Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

I am doing some author spotlights this month and one of them is the amazing Ella Medler. Each week I’ll be doing a review for one of her books and there will also be a guest post and some giveaways.

Ella’s book, Blood is Heavier was my first review and giveaway post for 2013! You can read my 5 Star review and enter the giveaway here.

Blood Is Heavier

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This week I’m reviewing  Martin Little, Resurrected. This story is quite different from  the thriller, Blood is Heavier.

Martin Little, Resurrected

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The cover art for this story is perfect. You know you’re in for a fun adventure before you even crack the book.

In the beginning there was…

Well, there was Martin Little, a cup of hot chocolate and a favor. That favor culminates in a mixed bag of people all crammed into a holding room at the police station.. It isn’t really important why they’re there, it’s what they do!

You have Martin, the eternal pessimist,  Gary, the drunken tramp, and Vee, the hippy girl. When the door opens, it’s Gary’s friend Archie with the keys to freedom.

Tired of waiting and not knowing what’s going to happen to them, they simply leave.

They rush to Archie’s van and tear out of the parking lot. His driving is atrocious and before too long Martin’s fears become real life as the van careens out of control and over the edge of the cliff. After a long, bumpy tumble to the bottom, darkness descends and Martin knows no more.

That is until he wakes up to a bright light. So bright he can see nothing of his surroundings. He sets off in search of anything and gradually hears voices ahead. He draws closer and eventually enters a huge crowd of people milling around in a rough line.

When he sees a familiar face, relief rushes through him. Vee explains the situation, and even though he scoffs at her idea, he starts to believe.

They died in the crash. They’re all dead, Everyone here is.

Vee drags him over to Archie and Gary and the four of them join the end of the line. As the line shortens they can see the “pearly gates”, except they’re golden and they stretch upward as far as the eye can see. One by one people are called and they enter.

Finally, they are the only ones left. When the door opens, instead of being called in, a hand reaches out and hangs a sign on the door and closes it again.

Gary walks up and reads it. CLOSED FOR LUNCH

They can’t believe it and bust a gut laughing. Looks like it’s business as usual even in Heaven.

Vee gets the crazy idea of trying the door, but when they do, it’s locked. Not to be denied, she digs around in her huge bag and pulls out a small bundle, which she proceeds to unroll.

Lo and behold, the woman has a lock pick set and she knows how to use it. Before too long they hear the lock give and the door swings open.

One by one they steal into Heaven.

Can you believe it. They picked the locks to heaven!

When I picture entering Heaven, I see the pearly gates and sitting outside is a little old man with a long, gray beard, checking his list, checking it twice.

Never, in my wildest dreams, would I have imagined stealing into Heaven.

Ella takes this idea and runs with it. I mean she tells of these amazing adventures. Her idea of Heaven is crazy, funny, and beyond imagination.

You may not be too sure of the characters at first, but soon you’ll come to like them and maybe even love them. They are all flawed. Aren’t we all? That’s what made me connect with them. By the end of the story, I was totally invested in their well-being.

When you follow the group into Heaven you are going to be amazed. It’s so different from what you’d expect. And a trip to Hell and an encounter with Hades leaves you roaring with laughter and wanting to visit.

This delightful tale makes you stop and think. Makes you want to be a little bit kinder to your fellow man. We are all in this big thing called LIFE together.

And the ending, ooh it’s a goodie! Don’t get me wrong. The author wraps it up nicely, but the door is left open for a whole lot more. Can’t wait to read Martin Little Takes Epic Action – Book Two.

My rating went from a 4 to a 5 halfway through the story.

       

Next week I’ll be reviewing Eternal Island – Book One of The Eternal Series by Ella Medler and K.S. Haigwood.

Check out these covers!

Eternal Island (Book 1 in the Eternal Series)

Coming soon Eternal Immorality Book Two in the Eternal Series

EI2Coverbig eternal immortality

There will be a giveaway and a supercool guest post by Ella and Kristie, all about how they came to write the books together.

Be sure to stop back and join the fun.

You will be seeing a lot more about Ella and her books here on fuonlyknew!

About the author

Ella Medler

I live in Cornwall with my husband and our two teenage daughters. Together, we care for a large assortment of pets, some small enough to fit in a fish tank, and some capable of causing you significant injury on impact. I was born in Transylvania but got chucked out due to my inability to grow fangs and reluctance to sleep in coffins.

My first book, MARTIN LITTLE, RESURRECTED is a lighthearted fantasy novel full of action and unique takes on life. It’s total escapism. Heartened by positive reviews on my first book, I published BLOOD IS HEAVIER, an action thriller, which is an explosive and emotional struggle to save a father’s most treasured possession. ETERNAL ISLAND, a paranormal romance, is now live. I have co-written it with a brilliant American author, Kristie S. Haigwood. My next release is book two in the Hunter Series, BLOOD IS POWER, which should be out before the end of the year. In the pipeline are sequels for all of the above and a spin-off from Blood is Heavier – Tequila’s story.

Future works

Blood is Power (Book Two in the Hunter Series)

Martin Little Takes Epic Action (Book Two in the Martin Little Series)

Deal With It – Tequila’s story

In collaboration with Kristie S. Haigwood

Eternal Immorality

Eternal Inception

Contacts

Blog

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

To purchase these books, click on the covers.

Books by Ella Medler

Books written with Kristie S. Haigwood

The amazing Ellis Vidler is one of my featured authors this month. Each Wednesday, I’ll be reviewing one of her fabulous books. There will be giveaways and guest posts, a whole lot of fun!

I’m going to start with Time of Death, her newest release.

Time of Death

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While visiting near Charleston, South Carolina, an artist draws scenes of murder she can’t explain.
Alex. The artist. After a tree falls on her house, she joins her aunt on an unspoiled island, but something wakens her family psychic streak. She draws eerily accurate scenes of violence, but she knows nothing about them.
Connor. The prosecutor. He’s building a case against a drug lord one piece of evidence at a time. For him it’s personal, and he can’t risk a relationship with a witness, especially a psychic who’ll blow his case out of the water.
Rollins. The killer. He’s a cog in a much bigger wheel, and the witness to his acts of violence threatens his operation and his life. He’ll do anything to see that doesn’t happen.
 

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Ooh, there are some really great characters in Time of Death. I think my favorite is Alex, no, Jax, no, Jelly. Oh, I love them all! Can’t wait for you to meet them.

Alex is clutzy, funny, a bit naive and like a momma bear when someone she cares about is threatened.

After a tree smashes in her roof, Alex comes to stay with her Aunt Isobel on Chicora Island. While up a tree taking photographs she sees something she shouldn’t. Nothing that stands out, just two men talking.

This scenario is very believable. Think about it. We go about our normal life seeing hundreds of things every day. You see two people talking, then it’s out of your mind.  When weird things start happening to you and those around you, when someone tries to kidnap or kill you, those two people don’t just pop instantly  into your mind. You’d be trying to rehash anything that stands out, not something so ordinary.

That’s why Alex can’t figure out why someone is trying to kill her.

Enter tall drink of water Prosecutor Connor Moran and his faithful companion Jax. He’s been after Rollins for a long time. He just hasn’t been able to pin anything on him. When he realizes that’s who’s after Alex, he does everything in his power to keep her alive. She’s a witness to a murder and doesn’t even realize it.

Rollins is a gangster personified. He kills without remorse, sometimes for the littlest things. If he’s after you, you better start praying. The people he sends don’t always kill you right away. Sometimes they like to play with you, like a cat does with a mouse. If they’re after you, they won’t stop coming until they get you. They’re after Alex and will mow down anyone standing in the way.

A story inside this story that I’d like to read more about is Isobel, Alex’s aunt. She made a big impression with her throwback hippy style. She’s very self-aware and intelligent and I’d like to get to know her better.

There are two characters that kind of stole the show and my heart. Jelly and Jax. Jelly is a giant of a man, with a simple mind. Jax is a three-legged retired military working dog. Both have handicaps and both shine from the pages. They added a special seasoning to the story.

There’s mystery, humor, murder, mayhem and some romance in Time of Death. Something for all of you. If you’re like me, after reading this book you’ll be wanting more. You won’t want to say goodbye.

Five Jax for Time of Death.

       

Please welcome Ellis!

We’ve had many dogs, some smart, some not so much, some gentle, some wild. But all were loving and wonderful companions. I consider dogs the greatest gift to mankind. Cats are good friends too, but not in the same way.  Dogs will lay down their lives for you. And they have a strong sense of a person who’s a threat. (We did have a cat who attacked a peeping Tom once, but we later found it was a man the cat hated anyway.)

When I was writing Time of Death, I felt it lacked something. After weeks of struggling with characters and the plot, I stumbled across Kevin Hanrahan’s blog about military working dogs. The dogs saved many lives and gave so much, often their own lives. That’s where I found the story of Anax and Marc. Read it. Both are heroes.

Anyway, Anax immediately leapt into my story. He added that one missing ingredient that brought it all to life. I fell for Jax, as I named him, and he took on his own personality and injected himself into many scenes. I found a picture of a German shepherd with the perfect expression. He’s photographer Sergey Kamshylin’s Zakhar, but he’s my Jax. Here’s Connor Moran, the prosecutor, explaining to Alex about his dog’s behavior around Merlin, her cat.

10944046_s JAX for ellis vidler review

“Jax?”

“My dog. He was a military service dog, very well trained, and he won’t bother Merlin. How does the cat feel about dogs?”

“He’s been around them, but he’ll be cautious.” Military? She hoped he was right that the dog was well trained. They’d be in someone else’s house, and she didn’t want to worry about Merlin. “Tell me about Jax. What kind is he?”

“German shepherd.”

Images of lunging, snarling dogs flew through her head. She straightened, wide awake now. “Go on.”

As if reading her mind, he said, “He was trained for explosive detection. He’s not an attack dog.” His eyes held a faraway look.

The other character I found especially interesting to write was Jelly Biggs, a retired heavyweight boxer who’s taken a few too many blows to the head. Here’s the bad guy watching Jelly, his bodyguard:

Movement caught his eye, and Rollins spotted the big man running across the sand. Jelly’s thoughts might tumble like lottery balls in a bin, but the former heavyweight still floats like a butterfly.

Thanks so much for the wonderful guest post Ellis.

GIVEAWAY

I have one print book(US/Canada Only) and one e-book(International) to giveaway.

*To enter please leave your email address and answer this question, “Are you a dog person or a cat person or both?”

Giveaway ends Jan. 20th.

Thank you and Good Luck!

Next Wednesday, Jan. 16th I’ll be reviewing Cold Comfort and hosting another giveaway!

After being dumped by her faithless fiancé, Claire Spencer has abandoned her dreams of a family of her own tucked neatly inside a picket fence. Instead, she’s plotting her solo course and settling for a quiet life as an independent Williamsburg shop owner. So how does she become a killer’s target?

Sometime security consultant Riley, burned out, disillusioned, and haunted by a young girl he couldn’t save, vows never to work with women again. But when a thug tries to kill the friend of a friend, the woman winds up in his arms, and all Riley’s plans go to hell. Knowing she’s in danger, he can’t walk away.

While dodging speeding cars, ducking bullets, and escaping through murky swamp waters, conventional Claire and freewheeling Riley struggle against their powerful chemistry—if she’s picket fences, he’s barbed wire.

Opposites do attract.

And on Wednesday, Jan. 23rd I’ll be reviewing Haunting Refrain and hosting yet another giveaway!

Good intentions go awry and a newly discovered psychic gift becomes life-threatening in Ellis Vidler’s debut, Haunting Refrain. After a psychometric photographer touches a headband and witnesses, in her mind’s eye, a missing coed’s murder, and a reporter hard up for news mentions the mystery vision, the girl’s killer embarks on a new homicidal mission: he’ll do anything to keep Kate McGuire from getting him caught.

Make sure you mark your calendar. You won’t want to miss these!

About the author and where to find her

Ellis Vidler

Ellis Vidler is a writer and editor. She and her guests talk about whatever comes to mind at her blog, http://theunpredictablemuse.blogspot.com Ellis’s new suspense novel, Time of Death, will be released November 18th. Artist Alex Jenrette shares the psychic streak that runs through the McGuire family. Just as it does her cousin Kate (Haunting Refrain), that ability gets her into trouble when she draws a scene she never imagined–murder. The killer she can’t identify wants to eliminate her, but maybe help from unlikely sources will come in time. Cold Comfort, suspense with romantic elements, is set in December during the long nights before the winter solstice.  Claire Spencer owns a Christmas shop in the charming town of Williamsburg, VA. Her quiet life is turned upside down when she becomes a killer’s target. Everything she believed is a lie, but the truth is cold comfort. Her first novel was Haunting Refrain, a romantic mystery set in South Carolina, now out on Kindle. It has a touch of paranormal, and reviewers described the characters as “delightful.” Ellis published The Peeper with Jim Christopher, a retired law enforcement officer. The Peeper is a police procedural/suspense novel set in the South Carolina upstate. Tea in the Afternoon is a collection of three short Southern stories, not her usual suspense stories. Ellis is a member of Sisters in Crime. Her home is in the South Carolina piedmont with her husband, two dogs, and a collection of wildlife that shows up for breakfast.

Links

Website. http://www.ellisvidler.com

Blog. http://theunpredictablemuse.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllisVidler

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4054785.Ellis_Vidler

The original blog about Anax. http://khanrahan.com/2012/01/25/marc-and-anax/

Click on the covers to purchase her books.

I’m keeping my word. I said I’d be back to tell you about more of Adam Light’s books and I’m here with some great news.

GONE is free to download from Amazon from Jan. 7th thru Jan 11th.. Go here to get yours.

Gone

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Greg awakens with a sense of urgency. A quick glance at his clock confirms it. He’s overslept and it’ll be a mad dash to get to work on time. He forgoes breakfast, figuring he’ll grab a java at Starbucks and throws on the cleanest clothes he can find.

He spots one of his shoes but for the life of him, can’t find the other. Where is it? With no time to search any longer, he throws on a dirty pair of tennis shoes and heads out the door.

A quick glance at his living room gives him a sense that it’s different, empty somehow.

Traffic isn’t too bad until he gets close to Starbucks. Cars are lined up around the block. A huge SUV gives up its spot and he squeezes into line.

Crushing pain seizes his chest. Oh God, not a heart attack. As the pain subsides and leaves completely he has to give up his place in line or he’ll be late for work.

Just a few minutes late, he sneaks to his desk while no ones paying attention. Before he knows it, it’s time for lunch. How could that be?

Why the feelings of dread, the panic attacks, the missing time? What is it about today?

While not as polished as his later works, I still had a great time reading Gone, Adam’s first published book.

The suspense builds, you feel Greg’s confusion and panic, and then the twist is revealed.

Anyone who likes short stories with a feel of The Dark Side or The Twilight Zone will like this.

     

About Adam Light and where to find him.

I have spent the better part of my life in northeast Florida, but I was born in West Virginia. I was consumed at an early age by an unquenchable thirst for the written word. Words, in general, when I think about it.

I was a quiet bookish kid, but after moving down south I grew into a wild and rebellious teenager. I grew my hair long, became enthralled with heavy metal music, and all the rest.

I’ve mellowed somewhat, but I love life, I love my family, and I love to write stories. I have a mad passion for it.

I am proud of the stories I have written and sincerely hope that readers like myself have enjoyed reading them as much as , and plan to continue tapping away at this keyboard until my fingers won’t move anymore.

Thanks to everyone who has supported my madness so far; I look forward to sharing much more of my mind’s crazy ride with you.

Goodreads

Amazon

To purchase Adam’s books, click on the covers.

Books written with Evans Light

I love reading and reviewing short stories and collections. You get a little bit of everything and they are a challenge to review.

For today, I’m reviewing The Lady of Chains ~And  Other Stories by V. Shaw. Read more to enter the giveaway.

The Lady of Chains and Other Stories

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NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS

The Lady of Chains

“Remember; you have seventy-two hours to do the deed and not a moment longer. Cut her throat and remove her heart. That, my girl, is the only way to destroy the wretched creature.”

Viola knew she shouldn’t have taken Mrs. Casket’s offer.  Viola’s heart stutters with each step up the long winding staircase. She really needs the money, but can she actually do this?

Greylock is a city of rust and steam, patrolled by metal soldiers who’s only purpose is to kill . They are best avoided. Nothing ever grows here and being an orphan, Viola struggles just to live.

It’s been chained up in the tower for years. If It ever escaped, it would finish what it started.

Mrs. Casket’s proposition seemed like a great opportunity, but now that she’s about to come face to face with The Lady of Chains, the Destroyer, Traitor of Greylock, Viola’s having second and third thoughts.

There is all kinds of weird in this story. A lady immobilized with chains, a machine with gears and valves that controls her movements, and a mysterious connection between Viola and the Lady. This novelette has depth and excitement.

I love the steampunk flavor and the well placed scenes of horror make this an edge of your seat read.  The author’s ability to develop her characters in-depth, describe the city as if I could see and smell it, and create a unique and startling plot just blew me away.

Hansel and Gretel

You know the story. Brother and sister tricked into the woods and abandoned there by their parents. They stumble around, lost and afraid.

In V. Shaw’s version of this tale, things are quite different. As time passes, Hansel and Gretel begin to change, to become a part of the forest. They are becoming.

This one surprised me. It started out familiar but then took a turn to the mysterious. It’s not the witch, eating children, you have to worry about.

The author got creative and gave you a whole new spin on an old fairytale.

Rogan and the Gargoyle

Megan regains consciousness, a peculiar metallic taste on her tongue. Probing her mouth, she pulls out a lump of flesh.

Then she recalls everything. The gargoyle grabbing her, taking flight, and the taste of its skin when she bites it.

They’d all been a part of the Health and Fitness class and went to the Highlands of Scotland to enjoy some rock climbing and camping. The lodge was isolated and outfitted with the barest of necessities.

Megan wishes she’d never went into the barn. That’s where she discovered the hideous statue.

When night fell, the statue came to life and picked them off one by one.

Big Dave, Meg and Rogan are all that’s left now.  If the stories are true, it turns to stone during the day. What should they do, run for it or try to hunt it down and destroy it?

If they’d had that one piece of necessary, need to know information, their decision might have been different.

Silent World

All the adults are gone along with most of the children. Alex and Thorn live in the farmhouse he was raised in. After taking her in, Alex tries to make life for her as normal as possible, as safe as possible, in a world of extreme winters and blistering hot summers.

They’ve been doing okay, keeping up patrols to destroy the Carpathians and meat-sacks that stumble upon the farm. Thorn is very good at taking them down. She’s very agile and ferocious for such a young girl. For all they know, they could be the only humans left.

Then there’s a knock on their door, more like a thump and a scrape. When Alex hears the faint cry for help, he risks opening the door. Standing there, in the white out of the winter storm, is a figure clad in fur and leather, face not visible . He rushes to catch the stranger when Thorn sidles up and conks the visitor on the head.

Alex stops Thorn from shooting the stranger and they put him in one of the kennels in the basement.

At first the young man wants nothing to do with them, but his infected wounds make him too weak to leave. Slowly nursed back to health, Finn begins to come out of his shell.

As the days pass, Finn grows stronger and becomes friends with Thorn. He treads lightly around Alex, not sure of how to act around him. Living in close quarters, they all begin to bond, to work as a team.

But Alex has a secret, a terrible one. One that puts them all in danger.

I’m still wondering if the beings are vampires or zombies or both. They don’t play a big role in the story though. Alex, Thorn and Finn are the major players and the author shows you their flaws, vulnerabilities, and loneliness. I enjoyed reading about them as they began to become friends. The relationship between Alex and Quinn left me curious. Not sure how I should interpret it. The hope the characters bring to each other, along with their struggle to survive allows you to bond with them and their story. You can’t help but care what happens.

All of these stories would be great as full novels. I’d love to know more. Each one has an element of horror but V. Shaw also brings to the table the fragility of human nature and our strengths when faced with impossible situations.

I gave this a Five for keeping it real.

Praise for Lady of Chains ~ And Other Stories

“V. Shaw’s talent for writing a good story is apparent in her very first book. The Lady of Chains and Other Stories doesn’t disappoint.” KDH Reviews
“The story is written to captivate the reader and it does this with the greatest of ease . . . I loved it and couldn’t put the book down.” Amazon.com
“A definite must read! Each story is a gateway into another world which takes your imagination to a whole new place with engaging & quirky characters. Very intriguing stories. Hard to put down.” Amazon.co.uk

About the author

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V. Shaw is the author of the short fiction collection, The Lady of Chains and Other Stories. Born in Scotland, she studied Film and Media at Stirling University. Having reviewed horror films for the now defunct FatallyYours.com, she has turned her attention to creating her own stories.

Writer. Urban explorer. Climber. Horror junkie. Beer guzzler. Book obsessed.
Cinema and television fiend. Nerd for life.

Her debut horror novel, The Fragile Things, is due to be released in March.

The Fragile Things

Her blog

Goodreads

Giveaway

V. Shaw is offering five e-books for the giveaway.

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question, “What do you like about short stories and collections?”

Contest ends Jan. 16th.

Thank You and Good Luck.

Click on the cover to purchase your copy.

I am doing some author spotlights this month and one of them is the amazing Ella Medler. Each week I’ll be doing a review for one of her books and there will also be a guest post and some giveaways.

Blood Is Heavier

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Nick is living the American dream. He has a successful business, a beautiful home, he’s married to the love of his life, Maxi,  and has a 4-year-old son, Cameron, who steals his breath when he hears his laughter.

He never dreamed he’d settle down and be in such a rush to get home every day. It was his whole world now.

Then, it was all gone in an instant. With one phone call, his world comes tumbling down.

His wife calls him on his cell to remind him to pick up their son from a birthday party. She tells him his friend JB is at the house with her, waiting for him to return.

JB is a bad man, one he never hoped to meet again. He’s a part of Nick’s past. A past filled with killing. That JB was there with his wife sent chills down his spine. Nick knew him for what he was. Killers always recognize each other.

Nick wrestles with whether to pick up his son first or rush home to deal with JB. In the end, his decision doesn’t matter. It’s been taken out of his hands. The trap was too well set.

In a blinding flash of light, his hopes and dreams explode. One moment he sees Maxi waving at him in the window. In the next, the house disintegrates with a loud whoomp.

This scene made me think of the movie The Punisher. The part where they come and kill his whole family. The scenes don’t read the same but the feelings I had were as powerful. First there’s the shock and horror. Then there’s disbelief and sadness. Who could do such a thing?

I could see this scene play out in slow motion, like tunnel vision, Nick racing to his house, but there’s nothing left of it but a fiery pile.

The sharks from Nick’s past have caught up with him, and this is their warning to him. They now have his son, and he’ll do what they want or he’ll never hear his sons laughter again.

The last time Nick saw his wife she was smiling and waving to him, right before the house exploded. This vision would replay over and over in his mind, fueling the fires for the reckoning to come.

“What becomes of one half when the whole gets ripped to shreds? When you have no hope, how do you continue to exist?”

They murdered his heart and now they’ve stolen his soul, his son. You know what follows. Rage and a deep, aching need to spill blood. And blood will be spilled.

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I loved the pacing of this book and how the author flashed back to different times in Nick’s past.

It was fun to read about how Nick and Maxi met and the pickle they got in. Their connection was quick, but that’s only natural when you might be about to die.

The author takes you to the past and back again, keeping the story flowing smoothly and filling in the details. She keeps you entertained and builds the mystery, dropping in hidden clues, making you go this way and that way like weaving through heavy traffic.

Make sure you set aside plenty of time before you settle in. You’ll have a hard time stopping before you reach the end.

Five smoking guns for the thrilling action and tantalizing suspense of Blood is Heavier.

       

Giveaway

Ella is graciously offering 5 e-books of Blood is Heavier for the giveaway!

Entry is easy. Just leave your email address and answer this question, “What would you do to protect your loved ones?”

Good luck!

Contest ends January 15th.

You will be seeing a lot more about Ella and her books here on fuonlyknew!

About the author

Ella Medler

I live in Cornwall with my husband and our two teenage daughters. Together, we care for a large assortment of pets, some small enough to fit in a fish tank, and some capable of causing you significant injury on impact. I was born in Transylvania but got chucked out due to my inability to grow fangs and reluctance to sleep in coffins.

My first book, MARTIN LITTLE, RESURRECTED is a lighthearted fantasy novel full of action and unique takes on life. It’s total escapism. Heartened by positive reviews on my first book, I published BLOOD IS HEAVIER, an action thriller, which is an explosive and emotional struggle to save a father’s most treasured possession. ETERNAL ISLAND, a paranormal romance, is now live. I have co-written it with a brilliant American author, Kristie S. Haigwood. My next release is book two in the Hunter Series, BLOOD IS POWER, which should be out before the end of the year. In the pipeline are sequels for all of the above and a spin-off from Blood is Heavier – Tequila’s story.

Future works

Blood is Power (Book Two in the Hunter Series)

Martin Little Takes Epic Action (Book Two in the Martin Little Series)

Deal With It – Tequila’s story

In collaboration with Kristie.S. Haigwood

Eternal Immorality

Eternal Inception

Contacts

Blog

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

To purchase these books, click on the covers.

Books by Ella Medler

Books written with Kristie .S. Haigwood

Perfect Strangers by Liv Morris is free Dec. 28th through Dec. 30th! I spotted this short story last night and had to have it. The cover is sassy and the contents fog up the car windows. Thanks so much Liv.

Go here to get your free copy! Don’t wait too long.

PERFECT STRANGERS - (A Love in the City Short)

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Here it is, New Years Eve, and Katrina is still hard at work trying to get her yearend reports done. When her boss comes in to shoo her home, she’s just finished with them. Now for a whole week off!

Finally the doors slide open and I practically jump in. As the cage starts to descend, I do a little happy dance. My vacation has officially begun. Yay, me!

I’m free for a whole seven days and plan on being a lazy sloth. Days filled with wearing yoga pants and watching old Audrey Hepburn movies are awaiting me. Oh, and ice cream. Lots and lots of chocolate ice cream.

Aah, a girl after my own heart.

When Katrina exits the building, she grows concerned. The supposed two inches of snowfall has turned into a winter blizzard and it’s going to be a tense, hazardous drive to meet her parents for dinner. If she’s careful, and takes it slow she should be okay.

Well, as fate, or cupid, would have it, she’s not okay.

Pulling out of the parking garage, I’m hit with a wall of snow. The weatherman said flurries were likely this afternoon, but this is close to being a complete whiteout.

A bus in front of her fishtails and she can’t escape the pileup that ensues. A bump on the head is her only injury.

When a handsome young man taps on her window, she assures him she’s okay and accepts his offer to wait for emergency vehicles in the warmth of his car. It may be a long wait, but things are looking up!

Quote I liked

“Yeah, I tend to speak like a crazy person when I’m around a hot guy. I have a chronic condition of hormone-induced Tourette’s.”

I loved the conversation between Katrina and Drew. It’s funny how you find yourself telling things to a complete stranger. Their banter is funny and the sexual attraction is heating up.

I can’t resist a short story. It’s a great way to get a sampling of an author’s writing and after reading Perfect Strangers,  I know I like the way Liv Morris writes.

I was into the story from the opening and rubbed my hands together in glee as I read on. I had an idea of what was ahead, but had a great time getting there.

While I don’t wish to be stuck in the snow, if I were, I’d hope to “bump” into someone like Drew.

Four of Cupid’s Arrows for Perfect Strangers.

     

While on Amazon, I bought Liv’s other short story, Magic at Macy’s. It’s only 99 cents! and free for Kindle Prime Members. You can get your copy here.

Magic at Macy's

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I’m really loving the cover art for Liv’s Love in the City collection.

Yale University freshman Ally Brown is spending her first Thanksgiving away from home. Feeling alone and restless in a deserted dormitory, she sets off on an adventure to tour the amazing holiday window displays along New York City’s Fifth Avenue.

But her plans get sidetracked as she switches from tourist to stalker after spotting her crush, Jack Prescott, who is taking the same train into the city. He’s the handsome Editor in Chief of the Yale Daily News and the man of her dreams—if only she could work up the courage to speak to him.

Certain that it would take a miracle for Jack to notice her, Ally experiences her own “Miracle on 34th Street” when things take a surprisingly romantic turn, thanks to a little Magic at Macy’s.

I’ll be doing my review  for  Magic at Macy’s soon and can’t wait to read her first full length novel, Happy Hour, when it’s released.

About the author

Liv Morris

Currently Liv resides in Manhattan with her husband of twenty-eight years. They have three grown daughters who are scattered across the United States. She was raised in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of southern Missouri and feels blessed to have a supportive and close family.

Liv received a B.S. in Communication from the University of Maryland. She has published her first short story/novella in the “Love in the City” collection and is currently writing her debut novel, Happy Hour.

Contacts

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

To purchase her books, click on the covers

If you want to know

If he loves you so

It’s in his kiss…

It's in His Kiss

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This is a really fast read. Only 40 some pages, but I just loved it.

Ely is a writer of YA books. Her agent is pushing her to have her 16-year-old character from her series experience her first kiss. As Ely lives through her writing and has no experience herself, she calls on her friend to help her out.

Lisbeth is a hot looking siren, you know the type. All of the guys crowd around her vying for her attention as she preens and flirts, while you are brushed aside.

Ely doesn’t care about all that. She just needs her advice on describing a young teens first kiss.

Lisbeth suggests they go to a nightclub to do research and what happens there is much more than Ely ever dreamed of.

I adored this story. Even if I had an idea where it was going, it still surprised and delighted me. I felt all warm and fuzzy inside and had a lot of laughs at Ely’s expense. She’s a good sport and puts up with a lot of crap from Lisbeth.

There are some hot guys in this and even though you don’t get to know a lot about them, their personalities make you wish you did.

It was fun reading a story about a writer developing and researching her character and making her grow and mature. All writers should have fun with this short and sweet tale.

I give this 4 Kisses!

     

It’s now only 99 cents and well worth it!

*My review is unbiased and my thoughts are my own.

About the author

Caitie Quinn loves to laugh, has been told she smiles too much, and honestly believes that Jeeps… the vehicle and the guy… are better with the top off. If you like her stories, you need to thank her two grandmothers, Grammy M and Nana, for passing on that wonderful (hereditary) storytelling gene.

Contacts

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Amazon

To purchase the books, click on the covers.

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

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
.
My teaser for today is from Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti
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The Wicked Wives
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Reggie’s body went still. Lillian placed her hand on his neck and felt for a pulse as she had done every night for weeks on end. Nothing. She leaned in toward his face and listened for any signs of breathing. Again, nothing. Lillian slumped to the floor and cried. But her tears were not for Reggie and they weren’t tears of madness. She smiled at Reggie’s corpse.
You fought the good fight Reggie. But as always, you lost the war.
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This is going to be fun to review. Did I tell you it’s based on true events?
.
 Go here to learn about the author and his book.
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Another great short and it’s free from Dec. 18th through Dec. 22nd. Get your free copy here.

Keep reading to find out how to get another free book by Adam!

THE CONTINUANCE AGENCY (The Continuance Saga Volume One)

The Continuance Saga: Volume One

The day the world ended, Daniel was sleeping.

In exchange for some game tickets from his father, Daniel is cleaning the basement. It’s not his idea of fun, but he can’t wait to see the look on his fiancee Colleen’s face when he shows her the tickets.

The only ventilation is from the door at the top of the stairs and it’s hot as an oven. The old sofa is calling his name and it’s surprisingly comfortable, lulling Daniel into a deep sleep.

Something wakes him up. Daniel hears a horrible racket coming from upstairs. It’s his mothers screams. He shakes off the cobwebs of his nap and rushes to help her and falls flat on his face. His legs aren’t working right. He tries it again and finally makes it up the stairs. What he sees is unimaginable.

His mother is kneeling over the body of his father on the kitchen floor. He’s gasping for air, his face is turning black and blood is leaking from his orifices.  Daniel hardly has time to grasp his father is dead before whatever it is takes his mother too.

What could kill so quickly? Could it be chemical weapons? When he first came into the kitchen, out of the corner of his eye he saw a black substance similar to oil withdrawing under the door and back into the vents. Was this what killed his parents?

Daniel doesn’t have time to think about that right now. He has to get to Colleen. He has to make sure she’s alright. She was supposed to be here already. But it’s too late. He finds what’s left of Colleen upstairs in his bedroom.

Now he’s alone. He doesn’t know how long it’s been since the black clouds containing the things came.

Then he receives the letter. The Continuance Agency has invited him to take shelter with them. Who are they? What do they really want? These are some of the questions Daniel asks himself. He is running low on water and supplies and needs to make a decision soon.

This story starts out deceptively normal. Then all hell breaks loose and you’re taken on a ride like a speeding train wreck. From the end of the world to The Continuance Agency at the end of the line, you’ll experience horror upon horror that gets your endorphins pumping.

Once the story takes off, the author doesn’t give you a chance to relax. It’s a short story after all, and he has lots to tell you.

Be careful at the end. It comes to a screeching halt with a heck of a cliffhanger. Adam better write fast. I need to know what happens next in The Continuance Saga. I need to know quick!

I gave this a FIVE. It’s a great beginning to the saga, had me hooked from the first few sentences, and never let me stop until I reached the end.

       

I just did a review of another short tale by Adam Light. You can read my review of Taken here.

Jack Harden is your average good-old-fashioned American truck driver.
You can ask the girl he’s got duct-taped in the back of his cab, she’ll tell you.
Oh, don’t worry – it’s okay. His wife knows all about it.
She told him to do it.

It’s still free to download until Dec. 20th here.

About Adam Light and where to find him.

I have spent the better part of my life in northeast Florida, but I was born in West Virginia. I was consumed at an early age by an unquenchable thirst for the written word. Words, in general, when I think about it.

I was a quiet bookish kid, but after moving down south I grew into a wild and rebellious teenager. I grew my hair long, became enthralled with heavy metal music, and all the rest.

I’ve mellowed somewhat, but I love life, I love my family, and I love to write stories. I have a mad passion for it.

I am proud of the stories I have written and sincerely hope that readers like myself have enjoyed reading them as much as , and plan to continue tapping away at this keyboard until my fingers won’t move anymore.

Thanks to everyone who has supported my madness so far; I look forward to sharing much more of my mind’s crazy ride with you.

Goodreads

Amazon

To purchase Adam’s books, click on the covers.

Books written with Evans Light

Free on Amazon December 16th through December 20th.

TAKEN

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I am thrilled to get my hands on this! While I don’t normally use the blurbs for a book, this one is so good I have to share it with you!

Jack Harden is your average good-old-fashioned American truck driver.
You can ask the girl he’s got duct-taped in the back of his cab, she’ll tell you.
Oh, don’t worry – it’s okay. His wife knows all about it.
She told him to do it.

Whoa. I bet that got your attention.

Jacks’s wired and tired. He’s on the last leg of an 18 hour burn and turn. Soon he’ll be with her. With his goddess. With Dianne.

“Dianne, Dianne. Oh sweet godd#mn Dianne.”

At first he didn’t think he could go through with it. He’s not the type. But if he wants to go home, he better have his cargo. Can’t go home without it.

She’s all wrapped up, well,  taped up, nice and tight. She won’t be getting away. What Dianne wants with her, he hasn’t a clue. But he’ll know soon enough.

What really got me was how nervous and bumbling Jack was when he snatched the girl. It had me on edge,  hoping he’d get away safely. I was actually on his side. You know the story’s good when you’re pulling for the bad guy.

As for the victim. Well, lets just say she’s not a wallflower. She’s got a mouth on her and plenty of bravado. Jack had better be careful with this one. She’s a kick-ass chick and her one liner, you’ll know it when you read it, is every bit as good as Arnold’s, “I’ll be back.”

I could picture the author chuckling in evil delight when he was writing Taken. It’s psychological horror that messes with your mind.

Can’t wait for you to meet Dianne.

A short, wicked good read.

       

Taken is free for everyone from Dec. 16th thru Dec. 20th. A copy is waiting for you here.

About Adam Light and where to find him.

I have spent the better part of my life in northeast Florida, but I was born in West Virginia. I was consumed at an early age by an unquenchable thirst for the written word. Words, in general, when I think about it.

I was a quiet bookish kid, but after moving down south I grew into a wild and rebellious teenager. I grew my hair long, became enthralled with heavy metal music, and all the rest.

I’ve mellowed somewhat, but I love life, I love my family, and I love to write stories. I have a mad passion for it.

I am proud of the stories I have written and sincerely hope that readers like myself have enjoyed reading them as much as , and plan to continue tapping away at this keyboard until my fingers won’t move anymore.

Thanks to everyone who has supported my madness so far; I look forward to sharing much more of my mind’s crazy ride with you.

Goodreads

Amazon

To purchase Adam’s books, click on the covers.

Books written with Evans Light

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas……..