Archive for the ‘Mystery’ Category

Teaser Tuesday’s #64 ~ if you find me by Emily Murdoch

Posted: April 29, 2014 in Contemporary Literature, Mystery, YA
Tags: ,
9

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

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 Teaser for today is from if you find me

by Emily Murdoch 

15793231

1771e-addtogoodreadsblack

My Teaser

Hoping I can protect Ness if an intruder enters our woods, or a hungry bear, or a hungry bear with cubs in tow, even worse. Hoping I can love Ness enough to grow her up healthy and normal, whatever that means. Hoping I can fill her growing mind and heart when I can’t fill her stomach…hoping she’ll forgive me for the white-star night, and keep on forgiving me every time I can’t fix things. Like now.

~~~

Synopsis

There are some things you can’t leave behind…

A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

~~~~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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

Shadows Fall Away by Kit Forbes ~ Friday Cover Reveal and Giveaway

Posted: April 25, 2014 in Cover Reveal, giveaways, Mystery, otherworldly
Tags: , ,
4

 

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Shadows Fall Away by Kit Forbes

presented by Month9Books!

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

Shadows Fall Away 1600x2400

Mark Stewart is one incident away from becoming a juvenile delinquent, and his parents have had enough. They ship Mark off to London England to stay with his eccentric aunt Agatha who is obsessed with all things Jack the Ripper. After a strange twist of luck, Mark is struck by lightning, and he wakes to find himself in 1888 Victorian London.

His interest in a string of murders Scotland Yard has yet to solve make him a likely suspect. After all, why would a young boy like Mark know so much about the murders? Could he be the ripper they’ve been searching for? Convinced the only way to get back home is to solve the murders, Mark dives headfirst into uncovering the truth.

Mark’s only distraction comes in the form of the beautiful Genie Trembly, a girl who is totally out of his league and who may have already caught the attention of the infamous ripper. To save her, he’ll endanger both their lives, and risk being trapped in the past forever.

.

add to goodreads

.

Title: SHADOWS FALL AWAY
Publication date: September 23, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Kit Forbes

.

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---About-the-Author

Kit Forbes has been a lover of books, history, and all things paranormal for as long as she can remember. She lives in Western Pennsylvania with her youngest daughter and an assortment of cats who give new meaning to the world bizarre.

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

.

Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway

An eBook copy of Shadows Fall Away and a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Click on the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

Raffle button

.

 

Button

 ~~~~~

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

She knows about dead ~ My Review of The Infernal Detective by Kirsten Weiss

Posted: April 23, 2014 in Mystery, reviews, Series, urban fantasy
3

This is going to be a busy week!

For today I’ll be telling you about The Infernal Detective, the fourth book in thee Riga Hayworth Series by Kirsten Weiss.

Then on Thursday, April 24th, I’ll be reviewing The Metaphysical Detective, Book One and hosting a giveaway, so be sure to stop by!

And on Friday, April 25th, I’ll be reviewing The Elemental Detective, Book Five.

What I really love about this series is you can read them as stand alones easily. I read the fourth book first and then the fifth before I read book one and never was confused.

Now I need to read book two and three. Can’t wait!

THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE

17904621

Riga Hayworth, Book 4

Published by: Misterio Press

May 21, 2013

Genre: Adult, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Mystery

BUY LINKS: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

1771e-addtogoodreadsblack

My Review

I was given a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.

The first thing I discovered was that although this is the fourth book in her Riga Hayworth series, it read easily as a stand alone novel.

The author introduces a new mystery for Riga to solve and laces past characters and events into the story in increments so you don’t feel lost and are able to become acquainted with everyone easily.

Riga’s wedding day is only a week away and hectic doesn’t describe her life. When she finds a dead body in her bedroom things go from hectic to crazy. The dead body is seen driving away with her soon to be husband.

A lot is happening in this book. Riga has accepted she’s a necromancer but struggles with being drawn into dark magic. Her niece, Pen, is also struggling with it, and Riga has her hands full trying to coach her and deal with some wicked aunts, a magic attack on her wedding guests, and a sarcastic gargoyle who gives cryptic answers.

I think it would be fun to have a companion like Brigitte. The gargoyle is a formidable foe and guardian and never hesitates to set you straight, often not sparing your feelings. She’s also funny and extremely loyal.

Riga is stronger than she thinks. She’s able to sort things out without losing it and when you find out what’s really going on with the dead guy and her fiance, you’ll wonder how she does it.

Urban fantasy slash mystery slash romance, The Infernal Detective unleashes all that plus magic galore and an excellent cast of characters. There’s so much to keep you entertained and guessing, which leads to an addictive series.

I recommend this to all who enjoy a good mystery, fantasy, and some laughs.

5 STARS

~~~

Some quotes from the book:

“But you said you were a necromancer It doesn’t sound like you’ve got a choice. And what about me? I can see the dead, too.”

“There’s always a choice, Pen. Don’t settle for the magic of the grave.”

**

“Necromancers are like black holes for trouble, and the people around them…get caught in the cross-fire.”

Brigitte cocked her head, thoughtful. “That is true.”

“And you wonder why I don’t want to be one.”

~~~

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kohhn5z3bM]

~~~

Synopsis

 

Murder. The undead. Irritating relatives.

When Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her bedroom, it’s par for the course. When the corpse drives off with her fiancée… That’s a problem.

Riga knows dead. More intimately than she’d like. So when a murdered photographer walks away from her pre-wedding party, she believes there’s necromancy afoot. And when she discovers that several of her wedding guests are under the influence of dark magic, she’s certain. But how can she catch a killer and stop a necromancer when even her nearest and dearest are lying to her?

Marrying romance, mystery, and the metaphysical, The Infernal Detective is a fast-paced urban fantasy, where nothing is quite as it seems, and magic lies just beyond the veil.

“A high-voltage, cleverly spun mystery, that I couldn’t put down. Riga Hayworth is addictive.”

– Diana Orgain, Best-selling author of The Maternal Instincts Mysteries

~~~

About Kirsten Weiss

Kirsten Weiss Pic

 

Kirsten Weiss is the author of the Riga Hayworth paranormal mystery series: The Metaphysical Detective, The Alchemical Detective, The Shamanic Detective, The Infernal Detective, and The Elemental Detective.

 

Kirsten worked overseas for nearly fourteen years, in the fringes of the former USSR and deep in the Afghan war zone. Her experiences abroad not only gave her glimpses into the darker side of human nature, but also sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives.

 

Now based in San Mateo, CA, she writes paranormal mysteries, blending her experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem.

 

Kirsten has never met a dessert she didn’t like, and her guilty pleasures are watching Ghost Whisperer reruns and drinking good wine.

You can connect with Kirsten through the social media sites below, and if the mood strikes you, send her an e-mail at kirsten_weiss2001@yahoo.com

 

You can connect with Kirsten on:

Kirsten’s Website | Kirsten’s Twitter Profile | Kirsten’s Facebook PageKirsten’s Google+ Page | Kirsten’s Pinterest Boards | Kirsten’s Amazon Page

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Murder in the Dog Park & Dog Spelled Backwards ~ My reviews and a chance to win these books!

Posted: April 22, 2014 in Blog Tour, crime thriller, giveaways, Mystery, reviews
Tags: , ,
4

great escape tour banner large dog mysteries large banner640

Murder in the Dog Park/Dog Spelled Backwards
 by Jill Yesko

Ms. Yesko is skilled as a writer…
~rantin’ ravin and reading

Great series, well-written and very entertaining. Four Stars!
~Mommasez

This is a more gritty detective story. Unique characters, with lots of flaws.
~readalot

Dog Park cover

.

Murder in the Dog Park
Mystery
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Baxter World Publishing (May 28, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0985485207
File Size: 242 KB
Print Length: 128 pages
 ASIN: B00A10IU7O

.
goodreads-badge-add-plus

 

 My Review

I loved this book right from the first sentence. The author cracked me up and it was something I could relate to as a dog lover. From then on it was full speed ahead.

Jane reminds me of one of my sisters in her younger years. A wise cracking woman who hunts down bad guys, drinks too much, smokes too much, and breaks the rules on a regular basis.

She has an oddball cousin, Lenny. He’s kind of a lost soul. Not sure why, but I like him.

And Archie, Jane’s bull terrier, is as ballsy as she is. If you don’t know what a bull terrier is, picture Spuds McKenzie from the old Budweiser commercials. A short, stout body packed with muscle, and beady little eyes. A land shark with attitude. Ever had a dog take you for a walk? The author called it fourpaw drive.

A freezing constitutional walk for Archie at the dog park lands Jane in a murder mystery after the dog unearths a dead body.

Her skills at hacking help her make a living and come in handy when she attempts to solve the murder and clear her cousin’s name.

There’s also a hint of romance when hot cop Don and Jane meet. I was looking forward to finding out if he could handle her.

The writing is neat. The author keeps the story moving quickly. It’s earthy and the characters are flawed and genuine. Definitely a series I’ll be following.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Discovering a brutally murdered boy in a rainy dog park sends misanthropic private detective Jane Ronson on a journey through Baltimore’s gritty underbelly. Aided by a sexy cop, a bad-ass bull terrier, and an only-in-Baltimore cast of characters, Jane must use her computer-hacking and street-fighting skills to save her only family member from being framed as the killer.

.

 

DogSpelledBackwards
Dog Spelled Backwards: An Unholy Mystery
Mystery
Paperback: 210 pages
Publisher: Baxter World Publishing (August 17, 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-0985485214
File Size: 1355 KB
Print Length: 118 pages
 ASIN: B00FDXQVO8
goodreads-badge-add-plus

 

My Review

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with such a mishmash of characters and scenarios.

I had a hard time picturing Jane as an Orthodox Jewish woman. Several scenarios left me laughing. She’s a hard partying, sailor cussing, nobody tells me what to do gal and it was fun seeing her play this undercover role.

Jane and Don’s romance is steaming along. Her odd cousin Lenny and her hot cop boyfriend are scheming for wedding bells for the couple. I don’t see her as the settling down and getting married type, but we shall see.

And Jane’s loveable bull terrier, Archie, is up to his old tricks along with some new ones. Nothing like a dog to make a story more fun.

The author really ups the ante for Jane. She has a huge target on her back with the Russian mob after her. Also, she learns she’s Jewish, not the Catholic girl her mother led her to believe. Talk about a curve ball.

This second book in the Dog Park mysteries is even more intense, with very interesting and diverse characters. Another race to the finish line read and every bit as good as the first book, Murder in the Dog Park.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Private investigator Jane Ronson suffers from oppositional defiant disorder, the uncontrollable urge to punch first then ask questions later. When a rabbi with a shady past offers her a bag of cash to spy on a rival rabbi, Jane jumps at the chance to make what think will be easy money. To get her cash, Jane impersonates an Orthodox Jewish woman and infiltrates a black market kidney ring in Baltimore’s Orthodox community. Between Russian gangsters and double crosses, Jane is number one on everyone’s hit list. To save her life, she forms an alliance with a religious woman and confronts a family.

.

Jill Yesko Headshot
About This Author

Jill Yesko’s 20+ year writing career has included stints as a sport writer, NPR commentator and investigative reporter. She’s written about everything from body piercing to human pyramids in Spain. After a solo trek around the world, Jill was profiled as an “adventurous traveler” in O, the Oprah magazine. Before becoming a writer, Jill was a national-class cyclist and graduate and cartographer. A New Jersey native, Jill now patrols Baltimore’s dog parks with her basset hound.

 

.

.

Author Links

Website / Blog / Goodreads

 ~~~~

Tour Participants

April 14 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review
April 15 – Mommasez… – Review, Guest Post
April 16 – readalot blog – Review
April 17 – Kelly P’s Blog – Interview
April 18 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – Guest Post
April 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review
 April 21- deal sharing aunt – Guest Post
April 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review
April 22 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews – Review
April 23 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – Review
April 24 – fundinmental – Guest Post
April 25 – Thoughts in Progress – Review, Interview
April 26 – Chloe Gets a Clue – Interview
April 27 – Melina Book Blog – Guest Post
April 28 – Teena in Toronto – Review
April 29 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – Review
April 30 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Guest Post

~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Tour giveaway
An eBook copy of Murder in the Dog Park
An eBook copy of Dog Spelled Backwards

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle button

~~~~

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

Written Reckoning ~ A documentation of humanities last stand for future generations

Posted: April 10, 2014 in Book Blast, Mystery, Zombies
Tags: ,
4

Written Reckoning Banner

I just love the cover art for Written Reckoning and I’m addicted to stories about human dynamics in times of great turmoil. And there are zombies!

Check it out and enjoy the glimpse inside the book!

Genre: Mystery

Twenty years ago, a mysterious infection gripped the entire world, turning ordinary people into vicious cannibals. Until now, the pain, anguish, fears and losses suffered have been kept concealed by those too broken to relive their terrible ordeal.

 

While trying to escape his home of Pittsburgh, which had succumbed to the infection, young writer, Matt Everett, documented his harrowing struggle to keep both himself and his friends alive, while traveling across the country in search of safety and answers.

 

He did all of this to both preserve his sanity and describe the awful truth about a time when humanity was almost wiped out, for any future generations that may somehow exist.

 

This is that story. This is the truth. This is the world’s ‘Written Reckoning’.

 

~Excerpt~

 

I hit the top of the truck twice with my hand. “Just go!” I shouted back, still standing on the truck. There wasn’t time to get down.

 

Amber hit the gas as I kept shooting those nearest the truck, struggling to keep my balance while doing so. We weren’t moving very fast due to the abandoned cars surrounding us. Some of the Rots had caught up with us, we were that slow.

 

“Matt, look out!” I heard Danielle scream through the back window. I turned to see two Rots climbing onto the back of the truck to join me. I shot them before they could make it. They fell, still hanging over the truck, blood pouring from their heads. More of them were gaining on us, not that they had to move that fast. We were still surrounded by cars as we tried to get away.

 

I saw another Rot making its way onto the truck. I took aim but let out an exasperated shriek when, to my horror, the gun didn’t release a bullet, instead it just clicked; it was empty.

 

“Shit! Guys, I’m out of ammo!” I shouted.

 

But there was nothing they could do. If we stopped we’d be over-run in seconds.

 

“Just hang in there, Matt!” Darry yelled back.

 

That was much easier said than done. The Rot had made its way on board with me now.

 

“Crap!” I stood up, ready to fight it off. We locked arms as if it was a wrestling match and he tried to bring his bloodied mouth towards me, snapping his sordid teeth in anticipation. He was a strong fucker. He managed to push me over to the floor, which caused me to smash my arm against the side of the truck. I cried out as I felt the sharp edge slide into my skin.

 

I could hear the others screaming in fear for me from inside the truck. As soon as I was down, the Rot jumped on top of me, sensing an opportunity. I fought with everything I had to keep his mouth away from me, trying to punch and kick him off me. The truck had started speeding up now. We were out of the traffic but still not safe, the hordes of Rots were still chasing us. But for now, my only problem was getting this one off me.

 

Everything else faded from my concentration as the world around me ceased to exist. I reached around next to me for a weapon to use. All of the guns were inside the truck, but I felt around anyway, which meant I only had one free arm to keep him away from my face. As I kept searching with my hand, I felt a cold bar-like thing under my fingers and brought it up to the Rot’s head. I swung it towards him, missing a few times and even almost hitting myself. But on the next try, I got it right. I managed to hit him hard enough for him to roll off me, I quickly stood up.

 

He got back up and just kept coming for more. I pushed him against the edge of the truck, trying desperately to throw him off but I didn’t have enough strength. I could feel the blood making its way down my arm from my fresh wound.

 

Once the Rot noticed it, he began to go even crazier. Maybe he could smell the blood; making him want it even more. What a sight this would be for any passers-by, I thought. Man vs. Zombie on the back of a moving truck—just a bit of light entertainment.

 

At this point, we must have been far enough away from the rest of the Rots for Amber to feel it was safe to stop the truck. She put the brakes on hard, causing me to lose balance and fall over again. And again the Rot jumped on me, he wasn’t giving up. This time though, Joey and Darry were able to help. They got up on the truck with us and dragged the vicious thing off me, throwing it off the truck to the hard concrete road. As it stood up again, Darry aimed to shoot it. He shot it through the shoulder, not its head so it’s just kept going. Both he and Joey tried but couldn’t aim at its head properly.

 

Buy Link:  Amazon 

Written Reckoning button

 

~About the Author~

 

A.L. Parker is a writer and novelist just getting ready to release her first book, ‘Written Reckoning’. She has been published in Rock Sound magazine and on various music and gaming websites and currently writes for TrophiesonPSN.com. When not writing, Amy can be found listening to music too loud, watching hockey (LET’S GO PENS!) or playing video games. She also has a keen interest in horror, especially zombies and loves reading graphic novels and anything written by Hunter S.Thompson.

 

Author Links:   Site        Twitter

More fun tour stops

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Community reels as bodies stack up ~ Secrets, Lies and Trash by Dawn Miller

Posted: April 8, 2014 in Book Blast, Mystery
Tags: , ,
0

Secrets, Lies and Trash Banner

You just never know what you’ll find in the trash these days. Check this out!

Secrets, Lies and Trash

by Dawn Miller

secrets lies and trash cover

Genre: Mystery

Was it just another day on the job for garbage man/single dad, Russell Waverly?

Not if ordinary includes finding a severed head in the morning trash pickup. Four bodies in 48-hours send the working-class community of Spotswood, New Jersey reeling and it’s up to Russell and his childhood buddy, Detective Jake Turner to set things right.

~Excerpt~

I couldn’t make out the face, but I certainly recognized the voice. It was Jake Turner, my best friend since kindergarten. We had been inseparable since the day our tussle over a train engine had ended in a draw. The friendship stayed intact all the way through elementary school and into high school. Jake and I were all set to room together in college when the words

“I’m pregnant” forever altered my future. I have never regretted the decision to marry my childhood sweetheart, Caroline, and I couldn’t imagine my life without Ryan, but here we were.

Jake was a rising star with the Spotswood Police Department and I picked up his trash.

 Buy Links:  Amazon 

 ~About the Author~

You can connect with Dawn Miller at  Facebook       Google +    Pinterest

Check out these other stops on the tour!

Secrets Lies and Trash button

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

In the mood for a fun mystery? Tip of a Bone ~ My review and a giveaway too

Posted: March 25, 2014 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, reviews
Tags: , ,
38

tip of the bone top banner640 -2

Who’s up for a good mystery? I always am and I’ve got a fun one to tell you about.

Tip of a Bone has plenty of suspects and more than one mystery to solve.

Check it out. And don’t forget to enter the giveaway to win your own copy!

~~~

Tip of a Bone cover image copy

1771e-addtogoodreadsblack

Genre: Mystery Paperback: 264 pages

Publisher: Adventure Publications (September 3, 2013)

ISBN-13: 978-1591934394 E-Book ASIN: B00EGWE5HC

~~~~

My Review

Tip of a Bone is all about mystery. There are brief touches on romance but it doesn’t really play a part.

Maya moves from California to Oregon after her divorce. Same old story. Husband falls for younger woman, gets her pregnant, starts a new life. Old wife, like she never was.

The move gives her a chance to get to know her brother, Harley. As young kids, their parents divorced and each parent took one of the children. Maya was raised by her mother, having no contact with her father or Harley.

Just when they are starting to connect as friends, as siblings, Harley dies in a mysterious fire. The authorities say it was arson, the fire set by her brother, and he succumbed to smoke inhalation. Maya suspects something else.

As she questions his friends and fiance, she must stir up something, because she’s now being stalked, someone has broken into her apartment, and she’s nearly killed when a truck runs her off the road.

Now it’s a race to solve the mystery before she’s killed too.

What drew me to this book was the mention of eco-activists. There are the big companies coming in to set up their condos and the environmentalists who try to stop development, doing things like tree hugging and lying down in a busy intersection to stop traffic. Then, an activist vanishes and someone ups the ante to arson, burning equipment, a boat, and buildings.

One thing I missed was a connection to the characters. I enjoyed Maya, her divorce and subsequent struggles to find a path hit home. Been there before. But I didn’t really connect with anyone else in the story. Her brother, Harley, sounded promising if I’d had more time with him. Others played their part, adding to the list of suspects, but I didn’t much care about them.

While I didn’t particularly connect to a couple, they did make me wonder what they were. Good guys or bad guys?

Nick seemed like a nice guy while Tomas seemed scary. Both were part of the Coast Defenders group. Nick became suspect when right in the middle of some heavy petting, he stopped to answer his phone. Hmm…interested in Maya or what she knows?  And Tomas was a looming hulk, gruff like a bear. He made no bones about how he felt towards Maya sticking her nose in their business.

About half way into the mystery I had my suspect tagged. It wasn’t blatant, but I had a good idea he was guilty. Still had fun following Maya as she did her snooping and the ending was quite good. I got my man and you’ll find out if Maya got hers.

4 Stars

~~~

Synopsis

Buried bones, a missing eco-activist, and a deadly fire? It’s not what Maya Rivers bargained for when she moved to the coastal city of Newport, Oregon to reunite with her brother, Harley. Yet when Harley is accused of an unthinkable crime, Maya insists on adding “amateur sleuth” to her career options. It isn’t long before she discovers an eerie clue . . . but the closer she gets to the truth, the closer a murderer follows.

Purchase Links  ~  AMAZON   ~   B&N   ~  Book World

~~~

About This Author

CFinlayson author photo with skull

Christine Finlayson borrowed from her “past lives” as a waitress, barista, environmental educator, and water scientist when creating her debut mystery novel, Tip of a Bone—a tale that takes place on the stormy Oregon coast. In her spare time, Christine loves to run on forest trails, watch waves break, compete in triathlons, and photograph anything Northwest-weird or wild. She’s now working on her second book, a novel of suspense.

Christine’s an active member of Sisters in Crime, Friends of Mystery, Oregon Writers Colony, and Willamette Writers.

Author Links:

Webpage ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

 

~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

I have one copy of Tip of a Bone to giveaway.

Print or eBook (winners choice)

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

“Do you like a lot of suspects in a mystery?”

Giveaway ends April 4th

~~~

Tour Participants

March 25 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews – Review, Giveaway

March 26 – readalot blog – Review

March 27 – Books-n-Kisses – Review

March 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review, Guest Post

March 29 – Deal Sharing Aunt – Review, Interview, Giveaway

March 31 – Reviews By Molly – Review, Giveaway

April 1 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Guest Post

April 2 – Brooke Blogs – Review

April 3 – Kelly P’s Blog – Interview

April 4 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

great escape button160

~~~

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

Murder, Mystery, and Steampunk ~ Nefertiti’s Heart ~ Blog Tour Review and Giveaway

Posted: March 11, 2014 in Blog Tour, Mystery, New Adult, reviews, Romance, steam punk
Tags: , ,
10

I’m excited to be hosting a stop for the Artifact Hunters tour that features Nefertiti’s Heart and Hatshepsut’s Collar by A.W. Exley.   This series is new adult / Mystery / Steampunk, recommended for ages 16+ (there’s some mature content). The tour runs March 3-14th.  Check out the tour page for the full list of tour stops.

Nefertiti’s Heart (Artifact Hunters #1) by A.W. Exley

Page Count: 284 pages

Published: February 4th, 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press

Genre: NA/Mystery/Steampunk

Recommended Age: 16 and up

.

.

*****

My Review

Many people tagged this as steampunk, but I’m going with a Victorian murder mystery with elements of steampunk. For instance, there are mechanical horses that pull the carriages, cyborg servers, and mechanical artifacts.

I would have liked to see more of those elements, but the murder mystery more than filled the gap. The way the victims were slain had  an ancient ritualistic feel to them and were pretty brutal. The author kept me hopping from suspect to suspect and it was in no way obvious who the killer was.

I was also expecting more swashbuckling action as Nathaniel Lords was a sky pirate with his own airship. He does play the dual roles of villain and hero quite well. He sent the thugs to recover an artifact and they almost killed Cara. Later, I’m sure he’s glad they didn’t.

After many years away, Cara returned to London to settle her father’s affairs upon his passing. Not surprising, she’s only interested in the money to be had. Afterall, he did sell her into slavery to protect his precious artifacts. If she can follow his clues and recover them, she’ll be a very rich woman. Luck was on her side when the thugs attacked her, because she survived.

About the characters. There weren’t many I connected with. I did become fond of Cara, but some of her choices didn’t feel quite right. After her traumatic past, she seemed to accept Nates attention rather easily.

Maybe it’s because of her past that she was willing to let him assume the alpha role and stay under his wing. How do I know what’s the appropriate response and actions. That’s where fiction steps in and takes you where it does. I just let go and enjoyed the ride.

The romance between the two main characters is rather quick and hints at something more serious to come.

While Nefertiti’s Heart wasn’t quite what I was expecting, it was entertaining and my favorite part, the serial murderer, was very well done. I’m thinking the next book, Hatshepsut’s Collar, will have more fun and intrigue, and like with most books in a series, be even better. I’ll be reading it to find out.

4 STARS

*****

Stop back by tomorrow for my review of Hatshepsut’s Collar!

*****

Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the

strange death of her father – sell off his damned collection of

priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start

dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through

their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal

beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to

immortality.

Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a

connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere

in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with

strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life,

notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his

desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she

could figure out his motive.

Self-preservation fuels Cara’s search for the gem. In a society where

everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure

out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

Links:

Hatshepsut’s Collar (Artifact Hunters #2) by A.W. Exley

Page Count: 274
Published: November 13th, 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press


An ancient Egyptian artifact is driving Queen Victoria insane, and that’s not top of Cara Devon’s growing list of problems.

Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is a man of numerous secrets, but there is one in particular that threatens his fledgling relationship with Cara. Stunned by Nate’s revelation, and before she can absorb the ramifications of his actions, he is arrested, charged with treason and imprisoned in the grim Tower of London. He stole something the mad queen wants, and only has days to deliver, before his date with the executioner.

Although sorely tempted, Cara can’t let him die on Tower Green, not when their connection means she would share his fate.

Only together can Cara and Nate figure out how to wrestle Hatshepsut’s Collar from around the queen’s neck, before she plunges Britain into a world war. The search for answers sends Cara to the opulent Winter Palace of St Petersburg and the frozen depths of Siberia, with every step shadowed by an enemy with his own dark plans.

Links:

Goodreads | Amazon US | uk | de |  fr | it | es | Kobo

Anita Exley’s Biography:

Books and writing have always been an enormous part of A.W. Exley’s life.

She survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, she overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.

Today, Anita writes steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. She lives in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.

 

Author Links:
Facebook | Goodreads

*****

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Giveaway:

Steampunk Dragon Jewelry Box,  Butterfly Hairclip, Full set of paperback books in the Artifact Hunters series & A pair of custom Nefertiti’s Heart / Hatshepsut’s Collar bookmarks with drawn character art (US/CA)

Google Chromecast, Full set of paperback books in the Curiosity Quills anthologies (Primetime & After Dark ’13) (US/CA)

12 ebook prize – READ AN EBOOK A MONTH Any 12 ebooks from the CQ catalog in the format of your choice (INT)

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle button

This tour was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

~~~~

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

Help choose the voice of Sydney Rye for the audio book Unleashed and enter the giveaway!

Posted: March 4, 2014 in Adult Fiction, Book Blast, giveaways, Mystery, Series
Tags: , , ,
8
.
Choose the Voice of Sydney Rye
.

Sydney Rye is coming to Audio and we need your help picking the narrator!

Emily Kimelman’s “Sydney Rye” series features a strong female protagonist and her rescue dog, Blue. It is recommended for the 18+ who enjoy some violence, don’t mind dirty language, and are up for a dash of sex. Not to mention an awesome, rollicking good mystery!

Haven’t read Sydney Rye yet? Download the first book, UNLEASHED, for free on Amazon, iTunes, B&N, or Kobo and see how she sounds in your head then vote for the best narrator!

Voting enters you to win all sorts of great prizes including Amazon gift cards, signed books, and the finished Audio book! Add to your chances of winning by joining Emily’s email list, liking her Facebook page, or telling your friends about the contest. The Rafflecopter is at the end of this post.

Here are your choices:

The code to listen to each artist is below along with their bio.

Emily Strong

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/135354626″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Bio: Emily Strong is an actor, voiceover talent, and first time filmmaker. As a native of Michigan, she is a nature-lover at heart but has the mind of a city girl and moved to Chicago nearly three years ago because she wasn’t smart enough to go somewhere warmer. She takes full advantage of what the city has to offer by training at legendary places like The Second City and eating lots and lots of ethnic food (will travel all the way across the city to Pilsen for the best tacos!). Her love of reading was the catalyst for her adventurous spirit and the reason why she is always stoked to tell stories in their many different forms.

You can visit her at www.emilystrong.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Erin Jones

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/135361730″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Bio: Erin has narrated over 500 audio books including “The Hunger Games” trilogy for The National Library Services/Library Of Congress, “A State Of Wonder,” The Garden Of The Beasts,” “Anna Karenina,” “Ferdinand The Bull, and “Madeline.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sonja Field

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/135364511″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Bio: Sonja has two loves: acting and reading. Narrating audiobooks is her absolute passion. She has logged over 600 hours recording textbooks with an organization called Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, and is currently in the process of recording a kids’ action-fantasy-adventure novel, a steamy and mysterious paranormal romance, and a non-fiction about writing. She loves nothing more than bringing vivid worlds and unique characters to life. When she’s not recording, Sonja can be found onstage, traipsing around Brooklyn, or entertaining children with a variety of dubious accents.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Erica Newhouse

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/136160912″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Bio: Erica Newhouse is a film, televesion and theater actor living in New York City. She is a graduate of The Juilliard School.

~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More about UNLEASHED:

UNLEASHED is the first book in Emily Kimelman’s best selling Sydney Rye series of mysteries.

When the series begins Sydney Rye is named Joy Humbolt. She does not like people telling her what to do, so it comes as no surprise that she was just fired from her last job. When she buys Charlene Miller’s dog-walking business on Manhattan’s exclusive upper east side, it seems like the perfect fit: Quiet environment, minimal contact with people.

But then one of her clients turns up dead, and Charlene disappears. Rumors say Charlene was having an affair with the victim–and of course, everyone assumes Joy must know where she is. Joy begins to look into the crime, first out of curiosity then out of anger when there is another murder and threats start to come her way.

When police detective Mulberry is assigned to the case, Joy finds a kindred spirit–cynical and none-too-fond of the human race. As they dig deep into the secrets of Manhattan’s elite, they not only get closer to the killer but also to a point of no return. One last murder sends Joy Humbolt hurtling over the edge. Her only chance of survival is to become Sydney Rye.

~~~~

The Rest of The Sydney Rye Series:

DEATH IN THE DARK (A Sydney Rye Novella, #2)

INSATIABLE (A Sydney Rye Novel, #3)

STRINGS OF GLASS (A Sydney Rye Novel, #4)

THE DEVIL’S BREATH (A Sydney Rye Novel, #5) Coming April 2014

Emily Kimelman Biography

Emily Kimelman is the author of the best sellunleashed Emily (author photo)ing “Sydney Rye” series of mystery novels including UNLEASHED, DEATH IN THE DARK, INSATIABLE, STRINGS OF GLASS and the forthcoming THE DEVIL’S BREATH. Emily lives with her husband, Sean Gilvey, and their dog, Kinsey Millhone “Pup Detective”, on a trawler docked in the Hudson Valley during the summer. She spends her winters traveling to where ever the next Sydney Rye Novel takes place. Right now she is in Costa Rica working on Sydney Rye #6.

If you’ve read Emily’s work and liked it please contact her. She loves hearing from readers. You can reach Emily via email ejkimelman@gmail.com or on twitter @ejkimelman. Follow her on Instagram to see pictures from Emily’s latest adventures. Visit www.emilykimelman.com to learn more about Emily and the Sydney Rye series.

Links:

UNLEASHED

Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords ~ iTunes ~ B&N

Social Media

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Newsletter sign up

~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Copies of the Finished Audio Book

Signed Copies of Unleashed

Set of all 5 Books, including the forthcoming The Devil’s Breath

A $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle button

~~~~

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

The Friday 56 #17 ~ When the Dead Whisper by Tara Neideffer

Posted: February 28, 2014 in Meme, Mystery, Paranormal or fantasy, The Friday 56
Tags: , , ,
13

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

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

~~~~

The only concrete thing I had was a worn dock, some rope and that girl I kept seeing that tries to tell me things. It all has to tie together, right? I rub at my temples wishing I could reset my clock to yesterday, with the knowledge I have now.

~~~~

When the Dead Whisper

By Tara Neideffer

When the Dead Whisper

1771e-addtogoodreadsblack

Haunted by her past
Wanted by the dead
Tracking a killer

Follow Mia Rushton on her journey to find answers.

Tattoo artist, Mia Rushton, has never proclaimed herself as normal. She likes being different, even her cat is weird. But when random haunting memories from her childhood won’t go away, she decides it’s time to find out the real reason behind them.

As she takes her life into a new direction, Mia soon discovers she has new found feelings for a guy she’s been deliberately pushing away for six months. A guy who is now covered in tattoos thanks to her. Ryan Mosier, is persistent, confident, and turns out to be exactly what she didn’t think she needed.

When things start to slowly unravel around her, she knows she has no choice but to follow the path life has dealt, even if it means following the dead who give her clues to a string of murders that have been happening around the city of Danvers. Will she piece the disturbing puzzle together and find out who the killer is before it’s too late or will the killer find her first?

*No Cliffhanger and is a Standalone*

**Due to sexual content and language, this novel is intended for audiences ages 18+**

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Older Entries
Newer Entries