Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

What an EPIC read!

I can’t wait to tell you about The IX.

Come on in. Hurry! LOL

Not only is the title intriguing, the cover art is stunning too.

And the story, so freakin good!

To top it off, there’s a giveaway, so don’t forget to enter.

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Title: The IX
Author: Andrew P. Weston
Publication Date: January 26, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction

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My Review

Ever wondered what happened to those lost Roman Legionnaires? What about the  US cavalry, engaged in a secret mission for President Lincoln? And whatever happened to the Special Forces Unit from a future time who disappeared during their mission to stop a nuclear disaster?

The IX has the answers and they are out of this world. Literally.

I gotta say, this fascinated me. What a great way to explain the disappearance of thousands. And what a world the author built.

At the point of death, these people were whisked away to a distant galaxy by an alien race. The inhabitants of that planet are being killed off and face extinction. They need warriors, now. Told they fight or die, these people must work together, live by the code, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” if they are going to survive.

There’s no going back. There’s only the the Horde, an enemy that doesn’t hesitate to die by the thousands. They must be stopped or all perish. And what’s to stop them from finding Earth and doing to us what they are doing to these beings? And then to another planet, and another.

What a movie this would be! I’d kill, just kidding, to have a part in it. Even as an ugly Kresh!

My description is simplified. There’s so much happening. This book comes in at a whopping 565 pages. But don’t let that deter you. By the time you reach the end, you’ll be wishing it was longer.

Though I stumbled over some of the alien names and terms, laughed at my own attempts to pronounce them, I quickly came to recognize them, along with the numerous human characters. There are a lot, yet it doesn’t take long to recognize the individual voices.

The plot for The IX is mind blowing. The author gives you many sub plots, plenty of history, and an amazing world to explore. He was able to make this all flow easily. You’ll fly through this in to time.

The writing is superb. Ever read a book and see the entire story play out like on the big screen. Except for not being too sure what those nasty Kresh looked like, I could see this in vivid color and detail. Imagination is a wonderful thing, as is this authors talent.

5 Stars

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A snippet to tease ya!
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Thirty planets overrun in the space of just fifteen months. More than fifty billion souls lost. A history and a culture spanning more than twelve thousand years brought to this. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. And we risk it all on an idea…
What choice do we have?
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Synopsis
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Roman legionnaires, far from home, lost in the mists of Caledonia.

A  US cavalry company, engaged on a special mission, vital to the peace treaty proposed by Presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln.

A twenty-first century Special Forces unit, desperate to prevent a nuclear catastrophe.

From vastly different backgrounds, these soldiers are united when they are snatched away from Earth at the moment of their passing. Thinking they may have been granted a reprieve, imagine their horror when they discover they have been transported to a failing planet on the far side of the galaxy, where they are given a simple ultimatum. Fight or die. Against all odds, this group of misfits manages to turn the tide against a relentless foe, only to discover the true cost of victory might exact a price they are unwilling to pay.

How far would you be willing to go to stay alive?

The IX. Sometimes, death is only the beginning of the adventure.

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Author Bio

Andrew P. Weston is a Royal Marine and Police veteran from the UK who now lives on the beautiful Greek island of Kos with his wife, Annette, and their growing family of rescue cats.An astronomy and law graduate, he is a contracted writer of fiction and poetry. Creator of “The IX” – and the “Guardians” and “Cambion Journals” series, has also has the privilege of being a member of the British Science Fiction Association, and British Fantasy Society.When not writing, Andrew devotes some of his spare time to assisting NASA in one of their remote research projects, and writes educational articles for Astronaut.com and Amazing Stories.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads | Pinterest

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Schedule
June 1
Hope. Dreams. Life… Love (“Cast the Movie” with Pictures)
The Shadow Portal (Author Interview)
June 2
June 3
Dee-Scoveries (Review & Guest Post)
June 4
fuonlyknew (Review)
Boom Baby Reviews (Character Interview)
 
June 5
I Am MoLaShae (Review)
Lisa’s Loves (Books of Course) (Review & Character Interview)
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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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I have the most wonderful story to share with all of you furbaby lovers.

It’s Release Day for Vanessa Morgan’s Avalon, a truly  heartwarming tale.

Once you meet Avalon, you’ll look at your cat with different eyes.

I have my review and a fun excerpt to share with you.

And a giveaway, so don”t forget to enter.

But before we get to that, here’s something special.

Fans of The Big Bang Theory show should recognize this little tune:)

Soft kitty,

warm kitty.

little ball of fur.

Happy kitty,

sleepy kitty,

Purr,

Purr,

Purr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eRqG0mkewM

I wonder if there’s a little bit of Sheldon in Avalon!

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Avalon

A Heartwarming True Cat Story

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My Review

The day Avalon crossed paths with Vanessa, her life as she new it ended. Was it fate?

I think it was. Avalon was a handsome cat, a Turkish Van, the breed Vanessa had been looking for. She new they were a possessive breed, but nothing prepared her for this cat.

He tortured the other cats in her household, threw up on her guinea pig, and flew into tantrums, tearing her house apart if she looked at another creature, especially another cat.

But there was another side to Avalon. Adoration. He adored Vanessa. He was hers. And as Vanessa’s life changed, she was his.

This story is about Vanessa as much as it’s about Avalon. She tells much about herself, her past, her thoughts, as the years pass.

Sharing her vulnerabilities, sacrificing opportunities, through good times and bad, Vanessa gave her all to Avalon.

Most pet owners soon learn they aren’t owners. Their pet is not a pet, it’s a member of the family. And sometimes they rule the roost.

The extremes Avalon went to astounded me. Puking on the guinea pig, terrorizing the other cats, letting his displeasure be known with  escalating howls, even kicking her boyfriend out, he was to be commended for his unswerving spirit.

The things Vanessa gives up for Avalon may seem like a bit much, but haven’t we all done things for our furry friends that may seem ridiculous to others? I know I have.

Vanessa feels like their paths crossed for a reason. Her and Avalon were meant to be together. And I believe her. Never have I heard of such a bond as they shared.

This story made me cry. But I smiled through the tears and when I finished it, I hugged my dog and my cat, gave them some special treats, and when we snuggled together at bedtime, I felt whole.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Some cats need nine lives to make a difference. Avalon only needed one.

From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat.

With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house. Avalon was so incorrigible that even her landlord ordered her to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon’s demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline, and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion.

By turns jubilant and deeply moving, Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.

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Enjoy this peek inside the book!

Around three o’clock that night, Avalon was fed up with the strange
man in his bed. He plonked his rear down on Gilles’ pillow,
complaining fretfully in his ear while tapping him on the face.
After nearly an hour of incessant wailing and poking, more drastic
measures were required. The new solution: pushing Gilles out of bed.
Avalon succeeded.
Climbing back under the covers wasn’t an option. Unable to sleep,
Gilles got up. “I guess I didn’t pass the test.”
“Give Avalon some time. Maybe he was just irked because you took his
side of the bed.”
But Gilles had already understood that this wasn’t going to be a
one-time event.
For several minutes, Gilles and Avalon sized each other up. Then
Gilles said, “I’d better leave the two of you alone now. It’s clearly
what the little guy wants.”
I swear I could see Avalon smirking when Gilles put on his jacket and left.
Instantly, Avalon leapt onto me, and compensated for the evening
before. He entered a kiss-induced trance. This cat was all about
exclusivity, and when granted that exclusivity, his love was immense.
“Are you really that happy that Gilles is gone?”
In reply, Avalon looked at me with swoony eyes and purred loudly, then
swatted out his paw to urge me to continue to pet him, which I did.
A phone call interrupted our tender moment. It was Gilles.
“There won’t be any train to Brussels for hours,” he said. “Is it okay
if I come back to your place for a while?”
“Of course.” His return would offend Avalon, but I couldn’t possibly
leave Gilles outside in the rain for several hours.
As soon as Gilles appeared at the front door, Avalon’s pupils widened
to a pitch black.
Let’s see who’s the boss here, he seemed to be thinking.
Being a cat of action, Avalon went through his usual attention-seeking
routine: making a selection of irritating noises, scratching the
wallpaper, and pushing objects to the ground.
When that didn’t work, Avalon opened Gilles’ overnight bag and threw
out a piece of clothing. His eyes so dark and evil they could be
gateways to hell, Avalon stared at his adversary and waited for a
reaction. He then pulled out a box of gel wax. Again, he looked up at
Gilles to make sure he understood that all this bungling was meant to
get a message across. A third object followed, then a fourth, a fifth,
a sixth, until there was nothing.
Hell-bent on winning the game, Avalon took Gilles’ coat in his mouth
and towed it toward the front door. There, he used his right paw to
tap the keys hanging from the wooden doorframe.
Avalon’s message couldn’t be any clearer: there was room for only one
man in my life. A feline one.

Purchase links for Avalon

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon FR

~~~

Author Vanessa Morgan



Vanessa Morgan is an author, screenwriter, and blogger. Two of her
works, The Strangers Outside and A Good Man, have been turned into
films. Her short film script Next to Her is currently in
pre-production. When she’s not working on her latest book, you can
find her reading, watching horror movies, digging through flea
markets, or photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats
(http://travelling-cats.blogspot.com). Avalon has appeared in several
of her books and films.


Social media links

Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google +

Bloglovin / Amazon / Blog / Goodreads

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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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i Read Book Tour Logo Medium

Kika the Upside-Down Girl

by Jessica Tudos

Kika the Upside Down Girl

My Review

In a world of normal, Kika dares to see it differently, much to the exasperation of her parents. They throw up their arms in frustration, urging Kika to be like the other kids.

The reason for this, Kika is an upside-down girl.  Whether reading a book hanging upside-down from a tree, or walking to school on her hands, Kika loves to be upside-down.

Sad that her parents are unhappy, Kika is filled with glee when she discovers a place where she can be herself. A place of flips and handstands, somersaults and swinging.

Now her parents throw up their hands in excitement and Kika’s upside down world is right side up.

The glossy, colorful pages are filled with wonderful illustrations of Kika’s escapades and the story has an important message.

Kids will be encouraged by Kika’s adventure, dare to dream and find their own place in the world.

An exhilarating story for children and parents. I’d encourage you to read this with your child and watch their eyes light up as they see themselves as Kika.

5 Stars

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Description

Kika always seems to accomplish things differently than others and tends to get into trouble for it. She reminds us that choosing to be different is more than okay, and finding others to join in her upside down adventures makes her heart feel huge – especially when it involves somersaults, vaults, flips and kips! Join Kika, a girl who loves living upside down in a right side up world, on her unique journey to a fliptastic world! Kika reminds us that choosing to be different is more than okay, and finding others to join in her upside down adventures feels fliptastic – especially when it involves somersaults, vaults, flips and kips in the Gymnastics Emporium!

Purchase Links:

Amazon    Chapters-Indigo    Barnes & Noble

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About Author Jessica Tudos

Jessica Tudos

Olympic gymnast turned author, motivational speaker and experiential educator Jessica Tudos (JessicaTudos.com) is on a mission to empower kids, youth and adults to develop the confidence and resiliency required to lead active, healthy and creative lives. In organizations around the world, Jessica empowers audiences through engaging stories, insights & reflections drawn from her upside down life, including her Olympic gymnastics adventures. Jessica is a sought after speaker, facilitator and professor in experiential education, physical literacy, leadership & elite sports.
Connect with Jessica:  Website  ~   Twitter  ~   Facebook

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow the tour for more fun posts!

June 1 –   Did YOU Hear About the Morgans? – review
June 1 –   Sarah Rehmatullah – review
June 1 –   Library of Clean Reads – review / giveaway
June 1 –   Crossroad Reviews – review
June 2 –   Working Mommy Journal – review / giveaway
June 2 –   Rockin’ Book Reviews – review / guest post / giveaway
June 2 –   Christy’s Cozy Corners – review / guest post / giveaway
June 3 –   fuonlyknew – review / giveaway
June 3 –   View From the Birdhouse – review / author interview / giveaway
June 3 –   A Simple Life, really?! – review 
June 4 –   Booknerd – review / guest post
June 4 –   Bluerose’s Heart – review / author interview / giveaway
June 4 –   Hello, my name is Alice – review / guest post
June 5 –   One Frugal Girl – review / giveaway
June 5 –   Just One More Chapter – review / author interview / giveaway
June 5 –   A Mama’s Corner of the World – review / giveaway
June 8 –   Create With Joy – review / giveaway
June 8 –   Blooming With Books – review / giveaway
June 8 –   Brooke Blogs – review / guest post / giveaway
June 9 –   Mrs Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews – review / author interview
June 9 –   The Autistic Gamer – review 
June 9 –   Deal Sharing Aunt – review / author interview / giveaway
June 10 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – review
June 10 – Bound 4 Escape – review / giveaway
June 10 – Seaside Book Nook – review / giveaway
June 11 – Pinky’s Favorite Reads for Kids – review / guest post
June 11 – 3 Partners in Shopping Nana, Mommy , + Sissy, Too ! – review / giveaway
June 11 – Experiencing Parenthood – review
June 12 – Jessica Cassidy – review / author interview / giveaway
June 12 – Book Loving Hippo – review / giveaway
June 12 – A Bit Bookish – review / giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

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This is 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

Kimba 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 a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Sun is shining, A light breeze to keep the humidity at bay. A perfect summer day!

After a week of clouds and rain, the sun finally shows itself again. Glorious day! I rushed outside to meet it, taking my computer, my phone, my Kindle, and a print book just in case. I spent many hours out their, reading, swimming in the pool, and just closing my eyes to listen to the seagulls. Man, I love summer! LOL

I also did a bit of writing.

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Writing, you ask?  Yep, I’ve been trying my hand at a few short stories that have been in my head for years. I don’t plan on trying to publish them.  But I do plan on sharing them on my blog. When I do, Ill be asking for feedback. Good or bad! I thought it would be a fun discussion post and I need more of those.

If you have any plots you’d like me to take on, a challenge of sorts, bring em on. It might take a while, but I’ll try to get to them. Should challenge me and it would be fun to see what I can come up with.

These will be very short stories and flash fiction to start. When I do my reviews, most times I write my own synopsis and that’s whet my appetite to try to do more. Scary!

And a lot of them are horror shorts. I do love my scares. I also learned real quick to not write them on my computer. You’ll see why in the gif below.

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This was me fairly quickly. LOL I now use pen and paper to get a rough draft written first.

So, what are your plans for the weekend?  I’d love to hear!

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

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Here are my new books for review.

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The 6:41 To Paris first caught my attention with the cover. Sounds fun.

And I jumped on the authors offer to read Cold Hearted. I loved the first book!

I’ve read books from a few different series’ by Joyce and Jim Lavene and jumped on this new release,

A Watery Death,  from a series I hadn’t read yet!

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New ones just because.

I grabbed these beauties from my favorite used books store. They are in perfect condition and they are autographed editions! How cool.

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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.

   

     

  Darkwhiskey

 

 

And some freebies for all of you game lovers!

Click on the pictures to get yours.

     

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

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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

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What I won.

I won a few books and some awesome swag. Going to wait until it arrives and share the pictures of all the goodies.

I also won a couple of gift cards. I’ll show pictures of what I bought after I finish shopping. LOL

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Other Posts on my blog this week.

I’m tellin ya….Bubba Done It _ Cozy Southern Mystery Review and Giveaway

Shining the Light on Taylor Dean’s Newest Release ~ Girl Of Mine ~ Blast and Giveaway

Teaser Tuesdays #116 ~ Cannibal Reign

Cover Reveal ~ Madison’s Song by Christine Amsden

This it it, the…Climax: The Publicist #3 ~ Tour Review and Giveaway

#T4T Blitz Giveaway ~ Call Me Grim and Into The Fire

Rumble in the jungle ~ Fevers by Joel Homer ~ Tour Review and Giveaway

The Friday 56 #63 ~ Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

GHOSTCROW: A Tale Of Andor ~ Tour Review

Exclusive Character Bios & Excerpt with Giveaway and Q&A ~ Dawn Of The Chupacabra ~ It’s coming!

New Cover! A Haunted House Tale ~ Free Friday and Saturday

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Have you joined TSU yet?

Click on the widget to friend and follow me!

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Fora list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free books updated daily go HERE

For all of my giveaways go HERE

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So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

I’d love to know and thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

fEVERS

Fevers by Joel Homer

Joel HomerPublisher-ebook:  Zac Homer, (April 20, 2014)
Publisher-Print: Bantam
Category: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller, Some Romance
Tour Date: May/June, 2015
Available in: Print & ebook, 261 Pages

FEVERS is a novel unlike any you have ever read. Exotic adventure, white knuckled suspense, torrid romance, and a haunting portrait of three damaged individuals – one man who has turned beast, one who must confront the beast within himself, and the woman torn between them.

Rio de Janeiro. 1984.

There are rumors that somewhere deep in the steamy rainforest of the Amazon a man, once civilized, is hiding in green shadows. To the primitive Brazilian Indios, he is considered their long-awaited “pale-skinned messiah.” Others believe he is an evil god with powers to stir the native masses to a frenzied, killing pitch. And others suspect he might be Michael Fevers.

Into the lush tropics comes a troubled American, rebellious journalist, embittered Vietnam vet, desperate soldier of fortune. William Straw, who soon forms an uneasy alliance with a beautiful anthropologist, continues his tortured upriver journey-from jungle shantytown to opulent plantation, from explosive passion to brutal murder. Whether he is pursuing a story, an adventure, or a chance to finally exorcise his own inner demons, nothing will prepare William Straw for the sudden violence and bizarre cruelty of the one who is waiting ahead — Michael Fevers.

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My Review

Have you seen the movie Apocalypse Now? That’s how this story felt. A madman enters the jungle with a twisted crusade to save the Indios of Brazil.They are being enslaved and their culture is being erased. Michael Fevers has a plan to unite the tribes and wage war.

Another man enters the jungle on a mission to find Michael Fevers. William Straw, a journalist haunted by his time in the Vietnam War. He’s damaged,  bitter, angry, and determined to get his story. At all costs.

Though the title suggests this story is about Michael Fevers, I felt it was more about William.  At least for the first half of the book.  Michael may be crazy, but William Straw is no  angel himself.

Then things start ramping up. Blood flows. A lot of it. I just want to warn you some scenes are visceral, raw, the author doesn’t spare you. I felt the descriptions were important to get me engaged, outraged, to get the full experience.

I’m not sure if the plight of the Brazilian Indios is real. Their situation made me think of the Aborigines.  Very similar situations. Slavery, forced to leave their way of life, their culture, behind.

As the story escalates in the second half, I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end. The slow start to this story was worth it for the finale.

There’s something about the jungle, the primal feel of it, that fascinates me. I’m always looking for books like this. Movies too.  If they ever made this into a movie, I’d be in line for a ticket. I’d settle into my seat with a big bucket of popcorn with extra butter and enjoy the show.

4 Stars

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Praise for Fevers by Joel Homer:

“Very engrossing novel. It felt a bit like reading a modern version of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. The plot moves quickly and smoothly. The excitement never ends.”- Gerald Loev, Amazon Reviewer

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About Joel Homer

Joel Homer

Joel Homer was raised in Greenwich Village, attended New York University and was a medal-winning veteran from the Vietnam war. Upon returning to the states, he began his writing career as a senior editor at Saturday Review.

His books include “Marathons” and “Jargon.” His produced plays include “Scenes Dedicated to My Brother,” “What People Do When They’re All Alone,” and “The Lieutenant Snuffs the Light.” In 1984 he was the first recipient of the prestigious Glickman Award for playwriting. His last play ‘Private Scenes” was a huge hit in San Francisco. While working in Los Angeles, he co-wrote the original script for “Beauty and the Beast” for EuroDisney….to date the most popular stage play in Disney’s history.

Joel Homer passed away in 2003 at the age of 58.

 

Buy Fevers by Joel Homer

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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I have one copy of Fevers to giveaway.

Ebook or Print copy (Winner’s Choice)

Print copy is US Only

To enter, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and leave a comment

Tell me something you like about the book, comment on the review. Anything you want!

Giveaway ends June 17th.

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Follow The Tour for more fun posts:

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus May 11 Spotlight & Giveaway

Lady in Read May 12 Review (postponed)

Mallory Heart Reviews May 14 Review

What U Talking Bout Willis? May 15 Excerpt

Feel the Need, Need to Read May 19 Review, Excerpt,  & Giveaway

Mom Are We There Yet  May 20 Review

Readers Muse May 25 Review

fuonlyknew May 28 Review & Giveaway

Inspire to Read May 29 Review

Always Falling for Book Guys Jun 1 Excerpt

Lisa’s Writopia June 2 Review

Celticlady’s Reviews Jun 3 Excerpt

Mary’s Cup of Tea Jun 5 Review

Books, Books & More Books Jun 8 Review & Ecerptx

Cyn Harris Jun 15 Excerpt

Deal Sharing Aunt Jun 18 Review

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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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iRead Book Tour Logo Medium

Thanks for stopping by! I’m sharing the covers and blurbs for all three books along with my reviews so you don’t have to leave this page.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a Kindle or #100 Amazon Gift Card!

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The Publicist (Book One)

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The Publicist New Cover Book 1
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My Review
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Beware. You are now entering the publishing zone!

First things first. I had a bit of a rough patch with Kate and Mac. He’s married, after all. I don’t condone that behavior one bit. But there are special circumstances here. I actually found myself hoping these two would get their happy ever after. This is the first of three books so I was pretty sure it wouldn’t happen soon. And the author throws in Nick. He’s just as sexy as Mac, and single. Who knows where it will go.

What a lovely mess is the world of publishing. As a publicist, Kate has to deal with some crazy stuff. From authors faking 5 star reviews, to stage fright, to squeezing that next book out of them, she’s always stressed out. I bow to her tenacity. No matter how impossible some things seemed, she found a way, often making me laugh at her ingenuity.

I read a lot of  books and have come to know many authors and some of their experiences with being published. Now I have a peek into the other side of that process. I don’t envy either. It can be cut throat and you need a tough skin and lots of patience. And sometimes, a heart.

Many characters are introduced. A few secondary ones really had an impact. And there are some I’d gladly show to the door.

The chapters are short, making it a fast read. I read this straight through in one night. I started it, got sucked in by the smooth writing and genuine characters, and kept thinking I’d read just one more chapter. It was the wee hours when I finished it and I kept looking at the second book, but I resisted and did get some sleep.

I recommend this to authors, publishers, and word lovers everywhere.

“It’s a mad mad mad mad world.”

4 Stars

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Synopsis
Behind every book, there’s always more to the story. Can one woman change an age-old institution like publishing? Probably not, but Kate Mitchell sure wants to try. As a publicist with a large, respected New York publishing house, Kate finds herself at the mercy of a broken publishing system, books that don’t always sell (at all) and author egos that are often, well, as big as the island of Manhattan.Enter the star Editor, MacDermott Ellis. Tall, handsome, charismatic, married, and ready to save the day. Kate wants to do the right thing but her hormones seem to be driving her decisions. Then there’s Allan Lavigne, once a revered author, now as forgotten as yesterday’s news; and his nephew Nick, who wants to sweep Kate away from New York for another coast, California.

As Kate tries to navigate the landmine of publicity, the over-the-top author expectations, and the careful dance of “I’m sorry, your book isn’t on the bestseller list this week”, she also finds authors who are painfully overlooked by a publisher wanting more sex, more celebrities, and more scandal.

*****

​Shelf Life (Book Two)
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Shelf Life New Cover
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My Review
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I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was anxious to see where Kate and mac were in this next chapter.

The world or a publicist is a crazy as ever. From authors faking 5 Star reviews, to one who wrote a book about how she lost a bunch of weight, except shed didn’t, to an author being arrested for a despicable crime, Kate is in the thick of it.

Then Kate is betrayed by the man she loves and is assaulted by someone and her whole world comes crashing down. No way will she be returning to Morris and Dean.

Now Kate is behind the wheel of a  pink Cadillac convertible, heading towards Los Angeles and a new future and maybe a new romance.

Nick is opening his home to her, as a guest, but I’m sure he wants more. He’s still in love with her and remains hopeful Kate will get over Mac.

Mac betrayed her in the worst possible way. I couldn’t believe it. He always seemed so strong, so sure of himself. I guess he isn’t that strong after all. He chose a cowards way out of a sticky situation and it hurt Kate deeply.

I wanted to give Kate a high five for finally putting the brakes on her relationship with Mac. He is married and shows no signs of leaving his wife. His latest stunt broke her heart but set her on a new path. One I find very exciting.

There are big changes in this second book. Some so exciting I wish I could share. But that would be spoiling it. Gots to leave you with some anticipation.

I’m still having fun with this series and am almost finished reading the third book, Climax. If your looking for a great summer read, these will do nicely. I hope you try them.

4 Stars
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Synopsis
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​ It’s an industry of out-of-control egos, unrealistic expectations, and unfulfilled promises.This is publishing and it’s Kate’s world, but maybe not for long.When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. With the shelf life of her career and her love affair quickly expiring, Kate sets off on a new adventure…Starting over in California is easy but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nick Lavigne is eager to help her forget but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis. As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she’s welcomed back with open arms. But at the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she’d been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart. Behind the book, there’s always more to the story. Welcome to Publishing, the ego has landed.
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*****
Climax  (Book Three)
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My Review
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So here we are. Climax is what it is. The last book in this exciting romance series.

I feel like I’ve come to know these characters well.

Kate. From publicist to publisher and owner of her own publishing house. In love with Mac, who’s married in the first book, and divorced in the second.

Now Kate and Mac are engaged and you’d think the happy ever after is here. But don’t hold your breath.

The first book came in at around 220 pages. The second book at around 270 pages. Climax has a whopping 565 pages and not one bit of it is redundant.

The happy ever after isn’t guaranteed. Especially when Kate bumps into Nick, her former fiancee and Mr. Perfect. Ooh, this is where it gets very interesting.

Poor Kate is under so much stress. She’s got a killer book to publish and the author has a huge secret. Her love life is in tatters as Mac deals with some serious issues with his ex-wife. Nick is in town and connected to her star author. And she’s not handling anything with a clear head.

Kate ‘drops her basket’ at a conference in Mexico. It’s all just too much.

So will there be a happy ever after? And who will Kate end up with?

I’m not a big fan of love triangles. There is one in this series, kind of. But it didn’t bother me so much. I believe you can love more than one man, just in different ways. Kate drove me a bit nuts bouncing back and forth. But aren’t we all fools for love?

And when I finally got my answer to who Kate ended up with, I felt happy for her. I became worried it wouldn’t go the way I originally hoped it would end when I started the series, but that’s how it goes. The heart wants….

I need to give praise to Christina George for getting me to fall so deeply into her series. I usually prefer romance with a creepy mystery, some suspense, or even something paranormal. The Publicist is romance with a capital R, and I ate these books up.

5 Stars

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Synopsis
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Kate Mitchell has never forgiven herself for breaking Nick Lavigne’s heart. Now he’s back and he’s moved on, and it’s affecting Kate’s life more than she’s willing to admit.

Kate Mitchell has everything. She’s the head of a crazy successful publishing house, engaged to the traffic-stopping sexy Mac Ellis and she’s about to sign one of the biggest authors of her career.

And that’s when everything falls apart.

Everything is perfect…until it’s not.

In a city of 8 million people Kate manages to run into someone she never expected to see again.

Nick is handsome, impossibly kind, every girl’s dream, and Kate’s former fiancé. He’s also the brother of the rising star author she’s trying to sign. Now that Nick’s back in town and has moved on he insists he’s over Kate, but part of him still can’t get past how amazing they were, and his sister won’t let anyone forget how brutally it ended.

When Mac is dealt a life-changing blow, it forces Kate to question every single choice she’s made.

Follow Kate as she embarks on a journey of life and love, navigating through the decisions that will change it all forever.

Author Christina George

Christina George

Christina George has worked in publishing for twenty years (give or take). Here’s what this book isn’t. It’s not a slam against publishing (though it is broken) and it’s not a slam against authors (though some of them are crazy). This book is not autobiographical though many of the stories are true. No you won’t know which ones, cause it’s more fun to guess, right? George continues to work in publicity and helps authors because at the end of the day she does love books, she loves publishing, and she loves authors. She hopes you’ll enjoy this romp through Kate’s world as much as she enjoyed creating it.

Connect with Christina: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~ Goodreads
Where to buy the book

Amazon

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow the tour for more fun posts!

May 4 – Working Mommy Journal – review of Shelf Life / giveaway
May 4 – Book Nerd – review of The Publicist 
May 5 – XoXo Book Blog – book spotlight / interview or guest post / giveaway
May 5 – Working Mommy Journal – review of Climax
May 5 – The Bookish & The Romantic – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 5 – Book Stop Corner – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 5 – T’s Stuff – review of Climax / giveaway
May 6 – The Bookish & The Romantic – review of Shelf Life
May 6 – Book Stop Corner – review of Shelf Life
May 6 – Coffee *Book* Mom – review of The Publicist
May 7 – For Life After – review of Climax
May 7 – Book Stop Corner – review of Climax
May 7 – The Bookish & The Romantic – review of Climax
May 7 – The Booksnake Etc – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 8 – Book Nerd – review of Shelf Life 
May 11 – The Booksnake Etc – review of Shelf Life
May 11 – Julia Piccolo – review of Climax
May 13 – fuonlyknew – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 13 – Back Porchervations – book spotlight / interview or guest post / giveaway
May 13 – Coffee *Book* Mom – review of Shelf Life 
May 14 – Book Nerd – review of Climax
May 14 –  Vic’s Media Room – review of The Publicist
May 15 – The Book Fairy – review of Climax / giveaway
May 15 – Vic’s Media Room – review of Shelf Life
May 15 – The Booksnake Etc – review of Climax
May 18 – Vic’s Media Room – review of Climax
May 20 – fuonlyknew – review of Shelf Life
May 20 – Coffee *Book* Mom – review of Climax
May 27 – fuonlyknew – review of Climax
May 27 – Stuck in YA Books – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 28 – Stuck in YA Books – review of Shelf Life
May 29 – Stuck in YA Books – review of Climax

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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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Bubba Done It
by Maggie Toussaint

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Bubba Done It (A Dreamwalker Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Five Star (May 20, 2015)
Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-1432830670

goodreads-badge-add-plus

My Review

Yep. Bubba gone and done it. He killed someone.

But wait, which Bubba done it. This is the south, you know. Everybody knows a Bubba. It’s such a common name, you run into them everywhere.

So which Bubba killed the most despised man in town?

Well, I can’t tell you that. I’d be spoiling this fun mystery for ya.

I can tell you that I didn’t have a clue until the very end. Well, I might have, but then the author had me following Baxley, pet-sitter, landscaper, and town Dreamwalker, going from one Bubba suspect to the next. Pretty soon, I was as confounded as she was.

When the dying man whispered, “Bubba done it,” it opened a big can of worms.

Baxley gets more and more into the murder investigation despite the sherriff’s warning to keep her nose out of it, painting herself as a target in the real world of Sinclair County, Georgia, and in the spiritual world where she dreamwalks.

Lots of angry spirits await Baxley when she dreamwalks, one in particular, who won’t let her speak to the dead banker and find out who killed him until she delivers a message.

To really make things even more dicey, one of the Bubba’s on the suspect list is Baxley’s brother-in-law.

Threats from an unknown source start coming at Baxley and it’s a race to find the killer Bubba before she ends up dead herself.

What a riot. I live in the south and can tell you first hand, there are A LOT of Bubba’s here. Everybody knows someone named Bubba.

The author had me in stitches over Baxley’s antics. She’s a true southern spitfire, but an amateur at sleuthing.

The dreamwalking was interesting and kind of creepy. I can’t imagine going that deep into a trance, entering a ghostly realm, all while your body sits there, still and vulnerable.

And I didn’t realize right away that this was the second book in a series. I had no problems reading this out of order. The author filled me in on some of the history of the characters and previous events without bogging down the reading. I am curious about why Baxley’s hair is now two-toned, and what happened to her husband. He’s supposed to have been KIA, but doubts rise up. Oh yeah, I also wonder who or what is Rose? Curiouser and curiouser.

There’s no graphic violence, no steamy romance, no foul language in this book. Just good, clean fun, colorful characters, and one heck of a mystery, or two, or….

I have to talk about the ending. I won’t spoil it for you. I will tell you that once the killer is named, it’s not over. Everything about this case is wrapped up, but Baxley isn’t out of the woods yet. Loved the ending.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Amateur sleuth and dreamwalker Baxley Powell is called in on a stabbing case. She arrives in time to hear the dying man whisper, “Bubba done it.”

Four men named Bubba in Sinclair County, Georgia, have close ties to the victim, including her goofball brother-in-law, Bubba Powell.

She dreamwalks for answers, but the victim can’t talk to her, leaving Baxley to sleuth among the living. The suspects include a down-on-his-luck fisherman, a crack-head evangelist, a politically- connected investor, and her brother-in-law, the former sweetheart of the victim’s ex-wife.

The more Baxley digs, the more the Bubbas start to unravel. Worse, her brother-in-law’s definitely more than friendly with the victim’s ex-wife.

Between pet-sitting, landscaping, and dreamwalking, Baxley’s got her hands full solving this case.

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About Author Maggie Toussaint

MaggieToussaint2_fun_largerAbout This Author

 From her youthful days of tree climbing and dreams of flying to her career days of pocket-protector geekiness as a toxicologist, Southern author Maggie Toussaint remains riveted by a good story. As a book aficionado, she put into practice what she’d learned and began penning novels.

Maggie is published in mystery and romantic suspense, with six titles in each genre. The third book in her Cleopatra Jones mystery series recently won the Silver Falchion Award, while her romances have won the National Readers’ Choice Award and the EPIC eBook Award for Romantic Suspense. She also writes science fiction under the pen name of Rigel Carson. More at www.maggietoussaint.com.

Author Links:

Facebook / Twitter / Blog / Goodreads

Linked In / Pinterest / Booklover’s Bench / Website

Purchase Link:
Amazon

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I have  1 e-copy or 1 print copy from the authors backlist to give away.

Winner’s choice.

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

“Do you know a Bubba?”

Giveaway ends May 29th.

Books available to win:

In For A Penny

On the Nickel

Dime If I Know (Silver Falchion winner)

Death, Island Style

Murder in the Buff

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Tour Participants

May 21 – Writers and Readers of Paranormal Mystery – Interview

May 22 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post

May 23 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – Review

May 24 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Review

May 25 – fuonlyknew – Review

May 26 – WV Stitcher – Review

May 27 – Jane Reads – Review, Guest Post

May 28 –  Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review, Guest Post

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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!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

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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

Kimba 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.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend!

I’d like to thank all of the men and women in our military and their families for their service to our country and to us.

I’m having a marvelous weekend myself. My mother arrived at my house yesterday and a bunch of us got together and went to lunch. Then it was home to play Skip – Bo.

We are so addicted to that card game and our family is very competitive. Everybody hates to lose and the language can get very colorful. LOL

I moved to the Gulf Coast of Alabama over 29 years ago. My father had moved here. Then my brother did. Then I did. Then one of my sisters came down for vacation, went back to Michigan, packed up her stuff, and moved here. And then another of my sisters eventually moved here from California. I still have one brother and sister and my mother living in Michigan. My brother recently retired and visits often and may eventually move to the area. And I have a feeling when my sister retires, her and her husband may move to Texas as their daughter lives there.

So many of us now live in southern climes. It’s hard to live so far apart and now most of us live less than an hours drive apart. When my mother comes down for the summer it’s funny. We all want her to stay with us and we make sure we all get equal time with her at our homes. She’s my best friend. My comfort, support, and shopping buddy. And I believe she is an angel walking this planet. I’m am on Cloud Nine right now.

If I’m absent from here. If I don’t visit your posts and comment much, you’ll know my mother is at my house, and we are having fun!

Now. On to books! Got some good ones to share today!

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

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Here are my new books for review.

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How could I resist Kika The Upside-Down Girl!

And I just got Avalon: A Heartwarming True Cat Story.

I’ll be reviewing this on June 4th and the author has an amazing giveaway too!

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New ones just because.

No new ones! I’m doing good. Trying to review all of the books I’ve amassed. Yeah, right. LOL Well, a lot of them anyway:)

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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 I’ll be reviewing next week.

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I also have some others that I’ll be adding in for mini reviews. Not sure which ones yet. I thought I had a couple written but I sure can’t find those drafts. LOL

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What I won.

I won these wonderful children’s books from a give on Kristi’s Book Nook.

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I am buying, picking up free, and winning many children’s books and loving the fun of reading and reviewing them. I may have to start another blog just for them. LOL

Thanks so much Kristi!

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Other Posts on my blog this week.

A Science Fiction Dystopian ~ Aftermath ~ Blitz and Giveaway

They won’t see it coming ~ The Bleikovat Event ~ Tour and Giveaway

Teaser Tuesdays #115 ~ Joshua and the Lightning Road ~ My Review

From a place far, far away ~ Anzard by Christopher Conroy ~ Tour review

Blitz Giveaway ~ Swoon Romance YA Wednesdays ~ Author Rachel Schieffelbein

Shelf Life ~ The Publicist #2 by Christina George ~ Tour Review and Giveaway

Fated ~ A Vanguard legacy Novel by Joanne Kershaw ~ Book Blitz and Giveaway

Book Excerpt Tour and Giveaway ~ Hearts Beneath The Badge by Karen Solomon

New Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Night Of The Chupacabra by Michael Hebler

M9B Friday Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Serpentine

The Friday 56 #62 ~ Chasing The Green Fairy

Amaranthine: The Heart Of Decompose by Nina R. Schluntz ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway

AWOL: A Character Lost ~ Free May 22nd and 23rd

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Have you joined TSU yet?

Click on the widget to friend and follow me!

tsu-logo

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Fora list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free books updated daily go HERE

For all of my giveaways go HERE

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So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

I’d love to know and thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

Anthony Renfro has some awesome news!

He’s offering Awol: A Character Lost free for this Friday and Saturday!

May 22nd and 23rd.

You can get your free copy at the links provided further in the post.

Come on in.

Check out AWOL.

A Character Lost.

 

AWOL.

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My Review
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The story begins when the character finds himself in a dark, empty room. Not knowing how he got there, who he is, or where he is, he finally gets the courage to call out for help.

He’s answered, but not by a voice. Words light up on a wall. It’s worse than he imagined.

He’s a character in a book and it appears he’s wandered out of his story and ended up in the room. The author writes his answers and they appear on the wall.

The really bad thing is, the author didn’t write any notes and has no idea which story the character came from, so he needs his help.

This is a story of show and tell and the author guides the character, instructing him and supplying him with scant info on what he should do.

The room has ten doors, each labeled. The character must go through each door in order to find his home story. The author cautions him before entering that what lies behind each door could kill him and he’s not sure if the character will really die or return to the room. It’s an enter at your own risk thing and the character has no choice.

The character approaches the first door labeled Zombies and dives in, as did I.

After the first adventure I didn’t blame the characters hesitancy to go through another. Yet he must and he does. This continues through several more and I was with the character when he got good and mad at the author.

Between each new door, the character returns to the empty room, learns more from the author and goes through the next door. These interludes between each chapter are labeled Interlude.

He encounters many other characters in each story. After a while he learns not to become attached to them. The author’s monsters dispatch them in horrendous fashion.

As for the monsters, the character runs into some werewolves like nothing you could imagine. The werewolves are 8 feet tall, six feet long, with red eyes like lamps and drooling acid. Must not forget the tail of a scorpion that electrocutes you.

The vampires are brown and black spotted things riding black horses. Their eyes gleam yellow, they have no hair and only two fangs, no other teeth. And they have these really wicked whips.

There’s serial killers and these really gross wormy snake things, aliens, and many others. All of them are out to get ya too.

While you know the character goes through all ten doors, otherwise there wouldn’t be that many chapters, that doesn’t mean he finds his home story. It doesn’t mean he survives. The author gives no guarantees.

Half way through, the character is fed up, yet he continues. He must and the author needs him to. Otherwise the character will languish in the room and so will the story.

What kind of author doesn’t keep notes? And what’s with the stories? All of them are horrific. Is the author lying? Does he know which door will lead the character to his home story? Is that what the story really is, him having to jump through the hoops? If so, the author must be a sadist.

Unlike anything I’ve ever read before, the author pulled out all the stops. Monsters beyond imagination. A character lost and guided by his author. An author, frustrated at his own lack of foresight.

This is Anthony Renfro’s best work yet!

5 Stars

Blurb

Imagine that you are a character in a story.

You have a home.

You have a life.

You have it all.

Then suddenly you wake up alone and afraid in a cold, dark place. Somehow you find your courage and your voice. When you ask for help, words light up on a wall in the darkness. You read them and realize you are in the creative center of your author’s mind. Instead of rescuing you, the author asks you for help.

This book is about the journey of that character, as he moves from story to story desperately trying to find his home.

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Get your free copy at the links below!

Amazon LInks:
EBook:
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Author Anthony Renfro

Anthony Renfro

Anthony Renfro lives in Apex, North Carolina. He is a reader, writer, runner, husband, father, and stay at home dad – one of the toughest jobs anyone could ever do. He was born in Bristol, Tennessee, and is a graduate of UNC-Greensboro.

You can find him at many spots on the web, but if you really need to find his center in the social media storm it would be at his blog, apoetryjourney.wordpress.com.

Now reach out, just beyond the light, right into that big black space, and let him take your hand on a journey into cold dark places. You will be scared, and you may even be terrified, but in the end you might just find you liked the ride.

Find him on:

Blog ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads

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You find find my reviews of the authors other books by visiting my reviews page at the top of my blog.
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew
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For more free books go HERE.

iRead Book Tour Logo Medium

Thanks for stopping by! I’m sharing the covers and blurbs for all three books and my review for Shelf Life: The Publicist, Book #2. Be sure to stop by next week on May 27th for my review of Climax: The Publicist, Book #3 and I’m reposting my review of The Publicist, Book #1 so you don’t have to leave this page.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a Kindle or #100 Amazon Gift Card!

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The Publicist (Book One)

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The Publicist New Cover Book 1
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My Review
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Beware. You are now entering the publishing zone!

First things first. I had a bit of a rough patch with Kate and Mac. He’s married, after all. I don’t condone that behavior one bit. But there are special circumstances here. I actually found myself hoping these two would get their happy ever after. This is the first of three books so I was pretty sure it wouldn’t happen soon. And the author throws in Nick. He’s just as sexy as Mac, and single. Who knows where it will go.

What a lovely mess is the world of publishing. As a publicist, Kate has to deal with some crazy stuff. From authors faking 5 star reviews, to stage fright, to squeezing that next book out of them, she’s always stressed out. I bow to her tenacity. No matter how impossible some things seemed, she found a way, often making me laugh at her ingenuity.

I read a lot of  books and have come to know many authors and some of their experiences with being published. Now I have a peek into the other side of that process. I don’t envy either. It can be cut throat and you need a tough skin and lots of patience. And sometimes, a heart.

Many characters are introduced. A few secondary ones really had an impact. And there are some I’d gladly show to the door.

The chapters are short, making it a fast read. I read this straight through in one night. I started it, got sucked in by the smooth writing and genuine characters, and kept thinking I’d read just one more chapter. It was the wee hours when I finished it and I kept looking at the second book, but I resisted and did get some sleep.

I recommend this to authors, publishers, and word lovers everywhere.

“It’s a mad mad mad mad world.”

4 Stars

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Synopsis
Behind every book, there’s always more to the story. Can one woman change an age-old institution like publishing? Probably not, but Kate Mitchell sure wants to try. As a publicist with a large, respected New York publishing house, Kate finds herself at the mercy of a broken publishing system, books that don’t always sell (at all) and author egos that are often, well, as big as the island of Manhattan.Enter the star Editor, MacDermott Ellis. Tall, handsome, charismatic, married, and ready to save the day. Kate wants to do the right thing but her hormones seem to be driving her decisions. Then there’s Allan Lavigne, once a revered author, now as forgotten as yesterday’s news; and his nephew Nick, who wants to sweep Kate away from New York for another coast, California.

As Kate tries to navigate the landmine of publicity, the over-the-top author expectations, and the careful dance of “I’m sorry, your book isn’t on the bestseller list this week”, she also finds authors who are painfully overlooked by a publisher wanting more sex, more celebrities, and more scandal.

*****

​Shelf Life (Book Two)
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Shelf Life New Cover
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My Review
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I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was anxious to see where Kate and mac were in this next chapter.

The world or a publicist is a crazy as ever. From authors faking 5 Star reviews, to one who wrote a book about how she lost a bunch of weight, except shed didn’t, to an author being arrested for a despicable crime, Kate is in the thick of it.

Then Kate is betrayed by the man she loves and is assaulted by someone and her whole world comes crashing down. No way will she be returning to Morris and Dean.

Now Kate is behind the wheel of a  pink Cadillac convertible, heading towards Los Angeles and a new future and maybe a new romance.

Nick is opening his home to her, as a guest, but I’m sure he wants more. He’s still in love with her and remains hopeful Kate will get over Mac.

Mac betrayed her in the worst possible way. I couldn’t believe it. He always seemed so strong, so sure of himself. I guess he isn’t that strong after all. He chose a cowards way out of a sticky situation and it hurt Kate deeply.

I wanted to give Kate a high five for finally putting the brakes on her relationship with Mac. He is married and shows no signs of leaving his wife. His latest stunt broke her heart but set her on a new path. One I find very exciting.

There are big changes in this second book. Some so exciting I wish I could share. But that would be spoiling it. Gots to leave you with some anticipation.

I’m still having fun with this series and am almost finished reading the third book, Climax. If your looking for a great summer read, these will do nicely. I hope you try them.

4 Stars
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Synopsis
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​ It’s an industry of out-of-control egos, unrealistic expectations, and unfulfilled promises.This is publishing and it’s Kate’s world, but maybe not for long.When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. With the shelf life of her career and her love affair quickly expiring, Kate sets off on a new adventure…Starting over in California is easy but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nick Lavigne is eager to help her forget but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis. As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she’s welcomed back with open arms. But at the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she’d been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart. Behind the book, there’s always more to the story. Welcome to Publishing, the ego has landed.
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*****
Climax  (Book Three)
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Kate Mitchell has never forgiven herself for breaking Nick Lavigne’s heart. Now he’s back and he’s moved on, and it’s affecting Kate’s life more than she’s willing to admit.

Kate Mitchell has everything. She’s the head of a crazy successful publishing house, engaged to the traffic-stopping sexy Mac Ellis and she’s about to sign one of the biggest authors of her career.

And that’s when everything falls apart.

Everything is perfect…until it’s not.

In a city of 8 million people Kate manages to run into someone she never expected to see again.

Nick is handsome, impossibly kind, every girl’s dream, and Kate’s former fiancé. He’s also the brother of the rising star author she’s trying to sign. Now that Nick’s back in town and has moved on he insists he’s over Kate, but part of him still can’t get past how amazing they were, and his sister won’t let anyone forget how brutally it ended.

When Mac is dealt a life-changing blow, it forces Kate to question every single choice she’s made.

Follow Kate as she embarks on a journey of life and love, navigating through the decisions that will change it all forever.

Author Christina George

Christina George

Christina George has worked in publishing for twenty years (give or take). Here’s what this book isn’t. It’s not a slam against publishing (though it is broken) and it’s not a slam against authors (though some of them are crazy). This book is not autobiographical though many of the stories are true. No you won’t know which ones, cause it’s more fun to guess, right? George continues to work in publicity and helps authors because at the end of the day she does love books, she loves publishing, and she loves authors. She hopes you’ll enjoy this romp through Kate’s world as much as she enjoyed creating it.

Connect with Christina: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~ Goodreads
Where to buy the book

Amazon

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Follow the tour for more fun posts!

May 4 – Working Mommy Journal – review of Shelf Life / giveaway
May 4 – Book Nerd – review of The Publicist 
May 5 – XoXo Book Blog – book spotlight / interview or guest post / giveaway
May 5 – Working Mommy Journal – review of Climax
May 5 – The Bookish & The Romantic – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 5 – Book Stop Corner – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 5 – T’s Stuff – review of Climax / giveaway
May 6 – The Bookish & The Romantic – review of Shelf Life
May 6 – Book Stop Corner – review of Shelf Life
May 6 – Coffee *Book* Mom – review of The Publicist
May 7 – For Life After – review of Climax
May 7 – Book Stop Corner – review of Climax
May 7 – The Bookish & The Romantic – review of Climax
May 7 – The Booksnake Etc – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 8 – Book Nerd – review of Shelf Life 
May 11 – The Booksnake Etc – review of Shelf Life
May 11 – Julia Piccolo – review of Climax
May 13 – fuonlyknew – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 13 – Back Porchervations – book spotlight / interview or guest post / giveaway
May 13 – Coffee *Book* Mom – review of Shelf Life 
May 14 – Book Nerd – review of Climax
May 14 –  Vic’s Media Room – review of The Publicist
May 15 – The Book Fairy – review of Climax / giveaway
May 15 – Vic’s Media Room – review of Shelf Life
May 15 – The Booksnake Etc – review of Climax
May 18 – Vic’s Media Room – review of Climax
May 20 – fuonlyknew – review of Shelf Life
May 20 – Coffee *Book* Mom – review of Climax
May 27 – fuonlyknew – review of Climax
May 27 – Stuck in YA Books – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 28 – Stuck in YA Books – review of Shelf Life
May 29 – Stuck in YA Books – review of Climax

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