Author Archive

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Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review very short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about To Disturb The Dead by Brandon Berntson.

To Disturb the Dead

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My Review

I used to listen to this broadcast on the radio when I was teenager. I think it was called Macabre Theatre, not sure. I would lie in bed with the lights out and listen to stories told by one or two actors. There would be sound effects to go along with their narration, like creaking floorboards and squealing hinges as a door slowly creeps open. They were deliciously frightful and scared me but good.

This would have been a great story to listen to on that program. I think I would have been too creeped out to run over and turn the light on. I’d probably have pulled the covers up to my eyes and lay flat on my back, hoping nothing yelled “Boo!”

Kathy Mender is 16 years old and thinks she knows it all.

A typical teenager. But she’s not. She is obsessed with death and digging up a dead body.

Her life at home is miserable and she spends all of her time in classes reading dark, disturbing books. That’s where she’d rather be.

She doesn’t know where she belongs.

One morning, between classes, a thought blossoms in her mind.

“Don’t make us perform these grisly deeds ourselves. Help us build a monument, erect a found action for the dead. We can give you that education you desire, honey. Along with a loving upbringing.”

This had me thinking. Did something just speak to her, encourage her strange desire to dig up a body, or is she deranged. Because, she is now determined to do this deed. She’s not going to wait any longer.

Poor Bobby Farks. He is so in love with Kathy, he will blindly follow her descent into the world of the dead.

Maybe popcorn and movie would have been a better first date for these two. I mean, digging up a dead body! This boy is head over heels, stupid blind, in love.

Nothing good will come of this union.

I had a creeping feeling all through this story. It’s ghoulish and keeps you wondering. I especially liked the ending the author gave me. Not what I was expecting.

4 Stars

About the author

Brandon Berntson

Brandon Berntson has been writing speculative fiction for more than twenty years.  He has been featured in various anthologies and has published several novellas along with a collection of horror stories called Body of Immorality.  He is also the author of Castle Juliet and When We Were Dragons, enchanting, magical reads for all ages.  “A really great story has a little bit of everything in it, and should do so much more than just entertain.  It should be an experience.  Those are the tales that have lasting power.”  Brandon loves horror, fantasy, the classics, YA, and incorporates a little of each into his tales.  A fan of ice hockey, Bugs Bunny cartoons, long walks, and classic movies, he makes his home in Boulder, Colorado.  Visit him at http://brandonberntson.com/

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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!

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

Khost

Here are some I picked up to review on fuonlyknew.

Wild Wolf's Twisted Tails 

Got some good ones!

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Books for Review.

Resilient

I had to have this!

Also have a couple more but can’t let you have a peek yet.

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Books I won.

The Thieves of Legend: A Thriller

I won The Thieves of Legend from a giveaway on the escape with dollycas blog. Thanks so much to Lori and the author for this wonderful book!

Shadows of Penumbra (Apocalypse Exalted, #1)

I won Shadows of Penumbra from the AToMR Tours giveaway. Thanks so much!

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My internet was down all week so my post is going to be slim.

Books I’ve reviewed this week. Don’t forget to enter the giveaways!

Embers (Anya Kalinczyk, #1)    Sparks (Anya Kalinczyk, #2)

You can read my reviews for Embers and Sparks here!

The Harvesting (The Harvesting, #1)

With my internet down, I couldn’t get this ready in time! You can read my review this coming week.

Several more reviews and awesome giveaways coming this next week. Be sure to stop by!

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

Tour Giveaway for Hidden by M. Lathan

Epiphany Sneak Peek

Blitz & Giveaway for The Temporary Detective

Freebie Alert for Taken by Adam Light

Freebie Alert for Joshua’s Folly by Taylor Dean

Return to Zire Book Tour

Winners of Tag Team Giveaway for Precipice by Kevin J. Howard

Winners of Tag Team Giveaway for What Matters Most by Bette Lee Crosby

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.

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It’s that time again.

Time to announce the winners for  What Matters Most by Bette Lee Crosby!

What Matters Most

The Paperback Winner is:

Janna S.

The e-book winner is:

Donna

This was a Tag Team Event!

Go here to see if you won on Sherry’s post at fundinmental!

Congratulations!

All winners have been notified.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

I do love reading them and hope you continue to visit fuonlyknew!

Thanks so much to Bette Lee for her wonderful books and for letting me host her giveaway.

*****For all of my giveaways go here*****

I’d love to keep telling ya’ll about some really great books.

Subscribe by email and lets talk!

JOSHUA’S FOLLY will be free on Amazon Kindle for the next three days, June 15th thru 17th!

I just got mine:)

I’ve read all of Taylor Dean’s books and have been waiting anxiously for her next release.

I don’t have to wait anymore!!

 Get your copy now!!
 
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Can you fall in love with a picture?After Marisa survives a traumatic experience in her youth, she finds comfort in the form of a photograph of Joshua, her foster mother’s nephew. She falls in love with him, creating and refining an image of the man of her dreams. When Marisa has the opportunity to visit Joshua’s cattle ranch outside of Amarillo, Texas, she meets Joshua in person for the first time. She quickly realizes he is someone she could really fall in love with, not just a silly childhood crush.Life is seemingly perfect for Josh and Marisa, with endless possibilities before them. That is, until Josh’s reservations take a toll on their relationship and their summertime romance ends rather unexpectedly.Will Marisa be able to forgive Josh for his folly?
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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDAXyG3Tasw]

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Other books by Taylor Dean
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Sierra
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I Have People
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Lancaster House  The Middle Aisle (Lancaster House)

My Reviews

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About Taylor Dean:

Taylor Dean

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.

Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle, available in print or eCopy
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For all of Taylor Deans books go here.

This tour hosted by Page Turner Book Tours is so exciting.

I’m not sure what the Airians and Cellians are, but I’m going to read AIRION: Return to Zire and find out!

Airion: Return to Zire

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Title: Airion: Return To Zire

Author: J.S. Council

Series: Airion Series

Genre: Young Adult Epic Fantasy

Publisher: Self Published

Formats Available In:

Paperback, Ebook (HTML, Kindle, Epub, PDF, RTF, LRF, Palm Doc, Plain Text (download), Plain Text (View)

Blurb:

Aside from his outward appearance, Kobi is a normal thirteen-year-old boy. Living with his mother, his father, and his identical twin brother, Raili, with whom he spends most days at the cove watching dolphins and whales feed, he is happy with his life just the way it is. But his fourteenth birthday is coming and Kobi has no idea how much his life is about to change.

            When Raili is pulled through a puddle in the floor of their second floor bedroom by a monster armed with poisonous, spiked tentacles, Kobi goes in after him. What he finds isn’t Raili, but a new world all together, buried beneath the ocean. With a bounty on his head that has been there since he and Raili’s birth, Kobi will have to learn to fight or die before he can be reunited with Raili again. Everything he knew to be true was a lie.

            People he loved and trusted are not who they seem. He isn’t the normal boy he thought himself to be. A transformation is coming. Raili is gone. Blood is shed. Traitors lurk, waiting for their chance. War is inevitable. The fate of the world of Airion rests in his hands. The Wiseone speaks. Failure is certain.

Book Links:

Smashwords /  CreateSpace  / Barnes & Nobles  / Amazon

About The Author:

 

“Although I didn’t fully commit to making writing my life’s work until my sophomore year of college, I have always been a writer at heart. I was the only student in class to get excited about school papers, even asking to write a few for extra credit on occasion. I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a degree in Creative Writing – Fiction. After graduating, I moved to Japan where I wrote most of my debut novel, Airion: Return to Zire and all of my second novel Airion: Light and Dawn – the first two of a four book series. Japan was a peaceful place to just sit and write, but life in Japan was also filled with adventure. However much I loved it there, I had to return home to do what I love most. Write.”

Social Media Links:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Excerpt:

“If the Cellians just wanted us dead, why didn’t they just kill Raili instead of taking him?” asked Kobi.

“That is the question, isn’t it?” said Kaiyen slowly. “If they only wanted to use his power, wouldn’t they have taken them both?”

“Not necessarily,” said Rick, fist to his chin. “Having both would probably be too dangerous to risk. They may have been afraid of being destroyed from the inside if they worked together to free themselves. Even with one son of the prophecy, they could cause considerable damage, or so they may think.”

“But Raili would never do that though,” Kobi protested. “Dad…I…I mean, Black Master Rick. You know Raili; you know he wouldn’t do anything like that.”

“It may not be his choice,” said Kimi. “The Cellians can be very persuasive.”

Kobi’s heart sank. “What would they do to him?” he asked, not wanting to hear the answer.

“Whatever they had to,” said Kaiyen. “That is why we must focus on a plan of rescue, before Raili Saio acquires the powers they seek.”

“On our fourteenth birthday,” said Kobi.

“Yes,” said Kai Ventra. “Almost all Airians change on their fourteenth birthday. Along with the natural changes they undergo, such as growing gills, they also acquire unique individual skills, allowing them to thrive more than most others in that ability. These abilities can be anything from designing exceptional clothing to controlling the elements.”

“The stronger the ability, the harder it is to control,” said Kaiyen. “No doubt Cella is depending on this.”

“It won’t work,” said Rick.

“Agreed,” nodded Kaiyen. “But there is another matter that must be discussed, if I may.” Questioning eyes turned to Kaiyen. “Lady Sara,” Kaiyen continued after a swift nod from the King. He was addressing the old woman seated beside Kimi, “have you seen anything in your Kubec about a traitor in Zire.”

Whispers filled the room. “You go too far, Captain,” said Bran.

“What are you saying,” said the advisor to Bran’s left.

“Silence,” said Sai Thayne. The talking ceased instantly. The King’s questioning eyes fell on Kaiyen then turned to Lady Sara. “Wise One?”

“This man possesses a tainted heart,” said the old woman, her eyes gazing into the diamond block. “His treachery dives deep.”

“Do you know who this man is?” asked Kaiyen.

“I see not his face nor his rank,” said Lady Sara, her brow creased and her hands resting on the Kubec. “However, he knows all that we know and some we do not.”

“It is as I thought,” said Kaiyen, “Zire’s traitor has resurfaced.”

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I’m hooked. I need to know more about the Airians and the Cellians!

Check out the other stops on the tour!

02/06/2013 – Page Turner Book Tours – http://pageturnerbooktours.com/ – Top 10

03/06/2013 – The One Saga – http://www.theonesaga.com/ –  Interview

04/06/2013 – Breathless Blog – http://www.breathlessblog.com/ – Spotlight

05/06/2013 – IWAssociation – http://iwassociation.com/ – Excerpt

06/06/2013 – Lissette Manning – http://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning/ – Spotlight and Review

07/06/2013 – Alaine’s Blog (Anna Winters) – http://alainebatty.blogspot.co.uk/ – Spotlight and Review

08/06/2013 – Unwritten – Http://www.mystiparker.blogspot.com – Excerpt

09/06/2013 – Dina Rae Write’s Stuff – http://www.dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.co.uk – Guest Post

10/06/2013 – The Cro’s Nest – http://p45crok.wordpress.com/ – Interview

11/06/2013 – Vixie’s Stories – http://vickiejohnstone.blogspot.co.uk/ – Interview

12/06/2013 – Marian L – http://www.marian-l.blogspot.co.uk/ – Excerpt

13/06/2013 – Constance Phillips Blog – http://constancephillips.com/blog/ – Guest Post

14/06/2013 – Author M.J. Kane – http://authormjkanebooks.wordpress.com/welcome-to-m-j-s-world/blog – Excerpt

15/06/2013 – Decadent Decisions – http://wlynnchantale-decadentdecisions.blogspot.co.uk/ – Review

16/06/2013 – The Many Muses of MaryLynn – Www.mlbast.com – Review

16/06/2013 – FU Only Knew – http://fuonlyknew.com/ – Spotlight

17/06/2013 – Warrior Princess Romance Writer – www.authorbernadettemarie.blogspot.com – Interview

18/06/2013 – Ann B Harrisson – http://www.annbharrison.com/ten-minutes-with.html – Interview

19/06/2013 – M.M. Shelley – http://mmshelley.blogspot.co.uk/ – Excerpt

20/06/2013 – Nicole Morgan – http://nicolemorganauthor.blogspot.co.uk/ – Excerpt

21/06/2013 – Author Mirelle Chester – http://mireillechester.blogspot.co.uk/ – Excerpt

22/06/2013 – Bubblews – http://www.bubblews.com/account/28249-bertena – Guest Post

23/06/2013 – M.M. Shelley – http://www.mmshelley.blogspot.co.uk/ – Review

24/06/2013 – Spellbindings – http://spellbindingsblog.com – Guest Post

25/06/2013 – Pure Jonel  – http://purejonel.blogspot.ca/  – Guest Post

26/06/2013 – Castle Macabre – http://castlemacabre.blogspot.com/ – Interview

27/06/2013 – Self Publish Or Die – http://www.selfpublishordie.com/ – Review & Spotlight

28/06/2013 – Muffy Wilson – http://muffywilson.blogspot.co.uk/?zx=642c8583e8bf79c – Spotlight

29/06/2013 – Read Between The Lines – http://rbtlreviews.com – Guest Post

30/06/2013 – Read 2 Review – http://read2review.com – Review

01/07/2013 – The Writing Network – http://thewritingnetwork.com/ – Guest Post

02/07/2013 – Horsham Writers – http://horshamwriters.co.uk/ – Guest Post

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It’s that time again.

Time to announce the winners for Precipice by Kevin J. Howard!

Precipice: The Beginning (Book One)

The Signed Paperback and swag Winner is:

LeKeisha

This was a Tag Team Event!

Go here to see if you won on Sherry’s post!

Congratulations!

All winners have been notified.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

I do love reading them and hope you continue to visit fuonlyknew!

Thanks so much to Kevin Howard for his wonderful books and for letting me host his giveaway.

*****For all of my giveaways go here*****

I’d love to keep telling ya’ll about some really great books.

Subscribe by email and lets talk!

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It’s a Birthday Party for Adam Light.

A Toast to Adam:

May all your dreams come true, except for the nightmares.

Save them for more scary books!

I met Adam about a year ago when I read one of his short horror stories and had to get to know this awesome author.

I have now read everything Adam has written.

I hear from his brother Evans, who is also an awesome horror writer, that Adam is writing something new and twisted for us. I can’t wait!

But for now, Adam is celebrating his birthday by giving away a free book!

That’s right!

Taken by Adam Light is free to download from Amazon June 14th thru 18th!

Go here to get yours now!

TAKEN

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I’ve already reviewed TAKEN, but reposted it so you won’t have to leave the party!

I am thrilled to get my hands on this! While I don’t normally use the blurbs for a book, this one is so good I have to share it with you!

Jack Harden is your average good-old-fashioned American truck driver. You can ask the girl he’s got duct-taped in the back of his cab, she’ll tell you. Oh, don’t worry – it’s okay. His wife knows all about it. She told him to do it.

Whoa. I bet that got your attention.

Jacks’s wired and tired. He’s on the last leg of an 18 hour burn and turn. Soon he’ll be with her. With his goddess. With Dianne.

“Dianne, Dianne. Oh sweet goddamn Dianne.”

At first he didn’t think he could go through with it. He’s not the type. But if he wants to go home, he better have his cargo. Can’t go home without it.

She’s all wrapped up, well,  taped up, nice and tight. She won’t be getting away. What Dianne wants with her, he hasn’t a clue. But he’ll know soon enough.

What really got me was how nervous and bumbling Jack was when he snatched the girl. It had me on edge,  hoping he’d get away safely. I was actually on his side. You know the story’s good when you’re pulling for the bad guy.

As for the victim. Well, lets just say she’s not a wallflower. She’s got a mouth on her and plenty of bravado. Jack had better be careful with this one. She’s a kick-ass chick and her one liner, you’ll know it when you read it, is every bit as good as Arnold’s, ”I’ll be back.“

I could picture the author chuckling in evil delight when he was writing Taken. It’s psychological horror that messes with your mind.

Can’t wait for you to meet Dianne.

A short, wicked good read.

5 Stars

I’ve read all of Adam’s books.

Way Out Of Here

My Review

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THE CONTINUANCE AGENCY (The Continuance Saga Volume One)

My Review

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Vengeance By The Foot

My Review

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Gone

My Review

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TAKEN

My Review

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Corpus Corruptum ~ Written by Adam & Evans Light

The Corpus Corruptum

Review coming soon.

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About the author

Adam   Light

Besides being the best father and husband I can be, my ultimate goal in life is writing horror fiction that will knock people’s socks off.

I began the journey into writing for the public in the fall of 2011, and I have not looked back since. I admit that I got a late start on it, as I am pushing 40 now, but I believe that an eleventh-hour commencement is preferable to none at all.

I have self-published five short stories to date. The most recent one entitled THE CONTINUANCE AGENCY is the first chapter in a planned series still in progress. This one is a departure for me, and comes as a refreshing turning point in my writing. I look forward to writing longer works, my long term goal being to write full length novels.

I have been humbled and emboldened by all the positive responses to my stories, and thus encouraged to continue my quest. Thanks to all who have read and reviewed my work, giving an unknown author such as myself a chance to unleash my madness upon you.

Goodreads

Amazon

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Welcome to my stop on the Tour for The Temporary Detective by Joanne Lessner.

I want to start by apologizing to the author and to Goddess Fish Promotions for the lateness in getting my post up.

I have been without internet all week and just now said goodbye and thank you very much to the repair guy!

Enjoy the excerpt and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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TEMPORARY DETECTIVE

by Joanne Lessner

Bad Publicity Buy Links:

Paperback, Kindle

Nook, Kobo

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BLURB:

Phones, light typing…and murder.

Think breaking into show business is hard? Try landing a temp job without office skills. That’s the challenge facing aspiring actress Isobel Spice when she arrives in New York City, fresh out of college and deficient in PowerPoint. After being rejected by seven temp agencies for her lack of experience, Isobel sweet-talks recruiter James Cooke into letting her cover a last-minute vacancy at a bank. New to his own job, and recently sober, James takes a chance on Isobel, despite his suspicion that she’s a trouble-magnet. His misgivings are borne out by lunchtime, when she stumbles across a dead secretary in a bathroom stall. With her fingerprints on the murder weapon, Isobel sets out to prove her innocence by investigating the crime herself. While learning to juggle phone lines and auditions, she discovers an untapped talent for detective work–a qualification few other office temps, let alone actresses, can claim.

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Excerpt

“I wouldn’t go back if I thought there were an insane murderer on the loose,” Isobel said. “On the contrary, whoever did this was very sane. Let me tell you, I wanted to kill that woman after three hours.”

Delphi looked askance at Isobel. “You…didn’t, right?”

For some reason, Delphi asking her point-blank bothered her less than James’s confused hinting. “Of course I didn’t. But I don’t blame you for asking. You hardly know me.”

“It sounds like whoever did it also wanted to humiliate her,” Sunil mused. “I mean, think about it. Captured for all eternity on the pot!”

“Could it have been somebody from outside who came in, waylaid her in the bathroom, pulled the emergency bell and left?” Delphi asked.

Isobel shook her head. “She was such an unpleasant person that it just doesn’t seem random.”

“Then you definitely should not go back there, paycheck or no paycheck,” Delphi said.

Sunil nodded. “Delphi’s right.”

“You’re sweet to be so concerned, but I’ll be fine.” Isobel smiled. “It was really nice meeting you both. Good luck with everything.”

“I think you need it more than we do,” Sunil said.

As Isobel rode south on the subway, sardined between a bike messenger in need of deodorant and a young mother juggling twin toddlers, she wondered whether to take her new friends’ advice. No job was worth risking her life. But what about the other people at the bank? They were all continuing to show up for work, weren’t they? They had no choice. They all had jobs to do.

Well, so did she. She needed the money. James didn’t have anything else for her, and even if he did, he might not send her out again. She still hadn’t proven herself, not really.

And that was what she had come to New York to do. Prove herself.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

joannelessner

Joanne Sydney Lessner is the author of BloodWrites Award-Winner and Awesome Indies Mystery Pick The Temporary Detective, which introduces Isobel Spice, aspiring actress and resourceful office temp turned amateur sleuth. Isobel’s adventures continue in Bad Publicity. Joanne’s debut novel, Pandora’s Bottle (Flint Mine Press), which was inspired by the true story of the world’s most expensive bottle of wine, was named one of the top five books of 2010 by Paperback Dolls. No stranger to the theatrical world, Joanne enjoys an active performing career, and with her husband, composer/conductor Joshua Rosenblum, has co-authored several musicals, including the cult hit Fermat’s Last Tango and Einstein’s Dreams, based on the celebrated novel by Alan Lightman. Her play, Critical Mass, received its Off Broadway premiere in October 2010 as the winner of the 2009 Heiress Productions Playwriting Competition.

Website: http://joannelessner.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoanneSydneyLessner

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joannelessner

Bad Publicity

VBT_TemporaryDetective-BadPublicity Cover Banner

The Temporary Detective Buy Links

Paperback, Kindle

Nook, Kobo

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Giveaway

Joanne will be giving away the following prizes:

 At each stop, one ebook copy of her novel Pandora’s Bottle, inspired by the world’s most expensive bottle of wine.

A grand prize of a $25 Amazon GC will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

You can follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here.

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

Enjoy this sneak peak into Epiphany by Christina Jean Michaels.

Sneak Peek Promotion Event

Epiphanycover

Title: Epiphany

Author: Christina Jean Michaels

Genre:  Contemporary/romantic suspense

 Age Group:  New Adult/Adult

Expected release date: July 19, 2013

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

 First three chapters on Goodreads until release date:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17704279-epiphany

Book Description:

“I had my first psychic dream when I was nine. Psychic implied power, and powerful wasn’t a word I’d use to describe myself. I couldn’t foretell the future or conjure visions at will, but I couldn’t think of a more fitting word to describe what I sometimes saw in my dreams.”

For 23-year-old Mackenzie Hill, tossing her life down the garbage disposal is easy after a painful incident shatters her life. Her heart is bleeding, and moving to Watcher’s Point is a chance to start anew, only she isn’t prepared for the guy who walks out of her dreams and into the flesh. Literally . . . because she’s been dreaming about this sexy stranger for years.

Mackenzie is even less prepared to face the dark nature of her dreams. They’ve turned disturbingly gruesome, full of blood and murder, and when they begin to coincide with the media’s headlines, she and Aidan realize her visions might be the key to stopping a madman from killing again.

Only Aidan has painful secrets of his own, and perhaps the biggest danger of all is falling for him.

About the Author

epiphany Me

                       

Christina Jean Michaels was born in Paradise, California, but she has found the true home of her heart in Eugene, Oregon where she finds plenty of inspiration for storytelling.

When she was young, her mother said she hated words. Now she can’t imagine not writing. She became an avid reader when she was thirteen and discovered the world of Sweet Valley High. About a year later she realized she could play God and write about her own characters. She has been writing in some form ever since.

She lives with her husband and their four children—three rambunctious UFC/wrestling-loving boys and one girl who steals everyone’s attention.

EpiphanyPrintCover

Excerpt

 

Something inside me cracked right along with Aidan’s expression. Everything he’d been hiding spilled from his eyes.

“Aidan . . .”

“I need a drink.” He strode away, leaving me glued to the spot where he’d trapped me. A crash resounded from the kitchen, followed by splintering glass. I willed my feet to move, ignoring the little voice of reason pointing out that maybe I should leave him be for now.

He was sweeping broken glass into a dustpan when I walked in. “Are you okay?” Instantly, I wished I could cast a net and pull back the stupid, inconsiderate question. Of course he wasn’t okay. “I’m sorry. I know you’re not . . . okay.”

“Don’t worry about it. I know what you meant.” He emptied the dustpan into the trashcan and then opened a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, all the while refusing to meet my eyes.

“Mind sharing?” I asked. If there was ever a time for drinking, it was now.

“I thought you were beyond corruptible.”

I recalled how he’d said something similar on Halloween. “You remember more about that night than you let on, don’t you?”

He pulled two tumblers from a dark cherry wood cabinet. “I remember you.” Amber liquid sloshed into both glasses as he poured, and moment later he closed the distance between us. “Straight up?” The question sounded like a challenge.

“Sure.” I gulped down the whiskey and ignored the burn as it slid down my throat. Heat ignited low in my belly, though whether from the alcohol or Aidan’s scrutiny, I wasn’t sure.

He leaned against the kitchen sink and finished off his own drink before pouring another. “I’m sorry I blew up on you. I didn’t come here to make friends . . . to complicate things.”

“I’m a complication?”

His laughter was empty, cold as a morgue. “You’re about as complicated as they come.”

I stared at the bottom of my glass. “Why’s that?”

“You look at me as if you see right through me. It’s unsettling.”

“I don’t mean to unsettle you.”

“Consider me unsettled. Problem is, I think you’re using more than eyesight.” He glanced at me and, never breaking eye contact, finished the whiskey in one long gulp.

I gripped my glass. I’d rather have my teeth pulled than tell him how often I’d dreamed of him over the years. “Can I have another?”

He grabbed the bottle and moved toward me, and I saw him in my mind’s eye as he’d been in the drawing; bare chest, subtle muscles, hair narrowing down to his belly button . . . I stumbled back as he poured a refill.

“Thanks.” The smooth whiskey went down easier the second time.

“Did you dream about me too? Is that why you followed me on Halloween?”

I took another step back, but he advanced until the edge of the counter bit into my spine. “I didn’t.” The lie sounded weak, even to my own ears.

“I think you did. The way you looked at me, like you saw a ghost or something . . .” Brushing against me, he set his tumbler on the cool granite. “At first, I thought maybe you recognized me from somewhere—”

“No,” I interrupted, desperate to lead him away from the subject. “You were imagining things.”

“No, I wasn’t.” He gently pried the empty glass from my fingers and set it next to his. Nothing stood between us now; not even the last shred of my secret.

I held fast to it anyway, like a child unwilling to let go of a tattered teddy bear. “You can think whatever you want. Doesn’t make it true.”

“Doesn’t make it not true.”

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The Virtual Book Tour for Hidden by M. Lathan is here!

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Once I read the synopsis, I just knew I had to help spread the word about this exciting story.

Please enjoy the Excerpt and the interview with M. Lathan.

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banner hiddenMEDIA KIT BookCover

HIDDEN

By

M. Lathan

BLURB:  

 

Sixteen-year-old Leah Grant has given up on being normal. She’d settle for stopping the voices in her head, intrusive visions of the future, and better odds of making it to her seventeenth birthday.

 

That’s the thing about pretending to be human in a world where magic used to exist – at any moment, her cover could be blown and she’ll be burned to death like the rest of the witches.

 

Everything changes when she loses control of her powers and flees the orphanage she grew up in. She desperately wants to be invisible but finds her face plastered on every news channel as humans panic over the possible resurgence of her kind. And now the hunters won’t give up until they find her.

Making friends for the first time in her life and falling in love with one of them drives her to discover why she is unlike any being she’s ever met – human or otherwise. The dangerous powers inside of her that would repel Nathan, her new, handsome reason for living, are priceless to some. The locked up forever kind of priceless. And to others, they are too dangerous to allow her to live.

 

Let’s hope she can stay hidden.

   

Excerpt

A far second to oranges, the song I sang in the shower every night had a way of soothing me. More than anything, it made me tired enough to fall asleep. With Whitney gone, I didn’t have to whisper it.

The stars are out,

It’s time for bed.

Now close your eyes,

And rest your head.

May angels shield you with their wings,

As you dream your little angel dreams.

I didn’t recall composing that song, but apparently, I used to think I was good and perfect like the angels. I knew better now.

I stepped out of the shower and tugged a brush through my unruly brown tangles. I stared into the mirror over the sink as I started the song again. My skin screamed winter. I should be a warmer tan; I looked less creepy in the summer. Maybe that was why the girls had been digging into me so hard. I looked rather witchy. The unease that made them mock me was probably their souls warning them, urging them to notice I was different and dangerous.

At my worst, it feels like the fire that could easily shoot from my palm is raging inside of me. My heart picks up, more than when I’m scared. It pounds, I can’t hear. My blood dances, taunting me, begging me to hurt whoever’s hurt me. And I know that I can. I feel that I can.

But I don’t. I breathe and pray and let the magic cool.

Please enjoy this short, fun interview with M. Lathan

1. How would you spend ten thousand bucks?

Very slowly. I’d put it in savings. I rarely spend large sums of money.

2. What are 5 things within touching distance?

Ivy (my dog), iPad, laptop, the rainbow slinky on the nightstand, and the remote to my TV that has been off all weekend.

3. Do you have a crush on anyone?

My husband may be reading this, so I’ll say no.

4. What do you do to relax?

Re-read my favorite books. I like when I know what’s going to happen in a story.

5. Do you write about what turns you on?

Not really. It probably wouldn’t be a good scene. I think people would read it and say, “Really? Is that was does it for you?”

 

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

hiddenMEDIA KIT AuthorPicture

 

M. Lathan lives in San Antonio with her husband and mini-schnauzer. She enjoys writing and has a B.S. in Psych and a Masters in Counseling. Her passion is a blend of her two interests – creating new worlds and stocking them with crazy people. She enjoys reading anything with interesting characters and writing in front of a window while asking rhetorical questions … like her idol Carrie Bradshaw.

Links

Website: mlathan.com

Twitter: @hiddenseries

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hiddenseries/

Buy links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=B00A6301BO

 

 

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