Author Archive

Monday Minis #21 ~ Drop Dead Tavern

Posted: January 14, 2014 in apocalypse, horror, Monday's Minis, reviews, Zombies
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Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about Drop Dead Tavern

by Chad P. Brown

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My Review

You’d think after watching Walking Dead nothing would shock me.

This short story should have come with a warning. “Brace yourself.”

All Kent wants is a bottle to swill away his grief. To forget about the loss of his brother, the zombies gnashing around, and his loneliness.

He pulls his bike up to the tavern and after making sure the coast is clear, he enters.

Aah, right there amid the broken bottles stands one survivor. Looks like he’ll sleep good tonight. Maybe there’ll be no dreams.

Suddenly, he’s confronted by a boy. He looks like a street urchin, filthy and haggard.

Once Kent establishes the boys trust, he gets his story.

Any zombie fans would love this short tale.

It didn’t take me long to read it, but by the end it felt like forever. Like those dreams you have where you are running and running and never seem to get anywhere.

I must have been lulled somehow, because what happened in that tavern really tore me up.

Without fluff or wasted words, Chad got right to the matter, dragging me in.

You have to remember, this is a zombie apocalypse. It ended leaving me torn and wishing there was more. I really liked Kent and wondered what would become of him.

4 Stars

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About Chad P. Brown

Chad P. Brown was born in Huntington, WV. Once he outgrew his childhood fears of haunted houses, clowns, and toy monkeys with cymbals (although those still creep him out a little bit), he discovered a dark love for writing and an affinity for macabre and eldritch matters. He holds a Master’s in Latin from Marshall University and is an Affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association. In October 2011, he released his first horror novel, The Jack-in-the-box. He has appeared in the anthologies SPIDERS (August 2012 by May December Publications) and Gothic Blue Book Vol. 2 – Revenge Edition (October 2012 by Burial Day Books). His current projects include a recently released zombie novella, Messiah of the Zombie Apocalypse, and various short stories, as well as a dark fiction novella, The Pumpkin House, which is in submission.

The Wyattsville Series continues ~ Jubilee’s Journey ~ Review ~ Guest Post ~ 2 Giveaways

Posted: January 13, 2014 in Blog Tour, Contemporary Literature, giveaways, Guest Post, New Release, reviews, Series
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Click on the banner above to follow the tour for Award Winning Novelist Bette Lee Crosby and her newest release Jubilee’s Journey!

Jubilee's Journey (Wyattsville #2)

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Synopsis

When tragedy strikes a West Virginia coal mining family, two children start out on a trek that they hope will lead them to a new life. Before a day passes, the children are separated and the boy is caught up in a robbery not of his making. If his sister can find him, she may be able to save him. The problem is she’s only seven years old, and who’s going to believe a kid?

Jubilee’s Journey is Book Two in the Wyattsville Series. This story of discovering lost family and finding love reconnects readers with Ethan Allen and the other heart-warming characters of the bestselling novel SPARE CHANGE.

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Please enjoy this guest post from Bette

 

Writing Jubilee’s Journey was somewhat of a trip down memory lane, not because of my own memories, but the memories of my mother, who so generously passed them down to me.

My mom was born in Coal Fork, West Virginia; as was her sister Ruth. They were two in a family of eleven siblings.  Times were hard and the family didn’t always have the luxury of living under the same roof. Once the girls were old enough, they were sent to live with relatives who needed house help; the boys went to work in the mines or became farm hands for neighbors.

When my mom was not yet twenty, she married a city boy from Charleston and moved away. Her sister Ruth married one of the men who worked in the mines. The part of Jubilee’s Journey that tells of life in the mining community is based on the truth of how it was.

After Ruth was married, she and her new husband moved into a tiny four room house wedged into the side of the coal-mining mountain. Did they own the house? No. Did they rent the house? No. In the little community of Coal Fork, there was no owning or renting; if a house stood empty and you had need of it…you simply moved in. Of course the house was little more than walls and a floor, there was no plumbing, no electricity, just a cast iron coal stove used for both cooking and heat.  But it was a house and it was free. It had a stretch of land suitable for some farming and a well that had a plentiful supply of cold clear water – water far better than anything you’ve ever tasted.

In Jubilee’s Journey, Ruth’s husband is named Bartholomew but in real life his name was Clifford. He was a miner who lived a life very similar to Bartholomew’s. He and Ruth had four children, the eldest of which was my cousin Paul. And the Paul I knew was my model for the one I created. He was wise, strong, loyal beyond belief, and filled with love and Faith.

I spent many summer vacations visiting my cousins and the memories I have are truly treasured ones. Despite the fact that Ruth’s family had very few material possessions, they were wealthy beyond compare. They were rich in the things that no amount of money can buy—love, faith, trust and hope. Like Bartholomew, Clifford hoped his boys would never see the inside of a mine…and they didn’t. All four of my cousins earned scholarships and went on to become professionals in the fields of education and ministry.

I have always been inspired by the goodness in the life they led, and that inspiration is what led me to write Jubilee’s Journey. I hope the book inspires others as the truth behind this story has inspired me.

Bette Lee Crosby

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My Review

I’ve read many of Bette’s books, and some things I know I’ll find in each new one are her strong southern prose, compelling situations very true to life, and characters so vividly depicted they become living beings, and I step into their story.

Another thing I’ve come to expect is her endearing cover art. You feel when you look at them.

The cover design for Jubilee’s Journey was done by Kathleen Valentine of valentinedesign.com. Bette Lee will also occasionally incorporate a friend or fan’s name into her novels.

I fell in love with Ethan Allen in Spare Change and was thrilled to return to Wyattsville and have his story continue in Jubilee’s Journey.

He is doing fine. That is until one day, he stops at a crime scene, doing a lookie-loo to see what was going down. Sent on his way, as he pedals off he spies a little girl sitting all alone on a bench, looking so sad and lost.

I just knew Ethan would mull about that girl. So when he’s riding his bike home from school it’s no surprise when he stops to help the girl still sitting there on a bench. He convinces her to come home with him. His grandmother will take care of her.

Poor Olivia. Ethan brings home a stray. First thing she does is feed her. Then gently, she pries her story from her.

She’s Jubilee, 7 years old, and she came to the city with her brother after their father died. Paul was determined to keep his promise to their father and they get off the bus in Wyattsville searching for their aunt. All they have is her first name.

Paul told Jubilee to wait on the bench while he went inside to check out a job. Hours later, he still hadn’t returned and that’s when Ethan came into the picture.

I felt such anguish for Jubilee. She depended on her older brother, trusted him to take care of them, and now he was just gone. She’s such a sweetie. So innocent yet so firm in her love for her brother.

Paul is such a mature young man, and such a good brother to Jubilee. When he entered that store, he had no idea  his path would converge with Hurt McAdams and he would find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and wouldn’t be leaving the way he went in.

Ethan is still Ethan. Always pushing the limit, and working his grandmother, Olivia. She’s wise to his ways but knows sometimes it’s best to let him think he’s got one over on her.

Ethan and Jubilee become very close with Ethan filling the role of big brother and protector until her real brother returns.

I’m not sure if you could label one genre for this book. Bette blends several into her story. I call it life literature. The characters tell me their stories, let me share their lives, and I savor every moment.

Upon reaching the end of Jubilee’s Journey, I blinked, held the book to my chest, and sighed. I slowly left their world. So moving, so powerful was this story, I tried to hang onto it, to keep everyone close.

Thank you for gifting me Jubilee’s Journey, Bette. There is no better gift than words on a page.

5 Stars

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A couple of excerpts from this journey.

Ethan:

I didn’t want to tell Grandma this on account of she’s a worrier. Mama never worried about nothin’, but Grandma, she worries about everything. The sorry truth is I didn’t see no live people come out of that grocery store. Far as I could tell, they was all dead.

Jubilee:

I ain’t never had six dresses at one time. And I sure ain’t never had underpants with the day of the week spelled out so you don’t get mixed up and wear Tuesday’s pants on Wednesday.

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ABOUT Bette Lee Crosby

Bette Lee Crosby    Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since then, she has gone on to win several more awards, including another NLAPW award, three Royal Palm Literary Awards, and the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal.

Her published novels to date are: Cracks in the Sidewalk (2009), Spare Change (2011), The Twelfth Child (2012), Cupid’s Christmas (2012) and What Matters Most (2013). She has also authored “Life in the Land of IS” a memoir of Lani Deauville, a woman the Guinness Book of Records lists as the world’s longest living quadriplegic.

Crosby originally studied art and began her career as a packaging designer. When asked to write a few lines of copy for the back of a pantyhose package, she discovered a love for words that was irrepressible. After years of writing for business, she turned to works of fiction and never looked back. “Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.

Website  /  Goodreads  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

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There are two giveaways so be sure you enter both!

Giveaway on my blog.

I have one print copy to giveaway (US Only)

and one Ebook copy (International)

To enter, please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win, specify US or International, and answer this question:

“Do you ever find yourself thinking about the characters long after you’ve finished a book?”

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Visit Bette’s Blog HERE to enter the second giveaway.

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Other books by Bette Lee Crosby

Spare Change

My Review of Spare Change

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What Matters Most

My Review for What Matters Most

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The Twelfth Child

My Review of The Twelfth Child

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My Review of Cracks in the Sidewalk~ Coming soon!

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My Review of Cupid’s Christmas ~ Coming soon!

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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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What’s New On My Bookshelf #50 ~ Now that’s a lot of books!

Posted: January 12, 2014 in Cover Reveal, Freebies!, giveaways, Meme, reviews, Trailer, What's New on My Bookshelf
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Took some time off for the holidays so this is a shorter posting about bookish news since December 16th, 2013.

This is my own version of a weekly bookhaul post where  I’ll be telling you about all of the books I got this week, whether print or e-book plus all things new on fuonlyknew.

I got a few books this week, some free, some for review, and some I purchased just for my reading pleasure.

I also post reviews on another blog aknifeandaquill . It’s all about horror. If someone doesn’t die, we don’t do it here!

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Here’s some I picked up to review on both blogs. Double exposure for the author:)

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Here are some I picked up to review on fuonlyknew.

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Got some good ones!

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Got some freebies for ya!

Tried to find a little something for everybody.

Just click on the covers to get yours. Make sure they are still free. Were at time of posting.

13449624  18717457  Lovers at Heart (Love in Bloom: The Bradens #1)

And a few more.

 

 

You can also find more free books HERE.

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Books for Review.

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I’ll be reviewing this in March.

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I’ll be reviewing these in April.

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I’ll be reviewing these in March.

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I’ll be reviewing this in May.

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Exquisite Betrayal

And last but certainly not least. A.M. Hargrove’s newest book! Been waiting for this!

I have too many review books!

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Books I won.

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I won a signed print copy of Midnight Spell from Rhiannon Frater.

Thanks so much Rhiannon!

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I won Gadget Girl from The Book Nerd Tour.

Thanks so much and thank you Susan!

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Reviewed this week

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You can read my review on my Monday Minis post HERE.

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You can read my reviews and enter the giveaway HERE.

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You chose it for week two of my Freakin Fridays January reviews. See it HERE. Then help me choose the book to review next week.

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You can read my review and enter the giveaway HERE.

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Reviewing this coming week

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I’ll be reviewing this for my Monday Minis post January 13th.

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Jubilee's Journey (Wyattsville #2)

Read my review and enter the giveaway Monday, January 13th.

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ParaNormal Detective cover  Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot, #2)

Read my review of both books and enter the giveaway Tuesday, January 14th.

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Read my review and enter the giveaway Wednesday, January 15th.

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You can read my review and enter the giveaway on Thursday, January 16th.

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You can read my reviews of all five novellas in the Moonsong’s Series and enter the giveaway on Thursday, January 16th.

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And on Friday, January 17th I’ll be reviewing the readers choice. Won’t know which book ya’ll chose until Thursday. Go HERE to cast your vote!

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And I’m hoping to have my review ready for Sworn to Raise, Book #1 on the cover reveal day, Friday, January 17th for Book #4, Sworn to Secrecy.

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Several more reviews and awesome giveaways coming this next week.

Not sure yet which ones I’ll be posting. Be sure to stop by!

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Other posts this week. Just click on the links to see the posts.

Spotlight on The Dragon Legacy

Monday Minis #20 ~ The Basement ~ Don’t ever say you’ll be right back

Teaser Tuesday’s #52 ~ Vampire’s Ball ~ Shall we dance?

Tail Spins ~ Delightfully Poetic ~ Reviews and Giveaway

Rosemary and Crime ~ A Cozy Mystery Review and Giveaway

WWW Wednesday #29 ~ Cassie Scot and The Zombie West

Some Apocalyptic Muscle For Ya ~ M-DAY by D.T. Dyllin On Sale Now!

Matt Archer: Bloodlines ~ More Monster hunting! Book Blast and Giveaway

Thursday Theatre #23 ~ Abominable Land Shark

The Friday 56 # #12 ~ Freaky Jules: Hellhounds

Freakin Friday’s # 26 ~ Your next choice ~ Four Spooky Stories

Relativity by M.A. George ~ Birthday Bash

Jade’s Cowboy Crush ~ Triple Tour Grand Finale and Giveaway

Cover Reveal ~ Ruth Silver’s ORENDA ~ A universe of frightening creatures and magic

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Go here to find all of my giveaways. Enter one or enter all of them!!

Go here for a list of free e-books.

Busy, busy, busy. So many delicious reads! Some I’ve read and will be posting my reviews soon.

So what did you get this week? See something you like? Do you have any of these? Leave a comment and let me know.

Cover Reveal ~ Ruth Silver’s ORENDA ~ A universe of frightening creatures and magic

Posted: January 12, 2014 in Cover Reveal, New Release, otherworldly, YA Fantasy
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This is just spectacular!

Cover art is very important to me. It needs to show something about the story inside the book and in one way or another, capture my attention.

Orenda sure caught mine!

Check out Orenda and hop over to add it to your TBR. I did!

Orenda cover

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Title: Orenda
Author: Ruth Silver
Expected Publication: Spring 2014
Publisher: Patchwork Press
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Synopsis:
A sword wielding girl, an eternal suit and an alternate  universe.

Lil has a gift, one she never thought  possible as she finds herself awake after a strange dream with the tell-tale  sign that what she dreamt was in fact real.  The dreamscape, was more than  just a premonition it happened.  She’d been momentarily tossed into another  dimension.  Where most would consider her crazy, not her best friend  Bray.

In another reality, one similar and yet  slightly different Willow has been kidnapped by the sorceress turned demon,  Eilith.  Rawlie, Willow’s friend and companion crosses to our universe for  help and brings Lil into his world.  Filled with frightening creatures and  magical elements, Lil demands to go home, until she discovers Bray has been  taken by Eilith as well.  Unable to watch her best friend die, she joins  forces with Rawlie, Jamie and the others to hunt down Eilith and rescue those  they care about.

*****

About Ruth Silver

Ruth Silver author photo 

Ruth Silver attended Northern Illinois University and  graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication in the spring of 2005.  While in college, she spent much of her  free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she  self-published in 2004.  Her  favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in  assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and  always wanted to finish her stories. Her love of writing led her on an  adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia.  Silver enjoys reading, photography, traveling and most of all  writing.  She loves dystopian and  fantasy young adult stories.  Her  debut novel published by Lazy Day Publishing and Patchwork Press, ABERRANT, was  released April 2013.  The second  novel in the series, MOIRAI, continues the saga. ISAURA, is the final  installment in the ABERRANT trilogy. Ruth has been actively writing since she  was a teenager.  Her current writing  projects include a YA science-fiction fantasy series, ORENDA, and a YA/NA  paranormal series, DEAD GIRL WALKING. Both novels are due for release in 2014.  She currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.

You can visit her online at

write away bliss / Twitter / Facebook

Jade’s Cowboy Crush ~ Triple Tour Grand Finale and Giveaway!

Posted: January 11, 2014 in Blog Tour, Contemporary Romance, giveaways
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The Triple Tour Grand Finale for Jade’s Cowboy Crush!

To post the Grand Finale Book Blast Jan 9 – 14 and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter,

email Tressa at wishfulendings(at)outlook.com with “Jade’s Grand Finale” in the subject line!
The first 50 to sign up and post will receive an ecopy (.mobi or pdf) of Jade’s Cowboy Crush!
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On Tour with Prism Book Tours…

Announcing Kimberly Krey’s new release!!
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January6 – Brooke Blogs Demons – Gavin Emerson’s Past

It was just while I was writing a particularly relevant scene, that I heard the song, Demons, by Imagine Dragons. It went along with the scene so perfectly that I bought the album (great album, btw) and played the song each time I was in the car so I could muse on it.

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A little more about Gavin Emerson: – He used to ride bull like nobody’s business and has the scars to prove it. – He left home after an ugly fallout with his father at eighteen years old, got involved with gambling, loan sharks, and later joined the mob he borrowed from. – He’s attracted to redheads and has several different nicknames for Jade, including his favorite, Freckles, due to the splash of freckles across her cheeks. – Last but not least, he’s got a sleeve of tattoos that represent parts of his past. Read more at Brooke Blogs.

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7 – Mythical Books – Jade Miller, Single Mother

Here’s a few facts about Jade Miller: – She has strawberry blond hair, pale skin, and a splash of freckles she’d do anything to hide. – She dunks almost everything she eats in Tabasco sauce. – She’s fiercely protective when it comes to her son. – She lost her loving father to a long battle with cancer when she was young. – She’s secretly in love with cowboys from the past, like Wyatt Earp. – She is snarky, witty, and avoids drama like the plague. – She’s just witnessed the murder of a co-worker and is about to enter a protection program on Emerson Ranch. Oh yeah, and she’s about to fall hard for rebel cowboy, Gavin Emerson. In this excerpt from Jade’s Cowboy Crush, Jade, upon butting heads with Gavin, reconsiders her plan to seek protection at Emerson Ranch: Jade had assumed that a grown, mature man would show up to take her and Luke to some secret hideaway. Instead she’d ended up with an immature, kid-hating, woman-ogling dirt bag. Probably back there hitting on that female cop. Yet as she glanced up to her rearview once more, puzzling as to why she couldn’t see him, two loud thumps tapped at her window. She jerked back in response before rolling it down partway. “What,” she demanded, glaring at him. Or rather – his chest. He was taller than she’d realized. And more muscled too. And there were those tattoos, the near-sleeve of them encasing one well-defined arm. She’d been drawn to that look back in the day. Not any more. With a slow, relaxed movement, he hunched down to look at her. “What are you doin’?” The slow drawl in his low, raspy voice made her blush and actually wonder just what the hell she was doing. His thick, blond hair bordered on unkempt in a way that might make a weaker woman swoon. But she was not a weak woman. Jade didn’t fall for things like that. “I’m leaving,” she announced. Read more at Mythical Books.

8 – I Am a Reader, Not a Writer – Smokin’ Hot Pizza Bomb
Before we get to the recipe, I’m going to start with an excerpt. Here, Jade and her four-year-old son, Luke are instructing Gavin (rebel cowboy offering witness protection on Emerson Ranch) on how to ready the dough:

  Luke’s big brown eyes were pasted on a lump of dough as he smashed it down with his small hands.      “Here. Put a few scoops on,” she said. “Just on one side, remember.”      Luke did as she said, and started piling toppings on next.      “You need help?” Jade asked.
      Gavin held her gaze. “Maybe.”      She smiled, seeming to hold a hint of that playful side she’d shown last week at the pond. “Okay.” Jade walked around the counter and stood beside him. Gavin didn’t miss the warmth of her arm as it grazed his. “You need to start with some flour.” She reached into the small measuring cup, pinching some in her fingers.      “And where does that go?” he asked.      Jade dropped it on the counter. “Here,” she said, “and here.” With movements too quick to stop, she smeared her fingers over one side of Gavin’s face.     Luke busted up.      “Oh,” Gavin said, reaching for the measuring cup next. “Like this?” He sprinkled the flour into his open palm, rubbed his hands together, and cradled her face. With the soft, white powder coating his hands, he ran his thumbs over the light splash of freckles on her cheeks. He liked the way Jade didn’t fight it. Only stood there and smiled as he drew a line from the top of her forehead down to the tip of her nose.      She batted her lashes at him. “Is that all you got?”      But his eyes were already set on something more – those lips. Without breaking his gaze, Gavin traced a finger over the smooth curves of her mouth. The top lip first, followed by that full, bottom pout. The powdery substance barely clung to the softness there, creating the lightest sheen over their pretty, pink color.      He ran a thumb over them next, willing himself to let go and step away, wondering if he’d ever been so hungry in all his life.

Get the recipe at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.
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Jade's Cowboy Crush (Sweet Montana Bride Series #2)Jade’s Cowboy Crush Sweet Montana Bride Series by Kimberly Krey

Paperback, 320 pages
Published December 13, 2013
Single mother, Jade Miller, has just witnessed a murder. Now, set to testify against the cold-blooded killer, Jade must be placed under protection. While she is grateful to the kind folks who’ve offered to take in her and her son, Jade is surprised to find the man escorting them from L.A. to Montana is Gavin Emerson. A womanizing, far-too-attractive-for-his-own-good, rebel cowboy. Jade assures Gavin that she has sworn off men until her son is grown, but all too soon she finds herself fighting back feelings for the man who’s agreed to care for them.
Gavin wants nothing to do with ranch life. Not since the ugly fallout he had with his father over eight years ago. But when he agrees to come back, harboring Jade and her son for a time, Gavin falls in love with life on the land once again. Above that, he finds his heart has been captured by his lovely house guest, Jade Miller.
After reservations on both parts, the two are finally ready to open up and give their new-found love a try. Only they aren’t in the clear just yet, and as a dark and deadly threat falls upon them, Gavin finds that his bad-boy past may have led the danger right to their door.
Note: Though this novel is considered clean romance, it does contain passionate kissing scenes and a few mild curse words.
Purchase from: Amazon * Barnes and Noble

Kimberly Krey’s other books:
Cassie's Cowboy Crave (Sweet Montana Bride, #1)Cassie’s Cowboy Crave
Sweet Montana Bride Series
by Kimberly Krey
Published July 12, 2013

Evie's Knight (The Knight Series, #1)Evie’s Knight by Kimberly Krey Published September 11, 2012
Amazon Barnes & Noble

Writing Romance That’s Clean Without Losing the Steam!

Kimberly Krey

I’m a writer of contemporary clean romance, a lover of home, family, & friends, & the ultimate hater of laundry.
A few of my favorite things: Diet Coke, Cafe Rio, and novels by Marcia Lynn McClure.
I do not go anywhere without: SoftLips Chapstick and Altoids Smalls.

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Giveaway! Enter to WIN $100 Amazon Gift Card! January 6 – 21, 2014
Must be 18 to enter and able to receive winnings.
See Rafflecopter for detailed restrictions.
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Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.
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Raffle button
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Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.
Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour? Go 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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Relativity by M.A. George ~ Birthday Bash

Posted: January 11, 2014 in Book Blast, Romance, Science Fiction
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Relativity
Proximity Series Book #2
By M.A. George
Publication Date: January 9, 2013
 
No matter the planet, Palta Capal is an alien. 
 
She’s lived a lifetime where she never belonged…but relocating to the “home world” she’s never seen has her feeling more like an outsider than ever. 
 
Teetering between the thrill of newfound love and the despair of family loss—not to mention the looming threat of global war—Palta doesn’t need any more excitement in her life. 
 
But what she needs and what she gets are two entirely different things.
   

(more…)

Freakin Fridays #26 ~ Your next choice ~ Four Spooky Stories

Posted: January 11, 2014 in Freakin Friday, otherworldly, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Short stories and collections, Uncategorized
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Freakin Fridays!

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

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With the new year here, I’ve started  implementing my new plans for my blog.

While I’ll still be doing my memes and posting for book tours and giveaways, I’m going to be doing a lot more reviewing.

 I asked you to help me with this. Below are the 5 books I’ll be reviewing for the 5 Fridays in January. You’ve let me know which one you want me to review first. The book with the most votes for my first 2014 Freakin Fridays review was The Little Mermaid of Death!

There is a link further down in the post for my review if you missed it.

Your next pick was Spooky Short Stories. So here is my review.

Don’t forget to explore the next three books afterwards and choose which one I should review next week! Just leave me a comment:)

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Spooky Short Stories

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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Four contemporary spooky short stories:

Ghost Brother… So what happens after you die? Do you go to heaven, or hell? Or do you go to a special place fashioned just for you based on the life you’d lived in the real world? Based on how you treated people? What you did to them? And do ghosts exist? Do they roam the earth and plague the living, persuade them to do things they shouldn’t do? Two brothers and their tale follow; their journey through life and death. Do you believe in ghosts? Some do.

Running with the Train… Sarah has always been lonely. Searching for a love she’s begun to believe will never come. Her family and friends depend, need her…but they can’t give her what she wants. True, eternal love. Like the wolves have. So she goes on an adventure of a lifetime to the Grand Canyon; rides the train from Williams to the South Rim and sees these huge wolves running alongside in the evening twilight; scurrying unbelievably below on the Canyon’s ledges among the trees. She’s told there are no wolves but she hears their haunting cries. No one else sees or hears them. Just her. Has her loneliness made her crazy?

The Banshee and the Witch… What would you do to live forever, stay young forever? To find true love again? And if you were a white witch with the magical powers to make it happen…and the secret of how to do it, would you? So when the banshee comes calling for you one rainy dark night you’ll do what you have to do to get what you desire the most. More time.

Too Close to the Edge… Artist Penelope had been looking forward to going with her husband, sister and brother-in-law to see the Grand Canyon…even though she was terrified of heights and, when she got there, couldn’t bear to get too close to the edge. She watched people balancing on one foot, acting foolish, taking photos, oblivious of the death waiting below them. It scared her. Especially when a woman relates a story of a small child that fell into the Canyon the day before. Over the edge. Then she sees a young girl go over the rim and no one will believe her. For there was no child that had died–that day anyway. Was she seeing things that weren’t there, or was there another explanation?

My Review

At first I was thinking Running with the train was my favorite. Then I thought the Banshee and the Witch. Then I thought..well you know how that goes. I can’t pick a favorite as each of these stories are unique unto themselves and very, very good.

Ghost Brother

A man wakes up in a graveyard one night. He has no memory of how he got there or why.

He trudges home but finds he can’t get in his house, so he sits and contemplates, trying to recall what happened.

Bobby’s dead brother, Gerald, has haunted him for a long time. He’s evil incarnate and goads Bobby into doing some really bad things.

Now Bobby’s done something truly horrid and it’s time to face the music.

I’m always up for something dark and twisted. This story sure is. I tried to guess ahead as to what had happened to Bobby, but when I reached the end of the story, I was way off.

The author pulled one over on me. Not bad Kathryn, not bad at all.

Running With The Train

This one has a mystical feel to it.

Sarah is unlucky in love and all she does is work. Wanting something, but not knowing what, she takes a vacation, going to the Grand Canyon by herself.

Things start getting mysterious while she’s on the train. She sees something, shadowy figures, running alongside the train. But nobody else sees them.While enjoying the view at the South Rim, just before dark, she meets a compelling, and very handsome man. Something about him draws her and she talks with him, telling him about herself. As quickly as he appears, he is gone.

She encounters this man again, and he tells her why he came to her and what he wants. Now she has a choice to make. But what about her family. They need her.

I felt some folklore in this one. The author built up the mystery, making me anxious to see the wonder she would reveal to Sarah and to me.

I couldn’t wait to get to the end and find out what choice Sarah made.

The Banshee and the Witch

Another good one.

Cleona is a witch. The most powerful witch. She has lived a long time.

She’s loved well and lived well, but she’s not ready to leave this world yet. She wants more time.

When the banshee comes calling, she knows she doesn’t have much time left. She’s able to use her magic and send the banshee away several times, but soon that won’t work anymore. There are consequences to using her magic this way. Her familiar, her cat, warns her of this.

So the next time the banshee comes, she has to try something else, something clever.

This was such a fun story. I really like witches. And Cleona’s familiar,Precious, has attitude and all the sass and independence of a cat too. Their exchanges were comical and gave me a few chuckles.

The ending was unexpected. The author caught me completely by surprise. I think you’ll like it too.

Too Close To The Edge

This tale isn’t scary as much as it is haunting.

Penelope has always been afraid of heights. She gets close to the edge and vertigo sets in, along with an irrational fear.

The trip with her husband, along with her sister and brother-in-law, to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon was a step toward getting past her fear. It proves difficult as she sees others clowning around, teetering near the edge, with this it can’t happen to me attitude.

When she spies a little girl, alone, leaning out to clutch a flower, her fears are confirmed when the girl teeters, then slips over and out of sight.

I liked that Penelope tried to get past her fear, to confront it and vanquish it for good.

What she experiences on the rim is haunting and wonderous at the same time.

The very end of the story made me smile. It was perfect.

5 Stars

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Last weeks choice!

The Little Mermaid of Death

by Kevin Richey

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Tired of her life with the other swamp hags, Ariel strikes a bargain to obtain a mask so realistic she could pass for human. But can she trick anyone into marrying her before the mask deteriorates—and all without saying a word?

My 4 Star Review

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Here are the books to choose from for next week. Let me know which one I should review next!

#1

The Monster Man of Horror House

by Danny King

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Local oddball, John Coal is the town oddball. Old, crotchety, pungent and solitary, he lives in a scary old house that is almost as rundown as he and sees out his days shuffling around the streets harvesting his neighbours’ skips for scrap.

The local kids take great delight in plaguing him morning, noon and night but they’ve chosen the wrong old coot to mess with because John Coal is no ordinary man. He knows where the bodies are buried. He’s been to the outer limits. He is a keeper of dark secrets. Murder, monsters, demons and bi-polar vampires, he has seen them all and lived to tell the tale.

Now, if he is to rid himself of his woes he must dig into the deepest recesses of his past and use these terrible experiences to convince his tormentors he’s not just an old man to be pushed around.

He is John Coal – the Monster Man of Horror House.

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#2

Cold Blood

by Donna Ansari

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As the winter holiday season descends on New York City, vampire Emma Hammond is anticipating celebrating with Tammy and David, her witch and werewolf roommates. But when an odd Christmas ornament unleashes waves of the undead from her neighborhood graveyard, Emma finds herself as an unwilling shield between ravenous zombies and an unsuspecting city. Even worse, despite having everyday dealing with supernatural creatures, Emma finds that she has an unnatural aversion to the shambling dead, and must get to their source and stop the invasion before she’s forced to cancel her holiday party!

**

#3

Days with the Undead

by Julianne Snow

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It’s a journal of survival.

Five people set out to escape the Undead who have risen too close to home. Join the emotional and physical struggle as they began on the third day after the awakening of Brooks VanReit, as they are recorded from the point of view of Julie, a former pathologist and part-time survivalist.

Each entry is geared toward helping those who want to help themselves and maybe give a few that don’t a swift kick in the ass.

Join our group of survivors on their journey through these Days with the Undead.

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So tell me. Which one should I review next?

The Friday 56 #12 ~ Freaky Jules: Hellhounds

Posted: January 10, 2014 in Paranormal or fantasy, Series, Supernatural, The Friday 56
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The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

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

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#1

Why did I commit myself to this? It was just a dog, right? Jerry had died saving this dog, so why was I putting myself in a situation in which the same thing could happen to me? I didn’t even like dogs.

#2

If a hellhound was there – which was likely – it would not only be guarding the cemetery, but also watching, waiting for Jerry’s saintly dog to breathe its final breath.

#3

Whatever I tried would be spotted right away, and I’d be greeted with glowing eyes, huge fangs, and a thirst for living blood.

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Hellhounds

Freaky Jules #3

By Tom Upton 

Hellhounds

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The third volume of the Freaky Jules series.

Julia Dundee (Freaky Jules)
is recruited by her home spirit, a deceased police officer, to retrieve the
spirit of his former partner, Sarge, an aging German Shepherd who will soon pass
away. The only problem is the hellhounds that are bent on corrupting or
destroying the retired canine hero.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Thursday Theatre #23 ~ Abominable Land Shark!!

Posted: January 10, 2014 in Creatures, Theatre Thursday, Zany
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Grab your popcorn and have a seat.

It’s time for the show!

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EogNde6XUJQ]

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Cue the theme from Jaws.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse!

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Matt Archer: Bloodlines ~ More monster hunting! Book Blast and Giveaway

Posted: January 9, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Book Blast, Creatures, giveaways, New Release, YA Fantasy
Tags: , ,
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Welcome to my stop on the Book Blast Tour and Giveaway for  Matt Archer: Bloodlines.

This is an exciting series of monster hunting and adventure!

Join me and learn more about Matt Archer and the monsters he hunts.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Matt Archer BloodlinesMatt Archer: Bloodlines

When seventeen-year-old Matt Archer set out on his last mission in the Australian Outback, he thought it would be like every other hunt.

Not even close.

After only two days on the ground, his best friend is possessed, a long-lost family member has returned and hidden truths have come to the surface. Add in a coven of witches bent on bringing about the end of the world and, well, this trip has started to suck. Badly.

As his power and strength continue to grow, so does Matt’s concern that he’s becoming more and more like the creatures he’s been charged to hunt: a monster.

Faced with some of his biggest challenges to date, Matt has to decide what he needs to protect most—his family, his team…or himself.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Smashwords * iTunes/Apple Bookstore * GoodReads

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Matt Archer Legend 680x453Matt Archer: Legend

When Matt Archer was fourteen, he was chosen—by a magic, spirit-inhabited knife—to hunt monsters with a special paranormal division of the Army. When he was fifteen, he was thrown into a global war the rest of the world didn’t know existed.

Now Matt’s sixteen and the war has cost him more than he ever thought it would. He’s also learned that the knife-spirits have an agenda he doesn’t totally agree with. The only problem? The spirits have the upper hand, and they plan to control the fight—and Matt.

Then things get worse: the next lunar eclipse cycle is starting, a prominent physicist has gone missing, and Matt’s best friend is thinking about quitting the team. If he loses Will—after everyone else he’s lost—Matt’s not sure how he’ll fight alone.

As the source of his nightmares starts to creep out of the shadows, Matt knows he’ll need all the help he can get…because being alone could prove deadly.

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Matt Archer: Blade’s Edge

When Matt Archer was fourteen, he discovered monsters are real. As if that wasn’t enough to go on for a few decades, Matt also found out that he’d been chosen to hunt those monsters–with a sentient, supernatural knife. Now fifteen, Matt has spent the last year working with a clandestine military unit, trying to rid the world of monsters, demons and other vicious creatures, all while keeping it a secret from nearly everyone he knows back home in Billings.

Including his mom.

Add in a new girlfriend, family secrets, sibling drama and enough homework to sink an aircraft carrier, and Matt’s life has become more complicated than he ever imagined. Worse, the knife has developed some very definite opinions about Matt’s personal life and it interferes in his business whenever it wants. More and more, Matt’s coming to realize that sharing brain-space with a spirit kind of sucks.

When stories of decimated towns and hordes of zombies start pouring into the Pentagon from Afghanistan, Matt knows he’ll be called up soon. Between the new mission and the knife’s increasing control over his mind, Matt wonders if he’ll survive long enough to take his driver’s exam.

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Matt Archer: Monster Hunter

Fourteen-year-old Matt Archer spends his days studying Algebra, hanging out with his best friend and crushing on the Goddess of Greenhill High, Ella Mitchell. To be honest, he thinks his life is pretty lame until he discovers something terrifying on a weekend camping trip at the local state park.

Monsters are real. And living in his backyard.

But that’s not the half of it. After Matt is forced to kill a strange creature to save his uncle, he finds out that the weird knife he took from his uncle’s bag has a secret, one that will change Matt’s life. The knife was designed with one purpose: to hunt monsters. And it’s chosen Matt as its wielder.

Now Matt’s part of a world he didn’t know existed, working with a covert military unit dedicated to eliminating walking nightmares. Faced with a prophecy about a looming dark war, Matt soon realizes his upcoming Algebra test is the least of his worries.

His new double life leaves Matt wondering which is tougher: hunting monsters or asking Ella Mitchell for a date?

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Author Kendra C. Highley

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to two self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most important job. She believes chocolate is a basic human right, running a 10k is harder than it sounds, and that everyone should learn to drive a stick-shift. She loves monsters, vacations, baking and listening to bad electronica.

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Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle button

Ends 2/2/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code 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, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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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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