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Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

Stoker’s Wilde ~ My Review

Posted: May 10, 2019 in New Release, reviews
Tags: review

STOKER’S WILDE
Steven Hopstaken, Melissa Prusi
Publication date: May 30th, 2019

My Review

The moment I spotted the cover for this book, I wanted to read it. Then I read the description and really wanted to read it. I read the first few paragraphs, settled in, and had so much fun, reading this straight through into the wee hours. What an adventure.

I thought this would be about werewolves from what I read right at the beginning. Then I thought it would be about vampires. It was about both, along with some famous authors, intriguing and familiar side characters, and a writing flavor that followed the historical period of Stoker and Wilde.

The story is told from several points of view through correspondence and journal entries and it kept the pace fast. There was no stumbling over a switch in perspective. I especially enjoyed this.

What more can I say without spoilers. Real life characters with romantic entanglements and personal conflicts joined in a fictional story of battle against evil beings had me forgetting at times that this was fiction. This is one I’ll be reading again.

~~~~~

Synopsis

.
Years before either becomes a literary legend, Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde
must overcome their disdain for one another to battle the Black Bishop, a
madman wielding supernatural forces to bend the British Empire to his will.

Amazon

~~~~~

Authors Steven Hopstaken and Melissa Prusi

Stokers authors

.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing.
Launching in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more
established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
Steven Hopstaken was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan,
where he spent his formative years watching and reading
science fiction and horror. He has a degree in journalism
from Northern Michigan University and spends his free time
traveling; writing screenplays, short stories and novels; and
practicing photography.
Melissa Prusi was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
(often mistaken for Canada), and studied video and film production at
Northern Michigan University and the University of Michigan. She’s been a
video editor, a semi-professional film reviewer, a three-time champion on
the quiz show Jeopardy!, and a Guinness world record holder (1990 edition,
for directing the longest live television show).
They met in a college screenwriting class and married three years later. They
spent a brief time in Los Angeles, where they both worked for Warner Bros.
television. They eventually ended up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where they
love the arts scene but dread the winters. While they both currently make a
living as website content managers, they have sold two screenplays, which
have been lost to development hell.
They’ve indulged their fascination with Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde
through trips to Dublin and London to research their lives and visit sites
mentioned in Stoker’s Wilde.
They live in St. Louis Park, Minnesota with their two cats. If they’re not writing,
you can usually find them at a movie, local theater production, improv show
or pub quiz.

~~~~~

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.

Ghost Mine by Hunter Shea ~ My Review

Posted: May 9, 2019 in horror, New Release, reviews
Tags: Horror, review

Ghost Mine BT Poster

GHOST MINE
Hunter Shea
Publication date: May 30th, 2019

My Review

I’ve read almost all of Hunter’s books. This was previously published as Hell Hole and I hadn’t got to it yet.

I had high hopes for Ghost Mine. Nat Blackburn, former Rough Rider, has been in tough situations. Investigated odd occurrences. When President Roosevelt requests he check out something strange going on in a deserted mining town, he saddles up and heads off to find out what’s what. It doesn’t take long for things to go as sideways as tumbleweeds blowing in the wind, and soon Nat and a few other characters are fighting for their lives.

Hunter can write some weird and scary stuff. I especially like his stories with cryptids. You haven’t read about any like the ones that come after these characters. And the atmosphere is tense. The unexpected can and does jump out at you, keeping the story fast and furious.

I love western horror and this felt like the old west. Rugged, dirty and no technology to do the work for you. And Hunter creates some awesome characters. Nat and his partner, Teta, are my favorites. With a woman of mystery with loads of sass joining the pair. And the two strange men that insinuate themselves into the investigation present their own unique spin on things and I look at them as well needed comic relief.

Why anyone would want to visit a scary ghost town and enter a mine where people go in and don’t come out is beyond me. But if Hunter didn’t write this scenario, I would have missed out on one heck of a read.

~~~~~

Synopsis

.
Nat Blackburn is given an offer he can’t refuse by President Roosevelt. Tales
of gold in the abandoned mining town of Hecla abound. The only problem, those
who go seeking their fortune never return. Black-eyed children,
strange lights and ferocious wild men venture from the deep, dark ghost
mine…as well as a sinister force hungry for fresh souls.

Amazon

~~~~~

Author Hunter Shea

Hunter Shea Author Pic
.
Hunter Shea is the author of over 20 books, with a
specialization in cryptozoological horror that includes The
Jersey Devil, The Dover Demon, Loch Ness Revenge and
many others. His novel The Montauk Monster, was named
one of the best reads of the summer by Publishers Weekly. A
trip to the International Cryptozoology Museum will find several of his
cryptid books among the fascinating displays. Living in a true haunted house
inspired his Jessica Backman: Death in the Afterlife series (Forest of
Shadows, Sinister Entity and Island of the Forbidden). He was selected to be
part of the launch of Samhain Publishing’s new horror line in 2011 alongside
legendary author Ramsey Campbell. When he’s not writing thrillers and
horror, he also spins tall tales for middle grade readers on Amazon’s highly
regarded Rapids reading app.
An avid podcaster, he can be seen and heard on Monster Men, one of the
longest running video horror podcasts in the world, and Final Guys, focusing
on weekly movie and book reviews. His nostalgic column about the magic of
80s horror, Video Visions, is featured monthly at Cemetery Dance Online.
You can find his short stories in a number of anthologies, including
Chopping Block Party, The Body Horror Book and Fearful Fathoms II.
Living with his crazy and supportive family and two cats, he’s happy to be
close enough to New York City to see the skyline without having to pay New
York rent. You can follow his travails at www.huntershea.com.

FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing.
Launching in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more
established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

~~~~~

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.

What’s New On My Bookshelf #311 and The Sunday Post

Posted: May 5, 2019 in giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, my weekly news, The Sunday Post

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

~~~~~

Some chit chat.

Over the past two weeks I’ve been sharing how my Sega was sprouting it’s new leaves.

This was three weeks ago.

20190420_091419

Here it is one week later.

20190427_113929

It has doubled in height!

And check it out now.

20190504_101035

To give you an idea of how large this is, it now stands about a foot taller than me and I’m 5 feet 8 inches tall.

The leaves are still soft. They get quite sharp once they are completely grown in.

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

~~~~~

My new books this week.

None! I couldn’t believe it when I checked. No new books this week. I blame it on my new job. Been too busy to shop. LOL

~~~~~

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.

~~~~~

Books reviewed this week. Click on the covers to read them.

~~~~~

Review and Giveaway ~ The High Court by Chris Ledbetter

Posted: April 29, 2019 in Fantasy, giveaways, reviews
Tags: fantasy, giveaway, review

Book Title: The High Court by Chris Ledbetter
Category: YA Fiction, 290 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Month 9 Books
Release date: October 16, 2018
Tour dates: April 1 to 30, 2019
Content Rating: PG (some profanity (damn, ass), no f-bombs, some kissing, no sex scenes, some violence, nothing gory or graphic)

My Review

I sure had fun with the first book in the series and was curious what would happen as the story continues.

This starts up right where it left off. Zeus returns to school for the next term. I thought the adventures and entanglements were fast and furious before and they were just as exciting this time around. Peer competition is strong, danger once again rears it’s ugly head, and when the trials begin the story really takes off. Anything can and does happen, and when the going gets tough, these young gods join forces and face the challenges together.

I’m all for character development and the author does a good job of giving us flawed characters that he allows to stumble and fall, pick themselves back up, and grow from experience. With them being mythical beings, that just adds to the excitement.

I got answers to some questions from the first book and new ones were added, keeping my interest piqued for where things were headed next. I’ll be waiting for the next chapter in these young god’s lives.

~~~~~

Synopsis

High atop Mount Olympus, dawn breaks on a new academic term. Normalcy has returned to campus following a harrowing expedition into The Underworld to rescue kidnapped students by Zeus and his fellow Olympians. Now, as they prepare to testify in The High Court, Hyperion will be tried for the attack on Crete and death of Anytos. Kronos will stand trial for the murder of Mount Olympus Prep’s Headmaster Ouranos.

As the trials draw near, Mount Olympus Prep students and faculty are besieged repeatedly by a race of gargantuan stone and earth giants. Under heavy assault, the Olympians are forced to flee to the volcanic island of Limnos to regroup. Meanwhile, a toxic poison Zeus has carried with him since a prior fight with a dragoness, creeps toward his brain.

In a race against time and beasts, Zeus and his friends must find a way to survive not only the toxin ravaging Zeus’ body, but also the giants who grow stronger after every attack, and somehow make it to the The High Court alive.

To read reviews, please visit Chris Ledbetter’s page of iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Walmart

Ebay ~ Indiebound

Chapters Indigo ~ The Book Depository

Add to Goodreads

Watch the trailer:

Meet the Author:

Chris Ledbetter is an award-winning author of short fiction and novels for young adults. “Jason’s Quest,” a short story retelling of the Jason and Medea Greek myth was published in the anthology, Greek Myths Revisited. His first full-length novel, Drawn earned him two awards, Library of Clean Reads Best YA 2015 and Evernight Publishing Readers’ Choice Award Best YA 2015, as well as a USA TODAY “Must Read” recommendation. His second novel, Inked, concludes that duology. The Sky Throne is his newest young adult series. It includes, thus far, The Sky Throne and The High Court.

He’s a proud member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and a strong supporter of the Need for Diverse Books. He now writes and lives in Wilmington, NC with his family, including three cats

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

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends May 7, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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.

What’s New On My Bookshelf #310 and The Sunday Post

Posted: April 28, 2019 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, my weekly news, The Sunday Post

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

~~~~~

Some chit chat.

I’ve settled into my new job and they are keeping me busy. I finally had a day off after working 21 in a row between both jobs. This weekend I have off and am going to spend it reading outside and enjoying the pool!

Last week I shared how my Sega was sprouting it’s new leaves.

20190420_091419

Here it is one week later.

20190427_113929

It has doubled in height!

Have a lovely Sunday everyone.

~~~~~

My new books this week.

This puppy will arrive on May 7th!

~~~~~

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.

~~~~~

Books reviewed this week. Click on the covers to read them.

~~~~~

Review and Giveaway ~ The Sky Throne by Chris Ledbetter

Posted: April 26, 2019 in Fantasy, giveaways, reviews
Tags: fantasy, giveaway, review

Book Title: The Sky Throne by Chris Ledbetter
Category: YA Fiction, 300 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Month 9 Books
Release date: April 18, 2017
Content Rating: PG + M (No f-words but there may be some mild profanity, and mild religious expletives such as “damn”, “hell” and “Oh God!”, some depictions of violence. No drug use or underage drinking. Some semi-mature themes – suggestion of sexual misconduct by certain characters, but not the actual performing of it.)

My Review

I’ve often enjoyed reading books about Greek mythology, whether fiction or non. When I came across The Sky Throne, the idea of a coming of age story about Zeus sounded like fun.

The author ‘s knowledge and research were very apparent and helped refresh my rusty memory on key players and secondary ones, while also spinning his own tales, changing things up and making this even more fun.

There’s some romance. Zeus really does like the ladies. At one point I feared a love triangle. Not a fan of though so, luckily, it didn’t really play that way through the whole book.

And being a coming of age story, the characters felt younger, reacted appropriately for youth who believed they were going to live forever, and they got into all sorts of mischief. I liked learning about how they were before they became adults, all powerful and arrogant. Everyone was a kid once.

I’m not going to go into details here as the book is a long one, but the author doesn’t bog you down with too much detail. I’ll conclude saying it was fun. Loads of fun.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Duality dwells at every turn, and an adolescent Zeus will learn that all too well when Hyperion attacks his family on Crete.

When the dust settles, his mother is unconscious and his best friend left for dead.

Stacking epic insult upon fatal injury, Zeus discovers the woman who raised him is not his biological mother. But to ensure her safety while she recovers, a heavy-hearted Zeus leaves her behind to seek answers at Mount Olympus Preparatory Academia.

Zeus embarks on a quest to discover who ordered the attack on his home, avenge the death of his friend, and find his birth mother. When some of his new schoolmates vanish, Zeus’s quest is turned upside down, and the only way to make things right is to access the power of The Sky Throne, confront a most dangerous enemy, and take his life back.

On his way to becoming king of the Greek gods, Zeus will learn to seize power, neutralize his enemies, and fall in love.

To read reviews, please visit Chris Ledbetter’s page of iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository ~IndieBound

Quail Ridge Books ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon.ca ~

Amazon AUS

Add to Goodreads

Watch the Trailer:

Meet the Author:

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

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends May 7, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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 Taine McKenna Adventures ~ Reviews and Giveaway

Posted: April 25, 2019 in Action/Adventure, reviews, Science Fiction, thriller
Tags: Action, giveaway, review, sci-fi, thriller

Into the Mist

Taine McKenna Adventures Book 1

by Lee Murray

Genre: SciFi Action, Thriller

A hot, steamy jungle. people with their own agenda’s, and something big and ravenous stalking them. Sure does sound fun. And it was.

The author’s descriptions immediately put me in the jungle with the character’s. All of them have to deal with the harsh environment. But, that’s not the only problem. Something huge, primordial stalks all of them, and it’s right at home in the jungle. Perfect camouflage until it strikes, leaving not much more than blood splatters to show someone was ever there.

I’m always looking for stories where the character’s have to struggle against the environment as much as the creature stalking them. And I liked the mythical aspect when the local legend comes into play. Made for a deeper, more thrilling reading experience for me.

This would be great to see on the big screen. I’d have to buy the DVD. It’s a keeper.

When NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his squad are tasked with escorting a
bunch of civilian contractors into Te Urewera National Park, it seems
a strange job for the army.

Militant Tūhoe separatists are active in the area, and with its cloying mist
and steep ravines, the forest is a treacherous place in winter.

Yet nothing has prepared Taine for the true danger that awaits them.
Death incarnate.

They backtrack toward civilisation, stalked by a prehistoric creature
intent on picking them off one by one. With their weapons
ineffective, the babysitting job has become a race for survival.

Desperate to bring his charges out alive, Taine draws on ancient tribal wisdom.
Will it be enough to stop the nightmare? And when the mist clears,
will anyone be left?

Goodreads * Amazon

Into the Sounds

Taine McKenna Adventures Book 2

My Review

I’ve become really fond of Taine and his cohorts. They are double tough and do the dirty work. Taine is actually on a bit of a vacation when his special talents are called upon again. There’s no rest for the wicked and once again the wilderness isn’t the only thing he has to contend with. It’s what lurks out of sight and what’s in the water that could spell disaster.

This second book was every bit as fun as the first one. Plenty of action, some hair raising encounters and I liked where the author went with the ending. Neat and with a twist.

~~~~~

On leave, and out of his head with boredom, NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna
joins biologist Jules Asher, on a Conservation Department deer
culling expedition to New Zealand’s southernmost national park,
where soaring peaks give way to valleys gouged from clay and rock,
and icy rivers bleed into watery canyons too deep to fathom. Despite
covering an area the size of the Serengeti, only eighteen people live
in the isolated region, so it’s a surprise when the hunters stumble
on the nation’s Tūrehu tribe, becoming some of only a handful to
ever encounter the elusive ghost people. But a band of mercenaries
saw them first, and, hell-bent on exploiting the tribes’ survivors,
they’re prepared to kill anyone who gets in their way. As a
soldier, McKenna is duty-bound to protect all New Zealanders, but
after centuries of persecution will the Tūrehu allow him to help
them? Besides, there is something else lurking in the sounds, and it
has its own agenda. When the waters clear, will anyone be allowed to
leave?

“Murray pretty much nails small unit tactics.” ‒ Justin Coates, author of
The Apocalypse Drive

“A fantastic blend of military fiction, a very real primordial monster,
and powerful mythology.” ‒ Paul Mannering, author of Hard Corps,
Hell’s Teeth, and Eat.

Goodreads * Amazon

Into the Ashes

Taine McKenna Adventures Book 3

My Review

This is the third book in the series and it took off and steam rolled all the way to the end. I really enjoyed the first two books and was pretty sure Lee Murray would make me happy again. She did that, for sure.

There is so much I loved that I wish I could tell you. There’s the time when…, and those guys were…., and Taine drew a bead on….. The whole book was jammed with action and suspense, along with some scenes where I was really worried about some of my friends. The bad kept on coming and I didn’t see a way out for these people. There might not be any dinosaurs or sea monsters in this newest adventure, but there’s something just as deadly.

I’m happy to say the series keeps getting better for me and this is my favorite one yet.

A deadly wash of lava and rocks, as wide as the Waikato River, surged around the house, taking the line of least resistance. The side of the house exploded in flames. Taine had no time to take it in because the front wheels of the Unimog were lifting in the swell, the air blackening with the smoke and stench of immolating tyres.
“Hine, go!” Read croaked. Grabbing Brooker by his shirt, he dragged him back onto the Unimog.
She jumped clear, landing near Taine as the lava surged around the Unimog. Carried on the broiling wave of lava, it circled in a bizarre ballet, Brooker and Read still inside.
Floating.
Dammit. Taine had to get them off now. That truck was a toaster oven bobbing on a sea of red heat. “Read!” “I’m sending Brooker to you. Line-out style. Be ready!”
Taine had to hand it to him: as ideas went, it was gutsy. With the bed of the Unimog still floating above the flow, there was a chance it could work.
“Hine, we’re going to have to catch Brooker.”
Hurry it up, Read.
Standing as close as they dared, Taine and Hine braced themselves…
The Unimog circled.
Come on!
The vehicle came around. Read bent his knees, grabbing Brooker by the overalls below his hips. When the vehicle neared the lava’s leading edge, Read thrust him upwards, Brooker jumping as best he could.
Brooker yelped.
Dammit. He was going to fall short. Taine stepped forward, his boot searing at the edge of the liquid rock. He leaned out and yanked Brooker to him, while, crouched low, Hine caught the boy’s trailing leg before it hit the lava.
Taine snatched his own foot back.
“Fuck me! That was close,” Brooker panted, his chest heaving.
One down, one to go. What if Read leapt and missed? Taine glanced at Hine. He could spare her that at least. “Help Brooker to the twin cab,” Taine shouted. “I’ll get Read on the next pass.”
Suddenly, Lefty was there, pushing Hine out of the way. “It’s okay. I’ll do it. You get clear.” The soldier hefted Brooker over his shoulder, carrying him down the driveway, where Miller was backing up the truck, slowing just enough to allow the men to pile on.
The Unimog was like a raft on the rapids, the viscous current pulling it towards the middle of the lava-river.
“Read!” Taine yelled.
“Is Brooker safe?” Read called over the roar of the lava.
Taine glanced back. Lefty and Pringle were lifting Brooker onto the truck while, on the flatbed, Parata dragged him in.
“He’s safe. Read—” Taine jumped back as a spray of lava spurted off the surface.
“I know, I know. I’m coming. Just waiting until the…” he trailed off.
“Matt,” Hine whispered.

No longer content to rumble in anger, the great mountain warriors of New
Zealand’s central plateau, the Kāhui Tupua, are preparing again
for battle. At least, that’s how the Māori elders tell it. The
nation’s leaders scoff at the danger. That is; until the ground
opens and all hell breaks loose. The armed forces are hastily
deployed; NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his section tasked with
evacuating civilians and tourists from Tongariro National Park. It is
too little, too late. With earthquakes coming thick and fast and the
mountains spewing rock and ash, McKenna and his men are cut off.
Their only hope of rescuing the stranded civilians is to find another
route out, but a busload of prison evacuees has other ideas. And,
deep beneath the earth’s crust, other forces are stirring.

“INTO THE ASHES is a kick-ass thriller with twists you will never see
coming! Lee Murray serves up a nail-biter of a weird-science action
adventure. Brava!” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling
author of DEEP SILENCE and V-WARS

Goodreads * Amazon

Lee Murray is a Bram Stoker-nominated writer and editor horror
fiction, and multi-award-winning writer of dark speculative fiction
(Sir Julius Vogel, Australian Shadows). Her works include the Taine
McKenna adventure series, and supernatural crime-noir series The Path
of Ra (co-written with Dan Rabarts). She is the editor of ten dark
fiction anthologies, the latest being Hellhole: An Anthology
of Subterranean Terror (Adrenalin Press). Lee lives with her
family in New Zealand where she conjures up stories from her office
overlooking a cow paddock.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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 Body In The Wetlands by Judi Lynn ~ My Cozy Review

Posted: April 24, 2019 in Cozy Mystery, reviews
Tags: cozy mystery, review

The Body In The Wetlands

A Jazzi Zanders Mystery

by Judi Lynn

The Body in the Wetlands (A Jazzi Zanders Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Lyrical Underground (April 23, 2019)
Paperback: 208 pages
ISBN-10: 151610840X
ISBN-13: 978-1516108404
Digital ASIN: B07FZN7CVT

My Review

Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres and I’m always looking for a new theme. I loved the idea of house flippers. I watch those shows all the time. So, I eagerly started reading the book.

Cozies have lots of characters, Some central to the story and some secondary ones that make the story more genuine. I swear I recognize some of them. There were some fun ones in this mystery. And the author did a wonderful job of bringing them to life, helping me to connect with them, even the ones that had died my nefarious means.

Now for the mystery. It all starts with a missing man. But soon, two dead bodies are discovered and the why and whodunit part begins in earnest. I followed along as the investigation got going and was happy that I couldn’t figure it out easily.

I hadn’t read the first book in the series before I read The Body In The Wetlands. That didn’t stop me from enjoying this book, quickly getting familiar with the characters and their relationships to each other, and having a fun time reading along as the author dropped clues and finally gave me the villain.

I’m happy to recommend this book and now plan on going back to the beginning to see what I missed.

~~~~~

Synopsis

High summer in River Bluffs, Indiana, is always sweltering and sweet. But the heat is really on when a decidedly dead body turns up in the neighborhood.

When established house flippers Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod donate a week’s worth of remodeling work to Jazzi’s sister Olivia, they’re expecting nothing more than back-breaking roofing work and cold beers at the end of each long, hot day. With Jazzi’s live-in boyfriend and partner Ansel on the team, it promises to be a quick break before starting their next big project—until Leo, an elderly neighbor of Olivia’s, unexpectedly goes missing . . .

When the friendly senior’s dog tugs Jazzi and the guys toward the wetlands beyond Olivia’s neighborhood, they stumble across a decomposing corpse—and a lot of questions. With Jazzi’s pal Detective Gaff along to investigate, Jazzi finds her hands full of a whole new mystery instead of the usual hammer and nails. And this time it will take some sophisticated sleuthing to track down the culprit of the deadly crime—before the killer turns on her next . . .

About Author Judi Lynn

Judi Lynn received a Master’s Degree from Indiana University as an elementary school teacher after attending the IPFW campus. She taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades for six years before having her two daughters. She loves gardening, cooking and trying new recipes.

Readers can visit her website at www.judithpostswritingmusings.com and her blog writingmusings.com.

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

April 23 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 23 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

April 24 – I’m All About Books – GUEST POST

April 24 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW

April 25 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

April 25 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

April 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 26 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

April 27 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

April 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

April 28 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

April 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

April 29 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 29 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 30 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

April 30 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

May 1 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

May 1 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

May 2 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

May 2 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

May 2 – Ascroft, eh? – GUEST POST

~~~~~

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.

Drewsilla The Shelter Puppy ~ Excerpt and Review

Posted: April 22, 2019 in Children's books, reviews
Tags: children's picture book, review

DREWSILLA THE SHELTER PUPPY by Karen Carew Oakes, Children’s Picture Book, 22 pp., $16.64 (paperback) $3.03 (Kindle)

Title: DREWSILLA THE SHELTER PUPPY
Author: Karen Carew Oakes
Publisher: Archway Publishing
Pages: 22
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

My Review

This was an adorable story about Drewsilla, one of an orphaned litter of puppies who is too shy and gets overlooked for adoption. She reminded me of being the last one to be picked for team sports and I felt so sad for her. But, as it would happen, she is the one that must choose. Get over her shyness and find that perfect forever family.

Such a warm, sweet story and the illustrations are bold and fun. I recently read an interview with the author and the fact that this is a true story and the illustrations are created from real photos makes this story even more endearing. I had such fun reading about Drewsilla and it will become a family favorite for those who invite her story into their homes.

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When Drewsilla and her siblings are tiny puppies, an accident steals
their mother away. A kind stranger rescues them and takes them to a
shelter, where the staff works around the clock to care for the pack of
newborns. Soon, her brothers and sisters begin to thrive. Drewsilla has a
beautiful black coat, intelligent eyes, and ears that stand straight
up.

Drewsilla, though, is scared. She seems afraid of everyone and
everything and hides in the back of her cage when families come to
visit. As her friendly siblings each get adopted, lonely Drewsilla
remains. The staff even worries that she might never find a home. Then,
one day, something amazing happens.

The Johnsons come to the shelter to look at another dog and see
Drewsilla, who miraculously finds the courage to stop hiding and say
hello. All shelter dogs deserve the chance to find a loving family, and
this is the true story of Drewsilla — how she overcomes her fears, finds
her family, and gets a second chance at a happy life.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

______________________

Then one day, the Johnsons came to the shelter. They had
looked on the shelter website for available dogs they wanted to see. Drewsilla, was not one of them. It just so
happened that they would have to pass directly in front of Drewsilla’s cage. As
they passed something amazing happened. Drewsilla came to the front, stood on
her hind legs, poked her nose out of the bars, and begged for attention. Mrs.
Johnson bent over to see her. It was love at first sight. The Johnsons asked to
open the cage so they could see her.

Karen Carew Oakes, has been writing for many years and her articles
have been included in the Lutheran Advent, as well as an article in
several magazines. She is a mother and grandmother. She lives in
Helotes, Texas with her two schnauzers Ella and Mackenzie. Her stories
are based on true experiences her children encountered growing up.Visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/karencarewoakes.

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What’s New On My Bookshelf #309 and The Sunday Post

Posted: April 21, 2019 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, my weekly news, The Sunday Post

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

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Some chit chat.

No talking about work this time! LOL It’s all about spring and green and blooming!

My Sega is going crazy. In the picture below, the soft, green leaves sticking up out of the middle are around 8 inches tall. Two days ago they weren’t there!

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And the flower that won’t be named is back. I didn’t even see these when they started poking out of the ground!

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Aren’t they awesome. They make me think of pink pineapples. LOL I have next weekend off and plan to clean out the beds so they can thrive. And I’ll be sharing pictures of Flora and the banana trees then.

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