Archive for the ‘Adult Fiction’ Category

 U read Dark Waltz, the first book in the Praestani Series and just loved it.

Now I’m thrilled to bring to you the second book, Death Waltz.

I’ve read almost every book the author has written, venturing into her other genres, and I’ve been waiting for this book a long time and now it’s here!

More exciting news. Dark Waltz, the first book, is free! Read on to learn how to get your copy and start this series now!

 

**This is an Adult Romance and is not suitable for younger readers due to its mature content and strong language.**
Dark Creatures have descended upon Earth and Abaddon has taken control. He wants Liasare as his own mate because she is the Key to the Light. With her by his side, he can manipulate her power to unleash his evil across the universe.
Jurek and Liasare’s fight continues to prevent this. Unknown to them, a Praestani traitor resides among them. Can Jurek teach Liasare to wield her immense power in time to halt the traitor’s plans? Or will they end up in Abaddon’s clutches, waltzing to their death in this stunning conclusion to Dark Waltz.

 


Liasare entered their quarters as Jurek poured himself a drink. She stood and watched
him toss back the entire glassful and pour himself another. When he was
finished with the second, he faced her. The anger she’d expected wasn’t there.
In its place was disappointment.
“You could’ve at least warned me. Do you think that was
fair?”
“No. It wasn’t fair. I am sorry for that. But if I had told
you ahead of time, we would’ve fought and argued for hours over it. And the end
result would’ve been the same. We both know it’s coming to a head. I have to
face him sooner or later and the truth is, I’m scared to death. So I’d rather
not sit around and wait anymore, because all this waiting only makes it worse.
The thought of January’s children locked in Abaddon’s realm brings me to my
knees. So I must act.”
“You emasculated me, Liasare. In front of everyone. Those
are my people. My subjects. Our subjects.” He threw his glass against the wall
and she watched it shatter into dozens of tiny pieces. Oddly enough, it was the
glass breaking that made her focus, because that was exactly how she didn’t
want this to end.
“I’m sorry that’s the way it felt to you. To me it’s a way
of drawing the hunter out. He knows we travel together. He may think I’m more
vulnerable without you. My intentions were never to make you feel that way.”
Jurek knew within his heart what he needed to do, but
abhorred the very idea of it. “Nevertheless, I suppose my feelings in this
matter are irrelevant. Liasare, listen to me. Do not, under any circumstances,
let your mind shield slip. He will attempt every trick he knows to cajole you
into thinking you are safe. You are never safe. Understand me? When you
enter Club Down, you will feel the worst brushes of evil abrading your power.
Do not succumb to it. And whatever you do, even if you must sacrifice the lives
of the Praestani that accompany you, keep yourself safe. Our species depends
upon you. You are The Light. This is a great burden you carry, but it is also
one you must protect at all costs. Tell me you understand this.”
His words imparted the gravity of what she would face in the
hours ahead.
“I understand every word.”
Memories forced their way into Jurek’s mind, ones he didn’t
particularly care to think about. They were when Liasare had been held captive
by one of Abaddon’s minions. Then other memories infiltrated his head and
pushed the hideous ones aside.
“Tell me something. Remember back in our early days together
when I asked you never to lie to me?”
Liasare laughed. “How could I not? You scared me half to
death most of the time.”
His voice was gruff with emotion when he said, “But you
never cowered from me. You stood up to me like a soldier going to war, just as
you do now. So tell me, what is the real reason you want me to stay behind?”
She flinched at his question. It wasn’t possible to avoid
the truth, but by answering him, she knew it would cut him to the core. There
was only one thing to do and that was to face him, head on, with brutal
honesty.
“I need you here because I’m fairly certain when I return I
will need all of your powers to heal me. Not only will you have to piece me
back together again, Jurek, I will also need you to tend to Justus while I am
healing. I don’t know what kind of shape I will be in, or whether I will be
able to see him. I don’t want him to see me until I am myself again. At least
if you remain here, you will be able to care for him while I am recovering.”
Though he expected an answer he wouldn’t like, her words
viciously punctured his heart. “Christ, Liasare. And how do you expect me to
send you out there, knowing this?”
“I’m not giving you that choice because it’s not yours to
make.”
He reached out his arm and touched her face. “How can I do
this?”
“This isn’t anything you can or can’t do. Don’t you see?
It’s what must be done. It’s the prophecy, Jurek. It’s been written about
centuries ago. I was born to do this. And either I go to him or he comes to me,
but it will happen, one way or another.”
Their clothes were gone, vanishing like smoke in a breeze.
His hands surfed her body, like he was skimming across the waves of the sea,
memorizing every dip and curve as they moved. His lips followed the path his
hands began, touching, kissing, and tasting every solid inch of her, pressing
into her skin, molding themselves to her as they trailed along. He inhaled her
scent, committed to memory her essence so when she was gone he could call it
forth. The room brightened with his power as a burst of energy danced across
her skin where his hands touched her.
Liasare responded in like, as her fingers weaved themselves
into Jurek’s hair.
Emotion smothered her words as she began to speak but she
forced it back because she wanted him to know what she felt at this moment. Her
hand trembled when she raised it to brush a lock of his hair off his forehead.
“The first time I ever saw you was that night as I sat drinking my beer. I
believe it was in Cosmos. Do you remember?”
She waited for him to nod and when he did, she continued.
“Your skin was so glorious. You looked like an exotic
gladiator, like the kind I had read about from the old history books on Earth.
You were dressed in your leathers and your tawny skin glowed. I could see it
even in that dim club we were in. And I couldn’t stop thinking about how
handsome you were. I had never seen anyone like you before. And there I sat,
holding my beer bottle, and I looked down at my arms as they were covered up
because I was so scarred. I thought to myself then, ‘I wonder how it must feel
to be that beautiful?’” Her hands lightly cupped his neck, thumbs tenderly
pressing the hollow at his throat. Then, following the curves and arches of his
shoulders and arms, fingers spread wide, she outlined every inch of him as if
she were caressing him for the very first time. When she reached his fingertips,
she kissed each one, and then journeyed to his torso, discovering the remainder
of his body.
“I was so afraid back then. Of everything. And then I
remember the first time you took me to the sanctuary, after you found and
healed me. But I couldn’t forget what happened. You came to me that one night
and knelt before me, begging me to talk to you.” Her brow was creased as she
thought back to that night. She touched her lips to the center of his chest
right over his heart before she continued. “I begged you to erase my memories.
I had this burning need for you to make love to me to help me forget. I was
madly in love with you. And I didn’t care if you loved me in return. I just
needed to feel you inside of me. But I was afraid you’d refuse, like you’d done
so many times before. I was slowly cracking into tiny pieces, bit by bit. And
there you were, right in front of me, and I wanted so much to throw myself at
you. I remember thinking again that you were the most beautiful site I’d ever
seen in my life. I couldn’t imagine how any man could be so perfect. And as
much as I was falling apart, I was more afraid that night that you would push
me away one final time. Do you know something? I think if you had refused me, I
would’ve found a way to end it all. But you didn’t. You said to me that if I
consented, there’d be no turning back. That you played for keeps.” She smiled
then. “Those were the greatest words I’d ever heard. I thought to myself,
‘Well, here he goes, saving my life again.’ And now you stand before me and
somehow you’ve become even more beautiful than you were then. You are my heart,
and will always be my heart. Facing the demon isn’t the worst thing I can
imagine.” Cupping his face, she said, “The worst thing for me would be facing
the rest of my life without you. I’m going to come back to you. But when I do,
I’ll need you more than ever. So yeah, I want you here, safe, but also so you
can heal me. Make love to me now, so that just for this little slice of time, I
can forget what I’m about to face.”
Liasare never saw Jurek after he rescued her from near death
or she would’ve recognized this emotion in him. His hands gripped her shoulders
and he looked at her, his lavender eyes heavily laced with silver in their
depths threatened to spill tears. “Liasare,” he began, but had to stop because
he couldn’t go on. Swallowing several times, he began again, “Liasare, when you
say things like this to me, it makes me want to carry you away from this
dreadful place. I … I am afraid. I’m afraid of letting you go. But I’m also
afraid of putting my arms around you. Because if I do, I may not let you
go. I know I must and I know you must do this … this thing you’ve been
charged with, but it’s my duty as your mate to protect you and here I am
sending you to the damn demon himself.”
She didn’t give him a chance to say anything else before she
kissed him, softly tasting and gently nipping at him.
Against his mouth she murmured, “I want to savor this
moment, relish every second. I want it slow and easy, Jurek.”
They stood together, touching each other, as if it were
their very first time.
.
Death Waltz Teaser

 


A.M. Hargrove resides in the south, dividing her time between the
upstate of South Carolina and the mountains of North Carolina. She truly
believes that chocolate, coffee and ice cream should be added to the USDA food
groups.
Her books include Adult, New Adult and Young Adult Romances,
including, The Guardians of Vesturon (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant,
reEmergent and the novella Beginnings); Dark Waltz (A Praestani Novel) Edge of
Disaster, Shattered Edge, Kissing Fire, Tragically Flawed, Exquisite Betrayal
and Tragic Desires.
Please find her at http://www.amhargrove.com
A.M. also writes under the name of Emerson St. Clair. Emerson’s
books include the Dirty Nights novella series.

 

Haven’t started the series yet?  Well Book 1: Dark Waltz is
FREE so get yours today. Just click on the links below and get yours!
 
 
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MY 5 STAR REVIEW
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What do I know? I know I’m lovin this series! It’s a waltz that takes you spinning through space before taking that final dip.

The first thing that captured my attention was this story is about returning to Earth from another planet, not about venturing into space. The Earth of today is overrun with hostile, nasty beings and humans tread carefully when they venture out. We are no longer at the top of the food chain. In fact, we are now on the menu.

What really grabbed me with Dark Waltz was the characters. I love character driven novels and the stars of this novel are exceptional.

Liasare left Earth when she was a young teen and didn’t return for eighteen years. It’s so much worse now. She thinks she’s prepared for what awaits her as she searches for her missing brother, but she is very wrong. She’s going to need help, whether she likes it or not.

What I enjoyed about Liasare is her toughness along with her vulnerability. She’s taken huge risks just in coming to Earth. She’s run into some situations that left her trembling and doubting her resolve. And she now has a mysterious stranger, a magical being, whose magnetism is becoming harder and harder to deny.

There’s a mental connection, but that’s now what has her worried. She fears her bodies yearning for Jurek, it’s demanding ache for his touch. An accident a long time ago left her physically and mentally scarred and she has no idea how to protect herself from these feelings.

This is what Jurek is up against as he becomes more and more drawn to Liasare. He’s never wanted anyone like he wants her, but she’ll have to be handled carefully, if she ever lets him handle her at all.

I enjoyed Jurek’s inner turmoil and frustration. He’s a powerful, demanding being and he’s not used to being snubbed and challenged, especially by a woman. He has his hands full with Lisare, trying to keep her safe and struggling to get past her tough exterior.

Jurek was a favorite character of mine in Determinant. It’s great to read his story here.

Jurek also felt the mental connection to Liasare, but his bodies lust for her comes as a surprise. He has no lack of female partners, but this girl has him feeling things he’s never experienced before. He knows it will be much more than a roll in the hay with her and that’s not all he has to consider.

Dark Waltz is exceptionally written, flowing smoothly and keeping you engaged from first page to last. I found myself wanting to race to the finish and forced myself to slow down. I didn’t want to miss a single thing.

The fight scenes are exciting, the creatures are hideous, the mysteries and secrets keep you guessing, and the sexual tension builds and builds. What a read.

Dark Waltz is a fantastic first chapter in The Praestani Novels. This adult series takes place several years after The YA Guardians of Vesturon Series. You don’t have to have read them, but I would recommend it. Guardians is where it all began. It makes me very happy to know it doesn’t end here.

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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!

~~~

My Tease for this week is from

Dependent

by Brenda Corey Dunne

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My Tease

 My groggy thoughts are interrupted by a slow, methodical click barely audible at first, and then louder. Click. Click. Click.

 I realize the sound is footsteps, and the footsteps are in the hallway. Click. Click.

 My breath catches in my throat. I’m naked, in John’s room illegally, and the footsteps are coming closer. Surely they will continue on down the hallway, and I pray they do as there is nowhere to go in this miniscule room if they don’t.

 Click. Click. Click. 

~~~

Synopsis

When 45-year-old Ellen Michaels loses her husband to a tragic military accident, she is left in a world of gray. For 25 years her life has been dictated by the ubiquitous They—the military establishment that has included her like chattel with John’s worldly goods—his Dependents, Furniture, and Effects. They—who have stolen her hopes, her dreams and her innocence, and now in mere months will take away the roof over her head. Ellen is left with nothing to hold on to but memories and guilt and an awful secret that has held her in its grip since she was 19. John’s untimely death takes away her anchor, and now, without the military, there is no one to tell her where to go, what to do— no one to dictate who she is. Dependent deals with issues ever-present in today’s service families—early marriage, frequent long absences, the culture of rank, and posttraumatic stress, as well as harassment and abuse of power by higher-ranking officials. It presents a raw and realistic view of life for the lives of the invisible support behind the uniform.

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Second Coming banner by Scott Pinsker

When I first spotted this book, I had no idea what it was about so I went to check it out.

The description is intriguing but it’s the reviews that really made me curious.

What if Christ came back and so did Satan?

How would you tell which was which?

I’m going to have to read this to find out.

~~~

Title: The Second Coming

Author: Scott Pinsker

 

Release date: June 5th, 2014

Tour: Irresistible Reads Book Tours

 

Book Description:

Two men claim to be the Second Coming of Christ. Each claims the other is Satan in disguise. But only one is telling the truth.

 In The Second Coming: A Love Story, the devilish new novel by Scott Pinsker, the culture war between Red America and Blue America turns shockingly real when two self-declared saviors appear on earth. The first “messiah” attracts legions of liberal and secular-progressive followers with his message of New Age brotherhood, quickly becoming the darling of the left. The second “messiah” preaches fire-and-brimstone traditional Christianity, gaining a grassroots army of conservative worshippers ready to battle to the death. It’s finally happened: Red America and Blue America are headed for Armageddon!

Amazon

 

Book Excerpt

 

The only two things Nate Konrad feared were indifference and anonymity.  As America’s preeminent radio personality and/or loudmouth, he figured out long ago that he who cultivates crowds stays on the air; he who blends into crowds fades away.

Nate Konrad refused to fade away.

Many moons ago, as a longhaired radical with a penchant for rabble-rousing, he dropped out of Yale to pursue his dream of becoming a wacky, irreverent disk jockey.  Many moons later, despite leaving every radio station on rancorous terms (or with litigation pending), he always landed in a slightly larger market, until Konrad inconceivably emerged atop the radio food chain.

He began his career by attracting an audience the easiest way possible: saying outlandish, offensive things, but veiling these diatribes with just enough witticisms to deflect criticism.  Konrad referred to supermarkets in the inner cities as “Negrocery stores,” and demanded that pro-life listeners add nine months to their date of birth when people ask of them their age.  He recommended solving the homeless problem by providing the homeless with complimentary camels—so we could then refer to them not as “homeless” but as “nomads” (and if that didn’t work, he explained, the homeless/nomads could eat their camels and at least get a good meal out of it).  When a famous Mexican-American actress was photographed breastfeeding her baby, Konrad sparked a mini-boycott (and lost the El Pollo Loco sponsorship) when he called her a “Lactino.”  Of course, when anyone took offense, the longhaired radio rebel would silence the offended by claiming they “lacked a sense of humor” or “just didn’t get it.”  But as his articulation increased, along with his knowledge of all things political, he found himself moving steadily to the ideological right.  Basically, he developed the ability to shock the public with ideas rather than insults, and became one of America’s most trusted—and polarizing—authorities on current events.

His world view was simple: The government that governs best governs least; empower the military and police to the utmost possible; feminists are fat and ugly; and finally, if you don’t love the United States of America with every inch of your red-blooded heart, then get out of this country, you ungrateful socialist scumbag.

Tanning salons and Marlboro Reds rendered his boyish features a thing of the past, replacing the rosy hue of innocence with a cantankerous scowl and scaly contours.  He still donned a shiny leather jacket and jet-black sunglasses, as if trying to overcompensate for his advancing age and eight-figure income.  All in all, Konrad was desperate to demonstrate that he’s still the same unpredictable madcap rebel who’s always ready to humiliate the establishment, despite becoming a corporate icon and political kingmaker in his own right.

“Greetings across the four corners of Americana,” growled Konrad through his gold-plated microphone.  “I am the living legend of talk radio, the Deacon of Democracy, the Golden Angel of the airwaves.  My name is Nathan F. Konrad and I can run faster, jump higher, dive deeper, stay under longer and come up drier than any man, woman, or animal on God’s green earth.  And that’s all before my morning cup of Colombian coffee!  But let’s dispense with the catch-phrases for a moment.  Normally, I don’t allow guests to sit in the booth with me.  You see, I view my radio booth as sacred territory, the birthplace of freedom for modern America, and I’m careful about corrupting its purity with outsiders.  But for the first hour of today’s program, I’m making an exception.  Just like the rest of you, I’ve been following the nonstop media coverage of the two men, Joe and Israel, who both claim to be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ—and perhaps more interestingly, also claim that the other is Lucifer.

“Now, as you know, when these, uh, men first began appearing on the television dial, I predicted that it was a publicity stunt of one kind or another and the two, uh, entities were working in unison.  While I still believe such a possibility exists, I’m starting to hedge my bets.  Despite the widespread media coverage, nobody anywhere has been able to uncover any photos or documents that ‘outs’ them as being human.  Isn’t that strange?  One would have expected that a graduation picture, a birth certificate or even a mug-shot photo might be unearthed.  Now, this dearth of evidence doesn’t necessarily mean that Joe and Israel are actually God and Satan; the absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of an absence.  But it does add circumstantial credibility to their claims.

“But even if they’re both liars, they’ve raised an interesting question: How do we, as mere humans, differentiate good from evil?  We’re deceived by leftwing evildoers with such regularity—and most of the time, the lefties aren’t even that smart!  Yes, you and I can smell ‘em out, but over 50 percent of our countrymen cannot.  So think about it: If we can’t even fend ourselves from the deceivers of earthly origins, what prayer do we have against deceivers of unearthly origins?

“And I’m not trying to be an alarmist here, but let’s face facts: Every election day, millions of Americans vote for anti-Christian secular progressives.  And I’m guesstimating that the S.P.s’ median age is, oh, maybe 50 to 70.  You compare this to Satan himself, who’s spent thousands of centuries perfecting his message, and you see that we’re facing a serious experience-gap.  Realistically, what hope do we have?

“To answer these questions, as well as many more, let us welcome Miss Margaret Magdala—the apostle of the, uh, entity she believes is the one true Second Coming, Joe.  Margaret, I’m glad you could join us.”

Margaret the Apostle grinned like the Cheshire Cat.  “Thank you, Nathan!  I’ve listened to your show for so many years now—I’m a super-big fan!”

Konrad motioned for the engineer to lower Margaret’s microphone while scanning through his notepad.  “And we’re delighted as well, Miss Magdala.  My opening question for you relates to my monologue.  Assuming that Joe and Israel are both of supernatural origins, how do you know that you’re following the Son of God and not Satan?  As you may or may not be aware, according to the latest poll numbers, a greater percentage of Americans believe that Israel is the Second Coming, and by a wide margin—a whopping 17 percent.  What do these numbers say to you?”

Margaret was unfamiliar with those statistics.  Still, she knew her heart and she knew her faith.  “They say I need to become more forceful at communicating Joe’s message to the world—and appearing on influential programs such as yours is an important first step.  Joe’s message is perfect, even if my presentation, evidently, is not.  You know Nathan, there’s a reason why Christianity caught on like a wildfire and spread throughout Europe, the Americas and the entire world, becoming the dominant religion on the planet.  Islam, Judaism, Hinduism… none of them comes even close to matching the success of Christianity.  And it’s not a coincidence that the greatest scientific achievements of the past 500 years can all be traced to Christian nations.  Christianity succeeds because Christianity is right!  Eventually, Joe’s message will prevail because his message is truth.  Lies are momentary; truth stands forev—”

Konrad jackhammered his gold-plated pen on his desk, distracting Margaret.

“Yes, yes,” interrupted the radio icon.  “Of this we are not in conflict.  I’m not one of those pandering relativists who preach that all civilizations are of equal moral worth, for I believe in the superiority of the American way of life and our Christian system of values.  Take Islam, for example.  That religion silences intellectual debate by labeling free-thinkers as heretics.  As a result, I can’t think of one Muslim philosopher over the past thousand years who’s worth a damn.  Can you?”

Before Margaret could answer, Konrad continued: “Now, I’m not saying that Islam is of no moral worth—you Arab listeners, don’t take my statements out of context and start blowing stuff up again.  Sheesh.  You people have to learn how to accept criticism better.   I’m simply pointing out that the Islamic faith, as interpreted by its radicalized Imams, does not promote rigorous debate in an open marketplace of ideas.  As a result, its philosophy has stagnated, with the majority of Arabs lacking flush-toilets and a military that makes France look like a nation of Rambo’s.”

Now Konrad was really rolling: “My friends, I’ve noticed that these Arabs like to declare ‘Holy Wars’ against America, Israel and Europe.  They never actually win these Holy Wars; they just like declaring Holy Wars.  Can you remember the last time an Arab nation actually defeated a Christian—or even a Jewish—nation?  I think you have to go all the way back to the Ottoman Empire—a kingdom so pathetic, its name is used to describe furniture we rest our feet atop!  Worst kingdom ever!  But while we’re not in conflict on this point, fair-minded individuals can differ on matters of faith, and in my humble opinion, therein rests the key dilemma between Joe and Israel: How do we know which of the two is speaking the word of God and which is deceiving mankind?  As Shakespeare wrote long ago, ‘Even the Devil can quote Scripture for his own purpose.’”

A bright bulb herself, Margaret decided that the best way to handle Konrad and convince his audience of her message’s authenticity was to speak a bit bolder than the host—for while the meek might inherit the earth, only the assertive wins control of the microphone.  (But just to hedge her bets, she allowed her top blouse button to slip out of place.)

 

About the Author:

A nationally-recognized marketing expert, Scott Pinsker has worked with a vast array of sports stars, Grammy-winners and entertainment icons, managing everything from crisis communications to film properties.  His analysis of publicity trends has been showcased multiple times on FOXNews.com, where he occasionally contributes as a marketing expert.

Official Website

 

Click on the banner below to follow the Tour

 

Irresistible Reads BT

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Welcome to my Monday Minis Reviews.

I have two for you today.

One is an adult horror short story, Cracks in the Sky: The Cellar Jar.

The other is a young children’s rhyming book, Ghosties.

So first, I scare ya.

Then I charm you with some silly ghosties.

Lets get to it!

~~~

Cracks in the Sky: The Cellar Jar

by Ryan Notch

This was a free download from Amazon. It’s still free right now. Go HERE if you want to grab a copy.

17370794

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My Review

Narine is scared. She’s been afraid all of her life. Of change, of people, of life, of everything.

Now she’s put her genius to work and built something to rid herself of that fear. Something she keeps in her basement. In a jar.

 Ryan Notch does a great job of building the suspense, putting you in Narine’s shoes. One place I wouldn’t want to be.

Can you imagine a fear so strong, so palpable, it controls every aspect of your life? It’s a wonder Narine ever came out of her house.

But she did, and now she thinks she has the very thing to rid herself of that all consuming fear.

 I just knew the author was going to creep me out. Fear is essential to our survival. It’s a warning from our brain, to beware, to be careful. I imagined all kinds of horrible scenarios because I didn’t have a healthy dose of fear to warn me.

 Narine will discover that sometimes it’s good to be afraid. Wise to be afraid.

I had one of those ‘I knew it!’ moments when I read the ending. It was a zinger!

4 Stars

Synopsis

In this terrifying tale of an experiment gone wrong…

Narine Khosrovian is brilliant and beautiful and ever afraid of every little thing. To her the world is a horror, its wonders locked behind walls of anxiety. Or at least it was, until she built the thing in the basement. A thing of cold steel and quantum fields. A thing to take away her fear forever. But might the fear have plans of its own once freed from her flesh?

I also recently read another book by this author.

The Abyss Above Us was a longer read. You can click on the cover for my review.

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For more about Ryan Notch and his books go HERE.

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And now for some silly ghosts.

Ghosties

by Gerald Hawksley

17902159

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My Review

Nothing scary here.

 You meet the quirky ghosts of Ghostie Town in this charming rhyming book with delightful illustrations on each page.

You meet happy ghosts and grumpy ones, sleepy ones and bouncy ones, and even smelly ones. 

This will quickly become a favorite one you and your children will enjoy reading over and over again.

I wish I’d had the print copy so I could enjoy the illustrations in color. They were so adorable. 

4 Stars

Synopsis

Halloween is in the air.
You’d like to see a ghost – but where?
At night when the sun’s gone down,
Come with me to Ghostie Town . . .
Where you will find the most colorful and cheerful collection of ghosties you could ever hope to meet.
Another silly rhyming kindle picture book from Gerald Hawksley.

**

You can find out more about Author and his books by clicking HERE.

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So whatcha reading for Halloween? Got any suggestions for me?

I’d love to hear them and thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

It’s time for the Cover Reveal of Breathing Black

I can’t wait for you to see it!

Are you ready?

I am!

Here ya go!

Breathing Black cover GR SW(1)

New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance/Thriller

Releasing December 2, 2014

Cover designed by Okay Creations

Pre-Order on Amazon

Goodreads

GRITTY. INTENSE. EMOTIONALLY HONEST.
A stunning debut novel that will leave you breathless.

A desolate childhood; a scarred, jaded, damaged girl. Larkin Grant knew she couldn’t end up like her mother … so she ran. All her belongings packed in the back of a rusted, brown Cadillac, her best friend June in the passenger seat as the co-pilot, she fled Aspen and never looked back.

A new life in a new city, Larkin was finally starting to breathe again, an unfamiliar sense of happiness seeping into her lungs. Landon Black, the boy she loved from afar, came back into her life despite leaving him and her awful memories buried hundreds of miles away. A weakened pulse brought back to life.

He said she was beautiful. She was starting to believe him. He pursued her and changed the course of everyone’s plans. Life had dealt Larkin a cruel hand, but maybe this was it. Maybe the boy that never knew she existed finally saw her and came to free her from the darkness of her past.

But we are never truly free. There are secrets that bind us and lies that unravel from the most beautiful of lips. Blackness that suffocates and makes us question everything we thought we knew. Larkin and Landon are intertwined in ways they never imagined, their future unclear as ghosts come back to haunt them.

Friendship. Revenge. Love. Drugs. Murder. Deceit.

The first in a two-book series, Breathing Black is a mix of suspense and breathless romance. It’s a provocative tale that challenges what one is willing to do to protect the ones they love. An emotional journey where trust isn’t an option and falling in love never hurt so bad.

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EXCERPT

My mother once said love is like a drug, fast and euphoric. Licking lips, high on the idea it’s going to last forever, until you’re clawing at your skin trying to escape the destructive poison you let inside.

 

I woke up to my phone vibrating in my purse. The realization of the darkness that surrounded me came crashing back into my pounding head along with everything else that had taken place. I sat up and crawled on the cold tile floor, following the sound of my phone drumming into the ground. I grabbed it out of my purse and dismissed an unknown Colorado area code number.

4:30 p.m. I’d been in this bathroom for hours.

By choice.

I didn’t want to leave, and I didn’t want move or face reality, so I chose to lie there and let the crippling fog of sleep take over so I could pretend none of it happened.

I peeked under the bathroom door into his office. It was dark and silent so I felt up the wall finding the light switch and turned it on. Walking over to the bathroom sink and looking into the mirror was painful, a visible reminder of how pathetic I truly was. Splashing water on my face wouldn’t rinse away the misery. I left as quickly as possible, peeking out of the blinds into the hallway until the coast was clear so I could open the door and run down the emergency exit stairs.

Right when I got home, I got into the bathtub. All I wanted to do was cleanse myself of Landon Black, but the water wouldn’t get hot enough, and my hands couldn’t scrub fast enough. I wanted to wash away the way he made me feel. I wanted to wash away everything he did to me Saturday night. I was so disgusted with myself. How could I be so blind? Sobs strangled my lungs as my cries tore up my throat until after a while I finally just stopped. Like a blown fuse, my body shut off. I lay in a white bathroom, in the white tub, with white noise resonating in my ears, yet all I could think about was red. I sat in the bathtub letting the hot water that had now turned to ice soak my skin. He used me. Everything that happened between us was a goddamn lie. So many questions raced through my mind. The biggest one was why?

Breathing Black Quote Flaws

 

To sign-up for the Breathing Black Tour this December 2nd – 20th , visit AToMR’s site!

Piper Payne is hosting a reveal giveaway!

 Enter to win an ARC of Breathing Black and a $25 Amazon Gift Crad.

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About the Author

piper

My love for literature and writing is an addiction. My mind is continually telling stories and I have a queue of books I want to write being stacked up in my brain. I don’t know how to write pretty and perfect so I write perfectly flawed and unpredictable. Just like life.

I’m married to my best friend and I’m mother to three little miracles. I love going to farmers markets, bookstores, and long drives with my family in my ruby red Bronco. I also have an unhealthy love for makeup, Oreos, Halloween, queso dip, psychic readings, sushi, massages, and Redd’s Apple Ale.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon

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Welcome to the cover reveal for Shamrocks & Secrets!

This is an Adult Fiction Romance by Cayce Poponea.

I really like it.

The contrast.

The font.

The models.

What do you like?

Let me know!

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway.

 

Shamrocks&Secrets

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Event Organized by ❤MaE Book Tours & Promo Stars Services

❤Cover Design by: Mayhem Cover Creations

Synopsis

Event planning, dealing with demanding clients and defusing situations before they get out of hand are all in a days work for Christi O’Rourke. But when a mystery man seems to appear at every turn will she have the ability to handle him as well?

Power and wealth are staples in the world of Patrick Malloy. But when family obligations dictate his future, a future involving a certain spirited young woman, will Patrick have what it takes to win her heart or will his lifestyle place her in more danger than he ever dreamed of?

Genre Romance/ Adult Fiction

Expected Publication Date To Be Announced


Excerpt

I turned quickly in the direction of the voice. Standing there in all of his glory and entourage was Patrick Malloy. His grey shirt had the top two buttons undone and his blazer matched his pants. His hair was in this incredible disarray, on any other man it would have looked unkept, but on him, it was sexy. His eyes, however, were black and his face was absent of emotion. The room seemed to grow very quiet as he waited for Kevin to answer his question. He then turned his attention to me.

“Legs, care to elaborate?”

I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or because I was really pissed that Kevin was taking up air at the moment, but the fact that he couldn’t say my name really pissed me the fuck off.

“Okay, first of all, my name is not Legs, it’s Christi. That shit just pisses me off to no end. I have a fucking name, Patrick, and I’d appreciate it if you’d fucking use it when you address me.”

The look on his face changed as I proceeded to stick my finger in his face, well more like his chest as he was considerable taller than myself. I watched as a tiny smirk began to form at the corner of his mouth.

I didn’t let him speak as I continued my word vomit.

“This waste of fucking skin here is the father of my beautiful niece, Abigail, and the fucker knows it, too. He hasn’t seen her in years and he refuses to pay one goddamn dime of court-ordered child support. So yes, Mr. Malloy, you have a low-life motherfucking dead-beat father working for you.”

His expression changed from the cocky smirk to now one of anger. I should have been afraid of this quick change, but in reality, I was starting to get turned on.


About the Author

Cayce Poponea is from southern Georgia. Where the days are hot and the nights are even hotter. Loving nothing more than to find a cool place to invite you into the world that she loves most. A world where every man is perfect and every woman is desirable. Where life is a little easier, less about what you need to do and more about what you want to do. Open the pages and find your spot in the world she has created, who knows you may never want to leave.

When Cayce isn’t writing, she enjoys time with her husband. Riding around on the back of her husbands motorcycle, most of the time with no destination in mind. Reading has always been a passion for Cayce. She discovered early the secret world it has hidden in its pages. From dragons to princesses with knights in shinning armor. Now that she is older, men with perfect bodies and words that make your heart melt. Women who know what they want and are willing to go after it.

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Prizes:

A Kindle

15 Shamrocks & Secrets T-shirts

(US Only)

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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GhostTrappers BlitzBanner

With Halloween fast approaching, I’ve been amassing some horror books to get in the mood. Honestly, I do it year round. I’m huge into horror.

That said, how I could pass up the chance to read this book. It’s got a creepy, gothic mansion,ghosts, and ghost trappers. All huge draws for me.

So let’s get to it. There’s lots to see. Check out the cover and blurb. Read the guest post to find out if your being haunted.

Enjoy my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway. You could win your own copy!

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Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper is the first book in a new series by J. L. Bryan, the author of the Jenny Pox series and other novels. He lives in the very hot state of Georgia with his family and no ghosts, as far as he knows.

Sign up for J.L. Bryan’s newsletter to receive a free ebook of short stories and hear about future releases in the Ellie Jordan series and other new books.

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Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper

by J.L. Bryan

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Publication Date: September 19, 2014

Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal

My Review

The first thing I noticed about this book was the story takes place in Georgia. It’s supposed to be one of the most haunted cities in the south, steeped in dark stories. It’s the perfect setting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

His ghosts were terrifying.

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

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

5 Stars

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There’s no way I wasn’t going to mention Ghostbusters. While this book isn’t all fun and games, some things made me think of the movie.

Here’s a little treat for ya.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn7-JZq0Yxs]

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And one more thing. I’m sure you’ve wondered, like I have, why ghost hunters do most of their work at night, in the dark. The logical explanation could be because that’s when the ghosts come out to play. And that’s right, for the most part.

The author gave me a new explanation. A really good one, and I’ll keep it in mind if I ever go ghost hunting.

***

Book description:

 

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

 

When a family contacts her to deal with a disturbing presence in the old mansion they’ve recently purchased, Ellie first believes it to be a typical, by-the-book specter, a residual haunting by a restless spirit. Instead, she finds herself confronting an evil older and more powerful than she’d ever expected, rooted in the house’s long and sordid history of luxury, sin, and murder. The dangerous entity seems particularly interested in her clients’ ten-year-old daughter.

 

Soon her own life is in danger, and Ellie must find a way to exorcise the darkness of the house before it can kill her, her clients, or their frightened young child.

Purchase Links: Amazon ~ B&N

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 Enjoy this fun guest post. Is your house haunted?

Five Signs Your House May Be Haunted

 

Things go bump in the night. You feel like someone is always watching you. You think you have a ghost, but maybe it’s a just a creepy squirrel scrambling around your attic at night and staring at you through the windows. How can you tell for sure?

 

The editors of Ladies’ Haunted Home Journal are back with an easy guide to determining whether a paranormal presence infests your house! Before calling the ghost trappers, consider whether you have any of the following signs:

 

Cold Spots: One or more areas in your house might seem much colder the space around it. This may be a corner, closet, or other out-of-the-way spot. You may be excited to learn that when you feel the cold spot, you’re not just in the presence of a restless dead spirit, you’re also touching it! You’re almost inside the ghost, and it’s kind of inside you. Pretty neat. Important note: A cold spot inside your refrigerator or freezer may be caused by the appliance itself.

 

Strange Sounds: You may hear moaning, groaning, thumping or crashing late at night. Make sure it isn’t an elderly neighbor or relative bumbling around your house. If you hear voices threatening you with death or dismemberment, you might consider the benefits of spending the night at a Motel 6.

 

Mysterious Motion: Plates slide off the counter. Doors open or close by themselves. The chandelier leaped down from the ceiling, flew across the room, and tried to kill you last week. You’re beginning to think something may be amiss. First, make sure there aren’t any logical causes for these problems, such as keeping your counter too greasy, or a broken hinge in the door, or that idiot who installed your chandelier. If you can’t find an explanation, odds are you’ve got a ghost (or a poltergeist, but let’s not split hairs).

 

Absurd Disappearances: Your keys disappear from your end table, only to be found in the fish tank. Your good silver vanishes, piece by piece, and you discover all of down in a mysterious back corner of the basement. It’s either a family member with bizarre hoarding tendencies or a mischievous ghost. Either way, you’ve got an annoying problem on your hands.

 

Full Apparitions: If you have seen a ghost appear and disappear, you probably have a ghost. We don’t really have an alternate explanation for this one. Call your local paranormal exterminator today!

 

We hope these tips will help you sort out whether your house is haunted or your family just weird! If you have further questions, please read our pamphlet: My House is Haunted – What Now? Good luck with that ghost!

 

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Author J l Bryan

ghost trappers JLBryan

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

To hear about future books by J.L. Bryan, sign up for his new release newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mizJH

J.L. Bryan’s links:

My Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

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I have one eBook copy to give away (International)

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

“Which paranormal or supernatural being scares you the most?”

Giveaway ends October 2nd.

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XpressoBannerTours

 Thanks for stopping by the Cover Reveal for Dear Carolina by Kristy Wood. I can’t wait to show it to you!

There’s also a giveaway, so don’t forget to enter.

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Dear Carolina
by Kristy Woodson Harvey
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Published by: Berkley
Publication date: May 5th 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary
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Synopsis:

One baby girl.
Two strong Southern women.
And the most difficult decision they’ll ever make.

Frances “Khaki” Mason has it all: a thriving interior design career, a loving husband and son, homes in North Carolina and Manhattan—everything except the second child she has always wanted. Jodi, her husband’s nineteen-year-old cousin, is fresh out of rehab, pregnant, and alone. Although the two women couldn’t seem more different, they forge a lifelong connection as Khaki reaches out to Jodi, encouraging her to have her baby. But as Jodi struggles to be the mother she knows her daughter deserves, she will ask Khaki the ultimate favor…

Written to baby Carolina, by both her birth mother and her adoptive one, this is a story that proves that life circumstances shape us but don’t define us—and that families aren’t born, they’re made…

(No author photo/bio available)
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Share Dear Carolina’s Cover and enter to win 10 Fabulous Novels!
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Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.
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To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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XpressoBannerTours

I really like the cover for the Sassy Seven Boxed Set, designed by Teresa of Be My Bard.

Seven authors and seven books! A box of romantic comedies to tickle your funny bone.

You can tell it’s going to be some fun reading.

What do you think? Is it flirty? Sexy? Funny?

 
Sassy Seven Boxed Set
Publication date: September 15th 2014
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance
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Synopsis:

Boxed set including 7 authors and 7 romantic comedies.

Romance. Intrigue. Fashion… And a healthy dose of humor! Seven acclaimed authors come together for some fresh, flirty fun. This boxed set of seven, full-length novels is guaranteed to provide hours of sassy entertainment.

Spying in High Heels by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gemma Halliday
L.A. shoe designer, Maddie Springer, lives her life by three rules: Fashion, fashion, fashion… But things take a turn from Manolos to murder when her boyfriend disappears along with $20 million in embezzled funds, the LAPD’s sexiest cop is watching her every move, and dead bodies start falling in her path. Along with a cast of wacky friends and family, Maddie tries to catch a killer before the killer catches up to her.

Do or Di by internationally acclaimed author Eileen Cook
Erin Callighan has given up on romance and is focusing on her career. When she agrees to mentor Diana, a troubled pre-teen who swears she’s channeling the spirit of the late Princess Diana, Erin finds Diana has a lot to teach her about love and happy endings.

Lucky Thirteen by RITA® award-winning author Barbara Ferrer
To Isabel Valdes’ surprise, her relationship with a sexy, significantly younger waiter in her Miami restaurant is going strong… If only they can survive a serving of nosy family, a dash of former lovers, and a bitter side of insecurity.

The Secret Desires of a Soccer Mom by award-winning author Robyn Harding
Paige Atwell is satisfied with her suburban existence until her friend, Karen, admits to a steamy love affair, and soon after, is found dead. Paige looks into her friend’s mysterious demise and finds danger, temptation and a secret so shocking that their quiet cul-de-sac will never be the same.

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Bad Romance (formerly Venus Envy) by award-winning author Shannon McKelden
Venus is only a few love-life fixes short of returning to goddess status, but mulish mortal, Rachel, and her hunky firefighter beau are not making it easy. As Venus struggles in her fairy godmother role, she’s breaking the #1 Goddess Rule–getting too emotionally involved with humans.

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Un-Bridaled by National Bestselling author Eileen Rendhal
In this quirky, heartwarming tale (complete with etiquette tips for the runaway bride), Chloe Sachs learns that sometimes the right path is not the one down the aisle.

Game Geeks and Fashion Freaks by bestselling author Serena Robar
Video game guru Evie Kimball’s latest assignment requires a makeover that she hopes will get co-worker Derek to move their relationship from Friendsville to Sin City.

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Authors included:
Gemma Halliday
Eileen Rendahl
Eileen Cook
Serena Robar
Barb Ferrer
Shannon McKelden
Robyn Harding

Pre-order on Amazon HERE

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Xpresso Book Tours

I’m always thrilled when I get a new book from Bette. I’ve read all of her stories and trust each new one will be filled with diverse characters and touching scenarios.

Before I get to my review of Blueberry Hill: A Sister’s Story I want to tell you about Bette’s fantastic deal!

Her $.99 Sale Starts Sat. Aug. 9 and ends Fri. August 15th so grab it today!

Blueberry Hill on Amazon to buy, borrow or read for FREE!

That means if you’re enrolled in Amazon Prime or their new program Kindle Unlimited, you can read this book for free.

Click on the cover to check it out!

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My Review

Whenever I get ready to read one of Bette’s books, I always have a new box of kleenex handy. Her stories are so rich in emotions I invariably cry with and for her characters, even if I’m smiling through those tears.

Blueberry Hill had that effect on my. But for a new reason.

I connected with Bette and her younger sister, Donna, because I went through the same experience with my older sister.

As far back as I can remember, my sister was a wild one with an endless stubborn streak. She would do what she wanted and to hell with the consequences. The difference in this story is the young sister, Donna, rebels and follows the wrong path, while my story has the older sister choosing it.

As Bette struggled to understand her sister, began to accept there was no changing her, I too felt the frustration and anger, the hopelessness. She realized, as did I, that all you can do is love them, be there for them, go through it with them.

So many times I felt like I was almost reading my own story. Loving an addict, whether with drugs or alcohol, takes from you, wounds your heart. Even though you understand the addiction is behind their actions, it still hurts when they brush aside your offers for help, ignore your advice. All that’s left is the memories of long ago, before the drugs or booze took that sister from you. Happier times to fall back on when the despair tries to settle in.

I may have read this book too soon after the loss of my sister. My heart is still bruised, my grief still lingering. But I found a new strength in knowing everything I felt, good or bad, was okay, and I still loved her.

I didn’t cry while reading Blueberry Hill. I cried afterwards, and the tears flowed freely as I wrote this review.

Two sisters, choices, consequences, acceptance, and love. That’s what this story is about. And the author wrote it honestly, bravely, revealing the bare bones of the relationship. What it gave and what it took.

5 STARS

Synopsis

CAN LOVE SAVE A SISTER FROM SELF-DESTRUCTION?

From the USA Today Bestselling Author of Spare Change comes the heartwarming story Blueberry Hill, a Sister’s Story.

Based on the realities of her own family, Crosby calls this a memoir of sorts. Traveling back to a time when the sisters were young enough to feel invincible and foolish enough to believe it would last forever, Crosby has bared her soul in a story of regrettable decisions and inevitable outcomes.

Blueberry Hill is a tale of family relationships, love and tragedy. It is a story that will touch your heart and stay with you long after you have closed the book.

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Other books by Bette Lee Crosby

Jubilee's Journey (Wyattsville #2)

My Review for Jubilee’s Journey

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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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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.

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