Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

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

Today I’m sharing Empty Eyes, another scary good book in the Spine Chillers Series by Nancy Gray.

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Empty Eyes (Spine Chillers)
by Nancy Gray
Genre: Horror
Age category: Middle Grade
Release Date: October 26, 2018

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My Review

Duane dealt with the beast of black pond. Now Ian has to deal with the creepy kids in the abandoned house in the woods. The Specter Investigator Club is going to be very busy.

It’s Halloween and Ian and Duane plan to make the most if it. Haul in a bunch of yummy candy and enjoy the school festival. Ian had promised his mom he’d not get into trouble, but trouble finds him when a pack of school bullies find him. Forced to run for it, he ducks into a ramshackle abandoned house. It’s supposed to be haunted and he figures they won’t follow him in. When someone does, he’s forced upstairs and encounters two strange kids. They say they want to be friends, but he didn’t need friends like them.

Ooh, this had some creepy atmosphere. The kids from the mirror haunt Ian. They do more harm than good. I easily pictured how creepy they looked and felt their menace.  I thought Ian handled things like any young boy would. He first doesn’t believe what they are. Then he has to figure out how to handle them with only the help of his friend, Duane. He knows anyone else he tells wouldn’t believe him. This rang true for me. I remember not telling adults about things in the dark that scared me. Sure, it was my imagination doing the scaring, but I also knew they wouldn’t take me seriously.

Things get pretty hairy between Ian and the ghostly boys. They are visiting him at night. Appear in his mirror. Then they pull him in to haunt others. He does and says things they make him do. Poor Ian. Some of things they made him do turned his friends against him. I raced to the end of the book to see how he resolved those issues and how he escaped the clutches of the strange boys.

This was creepy fun. I searched library shelves for stories like this when I was younger and still do. Never too old for some spooky adventures and the Spine Chillers Series provides plenty of that. I’ve read several of the books and plan to read any new ones that come out. No bad language or gory stuff so I’d recommend Empty Eyes to middle grade readers who like things that go bump in the night.

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Synopsis

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“You will face a difficult task in the future. The card is reminding you that every person has a part of themselves they like to hide. Even when times are hard, you must not lose yourself.”

Ian frowned as Mrs. Marcas read his fortune. The school Halloween carnival was supposed to be the highlight of Halloween, but something about the card he picked seemed ominous. As he headed for the storyteller, things quickly took a turn for the worst when the school bullies chased him into an abandoned house. Inside, the children with EMPTY EYES decided to make Ian their friend. A black living mass twisted and coiled in his chest and closed in on his heart. Time was ticking away with every infected beat, and if Ian didn’t act quickly he really would lose himself forever.

You can find the Empty Eyes on Goodreads

You can buy Empty Eyes on Amazon

About the Author:

Nancy Gray
Nancy Gray has published a number of works including her young adult fantasy series Blood Rain. Her short story “Chosen” appeared in Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Author Quest: a Penguin Special from Grosset & Dunlap. Her work also appears in various anthologies.
Nancy Gray has been writing for over ten years. Gray lives in South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys books, video games, anime, manga, and horror.

Other Works by Nancy Gray:
Blood Rain
Blood Moon
Blood God
Spine Chillers: The Scarecrow
Spine Chillers: Big Bad Wolf
Spine Chillers: The Beast of Black Pond
Spine Chillers: Empty Eyes
Spine Chillers: The Firefly

You can find and contact Nancy Gray here:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Goodreads


banner Lola's Blog Tours

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Click on the covers for my reviews of other books in the Spine Chillers series.

The Beast of Black Pond  Spine Chillers Big Bad Wolf

And my reviews are coming soon for the newest releases.

43206989  43235934

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I have so many reviews to share from some really great books. This year my first review was for Hell Divers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith and my last review for 2018 will be the latest in his series, Wolves.

Hell Divers (The Hell Divers Series Book 1) by [Smith, Nicholas Sansbury]  Hell Divers IV: Wolves (The Hell Divers Series Book 4) by [Smith, Nicholas Sansbury]

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I’m trying to decide which book to share as my first review in 2019. I’ve narrowed it down to five and would love for you to help me choose which one to do.

Here they are.

The Sorrows

by Jonathan Janz

39655749

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Synopsis

Ben Shadeland and Eddie Blaze are the hottest young music composers in Hollywood. Fresh off an Oscar nomination, they’ve just been chosen to score a big-budget horror movie by Lee Stanley, the most demanding director in film. But Ben, the creative half of the duo, hasn’t written a note since his wife divorced him and got custody of their three-year-old son.

Chris Blackwood is the gambling-addicted heir to the Blackwood fortune, which includes the Sorrows, an island off the coast of northern California. The island and its castle have been uninhabited since a series of gruesome, unexplained murders in 1925, but Chris needs money, and to get it he allows Ben, Eddie, Claire Harden (an aspiring composer), and Eva Rosales (Lee Stanley’s gorgeous assistant) to stay a month in Castle Blackwood.

Eddie is certain an eerie, isolated setting is just what Ben needs to find musical inspiration for a horror film. But what they find is more horrific than any movie.

Amazon

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Bane County

Forgotten Moon #1

by J.R. Rice

30521395

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Synopsis

The large river-island of Bane County has a troubled past; but some histories are eagerly forgotten, especially those written in blood.

Nestled into the foothills of the National Wildlife Refuge, the small rural town of Silver Canyon seems idyllic to most; but a long-slumbering evil is about to reawaken.

Seventeen-year-old Bryce McNeel is your average teenage boy, living on a cattle ranch with his grandparents. Well, average genius, but he prefers to keep that fact to himself, no one likes a know-it-all.

When Bryce learns of a series of grisly deaths and mutilations that occurred decades earlier, his curiosity gets the better of him. Together with his cousin Jackson, Bryce sets out to learn more about the macabre event; but as they delve deeper into the history and legends of Bane County, the two boys are horrified by what they find.

Unfortunately, history has a way of repeating itself.

As friends and neighbors begin to go missing, or worse, they find themselves embroiled in a battle for their young lives.

Amazon

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How To Save An Undead Life

by Hailey Edwards

36072667

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Synopsis

Grier Woolworth spends her nights weaving spooky tales of lost souls and tragedies for tourists on the streets of downtown Savannah. Hoop skirt and parasol aside, it’s not a bad gig. The pay is crap, but the tips keep the lights on in her personal haunted mansion and her pantry stocked with ramen.

Life is about as normal as it gets for an ex-necromancer hiding among humans. Until the society that excommunicated Grier offers her a second chance at being more than ordinary. Too bad no one warned her the trouble with being extraordinary is it can get you killed.

Warning: This book contains one ex-con/ex-heiress with a pet zombie parakeet who lives next door to her ex-army/ex-crush. Brace yourself, we’re talking more exes than a pirate treasure map here.

Amazon

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Devouring Dark

by Alan Baxter

41128507

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Synopsis

DEVOURING DARK is an urban horror novel about a man plagued since childhood by a malevolent darkness that threatens to consume him. After a lifetime spent wrestling for control over this onslaught, Matt McLeod has learned to wield his mysterious paranormal skill to achieve an odious goal: retribution as a supernatural vigilante.

When one such hit goes bad, McLeod finds himself ensnared in a multi-tentacled criminal enterprise caught between a corrupt cop and a brutal mobster. His only promise of salvation may be a bewitching woman who shares his dark talent but has murderous designs of her own.

The gritty thriller DEVOURING DARK is based on Baxter’s award-winning short story “Shadows of the Lonely Dead” and will be available worldwide on November 6, 2018.

Amazon

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The Current

by Tim Johnston

36387759

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Synopsis

A Stunning New Novel from the Bestselling Author of Descent

Tim Johnston, whose 2015 national bestseller Descent was called “astonishing” by the Washington Post and “unforgettable” by the Miami Herald, returns with another tour de force about the indelible impact of acrime on the lives of innocent people.

When two young women leave their college campus in the dead of winter for a 700-mile drive north to Minnesota, they suddenly find themselves fighting for their lives in the icy waters of the Black Root River, just miles from home. One girl’s survival, and the other’s death—murder, actually—stun the citizens of a small Minnesota town, thawing memories of another young woman who lost her life in the same river ten years earlier, and whose killer may yet live among them. One father is forced to relive his agony while another’s greatest desire—to bring a killer to justice—is revitalized . . . and the girl who survived the icy plunge cannot escape the sense that she is connected to that earlier unsolved case by more than a river. Soon enough she’s caught up in an investigation of her own that will unearth long-hidden secrets, and stoke the violence that has long simmered just below the surface of the town. Souls frozen in time, ghosts and demons, the accused and the guilty, all stir to life in this cold northern place where memories, like treachery, run just beneath the ice, and where a young woman can come home but still not be safe.

Brilliantly plotted, unrelentingly suspenseful, and beautifully realized, The Current is a gripping page-turner about how the past holds the key to the future as well as an unbreakable grip on the present.

Amazon

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All of these were great reads.

So, what do you think?

Which one do you think I should share for the start of a new year?

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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.

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.

Christmas is upon us and all is ready at my house. I’m off of work for the holidays and plan to spend it doing those things I love. Spending time with family, eating yummy food, reading a bunch of books and watching the telly.

I’ve become hooked on the show, Lucifer. Cracks me up. Such a smexy devil is he. And I watched Bird Box. Holy cow! Have you seen it yet. Such a fabulous cast. My son and I watched it in the dark with the surround sound cranked up. By the end of the movie we were standing up. So intense we couldn’t watch it sitting down. Congrats to Josh Malerman and Netflix!

So, I’m keeping it short. I hope you all have a lovely holiday and Santa brings you some goodies.

Merry Christmas!

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My new books this week.

Traveler in the Dark (Ex Situ Book 1) by [Gould, Deirdre]  BLOOD RIVER (A Trask Brothers Murder Mystery) by [Nelson, C.E.]

Bane County: Forgotten Moon (Book 1) by [RICE, J R]

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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 Needle House: A gripping DS Lasser crime thriller. (The DS Lasser Series Book 1) by [Roughley, Robin]  Blind River: A Thriller by [Follows, Ben]

Bad to the Bone (DI Bliss Book 1) by [Forder, Tony J.]  Cursed City (Shadow Detective Book 1) by [Massa, William]

The Witch of the North Pole (Cinnamon Mercy Claus Book 1) by [Eden, Snow]  Created for Christmas (A Sweet Little Holiday Romance Book 1) by [Schultz, Joynell]

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Other posts on my blog this week.

Blitz and Giveaway ~ Library Of Absolution

Blitz and Giveaway ~ Five Alarm Forever

Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Prodigy by Kristy Centeno

Once Upon The Longest Night ~ Blitz and Giveaway

Las Vegas Crime ~ Tour and Giveaway

Three friends and second chances …. The Magical Christmas Do Over

Murder, Curlers & Cream, Canes and Cruises ~ Tour and Giveaway

Saturday Screams #59 ~ Erebus

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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’m sharing Erebus by Steven C. Bird.

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Erebus

by Steven C. Bird

36142431

Genre: Apocalyptic / Thriller

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My Review

Antarctica. A desolate, frigid place at the bottom of the world. The scientists and students do their research and take their samples, unaware that something that appears so innocent will soon threaten all of humanity.

It’s almost the end of the season. Winter is coming and only the most dedicated stay at the station. The others head for warmer places. The rush is on to get their research and samples on the planes before they hightail it out of there. An accident happens. Something is unleashed, and people are turned into raging lunatics.  I know this sounds like a zombie story. It’s not. Bear with me here.

Once the contagion begins a small group of people try to hide while coming up with a way out. They have no idea how many have been turned. There’s no help coming. And this is one of my favorite parts of the plot. The group dynamics. Who steps up? How many sacrifice themselves? Who is the dissenter, the one who always takes the negative view and causes conflict? And who surprises me and steps up to wear the hero’s shoes?

The fight for survival is nail biting. They have to find ways stay alive in freezing temps. And now the infected are changing. They’re not like zombies. Instead of rotting away, they’re getting stronger. From mindless rabid beings, they’re now starting to act as a team. To strategize. Could the organism actually be sentient? It takes over the host and now it appears able to control them too.  The more they discovered about the infection, the more horrifying it gets. What if the organism can cross the species barrier. Could it infect animals? The cold and lack of life in Antarctica kept it contained under the frozen tundra. Once it reaches warmer climates, what’s to stop it.

You have to expect some deaths will happen to the group. At first I wasn’t too worried about it. I hadn’t really developed a strong bond with any of them. It was after the action really got going that I found a favorite. Vasily Fedorov, Russian ex-military but now a blue collar guy. He can make weapons out of anything. He’s super resourceful, haunted by horrors from his past and also a really good guy. I sure want him to survive! I love his quote – “No room for feelings in struggle to survive. Survival important, not pride.”

As the group is pursued from one station to the next., their food supply runs low and their options dwindle. It’s anyone’s guess who will survive, if any. And if they do, will there be a world to get back to? I couldn’t see how this would end. It seemed so bleak and hopeless. This excerpt explains how bad it is.

“And here we are, in our very own horror movie. Only, in the movies, I can usually guess where the ending is going. Here, though, I have no clue. I just can’t see it. It’s not like there is safety on the outskirts of town. There is nothing on the outskirts of town here but a cold, frozen death. And beyond that – more cold.”  Sums it up.

I grabbed this as a free download on Amazon. I’d seen it on another blog and the cover caught my eye. I crossed my fingers and started reading it. I read it straight through and I’m so happy I can give it a high recommendation. I’ll be checking out what else the author has to offer now.

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Synopsis

After lying in wait for millions of years, deep within the Earth beneath Mount Erebus on the frozen continent of Antarctica, an unforeseen threat emerges, leaving a scientific research team to face the horrors that await them at the bottom of the world, alone.

Steven Bird is also the author of The New Homefront Series, as well as the Society Lost Series. His work can also be found in several Kindle Worlds novellas, including The Edge of Civility and JET: Dangerous Prey.

Amazon / B&N

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The above cover is the one that is shown first on Goodreads.

Here is the cover I own.

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Which do you like more?

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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.

It was another crazy week with the weather. Luckily I had a bunch of great reads to burn up the hours. And I finally watched Meg. It was fun. Better than I expected from some of the reviews I’d read. Well worth the many years I waited for it.

I’ve also been busy blogging ahead. I have 10 days off for Christmas and have a collection of movies and a large stack of books to enjoy. It’s my present to myself!

And I’m writing a lot of reviews to share at the beginning of the year. I’m struggling to decide which will be my first review for 2019. I have so many great ones to choose from. I think I have it narrowed down to five contenders. I’m going to do a post so you can help me choose which one. It will be going up next week.

Have a fabulous  Sunday and brand new week!

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My new books this week.

Let There Be Love (The Sled Dog Series Book 1) by [Storm, Melissa]  Kingdom of the Blind: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by [Penny, Louise]  How to Save an Undead Life (The Beginner's Guide to Necromancy Book 1) by [Edwards, Hailey]

43206989  A World of Horror by [Warren, Kaaron]  That Which Grows Wild by [Guignard, Eric J.]

   

Double Jack: Book 1 in the series, The Crime Files of Katy Green by [O'Neill, Gene]  Shadow of the Dark Angel: Book 2 in the series, The Crime Files of Katy Green by [O'Neill, Gene]

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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.

You Owe Me by [Costello, Kerry]  Watching (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1) by [Pierce, Blake]

A Ghost for Christmas (Mele Keahi's Mysteries Book 1) by [Winters, J. D.]  Cat Killed A Rat (A Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery Book 1) by [Welling, ReGina, Lynn, Erin]

The Ranch: Jack Sterlings Legacy by [Liscom, Sean]  After The Ending (The Ending Series, #1) by [Pogue, Lindsey, Fairleigh, Lindsey]

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Click on the covers to read this week’s reviews.

 

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Other posts on my blog this week.

A Me And You Thing by Taylor Dean ~ New Release Giveaway

Two Thousand Years ~ Blitz and Giveaway

Haunted and Hunted … Deadfall ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Darkest Before The Dawn by Mike Martin ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Kill Code by Luna Kayne

Scream Muddy Murder ~ Review and Giveaway

The Friday 56 #194 ~ Glitter Bomb

It swept me up and away … Stuck ~ Review and Giveaway

False Hope by Meli Raine ~ Blitz and Giveaway

Cat Cafe by Mollie Hunt ~ Cozy 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.


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Stuck
(Stitch Trilogy #3)
By Samantha Durante
YA Dystopian, SciFi
Paperback & ebook, 306 Pages
December 15, 2018

3, 2, 1… BOOM.

Things are finally looking up for the Resistance. Sure, Alessa is still processing the revelation that the best friend she’d presumed dead is miraculously alive, though far from well… And her boyfriend is being manipulated under threat of blackmail. But her quest for justice against those behind the systematic extermination of the world population is so close to victory she can taste it.

And then in a matter of seconds, everything Alessa believes in is shaken to the core. Months of preparation are obliterated. The people she cares for most are lost.

But Alessa is still standing. And Paragon must pay.

The odds are grim, but unexpected allies surface in the most unlikely of places: A new pair of citizens still under the colony’s rule who notice something amiss in the latest drama. An old adversary who realizes the error of her ways. And a veritable army of inhuman power and terrible strength, with an insatiable thirst for vengeance. The trustworthiness of each of these factions is yet to be proven, but without many other options, Alessa may have to take what she can get. Especially since the Engineers, never to be outdone, also have a few more tricks up their sleeves…

The long-awaited final installment in the riveting Stitch Trilogy, Stuck will have readers gripping their seats as Alessa and a handful of intrepid survivors usher their harrowing journey to a close, risking everything as they endeavor – once and for all – to set things right.

GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleSmashwordsKobo

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My Review

I think the first sentence in the synopsis, 3, 2, 1 … Boom, describes this final book in the trilogy perfectly. There’s plenty of action, intrigue and betrayal. But there’s also bravery, romance and hope.

The pressure is on and Alessa pins her hopes on some new allies, an old friend, and a couple of strangers to bolster and make the final throes of the resistance successful. Humanity depends on it.

I have been waiting quite some time for Stuck. Even though I remember how much I loved the first books, I couldn’t recall some details so I pulled them off the shelf, gave them a second read, and fell in love with the series all over again. It’s the end of a spellbinding series and bittersweet. I didn’t want it to end but I couldn’t wait to see how it would. I wasn’t disappointed at any time and couldn’t stop reading once I started. I had to keep reminding myself to breathe, just breathe, as the suspense swept me up.

The action and suspense were palpable.  So many character’s stepped up to the plate. I felt the hope in my own veins. And I thrilled at the many surprises and answers that were revealed.

A perfect finale to a series that fueled my imagination and captured my heart.

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Other Books in the Series

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I love this series and wanted to show you why. I hope you don’t mind if I share my reviews of the previous books too!

My Review of Stitch

Stitch is Samantha Durante’s debut novel. I loved this story and can’t wait to see how she is going to top it.

You get a blend of many genres. First I was thinking paranormal, then dystopian, and finally, science fiction.

Another night. Another nightmare.

When Alessa started college, she thought it would help her to adjust, to move on after the death of her parents.

Now she’s having horrible nightmares and seeing the ghostly image of a man.

She picked the sorority because of the house. Something about it spoke to her, drew her to it.

Now her every thought is consumed with finding out who the ghost is that haunts the house and her mind.

In an attempt at normalcy, she goes to a dance with Nikhil. He’s the first guy she’s had any interest in.

“Alessa parted her lips and looked up at Nikhil, preparing to surrender to her body’s impulses.

But instead of the dark brown eyes she expected, she saw only blue. Unfathomable, sparkling blue…

Once again, a single word rose in the back of her throat – Isaac – and she knew the night was over.”

Isaac’s continued appearances and the fact that only she can see him becomes a quest to discover who he was and why he’s so sad.

What she finds is shocking. Was moving into the house her choice, what secrets are her friend Janie hiding, and does Alessa have a connection to Isaac, the ghost of her dreams and the house?

You’ll have an exciting time finding out just who or what Isaac is and what all of this has to do with Alessa.

This mixing of genres is brilliant and captivating.

While the beginning may be calm, slowly building this new world, the author fluidly takes you back and forth through time, filling in the answers to the mystery of Alessa and Isaac.

About halfway through, I started to see where this was going but with many twists and turns and what the’s, I was continually surprised.

One thing that I found very unique was how the author dealt with the communication between Alessa and Isaac. It was not what I was expecting and really had me going.  You’ll see.

The anticipation was nail-biting and the ending was out of this world. There was no cliff hanger and I finally had all of the answers.

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My Review of Shudder

Alessa and Isaac set off to find a secure base for all of those wanting out of Paragon.

They worry that the virus may still be out there, but soon discover they are being stalked by creatures, swift moving things that remain in the shadows of the forest, shrieking their rage.

As they escape an attack, something happens to Alessa. She is frozen in place as her mind is overpowered with fear, frustration and fury. She doesn’t know how it’s happening, but she’s experiencing these creatures feelings and it terrifies her.

They have to hurry. People are waiting for them to return with a location for their safe haven and Alessa has to get her sister, Janie, out of the clutches of the Ruling Class.

I finished reading Shudder in one sitting, never taking a break.

I could feel it in the authors writing, I was nearing the end of the book. No, not yet!

I needed to know why Joe featured so strongly in Alessa’s mind, what happened to her sister, and where the virus came from.

Samantha started to wrap up the ending while subtly layering in leads to the finale, Stuck. the last book in this trilogy. I liked that. Sure, I didn’t get all of the answers I wanted, but I did get a lot of insight into what the ‘stitch’ was and why and how it was used.

I also learned about the Ruling Class and their reasoning behind the stitch, even though I suspect some, if not most, of them were lying.

It’s no surprise that humanity didn’t learn its lesson. You’d think after all that has been written and studied, all of the wealth of info there is, they would know better. But no, the Ruling Class do the same things as before, believing they know what’s good for all. They buy into their own lies and block out the moral compass screaming stop, and do whatever is necessary to benefit the greater good. And we wonder why we don’t trust our government. Too many chiefs.

I felt twinges of The Matrix and Aeon Flux while reading this. Shudder reads like a dystopian, post-apocalyptic science fiction story. The author did an amazing job of blending these genre into an exciting, addictive series.

It makes me wonder. If Stitch and Shudder are so great, what is Stuck going to be like? I’m sure it’ll be thrilling.

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About the Author

Samantha lives in Westchester County, New York with four of the five loves of her life – her husband, son, younger daughter, and cat – and carries her fifth love, her stillborn daughter, in her heart. An avid reader herself, Samantha’s dream is to bring the same delight to readers that other authors have brought to her life. In addition to penning novels and writing candidly about grief, she is also a sometimes freelance writer/consultant – though more often than not these days she’s on full-time mom duty! A former software engineer, Samantha said goodbye to the corporate world in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and lifelong love of writing. Learn more at www.samanthadurante.com.

WebsiteGoodreadsFacebookTwitterInstagram

Tour Schedule

December 10th:
Launch
Andi’s Young Adult Books
Mythical Books
December 11th:
Candrel’s Crafts, Cooks, and Characters
Paulette’s Papers
December 12th:
JeanzBookReadNReview
Lisa Loves Literature
December 13th:
Coffee, Books and Cakes
Why Not? Because I Said So!
December 14th:
FUONLYKNEW
Bri’s Book Nook
December 17th:
Colorimetry
Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
December 18th:
Lovely Reads
Chapter Break
Words Are the Breath Of Life
December 19th:
Books & Such
Bri’s Book Nook
December 20th:
fundinmental
Coffee, Books and Cakes
December 21st:
Christy’s Cozy Corners
Oh Hey! Books.
December 22nd:
Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 First Place Winner will receive: Signed Print Copies of All 3 Books in the Trilogy, a Limited-Edition Stitch Scarf, Bookmarks, and a $15 Amazon Gift Card
3 Second Place Winners will receive: eBook Copies of All 3 Books in the Trilogy for You *and* a Friend, plus a $5 Amazon Gift Card
– Open internationally
– Ends December 27th

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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.

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Scream Muddy Murder

Big Lake Murder Mysteries

by Lesley A. Diehl


Scream Muddy Murder (Big Lake Murder Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Creekside Publishing (September 27, 2018)
Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN-10: 9780997234954
ISBN-13: 978-0997234954
Print Length: 272 pages
Digital ASIN: B07H2NZQ7C

My Review

Having read and enjoyed the first two books in this series, I was excited to see what these delightful character’s were up to next.

It’s been raining for days but that doesn’t stop the Seminole War reenactment from happening. And Emily and her daughter, Naomi, will play their part. At least the view is nice. Sexy Detective Stanton Lewis is right in front of them. Some lively banter and a lending hand leave Stanton and Emily face down in the muck. And they’re not alone. They’ve discovered the body of the local school principal, dead by a bullet wound. Someone better solve this quick before the town has a real war on their hands.

I could see it coming. Stanton puts his foot down, insisting the ladies stay out of police business. But the force of Emily, Naomi and Clara is one to be reckoned with. They team up to solve the murder, making a suspect list and checking it twice. I felt like I was part of the investigation as they debated who should be on the list and why. Definitely kept me invested in the outcome. I had to know if my choice was the right one.

My favorite part was the romance between Emily and Stanton. Or should I say almost romance. These two can deny and avoid all they want, I know they’ll do more than just hook up. Butting heads about the investigation just seem to heat things up between them. Me thinks they use it as a way to be together without admitting that’s what they really want. Too fun.

 I was hoping this would be as fun as the previous books, and Leslie didn’t let me down. Scream Muddy Murder was tons of laughs. And the mystery kept me clueless til right near the end.

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Synopsis

EMILY RHODES DOES IT AGAIN! This time she nosedives into a mud puddle at a Seminole War battle reenactment and finds she’s sharing the muck with a dead body. As usual the hunky detective she loves to aggravate, Stanton Lewis, cautions her against getting involved in the case, and as usual she ignores him. Emily’s sleuthing pays off, revealing disturbing information about the victim’s past. Is it the reason behind his murder? With the help of her family and friends, Emily sets out to uncover secrets kept too long and puts herself and the people she loves in the killer’s path. Too late she realizes Detective Lewis was right. Her snoopiness proves to be a deadly idea.

Author Lesley A. Diehl

Lesley retired from her life as a professor of psychology and reclaimed her country roots by moving to a small cottage in the Butternut River Valley in Upstate New York.  In the winter she migrates to old Florida—cowboys, scrub palmetto, and open fields of grazing cattle, a place where spurs still jingle in the post office, and gators make golf a contact sport.  Back north, the shy ghost inhabiting the cottage serves as her literary muse.  When not writing, she gardens, cooks and renovates the 1874 cottage with the help of her husband, two cats and, of course, Fred the ghost, who gives artistic direction to their work. She’s presently interviewing for a coyote to serve as her muse for her books and stories set in rural Florida.

She is the author of a number of mystery series and mysteries as well as short stories, most featuring her quirky sense of humor and a few characters drawn from her peculiar family.

Author Links: Twitter / Facebook / Webpage / Blog

Purchase Links – Amazon   B&N  

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I’ve read the first two books also and had a blast. Click on the covers to read my reviews.

33325056  33368727

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 7 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

December 9 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 10 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE POST

December 10 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 12 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 13 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW

December 14 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 15 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 16 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

December 17 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 18 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 19 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT  

December 19 – Books Direct – GUEST POST

December 20 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

December 20 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

 

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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.

 

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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.

I swear the weather pattern here is on repeat. It got super cold mid week and then Saturday it turned warm and rained like crazy. Then it’s supposed to turn cold again beginning of next week. It keeps doing this. I guess I shouldn’t complain. I get those warm breaks even if I can’t go outside and do much with all the rain.

My life is on repeat too. LOL Working a lot, reading some good books and watching some movies and shows. I plan to watch Meg tonight. Been waiting a long time to see it. The reviews are a mixed bag but I’m going into it with no expectations except a giant shark! LOL

Have a fabulous  Sunday and brand new week!

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My new books this week.

The Tollkeeper by [Vickers, Mark]  Camouflage by [Keating, Ivy, Spotson, Scott]

Glitter Bomb (A Scrapbooking Mystery Book 15) by [Childs, Laura, Moran, Terrie Farley]  Snowfall on Lighthouse Lane (Honeymoon Harbor) by [Ross, JoAnn]

The Other by [Peake, Marilyn]  The Event (The Survivors Book One) by [Hystad, Nathan]

How Dachshunds Came To Be: A Tall Tale About a Short Long Dog (Tall Tales Book 1) by [Jones, Kizzie Elizabeth]  A Tall Tale about a Dachshund and a Pelican: How a Friendship Came to Be (Tall Tales Book 2) by [Jones, Kizzie Elizabeth]

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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.

December Magic (A laugh-out-loud, rom-com novella) by [Mayhew, Tracey]  Christmas with the Sheriff (Shadow Creek, Montana Book 1) by [James, Victoria]

The Promise (The Promise Series Book 1) by [Benson, Kate]  Those That Remain (The Mechanic Trilogy Book 1) by [Ashman, Rob]

Emerge by [Sunseri, Heather]  Lost Angels: A Supernatural & Paranormal Romance Novel (The Lost Archangels Book 0) by [Creed, Tatenda]

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Click on the covers to read this week’s reviews.

 

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Other posts on my blog this week.

Tandem Demise by Duffy Brown

A Christmas Village Mystery ~ Slay Bells ~ Review and Giveaway

Clearcut by Jack Mahoney ~ Blitz and Giveaway

Resurrection: Sign Of Six ~ Blitz and Giveaway

Tour Grand Finale and Giveaway ~ Bound Beauty

Northern Deception ~ Tour Grand Finale 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.

It’s been too long since I’ve shared some horror and I have a good one for ya. I listened to The Beast Of Barcroft and it was a Cryptid treat.

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My Review

Right from the beginning I felt almost like I was watching a movie. Cue the music as an ominous scene unfolds and the mystery of the The Beast Of Barcroft began.  I was hooked.

Ben is a sympathetic character. He thinks he’s finally moving up in the world. That his hard work has paid off. That’s until he discovers that his posh new digs are planted right alongside a rundown house riddled with rats and stray cats. His life begins to fall apart. And it changes forever when he sees the creature that killed his beloved dog.

Yep, I thought I should warn you, a dog dies in this story. But the author doesn’t describe it’s death. Just what happens afterwards. When Ben faces the beast, it’s so otherworldly yet so beautiful.

The story moves swiftly then. The mystery deepens, some vital characters are introduced and the horror of the beast takes over.

Wowser. I thought I knew what the beast was. But I was way off. It was something new to me and that’s a huge bonus. I love cryptids and this one prowled right out of folklore in all its shiny newness. Some scenes were more subtle. And some were so intense I couldn’t see how anyone would survive. Some didn’t. Some did, and they want after the beast. The final confrontation seemed hopeless. I braced myself and took what the author dished out. But, wait. It wasn’t over. There was one more violent confrontation. Then it was over.

Now, about the final battle. I thought about it for awhile. Then I decided it worked. Might not be what I wanted, but it worked.

Did I enjoy The Beast Of Barcroft? Yes I did. The audible is over seven hours long and I listened to it straight through. Would I recommend it? In a heartbeat.

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 Narrated by Will Damron

This is the first time I listened to a narration by Will Damron and I’ll be watching for him now. He nailed the characters, male and female, his inflection was on point and his reading was smooth.

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Synopsis

Ben McKelvie believes he’s moving up in the world when he and his fiancée buy a house in the cushy Washington, D.C., suburb of Barcroft. Instead, he’s moving down—way down—thanks to Madeleine Roux, the crazy neighbor whose vermin-infested property is a permanent eyesore and looming hazard to public health.

First, Ben’s fiancée leaves him; then, his dog dies, apparently killed by a predator drawn into Barcroft by Madeleine’s noxious menagerie. But the worst is yet to come for Ben, for he’s not dealing with any ordinary wild animal. This killer is something much, much worse. Something that couldn’t possibly exist—in this world.

Now, as a devilish creature stalks the locals, Ben resolves to take action. With some grudging assistance from a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the crackpot theories of a self-styled cryptozoologist, he discovers the sinister truth behind the attacks, but knowing the Beast of Barcroft and stopping it are two different animals.

Amazon / B&N / Tantor

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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.

 

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Slay Bells

A Christmas Village Mystery

by T.C. Wescott


Slay Bells (A Christmas Village Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
Brand New Series
Better Mousetrap Books (November 23, 2018)
Print Length: 273 pages
Digital ASIN: B07HGG7ZFR

 My Review
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There are several ingredients I like in cozy mysteries.

The first is a small town setting. Christmas Village reminded me of Whoville come to life. It’s time for the annual Christmas Festival and the whole town jumps in to make it another magical experience. But the town has their own Grinch in the guise of a killer.

The second is a diverse cast of characters. You sure get those in Slay Bells. Welcome to Plum Cottage. The picturesque Inn is filled to capacity with a very unusual cast of character’s. Magicians, acrobats, psychics. It’s a cornucopia of suspects with abilities that make for a long list. Add to the mix, Mrs. Maribel Claus, a lodger with a huge dose of curiosity and a nose for crime and the plot thickens.

The third is the mystery. It needs to be investigated with vigor. And plenty of humor. As soon as the crimes began, I was hooked. So many colorful suspects and a fearful local legend and trail of false leads that left me tangled up in tinsel. I don’t think I’ve ever read a cozy mystery quite like this. I felt challenged directly by the author to untangle the clues, figure out why the crimes happened, and identify the killer. I jumped eagerly into the challenge, determined to be right in my conclusion.

Tis the season and Slay Bells was quite the holiday read. So much fun. Such an enchanting village. And whew, what a mystery to unravel. If you decide to accept the challenge and try to solve this one, you’ll be lead by the nose to a surprise ending. Enjoy the visit. And be sure to imbibe in the ht cider and tarts.

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Synopsis

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the village, the night settled in over swirling-smoke chimneys; the air was alive with pine and holly, with sugar and cinnamon and cider, by golly!

Along snowy lanes and through shadows it crept, past windows behind which each villager slept, where sleeping dogs lie and cats rest a’purring—

Tonight, in Christmas Village, a killer is stirring.

Welcome to Christmas Village, a magical hamlet where even in December the roses hold their luster and bees buzz among the bluebells. You’re just in time for the week-long Christmas Festival, and nowhere is Christmas celebrated with such unrestrained merriment as the village which bears its name. Mayor Cobblestone and Sheriff Fell will be somewhere nearby, doing all they can to make sure you’re safe during your stay.

Provided you haven’t booked a room at Plum Cottage.

Nestled betwixt an opulent garden with meandering footpaths and an ancient grove of plum trees, Rose Willoughby’s boarding house is plum-full with lodgers. There are no vacancies, but just wait. Soon there will be one…and another…and another.

Presently lodging at the cottage are: the juggler, the acrobat, the magician, the psychic, the strongman, the manager, and the pretty assistant. In town as festival entertainment they’ve each brought their own bag of tricks. And a closetful of skeletons.

When the entertainers begin dying in inexplicable ways, some villagers believe a beast from old village lore is the culprit. The sheriff knows better, but he’s just as helpless to catch the invisible killer as are the town folk with their eyes to the sky in search of a flying creature. But our mysterious murderer hasn’t counted on yet another lodger coming to the cottage: Maribel Claus.

Short as a stump, round as a wheel, sweet as a candy cane, and a sharp as a whip, Maribel loves a good puzzle. But has she finally met her match at Plum Cottage?

Can you figure out whodunit before Maribel does? If you’re up to the challenge, here’s your first clue—the key to unlocking the secret of the murderer’s identity lies in figuring out how the murders were committed. Good luck!

About Author

T.C. Wescott was born in Missouri but has lived in Oklahoma most of his life. Like pretty much every author who has ever breathed, he is an avid reader. His favorites are classic mysteries from the Golden Age, as well as just before or just after that period (which is widely considered the period between the two World Wars). His first mystery novel, Running from Scissors, was published in July 2018 and will be the first of at least three books in the Running Store Mystery series.

The Christmas Village Mystery series will launch in November of the same year with the debut title Slay Bells. The formula for his books is simple – mixing the classic, traditional detective fiction standards with all the trappings of the modern cozy mystery.

Wescott is also (under another name) the author of two award-winning non-fiction books as well as a slew of essays and articles.

Follow on GoodReads

Purchase Link: Amazon

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 23 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

November 23 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

November 24 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 24 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

November 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 25 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 26 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 26 – My Devotional Thoughts – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 27 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 27 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 28 – Book Babble – REVIEW

November 28 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 29 – View from the Birdhouse – GUEST POST

November 29 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 1 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

December 3 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 3 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT  

December 4 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW*

December 4 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW

December 5 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 5 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

December 6 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

December 6 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW

 

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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.