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Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

The Malevolent Twin by Author Mary Sage Nguyen ~ Tour reveiw and Giveaway

Posted: July 15, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mytery/Thriller, reviews, suspense
Tags: Author Mary Sage Nguyen, The Malevolent Twin, YA Suspense/Thriller

The Malevolent Twin

Book One

Mary Sage Nguyen

25337672

Genre: Young Adult, Suspense, Thriller,

Mystery, and a little bit of science fiction.

Date of Publication: April 2015

Ebook: 123 pages / Word Count: 37,560

Cover Artist: www.ebooklaunch.com

~~~~~

My Review

The beginning of this book is chilling. I had to go back and check that it wasn’t listed as a horror story. Then I read on and discovered it was Avery having a nightmare.

Avery has had an imaginary friend, Venice, since she was a young girl. Now she’s a young woman, working with her mother in a nail salon, being a good girl and dreaming of something better. Venice still keeps coming around.

As their wills class, as Avery wishes Venice would just go away, Venice turns evil.

Just who is Venice? What does she want? What will she make Avery do next?

Avery must find answers and seeks the help of an old exorcist and a psychic. She fears her time is running out.

I was having such a good time, I read this from start to finish in less than a couple of hours.

It starts with a very creepy scene, then introduces you to Avery and Venice.

Avery is a dutiful daughter and never gets in trouble. Then Venice starts messing with her. She’s forced to do things she’d never consider doing. I felt for her. How do you fight something you don’t understand?

As for Venice, she’s bad to the bone. Such a wicked, malignant villain.

I’ve seen movies and read books with a similar plot and possession and evil entities always give me goose bumps. I know a book is good when I startle at strange noises and see things move out of the corner of my eye.

The Malevolent Twin creeped me out. And I loved that. It’s not easy to spook me anymore. I’ve seen too many scary movies and read too many scary books.

I didn’t know this was going to be a series when I started it. But after I read the end, I knew there had to be. It’s not a cliff hanger, more of a hint of things to come. Evil things. Bad things. I can’t wait.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

A murderous wicked twin.

An innocent, law abiding, and oblivious girl.

The ultimate brawl between contrasting sisters!

Murder, mystery, suspense and more

In The Malevolent Twin

Avery is a normal teenager, except for Venice. Venice is Avery’s imaginary friend or so she thinks. When the two begin to fight. Avery starts her investigation, to figure out what Venice really is. She encounters a wise old exorcist, and an albino psychic who assist her, with attempting to remove Venice. Which comes too late as Venice goes on a murdering rampage using Avery’s body. Does Avery survive the Wrath of Venice?

Find out in… The Malevolent Twin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdscPo2LMbM&feature=youtu.be

Available at BN Amazon

~~~~~

Check out the excerpt from Chapter Four!

Venice Revealed

Avery closed her laptop. It was getting hot from being overworked. She laid back and immersed herself in the soft covers. She dreamed again that night.

She was six years old. Her father had left fresh bruises all over her body. Avery was in her room crying. Her siblings had been lucky not to be sick that day. Avery wiped the tears off her face with her blanket. She knew better. She knew she should have kept out of his way. Avery was hungry and wanted something to eat. This was why she woke him up. Her dad was upset and still drunk from the whiskey.

“Are you okay?” she heard a voice say behind her. Avery looked over to see Venice. The Asian girl walked over to Avery and started to stroke her back. Her touch was cold as usual. This girl wouldn’t leave Avery alone.

“No…” Avery said, suppressing tears.

“It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay,” Venice whispered.

“How do you know? You aren’t even real.” Avery could feel the excruciating pain in her back. The fever came back. She had managed to make this girl angry once again.

“I am real!” Venice screamed at the top of her lungs. Avery could feel Venice’s cold hands grasp her around the throat.

“Please… Let go…” Avery managed to say. Venice continued to stifle her windpipe.

“Say I am real! Say you will be my friend.”

“Alright… I will be your friend.” Avery felt Venice’s grasp weaken.

Avery looked up to see Venice staring at her. She looked malevolent. She flashed Avery an evil smile.

“Why do you want me to be your friend so bad Venice?

“Why?” Avery asked.

“You are all I have. I don’t have anyone else to talk to,” Venice replied. She didn’t seem as malevolent now.

“I am really all you have?” Avery asked.

“Yes, I have no one else to talk to…” For the first time Venice looked vulnerable and harmless.

“So, friends?” Venice asked extending her hand to Avery. She shook Venice’s cold hand and made her a promise to be friends forever.

Avery woke up from the dream. It was a memory she had suppressed some time ago. She had forgotten all about their deal. Avery was beginning to wonder why Venice had stuck around all these years. If she was truly an imaginary friend, wouldn’t she have left years ago? Avery was beginning to think Venice was something else. Something more than just a figment of her imagination.

“Hey there!” a voice interrupted her thoughts. Avery glanced up to see Venice. She was dressed in a provocative tight dark blue dress. It had lacy sleeves. The dress made every angle on her body pop. This time she materialized with heavy blue eye shadow. On her feet were suede blue booties.

“Wow…” Venice smiled.

“I know, don’t you love this dress and my hair.” Venice’ hair was curly and tied up in loose ponytail which she pulled forward.

“You look great!” “Yes, I know.”

“I have a question Venice.” Avery pushed her covers off and turned on the fan.

“Go ahead and ask me.” Venice replied. She snapped her fingers and a long white cigarette appeared. She took a deep breath and inhaled the cigarette.

“Why are you still here?” Venice did her best not to look startled.

“I am here because I am part of you.”

“What do you mean?” Avery asked. The room was starting to feel chilly. Avery started to feel the old Venice emerging again.

“I am your sister.” Avery coughed.

“What do you mean my sister?” Venice’s face began to dis- tort.

“I mean your sister. We are twins.” Avery began getting a splitting headache.

“Twins? Twins? What do you mean twins?” Her headache did not subside. In fact it grew worse. The room was a blur.. “Tell me Venice, tell me what you really are?”

“I just told you. Accept it. You are part of me and I am part of you.” Avery started to feel dizzy.

~~~~~

Author Mary Sage Nguyen

Mary Sage Nguyen

Mary Sage Nguyen is the youngest daughter of Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants. Vietnamese was the language spoken at home, so the only way she was able to learn English was through the public school system. Even though English was not spoken at home, Mary became an avid reader as a young child and always dreamed of being a writer someday.

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / The Malevolent Twin on Facebook

~~~~~

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

But can she let herself sing…Madison’s Song ~ My Review and a Giveaway

Posted: July 15, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews
Tags: Author Christine Amsden, Cassie Scot Companion Novel, Madison's Song, Paranormal/Fantasy

Yeah! It’s now my turn to share Madison’s Song with ya’ll!

Come on in and check out the stunning cover art.

Enjoy my review. I promise I won’t ramble much. LOL

Read the thrilling excerpt and check out the buy links to get your own copy.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Let’s go!

Madison’s Song

by Christine Amsden

My Review

I was so sad when I finished the Cassie Scot series.

Then I was so excited to get my hands on Madison’s Song. It’s a companion book to the series and features several characters I wanted to know more about.

Christine Amsden is a master at hooking you into the story from the first couple of sentences. The prologue captivated me right away. I pressed on, anxious to get to the whole story and excited to enter this world again.

I always thought Madison was stronger, more than she thought she was. Her power of song, her gift of evoking emotions through her singing, is a powerful gift. She is just discovering how handy it can be. Especially with werewolves slathering to eat her.

Her fear of werewolves is well founded. An encounter with Scott, the local pack leader, left her riddled with nightmares and dealing with lots of anxiety. To be around him terrifies her.

This is where she shows her toughness though. Her brother Clinton has vanished after calling and telling her he’s been bitten by a werewolf. The only one she knows might be able to help him is Scott.

Imagine Scott’s surprise when he opens the door and there stands Madison. He knows how she feels about him. He can’t blame her after what he put her through. That shes’ there at all stuns him.

Of course he’ll help her. He’s Clinton’s only chance at surviving the transformation and attacks from other packs. Plus it gives him time to be close to Madison. Maybe to change her fear of him to something else. Something more romantic.

But that’s a problem too as his best friend, Evan, a powerful wizard, is Madison’s half brother. His threats to rip Scott limb from limb if he so much as looks at Madison are not to be taken lightly.

I couldn’t wait for the road trip with Scott and Madison. These two are perfect for each other and I’ve been waiting a long time to see if or how they finally hook up.

Things get strange when they run across a rogue werewolf, Clara. She’s a werewolf but she wasn’t bitten. Using her to track down who took Clinton, they stumble onto something. It could be good for the werewolves, or it could be disastrous. I had a feeling it couldn’t be good so I read late into the night to find out.

I found out. I found out a lot of things by the end of the book.

I loved every bit of this and sure hope the author continues with more companion novels. I can think of many other characters who I’d enjoy getting to know better.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Her voice is enchanting; his soul is black…

Madison Carter has been terrified of Scott Lee since the night he saved her from an evil sorcerer – then melted into a man-eating monster before her eyes. The werewolf is a slave to the moon, but Madison’s nightmares are not.

Despite her fears, when Madison’s brother, Clinton, is bitten by a werewolf, she knows there is only one man who can help. A man who frightens her all the more because even in her nightmares, he also thrills her.

Together for the first time since that terrible night, Scott and Madison drive to Clinton’s home only to discover that he’s vanished. Frantic now, Madison must overcome her fears and uncover hidden strengths if she hopes to save him. And she’s not the only one fighting inner demons. Scott’s are literal, and they have him convinced that he will never deserve the woman he loves.

*Stand-alone companion to the Cassie Scot series

~~~~~

Check out this exciting excerpt!

“Silence,” David commanded.

Her throat continued to work, but no sound emerged. She felt like a fish being gutted, choking and spluttering as David returned to the work of cutting into the soft, sensitive flesh of her belly. Yet even as tears refilled her eyes and fear devoured her heart, some part of her recognized that her guts remained intact. Whatever David was doing to her with the dagger involved tracing shallow patterns across the surface of her skin.

Fight the pain. Take deep breaths. Ground and center. She was not in the empty living room of a house she had not quite moved into yet, she was at church, singing in the choir. Above her, Jesus hung from a cross, a crown of thorns atop his head, a soft glow surrounding him. She usually found the magic within that glow. She reached for it…

“Stop that!” David slapped her hard across the face.

Once again her eyes flew open. She saw the dagger dripping with blood – her blood. Had her feeble grab for magic actually made a difference? David seemed to have noticed something, but what?

“You’re just making this harder on yourself,” David said.

“What do you want?” Madison tried to ask. Her mouth moved, her lips forming the question, but no sound emerged.

She didn’t think he would answer; he couldn’t even have heard the question, but to her surprise he only hesitated a moment before saying, “Your soul.”

~~~~~

Author Christine Amsden

Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that affects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams.

In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.

Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.

Website / Newsletter / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Google +

Purchase Links

Amazon / B&N

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

The more you comment, the more chances to win!

~~~~~

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

Brand New Cover Reveal ~ A Vampire At Christmas by Author Anthony Renfro

Posted: July 15, 2015 in Cover Reveal, reviews, Short stories and collections, Vampires
Tags: A Vampire At Christmas, Author Anthony Renfro, Short story

I have another new cover reveal for Anthony Renfro.

Check out A Vampire At Christmas.

I had a blast with this one and you will too!

So, you ready?

Okay.

Here

You

Go!

My Review

I reviewed this a while ago. Since then Anthony has done some revisions. A little more of this and a little more of that and it’s even better and I already gave it 5 Stars before.

The best thing is he gave his vampire a name.

Introducing Talan Gawayn. I love the name. Sounds like something from a long ago era. A proper vampire name.

Now here’s my review for the earlier edition.

The story opens in a tomb. All is calm. All is bright. The little Christmas tree in the corner casts a dazzling display reflecting off of the large coffin.

If you put your ear right up against the coffin, you might hear Jimmy Buffet singing Margaritaville. This handsome vampire loves being a vampire, loves Christmas, and is a fan of the southern artist and has been to many of his concerts. His powers enable him to fly to any location and blend into the shadows to enjoy the the shows.

He’s been waiting 364 days for this night and he grabs his bag of goodies and heads out. But first he must feed.

The beginning is different now. It opens with how Talan became a vampire and it’s a chilling scene.

When he was a new vampire he killed at random. But after many years and witnessing the miracle of Christmas, the warmth and cheer of it, he became more selective. Only killing those who deserved it.

I am amazed at the power of this character with the story being just over 20 pages.

He coldly stalks and consumes his prey, yet he’s also gleeful and excited, like a child. He really gets into the Christmas spirit and spreads hope and joy. Not to his prey, of course, but to those who are in need.

I live in the south and have seen Jimmy Buffet in concert. Been to his restaurant. Met him a few times. While I was reading this story, I hummed Margaritaville and thought, this vampire would like it here.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Excerpt

Talan Gawayn became a vampire in the 15th century on a cold, starry, full-moon night just after the first big snow of November. He was walking a less traveled path, on his way home from seeing his fiancé, whom he planned to marry the following spring, when three men stepped out of the shadows to rob him. He fought them at first, but they soon overpowered him, beat him ruthlessly, laughing as they did it, drunk and looking for someone to rob. They had found it in Talan who was so hopelessly in love he hadn’t seen them sneak up on him.

While he lay there in the snow dying from his injuries, one eye shut and swollen, the other able to see only a blurry vision, he thought he saw something, something moving quick and fast. The men who had beaten him were counting out their stolen money when this thing attacked them. It tore through their flesh, ripped out their throats savagely; and didn’t just drain the robbers of their precious blood, but this thing seemed to almost be bathing in it while it fed.

Talan tried to stay focused, tried to see what this thing was, but his will gave out and his good eye closed. He passed out into an injured slumber.

Weight.

Something heavy was straddling him . . .

~~~~~~

Synopsis

(Revised and Updated 2015)

A short story about a Vampire who uses his riches and immortal skills to bring joy to those in need during the Christmas Season.

Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars: A deadly and dashing vampire.

Purchase Links

Amazon: US / UK / AU / CA

~~~~~

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

~~~~~

Until the next time…..

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Birthright ~ An Ivy Granger Psychic Detective Novel ~ Release Day Giveaway Celebration & Review

Posted: July 14, 2015 in Excerpt, giveaways, Release day, reviews, urban fantasy
Tags: Author E.J. Stevens, Birthright, Ivy Granger Series #4, urban fantasy

Today we are celebrating the release of BIRTHRIGHT, the fourth full-length novel in the award-winning Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens. We have a special book excerpt, commenter prizes, and a HUGE swag giveaway. So grab a cupcake and some punch. It’s time to party!

Birthright by E.J. Stevens Ivy Granger urban fantasy series

Birthright (Ivy Granger #4) by E.J. Stevens

My Review

I started reading this knowing it was the fourth book in the series. I hadn’t read the other books but I usually don’t have a problem jumping into a series midstream. Not so with this one.

The author has built a fascinating world in her urban fantasy series and to fully appreciate and understand the plot, I’d like to have read this series from the beginning. I’m huge on kick butt female protagonists and Ivy Granger is a new favorite of mine. She’s tough, funny, somewhat vulnerable, and loyal to her friends. I just wish I’d met her before so I could see her grow with each new trial she faced.

The story starts with Ivy being dead. Supposedly killed for past transgressions. The what’s and why’s are quickly explained so I was able to grasp the scenario.

As I read more, I stumbled some over the characters I met and how they were involved in Ivy’s life. This is where I almost stopped because I felt I needed to go back and start the series at the beginning. But, I didn’t want to stop. I was having fun and starting to feel like I was getting a grasp on some of the back story.

I’m glad I stuck with this book. Once I relaxed and just went with it, I was well entertained and left wanting more.

The writing is strong, the characters are genuine, and the action is fast and furious.

A good series for urban fantasy fans. I’d recommend you read this series from the beginning though. I didn’t and that’s my bad, so it didn’t affect my rating. I’ll be going back and picking it up from the start. It’ll haunt me until I know how it all began.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Being a faerie princess isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

Ivy must go to Faerie, but the gateway to the Wisp Court is through Tech
Duinn, the house of Donn—Celtic god of the dead. Just her luck.

Unable to share her secret with Jinx, and with Jenna called away on
Hunters’ Guild business, Ivy must rely on Ceff and Torn to lead her to
Death’s door, literally, and back again. As if that wasn’t dangerous
enough, there’s no saying what horrors lay in store within the Faerie
realm. Too bad the Wisp Court is the one lead Ivy has in the search for
her father—and possible salvation.

Maybe hiding away and dodging sidhe assassins isn’t so bad after all…

Release Date: July 14, 2015

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Now available (ebook/trade paperback) at

Amazon, Amazon.uk, Kobo, iTunes, and other fine retailers.

Add Birthright to your TBR list:

Goodreads | Booklikes | Shelfari | LibraryThing

Birthright Book Excerpt

Wisps buzzed through the air, their musical humming rising in pitch
as they darted in for a closer look. I sat on the mossy embankment and
smiled, watching the playful wisps.

With my father’s key helping to guide us, we’d left the deadly bog
and its poisonous gas behind. I breathed deeply, and let out a happy
sigh.

“I don’t know what you’re so happy about,” Torn said, shaking water
from his hair. “We’re covered in mud and smell like troll farts.”

It was true. The sulfurous swamp gasses did smell an awful lot
like something that would come out of Marvin after he ate an entire
cauldron of Kaye’s chili, but I didn’t care. We were alive. And so
far, my wisp brethren weren’t trying to kill me.

I’m not sure what it said about my life that the lack of fratricide
upon my homecoming made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Probably
best not to think too much about it, and just enjoy the moment.

I shrugged, and kept on smiling.

“Well don’t get too comfortable, Fish Breath is on his way over with his pensive face,” Torn said.

He stalked off to sit on a rock a few paces away, but I shrugged
again and closed my eyes, turning my face to the moon and stars above
us. I wasn’t going to let Torn ruin this moment.

“Are you feeling well?” Ceff asked, settling on the mossy ground beside me.

I cracked an eye open, grinning from ear to ear.

“I feel great, never better,” I said. In fact, I felt a bit dizzy
and my lips tingled, like I’d had too much to drink. Only I would get
buzzed off the buzzing of wisps. “Just buzzed off the buzzing.”

I hiccupped, and giggled, the laugh coming out in an undignified snort that startled the nearest wisps.

“Are you sure that you are not angry, or afraid?” he asked.

I forced myself to look up into Ceff’s face. His head was titled
to the side, as if listening for something, but his attention was
focused solely on me.

“I’m fiiine, really,” I said, waving a hand. My eyes widened, and I let out another giggle. “I’m glowing.”

“Which is probably what has his highness’ panties in a bunch,” Torn
said, coming over to tower above me, arms crossed. “There is something
weird about seeing you smile like that, especially when you’re
glowing.”

“What?” I asked. “I smile.”

“Almost never, and when you do, it’s usually because you’re killing
something,” he said. “Not that I’m judging. I’m just saying Fish
Breath has a point. You’re different.”

“She is high on power,” Ceff said, eyes going tight. “I should
have recognized the signs sooner, but I was focused on our flight
through the bog, and then with releasing the water magic that held our
masks together.”

“You think it’s the wisps?” Torn asked.

“That would be my guess,” Ceff said, rubbing his jaw.

“This didn’t happen after our run in with those wisps in Ocean Overlook cemetery, did it?” Torn asked.

“No,” Ceff said. “Not that we noticed. But Ivy was badly wounded
that night, and took days to recover consciousness. And…I…I was not at
my most attentive.”

That was the night that I’d killed his ex-wife. Melusine may have
been the raging psychotic bitch who’d murdered his children, and tried
to kill us as well, but that didn’t mean her death had been easy on
Ceff.

The memory of Ceff’s grief flooded me, pushing the giddiness away.

“I think…I think I’m back to normal now,” I said. I yawned,
covering my mouth with the back of my gloved hand. Ignoring the
encroaching bone deep fatigue, I tried to pull myself to my feet, but
sank back down when a wave of dizziness nearly toppled me over. “I just
need a minute.”

“You are exhausted,” Ceff said, brow wrinkling. “Rest here. I will keep first watch.”

“But my father’s court…” I said, but my words were cut short by another yawn.

“Will still be there tomorrow,” Torn said.

“Plus, I can scout ahead while you sleep,” Ceff said. “We will
make better progress if we are rested and certain of the path ahead.”

“Fine,” I said, eyes fluttering closed. “But just a quick nap.”

The last thing I saw, before losing myself to the darkness of
sleep, was a cloud of wisps hovering over me, lending me their
warmth…and their power.

~~~~~

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Birthright Release Day Giveaway

We are giving away a BIRTHRIGHT t-shirt, button, signed postcard, and mini poster to one lucky winner!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends August 4, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you all for partying with us!

In addition to the huge swag pack giveaway, we are also giving away Ivy Granger series stickers, buttons, and signed postcards. Each tweet, FB post, and blog comment using the hashtag #BirthrightParty will count as an entry. Winners will be randomly selected throughout the day. So party with us and spread the word all day July 14th for a second chance to win!

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

Fatal Fairies ~ A Renaissance Faire Mystery Review and Giveaway

Posted: July 8, 2015 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews, Series
Tags: Authors Jim and Joyce LaVene, cozy mystery, Fatal Fairies, Renaissance Faire Series #8

Fatal Fairies large banner640

Another fun cozy series from Joyce and Jim Lavene.

I love their books and always grab them when I can.

Enjoy my review of this fun cozy.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

~~~

Fatal Fairies
(Renaissance Faire Mystery Book 8)

25575542
Cozy Mystery
Release Date: July 7, 2015
Print Length: 181 pages
ASIN: B00X8DUQ3W

My Review

I’m sure you noticed, but just a warning, this is the 8th book in the series and there may be spoilers.

I’ve not read the other books in this series myself. I’m slowly working through all of these authors books and this is one I haven’t started yet. I couldn’t resist reading this one though.

Imagine going to bed happily married to the man of your dreams and living the life you always wanted. Then you wake up with the wrong man in your bed and nobody remembers your life. It’s all topsy turvy wrong.

That’s what happened to Jessie Morton. One stupid wish in the heat of the moment blew up her happy world and landed her in a mess.

All she wanted was to celebrate the first anniversary of her marriage to Chase Manhattan. But he’s the Renaissance Faire Village Bailiff and when a fairy is murdered she doesn’t want him on the case. A wish that he was no longer bailiff so they can sneak away changed everything.

The fun begins when Jessie must get Chase on the murder case so he can solve the murder. Then things will go back to the way they were and she can have her Happily Ever After.

Shouldn’t be too tough. But that’s an understatement.

To set the record straight, the murdered fairy was really a person in costume. I got a big surprise when it was revealed their were real fairies, witches, and even fairy godmothers in the village. How cool is that?

After some initial confusion while I acquainted myself with this world and the characters, I settled in for a fun mystery and some laughs.

I just knew it wouldn’t be as easy as Jessie thought it would be and the fun was watching her scramble to get people to help her, to convince them she wasn’t crazy, and to solve the murder.

You can read this and enjoy it without having read the other books in the series, but if you’re like me, you’ll want to know how it all began. I plan to go back to the beginning and find out.

4 Stars

~~~

Synopsis:

When a fairy named Apple Blossom is found dead in the Good Luck Fountain at Renaissance Faire Village, Jessie Morton makes a wish she lives to regret–that her husband, Chase Manhattan, is no longer the Village Bailiff. She doesn’t want him to look for the fairy’s killer and ruin their plans to go away for their first wedding anniversary.

Trapped in a timeless ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ experience, Jessie is transported to a different Village to face the consequences of her wish where Chase isn’t the Bailiff, and he’s not married to her.

Jessie’s fairy godmother who granted the wish tells her that she must find a way to make Chase fall in love with her again, and they must discover who killed Apple Blossom, if she ever wants to go back to the life she knew.

~~~~

About These Authors

Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

Author Links

Website / Facebook / Amazon / Twitter

Purchase Link
Amazon

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Follow the tour for more fun stops!

Tour Participants

July 7- Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

July 8 – fuonlyknew – Review

July 9 – Books-n-Kisses – Review

July 10 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post

July 11 – dru’s book musings – Guest Post

July 11 – Community Bookstop – Review

July 12 – deal sharing aunt – Interview

July 13 – A Chick Who Reads – Review

July 14 – Escape With Dollycas – 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!

Murder on the Bucket List ~ Tour Review and Giveaway

Posted: July 7, 2015 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
Tags: Authors Tony Perona and Liz Dombrosky, Bucket List Mystery #1, cozy mystery, Murder On The Bucket List

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Murder On The Bucket List. Tell me, don’t you love that title!

I sure do. And it was such a fun romp with these characters.

Come on in and enjoy my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway to win your own print copy!

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Murder on the Bucket List

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Series: A Bucket List Mystery (Book 1)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Midnight Ink (July 8, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0738745091

My Review

I love my cozies and am always looking for a new series and author.

This one was such a blast.

I loved these ladies and it was double fun because these characters are on the other side of 60 and 70 years old.

You wouldn’t know by the shenanigans they got into. Especially the skinny dipping. A few of them were all for getting it checked off their bucket lists. But a few were afraid to drop their robes and expose those bodies to view. They might all be good friends, but some things should remain unseen. It was funny how some hemmed and hawed and just plain stalled the disrobing.

I think several of them issued huge sighs of relief when, while checking the pool shed for chemicals, the door was opened and out plopped a dead guy.

Hey, that’s one that needs to be checked off a bucket list too. Solve a murder.

Whether they like it or not, all of the ladies are involved in this mess and the fun begins as they poke their little noses where they don’t belong.

I was reading the scene about the crime scene tour to my mother and we got the giggles. I’d try to read more, glance over at her, and we’d bust out laughing again. A whole lot of laughs in this book.

I felt like I knew these ladies. My mother and her friends are so much like them. I can only hope I’m that spry, determined, and nosy when I get their age.

More than one mystery here, lots of colorful, quirky characters, and a few things thrown in to spice it up, Murder On The Bucket List has everything I require in a fun cozy.

I’ll be following these ladies through this series. I wonder what mess they’ll stumble into next.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

The septuagenarian women of the Summer Ridge Bridge Club have gathered in secret late one July night to check skinny dipping off their bucket list. But as Francine observes, the jittery members seem more obsessed with body issues and elaborate preparations than actually stripping down and getting in the pool. A pungent smell emanating from the pool shed provides a perfect distraction. When a dead body flops out, it’s an answered prayer for Charlotte, since the first item on her list is to solve a murder.
Unfortunately for Charlotte and Francine, before they can discover who really killed the man, they must negotiate neighborhood tours of the crime scene, press coverage of their skinny dipping, an angry Homeowner’s Association, a disastrous appearance on Good Morning America, media offers sought by a hungry publicist, and a clever killer.

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About The Authors
Elizabeth Perona is the father/daughter writing team of Tony Perona and Liz Dombrosky. Tony is the author of the Nick Bertetto mystery series, the standalone thriller The Final Mayan Prophecy (with Paul Skorich), and co-editor and contributor to the anthologies Racing Can Be Murder and Hoosier Hoops & Hijinks. Tony is a member of Mystery Writers of America and has served the organization as a member of the Board of Directors and as Treasurer. He is also a member of Sisters-in-Crime.

Liz Dombrosky graduated from Ball State University in the Honors College with a degree in teaching. She is currently a stay-at-home mom. Murder on the Bucket List is her first novel.

Author Links

www.tonyperona.com, www.elizabethperona.com, and on Facebook.

Purchase Links:

Amazon / B&N

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

I have one print copy to giveaway.

US Only

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

“Do you have a bucket list?”

Giveaway ends July 15th

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Follow the tour for more fun posts

July 6 – Back Porchervations – Review

July 6 – readalot – Review

July 7 – fuonlyknew – Review, Giveaway

July 8 – Babs Book Bistro – Review, Giveaway

July 8 – dru’s book musings – Guest Post, Giveaway

July 9 – View from the Birdhouse – Interview, Giveaway

July 9 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Giveaway

July 10 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too ! – Guest Post, Giveaway

July 11 – Frankie Bow – Spotlight

July 12 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Giveaway

July 13 – Carstairs Considers – Review, Giveaway

July 13 – A Blue Million Books – Interview

July 14 – Bunny’s Review – Review

July 15 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Guest Post, 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!

Teaser Tuesdays #121 ~ Morrigan’s Shadows

Posted: July 7, 2015 in Dark Fantasy, horror, reviews, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: Author Michelle Barclay, Morrigan's Shadows, Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.

TeaserTuesdays2014e

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page.

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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My Teaser for this week is from

Morrigan’s Shadows

by Michelle Barclay

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My Teaser from page 14 in the Paperback.

Stop the dreams? She had never thought of that as one of her goals. She was here to stop the anxiety attacks, the unreality, the discomfort upon waking and the insomnia. She liked to sleep. She didn’t mind the nightmares. Of course, she had never told Doc that. She was afraid it was weird to feel unafraid by the things she saw.

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My Review

I liked how this book started.

Morrigan is talking to her shrink about her nightmares. Or is she’s not talking about them. I don’t think she wants them to go away.

Morrigan feels more at home, safer, in her nightmares than in the real world. The monsters are known to her. She knows she’s dreaming.

In the real world, she’s plagued by fears and anxiety attacks. She has no control.

Now things have gotten real messed up for her. Morrigan isn’t sure if her nightmares are dreams or something else, something that might be real.

The winged man appeared in her waking world. Now no place is safe for her.

The first part of the book introduces you to Morrigan through her talks with her shrink. As the story progresses, you’re pulled into her nightmares. That’s where things get real interesting.

I was so wrapped up in Morrigan’s world I was down to about 10 pages left before I realized it. Then it hit me. The end was near. And there was no way those last few pages were going to give me an ending. At least not a complete one.

I was right. There was one messed up cliff hanger. I was mad at first. Not at the author. She really zinged me with the hanger.

I was mad at myself. I won this book in a giveaway. Whenever I win a book, I go to different sights and check it out, along with the author. I didn’t do that this time or I might have known this wasn’t a stand alone and would have been prepared. The book arrived in the mail and I packed it for a weekend getaway. That it was part of a series caught me by surprise.

I enjoy a series. It’s when I have to wait too long for the next one that I get irked. Often, it’s too long before the next book and I’ve moved on to something else. While the next book in this series isn’t written yet, I’ll be watching for it.

I’m not happy about being left hanging, but that won’t stop me from giving this a high recommendation to all who like dark fantasy and psychological horror. The wait for more will be worth it.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Morrigan’s sleep is plagued with horrors. Afraid the vivid nightmares of her sleeping life will drive her insane, she sticks to a daily routine that comforts her until one day, she decides to change it. Through a series of traumas and encounters that claw at the seams of sanity, Morrigan finds herself confronting reality and it is not what she expected. Journey through Morrigan’s nightmares as they seep into her waking world and threaten to destroy the only peace she has ever experienced.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Them, The Uninvited, and A Crying Shame by William W. Johnstone ~ A Horror Trifecta!

Posted: July 3, 2015 in Blog Tour, horror, reviews
Tags: A Crying Shame, Author William W. Johnstone, Horror, The Uninvited, Them

William W. Johnstone is a prolific author, with a whole lot of books in his lineup.

Known for his Western’s many don’t know he also writes horror.

When I was browsing his titles, I was surprised to discover that I have some of them on my bookshelves. They have those scary good covers you can’t resist when you spot them on a shelf.

I haunt my local used book store just for these.

So how could I not read these three? Can’t wait to tell you about them, so enjoy!

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Title: A Crying Shame
Author: William Johnstone
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Format: Kindle

My Review

This was wicked creepy. I love creatures with my horror and you get some new ones in this story.

I tried to visualize them and came up with a cross between a bigfoot from the movie Sasquatch and the vampire creatures in Priest. Probably not even close but that’s scary enough for me.

I know the blurb mentions these monsters emerging from the swamp to kidnap human females and impregnate them. That sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But the author manages to pull it off, giving you a believable enough explanation for their actions and how it works.

That’s not even the tip of the iceberg. These creatures have super strength, are savage, and hungry. And we are on the menu.

Great characters too. Lots to like. And so many to pity when the creatures really get cranked up. A horror story wouldn’t be good without some killing off of likable characters and there’s some of that for sure. Don’t count on your favorite making it to the end. Lots don’t. This is home invasion on a whole new level.

For all of you horror fans, come and get it!

5 Stars

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Each night they emerged from the murky depths of the swamp to claim another victim—a lovely, innocent, fertile female who would be carried off in huge hairy arms and plunged into a nightmare world of terror. Her screams would echo in the darkness. Her face would contort in the throes of horror and pain. But once taken, each became a mother of an unholy child, a link in the chain of madness and evil, a spawn to carry on the devil’s name!

A Crying Shame is available for pre-order at Amazon, B&N, Kobo and Google Play

~~~

Title: The Uninvited
Author: William Johnstone
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Format: Kindle

My Review

It starts with a little spill. Just some toxic junk. No big deal.

Until that stuff changes something. Creates something new and deadly.

If you hear the clicking, it’s already too late.

Another scary good story from this author with more creatures. I can’t tell you what they are. I can tell you they appear from out of nowhere, strip a body down to the bare bones in the time it takes to say, Oh sh#t!, and vanish just as quickly.

No place is safe. As the town is slowly cut off from the rest of the world, the reports of missing animals and people rises and more dessicated bodies are discovered.

Once again, this author gave me horror the way I like it. Creatures, a desperate struggle to survive, and no guarantees that your favorite characters will still be standing at the end.

5 Stars

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It was like any other spring day in the quiet, peaceful community of Lapeer Parish, Louisiana. But for Sheriff Vic Ransonet it was the beginning of a nightmare. People were disappearing without a trace. Animals were being eaten right down to the bone. Lush fertile fields of crops were being stripped bare. But the sheriff knew the evil that lurked in the barns, sheds, and homes of the sleepy parish. He had seen the creatures with his own eyes. He had heard the clicking of their jaws, the signal that they were on the move to feed their ravenous appetites. And if he couldn’t stop them, then every man, woman, and child would die, and Lapeer Parish would be wiped off the map.

The Uninvited is available for pre-order at Amazon, B&N, and Google Play

~~~

Title: Them
Author: William Johnstone
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Format: Kindle

My Review

Them. They came from far away, another world. Not pretty to look at. Just an ugly glowing brain thing.

They have a plan. A truly horrific agenda.

Jake’s father beats him at the drop of a hat. Hates him, actually. His peers torment him. His teachers look on, smirks on their faces.

No wonder there’s something dark, demented hidden deep inside Jake. When he stumbles upon one of Them, he finds a friend. Someone he can talk to, well, telepathically he can. Someone who cares.

All it asks in return is his help to bring others to Earth. What could be the harm in that?

Well, a lot. Jake may be hiding his dark desires for revenge from Them, but they are hiding something too.

I felt sorry for Jake. His father hates him, as do his peers. He only has a few friends. They are in the same boat. Perhaps these aliens will be good for them. Or maybe not.

An evil alien invasion and psychological horror that takes you hostage.

4 Stars

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Jake Silver was a teenage misfit, a misunderstood genius who’d been cruelly tormented by his own sadistic father and others in his little Louisiana hometown. Jake was the perfect disciple for Them.

They’d come from another world; disembodied beings who understood Jake’s need for revenge. . .They would offer Jake the power to finally take it. . .All they wanted in return was his help in bringing others of their kind to Jake’s world.

It begins so slowly, so innocently, even Jake didn’t see the danger. . .until it was too late to realize that he had helped unleash a devastating power in the universe–and opened a gateway for a horrific struggle between mere human beings and. . .

Them

Them is available for pre-order at Amazon, B&N, and Google Play

~~~

Author William W. Johnstone

William W. Johnstone was born in Southern Missouri, the youngest of four children. Raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and well-tutored by his school teacher mother, Bill quit school when he was fifteen. He was kicked out of the French Foreign Legion for being under age and joined the carnival. But still valuing his education, he returned home to finish his high school education in 1957.

He went on to work as a deputy sheriff, did a hitch in the army, and began a career in radio broadcasting, where he worked daily on his verbal and storytelling skills for the next sixteen years on the air. Much of his knowledge of the early frontier began from listening to family experiences told to him by his Grandparents.

His love of animals is displayed in many of his books as well as finding several Huskies and Malamutes roaming freely around his home. As an avid gun and knife collector, hours of research are devoted to the types of weapons commonly used during the eras of his writings.

One little known fact, is his love for music … from “rockabilly to classical”. Bill has written and recorded several songs which may be released for his fans in the future.

He started writing in 1970, but it wasn’t until late 1979 when The Devil’s Kiss was published that William W. Johnstone became a full-time writer. Since that time he has written over two hundred books in a variety of genres including action, suspense, western, science fiction, and horror. Two of his books, Eagle Down and Dagger, were written under the pen name of William Mason.

To the true William W. Johnstone reader, he is a best-selling author admired for the great diversity in his writing talents. Though most known for his western adventures, Johnstone was also a visionary writer. His prophetic stories within his Ashes Series, Code Name Series, and his science fiction books, predicting the Gulf War and the political climate we live in today, was ahead of its time when it was written.

For More Information

Visit William’s website.

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Follow the tour for more fun posts!

June 15

Interviewed at C.A. Milson

June 16

Book featured at 3 Partners in Shopping

June 17

Guest blogging at Gothic Moms

June 18

Book featured at The Literary Nook

June 19

Interviewed at I’m Shelf-ish

June 22

Book featured at The Dark Phantom

June 23

Interviewed at Review From Here

June 24

Guest blogging at Fiction to Fruition

June 25

Book featured at Celticlady’s Reviews

June 26

Guest blogging at The Book Czar

June 29

Book featured at From Paperback to Leatherbound

June 30

Book featured at Lover of Literature

July 1

Book featured at The Revolving Bookshelf

July 2

Review of Them, The Uninvited and A Crying Shame at A Room Without Books is Empty

July 3

Review of Them, The Uninvited and A Crying Shame at FUOnlyKnew

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Until the next time….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Killer Treads by Anthony Renfro ~ New Cover Reveal and Freebie!

Posted: June 29, 2015 in Cover Reveal, Freebies!, horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: Author Anthony Renfro, Horror, Killer Treads, Short story

I’ve read almost all of Anthony Renfro’s stories and wait anxiously for new ones.

I have a new cover to reveal for Killer Treads.

Also, Anthony has it free to download on Monday, June 29th and Tuesday, June 30th. Links to get your copy are provided below.

Let’s get to that new cover art shall we?

Ready!

Set!

Ta – Da!

My Review

Hey, look at that. A tread mill, like new, for only twenty bucks. What a steal.

He’s been meaning to get in shape, get rid of that spare tire around his middle.

He should have slowed down, caught the warning signs that something was seriously wrong with the deal. Not been so impulsive.

Alas, it’s too late now, and the deal is going to cost him much more than cold hard cash.

This story teaches you to never buy something when the deal seems too good to be true.

Kind of fun, kind of gory, and I liked it.

3 Stars

A short story about a man who sees a flashy ad online advertising a twenty dollar treadmill. He buys the machine, too cheap to be scared, and realizes much to his dismay that this machine has a taste for blood. Big Bob better run like his life depends on it, because in many ways it does.

Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars: Kind of fun, kind of gory, and I liked it.

AMAZON

EBOOK:

US / UK / AU / CA

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Author Anthony Renfro

Anthony Renfro

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.

Find him on:

Blog ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads

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Until the next time…..

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

My Second Quarter Update For My 2015 Horror Reading Challenge

Posted: June 28, 2015 in horror, Reading Challenge, reviews
Tags: Corenerfolds, June Update, Reading Horror Challenge

Welcome to my Second Quarter Update For

My Horror Reading Challenge

Hosted by Cornerfolds

Challenge Guidelines

This challenge will run from January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015, and you can join at anytime.
Books must be read and reviewed in 2015.
Audiobooks, re-reads, short stories, and crossovers are fine.
If you’re a blogger, grab the button below and create a post or page about this challenge and your goals with a link back to this post.
You don’t have to be a book blogger to participate! You can track your progress on Goodreads, Shelfari, Booklikes, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.
Sign up on the designated Mr. Linky below with your post, shelf, etc. and comment on this post.
I will make a post each month for you to link your reviews.
There will be giveaways at the halfway point and at the end of the challenge in December.

Challenge Levels

1-5 horror books: Running Scared
6-10 horror books: Brave Reader
11-15 horror books: Fearless
16+ horror books: Horror Hound

My personal challenge goal will be Brave Reader to start since I’m also participating in several other challenges for 2015.

Challenge Update Schedule

March 26th – First Quarter Update
June 25th – Second Quarter Update & Giveaway
September 24th – Third Quarter Update
December 24th – Challenge Wrap-Up & Giveaway

Lists To Get You Started

Best Horror Novels
Best Teen Horror/Suspense/Thrillers
Ghost Stories

I’m going for Horror Hound – 16+ Horror Books

Click on the covers for my reviews.