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Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

Jurassic Florida by Hunter Shea ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: June 27, 2018 in giveaways, horror, reviews
Tags: giveaway, Horror, Hunter Shea, review

Jurassic Florida

One Size Eats All #1

by Hunter Shea

Genre: Horror

Florida. It’s Where You Go To Die.

Welcome to Polo Springs, a sleepy little town on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It’s
a great place to live—if you don’t mind the hurricanes. Or the
flooding. Or the unusual wildlife . . .

Iguanas. They’re Everywhere.

Maybe it’s the weather. But the whole town is overrun with the little
green bastards this year. They’re causing a lot of damage. They’re
eating everything in sight. And they’re just the babies . . .

Humans. They’re What’s For Dinner.

The mayor wants to address the iguana problem. But when Hurricane Ramona
slams the coast, the town has a bigger problem on their hands. Bigger
iguanas. Bigger than a double-wide. Unleashed by the storm, this
razor-toothed horde of prehistoric predators rises up from the
depths—and descends on the town like retirees at an early bird
special. Except humans are on the menu. And it’s all you can eat . . .

~~~~~

MY REVIEW

It’s only some little iguana’s. How bad can it be? Lots. These guys are emerging in record numbers and they aren’t afraid of us. What if there are larger ones? There are. Of course there are. It’s a Hunter Shea book, after all.

The poor little Florida town and it’s inhabitants are reduced to rubble and red smears on the ground once these monsters tear forth from underground. It’s all stompin, rompin, bloody good fun. Just look at the terrific cover and you get the idea.

We’re introduced to the characters. Come to connect with some of them. But, wait for it. Hunter is known for killing off his character’s and these iguana’s need to eat, a lot. So don’t get too attached.

The only niggle I had was the ending felt rushed. The carnage ended so quickly. Would have liked a bit more about it.

The first in a new creature series from Hunter and I can’t wait to see what he brings us next.

~~~~~

Raves for The Montauk Monster

“Old school horror.” —Jonathan Maberry

“A lot of splattery fun.”—Publishers Weekly

“Frightening, gripping.”—Night Owl Reviews

Add to Goodreads

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo

Hunter Shea is the product of a misspent childhood watching scary
movies, reading forbidden books and wishing Bigfoot would walk past
his house. He’s the author of over 17 books, including The
Jersey Devil (Pinnacle 2016)), Tortures of the
Damned (Pinnacle 2015), and We Are Always
Watching (Sinister Grin). Hunter’s novels can even be found on
display at the International Cryptozoology Museum. The Montauk
Monster (Pinnacle 2014) was named one of the best reads of the
summer by Publishers Weekly. He was selected to be part of the
launch of Samhain Publishing’s new horror line in 2011 alongside
legendary author Ramsey Campbell. His video podcast, Monster
Men, is one of the most watched horror podcasts in the world. 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.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts 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.

What’s New On My Bookshelf #266 and The Sunday Post

Posted: June 24, 2018 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.

Well, my staycation is over and I sure enjoyed it. Spent lots of time outdoors, reading and swimming. The weather cooperated and there was plenty of sunshine. I used to wonder what I would do with my time when I retired. Now I know! I could definitely get used to it.

Since I hid out at home most of the week, I don’t have much new to share so I’ll get right to my book news.

Have a fabulous Sunday!

*****

My new books this week.

*****

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.

*****

My reviews this week. Click on the covers to view them.

*****

Monsterland Reanimated by Michael Okon ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: June 22, 2018 in giveaways, horror, reviews
Tags: giveaway, Horror, Michael OKON, Monsterland Reanimated, review

Monsterland Reanimated

by Michael Okon

Publisher: WordFire Press
Pages: 250
Genre: YA Fiction/Monsters/Thriller

~~~~~

My Review

If you thought a theme park full of deadly monsters was bad, the aftermath when it all goes horribly wrong is even worse.

Michael Okon cranks up the craziness in his second book in the Monsterland series. The characters have to step up when the world falls into chaos and they battle new and deadlier monsters while also contending with the insane plotting of some dastardly villains.

I had such a blast reading this. It was fun to be back with the gang. I was really worried about one character in particular. He made quite the impression when he showed up again and quickly became a star in this follow up. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do next.

Yes, there will be another book in this thrilling series and I’ll be first in line. I am huge on horror and thrillers and anything monsters and this has it all. Also liked the apocalyptic tones. Once the action begins it doesn’t slow down. And there are some wild scenes that I think I’m glad I couldn’t see. LOL

Madcap fun through and through.

~~~~~

Synopsis

After Monsterland has imploded, the entire world is thrown into chaos. World leadership is gone, economies have collapsed, and communications are non-existent. Wyatt must go beyond the boundaries of his small town to reestablish contact with the outside world, and alert the government about a traitor-in-chief.

During his journey he discovers a new threat released from the bowels of the defunct theme park.

When an army of relentless mummies, a life-sucking ooze called The Glob, and a hybrid reanimated Behemoth rise from the depths of Monsterland, who will survive?

Purchase Links

Amazon / iBooks / Kobo / B&N / Smashwords

~~~~~

Enjoy the excerpt:

A bright moon painted the desert’s surface pewter. Here and there, dark spots soiled the landscape like oil spills. Most of the bodies had been taken before the troops were ordered to leave. They carted away the corpses, bulldozing the zombies into mass graves, until radios chirped with urgent orders deploying the soldiers to the bigger threats that erupted in the main cities like a chain of angry volcanos.

Monsterland was extinguished, its carcass left for the vultures to pick, the exhibits silent as a tomb.

The dead president and his equally dead entourage were whisked away on Air Force One, along with the dark-clad special operatives that came and left like the brisk desert wind that now howled through the empty streets.

A gate screamed in the silence, slamming with a reverberating smash. The uneven gait of someone with a physical challenge filled the void. The scrape and plod of his limp echoed against the wall of mountains framing the theme park. His labored breathing huffed as he made his way down the streets.

A door creaked loudly as it was blown by the wind. He stopped, his distorted figure silhouetted in the pale moonlight, his body turning silver. He looked at the broken glass littering the pavement like diamonds, then up to the still, pre-dawn sky. He considered the sun peeking over the jagged horizon in the east, its golden light painting the dips and hollows of the hills. Soon the coming day would chase the darkness away.

Time was the enemy now. He had to move faster, or it would be too late. He picked up his pace, lurching along the winding road. A keening howl ricocheted through the streets, bouncing off the walls. It sounded like a … no, he thought, it couldn’t be. The werewolves were all dead. Destroyed by Vincent Konrad when he made their heads explode.

The old man paused, listening for it again, and was not disappointed when the animal whimpered. He gauged it to be inside the defunct vampire exhibit. He moved toward the entrance. The storefronts had been destroyed. A few body parts lay on the pavement, as if people had discarded them in a rush. He heard the scraping of paws on the street and a shiver went down his crooked spine.

He knew the werewolves were dead; he had seen it with his own eyes. A figure detached from the shadows. Igor flattened himself against the wall. He watched it move stealthily down the street, stopping when it scavenged a morsel of rotting flesh. It looked up to stare at Igor, its eyes glowing in the darkness.

A coyote? He waved a hand, dismissing it. It had to be a coyote; it was too small to be a wolf, too big to be a dog. The beast twitched its ears, then resumed its meal.

Igor knew the coyote was not a threat, and he continued his mission. His lame foot hit a can, sending a cacophony of sound like an explosion in the deserted park. The beast dropped the bone it was gnawing on, sniffing the area. Its iridescent eyes searched the streets.

It could be a baby wolf, Igor thought, keeping himself as still as possible. He felt it watching him, even from this distance. It was not a threat, yet.

Igor skittered away, hugging the walls of Monsterland, putting as much distance as he could between them. Not an easy feat, considering his distorted hips. He muttered to himself about carrion and the wind. His eyes darted nervously, scouring the hills, not exactly sure what he was looking for. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. His heart pounded so loudly he was certain that the creature watching him could hear it too.

His feet stumbling to a halt, he bent over, gasping for air, cursing Vincent and those meddlesome teenagers, as well as the rest of the world.

The beast gave another mournful howl that went right through him. Igor glanced at his empty hands, berating himself for not bringing a weapon. He searched his surroundings for anything to protect himself.

Then he saw it, one of the axes they had on almost every corner. All of them had been pulled from their protective cases. One was lying in a pool of coagulating blood, the blade long gone. He picked up the broken axe handle, turning in a semicircle. He was ready for an attacker.

A new, larger outline made his heart quiver with fear. It crouched in a corner, its snout covered with blood. This one was bigger, not a coyote, a wild wolf. Wait, he thought. Weren’t the gray wolves of California all but extinct?

Igor narrowed his eyes. The beast was a light reddish brown and not the silver gray of a wolf’s pelt. A chain hung from its neck, the pendant of a werewolf’s head dangling, emerald eyes flashing. What was it? Was it a mutant coyote? A wolf? Some weird hybrid, he wondered for a minute, his breath harsh in his ears. They watched each other soundlessly.

A hybrid then. He’d heard about them, a rare mixture of wolf and coyote. What did they call them? Coywolves …? or was it Woyotes? He shrugged indifferently. Perhaps someone’s pet, he decided. Igor’s mirthless laugh came out like a snort.

The coywolf stood still, its ears alert, its head cocked as if it was observing him.

Igor dropped the makeshift weapon, calling out, “Eat the rest of your meal, you dumb beast.”

The animal continued to watch him, its two front paws on the remains of a zombie’s chest.

Igor wiped his forehead, waiting, his eyes coming back to search the village, confirming it was empty, except for the carrion eaters like the coyotes and vultures. He looked up, noting the circling predators waiting for him to move on.

“Interrupted your meal,” he chuckled. Just the local scavengers looking for food. That was all; the shadows revealed nothing else. Satisfied he was alone, he moved on. He had work to do.

~~~~~

Author Michael Okon

michael okon headshot

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

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

Find Michael:

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

Michael Okon is giving away 10 Prize Packs which includes a Monsterland T-shirt, Ice Pack. Emory Board and signed Poster.

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
Ten winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter
This giveaway ends midnight July 27.
Winner will be contacted via email on July 28.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

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.

Summer Snoops And Cozy Crimes ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: June 20, 2018 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
Tags: cozy mystery, giveaway, review

Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: Cozy Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer

By Judith Lucci, Cindy Bell, Colleen Mooney, Amy Vansant, Colleen Helme, Kim Hunt Harris, Anna Celeste Burke, Ava Mallory, Sandi Scott, Susan Boles, Sam Cheever & Anne R. Tan

Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: Cozy Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: July 24th, 2018
Publisher: Bluestone Valley Publishing

WSJ Bestselling Author Judith Lucci – Gawd Almighty & the Corn

WSJ Bestselling Author Cindy Bell – Murder at Pawprint Creek

WSJ Bestselling Author Colleen Mooney -Dog Gone and Dead

USA Today and WSJ Bestselling Author Amy Vansant – Summer Teeth

WSJ Bestselling Author Colleen Helme – A Midsummer Night’s Murder

WSJ Bestselling Author Kim Hunt Harris – The Murder of Bandera Bandito

USA Today Bestselling Author Anna Celeste Burke – A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff

Ava Mallory – A Dream Stray-Cation

Sandi Scott – Croquembouche Murder

Susan Boles – Death on the Beach

USA Today Bestselling Author Sam Cheever – Toxic Tech

Anne R. Tan – Just Lost and Found

Bonus recipes from the authors are included!

Purchase and GoodReads Links –

Apple / Kobo / Nook /

Website / Facebook Page

~~~~~

REVIEW

Since I didn’t have time to read the entire set for the tour, I’m sharing my review of one of the fun mysteries in this boxed set. I’ll be sure to share reviews of the rest as soon as I get done reading them.

A Body On Fitzgerald’s Bluff

by Anna Celeste Burke

My Review

While performing their ritual morning walk, the group known as The Seaview Cottages Walkers Club spot a dead woman’s body at the bottom of Fitzgerald’s Bluff. Having no faith that their lazy Deputy Sheriff, Darnell Devers, will sort it out, they hitch their wagons and begin their own investigation. A community of retirees, they have plenty of spare time to stick their noses in where they don’t belong.

One of them, Miriam, has a secret. One that could blow her world apart. No, she’s not the killer, but her pals are sniffing for clues to who killed the girl they found at the bottom of the bluff, and her secret might come to light.

This was a fun whodunit with a truly quirky bunch of characters, including some furry ones. Lots of puns and snort worthy dialogue kept me smiling. I had my hopes up for a spark of romance between a certain someone and lead detective Hank Miller. And it was a pleasure to come across a mystery not easily solved. I was in the dark until right near the reveal.

~~~~~

About The Authors

Judith Lucci

Dr. Judith Lucci is a Wall Street Journal and best-selling Amazon. She is an award-winning author of the Alexandra Destephano Medical Thriller and the Michaela McPherson “Two Sleuth’s and a Dog” Crime fiction series. Her newest series, Artzy Chicks, releases next month and features a group of , eccentric, talented but zany artists in their Art Gallery at a Mountain Resort.

In 2017, ‘Viral Intent’ (Book 3) Alexandra Destephano Series) was awarded a Gold Medal by Readers’ Favorites for ‘Best Political Thriller’. as was her crime thriller ‘The Case of Dr. Dude’ (Michaela McPherson #1) for a Gold Medal for ‘Best Amateur Sleuth for 2017. ‘The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year‘ won an additional gold medal for ‘Best Holiday Read’ of 2017.

Her favorite things are reading, writing art and animals. In her spare time she teaches painting, loves up on animals and raises money for needy causes. Judith lives with her 4 dog family in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She loves to connect with her readers and is available at judithlucciwrites@gmail.com. Check our her website at judithlucci.com. and sign-up for a free copy of Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center.

Cindy Bell

Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Cindy Bell, has always loved reading, but it is only recently that she has discovered her passion for writing romantic cozy mysteries. When she is not reading or writing she loves baking (and eating) sweet treats or walking along the beach with her energetic cocker spaniel, thinking of the next adventure her characters can embark on. Cindy is the author of the Chocolate Centered, Donut Truck, Dune House, Sage Gardens, Nuts about Nuts, Bekki the Beautician, Wendy the Wedding Planner, Heavenly Highland Inn and the Macaron Patisserie Cozy Mystery Series.

Colleen Mooney

Colleen Mooney was born and raised in New Orleans along with everyone else in her family. She is a Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author and writes a cozy mystery series set in New Orleans called The New Orleans Go Cup Chronicles and the fourth book, Death By Rum Balls was released in December 2017.

Since January 2017 Colleen organized a Sisters In Crime chapter in New Orleans, has been elected President and has a planned a Mystery Writers’ Conference for June. She is currently working on her 5th book in the Brandy Alexander series.

In New Orleans, she’s been a member and active in many Mardi Gras Krewes, Super Krewes, and organizations. Colleen says she has never met a parade she didn’t like.

She’s an ardent animal lover and the Director for a breed rescue, Schnauzer Rescue of Louisiana for the last fifteen years. She has rescued and placed over 350 abandoned or surrendered Schnauzers. She loves to write and writes about what she loves. Colleen says, “New Orleans is where it all happens for me.”

Amy Vansant

Amy Vansant is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author specializing in fun, comedic reads about accident prone, easily distracted women with questionable taste in men.
So, autobiographies, mostly.
Ha!
But seriously: She writes happy romantic comedies, mysteries, and urban fantasies. Amy is the former East Coast Editor of SURFER Magazine but the urge to drive up and down the coast interviewing surfers has long since left her. She’s a dog-lover who works at home with her goofy husband and loves interacting with fans, so stop by her blog or Twitter and say hi!

http://www.amyvansant.com/

Colleen Helme

Colleen Helme is the author of the bestselling Shelby Nichols Adventure Series, a wildly entertaining and highly humorous series about Shelby Nichols, a woman with the ability to read minds. When asked if reading minds is something Colleen wishes she could do she says, “No way! It gets Shelby into so much trouble that I would never want that ability.” Known for her laugh since she was a kid, Colleen has always tried to find the humor in every situation and continues to enjoy writing about Shelby’s adventures. Besides writing, she loves reading, biking, hiking, and playing board and card games with family and friends. She loves to connect with readers and admits that fans of the series keep her writing.

Kim Hunt Harris

Kim knew she wanted to be a writer before she even knew how to write. When her parents read bedtime stories to her, she knew she wanted to be a part of the story world. She started out writing children’s stories, and her stories grew as she did. She discovered a gift for humor and a love for making people laugh with her tales, and the Trailer Park Princess series was born.

Kim loves to not only make her readers laugh and entertain them with a good mystery, but also to examine the issues the everyday people face…well, every day. Issues like faith and forgiveness, perseverance and tolerance. Set in Lubbock, Texas, the fun books feature a cast of quirky characters, outrageous situations, a drama queen of a dog, and from time to time, a tear or two.

Kim lives with her husband of more than thirty years and two teenage kids in Texas.

Anna Celeste Burke

Anna Celeste Burke is an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling Author!

Welcome! Join me to get a free eBook–just copy & paste the link: http://www.desertcitiesmystery.com

Life is an extravaganza! figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challenge.

On my way to Oahu to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I had met in San Diego and married in Tijuana, I was nabbed by the police as a runaway. When the police let me go and the rock band broke up, my husband and I had to find another way to survive. Our next stop: Disney World where we trained to be chefs, courtesy of the Walt Disney World University. A GED for my husband and many more years of education landed us in academia at The Ohio State University. Retired now from my role as a professor of social work and behavioral science, I have picked up a long-time interest in writing fiction. I’m still married to the same sweet guy and live with him in the Palm Springs area. In addition to reading and writing fiction, I enjoy painting, hiking, hanging out with my handsome husband and tending to my Siamese kitties.

An award-winning and bestselling author I enjoy snooping into life’s mysteries with fun, fiction, & food—California style! My books include the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series set in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, the Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery series set on California’s Central Coast, and The Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery series set in Orange County, California–the OC. Coming soon: The Misadventures of Betsy Stark also set here in the Coachella Valley. Find out more at http://www.desertcitiesmystery.com.

AVA MALLORY

AVA MALLORY has been a grade school teacher, a psychiatric technician, a dementia unit nurse manager, and a Hospice nurse. She has embarrassed herself in front of handsome celebrities, won vocal contests much to the chagrin of her children, survived a major earthquake, and nearly drowned when she mistakenly thought a YMCA lifeguard asked her to dive into the deep end on her first day of swim lessons. She and her eternally annoyed children share their home with a massive collection of books and a never-ending supply of new book ideas.

Sandi Scott

Sandi Scott is a cozy mystery reader who finally found the courage to write the stories in her head and share them with others. She fell in love with mystery books when she first started reading Agatha Christie eons ago, although her favorite female sleuth will always be Harriet the Spy. She loves dogs, her family, her readers, and sweet treats — not necessarily in that order.

Susan Boles

Susan Boles is the award-winning author of the Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery Series and also writes romantic suspense in the Brotherhood Protectors series.

A lifelong long love of all things mysterious led Susan to write cozy mysteries. Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden were the first to show her that girls can be crime solvers. Agatha Christie showed her that even small towns have big secrets. And Phryne Fisher showed her lady detectives can be outrageously individual. She lives in Mississippi with her rescue mini dachshund, Lucy, and her rescue cat of no particular breed, Zimba.

Sam Cheever

USA Today Bestselling Author Sam Cheever writes mystery and suspense, creating stories that draw you in and keep you eagerly turning pages. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 50+ books.

Anne R. Tan

Anne R. Tan fell in love with storytelling in elementary school, but decided to study engineering so she could get a “real job.” Her day job is her vacation from home and she moonlights as a writer to keep the voices inside her head under control. She is a toddler wrangler and a part-time short-order cook for her family. She is married to her version of Bob Vila who believes everything needs to be fixed, even if it’s already working. The koi fish in her pond are the only sane members of her household.

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 18 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW

June 18 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

June 19 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

June 19 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

June 20 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW

June 21 – I’d Rather Be At The Beach – REVIEW

June 21 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT

June 22 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

June 23 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

June 23 – Varietats – REVIEW

June 24 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 25 – My Fiction Obsession – SPOTLIGHT

June 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT

June 27 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

June 28 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – SPOTLIGHT

June 29 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT

June 30 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

July 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

~~~~~

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.

My Monday Minis #45 ~ Safari, Anyone?

Posted: June 18, 2018 in Monday's Minis, reviews, thriller
Tags: My Monday Minis, review, tecno thriller

Welcome to my Monday Minis where I share shorter reviews of books I’ve read.

Today it’s all about thrills in the African bush.

~~~~~

Safari

by Alexander Plansky

Genre: Techno Thriller

My Review

The synopsis mentions a comparison to The Island Of Doctor Moreau. Got me all kinds of curious so I gave this a go.

Couldn’t help but feel sorry for these characters. They think they struck gold when asked to assist in a study for the rich and powerful Billy Sans. Things change fairly quickly as they realize it’s actually a killing ground with a mad man as the puppeteer.

While this was fairly predictable, I still had a good read. Couldn’t wait to see what kind of creatures emerged and who would be picked off. Things moved quickly, people were torn to pieces, and I loved how some got a well deserved comeuppance.

A good ending too. Made me appreciate the thrilling cover.

~~~~~

Synopsis

The Island of Dr. Moreau meets “The Most Dangerous Game” by way of Michael Crichton in this suspenseful new technothriller about the dark potential of genetic engineering.

For Sydney Marlowe, getting a coveted research position with enigmatic biotech CEO Billy Sans seems like a dream come true. She and three other interns are flown halfway around the world to a remote private game reserve in Tanzania, where they will implement new zoological technologies and analyze field data over the course of two weeks.

But when local animal behavior becomes increasingly unnatural and people begin to go missing, Sydney and the others realize that something sinister is lurking beneath this paradise. The truth, however, is more horrifying than any of them could have imagined.

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

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.

What’s New On My Bookshelf #265 and The Sunday Post

Posted: June 17, 2018 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’m on staycation! I plan to hang around home. Got all my errands run and stocked up on snacks and such so I don’t have to leave home until I return to work on Thursday. Also got my QUE packed on Netflix and a stack of DVDs to watch. My Kindle is waiting and so are some print books. Did a double take when I noticed most of the books were horror or thrillers, Happy days! LOL I finally kicked my slump in the patootie and writing lots of reviews and getting back to blogging ahead. All that’s keft to do is step out the back door and enter my little slice of heaven. I’ll be enjoying that pool!

20180616_180331

After some delicious, spicy Bloody Mary’s in the mornings and tart and tangy Matgarita’s in the afternoons, I’ll wrestle this gator that crawled in my pool. And if all I did was drink the whole time, he’d probably win!

That’s all for this week.

Have a fabulous Sunday!

*****

My new books this week.

*****

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.

*****

My reviews this week. Click on the covers to view them.

*****

My Monday Minis #44 ~ Cozy Up!

Posted: June 11, 2018 in Cozy Mystery, Monday's Minis, reviews
Tags: cozy mystery, Monday Minis, review

Welcome to my Monday Minis where I share shorter reviews of books I’ve read.

Today it’s all abut some Paranormal Cozy Mysteries

~~~~~

Alice In Murderland

Magical Bookshop Mystery#1

by Samantha Silver

Genre: Paranormal / Cozy Mystery

My Mini Review

This was such fun. What’s not to love in a paranormal cozy. And there’s books in it. LOL Delightful and quirky characters, a murder to solve, and witchy shenanigans made this a delightful few hours of reading for me. I will be following this series and anticipating much more fun to come.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Moving from Miami to small-town Oregon was supposed to be boring…

When Alice Calliope takes over her recently deceased aunt’s bookshop in Sapphire Village, Oregon, she’s not expecting her world to be flipped upside down, but that’s exactly what happens when her cousin Cat reveals to Alice that she’s actually a witch. Add in the fact that the two of them stumble upon a dead body, and Alice’s first day in town ends up being a lot more eventful than she could have possibly imagined!

What was supposed to be a simple cross-country move winds up with Alice having to learn how to navigate a whole new magical world while at the same time trying to clear Cat’s name as she emerges as the main suspect in the murder. Add in the eccentric Grandma Cee, witchcraft lessons, a whiny old ghost and the laziest cat ever, and Alice definitely has her hands full.

With pressure mounting for the super-hot local sheriff to arrest her cousin, will Alice be able to hunt down the real killer before it’s too late?

Alice in Murderland is a full-length novel and the first book in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series of paranormal cozy mysteries.

Amazon

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Beyond Dead

An Afterlife Adventures Novel #1

by Jordaina Sydney Robinson

Genre: Paranormal / Cozy Mystery

My Review

This book was a delight to read. The main character, Bridget, is newly dead, but that doesn’t slow her down a bit. The afterlife is every bit as busy and fashion challenged, and even ghosts can be murdered. Who woulda thunk it.

I had a rip snort of a read. Loads of snark, which I love, fun characters galore, and a challenging mystery to solve, all added up to a ghostly good time. I feel for this one and moving on to the next.

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Synopsis

Dead less than twenty-four hours, with a job that doesn’t pay, a fashion disaster for a uniform and more afterlife rules than she can shake a stick at, Bridget Sway thinks it’s as bad as it can get. And then she finds a dead ghost stuffed in her locker.

Since the police are desperate to arrest her for murder, Bridget’s new best friend convinces her the only way to save herself from an eternity in prison is to solve the murder themselves.

With a handsome parole officer watching her every move, an outlaw ghost befriending her and two persistent mediums demanding her attention, solving the murder is not quite as easy as it sounds. And when “murder” turns into “murders” Bridget needs to solve the case … before she becomes the next dead body stuffed in her locker.

Beyond Dead is the first book in a paranormal cozy murder mystery series set in a ridiculously bureaucratic afterlife. It is rife with cozy humor (or more accurately cosy humour) that cozy British mysteries are famous for.

The series follows the newly dead Bridget Sway as she tries to adjust to her new life as a ghost while solving the odd murder along the way. Bridget exhibits all the best virtues of cozy mystery women sleuths in terms of wit and humor but, as the amateur sleuth of a cozy ghost mysteries series, she is something most others are not – and that’s dead.

Amazon

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You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

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The Kid’s Korner #32 ~ Can A Princess Be A Firefighter?

Posted: May 23, 2018 in Children's books, reviews
Tags: Carole P. Roman, children's picture book, review

Welcome to The Kid’s Korner.

I decided to do this feature as I have so many great children’s books to share. From picture books, to books for beginning readers, to middle graders, I have plenty of fun ones.

Today I’m sharing a sweet story about dreaming big.

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Can A Princess Be A Firefighter?

by Carole P. Roman

Genre: Children’s Book

Age Level: 5 – 6

My Review

Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were young? Was it a firefighter, an astronaut, or perhaps you wanted to join the circus? When asked if a princess could be a firefighter, a father encourages two young girls to dream big, tells them they can be whatever they want to be, and that they can always change their minds.

The delightful and fun illustrations show a multitude of choices.

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I imagine your young ones will pour over each page, examining everything the pictures have to offer. Dreaming big and possibly wanting to play dress up.

The message is simple and told with lyrical prose. I read it once, and then again. I suspect many children will too, and this may join the family favorites.

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Synopsis

Two little girls pepper their father with questions about whether or not they can be a profession and still be a princess. Motivated by her granddaughter’s fascination with all things ‘princess, ‘ Carole P. Roman penned this adorable poem celebrating all the wonderful possibilities waiting ahead for them.

Amazon / B&N

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

My Monday Minis #42 with Amy Cross

Posted: May 21, 2018 in horror, Monday's Minis, reviews
Tags: Amy Cross, Horror, Monday Minis Reviews

Welcome to my Monday Minis where I share shorter reviews of books I’ve read.

Today it’s all about horror with Amy Cross!

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Laura

by Amy Cross

Genre: Horror

My Review

I’ve come across similar scenarios to this one and they never get old. Amy Cross managed to put her own spin on it and creeped me out but good.

You might find yourself pulling for Laura once you get the skinny on how things really went down.

Kept me entertained and I sure liked the ending.

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Synopsis

“You don’t think this could be about Laura, do you?”

Ten years ago, they were all friends. Ten years ago, something terrible happened. Ten years ago, they agreed to take the truth about Laura to their graves. All they had to do was forget, and keep their mouths shut.

But when a hidden force starts cutting them down one by one, in a series of increasingly horrific incidents, the remaining friends are forced to face the truth.

Somehow, Laura has come back.

Laura is a horror story about six people who thought they could hide the truth, and about the girl who returns from the grave to make them all pay.

Amazon

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The Dog

by Amy Cross

Genre: Horror

My Review

It’s hit or miss when I read a book from a dog’s point of view. I’ve read several in this genre. The Dog was a hit.

The funny thing is how we can accept the death of a human during the break down of society, but the author kills a pet, that’dsa big no no. I was fretting throughout the book. Can’t tell you how Jon and his dog, Harry, managed but this was hard to put down and I didn’t throw the book after I read the ending.

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Synopsis

One man and his dog come face-to-face with the end of the world…

When Jon takes his dog Harry to a remote cabin for the week, he just wants to get away from the rest of the world. And then one morning, after finding that his phone is dead, Jon looks at the city in the distance and realizes that something seems very wrong.

All the power has gone out. At night, the city is completely dark. There are no planes in the sky, and when Jon drives to the nearest gas station, he finds a desolate and bloody scene. He refuses to believe that something truly awful has happened, however, until he spots a figure stumbling through the forest, heading ever closer.

A figure that smells of death.

Soon Jon is facing a desperate fight for survival. While he and his dog have been up at the cabin, the whole world has been struck by a huge, global catastrophe that has left billions dead. Many are dead, but many more have risen again. Can Jon and his dog survive, or are they doomed to suffer the same fate?

The Dog is a novel about the end of the world, told through the eyes of a dog who finds himself stuck at a remote cabin with only his owner for company.

Amazon

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Alice Isn’t Well

Death Herself #1

by Amy Cross

Genre: Horror

My Review

Yep, Alice isn’t well and she has good reason. I like stories where the character is considered to be not quite sane. It allows the author to do a lot with their characters.

I really liked Alice. I was sad that she questioned her own sanity but sure could see why. Wendy’s story takes place many years in the past. At first it’s sad and then it gets macabre. And Hannah is a piece of work. I think I liked how much she lived in her own skin and never doubted herself. She had a weird job and just accepted it and kept on doing it.

Their stories are told separately but then begin to merge and you finally are shown why. A solid story that I read in one sitting. And the author wrapped it up nicely while leaving it pen for more in the series. I’ll be following it.

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Synopsis

“There are lots of demons in the sky above London. The problem is, this one came crashing down to earth.”

Ten years ago, Alice Warner was attacked and disfigured by an attacker in her own home. She remembers nothing of the attack, and she has been in a psychiatric hospital ever since. When she’s finally released, however, she starts working as a security guard at an abandoned shopping mall. And that’s when she starts to realize that something is haunting her, keeping just one step out of sight at all times…

Meanwhile, seventy years earlier, a little girl named Wendy is left orphaned after a World War 2 fighter plane crashes onto her house. Taken to a monastery, Wendy is quickly singled out by the nuns for special attention. They say she has been possessed by a demon, and that there’s only one way to save her soul. Fortunately for Wendy, however, there’s someone else who seems to know far more about the situation.

What is the shocking connection between Alice and Wendy, reaching out across the years? Does a demon really lurk in the girl’s soul? And who is Hannah, the mysterious figure who tries to help Wendy, and who seventy years later begins to make her influence felt in Alice’s life too?

Alice Isn’t Well is the first book in the Death Herself series, about a dark figure who arrives in the night, promising to help deal with the forces of evil whenever they appear.

Amazon

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A House In London

by Amy Cross

Genre: Horror

My Review

I read the blurb and thought it sounded like something else I’d read so I had to give this a go.

Creepy it is and I had a blast. Thought I knew what was really happening but I should have used more imagination. The author sure did.

A read straight through book and one of those that makes you worry about turning out the lights.

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Synopsis

“You’ll love him. He’s such an easy boy to love.”

Short of money after moving to London, Jennifer Griffith accepts a job babysitting for a wealthy couple. When she arrives at their house, however, she quickly learns that this particular baby isn’t quite what he seems.

Although she agrees to go through with the job for one night, it doesn’t take long before she starts to regret her choice. Something dark lurks in the shadows of the house, something that wants something from Jennifer. Something that won’t let go, not even after she heads home…

A House in London is a horror novella about a girl who always dreamed of a house in London, and who finally discovers a nightmare waiting in the shadows.

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

What’s New On My Bookshelf #260 and The Sunday Post

Posted: May 20, 2018 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, my weekly news, The Sunday Post

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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.

Sunday Post

Some chit chat.

It’s been a week of storms here on the Gulf Coast! At least one mother of a storm each day during the work week. Some were very scary. The thunder shook the house and the straight line winds shrieked around the windows. Guess mother nature is preparing me for the beginning of hurricane season in June. LOL

Since I didn’t have as many opportunities to swim in the afternoons, I got busy on blogging ahead and writing a bunch of reviews. Also caught up on some shows and watched a few movies I’d been meaning to get to. And I came up with a blog post that’s going to be fun to put together. I love pie. All kinds of pie. I once dreamed of opening my own pie cafe. So, I’m gathering info from a bunch of movies that have pie as part of their theme. I’ll also be adding a few with other kinds of baked goodies. And I’m having a blast rewatching the movies! If you have any movie suggestions, please share them!

And now for my weekly plant update. Not as many pics this week as it was raining every day when I got home from work.

Here’s a pic of one corner of my back patio. Been working on shaping these up. And Quigley snuck in this one. I didn’t even notice him until I uploaded this pic. LOL

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