Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2019! I did this the last few years and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

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 Where The Dead Go To Die

by Aaron Dries and Mark Allan Gunnells

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Genre:  Horror

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My Review

It’s years after the infection started. The smilers are no longer hunted and killed on sight. Instead, they are tended to in facilities, allowed to spend remaining days with as much dignity as possible. Care givers tend to their needs until their last breath.

Emily is one of those care givers. She’s there to help them, give comfort and support, and protect them from others and themselves. She thinks she’s an ordinary woman. A single mother trying to make ends meet. I think she is brave. There’s still a risk of infection if careless. She watches as the night screams fade and the patients change. become the smilers, right before the end. Doesn’t shy from the dirty work. She’s already been through it on a much more personal level.

Where The Dead Go To Die is what I call a quiet horror story. It’s those hushed little scenes in between the ordinary ones that make the most impact. I know they have importance and stay in the back of mind, to be brought out later when the authors uncloak more.

I was so swept up in this story. The political machinations and moral ramifications bounced around in my head. The authors made me forget this was fiction and made me really think, Think how I would navigate this world, How I would feel about the smilers. Whether I might be one of those I looked down upon in the story or one of those I looked up to. How could I know? That questioning was very deep. Several times I actually stopped reading to contemplate what I’d just experienced.

And all through this quiet horror story, I knew bad things were coming. The quiet would be shattered by things horrific. The infrastructure would crumble. Things wouldn’t be contained. And the horror would become a roar.

This was an original and engrossing spin on zombie stories. I came away from it thinking I had to see what else these two authors had written. And I’m still catching myself thinking about what occurred in these pages.

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Synopsis

There are monsters in this world. And they used to be us. Now it’s time to euthanize to survive in a hospice where Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible.

Post-infection Chicago. Christmas.

Inside The Hospice, Emily and her fellow nurses do their rounds. Here, men and women live out their final days in comfort, segregated from society, and are then humanely terminated before fate turns them into marrow-craving monsters known as ‘Smilers.’ Outside these imposing walls, rabid protesters swarm with signs, caught up in the heat of their hatred.

Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. But in a world where mortality means nothing, where guns are drawn in fear and nobody seems safe anymore – at what cost will this pursuit come? And through it all, the soon to be dead remain silent, ever smiling. Such is their curse.

This emotional, political novel comes from two of horror’s freshest voices, and puts a new spin on an eternal topic: the undead. In the spirit of George A Romero meets Jack Ketchum, Where the Dead Go to Die it is an unforgettable epilogue to the zombie genre, one that will leave you shaken and questioning right from wrong…even when it’s the only right left.

It won’t be long before that snow-speckled ground will be salted by blood.

Amazon / B&N

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Click on the covers for more October Thrills And Chills reviews.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

WITCHES PROTECTION PROGRAM
Author: Michael Okon
Publisher: WordFire Press
Pages: 200
Genre: Fantasy/Urban Fantasy

My Review

Poor Wes. He’s failed again and now he’s been given one last chance to prove himself qualified to be in law enforcement. He’s sure it’s a prank when he’s assigned to the Witches Protection Program.

It’s no hoax. But it takes some convincing for Wes to believe in witches. He gets it in spades.

His first assignment, protect a witch, heiress Morgan Pendragon, from her evil aunt. Her aunt is cooking up a diabolical scheme to rule the world.

Wes will have to catch on quick if he’s to save Morgan and himself from a witches brew of trouble.

This was a fun story with some likable and not so likable characters. Got to take the good with the bad.

Wes is a pain in the beginning. Then he finds his place and becomes someone to cheer for.

Morgan is a reluctant witch, wanting nothing to do with her aunt or the other witches and their schemes. They’re not going to give her a choice though.

There’s some cool weapons, compelling characters, and a showdown at the end that I wish I could see for myself. Just imagine the pile-up when drivers look up and see witches flying in the sky.

I like a good witch, but I have a thing for the bad ones too. There’s one, Morgan’s aunt, who will chill you to the bone. Too powerful for anyone’s good.

Grab a broomstick and hang on tight. It’s a bumpy ride.

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Synopsis

Wes Rockville, a disgraced law-enforcement agent, gets one last chance to prove himself and save his career when he’s reassigned to a 232-year-old secret government organization.

The Witches Protection Program.

His first assignment: uncover a billion-dollar cosmetics company’s diabolical plan to use witchcraft for global domination, while protecting its heiress Morgan Pendragon from her aunt’s evil deeds. Reluctantly paired with veteran witch protector, Alastair Verne, Wes must learn to believe in witches…and believe in himself.

Filled with adventure and suspense, Michael Okon creates a rousing, tongue-in-cheek alternate reality where witches cast spells and wreak havoc in modern-day New York City.

Praise:

Witches Protection Program is a great summer choice, ideal for beach or poolside reading, and with elements of romance, action, crime, and fantasy, there’s a little something for everyone to enjoy.”—Foreword Reviews

“…mixes predictable elements–corporate intrigue, sexy witches, cat familiars, car chases, family secrets, and steampunk weaponry–into an enjoyable story.’—Publisher’s Weekly

“Cleverly offbeat, often cheeky, and loads of fun.”Kirkus

WITCHES PROTECTION PROGRAM is a fun and quick read, and the out-of-the-norm narrative choices make the novel feel like something wonderfully subversive.” – IndieReader

Witches Protection Program is a unique gem, one that’s fast-paced with twists, action, and fun characters.” – Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers’ Favorite, Five Star Review

Witches Protection Program will hook you if not for the action, then the romance and if not for the romance, then the sheer humor, what with its funny dialogue.” – Liezl Ruiz, NetGalley Reviewer

★★★★★ORDER YOUR COPY★★★★★

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Witches Protection Program 4 anim

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Check out this peek inside:

The narrator filled in more information. “It wasn’t until this land became my land that the government decided to create an organization to protect women at risk. The Davina Doctrine went against everything that the Willas stood for. Even though they ran the risk of persecution, the Davinas chose to work with law enforcement to expose the evil deeds of the rival sisterhood. President George Washington established secret legislation under Title VI of the Control Act of 1792. The law was enacted to protect the good witches that exposed the evil deeds of their sisterhood.”

The screen went dark. There was only a chair in the center of a dimly lit stage. A single spotlight focused on the top of the blond actress’s head. Wes was right; it was the actress he’d suspected. She had a hit sitcom and two Emmys, and there was some recent Oscar talk about her last movie.

“Yes. There are witches. Living among us. They are women who believe in using their power to protect love and life. And then there are some who use their powers for all the wrong reasons.”

The camera came to rest on her beautiful face. She winked saucily as she placed a triangular witch’s hat on her head. “Welcome to the WitchesProtection Program.”

Alastair smiled broadly. “I love that part.”

“That was Jennifer Anis—”

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About Author Michael Okon

Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling in his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.
Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2019! I did this the last couple of years and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

~~~~~

 Teeth In The Mist

by Dawn Kurtagich

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Genre:  Horror / YA

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My Review

I’ve been struggling on how to write my review for this. So much I can’t tell. There are a few different POVs to follow and I did get a bit confused there. Other than those bumps in the road, I couldn’t put this down. It had a brooding, dream like quality to the telling.

I’m all for books with an isolated setting and anticipated some hard times for these characters. Hard was putting it mildly. Whether reading about the past events or current ones, they were in for a world of hurt. Medwyn Hill could put Dracula’s castle to shame for dark and dreary. Just getting there was treacherous. Those cold walls oozed evil and finding out it’s secrets could get you killed.

Teeth In The Mist is a book you need to set time aside to read. There’s a lot to take in and I couldn’t figure out where the story was going. The eerier it got, the more I was compelled to read. The more tangled and mangled the mystery, the more I had to know.

And the ending, or endings, have me still thinking.

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Synopsis

Before the birth of time, a monk uncovers the Devil’s Tongue and dares to speak it. The repercussions will be felt for generations…

Sixteen-year-old photography enthusiast Zoey has been fascinated by the haunted, burnt-out ruins of Medwyn Mill House for as long as she can remember–so she and her best friend, Poulton, run away from home to explore them. But are they really alone in the house? And who will know if something goes wrong?

In 1851, seventeen-year-old Roan arrives at the Mill House as a ward–one of three, all with something to hide from their new guardian. When Roan learns that she is connected to an ancient secret, she must escape the house before she is trapped forever.

1583. Hermione, a new young bride, accompanies her husband to the wilds of North Wales where he plans to build the largest water mill and mansion in the area. But rumors of unholy rituals lead to a tragic occurrence and she will need all her strength to defeat it.

Three women, centuries apart, drawn together by one Unholy Pact. A pact made by a man who, more than a thousand years later, may still be watching…

Amazon / B&N

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Click on the covers for more October Thrills And Chills reviews.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2019! I did this the last couple of years and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

~~~~~

 The Haunted

by Danielle Vega

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Genre:  Horror / YA

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My Review

I’m a sucker for fixer upper stories. Especially haunted ones. This one had some hair raising moments and some fun surprises.

Hendrick’s is uprooted and moved to a new town and new school. She quickly makes friends and starts to adjust to her new life. But things start happening at her new house and she learns of it’s dark past. Her parents aren’t buying what she’s selling when she turns to them about strange and frightening things that are happening. They have their reasons, if misguided. So she turns to her friends and the strange boy that lives next door. As the danger escalates, she’s desperate to find answers. The ghosts are restless and out for vengeance.

I tore through this book. It was an easy ready and the characters felt real. I believed their actions. Which made the scary parts even scarier. Things took some surprisingly dark turns and I’m always happy when that happens. It is horror, ya know.

This is my first time reading this author and it won’t be the last.

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Synopsis

From Danielle Vega, YA’s answer to Stephen King, comes a new paranormal novel about dark family secrets, deep-seated vengeance, and the horrifying truth that evil often lurks in the unlikeliest of places.

Hendricks Becker-O’Malley is new in town, and she’s bringing baggage with her. With a dark and wild past, Hendricks doesn’t think the small town her parents moved her to has much to offer her in terms of excitement. She plans on laying low, but when she’s suddenly welcomed into the popular crowd at school, things don’t go as expected.

Hendricks learns from her new friends that the fixer-upper her parents are so excited about is notorious in town. Local legend says it’s haunted. Hendricks doesn’t believe it. Until she’s forced to. Blood-curdling screams erupt from the basement, her little brother wakes up covered in scratches, and something, or someone pushes her dad down the stairs. With help from the mysterious boy next door, Hendricks makes it her mission to take down the ghosts . . . if they don’t take her first.

Amazon / B&N

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Click on the covers for more October Thrills And Chills reviews.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2019! I did this the last couple of years and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

~~~~~

 Terminal

by Michaelbrent Collings

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Genre:  Horror / Thriller

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My Review

Take a bunch of strangers. Trap them in a confined place with no way out. Then have something horrific wanting inside. This scenario never gets old for me. I love discovering who  bends, who breaks and who steps up.

The real fun begins when the captives realize an otherworldly force is keeping them trapped. And there are rules. One will survive. And they must choose who it will be. Getting it now? The rest will die. I had to know how it would happen. Would they kill each other? Would something else get them? And would they really be doing the choosing?

Once the dying began, the pace of the book really picked up. I met the characters. Got the scoop on most of them. And made my choice for the chosen survivor. Was I right? Nope. Was that the end? Nope. Of course there was a twist, and what a doozie it was. I really should have seen it coming. But that’s what make scenarios like this so much fun. You often don’t.

Terminal was a chilling, twisted read with lots of suspense and plenty of surprises. I’ve read some other books by the author and happy to say I enjoyed this one too.

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Synopsis

All passengers, please prepare for departure…

An employee, a cop, and five prisoners; a prisoner, a stowaway, and a madman.

These are the people waiting at the Lawton bus terminal. Mostly late-night travelers who want nothing more than to get to their destinations, and employees who want nothing more than to get through the graveyard shift.

But when a strange, otherworldly fog rolls in, the night changes to nightmare. Because something hides in the fog. Something powerful. Something strange. Something… inhuman.

Soon, those in the terminal have been cut off from the rest of the world. No phones, no computers. Just ten strangers in the terminal… and The Other.

The Other is the force in the mist. The Other is the thing that has captured them. And The Other wants to play a game.

The rules are simple:

1) The people in the terminal must choose a single person from among them. That person will live. The rest will die.
2) Anyone who attempts to leave the terminal before the final vote will die.
3) The final vote… must be unanimous.

A nightmare. And getting worse, because the best way to make a vote unanimous… is to kill the other voters.

Welcome to the end of the line. Welcome to the Terminal.

Amazon

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The above cover is the one I own. Here is an alternative cover.

Terminal by [Collings, Michaelbrent]

Which do you like more?

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Click on the covers for more October Thrills And Chills reviews.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2018! I did this the last couple of years and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

~~~~~

 Slash

by Hunter Shea

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Genre:  Horror / Thriller

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My Review

I’ve read most of Hunter Shea’s books and the tile for his new book was a warning for me. Dark things were ahead. And boy, were they. Once I got past meeting the characters and learning why they had to visit the crumbling old resort, the running and screaming began.

Hunter is known to me for killing off his characters. Usually in horrific fashion. This happened again in Slash. But it felt different. Yes, he killed some off. And yes, they died horrifically. But there was a whole lot in between deaths. They struggled to survive against a being that was a huge mystery to them. They had to uncover the history behind it. One thing they knew, they had to stick together in order to get out alive.

This is the meat and bones of the story for me. Throw a bunch of friends together, add in a maniacal killer, and let’s see how strong those friendships are. In between the blood and body parts strewn throughout, you get to know these characters. Their strengths and weaknesses. You want them to live through this. But, remember what I said about Hunter killing off his characters. Ouch.

The story has a nice pace in the beginning. Every page has something important to reveal. Then the real horror begins. The Wraith is a mystery at first. Once I found out his history, which was crazy evil, I was fascinated to see how it would end. I really wish I could talk about that. All I can say is, if you enjoy horror stories that have the feel of those old slasher films, Hunter gives you his own unique spin, and I recommend you give this a go. Hang on to your hat. The train to nightmares has left the station.

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Synopsis

Five years after Ashley King survived the infamous Resort Massacre, she’s found hanging in her basement by her fiancé, Todd Matthews. She left behind clues as to what really happened that night, clues that may reveal the identity of the killer the press has called The Wraith.

With the help of his friends, Todd goes back to the crumbling Hayden Resort, a death-tinged ruin in the Catskills Mountains. What they find is a haunted history that’s been lying in wait for a fresh set of victims. The Wraith is back, and he’s nothing what they expected.

Amazon / B&N

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

THE THANKFUL UNICORN
Author: Haley Rose
Publisher: Flowered Press
Pages: 68 (softcover) 28 (hardcover)
Genre: Tweens/Teens/Adults

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My Review

I start every day thinking about something to be grateful for. And then I write it down, along with a few words about things I’m happy about. It’s a great way to start the day positive. So I was excited to get my hands on The Thankful Unicorn.

What a delightful little book. Each page has a list where you can write down what you are grateful for, your dreams and goals, what you love about yourself and your affirmations, along with a quote. The opposite page has whimsical illustrations of a unicorn which you can color. I broke out my big kit of colored pencils and markers and transformed the pictures into sparkling, magical wonder.

While this may appear to be a children’s book. I believe it is something for all ages. It feels good to open it up and read what I had written and be inspired to make the most of each day. And I love unicorns!

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BOOK BLURB:

If you like unicorns, you’ll love The Thankful Unicorn! The coloring book and gratitude journal in one.

The Thankful Unicorn is filled with inspiring quotes, positive actions and whimsical unicorn scenes that will be sure to delight even the young at heart, leading to a more confident, kind and creative child.

This innovative and uplifting book is all about building self-esteem, promoting positivity and inspiring creativity in young girls and boys.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Reading, Read, Peaceful, Woman, Dusk, Outside, Outdoors

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

I’m also linking up with The Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

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Some chit chat.

This has been a busy week for me. I’ve been writing a bunch of reviews for my October feature. I know have 18 written out of 31.  I’ve also been watching some horror shows and movies as I hope to include them in my feature too. I’m surprised I haven’t had any nightmares….yet!

Other than that, it’s been work and heat. The temps are back into the 90s and I’m still squeezing in some pool time. I’ve especially been enjoying the pool right before dark. The water is silky and warm. I stay in so long that I feel like a tea bag in a hot cuppa. LOL Delicious!

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

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My new books this week.

These are all of the physical books I won in some awesome giveaways!

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16072988  Hidden (Alex Verus Book 5) by [Jacka, Benedict]  23236738

23236743  29865319. sy475   Marked (An Alex Verus Novel Book 9) by [Jacka, Benedict]

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And these are the review books I received this week.

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And here are some FREEBIES for ya.

Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.

Wood's Reef: Action and Adventure in the Florida Keys (Mac Travis Adventures Book 1) by [Becker, Steven]  Fix Her Up (The Fix Book 1) by [Heywood, Carey]

Detective Docherty and the Demon's Tears (Detective Docherty Book 1) by [WaterRaven, Sarah]  SHADOWS: Sapphire Smyth & The Shadow Five (Part One) by [Furness, R.J.]

The Flip (A Haunting On Long Island Series Book 2) by [Cash, Michael Phillip]  The Hanging Tree: A Novella by [Cash, Michael Phillip]

Uneasy Spirits (A Victorian San Francisco Mystery Book 2) by [Locke, M. Louisa]  Getting a Head (A Kat Parker Novel Book 3) by [Phelps, K.L.]

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Click on the cover for this week’s review.

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Other posts on my blog this week.

Unearthed by Cecy Robson ~ New Series Release and Giveaway

Demon In The Whitelands by Nikki Richard ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Spotlight and Giveaway ~ Two Bites Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein

Books From The Back Log #22 ~ Extreme Honor

Spotlight and Giveaway ~ The Aquarathi Series by Amalie Howard

The Root Of Murder by Lauren Carr ~ Review and Giveaway

The Glass House by Nancy Lynn Jarvis ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Excerpt and Giveaway ~ Lone Survivor by Anya Summers

Sunken Treasure by Hep Aldridge ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

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Leave your link and I’ll come visit you.

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Praise for Lauren Carr’s Mysteries:
“Lauren Carr could give Agatha Christie a run for her money!”
​- Charlene Mabie-Gamble, Literary R&R

 

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

 The Root of Murder

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(A Lovers in Crime Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  332 pages
Genre:  Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:   March 20, 2019
Format available for review:  print, Audible download, mobi, epub, PDF
Will send print books out:  USA & Canada
Tour dates: September 9 to October 25, 2019
Content Rating:  PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!

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My Review

Lauren did it again. She gave me a solid suspect and then set the whole plot spinning. Before I knew it, there were multiple suspects. That wasn’t surprising when the murder victim’s secrets came to light.

It was great to be back with these characters. Amidst the crime solving, there’s some fun romance and a few hilarious scenes. JJ sure paid his dues for playing two ladies against each other in his youth. I don’t think they’ve forgotten that even though it’s years in the past.

One clue lead to another, and then another. The list pf suspects grew. And two thirds through the book I still didn’t have any idea who did it. And I raced to the end to get my answer.

I confess, one of my favorite things about Lauren’s books are the non human characters. Aside from the many dogs and cats, there’s an attack rooster and a lamb that isn’t meek in the least little bit. And horses. Who doesn’t love horses!

I started reading Lauren’s books a few years ago. I’m known for jumping into a series anywhere and you could too. She has this list of characters at the beginning of each book telling who they are and how they are connected. Even the animals. Haven’t read one of her books yet? I hope you do. It’s crime solving fun with a sprinkle of romance and plenty of laughs.

Shooting Star, Meteoroid, Star, Meteorite, YellowShooting Star, Meteoroid, Star, Meteorite, YellowShooting Star, Meteoroid, Star, Meteorite, YellowShooting Star, Meteoroid, Star, Meteorite, Yellow

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Synopsis


Homicide Detective Cameron Gates learned long ago that there is no such thing as a typical murder case. Each mystery is special in its own right—especially for the family of the victim.The homicide of a successful executive, husband, and father seems open and shut when the murder weapon is found in his estranged son-in-law’s possession. The circumstantial evidence is so damning that when her step-son, J.J. Thornton, agrees to act as the defendant’s public defender, he assumes his first murder case will be a loss. Only the report of a missing husband proves that this case is not as open and shut as it seems. Strap on your seat belts for a wild ride in this mystery rooted in decades of deception that sprouts into murder.

Buy the Book:
Amazon.com 

Add to ​​Goodreads
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Fall in Love with These Other Lovers in Crime Mysteries:

 

 Killer in the Band

A Lovers in Crime Mystery, Killer in the Band by Lauren Carr

(A Lovers in Crime Mystery #3) by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult fiction,  430 pages
Genre:  Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:  Oct 3, 2016
Available for review in:  print, Audible download, mobi, epub, PDF
Will send books:  USA & Canada
Tour dates:  September 9 to October 25, 2019
Content Rating:  PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!

Synopsis

Summer of Love & Murder

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

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

Buy the Book:
Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads​​

 

  Real Murder
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Real Murder by Lauren Carr
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(A Lovers in Crime Mystery #2) by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  302 pages
Genre:  Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:    May 28, 2014
Format available for review:  print, Audible download, mobi, epub, PDF
Will send print books out:  USA & Canada
Tour dates:  September 9 to October 25, 2019
Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
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Synopsis

​​When Homicide Detective Cameron Gates befriends Dolly, the little old lady who lives across the street, she is warned not to get lured into helping the elderly woman by investigating the unsolved murder of one of her girls. “She’s senile,” Cameron is warned. “It’s not a real murder.”

Such is not the case. After Dolly is brutally murdered, Cameron discovers that the sweet blue-haired lady’s “girl” was a call girl, who had been killed in a mysterious double homicide.

Meanwhile, Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Thornton is looking for answers to the murder of a childhood friend, a sheriff’s deputy whose cruiser is found at the bottom of a lake. The deputy had disappeared almost twenty years ago while privately investigating the murder of a local prostitute.

It doesn’t take long for the Lovers in Crime to put their cases together to reveal a long-kept secret that some believe is worth killing to keep undercover.

Buy the Book:
Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads​​
 

 

 

 Dead on Ice

Dead on Ice by Lauren Carr

(Lovers in Crime Mystery Book #1)by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  234 pages
Genre:  Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:   August 22, 2012
Format available for review:  print, Audible download, mobi, epub, PDF
Will send print books out:  USA & Canada
Tour dates:  September 9 to October 25, 2019
Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!

Synopsis

Dead on Ice is the first installment of Lauren Carr’s new series (Lovers in Crime) featuring Hancock County Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Thornton and Pennsylvania State Police homicide detective Cameron Gates.

Spunky Cameron Gates is tasked with solving the murder of Cherry Pickens, a legendary star of pornographic films, whose body turns up in an abandoned freezer. The case has a personal connection to her lover, Joshua Thornton, because the freezer was located in his cousin’s basement. It doesn’t take long for their investigation to reveal that the risqué star’s roots were buried in their rural Ohio Valley community, something that Cherry had kept off her show business bio. She should have kept her hometown off her road map, too—because when this starlet came running home from the mob, it proved to be a fatal homecoming.

Buy the Book:
Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads​​

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About Author Lauren Carr

Lauren Carr

 With over forty years of writing and publishing experience, international best-selling author Lauren Carr has played an active role in the revolution of independent authors.

While studying for her college degree in English and journalism, Lauren worked as an editor and layout design artist with the federal government in Washington, DC. It was there that Lauren learned the foundations necessary for book publishing.

Lauren’s debut mystery, A Small Case of Murder was a finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Awards. On the heels of that success, she accepted an offer from a traditional publisher for A Reunion to Die For.

When it came time to publish her third book, Lauren rejected offers from two traditional publishers, choosing instead to independently publish It’s Murder, My Son, which made it to #1 in sales on Amazon in cozy mysteries. She has never regretted her decision to become an independent author.

Realizing that she could use her experiences to help other writers achieve their dreams to become published authors, Lauren established Acorn Book Services, offering professional services to independent authors.

The international best-selling author of over twenty-five murder mysteries, Lauren has gone on dozens of virtual blog tours (most with iRead Book Tours!) and has seen first-hand that how an author publishes is irrelevant to success. The key is exposure to potential readers. Virtual blog tours are an excellent avenue for book promotion. Book spotlights, reviews, author guest posts and interviews are forever, unlike in-person book events, which become a memory as soon as they have finished.

With her vast experience, it seemed only natural for Lauren Carr to jump at the opportunity to join the iReads Book Tours team. She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in West Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

You can usually find Lauren plotting her next murder mystery in her writer’s studio on her mountaintop. Visit Lauren’s  website https://mysterylady.net/ to learn more about her murder mysteries, Acorn Book Services, and now iReads Book Tours!

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

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

Sept 9 –  Rockin Book Reviews – review of The Root of Murder / guest post /
Lovers in Crime series spotlight / giveaway
Sept 9 – Working Mommy Journal – review The Root of Murder / giveaway
Sept 9 – Amy’s Booket List – review The Root of Murder / giveaway
Sept 10 – The Quirky Romantic – review of The Root of Murder / author interview / giveaway
Sept 10 – Hall Ways Blog – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Sept 10 – Life as Leels – review of Dead on Ice
Sept 11 – Literary Flits – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Sept 11 – My Reading Journeys – review of Dead on Ice / giveaway
Sept 12 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 12 –  A Fountain of Books – review of Dead on Ice
Sept 12 – Bound 4 Escape – review of Killer in the Band (audible) / giveaway
Sept 13 – Words and Peace – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Sept 16 – Svetlana’s Reads and Views – review of Dead on Ice / giveaway
Sept 16 – Working Mommy Journal – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Sept 16 – Amy’s Booket List – review of Killer in the Band / giveaway
Sept 17 – Hall Ways Blog – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Sept 17 –  Laura’s Interests – review of Dead on Ice / giveaway
Sept 18 – Literary Flits – review of Killer in the Band / giveaway
Sept 18 – Read and Review – book spotlight / guest post
Sept 18 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – review of The Root of Murder / series spotlight
Sept 19 – #Redhead.with.Book – Lovers in Crime Series book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 19 – Life as Leels – review of Real Murder
Sept 20 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – review of Dead on Ice / giveaway
Sept 20 – Nighttime Reading Center – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Sept 23 – Amy’s Booket List – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Sept 23 – Christa Reads and Writes – review of The Root of Murder / series spotlight  / giveaway
Sept 24 – Fundinmental – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Sept 24  A Fountain of Books – review of The Real Murder
Sept 25 – Library of Clean Reads – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Sept 25  Laura’s Interests – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Sept 26 – FUONLYKNEW – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Sept 26 – Mystery Suspense Reviews – review of The Root of Murder / guest post
Sept 27 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Sept 30 – Amy’s Booket List – review of Dead on Ice / giveaway
Sept 30 – Svetlana’s Reads and Views – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Sept 30 – Life as Leels – review of The Root of Murder
Sept 30 – Older & Smarter? – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Oct 1 – Bound 4 Escape – review of Dead on Ice / giveaway
Oct 1 – Dab of Darkness – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Oct 2 – Literary Flits – review of Real Murder
Oct 3 – Books for Books – review of Dead on Ice / giveaway
Oct 3 –  My Reading Journeys – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Oct 4 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – review of Killer in the Band / giveaway
Oct 7 – Bound 4 Escape – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Oct 8 –  A Fountain of Books – review of Killer in the Band
Oct 9 – I’m All About Books – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Oct 9 – Kristin’s Novel Cafe – review of The Root of Murder
Oct 10 – Books for Books – review of Real Murder  / giveaway
Oct 10 – Svetlana’s Reads and Views – review of Killer in the Band / giveaway
Oct 10 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Oct 11 – Pause for Tales – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Oct 14 – Celtic Lady’s Reviews – Lovers in Crime series spotlight / giveaway
Oct 14 –  My Reading Journeys – review of The Root of Murder / guest post / giveaway
Oct 15 – Dab of Darkness – review of Killer in the Band / giveaway
Oct 15 – Bound 4 Escape – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Oct 16 – A Fountain of Books – review of The Root of Murder / author interview
Oct 17 – Books for Books – review of Killer in the Band / giveaway
Oct 18 – B for Bookreview – Lovers in Crime series book spotlight / author interview
Oct 21- Nighttime Reading Center – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Oct 21 – Laura’s Interests – review of The Root of Murder / guest post / giveaway
Oct 22 – Dab of Darkness – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Oct 22 – Books Are Love – review of Dead on Ice / giveaway
Oct 23 – Books Are Love – review of Real Murder / giveaway
Oct 23 – Books for Books – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Oct 24 – JBronder Book Reviews – review of The Root of Murder / series spotlight / giveaway
Oct 24 – Books Are Love – review of Killer in the Band / giveaway
​Oct 25 – Jypsylynn  – review of The Root of Murder
Oct 25 – Adventurous Jessy – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Oct 25 – Books Are Love – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway
Oct 25 – Svetlana’s Reads and Views – review of The Root of Murder / giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

I’m also linking up with The Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

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Some chit chat.

I can see fall coming. The pecans are growing fat on the trees, the leaves are starting to fall and the sun is sitting lower in the sky. It’s still in the 90s here but the humidity is much lower. I can sit outside in the shade and enjoy a good book. Or two. or……….LOL

I was going through my fall and Halloween decorations and noticed I needed to replace a few things that had gotten a bit tattered. Was out shopping and guess what I came across. Christmas decorations! Yep, they are already putting some out! Seems they do this earlier and earlier every year.

Are you ready? The year is winding down and it’s all busy, busy, busy until Christmas arrives.

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

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My new books this week.

Where the Dead Go to Die by [Dries, Aaron, Gunnells, Mark Allan]  Where You Live by [McMahon, Gary]

The Fearing: Book One - Fire and Rain (The Fearing Series 1) by [Taff, John F.D.]  The Ghosts of Idlewood by [Bullock, M.L.]

The Maelstrom of the Leaf Academy (Gulf Coast Paranormal Book 11) by [Bullock, M.L.]  The Collapse: EMP Survival in a Powerless World Boxset by [Donovan, J.S]

Dead and Breakfast (The New Orleans Go Cup Chronicles Book 2) by [Mooney, Colleen]  Pride and Precipitation (Chick Flick Clique Romantic Comedy #1) by [Horrocks, Heather]

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And here are some FREEBIES for ya.

Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.

Pineapple and Poison (Sticky Sweet Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by [Mirry, Allyssa]  Selective Spells: First in a Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series (Beezley and the Witch Book 1) by [Mason, Willow]

Must Love Magic (Magic & Mayhem Book 2) by [Ridley, Erica]  Fear University by [Collett, Meg]

Healing Hearts: Talisman Mountain Trilogy Book One by [Thomas, Samantha]  The Necklace: The Dusky Club, June 1962 by [Rice, Linda S.]

Ren: The Man Behind the Monster: A Paranomal/Psychological Thriller (A Dream Traveler Series: Ren Book 1) by [Noffke, Sarah]  Wolves and Daggers: A Steampunk Fairy Tale (Steampunk Red Riding Hood Book 1) by [Karsak, Melanie]

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Click on the cover for this week’s review.

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Other posts on my blog this week.

Taming Demons For Beginners by Annette Marie ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Road To Nowhere by Cy Wyss ~ Review and Giveaway

Anguish Unfolds by A. E. Faulkner ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Excerpt and Giveaway ~ One Queen Of An Ending by Zachary Ryan

Snow In July by Kim Iverson Headlee ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Spotlight and Giveaway ~ The Fixer Upper by Maggie Mae Gallagher

Leine Basso Thrillers by D.V. Berkum ~ Series Spotlight and Giveaway

Ring-A-Ding Dead! by Claire Logan ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

The Eva Rae Thomas Mystery Series by Willow Rose ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

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Leave your link and I’ll come visit you.

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.