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Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

My Sunday Post ……….NOT!

Posted: June 11, 2017 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, The Sunday Post

Hi ya’ll!

It’s been ages since I missed a Sunday Post. I love sharing what I’ve received and what I’ve read.

And I especially like my freebies feature where I browse sights and find freebies to share. I love including all genres and age groups so there’s something for everyone.

But, I was out of town most of the weekend, and since I add the freebies Saturday night so they’ll still be free Sunday and I wasn’t home, I decided to hold off and just provide a smile for ya!

Thanks for stopping by!

And check out the links below. I have all of my giveaways and reviews linked for you to check out. And a page with some free books too.

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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

Nothing Left To Lose by Dan Wells ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: June 8, 2017 in giveaways, horror, reviews, Trailer
Tags: Author Dan Wells, giveaway, Horror, Nothing Left To Lose, review

Nothing Left To Lose

Series: John Cleaver (Book 6)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Tor Books (June 6, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765380714
ISBN-13: 978-0765380715

My Review

Another thrilling installment in the series. I go into each story hoping for more intrigue, complexity and angst and Dan Wells doesn’t disappoint.

John still battles his urges as he continues to hunt down the Withered. In each book I learn more about these monsters and what drives them. Terrifying they may be, but you’re given insight into their side of the story, which left me feeling conflicted about them, kind of.

The authors choice to tell this in first person POV from John’s perspective was a wise one. He keeps evolving, growing mentally stronger but still needing some releases for his dark urges. As a budding serial killer who has rules to keep him from killing the innocent, I find him one of the most compelling characters I’ve come across.

There’s an interesting twist that makes for an edgy read. And it’s a gut wrenching finale in the last third of the book as good and bad become entwined in a fight to survive. I wish I could tell you the last scene of the book. All I could think was, it’s about time.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Dan Wells continues his acclaimed John Wayne Cleaver series, popular with fans of Dexter

Hi. My name is John Cleaver, and I hunt monsters. I used to do it alone, and then for a while I did it with a team of government specialists, and then the monsters found us and killed almost everyone, and now I hunt them alone again.

This is my story.

In this thrilling installment in the John Wayne Cleaver series, Dan Wells brings his beloved antihero into a final confrontation with the Withered in a conclusion that is both completely compelling and completely unexpected.

Don’t forget to catch the film adaptation of the first installment in the series, I am Not a Serial Killer, in theaters August 26th.

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Excerpt

Run from Rain. It was one of the last things Brooke had told me, one of the last leads she’d dug up from the recesses of her memory. Ten thousand years of dead girls and a supernatural killer, and all of them were terrified of “Rain,” though we’d never figured out who or what Rain was. Another Withered, we’d assumed. Maybe one of the last ones left. And now, after months of searching, I’d found another piece of the puzzle. I ran outside, looking for the dazed, dirty woman who’d said the words, but she was gone. Homeless, maybe? Unbalanced, almost certainly. Or maybe it was something more sinister—was she a victim of Rain, somehow? Someone who’d been enslaved to a paranormal monster, or who’d been attacked and managed to escape, or maybe just someone who’d seen an attack and been broken by the thought of it. Withered attacks could be horrifying, mindshattering things, upending everything you thought you knew about the world and the way it functioned. Or maybe she’d survived a different kind of Withered attack—not by Rain, but by Nobody. Nobody killed by possessing young girls and using their own bodies to commit suicide; Brooke had lived through it, but she’d gained an untold horde of Withered memories as a result. That’s how she could remember things like “Run from Rain.” Now here was another girl with the same dark memory and the same broken, disorganized mind and . . . in ten thousand years, Brooke can’t have been the only person to survive an attack from Nobody, could she? Maybe this lost girl was another. Whoever the girl was, at least one connection seemed obvious: a Withered named Rain, in a city where someone had drowned without water. It couldn’t be a coincidence. I had to stay in Lewisville and I had to learn everything I could about this killer, starting with the body of Kathy Schrenk. And the best way to do that was to wait. There was a bus stop nearby, on the heat-blasted side of the cracked asphalt road, and I sat there in the sun and waited. My backpack containing all my worldly possessions was back in the bus station where I’d showered after hitchhiking into town; storing it had cost me a dollar, which probably meant that I couldn’t eat dinner that night, but it was better than bringing the whole dusty thing with me to the mortuary. Nothing said “ignore and/ or suspect this person” like showing up in a clean, well-kept place with an old, dirty backpack bursting with clothes. That marked you as a drifter, and I needed these people to trust me. Now more than ever.

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Praise for JOHN CLEAVER SERIES

“Top-notch writing and well-structured suspense elements keep the story moving briskly.”―Publishers Weekly

“Fans of Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter series will welcome Wells’s gripping debut.” ―Publishers Weekly on I Am Not a Serial Killer

“Wells’s debut is an unabashedly gory gem. This deft mix of several genres features a completely believable teenage sociopath (with a heart of gold), dark humor, a riveting mystery, and enough description of embalming to make any teen squeamish, even if they won’t admit it. Buy multiples where it won’t be banned.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on I Am Not a Serial Killer

“This dazzling, un-put-downable debut novel proves beyond a doubt that Dan Wells has the gift. His teenage protagonist is as chilling as he is endearing. More John Wayne Cleaver, please.” ―F. Paul Wilson, New York Times bestselling author

“The beauty of the prose, mixed with the depth of characterization, gives the haunting, first person narrative a human touch. Regardless of your age or your genre preferences, you will find this story both profound and enthralling.” ―Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author

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Author Dan Wells

DAN WELLS writes a little bit of everything, but he is best known for the Partials Sequence and the John Cleaver series, the first book of which is now a major motion picture. He is a co-host of the educational podcast Writing Excuses, for which he won a Hugo and now helps run a yearly, week-long writing conference. In addition to novels, novellas, and shorts, he has also written and produced a stage play, called “A Night of Blacker Darkness,” and works as a staff writer on the TV show “Extinct.” He has loved in the US, Mexico, and Germany, and currently resides in Utah with his wife and six children and 439 boardgames.

You can purchase Nothing Left To Lose at the following Retailers:

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Win the complete John Cleaver series.

(Six books in total)

Click HERE to enter.

Follow the tour HERE.

~~~~~

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

What’s New On My Bookshelf #210 and The Sunday Post

Posted: June 4, 2017 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book 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.

Sunday Post

Some chit chat.

I fell asleep last night while reading a horror story. Usually they don’t cause nightmares or make me scared to go to sleep. I came awake slowly. Something was wrong. I heard loud breathing. Felt warm breath on face. Bad breath! I was afraid to open my eyes. Did someone get in the house? Was I about to be raped or murdered? I cracked open my eyes. Something was in bed with me! It’s mouth was sprinkled with grey hairs. It’s nose was cold. It’s eyes were rolled back in its head. Oh man. It’s my dog, Quigley. LOL He got in the bed and lay down with his head on my pillow. Talk about a waker upper. That’ll teach me to read scary books before going to sleep. And I need to get him some doggie denture sticks. His breath. Whew!

And now….It’s all about the books! I got a bunch. Reviewed some. And browsed a whole bunch of freebies for ya!

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My new books this week. Got a lot. Guess I went a little crazy on Amazon too. LOL

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And here are some freebies for ya. Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.

I went a little crazy on finding freebies this week. So many good ones!

I hope you realize I didn’t grab all of these myself. Honest!

*****

Books I reviewed this week. Click on the covers to read my reviews.

*****

Saturday Screams #33 ~ River Of Teeth

Posted: June 3, 2017 in Fantasy, reviews, Science Fiction
Tags: alternative history, fantasy, review, River Of Teeth, Sarah Gailey, Saturday Screams, Science Fiction

Welcome to my Saturday Screams.

I couldn’t resist this book. The title. The cover. The blurb. The hippos! Oh My!

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River Of Teeth

by Sarah Gailey

Genre: Alternative History / Fantasy / Science Fiction

My Review

Being a southern gal, I’m always looking for stories set in my neck of the woods. The author did a superb job describing the bayous and the muddy Mississippi. I heard the rising shrill of the cicadas, the buzz of the annoying mosquitoes, and the grunt of alligators. Caught a glimpse of huge alligator gars as they rolled on the surface, while being lulled by the back and forth swaying on top my hippo. Yes, I said hippo.

The US Government came up with the idea of importing hippos into Louisiana for a much needed food supply. Sounded like a good idea, but didn’t happen. Except, in this book it did. And now the hippos are feral and eating everything, including humans, making the river a dangerous place. A ragtag group of hippo wranglers enter the swamp to round them up. All is not as it seems.

I read somewhere that in Africa more people die from hippo attacks than any other animal. They hide under the water, move at tremendous speeds, and their teeth are gigantic. In this book you have hippos that the wranglers bond with from birth, making them safe to ride, most of the time. Then there’s the feral ones. No one wants to encounter them. When some of these characters come across a feral, it’s bloody mayhem.

The characters you meet are varied and odd. One of my favorites is Winslow Houndstooth. He’s usually somber and withdrawn, until you shake his hornets nest. Then he’d as easily kill ya as step on an ant. He’s a charmer and I loved how he could make men preen and blush from his attentions.

The writing is haunting, powerful, and visual. Such a superb job for this author’s debut. The good guys aren’t all good and some bad guys aren’t all bad. Action, intrigue, and betrayal keep you glued to the story. And the hippos, I just couldn’t get enough of them.

Do I recommend this book? Most definitely. Will I be reading the second book? Hell yes!

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Sarah Gailey’s wildfire debut River of Teeth is a rollicking alternate history adventure that Charlie Jane Anders calls “preposterously fun.”

In the early 20th Century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true.

Other true things about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two.

This was a terrible plan.

Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.

Amazon

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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

Freakin Fridays #51 ~ Devil In The Countryside and Apparition Lake

Posted: June 2, 2017 in Freakin Friday, horror, Mystery, reviews
Tags: Author Cory Barclay, Authors Doug and Daniel Lamoreux, Freakin Friday, Horror, mystery, review

Welcome to Freaking Fridays, where I share my reviews of books that scare you, thrill you, and get those endorphins pumping.

I’ve gota couploe of good ones to share today.

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Devil In The Countryside

by Cory Barclay

Genre: Historical Mystery/Horror

My Review

The story takes place in Germany. The year is 1588. People are being murdered, torn to pieces in what looks like a vicious animal attack. Rumors abound that the Werewolf Of Bedburg had returned.

Investigator Heinrich Franz is tasked with discovering who or what is behind the killings and putting an end to it. He’s joined by three people who, whether willingly or by choices not their own, combine their knowledge to kill the beast and save their town.

This book reads like a movie. I felt like I was watching events as they took place. The settings were so visually written and it was steeped in suspense and horror as the characters delved into the mystery and more people were torn apart.

The historical aspect was well written. Especially the religious and political agendas of the times. It was a bloody battle on both sides. And there is quite the cast of characters. I wasn’t sure any of them could be called good people. They all had secrets and hidden agendas.

And is there really a werewolf? I wasn’t sure right up til the end.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Devil in the Countryside is a story about the most famous werewolf investigation in history, brimming with intrigue and war, love and betrayal, and long-kept vendettas.

It’s 1588, the height of the Reformation, and a killer is terrorizing the German countryside. There are reports that the legendary Werewolf of Bedburg has returned to a once-peaceful land. Heinrich Franz, a cold and calculating investigator, is tasked with finding whomever — or whatever — the killer might be. He’ll need all the help he can get, including that of a strange hunter who’s recently stumbled into town. Though they’re after the same thing, their reasons are worlds apart. And through it all, a priest tries to keep the peace among his frightened townsfolk, while a young woman threatens his most basic beliefs.

In a time when life is cheap and secrets run rampant, these four divergent souls find themselves entwined in a treacherous mystery, navigating the volatile political and religious landscape of 16th century Germany, fighting to keep their sanity — and their lives.

Amazon

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Apparition Lake

by Doug Lamoreux and Daniel D. Lamoreux

Genre: Horror/Mystery

My Review

Mother Nature strikes back, unleashing a man killing grizzly on the unsuspecting people who venture into Yellowstone National Park. Glenn Merrill, Chief Park Ranger, vows to catch and stop the rogue bear. but more people die and signs point to something else, something mystical, that stretches the ranger’s beliefs. It may take more than bullets to stop the bear, and it might just be coming after Glenn.

The cover for this book fits the story perfectly. And that bear is terrifying. I can’t think of many things more terrifying to be eaten by except maybe a shark.

I enjoyed the Indian mysticism aspect of the book. Their connection to Mother Earth is deeply ingrained in their beliefs and it sure lends to the mystery, which I found fascinating.

I expected this to be a bit gory and would have been disappointed if it wasn’t. It’s also oozing with creepy atmosphere. I liken it to walking down a dimly lit empty street, shrouded by moist fog. What lurks in the shadows. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next and also worried about what would happen next.

The characters read genuine, flaws and all, and the bear is something else. Loved this book and it would be such a great movie.

Anyone who loves a good mystery with bits of horror will enjoy this one. I recommend you give it a read.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Something is terribly wrong in the nation’s oldest national park.

Horrific deaths have occurred throughout Yellowstone and everyone believes that a monstrous grizzly bear is on a rampage. Scientific evidence suggests another terrifying conclusion. For Chief Ranger Glenn Merrill, putting an end to the mysterious deaths is more than just his job, it is a mission that will take him to the brink of death and shatter the foundation of his beliefs.

Apparition Lake plunges Glenn, his full-blooded Shoshone friend Johnny Two Ravens, and Jennifer Davies, an aggressive young biologist, into a world of Indian mysticism where mankind and nature struggle for control of Mother Earth. Apparition Lake races through its supernatural tale of an environment that has “had enough” and the Native American spirit it uses to mete out its revenge.

Amazon

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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

The Kid’s Korner #14 ~ Me Tawk Funny

Posted: May 31, 2017 in Children's books, reviews
Tags: children's book, Me Tawk Funny, review, The Kid's Korner

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.

I came across this on Amazon and just couldn’t resist it.

It was free on Amazon at the time of my posting. You can click on the cover to grab a copy. Just make sure you check the price before you one click.

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Me Tawk Funny

A Shaggy Dog Story #1

by Neil Roy McFarlane

Genre: Children’s Book

Ages 6 – 13

My Review

It all starts when Hector Dumble’s dog, Buster, starts talking. Hector thinks of himself as dumb. Now he thinks he’s going crazy. Dogs can’t talk. But Buster can. And he keeps getting smarter. Soon, he has Hector studying and getting smarter too.

It’s not long before reporters get wind of the miracle and interview Hector and his talking dog Buster. It’s the headline in the newspaper and leading story on the towns news program. Until they’re knocked from the headlines by a bank robber. He’s due to strike again and maybe, just maybe, Hector and Buster can combine their smarts and catch the guy.

This is such a fun and clever story to encourage children to ask for help, not give up, and believe in themselves. Hector and Buster both buckle down, support each other, and learn together. But it wouldn’t have been as fun if they didn’t have a dastardly villain to catch.

The author had a good idea with this and made it silly and fun while also teaching children some valuable lessons. They’ll have so much fun reading about Hector and Buster, that they won’t realize they are also learning.

I think a lot of kids will identify with Hector. Learning can be hard, but it can also be fun and rewarding. Just like this cute tale.

There are two more books in this Shaggy Dog series and you can bet I’ll be reading them.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

How did Hector’s dog start talking?
Hector Dumble thinks he’s dumb. When his dog Buster starts talking to him, Hector begins to think he’s crazy too.

Things become even stranger when Hector learns that his teacher Mr Weazel has a secret identity.

How will Hector handle having a dog that can talk and a teacher who wants to take over the world?

Find out in this shaggy dog story for kids aged 6 to 13.

EXCERPT

As they were taking a short cut across the park, Buster suddenly stopped walking.
“Come on, Buster,” said Hector. “Mom’s waiting for us.”
But Buster just stood there and started making some funny noises. It wasn’t really a growl and it wasn’t really a bark. It was like a cross between the two. A ‘grark’. Then he coughed a bit and gave another grark.
Hector looked at him curiously. “Buster, are you OK?”
Buster looked at Hector, grarked again, and then he said, “Kay kay.”
“Did you just say ‘kay kay’?” Hector asked.
“Nuh nuh,” said Buster. “Missa me kay kay.”
“Huh?” Hector thought that the noises Buster was making were pretty weird.
“Missay me ko kay,” said Buster.
“Buster, are you trying to talk?” Hector said.
Buster cleared his throat again and said, “Me say me OK.”
So, thought Hector, all this studying and homework has finally made me go crazy. Now I think my dog can talk. “OK, Buster, let’s go home. Mom will be worrying.”
“Hokay Hector,” said Buster. Then he gave another grark, as if he were trying to clear his throat. “Me tawk funny.”
“You sure do,” said Hector. “Come on.”

Free for Prime and Kindle Unlimited Customers

A perfect-length bedtime story – grab a copy today!

Click on the link below for your free copy.

Amazon

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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

Death Is His Medium ~ The Snowman by Yolanda Renee ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: May 29, 2017 in giveaways, Mytery/Thriller, reviews, suspense
Tags: mystery, review giveaway, suspense, The Snowman, thriller, Yolanda Renee

It’s a pleasure to be participating in author Yolanda Renée’s THE SNOWMAN Blog Tour through MC Book Tours today.

This is a prequel to the author’s Detective Steven Quaid Mysteries. This story tells of Steven’s first case as a rookie detective. It takes place 10 years before the events in MURDER, MADNESS & LOVE, the first book in the series.

The author is offering a tour-wide giveaway featuring both print and eBook copies from her series. More information on the giveaway is listed below.

◊ THE SNOWMAN
◊ by Yolanda Renée
◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
◊ Publisher: TRACE Enterprises
◊ Series: Detective Quaid Mystery
◊ Novella
◊ Print & eBooks
◊ Contains explicit sex & violence

It takes a true artist to pursue his victims in the art of seduction, and Stowy Jenkins is no exception, especially with blood as his medium.

Stowy Jenkins, aka, Stone, and as Alaskans refer to him, the Snowman, is a true artist. His muse, Gigi, is the ultimate inspiration for his painting. Her rejection inspires him to use a very unusual medium…blood.

While art may be his passion, the taste for blood is his obsession, and multiple murders, the result.

Rookie, Detective Steven Quaid, is no fan of the Snowman’s murderous exhibitions. A twisted and deadly relationship bond the two men and neither knows who will come out of it alive.

Amazon

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My Review

I sure enjoy a story that hits the ground running and The Snowman sure does that. The opening scene is the Snowman doing what he does best. Creating art in oh so horrific ways.

I feel I should warn you, the author pulls no punches. Many scenes are graphic in violence and sexual attacks. Yolanda does a super job of putting you into the mind of the Snowman, a crazed, sadistic serial killer who believes he’s the next great artist, using blood, body parts and corpses as his medium.

Genuine characters and a taut plot keeps the reading pace fast. And switching POVs from main characters to victims and the killers own thoughts ramps up the suspense and keeps it there.

This is a prequel to the Detective Quaid series and takes place ten years before the series, featuring the detective’s first murder case. You don’t need to have read the other books as it can stand alone or actually introduce you to the beginning.

Those who enjoy some gristle and gore along with a creepy mystery will enjoy this one. I plan to pick up the series and see what happens next.

4 stars

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At one time Alaska called to me, and I answered. I learned to sleep under the midnight sun, survive in below zero temperatures, and hike the Mountain Ranges. I’ve traveled from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and the memories are some of my most valued. The wonders, mysteries and incredible beauty that is Alaska has never left me and thus now influence my writing.Despite my adventurous spirit, I achieved my educational goals, married, and I have two handsome sons. Writing is now my focus, my newest adventure!

You can connect with me here:

Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Email

The other books in the Detective Quaid Series include:

MURDER, MADNESS & LOVE (Book 1)

A killer plays cat and mouse with a young widow against the snowy backdrop of an Alaskan winter. Branded a black widow after the suspicious death of her millionaire husband, Sarah Palmer flees Seattle for Anchorage. However, the peace and quiet she hoped to enjoy in her hometown is soon shattered. A killer is murdering Sarah look-alikes on the 14th of each month, taunting Sarah with a valentine of evidence. After her experiences in Seattle, Sarah is slow to go to the police. When she finally does, she finds Detective Steven Quaid—Anchorage P D’s hotshot investigator—has not only heard the rumors, he believes them. Worse, her aloofness and composure only confirm his suspicions. Is Sarah a victim or a very skilled manipulator?

MEMORIES OF MURDER (Book 2)

World damnation is a psychotic man’s goal, but two obstacles stand in his way, greed and a dedicated detective.

Catching Alaska’s most notorious serial killer as a rookie made Detective Steven Quaid a hero, but falling in love with the victim of his last case tarnishes that status. While attempting to repair both his personal and professional life, he stumbles upon an unusual case–and an even more extraordinary foe: a man who believes he is Lucifer. An insidious man who delivers Quaid the ultimate choice: save his fiancée from an assassin’s bullet or stop the sacrifice of a young girl.

MURDER & OBSESSION (Book 3)

Flames burn between a hardboiled cop and a gifted artist, but soon extinguish as another man’s obsession ignites into an inferno of desire, driving him to destroy the object of his madness.

Detective Steven Quaid is ready for new challenges as Anchorage’s top detective, but not until he marries the woman of his dreams on New Year’s Eve. Determined to give Sarah the wilderness honeymoon she desires, he turns his grandfather’s cabin into the perfect honeymoon retreat. After the final details are complete, Steven treks into the mountains to hunt. On his return to the cottage, instead of Sarah, he is greeted by several police officers and a bloody crime scene. Accusations fly, and Stephen flees into the wilderness, his heart racing and thoughts etching into his soul. The wilderness is unforgiving, but Steven faces it head on: Caught between a massive grizzly and a black bear in a deadly tug of war, he is barely saved from death’s door by the fortuitous appearance of his uncle. Despite surviving multiple injuries, Steven continues his investigation as he recovers, but answers don’t come quick or easy. Having enlisted the aid of his number one suspect, Steven faces a struggle that has become more than personal. This one just may cost him his heart.

You can find out more about the books and the author by following the tour HERE. You can also include your chances of winning in the giveaway.

This tour-wide giveaway features both print and eBook copies of the four books in the Detective Quaid Series. The giveaway will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, June 6.

The prizes include:

* Grand prize – Winner receives a print copy of all
four books in the Detective Quaid Series (U.S. and Canada only).

* First place – Winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

* Second place – Winner will receive eBook copies of all four books in the Detective Quaid Series.

* There will be 3 runner-up winners and each will win an eBook copy of THE SNOWMAN or one of the other books in the series (winner’s choice).

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow Yolanda on her month-long tour. You never know what you might find out.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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

What’s New On My Bookshelf #209 and The Sunday Post

Posted: May 28, 2017 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book 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.

Sunday Post

Some chit chat.

It’s the weekend and I’m busy swimming, sipping Sangria, and relaxing. Of course, I’m also doing some reading since it’s a long weekend for me. Boy did I need it.

I just had a glass of wine. One tiny glass of wine. And I’m tipsy and having to correct about every fourth word I type. LOL I used to drink like a fish when I was a bartender. Drank all during my shift (a job requirement, seriously!) and then went out with friends and drank and played pool and danced until the roosters crowed! Oh to those days of youth. Now I’ll probably have a hangover from one lousy little glass of wine!

Onto other things. What do you have planned for the weekend?

*****

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.

*****

Books I reviewed this week. Click on the covers to read my reviews.

*****

The Kid’s Korner #13 ~ The Blue Baboon In The Big Balloon

Posted: May 24, 2017 in Action/Adventure, Children's books, reviews
Tags: chidlren's illustrated rhyming book, review, Sarah & Steven Mostyn, The Blue Baoon In The Big Balloon

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.

I came across this on Amazon and just couldn’t resist it. It’s beyond cute!

It was free on Amazon at the time of my posting. You can click on the cover to grab a copy. Just make sure you check the price before you one click.

~~~~~

The Blue Baboon In The Big Balloon

by Sarah and Steven Mostyn

Genre: Children’s Illustrated Rhyming Book

Ages 3 – 7

My Review

Your little ones will adore this book and you’ll be reading it with them over and over. I did and I don’t have any young ones!

Harold, the blue baboon, lives in a blue balloon. He’s very close with his brother, Gerald, and they enjoy tea together at three. They are joined by many friends. Mice that fly kites, a green cat named Matt, and many others. There’s even a mite that fights a troll named, Dwight.

One night, they all pile into Harold’s balloon and sail to the moon, where they make new friends, including the cow that jumped over the moon.

I must have read this 5 or 6 times in a row. I couldn’t stop smiling at the fun, vividly colored illustrations. I read this on my Kindle Fire and the bold colors leaped out at me. And the rhyming is addictive. I think I know the whole story by heart now.

Your kids will fall in love with these adorable characters and they’ll be begging you to read it with them. A delightful story for beginning readers and a fun tool for those that haven’t learned yet. I highly recommend and my personal rating is….to the moon and back!

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Oh, what adventures they have! Meet Harold the blue baboon. He has tea at half past three every afternoon. In his big balloon, Harold takes flight with a cast of delightful friends, as they soar off on a quest to explore outer space.

Harold’s traveling companions include a troll named Dwight who wears red tights and fights with a feisty orange mite; Holly and Molly, prancing raccoons that live on the moon; and their friend Miranda, quite a talented panda who sings on her veranda.

If your child likes Dr. Seuss, he/she will be captivated by the hilarious rhyming and fun characters that will soon become beloved friends. Sure to be a favorite bedtime tale, The Blue Baboon in the Big Balloon is great for beginners or intermediate readers (ages 3-7). When you join in and read the tongue-twisting saga to them, the laugh factor increases by 10!

For its unique style and brilliant illustrations, this book (available in paperback and Kindle) has been praised by the Children’s Book Review, Midwest Book Review and others. It’s destined to become a classic that your children will cherish.

Amazon

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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

Dumpster Dying & Grilled, Chilled and Killed ~ Two Cozy Reviews and a Giveaway

Posted: May 23, 2017 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
Tags: cozy myetery, giveaway, Lesley A. Diehl, reviews

Thanks for dropping by my stop on the tour for Dumpster Dying and Grilled, Chilled and Killed by Lesley A. Diehl.

I do love my cozy mysteries and these will have you in stitches.

Check out the books. Enjoy my reviews.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Dumpster Dying: Book 1 in the Big Lake Murder Mysteries

Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Creekside Publishing (December 31, 2016)
Paperback: 248 Pages E-Book 232 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0997234923
E-Book ASIN: B01MRWGBC8

My Review

The beautiful state of Florida. People are either born there, die there, retire there, or enjoy a lovely visit. For Emily Rhodes, it’s one of those, and maybe two, since she’s stuck her nose in a murder investigation.

When a prominent rancher is murdered and Emily’s friend is accused of the murder, she pulls out all the stops to prove her innocence, although there’s the risk of painting a target on her own back.

I can’t help but fall for Emily. She’s like me, no longer a spring chicken but still able to jig with the best of them. She’s salty, sassy, and no fool. Friends are very important to her, but don’t get on her bad side. She’s double tough. As Detective Lewis finds out when they tangle up in the case.

This was one laugh after another. There’s an eclectic cast of character’s and more shenanigans and manipulating going on than you can shake a stick at. And have you taken a gander at the cover art?. What a hoot! I’m a southern gal and if you put cowboy boots and a flamingo on the cover, you betcha I’m going to read that book!

Whether you love mysteries or cozy mysteries, there’s plenty to like here. And some fun moments to soften the story plot so it isn’t too dark.

And did someone ask whether there’s romance in this book? I detected some sparks flying and they weren’t from no fire.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Emily Rhodes came to rural Florida for the cowboys, the cattle, and to do a little country two-step, not to fall head first onto a dead body in a dumpster. Ah, the golden years of retirement in the sunshine state. They’re more like pot metal to Emily, who discovers the body of the county’s wealthiest rancher in the Big Lake Country Club dumpster. With her close friend accused of the murder, Emily sets aside her grief at her life partner’s death to find the real killer. She underestimates the obstacles rural Florida can set up for a winter visitor and runs afoul of a local judge with his own version of justice, hires a lawyer who works out of a retirement home, and flees wild fires hand-in-hand with the man she believes to be the killer.

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Grilled, Chilled and Killed: Big Lake Murder Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Creekside Publishing (December 31, 2016)
Paperback: 330 pages E-Book 224 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0997234930
E-Book ASIN: B01N9GUUKU

My Review

If it ain’t one dead body it’s another, as once again Emily stumbles over one. This time it’s a contestant in the local barbecue contest. It seems someone is taking things a bit too seriously.

Detective Lewis and Emily tangle up once again as she practices her snooping skills and he sniffs around her skirt. Yep, the romantic sparks from the first book have produced a small fire. There’s no denying they’re attracted to each other, whether they like it or not.

Half the fun was reading about Lewis and Emily. I kept thinking they’d hook up. Then the author threw in a red herring named Donald. He just might upset their apple cart.

There’s plenty of distractions as Emily tries to solve the case. She straightened out one thing that was looming over her from her past. Then, another huge one came knocking on her door. Not to mention hungry gators and giant pigs.

So much in this book reminds me of me. I live in a small southern town. Tended bar at a local pub, as does Emily. And had friends from all walks of life. I felt right at home in the pages of this book and had a grand time.

I’m not going to say you can’t read this without having read the first book. The author fills you in on previous events without slowing down the plot. But I’d recommend you hit the ground running and start at the beginning. You don’t want to miss out on the fun.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

It seems as if Emily is destined to discover dead bodies. This time she finds one of the contestants at the local barbecue cook-off dead and covered in barbecue sauce in a beer cooler. She should be used to stumbling onto corpses by now and the question of who killed the guy should pique her curiosity, but Emily decides to let Detective Lewis handle this one, at least until she figures his theory of who did the deed is wrong, wrong, wrong. Lewis’ denigration of Emily’s speculations is condescending enough to stimulate her dormant snooping skills. As the two of them go on their separate paths to find the killer, Lewis’ old partner, Toby the dirty, tobacco-spitting cop interferes in the investigation leaving Lewis with the wrong man in jail. Killers, bootleggers, barbecue and feral pigs—it’s a lethal game of hide and seek in the Florida swamp.

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About 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, frequents yard sales 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 is the author of a number of mystery series and mysteries as well as short stories. The third book in the Eve Appel murders (from Camel Press) A Sporting Murder was awarded a Readers’ Favorite Five Star Award and her short story Gator Aid a Sleuthfest (2009) short story first place. She has fired the alligator that served as her literary muse when she is in Florida and is interviewing applicants for the position.

Author Links

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Facebook

Purchase Links

Dumpster Dying – Amazon

Grilled, Chilled and Killed – Amazon

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Participants

May 15 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW – Book 1, CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 15 – My Journey Back –My Reading Journeys – REVIEW – Both Books, INTERVIEW*

May 16 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW – Both Books

May 16 – Dee-Scoveries – SPOTLIGHT

May 17 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW – Both Books, INTERVIEW

May 17 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

May 18 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST

May 18 – Book Babble – REVIEW – Both Books

May 19 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT

May 19 – Bookworm Café – GUEST POST

May 20 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW – Book 1

May 20 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – REVIEW – Both Books *

May 21 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT

May 21 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

May 22 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW – Both Books, CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 22 –StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW – Book 1

May 23 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW – Both Books*

May 24 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW – Book 2

May 24 – T’s Stuff – REVIEW – Book 1

May 25 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW – Both Books

May 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

May 26 – Rainy Day Reviews – REVIEW – Both Books*

May 26 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

May 27 – Varietats2010 – REVIEW – Book 2

May 27 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW Book 1, GUEST POST*

May 28 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW Book 2*

May 28 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – CHARACTER GUEST POST

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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

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Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

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Dumpster Dying & Grilled, Chilled and Killed ~ Two Cozy Reviews and a Giveaway