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Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

Teaser Tuesdays #101 ~ Night Carnival

Posted: February 10, 2015 in Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Romance, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith, Night Carnival, short paranormal romance story

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

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!

~~~

My Tease for this week is from

Night Carnival

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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My Tease is from 63% in the eBook.

They couldn’t touch or hurt me; they couldn’t hurt anyone anymore, trapped and helpless as they were in their purgatory life. But they were with me always.

My Review

Ever since I watched the movie Something Wicked This Way Comes I’ve been drawn to stories that use the carnival as their location.

What’s scarier than the barker’s hollering and badgering you to try their games, enter their tents. And the clowns with their white face paint and yellow teeth. I’ve never liked clowns.

Now imagine a night carnival run by supernatural beings, vampires and shifters. They’d give you quite a show and some visitors would never go home again.

After losing first her husband and then her mother all in one month, Angela is now facing the rest of her life alone. Sitting in her mothers empty house, she hears the sound of calliope music. The music of a carnival. But it’s the wrong time of year for one. It speaks to something deep inside her, drawing her out into the chilly night, through the woods, to a small carnival that shouldn’t be there.

Dominic, a vampire and owner of the carnival, calls to Angela. He’s been waiting a long time and it’s time for her to really start living. His call brings her to the carnival and the wonders of his life.

This is a very short story but also very fulfilling. The author did an excellent job of making me familiar with the characters quickly. The choice of the night carnival was great too. What an ingenious way for the supernatural beings to blend in. People expect the strange there. And the atmosphere is creepy and intense.

An enchanting yet macabre tale of soul mates and happy “forever” after.

4 Stars

~~~

Synopsis

Walking among the eerie assortment of skill-game booths and tattered tents she’s strangely drawn in by the eerie calliope music and the mesmerizing inhabitants of a carnival the likes she’s never seen before. The carousel is alive with demonic steeds flashing their hooves and neighing silently to the moon. There are wraith like luminescent creatures lurking in the shadows along the midway and the Ferris wheel, aglow with thousands of twinkling lights, moves without human hands to control it. The strange animals, lions, tigers and elephants, in the main ring have no human trainers, are much larger than they should be, and seem to float. Then there are the sad-faced clowns who manipulate the crowds with only their glittering eyes and thoughts. They and the other carnies are vampires. One–ancient and powerful, their leader Dominic–has been waiting for her for a long time…to make her his forever. He offers her what she’s never had before. Love. A place to call home. But is she willing to give up her humanity for this creature of the night? Is she willing to join her life to his and live among the vampires, shape shifters and ghosts of the traveling carnival for eternity? Could she be happy as one of them? Is she willing to die for him? (The short story Night Carnival was a *Finalist* in the 2011 Just One Bite Anthology Contest at All Romance eBooks.)

~~~

I’ve read several of Kathryn’s books and she is a prolific writer. My goal is to eventaully read all of her stories. You’ll be seeing her books on my blog a lot this month as I have more of them to share with you and a special event coming up this Friday. There will be giveaways and reviews. Be sure to stop back by.

~~~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo_black_cap Since childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over forty-three years ago now, and have had twenty-one (nine romantic horror, two horror novels, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance, two thrillers, and three murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press; and I’ve self-published my last six novels with Amazon Kindle Direct and my dinosaur novels and Spookie Town Mysteries are my best-sellers.

I’ve been married to Russell for thirty-six years; have a son, James, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha and Cleo and live cat Sasha (Too), and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my horror novel The Last Vampire–Revised Author’s Edition ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for her thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

*Click here to check out Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s.

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:

Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Blood Forge, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire,

Witches, The Nameless One short story, The Calling, All Things Slip Away, Egyptian Heart,

Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, Before the End: A Time of Demons, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Four Spooky Short Stories Collection, Scraps of Paper, Dinosaur Lake, Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising and the just released Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation.

Kathryn’s Links

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathryn-Meyer-Griffith/579206748758534

http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/889499.Kathryn_Meyer_Griffith

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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

Monday Minis Reviews #37 ~ The Zombie Combat Field Guide

Posted: February 9, 2015 in Action/Adventure, horror, Monday's Minis, reviews, Zombies
Tags: adult coloring and activity guide, Author Roger Ma, survival, The Zombie Combat Field Guide, zombies

zombies photo: zombies capt_973bc9c198ad455496f74daf552fdfa5_correction_zombies_ahead_ny136.jpg

Welcome to My Monday Minis Reviews.

I won this book in a giveaway. And the author even sent me crayons!

Yeah! A coloring book for us big kids.

For today I’ll be sharing The Zombie Combat Field Guide

A Coloring and Activity Book

for Fighting the Living Dead

by Roger Ma

My review

This is one for all zombie fans. And if you believe the zombie apocalypse will happen this is a must for your survival kit.

Roger Ma has included a bunch of survival tips, with pictures, to help you when the apocalypse happens. I learned fairly early on that I was not very prepared. I’d be an easy meal.

There are pages showing how to train, how to get in shape. It takes a lot of strength to take down a zombie. And the agility skills are a must if you choose to dodge and run for it. That would be best for me. But he also includes these handy tips on how to take advantage of anything close to you and make it a weapon of opportunity. You’d be surprised what would slow down a or take down a zombie.

There’s even a section for parents on how to protect your children. You can become a momma bear in no time.

I’m saving the fun quizzes and the coloring for when The Walking Dead’s new season starts this month. I’ll need some visuals to get the colors right. I have my colored pencils sharpened and ready. And I’m curious how I’ll score on those quizzes too.

So, are you ready? You might think so. I suggest you add this to your survival kit and read it often. Your life may depend on it.

I won this book in a giveaway. Thanks to the tour host and Roger Ma.

I feel safer already!

5 Stars

~~~

Synopsis

The Zombie Combat Manual provided potential zombie fighters with comprehensive instructions on how to do battle in the inevitable outbreak of an undead plague. However, even the most comprehensive advice is useless without study and practice.

Thus, the Institute for Undead Combat Studies has created an essential field handbook to help combatants of the walking dead hone their fighting skills, ensuring maximum preparedness for the zombie apocalypse. This interactive guide includes:
Detailed technique illustrations, anatomical diagrams, and zombie combat drawings you can color
Puzzles and brain exercises to help remember key combat terminology
Work pages on making the right choices during an undead outbreak
and much more!
Anyone can become an effective warrior against the walking dead. Make sure you’re ready to fight when the time comes—or prepare to join the zombie horde…

~~~

Author Roger Ma

Roger Ma

Roger Ma specializes in hand-to-hand combat against the undead. He is the author of The Zombie Combat Manual: A Guide to Fighting the Living Dead. His new book, The Vampire Combat Manual: A Guide to Fighting the Bloodthirsty Undead, focuses on surviving an attack from a hunting succubus. He is the founder of the Zombie Combat Club and the Vampire Combat Club, organizations that focus on battling the undead without the aid of a firearm. He was recently featured as a zombie expert on the History Channel documentary “Zombies: A Living History.” He currently trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He lives in Brooklyn, NY

Find him on Amazon.

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Are you ready for the zombie apocalypse?

What’s New On My Bookshelf #96 and The Sunday Post

Posted: February 7, 2015 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: The Sunday Post, weekly book haul news

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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

~~~

It’s time for another Sunday Post!

The sun is shining, it’s warming up to be a beautiful day, and “I’m Alright.” stretching photo: stretching stretching.gif That song is stuck in my head!

Do you remember the gopher in Caddy Shack? The battle between that furry pesky rodent and Bill Murray cracked me up. I have to share a few favorite scenes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR0sWU1HzTE

I have watched this movie so many times and I still laugh so hard I almost pee my pants. LOL

I’ve got some awesome books to share with you today. But first lets talk about review ratings.

The other day I was talking with my sister and she asked me a question I’ve been pondering myself. It’s about the Amazon review rating system. You know they changed how the ratings work, what the stars mean. Their rating description doesn’t reflect mine on my blog and my sister asked, do I give a book 5 stars on Amazon when I gave it 4 stars on my blog.

I mostly review books on my blog that I really like. So my ratings are between 3 and 5 stars. A really good book gets a 4 star rating from me but Amazon’s description for a 4 star rating doesn’t coincide with mine. It’s like I need to give it 5 stars to show how I felt about it. So far I use the same star rating as on my blog but each time it bothers me.

The question I have today is, do you change your ratings when posting on Amazon?

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.

22542136 22741679

24735802

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New ones just because!

On my Kindle

9268289 23523161

Print Books

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From the library.

These are some rereads. This series is why I first started reading cozy mysteries and began my love affair with them!

576726 1238909

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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 cover for my review.

I know! Only one this week.

I had several others ready but decided to wait as I had a lot of tour posts this week.

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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

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What I won.

Not the greatest picture but it would have covered the whole table if I spread out all of these goodies!

I won this big box of awesome swag from a giveaway on Angela Roquet’s Website.

Thanks for the lovelies, Angela!

~~~

Fun news from around the web!

On Happy Indulgence, Jeann has a fun Chatterbox: Do you remember book specifics?

Ron from Painting With Light talks about, Why Review Your Own Blog?

On A Daydreamer’s Thoughts, Faye talks about review books.

Carmel at Rabid Reads wants to know if you ever peek at the endings?

At Lola’s Ramblings she asks: Do you Reply to Review Requests?

~~~

Skeletons ~ Everyone Has One ~ Tour Review and Giveaway

Posted: February 6, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: Author Kenneth Buff, short horror stories collection, Skeletons

Thanks for stopping by for my stop on the tour for Skeletons by Kenneth Buff.

I have some scary good stories to share with you.

Enjoy my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

I forgot to mention!

You can get this FREE on Amazon HERE for a limited time!

Skeletons

by Kenneth Buff

My Review

I’ve become hooked on short stories and collections and these are some good ones.

I’m going to break it down a tell a little about each one and then give an overall rating.

And Then There Was Only Us

They say sometimes psychopaths will be drawn to each, like a shared sickness. These two lovers find a portal to other dimensions and take their killing games to a new level.

They enter a dimension and torture and kill their other selves.

“You wouldn’t believe the shock on their faces the first time they saw us. You wouldn’t believe the pleasure on ours.”

Sooner or later something has to happen. The fun stops being fun, at least for one. Then what?

This was the first story and pretty horrific. Twisted psyches and a lust for pain and blood doesn’t make for happy ever after. Even killing yourself gets old. I kept waiting for one to turn on the other.

Re – Tailoring You

2PM. Punch the clock. Work. Punch out. Go home. Repeat.

The man is stuck in his dead end job at All-Mart, the store that has, “Everything you need.” Days, weeks, months, years pass in a blur, and he dies a little each day.

It didn’t come to him all at once. But gradually he realized the other employees were acting strange. They stopped talking. Some of his co-workers noticed too. They started calling them the pod people. I guess that’s from the movie, The Body Snatchers. I called them The Stepford Clerks.

Knowing its becoming dangerous, the group that hasn’t changed split up, trying to reach others like them. Trying to warn them and make their escape.

But, like with all good horror stories, it’s not going to be easy.

I kept waiting for Bruce Campbell to jump on a counter with his boom stick and shout, “Shop Smart. Shop All-Mart!”

Mom’s House

When Henry’s mother dies, Alice knows she has to go with him. She’s all out of excuses for not going to that house. Who would want to. They siblings claim they commune with the ghosts that haunt that place. What would Alice have to say to them?

The funeral is over and the days pass. Alice waits for them to go through their mothers stuff, but soon gets bored. They sit at the breakfast table every morning relating the ghostly visits they had the night before. Felling left out, she takes Henry’s advice and goes for a walk.

Something, a niggle of doubt, causes her to sneak back and peek in the window. They are sitting around laughing, not packing things up.

When Alice confronts them, things get ugly. Then dangerous. It seems Henry had a big secret. One about why he truly brought her there.

This one creeps up on you. Then the secret is revealed and the action kicks in. Alice didn’t strike me as tough or resourceful, but she fooled me. Let’s hope she fools them too.

The Second Coming Of Cortes

He’s come! Jesus has come to Pike’s Peak in Colorado.

It came straight from Jesus on the TV. He appears, inviting all the people of Colorado to climb to the top of Pike’s Peak, to be received by him and enter heaven. There’s a catch. They only have three days to get there.

Brian and Karen drag their son, Alex, to the greatest show on earth. He scoffs at this person. Would Jesus pull a stunt like this? Why Colorado and Pike’s Peak? Why only three days?

His parents are bound and determined he make the climb with them, but Alex wants nothing to do with it. Can he hold out or will he be dragged kicking and screaming to the top of the peak? And who or what awaits them there?

This was creepy. I’d be with Alex. I hardly think Jesus would appear on TV telling us to come to him. Yet again, modern times call for modern measures. Who knows.

You can imagine how bad it gets. All those frenzied people crawling over each other to get to the top, to Jesus and heaven.

It became a bloody mess, people crushed or shot to death. Makes you wonder how they ever thought those actions would get them anywhere but a fast drop to Hell.

The Decoder

Everyone is required to use their decoder until noon. Most of them keep it on until the mandated shut off time of 4 PM. But not him.

He can’t wait for noon so he can shut of the decoder. When it’s on, by the time you think about what you are going to do, it’s done. Time flies by in a blur.

A normal day for him is work, then home. Mow the lawn, do laundry, vac and dust, maybe paint the walls. It’s only 11:30. Imagine watching time crawl while everything you do flies by.

Noon. Done. Decoder off. He sits down to work on the book he’s writing. It’s a good story. Opposite from his, where the decoder slows time down.

I got dizzy just reading this. I’ve seen some movies where they show a person standing still while everything rushes by in a blur of shapes and colors. That’s how this story felt.

I felt the man’s book was about his wish. Perhaps he should write a story about no decoders at all.

All of these were good. I don’t usually play favorites but several scenes in re-Tailoring You got my blood pumping.

For most of you, all of these will creep you out.

Scare a few minutes off your life.

Or at least give you some nightmares.

Horror is as horror does.

4 Stars

~~~~

BLURB:

Skeletons, everyone has one, and in this collection of dark short stories they’re scratching their way to the surface for the world to see. In Skeletons you’ll meet a man who confesses his secret time traveling fetish, a cashier who investigates the eerie behavior of his retail co-workers, a torn lover who travels to her boyfriend’s haunted retreat, a teenager who’s town undergoes some unusual changes, and a father who’s personal time is moving a little too fast.

~~~~~

Excerpt

And Then There Was Only Us

I’m not sure how it started. I know it was me that showed her the portal, but I can’t remember whose idea it was to start killing them. I believe it was hers, but I honestly don’t remember anymore. That’s part of using the portal. You go in too many times and it fries your brain. I couldn’t even pretend to know how many times we’ve gone in. I just know that each time we go back we kill them a new way. That’s one thing I do know. I could lie to you and tell you I didn’t enjoy it, but I did. No woman in the world is kinkier than my Stephanie. Once I showed her the portal, it didn’t take long for her to change the way we dealt with the doubles. Prior to our trips, I had always just waited till my double used the portal before exploring the past. That way there would only be one of me. Steph changed that. You wouldn’t believe the shock on their faces the first time they saw us. You wouldn’t believe the pleasure on ours.

We took full advantage of the fact that no one would ever know about their disappearances.

~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kenneth Buff was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. He moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2007 to attend Oklahoma State University. He graduated in 2013. He currently spends his days working as an elementary special education teacher and his nights at Aspen Coffee, writing his next novel.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Amazon

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

The more you comment, the more chances to win.

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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!

What’s New On My Bookshelf #95 and The Sunday Post

Posted: February 1, 2015 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: my weekly book news, The Sunday Post

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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

~~~

Here we are again. This week went by so fast.

I spent this weekend wandering around outside, checking to see which plants survived the cold so far. I’ve got plans to move some this spring and want to buy some small fruit trees and plant an herb garden.

I got the idea for growing my own herbs when I decided to start trying the recipes from the cozy mysteries I’ve been reading. There are some really good ones and I’m collecting them. Herbs and spices can be very expensive so I figured growing my own would get me out in the fresh air, keep me busy, and save on money.

My son is excited as he’s the official taste tester and has enjoyed a few recipes I’ve tried already. I usually follow the recipe precisely the first time and then tweak it the next time I cook. It’s fun to see what I come up with, but sometimes it’s a disaster. LOL Hence the garden and saving on money.

I’ve also been playing with the idea of reviewing the book and sharing the recipe with pictures of my efforts. Should be fun and I’ll even post the disasters.

My wish is to one day to be able to make tacos that taste as good as Taco Bell’s. I love theirs and could eat them everyday.

Do you ever try the recipes from cozy mysteries? Do you try ones from the cooking networks?

And just for fun, what’s your favorite fast food?

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

Psst! It’s Mardi Gras!

~~~

Here are my new books for review.

22668757 2492011

24485092 23341325 Betrayal front cover

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New ones just because!

And these I found at some thrift stores. I had fun trolling for books this week.

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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.

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Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

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I have a few more to post but not sure which ones so you’ll have to come back and see!

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What I won.

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I won a print copy from a giveaway on Talk Supe.

Thanks Braine and thank you to Author Alan Finn.

~~~

A Southern Gothic Mystery ~ They Call Me Crazy ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: January 29, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, horror, Mystery, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews
Tags: Author Kelly Stone Gamble, paranormal, southern horror, They Call Me Crazy

I’m thrilled to share this debut by Author Kelly Stone Gamble.

Who doesn’t love a southern gothic mystery? And this one twists you every which way as you try to get to the bottom of it.

Come on in. Grab a seat. Here’s some iced tea.

Now let’s get to my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

They Call Me Crazy

by Kelly Stone Gamble

My Review

~~~

I love it when everything comes together to make a really good mystery.

It was a dark and stormy night…Well, it was!

Cass, the town crazy lady, has finally had enough of her cheatin, beatin husband, Roland, and whacks him with a shovel, which she then uses to bury him in the fish pond.

When a torrential rain uncovers his body, Cass has to move him and gets caught red handed. You’d think it was an open and shut case once she confesses to murdering her husband. But nothing is what it seems in this peculiar little town and Cass is crazy, isn’t she?

I pictured the town as shrouded in fog, never sunny and bright. I guess I got that from the beginning scenes and carried it through the whole story. Made it creepy and more mysterious too.

Each chapter is narrated by a different character and this added to the fun. How do you figure out what really happened? Ask a dozen witnesses to an event and each one sees something different. Cass may have confessed, but she’s touched in the head , so did she kill him?

In a small town where everybody knows everybody’s secrets, this one is trying to stay buried and things get more and more convoluted until the truth is revealed.

A great debut by this author and I will be waiting for her next book.

4 Stars

~~~

Synopsis

Cass Adams is crazy, and everyone in Deacon, Kansas, knows it. But when her good-for-nothing husband, Roland, goes missing, no one suspects that Cass buried him in their unfinished koi pond. Too bad he doesn’t stay there for long. Cass gets arrested on the banks of the Spring River for dumping his corpse after heavy rain partially unearths it.

The police chief wants a quick verdict—he’s running for sheriff and has no time for crazy talk. But like Roland’s corpse, secrets start to surface, and they bring more to light than anybody expected. Everyone in Cass’s life thinks they know her—her psychic grandmother, her promiscuous ex-best friend, her worm-farming brother-in-law, and maybe even her local ghost. But after years of separate silences, no one knows the whole truth. Except Roland. And he’s not talking.

~~~

Author Kelly Stone Gamble

Kelly Stone Gamble was born and raised in the Midwest… all over the Midwest. By the time she graduated from high school, she had run away from home twice and attended twenty-two different schools. To bring that total to twenty-five, she obtained an undergrad degree and two graduate degrees. There are stories in those experiences, and she chose to use them for fictional inspiration.

For the past twenty years, Kelly has lived in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, Nevada. She recently accepted a full-time position with Southeast Oklahoma State University to teach Literature and Professional Speech and will soon be a resident, again, of the Midwest.

Look out, tornadoes. You have competition.

Links where the book is sold:

Amazon ~ B&N ~ Apple ~ Kobo ~ Google Play

Author page on RAP ~ Goodreads

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

As Gouda As Dead ~ A deliciously fun cozy mystery review and giveaway

Posted: January 28, 2015 in Author Interview, Contests, Cozy Mystery, Giveaway Hop, giveaways, reviews, Romance
Tags: As Gouda As Dead, cozy mystery, giveaway, New Release, Scavenger Hunt

Hi ya’ll. I have so much to share with you today!

I have my review of As Gouda As Dead.

There’s a delicious recipe for you to try.

Plus two giveaways. And ones a scavenger hunt!

Come on in and join the fun!

~~~

As Gouda as Dead
(CHEESE SHOP MYSTERY)

Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (February 3, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0425273319 / E-Book ASIN: B00LMGK43E

My Review

I sure do enjoy cozy mysteries and I’m thrilled each time I discover a new series and author.

I’ll be following this one.

It’s almost Valentine’s Day and a week of special events is planned in the town of Providence, Ohio.

Charlotte Bessette, owner of Fromagerie Bessette, is especially excited because she’s finally marrying the man of her dreams, Jordan Pace, this coming weekend. That is until she finds a dead body dumped in the large vat full of milk at her fiances cheese farm.

Charlotte and Jordan decide to postpone their wedding until the case is resolved, once it’s proven to be a murder.

I was worried about them. No matter that he assured her they will get married in the spring. No matter that he professed his ongoing love in the tender love notes he leaves for her to discover. Something, a feeling I got, had me wondering if the wedding would occur. I know I’m suspicious by nature. If it were my fiance, he’d probably throw his hands up in frustration.

When Charlotte stumbles upon another dead body, Chief of Police Umburto Urso relents and listens to her theories, her conclusions. It’s a race to find the killer before more people are killed.

The author’s descriptions of Providence made me feel right at home. I live in a small single tax colony founded by artists. The downtown area is filled with small shops, bakeries, coffee houses, and restaurants. And just like in this book, the owners all know each other, all use each others wares, and all chip in when something needs doing. It’s a tight knit community and you’d never meet a more loyal, friendly bunch.

I’d recommend you have some napkins handy while reading this one. The food described in these pages is delicious. I swear I could smell and taste it and my mouth was watering. There are some wonderful recipes included at the end, so be sure to check them out.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Someone is cheesed off . . .

Providence, Ohio, is celebrating Valentine’s Day with weeklong events, including lovers’ baskets with heart-shaped cheeses at Fromagerie Bessette. Charlotte Bessette is celebrating by finally walking down the aisle with the man of her dreams, handsome artisanal cheese farmer, Jordan Pace. But when a beloved bar owner is discovered murdered on Jordan’s farm, he believes they should reschedule their wedding given the grim turn of events.

Charlotte is heartsick over the postponement. This killer crossed the wrong woman. No one, but no one, is ruining her wedding plans!

~~~~

Recipe

Potato Bacon Parmesan Soup

The protagonist of my Cookbook Nook mysteries would probably blanch at the number of ingredients in this recipe, but Charlotte Bessette, the cheese shop owner in the Cheese Shop mysteries would have no problem with it. She loves to cook. She knows some recipes take more steps. She loves to add cheese to just about everything. The Parmesan cheese in this recipe adds just the right about of yum! This is perfect for a cold winter night. Even better if you’re snuggling up with a good book! Anybody planning to read AS GOUDA AS DEAD?

PS: You’ll notice there is no flour in this recipe. The potatoes do all the work of thickening the soup, so this is gluten-free!

POTATO BACON PUREE SOUP

[serves 6)

Ingredients:

2 pounds large Yukon Gold potatoes (about 4)

6 strips bacon

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup half-and-half

2 cups milk (I used 2%, but you can use regular, too)

¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon of salt (for boiling water)

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon white pepper

Extra Parmesan for garnish

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil with 1 tablespoon salt. While water is heating, cut the potatoes into quarters. Add cut potatoes to boiling water and bring to a boil. Cook for 20-25 minutes until tender. [A fork should slide easily in and out.] Drain well. Return the potatoes to the pot and cover, heat off.

Meanwhile, chop onions and saute in butter on low for about 10 minutes.

Also cook the bacon to crispy, let cool on paper towels. Break into pieces. Tip: I use scissors to get the bigger pieces chopped. Set aside. (Reserve 2 pieces for the garnish)

In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the half-and-half and cheese until it simmers. Add the bacon.

With a handheld mixer, beat the hot potatoes in the pot until they are broken up. [You can also use a masher.] Slowly add the cream, salt, pepper, then beat until smooth. [Note, right at this moment, you have fabulous mashed potatoes. You can skip the next step–adding milk—and serve as a side dish.]

Now, proceeding to make the soup. Add the 2 cups of milk. If the potato soup needs to be reheated, cover and cook gently over low heat until warm. [A few minutes.] Pour into 6 serving bowls and sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese & bacon. Serve hot.

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Say Cheese!

As part of her Great Escapes Book Tour
Avery Aames is including an
I Love A Mystery Secret Code Game!

Here’s how it works:
1 – Collect the Secret Code Word at each of Avery Aames Escape Blog Tour stops.
Check out Avery’s delicious recipe on Each Blog Stop
to collect the Secret Word for that stop.

2 – At the end of Avery’s blog tour, put the words together and
form the Secret Code Sentence.
Then CLICK HERE to be taken to the tour page and insert the Secret Code Sentence in the form with your name, email address and mailing address.

3. One Lucky Winner will receive a Fabulous Prize Package including an autographed copy as As Gouda As Dead, an I love A Mystery Tote and fun swag!

4. 10 Runner’s Up will receive a
Cheese Shop/Cookbook Nook kitchen jar opener and recipe cards.

All winners will be randomly selected from all entries submitted.

Winners will be contacted via email and the prize will be sent to the address you provided on the form.

Have fun and get searching!

Avery

I LOVE A MYSTERY SECRET CODE GAME:

The 3rd of the 7 words in Avery’s I Love A Mystery Secret Code Contest is

Great

Other stops on the tour are listed at the bottom of the post.

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About This Author

As AVERY AAMES, she pens the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling Cheese Shop Mystery series featuring a cheese shop owner amateur sleuth, set in the fictional town of Providence, Ohio.

As DARYL WOOD GERBER writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mystery series featuring a cookbook store owner who is an avid reader and admitted foodie, set on the coast of California.

Daryl’s short stories have been nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, and other awards. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl has appeared in “Murder, She Wrote” and more.

Author Links

Visit Daryl or Avery atwww.darylwoodgerber.com.

“They” blog on www.mysteryloverskitchen.com as well as www.killercharacters.com

http://www.darylwoodgerber.com

http://www.averyaames.com

http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com

http://killercharacters.com

Facebook: Daryl ~ Avery

Twitter: @AveryAames @DarylWoodGerber

Goodreads:

Daryl Wood Gerber

Avery Aames

Purchase Links
Amazon ~ B&N~ Book Depository

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Tour Participants

January 26 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Recipe, Giveaway

January 27 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review, Recipe, Giveaway

January 28 – fuonlyknew – Review, Recipe, Giveaway

January 29 – Michele Lynn Seigfried’s Blog – Review, Recipe, Giveaway

January 30 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Recipe, Giveaway

January 31 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Review, Recipe, Giveaway

February 1 – Traveling With T – Review, Recipe, Giveaway

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

I have one print copy of As Gouda As Dead to give away.

Entry is easy. Just leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question:

“Do you ever try the recipes provided in the cozy mysteries you read?”

Giveaway ends February 4th.

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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!

Honey the Dixie Dingo Dog ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: January 27, 2015 in Action/Adventure, Blog Tour, giveaways, reviews
Tags: Adventure, Author Allen Paul, dogs, Honey The Dixie Dingo Dog

I couldn’t resist this book when I spotted the cover art. Then I read the blurb and became enchanted.

And I got an even bigger surprise when I found out this is actually loosely based on true events.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, be they human or animal. Come meet them.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

My Review

When I was a young girl, pretty much the only books I was interested in reading were about animals, especially dogs and horses. I still enjoy them now through older eyes.

This story is told from Honey’s point of view and she tells it in a true southern voice. Such a great way to relate her story.

Honey knew to be careful. Many dangers awaited on the Creature Trail. But, being a pup, just one year old, she’s gregarious and full of energy, and that one careless moment lands her where she is now.

A steel trapped has clamped down on her leg and there’s no escaping it. She faints in fear and pain as the trapper scoops her up and carries her away from the swamp.

Topper Guy, the trapper suspects this creature is on the ‘dangered’ list yet he’s not gonna let that stop him from making money from her pelt.

If not for the timely arrival of Miss Jane, Honey would have been dead meat. The kindly woman rescues her from the trapper and takes her home to Banbury Cross Farm. Imagine Honey’s delight when she sees all of the other dogs there.

You see, Miss Jane and her partner, Mr. Bill, have made it their life’s purpose to rescue the ditch dogs of North Carolina. The Dixie Dingo Dog, aka ditch dog, is recognized as one of the oldest breeds in North America.

As Honey heals from her wound and adjusts to life on the farm, she worries about her mom and dad and siblings still living in the swamp. Something is killing the animals there and she fears they might be next.

The first person I suspected was Topper Guy. To him, “A ditch dog ain’t nothin but a varmint – they all gotta go.” But, not one to jump to conclusions, I looked for other suspects.

Honey is settling in and learning many exciting new things. Her favorite is the agility training. But, she can’t relax and enjoy her new loving family until her real one is safe.

When I learned this story was loosely based on true events, I had to know more about these beautiful dogs. The tireless efforts of some very special people have brought these endangered dogs into the limelight, procuring them a place as a recognized breed and protecting them.

The Dixie Dingo is a smart, agile, loving and loyal companion. A perfect Man’s Best Friend. They are not connected to the Dingos of Australia. These are American dogs, with their own individual classification.

Now that I’ve learned about these wonderful animals, I think I’ve seen a few around my town. I often thought they looked like the Australian Dingo. They have a distinct look with their curled tail, wheat colored coat, and classic features. I wonder if the owners realize what breed their best friend is. I imagine many think they are mixed breeds and have no idea.

Honey will win your heart, as will the colorful, loving characters that fight the good fight to protect the ditch dogs of the swamp.

A wonderful, feel good story for all ages.

5 Stars

A funny quote about loyalty from Mr. Bill:

“Well, look at it this way: S’pose by accident you locked your wife and your dog in the trunk of your car. When you open it, which one’s going to be glad to see you?”

~~~

Synopsis

Bestselling and award-winning author Allen Paul has created an endearing character in Honey, a swamp dog who gets rescued at the moment she’s about to get shot. Taken to live at Banbury Cross Farm with other rescued Dixie Dingos, her quick cuts and darting turns soon draw notice; she’s then trained for agility championships, the most popular of all canine sports. From the start, Honey forms a deep bond with Miss Jane, who saved her in the nick of time. Her trainer is Ace, a worldly wise black man who manages the farm’s kennel. Honey forms another deep bond with Miss Jane’s partner, Mr. Billy, a skilled horseman who delights Honey by quoting famous rhymes.

The story is told by Honey in a charming southern voice. She’s just turned one (equal to a 10-year-old girl or boy) when the story begins. At its center is a haunting mystery: Why are swamp critters turning up dead with a wild look in the eye? Many believe a big coyote named Geronimo scares them to death. When two dead dingo pups are found, Honey becomes convinced that her pack, which is still in the swamp, could be next. Somehow she has to get them out. The plot thickens when several small pets get killed in the nearby town. Rewards are posted and a group led by the trapper Topper Guy, who nearly shot Honey, head for the swamp. Twelve innocent dingos mistaken for coyotes get shot. Miss Jane confronts Topper Guy and demands that the killings stop. The upshot is a high stakes bet: Topper Guy wagers his guns against Miss Jane’s favorite horse that Honey won’t win at the Sportsman’s Championship. How Honey fares in that contest, and how the mystery killer gets caught, make for a thrilling read that kids at heart of all ages will love.

In the end, Honey learns an unforgettable lesson that her pack, which now includes humans, comes first. Based on a true story, this book will appeal to middle grade readers and adults. On July 17, 2013 a front-page article in the New York Times cited new genetic evidence suggesting that the Dixie Dingo (registered as the Carolina Dog) is the oldest breed in North America, predating European settlement by many centuries. They were Native American camp dogs but are not related to the Australian dingos. Many Dixie Dingos still live in southern swamps. With their antenna-like ears and muscular build, their look is quite distinctive. Dixie Dingos are excellent pets who form deep bonds with humans.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

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A fun video about the Dixie Dingo Dog

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2FIsEwTOBs]

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Author Allen Paul

Allen began his career as a reporter with the Associated Press in Raleigh, NC. Later, he wrote speeches in Washington for a congressional committee chairman, a member of the president’s cabinet and the chairman of one presidential campaign. He was in Poland gathering material for his first book when the Berlin Wall fell. That book – Katyn: Stalin’s Massacre and the Triumph of Truth – became a bestseller in Eastern Europe. It earned warm praised from the New York Times, the Washington Post, New York Review of Books and many other media outlets.

He was a Fulbright Fellow in Poland in 2010-11 and collected material there for a novel based on a daring mission of the Polish underground at the end of World War Two. It will be published in 2015.

His first book for younger readers (middle grade) was inspired by his own dog, Honey, whose breed – the Dixie Dingo – is probably the oldest in North America.

Allen holds a B.A. degree in English with a minor in History from Guilford College, and a Masters of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University. He and his wife, Betsy, live in Raleigh and have two grown children.

WEBSITE ~ GOODREADS ~ FACEBOOK

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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 cutie below!

Bright light can shine in dark places ~ The Schwarzschild Radius ~ Tour Review & Giveaway

Posted: January 26, 2015 in Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, giveaways, reviews
Tags: adult topics, Author Gustavo Florentin, suspense/thriller, The Scwarzschild Radius

I usually shy away from books that deal with true life evil like the sex trade. Something about the characters described in the synopsis drew me to this one and I’m glad I read it.

I hope you enjoy my review of and give this book a read.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

You can be one of ten lucky winners of a copy of The Scwarzschild Radius in print or eBook.

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My Review

I was hesitant to read this story when I read what the topic was about.

Exploiting young people for sex is prevalent in our society today. The research for this story must have been dark indeed and gave cause to many nightmares.

Evil men. Men of influence and power. Men that think being wealthy gives them license to buy whatever they want. That’s what prowls these pages, preying on the weak, the lost, the vulnerable. And the monsters willing to provide it for them.

Shining a light, a ray of hope, in this dark tragedy, are three young girls.

Olivia, adopted by an American family, learns she has a sister, Achara, forced to work in a brothel in Thailand. To save her, she enters the seedy world of sex and depravity and disappears.

Achara. Sold to a brothel and forced to spend her days servicing the men that come to her door, no one to turn to for help except a sister she never met, Olivia, living in America and offering to rescue her.

Rachel, Olivia’s sister in America. Desperate to find Olivia, who vanished without a trace. Or so she thinks until she gets on her sisters computer and stumbles upon emails from Olivia’s long lost sister, Achara.

I wondered I far I could go to save someone I loved. Rachel is just starting college. She’s led a happy, carefree life with friends and family. She knows nothing of the dark and deadly world of the sex trade. Yet she braves it to find Olivia and save Achara.

Her lack of experience and wiles are apparent to her clients and Rachel won’t be able to stay on the sidelines for much longer. How the author showed this to her clients and to me made her very genuine. Her bravery endeared her to me and I feared for the worst.

The scenes of sexual depravity are not written in big detail. They are shocking and the author spares you a lot of that by being somewhat brief. There’s enough to make you cringe, to sadden you, to outrage you.

The monsters are real and walk among us, going to work, paying their bills, going home to their families, and hiding behind the world wide web to satisfy every vile, deviant desire you can imagine. They look like us on the outside, but on the inside is an evil so deep you couldn’t bear to look upon their true form.

Don’t let the topic scare you off. These girls are inspiring, the chapters are short and make for fast reading, and all is not dark in these pages.

Bravo to the author for writing about such a vile and tragic topic in our society today and giving me a bright light to follow with his strong, brave characters.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Rachel, an 18-year-old Columbia University student descends into the netherworld of runaways and predators to find her sister, Olivia, who has suddenly disappeared. After getting a job in a strip joint where Olivia worked, then doing private shows in the homes of rich clients, Rachel discovers that Olivia has been abducted by a killer who auctions the deaths of young girls in an eBay of agony. As she closes in on the killer who has taken Olivia, Rachel becomes his next target.

Author’s Bio:

Gustavo Florentin was born in Queens, New York and received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Polytechnic University of New York. He spent a decade in the defense industry working on the F-14 fighter jet and classified electronics projects. After the fall of the Soviet Union, many thought America wouldn’t need weapons anymore, so while others waited for the peace dividend, he moved on to the financial sector in New York where he is currently a network engineer. His passions include violin, travel to exotic places and exploring worldwide conspiracies. He lives in New Jersey where he is working on his third novel. His thriller, In the Talons of the Condor, won the following awards:

WUACADEMIA–Prix d’Or Best Novel
The Verb First Chapter Contest–First Prize
Mount Arrowsmith Best Novel 4th place
The Writing Show–Second Prize best first chapter of a novel.
Second Prize–16th Annual International Latino Book Awards

Connect with Gustavo: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Where to buy the book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

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Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Click on the button below to follow the tour for more fun, exciting posts!

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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!

What’s New On My Bookshelf #94 and The Sunday Post

Posted: January 25, 2015 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: The Sunday Post, weekly book news

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

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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I seem to have found my stride again and read a bunch of books and wrote a bunch of reviews. I’m already way ahead for February!

So to pat myself on the back, I spent this week watching the first three seasons of American Horror Story. Have any of you watched this?

This is one sick, twisted, fantastic series. LOL Just what I love. The fun thing is a lot of the actors play different characters for each season. Jessica Lange rocks in all of them and she plays the bad guy so good.

I’m leaning toward the third season, Coven: Witches, as my favorite. I love the setting of New Orleans and the dark, sultry voodoo aspect. People drop like flies, only to return and sometimes die again. The creative ways they die cracked me up and grossed me out at the same time. It’s not for the weak stomached for sure.

And I’m still trying to decide if any of the witches were truly good aside from the new reigning Supreme.

Have you watched any of them? What did you think?

And about buying books. I knew I probably wouldn’t keep my deal of not buying any books this month. So I made myself a new deal. One book a week and I decided to buy one new book from four different series I’ve been reading. So now I’m browsing, happy as a clam, ready to spend a bit of money.

And I’m always looking for a new series to start. Got any suggestions?

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

Psst! It’s Mardi Gras!

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Here are my new books for review.