Archive for the ‘Creatures’ Category

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Welcome to my Saturday Screams!

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

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

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

Next up was The After House. Check out my review HERE.

Third up was The Hanging Tree. Check out my review HERE.

And then Brood X. Check out my review HERE.

I have two more for you today. Your next choice was The Witches Protection Program. And Michael just released his newest story, Monsterland. I had to grab it and will be sharing my review too.

Come on in and get your scare on!

The Witches Protection Program

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My Review

Poor Wes. He’s failed again and now he’s been given one last chance to prove himself qualified to be in law enforcement. He’s sure it’s a prank when he’s assigned to the Witches Protection Program.

It’s no hoax. But it takes some convincing for Wes to believe in witches. He gets it in spades.

His first assignment, protect a witch, heiress Morgan Pendragon, from her evil aunt. Her aunt is cooking up a diabolical scheme to rule the world.

Wes will have to catch on quick if he’s to save Morgan and himself from a witches brew of trouble.

This was a fun story with some likable and not so likable characters. Got to take the good with the bad.

Wes is a pain in the beginning. Then he finds his place and becomes someone to cheer for.

Morgan is a reluctant witch, wanting nothing to do with her aunt or the other witches and their schemes. They’re not going to give her a choice though.

There’s some cool weapons, compelling characters, and a showdown at the end that I wish I could see for myself. Just imagine the pile-up when drivers look up and see witches flying in the sky.

I like a good witch, but I have a thing for the bad ones too. There’s one, Morgan’s aunt, who will chill you to the bone. Too powerful for anyone’s good.

Grab a broomstick and hang on tight. It’s a bumpy ride.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Wes Rockville, a disgraced law enforcement agent, is given one last chance to prove himself and save his career when he’s reassigned to a 232 year old secret government organization. The Witches Protection Program. His first assignment: uncover a billion-dollar Cosmetics company’s diabolical plan of using witchcraft for global domination, while protecting its heiress Morgan Pendragon from her aunt’s evil deeds. Reluctantly paired with veteran witch protector, Alastair Verne, Wes must learn to believe in both witches and himself. Filled with adventure, suspense and a rousing good time, Michael Phillip Cash creates a tongue-in-cheek alternate reality where witches cast spells and wreak havoc in modern day New York City.

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Monsterland

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My Review

The blurb ends with this question, “What could possibly go wrong?” Well, plenty can and does.

The zombie apocalypse has come and gone, for the most part. People now know vampires and werewolves exist.

Zombies are in camps, kept contained for our and their protection.

The vampires live in poverty, struggling just to exist as their numbers dwindle towards extinction.

And the werewolves live deep in the swamps and jungles, trying to avoid man at all costs.

When one man’s vision offers all of these beings a safe place to live and improve their station, they take his offer, one way or the other.

Imagine Jurassic Park, but not dinosaurs. Instead you get zombies, werewolves, and vampires. I don’t know about you, but I’d probably buy a ticket.

When you add important people and a bunch of kids to opening night, your mind should buzz with what could happen. With what could go wrong. That’s where it gets wild.

Take a walk with the zombies in Zombieville. Meet real vampires in Vampire Village. And run with the werewolves in River Run.

But beware, ye who enter. The monsters aren’t happy and you don’t ever want that.

I ate this story up in one sitting. The minute it was available to purchase I grabbed my copy and opened it immediately. I knew it was going to be great, and it was. I loved every bit of it. Michael gave me everything I was hoping for and expecting.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Welcome to Monsterland – the scariest place on Earth. All guests can interact with real vampires in Vampire Village, be chased by an actual werewolf on the River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.

Wyatt Baldwin, a high school student and life-long movie buff is staring bleakly at a future of flipping burgers. Due to a fortuitous circumstance, Wyatt and his friends are invited to the star-studded opening of Monsterland. In a theme park full of real vampires, werewolves and zombies, what could possibly go wrong?

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And…That’s all folks! I’ve now shared all of Michael’s books that I could by the time Halloween rolled around.

Now it’s here and it’s time to bump into the creatures of the night.

Until the next time….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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I’ve been waiting anxiously to share more of the Chupacabra Series with you. I’ve been featuring Michael’s series for years now and it’s always so exciting to have him back again.

There’s so much to share with you today.

Michael has some free books for you!

He has an awesome guest post.

I’ll be sharing my review of the fourth book in this thrilling series, Dawn Of The Chupcabra.

And there’s a killer giveaway! So don’t forget to enter!

9 Halloween Days of Free Chills!

In promoting Dawn of the Chupacabra’s release, and in honor of the Halloween season, Michael has put together his “9 Halloween Days of Free Chills” . His short story, Rattlesnake, plus Curse of the Chupacabra will be free for 5 days!

  Here are the dates for “9 Halloween Days of Free Chills”:

Click on the covers for your free copies. Make sure you check the free dates!

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10/9/15 – 10/13/15 – Short Western Horror Story Rattlesnake about a man who kidnaps a boy for information about his missing son after narrowly escaping a town gone mad. (Retail: $0.99)

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10/13/15 – 10/17/15 – eBook of Book II, Curse of the Chupacabra, which follows the survivors of the Dillmore Valley massacre as they journey through the mountains for a fresh start, despite the looming terror that awaits around every turn. (Retail: $2.99)

And now, this from Michael Hebler!

10 Fascinating Facts About the Chupacabra Series

Blog host Laura and I have conducted three interviews together, each at the release of a Chupacabra Series novel.  This time, for the release of the fourth book, Dawn of the Chupacabra, Laura thought it best to break tradition by asking that I write a guest post instead.  Immediately I agreed, even though I had no idea what the post would be about.  I had only ever written one guest post before about the roots of the creature feature, and definitely did not want to repeat myself.  Then, on my birthday, it dawned on me that the Chupacabra Series had officially been a part of my life by more than half.  That egg of an idea that was nurtured in 1992 had been given life and matured into this miraculous thing over the last 23 years.  Like a proud parent, it would have learned to walk and speak, learned to drive, and could have even graduated college by now.  And like any upbringing, there were plenty of mistakes, which became learning experiences that aided in the development of the body of work it is today.  Therefore, I thought it would be fun to share ten of my favorite “moments” that you might find fascinating.

1.  Like most things conceived, it takes two.  In the case of this series, it was Clint Eastwood’s remarkable film, Unforgiven, and a student written one-act play I watched in college about a small group trapped inside a saloon with monsters trying to get inside that was the inspiration.  However, until 2010, the stories were only in screenplay format.  It wasn’t until the film production company, Atlas Entertainment (The Dark Knight Series, Inception) asked if I could take my story out of the Old West that I decided to adapt the series into prose.  Obviously, I declined their request.

2. Fan favorite character, Jessie, used to have a brother named Clarence.  He was five years her senior, fifteen, lanky, submissive, and mousy. Jessie protected him at all costs though, like a chupacabra herself, she gave him multiple tongue lashings. Clarence was included in a large church-scene attack that was also written, and then abandoned.  Let’s just say, even if he had survived to the novel adaptation, he would not have survived the Night.

3. Suzanne’s original name was Zelma. Probably the smartest change of any I made in this series.  There was no reason for her to be named Zelma other than I really like the name.  The problem I had with it was that after a few drafts, I realized it did not fit the time period of the Old West.

4. Many readers and reviewers of these books who typically do not enjoy reading phonetic dialogue have stated that they are not bothered by the language when reading Chupacabra.  There could be a reason for this.  Night of the Chupacabra is dedicated to Virginia Grafton-Wade.  The reason for this dedication is in two parts: The year before Night’s release, Virigina was a 94-year-old woman to whom I delivered Meals on Wheels.  A regret in Virginia’s life was that she had always wanted to write a book, but both her mind and years she had left would not allow that dream to be fulfilled.  Though not a fan of horror, Virginia was a fan of westerns.  Her grandfather had lived through the 1870s and 1880s and he used to tell her stories of that time period quite often. Virginia remembered how he spoke, the words and the inflections he would use. Being a second-hand expert, Virginia proofed my dialogue. This not only helped me tremendously, but it also gave her fulfillment to realize that dream of being a part of a book’s creation. Before Virginia’s death in 2014, the first three Chupacabra novels went through the Virginia dialogue grinder.  Legend of the Chupacabra even includes a quote that her grandfather always repeated, which I gave to the Reverend Moyle’s character, “Do not speak ill of others, though it be the truth, rather flatter behind one’s back that your honeyed words be reported.”

5. Though not completely off the shelf, Night of the Chupacabra came close to being adapted into a graphic novel.  I hope to have this idea revisited again soon.

6. The end of Night of the Chupacabra originally occurred in the mines.  During the stagecoach chase of the first book, Raul explains his intentions to Drake about how they would capture and kill the beast inside the caves.  Raul’s “plan” is exactly how Night of the Chupacabra ended in earlier drafts.  The reason for the change was because I thought a more fitting ending was a night that began and ended in Dillmore Valley.  But I did not want to abandon my cavern idea.  Having my heart set on that location, I moved it to its more fitting home in Curse of the Chupacabra.

7. Growing up, my mother used to read anything by Stephen King.  She had an entire bookshelf of his books, but one cover above all others used to give me the creeps.  That is why the original sleeve for Cujo was the inspiration for the cover of Curse of the Chupacabra.

8. Speaking of inspiration, it can come from odd places, as well as at unexpected times.  Years ago, when searching for an idea to keep the center of the story for Legend of the Chupacabra glued together, I was having a couch potato kind of day.  While flipping cable channels, I happened to land on a program called Cities of the Underworld.  This particular episode was about the underground tunnels of Portland, Oregon, where [Legend] would take place.  By the end of the program, I knew I had found my adhesive subplot.  If you can find the episode online, I highly recommend anyone to watch it.  It’s fascinating.

9. Not every baddie received their comeuppance.  Originally, the foul and egotistical Evelyn Diamond (from Curse of the Chupacabra) was supposed to reappear in Legend of the Chupacabra with her traveling show.  Unfortunately, that slippery minx escaped the beast yet again when I realized that having her, as well as another returning character from Book II was too much of a coincidence.  That other character was essential to the plot of the third book while Evelyn’s demise was nothing more than my own personal gratification.  Don’t get me wrong, I love her… I love all my characters… but it just seems wrong to allow such a villainess to live.  Who knows, maybe there’s a short story to be told one day.

10. Originally, this story was about a serial killer in the Old West and not a chupacabra.  I didn’t even now what a chupacabra was at the time, but as this world began to develop, it did become more about a creature.  However, I never could let go of the human murder aspect, which ended up being used as backstory for Book I.  That backstory quickly developed into its own story and has now been released as its own novel, Dawn of the Chupacabra.  So essentially, the second plot developed for the Chupacabra Series was not Book II but Book IV.

Of course, there are many other facts I would love to divulge, but many of those would risk being spoilers to those who have yet to fall prey to the complex chupacabra.  I wouldn’t want to be the one responsible for straightening out any twists or turns for the journey I laid.  One thing I can say is that I have always perceived this series more as family drama than a western horror.  Though I’m not a fan of stories about romantic love, love of family intrigues me the most as a reader and writer.  Family is what drives all my stories, including my recently released short story Rattlesnake, and my upcoming novella for 2016, The Ghost of Christmas Past.

THE END

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DAWN OF THE CHUPACABRA

by Michael Hebler

The fourth chapter in the award-winning Chupacabra Series follows an A.W.O.L. Confederate soldier, who is hunted by a demon sent to avenge the victims of his heinous crimes.

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My Review

I love creature stories and Michael’s series just keeps getting better.

I’m sure you’ve all heard mention of the legendary beast, the chupacabra. the goat sucker. Well, Michael’s put his own spin on this creature and it’s scary as hell.

This book takes you to where it all began.

The chupacabra is terrifying. So relentless. So malevolent. And it will never stop coming for it’s victim. Don’t get in its way.

While the chup is awesome, so are Michael’s characters. They live. They breathe. They bleed.

This author so easily brings his characters to life. You’ll care about them. Worry about them. You’ll love some and hate some. All are important to the story. Even the minor characters add important elements to make this story shout from the pages.

A creature born from a lust for blood vengeance, the chupacabra is not to be controlled. Michael’s use of ancient Indian rituals makes this story even more eerie.

One man, with a horrible past, does despicable deeds. Called to seek vengeance, the chupcabra beings to hunt him. The war is over for most, but the final battle is just beginning for Jeremiah Whiting.

The beginning of this story follows Jeremiah from the battlefield to home and on to Cherokee territory. You won’t like him. You’ll loathe him. Wish him dead in all kinds of ways for the terrible things he’s done. Once he starts on his terrible path, he can’t stop. The voice in his head doesn’t help much and his luck is running out. Jeremiah is lower than pond scum and you’ll be anxious for his demise.

And it’s coming. It’s horrific. It’s hungry for blood. The chupacabra will find Jeremiah. It will toy with him. Torture him. And then… you’ll see the dark side of this cat and mouse ending.

Chilling and disturbing. Fascinating and addictive. The old west is twisted and remolded for Michael’s story. Adding a mythical beast to the mix takes you down a dark and chilling road.

5 Stars

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The Fourth Novel in the Chupacabra Series is Released

Press Release

Fort Myers, FL – October 09, 2015 – On October 13, 2015, the next installment in Michael Hebler’s award-winning dark fiction Chupacabra Series, Dawn of the Chupacabra, will be available on bookshelves and for eReader downloads.

Synopsis

Before Night, Came Dawn

An A.W.O.L. Confederate soldier is hunted by a demon sent to avenge the victims of his treacherous crimes.

Jeremiah Whiting has been a survivor since birth. He endured an abusive upbringing only to fight as a private for the losing side of the American Civil War. But when the war ends, Jeremiah’s battle does not. He will meet his greatest adversary yet, in the form of a heinous entity sent to kill him for crimes against the Cherokee Nation, and the only allies willing to fight at his side are the remarkable instincts he possesses and the voice of a deceptive Soldier who possesses him.

Hebler hopes fans and first-time readers of the series will enjoy the new dynamics in this origins story. “By going all the way back to the chupacabra’s origins, I wanted the reader to have a different experience with this novel,” states Hebler. “I intended for this entry to be grittier and scarier than previous volumes. I had to take it to a very dark place where it could be deemed logical to summon such a beast for the purpose of revenge.”

Hebler further states that this is not only an origins story for the chupacabra, but for some of the characters from previous volumes as well. He also assures the series’ same action and adventure, and promises to answer many lingering questions like who possessed the curse of the creature from Chapter I of Night of the Chupacabra.

The new book will be made available in trade paperback and eBook. Dawn of the Chupacabra also marks the final chapter to take place in the Old West before the series leaps forward into more modern times when the fifth entry, Return of the Chupacabra, is released in 2017.

The ebook is currently available for pre-order at $3.99 and will be raised to $9.99 on the release day,  October 13.  The print book will be retailed at $17.95.

Purchase Links:

Website / Amazon / Smashwords

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Author Michael Hebler

Michael Hebler

Prior to becoming an award-winning author of his dark fiction Chupacabra Series, Michael was a full-time international film publicist who had worked on multiple titles for Walt Disney, Pixar, Lionsgate, Lakeshore Entertainment, Warner Bros., Summit Entertainment, and the 2013 Academy Award-winning Best Foreign Language Film, “La grande bellezza” (The Great Beauty).

Born in the early 1970’s in Los Angeles County to a salesman and homemaker, Michael dreamed of following his passions for entertainment and storytelling by acting. It was while studying theatre arts at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, did he realize his penchant for stories were better suited on the page rather than the stage. But creating tales with suspense, laughter, and heart is not Michael’s only love. Hebler also enjoys volunteering in his local community, as well as aid in the capture/spay/neuter/release feral program.

To date, Michael’s publications include NIGHT OF THE CHUPACABRA, CURSE OF THE CHUPACABRA, and LEGEND OF THE CHUPACABRA (Books I, II, & III of the six-part Chupacabra Series) as well as his first publication, THE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS, a holiday picture book for believers of any age. Michael’s fourth book in the Chupacabra Series, DAWN OF THE CHUPACABRA will be available in print and for ebook on October 13, 2015.
Michael currently resides in Southwest Florida.
Author Links:
Email:
Michael also in the beginning stages of organizing a newsletter.  If you would like to be included on the list once it’s up and running, you can email Michael at the link above.

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Grand Prize – Complete set of paperback signed copies of the Chupacabra Series (US only)

First – Choice of signed paperback copy of Dawn of the Chupacabra (US Only) OR eBooks of the complete series

Runner-Up – Choice of any Chupacabra Series eBook

Entry is easy. Just leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question:

The chupacabra has found you. What do you do?

Do you fight with everything you can muster?

Do you run screaming into the dark, knowing it’ll catch you?

Do you melt into a blubbering puddle of fear?

Or, do you have something else in mind?

Giveaway ends November 2nd.

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Other books in the series available now.

Night Of The Chupacabra on Amazon

Curse Of The Chupacabra on Amazon

Legend Of The Chupacabra on Amazon

Click on the covers for my reviews.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

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

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

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

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Dinosaur Lake III

Infestation

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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My Review

The first book in this series had me on the edge of my seat. The action was intense and the scares were awesome.

The second book was just as, if not more, intense. And the bodies piled up.

Between those first two books, you lose some beloved characters and some not so loved.

So, now for the third book in the Dinosaur Lake series.

I started this book feeling a bit worried. After the first two, I wondered if the author could keep up the intense action and suspense. She didn’t disappoint. In fact, this may be the most nail biting of them all.

The dinosaurs are rampant with a capital R! They are everywhere, in many shapes and sizes. And, of course, they are very hungry.

Chief Park Ranger Henry Shore and his wife, Ann, have made it through many dangerous encounters with these monsters over several years, losing friends and hope. They managed to triumph, but this time they might not be so lucky.

Dinosaurs are emerging again. So many, so hungry, so unstoppable. It’s not just the park and their town in danger anymore. The dinosaurs are popping up all over the US and Canada and who knows whether this will become a worldwide phenomenon. It may be the beginning of the age of dinosaurs again.

I have to applaud Kathryn. She gave me more dinosaurs. Bigger, meaner ones, and sneaky, littler ones. The scenes of carnage were bloody wild and so many of them. I got all the action I could ever want.

And the characters. Well, there are my favorites, mentions of loved ones lost, and some new ones. I was crossing fingers and toes that my favorites would survive. You never know with this author.

I sure hope there are more books coming in this series. Please let there be more!

While this is the third book in the series, you could easily pick up the story here. But, if you are a fan of action, intense suspense, and monsters, you’ll want to, need to, go back and read the other books.

5 Dynobite Stars

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Synopsis

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

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Dinosaur Lake II

Dinosaurs Arising

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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My Review

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

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

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

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

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

No one is safe.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Stars

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Synopsis

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

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

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 Dinosaur Lake

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.

This book is free on Amazon right now! Click on the cover to grab a copy!

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My Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five Stars for Dinosaur Lake

~~~

About Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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

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

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

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

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:

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

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

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

Kathryn’s Links

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

http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith

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

 

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

I have 3 eBook copies  of Dinosaur lake III to give away thanks to Kathryn!

This can be read without having read the first two books.

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

“Which dinosaurs scare you the most, the huge ones who can squash you like a bug, or the sneaky little ones who can mass attack and devour you like a piranha?”

Giveaway ends September 21st .

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

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

tag you're it photo: You're awesome tag-game-awesome-friends_zpscce89964.jpg

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

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Welcome to My Monday Minis Reviews.

For today I’ll be sharing two books.

There will be cowboys and werewolves and creatures of the deep.

Action, horror, thrills and intrigue.

Enjoy!

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Cowboy Werewolf Massacre

by John Wheeler

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My Review

It seems like westerns are changing. Now there are lots of movies and books with a supernatural element to them.

This title says it all, Cowboy Werewolf Massacre.

Loved the beginning of this one. Some men are chasing a man. Or kind of a man. Yep, a werewolf.

He leaves a trail of ripped up bodies behind as he taunts the pursuers.

The author did some great character building in the beginning and I came to know them quickly. From watching so many movies I could easily picture the scenes and even put faces to some of them.

As the plot thickens, and yes, it does, more characters come into play, an important event is explained, and all hell breaks loose. Want to know what really happened the night Chicago burned?

You have werewolves and cowboys, good guys and bad guys, and some political maneuvering thrown in to add to the intrigue.

All in all a good read. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. A lot was happening and it was over quickly.

Yet, I should keep in mind this is a short story and the author did give me a good ending. One that could lead to more in this tale. I hope so.

3 Stars

~~~

Synopsis

The year is 1871. A mysterious force stalks the Wild West, killing settlers and even the toughest outlaws. Soldier-turned-bandit Jack Stark is given a choice: Hunt down whatever’s out there, or face the noose. The chase will take him from dangerous mining towns and snowy wastelands to ancient caves that hold the most terrible secrets… and eventually into the middle of one of the biggest disasters in U.S. history. As Stark soon learns, it’s not just his life at stake: the country’s future rests on his ability to shoot fast and think faster.

~~~

Shark Station Nyet

Apex Predator Series

by Carolyn McCray

22081312

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My Review

I read the first book, Salechii Park, and loved it so I knew this second book would be fun too.

The first thing I want to tell you is, relax, shut off the disbelief switch, and just take this story for what it is. Campy fun, outrageous scenes, and, oh yeah, gore. Sorry, but this is horror, not Sea World.

How else will you appreciate the weaponized sharks, or a giant squid, or bombs and saboteurs.

And how about taking a ride on a shark. Saddle up. Lopez does.

You could start this book like a movie. Here them yell, “Action!” And it begins and never stops. If someone isn’t being eaten, they are being shot at. The station is under attack and sinking. And waiting in the water is every kind of sea creature imaginable. All hungry. All with very big teeth. And all with their eyes on you.

Man oh man, I loved it!

5 Stars

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~~~

Synopsis

**Warning, if you ever hope to swim in the ocean again, this book is NOT for you!
Shark Station Nyet, the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster, Salechii!

From the #1 bestselling author in Action/Adventure, Men’s Adventure, Techno-thrillers, War, And Thrillers, Carolyn McCray comes the next greatest thing since Jaws!

A shark-fest for all of you Jaws, Jurassic Park, Shark Week and Sharknado lovers!

Overview:
Putin wanted weaponized sharks to help guard Russia’s coastline. And what Putin wants, he gets, however he also got far more than he expected!
Join our heroes as they battle the biggest and smartest sharks they have ever encountered!

If you are glued to Shark Week, Sharknado, Jaws, or Jurassic Park, Shark Station Nyet is going to be your new feeding frenzy!

~~~

Until the next time…..

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

M9B-Friday-Reveal

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are revealing the cover for

Minotaur by Phillip W. Simpson

presented by Month9Books!

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

Minotaur.v3

“Where shall I start?” asked Minotaur.

Ovid made an expansive gesture with both hands. “Where else but the beginning of course.”

Minotaur nodded his huge head. “Yes,” he said. “Yes,” his eyes already glazing over with the weight of thousand year old memories. And then he began.

So begins the story of Asterion, later known as Minotaur, the supposed half bull creature of Greek legend. Recorded by the famous Roman poet, Ovid, Asterion tells of his boyhood in Crete under the cruel hand of his stepfather Minos, his adventures with his friend, Theseus, and his growing love for the beautiful Phaedra.And of course what really happened in the labyrinth.

This is the true story of the Minotaur.

add to goodreads

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Minotaur by Phillip W. Simpson
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Publisher: Month9books

amazon

About-the-Author

Phillip W Simpson

Phillip W. Simpson is the author of many novels, chapter books and other stories for children. His publishers include Macmillan, Penguin, Pearson, Cengage, Raintree and Oxford University Press.
He received both his undergraduate degree in Ancient History and Archaeology and his Masters (Hons) degree in Archaeology from the University of Auckland.
Before embarking on his writing career, he joined the army as an officer cadet, owned a comic shop and worked in recruitment in both the UK and Australia.
His first young adult novel, Rapture (Rapture Trilogy #1), was shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for best Youth novel in 2012.

He is represented by Vicki Marsdon at Wordlink literary agency.

When not writing, he works as a school teacher.
Phillip lives and writes in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife Rose, their son, Jack and their two border terriers, Whiskey and Raffles. He loves fishing, reading, movies, football (soccer) and single malt Whiskeys.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Giveaway

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
Title will be sent upon its release.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Button

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of 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

The Loch

by Steve Alten

 

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My Tease is from page 68  in the Paperback.

Dark Water. Heavy fog. Salmon everywhere. Jumping. Panicking. A presence…circling below! Left ankle, seized with pain. Dragged underwater…can’t breathe!

~~~

Synopsis

Loch Ness holds secrets, ancient and deadly. Does a monster inhabit its depths, or is it just myth? Why, after thousands of reported sightings and dozens of expeditions, is there still no hard evidence? Marine biologist Zachery Wallace knows, but the shock of his near-drowning as a child on Loch Ness have buried all memories of the incident. Now, a near-death experience suffered while on expedition in the Sargasso Sea has caused these long-forgotten memories to re-surface. Haunted by vivid night terrors, stricken by a sudden fear of the water, Zach finds he can no longer function as a scientist. Unable to cope, his career all but over, he stumbles down a path of self-destruction…until he receives contact from his estranged father…a man he has not seen since his parents’ divorced and he left Scotland as a boy. Angus Wallace, a wily Highlander who never worked an honest day in his life, is on trial for murdering his business partner. Only Zachary can prove his innocence – if he is innocent, but to do so means confronting the nightmare that nearly killed him seventeen years earlier. Incorporating the latest research and “new evidence,” that leads to real answers concerning the monster’s identity, best-selling author Steve Alten weaves a tale of horror about the most publicized and controversial creature ever to exist.

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

stick out tongue photo: rr-sticking-out-tongue roadrunner-stick-out-tongue.gif

tag you're it photo: Tag!  You\'re It! AnyOccasion-TagYoureIt-May2007.jpg

 

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

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

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

~~~

Dinosaur Lake II

Dinosaurs Arising

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

22017707

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My Review

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

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

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

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

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

No one is safe.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Stars

~~~~

Synopsis

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

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

~~~~

 Dinosaur Lake

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.

DL EPIC LOGO photo DinosaurLake_Kindle_zps34916f7c.jpg

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My review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five Stars for Dinosaur Lake

~~~

Dinosaur Lake III

Infestation

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

24284668

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Reviewing soon!

Synopsis

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

~~~

About Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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

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

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

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

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:

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

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

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

Kathryn’s Links

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

http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith

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

 

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

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

This can be read without having read the first book.

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

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

Giveaway ends February 28th.

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

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

tag you're it photo: You're awesome tag-game-awesome-friends_zpscce89964.jpg

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

 

This is a really fun meme!

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

Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!

My 56 for this week is from

Dinosaur Lake III

Infestation

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

24284668

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My 56

 “Chief Chapman, I heard from Ranger Shore about what happened here. Can you give me any more specific information? How large were the dinosaurs, how many? How have people described them?”

The police officer glared at him. “There are NO dinosaurs in my town, Dr. Maltin. I told your father-in-law the same thing. It was straight line winds, a tornado or something. An earthquake. Some people have way too much imagination, that’s all. 

~~~

Synopsis

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

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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

The “Legendof the chupacabra continues

Press Release

Newport Beach, CA

– June 14, 2014 – On July 29, 2014, dark fiction author, Michael Hebler will release the latest installment in his Chupacabra Series. Legend of the Chupacabra, Book III in his 6-part series, is the final chapter of an independent trilogy before the narrative of the infamous “goat-sucker” transitions into new and thrilling territory.

Legend of the Chupacabra correct  cover (RGB)

Author: Michael Hebler

Style: Series

Theme: Dark Fiction / Horror / Western

Length: 372 pages (print) / 85,500 words

Binding: Perfect bound, digital (.mobi, .epub, .pdf ), & audiobook

Retail: $17.95 (print & audiobook) / $4.99 (e-book)

MY REVIEW

In this third book in the Chupacabra series, you once again follow Suzanne and Jessie . It’s been six years since they killed the chupacabra and broke the curse. Or did they?

Suzanne seems to be settling down in Portland, believing things will be better now. Jessie, on the other hand, is her own worst enemy. She’s as sassy and quick to fly off the handle as ever. Even though she works in a rough and tumble saloon, she’s still expected to cater to the customers and is often mistaken for something other than a server, and she makes the poor sap pay for that mistake, often painfully.

The owner would like her to be more than a server, the bartender creeps her out with his puppy dog drooling, and a handsome young stranger sets her nerves on edge. He seems to enjoy it when she fights of the groping hands and off-color comments of the patrons. Just who is he?

It isn’t noticeable at first, the men disappearing, because they’re strangers.  But then some local men disappear too and this sets off Jessie’s radar. Could it be the chupacabra? Did they kill it? Is it another one? Or is it something else?

The author excels at putting his characters in new and stranger situations. There are some new nasty characters to despise, which I always like, as they can be used as fodder for the chupacabra. But the chup isn’t selective, and likes his blood from good or evil people.

Maturing his characters, having their personalities change after each new encounter with the chupacabra, is another area Michael excels at. Especially with Jessie, as she’s gone from a young girl to a young woman. He did leave her as feisty and fearless as before, allowing me to savor her victories, worry when she lands in tight spots, and hope she’ll finally let someone get close to her.

Even the chupacabra is different, like it’s evolved, become even more evil and cunning. It likes to play with its food, and it’s always hungry. Which gives you some excellent scenes of bloody mayhem.

I was attracted to this series because of the chupacabra. Curious about the legend, and of course, its bloody path through the book.. Then I became attached to the characters and, with each new book, I looked forward to seeing what new mystery the author put them in. What, besides the chupacabra, they had to deal with.

It’s never dull, no stumbling through slow parts, as there aren’t any, and Legend of the Chupacabra leaves you hungry for more. Just like the chupacabra.

5 STARS

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Synopsis:

 

Legend of the Chupacabra finds Jessie and Suzanne living peacefully in Portland, Oregon six years after they believed to have put an end to the curse of the chupacabra. But the women come to learn of their failure, and the futility of their sacrifices, when a remarkable reunion brings horror back into their lives; only this time, what they face will be unlike any creature they’ve encountered. Legend of the Chupacabra marks the end of a trilogy, but the continuation of a saga that will leave this moment of history drenched in blood.

Earlier this year, Hebler’s first volume in his Chupacabra Series, Night of the Chupacabra, earned him top honors in the category of “Horror” from the National Indie Excellence Awards. The NIEA was founded by Ellen Reid, the current President and CEO. Reid comments, “The awards celebrate the best of books in print, and represent a diverse group of first-time authors and seasoned authors.” Hebler was extremely honored to have received such extraordinary recognition for a story that had lived within his mind and heart for 20 years before its 2012 release.

In reference to Legend of the Chupacabra, Hebler hopes his fans and readers will enjoy their reunion with Jessie and Suzanne. There is no shortage of action, mystery, humor, drama, romance, or, of course, horror. And as usual, there are surprises around every turn. “I’m especially excited about including a little piece of Oregon’s scandalous history with the Portland underground,” states Hebler. “I think that particular element rivals the callousness of the chupacabra itself and examines the similarities between monster and man.”

In addition to the release of Legend of the Chupacabra in trade paperback and eBook on July 29, 2014, Hebler will also release an audiobook of his reading, which will accompany the release of the audiobooks of the first two series novels, Night of the Chupacabra and Curse of the Chupacabra.

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This is my favorite part!

It’s time to announce the winners!

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For the giveaway of The Chupacabra Series 

by Michael Hebler

1 Grand Prize: signed copy of [Legend] print (US only)
1 First: e-books of all three Chupacabra Series novels (Night, Curse, and Legend) (Worldwide)
3 Runners-Up: e-book of [Legend] (Worldwide)

The Grand Prize Winner is : Audrey

The First Place Winner is : Candi

The Three Runners-up are :

Justin

Robin

Jessica

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And now a word from Michael

Thank you everyone for taking a moment to enter the “Legend of the Chupacabra” giveaway, and a “congratulations” to the winners. It is such a comfort to know that there are so many like-minded readers. There is no greater joy for an author than having his/her work read, and I am comfortable in speaking for all authors to say that your support is appreciated beyond any words we can write. We are your servants. As for my series, three more volumes are in the works, and scheduled to release one year apart. I hope to see you back then. Enjoy reading the Chupacabra Series even more than I enjoyed writing it.

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Congratulations!

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 Michael Hebler for his wonderful books!

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Other books in the series.

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“Night of the Chupacabra” was announced as Best Horror at the 2014 National Indie Excellence Awards.

legend 1 Night of the Chupacabra

Click HERE for my review.

There is a creature that lurks in the vast open deserts of the west. It can only survive on blood and, although it prefers to prey on the weak and young, it will slaughter anyone or anything, once provoked. It is unnatural, deceptive, and difficult to kill. Word about the existence of this elusive beast has not spread since anyone who has crossed paths with it did not live long enough to tell of their account.

In the Chupacabra Series, a vampire-like, cryptozoological creature (which literally translates to “goat-sucker”) takes a supporting role to a cast of memorable characters who struggle to survive while finding their place in developing America. Currently slated for six books, the Chupacabra Series echoes strong family themes and the sacrifices required for that nature of love; and while some characters do survive long enough to make it through multiple novels, each volume will host a different protagonist to lead the reader through its continuing journey.

Amazon / B&N

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Click HERE for my review.

They never thought their luck would be their curse. In the months following the onslaught, the extraordinary survivors continue to know no peace, as they are haunted by signs that the relentless creature remains on their trail. However, this fight will be better matched, now that they’ve discovered an advantage that will help protect them from the monster’s bloodthirsty lust. But once faced with the decision to kill the beast, the choice will not come lightly since it is still unclear which loved one the chupacabra possesses.

Amazon / B&N

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Author Michael Hebler

chup Author, Michael Hebler

Prior to becoming an award-winning author of his dark fiction Chupacabra Series, Michael was a full-time international film publicist who had worked on multiple titles for Walt Disney, Pixar, Lionsgate, Lakeshore Entertainment, Warner Bros., Summit Entertainment, and the 2013 Academy Award-winning Best Forgein Language Film, “La grande bellezza” (The Great Beauty).

Born in the early 1970′s in Los Angeles County to a salesman and a homemaker, Michael dreamed of following his passions for entertainment and storytelling by becoming an actor. It was while studying theatre arts at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, did he realize his penchant for stories were better suited on the page rather than the stage. However, creating tales with suspense, laughter, and heart is not Michael’s only love. Hebler also enjoys volunteering in his local community for Meals on Wheels, as well as aid in the capture/spay/neuter/release feral program.

To date, Michael’s publications include Chupacabra Series Novels, “Night of the Chupacabra,” “Curse of the Chupacabra,” and now “Legend of the Chupacabra,” the first three of his six-part series, as well as his first publication, “The Night After Christmas,” a holiday picture book for believers of any age. Michael also authored the micro story, “Hunt for the Chupacabra,” (currently unavailable) preceding the events of Book I, and will release his first novella, “The Ghost of Christmas Past” on October 7, 2014. [Ghost] is a spiritual story placing the popular Dickens character in the center of its own afterlife, and life, while aiding a woman’s complicated past.

CONTACT DETAILS

Email ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Blog

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

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Michael West
Featured Book Release:
Hades’ Disciples
July 7 to 13 , 2014

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I had to be a part of this tour!

I’d already read Poseidon’s Children and loved it, so I was thrilled to get a chance to showcase Michael West’s series and review the first two books for ya!

Come meet the cast, human and monster. Follow the mystery. Enter the world of The Legacy of the Gods!

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MY REVIEW

I’m trying to think of one thing the author did wrong with this book, and can’t come up with anything.

The setting is great. The island of Colonial Bay reminds me of the movie The Fog. The locals are close-mouthed and secretive. Being isolated from the mainland, life is very different.

The creatures. Michael got very creative. I watched the movie Dagon, and drew from that to picture these fearsome beings. Even the ones that weren’t trying to kill people must have been terrifying to behold. I also remembered some of the characters from Pirates of the Caribbean and came up with some nasty critters.

The characters. So many of them, and that’s a plus for me. I love character driven stories, and the humans aren’t the only ones I connected with.

Artist Larry and his girlfriend Peggy. On the island for a vacation, Larry is awakened by a bad dream and gets up to get a drink. Glancing out the window, he sees something off the beach. A girl is being attacked by a shark near the shoreline. But then he’s not so sure it’s a shark. Something doesn’t look right.

Carol always new Atlantis was real. Now she’s discovered it. When things start pointing to Colonial Bay, her and Alan go to investigate. What they find is beyond belief. But, once they’re drawn into the middle of an ancient myth, when the beings of nightmares attack, they’ll have to believe if they want to survive.

With action and adventure, monsters, characters to love and loathe, and mysteries from the deep, Poseidon’s Children is a blast and I’m anxious to get started on Hades’ Desciples, the next book in this series.

I’m thrilled to give this 5 STARS

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Synopsis

Man no longer worships the old gods; forgotten and forsaken, they have become nothing more than myth and legend. But all that is about to change. After the ruins of a vast, ancient civilization are discovered on the ocean floor, Coast Guard officers find a series of derelict ships drifting in the current-high-priced yachts and leaking fishing boats, all ransacked, splattered in blood, their crews missing and presumed dead. And that’s just the beginning. Vacationing artist Larry Neuhaus has just witnessed a gruesome shark attack, a young couple torn apart right before his eyes….at least, he thinks it was a shark. And when one of these victims turns out to be the only son of Roger Hays, the most powerful man in the country, things go from bad to worse. Now, to stop the carnage, Larry and his new-found friends must work together to unravel a mystery as old as time, and face an enemy as dark as the ocean depths.

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MY REVIEW

This is the second book in this series. Just wanted to warn you if you haven’t read Poseidon’s Children yet. I’ll do my best not to spoil it for you.

The story picks up around two years after Colonial Bay and, while some of my favorite characters aren’t in this story, some are.

Carol and Alan are now living in Japan and settling in nicely when someone from Carol’s past comes calling. Kari is a very close friend from back in her college days. She’s asking for their help in finding her father. He disappeared after heading off to Nepal to find what he believes is the Ark. Not that he thinks it’s Noah’s Ark.

The decision is made for them when a rampaging tiger crashes into their home, bent on obliterating them. Carol and Kari manage to take it out and Alan reluctantly joins them as they prepare to scale the frozen mountain of Makalu, the location of the Ark. Also a place of hidden danger and myth. Even the Sherpa won’t guide anyone up there. Local superstition says it belongs to the Yeti.

Earl, now working for Homeland Security, is back and has a bigger role this time. He barely survives an attack by Hades Desciples. They want the old Gods back. Seems they forgot the bit about being slaves to them. Earl forms an alliance with the creatures that rescued him and they rush to protect his partner, laid up in a hospital.

This second book delves deeper into the history of these creatures. I learned more about how they came to be here and why.

There are three clans.

Poseidon’s Children are water based. They take on the aspect of creatures from the deep.

Zeus’ Warriors are human in appearance.

Hades’ Desciples are beasts of all kinds. Some of nature and some of fantasy.

All were created by someone or something for a reason that will be revealed.

Werewolves, bats, yeti, satyrs, and many more monsters will keep your hair standing on end.

Three clans.

Three agendas

One final outcome.

And one heck of a cliffhanger ending!

Just thought I’d warn ya.

Zeus’ Warriors: Book Three in The Legacy of the Gods Series is coming soon and I’ll be there!

If you love monsters, myths and urban fantasy, you’ll love this series and I recommend you give it a go.

5 STARS

**

Synopsis

Terrifying creatures exist all around us, hiding in plain sight. Ancient. Deadly. They gather in secret, conspiring, dreaming of nothing less than humanity’s destruction, and their numbers are growing.

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Earl Preston knows the danger all too well. After tangling with a horde of mythological sea monsters in Colonial Bay, he has been tasked with finding these beasts and exposing their plans whatever they may be.

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But Earl is not the only one with a mystery on their hands. At the very top of the world, Carol Miyagi has stumbled onto an artifact from Earth’s past, something magnificent held captive in a prison of ice and snow. Now, Carol and Earl must work quickly to decipher the will of the gods–a plot that defies imagination–and to stop their followers from carrying it out.

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They thought the nightmare was over, but they are about to discover that the horror has only just begun.

Amazon Links for Hades’ Disciples

Print Version ~ Kindle Version

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About Author Michael West:

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Michael West is the bestselling author of Cinema of Shadows, Skull Full of Kisses, The Wide Game, Spook House, and the critically acclaimed Legacy of the Gods series. He lives and works in the Indianapolis area with his wife, their two children, their turtle, Gamera, and their dog, King Seesar.

West avoids manhole covers and sidewalk grates whenever possible. He just doesn’t know what’s down there, and he’s not sure he wants to find out.

Author Links: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Tour Schedule and Activities
7/7 Shells Interviews Guest Post
7/7 Come Selahway With Me Interview
7/7 Beauty in Ruins Guest Post
7/7 Fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s ramblins and reviews Review
7/8 Deal Sharing Aunt Top Tens List
7/8 Jess Resides Here Top Tens List
7/8 I Smell Sheep Guest Post
7/9 SpecMusicMuse Interview
7/10 Coffintree Hill Guest Post
7/10 Armand Rosamilia, Horror Author Guest Post
7/11 Bee’s Knees Reviews Review
7/12 A Haunted Head Top Tens List
7/12 Willow’s Author Love Interview
7/13 The Rage Circus Vs. The Soulless Void Review

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!