Archive for the ‘Romance’ Category

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I’ve found a new series and it’s going to be so fun. Yes, there are vampires. In fact, there’s a vampire king. But is he noble?

Check out Unseen by Lauren Stewart.

Enjoy the excerpt.

Meet Addison and Rhyse.

Who do you think is the real captive?

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Unseen

The Heights

Volume 1

by Lauren Stewart

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Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Off the Hook Publishing / Date of Publication: May 29, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-9881701-9-3 / ASIN: don’t have one yet

Number of pages: ~386

Word Count: ~100,000

Cover Artist: Amanda of Pixel Mischief Design

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Book Description

 

An invisible wall built from the tears of those touched by death

An impossible love as divided as the world around them.

 

After Addison finds a nearly-dusted vampire in the garbage outside her building, her ability to stay off the supernatural world’s radar is deader than the vamp. Almost as dead as she’ll be if anyone thinks she put him there. Should she finish the job somebody else screwed up or move him somewhere humans won’t find him? To keep the Heights hidden, she may have shoved a stake into her own chest. Just when she thinks her life couldn’t possibly get any more dangerous, she finds out who he is.

 

As vampire king and Prime to all supernatural beings in the North American zone, Rhyse is accustomed to getting what he wants without asking. But he neither wanted nor asked to be wounded in an ambush, waking up chained to a bed with a hole in his chest. Unfortunately, he needs help to discover who tried to kill him. But worse than that, his only ally is his captor, someone unaware she has the power to destroy their entire world.

 

As a prophesized war brews in the Heights, Addison and Rhyse must decide which carries more risk—trusting someone who could destroy you or trusting someone who could love you?

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Check out this Excerpt . I love it!

Addison backed up until she hit the counter. It was over. It had been over ever since those chains came off. Ever since she brought him into her apartment. Into her life.

“I saved you. I could’ve left you outside until the sun came up.”

“I imagine you wish you had.”

“Can you…can you not kill me? Just take some, but not all?”

Rhyse brushed her hair behind her shoulder and curled his fingers around the nape of her neck, whispering, “Do you trust me that much?”

“I don’t even trust you a little.” She felt the sting of tears. “I don’t want to be turned. If you drain me, let me die.”

He ran his other hand up her shoulder, to her throat and slowly closed his fingers around it. One move and her neck would break. “To drain you I would have to drink from you. And that, my pet, I will not do.”

She didn’t know what he meant but now seemed like a bad time to argue.

“Did you know what you are? How many of you exist?”

She didn’t answer. Partially because speaking required the air he was cutting off. Then his hands were gone, just like the rest of him.

Was it over?

When one of the women behind the counter moaned, Addison went to make sure they were alright.

Rhyse was on top of one of them, his fangs obviously burrowed in her neck. The woman moaned again, her legs wrapping around him. One hand clutched his shoulder and the other slapped the wall, searching for a hold.

It had to have been shock that made it impossible to look away. Or run away. The woman’s moans got louder, then crested, and her body went limp. Not in a dead way, but in an I-just-had-the-best-orgasm-of-my-life way.

Get out of here.

“Leave and they will die.” His voice stopped her after only two steps. “Stay and they will wake up from a very pleasant, very erotic dream.”

She grinded her teeth when she heard another moan. He must have moved on to the other woman. With two to feed from, there was less of a chance he would drain them, but… “Why should I trust you?”

The woman’s moans stopped and she whined, “No.”

“I do not care if you trust me,” he said. “Only that you obey me.”

“Fuck you.” But she didn’t move. “Are they alive?”

“Of course. It is against the law to kill humans.”

“Then let me go.”

“You are not human, Addison.” His voice came from just over her shoulder.

“I am. I promise. Totally human.” Somehow he’d missed the fact that seers were human, despite her telling him at least five times.

She heard the shuffling of fabric and looked down to see him wrapping his already-bloody shirt around the arm she’d cut. He tied a knot with the sleeves and pulled it tight. There was no part of this that she understood.

She sucked in a breath when he put his hands on her hipbones. Then another as they slid to her belly and down, pressing her back into him. She felt his heat and a vibration on her back as he made a sound similar to a cat’s purr but scarier. Clenching her eyes shut, she waited for death.

“You should thank them.” His voice was all sex. Dangerous, risky, awesome sex. “They just saved your life.”

They did? “Thank you,” she called out with a shaking voice. “Now that your belly’s full, how about you back off a little?”

“I should kill you, Addison.”

“I’m going to have to disagree with you about that.”

After a moment he stepped away, sighing as if he just made a really tough decision and wasn’t sure it was the right one.

“So,” she said, heading for the door, “it seems like you’re feeling better which is great. I’m really happy for you. Since you don’t need me anymore, I’m gonna go now. I’ll see you around.”

“Come to me, Addison.” His eyes were back to their original inhumanly beautiful color. Though he didn’t quite look calm, he looked satisfied.

“No.”

“Come to me or I will snap your neck.”

“Okay.”

“If you had simply brought a human to me, this all could have been avoided.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.” Total lie—she wasn’t thinking a goddamn thing besides, “Shiiiiit!”

“You and I have things to discuss, and a few memories to alter along the way back to your home.”

Damn it on many counts. “Alter or wipe?”

“Alter, of course. Although my strength has returned, wiping that many minds would still be highly taxing. I prefer to save my power for other activities.”

Like…? Nah, she didn’t want to know.

He opened the door and gestured for her to go first. Which he’d probably never done before. Minions opened doors for him and she doubted chivalry ranked high on his list of valuable traits. But she went because when you gotta go, you gotta go.

“Did you know?” he asked.

What was it with that question? “Know what? That your victims come while you feed? Yeah, I heard it happens occasionally.”

“Always. They always come while I feed. If it were possible, I would show you.”

“I just heard more proof than I wanted to, thanks.”

“I have no doubt that it would be far more enjoyable to feel you come than to hear her do it.”

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About Lauren Stewart

Image of Lauren Stewart

 

Lauren Stewart lives in Northern California with two of the most amazing children that the world has ever seen. She reads almost every genre so, naturally, her writing reflects that. With every book, every story, you’ll find elements of other genres–fantasy, mystery, romance, paranormal, suspense, YA, women’s literature, all with a touch of humor because what doesn’t kill us should make us laugh.

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

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Tour giveaway

5 ebook copies of Unseen

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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My Teaser for today is from

Valens Rise

The Valens of Legacy, Book #1

by Sherrel Lee

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Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance

My Teaser from 8% into the book

She fought the overwhelming urge to throw her belongings into a suitcase and flee as she had so many times in years past. Nowhere to go and nowhere she particularly wanted to be. Dallas was her home. She would find a way to deal with the insanity that had suddenly entered her life.

Another Teaser from 14% into the book

“Do you think she has any idea what all this really means, Hawke? She’s awfully young and hasn’t found anyone to offer the support she should have.”

“Don’t know Miranda, but I suspect she’s in the dark about who and what she really is.”

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Book Description:

In Book One of this paranormal fantasy series, Jemma Nix, a shapeshifting phoenix discovers her family’s heritage. She is overwhelmed with distrust and doubt. Her entire family may have been murdered. Her mentor may be using her in a deadly pursuit of power.

Confronted with these facts, Jemma begins to suspect that those closest to her are mad. Refusing to believe their claims of a secret race, she pushes away the one man who may be able to help. The one man who she may be destined to love. Rather than face the reality of her new life, Jemma makes a fateful decision. One that places the Valens in jeopardy and forces them to face a deadly, genetically engineered threat.
To read this paranormal mystery thriller, download this book now!
Valens Rise is book one of the paranormal suspense series the Valens of Legacy.

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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I’m really liking the sound of this one and that cover art is exciting. Don’t think I’d want to mess with her! Would you?

Read on to learn more about Cassiel Knight’s The Death Skull. And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Title: The Death Skull

Series: Relic Defender # 2

Author: Cassiel Knight

Published: May 6th, 2014 / Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Word Count: 87,000

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Content Warning: Adult content, minor blood/gore

Recommended Age: 18+

Synopsis

Synopsis: Fallen angel Marisol Asheni Fell when she unwisely chose to follow Lucifer. Unlike many of her fellow angels, she has no desire for redemption. Instead, she prefers fighting the followers of the Dark when they step over the line. Except, in the deepest part of her soul, she longs for a reason to stop fighting.

Jackson’s only loyalty is to himself and his mother, but even he has boundaries he won’t cross. When his last job threatened the life of a young woman, he tossed aside the lucrative pay, and finds himself fighting evil. He’s attracted to Mari despite her hard, seemingly emotionless edge. And while Mari finds the tall human reluctantly appealing, she has no intention of finding herself in a relationship with a human.

Brought together by the Archangel Michael, they must find and destroy the crystal Mayan Death Skull before the son of Lucifer uses the skull to destroy the world’s leaders and throw the world into chaos to begin Hell on Earth.

Their search for the Death Skull takes them from Chicago to Central America to the lost city of Lubaantun in Belize, the heart of the Mayan civilization, and into a battle for their souls.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads

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Check out this peek inside the book!

 

Jackson leaned against the gymnasium door. He flexed his right knee, which was still sore and tender from his near-death slide down a mountain a couple of weeks ago. Once off the slopes and in the hillside city of Nagarkot, he’d been pronounced fine by the local doctor. The little joyride down the mountainside had left Jackson with a banged up kneecap and strained and bruised neck and shoulder muscles. Not much more severe than the normal scrapes and cuts he’d gotten over the last six months since he’d turned over a new leaf and joined a band of do-gooders to save the world. How had his life changed so fast from the neatly roped-and-tied, orderly affair to the messy, knotted circle it had become? Six months for a complete turnaround was fast for a man who had been perfectly content as an unscrupulous mercenary working for the rich and powerful. Especially the rich. Now, instead of traveling the world to work for men willing to part with their ill- gotten money, he lived in a goddamn huge mansion with an angel who turned down Heaven, an ex-exotic dancer with a sassy mouth and a destiny to save mankind, a shape- shifting rock with aspirations to be a 1920s mobster, a cocky tech expert and— Her. The woman currently kicking the crap out of the poor punching bag. Correction. Not a woman. Fallen angel. Demon, actually. Christ. Jackson swept a hand through his hair. When he found trouble, he went all the way. Said woman, Marisol Asheni—a flowery name for a hard-ass demon—struck the bag, the force of her blow rocking the heavy sack violently. He half expected the damn thing to crash to the floor. Even as she pounded the hell out of the bag, her body flowed in lovely symmetry. Much like the woman herself, each of her movements was precise, effortless and made with minimum motions. And a helluva lot of grace. Her taut ass flexed and smoothed under the formfitting tight shorts women—God love them—seemed to favor. Long legs, tanned and straight, looked silky under the soft lights. Her waist was bare, and when she moved he thought he caught a glimpse of something flashing at her navel. Holy hell, the woman had a belly-button piercing. When had she gotten the damn thing? He sure hadn’t noticed it the last time he’d seen her work out. His appreciative gaze tracked a path up her body, flowing past her curved hips to her uptilted breasts, up the smooth column of her throat. Despite her features being too austere for true beauty and marred only slightly by the iron determination in her square chin, she possessed a wildness he found fascinating. Her auburn hair, woven into a tight braid, swayed back and forth as she moved. The glowing strands flickered with fire—filled with gold, rich coppers and hot reds. Any adjective used to describe fire fit Marisol Asheni to a T. As in trouble.

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About the Author:

Cassiel Knight

In the job that pays the mortgage and allows her to indulge in her real passion, writing, Cassiel Knight works in the beautiful state of Oregon. Crazy-passionate about the romance writing industry, Cassiel has a paranormal romance series featuring fallen angels and demons from Samhain Publishing, an urban fantasy through Lyrical Press and a Egyptian mythology/archeology series with Champagne Book Group. She writes paranormal romances with kick-assitude that blend archeology and mythology – just a few of her favorite things.

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Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website | Blog

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Giveaway Details:

$25 Amazon Gift Card

Giveaway is International.

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Have I got a series for you.

The Windkeepers Series sounds hot and mysterious.

Check out all five books, enjoy the excerpt, and remember to enter the giveaway!

Wind Kissed, Fire Bound

The WindKeepers, #1

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For centuries, she has felt nothing…

 

As Keeper of the Winds, Livia Cavalli needed to focus her power on keeping the evil Tempest Winds trapped in their island prison. What she doesn’t need is to be distracted by sexy horse trainer Rafe Donovan. Three hundred years ago, Livia became an immortal Keeper to numb her emotions, but Rafe arouses her in a way she hasn’t felt for centuries.

 

For Rafe, Livia is a challenge he longs to solve—and take to bed. Once she’s in his arms, their desire is overwhelming. But when his own powers reveal Livia’s secret pain, he realizes taking her body isn’t enough—he wants to heal her soul, too…

 

AmazonBarnes & Noble ~   Kobo ~ ARe

 

 

Taken by the South Wind

The WindKeepers, # 2

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The deadly Tempest Winds have escaped…

 

Now, four brothers gifted with the power of the winds must recapture the Venti Tempesta before they can unleash their evil on the world…

 

WindKeeper Dante Venti, Keeper of the South Wind, is in Rome on a mission to entrap the Southwest wind and its holder before it can infect humanity with the vice of pride. Dante already feels pride seducing him…but the real temptation is alluring assassin Samia Hassan.

 

Samia has been sent to kill Dante, but her body is irresistibly drawn to him, his power and presence enveloping her. And if she’s not careful, she will be entrapped by Dante, body and soul…

 

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~  ARe

 

 

Tempting the West Wind

The WindKeepers, # 3

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The deadly Tempest Winds have escaped…

 

Now, four brothers gifted with the power of the winds must recapture the Venti Tempesta before they can unleash their evil on the world…

 

Antonio Venti, Keeper of the West Wind, wakes naked and chained, captured by the nemesis he hunts. The evil Northwest Wind is spreading the vice of lust across the city of Florence and Antonio feels his skin heating, his blood firing and his body wanting. He refuses to succumb, but then his cunning prey offers him his ultimate temptation—the woman he craves above all else.

 

Sophia Crane has given up on rich, cheating men. She’s come to Italy to focus on her art restoration and discover the truth about the legend of the WindKeepers, but then she wakes naked and locked in a room with her sexy boss. As Sophia and Antonio fight their scorching desire, Sophia learns the terrible truth about the power of the wind, and that she may either be Antonio’s salvation or his downfall.

 

Amazon ~ ARe ~ Smashwords

 

Defying the North Wind

The WindKeepers, # 4

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The deadly Tempest Winds have escaped…

 

Now, four brothers gifted with the power of the winds must recapture the Venti Tempesta before they can unleash their evil on the world…

 

Billionaire Luca Venti is head of Venti Enterprises and the Keeper of the volatile North Wind. He prides himself on his control and as he battles the deadly Northeast Wind in the heart of Venice, he refuses all help. But the vice of rage beats within him and when he discovers his new personal assistant is hiding more than just dangerous curves under her suit, his fury wants to be unleashed.

 

Rayne Santini was sent to spy on Luca, not to get involved with him and his explosive temper. She knows all about angry men who like to hurt others, but as she watches Luca struggle against his vice, she refuses to stand by and do nothing. But when their enemy entraps them, Luca’s control begins to crumble and the only thing standing between him and his rage is Rayne.

 

Amazon ~ ARe ~ Smashwords

 

 

Claiming the East Wind

The WindKeepers, #5

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The deadly Tempest Winds have escaped…

 

Now, four brothers gifted with the power of the winds must recapture the Venti Tempesta before they can unleash their evil on the world…

 

Skye Santini has lived her life in the shadows, hiding from the horrors of her past. Tired of always being afraid, she vows that now is her chance to make a difference. She will be the virgin sacrifice to appease Soren Venti, the Keeper of the East Wind, who has succumbed to his vice of greed.

 

Locked away in his villa on Lake Como, Soren has no memory of his identity. He is driven only by the whispers of greed to take, own and possess, but then one fragile woman enters his domain. Soren wants Skye above all else…but he wants her willing, not as a duty-bound lover. As they are drawn together, their dangerous enemy, the Southeast Wind bears down on them. He wants Soren to join him and rule the world…and he knows that Skye is the only thing stopping him.

 

Amazon ~ ARe ~ Smashwords

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Author Anna Hackett

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I’m Anna Hackett and I write action romance stories to thrill you, excite you and leave you inspired. I write about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals to inspire you with the truth that the possibility exists for all of us to do the same. I love car chases, explosions and spaceships…and of course when the boy wins the girl. Oh, and I’m a sucker for that moment when the team is walking in slow motion, shoulder-to-shoulder heading off into battle. After reading or writing an awesome action romance story, I’m left energized and feeling like anything is possible. I aim to give the same to my readers.

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Website ~  Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter

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GRAND PRIZE: $25 Amazon Gift Card

RUNNERS UP: Two runners up will each receive an ebook of Anna Hackett’s TIME THIEF

Click on the Rafflecopter to enter.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find any sentence, or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

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It seems a few of the homeless have disappeared without any logical explanation.

She was well aware there were things that humans didn’t know about – and in this case ignorance could be extremely dangerous.

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Valens Remembered

The Valens of Legacy 0.5

By Sherrel Lee

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As Larinda Nix Thomas buries her adoptive parents, who died in a deadly echo of the accident that took her birth parents, hidden documents reveal that she is being threatened by a sinister force and that she shouldn’t trust even her closest allies.

Fate demands she accept her place among the Valens as a shapeshifter, a unicorn, which brings more changes to her life than she could have imagined and puts her on a collision course with her ultimate destiny. In this prequel to the Valens series myth is rewritten, fantasy and science fiction blend to create a chilling story of death, loss, and discovery.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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Every good cozy mystery needs an attention grabbing, fun, title and quirky cover art.

You get both of these with Murder Is Academic.

I have lots to tell you in my review, so please read on and enjoy.

Warning: You won’t be able to resist this book!

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Murder is Academic
by Lesley A. Diehl

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I enjoyed the book….Well written, will keep you guessing…
~rantin’ ravin and reading

Lesley keeps you hooked from the start. From the murder until finding out who did it, you are on the edge of your seat.
~Shelley’s Book Case

I love a good mystery and this was no exception. It was light and fun …
~The Book Junkie

Diehl writes with wit and an eye for detail and creates believable characters that I would want to hang out with.
~Bea’s Book Nook

 

Murder Is Academic
(Laura Murphy Mystery Series)

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File Size: 1626 KB
Print Length: 223 pages
Publisher: Lesley A. Diehl (March 29, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
 ASIN: B00JCV6XG8

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MY REVIEW

Murder Is Academic tickled my funny bone and had me using my brain pan.

Laura and Annie, two college professors, just landed their canoe. While waiting for their ride home, Laura wanders over to examine something she spotted while on the lake. It’s a shirt or something, in an ugly plaid color. She gives it a tug and finds something even uglier. There’s a body attached.

As they wait for their ride to arrive, a stranger approaches them, wanting to know what they’re doing at the construction site. Laura doesn’t know if his reason for being there is legit or maybe he’s the killer so she tries out some Judo on him.

This was the first time I laughed out loud while reading this book. I could just see Laura, twisting and yanking this guys arm around and not having much affect. Guy is tall, broad-shouldered, and immovable.

Once her friend Der, the police detective arrives, the victim is identified as the President of the college and the questions begin. The funniest one was from Guy. He wanted to know if Laura was being arrested for murder, and if not, would she have dinner with him.

 I have four characters I’m attached to. Laura’s friend Annie is funny and caring, someone I’d like to pal around with. Der, the cop, is Laura’s best buddy, and his sarcasm and charm are equally appealing. But there’s no hanky panky with these two. They’re just friends. Enter Guy, the sexy biker from Canada. He’s alpha male and has cast his lure at Laura. I was glad she took the bait. These two started out suspecting each other and I liked where they ended up. Now Laura, she felt so real, so alive. We shared many things in common, including sticking our heads in the icebox to relieve the hot flashes. She’s now a favorite character of mine. And there’s on e character that comes in a bit later in the story that I wanted to hug. You’ll know when you meet.

While Der is questioning suspects and chasing down leads, Laura does her own investigating. With no love lost between the President and the faculty, they’re all suspects. And as the list narrows, the killer gets more desperate. Now she is being threatened and Laura and Guy are bracing for the eye of the coming storm.

There are a few things I need in order to enjoy a mystery.

There has to be multiple suspects to sift through . I like following the trails, coming up on dead ends, and moving on to the next.

The characters have to be flawed and well-developed, especially the amateur sleuths. That’s what makes the book funny. Comic relief is a must.

The motive can’t be obvious or the killer will be easy to sort out.

And the ending has to make sense and not be rushed. I like the case wrapped up and explained without feeling like it all happened in the last pages.

In Murder is Academic the author gave me plenty of suspects, not too few and not too many, which made sniffing out the clues engaging.

The characters, especially Laura, Guy, Der, and Annie were captivating, loveable, and fun to hang with. They felt like old friends.

There was more than one motive. I felt like I was being given subtle clues right about from the beginning and my attention stayed sharp.

And now for the ending. I wanted more than one answer. As I was reading, I found I wanted to know more about Annie and her ill husband, More about Der besides what’s happening on the job, and definitely more about Laura and Guy. And, of course, I wanted to know who the killer was and why he did it. I got plenty of answers and came away happy.

Must not forget about the romance. The author having Laura and Guy hook up right from the beginning was exciting. I like when the romance is developed in the beginning and there’s no wishy-washy stuff. Then it’s just more fun to read how the romance grows, and the mystery still remains the main focus. Laura and Guy were icing on the cake.

I laughed out loud so many times while reading. I couldn’t wait to find out who did what and why. I was eager to read the next page and the next, and so on. That’s why I’d recommend this book to anyone. Friends, family, the stranger looking at me funny when I laughed out loud in the waiting room. Anyone who’d listen. I can not wait for more!

5 STARS

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Synopsis

Laura Murphy, psychology professor, thinks there’s nothing she likes better than coffee and donuts on a summer morning until she says yes to dinner with a Canadian biker and finds herself and her date suspects in the murder of her college’s president. Laura’s friend, the detective assigned the case, asks her to help him find out who on the small upstate New York college campus may be a killer. The murder appears to be wrapped up in some unsavory happenings on the lake where Laura lives. A fish kill and raw sewage seeping into the water along with the apparent drowning suicide of a faculty member complicate the hunt for the killer. And then things become personal. The killer makes a threatening phone call to Laura. With a tornado bearing down on the area and the killer intent upon silencing her, Laura’s sleuthing work may come too late to save her and her biker from a watery grave.

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LES DIEHL

About The Author

Like me, my protagonists choose to live their lives close to nature.
From the deep, green river valleys and tree-covered mountains of upstate New York to the palm-treed pastures of the Big Lake Country in Florida, these women have found their homes and their hearts in rural America.
These plucky snoops are joined by a transplant from Connecticut, Eve Appel, who moves to rural Florida to set up a consignment shop with her best friend and partner, Madeleine Boudreau.

All these amateur sleuths yearn for the simple, artless existence of hard work coupled with rustic pleasure.
That’s why they live away from big cities, but murder and violence have a way of stalking us, even our plucky heroines, who think they’ve avoided life’s perils.

Lesley A. Diehl author of cozy mysteries featuring sassy, country gals who enjoy snooping www.lesleyadiehl.com

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Tour Participants

May 15 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
May 16 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review,
May 17 – The Book Junkie – Review, Giveaway
May 19 – Bea’s Book Nook– Review,
May 20 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s ramblins and reviews – Review
May 21 – deal sharing aunt – Interview, Giveaway
May 22 – Victoria’s Pages of Romance – Guest Post
May 23 – Traci Andrighett’s blog – Review
May 26 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
May 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview
May 28 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – Review
May 29 – Back Porchervations – Review, Interview
May 30 – Community Bookstop – Review
May 31 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review

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Get ready to SWOON with 3 sexy, NEVER BEFORE RELEASED New Adult romance novels!
Box set will be sold for 9 Days Only! 99 Cents!
Available in a limited edition box set at the special price of only .99 cents for all 3 new books! Starting May 19th, this set will only be on sale for 9 days BEFORE the May 28th official release dates of the individual books. On May 28th, each book will be released separately at a price of $2.99 per book.
The soon-to-be released books in the set are:
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Whispering Wishes, by Jennifer Miller
Tempting Sydney, by Angela Corbett
Rain Check, by Gypsy Rae Choszer
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This set includes books by 2014 RONE Award Finalists, Jennifer Miller and Angela Corbett (Destiny Ford), and debut author, Gypsy Rae Choszer!
*Due to mature content, this box set is recommended for readers over 18.
 
 
GRAB YOUR BOX SET TODAY!
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AMAZON † B&N
 
JOIN THE RELEASE PARTY ON FACEBOOK
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Help spread the word!
 
Using the hashtag, #SWOON, share a facebook status, tweet, instagram, blog post, etc. about the box set. Be sure to use the hashtag. Each time it is used counts as an entry! 🙂 
 
 
**GIFT BASKET IS OPEN TO US RESIDENTS ONLY
 
 
 
 
To learn more about the authors and their books, click on any of the links below. 
 
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Enjoy this Guest Post by author Eliza Gordon

When you sit down to read Must Love Otters, I’ll bet you aren’t expecting to learn something along the way. I’m not a writer who seeks to hide secret messages in the material. Readers are smarter than that. The savvy writer works to infuse meaning and subtlety in their words without smacking folks over the head with an unspoken agenda.Elfin VanAqua August 2013

But a book isn’t a success unless the reader, who grants the writer the privilege of time, walks away with something. And with this book, I wanted that something to be more than a smiling face or a filled heart—I wanted to share a little love with the animal kingdom.

I know, I know—you’re reminding me that Hollie Porter is not a fan of Yorkies. Sorry, pups. No offense. You’re cute enough and lots of people love you. But what about the endangered sea otter? Enhydra lutris has three subspecies: the Southern sea otter (found in California, concentrated in the Monterey area), the Northern sea otter (Washington, Canada, and up into Alaska), and the Russian sea otter (off the coast of eastern Russia with reported sightings as far as Japan). We’re not talking huge numbers, though—the temperate central California coast iKatmai and Tanu DSC_2394s home to only about 3000 otters. While the Pacific Northwest boasts a healthier population of 65,000 to 78,000 critters, we’re talking about close to 3000 miles of coastline. When you do the math, that’s a lot of beach, and not a lot of otters.

Since Must Love Otters hit the digital shelves (and some wooden shelves for our diehard fans!) in October 2013, folks have shared their otter pictures, memes, and stories on our Facebook and Twitter feeds—which is awesome. I follow Friends of the Sea Otter, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Vancouver Aquarium, SeaOtters.org, and Michael Yang Photography (he specializes in photographing California’s otter population) and I love hearing news like what came through this morning—two orphaned and rescued pups, rehabilitated by the folks at Monterey Bay, have found their forever homes in Oregon. The Oregon Coast Aquarium welcomes Otter 649, now Elfin - DSC_2453named Oswald, and the Oregon Zoo welcomes little Juno, just six months old and ready to meet her adoring fans.

If writing a silly love story about a girl who loves otters means more people take notice of the plight of the beloved sea otter, then mission accomplished. Awareness is the first step toward conservation—and I’m proud that Hollie Porter is doing her part.

Thank you for reading!

Note: Pictures of the otters were taken by Eliza Gordon and are of Elfin (male) and Katmai (female) who live at the Vancouver Aquarium

Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon is an adult romantic comedy that released in October 2013.

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About the book:

Hollie Porter is the chairwoman of Generation Disillusioned: at twenty-five years old, she’s saddled with a job she hates, a boyfriend who’s all wrong for her, and a vexing inability to say no. She’s already near her breaking point, so when one caller too many kicks the bucket during Hollie’s 911 shift, she cashes in the Sweethearts’ Spa & Stay gift certificate from her dad and heads to Revelation Cove, British Columbia. One caveat: she’s going solo. Any sweethearts will have to be found on site.

Hollie hopes to find her beloved otters in the wilds of the Great White North, but instead she’s providing comic relief for staff and guests alike. Even Concierge Ryan, a former NHL star with bad knees and broken dreams, can’t stop her from stumbling from one (mis)adventure to another. Just when Hollie starts to think that a change of venue doesn’t mean a change in circumstances, the island works its charm and she starts to think she might have found the rejuvenation she so desperately desires. But then an uninvited guest crashes the party, forcing her to step out of the discomfort zone where she dwells and save the day … and maybe even herself in the process.

 

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBookstore

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Eliza Gordon is a husband-and-wife team of controlled chaos who writes stories to help you believe in the Happily Ever After.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Scary Modsters BlitzBanner

I just love a book with a quirky title and cover art.

 This just leaped out at me saying, “You know you can’t resist me.”

So true.

Music, romance, and a blast from the past!

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Scary Modsters… and Creepy Freaks
by Diane Rinella
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Print
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Publication date: March 25th 2014
Genres: Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
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A fantastical romance involving a girl, the music that fuels her, and her Ouija board.

Rosalyn possesses a sunny personality that is laced with quirks. Although she seeks acceptance in a world where she lives out of time, what she gets is ridiculed for her eclectic wardrobe and unconventional music collection.

One fateful night, Rosalyn bewitches Niles, a stylish man whose offbeat character perfectly complements her own. Unfortunately, he possesses a critical flaw that means relationship suicide for him and pretty much anyone.

While under the influence of insomnia-impaired judgment, Rosalyn summons Rock ‘n Roll deity Peter Lane back from the dead. Not only does he spin her hormones into a frenzy, Peter is also the precarious puzzle piece that brings sense into her world. When Niles learns that he can overcome his life-long challenge by helping Peter avenge his death, how far will he go to secure Rosalyn’s heart?

Purchase:

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Check out this excerpt from PETER

May 13, 1966 was a day that most wouldn’t give a turnip over. Take a look at this picture. You see that guy? The smarmy, dark-haired young businessman sitting behind that big wood desk? That’s Ben Stoddard, or as he likes to call himself, Big Ben. I refer to him as Mr. B.S. He’s the one who took me. I mean he took everything—my career, my happiness, the girl I loved, and my life.

Now look to those four young lads sitting across from him—the ones that seem as if they’ve never had a penny to their names. The ones eager to sign on that dotted line. That handsome devil with the sandy blonde hair and the stupid grin—that’s me, Peter Lane; singer, guitarist, huge chump, and idiot extraordinaire. I was on top of the world at that moment. We all were. You know that witticism about how you have to be careful that you don’t sign your life away? It’s no joke because that’s exactly what I was doing.

We had just been given a new car, a swanky apartment, and unlimited credit at all the fancy boutiques on Carnaby Street. You’ve heard of Carnaby, right? The place where every self-respecting mod paid too much for clothes he couldn’t afford even if they had been offered at fair prices. We were told to dress like we owned the world because we soon would. A tour was being planned so we could conquer America just like The Beatles had. All we had to do was sign on that little piece of paper you see on Mr. B.S.’s desk. We signed it in blue ink from a fountain pen—but had we known whom we were dealing with we would have pricked ourselves and used blood.

Two years later I was hovering above my casket, watching people lower my body into a dark, dirt hole, and cringing at how the once beautiful man had become broken, burnt to a crisp, and about to be devoured by worms.

Everyone thought it was an accident.

Then and there I vowed revenge. Plotting it was easy, but finding my way back was another story.

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Enjoy this interview with Diane Rinella, author of Scary Modsters

 

In the last few years there have been many books about rock stars from the 1980’s up to the present. You went all the way back to the 1960’s. Why did you choose that era?

In the early 1960’s we had just gotten out of the bobby sox and saddle shoes phase and were looking to Jackie O for style tips. Fashions weren’t exactly risky. When our hero, Peter Lane, became popular all of that was changing. Mary Quant, a fashion designer out of London, made revolutionary changes in styles, color combinations, and hemlines that have never left us. The mod look propelled fashion forward and signaled that the world was changing. It was sort of the shot heard around the world.

 

But why make him a mod? Why not a rocker or a hippie?

A lot of the reason has to do with my fascination with mod culture. There’s a misconception that the scooter-loving mods were rich kids while their rivals, the motorcycle-riding rockers, didn’t have money for fancy clothes. In talking to a lot of 60’s mods I found that wasn’t true at all. The mods were just as working class as the rockers, but their priorities were different. They didn’t believe in wearing something that they considered undesirable when they could to do better.

 

I have a few hang-ups with modern fashion. It seems like everywhere I go people are wearing clothes that are so short and tight that their skin pops out in an undesirable way. The alternative is that their clothes are so baggy that they are falling off. I have a hard time watching award shows. Some people are given great honors and they show up looking like getting out of bed was an inconvenience. It drives me crazy.

 

Have you noticed that you seem to hit on the cusp of an emerging trend?

A few weeks ago I was in my corner drugstore and noticed a nail polish display that said, “Go Mod.” All of the colors were shades that you would expect find in dresses circa 1966. About a week later I saw a commercial for Target. As they were flashing through the different spring trends one of them boldly said “60’s mod” and showed a girl in mod make up. Rimmel has a wickedly fantastic mod campaign going on. I could not have timed it better.

 

So I take it the character of Rosalyn is rather personal?

A lot of her really is. She’s more fangirly than I am, but I totally understand her. While our situations are completely different our hearts are the same.

 

Why do you think we are looking to the 1960s for fashion?

It seems that every twenty years we revisit an era. The poodle skirts and saddle shoes of the 1950’s came back in style in the late 1970’s when rockabilly hit. 1960’s fashions became popular again in the 1980’s, during the new wave revolution. In the 1990’s stores were flooded with bellbottoms and those big shirts that were all the rage in the 70’s. In the first decade of the current century we saw an 80’s, new wave resurgence. Now we are due for a 90’s resurgence, which puts us at grunge. The problem is that grunge had a very casual look that never went away. Also the 90’s weren’t very interesting fashion wise. So where do we go from there? It seems only natural that we would look back to the revolution—the 1960’s. Everything old is new again.

 

So do you think suddenly everybody’s going to wear oversized sunglasses, miniskirts, and well-tailored suits?

A part of me really hopes so! A part of me also fears it because it means I’ll be stylish. I can’t see us going extreme, but I can certainly see an influence creeping in.

 

Scary Modsters is a very interesting title. Where how did you come up with it?

I don’t know how many people are catching the reference, but it’s a parody of the David Bowie album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). I wanted a title that gave away the rock ‘n roll connection. With Peter Lane being a mod and the fact that there is mob involvement, having a play on words was too easy.

 

Peter Lane goes through some pretty wild times. Is all that based on anything or anyone?

Peter Lane is both based on everyone and no one. So many musicians went through hell. Stories like Peter’s are all over rock history books. It’s no secret that all the events Peter went though have some type of counterpart in reality; however, the character and events are completely fabricated.

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Author Diane Rinella
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scary modsters Diane
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Enjoying San Francisco as a backdrop, the ghosts in Diane’s 150-year old Victorian home augment the chorus in her head. With insomnia as their catalyst, these voices have become multifarious characters that haunt her well into the sun’s crowning hours, refusing to let go until they have manipulated her into succumbing to their whims. Her experiences as an actress, business owner, artisan cake designer, software project manager, Internet radio disc jockey, vintage rock n’ roll journalist/fangirl, and lover of dark and quirky personalities influence her idiosyncratic writing.Find Angela here:
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Blitz-wide Giveaway

Open to US Only. Sorry to my International friends.

One signed paperback of Scary Modsters and a multi-author SWAG pack.

Winner also chooses from one of three charities for the author to make a $20 donation in their name!

Click on the Rafflecopter below to enter.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Hunted Tour banner

I’ve got another exciting book to show you today.

Hunted is the second book in The LeKrista Scott, Vampire Hunted Series.

The cover art is spectacular and if you like slayers and vampires with some romance too, this is something you’ll want to read.

Read the character bios and get to know a bit about them. Then enjoy the peek inside Hunted.

Hunted

LeKrista Scott, Vampire Hunted Series # 2

By Tyffani Clark Kemp

Hunted tour -eBook

Publication Date- April 16th, 2014

Genre- Paranormal/Vampires

Blurb

LeKrista Scott survived three separate vampire attacks, almost drowned, and turned down her boyfriend’s proposal. What else could possibly go wrong?

Apparently, if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Lizette, a brand new vampire with a grudge, blames LeKrista for being turned into a monster. In retaliation, she decides to go straight for the throat, so to speak, and attack LK’s ailing mother at her rest home. LeKrista enlists the help of her “Vampire liason” Roman, but it could never be that easy. Not for her.

A daywalker, a born vampire who can walk in the sun, has been hired by the head of the Vampire Counsel to collect LeKrista and the debt she owes him. As payment, her great great aunt is taken. Once again, the Mages refuse to help, so what is a girl to do, but rescue her family herself?

With her back against the wall, LeKrista will rise up stronger and teach the preternatural world to fear the Vampire Hunted.

Links-

Goodreads ~ Kindle ~ Amazon UK ~ Createspace

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Character Bios

LeKrista Scott

25 and in a committed relationship, even if things are a little rocky with everything she’s dealing with. Like Vampires. And the fact that she’s a powerful mage. She has trouble controlling her magic because of a darkness that lurks deep inside her, made stronger by vampires.

Pierce Wisely

LeKrista’s boyfriend. They’ve been together for six years. He has supernatural qualities, but can’t tell LK what he is until after they consummate their marriage…if they ever get to.

Roman

2000 year old vampire. He was born during the Roman Empire and served as a Centurion. He was one of the men who crucified Jesus. Cursed for all eternity to be a vampire, he is one of the oldest still living. And one of the strongest.

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And a peek inside!

Pierce laughed like he was trying to hold it in. “I promise I don’t turn into any kind of bug, creepy crawly, or biting thing.” He paused and his eyes flashed in that otherwordly way. “No, that’s not true. I do bite.”

“Pierce, I’m being serious.”

“So am I. I do bite, but no bugs and no spiders. Look at me.” He took my chin and forced my eyes to his. They were soft, amber orbs that smiled at me, full of love and tollerance. “You’re special because I love you like I’ve never loved anyone ever before, and when you learn what it means for me to say that, you’ll understand just how important it is that I can. You are my whole world, LeKrista Scott. You are everything to me. None of the other women in my life matter. Do you hear me? Well, except for my mother.” He winked. “Gotta love mama.”

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About Author Tyffani Clark Kemp

hunted tour Tyffani Clark Kemp

Tyffani Clark Kemp has been writing since she discovered in the sixth grade that it wasn’t enough just to read about fantastic places, but she could create her own. She weaves small bits of herself into everything she writes whether it be a science fiction piece about aliens or a dramatic romance fraught with conflict and love. In September 2012 Tyffani and a friend started SideStreet Publishing LLC. She lives in South Carolina with her family and her fluffy shii tzu-mix dog who thinks he’s a Saint Bernard.

Links-

Facebook ~ Goodreads ~  Website ~   Twitter

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!