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Caretakers Guide to Fablehaven (1)

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The Caretaker’s Guide to Fablehaven

by Brandon Mull

Caretakers Guide to Fablehaven

Synopsis

This guidebook to the Fablehaven magical preserve is filled with everything a new Caretaker might need to know in order to survive. There are entries detailing important information about artifacts large and small, a complete bestiary of creatures (from fairies to trolls to satyrs), a guide to identifying demons, dragons, and wizards as well as valuable insights into the other magical preserves.
Immerse yourself into the secret knowledge that has been handed down through the generations by reading the updates and notes written in the margins by the former Caretakers of Fablehaven, including Grandpa Sorenson, Kendra, and Seth. Fully-illustrated, this unique encyclopedia has gathered the world of Fablehaven into one volume.

Amazon

Fablehaven Caretakers

Enjoy this excerpt from the Introduction

If you are in possession of this book you are assumed to be the caretaker or an apprentice caretaker of Fablehaven. By now you’ve been introduced to the world of mythical and magical creatures. However, there is still much to learn. Previous caretakers of Fablehaven thought it would be helpful to create aCaretaker’s Guide specifically for those tasked with the job of nurturing, protecting, and surviving this preserve and its inhabitants. Do not be fooled. Fablehaven is an unpredictable and dangerous place. However, the collective knowledge gathered within the pages of this bestiary will give you the knowledge and wisdom needed to not only survive but to thrive. The creatures of Fablehaven are either light or dark, not necessarily good or evil. In order to be good, one must recognize the difference between right and wrong and strive to choose the right. To be truly evil one must do the contrary. Being good or evil is a choice. This is not so with the creatures of Fablehaven. What they are largely governs how they act. Some are inherently builders, some are nurturers, some are playful. Some are inherently destroyers, some are deceivers, some crave power. Some love light, some love darkness. But change their nature, and without much resistance, their identities follow. Like a fairy becoming an imp, or an imp regaining her fairyhood. Much counsel and advice has been passed down through generations and given to the new caretakers of this preserve. Perhaps the most invaluable piece of advice that has ever been given is this: Those who are careful to cause no mischief, work no magic, and inflict no harm are protected by the foundational treaty of Fablehaven. This truth alone may be your strongest ally and your only defense. One final note. The signs leading up to the front gate were not always there. In the late eighteenth century, before the guest register that controls access to Fablehaven was created, two poachers entered the property in search of big game. Needless to say, they found it. Or it found them. Many days later, the resident caretaker found them as well. Or at least he found their bodies of petrified stone. And thus the first signs outside the gates of Fablehaven were posted. As caretaker you have accepted a most noble assignment. Keep your eyes open. Obey with exactness. Take risks only as the last resort and you will have a better chance at seeing another sunrise. Welcome to Fablehaven.

BrandonAuthor Brandon Mull

Brandon Mull is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Beyonders and Fablehaven series. Brandon resides in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and four children. He spent two years living in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile where he learned Spanish and juggling. He once won a pudding eating contest in the park behind his grandma’s house, earning a gold medal.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

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$25 Blog Tour giveaway

$25 Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon eGift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/28/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com eGift Card or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Devil Dead et al

Pump Up Your Book is pleased to bring you DEVIL DEAD, KILLER RUN and THE LADY IN PINK virtual book tour September 21- October 16!

I have some great books to share with all of you mystery lovers!

Take a moment and check them out!

Title: Devil Dead
Author: Linda Ladd
Release Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Genre: Thriller
Format: Ebook

Devil Dead

“A tough, no-nonsense detective…edgy, clever!” —Beverly Barton

Lost Girl

She was last seen in New Orleans. Her father, a rich, powerful arms dealer, believes she was abducted. For ransom. For revenge. For reasons too horrible to imagine.

Lost Innocence

Claire Morgan, recent former cop turned private investigator, and her new partner begin their search at the girl’s school, where a violent junkie attacks Claire with scissors, raves of “demons and devils,” and then takes her own life.

Last Rites

Sinister clues lead Claire on a twisted trail through the bars and bayous of New Orleans to a bloodstained altar in Paris. Vast, secret, and powerful, it is a world that few enter or escape. And Claire is going in—the devil be damned…

Praise For Linda Ladd’s Claire Morgan Thrillers

 

“One of the most creepy, crawly, and compelling psychological thrillers ever.” —Fresh Fiction

“Chilling, compelling suspense…be prepared to lose sleep!” —Eileen Dryer

“Exciting, thrill-a-minute!” —Midwest Book Review

“Plenty of suspense and surprises.” —Publishers Weekly

 

ORDER INFORMATION

Devil Dead is available for order at  

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About Linda Ladd

Linda LaddLinda Ladd is the bestselling author of over a dozen novels. Head to Head marked her exciting return to publishing with a debut thriller after almost a decade’s hiatus. Linda makes her home in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where she is at work on her next novel featuring Claire Morgan.

 

For More Information

Visit Linda’s website.
Connect with Linda

Social-Network-Facebook

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Killer RunTitle: Killer Run
Author: Lynn Cahoon
Release Date: August 18, 2015
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Genre: Mystery
Format: Ebook

Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More—has somehow been talked into sponsoring a 5k race along the beautiful California coast. The race is a fundraiser for the local preservation society—but not everyone is feeling so charitable…

The day of the race, everyone hits the ground running…until a local business owner stumbles over a very stationary body. The deceased is the vicious wife of the husband-and-wife team hired to promote the event—and the husband turns to Jill for help in clearing his name. But did he do it? Jill will have to be very careful, because this killer is ready to put her out of the running…forever!

“Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true.” —Susan McBride, author of The Debutante Dropout Mysteries

ORDER INFORMATION

Killer Run is available for order at  

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About Lynn Cahoon

Lynn CahoonNew York Times and USA Today best-selling author Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho expat. She grew up living the small town life she now loves to write about. Currently, she’s living with her husband and two fur babies in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. Guidebook to Murder, Book 1 of the Tourist Trap series, won the 2015 Reader’s Crown award for Mystery Fiction. Visit her at www.lynncahoon.com

For More Information

Visit Lynn’s website.
Connect with Lynn

Social-Network-Facebook

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The Lady in PinkTitle: The Lady in Pink
Author: J.A. Kazimer
Release Date: September 18, 2015
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Genre: Mystery
Format: Ebook

Coming home to find a dead body in your living room isn’t the best way to end a long day’s work, especially when that work is as New Never City’s premier blue-haired PI. It’s even worse when the corpse is your intern, electrocuted to death, and you’re the one with enough voltage flowing through your veins to power Fairyland.

Blue Reynolds has nabbed his fair share of criminals—with and without the help of his alluring half-fairy partner Isabella Davis—but this one is proving to be more slippery than most. As Blue and Izzy investigate who might have wanted a lowly intern dead—and why—they begin to uncover a diabolical plan that could put both of their lives in danger…and unearth shocking secrets that stretch deep into Blue’s shadowy family history.

ORDER INFORMATION

The Lady in Pink is available for order at  

amazon

BN

kobo

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About J.A. Kazimer

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, J.A. Kazimer escaped at a young age and now lives and writes in Denver, Colorado. Kazimer holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology and has worked as a PI, bartender, and most recently at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. For current works and more information, visit www.jakazimer.com, read The New Never News fairytale blog at thenewnevernews.blogspot.com, or follow on Twitter @jakazimer and @newnevernews.

For More Information

Visit J.A.’s website.
Connect with J.A.

Social-Network-Twitter

Social-Network-Facebook

Follow the tour

 September 21

Book featured at Review From Here

September 22

Killer Run Reviewed at 3 Partners in Shopping

Book featured at Around the World in Books

September 23

Book featured at Confessions of a Reader

September 24

Book featured at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews

September 25

Book featured at Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

September 28

Book featured at I’m Shelf-ish

September 29

Book featured at Literal Exposure

September 30

Book featured at Write and Take Flight

October 1

Book featured at Celticlady’s Reviews

October 2

Book featured at Harmonious Publicity

October 5

Book featured at Deal Sharing Aunt

October 6

Book featured at Crystal’s Chaotic Confessions

October 7

Book featured at fuonlyknew

October 8

Book featured at Voodoo Princess

October 9

Book featured at The Dark Phantom

October 12

Book featured at The Literary Nook

October 13

Book featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner

October 14

Book featured at CBY Book Club

The Lady In Pink Reviewed at Queen of All She Reads

October 15

Devil Dead, Killer Run and The Lady in Pink Reviewed at A Room Without Books is Empty

Devil Dead, Killer Run and The Lady in Pink Reviewed at Stormy Nights Reviewing

October 16

The Lady in Pink at What I’m Reading

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Until the next time…..

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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Floral Depravity
(A Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery)

Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Berkley (October 6, 2015)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425264997
E-Book ASIN: B00SI027LY

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My Review

Business is blooming, I mean booming at the Rose In Bloom Flower Shop and it just got busier. Co-owner, Audrey, is tasked with putting together the wedding bouquet for Ramble, Virginia’s elite couple. They want a themed wedding. A Middle Age wedding. It’s going to be a huge event, with everyone required to dress in authentic attire.

I’d like to say the wedding went off without a hitch, but sadly, I can’t. There’s this nasty scene when the doves are released and a hawk swoops in. Then, the groom’s father collapses and is pronounced dead at the hospital. Some say stroke, but it turns out to be death by poisoning.

There are too many suspects to name so the sheriff impulsively deputizes Audrey, enlisting her aid.

It’s a prickly time for Audrey. She just bought her late grandmother’s old cottage and the roof is literally falling in. She’s juggling two beaus, one long distance, who turns up at the wedding, and one local guy who’s working at the encampment. And now she’s donning her sleuthing hat, dodging road apples and blood thirsty mosquitos.

I learned some new trivia in this cozy. Did you know, in the Middle Ages, they used men’s urine to get the yellow dye for their clothing? “Shudders!” Makes you glad you live in this century, doesn’t it?

Ever wonder where the title sheriff came from. In the Middle ages each shire would have a reeve. Shire-reeve became sheriff.

It was fun getting to know Audrey and all of the characters in the small town of Ramble, Virginia.

When Audrey bought her grandmother’s neglected cottage, despite her friends many warnings, I just knew there would be some funny misadventures once she moved in.

It was also fun to learn the meaning behind the different flowers. It’s not just the type of flower, but the color that has different meanings. I now know I bought innapropriate flowers for some occasions. Good thing no one knew.

Learning about life in the Middle Ages was fascinating but I was convinced quickly that I wouldn’t want to live in those times. Too hard.

There are lots of colorful characters, even the ones not involved in the wedding. A love triangle but not really a love triangle. And a surprise villain. I didn’t have a clue who was behind the murder or why.

A sweet romance, lots of chuckles and surprises, and a tangled mystery. One I recommend to cozy fans.

4 Stars

Synopsis

In the latest Bridal Bouquet Shop mystery, florist Audrey Bloom creates an arrangement for a one-of-a-kind wedding, but ends up pruning a one-of-a-kind criminal…

As the co-owner of the Rose in Bloom Flower Shop, Audrey knows how to put together unique wedding bouquets, but this one takes the cake. The daughter of a local historian is getting married in a medieval-themed, hand-fasting ceremony, and Audrey is responsible for providing period-accurate blooms.

But making sure she gets her roses right turns out to be the least of Audrey’s problems. Shortly after the vows are exchanged, the father of the groom suddenly drops dead. When Audrey discovers the man’s death stems from monkshood poisoning, it’s a clear-cut case of murder. Now, faced with a suspect list that rivals the guest list, Audrey needs to root out the toxic killer…

Author Beverly Allen

Barbara Early1

 Beverly Allen writes cozy mysteries with a healthy dose of comedy and sometimes a splash of romance. When not reading or writing, she enjoys cooking, crafts, home-improvement projects, and spending time with her family and four naughty, but adorable cats. She grew up and still lives, in the suburbs of Buffalo, NY.

Author Links:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase Links
Amazon     B&N      Penguin/Random House

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I have 1 PRINT Copy to give away – U.S. ONLY  

Entry is easy. Just leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and leave a comment.

You can ask the author a question. Tell us something you like about the book or cover. Let’s talk!

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Follow the tour for more fun posts!

October 6 – fuonlyknew – Review, Giveaway

October 7 – Lisa Ks Book Review – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

October 8 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review, Interview, Giveaway

October 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review, Giveaway

October 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

October 10 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Giveaway

October 11 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.

TeaserTuesdays2014e

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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My Teaser for this week is from

All The Wrong Ways

by M.M. Charles 

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My Teaser from page 34 in the Paperback.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was shaking, and her fingers clutched her phone.

The sight pained her.

It destroyed her.

It disgusted her.

I won this book in a giveaway. It sounded good and I’m enjoying it so far. I like how the author presents the story.

This is an adult read with some graphic scenes. A dark thriller.

Read on if you want to know more.

THEN
Two years ago, amateur prosecutor Abra Fawley suffered a life-changing experience after handling a scandalous rape case. Unable to prevent startling circumstances beyond her control, Abra abandoned her prosecutorial duties and currently works as a dispirited private investigator. The guilt still remains…

NOW
Two years later, law student Anton Costa is accused of rape by a fellow classmate. While alleging innocence, his notorious past rears its ugly head. Despite a tainted reputation, Anton is sticking to his word: it was consensual.

She says it was rape.

A night off campus with Anton turns into a roller coaster ride to hell for Jentra Mendoza. It all happened in her room. She has the bruises to prove rape. All she needs is the support from her best friend.

A close acquaintance of Anton and Jentra, Lark Ridley is an intriguing girl with questionable intentions. She witnessed the incident. There is one problem: she is missing.

As a favor for a friend, Abra must work with a defense attorney and prove Anton is innocent.

While discovering the ugly facts about her new client, Abra’s doubts about the alleged rape makes her question the parties involved as well as herself.

Who is to blame? Or better yet, who is honest?

Synopsis

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Sugar Scars
By- Travis Norwood
Genre- Post Apocalyptic/Sci Fi
 
Living after the apocalypse really isn’t that hard for most of the survivors. The virus killed all but 1 in 10,000. The few remaining people are left in a world of virtually unlimited resources. Grocery stores overflowing with food and drink. Thousands of empty houses to pick from.
 
But one survivor, a nineteen-year-old girl, requires more than simple food, water and shelter. As a type 1 diabetic her body desperately needs insulin to stay alive. With civilization gone, no one manufactures it anymore. She hoards all the insulin she can find, but every day marches toward the end of her stash of vials. She has a choice. Accept her fate and death, or tackle the almost insurmountable task of extracting and refining the insulin herself.

Brilliant scientists struggled to make the first insulin. What hope does a high school dropout have?
 
  

(more…)

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

Another fun way to share your book news and enjoy others is The Sunday Post hosted by

Sunday Post

Kimberly the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Head on over and leave a link to your Sunday Post and hop around to visits others.

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Some chit chat.

I meant to share photos from my trip last week, but there are over 600 to sort through so I’m planning on doing a special post just for that.

I’ve also been very bust this week. Back to work and it seems so hard that first week after a vacation.

Plus my mother’s stay is winding down and I’m trying to spend every minute I can just enjoying her company.

I did do some reading and posted some reviews. I also have some great giveaways going on and more free books.

Happy Sunday!

I’ll be hopping over to check out your Sunday posts so be sure to leave me your link!

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Here are my new books for review.

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And here are some freebies for ya!

Click on the covers to get yours and remember to make sure they’re still free before you click that buy button.

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And make sure you stop by Anthony Renfro’s Blog. He has thirteen days of free stories he’s giving away!

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

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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

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And I have an awesome surprise review and giveaway to be posted on Friday, October 9th.

I’ll give you a hint. It’s got chupacabras in it.

Make sure you stop by to check it out!

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What I won.

Swag

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eBooks

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Print Books

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Huge thanks to the blog hosts, authors, and tour organizers for these wonderful prizes.

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Other Posts on my blog this week.

Book Blitz & Giveaway for Open Gates by D.T. Dyllin ~ I love this series!

What are they, really? A Fistful Of Clones ~ Virtual Tour and Giveaway

Teaser Tuesdays #130 ~ Author’s Choice from The Key Of Amatahns ~ And A Giveaway

Night And Day ~ A Pecan Valley Mystery ~ My Cozy Review and Two Giveaways!

Write To Rescue Anthology for all of you furbaby lovers!

Some thrills and chills ~ Darkness With A Chance Of Whimsy by R.J. Sullivan

Love the snark! The Friday 56 #80 ~ Brooklyn Bones

Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper ~ Blast Review and Giveaway

Your Next Choice for Saturday Screams ~ The After House

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Have you joined TSU yet?

Click on the widget to friend and follow me!

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Fora list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free books updated daily go HERE

For all of my giveaways go HERE

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So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

I’d love to know and thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

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Welcome to my Saturday Screams!

With Halloween fast approaching, I’ve amassed a bunch of creepy stories to share with you.

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Recently I showcased several books I won from Michael Phillip Cash and I asked you to help me choose which order I should review them in.

The Flip was the top choice and you can read my review HERE.

Next up is The After House.

Come on in and get your scare on!

The After House

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My Review

This was an entertaining haunting.

Remy rents a cottage for her and her young daughter, despite the protests of her parents. She needs her independence since her divorce.

It’s not long before eerie things start to happen in the house. Her daughter, Olivia, sees a ghost. Remy hears things and sees things out of the corner of her eye. And someone is stalking her.

Trying to run her business and raise her daughter, Remy has precious little time for romance. Her parents say that’s nonsense. There’s always time for love. And her mother arranges a meeting with the town mayor.

Hugh and Remy hit it off immediately. It’s like they’ve known each other forever. Someone or something doesn’t like this one bit.

Her house is ransacked, someone tries to burn down her business, and she sees something in the bushes by her house. And her ex-husband is a pain in the behind.

Will she have a happy ever after or will something put an end to her dreams, or her?

This was a lot of fun. I liked Remy and her need for independence. Her daughter, Olivia, is a precocious, charming young girl. And Hugh is sexy and smart, yet gentle and nurturing.

The ghost is another matter. He’s a mess and ornery as a snake. There’s something keeping him here, and as I read more, I began to cheer him on, hoping he’d find what he forgot.

There’s more than one mysterious otherworldly being in this story two. There are two onlookers that have their own agenda. They seem to have been involved with the characters in another book by this author, The Flip. I like that connection.

There’s also a fascinating prologue. You learn a lot about the whaling era. And you will understand the meaning behind the title. I enjoy learning some new trivia from stories. Then the story begins in the present and the connections are made later.

I enjoyed meeting these characters. Liked the mystery. Enjoyed the multiple character’s stories. And had a good feeling when I finished this book.

Not to scary. Just right.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Remy Galway and her daughter Olivia are rebuilding their life after a failed marriage in a 300 year old cottage in historic Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Little do they know, another occupant is lurking in the haven of their own home. Will the After House be their shelter or their tomb?

Trailer

 

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Stop back by next Saturday for your next choice!

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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Got some pesky ghosts? Who ya gonna call? Ellie Jordan, of course.

Tis the season for some spooky tales and I’ve got a good one to share with you.

Enjoy my review of Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper
(Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #1) by J.L Bryan
Publication Date: August 27th, 2014
Genre: Adult Paranormal Mystery
 My Review
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The first thing I noticed about this book was the story takes place in Georgia. It’s supposed to be one of the most haunted cities in the south, steeped in dark stories. It’s the perfect setting.

You’ve read the blurb so you know this is about a haunted house. So I’m going to introduce you to the ghost trappers from Eckhart Investigations instead of telling you what you already know.

Retired Homicide Detective Calvin Eckhart is the owner and boss man. He needed something to do with all of those empty days and  it was an easy decision to start investigating hauntings as he had a keen interest in the supernatural.

Since he’s confined to a wheelchair and not getting any younger, he hires Ellie James to do the work for him. To determine if there is, in fact, a haunting, and then take care of that pesky ghost.

Ellie Jordan, head ghost trapper. Her job is to determine if a house is haunted, and either to get the ghost to vacate, or trap it and dispose of it in a safe place.

She’s my favorite character. Smart, determined, and gutsy, she goes places I’d never dream of entering.

But even she is terrified as the ghost turns out to be many ghosts, and the danger escalates into the physical realm.

Stacey is the newbie. Eckhart didn’t like Ellie going into a haunting investigation alone. It could be very dangerous. Stacey always had an interest in ghosts, and really wants to meet one up close. She helps set up the video equipment and monitored the cameras from outside in a van. She’s in contact with Ellie, and helps to pinpoint where a ghost might be lingering. Her enthusiasm is fun and addictive. I doubt she’ll be so eager to see a ghost after this job.

Jacob Weiss is thrust upon Ellie by the boss. Eckhart insists a psychic could be beneficial. Jacob is one of only a few survivors of a horrible plane crash and now can contact ghosts. He comes into the story closer to the end so I didn’t get to know him very well, but as this is a series, I hope to see more of him. He did come in handy though, so Eckhart was wise to use him.

Finally, the hauntees, the Treadwell family, consisting of Dale, Anna, and their young daughter Lexa. They bought a rundown mansion in an out of the way place. The only other structures on the street are some derelict warehouses and factories. They have big plans to renovate the house and turn it into a bed and breakfast. Dale came up with a great idea. They could add a sports lounge for the men, complete with a huge flat screen TV to watch the games, and plenty of beer. That would make it appealing to the husbands while the quiet holiday appealed to the wives. It’s really a good idea.

There’s just one little hitch. The house came with a ghost, a very expressive ghost. It wants just one thing…for them to vacate the premises, now!

I’d tell you about the ghosts but that would be telling you the story. I can tell you this. I don’t think I’ve experienced such an intense, nail-biting, scene as the one when these characters enter the house for the final event. If it was a movie, I’d have been peeking through my fingers.  Horror doesn’t always come with a happy outcome, so all of them were fair game to die a grisly death. That kept me reading, eyes zipping from word to word, hoping for the best and fearing the worst. I was breathless afterwards and my shoulders ached from the tension.

The author nailed it with his characters. Each almost immediately became familiar.

His ghosts were terrifying.

The plot was fun and scary and your quickly immersed in it.

And this is book one in the series, so read it now. That way you’ll be ready for the next one.

5 Stars

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Summary from Goodreads
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Ellie Jordan’s job is to catch and remove unwanted ghosts. Part detective, part paranormal exterminator, Ellie operates out of Savannah, Georgia, one of the oldest and most haunted cities in North America.

 

When a family contacts her to deal with a disturbing presence in the old mansion they’ve recently purchased, Ellie first believes it to be a typical, by-the-book specter, a residual haunting by a restless spirit. Instead, she finds herself confronting an evil older and more powerful than she’d ever expected, rooted in the house’s long and sordid history of luxury, sin, and murder. The dangerous entity seems particularly interested in her clients’ ten-year-old daughter.
Soon her own life is in danger, and Ellie must find a way to exorcise the darkness of the house before it can kill her, her clients, or their frightened young child.
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Here’s a glimpse inside!

The host of creeps closed in around us. I’d heard at least three distinct voices, but there could have been more specters than that. It felt like a dark cloud of them, a cluster of ghosts that had more or less lost their individual identities, their yearnings merging into a combined pool of hunger, anger, pain, or whatever emotions motivated them to stick around instead of moving on. A “cluster haunting” is Calvin’s term for this.

We pushed through the thick, dark air and passed through another doorway. We should have seen at least one of the glowing green arrows I had drawn, but we didn’t. The darkness was like heavy, cold smoke, crushing in to choke us while we walked blindly through it.

Then the groan sounded again, followed by the other voices. They grabbed at us from every side, with hands that were invisible and insubstantial until they clawed into you. I felt icy fingers on my legs, another hand grabbing at my stomach, and another seized the back of my neck. That one made me scream.

Stacey screamed beside me, but I could barely even seen her. Pale, distended, half-formed faces rose in the darkness, their eye sockets hollow, the dark misshapen holes of their mouths wide open as if they expected to feed.

“They’re all over me!” Stacey shouted.

Since our flashlights weren’t helping much, I had to switch tactics.   I holstered my flashlight and traded it for a wireless palm-sized Bose speaker. Then I touched the iPod on my belt to activate my emergency playlist.

I held out the little speaker like a weapon toward the nearest creepy, pale half-face.

A slice of Handel’s “Messiah” blasted out at ear-crashing volume. It was the Hallelujah Chorus, one of the loudest and most potent sections of the song—I didn’t have two hours for build-up.

The hallelujahs, as sung by hundreds of voices in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir backed by a full orchestra, rang out into the lightless basement room, echoing back from the walls around us.

Ghosts in long-abandoned properties like the old asylum are accustomed to years of darkness and quiet. This is why a powerful tactical flashlight beam can jar them. So can the right kind of music. My little speaker created a wall of sound—strings, brass, and voices organized and brimming with power, the song itself glowing with religious intent. It wouldn’t harm the ghosts, but like a sudden burst of light, it might chase them away for a moment or two.

The faces spun around us, losing shape, their voices crying out in shock and surprise.

The dark cloud filling the room thinned a bit. It didn’t disperse or vanish, but suddenly we could see a bright green arrow drawn in glowing chalk.

“That way!” I said.

Stacey and I hurried. Our flashlights were blasting at full power again rather than getting absorbed by the darkness. I didn’t know how long it would take the ghosts to adapt to the powerful music filling their lair—maybe a few minutes, maybe just a couple of seconds. Then, I had no doubt, they would close in around us again, much angrier than before.

We had to get out of there before that happened.

The faintly glowing arrows guided us back to the steel fire door for the stairwell. I pulled on the handle. At this point, I half-expected the door to be stuck or locked by the specters, trapping us in the basement.

Amazon / Barnes / Kobo / iBooks / Smashwords

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About The Author
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J.L. Bryan

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on the English Renaissance and the Romantic period. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He
enjoys remixing elements of paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, horror and science fiction into new kinds of stories.


He is the author of The Paranormals series of horror novels (Jenny PoxTommy Nightmare, and Alexander Death) the Songs of Magic series for younger readers (Fairy Metal ThunderFairy Blues, and Fairystruck…so far) and other books. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Christina, their son, and some dogs and cats.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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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

 Brooklyn Bones

An Erica Donato Mystery

by Triss Stein

15811825

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My 56 

Oh yes, and I had a fight with Joe. I meant to give him a heads up that the police would be asking him some questions about security when he was working at my house, but they got to him first. He was more than a little ticked off about this and tole me so by phone at seven a.m. I had an uncomfortable feeling he was right, too, so of course I came back with a strong, “I really don’t have time to deal with this!” and hung up.

There were several quotable moments on page 56. This one tickled my funny bone the most.

Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

In Brooklyn Bones, a crime of the past comes much too close  to home when Erica Donato’s teen-age daughter Chris finds a skeleton behind a wall in their crumbling Park Slope home. Erica – young widow, over-age history Ph.D candidate, mother of a teen, product of blue-collar Brooklyn – is drawn into the mystery when she learns this was an unknown teen-age girl, hidden there within living memory. She and her daughter are both touched and disturbed by the mysterious tragedy in their own home.

Chris’s dangerous curiosity and Erica’s work at a local history museum lead her right back to her neighborhood in its edgy, pre-gentrification days, the period when the age of Aquarius was turning dark. A cranky retired reporter shares old files with her. The charming widow of a slumlord has some surprises for her. The crazy old lady who hangs around her street keeps trying to tell her something. And there are people, including some she is close to, who know the whole story and will stop at nothing to make sure it stays buried forever.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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

 

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Most of you know how much I love short stories and collections.

I have some fun ones to share with you today!

RJ Sullivan’s Darkness With a Chance of Whimsy Blog Tour

My Review

Short stories and collections are like a cornucopia of snacks for me.  And I binged with these.

There are ten stories in this collection. Some are flash fiction, super short. And then there are some longer ones. All of them made me ‘think.’

Since they are short stories, I can’t really say much without spoilers. Instead I’ll give you some snippets from my head.

If you were offered the chance to see inside your loved ones head and find out how they see you, if they really love you, would you? Should you?

Never, ever put on strange head gear. Especially if your father invents psychic gizmos.

Good cop, better cop? Split the difference? This was such a strange, twisted tale and my favorite in the collection.

How an infant’s memory can get so twisted out of whack. I had to laugh at the ending.

Two young lovers and a second chance angel.

A computer that makes you smart? I’ll take one, please.

Sometimes it’s better not to keep a secret.

It’s true. The past should stay in the past.

Just how big is the universe and what cause the Big Bang?

The last story and my second favorite. What you get when you cross a vampire with a…..

All of these were great. All of them made me think. While they’re short in words, those words were strongly written.

You’ll zip through this collection in no time and reach the end feeling a bit out there. Take a step into the outof.

5 Stars

Book Synopsis for Darkness With a Chance of Whimsy

Collected for the first time since their initial publications, Darkness with a Chance of Whimsy presents ten tales from the imagination of R.J. Sullivan. Thrills and chills await you, but you may also get blindsided by the absurd. This volume includes a pair of stories featuring Rebecca Burton, the mysterious investigator of R.J.’s acclaimed paranormal thriller series. Among the ten stories, you’ll find:

“The Assurance Salesman” shows five strangers more about themselves than they ever guessed.

You don’t want to venture into Daddy’s basement in “Fade.”

Rebecca Burton tries to talk someone out of a bad idea in “Backstage Pass.”

A bullied police detective finally defeats his rival in “Able-Bodied.”

A desperate father finds the “Inner Strength” to save his young daughter, “Becky” Burton.

A child seeds his aquarium with a most unusual “Starter Kit.”

A brilliant robotics engineer creates a “Robot Vampire.”

Amazon Links for Darkness With a Chance of Whimsy

Print / Kindle / B&N

 

 

RJSullivanAuthorPhotoBWAbout the author: R.J. Sullivan’s novel Haunting Blue is an edgy paranormal thriller and the first book of the adventures of punk girl Fiona “Blue” Shaefer and her boyfriend Chip Farren. Seventh Star Press also released Haunting Obsession, a Rebecca Burton Novella, and Virtual Blue, the second part of Fiona’s tale. The short stories in this collection have been featured in such acclaimed anthologies as Dark Faith Invocations by Apex Books and Vampires Don’t Sparkle. His next book due out very soon will be Commanding the Red Lotus, which collects the series of science fiction novelettes in the tradition of Andre Norton and Gene Roddenberry.
R.J. resides with his family in Heartland Crossing, Indiana. He drinks regularly from a Little Mermaid coffee mug and is man enough to admit it. www.rjsullivanfiction.com

Author Links:

Website / Facebook / Twitter

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Tour Schedule and Activities

9/28/2015 Jorie Loves a Story Review
9/28/2015 Book in the Bag Review
9/28/2015 I Smell Sheep Review
9/30/2015 Bee’s Knees Reviews Review
9/30/2015 Deal Sharing Aunt Author Interview
10/1/2015 fuonlyknew Review
10/2/2015 L. Andrew Cooper’s Horrific Scribblings Review
10/2/2015 Shells Interviews Guest Post
10/3/2015 Azure Dwarf Top Tens List
10/4/2015 Coffintree Hill Top Tens List
10/4/2015 Armand Rosamilia, Author Guest Post

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Until the next time…..

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!