Archive for the ‘suspense’ Category

The Monkey House by Boyd Taylor ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: February 21, 2018 in Adult Fiction, giveaways, reviews, suspense
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Welcome to my stop on the tour for Boyd Taylor’s Donnie Ray Cuinn Series. Today I’m sharing my review for his third book, The Monkey House.

Click on the titles for my reviews of the previous two books Hero and The Antelope Play and stop back by tomorrow for my review of the fourth book, Necessities.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

The Monkey House

The Donnie Ray Cuinn Series #3

by Boyd Taylor

26048365

Category:  Adult Fiction,  212 pages
Genre:   Political Suspense
Publisher:  Katherine Brown Press
Release date:  May 29, 2015
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (Some adult language and elusion to sex.)

My Review

Nothing like some madcap monkey escapes to start the story. Donnie’s Papa used the escaping monkeys to help in his endeavors to shut down a research lab. Now he wants the property turned into a park for children and a nice green sanctuary for people to enjoy. But a low down dirty dog throws a wrench in those plans and Donnie is up to his eyeballs in dirty deals trying to fix everything.

It was good to get back to this series. There were more big changes for Donnie, personally and career wise. along with his struggling love life. I really do like Donnie, but I find him too forgiving sometimes. What his long time best friend does is beyond forgivable to me.

It’s never dull in Donnie’s life either. So much scheming and back door deals, the corruption and action is alive and well, keeping his practice afloat. Some of these character’s are so maddening and some so delightful, it’s always fun to read what they are up to.

Still enjoying the heck out of this series and the ending has this super surprise. I had been wondering what happened to a certain something, and it was crazy fun when I found out.

  5 Stars

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Synopsis

This, the third Donnie Ray Cuinn book, pits Donnie against the old friends and new enemies guilty of land fraud and corporate greed. Donnie returns to Austin from his law practice in the Texas Panhandle to confront All-American football player Wesley Bird, his former best friend. In the company of beautiful, athletic Anna Kaye Nordstrom, Donnie experiences the “new” Austin of glitzy condos, trendy restaurants and social media. He also revisits the “old” Austin of barbecue, power politics and greens versus developers. Donnie finds that not much has changed.

Amazon / B&N

Add To Goodreads

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Watch the book trailer for Necessities (Book #4 in the Donnie Ray Cuinn Series)

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Meet the Author:
 

BOYD TAYLOR lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and their Havanese dog Toby. Necessities is the fourth novel in the Donnie Ray Cuinn series. In a former life, Boyd was a lawyer and a corporate officer. A native of Temple, Texas, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in government and an LL.B. from the law school.

Boyd’s first novel “Hero” was prescient in its story about fake news. His second novel, “The Antelope Play,” dealt with drug trafficking in the Texas Panhandle, an unfortunately accurate forecast. The third, “The Monkey House”, involved commercial development of a large green space in the center of Austin, all too familiar to Austin residents. Whether his upcoming novel “Necessities” predicts future events with the accuracy of the earlier books remains to be seen.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook

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Enter the Giveaway!
Ends March 7, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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To read reviews, please visit Boyd Taylor’s page on iRead Book Tours.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

The Antelope Play by Boyd Taylor ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: February 20, 2018 in Adult Fiction, giveaways, reviews, suspense
Tags: , , , ,
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I’m thrilled to be sharing a review for The Antelope Play, Boyd Taylor’s second book in his Donnie Ray Cuinn Series.

You can read my review of the first book HERE.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for my review of the third book, The Monkey House and on Thursday for the fourth book, Necessities.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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The Antelope Play

The Donnie Ray Cuinn Series #2

by Boyd Taylor

23993617

Category:  Adult Fiction,  260 pages
Genre:   Political Suspense
Publisher:  Katherine Brown Press
Release date:  July 25, 2015
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (Some minor cursing.)

My Review

It’s some time later and so much has happened to Donnie. After leaving Texas and pursuing a possible career in historical studies, he’s back in Texas, a damaged man. His wife and her family were gunned down by a drug cartel and his guilt weighs heavy on him.

Now a lawyer and associate in a Texas law firm, he marks the passing of time, hating the small town of Velda and losing all sense of direction. Fed up with his job he quits and sets up shop in his own office in an even smaller town, Antelope City, population: 1004. Things change quickly when a seemingly trivial case lands him in the middle of a water right’s case.

I’m not really sure how much time passed between the first book and where we are now. A lot has happened and the author provided the information in just the right places. My curiosity grew as I learned why Donnie left Mexico and what occurred to send him, tail tucked, back to Texas. He’s different. More mature, yes. But bitter, disillusioned. I missed his easy ways and humor. As he digs into the new case, he starts to come out of his miasma. I caught glimpses of the character I was so fond of.

This book isn’t fast paced. More like steady until you get near the end. It’s not packed with action. What makes it so hard to put down is the author’s writing. The descriptions of the towns, the diverse character’s and their antics,  it all reads so easy. It’s fun reading even when not much is happening.

It was like coming back home as I read this. Not sure quite what it was, but something had me loving this even more than the first book. There’s more intrigue, more scheming, sadness and humor. But, I’m thinking it’s Donnie. He’s the something extra. And what might happen to him is why I can’t stop reading this series.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

When Austin native Donnie Cuinn accepts a job as an associate in a Texas Panhandle law firm, his boredom and disdain for Velda, a sleepy Texas town, is forgotten when he gets caught up in a struggle over water rights, possible radioactive contamination of the nation’s largest underground fresh water supply, and the violence of an invading Mexican drug cartel. Along the way, Donnie learns to respect the local rancher, whose brother is at the center of the troubles, and to come to terms with the violent death of his young Mexican wife.

Amazon / B&N

Add To Goodreads

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Watch the book trailer for Necessities (Book #4 in the Donnie Ray Cuinn Series)

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Meet the Author:
 

BOYD TAYLOR lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and their Havanese dog Toby. Necessities is the fourth novel in the Donnie Ray Cuinn series. In a former life, Boyd was a lawyer and a corporate officer. A native of Temple, Texas, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in government and an LL.B. from the law school.

Boyd’s first novel “Hero” was prescient in its story about fake news. His second novel, “The Antelope Play,” dealt with drug trafficking in the Texas Panhandle, an unfortunately accurate forecast. The third, “The Monkey House”, involved commercial development of a large green space in the center of Austin, all too familiar to Austin residents. Whether his upcoming novel “Necessities” predicts future events with the accuracy of the earlier books remains to be seen.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Enter The Giveaway!

Ends March 7, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

To read reviews, please visit Boyd Taylor’s page on iRead Book Tours.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

Hero by Boyd Taylor ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: February 19, 2018 in Adult Fiction, giveaways, reviews, suspense
Tags: , , , ,
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Finally, it’s time for me to share my review for Hero by Boyd Taylor. This is the first in his Donnie Ray Cuinn Series.

Make sure you stop back by tomorrow for my review of the second book, The Antelope Play. On Wednesday I’ll be reviewing the third book, The Monkey House and on Thursday I’ll be reviewing the fourth book, Necessities. Be sure to stop back by.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Hero

The Donnie Ray Cuinn Series #1

by Boyd Taylor

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Category: Adult Fiction, 180 pages
Genre: Political Suspense
Publisher: Katherine Brown Press
Release date: November 9, 2015
Tour dates: Jan 3 to Feb 28, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (Some slight cursing.)

My Review

Donnie Ray Cuinn Is nobody special. Just a humble historian. Until the day he uncovers a startling document and writes about. Then he lands smack dab in the middle of a gubernatorial race in the mighty state of Texas.

You see, Sam Eben Payne V, is one of the candidates and that article Donnie wrote shed a rather ugly light on Sam’s ancestor, creating a bit of a scandal. He claims the document was a fake and brings the full force of his power down on Donnie. Now Donnie must choose, retract the story or stand by what he believes to be true.

This is very much a character driven story. Something I happen to love. And there’s such a fun cast. It makes everything outrageous. And the author writes these scenes that make you wish you were a fly on the wall. Like when Sam Payne, running for governor and with deep roots in the state, demands the story be retracted and just can’t believe it when a nobody like Donnie refuses to obey. He has a hissy it. He huffs and he puffs but Donnie won’t back down.

It took some time for me to warm up to Donnie. In the beginning he’s not got much ambition or focus. But Sam Eben’s threats put a burr under his saddle and he gets fired up. Plus, he’s finally found a girl he can love and shes’ no shrinking violet. There’s a scene in a hotel room where some Republic Militia bust in, catching them naked and unprepared, and Cecilia shows her Texan upbringing. Donnie sums it up eloquently, “My God, you’re wonderful!” LOL

What I thought might be a snooze turned out to be one heck of an entertaining read. My excitement built as Donnie evolved, became someone I liked, and opened his can of whoop ass on those who thought him ignorant and lazy. I have the next three books waiting to be read and I just know it’s going to be more crazy fun.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

When budding historian Donnie Ray Cuinn stumbles upon an old letter in the musty bowels of the Texas State Archives, he believes he has uncovered the true story of Sam Payne’s valiant, or perhaps not so valiant, capture of Mexican leader Santa Anna during the Battle of San Jacinto. Cuinn’s findings are published in a local magazine. But the article eventually becomes fodder in the gubernatorial race between Democratic upstart Bob Braeswood and Republican favorite Sam Eben Payne V, the great-great-grandson of the Texas hero. Braeswood is intent on exploiting the past, while Payne will do anything to suppress it. In the ensuing battle, Donnie finds his beliefs, not to mention his relationships, stretched to the limit in the first novel of the Donnie Ray Cuinn series.


Buy the Books:
 
Watch the book trailer for Necessities (Book #4 in the Donnie Ray Cuinn Series)
.

 Meet the Author:
 

BOYD TAYLOR lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and their Havanese dog Toby. Necessities is the fourth novel in the Donnie Ray Cuinn series. In a former life, Boyd was a lawyer and a corporate officer. A native of Temple, Texas, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in government and an LL.B. from the law school.

Boyd’s first novel “Hero” was prescient in its story about fake news. His second novel, “The Antelope Play,” dealt with drug trafficking in the Texas Panhandle, an unfortunately accurate forecast. The third, “The Monkey House”, involved commercial development of a large green space in the center of Austin, all too familiar to Austin residents. Whether his upcoming novel “Necessities” predicts future events with the accuracy of the earlier books remains to be seen.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends March 7, 2018

~~~~~

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

To read reviews, please visit Boyd Taylor’s page on iRead Book Tours.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

Audible Review ~ Run To Ground ~ A Rocky Mountain K9 Unit Novel

Posted: February 7, 2018 in audible, reviews, Romance, suspense
Tags: , , ,
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I have such a good book to share today. I finally got my hands on the first in Katie Ruggle’s Rocky Mountain K9 Unit Series.

TITLE: Run To Ground

Rocky Mountain K9 Unit  #1

AUTHOR: Katie Ruggle
NARRATOR: Callie Beaulieu
PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio
PUBLICATION DATE: June 6, 2017
FORMAT: Unabridged Audiobook
LENGTH:  9 hrs. 29 mins.
GENRE: Romantic Suspense
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My Review

I love character driven stories. And this one has a bomb sniffing K9 officer. I couldn’t wait to dive in.

First, there’s Jules Jackson. She rescued her younger siblings from cruel relatives and is on the run. Help from an unexpected source lands her and the kids in the picturesque town of Monroe in the Rocky Mountains.  But maybe hiding in a small town, even with new identities, isn’t the best idea. Those pursuing her won’t stop searching.

Next up is Theo Bosco. I love that name. He’s reeling from the loss of his canine partner to cancer and his human partner to suicide.. The officer leaves behind a four legged officer that needs help adjusting. Can these two damaged beings bond and overcome their losses?

I had such fun with Jules and her siblings. She’s taken on a lot and the kids are a handful. As they settle into their rundown new home there’s some fun incidents. Like when the stove caught fire and almost burned down the house. I don’t know how she does it. Juggling a new life with a bunch of young kids, worrying about being found and holding down a waitress job. You’ve gt to admire her determination and love for her family.

Theo is taciturn and withdrawn. He doesn’t want a new canine partner and the dog doesn’t want anything to do with him or police work. He just happens to be in the neighborhood and spies the smoke pouring out of Jules’ house and rushes to help. Turns out a rat had built a nest in the old stove. More smoke than fire. At least as far as the stove goes.

Jules is fighting a growing attraction to Theo and Theo has no time for a woman. But the grieving dog, Viggy, and the kids are instant friends and that leads to more encounters and romance keeps growing. I liked the dilemma here. Jules is hiding and she’s falling for a police officer, someone she should be avoiding like the plague.

It was hard to listen to parts of this story about Viggy. The dog was so traumatized and I felt so bad for him. I couldn’t help but hope that Viggy and Theo would form a bond and help each other.

With the fear of discovery and a sinister evil waiting to strike, its not all fun and romance. The suspense builds as a school shooting occurs and its heart pounding action right up to the end. It came as a total surprise to find out who was behind all of the mayhem.

I had been wanting to try this series. Seen it around. And I thought I might enjoy it. I loved it. I’m hooked. And I am now starting On The Chase, the second in book in this fabulous series.

  5  Stars

 Read by Callie Beaulieu

Callie did a super job narrating this story. Her switch from adult to child and male to female was flawless. She especially nailed it with one of the boys, who stutters. And with the subtle southern accent of Jules. It was a pleasure to listen to her and I’m happy she will be continuing with this series.

~~~~~

Thanks so much to Tantor Audio and the author for the complimentary copy.

My review is voluntarily given.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Grieving the death of his partner, Theo Bosco has no room in his life for distractions. Though his instincts scream that he should avoid Juliet “Jules” Jackson, he can’t seem to stay away. It doesn’t help that Theo’s new K9 companion has fallen head over paws with Jules’s rambunctious family.

Or that when he’s with her, Theo finally knows peace.

When Jules rescued her siblings, whisking them away to the safety of the beautifully rugged Colorado Rockies, she never expected to catch the eye—or the heart—of a cop. Yet as Jules struggles to fight her growing attraction to the brooding K9 officer, another threat lurks much closer to home . . .

And this time, there’s no escape.

Amazon / Tantor

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This counts towards my They Call It Puppy Love Challenge.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

They Call It Puppy Love Challenge

Posted: January 30, 2018 in horror, reviews, suspense
Tags: , ,
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Barb over at her blog, Booker T’s has created this really fun challenge for the month of February. Being a fan of furry beings and having loads of books featuring dogs or cats, I thought I’d join in.

The rules are simple:

  • Make a sign up post and link it to Barb’s blog, Booker T’s HERE.
  • Read at least one book which: has a dog (or cat) on the cover or features a dog (or cat) in it.
  • Do a wrap up post at the end of February with links to your review(s).
  At the end of the month, names for all of the participants will be put in a bowl and Booker T will pick a lucky winner.  That person will receive a $10.00 gift certificate to Amazon or Book Depository.

Contest is open to everyone.

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Here are some of the books I’ll be sharing.

Print and eBooks.

22881938  33889533  13356995

Audibles

35613008  35757500

17214356  17290386  18167245  18937574

I bet you were expecting a bunch of cozies. Nope. These are mysteries, thrillers and horror. And they’ve been waiting too long for me to start them. I set a high goal so I would be sure to get to all of these.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

The Anthony Hollownton Series ~ Trailer and Giveaway

Posted: January 15, 2018 in giveaways, Supernatural, suspense
Tags: , ,
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Hollownton Homicide
Anthony Hollownton Series Book 1
by Gretchen S.B.
Genre: Supernatural Suspense
322 pages
 
There’s more to the world than he has ever known…
When homicide detective Anthony Hollownton is called to the scene of his
latest murder case he quickly becomes aware that something isn’t
quite right.
It isn’t the gruesomeness of the scene.
It isn’t the symbols written on the wall.
It isn’t the image carved into the victim’s back.
It is something else, something he can’t quite put his finger on,
something he doesn’t understand.
Then his partner disappears, leaving Tony alone as the world begins to
unravel. As the body count rises Tony must scramble to adapt to this
new supernatural world. A supernatural world that wants nothing to do
with him and will shut him out at all costs. Until the killer’s
attention turns to Tony. Now he must work within the supernatural
community’s rules if he is going to come out of this case alive.
**On sale for $0.99 from Jan 13th-18th!!**
 
 
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Hollownton Outsiders
Anthony Hollownton Series Book 2
 
Life was finally getting back to normal…almost
Two months ago homicide detective Anthony Hollownton was forcibly
thrown into the supernatural world.
A world that has been eerily silent ever since.
His partner is back but will never be the same. Talking about seeing
things Tony knows are real.
At least it is the Fourth of July and patrolling the festivities should
be a cake walk.
Wrong.
A mutilated body is stumbled upon and now it is all Tony can do not to
jump to supernatural conclusions. Is his jarring previous case making
him paranoid or is there more to this murder than meets the eye?
 
 
Gretchen is a Seattleite that loves her home. She has a day job as a Program
Coordinator a local university. She loves to read, write and create
characters. As well as knit and binge watch Netflix. She is also on a
sporadic book blog and internet radio show with some of her college
friends. She currently lives with her husband and their mischievous
Rotti mix, who always seems to find something new she shouldn’t be
chewing on.
Gretchen loves to hear from her readers. So feel free to drop by!
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

A Harmless Little Game by Meli Raine ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: December 28, 2017 in giveaways, Romance, suspense
Tags: , , ,
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A Harmless Little Game
Meli Raine
(Harmless, #1)
Publication date: October 18th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Four years ago I lost my virginity on live, streaming television.

Too bad I wasn’t awake for it.

The video went viral. Of course it would. A Senator’s daughter on camera? Wouldn’t you click “share”? Besides, that’s what three of the four guys in the video did.

Share.

They shared me.

But that fourth guy? The nondescript one in the background in the upper left corner of the screen, just sitting on the couch? The only one who did nothing?

Not one single thing.

That was my boyfriend, Drew.

And that was the last time I saw him.

Until today, when my father—now on a path to the White House—hired him as head of security for my new team as I return home after four years of “recovering” in an undisclosed location that involved white lab coats, needles, pills and damage control.

You see, the other three guys never went to jail. Never had charges pressed.

Never faced consequences.

Until today.

Game on.

* * *
A Harmless Little Game is the first in this political thriller/romantic suspense trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

FREE for a limited time only!

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Enjoy this glimpse inside:

Short, clipped chestnut hair. Brown eyes the color of well-worn leather, eyes that blaze with intelligence and a guardedness no one could ever breach. He’s bigger than the last time I saw him, four years ago. Broader. More muscular. He’s a controlled, contained man who has a James Bond air to him.

And he’s looking at me right now with eyes so cold they might as well be icebergs.

“Lindsay, let me introduce you to Andrew,” Stacia starts.

Drew. Oh, God, it’s true.

“Andrew Foster will be your new security specialist. He and his team will keep you safe.”

I snort.

He stares.
Stacia’s eyes leap from Drew to me and back. “Is there a problem?” she asks, brows turning down. That’s more emotion than I’ve seen in her for four years. Her gaze darts between me and Drew, assessing the situation. No matter what, I lose if she decides something’s going sour here.

Even if Drew is the one gone bad.

“No.” Drew and I say the word at the exact same moment, in the same tone of voice. It sounds like a sharp clap, a single sound that shatters noise.

“You two know each other?” Stacia asks, her fingers caressing the paper. Without that discharge form, I can’t leave. If Drew ruins this for me, it will be the second time in my life he’s fucked up.

The first time was four years ago when he let three of our friends rape me.

 

Author Meli Raine

Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes — and the women who love them.

Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

Better Not Cry by Willow Rose ~ A Mystery / Supernatural Suspense Tour & Giveaway

Posted: December 26, 2017 in giveaways, Mystery, Supernatural, suspense
Tags: , , , ,
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Better Not Cry
Rebekka Franck Book 8
by Willow Rose
Genre: Mystery, Supernatural Suspense
 

He stalks you when you’re sleeping. He kills when you’re awake…

Reporter Rebekka Franck is ready to escape the headlines for a relaxing
holiday with her family. Small town Cocoa Beach, Florida seems like
the perfect getaway for sunny days and silent nights. At least, until
a boy’s dead body is found stuffed in the chimney…
Rebekka learns that the boy is the latest in a long line of victims preyed
upon by a local legend. But a demon cloaked in red with sharp
fingernails who comes down the chimney can’t be real. Can it?
With the help of a local teen whose dad fell victim to the creature,
Rebekka investigates the growing body count. But as Christmas creeps
closer, the reporter must catch the demon before it checks her and
her family’s names off the naughty list…
Better Not Cry is a spine-tingling Christmastime horror story
featuring Willow Rose’s iconic characters Rebekka Franck and Jack
Ryder. If you like pulse-pounding scares, imaginative plots, and
hellish new takes on Santa, then you’ll love Willow Rose’s
holiday horror.
 
**On Sale for .99 cents!**



 
 
 
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The Queen of Scream aka Willow Rose is a #1 Amazon Best-selling Author
and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 40 novels. She writes
Mystery, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy. She lives on Florida’s Space Coast with her husband and two daughters.
When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and
watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic
Ocean. Willow’s books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners.
Several of her books have reached the Kindle top 20 of ALL books in the US,
UK, and Canada.
She has sold more than two million books.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Shadow Of Danger by Kristine Mason

Posted: December 8, 2017 in reviews, Romance, suspense
Tags: , , ,
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I’m tearing through the CORE Shadow Trilogy and want to share my review of the first book, Shadow Of Danger, while the feels are still fresh in my mind. Kristine Mason has now become one of my go to authors for romantic suspense.

Shadow Of Danger

The CORE Shadow Trilogy #1

by Kristine Mason

25361209

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Genre: Romantic Suspense

 My Review

I won this book in a giveaway a while ago. Kristine also sent me a gnome. You’ll learn his significance further into my review. He sits in my front garden protecting my home. He’s been joined by several others and I suspect I’ll be seeing more. Knowing how much I enjoy this genre and upon some trusted recommendations, I went ahead and grabbed the three book boxed set before I even began reading Shadow Of Danger. I’m now into the second book, Shadow Of Perception, which introduces some new character’s while some favorite ones from the first book make brief appearances.

Celeste is plagued by horrific nightmares and visions of torture and death. A clairvoyant, she sees four women brutally attacked and murdered.

The local sheriff believes in Celeste’s abilities and calls on a trusted friend from a private agency, CORE, to send assistance. The man he sends, John Kain, is having none of it. He’s a former FBI agent, relies on facts and the rest is just nonsense. But before long he witnesses one of Celeste’s trances. The information she provides is vital to the investigation and John comes to accept her abilities.

Reminiscent of shows like Criminal Minds, Karen takes you on a dark journey into the mind of a killer. You get insight into what feeds the need for insatiable blood lust. Gruesome scenes provide a high level of suspense and create empathy for the victims and all of the character’s involved in the case. Kristine does this very well and it’s something I need in a suspense romance.

The suspense builds as the author drops in some twists about the killings and some intriguing side stories.

As for the romance. I had a lot of good times reading about Celeste and John and their instant attraction. It was very believable. Especially when the danger ramped up and the character’s emotions were heightened. And the author provided some much needed comic relief in the form of Celeste’s gnome collection. It started as just one gnome and quickly grew to dozens of them in all shapes and forms.

This book has it all. Suspense that keeps you glued to the book, anxious to see how it all plays out. Anxiety over whether more will die and if they’ll catch the killer or killers before they kill again. And excitement and amusement as Celeste and John fall hard for each other and work through the instant attraction and lusty thoughts.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Four women have been found dead in the outskirts of a small Wisconsin town. The only witness, clairvoyant Celeste Risinski, observes these brutal murders through violent nightmares and hellish visions. The local sheriff, who believes in Celeste’s abilities and wants to rid their peaceful community of a killer, enlists the help of an old friend, Ian Scott, owner of a private criminal investigation agency, CORE. Because of Ian’s dark history with Celeste’s family, a history she knows nothing about, he sends his top criminalist, former FBI agent John Kain to investigate.

John doesn’t believe in Celeste’s mystic hocus-pocus, or in her visions of the murders. But just when he’s certain they’ve solved the crimes, with the use of science and evidence, more dead bodies are discovered. Could this somehow be the work of the same killer or were they dealing with a copycat? To catch a vicious murderer, the skeptical criminalist reluctantly turns to the sensual psychic for help. Yet with each step closer to finding the killer, John finds himself one step closer to losing his heart.

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Audible

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ABOUT KRISTINE MASON

AuthorPhoto_PerfectlyToxicKristine Mason is the bestselling author of the popular romantic suspense trilogies, C.O.R.E. Shadow, and Ultimate C.O.R.E. She is currently working on her next trilogy, C.O.R.E. Above the Law, along with a series of Psychic C.O.R.E. novellas.

Although Kristine has published a few contemporary romance novels, she focuses most of her energy on her romantic suspense stories, which she loves for their blend of dark mystery/suspense and sexy romance. She is fascinated with what makes people afraid, and is famous for her depraved villains whose crimes present massive obstacles for her heroes and heroines to overcome.

Kristine has a degree in journalism from Ohio State University and lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, four kids, and two dogs. If she’s not writing, she’s chauffeuring kids, gardening, or collecting gnomes. Oh, and she makes a mean chocolate chip cookie!Connect with Kristine on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kristinemasonauthor, Twitter https://twitter.com/KristineMason7 or email her at authorkristinemason@gmail.com. You can also find out more about Kristine’s books at http://www.kristinemason.net

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The Storm by Amanda McKinney ~ Blitz and Giveaway

Posted: December 7, 2017 in Adult Fiction, Romance, suspense
Tags: , , ,
13

The Storm
Amanda McKinney
(Berry Springs Series)
Publication date: December 5th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

The snow is dropping in Berry Springs… and so are the bodies...

On a pitch-black wintry night, Detective Dean Walker finds a man in the middle of an icy road, with a bullet between his eyes—a murder that is eerily similar to his father’s, which was never solved. Coincidence? No, Dean doesn’t believe in coincidences. He also doesn’t believe in love at first sight, until he meets the victim’s wife.

Psychologist Heidi Novak is hardly settling into her new mansion in the small, country town of Berry Springs, when she receives a late-night visit by the handsome Dean Walker. Seconds after learning that her husband has been murdered, gunshots explode around her and it becomes apparent that she is the next target.

With a massive winter storm looming, Dean races to find the killer and keep Heidi safe, while facing a long a list of suspects, including Heidi’s arrogant sister-in-law and a local, crusty cowboy. As the evidence mounts, Dean becomes more convinced than ever that his father’s murder is connected to the death of Heidi’s husband.

And he can’t help but think . . . will Heidi be the second love he loses to the ice-cold killer?

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy the excerpt

Dean pulled Dusty from the pen, saddled him up and jumped on.

“Alright buddy, let’s go.” He guided the horse out of the barn and into the dark night. He inhaled the cool winter air as Dusty leisurely stepped into the field.

He loved riding horses—something about it made him feel free; free of worry, free of stress. He closed his eyes for a moment and listened to sounds of the woods around him—the wind whispering through the tall pine trees, the sound of Dusty’s hooves crunching on the icy grass beneath him and the night calls of the thousand different critters that call the Ozark Mountains home. The faint smell of a fire burning somewhere in the distance tickled his nose.

Despite the picturesque surroundings, he looked into the woods and tensed. Usually, being alone on his land cleared his head and gave him a calmness that only the outdoors could provide. But, not tonight. Tonight, the woods seemed ominous in the dark night, with long shadows stretching across the field like fingers reaching to grab a hold of him.

Like someone watching him from the darkness, waiting to grab hold.

He thought of his mother, and the look in her eyes when she asked about Clint Novak. Although it wasn’t said, there was no doubt that she had been thinking the same thing he had been since he looked down at Clint’s body. Could it be the same person? The same person who killed his father six, now seven, years ago?

The thought seemed inconceivable. What was the connection between his father and Clint, and why wait seven years?

It wasn’t just the location of the bullet hole, it was just something in his gut that made him on edge about it. A sixth sense. And, obviously, something in his mother’s gut felt the same way, too.

He pulled Dusty to a stop where just seven years ago—to the day—he and his father were burning brush, right before his father was shot and killed.

He sat still for a moment. His eyes scanned the tree line in the distance—as he had done a million times—trying to put a face to the murderer who killed his father. Was it someone who knew him? Or, was it just pesky trespassers who got a little too trigger happy?

He took a deep breath and slid off the horse.

Flashbacks of holding his dead father in his arms shot like lightning through his head. His fists clenched as he paced the area.

As if Dusty knew what was going on, he bowed his head in grief, and respect for the dead.

Dean tilted his head to the sky, letting the light of the moon wash over him.

He whispered, “I’ll get him, Dad. I’ll get him.”

As tears threatened to sting his eyes, he reached into his pocket, pulled out the bottle of whiskey and took a sip. And, poured a little out for his father, as he did every year on this day.

Anger washed over him, and a renewed determination to catch the bastard that killed his father had him seething. He inhaled deeply, took another swig and looked into the woods.

He’d get the son of a bitch.

As he turned to mount Dusty, something in his gut twisted. A foreboding of something to come.

 

Author Amanda McKinney

Amanda McKinney, author of Sexy, Suspenseful Mysteries wrote her debut novel, LETHAL LEGACY, after walking away from her career to become a writer and stay-at-home mom. When Amanda isn’t tending to her two beautiful boys, she’s hidden behind her computer screen crafting page-turning murder mysteries, peppered with titillating love scenes. Having been born and raised in the south, Amanda’s books are set in small, country towns and reflect southern culture at its finest.

Amanda’s debut novel, LETHAL LEGACY, was released in January 2017, followed by the first two books in the BERRY SPRINGS SERIES, THE WOODS and THE LAKE. The third book in the series, THE STORM is scheduled to be released in the Winter of 2017.

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