Archive for the ‘Novella’ Category

Spring Thaw by Lauren Carr ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: November 22, 2018 in giveaways, Mystery, Novella, reviews
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I’ve been reading Lauren’s books for a while now. Each series has genuine, fun characters that have charmed me from one book to the next. I’m thrilled to be able to share some short stories from her collection, Spring Thaw.

Enjoy my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Spring Thaw

by Lauren Carr

Category: Adult fiction, 237 pages
Genre: Murder Mystery, Short Stories
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: August 12, 2018
Tour dates: Nov 12 to Dec 14, 2018
Content Rating: PG (mild violence and sexual suggestion)

My Review

When I like a series, and Lauren has several that I’ve been enjoying, I also like to grab any side or short stories collections that go along with them. Spring Thaw dips into a couple of her series. Each one has a lot of characters and the author provides a list at the beginning of the books explaining who’s who . By the end of the first book in each series these characters were so memorable I no longer had to refer to her list to know who was who. So when I started reading each of these stories, the characters were familiar and I just dove in to see what was going to happen.

I quickly engaged with the character’s, human and critters. And the mystery was established without fanfare so the author get right to the meat of it. I enjoyed the dialogue, either cracking a grin or laughing while following along. And the critters are a huge bonus. They’re all shapes and sizes and have unique personalities. It’s common for them to steal the limelight.

I was hoping for and got an appearance from Mayor Gnarly, a mischief making German Shepherd that stole my heart the moment I met him. Yes, you read this right, he was actually elected Mayor. Lauren describes him so clearly it’s like I’m watching his scenes, not reading them. When he’s kidnapped by two bungling thieves, he actually made me snort and think, oh no, you didn’t. LOL

If you’ve read Lauren’s books, you’ll enjoy these fun nibbles. If you haven’t, you can easily read this collection and meet some of the stars. There’s plenty of humor, snark and twists to keep you entertained.

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Synopsis

In today’s hectic world, many whodunit fans don’t have time to get their mystery fix diving into a whole novel. Lauren Carr’s SPRING THAW AND OTHER MYSTERY SHORT STORIES is for these fans—but that doesn’t mean whodunit fans who do have time can’t dive in as well.

A novella, Spring Thaw features retired federal agent Chris Matheson from Lauren Carr’s newest bestselling cold case series. When his late father’s former friend is indicted for the seven year old murder of a church bishop, Chris renews old broken friendships to thaw out the cold case.

Featuring Mac Faraday from Lauren Carr’s popular Mac Faraday Mysteries, an estate auction turns into a deadly affair after Gnarly’s antics cause Mac to purchase a gem of a dress, which isn’t his color in Killing Bid. (Previously published in Lauren Carr’s BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Beauty to Die For features the Lovers in Crime, Joshua Thornton and Cameron Gates in a race against the Angel of Death to clear the name of a dying woman’s son, who was framed for murdering Miss Pennsylvania. (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Countdown to Murder returns to the Lovers in Crime where Cameron and Joshua try to solve the murder of a young pregnant widow before it happens. (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Mystery fans will see that every dog has his day, especially if that dog is Gnarly. In Lucky Dog, Gnarly helps Mac Faraday to solve the murder of a wealthy society girl. (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Dog Loving Mystery Fans will get a special treat when they read The Gnarly Rehabilitation Program. In this Gnarly Mystery Short, Bert and Ernie learn the hard way that crime does not pay when they dog nap Gnarly. (Previously published as a bonus feature with A WEDDING AND A KILLING.)

Gnarly, the rambunctious German shepherd, is also featured in Lauren Carr’s Christmas short, A Gnarly Christmas. It is Christmas day and Gnarly has been up to his old tricks again. Now he’s in the dog house–or rather the boathouse–after stealing the Christmas feast! Moments after Archie and Mac leave Spencer Manor, Gnarly hears a call for help from Rocky, the Maltese down the street. Four assassins for hire have invaded the home of Rocky’s elderly owners. While the home invaders wait for instructions from a mysterious caller, Gnarly must plot to stop them. Can Gnarly save Christmas with only the help of an 8-pound Maltese dressed in an elf suit? (Previously published as a single short story by the same name.)

 
Buy Spring Thaw:
Praise for Lauren Carr’s books:
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“Lauren Carr is a master storyteller who combines the humor of Janet Evanovich and the investigative skills of Patricia Cornwell. She is always at the top of my reading list.”
– Sherry Fundin, Fundinmental

“Lauren Carr could give Agatha Christie a run for her money!”
– Charlene Mabie-Gamble, Literary R&R

“Lauren Carr’s books are never boring, that’s for sure. They entertain, give us a good mystery to dig into, keep the reader guessing, give us a few good laughs and make us eager for the next book. Warning: Lauren Carr’s series are addictive, so be ready to read more than just one book!”
– Laura Fabiani, Library of Clean Reads

“She is an amazing author that draws you into the story, makes you fall in love with the characters (they feel like family!) and keeps you guessing right to the very end.”
– Working Mommy Journal

“Lauren Carr does a good job of moving the quirky storyline along nicely with an abundance of witty dialogue. And you have no idea who the good guys are and who the bad guys are until the end.”
– Every Free Chance Book Reviews

To read reviews, please visit Lauren Carr’s page on iRead Book Tours.

Meet the Author:
 
 

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Now, Lauren has added one more hit series to her list with the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries. Set in the quaint West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry, Ice introduces Chris Matheson, a retired FBI agent, who joins forces with other law enforcement retirees to heat up those cold cases that keep them up at night.

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

​Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

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Enter the Giveaway!
Ends Dec 22, 2018
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills ~ Day #5 ~ Hunter Shea’s Mail Order Massacres

Posted: October 5, 2017 in horror, Novella, reviews
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Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills!

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I’ll be sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to

get those scares on for the 31st!

I’m sharing more from Hunter Shea. Is one of my go to authors for bloody carnage and fun.

Just Add Water

Mail Order Massacre #1

by Hunter Shea

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Genre: Horror

My Review

I’m sure many of you bought them. Those sea monkeys advertised in comic books. I did. And so did a couple of boys.They clip out the order form, fill it out, insert their dollar bill and send it off. When the order arrives and their freeze dried pets don’t hatch and start to stink, they dump them in the sewer.

Yep, you guessed it. Time passes. The creatures hatch. They grow. They crawl out of the sewers. Horrific in ways unimaginable. And then they feed. There goes the neighborhood.

I can always count on Hunter to make me laugh and squirm at the same time. It’s bloody good fun on the level of B- movies. It doesn’t have to be spectacular writing. The author doesn’t have to have his ducks all in a row. He just lets it rip and rip and rip.

If you haven’t tried any of Hunter’s books before, this would be a perfect first read. Not too short or too long and packed full of action.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

GROW AMAZING LIVE SEA SERPENTS!

It’s fun! It’s easy! They only cost a measly dollar. Just clip out the ad in your comic book. Then ask Mom to mail it in. A few weeks later, receive a packet of instant Sea Serpent dust. Then:

Just add water . . . and watch them grow!

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

Just ask David and Patrick. Their “instant pets” are instant duds. They don’t hatch, they don’t grow, they don’t do anything. So they dump them into the sewer where Dad pours toxic chemicals . . .

WAIT UNTIL FEEDING TIME.

It’s been years since David and Patrick thought about those Sea Serpents. But now, small animals are disappearing in the neighborhood. Strange slimy creatures are rising from the sewers. And once the screaming starts, David and Patrick realize that their childhood pets really did come to life. With a vengeance. They’re enormous . . . and have a ravenous hunger for human flesh . . .

Amazon

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Optical Delusion

Mail Order Massacre #2

by Hunter Shea

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Genre: Horror

I remember those silly ads in the back of comic books. I actually bought those sea monkeys. And if I’d come across an ad about X-ray vision glasses, I’d probably have bought those too. When Martin Blackstone tries on his son’s silly glasses he doesn’t expect anything to really happen. Imagine his surprise when they work. He can see under peoples clothes, and more. And the more he dons the glasses the more he sees. Until he sees too much. And the glasses won’t come off.

Who says you have to like the main character to enjoy a book? I’ve read many a good story where I didn’t and had fun seeing how bad things could get for them. Martin isn’t really likeable to begin with. You’ll come to loathe him when the changes begin. When the glasses he scoffed at turn him into something terrible. It made me wonder if Martin might have shown his hidden ugliness in some other way if he’d never put on those glasses. All that evil couldn’t come from out of the blue could it? It had to be there, under the surface, waiting for a chance to come out and play, right?

This is such a fun series. I really enjoyed Just Add Water, the first in Hunter’s Mail Order Massacre series.

While this one didn’t wow me as much as the first book, it was still worth the read. The author gave me the gory fun I’d come to expect.

3  Stars

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Synopsis

OPEN YOUR EYES WITH “X-RAY” VISION!

Put on a pair of “X-Ray” glasses and things will never look the same! These almost magical specs will make you the hit of the party! Astonishing three-dimensional X-Ray visions of what your friends—and girls—look like under their clothes! And all for just $1.

THE MORE YOU WEAR THEM . . .

Martin Blackstone punishes his son for wasting his allowance on a pair of flimsy cardboard sunglasses X-ray vision . . . yeah, right. Martin tries them on just for the hell of it—and all they do is give him a headache . . .

. . . THE DEEPER YOU’LL SEE.

Until he sees things he can’t possibly be seeing. Glimpses of things on the other side of a wall or beneath someone’s clothing. He wants to believe it’s just his overactive imagination but the “X-Ray” specs actually work. Then the fun novelty becomes a waking nightmare when the glasses burn into his face and he starts seeing horrifying apocalyptic visions no mortal man was ever meant to see. Images that alter his very personality—from a husband and father to a bloodthirsty homicidal maniac . . .

Because sometimes you can see too much.

Amazon

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

The Keeper Set ~ A Summer Spirit Novella ~ Tour and Giveaway

Posted: October 2, 2017 in giveaways, Novella, Romance, urban fantasy
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The Keeper Set
by Samantha Jacobey
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
 
No one EVER had a summer romance like this. 

When Charlie visited another plane parallel to our own, he discovered that
Summer Angels and Dark Angels battle over the fate of man. Faced with
choices no one should ever have to make, his adventure has been
fraught with twists and turns, with life and death hanging in the
balance. His guardian, Clarisse, is the half that makes him whole,
but sinister forces conspire to do more than simply keep them
apart.
Find out if they can stand up to the powers that be in this THRILLING
MAGICAL ADVENTURE!!! (New adult)
Keeper of Truth
Summer Spirit Novellas Book 7 – The Keeper Set
Keeper of Lies
Summer Spirit Novellas Book 8 – The Keeper Set
Keeper of Oblivion
Summer Spirit Novellas Book 9 – The Keeper Set
 
 
Don’t miss the other books in the series!
The Angel Set
by Samantha Jacobey
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
 
No one EVER had a summer romance like this. When Charlie visited another
plane parallel to our own, he discovered that Summer Angels and Dark
Angels battle over the fate of man. Faced with choices no one should
ever have to make, his adventure has been fraught with twists and
turns, with life and death hanging in the balance. His guardian,
Clarisse, is the half that makes him whole, but sinister forces
conspire to do more than simply keep them apart. Find out if they can
stand up to the powers that be in this THRILLING MAGICAL ADVENTURE!!!
(New adult)
Summer Angel
Summer Spirit Novellas- Book 1 – The Angel Set
**FREE ON AMAZON**
Dark Angel
Summer Spirit Novellas- Book 2 – The Angel Set
Forgotten Angel
Summer Spirit Novellas- Book 3 – The Angel Set
 .
The Karma Set
by Samantha Jacobey
 Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
 
The Magical Adventure continues! If you liked the Summer, Dark and
Forgotten Angels in the first segment of the Summer Spirit Novella
Series, you are going LOVE what happens when Karma gets involved. Are
they a race of ancient beings, here for the benefit of mankind? Or is
a group of marauders poised and ready to strike us down when we least
expect it? Charlie must find the truth and his inner strength for any
hope of freeing Clarisse and ending the battle… (New Adult)
Karma’s Minion
Summer Spirit Novellas- Book 4 – The Karma Set
Karma’s Revenge
Summer Spirit Novellas- Book 5 – The Karma Set
Karma’s Legacy
Summer Spirit Novellas- Book 6- The Karma Set
 .
Anyone who knows me could tell you, I am a friendly kind of person, never
met a stranger and take up conversations any where at any time. I
work hard, and my mind never seems to shut down, as I wake up often
in the middle of the night with ideas pouring out and demanding to be
dealt with. Of course that means much of my books were written in the
middle of the night.
I grew up and still live in the great state of Texas where everything
is bigger, where we have warm weather and a central location. I love
my state, my town, and my family, which includes my four sons, my
significant other, and many friends as well.
I have thoroughly enjoyed writing the books that are currently
available and hope you will enjoy reading them just as much. And of
course, there will be many more stories to come.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

My Monday Minis Reviews #62 ~ The Conversationalist

Posted: July 17, 2017 in horror, Novella, reviews
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Welcome to My Monday Minis where I share short reviews about books I’ve read.

I’m a sucker for clever titles and catchy cover art. It was an easy choice to read The Conversationalist. Not a long story but sure gets the point across.

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The Conversationalist

by Justin Bog

Horrorstruck Novel #1

Genre: Psychological Horror

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My Review

The Conversationalist is tagged as psychological horror. Being a genre I really enjoy, I crossed my fingers and gave it a go. It’s unpredictability makes for quite the page turner.  And, as mentioned in the synopsis, it has an aura of old time edgy horror. I can see this playing out in black and white on the movie screen.

Patrick is such an odd bird.  I’m still wondering what to make of him after finishing this story. You get right inside his head, and you really need to keep on your toes as you fall down that rabbit hole.

Patrick tries to be normal. He even starts dating Wendy. But I wonder if he’s drawn to her subconsciously. If maybe like is drawn to like. He has a dark side and so does she. Two very odd, lost souls make for an unexpected outcome.

While the story isn’t long, the author does a superb job bringing his character to life. How he presents Patrick to you is suspenseful and fills you with an intense need to find out what his dark thoughts are leading up to.

It was truly nothing I would have expected and still lingers in my mind. A first read for me by this author and it won’t be my last.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

BEGIN A CONVERSATION WITH PATRICK, IF YOU DARE . . .

“The Conversationalist is the type of story that if Alfred Hitchcock were alive and his TV show, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962-1965), was still up and running, he’d snatch Bog’s script as fast as he could and turn it into a featured vignette.”—Anita Lock, Seattle Book Review

On Patrick’s Pacific Northwest Island home, people whisper about his family’s sad history. Some feel sorry for him. Most want to help Patrick, as if he’s a song-less bird, make him their next project, and even set him up on a date with a best friend . . .

On one such date, Wendy sits across from Patrick and confesses she’s afraid to die, and says: “My mother died a year ago . . . horribly.” Patrick listens and pretends to care. He keeps his own dark secret safe that way.

There’s something wrong with the way Patrick treats the women he dates, his friends, his family . . . no one ever gets close to Patrick. He won’t allow that.

“This suspenseful story deals with lies and betrayals that threaten lives and friendships, and they don’t leave anyone innocent in the end.”—Jacob Buckenmeyer, Anacortes American

THE CONVERSATIONALIST
Horrorstruck Novella One

Included within: an original dark tale, THE NIGHT, and a bonus short story from the award-winning suspense collection, Sandcastle and Other Stories, ON THE BACK STAIRCASE.

Justin Bog is a member of the ITW: International Thriller Writers. He lives in the Pacific Northwest on Fidalgo Island. He’s the author of the crime novel, Wake Me Up, and HARK!

Amazon

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

Blitz and Giveaway ~ Mason Dixon – Monster Hunter by Eric R. Asher

Posted: April 27, 2017 in Adult Fiction, giveaways, Novella, urban fantasy
Tags: , , ,
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Mason Dixon – Monster Hunter Episode 1
Eric R. Asher
Publication date: April 21st 2017
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Synopsis

They are the first line of defense against the things that go bump in the night.

They are the keepers of a centuries-old legacy of The Church defending the world against the forces of darkness.

They are a bunch of highly armed rednecks, internet video celebrities, soccer moms, and assorted broken nutjobs.

They are the new Templars, and things are about to get weird.

From the pages of Bubba the Monster Hunter comes a new series featuring the Hunters from around the United States hunting down monsters, fighting off supernatural baddies, and making life really, really bad for the things that hunt people.

He’s Mason Dixon, and he’s a bona fide internet celebrity. He has his own video series, a pistol that deserves its own area code, and a high definition video camera, and he’s not afraid to use any of them.

In this introductory urban fantasy novella, we meet Mason, his right hand Emma, his “handler” Noah, his anime-styled hacker friend Himari, and more monsters than you can shake a stick at. Unless it’s a really big stick.

With Mason, it’s always a big stick. This first novella in the series follows Mason through the wilds of Missouri as he hunts down monsters that hunt men, monsters that eat chewing tobacco, and monsters that make pancakes. And there’s moonshine.

And then Bubba the Monster Hunter shows up.

The New Templars novella series is a new series of short novels, similar to BookShots. Mason Dixon – Monster Hunter is the first in the series by popular urban fantasy and steampunk author Eric R. Asher.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

“Out,” I said. “Get out of the pit. Safeties off.” I raised the stock to my shoulder and swept the area around us again.

Emma slipped and crashed into the pit, sending a cascade of stained white bones over the edge to clatter down into the limestone depression. We waited, and I could hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.

Boom.

We both froze. I don’t care how many times you’ve encountered something in the wild, you still freeze for a split second.

Boom.

“Move!” I hissed, backpedaling while keeping my tranquilizer aimed around Emma. She was almost out. We could get back on the ATVs and come back with bigger guns. 10cc darts? I should have brought the 50cc cannon. This was a mistake. The old man wasn’t crazy at all.

Boom. Boom. Boom. BoomBoomBoom.

The gowrow erupted from its lair like it had been spit forth by an angry god. Its stubby, bulbous body might have been humorous paired with its long scaly neck if not for the tusks fit for a mammoth gleaming in the dying sun. It would take that creature zero effort to kill us in one charge.

Its movements seemed awkward, but its attacks were practiced. The gowrow swiped at Emma with a four-toed webbed foot, a lethal claw extending from each digit. She fell backwards and rolled away, barely avoiding the attack.

Any doubt this gowrow was a maneater fled in a heartbeat.

I cranked the air pressure as high as it would go on the tranquilizer gun and fired. The dart rose slightly in a wind disturbance created by the massive creature and pinged harmlessly off the field of spiky scales lining its back. I cursed, flipped the butt of the rifle open, and loaded another dart.

 

Author Eric R. Asher

Eric is a former bookseller, cellist, and comic seller currently living in Saint Louis, Missouri. A lifelong enthusiast of books, music, toys, and games, he discovered a love for the written word after being dragged to the library by his parents at a young age. When he is not writing, you can usually find him reading, gaming, or buried beneath a small avalanche of Transformers.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Teaser Tuesday #160 ~ Chasing Fireflies ~ Power Of The Matchmaker

Posted: June 7, 2016 in New Release, Novella, Romance, Teaser Tuesdays
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Teaser

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB at Books And A Beat.

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 this week is from

Chasing Fireflies

A Power Of The Matchmaker Novel

by Taylor Dean

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Genre: Romance

Expected Publication : July 1, 2016

My teaser from page 100 in the paperback.

“Tell me about you, Savannah. In complete sentences this time, please.”

I can’t suppress a smile, glad he sees humor in our frightening-to-me experience. “Let’s see…”

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Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

My sisters think I’m crazy.

But, I’ve never forgotten the mysterious woman from my childhood who told me Paul is the name of my one true love.

She told me to search far and wide for him.

I haven’t stopped looking ever since.

When I stumble across an article about a successful American entrepreneur named Paul who lives and works in China, I’m intrigued. When the opportunity to teach English in China presents itself on the same day, I know it’s not a coincidence.

It’s destiny.

My sisters say I’m chasing a dream.

Just like the fireflies we tried to catch on the warm summer evenings of our youth, the dream seems beyond my grasp. Will my quest for the elusive Paul always be just short of fulfillment?

My sisters tell me it’s a fool’s errand.

Until I remind them of the day we saw the Red Bird.

The memory silences them.

The Red Bird Incident remains inarguable—and proves my search for Paul is not a silly fantasy.

I will find Paul . . . I will.

AMAZON

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Chasing Fireflies is actually Taylor’s contribution to a series of 12 stories by different authors, a new book releasing each month in 2016.

You can read this without having read the other books, but you do need to read the short novella Power Of The Matchmaker first to really grasp this and the other 11 stories.

It’s available free on Amazon. Click HERE to get your copy!

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Synopsis

A prequel novella to the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER Series
Mystical . . . Beautiful . . . Romantic . . .
12 novels by 12 bestselling authors
Released once a month in 2016
Read the matchmaker’s story to find out where it all starts . . .

Mae Li has been in love with Chen Zhu for years, and he with her. But when the matchmaker arrives at the Zhu family home, she recommends another village girl for Chen.

Heartbroken, Mae Li watches as Chen does his duty by marrying another. Mae flees her village with the clothes on her back and her only possession—a pearl embedded comb, given to her as a goodbye gift from Chen Zhu.

Upon Mae’s arrival in Shanghai, she quickly learns that she’ll starve within days unless she sells her prized comb or joins a courtesan house. She goes to the Huangpu River and promises the River God that she’ll always be selfless if he will save her from becoming a prostitute . . . Her wish is granted when Ms. Tan, the matchmaker of Shanghai, finds Mae. But Mae must completely change her future and her name if she is to become the next matchmaker.

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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Love & Decay: Revolution ~ Episode Five ~ Release Day and Giveaway

Posted: February 5, 2016 in giveaways, horror, Novella, Release day, Zombies
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Today is the release day of Rachel Higginson’s Love and Decay: Revolution, Episode Five. This is a serial novella, and completely standalone in the Love & Decay universe. I am so excited to share this with you!! Be sure to enter Rachel’s giveaway as well and grab your copy today!

L&D Revolution Ep 5 RDL Ban
About Love and Decay: Revolution: Episode Five:

Revolution Episode 5
It’s not easy being a badass Zombie killer. But somebody’s got to do it.

Page Parker and family have survived the worst of their journey back to the former United States. They managed the Darien Gap and fought their way through Mexico City. But now, on the brink of Revolution, they’ve made one last stop in the Mexican Territories.

Hoping to find an ally in an old friend, they walk into a volatile community fighting more wars than they have Zombie armies for.

But it’s not just cannibals and Colony scouts they have to fear. There are internal battles that have to be fought too.

When Page learns more about Miller’s dark side, she has to confront the reality that maybe he isn’t the hero she thinks he is. Maybe he’s more like his father than she ever thought possible.

Love and Decay: Revolution is a Dystopian Romance Novella Series about Zombies, the end of the world and finding someone to share it with. Every episode is approximately 20,000 words long and released every two weeks. Look for Love and Decay: Revolution, Episode Six coming February 19th, 2016.

Buy now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Catch up on the Revolution

Episode 1: Amazon | BN

Episode 2: Amazon | BN

Episode 3: Amazon | BN

Episode 4: Amazon | BN

Volume 1 (episodes 1-4) Amazon | BN

 

Rachel Higginson Bio:

rachel_profile_pic (1)Rachel Higginson is the author of The Five Stages of Falling in Love, Every Wrong Reason, The Star-Crossed Series, Love & Decay Novella Series and much more!

She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days writing stories and raising four amazing kids.

 

Links:

Author Page | Instagram | Twitter | Website

 

Enter Rachel’s giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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Your Third Choice for Saturday Screams ~ The Hanging Tree

Posted: October 10, 2015 in Dark Fantasy, horror, Novella, reviews
Tags: , , , ,
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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.

Now for your next choice, The Hanging Tree.

Come on in and get your scare on!

The Hanging Tree

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My Review

A scary good tale.

The location, Long Island.  The setting, beneath the legendary Hanging Tree.

The characters.

Arielle, a seventeen year old girl. Frustrated and angry at her parents, she sneaks off to the tr to meet Chad.

Chad, one year older than Arielle, is there for her. Understands her. Cares about her. He meets her under the tree.

The tree.

A local legend and truly haunted.

The inhabitants of the tree.

Spirits, young and old, angry and sad, despairing and hopeful.

And one more thing. Watch out for the cat!

This was a short story but so well written. The characters, alive and dead, were so captivating. Arielle and Chad had me feeling their pain, their hope. And the spirits in the tress. Well, most of them really creeped me out.

How the author presents the spirits and their ties to the Hanging Tree is quite creative and eerie. Now I look twice when I see one of the massive Live Oaks that grow everywhere in the south. Their twisted branches, some growing right along ground are how I pictured the Hanging Tree. I wonder if they have spirits lingering, attaching to those branches, just waiting for someone to come along.

I still think about this story. About choices I’ve made. About choices I will make in the future.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Enter a world where spirits roam the earth in Michael Phillip Cash’s haunting new novella, The Hanging Tree. Set amid the eerie backdrop of Long Island, an area famously steeped in old legend, two young would-be lovers contemplate their future while visits from those who have come before them reveal the lure of fate…and the power of free will. At seventeen years old, Arielle’s relationship with her parents is slowly deteriorating. Angry and defiant, she is at a loss on how to cope with the tumultuous situation in which she finds herself. Arielle’s only comfort is Chad, an eighteen-year-old young man who seems to truly understand her struggles. Arielle and Chad meet beneath the low-hanging branches of what the local community has nick-named the “Hanging Tree”. An ancient and majestic landmark, it has long been rumored that the tree is haunted by ghosts. These ghosts span various centuries and vary wildly in age, but each one of them has one thing in common: their deaths are all somehow connected to the tree itself. As Arielle and Chad commiserate over their current situation and their precarious nature of their future, the spectral inhabitants of the Hanging Tree witness their conversation. One by one,the ghosts begin reminiscing about their own lives-and deaths- as they examine the inner demons with which their human forms long struggled. An eerie meditation on the oft-overlooked power of choice, Cash’s The Hanging Tree will stay with readers long after they turn out the light.

Trailer

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Be sure to stop back by for next Saturday’s choice.

And thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Teaser Tuesdays #126 ~ Ghosts Among Men

Posted: August 18, 2015 in Mystery, Novella, Paranormal or fantasy, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: , , ,
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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.

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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!

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My Teaser for this week is from

Ghosts Among Men

A Samantha Davidson Novella

by Laura Del

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My Teaser from 18% in the eBook.

“Would you please go away,” I almost begged her. Even for a dead person she was annoying.

“Fine. But remember – “

“You’ll be back,” I finished. “I get it.”

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My Review

You’d think being able to see and talk to ghosts would be a handy thing if you’re a private investigator. But that doesn’t help Samantha Davidson.

Samantha is working a murder case with her assistant, Mark, and homicide detective, Lance MacDowell. She sees and interviews the murdered girl, Allison.  The problem is, Allison can’t remember what happened to her, who killed her.

Samantha has solved all twenty of her cases so far, from helping loved ones connect to catching adulterers. Not bad for only a year as a P.I. But this case could threaten that record.

Life gets complicated for Samantha. Things aren’t what they appear in this case. Lots of secrets. Lots of money. Lots of ghosts. And she’s trying to have a love life too, crushing on her sexy office manager, Mark.  Hey, a girl’s gotta try.

I’d call this a dark comedy mystery. Heavy on chuckles and mystery.

There’s a scene where Samantha is having dinner with the parents of Allison, the murdered girl. The father doesn’t want his wife to know he’s hired a private investigator, especially one who communicates with ghosts, so Sam poses as the dead girls friend.

Try to picture Sam, struggling to ignore Allison as the ghost butts into every conversation. It’s almost impossible not to blow her cover. Allison is a sassy lass and loves toying with her.

There’s a dark side too. Things got creepy while reading a scene where Sam is dreaming. In her dream, she’s Allison and reliving what happened the night she was murdered. Such an ugly betrayal.

I was surprised by how quickly I came to know the characters in this story. This isn’t a long book, but I easily connected to and liked many of them. They were easy to visualize, even the stereotypical jerks.

And the ending was something else. Bazinga was the first thing that popped into my head when the case unfolded.

I’d recommend this to mystery and paranormal lovers. It’s fast, fun, and you’ll want more.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Samantha Davidson sees ghosts for a living. More specifically, she sees ghosts as a private investigator, working alongside the Chicago Police Department to put away killers and put troubled spirits to rest.

When the daughter of one of Chicago’s wealthiest families turns up dead, Samantha and her assistant Mark team up with homicide detective Lance MacDowell to get to the bottom of the crime.

Allison Allen is tall, blonde, beautiful–and very much dead. As Samantha interviews the girl, who doesn’t remember anything about the circumstances of her own murder, it’s clear that there’s more going on behind the walls of this manicured home than anyone wants to let on—and that Samantha has her work cut out for her this time.

Juggling her own love life, tracking down troubled spirits, and evading attempts to thwart her investigation keeps Samantha on her toes. Good thing Samantha knows how to keep her eyes open, her wits about her, and her sense of humor.

A paranormal mystery that is both dark and funny, Ghosts Among Men will cause chills to run down your back even while you’re laughing out loud at the lovable, strong, and supernaturally sighted private investigator Samantha Davidson.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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8 Novellas/8 Authors ~ The Lei Crime Series ~ Tour and Giveaway

Posted: June 15, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, Novella, Series
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You aren’t going to be able to resist the Lei Crime Series.

Check out these awesome stories.

You may know some of these authors and discover some new ones.

All kinds of mystery and genres for all fans.

Scroll down to see what it’s all about.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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BLURB:

 

The Lei Crime Series is: Hawaii is palm trees, black sand and blue water—but for policewoman Lei Texeira, there’s a dark side to paradise. Lei has overcome a scarred past to make a life for herself as a cop, but often the cases she works activate wounds and complications from her tangled family history. Lei is affected deeply by her cases even as she solves them with persistence, obsession, and intuition. She falls in love with Michael Stevens, the charismatic detective she works with, and they make a life solving crime in contemporary Hawaii with all its beauty and deadliness.

 

The SHELL KEEPER is Magical Realism

WARRIOR DOG is Mystery/Action

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The Shell Keeper by Christine Nolfi

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In South Carolina, magic is as plentiful as sweet tea.

Thanks to her aunt’s unwanted generosity, policewoman Lei Texeira has embarked on a vacation—of the supernatural sort. She’s staying on the beach in a frothy mansion that resembles a baker’s confection. Pixie, a Southern belle with enough bling to open a shop on Rodeo Drive, manages the place.

When Pixie reveals a local woman reputed to have psychic powers wants to meet Lei, the invitation is anything but welcome.

What Lei discovers about the sorcery of belief, and the love promised to her future will begin to heal wounds she’s carried for far too long.

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A Keiki Mystery: Warrior Dog by Emily Kimelman

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One pack. One dog. One enemy. One mission: protect the family.

Descended from the Drover Dogs of Rome, Keiki has quite a legacy to live up to. The Rottweiler ancestors followed men into war, helped heard animals, and protected flocks from predators. All these tasks took great skill to bear the responsibility.

In the modern world, Keiki’s role remains much the same. She must protect Lei and her family. They are her pack and in need of her protection.

But what can she do when the enemy is fire? How will Keiki save her family from this raging, uncontrollable beast?

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Author Bio – Christine Nolfi

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In South Carolina, magic is as plentiful as sweet tea.

Award-winning author Christine Nolfi provides readers with heartwarming and inspiring fiction. Her debut Treasure Me is a Next Generation Indie Awards finalist. The Midwest Book Review lists her books as “highly recommended” and her novels have enjoyed bestseller status. She has also written the manual for writers Reviews Sell Books. Look for her new series, Heavenscribe in 2015.

Website / Twitter / Amazon Author Page

Purchase on Amazon

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Author Bio – Emily Kimelman

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Emily Kimelman is the author of the Sydney Rye Series including UNLEASHED, DEATH IN THE DARK, INSATIABLE, STRINGS OF GLASS, THE DEVIL’S BREATH, and INVITING FIRE. This series feature a strong female protagonist and her canine best friend, 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!

Emily splits her time between the Hudson Valley and traveling the world with her husband and dog, Kinsey (named after Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone), researching exciting locations for the Sydney Rye Series. You can follow along on their adventures through Instagram, Facebook, and on Emily’s blog.

If you’ve read Emily’s work, and enjoyed it, please let her know. You can reach Emily via email ejkimelman@gmail.com, on Twitter @ejkimelman, on Facebook and on her website www.emilykimelman.com

Amazon

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Click on the banner below to follow the tour and comment.

The more you comment, the more chances to win.

Goddess Fish Promotions

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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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