Archive for the ‘Short stories and collections’ Category

I have read every book Evans has written.

All of them are so scary good and I can’t wait to read Screamscapes.

I’ve read most of the stories in it, but a couple are new to me.

Check out this cover!

Screamscapes

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Feast your bloodshot and festering maggot-filled eyeballs on the new trade paperback cover art for Screamscapes, designed by none other than illustrious Bram Stoker Award-winning horror maestro Kealan Patrick Burke, author of Kin and The Turtle Boy.

SCREAMSCAPES: This new collection showcases the dark fiction of  Evans Light.
(Paperback and Special Limited Edition available June 1, 2013.)

Prepare to find your way through a dark world as nightmares and screamscapes unfold in these ten strikingly original tales. Lingering lovesick ghosts, wives hellbent on revenge,along with sinister demons, underground dwellers, forgotten campgrounds and malintent friends haunt this compelling collection of modern horror.

Includes the bestselling novella, ArborEATum!

Stories include:

* Crawlspace
* Whatever Possessed You?
* ArborEATum
* Dark Curtains
* Gertrude
* Black Door
* The Mole People Beneath the City
* Pay Back
* Nose Hears
* The Package

This edition of Screamscapes will be available from Purveyors of Fine Horror everywhere on June 1, 2013.

Be sure to visit THE LIGHT BROTHERS web portal at www.evans-light.com for exclusive discounts and giveaways.

 Check out my reviews!

ArborEATum

Payback

The Mole People Beneath the City

Whatever Possessed You?

Crawl Space

Dark Curtains ~ Reviewing soon

Stories, Inc. ~ Reviewing soon

***written with Adam Light***

Corpus Corruptum – Reviewing soon.

Evans Light

Evans Light

Goodreads

Facebook

You can also stalk Evans here.

To kick off the release of The Fragile Things, V. Shaw is giving away free ebook copies of the dark fiction collection, The Lady of Chains and Other Stories.

This offer is only available via Amazon,

and will run between April 23rd – 27th.

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Description from Amazon:
“Remember; you have seventy-two hours to do the deed and not a moment longer. Cut her throat and remove her heart. That, my girl, is the only way to destroy the wretched creature.”
Greylock. A city supported by a network of scaffolding, bleeding rust and wheezing steam.
Patrolled by an army of ‘metal men’ – creatures who’re designed for nothing more than to kill and destroy. Nothing grows. Nothing truly lives.
Viola, a young orphan girl, has been thrust into this nightmarish world by the devious Mrs Casket, caretaker of the mysterious tower and maid to the Lady of Chains, a woman imprisoned without a sentence. A woman who almost single-handedly destroyed the world . . .
Viola has been gifted with a task which could either see her demise or be her salvation.
But who is the Lady of Chains? And why does she insist that she is connected to Viola? With the clock ticking and the metal men drawing near, Viola is about to learn that not everything in Greylock is what it seems.
A spellbinding novelette with elements of steampunk.
****
ALSO INCLUDES THE SHORT STORIES; Hansel and Gretel Rogan and the Gargoyle The Silent World
BONUS MATERIAL: Also contains a preview of the up-coming horror serial, The Fragile Things.

You can read my review here.

The Fragile Things

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Two girls on the road to self-destruction.
A village upon the brink of collapse.
A past which refuses to die.
The beginning of an epic four-part horror serial.
At seventeen-years-old, Jennifer should have the world at her feet. Instead, she’s an ex-heroin addict living in a council estate with Tony, her boyfriend and former dealer. Shunned by her family and friends, she dreams of something greater than she’s been given.
Beautiful and strange, Ebony has moved in across the street. She’s just lost the one person in her lonely existence to cancer. She’s also a centuries-old vampire, struggling to cope with murderous outbursts and the desire to be something more.
When these two lost souls meet, an unusual friendship begins.
But with the news of Morris, Tony’s sadistic best friend and drug-dealing partner, being released from prison, Jennifer knows it’s only a matter of time before his path of vengeance leads to her and Ebony, too.
With a cast of memorable characters, a village full of secrets, and a gripping story, The Fragile Things is a layered tale of friendship, hope, survival and what it truly means to be human.
Part I of The Fragile Things is available on Amazon on April 30th, 2013. And will be FREE  April 30th – May 2nd.
Mark your calendar and as soon as links are available, I’ll add them.
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For my giveaways go here.
For list of free e-books go here.

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Welcome to my stop on The Order of the Black Swan Blog Barrage.

Learn all about these collected tales, read some rave reviews and check out the awesome book trailers

Don’t forget to check out others stops on the tour to see what they’re saying.

You can find the list below.

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The Order of the Black Swan (Collected Tales, Books 1-3)

by Victoria Danann

Contemporary Paranormal/Fantasy Romance

Publisher: 7th House

Heat Level: Steamy

Word Count: 313,000 words

Buy Links

Amazon / Barnes&Noble / iTunes / Smashwords

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Description

Discover a world of adult fantasy where modern day knights of a secret society interact with an alien, a witch, a demon, a psychic, a berserker, a most unusual vampire, werewolves, elves, and fae. Fairytales intersect adventure, romance, and emotion proving that true love can find you in the strangest places, even when you’re least expecting it, even when you’re far, far from home.

These are single titles presented in a bundle, the first three installments of the serial saga presented in anthology form. Included are:

Book 1, My Familiar Stranger: Romancing the Vampire Hunters. (Nominated for best paranormal romance of 2012 by the Reviewers’ Choice Awards.) Released April 2012. 241 reviews on Amazon. 663 ratings on iTunes.

Book 2, The Witch’s Dream: A Love Letter to Paranormal Romance. Released October 2012. Only available on Amazon. 111 reviews.

Book 3, A Summoner’s Tale: The Vampire’s Confessor. Released February 2013. Only available on Amazon. 56 reviews.

All three of the single titles have been in Amazon’s TOP 100 in their category EVERY DAY since release.

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.


Book Trailers

My Familiar Stranger: http://victoriadanann.me/my-familiar-stranger/

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The Witch’s Dream: http://victoriadanann.me/the-witchs-dream/

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A Summoner’s Tale: http://victoriadanann.me/a-summoners-tale/

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Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An Epic Adventure you will not put down, By Christine Merritt

This review is from: The Order of the Black Swan COLLECTED TALES, Books 1-3 (Black Swan Anthology) (Kindle Edition)

“This series is written beautifully and with intelligence. Reading them together is the way to go – one story ends with the beginning of the next book picking right up where the last ended. I’ve read the three books separately MORE THAN ONCE. Having the three bundled together is brilliant.

 

I have rated the books in the series as they were published my number one read of 2012 and the best book I picked up in 2012. That is saying something, considering that my Kindle has over 900 books on it and I have read them all. The price is way too low for the three books – so consider it a bargain, read it and enjoy every moment. Whether you are a romance reader, a paranormal reader or contemporary chick lit reader, I promise this book will suck you right in from the first page.”

5.0 out of 5 stars Romance, vampires, werewolves – WOW, By Elizabeth Nix

This review is from: The Order of the Black Swan COLLECTED TALES, Books 1-3 (Black Swan Anthology) (Kindle Edition)

“While you can read these books as stand alones, this series is best read in order as they’re the continuing story of one group of the people of the Black Swan unit. There’s travel from other dimensions, a new outlook on vampires, elves, sexy warriors, romance, what more could you want? Each book is a bit different from the others as they deal with the lives and loves of these people and the trials they encounter. It’s a great series by a new writer.”

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Series!!!, By Cynthia J

This review is from: The Order of the Black Swan COLLECTED TALES, Books 1-3 (Black Swan Anthology) (Kindle Edition)

“I received a complimentary copy off the series for review, and simply could not put it down! The story grips you from the first page, and keeps going non stop. The characters are well developed and she manages to seamlessly weave fantasy, sci fi drama and romance into a very good read. I found myself tearing up at times, laughing out loud at others. I highly, highly recommend this series, can’t wait for the next!!”

 

About the Author

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For the past fourteen years, Victoria has illustrated and authored Seasons of the Witch calendars and planners and written several non-fiction books. She owns 7th House Publishing and contributes to its enterprises. In addition to art and writing, she plays Classic Rock music (keys, rhythm guitar, vocals) and manages one of Houston’s premier party bands. Married. Four children.

UPCOMING PROJECTS: The fourth book in the serial saga, Moonlight: The Big Bad Wolf, will release on the full moon May 25th.

Connect with Victoria Danann

Website: http://www.VictoriaDanann.com

Blog: http://VictoriaDanann.me

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vdanann

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vdanann

Visit the other stops on the tour. See what others are saying.

April 18, 2013
Brianna’s Bookshelf
Bunny’s Review
Coffee Beans & Love Scenes
deal sharing aunt
It’s All About the Romance
Jody’s Book Reviews, Giveaways & Tours
My Reading Obsession
Penny For Them…
Queen of the Night Reviews
Wicked Readings by Tawania

April 19, 2013
A Book Lover’s Library
fuonlyknew
Illustrious Illusions
Readaholic’s Reviews
Regina May Ross’s
Sapphyria’s Steamy Book Reviews
Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and enjoy the tour!

Edward Lorn’s collection What The Dark brings is free to download from Amazon April 7th thru 12th.

This post is a bit long, as I added my review of Edwards bonus stories and there are two killer trailers to watch. Can’t wait for you to see those!

Go here to get your copy!

What the Dark Brings

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Follow Edward Lorn out of the light and into the darkest recesses of his mind.

What the Dark Brings is a collection of 19 short stories, beginning with “Literary Sweets”, a tender jaunt into Christmastime that proves all is not lost for one jaded gentleman. But by the time you reach the final tale, “Come to Jesus Meeting”, the darkness is all encompassing.

Tales of hope, heartache, and horror abound.

Come find What the Dark Brings

***As an added bonus to new fans, Edward Lorn has included his mini-anthology, Three After, complete and uncut, at the end of this collection. A total of 22 tales of terror coming it at over 40,000 words.***

My review

This collection has everything!

A man on awakens on a train headin who knows where, no memory of how he got there.

Detective Franklin learns why the caretaker said, “The thing is no good, I tell ya.”

Penny always believed what her father said about the water, “There’s nothing out to get you.”

The sign said:

Opening December 20th:

Literary Sweets

Books and Candies for all ages

A combination of Treasures Await!

Raul had no idea how giving the homeless a few bucks would change his life.

Walter just had to have the chess set, the one made from the wood of the legendary ship, Titanic.

Everyone’s heard the urban legend about the man who goes missing on Christmas, only later his family finds his rotting body in the chimney.

A picture does paint a thousand words for Valerie. She just should have looked more closely.

Two young men, high on pot, watch the news as Chucklers gleefully rampage around the world.

Two young friends meet The Beast of Briar Bank.

There are so many delightfully wicked and twisted tales in this collection.

They each have their own flavor and many may seem a bit familiar. But that’s where the author steps in and takes you in a whole other direction.

I’ve read  his anthology, Three After, so I knew where he might take me with these.

If you like the macabre, the noir, the twisted and the darkly humorous, you’ll like this collection.

There was no stopping when I started, as I sped from story to story. Each one so different, so engrossing.

I’d love to see these as episodes for Tales From The Darkside or The Twilight Zone.

Or, maybe, the From The Mind of Edward Lorn Show!

Thanks for some really great writing and plenty of shivers. Edward.

What The Dark Brings gets 5 Stars for bringing it on!

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Here is my review of Three After from an earlier post.

Check out my thoughts on Edward’s Bonus stories.

Edward Lorn’s Three After takes you to the darkside with three chilling tales.

Three after

If you like your horror twisted and dripping blood, these three tales will give you that and then some. I will give you fair warning that Edward writes very descriptive, almost visual scenes, and they ain’t pretty.

1. World’s Greatest Dad

This is every father’s, hell, everybody’s worst nightmare.

Kimmy is gone. While Carl was trick or treating with his daughter, somebody snatched her. He was only distracted for a moment, but that was all it took.

The last time Carl saw Kimmy, she was talking to a man sitting in a rocking chair wearing a wolf costume. Now the chair is empty and Kimmy is gone.

They found Kimmy, but it was too late. Her body was discovered in a garbage bin, thrown away like so much trash.

Carl is consumed by grief and guilt. The police investigation is going nowhere. There is no consolation to be found.

Carl’s friend David inadvertently hands him a cup of coffee, the cup made by Kimmy. It reads World’s Gratest Dad and, yes, that is how she spelled it. Not able to bear it, Carl asks for a different cup. As he passes it back to David, the words on the cup change.

Help Her

He was the only one to witness it. Believing it to be a message from his daughter, Carl uses the messages that appear on the cup to try to save Her and find his daughters killer.

This is a story of redemption, betrayal and vengeance. What wouldn’t you do for your child?

2. An Affair To Remember

Jimmy has crossed the line. His rage at finding out his wife was having an affair, and with a jerk like Ray, pushed him over the edge.

What happens to Ray is horrific, but he has only himself to blame. Should have kept his pants zipped and stopped taunting Jimmy when he was caught.

But after brutally torturing and killing his wife and her lover, things get really bizarre for Jimmy.

Maybe Jimmy should have just walked away from the whole sordid mess.

3. Snuggles

She seems like such a sweet young girl. Elizabeth loves cats and she has three, Cuddles, Snuggles and Bumbles. Her favorite is Snuggles.

One day, her dad accidentally lets Snuggles outside. These are indoor cats and are not supposed to be let outside because of the road.

Yep, you guessed it. Her mom finds Snuggles in the road and tells her that he has gone to heaven.

Elizabeth is heart-broken and what she does to get Snuggles back is beyond belief.

This story goes from shocking to stomach-turning in a blink. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Five screams for really creeping me out!

I was racking my brain a while ago, trying to remember the name of a story I read, and now I’ve found it. World’s Greatest Dad!

That’s how much I love Edward’s writing. That short story is still with me.

Check out his new release, should be out this fall!

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About the author
Image of Edward Lorn

Edward Lorn is an American horror author presently residing in the southeast United States. He enjoys storytelling, reading, and writing biographies in the third person.
Once upon a time, during a session of show and tell, a seven-year-old Edward Lorn shared with his class that his baby brother had died over the weekend. His classmates, the teacher included, wept while he recounted the painful tragedy of having lost a sibling. Edward went home that day and found an irate mother waiting for him. Edward’s teacher had called to express her condolences. This was unfortunate, as Edward had never had a baby brother.
With advice given to her by a frustrated teacher, Edward’s mother made him start writing all of his lies down. The rest, as they say, is history.
Edward Lorn and his wife are raising two children, along with a handful of outside cats and a beagle named Dot. He remains a liar to this day. The only difference is, now he’s a useful one.

For more about Edward Lorn and his books:

Website

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

Adam Light is here to offer his short story, Way Out Of Here, as a free read on Goodreads.

I’ll let him tell you about it.

For the entire month of April, I will have the e-book for my highly rated short story Way Out Of Here available for free on Goodreads. Simply follow this link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17… and click on the read book tab under the cover picture and you can read this story for free. It can also be downloaded to your e-reader.
I decided to do this as a “Thank You” to all the wonderful people on here who have given me support over the last year, or for those who have not read any of my work as a free introduction to it. Thanks for checking it out. Don’t forget, I’m not begging for reviews or ratings, but if you have opinions you would like me to hear, I would be eager to hear them. If you like what you read, feel free to tell your friends about me. Thanks!

Go here to read his dark,humorous, short horror story now!

Way Out Of Here

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Gordon Delanolan goes by the name  of Nolan. He’s one of those rare people. One of the lucky few. He struck gold, winning $50 million in the lottery. After doing right by family, sailing the world, and doing everything his heart desires, he’s bored. And unhappy. He wonders if he’ll every be truly happy.

You know that feeling you get, like something’s about to happen? Well, that’s how Nolan’s feeling.

It starts with the stomach cramps. So bad he’s wondering if somethings ripping him apart from the inside out, sending him to his knees to pray to the porcelain god.

When things seem to be calming down and Nolan is about to drift off into la la land, IT happens.

A voice comes out of nowhere, startling him awake.

“Nolan!” it said.

What the hell? Was he dreaming?

Then he hears it again!

“Nolan, go the bathroom,” it said.

Nope, he’s not dreaming.

At first he tries to ignore the voice. But it proves, with excruciating pain, to be impossibe. IT won’t be ignored.

I just love Adam’s mind. It takes you out there, way out there. I would love to see his stories as episodes on Twilight Zone.

Nolan has a voice coming out of his navel. Yep, his navel and that’s not all! I wish I could see the expression on your face right now. And also when you get to the “out of” part in this story. The voice is only the beginning of what happens to Nolan.

This story is like a dream. One you want to wake up from, but, at the same time, you want to see where it’s going. Know what I mean? It stayed with me for a while, like I just woke up and the feelings lingered.

5 Stars for taking me into the “out of.”

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I’ve read all of Adam’s books.

My Review

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My Review

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My Review

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My Review

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Corpus Corruptum ~ Written by Adam & Evans Light

Review coming soon.

About the author

Adam   Light

Besides being the best father and husband I can be, my ultimate goal in life is writing horror fiction that will knock people’s socks off.

I began the journey into writing for the public in the fall of 2011, and I have not looked back since. I admit that I got a late start on it, as I am pushing 40 now, but I believe that an eleventh-hour commencement is preferable to none at all.

I have self-published five short stories to date. The most recent one entitled THE CONTINUANCE AGENCY is the first chapter in a planned series still in progress. This one is a departure for me, and comes as a refreshing turning point in my writing. I look forward to writing longer works, my long term goal being to write full length novels.

I have been humbled and emboldened by all the positive responses to my stories, and thus encouraged to continue my quest. Thanks to all who have read and reviewed my work, giving an unknown author such as myself a chance to unleash my madness upon you.

Goodreads

Amazon

Freakin Fridays!

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary. Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

I have four stories to tell you about today.

Most of you know how much I love short stories. What I found in this collection is excellent writing and stories that keep you reading, even when you fear what’s coming.

So let’s get started.

Four Tales for Midnight

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Description

Four tales of extreme suspense and mystery aimed at getting the heart pumping. Hard. A soldier on D-Day finds an enemy soldier acting very strangely indeed; a jilted husband creates a grisly scavenger hunt; a marriage reconciliation service ABSOLUTELY guarantees positive results—the question is, how? And more!

Turn out the lights and enter a bizarre world, but remember—don’t go in the basement!

First things first. Are you the type of person who ignores all the cliché warnings and does just what you shout at the character in the movie not to do? You know, don’t go in the basement, don’t go in the water, don’t open the door, Etc….

You are? Great! You’ll love these stories then.

Night Drop

Private John Larkin is lost. It’s the morning following D-Day and he’s stumbling around Norman trying to find a small town. During the night drop, he was separated from his unit. With no safe place to hide, he keeps moving, hoping to bump into his unit, hell, any unit.

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Instead, he finds a tiny village. Looks like it’s already been bombed. And just sittin’ there on a rock is a German soldier.

What looks like an opportunity, becomes something else all together for John.

Do you ever feel like yelling at the character in the story, saying, “Hey, wake up and look around!”

I wanted to ask John, “Don’t you watch the movies?”

Even though I had a good idea what was going on, the ending was still a blast!

Scavenger Hunt

I’m going to warn you right now, this one is grisly.

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This poor sap thought he was getting away with it. Then he discovers a card stuck on his front door. He’s been invited to a scavenger hunt and he has a good idea who did the inviting.

So, he plays along and follows the clues, each discovery more gruesome than the last.

He’s pretty sure he knows how it will end, but he is so wrong.

This one isn’t for those with a sensitive stomach. It’s brutal and nasty, but oh so clever.

I think this might be my favorite.

Reconciliation Services,Inc.

Both men are going through a divorce. Both have kids. And both have a wife who knows how to manipulate the judicial system to put the screws to them, but good.

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“Then one day, Pete comes into work happier than a puppy in a Milk-Bone bakery.”

Let’s just say, our guy should have stayed away from the kibbles.

The Problem of the Vanishing Bullet

This one felt like the author gave me a treat for being a good reader and finishing the book.

It’s a short story about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

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One man guns down the other and is arrested for murder.

The fiance says he did kill the guy, but it was in self-defense, the other man shot first. The problem is, no bullet. The room was searched diligently and no bullet or bullet holes were found.

The clever Holmes pulls a rabbit out of his hat, or should I say, a bullet out of a…..

I loved this one. I felt like I was watching a black and white episode on TV. I kept waiting to read, “Elementary, my dear Watson!”

Each story was so different. Each one has you going from the first few sentences and keeps you reading on for more. Each story almost has a moral to it.

I couldn’t give this collection anything less than 5 Stars.

The writing was excellent, the plots were so entertaining, and Lee Enderlin really hooked me when I wished they were longer.

I’m going to read The Dead of Winter next. It’s a full length novel. Just what I wished for!

The Dead of Winter

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College student Christy Brewer lives in a personal hell at home with an increasingly unreasonable and violent father while balancing school and a love life. Meanwhile, over a hundred miles away, in a small ski resort town, Police Chief Wayne Marski is suddenly dealing with a serial killer who is dispatching people in a particularly grisly manner. Worse, the few clues indicate that he is dealing with a human adversary.
Or is he?

Their stories coincide in a suspenseful and action-filled climax as a centuries-old curse comes home.

For more about Lee Enderlin and his books you can find him at Tales of Mystery and Midnight.

I love short stories and collections and was ecstatic when Donna published these! A Human Element still lingers with me and I’ve been waiting for a while now to read the sequel, A Hidden Element. The Dark Inside has me even more excited now. You get more of some of the old characters and are introduced to many new ones.

Check out the giveaway after my review.

The Dark Inside (A Human Element)

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The Dark Inside

These short stories contain characters from A Human Element and the soon to be released sequel, A Hidden Element.

The Well

It seems like no matter how hard he tries, Caleb can never be good enough in his father’s eyes. When he hears about the mission to the new world, he jumps at the chance to escape the dying planet and maybe get out from under his fathers disapproving control.

When his hopes are crushed, he’s devastated. And then his mother goes missing.

She’s disappeared without a trace.

The Well starts out being about Caleb and his conflicts with his father and his peers, and deepens into a mystery when his mother just vanishes. The author does a great job of misdirecting me, and I rushed to a wrong conclusion. This one is a deep, emotional read.

 The First Time

X-10 is not going to give in. He’s not going to let the twisted Dr. Bjord control this experiment.

He’s scared of the human girl. Not for the usual reasons, but because he’s afraid he’ll give in to the rip, tear, kill, urges that are the base part of him.

It’s the first time X-10 has coupled with a female and he experiences some human emotions like nervousness, lust, and excitement. But can he control the monster inside, the one that needs to rend?

Donna, through her characters conversations, made the tentative bond between the monster and the prostitute endearing for me. I wanted things to be okay, wanted both of them to survive this experiment.

But she’s a prostitute, he’s a monster, and this is an experiment. A deadly one.

The Job

Felix is a Seeker. His partner, Maria, is all woman, all human.

He’s never felt attracted to her before, but he’s made a mistake. He’s let his guard down and things got messy. Now he has to clean it up.

I was surprised a couple of times with this one. Had a few, ‘what the???’ moments. This is twisted fun. Can’t help it. I sometimes laugh at the dark stuff.

Frat Night

Tara’s so excited. Tonight she’s going to do it with Jonah. She’s been lying to him, telling him she’s a virgin, so he’ll woo her, romance her. But she’s ready now. Tonight they’ll finally be together.

It was a beautiful spring night.

Kind of saw some of this coming, but still got a shock. I was grinning and thinking, yes!

The Tree of Sheltered Secrets

She was going to kill whoever did it. Whoever cut down her tree.

She’d spent her childhood hiding in that tree, escaping into her own world. It was the only happy memory in her miserable existence. And now someone had hacked it down. It felt like she’d been cut down too.

Someone had to pay.

I felt sorry for Hilary. She had a horrendous life and now the only thing good was gone. I felt her rage build and as I read on, I wanted someone to pay. Pay big!

The Beginning

They were seventy-five strong. Adrian and his crew silently entered the chosen town and quickly got what they needed with mind persuasion. No one realized the strangeness of these visitors.

But that wasn’t enough for Adrian. Oh no. He had to go and make it nasty, make two people do despicable things just for his pleasure.

He also made his son Caleb and the others watch. It was a warning and a lesson.

This one is so twisted. Adrian is a sick twist and I feel so sorry for Caleb. His hate for his father is changing him. Molding him. I hope he doesn’t follow in his fathers dark footsteps.

A Lucky Strike

Ben is all alone with his foster-father now. His foster-mother is now buried and Frank expects him to take over her duties. All of them.

As Ben fantasizes about ways to kill Frank, he knows it’s only a matter of time before things turn real ugly.

It’s time to flee, but has he waited too long?

I forgot this part in A Human Element. It’s disturbing and sad. You see where Ben came from, what he endured, what shaped him.

I’m surprised he survived at all.

Excerpt – A Human Element ~ Ben

This is an excerpt from A Human Element. It’s another short about Ben taking place later than in A Lucky Strike. I’ll give a tease and tell you what I got from it.

Ben had no business being in Hud’s Place.

“North of Hotel Street in Chinatown, or NoHo as it was called, carried its distinction as the known spot for prostitute action any time of the week. He swallowed the last of his beer and laughed to himself. SoHo could be a better name for the so-many-ho’s that could be had around here.”

He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t have got so drunk. And he definitely shouldn’t have stepped into it with the Marines.

If he thinks the ass-kicking he just got from them was bad, the locals that get a hold of him, set him straight.

If it weren’t for the tall man, the familiar looking stranger with the bright green eyes, he’d be totally screwed.

Ben just keeps putting himself in bad situation after bad situation. I hate seeing him in the self-destruct mode.

I’m curious about the tall man, why is he always showing up at the worst times? Why is he following Ben?

Seeing a character falter, make bad moves and stupid ones, helps me connect with them, makes them human for me. I’m connected with Ben.

I enjoyed all of these stories. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be…..Ha! Not gonna tell ya!

The Dark Inside gets Five Stars from me. Each story is distinct and wrings out my emotions.

Giveaway

For the giveaway I have five ebooks of The Dark Inside in any format.

This is International.

I also have one Paperback copy of A Human Element, Book #1 in the series to give away.

The paperback is for US/Canada Only. Sorry my International friends.

To enter, please leave your email address, state whether entering for e-book or paperback, and answer this question,

Why do you like short stories?

Giveaway ends March 28th.

Thank you for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

About the author

Image of Donna Galanti

Donna Galanti is an International Thriller Writers Debut Author of the paranormal suspense novel A HUMAN ELEMENT and the author of the short story collection, The Dark Inside.

If she couldn’t write she would bike, hike, and kayak every day. She was stationed in Pearl Harbor as a photographer in the U.S. Navy followed by a career in marketing. Donna dreamed of being a writer at seven years old when she fell in love with Narnia and Roald Dahl. She lived in England at the time, attending school in a magical castle where her imagination ran wild in an itchy uniform. (bowling hat and tie included). She now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, son,  and two crazy cats in an old farmhouse. It has lots of writing nooks, fireplaces, and stink bugs, but she’s still wishing for a castle again.

Her blog: http://blog.donnagalanti.com/wp/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnaGalantiAuthor?-ref+hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonnaGalanti

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5767306Donna_Galanti

Find all of her books here.

A Human Element

The Dark Inside (A Human Element)

Free through March 22nd!

Taken by Adam Light is free to download from Amazon

Go here to get yours now!

TAKEN

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I’ve already reviewed TAKEN, but figured I’d repost my review for ya.

I am thrilled to get my hands on this! While I don’t normally use the blurbs for a book, this one is so good I have to share it with you!

Jack Harden is your average good-old-fashioned American truck driver. You can ask the girl he’s got duct-taped in the back of his cab, she’ll tell you. Oh, don’t worry – it’s okay. His wife knows all about it. She told him to do it.

Whoa. I bet that got your attention.

Jacks’s wired and tired. He’s on the last leg of an 18 hour burn and turn. Soon he’ll be with her. With his goddess. With Dianne.

“Dianne, Dianne. Oh sweet goddamn Dianne.”

At first he didn’t think he could go through with it. He’s not the type. But if he wants to go home, he better have his cargo. Can’t go home without it.

She’s all wrapped up, well,  taped up, nice and tight. She won’t be getting away. What Dianne wants with her, he hasn’t a clue. But he’ll know soon enough.

What really got me was how nervous and bumbling Jack was when he snatched the girl. It had me on edge,  hoping he’d get away safely. I was actually on his side. You know the story’s good when you’re pulling for the bad guy.

As for the victim. Well, lets just say she’s not a wallflower. She’s got a mouth on her and plenty of bravado. Jack had better be careful with this one. She’s a kick-ass chick and her one liner, you’ll know it when you read it, is every bit as good as Arnold’s, ”I’ll be back.

I could picture the author chuckling in evil delight when he was writing Taken. It’s psychological horror that messes with your mind.

Can’t wait for you to meet Dianne.

A short, wicked good read.

       

I’ve read all of Adam’s books.

Way Out Of Here

My Review

THE CONTINUANCE AGENCY (The Continuance Saga Volume One)

My Review

Vengeance By The Foot

My Review

Gone

My Review

TAKEN

My Review

Corpus Corruptum ~ Written by Adam & Evans Light

The Corpus Corruptum

Review coming soon.

About the author

Adam   Light

Besides being the best father and husband I can be, my ultimate goal in life is writing horror fiction that will knock people’s socks off.

I began the journey into writing for the public in the fall of 2011, and I have not looked back since. I admit that I got a late start on it, as I am pushing 40 now, but I believe that an eleventh-hour commencement is preferable to none at all.

I have self-published five short stories to date. The most recent one entitled THE CONTINUANCE AGENCY is the first chapter in a planned series still in progress. This one is a departure for me, and comes as a refreshing turning point in my writing. I look forward to writing longer works, my long term goal being to write full length novels.

I have been humbled and emboldened by all the positive responses to my stories, and thus encouraged to continue my quest. Thanks to all who have read and reviewed my work, giving an unknown author such as myself a chance to unleash my madness upon you.

Goodreads

Amazon

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Freakin Fridays!

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary. Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

For my Freakin Friday post today, I have some awesome news!

Evans Light has his book, ArborEATum, free to download on Amazon

You can get it here from March 15th thru 20th!

ARBOREATUM

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I love Evans choice for the cover of his book. And the title. Oh, so true.

Many of the families refuse to follow Lemuel’s delusional demands about leaving the established route and taking the wagon train off to find the Garden of Eden.

wagon train photo: 2005 Ft Seward Wagon Train 1 wt1LargeWebview.jpg

The mad man sets off, taking Micah and his family with him.

Now all appears hopeless. They are lost on the prairie, there is little water, and no food. Looks like they will perish here and become a part of the sifting dust.

cow skull photo: cow skull cow-skull-2edited.jpg

Finally, when the sun is at its zenith, they see something shimmering in the distance. As the ground starts to slope upward they can see hazy figures standing in the glare of the sun. As they approach, the figures become clear. It’s  an old indian and three younger braves.

Beyond them is what looks like Eden. A lush valley with a sparkling lake, real houses, and huge trees.

redwoods photo: Redwoods Redwoods.jpg

The indians confuse them. Should they just go around them?

Micah’s father and Lemuel talk with the indians and harsh words are exchanged. The older indian refuses them entry to the valley. Lemuel loses all traces of sanity and murders all four of them. They quickly bury the bodies and descend into Eden.

Then things get really bizarre. Of course they do. This is a horror story, after all.

What would Eden be without a snake in the grass or a bad apple or two?

These poor folks. They are under the thumb of a man who believes murder is okay if it gets you into Eden.

I just knew things were going to get bad.

I didn’t think I could be surprised by horror anymore. I’ve read so much of it. But I did get a surprise with ArborEATum. I got more than one and shivered in delight.

Another great read from Evans Light.

5 Stars for giving me the jitters.

rotten apple photo: rotten apple rottenapple.jpg  rotten apple photo: rotten apple rottenapple.jpg  rotten apple photo: rotten apple rottenapple.jpg  rotten apple photo: rotten apple rottenapple.jpg  rotten apple photo: rotten apple rottenapple.jpg

More great news!

I have a message from Evans Light.

March is a brand new month, and with it comes a new free eBook!

For the entire month of March, The Mole People Beneath the City will be available as a free download from Goodreads.

EPUB/Browser Link: http://www.goodreads.com/ebooks/downl…

Amazon Kindle Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/aammcsq4fcz…

Hope you enjoy it, and reviews are appreciated!

-Evans Light

I’ve read all of Evans Light’s books. Check out my reivews!

Payback

The Mole People Beneath the City

Whatever Possessed You?

Crawl Space

Dark Curtains ~ Reviewing soon

Stories, Inc. ~  Reviewing soon

written with Adam Light

Corpus Corruptum – Reviewing soon.

 Evans Light

Evans Light

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You can find all of Evans books here .

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To Love or Die in a Steamy-Reamy World
10 Tales of Steampunk Silliness and Spookery

In the cozy seaside village of Steamville, New Hampshire, an unfaithful zombie, out of control werebots, succubi in corsets, and more wreak havoc in this short story collection from the author of Elemental.

Purchase
Just .99 cents

Praise

“Well written and very fast paced. You won’t get bored or find your mind wandering. I’d love to see a sequel to this collection and see what happens next. I give this book five out of five donuts.”

“This book starts off dipping its toe right into the heart of the story, not unlike Ms. White’s YA novel Elemental, and the story never really slows down to a lazy pace; making it a very easy and fast read.”

“Ms. White wonderfully succeeded in instilling humor into ten short stories about vampires, zombies, ghosts, and one mad scientist. Each story is brilliantly linked. The Victorian era setting delightfully adds to the humor.”

“This is a wonderful mix of Steampunk and Horror written in Emily White’s unmistakable brilliance and style. Does it get any better than that?”

About Author Emily White

Emily White lives in NY, wedged between two of the Great Lakes and a few feet of snow and ice. She’s spent most of her life running away from the cold, and even spent a year in Iraq, but now contents herself with writing her characters into warm, exotic places in faraway galaxies. When not tapping away at her computer keys, she can be found reading, reading, and reading some more. And when she’s not doing that, she’s usually playing video games with her husband, peek-a-boo with her kids, or walking through her garden, wondering why the bugs insist on eating all her vegetables.

Also by Emily White

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Book Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 3/24/13
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Thanks for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways go here.