner each!
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

The Friday 56 #235 ~ Chosen

Posted: January 8, 2021 in The Friday 56, urban fantasy
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Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

 

This is a really fun meme!

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!

My 56 for this week is from:

Chosen

Alex Verus #4

  by Benedict Jacka

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16072988

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

Genre: Urban Fantasy

From page 56 in the paperback.

“No,” Will said again. He flicked the sword and I saw drops of liquid – my blood – fly away. “We finish it.” He turned back towards me, meeting my eye. His face was set and cold, and in a sudden flash of insight I knew it was the same expression I’d worn in the past, when I made the decision to kill. Will took a step forward.

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Synopsis

I don’t publicly advertise that I’m a mage, but I don’t exactly hide it either, and one of the odd things I’ve learnt over the years is just how much you can get away with if you’re blatant enough. Hide something behind smoke and mirrors and make people work to find it, and they’ll tear the place down looking for what’s there.

Alex Verus is a diviner who can see probable futures—a talent that’s gotten him out of many a tough scrape. But this time, he may be in over his head. Alex was once apprenticed to a Dark mage, and in his service he did a lot of things he isn’t proud of.

As rumors swirl that his old master is coming back, Alex comes face to face with his misdeeds in the form of a young adept whose only goal is to get revenge. Alex has changed his life for the better, but he’s afraid of what his friends—including his apprentice, Luna—will think of his past. But if they’re going to put themselves at risk, they need to know exactly what kind of man they’re fighting for…

Amazon

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I won paperback copies of all the books in this series and finally got around to reading them. This is the fourth and each one has been as fun as the others!

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

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Saint Vandal’s Day ~ A Death By Cupcake Mystery by D.E. Haggerty

Posted: January 7, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Saint Vandal’s Day:

A Humorous Culinary Cozy Mystery Read

Death By Cupcake

by D.E. Haggerty

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Saint Vandal’s Day: A Humorous Culinary Cozy Mystery Short Read (Death by Cupcake)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Independently Published (January 1, 2021)
Print length: 104 pages
Digital ASIN: B08FX45TC7

St. Valentine’s Day is THE perfect day for a wedding. Unless a vandal is trying to ruin your life that is.

 

Callie is finally getting her dream wedding. On St. Valentine’s Day no less. Only a vandal is determined to destroy her bakery before the wedding can occur. Anna, self-proclaimed best cupcake baker this side of the Mississippi, is not letting anything happen to the cupcake bakery. No way. Barista extraordinaire Kristie jumps at the chance to help as well. Together the three women launch a mission to find the jerk who thinks it’s okay to attack the bakery.

 

Will the gals of Callie’s Cakes find the vandal and save the cupcake bakery before Callie’s dream wedding is ruined?

 

Cupcakes not included, although recipes for all the delicious cupcakes Anna bakes are.

 

About D.E. Haggerty 

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound sophisticated and maybe even grown up. She was born and raised in the U.S. but considers herself a Dutchie and not only because it sounds way cooler. After a stint in the U.S. Army, she escaped the US to join her husband in Holland. She fled Holland over ten years ago when she couldn’t stand the idea of being a lawyer for one single second more. Turns out Bed & Breakfast owner in Germany didn’t do it for her either. When the hubby got a job in Istanbul, she jumped ship and decided to give this whole writer thing a go. She’s now back in Holland, which she considers home. Sorry, Mom.

Author Links: Website / Blog / Newsletter / Pinterest / Amazon / Bookbub

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads / LinkedIn

 

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 4 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW

January 5 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 5 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT

January 6 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLGHT

January 7 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW

January 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW

January 9 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

January 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

January 14 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 15 – Thoughts in Progress – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Ebook addicts – REVIEW

January 17 – Book Blog with Sylv.net – SPOTLIGHT

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The Things That Last Forever by Peter W. J. Hayes ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: January 6, 2021 in giveaways, Mystery
Tags: ,
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The Things That Last Forever by Peter W.J. Hayes Banner

 

Thanks for stopping in to check The Things That Last Forever by Peter W.J. Hayes, on tour January 1st thru February 28th.

Enjoy a peek inside the book.

And there’s a giveaway so don’t forget to enter!

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The Things That Last Forever

by Peter W. J. Hayes

The Things That Last Forever by Peter W. J. Hayes

Synopsis

 

After a house fire hospitalizes his partner and forces him onto medical leave, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detective Vic Lenoski starts a desperate search for the woman who set the blaze. She is the one person who knows what happened to his missing teenage daughter, but as a fugitive, she’s disappeared so thoroughly no one can find her.

Risking his job and the wrath of the district attorney, Vic resorts to bargaining with criminal suspects for new leads, many of which point to North Dakota. He flies there, only to discover he is far from everything he knows, and his long-cherished definitions of good and bad are fading as quickly as his leads. His only chance is one last audacious roll of the dice. Can he stay alive long enough to discover the whereabouts of his daughter and rebuild his life? Or is everything from his past lost forever?

“The mystery plot itself is riveting…a captivating and emotionally intelligent crime drama.” — Kirkus Reviews

 

 

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Genre: Mystery: Police Procedural

Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: August 1, 2020 Number of Pages: 294 ISBN: 978-1-947915-56-5 Series: A Vic Lenoski Mystery; Pittsburgh Trilogy #3 || Each is a Stand Alone Mystery

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Check out this peek inside:

Chapter 1

Sometimes you walk into a room and what’s inside changes your life forever. That sense stopped Vic just inside the doorway. A woman with skin the color of dark amber lay on the only bed, her bandaged arms shockingly white among the shadows. She was reflected in a large window in the far wall, the outside sky as black and still as the inside of a tomb. He smelled disinfectant and blood. Numbers and graph lines flared on grey-eyed medical monitors. Somewhere in the vast empty spaces of the hospital a voice echoed. He’d never visited a burn ward. Never had a partner so close to death. Never thought a room could seem as hollow as he felt inside. The feeling was so disembodying that when he reached the bed and looked into the woman’s face, he half expected to see himself. But it was Liz, her forehead and knobby cheekbones smeared with ointment, eyebrows and eyelashes burned away. A bandage covered her left earlobe where her favorite earring, a small gold star, usually sat. It seemed like every breath she took pained her. He wanted to take her hand but the bandages made it impossible. “Liz,” he said softly, her name almost lost among the beeps and clicks of the monitors. Liquid dripped into a tangle of IV tubes at the back of her fist. Her eyelids fluttered. “Liz. Doctor told me I could talk to you.” Her eyes opened. He watched her pupils widen and narrow as they absorbed the distance to the ceiling and distinguished shadows from feeble light. “Vic?” A hoarse whisper. “I’m here.” She turned her face to him. “You got me out.” Relief rose in Vic’s throat. “Yeah. But the house didn’t make it.” “Cora Stills?” Vic squeezed his eyelids shut and rocked on his heels. He didn’t know where to start. Cora Stills. The one person who knew something—anything—about his missing teenage daughter. Liz on her way to arrest her. Instead, Liz, handcuffed to a radiator pipe as flames lathered and stormed through Cora’s house. Cora’s burned-out car found two days later on a crumbling stone dock next to a deserted warehouse, the Allegheny River emptying westward. Cora, alive and moving through that tomb of darkness outside the window. Free. “Vic…” Liz said something more but he couldn’t make it out. He bent closer. She forced her words from somewhere deep inside, and as she spoke, he knew this was what she saved through all the fear and pain to tell him. “Someone told Cora I was coming.” *** Excerpt from The Things That Last Forever by Peter W. J. Hayes. Copyright 2020 by Peter W. J. Hayes. Reproduced with permission from Peter W. J. Hayes. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Peter W. J. Hayes

Peter W. J. Hayes

 

 

 

 

Peter W. J. Hayes worked as a journalist, advertising copywriter and marketing executive before turning to mystery and crime writing. He is the author of the Silver Falchion-nominated Pittsburgh trilogy, a police procedural series, and is a Derringer-nominated author of more than a dozen short stories. His work has appeared in Black Cat Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly, Pulp Modern and various anthologies, including two Malice Domestic collections and The Best New England Crime Stories. He is also a past nominee for the Crime Writers Association (CWA) Debut Dagger Award.

Peter can be found at: www.peterwjhayes.com Goodreads BookBub Instagram Twitter Facebook

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!

 

 

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Eventually Evie ~ An adult comedy romance by Cat Lavoie

Posted: January 5, 2021 in Adult Fiction, comedy, giveaways, Romance
Tags: , , ,
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Eventually Evie

by Cat Lavoie

Publication date: January 4th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

Synopsis

How are you supposed to get your life back on track when the Universe won’t stop messing with you?

After a series of personal and professional setbacks, interior designer Evie Glass has lost faith in herself and the world. The last thing she needs is her loud, boisterous family poking their noses in her business, so that’s why she avoids opening up about anything—especially her love life—during their weekly dinners. Thankfully, her bestie and next-door neighbor, Matilda, always has her back.

When Evie is asked to cat-sit Matilda’s beloved rescue, she’s not thrilled at the prospect. One well-meaning mistake later and a distraught Evie is rushing her furry charge to the ER where she meets and is instantly smitten with Fletcher West, a charming veterinarian who seems to return her interest. That is until they both realize they’ve met before—ten years ago when he was dating her temperamental cousin. Fletch’s break-up with Bee put him at the top of her family’s hit list and makes him the last person Evie should be dating.

In addition to navigating a secret romance with Fletch, Evie must also deal with a demanding new job, an eccentric client from her former life, and an ex who’s suddenly blowing up her phone. She convinces herself she’s got it all under control, but what happens when things start falling apart and Evie learns she’s not the only one keeping secrets?

One thing’s for sure…

Eventually Evie’s got to take a chance—on love, on life, and on herself.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Text to Matilda:

Someone just threw a meatball at my face. Talk about kicking a girl when she’s down. Rescue me?

I don’t know what I did to piss off the Universe, but she’s had it in for me for a while. And because of her latest stunt, I now have bits of ground beef stuck in my hair and Aunt Pina’s famous tomato sauce streaking my face and shirt. You could easily mistake me for an extra on the set of a mediocre horror film—one who just realized her real life will never be the quirky rom-com she desperately wants it to be. This is not what I signed up for. Who approved these script changes?

It’s my fault for allowing myself to get distracted. I sent an urgent text to Matilda, my best friend, over twenty minutes ago, and I was just checking my phone to see if she answered—she hadn’t. And then a three-year-old sniper attacked me.

My cousin Frankie’s son has been going through a phase where he throws everything that isn’t glued down as if he’s trying out for the Yankees. I’m his favorite target, so I need to stay on my toes when he’s around. Thank goodness he’s adorable and I’m a sucker for dimples. All of my adult family members are too busy screaming at each other to notice—or punish—the meatball-throwing toddler. Their voices are getting louder and louder, and even though I love everyone sitting at this table, I sometimes wish my family enjoyed the sound of silence a little bit more.

But the scene before me is completely normal. All the sharp objects on the table will be used to eat a delicious dinner, not to stab someone in the heat of the moment. Despite the loud voices and animated gestures, no one is angry.

In fact, it’s a joyous occasion. My cousin Bianca—Bee to friends and family—has just announced she’s getting married. Obviously, the earth has stopped spinning on its axis at the very news and the presses have screeched to a halt. It’s also my birthday today, but my measly milestone has once again been eclipsed by something involving Bee. It’s almost become a beloved family tradition, and I’m so used to her claiming all the attention for herself that I can’t be mad at Bee. I’m not in the mood for attention anyway.

“Isn’t it gorgeous?” Bee is holding up a bunny-eared iPhone so we can see a picture of the ring Mike is going to buy her—a princess cut diamond surrounded by two smaller pink stones on a white gold band. I crane my neck to get a closer look. As per the ring website, this model is their biggest seller and a wonderful way to tell her you want to spend all of eternity by her side. Gag me. But why isn’t the ring on her finger?

“Wait. Wait. Wait. Hold on a minute,” my cousin Fabrizio says between bites of crusty bread dripping in the extra virgin olive oil one of my uncles brings back from Italy every year. “Why am I looking at a picture of this ring on your phone? Shouldn’t it be on your finger?” He’s clearly reading my thoughts. (And he’s also spewing crumbs with every word, but we’re on opposite sides of the table, so I’m safe. Aunt Pina—not so much.)

Bee flicks her long, chocolate-colored hair off her shoulder and gives her brother a stern look. “We’re not technically engaged yet. But it’s going to happen. Soon. We’re just waiting for the ring to be delivered.” It’s obvious by her narrowed eyes that follow-up questions will not be accepted at this time.

It takes all the willpower in the world for me not to groan in annoyance. Does Mike know he’s just a UPS delivery window away from proposing? And won’t he wonder why no one is surprised when Bee makes her official announcement?

“You’re going to make a beautiful bride.” Aunt Pina—one of my mother’s four sisters—can’t get the words out without choking up, and she brings a linen napkin to her face to delicately wipe away a tear. Bee is her only daughter—a much-prayed-for miracle baby after five boisterous sons—and her wedding day has been planned since the second she was born. It will be a night fit for a princess—a big fat Italian wedding to top all other big fat Italian weddings. Every single guest will marvel at how delicious the food was, how gorgeous the bride looked in her designer dress, how no expense was spared from the finest champagne to a dessert table guaranteed to induce a diabetic coma and widespread jealousy and envy.

 

Author Cat Lavoie

Cat Lavoie is a chick lit writer from Montreal, Canada.
She loves writing fun and quirky romantic comedies and is the author of BREAKING THE RULES, ZOEY & THE MOMENT OF ZEN, PERI IN PROGRESS and MESSING WITH MATILDA.

A fan of all things feline, Cat loves cats and hopes to someday have a house full of them in order to officially become a crazy cat lady. (But one or two cats will do for now.)

If she isn’t reading or writing, Cat enjoys listening to podcasts (mostly comedy and true crime) and watching way too much TV. She fell in love with London many years ago and hopes to go back one day. Cat is currently at work on her next novel.

To connect with Cat and find out more about her books, visit CatLavoie.com and follow @CatLavoieBooks on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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