Archive for the ‘Supernatural’ Category

WWW Wednesday

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Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

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What are you currently reading?

She Kissed a Vampire

Werewolves of the West #2

by Carol Van Atta 

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Synopsis

Best selling author Melanie Larson’s relationship with her friend, Chloe Carpenter, is bleak. Falsely accused of murder, Chloe’s future rests in the hands of her mate, Zane Marshall, and the Pacific Pack’s purebred werewolves. In an effort to help, Melanie joins forces with the pack and soon discovers the monsters she writes about in her paranormal novels really do go bump in the night.

As Chloe struggles with legal troubles, an unwanted blood bond with a master vampire, and a reunion with her mate, Melanie untangles the attention of multiple supernatural suitors determined to claim her as their own. Strangely attracted to a brazen vampire, she must decide if the blurred line between passion and pain is worth crossing.

Werewolves, vampires, and fae royalty race to unearth an ancient artifact with the power to extend their existence. Can Chloe and Melanie restore their friendship in time to stop magical mayhem from ruining everything they have worked so hard to redeem?

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What did you recently finishing reading?

I Kissed a Dog

Werewolves of the West #1

by Carol Van Atta 

I Kissed a Dog (Werewolves of the West, #1)

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Synopsis

Chloe Carpenter isn’t like other women. She can communicate with animals. A gift she unwrapped following one of her frequent dances with death.

In her otherwise wacky life, she’s finally found a semblance of sanity working at the Plum Beach Wildlife Park, where her unique talents can make life or death differences for the animals in her care. That semblance is shattered when a new veterinarian roars into the park in his spiffed up sports car and sets his golden gaze on her. If she had her way, he’d roar right back out.

Problem: He’s her new coworker and he’s saved her life twice – in the past twenty-four hours.

Zane Marshall, Enforcer for the Pacific Pack of purebred werewolves, has a job to do – figure out who or what is mutilating the young men of Plum Beach.

With orders to find the woman who talks to animals, he accepts a position working alongside the fiery Chloe Carpenter, a female who ignites his interest far more than he ever expected.

Remarkably, she’s the one elusive female with potential to bring meaning and passion to his empty existence.

Problem: She despises him.

Together, they’re forced to unravel a mystery of supernatural proportions, a murderous mystery with eternal implications for everyone. In the process, they discover opposites really do attract.

Major Problem: Zane is pledged to another woman, and she’ll do anything to keep him from Chloe.

 

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Ocean’s Infiltrator

Ocean’s Gift, Book #2

by Demelza Carlton 

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Could you kill the man you love to protect your people?  Capsize his boat. Lure him into the water. Summon sharks…
How long will Sirena let Joe live, now he knows her secret?
A story about seduction and sharks, parenthood and penguins, with plenty of beer and boobs to keep it interesting, at some coral islands off the coast of Western Australia, plus a few other places, too.
Sexy mermaids surface once more, to sing up chaos on ship and submarine, sea and shore.
Trouble, take two. This is Demelza’s second contemporary fantasy book in the Ocean’s Gift series, with more mermaids and mayhem than ever.
You’ll never look at mermaids the same way again.
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So, whatcha readin?

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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 She Kissed a Vampire

Werewolves of the West #2

by Carol Van Atta 

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Tease #1

Something was wrong, something beyond the fact that I’d been falsely imprisoned by a fraudulent FBI agent who tortured zebras while feasting on their blood.

Tease #2

Maybe if I’d done things differently and kept my secrets secret, I’d be somewhere besides a jail cell contemplating ways to stay sane while plotting my escape to freedom.

Or…maybe I’d be dead.

The way things were going, dead was still a very real option.

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Synopsis

Best selling author Melanie Larson’s relationship with her friend, Chloe Carpenter, is bleak. Falsely accused of murder, Chloe’s future rests in the hands of her mate, Zane Marshall, and the Pacific Pack’s purebred werewolves. In an effort to help, Melanie joins forces with the pack and soon discovers the monsters she writes about in her paranormal novels really do go bump in the night.

As Chloe struggles with legal troubles, an unwanted blood bond with a master vampire, and a reunion with her mate, Melanie untangles the attention of multiple supernatural suitors determined to claim her as their own. Strangely attracted to a brazen vampire, she must decide if the blurred line between passion and pain is worth crossing.

Werewolves, vampires, and fae royalty race to unearth an ancient artifact with the power to extend their existence. Can Chloe and Melanie restore their friendship in time to stop magical mayhem from ruining everything they have worked so hard to redeem?

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Freakin Fridays!

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

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With the new year here, I’ve started  implementing my new plans for my blog.

While I’ll still be doing my memes and posting for book tours and giveaways, I’m going to be doing a lot more reviewing.

I asked you to help me with this. Below are the 5 books I’ll be reviewing for the 5 Fridays in January. You’ve let me know which one you want me to review first. The book with the most votes for my first 2014 Freakin Fridays review was The Little Mermaid of Death!

There is a link further down in the post for my review if you missed it.

Your next pick was Spooky Short Stories. You can check out my review further down in this post.

And your next pick was The Monster Man of Horror House which I’ll be reviewing now along with the next choice Days With The Undead!

I had a glitch and had to miss my Freakin Fridays post last week so making up for that now.

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The previous week’s choices!

The Monster Man of Horror House

by Danny King

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My Review

Every town has one. That mysterious person. A recluse. You can’t help but listen to the rumors about him.  His very aloofness invites it.

John Coal has been having trouble with a group of teenage boys. They pull pranks, destroy property, and torment him. At first, he’s at a loss, wondering, “Why me?”

Then it hits him. He’s that creepy old guy in the creepy house. The odd one that everybody whispers about. People cross the street to avoid contact.

The gang of boys continue to plague him so he figures he’ll give them what they believe. He’ll be the monster man.

So he sets the bait, making it easy for the boys to get, and adds one more thing to entice them further into the house. Then he springs his trap and the boys end up in his cellar, scared and shaken.

Who knows what horrible plans he has in  store for them. They should have minded their own business.

John Coal has quite a history. He’s dealt with things we only dreamed about in our nightmares. Drawing on his past experiences, he goes to extremes to teach these boys a lesson.

The author threw me for a loop from the moment John trapped those boys. I didn’t have any idea whether John was just a grumpy old loner or something else. I quickly found out. I can see why he’s called the monster man now.

I had to stretch my imagination a bit about the elaborate trap John set. But as I learned about his past, it became easier to believe and them I was all in to the end.

A good read for a dark and stormy night.

3 Stars

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Days With The Undead

by Julianne Snow

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My Review

This was a bit different for me. The story is narrated by Julie as an ongoing journal on the internet. She is recording everything that has happened to her and her 4 friends starting three days after the outbreak,  as they go on the run, seeking someplace safe from the zombies.

Right away, I liked how the author addressed people’s reactions to the news of the flesh-eating outbreak. Many just went about their daily lives. That is, until the zombies came calling.

Some of the towns they passed through were untouched, while others were ravaged. They had to be careful not only of the zombies. There were pirates out there, goons who would as soon shoot you as help you. They want what you’ve got, plain and simple.

While telling her tale, Julie begins relating each of her friends stories. What happened to them when the outbreak occurred and how they came to be together.

If you are going to survive, you have to get tough, keep your group small, and keep moving. No stopping to help anyone, and no letting someone join the group, no matter what.

It’s easy to think, but harder when they’re faced with some choices.

Zombie fans know that things happen. Not everyone can survive. You expect losses.  But don’t you wish it didn’t have to be that way?

By writing this as a journal, Julianne did an excellent job. I was actually picturing the scenes, nodding at some things, and hoping the zombie apocalypse stayed what it is. Fiction.

You can learn a lot about surviving the apocalypse by reading Julie’s journal.

I was going to give this 4 stars but the ending bumped it right up to 5! I read it several times and it floored me.

5 Stars

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Your previous choices were:

Spooky Short Stories

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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My 5 Star Review

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Your first choice!

The Little Mermaid of Death

by Kevin Richey

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My 4 Star Review

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And for next week!

#1

Cold Blood

by Donna Ansari

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As the winter holiday season descends on New York City, vampire Emma Hammond is anticipating celebrating with Tammy and David, her witch and werewolf roommates. But when an odd Christmas ornament unleashes waves of the undead from her neighborhood graveyard, Emma finds herself as an unwilling shield between ravenous zombies and an unsuspecting city. Even worse, despite having everyday dealing with supernatural creatures, Emma finds that she has an unnatural aversion to the shambling dead, and must get to their source and stop the invasion before she’s forced to cancel her holiday party!

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Stay tuned for February. I’ll be giving you some new choices!

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

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

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#1

“He’s been here too long, there’s not much left of him. All he says is to let go and to warn her to let go too.”

#2

“I’m not letting go…..We’ll find a way to hold on.”

#3

The accident and the ghosts warning had him more shaken up than he wanted to admit.

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The laughs and the creepiness just keep on coming! This is such a fun series!

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Sinking Down

Road Ghosts #2

By Eric Garrison 

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Poor Little Ghoul

Paranormal investigators Brett and Liz find themselves back in over their heads when a forest hunt for a roadkill-eating creature offers up a little surprise. Back home with their ghoulish house guest, it becomes clear there’s more to this investigation than either of them thought. Worse than that, Brett’s own fate is linked to the little ghoul’s.

So it’s back out on the road, with plenty of time for pit stops with a greedy ex, a convention of ghost hunters, partying with fake vampires, and even drinking and fighting alongside good ole Uncle Gonzo. But as the investigation goes deeper, and unseen connections come to light, Brett finds there’s much more at stake than getting through a rough patch with Liz.

A rescue mission. A race for a cure. New friends and old adversaries. Unbreakable bonds and supernatural danger. It’s going to be a wild ride. Can the friends save the nearly undead tween? Can she and Brett stop themselves from …Sinking Down?

Sinking Down is the 2nd Book in the Road Ghosts Trilogy!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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It’s time to celebrate!

Delta Legend is now out in paperback!

I’m reposting my 5 Star review and Kelan has written an awesome guest post.

That’s not all.

This is a Tag Team Event.

I’ll be giving away one paperback copy of Delta Legend generously provided by Kelan O’Connell. After entering my giveaway, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental for another chance to win!

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Synopsis

When 16-year-old Oakland teenager, Calvin Pierce, makes a bad decision and winds up getting arrested, his mother is quick to take action. Determined not to lose a second son to the drug and gang violence of the inner city, she sends Calvin to spend the summer working for his great uncle in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

There in the predominately white region of agriculture and recreational boating, Calvin’s a fish out of water with a chip on his shoulder. But when severed body parts are discovered floating in a slough, his summer of proving himself takes on new meaning.

Something deadly is lurking in the deep, murky waterways of the Delta. Now the daunting task of containing the living incarnation of a mythical creature falls to Calvin and his ragtag posse of oddball characters.

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 Enjoy Kelan’s Guest Post

THE RIDE OF SUSPENDED DISBELIEF

Writing Urban Fantasy Adventure is a bit like creating a wild new theme park ride. It’s a really fun gig. If done right, readers will happily board your attraction and stay engaged through the whole crazy ride, ping-ponging between anticipation, fear, laughter, and satisfaction.

delta legend Theme Park Car

Photo by Dan Hatfield, OrlandoInformer.com

As a novelist, I have to make sure my story has all the necessary elements required for a great ride, and suspended disbelief is a key element in good fantasy fiction.

In Urban Fantasy, fantastical things happen in the modern world as we know it. Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge of writing for this genre is creating a sense of isolation in our modern world. Considering the sheer number of humans crawling all over the planet armed with multiple means of connecting, this can be a formidable task. Enter the all-important selection of location.

The setting for Delta Legend goes by both the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the California Delta. I refer to it by both names in the book. Though surrounded by populated cities, the heart of the Delta retains a sense of isolation due to its vast expanses of farmland and seemingly endless waterways that snake on for 1000 plus miles. That’s right—one thousand.

A picture of California's Sacramento-San Joaqu...

It was definitely challenging to describe this unique region in a way that would give people who’ve never been there a visceral sense of the place. Luckily, I have a couple things going for me in this regard. One, I have a background as a screenwriter, so I write visually. And two, I spent a good deal of time in the California Delta from the time I was 15 until I was in my mid 30′s. And let me tell you, no matter how old I got, swimming or waiting to get picked up on a water ski in the Delta, always freaked me out a bit. Anything could be lurking in those deep murky waters.

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Photo by Kelan

Of course, if anything like what happens in the book were to actually happen in the Delta, it would be extremely hard to keep it on the down-low, but that’s where the all-important suspended disbelief and sense of isolation come into play.

Then there’s the fact that every once in while, something fantastical happens in our real world—something that makes fantasy all the more plausible.

In case you missed it, check this out: This very real sea creature was discovered recently off the shores of Catalina Island, a place I visited several times when I lived in Los Angeles.

delta legend Catlina Oarfish

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/15/us/california-18-foot-oarfish/

Nope, not Photoshopped.

The gal who found this creature (dead) while snorkeling, grabbed it by the tail and hauled it to shore (holy crap) because she knew her friends wouldn’t believe her if they didn’t see it for themselves.

And that, my friends, is the stuff that fuels imagination and inspires all manner of Urban Fantasy and folklore. Laura Thomas’ review of Delta Legend is titled, “There’s Something In the Water!”  Hell yeah, there is.

Wanna come along for the ride? It’s fun … and a little scary.

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My Review

Delta Legend is so much more than a scary creature story. It is about second chances, community, new friendships, budding romance, courage and honor.

There is an inner story that provides vital background for the legend. Kelan has really done a lot of research in order to tell you about this creature and where the events take place. Her descriptions of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are almost visual.  You can almost feel the sluggish, dark water on your skin and the cold, silty bottom between your toes.

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There are many characters that have their parts to play in this book. They are all essential to the plot and add depth, believability and some comic relief.

When Calvin has a brush with the juvenile court system, his mother, Angela, knows she has to do something. After losing her older son Leo to drug and gang violence, she does not want him going down the same path. Her solution is to send Calvin to stay with his great-uncle Samuel for the summer break.  He wants no part of the “cuts”, or back country life and arrives with a big chip on his shoulder.

Samuel was apprehensive about taking in Calvin, but is pleasantly surprised when his great-nephew shows a penchant for machine and engine repair. He proves to be a hard worker and an asset at Samuel’s Marine Repair Shop.

Calvin’s first encounter with Mei Li, a young Chinese farm girl, is confrontational. She sees through his tough guy persona and calls him on it. She is sassy and bold and he wants nothing to do with her.

Samuel takes Calvin into the local cafe and small grocery owned by Frances. It is also where the rental desk for Heron’s Harbor Marina, which her teenage son Jess runs. The locals come there to hang out, have a bite to eat and catch up on the daily news around town. It seems every small town has one of these.

After a little bit of juggling, Calvin and Jess start up a friendship. Mei Li is friends with Jess and includes herself on their outings. It is not hard for the others to notice that Jess has developed an interest in Lauren. She is a nice girl, but hangs with the town bullies. But soon enough Lauren sees them for what they are and joins up with Jess, Calvin and Mei Li.

Good old boys Terry and Neal just want to fish and drink cold beer. They motor to their favorite fishing spot and settle in to catch some dinner when they spot what looks like debris from a boat floating in the water. Seeing what they think is a wig, they hook  it and take a look. What they had on the end of that hook was someone’s face. Their return trip broke records. This is not the only encounter they have with body parts, it seems like they just can’t get a day of fishing in.

It soon becomes obvious that something is preying on the people of the Delta. Something hungry. The fatalities start piling up, and finally even Sheriff Ray Cruz has to accept that there is a deadly creature cruising the waters, killing and eating the unsuspecting .

The mish mash of locals,  along with Calvin and his posse of friends and Sheriff Cruz and bumbling Deputy Burt Watson, unite to combat this evil monster. There are many more characters that I’ve not mentioned, each one adding flavor and dimension to the story.  Kelan has the ability to weave them in without confusing you or slowing down your reading enjoyment. No flipping back and forth to see who’s who.

I particularly liked her characterization of Joe, Tak and Samuel. I smilingly think of them as the Over the Hill Gang.

There are a few surprises, you think something has been left out, but then Kelan slips it in effortlessly, providing all of the answers.

And I can’t wait for you to read the great “Oh No!” ending.

If you are looking for a unique monster story with lots of action, adventure and scares, I recommend you get Delta Legend and get reading.

5 STARS.

You can go HERE to read my original review post and check out my interview with Kelan!

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Author Kelan O’Connell

Kelan O'Connell

Though she’s been writing in one form or another since the age of 20, Delta Legend is Kelan O’Connell’s first solo novel. She began writing in college, creating character monologues as a way to stand out in auditions and later went on to write sketch comedy, one-act plays, and more specs for screen than she cares to admit.

Kelan holds a degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University and has worked in the Film and Television Industry in Northern California and Los Angeles—among her many other day jobs.

She currently lives in Northern California with her partner, Sound Engineer/Producer, Tom Size, and the incredibly spoiled pets of Camp RunAmuck.

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Be sure to visit Kelan’s blog: http://kelanoconnell.blogspot.com

and the Delta Legend website: http://deltalegend.com

Other Links

Goodreads / Twitter

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I have one print copy of Delta Legend to give away!

An International Giveaway!

To enter, please leave your email address with your comment so I can contact you if you win and answer this question:

“What sea monster scares you the most?”

This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry at fundinmental.

You can visit Sherry’s blog for another chance to win and see what she thinks about Delta Legend  HERE.

Giveaway ends February 3rd.

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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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WWW Wednesday

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Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

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What are you currently reading?

Nefertiti’s Heart

by A.W. Exley

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Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861.  Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father – sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.

Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.

Self-preservation fuels Cara’s search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

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What did you recently finishing reading?

Dragon Fire

by  Dina von Lowenkraft 

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Some choices are hard to live with.
But some choices will kill you.When seventeen-year-old Anna first meets Rakan in her hometown north of the Arctic Circle, she is attracted to the pulsing energy that surrounds him. Unaware that he is a shapeshifting dragon, Anna is drawn into a murderous cycle of revenge that pits Rakan and his clan against her best friend June.Torn between his forbidden relationship with Anna, punishable by death, and restoring his family’s honor by killing June, Rakan must decide what is right. And what is worth living – or dying – for.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Stepping Off A Cliff

The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book 2

by Doug Dillon 

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An otherworldly, evil and dangerous force infests America’s oldest and most haunted city, St. Augustine, Florida. Everyone living there, or visiting, is at risk in ways too horrible to imagine.Standing between this invader and the people of St. Augustine are teenagers Jeff and Carla, the mysterious Native American shaman, Lobo, and Lyle, the homeless guy.In their quest to save themselves and all the inhabitants of this ancient Florida city, Jeff and Carla uncover lost parts of St. Augustine history, push past the limits of space and time, and come face-to-face with what they come to realize are the true walking dead
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So, whatcha readin?

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thrills&chills

I’m hosting a stop on  E.J. Wesley’s Winter Thrills and Chills Tour for his Moonsongs Series.  This tour is running January 6-17 and consists of reviews, interviews, top tens, guest posts and of course, giveaways!  Be sure to check out the tour page for the full list of stops.

Tour Schedule

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Blood Fugue

Moonsongs, Book 1

by E.J. Wesley

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“Some folks treated the past like an old friend. The memories warmed them with fondness for what was, and hope for what was to come. Not me. When I thought of long ago, my insides curdled, and I was left feeling sour and wasted.”

Jenny Schmidt is a young woman with old heartaches. A small town Texas girl with big city attitude, she just doesn’t fit in. Not that she has ever tried.

Life has pummeled her heart into one big, lonely callus. She has no siblings, both parents were dead by sixteen, and her last grandparent—and caretaker—was in the ground before she turned twenty-one. She’s the last living member of her immediate family. Or so she thinks…

“We found my ‘grandfather’ sitting at his dining room table. An entire scorched pot of coffee dangled from his shaky hand. His skin was the ashen gray shade of thunderclouds, not the rich mocha from the photo I’d seen. There were dark blue circles under each swollen red eye. A halo of white hair skirted his bald head, a crown of tangles and mats. Corpses had more life in them.”

Suddenly, instead of burying it with the dead, Jenny is forced to confront the past. Armed only with an ancient family journal, her rifle, and an Apache tomahawk, she must save her grandfather’s life and embrace her dangerous heritage. Or be devoured by it.

Blood Fugue is the first of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.

(These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)

Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble| iBooks | Goodreads

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My Review

I just knew I was gonna love Jenny. She has serious attitude issues, wears radical clothes, and sports a purple mohawk. She doesn’t give a crap what anyone thinks about her.

Her mother died when she was 10 and her father lived for the bottle. The only good times they shared were when he took her to the gun range, teaching her how to shoot.

She became quite good at it. Never knowing she’d need to be.

Upon his death, she was raised by her grandmother, her last living family, who lived long enough to see Jenny become a grown woman.

Out of the blue she gets an email from her grandfather, Billy Moonsong, the one she’s been led to believe died many years ago. It was a short email.

“I would never contact you unless it was extremely important. It is. Please meet me tomorrow.”

Of course she goes to see him, but not alone. She takes her best friend Marshal.

Short stories and novellas have to grab me quickly. This one did. There’s the mysterious grandfather, a legacy, Native American (Apache) elements and flesh and blood characters.

Did I forget to mention the monster. Oh yeah, one very powerful, murderous creature.

Poor Jenny and poor Marshal. The handbook given to her by Billy Moonsong is supposed to help her understand her place in the family legacy. She’s a monster hunter and she better get with it quick.

What felt so authentic to me was how Jenny, and then Marshal. thought on their feet. They had no time to do research and no idea what creature was coming, so they were going to be very lucky to survive.

What comes is straight out of a horror movie.” Looks like Jenny’s going on the war path.”

5 Stars

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Witches’s Nocturne

Moonsongs, Book 2

by E.J. Wesley

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After receiving an ancient tribal journal from her grandfather, Jenny is sent on a mission of discovery in an attempt to unravel clues to her family’s monster hunting past. The journey becomes more than academic when she is asked to confront a coven of dangerous witches who plan to cast an insidious spell on the plains of West Texas.Witch’s Nocturne is the second volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley
.(These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)
.

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My Review

Jenny survived her first battle with a monster, but there are more to kill.

She does have a normal life too, but she’s not very good at it. Always wasting too much money on her energy drink addiction instead of paying bills, she’s never far from having something shut off.

Her one link to adult responsibility is Marshal, and he never lets her off easy. Marshal was her grandmothers nurse and left him in charge of collecting rent from Jenny when she inherited the house.

After cruising through life, keeping herself closed off, Jenny has now found her true calling. Thanks to her now dead grandfather, Billy Moonsong, she’s gotten an up close and personal tutorial on their family history and what part she has in it for the future.

The ancient tribal journal he’d left her was a how to of monster hunting. Now she has a calling and made it official. Moonsong PI as in Paranormal Investigator.

Marshal is becoming her partner in this and new characters and a love interest enter the mix, along with an unsavory witch.

If you think a witch isn’t all that scary, think again. They have access to lots of power and are always looking for more. That sometimes calls for blood.

This next installment in the Moonsongs Series is every bit as good as the first. And the author keeps you gasping at the action and grinning at the dialogue. I also like the bit of romance sneaking into this series.

5 Stars

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Dark Prelude

Moonsongs, Book 3

by E.J. Wesley

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Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of “monster hunter” and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. Unfortunately, a lot of on-the-job training is required to be a monster hunter, and unlike her computer repair business, this gig could literally kill her.Dark Prelude finds the feisty protagonist, Jenny, searching for her best friend Marshal’s missing father in the midst of a freak, West Texas winter storm. To survive the frigid night, she’ll have to deal with a hated town rival, face a monstrous creature no Moonsong hunter has ever encountered before, and undo a mysterious curse. Can she keep everyone alive? If not, who will pay the ultimate price?Dark Prelude is the third volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.
(These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)
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My Review
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This is the third novella in the Moonsongs Series. The author does some reminiscing in the beginning, bringing you up to speed.

There was one thing that lingered from the first story to the next. Finally it’s discovered. It gnawed at Jenn and kept me curious. The way the author popped it up now and then, like she wanted me to remember, had me thinking it was significant. It could be good or it could be bad for Jenn

Jenny’s paranormal investigation business is in a slump, leaving her with idle time.  So Marshal becomes her coach, doing Q&A’s about monsters and how to kill them. They still haven’t had much luck with the tribunal journal her grandfather left her.

Things don’t stay quiet for long. Marshal’s dad is building the new town bridge. When Marshal and Jenn arrive at the site, no one is around. It’s like they all vanished. Until they spot the blood and follow the trail to a hand, just a severed hand. Further on they find the mangled, unidentifiable remains of a man.

The sheriff is quick to pass it off as a rogue bear, but Jenn knows better.

“We’d been down this road before, and there weren’t any bears waiting with porridge at the end of it.”

I didn’t catch on right away as to which monster this was going to be. Perhaps I should have. The author did give me a clue.

E. J. Wesley does an excellent job writing as a female protagonist. I was skeptical, but he was dead on with Jenn.

Another thrilling story every bit as good as the first two.

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5 Stars
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A quote I loved!
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“The next time Marshal called me boring and gave me shit about staying home and playing video games, I’d punch him in the giblets. Hard!”
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Dragon’s Game

Moonsongs Book #4

By E.J. Wesley

Dragon's Game (Moonsongs, Book 4)

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Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of “monster hunter” and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. She has already faced a werewolf, witches, and a troll. But nothing could prepare her for her latest confrontation…

Dragon’s Game, Moonsongs Book 4, finds Jenny out of her rural West Texas element, searching for an evil witch in an urban Houston nightclub. After attempting to help a handsome and mysterious stranger out of a jam, she finds herself on the run from a ruthless gang who are even more dangerous than they initially appear.

Forced into a twisted game of life and death, Jenny must navigate the complexity of a budding relationship, and somehow survive a night filled with unexpected horror and paranormal mystery.

Dragon’s Game is approximately 14,000 words or 45 pages, and is the fourth volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, speculative / urban fantasy novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.

(These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)

Amazon  |   Barnes & NobleGoodreads

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My Review

Finally. Jenny runs into a mysterious man, a potential love interest.

She’s out of her element, seeking out another nasty witch. This time in a swanky pub. That’s where she meets the sexy, mysterious, and very persistent hunk of manflesh.

I was wondering when the author would do this. Marshal has his guy, but Jenn is still single. It would have to be someone special to see past her snarky attitude and purple mohawk.

Now we’re back to witches, but not just one. There’s a slew of them, and one in particular is very much the hag. She wants Jenn, or rather, she wants her dead.

With a whole gang after them, the race is on, and Jenn isn’t finding much to help in that handbook. She’s going to have to learn as she goes.

This one feels darker, more violent. There’s a couple of new supernatural beings introduced. Some real wicked ones.

One  could be unbeatable. That’s where the mysterious pub crawler comes in handy. I knew there was something going on with him.

I wish I could have seen this on the big screen. It would have been one epic battle.

5 Stars

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Vampire’s Ball

Moonsongs, Book #5

by E.J. Wesley

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Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of “monster hunter” and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. Being a girl of action, she has found herself particularly capable when it comes to battling the werewolves, trolls, and other supernatural denizens lurking in the Texas night. Until now.

Vampire’s Ball, Moonsongs book 5, finds Jenny and her best friend Marshal in their most harrowing adventure yet. Traveling by boat to an extravagant masquerade party located at a Galveston Island mansion, Jenny must parlay with an ancient vampire in order to secure the release of the dragon princess, Isis. The unexpected return of an old “friend” turns the evening into chaos, and leaves Jenny and company once again fighting for survival amidst a sea of supernatural foes.

Vampire’s Ball is approximately 12,500 words of humor, horror and paranormal mystery. It is the fifth volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, urban fantasy novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.

Amazon  |   Barnes & NobleGoodreads

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My Review

Now we get to the vampires.

This is the fifth and newest in the Moonsong Series, and it’s every bit as great as the other four.

It used to be just Jenn and Marshal, but now there’s also Rushdam and Ren, two guys with more muscle to help with the pesky monsters.

This isn’t just about going to a vampire ball. Jenn landed in a pickle in the last story and now she has to retrieve something to pay a debt. Or rather, trade something.

The vampires in this series aren’t sparkly. They are as cold as their skin and they have no compassion. We are just food to be played with and swiftly devoured.

If anything goes wrong with their plan, none of them may get out alive.

I thought the battle in book four was epic. This one is even wilder. It starts in the mansion and ends up in the middle of the lake. I was holding my breath, not seeing a happy outcome.

And this is where the author left me. With one heck of a cliffhanger I didn’t expect. But it’s a really good one.

5 Stars

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~Moonsongs Anthology~

The Moonsongs Anthology 1 collects the first three Moonsongs books–a series of New Adult paranormal-horror-action novelettes–in one exciting volume. Follow Jenny and her best friend Marshal on their dangerous quest to unlock the secrets of her past.

Moonsongs Anthology 1 collects the three previously published Moonsongs adventures: Blood Fugue (Book 1), Witch’s Nocturne (Book 2), and Dark Prelude (Book 3).

Available in print & eBook via Amazon  | Goodreads

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About the author:

Growing up in small-town Oklahoma, there were limits on the amount and types of entertainment at my disposal. Perhaps that’s why I set my imagination free. After collecting degrees in psychology and counseling, life brought me to Missouri, Texas, and Northern California—where I currently read, write, and live. I fill my spare time playing video games, watching movies, planning for the zombie apocalypse, reading graphic novels, and playing with my dogs.
My passion for New Adult literature led me to producing the weekly New Adult Lit Chat on Twitter, and contributing to the NA Alley Blog. I’m also the author of the Moonsongs Books, a series of New Adult, speculative-rural fantasy novelettes.
Website ** Blog ** NA Alley (contributor) ** Goodreads ** Twitter ** New Adult Lit Chat (founder/producer) ** Facebook ** Google+ ** Linkedin

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Huge Giveaway!

$20 Amazon gift card

  • 2 $10 Amazon gift cards
  • Up to $20 Book Depository purchase (International only)
  • Signed Book Bundle: (North America Only US/Canada) – Hysteria, Sinfluence, & Sycamortem by D.A. Botta – Butterman, (Time) Travel Inc. Book 1 by PK Hrezo – The Moment We Began by Sarra Cannon – Moonsongs, Anthology 1 by E.J. Wesley Destiny Gift & Soul Oath by Juliana Haygert
  • INT- eBook Bundle: – Removed & Released (Books 1 & 2 of the Nogiku Series) by S.J. Pajonas  – Butterman, (Time) Travel Inc. Book 1 by PK Hrezo  – The Trouble With Goodbye by Sarra Cannon  – Tell Me When by Stina Lindenblatt  – Darkness Watching (Darkworld #1) by Emma L. Adams  – Jellybean Kisses by Amy Evans  – Clicks (The Pinhold Prophecy #1) by Amy Evans  – Daemons in the Mist (Marked Ones #1 ) by Alicia Kat Vancil
  • INT ebook Bundle- eBooks: Violet Night Trilogy by Lynn Rush  Strength & Courage (Mark of Nexus 1 & 2) by Carrie Butler  The Crimson Hunt by Victoria Smith  Destiny Gift & Soul Oath by Juliana Haygert

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle 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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The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

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

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#1

Why did I commit myself to this? It was just a dog, right? Jerry had died saving this dog, so why was I putting myself in a situation in which the same thing could happen to me? I didn’t even like dogs.

#2

If a hellhound was there – which was likely – it would not only be guarding the cemetery, but also watching, waiting for Jerry’s saintly dog to breathe its final breath.

#3

Whatever I tried would be spotted right away, and I’d be greeted with glowing eyes, huge fangs, and a thirst for living blood.

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Hellhounds

Freaky Jules #3

By Tom Upton 

Hellhounds

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The third volume of the Freaky Jules series.

Julia Dundee (Freaky Jules)
is recruited by her home spirit, a deceased police officer, to retrieve the
spirit of his former partner, Sarge, an aging German Shepherd who will soon pass
away. The only problem is the hellhounds that are bent on corrupting or
destroying the retired canine hero.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

WWW Wednesday

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Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

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What are you currently reading?

Survivor Roundup

The Zombie West Series, Book #2

by Angela Scott

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Red always knew she would have to face the man who nearly destroyed her. She just didn’t figure it would happen so soon…

With the plague sweeping across the nation, destroying many and turning others into walking corpses, survivors head West in search of a chosen land, a place designed to keep the infected out, while sealing survivors inside. In theory, the idea seems the only way to keep humanity alive. In practice, it doesn’t matter whether a person is on the inside or the out—there is no humanity.

…And even though John Gatherum hunted her down and instigated their reunion, Red’s no longer the passive girl he once manipulated. This time, she has a hidden agenda of her own.

Kill him. Save her family. Save herself.

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What did you recently finishing reading

Secrets and Lies

Cassie Scot, Book #2

by Christine Amsden 

Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot, #2)

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Cassie Scot, still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can save them.To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness. Book 2 in the Cassie Scot Mystery series.”Christine Amsden unleashes her brilliant storytelling magic as the adventures of Cassie Scot escalate to the extreme. Rife with betrayal and a debt too deep for money to clear, Secrets and Lies plunges the reader into an utterly believable world where villains and heroes spring lifelike from the pages. Brace for a whirlwind ride of sorcery, romance and knife-edge peril. A truly original urban fantasy. Not to be missed!” –Kim Falconer, bestselling author of The Spell of Rosette, Quantum Enchantment Series.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Dead Plains

The Zombie West Series, Book #3

by Angela Scott 

Dead Plains (The Zombie West Series, #3)

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Sometimes, the ones you least suspect are the ones that should worry you the most.People aren’t always what they seem, as Red has experienced all too well. Strangers are feared, towns are avoided, and everyone’s intentions are scrutinized… even those of the people closest to her. Her coveted ability has been revealed to far too many people, and now that a tiny heartbeat thumps and grows beneath her own, the risk has never been greater.

As the group of ten searches for a safe haven, a place to finally call home, the sobering reality of it all finally settles over them: nowhere is safe, nothing is permanent, and death is everywhere. One by one, Red’s reluctant posse grows smaller, as death claims some, and circumstance claims others.

It couldn’t be a worse time to bring a newborn into the world… but the baby is coming.

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So, whatcha readin?

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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 Vampire’s Ball

Moonsongs, Book #5

by E.J. Wesley

Vampire's Ball, Moonsongs Book 5

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My tease from 8% into the story.

Feeling beautiful, surrounded by the people I cared for most – this could’ve been the setup for the best night of my life. But when I wiped the cold sweat from my palms on the rubbery boat seat for what felt like the hundredth time, I was reminded of how imperfect things really were.

I was on my way to a super-exclusive party being held at a swanky, Galveston Island mansion just off the Texas coastline. Unfortunately, this party was being hosted by a pissed off vampire, and I was to hand over the olive branch.

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Synopsis

Jenny Moonsong recently inherited the title of “monster hunter” and an ancient tribal journal/how-to manual passed down by her Apache ancestors. Being a girl of action, she has found herself particularly capable when it comes to battling the werewolves, trolls, and other supernatural denizens lurking in the Texas night. Until now.Vampire’s Ball, Moonsongs book 5, finds Jenny and her best friend Marshal in their most harrowing adventure yet. Traveling by boat to an extravagant masquerade party located at a Galveston Island mansion, Jenny must parlay with an ancient vampire in order to secure the release of the dragon princes, Isis. The unexpected return of an old “friend” turns the evening into chaos, and leaves Jenny and company once again fighting for survival amidst a sea of supernatural foes.Vampire’s Ball is approximately 12,500 words of humor, horror and paranormal mystery. It is the fifth volume of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, urban fantasy novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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