Archive for the ‘Creatures’ Category

Matt Archer: Blade’s Edge

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

Including his mom.

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

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

“Blade’s Edge is an exciting continuation of the Matt Archer series. Kendra Highley did not fall victim to the sophomore funk. She has written an emotional and power story about Matt’s horrific journey to rid the world of monsters.” –Kinx’s Book Nook (Amazon)

“I enjoyed Matt Archer: Monster Hunter to the point I was picking it up every time I had spare moments (which are few in my home), but MA: Blade’s Edge has blown me away! Ms. Highley has crafted a story that comes to life with vivid images, exciting adventures, and thrilling mishaps that add a touch of humor (driving test, anyone?)” –Kelly C. (Amazon)

“”Matt Archer Blade’s Edge” more than delivers what a reader wants from a sequel. The tension and action are taken up a level, as are the mysteries and plot developments.

Best of all, you feel the time passing from book to book and see the characters really grow and change.” –Picky Reviewer (Amazon)

“The Matt Archer books are the best young adult books I’ve read since I was a young adult! Think Supernatural for a younger audience, but better. I’ll be ordering paper copies for my Favorites shelf. Not to be missed!” Sarah G. (Amazon)

Buy Links for Blade’s Edge:

Matt Archer: Monster Hunter

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

Monsters are real. And living in his backyard.

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

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

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

Review quotes for Matt Archer: Monster Hunter:

“Terrific page turner; I stayed up half the night reading it, and now I can’t wait for the next installment.”  –Amelia Anne (Goodreads)

“The action is quick-paced, abundant and so much fun!!! I can’t get over just how awesome of a read this book is; I can’t wait for more!!!” –Danielle S. (Goodreads)

“I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun reading a book. The eponymous narrator is a very likable and believable hero, the world is rich and detailed….

It has been a long time since I was a teenager, but I’m pretty sure that this book would appeal to an audience of all ages.” — Misha B. (Goodreads)

“The action doesn’t stop. Seriously! I was up until after 1am because I couldn’t put it down!” –Riamachia (Amazon)

“It’s funny – I thought I was too old for YA stories, and then I realised that I was just looking for the right kind of stories to hold my interest. This is one of those. If you’re looking for vampires or angels or similar things that tend to make up YA novels at the moment, you won’t find that here – you will, however, find something a bit more awesome.” –Sweartoad (Amazon)

 
Buy Links for Matt Archer: Monster Hunter:

Author Kendra C. Highley

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

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 3/2413

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Click on the link below to enter.

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Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Book Tour for Rapture by Phillip W. Simpson presented by Reading Addiction Blog Tours.

Great news! The author is offering 4 print books for a giveaway. You can find the giveaway following my review.

Ya Dystopian
Date Published: 12/1/2011
The Rapture has occurred – the end of the world. The faithful have risen up to Heaven.
Those left behind are in a living hell. Armed only with his swords and his wit, a teenage boy
wanders this post-apocalyptic world alone, separated forever from everyone he loves. Cursed
by his demonic heritage, he must now embark on a quest that will take him across the US to

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVN1qyJrtlg]
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My Review
Sam knows it’s time to move on, but he’s loathe to leave the only home he’s ever known.
The world as he knew it is long gone. All that’s left is a sky without stars, a blood-red moon when it can be seen through the continuous fall of ash. The world burns.
post apocalypse photo: Post-apocalypse inhell.jpg
Just as his master, Hikari, prophesied, the Rapture has occurred and all that he loved has risen to heaven.
Sam has been preparing for this time since he was but a boy. Now, at eighteen, he sets off to fulfill his destiny.
He’s used to being alone, never having got the knack of making friends with his peers. His closest companion was Aimi, Hikari’s sixteen year old daughter. She helped with his training and demanded nothing but his best.
Sam had to struggle with the dark half of himself, being half-demon. Wearing a hood to cover his horns and keeping his inhuman eyes downcast lest he draw attention to himself.
Now he’s all alone, angered to be denied entrance to Heaven and to seeing his beloved Aimi and his sensei ever again. Because of his demon blood Heaven is closed to him.
Now he wanders the blasted world, providing protection to the hapless souls left behind. He questions his fate and his destiny.
“Why bother to rescue these humans? Why should I, if I, myself, am denied entry to Heaven?”
Sam encounters many lemures, or demons. They reminded me of Pumpkinhead. And he had several epic battles with the Astaroth, a 10 foot tall creature, clad in armor, with huge wings and foot long talons. His proficiency with his two swords, his rigorous training and his quick reflexes kept him alive.
His only ally is a strange being who appeared “…the sky burst asunder with an intense golden light and a clap of thunder.”

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God has sent his messenger, Gabriel, to help Sam on his journey to reach his final destination, the city of angels.
The battles are vividly detailed and I now have a good idea of what Hell looks like. Sam’s struggles with his darker side drew me to him and the truth of who he is and the reason for his existence came as a shock. As I neared the end of the book, I realized there had to be more than one book. There was so much still to come.
Rapture is part of a series and a great beginning. I read it fairly quickly, never stumbled over awkward sentences and loved the action scenes. I’m ready to meet up with Sam again.
sun through clouds photo: Sun coming through clouds peace_of_mind-title.jpg  sun through clouds photo: Sun coming through clouds peace_of_mind-title.jpg  sun through clouds photo: Sun coming through clouds peace_of_mind-title.jpg  sun through clouds photo: Sun coming through clouds peace_of_mind-title.jpg
Four Stars for a great beginning.
Giveaway
Phillip is giving away 3 print copies of Rapture and 1 print copy of Tribulation.
To enter click on the link below.

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Virtual Book Tour February 27 – April 12
February 27 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
February 28 – I love Teen Books – Guest Post/PROMO
March 1 – Hooked in a Book – Review/Guest Post
March 2 – Weakling No. 14 Reviews – Review/Interview
March 3 – Lust For Stories – Review
March 4 – My Cozie Corner – Review
March 5 – Wintry Words – Interview/PROMO
March 8 – Mom With a Kindle – Interview/PROMO
March 9 – Reviews A La Tiffany – Guest Post/PROMO
March 10 – A Dream Within a Dream – Review
March 11 – Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews – Interview/PROMO
March 12 – FUOnlyKnew – Review
March 13 – The Adventures Within – Review/Guest Post
March 14 – Andi’s YA Books – Interview/PROMO
March 15 – Delirious About Books – PROMO
March 16 – Reading With ABC – Review/Guest Post
March 17 – Kindle Obsessed – Guest Post/PROMO
March 18 – Oh! The Books You’ll Read – Review
March 19 – A Bibliophile’s Thoughts – Guest Post/PROMO
March 20 – Lisa Is a Bookworm – Review/Guest Post
March 21 – Shelfspace Needed – Reveiw
March 22 – Owlnestly Reviews – Review
March 23 – The Avid Reader – Review/Guest Post
March 24 – Framed in Words – Guest Post/PROMO
March 25 – Forever YA – Review/Interview
March 26 –
March 27 – Sweet Southern Home – Review
March 28 – Gothic Angel Book Reviews – Review/Guest Post
March 29 – Read Review Love – Review
March 30 – Books and Their Worldly Realm – Review/Guest Post
March 31 – Fall Into Books – Guest Post/PROMO
March 31 – Moosubi Reviews – Review
April 1 – Paranormal Goddess – Guest Post/PROMO
April 2 – Enchanting Reads – Guest Post/PROMO
April 3 – Pixie Dust Reviews – Review/Interview
April 3 – Bookworm Avenue – PROMO
April 4 –
April 5 – Books, Books, and More Books – Review
April 6 –
April 7 –
April 8 – Gimme The Scoop – PROMO
April 8 – Reader Girls – Review/Interview
April 9 – Lov Liv Life Reviews – Guest Post/PROMO
April 10 – Cherie Reads – Review
April 11 – RABT Reviews – Review
April 12 – Bibliophilia: A Love Story – Review/Interview

Phillip W. Simpson

Author Bio:
Phillip W. Simpson is an author of mostly children’s books – both fiction and non-fiction.
As well as being a writer, he is an elementary school teacher. Career highlights include being in the
army, gaining a Masters in Archaeology, owning a comic shop, becoming obsessed with martial arts
and oriental weapons and turning down a job at the British museum.
His YA novel RAPTURE (the first in the Rapture trilogy) was released Sept 1st, 2011 by Pear Jam
books. RAPTURE is a dystopian/post-apocalyptic story about the end of the world featuring demons,
angels and a half demon protagonist caught in the middle. RAPTURE was shortlisted for the Sir Julius
Vogel award for best Youth novel.
Book 2, TRIBULATION, was released in December, 2012. The final book, APOCALYPSE, will be out
early 2013.
On a personal note, he is married to Rose, has a son (Jack) and two border terriers, Whiskey and
Raffles. He loves fishing, reading, football (soccer) and single malt Whiskeys.

To Love or Die in a Steamy-Reamy World
10 Tales of Steampunk Silliness and Spookery

In the cozy seaside village of Steamville, New Hampshire, an unfaithful zombie, out of control werebots, succubi in corsets, and more wreak havoc in this short story collection from the author of Elemental.

Purchase
Just .99 cents

Praise

“Well written and very fast paced. You won’t get bored or find your mind wandering. I’d love to see a sequel to this collection and see what happens next. I give this book five out of five donuts.”

“This book starts off dipping its toe right into the heart of the story, not unlike Ms. White’s YA novel Elemental, and the story never really slows down to a lazy pace; making it a very easy and fast read.”

“Ms. White wonderfully succeeded in instilling humor into ten short stories about vampires, zombies, ghosts, and one mad scientist. Each story is brilliantly linked. The Victorian era setting delightfully adds to the humor.”

“This is a wonderful mix of Steampunk and Horror written in Emily White’s unmistakable brilliance and style. Does it get any better than that?”

About Author Emily White

Emily White lives in NY, wedged between two of the Great Lakes and a few feet of snow and ice. She’s spent most of her life running away from the cold, and even spent a year in Iraq, but now contents herself with writing her characters into warm, exotic places in faraway galaxies. When not tapping away at her computer keys, she can be found reading, reading, and reading some more. And when she’s not doing that, she’s usually playing video games with her husband, peek-a-boo with her kids, or walking through her garden, wondering why the bugs insist on eating all her vegetables.

Also by Emily White

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Book Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 3/24/13
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Thanks for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways go here.

By now, most of you know how much I love short stories and collections.

Kathryn Meyer Griffith has her Spooky Short Stories free to download from Amazon  right now through March 13th.

Go here to get yours. I got mine!

Spooky Short Stories

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Description

It’s a collection of four romantic horror/horror short stories about ghosts, werewolves, a banshee and a witch. Author of 18 novels, 2 novellas and 12 short stories, Kathryn Meyer Griffith rdgriff@htc.net
Four contemporary spooky short stories:
Ghost Brother…
So what happens after you die? Do you go to heaven, or hell? Or do you go to a special place fashioned just for you based on the life you’d lived in the real world? Based on how you treated people? What you did to them?
And do ghosts exist? Do they roam the earth and plague the living, persuade them to do things they shouldn’t do?
Two brothers and their tale follow; their journey through life and death.
Do you believe in ghosts? Some do.

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

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

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

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I’m currently reading another of Kathryn’s books, Human No Longer.

Hooked me good:)

Human No Longer

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Jenny and Jeff Sanders become victims of a bizarre crime; leaving Jeff dead and Jenny in a temporary coma. She returns to her children. With Jeff’s death she must move back to her childhood home, a haunted farmhouse, in Summer Haven, Florida, where once they destroyed a family of vampires. Jenny has no appetite. She’s edgy. Her eyes hurt. She thinks it could be trauma or grief. Until one night she can’t resist the night woods or the overpowering urge to drink warm animals’ blood–and accepts the truth. Her attackers were vampires. Now she’s becoming what she once reviled. She can’t abandon her children but must find a way to live in the human world. At night she hunts, hides what she’s becoming and attempts to fit in. Then townspeople begin dying. Like years before. With her blackouts, she fears she may be the killer, or is it her vampire attackers? They find her and demand she joins them–or her family will die. She resists until they kidnap her children. Then she has to find a way to outwit and ultimately destroy them.

Can’t wait to finish it and tell you all about it!

I just recently read and reviewed another of Kathryn”s books.

You can read my review of Dinosaur Lake here.

Dinosaur Lake  (once titled Predator)

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

Kathryn has written many books. I couldn’t post all of the books in their covers. Would have taken so long!  Go here to see more.


I can’t wait to tell you about Dead of Eve ~ Trilogy of Eve #1 by Pam Godwin. You are going to want to get it when I’m done. At least, I sure hope so!

I also have a giveaway! Pam is offering a couple copies!

Details follow my review.

Dead of Eve (Trilogy of Eve, #1)

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I swear – writers are magical beings. How else can I crack a book and be transported to another place and time. Become so deeply engrossed in a story I lose track of everything around me.

Dead of Eve isn’t really a zombie apocalypse. A virus was released in an airport and quickly spread throughout the country. All of the children and most of the men died. Of the remaining men, most turned into these bug like mutants called “aphids.” All of the women died also, or so it’s believed.

Here’s Eve’s story.

I miss them, my darling husband Joel, and my children, the two ‘A’s’. He was my rock and they were my soul. Why do I go on? Because I still breathe. Why I was spared, I don’t know.

I’ve run into some very bad men. It’s bound to happen being the only woman left. I’ve been brutally raped, my flesh carved up, called a demon and I’ve got a ‘voodoo’ vagina.

But I’ve also got my Lakota, my Jesse. He awakened me with those copper eyes.

“Everything I want is right here.” His fingers spread over my breastbone.

…why did he unnerve me? Was it his sinful beauty? Perhaps it was the flame in his eyes as he looked at me – like he was doing at that moment.

And my luscious priest, Roark. What I wouldn’t give for him to break that vow. I’ll have to work on that.

He pressed his palm over my heart. I followed suit. His beat under my hand, thumping in chorus with mine, surged tingles through my limbs and blood roaring in my head. My empty chest filled with…what?

“Evie?”

“Mm?”

“Wha’ do ye feel?”

…His vitality. The thing I fed so ravenously on…”The song.”

And my mystery man. He was a surprise.

The clement breeze fanned his sandalwood scent around me. My breaths quickened and I knew he noticed.

A hunk of black hair fell over his bowed head.

“Let me ease you, Nannakola.”

So, I’ll kill as many aphids as I can, grab all the comfort I can. Maybe we’ll survive, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll find a cure. Otherwise, what’s the point?

The characters in this book are in my head. I can see them talking, moving about, struggling in this changed world.

horror creatures photo: Zombie Killer RE-Creatures.jpg

I tried to picture the aphids. There is no escaping them. They are everywhere and endless in number. The characters have many battles with these beings and there’s always the worry of being infected and becoming one themselves. All they want is our blood. Is there anything human left in them?

This story spans the globe, following these characters as they search for a cure to save mankind. Without a cure, there are no women. Without women, there are no children.

Eve has to be protected. As the last woman, she’s humanities chance at survival. But Eve is also a warrior. Strong, self-confident, and not to be coddled. She doesn’t stand back and let the men do the fighting. Her special senses give her a connection to the aphids, and to the ‘Drone’, whatever it is. Her martial arts training and her proficiency with weapons make her an asset. She’s quite capable of taking care of herself, thank you.

resident evil photo: Resident Evil Resident_Evil_Extinction.jpg

As I followed the characters through their new world, I couldn’t help but becoming engaged with them. I worried about them, cheered them on, and felt their fears and courage. I laughed, I raged, and I yelled, Yes! in glee.

I also felt the steamy sexual tension. Evie has three sexy hunks of man-flesh sniffing after her. All three would die for her, and all three want her. It’s a constant juggle for Evie. With the world so different, being the last woman, and a libido raging inside her, why should she have to choose between them. Let them sort it out.

I’m partial to Roark, her yummy priest. I loved how he struggled with his desire for Eve. The deep kisses he demands, the need to be closer, to damn near crawl inside her. He may joke about it, but he’s dangerously close to breaking his vow.

His way of speaking and his frustration had me cracking up. Here are some examples.

“All I have left is my chastity. I’ve held this vow for donkey’s years. It’s been the bloody hardest of the three, yet the only one inviolate. I den’ take it likely.”

“Your the last woman left. And ye fancy sex. And now you’re trapped in a vault with a celibate priest. Tell me how you den see the humor in it?”

“Me vow is as useless as a nun’s tits if I’m spared from temptation.”

Another one:

“Ye be dog wide up there.”

Dog wide?  “Seriously, man. I don’t understand half of what comes out of your mouth.”

Funny scene I loved.

His brogue rumbled from his chest. “Temptress.”

“Prude.”

“Opinionated heathen.”

“Brain-washed god-fearer.”

His gaze drifted over my face, returned to my eyes. “Bugger, you’re so beautiful.”

I swallowed past a tight throat. My self-control was no match for his.

…he was adorable. His roughened lilt, the cleft of his stubborn chin, the way his boyish smile turned my hardened heart into butter.

“Give me a snog, love.”

“A what? Never mind.”

I could go on and on. I get so excited just thinking about writing this review. But it has to stop somewhere.

I am serious. Get this book. You’ll have a fantastic time reading it and the good news is there will be more to this story!

Thanks for the kick-ass story Pam! Five Stars from me!

resident evil photo: Resident Evil resident-evil.jpg  resident evil photo: Resident Evil resident-evil.jpg  resident evil photo: Resident Evil resident-evil.jpg  resident evil photo: Resident Evil resident-evil.jpg  resident evil photo: Resident Evil resident-evil.jpg

Giveaway

I have two e-books of Dead of Eve to give away!

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question:

“Do you believe you can love more than one person at a time?”

Giveaway ends March 20th.

Thanks ya’ll and Good Luck!

More news!

Dead of Eve is the first chapter in a trilogy. Intense and engaging. I tore through this one and so excited to know there will be more!

Blood of Eve ~ The Trilogy of Eve #2 has an expected release date for December 2013.

Dawn of Eve ! Trilogy of Eve #3 is coming in 2014.

And Pam has a new romantic thriller releasing March 18th. Check it out!

Beneath the Burn

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They meet by chance. The timing is wrong.

Three years later, they cross paths again. The timing is right, but the years that separated them were damaged by addiction and bloodied by enslavement.

Jay Mayard is a drug addict. He wears his secrets under his rock god facade, even as he loathes the fame that comes it.

Charlee Grosky is a slave. Hunted by a powerful man, she’ll do whatever it takes to escape the role she was condemned to.

In a celebrity world filled with paparazzi, groupies, and drugs, Jay and Charlee must defeat their abusers. When the battle is over, what will be left…Beneath The Burn.

Genre: Romantic/Erotic Thriller

Content warning: Includes graphic rape, sex, bondage, and violence. Age 18+ only.

About Pam Godwin

Pam Godwin lives in Missouri with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band. Now, she resides in her hometown, earning her living as a portfolio research analyst, and living her yearning as a writer.

Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.

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chupacabras photo: Chupacabras Chupa-cristart_com2.jpg

It’s that time again!

Time to announce the winners of the giveaway for Shadow of the Oak by Eric Edstrom!

And the winners are:

Mark

Tasha

Stephanie Grego

Congratulations!

All winners have been notified.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

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

Thanks so much to the author for his wonderful books and for letting me host this giveaway.

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

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

Subscribe by email and lets talk!

Freakin Fridays!

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary. Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

Today I’m going to have you take a short test.

We’re going to find out how well you know your sharks. Look at each picture and then take the short quiz afterwards.

Good Luck!

Oh Yeah. If you can’t match 4 out of 5 you’re “chum”.

Shark #1

Shark #2

Shark #3

Shark #4

Shark #5

Now for the test!

There are 5 sharks pictured above.

Can you tell me which number goes to which shark?

Tiger Shark

Bull Shark

Great White

Oceanic White Tip

Mako

Take your time and Good Luck!

I’ve posted the correct matches at the bottom of the post. Let me know how you did!

If you miss more than 2 you’ll look like this!

Stop right here!

Below are the answers!

No peeking!

I thought I said no peeking!

Answers

#1 – Mako

#2 – Tiger

#3 – Great White

#4 – Oceanic White Tip

#5 – Bull Shark

Freakin Fridays!

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary. Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Today I’ll be telling you about Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.

Dinosaur Lake  (once titled Predator)

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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 the author

I’ve been writing for over 41 years now…published for 30 of those years since 1984; have EIGHTEEN novels, 2 novellas and 12 short stories to my name…and more coming. Aug. 30, 2012: I (first time ever!) SELF-PUBLISHED MY 16TH NOVEL *DINOSAUR LAKE* TO AMAZON KINDLE DIRECT! January 2013 I SELF-PUBLISHED MY 17TH NOVEL *HUMAN NO LONGER*, my fourth vampire novel. Also in January 2013 I self-published my rereleased murder mystery (originally a 2003 Avalon Books hardcover) SCRAPS OF PAPER-Revised Author’s Edition.

I write traditional supernatural horror, SF horror, romantic time-travel, murder mysteries and paranormal romance. I’ve been writing about ghosts, ancient Egyptian spirits, haunted places and evil vampires WAY LONG BEFORE Stephanie Meyer (no relation to me even though my maiden name is Meyer) and the rest of the vampire author crowd, ha, ha. And now ALL 15 of my older Zebra, Leisure paperbacks, Avalon Books murder mysteries and my Wild Rose Press books have been revised, reprinted and rereleased for the first time in many years (and in e-books for the first time ever) from DAMNATION BOOKS www.damnationbooks.com and ETERNAL PRESS   www.eternalpress.biz and AMAZON KINDLE DIRECT. Yippie! So look for them.

I’m a wife of almost 35 years (husband, Russell), mother (one son, James) and grandmother (two grandchildren, Caitlyn and Joshua). I was a graphic designer in the corporate world for 23 years; and have published with Dorchester, Kensington, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Amazon Kindle Direct, Damnation Books and Eternal Press, and Amazon Publishing. Six years ago I crossed over into e-books as well as paperbacks and now ALL my old/new books are in ebooks…and soon to be in AUDIO BOOKS from ACX. I love cats and nature, classic rock and country music (my brother, JS Meyer  www.jsmeyermusic.com, is a singer/songwriter and does the songs for all my self-made book trailers that are on my websites). VISIT me at http://www.myspace.com/kathrynmeyergriffith or http://www.bebo.com/kathrynmeyerG or http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith to see all my book covers and trailers.

My published books: (ALL OF THESE OUT AGAIN…PLEASE LOOK FOR THEM!) Human No Longer (2013),Dinosaur Lake (SF horror), Scraps of paper-Revised Author’s Edition, Evil Stalks the Night (supernatural horror), Leisure 1984; The Heart of the Rose (historical romance) Leisure 1985; Blood Forge (supernatural horror), Leisure 1989; Vampire Blood (romantic supernatural horror), Zebra 1991; The Last Vampire (supernatural horror), Zebra 1992; Witches (romantic horror), Zebra 1993 & Pinnacle 2000; a novella called The Nameless One in Dark Seductions, an erotic horror anthology, Kensington, 1993; The Calling (supernatural horror), Zebra 1994. The Nameless One, a short erotic novella in the 1994 Zebra Anthology Dark Seductions. And Scraps of Paper (hardcover mystery) Avalon Books, 2003; All Things Slip Away, the second mystery in the series came out also from Avalon Books in February 2006 and now both are out again from Amazon and both in ebooks for the first time ever. And my three novels and two short stories from The Wild Rose Press are out again from ETERNAL PRESS: Egyptian Heart(ancient Egyptian time travel romance); Winter’s Journey(a romantic suspense novel); The Ice Bridge, (a contemporary romance e-novel with a dose of murder mystery) and two ghostly short stories, Don’t Look Back, Agnes and In This House. BEFORE THE END: A Time of Demons, an apocalyptic saga from Damnation Books, June 2010. THE WOMAN IN CRIMSON, a vampire eternal love story, is out now from ETERNAL PRESS  www.eternalpress.biz. The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Fiction: Volume 1 (I did the Introduction) 2011 and Telling Tales of Horror 2012(I did the chapter on Putting the Occult into your Fiction)***

Kathryn has written many books. I couldn’t post all of the books in their covers. Would have taken so long!  Go here to see more.

DragonFly Top Secret_530x copy

That’s right! I have some cool news.

I’ll let Charles tell ya!

Project X: DragonFly

It’s been quite awhile since I last posted. I apologize for that. The principal reason is that my new ‘Project-X’ has been extremely time consuming and blogging has taken a back seat. Last time, I said I was writing a new series but left you guessing on what its genre was. I said it wasn’t a mystery or a thriller like my Scott Forrester FBI novel, Tiger Paw. But other than that I was quite vague. So here is the first inkling of what Project-X is all about!

I’m calling it… DragonFly (and yes, the F is capitalized!)

I wouldn’t be a mystery writer if I gave out all the clues at once! This name is not the complete title of the series. If I added just one more word, it would give too much away. Yes, you’ve probably guessed that it will be a combination of science fiction and fantasy. But I can assure you there will be even more than that. Yes, it does have a dragon in it, but nothing like what you imagine a dragon to be! Yes, it has an evil wizard, but again like no other wizard I have heard of before in a fantasy work. If I’m saying that I’m trying to develop something VERY unique, in its own sci-fi & fantasy niche, then the answer is… yes, I am! (or else why do something that has been done before?)

It is a very ambitious project and because of that I’m going to need a lot of help.

DragonFly already has two very important collaborators… two artists whose talents are at the top of their respective fields. Coincidentally, they are both based in Europe. For the science fiction aspects of DragonFly, I have engaged a computer graphics artist from Spain whose code name  is ‘Mr. C’. For the fantasy elements, including a very unique creature spawned from the evil mind of my wizard, I have commissioned work from a fantasy artist from Belgium who I will call ‘Mr. J’. In due time, their identities will be revealed and their work on DragonFly will be published here on my blog, on a new website I’m creating, and as illustrations in the first novel of the series.

Work on Lucifer’s Key, the sequel to Tiger Paw continues, but at a reduced pace. DragonFly is easier to write and I plan the first draft to be complete by the end of May. At that time I will go into revision mode and when ready I will be soliciting beta readers for DragonFly before it is published. Several of you have already volunteered, so I thank you in advance!

I expect the first novel in the DragonFly series to be published before Sept 1 and will have a website launch party this summer!

I’m very excited about DragonFly. As an author it has special writing challenges beyond the genre bending aspect of it, which in itself is a bit of a risk. I can also reveal that it will be written in first person from the perspective of a heroine whose quest will define the destiny of her country and will change the course of history. Be patient, you will meet her shortly!

Regards

Charles

“But it is one thing to read about dragons and another to meet them.”
―    Ursula K. Le Guin,    A Wizard of Earthsea

Cool isn’t it! I can’t wait for this one! Charles is a wonderful, talented writer and an all around great guy.

You’re going to want to read this book(whatever it is?)!!

Have you read Tiger Paw yet?

It will blow your mine!

Tiger Paw

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Description

As a serial killer wreaks havoc on Wall Street, dismantling a corrupt financier’s empire one body at a time, FBI profiler Scott Forrester uncovers the deadly secret of a demon-worshipping Hindu cult that is determined to change the very fabric of society. Firmly in their assassin’s crosshairs, Scott Forrester is forced underground to stop the killing spree. But will he survive the deal he must make with the Devil to thwart their satanic plan?

Royal Palm Literary Award Winner for Best Thriller of 2012 –from the Florida Writers Association
Best Indie Thriller Nominee – Kindle Book Reviews

Go here to read my review.

You can read my exclusive interview with Charles here.

The Tiger – a poem by William Blake

Tiger, Tiger burning bright,

In the forests of the night;

What immortal hand or eye.

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat.

What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? what dread grasp.

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears

And watered heaven with their tears:

Did he smile His work to see?

Did he who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, Tiger burning bright,

In the forests of the night:

What immortal hand or eye,

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

For more about the Charles:

http://www.CharlesACornell.com

http://www.facebook.com/CharlesACornell

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768487.Charles_A_Cornell

Click on the image to purchase Tiger Paw.

Today’s post is going to be a little different!

I won Shadow of the Oak by Eric Edstrom from a giveaway on Sherry’s blog fundinmental.

I’ve read his Undermountain Saga and this is a bit different.

Young folks and us older folks will love this first chapter in the Sal Van Sleen Series. I did!

For today I am doing an interview with Cole, my son. He read the book and we had a lively discussion about it. He’s 18 years old and I thought it would be fun for you, the readers, to get both of out thoughts about it.

To add to the fun, Eric is offering three paperbacks to three lucky winners! You can enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post. But don’t skip ahead. This interview is fun!

Shadow of the Oak (A Sal Van Sleen Adventure)

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Mushkobewun, WI, 1986

My name is Sal Van Sleen. I live in Boringsville, Wisconsin, also known as Mushkobewun. To give you an idea of how little is going on in this town, consider that my friend Billy and I pretty much spend our summers messing around at the Little Hickory dam.

Exciting, huh?

That was until my girlfriend’s little sister, Chrissy, got abducted by a nasty, supernatural … thing.

I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t just let something like that go…

My Review

I felt like a kid again! Eric’s written a story that takes you back. For me, way back! I used to hang out at a decrepit bridge on the bank of a creek near my house when I was young.

I still remember the sounds of water tumbling over rocks, seeing butterflies and dragonflies flitting through the tall reeds. And the cattails, oh those glorious cattails. We couldn’t wait to get our hands on those. Used to whack each other with them and come home with fluffy white seeds all in our hair.

What we didn’t have was the thing in this book. It’s mean and nasty and not to be toyed with.

When it attacks Chrissy, she ends up contaminated by it and is lying in the hospital.What started as a fun day at the dam, discussing comic book strategies, becomes a journey to capture or kill the creature, and hopefully find a cure for Chrissy.

I really enjoyed the interaction between Sal, Billy, and Becca.They are very different from each other, and while that causes friction at times, they do stick together where it matters. True friends through thick and thin.

Once Billy and Becca believe Sal’s story of the creature, they put their heads together and come up with a plan that lands them in the pickle of all time!

I loved this story. I want more!

And now, enjoy the interview!

So tell me Cole, how did you like Shadow of the Oak?

Cole:  I thought it was great! It read really fast and felt like I was watching a movie, something like Goose Bumps.

Me:  I loved it too. I could see it all so clearly. Wish you could have seen the creek where I grew up. You’d really get a sense of the area these guys hung out at and how easily you could believe in this creature being there.

Is there a character you liked the most and why?

Cole:  Yes, Billy. He felt like the most complex of the trio. Liked his view of Becca changing, changing…throughout the book.

Me:  I’d have to say Sal. He stuck to his guns about the creature, even when his friends didn’t believe him. Also, I had fun watching him fumble around with his crush on Becca.

What made you laugh?

Cole:  Billy, when he was designing the dresses instead of working on the comic books.

Me: That was funny. What made me laugh was Becca and how she knew these two boys way better than they thought.

Was it a fast read? Easy to follow?

Cole: Yes, very fast and creative. Read it in about an hour and didn’t want it to end yet.

Me: Yeah, took me about that long too. It just flew by and now I wish I could rush over to Amazon and get more!

What was your favorite part?

Cole:  When the monster started to go up…oops, can’t tell you that.

Me:  I know! That was crazy. I remember you saying how hopeless the situation was.

Would you read more of this series?

Cole:  Yep. I’m curious as to what could possibly happen after the Chupacabra incident.

Me:  Me too. Wonder what kind of pickle they could get into next.

What would you like to see happen in the next book?

Cole:  I would like to see how Sal’s dad could be thrown into the mix.

Me:  Good one. He does seem to share something special, almost secret, with Sal. As for me, I’d like to see something happen at the dam again, maybe some kind of sea monster the next time.

Cole’s rating ~ 5 Chups!

       

My rating ~ 5 Chupies!

       

Well, there you have it folks! We both agree on some things and definitely agree that we loved the book!

Giveaway

Eric has offered three paperbacks for my giveaway!

US Only. Sorry to my International friends.

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question, Can you remember the first book you read?”

Giveaway ends Feb. 28th.

Thank you and Good Luck!

Wait a minute!

This just in!

Eric has a sale going on right now on Amazon!

You can purchase Undermountain, the first book in The Undermountain Saga, for 99 cents right now on Amazon!

And another thing!

He’s also having a giveaway on Goodreads!

 Book Giveaway

Winners will get all three books!

UndermountainCover

The UndermountaiN Saga by Eric Edstrom

Giveaway ends March 18, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

About the Author

Eric Edstrom

Eric is an author, songwriter, husband, father, and guitarist. He is the author of Undermountain, Afterlife and Starkiller, the YA science fiction series The Undermountain Saga.

Eric loves working out with kettlebells and eating pretty much anything with peanut butter.

Eric has a featured article just published: http://www.kalkion.com/news/1736/scie…

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5408492.Eric_Edstrom

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ekedstrom

Facebook.com/erickentedstrom

www.ericedstrom.com

Books by Eric Edstrom.

Click on the covers to purchase.

Sal Van Sleen Series

Undermountain Saga