Archive for the ‘Short stories and collections’ Category

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You are now entering the…..

Just kidding. But I do have three very different short stories for you.

Take a gander!

The Dead of Penderghast Manor

by Julianne Snow

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My Review

Zombies that don’t want to eat me? This I had to read.

Chester works at the family mortuary, preparing the recently deceased for their viewings. It should be easy. But these dead don’t hold still for embalming. They don’t lie still. They walk and talk.

He can’t have any disappearing so he has to handle them with care. This proves difficult when the local senior playboy wants to keep on being the ladies man, even after he’s dead.

Chester’s father doesn’t believe him when he tries to explain this, so he keeps it to himself and does the best he can.

Until a strange body arrives from the carnival. And has an even stranger request.

If you have a good imagination, you’ll be able to visual Chester’s struggles and have some good chuckles.

The zinger the author threw at me  with the carnival corpse was creative and gave the ending a boost.

A fun and creepy told you so.

If you’re looking for a humorous take on a new kind of zombie, I suggest you try this story.

3 STARS

Synopsis

What would you do if you knew the Dead could talk?

For Chester Penderghast, it’s not the easiest of questions to answer…

Ensconced in the basement of his family’s mortuary business is the last place he wants to be, but when the conversation starts flowing, Chester’s the only living person who can hear it. What do the Dead want, and why is he the only one who can hear them?

This is not your average zombie tale—the Dead don’t want to eat your brains, but they will chew your ear off!

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Kellie’s Diary

by

Thomas Jenner 

and

Angeline Perkins

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My Review

I like finding something different and that’s what I got in Kellie’s Diary.

What first surprised me was the way the story was told. Not just that it was presented in diary entries from a third grader. It was that it was in her printed words. It read slowly at first until I got used to the way she printed her letters, then it took off and I read it in about 20 minutes.

The ending is rather abrupt, but knowing this is told in parts, I expected that. It’s going to be fun reading more of this series.

You follow Kellie as she’s trapped in the school bathroom when the zombies attack. And follow her through her diary entries as she struggles to get home.

The author did an excellent job of expressing the thoughts of a young girl. It never felt like an adult trying to write as Kellie. It rang true.

I’m anxious to find out if Kellie finds her family? If she finds anyone, so she won’t be all alone.

3 STARS

Synopsis

A series of diary entries through the eyes of a little girl as she tries to survive the end of the world.

What if the early 1990’s didn’t happen as we remember it? What kind of world would we live in today?

This story is told from the viewpoint of 9-year-old Kellie, a typical third-grade girl living her life as anyone else would, and she shares her daily activities with her diary. When the world crumbles and the dead walk, Kellie struggles to survive and find her way home, all the while sharing her tale with her diary.

This is an account of our hypothetical past, present and future.

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It Came From Hell And Smashed The Angels

by Gregor Xane

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My Review

Ben used to be somebody. Now he lives in a rundown trailer, at the beck and call of a senior couple.

One night, he snaps. He hops on his treasured motorcycle and heads off into the night with no plans of returning. Just hits the open road.

When he spots a fire up ahead he slows and stops to investigate. Lying next to a huge hole in the ground is the mangled body of a woman. She was thrown from her car in the accident and before she dies, claims a huge creature attacked her car.

Ben hops on his bike and heads to the local watering hole to call for help. What happens next is out of this world.

I kept hearing the theme to Twilight Zone as I read this story. It had a dark, surreal feel to it.

Bizarre and a bit disjointed but I liked the idea.

3 STARS

Synopsis

Thanks to his big ugly mug, Ben Coburn always played the heavy in Hollywood. Yeah, his name was in the credits of a bunch of low-budget B-movie horror shows, but at least he could say he was in the movies.

That was a long time ago.

Now Ben sits alone in a trailer park listening to an old married couple across the way argue about money, just nursing a beer, waiting for something to happen.

But nothing ever happens. That pisses him off.

No, Big Ben Coburn isn’t going to wait around anymore. He jumps on his motorcycle and tears off into the night.

Intent on escaping into a new life, he races past a field of scarecrows, barreling headlong down the highway toward a blazing inferno and a bottomless pit.

This short story is FREE to download from the following locations:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (Canada) | Amazon (UK)
Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple iBook | PayHip (Mobi & ePub)

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Reading anything scary lately? Got some recommendations? Let me know!

And thanks for visiting fuonlyknew!

 

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Welcome to my Monday Minis.

For today I’ll be reviewing two books.

Up first:

At Least He’s Not On Fire

by Chris Philbrook 

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My Review

Inside these pages you’ll get some short stories and samples from some of the author’s books. This I particularly liked, because I got a feel for the writing and met some of the characters. And I also got a hint about the stories. Great tease by the author and he hooked me.

All In is wicked fun.

Do you think you can bluff the devil? Do you have a better poker face?

Wally’s about to find out.

Wally isn’t lucky. He’s just lost everything at the gaming tables. He sends out an invitation and the devil answers.

Now it’s poker with Nick and the stakes are high. And the devil’s in the details.

I could see the end coming but the author took me around the bend, giving me hope for Wally. The twist was all to his advantage, but I remembered Wally is greedy. That’s why he’s broke

**

Hell Hole

The sink hole was bad. Really bad. Sucking everything down into the collapsing Earth. But that’s not all you have to worry about. It’s what’s stirring down there in the deep abyss that you should really be worrying about.

Some people just never learn and we all pay the price.

When soldiers discover a temple in the jungle, why don’t they listen to the native’s warnings. With evidence showing what will happen, why would anyone open that hole?

Big hole, superstition, folklore, add fools, stir. Recipe for disaster.

Well, if someone didn’t we wouldn’t have this fun, creepy story. I love stories with creatures in them. The author gave me some really good ones and , from watching copious horror movies, It was easy to visualize the scenery and the monsters. I even put some actors faces to the characters.

**

The Vampire of Menlo Park

Very interesting premise. Imagine Thomas Edison was a vampire.

This was fun.

Poor Geoffrey had no idea what he was getting into when he went to work for Mr. Edison.

He did know he was uneasy. Why did Edison never come out in daylight? Why were the previous interns never seen again? Why did he feel unsettled around Edison?

The fun begins when Geoffrey gets the answers to his questions.

The author threw me a curve ball with his ending. Honestly didn’t see it coming and that’s something I really enjoyed.

**

I’m especially interested in Tesser: A Dragon Among Us.

The story is partly told from Tesser’s(the dragon) POV and he’s just awakened from a very long sleep to find he’s living under Boston. Mankind now rules Earth and he’s entering a world that no longer believes in dragon.

I liked how the plot was set up and ‘flew’ through this sample.

This I’ll be reading ASAP!

**

Then there are samplings from Dark Recollections and Wrath of the Orphans. I’m a huge fan of zombie and undead stories so these will be added to my summer reading list. When the undead attack the fighting and the group dynamics become the focal points and this is where these type of stories really shine for me.

From Adrian’s journal in Dark Recollections:

“State and local agencies are reporting widespread attacks on citizens across the region. authorities are advising people to stay inside, lock their doors, bar their windows and only open doors for known friends and family who respond intelligently”

Figures they wouldn’t say the words, “beware of zombies.”

From Wrath of the Orphans:

Twins Malwynn and Umaryn might have been good once.

Now they’ve sworn an oath and now they’ll have their pound of flesh.

I was pulled right into this one.

The world of Elmoryn is fascinating and there are many characters to love and hate.

The beginning is a bit slow as the author builds his world. I didn’t mind this as I wanted to get a real feel for the story.

Once the world is revealed and the plot begins, it’s a rush of action and vengeance. This is a very dark story indeed.

Loving character driven stories, I quickly became fond of  Malwynn and Umaryn. I felt for their loss, raged alongside them and understood the actions they took.

This could become an epic fantasy.

I enjoyed all of these. While trying not to play favorites, I’ll add that I am partial to dragons.

If you’re looking for some new adventures and enjoy a few quick reads to entertain you, I’d highly recommend you try this collection. There’s something for everyone.

  4 Stars

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Synopsis

I’m an odd dude. But I write some decent stuff, and here’s my way of sharing my odd dude thoughts. I’m the author of three ‘major’ series; Adrian’s Undead Diary, Elmoryn’s The Kinless Trilogy, and the Reemergence Novels, the first of which is Tesser: A Dragon Among Us. To help folks get a taste of my writing, I’ve put At Least He’s Not On Fire together. Inside this wonderful electronic tome of my words, you’ll find a healthy sized sampler of each of my major works, as well as several short stories that are mixed in for your entertainment. All in, Hell Hole, and The Vampire of Menlo Park are all great fun, and I hope you enjoy them.Dark Recollections: Book One of Adrian’s Undead Diary

Beheading a zombie isn’t easy in a world where you’re more afraid of the living than the dead.

Adrian Ring’s simple life is thrown into chaos when the world is ripped apart by a plague of undead and legions of desperate survivors. Retreating to Auburn Lake Preparatory Academy, Adrian attempts to rescue friends and family on the way while dancing around his impending insanity over who and what he left behind, and evading maniac survivors. He saves his cat Otis, but shoots his mom. Pretty successful, all things considered.

Dark Recollections is the first part of Adrian’s own story of how he survived after “That Day.” Told through his eyes as he talks to his laptop, affectionately named ‘Mr. Journal,” and through short stories that entwine with his tales that bring forth dark visions of a world being eaten alive by an unimaginable evil. Adrian’s Undead Diary is an eight part epic about a solitary, guilt stricken man that didn’t think he deserved to live, but realizes very soon that he survived, and suffered for a reason.

The Wrath of the Orphans: Book One of The Kinless Trilogy
Malwynn and his twin sister Umaryn live in a small town in northern Varrland. In idyllic New Picknell nearly nothing happens, and when their day to day routine is interrupted by a skirmish between an invading patrol of the dead from The Amaranth Empire and a defending force from Varrland, their world begins to come undone.

With international war looming on the horizon New Picknell becomes the center of quite unwanted attention, and the twins have their world shattered. With nothing left to lose, they set out on a mission of vengeance that will take them to places they’d never dreamed of visiting, discovering mystical powers in The Way that will change their lives forever, and revealing dark knowledges best left undiscovered.

Tesser: A Dragon Among Us A Novel of the Reemergence
Imagine for a moment that you are a Dragon. A creature of unimaginable power, unending intelligence and strength, and you’ve just woken from ten thousand years of slumber. Worse yet, you’ve awoken underneath a city; Boston, an alien and strange place that defies everything you’ve ever known.

Your last memories were of primordial forests, erupting volcanoes sculpting a developing world, faeries, witches, vampires, krakens, and monsters that feared where you turned your eyes.

But all that is gone. Humans, only barely coming into their own in the world from your memory, have taken over. They have erected cities made of stone and steel erupting from the earth like stalagmites reaching for the high blue sky, and developed sciences that have overshadowed even the glory of old magic.

This was not the way it was supposed to be.

Meet Tesser, the Dragon. He who walks in any form, and flies the skies free of fear.

A Dragon Among Us is Tesser’s story. Walk with him as he learns the human way, and discovers the dark truth about why magic has really faded from the world he calls home.

And just maybe, humanity will remember why dragons were most noble, and most savage creatures again.

Welcome to The Reemergence.

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And now for:

Never Sleep Again

by Steven and Ruth Watson-Morris

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MY REVIEW

DEATH

“Maureen had a secret. Not only was she an odd sort of girl, she saw dead people and animals.

Sunday night she would sit in her flat, invite people that would never come, then play quietly on the Ouija board on her own. Nothing ever came of it, until one night the board spelled out, ‘knock, knock.”

I felt for Maureen. She’s lonely, with no friends after moving to a new city.  I could see why she might anser the board.

Myself, I won’t have one in my house, let alone dare to play with it. I have a healthy fear of what I cannot see.

A very quick read with a fun ending.

THE THIEF

Lucy is quite good in her role as a thief. Afterall, she was trained by the best.

I don’t know if I’d chosen an abandoned, haunted mansion as a place to hide my stolen bootie though.

When I read that Lucy hadn’t seen any ghosts, I knew she soon would.

After a friend turned her in, Lucy rushes to the mansion, and finds all her stolen goods gone. They do reappear, just not how she imagined.

This was a very short story. I liked Lucy and wished it were longer.

THE OLD CURIOUSITY SHOP

I would love to read a full length novel about this one.

Imagine a strange shop of curiosities. The doors open at midnight and people dressed in black hoods came and went. That was my first pique of curiosity.

When it’s rumored the shopkeeper has died, poor seventeen year old funeral assistant, Fred, sees his chance to get a peek inside the shop.

I knew Fred shouldn’t have stepped over that threshold. What happens is no big surprise. I did like the reason the author gave for why Fred couldn’t leave.

Just goes to show, you can’t ever really know anyone, including your own family.

THE BOOGEYMAN

Before Harold died, he was a schoolmaster. He tried real hard to get the children to learn.

After his death, he wandered the halls of Warwick Castle, remaining hidden. But he grows tired of this, and believing no one can see him, he starts to wander among the tourists. It’s not long before he’s spotted.

This was a fun story and I liked reading how a mild man became the Boogeyman.

It really got interesting when Harold had his picture taken and is one of my favorites in this collection.

While I’d love to tell you something about all 13 of these stories, it would make for a very long review.

I’d recommend you get your copy, turn out all the lights but one for reading, hug a pillow, and enjoy these scary good stories.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Novella of short stories that your nightmares are made of, hauntings, murders, witchcraft all packed into one little book! But beware you may never sleep again!

When the moon has entered its second phase,
and ghosts and ghouls come out to play.
Where is the man who hides under your bed?
He’s hiding under the stairs instead!

This book is for those who like to read short to the point stories, there is a collection of 13 in this small book.
Enjoy!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

 

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Welcome to my Monday Minis.

For today I’ll be reviewing Welcome Home

by William Hage 

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My Review

I like it when I go into a book thinking I’m getting one thing, and I get something totally different. This happened when I began reading Welcome Home. I thought it was going to be a haunted house story.

The story is haunting but there are no actual ghosts. What’s there is something shadowing John Lester. It’s like when you see something out of the corner of your eye and when you turn to look, nothing is there. But this isn’t visual so much as it’s memories. They haunt his sleep, staying just out of reach of recall.

While this didn’t really scare me, it did surprise me and that’s always a good thing.

A good story for a rainy day.

 3 Stars

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Synopsis

John Lester is returning to a place he never really considered home to begin with, a place that he has not seen in years. But what he does not realize is that what went on in this house was much less homely than he thought as he unearths something dark about his family.”Welcome Home” is a short story approximately 6600 words.

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The Girl Who Believed in Fairy Tales
Sub Genre: Magical Realism
Release Date: June 23, 2014

Heather Baker believes in fairy tales, and she turns to their timeless wisdom whenever life gets difficult.
Again and again, the playfulness, symbolism, and deeper meaning in fairy tales have filled Heather with hope, nurtured her spirit, and fired her imagination. Sometimes touching, and sometimes humorous, these tales capture the three most transformative experiences in her life:
—Heather reframes her childhood sorrow in “The Girl Who Watched for Elves”
—She embarks upon a life imbued with meaning in “The Girl Who Dreamed of Red Shoes”
—And after taking several wrong turns, she finds the place where she belongs in “The Girl Who Couldn’t Sing”
The Girl Who Believed in Fairy Tales chronicles the journey of someone who was willing to change the way she viewed the world… and never stopped believing.
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The Archetypal Fairy Tale Journey

Many adults love fairy tales as much as children do. Why is this so? And why are fairy tales and their retellings so enduring?

In every fairy tale, five things always happen to the fairy tale character: She leaves home, she gets lost in the woods, she faces obstacles and/or tests, she overcomes these challenges, and she finds her happily ever after.

That journey, the fairy tale character’s journey, is archetypal because it involves the task of discovering and committing to the true Self. Since each of us yearns to connect with the true Self, the archetypal fairy tale journey is compelling in the tips and clues it offers about such an undertaking.

1.
Leaving Home
Fairy Tale Character’s (FTC’s) leave home. The impetus for the departure varies; curiosity, duplicity, parents who are invasive, stepparents who are envious, a call to duty and/or sacrifice—something—ousts the naive child from their secure, loving environment.
2.
Getting Lost in the Woods
The FTC always stumbles and falls psychologically, metaphorically, and literally in the first stage of her journey. Her naiveté, fear, and inexperience lead her to make poor choices that inevitably heighten her dire situation.
3.
Facing Obstacles and Tests
As more trouble is heaped upon the FTC, she is driven to experiment. She must embrace her innate strength, courage, and/or cleverness; and she must make wiser choices in regards to her relationships and who she trusts. Otherwise, she’ll be fated to eke out a meek/mean/meager/impoverished existence… or die.
4.
Overcoming the Challenges
Once the FTC comes into her own, i.e. once her consciousness has evolved to the point where she has become her own authority, she can achieve mastery over the trials that face her.
5.
Living Happily Ever After
Living in accordance with her true nature, and following her true path, is the FTC’s ultimate living happily ever after. Partnering with the beloved is a function of her matured Self.

Throughout our very real lives, we cycle through these phases again and again and again. Fairy tales, presumably the province of children, can be quite effective in spurring adults toward believing in themselves—and Happily Ever Afters—as well.

That is the enduring power of the archetypal fairy tale journey.

Amazon | GoodReads

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About The Girl Who Couldn’t Sing:

She began to meditate upon “The Ugly Duckling” for she’d always imagined herself as a misplaced swan. But with all the changes, and her sadness shedding like the skin of snake, she’d stare in the mirror and whisper, “Perhaps, you’re not even a bird.”

Heather Baker struggles to find the balance between fantasy and reality in her everyday life. Enticed by Neptune, the planet that rules everything hazy and glamourous–she’s desperate to become the next indie singer/songwriter sensation. Dogged by Saturn, the planet that rules obstacles and everything practical–she’s confronted with the limitations of her abilities and talent.

Which planet will win?

“The Girl Who Couldn’t Sing” is free on Amazon June 23rd-27th!

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Author Bio

Heidi Garrett is the author of the contemporary fairy tale novella collection, Once Upon a Time Today. In these stand-alone retellings of popular and obscure fairy tales, adult characters navigate the deep woods of the modern landscape to find their Happily Ever Afters.

She’s also the author of the Daughter of Light series, a fantasy about a young half-faerie, half-mortal searching for her place in the Whole. Heidi’s latest project is a collaboration with Billie Limpin. They’re cooking up a yummy paranormal romance!

Signup for Heidi’s newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/wWKUj for discounts on all new releases!

Heidi was born in Texas, and in an attempt to reside in as many cities in that state as she could, made it to Houston, Lubbock, Austin, and El Paso. She now lives in Eastern Washington state with her husband, their two cats, her laptop, and her Kindle.

Being from the South, she often contemplates the magic of snow.

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5 lucky winners get a signed copy of The Girl Who Believed in Fairytales & a Happily Ever After bracelet

US only

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Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions

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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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Most of you know I’m a sucker for short stories and anthologies. It’s such a fun way to sample different authors’ writing and I love the challenge of reviewing them.

Enjoy my review and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Genre:Fantasy Anthology (mixed sub genres)

Publisher: Roane Publishing

Release Date:June 5, 2014

Keywords:Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Short Stories, Picture Prompt

Description:

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No matter what world you call home, or what your station in life, there are just some paths that weren’t meant to be tread.

Ordinary World by Laurie Treacy

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Imagine a new neighbor moves next door, a creepy guy who gives fifteen year-old Amy Silva the willies? Amy wonders what the stone archway in the backyard is for. Her life becomes even more stressful when her family reveals they’re witches.

Could Amy’s new neighbor have anything to do with a local girl’s disappearance or be a threat to her magical loved ones?

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Maronda’s Quest by Christy Thomas

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The Grand Wizard has decreed Maronda enter the Portal of Life to embark upon a quest of great importance, but despite her Ma’s claims it is a blessing, premonitions of danger persist.

Lenox works to prove his worth to wed her, his true love, but it appears a wizard plots to remove him from Maronda’s life forever. To secure their future together, Lenox decides to accompany her on the quest, even if forbidden. He must ultimately choose between using his dragon fighting skills which could lead to his death, or give Maronda her greatest desire.

In the end, it’s Maronda who must learn to live with the consequences of his decision.

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Mexmur, the Huntress by Anna Simpson

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Long ago a dragonkeeper betrayed his charges. To bring back magic, to set things right, Mexmur is sent through the portal.

Can she succeed armed with only a poem, talon and blade.

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Entrance of Lost Souls by Echo Shea

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A guardian to the entrances between worlds, Gladys has been called to bring a little girl back from Fairyland. Passing through the Entrance of Lost Souls is no fun, neither is hunting down a deranged banshee, but what is a guardian to do?

And, is the banshee really kidnapping the girl…or saving her from something else?

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Where Once were Hearts by Havva Murat

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After losing both his parents, his entire fortune and his childhood sweetheart, Master Bartholomew Battlesby sets out into the wilds of Northern England to make the acquaintance of his only surviving relation, the landed recluse, Mr. Horatio Grimsby who has an eerie penchant for both tinkering and clockwork. But, on finding his relation dead, with a gaping hole in his chest, and the beautiful, but scornful, Miss Evangeline Witherop ruling in his place, Bartholomew learns there is more than one way to lose your heart.

Can Bartholomew reignite the spirit of love and mercy within Miss Witherop, or will he suffer the same fate as his poor, heartless cousin?

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The Lunatic Queen by Michael Siciliano

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The land of Mershinka has been thrown into perpetual night. Their King is dead and a moon witch, known as The Night Queen, rules from the royal palace in Grosnov. An endless fog shrouds the land, killing crops and starving the populace. Cold-eyed enforcers put down rebellions while volksa, twisted wolf-creatures, roam the mists looking for prey. Many have given up hope and wait for the inevitable end. All seems lost.

Two teenagers, Pavel and Tamara, devise a plan to kill Vazya the Night Queen when the moons Kainsk and Seresnya are down, end the stifling enchantment, and bring the sun back to their dying land. But, they need a watch to tell time, a compass to guide them through the mists, weapons to fight off Vazya’s minions, and all the courage they can muster.

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MY REVIEW

I love reading an anthology, especially one with a theme.

In Portals you get five authors spinning their own tales about a portal.

Ordinary World

Amy Silva has a new neighbor. Ozzie dresses like a nerd but that’s not why he gives her the creeps. She senses evil.

When she tries to explain her feelings to her best friend Remy, he warns her to be careful what she says. People will think she’s a witch.

When Remy starts avoiding her, Amy is left alone to unravel the mystery of her new neighbor.

For such a short story, there were many characters. I had a fun time weeding out the bad guys. It wasn’t too hard but I still enjoyed being vindicated when I was right.

A fun tale of witches with an exhilarating ending.

Moranda’s Quest

Moranda fears her sojourn through the portal. Dragons tread there. The Grand Wizard bestowed it as a gift to her family and each generation, a girl enters the portal to discover her future.

Moranda is skilled with the blade and she’s prepared for battle. Lennox, the young man in love with her knows this and has to fight his natural instincts to protect her.

All the rules change when Moranda goes through the portal and the author took me in a different direction than I expected. That’s the fun thing about this fantasy, nothing was set in stone.

Mexmur, The Huntress

If you love dragons, this ones for you.

Mexmur is forced to enter the portal to recharge a talisman of magic. The King is willing to sacrifice her and his son in his quest to steal power from the dragons.

Can a spoiled prince and a lowly huntress survive the dragon’s breath? Or will they become a meal?

Mexmur is a huntress so she has skills to hunt the dragon. The spoiled prince has some surprises of his own and I grew to like him. These two both learn a lot once through the portal and the dragons are great teachers.

I really enjoyed the dragon characters. They had their own agenda and played a big part in the story.

Entrance of Lost Souls

I like where the author went with this one. I kept thinking the main character was human, forgetting these are fantasies and there are no rules.

Gladys is definitely not human, and you wouldn’t expect her to be a good guy.

She is though and she has to be a tough character to handle a banshee, demons, and whatever the thing is in the well.

Where Once Were Hearts

When Bartholemew Battlesby loses his fortune he sets out to befriend his only living relative, cousin Horatio Grimsby, hoping he’ll take him in.

He arrives at a gated estate landscaped with eerie mechanical trees. Upon entering he discovers Horatio dead, his heart torn from his body. And then things go dark.

When Bart wakes up, he’s suspended upside from the ceiling and the luscious but wicked Evangeline reveals her plans for him.

Bartholemew had to think hard and quick if he wasn’t going to lose his heart, literally.

At first, Bartholemew came across as a loser. He did waste his fortune and he did hope to ingratiate himself with Grimsby, hoping to become heir to his estate. But I liked his pluck.

The same goes for Evangeline. She is a murderess, but what made her that way?

Had a lot of fun figuring this one out.

Lunatic Queen

Sweethearts Tamara and Pavel are on a mission to destroy the Night Queen. Her reign of perpetual darkness is causing all life to suffer from slow starvation. Someone has to do something.

As they begin their journey, the volksa, a kind of werewolf, attack and force them to take cover in an old library. There, they find an unlikely ally. Now they just need the queen to take the bait and free their world of darkness.

This had an eerie atmosphere right from the beginning. The volksa add an element of danger and the Night Queen is evil through and through.

While the ending was bitter-sweet, it fit and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I enjoyed all of these stories. The authors did a great job building new worlds and introducing their characters. If I’m not mistaken, some of these stories are debuts and I couldn’t tell which ones.  I’d definitely read more if they chose to develop these into novels and now I’m curious about their other books.

4 STARS

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Purchase Links:

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Roane Publishing Createspace Amazon

Digital

Roane Publishing

Amazon Amazon (UK)

Barnes and Noble (Coming Soon) Kobo (Coming Soon)

Smashwords

Bookstrand

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png
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Book Blitz and Tour-wide Giveaway
Paperback copy of Portals and a $10 Amazon gift card.
Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.
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Raffle button
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Ends 7/03/2014

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Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. No purchase necessary, but you must be 18 or older to enter. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter, and announced on the widget. Winner well be notified by emailed and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Roane Publishing’s marketing department.

~~~~~

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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In the mood for a ghost story? Great, I have just the one for you.

Check out my review of Ghost.

22299387

1771e-addtogoodreadsblack

Genre: Paranormal Romance

MY REVIEW

Jess slowly comes to. As her thoughts clear the pain sets in. Her head is killing her and she’s been bleeding.

What happened? What is she doing on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. Why can’t she remember?

Pulling herself together she heads to the bathroom to clean herself up. A glimpse in the mirror reveals something behind her. What was it? It was there then not there.

Jess begins to see it more frequently. She just needs the apparition to coalesce, to become clearer. She’s sure she knows who it is. But she can’t remember.

Could the fall have knocked her senseless?. Is the apparition real? One question looms largest, should she be scared?

I was engrossed, reading away, and suddenly there was no more to read. I had to chuckle. I forgot this was a short story. I was having such fun I wanted it to be longer.

As I read the ending I had to reread it. I liked it that much.

This is a mysterious, scary, ghost story and a good introduction to the authors writing. I’ll be reading more of Dani-Lyn’s books.

4 STARS

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Synopsis

After a head injury, Jess begins to see things she can’t explain. She starts to wonder if she’s hallucinating, losing her mind completely…or if something far worse might be happening.

~Excerpt~

A scream erupted from her throat, dragging her forcefully from the nightmare that held her captive. Heart pounding, chest heaving, she rolled over and reached to pull the pillow over her head. The lingering fear from the nightmare morphed into sheer terror when she realized she was no longer lying in her warm, cozy bed, but on a cold, hard surface. She froze, too afraid to move, and opened her eyes just enough to study her surroundings.

“What the..?” Although she laid in total darkness, Jess knew exactly where she was. The bumps and crevices of the rough terra cotta tile, combined with the lingering scent of potpourri, were unmistakable. How had she gotten here? Why were there no lights? Pain slammed through her head when she tried to sit up. Nausea threatened to overwhelm her, and she forced the bile back down. She lowered herself to the floor, gently resting her cheek against the cool tile. Maybe she could just lay here for the rest of the night.

Reality intruded, and she knew she had to stand. She moved slowly, pulling her knees to her chest and resting her forehead against them. Taking slow breaths and tentatively rubbing at the tender spot on her temple, she was surprised when her hand came away sticky. “Ugh…what’s on my hand?”

She struggled to her feet and slapped her hands against the wall to stop the room from spinning. Once the world came into focus, she padded to the kitchen, hoping to rid herself of the coppery taste that was threatening to choke her.

Pain exploded behind her eyes and took her breath away when she turned on the light. She grabbed a clean towel from the drawer, filled it with ice, and pressed it against her throbbing head. Elbows on the kitchen counter, she leaned into the cold of her impromptu ice pack. Numbness prickled her skin.

How had she ended up on the floor? How long had she lain there? Had she fallen? Passed out? The throbbing pain made thinking difficult. Aspirin. Aspirin would help. She reached for the bottle in the cabinet and then filled a glass with cool water. When she raised her head to drink, she caught sight of her reflection in the window above the sink.

With darkness pressing heavily against the glass, she was able to see herself quite clearly. The disheveled woman who met her gaze startled her. Her short, dark hair stuck out in all directions but, when she tried to run her fingers through the rat’s nest in an effort to tame it, she met resistance. The sticky mess had already started to dry, leaving her hair full of knots. She’d bled worse than she’d thought. The pink t-shirt she’d worn to bed was also blood splattered.

“What happened to me? Was I sleepwalking?” She sipped her water, but dumped the remainder down the sink when her stomach rebelled. Her heart pounded in her chest, keeping time with the throbbing in her temples. There has to be a logical explanation for this. Did I get up to go to the bathroom and trip? That didn’t make sense, even to her own confused mind. When her gaze returned to the window, she couldn’t fight the fear that clutched at her throat.

“Oh, my…” she told the woman who stared back from the window, but left the sentence unfinished when she caught movement from behind her in the reflection. Instinctively ducking to the side, Jess turned to find the room empty. Her heart thundered in her already constricted chest, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Tremors shook her body as she struggled desperately to fight off the impending panic attack. The hammering of her heart made it hard for her to hear anything else, but she strained her ears to listen.

The kitchen doorway led to the small living room directly across from the window. Had someone been moving through the room? Was that how she’d ended up crumpled on the floor at the bottom of the stairs? Had she been pushed?

Buy Links: Amazon   Crimson Frost Books

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~About the Author~

Dani-Lyn is a native New Yorker. She was born in Rome, New York, then moved to Rosedale, and finally to Long Island. She still lives on eastern Long Island with her husband and three children, ages twenty two, fifteen and three.

Author Links: Site   Facebook    Twitter

Ghost VBT Banner

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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Happy Book Birthday to Portals!

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You might remember Portals from  the cover reveal I posted. If not, here’s another chance to learn all about it.
I do love story collections and there’s a bunch of new authors for me in this anthology. And there’s one story I’ve been waiting for by a friend.
I’m sure to have a great reading experience and will be telling you all about Portals later this month when I post my review.
Until then, enjoy the Portals Birthday Blitz and remember to enter the giveaway!
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Portals
Genre: Fantasy Anthology (mixed sub genres)

 

Release Date: June 5, 2014

 

Keywords: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Short Stories, Picture Prompt
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Description: 
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No matter what world you call home, or what your station in life, there are just some paths that weren’t meant to be tread.

 

Ordinary World by Laurie Treacy
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Imagine a new neighbor moves next door, a creepy guy who gives fifteen year-old Amy Silva the willies? Amy wonders what the stone archway in the backyard is for. Her life becomes even more stressful when her family reveals they’re witches. 
Could Amy’s new neighbor have anything to do with a local girl’s disappearance or be a threat to her magical loved ones?
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Maronda’s Quest by Christy Thomas
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The Grand Wizard has decreed Maronda enter the Portal of Life to embark upon a quest of great importance, but despite her Ma’s claims it is a blessing, premonitions of danger persist.
Lenox works to prove his worth to wed her, his true love, but it appears a wizard plots to remove him from Maronda’s life forever. To secure their future together, Lenox decides to accompany her on the quest, even if forbidden. He must ultimately choose between using his dragon fighting skills which could lead to his death, or give Maronda her greatest desire.
In the end, it’s Maronda who must learn to live with the consequences of his decision.
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Mexmur, the Huntress by Anna Simpson
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Long ago a dragonkeeper betrayed his charges. To bring back magic, to set things right, Mexmur is sent through the portal.
Can she succeed armed with only a poem, talon and blade.
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Entrance of Lost Souls by Echo Shea 
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A guardian to the entrances between worlds, Gladys has been called to bring a little girl back from Fairyland. Passing through the Entrance of Lost Souls is no fun, neither is hunting down a deranged banshee, but what is a guardian to do?
And, is the banshee really kidnapping the girl…or saving her from something else?
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Where Once were Hearts by Havva Murat
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After losing both his parents, his entire fortune and his childhood sweetheart, Master Bartholomew Battlesby sets out into the wilds of Northern England to make the acquaintance of his only surviving relation, the landed recluse, Mr. Horatio Grimsby who has an eerie penchant for both tinkering and clockwork. But, on finding his relation dead, with a gaping hole in his chest, and the beautiful, but scornful, Miss Evangeline Witherop ruling in his place, Bartholomew learns there is more than one way to lose your heart.
Can Bartholomew reignite the spirit of love and mercy within Miss Witherop, or will he suffer the same fate as his poor, heartless cousin?
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The Lunatic Queen by Michael Siciliano
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The land of Mershinka has been thrown into perpetual night. Their King is dead and a moon witch, known as The Night Queen, rules from the royal palace in Grosnov. An endless fog shrouds the land, killing crops and starving the populace. Cold-eyed enforcers put down rebellions while volksa, twisted wolf-creatures, roam the mists looking for prey. Many have given up hope and wait for the inevitable end. All seems lost.
Two teenagers, Pavel and Tamara, devise a plan to kill Vazya the Night Queen when the moons Kainsk and Seresnya are down, end the stifling enchantment, and bring the sun back to their dying land. But, they need a watch to tell time, a compass to guide them through the mists, weapons to fight off Vazya’s minions, and all the courage they can muster.
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Purchase Links:

Print
Digital

Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Barnes and Noble (Coming Soon)
Kobo (Coming Soon)
Smashwords

Bookstrand

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Click on the banner below to follow the tour.


Tour Schedule
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~~~~~
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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png
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Book Blitz and Tour-wide Giveaway
Paperback copy of Portals and a $10 Amazon gift card.
Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.
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Raffle button
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Ends 7/03/2014

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Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code.  No purchase necessary, but you must be 18 or older to enter. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter, and announced on the widget. Winner well be notified by emailed and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Roane Publishing’s marketing department.

~~~~~

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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Uncharted Storms Banner copy
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Welcome to my stop on the Super Book Blast for Uncharted Storms organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Jackie Anton is a new author to me and I’m excited to read her stories. I love short stories and collections. You get many different samples of the authors writing and lots of plots and characters. What’s not to love, eh?

I’m going to have to do the easy 1 click and get me a copy. These sound amazing!

Check out Uncharted Storms.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Uncharted Storms
by Jackie Anton
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Description
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Weather is our constant companion, and when it behaves like a benevolent parent we pay little attention to it. Angry or out of control it becomes terrifying and can change the landscape as well as lives. So I asked my characters to take a ride on the wild side of weather. “Uncharted Storms” takes readers on a journey from a gentle summer rain to raging storms in the cosmos.

What if you were caught up in Uncharted Storms?

What if? Erica’s world didn’t come to an end in 2012 while she was in middle school? She manages to make it through college before an apocalyptic event changes her life forever. The science fiction story Terra Beyond 2012 shares Erica’s voyage.

What if? You and your best friend were traveling down the highway on the way home from an extended trip when you are caught in a blinding thunderstorm, and then are hit by lightning? To make matters worse you are injured, and wake in a strange world. Find out what happens to Chris in the tale Riding Lightning.

What if? You were on your way to meet a friend for dinner and caught in a flash flood? That is exactly what happens to Alexandra in the story Flashflood Texas Style.

What if? A boy you haven’t seen in two decades winds up sitting on your front porch? Find out what Casey comes up with on A Rainy Night.

What if? You were caught out in a winter storm on icy, drifted, walks and streets when a skidding car comes directly at you? Find out what happened to eighteen-year-old Annie when she is hit from behind in the short story A Tumble in the Snow.

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About the Author:

Jackie Anton is the mother of two grown children, and grandmother of two. She and her husband, of forty-three years, continue to ride daily. They live on a mini-farm in rural Ohio, and share their little slice of horse heaven with two Quarter Horses, a Haflinger, a rescued dog, and a calico barn cat.

Jackie is an accomplished equestrian, with a life time of experience: as trainer, exhibitor, 4-H and youth club coach, as well as a horse show judge; the author brings many years of experience working with horses and young riders to her award winning Backyard Horse Tales Series.

Uncharted Storms: Short stories are aimed at the Young Adult and older reader. Look for more short tales in the future.

Backyard Horse Tales: Sox 2nd Edition Brings to light the mutual love between a handicapped colt and a lonely child with a learning disability. Find out how this pair team up to triumph over life’s roadblocks, and why their story won the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award of Excellence for Family Friendly Media. (Reading level age 8 thru Adult)

BYHT 2 “Frosty and the Nightstalker” was one of four finalists in the E-Book Fiction category for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, then the paperback went on to earn the Mom’s Choice Award for Juvenile Historical Fiction.

Jackie is hard at work on BYHT 3 Don’t Call Me Love. You can catch a peek at her beautiful cover on the Backyard Horse Tales Face Book Fan Page: : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Backyard-Horse-Tales/190283981002767

Author Website: http://talesbyjackie.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jackie.anton2

FB Adult Novel Fan Page:  http://www.facebook.com/authorjmanton?ref=hl

Email: talesbyjackie@gmail.com

Online Autographed Book Covers: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/backyardhorse

Blog: Writing for readers in a .com world http://jackieanton.com/

Buy Uncharted Storms: Short Stories of Hearts at Risk at Smashwords, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble. Autographed Paperback Copies are available at Jackie’s Author’s Den. U.S. Readers click on the cover of your choice and follow the Signed Book link to order.

J. M. Anton (adult novels) can be purchased at Amazon.

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Jackie will be awarding a paperback edition of “Wind River Refuge” penned as J.M. Anton (US only) or a digital edition of “Fateful Waters” (INT) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

So show some comment love!

Click on the button below for more fun stops on the blast. And don’t forget to comment. The more you comment, the more chances to win!

goddess fish button

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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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There is a boutique hiding out between the
fractured, narrow storefronts lining New Gotham’s foggy docks. The shingles are
ribbed and black. Washed, peeling paint and displays offering views into wicked
leather and lace studded glam. The mannequins are ghoulish beauties stitched
together from whatever was left from the last fool to cross one of the sinister
witches.

 

Welcome
to Sinister Stitches

“…apparel
for a wicked fairy tale.”

 

 A spicy trinity of black magic sisters
breathe star-dusted dreams to life with their gothic apparel boutique. They are
schooled in the old ways of “fabric-bending” by the Needlewitches of old. With
this knowledge, they’ve created an entire line of clothing that all share the
same basic design element: one-size fits all. Each garment will magically
tailor itself to its wearer once worn. Last time the Witches-Who-Stitch, hosted
a literary catwalk, heroines were called from all walks of life and genres to
challenge their seamstress skills. This time, their men have joined the
fun—apparently, they’ve been sent to the boutique. (Whether they like it, or
not.)

 

The witches were NOT expecting men. Their
expertise is usually limited to DEMANDING their husbands NOT wear that in public, and, of course, the
fashioning of fantastic clothing for all of literature’s heroines. (New
Gotham’s men usually get their goods from Rumpel’s Twisted Threads, BUT that’s
beyond the point, the girls put a quill to their interview, changed some bits,
and rose to the occasion.)

 

To enjoy the hilarity, please check out some
of the questionnaire Marie Hall’s
Luc
from
the Night series

was
threatened asked to fill out after he swaggered into Sinister Stitches.
Naked.  

 

THE
WITCHES WHO STITCH QUESTIONNAIRE

 

 
Please provide the witches with your name:  Luc

 

Please provide the witches with the following:

 

Hair Color: Blond

Hair Length: [ ] Short and Sharp, [X] Shaggy and Sexy, [ ] Lush and Long

Eye Color:  Glittering, deep purple

Skin Tone: [ ] Ghoulish,
[X] Snow White, [ ] Cina-baby, [ ] Mochalicious, [ ] Dark Chocolate, [ ] Other:__________

 

Please provide the witches with your measurements and body-type.

 

a.) Height: 6 ft

 

b.) Body Type: [ ] Skeletal, [ ] Lean and Tender, [X] Lean and Tough, [ ] Ripe
and Edible

 

Do you have any extra extremities? Place an “X” to all that apply.

 

[ ] Horns or [ ] Halo
[ ] 20 ft. of Hair or More
[ ] Gills and Fins or [ ] Hooves
[ ] Wings (Span:   )
[ ] Tail (How many:  )

 

How many heads do you  have?

 

Really?

 

Do you have arms and legs? If so, how many?

 

I have an idea, how about I take off my clothes and show you, oh luscious witch.

 

How dead are you?   [X] Living, [ ] Undead, [ ] Astral Form

 

What are you? (Species/Breed)

 

Nephilim. I’m a Lust demon. Which means I’m sexy as sin. Wanna take a ride?

 

What is the occasion? (Ideas include: Wedding, Funeral, Sabbath, etc. Oh, and
seduction is a valid occasion. The more details, the better.)

 

Who the hell cares, I’m only here for the after party

 

What’s the occasion setting? (Beach, haunted castle, grand ball, etc.)

 

You in my bed, spread out before me wearing nothing but a smile…

 

Will you be fighting for your life at some point in the evening? 

 

Only if you say no *lecherous grin*

 

Will you be set on fire? Better yet, will you be setting other people on fire?

 

Only if they interrupt me, then all hell will break loose.

 

Will you be grave-robbing? (Dirt is a dressmaker’s tedium.)

 

Darling, these hands will only get dirty in bed.

 

What are you wearing right now? Who picked that outfit out? (Basically, who let you leave the crypt in those?)

 

Nothing. At. All.

 

Do you hope to be naked at some point in the evening? (All right, dirty birds. Such questions are actually intended toward the weres and shifters in regards to their
transformations.)

 

I don’t hope—I know I will be.

 

Describe your last brush with Death in two sentences. (Helps us plan for the unexpected.)

 

I laid her down, crawled between her legs, and made her weep with two flicks of my tongue…

 

Do you need a secret compartment for gigantic swords and guns, condoms…eyeliner, maybe?

 

*snorts* That’s funny

 

What are your three favorite colors?

 

Buff. Nude. Flesh.

 

What two colors ninja your brain, sweetie?

 

Whatever you need them to be.

 

Please pick a style that you feel embodies you the best. If none apply, feel free to surprise us by providing your own brilliant description in the “other” slot.

 

[ ] Dark AngelThis is for the spoonfuls of charming. The good-natured and naughty boys next door types. Thoughtful and sensual. Loyal and intelligent. More often than not, his head is in the clouds, but that smile holds hope for all of us. Our wizards.

 

[ ] Beast King: This is for the warlords and alphas. The type of men who walk into a room and their presence hushes out the sun. They live in their bodies, but their minds are searching for the next challenge. Hands for fighting and these boots for ass-kickings. Our protectors.

 

[X] Smooth Criminal: This is for the bad boys. You know, the types—mother’s worse nightmares. The kind of man that makes your skin itch every time he devours you with that hundred yard stare. Chances are his senses of humor is as wicked as his tongue. To hold him, isn’t to catch him. Our scheming rogues.

 

[ ] Black Knight: This for the mysteries. The ones no one can quite make heads or tails out off. He’s a mixture, a melting pot of strong, sinister, and sweet. He might be Dark Angel one day, and a Smooth Criminal other days. Our brothers.

 

[ ] Other: _____________________

 

Who is your favorite fairy tale villain?

 

I eat those bastards for breakfast. I’m the real big bad wolf.

 

If you could be any comic book hero, who would it be?

 

Whatever you want me to be.

 

Now, tell us who you love the most.

 

Not who. What. Sex. All the time. Every day. My cock in your warm flesh, your skin on mine, mine on yours. Bareback. Doggie. Missionary. I really don’t care, I’ll make you come anyway you ask me to.

 

Anything else you’d like to add…

 

There is only one person in all the world I ever gave two shits about. Her name’s Pandora and I stabbed her through the heart. I might be a lover, but don’t ever think you can tame me.
.
After
many barrels of chocolate, a dash of magic, and furious sewing…

 

Sinister
Stitches’ Medieval Mistress
Astrid
Dweyer presents Luc’s
Completed
Threads
“Tailored
Temptation”

 

 

 

There is a vampire stalking you from the shadows of Sinister Stitches’ tearoom. Her
eyes are slanted, jaded amethyst glowing in the darkness. You can’t see her
face, but every cutting sweep of her long lashes is felt against your cheek. Seated
with miles of oil-black coils wound at her feet, she clad in a black satin
pencil-skirt dress. Black stiletto catching the light and gleaming like a
silver stake. She uses the tip of her twisted bone wand to pull purple
tea-shades down her slender nose:

Oh,
baby…you must be lost. Have to be. First of all, Twisted Threads is that way. That’s where they make threads
for wicked ones of the male gender. Second, welcome to Sinister Stitches. Bow
down and worship, sinner, I’m Astrid the Medieval Mistress running shit on this
catwalk. And I’m about the only one who could be trusted to fashion your
treads. Gillian wouldn’t have lasted a second; wench would be naked as we
speak. And Brenda would’ve ridden that ass like a naughty pony. I’m Astrid the
Tempest. And I’m not interested.
Ah,
ah, ah—shut up and stop smiling at me, hot mess. I cannot be seduced, I cannot
be held in thrall, and I cannot be charmed. You risk that hard shit between
your thighs at your own peril, understood? And lastly, the only reason I’m
fashioning you threads is because this is my mother’s store and she doesn’t
believe in turning down good business. So, I’m going to get up from this chair
now, and you’re gonna keep your goddamn hands to yourself. Demon or no, I will
have that candy ass in a sling. Ah, ah, ah—what did I say? Shut up, I’ve killed
fools for less. That’s right, I axed the real
big bad wolf. And then, I made a fucking dress out of his skin. So don’t push
me, ingrate.
Now, I didn’t bother with a shirt. Obviously, you won’t need it. Seems like no matter
what you’re doing, you’re going to end up naked, but what the hell? Come here
and put on this jacket and these pants for giggles. The fabric is a New Gothel
wool and black butterfly cashmere blend. It will have the durability afforded
to wool, but cashmere drapes better and has that otherworldly “dressed to kill”
shimmer. Won’t hold creases very well, but that’s not an issue, considering it
probably won’t stay on long.
We went British for the cut. Expect mild shoulder padding, notched lapels, and a tailored fit. It will show off all that supposed sexy in the right light. However, we
did do away with buttons. All of them. The onyx buttons on your jacket’s cuff
were fashioned from golem eyes, and they’re purely decorative. Otherwise, you
will not find a single button on your outfit. Frankly, I’m not going to be
blamed every time you pop your cork and take out an eye.
Everything is regular, run of the mill Velcro. Indeed, I sure did make you some tear-away threads. Now
Astrid stalks to the front door and throws it open. Beyond the threshold, the city is
growling to life in the rising twilight:
You in my store, pack up all nine inches of that impressive
cock and go search the stars for a clue.
Stop it! Stop kissing me—okay, okay, just one on the cheek. Your are kinda cute. Now, get out.

 

IMPORTANT BULLETINS from THE PIXIES:

For more information about Marie Hall and Luc’s adventures in the Night series please check out her author website

Care to check out the last round of Sinister Stitches interviews? Check out Sophie Avett and Jennifer Blackstream’s
paranormal den, the Brimstone Pub. All SS interviews are retired there after their tour until the release of the SS e-book.
Fancy a tour of New Gotham? Check out New Gotham’s Survival Guide! It might save your ife!
For more nformation about Sophie Avett’s New Gotham Fairy Tales, the Sinister Stitches
series, and recent releases, please check out her website.

Image Credit(s): MaxFrost

Image Editing Credit(s): Elaina, For the Muse Design

 

Cry Wolf
A New Gotham Fairy Tale
Sophie Avett
Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance (MM/New Adult)
Publisher: Skeleton Key Publishing
Date of Publication:  May 1, 2014
Number of pages: est. 22 pages
Word Count:  est. 10, 000
Cover Artist: Elaina, For the Muse Design
Amazon   B&N   ARe    Kobo    Smashwords
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Book Description:
There’s a wild animal on the loose in the black forests surrounding New Gotham…
Not that anyone cares.
Well, Peter doesn’t care.
Peter Ume is more interested in finding a way to alleviate the skull-numbing boredom of a city wide shut down. So far his ideas for excitement hover between stealing an unwary idiot’s underwear (soul works, too), setting someone’s eyebrows on fire, or stabbing the next person he meets in the eye with a hot French fry.
It turns out, he’ll be able to save assault and theft for a rainy day. As luck would have it, this naughty kitsune is about to meet the big bad wolf.
And man, is the wolf in for a surprise…
Warning: This story can be read as a standalone, but you will want to smack Sophie for it. (Or so the ravens have said.) So, do keep in mind that there is a part two. (And it will be a freebie. Sophie’s Pixies will carrier pigeon everyone more information soon.)
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About the Author:
Sophie Avett is kind of a nerd. Like not even one of the cute, hip ones everyone brags about nowadays. More like the socially awkward hippie who eats way too much bread and dreams about being a dragon from behind towers of mythology books. Um…yeah. Picture old, tattered paperbacks and comic books–mostly Batman and Wonder Woman–dwarfing a tiny desk, with just barely enough room for the troll who writes there and the 70 pound hell-hound that insists on laying it’s wet nose on top of her bare foot.
Granted not the most exciting existence, but she tries to make up for it by writing romances populated with her own peculiar ilk of paranormal beasties.  Trolls, wyverns, the obscure Nordic brownie–she likes to keep things interesting. And bloody. (And mostly naked–but, we’ll keep that bit between us.)
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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Tour giveaway:

1 Gray Shell Pearl Shamballa Style Bracelet from Bits and Pieces which is featured in the book and prize pack

Cry Wolf Bracelet

– The entire prize pack will include: the bracelet, some trinkets and wonderfully sarcastic little note from Mrs. Pott’s.

10 ecopies of ‘Twas the Darkest Night

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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

Cruelty

Episode Four

by Edward Lorn

21421106

1771e-addtogoodreadsblack

Genre: Horror

My Teaser from 15% into the book

Inside, He slept. Here, on the outskirts of Kerrville’s hill country, Momma fumed. Eyes closed tho the horrors yet to be seen, she shook with rage. Angry or not, she knew the End, like a jilted lover, had come for her. She would not go without a fight.

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Book Description:

CRUELTY is a serial novel in ten parts.

Episode Four.

Tom Morgan is out of surgery, but far from out of the woods.

With Kirk for bait, Twon and Ollie go fishing.

State Investigator Markum seeks out clues concerning the murder of John Landover.

Merlo the Cowardly Dog and Sheriff Randy Miser meet for the first time in a desperate struggle to save each other’s lives.

Momma’s not happy.

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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