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Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

Saturday Screams #20 ~ Twofer Reviews

Posted: November 19, 2016 in Dystopian, horror, reviews, YA
Tags: dystopian, fuonlyknew, Horror, Laura Thomas, reviews, Sautday Screams, YA

Welcome to my Saturday Screams.

Both of these are from my own collection.

Let’s get to it!

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Pandemic

by Yvonne Ventresca

Genre: YA Dystopian

My Review

This was much more than end of the world as we know it story.

Sure, there’s the mysterious illness that kills the majority of the world’s population. But, it’s more about a young teenager, Lilianna, and how she copes with everything that occurs.

The illness spreads globally at a fast pace. People are cut off from each. Communication is spotty and many don’t know if their loved ones survived.

Lilianna is home alone, coping with something disturbing that happened to her at school when it strikes. She navigates many unknowns as she seeks other survivors and struggles to survive.

This was a very good story. I enjoy apocalyptic scenarios, and while the plot wasn’t anything new, the character’s drove a powerful story of survival. Lil had to set aside that which haunted her in order to help others. She came across as very genuine and it was wonderful to watch her step into the role as care giver for young ones left alone when their parents succumbed to the virus.

A well written plot and fast read, and I’ll be checking out other books by this author.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Even under the most normal circumstances, high school can be a painful and confusing time. Unfortunately, Lilianna’s circumstances are anything but normal. Only a few people know what caused her sudden change from model student to the withdrawn pessimist she has become, but her situation isn’t about to get any better. When people begin coming down with a quick-spreading illness that doctors are unable to treat, Lil’s worst fears are realized. With her parents called away on business before the contagious outbreak-her father in Delaware covering the early stages of the disease and her mother in Hong Kong and unable to get a flight back to New Jersey-Lil’s town is hit by what soon becomes a widespread illness and fatal disaster. Now, she’s more alone than she’s been since the “incident” at her school months ago.

With friends and neighbors dying all around her, Lil does everything she can just to survive. But as the disease rages on, so does an unexpected tension as Lil is torn between an old ex and a new romantic interest. Just when it all seems too much, the cause of her original trauma shows up at her door. In this thrilling debut from author Yvonne Ventresca, Lil must find a way to survive not only the outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons.

Amazon

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Diary Of A Haunting

by M. Verano

Genre: YA Paranormal / Horror

My Review

Such a creepy story.

I’m always up for a haunting and got a good one here.

When her parents get divorced and her mother uproots them and moves to an old mansion in Idaho, Paige and her little brother have to accept it and adjust.

They probably would have settled in and begun over soon enough, except something is wrong with their new home. Things move around by themselves. Words appear written on the walls. And her brother begins to act strange.

Then there’s the weird neighbor that lives downstairs. What’s his story?

I fell into this story quickly and the author wasted no time building the creepy atmosphere. So many weird things started happening and the suspense built up.

Plenty of interesting characters prowl through the story, and I enjoyed seeing what would happen to who.

With it not being an easy mystery to figure out and plenty of bizarre scenarios, I had a haunting good time.

4 Stars

Synopsis

When Paige moves from LA to Idaho with her mom and little brother after her parents’ high-profile divorce, she expects to completely hate her new life, and the small town doesn’t disappoint. Worse yet, the drafty old mansion they’ve rented is infested with flies, spiders, and other pests Paige doesn’t want to think about.

She chalks it up to her rural surroundings, but it’s harder to ignore the strange things happening around the house, from one can of ravioli becoming a dozen, to unreadable words appearing in the walls. Soon Paige’s little brother begins roaming the house at all hours of the night, and there’s something not right about the downstairs neighbor, who knows a lot more than he’s letting on.

Things only get creepier when she learns about the sinister cult that conducted experimental rituals in the house almost a hundred years earlier.
The more Paige investigates, and the deeper she digs, the clearer it all becomes: whatever is in the house, whatever is causing all the strange occurrences, has no intention of backing down without a fight.

Found in the aftermath, Diary of a Haunting collects the journal entries, letters, and photographs Paige left behind.

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 click on the lucky horseshoe below!

Five Dog Voodoo ~ A Mae December Mystery ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: November 18, 2016 in giveaways, Mystery, reviews
Tags: Author Lia Farrell, Five Dog Voodoo, giveaway, mystery, review

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Five Dog Voodoo
by Lia Farrell

Fast-paced and entertaining, this is a story cozy mystery fans shouldn’t miss…
~Readeropolis

Five Dog Voodoo (Mae December Mystery)

Camel Press (November 15, 2016)

Paperback: 266 Pages

ISBN-13: 978-1603812481

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My Review

I had all kinds of fun with this story. Voodoo. Just the word sounds mysterious and creepy. Imagine a place called Voodoo Village. Sounds almost like a song.

And the title, Five Dog Voodoo. Now that sounds too good to pass up.

It’s a lovely mess of reelection campaigns, murder, and voodoo in Tennessee.

Not having read the other books in this series, I was happy to have no problem jumping in here. I really like Mae December. That girl does it all. She helps with her fiances reelection campaign, is caregiver to a pack of dogs, is a successful painter, and is the soon to be stepmom to Ben’s five-year-old son. She also runs her own boarding kennel, which also includes some training and the breeding of designer dogs.

Ever heard of a porgie, a cross between a corgi and a pug? How about a cortese, a cross between a corgi and a maltese? And then there’s the strawberry blond porgies.

Murder takes precedent over Ben’s reelection campaign when a dog leads authorities to her master’s body, buried in a shallow grave in Voodoo village. It may not just be his job he loses if Ben doesn’t solve this case fast.

Are you curious about where this dog and her four new pups will end up?

I have several requirements I expect from a cozy mystery. It needs a small town setting. Check. A quirky title and fun cover art. Check. Unusual character names and a bit of romance. Check. A mystery not too easily solved. Check. And some kind of theme. Check. And it’s always a pleasant bonus to have some furry companions too.

I had a really fun read and plan to go back and start at the beginning. I need to see what I’ve missed. But, if you start the series here, you’ll have no problem enjoying this all by itself.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

As Halloween approaches, engaged couple Mae December and Sheriff Ben Bradley have devoted all their energy to Ben’s campaign for reelection as sheriff of Rose County, Tennessee. The race is already too close to call when the sheriff’s office is hit with yet another maddeningly tricky murder case. In recent years the town of Rosedale has had more than its fair share of murders, a fact Ben’s smarmy opponent is all too eager to exploit.

Investigator Dory Clarkson and her friend, Counselor Evangeline Bon Temps, are visiting the mysterious Voodoo village when a resident tells them her granddaughter, Zoé Canja, is missing. Her dog, a Weimaraner nursing four pups, escapes the house and finds the young woman’s body in a shallow grave. Evangeline becomes Sheriff Ben Bradley’s unofficial consultant because her grandmother in Haiti and later her mother in New Orleans practiced Voodoo. A threatening symbol is left on the pavement by Dory’s front door, effectively banning her from the case. Evangeline and the sheriff’s office ask too many questions, and Evangeline soon wears out her welcome. Voodoo curses aside, Ben’s job is at stake, and no one associated with the case is safe until the killer is found.

Book 5 in the Mae December Mystery series, which began with One Dog Too Many.

About The Authors

Lia Farrell is the nom de plume for a mother/daughter duo of writers. Mom Lyn Farquhar and Daughter Lisa Fitzsimmons have been collaborating on the Mae December mystery series for four years.
lyn
ABOUT LYN
Lyn Farquhar taught herself to read before starting school and honed her story telling abilities by reading to her little sister. Ultimately, her mother ended the reading sessions because Lyn’s sister decided she preferred being read to over learning to read herself. She fell in love with library books at the age of six when a Bookmobile came to her one-room rural elementary school. The day the Bookmobile arrived, Lyn decided she would rather live in the bookmobile than at home and was only ousted following sustained efforts by her teacher and the bookmobile driver.

Lyn graduated from Okemos High School in Michigan and got her college and graduate degrees from Michigan State University. She has a master’s degree in English literature and a Ph.D. in Education, but has always maintained that she remained a student for such a long time only because it gave her an excuse to read. Lyn holds the rank of Professor of Medical Education at Michigan State University and has authored many journal articles, abstracts and research grants. Since her retirement from MSU to become a full time writer, she has completed a Young Adult Fantasy trilogy called Tales of the Skygrass Kingdom. Volume I from the trilogy is entitled Journey to Maidenstone and is available on amazon.com. Lyn has two daughters and six step children, nine granddaughters and three grandsons. She also has two extremely spoiled Welsh Corgi’s. Her hobby is interior design and she claims she has the equivalent of a master’s degree from watching way too many decorating shows.

ABOUT LISA
lisa
Lisa Fitzsimmons grew up in Michigan and was always encouraged to read, write and express herself artistically. She was read aloud to frequently. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, she was seldom seen without a book in hand. After becoming a mom at a young age, she attended Michigan State University in a tri-emphasis program with concentrations in Fine Art, Art History an Interior Design.

Lisa, with her husband and their two children, moved to North Carolina for three exciting years and then on to Tennessee, which she now calls home. She has enjoyed an eighteen year career as a Muralist and Interior Designer in middle Tennessee, but has always been interested in writing. Almost five years ago, Lisa and her mom, Lyn, began working on a writing project inspired by local events. The Mae December Mystery series was born.

Lisa, her husband and their three dogs currently divide their time between beautiful Northern Michigan in the summertime and middle Tennessee the rest of the year. She and her husband feel very blessed that their “empty nest” in Tennessee is just a short distance from their oldest, who has a beautiful family of her own. Their youngest child has settled in Northern Michigan, close to their cabin there. Life is good.

Author Links:
Webpage / Blog / Goodreads / Facebook / Newsletter

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N

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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 click on the lucky horseshoe below!

The Bloodmark Saga by Aurora Whittet ~ Review for Bloodmoon #3 and Giveaway

Posted: November 18, 2016 in giveaways, reviews, Series, YA Fantasy
Tags: Author Aurora Whittet, giveaway, review, The Bloodmark Saga, YA Fantasy

Welcome back. So glad you stopped by for my third review in this exciting series. Today I’m reviewing Bloodmoon.

Enjoy the review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway

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bloodmark-saga_bookcovers

Bloodmark

The Bloodmark Saga Book One

by Aurora Whittet

Genre: YA Fantasy

Click HERE for my Review.

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old werewolf princess Ashling Boru is different from other wolves–she was able to shift to a wolf at birth. Rather than bringing pride to her family, it brings fear, and she is sent to live in Ireland’s secluded countryside. Ashling’s reputation is further blackened when she refuses her betrothed, defying the ancient laws. When her pack’s oldest rivals begin to hunt her, she finds herself in the small town of York Harbor, Maine, far from everything she’s known.

When she crosses paths with dark and rebellious Grey Donavan, something ignites within her soul. There’s just one problem: Grey is human. Their instant connection turns into a passionate romance, and Ashling begins to believe she can create her own life outside of wolf laws. When she uncovers long-buried pack secrets that threaten to destroy all she holds dear, Ashling’s courage and tenacity are tested. Will she choose her deep and enduring love for Grey or will she follow Old Mother’s path to her destiny?

Buy Bloodmark: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Bloodrealms (Book #2)

Click HERE for my Review.

Synopsis

Werewolf princess Ashling Boru’s eighteenth birthday is only a year away, which means that she only has twelve months before she is claimed and fulfills her prophecy to unite the packs and lead her people. Her father decrees that her four suitors must fight in the Bloodrealms, the werewolves’ ancient underground fighting world, and the winner will have King Boru’s choice to win Ashling’s hand. The wolf laws are rigid and barbaric, and Ashling’s illicit love for Grey, if discovered, will mean his death. But when Ashling and Grey get trapped in the blood-soaked depths of the Bloodrealms, they find ancient horrors far greater than Ashling’s father’s rule.

With betrayal around every corner and old nemeses set to destroy Ashling, she is more divided than ever between the destiny she didn’t choose and the love that she did. To make matters worse, her decision will not only set the course of her future, but the future of her entire race.

Buy Bloodrealms: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Bloodmoon (Book #3)

My Review

All I can say is, Holy Batman, people! What an ending to a great series.

So, Ashling has now assumed her place as the Crimson Queen. She’s been to hell and back. And now she has to go back yet again. But she won’t be alone. Her pack will be with her. This is the final battle. The one that prophecy foretold. Everything hangs in the balance.

This will be kind of short as there’s no way to talk about a book this far into the series without those nasty spoilers.

I adored this last book. So much bloody action. So much pain and loss. But also, so much hope. So much love. So much triumph.

There were some really harrowing scenes, especially in the Bloodrealm. Creatures and evil you can’t even begin to imagine crawl out from under their rocks. There were those times I held my breath, and if this were a movie, I’d have been peeking through my fingers. I so wanted everyone I cared about to survive. But, it’s not my story and there’s much to be said for feeling a wide range of emotions while reading a story.

Loved the series and loved the ending.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Just months shy of her claiming at Carrowmore and fulfilling a centuries-old prophecy, werewolf Ashling Boru has stepped into her role as the Crimson Queen. She finally has the support of her pack and her love for Grey is stronger than ever.

But it’s not easy being queen. Ashling’s guardian, Baran, has been captured by the Dvergars, a family of evil wolves who will stop at nothing to possess Ashling’s power and destroy everything–and everyone–she loves. Ashling must unite the clans and build an army to stand against the Dvergars before it’s too late. Unfortunately, the Dvergars also have armies of the darkest creatures the world has ever known.

Shadows loom, growing ever larger as generations of pack secrets begin to unfold. Ashling’s people, the humans they protect, and Old Mother Earth herself all hang in the balance of Ashling’s choices. Will Ashling have to forsake her true love to save the world? And will she have the strength to do it? Bloodmoon is the thrilling conclusion to the Bloodmark Saga.

Buy Bloodmoon: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

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Author Aurora Whittet

aurora-whittet

Aurora Whittet started out as a wild red-haired girl in Minnesota dreaming up stories for her friends to read. Mama’s Knight: A Cancer Story of Love is just the latest in a string of acclaimed works. Her first official writing endeavor became The Bloodmark Saga, featuring a werewolf princess-turned-ruler who falls in love with a human boy. Her first novel in the Bloodmark Saga, Bloodmark, came out in 2013, followed by Bloodrealms in 2014 and the final book Bloodmoon in 2016.

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

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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 click on the lucky horseshoe below!

Review & Giveaway for Killer In The Band ~ A Lover’s In Crime Mystery by Lauren Carr

Posted: November 17, 2016 in giveaways, Mystery, reviews
Tags: Author Lauren Carr, giveaway, Killer In The Band, mystery, review

Killer In The Band

A Lovers In Crime Mystery #3

by Lauren Carr

Genre: Mystery

My Review

This is the only series by Lauren that I hadn’t tried so I had to give it a go. I really enjoyed her others and had a good vibe about this book. And, as usual, I jumped into the series somewhere besides the beginning.

Not having read the books that came before, I was worried if I’d be able to follow this plot. No worries. I did just fine, as Lauren dropped in references to past events in the right places without slowing things down.

It didn’t take me long to recognize some of the characters. I checked, and sure enough, I’d met them before in Lauren’s Thorny Rose Series.

J.J. Thornton has finished law school and returns home for the summer to study for his bar exam. Staying at his father Joshua’s house is a bit awkward as he doesn’t care much for his step-mother, Detective Cameron Gates.

Things become contentious between J.J. and his father when he rekindles an old romance with Suellen. There’s some past history revealed about the earlier romance that explains Joshua’s disapproval.

Cameron convinces Joshua to mend fences after J.J. moves in with Suellen, and they pay a visit to the orchard and horse farm that Suellen inherited. Soon, the whole family is involved in running the ranch.

But a cold case that has haunted Cameron rears it’s ugly head and soon the killer’s crosshairs are pointed at J.J. It’s a race to solve the crime before more wind up dead.

As with her other books, the character list is large. For those who aren’t familiar with them, Lauren includes a list at the beginning of the book to help you. I still look at it now and then to get my bearings.

And there’s another cast of characters you’ll come to know. There’s Commanche, the abused horse saved by Suellen. And Captain Blackbeard, the beautiful stallion. Suellen’s family has kept his bloodline going for generations. Can’t forget Charley, the cranky rooster. He’s a force to be reckoned with and only seems to tolerate, Izzy, Joshua’s and Cameron’s adopted thirteen-year-old daughter. Numerous creatures, great and small, play large roles in this story. For you furry friend lover’s this is a huge plus. It was for me.

And I would love to meet someone like Poppy, the horse whisperer, or should I say animal whisperer. She seems to be able to communicate with animals and they adore and trust her.

I enjoyed the cold case scenario and the author threw in some surprises that I honestly didn’t anticipate. Kept the suspense and intrigue at a high pitch.

I’ve said it before and now I say it again, I flew through this book, dying to know the end, and not wanting it to end.

Loved it.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Summer of Love & Murder

Joshua’s eldest son, Joshua “J.J.” Thornton Jr., has graduated at the top of his class from law school and returns home to spend the summer studying for the bar exam. However, to Joshua’s and Cameron’s shock and dismay, J.J. moves into the main house at Russell Ridge Farm, the largest dairy farm in the Ohio Valley, to rekindle a romance with Suellen Russell, a onetime leader of a rock group who’s twice his age. Quickly, they learn that she has been keeping a deep dark secret.

The move brings long-buried tensions between the father and son to the surface. But when a brutal killer strikes, the Lovers in Crime must set all differences aside to solve the crime before J.J. ends up in the cross hairs of a murderer.

Praise for Lauren Carr’s Mysteries:

“Lauren Carr could give Agatha Christie a run for her money!”

- Charlene Mabie-Gamble, Literary R&R

“As always, Lauren Carr brings an action-packed story that is almost impossible to put down. Her mystery plots have so many twists and turns that I didn’t know if I was coming or going. And the action just didn’t stop from the very beginning till the very end.” – Melina Mason, Melina’s Book Reviews

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Author’s Bio:

lauren-carr-2

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!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, 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, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with Lauren: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Book Trailer:

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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 click on the lucky horseshoe below!

The Bloodmark Saga by Aurora Whittet ~ Review of Bloodrealms #2 and Giveaway

Posted: November 17, 2016 in giveaways, reviews, Series, YA Fantasy
Tags: Author Aurora Whittet, giveaway, review, The Bloodmark Saga, YA Fantasy

Welcome back to the tour! I have my review of Boodrealms, Book Two all ready for you. And be sure to stop back by tomorrow for my review of Bloodmoon.

While you’re here, don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

bloodmark-saga_bookcovers

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Bloodmark

The Blood Mark Saga #1

by Aurora Whittet

Genre: YA Fantasy

Click HERE for my review.

Synopsis

Buy Bloodmark: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Book Description for Bloodrealms (Book #2)

My Review

I enjoyed Bloodmark, the first book in this series, and I knew there was so much going to happen in Bloodrealms.

There sure is a whole lot going on. Ashling now has four suitors vying for the right to claim her as their bride. A couple of them seem to really love her. One seems to want Ashling as a trophy. And then there’s Eamon. I really don’t like that guy. Something is wrong about him.

There’s also someone or something watching Ashling. She’s attacked numerous times and barely escapes with her life.

Things get bloodier, even more dangerous, when Ashling and Grey enter the Bloodrealms. It’s a place of darkness and treachery. And evil from long ago roams there, waiting for more victims.

Holy cow. It was so hard to read the last half of this book. Grey, Brychan, Channing, and Eamon all have to fight in the arena. The last one standing will win the right to marry Ashling. I’m telling you, aside from Eamon,I was hard pressed to choose a favorite. All of these guys grew on me. The suspense was so intense. I’m still feeling it.

I feel I should explain about my feelings towards Eamon. He’s standoffish, gruff, and something isn’t quite right about him. I did get his story and it’s powerful.

I didn’t bond with Ashling that much in the first book. She changed so much in this one. I wondered how a teenage girl could step into the role of the Crimson Queen, unite the packs, and protect all living things. Sounds like a lot for one little girl.

Ashling grew page by page. She matured, found that stuff inside that she didn’t know she had. Became what she was meant to be. The pack chose her. She became The Chosen One. The author did a splendid job of achieving all of this in a way that made me forget this was a fantasy. I laughed with the pack. Cried with them. Fought with them. I became a part of the pack while reading their stories.

While the first book took a bit to grab me, this one did right from the beginning. The pace is fast, the romance is tangled and messy, and the intrigue, darkness, and violence really ramp up.

There’s no way I can stop with this series now. And lucky me, I already have the third book, Bloodmoon. That title alone gives me the shivers. Can’t wait.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Buy Bloodrealms: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Book Description for Bloodmoon (Book #3)

Synopsis

Buy Bloodmoon: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

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Author Aurora Whittet

aurora-whittet

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

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

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!

What’s New On My Bookshelf #181 and The Sunday Post

Posted: November 13, 2016 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book news, The Sunday Post

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This is my own version of a weekly book haul and all things new on fuonlyknew.

Another fun way to share your book news and enjoy others is The Sunday Post hosted by

Sunday Post

Kimberly the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Head on over and leave a link to your Sunday Post and hop around to visits others.

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Some chit chat.

Well, what a week! I’m so glad it’s over. Now that the election results are in, perhaps social media and television will return to normal. But, enough about that.

I had a quiet week and it was wonderful. I caught up on some new episodes of my TV shows, watched some good movies, and did a bunch of reading.

I also got a lot done in blogging ahead. The holidays are fast approaching and I’m usually not on line as often as I’m busy with family and friends.

I’m looking for some non traditional recipes to cook this year for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas? Anybody got some suggestions for me? I’m up for anything that doesn’t cost too much or require some exotic ingredients.

I’ll be hopping over to check out your Sunday Posts so be sure to leave me your link.

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New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.

And I think I’ve found plenty of Christmas reads for the season! LOL All of these sets were a steal at only 99 cents each! Click on the covers if you want a copy.

And I grabbed these for free! Click on the cover to grab it!

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And here are some freebies for ya!

Click on the covers to get yours and remember to make sure they’re still free before you click that buy button.

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Books I reviewed this week. Click on the covers for my reviews.

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Books up for review next week.

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Saturday Screams #19 ~ A Triple Hit Of Five Star Reviews

Posted: November 12, 2016 in Dark Fantasy, horror, Mytery/Thriller, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews
Tags: fantasy, Horror, paranormal, reviews, Saturday Screams, thriller

Welcome to my Saturday Screams.

It’s a Triple Hit of Five Star Reviews!

Let’s get to it!

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Onyx Webb

Book #7

by Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz

Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal / Horror

My Review

I swear, every time I finish another book in this series, I think it can’t get any better. These newest episodes prove me wrong, again.

There’s no way I can relate what happens in this book without spoiling it for you. You just have to take me at my word when I say it’ll have you biting your nails, begging for the next revealing chapter. It’s so damned good.

As we get closer to the conclusion, more secrets are revealed, the past and present draw closer together, and more questions are answered. And you get more and more creepiness and suspense. The theme music from Jaws echoed in my head while I was reading this. You know something is about to happen, just not what or when. With only a few more books to go. I’m itching to find out what happens.

This is such a great series. I sure hope you give it a go. If you do, make sure you start at the beginning. It’s the only way to read it. And it’ll be worth every penny.

5 Stars

Synopsis

Welcome Back to the World of Onyx Webb! This is Book Seven. (Episodes 19, 20 & 21) Haven’t Gotten Entangled Yet? Please Start with Book One.

More questions get answered in Book Seven and the timelines are narrowing much closer.

Onyx Webb is a complex multi-genre mash-up that combines elements of supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times.

The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series. Written like a book version of your favorite tv series (think: supernatural soap opera like American Horror Story) each character’s story moves forward with most every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

In Book Seven: Juniper’s brother Quinn visits Koda and will finally see his sister. Stan Lee gets revenge against Mika Flagler. Onyx Webb deals with the crazy film festival and life alone… for now.

Amazon

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House Of Whispers

Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #5

Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal / Horror

My Review

It’s so hard to review books this far into the series. You can’t say much or you’ll be spoiling it.

I love a good haunting and what’s better than a haunted hotel. The Lathrop Grand Hotel has been around for a long time. Many ghosts haunt it’s halls. People come in large numbers and book a room, hoping they’ll have a ghostly encounter. They get much more than a brush with a spectre as the haunts become violent.

It’s up to Ellie and Stacey to find out why the ghosts are so threatening. If they don’t do a bit of ghost trapping, guests could be harmed, or worse, killed.

I swear I was a ghost myself as I followed these gals through the halls, down the stairs, and into secret passages. The atmosphere in this book gave me the shivers.

And I’ve become even more of a fan of the character’s. All of them are adapting to the many changes in their lives. Stacey is stepping up her game as she works with Ellie. And Ellie is becoming more confident and comfortable in her own skin.

This is another winner in the series and I’m now on to the next book, curious to see what these character’s get into next.

5 Stars

Synopsis

The luxurious Lathrop Grand Hotel is a Savannah institution that has entertained guests for more than a century and a half, offering some of the finest accommodations in the city. Famously haunted, the hotel draws tourists from around the world eager to encounter its numerous ghosts. The hotel is also known for being honeycombed with hidden doors and secret passages, enabling staff to appear and disappear quickly as they attend to the hotel’s guests.

Now some of the spirits in the Lathrop Grand have turned violent, even murderous. Ellie and Stacey must determine which ghost has become dangerous and remove it from the hotel before it can claim any more lives. They soon learn the hotel has secrets even darker than the notorious string of nineteenth-century murders that made it famous, and the powerful entities inhabiting it don’t intend to leave without a fight.

Amazon

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The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: YA Fantasy

My Review

What a great story. I love horses and just had to see what this was all about.

The water horses are a race of beings that live in the water, emerging to feed on flesh or drag you to a watery death. The thought makes me shiver.

Every year, riders mount these monstrous beasts for the Scorpio Races. It’s hard enough to win a regular horse race. In this race, you have to worry about surviving as much as winning.

The character’s are numerous and very genuine. Puck is a young lass willing to risk her life in the races. She lost her parents to the water horses, and now her older brother is leaving her and her younger brother Finn to fend for themselves. The money from the race would help save their home.

Sean and his stallion, Corr, are four time winners of the races. He’ll ride again this year, but the stakes are much higher.

Puck and Sean have a growing attraction for each other. But both must win the race.

I so loved this world and the character’s that galloped through the pages, human and other. I wanted this one to win. And that one to win. This one to stay. That one to stay. I feared the worst and hoped for the best.

This story is so much more than a race. I struggle to even tell you about it. There’s desperation and hope, bravery and honor, magic and danger. And I couldn’t have asked for a better final scene.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Some race to win. Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.

Some riders live.
Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition – the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience.

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 click on the lucky horseshoe below!

The Friday 56 #126 ~ My Hippo Has The Hiccups

Posted: November 11, 2016 in Children's books, Humor, reviews
Tags: Author Kenn Nesbitt, children's humorous poems, Freda's Voice, My Hippo Has The Hiccups

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

This is a really fun meme!

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

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

My 56 for this week is from:

My Hippo Has The Hiccups

and Other Poems I Totally Made Up

by Kenn Nesbitt

Illustrated by Ethan Long

Genre: Children’s Humorous Poetry

From Page 56 in the hardcover. Track 22 on the CD.

This is an excerpt from the poem titled: My Nostril Smells Awesome

My nostril smells awesome, so I have a plan

to sit and enjoy it as long as I can.

Don’t ask how it happened; I really can’t say.

Perhaps it’s my finger that’s smelling this way.

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Read on if you want to know more.

My Review

I just loved this book. It’s filled with quirky and fun poems that your kids will giggle over. There’s also a CD that includes the author reading some of his favorite poems and telling some jokes.

I’m not much on poems. I do have a couple of collections I revisit from time to time. This collection had me coming back over and over. Every time I opened the book, I had to share some of the poems out loud. My mother and son loved those times as much as I did.

And I enjoyed the fun illustrations sprinkled throughout the book too. Couldn’t help but smile.

Looking for a rip snorting, rib tickling good time. Grab a copy and get to it! You’ll have a belly full or laughter and a heart full of glee. I’ll bet you love this collection every bit as much as your children will.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

AMAZON

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

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

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

The Bloodmark Saga by Aurora Whittet ~ Review of Bloodmark #1 and Giveaway

Posted: November 10, 2016 in giveaways, reviews, Series, YA Fantasy
Tags: Author Aurora Whittet, giveaway, review, The Bloodmark Saga, YA Fantasy

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Bloodmark Saga by Aurora Whittet!

My stop today will feature all three books and I’ll be sharing my review of Bloodmark #1.

Enjoy the showcase and review.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

And be sure to stop back by on November 17th and 18th for my reviews of Bloodrealms #2 and Bloodmoon #3.

bloodmark-saga_bookcovers

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Bloodmark

The Bloodmark Saga #1

by Aurora Whittet

Genre: YA Fantasy

My Review

Okay, this felt very familiar. I couldn’t help but feel the resemblance to a certain vampire series. Though this is about werewolves, the plot seemed similar. I’m sure that’s hard to avoid with the explosion of fantasy books. This worried me as I was truly wanting to enjoy the series.

Turns out I did. Those similarities quickly vanish as the author builds her world and weaves intrigue and danger into her character’s lives.

Ashling’s ability to shift into a wolf at birth is viewed as a curse by her father. She’s sent away to live a secluded life until time to receive her mark. When that time comes, her father has other plans for her. Plans she can’t abide.

Shunned by her father, pursued by her enemies, Ashling must leave her family and winds up in Maine, trying to blend in with the humans and hide among them.

There were some things about this story I really liked. The idea that werewolves are humanities protectors. The inner workings of their royal court. And there were some intense action scenes.

What didn’t work for me was the insta-love. I’ve never been a fan of character’s falling deeply in love without really knowing each other. That and love triangles irk me. Needless to say, Ashling and Grey barely know much more than each others names and profess undying love. This bothered me. I’m sure many enjoy this in a story, just not my cuppa tea.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t the main characters, Ashling and Grey, that I connected to. It was a couple of secondary character’s. They aroused my curiosity. I hope the next books in this series reveal some of their stories.

The beginning of the story intrigued me. The middle was more about romance and slowed things down somewhat for me. Then, the last third of the story took off and I couldn’t stop reading.

Overall, a fun read, and I have a good feeling about the rest of the series.

4 Stars

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Buy Bloodmark: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Bloodrealms (Book #2)

Synopsis

Buy Bloodrealms: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Bloodmoon (Book #3)

Synopsis

Buy Bloodmoon: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

bloodmark_ad_v08

Author Aurora Whittet

aurora-whittet

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

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

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!

What’s New On My Bookshelf #180 and The Sunday Post

Posted: November 6, 2016 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book news, The Sunday Post

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

This is my own version of a weekly book haul and all things new on fuonlyknew.

Another fun way to share your book news and enjoy others is The Sunday Post hosted by

Sunday Post

Kimberly the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Head on over and leave a link to your Sunday Post and hop around to visits others.

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Some chit chat.

It’s hard to believe it’s November when we’ve been in the 80s here. Still no rain so I’m having to water everything.

Been in the pool several times this week. The water is a bit cooler but I like that.

Been hanging out with my mother, doing some shopping and playing cards. We are so competitive. You should hear us when one of us is losing! LOL

Done any Christmas shopping yet? I did pick up a few things. While I was walking around in the stores, I noticed there was barely nothing for Thanksgiving! How can that be? It’s such a wonderful holiday and a time of sharing with family.

I’ll be hopping over to check out your Sunday Posts so be sure to leave me your link.

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New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.