Author Archive

All month long Carlie M A Cullen is celebrating the release of the third and final book in her series, Heart Search: Betrayal

I loved the first two books in the Heart Search Series and am thrilled to feature the final book.

Check out her wonderful cover art! Also included are the covers of the first two books. All of them are amazing!

I’m also sharing an exciting excerpt and thrilling book trailer.

And a giveaway! Don’t forget to enter.

Betrayal front cover

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Amazon

One bite started it all . . .

Joshua, Remy, and the twins are settled in their new life. However, life doesn’t always run smoothly. An argument between Becky and her twin causes unforeseen circumstances, an admission by Samir almost costs him his life, and the traitor provides critical information to Liam. But who is it?

As Jakki’s visions begin to focus on the turncoat’s activities, a member of the coven disappears, and others find themselves endangered.

And when Liam’s coven attacks, who will endure?

Fate continues to toy with mortals and immortals alike, and as more hearts descend into darkness, can they overcome the dangers they face and survive?

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Enjoy this glimpse inside the book!

They hadn’t gone more than a few yards when the amulet around Iskra’s neck began to vibrate and a strong lemon scent assailed her nostrils. She was right. The earlier tingle had been a warning. Her eyes swept the area in front of her, but nothing appeared wrong or out of place. Every one of her heightened senses was on high alert as she continued forward more cautiously.

A faint noise to her left drew her attention and she spun around, immediately adopting a fighting stance. As she turned a group hiding behind her pounced. One clambered onto her back and put a sack over her head while others with ropes slung over their shoulders and around the back of their necks tried to grab her arms.

Iskra dropped into a crouch, swinging one leg out in an arc as she did so. Two of the attackers fell to the ground clutching the bloody wounds on their legs. She brought her head back hard and fast, ramming the nose of the assailant on her back, and smirked at the satisfying sound of crunching bones. Blood poured from the wound, spraying some on her hair and neck. As he slid backwards, his claws raked through her clothes leaving long gouges down her back. She muffled a cry of pain as she pushed the sack from her face.

Now she could finally see, but the view was not pleasing. Iskra was surrounded by eight uninjured and furious vampires, snarling and baring their fangs. Her thought processes sped through various scenarios and she decided on her course of action. Using her peripheral vision she spotted the gap she needed on her right.

Taking two small steps to her left, she leaned in the same direction with her hands buried in her pockets, and the gang mirrored her movements – exactly as she planned. Pivoting on her left foot, Iskra suddenly spun kicking out with her right boot, catching three of them; two suffered nasty groin injuries, with blood spurting from severed arteries and a set of genitals lay on the ground like discarded meat. Another tried to pick up his intestines from the floor and stuff them back into the gaping maw of his stomach. Pulling her daggers from their hidden sheaths, she hurled one, watching it spin flatly through the air. As it hit the target, the head was half severed and the blade stuck in the vertebrae of the neck. Fountains of crimson fluid initially jetted into the air from either side of his neck then settled into a steady flow coursing down his body. She leapt onto the beleaguered assailant and gripping the handle, completed the decapitation. One of them made a grab for her arm and she slammed her elbow back, catching him in the shoulder and sending him whirling into a tree. Lashing out with both blades and clipping someone’s shoulder, she vaulted through the gap she had seen earlier and sprinted away; the remainder of the group, who were still able to, gave chase.

The gang crashed through the undergrowth after her, not caring how much noise they made. An aggressor threw a long-bladed knife at Iskra’s back; it whistled slightly as it cut through the air, alerting her. She dodged to the side just in time – the weapon caught the crease of the sleeve on her jacket, leaving a small rent in the material. That was a bit too close for her liking. She zigzagged through the trees curving back toward the manor; once she was back in the grounds, it would be over.

A familiar scent floated into her nostrils and she grinned. She changed direction again and headed straight for Pavel and Luka who raced to her aid. She slowed slightly to give her pursuers an opportunity to close the gap. As soon as she caught sight of her husband in the distance, she halted and whirled around to face the gang, a wicked glint in her eyes and a sardonic smile on her lips. A dagger was clutched in each hand, but apart from that she appeared relaxed. The mob approached warily. They had already seen how she single-handedly decimated four of their number and injured three others.

Suddenly, one of the mob spotted the two men closing fast. He yelled “RUN!”, and without waiting for his cohorts, turned and followed his own advice, sprinting faster than he had ever done before. They ran off in all directions with Pavel and Luka chasing them half-heartedly. The attackers crashed through the undergrowth, seemingly unconcerned with the noise they made, and not daring to turn around and check if they were being followed.

As Iskra watched the departing backs of the gang, she hoped they took the message back with them that the vampires from the big house were deadly.

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About the author

Betrayal Photo of Carlie

Carlie M A Cullen was born in London. She grew up in Hertfordshire where she first discovered her love of books and writing.

She has always written in some form or another, but started to write novels in 2011. Her first book was published by Myrddin Publishing in 2012. She writes in the Fantasy/Paranormal Romance genres for New Adult and Adult.

Carlie is also a principal editor for Eagle Eye Editors.

Carlie also holds the reins of a writing group called Writebulb. They have published four anthologies so far, two for adults and two for children, all of which raise money for a local hospice.

Carlie currently lives in Essex, UK with her daughter.

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Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Linkedin

Amazon ~ About me ~ Wattpad ~ Goodreads

BOOKS:

Heart Search, book one: Lost

Heart Search, book two: Found

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About the other books

Heart Search: Lost

Book One

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Click on the cover for my review.

Go HERE to get your free copy February 7th and 8th.

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Heart Search: Found

Book Two

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Click on the cover for my review.

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Here are some of the pretties you can win!

Along with signed print copies of the complete series.

Carlie jewelry

Carlie jewelry 2

Enter the rafflecopter now!

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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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

Kimba 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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Happy Valentine’s Day ya’ll!

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I didn’t do much for the holiday. I spent it reading and watching movies with my son.

You’d expect me to read or watch some romantic stuff, but nope, I binged on science fiction and horror. From fiction to non-fiction. And everything in between.

My eyes are blurring as I type this. LOL

Did you do anything special? Did your Valentine bring you gifts, flowers, or candy?

What’s the best Valentine’s Day you ever had?

Now that you’re on sugar highs from all that candy, let’s talk books!

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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New ones just because!

On my Kindle

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Print Books

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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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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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What I won.

I did win a few giveaways but will wait until they arrive to share them with you.

Some will be a surprise even to me!

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Fun news from around the web!

Over on Booktopia Blog, Andrew shares a fun Lego Take on Fifty Shades of Grey

Cait @ Paper Fury talks about authors that inspire her.

Carmel @ Rabid Read has a question on her post – Are you a seasonal reader?

Over on Herding Cats, Anna talks about When is it okay for an author to comment?

There’s a discussion @ Novel Heartbeat – Don’t be afraid to be yourself in your review.

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Other Posts on my blog this week.

A Giveaway Celebrating the Release of Heart Search : Betrayal

Cover Reveal ~ Out From Under ~ A Pea Pod Girls Investigations

Monday Minis Reviews #37 ~ A Zombie Combat Field Guide

Teaser Tuesdays #101 ~ Night Carnival

My Favorite Corpse ~ How many times can you lose a dead body?

Final Stand by Rose Garcia ~ Highlight and Giveaway

Valentine’s Day is Murder ~ Cost Mystery Tour Review

Friday Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Joshua and the Lightning Road by Donna Galanti

The Friday 56 #52 ~ My Pet Yeti

A Giveaway Celebrating The Kingdom Within and Friends For Life

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Have you joined TSU yet?

Click on the widget to friend and follow me!

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For all of my 2014 reviews go HERE

For a list of free books 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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It’s my pleasure to share The Kingdom Within by Samantha Gillispie with you.
All week long, Samantha is celebrating and donating a percentage of book sales to a wonderful cause, Friends For Life.
Please join us and enter the giveaway.
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Title: The Kingdom Within

Author: Samantha Gillespie

Series: The Kingdom Within Series #1

Genre: YA, Fantasy Romance

Princess Meredith’s eighteenth birthday is fast approaching, but unlike other girls, she is not looking forward to it. Upon her coming of age, she is to marry the prince of Alder, the most powerful kingdom in the world. Though the idea of marriage to a complete stranger is appalling, she knows she has no choice. Without the marriage contract, Stonefall’s alliance with Alder will be lost, and her people will be safe no longer; Theros, King of Talos, has set his eyes of conquest on Stonefall and he wants Meredith dead.

Connor, an elite soldier entrusted with Meredith’s safety, arrives at the palace just as things begin to take a turn for the worst. Together, they will embark on a journey of survival, in which Meredith will find that the only thing she never prepared for was falling in love.

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Prologue
“Their fear is your weapon.” The old man’s words ring loud and true within the walls of the banquet room. They display eloquently against the pale face of his latest target—or rather, his latest conquest. The rebellious nature of the fugitive landowner before him crumbled to an embarrassing spectacle of soiled trousers and desperate pleas.
“I’ll pay double,” he says through hasty breaths.
The old man smiles. “Your debt is no longer a concern.” He gestures to the two armored men who hold the landowner captive. “Guards, please introduce him to Eva.” The landowner throws nervous glances at the guards as they usher him across the room. Like all the others before him, it takes him a moment to realize who Eva is. I watch him stiffen, throwing his legs out in front of him to stall the guards, his heels dragging uselessly against the polished wood. He gives in to a series of screams as they reach the human shaped cabinet. It stands open, the long, sharp internal spikes ready to impale its next victim.
“Life is a cradle of victories and failures, my son,” the old man says over the man’s screams, raising his cup to me. “The more victorious you are—”
“The longer I shall live,” I finish flatly. “I can recite your teachings in my sleep, old man. When will I get to do anything with them?”
He takes his time to answer, enjoying the last of the landowner’s melody as Eva’s iron door grinds to a close. He welcomes the ensuing silence with a sigh. “You are young still, boy. But if you are ever to do my bidding, you must work on your patience; revenge is not to be rushed.”
I snort. “What is it now, thirty years? I’d wager you are in no danger of rushing anything.” The old man stares back through zealous eyes.
“Patience, son. The best poison is that which spreads through unsuspecting veins, killing slowly and gradually. The kind that tastes sweet to the tongue and doesn’t bitter until the very end.”
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Book Trailer

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About the Author

Samantha Gillespie is a creative, helpless romantic who was born in Mexico, where she grew up with her family until they returned to the States at age eleven. An avid reader from a young age, Samantha finally gave into her passion for writing, making her debut with The Kingdom Within.

Samantha considered pursuing a degree in English Literature while in college but despite her family and friend’s encouragement, she opted for a more practical career in Business. Now, with the publication of her first book under her belt, she occasionally hits herself on the head for it. Samantha currently lives in Houston, TX, and besides being a sucker for romance, she has a soft spot for helpless kittens, and all things Pride & Prejudice.

 

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Giveaway
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry.

 I have some exciting news to share with you about Dinosaur lake II.  Read on to learn how you can win some books!

After reading my review, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental for more and check out her review. Two chances to win!

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Dinosaur Lake II

Dinosaurs Arising

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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My Review

Here we go again. Chief Park Ranger Henry Shore thinks its over. They killed the dinosaur and he’s pretty sure they destroyed all of the eggs. But when strange things start happening in the park, when another ranger has to fight off a large creature to save some visitor’s, it looks like it’s not over.

Things go from bad, to horrific when one of the trolleys, full of tourists, is attacked by something huge, like the thing in the park, yet larger, and it has wings.

It looks like Henry will have to do battle with dinosaurs again, and he’ll have help from his rangers, along with some soldiers and his son-in-law.

Winged gargoyles, that’s what they look like, but much larger.

They are breeding. They fly and are no longer confined to Henry’s beloved park. They are hungry and they need food for their offspring. The park and surrounding towns become their feeding ground.

No one is safe.

I couldn’t wait to read this after finishing the first book. I love books and movies about dinosaurs, especially when they appear in modern times.

There’s so many things Kathryn does really well in her stories. Let me explain.

She gives you authentic characters. They have their flaws, foibles. You like them or you don’t.

When the town sheriff scoffed at the idea of dinosaurs, refused to believe they exist even after the town gets attacked, I could picture him. Standing there, shaking his head, a sneer on his lips, a posture of superiority. I figured he’d get eaten.

And this is my favorite thing she does. She kills off her characters. You don’t want to become too fond of them, but with some you will. And just because they may survive a first encounter, don’t count on them surviving a second one. I’m not saying the sheriff died. I’m not saying they all die. But I wouldn’t want to be in any of their shoes when the dust settles.

The author also doesn’t waste any time getting the carnage going. She quickly drops you in the middle of the mayhem and scares the bejesus out of you. The story never slows down. The suspense and dread builds and builds, and knocks you on your butt. You’ll want to look away, but you won’t be able to. You’ll have to keep reading, find out what happens.

Let’s get to the monsters now. They are just that, monsters. They may be dinosaurs, but they’re unlike the ones from history. They’ve evolved, are very different. I like that Kathryn chose to liken these dinosaurs to gargoyles. The first thing you think of when flying dinosaurs are mentioned is Pterodactyl’s. But not these. They are giant gargoyle like things. And they are blood thirsty, cunning, and relentless. They never stop coming for you.

Every book Kathryn writes is like this. She never lets you down. All of her characters, strong or weak, are genuinely written. We may scoff at their actions, but they are theirs not ours. It’s important to remember that.

And the action and suspense are almost immediate and it’s always a mad dash to the end. Usually with lots of people screaming. LOL

I loved this every bit as much as the first book. I missed some characters that didn’t survive the first one. Loved some of the new ones. I know I shouldn’t have. Lots of people die. But that’s what made this so good. It was unpredictable and the idea of where the creatures came from was plausible. That’s what really creeped me out.

This is everything I hoped for from the author and now I’ve just finished the third book. Holy hell, it’s awesome too!

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Prehistoric creatures have again invaded Crater Lake National Park
…and this time there’s more than one.

DINOSAUR LAKE II: Dinosaurs Arising
by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
Henry Shore has been Chief Park Ranger at Crater Lake National Park for thirteen years now and thought the days when he’d had to fight a rogue dinosaur that lived in the caves below the lake were long over.
Until one of his park rangers, to save a visitor’s life, is in a deadly struggle out in the woods with a new breed of dinosaur worse than the last one. It’s as big as a man, but this one is a young one. And growing.
Then more of the creatures begin to show up everywhere, threatening people and destroying the tranquility and safety of his beloved park.
A tourist trolley filled with fifteen people is snatched up off the crater’s rim by another version of the younger one…but this one has grown into a giant with fangs, claws and a deadly tail.
And this one has wings.
Ugly Gargoyles, Henry calls them.
For this one isn’t alone.
They’re flying beyond the park’s boundaries into the neighboring towns.
So Henry, with the help of his son-in-law, a paleontologist named Justin, and a band of brave park rangers, and a few good soldiers, must not only protect his park and his people from monsters once more but find their lair and destroy it and them before the creatures kill again.

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 Dinosaur Lake

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.

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My review

Enter at your own risk. There be a huge freakin dinosaur here.

I love books with creatures in them. This one has a dinosaur. A dinosaur that tasted humans and put them at the top of its list. We may be noisy, what with all the screamin, but we’re oh so tasty.

Chief Ranger Henry Shore likes to get out from behind his desk. He enjoys taking out tours now and then. The park is his love and he jumps at any chance to get out there.

The threat of an earthquake has him concerned. It’s predicted they’ll be hit with a major one, and if the tremors he feels are any indication, it could be soon. The rumors of a giant creature seen in Crater Lake make him pause. Maybe the earlier earthquake released something from the caverns under the lake.

When a couple of the boat captains from the lake tours go missing and all that’s recovered are their shattered boats, Henry begins to believe in the rumors. And when a group of campers are attacked, people are missing, blood and bits of gore are strewn around, and a trail of shattered trees leaves a huge trail to the lake, Henry has no choice but to believe the witnesses testimonies of a gigantic monster, a dinosaur, that attacked and ate their friends.

The creature has come on land and is ranging further and further from the lake to find the tasty morsels he craves and needs. No one is safe and Henry wonders how far the evacuation should go.

Henry has big problems. Will it go into the towns? Where is its lair? When will it strike again and how the hell can he stop it? He wants his park back. With the help of fellow rangers and one strange ex- FBI agent who deals in the unusual, he takes the fight to the monster and many die.

Dinosaur Lake starts out tranquil and quickly becomes a nightmare. When the creature discovers how tasty we are, it wants more. It’s intelligent and cunning and likes to play with its food.

I can’t imagine what is scarier, knowing it’s going to eat you, or having it play cat and mouse with you before crunching you between its giant teeth. A couple of the munching scenes had me squirming, feeling so sad for the victims. I knew they were goners.

The author slowly builds the terror, lulling you and then springing out at you, just like the creature.

Some characters I liked got killed off. Some survived. I kept fearing the worst as the pages flew by. I know the author has to kill off some of the characters, but I wish I could’ve saved a couple. This definitely makes for emotional and suspenseful reading.

Great writing, an awesome creature, likeable and diverse characters, chaos and terror. Everything I require in a creature feature.

Five Stars for Dinosaur Lake

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Dinosaur Lake III

Infestation

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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Reviewing soon!

Synopsis

Chief Park Ranger Henry Shore has dealt with and fought real live dinosaurs at his beloved Crater Lake National Park for over six years. With the help of his rangers, a few brave FBI friends and army soldiers he’d been victorious over a prehistoric lake creature and years later some particularly fiendish, and clever, specimens of the flying variety. He and his newspaper publisher wife, Ann, thought their park was finally rid of the monsters and they could reclaim their tranquil life in a place they cherished. Not so. For suddenly across the park new and even more malevolent mutant species of dinosaur begin to appear and create havoc, attacking the park’s visitors and threatening its peace. And this time the primeval scourge isn’t confined to just their park. The creatures have moved into the nearby towns, across the western United States and up into Canada. They are so much more aggressive, smarter and hungrier than any that have come before and the infestation is spreading further and faster than Henry and Ann can even imagine. This time there’s no easy way to defeat the dinosaurs. There’s too many of them and they’re too devious. This time it’s full out war and the victor will someday claim Earth.

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About Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Photo_black_capSince childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over forty-three years ago now, and have had twenty-two (nine romantic horror, two horror novels, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance, two thrillers, and three murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press; and I’ve self-published my last six novels with Amazon Kindle Direct and my dinosaur novels and Spookie Town Mysteries are my best-sellers.

I’ve been married to Russell for thirty-six years; have a son, James, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha and Cleo and live cat Sasha (Too), and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my horror novel The Last VampireRevised Author’s Edition ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for her thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

*Click here to check out Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s.

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:

Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Blood Forge, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire,

Witches, The Nameless One short story, The Calling, All Things Slip Away, Egyptian Heart,

Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, Before the End: A Time of Demons, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Four Spooky Short Stories Collection, Scraps of Paper, Dinosaur Lake, Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising and the just released Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation.

Kathryn’s Links

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathryn-Meyer-Griffith/579206748758534  

http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/889499.Kathryn_Meyer_Griffith

 

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I have one eBook and one audible book of Dinosaur lake II to give away thanks to Kathryn!

This can be read without having read the first book.

To enter, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question:

“The dinosaur is about to eat you. You have two choices, stand and fight, or run like hell. If you choose to run, there’s only one place to go, into the park. And that’s where the dinosaurs are. If you choose to fight, it’d be pretty hard to take down a dino. So which is it, fight or run?!

Giveaway ends February 28th.

This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry at fundinmental.

Now hop on over to fundinmental, check out Sherry’s review, and enter for another chance to win  HERE.

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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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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

My Pet Yeti

A Chance Bradley Adventure

by Clarke Baldwin

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My 56

Matt waved to the big white snow-being who stared back confused. Then he excitedly waved his hand up and down at Matt, except it looked more like he was trying to swat flies or snowflakes.

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Synopsis

Chance Bradley is enjoying his winter break to the fullest. The snowfall is heavy and he’s doing all the winter activities with his friends to the max. But when his snow fort is wrecked, Chance sets out to find the mysterious culprit. Could the legends be true? Can Chance find and tame the Yeti?

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I spotted this fun adventure on Amazon and had to grab it.

It’s a lot of fun and I love abominables!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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

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Have you joined TSU yet?

Click on the widget to friend and follow me!

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M9B-Friday-Reveal

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Joshua and the Lightning Road by Donna Galanti

presented by Month9Books!

I’m tickled opink to share this cover with you.

I’ve read Donna’s adult series, A Human Element and A Hidden Element, and loved them.

So, I’m eager to get my hands on this young readers story and have some fun!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Joshua and The Lightning Road

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Stay away from the window, don’t go outside when it’s storming and whatever you do, do not touch the orb.

Twelve-year-old Joshua Cooper’s grandpa has always warned him about the dangers of lightning. But Joshua never put much stock in his grandpa’s rumblings as anything more than the ravings of an old man with a vast imagination. Then one night, when Joshua and his best friend are home alone during a frightful storm, Joshua learns his grandpa was right. A bolt of lightning strikes his house and whisks away his best friend—possibly forever.

To get him back, Joshua must travel the Lightning Road to a dark place that steals children for energy. But getting back home and saving his friend won’t be easy, as Joshua must face the terrifying Child Collector and fend off ferocious and unnatural beasts intent on destroying him.

In this world, Joshua possesses powers he never knew he had, and soon, Joshua’s mission becomes more than a search for his friend. He means to send all the stolen children home—and doing so becomes the battle of his life.

add to goodreads

Title: Joshua and the Lightning Road
Publication date: May 19, 2015
Publisher: Tantrum Books/Month9Books
Author: Donna Galanti

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---About-the-Author

Donna Galanti

Donna Galanti writes murder and mystery with a dash of steam as well as middle grade adventure fiction. She is the author of books 1 and 2 in the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy, A Human Element and A Hidden Element, the short story collection The Dark Inside, and Joshua and The Lightning Road (Books 1 and 2, 2015). She’s lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. She now lives in Pennsylvania with her family in an old farmhouse. It has lots of writing nooks, fireplaces, and stink bugs, but she’s still wishing for a castle again—preferably with ghosts. For more information on Donna and A Human Element, please visit: http://www.ElementTrilogy.com AND http://www.donnagalanti.com

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Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

(Winners will receive their book on release day)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Button.

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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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Valentine’s Day is Murder
by Carolyn Arnold

It ‘s a mystery fast to read but very exciting, set in a beautiful place like Jamaica: splendid sea, fantastic beaches, tempting cocktails and lots of sun.
~LibriAmoriMiei

This was a quick, enjoyable read. Fast paced, beautiful setting of Ocho Rios, Jamaica,
~Tea and A Book

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Valentine’s Day is Murder
(McKinley Mysteries series Book 8)

23922975
Cozy Mystery
E-Book File Size: 527 KB
Print Length: 117 pages
ASIN: B00OO729NQ

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My Review

The story takes place in exotic Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I’ve always wanted to go there, but until I do, I’ll visit vicariously through this fun cozy mystery.

Sean and Sara will soon be celebrating their One year Anniversary and this will also be their first Velentine’s Day as a married couple.

Their plans will have to be put on hold when they receive a phone call from Meredith, their dear friend Jimmy’s new girlfriend, that he’s disappeared. They drop everything and fly to Ocho Riosto find him.

Sara and Sean are both former police officers and now own their own private investigation company and put these talents to work as soon as they land. All is not sunny and welcoming in Jamaica and they have to move fast to save Jimmy, protect Meredith, and stay alive themselves.

When I reached the finale and discovered the culprits, it came as a complete surprise. I’m wondering if their story was told in a previous book from this series.

This is the eight book in the McKinley Mystery Series but I had no trouble reading this before the other books. The author focused on this mystery and introduced the characters in a way that made them quickly become familiar and easy to engage with.

Sean and Sara are still in the newlywed mode and share some sweet moments. They are a bit gushy with their endearments, hence the mention of the newlywed mode.

I came away from this happy with the ending and eager to go to the beginning and get to know the characters better. To explore how they came to be where they were in this book.

A fun, fast read, that will bring me back for more of this series.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

From bestselling author Carolyn Arnold…
Strap in for an adventure that will take you to the beautiful island of Jamaica and have you wanting a piña colada.

Jimmy finally takes a vacation–and a chance on love–only to be abducted. His female companion originally thinks he had cold feet about their relationship, but Sean and Sara know there’s more to it. Jimmy isn’t the type to just up and disappear, let alone leave a lady stranded.

Setting out on their private jet, Sean and Sara reach the tropical paradise of Ocho Rios, Jamaica with sightseeing as the last thing on their minds.

With a gold coin being their initial tie to Jimmy’s kidnapper, Sean and Sara even speculate about the involvement of pirates. Yet as the hours pass, and there’s no word from Jimmy’s captors, Sean and Sara will need to figure out the real motive before it’s too late.

With help from their friend, Adam, back in Albany, the pieces come together and not a moment too soon.

8th in the Amazon Bestselling McKinley Mystery Series

Enjoy this glimpse inside!

From Chapter 4

Pineapples & Alibis

 

“There was no answer in her room. She may be out by the pool.” The front desk clerk lowered the phone’s receiver and gestured toward a wall of windows that faced a pool, and, beyond that, the sea.

“Thank you,” Sean said.

“No worries.” The clerk smiled and flipped some papers over that she had been working on when they had approached her to call up to Meredith’s room.

Tourists, clad in bathing suits in a spectrum of colors, dotted both the poolside and the beach. It had Sara wishing all she and Sean had to do was enjoy the scenery.

The sun was beating down, the warmth all-encompassing, but thankfully, the humidity wasn’t extreme. Sara still wished to slip out of her dress to reveal the bikini she wore underneath. The thought of the rays kissing her skin was almost too much to dismiss from her mind.

She scanned the horde of vacationers and spotted Meredith lying out on a lounge chair. She sat up as if she sensed Sara watching.

“There she is, Sean.” Sara nudged her head toward Meredith.

“She doesn’t look too upset, does she?”

Sara put a hand on Sean’s shoulder. “We’re not going to assume she’s behind this.”

He stayed put. “She’s not behind this and yet she’s new to his life and he’s never gone missing before.”

“We promised on the flight we would give her the benefit of the doubt, unless something came up to convince us of her involvement.”

“I’m starting to rethink that decision.”

“If Jimmy trusted her—”

“Yes, then we should too.”

“That’s right.” Sara pressed her lips, hoping she conveyed more conviction than she felt at times—this being one of those times.

rgb Valentine is Murder Final Paperback

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Purchase Links

Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo

 

Carolyn Author Photo 2013 ColorAbout This Author

CAROLYN ARNOLD is the bestselling author of the Madison Knight series, the Brandon Fisher series, and the McKinley Mysteries. Her love for writing dates back to her teen years, but her passion was reignited in 2006 when a fellow employee said “tell me a story.” Since then Carolyn has never looked back.

Her writing has since been compared to New York Times Bestsellers such as JD Robb, Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Tess Gerritsen, and more.

Carolyn was born in 1976 in a rural town of Ontario, Canada, and she currently lives with her husband and two beagles in a city near Toronto.

For more information on the author visit https://carolynarnold.net/

 

Tour Participants

January 15 – Michele Lynn Seigfried’s Blog – Spotlight

January 16 – Marie’s Cozy Corner – Spotlight

January 19 – The Gal in the Blue Mask – Spotlight

January 20 – Jane Reads – Spotlight

January 21 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – Spotlight

January 22 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review

January 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Spotlight

January 25 – A Blue Million Books – Spotlight

January 27 – Christa Reads and Writes – Spotlight

February 1 – Tea and A Book – Review

February 5 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – Spotlight

February 6 – Babs Book Bistro – Spotlight

February 9 – Community Bookstop – Review

February 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Spotlight

February 11 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – Spotlight

February 12 – fuonlyknew – Review

February 13 – Celticlady’s Reviews – Spotlight

February 14 – Brooke Blogs – Review

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

 

 

Title: Final Stand

Author: Rose Garcia

Series: The Transhuman Chronicles #2

Dominique is still alive after killing Tavion, the Tainted who’s hunted her for lifetimes. Yet her protectors still fear for her life. They force her to flee Houston and abandon the friends she loves. But they can’t protect her from herself. When Dominique starts hearing Tavion’s voice in her head, she realizes that her personal connection to the Tainted still exists. And when her car is ambushed, she discovers another frightening truth—someone close to her is a traitor.

Desperate for answers, Dominique seeks the aid of first lifers Trent and Infiniti. With their help, she hopes to find her new enemy. But things get complicated with Trent when she finally accepts her eternal love for Farrell, and even more complicated when the whispers in her head threaten her loved ones. Determined to live, Dominique decides to make a final stand against the forces that want to end her. For good.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks 

 

— — —
Excerpt
            Our eyes locked. Like magnets, our bodies leaned in. Even though I had felt a connection
with Trent back in Houston, my mind always took me back to Farrell. But I kept
resisting him because he represented a part of me I didn’t know, a part of me
that didn’t exist anymore.
            My body trembled. Even though I wanted to be with him, I wasn’t sure if I could trust
my emotions. “Farrell, I don’t know if the feelings I have for you are really
mine. Or if they’re glimpses of another version of me.”
            He traced the side of my face with his warm fingertips. “It’s you, Dominique. Here. Now.
And nobody else. I promise.”
            Desire coursed through my veins, and I knew, without a doubt, he was right. I wanted
him. I needed him. In this life. Right now. And I was tired of fighting it.
“Farrell,” I whispered.
            He brought his face within inches of mine and stared deep into my eyes before brushing his
warm, soft lips against my mouth. Tingles erupted all over my skin. Warmth
spread throughout my cold body. He wrapped his strong arms around me and
brought me closer. Our kiss was slow and deep. His breath and taste drew me in,
and I wished I could melt into him.
            He moved his mouth down to my neck, sprinkling kisses all over me. “I’ve waited so long
for this,” he whispered.
            I ran my fingers
through his thick hair and moaned. “Oh, Farrell.”
            Footsteps crunched in the distance, killing the moment. We separated fast, pretending
like nothing had happened even though everything had happened.
            I was his, and he was mine.
— — —
 
About the Author
Rose Garcia is a lawyer turned writer who’s always been fascinated by science fiction and fantasy. From a very young age, she often had her nose buried in books about other-worlds, fantastical creatures, and life and death situations. More recently she’s been intrigued by a blend of science fiction and reality, and the idea that some supernatural events are, indeed, very real. Fueled by her imagination, she created The Transhuman Chronicles–a series of books about people who have overcome human limitations.
Rose lives in Houston with her husband and two kids. You can visit Rose at www.rosegarciabooks.com

 

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you would like to participate in the Cover Reveal for book 3 in the series, FINAL DEATH, you can sign up HERE!
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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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I’ve got a really fun cozy to tell you about.

This is the first book in the series and there are three more. All of them are quite short but loads of fun.

This first book is free so check out the links after my review to grab your copy.

My Favorite Corpse

A Skullduggery Inn Cozy Read #1

by Kathy Carmichael

15828866

 

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My Review

 I knew I had to read this book when I learned the setting for the story was my hometown. How cool is that!

Ashley, the owner of the Skullduggery Inn, is a girl after my own heart. She’s a huge book fan and named the rooms in her inn after her favorite authors. My mother stayed at The Marriott Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Her favorite movie is Somewhere In Time and she got to stay in the room they used for the movie. There are references to books and movies laced throughout the story.

The story takes place in Fairhope, Alabama, on Mobile Bay. Ashley hurries down to the bay when she hears there’s a Jubilee. A Jubilee is when the small fish, crabs, shrimp and such swarm to shallow waters due to low oxygen in the bay. This only happens in two places in the world. Here and in Japan. I’ve been to several and you can literally wade in and scoop up some good eats.

That is Ashley’s plan until her excitement is shattered when she reaches down and stops just short of grabbing a human foot, which is still attached to a body. Panicked, she looks around for someone to help her when one of her guests,Trevor Stone, happens along. She sends him to notify the authorities and waits for his return. And she waits. And waits.

Finally she gives up and returns to the inn, where she finds Trevor sound asleep. He says he never saw the body so maybe she was mistaken.

When the police arrive she leads them to the spot where she found the body and all that’s there is a piece of driftwood. The officer is convinced that’s what she saw and mistook for a dead person in the dark. But Ashley knows better.

With nothing else she can do about it, she hurries to get her fresh catch ready to serve up to her guests later that night. Opening a pantry door she discovers come kittens.  The mother cat slips outside and she rushes to catch her. Stumbling through the woods she steps through to the beach and what does she find. Sitting on a bench is the dead guy from the night before. He’s still dead and starting to smell ripe.

I really enjoyed the scenes with the kittens. It made me think of the restaurant owners on the causeway that takes you across Mobile Bay. They work with the local veterinarians to capture, vaccinate, and spay or neuter the cats before setting them loose again. This keeps them healthy and the population under control.

The cat coalition and restaurant owners work together to feed the cats. There are many dangers for them on the causeway. Snakes and alligators. They are not your friendly house cats. They’re feral and wise. I’m sure some slip through those traps and surprise the owners with their kittens.

Back to the scene of the crime. There’s no cell service so she has to return to the inn to call the police and once again, when they arrive, the body is gone. Ashley is in the middle of something strange and will get to the bottom of it one way or another.

This was such a good mystery, funny with a hint of romance. It was made more fun as I recognized a lot of the places described in the book. I knew the location of The Skullduggery Inn and the place where Ashley first saw the body in the bay. I often went fishing there with my brother.

Now, when I go there, I’ll be thinking of this book and looking for dead bodies. LOL

I should tell you, this is a short story, a teaser for more books to come. You are left hanging out to dry, but the ending is still a good one. I’ll be diving into more of this series.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Novella. My Favorite Corpse centers around Ashley Sands, the owner of a mystery-themed inn located on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. An amateur sleuth, Ashley finds a corpse washed to shore at her inn’s private beach. She must learn what happened before her guests begin checking out. While Ashley’s mystery weekend guests usually enjoy the occasional dead body, they prefer the never-previously-animated kind.

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FREEBIE ALERT!

This is a free download on Amazon right now. You can get a copy HERE.

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About The Author

Kathy Carmichael


Award-winning author, Kathy Carmichael, writes mysteries, women’s fiction and romance. Her 2009 release, HOT FLASH, was named by the American Library Association’s BOOKLIST as one of the Top 10 Romance Fiction titles for 2009. Her latest release (and her first mystery novel), DIARY OF A CONFESSIONS QUEEN, received a starred review from BOOKLIST.

She lives on Florida’s west coast, along with her husband, two not-so-wee sons, 2 black cats, and a bevy of dust bunnies.

Kathy loves talking with readers and other writers. She’s a popular guest lecturer at libraries, bookstores and writers’ conferences.

Despite rumors to the contrary, she has never been recruited by the CIA or the other CIA (Culinary Institute of America).

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

Other books in the series.

17564872  22850684  23352483

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

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 Tease for this week is from

Night Carnival

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

23706866

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My Tease is from 63% in the eBook.

They couldn’t touch or hurt me; they couldn’t hurt anyone anymore, trapped and helpless as they were in their purgatory life. But they were with me always.

My Review

Ever since I watched the movie Something Wicked This Way Comes I’ve been drawn to stories that use the carnival as their location.

What’s scarier than the barker’s hollering and badgering you to try their games, enter their tents. And the clowns with their white face paint and yellow teeth. I’ve never liked clowns.

Now imagine a night carnival run by supernatural beings, vampires and shifters. They’d give you quite a show and some visitors would never go home again.

After losing first her husband and then her mother all in one month, Angela is now facing the rest of her life alone. Sitting in her mothers empty house, she hears the sound of calliope music. The music of a carnival. But it’s the wrong time of year for one. It speaks to something deep inside her, drawing her out into the chilly night, through the woods, to a small carnival that shouldn’t be there.

Dominic, a vampire and owner of the carnival, calls to Angela. He’s been waiting a long time and it’s time for her to really start living. His call brings her to the carnival and the wonders of his life.

This is a very short story but also very fulfilling. The author did an excellent job of making me familiar with the characters quickly. The choice of the night carnival was great too. What an ingenious way for the supernatural beings to blend in. People expect the strange there. And the atmosphere is creepy and intense.

An enchanting yet macabre tale of soul mates and happy “forever” after.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Walking among the eerie assortment of skill-game booths and tattered tents she’s strangely drawn in by the eerie calliope music and the mesmerizing inhabitants of a carnival the likes she’s never seen before. The carousel is alive with demonic steeds flashing their hooves and neighing silently to the moon. There are wraith like luminescent creatures lurking in the shadows along the midway and the Ferris wheel, aglow with thousands of twinkling lights, moves without human hands to control it. The strange animals, lions, tigers and elephants, in the main ring have no human trainers, are much larger than they should be, and seem to float. Then there are the sad-faced clowns who manipulate the crowds with only their glittering eyes and thoughts. They and the other carnies are vampires. One–ancient and powerful, their leader Dominic–has been waiting for her for a long time…to make her his forever. He offers her what she’s never had before. Love. A place to call home. But is she willing to give up her humanity for this creature of the night? Is she willing to join her life to his and live among the vampires, shape shifters and ghosts of the traveling carnival for eternity? Could she be happy as one of them? Is she willing to die for him? (The short story Night Carnival was a *Finalist* in the 2011 Just One Bite Anthology Contest at All Romance eBooks.)

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I’ve read several of Kathryn’s books and she is a prolific writer. My goal is to eventaully read all of her stories. You’ll be seeing her books on my blog a lot this month as I have more of them to share with you and a special event coming up this Friday. There will be giveaways and reviews. Be sure to stop back by.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo_black_capSince childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over forty-three years ago now, and have had twenty-one (nine romantic horror, two horror novels, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance, two thrillers, and three murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press; and I’ve self-published my last six novels with Amazon Kindle Direct and my dinosaur novels and Spookie Town Mysteries are my best-sellers.

I’ve been married to Russell for thirty-six years; have a son, James, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha and Cleo and live cat Sasha (Too), and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my horror novel The Last VampireRevised Author’s Edition ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for her thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

*Click here to check out Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s.

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:

Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Blood Forge, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire,

Witches, The Nameless One short story, The Calling, All Things Slip Away, Egyptian Heart,

Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, Before the End: A Time of Demons, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Four Spooky Short Stories Collection, Scraps of Paper, Dinosaur Lake, Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising and the just released Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation.

Kathryn’s Links

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathryn-Meyer-Griffith/579206748758534  

http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/889499.Kathryn_Meyer_Griffith

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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