Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

Road to Nowhere Tour Banner

Road To Nowhere

by Cy Wyss

On Tour September 1 – 30, 2019

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Genre: Cozy Mystery Published by: Nighttime Dog Press, LLC Publication Date: September 1, 2019 Number of Pages: 222 ASIN: B07WCHL75J Series: Eyeshine, 2 Purchase Links: Amazon, Goodreads

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My Review

I really enjoyed Eyeshine, the first book in this series. PJ was a fascinating character. A woman reporter by day and a cat by night. She didn’t know why she changed and couldn’t control it but she used it to her advantage in getting stories and solving crimes. I was curious to see if she landed on her feet with this tangled up mystery.

I read this straight through. Couldn’t help myself after reading the shocking news revealed on the first page. I had to know if it was real. The author took me back to the weeks prior to the event and what started as one mystery grew into several. An odd cast of human and animal characters kept me second guessing what was really going on and who was doing it. That was fun.

What tripped me up a few times was how easily some tricky situations were dismissed when they should have been more worrisome. And many of the male characters behaviors were questionable. They had some serious flaws and acted strange. Some of that was addressed at the end. It did help me to see them in a different light.  It had me thinking how sensual cats are. Could PJ being a cat and a human cause reactions from men? Could it also explain her confusion when around them? What I learned in the final pages had me more curious. Like a cat, ya know.

I never once wanted to put this book down. It kept me turning the pages to see what would be revealed. I have the next book to read and will be starting it soon as I want everything fresh in my mind. Several things have me thinking how they could work and I also wonder how some of the people involved in PJ’s life will fit in. Can’t wait to find out.

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

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Synopsis

PJ Taylor, the feline shapeshifter, is back! Someone is kidnapping people’s pet cats and holding them for ransom. When PJ’s beloved niece is catnapped, the trail leads PJ to Nowhere, a tiny hamlet north of her hometown of Mayhap. What intrigues will PJ find among the inhabitants of this minuscule community? You can bet it involves at least one person up to no good and flushing this person out could be…murder!

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Read an excerpt:

Robert Taylor entered the brownstone via the back door, closing it quietly behind himself. He was in a landing of pale green and gray with tan carpet and stairs leading upward and a sandwich board on the wall with office numbers. The woman he was looking for was in 303, two stories above him. He ascended the two flights, his heart leaden with reluctance. He considered himself a unicorn – someone special and rare. Not only was he smart and successful (head of his own one-man FBI office in Mayhap, Indiana), the women in his family had the unusual proclivity to turn into cats when the sun set. This made them particularly effective operatives, although in fearing for their safety he often restricted their usefulness. His sister, PJ, had been his most important informant up until her recent death. He couldn’t believe she was gone. It didn’t seem real. Didn’t cats have nine lives? He somehow expected PJ to rise from her grave and come back to him. Instead, here he was, about to attempt to convince a psychotherapist of his sanity in the face of his recent tragedies. All he wanted was to get back to work. They wouldn’t let him back without the sign-off from this woman, Ms. Julia Herzenberg. Her name conjured images of some ancient Freudian presence, maybe someone who looked like Dear Abby or Ruth Bader-Ginsberg, with copious wrinkles and a severe bun. He shivered at the idea of exposing his inner life to this person. On the third floor, the stairwell opened into a larger space of muted pastels that smelled of rose and mint. Three doors greeted him, and he pushed through the one whose frosted glass proclaimed it 303. Inside, soft new age music played, and the floral scent was stronger. The culprit was an incense burner on a small table near the door. Thin smoke wafted from a glazed, bulbous pot in gray ombre. The walls of the suite were a soothing blue and the furniture worn leather in earthy browns. Striped pillows and throw blankets abounded, and health magazines lined the coffee table. Robert perched on the edge of a fat armchair and crossed his legs, interlacing his fingers around his knee. He waited, with the demeanor of a man about to face something dire and unwanted. His first impression of Julia Herzenberg when she opened the inner door was that she looked nothing like an old psychiatrist or supreme court judge. Her hair flowed around her head in generous curls, spilling from her shoulders in waves of auburn silk. Her eyes were a crystalline green the likes of which he had only seen previously on actresses or fashion models. She was tall and thin, with slender, manicured fingers and long legs beneath a plaid wool skirt. She reminded him of a willow – inscrutable and eternal, with Nature’s grace and strength. “Robert Taylor?” she asked. It took him a moment to shut his flapping mouth and recover his aplomb. “Yes,” he finally said, extending his hand. She shook it firmly, her hand warm and dry. She led him into a brown hallway, and to an office at one end. The room contained the same homey furniture as the waiting area, in neutral shades of soft leather with woven and plush accompaniments. “Have a seat,” she said. He stared at the wide couch before him. “Do I need to lie down?” he asked. “Only if you want to,” she said. She sat in an armchair across from the couch with her knees pressed together and her hands folded in her lap. She studied him, an entirely unassuming expression on her porcelain face. Awkwardly, he perched on the edge of the couch and rested his weight on his elbows on his thighs. He let his hands dangle. She remained still and silent as he took in his surroundings. The paintings on the walls were interesting but not distracting and consisted of abstractions that reminded him of natural surroundings. The lights were incandescent, and the shades partially drawn, rendering the space as comforting as a forest nook where sunlight filtered through the branches above. Dr. Herzenberg even had a small fountain on one side table and the faint sound of running water complemented the illusion. Robert could feel his tension recede, despite his natural wariness and dark mood. Still, she said nothing. Robert felt her watching him and found he couldn’t meet her gaze directly. Rather, his eyes roved over their environment, never settling for more than a few seconds. Behind and beside her was a narrow bookcase with glass panels and something about it bothered him. He kept returning to it, until he realized why. On the very top of the bookcase was an old-fashioned globe and a statue that looked like a very realistic black cat. It could have been PJ. He stared at the cat, and almost jumped out of his seat when the statue blinked. “God, that’s a cat!” he said. Dr. Herzenberg smiled. “That’s Bella.” “Wow,” Robert said. “I thought she was a statue.” “She likes to sit up there,” Dr. Herzenberg said. “Many of my patients don’t ever notice her.” “I’m amazed. You bring your cat with you to the office?” Dr. Herzenberg shrugged. “She doesn’t like to be alone.” “You could get her a companion.” “She doesn’t like other cats.” Robert chuckled. “Typical difficult feline.” “Tell me,” Dr. Herzenberg said. “Are you a cat person?” He remembered his sister, and the fact he’d never see her again. His eyes burned, though he willed himself not to tear up. “You could say that,” he said. PJ had turned into a cat every night since shortly after she had hit puberty. He still remembered the first time she’d shapeshifted. He was a rookie cop at the time and looking after her since their parents had died, as her much older brother and legal guardian. They’d been playing video games on the couch when she howled and writhed in pain. He had thought she was dying and called 911. Imagine his chagrin when they arrived and found no sign of the girl that he’d insisted needed an ambulance. Instead, a black tabby cat watched him explain that he’d had a nightmare and called emergency services by mistake. His colleagues ribbed him for weeks afterward. Robert was so traumatized, he confined PJ to her room after sundown from that time forward, and he somehow managed to convince himself her transition hadn’t happened. It was only recently, with his own daughter, Nancy, entering puberty, that he’d finally opened up to PJ about her wonderous ability. He had been terrified that Nancy would become a shapeshifter as well. Be the status of that as it may, at least one outcome had been that he had become significantly closer to PJ, a relationship long overdue. His memories of PJ ran through his mind, and guilt stabbed his heart. If only he hadn’t been so pigheaded, he could have showed his love for her sooner. He could have had years of closeness instead of mere months. They could even, perhaps, have– No. He wouldn’t let himself think about that. Regret was a demon that ate you alive. It was what it was. He couldn’t change the past any more than he could draw castles in the sky. “What are you thinking about?” Dr. Herzenberg asked. Robert blinked several times, his reverie broken. “Nothing,” he said. She stared at him. His gaze dropped to the coffee table between them. “I was thinking of my sister,” he said. “Tell me about her.” Robert took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He crossed his arms over his chest and studied the carpet under their feet, a confetti-patterned collage of woodland hues. He found himself telling Dr. Herzenberg the truth – something he hadn’t done in decades. “She’s not actually my sister,” he said. “Oh?” She raised a delicate eyebrow. “Well, she wasn’t, I mean,” he said. “My father was her mother’s cousin.” Dr. Herzenberg appeared lost in thought for a moment. “So, your ‘sister’ was actually your second cousin?” “Yes,” Robert said. “Why do you call her your sister?” “Our parents married,” Robert said. “Legally, PJ was my sister.” “I see,” she said. Another wave of regret washed over Robert. He clasped his hands together and hung his head so she wouldn’t see the sheen of tears in his eyes. “I did read your employment record,” Dr. Herzenberg said. “You’ve had quite the last couple of weeks.” Robert snorted. “Yeah. You could say that.” “You failed the bureau’s lie detector test, separated from your wife, shot and killed a man, and your sister – your second-cousin, I mean – died. I’d say all of that qualifies you for a little paid leave.” Then there was the business with his daughter, which he couldn’t talk about, as well as the thing concerning his infidelity, which he likewise couldn’t bring himself to talk about. His shoulders drooped. “I don’t want paid leave,” he said. “I want to get back to work. All I do is sit around and mope. If I can work, I’ll feel better.” He looked up, into her concerned face. “What can I do to convince you I’m fit for returning to work – that, in fact, it’ll help me recover?” She tilted her head and scrutinized him. He fidgeted under the weight of those amazing green eyes. “You can’t run from your grief, Robert. Turning your attention elsewhere will only cause it to fester and grow into something uncontrolled.” He sighed. “I was afraid you’d say that.” On top of the bookcase, the cat stood and stretched elegantly, her back a deeply curved S. She sat on her haunches and used her paw to clean her snout. Robert watched, fascinated. “Tell me more about your sister,” Dr. Herzenberg said. Another wave of regret reminded Robert of his failures, and, with it, a twinge of fear piqued his soul. He’d already said too much. “You were close, I take it,” the psychiatrist said. “Yeah,” Robert said. Dr. Herzenberg waited. Robert looked around the room again, his gaze settling on the quarter-height of window, through which a gray fall sky was visible. “What bothers you most about her death?” she asked. Robert’s eyes lost their focus as his attention turned inward. Guilt weighed heavy in his heart as he remembered the past two weeks and his role in the whole mess. “I never…” He couldn’t bring himself to say it. Dr. Herzenberg perked up. “You never what?” He stared at the cat, who stared back unblinkingly. The odd sense of unreality overtook him again and he found himself speaking the truth once more. “I never told her how much I loved her,” he said. “I’m sure she knew,” Dr. Herzenberg said. Robert shook his head. “No. She didn’t.” “What makes you think that?” “I pushed her away. She wanted more from me. I should have given it to her.” Dr. Herzenberg’s brow furrowed and her eyes darkened. “What are we talking about, Robert? You’ve told me she wasn’t your blood sister. How did you see her? As your little sister? Or, as something more than that?” Robert ground his teeth. How did they get onto this topic? He was here to get back to work, not to get himself fired for inappropriate feelings toward PJ. “I shouldn’t have said it that way,” he said. “Of course, I meant it platonically.” She studied him. “You know that everything you tell me is confidential.” He frowned. “I know you have to report what I say to my superiors,” he said. “No,” she said. “I have to report my overall opinions. Your disclosures are entirely between us alone.” Robert stared up at Bella, whose golden gaze had never seemed to leave him. He was pretty sure the cat saw right through him, and he wondered how much of that ability Dr. Herzenberg had. He said nothing. *** Excerpt from Road To Nowhere by Cy Wyss. Copyright 2019 by Cy Wyss. Reproduced with permission from Cy Wyss. All rights reserved.
   

About Author Cy Wyss

Cy Wyss Cy Wyss is a writer based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They have a Ph.D. in computer science and their day job involves wrangling and analyzing genetic data. Cy is the author of three full-length novels as well as a collection of short stories and the owner and chief editor of Nighttime Dog Press, LLC. Before studying computer science, Cy obtained their undergraduate degree in mathematics and English literature as well as masters-level degrees in philosophy and artificial intelligence. They studied overseas for three years in the UK, although they never managed to develop a British accent. Cy currently resides in Indianapolis with their spouse, daughter, and two obstreperous but lovable felines. In addition to writing, they enjoy reading, cooking, and walking 5k races to benefit charity.

Catch Up With Cy Wyss On: cywyss.com, Goodreads, BookBub, Twitter, & Facebook!

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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 swear I just blinked and another week flew by. I’m feeling much better now and spent some time in the pool, enjoying the last blast of summer. It’s still in the 90s here but at least the humidity has eased up. You really could fry an egg on the sidewalk! LOL

You may have noticed I’ve been light on reviews this month. I’ve been working on my 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills feature for October. I did it the last 2 years and had lots of fun. I didn’t realize how challenging it would be to write 31 reviews while working 2 jobs. I’ve got 13 written so far. It helps that I’ve already finished reading all of the books I plan to share. Looking forward to more spooky fun!

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

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My new books this week.

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  Paper, Scissors, Death: A Cozy Feel Good Mystery (Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by [Slan, Joanna Campbell]

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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.

Finding Miss Write (The Misadventures of Miss Write Book 1) by [Webb, Gena] The Perfect Wife (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book One) by [Pierce, Blake]

The Needle House: A gripping DS Lasser crime thriller. (The DS Lasser Series Book 1) by [Roughley, Robin]  Speak No Evil (An Oyster Point Thriller Book 2) by [Crosby, Tanya Anne]

Gargoyle Huntress (Harlow's Demons Book 1) by [Pretty, Jen]  Better Off Wed (Annabelle Archer Wedding Planner Mystery Book 1) by [Durham, Laura]

Once Upon a Romance (A Dream Come True Book 1) by [Bailey, Alex]  The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club by [Tierney-Bedord, Holly]

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Other posts on my blog this week.

The House On Hallowed Ground by Nancy Cole Silverman ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

The Deception by Kat Martin ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Silent Meridian by Elizabeth Crowens ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Spotlight and Giveaway ~ Buried In The Stacks by Allison Brook

Books From The Back Log #21 ~ Jenny Pox

Movies, Moonlight and Magic by January Bain ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Excerpt and Giveaway ~ Fatal Strike by DiAnn Mills

A Tangle In The Vines by Anna Celeste Burke ~ Spotlight and Two Giveaways

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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.

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.

~~~~~

Some chit chat.

I must sound like a broken record. LOL Once again I struggled to visit  your posts. I had a good excuse. THE SUMMER COLD! Yuck. I’ve never had one before but I get why people said it was the worst. Been five days and I still feel like crap. Signing off now to catch a nap!

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

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My new books this week.

I won an awesome giveaway and wanted to share pictures but my phone was dead. I’ll be sharing next week. Other than that, no new books! How did that happen??? LOL

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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.

A Texas State of Mind (Port Serenity Book 1) by [DeFee, Ann]  Keeping 6 (Rock Point Book 1) by [Barker, Freya]

One, Two ... He is coming for you (Rebekka Franck, Book 1) by [Rose, Willow]  But Not Forgotten: A Clint Wolf Novel (Clint Wolf Mystery Series Book 1) by [Bourg, BJ]

Rescue Me (Sparks Of Desire Book 2) by [Twombly, Valerie]  Detective Docherty and the Demon's Tears (Detective Docherty Book 1) by [WaterRaven, Sarah]

The Emperor's Edge Collection (Books 1, 2, and 3) by [Buroker, Lindsay]

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Click on the covers for my reviews.

Lost Solace (cover)

Only one this week. I’m currently bust writing reviews for my Thrills and Chills feature in October. I will be reviewing a book a day for the entire month and can’t wait to share all of the scary books I’ve been reading!

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Other posts on my blog this week.

A Parliament Of Crows by Alan M. Clark ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Number’s Up by Annabelle Hunter ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Excerpt and Giveaway ~ The Fixer Upper by Maggie Mae Gallagher

Release Day Blast and Giveaway ~ Sweet Talker

The Celebration Series by Stacy Eaton ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Lost Solace by Karl Drinkwater ~ My Review

Spotlight and Giveaway ~ Most Ardently ~ An Austen-Inspired Christmas Collection

Cover and Trailer Reveal With Giveaway for The Shrike And The Shadows

The Carousel by Cynthia Owens ~ 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.

Lost Solace BT Poster

Lost Solace

by Karl Drinkwater

Lost Solace (cover)

Genre: Science Fiction

My Review

I’m not going to go into a description of the book. The synopsis, which hooked me immediately, does that. What I will tell you is that two characters carry the plot, and what a thrilling one it is.

All through the book I was wondering what Opal was looking for. What made her take such a desperate step and steal a ship and it’s A.I. to search space for lost ships that might be just rumors. Was it a particular ship she was looking for? And was it the ship or what it contained that she was seeking?

The author put me in Opal’s shoes from the opening scene where Clarissa, the A.I. that Opal had stolen and named, woke her from sleep to say they were approaching something. I really enjoyed the dialogue between these two women. Yes, I’m going to refer to Clarissa as female. I know having Clarissa to talk to kept Opal sane, and safe. They were a formidable team as trust was built.

Once they find the lost ship it’s all action from then on. From the moment Opal donned her weaponized space suit to when she boarded the ship, I felt the tension build. Everything is checked and double checked. Space is unforgiving and there can be no mistakes.

I read the rest of the book at warp speed. So much is revealed about Opal, and what’s in the ship is the stuff of nightmares. I pictured many of the scenes from a movie I’d seen years ago and a book I read recently. The book took place in a cave, and space gave me the same enclosed, trapped feeling.

I hear there will be more written about these character’s and I’ll be waiting for their next journey.

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I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.

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Synopsis

Sometimes spaceships disappear with everyone on board – the Lost Ships. But sometimes they come back, strangely altered, derelict, and rumoured to be full of horrors.

Opal is on a mission. She’s been seeking something her whole life. Something she is willing to die for. And she thinks it might be on a Lost Ship.

Opal has stolen Clarissa, an experimental AI-controlled spaceship, from the military. Together they have tracked down a Lost Ship, in a lonely nebula far from colonised space.

The Lost Ship is falling into the gravity well of a neutron star, and will soon be truly lost … forever. Legends say the ships harbour death, but there’s no time for indecision.

Opal gears up to board it. She’s just one woman, entering an alien and lethal environment. But perhaps with the aid of Clarissa’s intelligence – and an armoured spacesuit – Opal may stand a chance.

Can she face her demons and survive?

Amazon

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About Author Karl Drinkwater

Karl

Karl Drinkwater is originally from Manchester but lived in Wales for twenty years, and now calls Scotland his home. He’s a full-time author, edits fiction for other writers, and was a professional librarian for over twenty-five years. He has degrees in English, Classics, and Information Science.
He writes in multiple genres: his aim is always just to tell a good story. Among his books you’ll find elements of literary and contemporary fiction, gritty urban, horror, suspense, paranormal, thriller, sci-fi, romance, social commentary, and more. The end result is interesting and authentic characters, clever and compelling plots, and believable worlds.
When he isn’t writing he loves exercise, guitars, computer and board games, the natural environment, animals, social justice, cake, and zombies. Not necessarily in that order.

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Links
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

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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.

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.

~~~~~

Some chit chat.

While I’m still working a lot, I did manage to enjoy the pool this week. I made sure to fit in at least an hour of swim time almost every day. It was wonderful. The water was warm and it seemed to soothe my aching muscle. Felt so nice I wanted to sleep there. LOL

I was really hoping we’d get through hurricane season without any real threats. For those who will be affected by Hurricane Dorian, stay safe!

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

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My new books this week.

Before Sunrise by [Mofina, Rick]  Anika Rising (Gretel Book Four) by [Coleman, Christopher]

Band of Believers, Book 1: Dissent by [Grey, Jamie Lee]  Corner Of Your Eye by [Brennan, Stephen]

Motorhomes, Maps, & Murder: A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery Series (A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Book 5) by [Kappes, Tonya]  A Murder in Hope's Crossing: Witch's Kitchen Book 1 by [Shelby, Brooke]

Road to Nowhere: Murder Most Meow (Eyeshine Book 2) by [Wyss, Cy] 

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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.

The Bride Wore Blue (The Brides of Bath Book 1) by [Bolen, Cheryl]  Chills (The Distinguished Rogues Book 1) by [Boyd, Heather]

If She Knew (A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 1) by [Pierce, Blake]  The Fourth Sunrise (Love Stories Book 1) by [Night, H.T.]

Murder Over Cocktails: The 2nd Nikki Hunter Mystery (Nikki Hunter Mysteries) by [Skopin, Nancy]  The High Life of Simone St. Lo (The St. Lo Series Book 1) by [Arliss, F.E.]

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Click on the covers for my reviews.

Only one this week. But, I have a bunch coming up!

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Other posts on my blog this week.

Silent Night, Deadly Night By Vicki Delaney ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

When A Stranger Comes…… Spotlight and Giveaway

Bark If It’s Murder by V.M. Burns ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Raven Point Pack by Heather Renee ~ Audio Blitz and Giveaway

Spotlight and Giveaway ~ Never Ever by Willow Rose

Books From The Back Log #20 ~ Anyone?

The Friday 56 #219 ~ Teeth In The Mist

Cover Reveal and Giveaway for Feather And Bone by Melissa Wright

Saturday Screams #66 ~ One Star

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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.

Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that thrill and chill!

Today I have a twisted nibble of a read for ya!

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After reading my review and checking out the synopsis, you might want to give this a go. It’s FREE on Amazon. Waiting for you! Click on the cover to get your copy.

One Star

by The Behrg

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Genre: Horror / Short Story

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My Review

I started reviewing books many years ago. A friend encouraged me to start a blog. I never looked back. When I spotted this book on a friend’s blog, I was intrigued. Anyone who writes reviews knows what a one star rating is like to write. I haven’t written one in a long time. Probably because I do more research before choosing to read a book now.

When I read the description I knew I had to read this.  A blogger posts a one star review on their blog.  Something horrible comes of that review. The author takes it personal.

I remember one of the first one star reviews I wrote. It was for a review book I accepted from an author. I contacted the author to let them know what my rating would be. They argued with me in several emails, saying I didn’t get what they wrote. I did, though. I explained why I gave it the rating I did but they continued to argue with me. So, that review wasn’t posted. I knew the emails would continue and I couldn’t win with the author. I’m tougher now and wish I’d published that review. It was an honest one and wasn’t mean. I just didn’t want the hassle of dealing with an author that couldn’t accept my rating.

I thought I knew what I was getting when I started reading this short story. Not what I got, for sure. In a good way though. I felt unsettled from the get go. Knew something was off. Thought I knew what that was. Boy, was I wrong. The Behrg socked it to me. What a twisted bit of fun.

symbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,sign

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Synopsis

Every action has a consequence. But when Li posts a one-star review of a novel on her book blog, the results are far more frightening than she could ever have imagined.

Not every story was meant to have a happy ending.

ONE STAR is a previously unpublished horror short story, being released in The Behrg’s upcoming short story collection–“The Passengers You Cannot See.” It is the author’s love letter to book bloggers and reviewers, and thus is being offered as a free download to any book reviewer in part to thank all those who have been a part of the author’s journey. And if you haven’t yet been a part, there’s no better time than now to jump in that car and ride along. Oh, the vistas you will see.

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.

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.

~~~~~

Some chit chat.

I don’t remember much about this week. I worked a ton of hours and all I did was sleep when I got home. Barely finished a book and when I did try to watch something, I just drifted off. LOL I’m going to keep this brief so I can grab a few more winks.

Oh. I did mangae to stay awake to catch a couple of episodes of the next season of 13 Reasons Why. Interesting so far. Are you watching it? What do you think?

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

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My new books this week.

Haunted Cruise: The Shakedown by [Taylor, Tanya R.]  Dead Astronauts: A Novel by [VanderMeer, Jeff]

BBQ, Bikers, and Murder (Hawg Heaven Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by [Prescott, Summer]  Wanted: A Must-Read Thriller for Dog Lovers (The Chase Ryder Series Book 1) by [Ho, Jo]

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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.

Greenhouse: A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure (Insularity Book 1) by [Mylchreest, Stephanie]  SINGULARITY (Sarah Armstrong Mysteries Book 1) by [Casey, Kathryn]

I Bring the Fire Part I : Wolves (A Loki Series) by [Gockel, C.]  Monsters : I Bring the Fire Part II (A Loki Series) by [Gockel, C.]

A Single Step: Book 1 of The Grayson Trilogy - a series of mysterious and romantic adventure stories. by [Rose, Georgia]  ACE: Las Vegas Bad Boys by [Love, Frankie]

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Click on the covers for my reviews.

Only one this week.

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Other posts on my blog this week.

Excerpt and Giveaway ~ Julian Fox, The Dream Guardian by E.J. Miranda

Cowboy Joel And The Wild Wild West ~ Showcase and Giveaway

The Experiment by Robin Lamont ~ Review and Giveaway

Excerpt and Giveaway ~ Claiming Ana by Brynna Curry

Books From The Back Log #19 ~ The Monster’s Daughter

Spotlight and Giveaway ~ The Michaela McPherson Mysteries by Judith Lucci

Release Blast and Giveaway ~ Destiny by Skye Malone

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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.

The Experiment The Kinship Series #3 by Robin Lamont On Tour August 1 – 31, 2019 45913527. sy475 Genre: Suspense Published by: Grayling Press Publication Date: May 15th 2019 Number of Pages: 288 ISBN: 0985848588 (ISBN13: 9780985848583) Series: The Kinship Series Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
 

My Review

I knew this would be a challenging read when I read the description. I love animals, all shapes and sizes, and it hurts to know that there are so many being inhumanely used for experiments. Not to mention the rampant cruelty and abuse that so many live with in their short lives. I can’t even watch those commercials on television, asking for donations to save abused animals. That being said, I still had to read this book. I wanted to meet these warriors of animal’s rights.

Jude trained her new recruit. Gave him an assignment to infiltrate a company to get evidence of animal cruelty. He was supposed to keep in touch. So she knew something was squirrely when he sent her some strange photos and didn’t respond to her repeated calls. It was her job to go check on him when he disappeared shortly after.

Jude’s first step upon arriving at the farming town of Half Moon was to visit Tim’s hotel room and see if she could find out what her trainee had discovered. Things move fairly quickly after that and the plot thickens. What did he uncover? Who was involved? And did Tim pull his own disappearing act, or did someone make it happen?

I feel I should mention that, while this story is about experimenting on animals, what is being done isn’t dwelt upon. The author doesn’t go into detail. It’s still heartbreaking to know, and there is one scene that had me so sad, but there are also some happy ones. I hope for many more for the animals out there right now. Waiting to be loved.

So many bread crumbs. So many dead ends. The author sure kept me in the dark. Did the same thing to Jude, in more ways than one. I admired Jude’s fortitude. Her dedication to protecting animals from cruelty, even at the expense of her own health. I wanted to know more about her. This is the third book in the series and I plan on going back to the beginning. Meeting these character’s to see how they all wound up together. And really getting to know Jude and what drives her.

And I sure hope there is another book in the works. The ending has Jude battling a personal dilemma and I want to know how that pans out.

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Synopsis

Jude Brannock is a brash and single-minded female protagonist for today’s readers who believe that nature and animals deserve our respect and must be protected. In The Experiment, author Robin Lamont brings these forward-looking themes to her newest suspense novel.

Jude is an investigator for an animal protection organization. When the young man she has trained for an undercover job suddenly vanishes after a tantalizing text that he’s “on to something,” Jude rushes to the quiet, farming community of Half Moon, only to discover that her trainee might have perpetrated an elaborate con job on her. Determined to get to the truth, she unearths a biopharmaceutical company’s deadly secret, and in doing so, comes up against dark secrets of her own.

Check out the glimpse inside:

John Harbolt wasn’t easily shaken. With over forty years of medicine under his belt, there was hardly an injury, disease, or fatality he hadn’t seen, and he’d treated just about everyone in the small town of Half Moon at some time or other. But on that late summer day, young Tori Lacey showed him something that baffled him. Her symptoms were inexplicable and downright scary. She was his first patient of the day, a young woman who had battled her weight for years. In between the earaches and the sore throats, Harbolt had gently counseled her about diet and exercise. He hoped she wasn’t here to ask him about diet pills again, because as far as he was concerned, they were off the table. After removing her file from the plastic holder bolted to the outside of the examination room, he adjusted his wire rim glasses and straightened his lab coat. The younger doctors often wore khakis and a short-sleeved shirt at work, and maybe it put the kids more at ease. But Dr. Harbolt stuck with a freshly starched white coat, believing that it made his patients feel more confident in his abilities. And confidence in one’s doctor was important to the healing process. “Tori Ann Lacey,” he announced jovially as he shambled into the room. “Hi, Dr. Harbolt.” The morose girl before him sat on the table. She had taken off her running shoes but left her sweatshirt and shorts on. “I haven’t seen you for a while,” he said, noting with some surprise that she had slimmed considerably, her round face now leaner and more mature. “How is college life treating you?” “Ok, I guess.” Her voice and posture belied this. “What brings you here today, my dear.” “I don’t really know. But we thought you should look at these.” She pushed back the sleeve of her sweatshirt and held out her arm for inspection. There were several bruises that vandalized the translucent skin of her inner arm. Dr. Harbolt held her wrist and peering over his glasses, looked closely at the red and purple marks. He pressed lightly on one of them. “Does that hurt?” She shook her head no. “What happened?” “That’s the thing. Nothing happened. They just appeared.” She showed him another set of bruises on her other arm. “Did you fall?” “No.” “Knocked into something?” “No,” she exclaimed, as though he didn’t believe her. “My mom thinks it’s my diet. That I should be eating meat.” “And you’re not?” “No. I needed to lose five more pounds for the track team, which I was having a hard time doing, so I switched over to a raw food diet. And it really helped because I made my goal.” “And you were selected for the team?” She nodded, anxiously chewing on a nail. “Congratulations. You getting enough protein?” he asked, studying the bruising and letting her answer drift past him. This wasn’t because of her diet. She rambled for a moment about nuts and spinach, then peeled off her socks and lifted her bare feet to the end of the examination table. “And then yesterday after a run, I found this,” she said. “I didn’t even show my mom ’cause she’d freak out.” Dr. Harbolt caught his breath. It looked as though someone had taken a baseball bat to the soles of the girl’s feet. Fiery maroon blotches screamed out some kind of violence. Three of her toes had turned a dark purple. “Good Lord!” he blurted out. “What happened to you?” “Nothing! I’m telling you nothing happened,” wailed Tori. “They just … showed up.” *** Excerpt from The Experiment by Robin Lamont. Copyright © 2019 by Robin Lamont. Reproduced with permission from Robin Lamont. All rights reserved.
   

About Author Robin Lamont

Robin Lamont Before becoming a novelist, Robin was a popular Broadway actress and singer, turned private investigator, and then New York prosecutor. She draws on these diverse careers for her work, infusing suspenseful plots with character-driven drama. Robin’s prior work has garnered awards and recognition, including Suspense Magazine’s Best of the Indies and a Gold Medal in the Independent Publishers Book Awards for her novel If Thy Right Hand. Her book The Chain, which introduced Jude Brannock to readers, was a Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalist. Her screen adaptation of the book, Six Seconds, is currently under option.

Catch Up With Our Author On: thekinshipseries.com, Goodreads, BookBub, Twitter, & Facebook!

 

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter 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

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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.

Got my son’s new computer all set up and now I have my baby back! LOL It’s been weird sharing a computer but also a bit relaxing. Funny how not being able to go online can do that to a person. I sure have been missing a lot of great posts and I’ll be trying to stop in and see what I’ve missed.

I did manage to catch up on some shows. I, Zombie and Mindhunter are a couple I’ve been watching. And I want to try Veronica Mars. Curious about it since a lot of people have been sharing their thoughts on the show.

And, of course, I’ve been catching up on some reading. I’ve noticed I’m really into the horror again and I have some good ones I’m saving for the month of October.

It’s good to be back y’all!

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

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My new books this week.

Blackwater Val by [Gorman, William]  The Mourner's Cradle: A Widow’s Journey by [Smith, Tommy B.]

Twice Upon an Apocalypse: Lovecraftian Fairy Tales by [Rosamilia, Armand, Meikle, William, MacLeod, Bracken, Dudar, Peter N., Sylvia, Morgan, D’Ammassa, Don, Kamp, Michael, Burniston, Winifred, Shephard, Zach]  Things Too Big to Name by [Tinsley, Molly Best]

Karma's A Bitch (A Pet Psychic Mystery Book 1) by [Esposito, Shannon]  Goat Dance: A Novel of Supernatural Horror by [Clegg, Douglas]

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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.

Sunny Side Up (A Deadline Cozy Mystery Book 1) by [Parin, Sonia]  Deal Gone Dead: A Lily Sprayberry Realtor Cozy Mystery (The Lily Sprayberry Realtor Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by [Ridder Aspenson, Carolyn]

Booked For Murder (An Oceanside Mystery Book 1) by [James, CeeCee]  Switching Hour: Magic and Mayhem Book One by [Peterman, Robyn]

The Seer’s Daughter (Beyond The Grave Series Book 1) by [Daniels, Athena]  Blood and Snow (Seven Magics Academy Book 1) on Kindle

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Click on the covers for my reviews.

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Other posts on my blog this week.

My Monday Minis #54 ~ Fire Devil

Blast about Apples and Alibis by Gayle Leeson

Excerpt and Giveaway ~ The Time For Murder Is Meow by T.C. LoTempio

Spotlight and Giveaway ~ Healing Heather & Accepting Aerin by Tinsley Sellers

Books From The Back Log #18 ~ Sawfish

Stir Up by Annabelle Hunter ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

The Darkest Lullaby by Jonathan Janz ~ Hang on to something!

Saturday Screams #65 ~ Abominable

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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.

Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that thrill and chill!

Today I have a beast of a read for ya!

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Abominable

by Alan Nayes

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Genre: Horror / Science Fiction

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My Review

Here’s how it starts. A strange capsule is discovered in the ice. After some testing it’s found to have been buried there for around thirty thousand years. Impregnable and mystifying, by accident they are able to see inside. Revealed is a huge white apelike creature. Once they crack the capsule, the fun begins.

First, I can’t resist a story set in uninviting environments, especially places like Alaska. Just to survive is a daily struggle. Next, a bit of science fiction. What is the capsule’s purpose? And is the creature inside from this planet, or somewhere else? And last but not least, a rampaging creature that doesn’t belong escapes. That’s B-movie chum for me.

I went into this expecting a bit of fun and I had a lot of it. I watch a lot of movies with this kind of plot and drew on them for some great visuals. Am I morbid that some of those bloody scenes made me laugh? Maybe, but that’s part of the fun.

Several years ago I read Smilodon, another book by Alan Nayes. It had giant sabre-toothed cats. Abominable was every bit as good.

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Synopsis

A mysterious unidentifiable object is discovered buried deep in an isolated glacier in Alaska’s rugged Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It is composed of materials unknown to science and the mystery only deepens when the large unidentified object is determined to be twenty-eight thousand years old. Who left it there so many thousands of years ago? Why?
Dr. Shelby Hollister, a specialist in primatology, is consulted when bones dug from the ice alongside the object are found to belong to an unknown species of prehistoric primate.
The story explodes in magnitude when the object begins a physical transformation revealing what is inside—a perfectly preserved giant ape!

ABOMINABLE. What happens when a giant Ice Age ‘Abominable Snowman’ escapes into the twenty-first century?

Amazon

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Smilodon

by Alan Nayes

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Genre: Horror / Science Fiction

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My Review coming soon!

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Synopsis

Jason Bristol, ex-prize fighter and expert animal tracker, and part-time drunk, teams up with beautiful wildlife biologist Norah Phelps as they pursue a man-eating predator that threatens to derail her father’s prize real estate development project in north central Idaho.

Against the majestic pristine backdrop of Idaho’s Bitterroot Wilderness Area, the adventure unfolds. Jason, with Norah’s assistance, soon discovers the ghosts of his past are nothing compared to the battle he’s undertaken.

Smilodon. A saber-toothed cat. He’s angry, he’s frightened, he’s hungry, and he’s 12,000 years from home!

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.